DISCLAIMER: Insert disclaimer here. I own nothing, or I'd be rich.

A/N: Blessings, long-distance air kisses and imaginary prizes go to: sapphire (2nd review, all hail), Hakumei, Silent Shimegami (thank you), Maxwell's Gal Mooshooes, and CSMars (after I posted it I remembered, but by then I was feeling too lazy to change it. Thanks so much for noticing!).

This story's ending is now in sight!! It's not going to be as long as I thought, a total of 6 chapters at the maximum. I love getting reviews almost more than anything else in the universe, and I'm very happy and in the mood for writing after I get them. So please review lots! Good or bad I can take it all. With the exception of angry religious fanaticism. Please keep your beliefs to yourself. I don't force mine on you. Ahem. On with it.

****This chapter's been reposted because I edited it slightly. 'My girlfriend' has become 'Relena.' Thanks to everyone who berated me about that. I reread that part and scratched my head, too. Still don't know exactly what I was thinking. ^.~ Sorry for the confusion. Next chapter up soon!

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Chapter 4

Duo woke up the next morning shivering under the blankets. He stumbled out of bed to close the window, the wind blowing curtains and raindrops in his face. Rain… He opened his eyes all the way and sighed at the grey, washed-out scenery before him. Duo hated rain. It was so dreary and depressing. He hated being depressed. Being furiously happy and mischievous all the time meant he didn't have time to be sad, which happened to him a lot when he stopped to think about his life.

He trudged dejectedly downstairs to the dining room for breakfast, noting that Wufei was the only one who looked up to acknowledge his existence. Quatre and Trowa were talking over their bacon and eggs while Relena chattered happily away at Heero. Duo tried not to show his surprise at seeing Heero actually talking back to her, at least as much as Heero could ever be expected to speak.

He also tried to hide the jealousy, which didn't work quite as well. Why do I care? He wondered. And am I jealous of Heero or Relena? He was quite sure he'd never want to be in Heero's current position, no matter what the payoff, and it would be a cold day in Hell before he'd admit to envying Relena, that bitch…

He sat down at the table with his first helping of eggs while Wufei continued to watch him. "What do you want?!" he finally snapped.

Wufei blinked. "Whoa, Maxwell. Excuse me for living." He went back to sipping his tea placidly and Duo wanted to smack him. Instead he concentrated on breathing deeply and plastered a fake smile on his face. Why the hell do I feel so miserable today?

He got through three helpings of breakfast and walked quickly out of the room. I need a nap. He was halfway down the hall to his room when Relena ran up behind him, Heero nowhere in sight.

"Duo!" Her annoying voice carried towards him and he stopped in his tracks. She came up to stand in front of him, blocking his escape to his room. "Hello, Duo."

"Relena." He nodded curtly at her in greeting and tried to sidestep by her. She blocked his path. He met her eyes with obvious displeasure in his. "What would you like?" He was grating his teeth privately. Give me a fucking break, all I want is some sleep…

Her face wore an unpleasant smirk, her nose pointing snobbishly upwards. "What is there between you and Heero?" she asked bluntly.

His voice came out sounding remarkably normal. He looked behind him. "I'd say probably about two floors, maybe two hundred yards in total. I can't be sure because he might be moving. You know, to get away from you."

She sniffed. Apparently she didn't think it was funny. "You know what I mean," she said darkly.

"No, actually, I don't."

"Oh, give me a break. I've seen the way you look at him. Your feelings are written all over your face. It's his I don't know about." She frowned. "If it wasn't for you I'd have him by now. It's your fault if you're keeping Heero from me. And if I find out about anything…unholy…going on here, you'll all be going home for good. Horrible manners in someone else's house."

Am I dreaming? Duo couldn't believe he was having this conversation. She thought he and Heero might be…that they were actually…he couldn't restrain the blush creeping across his tanned face. And here she was, talking about manners! What business was it of hers? Not that Duo really felt that way. Not about Heero. That would just be weird. Unholy? He would bet the farm that Relena's plans for Heero if she got him were anything but holy.

"Is that a threat or a promise? There's nothing between us, and I really don't think you have a snowball's chance in hell of getting inside his pants anyway. Just give it up!" Duo could feel his temples starting to throb. He turned around and walked back the way he had come, into the living room where the rest of the pilots were.

Relena was not far behind, and she had lost all pretense of manners and maturity. "You are really pathetic, you know that?" she said loudly. "At least I have a chance. Is it a secret, Duo? Do you think you can hide it? I'll tell everybody. You won't be getting anywhere near…"

"Shut up! Just. Shut. Up. I've had it. I'm out of here. I hope I never have the misfortune of seeing you again, Peacecraft. Or maybe it'll be your misfortune if I see you, because if I do, I'll kill you." With that, Duo pushed past her into the front entrance, grabbing his hat and shoving it on his head before turning back to face the five people staring at him. He raised an arm in salute. "Farewell, Relena. 'Til we meet again, the God of Death will wait. Kiss, kiss." The door slammed behind him as he walked outside into the rain.

*

The four boys sitting in the living room stared at the door in numb shock, the slam still ringing in their ears.

Heero blinked a few times and shook his head. He knew that Duo and Relena didn't like each other, but this was a bit of a surprise. Outright yelling, blackmail and death threats were new as far as the situation went. He looked sharply at Relena's retreating back as she headed towards the bathroom. What had she done to get Duo so angry? It didn't take a big stretch of the imagination to see that she was probably responsible for the whole fight. Duo was smart enough not to start a fight with her, although apparently he could finish them.

Now he felt guilty. This was his fault. If he hadn't agreed to bring the rest of the pilots with him this weekend, it wouldn't have happened. He looked between the door and the bathroom, wondering whom to comfort. The gaze of the other three pilots bored into him. They were waiting to see what he would do now. But I don't know who to go to. Why am I always supposed to have all the answers? Do I choose my comrade or Relena?

As he sat there switching helplessly between the two parties, Heero suddenly realized he knew very well where his loyalties lie.

He grabbed a coat before he walked outside into the pouring rain.

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A/N: Aww, kawaii. Heero's going after Duo. This will probably be six chapters, as a part I was going to put in here is now going in the next chapter. Is Relena a bitch or what? Anyway, please review and go read my other stories while I write the next bit. Jaa.