Another Chapter! These are coming a little slower then I thought they would but I am writing something original now too! Please if you will take the time to read that and review it too. I really need feed back. Oh and review this too! Thanks Nekos!









Trowa moved swiftly through the small desert village in the fresh night air. Duo was at his back, moving so quietly that he wouldn't have known he was there exept for the ocassional light laugh. The cat had become so attached to its new freind that it could not be dislodged from Trowas shoulder and Duo found that extremeamly funny. It rested queitly on his left shoulder nestled against his neck, emeraled eyes ever looking into the darkness at an enemy that only it could see. At the outskirts of the town they stopped. Trowa and Duo looked at each other niether saying a word, their eyes told each other all they needed to know. Grasping hands briefly they nodded at each other and broke apart. Trowa ducked to the right and Duo to the left, neither looking back at the other or to where there three friends were hidden. They dissapeared into the night like they had never been.

Trowa slipped from shadow to shadow toward the edge of the wall that surruonded the town. His eyes scanned for any sign of the enemy on the lonely streets, yet no living soul was to be seen. The villagers all were hidden safe as could be in a town under siege for fear of the more open attacks that were coming from the rouges. Not even a light besides that of the moon and stars lit Trowas path. Slipping from the saftey of the shadow Trowa made a dash across an open court yard. ((!)Epinephrine dug her claws into his shouder suddenly, hackles raiseing along with a low growl. He cuaght the danger out of the corner of his eye and recated. Throwing low profile to the wind he jumped high into the air and prefectly over the fountain in the middle of the court yard and dodged the bullets that seemed to rain down from nowhere. Wincing as one stray bullet grazed his lleg he dodged into the split in the wall and out into the desert. A smile lit his face at the jeep he saw waiting for him. With a last burst of speed he jumped into the jeep a took off in the already prepraid and running jeep provided be a kind old lady. The lone jeep sped off into the desert pusued not qucikly enough by two enemy jeeps. He was free.

Duo spun around at the sound of gunshots.

" Trowa.." His voice wasn't heard by anything but the win as it swept them away as well as his fear as the distinct sound of a jeep speeding off. " Fly Trowa, for us..." With a smile only he could wear in such danger he ran forward toward the building he had followed two slightly intoxicated men to. He stopped outside the door, pressing himself up against the window as the men stood just inside the door talking....sort of.

" Weeeeeeeell....JGow...zat vus soome gooze wiine." One guy,Duo happily dubbed idiot,slurred.

" Yeahhh, sats right, Hicup! Neeveir bettier." JPS hicuped out. Duo had even more happily nicknamed him Just Plain Stupid.

' Jeesh, the man I got the stuff from said it was his mild batch. Hehe, idiots.' He held back laughter as Idiot fell asleep on his feet, held up by JSP. As they both crumpled to the floor emitting loud snores that made Duo wince he hoisted himself throught the open window. Careful not wake the sleeping 'beauties' he made his way toward the open trap door in a corner of the room.

" For you Quat." He lowered himself into the opening as graceful as the cat perched on Trowas shoulder and landed without a sound.



Quatre remained snuggled into Heeros arms as the sun begin rise, shining a golden light on the two sleeping forms and that of a figure by the door. He sat watching his companions contentedly. Wufei sighed as he turned his attention to the open roof and the fading stars above. It had been an hour since Duo and Trowa and slipped out with a simple nod to them. Silently he offered up a simple plea that they were watched over. He did not want to lose this new found feeling he felt toward them, family, hope, ...love. He wasn't sure, all he knew is he liked it and wanted it to stay there. Casting a glance at his companions again he smirked as Heero once agian restrained a sneaky Quatre from getting away and trying to do anything dangerous. Again the emotions ran to his heart unbidden and uninvited but strangely welcome. As the golden mornings light shone down on the three boys casting a magical glow around them a sense of peace settled around them.

In the quiet Quatre barley even heard the sound. But his sharp ears picked it up as it sounded again just outside. Opening his eyes slightly he looked to Wufei, he too seemed to have heard the noise. The unmistakable sound of boots scraping against the sandy and rock covered ground. Gently jabbing Heero in the ribs he woke the slightly sleeping boy and pointed to the direction the noise came from. No one moved as the footsteps got closer by the second to where they were right outside the door. The click of a gun sprung them into instant action. Heero had spwiped Quatre into his arms in a second and was on his feet moving toward the back entrance that mas mearly a crack in the wall. Wufei was at his heals gaurding their backs.

Quatre gripped the precious object in his hands tightly as they swept into the daylight. Not even time to react and two men were rushing them. Unarmed the two standing could do nothing but crouch into fighting postions as the men came on. Heero preparing to protect Quatre, did not register the subtle movments being made by the boy in his arms. Tha tis untill with a flick of his wrist two rocks flew from a now unconcealed sling shot in Quatres hands and hit there marks. Two of the men gasped in pain and grasped their eyes, slowly backing away. Heero spared a surprised glance at a smiling Quatre. Even as he looked away to the situation the he saw that smile fade as more men poured around the corner guns drawn. Unlike tweedle dee and tweedle dumbbutt they had not underestimated them, not even with one injured. They had no choice but to give in. Quatre let out a sigh as the apprant leader moved to stand in front of them, his cold eyes coming to rest on his own battered form. A dark glint appeared in the mans eyes.

