Author's Note:  I can't update too often now.  Many apologies.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing.

            The air inside the hotel was much cooler than that of outside, but for Zechs, who was born in a country where low temperatures were welcomed, it was comforting.  Quatre shivered slightly as the air enveloped him, being cold reminded him that he was far from the familiarity of the desert.

"I suppose we present these tickets at the front desk," Duo commented, fumbling with the slips of paper in his hand.  The others nodded, not really in the mood for forming words.  Because of the maze of slot machines and black jack tables, it took the group a few minutes to locate the front desk.  Duo leaned against the desk, slipping the tickets across the marble counter to the attendant.  The attendant, who looked in her mid thirties, blinked brown eyes and examined them. 

"So, you won the contest for a two nights' free stay?" she inquired, examining the tickets. 

Duo displayed a grin, "Yes, ma'am, indeed we did."

"We?" the attendant stated, somewhat perplexed.  Duo gestured to the others behind him in order to make his point.  The attendant squinted and then pointed to fine text at the bottom of the ticket, "It says only the person who stepped across the line gets the free stay."  Duo's eyebrows furrowed in disdain; he glanced back at his comrades and shrugged.

"If all of us can't stay, then none of us should," Quatre said with a weak smile, "It would be the best thing to do."

Duo's grin faded away momentarily and then returned, "Actually, the best thing for me is to stay here.  The rest of you can find somewhere to hang out."  Wufei's jaw nearly dropped, and his face wrinkled in dissatisfaction.  His skin was becoming a color synonymous to having been left frying in the sun too long.

Zechs smiled slightly, "A wise decision Maxwell."  The others gave Zechs threatening glares.  "This is survival of the fittest," Zechs explicated, "And Maxwell has proven himself to be the fittest for now."

"MAXWELL?  THE FITTEST?!" Wufei burst out angrily, "WHY he's no stronger than a woman!"  His fists were clenched, and he was visibly less composed than usual.

Upon hearing the insult, the attendant behind the desk rose, "I don't know who you think you are buster, but I won't have you insulting the female race like that!  If you've got a problem, you can settle it with me!"  The woman's eyes were burning with rage. 

"I don't fight women," Wufei retorted, crossing his arms.

"SECURITY!" the woman shouted, and instantly men in black uniforms surrounded the unruly Wufei and everyone but Duo.  "Please escort these men out of the hotel."  The anger had slightly faded from her face, and now her eyes were gleaming with victory.  The security officers led them away towards the exit of the hotel, and Duo just stood there waving.

*      *      *

"WHAT A TRAITOR!" Wufei boomed once they were back outside and the security guards were out of earshot, "THAT Maxwell should not be trusted."

"He did what he had to in order to survive," the usually reticent Heero Yuy added, "And if you kept yourself composed, we might have at least been able to stay in the lobby of the hotel."  The soldier's eyes were distant and detached, "We'll have to find a place to stay.

"I have an idea," Trowa said softly, "We are here, and there is no war.  We might as well enjoy ourselves.  We could view the sites as it seems everything here never closes."  He fell quiet once more, having put out his opinion for evaluation.

"I think that's a great idea!" Quatre exclaimed, "Where shall we go first?"  His eyes twinkled with anticipation.

"I suggest that we investigate the feat of ingenuity that fooled us before.  I should like to get a close look at that volcano," Zechs suggested.  The others seem to more or less agree with the suggestion as it provided them with a starting point.  "I believe it was that way," Zechs said pointing to the west where a massive structure stood in front of an eloquent hotel. 

The six males dodged pedestrians as they meandered through the masses of people towards the place.  On more than one occasion, Zechs's hair got caught on something, and the group had to stop while he freed the delicate blonde hair from wherever it was stuck.  This proved to amuse everyone, including Treize, who was supposedly his best friend.  By the time they reached the facsimile of a volcano, Zechs was rather depressed over losing a few strands of perfectly silky hair that had been carefully cleansed with specially formulated Pantene-Pro-V (For Hair so silky, it shines.), which was delivered regularly to the OZ base in boxes.

"What's wrong, Zechs?" Quatre questioned, noticing the distress on the Colonel's face.

"Nothing," Zechs answered followed by muttering about how he hadn't gotten to take a shower in two or so days while Duo was probably wallowing in luxury.

"Do you OZ soldiers even know the meaning of war?" Wufei asked, not realizing that he was speaking to a man of noble blood.

"Survival of the fittest," stated Heero with a shadow of a smile.

And that's all for today folks.  Be nice and leave a review!