Running Out Of Tomorrows

style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">RUNNING
OUT OF TOMORROWS

style="LINE-HEIGH2pt;2pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">N
N
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">PART
TWO

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">*style="mso-spacerun: yes"> p; *style="mso-spacerun: yes">   *

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">If
L2 was infamously known for its poor and pitiable colonies, L7 was about ten
times worse. Walking out of the small and shabby spaceport, Duo had to take a
few moments to adjust to the humid and polluted air of the colony. The air was
incredibly thin and moist, full of smoke and other unpleasant compound. The few
factories the colony did posses were the cause for all the pollution. The
sounds of heavy industry, along with the loud traffic and huge air-circulation
vents that adorned the colony’s structure, were almost deafening to those who
were not used to their presence.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Walking
down the busy and littered streets, Duo was horrified to see that some people,
mostly industrial workers, were walking around with gas masks and ear plugs over
their heads. He hurried to take a taxi, shinghing that was considered a
privilege in that certain cluster, and hurried to get away from the polluted
street and into the safe haven of the cab.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">L7-7283101’s
public hospital, the only hospital in the cluster that was somewhat decent
enough to be called as such, was a tall and poorly maintained building. It was
no better than the rest of the colony, and it seemed as it would collapse at the
slightest tremor.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">After
Duo exited the cab, he could do nothing but stare at the horrible looking
building, his mind unable to process that this is where he would find Heero, if
at all.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Taking
a deep breath, he forced himself to snap out of the shock and regained a more or
less calm composer. He loaded his small travel-bag over his shoulder wal walked
towards the entrance. After a quick check at the registration desk, Duo was very
much relieved to find that his ex-comrade was still alive. He was directed to
his room and now here he was, standing in front of Heero’s
door.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">For
a long while, Duo just stared down at the knob. He wondered if he was ready to
walk into that room and find out what was wrong with his friend. He suddenly
regretted not calling Solo and ask him if everything is all right. He was
suddenly flooded with this overwhelming feeling to be with his son, his joy and
comfort. He didn’t care if Hilde and her boyfriend will be there too. As long as
he’ll be with Solo. As long as he won’t be standing here, in a poor excuse of a
colony and a building, in a ward for the style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Terminallystyle="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">
Ill, in front of a door that intointo who-knows-what.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Getting
himself back together, Duo took another deep breath and slowly, carefully,
opened the door.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">He
was now looking into a room that must have held at least a dozen patients in it.
A dozen beds were aligned by the walls at each side of the long room. They were
separated by thin yellow curtains, which were nearly see-through. At the end of
the large hall was a big window, over-looking the street bellow. In the near
horizon, Duo could spot the large chimneys of various factories, black smoke
covering the view. Clearly not a nice sight to be looking
at.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">He
scanned the various beds with stunned and numb eyes, his hand still on the
doorknob for he was frozen in his spot. The room itself was very dirty and held
a foul smell of illness and various body fluids. The beds creaked and rattled as
their occupants coughed and gagged, filling the air with sounds of sickness and
despair.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
winced painfully as he looked at the tragedy in front of him, memories of a dark
and haunting past suddenly running before his eyes. He had seen death and
sickness before, but none of it horrified him like the sight he was seeing
now.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Why
was Heero here?

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Thinking
about his Japanese friend, Duo forced himself to ignore the horror and step into
the room. His steps were slow and heavy as he walked down the passage in the
center of the room, his wary eyes scanning each bed as he passed by it. His
heart beat fast and painfully with each step he took, searching for his friend
among the patients. No one bothered to even look up at him as he walked past
them, his features pale and full of horror. They were probably used to their own
sight and were not bothered by his sickened expression.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">He
reached the end of the room, nearing the window, but there was still no sign of
Heero. There was only one bed by the window, and it was empty.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
turned around, giving the room another quick scan, but he could not see his
friend. No one in the room even resembled the Japanese boy he remembered, and no
one was as young as Heero was.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdanaybeaybe
there had been some mistake? Maybe they were talking about a different Heero Yuy
dying? Maybe it was one big joke... Or maybe it was too late? Maybe Heero
go
gone and the bitch at the registration desk just didn’t know
it?

