"Shadows of The Past" Pg 12
Disclaimer/Notes:
I do not own Gundam Wing or any of it's wonderful character, they
are owned by some rich guy.
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Setting down the pack he carried Trowa let out a stifled yawn. Plopping down to the ground beside Quatre.
"Are you tired?" Quatre asked gently touching Trowa's arm.
"A little we walked for sometime today." Trowa sighed.
"Maybe we should have bought horses, cover more ground that way," Quatre thought out loud.
"Why didn't we?" Duo inquired.
"No sure. No time?" Milliardo pondered.
"We should in the next town.
"Yes one for each of us," Heero said petting Kieandra.
"I thin that would stand out to much," Duo disagreed. "Three should do it."
"Only three?"
"Yes only three. Everyone will pair up."
"Yes that sounds like a good plan, the next town will come in midday tomorrow at our pace." Trowa agreed with Duo.
Heero was about to speak again but Milliardo eyed him threateningly. He closed his mouth and looked down at the ground.
"May I speak with one of you privately?" Wufei asked finally speaking to the group. Everyone looked up at him startled.
"Um... fine..." Quatre finally answered standing up.
"Lets wait," Trowa said pulling Quatre back down to sit in his lap.
"We need a disguise for Wufei," Duo piped up changing the subject.
"Why? They don't know he is with us," Quatre reasoned.
"Disguise?" Wufei looked puzzled.
"Yes when we go to a village we wear disguises because some people are out to stop us," Trowa explained.
Wufei nodded in recognition of the fact that someone would be trying to stop them. As they sat their looking at each other unsure of what to say next a yawn wormed its way Heero's mouth.
"Time for you to go to bed," Milliardo said noticing Heero trying to hide it.
"But..." Heero tried to complain through another yawn.
"I'm not letting my job slip one but even thought we are away from home," Milliardo stiffened to the boy's pleading eyes.
"Fine!" Heero sulked lying down on the soft ground. Kieandra curled up beside him lending her body heat to keep him warm. Soon his breathing calmed like anyone who was asleep.
"Now we can talk about it," Trowa spoke up.
"Why not before?" Wufei questioned.
"He doesn't need to hear any of this it is bad enough he is the one to cause it. He doesn't need to know anymore other then he has to come with us." Duo sifted lying back on his elbows.
"Oh. Does he know he is the one?"
"No," Milliardo answered.
"Please don't mention anything about it in front of him," Quatre asked softly.
"I understand."
"Wufei how do you know the myth?" Trowa asked surprising everyone.
"Well I was told it at a very young age. My mother said that the world would burn black. Those who can save it from the flames are the four Godly warriors. The white snow Winter Dragon will lead them. With them they will carry a great weight upon their shoulders and endless essence."
"So they are the same." Trowa nodded.
"You thought they would be different?" Milliardo wondered.
"Same idea just different way of saying it."
"That myth has been passed through our family tongue for tongue. With those exact words none have ever been changed. As was the job of the Winter Dragon." Wufei sighed.
"Wow!" Duo sat up.
"How do you know the myth?" Quatre asked.
"Doesn't everyone, not to mention at a young age I was given a gift," Duo answered.
"A gift?" Wufei asked confused.
"Yes. I was sent here by the Gods to watch over him," Duo answered sentiment in his voice.
"We should get some sleep tomorrow is going to be long and tiring," Milliardo suggested lying down sending his long hair dancing around him before settling on the ground.
Nods followed agreeing and everyone else lay down. Quatre and Trowa slept close together, while Duo lay near Heero, and Wufei lay a few feet from Milliardo.
~*~*~*~*~
"Damn it!" Heero cussed
"Now is that anyway for a lady to talk?" Duo joked walking over to the disguised prince.
Wufei stood off to the side of the group in utter shock. "You actually..."
"Yes isn't magic wonderful!" Duo laughed gently patting Heero's butt.
"Excuse me!" Heero barked covering his ass with his hands.
"Hey we're married remember."
"Yeah how could one forget!"
"What was that?"
"Oh... nothing."
"Thought so. Is everyone ready? Don't forget how we paired off, wouldn't want anyone getting suspicious." Duo spoke to the group this time.
They entered the village like they had all the others only now Wufei walked beside Milliardo. For some reason everyone had to stop and stare at them. It seemed to happen in every village they visited. Yet again a disturbing voice stopped them.
"Wow! Wouldn't I like to get my hands on that pretty little thing," someone whistled out. Duo turned to the man; he was a little more respectable looking then the last.
"Sir this is my young wife. Please keep your comments to yourself," Duo told him still holding Heero's arm.
"Oh... still wouldn't mind a bit of her," the man replied turning to his friend.
"Sir I will only warn you one more time. We don't want any trouble." Duo remained calm.
"Hum... if you'll share..." the man spoke up, "there won't be any."
