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Sorry for the long update. I have my reasons, such as, my beloved monitor being fried, then Crash dying on me ::hugs recently-revived compy:: Then classes resumed this June and I'm trying to cope with the usual school crap students have to put up with everyday BUT don't think I am ever going to kill the story off. I won't. Though it may take me forever, I will finish this baby! ^________^
Going UndercoverBy Kuroi Tenshi
Part 11
Why couldn't I just have drowned in the pool?
"WHAT'RE YOU DOING HERE?" they exclaimed at the same time. Then stared at each other. "Aren't you supposed to be in Switzerland?" again, they chorused. "Stop that!"
Relena covered her mouth with her hands, eyes wide. She was transported to the past when they used to finish each other's sentences and said things at the same time when they were children just for the hell of it. Right now, it didn't seem like a happy memory. Not when her brother looked as if he was just about to hurl her into the pool and make sure she didn't come up.
Duo stared at her. "Lena? You're not…Rey?"
She gave him a weak smile. "I can explain, really." She saw the startled expressions of her friends, and she almost withered at the sight, but nothing cut deeper than Heero's glare. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to lie…"
"What are you doing here, young miss?" A woman jumped out from behind the bushes and started for her. "Don't you know this is an academy exclusive for boys?" When she noticed the way Milliardo was looking at the girl, she frowned. "Do you know him, Zechs?"
Zechs? "Milli! I told you to stop using that hideous name! It's degrading for someone like you to be using a name from anime!"
Her brother glared at her. She swallowed hard. Maybe now wasn't the time to tell him it didn't seem proper for the next CEO of their company to be using a name he picked up from an anime series with neat mechas. There's always next time. Right? There was going to be a next time, right? Right?
"Lu, I'm sorry to have ruined our date, but Lena here…"
"Lena? You mean your younger sister you kept telling me about?" The woman turned to her and studied her. "Well, yes, I suppose there are resemblances, but I thought Relena was a delightful young woman."
"I thought so too," the young man with platinum-blond hair replied.
She glared at him, fists clenching. "I'm still here, you know!" Who was this woman anyway? Another one of her brother's girl he picked up somewhere to have a short fling with? Then she spied Heero's form behind her brother, hands clasped behind his back, regarding her with a scathing look that was nearly her undoing. How could she explain to him now?
"Ah, yes, here you are," the shorthaired woman replied. "Would you mind explaining just why that is so?"
"Principal Noin," Quatre began, intending to put a stop to what was obviously an embarrassing situation to Reynald, or Relena, so to speak. He, too, wanted to know just why she had been pretending to be a boy the past few weeks and why she was there, but he didn't think now was the time to hear her explanation. She didn't seem like she could barely keep the tears from flowing, not with the way Heero was looking at her. "Maybe we could talk about this in a more appropriate place?"
Zechs noticed the way Relena was clenching her fists and taking shallow breaths. "The boy's right." He walked toward the lounge chairs and grabbed a towel. He then threw it at her and watched her dry herself for a few more seconds. "Lu, could we continue discussing in your office?"
When she nodded, he took the towel from her and dried her himself. Noin turned to the five young men with Relena. "We'll talk tomorrow. Clean the place a bit—be sure not to leave your things—and I'll call you first thing in the morning," she ordered. "Zechs, let's go to my office. I'll lead the way."
He wrapped the towel around her, as well as his arms in an effort to keep her warm. He moved forward, but she wouldn't budge. She was still staring at the boy behind him. "Let's go, Relena. You have a lot of explaining to do."
She allowed herself to be half-dragged out of the pool, but at the pool's entrance, she paused and looked back. Heero's eye shad been following them with the same coldness she had seen before. Her eyes watered and she blinked them away. "I'm so sorry," she said softly before Zechs pulled her with him.
"You started staying here since WHEN!" Zechs exclaimed, eyes narrowing.
Relena sunk deeper in the cushioned seat. She just finished telling them what she had been doing the past six weeks. She noticed the woman fanning herself with the folder she picked up from the stack of paperwork on her desk.
Principal Noin. Principal Lucrezia Noin. No wonder her name had sounded familiar before. She was Milli's long-time girlfriend. Why did the world have to be so small?
