Title: The Depth of Obliviscence Author: Tsuki
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing...
Chapter 4 The Prince
of the Forgotten
Two years have past, it was already AC191. Another
pathetic winter... But once they graduate, this winter would be worth it. It
was their graduation year. Noin was one of the brightest students in fact
she could be competition to Zechs if she'd only stop herself letting Zechs
become first and herself second.
Lately, Noin had been going to the
Gravity room, coming back earlier than the other cadets. As she walked
down the dimly lit corridor with her hand lightly touching the wall, she
passed Zech's dormitory. Staring at the door she looked at it before looking
downward to find a note tucked under the door. It was persuading, just a
little peek won't do much harm. The little peek might even change the
future, you never know. Slowly, she leaned down and picked up the piece of
paper and read it quietly to herself.
~Hmm… What does Trieze
Kushrenada have anything to do with Zechs? And meet him so late at night at
S32 quarters? The old abandoned quarters in ten minutes. Might make it in
time if I run.~
Darting out of the dormitories, Noin flung open the door
and out into the night. Several lights around her shone meekly but other
than that, there was only darkness.
~I'll go through the shortcut.~
Trampling through the bushes, the sky preparing its torture awaited for
her. "Blast," she swore under her breath. Tears from the clouds flooded onto
her clothes, saturating them until the water reached her skin. Once white,
now brown her sneakers had an instant colour change.
~With the rain
pouring, the shortcut will no longer be an option.~
She panted a little
as she jumped out of the bushes and onto the side track, splashing through
the enormous mud puddles that had been quickly formed.
Shut tightly, the
old wooden door wouldn't budge or even move an inch. If Zechs had received
the note before her, he would have thrown the note away which meant that he was
still coming. She took congnisance of the open window, about two metres
higher than herself. Scanning around, she spotted a barrel, just sturdy
enough to put her weight on. Although the window was half open, it wouldn't
allow itself to be forced into a fully open position. Eventually it gave up
and was pushed open. Noin stepped up and swung her leg onto the ledge, her
other leg hanging slightly. Cautiously she pulled it over and climbed inside
to realise that she was in the main corridor. Lights toward the end of the
hall were on.
~Light? Well they must be meeting in there.~
Stealthily, Noin made the slightest noise possible as she entered the
dim lit area. There were a few old bookshelves to the far right of the door,
a few tables and lecture chairs. She could peek through the discarded wood
pieces, piled onto the cupboards. Creeping behind the cupboards, she walked
up the wooden floorboards, into the darker area of the room where she
couldn't be as easily noticed. Only three metres away from the front of the
room was Treize Kushrenada, duke of OZ. Holding a red rose in his right hand and
a glass of red wine in the other, Treize sat in an old leathery chair. A few
minutes later, a young teenager walked into the room, in his black cadet
uniform.
~Must be Zechs.~
"Good evening, it's great to
finally see you here," Treize grinned, a friendly grin, "Milliardo
Peacecraft." The OZ leader had short brown hair and two eyebrows that slightly
spilt into two. He wore a military uniform, with a golden rim around the
collar.
Peacecraft? The family that once ruled the Sanc Kingdom? But the
disaster several years ago had wiped them out. That means he's the survivor.
"Your Excellency, how are you?" Zechs uttered.
~So it is Treize
Kushrenada.~
"Perfectly fine. There are two more months until you
graduate, then you'll be helping me." "Yes sir," Zechs stared at him,
his emotions weren't visible from under his mask but his voice was serious
and monotone. "Not many cadets in your year worthy of taking notice except
you and another young teen, Lucrezia Noin." Noin sneezed slightly but
managed to muffle it. "Noin?" "Don't you know her?" "I know her,
we're friends." "Ah… I remember very well when she assisted me in battle as
a child of twelve. Rather experienced in mobile suits, a worthy companion."
He paused for a little while, sipping his wine before carrying on. "Well I
reason I called you here was to tell you of your imoto's progress." "How
is Relena?" "Very well. You care a lot for her don't you? Even though she
doesn't know you're her brother nor her true rank as a princess."
Zechs' sister? Another Peacecraft?
Treize sighed and put the
wineglass down onto the table. He patted the boy on the shoulder. "Two more
months Milliardo." He smirked and left the room, leaving Zechs in the room,
Noin's presence unknown to him.
Slowly wandering to the door, Zechs
heard light footsteps approaching him. "Who's there?" he snapped, looking
towards the sound. "You never told me…" a voice responded. "Milliardo
Peacecraft." The figure made a respectful bow and continued walking closer.
"Is it Noin?" he looked cautiously at her, his body standing as still as a
statue. It wasn't because he was afraid, he was tough, he would never run
from battle. But his instincts told him to stay put. "Yes," the girl
walked into the light, shivering slightly from the bitter coldness. "Why are
you here?" He was a bit stunned and calm at the same time. "I read the note.
Tell me why'd you join the OZ organisation if you were the heir to the
throne of the Sanc Kingdom?" "There is no need to tell you." "I
understand you will someday. I won't rush you. Let me see who this Milliardo
really is." "..." "I ask as a request not as a threat." She was half
standing, her face growing paler by the second and a puddle of water had
formed around her. Panting, Noin kept half closing her eyes, her breathing
was slow and her legs were blatantly weak, barely able to support her
collapsing body.
~She won't survive like this.~
"Let me take you
back, Noin," he walked towards her, his hand reaching out for her. "I'm
fine, perfectly fine," the stubborn girl asserted, using her energy to bat the
Prince's hand out of the way but the attack was feeble and ineffective. She
tried her best to hold her exultant smile but failed miserably. Standing
there for a minute, deep in thought. Slowly, he lifted his mask off his
head, showing his ice blue eyes and handsome face. Noin smirked,
cherishing this moment.
~Just like I suspected…~
With a gentle
smile plastered on her face, she collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.
"Noin!" Zechs yelled, rushing to her side. Making sure she was alive, Zechs
put his finger under her nose, there was air. Gently, he slipped his mask
back on and scooped up the girl. His left hand supporting her back and his
right arm holding her legs. Walking smoothly, he was careful not to trip as
he walked back to the dormitories, as the rain died down.
