Oopsies, forgot something. *ahem* I claim no ownership to the lyrics of "When Love and Death Embrace" by HIM. Ville can keep his lyrics . . .in return for giving himself over to me. . . Muahahahaha!
No, I kid. It all belongs to him. . . er. . . Ville. . .whatever. Now, on with the chapter
Forgotten Lover: Part 13
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"I don't see why you would come to me. Surely the others would have given you some credible advice."
Heero hugged his knees to his chest. "You're the only other woman I know whose thinking process I understand. It just seemed natural for me to come to you. You're both women. . ."
Relena sat down across from him, silently, holding a cup of steaming liquid and not replying.
Heero pulled his knees closer, trying to get comfortable on the small chair in his awkward position. "I just don't understand how it could happen."
"Based on what you told me, it's not too complex. She and Duo made poor choices. At least you walked in when you did."
"I didn't want to see it!" he snarled. "That's why it hurt so much."
"Look at it this way: if you hadn't walked in, how much farther would it have gone, based on their conditions?" Relena replied calmly, sipping her drink.
He'd never thought of it that way before. She was right, as she usually was, but it didn't help him.
"You're really hung up on this, aren't you?" she asked softly, noticing the way his scowl deepened while he was thinking. A sharp glance clarified her thoughts. "You make your point well, you know?"
"Yeah," he murmured.
Something in the way Heero said it threatened to melt her heart as though it were made of chocolate. For a moment, the normally stoic man sitting near here morphed into a young, guilt-less child. He turned, and glanced at her, with alien eyes. They had undergone some prominent change. Before, they had merely reflected emotion, but now, they had the youthful look of a young boy had not closed away his feelings. As quickly as it had come, the image disappeared, and the aged Heero whom she knew was before her again.
But his eyes were similar to those of his in child form; there was some scarce bit of warmth radiating from their depths, hardly noticeable unless one looked closely, but it was there.
"This pain. . ." Relena whispered. "This pain that's she's causing you, it's helping you in a way I never could. You're. . . changed. Far different from the Heero I thought I knew."
He frowned. "What do you mean?"
She shrugged, helplessly, at a loss for the right words to describe it. "I don't know, but I'll try to explain it. The other day, when I saw you, you were happy. You didn't look it, because, well, you know, you don't express how you feel the way most people do, but I could feel it. The happiness emanating from you." She stood and knelt down next to him. "I knew that she was making you happy, and I was so jealous, because I realized that I could never do that for you."
"You're rambling. There's no happiness within me, there was once, but it's gone. I hate her for taking it away," Heero replied.
Relena shook her head. "No. You're sorrow has merely pushed it aside, but it's still there."
"Will you stop babbling and tell me what you're trying to get at?"
Relena pushed herself up, and with her hands, grabbed Heero by the lapels and pulled his mouth to hers.
Sputtering, Heero jerked away and toppled off the chair. Before he could regain his breath, she was on top of his and kissing him again. "What are you doing?" he demanded, when she let up her assault. He tried to shove her off of him, but she remained stubbornly where she was.
"You said you hated her, why do you care?" Relena replied, silencing his rebuke with another kiss.
"Get off!" he hissed.
"Why?"
"Because it's not right!"
She smirked. "What do you mean?"
"I don't love you!"
"Ah. What if I make you love me?" she asked.
"You wouldn't be able to!"
"Why not? Because you love Keiko?"
"Yes!" Heero cried, and then looked surprised at his own unhesitant words.
Relena smiled, half in sadness, half in triumph, rolled off him and then got to her feet. "I don't want to hear another complaint from you. So far, I've only heard about your feelings. Why don't you put yourself in Keiko's place for a moment?
"Now," she continued, with a pause too short for him to speak. "I have a meeting in an hour that I must attend. You're welcome to stay here and sleep, since that's another thing I recall you whining about. You know where the guest bedrooms are." And with a curt about-face, she exited the room, trying to banish the image of the shocked Heero from her mind.
Relena shook her head, blinking away tears her eyes were giving birth to. She already hated what she had done; she loved Heero. But it seemed to be the only way to get the point across succinctly.
Well, she could always pretend that he had returned her kiss; it would probably make her feel even worse though. That was the first time she had ever kissed him, and it had been in effort to make him proclaim and realize his love for that girl. "Too bad it was the first and last. . ." she murmured. Still, his quickly said words had given her hope.
And as she closed the door to her immense room, relief washed over Relena. She didn't like Keiko, but she didn't hate her either. And it was obvious that Heero was happy while with her. Relena made up her mind to help the two out if she could in any way.
