Disclaimers: I don't own anything except for any OC's… such as Cassandra, so there. Don't sue me, you'll only get a very messy picture of Duo that I ABSOLUTELY adore so, don't bother. Thank you all you good people for letting me work with you're Characters, even though you may not know, and it's not like I'm selling em…o.k, on with this…^.^
AN: O.k, I don't know what's going on, I'm just writing what my fingers tell me to write!!! Yay~ I'm inspiried again! Thank You Reviewers!!! ^__^ Please Review again....heehee!!! Happy March Break!

~*~*~*~* Denotes flashbacks
'Blah blah' denotes thoughts

Lost, Found, And Lost Once More
Part 11: For Whom We Are Fighting For


Duet went through a series of mental exercises that Wufei had taught her. She sat in the middle of her room, legs crossed in meditation. Her mind was completely at peace. At least…it was until Duo came in.

"Duet? Are you awake?" Duo's voice traveled into the room and Duet's calm mind as he opened the door. Duet didn't answer, her mind already going back to blank. "Yo, Duet! Are you sleepwalking? What are you doing here in the middle of the room on the ground?" Duo tapped her on the shoulder. Despite her relaxed state of mind, she was registering where Duo was, her senses perking up. Duo was crouched by her, taping her left shoulder.

"Hey, are you all right Duet?" She didn't want to answer.

"Duet?"

"Leave her be Maxwell, she's meditating." Wufei's voice said. In her mind, Duet mapped out his location, by the door.

"What? Meditating? I know she's taking sword lessons with you, but not meditation!"

"It strengthens her chi. Makes her stronger. Keeps her calm and in control."

"Why be calm and in control? She's just a kid."

"I was 'just a kid' when I started my exercises too. There's no need to be loud and boisterous like you are Maxwell."

"Me! Loud and boisterous!" Duo exclaimed, standing. Mentally, Duet sighed.

"Yes. Listen to yourself, how loud you are. She's meditating, so leave her alone."

"But breakfast-"

"It won't kill her to eat 30 minutes later."

"Balanced diet and eating times Wufei! You said so yourself!"

Wufei growled, obviously annoyed. "Just leave Maxwell."

"What are you doing to Duet?" Duo asked.

"Nothing! I'm teaching her what she's asking me to teach her-"

"You're listening to her? A little girl?"

There was silence for a moment. "I do NOT listen to little girls Maxwell! I don't listen to females! They are weak and have no sense of judgment!"

Duet opened one eye. It was impossible to meditate at all with Duo and Wufei bickering.

'You two stop it! I can't meditate OR think at all! I'm not even supposed to think about meditating, it's a calm state of mind and yet I find that I have to THINK about peace to attempt to achieve it. You two are chasing away all my peace!' She mentally told them. They both turned to see Duet glaring at them with one eye. She opened her other eye as well.

"Look, Duo, I do my exercises all the time. I just needed it today because I needed to calm myself and think about the nightmare last night. I don't believe I'd just forget things. I won't miss breakfast, you taught me it's the most important meal of the day." She said, before turning to Wufei.

"And Si Fu, if you and Duo are going to argue, don't do it in the presence of my meditation. It's destroying my peace as I said, and I'm not getting anywhere. If you do this again, Si Fu or not you won't have the right to yell at me because it'd be your fault and an injustice for me to have to sit through your lecturing when it isn't my fault." She sighed before standing. "And I'm having breakfast now." She finished before walking out of the room.

Wufei and Duo were left gawking in the room, before Duo started laughing. Wufei glared at him.

"Man, Wufei, she got you there! It WOULD be an injustice for her!" Duo choked out between his laughs, clutching his sides. "Keep giving her lessons. You teach her about justice and honor!" Still laughing, Duo left the room for breakfast as well. Wufei stood there, silently fuming.

'Wait a minute.' Wufei thought. 'I shouldn't be angry. She's learning what I teach her. My arguing with Maxwell disrupted her meditation, and it's true that if she hadn't kept her calm in situations, I'd tell her off for not meditating and keeping a clear head when it's my fault for interrupting. And Maxwell's.' Wufei realized. 'I'm not angry with her, I'm…' Wufei shook his head as he cleared his head. 'I'm proud of her. She's already using what I taught her.' Wufei chuckled quietly. 'Never thought the day would come that I would be proud of a female, apart from my mom and Meiran…' Wufei's heart was suddenly filled with grief. He missed his wife. He fought the war to avenge her, and his colony. His expression hardened. Today, he would teach Duet to find what she fought for, what her goals were, and how to fight in the right state to her advantage. But first…His stomach grumbled and he grimaced. First comes breakfast.



* * *




Duet sat under the shade of a large tree, looking at Wufei, who was leaning against the trunk. Wufei was silent, staring into the distance, and Duet quietly waited for her Si Fu to speak.

'He must be working with my patience.' She mused, looking off into the distance as well, and the blue sky. She breathed in the fresh air contentedly. 'What a beautiful day. I wouldn't mind spending a quiet day here.'

"Duet." Wufei suddenly spoke up. Duet turned her gaze onto her Si Fu.

"Yes, Si Fu?"

"We won't be working with meditation or swords today."

Duet blinked. "Then…"

Wufei sat down. "I have a story I want you to listen to. Then I want you to tell me what you think about it if you were the main character."

Duet nodded slowly. "All right."

Wufei looked up into the sky, taking in a deep breath. And he told his story.

