Yay! Another chapter. I told you the last chapter was important, now you'll see why. Mua-hah-hah-hah! Ahem. Sorry.

I'm glad the last chapter wasn't too confusing..lol…J

Congrats on the birds Glaivegirl, all I got was a VCR…

And yes, there is always more…..

Please R&R!

Peace, Love and Anarchy!

~The Elemental

Walk Through the Fire:

Chapter 15

Marionette.

Sitting Hotaru down on a tree stump right outside the cave, Duo made quick work on the sleeves of his tunic and soon was patching up his and Hotaru's many wounds. He avoided looking into her eyes, their distance unnerving him.

"I'll just patch us both up until you can use that healing thing on these." He laughed, trying to pull her out of her fugue state. Hotaru's hands lifted and hovered over his arm, emanating a light purple glow. In a moment, the gash that had reached from his wrist to his elbow was gone. Blinking, he caught her hands as they moved to heal the small cut on his shoulder.

"God Hotaru, stop it, you're freaking me out." She stopped and her hands returned to her lap. Duo thought for a moment. "Hotaru, raise your hand." Her arm lifted into the air, her face never changing its expression of nothing. "Put your arm down….Hotaru stand up."

She complied.

"Walk to that tree….Ok, come back here and sit down…" She's doing whatever I tell her to, like a puppet. God Hotaru, what happened to you? It's so unnerving to see you like this, I wish I knew how to pull you out of it. One thing's for sure, I don't want to be directing you forever…Waitaminute! Maybe… "Hotaru, say something."

No reaction.

"Well, it was worth a try. Come on, let's get out of—"

"Could you keep it down!!! It's bad enough you put me here, but since you decided to make me an exit to that stupid cave of yours, I never get any sleep! I swear, if I still had legs I'd kick you!"

Duo searched for the source of the voice, but saw no one. "Where are you?"

"You know bloody well where I am! If there's not enough humiliation you've put on me, the least you could do is remember who I— Oh! You're not her…What the hell are you doing in her cave?"

Duo looked towards the sound of the voice, all he could see was one very strange looking tree, with fruit growing from it. Approaching, Duo realized they weren't fruit, but… "Pickles?"

"Damn straight. That damned witch turned me into a pickle tree not even a week after I got here! I never even had a chance to open another portal, damn her. Now answer my question, what were you doing in her cave? No one is supposed to know it even exists, never mind be able to get in. And last I checked no one could leave but her."

"Turned you into a pickle tree? And who's cave? Who are you talking about?"

The tree sighed as though Duo was senile and explained very slowly. "The. Green. Lady. It's her cave, she put me here, after she turned me into a damned tree! Get it? Now I'll ask one last time before I get angry. What the hell were you doing there?"

Duo immediately switched to defensive and backed away, towards Hotaru. "Why do you want to know?"

The tree's branches shook violently, sending a wave of vinegary air towards the two and dropping half a dozen pickles in the process. "Isn't it obvious? If you've managed to neutralize the spell she had in that cave, then you're more powerful than she is. I want revenge. Tell me, are you looking for the Green Lady?" His voice was hopeful, almost happy.

"We were, we couldn't pass some test she had and couldn't get inside her castle."

"Hmmmm…What happened to your friend?" The tree seemed almost thoughtful, and Duo leapt back in shock as branches parted to reveal one very human male face.

Glancing at Hotaru, who had not moved, Duo answered carefully. "I'm not sure. I think she's in shock."

"That's too bad. You two still want to see the Green Lady?"

"Yes, definitely."

The tree's branches gestured like hands. "Than come closer, and I'll tell you where the Lady will stand."

Ignoring the smell, Duo crept forward and listened, eyes widening in shock as he heard the answer. Finally he smiled, and stepped back. "Thanks."

"No prob, I'll do anything to get back at her for this." The branches gestured towards himself. "You'd better hurry before she turns you into a tree, it's her standard thing for new sorcerers."

Duo nodded. "Come on Hotaru, we're leaving." She stood, walking to stand beside him.

The face in the tree smiled smugly. "Shock huh? So she'll do whatever you say? Sounds like fun…" He laughed and Duo found his stomach rolling at the suggestion. Grasping for another subject he asked:

"How long have you been a tree anyway?"

