CHAPTER FOURTEEN:

The clear, loud and almost musical voice rang out un-obscured in the deathly silent room. The impassioned speech resonating within the large space, rendering its occupants speechless.

“My only love sprung from my only hate!

Too early seen unknown, and known too late!

Prodigious birth of love it is to me,

That I must love a loathed enemy.”

The speaker finally stopped and glanced at the stupefied audience with nervous eyes, silently seeking approval from the final authority.

“Oh, my goodness,” came the voice of whispered awe. “Miss. Relena…I don't know what to say. Never have I heard such passion, such candor, and such emotion in that scene. You are indeed a fine actress. Give her a round of applause, class. Please!”

The brown-haired girl found herself flushing in embarrassment as the members of Lady Une's Drama class cheered her efforts with loud cries of `encore' and `bravo.' Curtseying shyly, she bowed her head and stepped down from the stage to sit beside her co-actor and snickering friend amongst their seats in the large auditorium.

“Nice one, Relena. You almost had me in tears.”

“Oh, shut up,” she replied in a mock stern voice. Jabbing him lightly on his ribs, she continued. “It's your turn next, Romeo.”

“Oh…yeah…”

“Master Duo! Your turn! Let's see if Romeo can outdo our lovely Juliet, ne? Up, up, up! Let's move it, people! Time is money here!”

Picking up his script, he ran his eyes through the words that he had been forced to cram late last night, one last time. Taking a deep breath and receiving an encouraging squeeze on his arm from Relena, he walked up the side stairs to the large and seemingly endless stage before him. He suddenly felt his legs begin to have those heavy weights on them. Feeling hot, his mouth now as dry as a desert, he ran nervous hands through his bangs and fiddled with the tip of his braid, the words dancing around and around his head. He couldn't screw up now. He had to do this.

“Now remember, Master Duo. The keyword here is…Projection! We would like to hear your words clearly and concisely. Please try not to mumble or rush, okay? And oh…relax…you look like you are about to be executed.”

This banter got a light laugh from the class and Duo felt himself relax a little bit. Having taken off his blazer earlier, he was left in only the white shirt, his tie a bit askew, as the top two buttons of his shirt had come undone. Closing his eyes, he bowed his head and waited for the announcement to be made.

“Duo has chosen to play Act Five, Scene III. In this scene we see Romeo returning from the battle with Tybalt and he has entered the room where Juliet lays `dead.' In his hand is the poisoned drink, which will be taken as he joins his true love in `death'. You may proceed, Duo.”

For several seconds, nothing was heard from the silent figure on the stage. The spotlight rested solely on him, creating a glow that made the elfin creature even more surreal. The moment was made even more magical as he raised his head slowly and revealed violet orbs that gleamed with a light that sent unconscious gasps through the audience. Twin pools of amethyst darted through the room, looking for someone or something to focus on. In seconds, a small trace of a smile crossed his lips as they finally found what they needed.

And in a voice that rang as clear as day and as deep as the ocean, Duo Maxwell gave the world a glimpse of his woes and troubles.

Why had he chosen this particular scene and speech? He wouldn't have been able to tell you either. Perhaps a way to honor his dead cousin and his lover? Perhaps to relieve the tension that he felt within himself at his current predicament? Perhaps to fight the shadows of fathers that had secrets to hide? Or perhaps as a means of communication to the one that had a hold of his heart. To the one he had willingly given his heart to. If you had asked him why, he still wouldn't have been able to tell you the reason. It was just something that had to be done. Holding up the imaginary bottle of poison, he rounded out the impassioned speech.

“Eyes, look your last! Arms, take your last embrace! And lips, O you

The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss,

A dateless bargain to engrossing death!

Come bitter conduct, come, unsavory guide!

Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on

The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark!

Here's to my love!

At this point, he raises the poison to his lips and drinks from it.

“ O, true apothecary!

Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.”

