Disclaimer: Fic idea is mine (I hope). Characters are not. (sobs)

Author's Notes: This is a story that I started three years ago. Then I left the fandom because I was waaay too busy with school. Now I have some time on my hand and I came across this story. I'm very interested in finishing it, so here we go! (smiles)

Warnings: Shounen ai, maybe Yaoi. In other words, male/male. If you don't like it, please don't read it.

I don't have a beta reader so I apologize for any mistakes that I have! Please tell me if you see any so that I can fix them!

Thanks and please enjoy!

To Be Loved

Chapter 1: Introductions

Heero Yuy, Crown Prince of Amareth sighed with boredom. Or rather, he would have sighed with boredom had his iron will permitted it. Heero was famous for his athleticism, fairness, intelligence, and stoicism. These traits along with his good looks; messy dark brown hair, almond shaped azure eyes, and firmly muscled physique, caused his hand to be sought over by many a princess. Of course, this also might have had something to do with his being heir to the largest and most prosperous kingdom in the eastern hemisphere. Truly he was a most droolworthy prince. And he was bored silly.

"Heero? Heero." A hiss penetrated the Prince's keen hearing. He turned towards the source in acknowledgement. It was his mother.

"Darling, your cousin Quatre has arrived. Why don't you go greet him?" His mother suggested tactfully. She knew how much he hated parties. Unfortunately, he was obligated to be at this one since it was his eighteenth birthday, a day that heralded his future ascent to the crown. He quickly tired of the beautiful women who smiled coyly and simpered praises in a futile effort to gain his favor.

Heero nodded gratefully to his mother and after making his brief apologies to his father, left for the stables where he knew his cousin would be. Cousin was a rather obscure term as the bloodlines that separated Quatre and himself were long and riddled through with political marriages and adultery. Nonetheless, they were friends and that made Quatre more cousin than any blood ties ever could.

Unlike Heero, Quatre was not the heir of his father's title because in his desert kingdom women were allowed to inherit. Unfortunately for Quatre, he had thirty some sisters in line before him. He didn't seem to mind so much and Heero envied his cousin in his freedom. Quatre's passion was horses, and he was world renowned for his Arabians. Emperors and Kings paid ungodly sums for one of his stock. So while Quatre was not heir to so great a kingdom as Amareth, he was richer by far than the majority of kings who were his clientele.

Passing through the gardens Heero unbuttoned his collar and gave his embroidered overcoat to a foot soldier. He hated the restricting formal clothing his father had deemed necessary for him to wear.

Finally he entered the stables. Breathing in deeply Heero inhaled the scents that he loved. Horses smelled perpetually of open grasslands and the meadow flowers that blanketed the pastures, not like the heavy fake scents that the palace women covered themselves in.

"Stand over there! Don't let him kick you!" Heero followed the sound of Quatre's voice around the corner to the last stall. The blonde and a few of the stablehands were having trouble with what Heero presumed was one of Quatre's animals since he had never seen it before.

Muttering obscenities the grooms threw a rope around the horse's hindquarters and pulled the balking animal into the stall. Quatre slammed the stall door, locked it, and leaned against it panting. Looking around he spotted the other boy. "Heero!" he exclaimed and rushed over to his friend.

"Happy birthday!" Quatre said as he threw his arms around Heero's shoulders for a hug. It was a brief embrace, as he knew that his brown haired cousin was not comfortable with emotional outbursts.

"Hn." Heero responded, but his eyes twinkled a little as he gazed down at his energetic cousin. "Problems?"

Quatre stepped away and ran his hand through his hair shaking his head. "I picked up a horse at the last horse fair. He's underfed and scrawny but has the most gorgeous confirmation. I thought I could do something with him but he's got more piss in him that I thought." Quatre smiled ruefully, "He's given me nothing but trouble and nobody wants to take him."

The corners of Heero's lips twitched. It sounded exactly like his cousin to feel sorry for a creature and buy him without thinking of the consequences. Heero shook his head and ruffled Quatre's hair.

A long legged figure strode towards them and stopped next to Quatre. "Trowa!" The blonde said happily. Quietly Quatre slipped his hand into that of the tall green eyed youth. Heero raised his eyebrow but said nothing. Anything that made Quatre happy made him happy too. Well, as happy as he could be.

"Heero, this is Trowa, my Horsemaster. Trowa, this is my cousin and Crown Prince of Amareth Heero Yuy."

Trowa offered a bow but Heero stopped him and held out his hand for the horsemaster to shake. "I despise the manners of the court."

Trowa offered a small approving smile and shook his hand firmly. "It's a pleasure to meet anyone who is kin to Quatre." Turning to Quatre he continued "It's time to feed now. I'll do it this time."

