Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing. I used Japanese words and phrases in this chapter so if you don't understand it, just go to the source, a great Duo Shrine: http: and everything will be there with its English translation. Oh, and I used a part from the manga "Episode Zero" by: Katsuyuki Sumisawa as a flashback, just so you know and don't sue me for plagiarism! (I love this manga, btw! It's cool. . .and the art rocks!)

Chapter 51

They locked weapons and gazes, having a power struggle as they stared each other down with loathing and hatred in their eyes. Chang pushed her away and swung his sword at her. She blocked with one of her daggers and turned it, catching the sword in another lock and preventing Chang from pulling it free. He grew angry and swung his leg around, catching her in the side and bringing a cry of pain from her. Stepping forward, he slammed his shoulder into her and knocked her back. She fell to the ground and cringed, growling as she stared at him. He brought the blade to her neck, saying with a triumphant stance, "I win."

"Think again!" She said, slashing her dagger across his leg and cutting it. He stumbled back in pain and ground his teeth to hold in a cry. Asuka jumped to her feet and ignored the painful throbbing in her side as she crossed her daggers and said, "You have not defeated me yet. . .I have no fear of death so don't think simply pointing your sword at me will take me down."

"I wouldn't dream of it." He said sarcastically, bringing up his sword and taking a swing at her. They clashed back and forth, blocking and lunging and dancing around the room as they tried to gain the upper hand. Chang finally threw off one of her weapons and kicked the other across the room, cutting off her route to retrieve it and swinging his sword at her again. She ducked down and punched up, hitting him in the crotch again. It hurt worse this time because he was already sore and he loosened his grip on the sword. Asuka kicked it free and it slid across the floor, far from either of them. She tried to run for it but Chang caught her wrist, whipping her back and trying to bend her arm around into a locked position. But she slipped around and flipped him over, putting her foot on his chest to pin him down. He growled at the pain as she held his arm up straight and strained it. In a fit of fury, he kicked his leg up and caught her in the gut, loosening her grip and grabbing her foot. He pulled her off balance and she collapsed, being quickly tackled by her opponent. They rolled across the floor, struggling to gain the upper hand over the other and quickly growing tired. Neither wanted to quit so this carried on for a minute or so under Asuka punched him in the face and he slapped her, bringing force a shriek of anger.

"BAKA!" She screamed.

"KASUKA!" Chang screamed.

"Akiramenai. . ." She growled, grabbing his collar.

"Enjitsu owatta yo?" Chang said, staring deep into her eyes fiercely.

"Iie. . ."

"Ittaizentai." Chang leaned forward and locked his lips with hers, holding her down as he passionately kissed her. She didn't fight at first, letting him begin to massage her tongue with his and deeply kiss her. As he pressed up against her, she snaked her leg around his leg and pulled sharply, causing his legs to come apart as she tried to slam her knee into him again. But he shifted his weight and caught her, falling to the side with her thigh locked between his legs. He broke his lips away from hers and she gasped, glaring at him. He stared back and said softly, "Asuka. . ."

"Let me go. . ." She growled, writhing slightly.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because. . .you'll hit me in the groin again. . .and besides, you like it. . ."

"Ecchi." Asuka hissed. He didn't blink as he said, "Fine. . ." He quickly let go and rolled away, standing and looking at her for a minute before turning to walk away. Asuka blinked and sat up, calling out, "Where are you going?"

"I have better things to do than waste time with you. . .if you're going to be like that." Chang said as he walked toward the edge of the building where the wall was torn away. Asuka stood and brushed the dust from her tight Chinese dress, walking toward Chang and saying, "Chang, you say you're from the Dragon Clan but you don't fight like them. Their strongest warrior was a girl, named Meiran. . .she supposedly married some snobby scholarboy from another clan before her death. . ."

"We weren't supposedly married!" Chang spat out, fiercely glaring at Asuka. She seemed slightly startled by his outburst as she said, "How long ago was it?" His lip twitched and he turned away again, saying, "Last year. Same day as her death. . ." Asuka looked toward her daggers laying in separate corners of the building.

