Chapter Eight—A Prince, Death, and the Dragon

By Azreal (Blight)

pippin_elf@yahoo.com

OR

horde_king@yahoo.ca

Disclaimer: GW isn't mine, blah, blah, blah…

Okay, this chapter is kinda weird too. I am now announcing the relationship between Heero, Duo and Wufei! See what happens! (I really wasn't expecting for it to end up the way it did, but hey! I like this kind of thing)

Warnings: AU, yaoi, weird shit, swearing, yadda, yadda, yadda…

Chapter Eight—A Prince, Death and the Dragon

They had escaped Dorothy Catalonia and were now heading East, towards China. It was a long journey, one in which they had to cross the ocean, although with Wing, Heavyarms and Shinigami using their own magic to lift Shenlong and Sandrock, they were able to safely reach the Asian coast with nothing lost except some pride and dignity.

Wufei had nearly had a heart attack when Shinigami almost dropped Shenlong, which would have led to a very slow death of drowning in the great rolling waters. To say the least, Wufei got wet anyway, and Shenlong wasn't too happy about a rider with soaked pants sitting on her dappled back.

When they landed on the beach, the sky as black as it had been since Heero's journey started, Wufei was in an extremely sour mood, and Shenlong was no happier. Growling to himself, Wufei slipped off the mare's back, who immediately shook herself and bolted into the water up to her neck, where she stood for ten to twenty minutes, trying to wash off the bitter scent of her master's 'accident.' Wufei sneered at the mare.

"Well, excuse me!" he yelled at the horse, who snorted at him. "It isn't my fault that dratted creature almost dropped us into the ocean!" Shinigami growled at him, and Wufei growled right back at her. "Onna!"

The demonicorn blinked and flicked her ears. Duo laughed as Wufei cursed under his breath about the injustice of it all. Heero rolled his eyes.

"It would probably be wise to find where the weapon is," Heero said.

"But how do we know where it is?" Quatre groused, agitated from lack of sleep. "It's not like there's a map that says 'Go HERE to find weapon needed to defeat Shindoshi'." The blonde was also in a foul mood, though by far it was less than Wufei's. Still, it was obvious that he was unhappy.

'It would be wiser to sleep first, Heero,' Trowa said, sticking up for the blonde. 'If we are not in good health, then we will not be able to complete our mission. Then all will be for naught.'

Heero nodded, complying. "Then tonight we shall rest. Tomorrow we will resume our journey and find the next weapon."

"But where will it be?" Duo asked, frowning. "How can we find it if we don't even know where it is?"

Wufei made a face. "Most likely it will be in my father's possession," he grumbled. "No place on this continent has he failed to extensively search for ancient and valuable artifacts and such. The most likely place it will be is in his vault."

'Of course,' Trowa replied, raising an eyebrow. 'I said as much when we were to the North. We had to come here anyway.'

"Humph."

"Then it's to Wufei's kingdom we go, at sunrise," Heero said, nodding. The others nodded as they began to set up for bed.

Wufei glowered. "I need to wash my pants," he muttered, stalking off. "I will take the first watch." Shenlong whinnied at him from the water, and Wufei glared at her. "Silence, onna!"

Duo laughed. "Man, he really hates women, doesn't he?"

Heero shrugged. "He was supposed to marry a woman once, but she was evil and corrupted his father's court," he said. "His father is out to get him, and he is just nervous about returning to his homeland. Most likely this Merian woman is still living there, so he fears what will happen to him when he returns."

Duo rolled his eyes. "Whoever she is, she can't hurt us," he said, sneering. "The Shi no Senshi won't stand for it." Shinigami growled and Duo grinned, patting her neck. "And neither will Shinigami!" Heero smirked as he laid out his bedroll, wrapping himself up in it.

"Go to sleep, baka," he mumbled. Duo chuckled.

"Whatever you say, Your Highness. Just after I make a fire. Wufei can tend to it while we're asleep."

Heero rolled his eyes as Duo walked off to collect some sticks for a fire. Quatre looked at Trowa and smiled.

"Let's go to sleep, koi," he whispered, laying his own bedroll on the ground. Trowa smirked as he did the same, the two making a larger sleeping area. Curling up next to the taller boy, Quatre fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Trowa wrapped his arm around the small blonde and soon he too fell asleep.

