A Promise Between Souls

By DragonMage

// -- Flashbacks

Chapter 1

"Man, this party is great, isn't it?" Duo Maxwell laughed as he slung an arm around Heero Yuy's shoulders and leaned against his friend drunkenly. Of course, he really wasn't drunk. He had a pretty good alcohol tolerance. Acting drunk was just fun!

Heero looked at Duo from the corner of his eye and tried not to push his friend away. Sometimes Duo was just too much. He sighed softly and wondered how the hell had Duo found him and convinced him to come to the reunion party in the first place. He just wanted to be left alone but one day Duo just showed up at his doorstep with an invite that said he was coming to the Winner-Barton reunion party--whether or not he liked it.

And what a reunion it was. Everyone--almost literally everyone--was there. Lady Une, Mariemeia Khushrenada, Howard, Sally Po, Lucrezia Noin, Zechs Merquise, Relena Dorlian, Hilde Schbeiker, Dorothy Catalonia, Catherine Bloom, Chang Wufei and so many other people Heero had never met before in his life. How did Quatre and Trowa know so many people? But then, all of Quatre's men and the circus people were also there.

His eyes wandered uninterestedly over the crowds of people in the huge ballroom and his gaze landed on Chang Wufei. The young Chinese man was standing off to one side with a drink dangling delicately from his fingers. He was leaning against the wall with a bored expression on his face. He was also dressed in a black suit. Heero had never before seen Chang Wufei in black before, yet there he was dressed in that color that Duo was so fond of.

"Who are you ogling?" Duo asked, slurring his words playfully. He laughed as Heero gave him his Death Glare. "Jeez, lighten up!" Duo stared in the direction Heero had been looking at and raised an eyebrow. "Hmm...Wufei? And he's wearing black! Go figure!"

Heero ignored Duo and decided to stare at another direction. He didn't succeed though as his gaze continued to go back to the Chinese ex-pilot. He had no idea what was wrong with him but he couldn't help it. Through out the war he had never paid any attention to the Chinese boy because he was so occupied with trying to end the war. But now...now he had no distractions and his attention kept on wandering back to the other boy. What was wrong with him? He had never noticed the other boy before...Okay, that was a lie. Yes, he had noticed the other boy before. But he always managed to shove his thoughts deep down and concentrate on his missions.

"Heero!"

Heero turned his attention away from Wufei and almost groaned as Relena Dorlian made her way over to him and Duo. She was dressed in a pink dress with her hair tumbling down her back. She had a smile on her face that Heero did not like at all.

"Hello, Relena," Duo drawled as he grinned cheekily at the former Queen of the World. "Long time no see! How's life treating you?"

Relena smiled and nodded at Duo. "It's nice to see you too, Duo." But then she turned her complete attention at Heero. She smiled sweetly. "Hello, Heero."

"Relena," Heero said in his usual monotone. Relena was a great girl and a good political leader but Heero wished she would just keep their relationship just like that: political. He didn't like her and he didn't know how many times he had to say it before she got it. He desperately wished she would stop trying to get him as a new boyfriend. It was tiring. The only reason he did anything to protect her was to make sure that peace was maintained; that was his mission and what he fought for. Who said anything about falling in love? Relena read too many romance books.

"How are you?" Relena asked as she stood closer to him. He could smell her perfume. "Is everything okay in your life?"

"Everything is fine," Heero said simply, wishing to the gods to get rid of her.

Duo snickered. He knew Heero hated intimate relationships with a passion. It was probably the only reason why Relena couldn't get her claws into him and why he couldn't sleep with him. Rolling his eyes, Duo decided to save the Perfect Soldier from the Queen's evil clutches.

"Releeeennnaaa!" Duo sang out as he hooked his arm through hers and began to pull her away. "I just heard the most interesting thing about you..."

Heero suppressed his laughter as he watched Relena being dragged away but a chattering Maxwell. He was going to have to thank Duo for that.

