Rival Chatter

Chapter Seven; Duo POV:

It wasn't very far to the college from our school, only about a ten minute drive, especially the way I enjoyed to drive. I smiled brilliantly at the officer on duty, who waved us through with a warm smile.

"Hey, Duo. You here for another painting?" I smirked and wiggled my eyebrows.

"Actually, I thought I'd show my boyfriend, here, just where I get all my inspiration." The guard bent down and looked over at Heero. He looked at Heero for a moment before giving me a thumbs up.

"I'd say he's a keeper, Duo. Don't let him go." I felt myself blush softly as I grinned.

"I have no intention of letting go anytime soon." Heero was blushing deeply at that, but I could tell that my comment had pleased him. He had loved the painting, as well as enjoyed the games we had played. Not to mention, he had written a play for me. . .for ME. I was still reeling from that news. Damien was me. Harrison was Heero. The play was about us. I couldn't believe it, and yet it was just the very thing someone who was a sweet and romantic as Heero was would do.

"Enjoy yourself," he said softly. I nodded. I then drove us into the parking lot nearest to the horticultural department and got out. Heero followed right behind me. Once we had reached a large gate that enclosed a very large area, I pulled out my key-ring. Going to the only black key with silver markings, I placed it in the lock and turned it. The locked undid itself with a soft click. I then looked at him, a soft, nervous smile on my lips. It was just about the right time.

"Close your eyes, Heero," I whispered. Heero looked at me a moment, but he soon did as he was told. I grinned. "Good. Keep them closed." I then opened the door and led him into a gated world that was so very different from the one outside. I led him over toward the Sakura trees, watching them as the sun was soon at the perfect height to cause them to shimmer in the growing evening. I then set him in the same place I had been standing in for the painting before stepping off to the side so he'd have a clear view. "Open your eyes, Heero," I said softly, my eyes locked entirely on him as he opened them and his eyes widened in wonder at the sight before him. He stepped foreword, into the softly falling leaves of the trees and I found myself looking at the perfect picture. Pulling out Sasuke's digital camera that I had borrowed for this date, I found myself snapping picture after picture of Heero in the fading light of the sun. He then turned toward me and I found my breath catching in my throat as I managed to get one more picture before lowering the camera.

"Thank you, Duo. This is the most wonderful thing anyone has ever done for me," Heero whispered. Those tears from earlier were back, but to me, he never looked more beautiful. I slipped the camera into my back pocket and stepped up to him, my hand coming up to brush away the tears. Heero leaned into the caress, gently brushing his lips across my palm as he turned into my hand. This time, he wasn't trying to hide his feelings from me. I felt like I could do anything. This time I was being allowed to see behind his perfect mask. If I hadn't already known he liked me enough to risk being my boyfriend in public, then this would have won me over, hands down.

"You're welcome, Hee-chan, but the nights just begun." He tilted his head at my nickname for him, yet he didn't say anything. I waved a hand in the direction I wanted him to go before slipping my hand along his arm and eventually twining our fingers together as I moved to hold his hand. He squeezed my hand for a moment, making me grin softly. This was turning into the best date I'd ever been on, even though, if I was honest with myself, it was the only date I had ever been on. As the setting sun almost left all traces of its light and warmth from the sky, I lead the way over to the most romantic area here. Slowly, with it almost impossible to see, I led the rest of the way through the horticultural area, leading him to one of my favorite places to paint. In fact, the church had several of them hanging in the dining hall. Stopping where you couldn't see anymore, I reached out to grab hold of a light switch. I gave Heero a bright grin. "If you loved your trees, you're gonna really love this," I said, slowly moving just a small bit away from him.

