Ask and ye shall receive, E-sama.  Your prequel, m�lord.  I hope you�re happy; you�ve created a monster.  Sorry it took so long, but it suffered a MASSIVE rewrite as my life suddenly went to hell recently and I felt the need to inflict it on someone who couldn�t fight back.  Poor Du-chan, that�s what he gets when he hangs around with me��  For anyone who�s read the stories this is based on, �My Dearest Duo� and �My Heavenly Heero�, you know how this turns out.  But I�ll give the best ride I can regardless.  Ok, there be language abuse here.  I�m having a bad year and feel no particular reason to pull my phrases this time.  Also, since it�s a combat situation and stressful as all hell, I think we can let this one pass�..  The bickering is real-life inspired as this is how my sister and I sound when we�re trying to work together.  We make a great team, but anyone listening would assume we hate each other�s guts.  But when it counts��. As for the medical matters, my usual source of info (aka mother) refused to help me on this one.  So I had to resort to her med books and my own limited knowledge and imagination.  I did the best I could considering I�m still a freshman and haven�t taken any actual med classes yet.  Working in a hospital does have its benefits sometimes��.  If there are any mistakes or errors of any kind, they are entirely my fault and I apologize to those more knowledgeable then myself.  I did try to be as realistic as possible.  P.S.  I get to be the doctor!  A small self-insertion, but I think I�ve earned it.  My eternal thanks to the ever-energetic and joyful Misuzu, my new beta reader for putting up with this crap.  This is by far the single largest one-shot fic I�ve ever written.  It�s taken a ton of my time and a good chunk of my already abused and undeveloped sanity.  I hope you think it was worth it.  Have fun, the boys sure didn�t.  Well�� maybe at the end, they do.  Ja ne! Title: The Time to Tell Author: Lady DarkAngel [email protected] Archive: Lady DarkAngel's Gundam Wing Fanfiction Library http://ladydarkangel_1.homestead.com/Main.html, Darkflame's (if she'll take it.) and anywhere else is fine, just ask me first Category: Yaoi, Angst, Sap, Death? Pairing(s): 1+2/2+1 becoming 1x2/2x1 (clear enough?) Disclaimers: Gundam Wing or Shinkidousenki Gundam Wing is copyrighted and trademarked by Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency and associated parties with all rights and privileges.  The characters were used without permission for the purposes of entertainment only.  This is not meant for sale of profit.  Any characters not created by those listed above are mine and hereby considered the sole property and copyright of the author. Anyway, I'm just a poor college student.  So can I play with them?  I promise I won't break them�� much. Rating: I�m gonna have go with R here (my first one!) Warnings: Let�s see: blood, language, violence, near-death and other stuff.  Oh, and the usual yaoi and angst too.  Sap and tearjerker towards the end. Feedback:  Kami-sama, YES!!!  [email protected]; any and all comments are welcome like the sweet ego-sustainers they are. It had all gone to hell.  A single infiltrate and destroy mission, one that wasn�t even supposed to last the whole day, had deteriorated into a deadly firefight.  Caught in their attempt to destroy the main OZ ammunitions depot in the area, Heero and Duo had no choice but to fall back.  The charges had been set and the timer was ticking so now escape was the only objective left.  The OZ soldiers, figuring out that there were only two of them, had managed to pin them down with a hail of bullets in a very inconvenient location.  The base and three squads dead ahead, dense nearly-impenetrable forest to the west, a sheer drop-off to the east and absolutely no cover behind them for at least 700 ft.  In fact, the ragtag barricade they�d managed to erect was nothing more then an overturned OZ Jeep that had originally been their planned-on escape vehicle.  Instead, a few rounds to the engine block and the tires had ensured that they would be going nowhere for the moment.  Duo blew a frustrated breath that ruffled his sweat-soaked bangs.  This was *so* not their day.  They had trouble getting in; the mission data about troop strength was wrong and it had taken longer then it should have to break in.  Then they got caught placing the final charges and had to shoot their way out.  THEN they get outside only to find their ride shot to hell and the cavalry for the wrong side ready and waiting.  To top it all off, the woods were out as an escape option due to all the mega-dense overgrowth, and there was a radio blackout so that meant no calling for help either!  And then his bastard partner had nearly yanked his braid off pulling him down to the meager safety the barricade provided!  <I swear, that man�s lucky I love him.  Otherwise, he�d be on the target list too.  No one touches my braid, especially when I�m pissed!  Who in the hell does he think he is, acting like he owns me?!  If I didn�t know any better, I might actually be tricked into thinking he cared!> He�d come to terms a long time ago with the fact that he loved Heero.  As well as the fact that Heero would never see him as anything but an annoyingly talkative nuisance American baka of a partner that made a good punching bag and target for glare practice.  It was a vain hope for anything other then enforced partnership and maybe if he was lucky, tentative friendship.  He fully expected to be dropped like a sack of rancid rations as soon as possible.  Didn�t change anything, though.  He still loved the taciturn manic and would to the day he died.  Simple as that.  Being with Heero had somehow made his screwed up life more bearable.  Even when he was being ignored or insulted, the mere presence of the Wing Zero pilot did wonders for his general attitude and outlook on life.  It seemed more��  livable, damnit.  Like he had something to wait for��. A bullet that zoomed by a little too close for comfort brought him back to reality.  The goon squad had smarted up and were spreading out in order to get a clear shot.  So not only did they have hostile well-armed targets out for blood, they now had moving hostile well-armed targets out for blood that were getting a clue and better aim with each shot they fired.  Unbidden, the one word that he could think of to summarize the situation slipped out in a groan.  �F~uck!� That drew Heero�s eyes for a second.  Cobalt locked with amethyst and stayed that way for a second, only to be broken with Duo�s shrug, cheeky grin and unapologetic, �We�re screwed.� �Aa.� Duo�s eyebrows shot upwards and a frown appeared.  �Is that all you have to say?!  We�re gonna die soon and all I get is �Aa�?!� �Hn.�  Heero wasn�t even looking at him anymore; his attention was directed elsewhere.  �10 o�clock.� Duo snapped off a round and the soldier in question fell.  He snorted.  �Kitto.  What were you honestly expecting, Duo?  Dunno, maybe a heartfelt goodbye?  Or how about some reassurance?  Maybe a well-thought up and perfectly executable escape plan that�s 100% guaranteed to work?  No, no, wait; I got it!   You love me, right?�  <Oh, don�t I wish��> Heero was so stunned, he missed his chosen target by a good ten feet.  But it ended up hitting someone else, so that wasn�t important.  <Oh, if only you knew��> His mind was in a whirlwind.  <It was only a joke.  I know that.  But still��  I wish��  that he could feel about me the way I feel about him.  Shimatta, does he have to joke about that?!  Am I so obvious that he needs to make fun of it to cover his embarrassment and discomfort?  Am I that repulsive to him?  Then why does he stay near me?  And why in the hell am I worrying about this now of all times?!> �Urusai.� Duo twisted around and took out a handful of soldiers to his left.  �Make me, stiff-ass.  Jeez, just trying to lighten an obviously tense moment and make our last few minutes on earth a little more enjoyable!  But noooooo, Mr. Perfect Soldier can�t aim straight without absolute silence!  You are no *fun*, I tells ya!� �My aim is fine.  Fun is irrelevant.  And why would listening to your prattle be enjoyable?� �Jerk.  I swear I don�t know why I even bother with you anymore. 3 o�clock!�  Heero moved slightly and eliminated the indicated threat. <Why do you bother, Duo?  I don�t understand.  You confuse me.> �Get back to work, baka.� The American ducked down and did a quick ammo inspection.  �Bite me!  I�m running a little low here.  Only got two clips left.  Got a spare?� The dark-haired boy grunted.  �Iie.  One and that�s mine.  You�re on your own.  Make every shot count.� �No shit, Sherlock.  What do you think, that I�m writing my name in bullet holes and if I have enough left, I�d do Shinigami�s, too?  Of course I�m making them count!�  <Bastard.  But he�s my bastard.  Even if it�s only in a partner�s capacity.  No one touches what�s mine!> Duo popped up again and began to yell furiously.  �Die, you miserable OZie sons of bitches!  Shinigami has come for you!  When you go to hell, remember to tell them who sent you and you�ll get prime seats and free soda refills!  Limited time offer!� �Baka, I said shut up!  Can�t you ever obey orders?� �Nani?  Since when do I take orders from you?  It�s not like they don�t know we�re here!  I refuse to go out without cracking at least one wise-ass comment and that�s FINAL!  Now where was I?  Oh yeah!  Burn in hell and may they run out of marshmallows before they get to you!!!!� <Of course you won�t.  You always manage to do what you want.  That�s one of the reasons why I��  stop that!>  �Duo, concentrate on what you�re doing and not what you�re yelling or we really will die here!  The chances are terrible as is; this probably is our last mission!� Anger flashed in amethyst eyes as he proclaimed, �By Shinigami, I swear we�re gonna get out of this one just so I can see the stupid look on your face when we do!  We live, you hear me?  No one takes down Duo Maxwell, especially not some two-bit OZ private goon-squad that flunked targeting school!�  His braid whapped him in the face as he leaned over to scream at their attackers, �Try your best, you ugly butt-munches!  You won�t get us!!� �Duo��� he growled menacingly.  He was interrupted by an enormous roar as the depot went up in a giant angry ball of flame.  <About damn time.> Training kicked in as he grabbed Duo and ducked behind their shelter.  A burning hot wind blew over the top, close enough to warm his scalp uncomfortably.  Normally, he would have been well out of danger range but somehow when he had pulled the Deathscythe pilot down, he�d ended up on top of him.  No real surprise there.  Even subconsciously, he was protecting the baka.  *His* baka.  Duo didn�t know, couldn�t know, and would never know if he could help it.  The annoying American had somehow gotten past the Perfect Soldier�s defenses and looked like he was taking up permanent residence.  <Which I don�t really mind for some damn reason.  I hate not knowing why.  Everything has a reason; I�ll figure it out eventually.  But for now�� It�s seriously pissing me off.>  And even then he was lying to himself.  