To anyone who still reads this, I had this chapter done awhile ago, but I couldn't post it due to the big crash thing
on ff.net.
Welcome to Lodoss Island!!*
...Or... maybe it's Chapter Nine...
Is anyone going to Otakon?
I'm going with a big group cosplaying as the "Ranma Bunch."
We have a Nodoka, Ranma, Ryoga, Ukyou, Nabiki, Kasumi, Shampoo,
and maybe some other people. I get to make all of the costumes. X_X
I *LOVE* my sewing machine.
Ah, well, anyways, if any of you are going, drop me an IM.
If you have no idea what I'm talking about, check out
"http://www.otakon.com"
--Well, that's what I had written about two weeks ago, before the big ff.net breakdown... thing. Anyway...
I went, I saw, I otaku'd. And it was good.
Remember: Puh-puh-Parn!!*
-Here's Chapter Nine!
August Sere
(refs* from Records of Lodoss War, which I love.^_^)
-----------------------------------------------------
------------------------
I Know Who I Am: Chapter Nine: Don't Tell Heero, But...
IKWIA: 9
-----------
Heero was cold. He was cold, alone, angry. And furious for lamenting.
Lamenting her leaving, lamenting his staying, and not having gone after her. But, to start
off with, he hadn't known where she'd gone to, or with whom. It had only later occurred to
him that both she and Trowa had left at the same time. It was that knowledge from which the
anger came, and sadness, too. A deep rooted kind of sadness, the kind one can never
acknowledge until it murders their soul. She had left with Trowa. Most likely to start a
new life with Trowa; without himself. But Heero had no soul to be killed, or to die.
The only glimpse of his soul had hopped a plane with Trowa over six months earlier.
Oh, how he hated Trowa.
-------------------------
Serena sat on her bed and looked out the window towards the ocean. The sun was just
beginning to creep over the horizon, but she had already woken up. Dressed in her favorite
blue loose pants and white top, the girl had just finished lacing up her boots when there
was a knock on the door.
"Come in," she called out. The door opened, and a Trowa stepped in.
"Good morning, Sere-chan," greeted Trowa, smiling lightly.
"G'morning." Serena smiled back. "So, what's on the menu for today? We doing anything, or..?"
she trailed off.
"Or can we do something fun? Sorry, Sere. Maybe tomorrow... today we've got that ball we
have to attend, remember? The one for the ambassadors and royalty of the Earthsphere and the
colonies." Trowa waited for Serena's reaction, laughing lightly as the girl wrinkled her nose
in mock distaste.
"Yes, yes, I remember. Honestly, Trowa; to know that you think so little of me." She sniffled,
closing her eyes and turning away. Trowa's eyes widened and were instantly downcast. "Sere-chan,
you know I didn't mean-" Serena opened one eye.
"Gotcha! Mwahaha!" Everyone's favorite moon princess laughed as she threw a pillow at Trowa
before darting out of her room and skittering around the corner at the opposite end of the hall.
Trowa sighed with affection, and walked down the hall after her. He found her sitting on a
barstool in the kitchen, eating breakfast straight out of the box. She welcomed him with a smile.
Trowa couldn't help but smile back; she just had an effect on people.
"So," Serena began, popping some cereal into her mouth, "what time is it, anyway?"
"Two."
"Two? Man, I'm up early!" Trowa sighed.
"Two P.M., Serena." Hearing this, Serena's eyes bugged out.
"Two P.M?!! Why on the colonies did you let me sleep so long?!"
"Well, to start off with, you were drunk out of your mind. For two, you were drunk
out of your mind." Serena stuck her tongue out as Trowa continued. "You really don't hold
alcohol well; you know that."
"You know it was Duo's last night in town! And he challenged me to the contest. I
couldn't just refuse."
"I hope you went in disguise."
"Of course." Serena rolled her eyes.
"You didn't come in until late; I was worried." Trowa's eyes softened.
"Aw, you were worried! That's so sweet!" She jumped up and gave him a hug, smiling...
before cracking up, and prompting Trowa to defend himself.
"...I figured that if I woke you up when you were still tired; you'd be acting like a bunny
with rabies. Not desirable, considering that already you look like one."
"Why you! Urgghh!" Serena forced herself to calm down; she'd satisfy herself by messing with
his hairgel later. "Anyways, how soon do you want to leave?"
