Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or Sailor Moon, nor am I profiting from this web page. But all other such characters and concepts do belong to me and I ask that you do not use them without permission.

Children of War:

Chapter 26: Who Says The Young Can't Love?

By,

Luna Dragon

This time, Hotaru reluctantly let herself feel the aching and bleeding. Everything hurt, especially her heart. Deep inside, she remembered why she really woke up; the sadistic nightmare of her past, her real past. She remembered how Professor Tomoe--her own father!--had erased her memory countless of times, and how her mother really died. 'She didn't die of a lab explosion, did she father?' Hotaru spat harshly in her mind. 'Genetic experimentation . . . you turned her into a body made of Gundamium alloy, and killed her when she threatened to take me because she didn't want anything to happen. You bastard . . .'

"And Odin..." Hotaru sadly murmured. "Father, you helped in destroying the emotions of the only true friend I ever had." She let out a sigh. "Heero, I wonder, do you still remember me?" She asked herself softly, glittering tears filling her eyes and spilling over, soaking her pale face and flushed cheeks.

At the mention of his name, Heero didn't even flinch, but various thoughts were running through his head. Remember her? What was that supposed to mean? He had just met Hotaru days ago . . . didn't he? 'Odin Lowe Junior,' He thought, as if the name meant anything to him. The little boy with emotions; Heero, when he was younger. 'But Odin is dead, my name is Heero Yuy now. The Perfect Soldier, destined to wander my life alone.'

But as Heero thought this, his emotions became clearer. Odin wasn't dead, not yet anyway. No matter how much Dr. J had tried, Odin was alive inside Heero, waiting to release emotions, to abandon the code name. Softly, Heero took a step forward, watching Hotaru's tears fall.

Now he understood perfectly, each tear that fell hitting him like a bullet to his chest. Now he understood what he had felt before, when he sneaked into the room, and when Hotaru took the bullet for him, ultimately saving his life. Although everyone knew him, and some even feared him, for his monotonous, determined hardness; hidden within his icy heart, love, sincerity, and warmth faintly existed, burning stronger every time he so much as glanced at Hotaru. He even remembered that brief moment long ago, the little girl with black hair, a cheerful face and emotions that were destined to stay within her instead of being ripped out . . .

//Flashback//

The sky grew dark, and everyone on the colony could tell that the artificial sun was shining, but in the eyes of a reluctant solder, the world was nothing but a life of dark pain and confusion. A sad song with only a few notes that played over and over again in the mind.

It was spring, and the sound and sight of love was all over. From the people walking around on that Friday afternoon, to the geese and animals playing in a nearby pond with their new offspring. But life wasn't good. Life was not pure. Life was where you were always looking over your shoulder to make sure you don't get killed, since people wanted war. Sure if this was what people wished for, this was what the people were going to get . . . by the help of his hands, and his Gundam.

Dr. J had said that if his last mission went successfully, he would be given real missions. Ones that would allow him to fly his own mobile suit. Heero thought about it for minute. A Gundam . . . and him as the pilot. Going down in history as a legend certainly held its own appeal.

As he took his hands out of his jean pockets and stood atop a steep hill made of sand and rocks, over looking the empty beach, he couldn't quite grasp this new life, this new concept. What was a life of war anyway? Was it supposed to feel like this? He turned his head as he saw a young boy and girl walking past him with their finger's entwined. His expression lightened, and he turned back to the East. With a quick jump, he did a flip down the hill and ended up in a laying position on his back, staring up at the sky, the warm sand beneath him. He smiled. God, it felt good to do that.

He focused his mind back to the war Dr. J wanted and trained him to take a part in. The war with just his Gundam, possibly more, against the OZ forces on Earth. Operation Meteor. It hadn't even started yet, so why was he thinking of the war at a time like this? Heero placed his hands behind his head and closed his eyes, the bright artificial sun light making his eyes brighter even when they were closed. But suddenly, they were dark.

He opened his eyes, expecting to see a dark cloud hovering overhead, but much to his surprise, he saw a grinning girl. She had black hair cut exactly to her chin, bangs that just touched her eyelashes, and violet eyes that held so much mystery they reminded him of his Prussian blue ones. She looked to be fourteen or fifteen at least, and at least one year younger than him. "Mind if I join you, Odin? Or are you going by the name of Heero Yuy now?"

