SEE ALL WARNINGS AND DISCLAIMERS IN PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. I'M TOO LAZY TO INSERT THEM HERE.

A/N: I know a few of you are gunning for me now . . . XD So here's the update, much quicker than the last one. And wow, I have no idea what's going on. I seldom do, but this story developed a plot and caught me off-guard.

Whispers in the Dark

Sally claimed she couldn't concentrate with Duo hovering and being absolutely useless. "I understand your fear," she said, "but I need time and space. I think you should go through with Quatre's solution and look for the assassin."

So Duo did. He couldn't stand sitting around doing nothing while his beloved Heero lay in his bed possibly dying. What if his lover did die? No. That did not bear thinking about. He couldn't let himself think about it. So he went back to the deserted audience hall and changed forms to search for the assassin.

The smell of sweat, blood, and fear assaulted his sensitive nose. It had been less than an hour, and the air had not yet cleared. That was fine. Better than fine. The stink of the assassin would be lingering still, too. Crouching down, he gazed around the huge room, looking for any place a killer could hide.

The bolt had struck Heero from a downward angle. Therefore, the assassin had been above Heero. He looked up at the ceiling. Yes, there were beams up there a person could balance on if they had the coordination. He made a mental note to make sure the palace guard checked up there thoroughly from now on. He leaped at one of the pillars. They were wood, so climbing wasn't difficult.

The beams were spaced too far apart for a human to jump them. Not so for Duo. Now, where was the best location to escape from quickly? There were high windows up here to allow light in. Otherwise this place would be a dungeon. Duo lightly sprang across to the closest beam and sniffed around the windowsill.

Nothing other than the smell of wood. Not about to be discouraged, Duo simply continued his search. It went quickly. And there, by one of the windows closest to the entrance, was the smell of a human. He could smell both determination and fear. He could also smell some kind of oil—probably for making sure the crossbow didn't make any noise. The chosen spot was also tucked back enough out of sight that the would-be assassin could slip out the window unnoticed.

The window was a simple-enough affair. I'm going to have bolts put on them so they can't be opened anymore, Duo thought viciously. He shifted to his human form just long enough to open the window. Then he jumped to the ground below.

There weren't visible signs of passing, so the assassin was good. Duo relied on far more senses than his eyes, keen though they were. He picked out the trail and followed it.

o8o o8o

"Good, you're back," Sally said some hours later. "Did you have any luck?"

"Yes," Duo replied. "I found out who sent the assassin, at least. How is he?"

At that moment, Relena came out of Heero's bedchamber. She looked tired. Blinking when she saw Duo, she offered him a small smile. "He's all right, Duo," she said, stepping forward to embrace him. "He's going to be fine."

The anger, the mind-numbing fear evaporated all at once, leaving Duo feeling weak. He slumped in her hold, head falling to rest on her shoulder. Thank god. She held him, stroking his hair and murmuring softly until he finally felt he could stand on his own again. Gently pushing away from her, he went inside.

Heero half sat, half reclined against the pillows. His skin was still waxen pale, but his eyes were open and alert. When he saw Duo he immediately smiled, and suddenly Duo felt like a tiny kitten again. Tears sprang to his eyes as he climbed onto the bed, curling against Heero's side with a tiny trill. Heero laughed softly and wrapped him in his strong arms.

"It's all right, sweet kitten," he whispered in Duo's ear. "I'm fine. I'm tired, but I'm fine. Shh, Duo. Don't cry."

Duo buried his face in Heero's neck, aware of the bandaged shoulder and careful not to touch it. Heero seemed fine. But he couldn't get out of his head the image of Heero's lips turning blue as he stopped breathing, the smell of his blood or the sight of it.

"Don't do that again," he mumbled as he wept on Heero's shoulder.

He heard a soft snort. "I'll do my best."

It was some time before he managed to pull himself together. As if on cue, someone knocked on the door. At Heero's invitation Trowa and Wufei entered, both looking grim.

"We couldn't find evidence of anyone's passing, Heero," Trowa said.

Duo sat up. "I did. I know who sent the assassin."

Three sets of eyes turned on him, each equally surprised. "You do?" Heero asked.

Absently wondering where Quatre was, Duo nodded. "Yes. I tracked them by scent. That woman sent the assassin. I think you called her Amonet, Heero."

"She sent the assassin?" Wufei burst out. "That coward?"

"It was with her the trail ended," Duo explained.

"I'm sending for General Blackstone," Trowa said. "If it was her, that is ultimate treason."

"Wait," Heero said. "Let us not assume anyone's guilt just yet. Round up all the royals I dethroned. Invite them all in for some informal questioning. I'd like to give Amonet the chance to slip up if it was her."

"It was," came another voice.

Duo looked up as Quatre entered. The Star Shaman's aqua eyes looked unusually dark. Like a night sky littered with stars. He blinked and the image was gone. Quatre smiled a little.