These feelings had come only from being near Duo; for Duo.  He knew what they were, but to name something means acknowledging it.  And that will happen in approximately never. Duo blinked from his position underneath Heero.  <Now how the hell did this happen?!  Not that I really mind��  Wish it wasn�t because of the mission, though.  Still, he must care a little to do that�� right?> His train of thought got derailed once again by gunfire coming from the remaining OZies who had survived the blast.  <Ok, once more into the fray.> �Ne, Heero, looks like the odds are more in our favor now.  Let�s kick some ass!� �We were doing that already.  And we�re still outnumbered, outgunned and running out of ammo.  Quit slacking, gajin.  Focus.�  <That�s it.  Act like always and he�ll never suspect a thing.  It�s better this way; it has to be��.> �Oh, you are such a jack-ass.  There�s only like twenty or thirty left.  I give �em fifteen minutes, tops.� <We can take �em.  Come on, Hee-chan.  Just you and me.  Like it was meant to be.  I know you don�t care but I can still dream��> �We can�t wait that long.� �We don�t really have a choice now do we?!�  <Heero, one of these days I�m gonna smack you square upside the head!  Or maybe pin you down and give you the kiss of your life.  Or maybe both if I can pull it off.>  He pushed back the whispies that had fallen free of the braid and snorted.  �You can be such a jerk sometimes.� �And you are and forever will be a baka.� <My baka.  I promise, I�ll get us out of this.  Or at least, get you out.  I will protect you.> �Eyes up front.  That�s where the targets are.  Let�s get this over with.�  �Yare yare��� It was pure and utter chance he saw it.  Or maybe it was simply fate.  Turning his head so that he�d be looking ANYWHERE but at his bastard distraction of a partner, Duo�s eyes caught a faint flash of light over in the woods to the left.  The woods that would have taken a Gundam-sized weed-whacker to even make a dent in and therefore should NOT be containing any suspicious glints.  <What the hell?!>  Body automatically moving, he whirled to this new possible threat.  Violet eyes furiously searched the darkness for a hint of�� anything.  Heero, noticing that Duo was no longer actively shooting at their pursuers, ducked down behind the barricade and snarled at him.  �What the hell do you think you�re doing, baka?!  This isn�t the time for games! Quit staring and start shooting!� Angrily, Duo growled at his partner as he frantically scanned the area.  His sixth sense was screaming at him that something was seriously wrong with this picture.  He never questioned that voice and that was one of the reasons he still living. The thick darkness and seemingly impenetrable tangle of weeds and trees did nothing to reassure him.  Something was there; he just *knew* it!  �Get bent, Yuy!  I�m not playing; we may have a problem here!  I saw somethin�!� �Hell yes, we do; now help me fix it!� �No, not that!  Over there!� �Duo, nothing is over there!  Now get your ass in gear or we�re not gonna make it!  I refuse to die and fail my mission because you�re jumping at shadows!� Duo started to spin around, ready to tear into Heero when he saw it again.  <There!> Eyes focused on empty space.  Or was it?  He saw something for sure this time.  30 or so feet up in the tree branches. Definitely light reflecting off metal.  Weird.  And it was in a different spot.  <What could it be?!  Moving metal that high up?  That�s setting off every mental alarm I�ve got?  Think, Maxwell, what is it?> Suddenly, the answer came to him. <Sniper!!> And suddenly time seemed to be measured in heartbeats.  His eyes locked onto the shadowy figure and the high-powered rifle in its grip.  He started to bring his gun up to bear, his mind a-whirl with confusing thoughts, of how the hell they could have been snuck up on from that quarter when it struck him.  The sniper had the rifle poised as if a target had been acquired.  But it wasn�t pointed at him.  The son of a bitch was aiming at Heero. <NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!> There was no time to fire, no time to warn, no time to even think.  Duo�s entire world consisted of his beloved partner and the damn gun that was going to kill him.  <LIKE HELL!!!!!!!!!> roared through his mind as he put all of his energy into a short sprint and one brutal shove.   All the raging emotions he had ever felt came to the fore; all his love, fear and protective instincts coalesced into enough force to send the Perfect Soldier flying.  For a brief second, he had held Heero in his arms and the contact was indescribable.  Then the Wing Zero pilot was down.  He stared into those exquisite cobalt eyes that were filled with confused anger.  He saw his heart�s devotion unceremoniously sprawled in the dirt safely out of the line of fire and struggling to rise with curses on his lips.  All this in a few seconds or less.  And then a pain struck him like he had never known before, and the screaming darkness came for him. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ �*IIE*!!!!!!!!�   The scream was hoarse and primal, coming from a throat that had clenched shut in shock and fear.  Heero�s eyes widen as he felt his world slow to a crawl.  Events became singular snapshots instead of continuous motions.  Duo shouting and then suddenly running over and shoving him roughly aside.  His landing awkwardly on his ass, looking up at his partner.  His anger as he tried to get up and face the baka to demand an explanation for his behavior.  The sharp crack of a rifle echoing in his ears from somewhere behind him, even over the thunderous cacophony of bullets still raining on them from the front.  Duo�s heart-shaped face twisting in agony as blood blossomed in a plume from his chest.  The split second where Duo managed to stay upright before unconsciousness and gravity grabbed him and pulled him under.  Himself breaking the paralysis and lunging to catch Duo.  The staccato of repeated gunfire from the rifle and the little puffs of dirt they caused as they stuck the ground not millimeters from them.  Time snapped into normal speed again with a vengeance as Heero scrambled for better cover, hauling his injured partner with him.  His mind had gone totally Soldier.  <Sniper!  But where?!  No cover to the east or south, no one can be in the woods��  Can they?  Not possible; *I* can�t get through there!   ��Unless they�re in the trees.  Damnit, that�s what Duo saw!  He�� he tried to warn me and I didn�t listen!> Duo was a deadweight in his arms and the combination of sudden shock and the extra weight conspired to throw him off balance and send them crashing to the ground.  The bullets were way too close now and Heero shielded Duo with the only shelter he had left, his own body.  The American was way too still. Totally ignoring his surroundings for the moment, he brushed panicked fingers across Duo�s cheek on his way to search for a pulse as he exclaimed, �DUO!!  Can you hear me?!  DUO!!!!�   No response, not even a twitch.  Afraid to shake him for fear of increasing his injuries, the Japanese boy had to resort to pleading as he fumbled in his desperation to locate some sign of life.  �Come on, baka.  Answer me.  Give me a sign here, partner.  It�s not your time yet!  Don�t you *dare* die on me!!� The only answer he got was a bullet close enough to startle even him.  Having enough of this shit, he grabbed his gun and scanned for a target.  <Nothing, nothing, goddamnit nothing��.  Where is he?!  Nothing, nothing��  THERE!!!!> A small rustling movement caught his eye, but it might as well have been a fifty-foot billboard announcing the sniper�s presence.  <Gotcha, you son of bitch!> With all the speed he possessed, he drew a bead and squeezed off a shot.  He vaguely saw what looked like a body fall some thirty feet from a tree.  He couldn�t go check because of the foliage from hell but the hail of bullets stopped, well from that direction at least.  Good enough.  Follow-up was irrelevant.  What was really important was that he was as good as dead if not already.  And Duo�� He leaned over Duo trying to find that still-elusive pulse.  He clutched the lithe body close as he searched.  At last finding the prize he had been seeking for the past few minutes, he let out an explosive sigh and set about determining the damage extent.  It didn�t appear to be good.  The bullet had struck at an odd angle due to Duo�s twisting to push him away.  It had pierced him high on the left side of his chest, forming a small neatly rounded hole about 2mm wide.  From the ragged whisper-like breathing, thready pulse and copious amounts of blood, he guessed it had nicked the aorta or something else vital on its way to piercing his lungs.  Gently shifting the boy to examine him further, he was shocked to feel more blood near Duo�s legs.  Scrambling with the cloth, he lifted the ministers� shirt to see a second wound near the small of his back.  It was much larger, more irregular and bleeding almost as much as the first.  It was the exit wound for the bullet.  He was even further dismayed to note how close it was to Duo�s spine.  Various possible injury lists were compiling in his mind, getting worse with each run-through and update.  It was becoming less and less survivable each time�� �NO!!!�  Unaware he had spoken aloud, he tightened his grip on the violet-eyed boy.  No one was dying here!  Duo said so himself!  Searching for his radio, he did the unthinkable for a soldier.  He disobeyed orders, broke communication silence and sent a distress signal.  The answer was almost immediate. �Maxwell, what the hell do you think you�re doing?!  You know the mission parameters; no contact whatsoever!  Yuy will have your hide for this!� Wufei.  Of course it had to be Wufei.  Strange emotions were raging and threatening to surface and he nearly gave into the insane urge to chuckle.  Some part of him found it darkly funny having the boy of his dreams in his arms, only to have him dying and the only help he could reach and trust was as inflexible and decorous as he himself was.  <Why couldn�t it have been Quatre instead?!  I don�t know what to do here!  He would!> �Answer me, Maxwell, what do you have to say for yourself?!� His voice was gone, leeched away with every drop of blood that had soaked his tanktop and the dirt below.  All his mind could fathom was the fact that here, cradled in his arms, was a shattered and dying Duo.  His Duo was leaving�� �Duo?�  Wufei�s voice had taken a somewhat gentler tone, even if it were just in questioning.  �What�s going on?  Why did you break the silence?  Did something happen?� <Yes, something happened.  Duo was shot, Duo is bleeding, Duo is dying and I can�t do anything��> �Kitto it did.  You�d never risk Yuy�s wrath otherwise.  Duo?  Are you alright?  Did something happen to Heero?  Can you hear me?� �Iie.�  The soft sound came from his throat.  The fear couldn�t contain it; it slipped past into a nearly soundless whisper.  But it was enough to catch Wufei�s ears. �Nani?!  Yuy, is that you?!� �Hai.� �Kisama!  What the hell is��   Where is Duo?!� �Duo never called��  I did.