PART FIVE --- "Pressed Roses"

"Do you have your plane tickets, Yuy-sama?"

Heero patted his pocket and nodded once. "I'm trusting you to hold down the fort as long as I'm gone, Misuzu-chan..." He warned her, "No parties in the office."

Her face fell slightly, then her smile returned. //He didn't mention anything about no friends coming over...Geez, I feel like a teenager about to be left home alone by her parents...!// "Of course, Yuy-sama. Would I do such a thing?"

The former pilot gave her a withering gaze and rolled his eyes. "Yes."

Misuzu raised her eyebrows, then turned back to her computer, sending a quick message to one of her friends. --He's going to go visit that person he's been writing too!- She recieved a reply almost immediately.

--Seriously? Sugoi! This means we win our bets with the others!!! XD--

The teenager's fingers flew across the keyboard, not noticing her boss peering silently over her shoulder, smirking.

"So, I see you have a personal stake in my love life." Heero commented, tapping her on the back.

"Eep!" --G2G, TTYL! BOS!-- (1) Misuzu closed the message screen, a perturbed look on her face. "It isn't polite to read your employees personal correspondences, you know..." She muttered, glaring at his reflection in the computer monitor.

"I think there's an exeption when aforementioned employee is betting on her boss's good fortune." Heero straightened up and strolled out the door, hoisting a small duffel bag on one shoulder and tucking his laptop under his other arm. "I'll see you later," He called back into the office as he hurried down the stairs.

Misuzu stretched back in her chair, and punched a button on the intercom. "He's gone! PAR-TEEEEE!!!"

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

Dear Duo --

Guess what! I'm on my way to come see you right now; in fact I'm on the shuttle, so I hope you're awake and getting this email. If you aren't, you're going to be in for one hell of a surprise, koi.

~Ai shiteru, Heero.

Heero grinned briefly to himself and pressed the 'send' button on his laptop as his dinner was deposited in front of him.

++++++

Duo rubbed his eyes sleepily, hoisting himself up on his elbows. //Wonder if the mail is here yet...// He staggered to his feet when the doorbell rang. //Must be the mail now.// The American pilot opened the door. "H-HEERO?" His eyes rolled back in his head and he fell to the floor in shock.

"DUO!" The Japanese boy hastily caught Duo in his arms, effortlessly hoisting the smaller boy on to the couch and kneeling next to him. "Duo, daijobu?"

Duo's eyelids fluttered slightly but didn't open.

"Shimatta..." Heero stood and moved silently around the apartment, opening random doors untill he found the bathroom. //Hand towels... I need a hand towel and some cool water...// He reached for the towel hanging on the wooden rod and was about to turn on the faucet when something caught his eye and he stopped. Heero reached out, almost in wonder, and turned the object over in his hands. //He kept it... I can't believe he kept it...// He smiled. //I remember when I gave this to him...//

+++++++(Heero Flashback)

He sat in an open feild, the warm spring breeze tossling his already mussed hair and the sunlight streaming down upon his face.

"Heero! Oiy, Hee-chan!"

Heero looked up to see the braided pilot of Deathscythe hurtling towards him, and, out of instinct, he ducked as Duo Maxwell plowed straight into him, unable to slow down from his hectic speed. Heero let out a choked cry as they tumbled down a small hill together, eventually taking residence in a tangled rosebush at the bottom.

Duo shook his head, clearing it slightly, and looked up to where Heero lay on top of him. "Heh heh... Gomen nasai, Hee-chan..." He muttered, a deep blush spreading across his cheeks.

Tilting his head to the side and looking into Duo's eyes, Heero reached up and plucked a single red rose from the bush. "For you."

+++++++ (End Flashback)

Heero grinned one last time, wistfully, and set the dried and pressed rose back down on the shelf. //He fainted when he saw me... that can't be a good sign...// He picked up the discarded cloth and wandered back into the living room. Heero once again knelt beside Duo, wiping his face gently with the cool cloth. //Come on, wake up...//

+++++++

Duo slowly became aware of a pair of cool hands stroking his face. //I must be dreaming...This can't be real...// Carefully, he forced his eyes to open into small slits and he peered up at his benefactor. //HEERO?!//

Heero was kneeling beside him, fidgeting nervously while tending to the American pilot. "Great...maybe I should call an ambulance if he doesn't wake up within the next five minutes or so...Ku'so! I didn't mean for him to pass out... all I wanted to do was surprise him...why do my plans always get messed up like this? Now he's going to be mad at me..."

Duo waited untill he looked away, then reached up and grasped one of Heero's hands. "Hee-chan, why would I be mad at you?"

The Japanese boy looked down into a pair of violet blue eyes and wrapped his arms around the slim frame, holding him tight. "Duo-koi..."

Duo made a face, pretending to choke. "Ach, sweetheart, Duo can't breathe...!"

Heero pulled away in alarm, his eyes widening in fear. "G- Gomen..."

The other boy laughed and swung his legs off the couch, standing and pulling Heero up with him. "I was kidding, Hee-chan... only kidding." He watched as the brown-haired boy relaxed slightly and graced him with a soft grin.

"Duo..."

"I can't believe you're here..." Duo reached out and gently pinched the skin that showed beneath Heero's jacket sleeve.

"Itai!" The Japanese boy jumped slightly, rubbing his arm and glaring at the other. "Baka, what was that for?!"

"I thought I was dreaming..." Duo muttered, a hint of red spreading across his cheeks.

"Maybe you need me to convince you otherwise, then..." Heero leaned down, his bangs brushing against Duo's forehead, and captured his lips in a gentle kiss, smiling against the American's lips.

"I feel like Sleeping Beauty or something..." Snickered Duo, sitting up on the couch. "Watch as Shinigami rises! Beware, lost souls, for he hath been awakened with the kiss of an angel!" He pulled Heero to sit next to him, snuggling into his chest. "Mmm... you're so warm..."

The Japanese boy lifted one of Duo's arms from his waist, running his fingers along the glaring scars and welts. //This is all my fault...//

Duo caught the other boy staring at his arm and pulled it away guiltily, hiding it in the sleeve of his sweatshirt. "Don't."

"Don't what?"

"Don't blame yourself. This was my fault. I was stupid. I thought it would bring you back. I was too much of an idiot to realize that I wasn't only hurting myself when I cut, I was hurting you too... I wasn't the only one who would care if I died. That's why I stopped." Duo pushed his sleeve back up to his elbow and showed Heero the pale flesh. "Look, see..." He traced his index finger along the criss-crosses of the scars. "I stopped. None of these are recent."

"I'm glad."

"Well, I'm glad you're glad."

"Well, I'm glad you're glad I'm glad!"

Duo let out a surprised laugh. //Is it just me, or is the perfect soldier developing a sense of humor?// He was reaching to pull Heero into another kiss when he heard the distinct sound of a cell phone ringing...

TBC! MWAHAHAHAHA! Who's calling Heero? Did someone catch Misuzu in the act of buying crepe paper to decorate the office? Or is it something more serious?