"Well, you need to make an appearance there by five; so we need to leave by three or so. Though,
I'm sure the tabloids would love it if the co-heir to the Winner fortune were late to such
an event."
"Yeah, I'm sure they would. Damn rubberneckers." Serena frowned, before her eyes widened in
realization. "Ah! Three?? It's already two! I gotta get ready!" She jumped off the barstool,
running to the bathroom and slamming the door. Trowa's laugh rang throughout the house as the
shower was turned on.
---------
Two-thirty P.M. found Serena in her room, getting dressed. She strapped on several guns
before sliding on her Silver Millenium gown, which she had materialized from her sub-space
pocket. It was still her favorite. As for the guns, Trowa had taught her how to use them;
insisting that she be able to defend herself whenever she helped him on espionage missions.
She could see his point; she had helped him out on many such occasions.
Trowa... dear Trowa. He had been rather cold and quiet at first, but after awhile, he had
warmed up. Serena had originally planned to relocate somewhere else, but as soon as he'd gotten
to know her, Trowa had insisted that Serena could stay with him. She was grateful for that. He'd
been such a good friend to her. The idea of posing as a couple
with Trowa drifted into her thoughts, reminding her of the time when she'd wanted, for a moment,
to be more that friends with him.
~~~~~~MEMORY~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trowa and Serena were sitting on the grass eating egg sandwiches that she'd made for them.
He was busy showing her all of the constellations and naming them, when Serena had suddenly
thought that Trowa looked rather handsome sitting there, kindly taking the time to point
out all the star formations to her.
"Serena??" Trowa turned towards the girl who hadn't said anything for quite some time. His
eyes widened, however, when he noticed the way she was acting; moving towards him and leaning
her head back, her eyes closed. With a start, he gently put his hand on her arm, suprising her
into opening her eyes.
"Serena, we can't do this." Trowa said, closing his eyes.
"Why not?" She looked at him. He sighed.
"I think that you're wonderful, and beautiful, and if things were different..."
..Heero still needs you... Trowa mentally added before continuing.
"But they aren't; you're still upset, and you know it. It wouldn't be right.
Let's not do anything we'll regret." Trowa looked at her.
Serena blinked, shook her head; smiled. "You're right, I guess...
I'll.. I'll leave if you'd like."
"No," Trowa replied, "stay."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ever since that day, Trowa and she had been closer. He was still quiet and withdrawn, but
not all of the time. When he wanted to, he could really be fun to be around. Now he was more
of the brotherly type to her. They took care of each other; going on missions, cooking meals,
tending to eachother's wounds... they were like siblings...
He was definitely the *protective* older brother.
Smiling, Serena realized that was okay with her. Trowa punched any guy that approached her
in the same way that he would shoot an enemy, and with twice as much force, too. Still, it didn't
bother her. For now, she was through with guys-- men, boys and spandex'd pilots alike.
-------
Over a year ago, after leaving the "Peacecrap Academy" as she preferred to call it, Quatre had
contacted her through Trowa and informed her that, apparently, his father had made her a co-heir
to the Winner fortune before his untimely death. Both she and Quatre found this rather strange,
considering that she really *hadn't* existed as "Augustus Winner" for the "full" sixteen years
of her life.
Of course, Quatre's father wouldn't have been expected to know that. Serena figured that whomever
had brought her back to life and into the Winner family as Augustus had also probably done a
*whole* lot of memory altering; present AND past. To a whole mess of people, for that matter.
She explained the likely situation to Quatre, who had been calmed from his confusion, and had
made a statement to the media. It was taken rather well by the press, considering that none of
even Quatre's sisters were heirs to the main fortune; although they would always be well taken
care of.
Now the co-heir to the largest fortune both in the colonies and on the Earthsphere, Serena,
known as Augustus to the public eye, was expected to attend almost every formal event. Thus,
she was often able (and willing) to provide cover for Trowa on seemingly diplomatic missions.
Serena, however, was not only the heir to a fortune, but she was also an Arabian princess
(as by her latest "birth" parents). This made her the most wealthy princess to be found; Quatre
being her male counterpart, and both of them being somewhat influential in politics.
