Official Quote : They don't have Gundams, they have wings.

A/N : "Gong xi guo nian! Happy Chinese New Year! New year, new chapter, and dear reader, you are welcomed here!"

Hi, it's me again. Thanks for the reviews I got in my box, I was encouraged to publish this chapter. Dear Illico and Lena, my humble gratitude is for you both! Dear Akumetsu, thanks for your interesting suggestion!

Well, I decided to maintain the contrast comparison between the two points of view of our main characters, so if you happen to read the first chapter, you'll be familiar with this continuing story. This chapter is longer, I hope you will like it. Enjoy!

Wings

-a Gundam Wing Fanfiction-

Chapter Two : Attraction

~o~

attract v [T] 1 pull (sth) towards 2 get the attention or interest of 3 find pleasing

attraction n 1 [U] action or power of attracting 2 [C] something that attracts

~ "Spellbound, my heart, held captive by your mystical charm." ~

It was easy to give in the tendency to eliminate all living things but himself.

Yet he didn't. And it gave him a nagging feeling which he couldn't shake off.

Why did he bother to differ allies from enemies? After all, those allies which were weaker than him – far weaker, he might add – were more some nuisance than assistance. It was simpler for him to not hold back his strength and attack with all his might.

But he didn't. Instead, he even tried to aid them, to prevent them from death. What a useless effort he did, since logically no commoners could stay alive after seven nights straight of fighting with monsters. Soldiers they might be, but in fact they died one by one. Naturally.

Had those elders gone insane at last? This crazy aimless mission of barging in the most dangerous site of this land was just succeeded in decreasing their troops. Maybe they had eventually given up the idea of starting a war. Small chance of happening, but it was a nice thought.

Perhaps he had gone mad too. It's just not like him to think about that. It's just not like him to NOT finish off all his targets. Logically to reduce damage, he selected monsters which had the best combat ability first and killed them. Right thing to do, his mind approved that action. And his mind also told him not to let any other monster live, to make sure no harm would arise if they suddenly gained back their strength and attacked him again.

Except no, he just knocked those which he could categorize as weaker monsters down, and didn't end their live. It's rather inconvenient because he must make sure that the monster which he didn't kill stayed immobile or unconscious.

It's more than just inconvenient to press his bloody desire to kill under unstoppable attacks, moreover maintain his mind conscious.

He tried to find proper reasoning. This was different than his usual mission. Usually the monsters were on the bad side, attacking the shelter, hunting his people. So it could be accepted if he took lives while guarding the nights. But now he was the bad guy. He was the one who barged in this nest of horror, slaughtering with no reason. So he shouldn't be so… cruel…? For his own ears, that excuse was so pathetic that he couldn't stand. He was not that type of person. He was a soldier, practically since he had his first heart-beat. How come he suddenly cared about being sadist or not?

He had been crazy, he supposed.

Blame the slightly poisoning gas from the overflowing monster blood. Or the absolute darkness and solitude he had to experience for seven nights straight without sleep. Or his lack of blood due to unavoidable injuries.

He swore there was a voice which held him back, arising such a feeling of something he had to do. A voice which told him to protect his allies. A voice which deterred him to mercilessly eliminate all enemies. A voice which he couldn't stop echoing, encouraging him to keep his conscious state, not lost in his instinct.

And by failing that voice, he felt that somehow, something inside him would be broken. That's why he willingly followed that voice. Without a thought over, without a doubt, without hesitation. Just a little annoyed feeling at how easy inexistent voice controlled his actions. Only because that voice somehow related to that dream, and her.

Yes, he had definitely lost his sanity.

He sighed.

Had it been over yet? He turned around for last check. Everything was chill. Good. Mission accomp- wait, he heard a flutter. Was that a pair of wings? No, some pair of wings… three, or four.

He held his grudge, and prepared his only weapon left : his bare hands. He quietly transformed his right fist into a claw, listening to the fluttering sound which came closer.

