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Sensei! By ReddAlice Mika Maeko Thret

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Author's Note: Back in the first chapter I have decided to change the location of Wufei and the other Preventers to L3. For note, Quatre is not a Preventer, but a practical correspondent, while Wufei and Trowa are. Also I wanted to note that this story is set at a slow pace to give the feeling of familiarity. I hope you'll all stick with me and bombard me with suggestions, ideas, criticism, and even flames if necessary! Any attention is good attention! ~Über long chapter, twice chapter 1's size! Chapters will vary on size and content~

Disclaimer: Darryl Albin, Wren Llawcae, Kiyakotari Kimaki, Talon Lywis, and Blake Owens are all original characters created by my dear friend Kiyakotari whom I have borrowed because my baby name book is warn out, so is my brain. May she forgive the abuse I am about to put Darryl through, though he deserves it. As for the names: Grace M. Bouma, Morgan E. Burkett, Lauren King, Anna-li Deboer, and Jae M. Siguaw are the names of my closest group of IRL friends. They've been kind enough to allow me the usage of their names or characters because I'm lazy, all coolness of these characters is solely their gift and I'd like to personally thank them! (Not that they'd ever read this... but that's not the point). As for everyone else...they're either Gundam Wing characters (who I don't own... to my bitter dismay) or mine. There will be no further disclaimers; this one applies for every chapter HENCEFORTH! 

Songs: Going Under - Evanescence, Gessakai - Nightwalker, Aquaria - Psycho Le Cemu, Knife Party - Deftones, Vanilla - Gackt, Messiah - Yayoi Yula,

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Sensei!

Chapter 2 - The First Day

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It had been quite a while since Duo had worked at the Preventers HQ, since his leave almost two years ago the building had changed significantly. Fortunately the lunchroom where his friend's ate was still in the same place it had always been, right next to the defense vicinity where Duo had played many a video games on the security monitors.

Lady Une had requested them to eat their meals disjointedly and to only interrelate with their coworkers when required. Many soldiers were still angry, blinded by their losses, and still felt the drive to defeat the enemy that had been carved into their minds. The Gundams. The rift scabbed over, and eventually turned into a scar on the workforce, but it was for the best that the young men formally known as the Gundam Pilots, as terrorists, kept their personal affairs, such as friendship with one another behind closed doors; behind the classified entrance of the lunchroom, their own private dinning area.  

He smiled reminiscently. Maybe this is what he needed? An active job! It was something that came natural to him, something he had been doing everyday of his life. Surviving. Now, however, it was a willing game of survival and he was in control. He chose to live precariously, and it felt too good to have his blood pumping through his veins again. It felt good to be alive.

As Duo came around a corner, he ran whole bodily into another solid figure. "Sorry man." Glaring at him stood Edward Leeza, his gaze traversing over Duo's body in an assessive sweep. "Yes?"

Verdict flashed in Edward's eyes. "Excuse me." He said with a clandestine smirk, and he sidestepped resumed down the hall at brisk speed.

"Same to you." Duo muttered dusting off invisible Leeza-germs.

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Quatre glanced up from his soup and waved his spoon. "Glad you founds us Duo, I thought you'd forgotten where the lunchroom was."

The door slowly fell shut; the wood dragging quietly on the carpet till it clicked. "You wouldn't really execute a kid... now wouldya Wufei?"

Duo took a seat next to Wufei and made a big show of plopping his red sneakers on the lunchroom table. After a moment the air relaxed in the room.

Shutting his eyes, Wufei leaned back against the hard wood of his chair and laid his chopsticks across the top of his bowl of instant ramen. Would he kill a kid? Never. "No, I would never harm a child." Wufei responded carefully, opening his eyes he fixed his face into a neutral expression. "However... I don't consider 15 to 18 year olds children, Duo."

Quatre remained thoughtfully mute, and nodded his acquiesce. How could they consider them children? All of the pilots, and many soldiers, were scarcely young adults when they were marched into battle. To think of them as children they would have to acknowledge that they themselves were still so young...

"Is that so?" Duo asked inattentively, his thoughts apparent as his eyebrow twitched distinctly. "Would you kill me if you had to?" His voice didn't change it remained inquisitively aloof.

Wufei's mind congested and came barreling to a halt, he felt like he had hit a gundanium wall. "What?" Why would he ask such an asinine question? As he opened his mouth to answer, he found himself unable to utter a word. Would he if he had to? Would he kill his comrade? His friend? Could he kill Duo? He couldn't answer, he didn't know.

When Wufei didn't reply, Duo turned his attention back to Quatre and grinned apparently unafflicted. "I could never forget where the lunchroom is, Quatre. Not even if I tried!"

Instead of laughing, Quatre was staring pensively at his meal. His gaze hardened with his conflicting thoughts. Evidently, he didn't know either.

Duo sighed and shook his head. "I know it's pathetic."

Quatre raised his head to meet Duo's eyes. Did he know why no one could answer and think it was wretched they didn't know?

"Even if I was brained washed, I'd never forget where I could go to legally raid a fridge without a scent to my name."

"So long as you stayed out of my cumquats." An abstract voice responded. Trowa had just come in catching the end of Duo's comment.

Duo scrunched his nose, "Man, I wouldn't dream of touching them."

Trowa shrugged, "Good, they're hard to come by."

~$~$~$-Wufei's Apartment-$~$~$~$~

"When do we leave?" Duo asked tossing yet another crumpled up candy bar wrapper into the trash beside Wufei's kitchen table, where Wufei sat diligently writing notes on several pieces of paper. Everything today was very food oriented, he decided looking up and smiling. "I hope there's good sushi bars on L1."

Wufei made a face, "I don't like sushi. Raw fish..." He said like the words themselves were poison brought in from a red tide.

"Not all sushi are raw fish, Wufei." Duo informed, waving his hand about airily. "Like my favorite kind of sushi happens to be vegetarian. Kappa maki."

"Kappa?"

Duo bobbed his head, "It's a cucumber sushi wrap."

"Kappa... You're making it up. Isn't a Kappa some sort of demon or monster, Duo?"

"I'm not making it up, Wufei. I have no idea why they call the cucumber sushi Kappa maki... but they do." He stated matter-of-factly.

Wufei looked up from his folder, "Japanese are odd."

Duo didn't miss a beat, "And Chinese aren't?"

"I'm not Chinese, Duo." Wufei said distractedly.

Duo leered towards Wufei, scrutinizing his appearance, "I never said you were." When Wufei looked up again to say something back, Duo spoke again. "When do we leave for L1?"

"Tomorrow afternoon, right after we meet up with Lady Une... and Thret."

