**Author's Note: Hey it's me again. I know I haven't updated any of my Ronin stories in a good month lol. I just realized that a day ago. I've been a little busy. Ok, so here's the deal...this is Chapter 12, and I think I'm finally starting to get somewhere with this story. I don't have a beta-reader or anything, so coming up with a way to introduce the villains in this thing on my own has been a beast. I changed chapter 11 to better go along with what I'm trying to do . I know some of you don't like the change...but I just couldn't work with it as it was. I swear I'll try not to snatch down any future chapters and replace them lol. I hope you guys like this. Thank you for all of the support and feedback you've been offering it's really inspiring. It was actually a few personal e-mails that got me back on the ball with this story. Personal thanks to Mabar and Bunches! If anyone has any serious questions, please feel free to e-mail me lol. Gremlioni@aol.com. Well I hope you guys enjoy this!**



Chapter 12

"How do you think you did?" Cye exited the room still biting the end of his pencil, looking slightly frazzled, "I think I totally messed up the chemistry part of the exam. I forgot two of the new elements."

Sage looked at Cye with a slow smile, and placed a hand on his shoulder, "There weren't many question that covered elements Cye, it was mostly math. I'm sure you did fine."

"I do so want to be at the 11th grade level in all of my subjects. I felt so prepared until I sat down in there and got my test booklet. I think I did fairly well on the English and Reading, and Foreign Language portions...if only Math and Science weren't so important. After the calculus level I wanted to give up on that math part."

"I wanted to stop after Pre-calculus," Sage admitted. Both rolled their eyes to Rowen who was looking at them both with a superior smirk.

"We don't even want to hear how well you think you did!" Cye snapped gloomily, he took Sage's arm and pulled him ahead of Rowen who was chuckling.

"You should have let Duo tutor you too, when you sit him down and get him off the sugar, he's really smart."

"Too smart, he speaks the same strange language you do when you get excited about numbers and theories, and chemical compounds," Cye complained. "Quatre and Trowa were good enough for us. Heero.... He's not very good with words, is he? Wufei was nice when it came to colonial history."

"He did seem to focus more on his colony though," Sage mused. "Interesting place, I wish it was still around. I would have liked to visit."

"It's sad how war has affected them all. Wufei's clan sacrificing themselves for him, the death of Quatre's father, Trowa, Duo, and Heero all being war orphans."

"Lets not forget the mass destruction in large killing machines," Rowen chimed in, jogging to keep up with Sage and Cye as they walked quickly through the hallways of the school.

It was a nice sunny Saturday, and they'd spent all morning and a good part of their afternoon taking entrance exams. Ryo and Kento had declined, claiming they'd flunk the test and get placed even lower than remedial.

Two weeks had gone by in the blink of an eye. It was surprisingly easy to settle down in the large Winner Mansion. The warriors were used to being away from their families, and had never really made any other friends besides themselves to miss, so there were no withdrawal effects. If anything, they were a little happier, because now they had more people their age that could understand them, and that they could share their secrets with. They had all been pleasantly astounded at the amount of monies in each of their personal accounts that they could draw from by credit card. They were each issued ID's and passports by way of the Preventers. Ryo had even gotten a driver's license. He and Kento had been too lazy to study for entrance exams, but they didn't waste time learning the new rules of driving. Though Kento would have to take his test again in three weeks.

They'd been to the main malls, shopping strips, museums, amusement parks, and theaters. Their rooms were put together to vaguely resemble their old rooms in Mia's manor. They even decided to keep the same rooming arrangements, pairing Cye with Kento, Sage with Rowen, and Ryo with himself.

Training sessions happened in the early evening just before dinner, and everyone seemed to have fun with them. No one was out of shape or struggling with the maneuvers so Ryo was instantly put into a better mood, and he'd become bearable and almost as normal as his friends remembered him to be. They still hadn't made anymore progress with the armors. They still only seemed to react to Heero, and Duo wouldn't get near enough to Strata for them to see if it still reacted to him.

They stepped out onto the sidewalk with Cye and Rowen shielding their eyes from the sun, as Sage gazed up at the bright blue sky not bothered by it. Though the sun shone radiantly, the day was cool and breezy. It would be a good day for a jog or bike ride. Rowen laid gentle hands on Sage's shoulders, smiling as he felt the blond lean back on him slightly. His eyes never left the cerulean tinted sky.

"What do you see up there Daydreamer?"

"Us."

"And what are we doing?"

"Looking ahead," Sage said softly. His grey eyes moved from the clouds, and his head turned slightly, "I think we're going to like it here."

Rowen beamed, "Me too."

Their ride pulled up then in a silver Suburban. Quatre had more cars than a 20th century rap artist. They walked in a line, Cye starting them off, to it and climbed inside. Cye took the front passenger seat.

Ryo was in the driver's seat. "Ryo? What happened to Quatre and Trowa?" Cye was puzzled. Sage and Rowen piled into the backseat.

"Um....they got called away. Listen, something happened today guys..."

"What? Is everyone ok?" Rowen asked fastening his seatbelt. Ryo nodded, and caught Rowen's eyes in the rearview mirror.

