NOTES:  hehe...i am soooo sorry for the very very very long wait.  Its been what?  Two...three months since I updated?  Well, let me at least give you some excuses:

1) BIG HUGE WALL!!!!!!  WRITER'S BLOCK IS TOO GENTLE A WORD FOR IT!!!!!  ITS A DAMN WALL THAT WOULDN'T BUDGE!!!!  ITS ALMOST AS BAD AS THE BERLIN WALL, BUT AT LEAST THOSE PEOPLE HAD HELP TEARING IT DOWN!!!!!  DAMN!!

2) I got sick.  Very sick.  Very very sick.  Not fatally sick so that I was hospitalized or anything, but just sick. I am still freakingly recovering.  But b/c I fell behind in school work (very dangerous) and nearly lost my job...(my boss is one very shrewd woman).

3) This also has to do with the sickness but it is a reason for the delay.  I have developed Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Meaning when I use my fingers for oh....writing notes, drawing, or typing papers and fics, my joints basically swell and cause me one hell of a lot of pain.  So I gotta pace myself when typing.

Well, those are my reasons, but I have beaten them...sorta.  And here I am about to finally get working on The Way Home. 

WARNING:  Wufei's point of veiw....hehe. 

THE WAY HOME

Part VII

"That is a ship?!"

Wufei Chang knew what a floatable ship looked like, especially since he'd sunk many of them during the war, but the oversized wooden bucket was definably NOT what he even dreamed as floatable. 

"But Mr. Wufei...this is one of the Royal Ships of Sairoon.  My Father and I have both been on it and it is perfectly safe."

Wufei glared at the dark haired girl. He already knew that Amelia was the Princess of Sairoon, but even if he was insulting her he refused to step onto it.  He had a fiancé  to think about after all and he was positive that Sally would drag his soul back to Earth just to pummel him for drowning in a timeline outside her own.  Or she would wish him bad karma in his next life, which he was certain, would come true.

Wufei looked to Heero and Trowa, relieved that by the looks of their faces, they both felt the same way.  He then glanced to Lina, the loud-mouthed girl who in a way was the other group's leader.  By the look on her face she was confused, and slowly getting irritated.  In all his life he had never met such and ill-tempered and impatient girl.  She was even worse than Meirian, his long dead wife.  THAT was one girl he wouldn't dare call weak...at least not to her face.

Amelia, looking very distraught at his reluctance to board her Father's ship said, "But why?"

Wufei groaned inwardly.  The girl refused to back down, trying at first diplomatically then pleadingly to convince him to board.  Out of the three Gundam Pilots, he was the one who had refused verbally, but the other two were not making an effort to convince him otherwise meaning that they were also hesitant to board as well.  In a way, they were taking the cowardly way out of it, using him to hide their misgivings.  He had never though it true, but they were taking the cowardly way out of it.

Yes, even Heero. 

There was an rude snort from the side where Zelgadis sat on some nettings.  "Don't bother Amelia.  Its obvious that he's too scared to go on."

Wufei bristled in anger.  What nerve the stone man had to accuse him of being scared. 

He did not have a chance to object when Amelia turned on the other.  "That's not a nice thing to say Mr. Zelgadis!" 

Zelgadis turned his head away.

"After all, its not a bad thing if he is frightened of ships.  One of my cousins..."

Wufei blew up, "I am no coward!"  For a moment he though she was defending him, when in actuality she really did believe that he was frightened.  He was about to give the young princess a few choice words when he felt a malevolant presence beside him, causing him to jump to the side and glare at the grinning purple-haired priest called Xellos.

Since joining them the other day, Wufei could not find himself to trust the overly cheerful man.  He had not appreciated loosing some years off his life after the man surprised him by hovering over him after they had escaped the haunted forest. He also noticed that Lina and her friends did not trust him either.  Shaking his head he corrected himself.  Only Amelia and Gouarry were comfortable around Xellos.  It wasn't surprising.  Amelia was childishly naïve, and Gouarry…

Wufei stopped his train of thought.  He knew that if he went on he would surly insult the tall swordsman. 

Lina was loosing her patience.  "Listen!  I am tired of waiting for you to grow some balls!  Now move it!"

Xellos suddenly chirped in cheekily, "Now, now, Lina, there isn't any reason to start getting violent!"