� The implication that whatever situation was occurring was enough to cause the Perfect Soldier to break orders sank in.  �Status and details.  NOW!� �Ninmu kanryou.  We�re under heavy fire.  We have temporary shelter but not for long.  Ammunition is low and not expected to last more then twenty minutes.  Duo is��  Duo is��  He�s not going���  The Wing Zero pilot tried to maintain a business-like attitude and failed miserably. There was silence for a few seconds.  And then, �Can you hold on for an hour or so?  We won�t be able to get there any faster then that.  It might be longer��  Can you hold out?� Uncertainty flashed through those cobalt eyes and then he stole a glance down at Duo�s blood-soaked form.  Steel replaced the wavering doubt  and he replied in a frigid voice, �Hai.  We�ll be here.� �Good.  Chang out.� Heero gently lowered his precious burden to the ground.  After arranging him so he�d have the most cover and be as comfortable as possible, the Wing Zero pilot grabbed both guns and the ammunition.  He then set out to methodically eliminate everyone and everything in his way.  Within mere minutes, the entire array of soldiers who had them pinned and had seemed unbeatable were dead. When it was all done, he stumbled back over to where his partner lay in the dirt.  Tripping over suddenly clumsy feet, he landed hard and crawled the last few feet to the prone figure.  Gathering him up again and carefully arranging Duo in his arms so the most pressure could be placed on those terrible wounds without injuring him further, he cradled the smaller boy gently.  Pressing the Deathscythe pilot close to his chest, Heero abruptly became aware of the silence.  Not a bird chirped, not one single noise carried itself back to his sensitive ears.  Everything was eerily calm and still, an unnatural stillness clinging to the air.  <Everyone�s dead.> he thought absently.  <I�m the last one left standing.  Iie!  Duo�s not dead, I can feel his heartbeat.  But it�s so weak�� and it�s so very quiet��  I�m alone.> Faced with the disturbing quiet and its ominous implications, Heero Yuy did something completely out of character.  He began to talk. �Duo?  I�� I don�t know if you can hear me.    Maybe you can�� I hope so.  It�s�� it�s very quiet out.  Can you hear it?  They�re all dead now; we�re safe.  Ninmu kanryou.  The others are coming soon.  I called them a while ago.  I know I broke mission parameters but�� it was necessary.  Help is on the way.  Hang on.� He paused to take a ragged breath.  �Gomen nasai, Duo.  I should have listened to you.  You tried to warn me but it didn�t work because I was too wrapped up in what was in front of me and wasn�t paying attention to the rest of the world.  But you were and you saw a threat and you tried to show me��  I should have listened, should have seen it coming and done something to stop it!  I should have protected you!  This is all my fault!  I�m so sorry!� �Why did you do it?!  Why did you push me out of the way?!  Did you think my life was worth more then yours?  Did you think that I should be the one to die instead of you?!  Baka!�  If he had a hand free, he would have slammed it into the dirt.  �I don�t understand, Duo.  I�m the one who�s supposed to bleed, suffer, die.  I�m the Perfect Soldier.  And part of being the Soldier is to take the shots that come your way.  And protect your teammates.  I�m nothing special; only utterly expendable and ready to die at any time.� �But you saved me.  Why?!  Now look at you.  You�re hurt�� dying.  Damnit, Duo, you can�t die!  It�s not your duty; not your place.  Certainly not for me.  I don�t deserve such a sacrifice.  Not for a mission, not ever.  You�re worth so much more, whether you know it or not.  You�re different, special.  Not just a soldier but something else as well.  You�re a whole person, not broken an fragmented like the others that fight.  You�ve managed to keep your happiness, your soul and everything good about you.  I haven�t figured out just how you did it but maybe I�m not supposed to.  Maybe it�s a mystery I�m not meant to understand, but merely to live in its presence��.� Heero shook his head and uttered a rueful chuckle.  �Now see what you�ve done, baka.  Not only have you gotten yourself injured, you actually managed to make me upset.  I know that�s something that you�ve been trying to do for ages.  Always aggravating me, teasing me, pulling practical jokes and mocking me for being so goddamned cold.  Always trying to get the slightest rise outta me.  Happy now?  I�m upset, beyond it actually.  I�m nervous as all hell.  I�m�� scared and I�m crying, too.  See what you�ve done to me?  I�ve never done this before.  I mean, I felt these things but I could never make them reach the surface, no matter what was happening.  My emotions always died before they could reach the outside.  But somehow, you can bring them out.  You�.. you�� you try to make me whole.  And I think it�s working.  So you can�t die yet.  Your job isn�t finished.� He took a deep, ragged breath.  �I�.. I have something to tell you.  I should have told you earlier but I��  I have no excuse other then the fact that I am a complete and total moron.  I doubted something I had no right to question and��  I have to say this.  I *need* to say this.  Otherwise, I don�t think I�ll be able to go on.  Especially if you���  He paused, looking for the right words.  Unnoticed, small tears had begun to slip from his eyes.  �You are��  the sunshine that lights my way.  The hope in this miserable godforsaken life we have to lead.  The truth that not all people are horrible monostrities and that redemption is possible.  Your smile, your laugh, your personality, sense of humor, your eyes, your voice, even that damn braid of yours�... everything about you makes life better for me.  You are the most beautiful thing I have and will ever be honored to see.  You are wonderful, despite what you believe.  I think you�re perfect, just the way you are.  I think�.. I think�� I think what I feel is more then partnership.  More then concern for a fellow pilot, more then friends even.  Duo Maxwell, I think I��.  No, I *know* I love you.  And I will till the day I die and after.� The Wing Zero pilot held his breath.  There, he finally said it out loud.  All the secrets he had kept inside for so very long, ever since he first met the braided angel he now held, were laid out in the open.  He grew still as he awaited judgment.  Surely, if Duo could hear him, he would wake for this.  Maybe to rant, maybe to run, maybe to reassure��. But he would wake.  He had to.  Heero just confessed and said the �L� word.  He *would* wake! The minutes grew longer and Heero began to get nervous.  This wasn�t the way it was supposed to be.  He confessed his soul�s intent and now Duo would respond.  For good or for ill, he would respond.  But he wasn�t.  The violet-eyed boy was just as still as ever, the blood dripping from his wounds and his shallow breathes the only movement detectable. �Wake up.�  The words echoed around him mockingly.  �Duo, I�m not kidding.  I want you to wake up. Please.�  Not a twitch was observed.  �Come on, don�t tease me like this.  You�ve already scared me to death.  Can�t you hear me at all?  You�re too still; I need you to wake up now, love.  I know you�re hurt and you need to rest, but I need to know you�re OK.  That you heard me.  That you�ll be fine.  Onegai?� A pause as nothing happened.  �Duo?  If you�re doing this because you didn�t like what I said, I�m sorry.  I didn�t mean to offend you, I just�.. had to say it.  I hope you understand if you don�t feel the same.  We can still be friends, if you�d like to.  You can yell at me all you want later; you can hate me or even beat the shit out of me if it makes you happy. Anything you want.  Just get up now. And if you�re not waking up because you can�t��   That�s not fair.  You can�t go yet.  I just said��  I just realized��  I don�t know how you��  There are too many reasons, Duo!  Come on, I�m not asking for a big production.  Twitch an eye, wiggle a finger, flex your wrist, spit on me, something!  Don�t give up without a fight!  Come back to me!  Duo!!�  The tears became mini-rivers and his breath hitched in painful sobs as he tried desperately to get through to his partner. �Can you hear me?!  I love you!  Say something, do something, ANYTHING!!!!  Anything at all!  Answer me!!  Kami-sama, onegai Duo.  Onegai���  His voice was nothing but sobs now.  �Ai shiteru.  Please live.  Please answer me.  Please��� The heart-shaped face below him twitched suddenly.  Long eyelashes fluttered and violet eyes slowly cracked open.  They didn�t make it all the way but remained half-lidded.  Heero peered into those amethyst orbs and saw the murkiness of shock clouding them.  His pupils were abnormal and there was barely any awareness in them at all. Heero held their faint gaze as firmly as he could.  Duo shouldn�t even be conscious;  even with all his ranting and raving, he had been expecting some simple gesture that could barely be defined as under conscious control.  He must be using everything he had to be able to maintain even this small level of awareness.  A blessing he didn�t intend to waste.  He lifted a trembling, blood-covered  hand to cares that soft, cold cheek.  Faced with those beautiful eyes, he found his throat clogged and the words stick. <BAKA!!!  You were screaming them to the sky not a second ago!  And he might have heard them!  It doesn�t matter now!  Say it; say it to his face before it�s too late!  SAY IT!!!!> �Ai shiteru, Duo-koi, itsumo zutto.� Cobalt eyes frantically searched for any sign of recognition, of understanding.  The blank look of unconsciousness subtly shifted.  The American boy�s lips twitched upwards into a faint smile and began to move.  Heero�s sharp eyes caught the soundless clumsy slur for what it was.  <He�s�� he�s repeating it.  He�s saying it back.  Does he know what it means or  is he just trying to understand?  Does he even know what he�s doing?> that soft smile returned and lingered as violet eyes slid shut again. �No.  *No.*  NO.  *NOOOO*!!!�  The Wing Zero pilot screamed his anguish to the stars that were beginning to rise.  Lost in this small world of pain, he�d neglected his surroundings.  The sun had set and darkness was coming.  The irony of it all became a bitter reality.  <Aa.  My sun has set; my bright light is dying.  The darkness comes for him, for me.  I can�t lose him.  Kami-sama, anyone out there, Shinigami, can you hear me?  Leave him.  Please don�t take him.  He can�t die.  Not now.  I�ll give anything. Anything you want.  Just give him back to me.  Can you hear me?  Can anyone hear me?!  Don�t take him from me!  Onegai!!!> A cold wind began to blow and Heero huddled closer to the ground, trying to shield the already too-clod body in his arms.  In the stillness of the newborn night, all that could be heard was the sobbing voice of a newly released and broken heart calling out, �Ai shiteru, ai shiteru, ai shiteru��..� ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Duo opened his eyes to nothingness.  For a confused minute, he gazed around, trying to get his bearings.  