She didn't see Quatre very often at these events; the public generally accepting this occourance
by assuming that he was taking care of the Winner family business. Of course, for him, that was a
convenient cover-up; but for her, she had decided to attend these events in order to relate
relevant information back to Quatre. Oz, according to her latest updates, still had no knowledge
of Quatre's status as a gundam pilot; but if they ever found out, Serena knew that she herself
would also be forced to go into hiding.
Perhaps it might not even come to that, though. Serena knew that one of the most influential
events in history would begin in less than six months. Until then, she would live her life
to the fullest.
--------
Hours later, she found herself at the Ambassadors' Ball; waiting for Trowa, who had snuck
off to search for a hidden base he had heard of beneath the building. Serena watched the many
couples twirling around the ballroom. They all moved stiffly, as if carefully calculating each
dance step. With a sigh of disgust, she noticed that Relena was there. 'Not stalking for once,
eh?' she thought to herself. She reviewed her mission...
Nothing really important for her to do, this time, aside from covering for Trowa while he was
retrieving info.
The cold face Serena had on hid how she really felt: lonely. Trowa was good company, and she
loved him... but it was sexually platonic. She wanted more than that, though, from someone...
The ball was like any other ball to Serena. Boring. She knew by now that Trowa, in any time
that he was in a room with her, somehow managed to scare off any gentlemen that approached.
Unfortunately, Trowa was not in the room when Treize came and offered her a dance. Figuring
it less conspicuous to accept, Serena had gracefully offered her hand in answer.
As they twirled around the dance hall, much to Serena's disgust, Treize attempted to start a
conversation with her.
"May I ask your name, miss?"
Serena thought fast. "Usagi Tsukino," she replied, using one of her code names.
"I am Treize Kushrenada." Serena nodded; she had already
known. 'Bastard,' she thought to herself, 'helping to start a war.'
"May I ask what you are doing here tonight--" Treize turned to face a soldier.
"Sir, Lady Une wishes to speak with you," the soldier informed him. Treize turned back to excuse
himself from Serena, but she had already dissapeared into the crowd. He then turned again, this
time to walk towards Lady Une.
"Lady," he greeted, bowing. "What is it?"
"Your excellency," she replied, "the woman you were just dancing with- she's the one that
was back on the base... We had been instructed to search one of the rebels' bases for a secret
weapon, and we "recruited" her, remember?" Une said softly, partially in code.
"Ah, yes. I remember, you briefed me on your failure on that assignment...Are you sure that's
the same princess as the one we captured from the rebel base a few years
ago? I admit, they look quite similar, but that's Augustus Winner. To take action against
her would be quite unwise in regards to the public opinion of Oz." Treize frowned as he stopped
talking, looking again at Serena. "Uncanny similarity."
Permission to--" Treize cut her off, nodding.
"You know what to do. Remember- do NOT destroy her." Treize walked off, ending the conversation.
Lady Une nodded, and signaled the immediate dispatch of all standing guards near Serena's current
location. She watched as "Augustus", glancing about casually, noticed several soldiers making
their way towards her. Serena's eyes darted around the room, searching for the best possible
escape, before, by chance, locking with those of Lady Une, and narrowing into a cold stare.
Une smirked at Serena, then watched as the princess quickly made her way to an exit from the
vast ballroom.
---------
'Shitshitshit!!!' This was the summary of Serena's thoughts as she ran toward the palace exit.
Panicked. That was how Serena had felt at the moment she caught Une staring at her, and at
the second she realized that guards were nearing her current location. She ran out of the
doorway, and the guards followed at a run. Serena sent a mental command to the crystal for her
dress to dematerialize, and it did, leaving her in her fighting outfit, which continued to
conceal her guns. Breaking out at a full run, Serena used the com link Trowa
had installed in a locket to contact him. When his face popped up, Serena greeted him with the
following words.
"Trowa?! Holy crap!" Serena's voice came out sounding terrified.
"Sere? What is it??" Trowa sounded worried.
"Une!" Serena panted as she continued running, "she saw me, and our eyes... She knows about
me! She knows who I am!!"
"Sere, where are you!?" Trowa was already running.
"I'm near the West Entrance! Hurry, Trowa, there's too--" there was a crash of thunder in
Trowa's ear as Serena's voice was abrubtly cut off.
"Serena?!!" Trowa was, for the first time in his life, terrified.
