Chapter Six

Heero jumped of the horses and was back to being a tiger before he hit the ground. He charged ahead and the men ran away from the gates. It was open just wide enough for the horse to get threw. Heero changed back and closed the gates just as the people were upon them. He shifted back in to a tiger and ran after the horses.

Duo turned the horse around still running and allowed Heero to jump back on, spooking the shit out of the horse, but kept the horse running, and turned it back around to run after Wufei. (1) Heero changed back almost falling off the horse. They had gotten back to the edge of the forest when Duo screamed out and fell from the horse as an arrow shot into his shoulder. He landed on his back all the air rushing from his lungs.

Heero stopped the horse and jumped down to Duo, picking him up and jumping back onto the horse. More arrows flew passed them, threatening to hit them. A wall of fire went up, blocking the men from them.

"Keep heading east, in a day you should reach Oz. Go to the Aries Inn and wait for me there, get him help." Wufei said his hands on fire along with his horses hooves, tail and main. His horse shot back towards the men who were firing at them, the horse itself looked mean, steam coming from its nose.

"Be safe Wufie!" Heero yelled and headed east, pushing his horse as hard as it could go.

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They reached Oz in a little under a day and went to the Aries Inn. Duo was shaking and had passed out a few hours ago, mumbling incoherently.

"I need a Doctor!" Heero said as he kicked open the door and carried Duo inside. Everyone in the room, an elder man and a young women as it were, rushed over to them.

"What happen." The old man said.

"I'll go get Sally." The young women said and rushed out of the inn.

Heero did not like people, the only reason he was willing to trust them was because of Wufie and the fact that the injured elf in his arms was the one he was falling in love with. "Could I get a room?" Heero asked then followed the man to one. He set Duo down on the bed and waited. His Tiger features not revealed at all the whole time, his hood cloak keeping them hidden well.

The man came back in carrying a bowl of hot water and a wash cloth. "Here now, help me get his shirt off. Sally will be here in a minute." The man said, setting the bowl down on the bed side table. Heero did as he was told and thanked the man for the help.

Sally burst in at that moment, with the young woman on her heels. She rushed over to where Duo was lying and examined the wound quickly. "You're friend is luck it didn't hit the bone." She said quickly. "Hold him down, the arrow didn't go all the way threw so I'm going to have to pull it out." She said to Heero.

Once again Heero did as he was told holding Duo down as the human removed the arrow. Sally pulled the arrow out quickly and just like she thought, Duo tried to jump up, screaming out at the pain, his eyes wide. Once the arrow was gone he still tried to fight against Heero's hold, delirious with pain. The old man and the young lady jumped onto his legs, pinning them down as well, and Sally pulled out a needle with a sedative in it.

Heero leaned down and kissed Duo. His hood falling over both of their faces. He hoped it would help calm Duo down. Duo blinked a few times and realized that Heero was kissing him. He stopped trying to fight the people holding him down and winced only slightly when the needle was pushed into his arm. He fell back asleep with the comforting thought of Heero's lips on his.

Heero pulled away and sat beside Duo waiting for the Doctor to finish. Sally cleaned out the wound and worked carefully stitching it up. "So are you both demons or just this little one here?" Sally asked, just trying to make conversation.

"One demon" Heero pulled down his hood. "One changeling." He had known Duo smelled different form other elves and now he knew he was right. Duo was a demon.

"It's funny I wouldn't have even considered him demon, until I saw those eyes." Sally said with a friendly laugh. "You guys are welcome to stay as long as you want. Relena can't get you here." She added, winking at Heero before putting her bloodied rags into the dish and leaving the room to the two boys."

Heero sat on the bed and curled up into a ball at Duo's feet.

"Heero?" Duo said, one eye opened lazily.

"I'm here." He said and moved up next to Duo.

Duo curled up to Heero and fell back asleep. Heero started to purr and soon was a sleep too.

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Wufei walked into the Inn. "Hey Howard what room are they in?" He asked.

"Ahh, so you sent them, they're in 2B." Howard said. Wufie thanked him then went up the stairs to 2B. He knocked on the door but no one came. He knocked again and this time he could hear Heero call.

"Come in Wufei." So he turned the knob and walked in to the room.

"Do I smell that bad...how's he doing?" Wufei asked, sitting down in the chair next to the bed.

"I have a good nose." Heero said. "He's fine. How did the doctor know about Relena being after us?"

"Because, the King's husband is Relena's brother, but he's not an 'Exotic Creature" collector." Wufei said with a smile. "He's a kind man." Wufei said.