"Hotaru," Heero acknowledged softly, his eyes slightly wide. When was the last time he had seen her? He could barely remember himself. Three years? Five years? He did remembered, however, when he was a little boy, when he was training with Dr. J, and he almost had Hotaru killed because she was 'reviving unneeded and unimportant emotions.' He remembered how he had interfered, trying to save his only friend. But he had failed, becoming more cold and tedious each day. "I thought you were dead." He whispered, ignoring the lump that formed on his throat.

The grin had faded, but a soft smile still plagued her pale features, half hidden by the straw hat on her head. "I'm still alive now, aren't I, Odin? If it wasn't for you, I probably would have been killed."

"I did nothing but fail. It was all my fault, Hotaru." Heero stated bluntly, refusing to meet her gaze. Once again, his emotions were beginning to resurface, and he realized, she still had that same affect on him from all those years.

Hotaru only shook her head. "No, it wasn't. Dr. J handed me over to my father, once again. He said I had been interfering with training, and he had no idea on how to punish me worse than putting me back where I belong." She paused, falling on her knees and into a crouching position. "In all truth, I was . . . glad. I thought I had failed you, because each day you were opening up to me even less than before. Even so, I hadn't seen my father in so long . . . but . . ." Her voice trailed off once more as she searched for words to say, and Heero waited patiently, looking at the painful expression that was slowly beginning to overcome her delicate features. "I didn't know that a person could change so much, in such little time. My father . . . he was different when I got home. He wasn't the loving father anymore, and spent less time with me and my mother, and more time in his lab."

Heero sat up, his eyes turning to the ocean in front of him, waiting to listen to his old friend to continue. He wasn't used to talking much anymore, not with anyone. Being trained, tested, and more did that to him, including ripping away the emotions he had treasured around the girl before him, the girl that he once thought was dead. But Hotaru stayed quiet, moving into a sitting position adjacent to Heero. She hugged her knees to her chest, her head resting on her arms as she looked to Heero.

"How has life in the military been treating you?" She asked, evidently changing the subject. Heero noticed, but let her get away with it . . . for now anyway.

Heero's eyes suddenly darkened at her question. "You do know that I should kill you, for knowing too much about who I have become." He stated bluntly, the emotion suddenly leaving his voice as he lifted his shirt slightly so she could see the gun in between his waist band, before covering it up.

Hotaru nodded. "I know, I've known for a long time. And if Dr. J finds out I'm here, he'll probably want to kill me as well."

"And you still came at your own free will?" It was more of a statement than a question.

"I am not afraid of Death, Odin." She said, a distant look in her eyes. "But lets not talk about this now, I'm only in this part of the colony for a day."

And that's how they spent the remainder of the day, sitting on the beach with controlled tides, under an artificial sun, talking about old times. Slowly, it began to get darker, not just in Heero's eyes, but on the colony. By the time they had stopped talking and fell into a content silence, the artificial lights had dimmed, plunging the colony into a false night. As Heero stared toward the beach, Hotaru finally asked him. "I always find myself wondering what a night on Earth would really feel like. Do you think its always colder than the day? What about the moon . . . what do its light and rays actually feel like?" She gazed up at the stars as she wondered her thoughts aloud, watching them as they blinked back at her. "Do the stars sparkle as much from the Earth as they do from the colonies?"

Heero stayed quiet as Hotaru suddenly rose from the ground, brushing the sand from her long black skirt and purple shirt. With a smile, she extended her hand to him and Heero just stared at it for a few moments, unsure what to do, what to think--

So he took it, lifting himself effortlessly from the ground as Hotaru led the way across the beach, a large smile on her face as she stared straight ahead. By the time they reached where she stopped, the confused expression still rained on Heero's face. "What is it Firefly?" He asked, using the nickname he called her when they were young. Hotaru just turned, a small smile still placed on her face.

"Dance with me Odin Lowe Junior?" Hotaru asked softy, looking at him in the eyes. Though he wouldn't admit it now, He never tired of looking into her eyes. They were always changing, whether before his own or not. One moment they were bright and full of life, then next they were as dark as a stormy sky, and usually he could see a combination of the two. He often saw in her eyes what he felt inside. She reflected him, complemented him, completed him.

