14-Jul-2000

Disclaimer: GW boys are not mine *sob* *sob*
Warning: yaoi, a bit angsty at some parts, nice Relena <gasp>!! But fear not, I am a firm believer of 1x2
Timeline: The first part of the story takes place shortly after the series.
The second part of the story takes place after Endless Waltz/OVA.

Random Note: Read the song lyrics when Heero and Relena are talking. They are her thoughts. Funny how perfectly a song could fit a person's thoughts...

Faire Tale by Draco

Part II: The Cursed Prince

The year is 197. The five Gundams have all been destroyed. And a real chance for peace has finally arrived...

Duo couldn't believe it, the war was finally over... Deathscythe was gone... Now all that is left is to say goodbye... Perhaps it wasn't necessary to say goodbye. He fully intended to visit everyone whenever he could. They are all good guys. Still, now they were no longer fighting, and the bond that they had once shared no longer existed. All that will be left are common memories of pain... and laughter. Mostly it was pain, Duo smirked slightly, but there had been some laughter. Well, I laughed anyway. War was hard. War changed people. And it really messed with people's heads. Duo scratched his head slightly. Even Quatre, steady Quatre, knew moments of insanity. Duo didn't want to imagine what Heero had to go through. The important thing now was that it was over. Completely, utterly, and definitely over. Lady Une still freaked him out a little at times, but peace... at last peace...

I wonder what Heero will do? Everyone had some kind of life outside the war, but for the boy who was trained to be the perfect soldier... what would peace bring? What is he going to do? And why the heck am I so worried about him when I don't know what the hell I'm going to do? Because that baka is my best friend? Because... because... I love him. There, I said it. I admit it to myself. Somewhere along the line I fell stupidly in love with a man who can never love me back. War obviously messed with my head too. And yet I allow myself continue to dream... Dreams are nice things.

Duo sighed loudly as he bent over the railing and admired the ocean. The sea breeze felt so good against his hair. Even in the darkness Duo could still sense its presence. The one thing that colonies did not have was the ocean. Nothing could match its beauty. Staring at the sea, it was like staring at Heero's eyes, drowning in a beauty greater than heaven. You are hopeless Duo. You really are hopeless...

Slowly it began to rain. A light drizzle at first, then it grew harder and harder. Rain poured as if the sky was crying in joy. The coolness felt good against his skin... funny, why is my skin burning...

Heero wondered why he was walking towards Duo in the rain... everything seemed surreal... He stopped a few steps short of Duo and stared in to the ocean a little. They were standing so close, and yet so far away from each other. Duo, you have been a valuable asset in the war, and I'm glad I didn't kill you. Liar. Duo, I want to thank you... for what? For not let me die? For understanding when I'm incomprehensible even to myself? For letting me punching you when I really want to punch myself? Liar. Duo, I want to say goodbye... why?

/*I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories*/

Heero watched the rain drench Duo. How small Duo looked suddenly. So different from the first time we meet when you pointed a gun in my face...   when I finished destroying Wing, I had half hoped you'd kill me... I half wished you take me out of my misery... but you didn't. Why do you call yourself Shinigami? You are so human when you are outside of the Gundam. You even had a light flash to shield Relena from seeing your Gundam so you wouldn't have to kill. Why do you call yourself death when you hate killing? You were so mad at me for damaging your Gundam, but still you did not kill me. Relena tried to save me, but you had a clear shot at me, but you did not to kill me. I would have killed you.

Do you have any idea how pathetic you looked when you tried to kill Relena?

You never thanked me for saving her. If I had known you then, perhaps I shouldn't have bothered. You care too much about her to kill her. You hate killing and you know it. I saw the pain in your eyes when you pointed the gun at her. I saw the same pain when you tried to kill me. Was there something else there? Was there something else in your eyes when you tried to kill me? Sometimes I wonder if I wanted you to kill me then... perhaps if you did it then, you wouldn't have to do it again right now. Solo said death didn't hurt. This hurts. Damn me. Duo, get yourself together! He's here to say goodbye, let him do it. Look tough... that's what you are good at...

When I went to kill you, you told me it was your destiny to be killed by me. Why? Is it really my destiny to kill you, Duo? You looked so defiant when I pointed the gun at you. So sick and fragile and yet so strong. Your will radiated behind the bruises. Perhaps that was the reason I couldn't kill you. Liar. I had always thought that I was tough, but looking at you that day I wondered who was stronger. You had the will to live and yet you did not fear death. I had the will to die, and yet I was afraid to live. To truly live... I never thought I would survive past the war, but I did. Relena made me promise her that I would not die. And I kept my promise. I wonder if she saved me or killed me. Before the peace, everything was crystal clear. Peace was my mission, peace was my goal, peace was everything, and now that it's here, I am empty.

/*Remember the good times that we had?
I let them slip away from us when things got bad.*/

I wonder what you are thinking this moment as you stare into the sea. Do you see yourself staring back? You always looked so thoughtful as if you had a million things to say, but you hardly ever say anything. I wish I could hear your voice more often. I couldn't believe you read to me so I would fall asleep while I was injured. You told me that it was for my background education on the history between the colonies and earth, but it was more than that. You read like Sister Helen read to me when the pain got too bad. Your voice was so soft and yet so determined. In your voice, your history paper on the colonies sounded like a fairy tale, a beautifully sad fairy tale. If anyone else read it to me it would have bored me to death, but you read it was a passion that I so rarely see in your eyes. The craving, the craving for peace. I see the same craving in your eyes now... what is it that you most value now Heero? Say something Heero, please! Where is my own voice? Why can't I tell him goodbye?