And the time when the first target landed to the ground, he spelled a fire blast which immediately covered the entire attackers. The flame quickly spread, lightening the dark abyss. In a blink of eye, he passed through the fire and gave a blow to the target in the lead. It should be perfect… if the target didn't pair. A twang which resembled metal clanging echoed in the air. Before the target gave further react, Heero sent following combo and successfully landed a kick to the target. The target was sent flying, but he narrowed his eyes pointedly as he realized the target had intentionally jumped back before he landed his kick. It was a clever, and instinctual, respond to reduce damage. His opponent this time definitely couldn't be taken lightly.

His tensed guard tensed even more when he heard a voice began to spoke.

"Well, see what kind of welcome we have here…."

The spooky voice, which had a slight tremble in it, faded in a laugh. A roar of laughter followed it, similarly sound of laughter which sent a shiver down his spine. The laughter he knew too well.

"…elders," he greeted in a monotone voice.

The laughter died down as a foot steps heard coming closer. Now he could see an old man wearing a pair of round black spectacles in lead of the group. His metal hand reflected light from the fire remaining of his first attack.

"I see you have accomplished the mission, Heero," the old man commented with amused tone, "It's nice to have you still alive."

Heero didn't bother to give a respond.

"No other survivor…?" another voice began to speak, "…what a shame."

"…again?" the other added with a small laugh, "You have said it five times by this time. I count."

"It is natural since you only send such a small number of men to accompany them, J," the last old man stated, making the first old man nodded to him.

Silence expanded for a minute, until Dr. J saw that Heero's gaze still focused to the darkness behind them. He smirked.

"So…," he turned around, "Looks like he won't be satisfied until I introduce you, guys."

Some flaps of wings heard as they landed one by one. As he expected, there were four people. He did a quick scan of their appearance. Physically, all of them were tainted by blood, and he could easily assume that they had just finished a long battle. And excellent fighters, he concluded from their way of move and act.

As for their faces, none of them he had ever seen. Two of them had… weird expressions which he never saw among the soldiers. The third one, however, was expressionless. It was strangely familiar as he compared it with his own facade. And the last one, the one he paired with just now, wore such an expression he understood well. He challenged him to fight.

He had never lowered his guard when they introduced themselves.

A boy with a long braided hair whistled as he commented, "Such a huge bunch of monster... dangerous, man."

…easy going type…

"…aaaandd," he added with a grin, "With quite skill too, not killing all of them."

Correction, sharp eyes.

"Duo Maxwell," playfulness was clear in his eyes as well as in his goofy smile, "Duo for short."

"Heero Yuy," the stoic boy stated as he stepped forward.

This guy is unreadable.

"I'm Trowa Barton."

"Nice to meet you," the fourth boy with blond hair followed the third guy.

…is he really a soldier?

His warm smile widened, "Quatre Raberba Winner."

"I assumed you aren't the type to avoid challenge," the guy with black eyes was the last who spoke.

Prideful, more like arrogant.

"Chang Wufei, demands a rematch."

Heero and that arrogant-guy glared at each other until Dr. J's raspy sound of clearing throat was heard.

"No time for it, boys," all the elders smiled at the same time, giving him a bad feeling.

"We have another task for you," his voice mysteriously sounded hollow, "A really, really, interesting one."

It would be, no doubt of it, a hell.

-.-.-

She didn't realize that she dazed off again.

Fortunately she had assigned herself to different placement from her group of friends yesterday. Or else they would probably be curious of her constant absent-minded state this morning. It didn't mean that her current group of task didn't pay her that equals amount of attention, but they were simply too struck by her charming appearance in casual clothes. Then again, they were also drooling at her in her school uniform. The mistress and her fans, as usual.