"Thret... What a last name for someone who supposedly holds no threat to the World Nation." Duo stated far too pleased with him-self.

Wufei stiffed a laugh, and exhaled loudly, but still... Duo had heard him. "Ha-ha... Duo."

Grinning ear-to-ear, Duo watched him, his eyes glittering. "Yes, yes... that was a ha-ha wasn't it?"

At that, Wufei couldn't help but laugh.

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Wufei crawled into his bed while Duo was in the bathroom adjoined to his bedroom, showering, and singing. Maybe if he fell asleep before his friend climbed in next to him, he would be able to sink into a dreamless existence before that very soft but masculine shape lay next to him.

What happened between him and Heero? Why is he here? Why would Duo ask me something like that? Why me?

Drowning in his thoughts, Wufei didn't hear the shower turn off, nor did he notice the time that ticked away before Duo's body pressed up against his back, pulling the covers up around them. He hadn't even felt the bed shift. It startled him. "G'night Wufei." Duo whispered, the hum of his voice spreading gooseflesh along his skin.

A hand slipped around his waist, an uncanny sense of familiarness washed him as a Duo's damn haired head rested against his shoulder blades. It seemed so inimitably affectionate, but so commonplace.

~$~$~$-Space Port-$~$~$~$~

"Are you sure you have to go?" Trowa asked pitifully indifferent. "It's barely even midnight. Everything will be there when you get back."

Quatre nodded, "Yes I know, but I have a lot of work back home to do. Besides, if Wufei isn't enough company for you then Duo ought to be."

"No. They're leaving in approximately 15 hours for L1." Trowa shifted topics quickly. This was fine, really it was, it just game him more time to catch up on his work (not that he was behind), and gather his personal affairs (what personal affairs?). "Have enough bags, Quatre?"

Quatre frowned adjusting a small suitcase under his arm, his two briefcases under the other, one bag wrapped around his wrist, and two larger luggage gears in tote at his feet. "You know what? Most of this junk is from the office, I hate taking my work home with me."

Trowa's lips curved up in a clever smile, "Then don't. Your home is your vocation."

With one eyebrow raised, Quatre shot him an undecidedly amused look. "It is isn't it? Nevertheless, if you don't want to see me off... no one makes you come see me off."

"What kind of friend would I be if I didn't?" Trowa asked trying to pry the larger luggage out of his hands.

Quatre beamed genuinely. "A shitty one." He let go. "Thanks." Trowa nodded and lead the way to the terminal where Quatre's shuttle was scheduled to depart from. "You can always call Heero..." Quatre said a little slowly.

"I wouldn't want to bother him and-..." Duo. But Duo was with Wufei preparing for an assignment; he gave his deserting friend a quizzical look.

Quatre nodded as if he had read his mind and had been thinking the same thing for centuries, and the slow child's brain had just caught up. "I hadn't thought about that till after Wufei and Duo left. I was a little disappointed that it had taken me so long to realize, and that I hadn't offered Duo a place to stay with me, or at my house here."

"Realize what?"

"Yesterday when we went to Wufei's house and I saw a pair of red sneakers."

Trowa made a obscure face of confusion, "And..."

"Have you ever known Wufei to wear red sneakers, Trowa?" The man shook his head. "Earlier today-"

"It's midnight, it would be yesterday."

Quatre glared, "Earlier today-"

"That look doesn't mean it happened today." Trowa argued; he took far too much pleasure in agitating his companion.

"It is today until I've been to sleep." Quatre said with dangerous finality that didn't leave a second for reproach, "I noticed when Duo sat down and dropped his shoes on the table that they were the red shoes I spotted. So he's staying with Wufei."

Trowa let the matter lie with that, he didn't want to ask; he didn't want to dip into his friend's private affairs when he himself was submerged in the one leaving him.

"Flight 391 now boarding passengers 1-20 at station B." An electronic female voice sounded.

Quatre came to a halt, and looked up at the ceiling as if pinning down the source of the voice to use his laser-glare to murder. "All right, Trowa." He said picking up and setting his belongings on the conveyer belt that led to a storage compartment under the shuttle. Quatre reached down to pick up his larger luggage, but Trowa's grip was white knuckled.

"I'll see you in two weeks." Trowa said quietly.

Quatre nodded, his features straddling the line of ambivalence and certainty. "Two weeks." He reiterated. "I'll call you next weekend, okay?"

Next weekend? Today was Saturday, what would he do till then? "Fine, next weekend then. Bye, Quatre."

"Later, Trowa." Quatre turned on his heals, Trowa watching him as he disappeared behind a pair of silver sliding doors and down a small passage towards the shuttle.

Trowa waited until the shuttle had taken off before he turned back towards his vehicle, and even then he took his time feeling at a loss.

~$~$~$- Office, Noon-$~$~$~$~

Duo and Wufei slipped into the boardroom undetected in time to hear the end of Aaron Thret's interminable speech.

"-It's deplorable to see children playing solider, children playing politicians, councilors in their own court, trying to meddle in affairs they can't understand." Wufei cleared his throat to announce their arrival to which Une looked up pained. "They're to naïve"-he continued "-to try and garner such power, they don't understand they'll destroy themselves if they fight us. Children can't be soldiers." Duo flopped in a chair stridently; his intent plain to Wufei, and Thret shot a look over his left shoulder to check on the interlopers, and then turned his eyes back to Lady Une. "You have guests, Lieutenant Une."

She nodded and stood up from her seat, her body stiff from sitting. "Aaron, this is Duo Maxwell and Wufei Chang. "

"Yes, I see." The man said nodding in their general direction.

"They're the Gundam Pilots, the Preventers that will be assisting you."

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It took every once of the discipline Thret had not to bash Lady Une's feeble head into the table. Did she listen to a word he said? Gundam Pilots!? They were so young! Children should not be controlling the fates of others when they themselves can't handle pre-pubescence! "Madam, I am sure this is some misunderstanding. They look narrowly older then my son and the people who threaten him."

Lady Une nodded, "They're only a few months older than your son." She said to educate the distressed man. "These boys fought your war when they were children, and now they are here, young adults, and are going to be assisting you in fighting a bigger war on a smaller scale."

"Excuse me?" Wufei asked. What did she mean? His war? Could it be because Thret and him were both colonist? Bigger war? Smaller scale?

Lady Une ignored him. "You see... you wanted the best..."

A surge of pride filled Duo. The best... "That's right." He chimed unable to snuff out his glee. "And we are the best."

Thret gaped at the braided thing and it's mouth.

"That's right." Wufei consoled frostily. "He speaks."

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"How do you suppose to pass these... kids off as teachers?" Thret demanded.

