by Sunsinger

"Well, umm that's enough for today. My voice is tiring and it's twenty to ten. Lights out in twenty minutes. See you next week." Hex said as he stood up.

"No."

"What? Heero… did you say something?"

"No. You finish tomorrow."

"I would love to, Heero, but this story takes more than two sittings and tomorrow is Friday, Party Night. Next Thursday is the next story night. Sleep well." Hex said, turning he was confronted by one hundred and seventy eight pairs of eyes.

"Ehhhhh. Ulp."

"Hex, will you please tell us more tomorrow." Quatre asked, looking up with his blue green eyes.

"Yes. Since you asked so nicely. I'd be delighted to. Come let's walk, tell me what I missed about Duo?"

As they walked down the hall to their rooms, Hex handed each one a disk.

"There is a new Gundam called 06 'BlackHeart'. I'm the pilot. On these disks you will find the specs. I already have your specs. Familiarize yourself with the 'BlackHeart'. I will tell the story Friday night but Saturday night, Wufei and I have a mission. I don't know how long it will take. Find an excuse, Wufei."

"And what about you, Hex?" Wufei asked looking Hex up and sown slowly.

"I already have the best excuse. I'm taking care of Duo's assets and I need to report him found and alive. So I'm clear, just make sure you are too. Now gentlemen, I am tired and must sleep. Wufei, I can sleep through most things. So when you check my creds on your comp you won't wake me. Night all, Duo." Hex went in and swiftly undressed. He was asleep when his head hit the pillow.

* * *

The next morning could only be described as celebrity overload. Overnight, Hex had become the most talked about person in school. And this time not because of his odd looks. It seemed everywhere Hex went, people followed. They asked him about Shi no Musuko, about the warlord, did Shi kill him, how did Shi kill him. Finally after 6 hours of fielding questions, it was the last class of the day. History.

Inside the classroom, the students acted like students all over the world before a teacher comes, talking loudly, laughing, playing with friends.

"Heero, Duo, Trowa, Quatre, Wufei… you are no help. Really, Duo couldn't you have waved a knife or something to get them off my back? I swear, I'm so sick of questions that I don't even want to tell the next part tonight." Hex groaned as he slipped in his seat.

The bright spot of heat on his back made him turn around. At that point the history teacher came in and called the class to order. Two students did not obey. Hex and Heero. Hex was caught in the path of the Ultimate Heero Yuy Death Glare™. Duo, seeing that Hex was trapped by Heero, shook him lightly. When that didn't break the glare, Duo shoved Hex out of the chair.

"Um thanks, Duo. What the hell was that?"

"That, Hex, was the Ultimate Heero Yuy Death Glare ™. I'm surprised you are still alive, but hmm if anyone could survive that it'd be you, and me, of course."

"Wonderful. Why did he stare at me like that?"

"He didn't stare at you. He glared at you. That's different from a stare. A Glare is more angry and has more of an 'I want to kill you' type of menace about it. A stare is for curiosity sake. Now with Heero's glares…"

Hex placed a finger on Duo's lips. "OK, cool, but why did he glare at me?"

"Why do you think? You said and I quote," Duo's voice took on the tone and quality of Hex's statement, " 'I swear, I'm so sick of questions that I don't even want to tell the next part tonight.'" Duo turned to look at Hex.

"And naturally, if you don't want to tell the next part tonight, you don't have to." The gasp from the other students and the teacher made Hex jump. Hex was once again aware that he was under their scrutiny.

"If I don't, then what?"

"Well, nothing, of course."

"Duo, you run, you hide, don't lie."

"Well, I said nothing and I mean it, I can't promise what others will do but I promise I will do nothing. I'll just do nothing while Quatre cries and Trowa tosses daggers at you for making Quatre cry, Wufei will curse you and call you dishonorable and I will do nothing as he challenges you to a fight. I will do nothing as Heero here glares you to death…" The feeling of a mitigated Death glare on Duo cause him to swallow very slowly. "But I won't do a thing, promise."

"You doing nothing is plenty. Sigh, I will tell the story tonight, and not cause you threatened me you vicious, malicious, cruel little street beggar boy. Damn, we taught you way too well. However, since I do still have to report that you are alive, get your inheritance settled, I'll be gone Saturday and Sunday. Sorry. But anticipation will make it all the sweeter. Say, tonight how about some food to go with story?"

"Oh, cool. Let's make it a party! After all Friday night is PARTY NIGHT! We can have smores and cocoa, and then settle in for the story."

"Only if you promise to go to sleep, in fact if the gym will let us we'll borrow the tumbling mats, everyone can bring their own blankets and we'll have a sleep over, k?"

"Yeah!"

"Duo, you are such a kid." Hex laughed.

