Kitty-chan 1: Aww!
Kitty-chan 2: Last chapter!
Kitty-chan 3: If you don't like 1xR...
Kitty-chan 4: ... we suggest that you...
Kitty-chan 5: ... leave right now.
Kitty-chan 6: Some fluffiness...
Kitty-chan 7: ... may occur.
Kitty-chan 8: You have been warned!
Heero: Oy...
Vice Foreign Minister- Returned!
Vice Foreign Minister Darlin turned herself into the police along with Gundam Pilot Trowa Barton yesterday. Miss Darlin refuses to give any answers to questions asked about her abductors or the abduction, however, she assured everyone that the abductors were both killed. Charges still face Barton, pilot of Gundam 03 Heavyarms, and his public trial will be held next Thursday at 7:00 pm on channel eight news.
Gundam Pilots – In Custody
Gundam pilot Duo Maxwell turned himself into the police yesterday evening, claiming that he had evidence of Suuchin and Katome's deceit and the pilots' innocence. I think we're all looking foreword to hearing this one. His trial will be along with Trowa Barton's (see Vice Foreig Minister – Returned!).
Pilots Accounted For
The prison in Yamagata, where Suuchin and Katome were last seen, was found nothing more than a pile of rubble. The bodies of many people were found amidst the large structure. The most recognizable were Sankan Katome, Akun Suuchin, and Gundam pilots Chang Wufei and Quatre Winner. Four of five pilots have been located, but the body of the last Gundam pilot has yet to be found.
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Duo approached the podium, a calm collected air about him. "As everyone here surely knows, my fiancee, Hilde, and I were held prisoner by Suuchin and Katome. They were given orders, by the government, to treat us humanely. I have medical reports and injuries themselves that give enough proof to say that they beat me on a regular basis. However, that is not the case I am here to argue.
"Almost three years ago, war was declared between Oz, and the Alliance. Being a Gundam Pilot, I only knew one enemy. Oz. However, my orders were to protect both the earth and the colonies. With the risks Oz was willing to take, you can imagine how difficult this objective was.
"Before the war had even begun, a man named Dekim Barton set Operation meteor in motion. The basic outline of this plan was to send a colony flying toward earth, and have the Gundam's move in to take control in the ensuing chaos. These plans were thwarted however, by myself and four other individuals who took the Gundams and guided the fate of these machines to a more positive end. Those are the facts. If you want to argue that we started a war that we were not involved in at the start, that's fine. But none of your arguments will live up to the facts that I will submit to this court. As proof, I would like to present this to the judge." He pulled the small black object he had taken from the computer from his jacket and set it down. "This is a recording from a security camera that they had in my cell. I believe it has sufficient information on it." A security guard took the tape, and handed it to the judge. "After you watch the tape, I think you will understand. If you see that and still think that we triggered the most bloody war in history, then, maybe we deserve your judgement." Duo closed his eyes in submission, and reclaimed his seat beside Hilde.
Trowa was called to the stand. He sighed, and slowly opened his eyes. "I feel that I have no right to say anything on this matter. I do not believe that I started the war, but I also do not believe that I can defend myself against what you say. I am burdened by the countless lives that I took during the war, and nothing I can do will ever repay those who lost on my account. I submit to your decision. I want it known that if our sentence is the death penalty, I ask that those who have lost loved ones because of me find some peace in the fact that that I no longer exist in this world. May my death bring peace to you." His submission complete, he took his seat next to Catherine, who squeezed his hand.
Relena stepped up to thepodium last. She took a deep breath before beginning to speak slowly, and clearly, as if to emphasize everything that she said. "Though I am a politician, and realize that I have virtually no power to change the fate of these boys, I must declare my resentment of the decision reached. I am here to say that these boys did nothing to provoke the war's start. On May 15, AC 195, the shooting star, also known as Wing Gundam, plummeted toward earth at the same time as my father and I did. Wing Gundam was headed for Asia when Oz colonel Zechs Marquise locked onto him. Wing Gundam turned slightly, but never showed any signs of aggression. Zechs' ship released a ground Leo to attack, so technically, Oz made the first move. These boys did not start the war. And even if you continue to argue that the Gundams coming to earth started the war, you have to realize that they wouldn't have had to come to earth if Dekim Barton of the Barton foundation hadn't tried to put Operation Meteor into motion. The war that has passed was far too bloody and involved too many people to be started by a group of five. If anyone initially started the war, it was Oz. If anything, these boys saved the world. They put a stop to Marriemea's autocracy, and they saved earth from White Fang's Libra cannon. I'm asking you all if the penalty of death is a punishment fit for ones as these boys.
