This chapter is a bit different than the rest of 'em. You might remember how the last one ended? With Duo and Heero telling Iria a story. Well, this chapter is that story, so it won't really bring the plot further along. But at least now you'll know how Duo and Heero met each others.

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Chapter Eight

Childhood Memories

"Thief!" The angry cry boomed across the plaza, making Duo flinch despite the triumphant grin that spread across his face. "Come back here!"

"Yeah, right!" The boy threw back over his shoulder at the manically waving baker. "See you tomorrow!" He added as he increased his pace, paying no attention to the obscene string of curses that followed his escaping form before he disappeared in the crowd.

Minutes later found him still running, his long hair flapping behind him, clutching the loaf to his thin chest as if it was the most precious treasure imaginable.

'That went well.' He thought, contented with his snatch. ''S been days since I could eat my full.' As if to confirm the fact, his stomach rumbled, drawing out a giggle from the boy.

"You're feeling neglected, ain't ya?" He laughed quietly, ignoring the strange looks that were thrown at him. "No worries, we're almost there."


'Feet, I'm very disappointed in ya.' Duo nervously scanned the seemingly deserted alley. 'How did I end up 'ere? Must've taken left when I shoulda taken right, or somethin'...'

There was something...unnerving with the place. Firstly, the whole alley appeared dark, despite it being late morning. Second, it was quiet. Eerily quiet. As if someone had laid a thick blanket over the alley, effectively muting all noise.

"What the hell's going on?" He muttered, his eyes rapidly darting from one thing to another. There was something seriously wrong with this picture, but he wasn't about to stay long enough to find out what. He was just about to turn on his heel and get his behind out of there when something caught his gaze. There was movement further down the passage. He frowned at the sight. There was something that seemed to float across the alley and he strained his eyes to get a better look at it, but then it disappeared behind some old crates. After a quick inner struggle with himself, in which his curiosity overrode his common sense, he went over to investigate it. Holding his breath, peering over the decaying crates and saw...

"Nothin'?" The boy scratched his cheek in puzzlement. "I don't get it...hell, I don't get this place! And I don't get why I'm still 'ere!" He shook his head at his own stupidity. "S'bout time I get myself out of here." He rose and tried to brush some of the dirt off his clothes. An utterly pointless gesture in truth, seeing that his clothes were hardly more than rags as it was. He sighed, a bit wistfully, before turning around...and leaped backwards with a yelp, stumbling over the crates. Quickly regaining his balance, he stared at the being that had materialized before him. It looked like a ribbon, deep violet in color, swirling around itself in a spiral.

"Sweet mother in heaven!" He breathed, vigilantly backing away, gasping when the band of light followed. Throwing caution away, he spun on his heels and ran, holding tightly on to the loaf.

"Stay away from me!" He cried, resisting the temptation to throw a glance over his shoulder, knowing without looking that the spiral was hot on his trail. Running like a lunatic along the streets, making quick turns, practically tearing through the occasional crowds that got in his way in an effort to lose his persistent pursuer. People stared at him as he dashed by, sometimes ordering him to stop and explain himself.

'Have they lost their minds?' He thought incredulously. 'Can't they see what I have at my heels?' Apparently not, since the demands continued to rise every time he accidentally ran into someone.

He didn't know how long the chase lasted. He did, however, feel his legs about ready to give up on him, succumbing to the tiredness that was ravaging his body. Gritting his teeth, he turned another corner and...stopped, staring at the wall in front of him in horror.

He'd run straight into a dead end.

"Dammit!" He hissed, slowly turning around to stare upon the spiral. "What do you want with me? Huh?" It pulsed in reply, slowly gliding through the air towards him. He moved backwards until he felt the stonewall brush against his shoulder blades, trying to divert his eyes from the shimmering band of purple. All of sudden, the alley basked in light, temporally blinding him. Instinctually he raised his arms to shield his eyes, crying out in surprise when something incredible cold press against his chest. Then, as quickly as it had come, it disappeared, leaving him in a state of confusion. Gathering up his courage, he carefully opened one eye. The spiral was gone, without leaving a trace.

"What the...?" He blinked, several times in fact. "What happened?" Of course, only silence met his question. Giving his head a shake, he looked down at the loaf in his hands.

'Well, whatever it was, it's gone, and I don't feel any different from before, 'cept hungrier.'

