"In The Stars" Chapter 6

Wufei woke up in the hospital not knowing how much time had passed. Duo's face came into view not two seconds after he opened his eyes. The braided man was smiling but his violet eyes held nothing but concern. Wufei opened his mouth to say something only his throat was too dray and scratchy to create any sounds.

"Shh, don't try and talk until I get you some water," Duo commanded in a gentle voice.

Wufei slowly rolled his head to watch the braided man pour some water into a plastic cup. Duo held the cup to the edge of Wufei's lips giving him small sips. After he emptied about half the glass Duo pulled it away. "So what the hell happened?" Duo demanded not even giving him a chance to say anything.

"Milliardo," Wufei answered after swallowing, his voice sounding as scratchy as his throat felt.

"That prick! He just can't let something go," Duo said in anger.

"He surprised me," was all Wufei offered as explanation. "How long?"

"Three days, hey don't move," Duo said as Wufei tried to sit up. "He broke your shoulder and cracked a couple of ribs. The docs were waiting for you to wake up before casting your shoulder. The guys were here earlier, oh and that Professor you want to pretend doesn't exist has visited everyday." Wufei started at Duo's words, Treize had come and visited everyday. Why, he was only one of his many students. Duo continued talking seemingly not noticing Wufei reaction. "He really wants to talk to you about what happened. You can tell him and then press assault charges on that blonde ass."

"I'm not a girl," Wufei said getting his point across.

"So, guys have filed complaints before. Were you on campus?" Duo answered with a shrug.

"At the park, near the dorms," Wufei answered his eyes showing what he thought of Duo's comment. He felt his stomach tighten, sending waves of nausea through him. Only when he tried to get up the pain was almost unbearable.

"Hey where do you think you're going?" Duo asked jumping from his seat.

"Bathroom, sick..." Wufei said surprised when a metal thing was held up before him.

"That's what this is for, you aren't allowed out of bed," Duo said just before Wufei lost it.

Most of it was the liquid food they'd give him while he was unconscious. There was also acid and blood before he started dry heaving. After several minutes of that, causing his chest to burn, he stopped allowing Duo to pull the container away.

His eyes tiredly followed the braided man into the bathroom, when the door opened to allow a tall figure into the private room. His eyes widen as they meet concerned blue ones. "You're awake," Treize said approaching the bed. "So where is your friend?"

Wufei nodded his head toward the bathroom, finding the movement hurt. Duo stepped out of the bathroom only to smile when he saw their professor. He walked back over to where his chair sat between the bed and windows, placing the container back on the shelf of the table beside the bed.

"Mr. Maxwell," Treize said in greeting. "How long has he been awake?"

"About fifteen minutes ago," Duo replied looking at the clock.

"Has he talked?" The older man asked.

"Yeah, in fact he has some stuff to tell you," Duo said before looking at Wufei, who shook his head no. "Tell him Wu or I will."

Wufei looked at Duo, knowing he'd do just that too. He turned his attention back to Treize but just couldn't tell him what had happened. "I fell."

"Damn it Wu!" Duo burst in. "Tell him the truth!"

He looked at Duo his dark eyes telling his friend he just couldn't do. He couldn't tell Treize, he didn't understand why the man was there. Duo opened his mouth, knowing he had to tell. "He was assaulted by Milliardo. The blonde jerk snuck up on him in the park."

"Why didn't you just tell me?" Treize asked looking squarely at Wufei.

Wufei stared at his lap unable to meet Treize's eyes. He didn't really know why he couldn't tell him, he didn't really understand anything anymore. He thought he'd always hate the older man but he couldn't find that feeling anymore. "I didn't want to," he spit out even though his throat burned.

"Well with a statement from you, I could probably have Mr. Peacecraft thrown out, he is already on probation with the cheating incident," Treize explained.

"No," Wufei answered surprising both people.

"But Wu..."

"What purpose?" Wufei asked interrupting his friend.

"He'd be gone."

"They can't keep him away," Wufei simply said.

"Damn it! That asshole just can't get away with doing this to you," Duo said heatedly. "And all over a Professor who I know can't stand him and his 'I know everything' attitude, always talking way to damn much in class." Duo snapped his mouth shut as all the blood drained from Wufei's face. "I'm gonna go now."

Duo quickly vanished leaving Wufei and Treize alone in the room. Wufei really wanted to strangle the fool and his big mouth. Treize must know for sure now and it wasn't even true he kept telling himself.

