Chapter 2

The One Who Didn't...

"What do you mean!?"

"Relena, I...I--we couldn't--umm..."

"We couldn't find him." Wufei muttered, putting an end to any tactful attempt Duo was planning. The American boy turned around and glared angrily at the tactless pilot.

Relena just stared on blankly. 'We couldn't find him'. Relena looked around. Duo, Trowa, Quatre, Wufei, her brother. They couldn't find him. Who was missing? 5 pilots in all. There were supposed to be 6.

Heero Yuy was missing.

The young girl could feel her hands trembling as she dropped to her knees. He was gone. He'd given her everything, and now he was gone.

"No! You're lying! Shut up...you're---you...lying---"

Duo dropped beside Relena and wrapped his arms around her waist in an effort to calm her. "It's okay..." he murmured softly, stroking small circles throughout her back. The young girl drew in ragged breaths and pushed herself into Duo's chest. "It's not okay...he's---he's dead!"

Duo sighed, allowing a small tear to slide down his cheek, and pressed Relena closer to him. "But...he promised me----last night...he--he said...he promised he would come back!"

Duo blinked blankly for some seconds, he had known of that promise, he'd known Relena had been begging him for it. What he hadn't known was that his best friend had agreed.

"Relena, please, stand up. You too, Duo."

It was Zechs. The girl stood and eyed her brother icily, but that was before she broke into tears and ran to him for comfort. "They let him die! You let him die! He promised me, Milliardo! Last night...we were in his room...and he---he promised me. This morning...he promised me ! He broke his promise ! He lied to me---he broke his word..."

Milliardo couldn't help but arch an eyebrow when his sister mentioned 'his room'. Nevertheless, he held her close and pressed her cheek to his chest. "I bet he tried. He must've tried. Heero Yuy rarely breaks a promise...especially not to you---he'd know better."

Relena sniffled against Milliaro, closing her eyes as she tried to push away the pain. Soon, and without her realizing it, Relena drifted into a deep sleep. She had fainted.

Duo looked on, appearing almost immune to the pain that was tearing his heart to shreds. He closed his eyes and stuffed his fists into his jean pockets. Turning, he quickly evaded the scene and rushed outside for fresh air.

The young man bit his lip in an effort to contain the tears that were just about overflowing from his eyes. Heero had been his friend. He missed him just as much as Relena did---maybe more. Duo had loved Heero, not in the way Relena had, but he had loved him like a friend, like a partner, and even like a brother.

A bitter smile came to his lips as he recalled his last words. 'Like a brother'. It was true, in the last couple of months their trust had seemingly multiplied, and of course, so had the teasing. Duo teased Heero just as a brother would, and occasionally, even the grim young man would join in, uttering sarcastic remarks as a form of insult---Duo didn't mind, he never had. As a matter of fact, he took Heero's insults as a form of affection.

"Braided baka." The word still lingered on his lips. That was Heero's favorite insult---braided idiot. Duo's smile faded when he thought of Relena. She really was battered up about the news---not that he himself wasn't concerned, it was just that he delt with his grief in a different way. The only way Relena knew how to deal with her own burderns was by breaking into tears.

Duo thought for a moment. He knew well Heero had cared for the young girl, even when Heero himself hadn't realized it. Duo knew well that if Heero had made a promise, he'd be most likely to keep it---unless something unstoppable had gotten in the way. Duo sighed. There was just no way...he wished he could've done something to help Heero...but he hadn't realized he wasn't responding until it was too late.

They had all received their orders. They had all seperated. Heero had headed off to one of the listings on the citation list. All in all there had been 6 citations. And it hadn't been until they'd gotten back that they'd realized that they had all been false...all except for the citation on Port 6 DR8. The location Heero had been sent to.

Duo cringed inwardly and a pain struck him at the heart. It hurt to remember. And yet, his mind seemed to fly off without his allowing it.

He remembered well that upon his arrival, Duo had just stood in the shadows, waiting endlessly for a figure to appear in the dark of the night. Finally, at twelve midnight, he took off. According to the letter the assassin would only be waiting until 12. No one had appeared in Duo's location. No one had appeared in Quatre's location. No one had appeared in Trowa's location, and no one had appeared in Wufei or Zechs' location.

