GS Note: I realised something. This is EXACTLY like my school! The Eternal Vortex of Gossip and Gibberish (EVGG), Italy Junior, Catholic-Only-by-Law (COL), High Rating of Dress Slips (HRDS) and more lovely attractions.

Hehehehe, Thanks for everyone who yelled at me! See, only a little bit late! I even got my wet fish from Ivy : p Thanks peeps, you guys must really love this story! **grin**

Chapter 13

Unwanted

After an endless hour of listening to his class bark out rapid French answers he could barely keep up with, Duo was questioning why he had chosen to get this credit. He yawned and placed his head in his hands and tried to will his headache away, of course resulting in making it bigger. Wufei and Merian still had not come back but Duo had seen that Mme Goulash hadn't marked them absent. That was her all right, she had a totally soft spot for her senior students.

"Duo, allez-vous faire?" Mme Goulash took Duo's distraction to be 'pick me, pick me! I love to answer questions!'

Uh," Duo bolted up and frantically searched his textbook in front of him in hopes that the answer would magically appear to him. "Vous allez faire… les chats?"

"I think you'd better think more closely about that answer, M. Maxwell," Mme Goulash looked amused as the rest of the class snickered and Duo shrunk in his seat. His face burned and he looked at the minute hand slowly coming closer tot he end of the class, wishing that by act of God it would hurry up. It didn't of course, the next ten minutes dragged on like another half an hour. The bell was like a sign from above as Duo slammed his books in his bag and bolted out of the class ahead of the rest of the students.

A quick stop at his locker and he picked up his bagged lunch from it and his next periods books. He hurried to the café in the hopes of getting the real story behind what was going on with Wufei and that red-head. Fortunately, his slender friend was already in t eh café, slumped over the cheap benches with his head on his hands.

"Fei!" Duo yelled from the other side of the café, not getting his attention or the attention of anyone else as the room was so loud it was sucked into the eternal vortex of gossip and gibberish. He sighed, this was such a pathetic school. He made his way over legs, through crowds of people and was resorted to a few body checks. He eventually did make it through and sighed as he fell on the bench next to Wufei, his chin dropping into his hands as he panted. Wufei didn't flinch.

"So," Duo said after he caught his breath. "How is it going?"

"Hn," Wufei grunted and shrugged as he lifted his head and slowly reached for his lunch. Duo did the same and waited for Wufei to be in a more approachable mood. Wufei picked at his homemade rice with a plastic fork then sighed as he dropped it in the food and pushed the container away from him.

"So," Duo repeated and speared a piece of the leftover lasagne and shoved it in his mouth. He grimaced and slowly chewed then painfully swallowed. "Who was that red-haired chick?"

Wufei paused then handed Duo his rice. The braided boy happily dug in as Wufei thought about his words.

"Her name is Mariemaia," Wufei started slowly as he dropped his head back in his arms. "She's in grade 10," he said again, this time muffled by his sleeve. "She's following me around."

"Attracting younger woman, huh Fei?" Duo snickered and gained an venomous glare. "Ok, ok, enough with the joking. What did Merian do after you two so dramatically left French?"

"She cursed at me in the library for a few minutes until we got thrown out and I ended up being able to explain the whole situation to her outside when she calmed down."

Duo thoughtfully chewed his rice and swallowed. "So there's this girl following you with a crush. Did you tell her that you already have a girlfriend?"

"Yes," Wufei turned his head in his arms to face Duo with disgust written on his features. "Several times. At great length. Loudly."

"Looks like this girls hooked!" Duo grinned and scraped the side of the plastic container in hopes of some extra, hidden rice grains. Nothing. Duo sighed and pushed the bowl back towards Wufei and settled his head on his arms again. Duo looked at Wufei thoughtfully, both of them slouched over the cheap table-benches (which were mercifully clean) and both strangely content.

"This can not be good for our backs," Wufei said suddenly and straightened. He winced as his back cracked loudly.

