"The Unusual Fairytale" Chapter 7

Duo hopped from the driver's seat quickly before opening the carriage door. "So how is he?"

"Asleep," Wufei replied. "He handled the trip very well, actually. If you'd take him, I'll get the bags."

Duo pulled the hood of the robe Heero wore over the wild brown hair as a cooler wind was kicking up. Picking him up he held him close while stepping out of the way to let Wufei out. Before he took another step he heard a very excited voice in the distance. Stepping around the carriage he watched his blonde friend rush toward him.

"Hey Quatre, how's it been since I left?" He asked curiously but kept his voice low. "Come on let's go inside. Its getting cold out here."

Quatre nodded seeing the bundle in Duo's arms. He knew it have to be the young man Duo had spoken of. He saw the small feet dangling from the robe hanging over one of Duo's arms, while the rest was hidden from his view. As Duo started toward the Tower it was then that he noticed the older man who followed quietly.

Duo smiled at his tall friend who was holding the door open for him. Once everyone was inside Trowa chose to speak. "We placed the extra bed in your chambers already."

"Oh, thanks," Duo replied heading that way. He could feel Heero stirring in his arms. "Awake huh?"

Heero's cobalt eyes opened slowly before growing very large. "Put me down!" He demanded a moment later. "I can walk!" He began struggling in Duo's arms.

"Bet you can but this will be much easier on all of us," Duo replied his grip tightening a bit.

Heero looked at him surprised and almost speechless. "Wufei?" He called cautiously.

"Please cooperate Heero, you were asleep when we arrive," Wufei replied not far behind Duo.

Heero huffed in response kicking his legs up and down a few times to show his defiance to the whole idea. The only made Duo laugh as they entered his chambers.

"This is my room," Duo stated obviously before laying Heero down in his bed. "Why don't you get some rest?"

"I'm fine!" Heero replied sitting up on the large comfortable bed, which caused his hood to fall back from his face. He fell silent when he noticed the tall brunette and short blonde.

Duo smiled allowing Heero room to move around, "Oh that's Trowa and Quatre," Duo said motioning towards the two. "So have you found anything yet?"

Trowa sighed not wanting to actually say the words. Quatre shifted from one foot to the other. Duo only smiled easily reading his close friends. "I guess I should introduce you guys... well this is Heero and that's Wufei." He said trying to make them more comfortable.

Quatre nodded, "Oh the Elders have offered to help, if you meet with them."

"Well I'm going to head over to the library," Duo replied, "I wanna check all the books. Your knowledge would of great help Wufei."

"Okay, Heero you stay here," Wufei replied holding his hand up to stop Heero's immediate protests.

"I'll help too," Trowa said when Quatre nodded his head in agreement.

"Well let's go before dinner," Duo suggested starting for the door. The other three followed leaving Heero alone in the room.

"I'm the one with the damn disease, why the hell is he excluding me?!" Heero demanded of the empty room. Leaving the room he decided to explore this new unfamiliar place. Walking down the long corridor he came upon a flight of stairs.

Taking them up he discovered another floor. He wondered where the others had gone. Walking down the hall he noticed a pair of large double doors and approaching them, he heard voices inside.

"Yes he has returned and brought with him a young man, I believe this is the one who he will choose to marry," one of the voices said.

"We knew he would choose someone for himself, but is his choice a good one?" another asked.

"Even if it is unwise we will support him, this will give him the responsibility he needs," the first replied.

Heero's eyes grew wide, his breath caught in his throat. 'Marry... no he wouldn't be someone's case...' He thought storming away from the doors to find this person who presumed so much.

Finding the stairs he took them back down to the previous floor. Going down the hall he heard several voices, recognizing Wufei's own. Slamming the door to the library open, he must have surprised them all for they froze.

"I won't..." Heero yelled. "I won't be your case, I won't marry you... I... won't..."

His voice died as his eyes rolled back and his body slumped forward. Wufei moved toward him but Duo had been faster appearing beside Heero before he could touch the floor.

Duo looked toward Wufei as he held Heero close. The man shook his head, "I don't know where he could have gotten those ideas. But it is growing worse just like his mother. Soon he will be too weak to even walk."

Duo's intake of air was sudden and startling. "I will go to the Elders immediately. Keep looking in here. I will take Heero back to my chambers before going to the Great Hall."

Everyone nodded going back to work while Duo left cradling Heero close to his chest. Duo entered his chambers, laying Heero back down on his bed. Removing the robe he took the blanket folded at the foot and placed it over Heero. Leaving the room he wondered just where Heero had gotten those ideas. Going upstairs he came upon a pair of large doors. Pushing one open he entered the large hall, where several men sat speaking.

