Zechs was traveling on a plane. He was very busy after his holiday. He made himself busy, so that he could think of something else other than Noin. Mario had explained something to Zechs, which comforted him a little. The first thing was that all mountaineers loved mountains, Noin was no exception. For this, Zechs understood perfectly, since he had the same passion for combating. The second thing was that Noin was very excited about the trip. This trip, for Noin, was dedicated to her father, who was also a mountaineer. Noin wanted to experience the joy his father had. Days passed and month passed, Noin was still unconscious. Everyone was shook by the news. Relena, Sally and even Lady Une have visited her, but in vain, Noin still hasn’t shown any signs of awake. Sometimes, Zechs received a call saying Noin’s condition turned bad and after a few hours, he would received a call saying she was OK again.
Zechs was in the corridor again. During the fifteen months after Noin was admitted to the hospital, he slowly began to lose hope. Each time he visited her, she was just like a motionless and lifeless body. But then, he put these thoughts away. The doctors told him that she had wakened up and he was going to see her. He was very nervous. He couldn’t guess and he couldn’t even think of what he is going to say. “Ah…ah!” It was her voice, but it sounded a little bit childish. He smiled and went into the room. Noin was sitting in the bed with any bandages. The doctors were having some check-ups. Zechs stood near the door and waited. He was so glad to see Noin looking so healthy again. At last, the doctors finished and Zechs went into the room. “Thanks, doctors. Good afternoon, Noin.” he said cheerfully. The doctors were surprised to find him there and looked at Noin nervously. Noin stared at him as if she did not know him at all. As Zechs wanted to call her again, the doctor cut in. “Mr. Marquise, can I talk to you for a little while?” Zechs immediately sensed something. The doctor looked rather uneasy when they both came out of the ward. “How’s she?” asked Zechs, prepared for some bad news. “Mr. Marquise, the hypothermia Miss Noin suffered clearly caused some damages to her brain neurons.” Zechs waited. “She forgets everything.” The doctor made it as short as possible. The doctor continued to explain, not only Noin forgot the things happened in the past, but the skills of daily life like walking, talking, etc. The conclusion was, “She is now practically a 2 year-old kid.” When the doctor repeatedly tells him there were still a high probably for Noin to retrieve her memory. Zechs ignored him. He has lost her finally. He has lost the one he cared most and understood him most. He felt so lost and the world seemed full of strangers again. He wanted to go away from the hospital. He passed the ward and went into it. He felt as if it was the last time he went to see her. “I can’t stand this. Everyone I cared and loved leaves me, I’ve to cut this pain short.” he thought as he went into the ward. Noin was asleep after having her dinner, Zechs sat near her, planning to say the last goodbye to her and leave her there alone. He looked closely at her, she was sleeping peacefully. She was not beautiful, but Zechs could feel the power and gentleness on her face, just like in the old times. Was she the same person as Noin he knew so well? Did he really lose her? Zechs smiled, he heard the answer form the very depth of his heart.
For the next half a year, Noin stayed inside the hospital to learn how to walk, how to eat and how to read. She slowly retrieved her memories, but she still forgot her friends. She knew that the man with the pale skin and platinum hair was called Milliando Peacecraft. He told Noin that he was her friend and would take care of her. She liked him because he was the only visitor and he was gentle and nice.