"I took the liberty of exercising my own unique abilities. Detecting lies, deceit, and plots are among them. I can root out ill intent. I assure you, it was Amonet who planned this."

Head tilting to the side, feeling much calmer now that other things were requiring his attention, Duo frowned. "When I went in to the audience hall," he began, "I could feel something was off. I couldn't define it, but it was this vague feeling that something was wrong. And shortly after that, the assassin made an attempt on Heero's life."

Quatre nodded. "That would be your latent abilities as a Shadow Shaman. I had thought to wait until you'd mastered the Storm before moving on, but perhaps given your lifestyle, it would make sense to start focusing on Shadow as well."

"I'll tell Agrom to start gentle questioning," Trowa said.

"And to lock down the city," Wufei added. "It wouldn't do if the perpetrator was still out there and accidentally killed someone, would it?"

The three men hissed laughter. Duo settled back and rested his head back on Heero's uninjured shoulder. He felt weak with relief. His lover was fine. Back to his usual vindictive self. He closed his eyes. Heero was going to be fine.

o8o o8o

Two days later, Heero was sorely tempted to slap General Agrom Blackstone with insubordination and throw him in the dungeon. The harsh-faced general had ordered four of his best soldiers to stay with the young emperor at all times, and under no circumstances were they to let Heero order them away. The soldiers were thoughtful and courteous, but they steadfastly refused to do a thing Heero told them.

Sally fussed like a mother hen. Even though Heero's legs were fine, she wouldn't let him out of bed until he threatened to banish her from Cairon. She glowered, her expression plainly stating she thought he was being childish. But there was an investigation to get underway, and he would not let his enemies think he was too scared to leave his room.

He held another audience to let his court know he was fine and not intimidated. Every single one of those he'd gathered around him had something to say.

"If another attempt is made, I may not be able to save you this time," Sally said.

"What if the assassin is still in the city?" Duo asked.

"You haven't recovered from the first attempt yet!" General Blackstone thundered. "Fool boy, how am I supposed to protect you?"

"Perhaps you shouldn't antagonize those who want you dead," Quatre mused.

"I know you tend to act first and think later," Wufei said slowly, "but I think this is a mistake."

"What if you plunge this continent into civil war?" Trowa asked.

He ignored them all. Relena and Duo stood on either side of him, and this time the palace guard made sure the room was completely secure. The next day, General Blackstone began his questioning. Only he and Heero were present, and Heero faced all the dethroned royals outside in the gardens so it would feel less like an interrogation.

Agrom always asked them the same things. Did you see anything? Have you heard anything? Do you have reason to suspect anyone would want Heero dead? Most of them were happy and eager to point fingers at everyone else, but not a single one of them could agree on anyone.

Amonet was the exception. She held herself with such poise and quiet grace Heero almost couldn't believe she'd ordered his assassination. She pointed no fingers nor placed any blame.

"Everyone has been accepting of their new roles, Your Grace," she told Agrom. "There seems to be little sense in resisting. And our positions haven't changed a great deal, anyway. I, for one, am satisfied. Pengria was a tiny kingdom. Now it is better protected against those who might decide to attack it."

Heero was tempted to believe her. When Relena joined him after Amonet left, she took a sip of cool tea and looked at him.

"Women are skilled at this game, Heero," she said slowly. "It is all the power we have over men. We are weaker physically, so we've mastered the arts of manipulation and deceit. I'm quite certain she has trained herself enough that she could make you believe you were a peasant woman engaged to be married to a tyrant duke on the moon."

Heero's lips twisted into a small grin. "I would have to say of all those the general interviewed I find her the least likely suspect based on her performance," he admitted.

"As long as you don't forget it was a performance," Relena advised.

"And what does the fool boy do?" General Blackstone grumbled. "Goes out and digs at his adversary. You can't predict a woman, boy. They're troublesome."

Heero didn't miss the sparkle in Relena's eye when she looked at him, but he was too annoyed to comment. "You're awfully disrespectful to your king, General," he snapped.

The grizzled man snorted. "It's because you're acting like a boy prince again. Haven't I taught you anything? If you want to beat someone at their own game, you can't call their bluff this early on. Let me handle the investigation, Heero. That way I can protect you and root out not just this particular malcontent, but all of them."

"He's right," Relena piped up. "And I think you should go through with your plans now. Finalize your empire now and tell your armies to stand by for any conflict. Show your enemies you are deadly serious, and you're through playing."

"Good woman, your fiancé," Agrom said gruffly. "That's an excellent plan. I'll tell your head Governors that your coronation is to take place on the eve of the new moon, which is two days hence. I'll drop hints that we have firm evidence to point fingers to the correct suspect. See if it weeds out some confessions. Princess, I leave the preparations for the coronation in your hands. I believe the chamberlain will be an invaluable asset, as well."

"Thank you, General," Relena said, smiling.

The decision thus taken out of his hands, Heero had nothing left to do but watch and listen to them, annoyed. When had being king stopped mattering?