When Treize boarded the plane the next morning, after clearing security, he found Zechs already seated. The young man rose, bowed with elegant grace. To all appearance, nothing had changed, save the mask. It was as if the whole long event had never happened, and he had followed Treize around as scheduled for the past few weeks. With the mask, it was now nigh impossible to read whatever scant emotion there was on the younger man's face. Acknowledging the bow, Treize sat down, observing that exactly as proper, how the lieutenant behaved. He stared directly in front, making no movement.

Trieze smiled. Everything was more or less going exactly to plan. Everybody worries too much.

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Carrying the newpaper, Instructor Noin made her way quietly back to her rooms. There were, Instructor Piaz informed her, 102 exams to mark. It would take a while to correct all of them, and she didn't relish the task. At least, she thought, it gives me an excuse to escape back to my room. When she had waken up, she was at the military hospital on Lake Victoria base. The nurses had clucked at her and assured at her that she was ok and safe now. She was confused at that point. And then she read General Trieze's missive to the school.

I apologize for appropriating Lt. Lucrezia Noin without warning. She was on a then-classified mission with my subordinate, First Lieutenant Zechs Merquise... Unfortunately, she was injured in the taking of the rebels out to assassinate Lieutenant General Diego O'Neguil, but she managed to protect the General's life. I entrust her care to your hands.

And, after reading the newspaper, she saw him, with a strange silver mask over his face, in his usual uniform of red and gold and white. Her hand shook slightly. There were no messages from him.

I'm sorry, Noin...

Damn it, she thought. I can't just sit here and mope. Her brow furrowed. I've got far too much work to do... She flicked on the radio.

"I'm not accepting that as an apology, Zechs," she said aloud. "You spiked my tea and run off, you abandon me on the dance floor and run off-- surely not the behavior of a gentleman or a prince...I'm not forgiving you yet."

Carefully she cut the picture of him out, and pushed it into her drawer. She would find a frame for it later. The radio started to play a familiar song.

Again, I hear her words
exactly as said. That she'll give
Oh, so true. She loves you. . .

I keep on hearing you so fret and upset
how you won't give your love evermore. . .

She smiled. "It been 3 days and 7 hours, Zechs. I'm counting."

And I hear you
So fret and upset
How you won't
Give your love
Evermore. . .

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He observed coldly, clinically, that the song was not too annoying, the girl was pretty, and that they danced well together. He should be enjoying this. However-- There was a figure standing by the wall, the too familiar shock of purple-black hair obscuring her face... And this girl - what was her name again?-- was saying something to him and he was too distracted to make an answer.

"I beg your pardon...?" Zechs said finally, unable to remove the taste of ice from his words.

Xiaohuar smiled up at him guilelessly. "I asked if you, sir, was this cold to every single girl that asks you for a dance."

"I am sorry." Less cold, but not warm enough. Which he should be. It was improper and most ungentlemanly of him to ignore Xiaohuar. He watch Treize approach her, lead her to the dance floor.

"No, don't apologize-- it probably is my fault anyway. But," she asked, her voice as guileless as her face, "what how you behave if that girl had asked for this dance?" Xiaohuar turned her head to look at Trieze and his partner.

He stiffened unperceptablely. But her hand was on his shoulder, and she would have felt the tensing and relaxing of muscles. The singer waited, but Zechs refused to answer. So they carried on the dance in silence.

At the end, as she curtsied, she said lazily: "I'm devastated, First Lieutenant, that you have no eyes for me. However" -- she observed a different man, an older man, approach the female officer, to ask for the next dance-- "it appears that your lady friend is more popular than I am..." With a last languid smile, she moved away, graceful as only stage performers can be.

In a moment Xiaohuar climbed to the stage and started her performance again. "I must thank my partner for a beautiful dance, although I guess he has another girl on his mind. So, I would like to sing this next song for him, "Only your friend", from Macross II."

The music started, and he made his way back to side of Treize, oblivious to the trailing gazes of girls after him, determined not to look at her on the dance floor.

...It's then when my heart skips a beat
Am I only your friend?
Long lost out of view
As I sit next to you

Then suddenly you rise and go
You walk away
I lose sight of you...

Damnit, he thought. This is stupid. Why can't you admit that you want a dance with her? Strengthening his resolve, he made his way to the front and onto the dance floor, seeking a particular couple. She is your friend, you know, and you really ought to greet her sooner...

He took a careful breath and tapped the older man on the shoulder.

Maybe it's love- I don't know
I just can't tell you what happens in me
It's love. Oh- can't you see?

I can't let on that I'm scared
You'll see right through to my soul
What shall I say, when you know?

Forever! Held in my heart
I'll hide inside how I wish'd it to be,
and never let it show

Maybe you'll never leave me
Remain as friends -let it be,
I'll hide inside these few words

I truly love you...

AC 194, At Lake Victoria's Ball, before the beginning of the epic known as --

GUNDAM WING.