Chapter Fifteen: The Final (Epilogue)

Many Months later…

Heero stared at himself in the small, round mirror over the sink.

Another year older. Another year wiser. He mused as he studied the strange person looking back at him in the reflection. He knew it to be himself, but he was amazed at how different he looked.

He had aged. The wear of the war had finally caught up with him. However it didn't make him seem unattractive just rugged and exotic. His eyes were cool and as blue as ever but his face was more mature. His pointed chin seemed stronger and his jaw line pulled taut with defined muscle. His messy brown bangs now bore a shock of white hair that appeared shortly after the incident on the rooftop in Brussels.

He lifted a hand to brush the new addition out of his face. It slid to the side easily but then sprung back to its usual space right between his eyes. It served as a constant reminder of that day and ever since then his life had never been the same.

The whole ordeal had been caught on video by a news helicopter. Everything from the blackout during infiltration to Heero climbing up the Gundam with his bare hands. Even Duo and Heero's impassioned kiss had been captured and all of the footage was released to the media and publicized everywhere. It was strange to him. Overnight he and Duo had become celebrities. Stories about the "Former Gundam Pilots" were everywhere and their relationship became the center of the tabloids for a few months. It was only now, the beginning of the New Year, that Heero begun to feel some peace. Their story had lost steam when Heero made certain nobody could find them. A short trip with Duo to the Caribbean to stay out of the limelight for a while had not only given them a chance to be alone but also let the steam about their lives dissipate. The tabloids moved on to other topics, namely poor Quatre and Trowa, who always were the center of attention when nothing else was tantalizing enough to report about.

Heero pulled out his toothbrush and began to vigorously brush his teeth. His eyes were still locked on the shock of white hair on his head. The white hair also symbolized his will to live, his support from the other pilots and his amazing luck that day in Brussels. When the rebel had shocked him it had sent a large pulse of electricity through his body. In doing so it temporarily overloaded his spinal addition. However, once the static released in his spine it became functional again. Even more than functional. The power had been stored in his spinal addition and provided him with a temporary boost that had allowed him to perform those amazing feats he had become so well known for.

Heero spat in the sink and then looked up at himself again. He wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

I am fortunate. He reflected solemnly. He let his hand reach over his shoulder to touch the deep crevice along the top of his spine between his shoulder blades. The spinal addition had saved them all. Because it had worked so well Heero had Quatre help him create a fund to support the technology behind it so that others could receive this miracle of modern medicine just as he had.

"Heero? You aren't ready YET? We have to hurry or we are gonna be late!" Duo scolded from the bedroom. Heero turned to see the American boy appearing in the doorway. The other young man wore a traditional Japanese male-style kimono of red and black lined with silver cording and adornments. The sight of Duo traditional costume Heero smile.

"What are you grinning about?" Duo said with a scowl. Then he looked the Japanese pilot up and down before placing a hand on his forehead in a dramatic gesture. "Heero! You're naked! Hurry up and get dressed! Jeez. We're going to be late for the party and if I am not blissfully drunk by the time the New Year rolls in I am not going to be a happy camper…" Then he turned and quickly scampered into the bedroom, his long braid trailing behind him.

Heero sighed happily and walked, naked, into the bedroom behind Duo. The American boy was arranging Heero's blue and gold kimono on the foot of the bed. It was nice to be annoying Duo for a change…

He got dressed and began putting the finishing touches of the final piece of his outfit. The braided boy had begun fussing over his hair.

"You need a haircut…" Duo muttered as he tugged at Heero's head. "Badly…" Then he went to spit in his own hand but before he could expectorate into his palm Heero's hand snapped up and clamped over his mouth. Duo's eyes widened in surprise.

"No spitting in my hair…" Heero snarled as he gave the other boy a warning glare. Duo rolled his eyes and sighed in defeat. Heero's hardened features softened a little as he released his hold on the American's face.

"Then let's go!" Duo urged. He grabbed Heero's wrist and began dragging him towards the door.

"Wait… wait…" Heero grumbled under his breath. He dug his slippered feet into the floorboards and pulled the American to a stop. Then he wrenched his wrist from the other boy's grasp and quickly went to the hidden compartment in the wall and opened it. He took out a small handgun and tucked it neatly within his robe. Duo huffed loudly from the front door in protest.

"Better safe than sorry." Heero said softly as he gave Duo an apologetic look. The American boy shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest.

"How is that going to look, Heero? We support Relena and her total Pacifism and you're still packin' heat?" The American boy scolded as he gave Heero a critical look.

The Wing pilot smiled and approached Duo with wide, even steps. He stepped close to his lover and placed his hands gently on the other boy's hips. Duo's eyes widened in surprise.

