A.N: Hi everyone! I know I promised chapters would be coming out quicker, but I've been staying at a friends house a lot because we've been going to Klondike Days practically every day. Plus, I got a job!! I was so happy, cause now I'll actually have money!!! I don't start for a while yet though, and don't worry I won't let it get in the way of updating. Anyway, I just got back from camping with another friend (which kinda sucked cause the weather was terrible) and so I'm getting this chapter out a.s.a.p. I was so happy when I got all of your reviews I felt like jumping around, because I'm glad to see a lot of reviews are from people who have reviewed before! I thought maybe since I hadn't updated in a long time, most people forgot about my story. (~_~) Then I felt really bad because I personally hate it when someone doesn't update for a long time, if at all. I wanna give a big huge thank you to everyone who reviewed last chapter, you guys made me smile all day. (and I really, really needed it) Well, I guess the only thing left to say is please read and review, cause you guys make all the difference! (^_^)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

All eyes were on Relena as she stood hesitantly by the door, not sure what to do. Her fingers drummed against her arm nervously and she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, raising her eyes from the table where she'd set the refreshments so that she could study the faces of those around her. All of them seemed so.sad.

Clearing her throat, she finally rested her gaze on Sally, who was the only one standing and the most likely out of the group to speak. "What is wrong with all of you? Did I miss something?" Relief briefly washed over her as the intense gaze of the group was shifted to Sally, who by the looks of it didn't want the attention. Walking over to an empty chair, Relena seated herself and waited for an explanation.

Sally cast her eyes to the floor, deciding to make her reply as short as possible and straight to the point. "I've received orders to get Usagi out of Canq as soon as possible. and to keep her out. She's no longer under our protection." Her voice betrayed no emotion, coming out strong and almost indifferent. She had been trained not to let feelings get in the way of duty much like the others, and it was time she took control of the situation. It's not like she actually knew the girl. They had only been around each other for a day, and the circumstances hadn't been pleasant enough for actual interaction between the two. Still.when she had looked into Usagi's eyes.

Getting over her shock, Relena's hands fell weakly to her lap as she leaned forward. "What do you mean?" Her voice was quiet, but it grew stronger with every word. "You can't banish Usagi from Canq!" Anger burned in her eyes and she swiftly got to her feet, both hands planted on the table as she leaned towards the older woman as if trying to intimidate her. "I demand to know who these orders are from!" Sally didn't answer, but her gaze locked on Relena's in an act of determination. Her job was on the line. Relena's hand balled into a fist and she slammed it down on the table, causing a few people in the room to jump involuntarily. "I am the leader of the Canq Kingdom and as such you will answer me immediately. Don't forget Sally, your organization is only here because I allow it to be." Her words were edged with authority and at that moment, no one in the room had any doubts as to why Relena lead Canq so well. "Now I demand to know who ordered that Usagi be banished from Canq, and why this wasn't cleared through me first."

All eyes were back on Relena, most of the expressions completely shocked by her blunt statements and 'take charge' manner, but she could care less at the moment. Her anger was only rivalled by her frustration, and right now it felt like she was going to explode if she didn't vent. She had come to think of Usagi as a very close friend, closer in fact then even Noin, and now she was frightened by the thought that they may never see each other again. Relena wasn't stupid, she knew a lot of people didn't like her because they thought she was stuck-up or annoying, even a little dense at times, but Usagi was different. She hadn't judged her on what others had said of her, and in fact had actually gotten to know her first. Relena admired her. After having to live through what she had for so long and still not have her spirit broken.still be able to look on the positive side of things.still be able to laugh. God, Relena knew for a fact she could never do it. Usagi had gone through so much, yet she was still just as pure, just as innocent. She brought happiness to those around her because she refused to give up the struggle to bring it to herself.

And now they were just supposed to get rid of her?

Relena shook her head and pushed herself away from the table, standing as stiff as a board with her hands balled into fists at her sides. Hardening her gaze, she made sure Sally's undivided attention was on her before speaking slowly, her tone edged with steel. "Well Sally? Who is it that gave you these orders, and why if I might add do they feel that they are above my authority?"

Sally seemed to loosen her stance in defeat, hanging her head in guilt as one hand tugged at the fabric of her uniform shirt. She had known all along that this would happen, which is why she had asked Relena to get the refreshments. It's not that she deliberately wanted to betray her, but she was just trying to do the right thing here. How could one person possibly make so much of a difference in comparison to hundreds? She cleared her throat in much the same way as Relena had, speaking softly as her eyes stayed on the edge of the table.

"The Preventors isn't an organization run by one person Miss Relena. There are a whole council of people who run the faction, and the decisions are decided as a unit. That way the orders maintain their fairness and we work to do the right thing." She paused to swallow before continuing. "As an officer for the preventors I take my orders directly from the council."

Relena relaxed slightly, watching Sally intently. "Your council is not above the way Canq is run, Sally. Including those who run it. The Preventors have absolutely no power here except for that given to them by kingdom officials." She once again shook her head, clasping her hands in front of her calmly. "I'm very disappointed Sally Po." Sally looked up, locking gazes with Relena. "Surely you know Mamoru would go after Usagi the second she stepped foot out of Canq?"

"Yes, but how many more will die simply because she's here?" As soon as the words left Sally's mouth, she regretted it. Relena's eyes were wide, the expression of shock on her face similar to those on most of the group sitting at the table.