He knew he was stepping on treacherous grounds. What if someone found out? Surely Dr. J and the other scientists would kill Hotaru for real this time if they found out how she made Heero feel. How with each smile, it felt like Heero's insides would melt inside his skin. With each glance that sent shivers up and down his spine. How, whenever he looked into her beautiful violet eyes that he felt lost within them, and whenever he gazed back, not only did he see such marvelous emotions, but he saw a reflection of himself. Yet it was not of what he had become, instead of how he was before.

But, his emotions had been kept at bay for too long, and wonderful music reached his ears. He turned back to look at a rather large town house. The porch light was on, and Heero could see two shadowed figures, one that looked like a female with hair that reached just below her shoulders, who was playing a violin. The other looked like a man with short hair who was leaning against the wall, playing the flute.

He turned back to Hotaru, whose smile was still there, though her eyes had been clogged with just a hint of worry. She was about to say something but Heero silenced her with his finger, taking her hands in his once more. To the music of the waves, the wind, the flute, and the violin, Heero twirled Hotaru around in his arms, waltzing around the public beach as if they had been together for all their lives and more. As they danced, he often found himself glancing down at the young teenager settled against his chest, seeing the moonlight reflect off her dark hair. For one wild moment, he wished desperately that she would look up at him so that he could see himself reflected in her eyes.

As if she sensed his stare or read his thoughts, Hotaru raised her head and Heero not only saw himself, but the dim glow of the stars on the colony roof. There, he realized, that she was his life, his love, his completer. He realized, that he was not fighting for the colonies anymore. He would fight for Hotaru, so she could live a peaceful life, and possibly, with him.

He knew he would be reduced to nothing but a heartless machine without her. And as he brushed a hand against the locks of her dark hair, he knew that she needed him as well. Heero danced her slowly to a stop and he realized that they were standing in the waves. Water sloshed up around their ankles, but Hotaru seemed oblivious to the waves even though the water reach to her ankles. All she did was stare at him, inviting him. Heero couldn't help but smile, putting his arms around her waist as he pulled her close. There, without a word, he kissed her.

Their kiss lasted long, as if nothing mattered to the two, as if the universe had come to a stop just for them. Just for the love they knew they shared, despite how young they were. When they pulled apart, Hotaru leaned her head against his chest, and whispered, "Odin, I know I cannot stop you from leaving to fight for the colonies, but promise me you'll stay alive."

"Hai, Firefly." He whispered back. "Hai. Then, when the war is over, I'll come find you."

"As will I."

//End Flashback//

Heero had to stop himself from smiling as he remembered that brief moment long ago when he actually had the chance to dance with her. He should have killed her, since it was his mission to kill those who knew too much. The gun was there, with him, as always and she wasn't afraid at all, even when she knew he worked for someone who tried to kill her, even though she knew he was an assassin, she still went out of her way to see him, to stop his emotions from leaving him. So strong were his thoughts about her at that moment, her sheer strength somehow awakening anew whenever he saw her, he almost forgot about his first objective and gave in. Swiftly spinning together, her soft dark hair brushing against his cheek, he still had to kill her, but he couldn't, with her compassionate smile, and stormy, bright violet eyes, determination set on her face . . . it was something he admired.

At that very moment, Heero felt a great rush flow through his body, another wave of emotion. 'Love . . . so this is love . . . just like how Hotaru went out of her way to save me,' He thought. 'Does that mean Firefly loves me?' Heero finally realized he loved Hotaru, not just now, but from his past. Before the war, when they had shared that dance.

Finally, the clarity of Heero's feelings surfaced through the artificial murkiness of his heart. He had always protected these feelings by creating an ominous darkness when speaking to people, ally or enemy. But Hotaru's rescue and his suppressed memory somehow melted the ice and darkness away . . . and Hotaru's light could now shine through.

Hotaru tried to calm herself, steady her crying, when a hand was placed on her shoulder. "Firefly . . . tears will do nothing for you." The deepness of the voice surprised her, and she jumped slightly.

"Odin. . . I mean Heero . . . What did you call me?" Hotaru stammered as she shook the hand away, jumping from the bed and onto the floor with hurt eyes. 'Does he remember? No, he can't . . . my name does mean Firefly in Japanese . . . but he's the only one to ever call me that besides my mother.' Hotaru's mind was like silent alarms and barriers instantly going off and readying themselves as she stared at Heero with a shocked expression.

