• 1-Born Again
• 2-Twilight Time
• 3-Chapter 2- Dawning realizations.
• 4-Chapter 3- Between darkness and light.
• 5-Chapter 4- Eclipse of the heart.
• 6-Chapter 5- Lights out.
• 7-Chapter 6- Light of my life.
• 8-Chapter 7- Dark desires.
• 9-Interlude- From dusk to dawn.
• 10-Chapter 8- Burning out.
• 11-Chapter 9- Eternal Flame. (pt 1)
• 12-Chapter 9- Eternal Flame. (pt 2)

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Hey. I’m
so sorry it’s taking me SOOOOO damn long to post anything. See, I’m in the army
right now and time is a precious resource. I have ¾ of this chapter written
down already, but since I don’t know when I’ll be able to complete it, I’m
going to post it in THREE SEPARATE PARTS, which are all one of the
SAME CHAPTER (like I did with “Dark Desires” at the time).

Since many people gave
up on this story the minute Sarah entered it, I figure that it doesn’t matter
anyway if I continue it or not. But if you’re still reading it then I’m glad.
It means that my arduous efforts to write this are not in vain. I thank you and
wish you luck in enduring the last chapter of Born Again.

Enjoy.

 Naomi

BORN AGAIN

CHAPTER NINE-

ETERNAL FLAME

(PART ONE)

*   *   *

AC
214.

Half past midnight, a
knock on the door. The bang echoed hollowly in the large, dark, living room,
its sound consistent. Outside the rain was pouring, water sliding down the living-room
windows, breaking the soft rays of moonlight and creating a game of
crystal-like beams on the furniture and floor. The entire ground floor of the
middle-class suburban home was silent and shadowy, a few discarded toys lying
at the foot of the sofa and a baby-bottle dripping milk over the polished coffee table.

The pounding on the door continued, growing louder
and more urgent. It overcame both the sound of rain and the ticking of a clock,
disturbing the nighttime silence. Between the dining room and the living room,
where a wooden staircase stood, a light suddenly turned on. The dim column of
light spilled on the carpet before the stairway, as if setting a path towards
the front door. A pair of bare feet padded softly down the stairs. Long and slim
legs, clad in loose black slacks, walked across the carpet; their movements a
bit waddled, probably still sleepy.

The pounding on the door would not cease, and the
owner of the bare feet gave a long yawn, running his hand through a mass of
chocolate brown hairs, still messy from sleep. The clicking of the door chain,
followed by the turning of a lock, was heard clearly in the silence on the
night, and the pounding stopped.

The door opened, revealing the sight of a
worn-looking man. His black leather jacket was drenched with rain, as was the
rest of him. His hair, much too long for what was customary for a man his age,
was wet as well, long chestnut bangs plastered to his forehead. The man was
panting silently, his cheeks flushed like he had been running for quiet a
while. His shoulders were slumped and behind his messy wet bangs, was a pair of
distressed violet eyes.

“Duo...” The man at the door let out in alarm,
cobalt eyes blinking in puzzlement. “What happened to you?”

The longhaired man did not answer, merely continued
standing still, panting. It was not hard to notice that he was shivering from
the cold. “H-Heero, I...” He finally stammered, his eyes glued to the floor,
unable to look up at the man before him. “I... I need to... I...”

“Damn it, Duo, you’re freezing! Come in already...”
Heero burst into his words, wrapping his arm around the taller man’s shoulder
and guiding him into the house. The other man did not resist and let himself be
led into the house. He took a shaky breath as they walked past the living room.
Raising a hand to push his wet bangs back up; he quickly scanned the familiar
surrounding, his eyes catching the sight of discarded toys and two tiny
baby-shoes lying under the large dinner table.

“I think you better step into the shower.” Heero’s
quiet voice proposed, as he halted and turned around to face the wet and
shivering man before him. He reached two hands to help him peel his soaked
jacket off, the dark leather rustling loudly in the silence of the night. “I’ll
make you something hot to drink and then we can talk, okay?” He continued
softly, not failing to see the empty and numb look in Duo’s eyes. The man was
just staring numbly at the air floating over the staircase, completely
unresponsive.

“Duo,” Heero tried again, resting a warm palm on
the man’s trembling shoulder.

Glazed violet eyes blinked, and slowly turned to
look at the man standing but an inch near him. A small, numb, smile curled
slightly on his lips. “Sure. Sounds good.” He mumbled in a tired voice, his
shoulders slumped as he slowly climbed up the stairs. A pair of worried cobalt
eyes watched him go, as Heero bit his lower lip in worried thoughts.

*  
*   *

A steaming cup of hot chocolate slid slowly over
the kitchen table, being nudged by a couple of slim white fingers. Duo stared
dully at the steam as it rose out of the mug, following it until it disappeared
into thin air. Looking up, he met Heero’s worried blue eyes, glimmering under
the strong kitchen light. He took a minute to study the features of the man
before him. A man, not a boy. They’ve both outgrown that age long ago. Both
lost the signs of childhood from their features, their faces sharper and
mature. Heero didn’t look so boyish anymore. The signs of his age showing on
his face with a pair of high and sharp cheekbones, lips that hardly ever pouted
and a few faint wrinkles at the corner of his eyes. Still he possessed a lot of
childlike qualities, like his hair that was always tousled and the young,
bright, glimmer in his eyes. Some things, Duo guessed, will never change.

Sighing, the longhaired man bowed his head and
stared down at his drink. He could hear Heero sigh as well and pull out a chair
so he could sit. Silence followed and he knew that the other man was waiting
for him to speak. He could feel Heero’s eyes on him, examining him with the
sharp awareness only Heero possessed.

