Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Born Again ❯ Eternal Flame 1 ( Chapter 11 )

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey. I'm so sorry it's taking me SOOOOO damn long to post anything. See, I'm in the army right now and time is a precious resource. I have ¾ of this chapter written down already, but since I don't know when I'll be able to complete it, I'm going to post it in THREE SEPARATE PARTS, which are all one of the SAME CHAPTER (like I did with "Dark Desires" at the time).

Since many people gave up on this story the minute Sarah entered it, I figure that it doesn't matter anyway if I continue it or not. But if you're still reading it then I'm glad. It means that my arduous efforts to write this are not in vain. I thank you and wish you luck in enduring the last chapter of Born Again.

Enjoy.

Naomi

BORN AGAIN

CHAPTER NINE-

ETERNAL FLAME

(PART ONE)

* * *

AC 214.

Half past midnight, a knock on the door. The bang echoed hollowly in the large, dark, living room, its sound consistent. Outside the rain was pouring, water sliding down the living-room windows, breaking the soft rays of moonlight and creating a game of crystal-like beams on the furniture and floor. The entire ground floor of the middle-class suburban home was silent and shadowy, a few discarded toys lying at the foot of the sofa and a baby-bottle dripping milk over the polished coffee table.

The pounding on the door continued, growing louder and more urgent. It overcame both the sound of rain and the ticking of a clock, disturbing the nighttime silence. Between the dining room and the living room, where a wooden staircase stood, a light suddenly turned on. The dim column of light spilled on the carpet before the stairway, as if setting a path towards the front door. A pair of bare feet padded softly down the stairs. Long and slim legs, clad in loose black slacks, walked across the carpet; their movements a bit waddled, probably still sleepy.

The pounding on the door would not cease, and the owner of the bare feet gave a long yawn, running his hand through a mass of chocolate brown hairs, still messy from sleep. The clicking of the door chain, followed by the turning of a lock, was heard clearly in the silence on the night, and the pounding stopped.

The door opened, revealing the sight of a worn-looking man. His black leather jacket was drenched with rain, as was the rest of him. His hair, much too long for what was customary for a man his age, was wet as well, long chestnut bangs plastered to his forehead. The man was panting silently, his cheeks flushed like he had been running for quiet a while. His shoulders were slumped and behind his messy wet bangs, was a pair of distressed violet eyes.

"Duo..." The man at the door let out in alarm, cobalt eyes blinking in puzzlement. "What happened to you?"

The longhaired man did not answer, merely continued standing still, panting. It was not hard to notice that he was shivering from the cold. "H-Heero, I..." He finally stammered, his eyes glued to the floor, unable to look up at the man before him. "I... I need to... I..."

"Damn it, Duo, you're freezing! Come in already..." Heero burst into his words, wrapping his arm around the taller man's shoulder and guiding him into the house. The other man did not resist and let himself be led into the house. He took a shaky breath as they walked past the living room. Raising a hand to push his wet bangs back up; he quickly scanned the familiar surrounding, his eyes catching the sight of discarded toys and two tiny baby-shoes lying under the large dinner table.

"I think you better step into the shower." Heero's quiet voice proposed, as he halted and turned around to face the wet and shivering man before him. He reached two hands to help him peel his soaked jacket off, the dark leather rustling loudly in the silence of the night. "I'll make you something hot to drink and then we can talk, okay?" He continued softly, not failing to see the empty and numb look in Duo's eyes. The man was just staring numbly at the air floating over the staircase, completely unresponsive.

"Duo," Heero tried again, resting a warm palm on the man's trembling shoulder.

Glazed violet eyes blinked, and slowly turned to look at the man standing but an inch near him. A small, numb, smile curled slightly on his lips. "Sure. Sounds good." He mumbled in a tired voice, his shoulders slumped as he slowly climbed up the stairs. A pair of worried cobalt eyes watched him go, as Heero bit his lower lip in worried thoughts.

* * *

A steaming cup of hot chocolate slid slowly over the kitchen table, being nudged by a couple of slim white fingers. Duo stared dully at the steam as it rose out of the mug, following it until it disappeared into thin air. Looking up, he met Heero's worried blue eyes, glimmering under the strong kitchen light. He took a minute to study the features of the man before him. A man, not a boy. They've both outgrown that age long ago. Both lost the signs of childhood from their features, their faces sharper and mature. Heero didn't look so boyish anymore. The signs of his age showing on his face with a pair of high and sharp cheekbones, lips that hardly ever pouted and a few faint wrinkles at the corner of his eyes. Still he possessed a lot of childlike qualities, like his hair that was always tousled and the young, bright, glimmer in his eyes. Some things, Duo guessed, will never change.

Sighing, the longhaired man bowed his head and stared down at his drink. He could hear Heero sigh as well and pull out a chair so he could sit. Silence followed and he knew that the other man was waiting for him to speak. He could feel Heero's eyes on him, examining him with the sharp awareness only Heero possessed.

Under the harsh kitchen light, Duo's features seemed worn and ghastly. He was pale, the color gone from his skin and his eyes. He looked so small all of a sudden, insignificant under the strong fluorescent light. Wearing a large and sloppy sweatshirt he let him borrow, his wet ponytail lying limply over his shoulder, Duo seemed like a lost boy. There was no trace of the thirty-four-year-old businessman he was used to be seeing nowadays. Without Duo's usual business suit and his body language radiating confidence, Heero was suddenly reminded that the man before him was still the lost little boy he'd always been. Sometimes, Heero thought sadly, it looked like Duo had changed so little since he could first remember laying eyes on him, fifteen years ago. It saddened him greatly, that despite all this time, despite all they've been through, Duo still refused to accept the change fate had brought upon them all. He was trying, and trying hard, but it looked like there was still a long way for Duo to travel before he will finally make his peace with everything in life.

Sighing deeply, Heero leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. He fixed his eyes on Duo, gaze deadly serious. "Are you going to tell me what happened?" He asked in a neutral tone, scrutinizing Duo for any reaction, trying to read him like only he could. He noted the further slumping of Duo's shoulders and the small flickering of doubt in his eyes.

"Does it have to do with work? Trouble with the company?" He questioned timidly, knowing how much of a hard time Duo was having running Perkins's business after the man had passed away almost a decade ago. "Did something go wrong with the Marcoss Deal?"

Shaking his bowed head, Duo wrapped both his palms around the warm mug, still staring numbly at the chocolate drink.

"I thought so..." Heero muttered, slightly frowning. "Then this is more... personal." He concluded carefully, leaning closer to Duo. His assumption was confirmed when Duo slowly closed his eyes, a sad and wretched expression on his face. He nodded.

Having nothing to say as a reply, Heero merely nodded as well and leaned back in his seat, crossing his legs this time. They sat silently for a long while, the only sound in the kitchen was the hollow ticking of the clock and Duo's silent sipping as he drank. He was stalling time, sipping his drink slowly with his head still bowed and his eyes focused solely on the dark fluid. He could feel Heero's gaze on him, felt his worry, but he was not ready to speak. Not yet.