"Well, yeah. If the war goes on, in 4 years we won't have time for this."

"Don't think like that, Duo. As long as I am here you will always have time. I swear to you by the god we share."

At that the class went still. Hex indicated to Mr. Iwara to take his class back and sat down. Hex's last period passed quickly. Damn, I've got to talk to Heero and Quatre tonight before I leave.

* * *

Ducking into Heero's room as he passed on the way to dinner, Hex was confronted by one flat stare and one very sweet smile.

"Heero, Quatre. Thanks for coming. Heero, I know you don't trust me. My flamboyant style and loud brashness. I'm not really this loud but hey if I'm so busy making a spectacle of myself, few people believe I can be what I am. After all, I'd have to be a fool to act so. Quatre, I need you to watch Duo, he's hiding something. You are so gentle and sweet, or so you seem outwardly. You would never allow your friends to go do something stupid even if you had to knock them out. So you watch him.

"Heero, I need you to go over the specs I provided, find out what all my weaknesses are. I did not have much time. As to why they decided to add a sixth Gundam, easy. OZ has come up with a new mobile suit. It's better than the one they have but not as much as a killer as Tallgeese. My suit is an improvement on yours. I also have software updates and they've organized a rotating schedule that will allow you to get your hardware updates. I need to actually go hands on with your Gundams. I'm a mechanic and they want to know what exactly you've done to them. You have all exceeded your Gundams potential. Better than the Docs predicted.

"Last but not least, I need one of you to convince Trowa to let me do a physical on him, he hasn't had one in the past 3 years, it's past time. OK, yall got your missions. I have mine."

With that Hex, darted out of Heero's room and continued down the hall to his. Locking the door, Hex turned to the wall opposite the desks. Hex took a piece of gray chalk and drew a door on the wall. Staring into the very center of the drawn door, Hex tried to imagine there was a curtain in the door. Slowly a curtain of a shimmering silver gray appeared. Brushing it one side, Hex stepped through.

He walked into his room in the Powers' realm.

"Hey! Welcome Home, babe!" The violet eyed power bounced into the room and hugged Hex.

"Thanks, papa. I've seen the avatars of 1-5 but 6,9,11, and 13 haven't showed yet."

"Don't worry I got someone else checking on them. Come, are you hungry?"

"Always. Oh, I'm rooming with Wufei." Smirk "Can I ask Nataku why the hell he had them name the child 'flying five'?"

"No." Shinigami mimed a swipe at his son as he placed plates of rice and vegetables in front of him. "Sorry Wing is on a veggie kick again."

"That's ok. I missed you, Shini."

"And I you, now eat." After watching Shi eat for a while, Shinigami started asking him questions about the avatars. "How are you going to explain this time away. I mean, Wufei has a key to the room?"

"It's a gray door. Time and Space. I'll reappear about 5 seconds after going through. Now, Wufei doesn't trust me, that I expected, nor Heero also expected. Quatre really has reservations about me. Odd. Trowa trust me. I think he's closer to his nature than the other four. When are you planning to manifest?"

"Good. About Trowa, I mean. We will manifest when we think it's time, dear. That time is not now."

"OK but I hate lying to them. Duo trusts me. I don't want to hurt him. Really I don't."

"He will be hurt but you do as you do cause you want to protect him. He will see that you always have protected him and this is nothing more than the height of protection, angel."

"Very well, papa. When is Wing coming home?"

"He's on campaign."

"OK, I should go back."

"Yes you should but first…" Shinigami paused then opened his arms, "change into your true form."

The red haired vivacious young man melted away to appear as a young bronzed skinned boy of maybe about 10 with dark blue black hair and a large grin. He jumped into Shinigami's arms and allowed himself to be hugged and squeezed. As he stepped away 'Hex' came back.

"Later Papa." Hex walked back to his room and pushed aside the gray curtain. He was back in his room. Down the hall he heard footsteps, quickly Hex brushed away most of the chalk and unlocked the door. He did not notice a faint chalk outline and slivery glimmer on the wall.

The door opened and Wufei walked in with Trowa and Quatre.

"Hey."

"Hex. What's this about a mission?"

"Check your comp. Details should be there. Trowa did Quatre tell you about your physical?"

Trowa nodded.

"I can do it if you prefer, yes I am trained well enough to do that."

"It is amazing that you are so well trained in so many things yet you are our age, Hex." Quatre said as he walked around the room.

"What can I say, I'm wonderful. Ah damn, 'cuse me. I gotta go see the principal. He wants a listing of all childhood diseases Duo had. Bye." With that Hex ducked out of the room.

"I still do not trust him, Trowa."

"I know but… he can be trusted."

"We will see. Quatre, have you… Quatre? Quatre?"

Quatre was not to be found in the room.

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