Chapter One: Part Two:  The Pretty Cage

 

Duo, dressed in a loose, black satin jacket and pants, made his way up to the west terrace. He admired himself as he walked, running his fingers over the gold lion crest on his pocket and the smart red shirt underneath. His fingers found the gold cross he always wore. He smiled. “I wonder if I’ll have to go to confession after this?”

     

He stepped out onto the terrace, wearing the expression of someone who knew he looked good. The sun had just begun to set and its glow illuminated his young face as he walked across the terrace.

     

The Duchess leaned against the railing, a silhouette against the sunset. She wore blushing chiffon and her hair hung in auburn tresses. “Good evening, Duo,” she greeted softly.

      

He stared. She was like an angel wrapped in mist. “Good… evening, Duchess.”

    

 “Call me Kara,” she replied. “Come, watch the sunset with me.”

     

Duo joined her at the railing, still staring.

     

She studied him. “You look handsome tonight.”

     

He grinned as her eyes met his. “Thanks. You look… amazing.”

     

She smiled and her crystal earrings glittered. “I’m glad you kept our date.” She slipped her hand over his. “What do you think of the sunset?”

     

For the first time he actually looked at the sunset. Its blushing hues still couldn’t compare with her dress.  “It’s beautiful,” he responded.

     

Kara stared into the horizon. “Tell me, Duo, do you miss the wars in space?”

     

He traced every inch of her face with his eyes and then worked from there. “Yeah, a little.”

     

“Have you ever thought of giving it up?” She gazed into his eyes.

     

“No,” he replied honestly. “I couldn’t imagine not fighting. It’s such a rush.”

     

“Hmmm.” She smiled. “Your eyes are beautiful.”

     

He grinned. “So are yours,” he thought, but he answered with “Thanks.”

     

“Do you have much time to meet women in space?”

     

He hesitated. “There really aren’t many women in space. Besides,” he added with a grin, “gundam pilots are fighters – not lovers.”

     

She touched the tip of his nose with one slender finger. “So, you’re the exception…”

     

Duo nearly lost his composure. “Uh………….”

     

“Don’t be modest, Duo Maxwell. You know you’re my favorite.”

     

He stared into her eyes. “Really…?”

     

She chuckled. “I just love your sense of humor. It’s what makes you so different

from the other pilots.” She smiled coyly.

 

“That… and your hair.” She snagged the end of his braid between her fingers.

     

“She touched my hair!” His heart nearly stopped. He couldn’t speak.

     

The Duchess noticed his excitement. “There’s just something about a boy who takes such pride in his hair,” she added, tickling his face with the end of his braid.

     

Butterflies fluttered in Duo’s stomach. He laughed nervously, blushing. “Yeah, I guess I do,” he replied.

     

She smiled, her eyes delving deep into his. “And you’re so… modest.”

     

He looked sheepish. “Well, I have lots of confidence.”

     

She nodded. “I’m sure….” Her fingers slid along his collar.

     

He took the initiative and leaned close until he could smell her perfume.

     

Kara drew back, tossing his braid at him with a smile. “Are you hungry?”

     

He blinked. “Huh? Oh – oh, yeah.”

     

“I’ve never been so hungry in my life,” he thought, watching her walk over to a table set for two. He followed and held her chair for her to sit down. “It just figures that Heero would try to keep me away from an evening like this.”

     

“So, how are your friends getting along with their stay so far?” Duchess Kara asked, pouring the champagne.

     

“Okay, I guess,” Duo answered, seating himself. “Some of them just have a funny way of showing it.”

            She lifted her eyes. “Like Heero?”

     

Duo remembered Heero’s face as he’d walked out of his room. “Heero’s a little hard to get close to,” he responded staring at the bubbles in his glass.

     

The Duchess watched his expression. “Then you two aren’t very good friends?”

     

His eyes met hers. “Well, it’s kind of hard to explain.”

     

She carved the fish on her plate. “I’ve seen you two together and you seem pretty close.”

     

“Yeah,” Duo thought. “When he’s not pounding the tar out of me.” He stared at his food. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore, if that’s okay.”

           

She nodded, glancing at his sullen face. “Sure.”

