As a gift for both late Christmas, and the 200th review (because I'm not too artistically inclined at the moment to make two) I give you the second picture, in color.

Go and see it, because I absolutely love the way it turned out. Not a scene, but just a random idea that popped into my head one day, which I then scribbled down and messed with.

hseru.deviantart.com

enjoy ^_^

PS. And maybe I did like chapter 24, but I really didn't like 23. Just to clarify.

Eclipse of Dusk

By: Hseru

Warnings: Shounen ai later on 1x2 3x4 5xM (Hey look...he's got someone now ^_^)

Disclaimer: I own not Gundam Wing, but I do own the world the G-boys traverse. Fear my god power

Chapter 25

By the next morning, they as a group decided to stay in their temporary cave home for another full day and night, regardless if Heero woke or not. The warmth was doing them wondrous good, even just from a single night's sleep. A full day and night of rest would help them be ready for what lie ahead.

Even though his lessons with Meiran had improved his ability to defend himself, Duo was the one arbitrarily voted to stay in the cave and watch Heero as the other four went out to hunt and scrounge up more firewood. A bit put off, he nevertheless was glad for the time to simply watch by the yet unconscious soldier's side for any change.

It was good that they had gotten him warm so fast. Even out cold, he had a nasty cough that took him sometimes in fits that left him gasping. Each time one of these fits caught him, Duo tried to sooth as best he could, heating water and seeping some medicinal herbs they'd brought, trying to get even the aromatic vapors into the downed soldier. It did seem to help, because the coughing began to ease as Duo continued his ministrations.

The others filtered in and out, bringing firewood that needed to dry out by the already burning fire, and sometimes assorted nuts and berries that had escaped the winter snows.

Trowa was the first to bring back game, a small winter ptarmigan that would have to be plucked and gutted before use. The elf paused long enough to do this, then handed the small bird to Duo, who would have the job of cook for the day.

The braided youth took the bird and wrapped it in evergreen leaves, then tucked it into the coals. It would steam, and eventually bake the bird until it could be eaten.

Trowa was gone again even as Duo did this. The youth moved outside, scooping some of the fresh, crisp snow into a pot to melt over the fire, then carrying it all back inside. All of their stored water had been used, and they needed to melt the ice for some more. Eating snow might quench thirst, but it was horrible for the body, filling it with cold from the inside, and only quickening hypothermia and frostbite.

By the time they had enough for a good meal, Trowa'd brought in a snow hare, and Wufei another ptarmigan with the use of snares. Wood they now had aplenty, and it was in the process of drying, that which was already dry pushed back to make room for the wetter material.

Duo set up the second bird the way he had the first, but the hare he put in the pot to make a warm broth they would try and get down in Heero's stomach. It was almost as vital as getting him warm in the first place.

Several candlemarks before sunset saw them eating a warm, filling meal inside the dry cave. They managed to get some of the broth into Heero, but they didn't want to push it too much, lest his body reject it.

After cleaning up, Trowa was the one who voted to take the watch, and he would wake Wufei at the third hour. Meiran would then take the next watch on into morning.

This left Quatre and Duo with caring for Heero off and on, one of them always awake. Duo told Quatre to sleep first, the little mage putting up a token resistance before falling to Duo's resolute manner.

As the rest of the group settled in for sleep, and Trowa sat himself next to the far opening of the cave, Duo sat cross-legged next to the still form of the one person he'd opened up to a little.

Heero's breathing was deep, and restful, the medicinal herbs given to him having done their job well concerning his cough. Eyes yet closed, the soldier had not moved other than to occasionally toss restlessly in sleep, caught up in some dream or another.

Duo found his hand moving of its own accord, and the tips of his fingers brushed down the side of Heero's face, caressing the smooth skin there.

He didn't know what he would do if Heero had died.

The soldier had become his strong foundation, listening when he had problems, which was all too often, and offering comfort where it was desired. He didn't deserve death for all his help. Brought to sudden terms with the possibilities, Duo made a promise to himself and the person laying before him then and there.

"No matter...what happens to me...I will not let anything hurt you again..." He whispered. Yes, it was an irrational thing to promise, but he held some hope that when he merged again with Shinigami, some parts of him might survive. If that proved true, then...then there was hope yet. It was as much as he could offer.

