a/n: This chapter skims the lime category because I really needed to throw something spicy in here before I lost my mind. Keep in mind: I'm lightly skimming here... skim milk, not heavy cream. Perhaps you could call this fluff?

Anyone ever cheat on your preferred fandom before and then felt guilty about it? Let's talk about that.

Previously in Silk Road

Relena could see a tall stone tower in the distance as they traveled north on a beaten road. She kept reminding herself of the city name, Tashkent. She was sure she had seen it on a map in the abbey. She assumed they were traveling the Silk Road, of that much she was sure.

"There's Stone City." Heero mumbled. "The rivers should be close by. We can stop there before taking a rest at Tashkent."

Chapter 5

Heero led his horse off road and into the forest after he had pointed Tashkent on the horizon. Relena steeled herself as the animal took to the rougher terrain. She felt his arm around her waist secure her body to his like a belt. She would have felt comforted had it not been for her distrust in him.

Relena couldn't see any of the others in her periphery, they were alone on the path the horse was blazing for itself.

"They're not coming with us." Heero said into her ear, resulting in a jolt down her spine. What was he going to do to her there? In the middle of the woods? Alone? Would he kill her? Or something worse?

Soon, the forest cleared, revealing a river bank flanked with cyprus trees and large boulders. Relena recognized it as the river Heero had mentioned earlier. He had brought her here to clean up. She cast her eyes downward at her embroidered sleeves. There had been flecks of her own vomit mingled into the brocade. She had ruined her fine clothing, no doubt.

Heero dismounted and reached for her waist. She felt weightless as he removed her from the saddle with ease.

He studied her, eyes lingering at her mouth and neck. Relena couldn't help the blush that tarnished her skin, or the fear-fueled tremor in her hands. She felt as if Heero was sizing her up, both for himself, and to decide her fate. The idea both repelled and intrigued her.

"We might as well have you change your clothes before we enter the city... better to be inconspicuous." He turned to his saddle pack, digging through before retrieving a few cloth bundles.

"You may need help with these. For now, get in the water." Heero said as he began to remove his dofuku, revealing bare tanned skin. Again, Relena's body betrayed her, happy confusion settling in her belly.

"What are you doing?" She chanced.

"I'm getting undressed. I haven't bathed in a week." Heero grunted.

"And what am I supposed to do?" She seethed.

"What do you mean? Take it off and get in the water." He jerked his head to the river bank.

"Right now?" She whispered, retreating inward.

"Take your clothes off, princess." He ordered, muttering something about how uppity she was under his breath. She shrieked as he began to untie his hakama.

"I am not disrobing in front of you." She hissed. He stopped and reconsidered, retying his hakama in their place. Once again, he approached her like a wounded animal, pity etched on his features. He brought his hands up to her neck, and when she flinched, he couldn't help the sorrow he felt. She truly was wounded. He hated himself for contributing to her pain.

His hands moved further, reaching for the fabric at the nape of her neck, seeking out its buttons and fasteners. He undid a few of them for her.

"I won't look at you. Take them off and wash the vomit off yourself." He directed, softer this time. She blushed in return, and was rewarded with a brief turn of his lip. Was he enjoying her shame? Why did she like his reaction?

Heero turned away, allowing her full view of his bare back, flecked with a myriad of freckles and several large scars. He had seen violence, she was sure of it.

She tried to shake off how the sight made her feel. This was what she got for growing up in an Abbey, away from men. Men like Heero.

Relena undressed, gently placing her once-fine clothing into a neatly folded pile. She looked from left to right, looking for an audience. She found none.

She turned her back to the water and watched Heero as she carefully made her way into the river, as if she didn't trust him to not turn and watch her. Soon, she was up to her neck in the water. The light current and cool temperature felt like a balm on her electrified skin.

"Are you in the water?" She heard him ask from the bank.

"Yes." She watched him turn around and resume untying his hakama. She clamped her eyes shut and began to tread water in the river.

"Don't swim too far, assuming you can even swim at all." He grunted. She heard him enter the river from the bank and soon heard him approach her. The water began to mellow against her blazing skin.

"You'll get caught up in the current. Open your eyes. It's dangerous to tread that way."

Relena ignored him, hyper aware of her own nakedness and his voice growing ever closer. She kicked and pulled at the water with her hands and feet, in an effort to put distance between them. Her obstinance proved his point, as she collided with a large tree trunk within seconds.

She yelped, and the shock pulled her under. She remembered how to hold her breath, but didn't have to for very long. She felt a pair of expert hands find her arms and pull her up in a single motion. His arm snaked around her waist, holding her close and knocking the wind out of her. It forced her to inhale. Then she felt the heat of blood trickle from her nostril and into her mouth.

Relena coughed. In his haste, Heero flipped her so she was facing him, his arm never releasing its hold.

"Are you alright? Can you breathe?" He asked, one arm pulling them to a shallower part of the river, not far from the bank. Heero set her down to stand on her own before he appraised her wounds. He brought a calloused hand to her face and wiped her blood away. The action was so caring, she almost forgot who he was. The two stood in silence for a moment while Relena caught her breath.

And then she remembered, her body had been flush with his as he pulled them to safety. She remembered the strength of his arm around her, and the feeling of his body against her back. His secret places so close to hers.

She began to sink lower into the water, sure her flush would betray her.

"Stand up." He growled in Japanese. "Don't cower away from me. I should be the one lowering myself to you." She didn't quite understand him. It hadn't been that long since she had spoken his language fluently at the Abbey. She had a knack for languages, and often helped out as a translator for those visiting. She hadn't misheard him, but she couldn't interpret between the lines.

"Who do you think you are, touching me like that?" She growled back.

His eyes clouded in what Relena could only interpret as guilt. She didn't entirely regret the venom she spouted at him. But she did wish she could take her edge away. Something about him seemed so protective and sincere, even if she knew he was trying to deceive her.

"If she falls for this, we are bound to make a lot of money."

Heero's words echoed in her ears. Why would he say something like that? Everything he said sounded like a riddle.

Part of her wanted to slap him, the other part wanted him to hold her again. She wanted to scream and yell at him, preferably in the Mandarin he so easily spoke that morning with Wu-Fei. She wanted to catch him tricking her, and let him know that he couldn't pull one over on her.

For some reason, she also wanted to throw her naked body at him.

She decided against it, instead letting tears of frustration well in her eyes. She stood up straighter, backing away from him in the water. If she ran now, she could make it to the river bank, grab the clothes, and perhaps steal his horse.

"Don't you dare run." He commanded in English. How'd he know what she was thinking?

She bolted, not caring about hiding her skin anymore. He soon came after her, chasing her onto the river bank. She felt him take hold of her wrist, firm and gentle as he had that morning. But the action was effective. She doubled backwards and onto the bank, taking him with her.

She opened her eyes to see him on all fours, looking down at her. His breath was ragged, pupils dilated in an unfamiliar way. She could barely breathe, and it wasn't because she had almost drowned minutes before.