He hunched over the stainless steel table and looked intently at the tiny kitten that laid there. He monitored it’s breathing and checked to see if its pupils were dilated.
“Hey, the new doc is here.” A woman said then left as abruptly as she showed up.
The other one, Doctor Kadawoski, had quit just two days ago. They had just gotten the Siberian tiger kitten yesterday after the party had found it’s mother’s skinned and mutilated carcass.
A man stepped in the room and stepped around the table. He dropped his bag and bent down and took out a stethoscope. The man never bothered to look up to see who was standing across the table from him, but, kept staring; vainly hoping that the kitten would spring to life.
“Hello.” The man said cheerfully as he put the stethoscope to his ear and then put the flat part between the kitten’s front legs.
The steely eyes slowly followed up the tanned muscled arm and then across his broad shoulders to his tanned unbuttoned shirt then to the Violet eyes that met his cobalt blue ones. Immediately, the violet eyes started to tear up.
“H-Heero…?” He said with some amazement.
“What’s wrong with him?” Heero said in a low voice.
“M-M-Malnutrition. He’s still just a small babe, he needs his mother’s milk.” Duo stumbled over the words.
“Thank you doctor.” He said, then he turned and left the man and the kitten.
He crossed the courtyard. “WAIT! HEERO!” The doctor yelled. Heero never stopped, but sped up. He felt a hand on his shoulder and then he stopped and whirled around on him. “You talk to me like we’ve never met before.” He said it like it was a joke.
“I wish we hadn’t met.” He said quickly.
Duo cringed at the words. “Please Heero…after eight years of searching for you, can you at least hear me out?” He said as Heero turned to leave.
Heero looked over his shoulder and smiled maliciously “After eight years do you want me?” No sooner had he said that that a little girl ran out of the house.
“DADDY!!” She said as she jumped down the stairs of the porch and ran towards Heero. He bent down on one knee and the little girl skipped into his arms. He wrapped his strong arms around her and hoisted her on his shoulder. “Who’s that daddy? And why is she crying?” She giggled quietly.
“That’s Duo and he’s our new doctor.” He said as he stooped down and put her on her feet. “Go introduce yourself.” He said as he pushed her lightly towards him.
The little girl looked uncertainly at her father and then walked slowly to the tall man. She held out her hand politely for him to shake. He looked down at her. She had mess of short red curls and cobalt blue eyes. She smiled at him to show two missing teeth. Duo took the little girl’s grubby hand in his own and she shook lightly.
“Hello, I’m Kyla.” She said brightly as she looked at the other man’s face.
He went down on one knee and looked at the little girl’s face. “I’m Duo.” He smiled sadly.
She giggled and let go of his hand and grabbed the thick braid of chestnut hair. “You look like a girl.” She said as she tickled the man’s face with the end of his braid.
“And so do you.” He pointed out humorously.
“Come on Ky, you’ve got work to do.” A woman with dark, almost black hair and deep brown eyes said from the porch.
She dropped the braid and slowly walked pass her father. He affectionately ruffled her hair which emitted another giggle as she ran towards the woman who held an outstretched hand towards her. She looked at Heero “How’s Keyshi doing?” The woman asked.
“Fine, just a case of malnutrition.” Heero said. “I’m going to get some more of that simulated milk, but I’m going to put more protein in it.” He said as he started to walk towards the shed.
Duo smiled at the little girl as she turned and looked at him. “I like you. I hope you stay longer than that crabby old lady did.” She said.
“Kyla! That was not a nice thing to say about Doctor Kadawoski!” The woman scolded as she took the little girl’s hand in her own and went into the house, leaving the man alone in the courtyard.
Heero reappeared with two large bottles of milk. He ignored Duo’s existence as he walked pass him and entered into the building that the two men had just come out of. Duo snapped out of his memories and ran after Heero.
He entered the building to see Heero sitting on a chair with the kitten nestled in the crook of his arm. He coaxed the bottled into the it’s mouth and it sucked noisily at the bottle. Duo smiled at the site of the once professional heartless killer, now cradling a fragile little ball of fluff in his arms. Duo read the look on his face, it was one of contempt and deep pondering.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” Heero broke the silence. The words sliced at him in such a way.
Duo walked in and got on his knees in front of him. “I gave up searching for you. I-I thought that you might’ve been dead. I was so worried…please, all that I can ask is if you could find it in your heart to forgive me for my foolishness.” He said these words with great difficulty after practicing them in his head a million times over.