With a dramatic gasp, he fell to the floor and lay as still as death itself. Minutes of stunned silence were heard before a sniffle and then a lone clap began. In mere seconds, the class was upon their feet, applauding with added exuberance as Duo jumped to his feet and bowed to them, all the while grinning like a Cheshire cat. Shining violet orbs met amused Prussian depths across the room. The silent acknowledgement between them met and understood.

Jumping down from the stage, he walked to his seat and picked up his blazer. Fixing an innocent smile upon his face, he walked up to the gushing drama teacher.

“Absolutely amazing, Duo! I suggest you join the drama club and then you can be in the big production at the end of the year. What do you say?”

The heir quirked an eyebrow and tried to put on a look of serious thought. “Weeeeelll…I just might consider it…not making any promises though.”

“Well, think about it then. Here is the number and name of the student you can contact and I can safely say that you will be receiving an A this time. Kudos!” Turning around, she began to address the rest of them. “Okay, class…”

“That was really impressive, Duo,” Quatre said with a smile. “I was almost in tears, to be honest.”

“That bad, huh?” came the tease from Duo as he tried to make his way towards the exits. Heero had long gone, to his disappointment, but at least he had stayed to watch his performance. (By the way, Heero had dropped the class as he had always wanted to.)

“You really were something up there, Duo. You really should consider joining the drama club. I will join, I think.”

“Geez, Relena. You are already in the debate, art, dance…what else am I missing here? Clubs! Give it a rest already!”

“So, I like being in clubs, sue me!”

“And maybe I will!”

“Speaking of drama, have you guys gotten your costumes ready yet?” Quatre piped up, if anything to stop the two from another meaningless squabble.

Relena nodded fervently. “Sure have!”

“Lemme guess…” Duo drawled lazily, as they stepped out into the slightly chilly autumn day. “You are going as another princess or a fairy or something lame like that.”

Relena huffed and punched him on his arm, earning an `ouch' and `hey! What did you do that for?' from Duo. “For your information, I am going as something else this year and I am not telling you!”

Rubbing his arm and wincing slightly, Duo mumbled something that sounded eerily like `stupid fairy outfits,' which earned him yet another jab and laughter from his blonde-haired friend.

“I have to go to my next class, so I will leave you guys here.”

“Sure, Relena. Oh, and don't forget about the…” Duo made a sign with his hands that brought a puzzled look to the girl's face for a moment before it brightened in understanding. Nodding curtly, she spun around and made her way towards Einstein's Cradle, already surrounded by a group of her adoring fans. Duo felt a bit sick at the display. But shrugging good-naturedly, he placed an arm around Quatre's shoulders and led them towards the main Randolph Hall.

“Come on, Quat. I have something I think you ought to know about.”

~&~&~&~&~

Heero hung up the phone and crossed out the final name on the long list. Mission accomplished.

Another one of Duo's side notes to this plan that still made him feel a bit uneasy even as he complied with his lover's wishes. Leaning back on his chair, he tossed his pencil up and down in lazy movements, his eyes closing as Duo's voice outlining each thing to be done rang around his brain. He smirked as he remembered the way he had finally gotten Duo to keep up with his earlier promise.

~*~*~

Heero stared at the clock for the umpteenth time. Duo was late…again. Why the he insisted on keeping Heero waiting was beyond the Japanese boy's comprehension, and for that little mishap, he was determined to make Duo pay.

He got off the bed and paced restlessly to the window, his arms folded across his bare chest, in fact, Heero Yuy was quite comfortable in his birthday suit at the moment. Something he had had to start doing whenever Duo was about to arrive. He couldn't afford to lose any more shirts from their frenzied actions.

Tapping a light staccato against his thighs, his lips tightened as he heard the tell-tale squeak of his door opening. He had obtained another card for Duo to use; only he had lied saying his old one was broken. Duo had done the same and now both boys could gain access to each other's rooms whenever they felt like it.

“You are late.”

Duo froze in his tiptoe stride, looking as guilty as ever. “Heh…I am really sorry, Heero. I tried to get past Relena and the cramming session on time…”

“Do you think my job here is to wait for you to get finished with Relena?”

