A story about Noin during the Zech's absence and a chance encounter with a former student; sad.
"Noin, this is a good organization, huh?" said Sally as she looked at the new cubicles prepared for the new recruits that had signed up to join the Preventers.
Noin nodded. "Any news from Wufei?"
"I don't know where he is," sighed Sally. "I worry about him sometimes. I wish he had joined."
She worried about that boy just like I worry about Zechs, she thought. Zechs, I wonder where you are. I know you're out there, people've seen you here and there. Is it because you're ashamed to show your face to me or is it because it's me you don't want to see.
The last thought depressed her. "I'm sure he's all right, somewhere."
"Any messages from Zechs?"
"No, but a lot of my friends say that they've seen glimpses of him here and there. He seems to want to be alone for now."
"Hmm," said Sally. "Still he should tell you that he's alive, at least."
"I'm not going to chase after him. If he needs someone to talk to, he's resourceful enough to find me."
Sally nodded, then said, "Some new faces are coming in. A few you might recognize. . ."
"Oh?" Noin said, then she watched as a handful of new members walked in through the doors.
"Noin sensei!" said a tall, husky man with dark hair and a big smile.
Noin widened her eyes. "Alphonse? Is it you?"
Alphonse ran up and gave her a big hug that lifted her up in the air. "It's so good to see you!" Then realizing that her feet were off the floor, he promptly put her down.
Sally arched an eyebrow. "Who's he?"
"He's one of the guys I taught how to pilot!"
"Noin sensei is the best to learn from."
"Please stop calling me sensei. It's been a long time since I taught you."
"You will always be sensei to me."
"You're blushing, Noin," teased Sally.
"This is a private conversation," said Noin. "Now shoo."
Sally went off to talk to the other recruits.
"Alphonse, you must tell me how things have been since last I saw you."
"Well, I managed to avoid getting blown up in part to due to your training and in part due to dumb luck. I then retired from the military and went home for a while. Then I heard that the Preventers were looking for people. When I heard that you were one of the people in charge, I knew it was a good operation."
"You flatter me."
"Alphonse!" said Sally. "Join the rest of us for a tour of the facilities."
"See you for lunch?"
"Yes, now you better go!" said Noin. Then she went to her office.
Seeing one of my pupils again, she thought, that really cheered me up. Maybe he has some news about the other people I taught, she thought. I miss those days when I taught them how to pilot, made them feel the love I had for flying... But the price was too high... A vision of the explosions at Lake Victoria filled her mind.
"Alphonse, this was nice," said Noin of the small Italian café that served pasta, pizzas and salads.
"Anything's better than the cafeteria."
"So, what's happened to everyone? How about Kevin and Ryan?"
"Well, we were scattered all over the world, only a couple managed to land in the same unit. As for Kevin and Ryan, well, Kevin became a stockbroker while Ryan ended up working for Winner Constructions, helping to create new colonies." He then proceeded to tell her about all the former classmates he knew about.
Noin smiled. "Really? I'm glad that some of my students survived the war."
"That's because you taught us all so well. You're the best."
"Please stop saying that. I'm not."
"I know, Zechs Marquise is supposed to be. You always said so, but me and the guys never believed it." Then he frowned. "Why didn't you go out and lead a squadron? You could've really gone somewhere."
Noin looked at her coffee cup. "I didn't really want to be a head of squadron or go into the upper echelons. I like piloting best. If I'd done that way, it would've torn me away from the one thing I loved to do. I just wasn't that type of person. I'd rather leave it to others. Anyway, as long as I know I'm good, what do other people's opinions matter?" She took a sip.
Alphonse shook his head. "But it's people like you who should be in charge of things. Maybe none of this would've happened."
Noin looked pensive. "No, I think it had to happen the way they did. Things were just too bad as they were to simply remain they were. I think I would've botched things if I was in charge. My only saving grace is that I knew that."
"Have you heard from Zechs?"
Noin looked down.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't... "
"That's all right. No, I haven't, but I know he's alive because a few people I know have seen him around. I've decided to wait until he contacts me."
Alphonse frowned. "Suppose he decides not to contact you."
"That thought has crossed my mind. I'm not sure. I haven't put a time limit on it. In the meantime, I'm going to help Une and Sally create a world where a kingdom like Sanc could exist without fear. That's my dream."
"I remember the first day of class. You said that we should aspire to be like Zechs Marquise. My friends and I were impressed when we found out that you were a classmate of his and that you knew him personally. I thought to myself that we were very lucky to have you as a teacher. I remember that you talked a lot about him during class, even showing us some of the techniques he used in defeating the enemy. I could sense the admiration, the adoration you had for this man."
"I remember."
"A friend of mine once said that he remembered hearing him say that you let him win the top honor. Why?"
"Because I wanted to help him any way I could. That's all I could do at the time. He needed it more than I did. I don't regret it. He would've beaten me anyway. I just wanted to make sure."
"Permission to speak frankly, Noin sensei."
Noin blinked. "Why always, Alphonse."
"You shouldn't wait for him."
Noin looked away, a little embarrassed. "So, you're saying that I'm a fool for hoping?"
"No, I'm saying that he's the fool in not recognizing what he has in you. He doesn't deserve you!"
Noin looked at Alphonse. The way he said those words, she thought, then she brushed those thoughts aside. "I appreciate your concern. It's not needed."
"But he didn't visit you once during all the time you taught there... " A dark frown settled on that broad brow on that bear of a man. It was a sight that would've frightened any other woman. As it was, it only made Noin concerned. Alphonse clenched his fists and the veins in his forehead began to bulge slightly. "And now, he doesn't even bother to tell you where he is. To think that he rewards such devotion so shabbily, it makes me furious!"
"Alphonse, that's enough! You don't know the depths of his suffering. He lost his family and kingdom when he was a child. He couldn't grow up to be with his sister because he didn't want to get her hurt. He killed because he wanted to take revenge on the person who led the invasion that destroyed everything he had, but then found that he couldn't wipe the blood from his hands. He saw his kingdom fall for a second time and he thought his best friend betrayed him. Now, he's carrying the burden of knowing that he nearly came this close to destroying the world. Don't you have any compassion for him?"
"And does he know about your suffering?" said Alphonse.
"Alphonse, why are you so angry on my behalf?"
Alphonse suddenly stopped frowning and unclenched his fists. "A lot of the guys in class had a crush on you. If you remember, it was mostly men where we were. But they knew you weren't available because we could tell you were crazy about Zechs and they weren't looking to fight with the number one pilot in the history of the Academy. I would've, though."
"Alphonse... "
Alphonse laughed. "It's bad of me to even have mentioned it . I'm sorry." He got up to leave.
Noin put her hand on his arm. "No, please sit down. Please."
He reluctantly sat down. "I'm sorry."
"Why me?"
"Because you believed in me. Because you believed in all of us. People don't do that anymore."
"Alphonse... "
The rest of the lunch was quiet and awkward.
Noin walked out of the bathroom in her bathrobe. She remembered what Alphonse had said. Because I believed... I didn't think that my believing in someone could affect someone that much.
She looked out the window of her studio apartment then up at the sky. The glass was so cold that droplets of water had condensed on it. I hope that he's someplace warm, she thought. Zechs, I wonder if you know that I still believe in you.
The End
(:./mk/sensei)
