Loud music and Home shopping

UmbrellasAnPoptarts

Chapter Five

Remember me

The four young people sat in stiff silence, three of them wondering vaguely why the Japanese man in their midst was smiling so widely. Duo watched his old war time partner with something akin to surprise. It was out of the ordinary to see Heero smile for so long about something. Or smile so widely for that matter. So the two strange occurrences coupled together was puzzling.

Raine, not having known Heero nearly as long as the American, was perplexed herself. She had gotten from the moment she met him that he was not a man who smiled easily. It took a lot to draw a small tilt of the lips out of him. It was a major feat to get a grin on his face. And a grin seemed to be what his lips were going for. She raised dark brows to contemplate the reason for his apparent happiness. But it seemed that the quiet individual was much to complex for her to figure out in only one day. Defeated, she leaned back in her leather upholstered chair, crossed her ankles and resigned to close her weary eyes.

Two pairs of eyes were still focused on the oblivious man. One a strange violet-indigo mixture and the other a bright and yet somehow murky blue. The latter belonging to Relena. The good lady Peacecraft was having a hard time imagining what evoked such a reaction in Heero. In the great many years she'd known him, she'd barely known him to crack the slightest of smiles. Jealousy reared its ugly head as she watched his lips twitch up even more.

Lips that she hadn't touched even once. Lips that had only a short time ago been glued to another's. Today was a bad day for her to come to terms with her jealousy issues. A very bad day indeed. It seemed also that she had trouble with sharing what was hers. And Heero, was most definitely rightfully hers. Her own lips tightened into a thin line of irritation. She'd been trying for a great many years to be with him and he'd ignored her advances at ever turn. She felt much like she was in a race with other women to get to his heart first. Yet at every turn of the track she got cut off and thrown behind. She was getting tired of falling behind.

Especially if that meant she would be behind Raine Collier. Relena may have acted civil towards her but in fact she held no real liking for the girl. Even less now that she'd seen her throwing herself at Heero. The ex pilot really didn't need something like that. What he needed was to settle down, forget about war and fighting and have a family. Something she was quiet sure that Raine couldn't produce for him.

It was also something Relena was extremely ready to give. All he needed was time to figure out that that was what he wanted. That and of course, a little urging and prodding along by her. Relena Darlian-Peacecraft never settled for second best. Heero was something she had wanted for a very long time now, since the day she'd set eyes on his lithe soldiers form. And ever since that day she'd been working towards being with him. He just needed the chance to realize that. This was her best opportunity. She planned on using it to her full advantage.

The American who owned the other set of eyes, on the other hand, was experiencing a different set of emotions all together. Regret, self-consciousness, anxiousness… All things Duo wasn't particularly used to feeling. It seemed that he had been wrong to assume Heero was free and clear and ready to be with him again. It had been too good to be true. He'd been hoping for so much more out of seeing him for the first time in so long. It was sad to think about his welcome after so many years. No hug, no kiss, not even a friendly hand-shake.

It wasn't what he'd imagined at all. He was sure that seeing him kiss another person was the last thing he'd expected. At least he was sure of that much. Right now he was getting mixed signals from the Gundam pilot. But of course, Heero had always been one to send mixed signals. That was something he'd been really good at during the war. He'd always left Duo guessing. The braided mechanic had always given as good as he got though.

Glancing at his normal black watch, he spied the small numbers tick by. The usual army time watch read 16:32:13 and counting. He let his bored eyes roam the large room for the millionth time that long day. They looked over the newly painted walls; the color selected was a dark cranberry red. It was hard to actually distinguish the color of the walls, the bookcases dominated the room. The fourth wall, not lined with bookcases, was enveloped with a huge window from the hard wood floor to the white spackled ceiling.

Bored with the walls, he dropped his line of vision to the large area rug beneath his sneaker clad feet. Dissecting the dyes used to create the elaborate floor covering was more interesting than anything else he'd done in the past several minutes. He was still in the process of doing that when he heard the door knob begin to turn. A chocolate colored head of hair was turned around in an instant to view the new intruders.

Everyone else turned in their own seats expectantly. The new arrival was something to be curious about, given Heeros smiles and entertained features. Raine glanced over at him for a moment to see that his face was void of emotion once again. It was his trademark, she guessed. Wiping his features clean of feeling was an art. She was sure it'd taken him a lot of time to be able to hide his feelings so very well. He was definitely a master of it, there was absolutely no effort put into it. It was second nature to him. Perhaps he did it automatically anymore. She'd have to remember to ask him later.

