Chapter 6: Feelings, Confrontation, and First Kisses

L2 Colony, Maxwell Church

Christmas Eve, the next day…

"He'll be looking for her…"

Huh?

Duo woke up, Ashi huddled against him in sleep, for warmth and security.

Please, Duo…stay with me. I'm too scared to be alone…she had pleaded.

Duo didn't make a move to get out of the cot he made for them, he lifted up his head to hear what was going one in the other room.

Hmmm…Father Maxwell and Sister Helen are talking about something…

Duo heard a sigh come out of Sister Helen. "Yes…there's been a report that the General is already looking for his missing daughter…"

He's not taking her back!

"We cant let General Perkins take Ashily back after what she has told us…but we'll likely be tried for 'kidnapping' a military official's daughter." Father Maxwell said.

That bastard is crazy enough to do that…

"Perhaps…but maybe it's a chance we'll have to take. We cant let the General take her."

"Agreed." Father Maxwell said; he chuckled. "Besides…he would have to get past Duo, first."

Well, duh!

"Hmmm…Duo and Ashi…they have a very…interesting relationship. Don't you think?" Sister Helen inquired.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well.." she sighed. "…Do you find it appropriate of them sleeping together…in a Church?"

What's that suppose to mean? What is she accusing us off? Duo thought, feeling his face go hot.

"Hmmm…I wouldn't worry about it…it was mostly for warmth, and to give Young Ashi a sense of security. Besides…he did that with the other orphans before."

"But…they are the same age. They're 13…and it's around that age when a young man and lady start noticing each other. Plus, I have a feeling that their relationship is turning into something more than just a close friendship."

Duo felt his face getting even hotter, blushing. Oh…now I see…

"Sister…I believe there is nothing to worry about. Just leave them be."

"My apologies, Father…it's just…I thought you should know."

"I understand, and I appreciate that. You're only showing a concern for the children's morality."

Duo's eyes widened. Oh, come on! Did they really think that we would…ummm…do that in a Church?! Besides, Ashi is my best friend! I'm too young for all this mushy guy/girl stuff!

Duo fell back on the cot's pillow, huddling close to Ashi to give her more warmth. She smells nice…Duo thought. Whoa! Whoa! Wait a minute! What are you doing?! She's like a sister to you, remember?! Turn around!

Duo turned on his side so his back was to Ashi. He was grateful Ashi was still asleep…he didn't want her to see how much of an idiot he must look. A small smiled spread across his face. Well…maybe not like a sister…

"Where is my daughter?" Drake Perkins hissed dangerously.

Father Maxwell frowned at the man he once trusted as his friend. "She's sleeping."

Drake scowled. "At noon?"

"She had a very hard night."

Drake scoffed. "Well then…I'll just take my daughter and go…" Drake said, moving to the orphans' rooms.

Father Maxwell blocked his path. "Not this time, General."

Drake glared at him. "I have a right to take my own daughter home!"

"Do you?"

"I am her father!"

"If you were the loving father…I would let you take her home. But from what I heard…it's out of the question!"

Drake smirked. "Ah, she's been making those twisted lies again, eh?"

"The only thing that's twisted is you, General!"

Drake's smirk deepened. "Lets have Ashily decide."

Father Maxwell and the General did a glaring match until Father Maxwell finally sighed. "Very well…but if she doesn't want to come home…you are not to force her."

"Just bring her in." Drake said, ignoring the Priest's warning.

"Sister Helen."

"Yes?" Sister Helen, who was in the corner listening to everything, said.

"Wake Young Ashi up and have her come here."

Sister Helen bit her lip and looked at Drake and then back to Father Maxwell. "Very well…" she sighed. "But only because you told me to." She said, walking into one of the orphan's rooms.

She appeared a few minutes later with Ashi, rubbing sleep from her eyes; Duo by her side. Ashi's eyes widened, as she gasped, putting a hand on her heart. "Father!"

Duo snarled, putting a protective hand on Ashi's shoulder. "What do you want, Perkins?!"

Drake ignored Duo and smiled a almost genuine smile at his daughter. "Ashi, darling. I was so worried!"

"So worried that you waited until now to look for her?!" Duo spat.

