NOTES:  Hiya!  Here's another part of The Way Home!  I kept on having this image in my head, it was driving me crazy!  Anyway, Philia finally makes her appearance, and we get a glimpse of Lina's dream. 

WARNING: Umm…Maybe a little blood, and a distraught Duo.  No violence like that last chapter. 

THE WAY HOME

PART VI

The wind was blowing in giant gales that blew the dirt into the air.  Wisps of the dust swirled around Lina, causing her long dark cape to flap violently around her, and her long hair to fall over her face.  She yanked at it irritably, keeping her head up as she stared at the dark void over her.

She stood on a cliff.  She did not recognize it, and had no clue how she got there.  She was staring at something in the air.  It was dark, yet light, and she had no clue what she was staring at.  For a moment she felt alone and afraid.  She knew that this presence above her was important…and dangerous…

But why…what was it?

The thing shuddered, and Lina took a step back, not wanting to be anywhere near this dark thing.  Her back collided into something firm, and a pair of hands grasped her shoulders and steadied her.  Lina looked over her shoulder and blinked.  She could not make anything of the face, could not tell anything about the person holding, yet she felt a sense of calm, and an odd sense of possession.  She wanted to protect this person who had caught and calmed her.

 There was another presence next to her, a familiar one.  She did not need to look to see that it was Gouarry.  But she did look, and smiled as her eyes met his kind and gentle blue ones.  Beside him was Xellos, the Monster's eyes open, amethyst slit pupil eyes not on her or Gouarry, but on the one holding her.

Again, this surge of possession. She glared at Xellos and placed a gloved hand one that was on her shoulder.  She mouthed, "Mine."  To Xellos, and took an odd pleasure in seeing his eyes narrow. 

There were others around her.  Zelgadis, and Amelia stood side by side.  With them were the strangers Wufei and Trowa.  Then there was Valgaav of all people, and he had a firm hold on Heero.  It seemed like Heero was rushing toward the edge of the cliff, but Valgaav was holding him back, protecting him for the darkness above.  Then there was Philia, looking serious and a little worn.  She too had someone beside her, but like the one who held her shoulders, Lina could not make anything of this person.

Philia looked at her, with sad sorrowful eyes, reaching an arm and holding the figure next to her in a cradling hug.  And Lina knew…

These strangers, the two unidentified ones, Heero, Trowa, and Wufei, had to leave.  They had to go to this darkness above, they had to go.  But Lina did not want to let this one who held her go.  She could tell that this darkness that floated above was dangerous, unpredictable…almost like the Lord of Nightmares.  She did not want to give what was hers away to this.  She looked back and saw the same looks from Zelgadis and Amelia.  She looked at Gouarry who stood transfixed as he gazed up.  Finally she looked at Xellos…pleadingly…

She did not want to let go…

Lina gasped and sat straight up.  She shivered as a cool breeze blew threw her open window and caress her sweat drenched skin.  That dream again…though this time her new companions were in it.  Was it a coincidence?  After all, those three had made an impression on her, especially after going through that cursed forest, and Xellos's little revelation about Heero.

Heero…an Ancient Dragon…

That stupid Xellos was up to something, though Lina could not fathom why Xellos would try something like that.  It was obvious that he had an interest in her new companions as well as their missing friends.  Lina had to admit, they were not normal.  They obviously had proved that they could defend themselves, yet they had no inkling about magic, or the geography or history or anything.  They were lost in more ways then one.

And the two missing friends:  A Golden Dragon and a Monster.

Wufei had started laughing at this, thinking that Xellos was jesting.  The boy after that had dismissed Xellos and refused to listen to what the Monster had to say.  It was kind of funny since Xellos looked a bit shocked at his total dismissal.  But as for Trowa and Heero, they listened with serious faces, and both had shrugged, neither of them believing the purple haired man.  The only reason why they had even gave Xellos any sort of consideration, was because Xellos had seen and talked to their two missing friends.

What Lina didn't understand was where had Valgaav come into the picture.  Xellos had simply answered when asked where the two were was, "Oh, I left them with Valgaav."  Lina knew that Valgaav no longer sought her life, but still, she was not inclined to rest the safety of two lost and absolutely innocent boys in the hands of her ex-killer. 

Lina frowned.   She was not going to get any sleep.  Getting up, she put on a pair of warm slippers (curtsey of the inn they were staying in) and went outside.  She tiptoed past the rooms of her friends, smiling slightly as she recognized Gouarry's snore.  There were some nice benches outside the inn that she could relax and stargaze on.  Once outside she stopped short when she saw that she was not the only one unable to sleep.

