Chapter 14: Sneak

Aiden was in full black as he slipped from the tree to a private balcony that night. The virus he had inserted into the security system ought to buy him plenty of time, so he was patient as he jimmied the doors open and slipped in.

Hello, General. Aiden looked at the figure sleeping in the bed and drew a disk silently from a pocket in his jacket. His hands were gloved so that he would leave no prints as he went to the general's computer, keeping one eye on the sleeping man in the other room as he used the codes he'd already cracked to load the program and send it out to a key few people connected with the general. He could have done it from anywhere, but couldn't resist this little personal touch. It was an invasion of privacy that would make the general, in his cosy, secured little home, think twice about the message Aiden had left him.

Aiden smirked and left.

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Ryo whistled softly as he went up to Relena's room. He frowned at something new on the bed next to her old teddy bear and walked over, peering down at a soft white stuffed bunny, a friendly yellow bow around its neck. Ryo picked it up, wondering when she had gotten it, and noticed a rough line on its stomach. Turning it over, he saw with surprise that there was a zipper lengthwise along the bottom of the white bunny.

Ryo, pausing uncertainly, pressed his lips together and unzipped the bunny, taking out a folded piece of paper and opening it with one motion, dropping the bunny back on the bed.

Ryo finished the letter and felt his face grow hot with anger. That bastard. Crumpling it up, he stuck the paper into his pocket to throw away when he had time. He hated to do it, but that man just didn't know when to quit with Relena.

Walking out, Ryo flicked off the light and went outside to throw the note in the large trash bin. He took it out, uncrumpled it. Relena, Goodbye. I'm sorry I couldn't stay. I do love you, but you have Ryo. You're safe with him, and I've asked Duo to watch out for you. Aiden.

Ryo felt like crap as he threw the ball of paper into the trash bin. Absolute crap. He sighed, letting the lid fall. God help me.