Zechs expected Treize to pace the infirmary waiting room and bark commands at all the orderlies there. He expected the General to rant about Une and maybe even knock something over on Wufei�s behalf. He never expected Treize to react the way he did.

Treize sat in an ugly little pink chair and stared into the space in front of him. He had not blinked, twitched or shifted in way too long. His eyes were hollow. His mouth formed one single thin line. Zechs sensed that this calmness had not been a defense mechanism, but rather, a far more serious decent into depression and madness. He repeatedly attempted to draw Treize out of his stupor, but even if he smacked the man across the face, he knew there�d be no getting through. He�d never seen Treize like this and it scared him. It created a sense of desperation in Zechs, for Treize had always held it together, had always had a plan. If Treize�s plans were defeated, then he took it in a good-natured stride. Treize never retreated to silence and apathy.

Zechs paced the room, got himself a cup of water, took a sip, threw it out, picked up a magazine, leafed through it, hurled it at the wall, rubbed his eyes, looked over at Treize and sighed. He hated feeling so helpless. Poor Wufei. To have so much shit go down in your life, before the age of sixteen, and to never once complain about it. Zechs had come to respect the boy deeply. He understood why Treize had loved him: he had always been intelligent, exotic, honorable, and tried so hard to hide his pain, that a new adjective made the list. He had been valiant. Just like Treize. He understood where the two fit, and so rather than become jealous of the attention his former lover showered on the boy, he began to encourage it. But now what would happen to that love? Would the boy ever forgive him? Could Treize ever forgive himself? Zechs looked over at Treize; thinking it not bloody likely.

One of the doctors bustled through the operating room doors and walked up to Treize. The light returned to Treize�s eyes and he stood at attention. Treize unconsciously reached out and tenderly stroked the blood splattered on the man�s apron and scrubs.

"How is he doctor?"

"It�s still too early to say, sir. The implant was rooted very deeply, and I don�t believe the device was working properly� I�ve never seen an implant before sir, but this one appears to have� broken�or rather leaked. The susceptance could have been the cause for the boy�s fainting and odd behavior�as you said."

"But you got it out?"

"Yes sir, but� well--"

"Out with it damn it!"

"It was a messy business sir. We tried not to tare the tricep but there will be some damage. Also� he�s lost a lot of blood. We�ve been streaming more into him, of course, but if I could have his file, I could give him his blood type match instead of O."

"His blood is A positive, like mine. Take mine."

"Sir, we have blood in the banks--"

"That was not a request, doctor."

"Yes, sir� though I should warn you he�ll probably need more than you can donate, and we�ll have to screen yours of course---" the orderly looked nervous, as if he just insulted the General.

"Naturally. Just do this as quickly as you can."

"If you�ll follow me."

Zechs accompanied Treize into a small room where a petite nurse began swabbing Treize�s elbow with alcohol.

"Doctor?" Zechs asked. "I have some questions of my own."

"Yes, Mr. Marquise� I mean� Mr. Peacecraft?"

"Is the other doctor the only one operating on Mr. Chang at this time?"

"Oh no sir. We have a whole team of five doctors attending to the General�s pet."

At the word pet Treize winced, just at the nurse stuck the needle in. "There, there, sir. I didn�t think you were afraid of needles!" The nurse giggled.

"And at this time," Zechs continued, "what can you say of his condition?"

"Frankly sir, not much. The implant is being tested. We suspect a heavy depressant was used, to periodically release when the digital timer inside the device went off. Different people�s immune systems respond in various ways under certain stimuli. It�s unclear whether Wufei was ill because his body rejected the substance, or whether the implant broke and gave him an overdose of the depressant. It�s also unclear how Wufei�s nervous system and by extension, his immune system, will react to the sudden lack of the substance�s presence." The doctor smiled, apparently pleased with himself that he could get all that out in one breath.

"Do you mean that he could die?" came Treize�s very cold voice.

The doctor looked at Treize. "It is very possible that his body will react negatively and just shut down. But, I don�t think that will happen sir."

"Why not?" Treize asked.

"Doctor Klineta!" The physician pushed his chair back with his legs and then ran with a nurse back into the operating room. Treize got up to follow him and nearly ripped the tube out of his arm, much to the nurse�s disgust.

"Treize�." Zechs began.

"If he dies, Milliard�."

