07-Jan-2000
A semi-follow up to Shattered Fragments
Partially inspired by the song 'Brightness and Darkness' (her voice actress kicks ass when she sings) and also a scene by Gunbuster. Fun little names here and there, see if you can catch them. I'm kinda playing with the fact she's been referred to by names Lady Anne and Une.
"All right, I'm going to shut off your stabilizers!" Aida said to his students.
"But, if we do that, our mobile suits will tip over," said one of the girls in the class.
"In battle, all sorts of things tend to short, you have to figure out how to keep fighting. Try using your manual control. Shutting off, now!"
As the man punched the switch, most of the class tottered this way and that while some fell outright on the pavement. Only one mobile suit stood up straight out without wavering.
"Une!" said Aida.
"Yes, Kensuke-sama."
"Well-done."
She could feel the rest of the class scowling at her because she had once again made the rest of them look bad. Well, she thought, if you were to put some effort into it, it wouldn't be a problem. But then, perhaps they don't have an overriding goal like I do.
"All right, turn on your stabilizers."
The mobile suits finally righted themselves.
"I've got an announcement to make. There will be a tournament where the members from each academy will face each other in fighting in their mobile suits. It will be a school holiday that day. I've already nominated Une to be one of the contestants."
She raised her head. "Me?"
She heard a chorus of complaints on her intercom.
"Enough," said Aida. "She's been head of the class since the first day she's been here. I'm sure she'll do well."
When the students changed in the locker room, Megan, her roommate, turned to her and said, "Oh, did you hear, I heard that Zechs Marquise will be there. He's already got a reputation for being a great pilot and I've got a cousin who's got piccies of him without the mask. He's hot. You could meet him."
"Hmph. I'll probably be too busy fighting him to be noticing him, mask or no mask."
"Really, don't you care about anything other than piloting? Some of the boys at this school are quite curious about you, you know."
"I... already have someone I think about."
"Why don't you tell me about him?"
"He's just someone I know from home."
"Still, I bet he's nothing compared to Ze... "
"The man I care about completely obliterates Zechs Marquise in comparison," she said coolly.
Megan had an amazed look on her freckled face. "Now, I'm really curious. Come on, please tell me."
"Perhaps later," she said. "You see he doesn't know."
"Oh," said Megan.
"Yes," said Une.
"I picked up the mail earlier today. There's a letter from a Treize... " Megan said, pulling a letter from her backpack.
Une snatched the letter from her hand. "Treize?" She saw the beautiful, even calligraphy he'd used. He addressed this himself, how thoughtful, she thought.
"Is this guy you were talking about?"
"Perhaps," said Une a little coyly. "I'll see you later."
Megan gave her a little wave.
Inside her chest, her heart was pounding. It had been over two months since his last letter. She had been wondering if he'd decided to forget her. She could understand, considering his schedule and his high position. A girl still in military academy, no matter how talented, didn't warrant much attention.
Once in her dorm room, she took her letter open and carefully slit the envelope open. She pulled the letter out, written on his stationary. She gently unfolded it and read:
"Dearest Anne,
I must apologize for my lapse in not writing to you earlier but I was delayed by some trouble in a cluster of the L5 colony. It is only a few days ago that I've managed to get home to read my personal mail. I've spent several days writing reports regarding my actions and catching up on all the paperwork my subordinates generate. When I became a military officer, I didn't foresee that I would also become a bureaucrat! I'm sorry, I shouldn't burden you with my petty complaints.
"I hear you are doing well at the Academy. I've asked some of my former instructors about you and they have nothing but praise for you, though they wish you were more outgoing. I'm glad that you've taken a liking to military life. Is it true that you've been dubbed, 'Fiery?' I'm most curious how you received this moniker as that is the last word I would use to describe you.
"I managed to shuffle my schedule so I could attend the annual tournament. I'm delighted to hear that you were picked to represent your school. You may be facing an old friend of mine named Zechs Marquise in one of the rounds. He's not to be underestimated.
Once I arrive, I will call you and perhaps we could arrange to have lunch if you are not too busy preparing for your exams.
"Yours, Treize."
Une smiled at it, but felt slightly disappointed as she always did. While he was always cordial and pleasant, he never expressed the type of feeling that she would've liked. Well, she thought, I am quite a bit younger than him. It wouldn't be good for him to be involved with me until I am a little older, I suppose.
Then she cheered herself up. But he will be in town, she thought, and I have grown up quite a bit since I last saw him. I will not be the little girl that he saw previously. If I were to beat Zechs Marquise during the tournament, I know that would impress him.
"You look very happy."
Une looked up to see Megan at the door. "Yes, I am." She closed her eyes and smiled.
"How did you manage to make that suit stand without the stabilizers?"
"Someone told me about a strange little trick that really does work."
"What is that trick?"
"Stilts."
"Stilts?" Megan's brows crinkled in disbelief.