I wanted to say something. Anything... I want to reach out and touch Duo. I want to wipe away the rain collecting on his face... I want to say goodbye... Liar!

/*I'm so tired but I can't sleep
Standin' on the edge of something much too deep
It's funny how we feel so much but we cannot say a word
We are screaming inside, but we can't be heard*/

Why do you always let me hurt you, Duo? Why didn't you ever stop me?

I love you Heero.

Duo approached Heero. Just a little bit closer. Just a little more. I...

Heero felt his skin burning... "I don't care about you," Heero whispered, as he punched Duo in the stomach. Duo collapsed to the ground.

Well, that was unexpected. An appropriate goodbye from Heero. Yep, that was exactly what I expected. Why the hell does the rain suddenly feel warm against my cheeks.

Duo watched Heero walk away. "I will remember you. Will you remember me?"

/*Don't let your life pass you by, weep not for the memories ...*/

The war was over. Relena couldn't believe it. Peace. There was a soft knock at her door. She opened her door to find Heero standing there. He was half drenched. Was he caught in the rain last night? What was he doing out there? He must be freezing cold... Relena stopped herself...

Looking into his eyes she knew. Part of her was relieved, at least this time he came in person. She forced herself to smile... it would have been less painful if she stabbed herself to the heart... she turned on the music. It was a waltz, it was the same waltz from their first dance. She held his hand, and wrapped him around herself.

"I love you," she said. There, she said it. She told him. And yet it sounded empty. It sounded insignificant.

"I know," Heero held her. He just held her.

The silence was deafening. The war was over and there was peace and there was silence. She was peace to him.

This wasn't real. Relena suddenly realized. Heero didn't love her, she knew. He cared about her, perhaps he even pitied her, but he did not love her. Yet Relena refuse to let go. If I could hang on to this moment forever. Tears ran down Relena's cheeks. Heero gently brushed them away. It's been so long since their first dance. The first time he held her in his arms.

/*Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared
'neath the stars above
For a moment, all the world was right
How could I have known
That you'd ever say goodbye*/

"I'm glad you came in person to say goodbye," Relena smiled bravely, "Where will you go?"

"I don't know," Heero answered. Looking at her.

Relena held him. She felt as if she would never see him again. Perhaps she wouldn't...

/*Holding you, I held everything
For a moment, wasn't I a king?
But if I'd only known
How the king would fall
Hey, who's to say, you know
I might have chanced it all.*/

"Did you ever..." did you ever love me? Did you ever dream of me?

"You are the first person to care about me," Heero answered.

/*And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end
The way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance.*/

"But I couldn't keep away the pain could I? There are some things I can never understand. Memories of pain that I never had," Relena smiled a little, "But someone else can make it hurt less. Doesn't he?"

Heero's body stiffened. Relena forced herself to continue. Heero needed to hear this. Heero had saved her. In her moment of pain when father died and she was in the midst of depression, Heero had rescued her. He made her hope for something more, he made her realize father's dreams. But his heart was still under the curse. The prince still needed saving. Now it was her turn. No, she would not be the one to hold his heart, but at least she would try to save him.

"Follow your emotions," Relena buried her face in his clothes, "That's what you always say. You can lie to everybody else, but you can't always lie to yourself." Trust me, I know.

But for this moment there is no one in the world but this dance and the two of us...

Quatre watched Relena's speech on the monitor. For a moment, he thought he caught a glimpse of Heero standing behind the curtain. Well, he saw a bit of hair peaking out of the curtain, but it could be only one person. Why do you always do this to yourself? Why can't you admit when you care for someone? Why must the perfect soldier always walk the path alone? Heero...

Someone was knocking on his door.

"Come in." Quatre turned off the monitor and looked to the door.

Trowa walked in, "Ohayo, Koi." Koi... such a small insignificant word. Funny how when something is said it can hide so much emotion, so much pain. You say it so rarely, making it all the more precious to me. I wonder if you know how much I love it when you say that word to me. I wonder why you say it now? Is that a sparkle in your eye?

"Good morning, Trowa," Quatre smiled, "I didn't want to wake you up. It's such a beautiful day. A new day."

Trowa leaned over and kissed Quatre gently on the head, "Iie. It's a new world."

The words melted Quatre. I can't believe how he can do that.

"What's the first thing you are going to do, Quatre?" Trowa asked as he walked around Quatre's desk to get a better look at the computer that Quatre was busily typing in.

"Give someone a present," Quatre's face was mysterious. "Do you remember when Duo gave us Christmas presents, but we didn't get him anything?"

"The flea collar was unexpected," Trowa smiled slightly, "I don't think the lions liked them."

I wonder what the others would think if they knew Trowa has a sense of humor. Quatre almost started laughing at the imagined looks on their faces.

"He tried," Quatre thought back to their Christmas. Nevermind it conflicted with his own religion, Duo had made Christmas fun. Duo had a way of making them feel like a family. I might be able to get everyone to fight together, but Duo was able to get everyone to enjoy actually being near each other without any bloodshed.

"What are you giving him?" Trowa's curiosity was sparked.

"Children." Quatre laughed at the expression on Trowa's face.

He didn't mean to sulk, but he missed Deathscythe. Of course, a missing heart had a funny way of ruining one's mood too. Lying in a field of grass, Duo sighed. In a distance he saw Hilde walking towards him. Good ol' Hilde. Hilde's voice sounds so much like Sister Helen... sometimes Duo indulged himself a little and closed his eyes and imagined that he was with Sister Helen again. Hilde reminded Duo a little of Sister Helen, there was the same kind of quiet strength behind a brave smile. Hilde was certainly more active and alive. He smiled. Maybe today wasn't going to turn out to be so bad after all.

