Author's Note: Here it is, the last chapter. It's been a journey, hasn't it? But the best ones are those that are open-ended. Nobody's story is over until they're six feet under but since that would put a cramp in the plot, we're not going to be having anyone go that way. I guess that this parting, for now, is a bit bittersweet and if ya'll don't like it, tough.

Anyways, I'd like to thank ShadowMajin for being there since Day 1 and giving various ideas and helping to choreograph the fights when help was needed, Starember19 for entering the fold and constantly reviewing once she discovered this tale, and anyone else I might be forgetting. Still, I'm kind of put off but how a bunch of people just vanished. Haven't heard hide nor hair of ya. It got to a point where there literally was one reviewer (you know who you are SM) and that smarts.

Lastly, I, myself, want to thank Kibin Okami for coming up with the idea for this story and agreeing to co-author it with me. It's been such an experience that I'm looking forward to any co-authorship in the future. Still, if KO has her way, there may be a continuation in the future but what we need now is time and a lot of brainstorming before any fruits can grow.

Now, without further ado, enjoy.

Disclaimer: We do not own Gundam Wing.

Warning: language

Run and Hide

The image of what was left of Castle Anthovar hovered over the large round table, an undisputable sign of their defeat. However, it was a lost battle; the war was still alive and none of the people who sat in their designated seats would ever think of putting an end to their ambitions.

They had lost two seated members from this disaster, though. One from treachery, the other from obsession. By now, they all knew the extent to which the former Sixth Seat had gone to. It had been an amateurish mistake; they all knew that trying to take the powers of Death from the Death Mage was tantamount to a death sentence. What had the Phantom been thinking? Had that obsession of his finally doomed him?

Jason, now the new Thirteenth Seat thanks to the demise of two upper seats, thought so. That was what he had been able to get out of his own agents and the investigation that was conducted. Not only that but they had underestimated their opposition.

"What else have you found out, Thirteen?" the commanding tone of the Second Seat demanded. "Is there anything else you haven't told us or may have overlooked?"

Jason glanced at the small form standing a few feet behind him. Henri Holmes, a small man who trembled at the auras emitted by every Seat in the room and anxiety was so high that his small glasses were fogging over. He had definitely chosen wisely when selecting his spy to plant in the Phantom's section as he hadn't been found out. In fact, none of the Seated members here were giving him a second thought. Probably had forgotten about the slight individual by now anyway.

"Nothing that comes to mind," he answered truthfully, knowing that the new Fourth Seat, who had once been the Fifth Seat, was combing through his mind, searching for any deception. At this point, Jason had nothing to gain by trying to hide anything.

"Pardon me for a second, but what should we do now?" Damasio, now the Twelfth Seat, asked. "There's still a chance we can catch up with the Death Mage and capture him again."

"Yes, that is the question," the Second Seat could be heard murmuring.

However, before he could make a decision, someone else made the decision for all of them.

"We stand down," a metallic, booming bass of a voice declared, every single Seat snapping their heads upwards to take in the person who dared to say that.

The individual had taken the place of the image of Castle Anthovar, something that none of them had noticed until now, but unlike the image of the ruined castle, he was all too physical and solid. Navy blue vestments draped over the thin yet coarse blue robes that almost came over the barely seen slippers that covered the person's feet. Billowy sleeves connected together due to the arms being folded over the person's chest, covering a marking that all Seats knew by heart. When it came to the person's head, it was blocked off from sight by a mask of sorts, one that was carved out of stone and decorated with two eyes over a detailed nose and closed, jagged "mouth," the eyes seemingly having the ability to peer straight into your very soul. An elaborate helm covered the rest of the person's head, two large ram's horns curling at the sides and over two large, spiked shoulder guards that made this individual seem larger than life.

Though this was the first time he had ever seen such an individual, Jason knew without a doubt that this was the First Seat himself.

Drako.