The branches seemed to shrug. "It's hard to keep track of time, but I usually bug the Lady when she stops by each moon's pass. Last time I checked it was 98 years. You'll need to take that path," he gestured to a small trail not far from where they stood. "It's enchanted and will take you straight to her castle, no matter where it is. Nothing will attack you there to boot."

Duo nodded and led Hotaru to the path, hoping to leave the tree behind as soon as possible.

"Hey, boy! What did you two find in that cave anyway? She would never tell me."

Duo glanced back and answered before disappearing down the path with Hotaru. "Shadows of the past."

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

It was the same castle, with the same green shield and small hut in front, complete with the hag once again. The only difference was that they were all in another place, a different clearing. This time a small river twisted its way down the middle, gurgling happily.

Holding Hotaru's hand Duo walked nonchalantly towards the hut, and smiled at the hag. She coughed, then appraised them both. "It is rare for someone to find this castle again without assistance. Do you wish to try again?" A dry cough tore at her throat and Duo waited for her to stop before answering.

"Of course, that's why were here. I'm feeling lucky."

The hag shook her head. "Luck has nothing to do with it, come along." She stepped into her hut and held the door open to its widest, allowing Duo a full view of the room. The same chair, cot, fireplace and single, boiling pot waited in the otherwise empty room. Duo made a great show of examining every inch of the room without stepping inside. Finally, he turned and faced the hag and took a large breath. "The Green Lady is standing by the door, holding it open."

The hag's face switched from surprise to amusement in a matter of seconds, then both she and the hut began to fade into nothingness, her voice calling out over everything. "Good job, human. You are welcomed to my castle."

Duo glanced around, the hut and the woman was gone, as was the green shield that had surrounded the castle. He shrugged. "Well, that was easy enough…" Leading Hotaru up to the large doors, he reached to knock and found a smaller door swinging open, hidden inside one of the much larger doors.

A plump woman smiled at them. "Well? Come in! Come in! My lady welcomes you to her home." She hurried Duo and Hotaru inside, where both paused.

Duo whistled in amazement as he surveyed the main hall. It was huge, with high, arching ceilings and tapestry-covered walls. Gold and silver glinted from a hundred shelves and alcoves, and a beautiful wooden staircase swept upstairs from the middle of the hall. This was where the woman herded them both, talking the whole way.

"My name's Riannas, but call me Ri, that's what everyone does. I'm my Lady's house head, I look after everything, including our guests. The lady has ordered rooms for you both…ah, here they are." She pointed out two doors next to each other. "Dinner has already been held, but there is food awaiting you in your rooms. A bath has been drawn for each of you, and here are clean clothes in the armoires. I will return in half past one hour to escort you to the Lady. Please be ready at that time, and don't be poking your neb where it doesn't belong." She waggled a finger in Duo's face. "The lady hates that. I'll see you then, unless there's any questions?" Duo shook his head mutely and watched as she headed down the hall, whistling to herself.

Sighing, Duo turned to examine both rooms. They were exact copies of each other, a bed, a table, a desk and chair, a fireplace, an armoire and a door that Duo guessed lead to the bathroom. "Which one do you want 'Taru?…." He blew through his teeth. "Nevermind, I'll take this one, you take the other…" Glancing at their current condition he grimaced. "We both need a bath and some clean clothes, and I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for this…Hotaru, I want you to go in your room, take a bath, and get changed, ok? I'll come and check on you in an hour." Duo watched as she turned without a word and walked into the room he had pointed to. Shaking his head he shut the door behind her. I hope she'll snap out of this soon. If we were home I'd take her to a hospital, but I doubt there's any here…Man, I hope she can do all that, I don't want to think about what happens if she can't… Duo shut his door behind him and grabbed a roll from a plate of food sitting on the desk. Glancing through the other doorway he confirmed his thoughts that it led to a bathroom where a tub of water waited for him. Sighing gratefully, he stripped off grimy clothes and sank into the tub, munching on the roll. (A/N: Ignoring the calls for fanservice, I'll continue with the pg-13 rating, if you please…Ahem…) Letting the water sooth his tired muscles, he eventually settled down and began to lather up, enjoying the chance to wash his hair.

