Disclaimer: I don't own xxxHolic or TRC they belong to the lovely and talented ladies of Clamp. Gundam Wing is owned by other assorted people like Sunrise and Bandai. I do Own my stories and any OC's.
Metallic Feathers - by Lady Syndil
Summary: Duo's and Heero's friends find the pair has left the spaceship. And not in a way they had ever imagined. Jealousy, hatred and obsession start to rear its ugly head. And they follow their friends into the unknown.
Pairings: KuroFai, 1x2xD, Douwata, 3x4 5xS (past 1xR and in her dreams)
Chapter – 10 The Price of Wishes
Watanuki and his husband Doumeki sat on the porch of their small Shop in the world of Holic, and waited for the next batch of customers. Soon enough the bulge of time and space appeared and Watanuki stepped into the garden to meet the four travelers who had a shared wish as they were deposited on the ground. Four very confused and surprised faces stared at him. A lovely and delicate blonde stood close to a tall slender athletic male. A handsome honey haired woman was holding the hand of the only slightly shorter Chinese male next to her. Watanuki grinned…
"Welcome to my shop, this is a shop that grants wishes, for a price, one that is equal to the wish. That you are here says you each have a wish you want granted. I will tell you that there are no coincidences in life, there is only inevitability that you are here was inevitable. Just as is it is inevitable that I help you. You may call me Watanuki. What is your wish?"
The four were stunned, it had worked! They were no longer in their own world on a spaceship just out of range of the suns gravity. Trowa recovered first, this slender man was offering to help them,... for a price. The ethereal looking man before them was tall and slender with messy raven black hair and oddly mis-matched eyes, for one was a deep blue and the other a golden amber hue. Another dark haired man sat upon the porch behind him. Trowa recognized the possessive look in the larger mans golden eye's, he was this one's lover, maybe even husband. And his right eye was just a shade paler than his left. Somehow Trowa 'knew' these men shared that eye.
"We are searching for friends of ours, we wish to join them, as well as warn them of a possible danger." Watanuki grinned, The male had phrased it well, of course Watanuki already knew who these four were searching for. Those others had only left his shop less than an hour ago. But it was not time for them to be reunited permanently.
"Your friends were here, and are already gone. They have started a journey to regain who they once were and learn about themselves."
"Heero, Heero and Duo were here? Are they okay, were they um, happy…" Quatre blushed because honestly he wanted to know if the two had finally admitted to the feelings 'he' had always felt they had for one another.
"Your friends are in good hands. Come sit have some I've prepared snacks and have tea and Sake."
"Tea? You are truly a civilized man, Watanuki. I will be happy to partake of your hospitality while you tell us about our friends." Wufei and the others stepped forward and followed the slender Seer as he made his way to the set upon the porch.
"Heero and Duo, arrived here yesterday." Watanuki held up a hand. "Yes I know, that in your world it seems as if they only just now disappeared, but time often and frequently does flow differently in other worlds. They were a little surprised at first, as I'm sure you may have already guessed. Fortunately Danae literally dropped on them before Heero could shoot us." They all grinned, that was so Heero.
"Danae, a girl? Hey Quatre, didn't Relena say something about, If they find her…" Trowa asked, Wufei answered.
"What she said and I quote, 'Damn Shini to Hell, he did it again. He took my Lore. If they find 'her' again, all is LOST!" Ah, so 'she' had found out. It was inevitable of course, but he had hoped they would have more time before 'she' found he had escaped her, again. She must have been nearby when they left their world to have found out so fast. At least she didn't know that 'Talia' had already been found and rejoined with her lifemates. If she knew that, her wrath would know no bounds and the youngsters were not ready to face her yet. Also these four had things they had to learn and do before they were ready to join the with the others permanently. Watanuki sighed it was time to give them what he could, and tell them the price for joining Heero, Duo and the others.
"She 'is' a danger to them, you are quite correct. But for now, she will bide her time, she does not know yet that your friends, Heero and Duo have been reunited with their third...Danae." Watanuki paused to decide if he should explain some of the types of bonds that people could have with one another. They would get a full education once they got to where they were going, but perhaps he could give them an overview so they would have an idea of what was going on with their friends. He continued…
"Your friends along with Danae are bonded one to the other. There are all different kinds of bonds that form between people, a well as different names for them. My mentor often called it Hitsuzen, or destiny, the joining of those who belong together. Hitsuzen brought your friends here to meet Danae, and the men who are now helping them travel thru the worlds."