“Uh…no. Look, I said I was sorry, so…”

“So, I get to be on top tonight and not only that…” Heero spun away from his blind gaze out the windows to pin blazing blue depths on his lover. “I get to do what I want with you…like you promised, right?”

Duo gulped and held the tip of his braid in a tight grip. “Oh, that…that promise…”

Heero frowned and walked up to him. “Don't tell me you have forgotten already.”

“Forgotten? Hell, no…it's just that…I was kind of hoping we could go over the plan tonight and all…”

Heero snorted and walked back to his position by the window. “Sorry, Duo. I don't think I feel like listening to your plan after all. Maybe some other night…or maybe not at all.”

Duo's eyes, which had been trained on the sensuous sway of the other boy's hips, coupled with the delectable sight of that firm rear, widened in slight dismay. “No! I mean…yes…you can do what you want with me…oomphff!!”

With a speed that he couldn't have imagined Heero being capable of having, Duo found himself flattened to the bed as both were soon entangled in a war of lips and hungry tongues. Releasing each other quickly, Heero panted one word into his ear.

“Strip.”

Not needing a second prodding, Duo rose quickly to his feet and began the arduous task of removing his clothes, his skin burning with need as those velvet blue depths followed each movement with lust. Heero motioned for him to make himself comfortable on the bed again, as he got up to make his way towards his closet. Duo knew what was coming next and was quite frankly unable to stop his body from trembling and writhing in anticipation. His eyes watched his lover's sinewy body approach him with the long rope-like items in his hands.

“I thought you said you were ordering the…umm…those things…” he said, with a hint of disappointment, as Heero straddled his body.

“Didn't get here on time, I guess. Now, stop talking,” came the reply, as Heero set to work quickly.

Duo winced a bit as the sharp bit of the belt buckle dug into his wrist, before he felt himself lifted up a bit at the new angle. In mere seconds, Heero had secured his wrists and ankles to the bedposts and he now lay spread eagled upon the silken sheets. His erection, now throbbing for release from just the act of being tied up, began to leak with drops of pre-cum as he watched his lover lean over him with the black piece of cloth between his teeth.

“Wha…”

“Shssh, this won't hurt a bit,” Sealing their lips together for yet another kiss, Heero took the piece of cloth and gently placed it over Duo's eyes. Much as he would have liked to watch his lover's lust filled gaze during their coupling, Heero intended to make this a bit different. Securing it tightly at the nape of his neck, Heero withdrew and smirked in satisfaction at the way Duo looked now. Totally and completely at his mercy. Noticing his lover's impatience, thanks to the way the long-haired boy whimpered and writhed in want, Heero reached for the cup of ice he had saved specifically for the occasion.

“Aahh!!”

Heero smiled at the reaction. Lifting the cube of ice out from the glass, which he had rubbed against Duo's cheek, he traced the cold liquid across the parted lips, watching with hooded eyes, as Duo's tongue darted out in quick thrusts to catch a taste of the cool drink. Duo's gasps became even louder as Heero trailed the ice cube down towards his already hardened nipples. The combination of Heero's tongue and teeth grazing against the coldness on his skin almost caused Duo to come on the spot. His hands tightened into fists, as they strained against their prison. His body bucking and arching off the bed, his breathing becoming haggard as Heero had now begun to focus his attention on his aching flesh. With a howl of delight, Duo nearly ripped the belts off the bedpost as he felt the combination of ice and heat envelope his arousal. Heero had begun to slowly suck the swollen area with a cube of ice stuck in his mouth, the moans of enjoyment at his lover's distress fueling his lust.

Just as Duo felt he couldn't hold on any longer, he felt the slight squeeze on his balls as Heero withdrew, stopping him from coming at the same time. Whimpering at the loss, he thrust blindly upwards to feel. Since he couldn't see a thing, his other senses had taken over, his body completely relying on sensations now.

“Heero…” he mewled out desperately. “Touch me…please…”

His answer came in a husky and downright sexy whisper next to his ear. “As you wish, koi.”

