Chapter 1 "It's over." He said quietly, an air of happiness somewhere in the depths of his voice. "It's over, we're free."

"Thank you, everyone. This couldn't have happened without you all." Relena spoke while cooing in her love's deafened ear. Hiiro had collapsed suddenly after shooting Merimaia's father, and was now sleeping-shallowly breathing- in Relena's loving and awaiting arms.

Duo quirked an eyebrow and smiled his trademark smile. "Guess this means you and Hiiro, eh?"

Relena blushed. "I know what I want, Duo. But whatever Hiiro says when he awakes is final. And what about you and Hilde?"

Duo chuckled. "She's probably waiting for me at home."

"Going to propose?" Quatre asked, smiling at Duo while lending his support to a weary Trowa.

Duo grinned widely. "Don't see why not. You honestly think I'm going to let a girl like her get away? You must be crazy."

"Well, Maxwell, here's your chance." He said, smiling at the one he considered a friend.

Duo looked towards where Wufei pointed and sure enough a teary Hilde stood, hands clasped in front of her, eyes large, breathing quickened. He studied the girl he'd known for so long; the girl he'd spent most of his life with. "Hilde," he croaked out.

Hilde shrunk back visibly. 'No, Duo. Don't propose to me. I-I don't think I can say-' "Yes." She whispered. The next thing she knew she was hugging Duo, the one she loved more than the world, close to her body.

He listened to the happy clapping, the whistling, and the cheers. 'Merian. Everything we fought for-it's finally happened.' He nodded to Sally; the one he'd be working with from now on, and left the military base, unaware of the lone tear that crawled down his cheek.

That, my friends, was six years ago

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Now:

Wufei ducked at his student's punch, then swept his foot under the pupil.

"Kuso!" she cursed as she was knocked down. "You always get me there." She frowned up at him, having landed on her side. Onyx eyes twinkled knowingly down at her, and a strong foot kept her in her place.

"Your weakness is pride. You believe that once you've distracted me with a punch or a kick, the match is won. Yet you forget your opponent isn't always someone weaker than you, and you underestimate their tactics." He removed his foot and held out his hand.

She slapped it away. "I can get up by myself, oh wise Chang." She snapped sarcastically.

Wufei winced. "I did not mean to offend you." He said suddenly, unconsciously rubbing the hand that she had smacked.

She melted under those sincere eyes and hauled herself up. "You didn't, Master Chang. My day has just been too long. School, my family, my friends; everything is taking its toll on my life."

Wufei smirked.

She frowned. "What?"

"What do you mean what?" he asked innocently.

"I know that smirk, Chang. What are you saying?" she demanded.

Wufei smirked once more. "I didn't say anything."

She threw her hands up. "Wufei! Tell me what you're trying to imply!" She yelled.

A tiny little smile came to his face. "You're sure?"

"Yes!" she hissed.

"That you're a wonderful student, one of the best in my class. That you're going to be deadly pretty soon if anyone tries to come against you." He smirked again.

She narrowed her eyes. "Liar. Tell me seriously." Not one for petty compliments, she got straight to the point.

Eyebrows raised, Wufei smiled. "Alright. I'm implying that you truly are one of my best students. You look gorgeous when you're in battle, and even more so when we have these arguments." He hid the laughter when he scanned the look of pure shock on her face.

She blushed crimson. "W-well thank you." Then, seeing as they were the only two in the training room, she smiled lustily and shook out her hair, sending it to a glimmering waterfall down her back. "Anything else?"

Wufei nodded and grinned. "I was also implying that you look absolutely sexy right now." He said huskily, causing the girl in front of him to blush and jump into his arms, littering kisses all over his face.

She pulled back and stared at his confused but thankful face. "Did you mean every word of it?" she demanded.

Wufei, knocked out of his daze and wanting more kisses, laughed. "Yes, onna." He said, and very gently tilted her chin to place a sweet kiss on her warm, silky lips.

A low sound from the back of her throat was uttered and she pulled back, for air. "Kami Ai shiteru." She said, looking straight into his eyes.

Wufei raised his eyebrows. "Is that so?" he asked, pressing his sweaty forehead against hers.

She giggled and nodded fervently. "And you love me?" she asked poutingly

"More than you'll ever know." He said truthfully, capturing her lips into another kiss.

"Hey lovebirds! Get a room!" a playful voice shouted.

She broke the kiss and blushed, looking over at her friend. "Meatball head, what are you doing here?" she asked.

The blonde girl growled. "Don't you call me meatball head, Pyro!" she stuck her tongue out and stomped out of the door.

She frowned, but smiled when her lover laughed.

"Pyro." He stated, grinning.

"Don't you dare start calling me that." She warned. "Or no more kisses."

Wufei pulled her close and hugged her tight. "I wouldn't dream of it, Rei."

Rei hugged him back. "Wu-kun, you could never hate me, right?" she asked sweetly.

Wufei let her go and stared down at the girl he loved. "No, never. Why?"

Rei blushed and looked at her feet. "Because Quatre called."

Wufei felt his throat close. "You told him you didn't know where I was, right?" he asked in a pinched tone.

Rei looked out the window. "Actually, I told him our address." She didn't get a reply and her eyes teared up at the sight of how angry Wufei was.

"Onna, I told you never to tell them where I was! I told you they were my past!" he yelled harshly.

Rei let her tears fall and backed away from the one she had held-and still wanted to hold-so closely only moments ago.

Wufei's mind screamed at him to calm himself. One look at Rei's face helped immensely. He sighed and rubbed his temples. "Are they coming?" he asked.

Rei sniffled and nodded. "Friday."

Today was Thursday. Wufei looked into Rei's worried and guilty eyes. "Come here, onna."

Rei took a step forward and was grabbed into a tight hug, which she returned. She lay her face on his chest and her tears stopped.

He breathed in her scent, every little detail. "I guess we've got some cleaning to do," he said, sighing. Rei would have wanted him to let the others stay.

Rei broke away, laughing. "You mean it? You're not going to run away this time?"

Wufei frowned. "I didn't run away last time."

"Oh yes, I remember. You flew." She giggled at the memory of Wufei buying a last-minute plane ticket to California.

Wufei chuckled softly. "Let's go home. Your friend is waiting outside."

Rei smacked his arm. "She's your friend, too."

"That she is. At least she doesn't call me Pyro."

"Wufei." She warned.

Wufei snaked his arm around her waist, gathered their gym-bags, and walked her outside. "What?" he asked innocently.

Rei laughed and shook her head. "Ai shiteru. And I'll never stop."

Wufei brought her closer. "Neither will I, Rei." He said as he opened the building doors and the sun enveloped the couple. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*