A/N: You know what? You've just read the other chappie so you know what's gonna happen right?

Same voice over rules apply.

WARNING!!: ENJOY THIS OR ELSE

CHAPTER FOUR

++ I know part of the blame had to have been mine. Duo adopted me as his brother, and I'd done the same. He'd come to me if he had any problems he didn't think he could go to either of his other friends with. I had the honor of being one of the three pillars of strength for Duo. And I'd failed him. Duo doesn't trust openly. One would have to work extremely hard to earn that trust, and work every day to prove that they can maintain that trust given them. I'd held that trust for four years. We'd been going strong for four years. And now… I think I may have lost that trust.

I remember the couple times he'd been trying to tell me something. And on nearly every occasion I'd told him I'd listen later. That I'd something important to take care of. He'd insisted that it would only take a few seconds. But I wouldn't listen. What if it was a life or death situation? Or something else that what utterly dire? Like if he'd only had a certain amount of time live and needed to confide in someone all the things he needed done before his time came?! What kind of friend was I?

But I remember listening once. That was when I was getting ready to take Relena out to dinner. We were in my room discussing our relationships with the others. He'd been more than shocked to hear that I considered Trowa my best friend. He was like: 'Are you insane? The guy is beyond creepy.'

I'd answered him saying that he was best friends with a Japanese who liked to shoot people for fun. He gave me a look. 'Has he even mellowed out any since the war? I think not!' Now, he did have a point, but I couldn't sit there and argue because I could end up being late; a rare occurrence. He'd said something else but I couldn't make it out because I was in such a rush. I told him 'later, I'll listen later.'

I hadn't gone back to ask him what he was saying like I usually do. The guilt's eating me alive now. He trusted all of us; confided in us things he'd never tell anyone else. Came to us when he needed some sort of consolation, and we him. Well, mostly to get cheered up. That was before we'd found our true soul mates. And after that it was like we threw him away. Threw him away like a worthless toy that we'd gotten bored of.

I can't imagine what it must be like. Celebrating any of his friends' birthdays all year round, and yet doesn't speak up about his own. We'd broken another promise to him. We promised - I promised - that I'd never forget his birthday. We lied to him. I LIED to Duo. He never once lied to us. Not once. And this is how we repaid him.

Why is it my fault? Besides Heero I was the one he could turn to. He called me his personal shrink. And even though I could never be able to get a degree in psychology, it's better than being one of his 'outside' friends. I feel horrible. I'm not even sure if he's angry or just plain hurt. Maybe Heero's right. Maybe I had been ignoring him so much that the empathic bond between us two had been severed.

Maybe Duo doesn't even consider me a friend any longer.

……………………………..

Quatre told them of all the little things he'd neglected and what may have happened as a result. And frankly, if all had abandoned Duo and he turned to Quatre; and even he turned his ear away… Let's just say that it's not a pleasant thing for the braided Preventer.

"Do you think he's angry?" the Arabian looked at them anxiously, more at Heero than all else.

The Japanese man sighed and rested his chin on top of Wufei's head. "I… I don't know, Quatre. Even I can't read him anymore. And honestly, I think if we're going to make it up to him, we'd have to plan this carefully and work our asses off."

"Any special date?" Wufei asked.

"How about his next birthday?"

They all agreed to it, the options already revolving around their minds as they made mental notes. It was going to be a long three months before Duo's birthday. But it sure as would be worth it.

………………….

++ I know Duo's not hard to please at all. He'd accept just about anything we give him; even if it's just a shirt or a pair of shoes. It really doesn't have to be all out extravagant or showy. Hell, he'd even accept a snow globe in the middle of July. But that's what makes it so painful. You wouldn't know exactly what he liked and how he'd react to it. Just the simplest things make his eyes light up. But I know someone who'd be able to identify his quirks. And I know just the person to do it.++

……………………..

A/N: I'm sorry Quatre's part sucked balls. All I really wanted to do was share the oh-so-painful guilt he carried on his shoulders. I'm not good at this whole guilt thing. If there's anything I do, it's without guilt. I know I did what I did and I did it for a reason. All I could do is hope to the Lord the victim would either forgive me, never find out, die, or just remain clueless. Either way's fine with me.

In the next chapter I'll have more Duo-ism for you. I mean, his parts and Trowa's are what I really look forward to writing. Especially Duo's. He's so damn expressive (as is me) that he just calls out to me.

'Kenny, be one with the Duo. See the world as Duo. BE THE DUO….'

LOL. Forgive my weird impulse. I just do these things…I don't know.

NEXT CHAPPIE:

THE MISSION

This is the part where Trowa flips out and uses Duo for target practice. I'm hoping to put something else up like it for the fic; but I'm not sure yet. It's like Duo just gets caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Heh… My kind of Duo…

'Till next time,

-Kenny.