A.N: Sorry I couldn't update in so long. I got grounded because I
skipped a few classes last week and I wasn't aloud on the net for two
weeks. (I'm making a really angry face right now, cause my skipping classes
had nothing to do with my computer! Why couldn't they have just taken my
TV?!) Man, you'd think parents would understand, after all, they were
teenagers once. But I guess it could have been worse. Anyhow, thank you so
much for the reviews, and I am sorry it took so long (I hate it when it
takes people forever to update. It's so frustrating, especially since the
story is usually left at a cliff hanger). Hope you like this chapter, and
please read and review.
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"So that's all you're going to tell them?"
Relena sighed and swallowed the food she was chewing before looking up at the dark haired girl addressing her. "What choice do I have Rei? I can't tell them what really happened. This is a pacifist country, and if people found out the reason behind the bombing, that it was a cover for a kidnapping, then the blame would go on Usagi. The public would see her as a threat to the peace, and would want her to leave Canq Kingdom borders." She brushed a few crumbs off her lap and set down her plate, leaning back in her chair while studying the other girl, her expression serious. "There is already a vast amount of tension in this country as it is. The wars are too fresh, and the peace is not completely established everywhere, which makes it fragile. I'll do whatever I can to keep it from breaking apart. I will accomplish what my father set out to do. If that means lying about something that doesn't really need to be shared anyway, then I will do it."
Haruka nodded in approval. "I agree completely. The less people who know about koneko, the better." Falling into silence once more, they turned back to the tv to finish watching their movie.
After Haruka and Rei had come to Relena's, they had sat down and talked shortly on what to do about their missing comrades. Deciding to wait, they had agreed to just relax for the time being, since Relena needed to be completely calm by tonight. They had ordered a pizza for dinner and had picked a movie from Relena's extensive collection to watch, lounging around the room comfortably.
In a few hour's Relena had to go to a press conference to inform the public of the recent situation concerning the explosion. Rei, wanting to know what Relena would say, had asked if she planned on telling them the truth. Relena had been quiet for a moment, thinking carefully, before informing her two guests that she was going to say only what they needed to hear.
About an hour later, the movie had finished and Relena was now laying out the clothes she would wear to the conference. She had chosen to wear the white uniform she usually picked for diplomatic meetings, and already had pulled her hair up into a ponytail, braiding it. Looking over to Rei and Haruka thoughtfully, she went to her closet and pulled out two similar uniforms, the exact same kind Noin wore when accompanying her.
"Would you both like to come with me? I seem to be lacking a few bodyguards, and if I show up alone people will most definitely think something is out of place." Noticing their hesitant looks, she smiled and lay the two dark uniforms by her own. "It shouldn't be long. Perhaps an hour, at the most maybe two."
Haruka silently nodded and waked over, picking up the larger of the two uniforms. Rei still hesitated a moment, not wanting to be gone if Usagi came back, but after a moment, she followed Haruka's lead and picked up the other uniform.
She was about to go to the bathroom and change, but she stopped and studied the uniforms she and Haruka held, eyeing them suspiciously. Turning to Relena, she raised an eyebrow and lifted the clothing slightly. "How is it that you have two of the same uniforms that fit us?"
Relena opened her closet wide, revealing an assortment of uniforms in various sizes and styles. "Sometimes representatives show up and they aren't prepared for the meetings that are scheduled, usually because they didn't realize their was one. For those occasions, we have many spares to loan out, so they are not embarrassed at the meeting for being the only one dressed as a civilian. Some members of the board would not look kindly at that kind of situation, since they see it as a sign of contempt and disrespect." Giggling a bit, she closed the closet doors and grabbed her uniform so she could change. "I guess we are a bit over-cautious, but it's better to be prepared for any situation, right? Besides, many officials have been won over to Canq for the simple reason we saved them some embarrassment."
Rei nodded, seeing her point. Each girl headed to a separate area and changed quickly, meeting back up in front of the tv. Rei had pulled her hair into a tight french braid to look more the part of a guard, while Haruka looked like one anyway so hadn't changed a thing.
Looking at the time, Relena grabbed her cell phone and called for her limo, thanking the man on the phone before hanging up and smiling a humourless smile at her new bodyguards. "Well, off we go."