"There once live a man in a clan. By traditions, men were supposed to be wed at the age of 14 to a woman, by the means of starting his own family. The woman may be someone that the man knew and was friends with, in which case both were willing. But sometimes, both man and woman, or better said, boy and girl, wouldn't know each other, as it were an arranged marriage by consent of both their parents." Wufei paused, looking at Duet, who nodded that she understood.

"So this young man had an arranged marriage to a girl who lived on the other side of the village. She was headstrong, full of ideas, spontaneous and wild, while the young man was reserved, preferred his studies and quiet. The girl did her duties around the house, cooking, cleaning and mending. She made an attempt to love the man she only met on the day of her wedding. But the man refused to love her, even attempt to care for her. He believed he didn't need her. But the girl didn't care. She believed that if she loved the man enough, he would return her feelings, even if it were just simple, friendly care. It didn't matter to her. Then, battle started when others attacked the village."

At this, Duet frowned slightly, but Wufei didn't stop.

"The man was more of a scholar, and preferred his books to violence. He believed that violence was useless. But his wife was determined to fight and protect the village alongside the men. Against his protests, she wanted to prove to him that she wasn't the weak girl he thought she was, but a true woman. And she left to fight. The man followed, believing she was weak. The enemy spotted him, armed with only a sword, and decided to attack him. After all, every man down increased their chances of winning the battle. The attackers were completely prepared, armor and all. They were ruthless, killing men, women and children alike. So they attacked the man. He fought the best he could, but wasn't strong enough. He was overpowered. But as the last strike that would send him to his death was delivered, he thought back to why he hadn't enjoyed life more, hadn't paid attention to those he knew he loved, and more importantly, those he loved. He closed his eyes, final thoughts an apology to his loved ones. He could feel the strength of the men above him, about to kill him. Suddenly, there was a war cry. Something fell against him. He opened his eyes to see someone over him, having taken the blow for him. To his horror, it was his wife. Before they could say a word or tend to her wound, the men attacked again. Thoroughly enraged, the man took his sword once more, and fought them off. He killed the enemy in his rage. The battle still raged on in other parts of his village, but he tended to his wife first. To his surprise, the blow she had taken was fatal. She was dying. He cried for the first time in many years over his pain, her pain, his cowardly behavior, the life he would never have with his wife ever. He realized that he loved her. But it was too late. With her last breath, she told him that he loved her, that he wasn't a coward, he was strong, and to fight in his own way. She told him never to give up and be strong. To bring justice to those who had died in honor, protecting their home. With one last smile, they shared their second and final kiss, the first being at their wedding. And she died. The man stayed for another minute, clutching her lifeless body, vowing to avenge her. Then, he went back to the battle, a changed man. He was emotionless, angered, and ready to fight. The village was rapidly losing. There weren't many men left, and all were wounded. With a final decision, he spoke to the village leader, who was also near death. And with the elder's consent, he destroyed his village and the enemy. And he cried again in his grief. There, on the lands of his destroyed home, the only home he knew, he vowed again to avenge his people. And he left to seek his enemy."

Wufei looked back at Duet. She was staring at the grass, unmoving, as she took in the story.

"Duet."

She looked up.

"Do you think the man did the right thing? Was he a coward?"

Duet took a moment before answering. "I don't think he was a coward. He didn't like violence. I guess no one does. He fought when he had to. He did go to protect his people when needed, right?"

Wufei shook his head. "Only when he was desperately needed on the battlefield."

"Well, I think he did things for his own reasons, by his own emotions. He was determined to avenge his people and his wife afterwards. A coward wouldn't have done such a thing." She said quietly. She looked up into his eyes. "I don't think you're a coward Wufei."

Wufei was surprised. "What are you talking about?"

"The man in the story, that was you, wasn't it."

Wufei looked away. "Yes."

"You aren't a coward." Duet repeated. "You're fighting OZ for your people. You're being strong now."

"I was weak. I couldn't even protect a single woman. She had to protect me."

"Everyone has to learn from their mistakes. Take Duo and I for example. We lost each other, but we still fought. We didn't know if the other was still alive. We fought anyway." Duet stood. "You can fight for her spirit. She'll know."

Wufei nodded. "I know." He whispered. "Know why I told you this story?"

Duet nodded. "You want me to decided why I'm fighting. What and whom I'm fighting for. To know my goals."

Wufei nodded. "Tell me tomorrow. I'll leave you to think." Wufei straightened, turning to walk toward the house.

"Si Fu."

Wufei turned.

"I already have my answer."

"I don't want you to tell me you are fighting for peace."

Duet shook her head. "I'm fighting for people like you guys. We're too young to be fighting. I'm fighting for Duo, who had such a hard life. Fighting for all the innocents." She looked into the sky before her gaze resettled on Wufei's. "Fighting for my freedom from Treize Kushrenada." She said in a low voice. But her tone was determined and firm. Wufei nodded and turned, walking back toward the house.

He entered his room and leaned against the wall by the window, watching Duet walk around the garden in her thoughts. He was glad to have accepted Duet as his pupil. He was glad to have someone who trusted him, understood his ways, his thoughts, and most importantly, someone who was fighting for herself, like he was. He looked into the sky now, studying a cloud.



"Meiran, you'll be with me forever. I'll fight like you did. We will never be parted. Until the day I die, and we are joined in heaven…"















Saori: YAY!! CHAPTER 11 DONE!!!! Please Review, any comments, requests...etc...accepted! O.k, next chapter, more action....between Duet and Treize!! ^__^ I have no idea what I have planned for Duet, but, it'll be out soon! It's March Break so I'll have more time to write!! YES!! HAPPY MARCH BREAK EVERYONE!