In one quick thrust, Duo was filled with Heero's length, his mouth opening into a soundless scream as the painful pleasure rushed through him. Heero went slowly, his hips rotating in slow circles as he watched Duo squirm with desperation. He knew that Duo wanted him to go faster and Heero had no intentions of fulfilling that request.

“Heero…please…”

“Hn. This is for keeping me waiting.”

Duo sucked in a harsh breath, the bedposts creaking with the forced clenching of the bound wrists. His mind was about to explode. Heero was slowly but surely killing him with this exquisite torture.

“Will you keep me waiting again, koi?”

Duo shook his head frantically. He gasped again as Heero deliberately hit his prostate and then withdrew slightly, reducing Duo to nothing but a mass of quivering nerves.

“I didn't hear you, Duo. Will you keep me waiting again?” Heero asked a bit more forcefully.

Duo managed to whisper out a weak `No' before screaming in joy, as Heero finally increased his pace. It was rare to hear Heero speak his native tongue and whenever he did, Duo had found his voice to have an even deeper ring of danger to it. None more so than when they were in bed together. Heero would sometimes resort to his native Japanese, when mere words could no longer express his feelings. And this time was no exception. Duo reveled in the exotic sound as Heero panted them harshly into his ear. Their motions becoming more frenzied. The incoming explosion of their completion about to be realized. Until finally, twin cries of ecstasy rang out in the silent room, as limp and satiated bodies collapsed onto the bed in exhaustion.

Listening as their harsh breathings were slowly reduced to soft sighs of content, Duo finally broke the silence with a weary yawn.

“Heero, if it's not too much trouble…do you think you could untie me now? I can't feel my hands or ankles anymore.”

Heero chuckled and proceeded to untie him. “Weak crybaby.”

Duo snorted as he rubbed his wrists, before pulling Heero towards him. “Oh, you just wait until it's my turn. Then we'll see who the crybaby is.”

~*~*~

Heero shifted restlessly in his seat at the memory and stood up abruptly. It wouldn't do to sit here and think of such things now. He had places to go and people to see.

They had less than forty-eight hours to get things ready.

~&~&~&~&~

“Thank you ever so much. Yes, I will do that. You have a nice day.” She hung up the phone and glanced at her two companions with the thumbs-up sign. “All done.”

Julie and Merian grinned widely, as they followed the brown-haired girl towards the grand ballroom.

“How did you manage to convince them?” The Chinese girl asked, as she shifted the large box of Halloween decorations in her arms. “I thought those guys would be difficult to talk to.”

“I think Duo must have spoken to them already,” Relena replied as she dropped her own box, to place hands on her hips as she eyed their area of decorating. “They seemed nice enough.”

Julie had already begun to hang up the pumpkin lanterns. “I just hope this thing works. It looks a bit too elaborate for me. Couldn't he have thought up of something different?”

Relena chuckled and climbed up the stepladder to begin her own work. “Nah. Duo is a showman. He likes to have things done his way or everyone else's ideas are just a waste of his time.”

The girls giggled before a gruff and frankly irritated voice cut in rudely. “Not to interrupt you girls and your fun, but where do I keep this stuff?!”

“Wufei, darling!” Merian chimed in with a snicker, as she watched his face redden at the endearment. “I thought you would never make it. Why don't you drop it right there. We can take care of it.”

Trying to maintain some semblance of authority, he snorted and dropped the box of even more decorations to the floor. Just as he was about to rise up again, he almost fell to the ground as strong arms encircled his neck in a bear hug.

“Merian!! What are you trying to…oomphff!!”

His protests were quickly smothered by a kiss from the laughing girl, as he blushed at the display. When he was finally released, he tried to glare at her but ended up failing miserably.

“Do you want to help us, Wufei?” Merian asked with a sly grin as she kissed him on his nose. “I am sure we can find something to occupy your manly talents.”