"Must have been quite an event if it made you run in the rain all the way up here." Heero finally said, his voice quiet, like he was afraid to chase Duo away. As he assumed, Duo did not answer, didn't even raise his gaze up. The silence returned to the kitchen. Outside, the rain stopped pouring.

"Is it Ran?" Heero finally blurted out, sick of waiting and eager to just put all the cards on the table and talk.

Duo froze, his mug held up in mid-sip. His amethyst eyes were wide, looking blindly at the air between the cup and the table. He nearly flinched when he felt Heero's warm hand touch his arm gently. He turned to face his friend; his eyes glittering with unshed tears.

"He came back." He whispered, his voice trembling. He heard Heero's chair creak a little as the man stepped out of it, coming to kneel by Duo's chair. He his warm palm was still holding his forearm gently, his gaze warm and compassionate as he looked up at Duo. There was a kind sympathy in his eyes, all warm and caring and blue. He was smiling sadly at the distressed man, his features radiating understanding.

Ever since Sarah and Heero had gotten married, ten years ago, Duo had been more or less alone. Heero had moved out of the house, started a family and moved on with his life, however things were not so simple for Duo. The violet-eyed man had been having a rough time with every relationship he had. He somehow managed to get hurt every single time; his fragile heart getting more and more blows as he kept trying. He searched desperately for the love that will sooth his heart and make him happy. He dated men and women alike, frantically searching for the one who will move his heart the way Heero had, once. Two lifetimes ago. He was burnt, many times, and time after time he was about to give up on his search, to just accept his misery, but Heero did not let him.

Heero never let him fall all the way down into the pits of a lonely hell. He caught him every single time, helped him and encouraged him to climb back up. He refused to let Duo give up; he refused to let him wallow in misery for the rest of his life. At the day of his wedding he swore, both to Duo and to himself, that he will not be the only one of them who will find his happiness. He will not be the only one to drown in love and joy. He owed Duo so much, and his love for the longhaired-man was so great, that he refused to rest until he saw Duo's happiness as well.

It was hard, if not nearly impossible. Duo was one who fell easily to depression. During the last ten years Heero kept a close eye on him. They were like family, the two of them, but still they were much closer than those who were connected by mere blood relation. Their bond was stronger, fiercer, and it was not broken by moments of desperation, hopelessness and gloom. Their love for one another survived every fight they had, every time they raised their voice or hand against each other. Every time they thought they didn't want to see each other's face. Every time they cried from the hurt the other had caused. Their love survived it all. Hate, jealousy, betrayal, hurt and loss... they were beyond all that.

There were many things they fought over, many grudges they held against each other, but those times were beyond them now. They've grown, matured, and forged a relationship so deep and enduring that there was nothing that could draw them apart. They knew one another better than they knew anything else in the world. Their hearts were beating in the same frequency, like transmitting their thoughts and feelings to their other half. They loved each other deeply, but it was always beyond the romantic and erotic aspects. Way beyond all the materialism and romanticism of life. They've both reached somewhat of a "higher" form of existence. A kind of love one could call "divine". They knew that not many received the privilege of such feelings, and they cherished it greatly.

It was this bond, this love between them, that gave the comfort and assurance that they could tell each other anything. Their darkest, deepest secrets as well as everyday life's problems. But for some reason, the most difficult thing to speak about, were the matters of the heart. Or more specifically, Duo's heart.

"I thought he went back to the Middle East." Heero finally spoke, his voice both quiet and timid. "I thought... I thought he left... you."

Sniffling, Duo gave out a chuckle/sob and hurried to wipe his tears with his sleeve. "I guess he wasn't kidding when he promised that he'll come back..." He mumbled, staring dully at his now damp sleeve.

"But that was six months ago, Duo." Heero reminded him, raising his hand to touch Duo's damp cheek. He gently turned the man to face him, looking up at him from where he was still kneeling on the floor. "You shouldn't feel sorry for what you've done."

Letting out another small sob, Duo shook his head and released himself from Heero's gentle hold. "You don't get it... I mean..." He sighed, taking a deep breath before speaking again. "I didn't believe that he'd come back for me... I mean... who would believe such a thing? So I... yeah, I fooled around a little, but... but now that I think of it... no, I mean, I ALWAYS knew it but now I can't lie to myself no more..." He babbled, frowning in confusion at his own words. He paused, thinking for a moment, before turning back to Heero and looking deeply into his eyes. "I know why things didn't work out for me in the last six months... Since he left, all I ever thought about was him. No matter who I dated or who I slept with... I was always thinking about Ran."

"You were hoping that he'd come back to you?" Heero asked, slowly rising off the floor and pulling his chair closer so he could sit next to Duo. He reached for Duo's hand, and when the other turned to look up at him, he smiled. "Duo... I think that this is the first time you admitted such a thing... Even though he left you, you still believed in him. You had faith in him, in his promise." Smiling broadly now, Heero leaned forward and hugged his friend.

Stunned, it took Duo a moment to relax into the embrace. His baffled eyes blinked, and when they reopened, they were glittering with a smile. A hint of a smile was winking from within the dark-purple depths. Duo chuckled lightly and wrapped his arms around Heero as well, returning the hug. He rested his head on Heero's shoulder, his nose nuzzled in the crook of Heero's neck. He stared at the short hairs at the nape of Heero's neck, his smile growing.

"Guess it means I learned something... finally." He mumbled, his lips brushing against Heero's neck as he spoke. "Maybe I did fall in love with him after all..."

"And is that such a bad thing? Now that he's back?" Heero asked, turning his head and tilting it so he could look down at Duo.

Sighing deeply, Duo detached himself from the embrace, pulling away from Heero. He sunk back into his chair and bowed his head. "I don't know..."

The silence returned. Duo returned to sipping his (now cold) drink, and Heero was leaning back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table. He was looking thoughtfully at Duo, his gaze somewhat distant. At some point, another sound joined the sounds of the kitchen. Ceasing his tapping, Heero looked up towards the kitchen doorway. He sighed as he recognized the sound. It was a baby crying.

"I'll be right back." He said tiredly, slowly getting up. Duo raised his eyes up from his drink just in time to catch the tired look on Heero's face. He chuckled silently and returned to sipping his coco. He wondered how many hours of sleep Heero was losing over these nightly sobbing. He remembered how tired Heero was back when Sarah and he had their first child. He would fall asleep at any chance he got during the day. On the train when he was on the way to work, at the diner they had their daily cup of coffee, even over the table when he he invited Heero for lunch... The young parent had always been tired. Now, two babies later, Heero was more a experienced parent, but tired just the same. His third child, Aya, was a very demanding little girl who kept both her parents up all night.

