Rival Chatter
Chapter Eleven; Duo POV:

"I don't want to lose you Aisuru," he whispered, hugging me tightly. His eyes still held a sheen of sparkling droplets. I couldn't help but brush my lips over each eye, tasting the salty evidence of his pain and fear. I looked closely at him for a moment, catching the faint pink tint to his cheeks from my actions. He looked so cute, so innocent at that moment. I hated that fact that I had managed to make him so sad and worried. He wasn't at fault for what had happened. I don't speak of my past too often so it was nigh on impossible for him to have know how I would react to that bastard. Hell, he hadn't even known I would have such a strong reaction to him; that he was responsible for a large part of that chip I had carried on my shoulder. I wanted to joke; say something silly. Yet it knew this wasn't the time or the place.

"That's a very pretty word, Heero. I know a little Japanese thanks to Sasuke, but that word I've never heard before. What does it mean?" I asked, snuggling into his embrace, knowing he needed this closeness; this reassurance.

"It means Beloved. That's what you've become to me, Duo. You are my beloved." I smiled sweetly and placed a gentle, almost impossibly sweet kiss to him lips.

"As you are the dearest thing to me, Hee-chan," I answered. He bristled a little at the nickname.

"Don't call me that. . .it's insulting," he muttered, looking away from me. I laughed softly.

"But you are my Hee-chan. I know chan is normally reserved for girls, but it really fits you. You have a sensitive side to you like a woman, even more sensitive than my own. To me, it's the best quality you have and therefore that makes you my Hee-chan. I want this nickname for you, yet I can promise that I won't use it around anyone else." Heero placed his head into the crook of my shoulder then, a soft sigh escaping his lips and tickling my neck. I shivered softly at such light contact.

"All right. Yet only when we are alone can you call me that," he stipulated as he gave in. I was great at making a point, much to the debate teams every wet dream. They had been pushing me to join for as long as I could remember, but I always refused. Drama and choir always kept me pretty busy. I couldn't see myself actually being involved with something like that anyway. Too many of the kids on it had egos that matched their bank accounts. Right now I was just barely able to deal with Wufei, Quatre, and Heero in the same room. I don't think being with all of them would have made anything easier on my transition from Rich-boy hater to Rich-boy boyfriend.

"Deal, Hee-chan," I whispered, leaning his to meet his lips once again. I could taste the salt of his tears on his lips where some had managed to escape that far. Boldly, I let my tongue slip out and lightly caress his lips, swiping more of the moistness into my mouth. He could hear him draw in a deep breath and I smirked against his lips as he reacted to my kiss. Until now our kisses had been simple mouth to mouth touches. Sometimes long, some short, but always welcome and loving. This time I wanted to feel more. I wanted to taste his unique flavor and I wanted to taste his emotions. Only in a true lovers kiss could you find out the taste of love, the unique flavor of passion, and the strength of desire. It was only when tongues battled and lips meshed that you could really understand how someone felt about you.

"Duo," he whispered against my lips, the sound escaping on a breath as his lips parted enough for me to slip my tongue between those moist petals and into the warm cavern of his mouth. I felt more than heard his in-drawn breath as I did this. Lightly I ran my tongue over his teeth before finding and caressing his tongue. He didn't react at first, but slowly his own tongue began to battle back. Eventually taking the duel back into my own mouth, where he explored as softly and sweetly as I had, but with more of a purpose that mine had been. It was almost as if he was trying to say 'anything you do I can do better'. I didn't mind the challenge, in fact I reveled in it. I knew there was much I couldn't do, but there was still a lot I could do as well. Its amazing when you know the facts and what constitutes the difference between teasing and making love. His taste was unlike anything I had ever experienced. There was no words to describe what he tasted like. Yet I could sum it all up in one word: Heero. He was Heero, that was his taste, and it was all him.

"What in the name of the Heavens are you doing to Yuy, Maxwell!" Wufei's outraged voice cried through the room. We broke apart like two children who had been caught necking; of which we most certainly were. Heero blushed sweetly while I simply looked bemused. Once I was able to register what Wufei had actually said, I narrowed my eyes.

"Um. . .I was kissing my boyfriend. Is there something wrong with that?" I grumbled, totally losing the feeling of contentment I had enjoyed while with Heero. Wufei was not my favorite person. I really couldn't stand the boy. He was one of the aristocratic ones. He always acted like something always smelled. It was possibly the boys own shit, but he was too proud to realize it. After all, aristocrats always wanted to believe that their shit smelled like roses. If that's the case, then they are ten thousand year old dead ones that were once soaked in toxic waste. Let me tell you, that wouldn't be a pretty smell.