"Everyone we know is. There was a bombing today in Los Angeles, California. Someone rigged 7 buildings on one city street to explode at 9:07 this morning. The Agency is going nuts, and they've shipped just about everyone with field experience out to the site."

"Even Duo? I thought he was on the injured list?"

"He was put back on active duty at 9:15 this morning."

"So they are all down there at the blast zone?" Cye's eyes were wide with fright, "What if those 7 buildings weren't all? They could be in danger! You should have come and gotten us out, we should have gone with them! Entrance exams are no where near as important as friends!"

"And what could we do, Cye?" Sage asked calmly. Cye tossed a sharp look at the cool-headed blond.

"We've got the armor."

"It's not for this sort of thing..."

"Sage, you honestly don't think that maybe what we're up against has started this... Maybe it's a warning for things to come! Quatre has been swimming in paperwork concerning all sorts of minor domestic disturbances, and robberies, and gang activity... The reports are getting more serious, and now this!"

"That's why we're training Cye," Ryo said smoothly. "You were the main one arguing about how we shouldn't jump to conclusions, and should relax and be kids. Nothing supernatural has happened yet or you or Sage would have sensed it, so we don't make any moves."

"But part of our team is in danger!"

"They're professionals Cye, they know what they are doing. You should have seen all of those tools and weapons they had. It was....kinda cool. I mean, nothing's as good as a good ole' katana... but you should have seen all of the little blades Duo had, and they go in so many different places. Then Trowa packs so much heat it's not even funny!"

"Goodness, what are they expecting to find? They aren't actually going after anybody are they?" Cye was biting his nails. "Oh I wish our links were long distance and we could connect with all of them!"

"They're just surveying the scene. They are a few suspects in custody, and Quatre is helping with the interrogations, and Duo is with the forensics teams. Wufei, Heero, and Trowa are actually the ones looking for action...but you never know what you might run into, so it doesn't hurt to carry a weapon."

"But you said..."

"Cye, they were involved in wars where they did some things people on Earth think are bad and resent. They might not just be arming themselves against terrorists," Rowen said in a low voice.

"I don't like this. I don't like this at all!"

"You never like anything where you aren't front and center to blow our noses if you think you hear a sniffle out of one of us," Rowen snorted.

Cye let out a breath, blowing his auburn bangs out of his eyes, "That is not true. I would never touch any of your snotty noses!"

"I'm hurt. You hear his tone? He said it like he thinks we got STD's or something," Rowen chuckled.

"Well I wouldn't know where an STD would come from in this family," Sage said leveling a gaze at Rowen. "Unless there is something you haven't told me about yourself."

"Oh yeah, I've been sleeping with Kento. That guy is disease city!"

"Kento's a virgin," Cye blurted, then blushed at Sage and Rowen's amused expressions.

"So he is..." Rowen purred wickedly.

"According to The Adventures of Little Ken, he's not," Sage smirked.

"Are we ever going to have fun with this!" Rowen rubbed his palms together. Then he gripped the back of Ryo's seat and gazed at the black-haired boy, "So Sanada, how long do we get the house to ourselves? And do you have free reign on all of the cars?"

"I have free reign on all of Quatre's cars... Duo, Heero, and Wufei let me know that if I touched their cars, or their bikes, no one would ever find my body."

Even Cye had to chuckle at that, "Heero talks to his car while he waxes."

"Duo wraps new parts for his bike like gifts, and presents them to it like its an animate object," Ryo added.

"Wufei named his Sheila...and I believe they have a theme song," Sage said.

"Yeah, we're better off rolling around in Quatre's cars."

"How come Trowa doesn't have a car of his own?"

"Well Quatre has so many... I see no point in purchasing one if he'd let me drive one of his."

Rowen, Sage, and Ryo all stared at Cye queerly. "I swear in a past life you were a woman!"

"Not this again!" Cye objected.

"When I finally get to study for my driver's test, I will be looking at the new Porsche catalogue," Rowen said. "I figure I start putting some of my money away now in savings and CD retainers, some in stock....and I'll be a millionaire in 10 years. I need a ride that will suit my lifestyle."

Sage rolled his eyes, "I already have my eyes on a car."

"Another hunk of junk you want to restore?" Ryo asked.

"Yeah," Sage smiled, "and maybe this time, I'll get to finish it."

"Maybe this time you'll let me help," Rowen said bumping Sage's shoulder gently.

"I'll let you watch," Sage raised an eyebrow, "but you are not touching my car. Especially after you tried to fix the toaster that one time and..."

"You're never going to let me live that down! It was an honest mistake!"

"Flames shot 2 feet into the air."

"Blow up one toaster and you're banned from all mechanical projects for life...geez!"

"A toaster and a small portable television set, I believe..." Cye chimed.

"That little black and white one?" Ryo questioned.

"Oh, it was only black and white after Rowen messed with it," Sage said.

Rowen groaned and sat back with a petulant pout on his face, removing his arm from around Sage's shoulder and folding both his arms across his chest.

"I think we're hurting his feelings," Cye observed from the front seat. "What else can we talk about? Where is Kento, Ryo?"