Duo couldn't remember Heero's first two kids being so damn noisy. But then again, he was only the "uncle". He got to see the kids on holidays, weekends and "family" gatherings, so he only got to see them when they were more or less behaved. Besides, he loved them too much to admit that they were a bunch of naughty rascals, as Sarah often called them. He also supported the belief that 'uncles' should not be as harsh and reprimanding as parents. The kids were supposed to love him more because he was more fun, right? Heh... and as much as Heero hated to admit it (in front of Duo, that is) his children REALLY loved to spend their time racking havoc with 'uncle Duo'...

Heero and Sarah named their eldest after Duo. Well, in a way. His name was Maxwell Jurie Yuy- MJ for short. He was nine-years-old and a bright little boy. He had his father's wits, and his mother's twisted sense of humor. At the age of nine, he was already sarcastic. He was a perfect mix of his parent's looks: greenish-blue eyes that bore holes into a person's soul, wild and messy pitch black hair and handsome features that no one this young should have. He had half of the Elementary School's female population chasing after him day and night.

Their second kid, Eric, was six years old and the most energetic kid Duo had ever seen. The boy could not sit quietly for a second and he had the unique tendency to get into trouble. Nevertheless, he was a good kid, and very smart too. He just happened to prefer fun over work. Heero sometimes joked by suggesting that somehow he got Duo's genes instead of his. But that was far from being the case because Eric was too much like his father when it came to looks, though he was trying more and more to look like his uncle Duo. He had the same hair color as Heero, only he preferred to keep his hair at shoulder length, and if his mother allowed him to get away with it- he liked to wear it down. He also had features that were DEFINITELY from an oriental origin, even though he had bluish-gray eyes. Also, and much to Duo's happiness, the boy thought him as the coolest guy who EVER lived, making him his idol.

Lastly, there was little Aya Yuy, ten-months-old and the most adorable of the three. She was a perfect mirror of her mother's looks... only about thirty years younger. She had her father's eyes though, and combined with her pitch-black hair and pale white skin, Duo loved calling her "Snow White". Although unlike Snow White, this little princess rarely spent more than three hours a night sleeping quietly in her bed. She drove her parents crazy with her crying, so it was no surprise that they decided to take turns in taking care of the little infant. Tonight, apparently, it was Heero's shift.

"Sorry about that." Heero apologized as he stepped back into the kitchen, cradling little Aya in his arms. He was holding a warm bottle of milk in his hand, feeding it to the baby. "She was just hungry." He explained, settling heavily back in his chair. He adjusted his hold on the baby, making sure her head was tucked securely in his folded arm, and then looked back at Duo. He frowned as he noted that the other man had been staring at him.

"What?" He asked, feeling very self-conscious under Duo's gaze.

Duo chuckled and shook his head. "Nothing." He answered, smiling.

Heero's frown deepened in thought, and then he snorted, rolling his eyes. "Get over it, Duo." He muttered, looking down at Aya as he adjusted the bottle of milk, making it easier for her to drink. He used his little finger to wipe the white fluid that dripped down her chin, still holding the bottle with the same hand. He smiled down at her when he saw her reach two little palms to hold the bottle as well. The infant then closed her eyes and continued to suck the bottle silently.

Heero could still feel Duo's amused gaze on him. He looked up, glaring half-heartedly at the man. "Stop it." He said, as if offended. "It's not like you're seeing me do this for the first time."

Duo chuckled again, covering his mouth with his hand. "Yer right. Sorry." He apologized, his eyes shining with amusement. "I just... heh... really brings back some old memories..."

Heero rolled his eyes. "As if you ever had me sucking off a bottle... get real, Duo." He muttered, shaking his head in a rebuking way.

"It's not that." Duo explained, smiling as he looked at Aya's serene face, safe and loved in her father's arms. "I was just thinking about the way you were back then... before everything."

"During the war, you mean." Heero asked, his attention focused on his child, pulling the bottle a little, but Aya moaned in displeasure so he figured that she wanted more, and pushed the bottle back into her little mouth. He looked back at Duo, smiling sheepishly. "I suppose I would have felt a bit awkward with a child in my arms..." He said, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes.

Duo snorted and chuckled at the same time. "You have no idea..."

"But things changed." Heero stated, his voice serious once again.

"Yeah..." Duo answered with a sigh, the solemn expression coming back to his face. He cast his gaze down, away from Heero's eyes, and examined the way Aya's chubby cheeks moved as she sucked her meal out of the bottle. He smiled a little as he watched her almost inhumanly blue eyes open, gazing up at her father as she continued drinking. His smile broadened as he followed her line of sight, looking up at the parent who gazed lovingly down at his child, a smile lighting his tired features, shining in his sleep-lacking eyes.

"They sure have..." He whispered to himself, smiling.

* * *

Walking down the stairs towards the living room, Sarah yawned and fixed her white robe, tying the belt tightly around her waist. Her long black hair was gathered messily, held up with a large clip. A whole bunch of stray black hairs fell from the messy hairdo, obscuring her eyes and falling over her ears. She brushed a few annoying hairs aside as her bare feet padded over the soft carpet, towards the kitchen which was opposite from the living room. Warm rays of morning sunshine flooded the ground floor, washing the elegant furniture with golden hue. Dust particles few lazily in the air, and the black-haired woman frowned at the thought of dusting, again.

She gave out a small curse as she stepped over a toy truck, the ache in her bare foot causing her to jump in surprise. Muttering something to herself, she bent to pick up the toys, clearing the field of landmines that was also known as her dining room. Still ranting to herself that she needed to teach Eric a thing or two about cleaning after him, she threw the toys into the corner of the room, where a large basket full of other toys stood. She then quickly made her way into the kitchen, anxious for a cup of coffee.

When she entered, she immediately went for the cupboard and began boiling some water. It was only when she turned around to see if there was a newspaper on the kitchen table that she noticed that she was not alone. Sitting by the small wooden table, stirring a cold cup of coffee was Duo. His head was bowed and his gaze was fixed on the spoon he was holding. His long chestnut hair was gathered into a loose ponytail, and she recognized that it was Heero's clothes he was wearing. She frowned, wondering what he was doing here this early in the morning.

"Duo?" She asked, coming to sit next to him, but there was no reaction from the solemn young man. "Did you spend the night here?" She tried again, tilting her head aside in question.

"Yeah." Duo let out hoarsely, finally raising his head up to meet her eyes. "Sorry for the trouble."

She smiled. "Not at all. You're never a bother, and you know that." She said, getting up. "I'll make you some fresh coffee." She stated, not even waiting for his reply and taking out another mug from the cupboard.

"Is there something wrong?" She asked, her back facing him as she added two teaspoons of sugar to his coffee and then reached for the kettle.

"You can say that..." Duo answered in a tired voice, leaning back in his chair, leaning his head back as well and closing his eyes. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, frowning deeply. "Gosh I'm tired..."

"I gather it has to do with Ran?" She concluded, approaching the table with two steaming cups of coffee.

