"Shadows of The Past" Pg 14

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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"So where exactly are we going?" Milliardo asked Wufei his voice soft.

"The Mountains of Kandra, that is where the first test will be," Wufei answered his voice just as quiet.

"Test?"

"Yes, test of souls. All our souls must be tested."

"Do you know who?"

"No."

Several moments passed in silence their horse following behind Quatre and Trowa's.

"Milliardo may I ask you something personal?" Wufei finally asked.

"I will try and answer."

"Are you in love?"

"Love? Why do you ask such a thing?"

"Well never mind it was a silly question. Sorry to even bother you with it."

"Yes, I was once. I guess I still am but it will never be physically returned."

Wufei was quiet for several moments, his brain processing the new information. "I'm sorry, I know just how that feels."

"You do? At such a young age?" Milliardo asked surprised. "I think I should be the one who is sorry."

"No... there is no reason, for it is my own fault."

"You deserve better anyway, someone who treats you like that is not worth grief."

Wufei looked down at the path they trotted over, his voice barely above a whisper, "You are wrong about that."

"I think we should stop and rest here," Duo's voice suggested ending their conversation.

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A high mountain appeared before them as they traveled for a long month. Stopping at the out skirting woods the large mountains loomed in front of them.

"Aren't these the Mountains of Kandra?" Heero asked his caregiver.

"Yes, I'm glad to see you a better study then your father," Milliardo replied pleasantly surprised that Heero had remembered his geography lessons.

"Was father a bad study?"

"No, he just didn't want to learn."

"But the country is so beautiful, why wouldn't he want to learn about it."

"He was always to busy."

"Oh, I guess that's true for everything."

"He was never to busy for you."

"I know, I was talking about other things." Heero laid down pulling the blanket up to his chin. He looked over at the fire his brain working in overdrive. Suddenly a hand settled on his arm. Looking up his eyes met a pair of caring violet ones. They seemed to say it would be okay; that what he was thinking was nonsense. Closing his eyes he let a calm settle over him as he fell into a relaxed sleep.

Duo curled up beside the sleeping prince, as did Kieandra. Both Quatre and Trowa fell asleep cuddled together beneath the limbs of a large tree. Milliardo fell asleep leaning back against the trunk of a large oak, while Wufei slept near the fire curled in his blanket. Duo laid admiring the strength of the one he was growing closer and closer to. Finally he too fell asleep his arm slipping over Heero's waist.

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Breakfast was a quiet meal to which afterwards Quatre, Trowa, Milliardo, and Wufei separated themselves away from Heero as they discussed what was coming up. As much as Milliardo hated to exclude the prince, he wasn't sure he wanted him to know just yet either. Duo set down beside the confused young man.

"Why do they do that?" He asked. "Aren't you usually with them?"

"Yes, I think you and I need to talk," Duo answered.

"Someone actually wants to talk to me about something."

"Come on, lets go somewhere more private," Duo said taking Heero's hand as they and Kieandra faded out of the clearing. As the world around them stopped shifting, Heero looked around startled.

"Where are we?"

"This is a special place, a place only I can come to."

"It's beautiful."

"Thank you. I can't tell you everything you want to know but I can tell you enough so you'll understand what's going on."

"Even a little would be better then none."

"I just love your attitude about all this. So where to begin... oh I know." Duo leaned back against a large lush tree and dropping his arm over Heero's shoulders he pulled him close. Heero just melted into the embrace not even questioning it. "Legends, all legends are true. Do you remember that story Milliardo had told you?"

Heero nodded.

"Well it's absolutely true." Heero stared at him, eyes wide. "I know that's a lot to swallow on its own. Heero you are a very important key to everything that is going to happen. That's one reason I swore to protect you."

"Why me?"

"I'm not sure why... I just know it's you 'it' chose."

"It?" Heero looked at him confusion washing in his sky blue eyes.

"Yes, 'It'. 'It' doesn't have a form or a proper name." Duo answered trying to get the look to go away.

"What is 'It'?"

"I wish I could tell you, but that's just something you have to learn for yourself."

"Once you had said I had a great power."

"I did? Talk about a slip up."

"If you aren't supposed to tell me... don't. I understand." Heero looked down at the soft green grass they were sitting on.

"Do you?" Duo gently lifted his chin up to look him in the eyes.

"Yes." Heero's cheeks blushed a soft red.

"We are about to start the Tests."

"Tests?"

"Yes, our souls must be tested before we can go on to finish our job."

"Job?"

"The reason this is all happening."

"All of them?"

"What?"

"All of our souls, will we all be tested?"

"No, not Kieandra's or yours."

"Why?" Heero's eyes grew a little with curiosity.

"Because she's a creature of the Gods and 'It' chose you."

"When will it begin?"

"Here at the Mountains of Kandra."

"Who?"

"We don't know that."

"I hope everyone passes." Again Heero looked down at the soft blades before plucking one free of the ground.

"So do I... so do I."

Duo held Heero closer as the prince absorbed all the information he had just received. His mind processed everything that he had learned, putting things together and making sense of other things. Resting his head against Duo's chest he felt so much calmer then he had in a long time.

"Do my parents know?"

"No, they don't know the whole truth."

"I think that's best."

Duo gently pushed the hair back from Heero's face, "You are so strong."

"Except when you're around."

Duo looked down at him, surprised, "Did you just make a joke?"

"Maybe."

"Well either way I feel flattered. We should probably head back, they might be looking for us."

"Duo..."

"Yes?"

"Can we come back here again?"

"Of course."

"Okay, we can go now."

The three faded out of the bright beautiful green pasture to be back in the dimmer clearing they had left. As Duo released him Heero felt like he was losing something. The other four reappeared like nothing had changed. Heero looked over at Duo who just shrugged his shoulders. He decided to keep quiet about his new knowledge.

Packing up they mounted and left their camp heading toward the Mountains of Kandra, unaware of what waited for them.

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