Identity Lost
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters, I do not own.
A/N: Wow it's been an incredibly long time since my last update. I apologize for not writing as fast as I'd like to. Unfortunately, the problem now is one that is out of my control. Since I'm in Asia, there's an issue with getting internet so I've been disconnected with the world for months!! Trust me, it's killing me slowly every single day. That means, I have no idea when I'll be able to upload the next chapter but the good thing is that it's already written!!
Please be patient with me and I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as I can get my internet problem resolved.
Thirteen – Betrayed
Betrayal is by far the worst human flaw in existence.
"Excuse me, Pagan?" A maid said softly, trying to get his attention.
He was sitting idly against the kitchen island counter contemplating the recent scene in the sitting room. Despite the evidence of the blood test against his claims he knew he wasn't wrong but how could he prove it? No doubt about it, Mima was Relena and he was as sure of it as his own identity. Something was definitely amiss and he was becoming more suspicious with the circumstances surrounding Relena.
In the mean time, the head chef paraded around Pagan and floated from one cooking appliance to another like a dance and instructed his sous chefs to begin the preparations for dinner. Pagan was so consumed in his thoughts that he was oblivious to the ordered chaos around him.
"Pagan, please, I must speak with you." The maid persisted as she reached for his shoulder.
A gentle nudge brought him back to the present and focused his eyes on the woman in a clean white and pearl-colored uniform and worried eyes. "Yes, Isabel, what is it?" He tried to speak over the cacophony of kitchen noises behind them.
"May I have a private word with you, sir?"
Pagan nodded and slowly found his footing again when he got off the stool. He walked ahead of Isabel and stopped once they were in his private office. Unhurried, he took a seat on the couch and motioned for the maid to do the same.
"Now, what is the matter, my dear?"
She reached into her pocket and produced a beautiful necklace for Pagan's inspection. "I was cleaning up Miss Relena's room and when I was making the bed, I noticed this piece of jewelry in the trash can."
At first, he didn't take a good look at it until he heard Relena's name. The first mention of a necklace should have had him paying attention but he was still frustrated with the way things had gone with Milliardo. But now, now, he was listening.
"What of the necklace? Let me have a closer look at it." Pagan said and she handed the item in question over to him. It was silver-encrusted and a dove pendant was rooted in the center. He didn't know much about jewelry but from one glance at the jewelry he held, it gave off an aura of true passion and untold emotions from which it was created. Pagan didn't know how to explain it but he just knew; he knew that this was the necklace Milliardo had mentioned, the necklace that the imposter had on her person that made them all believe she was Relena.
"Do you know how Relena came about this necklace?" He asked carefully.
She thought for a few moments, although it felt like an eternity to him and then she replied, "You know, I never recalled ever seeing Relena wearing that piece since she began to stay here. She had collected several dozen necklaces, bracelets, and the like. And, well, it's difficult for anyone to keep track."
"How come it was in the trash bin, then?" Pagan asked since it seemed unlikely that the imposter would throw anything of value away.
"I'm not sure. I assumed it accidentally fell in and it just so happened that I saw something glittery in the trash among some crumpled papers when I bent down to fix the bedspread."
It was found in the trash... He said nothing further as he tried to understand how this fit into the whole picture. Either the necklace was replicated or stolen. If it were stolen, then the imposter would no longer have the need to keep it and would get rid of the evidence. That was certainly a possibility but he didn't know if it was the right one. As he tapped his fingers lightly on the glass surface of the imported coffee table, he thought of a way to clear up the mystery behind the necklace.
"Sir?"
He turned to the maid and smiled softly, "Why don't you let me return it to its rightful owner?"
He left his office and immediately went looking for Mima. The evidence behind the blood test was moot to his cause and perhaps there was another way to figure out Relena's true identity. The Relena that he knew would not leave such a valuable keepsake unattended or discarded without care, be it accidental or intentional. How Relena perceives value is not by the price tag of the item but, rather, the value she holds within her heart.
It took him some agonizing minutes to walk around the premises before he found her tucked away in her guest bedroom. Pagan knocked gently on the door.
She didn't know how to feel anymore. When she saw Heero and Jezzie together it seemed like the last nail to the coffin; she lost. True, she never had any claims on Heero but she assumed, through unspoken words, that there was something between them, something tangible. Mima mentally slapped herself awake and remembered the movie where someone mentioned that assumption was the mother of all fuck ups. She was sick to death of the roller coaster emotions regarding Jezzie or Relena's so-called identity. Lying face first on the bed, she didn't realize how tired she was, both physically and mentally. Her left hand, out of habit, reached for her necklace that was not there and she sighed deeply before she covered her head with a pillow.
