AN: Thanks to all those who reviewed. This is now chapter four.

PAIRINGS: 13x2, 13x6x5, 1x2, 3x4, one sided 1+R...

Warnings: Mild Relena-bashing, yaoi , violence... I do not own Gundam Wing or Eragon and other creatures I might "borror" from other fantasy novels.

Previously:

Duo stopped his dancing when he heard the soft, almost whispered words in his head. He tried to place it in the back of his mind, but he knew it would stay there forever. Who had spoken to him?

Chapter 4

Grateful that he was going, Duo outdid himself and made a lunch without trouble. It consisted toasted ham sandwiches, fruit salad, and a meat pie along with some wine Treize had asked him to open. While the four discussed of their upcoming adventure, Duo had decided to go upstairs and take a hot bath. It was most likely on journeys like this, hot baths would be hard to come by. Duo sank into the fuchsia smelling warm pool and gave a deep sigh as it enveloped his body. No wonder Treize enjoyed baths so much. Duo's hair was out of his braid and was in a messy bun on top of his head. A few tendrils of hair escaped the confinements and fell into his face but he payed them no heed. He hummed a tune while he washed with a bar of white soap. His mind, like everyone else's was on the upcoming traveling.

Hear Hear. Duo thought. From searching for pollywogs to going with a band of future heroes to save the world. From day one Duo was a sucker for adventure and often dreamed something this exciting would happen to him. Yet, thinking of pollywogs made him think of Hilde. What was she doing right now? Was she thinking of him? Did she miss him or was she glad he was out of her hair? Duo sighed with remorse. He missed Hilde. She and her uncle had taken him as a mere boy when he was wandering around the town shivering cold, and half starved. When Duo tried to dig deeper in his past, to remember what was before Hilde, all he could see was a swirling blackness of lost memory. Where had he come from? Did he have a family who missed him or had they abandoned him? This was not the first time these questions plagued Duo, and he was sure it wouldn't be the last.

He yelped when the door opened to reveal Treize who looked at him in shock for a second before smiling.

"What?" Duo asked.

"I was just thinking this is the most beautiful sight I've seen in a while." he said smirking when Duo blushed and sank more into his bath.

"Is the conversation finished?" Duo asked. "Should I get out and help you pack or anything?"

Treize shook his head. "I can do it myself. Besides with all this steam in the room it seems as if you just got in. The others are packed. I'm having them retire in the guest rooms. We're leaving very early, so it's best to get well and rested now."

Duo nodded and inhaled the nice smell. The shelf in the bathroom was stocked with bath oils showing the noble side of Treize. What man had all these scented bath ointments? "Care to join me?" Duo asked saucily. "I'll give you a massage."

Treize sighed and began to take off his shirt. It had been the most stressful day in a few years and a beautiful man giving him a massage sounded tempting. Duo looked unabashed as Treize addressed. He had seen him naked several times and with a body like the ginger haired man's, there was most definitely nothing to hide. Treize slipped onto the other side of the bath and sighed much like Duo had. "It's very hot." he said and Duo laughed.

"I like it this way. Almost scalding." Treize looked at him weird and his eyebrows sank in a frown. "Are you sure you want to go? I mean we can encounter a lot of obstacles..."

"You can't talk me out of this." Duo said and motioned for Treize to turn around which he did. "Just relax. I'm more than capable of taking care of myself. Besides, if you had tried to leave me here, I would only follow you and then chain your leg to mine."

Treize gave Duo a look over his shoulder like, you wouldn't dare but somehow Treize knew it was just in Duo's league to do such a thing. He began to wash.

Duo sidled up behind Treize and and began to knead his shoulders, working out the knots he felt there. Treize moaned as he felt relaxed. He heard Duo hum an unknown tune as he massaged Treize's shoulders, neck and back. Duo took the chance to let his hands wander a bit and let them slid a little down Treize's chest, feeling the smooth skin with hard muscles underneath. For a scholar like lifestyle, he wondered how Treize kept a body like this. Did he lay on his back and lift his desk up and down for exercise? Duo sniggered at that mental image.