Heero nodded he hoped he was right to trust them. "Could you have them send up some food?"

Wufei smiled. "If I know Catherine, she's already making some soup for us. I also have someone I want you two to meet, tomorrow once Duo is feeling up for company." Wufei said. He stood to leave. "I'll be in the next room." He said heading for the door.

Heero nodded and curled back into Duo falling back asleep.

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"It hurts..." Duo moaned waking up sometime in the middle of the night. His good arm clutching at his shoulder, and he's eyes shut in pain.

"Mind if I try something?" Heero asked as he carefully climbed onto Duo sitting on his pelvis. Duo froze, remembering how rough and strong Heero was, but nodded. His arm was hurting badly and if Heero had a way for the pain to stop or at least dull then he was up for it.

Heero leaned down and placed his lips on Duo's . When their mouths opened something came out of Heero's mouth and into Duo. Heero soon fell on top of Duo's none hurt arm. Duo looked at Heero and found that all the things that made him look like a tiger were gone. All but the strip that ran under his left eye.

"Heero?" He asked, not knowing what just happened.

" I'll be fine Duo." He pointer to Duo's wound. It was healing quicker. "We'll change back when you are healed." Heero grinned. "You make a hot tiger you now that?" Heero yawned and fell asleep.

Duo looked down at the bed and found a tail resting there. He looked back at Heero with wide eyes. He smiled when he realized that the pain was gone in his arm. He cuddled up with Heero and fell back asleep.

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Wufei came back and was in shock at what he saw. "What? How?" Why was Duo now a tiger and Heero a Human?

Duo cracked an eye open. "Geez Wufei you're really loud." Duo said.

"Duo what happened?! I was gone for I few hours!" Wufei said. Heero's eyes opened, they were back to being catlike.

"I don't know." Duo said a little defensively.

"I did it" Heero said. "Duo will heal faster now."

"Oh...and may I ask how that is possible." Wufei asked.

"Just something I tried and it worked." Heero closed his eyes again.

"So you simply just thought of something and tried it?" Wufei asked, crossing his arms.

"Hn" Heero said.

"Did you really take in the well being of Duo when you thought of it?" Wufei asked.

"Yes" Heero wrapped his arms around Duo.

"Oh really, so what would happen if Duo started changing into a tiger. Would he be able to stop it?" Wufei asked, lifting an eye brow.

"He cant change." Heero started to play with Duo's tail.

"Then why does he have the ears and the tail?" Wufei asked.

"I lent him my healing ability, they went with it." He moved his hand up and scratched one of Duo's ears. (2) Duo Actually started purring nuzzling against Heero's hand. Wufei stormed from the room and slammed the door, mumbling something about going and getting Sally.

"Likes to rant, that one." Heero scratched both of Duo's ears. Duo looked at Heero and stopped purring, a serious expression on his face.

"What is it kitten?" Heero asked. Duo leaned over and kissed Heero on the lips, a little uncertain at first, then a little more needy. Heero kissed back loving what Duo was doing. Duo's hand was just traveling up Heero's shirt when Sally and Wufei came back. Wufei's nose started dripping blood and he turned and walked away, that simple. Sally starred for a little bit, before shaking her head and taping Heero on the shoulder.

"Your little demon here needs a little check up." She said, not knowing their names. Duo pulled away and sat up. "Who are you calling a demon." He said angrily.

"You!" Heero said as he scratched one of Duo's ears. Duo looked at Heero like he was crazy and gently pushed away his hand. "I'm an elf, Heero." Duo said.

"Half." Heero removed his hand and got up.

"No...I'm a wood elf Heero. I may be shorter, but that doesn't mean I'm a demon, how can you call me such a name." Duo said.

"Duo I can smell it on you. Who said demons were bad?" Heero kissed his cheek and turned for the door.

"Because I'm NOT." Duo yelled slamming his fist into the bed.

"Calm down, Duo." Heero went back to him.

"NO!" Duo yelled at him. "I'm not going to sit here and let you call me a demon...or even half." He yelled, pulling away from Heero, and falling off the bed. He landed on his back and starred at the ceiling with all the hatred he could muster.

"Why do you hate demons, Duo?" Heero sat next to him.

Duo just turned away from him, closing his eyes to stop the tears. He was sick of looking weak in front of Heero. He took a deep breath and got to his feet. "I'm going for a walk." He said quietly. He glared at Sally as he left, his tail swinging lightly behind him.

(1) ever see a tiger ride a horse

(2) lol ya right Heero you just sent them 'cause you wanted to see Duo as a tiger.