" Well boys looks like we did get the Winner kid pretty good." Smirks passed from one face to another. Quatre could feel the anger welling up in his two friends and he cast them both a reassuring glance before turning a wary, and peeved, gaze to the men in front of them.

"Hey Cap. Shouldn't we being getting them back to the hold before it gets late?" One solider pipped up.

" Naw, we own this town now. We can take our own sweet time with this." His gaze went over the other two boys assessing how much trouble they would be to get back to the base. Coming to a conclusion he spoke up. " Hand me the boy." He held his arms out for Heero to give him Quatre.

" No!" Heeros glare met and surpassed the captains making the man wince a bit. This only made him madder. He strode froward purposefully but was cut off as the other boy moved daringly in front of him, blocking the other two. His anger soared at the defiance and he swung with all his might at the boy. Wufeis hand came up, catching the mans hand with a smack, and threw in back at guy. Seeing the trouble some men moved forward grabbing Wufeis shoulders. Mistake.

Heero moved quickly as Wufei threw two more men into a pile of four squirming men. With a glance behind him he saw Wufei knock the Captian out just as they burst out into open street . Wufei was quick to catch up, and then they sprinted like never before. Quatre clung to Heeros neck holding back the cries of pain from his broken legs. Looking over Heeros shoulder his eyes widened at seeing two men recovering and running after them. His slingshot was in his hand in an instant. Shooting behind Heeros shoulder he watched with satisfaction as the men stumbled as his well aimed blows hit slightly south of the belt. The rocks that he had piled in his pocket were dwindling though. More men were coming, but suddenly they were cut from view by a crowd of people who seemed to come from nowhere. Breathing a sigh of relief he resettled against Heeros chest and looked ahead to fast approaching wall and beyond, the open desert.

Duo stood outside the wall of the town, anxiously awaiting Heero, Quatre and Wufei. He had left the base earlier that morning after barely scraping by with his braid still intact. They had an entire base built roughly the same size of the town underground. From the lax security he figured they had only a small group out there and had sent most of the men out after Trowa and the others. He paused long enough to overhear a conversation between what he assumed were the head honchos. What he could gather they were another group opposing the total pacifism that Relena promoted. They also wanted them out of way so they would have no opposition when they attempted to start a war.

" Amateurs. Cheh." He had also managed to acquire some rather interesting discs that could help the Preventers put them down. After trying to return to his friends and being stopped each time by the sight of more soldiers he opted on waiting for them just outside where they could once again make an escape into the desert.

" I hope." Worry built up as he caught no sight of his friends as he peeked inside again. Leaning back he almost relaxed, until three haggard figures burst through the entrance into the clear desert air. " There you are!" Wufei swung around ready to pounce, Duo jumped back. " YO! Chill Wu." Wufei rolled his eyes, but looked relieved to see him

" Did you follow them Duo?" Quatre met the startled looks from the others, they had thought he was asleep.

" Yep! Got all we need Quatre. I suggest we get the hell out here before they get a brain and find us." Quatre managed a weak smile as Duo slung a backpack on and they walked off into the desert once again. Faint jeep tracks were their only guide.





Trowa bent over the engine of a beat up borrowed jeep. He had made it all the way to a small camp of what seemed to be nomadic people. Then the jeep and sputtered and died on him. Now he was slung over the rim of the engine trying to fix it, and avoideing the stares and giggles of a couple of teenage girls who were enjoying the show. Straightening up he streatched and cracked his back then swiped a hand over his sweaty forehead. Picking up a discarded rag he turned around wiping his oil stained hands. He stopped short a spared te girls a questioning glace as they giggled harder.

"Uhmm." Lifting one fine brown eyebrow he watched as one of the girls approached trying hard to stifle her giggles.

" Let me." Pulling a cloth out of her skirt pocket she reached hesitantly up to his forehead and gently rubbed jsut above his left eye. Holding the cloth up for him to see he realized he must have wiped oil onto his forehead. The faintest blush graced his tanned cheeks.

" Thank you." The girl blushed three shades of crimson then giggled happily back to her friend. Shaking his head he continued on to he girls father who had allowed him to stay and helped him. The man kinda reminded him of Rashid. The thought of Rashid suddenly reminded him of just how urgent his mission was. His friends were still back there. Rashid himself was probably going out of his mind by now and he did not even know how bad Quatre really was hurt. No telling what he would do to the four of them when he saw. Not to mention the lectures Quatre was bound to get from his thirty-nine over protective bodyguards.

" Ah, Trowa."

" Sir." He nodded respectfully at the older man.

" You are welcome any time friend. Besides I think my daughter is quite taken with you." The gentle man laughed as his daughter sent a furtive glace Trowas way.

" Thank you for your hospitality." Bowing slightly he turned and moved back toward his now barley running, but running, jeep. He still had to find his friends.