“The injustice of it all. I do not have the time to stay here and…”

His rant was cut short as a string of light bulbs were shoved into his hands. “Those go over to your left, Wu-chan. You might want to use the ladder…”

Grumbling beneath his breath, he complied with his girlfriend's wishes and quickly set himself to work. He noticed Trowa and Quatre coming into the room and nodding in their direction, he put his attention back to his duties.

The party was in a day and the Grand Ballroom was almost complete in its ghoulish décor. The impressive room was as large as a football field, its design reflecting that of the Baroque period. Lavish and extensive wood paneling graced the walls and ceiling. Artwork from distinctive artists, reflecting various persona from the world of art and music also lined the walls, only this time, light orange and black gauze cloths had covered them. Orange and dark colored plants and flowers were brought in to lighten the otherwise dreary décor. Numerous volunteers had done an excellent job in transforming the lively room into one that closely resembled a haunted castle of some sort.

All in all, the one hundredth annual Halloween ball was going to be a night no one would ever forget.

~&~&~&~&~

Odin came down the large grandeur stairs humming some obscure song beneath his breath. Dressed in his tennis whites, exposing a body that could stand up to any man in his twenties, he twirled the racquet in his grasp and gave a practice swing to an imaginary ball. Rounding the corner to make his way towards the lawns, he spied the robust housekeeper and all around mother hen carrying away a box towards the disposal area. Normally, he would have ignored her actions and gone on his way, but there was something about that box…

“Martha! Where are you going to with that?” he asked calmly as he walked towards her.

The woman looked a bit startled. “Ah, it's you Master Odin. Yes, I found this box in the attic. I have to clean the place out you know. It was a bit musty and all. So, I thought I would take this one out.”

Odin felt his heart thud heavily against his chest as a sharp memory kicked in. “I will take it, Martha. You don't have to throw it away.”

“But, Master Odin…”

“Don't worry about it, Martha. I will take care of it.” He took away the black colored box with trembling hands, the memories coming back in a flood as he tried to control his emotions.

The sharp eyes of Martha caught the pale and wan look on his face. “Master Odin? Is everything alright? Do you want me to get you some tea or…”

“Just tell Alex that I will not be playing today, okay? I will be in my den and I do not wish to be disturbed, is that okay?”

“As you wish, Master Odin.”

The woman watched with worried eyes as her employer walked towards said room like a zombie. Shaking her head in confusion, she made her way to the tennis courts. It was none of her business after all.

~&~&~&~&~

He just stared at it. For several minutes he could do nothing but stare at the box. He was almost afraid to touch it now. It was as if he expected a snake to jump out of it and to bite him or probably kill him.

Stop being so ridiculous. It's just a box after all. Just a box…filled with…him…

He closed his eyes and raised his hands to his face. If anyone had seen him now, he or she would have been alarmed at the way his body shook. Abruptly spinning around, he walked away from the table, pacing up and down in indecision.

To open or not to open? That, my friends, is the question.

With the tightening of his lips, he made up his mind. Walking back to the box, he opened it and was immediately assailed by the musty smell of dust and age. He was unable to stop the small smile that came to his lips as he saw the first item in the box. Raising the small object in his hands, he eyed it with his smile widening. A camera. His very first camera.

He had wanted to be a photographer.

Putting it to the side, he reached into the box and brought out a smaller box. This contained some of his earlier efforts at photography. He could still remember the day he had received it. It had been on his sixteenth birthday and like a maniac, he had begun taking pictures of anything and everything. There were some really silly pictures he had taken, but he had kept them all. Although the quality had progressed over the years. Absentmindedly reaching into the box again, he pulled out the last and final thing in it. It was a book. A scrapbook, sort of. With a single name on it.

David.

He stared at the name with a well of conflicting emotions racing through his mind. He ran his fingers across the dusty cover, his fingers caressing the name he had so lovingly…

Whoa! Back up now!

Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he opened the book and swallowed tightly at the first picture that greeted him. It was the very first picture he had ever taken of the Maxwell. The first of many to come. And the other boy had never known. Odin had taken this one by accident to be exact. He had been in the park with some girl, trying to get her to pose for him. Making her sit on a bench, he had adjusted the lens and had taken the picture, much to his dissatisfaction. Later on that night, in his darkroom, he had washed out the print and had blinked at the face that had somehow come into the frame. David hadn't been looking at the camera, but that brown hair was unmistakable and that smile/laugh…oh, Kami! Odin had never seen any one look so beautiful in his life. The girl paled in comparison to the laughing young man that had crossed the bench behind her and from that moment on, Odin Yuy's fascination with the forbidden teenager had been born.

Every day was the same mission, to get a picture of David, whenever he could. As his hands flew across the pages, his smile turned into one of sadness as he realized that David had never really posed for him. He had stolen these shots…except for one. It was the last and final picture that Odin had ever taken.

David had been on his own, in a park, ironically enough, the very same park he had taken his first picture. The brown-haired boy had had a book in his hands, writing down something of some sort. Odin had watched as David had swiped away a tear from his eye, the feeling of sadness resonating deep within his soul. With hands that trembled, Odin had raised the camera to his eyes and had gasped in surprise as dark blue depths suddenly looked up to pin themselves upon him. On autopilot, Odin had taken the picture, forgetting to take out the flash as David got to his feet and bellowed out angrily.

Odin had run off like a coward. David had thought he was a paparazzi and that was good. Right? Developing the picture proved to be the most gut-wrenching thing he had ever done. Those dark blue depths burned through him. Filled with a sadness and longing that he could never define, he had captured David at his most vulnerable. And at that moment, Odin had sworn to give up photography. The joy was no longer there and so he had packed up five years of hard work into a box to lock away forever.

Ah, David…you…were…

The loud and almost frantic knocking on his office door jerked him out of his reverie. Placing a frown on his face, he quickly packed up the items and stomped towards it, ready to give whoever it was a piece of his mind. Pulling it open with more force than necessary, he was a bit startled to see the flushed and harassed-looking man before him.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Withers?”

Gulping for air, the poor man managed to gasp out brokenly. “Sir…oh, Mr. Yuy, sir. You have to put on the news.”

“Put on the news….”

“It's Master Heero, sir!”

Odin reached quickly for the remote and switched the television on, his eyes widening, his heart thumping in fear as the report reached his ears.

Oh, Kami, no!

He sank to the couch bonelessly, the air sucked out of his stomach. He couldn't breathe. This wasn't happening! It couldn't be happening!! Not again!! And to his own flesh and blood, too!!

“Mr. Yuy…” Withers began meekly.

Odin spoke in a voice that was barely recognizable. He had aged considerably in just a few seconds.

“Withers, prepare the jet for me. I have to go…now.”

“Understood, sir.”

~&~&~&~&~

David was insane. He was going to go insane. Eleanor hadn't stopped bawling for the past hour and Helen and her husband had been trying to comfort her, all to no avail.

Not my Duo. This could not be happening to my boy.

“I am leaving now,” he finally said, as he reached for his jacket. “Is my transportation ready?” he asked curtly.

“Yes, sir. The plane is all set,” one of the servants said solemnly.

Placing a light kiss on his wife's tear-streaked face, he nodded to his daughter and son-in-law before making his way out of the house and into the waiting limousine.

He hoped and prayed that he wasn't too late.

~&~&~&~&~

“This is Glenda Burns reporting for the six o'clock evening news. I am standing here in front of the Mount Kipling hospital where earlier this evening, the bodies of the two future heirs to the greatest dynasties ever known, Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell, were brought in with multiple burns and wounds. The police are still looking into what could have been the cause for such a catastrophe. All we have so far, is that the accident stemmed from a drunken brawl at the annual Halloween party that was being held at the time of the accident. Witnesses say that the two boys had left the party for a while, but the sounds of gunshots had been heard, hence sending the school into a pandemonium. We have tried to speak to the doctors on the boys' condition, but all they are saying is that the prognosis sounds very grim…”