Duo let go of Heero's arm approaching the group of three. Raising his fist he was about to strike the man when a scream caught his attention. Turning back he saw several people surrounded the rest of his party. It was then that a fist connected with his jaw driving him back. Out of the corner of his eyes he watched Milliardo and Kieandra defend Heero. Quatre and Trowa were handling themselves and Wufei was taken people out like garbage. A kick caught Duo in the side sending him to the ground with a grunt.
"Stop!" a soft voice called out. Everyone turned to look at the long haired brunette who stood protected behind the tall blonde and tigrdo. Eyes that were once the color of the sky now were deep pools of black. A bright blue aurora surrounded the slender figure. Hair that once hung over soft shoulders flowed about in a nonexistent wind.
Duo pulled himself from the ground quickly. First decking the man who had started the whole thing, sending him to eat dirt. Then he jogged over to the glowing figure and placing his hands on slender shoulders he focused himself.
'Heero it's all right, we are all safe. They stopped no one is going to hurt you. I won't let them or hurt anyone else. We are all fine.'
The blue aurora dissipated from around the figure as its eyes rolled close and collapsed into Duo's arms. Soft breathing let him know he was alive. Cradling the slouched figure he started walking away from the stunned group of men. Finally Milliardo, Quatre, Trowa, Wufei and Kieandra ran after him.
They approached the stables in a strong silence. Duo asked for the horses and handed Heero over to Milliardo so that he could reach into his pocket and pay for them. Milliardo carried the still unconscious boy to their new horses. Duo pulled himself into his saddle and then collected the young man from Milliardo. Adjusting himself Heero sat cradled against his chest both legs hanging off one side of the horse. Quatre mounted and then Trowa mounted up behind him. Milliardo allowed Wufei to mount first putting the younger man in front of himself. Pulling out the stables they left the village at a fast gallop.
~*~*~*~*~
Duo led the group at a slow trot down the road leading to their destiny. The group had remained silent since they had left the village. Finally someone spoke up breaking the trend that was being created.
"What was that? Was that his awesome power?" Wufei asked.
"No. That was just a taste. We can't let it wake up," Duo replied his voice growing shaky with each new word.
"A taste?" Quatre asked a shiver running down his spine.
"Yes he could have destroyed that village with just a thought," Duo answered looking down at the full flowing brown hair that hide the youthful face. He couldn't lift the spell until Heero woke up.
"How did you stop him?" Trowa asked.
"I told him we were all fine and I wouldn't let anyone hurt him," Duo answered pulling the boy closer to him.
"You meant it too," Quatre realized.
"Oh course I did."
Everyone knew what those words meant even if Duo refused it later. They all could tell that Heero had found a big place in Duo's kind heart. They all also knew that would only strengthen Duo's resolve to keep the boy safe. The question they all wondered was, how did Heero feel about Duo?
Silence has befallen the group again talking didn't seem all that necessary at that point. They were all preoccupied with other thoughts, thoughts that needed to be processed and feelings that needed understanding. They were on a mission to save the world and right before them and awesome people was almost awakened.
A power they realized needed to continue to sleep or the end would come before they could ever try and hope to save humanity and their homes. No matter what tried to stand before them they knew they needed to conquer it. They had a single task to complete and they were focusing everything on it.
Trowa pulled Quatre into him holding the blonde tighter. They knew they were going to be tested but together they promised to get though it.
Finally just before night fell a low groan could be heard.
"Heero?" Duo's gentle voice filled the air.
"What happened?" came out a horse whisper.
"Nothing... you tripped and hit your head," Duo lied.
"Oh."
"It's all right. Let's left this spell now."
"Thanks."
Duo stopped his horse and concentrated on the spell. He lifted it from Heero's body returning him to his original form.
"Why don't we stop for the night?" Milliardo finally spoke since the incident.
"Yes that sounds like a good idea," Quatre agreed.
Stopping his horse in a clearing Duo dismounted then helped Heero from the animal. The boy instantly collapsed to the ground as soon as Duo let go of him. Duo hovered over him almost automatically.
"I'm fine! I'm just tried that's all," Heero tried to get Duo to leave him alone. Instead Duo picked him up and carried him over to the rest of the group. Setting down he placed Heero in his lap gently rocking the boy back and forth, almost instantly putting him to sleep. Kieandra curled up beside his outstretched legs.
Trowa helped Quatre from their horse then sat down with the blonde and watched the evens unfold between Heero and Duo. Worry creeping into their expressive eyes.
Milliardo allowed Wufei to dismount first then lifted his long leg over and jumped down himself. Wufei left and then returned shortly with firewood. His eyes locked on Duo and Heero. Milliardo sat down with a grunt his eyes never leave Heero's sleeping form.
With a fire burning brilliantly, lighting the entire area around them, sleep seemed the best idea at the moment. Everyone had been drained today and sleep fell over the camp quickly. Duo was the last to fall asleep as he adjusted to lean up against as tree with Heero still cradled in his lap. Kieandra just followed him and then fell asleep beside Heero's limp body.
'Please let me protect him. I won't allow you to take him away from me.'
~*~*~*~*~