Heero was outside, not in a bench, but lying down on the grass, his arms cradling the back of his head.  Lina stood there, unsure whether to go back in or to intrude.  But Heero spoke up, "You can come if you want…I don't mind."

Lina bristled.  "Like I have to ask your permission!"

She stomped over to the bench next to Heero and threw herself onto it, fuming at the boy.  Was it the moonlight playing tricks, or was the other smirking?  Lina calmed herself down and asked, "So, can't sleep?"

Heero remained silent.  His eyes deeply in focus into the star speckled sky above.  Lina, for a moment, thought of Zel, when she had first met him and how quiet he was.  She found herself smiling.  She asked, "Do you wanna talk?"

"About what?"

He had not bothered to even look at her, but Lina was not one to run away from a challenge (as long as it did not involve Fibrizzo or her sister).  "About your friends.  About you, about where you came from."

"Does it matter?"  He asked.  "Once we find them, we you don't have to bother about us any longer."

Lina cocked an eyebrow.  "Oh?  And how are you going to find your way back home, huh?  You're obviously lost, you have no clue about anything, like you weren't even raised in this world, and to top that off, Xellos has an interest in you and your friends."

Heero frowned.  "Xellos is not to be trusted."  He said firmly.

"Of course not!  He's a Monster!"

At this, Heero looked at her.  "Monster?  You mean you believe his story about fairies and dragons?"

There was a long silence then Lina said slowly,  "Heero, I meant that Xellos is a Monster.  He is an honest pureblood Monster.  That body of his isn't the real thing.  Do you understand?"

Heero frowned.  "That's impossible.  There are no such things!"

"You said that about magic."  Said Lina.  She could not get annoyed at his ignorance.  It was not like Gouarry's stupidity. Heero was just lost, totally and utterly lost.

Heero shook his head, "But…but that's understandable!"  Heero looked nervous, for the first time since meeting him, Lina saw how frightened the boy was.  "After all," He continued.  "Quatre has powers.  Its not magic, but still powers."

Lina demanded, "Quatre?"

Heero looked at her then said, "One of my missing friends."

"He knows magic?"

Heero shook his head.  "No.  I saw your magic and it involved casting spells.  Quatre never does that.  He just focuses and wills it."

Lina remembered what Xellos had said about the two missing boys:  One was a Monster; the other was a Golden Dragon.  These two species were born with powers that had to be controlled at a very young age.  So could it be true…could Xellos have spoken the truth?   And if so, then could Heero be an Ancient Dragon?  And if this was all true who were they?  How could it be possible that non of them knew what they were, and how could these four mortal enemies:  Two humans, an Ancient Dragon, a Golden Dragon, and a Monster become friends who fought side by side and protected one another.  Like Heero, worrying about the well being of a Golden Dragon and a Monster, one who had totally annihilated his race, and the other after his blood due to Valgaav's allegiance to Gaav?

"Lina?"

Heero was looking at her oddly, with some concern in his normally hard cobalt eyes.

Lina looked at him seriously.  "I want answers, Heero.  No more hiding.  If what you say is true, then it makes Xellos's story more believable.  And if what he says is true, then things are going to get very dangerous."

"What do you mean…what does Quatre's powers have to do with Xellos's story being true?"

Lina raise her hand:  "There are only three species in this world that are born with powers:  The first ones are Monsters, the second are the Golden Dragons, and the third are the Ancient Dragons.  It is impossible for your friend to have powers and not be somehow linked to one of these three species.  Got it?"

Heero said, "I am not an Ancient Dragon, Duo is not a Monster, and Quatre is not an Ancient Dragon.  We are all human."

Lina snorted, "Yeah, whatever, keep telling yourself that, Heero.  It won't be long before you will be faced with the hard truth.  But that's not the point:  You guys are going to be getting into pretty nasty stuff, and since I'm helping you, I want to know your story."

"If we are endangering you then we will leave.  We have faced greater odds, Lina.  We can take care of ourselves.  We were trained to do so."

Lina was about to yell at him for being stubborn when she stopped at what he said.  "Trained?"

Heero looked away.  "I won't tell you everything, but I will tell you this:  Where we come from, there is no magic, no supernatural creatures, just people.  There was a war, and my companions and I fought in it.  All five of us fought and survived.  We were hunted, shunned, nearly executed and killed, yet we came through."