"Good afternoon, Duo!" Hilde waved.

Duo waved back.

"I just got a call from Quatre," Hilde was smiling mysteriously, "He couldn't find you, so he asked me to give you a present."

Duo blinked in surprise. Hilde handed Duo a folder, "Here. See for yourself."

Half suspicious, Duo opened the folder and looked inside. Duo couldn't believe it. For the first time in his entire life he cried out of pure joy.

"You are sooooooo strong, Niisan!" Nana told Duo as she watched him carry a huge plank of metal all by himself. Duo was actually regretting carrying it because it was a bit too heavy for him, but of course he was obligated to carry it now.

San, the little boy, nodded eagerly in agreement, "Niisan is the strongest man alive!"

For the first time in Duo's life, he couldn't think of a comeback to combat the compliments that had been given in such honesty.

Quatre's funds were more than enough to get some large machine to handle the construction, but Duo had been insistent. He wanted people to build the new Maxwell Orphanage. Duo could just hear Heero tell him how it was needlessly inefficient, but it didn't matter. Duo had just about enough of large machines. He much preferred to work with his hands. Quatre didn't argue with him, but instead of hiring outside workers, Quatre asked the Manganacs for help. They were due to arrive in a couple of weeks. Duo didn't mind starting on his own. Besides, the weather was lovely, Nana and San, the first of the children to arrive from the overcrowded orphanage near the L2 central were enjoying the temporary tents. It was a large camping trip. Duo even built a firepit for the two of them in the middle of their "camp".

Nana was terribly impressed with Duo's knowledge of numerous camp fire songs. In reality, they were church songs that Sister Helen and Father Maxwell had taught him... slightly modified of course to give them a more bouncy flavor. Occasionally, when Hilde had time off of her job, she dropped by and brought them chocolate, marshmallows, and crackers.

I wonder if Heero's ever had a s'more... someone is pulling my shirt. Duo looked down.

"Niisan,, will you stay after you build us our castle?" Nana asked quietly, almost fearfully. Duo had called the orphanage their castle, and the name stuck around.

"Of course," Duo put down the metal, and drew the small girl close, "I am gonna take care of you, Nana-chan. Although you know, some day maybe your prince will come and take you away from us." And your prince will love you back.

"Promise your prince won't take you away and you won't leave us alone" San pleaded.

Duo embraced the small boy as well, "I promise. You will never be alone..."

No children should be left alone.

And my prince will never come. Suddenly a wave of dizziness over took Duo. He wobbled slightly. He quickly regained his balance.

"Are you aright, Niisan?" Nana asked with concern.

"I meant to do that!" Duo gave them a reassuring smile.

Duo sat idly on the examination table trying to keep the back of his gown closed. He hated hospital gowns. He hated doctors, but he nearly collapsed yesterday, and he couldn't afford to do that in front of the children.

Today he had left Hilde in charge of the children and dragged himself to the doctor's. Duo had been feeling weird since... since that man...

"Mr. Maxwell?" the female doctor with the black rimed glasses finally returned.

Duo nodded as he straightened up. He held his gown together with his hand.

"We have the results of your blood tests," the doctor begin. Duo frowned. He could tell it wasn't good.

Duo sat in the Church of the hospital. His eyes focused on the face of Christ in the stained class window. The sun refracted the splendid color of the stain glass window over Duo's dark figure.

"He died for our sins," Father Maxwell explained as he cleaned the altar.

"Why? We don't know him," Duo blinked.

"But he knows us and he loves us," Father Maxwell was patient, "He loved enough us to be crucified for the crimes we have committed."

"Does it hurt to be crucified?" Duo stared at the poor man. It certainly seemed to hurt to be stapled to a wooden cross.

"Very much so, but because he loved us it was a sacrifice that he was willing to make. That is why we must love him back."

"Then he was an idiot," Duo turned away, "Because I don't love him. I never loved him. You can't just get yourself killed to get other people to love you."

"Nonetheless, he still loves you," Father Maxwell gently patted Duo's shoulders, "That's why his love is so great. He loved those who do not love him back. No matter what kind of sin we commit, he will forgive us. All we have to do is repent and confess."

Duo fingered his cross. It's ironic, isn't it Father. I find myself on the cross, dying for someone who does not love me. Who is the bigger idiot?

Do you forgive me Father for all those people I killed? Do you forgive me Father, for loving another man? Your God answered my love for Heero by taking away my body and the only innocence I had remaining. He rewarded me for that unpure love by letting my body rot slowly. Is that your God's justice? Will he forgive me for loving Heero? And yet as I sat here alone, loving a man who will never love me back, I regret nothing. I do not ask for forgiveness from your God because I do not repent. For good or ill, I love Heero and I will never stop. But now I must pray your God again. I do not pray for my life nor my redemption for I deserve neither. I pray to you God, please take care of my children. Take them to your keepings. And I pray to your God, for Heero...

Relena studied the information on her laptop and yawned slightly. Snuggled in her bed, she was re-reading the information one more time before she went to sleep. She looked abruptly when she heard knocking on her bedroom door.

"Come in," Relena called out.

Lady Une glided into the room, "Still working?"

Relena quickly closed the laptop and straightened herself in her bed, "I'm just going over some details."

Lady Une seated herself on Relena's bed, "You work too hard."

"Iie," Relena shook her head, "Not any harder than you." The work also kept her mind off of things.

