A musical adventure, and robots!

[Deleted]

Mitsuko had texted Duo to let her know that she was at the amusement park waiting for him. She had told him not to rush, as she understood if he had to do a last minute delivery. At the end of the text message to him she put a smiley face assuring him that she doesn’t mind waiting for him.

In fact she was enjoying the breeze, and relaxing while she waited patiently. The angel hoped that Duo would have a fun time today, after everything he has gone through with the bounty hunters.

The angel knew that they grilled him to the core for a confession, and she defended him without proof. She went by her heart and she trusted Duo’s words and even though evidence is ammunition in proving one’s innocence, believing in your client is also important. The angel still felt bad about how Duo was treated by her fellow bounty hunters, and she was determined to make it up to him.

Mitsuko saw some of the booths set up at the park, and there were a few that caught her attention. They were music themed and contained rhythm games that required people to listen to the beats and score points.. One game in particular drew her attention, and as she entered the inside of the booth she saw a DDR competition going on. Her eyes widened.

These people were really good in dancing and at matching the rhythms of the songs with the arrows on the screen. Mitsuko wasn’t really a dancer but she loved musical games that can warm up and help a person exercise their body.

She texted back Duo in excitement, and took a photo of someone scoring points in this musical game.

(High scores!)





“You have got to see this! ^_^ When you get here we are going to play okay? Perhaps it can also give us some ideas for future music classes for those children!”

Earlier Mitsuko had told Zero where she was going, he of course had a fit but she promised to bring him back cotton candy. While she waited for Duo to arrive she texted Zero and let him know that she reached at the park safely and she gave him smiley faces and a heart.

She then focused on the remainder of the competition and it ended up in a tie. She clapped for them. Once she versus Duo in this game of music, she knew that both their musical ear was going to be tested as well as their movements in order to score points.

She also knew that they were going to be building mini gundam’s a little later as well, so she figured that this visit to the theme park at this time suited Duo, because he loves music and machines. She wanted this day to be the best day he’s ever had in a long time.

He deserves it, and she hops that he smiles and is not worried too much about what happened at the interrogation. She wanted him to leave those worries to her, and focus on enjoying himself.

(Tagged:Duo)

[Duo]

He had wore his Sunday best today. Not just because today is a Sunday, it's also because it's his first ever day out in taking a break. Being a delivery boy, it's hard for Duo to even take a breather, especially since there's so much wishes and hopes he has to deliver every day in the form of letters, packages and gifts.

Though feeling quite flattered that so many people trusts him and depends on him, Duo still needed to take a break from everything. Especially after he was convicted as a suspect in a smuggle. He admits in being quite traumatized being ganged up like that, considering it is a crime he didn't even commit.

At the sound of his message ringtone, Duo is quick to flip up his phone and smiled at the name of the sender; Miss Mitsuko. She had notified him that she's there already, and surprised by this, Duo had already picked up his speed as he reads the message. In the end of the message, she had typed that she doesn't mind waiting for him although he's quite late in their day out together. Apparently, he woke up late, and having sentenced to do community service, the postal company had dropped him from his title as a delivery man for a month so he could focus on his sentence.

Thus, he has all the time in the world to take a time out.
Too bad he woke up late.

It took him one whole hour to braid his hair to its desirable perfect state, and it took Duo even longer to decide what to wear. Finally, he ended up putting on a branded violet t-shirt, pants he feels comfortable walking in that doubles in making him look good, and a rather fabulous black jacket with line of fur on its collar. Almost similar to Zero's usual bounty-hunting jacket.



"I'm so sorry!! I got out of bed so late today! I'm all the way in Ianne now, but I'll be there in about half an hour!" He had typed as a response for Mitsuko. Actually, half an hour to reach Gradia from Ianne isn't very logical, considering the distance it took, and also the scheduled lift ride everyone has to take through the conveyor to go up to the floating metropolis a few hundred miles up in the air.

Still, after precisely 27 minutes, he had amazingly super-speeded his way without even breaking a sweat all the way crossing two countries and finally reached the base of the lift towards Gradia. He even managed to stop by the florist on his way.

Being a delivery boy has its perks, even when Duo's currently unemployed by anyone. He just showed him his 'postman-card' as he likes to call it, and the guards at the lift instantly allowed him to ride up to Gradia without even waiting in line. That's probably the best perk of being a postman.

While on his way up, he received another text by Mitsuko accompanying with some shots she took with her phone camera. Slanting a grin at this, Duo typed up his reply:

"Miss Mitsuko, you are ON. We're so playing it once I get up there. Only THEN shall I show you my awesome nimble limbs!" He laughed as he sent it, already figuring he'd allow Mitsuko to win for the sake of being a gentleman. Winning isn't really important to him, unless his opponent can challenge his manly ways; like Roy, as an immediate example.

The lift ride up to Gradia took about 10 minutes, and once Duo's standing on the floating metropolis, he gaped at the sky-towering buildings and hovering boards whizzing around. Come to think of it, this is his first time stepping inside Gradia; the city he had always dreamed of.

His eyes are practically gleaming as he walked through the city, enchanted by every bit of architecture or gadget he saw, until finally he arrived at the entrance of Pyotr Park. Just as quickly, he could see that familiar blonde hair in an instant.

"Miss Mitsuko~!!!" He called out to her, waving an arm high up to catch her attention, his braid also swinging with the motion. Approaching her, he then handed her a small bouquet of flowers, "As thanks, for inviting me."

