Sapphire Eyes

Chapter 1: Surprise

By: Liewe

Standard Disclaimers Apply…

Noin glanced at the bustling spaceport. Could she really do this? Begin her life again without him.

“No time like the present is there,” a kind old woman asked Noin as they stood in line.

“Excuse me?”

“No time like the present, haven’t you heard the phrase before?”

“Oh, I have, I just don’t understand what you mean by it, ma’am,” Noin said softly her sapphire eyes red from tears.

“You like your heart has been broken,” the woman said, her voice a surprisingly soothing mixture of age and wisdom.

“I have no heart anymore, it was taken and then thrown away… Oh why am I burdening you with my problems ma’am, just ignore me,” Noin said softly, another crystal tear traveling down a porcelain cheek.

“Don’t be silly, I asked, I wanted to know. What I meant by my comment is that there is no time like the present to experience new things, to begin anew.”

“No there isn’t, it’s just hard to leave everything behind.”

“It always is, it always is.”

“You sound like you have been in the same position before ma’am. Oh no look at me, prying into your life, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, it’s only fair, I asked you private questions, you should get the same privilege. I’ve been in your position many times, young one, with war, and other such things, it must be suspected,” the old woman said softly, a hand moving to rest on Noin’s shoulder.

“War has also been the cause of my pain,” Noin reflected softly.

“If I may ask, young one, were you a soldier during the war?”

“Yes, I was a soldier, a mobile suit pilot, and among other things a bodyguard,” Noin answered, a bronzed hand moving to push back, over grown ebony locks.

“And if I may ask another question young one, do you have anywhere to stay on this planet?”

“I’m afraid I don’t, I came here, without thinking, I had had enough of the pain and torment, I needed to get away,” Noin said with a defeated chuckle.

“Are you in need of a job?”

“I would think so, my funds are very low,” Noin said with a shake of her head.

“Would you like to work for me?”

“I couldn’t impose ma’am.”

“You wouldn’t be imposing, the reason for my return to Earth was for my safety. My family has angered many, and my life is in danger, my nephew has promised to have one of his guards meet me, but I would rather have a guard of my own choosing.”

“But you don’t know if what I say is the truth, you don’t know my qualifications,” Noin said, her eyes wide with surprise she had never expected someone to offer her a job on such a whim.

“Well, who have guarded, I trust your word, your face is honest,” the old woman said with a small smile.

“I have guarded only one person worth mentioning, Relena Peacecraft, Princess of the Sank Kingdom, she was my life for a short period of time,” Noin said, her eyes glazed as she remembered when he had asked her to do him that favor.

“She obviously meant a lot to you, and by her continued existence, I could gage your skills.”

“It was only luck which allowed her to live, I can’t take any claim to her survival,” Noin said ruefully, she was destroying her chance to change, why?

“You seem determined to ignore my kind offer, but young one, I must warn you, I am stubborn, and I always get what I want. In my bodyguard, I do not only need a protector, I need a companion. These last few minutes I have opened up to you more than I have opened up to anyone other than family in the last ten years. Please grant an old lady her wish.”

“If you put it that way, I can’t refuse,” Noin chuckled, her pale face alight with life.

“Oh my, I forgot my manners, my name is Yanisha Winner, and what is yours young one?”

“My name is Lucrezia Noin, it is a pleasure to meet you Ms. Winner,” Noin said softly.

“The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Noin, and please don’t call me Ms. Winner, just Yanisha will be fine.”

“Only if you call me Noin, all my friends call me Noin.”

“Then it’s agreed.”

“May I ask you a question Yanisha?”

“Of course, oh hold on, the lines moved,” Yanisha said as she ushered Noin forward, pushing her next in line.

Noin numbly went through the line, her mind focused on the current predicament. This woman, Yanisha, had offered her a job, and she had accepted it without mulling over the consequences. She waited on other side of the counter’s her mind wandering as she waited for Yanisha, her employer, and friend?

