Welcome back, I'm not really happy with the first part, but I'm afraid all my tinkering has only worsened it, so I'm giving up for now and hoping that all enjoy it as it is until I can rewrite it justly. Second part is fun though....
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, nor will I ever.

Recreate Me (I Crumble)



AC 208, July 18
Red was the color of the African country side as the sun sank below the horizon. All other hues were drowned in the crimson and black. Unquiet settled over the grasses and through the trees.

The night was bloodshed.

Heero crept through the dilapidated building, crouching under broken stairwells and fading into shadows. The light poured through all the cracks, bathing each room in a scarlet pigment.

The song of his knife penetrated each victim as the most poignant opera. He danced with blood like and expert and it was if he was a classical choreographer, lost in his passion. His show was grotesque and beautiful, deadly and lovely. All who had the chance to view him before he brought his doom admired and feared him, for his skill was great and terrible.

He fell man after man, imbruing himself. Many attempted to stop him, but his knives were swifter by seconds. He was bloody, but unscathed, and he was to become champion.

And then an unknown blade bit into his arm and instantly his knife was at the soldier's throat. To his shock, when his vision cleared enough, Heero found that this was no true soldier but a woman, smiling menacingly at him, craving his life blood.

He thrust his blade straight through her neck in a manner similar to running one through with a sword.

And then it seemed that there were only woman left and each of them threatened his life, and this was no longer a systematic elimination of confrontational males, but a survival game. He was thrilled and exalted by it.

In the end all in the building were dead, regardless of age, gender, or affiliation. His heart pounded and he inhaled the sweet smell of blood that permeated from the walls and the floors and himself. He was saturated in it, but all were dead and he was the victor. He had survived.
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AC 207, July 5th
His rough hands caressed her smooth legs from ankle to hipbone and back again. He noted every curve, rise and fall of her naked body. She giggled as his hands crept over her ticklish ribs. Bliss oozed from the lover's faces and pleasure spilled from their pores. He lowered himself atop her and cocooned them into the light linen sheet.

The morning rays shone through the French doors of the balcony in fractured pieces, creating a kaleidoscope on the soft pink wall.

Safe in his arms, Relena snuggled into him, breathing in his morning smell of sweat and jasmine from the incense he constantly burned. He was home and she would trade nothing for that moment and his embrace. He was lovely.

Just as the thoughts crossed her mind he disentangled himself from her and walked naked across the room to his bureau, picking a five-by-five inch box from the bottom drawer. She propped herself up against the many pillows without bothering to cover herself, curious as to what her beloved was up too.

He sat down, his lean, well-toned muscles inclining him in toward her. In his flat palm he offered the white cardboard box.

"Quatre!--" He silenced her protests with a kiss.

"Shh. Hush, love and accept your gift."

She smiled demurely and pecked it from his hand. It was light, and made no noise when shook. She opened it, and found only waded tissue paper, which she threw at Quatre in jest.

"Hold on, but you didn't even check." He picked up one of the purple balls from his lap, and carefully uncrumpled it. Inside he pulled out a golden ring with a medium sized diamond on top, set off by two sapphires of the deepest blue. It slid easily onto her finger.

She gasped and stared at it in wonder as he bent to one upon the floor. "Will you do me the pleasure of becoming my wife, Relena, love?"

Her eyes swung to meet his and they exchanged smiles before she pulled him upon the bed to celebrate their engagement...

A small smile graced Relena's lips.

"Well that's an improvement," a gruff male voice said, so different from the smooth flowing notes of Quatre's.

Immediately Relena was pulled back into reality, and saw her brother, Milliardo, seated across from her at her dinning room table. "I was thinking of Quatre..." she said, studying the ring which still sat upon her left ring finger.

Her brother's eyes followed hers and also came to rest upon that extraordinary ring. "Have you ever though of not wearing it anymore?" He said warily.

She shrugged and gave no real answer. The only thing which she seemed to care about at all any more was her work. Even then he could tell that she was not satisfied, and he was at a loss.

He stood and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You know where to reach me if you need anything," he said, and waited until she nodded before taking his leave.

He was headed over to the apartment he and Noin had been sharing the past couple of months. It was not fair to her, that Noin and her brother had each other. Still, after so long, they were together and happy. Even after all those years of game playing, they had come together a decade ago and were still growing strong. Even after their ten-year tenure on Mars, they were still alive.

It wasn't fair, and she hated them for it.