Zechs looked closely at Treize.

"I go with him."

Zechs closed his eyes, shocked, and he fell back down in his chair.

Half an hour later, Treize�s blood made its way into the operating room as a female doctor came out and squatted on the waiting room floor, stretching her leg muscles and lighting a cigarette.

She smiled at the two tired, haggard men, still in their tuxedos. "He�s doing really well. We�re pumping the blood into him now. Then we�ll sew him back up and see what a few days of rest will do."

Treize searched her face for sincerity, "You mean, he�s going to be all right?"

"Yeah. It was scary for a moment there; we lost his heart rate. But Dr. Klineta started banging on his chest cavity, and once it started again, it came back much stronger. Fascinating� ne?" She took a long drag on her cigarette and Zechs notice her eyes get big with surprise.

He followed her line of vision over to Treize�s eyes, which were spilling tear after tear. "Treize?"

"Milliard!" he joyfully croaked, before he pulled Zechs into a crushing hug and sobbed onto his shoulder.

"Oh, dear friend." Zechs sighed, his own eyes stinging with tears. "I�ve never seen you cry, in all our years together!!"

"I�m sorry." Treize quickly began to piece himself back together, but Zechs�s hands caught on either side of his face and stopped him.

"Don�t be. I�m very glad�that you can. Cry, I mean. That you can care�. Love�."

Treize frowned. "�I loved you to Milliard�"

Zechs stood frozen to the floor. Treize pulled him into an embrace, and whispered in his ear, "And I cried the day you left me, the day we became enemies� I was so afraid that you would die at my hands�"

"Treize! What are you saying! You love Wufei!"

Treize pulled back. "Yes. Now I�ve fallen in love with Wufei. Does that hurt you, my friend?"

Zechs swallowed. "A little. But� I want you to be together�. And besides� there�s someone else�"

Treize smiled through his tears. "Does that someone wear tight black dresses to my balls?"

Zechs blushed and dropped his hands. Treize grinned even harder and said "Perhaps I should assign Lt. Noin to the ambassador�s program, and have her represent OZ in all of your fine, fancy meetings, Mr. Peacecraft."

Zech�s eyes widened and he actually stepped forward and in the middle of the entire hospital hugged General Treize Krushrenada. "That would be an excellent notion, sir!"

Treize hugged him back and then the two quickly parted, brushing off imaginary lint from their tuxedos and looking everywhere but at each other or the hospital staff that was staring at them.

Doctor Klineta walked into the room and cleared his throat. "General. The operation was a success. His vitals are in the stable range and so we�re moving him up to ICU until a bedroom can be prepared for him."

General Krushrenada rushed up to the doctor and practically screamed, "Well done! See to it that you take an extra month�s paid vacation every year! Now, show me where the boy�s room is."

The doctor recovered and ushered them over to a map on the wall.

Wufei sighed. The darkness felt so sore and boring, but he couldn�t open his eyes. Couldn�t bring himself to speak. He sighed again. Got to try harder.

"Treize." He breathed softly.

The General�s head snapped up from the hand it had been resting on�Wufei�s hand--- and he peered at the boy. Did he dream? Did the boy just call for him in his sleep?

"Dragon?"

Wufei licked his lips. "Treize," came the whisper again.

"Dragon. It�s me. I�m here. How are you?"

Wufei�s eyes fluttered for a good ten seconds before he could finally pull them apart. Slowly he opened his eyes, sucking in air through his teeth at the sunlight burned into his retinas.

"Treize," he mewed, this time with a little voice behind it.

Treize leaned over Wufei and brushed his hair back with his hand. "I�m right here, dragon. You are safe now."

"What��."

"You were sick. Very, very sick. You�re in the hospital." Treize didn�t rush it. He gave the boy several minutes to let that sink in.

"The�." Wufei breathed in deep and puffed out the air quickly, "hospital? Why? Didn�t I do everything right? He didn�t want it� he didn�t want I�m telling you! I�"

"Dragon, what are you talking about?" Treize frowned, concerned. Wufei Kept babbling. "Don�t make me do it anymore. I can�t. He doesn�t want me!" The boy sobbed now, thrashing back and forth. "Don�t!" he whined. "Don�t!!!"

Treize backed off, stopped hovering. Une must have had the boy raped in the hospital at the base. She must have planted the device and had the soldiers or scientists rape the boy as well. Why didn�t he kill her when he had the chance!

