Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or Sailor Moon. The only I do own is
the plot.
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And I Love You...
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[Chapter Two]
Trowa leaned back and sighed heavily. He watched from the corner near the kitchen as his waiters served the fancy food to the high and rich people. The forest colour of the walls gave a comfort from their fast pace lives and silently on the background played classical music. Trowa personally like to play the late period of Beethoven's music and enjoyed his piano concertos.
His restaurant wasn't a fast food place like McDonald's where it was loud, crowded, and the food was greasy to the point you doubted it was eatable. There was never a doubt the foods his restaurant served was eatable. He hired experience chiefs and young chiefs with talents to give a balance of the classical style of food and the inventing. His waiters and waitress were all young and wonderful to look at, nobody wanted to be served by an ugly looking waiter to ruin their appetite.
His emerald green eye kept glancing towards the door as if expecting someone.
'I know he's going to come soon. Where else will he get his food?'
To prove his thoughts the door burst open and the room seemed to shine with light from his mere presence.
"Hey Trowa!"
Duo's cheerful voice carried out through the restaurant and a few customers looked to see the man who seemed out of place in such a classical looking place. Trowa shook his head, Duo had a strong streak of rebellion and standing out was what the guy enjoyed. It was pointless to try and tell Duo how to dress when coming to such a place.
But it was one of the traits Trowa liked about Duo. He didn't care how people viewed him as, he wasn't afraid to defy people and disappoint them, and he was confident in everything.
But those traits also related to his faults as well.
"Hey man!" greeted Duo as he playfully slapped Trowa on the back. Trowa's shoulders arched forward a bit and looked at Duo sternly.
"Once again," Trowa simply stated as a sigh left his lips. Duo just chuckled and gently punched him on the arm.
"Ah, you know me Trowa. I can't dress with class and look like I'm worth thousands like these people in here. It's not me."
Trowa nodded slowly and Duo saw his eyes smiling. It was more often that Trowa's eyes would smile then his lips. Strangely enough when his eyes were smiling it seemed more sincere and natural. While his lips made his smile looked crooked and forced.
"Let's go sit at the corner. Your usual?" asked Trowa as he led themselves away from where most of the customers sat to the secluded and dark corner.
"Trowa, why do you always seat me in the corner? Could it me! You're ashamed of me?" Duo feigned hurt and dramatically cried out earning several curious looks.
Trowa glared at the twenty four year old man acting like he was still ten. Swiftly turning around Trowa walked away trying to intact the remaining dignity he still had as the owner of the restaurant. But as he walked away he couldn't help but smile. No matter what, Duo seemed to have a dynamic affect on people.
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Trowa watched as Duo inhale his bacons. He wanted to tell him that eating that fast will feel like he ate nothing and will result in more hunger. However he didn't, Trowa doubted Duo would be able to hear anything with the amount of noise he was making.
"Whas 'rong?" Duo tried to speak with his mouth full and the other man closed his emerald eyes and shook his head.
Shrugging Duo continued to eat his food and Trowa was glad he sat him far away from the customers. Not just because Duo would scare them away with his eating habits but he didn't want people to think lowly of Duo.
Duo Maxwell was his friend and Trowa hated it when people judged his braided friend from his looks, his manners, and his outside personality. Just as the world wasn't black and white humans weren't either. They didn't carry one kind of faces or one type of personalities. Duo wasn't just cheerful, carefree, and charismatic. He knew how to get angry, he was icy sometimes, and was insightful in his own ways.
"You look like you want to say something. What is it?"
Trowa looked straight at Duo's cobalt blue eyes and saw a hint of seriousness. He felt as if the other man was trying to read his mind. Suddenly he watched as Duo's face became slightly wicket with a smirk.
"Let me guess. It's about Rei."
When Duo received only the silence as an answer he took that as a yes. His smirk became weaker and looked down away from Trowa's intense eyes.
"Don't worry. Rei's stronger than you think."
"She's not that strong."
"Rei can break up with me anytime she wishes."
"She's a woman."
Those three simple words left Duo silent. It was an obvious statement made but something that made Rei Hino sound so common. Duo didn't like the sound of the words.
"She wants a man's comfort."
Once again there was no reply from Duo and Trowa wondered if he was even listening to him. Duo looked up and with a small smile and slowly but confidently opened his mouth.
"You give her comfort don't you? And are you not a man Trowa?"
Trowa's eyes slightly widened at Duo's words. It sounded like an accusation. Trowa looked at Duo who had an assertive smirk on his handsome face with a playfully raised eyebrow, as if daring him to deny it. He wasn't sure what answer he was supposed to give. Admit straight forward that he did give comfort or twist it and say that his comfort was different.
Unexpectedly Duo let out a rumbling laughter that shocked him. The intense air seemed to have disappeared with the feeling of accusation.
"Really Trowa, did you think I was accusing you of being involved with Rei? Hell yeah I know that you're there to make her feel better but you guys aren't involved." Duo paused midway with a mischievous glint.
"Unless you're planning to seduce Rei,"
Trowa kept his composure and just stared right at Duo. It was hard to tell when he was joking and when he wasn't. But Trowa decided to use this doubled sided blade as an opportunity to find something out.
"What if I was?"
He saw Duo's smile disappeared for a moment before returning to the owner.
"It won't be easy. Rei's not a common woman. She's got spirit, spunk, passion, and pride. She won't give into seduction unless she knows there will be a future. Rei won't give into anything that she won't be able to control."
"What makes you think I can't give her what she wants?"
Duo's cobalt eyes expressed deep amusement and raised an eyebrow questioningly. Trowa felt his throat go dry. He was sure he trespassed into dangerous territory but he couldn't back down now. Despite this so called joke Trowa wanted to know why Duo doubted he could give Rei what she wanted.
"Can you fill her desires with burning passions till the day she dies? Are you prepared to spend the rest of your lives with Rei alone and be more than satisfied? Can you give into her pride while keeping your pride intact to keep her respect for you? Can you make her lose control but allow her to control you? Most of all can you make Rei forget about all her years with me?"
Duo shook his head and chuckled as if something funny was said.
"Forget that last one. I'm sure you can fill my years Trowa. After all Rei's also my friend and a wonderful woman. She deserves a great guy and you're one hell of a man."
"You care for her."
Duo looked at Trowa's expressionless face questioningly. His words sounded random like there wasn't a point to it. But he was curious did Duo still have the feelings for Rei he once had?
"She is my friend."
