This chapter is dedicated to Morri-chan my faithful assistant, I hope she keeps up her end of the bargain and posts another section to her stories! *hugs*

Riding Life's Currents

Chapter 9

By Kiyoko

July 22, 2003

The days before the engagement party dissolved quickly and the Wednesday before, Quatre Winner found himself pacing the anti-chamber to his suite. Situated in blissful ignorance on the other side of the French, carved doors, sat his stunning, beautiful daughter unaware of the activities to come. From a very young age he had informed her of the impending doom that awaited her in the not so far future. Quatre hoped to squelch any possible thought of true love out of her mind to avoid possible heartbreak. She knew it was her duty, but the fact he refused to give her further noticed churned his already nervous stomach. How was he supposed to waltz in there and inform her that in a short two days an engagement ring would be stuck on her finger binding her for eternity to some boy she didn't know?

Taking a breath of air and sending a quick prayer to Allah, Quatre gripped the cold metal of the handle and turned. The sunlight streamed in from the large windows illuminating a young girl lounging on a cream colored sofa, her legs tucked neatly beneath her. A thick book was propped up against the wide arm of the sofa, the off-white pages lit up by the bright sun. Blonde curls bounced cheerfully as she looked up to the intruder. Smiling brightly she hopped gracefully off the couch and into Quatre's arms.

"Hi Daddy, I haven't seen you in a while. How are you?" The older man hugged his daughter tenderly, then pulled back to look into her bright eyes.

"How's my desert rose doing? Not too bored I hope" he said happily steering his daughter back toward the sofa.

"Not at all, I've been socializing with Jordan every chance I get. I've missed her so much." The two took a seat on the couch, turning to face each other. Kira smiled affectionately toward her father.

"You're aware we're leaving for home on Saturday?"

"Can't I stay longer? It's not as though I have school or anything and I'm sure Mr. Maxwell wouldn't mind me staying with them." Kira questioned softly using her best pity face she could scrunch up.

"I'm afraid not because when we get home you're starting your bridal training." Kira's face dead panned as her jaw fell open quickly.

"You're kidding right? I mean I didn't expect this to come up so soon. I'm only 16!" Quatre stared as his only daughter easily looking past the cool façade she kept up.

"Your engagement party will commence on Friday. I expect you to present your best face for the occasion. It's your duty and I will expect you to act accordingly." Her eyes opened wide and she took a quick intake of breath 'I didn't think this would happen so soon." She carefully composed her features to look submissive.

"So I get to meet my future husband for one night before I'm whisked away back home until we marry?" She question lightly. She was going to ask all the questions she felt necessary if she was forced to marry some stranger.

"No, not exactly," he began, clasping his daughter's small hand into his, "after a year of training you will be given a brief two months to spend together before the wedding."

"That's all? What if we hate each other?" she asked incredulously. The entire affair moved far too quickly for her liking and there was hardly anything she could do.

"This is a political marriage, no one expects you to be fond of one another," Quatre explained gently. Abruptly Kira leapt of the couch and slowly backed away, her shoes tapping softly on the marble floor.

"Kira, what are you doing?" She continued to back up as light tears poured down her face, collecting at her chin, then falling to the ground.

"I'm sorry Papa, I…I just ne…need some time alone," she choked out before ripping the door open behind her and tore out of the room as though it were on fire.  He father's cries faintly died off the further she ran. Tears blinded her eyes as she stumbled through the corridors, her footsteps pounding in her ears as they echoed against the walls. In a short few minutes her world turned up-side-down. She had been raised knowing this day would come, but she didn't expect it would come so soon.

Quickly she darted around a corner and skidded into the entrance hall. Scrambling to the left she darted out of the doors and down the drive way. Once outside the front gates she ran, ran away from her problems, ran away from the palace that would one day be her prison. Before she knew it, she was standing on a familiar hill. The hill she had met Toshiro for the second time.  The blonde crumpled to the soft ground, her tears flowing down her cheeks relentlessly.

'Why me? I never asked for any of this! I want more time with Toshiro, more time to live my life before I'm locked away forever. I know it's imperative I marry, but that still doesn't mean I have to enjoy it!'

