Duo sat on the bus that was taking him further and further away from the mansion. Away from Quatre. Or rather where Quatre should be, but frequently wasn't. Where Duo always waited miserably for Quatre to return.

Duo bit back tears fiercely. He stared out at the passing scenery. He had left the mansion yesterday morning, and hadn't eaten anything since then. He was starving, but knew that he had to spend the money he borrowed from Quatre wisely. It would have to last him until he found a job.

The bus stopped and the driver looked at Duo expectantly. "End of the line mate." He said.

Duo sighed at climbed off the bus. He looked around blankly. There was a small roadside Café across the road. He would go in there, have breakfast and then wait for another bus to take him some where else, where he did not know.

The sun was already scorching the ground mercilessly as he crossed the road. A little lizard scuttled past his feet. "Lucky you." Duo said to it. "I bet you don't have anything to worry about except where you are going to catch your next fly." He smiled to himself. "Or do lizards have romances, affairs and relationships?"

The lizard just stared back at him unblinkingly. Duo sighed and pushed open the door that led to the café. It was small and quite dark compared to the bright world outside. Only four or five tables stood in the café, with a bar at the end.

He followed the signs to a toilet and cleaned himself up. He brushed his hair, changed into fresh clothes and splashed water over his face. He had grown accustomed to being waited on hand and foot by Quatre's servants; in a way it was nice to have his freedom again. But he definitely missed some of the comfort Quatre had given him, both emotionally and in everyday life.

Duo returned to the bar and found that someone else was sitting there. A boy with black hair tied back sat sipping a cup of coffee thoughtfully. Duo took up the seat next to him and stared at the menu.

"Is the coffee nice?" He asked the boy.

"I wouldn't recommend it." The boy replied, but said no more. Duo sighed and turned back to the menu. "Don't try the hot chocolate either, there was a cockroach in the machine last time."

Duo shuddered but smiled at the boy. "Thanks for the input. My name is Duo."

"I'm Wufei." The boy replied.

An old woman waddled up to the bar and stared menacingly at Duo. "I'll just have sausage and egg please." Duo said unerringly. "With toast and an orange juice." He handed over the money and the woman nodded and waddled back into the depths of the kitchens. A moment later a cat strode out of the kitchen, a dead rat in its mouth. "I think I'm gonna be sick!" Duo said, turning a funny shade of green.

"The food isn't that bad." Wufei said encouragingly. "She's not a bad cook."

"Good." Duo replied. "So, how do you know all about this place? Have you been here before?"

"I've been here for the last three weeks." Wufei replied.

"WHY?" Duo gasped. "This place is a dump. Why on Earth would you wanna stay here?"

"I don't." Wufei said casually. "I'm waiting for my bus to arrive."

"I don't understand." Duo said, scratching his head.

"What bus do you want to catch?" Wufei asked patiently.

"Um." Duo looked at the piece of paper in his pocket showing the bus routes. "Number Seven."

"Oh, same as me." Wufei said. "Then you'll need to book a room here, the next number seven isn't due until Friday."

"Friday?!" Duo exclaimed. "But that's three days away!"

"You're lucky you only got here today." Wufei turned the page of his newspaper calmly. "I've been waiting three weeks."

Duo gaped, but was distracted by the old woman waddling up and putting a plate of food in front of him. At least the food looked and tasted nice. True it wasn't anything compared to the gourmet meals served at Quatre's, but Duo was starving and would have welcomed any type of food.

After he had finished eating Duo booked a small room for three nights, then came back down to the bar. Wufei had disappeared.

Duo stepped out of the café and into the dusty street. He looked around for Wufei, and spotted his sitting under a spiky tree, in the only available shade. Duo went over and sat next to him, trying to strike up a conversation.

"So, where are you from?" He asked.

"Shush, I'm meditating." Was the only reply he got. Sighing Duo picked up Wufei's paper and settled down to read quietly.