A Kiss Good Night

By: Twilight Solider

 

        The mission had failed, ambushed by a group of radicals trying to take over the Sank Kingdom. Their carefully planned escape had been thwarted by a small group of soldiers blocking their only exit. Sword and gun fighting ensued along with a desperate chase. They had to get out alive, both of them, there was no time to be noble and risk their lives over a stupid group of egotistical soldiers bent on the down fall of the Sank Kingdom. They had more important things to get to. 

     Rain fell like buckets, drenching the two figures cloaked by the night. At this rate they would never make it to the meeting. They had to stop and take shelter as the thunder roared above the night sky threatened to fall on top of them. Lightning flashed, and Heero caught a glimpse up ahead of red uniforms, and the glint of metal swords.

‘Damn.’ He thought.  ‘All the soldiers hadn’t been at the kingdom waiting for us after all… they really have thought this through, even to where we would go as a back up escape route.’ 

       He pulled Relena close to him, telling her to hold back as he went ahead to take care of the problem. She stubbornly shook her head and said she was going also. The death look Heero was so used to giving didn’t seem to work on her, and she grabbed the sword from Heero’s sheath and ran ahead of him. Trying to pull her back, he clung desperately to her hand.

   “Don’t Relena, it’s too dangerous. I can’t risk you getting hurt; this meeting you are going to tomorrow will determine peace for the entire world. And I refuse to show up at this meeting alone.  You’re my responsibility, stay here.” He commanded.

Again Relena seemed to not notice his cold eyes on hers.

“ I am tired of being everyone’s dove. I take and take from others, and its time that I finally gave back to the people. People need to stop protecting me, I can take care of myself.” Her eyes were bright and unwavering, her chin square with his.  She didn’t even seem to notice the rain had ruined her hair, and was making its way down her beautiful face, finally to drip off the end of her nose. A look of longing flashed through her eyes, and then she was gone.

    Heero lost her easily to the down pour and darkness, and had to travel to the group of waiting soldiers alone. Anger clearly could be read on his face. ‘No one had better touch her.’ He thought ready to start the fight.

Several nerve-wracking minutes followed as he clashed through soldiers left and right, still looking for Relena. As a spot cleared Heero saw her again. She dodged at the jabs of swords, and made her own incisions, causing the soldiers to cry out and fall to the sodden ground. She seemed to be enjoying the fight, something that surprised Heero.  She looked up at Heero and their eyes met for a moment, both of them sharing in the beauty of the battle.

   Heero’s eyes widened as he saw a soldier get up from the drenched ground, and lunge at Relena. She turned sharply, crying out as she did so and thrust the sward into the man’s stomach. They finished the rest of the small group and headed for shelter.

   Relena seemed to be moving slower, breathing much more heavily than she should have. As they reached a small cave Heero turned on his flashlight and lead her to the back. Once there Heero proceeded to make a small fire and sit down, trying to dry his sopping wet clothes in the process. Water slid down his mahogany hair, and made splashes on the gray rock. He was drained from the battle, and needed to catch his breath. Relena sat near the cool wall, her head resting on the solid rock, eyes closed, her delicate eyebrows knit together. Her hand lay on top of her dark green wool cloak.

  “What’s wrong Relena?” Heero asked, not letting the worry show in his voice.

She looked up at him, smiling faintly.

“Nothing, I’m just… a little tired, I’ve never done anything like that before, its quite draining. I should be fine in a few minutes once I have caught my breath.” The fire bounced shadows all over the walls, making Relena looked tired and worn. But Heero caught in her movements what her voice refused to say. She was injured, and from the look in her eyes, badly.

He walked over to her and kneeled before her, piercing her with his gaze. 

“Relena, are you sure you are all right?” she nodded and he grew angry.

“Really? Come on now Relena tell me the truth.”  He said through clenched teeth.  Again she looked at him, covering the pain with a soft smile.

“I will be just fine, like I said, that battle was draining…” Heero pulled her up, and ripped off her cloak.

    Her white dress was stained. Dark blood ran down her dress like a waterfall, leaving the red color to smear her light silky folds of fabric. She looked back up at him, fear clearly shown in her eyes.

 “Relena…” he breathed. His eyes took it all in, but his heart refused to.

Anger swelled up inside of him, she shouldn’t have been harmed… she was his responsibility, but she was more than that. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but in the unfathomable depths inside of him he knew she meant a great deal more, she was his better half. He had an epiphany; he loved her. As his heart revealed in this fact his mind took over. He had to protect her and make her safe. He grabbed a strip of her dress and tore it off. She gave a cry of surprise as he began to tie it tightly around her wound. He wondered though if she had lost too much blood already, and a small hope grew inside of him, he could still save her… he believed.

 Relena looked up at Heero in disbelief.

“What are you doing Heero? Its really just a scratch, I… I should be fine.” She whispered, holding on the wall for balance as he continued to wrap the cloth around her petite waist. 

“Let me fix this, I am trying to stop the blood flow… I just hope, I mean I am sure that this isn’t fatal. Let me do it.” His voice was soft, comforting to her, and she relaxed as she let him finish tying the strips around her. When he finished he looked down at her, his eyes still shining from his discovery of his love for her. He held her face in his hands as he looked into her eyes.

“Relena, I…”

   Suddenly Relena became lightheaded, and sat down swiftly, breaking the moment between them. Heero could tell what was about to happen. Her face was being drained of all her glowing color; her eyes were getting darker. She looked… near death.

Heero’s heart shattered. ‘No, not when I just found what you really mean to me, I can’t let you leave me now.’ He sat next to her, studying her face, memorizing every inch of it.

  “Heero… I don’t think I’m… I am… it was fatal.” She stuttered. Looking up at him eyes watering, threatening to spill out.

“I just want to ask you one thing, Heero, could I… my brother always gave me a kiss goodnight… would you mind if you gave me one… my last one?” A tear slid down, mingling with the raindrops already present on her clear skin.

Heero held her close, hugging her tightly, holding her as if he could keep her physically in her body and not let her soul escape without him.

“Yes, I would do anything for you.” he said, his voice close to cracking. Relena smiled, and kissed his cheek.

“Thank you Heero, I love you.” His eyes widened in surprise, he ran his fingers through her wet strands of golden hair, and whispered, “I love you too.”

Her breath was coming farther and farther apart, her frame felt lighter, and he was being tormented by it. He laid her down, kissed her forehead, her neck, and finally her lips, closing his eyes as he breathed in the sweet scent of her. A tear slid from his face and landed on Relena’s. She opened her eyes, and smiled up at him. “Thank you Heero, for everything you have done for me.” She then closed her eyes, and breathed in her last breath, full of the scent of him.

Another tear slid down Heero’s face. “Goodnight my love.”

 

 

 

 

So, what did you all think? I would love to get responses back, and I know, my last story sucked, what can you do? I hope this one was better. Thanks for everyone’s support!

Disclaimers: Gundam isn’t mine.

Send R&Rs to tigeress180@hotmail.com