Heero shook his head, understanding his mistake. "Nothing," he lied.

~*^*^*~

Rei shivered in her sleep, despite the fact that she was sweating and moaning, a painful expression on her face. She turned in her sleep, practically ripping the covers apart as she scrunched her eyes and clutched her head, repeating the same parts of sentences over and over again. "Hotaru? No, you can't--it's too much! Damn it--!"

\\Rei's Dream\\

Swirls of color appeared before her eyesight finally focused, and Rei was surprised at what her mind saw. She was having a vision, another premonition of a possible future. She knew now, she wasn't there, just her spirit.

She saw the girl panting, her head bowed, dark black bangs covering her face. Her body shook with each ragged breath that escaped her lips, sending painful vibrations throughout her injuries. Her fingers hovered over what looked like a control panel, and when she looked up, her eyes had a strange glow to them. "I . . . can . . . help," she rasped out, her throat swore, "even if I . . . have to . . . use this . . . method. The Zero . . . system can . . . help me save . . . Odin . . ."

"Hotaru, you can't handle it!" The Dream Rei shouted over an intercom, her worried face appearing over the dark insides of where Hotaru sat, safety straps keeping her from falling, and hitting her face on the panel. She was too weak to handle the Zero System in her condition, and the Dream Rei could do nothing to stop her training.

Suddenly, a vortex of grays and blacks and blues enveloped Rei and when her eyesight focused once again, she was in space. Immediately she sucked in a breath, thinking she would die without being able to breathe. But she had no need, as she noticed she could breathe just fine. With a sigh, she looked around, seeing the millions of stars and the colonies around her.

"It all comes down to the final battle." A voice whispered across her mind, and she blinked, about to ask who was there but stopped short. Who would be able to answer a being they could not see, and who would be able to hear her in space?

An explosion of light caught her eyes and she turned around to see a Gundam. But it wasn't any of the one's she had seen before. Before she could get a good look at it, the Gundam exploded in a mass of fire and metal, sending whatever remains toward the Earth and into the far clutches of space.

An emptiness filled Rei's heart as one name suddenly came to mind. "Duo . . ."

\\End of Dream\\

"No!" Rei's scream echoed off the walls of her room as tears stained her cheeks. The ripping of sheets knocked her from her vision as she sat up panting, shaking uncontrollably.

"What the hell is the matter with you, woman?" The oh-so-familiar voice barked as Wufei came running into the room, turning on the lights with a gun in the air. His hair was in a slight tangled mess, only some of it in its usual pony tail, and his bare chest showed well toned and tense muscles, having no shirt to cover them. His eyes were dreary, but they searched the room cautiously, before lowering his gun and walking into the room.

Rei was still shaking when she got out of bed and, without a word, walked passed Wufei and into the restroom. "Woman!" He growled at the shut door. 'You'd think an assassin had her at gun point the way she was shouting.' He thought, putting away his gun and leaning against the wall, waiting a full five minutes before Rei came back out.

She was dressed, wearing a red shirt with long sleeves, covering her bruised, burns, and scars. Long black pants complemented with her shirt, slightly baggy as to not irritate her hurt leg. Her hair was now combed and straight, and blew slightly as she opened a window, letting cool air calm her tense muscles.

Patiently, Wufei waited for Rei to say something, and when she did, he was surprised by the urgency in her voice. "Are you still tired?" She asked quickly.

"Of course not woman. Your screaming was loud enough to wake the dead." Wufei answered, though he was, in all truth, still quite exhausted.

"Get changed and grab a cup of coffee just in case, because we're leaving."

"Do you think me for a fool? I won't go anywhere with a weak woman."

"That's not important Wufei. You cannot honestly look me in the eyes and tell me you don't feel that something is going to happen. You're from the Dragon Clan aren't you, then you should know the feeling you get in your bones before something happens."

Wufei was slightly taken back by her words, but nonetheless his eyes narrowed. "Fine. Where's such an urgent place we should visit at eight in the morning?"

"To get your Gundams."

~*^*^*~

"Gundams?" Quatre practically shouted, his calm composer flying out the window. "Out Gundams? You're telling me that the Gundams I sent to the sun, are--are rebuilt?"

"Actually," Ami interrupted, "it's more like 'being rebuilt.' I doubt Haruka and Michiru are quite finished yet."

