"Ladies and Gentlemen," Cried the doorman, looking over at Kitty and Heero as they entered the room, "Lady Winner!" The courtiers and politicians had a mixed response. There had been a long literary fued between Relena and Kitty. Kitty had started by sending a letter to Relena, which was read out at the commons, attacking her methods. After that, a constant wave of letters was sent back and forth, and the commons and its ministers were bcoming divided over who they supported. Kitty and Heero walked slowly down the steps, Kitty waving a begloved hand at the acquaintances. Heero felt very out of place and hid behind his untidy fringe. At the bottom of the steps, Kitty turned to Heero.
"I'm guessing you know Relena," she said quietly. Heero nodded. "And then I'm also guessing your on her side." Heero looked confused.
"I don't take sides... and sides of what?" Kitty smiled.
"It's OK, Heero, I understand completely. You're my friend no matter what OK?" She looked around, and saw Relena entering the room. "Listen, I'd better get out of site- she'll throttle me if she catches me." Heero grabbed Kitty's arm again. She winced. Heero frowned.
"I thought I apologised for that," he sighed. Kitty nodded.
"Yeah, but I learn from mistakes," she replied. Heero smiled.
"What's this all about? It sounds like you two get don't get along." Kitty laughed quietly as Relena's name rung across the hall, and the vast majority cheered, and many ran up to greet her.
"I have very differnt views to Relena, Heero," she said, "to put it simply. Relena belives what she is doing is right, but I think the government needs a reform. I think she's forgetting who we owe this peace to..." Heero cut Kitty off.
"I'll support Relena is whatever she does, but I agree with what you are saying. What I don't agree to is this sudden attitude you've developed- it's not impressive. I abstain from the argument." Kitty frowned, but then smiled.
"I understand, Heero. And I'll back off, too. But if you want to dance later, my companionship is yours." She winked, "go get her." And with that, Kitty's bobbing golden haired head vanished into the crowd.
A few minutes later, Quatre entered the hall. He dodged the doorman for a moment and surveryed the room. Heero was over on the far side, leant against the wall, alone. Quatre tutted.
"Some friends this lot are," he whispered, "can't even behave around my sister!" Quatre's cerulean eyes darted across the floor, halting on Kitty, who was discussing something with Minister's Rockhorth and Blackthorn. Relena was speeding towards her, fire in her eyes. Quatre suddenly sensed something and looked across the viewing balcony. There were several people gathwered on the other side. Many were couples, watching the merry making and chatting away, but there were five or so figures behind. One of them glanced at Quatre, and then looked away. Quatre frowned and went to pull out his pager. The Doorman spotted him and gestured at him to coem to the stairs. Quatre groaned and did as commanded.
"Ladies and gentlemen, The Minister of Pacifism of the L4 cluster, manager and owner of Winner corps and co-arranger of this ball, Ladies and Gentlemen, Quatre Raberba Winner!"
Duo was lsitening at the door when he heard a deafening cheer.
"Ok, Quatre's in," he said, turnignt o the others, "now it's our turn." Trowa looked at Wu-fei, who was sulking in a corner and fiddling with the needlework patch on his suit.
"Try and slip in quietly, we don't want people asking questions," Trowa said, looking particularly at Wu-fei. Wu-fei nodded. The three slipped in the door and whilst Quatre was being drooled over by the crowds the dashed downt he stairs, unnoticed. Duo saw Heero and waved at him.
"Lets go talk to Heero, see if anythings up." Trowa nodded and turned to Wu-fei.
"Kitty came with Heero," he said calmly, "so you'd do well to stay over here, out of the way. Check out the balcony. I think i spotted some shifty characters." Wu-fei sighed.
"I do not approve of beign ordered about, but if I value my neck, I shall do as i am told." With that, he climbed bakc up the stairs and leant against the banisters, sulking. Trowa shook his head and followed Duo.
"Hey! Whassup?" Duo cried as they approached Heero, "you look a little down in the mouth." Heero bowed his head.
"Any news?" he said tonelessly. Duo started.
"Sheesh! What happened?" he said, laughing a little at Heero's tone. Heero didn't look up.
