Beyond Our Borders Chapter 3

Duo sighed and tugged at his cloak. The chill had lifted as they traveled south, yet for the past day and a half a steady rain had been falling. It was almost dark on their eighth day of travel, and the innkeeper they'd spoken to that morning had said they should reach Kata' Shin'a'in by nightfall. It was now nightfall, and there was no trade city.

Duo glanced sideways to see Trowa hunched over Nanashi's back. The boy's gray cloak was soaked through, and he must have been just as miserable as Duo, yet the young bard had born the past week with an unshakable calm and quiet cheer that Duo had come to envy greatly. Every night he would speak softly with the owner of whatever inn they came to and secure rooms and shelter for their mounts. Though they were more concerned for the Companions than for Wufei's mare, they still refused to leave the poor creature out in the cold.

The young prince sighed again, hunkering closer to Shini's warm white hide. He patted her soft neck affectionately, smoothing away trickles of cold water.

:How're ya' doing?: Shinigami shook her mane with a tired snort.

:I'm cold, hungry, wet, and tired. I'm completely soaked, have mud halfway up my sides, and your cloak weighs as much as the palace wall.: Duo couldn't help but chuckle at his Companion's pitiful tone.

:Ah, but at least it keeps you mostly out of the rain.:

:Mostly.: Duo had to laugh at that. Companions were usually so cheerful and perky, it took a lot to get one to grumble.

:How about Nashi and Trowa?: There was a pause as Shinigami conferred with her friend.

:They would like to be someplace warm and dry, with hot food and drink, and a soft bed, but other than that they've no complaints.: Right.

They rode a while longer in silence before Wufei straightened in his saddle. "The sun is setting." Duo blinked at the priest from under his dripping hood.

"How in the Goddess's name can you tell that? It's been the same shade of gray all afternoon." Wufei shrugged.

"I just know. It means we should be arriving soon." With that the raven haired boy fell back into silence, leaving Duo to mutter ineffectually at the rain. Just as he was about to start cursing the innkeeper for bad directions he felt Shinigami perk up. :Chosen, look.:

Duo lifted his face to a rolling sea of lights. The rain had lessened just enough to reveal the deep shadows of the plains spreading before them, raising vast banks of mist which rolled hazily over the city. Flickering yellow lights appeared in the valleys, fighting weakly through the deep gray fog, then disappearing again beneath a rolling crest. The whole city seemed sunk beneath a stormy sea of clouds, twinkling coyly up at her newest arrivals.

For a time they simply stood there looking, quite lost in the dark beauty before them. The rain fell unnoticed on their glistening faces, catching the strongest glints of lamplight and scattering them back to the night. Duo was the first to catch his breath, a gentle cloud blooming in the moist air.

"Wow."

"I have heard of this city's dangers and intrigues, but never of it's beauty," Wufei offered softly. Nataku had peeked out from Wufei's cloak, and her eyes seemed to glow with the sight, smiling down on this new adventure with anticipation. Wufei unconsciously stroked her head, smoothing away the chilly raindrops.

"It's haunting," Trowa breathed, lost in the vision.

The party stood, entranced, until a persistent raindrop found its chilly way down Duo's neck.

"Well, whatever it is it should have an inn, so lets get going." :Come on, Shini.: Soaked to the bone, they needed no more urging, the group descended beneath the waves.

* * * New characters in the next chapter, I promise. ^_~