He curtly explained with probably the most mature bow he could manage towards the angel. It's a gesture of respect back at his place, and though he despises his country, he still practices the social customs and traditions because he practically grew up in a church. The teachings were imbedded in his mind for a lifetime.

The flowers were beautiful daisies arranged in a neat single whorl, with a number of asters cleverly decorated in between the daisies in a smiley pattern. "I think the florist kinda likes me, cuz I'm so good in asking her to make the flower arrangements while getting it off with a discount," he admitted with a bat of his eyelashes and laughed.

"So how are you doing, Miss Mitsuko? Care to tell me what you have in store for me today?" He started politely, already noticing with a dart of his eyes behind Mitsuko's shoulder to where the DDR is but is courteous enough to start an easy conversation.

"Or should we take turns? After you surprise me with a game you choose, I surprise you with a ride I choose~!" He's the man here, and no matter how often he acts like a total girl sometimes, Duo still has manners to treat and lead a lady.

[Deleted]

The angel laughed at Duo’s texts -- even when he wasn’t physically around he still managed to make her laugh. When he arrived and presented her with the flowers she was touched by his kind gesture, and she blushed a little bit. When he explained to her about the possibility of the florist liking him she wasn’t surprised.

“Hahahaha how could a young lady not be your secret admirer so much so they are sweet to you? Look at you Duo you are kind hearted, you mske people laugh, and you have the special ability in making a person laugh—not to mention cheering them up when they are sad. So I am not surprised that the flourist is sweet to you.”

The angel giggled and after she took the flowers gently from Duo she gave him a hug, she then noticed the jacket that Duo was wearing.

“You know I am so thankful that you have a beautiful braid. If you didn’t have that braid I would have mistaken you for Zero! But you look nice in that jacket.”

“Thank you though for being so sweet. Now since today is a day for us to have fun why don’t we take turns in surprising each other? I already told you the first game in a text and that is DDR. Even if you can’t dance don’t worry about it we’ll just laugh. Because after all laughter is the best medicine~ Oh before I forget… I have something for you too.”

The angel took out a small kit and in it contains freshly baked miniature cupcakes with cute little faces on them.



“These are for you, I hope you like them.”

(representing her happy face when she gave him the cupcakes)

[Duo]

"Ehehe, stop flattering me, Miss Mitsuko.. I'm not that great of a man..." Clearly blushing at the angel's compliments, Duo laughed nervously as he scratched the nape of his neck. "I'm glad you like the flowers, though!"

At her comment of his jacket, Duo shuffles with his collar playfully a bit. "I know, right? I mean, the second I saw that boy, I was thinking, 'Hey! I have that same exact jacket back at my hostel!' To think that maybe we bought it from the same store, ahaha!"

Duo throws his head up and laughed. He has a particular tune in his laughter that's quite hard to miss and rather amusing to hear, actually. It's like people can literally laugh by hearing him laughing.

"Now who says I can't dance?" He raised a brow at Mitsuko with a boyish grin. Then, when the angel presented to him of a small case, Duo blinked at it curiously before taking the kit from her with a generous thank you before opening it.

"AAAWWWW~!!!" He immediately outbursts at the sight of the tiny colorful cupcakes all grouped in a batch like that. "These are SOOO CUTE!!" His metallic blue eyes are wide and shining, and his grin almost stretches to his ears.

"Did you made all these..?! Aaawww, they're so cute, I can't bear to eat them.. Thank you!! I love these!!" Since Duo cannot stand any type of food and anything relatively cute, the mixture of those two aspects made a healthy rosy tint traveling up his cheeks.

He took a moment to stare at the adorable cupcakes some more until he decided to close the box and places it safely inside his messenger bag. "So!" He held up his hand for Mitsuko to take, "Would you care for a dance, milady?"

Clearly very happy now, Duo laughed at how his voice sounded as if they're going for a ball, when really they're heading to the dancing pads of an arcade game. "You choose the songs, Miss Mitsuko. My body can dance to ANYthing~"

Duo even did a little wave with his arms and shoulders that the people around them clapped.

[Deleted]

“Hahahaha! I am not sure how Zero will react to your comment about the jackets, but how about something like this?”

The angel cleared her throat, and tried to do an impression of Zero, the last time she did an impression was when she was with her sister Syani and they were making a birthday cake back at DD and Mitsuko did an impression of the angry teachers, that would scold them for making such a mess in the home economics room.

So here she goes again all in light hearted fun to do an impression of Zero.

“You idiot! Were you stalking me as I went to buy my jacket?! You are planning to steal Miki away from me aren’t you?! Well not if I shoot you first!”

A long pause was followed after Mitsuko’s impression of her precious one but then the angel laughed at herself. As she laughed though she gently kept a hold of Duo’s hand since he helped support her body as she laughed. When Duo said that his body could dance to anything and that she could pick the songs, she got an idea.

Since this was a musical adventure, as well as robot themed the angel started to scroll through of the songs, that were available, and found a few that she liked. She looked at Duo as a sign to get ready. Selecting the okay button these were her selections back to back.

1)Last Impression (Gundam Wing Endless Waltz)



2)White Reflection (Gundam Wing)



3)Invoke (Gundam Seed)



Soon they started to dance each of the songs, and surprisingly as they danced it seemed as if neither one of them was going easy on the other. Both of them loved music so once they felt the rhythm well the rest is history. She had picked music that they both can feel the rhythm quite easily. The first song Last Impression started off slow at first but soon it picked up with its beats. The crowd soon gathered around them, and all the people were entranced by how these two partners were dancing.

