Moments of Time

Act 1

Anna ni Issho Datta no ni

-1-

JC: And so begins Act 1.

Shinn: Were did I go? Wasn't I in the middle of this entire thing?

JC: Aw, get a grip you prima donna.

Duo: Why am I alone? HE LEFT ME! HEERO LEFT ME!

JC: No! Of course not! At least, I don't think he will.

Athrun: JC doesn't own the characters from Gundam Wing and Seed Destiny, the plot, or anything for that matter.

JC: Now, Act START!

-1-

Duo Maxwell sighed into the warm pillow. The light falling through the blinds slowly inched over to his eyelids, forcing him to wake… to the empty spot next to the bed.

Sleepily, he wandered into the small living room of the apartment he shared with Heero to find another 'nutritious' breakfast made by Mr. Perfect Soldier in the microwave. Duo sighed, and poked at the meal before noticing the small note next to the salt which said 'Eat the fruit in the refrigerator too, Duo - Heero'.

The braided boy yawned and yanked open the appliance door and grudgingly took the bowl of peeled apple slices out and stuffed one in his mouth. Heero had been on a 'we must eat healthy food' streak lately, driving Duo insane with the lack of good, old fashioned grease and sugar.

Taking a glass of milk and the rest of the fruit to the couch, he switched on the TV to watch the news and didn't take a bite after that.

'… missing people reports have skyrocketed into the hundreds this morning. The incidents, which have been reported around the L4 cluster, have become more frequent in the last 24 hours. The government is asking that people remain calm as they try to assess the situation.

Also, Vice Foreign Minister Relena Darlian has made a statement about these recent disappearances.' The various images flashed to reveal Relena at a press conference.

'I ask that accusations do not start until we have a clearer picture of the problem. In no way are the colonies blaming Earth or vice versa for these disappearances. I am also informed that PREVENTER has already dispatched it's agents to investigate.' Relena's voice was calm, but she looked harried and need of sleep.

Duo turned off the TV. Relena's last statement said it all to him. Heero would be working late, again.

"Maybe I should just give in and join the Preventers as well." He sighed to the empty room. Breakfast was over. And the plate went into the fridge.

Meanwhile, Relena had finished her press conference and headed for the waiting limo back to the spaceport.

"You need rest." a flat voice said as the door shut behind her.

"You're one to be saying such a thing." Relena chided and reached into her purse to begin reapplying her make up. The hot lights at the conference caused her to sweat most of it off, revealing dark circles under her eyes.

Heero grunted, not wanting to continue the argument.

"Are you sure it's ok for you to be here? Duo's not mad that I'm hogging your undivided attention, is he?" the Vice Minister asked as she finished powdering her nose and reached for a bottle of water.

"He… doesn't know I'm here." Heero muttered.

"Oh?" Relena raised an eyebrow. "I was under the impression that you and Lady Une would eventually pressure him into the Preventers."

"He loves his work. I can't take that away from him." Heero said.

"He loves you. I think I'll be fine for the time being Heero. Go back to him." Relena sipped her water. "And if it makes you feel any better, I'll ask Lady Une for another agent to be my bodyguard."

"2 unauthorized people have been arrested after they got through the first 3 of 5 security nets we set up. I'm not leaving anything to chance." Heero explained as the car screeched to a halt.

"Heero?" Relena muttered as the engine was cut. They were nowhere near their destination.

"Get down. This could get messy." Heero pulled out his gun.

ORB

The sea breeze was warm as the orange setting sun when Athrun finally got away from city. His hair whipped behind him as he drove his car on the winding coastal road towards the residence where Kira was living. There were no other cars on the road, and the beach was clear of people except…

Athrun pulled the car over and jumped out.

"Athrun!" Lacus waved from a throng of children around her. "Kira! Look! Athrun's back!"

With cries of delight, the children left Lacus' side and crowded around Athrun calling his name, asking about Cagalli, and whether he wanted to be called Athrun or Alex.

"Welcome home… Athrun." Kira's voice floated with the waves.

"Kira…" was all Athrun could say.

"Come on now kids. Let's leave them alone." Lacus herded the children back towards the water.

"Aw… but we wanna play with Athrun!" the kids whined.

"You're more than welcome to stay for dinner, Athrun." Lacus smiled as the children cheered. "You all can play later. We'll meet you back at the house!"

"Things must've been tough for you." Kira said softly as the car whizzed down the coast.

"Ah… lately, I made some… decisions." Athrun tried to stop his hands from shaking the wheel as he slowed down to pull into the cottage's driveway.

"Oh?"

"I've been searching for… that answer you told me we could find together. So far, I'm still lost, and have even more questions than before."

"Athrun…" Kira touched his shoulder, pleadingly. Athrun sighed and leaned over to kiss the other boy. When he pulled back, tears were welling up in Kira's eyes.

"What's wrong?" Athrun asked, but Kira shook his head. He frowned, and rested his head on the wheel. Before all of this, before the war, Kira was always talking, smiling, the one who started their conversations. Athrun had been labeled the quiet one, and now…

"Please Athrun. Just stay, one night."

"But Kira…"

"Please. I've missed you so much."

"All right. Just tonight. But I have to leave early for work." Athrun slid out of the drivers' seat and stretched.

"She's keeping you on a tight leash, isn't she?" Kira smiled wanly.

"Shut up." Athrun grinned.

L4 Colony

"We should be safe in here." Heero pulled Relena into a building.

"What is this, the fourth time we've done this?" Relena gasped as she stumbled after Heero through the dark rooms. "I need to start running more. I've gotten a bit out of shape."

"Shh…" Heero raised his gun.

"Easy Heero." Wufei stepped out of the shadows with Lady Une.

"Vice Minister, you're not injured, are you?" Lady Une asked.

"No, I'm fine. Thank you." Relena said.

"Good. I'll contact HQ and have them arrange for you to be transported to a more secure location." Une pulled out a radio and began calling in orders.

"Heero! You're injured!" Relena exclaimed as Wufei switched on a light.

"It's nothing." Heero covered his bleeding arm with his hand.

"But Heero!" The Vice Minister protested, reaching for him only to have her hand slapped away.

"Enough Yuy." Wufei growled. "I don't care how perfect a soldier you are, that needs to be looked at."

"Wound's not deep. It's just a scratch." Heero muttered, ripping off part of his shirt and bandaging the wound.

"Che! And I though Maxwell was lying when he said you were a grotesquely simple when treating yourself." Wufei coughed. "I'm still calling Sally to look at you. Wouldn't want that braided idiot blaming me for sending his boyfriend back in bad shape."

Next Act, Shizukana Yoru ni (In the Quiet Night).

They tried to hold on to their friendship. They tried to hold onto their love.

Who's gentle voice tries to sooth the emotional conflict between the people who are ever connected by the threads of fate?

Find the meaning beyond that song in the air, Eternal!