Lady Une took out a electronic notebook and handed it to Relena, "I think you should look at this."

Relena stared at her in confusion as she took the notepad.

"Except for Heero, who disappeared completely, I have kept track of the Gundam pilots. They have done so much for us, I wanted to make sure they did not experience difficulties," Lady Une explained, "My orders were simply to locate them and monitor their progress in peace times... but somewhere along the lines, the order was misinterrupted... I just received this from a hospital from L2."

Relena stared at the small screen and reread the message over again.

Patient Duo Maxwell: initial blood tests points towards L1 virus. L1 virus is sexually transmitted disease that first appeared in AC 195. The virus attacks the T-cells of the immune system similar to twentieth century AIDS virus, but at a much faster speed. Primary research on the virus is limited. Although the virus is not one hundred percent lethal, we have thus far been unable to determine what enable some patients to survive.

"Is he going to live?" Relena's head was buzzing slightly. A strand of her blond hair fell over her face.

"They don't know," Lady Une answered, "The hospital reports that he refused stay for further tests." Lady Une gently brushed Relena's hair away from her face, "He hasn't told anyone. I know I don't have the right to know and it certainly shouldn't of my decision to let you know... but..."

Relena wasn't listening. Her mind was swimming. It's peace time now! The innocent aren't supposed to die anymore. Duo is supposed to rescue Heero. Now who will rescue Duo? Where is the happy ending?

Relena could not believe she was on L2. She had been to L2 with her father once, but she did not get to walk around. Now she found herself wandering in war-battered streets, and sighed. She easily located the new site for the Maxwell Orphanage. It was the only thing new and alive in the dreary neighborhood. She stared at the two bright colored tents set up in the middle of the construction. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to knock on the fabric or just yell for Duo.

"Are you Hilde-san's friend?" a small boy popped out of the tent.

Hilde, Duo's friend, Relena quickly placed the name.

"No, I'm here to see Duo Maxwell. My name is Relena. Do you know where I might find him?" Relena quickly explained herself.

"You are the princess!" the little boy exclaimed, "Nana! Look, it's the princess! Niisan wasn't lying!"

A small girl came out the other tent and looked at Relena curiously.

Behind some medal frames of the building, Duo emerged. As his eyes fell on Relena, he looked surprised. Leisurely, Duo strode over to Relena.

"I see you have introduced yourself," Duo flashed a bright smile at Relena, "Relena-san, this is Nana and San." Duo pointed at the children proudly,

"Nana-chan, San-kun, I present to you Princess Relena. Didn't I tell you I knew royalty!"

Relena blushed slightly.

"What brings you here?" Duo asked curiously.

"Hn..." Relena stared at her feet, unsure of how to proceed. Why had she come here? She wasn't even sure herself. Would Duo be mad if he knew that she learned his secret?

"Hilde is coming to take the kids to go grocery shopping soon," Duo said after a moment, "You can stay here and help me around here."

Relena nodded.

Relena watched Duo slowly hammer down a nail. Finally Duo broke the awkward silence, "Why are you here?"

"Duo... I"

"You know that I'm sick," Duo spoke for her. His back was towards her so she could not see his face.

Relena's eyes widened in alarm, "How did you..."

"Unlike Heero, you wear your emotions on your face," Duo's voice was calm, "I can't see any other reason why you would look at me with so much pity in your eyes."

"Duo I'm so sorry..." Relena didn't know what else to say.

"Don't be, I'm not," Duo turned towards her. His face tranquil, "We all got to die sometime. I'm just sorry I won't be able to see Nana and San grow up. Or see you marrying Heero."

"He does not love me," Relena's voice cracked a little. It still hurts, but the truth will set you free... "It's you..."

"It doesn't matter... it will be over soon..."

"But Duo..." Relena wanted to shake him. How could he give up on his life so easily?

"Promise me you won't tell anyone?" Duo pleaded, "I want live as normally as I possibly can for as long as I can." Duo's face lost its calm, his eyes begging Relena to abide by his wishes.

You don't want anyone to see you die, Relena suddenly realized. She stared at Duo's heart-shaped face. You don't want Heero to watch you die... How could you bear to die without him knowing you love him?

"Because I love him," Duo answered the unasked question, "Because if I tell him I love him... if I tell him I love him... it might hurt him more in the end... If he doesn't love me he will pity me... and if he... if he does care about me, it will make him more sad..."

God, Duo, how could you love like that?

"He doesn't need to go through his life like that," Duo smiled weakly, "I have always dealt with my emotions in the past, I don't see why I should stop now just because I'm sick."

I won't let you die alone Duo, Relena decided.

"Can I stay here for a while?" Relena said after a moment, "I won't tell anyone for now. Just let me stay a while..." To do what? So I can convince him to tell Heero?

Duo nodded.

Relena had never sat around a camp fire. She found that she loved it. It was just like a fire place except it was out in the open. The soft breezes made the fire dance in the darkness.

"Do you have a camp fire every night?" Relena asked dreamily.

"Yep!" Nana answered happily, "And Niisan tells us stories."

Duo laughed slightly. Although he sat across the fire from Relena, he looked as if he was blushing slightly.

"Last night he told us about how Prince Heero saved him," San explained.

"Prince Heero?" Relena looked at Duo. She was sure he was blushing now.

"Will you tell us a story?" San pulled on Relena's shirt.

Like Father used to tell me stories in front of the fireplace...

"Please?" Nana seconded the notion, "One about Prince Heero! Niisan said you know him too. We like him."

