Whoo, part 2. Firstly, let me apologize for the first part. It was rushed and short and I should have taken more time with it. Gomen nasai! 90-degree angle bow Second of all, thanks to everyone that reviewed! You have no idea how good that makes me feel . Anyway, so far, our two little g-boys are pissed at their parents for setting them up to be married. Heh heh… So sue me… Oh, wait…no… don't do that… xx…

Pairings: 1+2, eventual 1x2x1
Warnings: Shounen ai/yaoi, fluff, AU, OOC-ish? Perhaps a tad bit of humor if I get in the mood... maybe more, I dunno.
Disclaimers: Do I even need to write this part? If I owned GW, I wouldn't be writing fanfics for it.

The Betrothal, Part II — By: Black Amethyst

Within the vast confines of Castle Maxwell, an indecipherable clump of limbs, clothing, and hair lay jumbled on a sofa in the recreation room. The figure appeared to be sleeping. Hilde crept up to it with a squeaky-bat in hand (1). Treading very softly, being sure not to awaken the lounging dimwit, she crept up and raised the toy high over her head. Just as the boy let out an inhuman snore, she thrust the bat with all her might.

"What the--?" Solo jumped as the bat squeaked against his head.

"Up and at 'em, lazy bones!" Hilde trilled as she repeatedly bashed her cousin. Shrill squeaks rang throughout the room. Solo somehow or another had the presence of mind to tackle Hilde and snatch the toy from her. "Wah!" Hilde shrieked as she fell to the ground.

"Wake me with up in the middle of my nap, will ya?" Solo inquired his now thoroughly pinned cousin. "I guess I'm gonna have to teach ya a lesson, huh?"

Hilde shook her head wildly. "No! No no no! Not that! NO!"

Hilde's pleas were lost, however. "Kyah!" Hilde screamed as Solo began attacking her most ticklish areas. "Dammit, Solo!" she cried between breaths. "Get… ahahah! OFF!"

She writhed helplessly and desperately to get away. She was rapidly becoming prisoner to Solo's masterful tickling techniques. Her breath was beginning to hitch. She kicked and lashed at Solo as she looked around for a way out. "Hahaha.. Let.. Ahahah!—me go!"

She had a plan half-formulated in her mind. She was unable to carry it out however. The door suddenly burst open and the two teens immediately stopped their goofing off. Duo stormed through the room stomping looking for all the world like a toddler in a temper tantrum. Duo reached the other end of the room and the door on that side received similar treatment to the first.

Solo blinked rapidly in confusion. His younger brother had been muttering a string of colorful curses underneath his breath. He was obviously oblivious to anyone in his path. The two cousins in the room looked at each other in obvious confusion. They shrugged at one another before getting up and peeking their heads out of the door to look spy on Duo. Duo had reached his room, and he quickly locked himself inside. Solo shook his head at his younger brother's juvenile behavior. He scratched his nose while idly wondering what could have been the reason for all of that anger. He shrugged his shoulders, decided that he really didn't care on way or the other and was about to continue torturing Hilde.

"Solo," his cousin said as she sat up beside him. "Do you have any idea what that was about?"

He shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine." He looked back disinterestedly. "I say we leave him alone to work it out. It's never a good idea to annoy Duo when he's already angry."

His cousin nodded.

"At any rate," Solo groaned as he stood and dusted himself off. "Why don't we grab some grub? I'm hungry."

"Mmhmm." The two of them turned to walk down towards the kitchens.

"SOLO!"

Solo stopped mid-step and looked over his shoulder. A red faced, almost hyperventilating Duo met his eyes.

"Hey, lil' bro!" Solo grinned brilliantly and flashed a V-sign.

"Did you know?" his brother hissed while pointing an accusing finger at him.

"Eh?" Solo again blinked in confusion.

"Goddammit, I asked you a fucking question!"

Solo turned to completely face Duo and placed a hand on his hip. "Little bro, what are you going on about?"

Duo suddenly seemed to forget about Solo's presence. Instead, he turned his attention on his cousin.

"Did you know, Hilde?"

Hilde stood rooted to the spot. "Duo," she began slowly, soothingly. She shot a panicked look in Solo's direction. "Neither of us have any idea what's going on."

Duo muttered another curse under his breath and glared at the floor. It was a wonder that the intensity of his gaze didn't burn a hole into the carpet.

"Uhm," Solo began. "Did we know what?"

Duo's eyes shot up and bored into Solo's. His older brother squeaked and flinched away a bit. Then, something in Duo's eyes seemed to flicker. His shoulders suddenly sagged a bit as though he was extremely tired. A hand came up to rub his face. He looked at his brother and cousin between his fingers.

"Come on to my room, I'll tell you there." His voice was hollow. He turned around and waved his hand in invitation for them to follow.

Hilde and Solo exchanged a bewildered look before obediently following.

Duo made double sure that the locks on his door were securely in place before turning to his two waiting relatives. Duo groaned inwardly at their expectant gazes.

Oh, joyous, he thought to himself. He crossed the room and sat gingerly on the edge of his tousled bed. In his earlier rage, he had sought to destroy anything that he thought might alleviate some anger. His bed sheets had been only one of those unfortunate objects that now littered his room.

He peeked up through his bangs at the room's other two occupants. Duo had no intention whatsoever of breaking this silence. He anxiously awaited one of them to initiate the interrogation.

It was Hilde who spoke first.

"Well?" She demanded with hands on hips. "Are you going to tell us what in the world is going on or are you going to sit there looking like a pitiful, abused puppy?"

Duo growled to himself thinking something along the lines of, I'll look like an abused puppy if I damn well want to! Instead of voicing his mental reply, he took a deep breath and flopped back onto the bed.

"It's dad… he…" Duo rubbed at his face not knowing how to continue. "He kind of… gave me away."

Solo raised an eyebrow. "Come again?"

Duo sat up and looked Solo square in the eye. "I am now officially engaged to Prince Heero of Nihon."

At first nothing was said. There was no response except for the widening of two pairs of eyes…until Solo burst out into laughter.

"Ahahah! Duo! And Heero! Fwahaha!" Solo trailed off into fits of hysteria, occasionally wiping at his eyes. Hilde's mouth twitched, but she somehow managed to retain some shred of composure.

"Duo," her voice wavered as she desperately tried to mask the chuckle threatening to spill from her lips. "Are you serious?"

"Yes. I wish I wasn't, but… yeah." Duo glared at his brother who was now rolling on the floor in his mirth.

"Shit, Duo, that's rich!" He managed to choke out before diving back into laughter.

Duo stood and clenched his jaw to keep from seeing red. "You idiot! It's not funny!"

"Actually, Duo," Hilde said, now unable to control her amusement. "It's hilarious!"

She shrieked her laughter and fell down beside Solo.

Duo suddenly deflated and his arms hung limply by his sides. "Et tu, Hilde?"

1. Two things here:
a. "Tread softly and carry a big stick." Cookies to whoever recognizes this quote!
b. I call those plastic bats you get at the fair squeaky-bats.

Okay, I try to be consistent, but it's hard for me. I have a lot of work being dumped on me, so I'm not gonna be writing too much. I'm sorry, but that's just how it is sigh. Oh, and once again, I'm sorry for any grammatical errors and whatnot. I apologize for my tendency to write short, choppy chapters. It's this little devil called "writers' block." It's such a bitch. sniffle Please review