"Wufei," Treize�s voice lilted. "Wufei. Come back. Focus. You are in a hospital bed here at my base. It�s me, Treize. No one is going to hurt you� ever again!"

Wufei opened his eyes and the phantom figures disappeared. "Treize?" he cried out.

Treize felt wary but he moved back over Wufei. "I�m right here, little one."

"Don�t call me that," came the reflex.

Treize smiled. "Yes, Wufei."

"Treize?" The boy seemed so happy. "It�s really you?" He reached his lithe little limbs up and caressed the General�s face.

Treize felt like he would cry. "Yes, it�s me. I�m here now, dragon. You fainted at the ball; do you remember?"

"Oh! I�m sorry master! I�." Wufei palled. "Une!"

"That bitch," Treize ground through his teeth, "has been dealt with, I assure you. I have learned of your treatment while you were being transported to this base. All I can say is that I will endeavor to spend the rest of my life making it up to you, Wufei."

"You mean� you didn�t order it?"

Treize felt like he would throw up. "Of course not! I had no idea� Wufei, I brought you here because you had no where else to go after the war. I wanted to make sure you were safe. It appears I delivered you into the very hands danger. I�"

Wufei reached up again. "Thank you. I didn�t want to believe� that you could be that kind of person�"

Treize stood, speechless. His dragon touched him. For the second time in months. He didn�t trust himself to speak.

"How� Did you find out?" The boy seemed pensive, withdrawn.

"Une told me, after you collapsed. You got sick because the implant in your arm broke. Dragon, why didn�t you tell me about it?!?"

"What implant? What are you saying? �" The boy tried to breathe but he felt so tired. "All I remember was� Laoshi O said you ordered me taken prisoner. I thought I was going to be tried for war crimes. When Une came, she told me� that I was" he gulped, "going to be your� whore� and then they took me to a lab� and they�." He cried. "The scientists were all women�" Tears flowed down his face and onto his white cotton shirt. "They put on these things� I don�t know what they�re called� and they�" he whispered now, "they did it to me� they put it in me� and said that you would do this to me, and that I better like it�." His little body wracked with sobs. "HOW I MUST OFFEND AND DISGUST YOU NOW GENERAL!" the boy screamed in rage.

Treize tumbled into the bed and wrapped his arms around Wufei and rocked him back and forth, murmuring to him as he had done before, after the garden incident. But this time, Wufei didn�t have a device in his arm and there remained nothing to quell his rage.

"Get off me! Get the fuck off me! Don�t touch me! Don�t you ever fuckin� touch me again! You had no right, you fucker! Go to hell!" Wufei quickly became violent, thrashing weakly at Treize through his tears. "Fuck you! FUCK YOU! Who do you think you ARE General?!?! How many people had to suffer for you, you�. Get OFF me!"

Wufei began pulling the I.V.s out of his wrists and elbows in his attempt to remove Treize from his bed. Treize quickly got up and stepped back. "Calm down, Wufei! You�ll hurt yourself!" he scolded.

"What difference does it make now!?!" came the scream, as nurses� footsteps could be heard pounding down the hallway. "Get out! GET OUT NOW!!!"

The screams were like howls, and Treize felt stunned. The nurses pushed him out of the room with a stern look and then rushed back in the room and closed the door. Treize stared at the door for some time and then walked back to his apartments in a daze, for the first time in days. ~*~

A week passed and Treize had not come to see the boy. Zechs did not visit, because he had been on some diplomatic mission, Noin had said. Noin stopped by to drop off flowers; a big huge bouquet of yellow roses. Wufei would have to ask Zechs what they meant when Zechs came back.

Wufei felt bored. Very, very bored. He had counted the holes in the ceiling three times, a little dismayed that he came up with a different number all three times. His arms and legs ached, but he didn�t feel like getting out of bed to exercise them. He thought of minna, and tried to go over his Latin and French exercises, conveniently forgetting to do his Greek. But these things only made him think of Treize, and that made his heart sink deep in his chest.

He had treated the other man so rudely. He had spit in his face and slapped him. He had told him to fuck himself and accused him of his rapes, as well as all the suffering because of the war. He didn�t really expect to see the man after that. Still� he had hoped�.

