"In The Stars" Chapter 9

"Hey Wu I---" Duo had started to say as he walked back into the hospital room, yet his voice deserted him upon seeing Wufei's wrapped right hand. "What happened?"

"I accidentally cut myself," Wufei said dropping his eyes.

"On what?" Duo demanded standing on the opposite side of the bed from where Treize was sitting.

"In the bathroom," Wufei whispered.

"You know I hate to say this but I think you do need to stay with someone. Even if it is not with the Professor, I mean you can stay in my room, I'll sleep on the floor," Duo said.

Treize smiled at the comment before deciding to come to Wufei's aid. "Thanks for the offer but it is already taken care of."

"Oh that's good," Duo agreed with a nod.

"You don't hate me?" Wufei asked finally looking at Duo.

"Of course not, you are more than just my best friend, you're like the brother I never had. But you are stubborn, especially when it comes to your health. I remember in junior high when you got really sick but refused to tell anyone, your parents, the teachers, no one. It took you collapsing in school for anyone to notice you were sick."

Wufei stared at his lap as Duo told them about things he'd never lived. "I honestly wish I could share those memories."

"Do you want to remember?" The little girl's voice asked causing Wufei to look around but he didn't see her. He was startled when he felt a small hand rest against his lower leg. He looked between Duo and the bed to see her standing there. "No room for me."

Wufei unconsciously shifted his leg closer to the other, making a spacer for her on the bed. She jumped up, her curly hair bouncing, to sit down with her legs dangling over the side. "I can give you the memories but you must know it has a price. You must give up the memories of the life you led before your death. They are dormant but they are there if you really wanted to recall them. So I can erase those and replace them with the ones you've wished for."

"Wufei?" Duo's voice asked startling him, pulling his eyes from the small child.

"She's here, the little girl I told you about before," Wufei said seeing Duo's eyes widen.

"What does she want?" Treize asked his fingers tightening around Wufei's right hand.

Wufei watched astonished as the girl climbed over his legs and up the bed. She gently patted Treize's hand that held his. "He's not going anywhere silly."

Wufei laughed at the action earning him questioning looks. "She..." he tried to say between breathes. "She just patted your hand like you would to comfort a child. I won't tell you what she said though."

Duo couldn't help but snicker while Treize seemed to just look angry. "I think I can imagine, so why is she here?" Treize said silencing Duo.

"She claims she can give me the memories of this life but for a price," Wufei said calming down. The child looked at him like she was curious as to why he stopped laughing. "I would lose the memories of my life before. I'm just..."

"I'll give you time to think about it, give me your answer tomorrow," she said before hopping from the bed. When Wufei looked where she should have landed there was no one there.

"She left, said she'd come back tomorrow for my answer," Wufei said first looking at Treize then Duo.

"You know what Wu," Duo piped up, "as much as I would love to be able to share memories with you, the memories you carry of your life before this make you who you are. I'm going to go get a soda; I'll be back in a bit."

Duo left, his words still filtering through Wufei's head. Treize's fingers gently squeezed the hand they held getting Wufei's attention. "He's right you know your life before made you who you are and who we have fallen for. Without those memories you aren't that person anymore. But the decision is really up to you in the end," Treize said.

"It's just when I hear him talk about our youth, I wish I could see it myself like he does, but to lose the memories of my life before I was thrust into this one," Wufei said looking down at his chest. "It's just to choose a life I did live or a life I was shoved into. I guess I really just need to think... or maybe I've been thinking too much."

"It is never wrong to think," Treize said gently pushing Wufei's shoulder length hair back from the younger man's face.

"Would you... feel the same if I did say yes?" Wufei asked looking up at Treize.

"I don't know, I wish I could say yes but I really don't know," Treize answered honestly. "Because you will most likely change, you won't honestly be the person I have fallen in love with."

"Would you... kiss me if I asked?" Wufei fought his cowardice and self-loathing at the sudden desire.

"I will do anything for you," Treize answered tucking the loose hair behind Wufei's ear.

"Would you do it... right now?" Wufei blushed even though he had tried so hard not to.

"Do you want me to?" Treize asked in reply.

Wufei stared at his sheets before nodding his head ever so slightly. It seemed that Treize really did care about him and deep inside he knew he felt strongly for the older man. No matter how much he tried to push it away or shut it out, the feelings were still there throbbing in his chest, with his heart. He blinked when Treize's fingers gently lifted his chin. He couldn't get out a single breath before Treize pressed their lips firmly together driving any other thoughts from his mind., giving Wufei only that to focus on. Treize pulled away what seemed like minutes later, but was probably only a few seconds. Wufei opened his eyes to stare into the bright but warm blue of Treize's.

"I hear you're getting out of here by the end of the week," Duo said as he bound into the room a couple days later.

"That's what they claim," Wufei answered trying to shift on his bed. They had started walking with him up and down the halls and he found it hard to get into a comfortable position when they returned him to his room.

"I expect Treize will pick you up, you know if you want I could pack up some of your stuff and take it to his house for you," Duo offered.

"I'm not moving in there permanently," Wufei huffed shifting against. "And I don't know if he is or not, I don't think he knows they are going to release me. I haven't seen him all day to be honest."

"You know, I remember when it used to make your blood boil if I mentioned him visiting," Duo noted. "And he'll probably show up in a little while, he did have classes to teach today."

"I know that, that wasn't what I was saying, you take everything all wrong!" Wufei snapped. "It was a simple explanation of my answer to your question."

"Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?" Duo asked surprised by the reaction.

"No, I just can't get comfortable and my ribs hurt!" Wufei hissed.

"Anything I can do?" Treize asked from the door startling both young men.

"Yeah, you can deal with his foul temper today," Duo said getting up. "See you later; hopefully you won't want to bite my head off then."

Duo left before Wufei could say anything in response. Treize approached the bed seeing the way the younger man fidgeted. "Let me help. Do you want to be higher up on the bed?" He offered receiving a nod from Wufei.

Treize gently lifted him from the bed before resettling him higher up on the pillows. Wufei sighed as he sank into his usual spot. "Thanks..."

"Not a problem," Treize answered delivering a light kiss to Wufei's nose. "So when do I need to be here to collect you and get you out of here?"

"Oh uh, they said it would be early Thursday afternoon," Wufei answered strangely pleased.

"Hum, I'm supposed to teach but I think one cancelled class won't bother the students," Treize said seeing the hope glowing in Wufei's dark eyes, he wondered if the younger man realized it was there. "Are you happy with your choice?"

"Actually yes, you and Duo were both right in the end. I didn't tell you at the time but the girl smiled at my answer," Wufei said. "The doctor said another four weeks before the cast can come off."

"Oh that'll be right around winter break," Treize said after figuring it up in his head.

"Duo offered to pack some things for me, only a few though," Wufei mentioned. "Like clothes and school stuff."

"That was very kind of him, and he can bring them to my office tomorrow, I'll take them home," Treize answered.

"Okay, it shouldn't be a lot."

"Whatever you need, if it is a lot I don't care."

It's not permanent, Wufei told himself again. Not permanent, I'll move back to the dorms once I'm healed and fine.

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