Duo opened his eyes and turned to look at her, smiling. "Gee, you're even better than Heero is sometimes..." He frowned. "Or am I really that transparent?"

Sarah chuckled and shook her head in amusement. She reached for the jar of cookies at the edge of the table, next to the wall. She took out a chocolate chip cookie and took a small bit. "Nah, just predictable."

Duo chuckled, shaking his head as if disappointed form himself. "Since when have I become predictable?" He asked, amused, helping himself to a cookie.

"Since you walk over here in the middle of the night. Since you sit here staring at your drink as if it was a blockbuster movie. Since you fell in love and you are not willing to admit it. You pick one." She answered casually, throwing the rest of the cookie into her mouth.

"Ah, that kind of predictable..." He mumbled as a miserable excuse for a joke, his smile slowly fading. He returned to staring numbly at his drink.

"So?" Sarah said, raising an eyebrow.

Duo looked up. "Huh? So what?"

"So what happened?"

"Oh." Duo let out, bowing his head again. He sighed. "He didn't lie. He really did go back home to settle a few things... an now he's back."

"Like he promised he would." Sarah reminded him, sipping her drink calmly.

"Yeah." Duo breathed, his expression miserable. "Like he promised he would."

"So what's the problem? Why are you so down? You love him don't you?"

"I think so..."

"Hmmm...? You think so, or you know so? You must know by now. After all, you've been moping over this guy for over six months... that must mean something doesn't it?"

Duo didn't know what to answer. Or more correctly, he did know what to answer; he just didn't want to admit it. Not yet. Not yet. After such along time of searching, of longing... of wishing and praying, crying and pleading which ever greater being out there to offer him just a little... just a little of this light called love... And now, after all this time, was it really over? It was hard to comprehend... the idea was almost too much to cope with. He was used to disappointment, to have his hopes raised and then crushed. He was finding it extremely hard to believe that this is it. It took him thirty-four years... but here he is. Finally on the verge of true happiness.

Or is he?

He wasn't sure.

He needed reassurance. He wanted to be sure. He couldn't survive another heartbreak. The human heart was not that strong. It could only withstand so much abuse. He needed to be sure before he will be willing to believe. He needed guarantee, though he was pretty sure that he was not going to get it.

* * *

"Daddy, may I be excused?" The little chirping voice of a six-year-old boy asked as the longhaired little boy looked up at his father, pouting. He was sitting in a chair much larger for his small size; opposite of his father who sat across the table, helping his mother feed Aya. Next to the little boy, sat his older brother, eating silently as he read a book. The little boy sighed and turned back to face his father. "Daddy, may I be EXCUSED?!" He asked again, trying to gain attention.

"No Eric, you may not." Heero answered, turning to look sharply at his son. "You haven't eaten anything yet."

The little boy snorted and crossed his arms over his chest. "But I asked nicely!" He whined, pouting.

Sarah chuckled silently and shook her head in amusement. "Eric, speaking politely doesn't mean that you will get away with not eating anything. You have to eat, so no more games." She explained softly to her son, amusement in her eyes. "Although, sweetheart, it was a nice try."

The little boy snorted. Next to him, MJ turned the page in his book and continued eating. Eric rolled his eyes and muttered something about 'boring' and 'Duo is more fun'. He watched as his mommy adjusted her hold on the small baby in her arms, while Heero checked the temperature of the milk in the bottle he was holding, by placing some of it on his wrist. When he was sure that everything was fine, he turned to place the bottle in Aya's small mouth.

"I'll take it from here." His wife said softly, taking the bottle out of his grasp. Their fingers brushed gently and they turned to smile at each other. Heero bent to offer his wife a soft kiss on the cheek and from across the table, little Eric made a low choking sound.

"Daddy!" He reproached, his cheeks burning red. "Stop it! I'm trying to eat, all right? And if you keep doing that TV stuff then I'm gonna puke!"

Heero glared and Sarah chuckled. "Eric, speak nicely when you're at the table." She said, having a hard time to hide her amusement. It was hard to teach the boy some manners and trying to tame his, uh, wild spirit, while he kept making her laugh all the time. He was too adorable and too amusing for her to refuse. The boy knew it, and he used it to his advantage. Repeatedly. Heero was always trying to be the strong one in resisting the boy's charms, but even he was failing most of the time. The boy was a six-year-old devil. He wondered if he should refrain him from spending so much of his time with Duo...

"It's not enough that I had to look and uncle Duo do this sticky TV stuff with Ran, now I have to see it at home?! Yuck! Cut it out already! Man, at least in uncle Duo's house I didn't have to eat when they kissed! Bah!" The boy continued ranting, a snobbish expression on his face and his arms folded over his chest.

At the mentioning of Ran's name, Heero's eyes suddenly darkened and his smile faded. Catching the change in her husband's mood, Sarah reached a hand under the table and placed it gently on his thigh. She caressed him soothingly, feeling the tension in his body. He was still upset over Duo's situation. He'd been tormenting himself with it all week, as he did with any problem Duo faced, trying his best to find a solution and aid his friend.

"The only thing you can really do is try and talk to him." She said quietly, adjusting Aya in her arms once more for her limbs were falling asleep. The small girl let out a sound that might have been joyful or upset, but she quieted down when her mother stilled and adjusted the bottle in her mouth. "Either that," Sarah continued, "Or just wait it out and see what happens."

Heero sighed, playing with his fork between his fingers. "I'm afraid that if I'll leave things as they are, Duo will let this chance slip by. He'll miss it."

"Miss what?" Eric asked over his glass of orange juice, looking curiously at his father.

"Never mind, honey." His mother answered. "Grownup talk." She added with apologetic eyes.

Eric rolled his eyes and continued sipping his drink. "If it has to do with uncle Duo then it's not grownup..." He muttered to himself, which made his father smile a little bit.

"Say, Eric," He began lightly, looking at his son with shining cobalt eyes. "How about I drop you at Duo's place this weekend? Would you like that?"

"He can't." MJ's quiet voice suddenly spoke up. He was not much of a conversationalist, so it was quite a shock to the occupants of the table. Looking up from his book and adjusting his reading-glasses, the nine-year-old smiled sadly at his father and explained: "When I called earlier, Ran answered the phone."

There was a stunned silence after his statement and Eric nearly choked on his drink.

"No way!"

"Way." The eldest sibling answered, looking down at his little brother with indifferent bluish-green eyes.

"Uh-uh!" The younger argued, shaking his head so that his shoulder-length hair flipped wildly form side to side. "Ran went back to the East!"

MJ rolled his eyes. "The Middle East, baka, and no- he's not there anymore, he's back."

"So where is uncle Duo?" The little boy asked, his blue eyes suddenly large and frightened. "Did he leave too?"

MJ shrugged and went back to his book. "Not likely." He said, already absorbed in the written words. "But he didn't answer when I called."

