C&C is wonderful and I'm not above begging.

 I am sure you have all heard the tale of the Beauty and the Beast. Wether from Disney or from story books, plays, or the tales told by your elders. But how many of you know the true and first Beauty was a princess in ancient Greece? And how many of you realized that Beast was the demi-God of love and beauty (the man we know as Cupid) in disguise? How many have heard the real story?
 

 Once upon a time, in a kingdom long forgotten to you and to I, there lived a good and kind ruler named Wufei. King Wufei had three children. Each child was cherished by the people of the land, but most so was the youngest child. The young prince Duo.
 Prince Duo had not always been a beauty, in fact, as a child, he had been rather skinny and his legs had been much too long for his body. Also there was the fact he would not cut his hair. The prince's family and friends had learned to ignore his looks and focus on his personality which was sparkling with joy and life. It wasn't until one day, when a foreign visitor to the palace had caught the prince alone and tried to kidnap the boy for his harem that the king realized how beautiful his son had grown to be.

 Being a very proud man, and wanting to avoid further. . . incidence like the last, the king proclaimed far and wide that his youngest child was very beautiful and ready for marraige. Rumor traveled quickly and both male and female suitors came to view the prince Duo.  Rumors spread far about his beauty until one man said he was more beautiful than the Goddess of love and beauty, Relena-Aphrodite.

 As one may imagine, this did not sit well with the Goddess.
 

-And so it Starts-
 

 High on mount Olympus, in the home of the Goddess Relena, Eros (The Demi-God of beauty) slept. He stirred at the sound of the door opening, but when he saw it was only Relena, he shut his eyes again.

 The Goddess of beauty and love looked worriedly upon her friend. She and Heero had long since given up on being lovers, but because none of the other Gods would tolerate him, he stayed with Relena. She had watched him fall deeper and deeper into depression since the war of the Titans when he had taken up the name of Eros and set his own aside. It was centuries since then and the Demi-God seemed to have lost all interest in life. He only ate, slept, and carried out the tasks she set for him. In fact, he seemed to throw himself full heartedly only into his missions. Relena smiled, maybe this next one would cheer her friend up. "Heero? Heero I have a mission for you."

 The beautiful boy on the bed stretched and unfurled his soft, feathery wings and again Relena was
humbled by his beauty. Such a pity he didn't go from Olympus and have fun with the mortals as she
did. They made very interesting lovers. He used to take part in such games but now, even they did
not hold joy for him. It was as if he were made of stone. Beautiful but cold and hard, unmoving.

 "Hai Relena-sama?"

 "It is a boy, named Duo." She frowned, "He is thought to be more beautiful than I!"

 Heero frowned at her vanity, "So?"

 "I want his family humbled!"

 "I do not have the power to change appearances Relena-sama."

 "No, but you make people love, right?"

 "Hai."

 "I want his father to fall in love with a. . . a sow! I want him to become obsessed with an ugly sow. I
want him humiliated, to see and know nothing but the pig."

 "Hai."

 Relena gave him an appearance masking spell she had obtained from Hilde and nodded when he
absorbed it into his inner chamber. "Now use this and go."

 "Hai." He nodded and vanished in a flash of shimmering lights.
 
 

 When he reappeared he stood on the alter of Relena in the woods just outside of the kingdom walls. He made sure the spell Hilde had formed was in place and then set off on his trek  down the
mountain and toward the palace.

 The gates were opened to travelers and Heero made his way up to the king's dwelling. He was
ushered before the king and the man smiled kindly at him, "What is your name traveler?"

 "Prince Daniel." Heero lied, "I have traveled from Elone, a country far away, to see for myself the beauty of your prince Duo."

 "Truly?" Wufei asked, "Do you seek his hand?"

 "I might."

 The king nodded, the opportunity was perfect. Duo was too beautiful, he was afraid to marry him to
someone near for fear that a jealous husband might start a war, but if Elone was so far away, then
war would be no concern! And indeed this prince Daniel was not ugly, though he could never match
his Duo.
 
