Chapter 9: Love and Possession
Ashi gasped, heart thudding against her chest so hard that she could scarcely breathe. "Wh-what…did you say?"
Duo smiled gently. "I think you heard me the first time, Ashi. Ashi, remember when I told you that Hilde left me because she accused me of loving someone else?"
Ashi nodded, "Yes."
"Well…can you take a wild guess on who the other woman is?"
Ashi turned her face away, avoiding his eyes. "I…" she said, her face feeling flushed.
Duo let his hands drop from her face and wrapped his arms around her waist, his face nuzzling against her neck. "Yes…it's you, Ashi-sama."
"Wh-when did this happen?!" Ashi asked.
Damn it! Why did he have to bring this up?! Talk about bad timing…and so soon after Trowa dumped me. No! Don't do this! I can't give my heart to anyone! I just can't, don't you understand?! Ashi thought, fighting back tears.
"To tell you the truth…I'm not sure exactly when. I don't know if I can say that I loved you back when we were growing up in Maxwell Church. I mean…in a romantic way I wasn't sure. We were 14 when we shared our first kiss…we were just kids. We didn't understand the full concept of true love. I guess when I started to have these feelings was when we were reunited when we were 18. You became a Gundam Pilot."
Ashi laughed. "I almost didn't become one…due to you intervening in battle. Trying to be Mr. Hero." She turned her face to him and sighed. "You treated me like a child."
Duo sighed. "I was always protective of you…you know that. At least, that's what I kept telling myself. Then Trowa came into the picture. All the sudden, you were paying more attention to him than you were with me."
"Jealous?"
"Heh, I guess so…I shrugged it off as childish jealousy. I always was jealous when you wouldn't give me your full attention."
Ashiiiiiiiiiiiii-Samaaaaaaaaaa!!! Pay attention to meeeeeee!! Ashi could almost hear Duo crying out with a childish stomp of the foot. Then would come the pouting of his lower lip and the puppy dog eyes.
He was so adorable when he did that…
Duo laughed. "You were so cute when you played the "ignore game" with me. You always pretended to not be paying attention to me. You would go off, singing some song, reading, playing the piano…or doing something that distracted you from me on purpose until I finally burst. I didn't think it was cute then…but I found it especially cute the way you stood up Wufei. You sure put him in his place!"
Ah, I see that your culture hasn't changed, hmm? Still living back in the 1800's? Back when women were suppose to know their "place"? Times have changed, Chang Wufei. It's about time you get over it. So don't think yourself so high and mighty. Let me ask you this Chang Wufei…did you always fight for justice? Hmmm? No? Who taught you about justice? Meilan, was it? Oh, my apologies…Nataku. And refresh my memory…was Nataku male or female? Female, was she? How very interesting. So it was through what gender that you decided to fight for justice?
"Hmmmph, he was such an arrogant bastard. Yet, I felt kinda bad for saying all that…"
"Hmmm…I'd have to say that he did kinda deserve it. But anyway…you proved me wrong…you weren't that vulnerable 13 year old I was first starting to know. You turned into a independent, strong, feisty young woman. Another turning point in my feelings for you was when you slipped into a coma…from the drugs Drake used to…" Duo bit his lips. "…well, anyway…I was really scared that day. I wasn't sure on whether on not you would make it...I couldn't bear the thought of losing you. I kept calling out your name."
"Yes…yes…I could hear you…yet I couldn't come out of it…yet."
"Oh? What happened?"
Ashi sighed, frowning. "I told you before…but you didn't believe me."
Duo rested his head on Ashi's shoulder. "Tell me again…"
"I saw my father. He was trying to…to drag me down with him in death. I kept hearing you call my name…but I couldn't answer. Everytime I tried to respond…an invisible force would tighten it's hold on me, cutting out my ability to speak or fight back in any way. I tried to scream but all that would come out was short gasps. I was every struggle brought me closer and closer to my father…"
"Then what?"
"I did the only thing I could do. I prayed…each time I bowed my head in prayer…the force would loosen it's hold on me, as if frightened by the prayer. Then I saw a hand reaching out to me. And a voice calling my name…but it wasn't yours. It was Father Maxwell's."
"Father Maxwell?"
Ashi nodded. "Yes…I could see him, he was smiling at me and calling out my name again. But when my hand clasped his…he disappeared and I woke up to you shaking me and yelling at me to wake up. And when I told you about it…you shrugged it off as a dream."
Duo looked sheepish. "I…I guess I was so relieved that you made it out of the coma that I didn't want to think what kind of danger you were going through. And for that…I'm sorry."
"It's…in the past."
Duo nodded. "Yes, that was then…this is now. Tell me, Ashi…what happens now? I have poured my heart to you…now is time for you to decide what you truly want."
"To be honest…I don't know."
"That's not true. You do know what you want…you're just scared."