Relena smiled and nodded. How did father do it? Oh yes. "Once upon a time... there was beautiful prince named Heero. Heero's parents died when he was very, very young and he was raised by a cruel wizard. The cruel wizard wanted Heero to do his evil bidding, but he knew Heero had a kind heart."

Nana moved a bit closer to Relena.

"So he put a curse on Prince Heero..."

"What did the curse do?" San asked eagerly.

"Shhh!" Nana chided.

"Did it turn him into a horrible beast?" Duo asked, just as eager as San.

"Niisan!" Nana complained.

Relena tried her best not to laugh, "Yes, it did. Worse yet, it froze his heart. So he couldn't love anyone. The wizard thought that now surely the prince would have to obey him... "

"But Prince Heero didn't, did he?" San's voice was urgent.

"SHHHHHH!!!" Nana's breath was so full of fury that the campfire leaped away a little to escape her wrath.

"For a while Prince Heero wandered the earth doing whatever the wizard told him to do," Relena continued, "But then it all changed when he met someone who saw past his exterior, and melted his frozen heart... "

"A beautiful princess?" Nana's curiosity finally got the best of her.

Relena stared across the fire. Duo's face was radiant by the flashing flames.

"No, it was beautiful shepherd," Relena said softly. Duo looked up at her in surprise. Their eyes meet across the fire. Duo's eyes sparkled with the flares of the fire. Relena smiled.

"A shepherd?" Nana repeated, clearly disappointed.

"Heero met a princess too," Relena remedied, "But she was young and naïve. She couldn't understand the prince like the shepherd could. She couldn't love the way the young shepherd did."

"But aren't princess and prince supposed to go together?" San demanded.

"Iie. Love is blind," Relena said firmly.

"So was it love at first sight?" Nana's attention was turned elsewhere.

"Actually, the shepherd tried to kill Prince Heero the first time they met," Relena recalled their first meeting.

"Why?" San was getting confused.

"Because the prince was doing the wizard's bidding at the time. He was a horrible beast that was trying to kill the princess," Duo explained, "And the shepherd thought he was doing the princess a favor."

"But the princess was already convinced that the beast was really a human," Relena countered.

"Even though the beast prince keep telling the princess 'Omae o korosu'," Duo defended himself.

Nana snuggled herself into Relena's lap. Relena-san and Niisan were telling the story together now. She didn't mean to, but she was falling asleep. Relena-san lap was getting so comfortable. Nana tried to keep her ear open but succeeded in only capturing parts of the story.

" ...and it was then the princess realized that the prince's true love was the shepherd," Relena-san's voice was a bit sad.

" ...and the prince realized how much he is loved..." Niisan sounded a bit sad too.

" ...and they lived happily ever after," Relena-san finished. Her voice was awfully soft when she said that.

"What did the shepherd say when the prince asked him to marry him?" San asked. Nana was slightly annoyed that San was more awake then she was.

"He said, 'I do. But you have to stop wearing those spandex!'" Niisan answered. And suddenly Relena-san started to laugh.

"And those green tank tops!" Relena-san added.

Nana was really confused now. Oh well. She fell back asleep to the sound of their laughter as it echoed into the night sky.

Heero stared at his monitor in the car. It had only been a month. A month since he walked away... Heero pushed back the thought and focused on his present mission. The life of a bounty hunter suited him, it was the only thing that he did well. His latest target was a murderer. Heero traced him here to this small church. Heero closed his laptop and got out of the car.

"It's a church, Heero, I am *not* going to blow it up!" Duo insisted.
"OZ is keeping its weapon storage there," Heero was unimpressed.
"I am *NOT* going to do it!" Duo sat down in front of the church daring Heero to blow him up with it.
"Hn..." Heero knocked Duo out with a single punch. Removed him from the steps, and proceeded to set up his explosives.

Heero forced the memory away as he loaded his gun and walked inside. The light inside was dim. Only few candles illuminated a middle age man kneeling next to a coffin.

"I have come to arrest you," Heero said as he aimed the gun at the man.

The man did not turn around, his eyes continued to stay on the altar, "Put your gun away. Show some respect in the presence of the dead."

Heero did not move.

"I said, put your weapon away. This is a holy place and I am a broken man. You don't need your gun to catch me," the man continue to face the coffin, "I'm just here to make a confession."

Heero lowered his weapon.

"Heero, why the hel... heck are you holding a priest hostage?" Duo demanded as he watched Heero point his gun at a elderly priest. It took Duo several hours to locate Heero after their mission, and when he finally found the Japanese pilot, Duo was more than a little surprised that Heero was in a Catholic church.

"He is a spy," Heero replied.

"Why do you say that?" Duo asked as he carefully studied the priest. The elderly priest did not seem frightened in the presence of a gun. It looked as if he had been expecting this for a long time. Perhaps he was a spy...

"Because OZ officers go in there and give him information," Heero pointed to a confession box.

"That's a pretty clever cover," Duo admitted as he looked evenly at the priest, "Pretty sick too, if you are a real priest."

"I am a real priest," the elderly man answered calmly, "Even soldiers want to unburden their souls sometime. They want to hear that they are forgiven. They want wipe clean their slate. If nothing else, they want someone to listen. Don't you ever want to confess?"

Duo looked taken aback by the comment. Slowly he turned to Heero, "Heero, did you actually hear what the OZ officers were saying to him?"

"They were reporting who and how they killed people and asking to be forgiven. Apparently all of them did not accomplish their missions," Heero answered.

"How do you know they weren't confessions?" Duo was beginning to understand.

"What confessions?"