"You blame Usagi for what happened to that town, don't you?" Her voice was barely audible, almost lost in the low hum of the florescent lights that lit the room. Sally once again looked at the floor, choosing not to reply.

Nobody spoke, leaving the room in complete silence until there was a sharp slap that drew all attention back to Sally. Rei stood in front of her, her eyes narrowed and her features rigid. She held one of her hands gingerly, rubbing it as if it stung. Sally in the meantime was looking at Rei in a mixture of shock and anger, the fingers on one hand gently brushing against the large red mark on her left cheek.

She had moved so fast no one had even really noticed until Rei had already slapped the older women, but even then no one did a thing about it. Time seemed to have frozen everyone in place as they silently watched the scene taking place before them.

"How dare you hit-"

"No!" Rei cut Sally off sharply, glaring at her as if she was the enemy. "How dare you blame Usagi for what happened to that place! After everything she. God, how could you be so vindictive?" Once again Sally tried to speak, but Rei refused to hear her out and once again cut her off. "I don't want to hear anything you have to say! I can't believe you would go so far as to sentence somebody to death just to save your own ass from what will eventually take place anyway. Wiether you kicked Usagi out of Canq or not, Mamoru would still attack. Only this time he won't have to hold back."

Sally stared at her incredulously, the mark on her cheek slowly fading. "Hold back?"

"Yes, hold back. Have you forgotten that the whole reason behind protecting Usagi was so that there would be leverage over Crystal Earth? With her here, he would never directly attack. He would never hurt her." The last sentence was barely audible, and Rei had to struggle not to choke on the words as she said them. In her mind those words were awfully ironic, considering he had already done exactly that unintentionally. She shook her head slightly, the conviction once again entering her voice. "How can you measure her life compared against others? A life is a life."

Sally actually looked somewhat ashamed, but what was she supposed to do? She either had to go against her superiors, the people she had worked most of her life for, or she had to go against Relena, the person she had put her faith into. Either way, it was a no win situation. For once in her life, Sally Po had no idea what to do.

It seemed however, that she didn't have to make her decision quite yet. Relena had left the room.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Relena walked down the halls calmly, not at all concerned about the fact that she hadn't even told anyone she was gone. Idly, she wondered if anybody had even noticed. It seemed they were all rather focused on their own thoughts right now, not that she could blame them.

Turning a corner, she let a small grimace flutter across her features before stopping in front of the thing she had been looking for. A pay phone. As she reached out to lift the receiver, she couldn't help but be a little disappointed that she couldn't handle this herself. After all, she was technically Canq's princess. But then again, everybody needed a little help sometimes, and she knew just the person she wanted to call. Dropping some change into the coin slot, she dialled a few numbers, waited, then dialled a few more.

As the phone rang, Relena sighed inwardly, wondering why she had used a payphone when she could have just gone to an office and used one in there. Oh well, it saved her a bit of a walk, and besides, it didn't really matter. The ringing stopped as the other line was answered.

She listened for a moment before looking down the hall to see if anyone was around. "Yes, I would like to speak with Miliardo please."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The halls of Crystal Earth's main base were littered with soldiers, all standing stiffly at pre-determined points along the corridors. Each one shifted uneasily as the sound of footsteps echoed off the walls, swiftly approaching. Only a few people had enough security clearance to walk so far into the heart of the base, and more then half the soldiers were willing to bet that the footsteps coming towards them belonged to non other then Chiba, Mamoru himself.

The footsteps slowed as they approached the corner, and each guard drew in a deep breath as a tall figure rounded the bend. All eyes immediately faced straight ahead as the figure stepped into the pale light of the hallway, revealing that it was indeed Mr. Chiba.

Each and every soldier knew that this one man determined how long they lived or how soon they died, and all had heard of some of the ways he had disposed of those he no longer found useful or got in the way. Frankly, each one would go out of their way just to stay as far out of Mamoru's attention as they could get. They feared him, and he knew it.

However, Mamoru strode down the corridor as if he didn't even see a single one of his soldiers anywhere around him. His hair was dishevelled and there was a shadow of a beard on his face, completely unlike the usually well groomed leader. He shoved his office door open so hard, the door knob went right through the adjacent wall, sending a shower of splinters across the carpet. For a moment he stared at the door in alarm, but just as quickly his expression turned into a scowl as he kicked the door shut with his foot and calmly walked behind his desk, sighing as he sat in a comfortable looking leather chair and relaxed.

He was tired. He couldn't even remember the last time he had actually slept, but he knew that when he had all he did was dream of her. His Usako. She danced through his mind every moment of every day, consuming his thoughts. He could still feel her silky hair running through his fingers, still feel her soft skin under his fingertips. If he concentrated hard enough, he could even remember exactly the way she tasted as he kissed her, almost like she were right in front of him.

Looking down at his desk, Mamoru fondly smiled at a photo of his Usako. She was at her favourite park under a cherry tree, lying on her stomach with her chin propped up in her hands and a daffodil placed into one of her buns. She wore a violet dress that came down to mid-thigh and black strap-on sandals that matched a thick black choker around her neck. Mamoru ran his fingers gently over the glass of the picture frame, remembering that day as if had just happened. Every smile, every giggle, every kiss. He remembered them all.

His hand balled into a fist as he remembered the day he had almost gotten her back at his base in Canq, and the way she had looked at the Gundam pilot. If it took everything he had to do it, he would get her back.

No matter what.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A.N: Well, all I have left to say right now is PLEASE, PLEASE review!