I let go of his hand so I could grasp my camera. I then flipped on the lights. Soft white lighting suddenly flared up. Once our eyes got used to the light again, I heard Heero's intake of breath. Standing before us was the most beautiful rose gardens in the state, perhaps even the country. The gardens were in small rectangle shaped areas that slowly closed in around a very beautiful rose trellis. Heero stared and then turned back to me. I snapped his picture, with the lit flowers behind him, and then took his hand once again. Without speaking, I led him through the small maze of bushes of roses of almost every shape, size, and color. Once I was finished, I brought him into the trellis area and showed him my favorite area. Inside of the trellis was a long row of roses that clung to the white walls. At the end of the trellis row, was a gazebo. Inside of this gazebo was a single rose bush that stood tall and proud. The thing that made it so special to have earned such a unique place, was it's color. The roses on this bush were black, pure black. Heero's wide eyes seemed to take it all in, wonder, awe, and pleasant surprise in them.

"Duo, what is this?" he asked, softly. I smiled and took another picture.

"It's called Kurai no Bara. In English, this translates into. . ."

"Rose of Black," Heero finished for me. I smiled brightly.

"Aa. I see you're Japanese hasn't become rusty." Heero laughed softly.

"No, not at all. I'm a little amazed how well your Japanese is. How much do you know?" I smiled softly at him, his eyes smiling back at me.

"Some. I used to have a pen pal from Japan when I was younger. We wrote every day. He taught me Japanese and I taught him English. Although in all honesty, he was actually really good at it without my help." Heero laughed softly.

"Do you remember his name?" Heero asked. I nodded.

"Of course. It was the first Japanese word I ever learned. Tsuzuki Asato. He was one of the coolest friends I ever had. Then, one day, the letters just stopped. I wrote him once more after that, but the letter came back unopened. Either something happened to him, or he just got tired of me. I don't really know." Heero looked at me with sympathy and understanding in his eyes.

"While I was living in Japan, there was something in the paper about a Tsuzuki Asato who had killed himself after going crazy. It could be the same person you were talking with. Then again, there are a lot of Tsuzuki's in Japan. Granted, there possibly aren't as many Asato's with that last name, but it is possible." I nodded. It was depressing to hear that, but with the way we talked, I really wasn't surprised by his actions, if it was most certainly him. Yet I had to admit, it was one hell of a waste of life.

"It probably was him. He was saying, in his last letter, that he couldn't take his life anymore. There was so much bad shit happening and he couldn't make it stop. I tried to stop him from thinking that ending his life would help anything, but I suppose he didn't get it in time." Heero moved up to me and hugged me. I was grateful for his closeness and warmth and returned his embrace.

"You've really had a rough life, haven't you," Heero said softly. I nodded. He looked away. "I mean, first your father, then your mother. Not to mention this friend. How much have you gone through?" I laughed and kissed his cheek as I leaned back in his embrace, in order to look into his eyes.

"For every hardship I've endured, I've become that much stronger. I've become who you now see before me. Do I disappoint you?" He quickly shook his head, holding his hand out to caress my cheek. I blinked in surprise at the tender touch. I then looked at him with a sweet, happy smile.

"No, you could never disappoint me. Drive me crazy, possibly. Make me crazy, certainly. Have my love, most definitely. Yet I could never be disappointed." I felt tears fill my eyes, yet there was no threat of them falling. Instead, I figured this was the perfect moment for what he had told me earlier. I smiled softly and leaned in close, until our noses were touching.

"Good." I smiled soft and leaned in close until my lips were almost against his, yet I didn't kiss him. "May I have that kiss now?" Heero's own lips curved into a grin. It was obvious that he had been waiting for those very words.

"All you had to do. . ." before he could finish that sentence, I leaned in and closed the distance between us. I kissed him softly, just as our last two had been. Yet I felt as if everything was different. My heart, even though I always swore I would never really love anyone else ever again, was completely captured. I was in love with Heero. I had been ever since we had our first conversation in the library, even though I had been a total ass that day. Slowly, in front of the rarest rose bush, I kissed the one I loved with all my heart behind it. Eventually, we both needed to breath, and so we moved part slightly, my breath a little fast.

"Whoa," I whispered. Heero laughed softly and nodded in agreement.