Just as she was about to drift off to a light nap, a soft tap came on her door.
"Come in." Mima said as she quickly made herself presentable before sitting upright on her bed. She used her shirtsleeve to wipe away the dried tears on her face and stood up to welcome the visitor.
"I hope I'm not interrupting." Pagan said.
"Not at all, Pagan. Please have a seat." Mima pointed to the couch lying across the bed as she sat on the mattress. She noticed he was more agitated and uneasy than usual.
"Mima, the reason why I came is... have... have you been crying?" He changed his train of thought when he saw her pale appearance and red eyes.
"I'm alright. What was it that you wanted to see me?" She asked, strategically maneuvering the conversation away from herself.
"I would like to hear about your past. I'm curious as to what kind of upbringing you had." He explained although he himself knew how pathetically lame his excuse was. Pagan was thankful that he prepared the speech beforehand, sort of. Otherwise, he would be stumbling like a poor old fool that he was.
Mima could feel her defenses building up. Why would anyone be curious about her? She didn't want to explain her past with anyone since it was clearly non-existent in her memory. Fortunately, she had been able to maintain her façade for so long that she didn't see any reason to start telling the truth now.
"Please Rele... Mima." He mentally slapped himself for the slip he almost made. "I want to help you."
She hesitated.
"Indulge an old man. Tell me your story." He pleaded.
With Pagan's pleading eyes and his personable appearance, she found it difficult to deny him. In some strange way, didn't she want to share her pain? Perhaps this was the right time and besides, she was too tired to argue. She slowly began to tell her story from the first memory she had. With every passing sentence, she poured her heart out and admitted how she longed to find her real family.
"It's already been ten years and I still don't know who I am." She said.
Tears began to well in his irises. It sounded identical to the imposter's story. She must have used Mima's past as her cover. If that was so, then the only possible explanation was that she knew Mima was Relena! Too many thoughts rolled around and he didn't know how process all of it. At that moment, however, he didn't think about any of it. Pagan walked over to his Relena and wrapped his arms around her tiny frame. He had no doubts now that Mima is indeed the person they were all searching for.
"I will help you." He whispered against her ear, unwilling to let her go.
"Pagan, I... " Overwhelmed by his determination for her sake, how does anyone react to such kindness? Mima wasn't even sure why he wanted to help her but she was grateful just the same. She couldn't explain the close connection she felt with him.
He gradually let her go and sat back before it became too awkward for either of them. "Now then, is there something that could trace back to your past?"
"Nothing." She replied in a hushed tone.
He wasn't willing to back down and decided to coax something, anything, out of her. "There must be something you recall; a piece of jewelry perhaps or even a photo..."
She gazed around the room in thought and couldn't think of anything that could possibly trace back to her past until… "A necklace. I've had this necklace since I could remember but..."
"But what, my dear?"
"I lost it." She refused to divulge into any of the sordid details. Mima rubbed gently at her eyes with shaky fingers and tried to erase that dark period of her life.
Pagan knew he was close. It was only a matter of one final test. "Mima, this is important. What does the necklace look?"
He wasn't surprised that her description matched perfectly with the jewelry that sat in his right breast pocket.
"I've always felt safer with the necklace," she explained as she touched the part of her chest where it would usually lie.
"Is this the one?" He said, finally pulling the item out.
When she saw the object that Pagan held in his hands, she froze. Mima knew she must be dreaming and was too afraid to move for fear that the necklace would disappear.
"Mima?"
"Where did you find that?" She whispered.
Pagan could barely hear her but he managed to pick up enough sounds to figure out what she said. He couldn't come out with the truth just yet and simply smiled and said that it didn't matter. Very carefully, he reached for her hands and dropped the necklace into her open palms since she seemed afraid to touch it. "As long as it's returned to where it belongs, then I know that I did my part." Pagan said with a warm smile.
Mima thought she was through with crying and yet she found herself smothered in tears. Words were lost to her.
"Why don't I help you put it on?" He said, almost as emotional as Mima. Pagan reached for the necklace and wrapped the silver threads around her neck and clasped both ends in place.
"Thank you." She finally said, not forgetting the simplest manners that were branded into her since childhood from Pagan.
Pagan? I knew Pagan from before.