But there was no way he could; utter darkness surrounded him.  Nothing to the sides, above or below for that matter�� �Nani?  Where�� where *am* I?�   He craned his head around looking for�� anything, damnit.  �Ok, people, we�ve had our laugh.  Now let�s take pity on the poor baka and turn on the lights, m�kay?� If this is a practical joke, then someone is going to die.  The other pilots knew he wasn�t too fond of the dark and this seemed like something they would try.  Remove all objects and turn out the lights to disorient the baka.  Unlikely to work, though.  He wasn�t the stealth master for nothing.  Sometimes you have to work in total darkness.  It sucked but if there was no way around it��  Still, he would rather have the lights ON, thank you.  He decided to call their bluff. �Hello?  Hello!  Anyone there?!  Hah, hah, hah, laugh till my sides burst, tears running down my face, joke of the century!  Are we done yet?  This ain�t funny no more!  If I catch you guys, you are all going to get it!  Here me Yuy?  Barton, Winner, Chang!  Come on, joke�s over!  Guys?!� He paused again, and when nothing was forthcoming abandoned that idea.  They would have answered him, or at the very least, he would have heard Wufei and Quatre snickering in the corner.  So the others weren�t playing him for an idiot.  That meant�� �Oh great.  Just great.  Not only am I stuck in noweheresville, I have absolutely *NO* idea how I got here!  It�s dark, I�m cold, I�m lost, I have this vague feeling I�m missing something important and I�m man enough to admit that this is starting to freak me out.  Together, this means I�M NOT HAPPY!!  This so totally sucks!!  I want answers!!� /Duo./ �What the hell?!  Dare da?!  Show yourself!!�  The unexpected voice coming from nowhere scared the crap out of him.  It was strange, like a voiceless whisper or silent echo.  Unsubstantial  and yet present.  After listening to his own yells echo for a bit, he began to believe he had just imagined it.  And then it answered back. /I have come for you./ �Nani?!  Just who the hell do you think are, demanding something like that?!  Who are you anyway, asshole?!� /You know me./ And he did. �Shinigami,� came the breathless reply.  Well this puts a whole new spin on things. /Hai.  Do you know where you are?/ �Not�� not really.  I didn�t think Hell was so cold.  So, no fire?  Or did the pilot light go out?  Need more brimstone charcoal?  Is it true that I get dropped off buck-naked on a never-ending glacier to freeze my ass for eternity then?� /You are not in Hell./ �Honto ne?!  Are you fucking serious?! But�.. but��. I don�t��.  I was��. Ok, this is unexpected!!  Ano,  if this is Heaven, then I have seriously been *lied* to!  It�s cold, damnit!  And dark, too!  Where�s all the holy light and the serenity and music?  And my wings?  Don�t I at least get wings?!  I feel like I�m getting gypped here!  Not that I�m bitching or anything considering��� /This is not Heaven./ �NANI?!  Then��  where *AM* I?!� /You are between./ �Between?  Between what?   I�m dead, aren�t I?  That�s how I�m talking to you.� /You are not dead yet./ ���. But I�m not alive, either.� /That is true./ Confusion warred with the tiredness that was threatening to overwhelm him.  Confusion was winning for now.  �I don�t understand.� /Duo, do you want to die?/ �Wai!!  What the hell kind of question is that?!� /An honest one.  And requires an honest answer.  Think hard and well.  Time has no meaning here.  You have eternity to choose./ �So why do I feel a clock ticking somewhere?� /Here time is irrelevant.  But not elsewhere./ �Is that a polite way to �say get my ass in gear�?  You�re making absolutely no fucking sense, ya know that?� /We are, for all intents and purposes, sheltered here.  Reality has no meaning in this place.  It is only what you make of it.  What is here exists because you brought it into being./ �Are you trying to tell me you�re a figment of my imagination?!  That I�m talking to myself?!� /I have always been here, Duo, and you know it.  I am a part of you and you have taken my name.  Death is real.  I am real as well.  But am I Death?  Isn�t that supposed to be your title?  Or was it too much for you?/ �Oh, this is just *perfect*!  I�m possibly dead, I�m stuck in this cheap excuse for a Twilight Zone and now my own personal Death-figment is cracking jokes!  Really, really BAD jokes!  This is the uber-suck!!� /Are you done yet?  Time maybe limitless but your energy is not.  And neither is my patience.  I require an answer./ �Are you getting more smart-alecky as we go or is it me?� /My existence on this plane of being is derived from your dominant thoughts, concerns and emotions.  In other words, you�re being the smart ass and you�re making me worse./ �Lovely.  Can we go back to the mysterious Obi-Wan crap?  You mentioned a choice.� /You are dead.  And yet you are not.  The question is, which one do you want it to be?/ �Stupid question.� /Is it really?/ �Duh.  Don�t push me, Shini.  I know the answer.  There was never any doubt.  I�ve made up my mind a long time ago.� /Then why are you still here?/ That made him pause.  �What do ya mean?  That if I choose, I�d go back or��.. to wherever?  But I�ve already chosen!  What�s the deal here?� /And what was your choice?/ �You�� you know.� /If I did, would I be asking?/ �What do you want from me?!� he screamed to the darkness.  �What the fuck do you want, huh?!  Is it my soul?  Are you trying to make me go with you?  What?!� /An answer, Duo.  Nothing more, nothing less.  I want what you want. An answer./ �Well, I don�t have one!  Happy now?!  I DON�T *KNOW*!!� /Yes, you do.  You just don�t want to see it./ �Why should I live?  Why should I die?  What does it matter in the long run, anyway?� /You seem to matter.  Or have you forgotten?/ �Ch�.  Must have slipped my mind with all the death and suffering and generally sucky life I led.  Care to remind me?� he sneered.  The bitterness welling in his soul was growing on the self-despair and anger he was radiating. Suddenly, an unseen wind picked up and the darkness shifted.  A vague shape began to appear on the horizon, growing more and more defined by the second.  Duo squinted to get a better view and gasped when recognition struck.  �Heero!!� But it didn�t really resemble the Wing Zero pilot very much.  It was�� different somehow.  Oh, it was Heero�s image but��  He was hunched over, clutching something tightly to his chest and rocking back and forth unevenly.  His face was downward and his whole posture screamed despair and defeat.  He was covered in liberal red splatters that looked suspiciously like blood on his torn clothes.  Any trace of the strong Perfect Soldier had vanished and what remained behind was a broken young man that looked like he had just lost the most precious thing in the world to him. The sheer wrongness of the vision struck the American like a blow.  Heero looked like he was�� crying.  No, out-right sobbing.  But he never cried.  He never did anything *remotely* resembling anything emotional and most certainly *never* shed tears!  And yet there they were, tracking down his pale cheeks and framing that handsome face in trails of liquid silver.  Duo felt the near-overpowering urge to run over, sweep him into a fierce hug and never let go.  He looked so pitiful, so very young and small, so lost��  And then the wind carried that beloved whisper back to his ears.  It was ragged and sorrow-laden but still sent a thrill through his soul.  It was lower then usual and sounded like it had too much use recently despite its tight-lipped owner.  The Deathscythe pilot strained to catch the sound.   The words were hard to make out but when he did�� Duo�s eyes widened. �Ai shiteru, Duo-koi, itsumo zutto.  Ai shiteru�� ai shiteru�� ai shiteru��� Over and over came the endearments, softer and more desperate each time.  Shock paralyzed him as those beautiful heartfelt words sank in.  �Oh Kami-sama, can it be true?  Heero���  As he reached out, the vision wavered and faded.  �NO!!!  Come back!  Heero!�  Unconsciously whirling around, he screamed out, �Shinigami!  What the hell did you do?!  Bring him back here, and I mean right NOW!!� /He was never here./ �Fine, then.  I can play this mystical game too.  Send *me* to wherever he is!  And no, I don�t care where; just do it!� /No./ Duo hissed in a slow dangerous voice.  �What did you say?� /You have chosen.  That was not your path./ �How dare you.  How *DARE* you presume what I chose?!  I pick Heero, you miserable figment bastard; I chose life!  Let me go!!� /You chose death a long time ago.  You are mine.  The only reason you are still here in this place between is because you fight me./ �Damn right I fight you!  I�ll fight you forever!  This isn�t what I want!  I�m a gundam pilot, damnit; I fight hopeless fights for a living!  And win too!  This is a fight I want to win, have to win!  Heero�s waiting for me; my life is waiting for me!  You think you can take me down, jerk?!  Like to see you try!� /Yes, I do.  And I will./ Duo grew still.  �You�re not really Death, are you?  You said I had a choice, and yet you try to force me to go with you.  I�ve resisted Death before.  OK, I don�t remember anything like this happening, but I know that I had a choice and I was allowed to make it!  This isn�t like before!  Why?!� /It is your time./ �Says you, bakayaro!  I don�t believe you!  I�m not going!� /It is pointless to resist.  Come./ A thought occurred to Duo.  �What�s going on here?  If you really are Death, you could just haul my ass away if it was *really* my time.  But you�re not.  You don�t seem to be able to; you want my consent.  You need me to say it, don�t you?  You can�t take me unless I agree!� /Not now, I can�t.  You are too strong.  But you weaken, Duo.  Your energy ebbs, your light dims.  Soon, you will be mine.  Everything is mine, eventually./ �Like Hell!� /It�s true.  It�s always preferable for someone to come willingly but if I have to��  you have no chance of winning.  You are mine.  And I will return./ Duo�s shriek of defiance echoed down the darkness and filled the void.  It also managed to cover up the soft whisper that came shortly afterwards.  It was a plea for help, a cry from the heart to its other half.  �Heero��.� ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ They waited in the small lobby of the ER.  The Gundam pilots were tired and subdued.  After arriving on the scene for a rescue, Trowa, Quatre and Wufei were shocked to find their friends in such a state.  Racing to the nearest hospital, they had been unable to dislodge Duo from Heero�s steel grip nor were they able to get him to respond to them.  All he did was sit there in the transport, clutching Duo like a lifeline and rocking back and forth ever so slowly.  They had known it would have been bad for Heero to do what he did but still��. And so they waited.  Duo was being taken care of at the moment.  Heero had come to life briefly when the hospital staff tried to take Duo from him.  They were lucky no one was killed.  It had taken much work to calm the anguished and panicky Japanese boy.  Only by mentioning that Duo would die without their immediate help did they get him to stop and release the interns.  