For a moment, Lina did not believe him.  A war?  They were soldiers in a war?  But they were her age!  Lina believed herself and her friends exceptional, after all each and every one of them were special, not like any normal person.  Were these kids like them?  But if they were, how could they live without magic, or without knowledge of Monsters and Dragons?

Heero continued, "We came here by accident.  All five of us were…kidnapped some months ago, and taken against our wills by these men who wanted some information that only we five possessed.  We escaped, but we were lost."

"So now here you are."

Heero seemed about to contradict her, but he stopped and nodded.  Lina knew that there was much, much more to the story.  But he had not lied to her about what happened to them, and that was good.  "Is there anything else?"  She asked.

"I…I can't really tell you much more.  If I do ever tell you the rest, then it would have to be with the consent of all four of my comrades."

Lina nodded, understanding.  "Well, whatever.  What you told me doesn't help much, though it does make me understand that you and your friends are not just any other person."  She winked at him. 

Heero looked away.

Lina suddenly asked, "Who was that girl…the one from at the forest?"

Heero glared at her, "Who was the boy that you ran away from?"

Lina snorted indignantly, "That was Hellmaster Fibrizzo.  One of the strongest Monster lords!  Xellos served under him, y'know."

"Why were you…scared?"

Lina knew that he was mocking her.  "Watch it, Buddy!  Don't tell me you don't know Hellmaster!"

"I have never heard of his name in my life."

"Well!  He nearly killed all my friends so that I would cast the Giga Slave.  I assume you don't know that the Giga Slave, if miscast it would consume the entire world!  He's was a Monster, and that's what Monsters want."

Heero was silent.  He then said, "Xellos says that Duo is a Monster.  Yet Duo cares about the world and life.  Xellos is contradicting himself."

Lina was about to yank at her hair when she remembered what both Trowa and Zelgadis had said.  "Lets not get back into that, okay!"

Heero was smirking again.  "Fine then."

Lina scowled at him.  The boy was annoying, but she could not stay mad at him.  Then she pointed down at him.  "Okay, it's your turn."

"My turn?"

"Yep!  I told you about Hellmaster, now you tell me about that little girl."

The smirk was gone, and Lina was about to feel triumphant when she looked into Heero's eyes.  The cold look that was almost always in his eyes were gone, replaced by a shattering look of fear and anguish, and almost total self-hatred.  Ashamed suddenly at causing this reaction, she was about to tell him to forget about telling her if it hurt too much, but Heero sat up. 

The dark haired boy curled an arm around his knee and looked down into he grass, a pained look making him look far older than he was.  "I was trained to carry out missions since I was very young.  These missions involved sabotaging, destroying…and sometimes killing.  I was trained so that I could not feel any emotions for what I was doing.  I was trained to just be a murderer…a machine that did not feel.

"On one mission I was ordered to destroy a military facility.  I went, placed some bombs there, and when I made my escape I laid down on the grass.  Then this little girl came up to me…this little girl and her puppy…"

He stopped, and Lina felt herself shiver, her hands going cold at what she said.  What Heero was admitting was terrifying, to be trained not to feel was harsh…she did not need to be an expert to know this. 

"She asked me if I was lost, and I said that I had been lost my whole life.  This little girl did not know me, yet she was sad for me.  To…to cheer me up she gave me a flower, a little yellow flower.  No one had ever treated me so kindly before…no one had ever given me anything to make me feel better.  I did not understand her, but I kept that flower…

"That night, I set off the bombs and I was proud that I had accomplished my mission thoroughly.  Just as I was about to turn away, one large…" He stopped thinking then shook his head.  "Let just say a large object from the facility fell into an apartment where people lived in."

Lina gasped.

"I stood there, watching as that building collapsed.  It was night, everyone was home asleep…so many of them.  After the fires had died down, I looked through the wreckage…" He paused, and when he spoke again, his voice shook with grief.  "I found the girl, still in her little white dress, and her puppy…dead."

"Oh Heero."  Whispered Lina.  

Heero looked at her.  "I did not want her to die.  I wanted her and her puppy back.  When…the men who were training me saw how I felt, they put me through an even harsher training, so that I would forget what happened and go back to being the unfeeling killer that I was.  But they failed, and I never forgot and I never will."

And Lina stayed silent after that.  She turned away from Heero and looked up to the stars.  She could not imagine how horrible Heero's life must have been.  She could understand how Heero must value his friendship with the other boys.  She could understand the loyalty and possession.  Lina vowed silently that night, sitting with Heero looking at the stars, that no matter what, she was not going to abandon him or his friends…even when they do fine the two missing boys, she would help them home.