"For starters, Kitty knows all about the gundams," he said.
"How?" asked Trowa, "Would Quatre really be stupid enough to tell her?" Heero shook his head.
"Of course not, but he was stupid enough to keep Sandrock's plans, and Kitty saw them. She built her jet later, and the door hatch is an improvement on the gundam platform hatches, modified for steps." Duo raised his eyebrows.
"Serious?" he asked, "Whoah, Kitty must be pretty smart!" Trowa rolled his eyes.
"Duo, you can be so unbeliveably naive at times, do you know that?" Duo looked hurt. "Kitty has been put up two years in school because thats the maximum the government allows. She's done several university and college courses in her spare time. She's a bonified genius!" Duo frowned.
"And she took the time to teach my gymnastics when she was that busy. Wow." Hidden to everyone but Duo, the tips of his ears flushed pink. Heero groaned.
"That's not all. I think Kitty could be a threat in this battle if Quatre doesn't get her to stay." Trowa cocked his head.
"What do you mean?" he asked. Heero looked over at Kitty, who was now chatting with some sons and daughters of diplomats about her own age.
"Kitty said that Quatre promised never to leave her again. He still hasn't told her that he's leaving." Duo snorted.
"We know. He completely spazzed out at Wu-fei about it!" Trowa nodded in agreement. Heero continued.
"Kitty told me that she's made a decision. If Quatre leaves again, so will she. She'll make a battle jet modification to her current jet and join forces with an organization specialising in attaining peace and gaining information." Trowa frowned.
"Would she really go that far? I mean, Kitty's a tough girl, I know that, but she's still a child, and she's nervous. Would she be the type to dash of into space for a full scale war?" Duo nodded.
"If Quatre's involved, I'm sure she'd jump infront of Sandrock for him!" Trowa sighed.
"Then Quatre's simply going to have to tell her. There's no way I'm going to let Kitty Winner go into space if I can help it."
Relena had dragged Kitty out onto a balcony. Kitty stood before her with hands on hips, frowning.
"Is it your absolute aim to ruin my evening?" she asked. Relena growled.
"Oh grow up, you incorrigable creature! I am sick of this!" Relena turned on her heel and leant against the banister. "I can't stand all this conflict anymore," she said, and turned back to face Kitty, "what are you trying to achieve in attacking me?" Kitty was shocked. She stammered for a moment and then straightened herself out.
"Justice for those who we owe peace to, Miss Relena," she said finally. Relena yelped in frustration.
"What do you mean by that?" she cried, "What is it that you want!" Kitty folded her arms behind her back.
"Soldiers have become social outcasts in the past few years, thanks to the lack of jobs requiring their skills and the violent rumours your parliament has let slip about soldiers needing a war. Well, I think you should have better control of your ministers, Miss Darlian, I really do!" Kitty turned away and continued. "Soldiers DON'T need a war. All they need is somewhere to go, better services for them, to help them back in to the soceity they saved and to let them live a normal life. I'm sure you know about the preventers organization?" Relena nodded. "Well, they won't accept most soldiers; they just want the elite. What about the footmen and the men who were out there on the front line, whilst the 'elite' cowered behind them? They have nothing now." She turned to Relena and stared deep into her eyes. "Heero has been lucky," she said, and Relena froze, "He has managed to re-start his life, with a proper education. However, I sense he is uneasy- the tools of war take effort to be reforged. If the government cannot not put in the effort to help fund rehabilitation, soldiers like Heero will up and leave their new lives, full of frustration and hatred for the world for not helping them, and you will have to dispose of them. It is far to late for many of our warriors- The ones who we owe our peace to, but maybe, just maybe, you could try and help those who you can still reach." Relena blinked slowly, eyeing Kitty with the greatest interest. She smiled.
"So that's what you wanted," she said quietly. Kitty nodded. Tears were in here eyes.
"I just want to help them. I don't..." she paused and sobbed, "I don't want Quatre to leave me again!" Relena walked over at hugged Kitty, making soft noises to try and calm her down. Heero walked out onto the balcony and watched. Kitty wiped her face with a handkerchief and sighed.
