New chapter!!! Yay!! Whoo -hoo! Okay, now that thats out of my system... Welcome nekos( not the candy that's Neccos!)! Thanks so much for the reviews, I was seriously giddy after I found I had more!! And thank you Rocky for your reviews, they have helped.

Well I know this is a little slow to the action, but, bear with me please! I have a thing about peoples conections and relationships with each other so... just warning.

Oh! Right.. I forgot... I don't own them. I have to pout now soo see ya nekos!

















The old women looked down sadly at the boy resting peacefully on the bed. He was so young, just like his friends. She laughed lightly, shaking her head while brushing soft bangs away from the beautiful face. Her smile remained as she remembered back two hours ago when they had come to her door. She had been horrified that such young boys were out on their own in the sand storm. They had staggered in barely having the energy to stand. Then she had noticed the boy cradled protectively, almost lovingly, in the arms of the boy with the stunning blue eyes. She had thought he was dead for a minute, then he moved slightly. His protector had nearly jumped out of his skin in relief and surprise. Then she had the task of proving she was going to help and get the boy to relinquish the him to her care. They watched her like a hawk the whole time she tended him until they themselves had fallen asleep.

Glancing over she observed the sleeping children as they rested. Children, she knew that maybe they were not, but now as they slept they looked so innocent. She smiled as the most innocent looking of them all rolled over in his sleep mumbling something about justice and a person named Meilan. Turing back to her patient, she dipped a cloth in a basin and began cooling his forehead. Humming slightly, her maternal instincts that had lain dormant for so long came forth and she leaned down placeing a gentle kiss on the boys feverish forehead. She felt the need to protect these boys like any mother or grandmother would, especially with the rouge band in town. They had shot a jet out of the sky earlier today. No telling what they would do to five young boys alone.

Through the haze Quatre thought he heard humming. The sweet song lulled him, and he relaxed snuggling close to the four forms next to him in the dream like cloud.



Wufei stirred as the desert moonlight reached through the window to light his face. Grumbling slightly he sat up disorineted and confused. Swinging around he spotted the still form on the bed. A wave of memory washed over him and a slight frown placed itself firmly on his face. Standing he tiptoed his way around the chair where Duo lay sprawled and around the curled forms of Heero and Trowa. A gentle moon beam graced Quatres features as Wufei came to stand beside the bed. Pulling up the recently vacated chair he sat, careful not to awaken the sleeping boy.

Looking down he felt a pang at how close he had come to losing another person in his life. Wether he wanted to admit it or not they were important to him. He was the last member of his clan. All his blood family had long perished in the war. His wife along with them. For so long he had been driven by need to pursue his sense of justice and carry the honor of his clan in the war that he had lost his way briefly after the war. Who should bring him back to his path but them. Maybe he wasn't so alone after all.

Reaching out he brushed his hand against the feverish brow. The fine blond bangs were damp with sweat. Scooting the chair closer to the bed he swallowed he awkwardness he felt at the situation and took Quatres hand squeezing it in reassurance. Weather he was reassuring Quatre or himself he wasn't sure at the moment, but he was sure that if only for a moment he would allow himself to show he cared. ' After all, they say that love is thicker than blood.' Settling down comfortably in the hard back chair he began his vigil over his new found family.

The morning dawned bright and beautiful. The sand was settled and peaceful breezes drifted in through the open door and windows waking the sleeping young man. Midnight black eyes opened to the world, wide awake in an instant. He lay there for a few minutes letting his surroundings soak in. Music of a lone flute played a soothing tune to the morning. He could feel the others in the room. Duo was behind him, sitting at the table tinkering with his gun. Trowa was sitting at the end of the bed, flute raised to his lips. He must have borrowed it from the elder lady. Twisting around he saw Heero sitting with his back against the door jamb of the open door. Looking down he was met by two Mediterranean blue eyes.

" Morning." Quatres voice rasped a bit but still held cheerfulness despite the weariness.

" Humph." Wufei nodded in response with a slight smile. Removing his hand from Quatres he hid his slight embarrassment. Standing and stretching he carefully scanned Quatres face for any sign of fever. It had broken earlier that morning, he had fallen asleep only after it had.

Trowa carefully put the flute back in its case and stood. Walking over to stand next to Wufei he smiled down at Quatre.

" Your looking much better."

" Yeah, you scared me again man."Duo popped up over Trowas shoulder.

" Sorry Duo." Quatres face fell as he remembered the situation. " We have to get out of here!"

" Calm down Quatre." Duo reached out a comforting hand. " We've discussed it, and decided that you need time to heal so Trowas gonna sneak out of town and bring Une and the calvary to our rescue." Wufei scoffed then turned an angry scowl on Duo and Trowa.

" You could have at least have woken me up!" Duo scooted away, Trowa looked in his eyes as the anger left them quickly.

" You needed the sleep, and we had it under control." Realization hit Wufei at that moment. He had not been the only one to awaken in the middle of the night.

" Fine." Turning back to Quatre his voice softened. " Do you need anything?" Shaking his head lightly he smiled brightly at Wufei, but the worry over the problem was still in his eyes. Yet so was the complete trust of his best friends.

" Have they shown themselves ye-"

" The three of you! Shoo!" Their elder host came scurrying into the room shooing them with her hands. " Now let your brother rest!"

" Brot-" Wufei was cut off as a broom connected with his back side. Their host, now wielding a long broom, advanced on the three boys who were slowly backing away. Wufei rubbing a sore backside, she had used the handle. " Scat!" They ran out of the house so quick that Heero had no time to move out of the way. A pile of four boys accumulated outside the door.

Quatre couldn't hold back the laughter at the halrious sight in front of him. The luaghter was followed by a hiss of pain as his bruised ribs told him that it wasn't supposed to be that funny. Even that could not hold back the smile on his face. He smiled even more at the dog pile outside the door. He sighed as the women slammed the door, right onto Duos poor butt that happened to be in the way. The resounding 'ouch' could be heard from outside. Silently he wished they would come back inside where he could be with them. Where he could protect them, somehow.



Outside, after distangling themseleves and claiming their own body parts, the four boys stood and began walking toward the market.

" Brothers." Wufei mumbled to himself. ' Is the old women blind or what.......or maybe not.'

" Wufei?" Duo poked him in the shoulder to get his attnetion. The guy had spaced out and missed the whole question.

" What?"

" Heero asked you what you thought of the plan."

" Oh, well, I think we should think this through more. Wouldn't it be esiar to just get all of us out at once? Or have they caught up to us?"

" Look to the ally ways and even in he crowds." Heero instructed. Doing so unobtusivly he cuaght sight of what Heero had indicated. They were being tailed all through town. There was no doubt about it. The distingushing thing about all their tails were the red badges on their sleves.

" Humph. What do you think their after?"

" Us."

" Then why not take Trowa and I out when we were alone here?"

" I don't think they knew you were here. Only Quatre was supposed to come on this asssignment. You two voulenteered at the last minute and flew out ahead of time. They went after Quatre hoping to kill him and then come after us."

" So these are the same guys?" Duo pipped up way too cheerful for the other three. Trowa promtly shoved a papaya in his mouth before answering.

" Yes, the rouge group that has been terrorizing the local embassies and towns. They also have a very well know grudge against us."

" Well what do you suggest we do? We can't just leave them out here to continue." Duo said through a mouth full of papaya, the juice flying everywhere as well as glares from his companions and a few passerbys.

" We'll discuss this later, in private." Heero spoke up as he stopped to buy a few mangos and more papayas. Maybe Trowa had the right idea with these things.