Pairings: the obvious ones blinks

Warnings: yaoi, fantasy, magic, AU

Comment: I'm still a lazy bastard, whoohoo!!

Author's comments: My my ; It appears I'm still lazy, ne? Um If there are any typos or bad grammar or um grammar I apologize as I do not have a beta reader. ; I'm still kinda picky on just letting any random person do it and well You'll just have to live with a little bad spellin. That and it took me three months to post this? blinks Sorry Sorry and apparently looking at this later I guess it took me more than three months now? Evil bad me. Bad!

Extra Author's note: Sorry I'm so late in posting this!

Story note:

"Yappity yap yap" = Mental conversation.

Spellcaster 8

"So what exactly has brought you here with us?"

Quatre was jolted out of his thoughts as he looked up at the female sitting across from him. He had been dressed pretty formally, wearing a pair of white slacks that were just slightly loose and nestled against his tummy right below his belly button. He also wore a blue button up shirt, and a white jacket that matched the pants, coming to rest at his waist if he stood. His soft blond hair blew gently in the breeze that flowed through the open windows of the wooden carriage, the soft drapes caressing his cheeks.

Wufei sat beside him, his silent guard, though not so comfortable in his own formal attire he had been given. Wufei was not the only guard though. There was another guard as well, a female guard by the name of Dorothy, the queen's guard. She had long hair herself, almost the same color as Quatre's but lighter. Her eyebrows were freakishly long that it was hard not to look at her weird.

The one who had spoken to him was not the queen herself but her spokesperson and lady in wait, Noin, another female. Though her hair was a lot darker, like a black or a blue, it reminded Quatre of Trowa. The way the hair set to the side covering an eye. It made him wish that he had taken the other with him; however, he knew that had Trowa came he himself would not have paid attention to the risk at hand. He could not allow that.

"King Treize of Oz sent me has a representative as well as a negotiator to speak to Queen Relena about what's been happening here in the city. Please tell me, what has become of the city? I remember once a long time ago when I came through here with my father, nothing was as bad at this. The people weren't fighting each other in the streets and trying to kill each other! The guards protected the people not-"

"Silence!" The sudden force of Noin's voice gave Quatre pause, his voice freezing up whatever else he had planned to say. The only thing he could do was stare into the eyes of the woman that had yelled at him. Quatre could feel Wufei tensing beside him and forced himself to settle down. He didn't need a drift to appear between him and the queen. This was their only chance at finding the problem so they could return peace to the land. "You are NOT to speak to the queen as if she incapable of running her own country."

Quatre gave out a quiet sigh as he lowered his head closing his eyes. "Yes I know, and I apologize for being so hasty." His eyes opened again, shining with determination as he looked at the queen. "But you yourself have to admit that something is not right! I'm sure you're very capable and from the way it sounds you have been ruling your country as well as any other ruler if not better. So what has happened to cause such a grand change?! Why are the people fighting each other?!" Quatre quickly shut his mouth seeing the look in Noin's eyes at his sudden outburst. But before Noin could say anything Relena held up a hand to silence her giving her a glance before she turned to look at Quatre.

"You are right. We are a pacifist nation and yet we do not get along within our own." She folded her arms in her lap, looking down for a moment before she looked at him again. She was quiet, smiling as she gave him a look, almost a sad one. "However, the problem at hand is far greater than even you can imagine. There is a reason this is happening, a reason that even I have yet to come into an understanding of."

Quatre nodded his head slightly. "I heard that your brother, Millardo Peacecraft has returned and also that he has taken over the Peacecraft nation in your stead."

Relena bowed her head slightly as she closed her eyes. "That is but a rumor. As queen I would never relinquish my throne without a fight." Her eyes opened again as fire burning deeply within them as she stared at him. "The monsters surrounding the kingdom can be the only explanation as to why my people are becoming so restless. They put fear into them so that they do not even want to come out at night, if at all."

Quatre frowned slightly at that. Did she really believe that? Thinking back to the monstrous slaughter of the people at the church, the smell of burnt flesh and decaying bodies, of blood. He felt nauseous just thinking about it. He never wanted to see anything like that ever again. "You have heard of the church being burnt down, have you not?" Quatre's eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke. He had to get through to her. She had such trust that her guards would harm no one, when next they could actually come after her as well.

Relena nodded her head, her bangs bouncing slightly with the movement. "Yes, I have. As terrible as it was, the creatures were bound to do it. They're hungry for meat now and will come into the city."

Quatre frowned at that. Was that what her men had reported? It was a lie, a flat out lie! They themselves had killed all those people! Creatures don't burn buildings! "Your men have been lying to you! Please open your eyes to the truth, Queen Relena! Your nation will crumble if you don't do something!"

"Shut your mouth!" A echoing clap sounded as a hand connected against a cheek in a slap, a slap that jolted poor Quatre. "You are not to speak of me or my men or my nation as if we are incapable of overcoming simple problems!" Her eyes were heated burning bright giving her an almost possessed look before it quickly melted away and she put a smile on her face regaining her composure. "We shall return to the palace now. I believe your friend might be awake now."

