Archive: Kyoki, Kendra, and if anyone else wants... just ask. ^^'
Pairings: Now *that* would be telling. ^.~
Warnings: Angst, shounen-ai, bit of language, romance, drama, sap...Wufei and Heero might be a bit OOC...

Notes: Finally! I thought this fic would haunt me forever! Now I just have the other three stories I'm writing staring at me from the floor of my room saying "Write me... write me... write me already, dammit!!!" ^^' Yeeeeeeeah... anyways, here's the fic, hope you enjoy. Comments are begged for and adored!
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. I don't even own the computer I'm typing this fic on!

' ' - Thoughts
~*~ - Change of scene

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Part 3/3

"Wufei..." Heero's voice caught for a moment, then continued on. "Ai shiteru, Wufei."

Before Wufei could answer, Heero caught his lips in a gentle, but passionate kiss.

For a moment, Wufei froze beneath the kiss, then pulled away, backing up until he ran into a tree. "What the hell are you doing, Yuy?!"

A flash of pain appeared in Heero's eyes for a moment before his impassive mask fell over his face again. "...Following my emotions. I know... I know you'll never return my feelings. I just... I had to tell you."

Wufei stared at Heero, stupefied. "...Why?"

"...I was driving myself insane by keeping it inside," Heero replied reluctantly.

"Oh..."

"You would know what that's like, wouldn't you, Wufei." Cobalt eyes stared into onyx, making Wufei flinch. Heero closed his eyes. "...Follow your emotions. That's the only advice I can give you." He turned and started to walk away.

"...What if my emotions conflict?" Wufei called to Heero, causing him to stop. He turned his head slightly to look over his shoulder.

"Which is the strongest? Fear or love?"

"I..." Wufei looked down at the ground, kicking at a pebble. "I don't know..." he admitted, his voice very quiet.

Heero turned around to face Wufei, walking back towards him. "You love him... don't you?"

"I... yes... b-but..."

"...But?"

Wufei shook his head, suddenly angry with himself. "Its stupid. Weak... doesn't matter."

Heero didn't look the least bit convinced. "Baka. If its keeping you from Duo, then it does matter."

Wufei blinked at Heero for a moment, then looked away. Heero's mask cracked once more as he gently lifted Wufei's head by the chin, forcing him to look into Heero's eyes. Wufei gasped at the deep compassion he saw there. "You're afraid to lose him, aren't you. Afraid that if you admit that you love him, he'll die. You're afraid of the pain."

Wufei winced as Heero's words hit the mark, and flushed in shame. "Like I said... weak. I'm such a coward..."

Heero glared at him. "Baka. You can't let your fears control you." His expression softened. "You're not weak, Wufei... don't ever think that. He loves you, Wufei... go to him... tell him the truth... he's waiting for you. Besides... which do you think will hurt more, losing him, or losing him without him ever knowing how much you care for him?" He let go of Wufei, gently, pushing him back to the house. "Tell him. You'll regret it if you don't."

"But—" Wufei turned back around, still in doubt, but he found that Heero was gone, making all argument moot. He sighed silently, turning back to look at the safehouse. 'Will I regret it if I say nothing? ...Yes, I suppose I will. I have too many regrets as it is... let's not add this to the list.' With that thought, Wufei squared his shoulders, his expression one of stubborn determination, and he walked back to the house.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Duo gathered another handful of clothes, stuffing them into his duffel bag. He didn't have much in the way of belongings, so packing wasn't taking him very long. He paused to wipes tears out of his eyes, they were making it hard for him to see. 'Why, Wufei?! Why did you have to choose Heero?!' Duo stifled a sob, shaking his head violently, grabbing another handful of clothes and jamming them into his bag.

Duo stopped for a moment when someone knocked as his door. "What?!" he snapped.

Wufei opened the door with trepidation, feeling his resolve wavering at the angry tone in Duo's voice. 'Should I just leave him alone?' But it was too late to back out now as his hand opened the door while his mind babbled a list of things that could go wrong...

Duo was shocked to see Wufei at his door. His heart fluttered slightly, and he tried to kill that vain hope that he was there to tell Duo his true feelings... 'He's with Heero now!' His heart refused to listen, though, despite what he had seen.

The two boys stared at each other, unable to find the words needed to start the conversation. Wufei noted that something was wrong, noticing that most of Duo's belongings were packed, and his eyes were red, as if he had been crying for a prolonged amount of time...

"You're leaving?" Wufei asked softly.

Duo tried to pulled himself together. "Yeah... yeah, I am. Don't have any reasons to stick around any longer."

"Oh..." Wufei said, trying not to look crestfallen. "I... wanted to tell you something..."

Duo felt the tears building up again, so he started packing again so Wufei wouldn't see them. "That you and Heero are a couple now? I already know."

Wufei found himself flatfooted for a moment, staring at Duo in confusion. "What?"

Duo laughed, though his laughter sounded strained and forced. "You two weren't exactly in a very private place. I saw you two kissing."

Wufei winced. 'He *would* have walked in right when Yuy kissed me! That's going to make this even harder... dammit, Yuy, nice work!' "We're not together, Duo."

Duo made a rude noise of disbelief. "Yeah, sure, Wu-man. Whatever you say. I'm happy for ya... really."

"Duo, I'm serious!" Wufei cried desperately. "Whatever feelings of... of love Yuy may have for me, I don't return them! Please... Duo... don't go."

Duo stopped, looking back at Wufei, two tears still making their way down his cheeks, his expression almost angry. "Why? Give me one good reason not to leave."

Wufei took a deep breath, bracing himself for the worst, yet still hoping... "Because I... I love you."

Duo stared at Wufei, astounded, unable to believe he had just heard what he had thought he heard. "What?" 'My mind is playing tricks on me... he can't have said that, he can't have—'

"I love you," Wufei repeated, blowing all of Duo's doubts away. Duo just stood frozen for a moment, then he flung himself at the other boy.

Wufei was surprised to suddenly find himself with Duo in his arms, then warm lips pressed against his own. His ebony eyes fluttered closed as the kiss continued, going deeper. Finally they parted when the need for air could no longer be denied.

"Its about damn time!" Duo murmured, panting slightly, wearing a broad grin on his sweet face.

"I take it you'll be staying," Wufei sounded rather amused.

Duo laughed, a true, joyful laugh. "No way I'm leaving now!"

"Good," Wufei smiled softly. " Wo ai ni."

Duo rested his head against Wufei's shoulder, sighing contentedly. "I love you too."

Heero watched the pair through the open doorway for a moment longer, his mask gone and his expression a mixture of satisfaction and agony, then turned away, walking back down the hallway away from the happy couple. "Mission accomplished."


Owari