Drake gave Duo a slight sneer, but ignored him otherwise. "Ashily, why don't you come home? I was worried sick."

"NO! I'm not going home with you!" Ashi screamed.

"I won't let you! Especially after what you've done to her!" Duo said, stepping in front of Ashi.

Drake gave Ashi a hurtful look. "Ashi, dear…why are you saying such twisted lies about me? Ever since your dear mother's death…you haven't been yourself lately."

"It's you that hasn't been yourself, Father!"

"Ah, Precious Daughter. Yes, I know your mother's death was hard to take…but that is no reason to be making vicious lies about me."

"Explain the bruises all over her body!" Sister Helen said, unable to stay quite any longer.

"She fell down the stairs at home…she is quite the clumsy child. Aren't you, Sweet Heart?"

Ashi's stomach knotted up in nausea. "Don't call me those names! You make me sick!"

"What about the first few buttons that were ripped off?" Duo demanded.

"It was the result of her falling off the stairs."

"LAIR!" Ashi screamed, tears running down her face.

"Shame on you, Ashi…for lying in a holy place. You know I wouldn't do such a thing…Now, come, we're going home." Drake said, stepping toward Ashi.

Ashi let out of cry of fright, stepping back. Duo stepped up to Drake. "You have to get past me, first!"

Drake smirked. "Ah, I see…you're her body guard."

"Please leave." Sister Helen pleaded.

"You've already desecrated this holy place with your presence…now go! You're no longer welcomed!" Father Maxwell ordered.

Drake looked at Ashi, then to Duo, and to Father Maxwell. "Very well…" he said, walking to the door, his booted heels clicking.

He turned. "Oh, and Ashi…remember…I love you. And if ever you need a place to come to home to, my home is always open."

Ashi shook her head. "My home is here…and you are no longer my father. I have a father…his name is Father Maxwell!"

The smugness in Drake's smirk faded. His eyes were cold. "I see…" The smirk returned. "Some day, child." He said, looking at Duo. "We'll meet again…and I'll deal with you for poisoning my daughter's mind against me! That's a promise!"

And with that, he left.

Ashi gasped, falling on her knees, heart pounding rapidly. Duo put a protective arm around her. "Are you alright?"

Ashi nodded, a small smile formed on her lips. "I…I'm fine…I was so scared! I thought my heart literally stopped beating…but I did it…I stood up to him. I stood my ground."

"God was watching over you, child." Father Maxwell said, crossing himself, Sister Helen likewise.

Duo stared at the door. May Shinigami find you quick, Perkins…

L2 Colony, Maxwell Church

Valentines' Day, A year after

"Hmmm? What's this?" Ashi said, looking at her cot.

She stepped closer. Lying on her cot was a note.

"Hmmm…" she said, picking up the note.

Ashi-sama!

Meet me at the Cemetery. Once you get there…close your eyes until I say so.

Meet me there at 5 P.M. on the dot! Oh, and don't forget a jacket…heard it's gonna snow.

Love,

Shinigami

P.S. I bet you don't know who this is! sarcasm

Ashi read the note again, confusion crossing her face. Shinigami? He's really taking this God of Death thing seriously. I wonder what he's up to this time?

She looked at the clock. 4:59 P.M. ….4:59?! Holy crap!!

Ashi grabbed her jacket from a chair and ran out of the Church, tugging on the jacket. She reached the Cemetery and found a tall tombstone…the same tombstone that her and Duo were smoking behind, almost a year earlier.

She checked her watch. 5:OO…whoa, just made it!

She closed her eyes and covered them with her hands. He should be getting here soon…

"Hey, where are you!?" came a familiar voice.

Ashi giggled. "Behind the same tombstone that I got sick at!"

She heard him laugh, his footsteps crunching at the snow.

"Your eyes closed?"

"Yup."

"Ok, keep them closed for a minute."

"What are you up to?"

He laughed, "You'll see…"

Ashi felt something being tucked behind her ear…it smelled of roses. She then felt something tightly wrapping around her waist. "Open them…" he whispered.

Ashi opened her eyes to find herself in Duo's arms. Duo grinned and hugged her. "Happy Valentine's Day."