Lina turned her growing wrath on Xellos.  Zelgadis groaned, and Amelia jumped onto Lina who looked about to (as Xellos had said) get violent. 

Wufei gave all of them a dirty look, then turned his eyes to Heero and Trowa who were looking at the others in growing shock.  Wufei snorted, "So, are we going to board this floating bucket and probably die in a watery grave trying to get to Winner and that troublesome Maxwell?"

Trowa looked at him and shrugged, "They say its safe."

Heero looked like he was about to go on a mission.  What he said proved that he was thinking of it as such.  "I'm going to board and do a quick sweeping of the ship.  If I find that it is safe, we will sail.  If not, Duo and Quatre will have to stay alive till we get to them on foot."

Wufei agreed with this.  After the sweeping, if Heero deemed the bucket sailable, then he would willingly board, though he would silently vow Heero a painful death if his analysis were incorrect and he died.  During the war it was not an issue if he was killed or not.  But now he had something to live for and someone waiting for to return safely.  A miscalculation was not acceptable in this situation. 

Heero nodded to him and Trowa and strode up the loading board and onto the deck. 

"Where'd Mr. Heero go?"

Wufei looked down at Amelia who had succeeded in calming Lina down.   "He went to see for himself if your ship is truly capable of sailing as you claim."

Amelia frowned, her dark eyes darkening.  "I am telling the truth."

Wufei looked away.  "We are not doubting your word, Princess.  We are doubting the ship."

Amelia put her hands on her hips and glared at him.  Wufei tried to ignore her, wondering why she was getting angry when she snapped, "That boat was made by Sairoon's best boat makers!  And Sairoon makes the best ships!  They're sailors are the bravest, and they would make sure that…"

Behind them, Zelgadis coughed, "Don't put your foot in you mouth Amelia.  Remember what happened the last time when we all boarded a Sairoon ship."

Amelia's cheeks turned a cute pink, but she said angrily, "Fine, maybe our sailor's aren't that brave but the ship managed to get us to safety, even though it had been hit a Lina's tsunami."  She turned back to Wufei.  "And anyway, if the sailors do leave us, we are enough people to sail it ourselves.  So there is nothing wrong with the ship!"

Wufei did not like her anger, and responded irritably, "And as I said, we will see for ourselves!"

The two glared at each other, and both noticed a heavy silence for all their companions had stopped to stare at them (except Gouarry who had fallen asleep).  Wufei snorted and looked away, trying to act like nothing was different.  This only seemed to anger Amelia even more as she snapped, "You are so stubborn!"

"And you don't act like a Princess."

Again there was another long silence, but this time he felt a couple of pairs of eyes look at him angrily, among them was Trowa.  Obviously the other Gundam Pilot disapproved the way he was treating the girl.  Fed up, Wufei snarled and stomped away from them, standing out of the group so that he could fume silently.  He noticed from the corner of his eye that Amelia had slumped next to Zelgadis, looking slightly hurt.

Thankfully, (probably saving Wufei from Lina who was contemplating smacking Wufei) Heero called to them from the deck.  Wufei pushed past the others and was the first one on the deck.  Heero looked at him oddly, noticing his anger, but choosing wisely to remain silent.

He said, "Everything seems in order.  This ship will float, and get us to safety…as long as no mobile suit attacks that is."  This last comment was said with a slight smirk.

Wufei snorted, "I would have expected hearing something like that from Maxwell, not you Yuy."

Heero shrugged and nodded to Trowa who was scanning the deck dubiously. 

The ship's captain who was a man in his prime greeted them all.  He seemed like he knew what he was about, but Wufei did not let his guard down.  He would be prepared if anything happened.  They were shown to their rooms.  The men would be squished into one room, while the two girls had a room to their selves.

Wufei voiced his complaint on the sleeping arrangement, arguing that it was unjust to make six men sleep in a cramped up room, while only two girls lounged in a room that suspiciously looked larger then theirs.  But then Xellos said, startling Wufei, "There will be five, not six in the room."

"What are you talking about?"  Wufei demanded.

Xellos opened one eye, and Wufei could not help but shudder at seeing that the man's eyes were a violet shade like Duo's.  "I do not sleep, Wufei Chang."

Wufei concluded after that very short conversation that he detested Xellos.  The man was mad, speaking of Monsters and Dragons.  In a way, Wufei believed in the magic, but the mythical creatures were too much to swallow.  He needed more proof before he would willingly believe that there were such things. 

