Chapter 2: The Rain

The bleak gray streaks whisked down the windows of the small coffee shop as two men sat in silence. The one gazing out at the rain had a whimsical expression plastered on his kind face, far-off visions twirling in his deep aqua eyes. He smoothed back a few blonde bangs and smiled, turning away from the window to settle on his partner, who was studying his coffee rather intently.

Only four hours ago had Heero jumped into Quatre's life once again. The blonde man felt he hadn't seen the familiar, unfeeling face for ages. Even though Heero only appeared to Quatre when trouble was brewing, the two had somewhat of a friendship, still sharing the bond of what they once were…pilots, killers, saviors, heroes. A bond such as that couldn't easily be broken.

After finding Heero's sudden message to be of serious nature, Quatre had immediately arranged a shuttle to transport Heero to L4 as soon as their conversation had ended.

The two men now sat in a far corner of a popular coffee shop, fairly secluded from the noise and bustle of foaming lattes and cappuccinos. Quatre looked out of the rain-beaten window once more before releasing a sigh of pure contentment.

"God, I love the rain. It's just beautiful, isn't it?" Quatre questioned the brooding young man who sat before him.

Heero turned and looked at the harsh, dreary streets and buildings outside of the shop and watched as the people passing in the rain hugged their coats tighter to them. He raised a skeptical eyebrow and looked back to Quatre, still sitting with a giddy smile.

"Hn. It doesn't take much to please you," Heero observed.

"No," Quatre happily admitted, then referred to their earlier conversation in a whisper, "But are you sure SpinTech Inc. is the company behind all of the trouble?"

Heero confirmed with a nod.

Quatre continued, "If what you say is true, if that company is…" he looked around cautiously, "…doing what you say they were doing, then my business is a lot better off."

"I thought it might make you happy. SpinTech was the company that closed the deal to build that new colony," Heero noted, "the same deal the Winner Corporation was also competing for, am I right?"

The blonde boy nodded, although a solemn expression came across his usually placid features.

"Your discovery means more than you know," Quatre finally breathed.

Heero looked at him, perplexed. "But that one deal couldn't have ruined your business or your reputation. Besides, you have enough money to retire now, if you wanted."

"Certainly. I will always be well off, but lately, competition has been tough," Quatre admitted. "There are many more serious competitors out there than ever before. That New Colony Project deal was huge, and when we lost it, I thought I might have had to close down a few more factories than I would have liked, you know, do some major layoffs. I couldn't bear to do that."

"You are too kind-hearted," Heero said. "How you ever made it this far I will never know."

Quatre just smiled. "Deep down we have the same kind hearts. You may be good at fooling others, but I can see what's really there."

Heero shrugged off the comment and continued on with the previous subject. "I'll get this deal for you, Quatre, I promise."

"Yes, if all goes well, and SpinTech is exposed, the Winner Corporation will be certain to gain the contract to build the new colony."

In a somewhat stranger, hyper tone, Quatre continued jokingly, "I will be invincible once again! What do you say, Heero?" Quatre slapped him on the shoulder.

"Don't you usually drink tea?"

Quatre stopped short and looked at him.

"I think you've had a little too much coffee for today," Heero told the blonde man, his face still holding a serious expression.

Quatre just shook his head and sighed. "I'll play my part when the time comes. What is your plan in the meantime?"

"As you know, the New Colony Project is government funded and has been contracted out to SpinTech Inc., but I've discovered that someone is adjusting the bookkeeping. Government money and materials are being siphoned off, little by little, but I haven't figured out what they're being used for. All I know is that there must be someone on the inside changing the files. I'm looking into it."

"Gotcha. Have you contacted Lady Une and the Preventers?"

"Not yet."

"I know this case isn't world threatening right now, Heero, but it very well could be in the future. Who knows what secret project they have planned? Those extra materials could be for weapons, mobile suits, and I don't even want to think about what else. Look, I'll contact the Preventers. You said you were looking into finding SpinTech's informant, right? Do you have any general idea of where this insider may be operating from?"

"Earth," Heero said, with no expression. "The Cinq kingdom, I'm fairly certain."