 

 Duo had been standing outside listening to his father and the visiting prince. At the mention of his
beauty the young prince sighed, He's just like all the other bakas looking for a beautiful face and
body and nothing more. The prince walked into the garden, hiding from his admirers. That was were
Heero found him.
 
 

 When Heero rounded the hedges into the center of the garden maze, he found Duo sprawled out
over a stone bench reading a book. His brilliant chestnut braid hung down to the ground and Duo
played with the tip of it as he read. His bangs shaded his face part way but what Heero could see. . .
as he was standing there he pricked himself on the arrow he was toying with. The love arrow! What
Heero could see he liked! He liked too much He found himself walking up to the youth. "Why are
you out here all alone?" He asked.

 Duo jumped up surprised and promptly tripped over his braid back to the bench, slipped off that
and fell on him rump. Heero almost laughed. Almost. Then Duo stood and faced the intruder.

 Heero gasped when his eyes met a pair of bright violet orbs opened wide in surprise. The boy Was
beautiful! Not in a stunning sense but in a more lasting, classical way. His eyes were large and
sparkling, his lips firm, legs long and body trim. Yes he was definitely lovely. Heero shook his head to
clear it of those thoughts, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." He said when he finally found his
voice again.

 Duo grimaced and sat down again with the book he had been reading, "s'ok."

 "So?"

 "What?"

 "Why are you out here all alone?"

 The prince grinned, "I got tired of being paraded in front of all of those people like some damn doll.
No da? (You know?) I'm a person, not some novelty item to be sold to the highest or most influential
bidder."

 Heero nodded, He could relate to the boy's problem, "But you are so beautiful, you must be glad for
that at least."

 "Why?" Duo asked irritated for being right about what the prince before him really wanted, "Being
beautiful has given me nothing but grief! I was happier when people loved me for me! I hate being
loved for my face. Then I was a person, now I'm just something pretty they want to obtain to show
off their power." Duo frowned, "Beauty doesn't matter. It's just looks. The beauty on the inside is
what counts."

 The Demi-God's eyes widened, He understands! He thought.

 "Beauty is a curse."

 Heero nodded but Duo didn't see the nod, he was walking away. When he was gone Heero felt a
strange pang in his heart, he had never felt this pain before! His heart hurt! I don't want to have to
cause him hurt! He realized in shock, I don't want to accomplish this mission if it hurts him!

 He spent the rest of the day questioning people about the young prince. He found out that Duo
called himself Shinigami, even though he seamed to be the most life filled person in the court. He had
spent time training with a wizard and then tried to enter the temple as a priest but he renounced
beauty and in doing so renounced it's God, so he had been sent away, back to his father and siblings.
Heero had a lot on his mind and he couldn't sleep that night. He found himself flying into the princes
chambers.

 The room held three beds. One was the Prince Trowa's, everything was in meticulous order, not a
speck of dirt around that corner of the room. Next was young Quatre's bed, a child adopted into the
royal family and the prince Trowa's betrothed. His area was decorated and plush and smelled of
incense. Heero wrinkled his nose and continued. The last bed was Duo's. His area was a mess. It
must have been like a full work out just to get to the bed each night to sleep!

 The prince moaned in his sleep and Heero backed up, then retreated. The beat of his wings the only
sound in the silence of the night. I have to do this! He thought in a panic, I need to get this done with
and get away from him! Damn arrows!

 The next day the king was to address the people. Heero crept up to stand atop the palace using a
simple spell of invisibility. When he was ready, he dropped the mantel of the unseen and a murmur
rose from the people in the city below. "Eros! It is Eros!"

 He notched the magic of the spell as an arrow and targeted the sow, It was a direct hit. He notched
another and aimed at the king, "For crimes against Relena-sama, you have been sentanced." He said
and then let the spell fly.

 "NO!" Duo threw his arms around his father and poured his magic into him.