The weather was cloudy, but every time a cloud moved and sun ray shone upon the Central Park, it caused the park spark beautifully, and her glow angelically. She wore a cream-coloured turtle neck top and dark-brown pantsuit today, the long sleeves had been folded up to her elbows when she painted a garden bench before. Her hair had been tied in low-ponytail, leaving some honey blond strands stayed loose. Pure white muffler warmed her neck from late autumn wind. And when she stayed still like that, she became surreal. A breeze played her hair and made her white muffler floating while golden sun ray light created a halo crown on her. That instant, the large brush she held became temporary invisible. Her gaze was warm but distant, for her day-dreaming, and anybody who looked at her would want to capture such beauty. For her "fans" however, she was true angel at the moment. Minus a pair of wings which should sprout from her back.

Except that it was there all that time. The real wings. If only they knew.

Of course, there were many things that they didn't know about her. Things which were better if they didn't have a clue about. Included the reason of her musing habit these days.

Her dream boy. Good thing that he wasn't real, or he would have to deal with all those outraged fans of her for occupying her mind the past week. And today.

The previous night in her dream, he showed up again. Not running or evading her this time. So she was perplexed to no end, replaying the dream again and again in her mind, trying to find a reason.

…

…

…

At first, he was nowhere to be seen. Only a voice was heard, calling her name once, in a way that made her overwhelmed with longing. She looked around and searched for source of the voice, because in a way she knew, that it was him.

It was darkness which enveloped her, tranquil water below her feet. Hesitating first, she slowly took a step, finding out that she was floating on its surface.

But without a direction, she didn't know where she should go. She wanted to call out him, but she never knew his name. And it was so quiet and sedate, that jittery crept on her nerves. She forced herself to walk a few steps straight, before turned around in sudden desperate.

"Where are you…?" her voice broke in the end.

Then after echo from her call faded, a sound of water splash were heard from a distance. She listened, closing her eyes, trying to decipher where it came from. When she opened her eyes again, he was there, standing in front of her.

It was dark and the details stayed hidden, but she could see him now, clearer than any time before. Her pulse quickened in anticipation.

The boy was tall, more than one inch taller compared with her height. She looked up to him, and suddenly felt hard to breathe.

A pair of Prussian blue eyes stared at her. Intently and unmoving. And when he said her name again, she felt a knot in her heart. It was hurt, and without knowing why, her eyes welled up with tears.

She took a step to him and stopped, afraid that he might run away from her.

But he didn't.

So she stepped further. He stayed still, those eyes boring into hers.

Ignoring her suffocation, she walked quicker. Her heart rate increased with each step. She stopped before him, merely one arm length distance. She wanted to speak, to ask who he was. Anything was good, she thought, she needed to say something! But she couldn't find a word, except a continuous chant inside her, thumping along with her pulse.

Finally...

They stared at each other, not saying a word. The piercing gaze of his eyes gradually softened, getting more intense and intimate. She felt her eyes covered with hot tears, and in slow motion stretched her hand to him. Her hand trembled a bit before she timidly touched a side of his face. Her breath was caught when he touched her hand on his cheek in return.

He called her name once more time, and closed his eyes.

She gasped audibly when his dark figure melt into liquid, making her hand which touched him wet, before disappearing into the water below.

…

…

…

Relena startled from her muse, let out a small gasp. Then she blinked and realized where she was. At the Central Park with her class, on St Gabriel's social-working day, cleaning up the park.

She stared to the brush of paint in her hand, and internally sighed.

She had awoken this morning in the exact same way. Except that her cheeks were wet with tears. She stole a glance to her group behind her. They gave her questioning looks – on some blushing faces – which she replied with a smile. At least there weren't tears on her face this time, she thought gratefully. Then, she shook her head and mentally scolded herself.

"Get a grip, Relena Darlian!"

She took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly.

Then she continued her previous task, painting the bench in front of her.

-.-.-

Heero Yuy took his spot in a dark corner of the basement, watching over his new "comrades". He spent his time to re-confirm the other guys' profile he obtained this morning.

"Evening, everyone," a calm voice greeted, "I hope you had a good sleep."

Quatre, he stated mentally.

"Gee, I slept like a log… that's the result you get from seven days lack of sleep," came the comment's reply.

Heero moved his gaze to the back of the room. Duo.

