The following few pages are intended to form a coherent story for your enjoyment, however, whether or not that is actually achieved is up to you. There are some yaoi hints in here, but that’s not the main focus of the story. Please send all of your always-delightful comments to me, but of course, NO FLAMES! Now that the hard part is out of the way, on to the story and inner workings of my oft misguided mind! As always, it’s been a pleasure. ^_^
I don't own any part or parcel of Gundam Wing. If I did, I would rule the world. Or at least the anime market...close enough.
Thank You and Goodbye
“…and I wish you all the happiness you deserve in your life together. God speed.”
The final words of Quatre’s speech were met with enthusiastic approval and applause as he once again took his seat among the hundreds of people gathered there that day. Today: the day of my wedding and the happiest day of my life. No longer did my formal title of Vice-Foreign Minister Dorlian exist.
Mrs. Relena Dorlian Peacecraft- Sekihiro.
Try saying that five times fast.
I chuckled as the length of my newly altered name dawned on me. That’ll be one hell of a title to fit into one blank on a change of name notice, I thought as I took a sip from the chardonnay sitting in front of me.
As I studied the faces surrounding me, the events leading up to this wonderful occasion came back to me in an ocean of memories. And, like with all patterns woven together by multitudinous threads, there were good and bad mixed together to form the tapestry of my life thus far. Diversity is the spice of life, after all.
I remembered all too accurately Kosuke’s humble proposal to spend the rest of my life with him, as well as my fervent acceptance. As I recalled the required planning surrounding the wedding day, it made my head reel. Before that time, I guess I never really knew how much work went into the finished product of a beautiful ceremony. But I did then, and it was well worth the effort.
Although it had not been an easy task to track down the addresses of a few particular people…the Gundams…all had turned out well. The date was set, the invitations sent, and the Luxembourg Gardens reserved for the fourteenth of May, A.C. 201. The day when I, Relena Dorlian-Peacecraft, would take Kosuke Sekihiro to be my lawful wedded husband, till death do us part.
Till death do us part…
Once, long ago, in the childish world of naivety and newfound curiosity, I would have wanted the person standing beside me at the alter to be the object of my girlish affection of that time.
Heero Yuy.
A small smile crossed my lips as I remembered the incessant way I would follow him and spend every moment I could by his side. He threatened to kill me more than once, but each time he threatened, it merely buttressed my already intense predilection. I had truly believed that we were meant to be together.
Then I grew up.
It wasn’t that I lost all faith in love and life. Certainly not. But time has this funny way of showing you where your true direction lies as you grow older and begin to see the world from a more expansive viewpoint. Our paths had simply lain in different directions.
God, I had tried so hard to convince myself otherwise.
Your first love is always the most difficult to let go of, to set free. I had learned that lesson the painfully hard way. But, in the end, I saw that Fate was right in her omnipotent decisions, over which I had no control. His visions of the future after A.C.196 were simply too different from mine.
I had wanted to focus on maintaining and sustaining the peace; never letting the war leave my mind for a moment.
He had wanted to forget the fighting and learn to live once again, to regain his humanity that had been stolen from him by the cold machine of war.
We were two people whose paths once diverged in a narrow wood, but separated as we entered the sunlight of maturity.
“Relena? Relena?”
Kosuke’s gentle voice pulled me from my reverie. “Yes?” I asked.
He smiled endearingly as he realized I had been daydreaming again. “I believe that was the last of the speeches. What do you say to getting on with the party?” he inquired, his smile growing wider and more winsome.
That same smile I had fallen head over heels for four years ago.
“I say…life is short: party on!” I responded enthusiastically. The company was beginning to look a little restless. Some dancing and carousal would certainly liven things up a bit.
Promptly after the announcement, the guests were soon milling about the reception tent chatting, visiting, and dancing with each other. It was splendid.
Suddenly, a hand tapped me lightly, almost timidly, on the shoulder as I danced with Kosuke. Turning, I smiled in fond recognition.
Heero.
“May I cut in?” he requested politely, looking at Kosuke.
I was truly the luckiest woman in the United Earth Nation. Of course I had recounted to Kosuke everything that had happened between Heero and I in those two short, yet so long, years: the circumstances surrounding the first time we met, my childish crush, his odd yet sweet patterns of behavior. And even after all that, Kosuke readily resigned his place and headed for a nearby group of friends, but not before planting a small kiss on my lips. He understood that what had once been was not anymore, but the friendship Heero and I shared was something that would last the whole world over.