"When you're on stilts, you become that much more aware of one's balance. Also, it helps you focus. It sounds silly, but it does work. They helped me toughen my ankle muscles."
"A special someone told you about that, huh?"
"Yes." A very special someone, she thought. She had thought he had been making fun of her at first, then he actually sent her a photograph of himself as a young boy playing with stilts. Of course, it was on the condition that she never show it to anyone.
Half an hour, she thought as she hung up the phone. How shall I get ready in half an hour? She quickly unbraided her hair and took off her glasses. Then she put on the lavender dress she'd picked the night before. It was sleeveless dress that went down to her knees, a zipper in the back and straps on her shoulder. She carefully put on a little foundation, then decided against putting on anymore. Then she put on a jacket that was a little darker in color.
She hurried out the door, got on the elevator and waited impatiently outside.
"Hey, I don't believe I've seen you around here."
She turned to see the face of one of the students on campus. "Of course you have, I'm Une." He would use a stupid line like that, she thought.
"Wow, I didn't know you were so hot."
She stepped a few feet away from him, afraid his drool would end up on her sleeve. Disgusting, she thought. "Go away, I'm waiting for someone." She briefly wondered if she should deck him. It would be rather awkward, however, to explain the boy unconscious on the ground.
"Ah, I bet he's just a lo... "
"I believe the lady does not wish to be disturbed," said a voice wrapped in steel.
"It's none of... " Then the boy shut up since he was now facing a man five years older who looked like he could use him as floss. Also, the man was wearing a military uniform and carrying a fencing sword.
The boy wordlessly slithered away.
"Treize-sama!" she said.
"Lady," he said, giving her a little bow. "Shall we go to lunch?"
"Yes."
While in the car, she said, "I see you are still wearing your uniform."
"Yes, I didn't have time to change. I should apologize."
"No, I think you look quite dashing." Oops, she thought, that was a bit too forward. "Oh, I wonder why you're carrying your fencing sword."
"After a short meeting with some of the other generals who were attending, I dueled with an old friend of mine."
"You won, of course."
"Yes, but I'm sure he'll ask for a re-match very shortly. That's the type of person he is. But don't worry, I won't bring it with me when we go to the restaurant. I hope you find Le Cirque adequate."
Le Cirque, she thought. That's one of the best restaurants in town, she thought. Hmm, I mustn't gush, but I must express my amazement. "Le Cirque would be wonderful, Treize-sama, but I thought that you had to have reservations a month in advance."
Treize merely smiled mysteriously.
Upon opening the menu, she gasped. "Treize-sama, I can't eat any of this," she said. "It's so expensive."
"Don't concern yourself. I shall take care of everything."
The heirloom tomato salad was divine with yellow, orange and red tomatoes vine-ripened and splashed with just a little balsamic vinegar. The soup was cream of chanterelle mushrooms with a very light dusting of truffle on the top. Afterwards, Treize had his pepper steak brochettes done rare while she chose ahi tuna that was seared on the outside but red on the inside.
"Enjoying yourself?"
"Immensely. How long are you staying in town?"
"Unfortunately, I can only stay until the end of the tournament, then I must return to my duties. It might be a while before I can come here again."
"I see."
Treize said, "You look so disheartened."
"I do?" I can't believe my feelings show so readily on my face, she thought. Either that or he is being most observant. "It's simply that I don't see you very often."
He closed his eyes and chuckled. "Maybe I should have myself cloned... Satisfy everyone."
"I meant I appreciate every moment you spend with me," she said. I'm stumbling rather badly, she thought.
"And I enjoy spending time with someone as charming and as caring as yourself. Oh, is that a blush I see on your face?"
She felt her face grow warm. "I am not used to such compliments."
"Then perhaps I should stop."
"No, Treize-sama, I mean... "
"I truly do not deserve the honorific of 'sama.' I am merely an army officer."
Before she could protest that statement, a soldier walked in and saluted Treize. "I was ordered to find you and take you back to base."
Treize frowned and pressed his mouth into a thin line. "I thought I gave strict orders that I would be disturbed only during an emergency."
"It is something that needs your authority."
"It can't be handled by any other officer? Exactly what is the matter?"
"I can't reveal it here, sir. I am most sorry to disturb you."
Treize sighed, then turned to her. "I am most humbly sorry that this has happened. Before I leave, I shall try to arrange something."
"It doesn't matter... "
"It does matter. Would you like some dessert?"
"No, I couldn't eat another bite."
"Then let me escort you to my car where my chauffeur will drive you home."
As she was driving away from the restaurant, she thought, There was so much I wanted to talk to you about. I suppose it shall have to wait until next time. A tear of frustration coursed down her cheek. Then she took a handkerchief and dabbed it away. No, crying is undignified. I won't do that, especially over such a small matter.
The day before the tournament, Une went into the Academy's gymnasium where various students from all over Europe were either hanging out or exercising. I might as well know who my opponents are, she thought. She noticed a large number of people going into the fencing room. I wonder what's going in there. She walked in to find that a fencer with long blonde hair had just defeated an opponent. She saw Megan in the first row, looking about to swoon. "Who is that?" she said.
