Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or Sailor Moon. The only thing I got is the plot.

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And I Love You...

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[Chapter Three]

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"Someone sure is annoying."

Wufei walked out of the bathroom with his black hair dripping and a towel around his waist. He took his time walking towards his cell phone that kept ringing impatiently.

"Did she call you!!!??"

Wufei raised his eyebrow at the rude way the manager of his best friend was greeting him.

"What a nice way to say hello. Who's this 'she' you're speaking of?"

"Who else but your best friend!!"

He smirked at seeing the usually the cool calm collected man panic his way about, but he couldn't help but feel concern that something might've happened to Minako.

"Why? You usually keep an eye on her 24/7."

"She disappeared."

He bit the side of his lip firmly. A part of him felt like congratulating Minako for being able to fight for her freedom but another part of him felt like pounding some sense into her for running away so childishly. She was in a media business she needed people around her 24/7 because some psycho out there might be waiting for her to be alone. Wufei couldn't bare to live if something happened to her.

"Two things. First, she wouldn't have done something like that if you allowed her to breathe. Second, how the hell could you have been so careless!!"

"Allow her to breathe? You're a business man Wufei Chang you understand when you're flying everyone wants to be part of what you got, but once you start crashing all those people who are ally companies start turning their back on you and cut all ties. That's just like the media. When they love you they love you all together and when they hate they hate all together."

He let out a laugh and shook his head a bit amused. The public is cruel but he found the people living to please the public crueler.

"So choking Minako with work was the best thing?"

"It's the only way to maintain her fame."

Aaron's voice was once again cool and Wufei hated the fact the ocean separated him from strangling the man.

"Where are you now?"

"I sent out all the staff members to look for her but not to make a fuss. If media catches that she ran away they'll have a field day."

"Let me ask you something."

Wufei paused to give Aaron a chance to answer but he met with only silence.

"Minako isn't stupid nor careless. Why would she run away when there's a psycho stalker after her?"

The man on the other line was quiet and Wufei prayed his suspicion wouldn't be confirmed.

"She doesn't know."

"What! She doesn't know there's an obsessed man after her! How could you keep this from her!? Don't you know neglecting to mention that the victim itself is in danger causes bigger danger?"

"So you're saying we should have told her that some psycho has been writing sexual harassment letters and some sick sexual fantasies he planned to have once he meets her! What a big comfort that'll be!"

Wufei took a deep breath trying to calm down. He gripped his cell phone tightly and resisted the urge to just break it. Breaking the connection from the man on the other line.

"I'm coming. I'll take the next flight out and come back. By the time I'm back in the country Minako better be found and safe."

"Don't worry. We won't take a whole day to find her, it's already evening she'll be found by midnight."

"Find her sooner. And if you don't tell her by then I will."

Without another Wufei hanged up. This was why women shouldn't work. They never think what their actions might cause. This was why women should just stay home and do housework. They were protected from the dangers from the world when inside their little territory.

But Wufei couldn't ask Minako to give up her career. It made her miserable and made her happy at the same time.

He quickly started to change into his business clothes. He was thankful he didn't unpack and his entire luggage was prepared to go. He swiftly dialed the clerk table and asked his room to be taken out he also asked them to give a message to his partner.

"Minako you stupid girl, I just can't leave you alone."

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Heero flinch his pale blue eyes as the sunlight from Milliardo Peacecraft's office smashed into his face.

"Ah...Mister Yuy, how was your trip if I may ask?"

Milliardo didn't even look up as he leaned against black leather chair comfortably flipping over statistics the business analysts left.

Heero tried to look directly at the vice president of the Peacecraft Corps but the strong beam of sunlight was heading right from his direction. It was as if Milliardo Peacecraft's existence was that bright other people had no right to look at him.

"It was fine."

His reply was short without hesitance leaving no hints that something might've gone wrong. He saw from the corner of his eye Milliardo glancing at him with a custom made smirk.

"Quite confident, can I ask your secret?"

The handsome platinum blond placed all papers down to focus all his attention to the stone man. It was just like every time he asked Heero Yuy a pointless question, the other man never bothered to answer.

'Is this some sort of resistance to fully acknowledge of my authority Mister Yuy. You need to change seriously.'

Milliardo looked over Heero from head to toe and back to head. The younger man didn't flinch or move under the piercing eyes. Milliardo slowly shook his head without a clear expression on his face.

"You may leave now Mister Yuy."