All too soon he left and dried off, toweling his hair as he walked towards the armoire, hoping to find something he could wear. Opening the doors he stared in shock at the clothes hanging from the hangers. A sea of black sat in front of him, and Duo hesitantly reached out to remove the first hanger, where his priest's uniform was hanging, complete with white collar and riding pants. In mute amazement, he placed the hanger back and reached for another, this one holding black jeans and a black jacket, with the red zippered shirt he had taken to wearing when he was out of uniform. And to beat everything else, there, in the far corner, hung his preventor's uniform. Unwilling to question anything at this point, and hoping to avoid a headache, Duo simply grabbed his normal clothing and threw the hanger on the bed, looking in the drawers for a brush and hair-tie (which he readily found). Lining a bottom shelf he found half a dozen pairs of shoes and boots in various styles and colours, and after a moment thought he grabbed a black pair of sneakers and shut the doors to the armoire.

Fully dressed, Duo brushed his hair and quickly braided it, tying off the end. Glancing in the mirror he decided that he wasn't going to look any better and headed to check on Hotaru. Knocking on her door, Duo found himself reaching for the handle without first thinking. Stopping himself, he crossed his fingers in the hope that Hotaru could hear him. "Hotaru? It's Duo. Open the door if you're dressed." Duo waited for the count of twenty, then repeated, cutting off in the middle as the door swung open. "Good, you could hear me." Duo glanced at Hotaru and thanked his lucky stars individually and by name that Hotaru was dressed. The towel drying on the back of a chair told him that she'd bathed as well, but the plate of food was untouched. "Come on Hotaru, you should eat." Handing her a fruit-filled roll and pouring a glass of juice for both her and himself, he sat on the bed and watched her eat, taking small bites and chewing thoroughly before biting off another piece. She's like a machine, a computer…It's strange, but her eyes are just like Trowa's when he lost his memories. But she seems to have lost herself…Shaking his head at the thought, Duo took a good look at what she was now wearing and blinked in surprise.

A black dress with black leggings underneath and flat black shoes, her only pieces of colour were the gray-purple scarf tied around her shoulders and her still distant but always vibrant eyes. They sat in silence, Duo with his thoughts and Hotaru…Well, Hotaru continued to eat. Not long after there was a knock at the door and Duo answered to find Ri standing behind it, smiling cheerfully. "My Lady will see you now. Please follow me."

Duo nodded and called to Hotaru; soon both followed Ri down a dozen twisting corridors until they stopped at a room with forest green doors.

"I go no further. The Green Lady waits within." She smiled grimly. "I've taken a liking to you two, you're polite, and quiet, so here's some advice: Don't go making any demands on my lady, she'll have none of it. She helps those she wishes to and no more, so unless you wish to be trees for the rest of eternity, I'd suggest you be polite." She bowed to them both and left, not waiting to see if they'd enter the room or not.

Hesitating only a moment, Duo pushed the doors open and entered, Hotaru close behind. Inside was the most exquisite room he had ever seen. Two fireplaces sat on opposite walls inside the room, which was shaped like a hexagon with six sides. The room was done completely in shades of green, ranging from the faint tint of green in the moldings on the ceiling to the deep emerald tapestries hanging across each wall, depicting different scenes. Looking around in the surprising amount of light, Duo guessed there had to be over a hundred candles in the room, many of them on a table to their right, lined evenly across the table, four layers in all. This wasn't to say the whole room was green, the furniture remained untouched, the wood remaining its original colour. Crimson accents were placed everywhere, and coupled with the massive amount of gold fixtures, it made the room seem like the main hall of a palace for an ancient empress.

The floor was fully carpeted in a deep emerald rug that ended as it reached the wooden steps to a dais set into the back wall. The dais itself was surrounded with plants, and in its center stood a high backed chair, really more of a throne. Standing just beside the chair, arm draped over its back almost nonchalantly, stood a woman who could only have been the Green Lady.