And what was the mad man saying about Duo being a Monster, Quatre being a Golden Dragon, and Heero being an Ancient Dragon?  In a weird whacked up way, Wufei could see Duo as a Monster, reveling in Death and mayhem.  A Golden Dragon fit Quatre quite well, though he did not have the ferociousness of one.  As for Heero being an Ancient Dragon…Lina had told him when he asked her that an Ancient Dragon was a type of dragon more powerful that any another.  It was extremely hard to kill.  She has also said that all were dead except for one.  

It was interesting, but still crazy. 

The ship cast off with no problems, and thankfully no one seemed to suffer from seasickness.  It would have been pathetic for seasoned soldiers like them to become sick, but in a dark corner of his heart he had hoped one of Lina's group had gotten sick.  He had been surprised at the way Amelia handled herself on board, talking with the sailors and Captain, obviously knowing what was going on about her.  Even the idiot Gouarry just sat back and relaxed, idly talking to Lina who had kept a look out on the front of the ship.  Zelgadis was speaking to the mate who was guiding the wheel, talking about the foundations of the ship.

These four were no simple citizens.  Though they didn't look it at first glance, they had a weathered air about them.  Ones that were confident of their abilities, without the arrogance (except maybe Lina when she was acting like Duo).  They seemed like veterans, having seen a lot in their young lives, yet still retaining a strong will to live a full and eventful life.

They were the same.

And that thought disturbed him.

As well as the fact that Xellos had disappeared.

"Wufei."

Wufei turned to look at Heero.  The former Wing Pilot looked suspiciously relaxed, his hair flying madly as the ocean winds pushed the ship's sails onward.  Wufei was immediately curious at what Heero had to say.

"Relax."

Wufei blinked at his comrade in incredulous stupefaction.

Once again, Heero smirked.  He seemed to be doing that a lot today, despite everything that was happening.  "Lina and her friends can be trusted.  They know what they are doing, and are determined to help us find Duo and Quatre.  They are worthy allies, Wufei, and its best that you don't try to push them away."

Wufei took a moment to register this before nodding.  "I understand, but I will not depend on them, Heero."

"I'm not saying that. I'm just saying that they aren't our enemies."

"And Xellos?"

A smirk was gone, and Heero's expression darkened.  "Xellos is not to be trusted.  Even Lina says that.  He has his own plans for helping us, and from what Lina said about Monsters, those plans are not that pleasant."

Wufei was silent for a moment.

Heero sighed.  "Relax, Wufei.  It doesn't seem like there is anyone out for our blood, and we are not in a war."

"We don't know that.  You of all people should be aware of that."

Heero nodded.  "I know.  I am not saying bring down your guard, but to relax yourself a little.  Things have been moving pretty fast pace for us, and we have not had time to stop and think.  It's a crazy time."

Wufei nodded again, understanding.  "Maybe…maybe I will meditate."

Heero gave him a long look then turned away, but stopped and said over his shoulder.  "I've already told Trowa:  When Xellos shows up again, we will keep him under maximum surveillance."

Wufei had to smirk at this.  "Mission Accepted."

When Heero left him, Wufei sat down the deck beside the main mast and closed  his eyes to meditate.  Ignoring the strange looks that were cast toward him from the sailors he kept himself relaxed and his mind clear.  He only opened them once when he heard Lina shriek, only to find that Gouarry had fallen asleep again and his had had slit to an appropriate part of her body.

"You perverted freak!"

The girl was at the moment shaking the brains out of the poor blond.  Wufei felt an odd twinge of pity for the young blond and Lina.  Gouarry for Lina's hot tempered violence, and Lina for the man's stupidity.

"You always do this when you go to sleep!!!"

Indeed, they were in a crazy time.

"WAKE UP!!!!  DAMMIT!!!!!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~****

Duo looked sympathetically at his blonde friend who at the moment was sitting beside him, his blushing face in his hands. 

"Um…Quatre…"

Quatre's voice was muffled by his hands as he said in a very strained and nervous voice, "That is the scariest thing I have ever experienced."

Duo tried to stifle a chuckle, and patted his friend's hunched back. "Come on, she only glomped you for a short time."