"BOYFRIEND?" he yelled. "You've corrupted him! I could understand why Quatre's that way, seeing as he's constantly around all those sisters of his. Yet I can not understand why Yuy would go that way unless you seduced him! Injustice, Maxwell!" Heero had taken time during Wufei's rant to compose himself while I could feel all my anger from the evening return in full force, and then some. It seems my battle with Odin had only gotten on my nerves and I knew there was nothing I could do but force myself to calm down before I found myself blowing past boiling and way into steamed. It was a well known fact around the orphanage that there was no safe place from me when I reached my steamed point. I used anything and everything I knew about someone in order to attack and Wufei was going to like me even less once I said what was burning in me to be said. I had a vindictive streak a mile wide and when I was steamed, I used it shamelessly.

"Stop it Wufei. I thought you said it was our own decisions as to who we dated," Heero said, trying to calm the situation. Too bad I was beyond that little bit of help. I hung my head, my eyes shadowed by my bangs. If Trowa were here, he'd have left the room real fast. That just meant I was getting ready to show just how bothered I was this day.

"I had said that hoping you would do that toward a woman. Unlike your step-father, I do not believe that Relena is the one you should turn to. Yet I must really protest about this. Maxwell is not the one for you! He's an orphan, Yuy!" The sudden coldness that filled my chest was too much. This was about to prove that I had no control over myself when it came to people of wealth. It was almost as if something inside had snapped free of control I had struggled so hard to maintain. It was going to be a bitch trying to tie it down later.

"Yeah, I am Wufei. Is there something WRONG with that?" I questioned coldly, my eyes glaring at the floor. Heero placed a hand on my shoulder, trying to comfort, I could tell, but I was far beyond the need for it. In a way that wouldn't hurt his feelings, I took his hand and carefully removed it. I shook my head, eyes still hidden, my bangs swaying with the movement of my head.

"Of course there is. Men are not meant to look to other men," Wufei answered. "It is also standard that a wealthy man will look to a woman of his kind. This way he knows she isn't with him for his money." I swallowed thickly, my eyes dark. If I remembered how I looked once I reached this point, I was certain both Heero and Wufei would be glad I kept my head down.

"Duo's not with me for my money!" Heero exclaimed. This was the second time someone had assumed this about me. Was it the fact I was an orphan that prompted this thought, or was it the fact they never bothered to look at all that I own. I had a fairly new Harley Davidson motorcycle, which was anything but cheap. I wore leather when necessary and I never wore hand me downs. I wasn't hurting for money. I was good at getting things at a discount and I always managed to save some away as well. If I were to be honest, I had something around twenty thousand in my savings account that earned interest every month. Not to mention several investments that seemed to be paying off really well. While my net worth wasn't anything like Quatre, Wufei, or Heero, it was still enough to give me the term of well to do, that is, if anyone knew about it.

"What makes you think I want his money, Wuffles?" I asked darkly, causing Heero to turn back to me and have concern fill his eyes. He really wasn't going to like me if I let lose on his friend. Then again, I possibly wouldn't like myself if I did that. Wufei glowered at me for the nickname, obviously more offended than usual.

"It is Wufei, Maxwell, not that god awful thing you just called me," he snarled. I looked up then, my cold gaze meeting Wufei's ebony one. He gasped slightly and stepped back, his haughty air broken slightly in that action. Even Heero seemed to move away a bit. That action hurt, but I refused to acknowledge it. Pain could be dealt with later. The fact that when I was so mad I could be scary could be dealt with later as well. All I needed right now was to deal with this one problem. "Why would you be after his money? Odin had called earlier and told Quatre and I what had happened. Spent all thousand that he placed on a card. He probably had you buy him several really expensive things, didn't he Yuy," Wufei growled. I felt my eyes narrow. He'd mentioned that bastard's name! Oh, good bye dear control. I will miss you once I realize I've lost you. My entire hold on my anger snapped and I slowly stood, my body tense.

"Don't you dare take the same thinking as that BASTARD in my presence!" I snarled. "He thought the same thing. That I wasted absolutely no time in spending his money. Well guess what, not one cent of it was spent on me. Heero tried to get me to accept something, but I refused. It all went to the orphanage, seeing as if its something someone wants to donate, I'm not gonna deprive my brothers and sisters of such an gift just because I refuse to accept anything. Now while its true I'll possibly see some of the benefits of what Heero has done for us, I also know it wasn't bought especially for me. I didn't go out and spend his money on a few things. I got a whole bunch of necessary items and tried to leave as much as possible on his card. Yet he had then talked with Father Maxwell and given almost four hundred in a monetary donation. That was his idea, by the way, I never even thought he'd go beyond what he had already done for my family.