Someone had definitly appeared in Heero's location...

Duo sighed, he recalled everything perfectly. He'd rushed back to his shuttle, eager to report that the stranger had not arrived to the citation. Once he'd settled himself in, he was already on his way back to Earth, he'd input his entry code and signed in. Quatre had also, as had Trowa, Wufei, and Zechs----Heero hadn't.

It wasn't until then that the five had realized that one member of their clan was missing...Heero Yuy. At first they hadn't paid much attention, they figured that Heero had simply forgotten to do so...it was common, and Heero had probably finished his mission early and was most likely already at home. Nevertheless, it struck Duo odd. Heero might've finished his mission early, and he might've forgotten, but all the time Duo Maxwell had known Heero, the young soldier had NEVEr once done something to endanger a mission---much less carelessly forgotten to input a code. Duo let it pass, he wanted to believe what the others were saying.

Later, much later, when they arrived home, they realize Heero was no where in sight. They scanned endlessly, searching for his code, but could not find it. What was more apalling, his shuttle, according to the radar, hadn't been touched. Something had happened.

Duo and the others soon connected the puzzle. None had come in contact with the possible assassin. According to each of the pilots, no one had come to their citation and they had (each) promptly left the area. Apparently, Heero was the only one whose citation had proven true.

Damn it...Rendezvous Point...DAMN IT !!!!!!!!!!

Duo fell to his knees, collapsing on the concrete ground of Headquarters, in complete despair. **Life is just too tough on us. Shinigami or not, this is too much for a human to bear...it just isn't fair anymore...but then again, it was never fair in the first place.**

"Damn it, Heero. You promised her...you never break your promises. Damn it Heero !! Damn it !"

_______________________________________

::3 Months Later::

Relena pushed and tugged anxiously at her hair, hoping it would somehow become a ponytail. "Relena?" called out a cheerful voice. The young girl turned and strained to smile into the face of the fellow pilot. "Yes, Duo?"

"Well----I don't wanna be a pain, but..."

"But what?"

"Zechsy said your doc's appointment is today at 2:30 and that I gotta take you."

Relena sighed tiredly, Milliardo. He seemed obsessed with the idea that Heero's leave had harmed her emotionally. It had. She would admit that much, but it wasn't so far as to have to attend a doctor every 2 weeks. This was beginning to get tiring.

"Well, tell 'Zechsy' that I won't be going today."

"Tell who?" boomed a voice from across the hall. Relena paled and ducked behind Duo as Zechs entered the bedroom. "Did I hear correctly when you said 'Tell Zechsy that I won't be going'?"

"Milliardo! I refuse to attend a doctor every week! It is quite tiring!"

"Relena, do not exagerate, I send you every I2/I weeks."

Duo stifled a laugh as he heard the good natured argument. As usual, Relena gave in. "Duo, when shall we go?"

"Whenever you want, Miss Relena, I'm your personal chauffeur for the day."

"Shall we go now? I cannot stand to be in the same house as that cannibal."

Duo grinned and held open the door for Relena...it was going to be a long day.

Duo stood outside the doctor's office, waiting impatiently as Relena was 'examined'. What could possibly take so long?! He didn't have to wait much longer, because only a few minutes later Relena emerged. She seemed pale. Duo eyed the doctor suspiciously---he never did trust doctors.

"Relena, you okay? Ya seem pale..."

"Fine, Duo. Take me home, please."

The young man nodded and watched curiously as Relena walked robotically toward the car. They had obviously told her something, he wasn't sure what, though.

The two arrived home and Relena practically dove for her bedroom. Duo, however, was stopped by Zechs.

"What did the doctor say?"

"Dunno. She didn't say, all I know is that she came outta that office lookin' a little pale."

"Are you saying she went inside alone?"

"Noooo, I went in with her, but then she kinda fainted and the doctor said she'd like to examine her.

I said okay, but she motioned for me to leave. Umm, ya know...she was going to, um...look at her."

"All Right."

Zechs sighed deeply and studied Duo sternly, he didn't like what he was hearing. "Go upstairs and talk to her, maybe she'll tell you something."