           

Duo glanced at the sunset as it faded into blue night. “I wish she hadn’t brought him up,” he thought. “What a way to ruin a mood!”

           

They sat in silence for awhile, the Duchess eating quietly and Duo sipping his champagne. Then Duo spoke. “So, Kara, what do you usually do around here – I mean, when you don’t have company?”

           

She glanced at him. “Oh, I handle personal matters, try to keep up with the duties of my station.”

           

“Then you don’t get to do what you want? Man, I figured being a Duchess you’d get some major perks!”

           

Kara laughed. “Oh, there are benefits, I assure you.”

           

Duo gave her a sly smile. “I bet you’ve got a whole lot of rich, high-society guys following you around, huh?”

           

She smiled back bashfully. “Well, no. I keep myself far too busy for that.”

           

His eyes met hers, glittering impishly. “Too bad. If you had boyfriends on Earth maybe you wouldn’t have to import them from space.”

           

She flushed hotly. “That’s not the reason why I offered for you pilots to stay with me!”

    

“Hmmm. Alright.” He tapped his chin. “Then why did you?”

     

“I’ve never met a gundam pilot before and I thought this would be a good opportunity.”

           

He nodded. “Oh.” He looked into her eyes. “So, what do you think of us?”

           

She smiled. “You’re all very charming and very driven young men.”

           

Duo grinned. “Driven?”

            

She gazed at him. “Yes. Almost as if an unseen force is pushing you on. It’s amazing.”

           

“Gee, thanks!” he replied. “I guess it does seem kind of amazing sometimes, but we gundam pilots are pretty much trained to keep going.”

            

She leaned forward attentively. “Even so, the relationship you have with each other and your gundams is intriguing.”

           

Duo smiled proudly. “Well, the gundams are some pretty cool machines, but us… we’re not exactly magic when we’re together.” He took a bite of fish. “In fact, we have some pretty bad disagreements.”

           

She looked interested. “You’re more comfortable on your own then – all of you?”

           

He shrugged. “We’re not on our own with our gundams, but some of us work better without distractions.” He stuffed some more fish into his mouth.

           

She smiled, watching him eat. “Your gundams, could just anyone pilot them?”

           

“No, only trained pilots.”

           

She sipped her champagne. “So you’ve never had to worry about anyone stealing them?”

           

He looked up from his plate. “Well, Oz tried some dirty tricks on us before, if that’s what you mean. They wanted to kill us too, but we’re tougher than that.” He returned to his meal.

           

“Hmmm.” The Duchess smiled. “Are you enjoying your dinner?”

           

Duo nodded, his mouth full. “Man, I can’t believe I almost lost my appetite!” he thought.

           

Kara waited for him to finish, then she rose from her seat. “Would you care to sit with me?”

            He pushed his chair back from the table, feeling a little drowsy after eating. “Sure.”

           

She glided over to a bench that faced the railing. Duo walked over and sat down beside her.

           

“I hope you realize what this time has meant to me, Duo,” she murmured gently, looking into his eyes. “Having you and the other pilots as my guests is something I won’t soon forget.”

           

Duo smiled. “Neither will I.”

           

She took his hand. “What do you think of me, Duo?” Her earrings winked at him.

           

“Well,” he gazed at her affectionately. “I think you’re gorgeous, and you really know how to treat a guy. You’re smart too.”

           

She lowered her eyes. “Thank you.” She drew closer to him. “How do you feel about getting attention from an older woman?”

           

He stared into her entrancing eyes. “Great.” The closer she got to him, the better he seemed to feel. “Man, I didn’t know what I was missing in space!” he thought as his insides turned to jelly.

           

She reached up and ever so gently touched his face. He sighed and she smiled. “I’m glad you don’t feel uncomfortable with me being five years your senior.”

           

            He grinned. “Nope. Not at all.” Inside he wondered, “What did she do to me?”

           

“I want you to know that I appreciate everything you’ve done,” she whispered, “and I think you’re very sweet.”

          

“What did I do?”

           

She touched his chin, gazing into his eyes. “You helped me have fun, brought a little joy to my life. For this I thank you.”