"You love her."
Duo leaned back without any kind of a smile on his face. He didn't look like Duo Maxwell without a type of smile on him. It was awkward looking at him but this was also a part of Duo Maxwell, his serious side.
"Do I?"
An eerie silence came upon them as two words left Duo's mouth. It could've sounded like a joke if it wasn't for pure curiosity on his face. Trowa felt himself surpass a bit of anger.
"You do."
"Okay, if you say so."
Duo jumped up with a grin on his face as if there wasn't an awkward moment.
"I better get going. You have to get back to work."
Trowa grabbed a neatly wrapped bag and handed it to Duo.
"Take this to Rei. I'm sure she didn't have her lunch yet."
"Why don't you give it to her?"
"I'm busy."
"Fine then, I'll tell her it's from you."
As Duo started to walk away he paused as if remembering something and turned back to looks at Trowa.
"You know, there's a big difference when talking to you about Rei and with Heero."
With one last quick smile Duo walked out the exit door leaving Trowa feeling slightly confused. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to interpret the words.
The sound of the bell door broke him from his thoughts. Looking up to greet his customer he was met with solid ice blue eyes on a stone but handsome face.
"Hey Heero,"
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"Nice! Yeah that's it! Hold that pose! Excellent! Flip your hair! Great!"
The large room filled with white flashes as the raven haired beauty shouted with passion as she moved around the female model that stood on the green screen as she took pictures. As the girl changed poses with different facial expressions Rei continued to shout encouragements.
Truthfully she didn't like dealing with models, especially female models. While actress and singers were obviously obnoxious and hard to work with, they at least never tried to tell her how to do her work. Models were experienced with cameras and majority of the female models today were obsessed with looking sexy. Rei Hino was a photographer for media arts not for porn or playboy. She only used sex on her photo if the ad product was perfume.
"Can you darken the lightning? I think getting a sexier image will be better for me."
The model who looked liked she was still in her teens twirled her dark blonde hair glaring at Rei as if she was supposed to obey her wishes. Rolling her violet eyes Rei stared at the model raising her eyebrow.
"Your seventeen years old Jamie, starting your career off with a sexy image at that age will definitely ruin you. Better to start off with a sweet innocent girl next door type of image."
The model Jamie let out a high pitched laugh for a couple of seconds. The girl raised an eyebrow mockingly at Rei with a sneer on her beautiful but sharp face.
"I'm not targeting nerdy boys nor am I aiming for a younger audience. I want men as my audience and to every guy's Sex Goddess."
The photographer placed her camera down on a small glass table and crossed her arms looking very serious.
"Well then, I guess you came to the wrong photographer. I don't work for playboy perhaps you should go to another photographer who does. Even if my photos are for the media, they are art I don't do trash."
Rei grabbed the camera placed on the table and took the roll of film between her fingers. She glanced up at the model that looked at her with wild blue eyes daring her to do what she planed. With a smirk on her creamy white face Rei tore her fingers through the film ruining her mornings work.
Two different shouts mingled in her studio. The model jumped down the tiny stage that the green screen surrounded and ran towards Rei. Swiftly the girl brought her hand to slap Rei but her hand was caught before it made contact.
"Don't you think its disrespectful that a seventeen year old raises a hand at seven years senior? Besides I believe you had a problem with the photos anyway little girl."
"And who the hell do you think you are!" shouted a man with dark brown hair whose face was turning into a bright red colour. He turned his gaze from the tall brown braided hair man to the photographer who looked a bit surprised and smug.
"What the hell was that for Miss Rei Hino! I believe our company paid you good money to create photos for Jamie's beginning career! Do you want to explain your actions!!" yelled the man waving his large index finger at Rei's face.
With a tight frown Rei flicked the man's finger away from her face.
"Your model wants a slut to be her image. The seventeen old wants to become a Sex Goddess! I don't need some spoiled girl telling me how to do my job, go find a playboy photographer to do her pictures. And I'll send your check by mail."
The man glared at Rei with all the anger he could managed and grabbed the model's hand and stormed out of the room. Before he slammed the door shut he yelled out,
"See if we ever do business with you again Miss Rei Hino!!"
The studio was silent as Rei held her glare at the man who seemed to appear out of nowhere. Her passionate violet eyes were filled with hints of curiosity and anger as the cobalt blue eyes held amusement.
"Your reflexes seems to be slowing down. That girl almost slapped you."
"I would have slapped her back."
Duo chuckled at her simple response and softly stroked her left cheek that was almost assaulted.
"I don't like the idea of their being a mark on your flawless skin."
Rei touched his hand and gave a tiny smile as she traced a scratch mark on his cheek.
"You're the one to talk. How did you get it?"
"Cheryl attacked me because I broke up with her."
Rei turned away from him uncomfortable where the subject might turn to.
"Why are you here?"
Duo looked at Rei with a slight smirk and started to walk around her studio leaving brief touches on her equipments.
"Trowa thought you didn't have your lunch yet, so he sent me to give it to you. He really cares out for you, enough that I should feel jealous." His words sounded sincere enough but if Rei saw his eyes she would have saw the hint of sarcasm.
"Don't say something stupid like that." She turned her back to him and walked to the chestnut brown cabinet that held all sorts of cameras. Placing the one she used for the model she took out an old fashioned camera. She had something for antiques and things that her just out of date.
"Stupid? Why is that stupid? You don't think maybe Trowa has a crush on you?" he jumped onto the small stage and twirled around like a little child.
"Of course not! Trowa's my friend as well as yours and he knows that I..." she stopped speaking there and Duo's smile left him for awhile. Rei brought her arms around her feeling the uncomfortable silence.
Duo wanted to persuade her on the subject but decided to back down for now, he did know his limits.
"Hey Rei! Since you don't have a client here right now, how about taking pictures of me! I think I look good enough to model." He got into a pose that's mostly used for shaving and Rei couldn't help but chuckle.
"I highly doubt you could be a model Duo. After all your ego is too big to be caught on camera." There was a playful smirk on her enchanting face and Duo's grin widen as an impish glint appeared in his eyes.
"Are you calling me egotistic? Rei, I am probably the most modest person in the world. You're just jealous I look prettier than you and have a better figure. Now that I'm looking carefully I think you look fatter than usual." He looked over her pausing at her stomach and Rei felt her mouth open largely into a circle.
"Are you calling me fat?"
