Rain streamed down relentlessly from the sky, the drops falling silently to the ground. Streams of water cascaded from the gabled roof and flowed down the window like rivers of tears. Anne sighed tiredly and pressed her hand against the cool glass. It was late, and she couldn't sleep. Though she had spent all day caring for wounded soldiers, sleep seemed impossible. The war seemed to go on and on, so many hurt and dying men, and so little time to care for them. Each could stand about an hour before they would die of loss of blood or other complications. It was impossible for the shorthanded staff to reach everyone in time. Anne glanced upstairs, but Miss Jewel and Margaret were sound asleep. She pushed a lock of hair away from her face and watched the rain fall down. Anne smiled absently, thinking of Treize Khushrenada. He kept her alive, in a way. Treize was the first face she saw in the morning, and the last she saw when she left for home. He never complained about his arm, and always maintained the conduct of a gentlemen. Yet she wished sometimes that he was not so formal. Since he had kissed her on her porch last summer, he had seemed distant and formal. Anne feared that he had lost interest in her, and thought he could just forget about her and leave her heart on a string to toy with when he pleased. A quiet knock at the door startled her reverie. Anne opened the door, and saw Treize Khushrenada standing in her doorway, soaking wet. "Good evening, Anne." He said casually, taking off his hat and coat. "What on earth are you doing here," she whispered frantically. "Have you any idea what time it is? What would Miss Jewel and Margaret say?" "I came to tell you good bye," he said. "What?" "My arm is almost healed, and some of the other men are riding out early tomorrow morning. I can't take another day of taking it easy, while men are dying less than fifty miles away from me." Treize looked at Anne with an intensity she couldn't recognize. It frightened her to see him look at her that way, yet she couldn't look away from him no matter how hard she tried. "You came all this way in the rain?" She asked. "It's not too bad," he said. His hair was damp and his clothes soaked to the bone. Treize didn't shiver, but Anne knew he must be freezing. "You must want some hot tea," she said, in attempt to take his gaze away from her. Treize nodded, and followed her to the kitchen. Anne busied herself getting the tea ready, unconscious of the fact she was wearing her nightgown with only a robe wrapped around her. Treize watched her prepare the tea, and once again he couldn't bring himself to say the words that had lived in his heart since the long ago day when he had met Anne Une. He loved her. "Here," she said, setting the tea in front of him. "Thank you," he replied simply. "You're really determined to do this?" She asked. "Yes," Treize answered. "Fighting is in me, as embedded in my soul as honor. I couldn't stay here another day, something is telling me to leave." "Oh," she wasn't sure what to say. They sat in silence, each holding something vital back. Anne wondered why he was here so late just to say good-bye. After all, shouldn't he have come at an earlier hour if he knew he was going to be leaving? "You're wondering why I am here, aren't you?" Treize asked kindly. "You probably think I'm insane for showing up at almost midnight just to drink tea and say good-bye." Anne laughed, finding that all his words were true. "Anne," he said sternly. Treize placed his hand over hers, "Will you promise me something?" "What is it," she asked, feeling butterflies in her stomach. "Will you promise me you'll not let any other men kiss you until I come back?" His face was very serious. "It's not like any men ever wanted to kiss me to begin with," she mumbled. "I doubt that," he said softly. "I can't see why anyone wouldn't think you're beautiful and smart and funny." Anne felt her eyes getting teary. She didn't want his sympathy. He was just toying with her, she'd end up one of his ignored women. "You don't think any of those things about me," she said. Anne slammed her hands down on the table and stood up. "You're just toying with me so you can say you have the heart of the icy Anne Une!" She stormed out of the room. "Anne, wait!" Treize ran out to the front room, where he found Anne shivering in front of a window. He could see that she was crying. "Anne," he started to say. Treize put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I wouldn't say those things if I didn't mean them. In all my life, I've never gone out of my way for anyone else. Yet here I am in the middle of the night, saying good-bye to a woman who means more to me than this whole war." Anne turned to look at him, her eyes red. "You'll get yourself killed." "I won't, I promise." Treize said. "Then I promise not to let any other men kiss me." She said simply. He smiled. "Thank you." Anne wondered if he was going to kiss her now. She wasn't sure how she'd react if he did, but hoped he would try. Treize's lips lightly brushed her cheek. "Good bye, Anne Une." In a moment he was out the door, leaving Anne standing in the hallway without a clue. Her house could have fallen down at that moment and she would not have noticed. "Wait," she shouted, heading out the door. Anne stepped out into the rain, and saw him walking slowly away. Treize turned to see her running towards him, like some kind of vision. "Just one more thing," she said. Anne tilted her head up and kissed him. He smiled, words were not needed. Treize knew he would return from the battle, if only so he could see her again. |
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