Under the harsh kitchen light, Duo’s features
seemed worn and ghastly. He was pale, the color gone from his skin and his
eyes. He looked so small all of a sudden, insignificant under the strong
fluorescent light. Wearing a large and sloppy sweatshirt he let him borrow, his
wet ponytail lying limply over his shoulder, Duo seemed like a lost boy. There
was no trace of the thirty-four-year-old businessman he was used to be seeing
nowadays. Without Duo’s usual business suit and his body language radiating
confidence, Heero was suddenly reminded that the man before him was still the
lost little boy he’d always been. Sometimes, Heero thought sadly, it looked
like Duo had changed so little since he could first remember laying eyes on
him, fifteen years ago. It saddened him greatly, that despite all this time,
despite all they’ve been through, Duo still refused to accept the change fate
had brought upon them all. He was trying, and trying hard, but it looked like
there was still a long way for Duo to travel before he will finally make his
peace with everything in life.

Sighing deeply, Heero leaned back in his chair,
crossing his arms over his chest. He fixed his eyes on Duo, gaze deadly serious.
“Are you going to tell me what happened?” He asked in a neutral tone,
scrutinizing Duo for any reaction, trying to read him like only he could. He
noted the further slumping of Duo’s shoulders and the small flickering of doubt
in his eyes.

“Does it have to do with work? Trouble with the
company?” He questioned timidly, knowing how much of a hard time Duo was having
running Perkins’s business after the man had passed away almost a decade ago.
“Did something go wrong with the Marcoss Deal?”

Shaking his bowed head, Duo wrapped both his palms
around the warm mug, still staring numbly at the chocolate drink.

“I thought so...” Heero muttered, slightly
frowning. “Then this is more... personal.” He concluded carefully,
leaning closer to Duo. His assumption was confirmed when Duo slowly closed his
eyes, a sad and wretched expression on his face. He nodded.

Having nothing to say as a reply, Heero merely
nodded as well and leaned back in his seat, crossing his legs this time. They
sat silently for a long while, the only sound in the kitchen was the hollow
ticking of the clock and Duo’s silent sipping as he drank. He was stalling
time, sipping his drink slowly with his head still bowed and his eyes focused
solely on the dark fluid. He could feel Heero’s gaze on him, felt his worry,
but he was not ready to speak. Not yet.

“Must have been quite an event if it made you run
in the rain all the way up here.” Heero finally said, his voice quiet, like he
was afraid to chase Duo away. As he assumed, Duo did not answer, didn’t even
raise his gaze up. The silence returned to the kitchen. Outside, the rain
stopped pouring.

“Is it Ran?” Heero finally blurted out, sick of
waiting and eager to just put all the cards on the table and talk.

Duo froze, his mug held up in mid-sip. His amethyst
eyes were wide, looking blindly at the air between the cup and the table. He
nearly flinched when he felt Heero’s warm hand touch his arm gently. He turned
to face his friend; his eyes glittering with unshed tears.

“He came back.” He whispered, his voice trembling.
He heard Heero’s chair creak a little as the man stepped out of it, coming to
kneel by Duo’s chair. He his warm palm was still holding his forearm gently,
his gaze warm and compassionate as he looked up at Duo. There was a kind
sympathy in his eyes, all warm and caring and blue. He was smiling sadly at the
distressed man, his features radiating understanding.

Ever since Sarah and Heero had gotten married, ten
years ago, Duo had been more or less alone. Heero had moved out of the house,
started a family and moved on with his life, however things were not so simple
for Duo. The violet-eyed man had been having a rough time with every
relationship he had. He somehow managed to get hurt every single time; his
fragile heart getting more and more blows as he kept trying. He searched
desperately for the love that will sooth his heart and make him happy. He dated
men and women alike, frantically searching for the one who will move his heart
the way Heero had, once. Two lifetimes ago. He was burnt, many times, and time
after time he was about to give up on his search, to just accept his misery,
but Heero did not let him.

Heero never let him fall all the way down into the
pits of a lonely hell. He caught him every single time, helped him and
encouraged him to climb back up. He refused to let Duo give up; he refused to
let him wallow in misery for the rest of his life. At the day of his wedding he
swore, both to Duo and to himself, that he will not be the only one of them who
will find his happiness. He will not be the only one to drown in love and joy.
He owed Duo so much, and his love for the longhaired-man was so great, that he
refused to rest until he saw Duo’s happiness as well.

It was hard, if not nearly impossible. Duo was one
who fell easily to depression. During the last ten years Heero kept a close eye
on him. They were like family, the two of them, but still they were much closer
than those who were connected by mere blood relation. Their bond was stronger, fiercer,
and it was not broken by moments of desperation, hopelessness and gloom. Their
love for one another survived every fight they had, every time they raised
their voice or hand against each other. Every time they thought they didn’t
want to see each other’s face. Every time they cried from the hurt the other
had caused. Their love survived it all. Hate, jealousy, betrayal, hurt and
loss... they were beyond all that.

There were many things they fought over, many
grudges they held against each other, but those times were beyond them now.
They’ve grown, matured, and forged a relationship so deep and enduring that
there was nothing that could draw them apart. They knew one another better than
they knew anything else in the world. Their hearts were beating in the same
frequency, like transmitting their thoughts and feelings to their other half.
They loved each other deeply, but it was always beyond the romantic and erotic
aspects. Way beyond all the materialism and romanticism of life. They’ve both
reached somewhat of a “higher” form of existence. A kind of love one could call
“divine”. They knew that not many received the privilege of such feelings, and
they cherished it greatly.

It was this bond, this love between them, that gave
the comfort and assurance that they could tell each other anything. Their
darkest, deepest secrets as well as everyday life’s problems. But for some
reason, the most difficult thing to speak about, were the matters of the heart.
Or more specifically, Duo’s heart.

“I thought he went back to the Middle East.” Heero
finally spoke, his voice both quiet and timid. “I thought... I thought he
left... you.”