Flash back
Relena sat in shock on the bed as Duo scrabbled to get his clothes.
“Heero! Wait!” He cried as he jumped into his boxers and ran after the other boy. He caught up with him in the front hall of the large mansion. “Please let me explain. I-I-It’s not what it seems.” He shook his head.
Heero whirled around. His eyes full of tears. “ Not what it seems? What Duo, did you accidentally trip out of your clothes and land naked in the bed with Relena? I don’t need to have an explanation.” He said as he took a step backwards and turned and ran out the door.
“HEERO! WAIT!” He yelled as he tried to follow him. But was blocked by Quatre standing in the doorway. His deep blue eyes full with disappointment and disgust.
“Let him go Duo. Your lucky you escaped with your life.” Quatre warned.
All trace of happiness had left his beautiful tanned face “Forgive you?” He said incredulously. The bottle accidentally slipped out of the kitten’s mouth, it mewled loudly. Heero looked down and put the nub back in its mouth. “I don’t bloody think so. You slept with the one girl that I vowed to protect not to mention the Queen of the Bloody World! To make it worse, you did it in MY bed. You are one stupid bastard if you think that I’m not going to forget that.” He shook his head in disgust staring at the almost emptying bottle like it all of a sudden was a whole lot more interesting then hearing what Duo had to say.
“I-I have got no good explanation for what I did…only that…I missed you so much. You were gone for three months. I-I was climbing up the walls, I was so scared and worried for you. She was looking for you because her brother was just diagnosed with cancer and she needed some comfort…” He explained “ Please Heero…I did all of this for you. I got off my ass and you where my motivation.”
“For what? You did what for me Duo? Besides leaving me with the idea that I was just a sex toy for you? That I had no feelings?” Heero said before he laughed sadistically.
“You were never-ever that to me. You were the love of my life. My everything. I got off my ass, got jobs and became something other than a useless pawn…a-a-a killing machine.”
I knew how much you hated the preventors and I remembered our plans to buy a small piece of land and live in the rainforests…protecting animals…I knew how much those tigers meant to you…every time that you saw one you melted like butter and the mask of the death machine was shed and I loved that…I was envious of that.” He admitted quietly.
The kitten let go of the rubber nub and mewled for more milk. Heero took another bottle out from under the chair. He unscrewed the cap and put the rubber nub on and put it back in the squirming ball of fluff’s noisy mouth. Heero looked up at him “Kyla’s mother is dead.” Heero said quietly, like he was reading his mind. “She took me in and I lived with her for two years. Then I went off to live on my own…I found Kyla on my doorstep with a note and later I got a notice of death. She had died from the newest strand of Ebola in the Congoes.” He whispered.
“Heero…” was all that he could say.
“I couldn’t believe that she just left her. She had no name and she was so tiny and vulnerable…I just couldn’t refuse to take her…and everyday that little girl grows I see a little more of me in her. I couldn’t care less if she wasn’t mine, I love her all the same and I wouldn’t dream of putting her out on her own because I know what its like not to have a single person who cared for me.” He said as he looked down at the kitten. Duo was surprised to see the tears glitter and fall down his cheek and onto the kitten’s orange fur. The kitten seemed to know what the man was feeling because it opened its eyes and looked up at him contentedly with it’s watery blue eyes. Heero smiled and touched the kitten’s large white paw for comfort.
“Did you love her?” Duo felt slightly ashamed for asking it but the question burned in his mind.
“For a brief moment yes…but it died quickly. She was so careless and she was so wild…I just couldn’t stand it. She was a thrill seeker…her father was a millionaire…what better than to spend daddy’s money?” He smiled down at the kitten who had had its fill of milk and was dozing off with the bottle still in its mouth. He handed the bottle to Duo and let the tiger kitten nestle in his arms and fall asleep. He sat there for a bit not knowing what to do. Finally he resolved on giving the kitten to Duo and going to get a basket or something to carry it in.
“Here.” Heero said as he held the kitten out. It opened one eye and realised that it was going to be passed to someone else. Duo looked up at him and smiled then took the kitten carefully in his arms and looked at Heero.
“I love baby animals.” He muttered as he took a stool that was against the wall.
Heero left quickly and went into the house, he returned fifteen minutes later with a basket and blankets and two bottles on balanced precariously on the blankets. He set it on the table and put the bottles down and Duo silently got up and waited as Heero arranged the blankets. When he was done, Duo set the kitten down carefully and nestled the blankets closer to the sleeping cat.