"Probably," Duo yawned and sat up too. He looked around; it was amazing. The café was crowded yet the space on the bench next to him, Wufei and directly across from them was empty. Must be that the commoners were afraid to mingle with the freaks. It felt a bit depressing, even though he had all the elbowroom he wanted. "Fei, I think we need to cheer up a little."

"How so?"

"Do you want to get your creative juices going?" Duo asked brightly. Wufei groaned and closed his eyes.

"You mean that story of yours again."

"Of course. Why would I mean anything else."

"On the hope of being unpredictable?"

"Only to the little people. Congratulations Fei-Chang, you have the right- nay, privilege, to be able to predict the great Prince Duo, Son of King Solo, Son of King Garrison, Son of-"

"Would you shut up if I agree?"

//There was a heavy silence in the Royal bedroom as Duo struggled to unfreeze his brain. He of course came up with an intelligent answer. "Uh…"

Quatre shifted nervously in his seat. Wufei tried to casually edge forward and Heero leaned closer in his seat. A trickle of cold sweat ran down the back of Duo's neck, hidden by his braid.

"Well…" Duo tried again, coughed and drew himself up with all the dignity he could muster. "If you must know it was an experiment in the height of which Royal blood can make you jump. What you merely saw was an extreme feat I proved, that Royalty really is higher then common folk. Now, if you will excuse me," Duo stood up, hauled Heero to his feet and pushed him and Wufei out the door hastily. "I have some business to discuss with Prince Quatre today. I bid you farewell."

Duo slammed the door and bolted all the locks before heaving a sigh of relief and slumped against the heavy door. he jumped when there was a heavy knock.

"Who the hell is it?" Duo yelled annoyed and glared at the door. "And if you said 'Cadet Chang Wufei' one more time, be prepared to meet with foot up your ass!"

There was a pause, sigh, and then, "Look Duo, if you don't let me in I'm going to get in trouble."

"Don't worry!" Duo called through the door. "Escort Prince Heero back to his room. I will show Prince Quatre back to his later."

"But-"

"Thank you!" Du ended the conversation loudly and moved away from the door until the Cadet's protests ceased and the two boys behind the door left. Quatre sighed and lay back on the bed, his hands folded behind his head as he squirmed to get comfortable. Duo moved tot eh chair Heero abandoned and collapsed in it. "That was close."

"Was that true?" Quatre asked in child-like innocence. He sat up eagerly. "I mean about the jumping thing?"

Duo blinked. "Of course not! That was a cover story. What did you want to talk to me about?"

Quatre straightened, a serious look fixing over his light features. "It's about what you and Head Advisor Zechs were talking about-"

"You could hear?" Duo asked surprised.

"-and I think," Quatre continued like he hadn't heard, "that you should not be leave alone with that man! Ira gave me some reports when I got back about the EVIL company having an employee doing some top secret work in this World and it appears she is out to counter my efforts. I need to find out more so when he comes I want you to-"

"Back up!" Duo said, determined not to be ignored this time. "Evil what? And how were you listening? Farther more, who is this Ira you keep talking about? And-"

"One question!" Quatre said, unusually aggressive. Duo stopped in mid-rant. "First, EVIL Company, that's Efficient Valiant Intellect Learning company. They are the rivals to Us, the WISH Inc and GOOD. Good as in Gradual Oppression Operative Delegate. They're politicians. Ira, my supervisor, supports their opinions but since their opposition, the VILE, Valuing In-discriminative Linking Equals, supports EVIL we are natural enemies." Quatre shrugged. "I have nothing against them actually. Company loyalty really. But anyway, this employee running around-"

"This is too much," Duo pulled his braid over his shoulder and gave it a good yank in the hopes it would wake him up. "Is it not to much to ask for a simple, bland, uneventful marriage to someone who is firstly, not out for my blood, suspicious of every single jump I make or from another world?"

"In all fairness Prince Duo, I don't believe I will be marrying you," Quatre tried to look sympathetic.//

Duo yawned, stretched his back and arms, shook his right hand rapidly to flow blood again and dropped his pencil with a loud clatter on the table by the chair in the library where he was. Wufei looked up from his battered novel. They had moved into the library. Wufei was hiding behind his book in the hopes that the librarians wouldn't recognise him from the period before when he was fighting with Merian. They had stolen two plush chairs from the sitting arena and dragged them to the end of a reference shelf. So far they were undisturbed.