"What you will see on that tape is engraved forever in my mind. Quatre Winner, a casualty in that room, was a kind, loving man that gave up everything to risk it all in a war he had no obligation to participate in. The people he gave everything to protect reward him for his sacrifice in death? Is this real justice? No, of course not. There was no one who could tell you that better than Chang Wufei, another death in that room. Those two willingly gave everything to save their friends. Heero Yuy, the last of the people we had to leave behind, gave his life so that we could escape the prison, away from the building that was doomed to explode. I doubt even he knew it was to blow up, but he didn't care. He stayed to watch Suuchin and Katome until the authorities arrived. He payed for that with his life. These three gave willingly. The choice is up to you."
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Final Verdict: Not Guilty!
Due to the evidence presented by Duo Maxwell and Relena Darlin, all charges against the five pilots have been dropped.
An anonomous engineer did an analysis of the prison. His diagnosis read that a stray bullet had knocked some things loose in the main computer control room, caused a fire, and then set the engines to explode.
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"Thanks for everything, Relena." Duo smiled as he and Hilde headed for the car.
Relena smiled back. "No problem. Come back and see me! You're welcome any time. You had better invite me to the wedding!" she cried playfully, pointing an accusing finger at the both of them.
"Don't you worry about that!" Hilde cried, getting into the car. "Bye!" Duo started up the car and drove off, Relena waving at them until they were out of sight.
She returned to the door and calmly walked back into her house, her happy mood vanishing almost instantly. Her butler and almost all of her personal assisstants had gone home for the night. Trowa, Catherine, Duo and Hilde had set off for their home colonies. Almost as soon as the final verdict was declared, Trowa and Hilde had gone back to the circus on L2. Duo and Hilde waited around at Relena's house until Duo was well enough for travel. It seemed so long since that day that they had been forced to evacuate Relena's home because of the approaching government. Really, it had only been a month or two.
Relena wandered anround the vacant house, her feet leading her almost by will of their own. As if she had no control over where they took her. They eventually carried her to one of the spare rooms. It was the one Duo had stayed in, and previous to him, Heero. She walked in and sat on the bed, letting her eyes and mind wander about the room, remembering that Heero had once occupied this space. It had only been a few silent minutes when a browm head popped in the door.
"Miss Relena?" Ranya wondered quietly.
"Mmm?"
"I'm heading home for the night." She smiled brightly.
"Alright. Goodnight."
"Goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow." Ranya bowed slightly and disappeared.
Relena looked out the window at the quick lightning that flashed across the sky. The rain was not very heavy yet, but the sky was gray and the patter of rain on the roof seemed to amplify her pain. Heero… why did you have to die? Why couldn't you have gotten out of the building before you destroyed it? Tears welled in her aqua eyes and they soon began their mournful dance down her porcelein face. She realized that she had not yet shed a single tear at Heero's death. But now, those lost tears were to be compensated for. She slumped back against the headboard as tears continued to trail down her cheeks. I loved him. I know I did, but why didn't I say anything about it! If I told him, maybe he would've stayed! Maybe it could've done something! Another voice in her mind gave her a quick scolding. Are you kidding me! Telling him how you feel would have probably made him want to do it more! She sighed in defeat. He would've rejected me. He would've pushed me away, just like he did on Libra. Only, he wouldn't let me back. He'd hate me. She put her hands to her chest as a familiar tune floated into her mind. But I need him close to me. He's like my other half. I can't exist without him. He's my strength. My goal. Everything I do, I know that he is there somewhere, watching me. He's the only reason I can survive my job!