"Duo, what are you doing?" Treize asked and Duo rested his chin on his mater's shoulder.

"Just making sure you are squeaky clean. I think you missed a spot on you ear." Duo said softly and nibbled on Treize's earlobe who moaned again and the blood in his brain flowed to more enjoyable areas. When Duo giggled, Treize snapped out of his trance.

"Wait Duo, we can't do this." he said and Duo 'humphed' . Treize turned to face him while pushing him away.

"And why not?" Duo asked. In truth, he had always desired Treize. On his hands and knees, he crept slowly and seductively to the other side of the giant bath where Treize was sitting, staring at the tantalizing skin Duo was revealing. When Duo reached Treize he fell against him, wrapping his arms around Treize's neck, smirking at the certain hardness underwater, he felt that matched his own.

"I...you...you're too innocent."

Duo was stumped. Innocent? Of course he wasn't innocent. He was very...well he wasn't experienced, never been kissed, and had most definitely never bathed with another man. Damn. Duo thought. He was innocent.

Yet, he made no comment to what Treize said. " Oh sir, am I not desirable?" he asked and heard Treize gulp. He loved teasing the older man and had to force himself not to laugh. He was not sure how it happened, but Treize had captured his lips with his. His tongue brushed against Duo's lips which parted, granting entrance. Treize could really kiss, but then Duo wasn't show sure. After all, it was his first. He kissed back with as much intensity as Treize was giving, moaning into his mouth while strong hands carressed his body. Duo broke the kiss for air. He had forgotten to breathe. He raised a hand to his hair, and released the bun, letting his hair fall down. He tossed his head and chestnut locks floated above the water. Treize's eyes darkened in lust, almost to the color of...Heero's?

Duo blinked. Why had he thought that? This was Treize, not the cold prince he had only met today. He placed the thought in the back of his mind and attacked Treize's chest, playfully nipping the hardened nubs while hands ran up Treize's thighs to the prize. Treize gave a sharp intake of breath and Duo stopped.

"Am...am I not doing this right?" Duo asked worridley.

Treize struggled to speak. "No...I mean yes, you are. It's just...how do you know all this?"

Duo giggled. "Fernada. We had an interesting talk when I asked her what she was doing to Johnny behind a haystack."

Treize rolled his eyes. The company Duo kept. Yet, he did not halt Duo when a chestnut head sank underwater and then Treize threw back his head and cried out. Loudly. What HAD Fernada taught Duo?

A loud knock came on the door. "Treize?" It was Zechs. "Are you okay?"

Treize bit his lips as sweat trailed down his brow. "Oh..um yes! I just knocked my head on the side of the...Oh god!"

"The side of the what?Ogre?"

The door opened and Zechs peeked in, eyes narrowed. Treize gave him a small wave and Zechs blushed. "I didn't realize you were taking a bath. Forgive me for intruding."

"No it's quite ugh...all right." Treize said and Zechs eyes narrowed further until they were small slits.

"I was meaning to ask you...do you have any rope? It is best to stay off the main roads in these mountains and we'll need security ties and such."

Bubbles began rising to the surface of the water.

Treize nodded. "I think...um...there's some...yes...in the... BARN!." he shouted.

The bubbles grew larger and began sputtering like a boil.

Zechs nodded. "I will check. Thank you. Still I must ask do you have..."

Duo popped from the water with a splash, gasping from air and Treize sighed with relief. That was good. He glanced at Zechs. It was also embarrassing. Zechs smirked coldly. "I wondered how long he could stay underwater." he said and turned on his heel and left, slamming the door behind him.

Duo, who was still clutching his throat, glared at Treize. "You could have warned me." he said accusingly and Treize held up his hands for defense. "What was I to do? Yank your hair three times?"

Duo shrugged angry demeanor gone. He looked at Treize questioningly.

"Hey Treize sir?"

"Yes Duo."

"What was that stuff that came out?"

Treize sweatdropped and submerged his head into the tub and began making bubbles of his own, while Duo still waited for an answer.