"Something else no one ever knows about us," I went on, realizing I couldn't shut up, even if I wanted to. "We live off almost nothing. Sure, the state gives us enough to feed everyone, seeing as we are an orphanage, but its not the same. We lack a lot of things most kids take for granted. The rich snobs in the area never give a backward glance at the orphanage, except near tax time, and even then, they give only what they need to in order to get a nice tax break. Half the time they go through the state office in charge of us and we almost never see any of that money. It really sucks to live in an orphanage, doesn't it?" I asked, my voice cold. Wufei nodded, stunned into silence. This was something he hated, and I knew it. I was hitting him with the truth and in turn making him realize that there was more injustice out there than he was looking at.

"I. . .I never knew. . ." Wufei whispered, his own anger seeming to have left him after my speech.

"Almost no one does. We hide it. We don't want charity, but sometimes we have to lower our pride and accept it. That is our lot in life. Now, do you still think I'm going to steal all of Heero's money? Hell, he practically had to twist my arm when he gave me a small bracelet that only cost five dollars. I'm really bad at allowing anyone to buy me anything. Ask Trowa if ya don't believe me. He's seen that on too many occasions. Yet if you ever mention that bastards name to me again, I will have to hurt you. I don't want to be reminded of the man who killed my mother. I know he's a part of Heero's life and I accept it. Yet I can not, in good conscious, remain calm when his name is mentioned. Understood?" Wufei and Heero both nodded. Just then the door opened admitting a very depressed and messed up Trowa. Instantly my anger melted at the sight of my friend and I went over to him, worry in my voice and eyes. It really was a curse to know your every emotion usually showed on your face. "Tro-man, what happened to you?"

". . ." was his response. I took in his still damp clothes, the tiny paw prints that ran across his shirt, his messed up hair, and sad expression. He looked as if his favorite tiger had just died. It was a sad sight to see. Glancing toward Heero, I caught his concern as well.

"Can I see your cell?" I asked. Heero nodded and handed it over. I would make a call as soon as I helped Trowa out of his funk. "Was the date that bad?" I asked. He answered with a nod. I really felt sorry for the boy. He wasn't a people person. He could only take so much before he cracked. Quatre had quite possibly had the most silent man in the world with him tonight.

"Maxwell, we weren't through talking," Wufei murmured, still wanting to get to the bottom of Heero's lifestyle choice.

"We are for now, Wuffles. I've said all I want about the subject and that bastard." Trowa looked at me, a question in his eyes.

". . ." was his words to me then and I smiled bitterly.

"I found the man responsible for turning my mother away from the hospital that night." Trowa's eyes widened. "Irony of ironies, it turned out to be my boyfriends step-father." Trowa's eyes widened. Just then Quatre strolled in, a warm smile on his lips. I blinked in surprise. He was happy? If the date had been so bad, wouldn't he be as upset as Trowa? What was this boy, masochistic or something?

"Hello Duo, Heero, Wufei. Lovely evening, isn't it?" he asked, his smile bright. I blinked while Heero and I shared a look. Lovely was not the word for this.

"If ya say so Quat," I answered. Wufei looked away, embarrassed by his actions of earlier. Heero simply continued to look as if he was worried about me. Yet it was Trowa who came up with a solution.

"Get the case under the seat of truck," he said, which I was certain the most he had said all night. I smiled brightly.

"You brought it?" I asked happily. His only answer was to nod. I looked back at Heero and spoke softly. "I'm going to have someone we can trust grab some clothes for myself, perhaps Trowa as well and bring them to us."

"It'll be difficult to tell them how to get here," Quatre answered.

"Why not just borrow something from us?" Heero asked. I shook my head.

"I'm not certain anyone except Quatre would have something to fit my slender frame and Trowa's taller than all of you, if ya haven't noticed. Don't worry, he'll find the place and he'll never tell a soul where its at. He's good with things like this." Quatre nodded his agreement, as did Heero, although I could tell he was reluctant. Wufei sighed.

"Do what you must, Maxwell. Yet if I see so much as one crazy fan-girl around you, I'll be coming after your friend and you," he growled. I nodded.

"Understood," I said, before turning and heading outside to get what Trowa had mentioned, as well as to make my phone call. Once out in the cool night air, I drew in a deep breath, the chains on my anger now perfectly settled. I then turned to stare up into the sky, the stars twinkling down at me. Tonight had just not been my night. I suppose there was always bound to be days like these, I just hated that they had to be here at all. Picking up the phone I dialed the number of the only person I knew who was capable of getting here with direction. Someone I had met shortly after landing on the streets and whom I had remained steady friends with sense.