The door swung easy on its spanking new hinges and several people she'd never seen before filed through it. Three young men strolled in casually after Lady Une. So sure she'd seen them before, she watched with surprise as Heero was the first one to bounce out of his seat and offer welcome… Well… for Heero, it was bouncing.

Quatres smile expressed his pleasure as Heero came up to him and offered his hand. The blonde took it and pulled his long time friend into a fierce hug. "It's so nice to see you!!" his boyish voice was as expressive as his face. Emotions and feelings could be read as openly as a book on his soft featured face.

The stiff clown turned his attention to a certain American as he sauntered his way over. He's always got that way of moving… Slow, careless, casual and deliberate. I'd notice him from a mile away, just by his walk… Trowa smiled lightly in greeting, Quatre had taught him many things and showing how he felt was one of them. Thinking of his desert man caused a wider smile to form on the pilots face as he found himself brought into a bear hug. Duo was the same as ever.

There was something reassuring to him that nothing had changed. It was comforting to know that no matter how long he went away, he could come back and count on his friends to still be true to their real selves.

Self-proclaimed God of Death slapped his French friends back heartily several times for good measure and then stepped away slightly to view him better. "Nice seein' ya Tro."

"Always a pleasure Duo, always a pleasure." the circus boy replied. It had been a long time since he'd been in a group of friends. He had to admit, it really felt nice. There was a great deal of amusement displayed on the tall mans face as Duo strolled from him to where Wufei stood, waiting for his greetings expectantly.

"Wu-man," Duo said, bright, goofy grin on his face, "How's it goin' man?"

Their old friendship was based on their constant banter. Never had one spent the day in the company of the other without bickering. It was just their way of being. Just their way.

The two of them had a firm and meaningful friendship, though it was buried deeply under their yelling and insults. It was there, if people really looked. They didn't try to hide it, everything they had just came to them. It was natural; it was how they expressed their friendship. They weren't the type to be huggy-huggy buddy-buddy towards each other. They'd rather chew off the others ear first. Not many people could understand how they called each other friends… Not that they really said it or anything… But people seemed to have trouble considering the two friends. It wasn't hard to see why they thought that. But as Trowa was prone to say in his occasional talkative moods, 'Nothing is ever as it seems, but many things that seem one way, are often hiding something different underneath, just waiting to be found. If only one would look.'

Wufei hid his growing smile under his classic dark scowl that was reserved only for the former pilot of Deathscythe. "Maxwell, I thought I made you swear never to refer to me as that… Ever…"

"Well, that was a long time ago Wu-Wu. Things change, besides, promises are made to be broken." his voice was chocked full of entertainment, the kind he got solely from comedy shows and Chang Wufei.

"What are you trying to say Maxwell? That you lied?" The Chinese man was pretty sure he'd caught his good friend with that remark. One thing Duo had never been able to stand was being called a liar. But, he had of course developed some good come backs over the years. It's been so long Max. So long since I really got enjoyment out of a day. Friends are irreplaceable. But these ones are like my core. Life just hasn't been the same so far away. My country men may love me, they may worship me, but they will never know me. Not like this. They'll never make me smile so much as these people, so much as Maxwell.

Duo didn't seem to take any time in forming a reply to that statement, a taunting grin on his sly face. "Well, Fei-Foo, I said I wouldn't call you that for eight months. And those eight months were over… Well, sixteen months ago. Therefore, I can call you, whatever, whenever."

This simple shut down of Wufeis insult angered, as it always had, him to no end. There was simply no way to out wit or annoy the menace. He simply had no shame or irritation in his body. Apparently he'd given it all away to Wufei a long time ago.

Heero watched the usual interaction of words between the two and felt a strange homecoming. Whenever he'd come home from a mission during the war, he'd know he was really home when he heard the normal hubbub. Duo and Wufei fighting, Trowa and Quatre chatting, loud music blaring. It had always been the same, comfortable way of being.

It hadn't been routine, just nice normality. Missions were easier to complete knowing you had somewhere to go home to; peoples company to enjoy. He could admit now that he really enjoyed their company. As different as they all were, they all managed to make harmony, corrupted and strange as though it may be, it was there. It was something he'd missed almost as much as he missed Duo.

He jumped in surprise as a hand slapped him several times across his lightly muscled shoulders. Trowa stood next to him, smile in place. A valuable gift from his little blonde lover, Heero surmised.

"How've you been?" the former heavy arms pilot asked with a certain sincere interest lacing his voice. The once sullen boy had always been good at achieving genuine sincerity.