Noin was very excited because Milliando was taking her home. She did not remember how her home was and was eager to see it herself. After getting off the bus, Milliando walked with her. On her way, Noin enjoyed the view. There were grasses everywhere and the sky was so blue. She liked the smell of the grasses and the sound of the wind and the singing of the birds. She took a deep breath, this place was much better than the hospital, and she fell in love with this place at once. After as one-hour walk, they finally arrived. Noin’s home was a cottage with only one storey. It was not a big one but it gave her a very warm feeling. Milliando opened the door to let Noin in. The furniture inside was simple and clean. There was a small fireplace on the left-hand side of the door. Her family photos were still in the same place. Noin walked around the room and tried to remember the things. Milliando watched her closely, hoping she would remember something. When he found that she did not remember anything, he just said, “Let me show you your room.” And so they spent the whole day in the house. Since Relena and Sally were very busy at that time, Milliando was the only one who could take care of Noin . Lady Une has assigned Milliando to a place not far away from Noin’s home. It was lucky that a road had finally paved uphill, so that Milliando could drive to work within two hours. Noin would accompany an old lady living downhill in the daytime. That kind old lady was really glad that Noin came back. “She is such a good child.” she told Milliando. At night, Milliando and Noin would stay in the living room. Sometimes, Milliando would continue his work there. Noin often read aloud to him. She read everything she could find: newspaper, her father’s notes and even storybooks. She still had difficulties in recognizing some words but Milliando helped her when she did not understand. She was interested in the stories he told her. However, Milliando did not sure whether he could tell her things happened in the wars. He knew Noin hate wars. Was it possible for her to skip all those memories?
It was two years after the accident, Noin still remembered nothing. A week later, she was going to live with Relena because Milliando had a new mission. One day, Milliando came home a little bit late. An old man living at the foot of the mountain stopped him and offered him a drink. It was a tonic mixed by the old man. It was quite strong and Milliando just had one. Noin was reading her father’s notes. She was very excited because the information were so interesting. She enjoyed reading the notes and sometimes she read them to Milliando. She thought Milliando enjoyed them, too. The notes were full of pictures and there was a very special picture inside which caught her attention. She read the text carefully. At that time, the door was opened. “Milliando,” Noin exclaimed. “Look at this.” She showed the picture eagerly. Milliando smiled, although Noin was a bit childish, he knew perfectly this was the happiest moment for her in these years. He took a look at the picture and stopped smiling instantly. Noin did not notice that, she said, “Milliando, do you like this mountain? It’s K2, it’s really very beautiful. I want to climb it again.” She looked at him and Milliando looked at her in a rather worried look. She continued, “See, it’s the ‘sa…a mountain’, the ‘perfect py...mid’.” “Savage and pyramid.” Milliando said. “Oh, savage and pyramid. Yes, the mountain is so beautiful. One day, I’ll go for the peak again.” “Noin, do you remember you had an accident there?” Milliando simply asked. “Yes, but it’s really beautiful. I’ll climb to the peak and take pictures from it.” Her excitement grew more and more. “No.” Milliando solemnly said. He remembered the hard days in these two years, the lost and desperate feelings, he didn’t want to experience them again. “Why?” Noin was disappointed. “Because it’s dangerous. It nearly took your life once.” Milliando answered. Noin tried to argue back, “Milliando, look at the pictures again, the mountain is so beautiful. Even if it’s dangerous to go there, I’ll go there!” She still had a limited vocabulary, but it is enough for her to express her feelings. Suddenly, Milliando grasped her firmly with his hands on her shoulders and made her stand face to face to him. He looked straight into her eyes and did not realize how firm he grasped her. “Noin, why do you want to leave me so soon?” Noin was shocked, Miliando’s face was stern and she did not understand what he asked. She looked into his eyes, they looked sad and in pain. “Milliando…” she tried to say something good. At this time, Milliando drew her closer to him. Noin was stiffened in his arms, after a while, she asked, “Are you OK?” Milliando released her, smiling sadly, “I’m OK. It’s late now. Let’s go to bed.”