“They’re all cute and cuddly when they’re babies but, when the grow up…they grow up!” Duo laughed as he took the bottle that was thrusted into his hand.
“It’s Indian Ale.” He said as he opened the bottle with a satisfying hiss he took a deep drink. Duo opened it and did the same.
“It’s good.” Duo said.
“Yeah, I’m gonna get Keyshi into her home.” He said as he gave Heero the bottle and took the basket. Duo followed him out into the courtyard and into the house. “Wait here.” He said as he climbed the stairs leaving Duo in the small living room. He looked at the room. His laptop was on the desk in the corner. There were piles of books and papers all over the desk. On one side of the room was a glass cabinet that held rifles and handguns. There was no T.V, no vid-phones-just an old dial-up one, no normal technology besides Heero’s laptop.
“Old habits die hard.” He muttered as he looked at the cabinet full with rifles of all sorts.
“They’re collectors items.” Heero said as he walked down the stairs. “Really old. Like, Two hundred years old. The useable ones are locked in a vault downstairs.” He said as he stood besides him. Duo looked at him, taking in the changes of his friend.
He stood little under 6’2. He filled out and was broader at the shoulders. His arms were no longer pail and scrawny, but, a deep honey brown. His hair was in fact, kept neater and he was sporting a ponytail that fell a little less than a hand passed his shoulder. It was kept together with a leather strap. He no longer wore the tank tops or shorts- to Duo’s relief. He wore a pair of cut-off shorts and a white cotton t-shirt. The scars that were on his legs were barely noticeable just pale flecks across the tanned skin. His hair was lighter, streaked blond from being out in the sun a lot.
Heero took the bottle of Ale from Duo and took a drink.
“I knew I recognised you from somewhere!” A voice said from the doorway.
Both Heero and Duo looked over to see the woman that was taking care of Kyla holding a piece of paper in her hand. She walked over with a smile on her face and handed Heero the piece of paper which turned out to be a magazine page. Heero cocked an eyebrow as he looked at the picture.
“So Duo…this is how you got money?” He said as he showed Duo the page. Duo turned red at the sight of it.
It was a black and white picture of Duo. He posed shirtless with jeans that where unbuttoned to show the brand name of boxers that he wore underneath. His hair was let down and flowed across his bare chest. The shadow seemed to highlight all of his attractive figures. The washboard stomach, pecs, shoulders… He wore a cheeky grin on his face as he looked directly ahead. His hands seemed to be starting to pull off the pants.
“Oh man…” Duo groaned. He heard Heero’s laugh and felt his face grow hot.
“How the hell did you pull this off?” He chuckled as he gave the page back to the woman.
“I needed the money to pay for university…I was a janitor then a super model…then a doctor.” Duo shrugged.
“I never knew that you knew him Heero.” The woman said.
“Yeah, I knew him Kiesha…” Heero smiled.
“I-I got the calendar and everything…I knew I’d meet you one day!” She said happily.
“Er…it’s really not that big of a deal.” Duo shrugged uncomfortably. “Those days are in the past and I’d rather forget about them…”
“Why?” Heero asked.
“Because, I was always getting mobbed by women! I had no privacy! I’m lucky that I got into private studies…I probably wouldn’t’ve got any work done.” Duo said.
“Well, I gotta get back to Kyla.” Kiesha said as she walked out the door.
“Oh wait! Kiesha.” Heero said.
“Yes?” She asked over her shoulder.
“Don’t tell anyone.” He said.
Her smile broadened. “Of coarse not! I want him all to myself!” She said happily.
“Ahh!” Duo said as he slumped his shoulders.
Heero burst out laughing when the woman left. He had tears in the corners of his eyes. “She….wants…you…all…to herself!” He howled.
“It’s not that funny!” Duo whined. “I’m in the middle of no where and still, I manage to attain my followers.” He threw up his hands in resignation. “I GIVE UP!” he cried.
After a couple of minutes Heero recovered. “Oh man…that was funny.” He said as he wiped the tears away from his eyes.
“I’m glad you think so.” Duo grumbled.
“So Duo, when was the last time you talked to the others?” Heero asked as he slumped onto the lumpy couch.
“Yeah, I talked to them before I left.” Duo said as he sat on the couch.
“So what’s up with them?” He asked as he took another drink of Ale.