"Well... well... where did he go? Why was Ran there?" Eric questioned in concern, turning to look desperately at his father, the only one who always gave him a sense of safety and reassurance. Despite the fact that he preferred to spend most of his time with his uncle, there were some roles that even Eric knew Duo would not be able to perform. Some things were reserved solely for his daddy. Making him feel as if all was right in the world was one of those roles. "Everything is okay, right daddy?"

"I'm sure it is, sweetie." Sarah answered in reassurance, but Eric's gaze was still fixed at his father, waiting for his answer and his answer alone. No one knew uncle Duo like his father did, that much his young heart knew. He wanted the reassurance to come from his daddy.

After a while of silent consideration, Heero smiled and turned to his son. "Well, I suppose that since Ran was the one to answer the phone, then everything is all right between them..." His voice sounded less and less confident as he spoke, until he trailed off into silence.

Eric didn't look so reassured. "You know, uncle Duo says that people should never lie..." He remarked in a skeptic voice, reaching back for his glass of orange juice. As he drank, his fierce blue eyes glared silently at his father.

The silence returned to the dining table, only Aya's sucking on the rubber bottle and the flipping of pages in MJ's book cutting the suffocating stillness.

* * *

"There's no reason for you to be so worried, Heero." Sarah called out pleadingly at her husband, watching from the bed as he searched the room for his socks and shoes. She was already lying in bed, wearing her nightgown and ready for sleep. Heero on the other hand, was still fully dressed in winter attire, a thick sweater and a scarf that hugged his neck. He was pacing the room like a bundle of nerves until he found his shoes.

"If Ran was there when MJ called then it means that they worked things out between them." She continued, trying to reason with her husband.

"You don't know how Duo works, Sarah. It's not that simple." Heero replied, breathless as he threw himself on the floor, hurrying to put his socks on.

"What do you mean?" She asked, rising a little into a sitting position. She watched him as he struggled to put his shoes on quickly.

"He's in for another heartbreak. He brings it on himself. He will not accept Ran's love so easily. I bet it was no more than a quick 'welcome back' fuck and then he stormed out of the apartment. That's why Ran answered the phone. Duo wasn't there. I bet you my next paycheck that he ran off somewhere like always."

"You can't be sure." She said, trying to side up with Duo. She felt as if her husband was speaking badly of his friend and she felt hurt for Duo. Looking sharply at Heero as he rose to his feet, she added: "You don't know that for sure."

Heero let out a bitter chuckle. "The hell I do, Sarah. I've been there before. Duo runs. He runs and he hides so he can keep lying to himself. That's how he really works." He concluded with a bitter smile, running a hand swiftly through his messy bangs and pushing them backwards. He reached for the tall chest-drawer by the door and swooped his wallet and keys off the top. "This time will be no different." He continued breathlessly, his back facing Sarah and the bed. "I have to go look for him, before it's too late. I have to make him face it."

"Face what? That Ran loves him? How can you know that for sure?" She challenged him, both her voice and eyes fierce.

Heero paused, his hand still in his jeans pocket after shoving the keys in. She could see his shoulders tense and his head slowly rose higher in determination. "I'm going to find out first, and then I'm going to make Duo see it as well."

With those words he rushed out of the bedroom, his quick steps echoing in the house as he practically ran down the stairs. When she heard the front door close, she sighed, leaning heavily back on the bed. Sinking into the covers, she closed her eyes and listened to the humming of an engine fade out as Heero drove away.

From the hallway, Aya's voice rang loudly as she started crying.

* * *

A dark blue 4x4 jeep came to a stop in front of a tall condo in the center of town, the shiny droplets of rain that covered the smooth blue metal glittering under the streetlamps as Heero parked the vehicle. The sound of the door being slammed behind him echoed throughout the empty street, followed by the sound of the alarm beeping as it was turned on. Heero ran down the wet pavement, his snickers filling with mud as he stepped into puddles. The streetlight reflected off the wet asphalt, creating a faint glow over the street. Strangely enough, the light didn't reach the entrance of Duo's building, and Heero had to make his way in the dark until he found the light switch.

He didn't bother to wait for the elevator and began running up the stairwell, all the way to the fifth floor. There he stopped, panting, when he reached the desired apartment. He took a moment to just stand in front of Duo's door, trying to catch his breath. He coughed lightly, cursing inwardly when he realized that no matter how many times a week he will go to the gym, his body will still get old and will tire easily.

Even before he had a chance to knock on the door, his hand merely halfway there, it opened. Heero gasped, surprised, and took a small step back. He was even more surprised to meet a pair of large, hopeful, brown eyes and cheeks damp with tears. Those eyes were looking straight at him, so large and vulnerable and full of hope...

"Duo!" The man at the door blurted before he even laid eyes on Heero, and his joyful smile soon turned into an expression of misery when he realized that he had it wrong. "Oh. Heero." He let out, casting his gaze down. Sighing, he opened the door wider to let the man in. "C-come in..." He mumbled, his soft baritone voice trembling just a slight bit.

Nodding in acknowledgment, Heero stalked into the large apartment. The place was dark, but not untidy. Only a dim light shone from the kitchen, the edges of the radiance reaching no further than the small dining area by the living room. The living room was empty; the only light to illuminate the place was the pale moonlight filtering through partly closed drapes, reflecting off the silent television set. The hallway was dark as well, what lying beyond it swallowed by darkness. But Heero knew this place so well that he could walk around in the dark with ease. After all, this is where he'd spent most of his years with Duo.

Turning back to face the man before him, he ran a quick scan up and down his form. Even in this dim blue lighting he could see the tanned hue of his skin, as to be expected from someone who spent most of his years under the Mediterranean sun. His dark, pitch black, hair was cut in a simple manner, short but not too short, with two long eartails at each side of his head. The man did have somewhat of an exotic appearance, with full lips, rich dark eyelashes and almond shaped eyes that could only belong to some sort of a courtesan.

He remembered that at the first few months of Duo's and Ran's relationship, the longhaired baka couldn't take his hands off this man, nor did he stop talking about him. It was the first time Duo ever acted this way towards anyone, and Heero had hoped that it would last. Now he was here to make sure that it would!

Heero's face was serious and his tone strictly business when he finally spoke: "He's not here, is he?"

The man before him, not much taller and not much broader than him, shook his head. He ran a trembling hand in his thick, short black hair, inhaling a shaky breath. "No, he isn't." He answered, his voice filled with gloom. "I woke up after we... and... and he... he wasn't here." He turned to look at the Japanese man before him, something akin to a plea in his large brown eyes. "He didn't even leave a note... nothing. I can't reach him on his cell phone... I don't even know if he took it. Please, Heero, you've got to help me find him."

He never considered Ran to be close to him, they rarely spoke, but the way the man was acting next to him, so freely and honestly while letting all of his weaknesses show, clearly showed Heero that Ran simply didn't care about the impression he made, as long as he could have Duo back. This man was willing to do anything to get his lover back, this much Heero could tell just by looking into his eyes. There was love there. He was sure of it. Almost.

