Shinigami Shinigami's Protector

Part 7

~*~

Duo looked around. It was the same place from his dreams. The destroyed kingdom. Everything seemed so familiar to him but he couldn't quiet place it.

"What is this place?" Quatre asked.

"This…this was my home." Duo said in awe. Deathscythe snorted placing its large head on Duo's shoulders as if agreeing with him.

"What happened?" Trowa asked.

"This place was under attack but the Darkness. Wanting to control the Balance that only Shinigami could hold. The kingdom held up a fight but only ended up being destroyed after Shinigami was sent to another place in time in order for his protection." Saturn said gravely.

Duo looked at her in shock. Everything seemed so familiar. The Darkness and the thing called the Balance. He just couldn't point his finger to it.

"I'll shall show you all of your pasts. Not only Duo's. You four also played in a role in Shinigami's rule." Saturn said. They all stared at her blankly.

"How?" Wufei demanded. Heero glared at her waiting for an answer.

"You all where Shinigami's top royal guards. You where also his best friends. The few friends he had. You shall all see in time. Remember, this is only a memories of the past. They can't not be altered in any way or form. What is done is done. All you can only hope if the prevent what shall happen again." Saturn said.

Then she tapped her staff of the ground the blade illuminated in a bright light. The last thing Duo heard was the high squeal of Deathscythe neighing.

~*~

"Duo-sama! Where are you! You must get ready for tonight's ball!" shouted the maid. She stood in the middle of a large room decorated in black. She screamed in anger again stamping her foot in protest.

"Nelly, what is all the shouting about?" Saturn asked walking into the room. She was dressed in her sailor fuku but wasn't holding her glaive as usual. Nelly, the maid, bowed to the princess of Saturn.

"Princess, your lord has once again snuck off right before he had to get ready for the ball tonight with the queen of the moon, Serenity and her court." Nelly said trying to control her anger. Saturn chuckled.

"I shall go find him. I might have a clue where he is. You go and get his things ready and laid out on the bed. He shall be ready soon." Saturn said. The maid bowed once more and hurried off to do her tasks.

Duo laughed as he heard Nelly shout's in anger. He didn't like to get the old lady angry but it was to funny plus he didn't want to get ready right now. He wanted to go play with Deathscythe first. Soon he ran to a field where some of the other horses roamed, grazing the green grass.

Duo smiled and gave a sharp whistle. A shrill neigh rang through the air and the other horses bolted. A black horse ran as fast as its large, heavy legs could carry him. It tossed its head with its large forelock bouncing all over its face covering it. The horse snorted as it slowed its gallop to a stop rearing slightly and landing with a loud thud when it's front hooves landed on the ground.

"Hey ol' buddy. Wanna give me an old run before I have to go to the party?" Duo asked. The horse nodded its large head tossing it's mane and forelock around. Duo laughed climbing onto to the large horse bareback.

"You know Hotaru-sama is going to be very angry with you if she finds you riding that horse." A flat voice said. Duo looked behind him and saw Heero Yuy, the top royal guard in the underworld and also known as his best friend. Duo flashed on his wide grin.

"Your not going to tell her aren't you?" Duo asked hopefully. Heero snorted.

"If she doesn't find you first." Heero said. Then a horse walked up next to Heero.

It was pure white, that it made the snow look gray. It was Heero's horse, Wing Zero or as he usually calls him Zero or sometimes Wing. It wasn't as tall as Deathscythe nor has heavily boned. Actually the horse looked dainty like with it's thin, fine cut legs and tiny hooves and it's small head. But it was all an illusion. The horse was as dangerous probably even more then Deathscythe. The horse easily made up it's own mind and knows what the next move of the enemy could make but will only tell Heero. Making it that Heero could only ride the wild horse. Even Duo cannot ride the horse.

"Hey Zero!" Duo said patting the horse's nose. The horse snorted daintily and neighed. Duo laughed.

"Come on, I'll race you!" Duo said. Heero nodded and got up on Zero. Then the two lined up. Then three other people came. It was his other friends, Quatre, Trowa and Wufei. They all where dressed and ready to go to the ball.

"Duo, Hotaru-sama is going to be very mad at you when she see's you racing and not getting ready for the ball!" Quatre yelled. Wufei snorted.

"Quatre leave him alone. If he wants to die being killed by that women let him go." He said.

"Don't worry Q-man I'll be back before she'll even notice I'm ever gone! She never finds out!" Duo said. He blinked when he saw Trowa smile. It was very rare for the silent man to ever smile.

"What's so funny T-man?" Duo asked.

"I wont ever notice your gone huh? It's quite hard not to notice when Death has a large mouth that seems to never stay shut, even in sleep. And I do notice when your gone." A voice said behind him. Duo squeaked and hesitantly turned around. Only to see a very angry glare from the princess of Saturn, the senshi of destruction and rebirth, and his protector.

"Uh, hi Hotaru! Sorry busy right now! Readysitgo!" Duo shouted and kicked Deathscythe sides making the horse bolt fast. Heero blinked and then growled in anger as he kicked Zero's sides making the horse run after them.

Saturn glared at the black horse and it's rider. Then she turned an angry glare at the three guards who where laughing. They quickly stopped at her glare.

Duo looked back and saw Heero catching up fast. He gave a cheeky grin at Heero.