 Heero watched in anger as his spell's color weakened, but it held and he felt a tear collect at the
corner of his eye, "Why?" He whispered, "Now I will have to punish you too." He raised another
arrow but couldn't make himself send it. The beautiful prince looked up at him in contempt. Finally he let loose a whimpered sigh and flew away.
 
 

 Duo looked up at the battlements when the murmurs started, "Eros! It's Eros!" He glanced  up in
time to see the spell be sent. "NO!" He threw his arms around the king and poured all of the magic he held into his father. He could feel the light glow that covered his aura grow weaker, he knew if he did much more he would die. The last thing he saw before he blacked out was Eros. Notching an arrow for him. The boy glared and to his surprise, the demi-God spread his wings and flew away! Then, all went dark.
 

 The kingdom was in an uproar! The king looked at the sow in disgust but couldn't help himself, all his son's sacrifice had done was make him aware of the horror he was faced with. His groin tightened in lust and he even wept as his sons led the sow away from him. He was out of control!  Duo's brothers begged him to help his father and Duo felt his heart catch. They don't realize how much I've used, I might not live through it again.

 "Duo, for the love of Zeus help him!"

 "I. . ."

 "Onegai. Please."

 The tears in his brothers bright blue eyes felled his resolve to stay out of it, and Duo poured what he
could into his father, weakening the spell enough to let him sleep.

 He woke three days later in his bed. His father was still under the spell and Duo went to the temple
of Aphrodite. He stood outside, as he wasn't allowed in the temple since he renounced beauty and its goddess. "Aphrodite!" He screamed, "I am Shinigami! Release my father from that spell! I will give
you anything you wish." He took out a dagger from his cloak and held it to his wrist. "Here! This is
why you did it in the first place isn't it!? I give you my life for my fathers freedom! He brought the blade to his clean, white skin and a drop of crimson blood dripped down from the cut. He bit his lip and pressed harder, tears of pain and sorrow fell to the ground and he slid to his knees as more and more of his life blood slipped away.
 

 Heero gasped when Duo arrived at the temple. His heart beat madly when he saw the boy slit one wrist then the other. "NO!"

 The prince's gaze shot up at him and Heero used a healing spell to close the wounds. "Why?" Duo
asked weakly.

 Heero paused, he couldn't tell him, he couldn't, he had to think. . . "You can't get off that easily. One ningen life is a trivial thing to the gods."

 "What do I have to do? I will do anything to free my father."

 Heero grinned as wickedly as he could, "You will be a sacrifice." He answered, "To Aphrodite's
monster. Her pet beast. Take yourself to the alter on the hill overlooking the village. Go alone and wait for him to fetch you. Once you are gone, your father will be free again."

 Duo trembled but nodded and licked his dry lips nervously.

 It was all Heero could do to keep back. "You have one day to say goodbye. Go."

 "H. . . hai."

 Heero watched Duo run off, then went to Hilde. He would need one of her spells to pull this off.

 I could use a disguise so he wouldn't know me. . . but what if he fell in love with the face of the
disguise? A mantle of darkness, He finally decided, seeming absolute nothingness surrounding him.
Duo would not know it was Eros whom he hated so much, and he would not fall in love with a face
used as a disguise. He would love Heero for who he was. I hope.
 
 

 Duo sat on the cold stone alter, dressed in his normal black attire, hair braided. He trembled as his
mind came up with a thousand different things the monster might do to him. At least father is normal
again. He can be king again. And I'm sure the monster wont let me live long enough to get jealous
and destroy the kingdom.

 A slight rustling sound drew Duo's eyes to the trees, "Hello? Are you there?"

 A shadow detatched itself from under the trees and walked forward. Duo gasped. It was like it
swallowed light, the sun shone on it but it was still just a spot of blackness. The prince cried out in
alarm.

 The shadow grabbed his arm when he tried to run and Duo fought until he slipped on the alter stones and hit his head.
 
