A.C. 194           With the usual gentle aura that he always carried, Treize Khushrenada walked into the meeting room in his large and elegant mansion. A man wearing a red Oz coat was waiting in there. When Treize entered the room, the man turned his head from the window and looked at him. He smiled and signalled the masked man to take a seat.           "You sent for me?" the masked man commenced.           "Yes." Treize took a sniff at the flower arrangement on the table. "A ball is to be held at the Lake Victoria base tonight to show the residents that we are good neighbours. Since it is the first of such events to be taken place within Oz, I am attending the ball to make sure that everything goes accordingly. I'd like you to accompany me to the ball tonight."           "Treize, you know how much I dislike these social events."           "I know that. But as a top graduate from Lake Victoria, it's only natural that you go. Besides," Treize flashed his knowing smile. "Even though there is only one female instructor, there're many lady staff members from the base's medical sector. I'm sure you'll be well entertained. You've drew back behind your defensive walls during the past five years and I think it's time for some change."           "Fine. I'll go." The masked soldier answered indifferently. * * * * * * * * *           The private jet of Treize Khushrenada got delayed due to turbulence. When they arrived, the ball had already begun. Treize entered the ball with Zechs and a few other senior officers. The commander of the base greeted them.           "Your Excellency, it's so good to have you back here! You left the Academy five years ago to take the post of Chief Representative of Oz. We had a bit of trouble finding a good MS instructor, you know?" The commander was well into his fifties and was a most loyal servant.           "I do believe that the instructor who will be taking over after your retirement next year is a very worthy one. Otherwise, you wouldn't have trusted such task upon her." Treize smiled.           "Yes, indeed. She's only been here for a year, but from her records and what I've seen of her, she is very capable of the job. Even though she's the youngest instructor and officer we have here, everyone listens to her with respect." The commander was proud of his soldiers.           Treize looked around the ballroom, which was full of soldiers and civilians having a good time. "I don't see her anywhere. Is she here tonight?"           "Oh, yes. She was with me at the opening of the ball. But she doesn't like this kind of social gathering so she either chats with the civilians or hides herself. Other instructors and many of her cadets are always after her for a dance, so she avoids being seen as much as possible."           "I see." Treize replied, glancing at the uninterested Zechs casually. "Would you please send a female staff to check if she is in the ladies' room? I'd like to talk to her. She used to be my student."           "Certainly!" the commander intercepted a passing woman. "Nurse, could you go to the ladies' room to see if the instructor is in there please?"           Since there's only one female instructor, the nurse didn't need the commander to name the person and walked away. She returned after a few moment, alone and blushing. "Instructor Kayla and three cadets are standing outside the room so Instructor Noin wouldn't come out."           "Instructor Noin?" Zechs, who hadn't paid any attention at all and was daydreaming, let out abruptly.           Treize smiled at him. "Zechs, would you go and get Instructor Noin out from the ladies' room please? I'd like to see her."           Zechs left without a word, but Treize could sense his excitement from the prospect of seeing an old friend in one of his least favourable social events. When Zechs arrived at the door, he saw four men wearing uniforms standing by the open door, calling and pleading Noin to come out. No reply came from the silent room, but they knew she's in there.           Zechs walked passed the four men and, with one foot stepping inside the room, called out. "You do plan to leave this place sometime before the night's over, right Noin?"           The four men standing at the door glared at the tall masked intruder and laughed at his silliness in the attempt to get Noin's attention like that. They were taken off guard as a reply came from inside one of the stalls when they expected none.           "Well, I asked Howard to come so I'll have someone to spend the duration of the ball with, but he's busy tonight... Zechs." A soft yet cheery voice answered almost jokingly.           "The second highest ranking graduate from this base should have a better plan about her problem." The corner of Zechs' mouth went up.           "How about the graduate with the highest rank from this base help me a bit?" Came the reply with a smirk.           "That's fine with me. What do you want me to do?"           "I want the door cleared of people when I go out. That includes you too, Zechs."           "All clear. You can come out now." Zechs called out when everyone reluctantly left their posts after hearing her words. They were even madder at the fact that this stranger easily accomplished something they couldn't with just a few words.           A graceful figure walked out from the room, her bang covered her right face but enough was exposed to display her beauty. She surveyed the situation and walked up to the tall blond masked man, beaming with smiles. It seemed that Zechs hadn't changed much in five years, just taller and more mature. The mask still accompanied him everywhere. "It's been five years and thirteen days, Lieutenant Zechs." She saluted him. The four men who stood outside the ladies' room glared at Zechs with envy and hate.           "Long time no see, Instructor Noin." Zechs couldn't help but smile back. "His Excellency wishes to speak to you." His friend, whom he hadn't seen after graduation until now, fascinated him. She had grown from a little 13-year-old girl to a beautiful and gorgeous young woman of 18. Her dark blue eyes sparkled brighter than before, and her feminine figure fully matured.           "Right. Lead me to His Excellency please." Noin seized the opportunity to leave and left the four men gritting their teeth angrily.           "It seems that you're doing very well, Noin." Treize smiled and kissed her hand.           "Your Excellency." Noin saluted him. "It's been a while."           "Yes. How are you finding the task of instructing? It's good to know that you still follow your principles after these years."           Noin knew that he had read her records for the past five years. "I don't see why I shouldn't stick to it until I find the reason to change it."           Treize nodded and switched the subject. "You know, it wasn't easy to get Zechs to come tonight. He dislikes balls and any such social events. Five years of wars and battles have drained him of any delight and joy he might had gotten since his Academy days."           Noin glanced at Zechs. "And what would Your Excellency want to be done about that?"           "Bring light to his otherwise miserable life. It's not easy to work with someone who is gloomy and sober all the time." Treize commented with his usual gentleness. "But don't make him too happy and pleasant that he becomes a social butterfly."           "Yes, Sir." Noin tried her best to suppress the urge to laugh out loud at Treize's half- serious, half-joking command.           "Wanna come up to the dorm to chat?" Noin asked once they sneaked out from the ballroom. "The same one we occupied five years ago."           "You still live there?"           "Yeah. Not only do I still live in the same dorm, I still stay in the same room. In fact, I still have the whole second floor to myself. Since there isn't any female cadet in the Treize faction, they decided to give me what I used to have before. There's one addition to the second floor though, a balcony."           Zechs nodded. "Let's go then." * * * * * * * * *           "Mind if I have a peek at your room?" Zechs wanted to know how much she had changed.           "No. Actually, we can talk in my room." Noin opened the door for him.           Nothing really changed, Zechs noticed as he entered the room. The only differences were the books on the selves and a working table with piles of MS and mechanical parts sketches. Two more framed picture stood on the shelf. One was that of their graduation, with her and Zechs standing to both sides of Treize in the centre of the group of thirteen. In the other, Noin was working on a mobile suit. An old man wearing a Hawaiian shirt was beside her, smiling at the camera.           Noin sat down on her bed. "So, Zechs, did Treize tell the truth about your gloominess?"           "What do you think?" he threw the question back to her.           "Well, I understand the part of you not liking balls and such, but I don't know what five years of wars and battles could do to you." she admitted.           Zechs was silent for a while. He said softly, almost whispering. "Wars are heartless."           "Zechs..." Noin patted his hand. "You fight for a purpose, remember? It's reasons such as these that keep a soldier strong on the battlefield. If you lose the reason to fight, you'll only wear yourself out, as well as your mind and spirit."           "Yes, I fight for a purpose." Zechs murmured as he pulled Noin toward him. She didn't resist and allowed her head to rest on his chest, quietly listening to his heart beats turning from a fast beat to a relaxed rhythm. She trusted her whole self in the strong arms of her best friend from childhood, and he felt so good and peaceful feeling the warmth of her close to him. That's his Noin, Zechs closed his eyes and thought, always so caring and understanding. She was so nice to everyone. Zechs' heart ached when he considered the possibility of sharing such tenderness with someone else.           "Do you want to dance?" the words surprised both Noin and Zechs, who had spoken them.           "Um, I don't think so. I don't dance." she hesitated.           "I'll teach you. We are alone here." he pulled her up and took her to the balcony.           "I don't know, Zechs." she glanced around nervously.           "Come on. Treize ordered you to bring light to my dark life, remember?"           Noin chuckled. "He also said not to make you too happy, remember?" She stopped short in her sentence when she saw Zechs taking off his mask. Five years had made him more handsome. His icy blue eyes looked straight at her and she could see the plead in them. She also found melancholy and loneliness at the deepest bottom of his eyes. She allowed him to lead her to the centre of the balcony.           "Just follow my lead, don't be afraid to step on me." Miliardo Peacecraft smiled.           Noin tried her best to follow what he was doing and got it perfect after stepping on him a couple times. She was even starting to like the dance. She trusted herself in the hands of Zechs/Miliardo, enjoying the warmth of his body close by. Even though there was no music and they were wearing their Oz uniforms, and the only lighting of the place was the silvery full moon shining high above them, both of them felt enchanted.           "You are my first partner, Noin." he said softly as they walked back to the ballroom.           "And you are my first, too." she smiled at him.           "Aren't you going to ask how come you are my first?"           