"Destiny" Chapter 4

Treize looked up as Heero finished speaking about what he'd learned and a possible plan of attack. They all knew time was running out before this false King decided to take action against them. Treize thought about Heero's words and the number of men they would be facing.

Duo bounded into the hut surprising both men. "You have to come see this," Duo said with a bright smile.

Both men eyed him before grabbing their cloaks and following about the bouncy man. Treize stopped in his tracks the moment he was outside. His eyes narrowed as they focused on Wufei who was about to dismount from the snow white horse. He saw instantly the teen had removed his slippers. "What are you doing?" Treize growled causing everyone near by to look.

Wufei's head snapped up as he had frozen in mid-movement to dismount. Treize approached the horse and collected the teen into his arms. "Where are you shoes? You can't keep walking around in the snow bare foot," Treize scolded the surprised young man who looked over at Duo.

"They are right here," Duo said picking the shoes up from a rock. "Actually I called you out here because he was riding that horse."

"I had no doubts of his ability to ride," Treize said heading back to his hut with Wufei still in his arms.

"I'm... sorry," Wufei whispered not looking at the older man. "I just prefer going bare foot; have since before I can remember."

"Your parents had let you?" Treize asked as they entered the hut.

"No, I could only get away with it when they weren't around," Wufei answered his eyes becoming sad. "I really miss them sometimes."

"Everyone thinks about their family, even if they are gone," Treize said setting Wufei on his feet.

"What about your parents...?" Wufei asked suddenly.

Treize eyed him a moment before answering. "They live safely with my sister and our rightful ruler."

"I'm glad," Wufei said nodding his head before turning away to see the maps lay out on the floor. "What are those for?"

"Nothing for you to concern yourself about," Treize said not wanting to tell Wufei about his earlier discussions with Heero.

"You're going to attack," the youth guessed looked at the older man. "I'm going with you when you do."

"Wufei..."

"No, I'm going," Wufei cut him off, "with or with out you."

Treize stared hard at him realizing he would go alone. "All right," he caved. "I need to speak with my council."

"May I listen?"

"Yes, but don't say anything," Treize agreed watching Wufei sit in the corner on a pillow.

Wufei watched him leave, only to return a few moments later with Duo, Heero, Trowa, and Quatre. The five sat down around the pile of maps, Duo glancing over at Wufei.

"All right, after speaking with Heero the time might be right to attack," Treize said grabbing everyone's attention.

"Well we need to figure out when to move, how long it will take to get there, and how to attack effectively," Duo pointed out.

"Three days," Wufei said startling the five.

"What?" Duo asked receiving a glare from Treize.

"It will take you about three days to get there," Wufei said finally looking at them.

"How do you know that?" Treize asked trying to keep his voice even.

"That is how long it took me to get from there to here," Wufei answered staring at his hands beyond his pulled up knees.

"You were out in that condition for three days?" Treize asked trying to catch Wufei's dark eyes.

"Yes, I was usually running, I watched the sun rise over the snow everyday," he murmured his voice lowering.

Everyone sat silently before Duo spoke up. "Thank you for the information."

"I can work out a plan of attack," Trowa offered regaining everyone's attention to the situation.

"All right," Treize said getting a hold of himself. "Trowa you and Heero work on a plan of attack. Duo, you and Quatre tell everyone to get ready to move out."

"Yes," Duo and Quatre agreed standing up with the other two. They left the hut after Trowa had collected all the maps to work with.

Treize stood up gazing over at the teen before deciding just what he wanted to say. "Wufei..."

"I know you told me to remain quiet but I thought if would be all right since I was helping," Wufei cut him off still staring at his hands.

"That wasn't what I was going to say. I was going to say that you are brave and strong for surviving out there like you had."

"What?" Wufei asked snapping his head up to find Treize kneeling in front of him. He jerked back in surprise hitting his head against the wall behind him.

"Are you okay?" Treize asked his hand gently cupping the back of Wufei's head.

Wufei lowered his face into the protection of his knees, trying to hide his blush. "Fine," he mumbled embarrassed.

Treize gently combed his fingers through the silky black stands, hoping to sooth the tender spot. "Are you sure?"

Wufei couldn't keep his eyes open at the action, biting his lip to force himself to pull it together. "Yes," he tried to say as neutrally as possible.

"Wufei, I'm still not sure about you going," Treize finally said what was really nagging at him.

Wufei finally looked up at him. "I told you, I'll go alone... he has to pay."

"Yes but I don't want so see you get hurt," Treize said.

"I can handle myself just fine, I've used a sword before," Wufei said stubbornly.

"All right, I see I can't talk you out of this," Treize said with a sigh, wishing that hadn't been the case.

"No you can't," Wufei agreed pushing Treize's hand away from his head. "I'm going for a walk."

The teen stood up and grabbing his shoes he hoped to the door putting them on. Trying his cloak in place he stepped outside. Wufei spotted Duo talking to several men near the horse stable. He wondered just what they were discussing. He walked over tucking his hands behind his back.