"Alright. You Trowa?" the quiet hacker asked softly. His monotone voice was warming up again with his emotions and he felt… a little bit proud of himself. Emotions were human. Human was what he wanted to make him whole. He was on the road to being complete. It was a really nice feeling.

"Very well I suppose." he flashed an even brighter smile that reminded Heero of how much Trowa had changed and yet stayed the same. He was the same on the inside, the Japanese man thought, he just expressed it now.

"I'm glad." he found himself saying, his Prussian blue eyes turned and focused on the couple of men fighting with as much enthusiasm as ever. It seemed not even years could curb their excitement over it. It was just the way Heero wanted it to be…

"Ahem…"

Heads turned and voices receded to their owners throats at the loud sound. Attention was tuned over solely to a woman in a dress-casual, classy dress-suit. Red pin striped skirt down to the young knees with a matching, crisply pressed jacket. Her fresh, primly white, button up blouse was adorned with a simple black tie and over all she gave the air of a pristine politician. Which was something she coincidently protected.

"I'm sorry to break up the reunion," she started, her crimson lips twitching in mirth and her sharp eyes drifting over the numerous faces populating her office, "But we really need to get on this case. And dear Rai over here is looking very lost in the midst of all this back slapping and laughter. I don't think she's been introduced."

Une rounded her large desk and perched herself comfortable on the leather office chair behind it. She really hadn't wanted to break up that heart warming scene but she had no choice. They could've been doing that all day and they had a reason for being here. There was much on the agenda that needed to be discussed, contracts needed to be signed and people needed to organized. Today was a very busy day for her, and at that she let out a foreboding sigh.

She been working so hard lately, it was hard to decide if she was really up to dealing with the jealousy she saw brewing in so many different colored eyes. Ms. Perfect was jealous of Ms. New Little Sister who was a little jealous it seemed of Mr. Hack and Slash Menace who was most definitely jealous right back to her. God, these people… Always so much drama brewing between them. This time it seems Mr. Yuy is at the core of it. He was always at the core of Relenas fairy tale word, but I was unaware he caused so many hearts to flutter so violently. What a long and eventful mission this will become…

"Alright every one, listen up," she called attention once more when everyone seemed settled where they were. The five former pilots listened so well she could almost see their ears twitching. Soldier mode had been booted up again in all of them. "We have a new threat now…"

She let her sentence drop quietly as she tapped in a few commands on her computer and brought up several statistics and profiles on the holographic boards.

The picture of a man rested on one full screen, his profile a grim thing itself. His past relations with Oz grimmer. Being a front man during a major war could earn you worship of exile. It was to be guessed that he was a victim of the latter. He was a slightly grizzled looking man, his face riddled with scars and other various deformities. It looked as though he was a hardened criminal instead of a war veteran… But then again, a lot of war veterans were hardened criminals. His eyes was a dull brown looking color and stared slightly towards the photographer. Overall, he was a disturbing thing to look at. If there were a line up of evil souls, he would be in the running to be put up on it, solely by his looks.

Sharp eyes scanned over the young faces lined up in front of her. No one could ever assemble a better team than she had. There was so much to this complicated group of people. So much to be considered. They were all intelligent, all capable, experts in their own rights, clever beyond all limits… And yet she had to wonder if it was right to bring them in on a stressful and violent mission such as this. They were war veterans. Young boys who had fought to save everything and had lived through it to become healthy men.

She felt like she was asking to much of them. They had saved everything more than once already. In her book, if you save the world once, you're a hero, brave and deserve a break. If you do it twice, you should be worshiped as a savior and never have to work ever again. So there was the dilemma. She had five men in her office at this moment, the very five that had tipped the balance and ultimately won a war.

These five brave souls had put heart and sweat and fury into a destructive and horrible war. They'd lived through it. They'd made themselves survive and in the end, thrive. They'd seen the explosions, smelled the rank smell of death, heard the crash and bang of destruction. And on more than one occasion tasted that bitter copper taste of their own blood.

But they were always up for more. Always up for another bash against the odds. They'd never passed up a chance to test the waters of fate. Putting their lives in danger seemed to be something that they'd all become quite comfortable at. They were an elite team: The always up, bright strategist; the quiet, clever clown; the loud, passionate god of death; the righteous, justice-loving martial artist; last but definitely not last, the soldier, hacker, destroyer. They were absolutely perfect. And worked so damn well together.