Just then, her head started to pound and she could feel the initial signs of a terrible migraine coming. She held her head with both hands as if she could stop the pain from the outside.
"Mima, what's wrong?!" He immediately crouched in front of her to see what caused her sudden discomfort.
"My head hurts ... whenever... I ... try to... remember" Mima struggled to get the words out.
"I'll be right back and see if I can find some aspirin for you." Pagan suggested and headed for the door. "Will you be alright alone?"
Instead of mouthing her reply, she merely nodded once and continued to nurse the mother of all headaches.
In less than five minutes, another knock came on the door. She tucked the necklace beneath her shirt without realizing it. It must have been another habit that she had gotten used to. Mima went to open the door for Pagan who she assumed had returned with the drugs to ease her suffering. To her surprise, it wasn't Pagan but Jezzie standing right outside her door.
"Hi." Jezzie spoke with an air of authority. "Can I speak to you for a minute? Thanks." She walked in and closed the door as if she owned the place.
"What do you want, Jezzie? I'm not in the mood to talk right now." Mima declared, looking solemn. She was thankful that the headache was slowly dissipating.
"Jezzie? Do my ears deceive me? I believe I go by a different name now."
Mima said nothing.
"Anyway, I have a lot of things to do so I just wanted to let you know that I will no longer be needing your services here. If you could let the others know at dinner tonight that you'll be going home, it would be greatly appreciated." Jezzie announced blandly and sarcastically.
"Services? I'm not your maid, Jezzie. Look, I'm too tired to argue with you so I'll be more than happy to leave this place. There is nothing tying me here and besides, I found what I lost." Mima had had enough of Jezzie's strange mood swings.
"What do you mean you found what you lost?" She asked, suddenly growing suspicious. Could Mima have figured everything out? Did she regain her memory?
"Just go. I'll make my announcement to everyone tonight and I'll be gone by tomorrow morning." If not earlier, she thought.
The guests were unusually talkative that night at the dining room save one. Mima would have left that very night but she still had questions for Pagan. Why was he so passionate to help her and how on earth did he find her necklace? She hoped to have a few minutes with him once dinner was over. It was easier said than done, however. Dinner dragged for what seemed like hours and Jezzie was soaking up all the attention. Only the first set of appetizers were served and Mima already found that her appetite was lost, yet again. She noticed that Heero had been avoiding her ever since their brief reunion at the mansion. It was just as well, she thought. After the intimate moment that she witnessed between Heero and Jezzie, she couldn't throw that image out of her mind.
He was torn. Relena had returned to him but his thoughts kept returning to Mima. As Relena continued to pipe on about the recent sale she made at the local department store, Heero took slight glances over at Mima whenever he had the opportunity. She looked tired, he observed. There were so many things he wanted to say to her but it all seemed inappropriate somehow and it wouldn't be fair to Relena. He still couldn't believe that the two women ended up knowing each other and living in the same house. Fate must have a funny way of dealing the cards of their existence out to the players.
Heero remembered her kindness and the passion she held for all that she believed in. She made him a better person; he couldn't deny that. His feelings for Mima surprised and scared him. There was absolutely nothing he could do about those feelings now.
Relena's voice knocked him out of his reverie, "Mima, could you help them in the kitchen? It seems like they're taking forever with the soup."
All heads turned in her direction. Mima looked up and froze. "Uh... sure." She replied softly and pulled her chair back.
"Relena, she's a guest in this house." Heero spoke for the first time at the table, irritated. How could Relena suggest such a thing, he had no idea.
"No, it's fine." Mima smiled weakly. "I don't mind."
"See?" Jezzie announced. "She doesn't mind."
The room temperature dropped and everyone suddenly turned tense. Light conversation didn't resume until Mima left the room and closed the door behind her. She couldn't fathom why Jezzie needed to continue to embarrass her but she would only need to endure it for a few more hours.
Once in the kitchen, the chef said, "ah, there you are. Can you please start putting in the seasoning for the soup?"
Mima was given an apron and sent to work. When she was given the okay signal that the soup was ready to be served, she volunteered to bring the tray out as the other cooks looked occupied with the main course dishes.
"It's about time." Jezzie complained as Mima served the soup bowls starting from the head of the table where Zechs sat.
They waited until Mima was seated before lifting their spoons. Jezzie was the only one who began eating the second Mima put down her portion. "What are you all waiting for?" Jezzie scolded. "Eat! There's no need to wait for her. Isn't that right, Mima?"