Duo felt the urge to smack his forehead, "Heero, this is a church. In a church, people make confessions to a priest. They tell the priest all the bad things they did to be forgiven."

Heero stared at Duo as if he grown a second head.

"Look, Heero, I will explain later, okay?" Duo was exasperated, "Just please release the priest. Just trust me, okay? Just this once, just trust me."

Heero considered it for a moment and finally put away his gun. Together, the two Gundam pilots started to walk out of the church.

"Don't you want to confess?" the priest yelled after them, "If nothing else, I will listen."

"This is my wife," the man's voice was unusually calm as he began to speak, "We have been married for ten years, but I always resented it because it was an arranged marriage."

Heero listened quietly. He wasn't sure why he was wasting his time in such a manner, but he listened.

"We always fought, but when I woke up in the middle of the night, it always comforted me to know that she was there. Even though she was never compliant or soft, she nursed me when I was sick. Took care of me when I did something stupid to hurt myself. And when I joined OZ, even though she was completely against it, she always sent me care packages when she could hardly scrap by herself.

While I sat there with my care packages of meat and juices and the rest of my team ate cold sandwiches, I suddenly realized that I loved her. After the war, I came back here to tell her I loved her. To finally say the words.

Then someone's brother that I had killed during the war came to even the score. She pushed me out of the way and died instantly. I never got to tell her. I shot that bastard dead but not because it was really his fault, it was mine."

The man turned to stare at Heero, his face covered with silent tears. "In this church, I made my last confession," the man smiled a little, "Thank you for listening." He slowly pulled a gun out of his jacket. Without word, Heero turned and walked away.

*BANG*

Heero heard the man collapse behind him but he never turned.

Relena held Duo's hand. Her mind kept on replaying the moment when Duo collapsed. They were joking about Zechs' mask when suddenly Duo fainted. Relena was sure Duo had been in some pain for a while, but he hid it so well. Until today... until today...

"Heero..." Duo whispered softly. His pale eyelids tightly closed. Since she arrived in the colony she had been actively searching for Heero.

After two weeks of frustration she finally located a bounty hunter who called himself Duo Maxwell. It has to be Heero, Relena was sure of it. Relena hadn't contact Heero yet because she was sure Duo would object, but now... Relena bit her lips...

I refuse for it to end this way, Relena told herself. I refuse to let Duo die without Heero ever coming to say goodbye.

Heero watched his monitor beep into life. It was a recorded message. Relena?

"I know it's you Heero," her voice was harsher to him then he'd ever remembered, "Come to L2 immediately. Duo is sick. Please Heero. You might not get another chance."

Duo is sick? How can he be sick? Heero turned off the computer.

Heero tried to bully, harass, threaten the young nurse, but she wouldn't budge. She forcefully told him to sit in the waiting room. She had to go get clearance from Duo's sister first for Heero to see Duo. Who the hell was Duo's sister? Hilde?

Heero hated waiting. To make matters worse, there were two small children sitting in the waiting room as well. And the little boy was crying.

"Don't cry San-kun," the little girl told the little boy, "I'm sure Nii-san will be aright." The little girl stare directly at Heero and asked, "Are you here for Nii-san... I mean Duo Maxwell?"

"Hn," Heero nodded. He didn't know what the heck he was supposed to say to these two miniature humans. Damn. What am I supposed to do? Duo would know what to do.

"He fainted yesterday," the little girl explained.

"Duo is going to be okay," Heero suddenly said. That was irrational. You don't know that! Why are you telling those children that?! You shouldn't lie to them!

The two children looked at him in surprise. Then Heero did something that surprised himself, he collected the two small children on to his lap and hugged them. He had seen Duo it with children before. These small humans seem to derive comfort from mere human contact. Of course they do. They are children. Something you never experienced. Heero pushed back the thought.

He reached in his pocket and retrieved part of Duo's sleeve. With a gentleness he would not have expected of himself, he wiped away the tears on the boy's face.

"My name is Heero Yuy," he said, "What is yours?"

Nana was an entire year and a quarter older than San, so of course she wasn't supposed to cry. She was all of six, and that meant she was supposed to be in charge now that Niisan was sick. Niisan had told her she wasn't supposed to talk to strangers, but she was sure this strange boy was not a bad person.

"My name is Heero Yuy," he said...

Prince Heero?!

"My name is Nana, this is San," Nana told Heero, "Are you Prince Heero?"

"Hn?" Heero looked up in shock.

"You say that a lot don't you," Nana was convinced.

"I..."

"Are you really Prince Heero?" San asked him in wonder. "You don't look like a beast."

If only you could look inside... I wonder if I'm still human...

"Are you cursed?" Nana asked, very seriously. She was too old to believe in beasts. But she knew people were cursed. Father Collins had told her so.

I am cursed. Aren't I?

Nana watch the prince's face carefully. He must be the prince. Nana was sure of it. Brown hair and cobalt blue eyes. Nana wasn't sure exactly what cobalt was, but whatever it was, it sounded right. Besides, he was wearing a green tank top and spandex. This is the prince. Poor prince. So it wasn't a story after all. The prince certainly looks lonely. He looked the way Nana's mother looked when father died. And then mother died soon after.

Perhaps the prince will die too. No, Niisan said there will be no more dying and people going away now that the war was gone...

"Niisan can save you," Nana suddenly realize how perfect everything could be. The prince could come live with them in their castle, "Niisan said that if the prince knew how much he is loved, his curse would be lifted. I'm sure Niisan will love you. And we will love you too. Then you won't alone any more and you won't be cursed any more."

