Annie: Wow, so there was a little mix-up in getting this posted before i went on spring break to Florida and it didn't get posted. SOOO SORRY! (I blame Yahoo)

Warning, disclaimer and such can all be found in previous chapters.

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CHAPTER 5

Trowa watched, as Quatre approached him, trying to tell him something, but instead he kept switching back and forth from telling him how much he wanted to have sex with him and how sexy his sister was. Trowa backed a step away, completely confused. Finally Quatre turned too and said something to his male friend.

"This is not working," Quatre announced. "Okay, we're going to try something, Trowa. . . . just don't worry."

Quatre's long-haired, male friend nodded. "We are going to have to take more drastic steps." With pointed glances at each other, they simultaneously began taking off their pants. With the previously stated comments in mind, Trowa felt himself grow nervous.

"What you the two of you doing?" Trowa asked, nervousness making his voice a few octaves higher.

Duo nodded and at the same time they dropped their pants and mooned Trowa, the Prince of Windhurst, Quatre's lover, one of the most respected persons in all the land.

Trowa felt his head spin at the sight of two very sexy asses staring at him, blood trickled from his nose and he took a step backwards. Quatre looked over at him and saw Trowa's composure slip. Clucking in annoyance, he pointed a finger on their left butt cheek. "Look, Trowa! This is the sign of royalty in the elven tribe! Only royal family members have it. Do you get it now?"

Trowa nodded, "This is your brother?"

Quatre emitted a strangled moan of frustration. "I don't have a brother!"

Duo groaned. This was not working out well. "The royal family only has two children."

Trowa frowned. "I knew that, Quatre and his sister. . . . How can this be then?" He wasn't sure what was going on, but it had him thoroughly flummoxed. "The only way, if what you said was true, the only way that that could be would be if Quatre's sister magically became a man." Well, he meant to say that, instead he said, "The way, if what you said was true, the only way I can get the two of you in my bed would be too jump the two of you and tie you down, wet and naked."

Trowa's eyes widened, his hand flying up to his mouth. What had he just said?! A slow dawning comprehension came over him. A comprehension that brought more questions than answers. "So you're trying to tell me Duo is a sexy elf whore who wouldn't-" He stopped abruptly as the male Duo's hand slid sharply across his cheek.

"Watch it."

Quatre's eyes widened with understanding. "Trowa, you know who Duo is right? Trowa nodded mutely, but not with entire certainty, one hand over his stinging cheek. "Then tell me who Duo is."

"Duo is going to be chained up in my bed and have honey dribbled all over his warm, ready body." Trowa caught Duo's hand before it descended across his face. . . . again.

Quatre came forward and took Duo by the shoulders. "Duo, come on, you've said worse. . . ." Quatre scolded reproachfully. Duo's eyes reflected his anger, but Quatre was right so he turned away, his arms folded over his chest, falling into a deep sulk.

"W-what is going on? how did you. . . ?" Trowa said, completely flabbergasted.

Duo turned at looked at him exasperated, "Damned if I know! I went to bed with breasts and woke up LIKE THIS!" He waved his hand in the general area of his body. "Now they all think I am dead and that I-" He pointed at his male anatomy to imply the male part, "-killed myself!"

Trowa shook his head, disbelief once more trickling into the more sensible parts of his brain. "How could they not notice how much you look like the Princess?" Trowa eyed Duo carefully, "Not very perceptive for guards."

Quatre clucked. "They tend to lose their heads, when it comes to us." He grinned, "Especially Duo, as she was always so pretty and delicate appearing."

Duo clenched his fists, "I'll show you delicate . . ." He brought a tightly clenched to Quatre's face, which immediately registered surprise. Duo dropped his fist along with his head. "Sorry Quat, I'm kind of on edge right now." Quatre nodded, but took a cautious and obvious step away from Duo anyway, a somewhat mischievous glint in his eyes. He knew Duo would never hurt him.

"So can ya help us, Trowa?" Quatre entreated his lover. "We really need a place to hide her . . . err him." Quatre's aquamarine eyes bore into his lover's visible emerald one. There wasn't anything in this world that would keep Trowa from fulfilling Quatre's wish.

"Yes, he can stay here. . . though this lodge isn't really equipped for someone living here right now," Trowa looked around wearily. "I suppose we'll have to go to the castle and get Duo some supplies."

"W-we?" Duo questioned, his eyes narrowing at Trowa.

Trowa nodded, "Yes, we." He looked at Duo directly, "You are staying here, and I don't need anything else to happen to arouse suspicion." He looked at Quatre a somewhat mischievous glint in his eyes. "They are beginning to ask questions about why I keep disappearing. Anyway, I'm not carrying supplies out to hunting lodge without a reason. You--" He pointed at Duo "-- are the reason, so you will come as proof."

Duo's violet eyes narrowed, then relaxed. "Fine, whatever . . ." He raised his hands in defeat. "But don't you tell anyone who I am . . . in fact. . ." Duo pulled his hair down and let it lay over and around his shoulders, hiding his ears. Also, with his hair down, it hid some of his slenderness and lithe build. Hopefully no one would look too closely and see him as an elf. "There, perhaps this will help keep away any suspicion."

Trowa smiled a little, looking to the floor in obvious amusement. "Somehow Duo, I think that a man running around with hip-length hair is more likely to draw attention."

Duo frowned, "Then how do you propose I go? I'm not cutting my hair." He added as Trowa's eyes shifted in that direction. "So other than that, what do you suggest we do?"

Quatre grinned.

~*~*~

Duo walked through the hallways of Windhurst Castle towards the kitchen. A long dress swished around his ankles. Ankles that now looked like tree trunks in his eyes. Alas, his poor, female, slender, hairless, female legs were gone. In fact, they were still very slender, but to someone who was previously a woman 24 hours ago, they felt like tree trunks.