Hours slowly passed by as Kira lost herself in her memories and thoughts. The sun slowly began to set over the sparkling waters of the ocean and the sky melted into beautiful shades of blues, pinks, and purples. Kira's thoughts abruptly ceased when a hand lightly touched her shoulder. Startled, her body tensed and jerked from the touch. She slowly peered over her right shoulder and saw a pair of black converse peeking out from the bottom of a pair of black pants.

"Hey." Following the voice she gazed up to see Toshiro smiling down at her.

"Hi," she said quietly looking back at the calm ocean. Noticing her somber mood, the young prince sat next to Kira stretching his legs out in front of him.

"Why weren't you at Jordan's?" he asked quietly clasping her hand in his own.

"Huh?" she replied dumbly scrunching her forehead lightly.

"You were supposed to meet me at her house over an hour ago…"

"Oh! I'm sorry…I…I lost track of time," she explained quickly hoping he wasn't angry.

"It's ok." He reached over with his other arm and gently pulled her against his shoulder.

"How did you find me?" she said turning her head to look him in the face.

"I looked in the few places I knew you'd been to before," Toshiro said then tenderly brushed his lips against hers.  Warmth spread through her body and she nearly cried. To think she would never feel his touch again in a few days. The overwhelming emotions swirling through her body nearly pushed her to the edge, but she firmly held them intact.

"Clever."

"I know," he said a cocky smile forming on his face. 

"I have to leave on Friday," she announced quietly examining her nails and trying to look anywhere but him.

"Everything one day must come to an end. Our time just came a little sooner." Toshiro smiled sadly thinking about his new life beginning on Friday. 'I suppose it's for the best that she leaves. I don't know how I can explain things to her.'

"Can we go?"

"Where?"

"The cliffs, it's beautiful there. I'll remember it best." Slowly the couple rose from their spot on the squashed grass then slowly walked to Toshiro's car hand in hand. The short drive was made in silence, both too lost in thought to speak. When they arrived Toshiro pulled out a few blankets then shut the door of the truck. Together they strolled toward the open field behind the thick trees. The pale moon already shone brightly to the east while the sun finished its final decent in the west and the light ocean breeze danced gently between them.

Once the blankets were set down the two curled up the remaining blankets and laid back to watch the stars appear in the blue sky.

"You're beautiful," Toshiro whispered in her ear, his warm breath caressing her cold ears.

"What made you say that?"

"I was thinking it and I thought I'd let you know." Kira turned and kissed Toshiro on the lips. The kiss quickly became more passionate as Kira moved to straddle his hips. Teasingly she licked his bottom lip before dipping her tongue into his mouth. She stroked his tongue once before bringing her lips together sucking on his lower lip, then moved out of reach. Grinning devilishly Toshiro put his hand around her waist and tugged her back down.Their lips met again in a fury of passion. Kira's fingers trailed down to the hem of Toshiro's shirt then began to yank the shirt up. Fervently struggling to get it off, Kira emitted a low growl in the back of her throat.  Finally pulling it off she flung it behind her not caring where it ended up.

A moment later Kira's dress and Toshiro's pants joined the abandoned shirt on the grass. Toshiro abruptly pulled away from the younger girl, a serious expression on his youthful face.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked quietly searching her pale blue eyes. Kira smiled lovingly back.

"Positive. I know we haven't known each other for very long, but I want this," she explained digging her fingers into his messy hair.

"I just don't want to hurt you. I may never see you again," he said sadly.

"I know, but I care for you so much. I can't imagine doing this with anyone else." Crystal tears slowly pooled in her wide eyes threatening to fall down her pretty face. Toshiro's tender touches ignited her body, his rough fingers stroking the soft flesh. She loved the way he touched her, the way he embraced her petite frame. She would miss his warm and his genuine smile. Kira memorized every caress and every kiss. This night would be what helped her through the rest of her chained life. She would think of him on Friday when her life was handed over to another, he would be her strength. That night the two lovers memorized every inch of each other and forgot the fate that lay ahead of them.

A/N: Well one more chapter and I'm done! I never thought it would take this long. I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed my stories, they meant a lot to me.  Hope you enjoyed it and I hope to post the last chapter soon. I do not own Gundam Wing.

Review, review, review!