Disclaimer: Gundam Wing belongs to other people. I'm not one of them.

Relena Was Dead: Chapter Four
by Wicked Child

Midnight. Three dark figures stole across the cemetery grounds unseen save for the native owls making the dead's resting place their own. They reached their destination moments later. Silently each took up their pre-determined positions in order to break in. Just as the mini-mission was about to fully commence, the mausoleum's door began to slowly open. All three figures froze.

It's not everyday that people break into a royal mausoleum only to have it open of its own accord.

"Heero, is that you?"

"Wufei?"

"Maxwell? Quatre?"

"Yes," the two named said in unison.

"Where's Heero?" Wufei walked out of the mausoleum carrying a torch. "There you are. Come in. I haven't touched anything."

Heero grunted in response, his heart slowly returning to normal. For a moment he half expected Relena's decayed body to walk out.

The four men walked inside and Wufei led them to Relena's final resting place. The other three waiting for Heero's command.

She's going to be in there, decayed and truly gone. "Let's do this."

It took only a few moments to remove the cover-plate bearing Relena's epitaph. It took a little longer for the four men to remove the coffin and gently lay it down.

No one said anything, the other three again waiting for Heero. Heero waiting for the fear to go away. Minutes passed. Finally Duo could stand it no longer.

"Okay, let's do this." Before anyone could stop him, Duo threw open the coffin.

Silence once again filled the chamber. Lying inside the coffin was Relena Peacecraft Dorlian looking the same as she did the day she was buried.

"Isn't she supposed to be more…gooey?" Duo asked.

Heero nodded. A numbness he hadn't fully felt in six years came back with a vengeance.

"Well, what if it's this place? Maybe no bugs can get in here or something?"

Wufei looked at Duo wondering how he had ever become a Gundam pilot. "You idiot. If cockroaches can survive a nuclear explosion, I assure you they can get into this mausoleum." He turned his attention to Heero. "This is obviously a doll made up to look like Relena."

"We have to be sure," Quatre said. He walked over and pulled several strands of hair out to use for DNA identification. He then took out a pocketknife and cut off a fingernail, also for DNA testing. "I'll take these to HQ and get them on it straight away. Still, it will probably take a few weeks if not months."

"That's fine. I don't need DNA to tell me this thing isn't her." Heero slammed the coffin shut. "I'm through here."

Silently the four men replaced everything back in the proper order and left the cemetery. Heero dropped Quatre off at Preventer HQ and drove Wufei home.

As he got out of the car Wufei asked, "What now?"

"Now I find her." Without another word, Heero sped off toward home. His mind was full of thoughts ranging in emotion from happiness that Relena was still alive to anger and almost hatred for the same reason.

"Uh, Heero. I'm still in the car. Can you please drive a little slower?"

Heero flicked his eyes over to Duo then back to the road. "Sorry," he muttered.

"I understand man. No worries. I'm just curious on how you're going to find her. It's been six years. The trail's cold."

Heero said nothing so Duo continued.

"So do you think she was kidnapped by some sick obsessed 'fan' or did she do it on her own?"

"Her own. Or at least with one other person."

"Like who?" Duo asked. He hadn't a clue.

"I have a pretty good idea who." Seek out the clown!

Duo waited for more but Heero said nothing. They pulled up to Duo's house, where all but the front porch was lit. His family warm in their beds.

"When's the last time you spoke to Trowa?" Heero asked.

Duo thought for a moment. He hadn't thought about the man for a long time, almost forgetting his existence. "A week after the now bogus funeral. That's when he resigned from Preventer."

"Has anyone spoken to him since?"

Duo shook his head. "Everyone hated him for his actions after Relena's death. In fact, I don't think Quatre has spoken to him since."

Heero nodded.

"You think he's involved don't you?"

"No but he might know something. I don't believe Trowa would keep this a secret. At least not something like this."

"Who knows?" Duo gave his friend a half hug and went inside his home leaving Heero alone once again.

Why didn't you tell me? Did you not trust me Relena?