"I'm sorry," she said lowly, keeping her eyes trained on the dark blue carpet. "I didn't want to cause anyone any trouble. Please don't get angry…"
"You didn't want to cause anyone any trouble?" He snorted. "Then why the hell did you even agree to this stupid charade? For heaven's sake, Relena! Use your head! Something could've happened to you!"
Noin stiffened. "Now, Zechs, I know you're concerned for your sister, but I can assure you our boys here aren't the kind you're thinking. She was in safe hands all the time!"
"How sure are you, Lu?"
"Are implying my boys can't be trusted?"
"I'm simply asking you how sure you are with your assertions, Noin," Zechs replied tersely.
Relena looked back and forth from her brother to the young principal who was obviously trying, yet failing, to control her temper. No! She didn't want them to fight because of her. "Please," she intervened. "I know it was foolish, what I did. But let's not allow our tempers get the better of us. It would result to nothing but dispute no one wants to begin with."
"Taking lessons from Daddy, Lena?" Milli finally said after a second or so of tensed silence. He took a deep breath and nodded. "But you're right, of course. Lu, I'm sorry. It's just that…I was worried about my sister and I wasn't really thinking clearly. I'm sorry."
The principal nodded. "I'm afraid I'm guilty of not thinking clearly as well. I understand completely. But you have to realize that as long as Relena's real gender was a secret, there wasn't a reason to be alarmed. Right, Relena?"
"Yes, Miss Noin's right," she replied. Aside from the hazard from James Reyes and his adoring fan club, no harm was done. She gave them both a small, tentative smile. "I really am sorry for what I did. It was stupid, foolish. But I don't regret it. It taught me some things I never would've learned had I remained sheltered all my life," she said, directing the last bit to her brother. "The only thing I regret is that I had to lie to the people I called my friends. And I'm sorry for the trouble." She paused and gave them a lopsided grin. "For what it's worth, I was hoping to get away with it with none the wiser."
Noin chuckled. "I know what you mean. I did crazy things in my youth, but of course—none as crazy as this. I'm just glad nothing bad came out of it."
"At least you're safe," he added with a smile. "But you'll have to keep this from Mom and Dad, all right? They'd tan my hide if they find out I haven't been keeping a close eye on you."
"Hey!" she frowned. "That reminds me. What're you doing here anyway? I really thought you were with them. They didn't say anything about you remaining in the area this vacation."
He blushed. "Actually, I just left a message for Dad in his office four weeks ago telling them I won't be joining them like I usually do. That's why I didn't know you weren't with them."
Relena smiled. "I guess I was lucky to have almost pulled it off. I wasn't exactly counting on you to show up with the principal in the garden."
"What were you doing with them this late anyway?" Noin couldn't help asking.
Her cheeks burned. "I was going to confess the whole things and say goodbye," she admitted in a small voice. "But I got busted before I got the chance to tell Heero—my friend—that I'm actually a girl."
Noin chuckled at the way the younger woman blushed, even more so at the mention of Mr. Yuy. "I see. Well, I trust this will be our little secret?" She looked at the other occupants of the room. "I'll explain to the boys tomorrow, but I'd rather nothing about this leaves the room. This is a prestigious academy, I hope you understand."
Relena nodded. "Of course." It's not like she wanted it to be known to the world she paraded as a boy at SKA anyway. Some things were better kept under lock and key.
"Lu, sorry to break our date early tonight but I think it'd be better if I escort Relena back to her own dorm tonight. But I'll call you, okay?"
The shorthaired woman grinned wickedly. "If you can remember to do so before I fall asleep, then why not."
Relena watched them quietly. She knew then and there she liked Miss Noin. She was exactly what her brother needed. She was smart and pretty, and she seemed like fun. She couldn't help but notice the sparkle in her brother's eyes. And she made Milli happy, that itself was enough.
"I already packed my things since I was leaving this Saturday," she volunteered when Milli turned to her. "But I should probably stop by a bathroom to fix myself first, in case we run into someone. Then I can get my things."
"The door to your left is the one, Relena," Noin smiled. "We'll wait for you while you freshen up."
