Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Night of the New Moon ❯ Night and Day (2) ( Chapter 7 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Author's note: Same warnings and same part. The file was just too big for Notepad.

Night of the New Moon
Part 6b 'Night and Day'
by: Lotus-chan


Duo's gaze lingered at the rim of Heero's pants the entire trip up the stairs. Specifically on
the weapon tucked into the back of his jeans. Heero was armed... Duo remembered
everything Heero had told him; about the kind of life he'd led and about his participation
in the war and what that meant but he'd thought that with it over... there might not be a
need for weapons anymore. As they made their way down the third floor hall, Duo glared
at the gun as if it alone were responsible for Heero's troubles.

He waited until they were inside Heero's room and he closed the door before mentioning
it. "Heero, why are you wearing a gun?" Heero turned at the door to give Duo a serious
look. "I've told you before. My participation in the war brought me many enemies who
will not care if it's over." He pulled the gun out and set it on the nightstand. Duo glared at
it the entire time, "Would they come looking for you? here?" Heero paused, debating
whether or not to tell him the truth.

Duo frowned. "They would come, wouldn't they?" When Heero didn't give him an
answer Duo took that as confirmation. "I don't suppose you'd listen to me if I said you
should leave?" Heero shook his head. Duo sighed. "You are so stubborn." Heero actually
smiled, "I meant it when I said I would never leave you alone."

When the full meaning of the words registered in his mind, Duo's wide eyes shot to Heero
in surprise, but he had already turned to go into the bathroom. He stopped and looked
back from the door, "I was going to take a shower. Would you like to go first?" ... Like he
hadn't even said it. Duo blinked and shook his head. "S'ok." Heero gave him an
affirmative nod, entered the bathroom and closed the door. Duo shook his head and smiled
to himself, had Heero even realized he'd said that?

With a broad smirk on his face he walked a little closer to the bathroom, set his clothes
down on the bed and looked around. There might be towels in the closet... but the closet
was on the other side of the room. Too far. He shrugged, nothing he could do. Kenji
would forgive him for getting the carpet a little wet. Duo took his damp towel off, folded
it once to make it slightly thicker and threw it a few feet away. With one last look at the
bathroom door, Duo walked the few paces to the towel. When he was directly over it he
lost his solid spirit body and all the mud and water he'd been drenched in went straight
through him and onto the towel.

Duo smiled, stepped back a few feet and regained his spirit body just as easily. Now
completely dry and clean, he slipped out of his leather pants effortlessly. Laying them on
the bed, he went for the long white button down shirt Okada had given him and slipped it
on over his head. It was a little bigger than he'd thought but thankfully reached to about
mid-thigh. His skin, although now dry, was still chilled from the cold and rain and the
warm dry shirt felt good against his skin.

Just then the sound of footsteps came up the quiet hall outside. Duo faced the door when
he heard them stop right outside. A hand came down on the knob, hesitated and knocked
first. "Heero? Duo?" Duo smiled, "Come in Kenji, he didn't lock it." Okada opened the
door, smiling when he spotted Duo and walked in. "I forgot to give you these
downstairs." he said as he handed him a belt, a pair of sandals and a brush. Duo looked at
the brush with the most gratitude. "Thanks a lot, Kenji." Okada waved it off, "You've
always been a good friend of mine Duo, the least I could do is make you that much more
comfortable on your night of freedom." he said kindly.

Duo's thoughts lingered on that last word. It had been so long since he'd seen something
other than the cliff walls... Okada couldn't possibly know how much it meant for him to be
free of that prison for at least a night... or maybe he did. Okada seemed to see where
Duo's thoughts were going and felt uncomfortable for letting that word slip. He should've
been more careful. Spotting his leather pants on the bed, Okada cleared his throat,
breaking the awkward silence and went for them, "I'll go have these washed..." "Oh, don't
worry about those, they're fine." Duo interrupted, setting the items on the nightstand; the
sandals on the floor.

Okada looked first at him and then the pants with raised brows. Both of them looked dry
and clean. "What happened to..." Duo pointed to the towel on the floor. Okada looked
and sighed. Duo grinned sheepishly when he realized Okada knew exactly what had
happened. "Gomen." He shook his head, "no, it's alright." He picked up the muddy towel.
"By the way, where has Heero gone? I thought you were supposed to be near him." Duo
glanced at the en-suite bathroom just when the shower came on. "Oh, I see." He walked
up to the door and knocked, "Heero-san? May I enter a moment for your clothes?"