-------
Heero had just eliminated ten more soldiers, the last of those that had spotted him, when he
saw a figure running from guards up ahead. 'They had better not interfere with my mission,'
Heero thought. Realizing that the figure was running from the same uniformed soldiers that he
had been, he became, uncharacteristically (big word...O.O), interested in their motives.
Pocketing his stolen information, Heero began to chase after the figure.
~~~~~~~~~~
Serena had overestimated the number of soldiers chasing her. Twenty bullets later, there were
none left standing, though she hadn't fatally wounded any of them. She hated to kill.
She was just about to silently congratulate herself on her narrow escape when she was shoved to the
ground by an unknown person.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Heero had finally caught up to the figure, and had tackled them to the ground. The person
appeared (*ahem*) to be female, and Heero opened his eyes. They widened in shock before he
quickly regained his composure (read: regained his stoic face-facade).
"Serena?" he said, more as a statement than as a question.
~~~~~~~~~~
Serena stared up at him, shocked. "...Heero..."
Heero stood up, brushing off his clothes. "How are you?" he said, raising an eyebrow.
`````````
Meanwhile, Trowa was running towards Serena. He noticed Heero, although he didn't recognize him.
As such, Trowa was angry, and worried for Serena. The figure (Heero) was too close for comfort
to Serena, and was holding a gun. Could Trowa risk a shot? No... they were too close.
Trowa ran up behind the person, turned them around, and
punched them squarely in the stomach.
~~~~~~~~~
Heero looked at Trowa, his face showing nothing. Trowa had hit him. He was shocked, yes; angry,
as well, but ever with his emotionless facade. "Trowa." Heero glared. "I take it you have
something against me now?"
~~~~~~~~~
Trowa was suprised. "Heero?" He said, eyebrows raised. Then, after remembering what Heero had
done to Serena, Trowa narrowed his eyes. "I didn't recognize you," he said, and slammed his
fist into Heero's face.
~~~~~~~~
Heero wiped the blood off of his mouth. He stood, looking at Serena, trying to find the
words to apologize for the way he'd hurt her. "Sere...
I'll do anything.. No one else..." His eyes revealed how lost he felt.
"Get away from her, Heero. You've done enough," Trowa growled, stepping towards Serena.
Heero's eyes hardened as he narrowed them at Trowa.
Serena noticed the look Heero was giving Trowa. 'He doesn't think that Trowa would... That he
and I have...!' Her eyes widened... 'He does, doesn't he. What a baka.'
Heero stepped closer to Serena. 'I don't want to lose her again...'
He pulled his gun on Trowa. Serena looked shocked, and stepped in front of Trowa.
'Heero, it's not like that..!' she thought.
"Heero... I'm sorry..." she whispered. She was sorry that he was suffering as much as it
appeared. She was sorry that she had involuntarily caused his pain. She was sorry that
he still loved her... because she couldn't forgive him.
Heero sadly smiled, inwardly. He had a feeling that he'd lost her. He'd hurt his beauty,
and Trowa had been there to pick up the pieces. 'No longer mine...' he thought.
'Trowa's.'
Heero looked for a long time at Serena, and she gazed back at him, tears in her eyes.
'I love you, Heero.....'
Giving her her a final glance, he turned around, and began to walk away, for good, this time.
Trowa touched her arm, and Serena sighed, turning away from the direction in which Heero had
gone. She looked at Trowa, her eyes watering.
"Did you get the information?" she asked him.
"Yes. Did you find what you were looking for?" Trowa queried, although he wasn't sure what
Serena had been hoping to find.
'Absolution...?' she thought.
"No." She replied, and began to walk towards her limo.
`````````````````~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~```````````````````
------------------Okay, so that's it for chapter nine; only one or two chapters left.
-----------------*Sniff* All my Heero-loving girls out there-- please don't be mad at Trowa
----------------for hitting our Hee-chan. Keep in mind that Trowa loves Serena like a sister,
---------------and acts accordingly. Heero really hurt Sere-chan when he said that *he* wanted
--------------her, and then soon acted like he didn't afterward. He reeeaaaallly hurt her with
-------------that, so it's not unreasonable for Trowa to pull the big-brother act and hit Heero.
------------Plus, I made sure to insure Heero's face first (lol), so no permanent damage will
-----------be done.