He looked back where Wufei had been standing and frowned when he found the Chinese boy gone. <Hmm...where could he have gone?> Without meaning to, Heero began to search the crowd for Wufei. He was about to give up when he saw a flash of black and a ponytail disappear behind some velvet drapes lead to the balcony. <Ah-ha! Found him.>

Chang Wufei leaned against the marble rail of the balcony and stared up at the night sky. It was decorated with just the right amount of diamond stars with the moon peeking out behind some wispy clouds. He breathed in the cool night air and closed his eyes. He had been having the strangest dreams lately. It was difficult to get any sleep and he was pretty tired. But Quatre had insisted he came to the reunion party, so here he was. Of course, it was beyond boring. He had no one to talk to--even if he wanted to--and he just wanted to go home, curl up with a good book and have a steaming hot cup of tea next to him while he lost himself into the world of fantasy. Ah, yes, he would love that.

Reaching up, he fingered the pendant around his neck. He had found the strange pendant buried in one of the trunks in his home. He had no idea how it got there but he dimly remembered his mother used to wear the same pendant around her neck. How it got into his things was a mystery. But the pendant reminded him of his mother so he wore it. There was an inscription on the back of the pendant but he couldn't read it. It was written in ancient Chinese mixed with something else that Wufei didn't even knew existed.

A shoe scraping against the floor brought him out of his thoughts. He straightened and turned around, a little irked that someone was interrupting his peace. But his anger died when he saw who it was.

Heero Yuy.

He hadn't seen Heero since the end of the second war with Mariemeia, just about a year ago. The Japanese boy looked a bit different, older, more well-defined. He was dressed in a smart looking suit although his hair was another thing. Sometimes Wufei wondered if Heero *ever* bothered to comb it. But he had to admit, the Japanese boy did look damn sexy with it like that.

He had no idea when he had fallen for the Japanese boy, sometimes it felt he had loved him forever but he knew that was stupid. They had barely met in the war. And the times they were working together were too brief. He didn't even know Heero, and Heero didn't even know him. But he fell anyway, and he fell HARD. It was stupid, silly and fanciful but sometimes he dreamed Heero would love him back. Just like how he dreamed Meiran would love him back.

"What are you doing here?" Wufei finally asked, knowing Heero probably would just stand there and stare at him all night if he allowed it.

"I wanted to get some fresh air," Heero lied as he walked over to the railing and leaned against it, seemingly ignoring Wufei. But he was far from ignoring Wufei. In fact, all of his sense were well aware of the Chinese boy only a few inches away.

Wufei stared at Heero for a moment before relaxing against the railing as well. He stared down at the garden below the balcony. His eyes saddened when he saw a perfect rose blooming down there. <Treize...> Even after facing the truth and letting go of his demons, he still couldn't wipe Treize Khushrenada from his mind. He felt really bad for taking the life of a man like Treize. But it had stopped the war...Every decision is a double edge sword. He couldn't believe Mariemeia could actually like him even though he had taken the life of her father. But the times they had spent together in his home when Une was too busy to work and take care of her proved him wrong. He loved the little girl, almost like a daughter. <Maybe I'm suppose to do this. Maybe I'm suppose to care for Mariemeia to apologize for what I did.> He didn't mind at all though.

Sneaking a glance at Wufei, Heero saw that he was deep in thought. He wondered what was going on through his mind. That was when he caught the glimmer of metal hanging from Wufei's neck. He narrowed his eyes and looked closer. It looked so familiar...

//"What is that?"

"What? This?" The little boy pointed at the pendant hanging from around his neck.

"Yes, that."

"I don't know. I was wearing it when your Mama and Papa found me. I think it was my mother's."

"It's pretty."

The little boy smiled.//

Shaking his head slightly, Heero wondered where the hell that had came from. He tried to get a grip on what he had "saw" but it eluded him. He was just left a bit confused and out of it.

"Something wrong?"

