Disclaimer: *Checks presents…* Nope no Gundam Wing. Since I didn't get it for my birthday (though I got the 1st season of Fushigi Yugi on DVD YAH!) I still don't own it. Come on! Don't they have like five of them? Can't I just have the one?

Opening notes: Okay, I just re-read my last chapter and besides finding a blatant spelling mistake I realized I sounded just a tad insane. Oh well had to come out some time. Hopefully this will be posted by the third. Whispers: It's my birthday! And reviews make great presents.

OH! And warnings: Um, implied violence to mythical creatures. Miniscule references to Yuri, and if you look hard S

Chapter 3

Duo sighed, glaring at the back of his leader. "Can't we just stop for like one hour?"

"No."

"But Hee-RO! I'm hungry!" Duo whined.

"I told you we wouldn't stop again. You should have listened."

"Stupid Daemon."

"I heard that."

"Of course you did. You have ears like a bloody cat." Duo sighed again. Then grinned. "Now buddy, pal o'mine."

"Whatever you're thinking, no."

"You are no fun."

"I know." Heero said kicking his horse and moving ahead.

Duo growled. Suddenly he sat a little straighter. "Heero!"

Frowning Heero turned back. "What is it now?"

"Trouble." Duo said grimly. "I'd say a harpy, or maybe a griffin, hard to tell from this distance."

"Where?"

"Two, no three miles due east." Duo said without looking. Heero didn't bother to check, trusting his companion. "I'm pretty sure they caught our scent."

"Most likely."

"Think Wing can outrun them?"

Heero glanced down at the horse. "Yes."

"Good. Get going. I'll catch up."
Heero frowned. "Duo."

"Go!" Duo said fiercely. He slapped Wing on the rear causing the horse to shoot forward. Heero glanced back once then focused on the road ahead.

Duo watched to make sure Heero made it safely away. "Okay, come on Kero(1) old girl time to send some lucky thing straight to the underworld." Grinning devilishly, violet eyes glowing slightly, he pulled his short swords out, "Bring it on, the God of Death is ready!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back at Sanq Hilde's eyes flew wide open and the blue flashed faintly. "Helen!"

Concerned, Noin moved closer to the smaller woman. "Hilde?"

Hilde shook her head. "It's nothing. Sorry, what were you saying?"

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?"

Hilde smiled half-heartedly. "Just thought I felt someone I knew a very long time ago. Before I even met your father."

Eyes downcast, Noin bit her lip. "I still miss him."

"As do I, he was very good to a lost soul." Hilde said sighing. "I've always regretted that I was never able to give him everything he deserved. But I've tried to make up for that with you."

Noin smiled half amused. "I've never wanted more from you than what you've given, so don't worry. Anyway, is Relena doing better?"

Hilde grinned, the hyper personality back. "Yup! I drafted Trowa into Princess duty!"

"Oh dear."

Hilde nodded. "Uh-huh! They play chess and lately they've been getting into this weird philosophic discussions, it's kinda creepy."

"Philosophic discussions?"
"Yeah who knew the forest warriors were so well read?" Hilde said shrugging. "Besides he has a great butt and a sexy voice(2)."

Noin snorted. "Only you, Hilde."

Hilde grinned and winked. "Of course."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Since she traveled alone, Merian made it to the capital of Romefellar within two days. Dragons travel swiftly after all. Not to mention that the Drog Mountains were closer to Romefellar than to Sanq. Merian sighed; Wufei's probably only halfway there, especially if he has to drag that stupid girl. She frowned. That bitch better not do anything to put Wufei in danger.

"So, you're what the clan has sent me? Pretty." Dorothy said leaning against the doorway. "What's your name?"

"Nataku."

Dorothy raised an eyebrow. "Really? Well weren't your parents ambitious. So, Nataku what brings you down off the mountain?" She asked as she moved toward her desk and sat down.

Merian ground her teeth at the smirking way she said her name. "Master Long wished me to join your ranks."

Again Dorothy raised her eyebrows. "Well, there's a surprise. I always thought Master Long somewhat disapproved of my chosen profession, and here he's sent me an operative."

Merian growled softly. "No! I will never be that. Master Long feels that you are not as…safe as you once were and offers my services as a bodyguard." Merian said quickly.

"Hmm, there could be some truth to that. However, I'm quite capable of protecting myself. Go home, little girl." Dorothy said dismissing her.

Merian panicked slightly, she HAD to stay; she promised Master Long! "Are you sure? I mean, it's nothing to me if you're stabbed in your sleep, but I did promise Master Long to give it a shot. For some reason the Master is quite fond of you."

Dorothy smiled softly. "And I of him. Fine. You can stay, but! You must agree to all of my rules."

Calmer, Merian licked her lips. "What rules?"

"You obey only me, you tell NO one what goes on here. Do not talk during my meetings, I'd prefer it if no one knew your name or origin." Dorothy begun, then smiled. "However, I do believe I will let it be know that I have hired a bodyguard."

Merian frowned and cocked her head. "But won't that let your enemies believe that you fear them?"
"Oh I'd hope so." Dorothy said airily. "It's what I'm counting on. It does mean that you might be a bit busy however. I going to assume that Nataku not your true name, oh! Don't worry, I approve the deception the less the populace knows about you, the better. This actually could be fun."

Merian looked at her new 'boss' bewildered. "Fun?"

"Oh yes, quite fun. And please, call me Mistress in public."

"And in Private?" Merian said cynically.

Dorothy laughed. "Well now, only if the mood calls for it. But I'd prefer Dorothy."

"Fine then, Mistress."

