QuinnLye@aol.com
Quinn Lye
Categories: Romance/Music

Just Like that I knew
By Quinn

Alone I was fine,
Independent, on my own,
Searching for the meaning of,
The thing called life, not love.

Standing in the hall ways of the Victoria Academy, an appropriately slender young woman surveyed her surroundings. It certainly was not the friendliest looking place, but that may have been due to the lack of color, design, and creativity the dorm halls seemed to maintain. Nevertheless, this was where she would be spending part of her life, maybe all of it for all she knew at the time. It would suit her. She enjoyed peoples' company, but being alone was also fine. She cared deeply for the general good of all the people, however, and wanted to help in the way she could best serve; as a military person. Her dark hair fell into her eyes which were a startling shade of deep blue, almost indigo. She wore simple, rather run down clothing.

She had not, after all, come from even a family of mediocre status. She had not come from a family at all. Not one that lived anyway. Therefore, it was a testament to her beauty that on her the clothes gave her an air of dignity and confidence, not a meek air of fear or uncertainty.
That was, after all, not in her character of being. Looking out the windows at the lake, and a tree where she would spend a lot of time (she suspected this even before...) Suddenly, she found herself running into something, or someone rather, and then promptly falling to make friends with the ground. Her belongings followed.

"I am extremely sorry, I was not, obviously, paying attention to where I was going, and I-"

Stopping for a moment from grabbing her belongings, she looked up at the stranger she had run into. Her breath caught. The stranger was very handsome, even with the oddity which was a full head mask. His hair was very long, for a man anyways, but it looked undeniably attractive on him. Through the mask it was apparent that his eyes were a very icy blue. He was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. As he knelt to assist her in reclaiming her things, she noted his graceful movements, and then, when he spoke, his air of royalty, or simply good upbringing, or both.

"It's fine. No harm done. Here." he said, seemingly looking at her for the first time. It was his turn to stare. Tall and slender, this raven haired beauty was new. He was sure of it. Never would he forget a face such as hers. Indeed, he would never from that day forth, forget her face.

And then my eyes met yours,
They saw their destiny,
It was love, at first sight,
For both you and me.

Our paths, they crossed,
For reasons I did not know,
But sure as the moon goes 'round the earth,
I'd never let you go.

"Thank you, I really am very sorry. Thank you for your help Sir." she added the sir, thinking to be safe instead of sorry if this guy was one of the higher officers. The man laughed, a deep, infectious laugh. Even so, his eyes remained toneless. "You are very kind Lady, but I am no 'sir'. I am merely a student dressed like he was one." replied the stranger whom she had so rapidly fallen for, though not realized it until later exactly how hard she had fallen. Smiling a heart breaking smile of angels, she answered "Well then, I will have you know that I am no 'Lady' as I might have figured my attire would have justified."

Returning her smile, he said "Okay then, what is your name?"

Her ocean-like eyes sparkled as she said, "My name is Noin. What's yours?" She then noted a quick frown which marred his perfect face, but it disappeared so quickly she could not be sure it was there at all. He said, "My name is Zechs, Zechs Merquise."

When you looked at me I saw something there.
When I looked at you I think you saw it too,
Something inexplicably wonderful that made me dance on air.

And Just like that, I knew,
Just what life was for.
And just like that I knew,
Just how people feel,
When they meet a person who's got that way about them,
That feeling that surrounds them,
The feeling I knew later, as love.

"It is a pleasure meeting you Mr. Merquise." Noin extended a hand. "Just call me Zechs." He said, and continued, "It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Noin. I shall see you later, but now I must be going." As he turned, she watched him walk out of the corridors, solitary, tall, proud, his boot heels clicking against the tile flooring. Somehow she felt he should not be walking through those doors alone, but she disregarded the feeling for a time. This was rightly done, becuase, as he was meant to think of her, she was meant to think of him much more than she knew at the time.

And now I still see what I first saw that day,
A lost little child in a grown-up's body,
With something worth their life to hide.
But different now is that I know,
Why you were so locked away,
I cherish the day you opened up to me,
I will always listen to anything you want to say.