Duo raised an eyebrow and got a little closer as a muffled 'hai' came from within the
shower. Okada opened the door and went inside. Duo had to plant himself on the edge of
the bed to keep from peeking. His merciful imagination shoving images into his mind of
his love interest half dressed... or not dressed at all. Duo felt his cheeks burn just as the
Inn Keeper was coming back out. He panicked and pretended to busy himself with the
clothes on the bed, giving him his back as Okada closed the bathroom door behind him.

"Well, I'll leave you two to your rest and retire to my room as soon as I can. Thankfully,
there is still plenty of night left to..." he trailed off noting Duo's odd behavior, "Duo?"
Duo picked up his clothes and made as if to go to the dresser when he remembered he
would never reach it. "Um, yeah?" he said without looking at him. Okada shook his
head and walked over to him. Duo gave an inward sigh of relief when Okada simply took
his old shirt from his hands, which was surprisingly still muddy. "I'll have this washed with
Yuy's things." He said as he began heading to the door. "Oh, and we definitely have much
to talk about tomorrow Duo." Okada graced him with a final, knowing smile before
closing the door. Duo swallowed. Had he seen ..?
----------

Heero relaxed when the door finally closed again. He hadn't dared to glance out from
behind the shower curtains to see if Duo had been there as well. Why would he be
anyway? And... and why the hell had he needed to know so badly? He sighed loudly and
closed his eyes against the warm spray. He had been having so many conflicting emotions
since he'd met him... Heero thought of him constantly and found himself counting down
the hours to nightfall just to be in his company. He didn't understand why he felt this way
and on some level the thought of that scared him... but on another, it didn't really matter.
He knew what was happening.

Even a fool could see he was beginning to... no, he already cared for him. Heero had never
cared for anyone in his entire life. There had never been anyone in his life who he felt had
been important enough... or lasted long enough. Heero shook his head and gave up trying
to explain it. He grabbed the soap and began washing the caked mud off his skin in an
attempt to put his mind elsewhere, if not to simply get clean, but it only took moments
before his previous thoughts wandered back to him.

Duo was like no one he had ever met, after all. He found himself caring more for him the
more time they spent together and he had to admit to himself that it made him nervous.
These were feelings he'd never experienced before. There were times when he didn't
know how to act or what to say and despite the desire to let his emotions simply guide
him he found his inability to understand how he felt, frustrating.

Then he found himself remembering Duo's lovely amethyst eyes, his playful smiles and his
hands paused where they had been scrubbing his arms, his eyes becoming distant. A heavy
feeling welled up in his chest and he realized it didn't matter. He could understand later.
The only thing that mattered was how he felt and he realized that wasting time trying to
make sense of something this... confusing was useless. For once, he settled for going along
with what he was feeling and allowing reason to come to him whenever it pleased.

He finished and shut off the water, reaching for the towel on the rack right outside. Heero
dried himself and stepped out of the shower stall, wrapping the towel around his waist and
opened the door. He froze when his eyes fell on the bed. Duo was sitting on the edge in
nothing but an oversized white shirt, busily combing through his long chestnut brown hair.
He seemed completely oblivious to the fact that the shirt that normally would have been
mid-thigh length rode up much higher than that while he was sitting...

Duo looked up when Heero opened the door and struggled not to blush. Heero was still
slightly wet... and Duo was suddenly aware of how small that towel was. After a few
moments of awkward staring, Heero looked away first. "What did Okada want?" he asked
as casually as possible, walking to the dresser. Duo got up and sat a bit closer when he
thought Heero might be going a few paces too far and turned away to let him dress. "Just
to bring a few things he forgot downstairs..." Heero nodded but when he noticed Duo had
turned away replied, "ah."

Heero got out the boxers and white tank he usually slept in and watched Duo comb his
hair as he got dressed. Duo paused suddenly and put the brush down, "Heero?" Heero
closed the drawer when he was done and walked over to sit next to him on the bed, "hai?"
Duo looked at the brush in his hands without really seeing it. He absently toyed with the
bristles a few moments before finding the words the speak with. "I've been thinking, I
know I won't be able to convince you to go but... I'm worried about your problem ...
and..." Heero put his hand over Duo's fidgeting one's and he fell silent. Duo was not one
to have trouble speaking. It meant he was nervous about something and that made Heero
uncomfortable.