She hated all couples, and anyone that had anyone else. She was alone now and could do nothing about it. She had no one left. Milliardo did not count. He was hardly company, mostly he just stopped by to make sure she was still breathing, but rarely did her offer any more than a firm palm on the shoulder. He didn't know what to do either. They never had truly been siblings--at least not in her mind.

A knock sounded at her door. She made no movement, knowing it would by answered by Peygan. Almost on cue Peygan appeared in the doorway, clearing his throat. "Mr. Heero Yuy is at the door, should I let him in?"

Relena turned her head slowly. "No, I don't want to be bothered..." Peygan nodded and turned to go. "Wait, let him in, I'll see what he wants."

She gave Peygan time to let Heero in the foyer and disappear to the stairs where he could eavesdrop.

In a detached manner she stalked to the elaborate entry way and stopped to watch him. She knew he heard her enter, but he continued to study the Japanese woodblock-print. He was wearing perfectly fitting black slacks and a coffee-colored button-down shirt. His hands were shoved in his pockets and he was posed as if he were in a museum.

He stood back, his eyes focused on the diagonal rain, following the directional lines into the corners. Anything to keep from looking at her.

Over the past few months, she had invaded his thoughts, torturing him. He could feel her there, moving inside his head as if she knew his misdeeds. She was taunting him, luring him to her with demure glances and whispered caresses in the night.

Again he found himself in her home. Her actual home–not Quatre's. She eyed him from the doorway, he knew she did. Though she was still grieving, he knew her eyes appreciated his well-fitting clothes, scruffy chin, and even his messy hair, which he had mussed a little extra just before knocking.

The confusion of whether to smile and nod or cry overwhelmed her. The stillness scared her and she spoke somewhat shakily. "What can I do for you, Mr. Yuy?"

An amused look crossed his face as he turned to face her. He had never called her by anything other than her first name. He never would.

"I was in the neighborhood."

Relena stiffened. Heero never just stopped by. He always had a reason. Of course, before the funeral she hadn't seen him years, but still, he only came out of hiding when it suited him.

"Really?" she asked skeptically.

He nodded, still showing amusement at her. "I was delivering a program I had designed just about one hundred kilometers from here. I thought of you."

She was bewildered. He looked as if he were trying not to give her a big, goofy grin. Still, she couldn't believe that he was honestly just dropping in to say, "Hello."

"What do you want, Heero?"

His steps neared her and by the time he stopped she could feel his even breath on her face. He stooped and she thought fleetingly that he might kiss her. Instead of oscillating, he swerved his head to the side and whispered, "Redemption," huskily in her ear.

Puzzled as to what he could mean by that, and shocked by his apparent comfort at being so near, Relena stepped back. "Heero?"

"What do you want, Relena?"

His face was grave now stern and serious. Each stark blue eye swam in pain, and she read them easily, though she knew not what they meant.

"Quatre," she said without having to think. All emotion from his face vanished, and his eyes closed out all feeling in them, returning to a dark abyss. He turned from her, shoving his hands into his pockets once more.

Why did she have to ask for the one thing he couldn't give? Did she not realize that he was there offering her everything she'd ever want? He didn't fool himself into thinking that she still disillusioned herself about loving him. That had ceased nearly ten years before hand. Though, perhaps it would ease his mission if she did. Still, everything he had was hers. He owed her too much.

"Was that the wrong answer, Heero? Was I supposed to want you instead?" Her voice was fire and it burned him as she supposed it to. Satisfied with the retort, she turned from the room. He caught her arm, and pulled her to him, where he held her tightly against himself with both arms.

"Do not chastise me, Relena." His voice deadly calm, she gasped. "I came to offer you some semblance of friendship. I will not allow you to ridicule me for attempting to feel human."

He released her and rumpled his hair as she watched him turn in a circle.

"I'm sorry, Heero," she said, placing a timid hand on his shoulder. She was already slightly afraid of the way he was acting, which was strange at least. Though, she had not known him in the past years. Perhaps he had changed. She decided to give him a chance. He could never hurt her, he had proved that many times over. Besides, she was lonely.

His eyes drowned in hers for a moment, searching her depths. Se only looked on as he berated himself, telling himself that he had no right to touch her.

"Don't ever apologize to me, Relena. Never."

She smiled and let her hand fall into his, where she squeezed. Quatre wouldn't blame her for that. He needed the reassurance.

"Are you hungry? I'm not much of a cook, but I think there's a box of macaroni and cheese in the cabinet."

"I'm starved," he said, and let her lead him awkwardly into the kitchen.

to be continued