Author: Fallen Angel

Email: fallen_angel_2012@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing. Don't sue.

Chapter 2

[A small island, app. 200 nautical miles east of New Zealand.]

Heero gasped for air and coughed out what seemed a lungful of water. Every muscle in his body ached. Even his eyes refused to open but he could feel what he was lying on.

Sand. He opened one Prussian blue eye blearily and looked out on the scene before him. He was on a beach, yellow sand stretching out for what seemed forever. The tide was going out and he could still feel the waves lapping gently at his feet. Uh, seawater. If he never saw any more seawater for the rest of his life he could die a happy man.

'Where am I?' he thought, frowning. He could remember only snippets of the night before; the storm, saving Miss Dorlain, swimming until he thought his arms and legs would fall off and finally, drifting, all his effort focused on keeping his and Miss Dorlain's heads above water.

'Miss Dorlain!' As quickly as his protesting muscles would allow, Heero pushed himself to his feet to look for her. Luckily for him, though, she was only a few metres away, lying asleep on the beach. Or at least, he hoped she was asleep.

He checked her pulse and sighed with relief when he found it.

Now that he knew she was alright, he could take a moment to wonder what on earth had been going through his head when he'd rescued her. True, it had been a mostly instinctive action at the time but he couldn't say he regretted it exactly. Yet he had been angry with her for her foolishness in coming above decks. And admiring as well for her courage. It confused him. No one else had ever been able to arouse such strong feelings within him. He prided himself on being able to emotionally detach himself from everything but his goal. And saving her had not really been his goal when he'd boarded the Nataku. Nor had developing feelings for her.

Almost of it's own volition, his hand reached across to brush her damp blonde locks away from her forehead. Her bonnet had long since disappeared and, if not for her dress and coat, he would have believed her a mermaid washed on shore. As his hand lingered on her forehead - checking for a fever, he told himself - she stirred.

"Mmm, father?" she mumbled and Heero was brought back to the here and now with a thud. This was Mr Dorlain's young and beautiful daughter and they were stuck on an island in the middle of the pacific and the ship they had sailed in on was nowhere in sight. He had to be more careful.

"No, it's me, Heero Yuy," he answered slowly so as not to shock her. It didn't exactly work. She sat up suddenly.

"Mr Yuy? Where are we? Why aren't we on the Nataku?" she asked, her voice steady but her eyes looking around quickly, taking in their surroundings.

"There was a storm, remember? You came out to look for your father but was hit by a wave and washed overboard."

Recognition showed on her face. "I remember. You saved me, Mr Yuy."

"It was nothing," he said curtly, his memory of her foolishness, combined with his own confusion over his feelings, brought his anger back. Though he showed it as annoyance. "Don't mention it Miss Dorlain."

"It would be alright for you to call me Relena, if you'd like," she said softly, brushing sand off her dress. "After all, you did save my life."

"Very well, I was never a fan of formalities anyway. You may call me Heero."

"Well then, thank you Heero." She smiled at him then, a beautiful smile that lit up her sky-blue eyes. But Heero forced down these thoughts: it really was too dangerous to get attached to her.

"As I said, don't mention it."

"As you wish," answered Relena, hiding her disappointment. It seemed that, away from the restrictions of their society, Heero was already losing his sense of manners. Though that was unfair, she realised. It was her foolishness which had gotten them in this mess and if she were ever to earn his respect, she would have to get them out of it.

"Do you know where we are?" she asked hopefully.

Heero scanned the area. "We can't be far from a mainland. In any case, we need only find signs of civilisation and we may be able to organise passage to Australia."

"I agree we should find some civilisation, but don't you think we could then wait until my father sends someone to look for us."

Heero frowned. "He never will. We'd be waiting a long time."

"Are you saying he would abandon us?" she asked, her temper rising. How dare he insult her father in such a way?

"I'm saying nothing of the sort. But people who fall overboard into treacherous, stormy waters don't usually survive. Your father knows that, the Captain knows that. They're probably planning your funeral as we speak."

Relena fumed. "He won't give up as easily as you have. He will come for us."

"Fine, princess," he told her, using the mental nickname he'd given her and watching - with some delight - her face flush red in anger. "Play the optimist. I will play the realist and plan on getting us to some food and shelter."

"And just how do you plan on doing that?" she asked. "For all intents and purposes, we appear to be on a deserted island."

"This isn't an action novel, princess," Heero replied. "This is the 19th century. Any island with what appears to be an ample supply of food and moderate weather will be civilised in one way or another." He pointed to the mountains further towards the centre of the island. "And you see those mountains? When it rains, fresh water will run down those and form a river. If we follow that, we will find something."

Relena paused, worried. It was one thing to socialise with this man on a boat surrounded by people. But here in the middle of nowhere, was it so wise to bestow her trust on a man she'd known for less than a day? Still, he had saved her life and he did seem to know what he was talking about.

"Since I have no better ideas at the moment," she answered, "we will go with your plan."

"Good," he answered, smirking. "Because I was going to go, with or without you."

Anger rising in her, Relena held her tongue. This was no time to argue, even if he did seem to be goading her. Shedding her coat - there would be no need for it in the jungles of the island - she fell in step beside him as he headed for the trees. And as they began to trudge through the greenery, she said a silent prayer they find civilisation sooner rather than later. The quicker she was off this island and away from Mr Yuy…Heero…the better.