Duo dropped the brush on his lap to take Heero's hand in both of his. "I don't want
anyone to hurt you, Heero. I won't allow it." Heero raised his eyebrows in surprise. That
was what he was so tense about? "Duo, I can take care of myself. I was able to survive life
as an assassin during the war and now will not be any different." Duo's grip on his hand
tightened slightly but he still did not meet Heero's eyes, "All I have are words, Heero.
Your assurances that you will be fine, that you can take care of yourself. I'm not saying I
doubt what you've told me but I am well aware of the fact that you are only one man and
you've said you have many enemies..."

He closed his eyes and sighed quietly. "But... as much as I will say that it is better if you
leave... the truth is I'm happy you've decided not to. You mean a lot to me and I wouldn't
want to lose you. In any sense of the word." Heero took his hand and brought it to Duo's
chin. He raised Duo's gaze so that their eyes would meet. Those few seconds felt like an
eternity as Duo was mesmerized by the soft smile on Heero's face. "It's kind of you to
worry, but you don't need to. This place is secluded enough that I may not be found and if
I am, I can handle it." He paused, "besides, you are the reason I can't leave."

Duo smiled, remembering only fifteen minutes ago when Heero had restated that he would
never leave him alone. "You don't know how much it means to me." Heero gazed at him
seriously and brought his hand to Duo's cheek, lightly caressing. Duo leaned into the
touch, eyes half lidded. "I cannot claim to know. I can only imagine how lonesome you
must have felt for so many years. I... I care too much about you to ever let you feel that
way again." Duo's eyes darted back to Heero in surprise. The raw emotion on Duo's face
and realization of what he'd just said brought color to Heero's cheeks and he looked away
uncomfortably.

"We should get some sleep..." He said, using it as an excuse to get up and head for the
light switch. Duo smiled and got up with him. He didn't mind Heero's deliberate change
of the subject. By what he knew of him, he guessed that this kind of behavior was new to
him. It only made Duo feel even more happy to know Heero was only like this with him.
"Are we both going to sleep in the same bed?" The lights cut off and Heero's
unusually colored cheeks were thankful for it. "Hai, that is unless..." "Of course not!" Duo
interrupted with a grin and grabbed Heero's arm, pulling him back.

Heero stumbled behind Duo and watched him jump onto the bed with a slight smile as his
eyes adjusted to the dark. He pulled back the covers and climbed in while Duo sat above
them and looked at the sliding glass doors. The rain was still pouring outside and lightning
flashed through the curtains, closely followed by the sound of soft thunder. Heero rolled
onto his side and gazed at him curiously, "Duo?" Duo looked back at him a moment and
shook his head, "nothing." He slipped under the covers and lay down next to Heero. After
a moment, he closed his eyes.

Several minutes went by and Heero couldn't help but gaze into Duo's face, silently
marveling at the boy that lay next to him. The way his bangs fell to one side and the way
the long locks of his hair spilled onto the pillow and over his shoulders. The way his long
lashes rested against barely tanned skin, visible to him even in the dark. Even the way he
breathed was mesmerizing. Duo was certainly a sight to behold... and sleeping, he was
breathtaking. Heero reached over to pull back a few stray hairs that had fallen over his
nose and Duo opened his eyes. He raised a slightly amused eyebrow and said, "I thought
we were supposed to be sleeping."

Heero smiled and it was Duo who was mesmerized. After a moment he grinned, "you
know, you're real cute when you do that." At this distance, he could see the blush even in
the dark and chuckled. Heero seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. Heero however,
didn't say anything and a relative silence fell upon the dark room once again with only the
soft drumming of the rain on the roof interrupting it. The humor on Duo's face gradually
faded away and he shifted slightly before speaking softly, "There was something I wanted
to ask you," he paused a moment. "Did you mean what you said downstairs?"