 

 Heero cursed, "Kuso!" I knew it, I knew I shouldn't have come during the day, it was too much for
him all at once! Damn! He picked up prince Duo in his arms and used a transport spell to carry them to his house on Olympus. The home Aphrodite had given him but he rarely used simply because living in the main plaza was simpler. He would use it now though.

 Duo came to in a huge, soft bed. A fire blazed in the hearth and clean clothing was set out for him.
"What the. . ." He took a quick shower and dressed, then went down to explore. There were three servants he found, but all were mute. He found dinner was prepared and ate it with gusto as he realized it was very good. In other rooms he found tons of books! Duo had always loved to read. He found a few mangas and a book of poetry in some odd language that someone had translated below each line. "Cool." He went out into the garden and took a deep breath, the night air was wonderful!
He sat down on a bench and started to read.

 "How do you like your home?"

 The young prince swung around and fell off of the bench again when he saw the shadow. "Anou. . .
Anou.. . . Hi?"

 The thing chuckled, "Konbanha Duo."

 Duo took a steadying breath, "Are you going to kill me?"

 "Nani?! Kill you? No. You are to live here, to keep me company." In sat beside him and Duo
jumped away as half of the bench disappeared into the darkness.

 "W. . . what do I c. . . call you?"

 "Beast." Heero answeres, "Just call me beast."

 Duo giggled nervously, "Isn't that a little harsh?"

 "I scare you don't I."

 "Anou. . ."

 "I know that I do, don't try to be kind. I only want you to be happy."

 "Then let me go home."

 "That is one wish I can not grant." He sounded like he was frowning, "Aphrodite's will must be
done."

 "Did she do this to you!?" Duo gasped angrily, "That witch! I'll bet she. . ."

 "No, the darkness is to hide my face."

 "I sit that bad?" Duo sat carefully beside him.

 "It disgusts me." Heero replied truthfully.

 Duo frowned and nibbled on his lip, "You. . . ah. . . you want to come inside?"

 "No, that is your home now. When I enter the house I will also enter your bed."

 "Nani! Hentai!" Duo shrieked and jumped up, "E. . . Eechi!" He ran into the house and locked the
doors.

 Heero just sat there, on the bench. He watched Duo crying and his heart ached for him. But what he had said was true. If he returned Duo, his father would have to be placed under the spell again,
Relena had given her command and he couldn't go against Aphrodite. Of course I don't think this
was exactly what she had in mind.
 

 It wasn't. Relena was furious when Heero crawled in the door at dawn and slid into his bed. "Where have you been?!"

 "Home." He mumbled, sinking into the pillows.

 "With Prince Duo?! I told you to punish the family!"

 "I made him live with a monster."

 "Yeah! You! I didn't mean you!"

 "Well be more specific next time."

 Relena screamed and stomped out of his chambers and Heero rolled him eyes and went to sleep.

<Part 2>
 

Duo slept most of the day, he hadn't been able to sleep the night before, he had been to afraid. Now that the sun was up, he drifted into a fitful slumber but sleep none the less, and dreamed of a beast made out of shadows.

  Heero started to visit Duo every night. They talked of meaningless things and played games, and
Duo read to Heero from some of the books he had found. Heero had read them all, but hearing them from Duo's point of view was like reading them all over again. They soon became fast friends.

 The one subject they never brought up was Relena, Aphrodite was Duo's ideal monster for what she had done to him and his father an now for beast too. The only times Heero had mentioned her it had
been in reverance for her kindness to him but Duo wouldn't believe it. He hated her, so Heero let the
subject drop.

 "Beast?"

 "Hai."

 "Where do you go during the day?"

 "To Relena-sama's, to sleep."

 "Why don't you sleep at night?"

 "That is when I can see you."

 "Oh." Duo blushed. "What will we do tonight beast?"

 "I brought a chess set for you. . . oh!" Heero tripped and the chess pieces went flying. He cursed
and got down on his knees to look for the pieces. "Damn!"

 "Here let me help." Duo reached for the same piece Heero had and his hand was enveloped in
darkness and covered by the others warm palm. "OH!" He jumped back and studied his hand, it was still whole.