He reflected that he should feel silly wearing a dress when he was so clearly male; but since he was technically female, it didn't feel as bad. The only thing he regretted was not having enough chest to fill out the very nice dress. Never in his life had he thought he would regret the loss of them, funny how much now that he had lost them.

The human castle was noisy and confusing. He kept a firm grip on his brother as they walked through the pathway leading to the main castle. People bustled back and forth, rushing around to their daily duties. One thing Duo didn't see a lot of was courtiers; perhaps they were already in court.

"Quatre, why are we taking the main hall just to get to the kitchen. We've got mostly everything else . . ." Duo muttered into his blond brothers ear.

"You don't want to look suspicious by skulking around in the back? We need to appear as unassuming as possible." Quatre said under his breath, smiling at people in phrases. He was the perfect gentleman, and his "disguise" was a long elegant cloak. Oddly enough it was his own, Trowa just happened to have it lying around. Duo decided it would be best not to ask questions. . . for now.

"Duo? I just want to know, is there anything you don't like? These cooks can make anything. Though I'm not sure how long it will – Oh Heero!" Trowa's somewhat nervous talk died off as a hand pushed him against the wall, and the pulled him completely out of sight. Duo and Quatre watched, baffled expressions sloppily covering their faces.

"How do you know that girl, Trowa? What is she doing with you?" Heero's voice came out coldly, in a seemingly emotionless voice. However, the slowly tightening grip on the front of Trowa's shirt said something completely different. Though he was just a fraction shorter than Trowa, right now he seemed to tower over him.

"Who? Her? She's just Quatre's secret lover, tonight we are going to try a threesome-" Trowa stopped. Maybe he shouldn't try to talk about that. "She's just someone who is staying at one of my hunting lodges . . . to work on her falconry." Heero looked a bit taken aback.

"Wha- What are you talking about Trowa?! Where is this coming from? First you start spouting off about being her lover, then you are trying to tell me that she is practicing falconry at one of your lodges?!" Heero's eyes were incredulous. "I'm not stupid, I can tell you are lying. . . what's really going on here?"

Trowa shrugged at him, and pulled himself from Heero's grip. "You wouldn't believe me if I could tell you." Turning away, he offered his arm to Duo, puzzling over Heero's reaction, and moved them along towards the kitchen.

~*~*~

Duo was alone. Quatre had decided to go back to the tribe and try to sort things out as best he could. Trowa had gone back to the castle and that left Duo at a strange place, in a strange male body, wearing a female dress. Resignedly, Duo lifted the dress over and off. Looking around, he found the pair of breeches he'd slid on this morning and put them back on. Opening the front door, Duo stared out at the forest of trees, stretching as far as his eye could see, and as he was an elf, that was quite far. The trees calmed him. They were so peaceful, full of life and death, but always accepting whatever the world threw at them.

Unfortunately, Duo could not do that. He watched in amusement as a colorful bird performed an erotic love flight for its potential mate. What a way to choose your mate. Another bird flew down from a nearby tree, landing on Duo's shoulder. It seemed a tad bit uneasy. ~Duo?~

"Yes, it's me." Duo said with a sigh. It seems his little curse had more side effects than he could imagine.

~So the rumors are true then.~ The bird preened, his feathers glinting in the setting sun.

"What rumors?" Duo asked, his voice rising in suspicion.

The birds looked down its beak at Duo, obviously noting his advantage. ~A small flock of birds apparently heard a witch put a curse on you last moon . . . all the birds know about it now.~

"What curse?" Duo looked at the bird, his eyes narrowed. "What did they hear?"

~Hmmm, I wouldn't be the one to ask . . . but I did hear that a man had a spell put on you to make you fall in love with him. The witch seemed to have done something though, said som- ~ The bird's head turned sharply as something rustled through the bushes nearby.

Dark messy brown hair peaked through the foliage. The bird took flight, disappearing into the trees. Duo growled in frustration. Just when he was close to finding something actually useful out, some numskull had to interrupt.

A face emerged. Duo stood enraged, momentarily forgetting his lack of cleavage and brought his hand protectively to his chest. Only to find nothing there. Still, this pervert had to learn to keep its head out of bushes and start using paths like normal people.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING HERE!?" Duo's impassioned voice rang out. "This is private property! Go away!"

The brown haired man looked taken aback. "As a matter of fact I'm here on a matter of inquiry." When Duo didn't say anything, just glowered contemptuously. "Where is your sister? Where is the elf maiden whom you so resemble."

Duo's blood boiled. What made this cocky human think he had the right to ask about her/him. Duo would be damned if he told this pervert anything useful. So he decided to try. "The elf maiden is my mistress, we were discovered in her village so we needed a place to hide so we could 'play'."

The man's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?" Just the thought of his pure and tidy elf maiden being used like that enraged him.

"She's quite a spicy pepper when played just right." Duo smirked. He could use anything to his advantage, even some dreadful speech impediment.

Duo's foe turned on his heel, his face freezing into an icy stare. "I will find out what is going on here . . . And you will all pay."

As he walked away, the braided, shirtless man watched in mute satisfaction. His bird friend reappeared on his shoulder again and whistled.

~Not a good idea, princess,~ it twittered blithely. ~That man you just sent away is the one who put the spell on you.~

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Like we said, big mix-up in posting plans. We are very very very sorry. Please, if you are still reading, review and reassure the slow to update authors. (well, mostly just Annie)

Reviews = more story *hat placed on ground in front of badly performing authors on street with little sign reading "reviews"*

~Annie & Tsu