"Is something wrong?" Wufei asked, quietly as to not lead people down to their little crack.

"Not really," Duo swung his legs over the arm of the chair so he was curled in a fairly comfortable position with his notebook on his lap. His booted feet ended up on Wufei book. The Chinese boy scowled and pushed them off so Duo fell off his chair. Duo looked up from his position on the floor and glared at Wufei. Wufei merely looked back at his worn Chinese book. Duo didn't bother getting off the floor, he merely looked at Wufei curiously until the other boy finally got unnerved from this and asked him what his problem was.

"Nutin'," Duo said shrugging. "I was just wondering what that book is about and how many times you've read it this past week."

Wufei fixed Duo with a frosty glare but a slight pink tinged his cheek. "That is no concern of you!"

"Fei!" Duo grinned evilly. "Why I didn't know you had it in you! What is one of those famous dirty Chinese books with the pictures?"

"Those are mainly Japanese, Maxwell," Wufei blushed a bit more and looked back at his book but didn't read it. "And this one doesn't have pictures."

Duo sat up and scooted back so he was resting on the chair while still sitting on the ground. He stretched out his legs and relaxed against the chair, his eyes closing. They snapped back open, however, when Wufei posed a question.

"Duo, what were you doing helping that priest yesterday?"

Duo winced slightly. "I promised to tell you, didn't I?" Wufei nodded and Duo sighed then took a deep breath. "That was Father Maxwell, my guardian. I was orphaned, don't ask me how. I was found my the nun at the Church, Sister Helen. From there the two started an orphanage for local kids. I was there for years before they got approval from the government to adopt kids out but by then I was too old for anyone to want me. So Solo and I just stayed with Sister Helen and Father Maxwell. I'm going to college next year via government and sponsors and donations."

"Why didn't you tell me before? Who else knows? When did they find you? Why-" Wufei asked, curiosity spiked.

"Wait!" Duo almost laughed. "Uno questionito at a time! I didn't tell you before because we've had some injuries and fatalities by other kids when they told people. This is NOT a good neighbourhood. Heero and Dorothy know. Dorothy practically grew up at the Church too and Heero stalked me in grade 9. I was found when I was approximately six but it could have been earlier. So," Duo paused to get a breath then turned and looked at Wufei seriously. "What are you going to do about it?"

Wufei looked at him, surprised that Duo would ask that. "What do you mean?"

"Will you tell?" Duo asked, suddenly very serious, all traces of humour erased from his face. Wufei shivered Duo's face.

"Why would I, Maxwell?" Wufei said, annoyance slipping over his face. "I am not going to ruin you. You are my friend." Instantly Duo's face brightened. Wufei paused but then in a surge of acute curiosity asked, "Not to be rude, but what does your Church do?"

Duo looked surprised at the question. Heero had never asked and Dorothy always knew. He thought for a moment before answering. "We specialise in street kids passing through. Usually no one over thirteen. Solo, Matt and I are exceptions. Um, it's mainly newly found kids or kids in hiding. Adoptions are done through the government so we doesn't have parents buggin' us as we are well hidden. Occasionally strangers will ask but not usually. We don't turn anyone away though, often the empty rooms at the back have homeless people or pregnant teens before Sister Helen finds them better s'pport. We fund through some government, mainly sponsors and donations from St Joseph's Church."

Before Wufei could open his mouth, the bell rang. Duo sighed and dropped bonelessly on his back. Wufei slipped his book back in his bag and started to step over his friend when Duo lashed out and grabbed his shoe. Wufei went sprawling at the unexpected move. Duo let go as he started in loud peels of laughter. Wufei hurriedly picked his self up and glared around to see if anyone else was present. No one was.

"Maxwell!" Wufei hissed with gritted teeth as his face turned cherry red. "What was that for?!"