"How?" The blonde then asked, leaning against the couch and rubbing his temples. "We disposed of all of them, Wing Zero being destroyed beyond repair. The scientists are deceased, and the blue prints have long been destroyed."

"The five scientists that created the Gundams . . . also had students. Haruka Ten'ou, Michiru Kaiou, Setsuna Meiou, Mamoru Chiba, and myself. With the scientists demise, Professor Tomoe wasted no time recruiting us. Unfortunately, we did do his bidding for a while, but then Haruka took charge and decided to rebuild the Gundams to put a stop to him, with you five as the pilots of course."

"I'm not really sure what I would have done," Quatre admitted, "but what would be your next option if we refused?"

"To use them ourselves."

"But you can't pilot the Gundams can you?"

"Rei, Hotaru, Kaiya, and I can. Akiko was just taught the basics, for we had limited time, and she was taught using a Mobile Suit, not a Gundam." Ami informed calmly. "And if worse came down to worse, we would have given our lives in destroying Professor Tomoe and Dr. Tanaka."

"But then more organizations would just come back, probably stronger than the last. What would sacrificing yourself do in the long run?"

"Bring peace, even if it was for a while. I lost both my mother and father, my only living relatives. Rei has only her grandfather left, and Hotaru only her father--who we are trying to stop. All of Akiko's family, and all of Kaiya's family were slaughtered, as was their town and home. None of us have a reason or a purpose in this world but to fight, and if it meant dieing, then I knew for a fact that I wouldn't back down."

Quatre nodded with a sigh, though he still did not completely agree. "And no one else knows about the Gundams being rebuilt, except me?"

"Hotaru should know, if she didn't have amnesia. Rei was going to break the news to Wufei, and everyone else will either find out through us, or by doing what is asked and going to the warehouse to lay their eyes upon what was thought long gone." Ami answered as she stood. "Which is where we must head towards. Another was is on the brink, and you five are the only ones who can stop it. But this time," she smiled with a wink, "you'll have five others by your side."

"How will you fight?" Quatre asked as he stood as well.

"I just plan on informing Setsuna about the five new Gundams that Professor Tomoe built. One of us will think of a way to get to them, thus aiding us to aid you."

Quatre nodded as he followed the blue haired semi-genius out of the library.

~*^*^*~

". . . . . ."

"It would help if you would cooperate with me Barton, it'd make this a lot easier." Robinson told the silent teenager in front of him.

". . . . . ."

Robinson sighed, he should have expected this from the silent pilot. "Listen, I may not agree with Dr. Tanaka, or Kaori about killing you, but you're still my enemy, and I have already given you and Kaiya the chance to escape."

". . . . . ."

"Just cough up the information, Barton. I'm not going to sink low enough to beat it out of you and Kaiya, but someone else may."

"If we give you any information, we will still be executed. I prefer to die with my pride intact." Trowa said, speaking the first words in over an hour. "You seemed to be a decent man, Robinson, its too bad you've gone to the wrong side."

"Who I am does not matter during the commencement of a war," he spoke with a calmness that surprised Trowa, "all that matters is what action is and should be taken."

"And by that you mean starting a war for no apparent reason, hoping to kill after you've killed so many."

Robinson shook his head when a buzz came from an intercom. "Lieutenant Robinson," The static-filled voice spoke. "Lieutenant Meiou brings an urgent order from Professor Tomoe."

"Send her in, thank you." Robinson answered, getting up from his chair as Setsuna entered. "What news do you bring?"

Trowa watched with a raised eyebrow, as he realized that Setsuna Meiou was supposed to be on their side. 'Rei mentioned her before . . .' He realized.

"Duo Maxwell and Akiko Oihagi have escaped from Professor Tomoe's imprisonment." She began. "He has reason to believe they are on their way here, to free their friends. Which is why he sent me--to take Trowa Barton and Kaiya Moretsu back to his headquarters. That way, when they arrive here, your team will be able to condemn them here."

Robinson nodded. Setsuna's explanation sounded reasonable. "Alright, but I'll have to receive clearance from Dr. Tanaka."

"I have that taken care of," she took out a signed contract and placed it on the table, "and all I need are some men to take Kaiya and Trowa back with me."

Robinson nodded once again, reading the contract that was signed by his boss. "I'll have a truck ready for you with five of our best men."

