Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Love Among the Ruins ❯ I Move On ( Chapter 8 )

Disclaimer: I don't the GW characters or the music. Then what the hell DO I own? Nothing much really.

Pairings: 1xR? 2xH? 1xH? This will be a mystery to the end. ^_^

Surprises: There are some. That's all there is to it. ^_^

Genres: Drama, angst, some fluff, and other delightful things.

Warnings: Since this is an operafic, my characters will be even more emotional than they would be as in the original series, so they might be OOC.

AN: A shout out to my beta Daniel, and the reviewers. Thanks for the love. ^_^ The brackets indicate opera libretto.

Gundam Wing: Love Among the Ruins

Act 8: I Move On

By Sailor Celaeno

"Latest report of last night's explosion is still under investigation. However there is speculation that the explosion was a result of syndicate involvement. This has yet to be confirmed by MOPS head, Zechs Merquise," Dawn Holiday began the new report.

"We are investigating as thoroughly as possible, and I have no intention of making any speculation because we are still sifting through evidence," Zechs replied in a recorded press statement.

"While we wait for official word, the growing Mars colony will be in a state of heightened alert. Reporting live on Mars, This is Dawn Holiday.

*****

[Ready for anything, night and day always busy and around]

"I didn't realize it at the time, but even if we did do something more about our situation, it would have changed nothing. I kept myself busy with work, but that was really running away from my feelings about Duo. Technically Heero and I were living together, but we didn't really do much past that. It was still a big thing and we didn't feel comfortable about expressing our feelings for each other so openly," Hilde continued her story.

"What about Heero? How did he feel?"

Hilde ran a hand through her hair. "The guy was torn up, though he never showed it. But I knew. It was obvious whenever we'd look in each other's eyes. He'd use his work to keep himself busy. He was no longer responsible for Relena's security, but he found ways to check up on her."

"Were you upset by that?" Dr. Carlyle asked.

"Hardly. I wanted to find out where Duo had gone off to after his temporary assignment with Relena ended. I didn't find out until many weeks later. I guess I'll pick up to Relena's press conference just a short while before that."

*****

[Heavens, what a mayhem! Heavens, what crowds! One at a time for pity's sake!]

Relena was swamped with millions of questions, but it was part of her lonely job to answer them. Once the chaos had run its course, Relena sat in her favorite spot in the park near her office. The day was too beautiful to stay inside. She closed her eyes and was enjoying the warm sun on her skin. The sensation of being out in the sun and free was something she cherished and wished she could feel every day. But that was asking too much.

"You know it isn't safe to be alone without someone nearby," Heero broke the silence. He had been watching her. She was golden from the sunlight, and it gave her such an angelic quality that she couldn't help but have. She was simply beautiful and it was bothering him to no end.

"Unlike you Heero, I can't maintain my mask all hours of the day. Even a politician needs fresh air every once in a while," Relena answered without looking at him.

Heero frowned. "It's become as bad as they've said. I can see by your eyes."

"My eyes? What can my eyes possibly tell you?" Relena said with an annoyed tone.

"I heard that eyes were the windows to soul."

Relena had a smile. "Perhaps that's true. If it is so, maybe we should never look at each other in the eyes ever again."

Heero frowned. "What do you mean?"

"If you could see what was in my soul then I don't think we can move on with our lives."

[When I walk all alone in the street people stop and stare at me]

"Huh?" Heero sat beside her and wanted to grab her and make her look at him.

Relena closed her eyes and spoke again. "Ever since we first met those short years ago, I was always chasing after you. Do you know why?"

"Tell me," he wanted her to continue whatever she wanted to say.

"I wanted to be stronger and I felt your strength because you had no doubt about what your place in the world was. I had no place at the time. And now that I found my place, I didn't need your strength to hold me up. I see that now, and that's why I will move on, but you can't seem to, Heero. Why is that?" Relena asked.

"I can't move on if you are hurting. I don't want to see you get hurt, not when the world still needs you."