Suddenly, a hand clamped down on his shoulder, propelling him around. He suddenly found himself face to face with another boy, looking slightly older than him. Hard eyes stared into his, and bony hands dug into his shoulders, eliciting a small yelp of pain from him. Behind his assailant, Duo caught a glimpse of two more street urchins, standing with their arms crossed, glaring at him under thick mops of hair.

He immediately began to struggle to free himself from the iron grip, fervently cursing his attacker.

"Shut up!" The hard eyed youth barked. "You've got some guts trespassing on our territory, you little shit!"

"Lemme go!" Duo glared, trying to wriggle himself loose.

"Or else?" The boy mocked. "What, you're going to tell your pa' on us?" The pair behind him laughed. "Listen, we're nice guys. We could overlook your slip-up this one time...if..." He smirked. "You give us that loaf."

"Over my dead body!" Duo snarled.

"You heard 'im, Steph," one of the others' snickered.

"Sure did," the boy, Steph, sneered.

'Okay, I'm in deep trouble now.' Was Duo's thought before he did the first thing that came into mind; impaling his assailant with a knee. Steph's hold on his shoulders immediately slackened as the boy stumbled backwards in surprise and pain, giving Duo the respite he required to wiggle himself completely lose. Practically flying past the bent over Steph, he made a beeline for the safety of the street only a few steps away outside the trap he'd walked into. But there was one, or rather, two obstacles in his way. And one of them was holding a small dagger in his gaunt hand. Duo came to an immediate halt, staring at the blade he'd assumed had been stolen by the others.

"You're dead," Steph said in a pained hiss behind him, and Duo could almost feel the cold eyes boring into his back. Trying to ignore the steadily growing lump of dread in the pit of his stomach, Duo slowly turned around, wordlessly handing Steph his hard-earned loaf, watching the boy quickly snag it from his outstretched hands.

"Thanks," Steph muttered sourly, a strange glint in his eyes. He nodded to the two behind Duo, adding; "A bit late, though."

Duo gasped when a hand roughly grabbed a large amount of his long hair from behind, forcing him to bend backwards in a very awkward position. Clenching his teeth to stifle a cry of pain, he glared at his foe, and was surprised to see the triumphant grin vanish from Steph's lips, replaced by a look of...was it fright? Duo frowned; frightened of what? Him? Not likely. Then what...?

"Kill 'im," Steph suddenly breathed, immediately catching the longhaired boy's attention.

"What?" The one holding Duo squawked.

"Do it!" Steph whispered hoarsely, a mad light dancing in his eyes, his whole body quaking. "He's...doing somethin'...just kill him!" Duo's eyes felt like they were about to bulge out of their sockets. In front of him, floating in the space between him and Steph's convulsing form, was the spiral, its radiant glow pulsing menacingly. Obviously, neither Steph nor the other two saw it, but at the same time it was clear that the former was somehow affected by it. Steph's trembling mirrored the spiral's angry pulsing, and his eyes darted across Duo's flustered face, searching, probing, knowing something was there, just out of his sight.

'What's it doing?'

He was unable to suppress a sharp intake of breath at the sudden sensation of cold steel against his neck. Skin prickling at the touch, he heard his capturer whisper in his ear; "Sorry, kid, but Steph's the boss so..." A sigh. "I'm really sorry, ya know," he said again. Gulping down a wave of panic, Duo closed his eyes, offering a quick prayer to any higher power that might be watching over him. Holding his breath, he waited. Seconds passed, but nothing happened. An unnatural stillness seemed to have settled itself over the alley. Forcing himself to release the breath he'd been holding, Duo strained his ears to hear something, anything, that would herald his coming death.

'What're they waiting for?'

Suddenly, a scream rose for the heavens, and Duo's eyelids flew up. Steph was rolling around on the cobblestone, clutching his sides, eliciting tiny gasps of pain. The spiral was warped around his torso, flashing angrily. Shouts of confusion and terror erupted from behind Duo, and the hand gripping his chestnut hair loosened just a bit.

'C'mon!' Duo thought furiously. 'Let go, let go, let go!'

"Kill 'im!" Steph whimpered, legs kicking. "Please!"

"O-okay!" The boy holding Duo gulped, the hand holding the dagger shaking uncontrollably.

"Hold it!" A voice suddenly rose behind them, followed by the sound of boots running. The hand froze, leaving the blade resting against Duo's Adam's apple.