He had been withdrawn ever since.  So quiet reigned in the small room as the boys tried to find something other to do then worry and wallow in their own misery. �Excuse me.  I�m looking for the people who brought in a��  Duo Maxwell?� Four heads snapped up at the sound of a soft voice breaking their self-imposed silence.  They turned in unison to see a young woman standing in the doorway, holding a clipboard.  The bright lights of the ER clashed with the darkness of the room to blur her into a shadow form surrounded by light.  Then she closed the door and turned on the lights.  They could see she was wearing scrubs and a lab coat.  Her long hair was in something that might have been a braid at one time but had degraded into a poor excuse for a ponytail.  Her grey eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses were tired and she was liberally covered in faded bloodstains.  All in all, she looked like she�d been through one helluva fight.  She extended an arm and offered her hand.  �My name is Dr. Minick and I�m the one who handled your friend�s case.� Quatre quickly stood and offered his own hand in return.  �My name is Quatre Winner and I�ll be taking care of the expenses and paperwork.  How is he?� She rubbed a red-tinged hand across her forehead and looked them straight in the eye one by one.  �I want you to know right now that you can trust me.  I may not know everything about how he was injured but it�s obvious that it was in a fight of some kind.  Before you get upset, just know that I really don�t care how it happened.  A patient is a patient, regardless of how they got to be that way.  You don�t have to worry about getting in trouble.  All the paperwork has been�� taken care of.  No one will find it for a *very* long time.� �Thank you.�  Wufei rose as well and offered her a small bow.  �The concern you show for those you care for is honorable.  Since you are here, I�m guessing you are done doctoring him?� �Yes and no.  He�s headed up to surgery now. I�m going to assume here that no one here is knowledgeable in the field of medicine and that you�d like everything explained fully in a way you can understand?�  At the chorus of nods, she smiled slightly.  �Very well then.  I�ll do my best.  Feel free to interrupt and ask questions if you�d like.�  She took a deep breath and began. �Mr. Maxwell is extremely lucky.  From the looks of it, he got hit with a high-powered rifle from what I�m guessing was a fairly close range.  The bullet went high, which is always more favorable.  It managed to graze the aorta and caused a minor case of cardiac tamponade due to fragmentation.  That�s when there is a puncture to the heart and the pericardial sac which surrounds it fills with fluid, usually blood, and the pressure restricts the heart�s function.  It also perforated the lungs, causing a tension hemathorax.  That means that the lungs were penetrated and created a valve-like opening in his chest.  This is also called a sucking chest wound.  It causes a pressure differential in the lungs and compresses the uninjured one.  Respiration and pulse decrease as a result.  The bullet then followed a straight trajectory downwards towards the right, thank you God, which decreased the number of organs involved in the path of destruction.  Right now we�re unsure whether it is his spleen or kidneys that were damaged.  It might be both.  We doubt that the intestines were involved; you can tell when they are.  His liver was most definitely spared.  The bullet then exited in the small of his back, not an inch from his lower spine.  Had it hit, there would have been many more complications as well as the danger of paralysis.  As I said, he is an extremely lucky young man.� She paused as if waiting for a response.  When she got none, she continued.  �We�re headed up to the OR now.  I managed to pull some strings to be able to sit in on the operation even though I can�t actively participate.  I�ve also arranged for him to be assigned a room on the wing I�m on call for.  I�m afraid that�s all I can do for now.  I�m sorry I can�t do more or give you better news���  Trowa shook his head.  �It appears you�ve done more then enough, Doctor.  We owe you much.  Thank you.�  �Naw, only did my job.  And it�s not done yet.  Surgery starts in a few minutes and I have to hurry and scrub up.  Wait a sec��. Do any of you have a beeper or cell phone?�  She suddenly acquired a gleam in her eyes.  At seeing Quatre�s affirmative nod, she said �Here�s my number.  I�ll have the nurse at the desk beep you every once and a while to let you know how things are going.  This may take sometime so my recommendation is go get dinner and find a nice place to camp out.  You�ll be here for at least 5 hours, guaranteed.  I�ll see you later.�  Turning her back on the four boys, she started to leave but hesitated when she heard a soft voice whisper her name.  Her eyes met agonized cobalt ones that were pleading for reassurance.  She remember that this was the boy who had carried her patient in and had to be forcibly removed from the Trauma Room so she could get down to business.  �Yes?� �Tell the truth.  Will��  will�� will he die?�  The sheer pain in that artificially old voice shocked her, as did the naked fear on his face.  She�d seen that look before; her patient was something special to this one.  It tore her heart each time; it never got any better.  She offered him what was her best reassuring smile and tried her damnedest to radiate confidence.  �Not on my watch, boy.  I may be new, but I�ve yet to loose a patient.  I sure as hell ain�t gonna start today.�  Grey and cobalt locked and a silent promise was made.  Mission failure: unacceptable.  She turned around once again and exited to take care of her newly appointed mission while the others continued their nerve-wracking wait. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Heero sat by the bed of his beloved.  He gazed worriedly at his koi who was encased in bandages and IVs.  Duo lay on the hospital bed amid the mass of machinery that was keeping him alive.  Heero reached over and grasped the slack pale hand nearest him.  It was cold and clammy to the touch and totally unresponsive.  He held it as if it were made of the finest ancient spun glass and slowly began to massage it to return some of the missing warmth. Heero had lost track of the time.  He would have been unable to name the day correctly if asked, let alone the hour.  He knew it had been some time since they�d come here, though.  Far too long.  Duo had yet to open his eyes since returning from surgery.   Dr. Minick had tiredly stated that the violet-eyed boy was in a deep coma.  So deep that his brains waves barely registered.  Extremely close to dying.  Hovering on the edge.  All his vitals displayed the same sluggish, dull responses, weak enough to get him placed in the ICU on permanent watch.  Heero had lost track of all the nurses who�d come and gone.  In the back of his mind, the Soldier noted it could gauge the time by observing the intervals between visits.  The rest of him ignored that.  Time was irrelevant.  All that mattered was the boy in front of him and the inner voice that was screaming they were losing him.  He didn�t know where the fear came from but it was real and all-consuming.  He trusted it. �Oh, Duo.  This is all my fault.  You shouldn�t be like this.  You�re dying, koi.  I don�t know how I know but I can feel you slipping away, being pulled away.  I�m so scared, Duo.  I don�t know what to do!  Why can�t I help you?!�  He began to sob and crystalline tears bathed his cheeks.  �I failed you.  The one person I wanted to protect, the only one I ever wanted, the one who could make or break me.  I swore to guard you with my life, do anything and everything for you.  But I failed.  Ninmu shippai.�  He tightened his grip.  �Duo, if you can hear me, don�t be afraid.  Please, don�t be afraid. I�m right here.  I�ll always be here.  I know you don�t like being alone.  Wherever you are, you must be terrified.  I can feel it.  Don�t be frightened.  Can you feel my touch, hear my voice?  I won�t leave you, not now and not ever.  I don�t know if you love me, but I do know you care.  Would you like to spend forever together?  Just you and me.  We�ll run around eternity together.  I don�t have to have your love.  Your friendship is enough.  As long as I can be with you, see your smile, hear you laugh��  It�s good enough for me.  It has been for some time now.� He reached over and gently brushed away the long bangs from Duo�s face.  Tenderly, he arraigned them so they delicately framed the visage below him.  �If�� if you die, you  won�t be alone.  I�ll follow you.  I worry about you so much.  Where will you go?  To the Hell you claim to be from or to the Heaven I think spawned you?  Or somewhere else entirely?  What if I never see you again?  I can�t leave it to chance.  I�ll go with you, protect you when you get there.  I�ll be a little behind you but if you wait, I know I�ll catch up.  Just you and me��� The tears were falling on Duo�s face and chest.  Heero noticed that he was soaking the flimsy hospital gown his beloved was clothed in.  Cursing, he sat back up and leaned away.  �Gomen.  I know�� I know you�ll be mad with me.  You died for me, why�d I go and waste your gift?  It�s not that I�m not grateful.  It�s just��  I realize my limits.  I�m not Perfect, Duo.  I never was.   Perfect means you need no one, nothing to improve or complete you.  But I need you.  Kami-sama, I need you.  I need your smile, your touch, your voice, your breath��  You�re a part of me.  A good part, the only good part.  If I lose you, then there will be nothing left but the Soldier.  And even he�s pissed over this.  I�ll be worthless to the war, worthless to the whole damn human race.  I said you were the one who could make or break me.  Somehow, you started to make a new me.  Someone more human, who actually had feelings and gave a damn about others.  Someone who�d be more then willing to be yours forever.  But if you die, I�ll break.  Shattered into too many pieces to find, let alone count.  I�ll be irreparable.  Useless to this world and the war.  I�m better off with you, anyways.  Live or die, Duo, I�m going to stay with you��.� ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Duo was feeling weak.  Shinigami had gone, leaving him to his thoughts.  But that was turning into a problem in and of itself.  �Heero!� The desperate cry echoed in the darkness.  Duo�s panic was rising.  It had been too long since he�d seen his partner.  His Heero.  He had been here under Shinigami�s control too long.  Time was impossible to gauge but his gut was telling him that it was way past checkout time.  Something was most definitely not right here.  Where was Heero?  He could hear his whispers indistinctly, feel his presence diffused all around him.  The darkness held evidence of his love, hinting and teasing him but offering no real clues.  Heero was here, all right.  There could be no mistaking that.  That boy was distinctive.  But where?  How to get to him?  He sure as hell wasn�t gonna stay here any longer then necessary.  