Shangri-La (Revised Version)

~~~Hey! Well, despite my inability to complete this fic in a timely fashion due to writer's block, I have come back to try again. This is a revised form of the original Shangri-La, so please bare with me! ~~~

Rated R: For {most likely} adult situations, lime, and maybe a little violence.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN DISCLAIMERS

Now that that's all settled, sit back, keep your hand and feet inside the car, and hold on, because we're going on a wild ride!~~~

Chapter One: Mission Parameters

*The dank and musty room was littered with papers. Five men in black were carefully and quietly filing through papers, records, maps, and other such paraphernalia. No one was around, no one cared, yet all five were still incredibly tense. The atmosphere was thick with intense need, and humid with high levels of adrenaline being wasted in such a short amount of time.

Suddenly the mood broke. One of the figures sat himself down in a dusty armchair and with a heavy sigh, began to speak.

"You have got to be kidding me. We have to go through all of this? There's no way!"

"We have to, so stop complaining and start helping."

"The dust is sufficient evidence we are the only ones who have been here in ages. Most likely what we are searching for is still here."

"Mostly likely what we are searching for is going to lead us on a wild goose chase to the middle of nowhere."

"Search." One voice quieted them all again. The thick ambiance returned and the men went back to their work. It always did when he spoke; there was just something in his voice that destroyed all life and mirth in a room. Something so chilling, so low.

"Wait. This may be it." One of them cried. He held the paper to the light and blew the layers of dust off it gently. The thin peace of paper contained written instructions, and a sketchy map.

"That is it. Alright. Let's get out of here! This place creeps me out."

"It would."

"Hey!"

"Not now you two. We need to get back."

"He's right. Let's go. You can fight back at the base."

" Time to return." The same voice as before cut the air like a knife and once again all was silent as the boys slipped out and locked the door behind them. No one would ever know of the hidden compartment in the old man's basement. No one would ever be able to track them, and no one would ever be able to dream of what they were about to attempt.

The five silent figures made their way through the empty streets and back to the deserted warehouse they had been calling their 'base' ever since the end. The end of the wars. Only a mere three months had passed since the wars, the Eve Wars as they were being called, had ended. The five figures had once held key roles in the defense of the people, but now they were the same as all others. They were mere men, restless and left feeling useless. Still. This was supposed to change everything. This mission they had been given was supposed to be the answer to their prayers. All but one had been reluctant to accept.

Reluctant because it was inevitable. You play the fates and role the dice one too many times, and one day your luck will run out. The death that they had all been able to outwit and outsmart since day one would return for vengeance, as it always did for others. And something that would change everything was something to be wary of. Whenever something is said to be perfect, or is given free, there is always a hidden price. What price would they pay this time? Their sanity? Their lives? Their souls? Of the five, four had sanity. Of the five, four had lives. Of the five, four had souls. Only one had nothing to risk, so only one had not been reluctant in accepting their new assignment.

And still they had all accepted, not just the one with nothing to risk. But it was of little matter. All would come in due time, all would be shown, and all would be avenged. They stumbled into their makeshift home and were met with their superior.

"Well boys. It looks as if you made it home in one piece. Did you get the…?"

"We have it." One stepped forward and handed over the paper they had been searching so diligently for. Their superior looked down at it, then up at them.

All stood together, in a group. All held their arms crossed in front of their chests, and all wore equal shades of worry upon their brow… all but one. He stood in silence, with neither fear nor worry plaguing his expression. Beginning with the left, the old man looked on. The first he looked over was a blonde. Blue eyes and a sad expression donned his visage. He was Quatre Winner.

Besides him was his best friend. Taller than the other boys and older, he looked more mature. Reddish hair hid half of his face as his shocking green eyes gazed intensely at the world. Trowa Barton.

Behind Trowa was a proud Chinese boy. A katana swung over one shoulder and a short black pony tail was tied at the nape of his neck. Coal black eyes looked defiantly at the rest of the boys, yet respect was in them as well. Wufei Chang.

A long mahogany braid hung from the next boy's head. It just passed his waist, and as the boy shifted weight, it swung from side to side. Violet blue eyes laughed at the rest of the humanity, as if to mock them for being too serious. Duo Maxwell.

And behind Duo to the far right was the one who cared for nothing but risks. The one who lived to wait for death, the one who tried to die, yet could never manage it. Dark chocolate hair hung in a messy heap over his eyes. Pale skin and thin lips. Dangerous, piercing sapphire eyes glared blankly through the narrow tunnel of his life vision. He was the most destructive of all, the most brutal, violent, and the most lost to the world of humanity, he was Hiiro Yui. Well.

They weren't much to look at, but they would have to do.

"Well boys, this is it. Your last chance to back out is right here."

"No way!" Duo shook his head.

"No." Trowa agreed.

"I've already given my word, I won't go back on it." Quatre spoke.

"I will go no matter the cost." Wufei spat.

"Hnn."

"Of course. I should have known. Well. Boys. Your new mission is to follow this map."

"Dr. J? You sure that that's such a great idea? I mean, it could be a fake, or…"

"If you were going to complain Duo, why didn't you decline the mission?" J sneered.

"Nah, that's really ok. Keep talking. So we follow the map…?" Duo gave a short laugh and returned his attention to the old man.

"You follow the map and find Shangri-La. At any and all costs. Then you must give them this." The old man handed Trowa a scroll of ancient and worn looking paper. "Mission accepted or declined?"

"Mission accepted." Was the first reply. It came without hesitation or fear, it came in a monotonous and auto response. The others soon followed in suit, but none were as strikingly effective as Hiiro Yui's answer.

"Good. You leave in the morning. And boys, it's a dangerous world. Don't fall into the traps set for you."

"Mission accepted." Was the only reply the doctor received that time. *

BIG REQUEST: For all of those who have read my work and know me, I usually stick to writing pure GW/SM crossovers. But I took a break and wrote a LotR (Lord of the Rings) fic. I worked really hard on it, but I have so few reviews that I'm really getting depressed. Do people just not care anymore? Well, here's my request: Read my LotR fic! PLEASE? I could use the confidence builder! Thanks so much! –Vixen~~~