A/N: I promised you this chapter as soon as possible. This is officially War-Zone part two point two. This is where Trowa and the others try to figure out why Duo freaked out when he awoke. I apologize for the long wait for the previous chapter and I promise not to neglect you too often.

Almeida: Now that she's done with her pathetic sob story, we can get on to the fic! Enjoy!!!!

P.S: Were both sorry to say that we don't use betas a d go it on our own, although we sometimes ask some of our readers up front for some ideas via PM. That's how we're even getting Shinigami's Cross' second chapter done, anyway.

CHAPTER NINE

Duo groaned at the now intensified headache, tears gathering at the rims of his eyes but refusing to fall to accent his vulnerability. Trowa seemed to be backing away now, possibly pretending to look more frightened than concerned. He moved his lips. He was calling for someone. He couldn't tell whom. The blood seemed to scream in his ears. But the door swung wide open to reveal a curious Qautre who took one look at him and advanced toward the bed.

His first instinct was to curl deeper into himself but the pain in his chest and head barely let him move even an inch. His vision grayed around the edges, teetering at the borders, teasing his need to pass out. Jeez, he'd never felt so weak and helpless and scared all at once in his life. He felt as if he were going to have a heart attack…and at age what… somewhat nineteen?! He opened eyes he never realized were closed in the first place. Anxious aqua bore into his but he only had a chance to gasp in surprise before a flash of black swept across his vision and giving him his sight back momentarily. Right then he saw Trowa right beside Quatre, Wufei and Heero in the back, looking on anxiously. Duo figured Quatre must've called for them during his moment of blissful unconsciousness.

The Arabian was saying something to him, but his blood rush was too loud; he opted for reading lips.

"Duo," they read. "Talk to me, Duo. What's wrong?" Tanned hands moved under his should-be sweat slicked bangs and onto his forehead, partially settling on his temple. It wasn't the best idea in the world. It felt as if the blood there felt compressed and was fighting its way through, making his head worse. He blinked slowly, his eyelids leaden as he opened them again and his eyeballs rolled heavily downward to meet the other's worried expressions. The hand that clutched his chest fell away, lying limp over the edge of the mattress he didn't know he was at the border of. They must've moved him somehow.

At that moment, he nearly jumped out of his skin when a hand ventured over his chest. He followed the arm it was connected to see that it was Heero's. The half Japanese frown deepened and he said something incoherent. Quatre took on a panicked expression and whipped out his cell phone. After that Duo was overtaken full force in a wave of pain and all thought of breathing escaped him. The last thing he actually heard besides the rush of blood was his name on Trowa's lips.

There was something in his voice…but Duo didn't have the capacity to try to figure it out. He was gladly swept away by the stillness in his chest and calmness of his blood.

…………………………………..

A Ms /N : I'm sorry. This one IS rather short… I wonder if I should've added this at the end of the previous chapter. Oh well. Call it suspense.

NEXT CHAPTER

BOUNDARIES

The others ACTUALLY ponder over Duo's reaction in this chapter. I may add in a piece where Duo had boundary problems…a SHORT piece.

Thank you all so much for the love and support with me thus far.

-TILL NEXT TIME

Kenny