"You've saved your brother, or rather he have saved himself. Now, please, help me save mine." Relena could feel the tears pricking in her eyes now. She smiled.
"I can only offer you my word, Kitty, that I will try my very best," she said quietly. Kitty nodded, sniffing a little and dabbing at her eyes. She turned to Heero and smiled.
"Start your good work now, Relena," she said as she walked away, leaving Heero and Relena standing face to face for the first time in too long a time.
Back in the ballroom, Wu-fei was still watching silently whilst everyone else was enjoying themselves. Quatre was spekaing to the group of youngsters Kitty had spoken to earlier, Duo was dancing with Collette, a girl from school who was the daughter of the Minister of Littleton and Trowa was speaking to Orchestra's very attractive female flautist, who was on her break at the time. Wu-fei groaned and leant his head against the banister. This was ridiculous! Suddenly, something caught his eye and he looked up. Four figures stood on the opposite side of the balcony, eyeing the other guests cautiously. Wu-fei frowned. A tall, dark haired man began to speak in a hushed voice ot a young woman. She nodded and left. The man looked up, catching Wu-fei's eyes. He frowned and went over to another man, yonger than him, who was wearing a hat. Wu-fei turned away. Something's up, he said to himself. he looked over his shoulder to see the hat-man moving slowly towards him, clutching somethign in his pocket. Wu-fei immediatley sped down the stairs. This was no time to be getting into a fight. Wu-fei signalled to Trowa, who frowned.
"I'll be right back, Marissa," he said. The girl nodded. Trowa walked over to Wu-fei.
"I was getting information, Wu-fei!" he hissed. Wu-fei snorted.
"I'm sure," he said sarcastically, but then became serious, "soemthing's going on." Trowa sighed.
"You're telling me? Of course there is. There's always some conspiracy, some threat, some plot, and we always put a stop to it." Wu-fei groaned.
"No, you idiot! They know I know there's a plot, and they're after me. I don't want to make a scene!" Trowa laughed.
"It would be pretty hard to make a scene in this hat parade, Wu-fei. Just keep out of sight for a bit, they'll soon lose intrest." And with that, he jogged back over to Marissa and continued to conversation. Wu-fei sighed and leant against the wall. Something clattered down beside him. He looked over to see a small army knife on the floor. He kicked it under a table , but didn't dare look up. The assassin had moved away for now; he was biding his time.
"I'm guessing you know Relena," she said quietly. Heero nodded. "And then I'm also guessing your on her side." Heero looked confused.
"I don't take sides... and sides of what?" Kitty smiled.
"It's OK, Heero, I understand completely. You're my friend no matter what OK?" She looked around, and saw Relena entering the room. "Listen, I'd better get out of site- she'll throttle me if she catches me." Heero grabbed Kitty's arm again. She winced. Heero frowned.
"I thought I apologised for that," he sighed. Kitty nodded.
"Yeah, but I learn from mistakes," she replied. Heero smiled.
"What's this all about? It sounds like you two get don't get along." Kitty laughed quietly as Relena's name rung across the hall, and the vast majority cheered, and many ran up to greet her.
"I have very differnt views to Relena, Heero," she said, "to put it simply. Relena belives what she is doing is right, but I think the government needs a reform. I think she's forgetting who we owe this peace to..." Heero cut Kitty off.
"I'll support Relena is whatever she does, but I agree with what you are saying. What I don't agree to is this sudden attitude you've developed- it's not impressive. I abstain from the argument." Kitty frowned, but then smiled.
"I understand, Heero. And I'll back off, too. But if you want to dance later, my companionship is yours." She winked, "go get her." And with that, Kitty's bobbing golden haired head vanished into the crowd.
A few minutes later, Quatre entered the hall. He dodged the doorman for a moment and surveryed the room. Heero was over on the far side, leant against the wall, alone. Quatre tutted.