And Lina Inverse never breaks her word.

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

Duo knew that Quatre was worried about him.  It was easy to tell by the pinched look on his friend's face.  It was slowly getting dark; the sun was an orange hue that rimmed the trees.  Duo wished he had his Deathsycthe so that he could just fly it into the sun.  Just end it all.  But then an image appeared in his mind.  He had been trying hard not to think of her since being taken by those mad scientist.

Hilde…

He missed the girl.  He missed her steaks as well.  The last time he saw her, was when he had come home from his salvaging job, only to find her small petite body crumbled on the kitchen's tiled floor.  There was a small tranquilizer dart stuck on her back.  Then he had been attacked, and was taken away, leaving his girl lying there alone and hurt.  It had been over a month and Duo had done a good job not thinking of her.  She was a tough cookie, and would wake up and be raising hell on the colonies trying to find him.  When he got back, she'd probably slug him for worrying her so much, and then she'd hug and kiss him. 

But if she kissed him, wouldn't she smell the blood on him?  If she held his hands in hers, wouldn't she feel the stickiness?  Would she still love him after discovering that the boy she fell in love with was a ruthless Monster who had killed a man?  He could have just knocked the guy out.  He was trained in hand-to-hand combat; he could have easily disarmed him and knocked him out. 

But he didn't.

"Duo…"

Duo looked at Quatre who was staring at him, his eyes filled with concern that Duo believed he did not deserve.  "Duo…you're bleeding."

Duo blinked and true enough he felt a sting on his head.  Frowning he lifted his hand and touched his would, his fingers coming away stained.  "How the…"

"You walked into a tree branch."  Said Quatre. 

"I did?"  Duo blinked and looked to Valgaav who stood no too far ahead, watching the two of them with disapproving eyes.  "I didn't notice."  He muttered looking back at Quatre.

"Duo, why don't you let Valgaav heal you?  I mean, I'm sure if we ask he'll do it."

Duo looked down at Quatre.  Duo was only slightly taller than the blond, but it always seemed that Quatre was much smaller and younger when in truth; Duo was only a couple of months older.  But Quatre seemed like an innocent, where Duo couldn't act innocent to save his life. 

And for a moment, Duo hated Quatre.

"I don't need that bastard's help!"  He hissed, stepping away from Quatre and his concern.  Duo looked down at the blood on his fingers.  Who would have thought a Monster bled red like a man?

"Duo…"  Started Quatre again.  "Please, I know you're beating yourself about…."

"Shut up!" 

Duo noticed Valgaav smirking.  Duo would have given anything for a chance to rearrange his ugly smirking face.  Duo hissed at Quatre, "You can take whatever you want from that freak, Quatre.  I ain't!  Now if you don't mind, I need some privacy, so leave me the Hell alone!"

Duo took some satisfaction as Quatre's eyes flashed with hurt then anger.  "Duo, it isn't safe for you to go out alone."

"Oh really?"  Duo grabbed Quatre by the front of his cloak and flung him aside.  "I think a Monster can handle himself fine!  I'm pretty good at killing whoever gets in my way."

"Duo!"

But Duo ignored him; stomping sideways off the path they had been following.  As he walked on he was relieved that Quatre had the sense not to follow him, and in this felt shameful for the way he had treated the blond.  He knew Quatre could not help worrying, or caring, but at these moments, when all Duo wanted was peace, Quatre could get annoying.  As for the suggestion of Valgaav healing him…

Bastard would probably sprout him another head just to see how he and Quatre would react.  The freak was treating them like lab rats.  He put them in situations and sat back to watch the results. 

Duo nearly stumbled as he caught sight of a pond.  Blinking, he looked down at his hands, still seeing the blood on them even though he had washed it away earlier.  It wouldn't be that easy.  It was never that easy.  Stumbling, Duo practically yanked the cloak of, letting it drop to the ground.  Rolling up his sleeves to his elbows, Duo went to his knees and dipped his hands in, shivering slightly at the cold.  He splashed his face with the clear clean water, wiping it out of his eyes and taking deep breaths as he found that his hands were shaking. 

Leaning over slightly he saw his reflection in the pond.  Above him he saw the last rays of sunlight begin to disappear, as did his reflection.  But his eyes were shining brightly.  Those purple eyes…eyes like Xellos…eyes of a Monster.

People were just not born with purple eyes.  In the streets when he was young on L2 many knew him for his long hair and purple eyes.  Weird eyes.  No one ever called him a Monster.  Just weird. 