----------
---------
--------
-------
------
-----PLEASE REVIEW. 6.6
----
---
--
-
on ff.net.
Welcome to Lodoss Island!!*
...Or... maybe it's Chapter Nine...
Is anyone going to Otakon?
I'm going with a big group cosplaying as the "Ranma Bunch."
We have a Nodoka, Ranma, Ryoga, Ukyou, Nabiki, Kasumi, Shampoo,
and maybe some other people. I get to make all of the costumes. X_X
I *LOVE* my sewing machine.
Ah, well, anyways, if any of you are going, drop me an IM.
If you have no idea what I'm talking about, check out
"http://www.otakon.com"
--Well, that's what I had written about two weeks ago, before the big ff.net breakdown... thing. Anyway...
I went, I saw, I otaku'd. And it was good.
Remember: Puh-puh-Parn!!*
-Here's Chapter Nine!
August Sere
(refs* from Records of Lodoss War, which I love.^_^)
-----------------------------------------------------
------------------------
I Know Who I Am: Chapter Nine: Don't Tell Heero, But...
IKWIA: 9
-----------
Heero was cold. He was cold, alone, angry. And furious for lamenting.
Lamenting her leaving, lamenting his staying, and not having gone after her. But, to start
off with, he hadn't known where she'd gone to, or with whom. It had only later occurred to
him that both she and Trowa had left at the same time. It was that knowledge from which the
anger came, and sadness, too. A deep rooted kind of sadness, the kind one can never
acknowledge until it murders their soul. She had left with Trowa. Most likely to start a
new life with Trowa; without himself. But Heero had no soul to be killed, or to die.
The only glimpse of his soul had hopped a plane with Trowa over six months earlier.
Oh, how he hated Trowa.
-------------------------
Serena sat on her bed and looked out the window towards the ocean. The sun was just
beginning to creep over the horizon, but she had already woken up. Dressed in her favorite
blue loose pants and white top, the girl had just finished lacing up her boots when there
was a knock on the door.
"Come in," she called out. The door opened, and a Trowa stepped in.
"Good morning, Sere-chan," greeted Trowa, smiling lightly.
"G'morning." Serena smiled back. "So, what's on the menu for today? We doing anything, or..?"
she trailed off.
"Or can we do something fun? Sorry, Sere. Maybe tomorrow... today we've got that ball we
have to attend, remember? The one for the ambassadors and royalty of the Earthsphere and the
colonies." Trowa waited for Serena's reaction, laughing lightly as the girl wrinkled her nose
in mock distaste.
"Yes, yes, I remember. Honestly, Trowa; to know that you think so little of me." She sniffled,
closing her eyes and turning away. Trowa's eyes widened and were instantly downcast. "Sere-chan,
you know I didn't mean-" Serena opened one eye.
"Gotcha! Mwahaha!" Everyone's favorite moon princess laughed as she threw a pillow at Trowa
before darting out of her room and skittering around the corner at the opposite end of the hall.
Trowa sighed with affection, and walked down the hall after her. He found her sitting on a
barstool in the kitchen, eating breakfast straight out of the box. She welcomed him with a smile.
Trowa couldn't help but smile back; she just had an effect on people.
"So," Serena began, popping some cereal into her mouth, "what time is it, anyway?"
"Two."
"Two? Man, I'm up early!" Trowa sighed.
"Two P.M., Serena." Hearing this, Serena's eyes bugged out.
"Two P.M?!! Why on the colonies did you let me sleep so long?!"
"Well, to start off with, you were drunk out of your mind. For two, you were drunk
out of your mind." Serena stuck her tongue out as Trowa continued. "You really don't hold
alcohol well; you know that."
"You know it was Duo's last night in town! And he challenged me to the contest. I
couldn't just refuse."
"I hope you went in disguise."
"Of course." Serena rolled her eyes.
"You didn't come in until late; I was worried." Trowa's eyes softened.
"Aw, you were worried! That's so sweet!" She jumped up and gave him a hug, smiling...
before cracking up, and prompting Trowa to defend himself.
"...I figured that if I woke you up when you were still tired; you'd be acting like a bunny
with rabies. Not desirable, considering that already you look like one."
"Why you! Urgghh!" Serena forced herself to calm down; she'd satisfy herself by messing with
his hairgel later. "Anyways, how soon do you want to leave?"