"Oh," Quatre said in a voice barely above a whisper. "Do you--" he faltered. "Do you need me to talk to any political officials…to inform them of your investigation if you should need any assistance with--"

Heero cut him off. "I'll talk to them if and when the time comes," he said without emotion.

The two men looked into each other's eyes knowing exactly whom they were speaking of, although neither cared to admit it.

"I'll keep you updated," Heero said simply, after deciding he had given Quatre a good enough glare to keep him from mentioning any names. The other man nodded and Heero left the coffee shop without a goodbye, as was his custom.

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After a delightful breakfast, although Relena did note Dave was not in the best of moods, she retreated to her garden, claiming it needed to be looked after, even though the diplomat knew she was trying to avoid work. Being Vice Foreign Minister was time-consuming to be sure, but the girl still enjoyed it. She had matured greatly over the years and accepted the position without any self-concern. Only the people and peace mattered to her. She was a pure being to the core.

"I'm going out--business," Dave shouted at her from his upstairs office window. She gave him a wave and went back to tending the Bleeding Heart flowers blooming in the garden.

"Business," Relena groaned, hanging her head. She didn't know which was worse, being a politician or a businessman. Although, each occupation was a little of the other, if one got right down to it. Business was always calling Dave away, even though the times he shared with his girlfriend were limited. Relena wished he would try to cater his schedule a little more towards spending time with her; she certainly moved hers around an awful lot for him.

But as she got to thinking about the situation, she told herself to stop. 'Now, you're just thinking of yourself again, Relena. Dave is an important businessman. He can't be only yours all of the time.'

She drifted back to when she first met him. It was at a charity event of some sort and he was the latest hot topic. David Bowman was the newest thing on the market, literally. His business had been a huge success, and through making the right connections, along with his charismatic personality, Dave was the sudden favorite of the very rich. His success caused him to rival even the famous Quatre Winner in wealth and popularity, among the ladies especially. That was why it surprised Relena so much that he singled her out. Of course, who wouldn't want to get to know the former Queen of the World and current well-off diplomat? But Dave seemed unlike any man she had ever met.

He ignored the outstretched hands of the extremely powerful and wealthy businessman's daughters, and he slighted the cries of heiresses, whose wealth was even greater than that of the former Cinq kingdom ruler. He had eyes only for Relena and wasn't afraid to let his feelings known. The girl had never before had such special treatment, such open and carefree love. Maybe that was why she fell for him…he was so different…so different from…someone long ago.

Relena shivered as a chilled breeze ran across the back of her bare neck, her honey blonde hair having been pulled up in a messy bun. Looking skyward, she was disappointed to see afternoon storm clouds moving in.

"Looks like rain," she told the flowers in her garden, as well as a solitary butterfly that had perched on a vine of nearby wisteria.

"You better run home, now. Don't get caught in the storm," Relena gently warned the tiger swallowtail and eventually, it obeyed. As she watched the creature flutter off, a sprinkle of rain touched the soft spring earth.

Relena felt a sadness rise up in her, and although small, she felt distant regret. A name from her past resurfaced from the recesses of her mind and caused the girl to shake her head in surprise.

Why should she be thinking of him after so long? He felt like a pastel memory, faded and worn. He had left seven years ago and she had never seen him since. Relena tried to remember his face. Squinting, she sought to recall his features, and finally came up with a mental image that was a bit blurry in some places. She could remember that mop of dark brown hair, the muscles of his strong arms, those piercing blue eyes…

His lips, she mused inwardly, I forget what they really looked like, he was always frowning so much. She smiled at the memory. I wonder what they felt like?

STOP! Relena shouted to herself suddenly. She supposed a girl would never forget her first crush, but she had moved on, or at least she convinced herself that she had to move on. It would be silly for a girl of her age to constantly dream of the day when the love of her youth would come back to her.

Looking towards her Bleeding Heart she watched as the cool water droplets glided down the pink, heart shaped flowers, slowing where they reached the bottom, white tear drop form, and finally fell from the bloom like a hesitant tear.

"Don't cry," Relena whispered so her flowers would hear.

She touched the velvet petals dripping with their bleeding tears and felt her own face, which was now wet, although she convinced herself it was only the rain.

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