"I hate this." Wufei. "I see no use of this secrecy, but I can't find anything related to the mission."

Heero agreed with all of them. Since yesterday's event, the elders hadn't said a word at all about their next mission. And even though all of them apparently tried to search a clue themselves, they got nothing. He kept his nerve. He knew they were all on edge here, doing nothing but waiting the elders came to reveal their mission.

In unsaid agreement, they waited in silence.

Heero gazed the wall in front of him, and absently glanced to the guy standing next to it. That guy closed both of his eyes, but still looked alert in the same time. Exactly when he looked at him, the guy opened his eyes. Trowa.

"They are here," said the stoic boy.

Duo grumbled a bit under his breath when the metal doors opened. The elders came in one by one, flame of the torches made their eyes glinted mischievously. After the doors closed again, Dr. J's raspy voice began to spoke.

"Prepare for a long journey, five of you," all of them gazed at the old man impassively.

"Spit out the details, old man," stated Wufei.

"And the duration of the mission," added Quatre.

Instead of answering the questions, the elders laughed merrily. It took all he had in him to stop a tremor from running down his spine.

"There is no time limit this time, young man," the bald elder answered calmly, "Because you will be the one to decide when this mission will end."

"…what does it mean?" curiosity was clear in Trowa's question.

"We will only provide one way ticket, boy," the shortest of the elders replied with a chortle, "You must find your way back by yourself."

Duo's usual easy going attitude fell hearing that. His beautiful amethyst eyes darkened dangerously as he spoke.

"And what kind of mission is this?"

"To find the successor of Sanq Kingdom's throne," Dr. J's words were cut off that instant.

"Prince Milliardo Peacecraft has died."

"Not him, Heero. We are looking for his little sister," he smirked, "The princess."

"But I think all of the royal family have…," Quatre said in disagreement, then gasped, "No, it is only people's assumption."

"True, they can't find the royal family anywhere in Terris. So when it's said that they have deceased, that is what people believe," he stopped, and the boys knew what he would say next, "But now the belief has been broken."

"How can you know?" Wufei sent the elders distrustful look.

"I remote-gaze the dreamseer of Middle Continent," he stated proudly, "And apparently this news is also shocking for them."

"They found the princess?"

"Haven't yet. But when they do, it will create a chaos." The elders glanced at each other in mutual scheme. "And that is the moment we are looking for."

"To start the war," they said in unison.

"So, we are going to find this little princess… then what?" Duo, regained his usual manner, shrugged.

"Sent her here as a hostage? Or…," he left his word hanging, Quatre's facial expression went cold.

They laughed a little, "You insult us, boy. No, we don't intend anything evil to the girl."

"Not yet," Duo grumbled to himself.

"We can hear you, boy," Dr. J clasped his metal hands, "So, here is the mission : five of you will search for the princess. The first one who finds her should shadow-follow her, the other may return here. You are free to work together or alone, what we need is at least one messenger to inform us at the time when the princess is found."

"In other words, only one of us is needed to fulfill this mission," Trowa concluded.

"Ok," Duo held out one finger and wiggled it, "The fastest will be the princess' stalker, check. What else should be done?"

"Stick to the princess, sooner or later the seekers from Middle Continent will bring her to the-ruins-which-used-to-be her kingdom. I am assuming you find her before they do," he smiled, "Observe what happens then around the girl, when the riot of throne successor emerges – I bet it will in no time – your mission is ended. Return here to report."

The silence stretched for a few minutes. Heero tried not to think about the war which would follow right after the mission ended. He must concentrate to this mission first.

"It's just sounded…" Wufei narrowed his eyes pointedly, "…too easy."

"Well I guess the hardest part will be finding the princess first," commented Quatre, "We don't have any guidepoints, do we?"

"Our Middle Continent's fellas do, but unfortunately we don't have much," he gave a confirmation nod, "That's why we try to push up our chance by sending five people instead of one. It may be easier if you find an envoy from Middle Continent first then he will eventually lead you to the princess."