Dorothy laughed again. "I do enjoy the sound of that." She walked over to Merian and tilted her head back. "Especially from a Dragon."

Merian's eyes narrowed and she pulled her head away. "I wouldn't get too used to it."

Dorothy just smiled. "You never know, you just might enjoy this."

"I sincerely doubt that. So what now?"

"Now I have to visit my grandfather." Dorothy said moving towards the door. Looking back she frowned. "But first we simply must do something about your look."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Iria sighed as the tenth Maganac approached her. "Quatre is fine, he's just a little seasick."

"I know. Master Quatre has always fared badly the first days out on the water."

Confused Iria turned and faced the man. "Oh! Rashid I didn't realize it was you. Your men have been concerned."

Rashid smiled. "Yes, well we all feel a great debt to Master Quatre. He saved our ship from destruction and convinced the King to allow us to settle on the Island."

Iria smiled. "Quatre's always been giving, he can't stand to see suffering or injustice. I'm worried about how this choice will affect him."

"Your brother is stronger than you realize. He will do what is necessary."

"What about the cost to his soul?" Iria asked softly. "Will the kind boy I know disappear?"

"That I can not answer Princess."

"It will be alright."

"Quatre?" Iria asked turning. "What are you doing up?"

Quatre sighed, "Bad dreams. Evil feelings." He shivered. "I couldn't sleep. It will be all right you know. I can't see too much beyond that for now, but I do know that this is right. The Goddess will watch over all of us. Can't you feel it? She is guiding us all to where we need to be."

Iria sighed heavily and hugged Quatre. "Always trusting to fate."

"Of course." Quatre said back, "It's the way of our people."

Sighing again Iria ruffled his hair. "Such a dreamer. Good thing you're cute.

"Iria!" Quatre said annoyed. Iria laughed and ran off. "Come back here!"

Smiling Rashid watched the siblings play tag. 'May the goddess watch over them both.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dekim paced impatiently as he waited for word from the Daemon colonies. Finally a slight buzzing noise indicated the viewing portal was active. "Finally! What took you so long!"
"SOOO sorry sir." The daemon on the other end answered. "It's not like I'm planning a revolt against the Daemon leader while he's away."

"Intelligent responses do not suit you, Quinze." Dekim bit out. "Now, how is everything progressing?"

"Smoothly, more so now that Heero has left. Duo went with him as well."

Dekim frowned. "Not that I don't enjoy my plans going smoothly, but why did Heero leave?"

"I didn't bother to ask." Quinze huffed. "I'm trying to keep out of Heero's vision. Would you have rather I'd politely asked why our leader was leaving the colonies in my grasp?"

"Of course not! However, you could have asked casually."

"Nothing a daemon does is casual, you of all people should be aware of that."

"Of course. So if Heero does stay away, how long do you think it will be before they revolt?"

"I'd say two weeks. The Daemon government is not known for its stability." Quinze said smirking. "Besides, without Heero here things will degenerate quickly."

"Good. Very good." Dekim said smiling. "Now get to it!" The connection blinked out. "Get me the girl!"

"Yes sir! Right away sir!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Dorothy! Come right in my dear."

"Hello grandfather, you're looking well. Has cousin Trieze taken a vacation again?" Dorothy asked smiling.

Dermaile scowled. "No, now who is this you're brought with you?"

Dorothy looked back faking amazement, "Why grandfather, this is my new bodyguard, Nataku."

"Bodyguard, what need would you have of a bodyguard?" Demaile asked nervously.

"It's a very dangerous world, grandfather you never know who your enemies might be. Don't you agree?"

Demaile scowled. "How insightful."

Dorothy smiled. "Thank you. Isn't her outfit fabulous? I picked it out myself, you wouldn't believe the things she came in with." Dorothy looked back again to admire her work; Merian was now clothed in green silk Chinese style shirt and pants set with black lining. Her hair previously in two ponytails was now slicked back into a loose bun. The scowl on her face, however didn't change.

"It's very nice. You've always had a good sense of design. Your mother had the same."

Dorothy's smile faltered. "Yes, mother was wonderful at designing." Dorothy moved into the room. "So what's for dinner?"

"Is she eating with us?"

"OF course grandfather! You wouldn't want me to be unsafe would you?"

Demaile gritted his teeth. "Of course not, I'll have the servant set another place."

"That won't be necessary, she'll just be attended not eating." Dorothy said calmly. "Come Nataku."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You called me master?" The young blond woman said softly.

"Yes. I have a job for you."

"Master?"

"There's an woman I want you to pick up." Dekim began. "I believe it's time I met my granddaughter."

"Yes master. And then my contract?"

"We'll discuss it. Also I want you to keep a closer eye on that Catalonia girl. She could prove troublesome."

"Yes master."

"You've been a very good servant Middie. Always getting the job done."

"Thank you master." She said emotionlessly. "I owe you much for saving my father and brothers."

"Yes you do. Never forget it. We're done, you may leave."

"Yes master." Middie bowed and left.

Dekim frowned. "She is beginning to question her place. That is not acceptable. Perhaps it is time I played my trump card. She must understand that I control the future of her family!"

Author's Notes: Ok, just for those confused or annoyed, 1) I named Duo's horse Kero, after the guardian of the underworld, Cerberus(spelling?) since Deathscythe is a really dumb name for a horse. 2) The dub version of Trowa DOES have a really sexy voice. He makes a great Van too! Now as for Heero running *wince* I didn't really like that, but…Think of it like this, it's his mission to get to Sanq and solidify the treaty, and stopping is not an option. And well, in this story Duo's kind of his bodyguard, not that Heero needs one. Also there's a little hint to another of the relationship that I've tampered with.