He let one arm drop from her waist and the other still encircling her waist. He pointed to the sky with his free hand. "Now lookie here!"

The sky was turning from bright blue, to reddish-orange, yellow, and pink from a sunset.

Ashi gasped, "Duo…it's beautiful."

Duo grinned. "Yes, you are."

Ashi blushed. "I…I was meaning the sky…" she said, feeling flustered.

Duo laughed. "And I was meaning you."

"Duo…I…"

Duo put a finger to her lips, silencing her. "Shhh…"

He blushed. "I'm sorry if I'm doing all this wrong…never done this before…but…"

He pulled her close, looking into her eyes. "Heh, you really do have pretty eyes."

"Duo…what are you…?"

Any further questions were interrupted by Duo pressing his lips against Ashi's, kissing her.

Duo tipped Ashi back a bit, deepening the kiss.

Do people really use tongues?! Mom told me about the facts of life…but she never told me how people kiss!! My…first meaningful kiss…

Duo tipped Ashi back even further. Ashi cried out, losing her footing causing them to fall on the snow, Duo on top of her. Ashi threw her arms around Duo's waist, returning the kiss, causing them to both moan in satisfaction.

One of us is gonna have to break the kiss sometime…I cant breathe!

Duo noticed Ashi's difficulty and broke the kiss first, causing Ashi to gasp for breath. "H-how are people suppose to breathe?!"

Duo scratched his head, a sheepish look on his face. "Heh, I think you're suppose to breathe through your nose."

"Ohh…"

Duo sweat dropped, realizing he was in a very Un-Catholic position on top of Ashi, with his hands straddling her waist. Duo quickly got off of her and helped her up. "Uh...we better head back to the Church."

Ashi nodded. "Ok…ummm Duo?"

"Yeah?"

She blushed. "I…I liked it. Thank you."

Duo blushed too. "Heh…me too…a little too much, I think." He said, blushing a even deeper pink.

"So…umm…what now?"

Duo grinned. "We could kiss again…"

Ashi giggled. "No, silly…I mean…what does that make us, now?"

Duo cocked his head. "What do you mean?"

"Well…do best friends kiss like that?"

"Heh, I guess not…" he said, scratching his head again.

"Duo…"

"Hmm?"

"Do…do you like me?"

"'Course I do."

Ashi shook her head. "No, no…I mean…like me like me…"

"You mean like as in boyfriend/girlfriend like?"

"Yeah…"

Duo looked down at the ground and kicked at some snow, shyly. "Y-yeah…"

Ashi smiled. "Duo…"

She put a hand on his shoulder and kissed his cheek. "I like you, too."

"Heh…so I guess that makes us boyfriend and girlfriend, huh?"

Ashi nodded. "Yeah…looks that way."

"Cool."

Ashi rubbed her hands on her arms for warmth. "Yeah…cool…literally."

Duo smiled. "Lets go back."

"Ok."

Duo put his arm around Ashi as they walked back to the Church.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Duo."

Duo grinned. "Happy Valentine's Day, Ashi-sama."

Ok, that Valentine's Day thing was a little corny, yes. But it couldn't be anything too deeply romantic, since they're only 14 in that part of the flashback…so they don't necessarily understand what true love is yet.

Ok, next chapter is gonna be the last flashback chapter…keep in mind…there will be more flashbacks…but they wont be the whole heart of the chapter after this next one. ; So please bear with me!

Still a bit torn on who should snap, Trowa or Quatre. Probably Quatre since there's not many fics of him snapping. But then again, Trowa would be perfect…being Ashi's ex and all…OO I don't know!

Drake: Just revive me!

No, Drake…you've already scared the hell out of everyone already!

Drake: Hey, I'm not responsible for people going to the psychiatric ward!It's there own fault for reading these chapters!

Ummm…riiiiight…uh, Drake…you probably shouldn't talk anymore. puts duct tape on Drake's mouth

Drake: MRRRF RRRF MEEEEF!!

Ashi: What did he say?

You don't wanna know…unless…

Ashi: OO Spare me!

Duo: OO Spare me!

Quatre: OO Spare me!

Heero: Hn?

Relena: Heeeeeeeeeeeeero!!

OO Rightttt…umm sleepy bye for me! New chapter coming soon!