 Heero jumped back as well, "I. . ."

 "It just vanished!"

 "I. . ."

 "Cool!" Duo grinned and put his hand into the darkness again. "Awesome! Can you see through it?"

 Heero was shocked! "H. . . hai. It's like a dark veil covers everything, that's all."

 Duo's eyes flashed and he grinned, "Lemme see!" Then he jumped into the spell of darkness
surrounding Heero and looked out through it, "Neat!" He backed up until his back pressed against
Heero's chest so the darkness would fully cover him.

 The demi-god of love found himself with two arms full of the laughing braided boy and his heart beat a tatoo in his chest. "I have to. . . ah. . . Relena. . . um. . . Aphrodite needs me." He stammered and
then left.
 
 

 Duo stood watching the spot where his beast had vanished. //My beast?// He was shocked at his thoughts. //When did I start thinking of him as my Beast?!//

 He touched his hand softly, thinking back to the touch. . . Beast's hand had felt human. Humanoid at
least. //What does he look like?// Duo hugged himself against the sudden cold, "He felt so warm."

 A dark chestnut braid swayed behind him on the wind as Duo sat on the bench alone. "Beast."
 
 

 Heero watched the braided boy until the son came up and then he crept back to Relena's. The
goddess was fuming when she found out he had returned. "What do you think you are doing?! Not
only is he my enemy but he's a HE! Eros, I. . ."

 "My name is Heero." The boy said as he closed his door in her face.

 "H. . . Heero." //You have not used that name in over five thousand years. What is that baka doing
to you?//
 
 

 Duo sat in the library reading through the old books he had found. The poetry was really beautiful,
whoever had translated it from the language of the gods had really felt the words.

 Upon closer inspection of the library Duo found a few books that described the history of the very
gods. Once again translated beautifully below each line. He became quickly immersed in the tails of
blood shed and battle, love and lust, so much had happened to bring the Gods where they now were. Reading the stories they became almost. . . human. He took the book out into the garden to read and day slipped by unnoticed. The sun's rays were replaced by firefly lanterns and moonlight but Duo
didn't realize the time had passed until a hand fell to his shoulder, the darkness that accompanied it
enveloping his side.

 Duo jumped with a startled yelp and Heero backed of quickly. Perhaps the other night had been a
fools dream. That the boy would accept his darkness.

 "Oi Beast! You scared me! I was so into this book I hadn't realized how late it was!" Duo laughed
and Heero's heart was melted by the smile on the boy's beautifully life filled face.

 "You like to read?"

 Duo nodded, "Hn, I'm not just a face you know. It gets boring here all day alone. Why don't you
ever visit during the day?"

 "The darkness is much more pronounced in the light. I have already scarred you once with it."

 "Well only because I didn't expect it."

 Heero glanced down at the book in Duo's hands. "I am sorry that you have no companions but the
elderly mutes who keep the house but. . ."

 "You don't want someone to be charmed by my pretty face and help me escape." Duo sighed, "You
can't trust me."

 "I do trust you." Heero insisted, "With my life Duo. I trust you with my life. Here." Duo heard the
sound of flesh being sliced open and then felt a damp piece of cloth touch his palm. Blood!

 "Beast! You're bleeding!" He groped blindly in the darkness to find the wounded hand and wrap it in a strip torn from his shirt.

 "This is my blood. You have studied magic, you know what a hold that will give you over me. You
can command my body to stop breathing. You could kill me with that bloodied cloth."

 Duo tried to give it back to the beast. "I don't wa. . ."

 "Keep it." He insisted, "this is my sign, that I trust you. My life is in your hands."

 "Does your life truly mean so little to you that you would bargain it with faith?"

 Heero looked at the frowning boy and sighed, "My life is of little meaning."

 "You mean a lot to me though!"

 That brought a smile to Heero's hidden lips. "I am glad."

 The two sat on the grassy lawn in silence for a while until Duo spoke again. "Would you mind. . .
um. . . would you talk with me?"