He needed to find him.  He had to know for sure if�� /It�s pointless, you know./ �Shut up.  I am *really* getting sick of you.� /You are dying, Duo.  Just give in and come with me./ �No!� /You will come with me./ �And I told you to make me!  But you can�t!  Why?�  No answer came.  Duo tried again, screaming the challenge to the darkness but no response was heard.  �I was right.  You�re not Death.  So what the hell are you?!  Tell me!� /Very well.  If you insist, I will show you./ The darkness in front of him shifted and coalesced into a shadowy figure some distance away.  A disturbingly familiar figure.  Duo gasped when he recognized it.  �You�re�.. you�re�� Demo, you�re *ME*!!� /Of course I am.  I told you so when we first spoke./ The American scowled.  �Iie.  You lie.  You�re not me.  Can�t be.  I�m not�..  You�re�..  I�m not you!� The shadow chuckled. /Oh but I am.  Let�s just say that I�m, for want of a less clich�d term, your darker side.  Your hate, fear, anger, self-destructive tendencies, you name it.  You�ve let a lot of things fester over the years, ya know.  Eventually, they got a hold of you instead of the other way around.  You�ve been following them for quite some time now.  I�m just their form and voice so you can see and understand.  I am Shinigami.  And I am you./ �Like hell you are!  I�m more then that!  I may be Death, but that�s not all I am!� /And how do you know this?  Do you have any proof?/ Good question.  How did he know that?  Duo privately admitted that he had long ago accepted what the doppelganger in front of him was saying.  So why did he feel like he had something to refute it?  Why did he want to?  What possible evidence did he possess that would show the evil bastard up?  Suddenly, the whispers around him increased in volume and almost resolved themselves into actual words.  But the voice itself was unmistakable. �Heero.�  Kitto, the Wing Zero pilot had said so!  It must be true!  But, when did he say so?  Duo couldn�t remember a time when Heero had said anything remotely like that.  So why did he think��.  Unless��.  �These whispers.  I know you�re trying to talk to me, Heero.  What are you trying to say?� /He can�t hear you.  He can�t help you./ �Bullshit!  He�s Heero Yuy!  He can do anything he sets his psychotic little mind to and don�t you forget it!  If you really *were* me, you�d know that, you dumb bastard.� /Insulting me will not change anything.  Can you offer proof?/ �Hai.  The best there is.  Heero.� /You�ll have to do better then that./ �Unlikely.  The best proof of all is that he�s still here.  I can hear him, feel him.  Can�t you?  He didn�t leave me to die.  If I was just a soldier, just an agent of death, he would have dropped me like a sack of rancid poi.  His training tells him that any kind of relationship is worthless and people are expendable.  He always follows his training to the letter; the mission is all.  But he�s still here.  Which means that he�s willing to blow it all off for me.  Go against everything he�s ever believed in.�  Duo flashed a grin to the darkness.  �Top that, imaginary jerk.� /Why do you fight so?/ �Why do you want me?� /It is as I said.  I�m Death.  Destruction.  You�ve been killing yourself on the inside for a long time.  Is it so odd that now when you�re a hairsbreadth away from Shinigami�s grasp he extends his hand?/ �Don�t be getting all metaphysical on me.  You want me for something.  You want to destroy me.  And if you are me, where will that get you?� /I destroy.  I kill.  Who it is doesn�t really matter.  I do my job./ �Are you my professionalism too?�  Duo asked sarcastically. /I�m everything you hate about yourself.  I am Shinigami./ �And I am a schizo, apparently.  How long have you been down here, anyways?� /Before the war.  Before Maxwell Church.  Before Solo.  Before the streets.  When you first learned to hate.  Everyone has a piece of Shinigami in them.  You, however, have taken the inner impulse of revenge and chaos to a level most never reach.  That�s why I�m here talking to you.  I control you./ �I fight because I have to!� /And you truly believe that?  If the war ended tomorrow, what would you do?  Where would you go?  This life is all you�ve ever known.  *I�m* all you�ve ever known./ �Not true���  Duo murmured.  �Not true��  I�ve known kindness, happiness.  Not for long but it�s been there.  I know simple joys, like having somewhere warm to sleep and not going hungry.  I smile and can make others smile back.  I�ve had�� have good friends. I will have a future.  And a love of my own now too��� /Now who lies?/ �I never lie!� /Except to yourself.  This business with Heero is proof enough./ Duo stilled.  �What the hell are you talking about?� /You love him, yes?/ �No shit, dumbass. Some part of me you�re turning out to be.  With all my heart and soul.� /No, you love your idea of him.  The Perfect Soldier, the one who never fails and will always win, despite the odds.  The one who will come and sweep you off your feet and make all the pain in your life go away.  The one who will banish Shinigami forever.  Delusional little boy, you�re as bad as Relena./ �That�s a low blow, bastard.  Ok, so maybe my fantasies are a little on the sappy side.  That�s what fantasies are for!  Let you be and do something different for a change!� /But he doesn�t love you, now does he?/ �Don�t start this with me��.� /Can�t face the truth?/ �I know the truth.� /You doubt it.  Doubt him, doubt yourself.  I *thrive* on that uncertainty.  It gives me life and makes you mine./ �Guess I have to stop doubting then, ne?�  A malicious smile appeared.  �He may not love me as much as I love him but he does care.  You showed me, remember?  So maybe it�s not the forever type of love.  Maybe �ai shiteru� to him means until it�s time to self-destruct or I get in the way.  I don�t know.  That�s why I�m gonna go find out.  Just how much love he has for me.  Where he�s willing to go.  What he�s willing to do.  If he even understands the question in the first place.  I will ask him.  And I will get an answer.  You�re the only thing standing in my way, and I am really getting tired of you��.� /The Soldier does not want you.  Accept reality and your fate.  It was not meant to be.  Come with me./ �Heero loves me!  I know, I heard, I saw!  No matter what shit you try to pull, I *know*!!!  And even if he hated me, that still wouldn�t change how I feel!  I *love* him!  Got it?!  I�m here because of him!  I gave my life so that he could live on.  I don�t give a damn anymore if he will love me.  I�m content to stay where I was: watching, dreaming and hoping.  It�s enough because I�m not sure I can do any better.  As long as I have him near me, it�ll be fine��.� The invisible wind stirred again, bringing him the whispers he had been hearing more clearly.  As if his words were a catalyst, the murmurs grew in volume and words became clear as day.  Heero�s voice surrounded him and Duo strained to catch each and every last note.  They were slow and halting, heartfelt and sad. ���my fault�� wanted to protect�� I failed.  Ninmu shippai.�  Duo felt his heart constrict. �Oh Heero, no��  That�s so not true.  You didn�t fail me.  You�ve never failed me.  I chose this.  I did this for you.  It�s not your fault I�m a moron.� ��� don�t be afraid please�� be here�� you feel my touch�.. voice��� �Yes, yes I can!  Can you hear me?  Heero!  Where are you?!� ���would you like to spend forever together��� Happiness bloomed in his soul and he jumped for joy.  He did love him!  And when Heero said he was going to do something��.  �What kind of stupid question is that?!  OF COURSE!  HELL YES!   HAI!!!� ���see your smile�� good enough for me��� Duo basked in the glow the words created in him.  This love he felt, it wasn�t his alone.  He shared it.  They shared it.  They�d share it forever. ���you die, you  won�t be alone��� �NANI?!�  Where did that come from?!  What was he talking about?  No one was going to die here.  It was all going to be Ok now. ���I�ll follow you�� might never see you again�� can�t leave�� chance�� go with you�� just you and me��� Oh no.  Oh no no no no no *no* *NO*!!!!  �You�re not gonna do what I think you are, are you?!  You *can�t*!!  Damnit, Hee-chan, even if I do kick the bucket, that ain�t no reason to kill yourself!  I forbid it!  Absolutely not; get that goddamn idea *outta* yer head, boy RIGHT NOW!!!  I�m not worth it.  Don�t you dare die on me, kisama!  If you do, I�ll bust into Heaven and beat the living hell outta you!� ���..know you�ll be mad��� �MAD?!  I�m not mad, I�m LIVID!!!!  What is *WRONG* with you?!�� ���I need you�� only good part�� make or break me�� irreparable�� useless�.. better of with you�� live or die�� stay with you��.� �You�� you�� you sweet sentimental bastard.  You jerk.  You mean that, don�t you?  You really will follow me.  Even if it�s the most stupid, idiotic, meaningless thing to do, makes no sense to anyone but you and you know I�m gonna kick your ass for it.  You�ll follow me anyway.  Saaaaaa��  Can�t let that happen, now can we?  You�re not gonna die, Heero.  Neither am I.  Hear that, Shini?  It�s over.  You lost.� /In what way?/ �I�m going back.� /No, you�re not.  You haven�t got the strength./ �If I stay, he dies.  Not gonna happen.  I�ll find the strength.  I�ve been here too long, let you go on about nothing while my koi suffered.  Enough of this.  I�m outtie.  Time to blow this pop stand.� He closed his eyes and focused on cobalt eyes framed by unruly locks of hair.  Of a slight build that hid incredible strength he needed to borrow right now.  Of a young man who wasn�t all that he�d seemed and was now so much more to him.   He focused on what was, and what could be.  They could have a life, a love.  Duo could feel the darkness around him that had held him prisoner begin to shatter and fade.  His prison was going down easy.  He grinned his manic grin in victory.  He was going home.  To Heero. /You can�t do this!/ Desperation tinged the disembodied voice. �Go back to Hell, coward.  I don�t need you anymore.  In fact, I never did.  Your damn curse can�t hurt me no more, Shinigami.  I am free.� /Are you so sure?/ Duo hesitated for a second and the darkness began to solidify and constrict around him again.  Then the touch of Heero�s presence filled his mind and his words echoed all around once again.  �Hell yes.  Don�t make me repeat myself.  You don�t own me anymore.  He does.  He needs me.�  The space around him grew brighter.  �I�m goin� *home*.� ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Eyelashes fluttered softly, taking their time to stretch delicately before finally opening fully to reveal amethyst eyes.  They gazed blankly at the ceiling, like it was an unexpected find.  Slowly the gaze gained clarity and began to sift around the room.  Taking in his surroundings, Duo began to vaguely realize where he was.  And then his eyes landed on Heero. Amaryllis orbs widen at the sight.  Could it be?  Was it really him?  Duo stared for a good minute at him.  He was slumped against the side of the bed, his head and half of his chest draped alongside the prone boy.  One hand was dangling limply in the air but the other was firmly fastened to his.  Fingers, retaining their strength even in sleep, were interlaced with his in a tight grasp.  Dark whisps of hair fell about a slack face that was for once unguarded and revealed the person within.  Heero�s face was soft and gentle and displayed traces of deep concern and lingering fear.  His mouth was slightly parted and Duo could make out faint indistinct whimpers. He looked so helpless and lost.  Nothing at all like the Heero he knew, the Perfect Soldier always in command and emotionless.  This new person in front of him was so vulnerable and�� adorable.  Duo let his gaze rest in contemplation over him.  This was the person he nearly died for.  The one he always knew was there.  This was the person he fought Death and himself to return to.  The one he wanted to spend forever with.  And now he could.  He could feel the tears of joy start to form in the back of his eyes as he lifted an unsteady hand to touch the vision before him. The small movement was more then enough to catch Heero�s attention.  He jerked upright instantly, taking Duo�s hand with him and he rapidly searched the room with his eyes for the source of the disturbance.  Bleary eyes looked around for a threat and found none. Disappointed, they then returned to the figure on the bed.  And froze. The Japanese boy�s mouth worked wordless for a few seconds before a soft reverent whisper filled the air.  �Duo��� Duo offered him what he hoped was a radiant smile.  Most likely it was a pitiful excuse for a flash of teeth but it�s the thought that counts.  His eyes twinkled merrily as he croaked out, �Hey you.  Miss me?�  The look on his own face made it plain that he was glad to see the Wing Zero pilot.  Very glad indeed. Cobalt eyes widened and filled with barely definable emotions.  Duo watched in fascination as Heero�s face became a tumble of mixed expression, flittering across in rapid succession.  Damn, but he was cute when he was flustered. <I should feel honored.  I�m the one and only person to be able to do that.  My koi is just so kawaii!>  Heero didn�t know whether to laugh or cry.  Duo was awake.  Not dead.  Gonna be fine.  He should be thrilled.  Duo will find out everything.  Might already know.  Will want to leave him far behind.  He should be shaking in fear.  Conflicting emotions were tearing him up.  He had to vent them or he would spontaneously explode.  But rational thought was failing him and his training had long since taken a hike.  So he fell back on instinct, let everything inside gather and coalesce and became extremely pissed.  And promptly launched into a full-blown rant with a shaking voice that could barely hold his outrage. �BAKA!!!  What the hell were you thinking?!  You nearly DIED!!!  What kind of damn fool stunt was that?!  You got yourself shot, damnit!  What kind of soldier are you, jumping in front of a bullet like that?!  What kind of moron moves *into* a sniper�s sights in the middle of a losing firefight?!  Did you do that intentionally or are you really just stupid?!  Do you have *any* idea what the hell you did?!  The mission nearly failed!  You nearly died!  The war could have been lost!  You nearly died!  We would have been short a pilot!  YOU NEARLY *DIED*!!  You were a complete fucking mess when Wufei came to get us!  The doctor nearly made herself sick trying to take care of you and save your pitiful ass!  You were in a coma for�� for�� for a really long time!  We thought that you weren�t gonna make it!  I didn�t know what the hell to do!  Do you have any idea what all this *did* to me?!  I�ve gone through hell because of you!  I cried, I screamed, I died inside!  All because you had to play the stupid hero!  I was so worried; I haven�t slept in days!  You inconsiderate jerk!  Did you stop to think about what this was gonna do to the rest of us?!  NO!!! Quatre�s been crying and guilt-tripping non-stop, Trowa�s stolen all the scalpels in the place and is using the candy stripers for target practice and Wufei�s broken every piece of furniture he can reach!  TWICE!!  How dare you do this to me, baka; ripping me apart and leaving me like this?!  Don�t *ever* even DARE to THINK about doing this kind of moronic stunt ever AGAIN!!!!  You scared me to death!  I was ready to die and go with you!  How could you try and leave me like that?!  Ai shiteru, you miserable bastard!  You hear me, ai shiteru!!  *YOU*�� *NEARLY*�� *DIED*!!!!!!!!!!� Heero suddenly froze, panting hard as the words that had been tumbling out of his mouth mindlessly registered.  <Oh no.  OH NO!  Heero Yuy no baka, you *didn�t*!  You did not just say all that!  Kami-sama, I DID!  What kind of soldier am *I*?!  K�so, how could I have let it all slip out like that?> His face contorted into a mask of sorrow.  The Perfect Soldier shell was breaking, the near loss of Duo had fractured it in a way that the brutality of war couldn�t.  <That�s it.  It�s over.  He�ll hate me now.  Run away from me.  After that, who could blame him?  Losing my temper like that��  He just wakes up after a traumatic near-death coma and all I can do is scream at him.  It doesn�t matter that I said I loved him.  I�ve hurt him again.  I�ve lost him anyway.> Heero could feel the unfamiliar prick of tears starting to form. Duo was stunned for a second.  To know is one thing, to hallucinate it is better but to actually hear and see��  <He loves me.  He really does love me.  I wasn�t imagining it!  Heero Yuy loves me!  Ok, so he was screaming like a broken banshee with Tourettes�s when he said it, but he said it!> Duo�s mouth softened into a smile, sweet and loving.  <Look at him.  He looks like he�s gonna break because he�s so afraid I�ll reject him.  Not just his heart�s on the line but his soul is, too.  Oh Heero��> The tears were falling silently down his cheeks as he shook.  His head had dropped down to his chest and he had slumped down as far as he could go.  He didn�t want to meet Duo�s eyes but didn�t have the strength to get up and leave.  Didn�t have the strength to do anything really but cry his heart out.  He was startled to feel a small shaking hand stroke his hair gently.  Looking up, he saw the most beautiful sight in the world.  Duo was staring at him, his eyes alight with joy and the tenderest smile he had ever seen.  �Ya mean it?  You love me?�  Duo held the gaze, waiting for the confirmation he already knew was coming.  At the tiny nod, he relaxed and let out a sigh.  �Good.  �Cause I love you too and it would really suck if it had been one-sided.� Heero was floored.  He would have been grateful for Duo�s lack of disgust at all of this.  To keep his friendship would have been a miracle.  He hadn�t been expecting��.  He didn�t dare hope��  �You�� you love me�� too?� �Yeah.  What, you don�t want me after all?�  Duo couldn�t resist.  He knew it was cruel but the urge to tease the suddenly shy boy in front of him was irresistible.  He faked a pout and downcast his eyes.  The Japanese boy panicked. �NO!!!  I�m mean, iie!  I want��.  That is, I��..  I feel the same way!  Ai shiteru!  I want you!  I love you, Duo!  I just didn�t think you�d want me!� �Now why would that be?  No, wait.  I can just hear some of the stuff you�d come up with.  Never mind.  Kitto I want you.  Never wanted anyone else.  And don�t think I ever will, either.� Heero�s breathe caught as he reached for the braided boy.  �Is this real?  You�re not just humoring me?  If you are and this is a joke, not only am I going to self-destruct, I�m tying you to Zero�s foot and taking you with me.� Duo chuckled.  �Suicidal bastard.  That�s my koi.  Always were too trigger-happy for your own good.  Is it any wonder you caught Death�s eye with an attitude like that?  Not to mention with that cute ass of yours and that sexy rag-cut hair.  You�re one fine piece of eye candy, know that?� �Koi?  I�m�� your koi?� �Yes, damnit.  You are my koi and I�m yours.  That�s how these things work.  Are you going to be this hesitant through the whole relationship?  Seriously, let me know now so I can plan out how much of my day will be needed to reassure you that now only are you the most gorgeous creature on the face of the planet, but that I love you with all my heart and soul and I will till way after I die.  Got that on good authority, too.� �My love.  You�ve got my heart, soul and everything else, too.  You don�t know how long I�ve���  Heero gently caressed Duo�s face as if he stilled doubted his good luck.  A small hesitant smile lit his face.  �I�ve wanted��.  You�re so beautiful and lively and I�� I�m no good at this.  I don�t know what to do��� �Hey, you think I am?  I don�t know any more then you do, buster.  All I know is that it�s only been you and always will be you for the rest of my life.  Whatever else happens will happen.  It�s not like shit hasn�t hit the fan for us before.  We�ll deal.� �What did I do to deserve you, koi?� �You were born.  What did I do to get you?� �You freed my heart and kicked the Soldier�s ass.  Good enough?� Duo laughed.  �Hai, more then good enough.  What a pair we are.  Sniping at each other, acting like perfect bastards to hide the fact we were madly in love.� Heero offered a mischievous grin.  �Well, for you the mad part applies, anyway.� �Oi!  Questioning my love already!� �Never koi, just your sanity.� �If that was supposed to appease me�� it worked.� Heero chuckled and drew Duo close.  Holding him in a light embrace, he contented himself to hear that beloved heart beat and listen to that sweet breath echo in his ears.  After a while, he felt Duo stir.  �Hn.  What�s wrong?� �Nothing.  It�s just��  I heard you, ya know.� The Japanese boy smiled into the chestnut hair.  �I had a feeling you could.� �You sounded so sad, Hee-chan.  So�� broken.� �I was��.� came the whisper. �Couldn�t leave you like that.  Couldn�t leave you ever.  I fought so hard to come back.  I had to spit in Death�s face��� �So what was it like to get hit by one of your own loogies?�  Heero tried to lighten the mood but it failed. Duo scowled and buried himself deeper into Heero�s chest. �Sucked.  I learned a lot when I was��. there.  A lot about me, about life, about you.  Some stuff I didn�t know and some I didn�t *want* to know.  I learned what a total shmuck I�ve been.  All the things I said, I did�� all just to hurt the one I never wanna see hurt �cause I�m too much of a scaredy cat to �fess up.  How screwed up is that?� �It�s no worse then what I was doing.  I think�� I think that in the confusion we call our lives, we let fear and stupidity rule.  That�s the only explanation I can come up with.  I was so afraid you�d reject me, I pushed you away first.  Irritated you, aggravated you, made your life hell so that you�d be distracted enough to ignore my yearning for you.  In some strange way, I was convinced that the small pain I caused was better then the huge ache your leaving would cause.   I was unsure and that frightened me.   So I went back to what I knew.  I fought you, fought myself�� all to stay in familiar territory instead of facing that strange unknown.� �Heero���  Duo sighed and lifted his head.  �Same here.  It was better to suffer the little things then have to buckle down and say it�� Damn koi, we be fools.� �Hai.  Well, now what, baka-mine?  We know what we want.  So what do we do about it?� Duo smiled.  �Silly koi.  You know what to do.  Just follow your heart�� or in this case, the hormones have a say too.� �Hn.  Baka.� �Yes?�  Duo fluttered his eyelashes coquettishly. �Shut up and kiss me already.� �Ryoukai.� They leaned forward and met each other halfway.  It began as a simple chaste kiss.  The merest touching of lips in order to confirm the others� existence and intent.  Two shy souls sought reassurance of love and found it in abundance.  It was soft and sweet, their closed lips working gently against each other.  The kiss started out slow and exploratory, each testing to see what worked and what didn�t.  Neither had ever kissed anyone before and this was a totally new experience.  A damn good one at that.  Both revealed in the sensations and demanded more.  Growing bolder, the two boys opened their mouths and their tongues met in a slow dance. Tentatively, Duo ran his tongue around the inside of Heero's mouth. Heero responded by exploring Duo's mouth with his own tongue, swirling lightly across the roof and then delicately tracing the inside contours.  Moaning lightly, the violet-eyed boy titled his head back slightly to give his love better access.  Heero took advantage of it, grasping the back of his head and burying his hands in that soft hair.  The kiss deepened and seemed to feed in on itself.  The more passion they threw in, the more it demanded.  And they were willing to give.  Heero�s crushed Duo�s lips under his own as if he were trying to share his breath, his life.  Duo kissed back just as fiercely, utterly convinced he could reach the back of his beloved�s mouth and tickle his tonsils.  Unconsciously, Duo�s hands began to drift downwards across Heero�s back as the Wing Zero�s pilot let his arms drop lower as they lost themselves completely.  Heero�s hands began kneading the braided boy�s back gently.  Reciprocating, smaller soft hands reached under the green tanktop and started tracing patterns. Duo�s wandering fingers were just below waist level and shyly reached for the spandex�s waistband��. �AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!� Breaking their kiss reluctantly, Duo turned to see the cause of the disturbance.  There were the others three pilots standing in the open doorway with their jaws damn near square on the floor.  Three pairs of eyes were widened comically and looked ready to roll right out of their heads.  It struck him as one of the funniest sights he�d seen in a while.  Duo gave them all a cheeky grin and did the first thing that came to mind.  Flashing the V-sign, he exclaimed, �You, dudes!  WAZZUP?!?� �MAXWELL!!�  Wufei of course.  His face was scarlet boarding on purple and his ponytail was flopping wildly as he gestured.  His dark eyes flashed his outrage eloquently as his mouth failed him, releasing nothing more then random squeaks and squawks.  His hands were flailing every which way, occasionally making a gesture that actually made sense.  All in all, he looked like a runaway wind-up doll on crack.  Duo shifted his gaze to Trowa.  Emerald eyes were wider then his own were normally.  Even the bang couldn�t hide them and the American was treated to viridian orbs in plain sight.  A normally impassive face was white with shock and the taller boy looked about ready to drop dead.  Faint traces of disbelief and incredulousness crowded his face as he was rooted to the spot.  Floored �em. Finally, the blonde.  Duo could *feel* the smile before he saw it.  Well, it was more like a smirk.  A cheek-to-cheek, 500 watt, Goddamnit-I- KNEW-this-was-gonna-happen smirk.  A smirk that indicated he was more then pleased with the development he had just witnessed and thought that it was about damn time too.  Aqua eyes met violet and exchanged looks of amused joy.  Quatre took time out from his gloating to cross his arms and mouth, �Told ya so.� <Cheeky bastard.> was Duo�s fond thought.  Addressing the three, he asked in a slightly miffed tone of voice, �So, what brings you guys to my humble hospital cell�... I mean, room.  Oi, I really hope this is important because as you can so plainly see I was kinda in the middle of something when you walked in and I�d really like to get back to it as soon as possible.  Ya�ll don�t mind, do ya?� Quatre snickered when Trowa remained incapable of answering and Wufei just turned redder and squeaked louder.  �Naw, just checking up on you.  You gave us quite a scare, mister.�  He mock-glared at his friend. �I know, I know.  Bad Duo, bad.  Go sit in the corner and think about what you did, you dumb shmuck.  Already got the dressing down.  Nasty one, too.  Now if you�ll excuse me gents, you�re in the way of my other dressing down.�  He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.  Quatre burst out laughing, a small smile appeared on Trowa�s face and Wufei finally found his voice. �KISAMA!!! You dare to mock us when we come to check on you!  Injustice!  Rudeness!  You nearly died and when we come to confirm you�re still breathing, you have the nerve to throw us out the door immediately in favor of playing tonsil hockey with Yuy!  Where in the hell are your manners?!� Quatre fell to the floor, rolling and howling with laughter.  Trowa began to chuckle lightly but it quickly progressed into outright giggles.  Duo�s grin widened.  So he wanted to spar, huh? �Saaaa�.. Street rats like me ain�t got no manners.  Cryin� shame, ne?  Nobody ta teach me.� �It�s a shame, all right.  And I�ll teach your arrogant ass some lessons if you push me.  Don�t you know that sort of behavior is unseemly in public?� �Why Wu-chan�� I wouldn�ta thought you�d be pissed about *that*!  Jealous�a Hee-chan or somethin�?�  He offered a sly wink. The redness had faded and the Chinese boy had calmed down enormously.  �Only of his incredible good luck.  You two together is justice done.  You deserve each other.  I think I can speak for us all when I say it�s about time you quit screwing around and actually got around to screwing around.�  He offered a smile somewhere in between sincerity and teasing.  �Although I think you might have to wait before going any further.� �And why pray tell is that?� Trowa spoke up and the mirth was evident in his voice.  �Since Heero�s apparently shell-shocked.  You must be one hell of a kisser to take him down in one blow.  This might slow him down a bit.� Glancing to the side in surprise, Duo saw that Heero hadn�t moved an inch.  He was frozen where he had been left and his eyes were fixed squarely on Duo.  Burning cobalt focused only on the vision before him.  Duo felt himself melt under that deep scrutiny.  Those eyes, he could see everything in them.  His love, his future, anything and everything that mattered to him.  All contained in a gaze that was no longer icy steel but has transformed into a heated passion and a lurking sense of disbelief and unworthiness.  He was looking at the real Heero, not the mask he�d lived with for so long.  They didn�t need masks anymore.  Those were to hide behind to protect yourself from a threat or danger.  There were no threats here, only reassurance.  No more need to hide, it was time to come out and play.  <That�s my Heero.  Mine.  Nothing�s gonna take you from me.  No OZ bastard, Relena or stupid war.  We�re forever.  You an� me are gonna be making the scene for a long time.  Shinigami touches you and there will be some hell to pay.  But he won�t.  �Cause you belong to me, Heero Yuy and I always protect what�s mine.  And it�s about damn time too.> The others, recognizing that they weren�t gonna get any more attention, decided to leave quietly.  It would be better to leave now and give the two new lovebirds some quality time together.  After all they�ve been through to find each other, they deserve at least a few minutes to themselves.  In lives as hectic as theirs, stolen time would be few and far in-between.  War makes allowances for no one.  Theirs would be a tough relationship.  But knowing those two, not only would it work but it would be the best thing anyone had ever seen.  They had earned it and each other.  Quatre, Trowa and Wufei left and shut the door behind them silently.  Neither Heero nor Duo noticed. Mesmerized by the enchanting vision before him, Heero was sure that life couldn�t get any better then this.  Duo was�� his.  Willingly.  It seemed like some daydream grown out of control, taking over all his senses and filling them with Duo�s scent, touch, taste��  He mentally gave himself a slap and forced himself to reach for that beautiful boy once again.  <Am I ever gonna believe he�s mine?  I don�t think so.  I don�t know what I did to earn him but Kami-sama, I will do everything in my power to keep him happy, healthy, safe and with me forever.  I will prove that I am worthy of this, worthy of him.  Duo-koi��>  He ran a hand through the long chestnut hair and down a soft cheek.  �Mine?  Honto ni?�  he asked in soft wonder. �Hai.  Yours forever and ever if you want.� �I want.  I want�� everything that you are and will be.  I want everything we will be.� �So take it then.  It�s yours, ain�t it?�  He offered a sweet smile. Heero smiled back.  �It�s yours too, Duo.  I�m yours.� As they leaned in for another soul-searing kiss, one thought crossed their minds.  <Mine.  At last, mine.> ~ ~ Owari ~ ~ *Sighs*  Phew!  Finally, it�s over!  Now a show of hands, please.  Was it worth all the work?  Or did I just create a monstrosity for nothing?  Because I�m planning on writing another prequel to this little series.  Should it be the wedding scene or when Heero proposed by the tree?  Lady DarkAngel ---------- Chibi Duo's Babysitter Moderator of Duo's Sugar Intake Keeper of Duo's Nice Rear-end Co-Keeper of Shinigami's Wings (with Meela) Keeper of Heero's Homicidal Intentions Keeper of Quatre's Teacup Keeper of Trowa's Mask Keeper of Wufei's Sense of Honor Co-Keeper of Duo's Chatter (with Tomanaiya) Co-Keeper of Heero's "Hn" (with Tomanaiya) Co-Writer of Wufei's Rants (with Tomanaiya) Leader of the Inspirationally-challenged Muses: Alisande, Rynvi, and Kiagara Co-Keeper of real-life hamsters named Heero Yuy (Hee-chan) and Shinigami Eagle Vision (Shini Eagle)(with Tomanaiya) Keeper of the Hit List Proud Owner of two sets of chibis: Chibi Angel Duo and Heero in leather (twins of Tomanaiya's) and Chibi Angel Duo and Heero in black flight gear with stripes from the final GW episodes       Acting GOD in Charge of The Anime Muse Adoption Center and WSCT of the AMAC Proud member of SDDI, the Society of Defending Duo's Intelligence Member of the Society Against the Complete Bastardization of Heero Yuy Occupant of the Happy Hentai House Master Hacker of the Shinigami Organization Assistant Mob Psychologist for the Shinigami Organization Founding Member of Saa-EEP!!! Happy to be a member of the DuoML Member of 1x2, 2x1 Fan Club and ML Many more MLs but you don't want to know... Lady DarkAngel's Gundam Wing Fanfiction Library http://ladydarkangel_1.homestead.com/Main.html

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