Heero gave him a questioning look, "what do you mean?" Duo's eyes fell from Heero's
face to his pillow as he spoke softly, "when we were in the basement. You said you would
help me to see them someday..." The realization struck Heero then. Duo was talking about
his siblings, the family he'd never met. The look on Duo's face when he had discovered
the painting fluttered back into his mind and he knew he would not have been able to deny
him anything at that moment, even if he wanted to. Heero's hand snaked under the other
boys pillow where Duo had tucked his own hand and intertwined their fingers together,
"of course I meant it."

When Duo's gaze traveled back to him, Heero could see the conflicting emotions in his
eyes. The unwillingness to believe, the fear that it wasn't true and the anxiousness of the
possibility. "How?" he asked in a whisper. Heero sighed softly, "I don't know yet. But I
don't plan to ever leave you until I find a way to set you free." Duo was amazed. Heero
couldn't possibly realize what he was saying. There was no telling how long it might take
to find a way to set him free. Duo alone had been trying to find a way for centuries. He
opened his mouth to argue but Heero raised his other hand and set a single finger over
Duo's lips. Duo fell silent more by the action then what it asked.

"I already told you I would never leave you. Now, I say it again. I can't stay at the Inn
forever so I plan to find a place in town. I'll stay and do anything I can to help you, no
matter how long it takes. I promise you, before I die you will be free." Heero let his hand
fall away and Duo smiled at him. It was a smile so sincere and filled with so much
indescribable emotion that Heero's breath caught in his throat. Duos eyes glittered with
the next bright flash of lightning through the curtains. A single tear escaped him and fell
onto the pillow but he made no move to stop it. Instead Heero found himself again and
raised his hand to stop the second tear. "Duo?" It was beginning to alarm him. Duo didn't
look sad at all but he was crying. As a matter of fact, the look on his face was... peaceful.

Duo closed his eyes and whispered, "thank you." He squeezed his hand under the pillow
lightly and Heero was even more confused. "Duo are you alright?" He opened his eyes
again and the look on his face was of utter contentment. "Ever since I met you I've felt
differently. I've finally been able to be myself again. There were so many times I thought I
would go insane. Can you imagine spending eternity in that cove? Without anyone around
to talk to and only your thoughts to keep you company? With the danger of being
completely erased from existence sitting right around the bend? Can you imagine being
alone for so long, Heero?"

Heero didn't speak but he knew the answer to that. He couldn't imagine it. To not have
any escape from that kind of imprisonment... not even death. It was a kind of torture
within itself. He didn't know how Duo had done it. Duo nodded almost to himself as if he
knew what Heero was thinking but still smiled. "The only things that kept me from going
insane were my memories of life. I would remember little things like pastimes and old
hobbies. I'd remember the times I spent with my family and with..." he trailed off abruptly
when he realized what he was about to say and his eyes darted away from Heero guiltily.
"Um," he tried to chuckle hoping to lighten his blunder but failed miserably.
"Nevermind..." It took Heero less than a second to understand what Duo had been about
to say.

His other love interest... Katsuhiro. The boy that could've been his twin and the one Duo
had loved in his lifetime. Heero felt a pang of jealousy when he realized it was him Duo
had thought about to keep from going mad. It was *his* memory that had consoled him in
his loneliness... and that Duo would remember him even now. As if sensing his thoughts
Duo pulled his hand away, slipped it out of the pillow and placed it on his shoulder. After
accidentally bringing up his previous lover he was too embarrassed to speak. Heero also
pulled his hand back.

A long uncomfortable silence settled over them and Duo hugged his chest as if his death
injury had returned. It certainly felt like it had. Finally he couldn't stand the silence any
more, "I'm sorry, Heero. I... I didn't mean to say..." "yes you did." Duo looked back to
Heero somewhat apprehensively. Heero's face was painfully neutral. "You were in love
with him, I'm sure his memory would have helped you the way you claim..." Duo didn't
understand why at that moment he felt the sudden urge to deny it completely. But it
would've been a lie... and he wouldn't lie.

Instead he said, "I stopped thinking about him for a long time. Other things had become
more important after a few centuries then torturing myself with his memory. My freedom
for example. Katsuhiro," Duo paused when he saw Heero flinch at the name, "his memory
only helped me the first hundred years. After that it only brought back the knowledge that
I'd never see him again and... and I'm not a masochist, Heero..." he stopped realizing he
wasn't making things any better.

