Notes and disclaimers: Okay so I don't own Gundam Wing but I own the Satostyee family (Keiko, Nataski, Nanaskae and Akirra), and Coldblade. I also own Starlight. All the other characters I could care less about.

Love and Jobs

Chapter 1

"Relena Peacecraft." The nineteen-year-old girl breathed as she leafed through a stack of papers. She ran her fingers through her long, straight black hair as her almond-shaped bright green eyes skimmed over the information once more.

"So? Who is it now?" someone asked, taking a seat next to her.

The girl looked up and found her only friend in the world smiling at her.

"Relena Peacecraft." She replied.

Her friend whistled low and said,

"Geez. Wouldn't that be kinda hard? Considering the ex-Gundam Pilots are her friends as well as her bodyguards? I mean, come on Keiko. Even though you're the best, how would you get past all of that security?" her friend asked with pure concern.

Keiko shrugged. She had been trained as a professional assassin since she was little. And that's what she did for a living. She began her training when she was ten, but Keiko did not want to think about the past. Too many memories. Keiko stacked the papers and slid them back into the manila folder.

"Look Starlight, this is my job, my life. I have to do this." Keiko said, her tone and facial expression very serious.

"I know. When do you need to start?" Starlight asked.

"Tomorrow." Keiko replied.

Starlight grinned and exclaimed, "Let's go shopping!" She grabbed her friend's arm and pulled her towards the door.

Keiko Styee returned to her apartment late that night with a new dress and shoes. The dress was a dark blue. It ended an inch above the knee and was back-less but had spaghetti straps crossing in the back. The neckline was low enough to make the wearer look mature but high enough so she did not look like a slut. It also set off the outline of the woman's curves.

The high heels Starlight convinced her to buy were silver hemp that laced to the ankle. Keiko stored her new treasures away as she got ready for the night.

Before she turned off her lamp that night, she read over her next target's schedule. Then she placed the papers on the small night table, flipped the lamp off and settled under her covers and promptly fell asleep.

Within a week Keiko was Relena Peacecraft James' personal bodyguard. One afternoon Relena decided to go shopping and took Keiko with her. Though Keiko had no intention to assassinate her target in public, she carried a handgun and three small daggers.

They were at the mall wandering around when Relena randomly asked,

"What made you become a bodyguard?"

Keiko was caught by surprise and paused to think.

"Well, let's just say I have a traumatic past and I couldn't help to save them…" she trailed off, a few unwanted tears filling her eyes. She quickly wiped them away before looking back at Relena.

Relena looked down and then back up at the girl. "I'm sorry I asked. I promise not to ask anything else personal." She said gravely.

"It's okay Ms. Relena." Keiko said.

They soon saw a young man walking towards them with a deliberately masked face and a soldier's grace of walking. Though he had been a civilian for five years (it was AC 201) he still occasionally slipped into the grace of a soldier. He looked about 20, maybe 21 years old and was almost 6 feet tall. Although his brown bangs hid half of his face, Keiko saw that his eye color was a dark green. The man also had a lean figure and a good looking tan as if he was outside a lot, but he wore jeans and a t-shirt.

Relena spotted him, smiled and said, "Hey Trowa! What are you doing here? Are the others here with you?"

He stopped in front of them and quickly looked Keiko over. Then said, "Duo is around here somewhere shopping with Quatre for someone."

Keiko became self-conscious of her very slender figure and her red sundress.

"Oh, Trowa this is Syria Styee. Syria this is Trowa Barton." Relena said.

Keiko, Syria, made eye contact with Trowa and felt something stir in the bottom of her heart. And she didn't know what it was.

"Hello." He said softly.

Keiko broke eye contact with him as Relena discreetly nudged her.

"Um…hi…" Keiko stuttered.

Relena looked both of them up and down for a couple of minutes before breaking the moment.

"Well, Trowa we're just shopping today. But I invite you and the others to dinner tomorrow night." She said.

He looked at the blonde after tearing his eyes away from Keiko. He nodded and said, "I will tell the others."

Relena nodded and quickly replied, "Well talk to you later. Syria and me need a new dress. See ya!" She took Keiko's arm and walked away, well aware that her bodyguard and Trowa were still looking at each other. When they were out of sight, in the women's department, Relena remarked, "You're attracted to him."

