Rush Rush
The Race
Part 7 Side A

Lyrics by: P.Lord; Sung by: Paula Abdul

It was a beautiful, clear afternoon and Duo should of been in his fourth period class. But no... Instead, he was lounging against a wall of a tower-building with bells on top. It was shaped like a chapel with a winding stair case that led to an old room. Duo had climbed the staircase and now was on the balcony, looking at something that interested him.

'So that's his motorcycle?'

Duo was not the only one who had skipped fourth period. He looked down, staring entirely at the people who were talking and hanging around the old building...And there was Heero, looking arrogantly and proudly at something in the middle of the crowd.

Duo snorted. 'Can't beat my Shinigami!'

Someone in the crowd moved, and Duo looked once again at the object.

It was a white motorcycle, with two dark green stripes on it's side and it was looking as arrogant as it's owner. Heero's motorcycle was clearly impressive with it's shiny license plate that read out, 'Wing.'

Suddenly, the crowd moved to clear space for someone and Duo's heart skipped twice. He sighed happily, indulging in the sight of Wufei with white jeans that molded his legs and a light, cotton top. Duo saw Heero gesturing at Wufei and smiling happily. Unknown to them, Duo was still up at the bell tower, wanting so badly to see his Wufei again... He saw Wufei smiling back and looking politely at the display. Duo wanted badly to call Wufei over but his instincts told him not to. Heero was there, that bitch.

'And wouldn't Heero love to get to me again.. ' Fuming, Duo opted for watching Wufei at a distance. But what a close distance.

'Dammit, Heero!! Why can't you just go to hell!! Damn...Always there when I want to see Wufei...' He saw Wufei glancing around the area, searching for someone.

"Looking for me?" Duo mused. "Up here...up here...Come on, Wufei. Just lift your head up...Dammit!! I'm up here!! Shit-" But before Duo could finish, Wufei must have heard him for he lifted his head and looked clearly at Duo in the eye-hidden away in the bell tower. Duo caught his breath and he saw Wufei do the same, as both pair of eyes locked and smiled.

Duo winked at Wufei while putting a finger against his lips and mouthing, 'Sshh!!'

Wufei looked at him in amusement. Then lifting his head, he gave a smile that could pass of as seductive. He was still smiling at Duo when Heero looked over at Wufei, clearly annoyed that Wufei wasn't paying attention to him. Duo smiled back at Wufei, totally ignoring everybody else- thus, missing an angry Heero looking awfully pissed at Duo. Still locking eyes with Wufei, Duo regretfully saw Heero steeping in his vision. 'Ewww...' Duo thought as he saw Heero glaring at Duo with death glares. Then, grabbing Wufei's arm almost a tad roughly, Heero pulled Wufei away from the crowd. Wufei looked a little angry as he followed Heero, somewhat annoyance sketched on his face.Turning around, he shrugged at Duo and raising free fingers to his lips, blew a kiss at Duo. Duo grinned as he pretended to catch the kiss with his fingers, then raised it to touch his lips.

'Love ya,' he mouthed, which left Wufei smiling. 'I must win.....It's a matter of honor, love, and Wufei..'

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

Quatre was going crazy, fretting with worry. It was past 6:00 pm and Duo was nowhere to be seen.

'Maybe, he decided to back off.' Quatre had brought a pick up truck along, to carry Duo's Shinigami in and he brought supplies, in case something happened. 'I shouldn't of brought the pick up truck...Should of brought a hearse instead.'

Out of the corner of his eyes, Quatre saw Duo approaching with his Shinigami.

"Ohayo, Quatre!!" Duo waved cheerfully as he pushed his motor bike along.

"Duo," Quatre replied tense, "what took you so long?"

Duo shook his head, a small smile on his lips. "You don't have to worry," he replied.

Quatre looked at him, exhausted," Duo....You shouldn't be doing this...I mean, Heero could have a trick up his sleeve......Weapons....."

Duo smiled as he and Quatre carried Shinigami to the back of the truck.

"I'm playing fair, Quatre. It isn't honorable to cheat."

Quatre cocked his head,"Where'd you get that?"

Duo laughed. "Just learned that. Anou, weren't we suppose to meet there at 6:30? It's already, 6:15."

Quatre snorted,"I was waiting for you, baka...."

Duo laughed. "You're great, Quatre old-buddy!!"

The two boys got in the pick up truck and drove away, both tense and agitated, wandering what faith had in store for them.