Heero picked himself up from the floor slowly, running the back of his hand across his moist lips. He took a deep breath in effort to calm the passion that had been unwillingly transferred to him while lying on the carpet. He glanced at the face of the large grandfather clock that called this room- one of many- home. It was nearly eleven; he'd been away for several hours already. Mainly he had come here to escape all the thoughts plaguing him, and to catch up on sleep.
He exited the room and climbed up the stairwell to the guest wing of Relena's immense mansion. Strangely, although he had only slept over at her house once or twice after getting seriously smashed at several dull a New Year's Eve parties, he had taken a liking to one of the rooms. It contrasted; the cherry wood was stained to a deep scarlet, while the carpet was a soft cream color, and the bed was draped in a jade colored quilt. The thick drapes that were able to mask the light from the French windows we the same color as the bedcovers.
Feeling suddenly exhausted, Heero pulled off his shoes and cobalt over shirt and collapsed on the bed so that he was lying on his stomach perpendicular with it. He thought briefly about moving, so his feet weren't hanging off the edge, but dismissed the notion. Heero's eyes closed and he sighed deeply, totally relaxed in his position.
Someone shook his shoulder forcefully and he groaned, turning his head away from who disturbed him. It wasn't as if her were clueless. "What do you want Relena?" he muttered, burying his face in his arms.
"To tell you something."
"Well no shit Sherlock, why else would you have woken me up?"
"For giggles?"
Heero growled and rolled over. "I'm awake. I've had. . . Four hours of sleep, now talk so I can resume it."
"I have an idea," she stated. "That might help bring you and Keiko closer together."
"What's this?" he asked warily.
Relena held up a dog-eared paperback book. "Let me read you this passage first," she replied, flipping to a page near the end of the book.
" ' There was a deafening roar overhead; it seemed to send waves of tremors racing down the spines of the trees surrounding the meadow where she stood. Something large- gargantuan- flew overhead. Aya embraced the ground, terrified and enraged at the same time. This was her place. This was where Kiore had asked her, a year ago; this was where she had gotten the telegram of his death, ten months ago, and this was where Joji had also proposed to her. The earth shuddered and the gritty taste of dust filled her mouth. Aya buried her face in her arms, hoping no harm would come to her. Then, the violent wind began to die, and the noise began to die down until all that was left was a soft, vaguely soothing, humming sound.
" 'She got to her feet unsteadily, brushing bits of leaves and dirt off her clothes. She didn't even want to think about how much debris had gotten tangled in her hair. It wasn't like it mattered. Not much mattered now. No matter, Aya was still angry for her place being invaded, and she screamed into the dust:
" ' "What the hell is wrong with you, you crazy fuck? Couldn't you see me standing here? Were you trying to kill me? What the hell!"'
" 'There was a whoosh, as of a mechanical door opening, and then a louder whirring. The dust was still thick, although it was beginning to settle so objects weren't quite so shapeless. She heard a thud, and then heavy footsteps coming towards her.
" 'Aya was too shocked to move. She hadn't expected anyone to come out of the craft. Perhaps they had heard somehow? Reality had yet to be absorbed, but it was sinking in slowly. The possibility that this person was some enemy of the republic was growing larger in her nervous brain. Her legs wouldn't have moved even if she tried. She didn't see the point in running; if someone was out to kill, they would find her just as easily here as they would if she were in her house.
" 'The large object in front of her sharpened, and gave off a metallic glimmer. Her heart wrenched when she recognized that it was the same model mobile suit that Kiore and Joji had both operated when they had taken their training exams. Oh how long ago that seemed.
" 'Then, suddenly, the walking figure came into focus, and Aya's knees buckled beneath her. She couldn't believe what stood before her eyes. A tale, stoic man, dressed in the colors of the republic, had been walking towards her slowly and now stopped. A bloodied handkerchief, so soiled it was impossible to tell what its original color had been, was tied loosely around his neck, and his shaggy black hair hung in his eyes. They were not stranger's eyes, but ones Aya knew, and had once loved.
" 'The trauma was too much. Her eyes had barely begun their weeping when her system realized it had overloaded- what with her first loss, Joji's unrequited love, his death, and her failed suicide attempt earlier that day. Her mind faded and then turned black as she slipped out of consciousness. Her last thought was a happy one, for the man she saw would be by her side when she woke, because he was Kiore,'" Relena finished with a flourish.
"And that was. . .?" Heero prompted after a pause.
"The last chapter of Keiko's book."
He shook his head, flabbergasted. "I'm still not making the connection."
"You have no imagination!" Relena exclaimed, setting the book down. "Listen. You remember when Zero fell apart after you destroyed the barrier for the Brussel's Presidential Residence?"
"Yeah," he muttered, and then added, "Hurt like hell- all the wires shorting out and pieces flying everywhere."