"This better be someone I know or I'm bugging this phone," came the gruff reply. I chuckled at the threat.

"Who else would call you from a number like this?" I asked. He sighed in relief.

"Oh, its you, Duo. I thought Heero Yuy had suddenly stumbled upon my number by accident." I laughed once more. Howard had more things set up in his house that the police had at the station. He could tell where a call came from, where the caller was, who owned the phone, and what phone number it was all within the first minute of a call. He was a little paranoid, and often spoke of conspiracy theories, but he was a really great friend whom I could count on in times like this.

"I'm up in an undisclosed location and I need you to bring me a few things, Howard," I told him, getting to the point quickly.

"Sure, Duo. I've already got your location. I should be there in about an hour and a half, give or take a bit. It all depends on what all I'm going to get." I laughed. Howard was always a straight to the point kind of person. If you treated him with honesty, then he was just as honest in return.

"I need my motorcycle, as well as some clothes for myself. Perhaps you can swing by the circus and get some for Trowa as well." Howard laughed at that and then coughed.

"What's he do, rip the clothes off ya?" he asked. I choked. I hated it when Howard tried to make Trowa and I an couple. It just wasn't something either of us had even looked at. We may have both been as gay as the day is long, but we weren't attracted to one another.

"Nothing like that, ya perv! Can ya handle all of that?" Howard laughed on the other end of the phone.

"Yeah, Duo. I can handle it. It'll be easy. I'll see ya in a while."

"See ya," I said, hanging up. I then placed the phone into my back pocket and went around to the passengers side of Trowa's truck. Opening the door I reached in under the seat and grabbed a hold of a case that rested there. I brought it out and realized the case would need to be replaced soon. It was getting pretty beaten up from all the times Trowa and I needed the comfort this little item brought to us. It was our relaxant. It was what kept us calm and steady after our various fears and anger had gotten the better of us. Trowa walked out of the cabin then, heading toward me. I smiled as I saw him and settled the case down on the hood of the truck.

"Thanks," Trowa mumbled before opening it and taking out the three silver pieces that made up his flute. He put it together with expert ease and swiftness before lifting it to his lips. He made a few test sounds before finally settling on a really soft tune. I smiled and cleared my throat a couple times before beginning to hum along with him. His eyes smiled at me while I grinned in return as I kept pace with however fast or slow he wanted to go. Sometimes I sang high, other times low. It all rested on what he played. He was the leader, I was the follower. It was our way of knowing we could rely on the other. I don't know how long we just fooled around. We weren't really playing anything, but it was still beautiful to hear. Especially seeing as Trowa was amazing on that instrument. I then walked to the back of his truck and into the large tool box he had back there. Opening it up, I found my own instrument case and pulled it out. Trowa gave me a wink before playing a harder tune, trying to get me to stumble over the vocals, seeing as I was moving and not one hundred percent focused on what was being played. Yet my ears have never failed me and they wouldn't if I had any say. I kept up while I pulled my acoustic guitar from its case. It was obvious the guitar was well loved and well played. I hopped down from the back of the truck and leaned against it near Trowa, now singing and playing cords to keep pace with Trowa's playing.

Suddenly, the strains of a violin began to join in. I looked up to see Quatre, who was near to us now, a violin in his hands as he kept pace with Trowa and myself. I grinned. Violin's were Trowa's favorite instrument. If Quatre had wanted a way to win him over, he had done it without fail. Trowa's eyes widened in pleasant surprise and I almost laughed as he seemed to try to battle with the violin. They sounded good together. After another few moments, another instrument joined in. I looked up to see Wufei, playing a piccolo. It made us all even now. Two strings to two wood winds. I have to admit, we sounded really good. With almost everyone taking their cues from Trowa, I soon began to hear him slip into a song the two of us had written. I felt my eyes widen and then I smiled. I allowed Trowa to led the two into the rhythm. Once it was certain they had the hang of it, I began to play the part I would follow as I sang. I saw Heero watching us, his laptop set up. Possibly doing something in his own way. Locking eyes with Heero, I began to sing the lyrics I had written.

"I do not make excuses. Neither do I need solace.
Only I believe.

A heart bound to false liberties
Cannot grasp the truth.

I want to defend with these blood-imbued hands.
A life like mine is a fading falling star.

Staring at the distant sky with sad eyes,
Forever searching .

I turn into a bird
That flies with wounded wings above a too-wide world.

My present self I do not need sympathy.
In the midst of war I am a flaming falling star.
LONELY...