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

~ I Don't Know
Just How Or Why ~

Soon, the two boys reached the bottom of Deathman's cliff where they met Heero and his motorcycle goons.

"Well, well. So he did come after all. Hey you-we were gonna leave but we took pity on you," Heero remarked as he casually strolled over to where Duo was standing. Duo snorted as he turned and unloaded Shinigami from the truck. Quatre surveyed the scene as Duo and Heero were talking about the challenge and testing their motorcycles. As he looked around, he saw the Chinese boy that was the main reason for the challenge. Quatre smiled as the Chinese boy looked at him. The Chinese boy in turn, gave him a small smile while pulling his given jacket tighter around his body.

Quatre grinned as he walked over to the boy. "Cold?"

Wufei offered another tiny smile before he nodded," It's gonna rain..."

Quatre nodded. "I just wish that this wasn't happening..."

Wufei looked over to him before he admitted, "Me too...but imagine yourself in their shoes. We're confused-all teenagers are....Confused adolescents.."

Quatre sighed as little tiny drops of water splashed on his face. Meanwhile, the two rivals were walking towards the cliff's abyss. They both silently stared down at the roaring waves, a chilly sensation overcoming both of them. Heero didn't say anything as he lit up a cigarette and took a drag. Then, exhaling the smoke, he offered the cigarette to Duo who accepted it, graciously.

Heero looked over at Duo, not saying anything at first. "This is the edge. That's the end."

"Yeah. It certainly is."

"You know something? I like you. You know that?"

Duo shrugged as he peered at the crashing waves, seeming like it wanted a sacrifice. "Why do we do this?"

"You got to do something now, don't you?" Both knew that the other was lying.

"First to get the flag on top of the cliff, wins the race."

"Wait a minute...you didn't say shit about a flag...."

"Whoops, must of slipped off my mind. The flag's proof, you see. Proof of winning the race..."

Duo fumed inside, feeling cheated. "Where did you say the flag's at?"

Heero shrugged, distractedly. "Side of the cliff....Here...right here...." he pointed to a red flag, placed near Duo's foot. Strange that he didn't notice it before.

Duo gasped as he calculated the distance. 'Shit! But it's at the edge of the cliff! It'll take a stunt devil to perfect this easily! How the hell can you pick the flag without worrying about falling down the cliff! Heero......'

Heero smirked annoyingly. "Don't tell me you've decided your fate already.."

Duo smiled at Heero cockily. "You know something?...You read too many comic books."

Heero grinned in sportsmanship. "Glad you think so.."

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

"Hey, boss. Everything's ready," a youth shouted over to where the two boys were standing. Duo surveyed the abyss in fascination before turning to walk with Heero down the cliff.

'What'd you call this race?"

Heero didn't say anything before he gave a grin that could pass of as devilish.

"Chickie run.."

'Chickie run...chicken.....damn him!'

Heero took another drag before he offered the rest to Duo. "Looks like that's it..."

"Yeah..."

They turned to where their motorcycles were readied, placed in the middle of the runway. The darkened place was lighted artificially from the lights of other motorcycles and cars.

Heero turned to Duo before he sat on his motorcycle. "You done this before?"

"That's all I ever do."

Heero didn't say anything but looked over at him, a grin on his face. "I did tell you that there is no rules..."

"A million times already."

"It's gonna be a long race...." Duo didn't say anything but regarded Heero with suspicion.

"Yeah.."

"Good luck, then," Heero added looking somber. He offered his hand to shake Duo's. "Let the best man…win..." Heero gave another creepy smile before Wufei grudgingly came up to him. He wore a little frown on his handsome face, his eyes on Heero. Heero laughed when he saw the glare Wufei sent him.

"Oh, come on, Wufei!! It's too late to back out now!!" Heero gave a feral look that sent shivers down Duo's spine.

Duo heard Wufei sigh. 'It's strange.....Wufei doesn't seem to be bothered with this much…It's as if he's actually finding it exciting…the whole bit...or maybe, he's seen Heero do this 'chickie run' a lot of times, and knows that he'll win...what am I saying? Don't be so pessimistic, Maxwell...I must win...must win...for honor and...Wufei...' He sat on Shinigami while putting on his dark helmet, regarding Heero and Wufei. He saw Wufei smile as he gave Heero dirt to rub on his hands. 'He's so calm...' Duo saw Heero leaning forward, offering his cheek for Wufei to kiss, which Wufei slapped playfully, laughing.

'Wufei Chang...you confuse me...but it doesn't matter...I like confusion..' Duo smiled as Wufei glanced over at him.

