WOOT! Chapter eleven is smokin'! But I'm running out of story to post...so I'm gonna have to start writing again soon.

Disclaimer: I, Sutoomu(Storm), do NOT own Gundam Wing in any way. None at all. This fanfiction was made purely for fun and does not get me money in any way. Besides, it's not as though I have any money to be sued for...

Hiryonin Ichimei

Slave Life

Storm

Heero was still baffled about his discovery when he entered his room. It was lit by a few candles on the table, but dark everywhere else. He looked at the aid kit in resignation. He had broken the base when he slammed it down, and now the bandages and cream and such were spread everywhere, along with splinters.

"Heero?" a very small and timid voice came from the bed area. Heero looked and saw Duo, wrapped up in blankets with a sad expressioon on his face.

"Yes," he answered just as softly.

"I'm glad you're back. I thought you were gonna leave me alone…," Duo said sadly, his head falling back down to rest on the pillow. After Quatre had left, he had been thinking non stop about Heero, wondering if he was coming back or if he hated him now. He had never admitted it to himself, but he liked the presence of Heero with him at night. It helped with the nightmares. But since Duo had wrapped himself in the bed without Heero there, the memory of tonight's nightmare came back, and, added to his worries about Heero, he hadn't been very stable in his thoughts.

Heero blinked as Duo spoke the last bit. Leave him alone…? Duo didn't want to be alone. He wanted him here with him. That was a good sign, he thought. He walked over to his side of the bed and slipped in soundlessly. "I won't leave you alone, Duo. You should know that from tonight."

Duo did know it, and the familiar scent of trees and nature floated to him from Heero. He had been outside. Heero was worried about him. The thought sent a sense of safety through him, and a question floated up through it. He turned to face Heero. "Why are you worried about me? I'm just a slave…" He had asked him before, but never really gotten an answer.

Heero looked at Duo. The Draied slave had never faced him in bed before, preffering to be separate and keep his back to him. The question startled him. Was he ready to admit he cared? Yes. He was. Maybe he wasn't ready to admit he liked Duo, but he could say that he cared about him, right? "I care about you," he said. "I don't know why I care…" He did, but he couldn't tell him yet. "Just because you're a slave, doesn't mean you're not a person," Heero said firmly, and Duo's eyes widened at the fact the prince of the land was saying this to him. "You're not an animal to be tamed or caged or beaten or hurt. I don't want you to think that way. And I don't want you to think I think that way. I…," Heero faltered here. "I just don't want you to hate me. I don't want to hurt you."

Duo was shocked. Shocked at what his master had just told him. Hearing it from slaves or slaves' masters were different than hearing it from the mouth of your master himself. Heero cared about him. Maybe…maybe Heero like him. But did he want to like Heero? Was he ready to admit his feelings to himself? Duo snorted inside. Actually, the darker side of him snorted. But the Duo side heard Quatre's words in his head.

Follow your heart first, then your head…

Yes! Duo Maxwell did indeed like Heero. He liked his glares, and his 'hn-s' and his cold, aloof manner. He liked how he could get annoyed so easily, and how strong he was. He liked every part of the rich boy, and he decided he enjoyed liking Heero.

"Duo…"

Duo looked up into Heero's eyes and realized he had been zoning out while he thought. Heero's eyes now held sadness and pain, as though he thought Duo did hate him because he didn't reply. "Heero…," he said. I like you. A new thought entered his mind. Like…did he only like Heero? Or did he love him? Then again, what was love really…"Do you hate me?"

"No, baka," Heero replied, but without any anger. It was said tenderly, and Duo's heart skipped. Maybe he did love Heero. No one else had gotten these reactions from him before. There was a long and awkward silence, yet it was pleasant as well somehow.

"Thanks, Heero," Duo whispered. "For caring…" Follow your heart… He swallowed nervously. "I…I don't hate you, either, Hee-chan," Heero blinked, and Duo looked up to meet his eyes. "I can't hate someone who I think I love…"

Heero's breath hitched in his throat. Duo loved him? How…? That question vanished as pure joy came in its place. Duo loved him! Heero had known he liked Duo, and to know that Duo loved him…wait. Duo loved him…did Heero love Duo? He had known that he liked the braided idiot a lot, but could he say he loved him? Well, Heero knew he loved lots of things about Duo. He loved the way his braid bounced as he walked. He loved the way his eyes twinkled when he laughed and how he had that deadly gleam of death in them when he was angry. He loved the way his eyes looked violet when he tilted his head and how he crossed his arms in defiance and how he talked and chattered and laughed when Heero got angry. He loved the life he had in him,a nd the rebellion and the defiance. He loved the way he refused to be a slave even though people called him one. He loved how he thought the moon was a graveyard and liked to watch the stars and how he sang…he did love him! Heero not only loved Duo, he was infatuated. Love at first sight, literally. He blinked as it clicked in his skull, as well as something else.

Duo had swallowed hard when Heero had stiffened. He knew it was coming. The rejection, the pain…and then the beatings. A slave could not love his master unless his master loved him. He felt tears leak from his eyes and tried to stop them, but the sense of worthlessness he had felt before came back to him, overwhelming him. He closed his eyes, unable to watch Heero get angry. He didn't want to see whatever hit him. He curled up closer to himself, tears streaming down his face silently. "I'm sorry…" he muttered in a vain attempt. "I…I didn't mean to…I'm sorry…" He prepared for the pain as Heero's hands pulled his head up again, then his eyes flew wide open in surprise as his lips met Heero's.

Heero was kissing him! They parted, Heero letting it be just a quick kiss, and he met Duo's eyes lovingly. "Sorry for what?" Heero whispered. "Sorry that you love me, or sorry that I love you?"

"You…you love me…?" Duo croaked.

"I think I've always loved you," Heero smiled.

The sense of worthlessness vanished instantly from Duo's mind, filled by the presence and scent of Heero as Duo reached behind the prince and pulled him forward into a deeper kiss. Heero took it happily, and Duo opened his mouth to let Heero in. They finally parted for air and Duo grinned wackily at Heero.

"I'm really yours, now, rich boy," he teased.

"Mine," Heero agreed and pulled Duo closer. Duo obliged, truly glad inside to have Heero's warmth as he lay his head on Heero's shoulder. Duo began to feel sleepy as his head moved to Heero's deep breathing, and Heero's hand stroked his hair and cheek. Duo felt giddily happy. He had never been in love before, and never been cuddled before.

"I love you, Hee-chan," he whispered just in case it was all a dream.

"I love you, Duo."

This chapter is wonderful! La la lala la! Review this luv-a-lie chapter please. And nofire...no flames...please...

Storm