The sun was just setting, scorching the sky in a myriad of colours, but Quatre and Duo spared no time to glance at the spectacular view. They had tied up their horse outside of town to keep it safe and were making their way to the forum to see the gypsy's show and Quatre was hoping to see that mysterious young man again. He was determined to catch his name.

Duo had guessed about his friend's sexual preference but decided that he wouldn't let Quatre know he knew. Instead he'd chosen to wait for Quatre to trust him enough and tell him. He also knew about Quatre's growing attraction to the boy they'd helped earlier. He smirked: he was going to have fun watching what will happen when Quatre sees him again tonight.

      By the time they had reached the forum, the sun had sunk below the horizon and night had fallen. Quatre looked up to see the moon reveal itself fully and bathe everything in its ethereal glow. They made their way over to the area where the chairs and performing equipment were being set up. It turned out that the show was going to be done by the light of the moon. They were a bit early so they went and sat by the fountain while the rest of the equipment was set up.

They sat in silence for a while but it wasn't uncomfortable, on the contrary it was a silence shared between friends. Surprisingly, Quatre was the first to break it.

"Duo, where did you learn such powerful magic? I mean, in the tavern your wards were practically perfect; they never wavered even after all those blasts from that man. And when you were putting the binding spell on him, they still didn't waver."

"Living on the streets Quatre, I had to learn how to defend myself. Most of the people that were after me knew how to use magic. So I had to learn, and fast. Once I'd learned, I made myself get stronger, made each spell that much more powerful, so I would never let down another person that needed my help. Just like Solo." Duo explained, his voice taking on a melancholy undertone. Quatre's face twisted into an expression of pure sadness to Duo's self-hating attitude of what happened to Solo.

"God Duo!" Quatre stretched his arms out and pulled Duo into them. Duo buried his head in Quatre's chest, basking in the warmth of Quatre's concern for him. "I always thought that my life was hard, being a prince and having all those responsibilities. Never being able to live up to his expectations." That last part was uttered with so much pain that Duo had to look up at Quatre in worry, and saw tears shimmering in his eyes. Duo wrapped his arms around Quatre and gave his waist an affectionate squeeze. "But meeting you has shown me how lucky I am. I have a home and parents that love me, even though my father and I don't always see eye to eye. I've never lost someone like you have and yet, I ran away from home like a spoilt little brat that didn't get his own way. I have no right saying that my life is hard. I have no right…" The tears were flowing freely down Quatre face and he felt the answering moisture on his top from Duo. Duo mumbled something into Quatre's top.

"What was that Duo?" Quatre inquired softly through his tears. Duo turned his face away from Quatre's chest, so his cheek was resting there instead.

"I said that boys aren't supposed to cry. That's what Solo told me." He repeated.

"Boys are allowed to cry, Duo. If you don't cry, all that pain that has caused the tears will build up inside until you can't take it anymore. So cry whenever you need to Duo, I won't think any less of you." Quatre told him.

"Are you two okay?" a strangely familiar voice spoke. Both boys' heads whipped up to look at the owner of that softly spoken voice. It was the young man from earlier today. Quatre's heart rate picked up at the sight of the boy. His face bathed in the moonlight made his face glow with some inner light, and his visible emerald green eye sparkled like the ocean under the sunlight. Quatre lost the ability to talk. Duo, sensing his friend peril decided to speak up instead.

"Yeah, we're fine. We're just remembering." And Duo left it at that. The young man nodded like he understood. And he must of because he didn't ask any more questions.

"Come on. The show is starting now." He said instead. Duo smiled.

"Thanks for telling us; we might have missed it. We'll be there in a minute." The boy nodded again and turned to walk away. Quatre must have found his voice then because before he left he called out.

"Wait! We still don't know your name. My name's Quatre and this is my friend Duo." The boy turned around to face them and smiled slightly, a small upturn of the lips, but it made Quatre's heart flutter in his chest.

Boy you've got it bad Quatre!

