Due to much pestering, here is Chapter 5.

HOWEVER – the entire story has been revised for… well…. Authoress reasons. It's better now. Read it again.

Also… don't expect the next chapter soon. I'll have it as soon as time and III allow.

Chapter Five – Betrayal

"MOVE! Get out of my way!"

Trowa followed behind Quatre, knowing that though the blond looked meek, he was a force to be reckoned with. Given Quatre the job of clearing the way had been the correct decision, as students scrambled out of the way of the fearsome tyrant that had once been Quatre.

Trowa allowed himself a small smirk at the change, until Duo groaned again. Trowa muttered an apology and shifted him, Meiran rubbing his shoulder on the other side. She'd apparently taken over mothering Duo, and was cooing at him in her stilted English. Duo most likely appreciated it more than she could know.

Duo was strong, and though a beating like this would hurt his pride, overall he wouldn't change. Heero, however, was not going to be happy. And knowing Heero's tendency to overreact and take matters into his own hands, Trowa realized they were going to need a lot more manpower to stop him.

He didn't glance back to check, but he figured Wufei had a very pissed off look on his face. He hadn't heard much from the Chinese boy since they'd met up with Quatre, but Trowa figured he was back there somewhere. What Trowa was concerned about was what to tell Heero.

Heero snarled as a commotion started up in front of him. He hated the fact that he had needed to return to class, knowing that Duo was missing. He hated that Duo still hadn't shown up. He hated this stupid crowd that was forming in the hallway. He hated riots. No doubt an idiot had attacked another idiot and the idiots around them decided this was wonderful.

Heero was aware that his dark thoughts weren't helping the situation, but did nothing to quell them. He was concerned. He was … hell - he was worried. Duo was like a brother to him - maybe even more, a traitorous voice whispered - and it drove Heero insane to know that he couldn't help him.

The commotion was growing louder now, and Heero set his jaw. He would not snap. He would not go around attacking people for interrupting him while he was concentrating. And he would not…

"Hey, Trowa! What happened to Duo?"

Relena's voice carried in the hallway, causing Heero to freeze. He froze, staring down the hallway and willing students to move. He could hear Quatre hollering for people to get out of the way, and they were.

Impatient as he was known to be, Heero stalked forward and shoved some of the students out of the way. They cried out in protest, but this died off when they saw just who had shoved them. Heero had a bit of a reputation of being a fighter.

"There you are," Quatre greeted him. He held up his hands. "Now, I know you're going to get pissed, but I want you to think of this: Duo would not want you to. Okay?"

"Quatre," Heero said flatly. "Move."

The blond rolled his eyes and stepped aside, leaving Heero to see Trowa and Meiran flanking a hunched over Duo, with Relena bent in front of him. He could hear Relena speaking but couldn't discern the words she was saying.

"What in the fuck happened?" Heero found himself demanding almost immediately, stomping forward and causing the few students still clustered around them to back off. It was not unknown that Heero had a temper – he hadn't used it on anyone in awhile, but the fact remained that he could.

"Chill, man," Duo grunted. His eyes opened blearily and he glared at the Asian boy. "Don't go freaking out. I'm fine." He leaned a bit more on Trowa and held up his jacket. "Got it back."

"For fuck's sake, Duo," Heero growled.

"I'm not telling you because it's my problem," Duo grumbled. "And you'll just fucking…. Freak out. Like you're doing now."

A muscle twitched in Heero's neck. Relena rubbed his arm sympathetically. "Heero. He's going to be fine. You need to calm down because you're turning an ugly shade of purple."

"It's true," Trowa added, and Heero merely glared at him as well. After a slow breath, Heero's eyes trained on Duo's once more.

"Fine. You don't want my help? Fine," Heero stammered, shaking his head.

"Heero," Relena said warningly. Quatre stepped forward as well, but Heero took a step back.

"Fine."

With that as a parting word, Heero turned and walked away, obviously not headed towards his next class. Sure enough he headed towards his locker, obviously intending on heading home.

"Fuck," Duo sighed, sagging a bit. "…yeah. That's about right. Fuck."