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Zechs avoided Treize like a plague until it was time for them to retire to sleep. Treize and Duo had packed and their packs were sitting by the back door. While Duo went out to feed the horses, Treize was in his office looking at the map when Zechs entered. Neither of them spoke for a minute.

"It was...um that was the first time we ever did anything." Treize said, not sure why he felt he had to explain himself. He and Zechs were over right?

Zechs gave a small humorless laugh. "Yeah well, I believe you. Well now I guess I know how it feels huh?" Treize hesitated.

"It was so much worse for you I'm sure." Treize stated sarcastically and Zechs looked at him sadly, shoulders sagged and mouth in a thin line. "Actually, it was. Goodnight Treize."

Zechs left Treize bitter and confused. He seemed caught in a net held up by three strings. Zechs was holding one and Duo was holding one. He sighed as he thought about it. Who was holding the other string? He rolled the map back up, not before taking one last look at the red dots. He retired to his room.

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Duo snuggled deeper into his blankets, frowning in his unconscious sleep as he heard whispering voices. Who was talking? Why wouldn't they shut up and let him sleep? He heard a door open and felt a firm hand shake him to the world of the living...and unfortunately the awake.

"Treize told me to wake you up." Prince Heero said in a monotonous tone when Duo had swatted his hand away and glared at him from under the covers. Duo groaned. Was it time to leave already? By the time he actually slid out of bed, Heero was gone. The braided teen quickly threw on some clothes and splashed cold water on his face from the basin that was on his dresser. He threw on his riding boots and ran quickly downstairs, where he saw Wufei, filling his canteens at the water pump. Duo mumbled a good morning, mad at how wide awake the asian man seemed and filled his own water supply. He picked up his packs. They were not too heavy. Before he went to bed the previous night, he had baked several loaves of bread, for them to take on their journey. Treize had an abundance of dried meats and preservatives so they were well off.

When Duo exited the house to the stables, he shivered at the fierce cold. He found Treize saddling up Epyon, an abnormally huge brown and white stallion whose hoofs were the size of Duo's face. Epyon was Treize's pride and joy.

Duo looked at the other horse, Mirror whose long mouth was buried in a bucket of oats. "Am I going to ride him?" Duo asked.

"No." Treize said. "Mirror is much too old for a journey like this. I left a note at the inn giving it away to whoever wants him. You will ride on Epyon with me until we can get you a horse in the next town."

Duo stroked Mirror's mane. He would miss the horse indeed. His two packs were attached to Epyon along with Treize's. Duo led the horse out of the stable and two the front where the other three men were waiting to take off. Treize mounted Epyon first, then lent out a hand to Duo who clumsily clambered up and sat on the saddle in front of Treize. Treize's hands were wrapped around his waist to hold onto the reins to steer, and from the corner of his eye, he could see Zechs scowl at this.

With a small nudge to their horses with their feet, they were off, taking a small dirt road that led west. The horses started out at a trot, but then took off in a full fledged run that Duo leaned back against Treize and clutched onto the reins as well. Duo looked behind him at Withernsby that was rather hard to see in the dusky light. The buildings got smaller and smaller and he smiled. Withernsby was nice but boring. He was meant for so much more. He turned back around to face front. There was not much scenery he hadn't seen before just thick hills of green grass and trees. Duo covered his mouth as he yawned and wiped the sleep from his eyes. His hair, which he had not had time to braid that early night/morning was in a loose ponytail and flew in the wind like a flag beside him and Treize. Zechs hair was pulled back as well he saw. Though he and Zechs were on very jagged ends, Duo thought Zechs looked like he was born on a horse. He was a very skilled rider.

"Treize? Where is Hogolden's bay?" he asked.

"Why do you ask?" Treize replied, wondering why Duo would ask about a dark, swampy area. The younger man said nothing for awhile and then shrugged. "Just wonderin' I suppose." he said and grew quiet again. Two hours passed and Duo was bored. They had been riding for a while now and passed several small villages. They were almost out of the mountains when they slowed down their horses and rode into a town Duo recognized. The gypsies had ridden through here. When they stopped, Duo practically fell off the horse and rubbed his sore thighs.

