Disclaimer: *sitting on bed* Nope, I don't got nothing here. *muffled sounds come from under the bed and a hand shoots out before I stick it back it* nothing here, so you can go now.

AN: *GAPES* holy crap… 50 reviews!! Already!! I got nine or so reviews for one chapter! Thank you!! Keep it up ^-~

Special note to Hououza: Don't worry, I know that things are drifting away from what I first started, but I'll head right back to the main plot after this chapter. Remember, this is only partly romance, since I'm not exactly professional at full romance. These few chapters are vital for later effects in the story. You'll understand when we get there, just have patience.

Black Hair and Gray Eyes

Chapter 13

 "Thank you so much for letting me come!" Dawn jumped excitedly at the door of the Peacecraft mansion, ignoring the stunned look Aki gave her. The door was set ajar only slightly, and Dawn strained to look into the home her friend lived in. "I've never seen a place so big before! Let me in! Let me in!!"

 Quite wearily, Aki let go of the large, white door and let her friend push her way in. The little blonde all but ran in and looked around with large, bright eyes. She took in the exquisite designs and tiles that made up this household and watched as maids and servants passed by.

 Still staring, she couldn't help but jump at the big, burly young man that walked by the hallway behind the office, and stop to look straight at her, than to the girl behind her. Though, she never noticed. Dawn's attention was captivated by his unruly brown hair and deep, penetrating eyes. She didn't even notice that the man was moving until he had disappeared behind the office with the hallway. That was when Dawn realized that Aki had placed a hand on her shoulder and was speaking. Unfortunately, Aki hadn't failed to notice her friend's behaviour.

 "Come on! Stop gaping at my bodyguard and let's go meet my mother." Dawn stuttered, but Aki only smiled. "Don't think I didn't see that, you were practically drooling. Blushing, she followed as Aki showed her a few rooms and her personal bedroom. Then, leading her down the hall, she opened large, oak doors that lead to what she perceived to be the study.

 Rows of books lined the wooden walls, which became a furry, green material about waist length. The green stuff practically melted into the carpet, in the center of it being a gray pattern. The ceiling was also green, making the room remind Dawn of a pool table. Opposite of the doors were huge windows, with more green drapery hanging off of it. In front of it was a wooden desk, with a few piles of paper beside each other in the corner. Sitting at the desk, head bowed, was a massive head of blonde hair, which was easily identified as the one woman Dawn had as an idol.

 "Working again Mother?" The Vice Foreign Minister lifted her head and smiled, noting the extra company in the room. She stood, as elegantly as Dawn had anticipated.

 "Yes, I only have a bit today though. Now, Aki, where are your manners? Introduce us." She said, gesturing to Dawn.

 "Of course," She smiled and gestured to Dawn too. "Mother, this is Dawn. Dawn, this is my mother, Ms. Relena Dorlain Peacecraft."

 Relena held her hand outstretched, waiting for the girl to shake it. She did so, very clumsily and awkwardly. At this, the young woman smiled. "Please," the blonde girl jolted at the sound of her voice. "Don't be nervous. After all, despite what everyone believes, I'm just another young woman." She smiled, and the girl managed a weak one to exchange.

 The slight creak of the door indicated the arrival of another person. A grunt told Relena and Aki that it was Heero, though it only confused Dawn. Relena was the first to speak.

 "Heero, this is Dawn, Aki's friend." She looked at him and indicated that he should shake her hand, though all he did was grunt and stand in his corner, watching all of them carefully. This officially freaked Dawn out, though it didn't seem to affect the other two in the room.

 "What brings you in here? Usually, you just hang around the house… quite unusual, isn't it?" Aki first questioned Heero, then Relena. Relena smiled but Heero grunted, again. "Well… I better get going Mom, I'll see you later."

 "I'm escorting you." Aki, whom was bout to walk away, froze mid-stride. She pivoted, and glared at Heero.

 "What!?" Dawn jolted at the sound of it. "I have to be stuck with you? For how long? And why?" She asked, exasperated. "You know very well I can take care of myself."

 "Orders. I'll have to stay through the entire party. I know you can take care of yourself against one man, but you are the daughter of a very important social figure, and if they want you, they will not just send one."

 Fuming, Aki stormed into the hallway with Dawn in tow. "Figures. If there was anything I hate about this life, it's that you are the first priority. Go here or there, there has to be a bodyguard somewhere. Need this, need that, there's a servant on your beck and call." She then turned to Dawn. "Sorry about all this, you probably don't want him trailing us as much as I do, but as long as I'm daughter of the Vice Foreign Minister, I have to have someone babysitting me."

 She grumbled, very annoyed at the fact that she couldn't get time to herself. Dawn saw this and tried to lighten the mood.

 "Oh well… I bet some of the girls would love to meet him, and that'll keep him out of our hair, for a bit." Aki laughed.