"You hurt him, Ran. You hurt him real bad." Heero spoke coldly, crossing his arms over his chest while glaring at the Mediterranean man. "You shouldn't have left him the way you did."

"But I had to go! There was nothing I could do about it! I promised him that I'd come back! I promised! And I kept that promise!" Ran called out, desperate to explain. Every movement he made showed how desperate he was to prove himself to Heero. Knowing the past between this man and Duo, he knew that he had to go through Heero first, if he ever wanted to reach Duo.

"Six months and not even a phone call!" Heero barked, anger blazing out of his fierce cobalt eyes. "You have no idea what you made him go through!"

At that, Ran fell silent, bowing his head in shame. "I... I couldn't call..." He mumbled, staring at his shoes through a tearful set of eyes.

"Ch. Don't tell me that they don't have any phones down in the Middle East..." Heero snorted, his tone disgusted. "You should have at least offered SOME sort of an explanation! You owed him that much! He loves you, dammit! Why did you have to hurt him like that?!"

"I can explain, Heero. I swear to you that I can. But not now... please. Time is ticking by and I just feel that he's getting further and further away." The man let out dejectedly, looking up at Heero with shimmering brown eyes. His full red lips were trembling as he fought the tears. Heero was close to feeling disgusted by this pathetic looking man. But then he thought better of it. The prospect of losing Duo would have brought him into a much more pitiable state, in that he was certain. No, more than certain- he knew it already for he had experienced it on his own flesh and in his own heart.

"All right." Heero said, his voice softer than before. His expression was still stony though, as if daring Ran to mess this up as well. He will not let him off the hook so easily next time. "We'll go look for him, and then you will explain EVERYTHING. Down to the last piece of the idiocy that ran through your head when you boarded that plane and left him. Understood?"

Swallowing, Ran [i] nodded, completely speechless under Heero's harsh gaze. Like this, in this dim light and in such an angered state of mind, Heero's flaring blue eyes resembled those of a cold-blooded killer. He wouldn't be surprised if this man had killed in cold blood before. He sure seemed capable of it right now.

* * *

Eleven thirty PM, and the damn phone was ringing. Groaning as he was tore out of the realm of sleep, Chang Wufei muttered a few curses and reach blindly to the phone. By his side, curled and wrapped all around him, his wife stirred a little and then nuzzled her head deeper into his broad chest. She appeared to be sleeping, her steady breath tickling his skin.

"This better not be one of Mei's boyfriends..." Sally mumbled sleepily against his chest, snuggling closer to him and sighing pleasantly. "It will be a shame to see you chase away another one..."

Wufei rolled his eyes at her comment and brought the receiver up to his ear. "Hello?" He answered with a sleepy voice, yawning silently while covering his mouth with his hand.

"Hello Chang. Sorry for waking you up." Heero's voice spoke from the other side of the line, and even without the man having to say so, Wufei could already sense that there was trouble. Heero's voice was strained and harsh, a sure sign that he was in need of assistance. Wide-awake now, he sat up, the blanket sidling down his naked torso. Next to him, Sally opened half an eye in question. By the tensing of her husband's body, she was now certain that it was more than just another suitor who was after her daughter's heart.

"Heero, what's wrong?" The Chinese man hurried to ask, his voice worried. He reached for his glasses, which lay by the phone, quickly putting them on. He spent nearly a lifetime avoiding wearing glasses, seeing them as an admission to his weakness, but now, at the age of thirty-four, he was nearly blind without his glasses and was left without much choice but to wear them. "What happened?" He asked again, certain that Heero was preoccupied with something and thus not replying quickly. He supposed that the man was driving, for he could hear the soft humming of an engine in the background.

"Long story! But the tragic ending is that Duo took off!" Heero explained, raising his voice a little, which confirmed Wufei's suspicion that he was driving. "I was wondering if you've heard form him lately!?"

"No," He answered, "The last we heard of him was last week on Lynn's birthday." He said, recalling his youngest son's birthday party, trying to remember if there had been anything different about Duo. He could think of nothing, though.

"What's going on?" Sally asked worriedly, sitting up on the bed. "Is something wrong?"

"Duo disappeared." Wufei whispered from the corner of his mouth, turning his attention back to the phone. "Do you need help searching for him?" He asked, his eyebrows drawing near in concentration as he tried to think where the longhaired fool could have gone.

"No, it's okay. I've got Ran with me... We'll search together. I'll keep you posted!" Heero assured, sounding as if he was about to hang up.

"Wait a minute!" Wufei nearly shouted, startling his wife.

"What is it!?" Heero's muffled voice asked in somewhat annoyance.

"What do you mean by 'Ran'? You mean Ran Ran... as in... Duo's Ran?"

"Chang, what is it?" Sally asked in confusion, laying a soft hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah. That's the one. Why?" Heero answered loudly over the phone, trying to speak over the noise of traffic. Wufei could hear a few car horns in the background. "Shit!" Heero cursed and then the sound of screeching tires was heard. "Traffic jam." The Japanese man explained, either to him or to Ran, Wufei wasn't sure.

"Is Ran back from his- from overseas? Already?"

"Yeah." Heero answered curtly. "Surprised?! So was I!"

"Yes, I'm surprised, but not for the same reason. Heero, he wasn't due back for another four months."

"What are you talking about?" Heero asked sharply, and Wufei could already picture his blue eyes aflame with anger. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

"No... no. I don't think I should." Wufei muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose out of pure frustration. He could feel Sally's soft fingers massage the tension out of his shoulders, gently, and he looked up to smile in thanks. "Call me the minute you find him, all right?"

"You know I would." Heero answered. "I'll talk to you later! Bye!"

Sighing heavily, Wufei placed the phone back down and slumped tiredly into the bed. He looked up at the ceiling, his onyx eyes deep in thought.

"You know something, don't you?" Sally's voice questioned quietly, carefully, as she did each time she knew they were discussing something that had to do with Wufei's delicate job as a Preventer.

"I better report to Une." Her husband muttered, turning over with a groan and reaching back to the phone.

Biting her lower lip, Sally nodded quietly and lay back down. She knew better than asking questions that Chang was not allowed to answer.

* * *

"Did you see how that guy was checking you out?! Gosh, he was like totally drooling over you!" A high-pitched female voice spoke up in excitement, followed by a few girly giggles. "I totally don't get why you blew him of Mei!" She added in a whine, looking up at her friend with a pair of pretty green eyes. The bunch of sixteen-year-old girls were walking down the busy street in one of the main districts in town, where most of the bars, clubs and coffee shops were located. Many teens and young couples walked these busy streets, which were lighted with a colorful display of neon lights. The bright lights reflected off the puddles on the wet road and sidewalks, and some cars splashed water around as they streaked down the busy street.