For the next few days, things went normally. Noin seemed to forget the things happened that night. She continued to read her father’s notes, dreaming one day she could climb those mountains again. One night, it was already half past ten and still there was no sign of Milliando. Suddenly, she heard a hollow, hair-straightening cry, “Woo…” After a few seconds, a distant cry echoed, “Woo…” Noin shivered, that sound was familiar to her ears. A wave of fear swept through her heart. “Who’s that?” she cried. A nearer sound answered, “Woo…” She listened carefully, nothing was heard again. She was scared. Was Milliando still on his way home? Was he safe? Was he… Overcome by the anxiety and fear, she ran out of the house and headed downhill. As she ran, she remembered the hollow, lonely cries were from the wolves. Recently, there was heavy rainfall in the region and caused a shortage of food for wild animals in the woods. The hunger drove a herd of wolves from the other side of the mountain to the side where Noin lived and caused some disturbances to the residents. As Noin ran down the slope, she cried, “Milliando, where are you?” She called several times, but still there were only the answers from the wolves. She was very nervous; a voice from the deepest part of her heart struggled to escape from her throat, “Zechs!” She did not know the meaning of the word; she just felt that if she shouted this word out, maybe Milliando would answer back. “Milliando, Zechs!” She was already half the way down the hill.
“My goodness!” Milliando exclaimed softly. He saw clearly, the thirty shining eyes around him. “I’ve never met so many wolves before.” Milliando said. His car has been broken down, so he decided to walk uphill. He looked at the full moon and lightly touched his shirt. It was stained with some sauce. “Are you interested in cooked meat?” he asked half-jokingly. He quickly took a glance to the surroundings. The wolves were behind the bushes and there was only one way out. He slowly moved back, still facing the wolves. Thanked to the notes of Noin’s father, he has learned something about living in the wild. After moving away in a certain distance, he turned around and ran as fast as he could. “Zechs!” He heard something. “Milliando!” “Noin, stay back!” Milliando shouted. He saw Noin standing 50m away. Finally, he ran and took her hand and they ran together. The wolves were still behind them. They ran and ran and suddenly they fell into a hole. “Are you all right?” Milliando quickly asked as they were at the bottom of the hole. “I’m OK.” Noin answered. She looked up, the wolves were howling above them. “It’s fine. We’ll go home soon.” Milliando comforted her. They went silent for a few minutes. Then, Milliando suddenly asked, “What did you call me just now.” “Milliando and Zechs.” was the answer. Milliando felt his heart beating faster and stronger. “Why?” “Because I thought you would answer me if I shout the word.” Noin said. “She remembers something!” Milliando’s heart beat wildly. “Do you know the meaning of ‘Zechs’?” “No.” Noin felt a little bit sorry. “It means ‘six’, you used to call me like this.” Noin nodded with a word. Several minutes later, Noin suddenly asked, “Milliando, have I annoyed you before?” Milliando answered gently, “Why, no.” “I have had the same dream for several nights. In the dream, you’re holding a whip and prepare to beat me. I woke up and felt very frightened.” She looked at him, Milliando could clearly see that she was scared. No, never a hundred thousand times would he think of beating her. No… only once, once when he was in Epyon. He felt his pulse stopped. Noin looked at him, waiting for the answer. She felt that Milliando was sad after she told him her dream. She tried to comfort him by looking caringly and softly with her dark eyes. Milliando was astounded by this intent gaze. He looked straightly into her eyes, saying in the old friendliness, “No, never. You’re my best friend, and gives me good advices all the time.” At last, the wolves went away and they walked back home.