“Well Duo, you are stuck with an angel as your dancing partner for today, haha you don’t mind right? Zero had a fit when he heard I was meeting with you but I promised to bring him a souvenir. I wouldn’t be surprised if he brought his partner just to check up on me haha! And I hope you don’t mind my song choices. I just knew how much you liked robots so why not pick songs from gundam shows?”

[Duo]

Duo immediately burst out laughing at Mitsuko's scary accurate impression of Zero the barbarian. "That is SO true in every sense of the word!" He had to wipe a tear forming at the side of his eye from too much laughing.

Duo got himself ready by stretching himself as the angel went on to pick the songs. He didn't manage to see which songs she picked because he was so his upper body to twist to the back.

So when he gets on the pads with Mitsuko, it surprised him when the first song starts. "Miss Mitsuko, how do you know." He said, not meaning it as a question as he danced with her on the slow beat at first.

When the beat picks up, both him and the angel were practically moving like water with how fast the arrows are appearing. They synchronized each other so well, the crowd is applauding for them. "Seriously, how can you dance with a skirt? That's awesome!" His eyes are still on the screen, but he managed to compliment her dancing skill while still dancing.

Duo added his own moves with his arms as he danced according to the arrows when the second song starts. It's so catchy, he just had to use it to have some fun and danced freely to it.

When Invoke started, Duo literally screamed in excitement since he totally loves the song. "INVOKE~!!" He squealed when the piano starts at first, and then totally moved fast when the beat starts. He even sang along with it as he danced.

They were both like dancing god/dess as they both tripped the light fantastic into amazing levels. Once the songs had ended, both their scores are actually tied. Duo laughed, turned to Mitsuko, offered his hand to her and said, "I have met my match and I'm honored its you, Miss Mitsuko. Hahahah! Nice dancing skills! Now, my turn to impress you!"

He guided the angel gently down the pads and walked around a bit until he spotted a shoot-the-prize game. "OH!" He pointed excitedly at it, then ran towards the stall like a child. "I can totally win you a pony or something!" He said with vigour as he eyes the prizes in display if he managed to shoot the targets with specific scored on them.

Based on the scores, he will get a prize. "Which plushie do you want, Miss Mitsuko? I'm pretty sure I can get you almost anything here." Duo rubbed his chin as he measures the distance between him and the target. The plushies in display ranges from all shapes and sizes, so there is a variety that Mitsuko could choose from.

[Deleted]

“I know that Zero will be impressed at how well I know him. Haha Duo I have known him since I was little, so it’s only natural that I can read him well, even as an adult I can read him much more strongly. But he means well and he is protective of me. I love being protected by him though since with that protective shield I feel his love in his energy.”

When they both started dancing and being so in sync with each other and Duo commented on the fact that she can dance in a skirt she laughed.

“Well as an angel I tend to wear light fitting clothing that is easy to move in. I love to feel light on my feet and on my body. If I wear things that are too heavy than it will just feel like I have weights on. Besides my style of clothing matches my personality: A free spirit. I do wear jackets in the winter and adjust my clothes for the weather but I just allow myself to breathe haha!”

When invoke started and Duo exclaimed in excitement and soon started to sing along with the song the angel started to sing along with Duo. Even their voices were in harmony with each other and this was a sign that they truly were musical friends and brought the best in each other musically.

“Duo do you realize that if you keep singing you can make it as a singer too? You truly do have the potential to do so I’m not just saying that because you are my friend but I just see this potential. Do you ever sing in the shower for fun? I do that sometimes but in a whisper since well there are some days in which I stay with the bounty hunters and with Zero.

I mean haha what if I was singing in Japanese in the shower? I think all of them would gather outside the bathroom just to hear me sing instead of going on a bounty hunt hahaha!”

Duo then led her to a target shooting game and he asked her which plushie she wanted. There were so many to choose from but one of them caught her eye and it was a life sized pink bunny rabbit. Still holding onto Duo’s hand in a friendly way she cutely pointed to the specific bunny rabbit and said:

“That one Duo!” Realizing her sudden outburst she collected herself and asked more politely. “That’s if you don’t mind of course. You see whenever I see cute things I get a cuteness overload. Hahaha.”

[Duo]

After signalling the stall vendor that he wanted to try the game, the man gave him a sort of plastic gun. Duo weighted it down using his own hand as he waited for Mitsuko to choose whatever prize that she wants.

When the angel suddenly pointed towards a pink rabbit-like plushie, Duo gave a confident nod to her. "Sweet. I can get that for you." He said, fully capable of his abilities to attain that prize with no trouble.

He had to laugh when Mitsuko restrains herself from her outburst due to the 'cuteness overload' as she worded it out. "Miss Mitsuko, really, you don't need to do that. Just let it out, and be free. Like me!" He grinned widely down at her and laughed a bit. "I mean, we're in an amusement park! Just let loose~"

Winking at the angel, Duo spins the gun around his index finger. "Oh yeah, and about your boyfriend.." His smile falters a bit, but only very slightly. "I know you love him, and I know you like it when he protects you because that's how he shows he loves you too, but..." Duo dropped his eyes a bit, trying to find the right words to describe his worry.

"..Don't make him hurt others too much. Okay?" Beaming a smile to Mitsuko, the mechanic could only hope he word it out right. His worry was formed months ago when he was sentenced to community service by being a teacher under Mitsuko, and he can't even breathe the same air she does without being glared at by Zero. It was highly uncomfortable.