"My name is Trowa. Trowa Barton." And with that said he turned again a walked toward the performing area. Duo sat up, smiled at Quatre and used some water from the fountain to wash the tears from his face. Quatre did the same and they both got up headed towards the show.

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Heero and WuFei swept through the city looking for clues to determine the whereabouts of the missing prince. It was dark now so the people had retired to their homes. Only those who had no home and those brave enough to venture out in to the night littered the streets.

They were just going to look in the inns to see if the prince was still in the city, but as they strode through the city, in such a sure and confident stride that no one dared to try and steal from them, that Heero saw something in his peripheral vision. Something that he would recognise anywhere. Something like the flash of moonlight glinting off metal. Like off the metal of a sword. Heero turned swiftly down the alleyway that he had witnessed the flash in, with WuFei following, and came across a boy hidden in boxes and crates, a sword laying on the ground next to him. Heero snatched up the sword, despite the boy's protests, and examined it. There, glowing in the moonlight was the seal of the palace.

"Where did you get this sword?" Heero demanded. The boy glared.

"Gimmie back my sword!" he shouted. Heero growled

"I will not repeat myself." He ground out as he returned the boy's glare with his own deathly glare.

"Bite me!" he snarled, then smirked in his show of defiance. But that didn't last long for quicker than lightning WuFei shot forward, his arm snaking out and hauled the boy up - with one arm - until his feet were hovering above the ground. He then slammed the boy into the wall so hard that his head ricocheted off the wall and his vision dimmed, before returning with stars dancing behind his eyelids. He groaned in pain before answering.

"Alright! I'll tell you! I stole it from some kid a few nights a go in that inn across the road." WuFei dropped him unceremoniously to the ground, and then wiped his hand on his trousers with a look of disgust on his face from having to touch that 'filth'. Now it was Heero's turn to smirk as he walked out of the alley with the sword in his grip, WuFei striding beside him.

"WuFei, can you use this?" Heero asked, displaying the sword in front of his eyes. WuFei nodded.

"I can do it now and save time." Heero showed his agreement and handed the sword to WuFei before stepping back out of the way. Last time he was too close he got caught in the after-waves of a spell, and found himself turned into a horse. WuFei had a lot of fun with that and refused to change Heero back, until Heero began to chase WuFei all day long. Needless to say, he was not very happy.

WuFei laid the sword on the ground and then closed his eyes as he moved his hands to hover over the sword. He closed his eyes and started chanting in a language that Heero couldn't even begin to try to understand. The words flowed from his mouth like silk and his whole body began to glow a deep red, tendrils of his aura twisting and weaving out from his body then dissipating in the night air. Suddenly blood red tendrils of his power shot out like snakes and sunk into the steal of the blade causing the metal to heat up at an alarming rate changing into a smouldering orange before going white-hot. WuFei was still chanting under his breath when abruptly his head shot up and his eyes flew open. His eyes were completely black, the pools of obsidian becoming dark abysses. Then all of a sudden, the spell was over. The sword stopped smouldering; the tendrils ceased to flow; WuFei's aura died down before fading completely and his eyes went back to normal.

"Where is he?" Heero demanded. WuFei, quite used to Heero's stern tone, didn't take any offence and instead answered.     

"He's in Gaea, and he's not alone. It seems our missing prince has found a friend."

"Why did that scrying spell take so long?" Heero asked

"Because I didn't just scry for him; I created a link that will tell me where he is, even if he is on the move." WuFei answered absently, stooping to pick up the sword that was white-hot only seconds a go, but was now as cool as it had been before the spell.

   They carried on walking through the town looking for some horses to 'borrow' in order to make their way to Gaea and find the prince.  They came across two steeds of a dark brown colour; so dark it looked almost black, its glossy coat shining in the light of the moon. Heero took a dagger from out of his boot and cut the ropes that were entrapping those beautiful creatures. They then mounted the horses, spurred them on and were on their way to catch themselves a prince.