“Well there you are, let’s just go and get our bags and then our ride should be here,” Yanisha chattered happily as she maneuvered Noin in the direction of the baggage carousel.

Noin followed, her world changing drastically with each passing minute. As she was jostled, she remembered her task, protect Yanisha, her new found, talkative and mysterious friend. Her gun was safely packed away in her suitcase, it would do her no good, and only her experience would aid her now. She didn’t know anything about those that threatened Yanisha’s life but she could do her best to ensure the safety of the enigmatic woman.

“Please Yanisha, don’t move too far ahead,” Noin gently requested as she moved to the older woman’s side, her eyes open and searching.

“Already your mind thinks of my safety?”

“Of course, it’s my job,” Noin smiled.

“The mark of a true professional, I think that’s our carousel over there,” Yanisha said pointing towards a brightly lit area of the spaceport.

“It’s the only way to be, otherwise it’s not worth it,” Noin groaned as she heaved the large bag which Yanisha had pointed out as one of her own.

“Ah, dedicated,” Yanisha said softly from behind the baggage cart, her twinkling aqua eyes watching Noin’s every move.

“I wouldn’t say that, not really, I was dedicated to him, and his life was dedicated to revenge. I wanted to help him, so I became the best I could, I’ve trained so hard, I can’t forget things like that anymore,” Noin grunted as she pulled another bag.

“I take it, he is the one who broke your heart?”

“Yes, he broke my heart, I followed his dreams, forgot my own, and then when he was done with me, I became excess baggage so to speak,” Noin gasped as she pulled the last of Yanisha’s bags from the rotating belt.

“Hmmm, from what you’ve said I’d say he wasn’t worth your love, young one,” Yanisha whispered, as she watched Noin.

“I don’t know if it was love anymore… Shall we go?” Noin asked changing the subject, her carry-on suspended from her slim shoulders.

“You don’t have any other baggage?”

“No, all I have is in this bag, I don’t need anything else.”

“Resourceful, I like that,” Yanisha commented as they walked out of the baggage area, Yanisha pushing the cart, regardless of Noin’s protests.

“So how will we recognize your ride?”

“Just look for a big burly man with a fez on his head, shouldn’t be too hard to spot right?” Yanisha chuckled.

“No it shouldn’t, which brings us back to my question from earlier.”

“Oh yes, what did you want to ask me?”

“I was wondering whether you were in any way related to Quatre Raberba Winner?”

“Oh yes, Quatre is my nephew, we’re looking for one of his Maguanac’s,” Yanisha said, as they moved through the crowds.

Noin didn’t comment, fate had dealt her another surprise. She could only wait in anticipation of the next twist. She could remember Quatre, the shining noble of the desert, and the Maguanac core.

Enemy mobile dolls closing.

Sanc Kingdom falling, the fight a lost cause.

Maguanac’s arriving, Quatre in the lead.

Brave strong Quatre, noble Quatre, kind Quatre.

With a shake of her head, Noin cleared her thoughts as her gaze landed on the hulking form of Rashid Kurama. She followed Yanisha through the throngs of people, her eyes transfixed on the blonde mop of hair, she noticed standing next to Rashid.

“Mistress Yanisha?”

“Rashid, and Quatre, what a pleasant surprise,” Yanisha said with a smile as she enveloped her nephew and his bodyguard in a friendly embrace.

“I couldn’t just let you arrive without a proper greeting now could I?”

“Always the gentleman, always the gentleman,” Yanisha smiled holding her nephew at arms length as she examined him.

“You taught me well,” Quatre grinned.

“I would like to introduce you both to my new bodyguard, Lucrezia Noin,” Yanisha said pulling the stunned woman to stand beside her.

“Noin…” Quatre whispered as Noin’s world went dark for a moment as the full weight of her predicament hit. She was homeless and alone, and Quatre was there, her heart couldn’t take another assault. She staggered slightly, before righting herself, gathering her courage together to meet the brilliant sapphire depths of Quatre’s eyes.

-To be continued….