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
sighed and slowly sat down on the empty bed, running a hand through his bangs
and closing his eyes. He leaned his head back against the closed window, trying
to calm his racing heart.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">He
had come all this way and for what? An empty bed and a room full of sick
people?

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
opened his eyes again and looked around the room. Again, he couldn’t find a sign
of Heero. Shifting uncomfortably on the thin mattress, Duo reached up a hand to
rub his tired eyes, sighing deeply.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Something
caught his attention then, and he lowered his arm, blinking in puzzlement. He
was looking down at a small and style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">wobblystyle="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">
nightstand, standing close to the bed. Looking up, he could see that every bed
had a small table next t, wt, with the patients’ belongings. When he looked back
down at the nightstand next to him, he registered that unlike the bed, the small
table wasn’t empty.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
pushed himself off the bed and came to stand by the small furniture. He looked
down at it, his eyes scanning the various items it held: a few ragged pocket
books, a small flashlight, a pen and a notebook, a small box of what seemed like
tic-tacs or something, and other small items. He frowned as he saw a pink slip
of paper peek from underneath the pile of books. Confused, he reached down to
take it.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">It
was a counterfoil of
some sort, with an ‘Earth’s Sphere Alliance’ stamp on it. Reading more closely,
Duo could see that it was a copy of some sort of payment, issued by the Earth’s
Sphere’s government. Duo didn’t have a hard time realizing what it
was.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">At the end of the wars, after the
Marimeia Incident was over, all of the ex-Gundam pilots were offered an annuity,
in gratitude for their efforts for peace. Since they did not fight in order to
be rewarded, they all refused the “pension”. Or so Duo had thought. Looking down
at the pink pay envelope, Duo could see that it dated for this month, and it was
signed by no other than Relena Darian Peacecraft herself. To top it all, the
payment was issued for one Heero Yuy.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Duo’s hand closed tightly around
the pink paper, his jaw tense and his fists clenched. Heero was using the
“charity money” from the government? But... but why? What happened? Why did he
have to... why was he---

