Heero paced back and forth, cold anger fairly crackling in the air around him. Quatre sat not far away, a blanket wrapped around him as he still felt the cold sting of the ice against his skin. Duo was particularly silent, his violet eyes engrossing in the small flames of the morning fire. The air fairly spoke of tension.

"Tell me one thing," Heero said, flatly, "Where is my father's sword?" His gaze pierced Quatre where he sat.

"It's gone," Mouse replied quietly, "It fell through the ice last night, crossing the river."

Icy fire burned in Heero's dark eyes. "Damn you," his voice was dangerously soft, "That was the last bit of honor I possessed."

Quatre suddenly leapt to his feet, blue-green eyes flashing. It was clear his patience had run out. "There is no mission of honor now! The jewel you wished to placed in the sword has become nothing more than the symbol of your meaningless death!" A note of entreaty entered his voice. "But there's a chance for life now! A new life with her." He glanced at Ladyhawke who was perched comfortably on Duo's shoulder.

"I need that sword to kill the bishop." Heero growled.

"Yuy, listen to him!" Duo called out.

"Damn you," Heero said again, shaking with fury.

"Go ahead!" Quatre suddenly spat. "Kill yourself! Kill her too! You never cared about her as much as yourself anyway."

The moment the words left his mouth, he wished them back. They weren't true. Visions of Heero throwing him onto Wing and placing Ladyhawke in his arms to rush her to Duo flashed through his mind, feeling heavy with guilt.

But it was too late.

Heero lunged at him, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt. Quatre cried out and Heero pushed him away. He fell back against the slope of the hill, his shirt falling open to reveal ten angry red slashes down his chest. For a moment, there was perfect silence as Heero took in the claw marks without moving a muscle.

"What is that?" His voice was a whisper.

Duo answered him coldly. "It happened last night, when he saved your life."

Heero closed his eyes briefly and when he opened them again their was a peculiar kindness in them as if he offered his hand to Quatre.

"Forgive me," he said, pulling Quatre to his feet. A small smile graced his hard mouth. "I'll show you idiots how to cage a wolf."

* * * *
"Remember, the groove inside the north wall."

Quatre nodded in Duo's general direction as he tucked a long awkward bundle under his arm. They were in Aquila and Duo sat on the seat of his wagon, Relena sitting quietly beside him bundled in a thick cloak that hid her features. The stars twinkled overhead.

"All right, the groove inside the north wall." He stepped off the road and traveled down into the lake, his sharp eyes finding the sewage exit he had used when he had escaped Aquila. Now he would be using it to get back in. "We have come full circle, Lord. I would like to think that there is some higher meaning in all of this. It certainly would reflect well on you."

Duo clucked softly to his mule and the wagon rumbled forward up to the gates of the around the cathedral. The guard there raised a hand and halted them.

"Hold! What have we here, holy father?" The guard came forward and before Duo could stop him, lifted the blanket on the back of the wagon. Sharp fangs gleamed in the darkness and snapped at the bars of a cage. A black wolf growled, its yellow eyes regarding the man hatefully from inside its prison.

"A surprise gift, eh…my son." Duo said quickly. "to his Grace, the bishop, from…the people of my parish. A fine pelt for his wall."

The guard smirked and suddenly reached up to pull the hood of Relena's cloak back. Golden hair spilled over her shoulders as she looked at the guard coolly, unafraid. The wolf growled dangerously in its cage.

"And what have we here?" The guard said softly. He turned back to the wolf as it snapped at him. He drew his sword and raised it, an evil look on his face. "I've never had the pleasure of killing a wolf."

Relena smothered a gasp but Duo said calmly, "How strange, that's exactly what the Bishop said. I'm sure he'll understand you depriving him of that pleasure. He's a very forgiving sort of man."

The guard's sword dropped immediately and he scowled at Duo. "Very well, pass on."

Duo nodded. "Wisdom is beyond price, my soon, be grateful that you have it."

They entered the gates of Aquila.

* * * *

The sun rose.

* * * *

"It should be soon now, once the clouds break."

Heero shook his head. He glanced up at the clouded sky and felt only weariness in his bones. It would be ended that day, with or without Duo's miracle.

"It's day, Duo. Like it was yesterday, and will be tomorrow."

Duo shook his head in unbelief but Heero went on, loosening his short sword in its sheath. Ladyhawke chirped on his wrist.

"It's too late. The mass will be over soon. I can't wait for you now. If Quatre has done his job, I can kill the Bishop now or never."

Duo stepped closer to his friend, violet eyes flashing. "No, Heero, this chance will never come again."

Heero stared at him a moment, an age old pain flitting across his face. With slow movements, he lifted his wrist and offered the bird to his old friend. "You're right. If the service ends peacefully, the cathedral bells begin to toll, and you will know I have failed."

Duo took Ladyhawke, his eyes widening. "But Relena…"

For the first time in all the years they had been friends, Duo saw a pleading look in Heero's face, his voice asking for something just out of reach. "I…beg you, take her life, quick and painless."

Duo paled and his voice was a whisper. "I can't do that."

"Yes, you can! I beg you. The cruelty would be to damn her to a half-life, and that is not what she wants."

"I couldn't do it," Duo said again, trembling. Heero's eyes dropped and his voice grew quiet.

"Have you ever considered that this is what God intended all along?"

* * * *

Inside the cathedral, Quatre, wrapped in the white robes of a lowly monk, hurried towards the huge doors which he was suppose to have open. He had had a long wet journey through the sewers and up the pipe he had found on his escape long ago. It seemed everything happened for a reason after all…

He began to pick the lock as two guards noticed him and began to make their way towards him. Cursing under his breath, he quickened his pace.

"Come on, open! Open!"

There was click and he jumped out of the way just as the huge oak doors slammed open with the force of a black stallion's hooves. A dark warrior sat astride a huge war horse just inside the door of the cathedral, the horse's hooves clicking against the stones as the beast pranced in anticipation.

Quatre sighed in relief as the warrior nodded to him in silent gratitude.

A voice rang out like an eerie whisper and the bishop took a step forward, his face calm.

"Heero Yuy."



Tbc…


* * * *


Yeah, I know! Another cliffhanger! *ducks flying toasters* but really, I had to end it there! There is only one more chapter and it all has to stay together! Really! *glances warily at Sable* hey, you can't talk! Look at your last hanger!!!! Grrrrr… I'm STILL waiting for the next chapter there!!! Tee hee! ;)

Stay tuned for the ending, folks! Thanks for sticking with me this far! *Huggles*



Please review….