With a shook of his hand Heero left the room like a shadow unaffected by Milliardo's eyes that followed him out.

He closed the door behind him and took in a deep breath. Every employee that entered Milliardo Peacecraft's room felt the same thing. They all felt like the Peacecraft was controlling how much air they were allowed to breath and when they were suppose to hold their breath and for how long. In shot, you were limited the oxygen you're allowed to get.

"Tell me my brother doesn't have the same affect on you as the others. I'm sure he's not that bad."

He turned around to be greeted with Relena Peacecraft's warm and playful smile. If the heir to the Peacecraft Corps limited his oxygen then his sister suffocated him. He didn't hate her nor did he dislike her like he did about her brother. There was something about the lovely sandy blonde haired woman that pulled him towards her. Perhaps it was the serene air around her that calmed the world down, or maybe it was how she gently smiled at him and wasn't afraid to express her feelings.

"Miss Relena,"

His husky voice greeted without giving out much emotions. The woman standing in front of her didn't seem to mind for she was used to his cold demeanor by now.

"Hello Heero, how do you feel from your trip?"

It was similar question from her brother but it was strongly different. Her brother's question asked about business and her question was personal. That was the difference between the two siblings, one a professional cold business man and a welcoming warm publicist. However their way as a human being didn't change they were blood and had similarities.

"It was fine."

Heero felt himself automatically take a step back as she leaned onto him with a raised eyebrow. He maintained his stone facial expression and no movement other than his previous step gave hint that he was uncomfortable with the closeness.

"If I know you like I do Heero, isn't that the same reply you gave my brother? I thought we were closer than that."

He swallowed his saliva as he felt her brush her hand against his solid well built chest. Her touch was soft and light feeling almost invisible to him. He ignored the hand and looked straight at her incase she felt superior to him that he had enough guts to look at her in the eyes.

As if reading her thought the playful but sincere smile that she made especially for him appeared. Her face brightened seeing how the silent man was going to speak scarce words to her.

"Miss Relena, I am in a position to give equal respect to both you and Mister Peacecraft."

Only her teal eyes changed movement as they dropped to the floor.

"Did you hear it Heero?"

There was no reply from him if he understood what she meant. Her eyes stayed on the floor trusting that he would listen to her even if she didn't force him with her eyes.

"I'm Miss Relena and he's Mister Peacecraft. Though you didn't drop the formalities you keep my name and make me an individual. However my brother has the formalities and isn't made original by keeping it Peacecraft. You may say I'm being foolish by picking on the little stuff but I believe it Heero. I believe that we're closer than what you say. We know each other well enough."

She took this moment to bring her eyes back up to look at him. He was looking at her with those intense blue eyes of his that never seemed to be relaxed. Relena broke the eye contact and turned her back to him.

"It's not that we need the formalities. Heero you can't drop it that quickly and be sugary sweet friends. That's not your style. Time is proof to you on how close you are with that person and if you could trust them. I dropped mine a long time ago Heero. I waited all these years and I'll keep waiting."

He felt his muscles vibrate from the crunched up fist he made though his face admitted nothing, he felt uncomfortable.

"Come to the party, I'll look for you Heero." Handing him a small invitation she gave one last smile and a wave before leaving him alone in the hallway with her echoes.

-

Relena closed the door behind and elegantly avoided the sunlight trying to crash her against the wall.

"You took longer than I expected."

"I ran into Heero."

Without once looking at her brother she took a seat on the leather mini couches, it was placed so whenever he had important guests so they could sit. He looked up from a report and slightly raised his eyebrows.

"I hope you know I invited Ami for the party."

Relena's head tilted and would have shown confusion if it wasn't for the smile. Catching that smile Milliardo shook his head and looked away from his sister.

"Heero Yuy is a stone cold person. He never shows emotion and doesn't look like he feels it either. But to his friends he seems more compassionate, Ami Mizuno is his friend. Won't you be jealous of their closeness in a place crowded with people?"

A startling amused laughter echoed into every corner of the office. Relena being the lady she was covered her mouth and tried to calm her laughter down.

"I don't need to be. I reached Heero deeper than Ami could as a friend. But you on the other hand, of course you'll be jealous of any men's relationship with her."

Milliardo puffed out a little mock laugh as he brushed his hand through his silk platinum blond hair.

"Besides, it's not like their in love with each other or anything."

