Hidden Treasure - prologue


By KatiKat


"Okay, Heero, lets see if I got this right, ´kay?"

Duo, the only son of Lord Maxwell, was waving his arms nervously as he paced around the sleeping chamber of his best friend Odin Lowe Jr. whom everybody called Heero because of his incredible similarity to the ancient hero of Sanq.

"Your dear lord father summoned you to the capital city, right?"

Heero, who was silently sitting in the comfortable armchair, nodded. He was watching his childhood friend pace around - four steps from the window to the door, turn, four steps from the door to the window and again - and was starting to get dizzy.

"And he ordered you to bring your bride with - the one you have told him about - what, four months ago?"

Heero nodded again.

"And of course you *don't* have said bride ´cause you were lying through your teeth when you told him about her, right?"

Another nod.

"And now you need somebody who would play the part of the bride so that you could fool your father, and get him to leave you alone with all his marriage plans, right?"

Heero fidgeted in the chair but nodded.

"And now you want ME to play the part of your bride??"

"Well... yeah," Heero answered. Listening to Duo summarizing his plan... well, he had to admit that it sounded crazy.

Duo stopped, facing Heero, then leaned a little bit forward and put his hands on his hips. "Are you NUTS?!"

"Uhh, you know..."

Duo interrupted Heero. "If you haven't noticed that I'm a GUY after *17* years then there is something really wrong with you!"

"Uhh, I know you are a guy, Duo, but..."

"But WHAT?" Duo shouted in annoyance. "This plan is crazy. But if you really want to do it - although I don't think you will be able to fool your father - then find some GIRL who would be willing to do it!"

"Yeah? Like whom?" Heero looked at Duo with curiosity in his eyes.

Duo looked at the ceiling and thought about it for a couple of seconds. "For example, Hilde!" he said with triumph in his voice.

Heero lifted his eyebrows. "Hilde? Don't get me wrong Duo, I really like your sister. But the thought of kissing her gives me the creeps."

Well, Duo had to admit that he couldn't imagine Heero kissing Hilde either. Okay, he couldn't imagine anybody kissing Hilde. She was such a tomboy.

Duo sighed. "Okay, not Hilde. But why ME?" he whined.

"You are my best friend, Duo. I can tell you everything and I know you can keep secrets for people. I know I can count on you." Heero really meant it. He knew Duo, his whole life and couldn't even imagine being without him.

"Yeah, I'm your best friend. And that's how you pay me back - by sticking me in WOMEN´S clothes!" His voice was dripping with sarcasm.

This time it was Heero who sighed. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "Look, if I don't appear with a potential wife in tow, my father won't wait a minute to couple me with that Peacecraft Blondie who's been after me since we were 5."

"But it would be a great political move!"

Heero stood abruptly. "I don't want my marriage to be a political move. I want to marry someone out of love!"

Duo sighed, and moving over to the window, he leant against the window frame. "You could marry her and still go ´out´. Look at King Trieze and Count Milliardo. Trieze is married to Une, Milliardo to Noin and they are still lovers - and everybody knows it. The worst kept secret in the kingdom!"

Heero frowned. "But I don't want that. I want to be faithful to my wife."

They were both silent for a couple of minutes. It was Duo who broke the silence. There was resignation in his voice.

"Okay, should I do it - and there IS a big IF - don't you think your father would like you to marry immediately?"

Hope spread over Heero's suddenly brightened features. "No, no. He won't be there that long. He has to move with the army to the North. I'm sure he just wants to see my future wife!"

"And how do you want to explain my sudden disappearance should you find your one and only?"

Heero came closer and caught Duo's hand in his. "I will think of something should the time come. I just want to wait till the Peacecraft harpy is married off." Seeing Duo's hesitance he continued. "Would you do it for me? Please, Duo. I'm really desperate here!"

Yeah, THAT was obvious. Duo couldn't remember the last time when Heero was begging - hell, asking for something! He felt something melt inside him. He really didn't want to see his best friend married to that girl. He wouldn't be happy with her. He didn't know how he knew it, but he was convinced of that.

"Okay, okay, okay. I'll do it," he gave in. "But should you get me in trouble..."

The smile that lit up Heero's face threatened to split his face in two. "No trouble, I promise."

"Famous last words," Duo mumbled.

He didn't know how right he was.

TBC