"At home playing video games. He's using this time to get better than Duo, so he can beat him when he gets back."

"So we're going to have to listen to Space Demons for gods-knows-how-long? Uh-uh, we're calling them back now. Los Angeles you said?"

Ryo laughed, "Yeah, Los Angeles." He turned up the radio, rolled down the window, and concentrated on driving for a while. It was wonderful to have a license again. He'd driven around for a few hours before coming to pick up Sage, Rowen, and Cye. He felt refreshed and free behind the wheel. He hadn't driven too often in Japan, back in his time, but when he did he was usually alone, and it was cathartic. He knew why Sage liked race car driving... it was like flying. The next time he would take the convertible so he could let the top down, and he was throwing out all of Quatre and Trowa's CDs. He couldn't believe they listened to serenity music....no wait, he took that back, he could. He wondered what Heero and Wufei listened to. They didn't look like the type to listen to violins, but he couldn't see them rocking out either. He would have to talk to Duo about music, but right now the radio was just fine. He had to rediscover what he liked and what he didn't. It was time for...Ryo. He was tired of being leader, and watching Sage and Rowen, and getting dirty looks.

He found he enjoyed spending time with Kento, Duo, and surprisingly Wufei, after he stopped glaring at him like he was Devil's spawn. Wufei was a wonderful swordsman, and after everyone would go in from their workout sessions together, he and Wufei would spar. He was even teaching Wufei how to handle two blades at once.

Slowly Rowen was beginning to treat him like a human being again, and Sage didn't act so nervous when he got close to him. He was even almost excited to be starting school. He wanted to see what it was like, to fully become part of this new world by finally merging with the rest of its society. Maybe he'd find himself a girlfriend...or boyfriend, maybe he'd play a sport... maybe he wouldn't die in an upcoming apocalyptic battle.

How did that thought get in there? Maybe it was the bombing incident, but for two weeks Ryo hadn't thought about defending anyone from anything any more evil than PBS. He hadn't touched his orb since the night he'd called on Wildfire for the first time in his new life. He felt better than he had in... He recalled his first life, with Mia... he felt as good as he had the summer they'd defeated Tulpa and thought the fight was over. Then Shikaisen happened...

He glanced back at Sage in the rearview mirror, relieved at the lighter look in his eyes. After that horrible event, Ryo thought he'd never be the same again. They all thought they were going to lose their Sage...until, until he came out with Rowen. That was when it all started really. That was when Ryo... He shook his head clear. No, he wouldn't think about that...or It.

He'd had Its silence for two weeks, and he wasn't interested in inviting It back anytime soon. "So....how was the test guys?"

"It was ok, you could have taken it Ryo," Sage said.

"Piece of cake!" Rowen commented forgetting to pout.

"I think I flunked the chemistry section," Cye fretted, and Ryo smiled. They would order pizza that night, watch movies, and have a nice normal time...while they waited for their friends to call from ground zero to let them know they were still alright.

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"High school students, all of them!" Quatre was massaging his forehead. All of the suspects had been under 18, and had been surprised to see someone their age playing the role of interrogator. Valued sources had identified the suspects as being teenagers, and after questioning all 10 of the suspects, Quatre knew 3 of them were lying about knowing nothing of the bombings.

He moaned as Trowa rubbed his shoulders, and he leaned back in his chair to let Trowa's lips brush his forehead, "Put it away Angel Eyes, you can resume your work again tomorrow."

"Oh Trowa, I'm so close. Evans, Peterson, and Williams are lying, I know it, and I need to find the holes in all of there stories to..."

"The holes will still be there in the morning, they aren't going anywhere."

Quatre sighed as Trowa's persuasive fingers worked their way over his neck and loosened his collar. "I suppose you're right."

"I am," Trowa breathed, "now come to bed."

"Alright.... has anyone called home? Cye will be worried," Quatre stood and began to unbutton his brown work shirt.

"I did earlier, they've rented movies."

"The tests..."

"They went fine," Trowa helped him remove the rest of his shirt, and laid it on the dresser. Then they both went to work on the pants. After much giggling and teasing, the two finally crawled into the large bed in their undergarments, and shut off the lights.

"It feels weird being in a foreign bed, huh? Remember when it wasn't? Remember when we couldn't get used to one place because we were always on the move?"

"Yes," Trowa nibbled Quatre's ear.

"I hope things are never like that again, Trowa. I never want to have to hide and run again."

"Neither do I, Angel, but don't worry. We'll never have to again."

"You don't know that," Quatre leaned into Trowa's strong body, as his long arms wrapped around him. "But...but I would like to believe that you do...for tonight anyway."

"Hmm...for tonight."

"Who do you think those kids are working for?"

"We'll find out tomorrow Little One, just try to sleep for now."

"Alright." Quatre was just closing his eyes when there was soft knock at the door. "Who could that be?"

