Stolen Treasures

	Candles of the church flickered as invisible angels danced around them.  
Their warm orange glow caressed the darkness.  Their gentleness lit the face 
of the sole worshipper.
	"Hello, Father," Duo whispered, "I've missed you so much . . .  I . . ."
	The candles steadied as they waited for the boy to continue.
	"I have a confession to make," Duo averted his eyes from the dim glow, "You 
have forgiven me once for stealing . . . but I think I stole something more 
important to God this time . . ."

	Duo cradled the golden cross in his hands and let out  breath he had been 
holding and carefully studied the cross.  It was very nice really, all 
golden and shinny.  Of course it wasn't gold . . . the church certainly 
couldn't afford such a luxury, but still, it was pretty in its own right.  
It had been risky.  Taking the cross that dangle from Father Maxwell's Bible 
required a lot of planning and careful execution.  If he were to get caught 
. . . Duo didn't want to think about the consequences . . . The cross wasn't 
worth much . . . So why did I steal it?  Duo questioned himself as he gently 
brushed the edges of his prize.  Because I want something to remember them 
by when I have to leave . . . Duo finally decided.  A morsel that will 
always remind me of the gentle hand, the soft voice, and the warm food.
	Duo retrieved his pocket knife from his pocket and mercurially drilled a 
small hole on the tip of the cross.  With a string that he had pulled from 
his already torn clothing, he secured the cross around his neck.  Distant 
sounds of bells reminded Duo is was near dinner.  Tucking his new 
acquisition underneath his clothing, Duo ran toward the kitchen.

	Father Maxwell stared as his Bible.  Hmmm, it appears that you are missing 
your adornment old friend, Father Maxwell thought with half amusement.  He 
was fairly certain where the missing piece was.  Only one person was skilled 
enough to take it from right under his eyes.  Father Maxwell smiled.
	"A better use than to keep pages," Father Maxwell told his Bible, "God is 
wise in his ways.  And you, could use less vanity."
	Knocks came from the door.
	"Yes?" Father Maxwell placed the Bible back on the table.
	"There is something you should see," Sister Helen smiled.
	Father Maxwell knew better than to question the sister when she smiled 
liked that.  With mild anticipation, he followed the Sister into the wards 
of the orphanage.  Sister Helen's soft steps lead them to Duo's bed.
	The boy was sprawled out on the bed, his blanket abandoned heartlessly on 
the ground.  Part of his sleeves were rolled up so Father Maxwell could see 
various scars that already claimed the boy from his days on the street.
	"Look," Sister Helen whispered as she pointed to the boy's hand.  There, 
clutched tightly around tiny fingers was the cross that had once belonged to 
the Bible.
	Father Maxwell forced a smile from making its way to his face, "Wake him 
up.  He and I shall have a talk about the ten commandments."
	Sister Helen stared at priest, surprised by his stern voice until Father 
Maxwell winked.

	Duo knew he was in trouble the moment Sister Helen woke him up from his 
nap.  On his chest, the cross was lying embarrassingly naked for all to see. 
  Fear begin to fill his head as he followed the sister towards the chapel 
of the Church.  Penitence Duo could take, but he dreaded the look of 
disappointment on Father Maxwell's face.
	Duo waited his execution as Sister Helen left him alone in the chapel with 
Father Maxwell.  The Father didn't seem to notice his presence.  The elderly 
man was slowly lighting the candles in the church.  Duo was beginning to 
consider his escape when the priest turned around and sat in one of the 
benches.
	"Duo," Father Maxwell gestured for him to come sit by him.  Reluctantly, 
Duo edged himself towards doom.
	"Duo, why did you take the cross?" Father Maxwell asked when Duo seated 
himself.  His voice wasn't reprimanding, but Duo didn't trust his ears much.
	"I . . ." Duo tried to think of all the excuses in the world, 
unfortunately, by divine intervention, nothing came to mind, "I wanted part 
of the church."  Duo finally answered truthfully as his head sunken beneath 
his shoulders.
	"I see," Father Maxwell looked contemplative, "So you could remember?"
	Duo looked up in surprise and nodded.
	"Duo," Father Maxwell put his arms around the small child, "You should 
never steal from a Church.  Everything here belongs to God."
	Duo quickly took off the cross and handed back to the priest.  But he 
couldn't resist fingering the cross one last time.  Duo wasn't sure why, but 
for some reason it made him feel safe for the short time he had it.
	Father Maxwell received the cross in his hand and continued, "A cross is a 
symbol of God's sacrifice for us.  It reminds us how much He loves us, and 
it protects us from ourselves when we are weak."
	Duo nodded.  He really didn't understand, but he wasn't being yelled at for 
stealing so that was good.
	"I think the Bible needs less reminder than you do," Father Maxwell decided 
thoughtfully, "Therefore, it belongs to you now."
	Duo's eye glazed with shock.
	"The next time you want something of God's, ask Him first.  You will be 
surprised with what you get," Father Maxwell told Duo with a wink as 
callused hands placed the necklace around Duo's neck.

	Duo stroked his cross lovingly.  The small token contained so much memories 
of safety, of loving faces.  A stole moment before the reality hit him once 
more.
	"Father . . . I stole something worse this time . . . I stole an angel," 
Duo lowered his eyes, "I'm sure he is an angel just like the story you told 
me."