"Of course not! It's not your fault you can't help but eat junk food and lock yourself in your studio, causing your lack of exercise. Eek!" screamed Duo as Rei punched him on the arm her face looking flushed with anger.
"You know what I'll take your picture and see how many pounds it adds onto you."
She placed a roll of film onto the old fashioned camera and looked into the lens that held Duo's image.
"Why are you using that old camera?"
"It's the best one to use for black and white films."
"Why black and white, won't it look better in colour."
Rei lifted the camera away from her eyes and looked straight at Duo with playfulness but behind it was honestly.
"It fits you. Black and white photography is much more complex. Just one wrong angle or one wrong light shine on a place can ruin the whole photo. You seem simple enough but so complex."
Rei started to walk around Duo shouting out comments and encouragements taking pictures of his silly and model like poses. He wasn't bad on camera the term "the camera loves you" fitted Duo better then any model she'd seen so far.
A genuine smile was on her face. Not just because photography was what she loved but because the mood between Duo and her now was how the old days used to be like, carefree, bright, and playful. She missed and this moment made her feel like she got a part of the old days back.
Suddenly her cell phone rang and broke her from taking pictures.
"I'll be right back."
She walked to the other side of the room and held the phone to her ear.
"Hello, Rei Hino speaking."
-Miss Hino, this is Aaron Hunter manager of Minako Aino speaking. I'm calling you about Minako's photo shoot late this afternoon.
"Yes, if I'm correct she has four hours from now. Is something wrong?"
Rei's tone was professional and plain even when asking about the model's regard she didn't bother to feign concern. She had a feeling what Aaron Hunter was calling her about. He was probably going to give her some lame excuse that their precious model couldn't come because something more important came up instead of a photo shoot.
-No, nothings wrong Miss Hino. I was hoping that we could postpone the shoot to another day.
"Really? Did something important come up?"
There was an obvious displeased scent on her words and there was no doubt the manager heard it.
-I'm afraid the talk show special will go longer than we were told by the producer. Its unlikely that we would be able to make there on time so I hope we could make another date.
His voice was firm that she felt like he was ordering her to make other arrangements. She felt angry that this man was only looking out for his model and not caring that others had their own careers.
"Well then Mr. Hunter, I guess I will have to call your assistant with the next available date. Good day."
She closed her cell phone without giving the man a chance to say anything else. She hated it when managers or some assistant called to cancel a shoot just because their client wasn't up to it. She wasn't going to book Minako Aino an available date. If they wanted the shoot bad enough they could come in some random day and wait patiently for her to finish with a client that kept their time.
"What's the hold up Rei?"
"Nothing! I'm coming!"
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His hands swiftly touched through his slick black hair in annoyance. A tight frown was on his pale snow face as he felt everyone's glare on him. Grunting audibly as an apology he took his cell phone out and looked at the name it was blinking on its screen: Minako
Biting his thin lips in hesitation he turned his cell phone off. It rung for quite a while once every ten minutes since the meeting started. The others were getting restless and probably doubting, if they should agree to the deal with him. After all the company sent him as the representative and here he was being the cause of the interruption.
In frustration he loosened the blue silk tie on his Armani suit. While the Armani suit made him look elegant his aura gave a sense of ruggedness. As his associate Fred started to give an in dept explanation of the deal his mind wandered off to the continuous call from Minako.
Sure she always called him to chat and tell all about her day and ask how his work was doing. He fiddled with the cell phone in his hand feeling guilty for ignoring his friend's call and just turning it off. If kept calling him nonstop there should be a reason.
Gently shaking his head he brought his mind back to the conference. Through the whole meeting he kept his mind on track and did an excellent job at persuading the audience with his passionate words.
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"Is something on your mind?"
He raised an eyebrow at his associate who was walking next to him in the narrow maroon hallway of the hotel.
"No. Why?"
Fred shrugged lightly and looked at Wufei with a playful smile.
"You just seemed to be drifting off in the conference. Perhaps there's a woman on your mind?"
"Shut up. Just worry about sealing the deal for sure for tomorrow."
"Yeah, it's just as well done."
They each came to a halt at their own suite. His associate turned halfway with a grin and pressed his card into the slot.
"Night then, call whoever it is your thinking about. She must be one hell of a woman to distraught you."
Wufei frowned as his associate entered his own suite before searching for his card.
He kicked the door of his suite down and entered with his cell phone close to his ear. He threw his briefcase onto the large bed and sat down. He closed the phone and sighed. Her cell phone was turned off and without a doubt she entered a filming. Aaron probably told her to turn the phone off. He was always strict with her. Wufei personally didn't like Aaron. In his eyes he placed Minako in a cage and showed her to everyone like a trophy. Then expected her to be happy and be satisfied with all the attention she was getting.
Wufei never liked Minako becoming a model. When they were children he always thought that she was only going to model toys for awhile. That's what the agency told her parents and that's what they told him when he objected. The one year contract extended each year until Minako was caught in the web of fame.
Now even if Minako herself wanted out she wouldn't be able to. The media and the fans would never allow her to. They were possessive and no celebrity could escape their grasp until the fans and the media didn't want them anymore.
He tossed his tie onto the bed walked into the bathroom ready to calm his muscles in a nice long bath. He hoped by the time he was finished that Minako's filming would be finished.
Just as he turned the water on his cell phone started to ring but the sound of rumbling running water drowned the ring tone.
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Minako plopped onto her large orange colour sheeted bed with a heavy sigh. Her hotel room was VIP and they created it the way she liked everything. The room has a fresh theme of orange and yellow. The colour orange was labeled onto her by her fans since she turned 15. She was described to be fresh, sweet, and captivating, everything that the colour orange gave.
"Tomorrow's a big day. You're going to see Ami Mizuno to see if you qualify to be her main model."
He flipped through his scattered sheets of paper as she tuned him out.
'When is it not a big day?'
"Perhaps it'll be best if you skipped dinner today."
She leaped off her bed like it was on fire and looked hard at her manager.
"I skipped lunch as it is, do you want me to starve?"
He ignored her plainly and Minako felt her peach colour face go red from frustration. One of the things she continuously told to the public it was horrible to starve. Nobody should have to starve themselves to reach a media biased form of beauty. But then again the media laughed at her comments and questioned her career. Someone from a career where many were starving themselves and were anorexic didn't deserve to tell the public what was right and wrong.
The only people who dared took the media had the wrong idea of beauty were only two kinds of people, celebrities who were secretly starving themselves to get the media's idea of beauty and celebrities who could never obtain that beauty. So it seemed hopeless to prove wrong to the media.