           

Without another word, she pulled him close and kissed him. His eyes grew wide and his blood pressure rose. “Nobody’s ever kissed me before!” he thought. “What’ll I do?” He closed his eyes, embracing her. Then he sank like a stone. “I didn’t know it would feel this good….”

           

When he opened his eyes he was dizzy and high and grinning.

           

The Duchess smiled. “You’re not a bad kisser, Duo.”

            He gazed into her eyes. “Thanks.” Everything seemed to sparkle. “I’ve never felt anything like this before,” he thought drowsily.

           

“You know,” she added,” you really should get to sleep. You look tired.”

           

He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled at her. “I will… if you kiss me again.”

           

She sighed. “Why don’t we let that moment be special, and I’ll see you in the morning?” She touched his cheek.

           

He was too tired to argue. “Well, okay,” he agreed. “I had a great time, Kara.”

“Why am I so tired?” he wondered.

           

She rose. “I did too, Duo.” She took his hand and walked with him back into the house. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she reminded, kissing him on the cheek. “Have a good night, Duo.”

           

He glanced at her face as she turned to go. “Are you sure you don’t want another kiss?”

           

She shook her head, with a smile. “No, thanks. I think you should get to bed.”

           

He shrugged. “Well, your loss then. Good night, Kara.”

           

As he walked down the hallway, he felt as if his feet didn’t touch the floor. “It’s the weirdest thing. Fighting and blowing things up feels great, but this feels so much better.”

           

He drifted down the halls, everything shining like polished brass. When he got to his room he was so tired that he could barely keep his eyes open. He took off his shirt and shoes and collapsed on his bed. In a few minutes, he was sound asleep.

 

           

Heero sat, leaning against the foot of his bed, his arms wrapped around his knees in the dark. His eyes scanned the darkness. His room felt like a prison cell in these dark hours. No sight, no sound, just darkness.

           

            A digital clock glowed like a beacon on his nightstand. 12:05. Trowa had said three. A few more hours.

            

“What is all this about Trowa discovering why the Duchess is suspicious?” he wondered. “What has he been up to? –  Obviously not cloistered in his room like a hermit… like me.” He rested his forehead on his arms. “I feel useless. What is wrong with me? Why can’t I do something?”

           

            His stomach was empty, his head was full, and he couldn’t sleep. Thunder rolled outside in the night sky. He heard raindrops begin to pelt the windowpanes. He lifted his head. “I think my heart is crying,” he thought. “I’d forgotten what it sounded like…. Maybe I’ve grown accustomed to it.” He listened to the rain and smiled.

 

           

There was a blinding light and thunderous blast as the gundam Wing Zero exploded. The force flung its pilot from the cockpit like limp doll. He hurtled through the air, and landed in the dust, battered and bleeding.

           

All of this was reflected in Duo’s eyes as he scrambled out of Deathscythe’s cockpit, screaming his partner’s name. He ran over to where Heero lay and knelt beside him, his heart pounding. “Heero, are you -?” He stared at the blood puddling beneath Heero’s arm and choked on his words.

           

“Duo.” Heero looked up into his face, grimacing with pain.

           

Duo lifted Heero’s head and shoulders onto his lap. Heero groaned and blood  soaked Duo’s pants. Duo tore the sleeve off of his shirt and held it against the wound.

“You’re gonna be okay, buddy,” he comforted.

           

“Duo,” Heero gasped, “I can’t fight anymore. I –.”

            

“Don’t try to talk, Heero.” Duo supported Heero’s head and stared into his eyes. “You need to save your strength.”

           

Heero’s eyes fought to focus. “This was my last battle, Duo. I’m – dying.”

           

Duo swallowed tears that were forcing their way to his eyes. “No, Heero. You won’t die. I’m not going to let you.” He cradled him close. “It’ll be alright.”

           

“Duo.” Heero stared into his face. “Keep on fighting, Duo. Carry out the mission. I’m finished.”

           

The tears streamed freely down Duo’s cheeks. “Don’t talk like that, Heero. The colonies still need you.”

           

Heero groaned. “I have to tell you something, Duo.” He coughed, blood trickling from his mouth. “Come closer.”

           

Duo leaned closer, his eyes shining with tears, his heart aching. “What is it, Heero?” He felt Heero’s breath on his face.