Trowa released him, and crawled back out of bed, and Quatre cursed whoever was at the door. Now he was cold, and missing his body pillow! Trowa flipped on a small lamp beside the bed and padded to the door. He looked out of the peephole and rolled his eyes, before opening the door. Duo pushed in almost immediately, still fully dressed in uniform with his Preventer's leather jacket zipped to the neck. He moved quickly to the bed climbing in and burying himself under the blankets. Quatre sat up and stared as Duo curled himself into a neat little ball, and said nothing to either one of them. Trowa shut the door quietly and stared. Quatre placed a gentle hand on Duo's trembling back, "Allah...Duo, what's the matter? Where's Heero?"

"He's still out... they found something."

"What?" Quatre was hyper alert now, "What did they find?"

"We... out there. We got some lab samples back, and we had a soil match. Quatre, it was an environmental terrorist group, a freakin' cult. One of the kinds that think humanity is a plague on mother earth or some stupid crap like that. They had a warehouse full of little kids, and teenagers, and their parents.... all dead. Mass suicide... they all ingested some poison, like in the 20th century. We found all of the parts and chemicals to make the bombs right there in their homemade workshops. It was so disgusting. I just spend 2 hours finding bodies for paramedics to bag, checking for vitals, and frisking all of those little corpses... It just...It's stupid, I should be over this but...gods, it still makes me sick. When I looked at those little faces all I could see were the faces of the kids back on L2...the gray skin, and blank unseeing eyes. It was like the plague all over again seeing all that death, and from the way it smelled, they'd been that way for a few days. Those kids they're holding now...they were probably going to commit suicide if you hadn't of caught them."

Quatre closed his eyes trying not to think of dead children, and focused on rubbing Duo's back to ease the shuddering, "What is this world coming to? Just when we think the worse is over..."

"The worse is yet to come," Duo muttered. He rolled onto his back, uncurling himself, and looked up at Quatre, at Trowa who had come to the side of the bed and sat beside him. "You guys mind if I stay here tonight? I...don't wanna sleep in a bed by myself."

Quatre shot a look at Trowa, who sighed, but nodded. "No, of course not."

"I won't sleep in the middle this time, you guys can snuggle and whatever. I might not even sleep. I just...don't wanna be alone."

"Then maybe Heero..."

"He won't be back tonight."

"Oh." Quatre pushed at Duo to make him sit up, and struggled to remove his jacket. "At least get comfortable Duo."

"I am comfortable, I'm freezing," Duo said shrugging his jacket back onto his shoulders. Quatre took hold of one of his hands, "Allah, you are!"

"California gets freakin' cold at night," Duo complained. Trowa got under the covers, and he and Quatre sandwiched Duo in the middle of the bed.

"Hey, I told you guys I didn't have to be in the middle."

"Maybe we like you in the middle," Trowa said with a smirk.

"And maybe I can blow smoke rings out my ass," Duo snorted, he lie back down and tucked his arms behind his head. "What time do you guys get up in the morning?"

"Seven," Trowa said.

"I'll be out by six," Duo said softly. "I've got autopsy work to do."

"Maybe you shouldn't...it obviously disturbs you..."

"I'm ok with it, as long as I don't have to do the kids," Duo said quickly. He shut his eyes briefly, "You know Heero and Wuffie..."

"Yeah?"

"They think the leader got away."

"What?"

"That's why they're still out there with the others. They think this guy's got more little warehouses, with more little kids and their parents, and there are going to be more explosions."

"Oh gods...who knows how big this operation is. How do we know there aren't dozens of little places like that warehouse all over the globe with madmen all in cahoots with one another blowing up major cities at random?" Quatre breathed, he was beginning to shake and moved closer to Duo.

"From the stuff we found today, the probability that you're correct is more than 60%. It was too well organized, and if the guy calling the shots got away unscathed..."

"Allah..."

"So my guess is that we're not going home anytime soon," Trowa said.

"I don't know. Who knows what Une wants? She might call us all back to start preparing for war if these guys start making public demands. She might have us start organizing shelters for people to run to be prepared for more possible bombings. She might...make us take our midterms, and deploy us later."

Quatre actually giggled, "Anything but midterms, I'm so behind in my studies. I've been too busy helping Sage and Cye."

"They never asked me for help."

"You talk too fast."

"Hmph."

"So....what do we tell *them,* about this? Should we worry them at all?" Quatre asked.

"They have a right to know what is going on in their world. They'll see it all on the news, might as well make sure the sources they get their information from are accurate."

"They'd make great weapons with that armor of theirs," Duo commented. "They'll have to hide it. People will take advantage of it."

"But if they're supposed to fight with it... I mean they are supposed to be preventing chaos...."

"Against evil ghosties Quatre, don't you listen to their stories? They've never fought anything that was actual flesh before, not empowered by a demon."

"Well these men certainly sound as if they are possessed to me!"

"Yeah, but not by ghosts," Duo said solemnly. "This is a job for the Preventers."

"I'll have to question those boys again in the morning."

"I get to cut open cadavers."

"I wonder what I'll get to do," Trowa mused.

"They'll probably put you in with Heero and Wufei."

"I want to go home," Quatre sighed.

"Quat, it's a dirty job but somebody's gotta do it," Duo supplied. "At least you won't be probing around in someone else's guts for the better part of your day."

