Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or any of its characters. This was written purely for entertainment purposes and I receive no profits whatsoever.
Thanks to: Ley, Sorrow, Magnum, Wing. I thank you all for leaving a review and I thank those that didn't leave a review yet read and enjoyed the story.
Yes I know in the first two chapters it doesn't reveal what was wrong with Relena but it will be soon. Don't worry everything will be revealed soon.
The Delay: Sorry that it took me so long to get this out but this week I had midterms and on top of that my computer wouldn't access Fanfiction.net for some reason. I had to copy this on a floppy disk, and finish writing it on another computer and upload it from there. Writing in a different environment unlike my own is a tad bit difficult but I did it.
Fade To BlackChapter 3: Morning Glory
By Aku Tenshi
Cobalt blue eyes scanned over the dim computer screen as the young man read the mission assignment, a healthy tan to his skin and bangs of his unruly brown hair suspended over his eyes. He leaned back in the chair as he contemplated taking the assignment; with a frown he whirled his computer chair to the side as he looked down at the small kitten seated next to the CPU.
"Well what do you think, should I take the mission?" he asked knowing full well that the kitten had no idea what he was saying.
The gray kitten looked up to his owner with soulful jade eyes and replied with a short "Mew."
"That's what I thought." He replied as he swiveled back to the computer screen and typed a return message, when finished his cursor clicked the send button and he sat in silence as he thought about the decision he just made.
"How do you think she'll take it kit? It's been nearly ten years, how do you think she'll react when I suddenly reappear?" he asked the small gray kitten which only looked up quizzically at him, it's head tilted to the side and an ear turned slightly listening for other sounds. He shook his head "Of course you don't know how she'll react neither do I but we'll see won't we kit? We'll see." He said and stretched his long, muscled arms.
"It's been a while since I've accepted any missions lately and keeping an eye on her won't be so tough, if I can assemble a weapon I can surely do this." A slow smile slithered to his face as he mused over the possible things that would most likely be said.
Relena tossed and turned in her sleep, suddenly it felt very dry and hot in the room all of a sudden and she didn't like it at all. After she tossed off the covers she finally kicked them off of her yet she continued to toss and turn. With a loud groan her eyes opened and looked to the clock, it was only 3:52Am and already she was up, that was earlier than last night. She slowly sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed the balls of her feet hovering over the hard and cold wooden floor.
"This is driving me mad," she muttered and looked to the window "Maybe a walk would do me some good." And with that she pushed off the bed, for a moment standing in the white silk nightgown that stopped just above the knee and a v-neck collar. She stretched her arms, her muscles moving beneath the fabric as she reached for her robe and plucked it off from the chair. After loosely tying the fine sash around her slim waist she stepped into a pair of white tennis shoes and left her room through the balcony windows. It was no use sleeping, and neither was it any use eating for her appetite had diminished so much that at times even the site of food had her making a run for the bathroom. After resting her pale, slim arms on the cold balcony railing she began to feel much better as a soft breeze tickled her skin, and tousled her honey blond tresses. The sky was already beginning to brighten as the coming dawn slowly approached as the minutes slowly began to creep by. With a short melancholy sigh removed her arms from the railing and descended the nearby stone steps that lead into the garden. Her hands lightly touched each blossom that was in full bloom and rested on the Morning Glory's today, like yesterday she would see them bloom and then later retreat into their sanctuary, shying from the brutal rays of the afternoon sun.
"And to think soon I may not get to see this…any of this," She murmured drearily her violet eyes beginning to water and her lip quiver, but she bit down hard on her lower lip and resisted the urge to cry once again. "No I must be strong, I have to be."
Emily Une too had a problem sleeping the previous night but soon found a solution as she found a solution for her curiosity and intuition. She once again straightened her blouse and skirt meticulously as if she were someone about to go in for a job interview. She raised her balled hand to the stained glass and knocked lightly after no reply she tapped a bit louder and lowered her arm waiting patiently. A seemingly young woman answered the door her auburn hair gracefully and loosely pulled back into a bun a few curly wisps escaping here and there; in fact she looked not a day over thirty if it weren't for the gray stripes that decorated her hair. Her olive eyes looked to Emily not at all surprised to see her there, as Emily held out her hand the good Dr. Janice hesitated but then lifted her own and gave a firm shake.
"Hello Dr. Armond I'm Emily Une." She greeted in a polite voice and a small smile on her lips.
Janice nodded "I know who you are, although I expected you a bit sooner," Her hand released Emily's and dropped to her side as she stepped aside "Please do come in." she said politely as she could.
Emily nodded courteously as she stepped through the threshold and waited as the doctor closed the door and made her way to her own seat and sat down in the luxurious leather chair, the mahogany arm rests gleaming as if freshly coated with stain. As soon as the doctor sat; she herself sat after crossing her legs, she clasped her hands together and stared intensely at the doctor.
"Come now Ms. Une you know that I took an oath and I will keep that oath. I will not tell you what went on in that session so you are wasting your time." Janice said with a strained smile.
"Your obstructing justice." Emily said as she eased out of her interrogative state and became more relaxed.
"Tell me about the investigation and I'll tell you the oath I took once again. It's called doctor patient confidentiality." Janice returned
Emily sighed "Fine then you're not obstructing justice but I'm Relena's friend I need to know what's wrong with her." Emily explained desperately.