If the prince knew how much he is loved...

"Heero!" Quatre, Trowa and Wufei appeared with Hilde, interrupting Heero's conversation with the children.

"Hilde-san!" The children cried in unison.

"Nana-chan, San-kun," Hilde hugged the children and lifted them from Heero's lap.

"Heero, I'm glad you are here," Quatre said tactfully, "We came as soon as we heard from Relena-san."

"How did Relena know?" Heero demanded.

"I'm not sure," Hilde looked troubled, "I didn't even know he was sick... Relena came about two weeks ago..."

"She's living with us..." San added helpfully.

Relena emerged from Duo's intensive care unit silencing the conversation in the room.

Relena and Hilde exchanged looks quickly. Hilde shifted the weight of the children in her arms, "You must be starving. Let's go get you something to eat."

"We wanna see Niisan first," Nana demanded.

"He's sleeping right now," Hilde looked uncomfortable, "Perhaps later. For now, we better go eat so we won't get sick too. Okay?"

Nana and San agreed reluctantly and followed Hilde out of the waiting room. Quatre studied Heero carefully as the Japanese pilot stared at Relena.

Wisely, Quatre placed himself physically between Relena and Heero.

"What's wrong with him?" Heero finally asked.

"He has L1 virus. A sexually transmitted disease that attacks the immune system," Relena replied.

Sexually transmitted? That BASTARD! So that's why he was so sure of himself that he was unafraid of death. He was already dying... and he was killing Duo! Heero's face flushed with anger.

No... it was my fault. Duo got raped because of me...

Heero suddenly felt dizzy. Sharp pains shot through his head.

"Is it fatal?" Wufei finally asked the dreaded question.

"It is highly lethal and kills about ninety percent of its carriers," Relena's voice was calm. She knew. She had known for a long time.

Heero tried very hard to breathe, but he couldn't. Quatre firmly placed his hand on Heero, supporting him, literally holding him up and preventing him from collapsing.

Trowa watched Quatre hold Heero up with one hand. Sometimes I forget how strong Quatre is... more fool I.

"How does the other ten percent survive?" Wufei frowned.

"The doctors don't know," Relena's voice was weary, "They say that if Duo's immune system can battle off the virus..."

"How long until we know if he is going to make it?" Quatre asked the Relena, his eyes carefully avoiding Heero.

"He is now at the height of his fever," Relena lowered his head, "If he can survive the next forty-eight hours..."

Forty-eight hours, Trowa inhaled sharply. In forty-eight hours, Duo might never wake up again. Trowa suddenly wished that Quatre was holding him up as well.

Heero sat in the hospital's church. The small institution attached to the hospital was small and stuffy.

What am I doing here? To pray? For his life? Or for my own? Duo, what is it about churches that moves you so? You told me once you didn't believe in God only the Shinigami. If you are death, why are you going to die?

"Heero?" Duo approached the Wing pilot tentatively.

Heero ignored him.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Duo cried out.

"Hn?" Heero's mind raced. How could Duo possibly find out?

"You are not the only one who can use a computer you know!" Duo complained as he stuffed a large, very badly wrapped package in front of Heero.

"Sorry about the wrapping," Duo apologized when he saw Heero staring at it as if it was an alien.

"Well, open it!" Duo insisted.

Heero obeyed as he gently pulled apart the wrapping paper and extracted a paper box. He stared at Duo.

"Open the box, Heero!" Duo smiled.

The first thing that caught Heero's eyes was a first aid kit placed in a metal box. He pulled it out and examined it.

"I put a metal grip on it," Duo's smile widened, "For Wing. I made it out of gundamium. It should stay together even if you self-destruct. It also have a beacon in it, so if you go unconscious I would still be able to locate you."

Practical...

Underneath the first aid kit was book. The History of Earth and the Colonies.

"I was going to wait until Christmas to give it to you, but I figured we might not live that long and I didn't want it to go to waste. Anyhow, you seem to be really interested in the subject, so I thought..." Duo studied Heero's face.

Heero kept his face neutral. A birthday present. I have never gotten a birthday present before.

I never got a chance to give you a birthday present, Duo.

Heero looked up at the large cross was placed on the altar. Something compelled him to kneel before it as he studied the man nailed into the cross.

What is this? A sacrifice? Is this what your religion is about, Duo? Sacrifice? Is that you hanging up there Duo? Did you sacrifice yourself for me? Why? Am I worth such a price?

The dead man's words came back and haunted Heero like a curse. Every word cutting into Heero's heart.

Heero was barely conscious, but he knew that someone was carrying him... and cursing... Shampoo. . . musk... large braid...

"Put me down, Duo..."

"No way, man," Duo was walking towards their safe house. Heero felt himself bounce a little on Duo's shoulders, "You broke one of your legs, and you have a high fever."

"Hn..." Heero wasn't in a position to struggle. He allowed himself to be carried in to their shared room, and placed on the bed.

"This is not good," Duo said as he put his hand over Heero's head. Duo's hand felt cool against Heero's brow, "Heero, I need you to pull your invincible soldier stunt. Quatre and the others won't be back from their mission for at least three days."

Heero felt the need to throw up... so he did. All over Duo.

Duo didn't seem mad. Duo was frowning a lot. And the room was beginning to spin.

Warm water. I'm in warm water. I'm naked. Mist...

"Duo, wat er yu daing?" Heero's tongue was not functioning properly.

"You were filthy." Duo is standing behind him, but Heero could see him because there was a mirror in front of them. Duo was only wearing his pants. His fine muscles were slightly damp with the mist in the room. Tiny water droplet collected in his hair and shone like little crystals.