"That is a plus."

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They found a small abandoned shack littered with more small parts and chemical residue for explosives. "He was here not too long ago," Wufei said brusquely to Heero as he scanned the area.

"Yes," Heero agreed. "We'd better call this in, and get out of here before we disturb the crime scene anymore than we have."

Wufei nodded, and the two went out to the small sedan they were using. Wufei used the car phone to report their current location and their findings. After hanging up he went to stand by Heero who was leaning on the passenger side door of the car staring at the old shack hatefully. "We're to remain here, and wait for the team Yuy."

Heero grunted, his blues eyes narrowing slightly.

"We'll catch this man, Yuy. He hasn't been very neat about not leaving tracks, definitely amateur."

Heero blinked and looked over at Wufei, "That's not what I'm worried about."

It took Wufei a second before he understood, in a softer tone, "He's back at the hotel Yuy, getting some rest."

"He's going to have nightmares if he falls asleep."

"Quatre and Trowa will take care of him. He's probably with them now."

Heero cringed, "Of course he is... even if I was there right now, he'd still be with them."

Wufei shrugged, "He feels comfortable with them."

"Well I wish he was as comfortable with me. I don't like that he sleeps in their bed Wufei."

"I wouldn't either if I was you, Yuy, but it's Duo's choice. And besides, tonight he needs someone. You saw his face when we stepped inside that warehouse."

"I thought he was going to faint," Heero whispered. "I had to hold his elbow to steady him for a few minutes. I don't want him to have to see anything like that again."

"It's his job, Yuy. Tomorrow he'll have to deal with it all over again, just like we do...and if this bombing project happens again..."

"Une is a fool for putting him back on active duty so quickly. He's not ready."

"Maxwell always jumps into things head first."

"He's too stubborn to admit when he needs to quit."

"That's what you're for Yuy. You are his protector now. Perhaps you can talk some sense into him. They are sending samples back home to be further tested, he could head up the study there."

Heero stared at Wufei, "He could, but...he's been waiting for his chance to get back onto the field for weeks. He's not going to want to go home."

"Hmm," Wufei murmured, then shrugged. He studied Heero's profile, the Japanese teen seemed to be miles away...in a hotel in Orange County.

"He's too stubborn to ever request to go home on his own... he just, can't see what's good for him at times. If I put in a call to Une, she could put in an order for him to return, and he'd be none the wiser that it was me."

"Oh, he'll know it's you, Yuy." I'm counting on that.

Heero's shoulders slumped in defeat, "He can't stay here. He'll be a complete wreck by the time this thing is over. He can't deal with dead children, anything else and he's fine. He can eat lasagna while looking at samples of brain tissue under a microscope."

Wufei shuddered at the thought. "Just do what you think is right Yuy, perhaps you could request to go back with him. I'm sure there are some things you could be doing on base."

"No, then he'd definitely know I reported him, and then stationed myself near home to babysit. It's still not a bad idea for one of us to go with him though."

"Winner's busy with interrogations. You know they like to have an empath around for that stuff."

"Trowa's not leaving Quatre... How about you, Wufei?"

"I'm your partner Heero."

"Not usually, and Trowa works with me as well as you do. They have no defined position for Trowa in this case yet. He can take yours."

"You're sending me home to babysit?"

"I'm sending you home to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid while I'm gone, because he's pissed at me."

Wufei blinked, this just kept getting better.

"I'll make the request tomorrow morning."

And tomorrow afternoon, I'll be on a plane back to Washington, DC, with a fuming Duo who will need to calmed and consoled as a result of his overprotective boyfriend betraying his weakness.

Thank you.

*All you ever need to do, is ask.*.

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"They're going to be home any minute, which means I'm not going to have time to make more, so STOP EATING ALL THE FOOD!" Cye smacked Kento hard with an oven mitt.

"Ow!" Kento's eyes widened in surprise, only Cye could give a blow with an oven mitt and have it hurt! He looked sadly at the freshly made fettuccine noodles sitting in a large bowl on the dinner table beside a piping hot silver pan of rich creamy Alfredo sauce. Next to them were bowls of grilled shrimp, chicken, broccoli, and salad. He'd only sampled a few shrimp, a little chicken, a taste of sauce, and a handful of noodles, no one would miss that!

"Make yourself useful and set the table, you oaf!" Cye snapped, gesturing to the cabinets. He was keeping constant vigil with the oven to make sure his raspberry souffle didn't get too brown.

Kento grumbled to himself and grabbed 7 large plates from the cabinet over the sink. He set them on the table still stacked, and then got 7 pasta forks, 7 spoons, and seven glasses. There was a pitcher of freshly brewed iced tea in the fridge, but he left that alone. Cye always assumed he was getting snacks when he opened the refrigerator and bit his head off.

It was going to be cool having Duo and Wufei back, maybe then Cye would stop pacing at odd hours of the night, and making them watch the news on the hour every hour. Quatre had called at least twice a day to check in, but it still wasn't enough for Cye. He didn't look even remotely happy until Wufei phoned and told him, he and Duo would be catching the next flight home.