"Wufei...Uh, may I have some dirt please?" he called. Wufei laughed as he heard him, walking with smooth gracefulness. Duo beamed when Wufei rubbed his hands with dirt.

"Good luck," he heard Wufei whisper. Duo grinned at Wufei while he flipped his visor.

'I already have it, babe.'

~ But No One Else Has
Touched Me ~

The two rivals started their engines as rain suddenly began pouring lightly over them. 'Splish, splash, sphlish, splash.' 'Splish, splash, splish, splash.' Smoothening his red-colored windbreaker, Duo glanced over at Heero who was wearing a black leather jacket. Heero looked over-confident, his face looking clearly ahead. Turning around to face the front, Duo saw Wufei walking to the middle space between the two motorcycles. He was carrying a pink handkerchief, bright so that both the competitors could see in the dark. Wufei positioned himself ahead of them, one hand with the handkerchief in it, poised above his head. He looked at Heero first, smiling a bit. Duo could feel his teeth grit in jealousy. But before he could think of anything else, Wufei looked clearly at him, a seductive smile on his bronze face. He was telling him something with those eyes fixed on him.

'Wufei..' Duo felt nervous all of a second.He was about to say something when the horn blasted and a voice spoke loudly,

"On your marks, get set......GO!!"

Wufei deftly signaled the race to start with a dramatic swish of his arm. Furiously, the two motorcycles roared past him and raced towards the long, dangerous path, towards the deadly cliff, both wanting to be the first at the top.

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

Duo felt rain fall on his windbreaker as he expertly maneuvered Shinigami, away from a hidden pith. He looked behind and saw Heero do the same, catching up to him every second.

'Shit! He's good!' Duo gunned his engine faster, feeling the wind rip through his clothes. 'Must get to the top. Must get the flag.'

As if on cue, the two battling motorcycles were side by side, trying hard to get ahead than the other. They both gritted their teeth as the two motorcycles suddenly went closer to each other, entering a narrow, rocky path.

'The hell!? It's dark.....where's the route?' Duo panicked as he suddenly realized that it got darker as they went higher and higher. He slowed Shinigami down, so that he didn't accidentally drive off the path... Duo saw Heero do the same from the corner of his eyes. He heard Heero shout something out loud, but not understanding.

"What?" Duo shouted over the engine and rain.

Heero faced him. "I said, why are you going so slow? Not manly enough to handle this?"

Duo gritted his teeth as he heard the sarcasm in Heero's voice. 'Not manly enough? We'll see about that...' Duo gunned his engine, startling Heero, as he raced faster, nearing the cliff's wall.

'Hmmph!! I'll be the first to get that flag!' Duo thought as he went, easily ahead of Heero.

Cursing, Heero tried to overtake Duo but to no avail. It was clear that Duo was going to win.

Filled with good spirit, Duo smiled as he saw a small clearing ahead of him, 'There! Just there!' So engrossed in his good mood, Duo didn't notice anything until the sharp pain in his shoulder.

"Ouch!" Duo yelped as he felt his left shoulder numbed for a moment before it was suddenly warm. Feeling tears prick in his eyes, Duo manage to slow Shinigami down and turn his head. The first thing Duo saw was Heero grinning, a sharp metal pipe on one hand while the other hand, expertly guiding his Wing. The second thing Duo saw , or actually-felt, was a warm, damp feeling from his shoulder. Duo hissed painfully when he saw his shoulder, mercilessly bleeding, his windbreaker torn to shreds. Duo felt nauseous. Trying to put his attention on Shinigami and the road, he heard Heero's mocking laughter.

"Think you're so great, huh? I'll show you to make a fool out of me..." Heero roared as he brandished his pipe and whacked it across Duo's back.

Duo yowled mentally in his head as Heero managed another painful whack. He tried to avoid Heero's mad attempts to hit him, while trying to drive Shinigami safely.

"Bastard!!" Duo shouted over to Heero, swerving Shinigami left and right. Then, slowing Shinigami down so that he was side by side to Heero, Duo tried in vain attempt to kick the pipe away. Instead, he had managed to push Wing away from him. Duo heard Heero curse as Heero came close to falling off the edge, losing his grip on the pipe which fell down the cliff, it's soundless fall, not effecting the two boys as they continued to race dangerously.

'Duo....he's possessive. Utterly devoted and possessive.' Duo remembered Quatre's words as he blindly tried to race for his life. 'I can't believe I laughed it off....Quatre was right...Heero would do anything to get Wufei....does it mean killing me, too?' Unknown to Duo, Heero had almost caught up to him, eager to hurt Duo as humanly as possible.