"I suppose you didn't love her much if you're mauling someone else not long after her death. . ." Asuka said rather insensitively. Chang stormed toward her and she cringed as he grabbed her arm roughly, squeezing hard as he growled out, "I was a horrible husband to her, I called her weak and thought her ideals were stupid, I even told her that to her face! I defeated her in battle and insulted her pride, leaving her alone in the rain because my ego was blinding me from seeing the true weakling fighting. Then, of all things, when OZ attacked our Colony, she defended the very meadow I fought her in from any harm done by the battle. I tried desperately to save her from their evils, demanding her to return to the Colony. But I was still too late, her mobile suit exploded and her body floated limply through space. Her last request to me was to bring her back to the meadow to die there. So, I did as she asked, and she died by my side that day. . .fighting for something that wasn't deserving of her devotion, someone who couldn't care less how she felt. I love her now, far after I could have told her that myself. My feelings have come too late and I have had to suffer the consequences and hold strong to HER ideals so that I can show my love for her through my actions. So you ask me again, Asuka, if I love her. . .ASK ME!" Asuka blinked and said, "I. . .I'm sorry, Chang. . ."

"Bah, leave me alone. I don't know why I kissed you, maybe it was the same fiery look in your eyes that Meiran had. . .you look similar to her. . .but you're nothing like her. Meiran was no mere woman. . .she was Nataku. . .my Nataku. . ." He released her and turned, starting toward the edge of the room again.

"Chang, wait!" Asuka ran back into the room, picking up his sword and running back to him. He watched her hold out the sword and say, "Your katana. . .don't leave it." He slowly took hold of the hilt and picked it up, placing it back into its sheath and saying in a quiet voice, "Arigatou. . ." She stepped forward and touched his shoulder, saying in a gentle voice, "Chang. . .you have won this battle. . .I will join you in your conquest, as I promised." Chang turned to her and said, "You. . .will join me?"

"I am a woman of my word. I will fight with you until I draw my last breath. . ." Asuka said with a serious face. Chang nodded and put out his hand. The daggers flew to him and he grabbed them, holding them out to a surprised Asuka.

"Here are your weapons. . .if you really need them. . ." He said, smirking. She snatched them from him and put them away, saying, "Arigatou. Where is your transport?" Chang expanded his wings and said, "Right here"

"You're kidding. . .what am I suppose to do!" Asuka looked ticked. Putting out his arms, Chang smiled. Rolling her eyes, Asuka said as she let him pick her up, "You drop me and so help me, you'll feel worse pain down south than I've caused you today!" Chang grinned and took off, saying, "What's your fetish with my manhood?"

"It's my trademark move. . ." She grinned.

"Ecchi. . ." Chang glared at her in amusement.

"I don't want to train anymore, mother! I'm tired of practicing my fencing skills. . .why can't I go outside and play with the other boys?"

"Are the other boys heirs to anything other than their own insanities?"

"They're not insane, mother! Why must you always see them that way just because their fathers aren't kings!"

"My son, you must one day rule over those boys. . .growing attached will only make it harder."

"I don't care, I don't even want to be a prince! I don't want to be king of the Sanc Kingdom!"

"Milliardo, watch your tongue! You'll upset your sister. . ."

"My sister. . .she's a better heir than I am and she's only 3! Only 3. . .only 3. . .she was only 3 and I was already handing over the future to her. . .I gave up even then on my future, like I had already determined that I would turn my back to my family and name. . .how could I do this to Relena, leave everything to her. . .only but a mere child with the world on her shoulders? But it's too late now. . .I have killed too many to ever deserve the name 'Peacecraft' again. . .

"Sister, I'm leaving. . .please don't follow me this time. . ."

"But Millie, why? Father won't yell at you again, he was just mad!"

"Lena. . .I made him mad, there's nothing that will stop it from happening again. There's just some things you can't understand. . ."

"Why not!"

"Please don't cry, sister, I will see you again. . .someday. . ."

"No, don't leave, Millie! I promise I'll tell father to leave you alone! Please stay!"

"Lena. . .I can't. . .it's your job now to take father's place when he passes on. . ."

"But I'm scared, Millie, please don't leave me alone!"

"You'll never be alone, I will always be there for you, watching over you. . .you'll never be alone. . .alone. . .goodbye. . .my little sister. . .I said goodbye because I was too scared myself to grow up. . .too confused. . .too childish. . .I wasn't ready for the burden forced upon me. . .I'm sorry. . .

"I'm sorry, sir, it will never happen again."

"It better not, Cadet! You mess up again and your whole future with OZ goes down the toilet!"

"I understand, sir. . ."

"The last cadet to single-handedly destroy THREE Taurus Mobile Suits by just TRIPPING. . .wait, you're the only one who's done that. . .I expect the rest of you to NOT follow Mr. Merquise' example!"