At first a pang of panic came over Wufei as he wondered what the General would do now, and if he let him go, how Wufei could find the other pilots and if he could stay with them. But he�d only be in there way� It didn�t really matter anymore. Nothing did. Wufei spiraled into a deep depression. On the sixth day, Wufei refused to eat anything, and merely stared out the window at a little sparrow�s nest in a neighboring tree. He said nothing, ate nothing, and did nothing for hours. He seemed truly shocked when his silence had been disturbed by the loud bang of his hospital room door.

"Hello, dragon! How are you feeling today?" boomed Treize�s cheery voice.

Wufei stared at the man as if he had three heads.

"Are you STILL wearing that cotton thing? Tsk tsk. We�ll have to take you shopping sometime with Zechs and we�ll teach you the basics of fashion. Would you like that?" Treize didn�t give the boy time to answer as he whipped out a huge bouquet of Tiger-lilies. "Here you are. They came allll the way from China, Mr. Chang, so you�d better be impressed!"

Wufei took the flowers absent-mindedly. When he looked at the bright golden oranges and yellows speckled with black dots, he clutched the flowers to his breast as if they were an infant, and looked back up at Treize as if he would cry. "You�. are not angry with me?"

"Yes. I�m furious! Dragon! I hear you�re not eating!"

"Wh�what?"

"You�re not eating! How can you hope to keep up with me if you don�t regain your strength?"

"Huh?"

"Have you forgotten how to articulate in my absence, dragon? I�m telling you, you must eat, and grow strong, because I challenge you."

Wufei blinked. "Excuse me? You CHALLENGE me?"

Treize removed one of his white gloves and lightly brushed it across Wufei�s left cheek in an erotic motion. "There. It�s official. We must have a duel. You and I will fence, everyday, until you build your left arm up. Then, when you are ready, we will have a real duel."

Wufei leaned forward in his chair, his curiosity tweeked for the first time in a week. "And if you win?"

"Then you must continue to duel me everyday until you do win," Treize said good-naturedly.

"And if I win?"

"What would you like?"

"My freedom," came the swift response. Wufei thought it best to test his boundaries.

Treize frowned for a long time and said nothing. "How about a compromise? If you win, then you may go off the base during the day, while I am in meetings and the like. But you must return at night."

"Why?"

"Because you gave your word when you came that you would not try to leave."

"No. I said I would not try to escape. You never said I couldn�t earn my freedom."

"I never gave it as an option either." Treize�s face was a mixture of stern anger and fear.

Wufei huffed. "Am I still your trophy then, General?"

Treize walked over to Wufei and leaned down until they were nose to nose. "No, Wufei. Haven�t you figured it out yet?" he whispered. "I�m *yours*." Then he placed a quick kiss on the corner of Wufei�s mouth and whirled around to retrieve his coat. "Tomorrow. We will move you back up to our room. You will still need your rest, but I think your mind is up for some lessons. EAT!"

Wufei�s mind, at the moment, was still spinning form the kiss.

"Wufei!"

"Yes, master?"

"Treize."

"Treize."

"Count to one hundred."

"Un, deux, trois�"

"In Greek." Treize said as he turned the doorknob. A pillow hit the back of Treize�s head but he kept walking as if he never felt it, and never had a huge smile plastered all over his face.

Wufei began to count and Treize shut the door.

The boy moved back upstairs and into the bedroom with glee. He felt glad to be out of that damned hard bed and back in a room with books and huge windows and a balcony and� Treize. He sat Indian- style on the soft Persian rug in front of the idle fireplace, waiting for Treize to return from wherever he went, so they could begin the lesson. Wufei tried to meditate, but his mind became too unfocused.

Treize entered the room quite and apologized. "Am I disturbing your exercises?"

"No," Wufei said simply.

"I have a present for you."

Wufei�s eyes snapped open.

"Aren�t you curious what it is?"

Wufei sniffed and Treize bit his lip. His little one had been DYING to know, but would never show it, Treize understood. From behind his back, Treize pulled out a long katana, sheathed in a black hilt of the smoothest water buffalo hide. He knelt before Wufei and held the sword out with his head slightly bowed, in the traditional manner.