Present and future
Are engulfed in the flames of battle and everything is a dream.
So our lives and the waning smiles
Will surely make a new world.

You who hide your heart till the end
Stare at the truth.

Be the legendary bird
That flies free to any place in the blue skies.

To the hope born from sorrow
a fading falling star.
LONELY...

Friendship and memories
Drift with the fate of battle and everything is a dream.
The courage to brave the storms
Is surely the light to make a new era.

Present and future
Are engulfed in the flames of battle and everything is a dream.
So our lives and the waning smiles
Will surely make a new world.

"That was beautiful," Heero whispered once we finished. I blushed deeply while Trowa laughed.

"Sister Helen wasn't kidding when she said the angels were singing with you on Sunday. You sounded even better tonight," Trowa said, with a teasing grin. I felt my cheeks heat up even more.

"Knock it off. I just get by." Wufei snorted, but didn't say anything. I was fairly certain everyone's anger, fear, worry, or anything else they could have been feeling were long gone. Music had a way of calming the soul as nothing else could.

"What song was that? I've never heard it," Quatre spoke up, moving up close to Trowa. Trowa finished putting his flute away while I did the same to my guitar and smiled.

"It's called 'Love, It's a Falling Star'. I wrote the lyrics for it while Trowa took care of the musical part of it. I'm always a little uncomfortable with my music, but I suppose it turned out pretty well, if this is how everyone reacts to it." Everyone nodded in agreement. I then glanced toward the house, realizing a new problem. "Um, how many rooms does this place have?" I asked.

"Four," Quatre answered.

"Then I'll take the couch," I said suddenly. Trowa looked at me a moment before nodding, knowing no one would want to be animal logged.

"You could share my room," Heero said softly, his cheeks flushing. I turned red as well.

"Oh no. I'd like to stay alive, thank you. If I ever told Father Maxwell I slept in your room, I'd be dead." This caused Heero to blush even more.

"We've only been together for two days, I don't think we're up to that yet." I blushed this time and shook my head.

"It's not that. I can't very well say I shared your room." Heero and Quatre gave me an odd look while Wufei snorted. Trowa smirked.

"Sticking to the truth sucks, doesn't it," he commented. I glared at him. Heero suddenly realized what that meant and chuckled a little himself.

"Shut up, Trowa. Everyone doesn't need to know that about me!" I growled. Wufei rolled his eyes.

"There are two beds in the spare room. You both can take it. Assuming there was only one bed per room was a little stupid." I looked at Wufei as he spoke and thought it over before shaking my head.

"No can do. Trowa has a tendency of collecting animals while he sleeps. Last time I shared a room with him, I woke up to find a black panther beside me. Kitty breath from that big of a cat isn't pretty."

"Panthera was just saying hi," Trowa mumbled, blushing softly. I rolled my eyes.

"There is a reason most places keep them in cages, Tro-man. Most people would be eaten by them!" I exclaimed, gaining several laughs. Quatre looked at Trowa, a faint flush crossing his own cheeks.

"You can share my room. I won't mind the animals." I smirked while Trowa merely stared at Quatre.

". . ." was his answer. Quatre blinked, not yet able to understand Trowa with his silent pauses.

"What he's saying, in Trowa-nese, is that he'd like that." Trowa nodded, looking away. Heero glanced down at his watch.

"It's getting late. We do have school tomorrow." I nodded and watched Wufei head in ahead of all of us, not another word spoken from him. Quatre led the way for Trowa, of which I couldn't help but get in one more jibe before they left.

"Night, Tro-man. Don't do anything I wouldn't do. Better yet, do everything I wish I could do. This way at least one of us is enjoying themselves!" Quatre turned beet red. It was rather cute on him.

"DUO!" Quatre exclaimed. Trowa flushed slightly for a second before grinning, knowing I wasn't actually trying to get them to do anything.

"Night Duo," was all Trowa said. Heero gave me a look, one that spoke of being unwilling to part from me. Yet I gave him a smile and a small kiss.

"Night, Hee-chan. I'll see ya in the morning." Heero nodded and kissed me once more before leaving as well. I then sighed and leaned back against the truck. Howard would be arriving soon. Once Heero woke up, I'd grace him with a kiss and head back toward the orphanage. Tomorrow wasn't a school day for me. I had no reason to go in. There were no tests and I certainly didn't have to worry about drama. Smithy wanted me to learn the play forewords and backwards so I could help with tryouts when they came around. I had the rest of the week to flake off from school. While I would miss Heero while he was still in class, I would be able to see him after school. That was always a really positive thing. Seeing Heero had become the one thing I could always look foreword to.