An unrestrained moan escaped the dark haired beauty’s lips and another shiver was sent up Heero’s spine as the pleasure flowed over their bodies in different forms, unique to the two individuals trapped in a world of delight.

Marshmallows.

The fireplace blazed with a power surpassing that of a lion’s roar. Shinira was letting the sticky treat ooze slowly into her mouth and Heero was watching with bated breath, frozen in anticipation. His throat went dry when she licked her lips, clearing them of any remnants of the melted American delicacies. The Wing Pilot stared like an idiot and couldn’t find the brain cells he needed to form words or even to look away. He was jolted out of his admiring when those sparkling green eyes locked with his dark sapphire ones.

“Good, ne?” She reinforced her words by waving her skewer in front of his face, making him cross his eyes and blink a few times before getting his Perfect Soldier senses back. The mischievous grin that crossed her face only enticed Heero more. What was wrong with him? No one had had this kind of affect on him--ever. Luckily for the Japanese youth, his facial expressions rarely betrayed his feelings to anyone, so Duo’s roommate was unaware of the fact that he was slowly, but surely surrendering to her charms.

“Yea...good.” His monotone seemed to amuse her. A giggle flowed from her vocal chords and her bare shoulders shook with a delicate rhythm. Little ripples of her satiny hair caressed the skin down her neck and ghostly pale arms. Heero shook his head and plucked his own marshmallow off the skewer, placing the messy sugar on his tongue. The sweetness and warmth sliding around in his mouth was heavenly. He swallowed, enjoying it as it melted all the way down his throat.

In the silence created by Shinira’s sudden concentration on getting her next marshmallow to brown just right, Heero had time to recall the night’s earlier events.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Heero...” Duo hung his head in disappointment, “I thought you were a better shot than that. Don’t tell me that both me and my little sister are more skilled than you--Perfect Soldier.” A drop of amusement slipped through his mock-serious tone.

“Duo! Be nice! Heero’s never done fireworks our way. Give him another chance.” The little angel still had her hands on his arm and he was horrifically reminded of how often Relena had hung onto him. The spoiled princess always dug her claws into his arm and squeezed like there was no tomorrow. Shinira’s slender digits brushed over his chiseled arms soothing the bruised muscles beneath his seemingly flawless skin. Tendrils of her loose hair wisped at his side with every breath the wind took.

In an instant, the gentle transfer of comfort from Shinira to Heero was rudely interrupted when Duo thoughtlessly tossed a grenade to Shini, who caught it deftly. “You ready?” Heero gave a slight nod and a fourth explosive was launched.

Another mission failed.

The American was prepared this time and lazily detonated the sailing grenade. A deep growl erupted from deep in Heero’s chest and he snarled. His anger wasn’t helped any when the object of his newly awaken affection began to laugh. Omae o Korosu... Heero’s trigger finger twitched out of reflex and his first instinct was to kill her, but Duo, nor his human self, would be too pleased about that.

“Heero...” Yet another gentle smile played over her lips and the patience in her voice said all he needed to hear. The war was over. It didn’t matter if he could hit a falling volatile anymore. And Shinira was evasively teaching him what peace was. How unlike Relena she was. Both girls held onto his arm and both sighed his name once in a while, but it was all so dramatically different.

“You’re shooting all wrong.” Torn from his revelation once again, he was reminded of his recent failure. A frown touched his lips. “It isn’t your technique, or you ability.” she shot a death glare at Duo, but returned her focus to him almost immediately. “All you have to do... is relax.” The Japanese boy took this into careful consideration. Why should he listen to this... this child...? She obviously knew nothing about fighting and sharp-shooting, but so far, she and Duo had hit their targets and he--Perfect Soldier--had not. Maybe illogic was the right way to go. Perhaps he should approach the ‘situation’ with his feelings for Shinira the same way.

He was caught off guard once again when she slid her hands up his arms from behind him until she held his hands in her own. Fuzzy chills sped up his spine in intervals at their closeness. She locked his left arm to his side by holding her own limb securely around his waist, fingertips placing little kisses over his stomach muscles. Shinira raised both their arms to a fair level and commanded Duo to launch a fifth target.

“All right, I don’t want you to aim, I don’t want you to think, I just want you to shoot when you feel the time is right.” It was difficult to concentrate anyway, with her mouth so tantalizingly close to his ear. He subconsciously leaned towards her when a little shock ran up his legs, through his body and to the very edges of his fingers. Reflexively, he pulled the trigger. A squeal of delight reached his ears when the grenade burst open like Shinira and Duo had so effortlessly done. Shinira was bouncing up and down with happiness. Half of Heero was glad that she was satisfied with him and the other half was upset that she didn’t have her arm wrapped around him any longer. “Heero! That was great!” All his confusion melted away when she threw her arms around his neck and embraced him tightly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Heero put another melted lump into his mouth and slowed down the eating process, savoring the sugary goodness introduced to him by his best friend’s little sister. One of his first genuine smiles crossed his features. If they were siblings, they couldn’t be lovers, which meant Heero was free to take her for his own. Duo’s little sister. Would the braided boy be ok with Heero falling for his only sibling? His smile sank into a frown. So many things could go wrong with their relationship--if it ever even got to that point.

He sighed, which proved difficult considering the white cream still sloshed around in his mouth. The more he doubted his chances with her, the more he wanted to hold her in his arms and run his fingers through her long hair. To let her collapse against his chest when she was tired and to let her seek shelter in his embrace when she was afraid. Heero swallowed the marshmallow and sought out the near-empty bag for another. His fingers brushed the plastic and they wandered inside, groping for another when--

She kissed him.