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">“Duo?” A feeble and hesitant voice
whispered from somewhere behind him, and Duo froze in his
spot.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">A weak cough followed the feeble
question, and Duo found himself slowly turning around to face the speaker. His
numb violet eyes slowly widened in horror as they looked upon the person
standing before him.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Heero was looking like a shadow of
a person, more than anything else. His skin was pale and sickly colored, seeming
lax and nearly transparent. His features looked inhumanly thin, his cheeks
hollow. His eyes looked as if they were sunken deeply into his skull, dark and
black circles all around them. His lips were pale and cracked, merely a ghostly
image of once lush and blood-red lips. His dark brown hair, once thick and rich
in its texture, dark hairs that used to glow under the softest ray of light, now
looked ghastly and poor.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">And to add to the frightening
visage, were a pair of large and fierce blue eyes that bore holes into him this
very moment. Heero’s eyes seemed to be so large for his head all of a sudden, a
colorful blue fire in a sea of grayness and death. They seemed like they didn’t
belong there anymore.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The young man standing in front of
him was a frightening caricature of once a great and powerful soldier. The lean
and fragile looking figure standing before him was what remained of the strength
once recognized with Heero Yuy. Now, it was no more.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Gasping, Duo quickly staggered
back, his eyes wide and stunned.style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana"> He
fell back against the bed, nearly missing it and tripping down. He could not
look away from Heero as the young man looked down at him with a shocked and
somewhat baffled expression. Duo was beginning to hyperventilate from the shock
he was going through, and he struggled for control.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“Did
I frighten you?” Heero spoke again, his voice a mere whisper. “I’m sorry.” He
continued sorrowfully, coming to sit on the bed, keeping some distance between
Duo and himself. He handed Duo a paper cup that he had been holding all along.
“Here, drink this.”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Still
struggling to fix his breathing, Duo nodded in thanks and took the cup from
Heero, his hands trembling as he brt itt it up to his lips. Even as he drank, he
could not turn his gaze away from Heero. The Japanesn wan was looking at him
calmly, though his eyes shone in concern.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“Are
you okay?” Heero asked slowly, taking the cup away from Duo, after the braided
man was done drinking.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
took a few more deep breaths, trying to calm down. He closed his eyes and leaned
down so that his head was between his legs. His breathing slowly
relaxed.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“Should
I get you some more water?” Heero’s voice spoke up with
concern.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
took a large gasp of air and shook his head. “No... it’s okay...” He breathed,
slowly rising up. He looked at Heero, offering him a weak and faltering smile.
“I’m fine. Thank you.”style="FONT-FY: VY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Heero
nodded slowly, and then coughed. He reached up a trembling hand and covered his
mouth, letting out a few more dry coughs. He turned away from Duo’s worried
gaze, closing his eyes in shame.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“I’m
sorry, I took your drink...” Duo mumbled, getting up. “I’ll go get you a new
one.”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Still
coughing, Heero looked up at Duo, about to protest, but he was too late, for the
boy was already running out the door. Giving up on the protest, Heero
concentrated on settling himself back into his bed, wincing in pain as he
struggled to work his trembling hands and cover himself
properly.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">*style="mso-spacerun: yes">   *style="mso-spacerun: yes">   * style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">It
was a while later when Duo returned with a new drink, looking more relaxed and
composed. He handed Heero the cup and then carefully sat down at the edge of
Heero’s bed. He winced painfully as he noticed the boy pull away a little when
their bodies touched, making sure that there will be no contact between them,
even through the thin blanket. He sighed and bowed his head sorrowfully. He kept
looking down at his hands as Heero slowly emptied his
drink.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“You
came.”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">At
the sound of Heero’s quiet statement, Duo finally looked up, his violet eyes
hurt. “Of course I came!” He spoke harshly, his features a storm of emotions:
fear, worry, anger and confusion all wrapped in one expression. “Did you really
think that I wouldn’t? What the hell were you thinking, not telling me this
before? Why did I have to find it out from this... this bitch on the
phone?!”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Heero
sighed and looked away, turning to face the window. “You carried on with your
life. You have no need for a nuisance like myself.”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“Goodness,
Heero! That is so twisted!” Duo nearly shouted, struggling not to raise his
voice. “You know that it isn’t true! Is that why you disappeared on me like
that?! Goodness, three years and not a word out of you! And why? Because you
thought you’ll be a bother!? Heero, I thought you knew better than
that!”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
was now panting, a little worked out from his out burst. But Heero remained
silent, looking out the window with an unreadable expression on his haggard
features. He was holding the paper cup in his hand, resting against his lap, and
when Duo looked closely, he could see that Heero was clutching the cup
forcefully, his thin knuckles nearly turning white.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“How’s
your child doing?” Heero finally spoke again, turning to face Duo. A weak smile
played over his pale lips. “It’s a boy, if I recall
correctly.”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
couldn’t help but smile at the mentioning of his son. He nodded. “Yes, that’s
right. His name is Solo.”