Cobalt eyes stirred then, and lashes parted to reveal the blue depths which sought out one face above any other.

Duo felt a smile come to his face as Heero opened his eyes, and joy stirred in his heart. He abruptly moved his hand from where it had yet rested on the soldier's cheek.

"Hey there stranger...how ya feeling?" Duo asked quietly. Heero hesitated before answering, moving about a bit, obviously searching for broken or painful spots.

"...fine." He answered after a moment. Then he angled those eyes back to Duo.

"How did I get out?" He asked, unexpectedly.

Duo blinked. "You burned your way up, and Trowa broke through the ice to pull you out."

"I…burned my way up?" Heero didn't remember anything past going under, and being swept beneath the ice. He'd struggled to beat his own way through the solid mass, but had been unsuccessful, and had blacked out as a last desperate breath had filled his lungs full of freezing water.

"Yeah...we...we thought you weren't going to make it out of there alive..." Duo murmured, not taking note of Heero's confusion. The soldier in turn quickly adjusted for it, and began the process to sit up. Duo jumped to like he'd been shot, and automatically pushed Heero back down. Despite how gently the action was carried out, the strength behind it was one Heero could not currently resist, so once again found himself laid flat for all his efforts.

"You need to rest. We've been here for a night and a day, so there's no hurry, and no need for you to strain yourself." Duo admonished quietly, yet aware that the others slept.

Heero gave a small nod in reply, then angled those dark eyes to Duo.

"You said a night and a day? I've been out that long?" He seemed somewhat surprised at the amount of time.

"Yeah. You worried us on that one too. We decided to stay here for today and tonight, but if you'd not come around, we would have had to move on tomorrow anyway...I was afraid...you..." The braided youth replied quietly, unable to finish as he settled again next to where Heero lay, eyes on the ground before him.

A slight intake of air was the first response he gave when the light, tentative touch of fingers on his cheek suddenly had his full attention. Looking over at Heero, Duo met those cobalt eyes with his own amethyst ones.

"You think I would let something so trivial take me from you?" The soldier asked quietly, fingers sliding down the side of Duo's face. A small smile crossed the braided youth's lips.

"No...." He answered, equally as quiet.

"Hn...You're right."

Slowly, Heero moved his hand around until it was cupped behind Duo's neck, and pulled the braided youth irresistibly downwards. Of course, it might have been irresistible, if resisting had actually been something Duo was contemplating. However, that was the farthest thing from the braided youth's mind at the moment.

It was with a sweet passion that flared high between them that lips pressed together, taking and giving in equal shares, each savoring the taste of the other in a moment that seemed to surpass time, and everything else that ended up working against them.

When they broke apart, Duo found that he had somehow ended up on the blankets spread upon the ground, next to Heero, the cobalt eyed soldier having moved just enough to be atop the kiss, leaning over the braided youth who now looked up at him with deep, expression filled eyes. An almost shy smile was on Duo's lips, and his lids fluttered uncharacteristically.

Heero's hand again caressed his face, then ventured lower, trailing along the light hollow of Duo's collarbone where it was bare from the multiple layers he'd worn the past several days, now clad in only a single shirt. A shiver ran through the braided youth's body, giving him pleasant chills.

Ever so slowly, Heero moved his head until he could reach the pale, supple skin of Duo's neck, and delivered a light, feathery kiss there. More shivers ran through Duo as the chocolate haired boy planted a multitude of slow kisses, each a light caress that gave him the most unbearable urge to wriggle in pleasure.

Kisses only landing on the small amount of bare skin available to him, the soldier went about remedying that problem. It was with a slight gasp that Duo felt Heero's cool hand slide up his shirt, fingers playing on his chest for a moment before Heero endeavored to remove the offending article of clothing. As the shirt slipped up revealing creamy smooth contours, Duo seemed to come to his senses.

He wanted this, gods how he wanted this. But it wasn't fair. Not for him; not for Heero.

"H..Heero." He gasped quietly, using a hand to remove the chocolate haired boy's grasp from his shirt, bringing the slender, but sword calloused hand up to his lips to kiss gently.

Cobalt eyes rose to meet his, and his heart nearly melted with the almost, not quite, but almost naked fear he saw in Heero's gaze. Fear of refusal. Fear of rejection.

Duo wanted to keep that look from him, but the only thing he wanted could not be done in the way he most desired.