"Some friends this lot are," he whispered, "can't even behave around my sister!" Quatre's cerulean eyes darted across the floor, halting on Kitty, who was discussing something with Minister's Rockhorth and Blackthorn. Relena was speeding towards her, fire in her eyes. Quatre suddenly sensed something and looked across the viewing balcony. There were several people gathwered on the other side. Many were couples, watching the merry making and chatting away, but there were five or so figures behind. One of them glanced at Quatre, and then looked away. Quatre frowned and went to pull out his pager. The Doorman spotted him and gestured at him to coem to the stairs. Quatre groaned and did as commanded.
"Ladies and gentlemen, The Minister of Pacifism of the L4 cluster, manager and owner of Winner corps and co-arranger of this ball, Ladies and Gentlemen, Quatre Raberba Winner!"
Duo was lsitening at the door when he heard a deafening cheer.
"Ok, Quatre's in," he said, turnignt o the others, "now it's our turn." Trowa looked at Wu-fei, who was sulking in a corner and fiddling with the needlework patch on his suit.
"Try and slip in quietly, we don't want people asking questions," Trowa said, looking particularly at Wu-fei. Wu-fei nodded. The three slipped in the door and whilst Quatre was being drooled over by the crowds the dashed downt he stairs, unnoticed. Duo saw Heero and waved at him.
"Lets go talk to Heero, see if anythings up." Trowa nodded and turned to Wu-fei.
"Kitty came with Heero," he said calmly, "so you'd do well to stay over here, out of the way. Check out the balcony. I think i spotted some shifty characters." Wu-fei sighed.
"I do not approve of beign ordered about, but if I value my neck, I shall do as i am told." With that, he climbed bakc up the stairs and leant against the banisters, sulking. Trowa shook his head and followed Duo.
"Hey! Whassup?" Duo cried as they approached Heero, "you look a little down in the mouth." Heero bowed his head.
"Any news?" he said tonelessly. Duo started.
"Sheesh! What happened?" he said, laughing a little at Heero's tone. Heero didn't look up.
"For starters, Kitty knows all about the gundams," he said.
"How?" asked Trowa, "Would Quatre really be stupid enough to tell her?" Heero shook his head.
"Of course not, but he was stupid enough to keep Sandrock's plans, and Kitty saw them. She built her jet later, and the door hatch is an improvement on the gundam platform hatches, modified for steps." Duo raised his eyebrows.
"Serious?" he asked, "Whoah, Kitty must be pretty smart!" Trowa rolled his eyes.
"Duo, you can be so unbeliveably naive at times, do you know that?" Duo looked hurt. "Kitty has been put up two years in school because thats the maximum the government allows. She's done several university and college courses in her spare time. She's a bonified genius!" Duo frowned.
"And she took the time to teach my gymnastics when she was that busy. Wow." Hidden to everyone but Duo, the tips of his ears flushed pink. Heero groaned.
"That's not all. I think Kitty could be a threat in this battle if Quatre doesn't get her to stay." Trowa cocked his head.
"What do you mean?" he asked. Heero looked over at Kitty, who was now chatting with some sons and daughters of diplomats about her own age.
"Kitty said that Quatre promised never to leave her again. He still hasn't told her that he's leaving." Duo snorted.
"We know. He completely spazzed out at Wu-fei about it!" Trowa nodded in agreement. Heero continued.
"Kitty told me that she's made a decision. If Quatre leaves again, so will she. She'll make a battle jet modification to her current jet and join forces with an organization specialising in attaining peace and gaining information." Trowa frowned.
"Would she really go that far? I mean, Kitty's a tough girl, I know that, but she's still a child, and she's nervous. Would she be the type to dash of into space for a full scale war?" Duo nodded.
"If Quatre's involved, I'm sure she'd jump infront of Sandrock for him!" Trowa sighed.
"Then Quatre's simply going to have to tell her. There's no way I'm going to let Kitty Winner go into space if I can help it."
Relena had dragged Kitty out onto a balcony. Kitty stood before her with hands on hips, frowning.
"Is it your absolute aim to ruin my evening?" she asked. Relena growled.
"Oh grow up, you incorrigable creature! I am sick of this!" Relena turned on her heel and leant against the banister. "I can't stand all this conflict anymore," she said, and turned back to face Kitty, "what are you trying to achieve in attacking me?" Kitty was shocked. She stammered for a moment and then straightened herself out.
