Hello!

No, I'm not dead, really. I've just been really busy. As a result this may not be a great chapter, but they will get better as I get going. I promise.

Thank you thank you thank you! to all of you who reviewed, I love you all for it.

Please keep on reviewing!

Thanks to my beta, moonpixi, who also pushed for me to write this chapter. You could all probably give her a thank you, because it may have been another week or so before you saw this chapter.

Disclaimer: I went to Africa and went through rituals and torture to get to the sacred cave of something – I don't remember any more. But the rights to owning Gundam Wing were not there.

Enjoy!

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Guardian

"Hey! Heero!" Duo said happily, standing up and waving to his friend.

Heero looked over at Duo and smiled ever-so-slightly at him before walking over to him. "Duo." He said by means of greeting. Then he paused slightly, as if he didn't quite know what to say. "How are you?" He finally asked.

"Good." Duo chirped. "How are you?"

"Fine." Heero cocked his head to the side slightly. "Where are the others?" He asked.

"Who? Guardians? Advisors? The people next door?"

"Guardians, Duo."

"Don't know."

"How about the Advisors?"

"Don't know that, either."

Heero sighed. "Then why didn't you just say that to begin with?"

Duo grinned. "You didn't ask about the people next door."

Do I want to? Heero thought, before a voice answered his question.

"Because he's Duo. Isn't that explanation enough?"

Duo grinned at Quatre, who joined them on the path. "But it wouldn't be any fun around here without me around, Cat!" He laughed.

Heero sighed and shook his head. "Come on. I want to get all the Guardians together so I can explain what's going to happen next."

And hopefully we won't have any problems.

1111111111111111111111111111111111

Two hours and a lot of searching and mind calls later, as well as an impromptu game of tag, all eight living Guardians were sitting on chairs, couches, and the floor of one of the "living" rooms in the palace. All of the others had been very happy to see Heero again, alive and in one piece, and they wanted to know what was going to happen next.

Heero looked around at the Guardians from his seat in a big, comfy chair. Duo was sitting on the armrest of said chair; Quatre and Trowa were sitting on a smaller couch together. Wufei was sitting in a chair very much like the one Heerowas in with Leanne on the floor at his feet, and Gene was sitting on a couch with Yudisey sitting on the back of it. "I'm pretty sure you all know why I'm here, and why you're here." He began.

He was cut off by Duo. "Then skip that part."

Heero shot a glare at Duo before continuing. "You are all going to go to different worlds – in pairs, for the first few missions, for safety purposes. The pairs are as follows: Gene with Yudisey, Leanne with Wufei, Trowa with Quatre, and Duo with me."

"Makes sense." Gene commented.

"Are you the only one that can control the braided baka?" Yudisey asked dryly while Duo stuck his tongue out at the woman who had taught him the basics of magic.

Heero, however, frowned slightly. "Be nice, Yudisey."

She shrugged.

"So." Trowa said. "Where are we going, and when?" he asked.

"And what are we doing there?" continued Quatre.

"You'll see."

Duo winced. Way back when, during the wars, that phrase coming from Heero had never meant anything good was going to happen.

"Come on, 'Ro." He pleaded, trying to get Heero to relent. "We want to know."

"No." came the stern refusal along with a stern look that brooked no argument.

Duo pouted, but it had no effect. Heero simply continued on. "It would be – beneficial – if all of you spent the next week resting and gathering strength. The first missions I have chosen for you are not impossibly difficult, but they are not ridiculously easy, either. You're strength will be needed. Until we leave, I will be around in case any of you need me. Any questions right now?" No one answered. "Then I will see you all around. Good day." He stood up to leave.

"But, Heero –!" Duo started, only to be cut off.

: Patience is a virtue, Duo. :

Duo shut his mouth. His sister had not "spoken" to him very much in the years since she had died, but when she did it was with advice that was to be listened to. Duo waited, to see if she would say anything else, shutting out all other things. After a few minutes of nothing, he gave up and looked up.

He was alone in the room.

"Well, how nice of them to wait." He commented to himself, and went off to go get some food.

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So… what now? C

They will begin their missions. J

That's not what he meant. L

Heero will lead them. G

He does not have the experience that the Queen does. J

It makes no difference. B

He must lead them. F

There is no other option. R

What will we do? D

We will watch. M - (1)

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The week actually went by pretty quickly. Heero had told them that they did not need to prepare anything other than their strength, so they all simply spent the week resting and being with each other, storing their strength, and playing.