Heero's gaze lay on the bed, no longer on Duo and silence choked the room once again.
The hum of the air conditioner coming back on startled Duo but Heero was utterly still.
His mind replayed the night they had first spoken of Katsuhiro. He remembered how he'd
held Duo in his arms and Duo had told him that the four hundred-plus years he'd been
trapped there had been long enough time to get over Katsuhiro, to forget him. He
replayed it over and over in his mind, trying to convince himself it was true. But his
thoughts eventually wandered away from that and onto something else. Something that
bothered ... scared him even more.

"Do I remind you of him?" Duos eyes darted back to him in alarm. "What??" Heero finally
looked at him and Duo felt a piercing ache in his chest at the non expression on his face.
He realized Heero was closing himself off and Duo began to panic. "I asked if I remind
you of him." Duo sat up and looked down at him with frightened eyes when he realized
just what Heero meant, "You think I'm here, next to you now because I want you to be
him?!" Heero was as still as the dead. Duo's panic began to turn into anger, "do you really
think I'd use you that way?? Heero, the man I once loved is gone dead and buried. He
never came back to the cove, not even for memories sake. He forgot about me, went on
with his life, and died a long time ago!" Duo was surprised by how easy it was to say that.

"Its been years and I only thought of him again when I met you but not because I was
looking for some kind of replacement! You and he may be identical in appearance but
that's where your similarities end!" Heero's eyes began to widen with the forcefulness of
Duo's words. Again he saw Duo's eye's glitter in the next flash of lightning. The thunder
that followed was no longer so soft. "You and Katsuhiro are very different people in every
sense of the word. I could never mistake the two of you..." Heero sat up as his voice
trailed off. Duo was gripping the blankets tight fisted, gaze lowered so that his bangs fell
over his eyes, hiding them in dark shadows.

Heero felt awful for ever having said or even thought that Duo would be insincere with
him, especially over ... this. "I'm... I'm sorry." Duo didn't move or say a word and Heero
didn't blame him. "I should have never thought..." he cut himself off when Duo shook his
head. "No, I understand why you would've thought it." But he still didn't move. Heero
was overcome with guilt. He didn't have a right to be anywhere near him, "I'm sorry..." he
turned to get off the bed but a hand reached out and grabbed his arm. Heero looked back
and saw the pleading in Duo's eyes, "don't go." Heero was surprised when Duo pulled
him into a hug, wrapping his arms around him securely as if afraid he was going to run
away. Heero sighed deeply and returned the hug, "I care about you a lot Duo... I was just
afraid..." Duo shook his head. "I understand."

The words were meant to silence and reassure him so Heero let the silence Duo was
asking for return. Besides, any more words would just be words. Enough had been said
and enough understood but the remnants of guilt still sat heavily in his chest when Heero
sat back only to see Duo's still troubled eyes gaze back at him. He couldn't stand knowing
he'd caused Duo to be upset. Without even realizing it, Heero leaned forward, closing the
small distance between the two of them. His lips brushed against Duo's in a feather light
touch, asking in silent apology. There was a split second of hesitation brought about by
surprise before Duo leaned in the rest of the way, bringing their lips together, accepting.

The kiss was soft and even a bit shy at first, just the touching of lips on lips. Heero
brought a hand up to Duo's cheek, then the other and passed them up and into his lose
hair. Duo wrapped his arms around Heero's waist and pulled himself even closer until
their bodies were nearly pressed against each others. They pulled back as one and looked
into each others eyes in the dark silent room. They were both filled with the same
emotions and the same desire that neither were able to place or give a name to. All they
knew was that one could see their own emotions reflected in the other and the realization
of knowing they felt the same by seeing it this way had a much greater impact should
they've shared it in words... even if they could have found words to describe it. As one
their lips met again, this time less shy and much more bold.

Duo felt Heero's tongue over his lips, asking and he parted them to allow him entry.
Heero thrust his tongue into Duo's mouth probing, exploring and deepening the kiss. Duo
brought a hand down from his back to his front and snaked under Heero's tank. He ran his
hand over Heero's well sculpted abdomen and up to his chest. There was a sharp intake of
breath when Duo's fingers brushed against Heero's nipple. Duo smiled against the kiss but
brought his hand back out and around Heero's neck. Heero's own exploring hands
traveled down the sides of Duo's body, first over his waist then onto his thighs. He was
suddenly very aware that Duo was wearing nothing under his white shirt.