"Get used to it." Treize said. "That was easy riding." Duo's mouth dropped and he sighed. Could he be regretting this already?

It was barely dawn, when Treize walked Duo over to a barn building that said "Horses and Oxen". Duo wrinkled his nose at the smell that was radiating from the barn and Treize banged on the door. There was no answer. Treize knocked again when a voice called,

"Why don't cher wait for a cotton pickin' minute ya damned fool!" There was the sound of clothes rustling and footsteps neared the door. The barn door swung open and a man with wispy gray hair and rotten teeth glared at them, head whipping from one to the other as if trying to find out who was the one banging.

"I ain't open. Yer know time it is?" he said and spit on the ground near Duo's feet, who jumped, disgusted.

"I am perfectly aware of the time. I need a horse."

The man grumbled under his breath but let them in. The floor was covered in hay and the oxen mooed as they walked passed. The man led them to the stables and waved a hand to them. "Pick one out." Treize told Duo and Duo looked at them all. There were several horses in the first stables, but none caught his eye. He stopped in front of a stall that was completely blocked from view with a brown burlap curtain.

"What horse is in here?"

"Shh!" the barn owner hissed ferociously. "You'll wake that beast up!" It was too late and there was a loud snort and the sound hoofs stomping. Duo pulled back the curtain much to the dismay of the owner and was awed by what he saw. The horse was black with a blood red mane and tail, like a opposite mirror image of Heero's horse. It was gorgeous. He became angry at how the horse was chained to the stall and had a branded X mark on his hindquarter. Duo held out his hand slowly.

"I wouldn't do dat." said the man as Treize watched. "That horse right dere is a vicious one. One of ma sons caught him by the river. I was gonna have him turned to glue..."

Duo glared at the man, appalled at how somehow would want to get rid of such a horse. "It's okay big guy. I won't hurt you."

The horse neighed and bucked, the chains rattling and clanking. It nipped at Duo's hand who retracted his arm a bit but then the horse sniffed his fingertips cautiously. It shuffled nervously for a bit, but then calmed down and allowed Duo to pet it's elegant nose.

"I want this one." Duo said.

"How much?" Treize asked the old man who looked Treize up and down as if figuring out a price. "Nuttin I can do with im', but since he's a rare beaut, thirty gold pieces and forty silver."

Treize took out a small pouch and handed it to the man. "Here's forty gold. Take it."

The man made no complaint and shoved the pouch into his dirty jacket and hobbled over to the stable. From the outside of the stable, he was able to unlock the chains, the horse reared when he opened the door, so the man jumped away cursing. "Hurry up and take em. There's saddles and reins in the front. Take em' free. Just leave with that demon."

He scurried off into another room and it shut with a slam.

Duo managed to coax the horse out of the stable and led it slowly to the front of the barn. He picked up a soft leather saddle that was light and a harness and reins. He didn't want a bit for the horse was too free willed. He saddled up his new horse humming and then led him out of the barn, followed by Treize where the others were waiting, albeit impatiently.

"Isn't he gorgeous?" he asked them as he placed his packs on his new horse.

"What will you call him?" Treize asked as he mounted Epyon.

Duo mounted his new horse and waited to see if he would be bucked off. "Shinigami. His name is Shinigami." The stallion tossed his head as if he were coronated. They five men rode off, towards the Bujin sea, where they would take a ship to get to Thythoch, to find another guardian.

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"You dumb birds. Why haven't you found Kushrenada or Marquise yet? They are of use to me!"

"We are sorry master. We will try harder."

"See that you do." The man said and looked into a ball. It was all gray, save for an image of five figures riding furiously on horses. Their surroundings were not shown which was why the man hated such an incompetent use of magic. "Kill the other two. Bring the soldiers and Duo to me."

"Yes master." The two cloaked figures left leaving the man in the dark room alone.

AN: Ooooh who is the man? And how does he know Duo's name? You'll find out soon enough but not yet. Was this chapter okay? It was not as long as the last but just to start off the adventure. Next chap will be trouble our five men encounter at the Bujin Seaside. Stay tuned and review please!-----Kenya