“Well, Quatre’s taken up the family business with Trowa.”
“They’re still together?” Heero said sounding surprised. “I mean, I always thought that Trowa would go back to the circus.”
“He did, but Quatre had a breakdown and Trowa came back. Wufei and Sally got together and left Protectors…they’re running their very own law firm…and they’re pretty successful. Who ever knew that Wufei had people skills?” Duo chuckled. But the smile faded. “Zech’s is recovering from chemical therapy…he’s such a mess…he lost all of his hair and is so frail now…Noin is taking care of him…they got engaged.”
“Wow…that’s a lot. Zechs…poor guy. I’m happy that he has Noin there for him. What about Relena?” He asked.
Duo looked at him “Relena got married to one of Dorothy’s cousins. He’s a really nice guy. They’ve got two kids…twins. One boy and one girl. Heero and Raeleen.” He said.
“What? She named one of her kids after me?” He said.
“Yeah, and she told me to tell you…and I quote, ‘Tell that man to get his mangy ass home so he take his god children out!’ Those were her exact words.” Duo smiled.
“God children?” Heero frowned.
“Yup, but don’t think that you’re alone…they’ve got four other god fathers!” Duo chuckled. “Quatre spoils them rotten! It’s ridiculous. The kids are probably Kyla’s age. You’ve gotta come home and see them.” Duo said.
“I dunno…I really want to see the guys…but…well it would be good for Kyla…but the kitten.” Heero said.
“Take her with you!” Duo said.
“Her?…who the kitten or Kyla?” Heero cocked an eyebrow at him.
“Yeah Kyla and the Kitten. The kitten’s a girl…duh, I sorta had to know gender classification for PASSING the veterinary exams!” Duo laughed. “Keyshi’ll be alright. Just give her some sedatives and put her in a cage and I’ll phone for a chopper.” Duo shrugged.
“Well…” He said indecisively.
“I could probably get the guys to look after everything…since I think I deserve a holiday.” Heero got up and walked to the desk and picked up the phone and dialled a number.
“Hello, is Allen there?” He asked.
“…Hello Allen? Yeah, it’s Heero…yeah, the new doctor is here…listen, I’ve got some business to take care of out of the country…no, I’m not drunk! Yes, I’ve got some business…yes, I’ll be back…give me two weeks-no, three. I want to take Kyla out to see some of my friends and relatives…how soon can you get them here?…A day?…sounds good…Kiesha?…I’m going to take her with me…yes I am…the doctor’s coming…okay then…bye.” He hung up the phone and looked at Duo. “You heard?” He said.
“Yeah…that’ll give me enough time to get the necessary things together and make some arrangements.” He nodded as he got up and finished the Ale off. He walked out the door and towards his little hut that he was to live in.
“Kyla!” Heero yelled.
“Yes Daddy?” The little girl came into the living room. She held a half-weaved basket in her hands.
“we’re going on a trip. So, you put that away and go get your things together.” He said as he walked over and picked the girl up and held her in his arms.
“Trip daddy? Where? The village? I would like to see Luka again.” She said excitedly.
“No honey, we’re going to visit a city far, far away. We’re going to go on a Helicopter and see some of daddy’s old friends.” He said as he walked up the stairs.
“WOW!! A real helicopter! When?” She asked hardly containing her excitement.
“Tomorrow. So lets get packing!” He said as he put her on her feet in front of her room.
“Hello, Quatre?” Duo asked as he held the portable vidphone.
“Duo! How’s it going?” Quatre said happily. Trowa came into the screen hovering over Quatre.
“Great!” He said cheerfully.
“What’s the new game keeper like? I know that the last one was a dick head.” Quatre wrinkled his nose.
“You’ll never guess who it is? HEERO! I couldn’t believe it myself! I convinced him to come see you guys, so get everyone together…we’ve got a couple of surprises!” He said hardly containing his pacing.
A smile went across both of the men on the other end. “When?” He asked.
“TOMORROW!” He yelled. “Get the chopper over here okay?” He said. “I gotta go…I’ve got some things that I’ve got to do…but until then! I’ll see yah!” He said loudly and then the screen went black. “Oh Man! This is going to be great!” He said as he set the vidphone down and took out a syringe and took a bottle of clear liquid. He then took a nylon bag out of his black leather case and put the things in there, along with a strange looking scale that had a hook on the end of it. He walked out of the small hut and back towards the house.
“Heero!” He yelled in the living room.