"Do you really think you can run away from me?" Heero chuckled, not knowing that he sounded crazy,"do you really think that I'll let you win Wufei? How many times did I have to tell you that Wufei is mine? MINE!! And you tried to steal him away from me.....I was going to let you live....but you missed that chance....too bad, ne?"

Duo almost chocked as he impossibly swerved Shinigami from hitting a ditch. 'If the cliff doesn't kill me then Heero will take the pleasure of doing the honor...crap.. what am I saying? Stay away from him....you're almost there...just don't lose your head...'

Duo heard a click that gave him chills. Turning around slowly to see what Heero was doing, he found Heero pointing a small silver gun, the barrel faced at him. Heero grinned like a maniac, losing all his control.

"I was going to break.....just seeing you near Wufei....I was going to break.....True, I didn't love Wufei...but I met him first. Therefore, he is my property..." Heero smiled at him, while impossibly avoiding the rough side of the road.

"You're in my way, Duo. Therefore, it's elimination time!" Heero cocked the barrel, pointing right at Duo's unprotected heart. "Bang, bang....You're dead.."

He pulled the trigger and Duo waited helplessly for the bullet to go through his heart. Instead, he felt nothing hitting him and instead, heard Heero cry out in surprise. The effect of the gunshot had caused some soft mud, due to the rain, to fall down towards the road, the force almost pushing Heero off the road completely had he not reacted faster. Duo sighed in relief as he saw that Heero had dropped his gun in the mud, thus, giving him enough time to escape.Duo rode on, speeding away, the wind hurling at his injured shoulder, which earned a hiss from gritted teeth. Duo realized that he was almost to the top, for he remembered the sharp curve that had taken the lives of many. Expertly guiding Shinigami away from the curve, Duo realized that he was at the top.

'Yes!! I beat him!! I beat.... Heero!!...But... Now, where's the flag?'

Duo cursed as he blindly tried to search the top, jaggy path. The pounding rain and the dark was not helping him any. He was about to loose himself in despair when he remembered where Heero had said the flag was. And there it was, looking still bright, the rain not effecting the color. Duo brightened, his heart filled with joy as he drove slowly almost to the edge of the cliff. Smiling happily, he stopped to the side and leaned half-way down, his fingers stretched to claim the valuable trophy.

'Almost there....almost there.....'

Suddenly, a loud noise filled his ears and Duo whirled around in surprise, his fingers barely grasping the flag.

There, was Heero. Still on his motorcycle, looking wild and scary. Heero didn't have that arrogant look on his face any more. Instead, a much harsher, much angrier look filled his face.

"Duo........" Heero smiled, his visor opened to reveal murderous blue eyes. "I can't let you win....even if it means killing myself...I can't let Wufei go...near.. YOU!!" With that, Heero lunged his motorcycle and drove straight ahead to where Duo was. Eyes wide, Duo did the first thing that crossed his head. He drove out of the way, leaving a surprised Heero plunging down the cliff.

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

"Heero!!!" Duo managed to shout before he lunged forward, trying desperately to do anything. He looked over the edge, wanting to close his eyes any minute...He didn't see the other members of Heero's gang coming over to his side, wanting to know what the commotion was....... Duo heard one of them gasp as he felt weak..

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

There, hanging on a branch that looked like it was about to break any minute, was Heero. Unconscious and one side of his head bleeding. Duo managed a thanks of prayers before he managed to control his feelings.

"Come on!! Somebody, hold me down. I'll try to get him and when I say 'pull'...you do what I say..." Duo ordered the relieved members who obliging, did what he said.

With a painful moan, Duo managed to crawl on his belly, his back hurting like hell. "Ready?" he shouted over. He felt himself lowered down, his arms stretching over his head. 'Why am I doing this? I should...I should just of left him there. He did try to kill me....but...it's wrong...I..I...' He gingerly grasped Heero's bloody collar, not wanting to cause any more damage. With a injured hand, Duo pulled on Heero's jacket and wind his arm around his waist. Duo heard Heero give a small moan undisguisedly filled with pain. Duo grimaced as his hand strained. "Okay....Pull!!" he commanded. Pulling Heero over the side, with the aid of many, Duo gasped for air, his mind dizzying for a while.

'I won...I won....Oh my god!!..Wufei!!' Duo whirled around, in search of the one boy who had made him go crazy with desire.