Lady Une folded her hands, her eyes narrowed attentively. "Monday is the first day of school for Inganno Academy, the institute your son attends. Am I correct, Aaron?"

"Yes you are, Lieutenant Une. I fail to see your point."

"Mr. Maxwell will be attending the first day as a professor. Mr. Chang will drift away in the student body and befriend your... offspring." She said in distaste.

Duo sat up, "Wait. I'm the teacher? I thought we were both going in as faculty." Wufei looked at him and shrugged, he had known this all along.

"Bottom line is, Thret, no one will question this. New students and new teachers filter in and out of that school every year, nothing will appear odd when they appear separately on the first day of school."

Thret pulled back his lip in an offensive snarl, "And what is this..."-pointing at Duo-"hippie going to teach? Art?"

"No, he'll instruct History, a few extracurricular activities, clubs, and one writing-"

"This will never work. I should have never called you, Une... you incompetent-"

His words were chopped short by the sound of Lady Une's hands coming down flat on the desk as she jolted up from her chair, her professional lady-like demeanor melting away into that of a lieutenant, a face that had been put away for many years. "How dare you speak to me in such a tone." She roared. "You impudent little man. I suggest you cease and desist before I have either of the two men behind you dispose of you, should you be lucky that I don't loose my temper and get to you first. You forget whom you speak to."

Silence.

"I-I..." Thret sputtered. Lady Une sat back down, and tilted her head to listen. "How d-dare you speak to me like that!"

Wufei had nearly forgotten the tactics Lady Une could use when prompted. Preventers were beyond the government as long as they stood just outside of society. They were still just tools. Preventers didn't follow the rules; they did what was necessary when necessary... they were to be prepared for anything... for everything.

"Remember whose hands your son's welfare rests in, Aaron..." She drawled prettily. "We would not want either of the men behind you to suddenly forget their skills when protecting your son. You trusted his life to me, the contract is signed, and now it is a matter of keeping the peace, a job for the Preventers, not for you."

That ended it, and left Duo confused. He was going to be the teacher and Wufei was going to be a student? Why hadn't he paid more attention before he barged in on that meeting! Maybe Edward Leeza was better suited for this job after all.

Thret left in a flustered rush and Duo made a face; there was one thing he wanted to ask Lady Une. "Why?"

Une's eyebrow simply twitched upward slightly and she turned for the door. "Wufei will finish the details today and tomorrow. 

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"Have everything, Mr. Maxwell?"

"I didn't bring anything with me."

"I see... the bureau has provided you with clothes appropriate of your task, they'll be in you residence on L-1, along with anything else you need to maintain an ordinary and orderly façade."

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"What exactly is the mission? Are we going in there to watch a kid?"

"Not exactly Duo... It's our job as Preventers to keep small-scale resistances, fires if you will, from erupting and spreading like wild to other areas. We don't want another war. His Excellency didn't die in vain. Your mission is to protect the son of Aaron Thret from the rebel group rooted in that very academy. Nothing like a murder or kidnapping to draw attention to their cause… Their young adults, Duo, like you. We want to keep this hushed, we don't want to help advertise now do we?"

"Nope."

"Since the end of the war Thret has been accused of storing weapons, in allegiance with Ms. Dorland, by conspirers... who also say he desires total pacifisms so when he uses force everyone will be helpless to his advances. Too bad for his biological son he was enrolled in an academy where politics are bred into the children, and these children grow into young adults who fully understand the power they have. They're the future politicians. It's only natural for them to want to act out the changes they want to see. Thret has informed us that his son is in danger because of rumors... but other sources have told us these rumors of a rebel group growing behind the academy's walls in more than true, but a harsh reality waiting to lash out. It's brimming. I want you to protect his son and gather information on what goes on inside the walls. Mika should be the eye of the storm, and when the time comes, you will defuse the situation discreetly using any means necessary. This isn't a normal mission..."

"You could say that again. I don't understand the importance of a little bit of school issues, every school has them."

"This is different. Any questions, Mr. Maxwell?"

"Biological son?"

"Thret has two other children, older and in the working force, both of which are his children by marriage. Mika's Stepbrothers."

"Any ties to the school?"

"Dismissed..."

"Okay then... lets get this ball on the roll."

~$~$~$-Off to L1 they go, hi-de-hi-de-ho!-$~$~$~$~

The four-hour shuttle ride was reasonably uninterrupted, and the flight attendees were instructed to keep their distance from them so they could rest. It was calm, but irritating. Duo turned the dial on his disc player and the volume mounted in his head, beating away the silence.

He watched the stars hanging in the backdrop; so far in the distance they looked like shards of glass glittering on black velvet curtain under the suns glare. Not many sights made him feel so alone, so out of place. As if he was the only living creature with thoughts, and everything was constructed around him. It made him different, and it wasn't an abnormal feeling. Everyone around him had felt the same at one point or another. Wufei had felt the same.

Pursing his lips, Duo pulled the white shutter over the window and sunk back in his chair with his eyes closed. He could feel the space around the ship alter as the shuttle docked. It was 7:15, 1 AM in Beijing.

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"I think..." Duo looked around the terminal, bawled his fists, and placed them on the subtle curve of his hips. "I think our luggage has been stolen."

Wufei shook his head, "No, Duo. Our luggage was shipped ahead and should be waiting for us at our designated locations. Tonight we're going to go check into a hotel, and tomorrow we're going to set up."

Duo flopped into a plastic seat near the luggage carousel, and proceeded to ignore Wufei. "Stolen luggage... no Coffee... coffee" He mourned.

"It's only 8 PM, you don't need caffeine."

Glaring, Duo turned his head away from Wufei. "It's 2 AM in Beijing, I need caffeine or I will go postal!"

Wufei stepped back, and looked about. Several people had stopped to watch Duo, including a few stray security guards. "Duo, we'll go get coffee."

"Nothing like threatening to go postal in a nice loud voice to get what you want." He smirked.

They made their way towards the street, and Wufei hailed a cab. Mumbling their destination he sat back and turned his attention over towards Duo. Since his arrival, he had been unusually quiet and secretive. It was becoming a concern, and Wufei refused to pry.

Duo was sitting with one hand on his leg, and the other on the armrest of the door. His eyes idly watching the pedestrians fuss with shopping bags. L1 was notorious for their designer shops, theatres, and all around vicinities. It was the poster cluster for the colonies. All sparkles and flair, but the people held certain arrogance than was equally well known. They felt superior to their comrades of L2, and Wufei thought for a moment he could see those very thought pass across his face.