Relena crossed her arms in a superior way bringing her chin up. Her usual calm gentle teal eyes narrowed and her teeth softly sunk to her cherry lips. She didn't know why but the idea of the two being together angered her.

'Too similar, they both talk so little and express their emotions rarely. They would make the worst couple.'

Milliardo watched his sister's expression like a hawk preying on his prey. Unlike other siblings their relationship wasn't warm nor was it playful and teasing. They only wanted to outdo each other and poke at each others' in a subtle way.

"It angers you that much? Maybe you secretly see that Ami is a better person for Heero than you are?"

Relena jumped up from her seat as she felt her blood boil. Glaring daggers at her brother for a brief moment she brought her face the way it usually is placed as.

"Thankfully Ami and Heero don't love each other. If ever that becomes the case, Ami versus me, whose love is stronger?"

Her smile was cold and calculating when she tried to manipulate the other companies into making a deal or talking to the public. Her words were really sharp and strong but it sounded so sincere and soft to other people's ears.

"Don't underestimate anyone. Love is a fair battle field where everything goes. Check for yourself at the party if Ami Mizuno is a threat."

"What about you?"

"I let things flow until I need it to go my way."

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The waiter bowed to him as he took the keys and ran inside to get back to work. Trowa brought his wrist up to see how long he would have to wait. It was 7pm with about a twenty minute drive since it was rush hour. As always he would get there ahead everyone else and wait for each and one of them.

Before he could take a step away from his restaurant something slammed against his head.

"Hey! Thanks for the lunch as always and for the wonderful service."

A pair of sparkling violet eyes greeted him with a cute smile. She had the paper bag where he placed her lunch and waved in front of his face. Once he had a good look at the evidence she received it she tossed the bag to a nearby trash can.

"Looks like you liked the delivery boy."

There seemed to be mixed emotions of amusement and bitterness to his words. He investigated her face there were floods of emotions all over her: happiness, excitement, love and hope.

He felt his heart bang hard against his chest as if demanding to burst out, so it could scream out his hidden feelings for her, asking her to look around her and not just one direction.

Only he managed to hold it back just as always, offering a tiny smile secretly hoping she'll find out herself.

"It felt nice, like it was in the olden days."

Rei's face became relaxed like a candle flame as her eyes danced a delicate waltz with love.

'Does the thought him make you happy?'

Trowa's jaws harden not wanting to say the wrong thing or smile fearing it'll look the wrong way. He turned his face a bit away from her so she wouldn't see the jealousy in his eyes.

"He posed as I took his pictures."

She reached into her beige shoulder bag reaching for a white envelope. Placing it in his rough hard worked hands he went through them silently without a choice.

"Black and white, it suits him, two simple colours but so complex. Duo looks so mystical in it."

Her pictures proved true to the words of its owner. Duo looked exquisitely handsome and mysterious in all his poses- even the goofy ones. His hair always done in a simple braid looked wickedly sexy with his bangs running wild. Charm and playfulness danced in his sea of cobalt. From all angels he looked picture perfect and every photo was brilliant.

"You know Trowa, its kind of funny how you figure out how much you love one person. Less than an hour of taking pictures of Duo I felt and realize how much I love him and how much I need him in my life."

Her cheeks blushed shyly embarrassed about expressing her feelings. Bowing her head to the ground to cover herself, she missed the flash of pain in Trowa's emerald eyes.

"Every time I think of him I have trouble focusing and end up making a fool of myself. But without him I can't function properly and everything turn out as a mess. My heart pounds in excitement and breaks into pain at the sight of him and mention of his name."

Her hand slowly came up to her chest as she clutched tightly on the area of her heart. Curtaining her violet eyes to shield the emotions she didn't want to show, Rei took a deep fresh of air.

"If I think about letting him go and not having Duo in my life I feel like I'll suffocate to death. He's my air. I don't know how to feel without him. If this isn't love then I don't know what is."

"So?"

Her eyes snapped open as it clashed hard with the intense eyes of Trowa. He summed up the point of her feelings into one harsh cold word. No sincerity was hanging around his face as his eyebrow was raised in a sense of curiosity.

"It's over."

He spun his head towards her in an act of confusion to her words. A smirk crept up her snow blessed skin and she gave a playful look.

"I'm not throwing my nine years into waste by letting Duo go. But, I'm not taking anymore crap from Duo seeing other girls nor am I going to watch like a little wife. I'm fighting for him and I'll fight against him if I have to."