Keiko broke out of her silence, shaking her head and saying sharply, "No I'm not. What made you think of that!"

Relena studied her bodyguard, knowing better to say no more on the subject. She herself was happily married with a two-year-old child. Her husband was once a soldier and now helped with the Preventers as much as he was able.

"Come on. You need a dress for tomorrow night." Relena said.

"But I have a new one. I bought it a couple of weeks ago and I haven't worn it yet." Keiko replied, relieved of the change of subject.

"Good then. You can wear that one tomorrow night." Relena said.

"But-" Keiko tried to protest.

"You are coming. You still haven't met all my friends." Relena said. "You are coming."

Keiko sighed. "Okay, I'll come."

"Good." Relena smiled brightly.

Later that night, after Keiko had already returned to her apartment, Starlight decided to visit.

"So? Have you finished this assignment?" Starlight asked lightly.

"No. I don't think it will ever be completed. I'm pretty sure she's innocent of anything." Keiko replied. She set a teacup down in front of her friend as she took a sip from her own.

"She is? Well, what are you going to do?" Starlight looked up at Keiko, who was just now taking her chair.

"I don't know yet…But I have a dinner party to go to tomorrow…" Keiko trailed off. She suddenly stood up, receiving a confused and surprised look form Starlight. "What are you doing for dinner tomorrow?" Keiko asked.

Starlight blinked and slowly shook her head.

"Lovely. You're coming with me if Relena gives an okay." Keiko said. She walked to the kitchen and picked up her phone and quickly dialed a number.

"Hello?" a voice from the other end said.

"Is Ms. Relena there?" Keiko asked.

"Yes, she is. May I ask who's calling?"

"It's Syria, her bodyguard." Keiko said.

"Oh yes, Ms. Syria. Hold on while I get Ms. Relena." The person left the phone and a few minutes later a woman's voice was on the phone.

"Hello? Syria?" Relena said.

"Ms. Relena, I was wondering if I may bring a friend to dinner tomorrow night." Keiko said all in one breath.

"Of course! That would be splendid!" Relena replied very happy.

"Thank you. Her name is Chloe. I'll see you tomorrow." Keiko said.

"Yes. Until tomorrow." Relena replied. "Bye."

"Bye." Keiko hung up. She went back to the table and took up her cup of tea again.

"So?" Starlight inquired.

Keiko took a long drink before replying, "You are going with me tomorrow night to have dinner with Relena and her friends.

"So…why am I going?" Starlight asked, though she already liked to idea of a dinner party.

"Because I'd feel awkward. I don't know any of her friends except…for one." She added as an afterthought.

"Oh?" Starlight didn't miss the way her friend had said that last part. She set her cup down and folded her arms on the top of the table. She looked at her friend, waiting for her to go on.

"…Yes. Relena introduced him as Trowa Barton…Oh Starlight, he was so cute!" Keiko exclaimed.

Starlight raised her eyebrows in surprise. This was the first time in about three years Keiko had said anything of the sort that just came from the Asian's mouth.

Keiko had once been engaged when she was sixteen, but then two days before the wedding her fiancé had mysteriously found out his wife-to-be was Keiko the Assassin. The best assassin at that. He broke off the engagement and the wedding and left Keiko.

For awhile after that Keiko had been in emotional turmoil. She took on a lot of assassin assignments that were quite dangerous but as time went by, she slowed down. But Keiko never talked about guys or flirted or anything Starlight enjoyed about guys. So this surprised Starlight greatly.

"What does he look like?" Starlight asked with caution behind her voice.

"I think he's a little older, maybe a year or so. He's tall with brown hair; his bangs hang over one side of his face. And his eyes…his eyes are this gorgeous deep green." Keiko replied with feeling.

"So, you're very attracted to him," Starlight remarked, slanting her eyes at the Asian.

Keiko blinked and looked at her Irish friend.

Starlight had red hair and hazel green eyes. She was 5'5 with a slender frame and pale complexion. Though she too was an assassin, Starlight had a very large social life. She flirted, she dated, and she did all that stuff.

Keiko suddenly shut her mouth and flushed a deep crimson. She closed off her outward emotions, masking her face to what she usually projected.

"Come on Keiko. You looked so alive just a minute ago." Starlight said, concern showing in her pretty features.

"Forget about it. But you are coming tomorrow night." Keiko finalized firmly.

TBC