Quatre glanced over to Wufei seeing the frown on his face as well as his hand on the handle of his sword. He was prepared to defend the young representative at all cost. It gave Quatre a sense of importance but what good would that do if they couldn't even get through to the ruler? He sighed and lowered his head closing his eyes. "Yes, your majesty."

Duo gave a mental sigh as he sank back down onto the bed that Heero had been occupying earlier. Well he had tried to help the other clean up considering he was still a little weak, you know wash his back, do his hair, get him something better to wear than old worn out clothing with holes in them but nooooo he had to go do it all by himself. I hope he falls in. He huffed slightly and laid back on the bed closing his eyes slightly. Trowa was already gone out, prepared to meet up with Quatre and Wufei. Which left Duo to take care of Mr. Grumpy. Well at least on a good note he was starting to stop calling him thief all the time. Of course that didn't mean he was calling him by his name either. He still had a lot of name calling in his blood. Well, sure ok so he did pull him a little roughly in his injured state towards the baths. But well he wouldn't have taken one had he not done it. And really, it was his own fault for rushing head first towards the monsters.

A frown lifted to his lips at that. He didn't know why he decided to be so careless at that time. What did he expect to achieve rushing into them like that? It was a wonder he even survived at all. Hell, it was a wonder he was even up at all! And with hardly any injuries except the wince he kept giving every so often. He was a fast healer, Duo had to admit. However, if he were completely human that wouldn't be possible. And as much as he didn't want to think about it, he had been capable of fighting against Shinigami, something no one had been able to do. Just the thought of it made him want to throw away the cross. But no, he had to keep it, he couldn't let it be taken into the wrong hands. But he couldn't allow himself to be controlled by Shinigami either. It would only be a matter of time before Shinigami completely took over. Duo would have to prepare for that, he would have to use the cross as little as possible to keep it from happening.

The door to the bedroom opened and Heero walked in. His hair was still dripping wet as he looked up, cobalt blue eyes staring at Duo sitting on the bed. He had a pair of dark brown pants on which fit just right, not too big and not too small. Of course he was still barefoot. His old, torn and bloody clothing were still in his hands as he started into the room. He wore a button up shirt that was…not in the least bit buttoned up, his chest being exposed for all to see and being that it was still shining with wetness from the bath, Duo took it that he hadn't been able to dry his chest nor button his shirt. It would have normally been enough to laugh at him or tease him but Duo found himself only staring at him. Wow…he hadn't expected him to be so well built. Well ok maybe he did but still…

Heero lifted an eye slightly as he stared at him, before dropping the pile of clothing on top of his head. "Are you done staring now?"

Duo yipped slightly and shook his head knocking the clothing off of him before he glared at him. "Hey hey it'll be a cold day in hell before I stare at you." He folded his arms slightly as he sat up tilting his head curiously. Something was bothering him though. "I was just wondering, I mean you did get hit hard and well you were bleeding quite a lot so shouldn't there be a cut or a bruise or some kind of marking?"

Heero snorted slightly but he did give pause before he sat down on the bed, his back to Duo as he reached down to slip on the boots beside the bed that were just for him. "….No. I am capable of healing quickly." He glanced back at Duo then started about lacing up his shoes, wincing only slightly at being bent to do it. "It has been that way ever since I was young. What can be fatal to others could be just normal for me." He finished up the one foot and turned his head to glare at Duo. "That was why I told you to leave me back on our way here."

Duo rubbed behind his head blinking blankly at him for a moment before a big grin spread across his face. "Oh ok, so you're a super human then, are you? And you said you didn't believe in magic, oi!" Duo chuckled and jabbed a finger at him poking him in the shoulder. "So you're generally like a cockroach, you just don't die."

Heero grunted and swatted at the finger. "I still won't hesitate to kill you, thief."

"Oi oi! Not with that thief stuff again!" Duo sighed as he rubbed at his forehead. "What would it take to make you call me by my name?"

Heero snorted and started working on the other foot now pulling on the boot and lacing it up. "Proof that you have some intelligence and that you're not a thief."

"Hey, I do have intelligence!" He smirked slightly as he rubbed at his arm. "How do you think it is I outsmarted you the first time we met?"

"Don't remind me." He finished doing the other boot up and stood up turning to stare down at Duo on the bed. "Your need here is complete now." Heero narrowed his eyes slightly. "Because you've lead us here, I won't turn you in for theft and for trying to kill us."

Duo batted his eyelashes at him. "Aww how sweet. You do have a heart inside that cold metal shell of yours."

Heero blinked, feeling his cheeks heat up and cleared his throat, giving him his best glare as he turned and started for the door. "I mean what I say. So stop following us and go somewhere."

"Hmm…Ooooh I don't know." Duo moved, sliding himself over to the edge of the bed and dangling his feet off the side before he got up. "I might just need to head in the direction you're going in. I think I have business there." He grinned.

Heero growled quickly turning to glare at him. "You don't even know where we're going!"