"Our enemies will expect us to attack immediately," Drako stated, his voice commanding all attention onto his elaborate form. "We will allow them their time of rest, let them grow paranoid, waiting for us. Their ranks will divide with dissention and the very relationships that they have forged between each individual will be their undoing. Then shall be the time for us to take back the Death Mage, this time permanently."

"What about the survivors?" the Second Seat inquired. "What do you want us to do about them?"

"Round them up and make sure they haven't compromised us to the public world," Drako said. "Once our anonymity has been secured, you will decide what to do with them. Time is on our side; we have waited long for the Death Mage, what is a little more time in the grand scheme?

"Tonight is but a small setback, one that will not hinder us. The Death Mage will be ours to command but until then, we will regroup and observe."

Jason, like all the others in this room, knew better than to try and question this. Well, he was too new to be being a Seated member of The Collective so he didn't know exactly why you weren't suppose to question the orders of the First Seat but his survival instinct was screaming at him to just nod and agree with whatever the man said.

He felt an intense pair of eyes pass over him yet he didn't have to look to know just who it was that those eyes belonged to. He remained silent and passive till he felt he was in the clear before looking straight at the robed figure of their leader.

"The Collective is eternal," Drako's metallic voice intoned. "Our victory is inevitable. All those that oppose us, seal their fates, send them on the road to oblivion. Make sure that they do not live to see the sight of the rising sun once more. Humanity is ours!"

Light slowly drifted into the room that resided in an undisclosed location yet Solo's attention was focused solely on the form that rested in bed. He clutched at a limp hand, desperate for any contact with the unconscious Duo, not wanting to be far away when he finally woke up.

And yes, he meant when, not if.

From what he had been able to find out, Duo had passed out from extreme fatigue, that is he used so much energy and exhausted all his magic that he needed to be dead from the neck up in order to recharge or something. He couldn't give specifics since he kinda tuned out the rest of what everybody was saying.

All he knew was that Duo needed a lot of fucking rest and that when he did wake up, he would give him a piece of his mind, just like the good ol' days.

Duo still overdid things and that was something he hadn't changed since they were both eating from garbage cans.

So yeah, he hadn't gotten much sleep recently, spending all his time at Duo's sleeping side and always warding away anybody he didn't want nearby, which happened to include everyone in sight. The shadows all around the room were on edge, just waiting for the command to tear apart anyone who the blond deemed a threat.

Speaking of threats, it had only been when all the commotion was over back at Xavien's castle that he had noticed that that damn collar was gone. It hadn't taken a great leap of logic to determine that the collar was gone because Xavien was dead and without the caster of the spell around to renew the spell with his presence alone, well, it had been lifted along with half the other magical shit in the castle. Slight burns could be seen on his neck but with enough time and magic, not even a scar would remain as a reminder.

A good sign if he ever saw one.

The loss of the collar was but a small win here; with Duo off in lala land and unable to use his mouth, it was but a moot point. He just wanted Duo to be fucking awake or something, damn it!

He tensed as he sensed someone approach but he didn't look up to see who it was. He could feel the shadow's agitation but there were more important things to worry about. Plus, he knew for a fact that no one here had any intention of harming Duo. He just…he didn't want anybody in a twenty foot radius of the Kid, that's all.

When the person stopped beside him and made no move to do anything, the blond turned his head around just enough to throw a glare at the intruder, warning them off. He should have known better that that tactic wouldn't have a single effect on Heero Perfect Solider Yuy. The asshole would stay despite the danger just to piss him off. Plus he was the most common visitor who no matter how many times he was chased away always came back.

His temper wasn't as long as it usually was, so it didn't take him long to suddenly snap, "What da fuck do you want?"

"Is it a crime for me to be here?" Heero shot back just as testily.

Yeah, they really didn't like each other.

"It oughta be," the blond muttered. "Why ya always comin' in here anyway? Tryin' ta hit on an unconscious guy?"

