Chapter Two:

The Plan, the Dance and the Real Truth

Heero sat in his apartment that morning. He couldn't figure out why the young woman from last night caught his eyes. He looked out the window and sipped his coffee. He knew that Duo had messed up everything and that Relena was going to have his head. He looked at the newspaper that sat on the table. What was he suppose to do? He had already failed twice in his mission. He placed his head on the table and sighed. " I wish that you were here." he thought. He stood up and went to his bedroom. He oepened the nightstand's drawer and looked at the picture of him and his childhood friend. He slightly smiled as he faintly remembered the days of his childhood. She was always his better half. Everything that he wasn't, she was. He sat down on the bed and looked at the picture. The phone rung throughout his room and he looked at it. He let out a rough sigh and picked it up. "It's about time you answered my call! Dude, where have you been? I've been calling since last night!" Duo snapped. Heero looked at the picture and then placed it in the drawer. "Listen, I just got some info on tonight's Ball." Duo stated.

"So, what about it?"

"Well, apparently the King and Queen are throwing it, and everyone is invited. They won't expect anything and it's the perfect way to take them out."

Heero looked at the clock on his wall. " What time?"

"Around 6pm. Relena wants you there. I'm telling you man, if we mess this up now, she'll have our heads."

Heero hung up the phone and walked over to the window. He only hoped that he would be able to get the job over and done with so he could get on with his life.

Saturn looked at Endymion as he read over the book. "So, you plan on going on with the Ball? Are you sure that is a wise idea, Endymion?" she asked. He looked at her, his eyes showing worry. "I don't need to hear that speech again. Listen, the only one you need to worry about is the Queen. I'll be fine." she told him. She stood up and headed to the door. " Tell me, Saturn. Do you plan on wearing a dress or something of your own?" he asked. Saturn looked at him with a smirk. " I think I'll go in my style. Dresses aren't me and you know that." she told him. Endymion placed the book on his desk. " I perfered if you wore a dress... just in case if something were to happen." Endymion said. Saturn rolled her eyes and opened the door. "Fine... I'll wear a dress, but that doesn't mean it'll be in good condition if anything happens tonight." she stated in a fact tone.

That night, Heero sat in his car, wondering what he should do. Though, he wore a disguise, he wondered if the 'protector' from the other night would notices him. He got out, figuring that it was best to get it over with. He placed the gun against his back and headed inside. He only hoped that Duo wouldn't screw up everything again.

Saturn sat at the bar, she hated wearing dresses. It wasn't her at all. The black, off the shoulder dress was the only one that she would wear. She looked at the bartender and smiled. "Why aren't you on the dance floor, Miss Saturn?" he asked. Saturn shrugged and replied, " You know how I am. It's-"

"Not your style." he stated. Saturn nodded in amusement and looked around the ball. She looked in the far distance and gasped. "It can't be..." she thought, getting up out of her seat.

Heero sighed as he leaned against the wall. He hated these places. He only went because he had to do his job. He looked around and noticed the King and Queen. "I can't do it now... there's too many people." he thought.

"Heero?"

That voice... he could have sworn he heard his childhood friend's voice. " No... she's far away... on the other side of the-"

"It's you! Heero!" He turned around and looked at the young woman. "Hotaru?" he questioned as she hugged him. "How long has it been? Five yrs?" she asked, looking at him. Heero couldn't believe it. His best friend was here..."How did you get here? I thought you moved five yrs ago?" he asked. Saturn shut her mouth and thought about it... the real reason why she had moved back was the fact that she had to protect the King and Queen. "Well, I decided that I just couldn't leave all the good memories behind." she replied, finally. Heero smiled at her and asked, " Just why are you wearing a dress? It's not like you to wear one." he stated. Saturn looked at him. "Well..." she looked around and spotted Endymion. She grabbed his hand and pulled him over to them. " My Adopted brother wanted me to wear it." she stated, looking up at him. " Your adopted brother?" Heero asked. This was a damper on his plan. "Umm... yeah... her father didn't want her to stay in Tokyo alone so... he asked me to look after her." Endymion stated. Heero smiled weakly, trying to figure out how he was going to fix his plan to kill Endymion and his wife. " Will you excuse me, Hotaru... I have to call someone. It's very important." he stated. Saturn watched him walk off and Endymion asked, " what was that about?" Saturn looked at Endymion and said, " Well, Heero was my childhood friend and he doesn't know the truth... I had to make something up... I couldn't tell him,'hey, I'm a princess turned protector and I'm protecting the King and Queen'.Do you realize how weird that sounds?" Endymion sighed and looked around the ballroom. " Listen, I better go find Serenity. Keep your eyes open." he stated. Saturn nodded and watched the King walk off.

Heero picked up his cellphone and used a speed dial button. "Duo here..."

"Duo, we got a problem... we can't go through with the plan."

"Heero, what's wrong with you? What do you mean we can't go through with the plan?"

"My childhood friend is here..."

"Whoop-di-doo! What does she have to do with the plan?"

"Her adopted brother is that damn King."

"Heero, the key word is adopted... are you okay? Did you mix your liquor with your meds again?"

"Duo, you know good and well that I don't take meds. I just can't do something like that to her... we're childhood friends."

Duo sighed and growled. " DUDE! You haven't seen her in like FIVE YRS! Open your eyes man!"

Heero hung up the phone and sighed. Duo was right... he had to face the fact...

"Heero? Is everything okay?" he heard.

Heero turned around and looked at Saturn. "I have to go... the office just called me and told me that something was wrong with our system... I'll see you around?" Saturn nodded and watched as Heero disappeared in the crowd. She sighed and turned around, heading to the guest room. She couldn't stand the dress... she had to get out of it.

She changed into her adoring attire and looked at herself in the mirror. "Saturn..." She turned her head and looked at Haruka. "What is it this time?" she asked, fixing her jumpsuit. She looked at the black tube top and smiled. She placed her arms in the short sleeves and heard, " Endymion told me about your childhood friend. Five yrs can change people..." Haruka stated. Saturn zipped the jumpsuit half way up and grabbed her gloves. "So, are you going to give me a speech too?" Saturn asked, pulling the gloves on her hands. Haruka folded her arms. " No, I'm not... I think you're old enough to undertstand that if you're not careful you get hurt." she explained. Saturn wrapped the scarf around her mouth and looked at the mirror. "Why do you-"

"Always wear this scarf? It belongs to my father. It's the only thing that I have left to remember him by." Saturn walked out of the room and headed back downstairs.

Everyone left, talking to each other about how great the Ball was. Saturn crossed her arms and looked at the people passing. "It's quiet..." she thought. She turned around and headed back in, her black hair flowing freely in the wind. She figured that she had scared off the sniper.

Heero climbed over the balcony and looked at the sleeping woman in the bed. He smirked and noticed that she was the one he had trouble with. Now, he had the chance to kill her. He took out his knife from his back pocket. He walked over to her and took in a deep breath... the scarf... he had to know who she was. He pulled off her scarf and stepped back..."It can't be... Hotaru?" he thought, a struck of horror on his face.

Saturn opened her eyes slightly and noticed the knife. She quickly grabbed her revolver from under her pillow and jumped out of bed. " Heero?" she whispered. Heero couldn't believe it... his childhood friend... was working for the King and Queen? No... it was impossible! No way in hell that his best friend was...

"You're working for Relena, aren't you? I should have know... when you excused yourself to make that phone call... So... is this the life you choose? Well, I hate to say it, but I won't allow you to kill them... You'll have to kill me first..."