Heero
nodded slightly, brushing his fingertips over the edges of his cup. He looked
down at his fingers, still smiling weakly. “I bet he has your
eyes.”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
chuckled, leaning back a little so he was more comfortable on the small bed. His
body posture was now more relaxed. “Nah. He has his mother’s eyes. But he’s got
my mouth, that’s for sure!”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Heero
chuckled silently, and then the silence returned. Duo sighed and looked away,
deep in thought. Heero kept staring down at his empty paper cup, and sighed
deeply.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“Heero,”
Duo began after a long while, turning back so he could face the other man. “What
are you doing here? Why here of all places?”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Heero
sighed, turning to look out the window. “It’s the only place I can afford.”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“Bu-but
why? Didn’t you have a job?! I mean, what the hell were you doing for the last
seven years?”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Heero
sighed, crushing the paper cup. “I got laid off.”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo’s
eyes darted down to the crushed cup, his eyes shining sorrowfully. He took a
deep breath, and gently laid his hand over Heero’s. He looked up at him, his
gaze compassionate. “What went wrong?”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“I
got sick.” Heero muttered bitterly, pulling away from Duo’s
grasp.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“Heh,
guess you took too many sick days off, huh?” Duo tried to joke, and immediately
berated himself for it. As tense as the moment was, a joke was not in
place.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Heero
seemed to think so too, for he kept silent and looked
away.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“Didn’t
you have some sort of health plan?” Duo finally asked, his tone
serious.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Heero
sighed, and then chuckled bitterly. “It came with the job. I was fired because I
was unable to function. It was before I knew I was sick, so I couldn’t claim the
money.” He sighed and turned back to look at Duo, his cobalt eyes sad and
bitter. “No insurance agency would take me because I was already ill.” He
chuckeld bitterly and then sighed, looking away. “It’s a twisted
paradox.”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“That’s
why you cashed in the ‘charity money’.” Duo concluded.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Heero
nodded and looked away again, bowing his head in shame. “It’s enough to keep me
alive.”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">There
were a few long moments of silence and Heero sighed again. He raised his hand to
push a few bangs out of his eyes, and then looked back at Duo, his blue eyes
serious. “I’m glad you came.”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
gasped, his head snapping down, as he felt Heero take his hand in his. He looked
back up at Heero, his violet eyes stunned. He hurried to wrap his palm around
Heero’s thin hand and squeezed his hand lightly. Heero’s hand was warm and
gentle to the touch, and Duo found that it only made him want to hold that hand
tighter. He smiled kindly at the young man, his violet eyes full of compassion.
“Anytime, buddy.”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Heero
smiled and nodded his head gratefully.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">There
was an awkward silence after that, and Duo found himself searching for an excuse
to look away from Heero’s intense gaze. His eyes scanned the room once more, and
then finally rested on a small tray of food that lay by Heero’s nightstand. He
let go of Heero’s hand and pulled the tray closer to the
bed.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Heero
turned to look at what he was doing. Once he spotted the food, he made a little
disgusted face and hurried to look away.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“Didn’t
you eat your lunch?” Duo asked, still looking down at the
tray.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Heero
didn’t even BOTHER with an answer.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
sighed, trying to think of anything else to say in order to fill the suffocating
silence. He reached for the spoon lying on the tray and used it to nudge a
certain, uh, substance that lay on a small plate.style="mso-spacerun: yes">  

