A piercing scream came from Relena's room. Howard, Duo, and the rest of men stopped what they were doing, wondering what's going on in there. Another scream followed.

And another one.

"He has to do what he has to do," Howard commented, turning on the radio and gesturing others to get back to work. "I just hope that he cleans up afterwards."

"It's not what you think," Duo said, humming with the radio.

Gundam pilots, no matter how many out there, knew how to silence witnesses. If it were in the battlefield, all soldiers - whether on foot or in mobile suits - are to be wiped out without any survivor left behind. If the unfortunate witness were only a passerby, then he or she will have to be silenced quickly and quietly. Duo certainly knew how to kill before the target can even make a sound.

With Relena screaming for the whole universe to hear - whatever Heero was doing, he was not silencing her.

"What's her story anyway?" Howard asked.

"That's Heero's circus," Duo replied.

Despite what he said, Duo was as curious as Howard. When he was dispatched to earth, Professor G, his mentor and scientist who built his Gundam, had given him Howard's name and contact. Howard had repaired his Gundam and given him a place to stay. He never asked Duo where he went or when he'd be back. From their interactions, Duo could tell that Howard is one of them - opposition to Earth Sphere Alliance.

His encounter with Heero was totally unexpected. All along, Duo had thought he's the only Gundam pilot. To his surprise, another mobile suit similar to his appeared before him when he was wiping out military base of Alliance. Initially he thought it was an enemy, only to find out that they were after the same thing. The pilot of that mobile suit was around his age. Although he didn't speak much, Duo took him to Howard's factory to have his mobile suit repaired. The next morning, that pilot - Heero - was gone but left his Gundam behind.

He returned a couple of days later. Duo was friendly to him since he was happy to find a friend. He pointed out the benefits of working together. Stoic and cold, Heero reluctantly agreed. That night they were carrying out a mission together, Duo found him with a girl at the dock.

It was the night when Relena got shot.

Coincidentally, Relena was standing right above where their hid their Gundams. Duo told her to go home to avoid the need to silence her. He was surprised when she took her gun and turned it onto herself. She was lucky that the gun didn't go off.

When Heero took the wounded Relena to Howard's factory, he had Duo hold her down as he took the bullet out. Duo still felt sick in the stomach when thinking about it, though he noticed how different Heero is towards Relena. The girl was in a coma for a month. Heero was taking care of her; he was so dedicated to the point that he asked Duo to take on some missions in the battlefield for him. After learning from Howard that Relena is a deathseeker, Duo was even more taken aback by Heero's dedication to her.

If his girlfriend wants to die, he's response? Fine by me!

But is that girl Heero's girlfriend?

Heero said that she's his mission.

Well that sucks. Duo would rather fight in the battlefield than taking care of a deathseeker.

And yet, he got even more curious in how in the world did Heero got such a mission. Who is this girl? What's her name? Ophelia?

With a chocolate bar in hand, he went to see her with the intention of coaxing information out of her. By first glance, he knew what Howard was talking about. Her face was pale; half of her body was covered in bandages; and her eyes were empty. He spotted the mark on her neck as well.

From what he saw, she doesn't seem to be a spy or a double-agent; or else she wouldn't have asked so bluntly about what he does. In addition, he found it strange in how she handled the chocolate bar. Not only she didn't know how to peel it open, it was highly likely that she has never seen one before. He noticed her hands too.

Those hands were very fine.

Like a person who has never handled a weapon or any type of hard work.

And when she spoke, there was an air of arrogance.

With only one word or two, she turned the table where she ended up dominating the conversation and he had to be tactful with his answers.

Who is she, really?

Some royal princess?

"Hey Duo!" Howard yelled, interrupted Duo's thought. "Want to take a break? Roman Holiday is on!"

"Nah! Got something to do!"

Resting on Heero's lap, Relena was exhausted from the pain and screaming. Like a surgeon, or rather a torturer, Heero held her down with one arm and used the other one to clean her wounds. Though he was doing her good in medical sense, he showed no sympathy when she suffered from pain. It was after he completed his "work" did he softened his grip.

Sweating, Relena reached for his gun, as if it is a toy she wants to play with. Heero had it unloaded before letting her have it. He took out the comb Duo had given him and began to comb her hair.

Her hair hadn't been combed for days. She tried to ignore it when he pulled too hard. Resting her head on his lap, she could feel the hardness of his legs. Those dimmed scars on his skin showed that he had been through many missions.

How many lives had he taken? When his hands brushed against her skin, it was warm with comfortability. How could those hands be the same ones that had killed?

"Doesn't it ever bother you when you kill?" She asked.

"Look who's talking," he said. "You are the one who wanted to end your own life. You can't judge me when you are not even kind to yourself."

He took the gun away and placed a bullet into her hand. Looking at that bullet, Relena realized that no matter what she wants - to live or to die - she is in his palm, just like this bullet is in hers.

"What is it like in the space colonies?" She asked. "Does it snow?"

"You'll see when you get there."

"You are taking me to space colonies?"

"Yeah."

"Are you going to destroy Earth from outer space?" She asked.

Honestly, she had no idea what Heero's missions are about.

Heero stopped combing her hair. He simply caressed her back and sank into his thoughts.

Destroy Earth.

Destroy…

The first time he saw mass destruction he was only a boy of eight. He remembered the explosions and the death of his mentor, Odin Lowe. Fatally wounded, he was in a pool of blood, just like Relena was. Before he breathed his last, Odin taught him to live by his emotions. His very last words was difficult to comprehend.

You are my s-

He wandered alone in the colonies until he was discovered by Dr. J. Thus began his life as a Gundam pilot.

You have three choices - go along with the plan, kill me and run away, or do what you believe is right.

Dr. J had told him that before he was sent to Earth.

"When the time comes, are you still going to kill me?" She asked.

"Yeah."

His hands caressed her with caring and affection. Yet at the same time, he was talking about killing her.

"Because I want to die?"

"No, because you are Relena Darlian."

Relena Darlian...but I'm Relena Peacecraft.

Wait…

Darlian...There was Vice Foreign Minister Darlian who was killed in space colonies. I remember now. I saw it on the news. It was the night before Milliardo left to join military school. Mother had cried the whole night. When I was at the military hospital, I met a woman named...named...Sally. She looked anxious when I said my name is Relena Darlian.

Treize had given me this name.

But is there a real Relena Darlian?

And Heero thinks that I am that Relena Darlian, not knowing that I am actually Relena Peacecraft.

I am Princess Relena Peacecraft of Sanc Kingdom. I grew up with lemon cakes served and my hair brushed out everyday. I slept in a four poster bed. Whoever this Relena Darlian is...I am not her.

Could it be...that Vice Foreign Minister Darlian had a daughter too? If so, we would have the same fate where our father died in the hands of that General Septum.

So is this what Treize really wanted - to make Heero believe that I am Relena Darlian, daughter to Vice Foreign Minister Darlian?

Should I tell Heero who I really am?

If I do, he will have no use for me. He will have to kill me now.

She was to speak but Heero pressed his thumb against her neck. Drowsiness took over and she fell asleep instantly.

Because you are Relena Darlian.

From his Gundam, Duo secretly listened as the two spoke.

Relena Darlian - that's her name. Or is it? That name sounds familiar. Darlian.

More to investigate, Duo thought. Heero, I hope you know what you are doing. You said that she's your mission. You certainly don't treat her as one. When the time comes, I'm not going to clean it up after you.