            

“You’re a good pilot, Duo,” Heero murmured, nearly out of strength. “I never told you, but – you were my friend. I’m grateful.” He lifted a weak hand and touched Duo’s face.

            Duo struggled to keep from completely breaking down. “Heero,” he whispered. “I want to tell you –.”

            

Heero’s eyes rolled back and his hand fell limply to the ground.

            

“Heero!” Duo stared at his friend’s lifeless face. “No, Heero! Don’t die! Heero!” He lifted Heero’s head, but the boy lay limp in his arms. “Heero, please! No! Heeroooooo!”

           

Duo woke up screaming, bolt upright in his bed. A cold sweat beaded on his skin and his body trembled feverishly. He realized he had stopped dreaming as lightning lit the walls of his room and thunder bellowed over his head. Rain was streaming in an open window and the wind froze the sweat on his skin.

           

He drew himself into a ball on his bed, the image of his dream flashing in front of his eyes. His heart felt like a weight inside his chest, and a hard knot was forming in his throat. “Heero,” he choked. He could almost feel the blood on his hands.

           

Lightning flashed again. The storm roared like a beast outside.

            

“Duo, I can’t fight anymore.” Heero’s voice echoed in his head. “I never told you, but – you were my friend.”

           

Duo closed his eyes. “No, Heero.” He couldn’t suppress it any longer. The feeling in the pit of his stomach surged forth            and he didn’t try to stop it.

           

The rolling storm drowned out the sound of his sobs as he bawled his anguish in the sheets. He cried like he’d never cried before, with no inhibitions. He knew that no one could hear him.

 

           

All the agony had emptied out of Duo and he lay gasping and drying his swollen eyes. “I can’t stay here,” he thought. “I’ll never be able to get to sleep. I need somebody.”

           

            Shakily, he rose and slipped out of his bedroom door into the dark hallway. Shirtless, with bare feet, he followed where his heart led him – down the stairs and through the hallways to Quatre’s room.

           

He knocked on the gold door, hoping its master was still awaked. After a second, the door opened and Quatre, wearing striped cotton pajamas, appeared in the doorway.

            

“Duo, what are you doing here? Come in.”

           

Duo forced a grin as Quatre led him into the warm glowing room. “Don’t laugh or anything, but I had a nightmare.”

           

Quatre looked at him with his sympathetic eyes. “Duo, your eyes are red.”

            

“Yeah, I know.”

           

Deciding to spare Duo his pride, Quatre added, “If you tell me about your nightmare, I promise I won’t laugh.” He gave Duo an encouraging smile.

           

Duo nodded. “Okay.”

            

Quatre studied his face. “Are you okay?”

           

Duo chuckled half-heartedly, feeling the lump in his throat return. “Not really.”

            

“Do you want me to give you a hug?” Quatre looked into his desperate eyes.

           

 “Don’t ask, just do it.”

     

Duo folded willingly into Quatre’s warm embrace. He felt the pain in his heart calm. “You don’t think I’m a sissy for this, do you?”

     

Quatre patted his back. “No. Everybody needs somebody once in awhile.”

     

Duo rested against Quatre’s shoulder. “Thanks, Quatre.”

     

Thunder rattled the windows and the two released each other. Quatre sat down on his bed. “If you want to you can tell me about your dream.” He moved a book that lay beside him, and smiled kindly at Duo. “Sit down. Relax. We don’t have need to get to sleep for awhile yet.”

     

Duo glanced at the clock above Quatre’s bed. It was ten after one. He sat down beside Quatre. “There’s not much to tell – about my dream, I mean.” He rubbed the back of his neck absently, glancing into Quatre’s patient eyes. “Wind Zero was destroyed. Heero – died in my arms… and I couldn’t do anything.” He lowered his blue eyes to his lap and stared at his hands.

      

“We’re soldiers, Duo,” Quatre began softly. “We dream of war and death. It’s normal…, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.” He placed his hand on Duo’s shoulder.

      

“But it was Heero.” Duo’s eyes sought an answer in Quatre’s. “I don’t have dreams like that, Quatre! I don’t!”