They all wondered, of course, why he and Duo were the only ones returning, but didn't want to ask. When Wufei left out certain details, it was for a reason. The fact that Duo wasn't the one that called said a lot too.

Ryo came into the kitchen, "I heard a car in the driveway, I think it's them."

"Yes! Now I can eat!" Kento whooped, pumping his fist victoriously.

Cye rolled his eyes, "You'll eat when everyone is seated. Wufei and Duo will have to bring their things upstairs, unpack, wash up, and get situated."

"No!" Kento wailed, that could take 15 minutes... He was ready to eat now! "The food will get cold!"

"I can reheat it."

"Damn!"

They all heard the garage door rising, and the dull roar of an engine. "I'm gonna help them get their stuff out of the car!" Kento blurted. The faster they got their things out of the car, the sooner they would eat. Ryo followed him slowly. He opened the door to the garage and rushed in, hollering greetings, "Hey guys! Wufei, Duo, need help with your stuff?"

Wufei nearly jumped at the volume of his voice and his sudden appearance, "Hi Kento....I only have one bag, and I have it."

Kento grinned and looked at Duo. He'd never turn down free service...then frowned. Duo had already gotten his duffle from the car, and stalked toward the door with his head down. His moves were stiff and calculated as if he were trying to hold something in. He walked passed Kento and Ryo without saying a word.

"Geez, what's with him?" Kento asked, looking after Duo.

"Maxwell is... not very pleased with having his assignment transferred."

"Uh-oh, Heero didn't have anything to do with it, did he?" Ryo asked cautiously. Duo was a fun house mate, but when made angry one tended to stay out of his way. The only person it seemed that could infuriate though, was Heero.

Wufei shrugged, "I can't say." Meaning: Yes, it was Heero.

"Oh man!" Kento wailed. "Duo was really looking forward to being out there again with you guys. Heero is going to have to do some serious begging this time."

Ryo snickered, that would be fun to watch. Heero always seemed so bewildered after a fight, and he did everything from buying chocolates to new tools to offer up to Duo in apology. "Bet he'll get him that new power drill with the 17 different heads we saw at Tool Time."

"With a matching wrench."

Wufei chuckled, "It may take more than a few tools this time, but he'll manage, he somehow always does." Not this time though, he won't get a chance.

Ryo shut the passenger side door, and he and Kento escorted Wufei inside. "Wufei!" Cye exclaimed happily, "Go and wash up, then we'll have dinner." He frowned toward the stairs. "Um... tell Duo he can come down when he's ready. I'll make sure Kento doesn't eat everything."

"Hey!"

Wufei nodded, "I'll be right back down. Thank you for making dinner Cye."

Wufei left the kitchen, passing Rowen and Sage coming down the stairs.

"Duo's pissed, you should hear him unpacking his clothes," Rowen commented after greeting Wufei and entering the kitchen. "What happened, anyone say?"

"Well Wufei didn't say, that Heero is the reason Duo is here earlier than the rest of them," Ryo said, taking hot bread sticks off a silver platter Cye had just pulled out of the oven with a pair on tongs and dropping them in a red napkin-lined bread basket.

"Ouch," Rowen breathed. "Bet Heero can't wait to get home." he added sarcastically. "Honestly, sometimes he treats that boy like a doll. I can see why he gets so mad."

Sage stole a bread stick, tossing it from hand to hand and blowing on it gently.

"Hey!" Kento pointed at Sage angrily, "How come he gets to eat without you yelling at him Cye?"

Cye looked to Kento mildly, "Because he has self control. That is the only bread stick he's going to take."

Kento glared, and sat himself at the table in a huff, "It's cause he's blond...you got a thing for blonds now, Cye. I've noticed."

"I do not!" Cye blushed furiously, and Rowen and Ryo laughed heartily.

Wufei returned, he'd changed his clothes and was now in his regular white cotton pants and blue tank top. "I hope you weren't laughing about me?"

"No," Cye said hotly, "they were poking fun at me, because I wouldn't let Kento devour dinner before anyone else could have any. Everyone grab a plate and serve yourselves, iced-tea is in the fridge. Wufei, is Duo coming down now or later?"

"Later probably," Wufei said looking unconsciously toward the ceiling.

"I'll put some food away for him then," Cye made Duo's plate before his own, and placed it in the refrigerator.

Once everyone was seated with a plate full of food, "Ok, so tell us all about this mission of yours, and don't leave anything out."

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

Duo slammed the last drawer closed and threw himself down on his bed to beat his pillows once again. Damn Heero, damn him! He'd promised he'd stop treating him like a baby, and he'd lied! He'd basically told Une he couldn't cut it on the field! Duo had handled himself fine! He had gotten a little weak in the knees when he'd first entered that warehouse...but he'd seen two men vomit! His reaction was no worse than theirs! After that he'd been completely professional. He'd help locate more bodies to tag, helped with the frisking of the bodies... He'd done nothing to warrant an early release.

Your assignment has been transferred, you are needed on base in the lab, my ass! And what was worse, Heero had made sure he'd gotten a babysitter! Wufei hadn't looked too happy about having to leave himself, so he wasn't in on it. Trowa and Quatre had looked too surprised about his leaving, so they hadn't been in on it either. Damn you, Heero Yuy. You lied to me.