Among the group of young teenage girls, dressed in a fashionable coat that reached down to her slim waist, and long, slim legs that peeked under a short skirt, walked a pretty Chinese girl with long black hair, seductive brown eyes and full red lips. After listening to the comment her friend just made, she snorted and flipped her hair back in a dismissive motion.

"He was drunk, Casey. He was a fucking drunk!" She grunted, pulling her small stylish purse higher for it kept slipping down her delicate shoulder.

"So what, he looked all right. Everybody was drunk at that club, Meiran." Casey answered smugly, batting her long lashes in a silly manner. She was quite tipsy herself. "That's why it said 18+ at the entrance, silly! I think it was pretty cool that we passed for eighteen year olds, isn't it!?" She called in excitement and the girls around them eagerly agreed, giggling in girlish voices, as they drunkenly made their way down the street.

Meiran rolled her eyes and quickened her pace. She regretted ever coming here. She regretted ever listening to her so-called friend, Miss Popularity Casey Johnson! [ii] She knew better than to hang out with the likes of her! She knew better than to buy fake I.Ds and sneak into a club! She knew better! Her father taught her better!

Sighing to herself, she bowed her head and began walking faster. She didn't want her friends to see her tears. Her makeup was probably smeared by now... she just wanted to get home, go to shower, then bed and pretend that this night never happened!

Being in such a hurry to distance herself from her group, she failed to notice that the group had abandoned her, taking a turn and entering one of the smaller bars. She was alone in the street, marching down the wet pavement as fast as her high-heeled boots could carry her. She was walking further and further away from the crowds, away from the main shopping centers and clubs. She was at the outskirts of the large entertainment center, where the darker, shabbier, complexes towered over empty streets. She stopped, looking around.

This was like a bad horror movie or something...

"What next? A rapist coming out of the shadows?" She muttered sarcastically, rolling her eyes at the situation. Let them try! If someone would even dare to approach her, he'll be in for more than a simple case of a damsel in distress. She wasn't her father's number one student for nothing. She was approaching her black belt and doing her father proud. No drunken asshole stood a chance against her martial arts skills. Certainly not when she was as pissed off as she was right now. Damn Casey!

She sighed deeply and scanned her surroundings. She was standing by a tall, shabby building, which seemed to be under construction. There were a few waning signs that alerted passer-bys not to enter the building, and a few makeshift fences circling a large hole in the ground, probably a sewer or something of that sort. The place reeked of damp wood and mold. The building that stood by the unfinished one, was in not much better shape. Between the two poorly maintained stretched a long, dark, alley that carried the stench of garbage and alcohol. She was definitely in the wrong side of the tracks, as they say.

As if on cue, much like any bad horror flick she'd seen, a low rustling sound came from behind her. She spun quickly on her heels, looking sharply into the dark alley. Narrowing her eyes, she could see movement inside the dark alley. It appeared that someone was trying to walk, stumbling and waddling from side to side as he approached her. She snorted. "Damn drunk..."

Turning back to face the street, she decided to go back to where she came from and take a taxi. The drunken figure in the alley was the last thing on her mind right now. She was about to start walking, when a loud THUD! came to her ears. Looking back into the alley, she saw that the drunk had passed out and his shadowy figure was now lying limply in the gutter.

"Disgusting... men have no honor nowadays, don't they, father?" She wanted to leave, but her sense of duty urged her to aid the fallen man. She couldn't just leave him there!

Cursing herself for her strong conscience, Meiran made her way carefully into the alley. Her high-heeled boots tapped loudly between the tall buildings as she stepped into the alleyway. She knelt by the stranger, running sharp eyes over his prone figure. He was completely out cold, but still breathing. In his limp hand there was a half empty bottle of vodka. She wrinkled her nose as she reached down to flip him over, but to her surprise the stranger did not smell. He was well clothed, unlike all the shabby looking homeless people she was used to seeing in this part of town. His black jeans were an expensive brand and his heavy leather jacket was stylish and pricey as well. He had a soft white scarf wrapped around his neck, hiding the long tail of hairs that dangled from his head.

She smiled slightly as she gently pulled the long ponytail from underneath the scarf, running the soft strands through her fingers. "You remind me of my uncle Duo." She told the stranger, grabbing him by his shoulders so she could flip him over. "Though he wouldn't be caught dead looking the way you are right no-ahh!!" She stopped with a startled scream, gawking down at the face of the drunken stranger. Only it was no stranger.

"Uncle Duo!" She exclaimed, her voice shaking and her eyes wide with shock. "Oh my God!"

At her startled scream, Duo gave out a little moan, eyes slowly slitting open to peer beyond messy bangs. His vision was blurry, and he was quite groggy, but still he could make out the face of the pretty Asian girl hovering above him. He frowned and tried to make his limbs move, to get away from the seductive creature. Probably just another whore...

"Uncle Duo?" Meiran asked in worry, seeing that he was now awake and staring at her strangely. "Are you all right?" She tried again, reaching a hand to brush the long bangs out of his eyes.

"Uhh..." He moaned groggily, raising an unbalanced hand to shove her away. His features showed his discomfort. "Su-sorry lady... but... n-n-no... thanks..." He slurred, sitting up with an effort. He yelped when he felt the sting of a slap on his cheek.

"Asshole! What do you take me for?! Uncle Duo, it's me!" The Asian prostitute shouted, sounding more than a little offended.

Wincing, Duo rubbed his aching cheek and turned to face her again. His vision went in and out of focus, until it finally settled on her young, pretty face. He took a moment to absorb the image, trying to disregard all the makeup and the hair that plastered to her forehead. His eyes widened and he gasped quietly.

"Mei... chan?"

The girl snorted. "Yeah. The one and only. Damn it, uncle Duo, what are you doing here? What happened?" She asked, helping him sit against the wall. She watched in worry as he leaned his head back against the damp brick wall and closed his eyes. He seemed so tired... so old... She was used to seeing his features bright and cheerful, not so ghastly and miserable. His hands dangled lifelessly at his side, his legs sprawled in front of him like dead weight. She could tell how tired he was just by looking at him. Her heart began beating with pain. This was not the smiling uncle she was used to seeing at family dinners. This was a man in distress. It felt odd thinking of Duo that way. It was silly of her, she knew. She still hung onto the childish belief that adults are not fazed by anything. That people she was used seeing since childhood will always have a smiling face, and will always be there for her when she needed their smile and comfort. This time, it seemed, she was the one who had to offer comfort.

Leaning heavily against the wall, huddling close to Duo, she gently took hold of his cold hand. She felt him flinch, and he opened his eyes, confused violet-blue orbs looking at her dazedly.

"Wh-what am I..? What are you... in here..?" He slurred in confusion, blinking repeatedly as if to get his thoughts straight.

"Shit, man. You've got it bad." She muttered, shaking her head. "How much did you drink anyway?"

