The Hardest Thing – By Ensign_FlipMode804

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is the sole property of Bandai, Sunrise Entertainment, and Sotsu Agency. Neo Gundam Wing is property of ChibiChibi-chan and Nanami Tendo. The song The Hardest Thing is owned by 98 Degrees. This fanfic is supposed to take place in between Part II and Part III. This fanfic also has a small connection to the fanfic Zero by ChibiChibi-chan.

It has been about two weeks since the Neo Gundam Wing pilots returned from their time traveling adventures, but since they don’t remember any of those events, they just went on with life as they usually do. All of them except of Shingo, that is. During this time he gave himself a chance to reflect on the past month or so, mainly about a certain argument that he and Ariel had.

Shingo: (lies on his bed looking up at the ceiling and pondering) hmmm…

(flashback to 2 weeks ago)

Ariel: Are you nuts? Slitting your wrist?!?
Shingo: So?
Ariel: SO? You could've died if I hadn't noticed it!
Shingo: Like you would've cared...
Ariel: (grabs the cloth from inside the basket, tears it in half and starts wrapping it around Shingo's wrist much to his dismay) Of course I care!
Shingo: If that's true then why don't you love me?
Ariel: (stops tying the cloth onto his wrist) ...Let's not get into that...
Shingo: Why not? Because you know it's true?
Ariel: (finishes the temporary bandages) I don't want to talk about it.
Shingo: You never loved me in the first place so why should it even matter if we talk about it?
Ariel: ...(picks up the basket) I can't believe you just said that.
Shingo: What's not to believe? That you only pretended to love me?
Ariel: I care a lot about you, Shingo.
Shingo: Only care about me? Wow... I'm so touched...
Ariel: (trying to keep from just smacking the boy across the face once more before she nearly broke down in tears) I've got a question for you...Did you ever love me? (runs out of the room and slams the door behind her)
Shingo: (a bit taken back)...

(back to present time)

Shingo: (sits up on the side of his bed and wonders) Oh man. Why am I wondering about this now?! Did I ever really love Ariel? Wait a minute…of course I do…do I? (after about two hours of thinking he grabs his cell phone and dials Ariel’s number)

Triage: (answers the phone)’ello?

Shingo: Hey Triage is Ariel there?

Triage: I dunno. Lemme check. (opens the door to his room and yells throughout the halls)HEY ARIEL!!! IF YOU’RE HERE SHINGO’S ON THE PHONE FOR YA!!!

Ariel: (answers the phone and yells across the hall) I GOT IT TRIAGE!!! (returns to the phone) Hey Shingo what’s up?

Shingo: (in a monotone voice) Ariel. Can you meet me at the Central Square Downtown tonight?

Ariel: (seeming a bit confused with Shingo’s tone of voice) Alright? Is there something wrong?

Shingo: There’s nothin’ wrong so could ya please just meet me?

Ariel: Ok ok I will. Bye now (hangs up the phone) I wonder what that was all about?

Triage: (thinking to himself in his room) Wow. Can’t believe Ariel never noticed I didn’t hang up the phone. Gee, Shingo didn’t sound too normal. Maybe I better follow Ariel to find out whats goin’ on.

(back at the Winner mansion)

Music starts

Shingo: Kami-sama I hope I’m doin’ the right thing (leaves for downtown).

That night, Ariel is sitting on a park bench in the downtown area waiting for Shingo to arrive.

Ariel: Where is that baka already? I’m freezing out here. If he isn’t here in five minutes…

Just then Shingo walks up behind Ariel

Shingo: Thanks for the vote of confidence.

Ariel: Oh hey Shingo! (hugs Shingo and kisses him passionately)

Shingo: (for some reason not returning any affection) …

Ariel: (gives him a confused look) What’s wrong?

Shingo: We need to talk.

We both know that I shouldn't be here
This is wrong
And baby it's killing me, it's killing you
Both of us tryin' to be strong
I've got somewhere else to be
Promises to keep
Someone else who loves me 
And trusts me fast asleep
 

Shingo: Today I’ve been doin’ a lot of thinkin’…

Ariel: (jokin’ around) You thinking? That has to be a first.

Shingo: (looks at her with a serious expression) Can I finish? (Ariel nods approvingly) I’ve thought about the past couple weeks after the battle with NOZ. I think that in a way, the time I spent insane and delusional was a time I also thought rationally.

Ariel: And this concerns me because?

Shingo: I’m getting’ to that. It was when you visited me after I slit my wrists. While you were wrapping my wrists up I asked you if you cared about me. I was sorta in a lost state of mind until you asked me if I really loved you.

Ariel: (starting to get a little annoyed) And do you?

Shingo: I care for you a lot, but today I’ve started to question my feelings for you.