She'd even thrown Collier in there. She on her own was an excellent agent. Never once had she come back with her mission un finished. That was surprising considering how many missions they piled on her and how many there were that could've ended in her death. Raine seemed to be lady luck incarnate, she'd weedled out of many a touchy situation. Her work was always the best, discrete, finished, everything covered, perfect. She'd been impressed by Raine for quite a long time now.

Une shook her head solemnly, there was no use worrying on it now, they were already here. They wouldn't back down now they'd seen their target. She may regret it later, but it was worth a shot. One last mission, she promised, for them. One to remember and be remembered by.

"His name is Tilion. He was a mobile suit engineer for Oz during the war. He started working on many custom suits by the end of the war, yet they were all so complex that they still weren't finished when the war was over. There's been reports out in space and near Kazakhstan about mobile suits and machine fire. He had quite a following during his Oz days."

Everyone waited for a moment, formulated thoughts and finally Duo broke the silence, "So you want all of us to go get this little old guy 'cause you all think that he might still have his old war time suits." His voice was dripping in disbelief and disappointment. He had expected a big problem, not some ugly old guy. He wanted excitement, but this was for the local police. It was also a bit degrading that she thought it required all of them to fish out that little man.

"No." she began in a clipped tone, annoyed at him not getting the right idea, "he sent a threat letter to us three years ago. Actually, he's sent us several. All were along the lines of, 'Mobile Suits are being built. The revolt against your petty peace is ending.' and so on. Of course we didn't believe in taking real action any time soon until we got the latest threat yesterday with this attached…"

The picture and information on the screen disappeared and in it's place was a large picture spanning the room. Air stopped circulating in the room when it popped up. The picture was very very big to begin with. The key fact that caused them to discontinue breathing was because it was the picture of an army. Or a lot of people dressed in the same uniform, saluting. Either way it did not bode well.

"An army?!" Relena exclaimed loudly, fearfully. This was not happening. No more wars were to occur on her watch and here's one springing up again. Sweet Jesus.

Everyone had nearly forgotten she was there until she threw them back to the reality that she was sitting in the same room as them. Une rolled her eyes, Nice observation lady. Why have we saved you all those times? Waste of time and energy if you ask me… Ideals ideals ideals. Blah blah blah. You're such a naïve faker. I'm surprised I haven't shoved a pencil through your stupid eye yet. She frowned slightly, God how she hated annoying people. Relena Peacecraft had never been one of her favorite people, but after the war ended and Relena had visited her… Dear lord the girl could talk… And talk and talk and talk… About nothing. Well, nothing and Heero.

Gripping her pencil tightly in her right hand in an attempt to keep from gouging out blondies eyes, she stated briefly, "If you take a closer look you'll notice-"

"The mobile suits lined up against the back wall." Heero finished for her, his blue eyes flicking with interest of the large, gleaming hunks of metal looming in the dark shadows of the picture. He remembered mobile suits well, he'd spent enough time in one. He had respect a certain respect for them, and their builders. He loved them for their perfection and power. But he was well aware of the destruction they caused and because of that he didn't let himself become to attached to the idea of seeing one again.

"MOBILE SUITS?!" Relena was out of her chair in an instant, slamming her palms down on the desk, eyes trained to the photo.

"Ms. Relena." her voice was grainy sand as she fixed her irritated eyes on the girl a few years her junior. "Please sit down and shut up. We are in a mission briefing right now and I can't have you interrupting it every three seconds. If you can't contain yourself, I'll ask you to leave."

Relena plopped back down into her chair much like a pouting child after getting reprimanded. Une was always picking on her in briefings. Just because she wasn't going on it herself didn't mean she wasn't curious. In fact, she was very nervous about this one. They'd be sending her Heero into a huge messy fight. She didn't want anything to happen to him, he was her world. Even though that was a mighty small world, she didn't care.

"So you're saying that you want us to go fight a bunch of mobile suits…" Wufei looked at her with those cole black, unnerving eyes of his before adding in his skeptical voice, "You're kidding."

"No Mr. Chang, we are quite serious." she said in the voice she always kicked into when missions were involved, "Actually, when we found out about all of this a couple years ago we took the threat so seriously… I mean, he sent at least ten threats a year… That we began to rebuild several… uh… Units of illegal machinery, just in case. Surprisingly when the UN was informed on the rebuilding of those… units… and the threat, they were supportive. It's been kept very secretive but it's a very sensitive situation now. It's been upgraded, if you will."