"I could ask the same of you; trying to isolate us from Duo?" Heero retorted.

"Ya know, I'm not gonna dignify that with a response," Solo stated.

"Do you think that Duo would approve of this?" Heero asked abruptly, crossing his arms over his chest. "You keeping away his friends when he needs them the most?"

"Jealous you didn't think of it first?" Solo challenged back. "And no, I don't think he'll like it but damn it, we've been through so much shit together and we've always protected each other's backs. This time ain't gonna be different and if he don't like it, then let him wake up and tell me so."

"You think you're better than me," Heero stated. "You think that just because you've known each other for years that he's just going to fall in your arms without a fight?"

"And fightin' a war together really makes for great relationships," Solo said sarcastically.

"It does," Heero said. "We've shed blood together, 'protected each other's backs,' found camaraderie—"

"And that makes for great sex," Solo interrupted. "What good memories do ya have with him anyway? Killing people, making orphans, do ya really think he enjoyed that? He did like blowing shit up, and who wouldn't? But c'mon man, he's a fucking human being, not a killing machine. No one asks for that kind of life. No one wants that kind of life. Before, he didn't know you existed and when he did, ya didn't make a good impression ta him. He told me."

"Regretful, as it is, things and people change," Heero argued back. "I've changed. I love him."

"It takes more than love to make a relationship," he said. "You two are too opposite of one another to make this thing work. You'd fall apart."

"Oh? You have experience?"

"I don't need it; I watched that shit happen all da time on da streets," Solo replied. "That stuff you see in the movies is shit. It's a fuckin' fantasy and that's what you're lookin' for. I'll save ya some time; ya ain't gonna find it."

"And they say I'm pessimistic," Heero said dryly, well, at least as dryly as was possible for him. "I've been told that love conquers."

"'Cept people's stupidity," Solo added immediately. "Ya know, ya probably know all sorts of shit, like how ta blow something up with da smallest amount of explosives or aiming a gun so that ya can miss a person's heart by an inch, or piloting a big ass Mobile Suit. But I noticed something; ya ain't people smart. You can't figure out their emotions and when you do try, you always fuck it up with your response. You can't even see the real Duo."

"And you can? Or maybe you're talking about yourself," Heero shot back at him, looking slightly pissed.

"If I was talkin' 'bout myself, I wouldn't be doin' it in front of you," he retorted. "I know I'm not perfect an' I don't pretend ta be perfect. I grew up on da fuckin' streets, stealing and eating out of garbage cans. I knew that was fucked up and ta survive it, I'd have ta been fucked up too. And guess what, Duo was there with me until we got separated.

"So yeah, if ya have a fuckin' problem with that, then piss on you. Me an' Duo, we ain't changin' for nobody. And yeah, if Duo don't want me than fine. As long as I can fuckin' protect him, I'm all right with that."

Heero was looking at him as if he had grown two heads. Either that or it was a tail. It was irritating him that the asshole was even giving him such a look but he chose to ignore it in preference to the sight of Duo. His brow furrowed in worry as that chest rose up oh so slowly and went down with each exhale of air. He wished that he would wake up already so that he wouldn't have to be feeling so fucked up. That and he wouldn't have to deal with Heero.

"Why?" he heard Heero ask him. "Why let him go when you know he'll leave?"

"Didn't you guys fight a war to find that out?" he asked back. "I know da whole thing: Earth wanted ta keep da Colonies, Colonies wanted ta leave Earth, they fight, make peace and stick together as friends."

"That is in no way what that war was about," Heero stated. "You don't even know what you're talking about."

"Ya might be right," Solo shrugged. "But ya know what? I don't care. Duo comes first. His happiness comes first. If it costs me mine, then all right, I can take it. A…a smart guy once told me that if you love someone, let them go. If they come back, it was meant to be but if they don't come back, then it wasn't. I think he was drunk at da time and he just came out of the blue with it. Left me with a lot of questions, that asshole, but what he said then makes sense."