"Also, Rei Hino was upset that we had to cancel your appointment. If that woman wasn't famous for her works in the public we wouldn't let you work with her but since she's the best and respected in her fields, we'll get your publicist to write some corny letter of apology and some flowers or chocolate."
Minako shook her and looked out the large window next to her bed. The city was large and busy filled with all sorts of people. But she always felt secluded from them, nobody accepted her as a human. She was either The Famous Model Minako Aino or The Successful Celebrity Minako Aino, but never plain Minako Aino. She only knew one person who treated her as her but he seemed to be busy since she last tried to call him.
"Shouldn't I call her myself and apologize?"
Aaron looked at her like she just suggested she'll quite modeling and acting to be some low town stripper. Quickly dismissing her words with a simple wave he continued to read down what she had for tomorrow.
'Why is it that what I say never matters?'
"I don't want you leaving your room. If you need anything just call one of us up. Don't call the hotel assistants they can't be trusted among celebrities not to be annoying."
She pushed herself away from the window and stood in front of her manager who seemed like a wicket wizard keeping her as a prisoner.
"Why can't I go out? Its not even six pm, I wanted to go out to the park for a fresh air."
"You can't make your bodyguards go out for a simple walk in the park with you."
She shook her head firmly it seemed impossible to communicate with him. Everything she said he made it somehow related to the business.
"I thought I could go alone."
"Do you realize how many people in the world love you and hate you? Do you know there are thousands of people just wanting paparazzi of you and people who want to kidnap you?"
She bit her lips and balled up her fist tightly. All she wanted to do was go outside all she was asking for was a moment of privacy. Would it kill Aaron to grant that? Knowing Aaron he probably would relate it to the business somehow and tell her yes.
"Stop that. Your lips stand out to the public, it matters how it looks. Your nails been done in the morning it's not wise to mess them up."
She quickly halted her actions and looked at the green carpet.
'Aaron's right. I'm being selfish I have people hired to take care of me. If something happened to me they would get full blame. But I just feel so trapped.'
"Get some sleep looks are everything. I have two bodyguards outside your door."
She didn't look up as she heard the door close shut. To her it sounded like the prison gates closing and locking her in.
She carefully picked up her romance novel that she left on the nightstand.
'Why do I even read these trashes? I'm a goddamn celebrity these stuffs are like those damn fairytales. They're nothing but stupid fantasies that'll never come true!'
Her grip on the paper bag book hardened with anger. With all the power she could manage Minako hurled it against the door.
"But...there are silly people that dream of those fantasies coming true, hoping to find true love, wishing to go through a passionate and painful love, and looking for real love."
A gentle smile crept up onto her sad face as she walked over to the novel and picked it up again.
"Guess I'm one of those silly people."
Minako quickly tossed the novel away when she heard a knock against her door.
"Miss Aino is something wrong? Do you need something?" asked a deep gruff voice hinted with concern.
She opened her mouth to answer no but stopped midway. Her gaze shifted to the novel lying on her bed.
"Yes, I think I would like to watch a comedy movie. Can you go out and borrow one?"
"Sure thing Miss Aino."
She listened cautiously as heavy footsteps echoed throughout the hallway. From what her manager told her there should be one more bodyguard outside her door.
Opening the door slightly she peaked at the huge man who looked pissed off. Taking a deep breathe she silently prayed in her mind.
"I'm sorry if I'm bothering you."
"Not at all Miss Aino," his voice was almost the same like the other bodyguard but there was an obvious note of displeasure in his voice.
"Can you go the hotel manager and ask them if I could change my room? The city view gives off too much noise. Also do you think you can ask them if their chef can make something brief to eat for me?"
Her eyes looked nervous as he glared down at her but he nodded and started walking down the hallway. She felt her heart leap in joy and smiled and quickly grabbed her jacket.
This was her only chance. It would definitely anger her manager and probably the president of the CIELZ Entertainment but she needed to do this. You can't keep a bird locked up in a cage for a long time and expect it to not runaway at least once.
Swiftly Minako ran down the hallway from the opposite direction her two bodyguards left.
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Author's Note: I tried to update as fast as I could. I only got to include Trowa, Duo, Rei, Minako, and a little bit of Wufei. The next chapter will probably have all the characters and that's the chapter where the plot will finally start. So sorry I'm taking it so slowly! Hope you all will stick around, and I'll try to bring the next chapter faster and make it more exciting!
Thanks to the following reviewers:
eventidespirit: Thank you for you wonderful review! I'm glad you don't think it's boring and that you like the characterization. You're always full of lovely compliments ^_^
Vega03: Thank you for reviewing! Mostly likely Ami and Heero but there's Relena and Milliardo between them.
Aphrodite2: Thank you for your review! I think Minako and Wufei are quite the unique couple as well. Who knows maybe they'll be one of the final couples.
Princess Ren: Thank you for reviewing! Things just won't be simple for Duo/Rei then again the others won't have it easy as well.
Adrelliehs: Thank you for your review! It's a bit confusing isn't it? I don't know I keep it all straight in my head.
Mistress of Ice1: Thank you for reviewing! No need to beg Ami and Heero are very likely but with Milliardo and Relena between them it just won't be easy for them.
Myst Lady: Thank you for your review! Duo's a born flirt and that's what makes him so irresistibly cute!!
Lil' mercurain Angel: Thank you for reviewing! I'm happy you like the idea.
miyaka: Thank you for your review! I'm relieved to know that you think I'm doing a good job integrating the characters into the story. Thank goodness you don't think I'm not rushing the plot too quickly. I think I'll have fun with the Relena/Heero/Ami/Milliardo square. It's easy to be sympathetic towards Trowa isn't it?
Luinfirith: Thank you for reviewing! I'm a Duo fan myself and I would never make Duo into a horrible bad guy. Thank you for your suggestion.
Tenshi-Kaikou: Thank you for your review! Ah, you don't like Duo/Rei pairing. I kind of think they're cute together if written nicely. But they are not the only pairings in the story or possible pairings.
Petra2: Thank you for reviewing! I'll try to add more Ami/Heero in the next chapter but sadly this chapter doesn't have either of them featuring.
sakura-heart: Thank you for your review! Yeah, I think I'm taking my time for the plot but I hope the next chapter is where the plot develops. Duo seemed quite dark last chapter but I hoped I made him lighter this chapter he's a great character to develop around.