The teenager nodded. "Thanks." She hastily made her way to the bathroom, thankful for the few minutes alone. Although she was still alive and unscathed from Milli, she was still far from safe. Heero probably hated her.
Washing her face with cold water and putting on the wig Heero had fished out of the water earlier, she gazed at her reflection. The face that stared back was quite androgynous. Though her hair was short once more, her face looked feminine, more so than usual when she was pretending to be Reynald. Her chest now flat again, only with the slightest hint of lump clung to her body in wet abandon. Tendrils of honey-blonde hair hung at the side, framing her fame delicately. The hint of rose that graced her cheeks only hours ago was gone, no trace to be found to even suggest its presence before. Her eyes, with a subtle hint of lavender under, stared back at her wearily.
The reflection presented a girl-boy looking tired.
Relena marveled at the rapid transformation a human was capable of undergoing in a manner of minutes. She wasn't feeling carefree, like she did during the long walks with Heero, or happy, as she did when she and her friends sat idly on the grass to pass time.
The concocted tales she told them to explain her very presence came rushing back with vengeance. She could hear the words spoken about her honesty in her head. Heero telling her she was unlike the other girls he met before.
She let out a heavy sigh, leaning against the tiled wall. Why did her lies have to blow up in her face? It wasn't like she wanted to lie to them. She was left with no choice. But still…
"You haven't drowned yourself in the toilet, have you?" Milli knocked from the other side of the door.
"That idea has its definite appeal," she muttered, unlocking the door and stepping out. She gave her brother a small smile. "Let's get my things then."
"I'll get the car; Lu will go with you."
Relena shrugged. The walk to her room was fairly uneventful for the most part. She didn't really feel like talking, and the older woman didn't seem to feel inclined for idle chatter. She could hear the hushed shuffle of footsteps as they crossed the carpeted lobby to the elevator.
"So," Lucrezia began, "was it fun?"
The door opened and they stepped out. She nodded. "I guess so. Though it was nerve-wracking at first. But it was fun."
"I noticed you were with Mr. Yuy's friends."
Why did she have the feeling her brother's girlfriend knew about her and what used to be her kind of relationship with Heero? Was it that obvious or was it mere coincidence? The girl decided on the latter. They really weren't doing anything relatively close to what would resemble being lovey-dovey and it was dark anyway. How could she know?
"You guys were pretty close by the bushes," Noin remarked casually.
Is it too late to go back to the elevator and hope for the cables to snap with me inside? Nothing was more embarrassing than having your brother's girlfriend interrogate you about a boy enrolled at the academy where she was the principal.
"It wasn't what it looked like! It was pretty dark and there was too much noise from the pool so we had to be a bit close to hear each other and the moon was behind the clouds and Duo's been splashing water all around, and the protests and shouts were almost deafening. Then he said something and with the noise I had to move closer and it was dark. And we were discussing…stuff," she finished lamely.
The shorthaired woman smiled at her, placing a hand on her shoulder as she fumbled with the key. "It's okay, you know. You're not a little girl anymore."
"Uh, yeah. Thanks." Why is the keyhole much smaller than few hours ago when I locked it? Relena wondered, trying to insert the key where it should be.
"I think Dou would like to talk to you before you leave. Why don't I get him while you get your stuff?"
She stopped shoving the key and abusing the knob and stared at her. Maybe it was the stress combined with the poor lighting at the hallway (she'd have to talk to Noin about the school budget with regards to that), but she could almost see wings from behind the older woman's back and there was a ring of light crowning her head. Oh my God, this is bad. I'm hallucinating.
The key finally slid into its hole with ease as Lucrezia gave her one last smile and turned her heels to go back to the elevator they vacated just minutes ago to fetch her friend for her.
"No wonder you always blushed whenever I mentioned accompanying me to the locker room," Duo remarked, eyes wide, mind still processing what his friend told him.
"I never meant any harm," she said in a little voice. "You don't know how much I hated lying to you guys. You accepted me when I first got here and then…with everyone telling me how honest I've been…"
"Don't worry, it's cool; we're cool. The others are a bit shocked, but it'll wear off after a good night's sleep. You are our friend, no matter what your gender is."