"Elders I have come to ask your help," Duo stated gaining their attention.

"Yes, Quatre told us the one you care for is ill, we offer our help in anyway so that he may live with you," one of them responded.

"What do you mean Elder Valen?" Duo questioned.

The man, short and thin, smiled. "He is the one you will wed right?" He asked his midnight blue eyes sparkling.

Duo sputtered a moment, he should have expected that. That was the whole reason he left. Did he truly care for Heero like that? Heero's words echoed in his head. Heero didn't want any part in the idea.

"Well?" another asked impatiently, his crimson eyes burning with anger Duo never understood.

"I'm sorry for the delay Elder Dorionn," Duo replied trying to remain calm toward the man. "I was just so concerned with his condition I never truly thought about it."

"It's alright child," a third spoke up. "We understand. We will help him but you must give us an answer afterwards."

"Yes Elder Giddon," Duo replied. "Should I bring him here?"

"No, if he is as sick as you claim one of us will go to him," Elder Valen answered.

"He is staying in my chambers."

"I will accompany you there now then."

Duo bowed before leaving the room, he sighed heavily once outside the hall. The shorter man appeared beside him a smile on his face. They walked to his chambers quietly; he only hoped they could help.

His mind was also torn with the idea that he had to decide whether to marry Heero. Suddenly something hit him, could Heero have heard the Elders speaking about them? Opening the door he allowed the older man to enter first. Heero lay on the bed just as Duo had left him.

Elder Valen approached the bed, his winkled hand falling over Heero's own. Closing his eyes he concentrated all his mental energy on his task. Duo watched nervously from the wall near the door.

"Concentrate," Elder Valen said surprising Duo.

"Huh?"

"You must see this as well," the old man replied his eyes never opening.

Duo finally closed his own doing as his teacher told him, this must have been important. If it was a factor in healing Heero he would do anything. Images flooded into his mind, images of Heero's life. Why must he see this? He felt like he was invading Heero's private world, the young man would have screamed had he known. One image caught Duo's full attention, Heero's mother.

She looked to be a strong woman in spirit. She had long flowing brown hair, while crystal green eyes lay hidden behind her wild bangs. Her figure was small and thin, almost too thin. Heero resembled his mother in so many ways, including that retched disease. The image moved away even though he tried to call it back, refusing him all the while. He knew he would never forget her face anyway, her eyes just as intense as Heero's.

The flow of images began to slow before he saw what Wufei had once told him. Heero, much younger, sat gripping his mother's form. Crystal tears etched down his cheeks. His small tender hands clutched at the woman who loved him dearly. Her face lay against his heaving chest, motionless. She was already dead by that time he realized. How long did he sit with her?

Finally the images left him completely when he heard the older man speaking. "I will go speak with the Council now." The man left the room and Duo alone with Heero.

Duo approached the bed, he started to understand just why Heero acted the way he does. He had been scarred by her death. Knowing now that she died of the thing he carried only drove that deeper. Folding his hand over Heero's he noticed the young man begin to stir slightly.

He smiled as soft blue eyes opened slowly only what they held faltered him. Heero's voice was low but strong, "I'm going to die soon, just like she had that cold winter day."

"No! No you're not!" Duo insisted his hand gripping Heero's even tighter

Heero pushed the words aside as he spoke again, "She was cooking breakfast that morning. Father was in the yard cutting fire wood for her. I was running late that day, if I had just been there to help her." He continued even though Duo's mouth opened to protest his words. "I came in and there she was, she smiled so strongly. I watched her cook, helping her when I could really. After breakfast she said she was tired and took a nap. That cold afternoon the first snow began to fall only I was never allowed to play so why I cared, I don't remember. She came downstairs but collapsed, I caught her... I was the only one there to catch her. We sat there until father returned from working. The very last thing she ever said was, 'I love you Heero, remember that.' She was so heavy."

Duo watched the silver tears trickle down Heero's warm cheeks, had he ever told anyone else this. His fingers gently brushed the moisture aside. He wouldn't let him die.

"Duo, I'm sorry I acted that way. It probably wouldn't have been that bad being married to you," Heero said his eyes closing then opening again.

"No, I'm going to hold you to that. We will get married, I promise," Duo replied passionately.

"Thank you for caring," Heero said his eyes slipping closed, sleep falling over him.

Duo watched Heero's chest rise and fall just like it had before. His fingers gently combed through the silky brown hair.

Suddenly the door burst open surprising Duo almost off the bed. Turning he saw Quatre standing there his chest heaving a book clutched in his hand. "We found it!"