Chapter Seven: The Tying up of Loose ends

The five warriors had taken the night to heal. Now, with their battle won, and Duo safely in their midst, they could begin the long trek toward the castle. Heero had not spoken since the battle. As morning sun rose in full, he approached Qahlen, who had been awake since dawn talking with Duo. Heero stopped where she sat and pulled her to her feet and into an embrace the likes of which even lovers rarely know. He kissed her lightly, and she knew he remembered everything.

"Why did you fight me? I worked so hard to come back to you."

"Why did you leave me?" Tears spilled from her eyes.

"I had to protect Duo. Reincarnation was my only chance of doing that." She wept openly into his shoulder as Duo stared on in confusion. "I'm sorry. Shh. It's alright now. Shh." He kissed her again more passionately this time and Duo stood angrily.

"Hey, man! That's my mother, you know."

"Shut up, Son." And to everyone's surprise, Duo did just that. He stared at Heero in complete shock, and reached out with the little power his mother's heritage had given him. He was stunned, the father he'd been searching for all these years, had, in a way, been with him all this time. He smiled broadly at the family he'd wished for, and laughed. His mother looked 18, and his father, well his father was at least six months younger than himself. He picked up his father's sword, now clean and resting to the side in its sheath, unlikely to ever do battle again. It truly was an incredible sword. He looked at the faint symbol etched into the dragon's chest.

"Uhm, what's this?"

"I'd almost forgotten you put it there." Roan/Heero looked to his wife. "You never did explain what you were carving on my weapons." Qahlen smiled remembering that day years ago. She traced the figure with her fingers and explained its parts as she touched each of them.

"The crown of loyalty, the hands of friendship, and a heart for love. The Kladdagh signifies love and family and devotion. It was part of my family crest, what I wanted for us."

Duo pondered these things along with his newfound memories as they walked back to the castle. They caught up with Trowa near the entrance. He had obviously been taking his time, not wanting to face the blond Arab's wrath alone. Wufei filled him in on the events of the past few days and Duo filled in the bits Wufei hadn't been conscious for. The four pilots opened the large oak double doors and all entered the great hall in high spirits. As they reached the end of the hall they stopped dead in their tracks. A small boy was sitting in a corner, knees pulled to his chest trying to make himself as small as possible. Trowa went to his friend's side and tried to lift him into a standing position. He wouldn't budge.

"Quatre. Quatre." He shook his friend's shoulders trying to get him to snap out of it. "What happened, Q-chan, what's wrong?" Quatre finally looked up at him with a crazed look in his eyes, his face was pale and his hair and clothes disheveled. When he spoke it was with a high- pitched wavering voice filled with insanity and nothing of the boy's usual cheery resolve.

"I know why the raven is the like the writing desk." Only Qahlen and her sisters knew what had happened. Together they looked up into the depths of the house and shouted.

"Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnkuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!"

~Owari~

Thanks for reading, I hope this time the format came out right. The first time I uploaded this, it squished things together causing a true mess. I hope this is less confusing and a little easier to read. N'joyeth.