Duo was overwhelmed by her at first sight; it took all his training coupled with the hours he had endured at OZ's hands when they had wanted information to keep his features from showing his shock. He got the distinct feeling this woman was dangerous, a gut feeling mixed with all he had been told about her.

She smiled, showing rows of small, white teeth and motioned for the pair to approach the dais, though she didn't sit; rather, she waked towards them, examining them both. Duo took the time to return the favour.

A very simple, low necked, deep green dress that clung to her many curves billowed as she walked, it's full skirt making her hips seem even smaller. A gold sash wrapped around her waist, complementing her dress and figure perfectly. Large, flared sleeves that reached past her fingertips hid her hands. She and Duo both stopped their approach; she had stepped off the dais, Duo had walked up to it. They stood a few feet apart, each appraising the other.

Duo found the strangest thing was her face, what little of it he could see. A very thick green (of course) veil covered the top half of her face, hiding her eyes and nose, but her mouth was plainly visible beneath it. A line seemed to flow from out underneath the veil, and Duo realized with a start it was a scar that traced down the left side of her face. Her hair was unbelievably long; a portion of it piled on top of her head as the rest of it trailed down her back, almost reaching her feet. It seemed to be a deep green colour, almost black, but Duo wrote it off as a trick of the light. Until he remembered Hotaru's own purple-black hair…then again…..

He hated to break eye contact with the woman…no. Duo quickly re-assessed the figure standing in front of him. She seemed old, in the way she stood and moved, but she looked no older than twenty. He fought the urge to shake his head. Weird……

"I am the Green Lady."

"I guessed." Duo quickly coughed into his hand and hastily amended: "Uh…Yeah. I'm Duo, and this is Hotaru. She's not too responsive at the moment…"

The Green Lady nodded. "Well? What do you want?"

Somehow, Duo had expected more of a lead-up to the question, but he couldn't dodge it once she had asked. Placing a hand behind his head, he chuckled. "Well you see…We came here hoping you'd be able to send us home…" Duo paused when he saw her straighten, looking surprised. "See uh Cass and Dyan, oh, maybe you don't know Cass, she's the 'Grandmother' for the Silverarc Centaur tribe, anyway, they sent us to you because we're stuck here and really need to get home, but we can't on our own. That's why we need your help…"

The Green Lady stepped closer, a small smile on her lips. "You just want to go home? How did you get here in the first place?"

Duo grimaced. "I was in an explosion, and Hotaru…" he motioned to the girl "was…in a fight…"

The Green Lady's manner seemed to change as she stepped to Hotaru and bent down to examine the girl. She was smiling broadly now, and Duo's earlier sense of danger from her was all but gone. He fully realized for the first time that this woman was at least a head taller than both of them. "You're here to get home? Sure, I'll send you back. First thing tomorrow. You can stay the night here. What happened to your friend?" She passed a hand across Hotaru's face and for a brief moment there was a glint of light from her eyes, but if faded in seconds.

"We were in a fight a while back. I think she's in shock…."

The woman nodded, this time passing her hand as it glowed faintly across Hotaru's face. Determination was etched across her face. "She's completely slipped inside herself. She can hear and understand everything that's going on, but she's buried so deeply it might as well be happening to someone else, she can't or won't respond. What happened?"

Hotaru's eyes flickered. "We…were in a cave…"

"You did it!" Duo rushed past to stand by Hotaru. "How'd you do it? Magic?"

The Green Lady nodded. "I was lucky. Her mind is fragmented, its main part buried under other fragments. It wouldn't have worked but for her wish to return."

Duo blinked.

"Her mind was holding her captive. I managed to get her out because she wanted to come. Otherwise, she would have stayed the same."

"Oh."

"I fought against…" Hotaru's face stayed distant, calm, but she was speaking, that was an improvement. "…Duo was helping…Duo!" Her eyes widened as she searched for his familiar form.

"Hotaru! You're back!" He hugged her, then held her shoulders at arm's length and looked deeply into her eyes. "You are back, right?"

Hotaru laughed. "Yes! But where, no, I know where we are, what are we doing?"