"Your from L-2, aren't you?" Glancing at Wufei, Duo nodded and then turned his attention back to the civilians out in the crisp evening air. "I hear it's-"

Duo cut him of with an odd look, and then said tersely, "It's got a lot of character." He eyed a huddle of women exiting a boutique as they slowed at a stoplight. "I haven't spent a lot of time on L1, I feel kinda awkward prancing in here and just posing as a teacher. I won't fit in."

"We're counting on that, Duo." Wufei replied; it was his turn to watch meditatively out the window while Duo starred at him with a desire for answers.

~$~$~$-Next morning-$~$~$~$~

Duo stretched and literally rolled out of bed, taking a cascading pile of sheets and blankets with him to the ground. "Man-o-man..." He purred as he continued his stretching. "This feels so good, I love hotels."

"Maxwell." Wufei's voice rang clipped.

Uh oh. Duo sat up, Wufei never called him that. "Yeah?"

"The blankets." Wufei chittered... They had left the heat off and now it was 8:15 AM and bitterly cold.

"Oh!" Duo laughed and pulled the covers up around him. "These... comfortable, fluffy, warm blankets?" He drawled.

Two black eyes glowered over the side of the mattress at him. "Yes... those comfortable, fluffy, warm blankets." He repeated in a husky growl.

Duo blinked, stood up and made his way to the bathroom draped in a cape made of the finest bedspread in the hotel. He would leave Wufei nothing. "Oh, well it's too bad it's time to get up and that I claim the shower first." He turned his head and winked boyishly.

Wufei was up and flying over the bed towards the closing the door. "Duo!"

Mine. Duo mouthed as it clicked shut, and the lock slid into place. The shower water turned on.

Wufei glared at the door, but found it hard to keep up such a hideous face directed at the bathroom's occupant. Duo was testing his nerves this morning, but it was such a normal occurrence when in Duo's brilliant company it was hard to keep on agitated. It meant that not everything was twisted in the braided man's life. That was good. "Don't use all the hot water!" He shouted turning on his heals and going to find the two coworkers breakfast. It would be a long day.

~$~$~$-Duo's Base of Operations, Evening-$~$~$~$~

"Aren't I the spoilt one?" Duo mused running his fingers along the backside of the large posh couch. "What did I do to deserve such a comfortable dwelling?"

Wufei shrugged. "This was paid for by Thret, so I assume he was unaware who he was contracting."

Duo wove in and out of each room: big kitchen, large living room, 1 ½ baths, a dinning room, an office, and two bedrooms. "Hey, Wufei?" Duo called from a bedroom. "Only one room is made up, what? Are you going all Heero on me?"

Wufei thought a moment over his choice of words: All Heero on him? What exactly happened between the two? "What do you mean?"

Duo walked back in through a door off the right side of the sitting room, "Well... the mattress is bare for one."

"Duo, I'm not staying here with you."

Duo paused and shifted his gaze through his lashes at Wufei before he resumed the tour of his new home. "Ok." He said nodding.

"I'm going to be boarding at the academy as Mika Thret's roommate. Recently the space became available. It's a good opportunity to get close to him and those who surround his day-to-day life." Wufei explained unnecessarily.

"That and we wouldn't want it to seem like there was a dirty little relationship passing between a new teacher and a student. Now would we? Scandalous!" Duo's words faded with a cryptic grin. "When do you leave for the boarding vicinity?" He yawned shuffling into the kitchen.

Wufei followed, checking the time on a clock above the archway leading to kitchen. It was 6 O'clock. "About three hours."

Duo nodded, "Want something to eat then? They stalked this place to the nines. I could go into hiding in hear and never have to leave for a thing! You'd think I'd have to entertain people nightly!" He reached into a cupboard and pulled out a small clear container. Alcohol. "Very professional." Noticing Wufei's sudden expression change, he modified the topic. "We should go out and look for a sushi bar!"

"No."

~$~$~$- Inganno Academy, South Gate, 9:30 -$~$~$~$~

The building was massive, and didn't disappoint the mental image Duo had expected. It was more than just big; it was expansive 3-story structure built from gray brick with a silver and dark red theme in the shape of a 'H.' The male and female dormitories flanking each side. Along the far north gate stood a statue of a man pointing down at the colonies ground, Heero Yui and at the south gate was a monument to the war, a controversial piece of a small scale earth (about 25 feet tall) with the colonies orbiting it. At its base stood a female soldier saluting the figuration, and at her feet a small plaque: A single body cannot defeat hatred, but a thousand unified people can love and conquer under equality. - Heero Yui.

"Man Heero... you took such an idealists name." He mumbled into the breeze.

Duo slipped his hands into his pockets and gazed towards Wufei's receding form, he had a few bags under each arm and was heading towards the boys dormitory at a moderate speed.

I don't want to sleep alone...

A cold anger gripped at his heart, this wasn't what he had expected when he had ventured to L-3 to Wufei's. He honestly hadn't planned on reenlisting as a Preventer and venturing off on a field mission as soon as he arrived. He had hated the work two years ago, and he wasn't sure if he would like it now. It was worth a try to attempt to run away from your problems, it was worth the hassle he reassured himself. "I'm not running..." He grumbled, his fists bawling in his pockets. He was distracting himself.

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Wufei stopped at the entrance and slung a look back at Duo standing next to the gate with his hands in his slacks. Why was he still standing around? As if Duo read his mind he visibly shrugged and disappeared around the stone gate heading back towards his home on foot. They would have to talk tomorrow once everything was settled in.

Once inside he opted for the stairs oppose the silver adorned elevator, and drifted towards his new room on the fourth floor. It was an ornate hall, and he felt as though maybe this floor was where all the upper class government spawn resided. In a school that preached equality, it was quite the proliferation house.

A person passed him in the hall and spared him an evaluating glance. "Hello." He said with a small and disappeared into a room. Wufei nodded at the space where the boy had stood, fished out a key card from his pocket, and then resumed looking for the appropriate embossed number. "Panther Hall, corridor D, Room- 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29. D-29" He looked down to the card and reread the print: Panther Hall, Corridor D, RM. D-29. In the right hand corner, written with a masculine flourish was his name: Chang, Wufei.

Running the card through the slot, Wufei pressed a small black button along side the reader and the door slid open.

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Voices of the resident students filled the hall. Laughter. Whispers. The entrance closed behind Wufei, plummeting him into the darkness of his large room in time to be spared the petty formalities of introductions. He was sure they were familiar students, who had been in the school system for as long as they could remember.

For Wufei, though, this was entirely a new experience. Something he had never done before. When he was young, as the son of the clan head, he was a privileged youth subjected to a smorgasbord of tutors, private ventures, and became inclined to anti-social behavior. He was never required to sully himself unless in training, and never forced to go up against his other students.