Tears trickled down Ashi's cheeks. "Yes."
"What are you scared of?"
Ashi closed her eyes and opened them again, causing more tears to fall. "Of…being hurt…again. I can't do this! I can't give my heart to anyone! No even you. The more I stay away from love, the further away from rejection I'll be. Can't you see that?! I can't love you!" Ashi cried, her body racking with sobs.
Duo lifted her chin up, looking into her eyes. "Look at me in the eye and repeat that."
"I…"
"Maybe this will persuade you…"
Duo pressed his lips against Ashi's in a hungry, passionate kiss that was even more intense than when they first kissed at age 14. Ashi gasped against his lips as Duo ran his tongue along her lips, breaking the barrier and slipping his tongue in moaning in satisfaction of finding his mark.
Ashi tangled her fingers into Duo's hair, finding herself returning the kiss was much intensity. Duo pulled down Ashi's faded denim jacket, revealing her in the thin, white tank top.
Duo broke the kiss and planted his lips on Ashi's cheek, running it down her jaw and to her neck. Ashi wrapped her legs around his waist and clutched at his hair.
"D-damn you!" she gasped.
Duo stopped what he was doing and looked back into her eyes, grinning. "Hmmm…I see that you're eyes turn that fiery emerald even when you're turned on."
"D-Duo…"
Duo pressed his face against Ashi's. "Love me, Ashi…even if it's just for tonight…please…give me just one night. That's more than anything I could ever ask for. I know I'll get hurt in the end…but please…just let my heart pretend for tonight and then you can do what you like."
Ashi turned her face away. "I don't do casual sex…nor do I play 'let's pretend'. I make love. And I want to do this with the man I love." She cupped Duo's face in her hands and softly kissed him on his lips. "And…Duo Maxwell…that man…is you."
Duo's eyes widened and misted over slightly. "A-Ashi…" he said, placing his hand to her cheek. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
Ashi nodded. "Yes, Duo…I love you."
Duo didn't say anything…there was no need to. Words couldn't express the great joy he was feeling right now.
He gently pushed Ashi on the bed, he stroked her cheek. "Are you sure about this?"
"Yes." Ashi whispered without hesitation. "More than anything…"
"Keep in mind, Ashi…if there's anything I'm doing that you don't like…tell me and I'll stop."
Ashi wrapped her arms around Duo's waist. "Before the night is over…I probably won't ever want you to stop."
Then she pressed her lips against his in determination of proving him right.
Hi, you've reached Ashi…however, I'm not available at the moment, but your call is important to me. So please leave your name and number and I'll get right back to you as soon as possible. Have a good one! Buh-bye!
Beep!
Trowa slammed the phone down for what seemed to be almost the 40th time.
Where the hell is she? He thought.
He shook his head, his body hunched over with his hand still at the phone.
I made a horrible mistake! How could I possibly think of a future with Middi when Ashi is my future?
He needed to talk to her. To apologize to her and beg her forgiveness.
She'll take me back…she loves me. Even when she tried to be happy over my engagement to Middi…I could still see it in her eyes. She loves me. She'll take me back…she has to!
Slowly, he picked up the phone.
Maybe Duo knows where she's at. He's her best friend…he would know…
He dialed the number and pressed the receiver against his ear.
Ring…Ring…Ring…Ring…
Come on, already! Pick up!
Ring…Ring…Click…Yo, this is Duo and Ashi here.
Duo…and Ashi…what?
We're not here at the moment, but leave your name and number and we'll get right back to you A.S.A.P. Chow! Beep!
Trowa slammed down the phone with so much force that he thought it would break the phone.
Duo…Ashi…Duo and Ashi…So, Duo…you wasted no time, did you?
He slammed his fist at the desk.
And you…my love. You really think you can get away from me that easily? Do you really know who you're dealing with? You spread your legs for me and me only! Understand?!
He took a few calming breaths.
But not to worry, love. I will not punish you for your ignorance. But you will learn of what happens to those who takes what is mine away from me.
He smirked. Yes, he will deal with Duo…but first…
I will have you, Ashi. I will show you who is the better lover.
Trowa threw back his head, the room echoing in maniacal laughter.
Geeez! Trowa is creepy! I sorta made him a little Heero-like with the manical laughter…sweat drop
Heero: OO Whoa…I'm gonna be some what normal in this fic.
Relena: HEEEEERO! Get your ass over here…NOW!
Heero: OO Ack! Gotta go…Relena will kick my ass if I don't!Coming, darling!
Duo: What's all this racket?!
Ashi: That's funny…I cant hear anything…
Duo: I'd be surprised if you did hear anything over the noise you're making, hehehe.
OO We don't wanna know! Anyway…looks like there's gonna be trowa-ble (trouble). What will happen? Naaaaaaaa, not telling! Na, na, na! You'll have to stay tuned for the next update which will be coming soon!