By the time Wufei returned from cleaning his pants, Duo had a fire set up and blazing good. The braided boy nodded and grinned at Wufei, who had his robe wrapped tightly around him since he was pant-less. Wufei made a face at the other boy, who just shrugged and leaned back against Shinigami, who was laying behind him. The demonicorn wrapped a wing around the braided boy, who snuggled into her side. The demonic mare purred, and Wufei raised an eyebrow.

"That is one strange horse," he commented. Duo snickered.

"She's not a horse, Wufei," he replied, as Shinigami snorted in agreement. "She's a demonicorn, something that the world hasn't seen in thousands of years. She's also the last of her kind, which makes her kinda special."

"What can she do, besides what we've seen?" the Chinese boy asked, interested. Duo shrugged.

"Shinni's got many talents."

"Like what?"

"She can kill something with little more than a thought," he said. "She can also bring back people from the dead." Duo's eyes darkened. "Though for anyone, necromancy is a very dangerous thing." Wufei nodded.

"When one dies, it is final and there can be no turning back."

Duo stared at him, eyes boring into the other boy's soul. "Tell me that when someone you care about dies, Wufei. Tell me that then."

Wufei bristled at first, but after a moment he realized what Duo was trying to say. He sighed, looking away from the braided boy to stare at the fire. "I am sorry, Duo. I didn't mean to offend you."

Duo suddenly grinned. "No problem, Fei. You didn't know, so it's okay. Forgiven."

There was silence for a long moment, then, "You've been alive for two hundred years?"

Duo made a face. "Two hundred and fifty, if you want to get technical. I don't care much for years anymore."

"How is that possible?"

Silence.

"Duo?"

"Shinigami brought me back."

Wufei snapped his eyes from the fire. "What?"

"Shinigami brought me back," Duo repeated, solemn. Wufei stared.

"Why??"

"Because she knew."

"Knew what?"

"About this."

"About what?"

"The battle with Shindoshi, and the prophecy. That's another thing she can do. See the future."

Wufei was silent.

"And…another reason."

"What reason?" Wufei asked, frowning.

"I don't know."

"You don't KNOW?" the Chinese boy asked incredulously. Duo shook his head.

"She wouldn't tell me," he said. Shinigami snorted. "And she doesn't plan on it, either." He added. Wufei rolled his eyes.

"Onnas are all like that," he snorted.

"That why you prefer men?" Duo chuckled. Wufei rolled his eyes.

"Baka," he chided, softly.

Duo grinned. "Yeah, but I'm your guys' baka." Wufei blushed. Duo raised an eyebrow. "What is it?" Wufei blushed even more.

"Nothing."

"What is it? Come on, Fei, tell me!"

"No."

"Yes."

"NO."

"YES."

"Why do you care?"

"I just wanna know!"

"Why?"

"Because!"

Shinigami snorted, rolling her eyes. The other mounts snorted as well, twittering in what seemed to be laughter.

"Come on, Fei! What is it?"

"……"

"Grrr…"

"Duo?"

"Yes?" The braided boy smiled wickedly.

"What are your preferences?" Wufei blurted out. Duo blinked innocently.

"What do you mean?"

"What do you prefer…males or females?"

Duo grinned. "Males, Fei, males."

Wufei was silent. Then, "Okay."

The braided boy blinked. "Is that all?"

"Yes."

Duo made a face. "Fine then." Inwardly, he thought, I'll get it out of you sooner or later, Fei, don't worry about THAT. Shinigami snorted and Duo chuckled to himself. "I'll take the next watch, Fei. Wake me up in three hours." Wufei nodded as Duo turned and leaned heavily against Shinigami, nestling himself deeply into her side and wing. The demonicorn nickered softly, then snorted at Wufei.

The Chinese boy made a face at her. "What?"

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL HIM?

Wufei blinked. "Wha…?"

YOU LIKE HIM. YOU AND THE OTHER BOY.

"Who is that?!"

ME.

"Who the hell is 'me'?" Wufei demanded.

SHINIGAMI.

Wufei stared. "Oh, no…"

OH, YES.

"Why me?" the boy asked, looking at the sky.

No answer came from the black expanse above, but Shinigami did.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN DUO. PREPARE TO BE INTERROGATED, LITTLE ONE.

Wufei groaned. "Many talents indeed…" he grumbled.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The next morning, Heero woke everyone up, since he was the last one on watch. Wandering from person to person and shaking them gently but firmly, the rest of the small company awakened to a sky as dark as night. Smirking at the protests he got from the braided boy (which consisted of a lot of cussing and threats) Heero stamped out the fire that had been burning away, and then began to pack his things away. Soon, the others followed his example, with Duo grumbling the entire time about being woken up at a 'god-forsaken hour like this' to 'your ugly mug.' Heero only laughed at him and Shinigami snorted.