"Okay, I get that. But why did Shenlong bring us here, and not take us directly to where ever they are at now?" Wufei asked, honestly curious.
"Ah excellent question, You could say this is the a way station of sorts. The Dragon that watches over that particular world can only grant one wish at a time and technically you have many. So he granted your first wish and took the first price, which in many ways are one and the same. Your first wish was to leave your world to follow your friends. As they came here first this is where he brought you."
"You said we paid a 'price' to have that particular portion of our wish granted. What was it and if that's the case then what did Heero and Duo Pay." Quatre asked, the others nodded.
"As I said the wish and the price go hand in hand in regards to Shenlong. Your price to leave, was to leave, leave behind all that you have ever known forever. Heero and Duo paid the same price. There will be no going back to that world." Watanuki let the meaning of his words sink in, they were never going back. It was either go forward or what, Nothing? Trowa spoke for them all.
"We left good friends, and our Biological families behind. My sister Catherine, Quatre's enormous family of 28 sisters, Wufei still has some clan left on earth and Sally has a brother. And that will hurt, a lot, we will miss them and they us. But our 'Real' Family was formed during the wars." Trowa looked at the ones with him, they all smiled to let him know he did in truth speak for them all, "Our real family, is that which we made for ourselves, and Heero and Duo are part of that family." The silent archer spoke up from his position at the side of the delicate Seer.
"Then you already know more than most people will ever discover."
"So we are here, but how are we to join the others?"
"The wish is made, all that is left is to pay the price. I will send you on to the world were your friends have just arrived, you will be able to spend one night with them, warn them of their possible danger. Then in the morning they will move on with their journey. While you stay behind to fulfill your prices,"
"O-only one night, but, but we want to be with them, help them." Quatre cried out, No this isn't what they wanted!
"Fear not dear one, you will be eventually. But their quest is their own, and you cannot help them with that until the end. Does that help ease your fears?"
"I-I guess so? SO what price will we be paying to go to this place and meet with them now and then again in the future."
"You will learn, learn to use the gifts and talents within in each of you. You have each touched or sensed your gifts, young Quatre's has actively use one of his, though it is not fully trained. The world you are going to can teach you everything you need to know, about how to control and use your gifts as well as give you a new 'focus' and lease on life."
"And Heero, Duo and the others they WILL join us there? And sooner rather than later. I don't want to agree to this and find out that we were suckered." An astute business man and nearly unparalleled Strategist Quatre wanted to clarify that 'Yes', they would BE with their friends and not when they were old and gray either. Especially if they were to pay such a large price as to let their friends do this quest without them.
"Yes dear one, for it is and always was your Hitsuzen and theirs to spend your lives together as the Family Young Trowa called you. So cry if you must when they leave you again, but know that this time, they WIll return, and when they do they will need you and the things you will learn in their absence." Doumeki smirked and grabbed the black Mokona by the ears and held the drunk plush toy up for the others to see. Mokona, who had been drinking all day just belched noisily.
"Don't let Watanuki's witchy words scare you to bad. Your friends have the white Mokona with them and thru the Mokona's Watanuki can talk to them at anytime and vice versa. We'll make sure to keep you updated from time to time on their progress." Watanuki pulled a small mirror from his Kimono sleeve.
"To that end I will give you this small mirror, you will be able to use it to contact me and I you. Thankfully there are only two Mokona's (Gods, can you even image more of the pervert evil buns running around?)"
"Is there a price for this mirror, Watanuki seems like nothing is free around here." This was Wufei the most suspicious of the group.
Only a small one I would have that sword at your side Wufei."
"M-my katana? But? (sigh) Yes, the cost is worth the prize, if it will allow us to speak with you and keep up on Heero's and Duo's progress. Damn it was perfectly balanced too." Wufei handed over his katana to the shop owner and took the mirror in its place.
"Then my fine young friends it is time to send you on your way. Are you ready to see your friends?"
The group headed back out to the garden where the soulless twins, Maru and Moro, had been busy while Watanuki served sake, tea and snacks. Drawing an celebrate circle upon the ground. Watanuki motioned for them the stand in the middle and calling upon the magic he possessed and of the shop itself he send the foursome on to the rest of their lives.
Doumeki caught Watanuki as he sank to the ground. Exhausted, but fine, the prices had balanced.
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AN: Coming up in the next couple chapters.... Joyful reunions, teary goodbyes and secrets revealed. Just a few, can't give the whole show away this early now can I?