"Well, you need to make an appearance there by five; so we need to leave by three or so. Though,
I'm sure the tabloids would love it if the co-heir to the Winner fortune were late to such
an event."
"Yeah, I'm sure they would. Damn rubberneckers." Serena frowned, before her eyes widened in
realization. "Ah! Three?? It's already two! I gotta get ready!" She jumped off the barstool,
running to the bathroom and slamming the door. Trowa's laugh rang throughout the house as the
shower was turned on.
---------
Two-thirty P.M. found Serena in her room, getting dressed. She strapped on several guns
before sliding on her Silver Millenium gown, which she had materialized from her sub-space
pocket. It was still her favorite. As for the guns, Trowa had taught her how to use them;
insisting that she be able to defend herself whenever she helped him on espionage missions.
She could see his point; she had helped him out on many such occasions.
Trowa... dear Trowa. He had been rather cold and quiet at first, but after awhile, he had
warmed up. Serena had originally planned to relocate somewhere else, but as soon as he'd gotten
to know her, Trowa had insisted that Serena could stay with him. She was grateful for that. He'd
been such a good friend to her. The idea of posing as a couple
with Trowa drifted into her thoughts, reminding her of the time when she'd wanted, for a moment,
to be more that friends with him.
~~~~~~MEMORY~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trowa and Serena were sitting on the grass eating egg sandwiches that she'd made for them.
He was busy showing her all of the constellations and naming them, when Serena had suddenly
thought that Trowa looked rather handsome sitting there, kindly taking the time to point
out all the star formations to her.
"Serena??" Trowa turned towards the girl who hadn't said anything for quite some time. His
eyes widened, however, when he noticed the way she was acting; moving towards him and leaning
her head back, her eyes closed. With a start, he gently put his hand on her arm, suprising her
into opening her eyes.
"Serena, we can't do this." Trowa said, closing his eyes.
"Why not?" She looked at him. He sighed.
"I think that you're wonderful, and beautiful, and if things were different..."
..Heero still needs you... Trowa mentally added before continuing.
"But they aren't; you're still upset, and you know it. It wouldn't be right.
Let's not do anything we'll regret." Trowa looked at her.
Serena blinked, shook her head; smiled. "You're right, I guess...
I'll.. I'll leave if you'd like."
"No," Trowa replied, "stay."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ever since that day, Trowa and she had been closer. He was still quiet and withdrawn, but
not all of the time. When he wanted to, he could really be fun to be around. Now he was more
of the brotherly type to her. They took care of each other; going on missions, cooking meals,
tending to eachother's wounds... they were like siblings...
He was definitely the *protective* older brother.
Smiling, Serena realized that was okay with her. Trowa punched any guy that approached her
in the same way that he would shoot an enemy, and with twice as much force, too. Still, it didn't
bother her. For now, she was through with guys-- men, boys and spandex'd pilots alike.
-------
Over a year ago, after leaving the "Peacecrap Academy" as she preferred to call it, Quatre had
contacted her through Trowa and informed her that, apparently, his father had made her a co-heir
to the Winner fortune before his untimely death. Both she and Quatre found this rather strange,
considering that she really *hadn't* existed as "Augustus Winner" for the "full" sixteen years
of her life.
Of course, Quatre's father wouldn't have been expected to know that. Serena figured that whomever
had brought her back to life and into the Winner family as Augustus had also probably done a
*whole* lot of memory altering; present AND past. To a whole mess of people, for that matter.
She explained the likely situation to Quatre, who had been calmed from his confusion, and had
made a statement to the media. It was taken rather well by the press, considering that none of
even Quatre's sisters were heirs to the main fortune; although they would always be well taken
care of.
Now the co-heir to the largest fortune both in the colonies and on the Earthsphere, Serena,
known as Augustus to the public eye, was expected to attend almost every formal event. Thus,
she was often able (and willing) to provide cover for Trowa on seemingly diplomatic missions.
Serena, however, was not only the heir to a fortune, but she was also an Arabian princess
(as by her latest "birth" parents). This made her the most wealthy princess to be found; Quatre
being her male counterpart, and both of them being somewhat influential in politics.
