Gundam Wing fanfiction

Gundam Wing fanfiction. My standard disclaimers apply. For Jayse.

To Forever

by Lady Aria (bukiminatenmshi@mailcity.com)

"...And that is how I hope the world will become."

The crowd rose to its feet and gave Relena Darlian a standing ovation for her speech. Her brother, Milliard Peacecraft, watched her from a shadowy corner -- remaining still so as not to attract any attention. He saw the other delegates go onto the platform to shake her hand and smiled. He found it hard to believe that she had been able to bring both the colonies and the Earth together with just a title and sheer determination to back her up.

"Aren’t you at least going to go up and say hello to her?"

Milliard turned around to see Lucrezia Noin standing behind him. She’d traded her Preventer uniform for a light blue sundress with matching sandals on her feet. He smiled when he saw the sparkle in her eyes. She was the only person who had been willing to stick it out with him even through the hell that he’d almost brought upon all of humankind.

He gave his sister a last glance and shook his head. "She belongs to the people, Lucrezia. I’m no longer part of her life now." He gave her a warm smile as he they walked away from the congregation with his arm around her waist.

"You could at least let her know that you’re still alive," Lucrezia said as she leaned her head upon his shoulder. "I believe that you owe her that much."

He remained silent as they walked through the park. It was a bright spring morning and the air was heavy with the scent of new blooms. Spring in the colonies was nothing compared to the show that mother nature puts out on Earth. Everything seemed to be reborn in one way or another -- caterpillars turn into butterflies, the birds have returned from their long flight south, the plants pushing up from the once barren earth.

A single image came to Milliard’s mind. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

"Is something wrong?" Lucrezia asked him, noting his expression.

He gave her a wistful smile and he let his gaze wander to a group of children playing catch. "Do you remember... when I asked you to track down Heero Yuy?"

She gave him a curious look as she nodded. "Yes, but what about it?"

"I never really explained myself back then, did I?" He said, still looking at the children. "Why I wanted to continue our duel to the extent of risking my position in OZ and thus being branded as a traitor."

"Milliard...," she whispered when he saw the sadness in his eyes.

"He reminded me too much of myself," he whispered. "He lived for nothing but his mission and was willing to die just to see it completed. Back then, I lived for nothing but revenge. Heero and I were two sides of the same coin. In my mind, I believed that if I could beat him... even if it meant killing him...."

"...You’d be able to deny that?" She finished, shaking her head. "You’re right about one thing, Milliard, you and Heero are quite similar -- hard-headed, oftentimes solitary, and totally dedicated to whatever cause you were fighting for. Both of you were born leaders and all rushed to obey the orders that you give."

"Is there a future for people like us in this world of peace?" He asked as they continued with their stroll. "Of what use are soldiers when there are no longer wars to be fought?"

"How about making sure that there would be no more cause for war?" Lucrezia closed her eyes as she felt his arm tighten around her waist. "I don’t know about Heero, but you’ve already made your choice when you became one of the Preventers. You chose to help keep the peace that your sister fought so hard to achieve. In a way, you are still watching out for her even though she might not be aware of it." She stopped their stroll and looked up into his eyes, smiling. "That’s one of the things I love so much about you, Zechs." She saw him start when she called him by his alias. "You keep those you love safe. You are willing to do anything if it would mean that someone you love will be spared sorrow." She laughed at little at that comment. "And I am the person willing to stay by your side through it all."

A strong gust of wind blew through the trees and sent a shower of cherry blossoms raining upon the couple. Milliard smiled at her because he knew just how true her words were. Lucrezia was not one to judge, nor one to remain silent. She was willful, strong -- but most of all, she loved him and he loved her. <If there is a woman I’d die for,> he thought as he bent down to give her a kiss, <it would be her.>

They decided to walk back to the clearing where Relena gave her speech. They arrived just in time to see Relena looking at something -- or someone -- with a downcast expression. Their eyes followed her line of vision and settled upon a familiar head of short, unruly brown hair upon a muscular teenage frame who just happened to be walking away. Relena was reluctantly guided to a waiting limousine, occasionally glancing over her shoulder, hoping to catch a glimpse of him once more.

"I’m willing to bet that she’d be willing to follow him to hell and back," Lucrezia said as the limousine pulled out of the clearing. "Your sister has it really bad for Heero, doesn’t she?"

Milliard didn’t bother answering her question. They both already knew the answer too well. If he and Heero were mirrors of each other, Lucrezia and Relena were their counterparts -- both had stood by them through it all. The difference lay in that his and Lucrezia’s relationship had been strengthened by the war. As he saw it, Heero still had too much in his mind to sort through to even spare his sister a thought. He honestly doubted if Heero felt anything for Relena at all.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Milliard smiled back at Lucrezia as they walked towards his car. <I’ll let Heero and Relena figure out where they stand on their own,> he thought as he started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. <I’ve already passed life by for too long. It’s about time I started to live.>

They speeded off through a broad avenue, the wind whipping through their hair as cherry blossoms continued to rain from the trees.

*************** The End ***************