"No reason!" Duo gasped between chuckles. He took a breath before claming down slightly but didn't get off the floor. "I don't want to go to math."

Wufei doubled his glare but his blush receded. "Maxwell, you of all people need a math education and skipping constantly will not insure that! Get up and go to class!"

Duo groaned but stood away and slung his bag over his shoulder. They briskly made there way out of the library before someone saw where they had come from and demand they put the chairs back. Outside the doors Wufei peeled off and waved good bye as he moved to go to his Art class. Duo hastily ran to his math class. One more late and who knows what Miss Nion would do with his corpse.

He made it in the math doors just as the last of the students trickled in. he took his seat as the second bell rang and slumped down, already regretting his choice to not skip. Miss Nion wasn't in the room.

The class was in a general state of unrest and confusion. Quatre clutched his books to his chest nervously as he moved to take the unoccupied desk next to Duo. He sat down gingerly as if he expected an alarm to go off but launched into tense conversation right away.

"Hi Duo! Some of the class is talking about walking out if Miss Nion doesn't come in five minutes, they say it's a rule. Is it really? Because I don't want to be the only one sitting here but I don't want to get in trouble either."

"It's not a rule," Duo sighed and shook his head. Sometimes, this class just… "That's a stupid rule the older kids tell the younger grades and only morons hold on to that rule this far into school," Duo looked quickly at his blonde friend before Quatre to react. "But I understand why you didn't know that, you just started this year."

Quatre bit his lip but nodded. Duo sighed and patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I don't plan on going anywhere until someone comes to tell me too. Or it gets totally ridiculous. It is Doro's and Heero's lunch period."

"What about that guy you share a locker with?" Quatre said trying to look innocent but failing miserably.

"Trowa?" Duo asked amused. "Yea, I think he has a spare now. Who knows, we might just meet him."

"I don't think Miss Nion is coming," Quatre said, his schooled obedience flying out the window. "Can we go now?"

Duo shrugged. "Might as well." A few other students got up to leave too. As they walked out the rest of the class decided to leave too. It is generally know that if everyone goes, who can get in trouble? Still, the students hurried down the silent hallway until they were well out of sight of the classroom before they relaxed and separated. Duo and Quatre left in the direction of the library.

Fifth period was a lot quieter then the rest of the lunch periods. Few people were in the library so Duo spotted Dorothy's long hair a long way off. Heero sat in the chair at their table across from her. He had his Science textbook open and glared at it fiercely. Dorothy was undisturbed by this as she quietly read her English one.

Duo went over with Quatre trotting shyly at his heels. He plopped down next to Heero, startling both students from their reading.

"Duo!" Dorothy scolded surprised. "Why aren't you in class?"

"Just because I'm not in class is no reason to think badly of me!" Duo pretended to look hurt. Quatre hesitantly sat beside Dorothy and sat awkwardly. "Miss Nion didn't show up so the class left. Jeez, you guys always think the worst of me!"

Heero smiled gently, caught his hand and squeezed lightly. Duo felt his heart melt into a pile of goo. He grinned, any hint of annoyance he had felt evaporating instantly. He looked up as Heero let go of his hand to look around.

"Any more of you popping up?" Dorothy asked, amused as she placed a finger in her English novel.

"Maybe," Duo glanced around quickly. His eyes landed on a lone figure sitting in a corner of the room, head bowed as he curled awkwardly in the chair. Duo yelled to get his attention. "Trowa!" the braided boy got glared from some people. Trowa was too absorbed in his book to look up. Quatre looked over shyly, faint pink brushing over his cheeks.

"Duo!" the blonde hissed. "Stop! You're embarrassing him!"

Duo just laughed and stuck his tongue out at Quatre. "Loosen up Kitty! Yo! Tro~wa!"

This time, the banged boy looked up to find the source of the noise. He spotted Duo on his knees in a chair at a table and gave him a weather look before untangling himself and striding over.

"Yes?" he asked in a quiet voice. Duo turned to sit properly as Trowa move to behind Dorothy and Quatre looked furiously at the table.

