From Dawn to Dusk

::Pairings:: ::Warnings:: ::Disclaimer:: All apply from prologue

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Chapter 6

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Duo woke groaning, with a massive headache. He looked around him and blinked in confusion.

"Huh? What? I'm home? How'd I get here?" Duo asked aloud, meaning only to say it to himself.

"Oh, good! You're up." Wufei sauntered in from the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel.

"I don't remember coming home," Duo admitted, slightly embarrassed.

"That's because you were asleep. You fell asleep in the nurse's office, so I carried you home. The nurse said you'd be fine in a few days. You just need some rest." Duo looked at the young man in front of him in wonder.

//Carried me?// "Arigato." Wufei said nothing, but walked into the kitchen, retuning with a steaming mug.

"Here's some hot tea. Dinner won't be ready for a while yet, so I'll go run you a hot bath."

"You're going through way too much trouble for me. I'm sure I'll be fine," he said sitting up.

"Don't worry about it," he called as he made his way up the stairs. "I mean, what're friends for?"

//No one, other than Quatre, has ever been this good of a friend, but we're like brothers and I've only known him for three days!//

Wufei sat down on the edge of the tub, touching the water. "There. It's ready."

//Why am I doing this? Why did I interfere today? Someone else could've handled it. So why did I?// "Oh, I just don't get it!" he fumed. He slowly walked down the stairs and over to the couch. "How do you feel?"

"Okay, I guess. I think my ribs are bruised. They hurt pretty bad."

"I wouldn't doubt it. The bath should help. Let me help you up the stairs." Duo carefully stands and starts to walk to the stairs.

"I think I can walk." When he reached the stairs, Wufei lead him gradually up the stairs. "I can take it from here," he said when they reached the top.

"Use the wall to help you. You're still shakier than you realize." He turned and ran lightly down the stairs, as Duo made his way into the bathroom. He carefully undressed, using the wall for support and climbed into the bath.

"Ooooo. This feels good.. There's something weird about the water, though."

Wufei lifted the lid on a pot and stirred the contents. "Still needs time." He was pulled from his thoughts when the doorbell rang. Not thinking, he answered the door. Quatre looked in, slightly confused at Wufei standing there, but tried to act normal.

"Um. Hi. Is Duo here?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah. He's upstairs taking a bath for his aches." //Oh, no. Why did I open the door? This is not good!// "Go on up. He won't mind the company," Wufei said, letting Quatre into the house.

"Yeah, okay." Quatre ran quickly up the stairs and knocked on the bathroom door. "Duo? It's me."

"Hey, Quatre! Come on in!" Quatre opened the door and walked in, closing the door behind him. He looked around and decided on the toilet for a seat.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, looking very worried.

"Much better, thanks to Wufei. He's a miracle worker. He's been so nice to me." Quatre pondered this then turned back to Duo.

"I see. Why is he still here?" he asked, still confused about that.

"Oh, he's making dinner," Duo answered, as if it was a perfectly logical explanation for a strange guy to be at his house. "You should stay and eat with us. I'm sure there's enough." Quatre decided it was time to change the subject, he was getting a little weirded out by Duo being so casual about it.

"So, how'd you get home? Did you walk?"

"No. Wufei carried me. I was asleep in the nurse's office."

"Huh. You know what?" Ah, the question that always leads to something unwanted.

"Oh, no. I'm afraid to ask. What?"

"I think he likes you!" Quatre giggled as Duo blushed ever so slightly at the comment.

"What are you talking about?" Duo looked at him in pure confusion.

"Come on!" he howled. "Look how nice he's been. He carried you home, he's cooking for you, he beat up Heero for you, for crying out loud!"

"So?" Quatre rolled his aqua eyes.

"So. That just means he likes you."

"No, it doesn't. It just means he's a nice person." Quatre let loose an exasperated sigh, finding his trying to convince Duo was futile.

"Fine. Whatever you want to think. Oh! I almost forgot! Because of Wufei, not only is Heero never gonna mess with you again[1], but he won't be able to show his face around school! I heard that he already transferred to another school."

"Good riddance to bad rubbish. I'll be glad to see him go," Duo said, folding his arms over his chest.

"So will I, but you know. I think he was kind of cute!"

"What?!? You can't be serious! [2]" Duo looked at Quatre in disgust.

"I'm not!" Quatre continued to giggle at the way Duo twisted his face in horror. Duo couldn't help it. He began to laugh along with Quatre. "I just wanted you to laugh!"

"Well, thanks. It feels nice to-" He was cut off by a sharp knock at the door. Wufei's voice drifted through the door.

"Hey, gentlemen. Dinner's ready. Quatre, there's plenty of food if you want to stay and eat."

"Okay. We'll be down in a few minutes," called Quatre. They listened to his footsteps fade down the stairs, then Quatre spoke again after a long silence. "Well, I'll go get you some clean clothes and you dry off. Do you need help out?"

"No. I feel almost normal." Quatre nodded and left silently. Duo steadied himself and climbed out of the bubble bath, wrapping a towel around his midsection. "I feel so good now, so relaxed and refreshed. {yawn} But still sleepy." Quatre walked back in and handed Duo his clothes. Duo dressed quickly and ran downstairs, Quatre following right behind. Wufei was standing in the doorway the kitchen. "We're here!"

"Good," he replied as he ushered them in. "Dinner is served."

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"That was the best dinner I've ever had!" Quatre said before he looked at the clock. "Oh, my! It's getting late. I'd better get going. Bye Duo! Bye Wufei!" Quatre and Wufei stood and began to walk from the table.

"I should get going, too," Wufei said, secretly winking at Duo. "Bye you two!" He hurried out the back door as Duo walked Quatre to the front.

"I'm telling you, Duo," Quatre said as they reached the door, "he likes ya!" Duo shakes his head and laughs as he pushes Quatre out the door.

"Just go home!" Quatre giggled, then decided to leave.

"Okay! Bye!" Once Quatre was out of sight, Duo looked to the top of the apple tree in the yard.

"Okay, Wufei. You can come down now." Wufei jumped out and landed softly on his feet, like a cat would. They walked up the steps and into the house.

"How'd you know I was up there"

"Just a guess."

"Good guess. You should be getting to bed. It's been a hard day."

"Yeah, but the bath helped. It's like the bruises are gone. What was in the water?"

"Soap and a healing spell. Now off to bed."

"Okay. Goodnight, Wufei," Duo called as he walked up stairs.

"'Night, Duo."





TBC

Should I? I don't know.. It's not working out as well as I thought it would, but them's the breaks. I thought I should get out one more chapter before I went to bed.. Feedback please..

[1] Oh, I'm sure he will. By the Powers of 1x2, he will.

[2] Well, I'm not. Quatre may be joking, but I'm not...