Relena grimly opened her eyes; the throbbing pain in her head was killing her. The medicine sat at her table taunting her. Gritting her teeth, Relena grabbed the bottle, and with some trouble, threw it at the door with all her might. Then she raised her head waiting for the semi-satisfying sound of the medicine bottle clunking against the door and the pills spilling onto the ground. It never came.

"Tut, tut Relena."

"Heero?" Relena asked hopefully. Duo came in, braid trailing behind him, tossing the medicine bottle in his hand. Setting the bottle back in its rightful place, Duo sat down on a chair and smiled.

"Oh him? He's coming soon."

Relena looked away disappointed, her skin was a pale blue, and her hair was messed up. Her cheeks had lost its rosy complexion and her eyes had sunken into her skull. She looked well…dead.

"You must miss him lots huh?" Duo whispered softly. Relena spun around and glared at Duo.

"What business is it of yours?!" Relena yelled back huffily.

"Well at least your attitude is still the same. That's somewhat reassuring." Duo chuckled.

"Where are your manners you idiot? What, were you raised on the streets or something?" She snapped, the smile was immediately wiped off of Duo's face, replaced with a grim smile.

"Actually, I was."

"Oh"

"You wouldn't care to know what we ate?"

"Oh please no—"

"Lemme see there was, ah! Rat a la mod, and ooo my personal favorite. Worm shit and cow dung!" Duo smiled amusement shining in his eyes.

"Please, Duo, NO!" Relena said quickly. Duo laughed and Relena gave a small smile.

"Heh, its nice to see you smiling." Duo said decidedly, " Relena what happened out there?"

His voice was gentle but the smile disappeared quickly from Relena's face.

"I don't want to talk about it." She looked at him, " not with you anyways."

Duo smirked to himself, shaking his head he tossed his braid over his shoulder.

"Oh? Then, my dear Ms.Relena who else are you going to tell? Heero? Pagan? Your brother? Noin? Who pray tell? I can't offer much, since I AM raised off of the streets. But."

Duo leaned close to Relena.

"I can offer a listening ear and counsel." Relena reeled back and glared at him angrily.

"Ha, what brought about this change?" Duo shrugged his shoulders and leaned back in his chair.

"I dunno, but…"

"That's none of your business you know?"

"Right, it isn't. But I want to know." Duo interrupted.

"Why don't you watch the news then?" Relena snapped, annoyed. Duo had almost seemed nice to her, now he abruptly changed attitudes. "The news…let me ask you this. Where are all those gifts and flowers that should be littering your room?"

"Flowers? I'm allergic to flowers…as for gifts, Pagan has them."

"Okay, then how long have you been here?"

"I uh—I think, a week and a half or so." Relena said uneasily. Duo sat back smug.

"A week and a half, not a month? No flowers? No gifts? They were the ones that found you, not Heero?"

"There were gifts!" Relena said strained.

"Well, I must admit at least they got your condition right." Duo replied grimly.

"Okay already, I get your point. The doctors say I only have a few days left to live. They made up that stuff about the length of time here, because I think they didn't want the public to be worried."

"Calm down Relena. I didn't come to interrogate you with questions you know?" Duo reassured her and patted her on the back. A tear trickled down her face.

"Sure you didn't, you just enjoy nagging at me." She spat angrily.

"Ha, that's an interesting way to put it, but no."

"Whatever. I don't know what you're talking about anyways."

"You do know" Relena opened her mouth to talk, but Duo hushed her, " You just can't say it, right?"

Relena shut her mouth instantly and looked down at her hands. Duo got up, sighed and patted her on the back again reassuringly.

"No matter, but. Oh! Well what do you know? Look at the time! Its almost time for Heero to come in, I suppose I better go, ne?" Duo replied brightly and laughed. Relena didn't move in response but silently cursed Duo in her mind. Duo bent down and looked at her.

"No, I'm not laughing at your expense, so stop damning me already, okay?" Duo said, a trace of anger in his voice. Relena looked up at Duo, shocked and embarrassed.

"How? Oh…I'm sorry. I guess." Relena muttered. Duo laughed and turned to leave.

"You're like Heero sometimes, its scary."

"Really?" Relena piped up hopefully. Duo looked back at her, pity in his face.

"Relena, I want you to think about what you're doing. You're killing yourself for a guy who doesn't even love you back. Sorry to be so blunt, but its true. You've done so much, you've maintained world peace. Continually for so long. You have the people's love and respect. Are you willing to throw it all away now?" And with that Duo turned to leave, and Quatre timidly entered.

"Heero will be here in a few, Ms.Relena."

"Thank you Quatre."  Quatre nodded respectfully.

"I hope you feel better soon. Bye." He waved and quietly exited. Relena sighed and settled back down into her bed and went to sleep. But it wasn't nowhere near any sort of peaceful sleep, the occurring events were just as horrible as the first.