"I'm just worried if people might drift away from you because he's too controlling of who you're befriending." There's a rare serious expression on Duo's face right now, he's just speaking out his worries to a friend. But then a smile curved up his lips again, "Think you can have a talk with him?"

Mitsuko is an understanding individual, Duo knows he can trust her in these matters. He then turned back to the shooting game, seeing a board that states how many points needed to get each prize. He finally found the points needed for the rabbit plush, so Duo got on a stance.

He held the gun with both his hands, his left shoulder touching his left cheek, and his right leg slides behind him a bit to gain a firmer balance. Raising his gun in position, he signalled the vendor that he's ready, and the man presses a button for a machinery to start the game.

Several targets appeared all at once, each one of them has different numbers on them, and the higher the number, the smaller the target. Duo stayed in position for a while, his eyes darting left and right to find the desired number for the prize Mitsuko wants.

Once he does, Duo deftly pulled the safety trigger and shoots without a second thought. The plastic bullet was shot straight through the target he's aiming. Lowering down the gun, the braided man grinned of his achievement. The life-size pink bunny plush was handed to him, and Duo gave the prize to Mitsuko with a smile.

"Honestly, I'm kind of worried if the boy stalked you here, saw me hanging out with you, and shot me dead. Hahah." He's joking with that last part, but he does truly worry. Over-protective boyfriends can be pretty brutal to basically every male within sight.

"If he knows this is from me," Duo motioned to the pink plush, "Will he rip it apart?" He asked light-heartedly with a silly grin. He doesn't want Solo to come out, so Duo does try his best every day to be cheerful and jolly no matter what the situation is.

Handing back the gun to the vendor, Duo thanked the man and then faces Mitsuko. "And!" He said, patting her on her head since she's so petite, "No, I can never sing as good enough as you to attract people to my bathroom! Hahah! C'mon, look at me, I'm not a celebrity!"

Laughing as he pointed to himself, Duo then scratches his hair a bit. "Thanks for the compliment though! I don't really sing to please people, just for my own enjoyment. Seriously, I can bleed people's ears if I perform with my voice, god help them. Hahah!" His eyes are twinkling as he looks at the angel, clever in swerving the topic to something humorous.

[Deleted]

Mitsuko clasped her hands together happily and watched as Duo played the shooting game with such skill and winning the cute bunny rabbit that she requested. Duo wasn’t kidding when he said earlier on that it was his turn to impress her, and she was impressed. Duo then voiced his concern about Zero’s protectiveness over her, but the truth was Duo didn’t know the story as to why Zero was like that towards other guys.

It was because he knew that she had gotten hurt time and time again, and also he had a great fear of losing her since she is the best thing that happened to him, in his life. Assuringly Mitsuko listened to Duo’s words carefully and then responded back in such a soft sweet understanding tone.

“Duo you are so kind to worry about me, but I can assure you that everything will be okay. There is always a reason why a person acts the way they do, and in my case and Zero’s case we have been through a lot of sensitive things as children, and we only had each other. Don’t worry, there is an event coming up that will help heal Zero and myself heal.

Please understand that Zero means well, and no he will not stalk me here.”

“Zero just doesn’t want me to get hurt by anyone but at the same time Zero wants me to be free. He told me that himself. Zero may look cold on the outside but if you take sometime to get to know him he really has such a warm and caring heart.

The only way Zero will go after someone is if someone really causes me harm, other than that my love knows I have to live just like he does. He won’t rip up the stuffed animal.”

“Zero is often misunderstood, but truly Duo he is a good person. But I will give him a gentle reminder okay? Also Zero knows that people are attracted to me because of how I am to people and he acknowledges that and he also told me with his own voice.”

"I do apologize on his behalf if he made you feel uncomfortable, but don't worry again I will talk with him okay? I just wanted you to understand Zero's side."

And I was wondering… I don’t think I got a chance to ask you this but… Would you like to come to my wedding? This is my biggest form of a thank you to you for being such a good person to me.”

“Now what should I name this bunny rabbit? Pinky hahahaha!”

Duo then commented on that he can’t sing, but being the positive person that she is she was curious about his vocal range.

“Ohh it can’t be that bad! C’mon sing a scale with me. Do, re, me, fa, so, la, ti.. do~ “

[Duo]

After handling her the prize that she wants, Duo considered to give back the toy gun he had used to the man handling the stall, but then decided against it and paid the man the charge for another round of shooting.

Might as well get himself another prize while listening to Mitsuko's remark of his concern. Perhaps it was because he met that Zero boy with such a terrible first impression, maybe that's why the boy is eternally loathing him.

Duo glanced towards the angel shortly after she explained that there's certainly reasons for Zero's behavior. "Of course," he agreed with her as he eyed which prize he's going to win for himself.

He had to chuckle a bit once Mitsuko stated that he should get to know Zero to know he has a good heart, "Ahahah! Miss Mitsuko, I think he only opens his heart to you. Somehow, I have a feeling that he hates me...and the rest of the male population." Duo admitted that he did tried to be as nice as he could to the kid, but Zero never did even smiled at him. Thus, he concluded as so.

"Yeah, I.. Maybe I'm overthinking things, hahah.." The mechanic grinned at the angel, scratching the back of his neck as he does so. "Thanks for hearing me out, though. That makes me feel better." He nodded, signalling the stall owner to start the mechanism.