School was entirely new to him, and somewhere inside he could feel his heart beating like a caged butterfly. Was he having anxieties? Maybe Duo was better suited to be the student, but Wufei couldn't admit that he wanted this experience himself. During the war he had heard stories from Quatre on how Duo and Heero would arrange their accommodations when they weren't on missions. They enrolled in private schools... as normal students and did ordinary things like sports and socialize.

'It's not something to be taken for granted.' Trowa had chided, he was never allowed the luxury of either school or teachers, but rather learned vigorously on his own when he wasn't working and moving around. Quatre had agreed, he too had never attended, but instead received similar treatment as Wufei. While they were considered geniuses, linguists, sharp and their bodies honed, ideal soldiers and Preventers they never had a childhood that could be accepted by the standard masses.

The door to his room slid open with a soft whoosh, and tall figure slipped in separating from a throng of young men in casual street clothes. "D-Lights On." The room brightened instantaneously. "You must be my new roommate." The young man said. "My name is Mika, and you are Chang Wufei."

Wufei's lips parted, and his eyes unobtrusively widened in surprise.

~$~$~$- Duo's Place-$~$~$~$~

Duo towel dried his hair, running his fingers through each tangle with ease. "So..." He grumbled staring at his queen-size bed. "This is what it's like to be alone?" The air was still around his movements, his bedroom silent in reply. "A guy could get use to this...I better not sleep there." Turning around, Duo palmed the light switch off, shut the door, and made his way to the couch where he had already set up a small comfortable bed on the plush sofa.

~$~$~$- Inganno Academy, Main Campus, 7:15AM-$~$~$~$~

"And last but never least, Mr. Maxwell, this is your homeroom." The lanky woman chirped who greeted him as Anne. She was a bright women with blonde hair and brown eyes, her figure soft not toned, and homely. She instantly made you feel very comfortable, and that is why she was the counselor for the senior class. The class Duo would be teaching.

In less than thirty minutes they had covered: the student body, rules, conduct, staff dress code, reoccurring events on the calendar, first day drills, the clubs he would be representing by being their staff delegate at meetings and supervising them during practice and tournaments, dorm locations, the cafeteria, offices, and several aspects of his appearance.

He tried to hide the fact he was irked over the school attire codes. Monday - Thursday he was to be appropriately dressed in formal teaching apparel and every other Friday he was allowed to wear casual dress clothes.

"Well, Mr. Maxwell... I hope I haven't bored you out of your mind and that this has been of some use to you." She said pulling her clipboard to her chest and smiling dreamily at him.

Duo nodded, "Yeah, thanks Anne. It has."

Anne bobbed her head and glanced over her shoulder, "Class starts at 7:25 AM and ends at 3:30 PM Monday through Friday, Saturday is a club day or free day as students call it, and on Sunday there are classes from 9 AM till 1 PM. Teachers are on duty from 7 AM till 5 PM, and expected to arrive 30 minutes early and stay 30 minutes late. Got it? Good. You're solely responsibly for the twenty-something bodies that will be waiting for you every morning."

"Great." He must have missed that part in the handbook on how to become a teacher in less than 48 hours, instead of bopping her like he was so compelled to do, Duo just gave his best boyish grin. "Thanks, Anne, I really appreciate you taking some time to show me around."

"Oh... don't worry about it, it's my job... but really..." She leaned in. "It's my pleasure."

Duo blinked. "Uh huh."

"Oh I wanted to ask you a personal question if you don't mind me asking, Mr. Maxwell."

"Sure, no problem, shoot." Duo watched her and disguised his weariness of questions. Lady Une had told him to use his best intuition when in this situation.

"Your age wasn't placed on your staff profile, and I was curious as to how old you are? You seem so young!" She giggled.

"I'm 20." He lied.

Anne froze, "Oh my. That's almost unheard of... I can see why the board decided to keep that from student body knowledge. What made you want to be a tea-"

The bell rang and Duo quickly muttered his good bye and slipped in the room. Saved by the bell! Yoshi!

 ~$~$~$- Class B, RM 210-$~$~$~$~

Wufei could barely mask his nervousness; this wasn't just a mission... he was in school! But just as his anxiety was about to peek inside his mind, the door slide open and his teacher walked in. The man was clean, scruffy, and professional but had a distinct aura around him that demanded attention that garnered focus and loyalty. That was expected of Duo Maxwell, of a good teacher, but what Wufei couldn't fathom was what he was wearing.

Duo Maxwell in white button-down dress shirt, carefully tucked into his waistband. Duo Maxwell in pressed black slacks and polished boots that shone success. Duo Maxwell in a satin red tie... Okay, that one fit Duo just fine, but it was as if all of the beauty that Duo possessed had been wrapped neatly in a package that could barely contain what it so gingerly tried to hide.

Duo spotted Wufei and smiled. The spell was broken, and the braided instructor's familiar gesture was swept away in a look of concentration as he looked for something on his desk. There was a wall between them, carefully constructed to preserve the mission, and both teacher and his pupil could feel it glaringly.

Wufei looked away towards the false blue sky just beyond the expensive windowpane. He had circumspectly chosen a seat in the last few rows of the classroom, his desk by the window. He could see all access ways and most students.

A few trailing students tapered into the room and took their seats, and Duo moved towards the mahogany podium in front of the class room, the sprawling chalk board just feet behind him. "Good Morning!" He said with ease.

The class rose and bowed up, Duo nodded and asked: "How was everyone's summer?"

A couple kids groaned comically, and Duo chuckled. "My name is Mr. Maxwell, and I'm new amongst the faculty here at Inganno Academy."

Wufei leaned back a ways in his chair, he was shocked, suddenly it wasn't a mission that separated them it was age, Duo wasn't 18 here... Duo was in his twenties, mature, an educated teacher, their professor. It didn't feel like an act, and it wasn't, it was just one of the many facets of Duo Maxwell. Something bitter and angry nipped at him. One of the many faces he had yet to see.

~$~$~$- Getting to know you...-The King and I-$~$~$~$~

"I'm going to take roll." Duo announced lifting a transparency and placing it on a white clipboard to read. "Can't I just ask if everyone's here?" He looked up at the cracking faces of his students they were warming up. Who could blame them? "I suppose not..."

His eyes scanned down the 23 names and then across the extremely beautiful faces peering back at him curiously, he wouldn't expect anything less from aristocratic and government official's children, just at glance he could see two empty seats side by side next to Wufei. So he had some skippers. That probably would have been him had he not become a Gundam Pilot.

His mind drifted back to the appearance of his class, they were exceptional, nothing ordinary about them.

