Chapter 1: COMING BACK HOME
Author: Konoe Yumi
"May I have a look at your I.D., miss?" The guard at the station asked. Lucrezia Noin took out a black leather case and handed it to the man. Two guards were double-checking her things; asides from the x-ray machine, they still have to do a manual inspection. The other guard found her Magnum pistol and interrogated her about why she brought a weapon. She had to reason out that she was a Preventer. An ex-Preventer at that.
It had been about three years since she and Zechs Merquise decided that they should come back to earth and start working on normal things.
"She's a Preventer all right." The middle-aged guard blurted out, handing Noin back her I.D. and returning the gun from her case. "Thank you." Noin muttered as she went through with her bag.
She walked to one side and stood there in wait of her friend, who was having his turn of inspection. She watched the two men take out his gun and ask for an I.D. Afterwards, Zechs took his bag and walked towards her.
"They're really strict about bringing weapons, huh?" Noin commented as Zechs neared her. The taller man nodded. "There had been a lot of changes." He murmured, taking a quick look at his surroundings. The building had improved. They have state-of-the-art inspection and surveillance equipment, and it seemed that everywhere he looked, there are police officials.
Noin was about to say something when a female voice called out to her. She looked ahead of her and her eyes grew wide. In an instance, Sally Po had already wrapped her arms around her friend, sending her staggering backwards just to maintain her balance. "Hey, watch it!" Noin yelped.
"I missed you." Sally exclaimed, continuing to give the Italian woman a real tight bear hug. "Wow, I never thought you missed me so much!" Noin replied incredulously as she tried to pull away.
Sally let out an airy laugh and went, "Of course I did, silly!" She took a step towards Zechs and playfully jabbed his arm, "How could you leave just like that?" she demanded with a laugh.
Zechs shrugged and didn't reply.
Sally took a deep breath, rolled her eyes and sighed, "Anyway," she started, "Ann and Mariemaia are at the lobby, waiting, so let's go."
* * *
Zechs sighed as he sat inside the car. He watched appreciatively as Noin played along with Mariemaia's little antics. Sally was laughing along and being silly.
Zechs smiled.
He had never seen the two let loose like that. Noin had always been serious like hell, because of the war. Sally was too work-driven. And he understood why: Still, because of the war. The whole freaking war. At least, now, it seems too over.
Ann glanced at the rearview mirror and smiled at what the others were doing. Mariemaia had been under her custody ever since the X18999 incident was over. And she had recovered easily. After days of nightmares, the girl had learned to forget about it and move on, even with the loss of his father, and grandfather. Ann, however, still has to get over Treize. "I see that you three are having fun." She commented with a soft laugh.
Giggling, Mariemaia flung her arms around Noin's neck and went, "Miss Noin's really great!"
Ann elegantly raised her eyebrow and told Mariemaia to keep her giggles and squeals low. Mariemaia scowled at her and continued her little rumble with the two women.
Ann sighed. Mariemaia is still the stubborn little child she had known since their first meeting. "So, Zechs, how was Mars?" she inquired of the quiet young man.
Zechs shrugged.
* * *
"Mmm!" Mariemaia mused as she put a mouthful of chocolate sundae into her mouth. They were having dinner that night in a restaurant Ann had suggested. Everyone was having their dessert and making small talks not related to work or anything. "I wonder why we never do this often, Auntie." She quipped with a smile. "It's really good."
Ann shook her head and smiled, just watching the little girl. Such a fine young lady, she thought. She would make a wonderful leader in the future. Just like her father…
"So, do you still want to be part of the Preventers?" Sally asked as she eyed Zechs and Noin, who were busy finishing their meal.
Noin looked up at Sally, almost in a surprised manner, then she shifted her gaze to Zechs, who looked at her the same.
"Is there something wrong?" Ann inquired, noticing the look on the two's faces.
Noin wiped her lips with a napkin and offered a faint grin. "There's something we want to tell you."
Ann and Sally looked at them. Mariemaia minded her own business.
"Well, first of all, I have think I'm too fed up on that job already," she paused, noting the expressions on the two women's faces. "And, well," she paused again, grinning, to look lovingly at Zechs, who gave her the same look, then back at Ann and Sally, "Zechs and I have decided to get married."
Ann's eyes widened. Sally's jaws almost dropped to the floor. "What!?" was all the two can utter, while Mariemaia went, "Huh?"
"We're going to get married." Zechs repeated with a soft chuckle.
"Oh, my god! Wow! I mean, that's great!" Sally exclaimed, clasping her hands against her chest. "Good for you!"
"That was a real surprise." Ann added, propping her elbow on the table and resting her chin on the back of her hand. Mariemaia looked up and nodded with a smile. "Congratulations, Mr. Zechs, Miss Noin."
Noin laughed softly as Zechs lazily draped an arm around her shoulder. She leaned on his shoulder and sighed. "Thank you." She said, reaching out to touch the little girl's cute face.
"Can I be the flower girl?" Mariemaia inquired with bright eyes.
Noin looked up at Zechs and raised an eyebrow. Zechs smiled and leaned over towards Mariemaia and took the little girl's hand, and patted it, "Sure. If that's what you want."
Mariemaia beamed and turned to Ann. "I'm gonna be a flower girl."
Ann nodded, stroking the girl's red hair, "And you'd make a fine one." Her eyes, beginning to glaze with tears. That was sweet. After several years of just being best friends, although of course, everybody knew that they had always shared something special. After all the war horror…Now they're this wonderful couple, like nothing happened in the past. Ann envied them.
She wondered of Treize felt the same way about her. Although she believed he had showed her enough affection to let her know.
Ann stood up from the table, "I'll just go to the ladies' room." She said, before she walked away. Tears had already began to form in the corner of her eyes.
* * *
Ann sat on her chair and started massaging her temples. Mariemaia had drifted off to sleep just after they ate at a fine restaurant with Sally, Zechs and Noin. She had offered the couple to stay at her apartment for the meantime, but they politely declined, saying that they would just bother her and rather spend for a hotel. They should be sleeping at this time. She, on the contrary, must finish some papers.
She placed a hand on top of the stack and sighed. Papers, papers. Her life just goes around two simple things: Mariemaia, and work, nothing more. Every other day it just seems that it's always the same. Always the same obligation; unlike when she was still a soldier. She was of more use then. Working day and night…working with Treize…But she was still working for the world.
"Master Treize," she whispered.
She still couldn't believe that he let himself be defeated by a youngster. She knew she could have blamed Wufei for everything, but that was way out of her vocabulary. She knew by heart that it was Treize's will to fight and to die fighting…And a soldier must always accept whatever it is that comes in his or her way. A soldier stands strong even through the toughest of times.
"Except, I was never a soldier…I just worked by your side, my Lord."
Ann sighed and wiped unwillingly at her tears. "Master Treize," she said again, "I wish you'd come back like Zechs did."
TO BE CONTINUED