She didn't see Quatre very often at these events; the public generally accepting this occourance
by assuming that he was taking care of the Winner family business. Of course, for him, that was a
convenient cover-up; but for her, she had decided to attend these events in order to relate
relevant information back to Quatre. Oz, according to her latest updates, still had no knowledge
of Quatre's status as a gundam pilot; but if they ever found out, Serena knew that she herself
would also be forced to go into hiding.
Perhaps it might not even come to that, though. Serena knew that one of the most influential
events in history would begin in less than six months. Until then, she would live her life
to the fullest.
--------
Hours later, she found herself at the Ambassadors' Ball; waiting for Trowa, who had snuck
off to search for a hidden base he had heard of beneath the building. Serena watched the many
couples twirling around the ballroom. They all moved stiffly, as if carefully calculating each
dance step. With a sigh of disgust, she noticed that Relena was there. 'Not stalking for once,
eh?' she thought to herself. She reviewed her mission...
Nothing really important for her to do, this time, aside from covering for Trowa while he was
retrieving info.
The cold face Serena had on hid how she really felt: lonely. Trowa was good company, and she
loved him... but it was sexually platonic. She wanted more than that, though, from someone...
The ball was like any other ball to Serena. Boring. She knew by now that Trowa, in any time
that he was in a room with her, somehow managed to scare off any gentlemen that approached.
Unfortunately, Trowa was not in the room when Treize came and offered her a dance. Figuring
it less conspicuous to accept, Serena had gracefully offered her hand in answer.
As they twirled around the dance hall, much to Serena's disgust, Treize attempted to start a
conversation with her.
"May I ask your name, miss?"
Serena thought fast. "Usagi Tsukino," she replied, using one of her code names.
"I am Treize Kushrenada." Serena nodded; she had already
known. 'Bastard,' she thought to herself, 'helping to start a war.'
"May I ask what you are doing here tonight--" Treize turned to face a soldier.
"Sir, Lady Une wishes to speak with you," the soldier informed him. Treize turned back to excuse
himself from Serena, but she had already dissapeared into the crowd. He then turned again, this
time to walk towards Lady Une.
"Lady," he greeted, bowing. "What is it?"
"Your excellency," she replied, "the woman you were just dancing with- she's the one that
was back on the base... We had been instructed to search one of the rebels' bases for a secret
weapon, and we "recruited" her, remember?" Une said softly, partially in code.
"Ah, yes. I remember, you briefed me on your failure on that assignment...Are you sure that's
the same princess as the one we captured from the rebel base a few years
ago? I admit, they look quite similar, but that's Augustus Winner. To take action against
her would be quite unwise in regards to the public opinion of Oz." Treize frowned as he stopped
talking, looking again at Serena. "Uncanny similarity."
Permission to--" Treize cut her off, nodding.
"You know what to do. Remember- do NOT destroy her." Treize walked off, ending the conversation.
Lady Une nodded, and signaled the immediate dispatch of all standing guards near Serena's current
location. She watched as "Augustus", glancing about casually, noticed several soldiers making
their way towards her. Serena's eyes darted around the room, searching for the best possible
escape, before, by chance, locking with those of Lady Une, and narrowing into a cold stare.
Une smirked at Serena, then watched as the princess quickly made her way to an exit from the
vast ballroom.
---------
'Shitshitshit!!!' This was the summary of Serena's thoughts as she ran toward the palace exit.
Panicked. That was how Serena had felt at the moment she caught Une staring at her, and at
the second she realized that guards were nearing her current location. She ran out of the
doorway, and the guards followed at a run. Serena sent a mental command to the crystal for her
dress to dematerialize, and it did, leaving her in her fighting outfit, which continued to
conceal her guns. Breaking out at a full run, Serena used the com link Trowa
had installed in a locket to contact him. When his face popped up, Serena greeted him with the
following words.
"Trowa?! Holy crap!" Serena's voice came out sounding terrified.
"Sere? What is it??" Trowa sounded worried.
"Une!" Serena panted as she continued running, "she saw me, and our eyes... She knows about
me! She knows who I am!!"
"Sere, where are you!?" Trowa was already running.
"I'm near the West Entrance! Hurry, Trowa, there's too--" there was a crash of thunder in
Trowa's ear as Serena's voice was abrubtly cut off.
"Serena?!!" Trowa was, for the first time in his life, terrified.