"It does?" Heero rolled his eyes. "You have to hold on to the people that you love. One day, they'll be gone, gone forever and it was you who gave up the chance to protect them."

"Protect them or stifle them?" he said. "I ain't gonna nail someone down just to make sure I can keep an eye on them. That's what prison's for. You do what you want to do and I'll do what I want to do. Just…just shut da fuck up already."

Heero smirked at him; he couldn't see it but he sure as hell could feel it. While he wanted nothing better than to sock the guy in his face, he held himself back. Now was not the time to pick a fight and it definitely was not the place to get into a fight either. Duo was helpless right here and could get hurt when he didn't need to.

Of course, Duo would just yell at him, make him feel bad, and then try something stupid to "protect" him, like running off and going into hiding. When in doubt, run and hide. That was their little gang's credo. In the end, it hadn't saved them from the Plague but it was something that he had drilled into himself, drilled into Duo.

In retrospect, it probably hadn't been the wisest thing to have as a credo but when you were that young, you were allowed to make mistakes.

He was jerked out of his thoughts when Heero took a seat on the other side of Duo, clearly stating that he wasn't going anywhere. Oh, this guy was really asking for it, wasn't he? If he wanted to break another rib or two, he would've taken the bait right here and now. He was just…okay, okay, he was pussying out, so what?

Damn it.

Duo left unconsciousness like he was emerging from a warm bath: easy and regretful. Easy because it wasn't sudden but regretful because he wanted to sleep some more. He felt so tired, as if he had been on a month long solo mission with no provisions and nothing but the clothes on his back, a handgun, and a duffel bag of explosives with no money whatsoever while the entire surrounding area was swarming with Oz soldiers.

Those were the days…

Suffice to say, he knew he was awake but he refused to open his eyelids to make it all a certainty. Perhaps if he kept them closed, he would trick himself into getting a couple more hours of sleep. Yeah, that was the ticket.

That's when his mind became alert to the fact that something warm was around his hand and it took him less than a second to determine it was human flesh. Somebody was holding his hand? Why? How long had he been out?

Almost involuntary, he groaned and cracked open his eyes, closing them immediately as he was almost blinded by all the light. Damn it, hadn't people heard of blinders before? They were made for a reason, ya know!

He heard a chuckle, signaling to him that someone was taking pleasure in his misery. Well, if that wasn't reason enough to add another tally to his body count, he didn't know what else was.

A hand covered his forehead, for some reason unknown to him, and a thumb stroked the skin under one of his eyes, almost blocking away the source of light. If he had been a cat, he would've purred but instead settled for opening his violet eyes, this time even more slowly so as to let them adjust, and take in the sight above him.

Green eyes peered down at him indulgently and he immediately knew whom they belonged to. So Solo was the one who laughed at him. Guess he was going to have to change that potential fatality to a maiming instead.

"Wakey wakey," Solo said softly. "'Bout time ya woke up. I swear ya can be so lazy sometimes."

"Damn straight," he croaked in reply.

"That's good," Solo said. "Wouldn't want ya changin' on me. Lord knows you're a handful."

"Fuck. You."

"With pleasure."

"Fucking pervert," he mumbled, looking away. Noticing how absent the rest of the room was, he asked, "Where's everybody else?"

"Busy," Solo responded easily. "That and Heero's takin' a piss. Guy just wouldn't leave for some reason."

"There's something you're not telling me," Duo stated. "But right now, I don't care what it is. I'm just so freaking tired right now."

"I bet," Solo agreed. "You lost a lot of power back there; been out of it for almost a week. Try not to get like that again next time, okay?"

"Operative word being 'try,'" he mumbled. "I'll see what I can do."

"Yeah right," the blond grumbled. "Might as well knock ya out for another week and see how much good that'll do."

"Belay that, I'll save you some time," Duo yawned. "But first…"

He lazily lifted an arm up to take the blond's chin and force his head down so that he could capture the other's lips. Pulling away, he smiled sleepily and said, "Thought I forgotten?"