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“This
looks like a very nice... uh. . . . mush.” He commented casually, swirling the
food with the spoon. He turned to Heero, arching an eyebrow. “Mashed
potatoes?”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“It’s
a steak.” Heero let out bluntly, eyeing the meal with
disgust.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“Oh.”
Duo mumbled, looking back at the “steak” with numb eyes. He chuckled, and Heero
did the same. Soon the chuckle turned into small giggles, which soon transformed
into laughter. Both young men were now laughing, slowly relieving the tension
that stood in the air. Their nervous laughter soon turned into a mirthful one,
and they were both looking at each other, their eyes shining as they looked at
one another, laughing in good humor.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“Boy,
I wouldn’t want to know what happened to THAT cow!” Duo joked, earning another
mirthful chuckle from Heero.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“Must
have been hit in a freak-falling-Gundam accident.” Heero commented in a calm
voice.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo’s
laughter increased and his eyes shone with delight. “Good Lord! Did I just hear
ANOTHER joke coming out of you!?”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Heero
chuckled and ducked his head shyly.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
smiled and patted his shoulder. It was encouraging to see that despite
everything, the Japanses boy was in good spirits. Heero sure have changed since
he had last seen him.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">All
of a sudden, Heero’s laughter turned into a serious coughing fit. The small bed
began rocking and creaking as the coughs attacked Heero’s frail body, and the
room was filled with his desperate gasps for air.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Panicked,
Duo jumped off the bed, looking around desperately. “Heero? Are you okay? Oh
God! Just hang in there, I’ll go call a doctor!”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Still
struggling to breathe, Heero shook his head weakly. “Duo. . . no. . . there’s no
need. . .”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo’s
eyes narrowed angrily, despite of the panic. “Why won’t you let the doctor
decidet? It? I’ll be right back.” He spat, already running towards the
door.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“Duo.
. .” Heero called after him, lifting up a trembling hand, as if trying to reach
for his friend. “They won’t come. . . don’t bother. . .”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
growled, spinning around angrily. He stomped his foot on the floor, his braid
flying up and down as he did. “The hell they will! That’s what they’re here for,
no? To take care of you!”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Heero
sighed and bowed his head. He took a deep breath and then coughed again. “. .
.They won’t come, Duo. They told me that themselves.” Moanin pai pain, Heero
took another deep breath and slowly turned to look at Duo. He held the other
man’s gaze with his intense blue eyes, capturing the violet pools in a fierce
hold. “I’m too far gone, Duo, so why bother? It’s a waste of medicine. .
.”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“No.
No!” Duo called out frantically, his features nearly hysteric as he was hit with
realization about Heero’s grim condition. “I won’t accept that, Heero! You
hear?! This is UNACCEPTABLE! You’re here because you need care and I’m gonna
make sure that you’ll get it!” And with that said, Duo hurried to run towards
the door, pushing Heero’s curtain aside.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Heero
bowed his head sadly, and shook it sorrowfully. He took a deep breath and looked
up at Duo’s direction. His cobalt eyes held deep sadness as he spoke his next
words.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“I’m
dying, Duo. Nothing can change that.”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
halted, his body tensing.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“.
. .that’s why they won’t treat me. That’s why ‘One Wish’ came. I only have a few
days left. . .”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo’s
fists closed tightly and his jaw tensed. His tense shoulders were now trembling
slightly as he struggled to keep his cool.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“Duo,
I’m dying.” Heero repeated, as if to make sure that it will sink
in.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“But...
but maybe they can...” Duo mumbled, closing his eyes in order to squeeze out the
tears. “Maybe somehow... I mean, there... there must be a way!” He suddenly
shouted, whirling around to face the man on the bed. His violet eyes were
tormented and his hair a sudden mess. Tears flooded his stormy amethyst eyes,
leaking down his cheeks and to the floor. He sniffled, looking at Heero with
plea. “If all you need is money, then... then I can...
I’ll...”

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">“Duo,
it’s not just the money.” Heero muttered, still holding Duo’s gaze with his
intense blue eyes. He sighed and looked away for a moment. He was beginning to
pant again, his breath labored in an effort to stop the pain, as it returned to
his upper body. “Even if it was...” He let out between clenched teethe. “...It’s
too. . . late for that...” He coughed again, his body convulsing with pain. He
closed his eyes tightly and threw himself into the thin mattress, hugging his
abdomen tightly.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Duo
watched him; feeling torn and lost, as he saw his friend struggle for
self-control, taking large gasps of air in order to calm the pain in his
body.

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">And
all he could do was stand there and watch.style="mso-spacerun: yes">  

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">//”I’m
dying, Duo...”//

style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana">Nothing
could change that.

style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto">style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">href="http://www.duoxheero.com/fanfics/tomorrow3.html">Part
3.

style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt; MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center">style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">href="http://www.duoxheero.com/tomorrow.html">Back