“What?” Heero yelled back from upstairs.
“I’ve gotta weigh the kitten to give him his shot.” He said from the stairs.
“Okay. Come up.” Heero said from the top of the stairs.
Duo went up the stairs and followed Heero into the bedroom. It had a double bed with mosquito net over it, hard wood floors, a bureau, and double glass doors that lead to a porch. The basket was on the bed, the kitten was sitting on Kyla’s lap. It was chewing on a piece of thick wool rope, the girl was wiggling it in front of its face and it snapped and growled at it.
“Hey Kyla, can I just take him from you for a bit. I have to weigh him.” He said as he walked further in. He smiled as he saw a three framed pictures on the nightstand. One was an old on of him and Heero. He was sitting in his lap and had his arms looped around the other’s neck. Both of them were smiling. The other was Heero holding Kyla as a small child with a snake in both of their hands. The third picture was One of a woman with flaming red curly hair and green eyes. She was smiling and posing on the top of a mountain. “That’s her huh?” Duo said as he walked over and picked the picture of the woman up.
“Yeah.” He said quietly as he took the pictures and gathered them together and put them in a shoe box that went into a hiking bag.
“Here ya go, Duo.” The little girl said as she held the kitten up for him to take.
“Want to be my helper, Kyla?” He asked as he took the kitten.
The little girl lit up. “Sure!” She jumped up.
“Okay hold him again while I get the stuff I need out.” He said as he handed her the kitten again.
“Yep!” She said as she started to play with it again.
Heero left the room to get something. Duo took out the things in the bag. The girls eyes grew wide as she saw the needles. “What are you going to do?” She asked.
“I’m going to weigh her and then give her a shot to make her feel better.” He said as he took the scale out. “Okay now, put Kiesha in the bag, but don’t let her head go in, okay.” He said as he pushed the screen out of the way and held open the bag.
The girl looked at him with mistrust. “Will it hurt him?” She asked.
“No. It’ll make her feel better.” He said.
“Okay.” She said as she lifted the kitten and carefully put her in the bag. “What now?” She asked as the kitten struggled to get free. It started to mewl and chew on the bag.
“Keep her calm okay?” He said as he hooked the bag to the scale. He looked at the little girl who started to sing to the struggling animal. It stopped and looked around to see that she wasn’t being hurt. “That’s a pretty song, Kyla.” He said as he watched the needle stop bouncing and settle on a number.
“I know…my daddy sings it sometimes when I have a nightmare.” She said as she rubbed the kitten’s ear.
“really? I’ll have to hear it sometime.” He smiled. God, Heero, she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you! He thought affectionately.
“He’s really not a bad singer.” She said innocently. She started to sing again.
‘Whenever sang my songs
On the stage, on my own
Whenever sad my words
Wishing they would be heard
I saw you smiling at me
Was it real or just my fantasy
You’d always be there in the corner…’
Duo listened quietly as the little girl sang. He snapped out of his little trance because his arm was going numb and read the numbers. “Okay Kyla. We’re done.” He said. Kyla took the kitten out of the bag and looked up to see her father standing in the doorway.
“Daddy, is that my clothes?” She asked.
“Yes Ky.” He said as he walked in and put the clothes in the duffle bag. “Go get some toys that you want.”
“Thank You Kyla for your help, you were my best assistant yet.” Duo said as he took another vile and filled a syringe. “Heero, can you come hold the kitten while I give her this shot.” He asked when Kyla left the room. The two men could hear the little girl singing her little song.
“Yeah.” Heero said as he took the kitten and held it. Duo lightly tapped the siring and pushed the plunger slightly to get the air out. He then carefully pinched the skin of the kittens neck to find flesh. He carefully stuck the syringe in and slowly emptied its contents.
“Done.” Duo said as he took the syringe out and put a cap on it.
“What was that for?” He asked as he sat the kitten on the bed. It began rolling about with the small piece of rope.
“Oh, it was something for her malnourishment.” Duo answered as he put the items back in the nylon bag. “Y’know, I never knew I would say this…but by god, its great to see that you’ve got a daughter.” He said happily.
“Thanks…she’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. She’s what made me feel for the first time.” He smiled.
“Daddy? How much can I bring?” She asked as she hugged a doll in on hand and a teddy bear in the other.