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And I Love You...
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[Chapter Two]
Trowa leaned back and sighed heavily. He watched from the corner near the kitchen as his waiters served the fancy food to the high and rich people. The forest colour of the walls gave a comfort from their fast pace lives and silently on the background played classical music. Trowa personally like to play the late period of Beethoven's music and enjoyed his piano concertos.
His restaurant wasn't a fast food place like McDonald's where it was loud, crowded, and the food was greasy to the point you doubted it was eatable. There was never a doubt the foods his restaurant served was eatable. He hired experience chiefs and young chiefs with talents to give a balance of the classical style of food and the inventing. His waiters and waitress were all young and wonderful to look at, nobody wanted to be served by an ugly looking waiter to ruin their appetite.
His emerald green eye kept glancing towards the door as if expecting someone.
'I know he's going to come soon. Where else will he get his food?'
To prove his thoughts the door burst open and the room seemed to shine with light from his mere presence.
"Hey Trowa!"
Duo's cheerful voice carried out through the restaurant and a few customers looked to see the man who seemed out of place in such a classical looking place. Trowa shook his head, Duo had a strong streak of rebellion and standing out was what the guy enjoyed. It was pointless to try and tell Duo how to dress when coming to such a place.
But it was one of the traits Trowa liked about Duo. He didn't care how people viewed him as, he wasn't afraid to defy people and disappoint them, and he was confident in everything.
But those traits also related to his faults as well.
"Hey man!" greeted Duo as he playfully slapped Trowa on the back. Trowa's shoulders arched forward a bit and looked at Duo sternly.
"Once again," Trowa simply stated as a sigh left his lips. Duo just chuckled and gently punched him on the arm.
"Ah, you know me Trowa. I can't dress with class and look like I'm worth thousands like these people in here. It's not me."
Trowa nodded slowly and Duo saw his eyes smiling. It was more often that Trowa's eyes would smile then his lips. Strangely enough when his eyes were smiling it seemed more sincere and natural. While his lips made his smile looked crooked and forced.
"Let's go sit at the corner. Your usual?" asked Trowa as he led themselves away from where most of the customers sat to the secluded and dark corner.
"Trowa, why do you always seat me in the corner? Could it me! You're ashamed of me?" Duo feigned hurt and dramatically cried out earning several curious looks.
Trowa glared at the twenty four year old man acting like he was still ten. Swiftly turning around Trowa walked away trying to intact the remaining dignity he still had as the owner of the restaurant. But as he walked away he couldn't help but smile. No matter what, Duo seemed to have a dynamic affect on people.
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Trowa watched as Duo inhale his bacons. He wanted to tell him that eating that fast will feel like he ate nothing and will result in more hunger. However he didn't, Trowa doubted Duo would be able to hear anything with the amount of noise he was making.
"Whas 'rong?" Duo tried to speak with his mouth full and the other man closed his emerald eyes and shook his head.
Shrugging Duo continued to eat his food and Trowa was glad he sat him far away from the customers. Not just because Duo would scare them away with his eating habits but he didn't want people to think lowly of Duo.
Duo Maxwell was his friend and Trowa hated it when people judged his braided friend from his looks, his manners, and his outside personality. Just as the world wasn't black and white humans weren't either. They didn't carry one kind of faces or one type of personalities. Duo wasn't just cheerful, carefree, and charismatic. He knew how to get angry, he was icy sometimes, and was insightful in his own ways.
"You look like you want to say something. What is it?"
Trowa looked straight at Duo's cobalt blue eyes and saw a hint of seriousness. He felt as if the other man was trying to read his mind. Suddenly he watched as Duo's face became slightly wicket with a smirk.
"Let me guess. It's about Rei."
When Duo received only the silence as an answer he took that as a yes. His smirk became weaker and looked down away from Trowa's intense eyes.
"Don't worry. Rei's stronger than you think."
"She's not that strong."
"Rei can break up with me anytime she wishes."
"She's a woman."
Those three simple words left Duo silent. It was an obvious statement made but something that made Rei Hino sound so common. Duo didn't like the sound of the words.
"She wants a man's comfort."
Once again there was no reply from Duo and Trowa wondered if he was even listening to him. Duo looked up and with a small smile and slowly but confidently opened his mouth.
"You give her comfort don't you? And are you not a man Trowa?"
Trowa's eyes slightly widened at Duo's words. It sounded like an accusation. Trowa looked at Duo who had an assertive smirk on his handsome face with a playfully raised eyebrow, as if daring him to deny it. He wasn't sure what answer he was supposed to give. Admit straight forward that he did give comfort or twist it and say that his comfort was different.
Unexpectedly Duo let out a rumbling laughter that shocked him. The intense air seemed to have disappeared with the feeling of accusation.
"Really Trowa, did you think I was accusing you of being involved with Rei? Hell yeah I know that you're there to make her feel better but you guys aren't involved." Duo paused midway with a mischievous glint.
"Unless you're planning to seduce Rei,"
Trowa kept his composure and just stared right at Duo. It was hard to tell when he was joking and when he wasn't. But Trowa decided to use this doubled sided blade as an opportunity to find something out.
"What if I was?"
He saw Duo's smile disappeared for a moment before returning to the owner.
"It won't be easy. Rei's not a common woman. She's got spirit, spunk, passion, and pride. She won't give into seduction unless she knows there will be a future. Rei won't give into anything that she won't be able to control."
"What makes you think I can't give her what she wants?"
Duo's cobalt eyes expressed deep amusement and raised an eyebrow questioningly. Trowa felt his throat go dry. He was sure he trespassed into dangerous territory but he couldn't back down now. Despite this so called joke Trowa wanted to know why Duo doubted he could give Rei what she wanted.
"Can you fill her desires with burning passions till the day she dies? Are you prepared to spend the rest of your lives with Rei alone and be more than satisfied? Can you give into her pride while keeping your pride intact to keep her respect for you? Can you make her lose control but allow her to control you? Most of all can you make Rei forget about all her years with me?"
Duo shook his head and chuckled as if something funny was said.
"Forget that last one. I'm sure you can fill my years Trowa. After all Rei's also my friend and a wonderful woman. She deserves a great guy and you're one hell of a man."
"You care for her."
Duo looked at Trowa's expressionless face questioningly. His words sounded random like there wasn't a point to it. But he was curious did Duo still have the feelings for Rei he once had?
"She is my friend."
"You love her."