"Justice for those who we owe peace to, Miss Relena," she said finally. Relena yelped in frustration.
"What do you mean by that?" she cried, "What is it that you want!" Kitty folded her arms behind her back.
"Soldiers have become social outcasts in the past few years, thanks to the lack of jobs requiring their skills and the violent rumours your parliament has let slip about soldiers needing a war. Well, I think you should have better control of your ministers, Miss Darlian, I really do!" Kitty turned away and continued. "Soldiers DON'T need a war. All they need is somewhere to go, better services for them, to help them back in to the soceity they saved and to let them live a normal life. I'm sure you know about the preventers organization?" Relena nodded. "Well, they won't accept most soldiers; they just want the elite. What about the footmen and the men who were out there on the front line, whilst the 'elite' cowered behind them? They have nothing now." She turned to Relena and stared deep into her eyes. "Heero has been lucky," she said, and Relena froze, "He has managed to re-start his life, with a proper education. However, I sense he is uneasy- the tools of war take effort to be reforged. If the government cannot not put in the effort to help fund rehabilitation, soldiers like Heero will up and leave their new lives, full of frustration and hatred for the world for not helping them, and you will have to dispose of them. It is far to late for many of our warriors- The ones who we owe our peace to, but maybe, just maybe, you could try and help those who you can still reach." Relena blinked slowly, eyeing Kitty with the greatest interest. She smiled.
"So that's what you wanted," she said quietly. Kitty nodded. Tears were in here eyes.
"I just want to help them. I don't..." she paused and sobbed, "I don't want Quatre to leave me again!" Relena walked over at hugged Kitty, making soft noises to try and calm her down. Heero walked out onto the balcony and watched. Kitty wiped her face with a handkerchief and sighed.
"You've saved your brother, or rather he have saved himself. Now, please, help me save mine." Relena could feel the tears pricking in her eyes now. She smiled.
"I can only offer you my word, Kitty, that I will try my very best," she said quietly. Kitty nodded, sniffing a little and dabbing at her eyes. She turned to Heero and smiled.
"Start your good work now, Relena," she said as she walked away, leaving Heero and Relena standing face to face for the first time in too long a time.
Back in the ballroom, Wu-fei was still watching silently whilst everyone else was enjoying themselves. Quatre was spekaing to the group of youngsters Kitty had spoken to earlier, Duo was dancing with Collette, a girl from school who was the daughter of the Minister of Littleton and Trowa was speaking to Orchestra's very attractive female flautist, who was on her break at the time. Wu-fei groaned and leant his head against the banister. This was ridiculous! Suddenly, something caught his eye and he looked up. Four figures stood on the opposite side of the balcony, eyeing the other guests cautiously. Wu-fei frowned. A tall, dark haired man began to speak in a hushed voice ot a young woman. She nodded and left. The man looked up, catching Wu-fei's eyes. He frowned and went over to another man, yonger than him, who was wearing a hat. Wu-fei turned away. Something's up, he said to himself. he looked over his shoulder to see the hat-man moving slowly towards him, clutching somethign in his pocket. Wu-fei immediatley sped down the stairs. This was no time to be getting into a fight. Wu-fei signalled to Trowa, who frowned.
"I'll be right back, Marissa," he said. The girl nodded. Trowa walked over to Wu-fei.
"I was getting information, Wu-fei!" he hissed. Wu-fei snorted.
"I'm sure," he said sarcastically, but then became serious, "soemthing's going on." Trowa sighed.
"You're telling me? Of course there is. There's always some conspiracy, some threat, some plot, and we always put a stop to it." Wu-fei groaned.
"No, you idiot! They know I know there's a plot, and they're after me. I don't want to make a scene!" Trowa laughed.
"It would be pretty hard to make a scene in this hat parade, Wu-fei. Just keep out of sight for a bit, they'll soon lose intrest." And with that, he jogged back over to Marissa and continued to conversation. Wu-fei sighed and leant against the wall. Something clattered down beside him. He looked over to see a small army knife on the floor. He kicked it under a table , but didn't dare look up. The assassin had moved away for now; he was biding his time.