"Yes, make sure they are all ready," Duo was saying before he turned to see Wufei walking over. "Hey, you sure you should be out here?"

"Why not?"

"Well where is Treize?" Duo asked dismissing the men with a wave of his hand.

"I don't know, it isn't like I need a babysitter," Wufei snapped. "Now excuse me."

"Be careful out there, yell if you run into any trouble," Duo called causing Wufei to speed up his walking.

Wufei glanced around the snowed covered dead forest as he weaved through the trees. His pace was slow as he let his emotions free, his face giving away everything he was feeling. Why did he have to come to like someone like that? Someone who only saw him as a useless child, only able to get himself in trouble. Using a tree for support he pulled off his shoes to walk bare foot in the crunchy snow. He carried the shoes in one hand while brushing his shoulder length hair back with the other. He continued to walk, his feet growing cold but going unconcerned.

A sound ahead of him caught his attention; he looked up to see a dark colored wolf blocked his path. The animal was soon joined by several more, which now began to move toward him. They growled and snarled showing their razor sharp teeth. Wufei stepped back surprised by their appearance. He grabbed a large stick sticking out of the snow. One of the wolves jumped at him, Wufei swinging with everything he had to knock it away. Two more attacked at the same time, causing Wufei to fall backwards. No, he thought as the animals drew in closer. He pressed his eyes closed waiting for the eminent attack, only nothing happened.

Peaking an eye open he stared at a long braid when two arms encircled his shoulders. He turned to see Treize's blue eyes focused on him. When he heard a howl, he quickly looked back at Duo only to see a Wolf go flying toward a thick tree trunk.

"I thought I told you to yell if you got into trouble," Duo said still tossing the wolves without even touching them.

Wufei stared in shock when a jolt of pain shot through him. It grew in intensity causing him to cry out. Treize held him tighter as the pain began to fade as quickly as it had come. All the wolves that had remained scattered at the cry, their own howls matching it for a moment.

"Wufei, are you okay?" Treize asked in concern.

Wufei looked at the broken stick still in his hand as the pain faded completely. "They never touched me... I could have handled it."

"Right," Duo agreed sarcastically.

"I didn't need your help!" Wufei demanded yet unable to stop his now shaking hands.

"A thank you would have been nice," Duo said in reply.

"Forget you, I didn't ask for your help," Wufei shouted moving to get up yet Treize held him firmly in place.

"Wufei," the older man said causing the teen to freeze.

"Don't worry about it Treize, they wouldn't have killed him anyway," Duo said moving past them and dropping Wufei's shoes in his lap. "You dropped these."

"Wufei what did I say about walking around bare foot," Treize admonished the teen before turning to see Duo had disappeared.

"Oh who cares! It's not like you really care about me," Wufei said finally breaking free and standing up.

Treize stood up and quickly lifted the teen into his arms surprising Wufei by the action. "You are wrong."

"Put me down!" Wufei demanded his hands gripping Treize's shoulder.

Treize set him on a large rock, "Then put your shoes back on."

Wufei stared at him before screaming at the older man. "Just leave me alone! I can do whatever I want damn it! I don't need anyone, especially not you!"

Treize stepped back in surprise at the words. "Fine, you're right." The older man turned away, walking silently back to the camp.

Wufei watched him go, wanting nothing more than to call him back. He shook his head trying desperately to clear the urge away. No he didn't need anyone, just like he'd said. Especially not Treize, his village would have never approved. But they were gone, killed by that beast that calls himself a man. He had no one he was alone in this cold, hateful world.

Wufei looked at the shoes beside him, forcing him to remember. Remember Treize and how the man always seemed to be reprimanding him, telling him he was going to hurt himself. The warnings had seemed to of gone unnoticed as he sat in the cold winter breeze alone.

Picking up the shoes he felt he should return them before leaving. He couldn't stay now, not after how he'd acted and what he'd said. Wufei slowly walked into the camp his feet numb to the cold snow. He approached Treize's hut and set the shoes beside the door. He untied his cape and began folding it when the door opened. He was frozen more by Treize's eyes than the winter weather.

"What are you doing?" Treize asked eyeing the folded cape.

"I... I'm returning them," Wufei stammered. "It wouldn't feel right taking them."

"Are you crazy?" Treize demanded grabbing Wufei's arm and jerking him inside the warm hut. "You couldn't leave like that in this weather, you'd easily get sick."

"They are not mine," Wufei defended dumbly.

"Don't be so stupid, I gave them to you just like the clothes," Treize said pacing the room.

Wufei watched him for a few turns before sighing. "Just let me leave."

"No," Treize said stopping in front of the teen.

"What do you mean-"

Treize grabbed his shoulders pulling Wufei into a strong embrace. He rested his cheek against Wufei's moistened hair. "No it is too dangerous, I won't let you get hurt."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*