"Shadows of The Past" Pg 13

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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The first of the two suns peaked over the horizon and it's light slid through the trees to touch their small camp. Duo's eyes popped open, his body feeling refreshed and alive. The rest did him well, returning all the strength he had lost over the last few days. His body felt warm even in the cool morning air. Looking down Heero lay against his chest as Kieandra sifted her eyes looking up at him. 'He'll be fine today... promise.'

As Duo sat there he watched the rest of the camp awaken, with grunts and yawns. Quatre gently kissed Trowa as they both awoke. Heero sat up stretching his arms over his head. He yawned quietly as Milliardo opened his eyes to look over at him. Wufei stood up and stretched out his limbs and back.

"So what's ahead?" Milliardo asked the couple.

"Nothing until our village, so we shouldn't have any more problems," Trowa answered.

"Oh good, no more disguises,' Heero spoke his voice happier then it had been in the last few months.

"We should probably move on. How much further before we reach your village?" Milliardo asked.

"About another week," Quatre answered.

The group mounted their horses, Heero riding in front of Duo, Quatre in front of Trowa, and Wufei in front of Milliardo. They continued this pattern until they saw a small village on the other side of the forest. Riding into the small cluster the streets lay empty.

Quatre and Trowa dismounted and headed toward one of the huts as the others also dismounted.

"Father?" Quatre called out. "Mother?"

Trowa head to the one next to the one Quatre had almost reached. "Father?"

Suddenly a heart wrenching scream filled the air and everyone ran toward its source, the hut Quatre had entered moments before.

~*~*~*~*~

"How did this happen? Who could have done this?" Quatre sobbed.

"I know... I'm devastated too," Trowa spoke gently holding Quatre close.

The rest of the group left the two alone to search the village. Heero walked beside Duo as Kieandra trailed behind them.

"Why... why this village?" Heero asked his voice sour. "It has nothing tot with anything. The fighting would begin on the other side of the country... father said these villages would be safe from war. So why?"

"I wish I knew. You really care for your people, don't you?" Duo replied.

Heero stopped and looked at him before answering, "Of course, I would fight if I could."

"No, they need you to lead them."

Heero turned to look through a small window, inside the hut lay empty of life as the owners lie dead on the floor soaking up their own spilled blood. Children lay slain just as the adults. Heero's hand graced over the opening. Another fell over his own, he turned to look at soft violet eyes.

"This will never happen again, "Duo promised.

"You can't say that, that promise is not worth the words used to deliver it," Heero cried angrily as he yanked his hand away. Turning he ran from the village into the surrounding woods. He finally stopped and fell to the ground with a soft cry.


"Milliardo..."

"Yes? What is it?" the blonde answered standing up from his kneeling position.

"They even killed the animals. Look," Wufei point at a group of destroyed hens.

"Barbarians... how strange..."

"What is it?"

"Valuable," Milliardo answered holding up a peril mirror.

"I don't understand."

"Exactly, destroy a village but leave it standing and all the valuables untouched. Why? What were they really after?"

"Your right." Wufei picked up a couple of bags full of coins. "Make no sense, unless it was someone."

Milliardo turned to him, "What?"

"Someone instead of something."

"Both, which were neither here."

"Huh?" Wufei asked confused.

"We need to talk to the others," Milliardo answered leaving the hut they were in. Wufei followed him out and back to where Quatre and Trowa were. As they approached Milliardo noticed Heero and Kieandra missing.

"Where's Heero?" Milliardo asked stepping up the small group.

"I said the wrong thing and he ran into the woods," Duo answered. "He's safe, no one will know he's there."

"I better go get him, we all need to sit down and talk," Milliardo sighed.

"Actually I probably should go since it's my fault he ran off," Duo said getting up from his spot.

"Okay, but if you need me," Milliardo agreed.

"I'll give a yell," Duo finished for him walking toward where he sensed Heero and Kieandra. Duo decided to use the quick method to get there since Milliardo sound serious.

"Heero, I know I can't promise it will never happen again. I felt you wanted to hear that, I guess I was wrong," Duo said as he learned against the tree Heero sat against on the other side.

"Life is cruel, all promises are worthless," Heero answered his voice heavy with sadness.

"That's not true, some might be hard to keep, but for the majority they are worth their weight in gold," Duo said stepping around to face him. "I promised to protect you, that will never be broken, unless I'm dead."

"Don't say that... don't die for me," Heero demanded standing up.

"Don't worry, I'm not planning on going any where until you are safe."

"Don't... leave me..."

"I'm not. Milliardo has something he wants to talk to us all about. Come on, I'll transport us back."

Heero took Duo's hand as the three bodies disappeared from the spot beneath the large oak tree.

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Milliardo sat on a small rock near where Quatre and Trowa sat on the ground huddled together. Wufei sat on a small wood rail fence. Heero and Duo sat near each other on the ground Kieandra laid between them.

"What do you mean? Why?" Quatre asked the older blonde.

"I don't know why other then to try and stop us. This place seems a little to valuable for any other explanation," Milliardo answered.

"Well if it is true, we should probably move on. Where do we go now?" Duo asked.

"North," Wufei answered, "it seems the most logical."

"I agree, we will head out at first light tomorrow," Milliardo agreed.

"Where are we going to stay?" Heero asked surprising the group with his question.

"I don't think it should be in the village, maybe we should sleep in the woods on the outskirt," Milliardo suggested.

"Yes, I wouldn't want to stay here anyway," Quatre agreed.

"I suggest we get our stuff out of sight and beds ready, night will be breaking soon," Trowa added.

"Yes, I agree," Milliardo replied standing up.

Wufei jumped down from the fence while Quatre, Trowa, Heero, and Duo pulled themselves up off the ground. Kieandra stretched out before following her master. Trowa stopped causing the rest of the group to turn back.

"Go on ahead, I'll be there in a bit," he told them.

"Trowa?" Quatre questioned startled.

"Just go," he told Quatre firmly. The small blonde turned and led the group away.

Trowa turned back to his home. 'I'm sorry this happened to you all. I know you knew it was going to but couldn't you have fought it.' Stepping into his home he steeped around his fathers beheaded body. Making his way back to his room he grabbed one of his bags and filled it with clothes and other important items. He left through the back door that led to Quatre's house. Going to Quatre's room he dug out the blonde's bag, filling it as he had his own making sure to take a few pictures from his desk. Leaving the house he walked down the street away from his home knowing he would never return to it again.

A small single crystal tear fell from his cheek to land lost on the dry dirt path through the village. Walking along Trowa spotted the reason this was all happening sitting alone holding his knees to his chest. 'Where's Duo?'

'Right here,' a voice echoed in his head. 'Tree behind where he's sitting.'

'Why is he sitting there? Did you upset him again?'

'No way, actually it was something Milliardo had said. You better go talk to Quatre.'

'Why? Is he alright?'

'Physically? Yes. Emotionally? No.'

Trowa hurried leaving the prince to Duo's watchful eyes. Coming to the small clearing where they had laid out camp Trowa saw his lover sitting alone by a tree. Walking over he set the bag down beside him.

"I thought you could use some things," he said kneeling beside his lover.

"Is that why?"

"Yes, I got some stuff for the rest of the trip."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Quatre started going through the bag then stopped again.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh Trowa, thank you," he cried throwing his arms around Trowa's neck.

'The pictures...'

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