Her tiresome features over the past weeks and months were erased and the old look of Rei Hino was back. Determination floated among her violet eyes, stubbornness filled her beautiful face, and fire stormed out from her soul.

"Duo Maxwell's fooling around time is over. He's coming back to me and I'm not letting go."

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Ami waved to the disappearing figures of her employees and assistants from the insides of her large shop. She brought her hand down and softly sighed to herself from another busy day. There were many things that popped up onto her schedule that weren't suppose to which threw her off her planner.

Ami hated it when things just popped off and those people who expected her attention in one go frustrated her.

Grabbing the shop key she carefully walked around inspecting everything once more. Touching a couple of her design clothes now and then she found herself back on the main floor.

Placing her hand over the light switches she turned off all the sources of light, allowing darkness to fill up.

Ami leaped in surprise as a knock on the window broke the calm silence of the night. Her ocean blue eyes sparkled in joy as she saw who it was.

"Heero, I thought we were all meeting at the restaurant!" her voice rang out as she came rushing out the door.

"Thought I'll pick you up. Finished?"

"Yeah, let's go."

-

Ami's ocean blue eyes reflected the city lights as her lips released a relaxed sigh. Peeking from the corner of her eyes she caught Heero's solid structure driving silently.

Drawing back from the car window she looked straight ahead wanting to look where Heero was looking. The quietness allowed her mind to pick out all sorts of way to break the silence and start a conversation.

"So, how was your trip?"

Ami felt like banging her head against the window for coming up with something so lame. She graduated at the top of her class with a Bachelor degree in Health Services Administration and would have a full degree of Working Professional Doctor of Pharmacy, if she didn't change her mind halfway to become a fashion designer instead.

Ami Mizuno was intelligent when it came to the fields of academics and smart on her career field of fashions but she couldn't start a decent conversation with a friend.

"It was fine."

Heero's simple straight forward reply brought her back to the reality. Lifting her head up she gave her eyes to him but there was nothing more from him.

Pursing her lips together Ami searched for a topic that might get Heero to talk more continuously.

"How are they?"

Tilting her head and raising an eyebrow he opened his mouth to clarify his question.

"Duo and Rei,"

She leaned back against her seat before giving a reply.

"Same as usual, though I think Duo's done with Cheryl."

"They need to break up. Rei needs to get over Duo and leave him."

Ami clenched her fists trying to hold back from throwing her opinions of the issue between her friends at Heero.

"Why does Rei have to let go? Why can't Duo just get his act together?"

"Because Duo made his feelings clear,"

His statement was so simple that it didn't fit with the complexion of Duo and Rei's relationship.

How was it that Duo's feelings were clear but Rei's weren't? How was it that the person still loving had to endure so much only to have others says she had to let go? Why was Duo excused from the pain Rei felt? And why was the solution to her pain was to let her hope go? To Rei, letting him go was to let him win.

"Rei's stronger than that. She can live without him."

"But Rei's prideful and stubborn, she doesn't want to surrender."

The car slowly halted as it reached the red light. She felt Heero's intense prussian blue eyes resting it's glaze on her but unlike a few minutes ago, Ami refused to meet eyes.

"What's love?"

Her nerves went through a wave of sudden electricity at the surprising question. Trying to find a logical and reasonable answer Ami came up with none.

"Is love a battlefield? Is it a war? If it's supposedly lovely why is love's metaphor related to something so disgusting?"

Hearing his logic for the question she was rendered speechless. It was too true. She herself just used the term used often for war to relate to Rei's feelings.

"War can never be love. Which place Duo and Rei on the same page, they don't love each other. Only Duo made it clear."

It was eerie and she found it unfair for Rei. However deep down Ami couldn't help but see the truth in his words. Still Ami wanted to yell out that he himself had no right to cross out other people's feeling like that. She wanted to say Duo did more wrong than Rei but she chose to hold her tongue.

Yelling back and making another person's rationale sound bad wasn't what Ami Mizuno was good at. Besides she already felt like Heero and she could never be on the same page. Taking a step forward though, Ami softly opened her mouth.

"But love could become a war, especially if the person refuses to acknowledge the other person's feeling."

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Minako wrapped her arms tightly around her body feeling the evening wind sending shivers down her body. Rubbing a hand gently on her stomach she felt it growl in hunger. She was so used to not carrying money with her she completely forgot to bring her purse.

'This is horrible. I don't even know what part of the city I'm in.'