A Monster.  He was a Monster.  An enemy to human kind.

A murderer.

Duo's throat constricted, and he let out a dry sob.  He had felt the dark pleasure when he plunged the stake into the man's gut.  He could not excuse himself for it.  It was unforgivable.  He had thought he had accepted the fact that his ancestor was a Monster, but he had been trying to believe that he was not like that.  He had killed, but that was war.  That man should not have died.    Another sob shook his frame as he thought of Hilde.  He could never face her after what he had done. 

Duo reached and traced the scar on his neck.  Would Father Maxwell or Sister Helen have forgiven him?  How could they if he couldn't forgive himself?

No tears came, just dry sobs.  He never cried.  He had no tears.  Boys don't cry.  Especially Monsters.  How could he return after what he had done?  He didn't deserve Hilde, he didn't deserve life.  He was a killer, an oath breaker.  He didn't deserve to live.

He froze when he heard a twig snap, for a moment he thought it was Quatre, but it wasn't.

Duo had seen pictures of angels before, and now he seemed to be staring at one.  A beautiful woman in white robes stood a few feet from him, a white-gloved hand placed on a tree.  She had long straight blond hair, and deep blue eyes that were wide as she stared at him.   A basket of herbs had been dropped, its contents spilled to the ground. 

Then Duo saw the hate in her eyes, and he dropped his gaze.  She knew what he was.  Even an angel had forsaken him.

"Xellos!"  She said.

Duo looked up in shock.  He nearly backed away into the pond when she advanced angrily toward him, her hands clenched into fists.  She stopped suddenly.  "You're not Xellos.  But you are a Monster."

Duo dropped his gaze, unable to look up at her.  It hurt, those words coming out of an angel.  She knew Xellos, meaning she would know that he was related to the freakish Monster, and he would be condemned.

The woman's countenance then changed quite suddenly, her voice softening.  "Why are you looking away?  Look up!"

Duo could not help but obey, lifting his anguished eyes to meet hers.  He wished for death at that moment.  He wanted to die, for he deserved it.  The woman flinched, "You have that disgusting Xellos's eyes.  Don't tell me…"

Duo shuddered, but did not look away. 

The woman frowned.  She kneeled down so that she was only slightly above Duo.  "But you don't seem powerful, and you don't feel hostile.  And I saw you crying."

"Boy's don't cry…especially not Monsters."  Duo found himself whispering, dropping his head, unable to keep on staring at her.  "If you know Xellos, and I think you figured out that we're related…then I'm sure you'd gladly do me a favor."

Her eyes darkened angrily.  "Why would I do anything for a Monster, especially one that belongs to Xellos?"

Duo shut his eyes tightly at that.  "I don't belong to him!  I never will!  And I will never let myself be his!"  He opened his eyes and said, "Do this!  Kill me.  I know you can, so just do it!  I can't live with knowing what I am!"

"Kill you!"  The woman gasped, drawing back. 

"Do it!"  Duo was begging, but he didn't care.  He wanted the pain to go away, he wanted the guilt gone.  He couldn't face the others…or Hilde.  "Please, just end it.  I can't live like this!"

But the woman only stared at him, her eyes searching him.  She then reached, and Duo flinched…she was going to do it…she was going to kill him.  But instead elegant gloved fingers brushed his long bangs away from his face.  "You're bleeding."  She whispered.  Then she smiled gently, and Duo had never seen such a beautiful smile.  "Your blood is human."

Duo only looked at her, not understanding.  "And you were crying."  She said, tracing a finger under his eyes.  "Monster's feel no remorse for whatever they do, they don't cry, but you were."  She paused, "No tears, but I can tell that the tears have already been spent a long time ago, so now that you can only cry in dryness."

Duo wanted to pull away then, but suddenly he was in her arms, with his head laying on her chest like a child, her cloak coming around him as she cradled him.  "Why did you ask me to kill you?"  She asked softly.  "You are part human, yet part Monster…but though you have the feel of a Monster and Xellos, you are human."

She placed a hand on his head, over the wound and Duo was engulfed in a beautiful light, the pain was gone, as for the feeling of death, but the sadness and grief remained.  He had not felt like this since his days in the Maxwell Church.  Duo shut his eyes and whispered softly, "Forgive me…please forgive me…

"I promised to never kill anyone after the war.  I was so happy that finally I could wash away all that blood.  But I broke it…I killed a man today…I could have just knocked him out, but instead I killed him…"

"Why did you kill him?"  She asked.  Her hand remained on his head, and her voice was still soothing and soft.