"Let him go," the voice growled darkly, and Duo heaved a sigh of relief as the hand went limp, the dagger harmlessly slipping out of his adversary's clutch. The hand gripping his hair followed a moment later. Spinning around, Duo saw his rescuer for the first time. A pair of incredible cobalt blue eyes, partly veiled by a mop of unruly brown hair and framed by bronze colored skin, met his, giving him a piercing stare, his gaze traveling up and down Duo's body.

"You all right?" He asked in a voice that almost sounded like a growl.

"...Yeah," Duo replied, his voice wavering a little. The tanned youth nodded before leaning in, whispering something inaudible to the dagger wielding lad that moments before had threatened Duo's life. Blanching, the boy nodded quickly, sweat beading his forehead. Peering over their shoulders, Duo caught a glimpse of the third member of the gang, who pressed himself against the wall, staring at the newcomer. Suddenly noticing Duo's eyes on him, he spun on his heels and ran off, not once looking back.

"Coward," the grim youth grunted, stepping back. The disarmed boy quickly seized the opportunity to follow his friend's lead, darting away as quick as he could, revealing what had been pressed against his back. Duo was unable to suppress a low whistle at the sight of the sword in his savior's hands. Not that he considered himself to be an expert, but it looked like a well-crafted blade, definitely nothing an average person would walk around brandishing.

"What happened to him?" The question abruptly interrupted his observation.

"Huh?" The dark-haired boy rolled his eyes and pointed over Duo's shoulder, indicating for him to turn around.

"Why...?" He began as he complied, before his words caught in his throat. Steph laid on his back, his chest rising and falling at a painfully slow rate. His face, twisted into a grimace of anguish, seemed unnaturally pale, almost ghastly so.

"What happened to him?" The sword-wielder repeated.

"I...I don't know."


The darkness gradually gave away to consciousness. Warm. He was warm, and comfortably so. His existence, at the moment, seemed to be incredible soft, which didn't make any sense to him. Since when had his life involved softness? Not for a very long time, he recalled. Then why...?

Carefully opening one eye, he found himself being neatly tucked in under several covers of warm blankets, while his head rested against an immensely large pillow.

"I see you're awake," a voice calmly stated. If his current state had allowed it, Duo would have climbed right up in the air at that. As it was, he had to content himself with a bit of trashing under the covers.

"Please, my boy, try to calm yourself. It wasn't my intention to frighten you," the voice continued hurriedly. Turning his head to one side, Duo saw the voice's owner for the first time.

"Much better," the old man smiled, his hazelnut eyes twinkling under a pair of thick white eyebrows. "You've been through quite a day, haven't you?" Duo feebly nodded, feeling much too drained to answer in words. "I thought you might be tired still, so I took the liberty of bringing you this." He groped around in his pocket, and eventually fished up a vial containing a bluish liquid.

"Here," he said, handing it to the boy. "Drink this." Taking the offered vial, Duo eyed it warily, even going as far as to uncork it to smell its contents.

"A suspicious young man, are you?" The man asked, one eyebrow quirked. "Well, take your time." Deciding that it seemed unlikely that the vial contained poison, Duo carefully brought it to his dry lips, taking a small sip of the blue fluid.

'Well, I'll be...it actually tastes good!'

Throwing everything related to caution over one shoulder, Duo gulped down all of the remaining liquid in one swig. He didn't know how, but he suddenly felt more alert and refreshed than he had...well, ever been.

"So, how are you feeling?"

"Great, thanks," Duo replied, a bit surprised over the fact that his voice didn't even rasp.

"Good." The man paused, folding his hands in his lap. "I suppose you have your share of questions for me," he said after a moment's silence, giving Duo a look.

"Ummm...actually, yeah," Duo bit his lip, a bit nervous in the man's company.

"Well, go ahead. We have plenty of time. No one will disturb us in here."

"...Where's 'here'?"

The man lightly slapped himself on his forehead. "I knew I forgot to tell you something. You'll have to forgive me, this memory of mine has grown a bit rusty of late, I'm afraid." Removing his palm, he gave Duo an apologetic look. "We're in the fortress of Gaer il Haol."

"T-the towers of Day and Night?" Duo managed to squeak, his mind reeling.

"More precisely the Evening tower." A worried wrinkle appeared on his forehead. "What's the matter? You look pale." Duo scarcely heard him.