Reaching a hand up to brush some of the thick locks of hair from Heero's eyes, Duo gave a small, wry smile.

"Heero...you just woke up from nearly being turned into a human icicle.." He said, part admonishingly, part sarcastically, and part sadly, though he did well in hiding that part from him.

"You need to sleep...more than anything. We're going to be leaving tomorrow...you'll need your strength to return before we go..."

Heero paused, blinking, and appearing to think it through, then nodded in agreement.

"Hn..." He grunted, then moved back to separate himself from the braided youth.

Duo opened his mouth to protest, and snagged Heero's sleeve in a hand.

"Don't...I didn't mean it like that." Duo said in an almost plaintive voice that seemed to hold an edge of panic in it.

Heero had stopped at the slight tug, and turned back to him with his face already an emotionless mask, the passion and fear of earlier erased as if it had never been.

"Please..." Duo whispered.

Heero held it for only a moment, then caved in at that look, and went back to his place next to Duo with, surprisingly, half a smile.

Now a measure happier, the two of them laid themselves out, at first hesitant, like they'd been caught at something and were wary about continuing. However, all too soon, they lay as close as they could get to each other. Facing one another, Heero's strong arms found their way about Duo's slender shoulders; the smaller boy cuddled into his warm embrace, sighing in deep contentment.

Time passed then, no longer stopped for the two of them. Duo was tired, from worry, and just everything. He began to doze , and in all too short a time, he was completely relaxed and asleep in Heero's arms. The chocolate haired soldier, however, was awake for a short time longer despite his exhaustion. He was engrossed in watching Duo slip through the stages of sleep, the deep, even breathing and slowly fluttering eyes telling him Duo was deep asleep. He freed a hand momentarily to brush a few strand of chestnut hair from Duo's closed eyes, mimicking the braided youth's actions.
"Duo...." He murmured almost silently.

"No matter what happens to me...I will keep you from being hurt..." He whispered, returning Duo's own vow to the boy sleeping in his embrace with as much fervor as he'd first spoken it.

Then, leaning down the few inches, he gently kissed the crown of Duo's head as a seal to his promise, and then lay back to fall asleep himself.

This entire exchange took a short, quiet amount of time in which only one other person heard.

It was with a soft, kind smile that a certain elf leaned against the rock wall near the entrance. He'd not meant to eavesdrop, but it was somewhat difficult when in essence, it had sounded as if they'd been talking in overly loud voices.

Trowa gave a light sigh that was no more than a half forced exhalation.

It seemed that their group was coming together in more ways than one.

Exactly how long were they going to be able to keep it together?

-----------------------------------

*bows* I have apologies to give to everyone.

I'm sorry for such a long time since my last update. For the last two weeks, I've been swamped with an unpleasant mixture of school work, and college work, not to mention all the other stuff I have to do -_-' Don't get me started on that.

My time to write has been cut to about null. I worked on this chapter for about five to six night of catching about half an hour to an hour of work. I mean, I'm finishing this chapter at 1:11am.

I don't like it taking so long. Doesn't give the overall background feeling a smooth transition, because my mood goes into what I write. Fortunately, I did get this chapter done though (finally) without too much difficulty (though I did have a writers block there for a time that took a freakin' caterpillar tractor to get through)

I want to take a moment to thank you all, my wonderful wonderful reviewers. Peaking over two hundred reviews is something I never thought myself capable of. Just think, you faithful reviewers (and those of you who came in later, I love you too) are the people who made my dream come true. Now my ambitions can go even higher....

Of course...I still need more reviews ^_^'

Only a good handful of chapters left. Aren't you excited!? I am.

On a side, more personal note, Jan 5th was my birthday ^_^ I hit the big 18 this year.

Ok, onto a depressing note. My updates will be taking me longer to do. I'm hoping to get a chapter out at least once a week, but as these past few weeks have already demonstrated, I never know what will come up to keep me from having the time to work on Eclipse of Dusk.

Never fear though, for the end is coming to claim you all!!!

Mwahahaha!!

Erm…yeah. Go and see the new Picture! Its really really good, I promise! A mix pic with Duo and Shinigami.

That's all for now...you can go

-Hseru

Review, Review!! ((come on guys! I've been averaging in at about 5-6 reviews a chapter! I want that average up!))