"And during that short time my face was…"  The boy hissed, and lifted his face, which still was in a complete blush.  Even though it had been nearly three hours since they had met Philia, and now they were seated in her small home, Quatre had not stopped blushing.  Duo silently hoped the woman didn't traumatize the poor boy so that he would never be able to form a relationship with a woman.

Or Dorothy….

Duo shook his head and shuddered, that was No Man's Land for him.  Hell, the only Man that had the balls to tred there was Quatre…and Quatre was not faring well at the moment.

And there were already plans for an engagement!

Duo snickered.

Quatre lifted his face and glared at him.  "Stop it.  I know what your thinking, and I want you to stop."

Duo snorted and leaned back, giving the blond a challenging look.  "What?  Now you can read minds."

"Thankfully I can't.  But Unfortunately I have the ill luck of knowing how that brain of yours works, and…I SAID STOP!"

Duo cackled.  Quatre knew him sooooo well.

The front door flew open and Philia came in, Valgaav trailing behind her.  "We're back!  I bought some delicious food from the kind restaurant owner down the road!  Hope you like it!"

She placed a large basket on the table and started taking out nicely wrapped platters of food.  Philia's home was actually some sort of an antique shop.  The room they were in had urns, vases, pots, and a couple of weapons sparkling clean and placed appropriately on shelves and display boxes.  There were stairs that let up to her bedroom, and a door that led to her small clean kitchen. 

Duo looked up at the beautiful woman and smiled at her, "Thanks a lot.  You really didn't have to do all this."

Still blushing, Quatre said, "We will repay you in any way we can."

Philia only smiled down on both of them and said, "My what manners!  Nothing like some vagabonds I know." 

Behind her Valgaav snorted, and Philia turned to him.  "Your decent enough Valgaav, though you really have got to come and visit me more often.  You know you're always welcome here.  Gilis and Gravos really miss you."

Both boys watched this with growing interest as Valgaav said, "They are free of my service, and should not bother with silly things like missing me.  I nearly killed them."

Philia placed two plates in front of the boys and started scooping large amounts of delicious looking and smelling food onto their plates.  Duo started salivating, and Quatre looking no better, but still the two listened on.  In an odd way it was like they were the little children listening to their parents talk.

"That was because you were mad with grief, and had let Dark Star possess you.  You should have seen the way Gilis wept when he thought that you were dead."

"I did, when he found out that I was alive."

Philia shrugged and sat down on the table.  "Oh yeah, I remember.  But seriously Valgaav, it is very cruel of you to just tell them that they're free and leave."

Valgaav sighed in exasperation.  "They're fine!  Hasn't Gilis moved in with that pretty Vixen and her son?"

"Yes, and Polo is such an adorable little thing!"

"And Gravos is also with them, and they come here and help you with you business!  Little Lady, I did not take them because they were weak and could not take care of themselves.  They survived their people's destruction like I did and were fighting to survive.  I only aided them and they in turn served me loyally.  They would have been capable of surviving without me, and they are capable of doing so now."

Philia glared at him, "But it does not change the fact that it was cruel!  You two, why haven't you started eating?  The food will get cold!"

Duo looked at Quatre who now seemed to have gained some of his normal color.  His eyes were serious, and he had listened to every single word that was said and had memorized it to heart.  Duo had also done the same.  Both did not understand some of it, but it was at least some information on Valgaav.

"Well?!"

Both jumped and grabbed their forks.  Duo grinned sheepishly and speared a piece of unidentified meat (that he didn't care at the moment if it was poisonous or not since it looked so scrumptious) and took a bite.

"THIS GRUB IS GREAT!!!!"

He couldn't help it.  He had to yell it.  When he looked at Quatre, the other boy grinned at him, his eyes shimmering merrily, obviously agreeing with Duo whole-heartedly.  Duo had successfully expressed both their feelings.  And thankfully, Philia did not find Duo's happy outburst offending.  She simply smiled and said, "At least someone appreciates it."  She cast Valgaav a look that was ignored.

The two ate while Valgaav spoke to Philia about what had transpired since meeting the two in his cave.  He also told her about his discussion with Xellos.  Both Duo and Quatre saw the woman stiffen, bristling in ill contained disgust at the mere mention of the Monster's name.  Duo gave a silent thanks that Philia had been able to tell him apart from his so called forefather.  He liked the thought of his blood relations to the purple-haired freak less than anyone else in the room.  Why couldn't Quatre have a freaky ancestor?