'The Evening tower? I'm in the Evening tower?' He'd heard stories about it; the tower of the Dusk Guardians, where they practiced their dark magic. How in the seven hells had he wound up here?

"...I see," the man sighed, a hint of sadness in his voice. "You've heard of us." He chuckled lightly when Duo blushed. "Oh, I know how the majority of the people look at us. Blackcapes, children of the night, dark ones. We've been called all of these and more."

"I'm...I didn't..." Duo began, his voice hitched in fear that he had upset the Dusk Guardian.

"Don't feel embarrassed, child. I'm well aware of the common opinions regarding us."

'Embarrassed? Who's embarrassed? I'm scared to death!' Taking a gulp of air, he asked; "How did I get here?"

"Why, Heero brought you here, of course," the man replied. "A bold lad. He marched right up to the gate and demanded to be let in." He chuckled. "The boy demanded to be allowed entrance into the Evening tower, something I believe has never happened before. The guards had quite a surprise, I imagine."

"Heero...?" Duo frowned. He didn't know anyone under that name.

"You don't remember?" The man asked in a surprised tone of voice. "Peculiar. I deemed the two of you as being very close, considering the way he sounded so desperate when he demanded us to help you. Not to mention the gentle way in which he cradled you against his chest, as if you were something very precious and very fragile. He almost didn't let you go when we took you in." He paused, taking in Duo's confused expression. "Peculiar." He said again, absently stroking his chin. "It seems that the shock of receiving has caused a gap in your memory. But don't worry, I assure you that it's only temporarily."

"Whatcha talking about, mister?" Duo demanded, completely forgetting his fears for the moment. "Gap in my memory? Shock of receiving?"

"Now, you must understand that we cannot rush this. Some particular parts of the truth may be hard for you to accept..."

"I don't care! Tell me what you meant!" Duo all but shouted.

"...Very well, then.


"...Was it really necessary, Master Karlin?" Heero's voice was quiet and calm, quite a contrast to the dangerous glint in his eyes.

"I understand that my actions may seem a bit...extreme." Karlin, master of the Evening Tower, tiredly raked a hand through his snow white hair. "But I saw no other option. He didn't take the news well. It's understandable, of course, considering the rumors that circulate in the city. I'm actually quite surprised over that fact that he didn't attempt to strangle me." He chuckled weakly. Heero gave him a dark look from under his bangs before shifting his gaze to the small form lying in the queen-sized bed. Duo's eyes were closed, hiding their unusual shade of violet. Heero felt an almost painful tug in his chest at the sight of the boy's gaunt appearance; the hollow cheeks and the bony hands were clear signs of undernourishment.

"I never knew that living in Vael could be so harsh," he said, more to himself than to the elderly man by his side. "Makes me ashamed of myself, living in such luxury and comfort."

"You shouldn't blame yourself." Karlin frowned slightly. "If any accusation is to be given, it should be to the Order, and none other than we."

"Maybe." Heero gently brushed away some stray tresses of hair from Duo's forehead. "What'll you do with him?" He asked, a hint of warning in his voice that didn't go undetected by the Tower master.

"We take him in, of course," he replied. "It's been a long time since we had a child in the Tower. It'll certainly lighten the atmosphere. And besides," he added, curving his lips. "I won't feel embarrassed the next time Maissa brags about young Quatre. We Dusks can't be outdone by some Dawn now, can we?"

"Hn." Came the reply.

"Which reminds me...you don't know what happened to that other fellow, by any chance? Steph, was it?"

"Why?" Heero's voice could have frozen boiling water on the spot. Karlin almost found himself shifting uncomfortable under the youth's glare. The idea was ridiculous, of course; the head of the Dusk Guardians didn't feel fear for a mere boy.

"From what you've told me, it's obvious that he has the potential to be a Guardian," he said, trying to quell the urge to clutch his robe, which he had an annoying habit of doing when he grew nervous. "The prospect of obtaining two students is something that I cannot ignore..."

"You'll not take that murderer in as a student!" Heero hissed, his eyes narrowing dangerously. Karlin was taken aback for a few moments, blinking stupidly at the furious boy, before he managed to collect himself.

"I believe that that is not your decision to make," he said, frowning disapprovingly.

"Master," Heero's voice was strained; clearly he tried to keep his temper under control. "You can't be serious about this. He threatened Duo's life!"