Heero looked up and met slightly worried obsidian ones. He nodded slowly as he straightened up and looked away. He tried to ignore the sudden thudding of his heart against his chest. <What's wrong with me? I control my emotions.>

"I'm fine. I probably had too much to drink," he finally said.

"I never knew the Perfect Soldier drank," came the amused reply.

Heero turned and looked at Wufei. The man had his head titled to one side and the pendant around his neck glimmered under the dim light.

"What is that?" Heero asked, pointing at the pendant.

Wufei frowned and stared down at it. "It's just an old family necklace. My mother wore it when I was a child. I found it a few days ago."

Heero nodded slowly. "It's interesting."

"Isn't it?" Wufei agreed.

Heero fell silent for a moment as he tried to sort out through his thoughts. For some reason, this all felt very familiar to him. It was strange and it weirded him out. He had never felt weird out before, and he didn't like it. He liked to be in control and aware of the situation. He didn't like it when it felt a little out of control.

Sneaking a glance at other the boy, Heero admired the way the shadows played over Wufei's aristocratic features. He had noticed that before. Wufei always looked so proper and rich. Almost like Quatre or the late Treize Khushrenada. He just had this feeling about him that said he came from a very good background. He absently wondered what it was.

Wufei caught Heero looking but decided to say nothing. If Heero wanted to look at him, he could. He had no problem with that. Although, it was pretty hard not to blush a little bit as he pretended not to notice. <Weak. I am so weak.>

"So--"

"Ah--"

Wufei and Heero bumped noses as they both turned to tell each other something. They hadn't realized they how close they had been standing.

Wufei ducked his head and blushed hot red. He wished feverently Heero didn't notice. But Heero did...and acting on instinct, he reached out to touch Wufei's smooth skin...

~*~

<Where *is* Heero? If Duo hadn't dragged me away like that I'd be spending time with him,> Relena Dorlain thought, just a bit put off not being able to spend time with her favorite Gundam pilot. She lifted her pink dress and wandered around the ball room, trying to catch sight of that handsome Japanese boy. She had been in love for Heero Yuy for as long as she could remember after meeting him. But the boy just wouldn't return her feelings! Or at least he wouldn't show it. She knew that he *had* to care for her, or else he wouldn't have saved her so many times before in the past. She knew, deep down inside, Heero only needed a little push in the right direction. Then he would be hers!

Getting a little frustrated, Relena figured Heero might be hiding out in the balcony or something. She smiled slightly as she walked towards one balcony. She was half way there when she bumped into her brother, Zechs.

"Oh, hello, brother," she said, smiling.

"Relena. Where are you going?" Zechs asked curiously.

"Oh...just somewhere," Relena said vaguely. She was about to say something else when she spotted a flash of Heero's shadow. <Ah-ha! There he is!> "Excuse me, Zechs, I need to talk to someone." Then she rushed off before her dear brother could say another word. She smiled excitedly as she neared the balcony. She would finally get Heero alone! Maybe they could finally talk instead of beating around the bushes.

She was about to call out to Heero when she saw Chang Wufei standing there as well. And Heero was reaching out to touch him in a very intimate way! They wouldn't even be able to make an excuse of it just being a friendly touch! Her breath caught silently and her eyes widened in shock. <No! No!! Not after all that time I waited...I can't lose him to Wufei! No!!>

She resisted the urge to stamp her foot and scream as she whirled around and ran off. She would get Heero Yuy, even if it was the last thing she did! He was hers!!

"Relena!"

Relena barely heard Dorothy's words as she ran. A white hot anger welled up inside of her, and dimly she began to remember something from long ago.

~*~

Wufei had no idea what was wrong with him, but the next thing he knew he was leaning into Heero's hand, their faces only a few centimeters apart. Heero's warm breath washed over him as he stood there, trembling from shock and excitement. He had always dreamed of Heero touching him, even just a small touch like this.

Heero stared in wonder as he smoothed his hand over Wufei's silky skin. <Gods...> His heart was pounding like crazy and he could barely get a grip on his thoughts as he moved closer to Wufei. It felt so familiar, so right! As if he had done this hundreds of times before to the same man. Swallowing hard, he leaned in to kiss Wufei...

