PATHS OF LIFE
Chapter One: Choices
An action/romance/drama Gundam Wing fanfiction novel
Written by Ice Dragoness
* * * * *
The newspaper shook slightly before it slipped onto a table.
Heero Yuy stared blankly at the newspaper in front of him on the coffee table. Murmuring out loud to himself, he said, "I've been watching her for years, taking care of her without her knowledge, she left the building, I saw her go all the way to Tokyo. . . ." I had to stop watching her, he added silently, cursing himself for the poor decision. I had to fight. But they don't need me to fight their battles.
His decision made, whether he was right or not, Heero stood up and walked out of his life of peace, preparing to kill if necessary...once again.
* * * * *
I'll go to China, Relena thought decisively. She was walking in the streets of a rustic, small town near the edge of Japan, an old town that used to boast warriors of the best. The village had turned out some of the best soldiers, and had not quite forgotten the old ways, despite the new peace. I need some help, and I know just where to get it. Though weary, Relena's experience with chi energy kept her awake and fairly alert, though she knew that she would not be able to go much longer without some rest. Yeah, that's what I'll do, she thought.
Relena shivered. It feels like someone's watching me, their eyes boring into my back like icy daggers, like death, Relena thought, not liking that particular train of thought. Stop! she commanded herself. Thinking like that will never get you anywhere.
* * * * *
Women and men alike stared at the female traveler among them. She was very beautiful, they knew, with short dark brown hair and beautiful crystalline turquoise eyes. She had the stance of a samurai of old, especially with the sword she was carrying.
Her clothes were the modern kind, but she looked strong, with defining features, not like they would've expected from a modern person. She was graceful, elegant, proud.
As she passed, several boys and young men catcalled in her direction. The older folk shushed them, knowing that she could use that sword well. No one disgraced a warrior like that without payment. She, however, paid them no mind, and the elders silently commended her emotional control. Only a flicker appeared in her eyes, nothing else.
* * * * *
Relena felt disgusted by the whistles she was getting from the village men. It reminds me of St. Gabriel's School, she thought, her eyes burning. People just like me for my looks, for my money, but never for me, for myself! It's always been that way.
Relena's katana made a sound like "shing" when she drew it from its sheath.
Relena held the drawn katana pointed in the direction of one of the offending party. It was pointed straight as his neck unwaveringly. "Don't mess with me," she spat angrily. The man backed off, his hands held up in surrender.
"Hey, lady, I'm goin' now. No need to get frisky," he joked. The other men nearby just laughed.
Relena's eyes narrowed, then she stopped. I can't waste energy on scum like them, the reasonable part of her mind argued. That's just what they want!
With a visible effort she re-sheathed her sword. With forced calmness, she said, "Where's the nearest inn?"
The man, surprised by her sudden change of attitude, answered, "Uh, just down the next street to the left."
"You'll understand if I don't thank you."
* * * * *
The unknown person following her chuckled. Yes, she'll do excellently, he thought with an amused smile as his metal hand snapped. Just who I need.
* * * * *
Relena wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to warm her body, but it didn't work very well. The maid that was straightening her bed took notice of Relena's chattering teeth and dropped the blanket she was turning down.
"Could I get you some hot tea, Miss Darlian?" the maid asked respectfully, watching Relena carefully. "You look rather cold."
Relena licked her chapped lips before speaking. "Yes, thanks very much," she glanced at the woman, who was not much older than herself. She had long raven hair and violet eyes and was probably around Noin's age. "What's your name?"
"My name is Hoshino Arashi, Miss Darlian," she answered respectfully with some mixed confusion and pleasure. Few customers were ever this polite to maids.
"Yes, Miss Hoshino. How much will the tea cost?" Relena asked, her hand moving automatically to the duffel bag where her money was. But Arashi waved her hand in a dismissive gesture and would tolerate no talk of prices.
"It's on the house," she assured a surprised Relena. "You need something to warm you up, and the tea here is very good."
"Thank you," Relena said again, this time smiling gratefully. Arashi left the room with a quick bow.
When Arashi returned with the tea, Relena offered to straighten up the room by herself. "I'll take care of the rest of the room, if you like," she told Arashi, who shook her head vehemently.
"No, Miss Darlian, absolutely not. I can handle it," Arashi responded firmly.
"It's all right, go," Relena said, and Arashi smiled.
"Really?" the raven haired girl asked.
"Yeah." With that, Arashi thanked her and left.