Yes, they were better at recognizing a Middle Continent soldier than recognizing a random girl as a princess. Still, the search was almost pointless, like searching a needle in the middle of straw rick.

"What can you give us?" asked Trowa.

"Only her physical appearance. That's not much, really…" Dr. J paused, "Let's see…"

"…blue eyes…," one of the elders began.

"…honey-blond hair," the other continued, "Most probably long, if the images we see are accurate enough."

"…fair skin and pink-rosy lips," add another with a grin, "A lovely dear indeed, if I may add."

"Melodious voice…," at that moment Heero couldn't stop an image appearing inside his head.

That dream again.

"But those obviously don't help your search," Dr. J ended, making Duo roll his eyes, Trowa slump back to the wall, Quatre give an encouraging smile, and Wufei grunt rudely.

"So the last guide may be the most useful clue for you guys," he added, "According to Sanq Kingdom's ex-citizen, the princess is an angel since her birth."

Heero froze.

"A girl with a pair of white wings," the elders clearly enjoyed their surprised looks, "Definitely not a thing we usually see nowadays."

His heart was thumping loud inside his chest, the image in his head became clearer as the elders continued.

"In case you get it wrong, guys, we are not looking for a little princess anymore by now," he emphasized the word little, "Because the girl have - of course - grown up with years."

Heero barely heard Dr. J's next words. His ears were buzzing from the sudden rush of his blood. As if he wasn't in the stone-built basement that time, but inside the green garden in the dream again. The image came so clear as if it was happening once more time. A girl inside the garden looked at him with her blue eyes, her golden hair glistened from sunlight.

"This year, her age will eventually be the same as you," Dr. J ended his sentence.

A pair of pure white wings sprouted from her back.

And she offered him a smile.

-.-.-

"Pardon, Miss Relena… what is the colour you like most?" a girl stopped her sweeping and asked her.

"Blue," she answered mindlessly, "…Prussian blue maybe. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, just a clue to buy you a present," the girl giggled a little, Relena just grinned back, "For your sixteenth birthday."

-.-.-

Heero knocked his own mind down. With a few, hard, mental punches.

No reason to think that she is the princess. He stated to himself. No matter how bad I want to meet her again.

How high was the probability? One per one million? Then again how he would know that the girl was her if they only met once. It was ridiculous.

So he controlled his heartbeat down, and extinguished the smoldering remnant of the thought. When he opened his eyes again, he was on the ground again. Good.

He straightened his pose, and was glad to find his usual focused mind. The heat was gone, and he felt cool again. He registered the details of the mission to his brain, and began to analyze it. Objectively.

Wait, there was a thing went wrong.

"You said that we must find our way back by ourselves," he spoke up, arising curious stare from the other four.

Dr. J lips curved up slowly, "Yes."

"That statement is odd if we assume we will skirt to Middle Continent. We have done it before and we know the way back." All in the basement tensed, yes that was the fact.

"And you said they can't find the royal family anywhere in Terris," he continued, four pairs of eyes widen in realization, "So it also goes against Middle Continent as the assumed destination."

"Sharp as usual, Heero," Dr. J gave him amused look, "Yes Middle Continent is not included in your search area."

"Wait, you said they can't find the royal family anywhere in Terris," Quatre stated slowly, "The princess is not in Terris, and she is also not dead. The two statements contradict, don't they?"

"And you said you only give us one way ticket," Trowa added hastily, "Is it related to this?"

"The statements don't contradict, Quatre," came the calm answer, "For the one way ticket, Trowa, it is caused by our limited knowledge of this matter. This is a new thing for us."

"Explain the word 'this thing'," urged Wufei.

"Why of course 'this thing' is about your transportation for the mission, Wufei," he replied lightly, "A brand new untested transportation magic. So that's why we still haven't found a way to spell you back here."

"Great, just great," Duo rambled, waving his hands back and forth, "Just don't tell me where you will send me, I don't even want to know."