Her eyes opened when she realized that the tune in her head was not coming from her mind itself, but rather from a cd player on the desk. It was her own. Duo had asked to borrow it when he discovered Heero's left Evenescence cd. Apparently, he hadn't turned it off before he left. Relena picked up the headphones, and paused when she clearly heard the tune playing. She slipped the headphones over her ears, and lowered the volume to clearly hear the song. However, this time, the words had a different meaning. As if the song was written just for her.
I believe in you…
I'll give up everything just to find you…
I have to be near you…
To live…
To breathe…
You're taking over me…
I look in the mirror and see your face…
If I look deep enough…
So many things inside are just like…
You are taking over…
Relena stared across the room, and into the bathroom mirror, almost as if to test the song's lyrics. It was true. She could almost see those cold, icy blue eyes staring back at her, but there was something they were trying to communicate.
I'm sorry, Relena.
Tears once again cascaded down her cheeks, but she did not look away. She wanted to stare into those eyes forever. But, it semeed to kill her just to look at them. Seeing what wasn't there. Wanting something, someone, more than life, yet it was beyond reach. The song continued, for it was ignorant to Relena's mourning.
I believe in you…
I'll give up everything just to find you…
I have to be near you…
To live…
To breathe…
She seemed to edit the last line in her mind, so it seemed as if the singer sang the line the way Relena imagined it.
You've taken over me!
The Vice Foreign Minister didn't bother to listen to the rest of the song. She pulled the headphones off and finally tore her gaze away from Heero's, trying to allow her mind to accept his death.
RING! RING!
Relena looked down at her pocket, where her white flip phone was ringing wildly. I wonder how long that's been going. "Relena." She stated cheerily, picking it up and putting it to her ear.
"Miss? It's Ranya. What took you so long to answer?"
"Oh, sorry. I was just… thinking. What did you need?"
"I just got out of the driveway. I think you may want to look outside."
"Oh… ok. Thanks."
"Bye!"
"See you tomorrow." She pushed the off button on her phone and closed it. Obeying Ranya's suggestion, she stood to brush aside the curtains that covered the window to the front yard. For a few minutes, she saw nothing. But then, a small person came into view. Someone was walking down the driveway. They walked slowly, seeming tired, and probably drenched to the bone.
She raced downstairs, slipping her feet into some slippers on the way, grabbed an umbrella and arn out the door. She opened the umbrella and ran out to meet her visitor. She got about ten feet away when she stopped, and dropped the umbrella. She wanted to scream. Run away. Was her mind playing tricks on her? But at the same time, she wanted to believe the messages her eyes were sending her.
Heero Yuy stood before her in the pouring rain. Hands tucked into his pockets and wet brown hair plastered to his face, he was alive and well. Unmentioned, wrapped wounds sat on his left leg and right shoulder. White t-shirt, light blue jeans, and yellow combat boots, Heero stood before her, said nothing, did nothing. He looked up at her, his lips slightly curved in a smile.
Relena's tears stared anew, mingling with the rainwater that now tumbled down her face. She didn't care what he did now. She ran foreward, throwing herself against his chest, and clutching his soaked through shirt for dear life, as if he would disappear if she were to let go. "Heero!" She stayed like that for a long time, trying to figure out what his reaction was going to be. Something caught her attention, and distracted her from her analysis of his reation. With the side of her face pressed against his chest, she could hear the thumping of his heart. She had never heard it before. Suddenly, he seemed more human. He may have been a killing machine, but she knew that the heart she heard now was beating in his chest in the war, same as it was now. She noticed that the thumps were not remaining the same, but seemed to be getting faster, and she became aware of the sigh he heaved.
Then, something happened that Relena had only dreamed about. She felt Heero's arms remove his hands from his pockets and encircle her, pulling her in close. His cheek came down to rest on the top of her head, and Relena held on all the more. "Heero, I saw the explosion, and you didn't come back! I thought you were gone!"
"I'm here, Relena. And, if it pleases you, I won't leave again."
"You promise?" Relena whispered timidly.
"I promise."
"Good." Relena backed away and took his hand. "Oh, you're freezing! We need to get inside!"