"Ta ta." Duo waggled a finger at him as he started to walk towards him. "If you keep yelling out like that people are going to think you're being very out of character." He smirked again as he stopped in front of him reaching out and started to button up Heero's shirt. A blush came across Heero's cheeks as he stared speechlessly at Duo. Really, if the other weren't so beautiful…. He shook his head quickly pushing Duo roughly away from him with a scowl. Fine, so the other was a beautiful creature with a long snake like braid and soft gentle features and amazing eyes. So what? It wasn't like Heero liked males, or even anyone. He just found Duo attractive, that's all. Nothing else attached.

"Heh." A look passed through Duo's eyes before he pushed a smile to his face. "I forgot. You're Mr. I-can-take-care-of-myself-and-don't-need-friends." Duo grinned, looking oh so smug as he leaned closer causing Heero to lean back away from him. "Aww, too close for comfort? You know it's a shame that such a cute guy such as yourself turned out to be such an asshole." Duo sniffed as he pushed past him heading to the door. "You better start getting ready though, I don't think we're going to be staying here for long." Before Heero could object to the fact that Duo said 'we,' Duo was out the door.

He shook his head. Sometimes he wondered what the other was thinking. But then again maybe not…he'd only known him for a few days and already he was making their lives a living hell. But somehow he couldn't help the feeling that something was going to happen soon, something terrible. He recalled when they were sitting in the streets after the monster battle he still didn't know the details on. He remembered the expression he saw on Duo's face as the other spoke about his past, about the item around his neck. Heero had heard fear, he knew it, but he had heard something else. The other was fighting something inside, probably another emotion or probably Shinigami himself. He only had a matter of time before the creature of death would take him over. And then where would he be? Even worst, with death free what would happen to the world?

Shinigami must have been what had saved him back with the monsters. That was the only explanation. However, he couldn't get over the feeling like he was next. Like Shinigami was after him. Aside from the braided baka….thief's big mouth, that was the only other reason Heero couldn't stand to be near him. He didn't like that feeling of being observed. Heero had to shake the thought from his head as he stood to his feet. How many times before had Duo used the cross to summon Shinigami?

Where once there was a solo, now there is a Duo… For some reason lately that simple line was torturing Heero more. At first he had thought Duo meant his friend Solo…but now…could he really be talking about Shinigami? About the two combining?

Duo was walking down the hallway, his hands clenched at his sides as he fought mentally for control. Shinigami had arisen, right after Heero's spoken words. He healed easily. Shinigami liked that challenge and it made Duo regret he had even asked. On the bright side it meant that Heero wouldn't die easily. On the downside that meant that Shinigami would be tempted to try even more to take over Duo's body for the opportunity of taking the young soldier's life. He could actually hear Shinigami in his head, mocking him easily. And it annoyed him to no end.

"You have done well in picking a strong one this time, Duo Maxwell." Shinigami laughed inside his brain teasing him unrelentingly. "This one is very strong, very…attractive."

Duo growled shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked, his eyes twitching slightly in irritation. Heero would have thought the reason for him leaving so quickly to be because he was angry at him. Really it was because Shinigami would not shut up about him. It was like some sick infatuation and Duo did NOT want to give him the benefit of drooling over the soldier and/or plotting his death with any means and ideas given. "Look would you just chill out! I'm not letting you kill him so just cool your jets? Don't you have some dead guys you can go play with or something?"

Shinigami only laughed, a sound that sounded like nails scratching against glass…sometimes he just had to be SO dramatic. "It's not the same, little Duo. There's no heat, no fear to stare at…no…response. He is a rare breed, this one. And I will have him for myself." Duo could swear he could see the smirk on the other's face. "I will have him dead or alive. He has the means to live and he fights me. The challenge is wonderful…I will have his life."

"Oh yeah, like I'd willing let you do that." Duo slammed a fist against the side of the wall as he walked by, several of the maids giving him a look. Ah, it wasn't like he liked them anyway. They called the group of them beautiful princes. Ok fine…he got called princess more than prince sometimes. Stupid maids and their ideas that people with long hair and nice features just HAVE to be female. Hell, Heero was more feminine than him…ok so he didn't fight like it….

"You're thinking about him again."

"Would you just get out of my head?!" Duo growled out narrowing his eyes before he sighed. Ok this could drive him insane. Shinigami didn't used to talk so much if at all. Man, why did it have to be him who had to deal with this? But as long as Shinigami had a host he wouldn't be able to control anyone else. As long as Duo held out, fought against him, and didn't use the cross anymore…. If he accompanied Heero he would no doubt have any choice in the matter. The other was like blood to leeches. And…just why did he have to be so difficult? But if he didn't follow him maybe Shinigami would grow tired of him and return to his dark den…when ice grew in hell and the ocean became the sky…. Duo gave a sigh as he walked out the castle to join Trowa in waiting on the return of Quatre. This would settle everything. It all depended on Quatre. What a way to live….

TBC…

Ok ok . It's done for now. I can't say when the next will be coming so um ; I hope you look forward to it and don't forget what the story was about forcing to have to reread it all again?