Now everyone on the force was going to go back to treating him like glass, because they'll think that he froze on that last mission. He'd have to start at square one all over again. Une wouldn't trust him with another assignment for a month! Heero would really like that. He growled and threw his pillow across the room. His limbs shook with pent in fury, he needed to DO something, anything to release this tension. He wanted to hit someone....but Heero wasn't there.

What could he do? He began to pace the room kicking any loose objects that happened to be in his path. He heard something smash open, but he didn't check to see what it was. He would get angry all over again. He couldn't stay in doors, the walls would close in on him, and he'd break everything.

The only thing that made him feel better was the thought of going for a ride...that and ringing Heero's neck, but his bike was there, and Heero was not. So, it was settled.

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

Sage was in the garage tinkering with one of Quatre's older jaguars. Ryo had taken it out the other day, and had complained about the engine making a funny noise. Sage's heart leapt at images of himself getting to work under the hood of a sports car again. He borrowed one of Rowen's t-shirts and a pair of jeans, and had gone out right after dinner. The best time to work on cars was after dusk. He'd backed the car out on the driveway and worked under the stars. This was the only activity where he didn't prefer the light of the sun to work beneath.

It was the first day in a very long time, that he wasn't tired. Cye had stopped watching him out of the corner of his eyes, and Rowen had stopped hoovering. Things were actually fairly normal between he and Ryo, and Kento never stopped being an annoyance. He wiped the oil from his hangs with a small ratty towel, and went to take a sip of the glass of iced-tea he'd brought out with him. He sat down on the driveway gazing up at Rowen's beloved stars...wondering if his parents, grandparents, and sisters were up there somewhere. They were good people, so it was only proper for them to join the heavens.

It was still hard to think of them really being gone. Sometimes he still woke thinking sometime in the day his mother was going to call him and quiz him on how he was feeling that day. Or Satsuki was going to tell him about her latest crush, it seemed she had a new one for every day of the week. He really hadn't spent as much time with his family as he should have, but he couldn't go back and change that now. There was no use in crying about it. He wiped his eyes. He'd had 200 years to get over it.

He still couldn't believe he had held out, and had managed not to go crazy in all that time. The only detrimental thing he'd come away with was claustrophobia. Never again would he be able to sit calmly inside an enclosed space for any given period of time, and... He found he liked noise, real noise, not the hollow sounds of the voices in his mind. He reached over to turn up the small portable radio beside him. He'd put it on an oldies station and was surprised to hear a few songs that he knew, that had been popular in America in his time. He'd had cousins that would send him the latest in music from New York. He shuddered thinking about the state. How could a place he used to love so well, be something he so awful to him now? He couldn't remember completely... He just knew something had changed him there. Had that been the first time he'd heard...?

Maybe...maybe so.

But then there had been Rowen. He was perfect, so strong, and just what Sage had needed. Rowen had offered Sage the comfort of being in a loving relationship where nothing needed to be explained. The only thing Sage had to tell him was...I love you. Ryo would never let him get away with that. Ryo was the type that liked to talk. Sage didn't like talk, he liked to kiss. Rowen shared the same passion, so Sage had chosen Rowen. It was simple as that, but Ryo hadn't understood.

He'd thought just because...

Well that wasn't important now, but at least things had cooled off. It was nice to see Rowen and Ryo talking again, and Ryo no longer followed him with his eyes. He was about to lie on his back and to get a fuller view of the night sky, when he heard someone enter the garage behind him. He turned his head to see Duo going to his motorcycle beside Heero's and lifting his helmet. He wore nothing but ripped jeans and a black t-shirt, his golden cross caught the dim garage light and shone against the darkness of his shirt. His long braid swung behind him as he searched the overhead compartments over his bike for his keys.

Sage stood and walked into the garage slowly. Duo had always intrigued him. Loud and vivacious, petite and beautiful, the little nymph was spell-binding. He stopped his approach as Duo turned to spot him. He leaned on the seat of his bike, his heart shaped face set in a scowl of impatience, unruly strands of his long hair curled about his face and his dark purple eyes glared through his bangs, "What?"

Sage was taken aback. He wasn't used to people taking such tones with him. Duo felt so... frustrated. The way he moved, the way he spoke, the glint in his eyes...someone had upset him, and Sage bet his name was Heero. Heero and Duo, Zeus and Hades, Trowa had referred to them as once....such opposites. How did they ever end up together? "Are you going for a ride?" Sage asked, placing a hand on his hip. Duo's eyes narrowed a bit, as he used a fingerless gloved hand, to smooth his bangs from his eyes, "Why are you so curious, you wanna come?"

His heart soared at the idea. He loved speed. He used to drive race cars with his cousins for his uncle in New York. They'd often gone to Indianapolis to see the races. He'd only gotten to pilot a motorcycle a few times before, but he'd loved every minute of it. To be that free now, with the wind blowing his long blond hair, to ride into the night? "Yeah...but..."

A delicate eyebrow raised.