-------
Heero had just eliminated ten more soldiers, the last of those that had spotted him, when he
saw a figure running from guards up ahead. 'They had better not interfere with my mission,'
Heero thought. Realizing that the figure was running from the same uniformed soldiers that he
had been, he became, uncharacteristically (big word...O.O), interested in their motives.
Pocketing his stolen information, Heero began to chase after the figure.
~~~~~~~~~~
Serena had overestimated the number of soldiers chasing her. Twenty bullets later, there were
none left standing, though she hadn't fatally wounded any of them. She hated to kill.
She was just about to silently congratulate herself on her narrow escape when she was shoved to the
ground by an unknown person.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Heero had finally caught up to the figure, and had tackled them to the ground. The person
appeared (*ahem*) to be female, and Heero opened his eyes. They widened in shock before he
quickly regained his composure (read: regained his stoic face-facade).
"Serena?" he said, more as a statement than as a question.
~~~~~~~~~~
Serena stared up at him, shocked. "...Heero..."
Heero stood up, brushing off his clothes. "How are you?" he said, raising an eyebrow.
`````````
Meanwhile, Trowa was running towards Serena. He noticed Heero, although he didn't recognize him.
As such, Trowa was angry, and worried for Serena. The figure (Heero) was too close for comfort
to Serena, and was holding a gun. Could Trowa risk a shot? No... they were too close.
Trowa ran up behind the person, turned them around, and
punched them squarely in the stomach.
~~~~~~~~~
Heero looked at Trowa, his face showing nothing. Trowa had hit him. He was shocked, yes; angry,
as well, but ever with his emotionless facade. "Trowa." Heero glared. "I take it you have
something against me now?"
~~~~~~~~~
Trowa was suprised. "Heero?" He said, eyebrows raised. Then, after remembering what Heero had
done to Serena, Trowa narrowed his eyes. "I didn't recognize you," he said, and slammed his
fist into Heero's face.
~~~~~~~~
Heero wiped the blood off of his mouth. He stood, looking at Serena, trying to find the
words to apologize for the way he'd hurt her. "Sere...
I'll do anything.. No one else..." His eyes revealed how lost he felt.
"Get away from her, Heero. You've done enough," Trowa growled, stepping towards Serena.
Heero's eyes hardened as he narrowed them at Trowa.
Serena noticed the look Heero was giving Trowa. 'He doesn't think that Trowa would... That he
and I have...!' Her eyes widened... 'He does, doesn't he. What a baka.'
Heero stepped closer to Serena. 'I don't want to lose her again...'
He pulled his gun on Trowa. Serena looked shocked, and stepped in front of Trowa.
'Heero, it's not like that..!' she thought.
"Heero... I'm sorry..." she whispered. She was sorry that he was suffering as much as it
appeared. She was sorry that she had involuntarily caused his pain. She was sorry that
he still loved her... because she couldn't forgive him.
Heero sadly smiled, inwardly. He had a feeling that he'd lost her. He'd hurt his beauty,
and Trowa had been there to pick up the pieces. 'No longer mine...' he thought.
'Trowa's.'
Heero looked for a long time at Serena, and she gazed back at him, tears in her eyes.
'I love you, Heero.....'
Giving her her a final glance, he turned around, and began to walk away, for good, this time.
Trowa touched her arm, and Serena sighed, turning away from the direction in which Heero had
gone. She looked at Trowa, her eyes watering.
"Did you get the information?" she asked him.
"Yes. Did you find what you were looking for?" Trowa queried, although he wasn't sure what
Serena had been hoping to find.
'Absolution...?' she thought.
"No." She replied, and began to walk towards her limo.
`````````````````~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~```````````````````
------------------Okay, so that's it for chapter nine; only one or two chapters left.
-----------------*Sniff* All my Heero-loving girls out there-- please don't be mad at Trowa
----------------for hitting our Hee-chan. Keep in mind that Trowa loves Serena like a sister,
---------------and acts accordingly. Heero really hurt Sere-chan when he said that *he* wanted
--------------her, and then soon acted like he didn't afterward. He reeeaaaallly hurt her with
-------------that, so it's not unreasonable for Trowa to pull the big-brother act and hit Heero.
------------Plus, I made sure to insure Heero's face first (lol), so no permanent damage will
-----------be done.
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-----PLEASE REVIEW. 6.6
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