Relena threw her arms around him, her immense gratitude expressed in that familiar gesture. "Thank you so much! I don't know what I'd do without you. I'll make it up to you guys, promise."
When she pulled away, Duo grinned. "Well…you can start showing your gratitude by whispering good things 'bout me in Hilde's ears. You can start with my big heart."
"No need for that!" she chuckled. "I'm telling you, Hilde's already half-in love with a certain braided youth. But of course, I'm sure the same holds true for you, eh?" Then her eyes clouded.
Duo patted her hand, which lay on her lap, clutching the other for dear life. "Don't worry. He'll come around."
"He hates me," she whispered dejectedly.
"He's confused, that's all. It's not easy dealing with the surprise of finding the boy you like is actually a girl—a girl he already met before, in addition to that. But he'll wise up. I'll make sure of it," he said with a grin, trying to lighten the mood.
Relena opened her mouth to argue, but no sound came out. She could feel her eyes burning and she blinked several times, willing the tears away. Someone knocked on her door, probably Lucrezia, to tell her they were ready to leave.
She stood up from the couch and swallowed hard. "I better go or Milli will come charging in here, demanding what's taking me so long," she said, giving him a weak smile. She grabbed the suitcases from the floor and refused Duo's offer of help with a shake of her head.
Duo opened the door for her and she paused by the door, dropping the bags by her side. She gave him a brief hug then let go. The bags felt like they were filled with lead, but she didn't say anything, nor did she ask for assistance. It was nothing compared to the difficulty knowing Heero had chosen Reynald rather than Relena.
~*~*~*~
"Oh, God," Hilde muttered in a small voice few seconds after opening the door of the room she shared with her best friend and spying said friend a day early from SKA with her brother towering in front of her. "Should I run for cover?"
Maybe it was her paranoia on over-drive. It was three forty-five; the sun was yet to rise. She must be dreaming. Yet here in the flesh was the object of her most torturous nightmare: Milli looking like there was only one thing on his mind, murder. It was obvious she was ready to expire of heart failure.
"You should. And you deserve the cardiac arrest, Hilde," Milliardo Darlain replied with a tone of voice that made Hilde's blood run cold. "But my darling sister here pleaded on your behalf, with the rest of the girls,' so no, you don't have to. However, it would be highly appreciated if you could step aside and let us in. I've lost precious hours reserved for sleeping and I'm telling you, I get cranky when I don't get enough sleep."
The girl swallowed hard and immediately stepped aside, grabbing the suitcase from Relena in the process and trying her best to blend with the electric blue wall, which was an idea doomed to be a failure even before it was conceived.
"Relena, since I'm sure you won't be sneaking out after this—and you'd better not if you know what's good for you—I will retire to the inn nearby. We'll all," he said, directing the last bit to Hilde, "talk in the morning when I've had my sleep and coffee. Until then behave."
"I thought we were done talking in Miss Noin's office," Relena smiled sweetly, trying for an ill-fated escape.
"I'll see you all tomorrow. Goodnight." He closed the door behind him.
Hilde stared at the shut portal her friend's brother just exited to. "Goodnight? How could he possibly think that was remotely possible with the way you guys came in here! I'll be traumatized for life!"
Relena shook her head. "Don't exaggerate. I told you he wouldn't inflict bodily damage on you when he finds out. You know he won't hurt us."
Hilde snorted. "Easy for you to say! You're the only girl and the youngest. What about us mere companions of the Beloved Child? He'll skin me alive then cook me in oil. Then he'll find out I was the one who suggested we play poker in the first place. Then he'd feed what's left of me to the hungry dogs. How can I not worry?"
She chuckled at her friend's distress. Milli really wouldn't do any of those. He'd probably just lecture them for a few hours or so then leave, no doubt off to visit his girlfriend at the other academy. Her shoulders sagged at the reminder of SKA. Heero.
"What's wrong? If you're getting worried, I really would need a good hiding place!"
~*~*~*~
The Apocalypse did not come upon them as Hilde had expected. Rather than the five-hour lecture everyone was expecting, Milli surprised them by simply reminding them that they were no longer toddlers to get themselves into every imaginable mischief without second thought and a short speech on responsibility, which lasted for an hour then kissed Relena on the forehead before he took off. Relena was convinced the principal was doing wonders for her brother's disposition.