"Whare es yu shrrit?" Heero managed.

"It's got Heero germs on it," in the mirror, Duo was smirking, "You were beginning to smell bad."

In the mirror, Duo looked like a water sprite as he gently washed Heero with a soft sponge. The water felt so nice against his skin.

Heero threw up in to the tub.

Duo sighed, "I guess I will have to start over again. Ewww. . ." Heero passed out once more.

Someone is trying to feed me. Heero forced his eyes to open. Duo was holding him with one hand, and beef stew on the other. The beef stew poured back out of Heero's mouth.

Duo stared at Heero for a long time. Finally, Duo put the beef stew into his own mouth and then pressed his mouth on to Heero's. Slowly Duo forced the food down Heero's throat.

"Doo... Oomaa o karazuu," Heero warned.

"Good. You better finish this soup then, because if you die, you can't kill me," Duo told him sternly then proceed to force more food into Heero's mouth.

Heero felt a trail of wetness slowly sliding down his face. Throughout the war Duo had always been there. Through his chatter and through his smiles, he took care of me. I had once told Quatre that there was no room for kindness and love in the war. Duo proved me wrong. Duo loves to prove me wrong...

Nana knew something was very wrong. Hilde-san's eyes were red and swollen, and she wouldn't say why. Relena-san stared at the wall a lot. And whenever the pretty blond man came into the room all three would just look at each other. Nana hated when adults talked to each other by looking. Nana was beginning to get good at understanding that adult "language" but not good enough to figure out what was wrong. Hilde-san just kept on hugging her and crying. Worst of all, they all refused to let her see Nii-san. Nana was sure that if Nii-san saw her, Nii-san would get better. San had cried himself to sleep. Relena-san left with the blond man and Hilde-san had dozed off as well... it would have been the perfect opportunity to find Nii-san... except she was lost.

Suddenly she spotted prince-sama. The Prince was sleeping in the hospital's chapel. He looked so peaceful, except he was crying. Nana walked over to the prince and wiped away his tears.

The Prince woke up and looked at her.

"Nana?" his voice seemed confused.

"Are you lost too?" Nana asked sympathetically.

The prince stared at her funny.

"Want to help me find Nii-san?" Nana offered, "When we find Nii-san, we won't be lost any more."

The prince led Nana to the room where they were keeping Nii-san. Relena-san was sitting by Nii-san's bedside. She was crying too. Why was everyone crying?

"Nii-san?"

Relena looked up at the little girl in surprise. She stared at Heero. Wondering if it was a good idea to let Nana see Duo with so many tubes attached to him. To her surprise, Nana didn't seem very disturbed. She climbed on Duo's bed and sat beside him, holding one of his hands.

"Nii-san?" She waited.

"I guess he's sleeping," She turned around and told Heero and Relena. Relena tried to bite back the tears, but they poured out despite her efforts.

"Don't cry," the little girl comforted him, "Nii-san is going to be all right... He promised. He said that the war was over and people won't die or go away now. He promised." Nana nodded with determination. She leaned over and kissed Duo on the forehead, "Wake up soon, Nii-san. Your friends are worried about you. You even made the prince cry."

Heero watched Nana fall asleep snuggled next to Duo. Her face completely content. Comforted to be simply near Duo. Heero sat besides the bed and looked at Duo's face. So peaceful. He gently stroked Duo's face dampened with sweat.

"How is he?" Heero asked Relena.

"His heart is broken," Relena said quietly, "I once thought that I understood love. I thought once that I loved you with all my heart. Then I met Duo, truly met Duo and I learned that I knew nothing about love. He loves you so deeply and so unselfishly, never asking for anything in return."

"And I love him," Heero whispered. That is my confession. I love him.

Finally he said it. The shepherd did free the prince's heart after all, but at what price?

Duo was falling towards a light. Am I dead? Do I get to see everyone again? Sister Helen? Is that you? Please don't leave me again? Please. I will wash my hair. Hell, I will cut it, just please don't leave me again. Suddenly a hand caught Duo as he was falling and began to pull him up.

Duo opened his eyes. He was staring at the ceiling. Where is Sister Helen? Duo felt like crying. He really *really* wanted to see them again.

"Duo?" A voice came from somewhere nearby.

"Heero?" Duo forced his head to tilt a bit and found himself staring into cobalt blue eyes. Heero was holding his hand. Heero was squeezing his hand. Heero's face was full of concern.

"Duo," Heero looked like he'd been crying.

"Hmm?" Duo tried to focus on Heero, but his head was spinning.

"Duo, I lied," Heero said, "That night... I said I didn't care about you... I lied..."

Lied? That's ridiculous. The perfect soldier didn't lie.

"I must be dead," Duo murmured to himself.

"Duo," Heero forced Duo to face him once more, "You are not dead."

"Hmm?" Duo looked confused, "I'm not?"

"No," Heero's face was incredibly close to Duo's, "Duo, ai shiteru."

Duo stared at Heero. Unwilling to trust his ears.

Heero reached over and very very softly kissed Duo on the lips, "I love you. Always."

Nana watched the prince kiss Nii-san from the door with Relena-san. Yay, happy ending.

"Does this mean they will live happily ever after?" Nana asked as she looked from one man to the other.

Relena smiled, "I hope so."

~owari

Draco: *peeks out from his hiding place* well, what do you think? *goes back to hiding*

C&C would be greatly appreciated.

On to 'Happy Birthday', a standalone sequel

(:./draco/faire2)