One thing that the young Prince noticed was that Wufei kept throwing the demonicorn odd looks, as well as watching both Heero and Duo. It made the prince wonder, what had happened while they slept? Had it been something bad, Wufei surely would have awakened them, though he hadn't. But something had disturbed the youth, though Heero wasn't sure what it was.

He also noticed Duo giving Shinigami odd looks. He would frown at the mare and whispered to her a bit, and the demonicorn seemed to reply; though that was impossible.

Wasn't it?

Before they were about to leave, Wufei approached Heero, looking somewhat nervous. He kept wringing his hands, and when he pulled the prince off to the side for a private talk, he would shoot Shinigami worried looks. Immediately, Heero knew something was up.

"What's wrong, Wufei?" he asked, frowning.

"Nothing is really…wrong," the other boy replied, still wringing his hands. "Not wrong, per say, but…odd."

Heero raised an eyebrow, indicating that he should continue.

Wufei blushed somewhat. "Well, last night I was thinking about our relationship, and how we were planning on bringing Duo into it and…" He trailed off.

"You don't want it?" Heero asked, disappointed. "If you don't that's okay—"

"NO!" Wufei yelled, and the others turned to stare. Waving them off, the other boy whispered hurriedly. "I want that sort of relationship, I really do. We just need to factor in one more thing that might get in the way."

Heero raised an eyebrow. "And that would be…?"

Wufei took a deep breath. "An extremely overprotective demonicorn." He blurted out.

Heero stared at him. "What?"

The other boy sighed, nodding his head at Shinigami, who was watching them carefully, almost calculatingly. Heero also stared at the mare, unnerved by the look she gave them. "That…creature has threatened that if we in any way hurt Duo, she will eat us alive." Heero gave Wufei a strange look.

"She…threatened?"

Wufei nodded. "Yes. She threatened me, last night, and told me to tell you the same thing." At Heero's look, Wufei continued. "That horse can talk, Heero, even if it's not vocally. Sort of like Trowa's way of speaking, only different." The prince stared, incredulous.

"You're joking, right?" Wufei shook his head. "But…how does she know that we…?"

The Chinese boy shook his head. "I would think the way we stare at him makes it obvious, Heero," he answered. Then he winced. "He knows, too. That mare told me so." He made a face and snorted. "I believe he was attempting to get some answers out of me last night, but I told him nothing."

"What has this to do with her?" Heero asked, motioning to Shinigami, who still watched them with a dark eye. Wufei sighed.

"She wants us to 'hook up,' as she put it," was the reply. "But she also warned us of the consequences should we hurt him."

Heero blinked. "And what does Duo think of this?"

"I doubt she's told him yet, but she told me that he…ah…enjoys our company."

"Meaning…?"

"He is as attracted to us as we are to him."

Heero blinked again, and a slow smile spread across his face. "That…that's wonderful!" Wufei smiled grimly.

"Indeed, but remember this Heero, if we do ask him," the other boy waved a finger at the overjoyed prince. "We will always have very dangerous eyes watching our every move. If we screw up somehow, we are as good as dead."

Heero smirked. "Shinigami told you to tell me all this?" Wufei nodded, also beginning to smirk as the other boy shook his head. "How…interesting."

Wufei rolled his eyes. "Interesting?" He chuckled. "If I were Duo, I'd probably say 'What a sack of weirdness is this!!!'"

Heero laughed.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Later that day, after traveling for about twelve hours with maybe three stops between, and after Trowa and Quatre were asleep, Wufei and Heero approached Duo. The braided boy was once again setting a fire, while Shinigami watched. She nickered softly as the two boys came up behind Duo.

None of them knew that Quatre and Trowa were listening in, and when they heard the joyful cry of "YES!!!" followed by "Shhh!!! You'll wake the others up!" the two grinned at each other, winked, and then actually went to sleep.

To be continued…

Boring, boring, boring…but what can I say? They need to pass the time and I want them to be 'together' by the time they get to Wufei's father's palace. One more thing to piss off Big Daddy, he-he. Drop me a line or review! I love being reviewed!!! Tell me how I'm doing, what you want to see more of! Fighting will come soon, don't worry though. And you're gonna meet Dorothy's 'playmate' who wants revenge for wrecking the bitch's face. *blinks* Oh…did I say that? He-he, sorry! Take care!