The next day, Quatre was finally released from his room. Duo had gone out shopping again, and Heero was gone for some inexplicable reason. Quatre sat at the kitchen table, sulking over a mug of hot cocoa. "What's wrong, Quatre?" Trowa asked, leaning on the kitchen counter, sipping a mug of black coffee.

"Well...I...I didn't want to tell you this..." The blond looked up at Trowa with cautious, sad blue eyes. "But I learned that...Zechs was seen in public with...with a man with a long brown braid. And...and the person I was talking to said that Zechs called him Duo."

Trowa took in a deep breath and stared into Quatre's watery blue eyes. "Are you certain?" he asked coldly. "Yes." His voice was very quiet. The blond looked down at the table, sniffling. "I am. Look." Quatre set a picture of Zechs and the back of what looked like Duo's head.

"All right." Trowa walked out of the kitchen, carrying his mug with him. Helplessly, Quatre watched him go.

About an hour later, Duo arrived. He smiled at Quatre. "Hey there, Q. Welcome back to the real world. Do you feel any better?"

"Yeah. I do. It's nice to be back in public." Quatre winked. "So, what did you buy?"

"Nothing. I couldn't buy anything without Heero killing me." Duo shrugged. "Anyway. If anybody is looking for me, tell them I'm in my room."

"Can do." Quatre rose from the table and walked into the living room.

Duo hurried up to his room to find Trowa sitting on his bed. He blinked in shock, closing the door behind him. "Trowa...hi..."

"How could you?" he asked quietly, his hair covering half of his face.

"How could I what?" Maxwell stood across the room, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"How could you betray that one man you truly, truly love?" Trowa looked up and pierced Duo with emerald green eyes.

"What? What makes you think I betrayed Wufei?" Duo crossed the room to his desk, rubbing his face and avoiding Trowa's glare.

"You were seen with Zechs yesterday. You betrayed your lover, Duo. You, the one who always talks about how important devotion is."

"Trowa, I don't know what the hell made you think that I betrayed Wufei, but I can tell you that you are wrong. I would never, ever betray the man that I love. It's about as believable as the thought that Wufei betrayed himself! Betraying Wufei would be betraying my own soul, and my soul means more to me than anything else in this world." Duo turned to face Trowa, tears filling his violet eyes.

"Duo Maxwell, the proof I have is proof enough. There was a picture of you two! I cannot believe that you would tell Zechs Merquis about our plans! You will be the death of Wufei." Trowa rose from the bed and looked at Duo with sheer hatred in his eyes. "I hope that you die knowing that the man you love will die because of you."

"Trowa, who told you these lies?"

"Quatre." Trowa opened Duo's door calmly, leaving the door open as he walked back into his room and closed the door quietly.

"Trowa?" Quatre asked. Trowa looked up in surprise to see Quatre sitting on his bed.

"Quatre! What are you doing in here?"

"Are you ok?"

"No. We have to kill Duo, but...I can't do it." Trowa sat down on the bed beside Quatre, setting his .38 caliber handgun on the bedside table as he looked at the floor. "Duo is one of my best friends, and I just can't do it."

"I'll do it." Quatre glanced surreptitiously over at Trowa, who jumped at Quatre's suggestion.

"Wh-what? Why would you do that?"

"Because, Trowa. It has to happen, and if you won't do it, I will. I'll do it for you, Trowa."

"I...I couldn't possibly ask you to do that...it's my responsibility, Quatre. I must do it." Forest green eyes looked sadly into oceanic blue.

"Trowa, I would do anything for you." Gentle fingers guided Trowa's face up. "Anything." The blond leaned forward and kissed Trowa gently.

Strong arms wrapped around the man's small frame, pulling him closer. "Quatre..." he whispered.

"Shh. Don't say anything, Trowa. There's nothing to say." Quatre kissed Trowa again, pushing him down on the bed.