"Alright, getting to know you..." Duo sang absently, and he picked the name atop the lists. "Darryl Albin."

"Here." A boy towards the back of the class stood up, his eyes set in a narrow glare pointed at none other than his instructor. He was tall, sinewy, with pale disheveled blonde hair and a dangerous shadowed stare. His uniform was rumpled partially unbuttoned, his ears were pierced, and several metal necklaces dangled over the hallow of his collarbone; one even longer disappeared under his shirt. By all rights, Duo should turn him in for violation of the dress code... but instead he found himself grateful that that student's name was Darryl and not Mika.

"Gavin Andrews?" Darryl sat down and the boy in front of him stood up. He was cute, neat; bright blue eyed, dark haired, and was no taller than 5'4. Duo nodded at him and he sat down. "Sara Andrews?" In the front row the first girl to be called stood up, she was short, and brunette with cold water-washed blue eyes. "Any relation?"

The girl, Sara, shot an icy look over her shoulders and Gavin cowered low in his seat uncomfortably. "It's my brother." She said stiffly and sat back down.

Duo took a moment to breath. It was like him of course, just like his luck, to be stuck with the class with the issues, the baggage.

~$~$~$~$~$~$~$~

Bouma, Grace M.

Burkett, Morgan E.

Chaney, Bernadette L.

Duo open his mouth to continue on with role, he'd only have to do it once and he'd know every name in the class and could take roll during the five minute break in an hour. The door swung open, and two young men filed in. The last through the entry stopped to give Duo an appraising look before a private smile brushed across his features and disappeared into a taunting porcelain mask. "You're late." Duo said waggling one finger at them.

The one who looked at him stopped at one of the empty seats and brushed a hand back through his feathered dark dyed red hair. "Sorry... Sensei..." His voice was a chuckle, a velvety purr. It was Machiavellian, daring him to say something.

Too wise fall into the trap, Duo shrugged, pick your battles, and save them for another day when your enemy isn't expecting it. Duo would accept that challenge, but not on the first day of school. "Forgiven, take your seat." The two did as they were told and he continued to take roll.

Duo looked at Wufei, "Wufei Chang."

Wufei stood, nodded, and reseated himself.

Deboer, Anna Li R..

Duscha, Aubrey

Grey, Liam

"Dexter Hastings?" Duo searched the room, found no empty seats, but no standing figures. "Dexter?" Finally a young man stood, it was the first one to enter the room tardy. He was about 6'2, a good head taller than Duo himself with a strong build, broad shoulders and a narrowed waist, immaculate dress. Why were all the boys in this room... so...

"Dex." He corrected. "And I'm here..." The obviously wasn't said, but it was in the air. A few kids snickered.

Duo kept his head, "Good to know, Dex... now sit down." For a moment the young man's exterior mask faltered, and he sat down.

Hanowell, Brittany A.

Jun, Lian

Kamiki, Kiyakotari

King, Lauren B.

Lewis, Talon

Llawkae, Wren

Mikhail, Stanislav

Owens, Blake W.

Seung, Min

Shing, An

Siguaw, Jae M.

It was an interesting group of faces that rooted in varying ethnic pools, each unique, the females pleasant (aside from Sara), and the majority of the men were nasty (aside from Gavin) and wanting to throw a pissing contest in motion. Lastly...

"Mika Thret?" The only person who hadn't been called on stood and grinned maliciously. The red head that came in late!

"Sensei..." He said softly.

Everyone was listening to him, waiting for a verdict, they trusted his judgment full heartedly. "Mika." Duo acknowledged him with a curt nod. "Thank you all, that's everyone. Welcome to History!"

Duo set his clipboard down and looked back up, Mika was still standing his severe dark brown eyes anchored to Duo's. "Is there something I can do for you, Mr. Thret? Or are you waiting to be told to sit."

Mika didn't waver; instead he tilted his head to the side, and looked at Duo under his thick effeminate lashes. "Tell me to sit... Sensei..."

Duo found his heart in his throat. "Sit." He almost choked.

Mike smiled and sat.

~$~$~$~$~$~$~$~

The class ended at 9:30 AM, and Duo had never been so grateful to be able to disappear into the teacher's office hall in the eastern part of the main campus. He quickly acquainted himself with his very own laptop, vid-com, and several other handy objects he didn't know how to use but had seen Heero use everyday since he had introduced himself.

He vibrated as he tapped his foot excitedly on the floor waiting for windows to load on his laptop, three seconds later (which seemed like an eternity! Damn slow computers) a black screen flashed asking for his name, id number, and password.

Name: Duo Maxwell

#: 21002

Password: **********

A sad smile appeared on his face, it was odd how he missed that old hunk of gundanium. Even though he was the one who really wielded the scythe, the Gundam had become his shield against the world. Every time he had fought, he had been taking revenge for everything that was torn for him; he was fighting for the kids who would end up like him, and all with the help of the cold giant with glowing green eyes.

"Well, well, well... Heero you'd be jealous." He said running a finger along the black monitor. A maniacally grin broke out over his face, and a howling laugh escaped his lips.

A timid rapping at his door broken up his burst of insanity, "Sir..." Came a soft voice.

Duo sat frozen, much like rigor mortis had set in after death by mortification, one hand flexed like a claw and the other extended towards his new toy. "Uh..." He dropped his limbs and sat back. "Come in."

"I'm sorry to interrupt you... I...I wanted to know if I could ask...erm...It's the first day and all..." The soft pair of blue eyes darted to the side nervously, and at last, Gavin scooted into the room and diffidently made his way to the desk.

Really, Duo thought, he's really short. He fought an urge to fall into a fan-girl stereotype, Gavin was unbelievably cute! His voice ever so softly touched by an accent. Kawaii...

The seconds of silence stretched over into minutes until finally Duo realized the boy was waiting for him to give him permission to speak. "What can I do for you, Gavin?"

Gavin's mood lifted immediately, "You remembered my name." He said with wonder.

"Uh huh, I also remember that witch of a sister you have, Sarah."

Immediately his azure eyes smoldered into a maelstrom of anger, his face twisting into something hideous, irate, it was hard to believe such a change could occur in guy who appeared so calm and sweet. "You have no right to speak about her that way." He snarled. Duo's eyes inched open. "You're not worthy of speaking her name." He spat.

Duo found himself staring dumbly. Wow, that was surprising. Finding his footing Duo nodded. "I'm sorry, I don't know her, and I have no right. She just came off as quite the"-a warning look-"She's pretty." Duo tried to amend.