'Just what side is she on?' Trowa thought.

~*^*^*~

Kaiya had been laying down on the hard metal bench when the two guards (armed with guns and weaponry, of course) had opened the door to her solitary confinement cell. That didn't surprise her, however. It was the woman behind the guards with long, dark green hair, half of it tied in a bun, and garnet eyes.

'Setsuna!' Kaiya's mind shouted. 'That traitor, she was working for them all along!' "Didn't expect you to show up." Kaiya spat harshly as she stood, trying to be threatening but knowing it was futile as her arms were tied painfully behind her back.

Setsuna just shook her head and held up her hand to stop the two guards from advancing. Slowly, Setsuna walked to Kaiya and ended up behind her. She shoved the girl forward, unknown to the guards, placing a small key in Kaiya's hands at the same time. "Use it when I tell you," The double agent ordered as they walked.

'So she really is on our side,' Kaiya thought, clutching the key in her hand so no one would see it. 'But what about Trowa?'

Her silent question was answered after a long walk through the corporation building and to the parking lot, where a large truck awaited them. Trowa was being shoved into the back of the truck, three guards with him. 'Only five guards? Do they really think we're that weak?' She couldn't help but wonder.

Kaiya arrived at the truck and was jolted out of her thoughts by a forced shove. "Get in!" A guard commanded, shoving her into the truck.

But, before Kaiya was seated, Setsuna took out a small ball. The teal eyed girl recognized it and turned her head to Trowa; he had recognized it as well. Simultaneously, the two closed their eyes and looked away, just as Setsuna threw the object to the ground. The guards screamed as they were blinded by a giant flash of light. "Now!" Setsuna screamed, and immediately Kaiya's handcuffs were on the floor, as well as Trowa's.

The two jumped from the back of the truck, only to get aimed at by guards. But with the intense brightness, their aiming was off. Without a word, Trowa elbowed a guy in the nose, then slammed his head against the truck. He fell to the floor with a thud, just as another guard aimed blindly at Trowa with his fist. He caught it easily, flipping the guy onto the floor.

Kaiya turned around just in time to miss a bullet as it whizzed by her arm. She found the holder of the gun and ran over to him, hitting him just in the right place in his neck, and he slumped to the floor on top of the other she had rendered unconscious. She turned around, the light fading. Even though the sun had already been up, the brightness of the bomb was strong enough to render someone blind if they were exposed to it for too long--in the day, or in the night.

Setsuna had already knocked out a guard, just as Trowa had two, long ago. "Just whose side are you really on?" Trowa asked.

"I'm on your side, as hard as it may seem. A double agent, working for Tomoe while delivering all the information to you, and false lies to him." Setsuna answered. "But enough of me, you two must leave."

"Were?" Kaiya asked.

Setsuna handed her a folded sheet of paper. "Go here, and you'll meet everyone else there as well. Haruka and Michiru will help you, by giving you your Gundam." She said, turning to Trowa as she said the last bit of information.

"How?" Was all he managed to say, Kaiya in too much shook to do anything but stare with wide eyes.

"They'll all explain, just go."

"What about you?" Kaiya asked.

"Don't worry, I have to go back to Tomoe's. He doesn't know, after all, that I'm here. And I doubt Tanaka does either." She answered, ushering Trowa and Kaiya into the truck. "Follow the directions, they'll lead you to the Gundams and more allies."

Trowa and Kaiya nodded, before Kaiya started the engine and drove off, leaving Setsuna behind. "Good luck. . ." She whispered to the wind.

*** *** *** *** ***
End of Chapter . . . for now . . .
*** *** *** *** ***

Author's Note: Oi, minna-san! Gomen for the wait, but its out again! Only a few more chapters till the final battle one! Hey, before I go, I want to introduce a fic that I read, and if you like mine, maybe you'll like this one:

~Title~
Soul of Outer Space
~By~
Layhey
~Summary~
The year is after colony 197: The Peace Years... but they don't stay peaceful for very long when a nation is obliterated by an unknown enemy, and Relena and the Gundam boys are right in the middle (as usual). pg-13 for language
Category: Gundam Wing/AC - PG-13 - - General/Action/Adventure - Chapters: 1

Anyways, I hope you liked this chapter, it took me long to write it . . . I'm not too good with romance . . . ~.~;;;;