Everyone considered slamming their jaws shut but decided it wouldn't do any good. This was insane. If she was saying… What they thought she was saying, that meant they'd be pilots again. It meant old times and reminiscing. It meant facing old demons and things of the like. It meant there'd be blowing things up, Duo thought with a tingle of excitement.

"How did you convince them to allow Mobile Suits to be built again… I thought they were unarguably outlawed. There was to be no rebuilding of a ms. Ever." Trowa spoke his piece, thoughts racing through his mind like a speeding bullet. He wouldn't be with Heavyarms like he had in dreams, but instead another suit. It was exciting and disappointing at the same time. No suit could ever compare to his Heavyarms.

"Well, we pulled a few strings. Greased a few palms. Added a few clauses." she said secretively, "For one, we promised that we had to first try and remove him without force. If that failed and we did need the assistance of those mobile suits, they had to be destroyed after the mission was completed."

"So… We're going to pilot again?" Duo asked slowly, hesitantly. He didn't want to get his hopes up for no reason. Being a pilot may have meant doing and seeing a lot of bad things during his lifetime, but this time it was for good. This time it meant he was doing it all for good. Piloting would have to be more fun this time around.

"Well, you five veterans and one rookie will be working on this one." she said, a small smile tilting up her blood red lips, "Meet your new accomplice agent. Ms. Raine Collier."

Relena was still in a total state of shock. This was not happening. It wasn't. Heero was going to be a pilot. Piloting an illegal mobile suit. Along with the other four guys. And Raine was working with them. Most likely in close proximity. How very unlucky. Une was definitely out to get her. It was frustrating that every time she thought she would have time to get close to Heero, he got snatched away. Fate was definitely against her.

Raines face, on the other hand, brightened with unbridled excitement. It was a large happy smile that placed itself comfortably on her full lips. What a turn around. She went from one of the best single agents to being in a group of the elite. It was an honor and it sure as hell gave a boost of pride to be working along side of the five Gundam pilots. That was a fact she had realized only moments before Une announced that she'd be working with them. It had been a big enough shock to know she was sitting in the same room as them, much less go on a mission with them.

They were worshiped everywhere. It was so exciting that she'd be working along side them, so exciting that she'd been put in the same league as them. Her smile only grew as she found Relenas cold hard stare focused darkly on her. Jealousy ran hot and fast through that ones veins. She'd never hook Heero, of that Raine would make sure of. The black haired girl would make sure nothing that evil ever sunk its horrible talons in her friend. Though she kept that ecstatic grin on her face, she spoke to Relena with her eyes. Eyes could speak books and volumes in just one glance. And hers gave the simple message: Blondie, let go your death grip on my good friend, else you come up against me. You will lose, don't doubt it…

Relena took a deep, searching look into the fierce green eyes of the other girl and felt a shiver up her spine. No one had ever stood up to her before. No one had ever told her she couldn't have anything. And here was this little girl, sitting here telling her to back off of Heero. She didn't like being told what to do. She liked even less being denied something. Unknowingly the woman on the other side had just posed a competitive challenge to the blond that she took full heartedly.

The American version of the god of death sat in his chair, infinitely pleased that he'd be piloting again. It was such a rush to know he'd be working along side his own buds. Not to mention he'd get quality time with Heero. What a good deal. "So, where are these suits you've been talking about so fondly?"

The brown haired woman smiled slightly, it was a prideful twitch of the lips that happened on her classical face. Her stern voice turned informative as she began, "Raine will be working mainly behind enemy lines. For you five veterans, we have developed five new suits. Each individual and much like your old ones. Remember that this is on a very secretive level. If the public finds out we're harboring mobile suits, it'll be disastrous. They were developed for this certain emergency but the people wouldn't understand. There'd be controversy, a lot of trouble and explaining. We'd all be out of business. A whole lot of cleaning up would be in order, " she paused for a moment and looked around at them all before continuing, "In other words, you have to be discrete. No flying those suits around to where ever, when ever. There's one destination. That's it. Got that?"

Nodding was the groups answer and with that she smiled and said brightly, "Well then, now that that's all cleared up, let's go have a look, shall we? Raine, if you'll go to the conference room, you'll find all your gear and information. Relena, I believe you can let yourself out, thank you for your time."

The former queen watched with her jaw on the ground in disbelief as the group trudged out of the room. Une had just brushed her off like she was a dirt spot on her pristine suit. Who the hell did she think she was? Relena shook her head sharply to clear her muddled thoughts and strolled briskly out of the room. She decided firmly the moment that she set her small, mule clad foot in the elevator, that she'd be back. Une would crumble under her demands to work on the mission also. She was Relena Peacecraft, there was no one that could stand in her way to anything. Anything.