Wufei had been shocked, but he quickly took the gift, not wishing to be impolite. Treize said nothing, but watched him intently. Wufei examined the hilt, which had been decorated with large black pearls and one or two of the biggest diamonds Wufei had ever seen. His mouth dropped open. He unsheathed the blade and gaped at the engraving of a gorgeous dragon�the kind with wings, like in old European fairy tales�which draped itself around the shining silvery metal in an intricate spiral. "Treize�. It�s beautiful�"

"Happy Birthday."

"Huh?� Treize, my birthday isn�t until�Oh my Gods, it�s my birthday!"

"Do you like it, dragon Fei?"

"Yes, Treize. I�ve never held anything so expensive in my hands before�That�s why I can�t accept it."

"In my culture to refuse a gift is an insult. You will need it, besides. Remember?" Treize motioned to brush Wufei�s cheek with his glove.

"Oh."

"Also, your friends sent you a package. It�s in the hall. I�ll get it for you�"

Treize left and returned with a big cardboard box. "Here you go. Can you open it yourself?"

"Minna! They� they remembered!"

"Here are the scissors. I�ll leave you be, this is a private thing. If you have anything you wish to send to them� letters and such�let me know. I�ll arrange it." Treize turned to go.

"Treize!"

He turned back around with raised eyebrows.

"�.Thank you."

Treize bowed deeply and simply said, "You�re welcome," as he left.

After Treize closed the door Wufei jumped up and ripped into the box. He felt like a kid, but he couldn�t help it. He had never gotten birthday presents before and it would be so nice to hear from minna! He tossed through all the styrafoam shells and white tissue paper till he came to four oddly wrapped gifts and a card. He opened it carefully.

We hope this card finds you well. We are not sure if you will receive this package, but ever the optimist, Duo insisted we try. If you do get this letter, could you write us back? Trowa and I would so like to hear how you are doing, and also, to invite you to our wedding this June, if you can come. We miss you very very much. We hope you like your gifts � happy birthday, love Quatre W.

Wu-chan! Heya freak! How�s life in that plush palace of yours? I bet you got lots of servants running around in there. Dude, I HAVE to tell you this! Trowa got his HAIR CUT for the wedding! You can actually see his eyes! He has two!!! You GOTTA come see it. Oh yea, me �n� Heero are engaged. You�ll never guess how that baka proposed to me. All I can say is there was a penguin suit involved and a high speed motorcycle chase and uarlakjfoiass--------- um, wow he�s a good kisser!. Ok. Nevermind. Anyway, it was very romantic and now here�s Heero, who by the way, is responsible for that mess�Happy birthday! Love D!

Hello, Wufei. I trust you are in good health and if not, making everybody around you suffer for it. Duo and I are engaged but the details are less than flattering to yours truly, so I think you can live without them. Let us know if you ever need anything. You can reach us at the Winner estate. We�ll always be there for you, Wufei. Happy birthday, Heero.

Wufei kun. It�s Trowa. Ogenki desu ka? Please do write back if you can, and let us know that you are all right. And if you can, come to our wedding. You will be our guest of honor: the man who brought the world peace. Happy birthday, Wufei kun. Yours very truly, Tro.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Wufei read the note though his tears. So Trowa and Quatre were finally tying to knot. He felt so happy for them. And Heero got around to making Duo his. He hoped Treize would let him out for the wedding. He would just have to best him at the duel. He carefully folded the letter and placed it on a little flower table, then picked up his presents. He unwrapped Quatre�s first, encased in paper with little yellow chicks on it, and pulled out a very old book on Taoism. How wonderful.

Next he "unwrapped" Heero�s, which basically entailed unwinding the silver duct tape from his present. It looked like a little letter opener, but it was really a slender dagger. Leave it to Heero to smuggle a weapon into OZ. He moved on to Duo�s gift; and tore the comic strip paper away from the box. He opened the box and blushed as he pulled out a black leather g-string. "Maxwell!!!" He giggled.

Then he opened Trowa�s, which had been wrapped in plain brown paper. He opened the box and removed a CD of tenko drum music. Wufei felt like he would cry. He gathered all the gifts to him and hugged them as if they were his friends.

Just then there came a knock on the door. "Wufei?"

"Yes, Treize, come in."

Treize entered. "How are you feeling?"

"Um� a little�." Wufei couldn�t look away as the tears rolled down his eyes. "No one�s ever� gotten me a birthday gift before�"

"Really?" Treize paused, unsure he could bear a weeping dragon. "Well, you�re sixteen now right? So that makes fifteen presents you�re entitled to. Milliard and I will definitely have to take you shopping as soon as you are well."