Relena realized that she had completely forgotten her tea. Steam was rising out of the cup into the cold air. She smiled, bringing the cup to her lips. It's lemon ginseng tea, I think, Relena decided. It's tangy, but not overly so, with just a hint of herbs and sweetness. Perfect.
Before she knew it, the cup was empty. Relena set it down on the night table next to her bed and began to straighten up the room. When she was done, she set the alarm clock for 6:30 A.M. It was 9:30 P.M by then.
Relena undressed and pulled on a large white tee-shirt that read "Bite Me" in big red letters. It made her smile. After quickly running a brush through her hair and washing her face, she laid down on the bed. She instantly fell asleep, and when she woke up the next morning, she hadn't moved a muscle.
* * * * *
Relena, where on Earth are you? thought a frustrated Heero. It's like all records of your existence beyond the attack have just been erased!
* * * * *
Heero had gotten used to asking people if they'd seen or met Relena.
He walked into the building nearest him, which happened to be an inn. "Have you seen a young woman of about nineteen years, answers to Relena?" he asked in a practiced voice, preparing himself for the inevitable denial.
"Why, yes sir--" began the person at the desk.
I'm finally getting somewhere! thought Heero, relieved at his apparent success.
"--she checked out this morning!"
Heero internally groaned. "Do you know where she was headed?"
The elderly clerk peered over her half-spectacles at the young man. "If I did know, I wouldn't tell you, young man."
Where are you, Relena?! The world needs you! thought Heero.
After Relena's "demise" the Earth Sphere Unified Nation (ESUN) had practically fallen apart. With the absence of her firm beliefs and political knowledge, they had no one to lead them the same way. Her brother, Milliardo, had temporarily taken the rein of leadership. But everyone knew that Milliard didn't promote absolute pacifism in the same way their Foreign Minister had, and couldn't lead them in the same way.
* * * * *
I finally made it! she cheered silently after she got off the plane. China, here I am!
"Now, onto Sally and Wufei's!" she said aloud, her success buoying her demeanor. The two had married half of a year ago, and last Relena had heard were expecting a child.
* * * * *
A week later...
"I made it! The Changs'!"
As she neared the cracked-open front door, Relena heard an argument.
"Wufei, you can't go! What about the baby?" Sally said, obviously crying.
"I can't help it, woman! I have to help! The attacks are getting worse, we need all the help we can get in this war!! Especially with Yuy gone!"
Relena bit her lip. Maybe this isn't the best time to butt in, she thought hesitantly. Wait, what attacks? There were more? And Heero's missing?! But it was too late, Sally heard her sharp gasp, and rushed to the door.
"Can I help you, miss?" There's something familiar about this woman.
Oh! Relena realized. She doesn't recognize me, I'm supposed to be dead!
"Ummm . . . ummm . . ." What am I supposed to do? Relena thought desperately.
"Yes?" Sally asked. Who the heck are you? I know I've seen you!
"May I come in for a moment?" Relena asked in Chinese with an inward sigh.
"Yes, but who are you?"
"My name is . . . Relena Darlian, ma'am," Relena said. Relena Darlian? Why did I use my old name?
That sounds somewhat familiar. . . . Relena Darlian, hmm. . . .
* * * * *
Heero sighed as he sat down on a bench and massaged his forehead. "What am I supposed to do? I can't find her anywhere, and war is erupting. . . . Could she really be dead? But the lady at the inn said . . . Oh, forget it. I'm obviously not going to find her. I've been looking for weeks."
Aware of the confused stares he was getting from the locals, he thought, Great, I've made myself conspicuous. Maybe I should just go back to Japan and fight. After all, the mission takes precedence, doesn't it? The mission. It's always been the mission, hasn't it?
* * * * *
"Tea?" Sally asked.
"No, thank you," Relena answered with another sigh. The two had exchanged pleasantries, and Relena could tell that Sally really wanted to know what she was doing here.
Curiously, Sally asked, "What exactly are you doing here in China? Now is not the best time to be travelling, you know."
Uncomfortably, Relena replied, "Well, you see, I started travelling a few months ago, a while before this whole thing started. I travel around pretty quickly, and never really got wind of what was going on. I knew there had been an attack on Sank, but that was it. Only recently did I realize how big this was." Brilliant! Relena congratulated herself.
"I see," Sally answered doubtfully. Something doesn't ring true here. A few months? She looks like she's only been travelling for a couple of weeks, at the most. . . . And she looks too nervous.