The shooting game starts and Duo shot a target, much easier than the last one, only because he wants something smaller for a prize, and got himself a cute bunny-shaped keychain. Pocketing his prize, he gave the gun back to the owner and turned to Mitsuko just as she's done apologizing about Zero.

"Hahah, don't worry about it. The kid's maturing well, despite his issues. Thanks," he gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder, signifying that this has been a good beneficial talk. Duo kept his smile permanent once Mitsuko seemed like she was about to ask him something.

He chuckled at her invitation and immediately agreed, "Oh wow, really, thanks for inviting me! I'd love to attend! Thank you, Miss Mitsuko!" Really, she was the one who invited him to this amusement park while he's in the midst of applying her makeup and fixing her hair, and she got herself a fiance just moments after that.

"Just ring me up if you need any help with anything regarding your wedding. I'm a man with a variety of talents~" And he's not even joking. Although most people kept seeing him as a wizard in music, Duo has a couple more capabilities that he prides himself in, namely his interest in machinery, his speed in delivering cargo and even his fondness for hair. Heck, he could be a keyboardist, a mechanic, a delivery boy and a barber all at the same time if he wants.

Duo laughed along with Mitsuko once she decided a name for the bunny rabbit, "Pinky! Hahah, suiting. She looks as cute as you are anyway." He added in with a grin and had to laugh again when the angel actually encouraged him in singing.

"Oh come on, for real?" His laugh died down in a chuckle once Mitsuko urged him to sing a scale with her. "Hahah, okay okay, ah-hem." Duo cleared his throat and took in a breath.

"Do, re, me, fa, so, la, ti, do~“ He sang, despite it being to just amuse her, but it wasn't bad as an end result. "..Wow, that came out better than I expected, hahah!" He burst a short laugh and shook his head.

"Alright, alright, heh. Your turn, Miss Mitsuko." He held out his arm and direct her to the many fun rides and game stalls before them, proposing her to choose one for them to play.

[Deleted]

Mitsuko enjoyed spending time with Duo, she could tell that he was just thriving from positive energy, and she hoped that by providing him with a friendship that had lots of positivity in it would serve him well for any of his future endeavors.

As friends Duo and Mitsuko can have understanding conversations with each other, and they would always respect each other’s opinions.

The angel greatly appreciated the fact that Duo could voice any concerns that he had about Zero so openly. She will gently speak to Zero, but she also understood why Zero was unwelcoming towards other men and it was because men hurt the angel time and time again. It wasn’t just one man that hurt her it was four men. One man had hurt her physically, and the other three had hurt her emotionally.

Mitsuko had such a fragile spirit and heart and seeing her being hurt over and over again had set the bells and whistles off in Zero’s head. The young bounty hunter was her sword and shield and Zero took that role very seriously.

So while he is suspicious about another man’s intentions that enter Mitsuko’s life, Zero was doing everything he can to protect her heart and to prevent it from breaking again.

The angel believed that one day everyone will come to understand Zero’s actions and feelings toward them. But what Duo said was true; Zero was indeed maturing well and was becoming a man like he wanted to be.

Mitsuko knew Zero since he was 8, so she had the precious opportunity to see the sweet softer side to him, and Zero deserved everything that is good in life just like everyone else.

Even when she was in the hospital Zero took care of her, and to be honest no one has ever taken care of her or fought for her like how Zero did at that time, and even today.

Mitsuko smiled at Duo and decided to share that memory with him right after he had mentioned that Zero only opens his heart to her.

“You’re right Duo. He does open his heart to me and he and I confide in each other, I can tell him anything, and he understands. No guy that I have been in a relationship with from my past… I can’t even remember if there was ever a time they fought for me.. And if I can’t remember it then that tells me that they never did that.”

“Zero fights for me so hard, he fights everything just so I can be safe and happy, and I fight for him too. I am not as direct about it like he is, but I do have a protectiveness over him. People have hurt Zero, and I don’t want anyone to hurt Zero ever again.

It’s good that Zero and I have a strong relationship that is full of love, life, and always backing each other up. It will be good for our marriage.”

“After so many years, after so long I finally got the courage to tell someone that I love that I do love them. You see since I have had my heart broken more then once I was scared to be in love again, I was very scared."

"I was scared that if I give my heart to someone one more time then it would be broken all over again, and if that happened, I feel that I would just draw on to the conclusion that maybe I wasn’t meant to be involved with anyone."

"But just be everyone’s guardian angel. The angel that protects and helps as much people as she can. But being with Zero made me realize that the reason why my relationships didn’t work out in the first place, it was because my heart was reserved for Zero."

"My whole world is coming together and I found love again when I allowed myself to. He’s my heart and I know what feels right."

Hahah I think I told you how I feel about him before when we were on our way to the birthday party, but I hope now it adds more of a basis and explanation to why Zero is the way he is.

There is always a reason, and it doesn’t make Zero wrong. Yes he has to learn how he expresses his opinions better, that is less hostile, but his reasons are not wrong. Just like how you voicing your concern to me aren’t wrong, because your heart is telling you to tell me what you feel, it’s the same for Zero.

His heart knows that it breaks whenever he sees me crying and in pain, so he wants to keep me safe so that no one could ever hurt me. “

“My point is what you feel and what Zero feels isn’t wrong. Both of you have different outlooks but that’s what makes us people. I am never going to give you wrong for what you feel Duo, or place judgement on you.