"Duo…" Heero's voice was like a deep purr. His right hand slid up Duo's slightly muscled side. He let a thumb brush against the hidden nipple beneath the heavy, woven silk. The American boy shuddered and his cheeks began to flush. "My Duo…" Then Heero let his other than slide down towards the American's groin. Duo moaned softly as his fingertips slowly traveled downward. Then Heero's hand paused. With a quick grasp and a series of precise movements Heero had dug into Duo's kimono and retrieved an object from beneath a flap of smooth fabric. His wrist twisted and the object spun in his hand. Suddenly Duo was staring down the barrel of his own gun.

"You can't lecture me on self-defense." Then Heero threw his head back and laughed.

Duo glared angrily at Heero from the opposite side of the gun. "Fuck you then!"

This made Heero laugh even harder. The American boy snatched the gun away from the laughing pilot and tucked it safely beneath his own kimono.

"Come on, then." Duo grumbled. "Let's get to the party before they drink all the sake."

The January weather in Hokkaido was that of any northern province. It was cold and the snow had settled into large, powdery mounds on every open surface. The bare trees sagged heavy with ice and snow and the small pond had frozen over. It was dark when they left the house. They walked through the woods down the beaten path, which Heero had shoveled the snow from earlier that day, and made their way towards the New Years festival that was to be held in the center of the village by the frozen pond. As they neared the festival they could hear the laughter and general hubbub of a party. The voices floated through the chilly air and seemed to bring warmth to the frozen world around them. When they came upon the clearing they saw a tent had been erected in the open field. Lanterns of various colors hung from poles leading to the brightly lit tent. Shadows of people inside the tent shifted around in the pale light.

As they approached the tent Heero glanced over at Duo. The American boy wore a happy, excited smile. The tip of his nose was red from the cold and occasionally a small puff of warm air would escape his full, smiling lips. The sight of Duo so happy made Heero happy. That was all that mattered anymore, and he couldn't help but smile, too.

Right before they reached the tent Duo fell back a few steps and before bouncing up behind Heero. He planted his hands over the Japanese boy's eyes.

"Duo, what are you-"

"It's a surprise!" Duo exclaimed. Heero scowled and began stepping cautiously forward, blinded by the American boy's fingers.

"What are you talking about?" Heero grumbled. He felt the tent flaps pull back around him. He took two steps forward. "Duo?"

It was quiet. The people who were talking and laughing had grown silent as they entered. It made Heero feel uncomfortable. Just as he was about to wrestle the braided boy's hands from his face they fell away on their own. He opened his eyes.

"SURPRISE!" "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Heero was thoroughly taken aback for once in his life.

Inside the tent stood everyone from the village.

Yuki, who had seen Heero's bravery on television and was now a good friend, stood with Kirin dressed in traditional kimono. Beside them was Quatre, smiling, in a pale blue kimono. Trowa stood at Quatre's side in a matching dark green kimono and was holding the blonde's hand tightly. Wufei was with them as well. The Chinese boy was garbed in a fancy white Chinese-style robe and wore a satisfied smirk on his face rather than his usual serious scowl. Relena was there too, with a long white and pink kimono. She held a dark brown teddy bear in her hand with a large blue bow on it. Various other members of the town were present as well. All of the children who played by the lake were there, too. Each holding a small gift for him.

Behind the crowd of smiling faces was a three-tiered cake with "Happy Birthday Heero" scrawled across the front in dark blue icing.

Heero stared at them with a slack-jawed expression.

"Happy Birthday!" Duo said from behind him.

Heero didn't know what to do. Nobody had ever thrown him a birthday party before. It took him a moment to gather his thoughts. Everyone was watching him quietly, waiting for him to respond.

"I don't know what to say…" Heero admitted.

"Just a 'thank you' would suffice." Relena said sweetly. She walked up to Heero and handed him the chubby, brown teddy bear. "Happy Birthday, Heero." Then she kissed his cheek softly before retreating away from him with a smile. Quatre, Trowa and Wufei approached him as well.

"Happy Birthday!" Quatre exclaimed brightly before handing Heero a small package. "This is from Trowa and I. You can open it later."

Heero glanced at Trowa. "It's a bomb." Trowa said in his usual low, monotonous voice. His face showed no hint of humor.

Heero couldn't help but chuckle at Trowa's attempt at a joke. It made him relax.

"Thank you. You really didn't have to come all this way just for me." Heero said softly as he looked at his friends. Wufei cleared his throat loudly.

"Yuy. That is what friends to for one another." The Chinese boy stated matter-of-factly. Quatre nodded in agreement.

"Yes. Friendship is the one sure thing we can always give to one another." The blond replied. Trowa inclined his head in agreement.

"Your friendship is enough gift in return." Trowa said. "We know you would do the same for us."

Heero sighed and nodded. He glanced over at Duo who stood close to his shoulder with an arm draped through his own. The world was as it should be, even if it were only for a short time. There was peace. His friends were safe. He had found someone to share his life with.

I would do the same for any one of them.

This time he knew he would.

The End.