     

Quatre gazed back at him with a tender sadness. “I can’t tell you what it means, Duo. I’m sorry.”

     

Duo sighed. “Don’t be sorry, Quatre. I know it’s just a dream, but –.”

           

Quatre questioned, “What, Duo?”

            

“Heero and I argued and he’s probably mad at me. I guess I’m just feeling guilty.” He shrugged. “That guy’s so uptight.”

           

Quatre leaned back on a pillow. “Why’d you guys argue?”

            

“He didn’t want me going out with the Duchess.” Duo grinned. “I think he’s jealous.”

           

“You went out with the Duchess?”

           

Duo grinned proudly. “Yep. And she’s quite a babe too. We had dinner on the west terrace, watched the sun set. She even kissed me.”

            

Quatre smiled. “Really?”

           

Duo smoothed a hand over his hair. “I guess I’m pretty hard to resist.”

           

Quatre laughed. “So, what was it like?”

            

“Great.” Duo’s eyes shone as he remembered. “I tell ya, Quatre. It’s something you never forget.” He sighed. “Man, I’ll sure miss girls in space.”

           

Quatre looked thoughtful. “You really won’t have time to miss them, though. The battle moves so fast.”

           

Duo frowned. “Yeah. You’re right.” His frown melted and he grinned. “But then I can be Shinigami and send a few thousand souls to –.”

            

“Duo,” Quatre cut in, “I really don’t want to talk about war right now.”

           

Duo shrugged. “Okay.”

           

Quatre rolled onto his side and drew his knees up to his chin. “I can’t wait until it’s all over,” he murmured. “I know the gundam pilots would be useless without war, but we could follow other paths, find new lives living in peace….”

           

Duo hardly heard the last of what Quatre said. He remembered what Heero had told him about his dream and the gundam pilots being useless. “I wonder if that’s what Heero meant?” he thought. “Will peace be the destruction of the gundam pilots?”

            

            “I wonder why Heero doesn’t trust the Duchess…,” Duo questioned, half to himself.

           

Quatre lifted his head. “You need to get some rest, Duo. Don’t worry about it tonight.”

           

Duo glanced at him. “I don’t know. I feel like something’s going to happen.”

           

The storm had settled into a gentle rain. Quatre yawned. “I don’t think we can do anything about it tonight. Could you please turn off the light before you lie down?”

           

Duo rose, concerns still plaguing his mind. He flipped the light switch and crawled into bed next to Quatre. “I don’t know if I can sleep.”

           

            Quatre’s large eyes found his in the dark. “Duo, I know you’re worried, but you don’t even know if Heero’s in danger yet. Have a little faith.”

           

His words were gentle as always, they had a calming effect. Duo relaxed. “I’ll try, Quatre.”

            

“Good night, Duo.” Quatre closed his eyes.

     

“Good night, Quatre.” Duo lay, watching his friend’s peaceful face in silence. Soon he could hear Quatre’s slow, soft breathing as he drifted into sleep. “You’re so trusting, Quatre,” he thought. “I wish I could sleep like that tonight.”

     

 

Three o’clock. Heero stirred in his cocoon of darkness. He blinked away the dimness that had settled over his eyes and his mind. He rose. He realized that he’d sat there for hours, motionless, not really awake or even asleep.

     

The hallway with its cold walls and dimness seemed so much brighter than his own room. He strode down hall after hall, down stairs to the second floor. Quatre’s room was quiet as he passed and yet still a soft warmth pervaded because of its sleeping occupant.

     

“Sleeping soundly?” Heero wondered.

     

Trowa’s room was just down the hall or two ahead. Heero felt his pulse quicken.

 

“What is it? What do you know, Trowa?” He reached the door as if he’d flown. Had he been running?

     

Trowa opened the door before he knocked. “Heero, come in.”

     

The room was dark except for a lamp on Trowa’s nightstand. Wufei sat cross-legged on the floor beside the bed. He glanced at Heero as he walked in.

     

“So, what is it?” Heero asked Trowa, folding his arms.

      Trowa crossed in front of him and sat down on the bed. “You two,” he said quietly, “are the only ones who know of this, although I wonder that the Duchess isn’t suspicious already.” He glanced at Heero. “You’re impatient to know? Well, I’ll tell you.

