Relena spotted the wooden cross on the top of
the building first. It hovered over the other buildings in the area, carrying
the promise of peace the Gundam pilots had worked to obtain and she'd worked
to maintain. Next, the roof came into view, dark shingles highlighting
two chimneys made of pale brick. The second story of the building was made
of the same beige and tan brick had four windows with sculpted wrought
iron holding them in place. The first story was hidden behind a fence that
started at the corner where the school was located and stretched back two
blocks in either direction. The fence itself was covered in ivy, and various
plants and flowers grew next to the base of the fence.
She'd made it.
She could see the gate to the grounds from where
she stood on the corner, and she headed toward it. To her surprise, it
was open, but not untended. A boy with glasses, short brown hair, a blue
T-shirt, and jeans sat in a lawn chair outside of a small closet-like building.
Classical music floated idly from inside the structure as he flipped through
the text in his lap.
He must have felt Relena watching him, because
he looked up and smiled. "You're here to see Duo, right?
Relena blinked. "How did you—"
"He's been expecting you. I'm Cody." Relena shook
the offered hand. "Has anyone ever told you you're a dead ringer for Relena
Peacecraft?"
Relena smiled for the first time that day. "Occasionally."
Cody closed and latched the gate behind them,
then they strolled up the walk to the building. "She's ill, you know."
"She is?"
"Her brother made the announcement this morning,
saying that she was on strict bed rest. The wedding's going to be delayed
as well."
//Nice work, Milliardo,// Relena thought with
both relief and gratitude.
Cody, however, winked wickedly. "Of course, rumor
has it she's pregnant."
Relena paled. "Really?"
The boy shrugged. "Who knows? Mr. Peacecraft wouldn't
confirm it, but he wouldn't deny it either." Relena swallowed as several
uncharitable thoughts about her brother passed through her head. Cody chattered
on. "Actually, it's a pretty reasonable explanation. He's been doing a
lot of work for her over the past year, more over the past three months
than ever. Wonder when she's going to announce it to the world."
Years of practice helped her hold her tongue,
though she did have to bite it. //Pregnant, indeed.//
They reached the doors of the building without
incident, and Cody opened them for her. "Most people don't really care
anymore anyway. The war's been over for years, but they don't realize how
much more work it is to maintain peace."
Relena relaxed her facial muscles to keep herself
from scowling. As lightly as she could, Relena asked, "So how do you know
so much about her?"
Cody smiled. "School report. I'm doing research.
That's why I was waiting for you. Duo knows I know what Relena Peacecraft
looks like, and he said the woman he was waiting for bore quite a resemblance
to her." Cody looked at her again before turning the corner. "Not to mention
I got the afternoon off to wait for you."
Relena couldn't hold back a smile as they walked
down a small hallway to the left of the sanctuary, then climbed a flight
of stairs. Cody walked around the stairs to a small door a few more steps
up and knocked.
"Come in."
Cody opened the door for Relena. Warm purple eyes
in a pale heart-shaped face framed by chestnut bangs greeted her silently
before addressing the boy. "Thanks, Cody." Cody took the hint and
closed the door behind him as he left.
Even before the door was closed Relena was in
Duo's arms, her face pressed against the black overshirt he wore. "Shh..."
he murmured reassuringly. Duo stroked her hair and held her close until
the shaking stopped, then settled next to her on a small sofa underneath
a window.
"Milliardo called late last night to see if you'd
arrived," Duo said, taking Relena's hand in his own.
Relena looked up hopefully. "Did he sound all
right? I was worried about him facing down Heero."
"When it was clear that he didn't know where you
had gone, Heero left him alone to handle the pr stuff. Where have you been?
He's not the only one who worries, you know."
"I know. I'm sorry. I went to Quatre's."
"Quatre? I thought I was your one and only." He
winked.
"I was in Amsterdam. You were here. He was in
Paris. I was in a—hurry." Her last few words mingled with the choked swallow
that she'd used to halt a sob. //I will not cry. I must be stronger than
that.// She bit her lip.
Duo winced at her expression and pulled her closer,
settling her in his embrace. "I'm sorry. You know me, always a joker."
His eyes held a warmth and understanding that calmed her somewhat. "Tell
me what happened."
Relena took a deep breath and forced herself to
answer.
~owari chapter 3~