"Thanks Trowa." Quatre smiled brightly and dropped a light kiss on the taller boy's cheek. "I thought as much." Heero remarked as the horsemaster strode away.

"Do you mind?" Quatre asked apprehensively.

"Iie."

"I'm glad." Quatre responded, relieved. "And I have a present for you seeing as it is your birthday. I brought a string of the best horses in my herd. Tomorrow you can pick any one you want as my gift to you."

Heero nodded his thanks.

"But for now, I want to take a bath and get something to eat!"

Heero nodded again. "I'll show you your rooms. I trust you want one with a King-sized bed?" he inquired and was rewarded with a scarlet blush that dyed the blonde's fair skin. Heero smirked and guided his cousin back the castle.

"All of my horses are in this stable so take your time and pick whichever one you like best." Together the cousins walked up to each stall and Quatre explained the qualities and background of the horse while Heero carefully looked it over.

He saw grays, blacks, duns, bays, and palominos. All were perfect specimens of the equine form. Heero began to see that he would have a difficult time choosing the one he wanted. They all had exceptional breeding and would make welcome additions to his royal stables.

Finally they approached the last stall. The pounding of hooves against the oak walls and a shrill scream echoed throughout the stable.

"Ah yes." Quatre sighed exasperatedly.

"The Troublemaker." Heero intoned and Quatre winced. Heero peered in over the stall door and ran appraising eyes over the form inside. A stallion, Heero noted. His coloring was quite beautiful, a liver chestnut with a dark brown coat and almost blonde mane and tail. He had a single white star on his forehead and two white socks. Quatre was right. The horse had flawless confirmation. He was tall for an Arab, 15.2 maybe. He had long legs built for flying over all types of terrain from rock to sand and everything in between. His back was straight and his neck was long and arched as he glared at the intruders in his stall. His face was delicately dished and set with large expressive eyes that shot sparks of fire. His nostrils were flared so that Heero could see the delicate red veins inside.

That was where the splendor ended. The horse was emaciated and his ribs stood out prominently from his sides. His coat was dull from malnourishment and covered in dirt.

"What happened to him?" Heero asked quietly.

"His former owners tried to dull his temper by starving him. Watch out! He bites!" He warned Heero as the horse lunged for the Prince. Heero moved quickly and heard teeth snap the air that he had occupied a split second before.

"I gather it didn't work."

"No." Quatre smiled and shook his head. "He's got too much spirit for that. We tried to give him a bath, but none of the grooms can get near him."

Heero nodded and stepped closer to the horse who was now leaning into the door trying to get close enough to bite him. The expressive eyes drilled into him as the horse made threatening sneers and bit at the air, his teeth snapping together. His huge, deep eyes looked almost purple in the light. "What's his name?"

"His papers say Duo."

"Tell me about his breeding."

Quatre moved his hand to his chin as his brow furrowed in thought. "Well, it's weird. His lineage isn't recorded at all. His former owners claimed that they found him by the side of the road, an arrow in his side." Quatre gestured to a scar on the horse's flank. "You can see it there."

Heero nodded. It was an impressive scar.

"Evidently when they found him, he had a tag braided into his mane with his name on it. Anyway, they figured he was a free horse, so they might as well take him." Quatre grinned at Heero. "They planned to use him as a cart horse."

Heero looked at the horse and shook his head in disgust. The though of using such a glorious animal as a common cart horse, something that he was not bred for, was ridiculous. Arabians were usually too high strung to be cart horses, and this one was obviously high strung. As if to confirm Heero's thoughts, Duo struck out at the stall door and snorted.

"Anyway, as I was saying, he has no papers, but he's quite obviously pure-bred, and well bred. Look at that dish," Quatre said gesturing to the horses delicate face. "and those eyes and those nostrils. His tail set is perfect and his bone is good. He's perfect, and he's built for speed." Heero looked at the horse's long legs and short back and nodded in agreement. He glanced at the horse speculatively one more time before he said,

"Hn. He's good enough."

Quatre looked aghast. "Oh Heero! Are you sure? He bites, kicks, and knows all of the tricks in the book and a few more besides. He's a hellion on the ground and just as bad under saddle!"

"Hn. I'm sure." Heero said as he examined the raging animal in front of him. The horse had clearly initiated a challenge and the one thing Heero Yuy never did was back down from a challenge. He stepped forward and patted the angry horse on the shoulder backhanding it when it tried to bite him.

"You be nice, and I'll be nice." Heero said to the dazed horse. Duo recovered and snorting angrily reared and struck out at the prince. Heero quickly dodged the blow. The horse and the prince stood glaring at each other.

"Well, if anyone can handle him, it'd be you." Quatre said bemusedly. "Good luck Heero. You're going to need it."

End Chapter 1

Author's Notes: So what do you think? Should I continue? If you have any horse terminology questions, please ask!