Solo blinked at him wide-eyed before his lips curled into a smirk. "For a moment there, I thought you had." He then kissed the braided one again, lasting a few seconds longer before pulling apart.

A thought occurred to Duo as Solo smiled down at him and his own smile slowly faded away. "With things as they are…do you think they'd let us…?" he trailed off, asking an unspoken question.

Solo looked confused, missing what Duo was hinting at. A blond moment for the guy who was the complete opposite of airhead, perhaps?

He sighed and elaborated, "The cult, Quatre and the guys, The Collective. Everybody wants a piece of me, either to protect me or use me. I wouldn't be surprised if they all tore each other apart trying to figure out who gets me as their trophy."

"So what ya think ya should do?" the blond asked, finally picking up on his trail of thought. "It's not like we could just disappear off the face of the Earth."

"We?" Duo repeated, getting a snort from Solo in reply.

"Do ya really think I'd let you go off on your own again?" the blond rolled his eyes. "Besides, didn't ya want ta marry me?"

"Christ," Duo groaned. "I still can't believe you remember that. But you know, you'd be putting yourself into danger just by staying with me. The guys'll be pissed off and The Collective will try to kill you to get to me."

"But that won't happen; you wouldn't let that happen and neither will I," Solo stated, gripping Duo's hand tightly. "We've been separated for years, gone our own paths, but wouldn't that be lonely continuing on your own when we could walk it together? We're all going ta da same place so why not keep each other company?"

Duo's lips curled upward. "That sounds nice."

"Just think about it a bit," Solo told him. "I'll be right here."

He looked into those sincere green eyes, looked deep into them enough that he was able to see his reflection in the orbs.

And finally, he was able to see not a mask or persona made to hide himself from the world.

He saw himself.

Une had heard all the commotion but she didn't hurry to find out what was going on. In fact, she already knew what it was and had been anticipating it.

That's not to say that she had liked it when she had learned about it but she had known there was nothing she could've done to prevent it.

By now, Duo was gone, taking his friend Solo with him to parts unknown and all she had was a contact number with the strict instructions not to use it, ever. It puzzled her why Duo would do such a thing, giving her a way to reach him and yet be told never to use it. Was there some underlying meaning to it?

Right now, she needed to focus on more important things; such as making sure the remaining Gundam pilots didn't tear this place apart searching for their missing comrade. She wasn't going to enjoy this and she even recalled Duo giving his sympathies for having to deal with it.

"I don't understand. Why would you leave where you are safe? Why endanger yourself, all of us?"

"I think I'm putting you all in danger just being with you. I can't ask that of you to stand between me and some assholes who I ought to deal with myself. The guys wouldn't understand and I don't think the rest of your group would either."

"Duo, there are other options. We can keep you safe; teach you how to really use your powers. Please, give us some time."

"It's not that simple. I'm leaving Une and there's nothing any of you guys can do to stop me. You can restrain me, use magic to hold me, break my legs if you have to, but I'll get out, I'll find a way to get out and it'll all just be a waste of fucking time. At least be happy I'm telling you what I'm going to do beforehand. In the next couple of days, I'll be gone and the guys are going to lose it. For what it's worth, I don't like putting you in this position."

And true to his word, Duo was gone. When she finally reached the room, she found it in disarray as well as a dent on the ceiling. If she had to guess, she'd wager that Yuy turned the bed over except he flipped it up hard enough that it smashed the ceiling. All over the floor, furniture was overturned, medical equipment in places it wasn't meant to be, sometimes the same machine being in several places, and four frantic pilots about to barrel out and tear apart the complex.

That's where she came in, blocking their way by standing impassively in the doorway. She wondered for a second whether or not Trieze would think what she was doing was the right thing.

"Une! Duo's missing!" Quatre exclaimed, frantic as he tried to get around her. "We need to find him!"