Sniffling, Duo gave out a chuckle/sob and hurried
to wipe his tears with his sleeve. “I guess he wasn’t kidding when he promised
that he’ll come back...” He mumbled, staring dully at his now damp sleeve.

“But that was six months ago, Duo.” Heero reminded
him, raising his hand to touch Duo’s damp cheek. He gently turned the man to
face him, looking up at him from where he was still kneeling on the floor. “You
shouldn’t feel sorry for what you’ve done.”

Letting out another small sob, Duo shook his head
and released himself from Heero’s gentle hold. “You don’t get it... I mean...”
He sighed, taking a deep breath before speaking again. “I didn’t believe that
he’d come back for me... I mean... who would believe such a thing? So I...
yeah, I fooled around a little, but... but now that I think of it... no, I
mean, I ALWAYS knew it but now I can’t lie to myself no more...” He babbled,
frowning in confusion at his own words. He paused, thinking for a moment,
before turning back to Heero and looking deeply into his eyes. “I know why
things didn’t work out for me in the last six months... Since he left, all I
ever thought about was him. No matter who I dated or who I slept with... I was
always thinking about Ran.”

“You were hoping that he’d come back to you?” Heero
asked, slowly rising off the floor and pulling his chair closer so he could sit
next to Duo. He reached for Duo’s hand, and when the other turned to look up at
him, he smiled. “Duo... I think that this is the first time you admitted such a
thing... Even though he left you, you still believed in him. You had faith in
him, in his promise.” Smiling broadly now, Heero leaned forward and hugged his
friend.

Stunned, it took Duo a moment to relax into the
embrace. His baffled eyes blinked, and when they reopened, they were glittering
with a smile. A hint of a smile was winking from within the dark-purple depths.
Duo chuckled lightly and wrapped his arms around Heero as well, returning the
hug. He rested his head on Heero’s shoulder, his nose nuzzled in the crook of
Heero’s neck. He stared at the short hairs at the nape of Heero’s neck, his
smile growing.

“Guess it means I learned somethin fin finally.” He
mumbled, his lips brushing against Heero’s neck as he spoke. “Maybe I did fall
in love with him after all...”

“And is that such a bad thing? Now that he’s back?”
Heero asked, turning his head and tilting it so he could look down at Duo.

Sighing deeply, Duo detached himself from the
embrace, pulling away from Heero. He sunk back into his chair and bowed his
head. “I don’t know...”

The silence returned. Duo returned to sipping his
(now cold) drink, and Heero was leaning back in his chair, tapping his fingers
on the table. He was looking thoughtfully at Duo, his gaze somewhat distant. At
some point, another sound joined the sounds of the kitchen. Ceasing his
tapping, Heero looked up towards the kitchen doorway. He sighed as he
recognized the sound. It was a baby crying.

“I’ll be right back.” He said tiredly, slowly
getting up. Duo raised his eyes up from his drink just in time to catch the
tired look on Heero’s face. He chuckled silently and returned to sipping his
coco. He wondered how many hours of sleep Heero was losing over these nightly
sobbing. He remembered how tired Heero was back when Sarah and he had their
first child. He would fall asleep at any chance he got during the day. On the
train when he was on the way to work, at the diner they had their daily cup of
coffee, even over the table when he he invited Heero for lunch... The young
parent had always been tired. Now, two babies later, Heero was more a
experienced parent, but tired just the same. His third child, Aya, was a very
demanding little girl who kept both her parents up all night.

Duo couldn’t remember Heero’s first two kids being
so damn noisy. But then again, he was only the “uncle”. He got to see the kids
on holidays, weekends and “family” gatherings, so he only got to see them when
they were more or less behaved. Besides, he loved them too much to admit
that they were a bunch of naughty rascals, as Sarah often called them. He also
supported the belief that ‘uncles’ should not be as harsh and reprimanding as
parents. The kids were supposed to love him more because he was more fun,
right? Heh... and as much as Heero hated to admit it (in front of Duo, that is)
his children REALLY loved to spend their time racking havoc with ‘uncle Duo’...

Heero and Sarah named their eldest after Duo. Well,
in a way. His name was Maxwell Jurie Yuy- MJ for short. He was nine-years-old
and a bright little boy. He had his father’s wits, and his mother’s twisted
sense of humor. At the age of nine, he was already sarcastic. He was a perfect
mix of his parent’s looks: greenish-blue eyes that bore holes into a person’s
soul, wild and messy pitch black hair and handsome features that no one this
young should have. He had half of the Elementary School’s female population
chasing after him day and night.

Their second kid, Eric, was six years old and the
most energetic kid Duo had ever seen. The boy could not sit quietly for a
second and he had the unique tendency to get into trouble. Nevertheless, he was
a good kid, and very smart too. He just happened to prefer fun over work. Heero
sometimes joked by suggesting that somehow he got Duo’s genes instead of his.
But that was far from being the case because Eric was too much his his father
when it came to looks, though he was trying more and more to look like his
uncle Duo. He had the same hair color as Heero, only he preferred to keep his
hair at shoulder length, and if his mother allowed him to get away with it- he
liked to wear it down. He also had features that were DEFINITELY from an
oriental origin, even though he had bluish-gray eyes. Also, and much to Duo’s
happiness, the boy thought him as the coolest guy who EVER lived, making him
his idol.

Lastly, there was little Aya Yuy, ten-months-old
and the most adorable of the three. She was a perfect mirror of her mother’s
looks... only about thirty years younger. She had her father’s eyes though, and
combined with her pitch-black hair and pale white skin, Duo loved calling her
“Snow White”. Although unlike Snow White, this little princess rarely spent
more than three hours a night sleeping quietly in her bed. She drove her
parents crazy with her crying, so it was no surprise that they decided to take
turns in taking care of the little infant. Tonight, apparently, it was Heero’s
shift.

