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Part 14

02 moved swiftly and stealthily through the hallways, dispatching enemies with the silence of Death. He could still sense Trowa behind him. The slender boy had kept up with him even at his quickest. 02 was impressed, but confused as to why the boy insisted on accompanying him.

//Does he not trust me?// 02 projected.

//Of course he trusts you!// Duo replied. //He is worried about me-I mean, us!//

//I am capable of handling myself.//

//I want my body back!// Duo shouted.

"I don't know how to do that without killing both of us." Trowa looked at him curiously.

"Pardon?"

"Nothing."

They entered the hanger cautiously. Only one small jet sat inside, the others seemed to already be taken. 02 concentrated.

A mental graph appeared of the hanger. 02 zoomed in with his mind's eye, focusing one the jet. Only one figure stood near. Professor G... The braided pilot moved in for the kill.

"Ah, 02 fancy meeting you here." G peered beadily at the boy, fisting the gun in his pocket. "J was supposed to meet me here, but somehow I don't think he'll make it."

The American smiled humorlessly. "He won't." He raised his pistol to point at G. "But I'd be worried more about you."

"I'm old, my boy. My greatest accomplishment has been achieved. Death holds no fear for me."

02 cocked his head. He knew the Professor had a gun. The boy nodded.

"Then it is only fitting that the Creator and the Created go down together." //I am dangerous. I must be eliminated.// Professor G laughed harshly.

"Very well, my boy! We will rot in the pits of hell together." He pulled his gun swiftly.

"DUO! NO!" Two shots fired as a body flew into the braided boy. They collapse into a heap.

02 rose gingerly and looked over at his enemy. G was dead. A short mental survey surmised that he was uninjured. He smiled slightly.

"Torowa?" No answer. "Torowa?"

He suddenly became aware of the blood coating his hands. He could feel the stickiness of it in the floor. Not his blood... 02's throat tightened.

"Torowa, answer me." Silence filled the hanger.

A salty substance filled his eyes, threatening to overflow. Through the haze he though he could make out a figure, crumpled at his feet. Duo fell to his knees.

"Trowa! Oh, God! Answer me!" Duo held the bloody figure. Trowa turned his head.

"I'm glad your back...Duo."

"No, no, no! You can't die on me Trowa! You can't!" Trowa's green eyes glittered with joy.

"I got the answer I wanted, Duo. Now I know for sure that you love me."

Duo buried his head in the Latin boy's neck. "I do love you, Trowa. I'm sorry. Don't leave me."

A slender hand brushed the tears from the violet eyes. "Don't cry, Koi. Aishiteru." The hand dropped limply to the floor.

Heero and Quatre rushed into the Hanger, guns pulled. They rushed over to Duo.

"Du-02! Omygod, Trowa!" The blond boy knelt beside the fallen boy, searching for a life beat. Heero could only stare at those eyes, like violet wounds. He watched as those eyes slowly turned blank.

02 stood up.

"Pray for him, Angel."

Chapter 15

Shin Kidousenki Gundam Wing © Sunrise, Bandai, and Sotsu Agency.