Assassination:  Rendezvous Point

            Last Kiss...A Breath of Understanding

            Throbbing...

            Pulsating...

            Excruciating...

            That's all that Heero could remember.  First, the intense throbbing at the part in his arm where he'd been shot.  Secondly, the pulsating at his temples.  Finally, the excruciating pain that seemed to shoot and sting at every part of his body.

            "Damn it,"  he grumbled angrily when he realized he was leaving somewhat of a trail of blood.  Heero pushed himself into an alley, will was just about the only thing that kept him going, and could feel his energy draining.  Just before he blacked out, however, he recalled a promise...

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                     Flashback

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            "Promise me you won't die !"

            "I can't promise that, Relena, try to understand..."

            The young girl sighed in complete despair and turned around, folding her arms around her chest.  Duo stepped up, looking behind him momentarily to study his fellow pilots, and gently called Relena.

            "Relena,"---he began, ignoring the wild alarms breaking out wildly---"this isn't a mission."

            Relena blanked out suddenly, surprised at Duo's outburst.  "It isn't a mission...?"

           

            "Relena this is an assassination attempt against you---indirectly."

            "What do you mean?"

            "Rendezvous Point, do you have any idea where it is?"

            Relena shook her head no and stared in silence at the braided baka. "It doesn't exist.  Rendezvous Point is a name soldiers estalished for a street, a kind of path a soldier or civilian travels."

            "But you said it didn't exist."

            "The path to your death.

            "Oh."

            "And we received a letter---it said you were on your way to Rendezvous Point.  We're not sure if this is a real attempt or just a bluff, but we gotta go to that citation...and one of us might not come out             alive..."

            Duo let his last words sink in.  'One of us might not come out alive'.  Relena faltered and turned to face Heero suddenly.

            "Promise me!!"  she shrieked, as the pilots made a quiet exit.  In turn, Heero pressed her close against his chest, ignoring the small pounding of her fists.  Gently, he stroked her hair and dropped soft kisses on her golden tresses.  "I can't promise you that..."

            "Please...even if you have to lie----just please say that you will!"

            "I can't.  I would never lie to you...I would never lie to you."

            Relena tried to hold back a sob, but failed when Heero bent down so that he was eye-level with her.  Both his hands were placed determinedly at each side of her cheeks, which had become somewhat wettened by her tears.  He held her closely, so that his forehead touched hers. 

            "Listen to me, Relena."

"I can't ! Don't you understand! I need you to live---and I need you to survive.  Promise me!"

            "Relena...I...."

            "Just two words, Heero, just two damned words!"

            Relena quickly pushed Heero away and dried her tears with the sleeve of her blouse.  "I understand,             Heero Yuy.  You cannot say two words, then I shall not wait for you to say them !"

            The young woman made a quick motion to turn and run, but was stopped by Heero's grip at the fold of her arm.  "Relena, please..."

            Relena turned around, her eyes glued to the ground as Heero pulled her closer.  "God, Relena, please don't make this harder for me...I'm doing this to protect you..." as he spoke, Heero tugged on Relena's waist, and practically  crushed her against him.

            "Please, just two words."

            "Rel---"

            Relena pressed a finger to his lips and closed her eyes.  "Please..."  She allowed Heero to pull her forward, their foreheads touching as they had been only a few moments ago.  Relena sniffled sadly, but couldn't help the gasp that escaped her when Heero gently pushed his lips against hers.  It shocked her senses.  The tingling sensation that rushed through her body was inexplainable...she was also surprised at the softness of Heero's lips, for one reason or another, she'd always thought his lips would be harsh and crude.

            It was her first kiss...

            The two settled down leisurly on the couch, cradled in each others arms.  He was so warm, she wanted to stay snuggled close to him forever...but, he was going to leave.  She breathed in deeply and bit back tears as Heero squeezed her tight, his arms gently traveling her slim back.  "I will never forget you."  he murmured into her hair.  Relena pushed sullenly at his shoulders, his hair somehow falling over her in unruly tufts. 

            "When will you leave...?" she asked softly.  "Tomorrow night," the young man responded serenely.  Relena shifted uneasily under the Heero's weight and reached out to caress his velvety features.  The young man allowed her the small pleasure of stroking his face, but eyed her with reserve.  "Stay with me tonight."