“Sorry about that.” Heero apologized as he stepped
back into the kitchen, cradling little Aya in his arms. He was holding a warm
bottle of milk in his hand, feeding it to the baby. “She was just hungry.” He
explained, settling heavily back in his chair. He adjusted his hold on the
baby, making sure her head was tucked securely in his folded arm, and then
looked back at Duo. He frowned as he noted that the other man had been staring
at him.

“What?” He asked, feeling very self-conscious under
Duo’s gaze.

Duo chuckled and shook his head. “Nothing.” He answered,
smiling.

Heero’s frown deepened in thought, and then he
snorted, rolling his eyes. “Get over it, Duo.” He muttered, looking down at Aya
as he adjusted the bottle of milk, making it easier for her to drink. He used
his little finger to wipe the white fluid that dripped down her chin, still
holding the bottle with the same hand. He smiled down at her when he saw her
reach two little palms to hold the bottle as well. The infant then closed her
eyes and continued to suck the bottle silently.

Heero could still feel Duo’s amused gaze on him. He
looked up, glaring half-heartedly at the man. “Stop it.” He said, as if
offended. “It’s not like you’re seeing me do this for the first time.”

Duo chuckled again, covering his mouth with his
hand. “Yer right. Sorry.” He apologized, his eyes shining with amusement. “I
just... heh... really brings back some old memories...”

Heero rolled his eyes. “As if you ever had me
sucking off a bottle... get real, Duo.” He muttered, shaking his head in a
rebuking way.

“It’s not that.” Duo explained, smiling as he
looked at Aya’s serene face, safe and loved in her father’s arms. “I was just
thinking about the way you were back then... before everything.”

“During the war, you mean.” Heero asked, his
attention focused on his child, pulling the bottle a little, but Aya moaned in
displeasure so he figured that she wanted more, and pushed the bottle back into
her little mouth. He looked back at Duo, smiling sheepishly. “I suppose I would
have felt a bit awkward with a child in my arms...” He said, a twinkle of
mischief in his eyes.

Duo snorted and chuckled at the same time. “You
have no idea...”

“But things changed.” Heero stated, his voice
serious once again.

“Yeah...” Duo answered with a sigh, the solemn
expression coming back to his face. He cast his gaze down, away from Heero’s
eyes, and examined the way Aya’s chubby cheeks moved as she sucked her meal out
of the bottle. He smiled a little as he watched her almost inhumanly blue eyes
open, gazing up at her father as she continued drinking. His smile broadened as
he followed her line of sight, looking up at the parent who gazed lovingly down
at his child, a smile lighting his tired features, shining in his sleep-lacking
eyes.

“They sure have...” He whispered to himself,
smiling.

*  
*   *

Walking down the stairs towards the living room,
Sarah yawned and fixed her white robe, tying the belt tightly around her waist.
Her long black hair was gathered messily, held up with a large clip. A whole
bunch of stray black hairs fell from the messy hairdo, obscuring her eyes and
falling over her ears. She brushed a few annoying hairs aside as her bare feet
padded over the soft carpet, towards the kitchen which was opposite from the
living room. Warm rays of morning sunshine flooded the ground floor, washing
the elegant furniture with golden hue. Dust particles few lazily in the air,
and the black-haired woman frowned at the thought of dusting, again.

She gave out a small curse as she stepped over a
toy truck, the ache in her bare foot causing her to jump in surprise. Muttering
something to herself, she bent to pick up the toys, clearing the field of
landmines that was also known as her dining room. Still ranting to herself that
she needed to teach Eric a thing or two about cleaning after him, she threw the
toys into the corner of the room, where a large basket full of other toys
stood. She then quickly made her way into the kitchen, anxious for a cup of
coffee.

When she entered, she immediately went for the
cupboard and began boiling some water. It was only when she turned around to
see if there was a newspaper on the kitchen table that she noticed that she was
not alone. Sitting by the small wooden table, stirring a cold cup of coffee was
Duo. His head was bowed and his gaze was fixed on the spoon he was holding. His
long chestnut hair was gathered into a loose ponytail, and she recognized that
it was Heero’s clothes he was wearing. She frowned, wondering what he was doing
here this early in the morning.

“Duo?” She asked, coming to sit next to him, but
there was no reaction from the solemn young man. “Did you spend the night
here?” She tried again, tilting her head aside in question.

“Yeah.” Duo let out hoarsely, finally raising his
head up to meet her eyes. “Sorry for the trouble.”

She smiled. “Not at all. You’re never a bother, and
you know that.” She said, getting up. “I’ll make you some fresh coffee.” She
stated, not even waiting for his reply and taking out another mug from the
cupboard.

“Is there something wrong?” She asked, her back
facing him as she added two teaspoons of sugar to his coffee and then reached
for the kettle.

“You can say that...” Duo answered in a tired
voice, leaning back in his chair, leaning his head back as well and closing his
eyes. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, frowning deeply. “Gosh I’m tired...”

“I gather it has to do with Ran?” She concluded,
approaching the table with two steaming cups of coffee.

Duo opened his eyes and turned to look at her,
smiling. “Gee, you’re even better than Heero is sometimes...” He frowned. “Or
am I really that transparent?”

Sarah chuckled and shook her head in amusement. She
reached for the jar of cookies at the edge of the table, next to the wall. She
took out a chocolate chip cookie and took a small bit. “Nah, just predictable.”

Duo chuckled, shaking his head as if disappointed
form himself. “Since when have I become predictable?” He asked, amused, helping
himself to a cookie.

“Since you walk over here in the middle of the
night. Since you sit here staring at your drink as if it was a blockbuster
movie. Since you fell in love and you are not willing to admit it. You pick
one.” She answered casually, throwing the rest of the cookie into her mouth.

“Ah, that kind of predictable...” He mumbled as a
miserable excuse for a joke, his smile slowly fading. He returned to staring
numbly at his drink.

“So?” Sarah said, raising an eyebrow.