Heero walked slowly after Une, wondering where they held these supposedly fantastic suits at. There was simply no place here. The was the moment that he decided, with a bit of surprise, that he had quiet a lot of curiosity for someone like him. Somebody like me? What do I mean with some of this stuff? Shaking his head, he wondered if he should ask her where they were going, but he decided against that and slapped his mouth shut.

The martial artist obviously had other ideas about speaking, "Where exactly are we going?"

"We've got a MS facility out in the country, I figured we'd take a cab." she said enthusiastically.

Wondering vaguely just how the six of them were going to pile into a single cab, Quatre spied Trowa out of the corner of his eye. It was exciting to be going on a mission again. He had a feeling it was going to be just like old times. And old times had been good times. Very good times indeed.

Trowa caught his boyfriend staring at him and flashed a bright, pleased grin. The entrepreneur blushed lightly and turned his adverted his eyes before any of the pilots could make a silly comment. They were known for making crude remarks where he and Trowa were concerned. They'd denied them during the war, but anymore they just laughed. It was much to true not to laugh at some things.

Duo shoved his hands into his deep, slanted pockets and watched the others stroll through the revolving doors. He ambled his slow way, as usual, behind them. When he came upon them at the curb he carelessly chose a block of pavement to plant his feet in and looked around. It was a nice day. It was the nicest day he'd seen in quite a while.

He felt a large sigh building up in his throat but refused to let it out. Heero... it'd been such a long time since he'd heard his voice, longer still since he'd seen him face to face. Duo allowed himself to shake his head once at himself before letting his thoughts run again. Heero had been his best friend, still was in Duo's mind. The Japanese soldier had been a friend, boyfriend, lover... But never just a love. Heero had claimed to be incapable of that emotion. Hell, he'd claimed to be incapable of any emotion.

Duo mentally smacked himself for not having seen that so long ago. It was just a front Heero put up so he could protect himself. His bitter thoughts ran ragged, Never let yourself get hurt, but you'll hurt me to save yourself. You're so unknowingly selfish...

It was true, in that way Heero was completely and totally selfish. He built up a wall that rivaled Chinas in his heart so that he could hide behind it safely. Whoever came tapping at that wall got shot mercilessly through the heart. Nothing came between him and his safety. He'd convinced himself over the years that that was what was best for him. That hiding his true feelings was the best possible way. And he'd eventually started hiding them so well that even he couldn't find them...

Something tightened in Duos chest and he let out his pent up sigh instead of swallowing it like his brain told him to. It seemed that Heero would take a large excavation crew to unearth his heart and soul. The thought of an entire group of people on their hands and knees with little picks and brushes, unearthing Heeros heart brought an outburst of chuckles. God, I'm so fucking weird sometimes... I swear, why do I put up with myself?

The Japanese hacker turned at the sound of that familiar laugh. Duo's entire face brightened with mirth and the contours of his face lightened up like fireworks. It was amazing. Duo was amazing. Heero had forgotten how very much he'd missed that laugh. Stomach muscles contracted in on themselves as he threw back his head to chuckle a bit harder. Just hearing his laugh made everything inside turn to week old jell-o. It was something that he was definitely ready to deal with. If he couldn't do it, he would really like to learn... For Duo...

Duo let his face relax into a grin and tilted his face back forward. It really did feel good to laugh once in a while. Lately he'd been so wrapped up in his own little world he hadn't taken much notice of anything else in the world around him. Swatting a tear formed by laughing, he found a pair of eyes. It wasn't very usual for him to well... find a pair of eyes, but he did. He didn't understand how there could be any other word to describe making eye contact with Heero Yuy. Found was the best possible word he could come up with.

They were so lost in looking at each other and trying to find words they didn't notice Une give Wufei the address just before shoving the two love birds in a cab. They were so oblivious they failed to notice Wufei standing at the curb, trying to hail a cab.

"Duo, I..." Heero let his mouth hold still for a moment while his brain caught up before continuing in a slightly nervous and warm voice, "I've really been meaning to say..."

(({Well then! Sorry those past to chapters took so long! I'm rather busy these days, exams, assessments, finals. You all can sympathize. I'm glad that you guys stay tuned and review, it motivates me and makes me smile. I'm not finished with the next chapter yet but you can expect it in about a week. Thanks to all you who read and review! If you read and liked, please review!}))