(The driveway of the conference building)
Haruka stepped out of the limo first, glancing cautiously around before helping Relena out, who was followed by Rei. Almost immediately, cameras started to flash, but Relena ignored them and walked straight ahead and into the building, flanked by her two guards. Heading down a narrow hall, they came to an unmarked door, which Relena opened, and stepped behind stage.
A few people were walking around, some coming over to Relena to discuss certain details of time frames and when she would start the conference. Leading Rei and Haruka to a more secluded corner, Relena spoke in a low voice, watching what was going on around her as she talked. "Only one of you can accompany me behind the podium. The other will have to stay back and wait for me. The time frame is only 45 minutes for questioning, and my speech is fairly small, so this should take under an hour."
"I'll stay back here." Haruka said, preferring not to be caught in any pictures that would be all over the news. Rei was less recognizable with her hair up anyway.
A short, stocky man hurried over towards them, bowing slightly to Relena. "Miss Peacecraft, it's time." Nodding, Relena and Rei headed out to face the crowd, leaving Haruka to become distracted by the refreshment table.
Rei gazed out at the gathered reporters, hiding her astonishment. She hadn't thought there would be so many, but then again, an explosion at the infamous Peacecraft Academy wasn't exactly small news. She stayed a step behind Relena as she got behind the podium, and settled into a comfortable position to wait out the next hour.
"Thank you all for coming tonight. I'm sure you all are here to inquire about the explosion at the Peacecraft Academy, and I have called this conference tonight to assure you it was nothing more then a mere accident. As you know, the academy is very well advanced and only has the best materials to study and top of the line equipment and supplies. Our science wing is especially well stocked, and the explosion was nothing more then a forgotten chemical mix that a student forgot about in his dorm. The sun heated the chemicals, which caused them to expand and fuse, making them combust. The student in question was an aspiring science genius, and had many chemicals around his room, which also caught fire from the first explosion and caused it to become larger…."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Quatre, Duo, Trowa and Wufei opened up the door to Serena and Haruka's dorm, stepping inside followed by Heero, who was carrying a sleeping Usagi.
It was late and Usagi had been too wary to stay awake, the entire days events finally catching up with her, so Heero had carried her back. Along the way, she had fallen into a troubled sleep, whimpering every so often.
Carrying her into her room, Heero lay her on her bed and covered her up, making a mental note to tell Haruka to change her into something more comfortable when she got back.
Joining the others in the living room, he sat with them in silence, waiting for Haruka, Rei, and Relena to return from wherever they were.
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A.N: Sorry for the lateness. I'll make it up to everyone, I promise! Please read and review!! Please? Please?
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"So that's all you're going to tell them?"
Relena sighed and swallowed the food she was chewing before looking up at the dark haired girl addressing her. "What choice do I have Rei? I can't tell them what really happened. This is a pacifist country, and if people found out the reason behind the bombing, that it was a cover for a kidnapping, then the blame would go on Usagi. The public would see her as a threat to the peace, and would want her to leave Canq Kingdom borders." She brushed a few crumbs off her lap and set down her plate, leaning back in her chair while studying the other girl, her expression serious. "There is already a vast amount of tension in this country as it is. The wars are too fresh, and the peace is not completely established everywhere, which makes it fragile. I'll do whatever I can to keep it from breaking apart. I will accomplish what my father set out to do. If that means lying about something that doesn't really need to be shared anyway, then I will do it."
Haruka nodded in approval. "I agree completely. The less people who know about koneko, the better." Falling into silence once more, they turned back to the tv to finish watching their movie.
After Haruka and Rei had come to Relena's, they had sat down and talked shortly on what to do about their missing comrades. Deciding to wait, they had agreed to just relax for the time being, since Relena needed to be completely calm by tonight. They had ordered a pizza for dinner and had picked a movie from Relena's extensive collection to watch, lounging around the room comfortably.
In a few hour's Relena had to go to a press conference to inform the public of the recent situation concerning the explosion. Rei, wanting to know what Relena would say, had asked if she planned on telling them the truth. Relena had been quiet for a moment, thinking carefully, before informing her two guests that she was going to say only what they needed to hear.
About an hour later, the movie had finished and Relena was now laying out the clothes she would wear to the conference. She had chosen to wear the white uniform she usually picked for diplomatic meetings, and already had pulled her hair up into a ponytail, braiding it. Looking over to Rei and Haruka thoughtfully, she went to her closet and pulled out two similar uniforms, the exact same kind Noin wore when accompanying her.