 "I do each night."

 "I mean about this." He tapped the book. "This history is like reading a manga! Full of excitement
and cool battles, were you there? At the war of the Gods?"

 Heero paused before he answered softly, "Yes. I was there." He spat.

 "Is that why you're like this? A punishment?"

 "Hn." Heero nodded slowly, "I was used by a man I trusted and forced into a battle I wanted no
part in."

 "Like Eros."

 "Nani?!" Heero jumped.

 Duo stared at him in shock, "E. . . Eros." He repeated, "It says in here that he was used for evil and
cursed with repulsiveness but the spell couldn't hold his beauty so he became a demi-god under the
guidance of Aphrodite."

 "Hai." Heero said carefully, "That is much like my story."

 Duo sighed, "Why do people always romanticize beauty? Even the gods!"

 The shadow beast chuckled, startling Duo. He had never heard the beast laugh before!

 "What did I say?" Duo wondered aloud.

 "Maybe you are the one reading that into the story. It could mean the beauty of his heart defeated
the spell."

 "But Eros's beauty is legendary."

 Heero felt his heart stop beating. "Do you think he is?"

 "Is what?"

 "Beautiful."

 Duo paused and thought, "I suppose. . ."

 "Oh." Heero opened his heart to accept defeat by his own hands.

 "I mean, like a statue is beautiful. His face is like a piece of art to mount on a wall, but he was so
cold when I saw him. You are more beautiful to me than Eros."

 Heero was startled. "You've never seen me."

 "But I know you. Your heart is beautiful even if you refuse to believe it."

 Heero shook his head. "You just keep surprising me."

 "You say that as if it doesn't happen often."

 "It doesn't."

 "Oh." Duo smiled, "So what do you do all day and night other then sleep and talk to me?"

 "I run errands for Aphrodite."

 Duo stiffened at the mention of that name and Heero closed his eyes in exasperation.

 "She is not the monster you make her to be."

 "Do you love her?"

 "Wha. . ." Again he was caught of guard.

 "Do you love her?" Duo asked again, "Is that why you insist that she's good? Did she do this to
you?!"

 "No! Zeus did this to me, I did this to me. Aphrodite saved me."

 "Do you love her?"

 "She is like a sister to me. I love her like a brother loves a sister."

 "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have. . . it's just that. . ." Duo fought to find the right words and found his
vocabulary lacking to describe this feeling. "You want to come inside?"

 Heero drew in a quick breath and shallowed hard, "Do you remember what I said about going
inside?"

 "Hai."

 "You. . . you still want me to come?"

 Duo grinned and nodded. "Oh I want you to ‘come' alright. . ."

<Part 3>
 

 Heero felt his heart jump at the boy's words. A want, a need like he had never known welled up inside of him. "D. . . Duo."

 The prince nodded and took his shadow beast by the hand, leading him into the house with a slow
but sure stride. "I need you beast. I. . .  dai suki."

 "Is that all?"

 "No. . . but it is what I can offer for now." Duo said honestly. He felt much more than liking for his
brave beast, but he felt something inside of him was still at disease, until that unrest was settled, He
would have to settle for like.

 At the threshold Heero stopped and turned to face his little prince. "Duo, are you absolutely sure of
this?"

 "There are no absolutes in life beast, but you make my heart hot, my soul full, I want this as much as
you."

 "I highly doubt that." Heero grinned and scooped the boy into his arms. "You are mine!"

 "Hai." Duo gasped and snuggled closer to the warm body that held him in the darkness. "Yours,
only. . . only yours."

 Heero bent his head forward, licking Duo's neck gently as he carried him to the bedroom. "You are
untouched." He observed.

 "Hai." Duo felt the bed beneath him as he was pressed into the mattress by the beast's weight. "I was
to be idolized in my kingdom, not touched."

 "But this is the only way to worship someone." Heero breathed into his ear, "Body to body. I
worship you Duo, my prince."

 "Body to body." Duo repeated softly, "I worship -you- my beast."