"Yes, I suppose the world still needs me. But is there someone that I need? Is there someone that I can talk to that doesn't need me for peace? I want someone that will see me, not the key to peace. I don't want the world to fall apart when I'm dead. I want a world that can live without me, and then… then I'll be free."

"Is that what you want? You want freedom?"

"Yes Heero. If my desire could be given to me, then I want freedom from my life, a life where no one will cling onto me for strength. Just like that day when I stopped clinging onto you." That was when she looked at him.

There was a deep sense of earnestness in those eyes. That was her desire.

[So the scent of desire is all around me]

"I see. What would you do with your freedom, if you could have it?" Heero watched her closely, seeing if there was anything he could detect that was wrong with her.

"I'd go out and find something else to do with my life. I want to be Relena Dorlian again, not the Vice Foreign minister or the ex-Queen of the World. Real peace will live beyond me. That's what I want, and I only hope that I'll be able to experience that," Relena sighed as the sun began setting.

*****

[Maybe never, maybe tomorrow. But not today that's for certain]

Relena was tapping her pen quietly against the line pad as the presentation went on endlessly. She couldn't wait until she could leave and relax. Even just to eat a simple ham sandwich was something better than listening to the most boring presenter she had ever had the displeasure of listening to.

Just as she was ready to scream, Duo quietly entered the room and whispered, "Come with me."

Relena made her excuses and left with Duo. After they were a safe distance away, Relena sighed. "You saved me from a fate worse than death."

Duo gave her a huge grin. "I figured the princess needed a knight to save her from eternal slumber." His grin broadened as she laughed. It was the first time in weeks that he had seen her happy. In fact it was at the Parisian ball, before everything changed and her laughter died. "It's nice to hear you laugh. I missed hearing that."

"You did? Oh Duo… I hadn't realized…" she began.

Duo held a hand up to stop her train of thought. "I know how you feel, and I perfectly understand it. You don't owe me of all people any explanation. I feel it the same as you do."

Relena nodded. "Is rescuing me the only reason you came?"

"I came to tell you that you'll be getting a new bodyguard."

"Oh…" Relena had trouble hiding her disappointment. She loved having Duo around. His cheerful demeanor and the fact that they both had their hearts broken made their friendship stronger than ever. There was no need to hide what she really felt from him because he understood her.

"I fear I must leave, milady. My request for reassignment came through and I'm shipping off in a couple of days," Duo gave her a gentle smile to make her feel at ease.

Relena frowned at the words. "Where are you going?" Relena asked as they took a seat on the bench in the plaza of the conference hall.

Duo sighed as he knew this would be difficult, but she would understand why. She's coped with things more horrible than this news he was giving her. "Top secret. Can't tell you where I'm going. I can only say that I'll be helping your office take out some trash that's piling up on you," Duo replied casually.

Relena nodded. Mars. He was off to Mars to deal with the syndicates. "I see." Relena gave a small sigh. "Be careful Duo. Don't let anything happen to yourself."

"Of course. I always have my back covered. You'll see me soon enough."

*****

[I was alone, and surrounded by nothingness]

Heero closed the journal. "So… she knew he was going to Mars. Hm… I should have known. How could she not have known…" Heero ran a hand through his hair. "He didn't come back like he said. He didn't make it back." Heero sighed and paced the room. He read many journal entries that made his stomach churn from the guilt. She loved Heero when she wrote the entries and quite possibly loved him still.

Hilde was wonderful like Heero knew she was. He loved her, but now he began to wonder how they were feeling about each other now. Their relationship was marred by problems ever since it began. Was it all coming to an end? There was far too much to think about. More than even he could do in one night. He couldn't be sure of what he was going to do. Nothing made sense. Why would Relena do something like this? Was she that desperate to be free? Did she still despise him enough to do this?

To be Continued…

1) "Largo al Factotum" from "The Barber of Seville" by Giaochino Rossini

2) "Quando men Vo" from "La Boheme" by Giacomo Puccini

3) "Habanera" from "Carmen" by Georges Bizet

4) "La Mamma Morta" from "Andrea Chenier" by Umberto Giordano