Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ A Strange Fellowship ❯ Chapter 7

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

This is a story from Duo's POV. Duo is a Kitco - a race of cat-people who are viewed as 'lesser people' and trouble-makers. Following his Sixth Sense (something all Kitcos possess) he finds himself foiling a kidnapping of a young noble. Little does he know that that was only the beginning, the encounter is going to change his life forever and lead him in a direction he NEVER expected.

Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Fantasy | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 10.12.2006 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.5K | Visits: 1.0K | Status: Work In Progress

A Strange Fellowship: Part Seven

By Kai

Giftfic: for Enna (because she deserves it!)

Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own Gundam Wing and I get absolutely NO money for doing this.

Ratings: NC-17 (sexual content and language) this will likely be happening in the future so it'll be the rating for the entire fic

Warnings: AU, fantasy, action, yaoi, violence and language, etc.

Pairings: 2x5x6 (main pairing) and maybe a side order of 1x3x4 (not sure yet, we'll see...)

Summary: This is a story from Duo's POV. Duo is a Kitco - a race of cat-people who are viewed as 'lesser people' and trouble-makers. Following his Sixth Sense (something all Kitcos possess) he finds himself foiling a kidnapping of a young noble. Little does he know that that was only the beginning, the encounter is going to change his life forever and lead him in a direction he NEVER expected.

A Strange Fellowship: Part Seven
by Kai

Duo's POV

The next morning I woke to find myself alone with Heero. He quickly informed me that the Maganacs had caught the seven men who were going to ambush us, but four of them managed to commit suicide before they could be stopped. He also explained that the others had gone to interrogate the prisoners. Sitting up, I quickly ran a brush through my hair and re-braided it. I didn't miss the slight widening of Heero's eyes as he saw the knives and lock-picks that I had hidden there but I chose not to comment on it until he did. "So, why aren't you with them?"

He seemed a little surprised by the question but he remained relaxed lying in the nest of blankets. It seemed like they'd picked up my habit of making nests rather quickly. "I didn't want to leave you alone and though you, Zechs and Wufei appear to have settled the problems that arose between you, I thought it... inappropriate, to leave either of them with you because of the change in your relationship."

I turned so that I could look at him fully. "So... basically you don't really know if I can take care of myself yet - even given what Quatre's probably already told you - and you likely won't be convinced that I can until you can see it for yourself, will you? That and you're trying to protect my virtue because, let me guess, I'm too young for such things, right?" I was shaking my brush in his direction as I spoke, not angrily, just in a way to stress my points. It was almost funny because his eyes had gone a little cross-eyed watching my brush.

He shrugged - once he managed to stop watching the brush cross-eyed.

I moved onto my knees, fists on my hips and glared at him. Oh, it wasn't a very harsh glare, just enough to let him know I wasn't happy. Course, my Sixth Sense was cheerfully jumping up and down suggesting using everything from a skillet to a herd of cattle to get my point across. It seemed convinced that it would take more than a slight glare and a brush to get through to him. "I'll have you know that I'm old enough to be taking care of myself, especially since I've been taking care of myself since I was ten. And if you can't truly believe I'm capable of protecting myself, then fight me and find out for yourself. It's relatively simple to find out." I got up and stretched slowly before looking over my shoulder at him. "Oh, and just because you're an old man doesn't mean that any one younger than you is a child. We're all capable of making our own decisions - if we're given all the information necessary to make them - and deal with consequences, both the good and the bad. We're you're family, Heero, but we aren't your children. And don't even try and tell me that you don't think and dream about having both Trowa and Quatre naked in your bed. Cause I know you'd be lying if you did! You think you're doing them a favor but all you're really doing is hurting them and yourself." I finished dressing before slinking calmly from the tent with my tail held high and my Sixth Sense waving a victory flag in Heero's stunned face.

**********************************

It wasn't that bright outside but my eyes were able to adjust to most lighting, I could even see in the dark for a few hours at a time. I probably should have tried to find the others, just to avoid any unnecessary worry, but I didn't feel like it.