Her crystal diamond eyes searched the street hoping she'll see a familiar face or even her own manger's face. Feeling cold, hungry, and lost Minako didn't feel like celebrating her freedom.

'I'm so stupidly so blonde.'

Getting up from the wall she continued to walk the steps of the busy bright city. Her unfamiliarity of the place led her footsteps randomly.

'Oh great,'

Minako came to a halt facing a large brick wall. The city sound suddenly became distant and deaf to her ears. Licking her dry lips she slowly back traced her steps desperately wanting to get away from the eerie feeling she was getting.

A quick gasp escaped her lips as she felt her shoe and back bumping into a tall figure.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here boys?"

The man she bumped into asked the two guys with him. Minako flinched away as she saw how the moonlight reflected his face. His black hair looked like he bathed in oil and his pupils was huge and red like he was stoned.

"A real pretty girl I've ever seen."

The guy to answer back was a short bald man who fit the term 'dirty' blond. There was a huge scar on his cheek along with large purple bruises that covered his face more than his skin.

"Yeah, what you say girlie wanna play with us?"

The final companion grabbed for her arm but she quickly shook it off. He looked the cleanest but his eyes looked dazed and his movement was slurry. The air around him smelled of strong alcohol that made Minako herself feel drunk.

"Don't touch me."

She snapped at them boldly taking a step back. Trying to figure out how to get by them and outrun them.

"Now, now, we just want to have some fun."

"Yeah, you look like you can loosen up."

Minako held her ground looked straight at them her eyes showing she wasn't afraid. Yet she pursed her lips tightly as she felt her jaws tremble.

They started to close in on her against the wall as the three men licked their lips hungrily. Her tiny hands came to a fist thinking for a moment if she would be able to attack them.

"Come on, we'll treat you right."

"We like girls that play hard to get."

Two guys grabbed each of her arm as Minako let out a blood curling scream. The leader used one hand to roughly grab her bright stands of blonde hair and one to shut her voice. Bending over he placed his gruff lips a centimeter off her ear. Minako's voice was muffled as she continued to struggle to get away.

"We'll have our ways with you like it or not girlie. So save your energy and cooperate."

Letting out a loud muffled scream Minako managed to kick one of the guys holding her in the place where it'll hurt.

"Ah!! You bitch!!"

His voice halted the leader from assaulting her and gave him a chance to slam his hand down on her.

"If you like it rough, then sure why not."

They pushed her down and even if her diamond eyes tried its best to look strong fear had a stronger grip on her.

"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing! Damn are you guys that desperate you got to force a woman? That's sad."

The three men picked themselves up and blocked Minako's view of her savior. But from the shadow on the wall it was a man with long hair and a nicely shaped body in a cocky pose.

"Who the hell are you?"

Slowly getting up Minako caught sight of the burning cobalt eyes and a mischievous smirk on the cute but handsome face. His looks and outline spelled out devil and a bad boy but in her eyes he looked like an angel shining with bright white light.

"Me? I'm a guy that's just passing by but just about to become a hero."

Even at a moment like this Minako had to smile at his effort of making the situation light. Other people might say he was being insensitive and uncaring but to her it looked he was trying to cheer her up and make the situation less awkward.

"This guy's pissing me off."

"I feel the exact same way. You three dirty ugly guys are making my stomach sick."

"You shut your mouth!"

She watched from the background as the stranger crocked his head he looked past the three men. Minako's hand reached for her chest feeling the intense yet playful eyes boring into her.

"Dare you to make me you fucking bastards."

The three dirty men all lunged at him and Minako clutched her hand tightly together as if in a prayer without words. Her savior dodged them quickly and with style, only when the trio paused did he launch an attack.

"You, we'll get you someday!"

With their leader saying his last words the three disappeared from the alley. Minako gently bit the side of lips to keep from smiling.

"You okay?"

Giving a small but genuine smile she nodded. His face looked doubtful as he examined her from head to toe. Her sunshiny blonde hair was a bit tangled up, her jacket had a small tore, and she looked shaken up.

Minako shyly opened her mouth to thank him but her stomach announced something itself.

She felt her peach colour skin dip itself red as she embarrassedly glanced at the stranger who was laughing loudly but not at her.

He shook his head as strands of chestnut brown hair fell into his eyes. There was a large grin on his face and like a domino affect Minako couldn't help but grin back.

"I take your very hungry Miss; seeing how I'm such a good guy I'll buy you dinner."