Milliando was sleepless this night, because next morning, he would take Noin to Relena’s home, since he had a mission in space. He thought about everything happened after Noin had the accident. Noin was still the old Noin he knew, being truthful, kind and firm in her will. She smiled a lot more for the last few months and their relationship did not change much. He sighed, Noin remembered something but still Milliando was not free to tell her his feeling towards her. Suddenly, he heard a cry, a cry of great pain and in desperation. Then he heard the sound of the swinging of the door. “Papa…” Milliando jumped out from his bed, he quickly ran out of the room. Noin was running towards the door in the living room. “Noin, what’s happened?” he asked. But Noin did not hear this; she opened the door and ran out of the house. Outside, it was thundering with heavy showers, Noin was wearing only her sleeping clothes and ran in the rain. Without a second thought, Milliando wore his shoes and followed her. She was running very fast, as in the old times. Luckily, Noin has not fully recovered yet and when she was half the way to the hilltop, Milliando caught her and pinned her down to the ground. It was dangerous for two people running in the thunderstorm. Milliando quickly helped her up to her feet, but she was struggling wildly. She wanted to go up and screamed wildly, “Papa… Papa!” At last, Milliando had no choice but to put her on his shoulder and carried her home. On the way, Noin was silent and stopped struggling. He shut the door immediately after they were back. “Noin, what’s happened?” Milliando asked with concern, moving closer to her, who was sitting against the door with looking at him. No answer. “Noin,” he patted her shoulder. She pushed him away without looking at him. Milliando was surprised, her hands were icy cold and there was certain coldness in her movement. “Tell me, Noin.” he spoke as natural as possible. “Stay away from me.” Noin said dryly. “You’ll leave me alone soon.” A pause. “Like papa, mama, uncle and …” She couldn’t continue. “It’s no point staying near me and disappear tomorrow. Let me go.” It was rather a demand than a request. But Milliando chose to disobey it. “Release me.” Noin said in a low voice. “Why? Let me go! Why…” She burst into tears. Milliando understood there were hidden meanings behind. “Noin.” She struggled again. “Lucrezia!” he said gently. This is the very name she was called in her childhood with her happy memories. Milliando understood this perfectly. As he expected, Noin calmed down a little bit and began to sob again. “Papa, I miss you so much. Why did you leave me alone there? Why is it you? Those black faces, those twisted expressions… why?” she asked bitterly. It was the first time she sobbed like this. Then she went on, talking about the sorrows of her mother’s wedding, Zechs’ disappearance and her mother and uncle’s death. Everything came so suddenly, one after the other. Actually Noin had no time to mourn for the deaths until then. She was so absorbed in the past and blamed herself for everything. “I hate winds.” she ended. “Wind…” Milliando echoed. The long suppressed emotion was released, the pain, the sadness and every other thing. They were still sitting against the door; none of them exchanged a word. At last, Milliando decided to break the silence, “Noin, it’s good for you to cry and tell me everything. Do you still remember what you wrote to me? I’ve tried it and you should, too. We can’t live in the past or we can’t do things because of somebody else. Nearly everything you did from joining the OZ to joining the Preventers, you did it because of someone else. Choose a path for yourself. Choose it, Noin.” Milliando gently looked at her and patted her shoulder. Noin was still silent. “I’ve been a fool, Noin.” he said, sighing. “I should tell you the position you made yourself in.” He said with a lighter tone, “Just tell me which mountain you’re climbing when you want to, so that I know where I can find you and wait for you.” “Don’t you mind me climbing the K2 again?” Noin asked, raising her head and looked at him. “No, just make sure you can come back safely.” He was more passionate than he would like to show. “Are you sure?” Noin asked. He nodded his head, Noin smiled. She was happy; at last, her best friend and her had a thorough understanding of each other. Pictures of her parents slowly emerged before her eyes, “Papa, mama, I promise I’ll take care of myself.” her heart said. “I’ll choose my path and continued to live well.” Her parents were smiling at her, the sweetest memories would always in her heart, accompanying her and encouraging her to face challenges.
Milliando looked at her silently, she wore that smile again. It reminded him of that moment in the park. “Noin,” he asked. “do you remember everything?” The answer that Milliando prayed for days and nights came out. “Yes.” Noin saw him smiling and his eyes showed the sparks of joy she never saw before. She smiled in return. Milliando hugged her warmly, but Noin pushed him away. “I understand, I’m sorry.” Milliando slowly said, he looked defeated and prepared to go away. Noin blushed deeply, she never blushed before, her face was red all over. “Milliando, you’re so…” Noin whispered, for her heart beating fast. “I don’t let you hug me but it doesn’t mean …” Even the ‘old’ Noin couldn’t find the right word for her feeling this time. “We’re wet, you know. We’ve to get some dry clothes or we’ll get a cold.” Milliando laughed quietly for he understood perfectly what she wanted to say. The storm has gone and the breeze brought the morning air in.