While they’re talking Triage has been spying on them from a nearby tree.

Triage: (thinking to himself) God damnit get to the point already Shingo!!!

Shingo: Well what I’m trying to say is…

I've made up my mind
There is no turning back
She's been good to me
And she deserves better than that

Shingo: I think we should spend some time away from each other.

Ariel: O.O WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Triage: (in a new train of thought) He’s breaking up with her?!?! That son of a bitch.

Ariel: You’re breaking up with me?

Shingo: I’m sorry…

Ariel: (breaks down into tears) Is that all you can say?! I’m sorry?

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do
To look you in the eye
And tell you I don't love you
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie
To show no emotion when you start to cry

Shingo: (in a melancholy tone) I dunno what else to say.

Ariel: URGHHH (slaps Shingo and runs away in tears).

Shingo: (still melancholy) I hope I’m doin’ the right thing (starts heading home).

I can't let you see what you mean to me
When my hands are tied and my heart's not free
We're not meant to be
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do (yes it is!)
To turn around and walk away pretending I don't love you

Shingo starts walking home when all of a sudden Triage jumps him from behind and beats the living shit outta him.

Triage: (in a blinding rage) Who the fuck do you think you are man?! Why the hell did you break up with my sister like that?!

Shingo: (catches him with a uppercut to the gut) You wouldn’t understand (walks away).

Triage: (collapses to the ground, trying to catch his breath) You asshole. You’re…gonna…pay…(struggles to blurt out those last two words) for this (sprawls to the ground unconscious).
 
I know that we'll meet again
Fate has a place
So you can get on with your life
I've got to be cruel to be kind
Like Dr. Zhivago
All my love I'll be sending
And you will never know
'Cause there can be no happy ending

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do
To look you in the eye
And tell you I don't love you
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie
To show no emotion when you start to cry
I can't let you see what you mean to me
When my hands are tied and my heart's not free
We're not meant to be
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do
To turn around and walk away
Pretending I don't love you

Ariel has been running for half-an-hour now and she finds herself in front of the Maxwell residence.

Ariel: (still crying as she rings the doorbell) Please Duet be home. (thinking) How could he do this to me after all I’ve given him?

Inside Duet and Millardo are making out on the couch in the living room. Apparently Millardo went to Duet’s to study for a presentation in their Shakespearean Literature class. They chose to perform Act II Scene One (the balcony scene) from Romeo and Juliet in front of the class. During their rehearsal, however, they kinda got carried away at the kissing part of the scene.

Duet: (looks towards the front door with a look of disgust) God damnit now what?!

Millardo: Maybe you should get that. It’s been ringing for about…(looks at his watch) about five minutes and it doesn’t seem like the person is going to go away.

Duet: Fine then. I’ll be back Mill-chan (smiles and leaves to get the door).

Millardo: (smiles back) And I’ll be waiting.

Duet answers the door and sees Ariel.

Duet: Oh hey Ariel, what’s up? (Looks at Ariel carefully) What’s the matter?

Ariel: (starts sobbing) Shingo broke up with me.

Duet: O.O WHAT?!?! How could he?

Ariel: I don’t know. (hugs her cousin and starts crying onto her shoulder)

Duet: Come in, come in. (yells to Millardo) Uh Millardo. I think we should study another time.

Millardo: (goes to the front door to see Duet comforting Ariel) Why? What’s wrong?

Duet: (mouthing to Millardo) Shingo broke up with her.

Millardo: Oh I see. Well I’ll leave you two alone now. Ja ne.

Duet: Bye. (After Millardo leaves she closes the door) Let’s go to my room for now.

Ariel: (after calming down a little) Alright.

Off from the distance Shingo observed the little scene between Ariel and Duet at her front door.

Maybe another time, another day
As much as I want to, I can't stay
I've made up my mind
There is no turning back
She's been good to me
And she deserves better than that

Shingo: (still quite saddened about the breakup) I’m sorry Ariel, but I think this is the best thing to do for myself right now. I hope you understand that I cherished all the time I spent with you. All I know is that I need to find myself before I commit. This is for the best (this time he goes home).

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do
To look you in the eye
And tell you I don't love you
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie
To show no emotion when you start to cry
I can't let you see what you mean to me
When my hands are tied and my heart's not free
We're not meant to be
It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do
To turn around and walk away
Pretending I don't love you

The End

Well, that’s it. Thanks to ChibiChibi-chan for providing me with the foundation of this story. I’ve visit the NGW site normally and some of the stories I’ve read have had Shingo always being the dumbshit in his relationship with Ariel (if you don’t know what I mean it’s always Shingo screwin’ up by being with another girl). This story sorta gives Shingo some credibility and some minor forms of intelligence. Please send any comments to Ensign_FlipMode804@yahoo.com.