“Bring them both.” He said as he scooped her up in his arms and kissed her cheek. She hugged him back and kissed him on the nose. He whispered something in her ear and she giggled. He set her down and she ran head first into Duo, wrapping her scrawny arms around his waste. Duo was surprised but picked her up and she hugged him tightly. “Thank you for bringing me on the helicopter Duo.” She said and then she kissed him on the cheek.
“You’re very welcome.” He said as he hugged her tightly, engluphing himself into the little girl’s warm world of innocence. He felt a tug on his braid and realised the little girl was playing with the thick rope of hair. He set her back on her feet but he couldn’t stand up because the little girl refused to let go of his hair.
“Well Ky, it’s time for bed.” Heero said as he tried to pry her little hands off of his friend’s braid.
“Aww.” Kyla refused to let go of Duo’s braid.
“C’mon Assistant, I’ll read ya a story.” He said as he picked her up. “If that’s alright with the bossman?”
“Yeah, it’ll give me a chance to finish packing.” He said.
Duo mocked a salute and Kyla did the same. She giggled as Duo whirled around on his heel and walked her to her room.
“Duo?” She said as he got her into bed and convinced her to let go of the braid.
“Yeah?” He asked as he picked up the book that she had chosen while he left the room for her to change into her night gown.
“What’s it like in the city?” She asked as he sat down on the edge of the bed.
“It’s very busy and there are a lot of people that are coming and going.” He answered as he wiped the froth of red curls from her face.
“Are there friends for me to play with?” She asked.
“Lots and lots of friends. People your age that like dolls and kitties and puppies and things like that.” He said.
She wrinkled her nose. “I like Kiesha…but she’s not a kitty, she’s a tiger. Do other girls like me have a pet tiger?”
Duo couldn’t help but laugh a bit. “No they don’t have tigers.” He saw the disappointment on her face. “But that’s what makes you so special! You’ve got a tiger and others have got small little cats.” He said.
“I can’t wait.” She mumbled as dosed off. Duo got up to leave but felt his hair yank. He looked down to see the little girl snuggled up, clutching his braid tightly. He sighed and watched her sleep.
After about a half an hour, Heero walked into Kyla’s room to see Duo sleeping on the bed with Kyla snuggled to his chest, clutching the braid tightly. He felt the kitten squirm in his arms as smiled at the site of the sleeping man and child and couldn’t decide which one was cuter. He put the kitten down and it crawled between Duo’s arms and snuggled against Kyla’s chest and licked her chin. He switched off the light and heard Duo call his name. Heero turned around to answer but saw that Duo was still sleeping. He carefully walked to the other side of the bed and crawled in. He pulled the mosquito net around the bed and laid his head on the pillow and put an arm around the little girl protectively. He looked at Duo and realised that the man was awake. His violet eyes were cloudy with sleep.
“I’m happy I found you.” He mumbled sleepily.
“I’m happy you found me too.” Heero couldn’t believe he had just said that. Wasn’t I supposed to be angry with him? He asked himself, Screw it he resolved as he fell asleep to the sounds of the kitten’s loud purring.
“It’s Here! It’s Here!” Kyla jumped up and down as she caught site of the helicopter.
“Kyla! Get out of the way, it’s gotta land before you try to get in!” Duo laughed as he picked her up and sat her on his shoulders. They walked back to the porch. Heero was sitting silently, his face was pale as he held the unconscious kitten that was bundled in blankets.
The helicopter touched down and the blades slowed down and a man hopped out. “Are you coming?” The man yelled as he walked to the porch.
“Yeah Max!” Duo yelled as he took hold of his bag and slung Heero’s and Kyla’s duffle bag over his shoulder and Kyla put on the hiking bag while Heero carried the basket.
Duo and Kyla made their way to the chopper as Heero gave the last orders to the men that were going to be taking over his duties while he was gone. Duo dropped the luggage and got Kyla buckled into the seat. He looked back to see Heero still at the porch. He rolled his eyes and ran back to the porch.
“Come on Heero! The kitten is going to wake up in the chopper if we keep going at this rate!” Duo said impatiently as he grabbed his shoulder and steered him towards the chopper.
Heero got in and buckled up. He clutched the kitten tightly as the chopper lifted off the ground.
“Don’t worry, you didn’t forget anything. The guns are in the safe and it’s locked, you’ve got clothes and your daughter. Loosen up bud!” Duo laughed.
“You’re right. I haven’t been away from my house for the six years that I have lived there.” Heero muttered as the chopper zoomed over the treetops towards the unknown destination.