"Sometimes yes we can all sound so unreasonable but I feel that is because our thoughts and emotions haven’t been communicated clearly, so we are all jumbled up and confused.”

“We may not agree with each other’s opinions but we can respect them, besides I think that if we listen to a persons feelings we can find something in them that can help us be stronger as people. The only time that people's feelings get hurt is when a person uses his or her opinions to deliberately hurt someone, or even calling them names.. "

"For example Zero has a no nonsense approach whenever he is speaking to me about things that bother me, and while he does respect me and love me, sometimes Zero has to tell me like it is and his words aren’t meant to hurt me, it’s meant to help me be stronger, and if he didn’t love me I don’t think he would go through all that trouble to reach me.”

“If the power of words fail us in the verbal communication department, then we all have the power to listen to each other. So I appreciate you telling me and being honest with me, but I assure you, ,you have nothing to worry about.”

The angel placed a hand on Duo’s shoulder.

“I have a feeling that maybe, just maybe he might be more welcoming toward you on the wedding day, because Zero will be free. My greatest wish is to heal Zero Duo and that is the last step we need. I can’t wait to be his wife. Haha even when we have our disagreements I have butterflies.”

When Duo started singing a scale she clapped her hands.

“And you are telling me that you can’t sing? Duo you are actually pretty good, don’t sell yourself short okay? If you feel like you have another talent then go for it. Go for your dreams.”

Duo then allowed Mitsuko to choose the next game for them to play, but she wanted to try out the shooting game before they go on to the next game, and the reason why she wanted to try it was because she was at one point a bounty hunter and bounty hunters work with guns. She wanted to see how far she came, but to also get Zero a prize too. Even though he wasn’t there with them, she didn’t want him to feel left out either.

“Before we go further Duo let me try my luck at the shooting game. I want to see how far I have come with my shooting skills and to also make Zero even more proud of me haha as well as getting him a prize too.

The angel got the toy gun from the man at the stall and started shooting almost perfectly. She was laughing too because she had remembered her training sessions with Hunter and how he wanted her to use a bubble gun instead of a real gun since it scared her.

So whenever she shot the bubble gun bubbles came out and made the HQ a bubble wonderland.

It was a running gag at HQ now.

“Not bad huh Duo?”

Mitsuko had won a stuffed animal for Zero, which was a prideful eagle. Eventually the angel had invited Duo to her wedding, and when he offered to help her she immediately asked him politely.

“Well, I think that night, that Zero proposed to me I had quickly asked you if you can be the musican at the wedding hahaha. But since you do a good job with hair and make up can you assist me in that again? Only this time it is for my wedding day?”

[Duo]

As he listened to Mitsuko's part of the explanation, as well as her personal feelings regarding the topic, Duo occassionally nodded. He paused at some points to empathize what she's going through her life, and once he's sure of what to say, he opened his mouth to comment.

"There was a saying back in my place that goes, "A lady will always remember the first man who ever protects her". Add Zero and your overly caring heart, equals love." Duo concluded with a loose smile.

Usually, a father officially takes in that first place, but knowing Mitsuko has issues with her own father, Duo doubted he had successfully taken that place, same goes with her exes. Really, she has such a caring loving heart that Duo is somehow not surprised that she fell in love with all the wrong men before.

Plus, its a known fact that when someone doesn't get enough care and love in their life, they can't differentiate the difference of their own love to others whether it be familial, friendship-based or even true love. Duo sighed as he shook his head, thinking over the fate of this beatiful young lady here.

"He's the first who ever fights for you, and the only one who stands by you till now. I say that's a safe bet," the braided man strokes his chin in a thinking manner as he stated so. "Just...please put a leash on him or something so he won't bite me, hahah."

As Mitsuko placed a hand on his shoulder, stating that Zero will be more welcoming to him on their wedding day, Duo closed his eyes almost as if wishing it, and nodded, "I hope so. I can only hope so."

He doesn't know the lad as well as the angel here, so he can do nothing but hope it to be true. He can't understand everyone, but at the same time he wishes to help everyone. Its contradictory, but a man can dream.

At Mitsuko's praise of his singing the scale, Duo burst up a chain of chuckles. "I rather allow the spotlight to shine on you on the singing department, I'll just stick to my keyboard and basketball playing." He joked and then allowed her to choose their next activity.

It mildly surprised him when she wished to try the shooting game herself, so he allowed her to go for it. Duo even paid for her round before he stepped back and gave her some room to shoot. Imagine his surprise when the angel actually scored above average in the shooting game as well.

"Not bad at all!" He outbursts with a round of his clapping. "Nice shooting! Wait, I thought you shoot arrows, not bullets!" Duo laughed as he congratulated the angel, smiling at the eagle plush she received.

That is when she asked him a request regarding his role in her wedding. Duo raised a brow at her quick response and held himself from bursting out another laugh. "Oh Miss Mitsuko, I'm quite happy you're aware of my many awesome talents," he boasted with a joking wiggle of his brows.

"I can be both the handsome musician and your saucy beautician at the same time, all for your sake, milady~" And then he did a regal bow to the lady before pulling himself up with a grin. "I mean, like, what are friends for?" And in that second, his form shifted from being such a gentleman to someone quite girlish with how he swished his wrist like that.

He's letting out that girl in him that it looks quite horrendous actually.

[Deleted]

Mitsuko smiled as Duo shared the saying with her, and she nodded in agreement. In a way Duo and Mitsuko’s friendship was very insightful and it was a learning experience for the two of them. The angel reached out and gave Duo a hug, sometimes you just need to give a friend a hug and what’s good about hugs is that you don’t always need a reason to give them.