"Would you both like to come with me? I seem to be lacking a few bodyguards, and if I show up alone people will most definitely think something is out of place." Noticing their hesitant looks, she smiled and lay the two dark uniforms by her own. "It shouldn't be long. Perhaps an hour, at the most maybe two."
Haruka silently nodded and waked over, picking up the larger of the two uniforms. Rei still hesitated a moment, not wanting to be gone if Usagi came back, but after a moment, she followed Haruka's lead and picked up the other uniform.
She was about to go to the bathroom and change, but she stopped and studied the uniforms she and Haruka held, eyeing them suspiciously. Turning to Relena, she raised an eyebrow and lifted the clothing slightly. "How is it that you have two of the same uniforms that fit us?"
Relena opened her closet wide, revealing an assortment of uniforms in various sizes and styles. "Sometimes representatives show up and they aren't prepared for the meetings that are scheduled, usually because they didn't realize their was one. For those occasions, we have many spares to loan out, so they are not embarrassed at the meeting for being the only one dressed as a civilian. Some members of the board would not look kindly at that kind of situation, since they see it as a sign of contempt and disrespect." Giggling a bit, she closed the closet doors and grabbed her uniform so she could change. "I guess we are a bit over-cautious, but it's better to be prepared for any situation, right? Besides, many officials have been won over to Canq for the simple reason we saved them some embarrassment."
Rei nodded, seeing her point. Each girl headed to a separate area and changed quickly, meeting back up in front of the tv. Rei had pulled her hair into a tight french braid to look more the part of a guard, while Haruka looked like one anyway so hadn't changed a thing.
Looking at the time, Relena grabbed her cell phone and called for her limo, thanking the man on the phone before hanging up and smiling a humourless smile at her new bodyguards. "Well, off we go."
(The driveway of the conference building)
Haruka stepped out of the limo first, glancing cautiously around before helping Relena out, who was followed by Rei. Almost immediately, cameras started to flash, but Relena ignored them and walked straight ahead and into the building, flanked by her two guards. Heading down a narrow hall, they came to an unmarked door, which Relena opened, and stepped behind stage.
A few people were walking around, some coming over to Relena to discuss certain details of time frames and when she would start the conference. Leading Rei and Haruka to a more secluded corner, Relena spoke in a low voice, watching what was going on around her as she talked. "Only one of you can accompany me behind the podium. The other will have to stay back and wait for me. The time frame is only 45 minutes for questioning, and my speech is fairly small, so this should take under an hour."
"I'll stay back here." Haruka said, preferring not to be caught in any pictures that would be all over the news. Rei was less recognizable with her hair up anyway.
A short, stocky man hurried over towards them, bowing slightly to Relena. "Miss Peacecraft, it's time." Nodding, Relena and Rei headed out to face the crowd, leaving Haruka to become distracted by the refreshment table.
Rei gazed out at the gathered reporters, hiding her astonishment. She hadn't thought there would be so many, but then again, an explosion at the infamous Peacecraft Academy wasn't exactly small news. She stayed a step behind Relena as she got behind the podium, and settled into a comfortable position to wait out the next hour.
"Thank you all for coming tonight. I'm sure you all are here to inquire about the explosion at the Peacecraft Academy, and I have called this conference tonight to assure you it was nothing more then a mere accident. As you know, the academy is very well advanced and only has the best materials to study and top of the line equipment and supplies. Our science wing is especially well stocked, and the explosion was nothing more then a forgotten chemical mix that a student forgot about in his dorm. The sun heated the chemicals, which caused them to expand and fuse, making them combust. The student in question was an aspiring science genius, and had many chemicals around his room, which also caught fire from the first explosion and caused it to become larger…."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Quatre, Duo, Trowa and Wufei opened up the door to Serena and Haruka's dorm, stepping inside followed by Heero, who was carrying a sleeping Usagi.
It was late and Usagi had been too wary to stay awake, the entire days events finally catching up with her, so Heero had carried her back. Along the way, she had fallen into a troubled sleep, whimpering every so often.
Carrying her into her room, Heero lay her on her bed and covered her up, making a mental note to tell Haruka to change her into something more comfortable when she got back.
Joining the others in the living room, he sat with them in silence, waiting for Haruka, Rei, and Relena to return from wherever they were.
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A.N: Sorry for the lateness. I'll make it up to everyone, I promise! Please read and review!! Please? Please?