Duo looked up. “Huh? So what?”

“So what happened?”

“Oh.” Duo let out, bowing his head again. He
sighed. “He didn’t lie. He really did go back home to settle a few things... an
now he’s back.”

“Like he promised he would.” Sarah reminded him,
sipping her drink calmly.

“Yeah.” Duo breathed, his expression miserable.
“Like he promised he would.”

“So what’s the problem? Why are you so down? You
love him don’t you?”

“I think so...”

“Hmmm...? You think so, or you know
so? You must know by now. After all, you’ve been moping over this guy for over
six months... that must mean something doesn’t it?”

Duo didn’t know what to answer. Or more correctly,
he did know what to answer; he just didn’t want to admit it. Not yet.
Not yet. After such along time of searching, of longing... of wishing and
praying, crying and pleading which ever greater being out there to offer him
just a little... just a little of this light called love... And now, after all
this time, was it really over? It was hard to comprehend... the idea was almost
too much to cope with. He was used to disappointment, to have his hopes raised
and then crushed. He was finding it extremely hard to believe that this is it.
It took him thirty-four years... but here he is. Finally on the verge of true
happiness.

Or is he?

He wasn’t sure.

He needed reassurance. He wanted to be sure. He
couldn’t survive another heartbreak. The human heart was not that strong. It
could only withstand so much abuse. He needed to be sure before he will be
willing to believe. He needed guarantee, though he was pretty sure that he was
not going to get it.

*  
*   *

“Daddy, may I be excused?” The little chirping
voice of a six-year-old boy asked as the longhaired little boy looked up at his
father, pouting. He was sitting in a chair much larger for his small size;
opposite of his father who sat across the table, helping his mother feed Aya.
Next to the little boy, sat his older brother, eating silently as he read a
book. The little boy sighed and turned back to face his father. “Daddy, may I
be EXCUSED?!” He asked again, trying to gain attention.

“No Eric, you may not.” Heero answered, turning to
look sharply at his son. “You haven’t eaten anything yet.”

The little boy snorted and crossed his arms over
his chest. “But I asked nicely!” He whined, pouting.

Sarah chuckled silently and shook her head in
amusement. “Eric, speaking politely doesn’t mean that you will get away with
not eating anything. You have to eat, so no more games.” She explained softly
to her son, amusement in her eyes. “Although, sweetheart, it was a nice try.”

The little boy snorted. Next to him, MJ turned the
page in his book and continued eating. Eric rolled his eyes and muttered
something about ‘boring’ and ‘Duo is more fun’. He watched as his mommy
adjusted her hold on the small baby in her arms, while Heero checked the
temperature of the milk in the bottle he was holding, by placing some of it on
his wrist. When he was sure that everything was fine, he turned to place the
bottle in Aya’s small mouth.

“I’ll take it from here.” His wife said softly,
taking the bottle out of his gr The Their fingers brushed gently and they
turned to smile at each other. Heero bent to offer his wife a soft kiss on the
cheek and from across the table, little Eric made a low choking sound.

“Daddy!” He reproached, his cheeks burning red.
“Stop it! I’m trying to eat, all right? And if you keep doing that TV stuff
then I’m gonna puke!”

Heero glared and Sarah chuckled. “Eric, speak
nicely when you’re at the table.” She said, having a hard time to hide her
amusement. It was hard to teach the boy some manners and trying to tame his,
uh, wild spirit, while he kept making her laugh all the time. He was too
adorable and too amusing for her to refuse. The boy knew it, and he used it to
his advantage. Repeatedly. Heero was always trying to be the strong one in
resisting the boy’s charms, but even he was failing most of the time. The boy
was a six-year-old devil. He wondered if he should refrain him from spending so
much of his time with Duo...

“It’s not enough that I had to look and uncle Duo
do this sticky TV stuff with Ran, now I have to see it at home?! Yuck! Cut it
out already! Man, at least in uncle Duo’s house I didn’t have to eat when they
kissed! Bah!” The boy continued ranting, a snobbish expression on his face and
his arms folded over his chest.

At the mentioning of Ran’s name, Heero’s eyes
suddenly darkened and his smile faded. Catching the change in her husband’s
mood, Sarah reached a hand under the table and placed it gently on his thigh.
She caressed him soothingly, feeling the tension in his body. He was still
upset over Duo’s situation. He’d been tormenting himself with it all week, as
he did with any problem Duo faced, trying his best to find a solution and aid
his friend.

“The only thing you can really do is try and talk
to him.” She said quietly, adjusting Aya in her arms once more for her limbs
were falling asleep. The small girl let out a sound that might have been joyful
or upset, but she quieted down when her mother stilled and adjusted the bottle
in her mouth. “Either that,” Sarah continued, “Or just wait it out and see what
happens.”

Heero sighed, playing with his fork between his fingers.
“I’m afraid that if I’ll leave things as they are, Duo will let this chance
slip by. He’ll miss it.”

“Miss what?” Eric asked over his glass of orange
juice, looking curiously at his father.

“Never mind, honey.” His mother answered. “Grownup
talk.” She added with apologetic eyes.

Eric rolled his eyes and continued sipping his
drink. “If it has to do with uncle Duo then it’s not grownup...” He muttered to
himself, which made his father smile a little bit.

“Say, Eric,” He began lightly, looking at his son
with shining cobalt eyes. “How about I drop you at Duo’s place this weekend?
Would you like that?”

“He can’t.” MJ’s quiet voice suddenly spoke up. He
was not much of a conversationalist, so it was quite a shock to the occupants
of the table. Looking up from his book and adjusting his reading-glasses, the
nine-year-old smiled sadly at his father and explained: “When I called earlier,
Ran answered the phone.”

There was a stunned silence after his statement and
Eric nearly choked on his drink.

“No way!”

