Relena ran through a puddle as she chased after Heero, who had just left her at the movies. "Heero!" She called as she caught him by the hand. Heero turned around to face her. "Relena...I already asked you," he said. "Please don't follow me anymore."

Relena sighed. "Heero, I don't want to follow you around like a dog follows his master. I too wanted to be free, Heero. I wanted to thank you and make sure we stay friends."

Heero looked up at the sky "It's going to rain again. Let's go someplace for dinner."

"Okay."

Relena cheered quietly as they walked to a white teahouse with green and blue trim. Heero held the door open for her and as she walked in she was greeted unexpectedly by Duo and Hilde.

"Hey, Relena," Hilde called to her. "I have to tell you something." She pulled Relena into the ladies' bathroom. "Relena...is Heero really your boyfriend? Duo said he is."

Relena shook her head "No. We decided that today."

Hilde continued "You know how Duo saved your life two years ago?" Relena nodded. Hilde kept talking. "Duo said he would have told you but you already had a boyfriend. Since Heero's not I guess it wouldn't hurt......"

"What?" Relena asked.

Hilde hesitated and linked her hands behind her back. "Duo...maybe...kinda...really...sorta..."

"What?" Relena wondered.

"Duo likes you Relena!" Hilde exclaimed, but she wasn't very loud.

Relena fell backwards into the stall almost as if Hilde had pushed her.

"What!? Duo?!"

Hilde nodded. "Yep, and Duo's more like a brother to me so I don't mind. I still haven't found the one for me yet. But...Please don't tell Duo I told ya."

Relena promised and they went back to join the boys. It had started to rain as they walked up to the counter and ordered four eggplant Parmesan sandwiches, green tea and cookies. They sat down and ate the cookies and tea while they waited for their sandwiches.

"So...Relena...heard you and Heero broke up." Duo said nervously.

Relena nodded.

Suddenly the door of the tea house burst open. In stumbled a teenage boy about two inches taller than Duo. He looked a year younger than the former Gundam Deathscythe's pilot with slanted green eyes and fool's gold-colored hair in a long braid. His bangs were clinging to his forehead from sweat and running in the rain. The boy collapsed out of breath on the floor.

Hilde and Relena got up and rushed over to him.

"You okay?" Hilde asked, examining the boy. The boy sat up and nodded.

"How come you were running?" Duo asked, now over with the girls. The boy opened his mouth but no words came out. The door opened again and a blond girl with shoulder length hair and big blue eyes stepped in. "He's mute," she said.

Relena looked at them. "Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm Ai," the girl answered. "And this is Nanashi. I speak for him because he can't."

Hilde looked at them. "What was he running from?"

"Bendon," Ai answered. "He's constantly chasing after us with his long black whip. He kept pulling Nanashi's feet out from under him.

"How come he didn't fight back?" Duo asked. "I woulda pulverized the guy."

Ai sighed "Nanashi doesn't like hurting people."

"So?" Heero said. "Neither do we. We still fight."

As the three argued Hilde and Nanashi were caught in a staring match. Hilde realized how cute the wimpy boy was, and he had a braid like Duo.

"Relena!" Duo caught her by surprise.

"Huh?" Relena turned around to see Duo holding a bouquet of roses out to her. "Relena, I've waited two years to tell you this. I love you Relena..." Duo said nervously like the day he'd asked if Heero and Relena had broken up. "I always have. That's why I tried to save you that one day. That's why I stopped when you told me to and I didn't kill Heero. That's why I became his friend! It's because I love you..."

Relena hugged Duo. "I know." She cried softly. "Hilde told me. I was just waiting for you." She accepted the roses and the mood ring Duo pulled from his pocket. Meanwhile......

Hilde stepped into the dark alley and read the letter again 'Meet me in the alley at five.' "Okay..." she thought. "Where are you? Is this a trap?" Suddenly she heard foot steps and turned around. Nanashi appeared holding a carnation in a bouquet of daises and other flowers. She took them from him. "Yes Nanashi. I like you too," she said, making Nanashi smile.