"Well, you have known the destination since you heard the mission. It is no other than the place where the princess lives these past years," he said gleefully.

"Seventh heavens?" one quirked an eyebrow.

"Very close, Duo," slow head shake mentioned correction, "The other world."

"Whaaaaatt!"

"We don't know anything about crossing-world magic," Quatre's voice sounded tight, "How will we find a way back here?"

"Good question, Quatre. The search team from Middle Continent knows the way. Just find and follow them back here." The elders smirked evilly. "But the risk of no-return still can not be erased entirely."

"Trapped in another word forever?" Duo snapped angrily, "That's it. I'm in this mission. Any place is better than this place, so I will never see you – crazy old men – again."

"Anything you want, Duo," came amused sing-song. "So, how about the rest?"

-.-.-

Strange, she thought.

Most of other students were chit-chatting here and there during the park's cleaning. The thing she would also do if she was in her usual self. But today, she was the most diligent student who cleaned the entire park dutifully. Maybe she had worked harder than the official cleaning service of the park itself. Now that was something.

That's strange, she said again to herself. How come I always be so restless when a dream of him tag after my mind?

She never knew about this before. Well, she knew she was somehow antsy to do something, to the point of extreme, these days. The usual boring homeworks were suddenly seemed very nice for her. She submitted her projects far earlier before the supposed deadline, but even after that she still felt needing some tasks to do. So beside school, she focused her attention to her courses. She got praise from her dancing tutor the previous day because of her perfect steps, and from her ikebana sensei for her heavenly floral arrangement. It was very pleasing, yet again… she felt lacking of activities.

When she was at home, she couldn't stay long at one spot, especially her bedroom. She spent longer and longer time in her garden, taking care of the plants and flowers, chatting with her little 'friends'. Even with their little brains, those blue birds could tell that there was something wrong with her.

And if the sun had set, she would occupy her time with reading, or sometimes counting the stars… until she eventually fell asleep. As if she avoided sleep.

Plainly, she became more active and full of life. Apparently people saw her like that. But she knew better.

All she had done was only a desperate effort to make a distraction. From the dawn until dusk, trying to prevent the ever-following thoughts of him entering her mind.

Realizing this fact, she heaved. It didn't make her proud at all.

Then again, why she tried so hard to bury down those shadowy dreams of a fancy dream-boy? Because she knew for sure that this wasn't normal. This really wasn't normal. Ordinary dream was sweet, inspiring wishes and hopeful thinking, but that was all. A dream. Even a nightmare lost its effect after a while. But this... each dream was almost permanent, saved in her brain as if it actually happened. The dreams were not imaginative, these were getting more real every day. She started seeing things, turning around or looking behind regularly, checking whether the image of him was there or not. She knew she was always unusual, weird even, but her current state was alarming. She was afraid if she would no longer be able to differ fantasy from reality. Did she have a disorder without even knowing it?

Repetitive dreams were odd enough, but what scared her most was a committed bound which was built by those dreams. She didn't know him, yet she felt so familiar with his presence. She never truly met him, but since she first had the dream she couldn't stop yearning. As if she just understood somehow, that there was something missing in her heart. Not even close to ordinary fantasy of a crush. She was falling for an illusion.

When the realization struck in, she understood why she became hyperactive all of sudden. She, unconsciously, refused to let those dreams took over her.

At least the effort brought a good result, kinda. Only that it made her tired. If this continued, she would probably faint due to exhaustion soon.

God, those dreams held her mind too much for her liking. She needed to do something to solve this matter. But was there a way she could find out?

Knelling sound was heard from faraway hill. The bell signaled the hour of afternoon tea, and the end of their social work. Crowd of students dispersed into smaller groups, happy talk was heard here and there. Most of them usually continued to stroll around the town. But she really wasn't in the mood, maybe if she could find a way to excuse herself...

"Miss Relena!" enthusiastic calls came from behind, cutting her thought.

Uh-oh.

-.-.-

They stepped into the magical circle, took their spots and gazed back to the elders. Firm expressions were on their faces, they were ready to depart.