“Way.” The eldest sibling answered, looking down at
his little brother with indifferent bluish-green eyes.

“Uh-uh!” The younger argued, shaking his head so
that his shoulder-length hair flipped wildly form side to side. “Ran went back
to the East!”

MJ rolled his eyes. “The Middle East, baka,
and no- he’s not there anymore, he’s back.”

“So where is uncle Duo?” The little boy asked, his
blue eyes suddenly large and frightened. “Did he leaoo?”oo?”

MJ shrugged and went back to his book. “Not
likely.” He said, already absorbed in the written words. “But he didn’t answer
when I called.”

“Well... well... where did he go? Why was Ran
there?” Eric questioned in concern, turning to look desperately at his father,
the only one who always gave him a sense of safety and reassurance. Des the the
fact that he preferred to spend most of his time with his uncle, there were
some roles that even Eric knew Duo would not be able to perform. Some things
were reserved solely for his daddy. Making him feel as if all was right in the
world was one of those roles. “Everything is okay, right daddy?”

“I’m sure it is, sweetie.” Sarah answered in
reassurance, but Eric’s gaze was still fixed at his father, waiting for his
answer and his answer alone. No one knew uncle Duo like his father did, that
much his young heart knew. He wanted the reassurance to come from his daddy.

After a while of silent consideration, Heero smiled
and turned to his son. “Well, I suppose that since Ran was the one to answer
the phone, then everything is all right between them...” His voice sounded less
and less confident as he spoke, until he trailed off into silence.

Eric didn’t look so reassured. “You know, uncle Duo
says that people should never lie...” He remarked in a skeptic voice, reaching
back for his glass of orange juice. As he drank, his fierce blue eyes glared
silently at his father.

The silence returned to the dining table, only
Aya’s sucking on the rubber bottle and the flipping of pages in MJ’s book
cutting the suffocating stillness.

*  
*   *

“There’s no reason for you to be so worried,
Heero.” Sarah called out pleadingly at her husband, watching from the bed as he
searched the room for his socks and shoes. She was already lying in bed,
wearing her nightgown and ready for sleep. Heero on the other hand, was still
fully dressed in winter attire, a thick sweater and a scarf that hugged his
neck. He was pacing the room like a bundle of nerves until he found his shoes.

“If Ran was there when MJ called then it means that
they worked things out between them.” She continued, trying to reason with her
husband.

“You don’t know how Duo works, Sarah. It’s not that
simple.” Heero replied, breathless as he threw himself on the floor, hurrying
to put his socks on.

“What do you mean?” She asked, rising a little into
a sitting position. She watched him as he struggled to put his shoes on
quickly.

“He’s in for another heartbreak. He brings it on
himself. He will not accept Ran’s love so easily. I bet it was no more than a
quick ‘welcome back’ fuck and then he stormed out of the apartment. That’s why
Ran answered the phone. Duo wasn’t there. I bet you my next paycheck that he
ran off somewhere like always.”

“You can’t be sure.” She said, trying to side up
with Duo. She felt as if her husband was speaking badly of his friend and she
felt hurt for Duo. Looking sharply at Heero as he rose to his feet, she added:
“You don’t know that fore.”re.”

Heero let out a bitter chuckle. “The hell I do,
Sarah. I’ve been there before. Duo runs. He runs and he hides so he can keep
lying to himself. That’s how he really works.” He concluded with a
bitter smile, running a hand swiftly through his messy bangs and pushing them
backwards. He reached for the tall chest-drawer by the door and swooped his
wallet and keys off the top. “This time will be no different.” He continued
breathlessly, his back facing Sarah and the bed. “I have to go look for him,
before it’s too late. I have to make him face it.”

“Face what? That Ran loves him? How can you
know that for sure?” She challenged him, both her voice and eyes fierce.

Heero paused, his hand still in his jeans pocket
after shoving the keys in. She could see his shoulders tense and his head
slowly rose higher in determination. “I’m going to find out first, and then I’m
going to make Duo see it as well.”

With those words he rushed out of the bedroom, his
quick steps echoing in the house as he practically ran down the stairs. When
she heard the front door close, she sighed, leaning heavily back on the bed.
Sinking into the covers, she closed her eyes and listened to the humming of an
engine fade out as Heero drove away.

From the hallway, Aya’s voice rang loudly as she
started crying.

*  
*   *

A dark blue 4x4 jeep came to a stop in front of a
tall condo in the center of town, the shiny droplets of rain that covered the
smooth blue metal glittering under the streetlamps as Heero parked the vehicle.
The sound of the door being slammed behind him echoed throughout the empty
street, followed by the sound of the alarm beeping as it was turned on. Heero
ran down the wet pavement, his snickers filling with mud as he stepped into
puddles. The streetlight reflected off the wet asphalt, creating a faint glow
over the street. Strangely enough, the light didn’t reach the entrance of Duo’s
building, and Heero had to make his way in the dark until he found the light
switch.

He didn’t bother to wait for the elevator and be run running up the stairwell, all the way to the fifth floor. There he stopped,
panting, when he reached the desired apartment. He took a moment to just stand
in front of Duo’s door, trying to catch his breath. He coughed lightly, cursing
inwardly when he realized that no matter how many times a week he will go to
the gym, his body will still get old and will tire easily.

Even before he had a chance to knock on the door,
his hand merely halfway there, it opened. Heero gasped, surprised, and took a
small step back. He was even more surprised to meet a pair of large, hopeful,
brown eyes and cheeks damp with tears. Those eyes were looking straight at him,
so large and vulnerable and full of hope...

“Duo!” The man at the door blurted before he even
laid eyes on Heero, and his joyful smile soon turned into an expression of
misery when he realized that he had it wrong. “Oh. Heero.” He let out, casting
his gaze down. Sighing, he opened the door wider to let the man in. “C-come
in...” He mumbled, his soft baritone voice trembling just a slight bit.