As we continued dancing, the perpetual small talk was quickly shoved aside in lieu of the more desired substantial content and conversation. It had been only a few weeks since I had last laid eyes on him, but it had felt like months. When his life now was compared to his life when I first met him, one thing was blatantly obvious.
He had changed.
His caring smile still occasionally caught me off guard even now, and his overall cheerful manner was something that had taken months to become accustomed to. However, despite the fact that he was so glaringly different from the way he used to be, I admired him all the more for it. It was almost refreshing in a way to walk into the same room as he and be greeted with a grin affable enough to rival Duo.
“You looked absolutely stunning this morning, Relena. I always knew you would make a radiant bride,” he complimented as the music drifted on.
“Did you?” I replied, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Who would have guessed you thought about things like that.”
Feigned offense. “I’m hurt,” he rejoined, clutching his chest with one hand. “You don’t think I’m some unemotional machine that doesn’t think about the normal things a person wants, do you?”
I respond with a smile both amused and slightly sad. “You used to be,” I whispered. “But not anymore. Not anymore.”
Do I miss the attraction, the feelings of affection we once felt for each other? Yes and no. Yes, I miss the singular bond only the two of us shared during those turbulent years of warfare. But no, I wouldn’t have wanted circumstances to remain unchanged after the battles were fought and the sun had set. I learned long ago that, if you really love someone, you would set him free to fly.
I had, and it was the most difficult, joyful day of my life up to that point.
Now that I reflect back upon my existence before Heero, I realize that he, instead of taking my life like he had promised to do, had restored it to me in a way no other person could have. Before that fateful day on the beach six years ago, I had truly believed that life was a game, a play, in which everyone acted a part. And I was the principal: the one whom everyone liked and sought to please.
Until he arrived.
Through acts I had thought to be selfish and cruel, battles I believed I would never have to witness, and words no one had ever spoken to me before, Heero taught me that life, no matter whose it was, was precious. I was simply one component of a great and divine plan of existence. A lost soul seeking a lifeline to bring it back to the surrounding reality: that was me.
“Do you ever wish you could change it?” he asked suddenly, the music continuing in its melodic pattern. “I mean, change the way things happened?”
I thought about it, then smiled. “Not for the world, Heero. Not for anything.”
Thanks to him, I had learned that every goal, every ideal, I set for myself could be achieved with a little perseverance and a greater deal of faith. When I was around him, I just knew everything would turn out alright, no matter how insurmountable the odds may have seemed. If I had to go back and do it all over again I wouldn’t change a thing. Without Heero and the consequences of life he showed me, I wouldn’t have been able to come this far.
By our years and experiences together, I had learned things most people don’t even discover till they are well on their way to the grave. Life and its schemes will not always turn out the way I plan, no matter how fitting my ideals and dreams may seem.
That, I had learned through Duo.
Though at first I had dislike the braided American for always coming between my Heero and I, I quickly learned that destiny is not always what we firmly aver it to be. Soon, the happiness I had wished for Heero and I was transformed into blessings of good luck in the years to come. I’m extremely thankful and pleased things turned out the way they did.
I truly, truly hope that he and Duo are happy together until the end of this lifetime, and in the eternity that awaits them beyond.
The lingering notes of the soft melody gently faded away with the last traces of the sunset. Slowly, we separated and smiled, each of us knowing what the other was already thinking.
“Well, I think it’s about time I take my leave of this little soiree and head home. I have loads of paperwork I have to finish for Lady Une,” Heero explained, glancing momentarily at his watch.
“It was wonderful getting to see you again. Give my best to Duo, will you? I want to see him out of that bed and over at our house for dinner next week, understand?” I instructed him playfully.
He chuckled. “I’ll be sure to tell him. Take care of yourself until then,” he rejoined warmly, tenderly embracing me.
“I will. Don’t be a stranger at my house, either.”
Laughing and assuring me that he would never do such a thing, he began to walk back towards his table to gather his jacket. Before he was even halfway there, though, he turned and looked me in the eye. “You really were as beautiful as I had imagined you’d be,” he spoke softly. “Everything I had envisioned.”
“Thank you, Heero,” I replied just as quietly. He nodded benevolently and headed out of the tent.
Goodbye…
A Story By Kat
© Kat 2001