She smiled at some of the freshmen she passed by on her way to the Student Council's office. Summer vacation was up and classes had resumed two weeks ago. She constantly thought of Heero and her friends at SKA, but she kept herself relatively busy to keep herself from devoting all her time thinking about Heero and his obvious disdain with her deceit.
She noticed she was the last to arrive. Dorothy, the class treasurer, acknowledged her with a nod of her head when she sat next to Crissy, who was vice-president. Anne, the council's president, started the meeting.
Unruly mop of dark brown hair. She didn't realize until then Jo's hair was so much like Heero's. Why, had she been facing the girl's back, she would've no hesitations to proclaim the girl to be Heero Yuy!
The girl was brought back to the times they would walk side by side in companionable silence, taking in the beauty of nature's untamed beauty in each other's company. She could almost feel the soft brush of Heero's skin against hers. Hear the low whisper of her name on his lips…
"Relena…"
"Yes," she replied softly, propping her chin with her left hand and leaning closer to the sound of his voice. "Yes…"
"Great! Good luck!"
Relena blinked. "Eh?" She flushed, realizing every pair of eyes in the room was on her. Good going, Lena. What a splendid way to prove to everyone what an idiot you are, daydreaming in the middle of a meeting. You're definitely in for the role of the village idiot now. Congratulations.
Dorothy smirked across the table, obviously having caught on Relena's unscheduled trip to her happy place. "Anne was just expressing her support. It was very nice of you to have agreed planning the coming dance, Lena."
"The dance…" she mumbled absently. They were having a dance? She was going to plan it? "Sure. We usually have a dance to welcome students back, don't we?"
"Isn't it exciting?" Cerrynise exclaimed. "A DANCE!"
Relena smiled and nodded. Sure, a dance. They have the welcome-back dance annually. Why was this any different? Cerrynise didn't seem to care that much last year. She mentally shrugged. It would be easy planning the dance. She did it before already. Piece of cake.
"This is the first time of this sort—and I heard it wouldn't be the last either! This will be the first. This has to be monumental, Relena!" Anne grinned, catching up with the excitement. "This dance has to be the best yet!"
She nodded, smiling still. "Count on me." She still couldn't see what the big deal was, but as what has been established since she started attending CHA, this dance was hers.
Dorothy could see Relena was still clueless with regards to why everyone seemed to be making a big deal out of the dance she was to plan so she decided to clue her in. That, and she wanted to see her friend's face, which proved to be priceless. "Planning the dance will be a breeze, eh?"
She nodded, her honey-blonde hair spilling over her shoulders. "Piece of cake."
"This will be the first dance SKA will have with CHA," Dorothy casually dropped, watching Relena stiffen then pale considerably. Ah. How she loved dropping the bomb. Call it perversity, but it was fun. Nothing would ever top Relena's face right now.
Except maybe at the day of the dance itself when Heero shows up.
"Piece of cake, eh, Lena?" Dorothy couldn't resist.
Yeah. But why do the gods have to catapult the cake towards me?
Tbc
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Disclaimers: Sue me and I'll send my bloodhounds after you. I'm not kidding—screw the fact said hounds are imaginary—I really will! If you think GW belongs to me, then you prolly deserve to have the dogs after you. Good luck.
Notes: I hope this part turned out okay. Not much yelling and the tone's not angry, as what you'd expect, but I want to keep it light-hearted so…there. C&C much appreciated. Thanks so much to those who reviewed. Love y'all!
Btw, the update for June is done. I won't feel "obligated" to post another one until July (remember the one-post-per-month goal?). But if a new one comes out, then all the better; I'll post it. However, I ask for your compassion (LOL) to understand that I've got professors (who are currently on top of my hit list) who gave assignments on the first day of classes. Give me some time to track them then kill them so I can do my good deed of riding the world of such pesky creatures.
PS: This has nothing to do with the fic, but is there a Remy(Gambit)/Rogue fan out there reading this? I just LOVE those two! ::grin:: Okay, I'll shut up now. ^_^