"Sir, I tripped Cadet Merquise, sir!"

"You, Cadet Noin?"

"Yes, sir, I was trying to teach him some moves and tripped him on accident, sir."

"Well. . .for that, the two of you klutzes can mop the cafeteria spotless after lunch and BEFORE training starts! Maybe it'll teach you the coordination to need! DISMISSED!"

"Noin, why did you cover for me? You weren't anywhere near me when I fell. . ."

"I don't want to spend the afternoon listening to Admiral Kaiser yack on about his experience in the wars. . .for the fifteenth time. . ."

"I see. . .so you used my idiocy to get out of class?"

"Someone's got to use it for something."

"Thanks, Noin. . .Noin. . .Noin. . .you've always been there for me. . .whenever I made a mistake, you were right behind me to either take the blame or suffer with me. . .you never left me alone. . .

"How you've grown, Relena. . ."

"Eh? Oh... yes... Milliardo. You can't touch this girl... I've thrown away being a Peacecraft... Taken a weapon into my hands... and chosen the blood-stained path of revenge. . .Are you all right, Princess?"

"Princess? If. . .I'm a princess. . .then you're. . .a knight astride a fearful dragon?"

"chuckle I'm the prince who fell from the stars. . .well then, if you'll excuse me. . ."

"Oh. . .the prince. . .from the stars. . .the stars. . .the stars in her eyes. . .she seemed so infatuated by my presence. . .as if she almost knew. . .she was 11 then and yet. . .she was mature beyond her years. . .and I walked out of her life long before she could even remember me. . .

"Then I will help you assist Relena to achieve peace and prosperity however I can."

"Noin, you don't have to. . ."

"Do you not want me to? If that's the case you can just say so, I won't feel hurt."

"No, that's not it. It's just that. . .it might be dangerous and I don't want you to risk your life for me."

"If I choose to risk my life for you I have every right to, you can't stop me."

"I don't want you to, I'm not worth it."

"You are to me. . .to me. . .to me you're worth anything. . .even my life. . .oh, Noin. . .you're the one I want to fight with, to be with. . .to spend all eternity with. . .but how can I even think of asking you to stay with me when I don't deserve someone like you?

"What makes you think that you don't deserve me, Zechs Merquise? You're an admirable man, you always helped those in trouble. . .you loved and watched over your sister everyday since I've truly known you. . .how can you forget that? How can you forget. . .the good memories? Zechs. . .Milliardo. . .come back to me. . .to us. . ."

"Noin? Noin, where are you? I can't. . .see you. . ."

"Milliardo, I'm right here, just reach out and take my hand. . .I'll lead you home. . ."

"Home. . .where is that?"

"Wherever we are. . ."

"Noin. . .Noin, I love you. . ."

"I know. . .come. . ." A hand reached into the darkness, delicate yet strong.

"I'm. . .I'm afraid I will let you down. . ."

"By giving in to your fears you're doing the very thing you're afraid of. . .just take my hand. . ." Milliardo reached out to her.

"Promise you won't let me fall?"

"I promise. . .now come on. . .the others are waiting. . ." With a smile, he took her hand. With a burst of light, Noin slowly faded into view and appeared before him, saying, "Hold on tight." Milliardo nodded and wrapped his arms around her. The light spread forth, swallowing the darkness and filling his heart with the blinding joy of his renewed love for life. . .for Noin. . .for Relena.

"Noin. . ." He whispered contently.

"Milliardo. . .Milliardo, wake up. . .Milliardo?" His eyes slowly flickered open and he stared up into Noin's deep indigo eyes, staring down at him with concern written on her face.

"Noin? What. . .happened. . ." He groggily sat up and Noin supported his back, saying, "I don't know, I came looking for you and found you unconscious in this locker room. . .are you alright?"

"So it was just a dream. . .or was it?" Milliardo whispered, staring at the floor for a second.

"Milliardo?" He looked up at her and smiled, saying, "I'm fine. . .everything's. . .alright now." She frowned for a second but let it go, helping him to his feet carefully.

"Rachel's been kidnapped by OZ and refuses any help I've tried to give her. Milliardo. . .Treize knows about us. . .he's questioning her as we speak. . ."

"We have to get her out of there, this could ruin everything! Come on!" Milliardo grabbed her hand and began to run out of the locker room. As Noin followed him out the door, she glanced back and saw a little boy standing at the edge of the lockers, smiling and waving goodbye.

Huh? Was that. . .nah, it. . .couldn't be. . .could it?