The elders stepped forward also, causing them mild surprise. They lined up in front of the boys, one on one. With a flicker of fingers, a small metal piercing was placed on each ear. As they examine the ear-pierces curiously, the elders backed again to their places.

"Those were communicators, use them and you can stay connected to the others, as long as you are in the same dimension." Dr. J clasped his metal hand. "It may come in handy, since we cannot make sure you arrive in that world in a bunch."

"You won't tell us that until the last minutes, will you?" Duo said, causing thin smirks decorate the boys' lips, "But I will let this one go, since you actually give something useful."

The elders smiled also.

"Each of you is the best of your group. We believe that you will succeed in your mission."

They nodded in return, Duo snorted playfully at the speech. Then the elders started casting the spell. Orange jelly-like clouds covered the boys immediately, the magic circle flared in the middle of the yellow fog.

"We bid you farewell, our soldiers, and we wish you a glorious return."

The elders watched until the five boys lost from their eyesight. Then they turned around and went back into the basement. They had their own tasks, there were many preparations to do. Moreover this time forward.

The Operation Meteor had started.

-.-.-

A water drop touched her face, and she looked up to the sky. The gray clouds darkened as it began to rain.

She put back her cellphone into her pocket, and walked into the simple yet classy tea house. She said good bye to her group, apologizing with a tender smile. She tried to ignore the slightly disappointed looks which crossed their eyes. She really needed some sleep.

She paid her tea to the waiter, and the pleasant young man offered her an umbrella. Thanking him with a grateful smile, she turned down his offer, pointing her ivory umbrella outside the glass door. He mouthed an "o" and gave her polite nod.

Taking her coat from engraved hanger near the front veranda, she glanced to her group again - their conversation seemed quieter than before. She took one step to go, but... she didn't have the heart to leave just like that.

So she turned around once more, calling to her friends.

"See you tomorrow!" she exclaimed, waving her hand. They lit up visually, waving to her cheerfully.

When she walked towards the door, she was surprised to find the young waiter standing there, gallantly opened the door for her. Then he bowed excessively, causing her crack a giggle. She rewarded him with small curtsy, before stepped outside and lifted her umbrella. She sent last winsome smile through the glass door, not noticing that the smile made the waiter couldn't stop grinning in pride afterward.

She took quick steps in the pouring rain, turning to the left, towards the main road. Pagan should be waiting in front of the regular halt.

-.-.-

He had spent quite some time standing there.

Well, that was because he didn't have a clue of what to do. When he touched the ground, he found himself alone. Checking his communicator ear-pierce, it only buzzed as response. He assumed that he was the first who arrived in this dimension.

Better start searching, he thought.

So he took a very uninteresting corner at the street, and observed the area around him. He paid more attention to the people, especially women, looking for a blond-haired girl. It was outside his estimation that so many women were blond here. Way to go. He stared at each one who passed in front of him, to the point that he unintentionally gave them creeps. He watched them walked away, some of them got into a four-wheeled box and left. He found those colourful odd-shaped carts interesting.

After a moment, he got a nerve. White wings were the most reliable clue of the appearance, but it seemed that it was unusual for people here to walk around showing wings. It might be possible that they didn't have wings at all. It would make the search harder.

The dizziness from dimensional crossing trip came back again.

What am I going to do?

When he rubbed his tired eyes, something peculiar happened. Drops of water which kept falling around him gradually transformed into another form. Tiny puffs of white fell lazily towards the ground. He opened his palm to catch some, examining it intently. It was a kind of ice, but in softer form. Attractive, he thought appreciatively.

He relaxed again, noticing that it caused no harm.

Some other people passed in front of him again. It was once they passed that he happened to look toward the near end of the path.

There was someone there, standing and twirling around in the middle of white puffs showering. He guessed that the person also found the soft ice interesting. Somehow his gaze was pulled and focused there. His eyes widen when he caught a glimpse of blond hair.

...golden hair...