"Surprised you finally started to catch up!" Duo yelled over his shoulder. Heero glared at him and urged Zero to run faster. Then he made the horse take a sharp turn running back towards the finish line.

"Hey! Cheater!" Duo yelled as he turned Deathscythe around. The horse reared as its head was jerked. Deathscythe was fast but was too large to take sharp turns unlike Zero. Soon he finally caught up with Heero. They ran side by sad, their horses stretching it's necks as far as they could. Then they both crossed the finish line, making it a tie.

"Hey not a bad race! Sine you cheated!" Duo said as he slides off Deathscythe. Heero glared at him as he got off Zero.

"You where the one who started to early." Heero commented. Then he turned around taking Zero to the stables to clean him up. Duo opened his mouth to make a comment but was stopped when someone grabbed his ear.

"You've had your fun now get ready for the ball! I told Nelly I'd have you ready before it started and it's about to start soon!" Saturn said dragging Duo back towards the castle. Duo protested the whole way. Quatre laughed watching the two bicker.

~*~

Duo sighed as he watched everyone danced. He didn't want to be here. It's not that he didn't like dances. He loved them. You get to dance all night, all the food it was a total blast. But now he was really bored since he didn't have anyone to talk to. Princess Saturn forced him to get dress in his royal clothing.

He looked and smirked as he saw Heero dancing with the princess of Mercury. A small petite blue haired girl but was a total genius. Probably the smartest person in the whole court of Queen Serenity's kingdom. The girl gave a shy smile to him while Heero smirked. Duo raised an eyebrow in surprise. He hardly ever got Heero to make the smallest smile and here all this girl did was give a small smile to him and he smiles? He'll never understand Heero.

Then he saw Quatre, who was blushing bright red while a girl next to him was laughing. She had bright blonde hair tied in a red bow. It was Minako, the princess of Venus and the leader of the inner senshi's. Princess Serenity's protectors.

Then he saw Trowa dancing with a Mokato, the princess of Jupiter. She was talking to Trowa while he gave nods and small smiles in return. Duo laughed as he saw Mokato dip Trowa, who unexpected it.

Then what he saw next he couldn't even hold back his laughter even if his life depended on it. Rei, the fiery princess of Mars was arguing with Wufei. Probably about women's weakness. Then Rei grabbed a glass of punch and poured it on Wufei's head. Then she walked off. Wufei sputtered a moment and ran after her.

As Duo turned to look to see what'll happen next he saw laughing blue eyes. It was Princess Serenity. She gave a warm smile to him.

"Care for a dance?" she asked with a bow. Duo bowed to the princess and took her hand and danced. Then he saw Saturn but was dressed up in her princess outfit making her Hotaru. She was talking with Queen Serenity and Pluto, the guardian of time. Hotaru had a frown on her face and her tiny hand was clutched into a tight fist. Her bangs covered her eyes as she talked.

"Excuse me Princess." Duo said. The moon princess nodded as Duo walked towards them. They all looked up as he approached them.

"Duo…" Hotaru said but trailed off. Duo looked at her confused. Then he looked up at the two older women.

"What's wrong?" he demanded gently. Pluto sighed.

"Shinigami, your kingdom is in danger. Darkness is after the Balance you hold." Pluto said. Duo growled. The Darkness was an evil race trying to get control of the Balance that on Shinigami has. Once anyone has it they'll have control over every living thing in the universe. Making you practically invincible. Even more powerful then the Silver Crystal.

"Maybe we should take you to hiding. It's best for your protection." Setsuna said. Duo frowned.

"No. I will not run away from my kingdom." Duo said sternly showing he well not argue over this subject.

"You know Duo, the moon kingdom cannot help you. We are having are own troubles with the negaverse." Queen Serenity said gravely. Duo nodded.

"I understand this your highness but I will not let the underworld fall." Duo said. Queen Serenity nodded in understand meant.

"Then I shall stay here." Hotaru said. Duo looked at her stunned.

"Hotaru, no!" Duo cried. Hotaru looked up at him.

"I was sent here because all of my family generations has been to protect the ruler of the underworld Shinigami and I'm not about to break that line now." Hotaru said. Duo sighed nodding slowly knowing he well not win the argument.

"All right." Duo said. Then they continued on the night pretending this conversation never happened.

~*~

Hotaru sighed staring out the window from her room. She stared at her home planet, Saturn. The planet everyone feared. It was the night after the ball and the Queen's court went back to the moon. She frowned as she looked out at the night. Something was wrong. It was way to quiet.

She felt something. It was a great power but not a kind of power that didn't belong to Shinigami's world. The Darkness.

"Duo!" Hotaru cried and ran out of the room. Just then the castle shook knocking her to the ground. A group of guards ran past her then one stopped by her to help her up. It was Heero.

"Where's Duo?" Hotaru asked. Heero shook his head.

"I don't know, I can't find him." Heero said.

"What?" Hotaru screamed.

~*~

I'd like to thank Tsukino-san for getting on my case to get me to finsih this chapter and not to slack off. But also I was writing this with a sour throat and a bad headache so you better be grateful Tsukino-san!! And Princess Wing-san, you weren't supposed to shout it out loud! It was supposed to be a secret! Even though I think a lot of people already knew I was a baka from the beginning. ^^:;