Duo leaned back without any kind of a smile on his face. He didn't look like Duo Maxwell without a type of smile on him. It was awkward looking at him but this was also a part of Duo Maxwell, his serious side.
"Do I?"
An eerie silence came upon them as two words left Duo's mouth. It could've sounded like a joke if it wasn't for pure curiosity on his face. Trowa felt himself surpass a bit of anger.
"You do."
"Okay, if you say so."
Duo jumped up with a grin on his face as if there wasn't an awkward moment.
"I better get going. You have to get back to work."
Trowa grabbed a neatly wrapped bag and handed it to Duo.
"Take this to Rei. I'm sure she didn't have her lunch yet."
"Why don't you give it to her?"
"I'm busy."
"Fine then, I'll tell her it's from you."
As Duo started to walk away he paused as if remembering something and turned back to looks at Trowa.
"You know, there's a big difference when talking to you about Rei and with Heero."
With one last quick smile Duo walked out the exit door leaving Trowa feeling slightly confused. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to interpret the words.
The sound of the bell door broke him from his thoughts. Looking up to greet his customer he was met with solid ice blue eyes on a stone but handsome face.
"Hey Heero,"
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"Nice! Yeah that's it! Hold that pose! Excellent! Flip your hair! Great!"
The large room filled with white flashes as the raven haired beauty shouted with passion as she moved around the female model that stood on the green screen as she took pictures. As the girl changed poses with different facial expressions Rei continued to shout encouragements.
Truthfully she didn't like dealing with models, especially female models. While actress and singers were obviously obnoxious and hard to work with, they at least never tried to tell her how to do her work. Models were experienced with cameras and majority of the female models today were obsessed with looking sexy. Rei Hino was a photographer for media arts not for porn or playboy. She only used sex on her photo if the ad product was perfume.
"Can you darken the lightning? I think getting a sexier image will be better for me."
The model who looked liked she was still in her teens twirled her dark blonde hair glaring at Rei as if she was supposed to obey her wishes. Rolling her violet eyes Rei stared at the model raising her eyebrow.
"Your seventeen years old Jamie, starting your career off with a sexy image at that age will definitely ruin you. Better to start off with a sweet innocent girl next door type of image."
The model Jamie let out a high pitched laugh for a couple of seconds. The girl raised an eyebrow mockingly at Rei with a sneer on her beautiful but sharp face.
"I'm not targeting nerdy boys nor am I aiming for a younger audience. I want men as my audience and to every guy's Sex Goddess."
The photographer placed her camera down on a small glass table and crossed her arms looking very serious.
"Well then, I guess you came to the wrong photographer. I don't work for playboy perhaps you should go to another photographer who does. Even if my photos are for the media, they are art I don't do trash."
Rei grabbed the camera placed on the table and took the roll of film between her fingers. She glanced up at the model that looked at her with wild blue eyes daring her to do what she planed. With a smirk on her creamy white face Rei tore her fingers through the film ruining her mornings work.
Two different shouts mingled in her studio. The model jumped down the tiny stage that the green screen surrounded and ran towards Rei. Swiftly the girl brought her hand to slap Rei but her hand was caught before it made contact.
"Don't you think its disrespectful that a seventeen year old raises a hand at seven years senior? Besides I believe you had a problem with the photos anyway little girl."
"And who the hell do you think you are!" shouted a man with dark brown hair whose face was turning into a bright red colour. He turned his gaze from the tall brown braided hair man to the photographer who looked a bit surprised and smug.
"What the hell was that for Miss Rei Hino! I believe our company paid you good money to create photos for Jamie's beginning career! Do you want to explain your actions!!" yelled the man waving his large index finger at Rei's face.
With a tight frown Rei flicked the man's finger away from her face.
"Your model wants a slut to be her image. The seventeen old wants to become a Sex Goddess! I don't need some spoiled girl telling me how to do my job, go find a playboy photographer to do her pictures. And I'll send your check by mail."
The man glared at Rei with all the anger he could managed and grabbed the model's hand and stormed out of the room. Before he slammed the door shut he yelled out,
"See if we ever do business with you again Miss Rei Hino!!"
The studio was silent as Rei held her glare at the man who seemed to appear out of nowhere. Her passionate violet eyes were filled with hints of curiosity and anger as the cobalt blue eyes held amusement.
"Your reflexes seems to be slowing down. That girl almost slapped you."
"I would have slapped her back."
Duo chuckled at her simple response and softly stroked her left cheek that was almost assaulted.
"I don't like the idea of their being a mark on your flawless skin."
Rei touched his hand and gave a tiny smile as she traced a scratch mark on his cheek.
"You're the one to talk. How did you get it?"
"Cheryl attacked me because I broke up with her."
Rei turned away from him uncomfortable where the subject might turn to.
"Why are you here?"
Duo looked at Rei with a slight smirk and started to walk around her studio leaving brief touches on her equipments.
"Trowa thought you didn't have your lunch yet, so he sent me to give it to you. He really cares out for you, enough that I should feel jealous." His words sounded sincere enough but if Rei saw his eyes she would have saw the hint of sarcasm.
"Don't say something stupid like that." She turned her back to him and walked to the chestnut brown cabinet that held all sorts of cameras. Placing the one she used for the model she took out an old fashioned camera. She had something for antiques and things that her just out of date.
"Stupid? Why is that stupid? You don't think maybe Trowa has a crush on you?" he jumped onto the small stage and twirled around like a little child.
"Of course not! Trowa's my friend as well as yours and he knows that I..." she stopped speaking there and Duo's smile left him for awhile. Rei brought her arms around her feeling the uncomfortable silence.
Duo wanted to persuade her on the subject but decided to back down for now, he did know his limits.
"Hey Rei! Since you don't have a client here right now, how about taking pictures of me! I think I look good enough to model." He got into a pose that's mostly used for shaving and Rei couldn't help but chuckle.
"I highly doubt you could be a model Duo. After all your ego is too big to be caught on camera." There was a playful smirk on her enchanting face and Duo's grin widen as an impish glint appeared in his eyes.
"Are you calling me egotistic? Rei, I am probably the most modest person in the world. You're just jealous I look prettier than you and have a better figure. Now that I'm looking carefully I think you look fatter than usual." He looked over her pausing at her stomach and Rei felt her mouth open largely into a circle.
"Are you calling me fat?"