	Father Maxwell lovingly polished the stain glass window.  His poor bones 
were protesting very loudly, but he ignored them.  Cleaning the window was 
one his favorite tasks.  It was a miracle that the glass was undamaged in 
this neighborhood.  Then again, perhaps even those who had nothing but war 
valued a rare beauty such as this.
	"OOPS!" someone bumped into his ladder.
	"Wowowo ahahahaha wowowo iaiaia!" Father Maxwell exclaimed as his ladder 
wobbled, threatening to spit him onto the hard floor.
	Whoever bumped his ladder quickly steadied it for him.
	Father Maxwell took the near death experience as a sign from God it was 
time to come down from the ladder.
	"Are you aright, Father?" Duo's face was full of concern.
	"By God's grace, I live another day," Father Maxwell managed a smile.
	Duo immediately looked relieved.
	"What are you doing this time of the night?" Father Maxwell checked the 
clock, it was nearly eleven.
	"I couldn't sleep," Duo complained, "So I came to look at the angel."  Duo 
pointed to the stain glass window.
	Father Maxwell stared at the particular one that Duo was pointing at.
	"Why?" Father Maxwell turned his head slightly and stared at it again. 
Father Maxwell had always thought this particular rendition of the angel 
looked rather scary.  The angel's blue eyes were completely expressionless 
as he carried out his task.
	"I dunno," Duo shrugged, "I like him.  He looks different from all the 
angels."
	"Duo, that's the angel of death," Father Maxwell said slowly.
	"Oh, that's good.  Because I'm Shinigami!" Duo took the news very well, "Is 
he Death too?"
	Father Maxwell considered the question very carefully before answering, "He 
takes people to God.  He gives them release.  Some say he carries out the 
wrath of God too."
	"So he kills a bunch of people for God?  NEAT!" Duo's eyes lit up.
	Father Maxwell gagged, "Hmmm, no, not exactly."
	"But he doesn't look happy," Duo didn't seem to be listening, "He looks 
kind of pained.  I don't think he likes his job.  He's not evil or anything 
is he?"
	"No.  He isn't.  He takes lives, but he is innocent." Father Maxwell 
finally decided.  Of course if the bishop heard his simple explanation, he 
will probably try to physically hurt Father Maxwell.  Oh well, the Vatican 
is not functioning right now, so nevermind the bishop.
	"Sister Helen said that you can't help but love God and all of His angels.  
Do people love the angel of death too?" Duo wondered.
	"I'm sure they do."

	"I met him, Father," Duo explained.  The candles listened as tears slid 
away from the flame.
	"I'm sure he belongs to God.  He is so beautiful he could only be an angel. 
  And although he has killed many . . . he is innocent more than any one I 
have ever met . . . but he was the one who brought everyone peace in the 
end.  He has to be an angel," Duo's voice was hesitant, "And you were right. 
  You can't help but love him.  Everyone loves him.  Relena, Quatre, Trowa, 
Zechs . . . I think even Wufei loves him."
	"But nobody loves him like I do . . ." Duo continued, "I love him so much 
that it hurts."

	"Father?" Duo peaked his head into Father Maxwell's study.
	"Yes?" Father Maxwell looked up from a pile of papers.
	"What's sex?" Duo asked curiously.
	If Father Maxwell was eating, he would have made a mass of his desk.
	"Why do you ask Duo?" Father Maxwell finally managed.
	"Harry and Mamoru were doing weird stuff in their room.  I asked them what 
they were doing, and they wouldn't tell me.  Then Mary Kate said they were 
having sex.  And she said that it was very very bad," Duo explained.
	Father Maxwell didn't know if he wanted to cry or to laugh.  God certainly 
has a way of testing him.
	Harry and Mamoru just turned eighteen, and they had already come Father 
Maxwell to be married.  Father Maxwell had known about Harry and Mamoru for 
over two years now.    He seen the way they looked at each other.  He saw 
the gentleness in their eyes when they talked about each other.  Harry was 
wearing Mamoru's prized jacket, and Mamoru actually wore a ring.  He also 
knew that Harry had been working like a slave for the fish seller to be buy 
the simple piece of metal.
	Father Maxwell knew the exact passage in the Bible that forbid 
homosexuality.  He could quote every single line condemning lust.  But 
Father Maxwell smiled when he found about Harry and Mamoru.  Father Maxwell 
always been a bit rebellious as a priest.  Love, love in a time of 
uncertainty and war was precious.  Father Maxwell did not believe a loving 
God would condemn love in any form.  As for the sex part . . .  Father 
Maxwell fought off the urge to ask Duo to go ask Sister Helen.
	"Sex is something that two people who want to spend the rest of their lives 
with each other do," Father Maxwell explained.  That's not what the Bible 
says!  A voice cried out in his head.  Close enough!  He countered.  "When 
you find the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, you will 
know what it is."
	"So it's not bad?" Duo pondered.
	"Not when you love the person and do it with no one else," Father Maxwell 
wondered if he could still blush.  When he decided to convert the church 
into an orphanage this was not kind of problems he anticipated that he would 
have to deal with.
	"I thought you were suppose to only love a girl," Duo remembered his 
lessons.
	Father Maxwell thought about the toughness of this question before finally 
answering, "Love is blind."
	"Okay."  Luckily, the answer satisfied Duo.

	"I do love him, Father.  With every breath I take, I love him," Duo's voice 
was steady.
	"So I'm here to tell God, how sorry I am I stole one of his angels. . . 
Hmmmm, I did ask first.  God didn't respond.  Hmmm, can you ask him for me?"
	In the darkness, Duo could have sworn the candles winked at him . . .
	"Thank you, Father!" Duo smiled.
	"Duo?" Heero's silent footsteps brought him next to the braided boy, "Are 
you finished?"
	"Hai," Duo nodded, his eyes sparkling.  Thank you, Father.  For letting me 
keep my stole treasures.

-owari

Draco: What do you think?
*flames thrown at Draco*
Draco: <pulls out large fire extinguisher from spandex space>