Wufei smiled. "I� I don�t have any place for these�" He motioned to the gifts.

Treize walked across the room and opened the highboy and removed some articles of civilian clothing. "Here. This will be your space. Put anything you like in it, and I won�t go looking, I promise. Just no bombs or anything."

Wufei stood to put his gifts away but swayed unsteadily. Treize swiftly came there, taking his arm, guiding him back to bed. Treize took the gifts from Wufei, but Wufei stopped him with a little shout. "Can I sleep with them around me? Please?"

"Of course, dragon." Treize piled the bounty around Wufei and then nestled his dragon in the covers and pillows.

"Treize?"

"Yes, Wufei?"

"My sword?"

Treize smiled. He walked over to the fireplace and then lay the sword upon the bed, on his side of the mattress. "There you go. All your treasures. Now, get some sleep."

"Treize?"

"Yes, Wufei?"

"Read me Quatre�s book?"

Treize�s eyes lit up and he nodded. He drew a chair to the side of Wufei�s bed and cracked open the old book. He laughed. "Wufei? I can�t read Chinese�"

Wufei fell half-asleep already. "Really? That simply WON�T DO!" Wufei mocked and smiled, shutting his eyes for a long nap.

"Harder dragon! You hold back too much!"

Wufei lunged at Treize with all his might, only to be perried with ease and thrown onto the ground, his own weight manipulated against him.

"Fuck!"

"Wufei."

"I mean drat, curses, oh darn!"

Treize pulled Wufei up to his feet and spun him around, taking each of the boy�s arms in his own. "You are becoming unbalanced, Wufei�" he whispered, "because you are too focused on my blade, and not on me." Treize lifted the boy�s left arm, for they were practicing with the traditional left standard, and not the right, which Wufei seemed more comfortable with. Treize insisted he learn the ancient French way, to build up his torn muscle.

"When I move my saber, it is to attract your attention. I never move the sword where you think it will go. That is a decoy. If you want to know where I will thrust or perry, look to my shoulder, from whence the movement comes. That is how I always won in the past, dragon Fei. Your shoulders gave you away every time. Learn to master this, and we are equals."

Wufei listened intently, trying to ignore the heat radiating off Treize�s chest onto his back an arms. "If I do master this, and I beat you, I have a request."

"I will not let you go."

"Just for one day. For one very important day!"

Treize�s eyebrows raised and he walked in front of Wufei, eyes searching. Wufei looked up at him with so much hope and want it became very hard for Treize not to give in right on the spot, without hearing the boy�s reason. "Why?"

"Quatre and Trowa are getting married. They want me to be their guest of honor. It said so in the letter, I can prove I�m not lying. I just want to go to their wedding and then I promise I�ll come right back. You have my word of honor!"

Treize thought for a moment. Surely this request had not been out of bounds. If Wufei gave his word he would return then he would. Treize knew that if his dragon pressed him, he could not tell him no.

"Very well. If you win, you may go. Only long enough for the wedding and reception and then you must come right back."

Wufei smiled so brilliantly, that Treize vowed to make him smile like that everyday. Wufei jumped into Treize�s arms and sighed. "Thank you Treize! You don�t know what is means to me!"

"What what means to you?" a familiar voice called.

"Milliard!" the men chorused.

Wufei bounded up to him. "Look Milliard! I got a sword from Treize for my birthday! See, look! It�s got a dragon on it and pearls and everything�.Geez, I sound like Marie!"

Zechs smiled and placed his arm around the boy. "No, even Marie doesn�t get quite that excited! It�s a beautiful gift for a beautiful sweet sixteen! But I, too, come bearing gifts, Wufei."

"You do?"

"Of course! I wouldn�t forget your birthday!" Zechs cried indignantly. "There you are. I didn�t have time to wrap it, sorry."

Zechs held up a large clear stone with a single red rose embedded in the middle.

"You got me a paperweight?"

Zechs and Treize laughed till there were tears in each pair of eyes. "No, no, Wufei. This is a very special stone, for sharpening swords. You can sharpen your katana on it."

"You knew I was getting a sword?!?!"

"Of course; we were always partners in crime before ne?" Zechs said to Treize as they shook hands and embraced for a warm hug. A hug that made Wufei prickle just slightly.