 "True, but I don't know if they'll survive his glares." There was a pause before Aki laughed. "Actually, I doubt if they'll even notice it while they swoon over his abs and muscles." Dawn laughed with her, and followed Aki down to the awaiting limo.

*~*~*~*~*

 The party was big. The entire restaurant had been rented out, Dawn being rather rich herself. Aki was introduced to everyone, big and small. Sure enough, some of the girls swooned over Heero, though some simply gave him a few glances. They flirted the best they could, but the stoic bodyguard didn't spare them a glance, even with some of the older woman.

 Over in the opposite corner were Aki and Dawn. They watched in amusement as Heero tried to ignore everyone winking at him, apparently annoyed. It wouldn't be long before he went outside to be alone or something.

 "So Dawn, why is it that you aren't over there with them." Aki teased, giving her friend a nudge. Dawn just looked at her.

 "Ha ha, Aki. That was so funny, I forgot to laugh." But Aki looked back at her, apparently remembering the little scene back at the mansion. "Okay, so he is rather, cute, but… he's way too old for my tastes. One..." she glanced at Aki, "or two years is okay, but six? No thanks."

 The black haired girl looked at her friend nervously. "Why did you pause?" Mischievous glint shone in Dawn's eye, and she grinned. Quickly, her eyes darted to the doors, where a young boy just entered, looking around as if trying to spot someone. Aki flushed.

 "Besides, I think him and your mother would look absolutely adorable together… you did say she was a miss, right?" Well, that was something she hadn't been expecting. Aki was close to telling her about her little plan, when Lee came in.

 "Hi Aki!" She silently thanked him for stopping her. "Hi Dawn! Happy birthday." He handed her a small package and smiled as she excuse herself. After she left, he sat on the table with her.

 "Hi Lee." Over the past day, Aki had slowly begun to get used to the fact of talking to Lee, without stammering. Damn her antisocial behaviour.

 "Hi, how are you?"

 "Fine. How about you?" He made a small grunt, and an unusual awkward silence followed. He lay back, watching the ceiling intently while Aki squirmed a bit. She wasn't used to be so close to him; the closest they ever were was a respectable distance on a bench. Here, however, he was practically lying on her lap. And there was no way she was going to keep sane that way.

 "Hey, Aki?" He sat up to face her. He didn't continue until she was looking at him. "I…" the lights dimmed and music started playing. He seemed to be relieved by this. "You wanna dance?" It was quickly said, so much that Aki had barely even caught it. Dumbly, she nodded her head. His hand came shooting out, taking her small, insecure one, and leading her on the dance floor.

 It was a waltz. The song played without words, and the room began to spin according to her feet's movement. Of course, the scene was rather unfinished by the casual clothing they wore, but it seemed almost unreal at the time. Aki's long, soft hair twirled as they danced, Lee with a slightly stubborn look on his face, peering intently into her eyes. Transfixed as she was, though, Aki's exterior seemed cool and collected, a mirrored stubborn look on it too. Their eyes watched each other's intently.

 The rest of the crowd watched the seemingly perfect couple dance.

*~*~*~*~*

 Heero looked inside curiously as music began to play. He recognized it as a waltz, and was reminded of something, tugging at him at the back, most distant corners of his mind. His eyes lingered, watching the younger kids dance elegantly. So times hadn't changed that much. Heero had surprised himself with the thought.

 Hadn't changed since when? He struggled with a rising memory, hiding just below the accessible part of his mind. What was it that this scene reminded him of? A birthday party, waltzing, music, a large building, and kids dancing about. He looked back into the building, and saw that kid that was with Aki yesterday. Actually, he was with Aki now too… hadn't she told him about the kid?

 His name was Lee… and was Chinese, maybe. And he was fifteen too…

 Fifteen… old memories of the first days on earth came rushing back to him, and his first encounter with someone here. 'Relena…' A lingering image of the younger Relena's face, watching him worriedly, came back to him. Just then, everything came back to him. The birthday party, Relena's birthday party. They were fifteen, and dancing the waltz, and he had promised to kill her.

 He looked back into the building, and saw Relena's daughter and that boy dancing, nearly picturing himself and Relena there, gazing at each other. Their expressions were the same too, a rather stubborn look on the both of them. Their heads were slightly bowed, and Aki's hair was swaying too… the only difference was that they weren't Relena and him.

 A dimly lit room, a crowd of people, music, and hushed voices drifting out as some left the building. Or came in. He looked around frantically, hoping not to find a man or woman, driving off much too fast to be unsuspicious. He didn't find that.

 But there was a man, aiming a rifle, right at him, from atop a building. Lastly, the sound of a bullet being shot from it echoed the streets.

*~*~*~*~*

*Looks up at what she wrote* That wasn't supposed to be in there, but it would certainly help with a few things here. I wonder if any of you figured out where I got the waltzing scene from before reading Heero's little section. Now… that's all for now (aren't I evil) and I hope you R&R! See you next time!