Once again feeling put on the spot, Mima smiled her most patient smile and replied, "Yes, of course. Please don't wait for me or the soup will get cold."
Heero noticed that Zechs didn't look pleased. Relena's odd behavior was shocking everyone and no one dared to say anything about it. The soup was silently consumed around the table. Even Duo remained mute. A bout of heavy coughing from Jezzie's direction finally broke the uneasy silence.
"Relena?" Heero said, looking concerned. "What's wrong?"
Suddenly her face turned pale; it was obvious that she was having trouble breathing. "I can't... breathe." Jezzie exclaimed between heavy spasms and coughs. Everyone stood up then, looking concerned.
"Relena!" Duo and Quatre exclaimed as Heero helped her to her feet. She was leaning heavily against Heero, unable to stand on her own.
"Call the ambulance!" Zechs ordered.
"Jezzie? Are you alright?" Mima ran to her side to see if she could offer any assistance. Before Mima was close enough to reach her, Jezzie violently turned away from her and accused, "What did you put in the soup? Were you trying to... poison...me?"
Just then, Mima felt like the insect under the microscope for the third time that evening. Jezzie continued with her fabrication, "It must have been you. You… you were always jealous of me… and … now … that I'm Relena, you … can't… stand… it."
Heero held firmly onto Jezzie and said soothingly, "Save your energy."
"I…I didn't do anything." She said calmly. "Please, let me have a look, Jezzie. I might know what's wrong." Mima explained. She was beginning to panic herself.
"Stay away from her." Heero stood between her and Jezzie and glared with the iciest eyes she had ever seen.
"Heero…" Mima whispered. "You have to believe me."
The ambulance arrived shortly and they wheeled the semi-conscious patient out of the dining room. Dinner was long forgotten and sitting untouched.
"I'll go to the hospital with her." Zechs proclaimed. "As for her," he said, eyeing Mima with unfeeling irises, "Take her to the sitting room and find out what the hell is going on here."
"What did you put in the soup, Mima?" Heero asked, feeling his patience losing over to anger.
The remaining members of the dinner party migrated over to the sitting room but everyone was too wired to sit. Quatre looked concerned as usual and was silently saying something to Trowa in the far corner. Wufei stood erect by the main door, eyeing Heero and Mima cautiously. He sensed that something was about to blow. Duo was agitated and walked aimlessly around the furniture.
She looked directly into Heero eyes, never averting her gaze. As long as she remained calm, she knew this misunderstanding would all get sorted out. She had nothing to hide, after all.
"Mima! I'm talking to you." He yelled.
Heero. She thought, suddenly too tired to give voice to her words. Apparently the nightmare wouldn't end for her. How could he accuse her of something so heinous? She felt betrayed. A single tear escaped from her eyelids without her even realizing it.
He felt betrayed. Heero thought he knew her but there was a serpent lying dormant beneath her kind and gentle façade.
"Tears!" Duo announced the obvious. "Tears of guilt, I suspect. She lies, Heero. Why did you do it, Mima? Did you really resent Relena that much?"
She turned to look at Hilde's boyfriend. Everyone was surprising her that night. Mima didn't realize how important Relena was to these people. The pain she felt was unbearable.
"Or was it because she had the one thing that you could never have?" Duo taunted as he walked right into her field of vision.
"What do you mean, Duo?" Trowa asked.
"Heero." Duo said simply. "You love him, don't you?" He stared at her, daring her to deny it.
Hilde must have told him, she thought. None of that mattered now. Perhaps it was better that everything was revealed on such a strange night. She could feel all their eyes on her especially Heero's but she didn't dare look at him.
"I'm sorry." She whispered. Mima was sorry for many things and she couldn't be more sorry for falling in love with the wrong man.
That was all the proof that he needed. Heero pushed Duo aside and easily wrapped his right hand around her neck, blocking her airflow.
She was taken aback from Heero's sudden movements and struggled for what seemed like an eternity to release the trap that restricted her from breathing. With her every struggle, his fingers only tightened its hold on her small neck.
"Jesus Christ, Heero! Let her go." Duo hollered as he attempted to pull him off of her. To no avail, the braided ex-Gundam pilot was easily knocked aside.
"Heero! You're killing her." Quatre cried and looked at the other men in the room to do something, anything!
"Yuy! Stop!" Trowa and Wufei shouted in unison as they tried their hand in prying him away from Mima. They failed. Heero was on a mission and his eyes proved that he was not willing to let go until he had stolen every single breath from her body.
TBC