Noin shook her head. "No. I think I know why, and you don't need to feel bad about it." She knew it was because of the mask and his reserve-ness toward people.           Zechs smiled at her and they arrived at the ballroom. Treize Khushrenada looked at them merrily, obviously enjoying the night.           "Noin, commander Sharlor is looking for you." Treize said when he saw them. "He is at the conference room with the town mayor."           "Oh, it must be about his plan regarding cooperation with the town. Please excuse me." Noin bowed and hurriedly left.           "Having fun, Zechs?" Treize smiled.           "Quite." Surprising himself, Zechs smiled back.           An officer walked by and recognized them. He approached and saluted. "Welcome, Your Excellency. Long time no see, Zechs Merquise."           "Ramio Venar?" Zechs couldn't hide his surprise at seeing him.           "I joined Oz three years ago." Ramio smiled warmly. Treize knew about this of course, since he admitted him into Oz himself. Zechs was shock at the change the man before him had undergone. He seemed like a different person from the one he knew back at the Academy.           "I thought you are in Romefeller." Zechs frowned slightly.           "I entered Romefeller right after graduation, but something happened to me three years ago." Ramio said. "I was on a mission around this area, and my mobile suit was shot down. It was so damaged that it could have exploded anytime. Even though I ran away as fast as I could from the suit, if it exploded, I couldn't have made it. An Aries suddenly appeared and hauled the damaged suit away and dumped it into the ocean. As soon as the suit submerged, it blew up. The pilot of the Aries came out to check on me, and I was absolutely shocked to see Noin."           "Noin?" Zechs asked. He had no idea what Noin had been doing during the five years.           "Yeah." Ramio continued. "She was working in a MS workshop near the coast. Noin saw my suit faltering and followed me. She brought me to the hospital and visited me everyday to make sure I was ok. Romefeller, on the other hand, thought I died in the mission and didn't bother to search for me. I was ashamed to see Noin at first, but her smiles and care changed me. I entered Oz and served at Lake Victoria base so I could see her often." He paused for a moment. "I am sorry for all the nasty things I said to you before, Zechs."           The great Ramio apologizing to a lowly commoner! This was shocking news indeed to Zechs. But he himself had experienced the wonder of Noin's ability to transform others, so he wasn't surprised to the state of speechlessness. He shook hand with his former rival. "Don't worry about it."           At that moment, the door of the conference room opened to yield three people. Treize went up to them to talk about the cooperation plan, and Noin was relieved to join her friends.           "Ramio." Noin grinned with she saw him. "Got the ring?"           "Yup!" Ramio answered enthusiastically and produced a small velour box from his pocket.           Zechs was alarmed by it and looked at them with narrowed eyes. They were just friends, just like he and Noin were friends, right? As if on cue, Ramio stepped closer to Noin to show her the content of the box. Noin beamed with delight and whispered at his ears. Ramio nodded and smiled at her words. He quickly excused himself and left.           "You two are very close friends?" Zechs was surprised to detect jealousy in his tone.           Noin didn't notice the sourness and smirked. "Yeah. Ramio's changed a lot these last few years. He is a really nice person if you get to know him."           "That box... it appeared to be containing some kind of jewel, doesn't it?" Zechs was cautious in approaching the subject, hoping things weren't the way he though they were.           "It's a diamond ring." Noin answered. "Ramio is planning to make his proposal tonight."           "Proposal?" Zechs paled at the word, but his mask hid the his expression well.           "Yeah. He is going to ask the new nurse Catalina to marry him." was the joyful reply.           "Catalina? So he's not marrying you?" Zechs couldn't help but burst out. A sense of relief washed over him, though he didn't know why.           "Me?" Noin chuckled and shook her head. "We're good friends, but just friends, Zechs."           Their discussion ended when Treize returned, prepared to leave the party. Treize took Noin's hand and kissed it gently. "Noin, I hope to see you soon."           "It'll be my pleasure, Sir." she smiled back.           The commander of the base joined them, seeing that His Excellency was leaving. He and Noin stood at the gate and watched as the private jet took flight and disappeared from view. ~to be continued~

Author's Note: This whole chapter didn't happen in my 'mind version', but this 'print version' turns out alright, in my opinion. I personally like the little proposal episode. It's not everyday you'd get to see the Lightning Count getting emotional like that :P So far, everything takes place prior to the series. The Lake Victoria period seems to be a favourite of 6x9 fanfic authors, so here's my take ^^ They aren't what I first proposed to be, though. Initially, I set their graduation age to be 17, which would provide a lot more fun settings for me to write about. Oh, well. I guess these two are just too bright to stay in school for that long. A.C. 195 will mark the beginning of the next chapter, so stay tuned for more! And, yes, even though it will follow the story line of the series, the plot will be very different, as you might have already guessed from the first four chapters. Comments and remarks are warmly welcomed. Please tell me what you think of the story! ^__^ ~Handsome Puppy~