The Perfect Soldier and the Princess

by Aoko

Email: noodlepower@hotmail.com

I am leaving Germany now. The peace conference lasted for weeks. It has been weeks, but finally Germany has been re-united. The beautiful country was split when Treize was placed under "house arrest" by the Romafellar Foundation. The people now realize that an endless, pointless war wasn't Treize's goal. His goal was a war that would make the people understand the tragic beauty of fighting. Dorothy and the others think that it was Zechs goal. In the end, though, it was really Treize's goal. We were merely the actors and actresses for his play. I knew the first time I met him that he was indeed a master manipulator, far better than myself.

Oh Treize... he played his part well. Far too well... Ironically, I miss him. He was such a strong leader and secretly, I envied him.

I am in the car riding to the airport. Heero is sitting across from me. He is a bit irritated because Duo has to stay in Germany to tie up some Preventer business.

I smile at Heero. He looks like a child when he is pouting. He feels my eyes on him and stares at me. I do not quickly turn my head, but rather, I hold his gaze until he looks away. I wonder if I intimidate him. He looks away.

Victory is mine this round. I stare out the window. I wonder if our plane will crash and I'll die a bloody death. Such bad thoughts. Une would have the plane checked from top to bottom. And Heero is my bodyguard. He'd let nothing happen to the one chosen "to lead the world into peace." What about my peace of mind?

"Did you talk to Duo?" Heero asks.

I look at him and raise my eyebrow, silently asking him to explain himself.

He shrugs. "Duo said you're not a bad person."

"Did he really? I suppose you think I am bad person then." I look back out the car window, watching the scenes outside.

"No!" Heero says quickly, "It's just that I don't know what you said to him cause he thinks you're cool now. And he didn't really like you a lot before."

"He thinks," I say. "What do you think?"

He is silent and this fuels my anger. "I'm not crazy, Heero! I'm not! When you wouldn't have me as your girlfriend, I thought we could be friends. But you kept avoiding me like I carried the black plague! Is it because I followed you? I just wanted to be near you, to know that you would survive and to make sure that you had a reason to keep fighting! Is because I shouted out for you to kill me? I felt dead on the inside and it's not very enjoyable being a living corpse. What did I do that was so bad you'll only tolerate me for the sake of peace? Tell me, Heero."

His beautiful, blue eyes widen. "Relena, I…"

"Forget it!"

I cross my arms and close my eyes. I won't be weak. Not in front of Heero. I won't cry.

There is silence the rest of the trip. We arrive at the airport and I am escorted to my plane. Amid the shouting and yelling of the reporters and the crowd who has come to see me off, I think I might go crazy. I think I might break down and the world would know I'm just a little girl trying to be grown up.

On the plane, I sleep. I can't bear to face Heero and there's nothing else to do. I sleep for hours and I dream of eternal darkness. Just when I think I could wrap myself inside the abyss and cease to exist, the stewardess wakes Heero and me, though I don't think he was sleeping to begin with.

We get off the plane. I stretch as soon as I am on the ground and for some reason I am glad to be home. I think it's because this place is familiar. Home is actually a lonely place.

There are two cars. Quatre and Trowa are in their Preventers uniform, waiting for Heero. Pargan, my wonderful butler, is waiting next to my limo. I wave at Quatre and Trowa and smile sweetly at Pargan. He is so dear to my heart.

I start walking towards Pargan, not even giving Heero a side glance. I feel something tug lightly on my arm, and suddenly Heero's face is so near to mine. He smells like jasmine and gunpowder, a unique blend that is purely his. I think I might melt away as I feel his warm breath against my skin. "Heero?"

He whispers to me, "You are so beautiful to me. Don't be sad, Relena."

Then he walks away. He is walking towards Quatre and Trowa, that impenetrable mask on his face. I stare after him. I watch him with wide, curious eyes as he shrugs off Trowa and Quatre's question. I shake my head and walk towards my car. I am beautiful so says Heero, my hero.

If only I could believe that….

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Disclaimer: Me not own nothing.

Thanks for reviewing!

A/N: I suppose now would be a good time to mention that is a work-in-progress. My intentions are to explore Relena's relationship with each of the main characters from Gundam Wing. Sorry, I should have mentioned that on the first part. It's just that I see each part as independent story that can form one story. I just wanted each part to be together so when people read it they wouldn't go, "Hmm, I wonder if that had anything to do with that last fic..." Thanks for the reviews. I'm glad you all enjoyed the previous parts (and hopefully this part too).