Duo threw open the door to the mansion and looked at the five men standing in the hallway. “Be quite until we get the little ones in bed. Quatre, where’s he staying?” Duo asked.
“Little ones? He’s staying upstairs in his usual room.” Quatre answered. Duo turned and walked out the door. Quatre frowned and looked at Trowa.
“Hi guys.” Heero said as he appeared in the door.
“Heero!” Quatre said happily then clapped his hands over his mouth.
The mass of blankets that Heero held in his arms started to wail and move and little legs started to kick. Heero laughed and set the little creature on its feet. It threw off the coats to reveal a little girl of around six, she had right red hair and her eyes where red from lack of sleep. “DAA—AADDDYYY!” The little girl wailed.
Heero got on his knees and turned her around to face him. “Hush Kyla. We’re here. You can go and rest.” He mumbled affectionately.
“I’m hungry.” She sniffled as she wiped the sleep from her eyes.
Wufei was the first to break the silence “Heero…is that…your daughter?” was all that he managed to say.
“Well Wufei, you were always good at noting the obvious.” Heero said as he looked at the man.
Duo walked in with a basket under his arm. He heard Quatre groan, “Oh no…Duo, not another cat.”
Heero laughed as he walked over and took the blanket off the basket and lifted the ball of fluff into his arms. He walked over to Quatre and showed him what he held. Trowa’s green eyes grew soft. “May I?” He asked as he held out his arms.
Kyla looked up at him “Daddy? May I go with Duo?” She asked.
“Yes Honey.” He said as he wiped the curls from her face.
She smiled and ran up the stairs after Duo.
“Sure.” Heero said as he handed the kitten over.
“What is it Tee-chan?” Quatre asked quietly.
Trowa looked up from the sleeping cat. “It’s a Siberian tiger kitten.” He cooed. “Where did you find her?” Trowa looked at Heero.
“I’m the Forest Ranger at a park in South Africa…I was on patrol when I got a call in that some poachers sacked one of my cats…a three year old mother who had just delivered two kittens…When I got there, they had already skinned the mother and where trying to capture the two kits…I shot one of the poachers and the authorities where there to get the rest…unfortunately, they’d killed one of them and I took the other…her.” Heero said as he pointed to the cat.
“Heero?” Quatre asked.
“Yes?” He looked at the Blonde haired man.
“Who’s the mother?” Quatre asked quietly.
Pain swept briefly across his face. “ Her name was Kenzie McCarthy.” He said.
“Is she here?” Quatre questioned.
“No. She’s been dead for five years.” He said as he reached out to take the kitten. Trowa gave it to him and without another word, Heero turned and walked up the stairs.
Heero walked into his old room that he had spent countless days slaving over his laptop. He saw Kyla curled up in Duo’s lap. Duo’s eyes where closed and he was smiling.
“Duo? You better lay down, you look tired.” Heero said as he walked over to the bed.
Duo looked up at the man and saw the look on his face. “What’s wrong?” He asked as he set Kyla down on the bed and tucked her in.
“I-I think it was a mistake to be here…I-I-I’m not ready for this…I really want to go home.” Heero muttered as he set the kitten in the basket.
“Mistake? No Heero, you’re home.” Duo smiled as he stood up and looked down at the sleeping child.
“I don’t want to be here Duo, everyone’s prying into my life, I’ve gotta put up with questions that still hurt me. I’m not the perfect soldier that you once knew…I am a father and I own land and I don’t kill like I used to, I really have something to live for. You people are in my past and that is the one thing that I want to forget…I don’t want to be put back in my old ways…just let me go.” Heero said frantically as he wiped the tears away. “I don’t want anything to do with you or any of the others…I just want to be left alone to make my own decisions…Every time I see your face I remember all the bad things…all the pain I remember that showed in your eyes…” He whispered as he slunk onto the bed.
Duo’s eyes narrowed and his face went white with rage. He grabbed the other man’s arm and dragged him out of the room. “I go home then, run and hide…” He hissed. “But no matter how much you try to forget the past it will ALWAYS haunt you. You’re not the only one that had to pick up their life after the war…we all did. When your daughter grows up and looks more and more like her mother, will you abandon her because it hurts you too much to look at her face?” He hissed again, grinding the words out from his clenched teeth. He felt like grabbing his arms and shaking him until his teeth rattled. But he clenched his fists at his side and went on. “I never knew that you, of all people, would run away from something….I never knew the day I’d say this but you’re a coward. You disgust me.” He said as he turned and walked down the hall to his own room. He slammed the door and fell back on the bed and felt the burning in his eyes as the tears welled.