Heero finally broke the kiss, the need to breath momentarily exceeding his other needs. He
soon replaced his lips over Duo's in a quick light kiss before trailing soft kisses down his
jawline. Duo closed his eyes and held him close as Heero nibbled on his ear for a few
lingering moments and let his lips travel down his neck. Further below, Heero's hands slid
up Duo's thighs, slipping under the long shirt while very slowly pulling it up with them.
When he realized this, Duo blinked a few times trying desperately to find himself again.
"Heero... wait," he winced inwardly noting he didn't sound very convincing, but Heero
stopped with his hands up to Duo's waist and looked at him with deep dark eyes.

Duo had to look away or drown in those cobalt depths, "We... shouldn't go any further."
he said with a breathy voice. His body, of course, disagreed but it wasn't himself he was
thinking of at the moment. Heero looked a question at him, still trying to escape the
cloudy haze passion had thrown him into, "why not?" Why not indeed? If it had been any
other situation Duo would have thrown caution into the wind and tackled Heero right then
but, "This... sort of defeats the purpose of you getting any rest, ne?" After a moment
Heero nodded.

Duo laid back down and pulled Heero with him. Heero wrapped his arms around Duo as
Duo snuggled into his warm embrace, molding his body against the other and feeling for
all the world at home in his arms. Heero brought his lips to Duo's forehead and whispered
against his skin, "I will never doubt you again." Duo raised his head and claimed Heero's
lips in a silencing gesture. The gentle kiss lasted only moments before he pulled back and
settled against the crook of his lovers neck. Heero sighed inwardly, knowing he was
forgiven and relaxed against Duo's warm body. Eventually they closed their eyes and sleep
claimed them for the night.

----------

Several hours later there was something, some absently noted change that pulled Heero
out of a peaceful dreamless sleep. He woke only to find he was alone in bed. Heero
panicked and sat up, looking around the room. He breathed a sigh of relief when he found
what he was looking for. Duo was sitting on the floor against the open door of his room.
He was hugging knees and looking out into the hall. Heero got out of bed and walked
over to him, "Duo?" Duo looked at him in surprise, "gomen, did I wake you?" Heero
shook his head and sat next to him, "something wrong?" he asked. Duo smiled at him and
shook his head. "No, nothing." He turned his gaze back out into the hall, "I just wanted to
see sunrise." Heero looked out into the hall.

The third floor balcony was only a few feet away and passed that over the large open area,
the large two floor high window was partly visible from where they sat. During the night
the rain clouds had dispersed and in the distance the dawning sun was clearly visible. "I
always disappear right before it rises. I haven't seen the sun since I died." Heero looked
back at him but Duo was staring out at the rising sun with a small content smile. It made
Heero smile. Heero pulled Duo to him from behind and held him against his chest. Duo's
head fell back, resting against his shoulder and Heero looked back out the window. It was
something he would've normally taken for granted. After all, there are no sunrises in the
colonies. But as Heero looked out the window, watching the sky change color as the sun
rose in the horizon slowly but steadily, he mused it really was rather beautiful.
--------

Relena looked up passed the third floor balcony from the open door of her room with
murder in her eyes. That... whoever she was, was draped all over her Heero! Relena was
outraged and had half a mind to storm up there and give that harlot hell but it was her very
rage that held her rooted to where she stood. She just couldn't believe what she was
seeing. She couldn't take her eyes off him for a moment or some slut would try to take
advantage of her poor innocent Heero. Well, as soon as it was full day she would search
out that shameless girl and give her a piece of her mind.

Relena stalked back into her room and slammed the door shut. Sitting on her bed she
grabbed the old diary she had found in the basement from her nightstand and opened it
back up, searching for the page she'd left off on. All the while the last few lines she had read
continued to replay in her mind:

*... and I was filled with unimaginable rage at the sight.
To see my poor beloved taken advantage of by that
wretched boy. I must confess that when I saw him
embrace my fiancée in a manor meant only for
honest lovers... I saw red. I swear this act will not
be forgotten nor forgiven. My darling is, of course,
not to blame but I swear here and now that I will
make that boy regret he ever set eyes on my betrothed.

~Selena*

----------

End part 6