She pulled him into the house and sat him down on the couch before running upstairs to get a blanket. Heero sat on the couch, staring at his feet. I promised myself. I… gave myself a mission. I've never failed a mission… and I won't fail one now! Relena draped the blanket around his shoulders, and immediately dashed out to make some hot tea. But, what was he to say? I can't say nothing. I walked all the way here thinking about it, and I can't back down now. But, I'm no good with emotions. After a few minutes, Relena returned again and handed him a steaming mug of tea. He gave her a small, rare smile. "Arigitou."
"Do itashimashite" She smiled as well. She sat down next to him and watched him sip at the tea. After a few minutes, she looked out the front window again, occupied with watching the rain, and knowing that Heero was beside her.
Maybe words won't be needed…
Relena fell back against the couch and sighed, resisting the urge to lean over on his shoulder. She didn't want to freak him out. He looked like he had been on a long walk. He was probably tired. Something icy touched her hand, then drew away. She looked up to see that Heero had begun to rest his weight on one of his hands, but had withdrawn when he realized that he had set his hand down on hers by accident. She sat up straight, and pondered her actions before placing her hand over his and sqeezing it a bit. Heero set his mug down and looked over at her. Relena sighed. She didn't know exactly what she was doing, but she did know that she had regretted her silence before, and she didn't want to do that again. "Heero… I wa!"
An index finger had pressed against her lips. A cold one at that. Heero blinked and shook his head. "You don't have to say anything, Relena." Relena paused. He knew? Did he really know she loved him? Her thoughts were confirmed as his lips, now warmed up, closed over hers. For a moment, she was shocked. But now, she didn't care what his reasonings were. She closed her eyes and returned his kiss with fervor, wrapping her arms around hhis neck.
When they pulled away, a blush colored her face, and she could see a slight blush on his cheeks as well. "You knew? All along, you knew?"
Heero shook his head. "No, but I knew coming back here was something I needed to do. Even if you didn't feel the same way, I needed to risk it, if only for my own sanity."
Relena sighed and looked at her knees. After a few minutes of silence, and few sips of tea coming from Heero, she looked up and gave him a stare. "What happened at the prison? Why didn't you come back to the car when the building exploded if you survived?"
Heero placed his drink down and looked out the window. "I held the gun on them for around twenty minutes, so that you all would have time to get a safe distance away. I don't know whether it was my malice toward them, or the fact that I was unsure that two bullets would end their lives, but I decided to blow the place up. But, before I did, I prosmised myself something. I gave myself a mission. I swore that only if I were to live, would I come back here and talk to you. When the explosion occurred, I was knocked unconscious. But, I woke up beneath two large pieces of the ceiling that had fallen at the same time and had created a shelter over me. I had pieces of glass imbedded in my arm and leg, but I was alive. I took care of my wounds, and by the time I was getting back to being able to walk normally, I knew that they would be sending people in to examine what had happened. If the government found out that a pilot had murdered Suuchin and Katome, then it would've created a whole new set of problems. So, I used some of the contacts I had established with Doctor J and myself recommended as a skilled engineer to perform the examination myself."
"You were the anonymous engineer?" Relena cried, remembering the papers. "You sneak!"
"What else did you expect?" Heero raised an eyesbrow, almost seriously.
"Not much of anything else, huh?"Relena giggled. She stared at Heero for a while. "I'm glad you came back." She leaned foreward and pressed her lips to his again. Heero put a hand to her back and pulled her in close. As soon as the kiss had lived out its life, Relena scooted closer to Heero, almost sitting in his lap, leaning against his chest. Heero pulled the blanket away from his legs and wrapped it around her. They sat together in silence, watching the rain. However, now that Relena looked at it with Heero, it seemed to dance from the sky rather than fall.
Heero couldn't explain what he was feeling at the moment. He had found someone to protect. Someone who he would gladly give his life for. Someone who would motivate him to continue living. Someone who would accept him for who he was. He had found the thing worth living for, and it proved to him that there really is more to life than death.
Kitty-chan 1: Well, I hope you enjoyed this story! We sure did!
Kitty-chan 8: Oh yeah! It was a lot of fun!
Wufei:holds up large yellow gun: DIE KITTY-CHANS!
Kitty-chans: EEP!
Wufei:zaps the Kitty-chans and they all go back into one Kitty-chan:
Kitty-chan: Aww!
Pilots:Victory dance:
