One Mess After Another
Part 4

 The carnival was unlike anything Heero had ever seen! All around them there was music and dancing, the people there were blissfully unaware of the war going on around them, of the base that would be destroyed on Thursday and the information that their ‘classmates' were going to steal.
 Duo bounced through the crowed, swaying to the music and laughing with everyone she met. Violet eyes flashed brightly and the Deathscythe pilot almost threw herself into Heero's arms, "Isn't this great?!"

"Aa."

 "Come on Heero, dance with me."

 He hesitated for a moment.

 "What is it Heero?"

 "I can't."

 "Huh?"

 "I don't know how to dance."

 Duo paused for a moment then laughed out loud and hugged the Japanese boy. "Well then, meet
me tonight under the big willow tree in the courtyard and I'll teach you. Ok?"

 Heero nodded and Duo disappeared into the crowed again. He returned with a cotton candy and
offered it to Heero. "What is this?"

 "Cotton candy, try."

 "It's spun sugar."

 "So?"

 "It isn't good for you."

 "So what? Neither is piloting a Gundam." He shoved a wad of it into Heero's mouth, "So what do
you think?"

 He glared at the smiling girl/boy "Sweet."

 "Just like me." Duo teased dramatically and then laughed. They walked through the booths eating
and talking, Duo hung on Heero's arm so they wouldn't loose each other in the huge crowd.

 "Why do you eat so much junk food Duo?"

 He grinned and licked a little cotton candy from the corner of his mouth. "Make's me sweet."

 Heero looked down at the sugar coated lips and licked his own, "Let's see." He bent and quickly
licked the sweet stuff from Duo's mouth then smile, "Yep, definitely sweet."

 "Heero?"

 "Hm?" He asked hugging his partner close.

 "You. . . I. . ." Finally Shinigami gave up for a while, "Let's play some games."

 Heero was a little disappointed but he allowed himself to be led to the booths.

 The barker smiled, "Step right up sir, win your little lady a plushy!"

 Duo grinned, "Why would I need a plushy when I have Heero?" She squeezed the boy tight and
laughed musically.

 "How about a nice CD?" The barker asked.

 That got Duo's attention, "Yeah! Cool!"

 Heero grinned and took out five dollars, "How do you play?"

 "You never played before?"

 "No."

 "Maybe an easier game then. . ."

 "How do you play?"

 Heero and Duo walked away with a twentieth centuries greatest hits CD. Duo put it in her back
pack and hugged Heero tightly, "Thank you!"

 Heero shrugged.

 Becky and grace watched from a distance and gave each other a high five, it was going great!
 
 

 Wufei, Trowa and Quatre walked through the mass of students looking for their friends. Upon
Heero's discovery that the school was a recruiting station, they had been sent to help.

 "Where are they?" Quatre asked Trowa.

 The boy shrugged.

 "Why do you think they would be here?"

 WuFei snorted, "Because Duo is here."

 "Yeah! Heero check it out!" They heard Duo's voice from in front of the shooting booth.

 The four boys pushed through the crowed in time to see Duo jump into Heero's arms and kiss his
cheek in excitment, "Perfect score! Yeah!"

 Heero actually smiled, a real, wide, toothy smile.

 Quatre gasped and Heero spun around, dropping Duo on his butt.

 "OW! He~ero!"

 The little Arabian blushed fiercely, "Um. . . Heero, Duo. . ."

 "What's up?" Duo asked brushing off his skirt.

 His skirt? "What is going on here?" Trowa asked, "Why is Duo wearing a skirt?"

 Heero frowned, "He wouldn't cut the braid."

 "It is kinda comfy." Duo grinned.

 WuFei felt faint.

 "Quatre and I have arranged to share a room, WuFei will share yours, this explains why Duo was
not registered in the boys dorms."

 Heero nodded and Duo frowned. And this concludes our fun time.

 "Duo?" Quatre asked, "Duo what's wrong?"

 The American blinked back tears and Heero hung his head, He knows I'm not ready to be the way I have been in front of the others. He's saying goodbye to our time together.

 "I. . . I have to go." He ran off into the crowd.

 "Duo?!" Quatre yelled and chased after him. "Duo matte!"
 
 

 Becky and Grace looked toward the new voice who had called their friend and saw Duo running
away and A little blond boy chasing after him. "Duo?"

 Grace nodded, "Let's go."

 The girls found Duo sitting under a tree by the lakeside. She was sitting hunched over, shoulders shaking and hiding her face in the blond boy's shirt.

 "Duo? Duo what is it?" The boy asked.

 "It was so perfect Quatre! He was so. . . so kind to me. . . he even flirted with me! I thought. . . but
now that you guys are all here, he's gone on the defensive again. It's over." She looked into the
blond boy's eyes and sniffled, "You and Trowa are so perfect together, You care about each other
and share time with him no matter who is there but Heero, Heero hasn't even said he likes me! The
closest he's come was telling me, ‘I don't hate you'. It's hopeless."

 "No it isn't, if he hasn't killed you yet with all of the chattering you do, you know that means
something. You can push his buttons faster than anyone and still he hasn't ever tried to actually kill
you."

 "Yeah, Big whoopie, I'm still alive after falling for Heero Yuy."

 "Duo?" Grace and Becky walked forward and knelt beside their friend. "Duo, don't be sad. It's
ok."

 Quatre looked up at the girls softly, "I am Quatre, Duo's foster brother."

 "Hello. I am Becky and this is Grace, we are friends of Duo's and Heero's"

 "Nice to meet you." Quatre smiled brightly.

 Duo stood up and walked to the water, looking down at his reflection, "I kind of want to be alone
for now, ok guys?"

 "But Duo. . ." Becky started.

 "Please."

 Quatre nodded and they reluctantly left. He fell to his knees when they were out of sight, took out
the plushy Heero had given him, and hugged it tight as he could, his whole body shook with the
force of his hugging. "Heero."
 
 

 Wufei slipped inside the room he was to share with Heero and froze. On the bed was a ‘Duo'
plushy and a ragged teddy bear that he was sure belonged to Duo, on the desk by his laptop was a
picture of him and Duo together. On the desk were different surveillance photos of Duo and Heero
together. The whole place felt like a tribute to the American pilot.

 Heero slammed through the door and snatched up to plushy and bear, and threw them into the
dresser then slid the photos into a desk drawer. He sat on the bed and started to disassemble and
clean his gun.

 "Why don't you tell him."

 "Mind your own business."

 "Duo is my friend, he is my business."

 Heero looked up with burning eyes and Wufei almost backed down. Almost.

 "He loves you. Did you know that?"

 Heero hid his face behind his bangs and kept cleaning the gun.

 "Do you need proof that he loves you? Are all of his smiles not enough to convince you? Is your
perfect soldier reputation so important to you that around us you have to act cold to him?"

 "Shut up."

 "No. You need to hear this. Remember his words? ‘I run, I hide, but I never lie?'"

 "So?"

 "So here." Wufei tossed a thick home made book down upon Heero's bed.

 "What is this?"

 "Duo's journal. He's kept it since he started training. It tells everything. He was going to destroy it
before his last mission, but I stole it. It has too much of him inside it to throw away. Read it. You
can read the truth written by his own pen.

 "You stole Duo's journal." Heero looked at it like he was holding his own heart in his hands.

 Wufei nodded and turned to leave, "And Heero."

 "Nani?"

 "We all love you like a brother. We all know you love him, the only one who doesn't is Duo. You
don't have to be carved of stone to be the perfect soldier." He opened the door.

 "WuFei." Heero stopped him.

 "Hm?"

 "Domo arigato WuFei."

 Shenlong's pilot smiled and nodded then closed the door and left Heero alone.
 
 
 

 Duo stood under the willow tree waiting. He didn't expect Heero to come, but just in case he did. .
. "Who am I kidding." He sighed and sat down on the dew dampened ground. "Heero isn't coming."
He hung his head and cried.

 "Don't." A voice pleaded.

 "What?"

 "I hate it when you cry."

 "Heero?"

 "You. . ." He seamed uncertain, "You said you would teach me. To dance."

 Duo recognized that there was a lot more significance to this than just learning to dance. Heero was
asking to learn how to love. "Just put your hand here, around my waist, and your other hand on my
shoulder, now we move, "One two three, two two three, three two three, four two three." He
smiled, "See? Easy."

 Heero nodded slightly, "There's no music."

 Duo grinned and popped the CD Heero had won his into his portable player, "Try this."
 
 

Look into my eyes. . .

You will see,

what you mean to me.
 
 

 Heero moved with Duo in the dark grotto of the willow branches and slowly, his arms
 
 

pulled him closer.

Search your heart. . .
 

Search your soul,

And when you find me there,

 you'll search no more
 
 

 Heero's arm was tight at Duo's waist, his other snaked around his neck and shoulders, more an
embrace now than a dance, they still moved. Duo rested his head on Heero's shoulder and closed
his eyes with a soft sigh of pleasure.
 
 

Don't tell me it's not worth fighting for. . .

I can't help it there's nothing I want more. . .
 
 

 "Duo I. . ."

 "Shh."
 
 

You know it's true,

everything I do.

I do it for you.
 
 

 Heero sighed and lay his head on Duo's shoulder. "Duo."
 
 

Look into your heart. . .

You will find,
 

there's nothing left to hide.

Take me as I am. . .

Take my life.

I would give it up, I will sacrifice.
 
 

 "I love you Heero Yuy." Duo murmered.

 Heero gasped at the joy running though him and held the other boy tighter.
 
 

Don't tell me it's not worth dying for.

I can't help it there's nothing I want more.

Yeah I'd fight for you,

I'd lie for you

roam the world for you

I'd die for you. . .
 
 

 "Duo." Heero had tears in his eyes.
 
 

You know it's true,

everything I do,

I. . .

I do it for you.
 
 

 The song ended and the boys still stood there, holding each other tight. "That's our song." Duo
sighed, "Whenever we hear it we will think of each other."

 "Hai." Heero couldn't say anymore, there was to much emotion stored up inside of him.

 "Heero I understand it is hard for you to show your emotions around our team. . ."

 "No, that is something I have to work on. And I will. I can't promise you I will be any different, but
I can try. He licked his lip nervously and took a deep breath, "Duo. . . I. . . I know we are both
boys and I know you deserve someone better than me. . . but I, I have to ask or I'll never be able
to forgive myself. . . ."

 "What is it Heero?"

 He reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box, "I. . . Duo. . . would you. . ."

 "Yes!" The American's whole being was glowing.

 "Yes?" Heero gasped, "But I haven't finished the question."

 Duo waited.

 "Will you be mine?" He opened the box and Duo felt tears in his eyes. The silver ring was angel
wings and the stone in the center perfectly matched both of their eyes, Heero had carved it,
painstakingly, into the cameo of death and a fallen angel embracing.

 "H. . . heero." Duo felt the tears spill down his cheeks.

 Heero was frantic, "Duo? Oh God I'm sorry, I shouldn't have," He wiped away the tears but only
more came, ". . . Duo don't cry."

 "I'm crying because I'm happy silly!" Duo smiled and hugged Heero tight, "Of course I will! On one
condition."

 Heero looked wary. "What do you want of me?"

 "I want you to be mine too." He smiled then hugged him again.

 Heero hugged Duo back fiercely. When they parted he took the ring from the case and offered it to
Duo. "There's an inscription." He said then held his breath as Duo read it.

 "‘Death gave me a reason to live.' Oi Heero! It's perfect!"

 Heero took out a matching ring, the cameo was the same but the wings were like deaths. Duo took it from his and found a tiny lock pick knife in his pocket to engrave the inside then handed it to
Heero. "‘A falling angel held me up.' Oh Duo." Heero's eyes were brimming with tears and Duo
laughed, "Now don't you start too!"

 "I can't help it. I love you so much!"

 "Heero."

 "Duo."

 When they finally got themselves under control, they both stood and started back toward the dorms. "Are we going to tell the others?"

 "Of course." Heero smiled and caressed Duo's face softly.

 "You aren't just saying that for me?"

 "Hn." He hugged the other boy close, "I want them all to know who we belong to."

 Duo smiled but then it faltered, "What about Relena?"

 "We can tell her but she wont believe us." Heero frowned.

 "Duo Maxwell-Yuy. I like the sound of that."

 "Heero Maxwell-Yuy." Heero grinned, "Perfect."

 They entered the dorms and froze. The whole team and half of the school, teachers included, were
waiting for them. Duo gasped in shock but Heero smiled and held up their hands to show the rings,
"We are engaged."
 
 

 Applause covered Relena's surprised cry. They didn't have to go this far in their undercover
mission!

 <<You know as well as I it isn't undercover, this is real.>>

 <No!>

 <<They love each other.>>

 <Heero loves me!>

 << Untrue.>>

 <No! It is true! It is true! Duo is making him do this! That American is forcing this on my Heero!>

 <<Face reality.>>

 <That is reality, Duo is forcing Heero!>

 <<Does he look upset to you?>>

 <He is just loyal to his friends. He doesn't want to hurt him.>

 <<Sure>>

 <Heero loves me! He loves me!>

 "He loves me!" Relena whispered and ran away from the crowed. I have to save Heero.
 
 

 Becky and Grace hugged each other and wept with joy for their friend. The next day though, the
five of them were gone. The military base across the way was destroyed and most students
moarned the lose of family or friends who had been stationed there, but Becky and Grace mourned
the loss of their friend. They had left a note. The girls hung it on their cork-board bulletin. It said.

   Thank you for all that you did for us. You

   gave us both a very special gift and Duo and I can never

   repay. Please live happily and may misfortune never

   darken your door. You are forever our friends.

     Much love and respect,

    Heero and Duo Maxwell-Yuy
 
 

 "Whoever they were, I hope they'll be happy." Grace smiled as she read the note again.

 "They will be." Becky grinned, "And I know who they were."

 "You do? How?! Who?!"

 "They were the rebels. The Gundam pilots."

 "How do you know?!"

 "Why else would they transfer out right after the base was blown up? This was their cover."

 "Then they really were partners!"

 "And that explains Duo's scars and Heero's trouble getting close. They are soldiers. They were
probably trained out of emotions."

 "Well I'll bet their trainers are fuming now."
 
 

 The girls were right. Doctor J was furious! He had been monitoring Heero since he had sent him to
Earth and the boy was spending much to much time in the American's company. Duo was a liability
to Heero's mission and one that had to be dealt with and soon. But how?
 
 

~tbc~

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