"Only if I get to ride one myself."

The anger seemed to drain from Duo's posture, and his eyes, his face softened in amusement. He tossed him the helmet off of Heero's bike, "You can take that one." He rummaged through the compartments overhead again, and tossed him a pair of keys, and a set of gloves.

Sage laughed, and was quick to pull the helmet over his head and pull on the fingerless gloves. Rowen wasn't this fun, he always thought about things too much.

"Follow my lead! Hope you can keep up!" Duo started the engine to his bike as Sage started Heero's and took off onto the driveway. There was no, "how good of a rider are you?" or "Don't go too fast," or "Yell at me to slow down," or "We'll take a path you know." It was just, follow me, if you can't keep up too bad.

Wonderful! He revved the engine and floored it, flying out onto the driveway after Duo. Duo looked shocked to turn his head and see Sage beside him, "Hey, you're good. Glad to see 200 years ain't slowed your reflexes!"

Duo was easy. Rowen was too cautious. Ryo too protective.

"You comfortable with this speed, Hellcat?"

Sage made a face at the name, "Yeah."

"Good, means you won't mind when I kick it up a notch. Keep up will you!" Duo's engine roared again, and Sage nearly lost him in the night. He sped up himself, feeling the wind resisting against him, trying to hold him back. Never, nothing would ever hold him back again! He was free.

Free at last.

He was soon side by side with Duo again, laughing wildly at Duo's large eyes. The nymph cackled with him, "Wanna race, Hellcat?"

"You'd never beat me, Shinigami."

Duo looked surprised at the name... perhaps he'd heard someone else call him that before. Sage wasn't sure, he didn't care. He felt alive, and wild, he was enraptured with speed and grace. He was flying really, and for once, his partner wasn't holding him back.

"Lets go then," Duo grinned, and Sage caught up in the passion of the moment grinned back, and like two bullets fired simultaneously they shot off into the darkness ahead.

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

"What a splendid double play!" three players out of the six around the board cheered.

"Our Lord is pleased with the way our game is going. Keeping them distracted while he works is a wonderful idea," the woman removed her veil revealing ruby eyes the same as her namesake.

"Soon, Ruby, he will have us by his side with our prized pawns, ready to join his movement," the dark haired woman said laughing at the blond man beside her tugging at his long hair in annoyance.

"Why didn't I see that move?"

"Because you're not as good as I am, Mael," the dark haired woman purred. She gazed at the score sheet, "Looks like our team is winning, you'd better keep the game in our corner, Shalimar. You are next."

The red-haired man nodded, and studied the board.

"Is the Master ready to start the war?" Ruby questioned. "I see that he is already disturbing the surface world, making fire."

"What move shall I make?" Shalimar sounded nervous.

"As soon as the only opposition he truly fears is destroyed," Mael answered Ruby glaring at the board. He hated losing.

"I've stacked everything in your favor already, what to do next shouldn't be too hard to figure out!" the dark haired woman snapped.

"But.."

"Move the Dragon again Shalimar, it's time to raise the stakes."

"Alright then."

Slowly the black dragon pawn rolled across the board until it touched the red lion. "Lets see if I can make as good of a double play as you have, Camille."

*Listen to the Dragon...he can grant your wish.*

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

Wufei watched Ryo as he stood silhouetted in the moonlight moving gracefully with his twin blades. Slowly he moved to join the dance with his single long sword. Touching blades with Ryo, he smiled. The other dark-haired swordsman smiled back, his deep blue eyes alight with passion, "What are you doing up so late, Wufei?"

"Looking for you," Wufei took a fighting stance, as did Ryo.

"Well you've found me. What would you like?"

"To make a proposition," Ryo countered Wufei's first attack, and initiated one of his own which was parried beautifully.

"Oh?"

"I think you'll like it."

"Let me be the judge of that, Wufei," there was something odd in Wufei's black eyes that night. Their blades clashed again, and Wufei was disarmed, but not discouraged. Ryo offered a hand down to him, and pulled him up.

"I know of something you've wanted for a long time, and I'm going to help you get it."

What could he possibly be talking about? Ryo wanted nothing...

*Golden hair...eyes like silver...*

Not anymore!

*Long fingers running through midnight hair... voice like velvet purring,* "Ryo...I could love you too."

That was a long time ago!

*Listen to the Dragon... he can grant your wish.*

I've moved on... He froze as he actually felt the softness of his touch along his spine. Sage, we can't do this here.

*He won't wait forever.*

His back arched, and the hand was removed. The ache from the loss was nearly unbearable. But he'd moved on, he wanted other things! He was happy, but without that touch he was incomplete.

*Listen to the Dragon...he can grant your wish.*

"Alright."





**Author's Note: Ok, so that's 12. What did you guys think? Should I scrap this one too? Next chapter more armor... we need to get the G-boys outfitted before the big fall-out, well some of them anyway. Certain ones don't deserve it, you'll find out who, though I'm sure you've already got your minds wrapped around one. Well, please review, and let me know what you think. The more reviews the faster I get out the next chapter ;) And if you have any questions e-mail me! Gremlioni@aol.com. **