15th November, 1805

Dearest Log,

It is only by some quirk of fate that I am able to make this entry. I can't imagine how my quills and inkpot - much less, my sheets of paper - remained intact in my pocket during last night's adventures. Yet they are. I even managed to find some berries which, while Heero told me were unfit for eating, can be squashed to use as ink.

Heero…

I'm not sure how to feel about my travelling companion now. I am, of course, eternally grateful to him. But his attitude towards me seems to have changed since we arrived on this island and now I am not sure what to think.

First of all, he continues to amaze me with his knowledge of the jungle and his skills in leading us through it - I had suspected he may be a botanist; there were many headed towards Australia. When I tried to question him about it though, he only told me he was not a botanist.

In fact, in the past few hours that we have been walking, I've tried asking him many times about his past, since he seems to know quite a bit about mine. So far I have only discovered that he has no real past to speak of. He tells me he has no knowledge of who his parents were and that he spent the greater part of his life in orphanages or working part-time. As to why he was on the Nataku, he admits only to wanting to start a business in Australia. He tells me he knows not what type of business though, so I am led to believe he is lying. He doesn't have the look of a pioneer or a business-man.

On top of that, if he were only a free settler then why was he often seen with the Captain? And how does he know so much about the jungle if he's spent his entire life in London? Nothing about him makes sense. Yet I still find myself drawn to him - like the more mysterious I find him, the more determined I am to unravel those mysteries. Even if it does take me the rest of my life.

I should be more careful writing things like that down. Heero said he was going to find something for us to eat and drink so I don't know when he'll be back and I can't even begin to imagine how he'd react to knowing that I'd developed something of a crush on him.

Though it's more than a crush. With each passing moment I spend with him I know I'm feeling something stronger than a schoolgirl's crush. Even when he's not speaking to me I find myself enjoying his presence. Perhaps I'm mad, perhaps it's the heat. Frankly, I don't care. I'm almost enjoying being on this island paradise, if it means being with him.

But we won't be on this island forever. One way or another, I know he will get us back home - wherever home is for me now. He is that kind of man though, the kind who never gives up. Had we met back in London, I'm sure I would still be this entranced by him. Though we never would have met. The truth of the matter is that he is a mystery man with no past and no clear future and I…I am a woman who he sees as a princess. He could never see me the way I see him…past any social barriers. Social barriers which will exist the moment we step onto Australian soil. Those barriers were once my sanctuary, now they are my cage.

Dearest Log, what am I to do? I think I'm in love with Heero Yuy.

Some distance from the clearing in which Relena was seated, Heero was pondering similar questions. He had found some bananas and other fresh fruit not far away and so had returned sooner than expected, only to find Relena writing, of all things.

He would usually have stepped forward straight away, but he was enjoying watching her too much. The way she held the quill to her mouth, brushing the soft tendrils against her full lips, or the way her hair fell over her ears like curtains of gold…it gave Heero the distinct feeling that he was falling. And enjoying it.

Stop it, he told himself. Stop it, stop it, stop it. This can only end in disaster.

Pushing his new-found emotions aside, he knew she would never forgive him if she knew who he really were. She'd tried to find out earlier today but he'd skirted her questions by telling her lies, which he still felt guilty about.

But what was he supposed to do: come straight out and say, 'Miss Dorlain, I'm a spy for the English government, sent to investigate Governor Trieze and his reportedly unfair treatment of the free settlers and convicts in New South Wales. Should the reports be true, Governor Trieze will be…taken care of. And should your father choose to side with him rather than side with justice then he too will find himself in deep water.'

Sure, Yuy, he thought to himself. That'll sweep the girl off her feet.

And that was only one way it could end. Even if he did keep up the lie, once her father discovered she'd formed a relationship with a man like him, he would be out on his rear end faster than you can say 'undesirable'.

He sighed. How had things gotten so complicated so quickly?

"Is someone there?" Relena spun around, probably at the sound of Heero's sigh.

"It's only me," he answered, stepping forward. "I've brought some food."

"Oh, great. I'm quite hungry," she took her share of the fruit from him gratefully. Heero watched, fascinated, as she bit into a ripe peach and the tiniest drop of juice escaped from the corner of her mouth, running down her chin. He bit down the crazy desire to wipe it off for her, using more than just his hands. Luckily for him, she wiped at it herself with the edge of her sleeve.

Then she noticed him staring. "What is it? Oh, yes, I know it's unladylike, but honestly, who's going to care? Do you?"

"No. It doesn't matter."

"Good. It feels so refreshing to get away from all that stuffiness for a bit," she told him cheerily.

"Why? All that money and power becomes a bit of a drag, does it?" he asked, the bitter words escaping from his mouth before he could hold them back.

Her face fell at his words. "I didn't say that, Heero."

"You didn't have to."

Relena felt her temper rising. "I'm sorry, sir, if my position in society offends you. Yours certainly means nothing to me."

Heero had to concede defeat there. In fact, he didn't want to fight at all. "Forget I said anything."

He bit viciously into the fruit he was holding and tried to hold down his temper. It was easier once Relena stood up and made some excuse about going to powder her nose. When she was gone he reminded himself that she had done nothing more than enter his life - in fact, he had been the one to initiate contact, so it wasn't like he could blame her for how he felt.

No, how he felt was his problem alone.