10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>*  
*   *

Being in such a hurry to distance herself from her
group, she failed to notice that the group had abandoned her, taking a turn and
entering one of the smaller bars. She was alone in the street, marching down
the wet pavement as fast as her high-heeled boots could carry her. She was
walking further and further away from the crowds, away from the main shopping
centers and clubs. She was at the outskirts of the large entertainment center,
where the darker, shabbier, complexes towered over empty streets. She stopped,
looking around.

This was like a bad horror movie or something...

“What next? A rapist coming out of the shadows?”
She muttered sarcastically, rolling her eyes at the situation. Let them try! If
someone would even dare to approach her, he’ll be in for more than a simple
case of a damsel in distress. She wasn’t her father’s number one student for
nothing. She was approaching her black belt and doing her father proud. No drunken
asshole stood a chance against her martial arts skills. Certainly not when she
was as pissed off as she was right now. Damn Casey!

She sighed deeply and scanned her surroundings. She
was standing by a tall, shabby building, which seemed to be under construction.
There were a few waning signs that alerted passer-bys not to enter the
building, and a few makeshift fences circling a large hole in the ground,
probably a sewer or something of that sort. The place reeked of damp wood and
mold. The building that stood by the unfinished one, was in not much better
shape. Between the two poorly maintained stretched a long, dark, alley that
carried the stench of garbage and alcohol. She was definitely in the wrong side
of the tracks, as they say.

As if on cue, much like any bad horror flick she’d
seen, a low rustling sound came from behind her. She spun quickly on her heels,
looking sharply into the dark alley. Narrowing her eyes, she could see movement
inside the dark alley. It appeared that someone was trying to walk, stumbling
and waddling from side to side as he approached her. She snorted. “Damn
drunk...”

Turning back to face the street, she decided to go
back to where she came from and take a taxi. The drunken figure in the alley
was the last thing on her mind right now. She was about to start walking, when
a loud THUD! came to her ears. Looking back into the alley, she saw that the
drunk had passed out and his shadowy figure was now lying limply in the gutter.

“Disgusting... men have no honor nowadays, don’t they,
father?” She wanted to leave, but her sense of duty urged her to aid the fallen
man. She couldn’t just leave him there!

Cursing herself for her strong conscience, Meiran
made her way carefully into the alley. Her high-heeled boots tapped loudly
between the tall buildings as she stepped into the alleyway. She knelt by the
stranger, running sharp eyes over his prone figure. He was completely out cold,
but still breathing. In his limp hand there was a half empty bottle of vodka.
She wrinkled her nose as she reached down to flip him over, but to her surprise
the stranger did not smell. He was well clothed, unlike all the shabby looking
homeless people she was used to seeing in this part of town. His black jeans
were an expensive brand and his heavy leather jacket was stylish and pricey as
well. He had a soft white scarf wrapped around his neck, hiding the long tail
of hairs that dangled from his head.

She smiled slightly as she gently pulled the long
ponytail from underneath the scarf, running the soft strands through her
fingers. “You remind me of my uncle Duo.” She told the stranger, grabbing him
by his shoulders so she could flip him over. “Though he wouldn’t be caught dead
looking the way you are right no—ahh!!” She stopped with a startled scream,
gawking down at the face of the drunken stranger. Only it was no stranger.

“Uncle Duo!” She exclaimed, her voice shaking and
her eyes wide with shock. “Oh my God!”  

At her startled scream, Duo gave out a little moan,
eyes slowly slitting open to peer beyond messy bangs. His vision was blurry,
and he was quite groggy, but still he could make out the face of the pretty
Asian girl hovering above him. He frowned and tried to make his limbs move, to
get away from the seductive creature. Probably just another whore...

“Uncle Duo?” Meiran asked in worry, seeing that he
was now awake and staring at her strangely. “Are you all right?” She tried
again, reaching a hand to brush the long bangs out of his eyes.

“Uhh...” He moaned groggily, raising an unbalanced
hand to shove her away. His features showed his discomfort. “Su-sorry lady...
but... n-n-no... thanks...” He slurred, sitting up with an effort. He yelped
when he felt the sting of a slap on his cheek.

“Asshole! What do you take me for?! Uncle Duo, it’s
me!” The Asian prostitute shouted, sounding more than a little offended.

Wincing, Duo rubbed his aching cheek and turned to
face her again. His vision went in and out of focus, until it finally settled
on her young, pretty face. He took a moment to absorb the image, trying to
disregard all the makeup and the hair that plastered to her forehead. His eyes
widened and he gasped quietly.

“Mei... chan?”

The girl snorted. “Yeah. The one and only. Damn it,
uncle Duo, what are you doing here? What happened?” She asked, helping him sit
against the wall. She watched in worry as he leaned his head back against the
damp brick wall and closed his eyes. He seemed so tired... so old... She was
used to seeing his features bright and cheerful, not so ghastly and miserable.
His hands dangled lifelessly at his side, his legs sprawled in front of him
like dead weight. She could tell how tired he was just by looking at him. Her
heart began beating with pain. This was not the smiling uncle she was used to
seeing at family dinners. This was a man in distress. It felt odd thinking of
Duo that way. It was silly of her, she knew. She still hung onto the childish
belief that adults are not fazed by anything. That people she was used seeing
since childhood will always have a smiling face, and will always be there for
her when she needed their smile and comfort. This time, it seemed, she was the
one who had to offer comfort.

Leaning heavily against the wall, huddling close to
Duo, she gently took hold of his cold hand. She felt him flinch, and he opened
his eyes, confused violet-blue orbs looking at her dazedly.

“Wh-what am I..? What are you... in here..?”
He slurred in confusion, blinking repeatedly as if to get his thoughts
straight.

“Shit, man. You’ve got it bad.” She muttered,
shaking her head. “How much did you drink anyway?”