"Come and sit! I think you know everybody right? Doro, Heero, Kitty…. Come! You just look so lonely!"

Trowa consitered it for a minute before snagging an empty chair from the table next to theirs and sat the end of the table beside Duo and Quatre. Heero nodded at him and Dorothy gave a small smile in greeting before returning to her book. Heero turned to glare back at his textbook. Quatre fumbled with his bag before producing his Religion notebook and began to write furiously. Trowa seemed unconcerned by Quatre's sudden awkwardness but if one looked closely one could see the slight blush and distraction on his face. Duo grabbed his notebook.

//Duo was holed up in his room again. He had to make his decision tomorrow about who his future partner was. He wasn't looking forward to it. He and Quatre poured over scrolls of the candidates and he was still bent on Dorothy or Heero.

Duo nibbled on the end of his braid, nerves frayed as Quatre sat muttering about how he had to sneak around all the time now that he was visible. Duo ignored him and he scrolled up , then down again.

"Aren't you suppose to help me decide or something?" Duo asked, a bit panicky and irritated. Quatre looked at him guiltily.

"I know, I know," Quatre said looking guilty. "But I got tied up with the whole assassination thing! I know it's not my field but Ira thinks I can do it! And I don't want to mess up, this is major! Apparently that Dekim guy is bringing a Witch from EVIL. I think at least. The maid said so during her call to Dekim."

Duo looked at him strangely for a moment before there was a knock at the door. He glared at the young Wish how sulkily went behind the bed and lay on the floor so he couldn't been seen. Duo stood off the to the side of the eye piece as usual and opened the heavy iron covering.

"Yes?"

"Prince Duo, Baron Dekim is here to see you," an unfamiliar female voice said through the slit. Duo thought hesitantly about opening the door, there was a possibility this was a trap. Lieutenant Otto or Walker or even Wufei should be with her. He paused then another voice joined the female's.

"Prince Duo?" Otto said, suspecting Duo's hesitation. "Baron Dekim is eagerly awaiting your presence."

Duo sighed in relief and opened the door. There was a girl there in a servant's dress. Her long blonde hair was half pulled back in a braid and her bright blue eyes were fixed on the floor. Otto stood behind her.

"Great," Duo said with a false expression on his face. "Let us go!"

Duo silently prayed Quatre would leave quickly as he closed the door and followed the servant girl down the stairs with Otto at his back. Apparently Wufei was on guard duty too. His dark eyes watched the girl with suspicion. He stopped the three as they exited the stair case.

"Lieutenant Otto?" he asked, respect laid aside for hidden panic. "I must meet with Lady Une now. I have no replacement. Could I escort Prince Duo and Relena to Baron Dekim and fetch another guard?"

"Sure," Otto said. "I'll just stay here until you get back. Walker is waiting for you Prince Duo."

As usual, the older man was relaxed and comfortable around the Prince. They showed respect, of course, but Duo had insisted they treat him like anyone else. Wufei stepped aside and took Otto's place at the rear. It was a stiff silence as they walked. Wufei was nervous the servant girl would say something to King Solo if he was informal to Duo, Duo was worried about Dekim and the servant girl, Relena, was tense with the plan that was about to be launched by her real master. //

Duo looked up at the clock. The library was its normal chatty place but their table was silent as everybody worked on their own stuff. There was three minutes until the next period started. Duo reached over and touched Heero's arm. The boy was so into his homework he jumped when Duo lightly brushed his elbow.

"It's almost time to leave Heero," Duo grinned as Heero grumbled and started to put his books away. Duo tapped the top of Trowa's book. The green-eyed boy was startled and looked up with a calm sort of look in his eyes. he wordlessly glanced at the clock and sighed in regret as he folded the page of the book. Dorothy looked up from her English book and saw the other three start packing up. She did too as Quatre woke up from his silent stupor as well.

A few seconds before the bell rang, Duo laughed and jokingly said, "Let's do this again sometime!"

The bell rang and they joined the rest of the student body in walking towards the door. As they passed through the book detectors, Heero said in a low voice, "Do you want a ride home today?"