-

Duo watched with wide eyes at the sight in front of him, the beautiful young woman with scandalous golden blonde hair inhaling the burgers and fries in front of her.

"Slow down, you're eating like you starved for weeks."

She looked up covering her mouth to show she did have table manners as she struggled to swallow the food in her mouth. Taking a quick slip out of her diet coke she licked her lips.

"You have no idea."

Her jaws got a rest as she slowed the movement of her hands grabbing food. Nibbling on a thin French fry Duo's eyes on her changed and he wrinkled his nose out of habit when he was thinking.

"Have we met before? You look awfully familiar."

She giggled as her tongue lay above her straw and looked at him playfully.

"Are you being serious or is this how you charm all the girls?"

He titled his face looking smug with his smile.

"Perhaps. But you do look familiar."

"I should hope so."

As an automatic reaction his thin eyebrow went up and the woman in front of him melodically giggled.

"My name's Minako Aino, the model and actress."

Duo snapped his finger in remembrance and looked at the woman sitting in front of him in amazement.

"Since you know my name its only fair I know yours."

"It's Duo Maxwell."

She tried it out on her lips and closed her eyes while smiling, liking the simple ness and charm in the name.

"What were you doing out in an alley by yourself?"

Minako bowed her head, her river of blonde hair all leaning forward. She expected this question to come sooner or later.

"I ran away."

"Like some sort of an immature teenager rebelling, or is it from the loneliness, lack of freedom, and desire to find some excitement like celebrities on movies."

Her head stayed down as a light smile played on her lips. She didn't feel the need to give an explanation for her actions, it was her business and she would already have to explain to her manger and the president of the CIELZ Entertainment.

She felt a muscular but smooth hand cup her chin, pulling her face slowly back up. Like the first time she saw him, she felt herself falling deep into his eyes.

"Lighten and thank your lucky stars nothing worse happened."

Nodding her head Minako pursed her lips tightly before letting herself smile.

"You looked like you were going somewhere."

"I was."

"Can I ask where?"

Minako watched the wall of silence pass through Duo Maxwell's face.

"To have dinner with my girlfriend and our friends,"

Minako felt taken back by his straightforward honestly. Most men would have made another excused in front of a women but he didn't. Also most men would have at least called their girlfriend she realized.

"Oh my God! I am so sorry! I'm holding you back aren't I? Your girlfriend must be pissed off by now, here use my cell phone to call her."

Minako tried to force the cell phone onto his firm hands but he pushed it back and shook his head.

"Its not important. They don't expect me to come on time or not alone."

She didn't know how to take that response. It sounded like he didn't care but she didn't believe it, after all wasn't his girlfriend part of that 'they'.

Pushing the light wooden chair back Minako stood in front of Duo looking firm.

"Get up. I'll go back to my hotel so you go to that restaurant."

But the braided man didn't move an inch to get up yet leaned backwards on his chair.

"I don't have to go at least not yet."

Minako looked a little hesitant to back down from making him go but took his answer that it was still early for the meeting.

He jumped up from his seat and grabbed Minako's arm surprising the model that he had enough guts to lay a hand on a celebrity like that.

"Come, I'll take you back to your hotel. After all, you probably don't know your way back."

-

Minako watched as Duo paid the taxi driver and they both laughed at something. In the short amount of time she spent with her savior she felt that Duo Maxwell was a very kind person who liked to fool around a lot. There seemed to be no seriousness in him but Minako wanted to keep her mind about judging people open. Some things were blind to the naked eye.

"This is one big hotel you're staying at. Sure you don't need company over night?"

He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and she just laughed before lightly jabbing him on the shoulder.

"Miss Aino,"

He clutched his shoulder and whimpered softly feigning hurt. She gave a push on his chest as he was now four feet away from her.

"Mister Maxwell for the last time, go to your girlfriend."

"Miss Aino for the last time, just call me Duo."

He mimicked her tone and she just playfully glared at him.

"Sure as long as you do the same."

"You want me to call you Duo?"

He backed another step away as she pushed him. He was such an easy person to get along with and he thought the same about her considering she was a model.

"Go. Your girlfriend might assume you stood her up."

"Most likely she'll assume I'm with another woman."

He tossed his head back and laughed but she didn't join him. It sounded so harsh and cold like he meant it as the truth instead of it as a joke.

"I caused enough trouble. I don't want to break you two apart."