"So," Said Quatre after Valgaav had gone quiet.  "Xellos is going to search for our friends and bring them here."

"That, at least, is what he claims."  Said Philia stiffly.  "You can never trust a Monster, especially not a Monster named Xellos."

Valgaav raised his hand.  "It is true, Philia, Xellos cannot be trusted.  But I do believe him when he said that these two must live and be returned to their time.  What I don't trust is the reasons behind Xellos wanting to aid them."

Philia looked wistfully at Duo and Quatre, Duo looked uncomfortable and Quatre blushed at the look, probably frightened he was about to be glomped again.  "The future…" She sighed.  "I wonder what its like.  Imagine, a Monster and a Golden Dragon, best friends, no even knowing what they are to mar their friendship.  I bet there is no war, no sadness…"

Duo raised his hand feebly, "Umm…Lady…"

Valgaav snorted irritably.  "Hmph.  It is a disgusting thought.  A Golden Dragon running around with a Monster.  There was only one Monster that was worth being looked up to and that was Lord Gaav."  He gave Duo a black look.  "And with the aid of Xellos he was murdered by the Monster race."

Philia waved a dismissing hand at him.  "Oh, ignore him Duo.  That guy has no dreams.  I think its an amazing thing.  I hate Xellos, yet you…"he smiled and Duo gave her a shaky one in return.

This was all too weird.

Quatre sighed.  "Ms. Philia…"  He stopped short when Philia turned flashing eyes at him.  He gave Duo a nervous look but Duo had his focus now all on the food on his plate. 

"Quatre," Said Philia, leaning close to him, her smile dreamy.  "Will you tell about the wondrous future?  I wonder if I am still around then?  Oh it must be so wonderful!  A dream come true!"

Duo choked on his food, and Quatre turned pale in horror.

It was Valgaav who spoke out, his voice almost gentle.  "Philia.  I do not think the future is as colorful as you are imagining it."

Philia blinked large blue eyes at him, "Huh?  Why do you say that?"  She looked at the two nervous fidgeting boys, her eyes questioning them, demanding then to defend her dreams of what lay in the future.  But both boys looked anywhere but at her eyes.  Ashamed.

Philia took a deep breath and sat back in her seat.  She looked at Valgaav, her countenance tired.  "Why do you think the future is not wonderful?  The Monster race and the Dragon races seem to be getting along.  What more could there be?"

Valgaav shrugged.  "That is up to those to infants to tell you.  But look at them Philia:  they are pale and unhappy.  You can see the shame in their eyes…even in the eyes of the little Monster.  They know what we do not."  He then grinned maliciously at Quatre.  "And there is a darkness in that little Golden One.  I saw it for myself.  That darkness was made, not born, am I not right?"

Philia looked at Quatre.  His food had been left forgotten on his plate, his eyes looked down on his pale hands that were clenched on his lap.  Duo was looking away, a pained expression on his face.

Philia became angry suddenly.  She stood and stomped over to Quatre's side looking down on him.  He did not lift his head.  Duo did look at her pleadingly.  She had accepted him, yet would she accept a blight from her own race?

"You were hurt."  She stated in a hiss.  She kneeled next to him and placed an warm hand onto Quatre's clenched fists.  "You were hurt.  I can see that.  Tell me…who hurt you?  Was it the Monsters?"

Quatre shook his head. 

"Demons?  Can it be some of the Dragons?  There are renegades…"

"No!"  Quatre shook his head and lifted his eyes to meet hers.  They were watery but no tears fell. 

"Then who?  What is it the made this darkness come to you?  Who?"

There was a long silence, and Quatre looked at Duo, his eyes anguished.  Duo looked on sympathetically, unable to come aid his friend, for there was nothing he could do.  He himself had no clue what had happened to Quatre in the past that made Bane come.  At first they all thought that Bane came because of the Zero System.  But Bane had mentioned sometime later that he had been around for far longer than that.

Finally, Quatre spoke, his voice a whisper.  It was one innocent word, yet held a ominous weight over the small room and its occupants.

"Humans."

TO BE CONTINUED…@.@

Ack.  Finally done.  Kinda boring but the action starts in the next chapter!  I promise!

Sarlinia