Duo grinned as the started to split up. "Sure! Meet you outside my locker!"

Quatre and Dorothy headed for the Religion department and Heero and Trowa turn for the gyms. Duo reluctantly headed for the Social Science rooms.

As he walked in the first person he saw was Relena Peacecraft. Of course she was in there every day and Duo knew she stalked Heero but the fact that she was just waiting for them to break up so she could swoop in on Heero was a bit disturbing. Luckily, he sat at the back while she was right up at the front. The class trickled in one by one, Sally entering last. She took an empty seat beside another boy today. As the second bell rang, Dekim finally entered.

He launched immedently into the textbook. His high, whiny voice gave Duo the shivers. He pulled out his notebook and stuck his eraser in his mouth before getting down to work.

// Duo snuffled a yawn as Baron Dekim chattered in his girlish voice. It was putting a strain on all his years of formal training to look interested as the Baron went on about the droughts his farmers had and the seed quality as they were planted in different soil types. His thoughts trailed off as he listlessly followed the wrinkled man. There was black haired girl with them, apparently a servant on his own staff there to assist them in anything they needed. Duo's thoughts drifted to her. Her hair was pulled back in a spiky ponytail and her clothes seemed to be nice, not tattered and worm like that other servant, Relena was it?

The Baron chattered on as he led them from room to room, occasionally commented on Duo's decorators until Duo was convinced that the only way the old Baron was going to harm him was by making him deaf with his words. Duo lost track of their path, if he hadn't been so bored he might have realised that Dekim was leading him with a practised walk. He did started to wake up when they ran into another person.

Relena curtsied slightly as Dekim approached her. They had entered a corner room. A corner room has only one door and no windows. It backed onto the outside corner of the palace so no matter how many tapestries the decorators placed on the walls, two of the walls were jagged rocky barriers. Duo frowned, he had no clue how they had gotten here. This place definitely didn't have a guard in it. It was empty save the two servants, Dekim and himself. The black-haired servant girl spoke up.

"Dekim, is this really necessary-"

"Look witch!" Dekim broke out of his whiny monologue. "You came to help me! Not that other way around! So do as you are told and magic this room!"

Duo realised there was something very wrong. He also realised it had to do with him. The two girls were tense but Dekim was dead calm. He reached for the concealed knife on his forearm but the blonde girl, Relena, moved quickly and grabbed it from his grip. Unarmed and angry, Duo stood still and glared as Dekim circled and grinned, his eyes glittering with intent. The black-haired servant sighed and spoke a few words in another tongue. If Duo wasn't mistaken, Quatre had said words like that before. The almost unnoticed background noise, echoes from the palace and thumping from the room upstairs, stopped. It was dead silent. Even the air was quiet. Duo waited with baited breath.

"Well," Dekim said with the same feral grin. Duo shivered as he suddenly felt very cold. "I approve very much Duo Maxwell."//

The cold pit of fear welling in Duo's stomach almost caused him to scream when the bell rang to signal the end of class. A clammy sweat clung to his neck as he took a breath and closed his book with trembling hands. He looked at Dekim straightening papers on his desk and shivered as he suddenly got a mental image.

He gathered his books to leave but suddenly saw that he was alone in the room. The rest of the class was already gone. Even Sally had left. Only Dekim was still there. Duo gulped and forced his books in his bag and zipped it up.

I'm just being paranoid, Duo thought to himself as he tried to walk calmly towards the door. He's not going to do something. That's in my story. He's just creepy but I can handle him, I can! It's all in my head, it's not real, all in my head, not real, all in my head-

Duo was brought to a halt as he saw Dekim seemingly materialise in front of him and shut the door, locking it from both sides.

"Well," Dekim said, his barely contained excitement showing through on the evil grin he wore. His beige sweater vest suddenly seemed entirely to big on him as he grew in Duo's eyes. "Staying after for help I see. I approve very much Duo Maxwell."

Extra GS: Scared yet? Lol, two cliff hangers! How many stories can claim to that in the same chapter. I gotta finish this story, to tell you the truth I want to know how it ends too!