"Of course not! It's not your fault you can't help but eat junk food and lock yourself in your studio, causing your lack of exercise. Eek!" screamed Duo as Rei punched him on the arm her face looking flushed with anger.
"You know what I'll take your picture and see how many pounds it adds onto you."
She placed a roll of film onto the old fashioned camera and looked into the lens that held Duo's image.
"Why are you using that old camera?"
"It's the best one to use for black and white films."
"Why black and white, won't it look better in colour."
Rei lifted the camera away from her eyes and looked straight at Duo with playfulness but behind it was honestly.
"It fits you. Black and white photography is much more complex. Just one wrong angle or one wrong light shine on a place can ruin the whole photo. You seem simple enough but so complex."
Rei started to walk around Duo shouting out comments and encouragements taking pictures of his silly and model like poses. He wasn't bad on camera the term "the camera loves you" fitted Duo better then any model she'd seen so far.
A genuine smile was on her face. Not just because photography was what she loved but because the mood between Duo and her now was how the old days used to be like, carefree, bright, and playful. She missed and this moment made her feel like she got a part of the old days back.
Suddenly her cell phone rang and broke her from taking pictures.
"I'll be right back."
She walked to the other side of the room and held the phone to her ear.
"Hello, Rei Hino speaking."
-Miss Hino, this is Aaron Hunter manager of Minako Aino speaking. I'm calling you about Minako's photo shoot late this afternoon.
"Yes, if I'm correct she has four hours from now. Is something wrong?"
Rei's tone was professional and plain even when asking about the model's regard she didn't bother to feign concern. She had a feeling what Aaron Hunter was calling her about. He was probably going to give her some lame excuse that their precious model couldn't come because something more important came up instead of a photo shoot.
-No, nothings wrong Miss Hino. I was hoping that we could postpone the shoot to another day.
"Really? Did something important come up?"
There was an obvious displeased scent on her words and there was no doubt the manager heard it.
-I'm afraid the talk show special will go longer than we were told by the producer. Its unlikely that we would be able to make there on time so I hope we could make another date.
His voice was firm that she felt like he was ordering her to make other arrangements. She felt angry that this man was only looking out for his model and not caring that others had their own careers.
"Well then Mr. Hunter, I guess I will have to call your assistant with the next available date. Good day."
She closed her cell phone without giving the man a chance to say anything else. She hated it when managers or some assistant called to cancel a shoot just because their client wasn't up to it. She wasn't going to book Minako Aino an available date. If they wanted the shoot bad enough they could come in some random day and wait patiently for her to finish with a client that kept their time.
"What's the hold up Rei?"
"Nothing! I'm coming!"
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His hands swiftly touched through his slick black hair in annoyance. A tight frown was on his pale snow face as he felt everyone's glare on him. Grunting audibly as an apology he took his cell phone out and looked at the name it was blinking on its screen: Minako
Biting his thin lips in hesitation he turned his cell phone off. It rung for quite a while once every ten minutes since the meeting started. The others were getting restless and probably doubting, if they should agree to the deal with him. After all the company sent him as the representative and here he was being the cause of the interruption.
In frustration he loosened the blue silk tie on his Armani suit. While the Armani suit made him look elegant his aura gave a sense of ruggedness. As his associate Fred started to give an in dept explanation of the deal his mind wandered off to the continuous call from Minako.
Sure she always called him to chat and tell all about her day and ask how his work was doing. He fiddled with the cell phone in his hand feeling guilty for ignoring his friend's call and just turning it off. If kept calling him nonstop there should be a reason.
Gently shaking his head he brought his mind back to the conference. Through the whole meeting he kept his mind on track and did an excellent job at persuading the audience with his passionate words.
-
"Is something on your mind?"
He raised an eyebrow at his associate who was walking next to him in the narrow maroon hallway of the hotel.
"No. Why?"
Fred shrugged lightly and looked at Wufei with a playful smile.
"You just seemed to be drifting off in the conference. Perhaps there's a woman on your mind?"
"Shut up. Just worry about sealing the deal for sure for tomorrow."
"Yeah, it's just as well done."
They each came to a halt at their own suite. His associate turned halfway with a grin and pressed his card into the slot.
"Night then, call whoever it is your thinking about. She must be one hell of a woman to distraught you."
Wufei frowned as his associate entered his own suite before searching for his card.
He kicked the door of his suite down and entered with his cell phone close to his ear. He threw his briefcase onto the large bed and sat down. He closed the phone and sighed. Her cell phone was turned off and without a doubt she entered a filming. Aaron probably told her to turn the phone off. He was always strict with her. Wufei personally didn't like Aaron. In his eyes he placed Minako in a cage and showed her to everyone like a trophy. Then expected her to be happy and be satisfied with all the attention she was getting.
Wufei never liked Minako becoming a model. When they were children he always thought that she was only going to model toys for awhile. That's what the agency told her parents and that's what they told him when he objected. The one year contract extended each year until Minako was caught in the web of fame.
Now even if Minako herself wanted out she wouldn't be able to. The media and the fans would never allow her to. They were possessive and no celebrity could escape their grasp until the fans and the media didn't want them anymore.
He tossed his tie onto the bed walked into the bathroom ready to calm his muscles in a nice long bath. He hoped by the time he was finished that Minako's filming would be finished.
Just as he turned the water on his cell phone started to ring but the sound of rumbling running water drowned the ring tone.
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Minako plopped onto her large orange colour sheeted bed with a heavy sigh. Her hotel room was VIP and they created it the way she liked everything. The room has a fresh theme of orange and yellow. The colour orange was labeled onto her by her fans since she turned 15. She was described to be fresh, sweet, and captivating, everything that the colour orange gave.
"Tomorrow's a big day. You're going to see Ami Mizuno to see if you qualify to be her main model."
He flipped through his scattered sheets of paper as she tuned him out.
'When is it not a big day?'
"Perhaps it'll be best if you skipped dinner today."
She leaped off her bed like it was on fire and looked hard at her manager.
"I skipped lunch as it is, do you want me to starve?"
He ignored her plainly and Minako felt her peach colour face go red from frustration. One of the things she continuously told to the public it was horrible to starve. Nobody should have to starve themselves to reach a media biased form of beauty. But then again the media laughed at her comments and questioned her career. Someone from a career where many were starving themselves and were anorexic didn't deserve to tell the public what was right and wrong.
The only people who dared took the media had the wrong idea of beauty were only two kinds of people, celebrities who were secretly starving themselves to get the media's idea of beauty and celebrities who could never obtain that beauty. So it seemed hopeless to prove wrong to the media.