"Does this have something to do with me?" Treize asked sitting on the edge of the bed near Wufei's right hand.

"No," Wufei answered turning his head away to look out the window.

Treize sighed startling the younger man. "I wish you would talk to me. Why don't you, you're always so quiet."

"Cause I have nothing to say," he forced out trying to keep his voice under control.

"I don't believe that, you are intelligent," Treize said causing Wufei to look at him in surprise. "Yes I had heard what Mr. Peacecraft had said in class that day, and to be honest it pleased me."

"Pleased you, what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Wufei demanded attempting to sit up again but Treize's large hands restrained him. "Like I care what pleases you! I hate you, just leave me the hell alone," the younger man lashed out unable to control or understand what was going on inside of him. He could feel the tears he had no power to stop or hide. Why was he crying?

"Shh," Treize's voice soothed, his fingers gently combing through Wufei's hair. "I didn't mean to upset you; I just thought you should know the truth about my feelings toward you."

Gentle fingers wiped away what Wufei couldn't. "Why? Why are you doing this to me? Why can't I hate you anymore? Damn it!"

Treize seemed startled by the cried out questions but he didn't pull his hand away. "You hated me?"

"Yes... no not you, another you..." Wufei babbled unable to stop himself. "He started a war, he killed... I hated him so much! So why can't I hate you too, you're the same!"

"Wu!" Duo called picking that moment to return. He approached the pair his eyes going wide at the tear-stained face, flashes of concern entering the violet hues. "Shit! Are you okay? Why did you tell him that stuff? I wasn't going to tell anyone and then it wouldn't matter."

"But it does!" Wufei snapped.

"Mr. Maxwell I think you need to tell me what's going on," Treize ordered his fingers still gently combing through Wufei's hair to try and calm him.

"Um well you're going to think I'm crazy if I tell you this," Duo said with a half-smile.

"I already do, now spill it," Treize said with an authoritative growl.

"Okay, well um about a month ago the Wufei you had in class disappeared to be replaced by this one. He's from another reality, a reality full of war. In that reality he died and well they sent him here to try again," Duo said as Treize just stared at him. "Well in his world, you were a very very bad person and helped start a war. That's all he's really told me about it."

Treize looked at Duo for another minute then at Wufei, whose cheeks were still wet but his eyes were closed. "I believe you."

"You do?" The two boys asked simultaneously as Wufei's eyes shot open.

"Yes, not that it affects much. Does explain some things though," Treize said looking between the two of them. "Does anyone else know?"

"No... I was hoping he'd just forget about all that and concentrate on here and now," Duo confessed earning a scowl from Wufei.

"That's probably not very easy; this isn't where he grew up."

"Yes but it is better than that other place, at least it is peaceful here! He died in that place where he grew up!" Duo said passionately. Duo looked up startled when Wufei's fingers gently caressed his hand on the bed.

"You're right, since telling you I've felt like I'm changing. I just really don't know what to make of these changes, how to deal with them," Wufei finally said staring into Duo's eyes.

"How about a day at a time," Duo suggested with a smile. "I'm sorry about all the---"

"You were right though, it happened even though I had tried so hard to continue my past feelings," Wufei interrupted.

"Why don't you just say it instead of talking around the actual words?"

"The same reason you don't ask Heero out."

"Fine," Duo said suddenly. "I'll make you a deal; you just come out and say it and I'll ask Heero on a date by ourselves."

"Yeah right..."

"I'm serious, we'll pinky shake on it," Duo said holding his pinky near Wufei's.

"After he leaves," Wufei said glancing over at Treize who was just sitting and watching them.

Duo shook his head, "Nope, right now..."

"Oh fine," Wufei said at last looping his pinky around Duo's. "If it will get you to talk to Heero..."

"Come on," Duo prompted after the other man sat there quietly for several minutes.

The Chinese man sighed almost over-dramatically. "Despite my past feelings, I lost the feeling of hate somewhere... I seemed to... have fallen for the Professor."

"That's not what you call him," Duo said with a shake of his head.

"Come on..."

"Nope, I said to stop dancing around it."

"Oh fine damn it. Treize, there you happy!" Wufei snapped.

"Very," Duo said with a smile before getting up and leaving again. "Got to keep my end now."

Wufei couldn't look at the man still sitting on the edge of his hospital bed. Now it was out, he'd said it himself; he really couldn't deny it anymore.

"Wufei..." Treize's voice whispered very close to his ear. The dark haired man turned surprised, his face coming within inches of Treize's. "I do truly feel the same way about you."

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