"I agree," he said. We shared a smile and soon were just holding each other. I eventually led the way back toward my car. I re-locked the gate and soon we were on our way back to his own car. Once there, we shared a few more kisses, all just as innocent as the first. Our lips merely brushing against the others. He then went on his way, his painting riding shotgun. He waved as he left and I waved back. I didn't want him to go, and yet, I couldn't force him to stay. I turned back to the car I had gotten from Father Maxwell and smiled softly.

"Well old man, what are you going to do when I tell you about this?" I whispered. I then left, heading in the opposite direction. Tomorrow, I would have to finally confess to Father Maxwell exactly how I swung and hopefully, I wouldn't be kicked out.

"You have a what?" he asked, staring at me. His soft wheat colored hair was perfectly combed and his blue eyes seemed to look right though me. I swallowed thickly and looked away.

"I've got a boyfriend," I said quietly. Father Maxwell looked at me for a little longer before suddenly crushing me in a hug. I blinked in surprise, my eyes wide.

"I'm very happy for you, Duo," he said. I know my eyes must have showed my confusion, for he laughed softly. "I always knew you liked other boys, Duo. Just as I know Clarissa has a thing for other girls. We may be a church, but we aren't going to discriminate against those who live here. After all, everyone is allowed to care for who they chose, be they male of female. Who am I to judge if your preference is another man. Just keep true to one thing, and I'll have no problems."

"What?" I asked, perfectly curious now. He smiled.

"No sex before you marry." I couldn't help it. My head fell back as I began laughing. He smiled and laughed with me. Afterwards he hugged me and sent me off to work, after all I still had work while here, even if it was a Sunday. I hadn't been able to get online at all while I was busy. The only thing I could do was send a quick email with a small picture I had done while on my laptop. It was scene of a field of roses. It was actually very realistic and I had loved how it had turned out. My email was short and sweet.

To:

From:

Subject: No time for chatting

Hey there, my bf. I hope everything is all right. I'm sorry I can't sit down and chat with you, but I've been working my ass off tonight. I hope to see you in the morning, at school. Perhaps we can met in the parking lot and head into school together. I want to make a united front. Seems from what I've been hearing that we'll have a mob tomorrow. Relena didn't wait long to tell anyone and everyone about what's going on. So we'll have to either stand strong or fall apart. Just know I love you and I'll go with whatever you want to do.

Love,

Duo.

I smiled and sent it, before going about getting ready for bed. Once I was done, I heard the all too familiar, 'You've got mail' and grinned. I moved over to the laptop and opened it. Sure enough, it was from Heero. I opened the email and read it.

To:

From:

Subject: Re: No time for chatting

Nice to hear from you too, bf. Everything's okay. My step-father kind of hit the roof when he found out about my preference, but I'm certain he'll come around. As to school, meeting at in the parking lot sounds fine. Of course I want to make a united front. Quatre and Wufei will stand behind us in this, therefore we shouldn't have much trouble occurring. I hope this won't be too much for you. I really care about you and I don't want idle gossip to stop what we're feeling for one another. So this is what I want. I want us to be together, through this whole thing.

Love,

Heero

P.S.: Thanks for the picture. I loved it.

"Well, I'll be damned. Maybe you were right after all mom. Maybe there is a rich man out there who can change my mind toward them. Ya know, he might be the other half you told me I'd find. If he is, then thanks for teaching me well enough to know I needed to change." I turned back to the portrait I was working on. It was of Heero's priceless and breath-taking expression as he turned toward me with the Sakura behind him in full bloom. It would be the best painting I had ever done once I was finished. Yet it would be another couple of days before it would be considered complete. Instead, I had a picture of Damien and Harrison from his play on a small sketch pad for him. Damien looked surprisingly like myself while Harrison looked like Heero. That was perfect, because that's what I wanted. So with a smile, I got to work after shutting down my laptop. After a couple hours, I went to bed, knowing I'd need to be alert for whatever tomorrow would bring.