Part 7
*

"You have Lybra?" Duo stared between the two in wonder, Trowa glanced toward Heero and crossed him arms, looking amused.

"No, he does." Heero nodded toward Trowa.

"When did you figure it out?"

"Before, when Duo said your other name, Peirrot. When Quatre and I were sent to this city to search for it, one of the Elders pulled me to the side and revealed that Lybra was thought to be under the protection of an Old One by the name of Peirrot. I had my suspicions when you showed up at our door but I didn't know until he said your name."

"Impressive," Trowa smirked. "So you've found the Lybra. Now what do you plan to do about Treize, yourself and Quatre? Finding the Lybra doesn't solve any of our problems, it only adds to them."

"Maybe, maybe not. The Lybra is said to have amazing powers… what can it do?"

At that Trowa shrugged. "I am only the guardian, not the keeper."

Heero nodded slowly.

Duo glanced between the two, trying to figure what each was thinking. Finally Heero broke the silence.

"Let us see it."

Trowa nodded slowly and took a step back from the two. Closing his eyes the four large white wings burst from his back and his clothing shifted to the white robes. The half mask appeared on his face and he opened his eyes. Trowa took the mask from his face and held it out in his hand, it flashed bright green and shifted. What it changed into looked like some strange three-sided boomerang made of obsidian which had a tint of green. Duo stepped closer and gave a small whistle.

"You mean to tell me that you've been wearing this the whole time and you've never used it? Why not?"

Trowa shook his head. "When it was handed into my protection I was ordered never to use it."

Duo rolled his eyes. "Well, that's more stupid then usual. Hey Heero-" Duo cut off as he noticed that Heero was eyeing the closed door which led to the hallway. The room fell completely silent and beyond the door was a soft sound… like footsteps.

Despite his injured condition Heero moved like lightning and flung the door open, diving through it. He knocked a strange dark figure to the floor and locked his hand over what looked like the boy's throat, growling quietly. Trowa and Duo raced out of the room and Duo's mouth dropped open as he saw who was pinned to the floor.

"Wufei?!"

Wufei coughed, glaring at Heero dangerously. He tried to move his lips but Heero wouldn't let up the death grip on his throat, he couldn't speak and he was quickly losing his ability to breathe. Meanwhile Trowa ducked to the side of the window and peered outside across the lawn. A second later he returned.

"He's alone."

Heero let up slowly on Wufei's throat but kept a hand at his chest, locking him to the ground and his sword to his side without much effort.

"Of course I'm alone." Wufei shot back as soon as he caught his breath. "Duo knows I don't stab people in the back, unlike him."

Duo diverted his eyes in a mix of anger and guilt for a second then nodded. "He's telling the truth, as much as I hate to agree!" Duo glared. "So what's up, bro? You come to read us our rights before you challenge us to a duel to the death? That's your usual style isn't it?"

Wufei shook his head and rubbed his neck. "Let me up and I'll explain."

"You can explain right where you are." Heero growled.

Wufei shot him a glare of death but surrendered. "I hate round about approaches to battles and I absolutely hate it when enemies deceive each other to gain an unfair advantage. There is no honor in such acts."

"Oh please, Wufei, if you're going to go into some big justice rant I'm going to let Heero strangle you!"

Wufei swallowed, attempting to find the right words. "I am no longer siding with Treize, he has broken my trust."

Trowa glanced between the three and raised an eyebrow. "You're talking about the fact that he is an Old One."

Wufei nodded, or something close to that effect considering he was still pinned to the floor. "I will not work for such a dishonorable man."

Duo snickered softly. "I don't think that's why you're trying to switch sides. I bet you got tired of him using you as his personal bedtime fuck toy."

Wufei's black eyes narrowed venomously. "Duo, you're lucky he's pinning me down right now," he hissed.

"You threatened my hair, my favorite outfit and my life. What other empty threat are you going to throw at me now? Give it up Wufei, you'll always be a puppet."

"And you weren't?"

That comment hit home and Duo's grin shifted to a deadly glare. Heero shot Duo a look and shook his head. "Enough." He commanded in a flat voice. Both fell silent. He turned back to Wufei. "You expect us to trust you."

"No," Wufei stated flatly. "I wouldn't if I were you."

Heero let go of Wufei and snatched away his sword, yet allowed him to stand. Wufei stood up slowly and looked at the others, not sure what was going on. Heero flipped the sword over and held it by the blade, offering it back to Wufei.

"Leave."

Wufei took the sword carefully and re-sheathed it with a slow nod. "That's what I expected. In any case it was my duty to warn you about Treize." With those words Wufei turned and left the room, exiting the house. Duo just stared at Heero.

"You just let him go?"

Heero nodded and opened his mouth to speak, but his body shuttered. Sweat beginning to bead across his forehead. Duo's eyes went wide but he didn't move.

Trowa frowned.

"I couldn't have held him pinned like that any longer, even if I had wanted to." Heero choked out. Wincing he forced himself to walk back into the bed room and shut the door, locking the other two out. Duo didn't face the door but he shuddered as he heard Heero give a small yell and the snapping of wings. Duo clenched his fists and closed his eyes in an attempt to hide the tears. The sounds of Heero in pain… they were an equally painful reminder of exactly who's fault it was.

Duo bit his lip and dropped back against the wall, hanging his head. It was all his fault, he was the reason that Heero was suffering. He was the reason that Quatre had disappeared and this whole thing was heading quickly toward blowing up in their faces. It was his fault. So, therefore, it was his responsibility to put an end to it.

Duo opened his eyes and glanced up at Trowa, sadly, who hadn't moved. Trowa was only eyeing him with a blank face. Probably trying to figure out what I'm thinking, Duo thought. Well he knew what he was thinking. It was time to put a stop to all of this.

"It is my fault." Duo spoke softly.

"You still have no proof of that. There are other possibilities." Trowa spoke evenly but Duo shook his head. When he looked back to Trowa his bright purple eyes were full of a deep burning fire.

"No, it is my fault, and I plan to fix it." Duo's eyes narrowed and he stepped forward, allowing room for the wings shooting out of his back to not hit the wall. Trowa took a step back from him and brought up his hand, red daggers appearing between his fingers.

"Don't do this, it solves nothing." Trowa's voice was flat and dead.

Duo's four black wings appeared while his eyes and hands crackled with purple energy. "I'm responsible, and it's my duty to fix this."

With those words Duo dove forward, purple energy shooting out to surround Trowa. Trowa threw his daggers and dropped to the ground at the same time. The daggers hit their mark on Duo's arm but it didn't deter him at all. Instead Duo kept coming and shot more energy straight for Trowa. The thick purple tentacles wrapped around Trowa's legs and he crumbled to the ground, all feeling disappearing. He crashed to the ground ungracefully and Lybra was sent sliding across the floor.

Duo turned his attention away from Trowa and he walked over quietly, picking up Lybra with careful hands. At that moment the door to the room flew open to reveal Heero holding himself up against the door frame. Disbelief covered his sweat glistening face and Duo could see his wings were almost completely red.

"Duo?" Heero choked out.

"Gomen nasai Heero." Then, before he could change his mind, Duo raced out of the house and took off into the sky, Lybra tight in his hand. As he flew away small sparkles fell to the ground… his tears.

"I'm sorry Heero," he whispered painfully. "Hate me all you want, but I will end this!"