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Duo and Quatre were enjoying the show immensely. There weren't that many gypsies so all the performers had more than one act, showing how multi-talented they were. Trowa had been in two acts already: he had played with lions and he had done heart-stopping acrobatics that had Quatre gripping the arms of his chair, until his knuckles went white from fear of Trowa injuring himself. During each of his performances Trowa had sought out Quatre and Duo in the audience, then giving a small smile before doing his act. Quatre felt his heart flutter in his chest each time and Duo was laughing silently at his friend's reaction. Now the show was coming to an end and they were at the last act of the night. The ringmaster came out and announced the performers of the final act.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Please put your hands together for Catherine Bloom our knife throwing star of the troop, and her brave vict- I mean target, Trowa Barton!" The crowd went wild; Catherine and Trowa received a standing ovation.

Hmm, I guess Trowa and the troop have been here long if these people know this act so well. And love it too!

Trowa was tied to a wall and Catherine was standing quite a way away. When the crowd had died down then the show began. With a flick of the wrist, three knives appeared in Catherine's hand. She then threw the knives one after another, not even taking the time to aim, and sometimes she threw more than one. Duo had no idea from where the knives were appearing! Then it came to the final throw. Catherine turned away from Trowa, then suddenly she whipped round, and as she turned she threw three knives – with her eyes shut! Quatre's heart stopped, he swore it did when Catherine released the knives. It looked like they were going to pierce Trowa's skull but they only sliced off a piece of his hair when they hit the wall. Quatre and Duo released the breath they didn't know they were holding. There was silence. Then the crowd roared out their applause. The audience were on their feet while Catherine untied Trowa then they both took a bow.

"Thank you for coming and I hope you enjoyed the show!" If it was possible the cheering got even louder as all the performers came out and took a bow. Then it was over.

Duo and Quatre waited until everyone else had left, so they wouldn't get crushed in the flow of people exiting the area. When the last of the audience were trickling away from the show, Duo and Quatre rose to make their own exit. But they were halted when they heard someone call their name. They turned to see who it was, and came face to face with Trowa.

"So did you enjoy the show?" he inquired softly, tilting his head to the side from curiosity.

Quatre thought that made him look gorgeous. Quatre was so busy thinking how gorgeous Trowa was that he failed to answer, so Duo had to step in and answer. Again.

"Wow. The show was amazing!" Duo exclaimed. Trowa's eyes sparkled form the complement. Then he turned to Quatre.

"And how about you, little one?" Quatre blushed at the name before finding his voice and answering

"I loved it! But weren't you scared with those knives coming at you?"

"No. Not really. Cathy and I have been doing that performance for ages now, so I trust her. But knowing how good her aim is, I try to never get on her bad side!" Duo and Quatre both laughed at this.

"Hey Quatre. We better be going now. We need to get our horse before settling down for the night." Duo told him. Quatre looked upset at the thought of leaving Trowa but Duo was right.

"So where are you spending the night?" Trowa asked

"We're camping out under the stars. I mean we have money but instead of wasting it on a room, we're going to save it in order to eat." Quatre explained

"You don't have to camp out. You could stay with the gypsies and me." he told them "We have plenty of room so you won't be imposing" he added when he saw Quatre open his mouth to object.

Duo turned to Quatre

"Come on Cat! He's offering us a free room! Who are we to turn him down?" He then turned to Trowa. "As long as it's okay with you, we'll stay with you."

"I wouldn't have offered if it wasn't okay. Come on. The rooms are this way." And he led them away from the seats, around the back of the fountain until they came to his quarters.

"Okay. The guest rooms are over there. Since you don't have that many belongings you can use the chest to put your things in."

"Thanks. Cat and I will share a room. It'll be easier to clean!" Duo said. He could have sworn that he saw something flicker in Trowa's eyes. It looked like, disappointment…? Defeat maybe? He decided to ask Trowa about it tomorrow, after he got a good night's sleep.

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I seem to have lost all of my reviewers. Noooooooooooooo! Come back! I need you! Hey if you come back I'll give you all Duo plushies^_^

I tried to make this chapter longer to make up for my lack of updating. I hope you are happy with.

It was my birthday on the 2nd of April! I'm finally 13. Whee! Go me!

Until next time minna!