Disclaimer… FOR THE WHOLE STORY: I do not own Gundam Wing in any way, not even merchandise.

 AN: Hey guys! New story here!! It's a bit different from my last ones… there's no romance, but a really confusing story about two friends separated by war. I've already panned it out for the most part… character to character wise, but the plot I only have a faint idea of. And I know what characters I used to list this story in, but there will not be any shoujo-ai  or shonen-ai, alright? Now, let's get going!

 Summary: In a world where personal matters are as important as world matters, two friends, bound by an innocent child's promise, must try and find a way out of their web, and into the world they used to know… AU

A Childhood Promise
Chapter 1

My friend and I don't have much in common, nor are our views the same… and there are times when we're nothing alike… but we're still best friends.

 For eons, red and blue have always been the most unfavorable colors, as weird as it may be. It seemed like, whenever in a war, those two colors were the representatives of the opposing forces. England and France, Canada and the United States, even the lowly gangs in the streets wore those two colors. Was it a mere coincidence that Mars and Earth, the red and blue planets, fought?

 And for what… for the choice of government between the two planets, though almost no one saw that anymore. What was important was the war, and winning. And for a war that had been raging on for six years, it's probably normal.

 Perhaps she shouldn't have joined the army, so soon, then she wouldn't be in this mess. A slight pain emitted from her side, where the bullets had grazed her. Dark blue tresses flowed in her face, and her cropped hair fluttered in the slight wind, but Hilde wasn't making not of any of it. Instead, her eyes were trained on the grounds, and on the walls, and anywhere else possible to look for hidden camera.

 "It's been looped, soldier. It's safe to penetrate now." Heero's calm voice flickered into her ear. Even as he said it, the situation made Hilde uneasy. It was too dangerous. Sure, Duo had probably already knocked out a handful of guards, but if the base commander, or anyone for that matter, noticed a guard that wasn't out, or on duty, the loop would be caught.

 "Great, sir, but how long is the thing on for?"

 "As long as they don't restart… and the loop is every minute. Risky, I know, but there are guards inside, and I have to give them time to move." came the curt reply. Hilde almost groaned into her headset, knowing the risk of using such a long time period.

 "Pray that you didn't cut at a soldier in mid-stride." A grunt, and Hilde swiftly entered the building, her long legs carrying her silently. She had to get as far as she could before the loop was discovered.

*~*~*~*~*

 Relena sat on her bed, twirling a medallion in her hand. In another lifetime, maybe, she would've wished that this would be over, but now…

 The medallion glinted in the light, a bit of a peachy pink color catching it, before disappearing. They were so close to winning now… there just had to be a way to hold on… and still fulfill her promise. The war wouldn't last much longer…

 "Something on your mind?" Sylvia sat down on the bed, keeping an eye on her friend and employer. She had been playing guidance counselor for Relena for a year now, and there was a friendship growing between them. "Don't tell me you're having doubts."

 "No… I believe in our cause, Sylvia, but something's bothering me… my gut's telling me there's something missing…"

 "Or something wrong?" A smile lit up Relena's face as Sylvia pulled the words right out of her mouth. She was only a couple of years older than herself, but Sylvia was wise, and a good advisor when need be. Sitting upright, she straightened out her dark blue dress and sat beside the older woman, ready to listen to her words.

 "Relena, we all gave something up for this… but we're in for the right reason, trust me. You may have left your family behind, but you're doing this for them, so that they could live fairly."

 Her pink lips opened to speak, but the words died on her tongue. It didn't feel right to discuss something like this… especially when she didn't understand it herself. Instead, she plastered on a smile and thanked Sylvia, knowing that the older woman was only trying to make things seem better. She left Relena to herself, walking out the door within seconds.

 Her head fell against the royal blue pillows, and she turned to look up at the ceiling. Her left hand stretched out again, holding the medallion to shine in the lamplight. A silver figure held onto the glass orb, glowing a slight pink in the firelight. The orb, not much more than an inch in diameter, held a small photo, distorted by the shape of the glass. Relena hardly even remembered it being taken, since it was at least nine years ago.

 Two children stood side by side, smiling cheek to cheek. The day was bright, and the children happy. One was dark haired, another light, but they were best friends… it was painfully evident.