Duo smiled but the Green Lady answered for him. "You two are staying the night and I'm going to send you both home tomorrow morning, but first:" She lowered her head and placed it scant millimeters from Duo's. Even this close he couldn't see through her veil and he wondered how she managed to see through it. Probably some kind of one-way fabric…or maybe magic? Oh well, it doesn't matter…

"First, you two are going to sit down with me over a cup of tea and tell me everything that has happened. Including how you managed to make friends with the centaurs and the elves, and who you fought to put your friend in that state she was in."

Both Duo and Hotaru laughed. "Sure thing….Um, what should we call you? Lady? Green?" Duo groped for a title nervously.

The Green Lady studied the both of them for a long minute, then smiled and curtsied, spreading her dress to her sides. "Call me Djana. It's my true name." She eyed them pointedly. "There are six people on this world who know my true name. You are two of them."

Both Duo and Hotaru nodded solemnly. Hotaru bowed, and after a moment Duo followed suit. "Our lips our sealed."

Djana motioned with her hand and an arc of green light followed its path. An instant later a table and three chairs appeared, complete with cups of steaming tea for the group. Djana immediately sat down and motioned for Duo and Hotaru to follow suit, which they soon did. Djana leaned forward over her cup, smiling broadly. "I want you to tell me everything…"

Duo and Hotaru exchanged a look. Where are we even supposed to begin?

Duo took a breath. "Well, it started when we were home. We're each from different worlds…"

"Although our worlds are quite alike, there are some major differences…"

"I was fighting with some friends of mine against some woman who had taken over a resource satellite and was attempting to blow up one of the colonies and kill everyone inside it………"

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

"….as we ran from the goblins, we ended up in a trap, they'd pinned us against a cliff wall. I'd all but given up when I noticed an animal trail that ran up the side of the cliff. Me an' Hotaru took off and managed to get away, but halfway up the cliff we stopped to take a break and the wall collapsed behind us. We fell into some kind of cave…" Duo glanced at Hotaru, who was visibly beginning to stiffen. "We got split up after that, but eventually I found Hotaru…"

Hotaru stared hard at her hands, ignoring both Djana and Duo. "We were attacked down there. I didn't know it at the time, but there were something called 'furies', at least that's what she called them…" Intent on the hands she was twisting nervously in her lap, Hotaru didn't see Djana stiffen slightly. Duo did however… "They attacked my mind, Duo's too, I think. They made me believe Mistress Nine was still within me, tried to kill me…..By the time she found me my mind was gone, I thought she was Usagi, and when she changed…….I thought Mistress Nine had come back for certain…So I transformed, attacked her…Then she split, into Usagi and Mistress Nine, or so I thought. If Duo hadn't pulled me out of it, I wouldn't have seen them truly…We were almost dead, I couldn't do anything against Tyra. Duo was dying, I could sense it…we were trapped. Then she…my glaive…."

Duo moved his chair closer to Hotaru's and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. He turned to Djana, who's face was deceptively calm, what little Duo could see, though her body was tense. "The other girl, the one who helped Hotaru fight the furies, she killed herself with Hotaru's Glaive thing…They both died, because Tyra was connected to Mai in some way. When Mai killed herself Tyra died as well."

Hotaru's eyes were wet with tears but she didn't cry, rather, they both looked up in surprise when Djana stood shakily to her feet, placing her hands flat on the table and staring into the faces before her. "Dead? You're certain. The girl's name was Mai?"

Both Hotaru and Duo nodded. "Definitely, that's what she called herself, and what the others called her, Tyra and the furies….Why?"

Djana shook her head, straightening. "No, it's nothing…Please excuse me, I must go. Ri will see you to your rooms. Ask her if you need anything…." She turned on her heels and fled the room leaving the stunned pair in silence.

"Well, that was weird. I wonder what that was about…" Duo scratched his head and smiled comfortingly to Hotaru. "Don't worry, she's going to send us back, you can get back to your friends, I'll get back to mine."

Hotaru managed a small smile. "I know, I wish I knew what we said that upset her so much, he aura just shifted so completely as she ran…" Hotaru gasped as the carving of a falcon, or what they had thought was a carving, came to life stretching its wings to their fullest. He tottered back and forth on his position on the back of Djana's throne, then swooped forward and landed in the middle of the table, though not disturbing the cups still resting in front of their owners.