 Heero ran his hand over Duo's cheek, the soft flesh was hot with desire. Their lips met in an
animalistic need. Ravenous, hot, wet, their tongues curled together in a dual older than time as their
bodies danced a dance just as ancient. Flesh to flesh and heat to heat they clung to each other. Their
breaths came in short gasps, their bodies slid over each other, slick with sweat.

 "Duo!" Heero gasped, biting into the tender flesh where Duo's neck met his shoulder.

 The prince gasped in pleasure and realized he didn't know what name to cry out. "I. . . I don't even
know your name. . ."

 Heero froze and looked down on his beautiful prince. //he knows me by Eros only.//  "H. . . Heero."

 "Nani?"

 "My name." He said softly, "My name is Heero."

 "Heero." Duo let the name slip over his tongue, it was sweet, flowing. As Heero bent to talk his
mouth again Duo sighed and closed his eyes, "Heero. My Heero."

 "Duo." the boy gasped as Heero pressed his lips to his chest, swirling his tongue around one nipple
and then the other, teasing them into attention. His attention's moved lower and Duo's eyes went
wide as Heero nipped his way over his abdomen and to his navel. He plunged his tongue inside and
swirled it around hungrily then started to pump it in and out, the rhythm was erotic. Duo gasped and
pulled Heero closer, his nails digging into his back, "H. . . Heero! I want. . . I need. . ."

 "I know." Heero growled and nipped Duo's belly tenderly.

 "Heeeeeerrrrrooooo!!!"

 The two bodies were both surrounded in the darkness that Heero wore, it was an  unbelievably
erotic sensation to have to feel their way in the dark. Duo was thoroughly enjoying it. Heero gasped
as Duo took his manhood into his long, slender fingers.

 "Ne Heero, I wanna hold your hand." He teased.

 "Th. . . that's not my hand." Heero gasped.

 Duo didn't sound a bit sorry when he replied, "Mmm, silly me." His let his hand wander over Heero's smooth ass to slid one finger, slick with Heero's pre-come, into his tight, throbbing anus.

 "Duo!" Heero cried out and rocked back onto th finger, shivering in delight as Duo stroaked
something inside him that drove him insane with pleasure. "I . . . thought you were a virgin!"

 He chuckled, "I am, but I've been stuck with nothing to do during the day for months now

I had to find something to entertain myself." His chuckle rumbled in Heero's ears and through his
entire being. "We had to play with some of your. . . toys later, it's just not the same by myself."

 "Hn." Heero chuckled throatily, "hentai."

 "You know it!" Duo laughed and glomped him tighter, another finger slid in to join the first, then a
third, then a forth. Duo sat up and took Heero's shaft into his mouth even as he plunged his fingers
into the boy's heat. Pain and pleasure swirled behind Heero's closed lids and he shouted out in
beautiful torment as his seed filled Duo's lips. Just feeling him go over the edge sent Duo over as well
and the held on to one another in the wake of passion's wave.

 Duo swallowed all of Heero's fluid greedily and then moaned huskily, "You taste good."

 "Let me try." Heero caught Duo's lips in his and smiled against them, "Mmm, you have good taste,
but I think the flavor is from you."

 "We taste good then."

 "Aa."

 They snuggled for a little longer and then slowly drifted to sleep, each dreaming of the other, never
letting go through the night.
 
 

 When Duo woke up Heero was gone, his side of the bed though, was still warm, he had just left.
The boy sighed and frowned, he had been looking forward to waking up with his new lover. //maybe
he's shy.// Duo smiled. For some reason the thought of his beast as shy warmed his heart. "Heero."
He tested the name and grinned. It felt right.

 The breakfast table was set when Duo stepped downstairs, a single rose placed across his place. A
promise, and a reassurance. It was from his beast. The rest of the day couldn't go by fast enough for
Duo! He read until his eyes hurt, took a nap, practiced shooting the old bow he had found, even
worked in Heero's small food garden and planted some flowers around the stark utilitarian yard.