"Zechs, what does a yellow rose mean? Noin got me some when I was in the hospital�"

"Yellow means friendship�" Zechs answered.

"And red?"

This time it had been Treize who stepped up to Wufei and whispered, "It means love, Wufei. Passionate love. A red rose is my family�s crest. Now, thank our good friend here and get your pretty little ass back on the strip and en guarde!"

Wufei blushed a new shade of crimson and bowed to thank Zechs, then put the stone carefully on the floor and hiked over to the strip and got into position. Zechs stood by their side.

"Fencers ready?" Zechs called.

"Sir!" they chanted.

"Fence!"

And so the dance began. Wufei learned quickly, a new determination set in his brow and soon he kept up with Treize. However, Treize had more energy and he took control easily. Wufei knew he would loose. He felt surprised when Treize stopped them.

"Why?" Onyx eyes peered at the General.

"You are tiring. I do no seek to teach you defeat Wufei. Quiet the opposite. Besides, it is time for dinner! And afterwards, if you feel up to it, I should like to hear you and the good ambassador play�"

The men saluted Zechs and each other and began to take off their jackets and gear. Zechs brimmed with happiness. Not simply because he had just gotten back from a fantastic and extremely satisfying trip with Noin, but because he returned to find his two favorites at ease and in high spirits. Perhaps it would take Wufei some time to get used to the idea of being intimate again, but Zechs felt sure as the sky turned blue, that Treize would bed the boy, and soon. ~*~

The weeks passed in much the same routine as before. Wufei studied, fenced with Treize, had dinner with Zechs and other company, and returned to the room to sit in front of the fire and listen to Treize read aloud. However, his healing went slowly and Wufei grew impatient to become strong enough to best Treize and win his chance to see his friends.

That had been why, today at least, Wufei attacked Treize as if the man had been the very devil himself. There seemed to be no rules and no boundaries in this match. Wufei went all over the room, on and off the strip, tumbling, swinging, even using some martial arts moves if it gained him advantage.

Treize for his part felt very happy to see Wufei with so much energy. But he didn�t like the desperation his opponent displayed. As if Wufei thought it was a life or death match, like in the old days, during the war... The boy continued to be fiercely aggressive, definitely not taking his time to learn anything from the General today, and in a way Treize felt pleased. Fencing had been the only therapy he knew to give the boy. Yes, this would be good for his arm, but it would also be good for his rage, which lay just under the surface, Treize had been certain.

"Touche!" Wufei screamed. He stepped back and then with barely a nod, came at him again, using a scream similar to the ones he heard in kendo movies. Treize remained so mesmerized he forgot to retreat or perry, and the next thing he knew he sprawled on the ground with Wufei�s sword over his throat.

Wufei backed off immediately and threw his sword to the ground. "Treize?!?"

Treize traced a hand across his neck and found a little trail of blood across his index finger. "Nice move, dragon" he said roughly.

Wufei dropped to his knees, tears brimming. This shocked Treize.

"I�m sorry. I�m so sorry! I hit you�" Wufei�s eyes were huge now and he began to pale.

"It�s all right, dragon; it doesn�t hurt. Really. I�m fine."

"I hit you!" Wufei whispered, as if it seemed inconceivable. He grabbed Treize�s arm and pulled him to his feet, as though Treize could not handle the task himself because of the little knick below his Adam�s apple.

"It was a nice move. It�s illegal in competition, but, if this were a real duel you�d have had me�"

Wufei lowered his head. "I� it was dishonorable of me, to draw your blood like that�"

"What�s one more drop, dragon? You already have a whole pint!"

"What?"

"Oh��.. I didn�t tell you because I didn�t wish to upset you. When you collapsed, and then had an operation, you lost a lot of blood.� I donated some�.so� um, I hope� I hope that doesn�t upset you�"

Wufei blinked. "You gave me your blood?"

"Yes. I know keeping the Clan�s bloodline pure is important to your culture Wufei, but, I couldn�t just let you die�"

Wufei blinked again. "He gave me his blood," he said in a daze.

Wufei got down on his knees again and bowed deeply. "I�ve lost count of how many times I�ve owed my life to you, Treize Krushrenada. How can I repay you?"

"Just don�t hate me for it," Treize murmured.

"I� could never� hate you, Treize," Wufei whispered. He got up and took his sword back in hand. "Shall we go again?"

