Title: Nana Tsuzuki; Chapter 2

Author: mellonemrys

Genres: Action, Historical, AU

Wufei had been with his father for the past day and a half traveling to Winner-san's house and back home. But his father had forgotten an important document there, so he would be stuck with the old man for at least another half day while they went back then yet another coming home again. He liked his father, but after almost two days with his incessant badgering and lecturing Wufei was beginning to tire of him. Pulling on his reins a little, Wufei fell back from the front of the group, he wished his grandfather had been well enough to make the trip, then at least he could learn something rather than rot listening to politics. He was the younger of his father's two sons; therefore he didn't need to worry about having to take over his father's place as lord. But sometimes Wufei believed that his father forgot he had two sons and would begin talking to him, about matters concerning his brother.

Someone pulled their horse even with his. It was one of the bodyguards, who were all currently wearing the same black cloaks and facemasks, making it difficult to tell one from another. It was also very dark now that the moon was behind them. At first he paid no attention to the rider, it was common for one of them to drop back with him, especially at night. But soon they normally would trade with each other; most of the guards found eavesdropping on his father's ranting more entertaining than himself. Finally he turned to the rider and spotted the telltale brown braid bouncing lightly against the rider's back.

"Duo, why are you here?" Wufei asked, his voice filled with annoyance.

"You know that I always come everywhere with you." The rider replied, pulling down his mask to show his smile and talk more freely.

"Why do you insist on following me?"

"Because you saved me from the streets for one. And two because I L-O-V-E you."

Wufei blushed and looked away. "You idiot, don't talk like that. Someone might hear."

"You're only worried because you feel the same way."

"I – I do not!"

Duo only laughed. He enjoyed toying with his employer's son; he always got such funny responses from him. He noticed the lead party was slowing down slightly, straining his eyes he tried to see why. Wufei reined his horse forward and Duo followed, replacing his facemask. Once everyone had stopped they could hear horses coming toward them at an extreme pace. Three forms finally came into view as they slowed their mounts to a walk. The second rider looked as if he was in pain from what Duo could see. Upon seeing Chang-sama, the third rider came forward and began to talk in a hurried whisper. The lord quickly turned his horse and rode to the back of the column, calling his personal doctor to the front. Duo followed Wufei to the head of the group and watched as two of the riders helped the injured rider to the ground.

Wufei finally realized why the rider talking to his father looked familiar; he was Quatre's personal bodyguard. He reined his horse to the front of the group and dismounted, then continued to help the two other boys with his friend. His father soon returned with the doctor, who shooed them all away and asked for light so he could examine the wound.

Pulling Quatre's bodyguard aside Wufei asked, "What happened to him?"

"Winner-sama's house was attacked by Nobumura. Quatre-sama went back looking for his sister and was injured fighting one of Nobumura's men." Heero hated formality but it was necessary when he spoke to others about Quatre, especially the son of another lord, or the lord himself.

"The boy should be fine. I just need to stitch the wound together. But he shouldn't be riding at such a fast pace, not until it heals at least." The doctor told everyone that may be around to listen. Not receiving any response he bent back over the young boy and took out his needles. One of the other young riders came over and kneeled by the boy, holding his hand as the doctor inserted the needle and pulled the tread tight. The boy shuttered and closed his eyes against the tears that were battling to spill out. Working quickly the doctor finished and tied the final knot. Relief passed over his face and the young rider's holding the boy's hand.

"Father." Wufei had walked over to where his father was talking with one of his advisers. "Nobumura will surely realize Quatre-san escaped and come looking for him in this direction."

"Yes…" He sounded as if he had no idea what he should do.

"Well, we can't just leave him here, and they can't ride fast enough to escape with Quatre-san's injury."

"Yes, you are right…"

"My lord, if I may speak freely."

"Yes you may. But remove your mask, I can barely hear you son."

Duo did so gladly. Wufei looked away in surprise but made no effort to speak. "Perhaps we could find the three of them some of the guard's extra clothing, since no one would recognize them. They could ride with us, since we are going at a fairly slow pace. If Nobumura finds us on the way back we can just say that we had some delays in leaving Winner-sama's. I believe we have a few extra horses as well, since it would be better to leave the three they have."

"Very good plan young man, very good. I'll leave it to you to arrange that all. Wufei you help him. Oh, and inform the rest of the company so we all have our stories right. What is your name?"

"Maxwell my lord."

"Ah yes, Wufei's find. Very good, well get started you two."

Together Wufei and Duo found three extra outfits and two extra horses to use. They perfected the idea by adding in that the reason they had been delayed was that one of the horses had suddenly been startled and threw its rider. It had ridden off which left them one horse short. When they told Heero this he welcomed the idea of riding double with Quatre, since he probably couldn't ride much longer on his own anyway.

By the time everyone was ready to leave it was nearly light, and they could see smoke from the direction of Quatre's home. As the group started back toward Chang-sama's house Heero felt safe in the presence of so many armed men. He relaxed a little, hugging Quatre a little closer to him. After getting used to the motion of the horse Quatre had fallen asleep. Heero enjoyed being this close to his master, he no longer felt like he had to hide his feelings. Now that Quatre's father was gone he felt freer, and less worried about every thing he said or did, and how it would effect the two of them.

Trowa had always felt a little out of place with Quatre, but this was pushing the limits of his comfort. He wondered why Quatre had never told him that Heero was the same age as they were and that they had known each other for so long. Maybe he had just forgotten, or perhaps he hadn't really wanted to tell him. Either way it appeared that he had a special kind of relationship with Heero; that even though he and Quatre had known each other for a long time, would never share. It saddened him a little to be so left out, but looking at Heero truly smiling for the first time since they had met, he felt happy.

One of the riders with the lord's convoy rode up to him and smiled. He had a long brown braid, and when he lowered his mask, the largest smile Trowa had ever seen. The lord's son came up on the other side of the rider.

"Please ignore him. He has no intention of being social." The boy with the braid commented, pointing at the boy who had just joined them. Then seeing Trowa's astonished stare, laughed and added, "Oh don't worry I go everywhere with him."

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh nothing Fei, but it is true…" He smirked and laughed at some joke that only he understood.