 Somewhere in the mist of all of this though, a doubt came to his mind. What if Heero had left
because he had disappointed him? What if he wasn't good enough for his beast? After that thought,
he did all he could to make night come sooner. Finally he got his wish.

 As night fell Duo stepped out onto the patio and gazed out into the dark yard. When a shadow
moved forward he launched himself into it and found himself wrapped in Heero's strong arms. They
just stayed that way for a long time. Just holding each other close. Duo pressed feathery kisses over
Heero's face and neck and made a sound between a gasp and a sigh, "Aa Heero."

 "Duo I. . ."

 "I've been waiting all day for you! Why did you leave this morning Hee-chan? Are you shy? Did I
disappoint you? I can learn more. . ."

 "Duo, why would you disappoint me? How could you ever disappoint me? Ai shiteru Duo. Zutto ai
shiteru."

 "Heero. . ."

 "Shh, don't say anything, that you know I love you is enough for now."

 "Heero."

 "Duo."

 "Nani?"

 "Put that mouth of yours to better use."

 Duo smiled bright enough to shame the sun and stepped into the darkness surrounding Heero,
stepped into the arms of his beast.
 
 

 Later that night Duo lay in Heero's arms, sated and tired but unable to sleep.

 "What is wrong koishii?"

 "I just kinda miss my family a little. I mean they think I'm suffering a horrible fate at the hands of a
beast."

 "Am I such a horrible fate?"

 "No! That's what I mean! They are mourning for me and they don't need to, I wish I could tell them
that I'm ok. And see them again." Duo grinned and ran his hand over his beast's chest. "And brag
about my wonderful koi."

 Heero frowned, it was unseen but Duo could feel it tn the darkness.

 "Koi?"

 "I would miss you terribly Duo."

 "I would miss you too koibito, but it would only be for a few days. I can't stand being so happy
when I know they are so sad."

 "My sweet hearted itoshii." Heero kissed him softly, "You know that I could never deny you
anything." He reached into his pouch and pulled out a be-spelled ring. "This ring holds the spell to
bring you back to me. You will come back, won't you?"

 Duo smiled and cuddled his beast with all of the tenderness in his heart. "Of course I will come back
to you baka! You're my koi. My beautiful beast." He grinned and moaned slightly, "And I love that
thing you do with your tongue!"

 Heero tossed a pillow at him and Duo retaliated in kind, soon the whole room was full of feathers.

 "The keepers wont be thrilled about this." Duo said looking at the mess they had made.

 "Hn." Heero pulled the boy close and kissed his neck.

 "Mmm."

 "Aa." Heero agreed and they fell to the bed again.
 
 

 Aphrodie's frown deepened when Heero came back the next morning with blank eyes, colder than
usual.  "What has he done now?!" She insisted.

 "Who?"

 "Duo!"

 "Nothing." Heero said sleepily.

 "My sources tell me you're letting him go back."

 He gave her a look that plainly stated ‘if you knew, why ask me?'"Temporarily."

 "Eros. . ."

 "Relena, My name is Heero!"

 "Heero!" Aphrodite jumped back a step. "Humans are short lived and fickle creatures. How do you
know he'll return? Hm? And what will you do when he grows older?"

 "I will love him."

 "And when his human body gives up life and dies?"

 Heero's eyes went flatter at the thought, "I too will die."

 "Damn it Heero stop being so self destructive!"

 "I love Duo Relena, love him with every breath inside of me.  When he dies why would I want to
live?"

 "You are a demi god Heero, you could have anything you wanted in the world."

 "All I want is Duo."

 "Don't be so stubborn!"

 "Don't by so lofty!"

 Relena was taken aback and watch in silence as Heero retired to his room. Her heart ached for her
friend. She had seen the changes the human made in him. He talked more, almost smiled a few times,he was becoming alive again for the first time since the war. But when Duo died. . . "The price is too high Hee-chan." She sobbed sadly, "The price is too high."
 
 

~tbc~