     

The first night we were brought here I couldn’t sleep, so I took a walk around the mansion. I suspected the Duchess knew when she asked us how we slept.” He stared at Heero’s frown. “She’s not as ignorant as she tries to act. When you asked about the war, she knew far more than she told you.”

     

            Heero questioned him. “How do you know all this?”

     

Trowa was patient. “Like I said, I had a look around the first night. I overheard the Duchess receiving a transmission from someone in the Sanq Kingdom, but they weren’t discussing peace. They mentioned a new organization that I’ve never heard of before. It’s called Richter and it’s an underground organization within the Sanq Kingdom. I think it has ties to Rommefeller, but I’m sure that its objectives aren’t the same.”

     

Heero and Wufei stared at him. “What is the purpose of this organization?”

     

“To help Rommefeller destroy the Sanq Kingdom since the Kingdom’s pacifist belief is threatening their power.” Trowa glanced at Heero. “The gundams are in danger because we protect the Sanq Kingdom… for now. That’s why the Richter organization is trying to destroy us.”

     

Heero’s eyes were fixed like stone to Trowa’s face. “How does the Duchess fit into this?”

     

Trowa remained morbidly calm. “She is an agent for the Richter organization. She was instructed to detain us, treating us as her quests, while Richter takes possession of our gundams.”

     

“I suppose they want to build their own,” commented Wufei.

     

Trowa glanced at him. “I’m not sure, but I know that when they’re done they’ll either hand them over to Rommefeller or destroy them.”

     

“So, they’ll kill us too,” Heero remarked.

     

Trowa frowned. “No, not right away. Whoever the Duchess was talking to said  that she is to treat us well. We’re supposed to be in good health for testing. It seems Richter needs to see how pilots tick so that they can train their own.”

     

“Why not use mobile dolls?” Wufei frowned.

     

“Gundams are superior even to the newest models, besides, Rommefeller has the only mobile dolls.”

     

Heero felt sick to his stomach. “This is a trap then.”

     

Trowa nodded. “We’re in a fancy cage, pampered and fattened before we’re separated and taken away.”

     

Wufei sat silently for a minute. “Is there a chance for escape?”

           

Trowa glanced at both of them. “I doubt it… at least for right now. We should pretend to play into their hands and then watch for our opportunity.”

           

Heero was quiet, his mind churning with restless anger.

     

Trowa met his eyes. “Have you checked your room lately, Heero? The windows are made of unbreakable glass, the doors are fixed with hidden bolts that are controlled by computer.”

     

Heero stared silently as the anger settled.

     

Trowa continued. “Ever been inside Duo’s or Quatre’s room? They have balconies. It’s because Richter knows that neither one of them has suicidal tendencies and neither one of them would try to escape if he thought he was safe.

     

Heero, they keep you and I in rooms with double-paned glass and no dangerous objects. Ever wonder why?

     

And Wufei,” He turned toward him, “you’re on the first floor away from all of us. You’d think it was because you like your solitude, but really it’s to cause you to distance yourself from us.” He paused. “There’s a reason for the maze of long hallways and the colors of our doors. We’re color-coded and controlled.

     

The Duchess knows where we are at all times. She keeps us separated by the hallways so that we get lost trying to find each other – like Quatre did today.”

     

Trowa stopped and glanced at Heero and Wufei. “How are you handling this?”

     

Wufei was expressionless. “We’ve been captured before. I will do what I have to do until we escape and if we don’t escape I know I’ve fought.”

     

Heero’s dark eyes held muffled rage. “We are helpless, aren’t we, Trowa? With all of our skills as gundam pilots, we still end up like all the rest.” He frowned. “We should die then.”

     

Trowa stared into his face. “No, Heero. Once you told me that to live a good life I should follow my emotions. Well, my emotions tell me to save the gundam pilots. I don’t feel like we should die… yet.”

     

Heero wished that Trowa’s words could give him peace. “Then we will wait and see what the Duchess will do.” He felt as if his nightmare was about to come true.

     

Trowa relaxed a little where he sat. “We must stick together,” he reminded. “Now, as for me, I’m going to try to get some sleep.”

