CHAPTER 9: One Last Wish, A True Kiss

Duo sat in one corner of his cell, disbelieving the fact that had just been revealed to him.

"Chiaki's a girl," he thought. "And I didn't even notice the whole time I was with her."

Duo threw a look at the sleeping girl opposite him. He had managed to clean and treat her wounds after all, but he wanted her to wake up soon. Soon enough to tell him the truth that lies within the depths of her mysterious personality. He had told her everything, about his childhood, about being a former pilot, and about falling in love with Heero. Yet all she did was listen, listen and never tell her own story. And now, more than ever, Duo wanted to hear it.

For the first few minutes that Duo recognized her true gender, Duo felt cheated. She had always acted like a boy, no, a man for that matter and even referred to herself as one. But then, they are in an underground prison after all, as sex slaves, and she was so young, so delicate, and he couldn't blame her for trying to become strong. To be strong, yes, perhaps that was her reason.

Duo's eyes fell on the lashes on her back. He wondered where she could have gotten it. He wondered why she was brought back to her cell by a different guard. And that guard? Who was he? And why did he give him medicine to treat her wounds? All these questions remained unanswered for a while. But hours later, as if Duo's wish came true, Chiaki's body came to rise as she screamed for help.

"Iiiiiiieeeee!"

Duo immediately rushed to her side, holding her shoulders as she clutched her chest.

"Sssshhh, calm down, you're already here," Duo whispered.

"W-where – Duo? Is that you?" Chiaki tried to feel and see him in the dark.

"Hai," Duo said, pitying the poor kid.

As soon as Chiaki heard Duo's confirmation, she plunged herself into his arms and cried continuously, ignoring the pain that her body felt.

"Hush now, tell me what happened." Duo said softly, stroking her hair with his hands. He tried to stop his tears from falling, he felt pity overcome him, and silently he joined her mourning, as he locked her in a peaceful embrace. To him, she was just a kid, a very young lass who had to experience such pain in that age. Quite oddly, she reminded him of his own childhood.

"I couldn't do it," Chiaki said in between tears. "I knew I just couldn't do it, and I fought him."

"Fought who?" Duo asked.

"That guard, the bastard!" Chiaki cried louder. "And I – I tried to escape, but he was ready to inject the drug to me again. I refused. I fought back, and I felt the syringe in my hands. My vision was blurring, but I knew what I was doing. And I felt the need – the desire, and I struck him with the syringe and everything went haywire."

"What about those lashes?" Duo inquired again.

"They punished me, they said I almost killed the guard, and I think I fainted even before I felt the pain of 20 lashes."

Duo hugged her tighter. Chiaki didn't mind. All she wanted was to be safe in his arms. It was long before they spoke again; they just held each other like that. But then, Chiaki broke the silence.

"Duo—" she said in a vague voice. "I'm scared. I don't know what's going to happen… I want to be strong… like you."

"Fear is something we all feel," Duo replied. "And we can't just throw it away. Sometimes, it's even fear that makes us strong. We are all unsure of what lies ahead of us, and it's just normal to be afraid." Duo said, he didn't know what else to say. He wanted to give more assuring words. But he too was afraid, and he wouldn't want to lie to her. "After all, you're still a young girl."

Chiaki jumped from Duo's words. She broke off from his embrace, a question burning in her eyes. "How -- how did –"

"I treated your wounds, I couldn't help knowing it," Duo told her even before she could finish off.

"Oh…" Chiaki said in a low tone. "Gomen, I…"

There was another awkward silence.

"Chiaki," Duo said. "Isn't it about time that you tell me about you?"

Chiaki's eyes narrowed, but her voice was clear when she spoke next. "I tried to fool the slave merchants… tried to make them think that no one would want me as a dirty, skinny boy, so I cut my hair," she sighed. "I really loved it then, it was hip-long and beautifully braided. I always wanted to keep it that way because it reminded me of my childhood friend. He was always happy, always strong…"

Duo was silent but was remarkably amazed of their similarities. "So you were a slave since childhood?"

Chiaki continued, "Not really, I was part of an orphanage before." This time, Duo raised his head. "Just like you," Chiaki smiled a little. "But then there was the war and I lost everybody else… We were three then, best friends, but…"

"I know how you feel," Duo said silently. I still can't believe that she has suffered all this, such a young kid. Being a slave almost her entire life…

"Duo," Chiaki said in a tone with a hint of pleading. " I've always had this wish and – "

"What is it?" Duo asked, he was glad that somehow, if he can make this wish come true, Chiaki would be happy.

"I've always been a slave, always been used, so I want to feel," she stopped to look sincerely to his eyes, "I want to feel how it is to be kissed by someone I love… and perhaps someone who loves me."

Duo stared at her for one lingering moment, and the next thing he knew, he drew his face nearer to her and gave her a warm kiss, light and friendly, but full of emotion.

What am I doing? What is this I feel? Could this be… no. Perhaps, I too, want to be kissed, longed to feel love in a kiss. I've always been kissed in harsh ways, all these years, all for entertainment of others. But this time, I want love… Love? Could I possibly love her? Love her like I loved…

Duo and Chiaki broke off their kiss. And as soon as they could see each other clearly again, Chiaki began crying. "Arigatou, thank you so much, you don't know how I've longed to feel a sincere kiss."

Is it just pity I feel? Or do I… do I…

Duo wiped her tears off, he caught her chin, and for the second time he kissed her in a more passionate way. Chiaki was surprised but soon responded to him, locking herself in the bliss of feeling love.

I want to know, I need to know, Duo thought as she held him tighter, deepening his kiss as if there was no tomorrow.

"LET ME GET MY HANDS ON YOU, YOU BITCH!!!" There was a loud clunking noise, as a familiar guard opened the cell door.

Chiaki and Duo were both taken aback, as they ran to a corner. Chiaki hysterically shrieked in fear.

"So… playing with your little friend are you? Well, this time you won't escape!"

The guard pulled her hair, Chiaki cried in pain. "Iie! Duo! Tasukete!!!"

"Yamero!" Duo shouted as he tried to attack the guard, only to be struck with a drugged syringe.

"C-Ch-iaki," Duo uttered in a hoarse voice, as the drug took effect on him, slowing his responses as the guard beat him with his free hand.

Duo felt blood trickle from his lower lip, as he clutched his stomach in pain.

"Think you could fight me, huh, idiot! Well you can't! And you might as well die next! Meanwhile, your little lover's gonna die in my hands!"

Harsh laughter filled the room again as the guard took her by force. "This, is for almost killing me, stupid bitch!"

Chiaki screamed. "Nooooooo!!! Tasukete! Tasukete kudasai! Anyonnnnnneee!'

"Leave her alone!" Duo crawled himself to the guard. The guard just kicked him over.

"No one's gonna come and help you now,"

Duo could hear Chiaki's voice faltering as she too was drugged violently. "Not me…" she said in a low voice.

"Eh? What now? Are you pleading for my help now? Haha… what a fool you are, kid…" the guard said while pulling the syringe from her blood stained skin. He pulled her hair, dragging her off the cell, and locking it again. He laughed as he pulled her along the hallways, Chiaki's tears and longing for help unheard.

"Not me," she murmured. "I know I'm gonna die anyway… but please… someone… save Duo! Kami-sama… please…"