“So Mel, I hear you had it in for Relena when you two first met.”

“It’s so embarrassing to recall.”  I feel a hot flood filling my cheeks.  We stop and he looks at me.

“Don’t be embarrassed.  Truth is that Heero wanted to kill her when they first met.” He smiles at my giggle.  “See, that’s much better.  You look so much better with a smile.”

I notice that our other two companions have taken a convenient leave of absence.  I was about to inquire to their whereabouts when Duo pulled me down to the sand.  I came down hard on my bottom.  I gingerly rubbed my tender backside as I turn my gaze to where Duo was watching.  With the moon as their backdrop, a pair of sea gulls serenade into the dark night.

I couldn’t help but turn to this boy next to me, wanting to catch a glimpse of those violet eyes.  “Duo, do you ever do things that are completely impulsive?”

He looks at me puzzled for a moment before he places his hand on my cheek.  “I was always taught to act on my emotions.”

“I can’t do this.” I state only half meaning it.  Our lips still brushing each other.

“Do you feel anything?”

“I feel ashamed.”  I pull my head away from his.  “This is not something my mother would approve of.”

“Explain to me why.”

I couldn’t respond to his inquiry.  There was nothing more to say since I lost this battle.

“Hey, I can’t make you do something that you don’t want to do.  But if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For not pressuring me.”

“No problem babes.  Would you at least let me walk you home?  There might be some meanies crawling around at this time of the night.”

We walk to the hotel with barely a word between us.  Parting in the lobby, our fingers separate last.  It hurt to put a wall between us, but I knew it was for the best.  The elevator ride gave me a short moment to button my top back up before the doors retracted.  I am startled by the figure standing directly in front of me.

“Kit! You gave me such a fright!”

“What we’re you doing?  Why did you take off like that?”

“I…um.”

“You don’t even have anything to say for yourself.  You spoiled brat.  You’ve gotten everything you have always desired and more and look how you treat the people who care about you!”

“Care about me?  Everything I’ve always wanted?”  By this point I am yelling at Kit.  “What about friendship and love?  Now that is something that I’ve always wanted!”

“You’re wrong!  I have always been there to give you advice in all types of matters.”

“There is a difference between companionship and relationship.  But you wouldn’t understand.  How could someone with a M-14 implant possibly understand the wonderful prospects of a deep relationship?  All you know is how to administer policies as if it’s a drug.  What good is an advanced brain when all it affords you is a life void of feelings and emotions?  A subhuman, that’s what you are.  Humanoid in outward appearance, but cold and heartless on the inside.  How could something like you possibly care unless it was programmed?”  I spit the words out at Kit’s unchanging face.  He truly does not have any emotions.  What he “feels” is an elaborate computer program that fails far from it’s objective.

Father had Kit made before I was born.  I am still unsure of what his intentions were in doing so, but this is what the end result it…a human body with a CPU for a mind.  On the standpoint of quick and reliable action, making good decisions, and weighing benefits he is unsurpassed.  As a machine he is a complete marvel.  As a human he is hopeless.

“I’m going to my room now.  You are not to disturb me, is that understood?”

“As you wish.”

I wish that I could say I have no feelings for the soulless creature I left behind me.  Just as someone would grieve the loss of a beloved vehicle, I would truly miss Kit if something were to happen to him.  I would be walking blindly without his guidance.  It’s almost as though he is a part of me.

I gently lean against the door to my room as I close it.  Tears well up in my eyes.  An evening that could have been completely marvelous turned into a nightmare.  First I practically run away from the first guy that even showed any interest in me. Then I tear down the man who has been by my side my entire life.  I cross the room and dial the vidphone.  Almost instantaneously Relena’s groggy face answers.

“Oh Mel.  I was wondering if you made it home alright.”  She yawns and attempts to rub some of the sleep out of her eyes.  “Why are you calling me at this time of the night?  Did something happen with Duo?”

“No, nothing like that.”

“If it was you always know that I’ll keep everything in confidence right?”

“Yes Relena.  I am calling you because of Kit.  I was wondering how much you know about the M-14.”

“Is that one of those implants?  I don’t know anything right off the top of my head, but I could have Peygan do a search in the morning.  Can it wait?”

“Yes it can.  Thank you so much for doing this for me.”

“Hey, what are friends for?”

Friends?  Could we have possibly become friends in just one evening?  I would not have believed it possible.  Less then a day ago I could have said I hated this girl, now I’m asking her favors.  I feel something that I’ve rarely felt myself.  True hope, maybe there is something that I’ve been missing in my plan for world peace and that one item is going to make peace happen.

“Ok, fess up.  What did you and Duo do?”

“You wont tell anyone?”

“Cross my heart.”

“Well, I guess I could tell you.”  I place my head resting on my hands in front of the screen.  “We did kiss.  It was sort of awkward actually.”

“First time?”

 “How did you know?”

“Because it usually is a bit odd the first time.  It’s sort of like making speeches.  The more often you do it, the more enjoyable it becomes.”

“But I don’t enjoy my speeches.”

“Alright, how about you just take my word for it.”  She winks at me.  “It will be much better the next time you do it.”

“Tell me about your first time.”

“Ah, sure why not.  It was when I was seven.  There was this cute boy at school, his name was Jeremy and we went behind a car during recess.”

“You’re joking.”

“Nope, it was just puppy love.  But then again it was my first kiss.”

“I guess he has something to be proud of now that you’re a foreign minister.”

“I’m sure that he and his friends are enjoying the reminiscing of one Jeremy who gave one of the most well known girls in the world her first kiss.”

“Relena?”

“Hn?”

“Why do you feel you can tell me this stuff?”

“I’m not sure, but I feel that I can trust you.  Plus you have to expose yourself a little bit in order for someone to look past your faults.”

“Thank you Relena.”

“For what?”

“For just being there for me.”

“Goodnight Mel.”

“Night.”  With my last word the screen goes black.  I undress as I hum a tune my mother had sung to me every night before I went to sleep.  My voice was not as good as her voice was, but I sing anyways.

“Tread over lightly my love. 

Hope and dreams so close to you.

Fall over me, and don’t let it go.

For love will lead you home.”

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