"I just found out I was part Monster.  I never knew, I just thought I was weird.  But then I came here, and I found out what I was…and Xellos…"  Duo buried his head deeper into her chest, but no tears came, even though his whole body shook.  "I was with Quatre in a village today…they immediately knew that we weren't all human.  Its all so messed up, they looked at me and knew I was a Monster, yet I've lived with myself my whole life and I was too stupid to see it!"

She shushed him, and started stroking his cheek.  "The village?"  She asked.

"The bastard who was supposed to be guiding us just up and left us when the mob showed up.  They weren't out for a few beatings or scaring, they were out for blood, with torches and ropes!  We ran, and Quatre did his voodoo and put them to sleep, but he missed one, and the guy hurt him and was about to kill him with this wooden stake…and then I came and turned the stake on him…"

"You saved your friend."  Said the woman.

"Yeah, but I was trained to fight!  I could have easily disarmed him and knocked him out.  But I didn't.  What's worse…"  He paused and looked up into her deep blue eyes.  This was it.  For sure now she would throw him away.  "For a moment, I enjoyed killing him.  I enjoyed seeing him hurt."

He felt her stiffen slightly, but she relaxed and sighed, "And here you are killing yourself with remorse for what you have done, and what you felt."  She pulled him away slightly, and smiled.  Duo was speechless, how could she smile after he had confessed?  "Listen, she said, you killed that man in self-defense, and in that moment of desperation, you felt pleasure.  You are part Monster after all.  But you are mostly human, for here you are now, crying and wishing for death."  She touched his cheek, "You saved your friend.  That is what is important."

"But…"

She shook her head. "Don't question me.  You are very young.  So you listen to your elders, even though I am still considered young for my race."  She sighed and frowned at him.   "Where is your friend…Quatre you called him.  And that cowardly guide, where are they?"

Duo again felt a wave of shame.  "I left Quatre with the bastard.  The guy came back after the danger was over."

The woman's frowned deepened, and Duo felt like a child again, being chastised by Sister Helen.  "Why did you leave your friend?"

Duo fidgeted.  "Cause, he was trying to tell me the same thing you were.  And also cause I'm and idiot you does things without thinking."

Her frown lightened, and she asked, "Your friend, is he a Monster too?"

Duo gaped, "No way!  He's supposed to be a…"

"Duo!"

Duo nearly jumped out of the woman's embrace when he heard his name called from a few feet away.  He turned to find Quatre, red faced and eyes wide, breathing heavily and staring at them.  Then the blond blushed and started stammering an apology.

Duo looked from Quatre's blushing form to the woman holding him and had the decency to blush.  She too blushed and let him go.  Duo jumped up and waved his hand frantically.  "Its not what you think!  I swear!"

Quatre blushed even more. 

"Quatre!  Don't forget I'm still with Hilde!  For crying out loud don't look at me like that!!"

If possible, Quatre turned even redder.  And Duo knew that Quatre had been thinking the worst.  "COME ON!"  He yelled, yanking at his braid in frustration.  He was having such a bad day.  It couldn't get worse!

Then the woman stood, her eyes wide as she looked at Quatre.  "This is your friend?!"  She sounded upset.

Quatre's red face turned pale, and Duo was suddenly nervous.  Sure this woman had forgiven him, but how would she react to Quatre?

The woman then rushed Quatre, and the blond yelped as he was wrapped in a giant bear hug.  "Duo!"  He cried, frightened.

Duo only stood, gaping.

The woman was babbling, "What are you doing out here?!  You are so young?  Who take care of you?  What clan do you come from?  Please tell me so that I may return you so you may be safe!  You…"

She went on, while Quatre called for Duo's aid, and tried to calm the woman.  Duo was about to intervene, when Valgaav appeared next to him.  Duo jumped, and the woman stopped her babbling and turned to him, still keeping hold of a very pale and flustered Quatre. 

"Valgaav!"  She said, smiling.  "What are you doing here?"

Duo's jaw if possible would have ht the ground in shock.

She couldn't be…

Valgaav smiled, a true smile with no malice.  "Its good to see you Philia."

TO BE CONTINUED….

Okay, I really hope the fonts weren't screwed up!  You see, every time I upload a fic, the fonts that are on italics and bold get all messed up…(as you surely saw in the last chapter…grrr) Hope you liked this part!  But I am finally making progress with this fic!

Be patient for the next chapter!