Heero’s eyes went wide when he realized just what was happening. Her lips moved in a steady, liquid rhythm, like everything else she did. Shinira crawled on top of him like an aggressive little puppy and deepened the kiss. The Japanese youth snaked his arms around her waist and tugged her closer. Little swirls of pleasure encompassed him as she dug her fingers into the thick mass he called hair. Her tongue darted out and swiped over his top lip, sending warm chills up his spine. How did she seem to do that every time they touched? She tugged on his bottom lip, asking permission to pass. He granted her wishes eagerly and she gained sweet entrance....

“DIN~NER!!!!” the two spit-swapping teens froze at the sound of Duo’s jovial voice. Shinira threw herself off of him and scrambled backwards until the fire almost engulfed her. Heero still hadn’t fully recovered from the shock of her kiss, but he had gathered enough rational thought to know how awkward a situation this was.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Shinira took in several deep breaths, attempting to put the situation under control, which she had stupidly and desperately caused. The firelight illuminating his rippling muscles, but never matching the passion burning painfully in his eyes, set his body aglow in all its glory. Shini devoured his wonderfully displayed his frame and hungered for his kiss again. He had been so cute when he first put a mallow into his mouth. She giggled a little until a flush rose in her cheeks and she cast her gaze down. A little temptation and she was on top of him like predator on prey. She couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eye again. What would he think of her now? A lump gathered in her throat and tears threatened to spill over her cheeks.

She could never allow him to see her cry.

“Come on you guys! Your food’s getting cold!” Shini and Heero jumped and their eyes met once more. His icy stare broke her down like the computers he so often hacked into. The stoic boy stood up, continuing to tear apart her soul with his voiceless words. A choked sob escaped the little agent as he walked off.

Once he was out of sight, Shinira fell to pieces. She ducked into her tiny bedroom and shut the door behind her, not bothering to lock it. Parts of her wanted Heero to come in after her. A secret wish that he would share her feelings toward him. Shini slammed the back of her head against the door and sank to the floor. Heero was perfect. So very painfully perfect. His beautiful eyes feeling and probing around her mind and heart. Every time their stares met, he left Shinira lost, but when he looked away... darkness took her over. Lost or in the dark.

Great options....

She sighed, self-deprecating thoughts over-powering her psyche and crawled over to her bed pressed into the corner. The little agent sprawled herself on the bed and took her pillow into her arms. He had felt so good under her lips. When he held her close to him she felt real security. Heero would keep her protected. From the council, from the deities, from the everlasting war... With her mind filled to the brim with haunting memories, Shinira fell asleep.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Heero collapsed into the over used stool standing with desperate dignity beside the bar. The war was over, things were supposed to get easier from now on, but with Duo, things were never easy. He shook his head and slumped over as the American baka placed a plate with a charred lump of what was supposed to be food. A smirk threatened to cross his features, but instead he looked up at Duo with question and annoyance.

“What? You don‘t like my cooking?” Duo reflexively smiled and put his hands on his hips in defense. “There’s nothing wrong with it! Shini likes it!” Heero didn’t drop his gaze and kept accusing the braided pilot with his eyes, trying to hide his wince from the sound of her name.

“It’s a pity... we survived the entire war only to be killed by food poisoning...” It took the American a minute to figure out what Heero had said, and before he could retaliate, Heero had shoved the plate back across the counter and left. The Wing Pilot was clueless as to how to go about fixing the problem that had arisen the moment he had set eyes upon the dark-haired girl.

Emotions.

‘Always follow your emotions. It’s the only way to live life right.’ Odin’s words had echoed through his mind since the day he had died. They were the only guidance he could trust and he couldn’t even follow them. Emotions were so complex. It’s impossible to follow something you don’t understand. A sigh passed his lips and he buried himself in the sofa, still being warmed by the now much gentler fire.

“Hey Heero.” The Deathscythe Pilot plopped himself down beside Heero and stretched his legs out, “Where you gonna sleep?” He didn’t want to sleep. He wanted to die. The look in her eyes when they had broken apart was enough to rip through his armor and destroy him. She was brave enough to accept him and kind enough to love him because he was human.

And he had hurt her.

“Leave me alone.” He turned away from the happy-go-lucky boy. There was nothing left for anyone to do. Heero couldn’t live a real life if all he did was push away the people who would give him a chance. Duo and Shinira offered him friendship and family. Shinira was now unable to approach him and he was telling Duo off. The shaken American wandered off, leaving Heero in a more intense isolation than he had ever imagined.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Shini! Wake up!” Shinira rolled over, the pillow still held tightly against her body, only to be greeted by Duo’s concern stricken face. A grimace passed over her gentle features. “What’s wrong little girl?” She looked away and tried to turn over and go back to sleep, but Duo gripped her shoulder and kept her pinned to the bed. It wasn’t a tough grip, but the little agent didn’t feel much like resisting. She felt defeated.

“Nothing you want to hear.” the monotonous, Heero-like tone carried through her voice, the same way it rolled throughout her body. Her mind was distant and she had little control over her limbs and the way she moved. It was impossible to keep up her happy visage.

“Something’s bothering you... I’ll always want you to tell me.” He brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. Duo had taught her everything she knew about acting and leading people on. The two of them could get away with murder with the right charms and the proper approaches, and as a matter of fact--they had. But when it came to his little sister, he never played a part. Shinira was the only one the American could be quiet and gentle around.

“It’s Heero...” She held her breath and carefully watched Duo’s face as he contemplated what she had just said. Instead of the frown Shini expected to find there, he shook with delight and his happiness exploded into a smile.