"Relena!"

Wufei started and turned away from Heero's touch. He was breathing hard as he tried to get a grip on himself and his hormones. He felt weak and hot all over, but tried valiantly to ignore it. "I think...something happened." He gave Heero a quick, fleeting glance before walking off.

Blinking, Heero stared at Wufei's retreating back before following him. They had been so close to just kissing! Why did Wufei turn away?

"...she just ran off! I have no idea what's wrong with her," Dorothy was telling Quatre in confusion. "Do you have any idea why she was so upset?"

Wufei was standing beside Trowa, looking anywhere *but* Heero. He was confused and startled and...and afraid. He knew he had fallen for Heero, but he had no idea he'd react this badly! He thought it would start out slow and warm...But it was far too intense for something like that! If Heero had asked him to join him in the bedroom, he would have been more than willing to go. That was what frightened him.

Heero's heart was still pounding harshly against his rib cage as he walked over to the small crowd. They were all talking amongst themselves, wondering why Relena Dorlian had ran off so suddenly.

"Do you think one of us should go after her?" Quatre wondered worriedly.

"No, I think she'll be fine," Trowa said calmly.

"Are you sure? We're not even positive what's wrong with her," Dorothy said, holding a hand to her lips.

"Maybe she needed the restroom," Duo suggested, shrugging.

"Duo!" Quatre sighed.

"What? Hey, when ya gotta go, ya gotta go," Duo said defensively.

"I don't think so. She looked really upset," Dorothy said, frowning.

"Well, I wouldn't let her ruin this party. She'll be all right. She's Relena!" Duo said optimistically.

Quatre and Dorothy bit their lower lips.

"Maybe you're right," Dorothy agreed slowly.

"Probably. If there is something wrong we'll talk to her after the party," Quatre consented. There were so many things to do, and he just couldn't risk getting behind to talk to Relena--no matter how much he wanted to.

"Good idea," Duo said, nodding. He looked at Heero. "Oi, why so quiet?"

Heero shrugged, looking at Wufei. The Chinese man ignored him.

Duo raised an eyebrow and said nothing.

~*~

Later that night--or early morning--Heero was laying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling as he tried to sort through his thoughts and emotions. Ever since leaving the party, he had just been one mess of confusion.

He had never experienced anything like this before and it sorta scared him. What was he suppose to do? Act on his emotions? What if he gets rejected? But then...Wufei didn't look like he was going to reject him any time soon.

"Argh! Gods, what do I do?" Heero asked himself out loud. He sighed and rolled over, pulling a spare pillow to his face and hugging it tightly. What was he going to do? He knew he liked Wufei--a lot. He just didn't know what to do about it. He never had to deal with something like this before. He had never liked anyone before. Or at least, not like how he was really, really liking Wufei. And he couldn't explain where the attraction came from. It felt like it had been around forever...yet, he knew it couldn't be. They had only met during the war...

<Talk about a mess. What am I going to do?>

<Okay...First: I find Wufei. Second: I...I talk to Wufei! Okay...we're doing good. Third: I kiss Wufei!>

Heero groaned. <Nononono!! If I do that...Gods, I am so weak...> But the thought of pressing his lips against Wufei's made him feel so warm and good inside. Why? Why did thinking about Wufei make him feel so good? As if something inside of him was being filled with this warm liquid or light or something! He couldn't exactly explain it but...

He felt happy.

And he had never truly felt happy before in his life! He had felt anger, frustration, hate, sorrow, and relief. But...happiness. Happiness always seemed so far out of reach. But just *thinking* of Wufei made him so happy. Why?

Closing his eyes, Heero drifted off to sleep...all his thoughts occupied on the single boy with the velvet dark eyes.

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Is this okay? Please...comments. This is kinda new territory for me. I'm gonna mix some stuff in there I've never tried with fanfiction and I'm kinda nervous about it *laughs* Oy...