They can be sometimes the most random action of showing someone that you care, but something deep inside the angel, figured that Duo hadn’t gotten a hug in quite sometime.

“Aww Duo you are correct and the first person that ever protected me is Zero himself even as a child. While I was the one protecting him at all times, whenever we played house he protected me as my childhood husband haha! He is the dearest person to me and I love him so much. I now know what true love feels like and it feels like your heart is flying on the highest winds.”

Duo when I have my child would you baby-sit if Zero and I just need some time alone together? I trust you deeply with that task since you are my friend, and you were so good with those children at the baseball game. Yes Zero and I are planning a baby, but we got to get married first. That’s the rule and that’s the value he respects.”

The angel blushed a bit as she admitted this to Duo. One of her greatest dreams in life was to give Zero a family, but to just share that joy with her friend made her heart flutter. She knew Duo would be so happy for her, and possibly for himself since he would be an uncle.

“I also even started to write my vows to Zero and it’s my own promises to him for the rest of our lives together. Again I never thought I would be getting married but I am. I can finally settle down with the one I love and be happy. We will of course have our moments of struggles but we can make thro ugh anything together.”

Then a thought crossed her mind and she figured she ask Duo this since he was a deliveryman.

“I am so sorry to bring this up so suddenly to you but as a deliveryman you handle lots of boxes right? I was wondering do you have any empty boxes to spare? You see Zero and I will be in the process of moving in together in a few short weeks as we make final preparations for the wedding, and well we need a few boxes to move a lot of Zero’s stuff in, at the inn.”

The last line she said was gold because you had two types of “Ins” here. You had the first in where you go “into” something, and you had the second “inn” where people stay for the night and rent a room. Realizing her little joke that she put in the same sentence she let out a laugh.

When she won the stuffed eagle for Zero she hugged the plush so tightly that the sent of her perfume went on it.

“Oh my…. Hahaha now the scent of the perfume I am wearing just rubbed off on this plush toy that I won for Zero.. Hahah now it will be like he’s hugging me for the night. And thank you Duo for the compliment on the shooting skills. I do shoot arrows, but I use a gun too rarely but I am trained to use it since… I worked with Zero for a while much to his dismay. Haha he didn’t want me working with him because of safety reasons.”

She then saw Duo's girly side come out and she laughed light heartily.

“Duo please do me a favor. As you get older never forget your fun loving spirit okay?”

She knew that Duo had personal issues but she wanted to encourage him as his life goes on to keep his fun spirit. It can make so many people around him smile.[/font]

[Duo]

Upon receiving a sudden hug from Mitsuko, Duo didn't even question why she did that. Instead, he opened his arms wide for her the moment he noticed she moved towards him and then closes his arms around her to complete the hug, no matter how unsuspecting it is.

"It's true what they say, you are full of surprises~" Duo complimented the angel with a grin, patting her back in a friendly manner while inside her hug. He listens to her personalized explanation of what true love feels like, and the braided man just had to laugh at how sweet that sounded, "Ahahah, yeah?? Wow, I'd like me some of that feeling soon!"

Falling in love is such an odd topic for Duo personally, not because he doesn't want it, it's because he can't. With a crazy tyrant inhabiting in his body, he surely doesn't want to get involved with anyone, despite how much he really wishes to fall in love one of these days.

Duo's eyes opened up wide at Mitsuko's sudden request for him to baby-sit her child one day. "Planning a baby...." Duo stared at the angel unbelievably, not because it's a strange topic to talk about considering Mitsuko and Zero's marriage coming up, but because it's another subject that Duo wishes he consider as well some time in the future.

But of course, Solo had destroyed all of these wonderful dreams of his by just existing. So just seeing his friend here discussing with him regarding her marriage and her baby brings him so much joy, because it's the type of joy that he can never feel. Just knowing the angel is going to be so happy in the future really does makes Duo glad, that she earns this happiness she's about to reap.

"Of course I'd babysit your kid!" He answered with a laugh, almost saying "Because I can never have my own, so I'd be so happy to babysit ANY child~!" but fortunately stopped himself before it escaped his mouth. "Oh gosh, just imagining them calling me Uncle Duo is making me so excited~!!"

It's like a sort of psychological defense trigger, that when Duo can never achieve a specific state of happiness, he would rely on another's happiness to at least get the gist of that feeling the closest he can get. As no matter how cruel fate is to Duo, he would always find ways in pursuit of happiness.

"Vows!" Duo arched his eyebrows high at Mitsuko's claim, "You've wrote it?? Oh my gosh, can I hear it??" To Duo's memory, he had never attended a wedding before. All his life, despite growing up in a church, marriage was such an alien word in his country. Heck, there weren't even girls there.

So to have a chance in attending Mitsuko's wedding filled Duo with such ecstasy, he's easily excited over anything right now. "Hahah, Miss Mitsuko, I believe every girl dreams to get married with the one they love." Even though there are no girls in his country due to the unnatural mass production of boys, Duo still dreams of how girls are like due to the stories the priests read for him about the natural balance of the world and how it should be.

"Hm?" Duo responded with a smile at Mitsuko's sudden question to him regarding of his status as a deliveryman. "Empty boxes, huh?" Stroking his chin, Duo thought back. He's been stripped of his job as a delivery boy right now for a few months or so due to the smuggling case. But he does have a number of unused boxes, somewhere, he can't remember where he dumped all those boxes in.