"He just needs to cool off," Trowa muttered, leading Duo towards Sally Po's office. "Give him til about supper time."

"He should be better by then," Quatre muttered. Relena nodded and voiced her agreement as well. The warning bell for next class sounded, and the group paused.

"Well, I dunno about you guys," Duo drawled. "But I sure as hell am not going to gym."

"I'll get a late slip," Trowa commented dryly. Quatre smirked and nodded in agreement, but Relena had to leave. She promised to visit Duo as soon as possible and scuttled off. That left Meiran, standing next to Duo and looking as though in a crossroad.

"Mei," Quatre said, looking to the Chinese girl. She frowned at him. "Meiran," he amended. "You and Wufei should go to class."

Trowa looked back. "…Speaking of Wufei, just where is he?"

Heero made it twenty feet beyond the school before an odd noise made him pause. It had sounded familiar… and Heero knew why. It was the sound of someone getting the shit kicked out of them.

And the way Heero was feeling right now made him itch for a good beating.

He headed towards the source of the noise – the south end of the school – images of Duo, bruised and battered playing through his head. Once he got around the corner, though, he could only stare in shock.

"Wufei, what the hell are you doing?"

The exchange student looked up, surprised. In his hand he held a clumpful of hair, and attached to that clump of hair was Alex Wheeler, a basketball player. He was kneeling in the snow, and looked quite soaked already. The blond's eyes widened when they saw Heero.

"I'm teaching these assholes a lesson in honor," Wufei informed him, driving a snap kick into Alex's gut. The senior groaned and slumped over in a snow bank. Heero stared, stunned. Behind Wufei was Mueller Jackson  - another basketball player. He looked even worse than his teammate.

"Why?" Heero demanded, eyes wide.

Wufei glared at him. "Why? Why do you think? For kicking the shit out of Maxwell, that's why!"

Heero's blood ran cold as the snow blowing around them.

"What?" he rasped.

Wufei sighed and straightened, walking towards the Asian boy. "For kicking the shit out of Maxwell," he repeated. "Did you not know they were responsible?"

Heero's jaw worked soundlessly, betrayal ringing through him. How could… Duo tell Wufei, a boy he'd only just met, but not tell him? He'd…. been Duo's best friend since they were kids, but he'd tell Wufei…

"I… have… to go," Heero stammered. "I can't believe… you knew."

"I can't believe you didn't!" Wufei retorted, seemingly unbothered by the snow caking his hair. "What kind of friend sits around while his best friend is attacked by two assholes?"

Heero didn't reply. He eyed Wufei for a moment before turning and walking away slowly. It hurt him, really. It hurt that Duo would tell Wufei who'd been attacking him, who'd been tormenting him, but he wouldn't tell Heero.

What Heero couldn't understand was why.

Duo sighed as he made his way down the school steps. He'd barely managed to keep Noin from calling his mother – that was all she needed. 'Hey, Hilde, you gotta leave your job because Duo's been beat up. Again.'

No, Duo's mother had dealt with enough crap and Duo wasn't interested in adding to the pile.

The side of his face had begun to bruise nicely – his entire left cheek was a deep shade of purple, while his jaw was still only red but showing the telltale signs of bruising. Sally Po, the nurse, had tsked over him as usual before pronouncing him relatively unharmed. She had, as usual, offered to have him fill out an incident report, and he had declined. As usual.

The only thing unusual about this particular incident was Heero's absence, to which Duo was headed to ask about. Normally Heero was almost overbearing, trying to get him to admit who was behind the attack. Duo had his pride, though. He was already mocked enough about being Heero's bitch – he didn't need Heero going around and beating people up for him.

He just wished he could be attacked by one person for once, so he could actually win. Two or three guys mauling him in a hallway didn't seem very fair, and though Duo was quick and agile he wasn't a streetfighter.

Duo huddled into his jacket and made his way towards Heero's house. The boy lived only a few blocks from Duo's house, and was also within walking distance of the school. Thus, Duo braved what was shaping up to be a blizzard to seek him out.

He just hoped the upcoming confrontation wouldn't be too messy.

End Chapter 5 – Betrayal