            The statement was more of a command than a plea, and for Relena that was a big step.  "Relena---you're not thinking straight...I'll see you tomorrow."

            "No!"

            Heero just kinda stopped in his tracks.  Relena had never raised her voice---especially not at him.  Biting his lips, he turned around and studied Relena's anxious features.  "We shouldn't, it's not right, especially under such circumstances."

            "Please. I shall never ask of anything more from you, just this..."

            Heero sighed deeply and stared wistfully into Relena's eyes.  Then he ran his fingertips through his hair and quickly wisked up the young girl.  She weighed nearly nothing in the arms of the strong soldier.  "Damn it, Relena.  Why do you have such an effect on me?!"

            Relena just blinked and adjusted to the sudden darkness in Heero's bedroom.  For safety reasons it was located right beside her office and bedroom.  Let's just say that Milliardo hadn't been to enthusiased by the layout, but after some apparent coaxing from Noin, he'd given in.

           

            "Okay, I'm staying with you tonight.  I'm here, you're here, now sleep and I'll wake you up tomorrow."

            "Heero! That wasn't what I meant!"

            "Then what was it that you meant...?"

           

            Relena blushed heavily and buried herself within the folds of Heero's sweater.  "Please, Heero, just for tonight.  You can forget about me later...but please---give me this night..."

            The young man sat up and stared oddly at the ground.  Damn it...what could he do?!

            When he glanced up and saw those pleading sky blue eyes, however, he knew exactly what...he just hoped he was right...

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              The Next Morning

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            "Promise me."

            "I'll try."

            "Promise me---"

            "If it means that much to you --- I...I promise, Relena..."

            "That's all I wanted to hear..."

            Heero sighed uncertainly as he cushioned his head on his arms and studied the ceiling.  The ceiling...it was like his best friend.  Whenever he had problems it was back to the ceiling...

            He was thrown back to reality, when he felt the gentle tap on his arm. He stared blankly in her direction, the blue of his eyes piercing through her.  Relena simply snuggled closer to him, and sighed contently when she felt the warmth that escaped his bare skin. 

            "I always thought you were cold...I mean your skin and stuff."

            "I'm human, Relena.  I have internal organs, I have a heart, and of course I have body heat."      

            "That's not what I meant, silly."

            Heero reached out to caress Relena's hair.  He fiddled around idly with a strand, while hearing her soothingly explain what she'd meant.  Finally, he wasn't able to resist, and fussed her hair into a giant mess.  When Relena eyed him annoyedly, he met it with a cocky grin...a grin...

            Sighing, Relena pushed herself away from Heero and also studied the intriguing designs on the ceiling.  "You, know, it's funny... the ceiling in my bedroom had a different pattern..."

            "Yeah. The ceiling, that's the first thing I notice in every room I've been."

            Relena wasn't sure whether or not Heero was serious.  For one, his face held the same stoic expression it'd always had.  She smiled inwardly, he really hadn't been cold last night...

            "Relena, did you..."

            "No, I didn't."

            "Oh."

            "Don't worry, I won't."

            "How do you know?"

            "Just a guess..."

            "Right.  Since when do you gamble on life?"

            Relena socked Heero on his arm, and quietly cringed at the pain it sent flying down her fist.  The young man turned towards her, the small fist that had contracted with his arm barely tickling him.  "It hurt, didn't it?"  he asked as he reached for her hand.

            "A bit..."  Relena answered, trying to keep her face from contorting into an expression of pain.  Heero gently rubbed her fist, laying idle kisses on it, and then pressed her palm against his cheek.  He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, he'd have to imprint that moment on his memory.

            "Heero, can you kiss me again?"

            Heero stared confusedly at his beloved princess, but obiediantly leaned over and pressed soft lips against her own in an attempt at a last kiss.  He pushed his soul into that kiss, he knew well that it might as well be his last.  Relena noticed.  Sullenly she pulled away and mouthed the words 'Goodbye'.  Heero nodded and fought to keep down the stinging sensation threatening to overpower his eyes.

            He pushed himself off Relena and disappeared into the bathroom.

            "Promise me, Heero..."

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               End Flashsback

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            "I'm sorry...Relena,"  he whispered vaguely, before his head hit the ground and all was swallowed by darkness.  Then, in a swirl of commotion, he could feel his body lighten, and somehow shrieking sirens surrounded him...was he dead?