Chapter 13: Confrontation

"So, Duo…how has Ashi been?" Hilde asked.

Duo blinked and then stared at her. He bit his lip, not sure of how to answer her.

"Uh…" he scratched his head. "Sh-She's doing alright."

Hilde smiled. "That's good." She closed her eyes and nodded. "I'm glad."

She opened her eyes and grinned, a knowing gleam in her eyes. "You and her are together…aren't you?"

Duo's eyes widened. "Uh…I…yeah…"

This is so weird…

"I knew it…I could see it your eyes. Every time Ashi would be in the room…there always was a glow about you when you looked at her." She frowned. "I…I am ashamed to admit it. But there was a time…in the beginning …I hated her. Of course, this was before I realized what a sweet and gentle person she is. It's amazing she can have such a demeanor with what she went through. Perhaps what I felt…wasn't hate. Maybe it was more like jealousy. The way you looked at her…wasn't the way you looked at me. The way you acted towards her was different in how you acted with me. Hell, even the way you argued with her was different. …You loved her. And I wasn't about to stand in your way, I cared about you too much for that."

"Hilde…"

Hilde looked into Duo's eyes. "What I'm trying to say Duo is…that I'm very happy, for the both of you. Truly." She put her hand at Duo's cheek. "I wish you all the happiness in the world."

Hilde pulled Duo in a hug. "I'm glad I know you, Duo Maxwell."

Duo returned the hug. "Hilde…thank you, I wish the same for you."

Hilde removed her arms from Duo's waist and gave Duo's hand a squeeze. "Thank you."

"Duo! Duo!"

Duo looked up to see a panicked Quatre running towards him.

"Whoa, hey Quate. What's wrong?"

"Ashi is missing!"

Hilde gasped. "Duo!"

"Damn! I knew I should've went after her once she left! Dammit!"

Catherine ran at Quatre's side. "Trowa is also missing!" she said, worry on her face over Trowa or Ashi? Duo didn't know…and at the moment, didn't care.

Duo clenched a fist. "Where ever Trowa is…Ashi will be there. I'm sure Ashi didn't leave on her own. Nor did she leave willingly."

Catherine bit her lip. "Yes, …Trowa, he's been acting so strange in the last few days."

Quatre nodded. "I have noticed as well."

"Ashi…" Hilde said, shaking her head. "What do we do?"

"We look for her, of course! Catherine…do you have any idea of where Trowa must've taken Ashi?"

Catherine nodded. "He would've either taken her to his house…or the circus tent. Though he's usually not in the tent during closing hours."

Duo nodded. "Right, Quatre and I will look at both places. Catherine, Hilde…don't tell anyone of what is going on."

Hilde and Catherine nodded.

"Alright, let's go, Quatre."

"Right."

"Duo, wait!" Catherine called.

Duo turned, "Yeah?"

"Please…don't hurt Trowa." Catherine said, a pleading look in her eyes.

Duo frowned. "If he's hurt Ashi…I can't promise that."

Ashi bolted in a sitting position, waking up.

Huh?! Where am I? How did I end up in Duo's room?

She blinked several times, her vision clearing. No…this…this isn't Duo's room!

She got up from the bed and walked around a bit. Where…am I?

She spotted a desk…with a framed picture. She squinted. It was a picture of her and Trowa, Trowa was wearing his dressy Preventers uniform, Ashi in a formal dress with her arm hooked at his.

Ashi gasped. No! This is Trowa's room! Why? How?!

She put a hand to her throbbing head. Ugh…I remember now…Trowa sprayed that stuff at me…knocked me out.

Ashi ran to the door and opened it.

She screamed. Standing at the door was a waiting Trowa Barton with his armed crossed over his chest.

He smiled. "Did you have a nice rest, darling?" he said, gently pushing Ashi back into the room.

"Trowa, please! Let me go!"

Trowa had Ashi against a wall, his body pressed close against her. "Just in case you try your little kneeing game." He said, smirking.

Ashi shook her head frantically, her eyes filled with terror. "No! No, please!"

"Oh, but Ashi…you never complained before…" his smirk deepened. "Did you?"

"Trowa, no! Please! Don't do this!"

Trowa kissed at Ashi's neck. "Don't worry…you'll love this."

"Stop!" Ashi screamed, tears starting to form at her eyes.

"Stop…stop, please!"

Trowa pressed his lips against Ashi's, interrupting her screams.

He broke the kiss, cupping her chin with his hand. "You still don't understand…do you, Ashi? You're mine and mine only. And I will show you who you really belong to!"

Trowa scooped Ashi up into his arms and threw her on the bed. He pounced on her, pinning her arms above her head.

"I thought we'd make love in a more familiar surrounding, making love against the wall wouldn't be very comfortable, would it, darling?"

"Please! Stop!"

Trowa leaned his face in close to Ashi's. "Before I'm finished, the only name you'll know and scream out will be my own! Not Duo's or anyone else's. Mine!"

"I think not, Trowa!"

"Hn?" Trowa looked up.

Duo stood beside Quatre, pointing his gun at Trowa, his finger dangerously close to the trigger.

"Duo!" Ashi cried.

"Release her, Trowa!" Quatre demanded. "Brother-in-law or no…Catherine's brother or not…I will let Duo shoot you if you will not leave Ashi alone!"

Trowa got up from the bed and smirked. "So happy you guys could come…however, I have a little personal Christmas party of my own." He said, smirking horribly.

Duo's hand trembled with anger. "You are one sick fuck!"

"Am I now?"

"Trowa, that is enough!" Quatre shouted.

"You guys just don't get it…Ashi is mine! She belongs to me! I love her!"

Duo shook his head. "She is not property!"

"Love isn't ownership, Trowa." Quatre added.

"Then what is love, then?!"

Duo sighed. "Nothing you would know about!"

"Love is…" Ashi started.

"A connection with your mate, emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually." Quatre said.

"A willingness to die for the one you love." Duo said.

Trowa hesitated. "And you…Duo…would die for Ashi?"

Duo holstered his gun and nodded. "Yes, I would."

"You would protect her at all costs?"

"Yes."

Trowa bowed his head. "I…have no name…no past…and you, you took away my future! And I'm suppose to stand by and watch you do that?!

"Trowa…" Ashi said.

Trowa shook his head. "No! I won't let you do it! I won't let you take away my future! She's mine!"

Crack!

Duo's eyes went wide when he saw Quatre punch Trowa. Trowa's head snapped back, his eyes wide. He put a hand to his aching jaw.

"Quatre…I…I can't believe you did that." Trowa said, dumbfounded.

Quatre sighed. "Catherine will forgive me, I'm sure. My suggestion to you, Trowa…get help. You're not alone. You're not the only one who's been through a painful past."

Duo nodded. "Some have it even worse than you. You may not know who you are or where you came from…but you at least knew this: You had friends that love and care for you and a place to call home."

" 'What's important is a place to call home.' " Ashi quoted.

Trowa looked at Ashi, the wild glaze in his eyes gone.

Ashi nodded. "Right?"

Trowa nodded and smiled. "Right."