Gavin's rage diminished with an unsure smile, "You just have to know her." He replied. "She can be pretty intense, but she's really a wonderful person. Kind, gentle, smart, beautiful..." His voice vanished in his throat as he dreamily stared past Duo.

Again, Duo just stared. Sister complex... "I'm sure she is." He said vigilantly, that snapped the boy back into reality. "Now, what can I help you with, Gavin?"

"My father constructed my class agenda before I got here and had a chance to suggest anything..."

"Why would you suggest, why can't you just make up one yourself? You're nearly an adult? You're what? Practically 18?" The boy shook his head. "Uh... 17?" Gavin continued to shake his head. "How old are you?"

"I... turn 16 next week." He whispered.

Duo's eyebrow screwed up his forehead, "You're a senior?" Gavin nodded. "How old is your sister?"

"She's 18."

"I see..." Duo decided right then it would be a great time to become acquainted with his student profile program on his the school database. "Why can't you make your own class schedule?"

"I... my father..." Gavin watched his feet. "I'm my father's only son.... And..."

"Okay, I got it." Duo said with a defined frown. "Now what about your classes?"

Gavin shifted his weight from his left to his right, "I wanted to know... if I could trade a class... for... well your writing class. Maybe... I don't know... you could help me?"

My writing class? When did he teach writing? "Is that all?" Duo laughed, and Gavin found it easy to as well. He really was starting to like this kid. "I'll see what I can do! Why don't you stop by later?"

"I can't... I have to be... somewhere." Gavin replied quietly.

"Well then my office after school tomorrow? Okay?" Duo asked.

Gavin dipped his head gratefully, "And... can this be a secret? My father... wouldn't be happy... He's not fond of my... writing... He'd be angry."

"Yeah, sure thing. Our secret." Duo said standing up and extending his hand.

They shook and finally, Gavin melted into a pool of laughter and grins. "Thank you so much! Thank you! Thank you, thank you, and thank you! I can't tell you-... ah, thank you, Mr. Maxwell!"

The name felt like a sudden slap in the face. Duo faltered over it. "Uh, in private... go ahead and call me Duo."

Gavin looked taken aback.

"I'm not that old..." Duo said rubbing the back of his head; he knew none of this would come back to him. Gavin was a boy of undisclosed, as it seemed, and Duo was a self-proclaimed 'excellent judge of character.' "Not much older than your sister." Or the same age, same thing.

"All right, Duo." Gavin grinned, testing out the name. He then bowed politely and excused himself mumbling several thank yous and exiting, the door gently shutting behind him.

For a long time afterward, Duo thought about Gavin... his father and his sister and frowned. Did he have many kids like Gavin in his class? He bitterly wondered what Wufei was discovering. Duo was sure he had the better end of the deal; those kids' had looks to knock people flat.

~$~$~$- Between Periods-$~$~$~$~

Wufei slid through the crowd with cat like ease, making his way towards his next class, he would skip breakfast for today. He was glad Duo's class had ended, the room was intense, the students a little more than hostile (save for Gavin). No one had spoken to him and he found that he didn't even fit in with the two resident Chinese students, a male named Min Seung and a female, An Shing.

After class An had stopped to look at him, her dark eyes fiery. Wufei nodded to her and swept up his sparse belongings, when he looked back up Min had stopped to observe him as well.

In the end all he had receive were a few piercing gazes before they turned from him, and he reminded himself he wasn't Chinese. He wasn't there to socialize, or to clique with other students he was on a mission. Even on the first day... he wasn't there to make friends.

"Hey Wufei... What do you think of the new teacher, Mr. Maxwell? There isn't a lot about him on the school database. Since he is our base professor I decided to look something up on him, see what kind of bastard he was... wasn't much on him at all."

Wufei looked up at a pair of typical yet striking hazel eyes.

The guy smiled, "We met last night, remember? I'm Mika's friend, Dex. He asked me to come and get you so you could sit with us at breakfast." He paused to breath, "Would you sit with us? You two are roommates, might as well start the year off well.... With the right crowd." The subtle stress on crowd made Wufei's blood burn, it sounded like a threat, naturally... he wanted to meet it eye for eye. "Will you come?" Dex continued.

"Yes." Wufei nodded, and was redirected towards the cafeteria.

~$~$~$~$~$~$~$~

Wufei poked at his breakfast, it was probably more edible than anything he had eaten in years. The school had a staff of private chefs willing to cook just about any food listed on the menu with any variations the students could conjure. All the food listed was pumped with vitamins and extras to help the students maintain a healthy diet. Wufei casually wondered what normal students in 'less prestigious' schools ate.

"What the hell is your problem?" Dex snarled speaking over the table to someone "They've been staring since we sat, Mika."

Mika looked up, his eyes sharpening on An and Min. "Yes...?"

Wufei refused to turn to face them, instead chose to pick through his food quietly. It was wise to remain silent; to cause a stir so soon could deter the mission.

"Nothing." Came a crisp melodic female voice. "You can return to your business." She ordered.

Dex laughed, "Someone has her panties all up in a twist."

"Dexter." Mika snarled softly.

Dex shrugged apologetically and shifted his eyes to Wufei. "I don't remember you here before, are you new this year?" Wufei sat up straight and nodded his head once. "I pity you, Mika is roommate to die for."

Again, Dex had Mika's full attention. "To die for...?" He whispered. "Really?" Dex fidgeted uncomfortably. "I didn't think so."

"No!" Dex all but shouted, "No..." He added quietly.

"No, what?" Mika asked innocently.

"No... I'd die for you..."

Mika smiled and nudged his friend playfully with his elbow, "Don't worry about it, Dex! I know."

Wufei looked from one to the other and then back at his meal. What was between them? Did it matter? When he had reigned in his focus and turned back to Mika, his was lip was pulled back in a scowl, his eyes narrowed in a fierce glare that rivaled Heero's at its worse. Wufei followed the almost visible beam of rage to a familiar face across the cafeteria staring back.

It was Darryl Albin sitting against a wall, his heavy laced boots propped up on the clean surface of a round marble wall table. He was returning the look with a defiant unbreakable ice blue stare, it was on his lips... the blood he wanted... his visibly unforgiving desire was passionate and fuming.

Wufei began to viciously take mental notes of the situation. The way Dex's hands flexed protectively, the tension. Darryl and Mika. If anyone was threatening Mika... Darryl was the likeliest of suspects.

The 5-minute bell sounded.

As sudden as it had come on, everything broke apart as a bright young boy, one who Wufei recognized from class, seated himself across from Darryl speaking at what looked like was a mile a minute. Darryl just smiled, nodded, and laughed even. Before he stabbed Mika with one more burning glance he patted the brunette on the back. It was hard to believe that a moment before Darryl had assisted in creating the thick acidic coat over the room.