His sight was locked there immediately. The girl continued her slow pace, oblivious to his stare. She held a kind of portable shelter in her right hand, but she lowered it, letting herself unprotected. She looked unfazed with the pouring of soft ice upon her, happy even. He watched the white puffs land on her head, hair, and shoulders. He watched her every steps, memorizing the details of her without meaning to. Her golden hair which tumbled past her shoulders was contrast with grayish coat she wore.

She blinked when a white puff landed on her nose. Heero missed a heartbeat when the girl laughed a little. He stared at her, dumbfounded when she moved her head in one quick shake, making the ice dust on her fall to the ground, the white muffler around her neck loosen, and the golden strands of her hair disentangled freely.

...melodic laugh...

When she came closer, he could see her breath white from the cold. Rosy colour tinged her cheeks and nose, while the rest of her porcelain face stayed pale. She looked forward, to his direction, and his pulse quickened against his will. As if he was in a trance, he couldn't stop looking. His breathing jagged.

She was nearly here.

She was looking around, apparently searching for something. She also wanted to ride the weird cart, perhaps? But all his thoughts stopped abruptly when she looked at the corner where he stood at. Ah, she was just aware of his presence at last. She quick-glanced him, then the portable shelter she held all that minutes, and seemed drowned in her thought for a while. He wondered what she thought about.

His heart almost jumped from his chest when she walked towards him. There was no mistake, she was coming to him. The girl stopped right in front of him, making them stand face to face. A pair of sky blue eyes locked his gaze, and he felt his head spin around. He was stunned when she extended the portable shelter she held towards him. After some seconds he averted his eyes back to her face.

...sky blue eyes...

Her smile was warm, and his mind went blank that instant.

I have been found out. The sentence was echoing inside his head. I have been caught.

-.-.-

Wow, she had made the boy confused.

What was she thinking, giving her umbrella to a random stranger? But he was so wet, standing in the middle of snow rain like that. Moreover she didn't need the umbrella. Pagan would come to fetch her with a car in any minutes. She should explain this to the boy in front of her. But with the intense stare he gave her, somehow she got trouble to find any words. Those deep blue eyes were really something.

She just opened her mouth to speak, when the boy started. He looked horrified, back off suddenly in panic.

She was surprised too, the umbrella fell off her hand. The boy was running away in an amazing speed. Almost as fast as the cold wind which blew her umbrella towards the same direction. She stared, completely dazed, to the direction where he was gone.

Strangely, her heart ached when she looked at the deserted path. The same ache which she usually felt every time she watched her father leave for another long trip. Suddenly she felt the snow rain so cold, and loneliness filled her heart. She didn't have the will to look for her blown-off umbrella, but she couldn't tear her gaze away from the direction.

She remembered to take a breath to calm herself. But when she inhaled, it came out as a sob. Tears rolled down even though she restrained her weep.

She didn't know why.

-.-.-

*) Terris = Earth

*) dreamseer = oracle, diviner

*) ikebana = Japanese art of flowers

End of Chapter Two

~o~

A/N : I will take a pause in writing. The final exams are coming, so I need to make my preparations. Sorry. Check my profile for some information of my current status of writing. I will eventually be back without you realizing it.

Last comment : I'm building my confidence here. Do my writing manage to make you held your breath even once? So send me some comments, please. I will be very glad if you do.

Additional Guidance : Look below this writing, can you see three text-boxes? The green one which is read "Review this Story/Chapter" is the one you must click if you want to leave me something. A comment, questions, critics... anything is fine, and I will certainly appreciate it. The left text-box which is read "Add story to favourites" has a little black triangle sign on it. Click on it and choose "Add story to Story Alert" if you want to be notified when I update the third chapter of Wings.

Thank you for reading!

I already have some ideas for the next chapter.

"The boy went to travel in search of a girl... a girl with a pair of white wings and royal blood of mystical kingdom in her veins. But he was not her hero."

(Chapter Three : Hidden)

I will be honoured if you are looking forward to it!