     

Heero turned and walked to the door. “Goodnight, Trowa, Wufei.”

     

“Goodnight, Heero,” Trowa replied. “I will see you in the morning.”

     

Heero left and Wufei stood up. He glanced at Trowa as he walked toward the door. “You know that the gundam pilots do not work well together. We fight alone and we will most likely die alone.

     

Heero’s rash attitude will get us killed quicker. I do not believe that he can think clearly enough to make any decisions for the rest of us.”

           

            Trowa regarded him calmly. “I know that you don’t like to listen to Heero, Wufei, but all of us need to get out of this alive and we need Heero to do it.”

           

Wufei was silent. He reached for the doorknob.

           

“Think about it, Wufei,” Trowa added. “This time we all need each other.”

           

“Goodnight, Trowa.” Wufei left.

           

“It looks as if I am going to have to sort this mess out myself,” Trowa thought. “All of them – they’re all going to try to do it alone. It’s going to be up to me to put it together.”

 

           

“Shut up! Shut up!” Heero thought. His mouth was still screaming. He stared at the black ceiling as if it were about to crumble down on him. “What is wrong with my head?!”

           

“If you don’t stop screaming, the whole house is going to hear you.”

           

Heero opened his eyes and saw Duo sitting next to his bed, staring at him. “Duo, what are you doing here?”

           

“I heard you screaming, so I came.”

           

Sweat beaded on Heero’s face. “How did you – get in here?” he demanded.

           

“You left the door open.”

           

“No, I didn’t,” Heero thought. “I know I didn’t.”

           

“I didn’t ask for you,” Heero growled. “Why are you here?” His head ached.

           

“No, you asked for Relena,” Duo watched him calmly, “but I cam anyway.”

           

“Relena?” Heero felt the room spinning. “I asked for Relena?” He stared at Duo in disbelief.

           

“Yep.”

            

Heero grunted. The room became fuzzy. “Duo –.” He was swept into blackness.

 

           

At breakfast, Heero was absent. The Duchess glanced at him empty seat. “Does anyone know where Heero is?” she asked, glancing at each of the pilots’ faces.

           

Duo shrugged, his mouth full of scrambled egg. Quatre shook his head. “I haven’t seen him since yesterday.”

           

Trowa met her eyes. “I don’t know.”

           

Wufei was silent, but his expression said, “I don’t know, and I don’t care.”

           

The Duchess Kara appeared terribly disappointed. “I do hope he joins us later today,” she added.

           

The meal went on rather quietly, although the Duchess attempted a conversation with Wufei and Trowa. Duo kept trying to catch her eye, but she avoided him.

           

“So, Kara,” he finally remarked boldly, “did you sleep well last night?”

           

The Duchess pinkened at the question, whether in embarrassment or anger no one could tell. Her eyes were cold, although her mouth smiled. “I slept very well, Duo,” she responded. “Thank you for asking.”

           

He stared into her face. “Just trying to be polite.”

           

She turned away and Duo, feeling puzzled, finished his plate in silence.

 

           

When the others left the table and walked off to their schedules, the Duchess disappeared alone down a thin hall dappled with sunlight. Duo followed, jogged up beside her with questions in his eyes. “Hey, Kara,” he began. “What’s up? You’re acting as if I have the plague!” He stared into her eyes. “I mean, was last night just my imagination? I thought you liked me!”

           

The Duchess gave him a look of regret and irritation. “Duo, I feel like it was a mistake what happened last night. I’d rather we went on as if nothing changed.” She gazed at him with gentle patience. “Things change, Duo. I’m very sorry, but I don’t think it would be wise for us to be anything more than friends.”

           

Duo fumed. “Listen, Miss High-and-Mighty, you were the ones putting the moves on me! I know being locked up here in your big, stuffy house gets boring, but nobody plays with Duo Maxwell and gets away with it!” He glared at her. “You just watch yourself, Duchess!”

           

With that, he turned, his braid whipping behind him, and stormed off down the hallway. The Duchess watched him leave.

 

“Well, Duo, my little spitfire, you impress me again!” She smiled and walked down the dappled hall to her private quarters.

 

           (to be continued…)

 

 

 

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