Wufei looked at his nudged meal and rose to throw it away. He would have to find out more about the trio.

~$~$~$- The day draws to an End-$~$~$~$~

The rest of the day was uneventful. Each teacher introduced themselves and their curriculum, and Wufei became acquainted with the school rituals that were as old as education. You wake up, make a fool of yourself, prance to class, sit there, listen, be harassed, savor your breaks, eat lunch, and suffer through the last two classes of the day all the while staring at the clock and waiting for 3:30.

It was hard not to sigh at each class, other than Duo's morning history class, each subsequent class was almost offending. It was nothing his private tutors hadn't covered when he was barely 10, and it was increasingly difficult to stay awake. What was he going to do until the end of this mission? He couldn't make a spectacle and ask for advanced classes, he was placed near Thret.

Mrs. Setsuko Takayatsu, the Japanese language instructor, nodded to her class. "You're excused. I hope you've all had a nice day, enjoy your afternoon, and I'll see you tomorrow." 

It was a mission. Only on the first day... and already the line was becoming blurred. The big brass hand on the clock ticked, and a bell sounded.

~$~$~$- After School, 5:20-$~$~$~$~

His day was unexciting, aside from his first period in which he taught advanced history. After that he had a breakfast break followed by 2nd period (Ancient History), Lunch, a first year staff meeting, a brief get-together with Anne.

Apparently teachers alternated on 3rd period, and he would be teaching a [B] creative writing course tomorrow after lunch, followed by his final class poetically titled: War and Revolution 102.

Classes like that made him wonder what sort of citizens these young adults would become. He highly doubted any of them would because normal civilians. The world was just beyond their grasps, and they knew it. That is why he was there to begin with, to stop another war.

Battles always started somewhere on someone's personal court, they were dramatic, and heated... Duo tried to speculate what small spat had sparked the last war, the one that he had helped end.

He frowned, and his mind drew up a blank.

Duo wiggled in his desk swivel chair. He was required to stay thirty minutes after school in case there was academy business to attend to, but he was sure no one was going to bother him on the first day. His foot bounced anxiously. 5:22... Duo dropped his head on his keyboard. 5:22 and 5 seconds.

"Maxwell."

The voice nearly threw Duo under his desk with shock; someone had come in to see him. When he sat up two eyes were staring at him.

The pupil and professor starred at one another, gauging the situation. 

"You could knock." Duo finally said.

"Yes, I could, couldn't I?"

Duo sat up, and dusted himself off habitually. "What can I help you with, Darryl?"

The young man stayed silent for a moment, his ivory expression unchanging. "I wanted to thank you."

"Excuse me?"

With the same tone that had confused Duo earlier, Darryl said. "Thank you for taking a moment for Gavin, he was... really happy."

Duo's eyebrow shot up. "Is he your friend?"

~$~$~$~$~$~$~$~

Darryl returned the expression but apparently ignored his superior's question. Besides, Darryl noted, he was only superior in title. "That's not your business."

Duo blasted up out of his seat and swept everything of importance off his desk into his satchel, except for his laptop which he carefully closed and put in it's case. "5:30 PM! It's time for me to go, see ya."

Bewildered, Darryl allowed himself to be shewed out of the office. That professor, Darryl watched the narrow form lock the door and then jog the length of the hall and out of site, that 'professor' is odd... And that was all he could conclude about the disheveled teacher with the long chestnut braid.

~$~$~$- Abode-O-Odd-instructor-Duo-$~$~$~$~

After arriving home, Duo briefly discussed a few complications with Lady Une. She had neglected to inform him of a few 'duties' he was to perform at the school. She had reprimanded him for not being prepared for anything like he always claimed to be, and told him 'a part of being a Preventer is doing your homework and being equipped.'

When the connection closed, Duo indulged himself in a glare at the black screen, then turned away and tactically dimmed the lights into darkness.

~$~$~$~$~$~$~$~

Wufei... I thought you said you were coming over to discuss the mission. With a sigh of resign he climbed onto the couch, pulled his knees to his chest, and wrapped a red quilt around his body. Even though the room temperature was set to 75°, he was still chilled.

With nothing better to do, Duo waited half clothed under his blanket, his damp hair brushed out and hanging over either shoulder. He waited until he fell asleep...

~$~$~$~$~$~$~$~

"What do you want?"

Duo are you drunk?

"Hey Heero... You've been awfully quiet, something buggin' you?"

"Other than you? No."

What's all this silence...?

"Wait, you're mad at me? Why didn't you tell me so?"

Should I always have to tell you what's wrong? Shouldn't you just know by now?

"Duo, this just isn't going to work out between us. I'm moving out in the morning."

Wait! Duo!? Where are you going?

"I'm leaving!"

~$~$~$~$~$~$~$~

To Be Continued with Chapter 3: Classroom Politics

~$~$~$~$~$~$~$~

Ending Note: Sorry if this chapter felt uneventful, I've just figured out the entire story line and am In the process of laying the foundation, this chapter is necessary in it's simplicity as an basic introduction to the academy. I promise it'll get better and I welcome everyone's comments, ideas, guesses, and criticism. (Oh yeah... Heero is on his way!)

- Wow... 10 reviews on my first chapter! Holy shit! If that continues I will beat NMYG's reviews in two more chapters! As always, I wanted everyone who contributed to inspiring me to write more to know how grateful I am to them. Several of those reviews prompted me to continue writing; I even got a few e-mails with ideas! I haven't gotten response like this since I posted chapter 2 on my Yami no Matsuei fic, and wanted to say thanks to people who took the time to respond!

- THANKS to Lady Dragon Wolf Knight for the grammar fixes! I went through my fic right away to correct the errors she pointed out! Thank you so much! You are always more than helpful; I don't know what I did to deserve a reader like you!

~Responses to Unregistered Reviewers~

Neko - Thank you...**hides and blushes** The best? Hardly, but I'd like to get there! Your e-mail didn't work so I hope you get a chance to read this, thank you for giving my fic a shot! I'm pleased you approved!

Freefall  - Who is this mysterious freefall!? LoL You've reviewed before...anyhow, thank you! As always, the time you take to encourage me is beyond words of gratitude.

Kurai Kaiba - **bounces** Kaiba...as in...Yu-Gi-Oh Kaiba? My favorite YGO character! 2x5 is my favorite pairing as well! I've gotten a lot of requests that vary in matched characters...but I'm not sure as to what I am going to do! Maybe you can help persuade me? Eh? Eh? There are a few more elements that I want to set up before I set down a pairing...and even then...nothing is decided, as many of my normal readers should know!