"I'm sorry about this but I'm going to have to order you to stand down," she stated, standing firm against the looks of shock that turned into withering glares.

"You mean to get in our way?" Chang demanded.

"I am doing what Duo himself asked me to," she answered.

"Could you do me a favor? I know this is asking a lot but could you stall the guys for a while so that I can cover my tracks? I think a day ought to be more than enough but I don't want to chance it. The longer they aren't following my trail, the better."

"What? But why?" Quatre demanded. "What is he thinking?"

That's when Barton spoke up but his tone was more subdued than the others as he figured out just what was going on. "He's leaving."

"Leaving?" Chang thundered.

"If it's his choice then we have to trust him and allow him to do so," Trowa sighed as he straightened up a chair just enough so that he could sit down in it. "He probably thinks that by staying he's only going to get us hurt."

Une blinked at him. She had guess as much but to hear it be put like that, well, it was a bit of an eye opener. Maybe there was more to this, something that Barton…Trowa might have picked up on but wasn't saying. In some ways, she supposed, Trowa knew how Duo thought better than the others did.

"That's bullshit!" Yuy's voice thundered. "We're finding him and bringing him back, NOW."

"No, Yuy, you will stand down," she ordered. "I don't want to do this, but I will invoke the conditions of your pardons by the Earth Sphere United Nations, specifically those concerning the requirements of your parole."

"Parole?" Quatre frowned. "What are we? Common criminals?"

"The government of ESUN wants to make sure none of you do anything to usurp the balance of stability," she answered. "Thus, according to your conditional pardons, none of you are to take up arms, even in times of conflict, unless you are employed as Preventer staff. If you are fired, you will immediately be taken by the government and placed before a parole board who will decide whether or not you should be imprisoned or placed in a menial government position with no privacy and little to no freedom until your parole is up, which will be in about thirty years."

All the pilots were now staring up at her. "I'd rather have had you all exonerated but there are still those around who fear you. It was luck that I was able to get what you have now. Most wanted an indefinite amount of parole at the minimum. With the exception of Quatre, if I fire any of you, it will more or less be putting you at stake. Instead, your best shot is to follow my orders not to look for Duo for twenty four hours, starting now."

"I know you can probably eke out a couple more hours for me so I'll leave you to your own devises there. All I ask is for twenty-four hours, minimum. That's all I ask for."

"Duo…I may not agree with this…but I'll let you do it. Just…just be careful."

"Hey, he'll have me there ta keep his ass in line. Don't worry."

"Thanks for that vote of confidence, Solo."

"Alright," Trowa agreed with little resistance. It wasn't surprising now to Une but she found she wanted to get a better insight into the Heavyarms pilot but later though.

She could see the other three weren't willing to give in so easily but grudgingly agreeing. Then Quatre's eyes widened and he piped up, "Wait, Duo's deserted! Wouldn't that mean that he's forfeited his pardon?"

"Yes but the powers that be don't need to know that, do they?" she asked rhetorically. "Keep it to yourselves. In the meantime, we'd best be thinking of ways to combat The Collective, or at least make them public knowledge. People might not believe in magic but an enigmatic organization bent on global domination, more so."

"I appreciate all you're doing for me Une. Really. Outside of Solo and the guys here, no one's been so kind to me since Sister Helen."

"Contrary to popular belief, Duo, I do care about what happens to you. You could say you've grown on me."

"Like a fuckin' fungus, right?"

"Solo!"

As she left the pilots, going forth to bring this new situation to the attentions of Reichert and the others, she smiled grimly to herself. Duo was somewhere out there now, hiding from The Collective yet she knew that he wasn't alone.

She could see the way the two's interaction and from what she had seen, she knew the two would be all right.

Perhaps, one day, they would be reunited and be able to live in peace.

Perhaps, one day, when all was said and done, they would be able to look back at all this and laugh.

Perhaps, one day, their family would be together for good.