"It's Zechs!"
"Oh," said Une. She looked around to see dozens of girls around her. "I should've known."
"He's beaten all the opponents that's dueled against him so far."
"Such a person is liable to be overconfident," stated Une. "I think the slightest setback would unsettle him." She, however, revised her opinion as she watched him fight a few more opponents. He's not a lightweight who can be easily beaten. I wonder who taught him, she thought. The style is so familiar... Then her head jerked up with the realization.
I dueled with an old friend of mine, he said, she thought. He mentioned Zechs Marquise in his letter to me. He must've taught him how to fence. I'll be fighting someone who learned from Treize. Another realization hit her. In order to learn those things so well, one must've spent a lot of time to learn to fence at that level. I wonder just how much Treize tutored him. I suppose an old friend probably would be a higher priority, but...
"So, don't you think he's cool?"
"You'd probably root for him if he beat me," she said coolly, then got up and hurried out of the door. Like someone else I know, she thought.
"Une, wait!" Megan then put her hands on her hips. "What is wrong with her?"
"The final battle of this tournament will be between Zechs and Une," she heard her coach announce. She looked at the mobile suit before her and tightened her grip on the controls that operated the arm that held the metal baton. Actual beam sabers couldn't be used due to the fact that one or both mobile suits would've ended up totally trashed. However to simulate at least some of the conditions they would face, the metal baton was outfitted with an electrical current that if applied long enough would knock out the electrical system of the suit. The suit, specially designed for tournaments, had much of its electrical insulation stripped for this purpose. A battle would end when either one conceded or one dropped one's baton or when one's mobile suit was knocked out.
I must defeat you, Zechs, she thought, looking at the other mobile suit in front of her. If I do, he might spend more time with me. If I don't, I'll be humiliated and he'll probably be horribly disgusted with me.
She and Zechs circled each other in their mobile suits for a while. Then he rushed towards her with a downward stroke, which she blocked with a sideways parry. Both parties jumped back then Une tried to use an upward stroke that he dodged.
As they fought, Une thought, If only this suit was faster. If only... She was rocked by a hit by the metal baton. She managed to hit the baton aside before the entire system shorted out... Damn, the automatic stabilizers are off-line. She forced the mobile suit to stand firmly on its feet.
"Do you want to concede yet?"
She looked at the face on her screen. He was masked, but she could see the gloat in his smile. "NO!" She cut him off.
Their battle then became one that would be recorded as one of the most intense and violent ever in tournament history. When they weren't dueling with their batons, both parties also used their suits to punch and kick each other, using moves that were extremely unorthodox.
However, the battle abruptly ended when a blow knocked her off her feet. She fell backwards, unconscious. Her glasses had snapped in half and had fallen.
She woke up in a hospital room. She looked at herself. No bones were broken. Then she felt the bandage on her head. There was a mild residual ache in her temples. Ow, she thought. She looked out the window. She could by the light it was early morning. The tournament is over, she thought. He's probably left already.
There was a knock on the door. "Come in," she said.
The door opened. "I hope these are to your liking."
"Treize-sama?" she said, utterly flabbergasted. He was holding a bouquet of a dozen roses. He handed them to her.
She gasped. "They're exquisite. But I thought you would've gone by now, considering... " He was dressed casually in a simple white shirt and black slacks. Even simply dressed, he is handsome, she thought.
"I was worried about you when they pulled you out of that suit. Luckily, the doctors said that you're going to be just fine. I wanted to make sure you were all right before I left. And besides, it's not like the work is going to leave my desk if I don't come back soon," Treize said lightly.
She found herself smiling at that. Then he pulled up a chair and sat next to her bed. "I talked to Zechs yesterday."
"Oh?"
"I asked him why he didn't stop the fighting before it came to this. He said that... I know it's going to sound strange."
"Well, go on."
"That he was jealous of you."
"Me?"
"Yes, I left my fencing session with him early to meet you for lunch. He was still angry about it when he was fighting you. I scolded him for taking out his rage on a woman. I told him that kind of behavior was unforgivable." Then he sighed, "Why, Anne?"
"Why, what, Treize-sama?"
"Why did you keep on fighting? You should've known you were going to get hurt if you continued."
"I really wanted to impress you. I wanted you to see me as an adult. I wanted you to see me as a woman." She then put her hands over her face because she didn't want him to see her about to cry.
"I'm sorry. I've been most insensitive," said Treize. "I didn't know you felt that strongly about me." He quietly pulled her close and stroked her hair. "Anne, it wouldn't have mattered to me if you had won or lost, just that you had done it with all your heart. I couldn't have asked for anything more."
She closed her eyes and lay her head on his shoulder. Tears fell down her face. Why does my heart ache so. Then she thought. It's because my world with him and my world without him are so different, like brightness and darkness.
The End
(:./mk/brightness)