"It's coming to me. I think I have some in my room? I can't remember which room though.... Either at my hotel room in Fijion....or somewhere near the extra room at the dojo back in Kumo... Crap, I can't remember.." Having been traveling in so many countries, it's only natural that he has many permanent rooms all over the different inns. "I'll get back to you once I found out where I stack those things in, eheh."

Duo had to pause at Mitsuko's last sentence regarding the two 'ins', and he burst out laughing at the very same time the angel laughed. "Oh no worries about your perfume sticking to the plush, I'm pretty sure that boy's gonna like it."

He laughs again once Mitsuko asked him a favor to never forget his fun-loving spirit, "I'm pretty much stuck being like this for the rest of my life, so don't you worry! My spirit's permanently staying here!" Patting his heart as he said so, Duo smiled at her.

Just then, something bumped onto Duo's legs. Looking down, he saw a little boy stumbling back from bumping onto his legs. Immediately, Duo knelt down and helped the boy up. He doesn't look old enough to even be walking on his own, so Duo looked around to see if there's a couple of parents nearby.

Seeing no one of the sort, Duo turns back to the little boy and smiled in order not to scare him off. "Hi there, little fella~ You okay there..? No no, it's okay, don't cry, Uncle Duo's here to help. Are you lost?"

Receiving a timid nod from the little boy, Duo then looked up towards Mitsuko, "Miss Mitsuko, see if you can find a safety guard nearby. Or a broadcasting center. We have a lost kid here."

[Deleted]

Mitsuko put a hand on Duo’s shoulder and smiled at him. Deep inside she knew that Duo deserved to be loved. Every person deserves it and perhaps he will meet a lady that he will want to his whole heart to without hesitation.

Zero and Mitsuko didn’t realize how deeply in love they are with each other until their anniversary, and during the moments in which Zero got uncomfortable, whenever they talked about Mitsuko’s future with another man, and how Zero would have to meet this man. He didn’t say it out loud but Mitsuko could tell that Zero wouldn’t be okay if Mitsuko got involved with anyone that wasn’t him.

Instead from Mitsuko’s point of view Zero tried his best to be supportive, but his heart told him differently and his heart said that he loves Mitsuko. Mitsuko’s heart told her the same thing.

If Zero got involved with someone Mitsuko of course would let him go and let him be free, but her heart would be missing a link. She was just glad that they acted on their feelings and embraced it.

Now she is the happiest she has ever been because she has the other half of her heart, and there are no regrets in her life now. Zero was hers and he always will be. So to be planning their son and their wedding, and their moving arrangements everything was exciting but tiring at the same time.

“Haha yes Duo a little baby, and we even have a name. Matthew. Because of my connection to heaven and being able to read energy the heavens gave us a hint. We are having a little boy. We don’t know when he’ll be born but we do know that he will be the result of the love Zero and I share. Maybe when he’s born you can write him a lullaby and I can provide the vocals?”’’

The angel then asked about the boxes and when Duo said he would get back to her she laughed a little. “Alright no problem Duo we can use all the boxes we can get since Zero is the one moving in, and with all the gifts I gave him…. There is a lot. Haha!”

“My vows? Sure I will read them to you, I don’t mind sharing them with you. I shared them with my brother but you are the second person that knows I wrote them. Zero won’t know until the wedding day, it’s a surprise so promise me you won’t say anything okay?”

The angel smiled as she took out a piece of paper and unfolded it. As she saw the completed version of her vows all ready to go her eyes watered. This angel truly wears her heart on her sleeve but she also loves Zero with all of her heart. She maybe 23 but she knows true love because she feels it, and she feels it genuinely with Zero.

“Okay here we go Duo…” The angel cleared her throat as she began to read her vows.

Zero I know every scar, every wound and every story behind each of them. When we were apart I never told you this but I felt you crying for me, I cried for you too because I knew what you were feeling.

Out of all your scars and wounds that I wanted to heal Zero the biggest one was your heart. The heart is the most delicate part of us, and on the outside the wounds heal but the heart… it can remain broken for many years.

But I didn’t want your heart to be that way Zero. I wanted it to heal completely. Your heart that beats within you is your greatest treasure, I never want it to be broken ever again. I promise you as your wife I’ll take care of it. I’ll treasure you.

I will cherish you and I will love you unconditionally. I will be your wife for all eternity even in death. They usually say till death do us part but I believe that we will be together even after we die.

Even when we were children and we played house you protected me from all the bad things that scared me, gave me breakfast in bed when I was sick… Back then you wanted to be my husband. You refused to play the baby. And now 11 years later look at where we are… in front of our family, our friends… God… And we are getting married…

When we die we will continue to watch over our child. Even when our child is grown he is still going to be our baby. I promise to always make you happy Zero, to always be honest with you, to give you strength, to take care of you when you are sick and to never leave your side…

The angel cried at the end of sharing those vows with Duo.

“I love him Duo, and these are my vows…”

Then a little boy bumped into Duo, and the angel picked the child up gently. She took a look with her eyes at the area but there was no sign of security at the moment so she came up with a suggestion.

“Duo why don’t we take care of him while we go look for security? They maybe hard to find though because of the events going on here…”

The little child knew that Mitsuko was an angel of course so he started to take his little hand and play with her golden hair while laughing a little.

“Don’t worry little one, uncle Duo and Mitsuko are here to help you..”[/font]