"Also, Rei Hino was upset that we had to cancel your appointment. If that woman wasn't famous for her works in the public we wouldn't let you work with her but since she's the best and respected in her fields, we'll get your publicist to write some corny letter of apology and some flowers or chocolate."
Minako shook her and looked out the large window next to her bed. The city was large and busy filled with all sorts of people. But she always felt secluded from them, nobody accepted her as a human. She was either The Famous Model Minako Aino or The Successful Celebrity Minako Aino, but never plain Minako Aino. She only knew one person who treated her as her but he seemed to be busy since she last tried to call him.
"Shouldn't I call her myself and apologize?"
Aaron looked at her like she just suggested she'll quite modeling and acting to be some low town stripper. Quickly dismissing her words with a simple wave he continued to read down what she had for tomorrow.
'Why is it that what I say never matters?'
"I don't want you leaving your room. If you need anything just call one of us up. Don't call the hotel assistants they can't be trusted among celebrities not to be annoying."
She pushed herself away from the window and stood in front of her manager who seemed like a wicket wizard keeping her as a prisoner.
"Why can't I go out? Its not even six pm, I wanted to go out to the park for a fresh air."
"You can't make your bodyguards go out for a simple walk in the park with you."
She shook her head firmly it seemed impossible to communicate with him. Everything she said he made it somehow related to the business.
"I thought I could go alone."
"Do you realize how many people in the world love you and hate you? Do you know there are thousands of people just wanting paparazzi of you and people who want to kidnap you?"
She bit her lips and balled up her fist tightly. All she wanted to do was go outside all she was asking for was a moment of privacy. Would it kill Aaron to grant that? Knowing Aaron he probably would relate it to the business somehow and tell her yes.
"Stop that. Your lips stand out to the public, it matters how it looks. Your nails been done in the morning it's not wise to mess them up."
She quickly halted her actions and looked at the green carpet.
'Aaron's right. I'm being selfish I have people hired to take care of me. If something happened to me they would get full blame. But I just feel so trapped.'
"Get some sleep looks are everything. I have two bodyguards outside your door."
She didn't look up as she heard the door close shut. To her it sounded like the prison gates closing and locking her in.
She carefully picked up her romance novel that she left on the nightstand.
'Why do I even read these trashes? I'm a goddamn celebrity these stuffs are like those damn fairytales. They're nothing but stupid fantasies that'll never come true!'
Her grip on the paper bag book hardened with anger. With all the power she could manage Minako hurled it against the door.
"But...there are silly people that dream of those fantasies coming true, hoping to find true love, wishing to go through a passionate and painful love, and looking for real love."
A gentle smile crept up onto her sad face as she walked over to the novel and picked it up again.
"Guess I'm one of those silly people."
Minako quickly tossed the novel away when she heard a knock against her door.
"Miss Aino is something wrong? Do you need something?" asked a deep gruff voice hinted with concern.
She opened her mouth to answer no but stopped midway. Her gaze shifted to the novel lying on her bed.
"Yes, I think I would like to watch a comedy movie. Can you go out and borrow one?"
"Sure thing Miss Aino."
She listened cautiously as heavy footsteps echoed throughout the hallway. From what her manager told her there should be one more bodyguard outside her door.
Opening the door slightly she peaked at the huge man who looked pissed off. Taking a deep breathe she silently prayed in her mind.
"I'm sorry if I'm bothering you."
"Not at all Miss Aino," his voice was almost the same like the other bodyguard but there was an obvious note of displeasure in his voice.
"Can you go the hotel manager and ask them if I could change my room? The city view gives off too much noise. Also do you think you can ask them if their chef can make something brief to eat for me?"
Her eyes looked nervous as he glared down at her but he nodded and started walking down the hallway. She felt her heart leap in joy and smiled and quickly grabbed her jacket.
This was her only chance. It would definitely anger her manager and probably the president of the CIELZ Entertainment but she needed to do this. You can't keep a bird locked up in a cage for a long time and expect it to not runaway at least once.
Swiftly Minako ran down the hallway from the opposite direction her two bodyguards left.
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Author's Note: I tried to update as fast as I could. I only got to include Trowa, Duo, Rei, Minako, and a little bit of Wufei. The next chapter will probably have all the characters and that's the chapter where the plot will finally start. So sorry I'm taking it so slowly! Hope you all will stick around, and I'll try to bring the next chapter faster and make it more exciting!
Thanks to the following reviewers:
eventidespirit: Thank you for you wonderful review! I'm glad you don't think it's boring and that you like the characterization. You're always full of lovely compliments ^_^
Vega03: Thank you for reviewing! Mostly likely Ami and Heero but there's Relena and Milliardo between them.
Aphrodite2: Thank you for your review! I think Minako and Wufei are quite the unique couple as well. Who knows maybe they'll be one of the final couples.
Princess Ren: Thank you for reviewing! Things just won't be simple for Duo/Rei then again the others won't have it easy as well.
Adrelliehs: Thank you for your review! It's a bit confusing isn't it? I don't know I keep it all straight in my head.
Mistress of Ice1: Thank you for reviewing! No need to beg Ami and Heero are very likely but with Milliardo and Relena between them it just won't be easy for them.
Myst Lady: Thank you for your review! Duo's a born flirt and that's what makes him so irresistibly cute!!
Lil' mercurain Angel: Thank you for reviewing! I'm happy you like the idea.
miyaka: Thank you for your review! I'm relieved to know that you think I'm doing a good job integrating the characters into the story. Thank goodness you don't think I'm not rushing the plot too quickly. I think I'll have fun with the Relena/Heero/Ami/Milliardo square. It's easy to be sympathetic towards Trowa isn't it?
Luinfirith: Thank you for reviewing! I'm a Duo fan myself and I would never make Duo into a horrible bad guy. Thank you for your suggestion.
Tenshi-Kaikou: Thank you for your review! Ah, you don't like Duo/Rei pairing. I kind of think they're cute together if written nicely. But they are not the only pairings in the story or possible pairings.
Petra2: Thank you for reviewing! I'll try to add more Ami/Heero in the next chapter but sadly this chapter doesn't have either of them featuring.
sakura-heart: Thank you for your review! Yeah, I think I'm taking my time for the plot but I hope the next chapter is where the plot develops. Duo seemed quite dark last chapter but I hoped I made him lighter this chapter he's a great character to develop around.