His laughter died out and for a moment his eyes looked calm and meaningful.

"You won't have to."

Something in her didn't want to see this side of Duo Maxwell yet if she were to become friends with him. Swiftly she grabbed his hand and took out a pen she always carried around in her jacket.

"This is my cell phone number. Call me, I owe you big time. Now go!"

Giving one last hard push to his girlfriend Minako backed up a couple of steps from him. Her eyes continued to watch as the figure of her hero turned back once in awhile to wave and she happily waved back. Soon enough he was gone from her sight and towards his girlfriend or so she hoped.

Sighing Minako looked at the hotel main entrance trying to prepare herself for the consequences of her actions. Before she could step inside through her cell phone she turned on in the taxi started to beep.

[You got text message]

Curiosity in her wide eyes she quickly opened it. She grinned when she saw who it was from but the message itself was confusing.

[Do you think I love my girlfriend?]

How was she supposed to answer that? It was a personal question she didn't know the answer to seeing she only met the man in less than three hours. It was a question she only hoped it was 'yes' because she loved the sight of two happy lovers.

Biting her lips she thought for a moment what she would type back.

-

Duo looked at the cell phone in his hand and looked back. The image of the hotel could be seen with few lights inside highlighting it. But the bottom half seemed to be invisible to him from sight.

He looked at the busy traffic in front of him even if it was only past nine o'clock. He doubted his friends were still waiting for him to start with him but he knew they probably would stay there for at least another half an hour. He expected it not out of friendship but out of spite and stubbornness.

Other people might say he was being cruel for thinking like that but the stubbornness of his friends sometimes scared him. He told Minako at the burger shop it was still early when he was about half an hour late.

Given the time his thoughts of wanting to go disappeared and his desire to skip grew. Things would too awkward for him regardless that he could pretend the mood was light.

He even suspected that all four of them would expect him to come in late with a woman in his arms. Duo felt tempted to do that. That was the reason why he was wondering around the alley area. When Minako Aino's stomach grumbled he was so tempted to take her to the restaurant where they all would be.

He didn't take her but the thought never left his mind until Minako gave him the final push to go.

Kicking a pebble in front of him Duo's mind ran with two pairs of thoughts:

Should he go or should he not

Reaching into his pocket he took out a coin ready to flip for it. But the sound of a beep from his cell phone cut him off.

[You got text message]

He hoped it was Minako and not his friends since he turned his cell phone on only after sending Minako his text message.

Reading her reply his laugher filled up the empty void of darkness around him. He shook his head at her reply with a huge grin on his face.

Looking at the coin on his other hand he placed it back into his pocket. He decided he would go even if it was late and he was no longer hungry.

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Author's Note: Damn, it's been like what? Two months from my last update. I took longer than I ever expected it to be. I think I basically included all the characters even if some of their parts were short. This is probably the longest chapter I ever wrote. Things are going to heat up since Duo and Minako finally met. Hope to meet you all sooner!

Thanks to:

Mistress of Ice1: Yay! Ami's not doing to badly so far on her parts but I'm sure she'll do greater along the way.

Vega03: It's easy to feel a bit of sympathy and anger for Rei. She could just let Duo go and see Trowa's love for her but like you said not much of a story then. So I guess we'll just have to be patient with Rei.

eventidespirit: I think Heero had more parts in this chapter to make up for the lack of Heero we got in the previous chapters.

GracedAngel1854: I'm happy you like it and I updated later than I wanted to.

sakura-heart: No the scouts and the pilots won't be using their powers or gundams seeing I'm not gifted in the act of description and would mess up the action sequence. Hence the reason I stay clear of writing actions.

Princess Ren: Nice question, who would Rei end up with? Along with the other characters I left single. Truthfully I don't know because every time I switch the final pairings around, for each different one there's a different out come of the story. So I guess letting it flow until I know which direction I want it to go everyone can be everyone.

Luinfirith: I swear I feel like you got inside my mind for that review. I was thinking the exact same things when I thought about each partner for Rei and Minako. I like the idea of Ami/Heero and Ami/Milliardo so it might cause a little problem for me. Rei and Milliardo? Damn, they would look amazing together. Though I doubt the plot could let me flow that way. Who knows? I noticed my errors when I reread it after I posted so this time I plan to reread it three times before posting.

Dark Mars: Aw, I love your style of descriptions. Trowa's such a sweetie being there for Rei isn't he? Only if Rei could see what we see.