"Exactly!" Karlin clapped his hands together. "He must've sensed that the attack came from Duo, and therefore reacted in a way that probably seemed most natural to him. Remember, his childhood has most likely been a rough one."

Heero looked positively livid, but kept his mouth shut.

"I don't fully understand your motives in this," Karlin admitted. "When I spoke to the boy before, I believed that his temporary memory lapse was to blame for him not remembering you, but now I have come to the understanding that none of you has ever met before this morning. Why?" He asked, honestly bemused. "Why do you feel such strong attachment to him?"

Heero kept his silence, but the confusion Karlin felt was mirrored in his sapphire eyes.

"You don't know," the Tower master stated the obvious fact. Heero shrugged, his gaze traveling back to the bed.

"You don't know..." Karlin thoughtfully repeated. "How very peculiar...I never knew a Sword could be chosen at such a tender age..."

Heero's head whipped around to stare at him, his jaw slightly ajar. "What?" He managed to croak after a moment of stunned silence.

"Well, you see, a Sword is a..."

"I know what the term means!" Heero growled. "And it's not something that concerns me!"

"Ah, I'm afraid you are mistaken at that point, my boy." Karlin pressed his fingertips together. "Only a Sword would have reacted like you did, without the two of you even knowing each other."

"So saving someone from certain death makes me a Sword, is that what you're saying?" Heero asked, crossing his arms.

"No, but your actions and behavior following that particular event suggests it."

"I've had enough of this!" Heero declared, turning to face the door. "Besides," he added over his shoulder. "I'm returning to Giliand in a few days."

"Then take him with you," Karlin offered, causing Heero to stop, his hand resting on the doorknob. "Think about it; there's no real reason why he should stay here, since it's against the code to teach students. They can only draw upon their Spiral and Sword for guidance and support. And," he tapped Heero's shoulder with his index finger, causing the boy to look up. "It'll bring him far away from Steph."


"I'm nuts," Heero muttered to himself, absently stroking Archon's mane. "There's no other explanation to it." The white stallion neighed softly, delighting in the attention his young master paid him.

"How did I get into this mess?" He asked the open sky. "And how in the blazes did that old man convince me to take the vows? Demra help me..." He trailed off, noticing that Duo had just came out from the Tower, a backpack carelessly flung over his shoulder. He had coped quite nicely with the news, well, at least when he was given one or two days. Now, a week after the incident, he seemed to have fully recovered. Heero was just about to walk over to him when the braided boy turned around and waved, causing his grim Sword to stop in his foot tracks, frowning. Two figures emerged from the doorway, joining Duo. The pair could hardly have looked more different; one of them was tall and lanky, with brown bangs that cascaded down the right side of his face, while the other was a small blond. The pair caught up with Duo, and then the three of them all strolled over to the waiting Heero.

"Hiya, Hee!" It had taken exactly three days for Duo to remove the last two letters of Heero's name. "I was just up at Gramps' place to say goodbye, and was told that we're going to have some company on the way." And it had taken him four days to replace Karlin with 'Gramps'.

"Hello," the blond held out his hand, smiling politely. Heero made no move to take it. "I'm Quatre Barton, and this is my Sword, and brother, Trowa."

'Brother?' Heero thought disbelievingly. The surprise must have been evident in his eyes, since Quatre added; "I'm adopted," before retrieving his hand, finally realizing that Heero wouldn't shake it.

"Oh." Was all Heero said. Quatre looked at him expectantly, cocking his head to one side. "What?"

"You didn't give your name," the brunet, Trowa, replied quietly. Heero hesitated, eyeing the two of them with a dubious eye.

"Heero Yuy," he said at last.

"Pleased to meet you, Heero," Quatre smiled brightly, while Trowa bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement.

"Hey, Quat," Duo piped up. "I don't mean to pry or anythin', but how come you and Tro are coming with us?"

'What is it with this boy and nicknames?' Heero wondered.

"I don't know, actually," Quatre admitted. "Maissa just barged into our room this morning and roused us up, saying that we were going to Giliand straight away."

"Huh, that's odd." Duo scratched the top of his head in puzzlement.

"Yes, it is," Quatre agreed. "But I wasn't about to argue with the Tower mistress, so..." He shrugged. "Here we are."

'Yes,' Heero sighed quietly. 'Here we are.'

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I hoped you liked this, because I've planned a bunch of other chapters like this; about the boys' childhoods. But...perhaps not in awhile.