"It seems to me that if you were really her friend she would have told you already." Janice replied curtly now with a thin smile on her lips.
With a scowl Emily stood abruptly and left the room leaving the door wide open, "Have a nice day Ms. Une I'm sure I'll see you soon." She called after her retreating form and closed the door. It was now her smile disappeared and was replaced with a worried frown. "Relena I've done all I could to make sure that they never find out but you yourself must tell them."
Quatre rubbed his eyes and stretched it was almost time for him to leave, and that must mean the Relena should be awake by now. He reached for the secure line and dialed her number, smiling with relief when she answered.
"Relena." he said with joy and relief.
"Quatre." She whispered an unexplained comfort coming into her voice, "How nice it is to hear from you."
"Yes from you as well…Relena look I don't want to interfere with your life or anything of the sort but what's going on?" he asked slowly afraid to broach the subject.
"Whatever do you mean?" she asked sounding genuinely confused.
"Well I had a call from Emily yesterday and she's worried about you." He bit his lower lip gently, a nervous habit he'd pick up from Catherine, as he awaited her reply.
A thick silence hung in the air, the only sound being Relena's soft breathing into the phone and Quatre's beating heart.
"Look Quatre, I don't need anyone sniffing around my personal life, and you. You were the last person I expected to do so." And with that the line went dead. Quatre dialed once again but the number was busy and he bet that it'd be busy for a long time. Slowly he placed the phone back onto the cradle as the grandfather clock chimed midnight.
Duo laughed at the synopsis of what was going on, "You can't be serious Noin," he said as he gave another laugh.
The air around them was musty and heavy with the smell of alcohol and cheap knock-off cigars. The lights were dim and the brightest source of light was a medium sized TV perched precariously above the bar random images from sports flashing across the screen. The three were seated in a semicircular booth the vinyl making noise whenever they decided to move. Ever so often a rambunctious and quite intoxicated group of men would cheer from the direction of the bar and tip their glasses in the direction of Noin. A young waitress dressed in black tights, black shoes, black skirt, black suspenders and a white shirt would come by ever so often to check if they needed anything, her hair was plain and black and pulled back into a tight bun. She seemed to be in a very bad mood and so the three didn't ask for much or did anything that would slightly damage themselves or their food.
"Duo I am very serious, Emily and I are worried about Relena that maybe she's up to something. Something that can't be reversed you two have to help talk to her, she won't talk to me or Emily." Noin replied her tone becoming sharp with the younger man who sat laughing at her dilemma.
"Noin don't you think that you're being, well paranoid because Milliardo placed you in charge of Relena," Hilde asked but plowed on not allowing Noin to reply. "I mean for goodness sake Relena is no longer a girl, she's a grown woman capable of making her own decisions. I mean sure she's bound to make a couple of mistakes in life but you and Milliardo aren't allowing her to make them. Give her a little breathing room Noin, it's not as if she's your child and you're the overprotective mother."
"No I don't think I'm paranoid, in fact she's been avoiding me as well as Emily. Most of her duties have been divided up amongst other delegates and she seems to be for lack of a better word fading." She replied in her defense.
"Okay Noin so if, if Relena is planning something, don't you think she would have already done it by now?" she asked and no sooner had the words passed her lips when the television bleeped to a news channel for a press meeting called by Relena Darlain.
It was a bright and sunny day outside when Relena stepped up to the podium politely greeting the members of the press. "Ladies and gentlemen of the press thank you all for coming on such short notice. I hope you are all well today." She greeted politely a small smile on her rosy lips, "As you all know I am Relena Darlain, the vice foreign minister. Many of you have also known me as Relena Peacecraft, queen of the world and the ruler of the Cinq Kingdom. But I come to you all today as Relena Darlain titles thrown aside just the facts. For ten years, I have served as vice foreign minister, ten long and hard years. But I think I served them well considering my age compared to other delegates. But today I come to you with the saddest and perhaps the most shocking news for anyone and everyone." She said with a pause as her lips set in a thin and straight line, her back straightened and her chin high. "I Relena Darlain am resigning as Vice Foreign minister."
A collective gasp of shock and surprise ran rampant through the crowd before finally a shocked silence reigned.
"I respect that myself and my escorts won't be barraged with questions when we leave here today, if so nothing will be answered. I thank you all for your time but now I bid you adieu." And with that she stepped from behind the podium and walked to the awaiting limo. She resisted the urge to shudder as she felt a dozen pair of eyes boring into her.
This shocking news report went unheard and unseen by Milliardo as paced in his small office, coffee in hand wondering what was going on at home and if everything was all right for just a few moments ago an eerie chill passed over him. It was then that one of his subordinates came barreling into the room, his hair disheveled and his gaze wild.
"Sir there was a news announcement." He said as he regained some composure and saluted.
Milliardo waved off the salute. "What is it?" he had this sinking feeling that in some way it had something to do with Relena.
"Sir the Vice Foreign Minister just resigned." He reported with a loss of breath.
The mug from Milliardo's hand came crashing to the ground, shattering into a hundred pieces.
To Be Continued.
As always criticism wanted and welcome, and I hoped that you enjoyed reading.