Duo nodded, "Yessir, Zechsy!" the young man saluted, and dodged Zech's swing. Then, he made his way upstairs.

"Relena..."

"Come in, Duo."

The young man pushed the door open hesitantly, when he stepped inside he made sure to close it behind him. He studied Relena cautiously, she looked rather teary-eyed. "Are ya gonna tell me what the doc said?"

"Yeah, sure, sit down, you might fall over when I tell you."

"That bad, huh?"

Relena nodded and sat up suddenly. Then, without further notice, she buried herself within Duo's comforting arms. "God, Duo...it's about Heero! All I've done and he's still here with me!"

"You mean he's alive?" Duo asked incredously. He realized his stupidity when Relena regarded him oddly. "No. But...God ! How do I say this?!"

The pilot stood, running a hand through his disheveled hair, and staring confusedly at Relena. "Sorry, but I really have no idea what the hell your talkin' about."

"Duo...I'm---I'm, uh...pregnant."

Duo just stopped cold. He eyed Relena blankly. Pregnant. That was what she'd said.

"What the hell does this have to do with Heero?"

"What do you think Duo !? Hello?! I'm Pregnant?!"

"Do you mean...?"

"Yes! He's the father! He...he was---he was the fa...ther---"

Duo rushed to Relena as he caught he faltering stance. She needed comfort. But his mind was a mess. Heero was supposed to have been the father. But when? Then he remembered. Duo recalled that moment, that moment when Relena had just found out about Heero's possible death. He remembered her words... she'd said something about his room and a promise. That had to be it.

"Are you sure...I mean, are you sure he was the father?"

"Idiot! What do you think I am? He was the only person I was ever with, of course he's the father!"

"When...when was this...?"

"The night before you left...I asked him to----he didn't want to but, he gave in. And then he asked me

if I was sure whether or not I'd be pregnant...I said no. And he asked...God damn it ---he asked since

when did I gamble in life!! Duo! I..I can't do this---I won't be able to live this way. Not knowing that

there's something of his inside me---I...I can't...I won't---"

Duo pulled Relena into his arms, her tears moistening his blue sweater, but he didn't mind. This was too serious. He didn't like the way she was talking...she couldn't say those things. "When are you going to tell Zechs?" he asked softly.

"I won't," the girl murmured quickly. "Relena, whatever you do, he's going to notice sooner or later."

"I talked to the doctor. I won't have it. I...I---can't...please, Duo, understand...I can't---Heero...I can't DO THIS anymore. I just want to die !"

The young man just stared in disbelief at the young girl's words. She was shaking violently, tears streaming down her cheeks and her hair shaken out of its ponytail. Duo held onto her wishing madly that she would stop talking such nonsense. "Relena, you can't, Heero would not have wanted that to happen."

"Damn it, Duo ! What the hell does it matter?! Heero's dead remember?! He died three months ago!"

"Relena, get ahold of yourself !"

Relena glared at Duo, and tried hard to contain herself, finally though, when she could no longer take it, she could feel herself falter and Duo gently pull her up. "Oh, Duo! I loved him...I still love him. But why did he have to leave this within me? Why did he have to leave me a constant reminder of who he is?!"

"You're going to abort?"

The question came bluntly and without tact. Relena glanced up sullenly. Then, rather vaguely, she nodded. "I...I'm sorry, I know it's wrong, but---God! I just wouldn't be able to live...seeing that child ever day, reminding me of Heero."

I wrapped my arms around her, eager at making her change her mind, and quietly listened as she spoke. "No one will ever know---that is, except for you...and, Oh Duo ! I don't want to kill it, but---"

"But what?"

"He will remind me of Heero!"

I shrugged uncertainly, as much as I figured, a constant reminder of Heero wouldn't be such a bad thing, I mean, at least she'd remember him... then again, the whole thing could have two side effects. "When are you going to do it?"

"In 2 weeks," she whispered softly, still buried and trembling into Duo's chest. The young man sighed deeply and pulled her closer, "Promise me you'll think about it, Relena."

"I don't believe in promises anymore, but for you my friend...I will."

To Be Continued

More to come, but, do you like it so far?