"And miss your chance to gloat your victory to my dinner guests?"

"What ever are you talking about?"

"Why dragon! You bested me! You even drew blood! You�ve won! Congratulations! Tomorrow Zechs and I will take you shopping. You�ll need some clothes, for the wedding, at least�"

"For the�?" Wufei dropped his sword for the second time and rushed up to Treize, planting a little kiss on the man�s cheek. Wufei felt too happy to blush. "Minna!" he squealed. Then he picked up his equipment and made to run out of the gym.

"Where are you going? What about dinner!"

"I haven�t time, Treize! I have to pack and write them a letter!" Wufei called back as he dashed out of the room.

"He really is something when you make him happy, Treize." Zechs smiled.

Treize turned around to see Zechs standing at the other set of gym doors, leaning on their frame with his arms crossed over his ambassador�s uniform. "Milliard�. I�m letting him go�. For a few days."

Zechs raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Did you ever hear the story of the thorn birds, Treize?"

"Thorn birds? I don�t think I know that one�"

"Well, I learned the legend from an ancient movie about this priest who had a love affair on some sheep farm in Australia�pretty boring stuff actually�"

"The priest had a love affair with sheep? Sounds interesting enough to me�"

Zechs hit Treize playfully on the back of his head as they picked up his equipment and started towards the door.

"No you baka! He had an affair ON a sheep farm not WITH a sheep farm. Anyway, half way through this dumb movie the priest starts going off about love. And he tells the story of the thorn birds. You see, in Australia there used to be this kind of bird, very small, plain, homely kind of things. The birds never speak, their whole lives. Then, one day, when a bird is ready, it will fly away from its flock and go far out into the desert. It goes for days, until it reaches this special kind of tree, with thorns all over it. Then, the thorn bird opens its beak and begins to sing. And all the world stops, and God in His Kingdom looks down and smiles, to hear the most beautiful sound in all His creation. The bird sings for a long time, saying all the things it held in side it�s whole life, putting all its love and very soul into the song. And then, on the last note, which is too beautiful to bear, the bird impales itself on a thorn, and dies. The priest said that lovers were sometimes like this bird� Well, the priest was saying love is sometimes so beautiful that it kills us, but at least it gives the world the most beautiful song."

"That�s amazing, Milliard. Now, why exactly are you telling me this?"

"Because someday your little bird will sing Treize, but first� you have to let him out of his cage�"

"I can�t give him up Milliard. I won�t. I won�t loose another�"

Zechs�s heart panged with guilt. "Very well Treize. But then you will never know if he truly loves you�"

"Wufei�" Treize said as he opened the door. The boy continued putting some clothes in one of Treize�s matching luggage sets.

"Can I borrow this? Just for the three days I�ll be gone? I�ll take good care of it."

"Everything in this room is yours," Treize said sadly�.. Everything��

Wufei flashed him a grin and perked up his ears. "Tired?"

"Ah."

"Too tired to read tonight?"

"Ha."

"Would you like me to?"

Treize began to remove his clothing. "Ha, dragon, if you wish�"

Wufei removed his top and spread out on his side of the bed. Treize ducked into the closet to change as Wufei attempted to find the page where they left off. Treize emerged in red silk pajama pants and slowly moved under the covers.

"How�s your throat?"

Treize touched his little scab. "Ask me in Greek and I�ll tell you�"

"I�m not THAT concerned!" Wufei retorted merrily. "Let�s see where were we? Ah yes!" And he began to read in a soft, breathy voice that clung around Treize�s mind. Soon he began to focus on the way the boy read and not the story at all. He couldn�t tell you what the hell happened in the story, but he had memorized Wufei�s tonal qualities for sure. Treize closed his eyes to listen better.

After a while his dragon stopped, and shut the book. The boy turned off the lamps and slipped back into bed. "Good night, Treize Krushrenada� and thank you." Wufei kissed Treize�s forehead and turned over to sleep.

Treize�s heart pounded in his chest. Oh God. So close! Must wait for the boy. Treize afforded himself one weakness and feigning sleep, he turned over, snaked an arm around Wufei and pulled the ex-pilot close. The dragon did not fight the embrace, but merely yawned and snuggled closer. Treize nuzzled the back of the boy�s neck, and then settled in for sleep, not wanting to blow his cover.