Relena despised lying. And she was never able to lie very well anyways. She closed her eyes, praying to the kami that Sally would accept the truth of what she really was. Relena took a deep breath. "Sally, I've lied to you."
Sally's eyebrows shot up into her blond bangs. "I see," she repeated. "Will you tell me the truth now?"
Relena bit her lip. "Yes, I will. Who would I look like with blond hair and a military-like uniform?"
As Sally did, she slowly realized. "Relena Peacecraft!"
* * * * *
As Heero booked a plane back to Japan, he thought once again of Relena. Wherever you are, I hope you got what you were looking for, Relena.
* * * * *
"Yes, it's me, Sally," Relena admitted. "I'm sorry I lied to you, but--"
Sally cut her off with an abrupt wave of her hand. "That's fine. But tell me, how did you survive?"
"Well, I was out of the building when the bomb went off. I went to Nerima, then to Akita, and here to China on a plane."
"Why didn't you come back?" Sally demanded. "The government has started some stupid civil war over control while the attacks from the Viper Clan continued!"
Relena sighed. "I know, but I've never really been a pacifist, and when the building blew up, I figured that this was my chance to get away, to start a new path. . . ." She trailed off, unsure of what else to say. Was the Viper Clan the group who attacked Sank?
"I understand. But you've never been a pacifist? Why promote it?"
"Well, just because I'm not a pacifist doesn't mean that I don't want peace. I just figured that that was the best way, and it worked," Relena replied with a shrug.
"Alright. Just stay the night, okay?"
* * * * *
The next day...
As Deathscythe-H's beam-scythe cut through the three Leo mobile suits surrounding it, Duo exclaimed aloud, "Where in the name of God above is Heero?! We need Wing Zero here!"
"I'm right here, Duo," answered a familiar voice from behind him, and Duo turned to see Wing ZERO. "It's time to fight, so shut your loud mouth up."
* * * * *
"I guess I'd better go. . . ." Relena said uncomfortably the next morning. "I'll see ya 'round, okay?"
"Wait, Relena!" Sally called as Relena edged nearer to the front door.
Relena blinked. "Yes?"
"Please stay. Wufei's going off to fight, I need someone here with me," pleaded Sally.
Relena hesitated. I want to fight, but I can't . . . especially 'cause I'm no mobile suit pilot... "Yes, I'll stay, Sally," she replied firmly after a moment's hesitation.
* * * * *
Later that day...
As Relena stepped out of the Changs' house on the pretense of admiring Sally's flower garden, she sighed and sat on a wooden bench. Out loud, she muttered, "I want to fight! I don't just want to stand here and do nothing while people die and get hurt. I want to DO something! I want to fight!" For emphasis, she smacked her fist down on the wood beside her and felt the bench vibrate.
"You want to fight, young lady?" asked an aged, amused voice.
Relena jumped up instantly and glanced around wildly. Nearby, a figure stood, and she recognized it as none other than . . . "Doctor J!"
* * * * *
Heavyarms had, as usual, run out of ammunition and was forced to go hand-to-hand with a Taurus mobile doll. Sandrock was faring only a little better as it blocked off a strike from the left and managed to gun down two more on the right.
* * * * *
In another battle, Heero was using Wing Zero's Z-System capabilities to its full extent without letting it control him completely. Duo was nearer the back ranks of the fight, using its beam gun for the farther opponents, and the beam scythe for the ones who "invaded his personal space".
* * * * *
Altron, Wufei's Gundam, took full advantage of its arm's reach, and using the flame-capabilities to ward his enemies off. "Ten against one! Hardly fair!" he chuckled. "Still, Nataku will not lose!"
* * * * *
"Yes, that's my name. You would like to fight?" he repeated.
Relena nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Here was her opportunity!
"I can help you," Doctor J continued. "I have designed a new Gundam, and I've been watching you. You'd make an excellent pilot, Relena."
"But - but I can't pilot a mobile suit!" Relena stammered, overwhelmed with wide eyes.
The doctor grinned. "I can change that."
Relena slowly smiled. "You've got a deal." With that, she wrote a quick note to Sally and left with Doctor J.
* * * * *
Dear Sally,
I'm sorry for leaving so early. I know you asked me to stay for a while, but I can't. There is an urgent matter I must take care of, and I think we'll meet again soon.
Love,
Relena