Duo and Hotaru watched in mute amazement as the bird fluffed out its feathers then preened before sending a piercing glare into Duo's eyes. I know what upset her.

Duo blinked. "Hotaru, have I finally lost it or did this bird just speak? In our head?"

"Yes he did…Unless we've both lost it…"

I assure you, you're not crazy. He bated,* then considered his words. At least, no more than your average human.

"What are you? And how—

Hotaru interrupted. "Why is Djana so upset? You said you knew."

The falcon looked at her approvingly. Finally, a human with brains. You're rather rare you know.

Hotaru looked at him pointedly, and the bird managed to look aloof. Ahem….I'm the equivalent to Djana's familiar. I'm Stryke. I've been with Djana since we came to this accursed world, but I digress.

Duo and Hotaru waited patiently as the bird seemed to weigh his words, shifting his weight as his talons bit into the wood underneath him. Finally he gave a mental sigh, and seemed to deflate. The pompous air had left him, he seemed to grow older, more tired. He nodded towards the open door. That was Djana Treebound. The Green Lady. The girl in the cave, if my guess is correct, was Mai Treebound. He let his words sink in. Djana's daughter. He nodded a bow to both Hotaru and Duo, then flew out of the room.

Hotaru looked to Duo, horror painted on her face. "God Duo, what have we done?"

Duo's face mirrored her own, but he couldn't find a voice to reply,

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

*Bating is a bird thing where they shift from one leg to another, often lifting the opposite leg.

Oh man…I told you I loved plot twists. Just when you thought it was all over, wham! It all comes back to kick you from behind. Mua-hah-hah-hah-hah! I know you're all going to curse me six ways 'till Monday, but wait! Believe it or not, I'm almost done. (And I know I've said it before, but I really mean it this time!) I figure two, maybe three chapters tops, believe it or not. You readers are deciding if there's going to be a sequel. I've got one planned, I'm just unsure as to whether I should write it yet. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks to Glaivegirl for your continued support, and birds are definitely cool. I should know, I've got Stryke. (He's really sarcastic and stuck up and vain, just like Djana's falcon)

I'm glad everyone's enjoying this, I love the story as well and am ecstatic it turned out so well.

I refer to the light in Hotaru's eyes a lot, for a reason. I know it doesn't really exist in reality and I know I've tried to stay realistic, but in anime the most expressive thing is a character's eyes, and when the light is missing, you know something is wrong.

Ah yes, that surly pickle tree. Thanks Jen! (Entirely her idea. Ok, I turned a man into a tree, she made it a sarcastic, pickle-bearing, lewd as all hell SOB, and I simply can't thank her enough!

Now, a small explanation on my part. Personally, though I am sure someone is going to want to argue the fact and state hormones and Duo's a guy, Hotaru's a girl therefore….

Ahem. Personally I think Duo, if given the opportunity the 'tree' provided, and that once again popped up when they had to get ready to meet The Green Lady, Duo would decline. This could be summed up in three simple reasons:

Duo's polite, and he likes Hotaru, he wouldn't want to take advantage of the situation. Duo's smart. Who knows when Hotaru would come out of her coma-type thing? And what she's going to remember when she does. He really does NOT want to end up at the wrong end of her polearm. Glaive. Whatever. (And you were told this at the beginning of this fic, and however faint it is the fact still remains that in this fic:) Duo is gay, and in love with Heero.

You can accept any number of these arguments, all or none, but personally, they're my reasons, and I've got the power! MUA-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH!!!!! Ahem, sorry.

Oh, a note to Saturn's Hikari, if she ever reads this again. Yep, the Djana's you're thinking about are one and the same, with a century and a half between them. I doubt I'll ever finish Diadem, but the story will be revealed in the next chapter. Djana was the basis for the Green Lady, then she simply became the Green Lady, once I'd finished Diadem in my head. (About four-five chapters into Walk Through the Fire)

Please R&R!

I am the Breeze of Wisdom, I am the Wind of Insanity.

~The Elemental

All I want is a kind word, a warm bed and unlimited power…