"Yes, well, my idea is this: Why don't you," she paused for effect and Heero merely motioned for her to continue. "Show her what's left of it? You hid it didn't you? In the mountains?"
Heero looked at her like she was insane. "Why the hell would I drag her all the way up there just to see some scraps?"
"Because," Relena insisted. "That's what tore you apart in the first place! Show her that it's destroyed and she'll never be afraid that you'll leaver her again!"
"Why are we talking about her when I'm still upset?"
"Because you're being whiney and immature about it! Now shut up and take my idea into consideration!" she snapped, huffed indignantly and stormed out the door.
Heero stared at Relena as she left. Once again, she had greatly surprised him today. Well, best not to dwell on it, he thought. Lest she come back and do something else at the expense of my sleep.
* * *
A voice, soft and timid, snapped him out of his reverie.
"Do you think. . . .We could give it another try?"
Heero looked up at Keiko and smiled faintly. "I don't think I could live for long without forgiving you, but I don't know if I would be able to do it again. Not if it's like how it was before."
"Oh, no! Of course not!" Keiko returned, tightening her trembling grip around his hands. "No, I won't-nothing like that will ever happen again."
"I don't mean it like that."
She frowned. "I won't ever disappear for six years if that's what you're saying."
"No, not that either."
"Then what?"
His smile broadened. "Our love wasn't strong enough the first time. That's why we were lost for so long. Nor was it the second time, which is why this affected us so much. This time, I want it to be better."
Keiko looked away, thinking, her golden hair spinning with her. Then she turned back to him. "Such a suave way of asking me, Heero-"
"Oh, but I didn't mea-"
"-But I guess I'm ready for it."
Heero's sapphire eyes widened. "What. . .?" he gasped.
Her gazed narrowed at him. "It's what you want, isn't it? It's what everyone wants," she added. "I might as well do it with someone who loves me and of my own will rather than being forced into it. Well, c'mon, let's get on with it. Boy, what a make-up present this will be."
"Now?" Heero squeaked.
Keiko smiled at his nervousness. "Whatever's convenient for you. Call me," she replied, kissed his face softly while running her fingers through his hair.
"I will," he said gently. "Once I get the nerve."
Keiko smiled and then yawned, leaning into Heero's warm arms. "Go to bed missy. You've been up early for too long."
"I don't want to. I'd rather stay here."
"I know, but you need to." He carefully pried Keiko off him and held her at arms length.
"Don't send me away again," she whispered.
Heero smiled and embraced her tightly, breathing in her scent. "I'm not leaving you. But go to bed."
She nodded and strutted from the room, her hips swaying sensually. In the doorway, Keiko turned and cast him a playful glance, then disappeared. Her sudden flirtatious mood made his head spin. That was one thing that had always eluded his comprehension- her ability to change moods so quickly. Heero sighed and shook his head, wondering how he would ever understand women.
Then again, it had always been one of her most prominent attractive features. . .
Keiko leaned out her window, letting the warm night breeze billow in and ruffle her waist length hair. Her spirits were already rising.
Heero had spoken to her!
And he'd forgiven her!
And she knew that he wouldn't try and touch her unless he was given permission. It wasn't that he was her little lap dog; Heero was just respectful like that. There had been no seriousness in the last moments of their conversation; it had merely been a way to end the discussion, since it was well needed to do so.
She sat on the little seat beside the open window, resting her head on her propped up elbows. She wasn't sure how long she had been sitting there when a shiver raced down her spine. Her eyes darted upward and out into the darkness, but there was nothing she could detect by sight. There was a feeling though, of unsettlement. It took her a moment to place another think on the tally of 'What is Wrong?' list : there were no sounds. Nothing, not even a cricket chirping or leaves rustling in the wind. It was as if the earth sensed something was out of place and was trying to hide from it.
Slowly, Keiko straightened, leaning farther out the window and peering from side to side.
Still nothing. But it was there. She knew it was.
A quick movement caught her eye and she froze, gaping after it as it ran. Then it stopped, and Keiko chided herself for becoming paranoid over a cat. She pulled herself back in and relaxed.
Someone laughed. A deep, throaty, chuckle and Keiko's eyes widened when she realized she had been staring unconsciously at the person, who was right outside her window, wearing a long knee length coat.
He- she?- was looking right at her, and there was some way that she knew this person was grinning, even though their face was masked by the darkness.
Keiko gasped and jumped back, slamming the window shut. The panes rattled and she was quite surprised the glass hadn't shattered. Taking a deep breath, she glanced outside again. There was nothing there.
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Yes, sorry if I annoyed anyone in making the majority of this chapter flashback. . .but it serves its purpose. Everything has a purpose. Anyways, I hope everyone is doing well and that you enjoyed this chapter.