Chapter two.

***

Light . . . everything was so . . . light . . .

Whiteness surrounded her. White and black, at the same time. She could see, and she could not see . . .

Her eyes opened, somewhat with a struggle. For a moment she wasn't even sure if she had opened her eyes, as she still saw white. However, that was only the paint of the ceiling, which she soon realized as she began to focus. Now, where was she? What had happened?

Crying caught her attention to the side. Blinking, she turned her head. She was in a bed, she noted. A slightly uncomfortable bed. Her eyes took in the figure, sitting on the chair, hands covering her face and . . . crying.

Only one person kept her hair like that.

Noin?

Slowly, she sat up, staring. She was vaguely aware of a throbbing in her wrists, and slowly, she was beginning to remember . . . "Noin?" This was asked very quietly. She had a sinking feeling in her heart.

Noin looked up, blinking away more tears. Relena was astounded. She didn't think that she had -ever- seen the woman cry before . . . "Noin, what's wrong?"

She looked down again, shaking her head. "Oh, Gods, Relena. . ." Her voice was anguished.

Relena was starting to get worried. She'd been caught, apparently, but . . .she was alive, right? Why was Noin crying? "Noin . . . tell me what's wrong."

And still the woman let more tears fall. "I'm sorry," was all she said.

Footsteps and voices from outside the door suddenly caught Relena's attention, cutting her next question off. For the first time, she looked around. She was in a hospital . . . of course. Damn it.

"Sir, please, she's--"

"My sister. Let me in!"

Relena stared at the door. It couldn't be . . . but just as she was running every reason though her head on why he couldn't be there, the door opened and Millardo stormed in, followed anxiously by a nurse. He stopped dead when he saw her, eyes widening.

Noin's head had come up, and she even gasped. "Zechs . . ."

He met her eyes, saying nothing. And suddenly, Noin stood, wiping away stray tears. "It's alright," She told the nurse, barely keeping her voice from breaking. The nurse frowned a moment, before nodding and walking out, letting the door close behind her. Then, Noin suddenly moved forward again, and without any words Millardo enveloped her in his arms.

Relena blinked. "Please, could someone please explain--?"

Noin cut her off, seemingly ignoring her. "Zechs . . . I'm so sorry, I never knew . . ."

Zechs shook her head. Relena was surprised . . . she'd rarely seen him act so . . . tender. "You couldn't've known, Noin." His eyes swept to the bed again.

Relena sighed, opening her mouth again. She was about to-- suddenly, she realized that her brother wasn't even watching her. He was watching something just behind her. She frowned, and turned her head to look . . . and screamed, pushing herself up and out of the bed. She promptly fell on the floor, but didn't notice, standing and quickly walking backwards until her back met the wall.

She had seen . . . herself.

Relena saw herself, lying still and pale in the hospital bed. She stared, eye wide. There was no way. No possible way . . .

Zechs and Noin noticed nothing. Noin had pulled away with a sigh, and had sat back down. Relena stared at her.

"Noin! What's going on? Millardo? Either of you! Please, just say anything!" But they were both silent.

Relena stared at them. She could not . . . would not . . . stare at the abolition lying on the bed. She felt very, very scared and very, very alone. This wasn't possible. Damn it, she was supposed to be -dead-! Or at least, not split in two! What the heck had happened? What had made her this way??

She moved to a free chair, frowning and staring around the room. This wasn't possible. This was a dream. This was impossible. This had to be a dream.

The door opened suddenly, cutting off her thought-mantra. She looked up into the face of an unfamiliar man, a solemn face and doctor's outfit. He stepped into the room, closing the door slowly behind him. Noin was standing again, and Millardo turned to reguard the doctor as well.

The doctor cleared his throat, bringing his hands in front of him. "Millardo Peacecraft, I presume?" He almost sounded . . . awed . . . but he was obviously trying to act professional.

Her brother nodded.

The doctors nodded in return, checking his clipboard briefly. "I'm afriad I have some bad news. Your sister had suffered substantial blood loss. We succeded in the transfusion, however, as she can see, she is still in a delicate position." The doctor paused here, and Relena listened intently.

A dream, a dream, thisisadream . . . she thought.

Millardo pursed his lips. "What are you trying to tell me?"

"What I'm trying to say . . ." He glances at the bed, a movement Relena purposely did not follow, "Is that she is in a rather unstable condition. She might still . . . well . . . die, I'm afriad."

Noin's hand rose to cover her mouth and Millardo's eyes widened.

"Well, do what you need to fix that!" His voice was almost a snap.

The doctor winced. "We've done about all we can. All we can do now is wait for her to wake up . . . or not."

Relena stood. Her eyes were wide, disbelieving. "But . . .I am awake . . ." Yet as before, no one turned, no one listened.

Her words fell on deaf ears.

Frantically, almost, she flipped her wrists upward. Yes, yes, she saw the marks there . . . made by her. But they were just that. Scars. They seemed as if they had been made months ago . . . yet the slight throbbing pain continued. This was . . . impossible. Her heart raced, she began to pace frantically. What. Had. Happened???

Wait. Now she paused. Her heart -didn't- race . . . with trembling fingers, her hand moves to touch her chest.

Nothing. No study beat. But that was. . .

She was beginning to believe in the impossible. She was. . . but it couldn't be! . . . dead. Somehow. Her ghost was standing, aware, while her body . . . her body lay dying on an uncomfortable hospital bed.

The doctor had left. If any more conversation had been said, she had missed it. Noin fell into the chair again, and Millardo moved to the bed, staring down at her body gravely.

He thought she was asleep. Yet she was there, aware and watching him.

Yet dead.

***

An: Short chapter, I know. ^_^;; Review! Please please please? *Puppy eyes* Come on, guys, I'm even resorting to begging. Um . . . how about bribing? ^_^ Review and I'll get the next chapter out faster? Yeah? ^_^ Anywho, I hope muchly that you enjoyed and such.