He fell asleep and didn’t wake until the dark of the night. There was laughter coming from downstairs. He got up and rubbed his eyes and walked down the stairs. The living room was packed. Une, Noin, Zechs, Relena, her husband and children, Sally Po, Hilde, and the mad five where all in little groups. There was also the Maguanacs, and various people that the Five ex-pilots had met during the war. Heero was talking with Zechs who was sitting on the couch. Kyla was sitting on his lap eating pizza out of a paper plate. She turned and looked at Duo and smiled. He laughed as the little girl started munching on the pizza, her face was covered in pizza sauce. Duo stepped into the room and it went silent. Heero set Kyla on the couch besides Zechs and stood up.
“I guess since he’s up I’ve gotta say some things now, right?” He asked as he looked around the room.
“SPEECH!” Someone yelled, that someone turned out to be Quatre.
Heero smiled and cleared his voice. “Okay…well, I guess I’ll just say that this little messy rugrat is my daughter…Kyla. Ahh…I’ve been living in the jungles for the past oh…6 years and I have been trying to protect the endangered animals and all that stuff…I honestly can’t say much else because there isn’t much in my life besides my daughter.” Heero turned red as he looked around the room. He wasn’t used to this much attention anymore. It felt odd.
The people started the conversations as Heero sat back down with Kyla on his lap. She had finished her pizza and Zechs had given her a napkin to wipe her face with. Heero took it from her and started at the pizza sauce.
“Good speech.” Zechs smiled.
“Yeah, my best yet.” Heero chuckled. He looked up to see Duo was in the room and was talking to Relena quietly, his back was turned to him but he could tell on the expression on Relena’s face that it wasn’t good. Heero stood and looked down at Kyla.
“Papa where are you going?” She asked.
“I’m going to go talk to some people. You stay and Baby-sit Zechs alright?” he smiled at Kyla.
She giggled as she looked at the blond man on the couch. “Yes sir!” She saluted.
Heero turned and walked towards Relena and Duo. “Hello Relena.” He said as he gave her a hug.
“Hello Heero.” She whispered as she stiffly returned the hug.
“Ah…Heero can we talk to you?” Duo asked uncomfortably as he looked around the crowded room.
Heero nodded and walked out of the room and onto the porch. He heard Relena and Duo’s footsteps. He sat on the step and waited.
“er…” Duo stuttered as Relena pushed him forwards.
“If it’s about what happened…I really don’t care. I don’t need to hear what you have to say…” Heero shrugged.
“You forgive us?” Relena asked, sounding hopeful.
There was a long silence. Heero cleared his throat and Duo flinched at the sound like someone had just hit him. “Well?” Duo asked getting impatient.
Heero shook his head and stood up. He walked pass them and opened the door, the loud music and laughter broke the silence. “No…I don’t, nor will I ever. I’m leaving tomorrow.” He shut the door and left the two outside, each stricken with shock.
“He…won’t forgive us?” Relena said quietly. Tears filled her eyes. “I-I-I guess I understand…” She whispered as she sat on the step. Duo saw red…rage built in him.
“Goddammit! You told me you did Heero!” He hissed between his clenched teeth. He threw open the door and walked up the stairs to his bedroom where he lay quietly trying to slow his breathing.
“You haven’t changed one bit you bastard, you’re like a sleeping tiger.” He muttered then he closed his eyes and fell into a sleep riddled with nightmares. He woke in the morning, it was sunny out and the birds were chirping happily in the trees. He sat up and straightened his wrinkled clothes and then his eyes went wide as he realised what had happened last night. He jumped out of bed and ran out the door, he threw open the bedroom door to Heero’s room. It was bare…nothing was there. He had slipped from him again. He ran down stares to see the other four men sitting at the table in the kitchen, each cradling a cup of coffee in his hands, and each had a grim expression on his face.
“He left Duo.” Quatre said as he took a sip of his coffee. “He said to tell you not to look for him…ever.” Quatre looked up at him.
Duo punched the door frame and it splintered under his fists. “Fucking sleeping tiger.” He muttered as he turned and walked out the door.
It was the last the boys had ever seen of either Duo or Heero again. Neither man saw each other and Duo slipped out of Kyla’s life as quickly as he had entered.