Although they could all still sense that Heero was in the palace at all times, they actually saw very little of him. He never showed up for meals, and he seemed to be avoiding them when they all got together. Throughout the whole week they only managed to catch glimpses of him.

Eventually, though, the week came to an end.

/ Duo. /

Duo curled up a bit more, pulling the covers close to him, flatly ignoring the mind speech.

/ Duo. /

He put his head under his pillow, trying even harder to avoid the exasperated tone and the mental nudge that went with it.

/ DUO/

A mental shove greeted him this time, one strong enough to physically push him off the bed and onto the floor.

Hey! What was that for! I was SLEEPING, Heero/ he mentally shouted back. / I thought you WANTED us to rest/

/ Duo, you are the last one awake. Besides that, the others have all left. We are the only two still here, and I am growing tired of waiting for you. GET UP. / came Heero's exasperated mind voice, sounding annoyed as well. / And this is a bad time to start resting, today is the day we leave. /

Duo scramble to get dressed. Of all days to be late. He could have found a better way to wake me up, though.

/ I heard that. /

Duo sent a mental picture of him sticking out his tongue as he rushed out of the room. / So where are the others/ he asked.

/ I already told you. They are gone. On their missions, if you want to know. /

Duo stopped dead in his tracks. / GONE? GONE WHERE/ he mentally shouted at Heero.

/ Gone on their missions, Duo. Don't shout. /

/ How come you all let me sleep/ Duo cried, taking off down the hall again.

/ Duo. Do you really think we didn't try to wake you up/

/ Ummm… /

Heero gave another exasperated sigh. / We gave up after the 60th attempt. You were sleeping like a rock. /

/ So you all just decided to let me sleep/

/ Umm… yeah. / came Heero's reply. / But don't worry. Once we're out in the field, it won't happen again. /

Duo blinked.

/ Not THAT way, damn it/ Heero yelped, picking up the mental picture Duo had conjured up. / Be appropriate! Now come here/

/ Where are we going/ Duo asked, snickering. / And where are the others/

Heero sighed. / Gene and Yudisey went to Kashi, Wufei and Leanne went to Anigua, and Quatre and Trowa went to Flaye. We are going to Milish. /

Milish? / What kind of a name is Milish?

/ I didn't name it, Duo. You'll see what kind of a place it is when we get there. / He paused. / Where are you? You should have been here three minutes ago. /

Duo grinned to himself. / Caught. Damn. I'm getting coffee. /

Heero was silent for a few seconds, as if he didn't quite know what to make of that. Then, / Duo. COME. HERE. NOW. /

Duo grabbed the just finished coffee right before the compulsion set in. / Hey! I was coming/ He protested as his body started walking without his control.

/ Not fast enough. At least now I now for sure when you'll get here. / Heero stated.

/ Is that smugness I hear? From Heero? / I still got my coffee. /

/ I know. Quite honestly, I don't care, either. It's beyond the point. Just come here. /

Duo took a long sip of the coffee. Well, at least I get to keep it.

He walked in silence the rest of the way, though he could still sense Heero in the back of his head. Though that could have just been from the compulsion. Finally he felt it lessening as he neared his destination. He walked into a smallish courtyard with a fountain, where Heero was sitting.

And kept on walking.

Heero grabbed his arm to keep him from walking into the fountain. "You forgot to stop walking." He commented dryly.

Duo shrugged and took another few sips of his coffee.

"Are you almost done with that?"

Duo nodded from around the cup.

Heero sighed. "Hurry up, Duo. We are late."

Duo took a last few sips of the coffee, finishing it off. " So," he started, sending the cup back to the kitchen with a mental nudge, ignoring Heero's raised eyebrow, "When are we going?"

"Now, Duo. We're leaving now."

Duo blinked. "How are we getting there?"

"We are teleporting ourselves." Heero explained patiently.

"Oh."

Heero shook his head, holding out a gloved hand for Duo to take. "Come on, Duo."

Duo took the hand, and felt Heero bring them into the cold nothingness that existed between worlds.

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(1) – No, you don't know what this is. Let's just say each letter after each statement stands for a different voice. There are nine – B, C, D, F, G, J, L, M, and R. This whole section is just voices. No pictures. (These are the creepy guys whose identity will be revealed in a later chapter /eerie music in the background/) - moonpixi

Finished. How did you all like that?

Sorry it was a bit short, but at least things are sort of moving now. The chapters will hopefully get better and better from here on out. And come more quickly! - moonpixi

For those that haven't noticed, those comments in bold are from moonpixi, not me.

Thanks for reading!

Dark Lady