As if to provide an answer, Duo suddenly gulped and
covered his mouth with his palm. He crawled away quickly, turning to the side,
and still on all four, he began vomiting. Meiran wrinkled her nose in disgust
and looked away, feeling highly out of place and having no idea what to do.

“Fuck...” She let out quietly as Duo finally
settled back against the wall, taking deep breaths while he looked up at the
dark skies.

“Watch... your... language...” He mumbled, panting.

Meiran rolled her eyes. “Right. As if you have the
right to act like an adult right now...”

Duo chuckled bitterly, closing his eyes. He moaned
miserably as he drew his knees up to his chest, burying his head in his
kneecaps.

But then again, it was always hard to think of Duo
as a grownup. Hs a s a silly, silly, man who never did seem to grow up. Looking
at him now, she wondered if it was all an act he put around she and the other
kids. It was not possible for a man to be so carefree and cheerful. And she was
not blind; she knew that Duo had his own set problems in life. Either the
company he was running or the many MANY lovers she’d seen him with during the
years.

As a child, it was easy to fall for his charms and
his smiles. Now, being a little more grown up, she was able to pas past it.
Pass the illusionary image he had created for her and the rest of the kids.
Pass the flirting, carefree, cheerful person he tried to make them see. She saw
past it now, and truth be told, it scared her more than any fear she’d ever
known.

The discovery of something very dark, very lonely,
something so painfully human inside her usually cheerful uncle, was frightening
more than the concept of death. She had to admit, there was a good reason they
used to call this man Shinigami. The dark depths of his eyes were like the pits
of Hell itself. It anguished her to look at them. She longed for him to put his
mask back on. Though every part of her screamed to deal with it and live with
it. Enough taking comfort in masks and lies that were meant to sooth children.
This man, uncle or no uncle, needed her help and she was going to aid him!

Taking a deep breath, she turned to him, wrapping
an arm over his back, hugging him. “Hey, c’mon, no dosing.” She said, shaking
him gently. “I’m gonna take you home, okay? I’ll take you home.”

“No!” Duo burst, jerking his head up. He whirled
his head around to look at her, his eyes desperate. “No.”

Meiran frowned, confused. “No?”

“No...” He repeated, shaking his head slowly from
side to side. “Not home... just not home...” He whispered sadly, burying his
face in his knees again. “Anywhere but there...”

The girl sighed, pondering. “Where then?” She
asked, pulling her cell phone of of her purse. “Heero? You want to go to
Heero’s place? I can call him.” She said, her finger already on the speed-dial
button. Heero nii-chan will know what to do, she was certain. He always came to
her rescue when she needed him, and he knew how to keep his mouth shut when it
came to things she preferred her father to be ignorant about.

“No! Not Heero... no...” Duo mumbled, shaking his
head against his knees. “Not Heero...” His words were barely coherent by now,
his speech slurred from both alcohol and sleep.

“Where then? I can’t take you home!” She snapped, frustrated.
“Dad would KILL me if he knew where I’m hanging out! He thinks I’m sleeping
over at a friend’s house...”

At that, Duo let out a small chuckle and raised his
head to look her over. He smirked at her trashy appearance.. “You’re right, Fei
would kill you... Either that or he’ll nosebleed to death...”

“Not funny.” She spat, slapping him lightly on the
head. “As if you never did these things when you were my age!”

“Hmm... no, actually I didn’t... But you’ll be glad
to know that you have a lot of growing up to do...”

“Right. Same to you. Twice my age and can’t hold
down his liquor...”

“Been a while... since I’ve stopped... since I
last... since I was drinking...”

“Ah...” She let out, slumping against the wall,
sitting close to him. He was still sitting with his back arched and his face
buried between his knees, pillowed in his arms. She leaned closer to his
warmth, leaning her head on his bent back. For a long while she just stared
ahead, studying the way his long hair flowed down his scalp and gathered into
the long ponytail. She sighed. “So now what? Where do you wanna go?”

“Away. Away from here...” He mumbled, shaking his
head again. His voice was muffled since he was speaking from between his folded
arms.

“Where?” She asked again, rising off him and
leaning close in an attempt to see his face.

“Somewhere. I don’t care. Far away...” He pulled
away, sitting up, and looked around dazedly, gazing at the street. “Where’s the
nearest spaceport..?”

“Ah, shut up!” She burst, slapping him again. “Stop
being foolish. One more word about ‘spaceports’ and I’m calling Heero!”

He chuckled, turning to face her. He was smiling,
but it was a sad, bitter smile. His eyes didn’t shine like they usually did.
There was deep sadness in his eyes, a kind of sad longing and confusion all
wrapped in one, wretched, violet gaze. She wondered how come eyes that were so
unique, so pretty, could be so sad.

“What happened to you?” She whispered sorrowfully,
raising a hand to caress his face gently. She brushed a few long bangs out of
his eyes, feeling the dampness of tears as her fingers brushed by his thin
lashes.

Heero’s frown deepened. He didn’t remember ever
telling Ran about his job. Especially not of the fact that he was working on a
project to develop one of the most sophisticated, advanced, super computers of
the AC era. After attaining a master’s-degree in both computers and
astrophysics, Heero was working in the developing team for a HUGE Space-Tech
company. His work was sensitive, and he rarely spoke of it, even with Sarah. He
was pretty damn sure he wasn’t so careless as to speak of his work next to Ran.

He
sent a scrutinizing glance at Ran, watching him from the corner of his eyes.
The man seemed like a fragile, nervous wreck, but Heero had the feeling that
there was something more to this guy. Something... almost dangerous. A
well-built body like Ran’s was not one of a wimp. With the proper training,
Heero could deem this person as lethal, even. He wondered if this is part of
why Duo was so drawn to him in the first place... In any case, he’ll keep a
close eye on the man. Real close.

Verdana'>

Verdana'>