As if to provide an answer, Duo suddenly gulped and covered his mouth with his palm. He crawled away quickly, turning to the side, and still on all four, he began vomiting. Meiran wrinkled her nose in disgust and looked away, feeling highly out of place and having no idea what to do.

"Fuck..." She let out quietly as Duo finally settled back against the wall, taking deep breaths while he looked up at the dark skies.

"Watch... your... language..." He mumbled, panting.

Meiran rolled her eyes. "Right. As if you have the right to act like an adult right now..."

Duo chuckled bitterly, closing his eyes. He moaned miserably as he drew his knees up to his chest, burying his head in his kneecaps.

But then again, it was always hard to think of Duo as a grownup. He was a silly, silly, man who never did seem to grow up. Looking at him now, she wondered if it was all an act he put around she and the other kids. It was not possible for a man to be so carefree and cheerful. And she was not blind; she knew that Duo had his own set problems in life. Either the company he was running or the many MANY lovers she'd seen him with during the years.

As a child, it was easy to fall for his charms and his smiles. Now, being a little more grown up, she was able to see past it. Pass the illusionary image he had created for her and the rest of the kids. Pass the flirting, carefree, cheerful person he tried to make them see. She saw past it now, and truth be told, it scared her more than any fear she'd ever known.

The discovery of something very dark, very lonely, something so painfully human inside her usually cheerful uncle, was frightening more than the concept of death. She had to admit, there was a good reason they used to call this man Shinigami. The dark depths of his eyes were like the pits of Hell itself. It anguished her to look at them. She longed for him to put his mask back on. Though every part of her screamed to deal with it and live with it. Enough taking comfort in masks and lies that were meant to sooth children. This man, uncle or no uncle, needed her help and she was going to aid him!

Taking a deep breath, she turned to him, wrapping an arm over his back, hugging him. "Hey, c'mon, no dosing." She said, shaking him gently. "I'm gonna take you home, okay? I'll take you home."

"No!" Duo burst, jerking his head up. He whirled his head around to look at her, his eyes desperate. "No."

Meiran frowned, confused. "No?"

"No..." He repeated, shaking his head slowly from side to side. "Not home... just not home..." He whispered sadly, burying his face in his knees again. "Anywhere but there..."

The girl sighed, pondering. "Where then?" She asked, pulling her cell phone out of her purse. "Heero? You want to go to Heero's place? I can call him." She said, her finger already on the speed-dial button. Heero nii-chan will know what to do, she was certain. He always came to her rescue when she needed him, and he knew how to keep his mouth shut when it came to things she preferred her father to be ignorant about.

"No! Not Heero... no..." Duo mumbled, shaking his head against his knees. "Not Heero..." His words were barely coherent by now, his speech slurred from both alcohol and sleep.

"Where then? I can't take you home!" She snapped, frustrated. "Dad would KILL me if he knew where I'm hanging out! He thinks I'm sleeping over at a friend's house..."

At that, Duo let out a small chuckle and raised his head to look her over. He smirked at her trashy appearance.. "You're right, Fei would kill you... Either that or he'll nosebleed to death..."

"Not funny." She spat, slapping him lightly on the head. "As if you never did these things when you were my age!"

"Hmm... no, actually I didn't... But you'll be glad to know that you have a lot of growing up to do..."

"Right. Same to you. Twice my age and can't hold down his liquor..."

"Been a while... since I've stopped... since I last... since I was drinking..."

"Ah..." She let out, slumping against the wall, sitting close to him. He was still sitting with his back arched and his face buried between his knees, pillowed in his arms. She leaned closer to his warmth, leaning her head on his bent back. For a long while she just stared ahead, studying the way his long hair flowed down his scalp and gathered into the long ponytail. She sighed. "So now what? Where do you wanna go?"

"Away. Away from here..." He mumbled, shaking his head again. His voice was muffled since he was speaking from between his folded arms.

"Where?" She asked again, rising off him and leaning close in an attempt to see his face.

"Somewhere. I don't care. Far away..." He pulled away, sitting up, and looked around dazedly, gazing at the street. "Where's the nearest spaceport..?"

"Ah, shut up!" She burst, slapping him again. "Stop being foolish. One more word about 'spaceports' and I'm calling Heero!"

He chuckled, turning to face her. He was smiling, but it was a sad, bitter smile. His eyes didn't shine like they usually did. There was deep sadness in his eyes, a kind of sad longing and confusion all wrapped in one, wretched, violet gaze. She wondered how come eyes that were so unique, so pretty, could be so sad.

"What happened to you?" She whispered sorrowfully, raising a hand to caress his face gently. She brushed a few long bangs out of his eyes, feeling the dampness of tears as her fingers brushed by his thin lashes.

Duo turned away, taking a shaky breath. "Lets just get out of here... Before I freak you out even more..." He mumbled, trying to get up with great effort. Meiran helped him, supporting him as they walked slowly out of the alley. She had to partly drag him, partly carry him as they made their way towards the street. When Duo tried to walk on his own, he waddled too close to the construction site, nearly falling into the hole in the ground. Meiran didn't let go of him after that, dragging him away from danger while muttering something about his immaturity.

* * *

"Anything?" Heero asked hopefully as Ran climbed back into the jeep, panting. The dark-skinned man was panting and his hair was dripping water from the shower of rain that tapped loudly on the car's roof. Rubbing his hands in order to get warm, the young man shook his head and turned to look at Heero. There was deep sadness in his brown eyes. Sadness and desperation. He was giving up hope.

And Heero would have none of that. "Fine, we'll try the next one." He stated curtly, turning on the engine and stepping on the gas. "Don't worry, we'll find him."

"We've been searching all night. I don't think we'll find him in ANY of these pubs." Ran said dejectedly, watching the city lights blurring out the window as they drove.

"I know Duo. And I know that when he wants escape, he'll turn to liquor. That's one bug I've never managed to get out of his system." Heero said bitterly, his eyes narrowing in a glare as he kept watching the road.

Ran chuckled cynically. "You're speaking as if he's one of those high-tech computers you work with... he's not. He's a person. He doesn't have any glitches for you to fix."

Heero's frown deepened. He didn't remember ever telling Ran about his job. Especially not of the fact that he was working on a project to develop one of the most sophisticated, advanced, super computers of the AC era. After attaining a master's-degree in both computers and astrophysics, Heero was working in the developing team for a HUGE Space-Tech company. His work was sensitive, and he rarely spoke of it, even with Sarah. He was pretty damn sure he wasn't so careless as to speak of his work next to Ran.

He sent a scrutinizing glance at Ran, watching him from the corner of his eyes. The man seemed like a fragile, nervous wreck, but Heero had the feeling that there was something more to this guy. Something... almost dangerous. A well-built body like Ran's was not one of a wimp. With the proper training, Heero could deem this person as lethal, even. He wondered if this is part of why Duo was so drawn to him in the first place... In any case, he'll keep a close eye on the man. Real close.

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