He could not remember how long it had been since the first day at Victoria, but here he was, still there, still training. With her. Her. Noin. She had become his friend almost immediately. He felt drawn to her. It was as if some unseen force was pulling him to her. They had told each other every thing. Well, no. She had told him everything. He had not told her though. He had not
told. But she was his friend. She had the right to know. And if anyone could keep a secret, it was Lu. He smiled slightly. He had found out her first name when she told him of her family's demise. 'Lu' was his nickname for her, but she didn't know that. Only he knew that. Countless
times he had debated heatedly, with himself, on whether or not to tell her. He always came up with something like, 'I will tell her. Later'. Always later. But no more. He had to tell someone. Not only becuase it was unfair to her, to keep something like this from her, but he was sure if he did not tell someone he might lose his sanity.

Walking swiftly to her quarters, he stopped in front of her door and knocked softly, and said, "Noin? Noin, it's me, Zechs. I need to tell you someth-" he stopped as he swayed her door open a bit. It was dark, and no one was in there. But he knew where she was. Exiting the facility, he went out to the lake, and sure enough, saw his guardian angel sitting under her tree, writing something in a small book, which he decided was a journal.

Hearing foot steps approaching her area of sanction, she looked up, ready to fend off whoever thought he or she could waltz into her area. Then she saw who it was. Unmistaleable mask in place, her best friend approached at a somewhat hurried pace. "Hi Zechs!" She called to him, then studying him noted creases of frustration and too much deep thought. "What's the matter?" she
asked worriedly.

"Nothing...nothing really...I just need to tell you something...It's something I should have told you a long time ago, but I couldn't decide if it was more of a burden or a trust for you.....But..." Noin motioned for him to sit next to her, and as he did she said gently, "Anything you say, I will listen to. You don't have to worry." She smiled at him, and as it was night, the moon light made her seem like a mystical fairy tale creature, breath-taking. Sighing, Zechs leaned against the tree, absent mindedly taking Noin's hand in his. Blushing slightly, Noin was glad for the cover of darkness, but she made no move to withdraw her hand.

"I have not been completely honest with you... about myself." Noin nodded, squeezing his hand ever so gently to coax him forward. "Zechs Merquise is my alias. In reality, my family is also dead. The Alliance saw to that. The house burned, they all died...except me..." His hand gripped
hers almost painfully tighter, but she did not say anything. His hand left hers and went to his mask, as did his other hand. Taking it off in one swift motion, he said softly, "My name is Milliardo Peacecraft."

The years did pass, they flew by me, and you too soon,
Even now, I think time flies by too fast.
The future is closer now than
ever, but I find myself thinking of our past.
But as the future is near, I see its brightness clear as day,
It's a wonderful bliss that comes and washes all the problems away.
I saw your face just yesterday, and it reminded me of when we first met.
Your eyes were impassive, walls of ice for me to melt.

When you looked at me I saw something there.
When I looked at you I think you saw it too,
Something inexplicably wonderful that made me dance on air.

Years, numerous years had passed, far off into after the Marimeia escapade. A tall, still young, and undoubtedly attractive man sat beside an equally attractive woman in a black car. "So, where are we going?" the woman asked, raising a single elegant eyebrow. "To visit my sister." "I'm glad you're seeing your sister of your own will now. I don't have to force you! You know Zechs, she forgave you the moment you came back. She's just happy to have her big brother back."

"I know, I know." he replied, keeping his eyes fixed painstakingly on the road. "I love you Zechs, and I always have. Never worry about the past. You've done all you can, you'll continue to
do all you can, and that is what counts, love." Noin placed her hand on top of his, the one
not on the steering wheel.

"I love you too Lu. I always have, and always will." He turned and smiled at her, briefly, and she smiled and patted his hand as she said, "Zechs."

"Yes Lu?"

"You just missed the turn, love."

And so it goes the way it will,
The tables turn through time,
But always you are my love,
I'm your love, and you're mine.
When you looked at me I saw something there.
When I looked at you I think you saw it too,
Something inexplicably wonderful that made me dance on air.

Fini.

C&C's welcome!
This was my first fic, so, have a heart!!!!(please!)

Quinn Lye*

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but love is in their heart."
-Quinn Lye*