 Things have to change… Those words echoed in her head as she relived those painful moments that she and her best friend, as children, turn away from each other… and promised the other one thing…

 It'd been nine years already, though… what was the point of that? Why had they promised it? They both had known that it was nearly impossible… even as children. Well, it was nine years now, where was she?

 Angry thoughts filled her head about how their one bond was nearly broken. Not long from now, ten years will have passed, and they'd still be where they were. Who knows where she had gone? Had her best friend forgotten?

 "Here, you wear it… knowing how forgetful you are…"

 Relena picked up the pillow, ready to throw it across the room, when there was a knock at the door. Placing the comforter back in its spot, Relena brushed a hand through her hair and tried to make herself look presentable.

 "Come in." the doorknob opened, and Sally Po stepped in, bowing low.

 "Mistress Dorlain, we require your presence in the main room. Trowa has found an intruder." Eyes rolling, Relena slid off the bed and into her boots, tying them up before checking her own uniform for wrinkles. Becoming a world leader definitely did not have many perks… but someone had to do it, or else those damn Martians would win.

 She finished preparing herself and opened her drawer, shoving the amulet in as far as it would go, ready to be forgotten until tonight. Sally waited patiently as she waited for her mistress, her eyes following the amulet up until it was shoved in the drawer, curious of why Relena still kept it.

 "Very well, lead the way."

 "Yes Mistress."

*~*~*~*~*

 Hilde sat in the roof, watching as a young man… blonde and kind looking, was being dragged towards the main room by his arms. She didn't recognize him… but he wore the same suit as hers.

 Their eyes locked, and he suddenly began to struggle. The other man, dragging the blonde, was talking into his microphone and he bent the blonde's wrist, causing him to twist. Hilde flinched at the kid's face, twisted in pain, but not making a sound. After they had disappeared out of her line of view, Hilde turned and twisted until they had disappeared from sight, then dropped down.

 "Soldier, what was that?" Heero's voice crackled through, distorted by the base's walls.

 "One of ours was captured. Heero, how many men did we send out?" There was a moment's silence, making Hilde think that he wouldn't answer, but a line of static told her he was still listening.

 "Two." Two? But she had thought Duo was the only one… maybe that man had been part of her side, but she wasn't sure yet.

 "Was one of them a young blonde, our age, with really blue eyes?" There was a tapping sound on the other side… then a bit of a grunt.

 "What kind of game are you playing at, Hilde? We sent out Wufei and Duo…" What…?

 "Halt!" Hilde turned, hands up and in the air as she faced to men, easily twice her age, in Earthling uniforms and holding guns at her. They eyed her dark red jumpsuit and Martian emblem.

 "Come over here, girlie." Ignoring the urge to roll her eyes, she walked over to them hands still raised. They pushed her against the wall and began to search her, before fingering her headset. "What's this…?" His hand enclosed around the wire, and tugged at it. Hilde winced inwardly; it was clipped into her ear.

 With a chuckled, the man pulled at it, cutting a bit of her ear as it was dislodged. Blood spattered on her shirt, dripping to the ground as her ear throbbed, pain lacing it… at least it wasn't too far in.

 "Heh, that kid was right… his plan did work."

 "Come on and let's get this girl to the Mistress."

 They yanked at her arms, making her turn to face the men from before. The man being dragged had a very uncertain look on his face, but it only lasted a moment as his face was set into a grim look. The other one had a side of his face covered in brown tresses, with a stoic mask on. It reminded her of Heero…

 "I've already alerted Sally, she'll be telling the Mistress any moment now." Hilde looked at the four men, all looking at her, the two older ones with smirks on their faces.

 I won't talk… Hilde thought, determined. They'll have to kill me. The cold man regarded her… and Hilde spat right in his face. Though, it didn't work, as a hand hit it, splattering it back at her. The two older men pushed her forward, a stinger ready to use in one hand.

 "Hey girlie," the voice was followed by a putrid smell, making Hilde turn her head, "What's a pretty girl like you fighting in the war, anyways?" She throated another clump of spit and the men laughed out loud. The one with the weird hair up front turned to them.

 "If you kill her, gentlemen, Mistress Dorlain will be very upset." The laughing died down, the men grumbling under their breath instead. "Besides, we're almost there."

*~*~*~*~*~*

 Yep! New story, first chapter! I hope nothing wasn't too painfully obvious in here… 'cause it wouldn't look too professional if I went ahead and told you everything, now would it? Well, I hope you like the first chapter, R&R please!