The Lady of Summer

Zechs was no longer in the mood for games. He had lost his lover and someone was going to pay. As he walked, he thought of Heero and Quatre. What would they say when they found out? What would Heero say? Zechs wasn't sure he wanted to think about it. Heero cared so deeply for his brother, Zechs was actually afraid to tell him. He could feel the tears stinging his eyes as he walked. He shook his head. He had to stay focused. He promised Duo he would continue and he was not the type of person to break promises.

He stormed through the jungle with little regard for the plant life as he searched for a sign pointing him towards his goal. A ruffling behind him made him freeze. The last time he heard a sound like that, Duo was…

He turned and watched the bushes shuffle. He glared at the movement.

I will not wait and be attacked. If I am going to die here, I would rather do it in an honest battle.

His mind made up, Zechs charged into the bushes. He collided with something and quickly wrestled it to the ground. The creature, whatever it was, put up little struggle and soon Zechs had it pinned beneath his body. He glared, ready to shout his lungs out at whatever tried to attack him, but when he pulled back to look at his capture he gasped. A very beautiful young woman was laying beneath him smiling. He jumped and quickly climbed off of her.

"I…I'm sorry I…" H stuttered as he offered his hand to her.

She took it and stood, brushing off her burgundy gown and giggled. "It's quite alright." As she straightened, Zechs was able to see her more clearly. She had soft red hair that fell just past her shoulders and deep brown eyes; she was really very beautiful. She smiled at Zechs and bowed her head.

"I trust you've been looking for me. I am the Lady of Summer. You may call me Une."

Zechs felt his heart sore. He found her! He bowed to her and tried his best to smile. "My Lady Une, we…I…" Zechs amended, struggling to fight back the tears. "have come a long way to find you."

She smiled and nodded. "I know. I've been watching. It really is too bad about your friend."

Zechs felt his temper flair. "You were watching? You saw it all? And you did nothing?"

She smiled but did not speak. Zechs glared at her. All manners aside, Zechs felt like jumping her and strangling the life out of that smug smile, but before he could another sound caught his attention. He turned to watch the bushes behind him shuffle.

"You have trialed long and hard, young Prince." The Lady spoke, "Even through the hardest of all trials, the loss of a loved one, you have triumphed." Zechs glanced at her before turning back to the moving bushes. "You have proved your worthiness to see me."

"Proved my worthiness?" Zechs turned back to the Lady. "What do you mean?"

She smiled. "I mean, you passed the most difficult task of them all. The one that most people abandon. The task of Perseverance in the light of sorrow. You both have passed."

"Both?" Zechs turned again to the bushes and gasped at the shadowy figure that had just emerged. Soft violet eyes, long braided hair...Zechs gasped and ran forward. He embraced Duo tightly and let his tears fall. Duo wrapped his arms around his taller lover and cried freely into his chest.

The Lady stood behind them with a smile on her face. When they finally broke apart, she approached them. "What you witnessed, was an illusion of the forest. My nymphs led you astray from one another and placed visions in your heads. Both of you witnessed the death of the other and both of you chose to continue your journey. I am very proud of you."

Zechs turned to Duo with wide eyes who seemed equally shocked.

"But…I saw you die. Your blood was on my hands." Zechs looked down at his own palms to find them clean. He blinked and turned back to his lover.

"It was so real…" Duo muttered. "I…I thought I'd never see you again."

Zechs laughed out loud; His heart was overflowing with joy that he couldn't help it. He wrapped his arms around Duo tightly and held him close. He couldn't believe that it was all an illusion. Part of him wanted to yell at the Lady for putting him through hell, but he wouldn't. He knew that she was just trying to protect herself, and he had to admit, that was a good way of doing it. He kissed Duo's forehead and whispered in his ear.

"We'll have to celebrate later."

Duo blushed but nodded. Zechs smirked and turned back to the Lady.

"Thank you, My Lady, for returning my love to me." He said.

The Lady bowed and smiled. "Far be it for me to separate two who are in such a love as this."

Duo chuckled and Zechs smiled. "Thank you." He let go of Duo reluctantly and approached the woman. "But we have come here are far more important matters than to simply see you. We have come to ask you if you know of the heavenly prophesy."

The Lady nodded. "Indeed I do. I do not believe there is a single creature in my jungle that does not know."

"Then do you know the answer to it?" Duo asked.

She smiled devilishly and nodded. "I do indeed."

Zechs and Duo brightened. "Then…will you tell us?" Zechs asked.

She shook her head. "No. I will not."

The angels froze. "You…you won't?" Duo stuttered.

She shook her head again. "No. I am very sorry. I know you toiled long to get here. But you must understand, if I were to tell you the answer, it would no longer be the answer."

Zechs blinked and Duo furrowed his brow. The Lady smiled and continued.

"Part of the answer involves the discovery of the answer. The answer is in the journey, not the destination." A bell sounded somewhere in the distance and she smiled. "I am sorry. I must go. Thank you for visiting me and I do hope you discover what you are after." With another bow, the jungle vanished and the Lady was no where to be seen.

Duo and Zechs gasped when they realized they were surrounded by a never-ending desert. Zechs furrowed his brow. He was frustrated at the Lady, and he was confused by her words. What part of the journey had he over looked? What was he missing? The feel of warm fingers interlacing with his brought him out of his thoughts. Zechs turned to see Duo smiling at him.

"What was that you said about celebrating?" He winked.

Zechs grinned and moved closer to his lover. He wrapped his arms around the smaller beings waist and pulled him close. "Well, it isn't every day my love comes back from the dead." He winked and closed the distance between them with a kiss.

The Lady's riddle could wait; right now Zechs had more important things to occupy his time…

Okay, here's chapter 10. Hope you enjoy! Thanks to Yaeko for your reveiw. I hope you enojy the rest of the story!