So, instead, I went to the largest tree I could find on the edge of the campsite, slipped off my shoes, extended my claws and made my way up to the highest branch that would hold my weight. I settled on it, legs on either side of the branch as I leaned back against the trunk. It gave me a nice view of the camp and, more importantly, it gave me privacy and quiet so I could think as I had a lot to think about. If I was lucky, I might even be able to get my Sixth Sense to provide a few answers. My Sixth Sense stubbornly shook its head and glued its lips shut. So much for that idea.

Lady Helen had been the one to teach me everything I knew about Kitcos and being one but, from what I'd been recently learning, some of what she'd told me couldn't be completely right. True Seers were rare, so not every Kitco could have a Sixth Sense like I did. Maybe Kitcos all had a touch of it, but only a few actually had True Sixth Sense. It would certainly help explain why others were so quick to distrust or hate Kitcos. My Sixth Sense constantly gave me information that I shouldn't know about people and situations. Secrets others wouldn't want known.

I shivered slightly. I was certain that the other Guardians wouldn't feel that way, but that didn't mean that other people would be so understanding or accepting. It might be a good idea to remain quiet about what I could really do, something I would likely have to convince the others of. Still, I really did believe that Wufei was right about letting everyone know that a Kitco was a Guardian. Perhaps word of that would reach other Kitcos and if it did, that might convince them to try and search me out. If they found me then I might be able to get some of my questions answered.

My ears twitched slightly at the sounds of the forest around me and the conversations in the camp below. My Sixth Sense was suddenly screaming in my head but it was so garbled by the sheer amount of things being shouted at me, that all I could really figure out was that danger was nearby. << Guys!>> It came out a bit panicked, and louder than I'd intended.

The replies were immediate and almost in unison.

<< Saekki...?>>

<< Duo...?>>

<< Are you okay?>>

<< What's wrong, love?>>

<< Status.>>

Taking a breath I tried to decipher what my Sixth Sense was throwing at me. << Danger... I sense danger but I can't seem to pinpoint what it's all about. It's like it's coming from all around us...>>

<< Ambush!>> That was Heero. No sooner had he said it, I knew he was barking out orders to everyone within ear shot.

The word helped clear up the confusion I had been experiencing. Heero was right. The seven people the Maganacs had encountered had only been a small part of a larger group. They'd managed to take out the sentries that had been posted around the camp and somehow they'd managed to block Quatre's telepathy and empathy as well as my Sixth Sense and Heero's elemental magic from picking up on it which meant that there had to be someone with strong Numina abilities in their group somewhere. I crouched low on the branch, focusing my senses and trying to understand everything they were telling me.

<< Duo?>>

<< I'm here, Heero, what do you need?>>

His mind voice was grave. << I want you to get to safety immediately. There's an abandoned wolf den on the west side of camp. Go their and hide.>>

With that, his mind was shut to me. I didn't have a chance to argue. He gave me an order and he expected me to follow it without question; my fur stood on end in anger. He actually expected me to run away with my tail between my legs. Well, he was about to get a very rude awaking.

I felt my teeth grow and sharpen, my eyes completely change, and my claws fully extend as I concentrated on the smells and sounds around me, automatically disregarding those that I knew or recognized as friend. I could see clearly around me but whoever was there could easily be using the foliage to remain hidden - or worse, they could be using Numina to keep out of sight. They may not have thought to use it to disguise their scent or sounds though...

They'd managed to disguise their footsteps, the sound of plants shifting as they moved and the rustle of clothing, but they'd forgotten to hide their heartbeats and their scents. I grinned, though, with my sharper teeth, it was probably more like a carnivore baring his teeth. Something that, in the animal world, would have warned trespassers away but people rarely paid attention to body language, even when they could see it. Silently I followed them as they got closer to the camp. No one seemed to realize they were there, not even Heero or Quatre and that was extremely dangerous for all of us. If I was going to change the odds, I was going to have to do something I hadn't done in six years. I wasn't just going to have to let my Sixth Sense flood me; I was going to have to let it take over.

***************************

It was almost as if I was a passenger in my own body, I was still there - could feel, think and react but I was detached from what I was doing as my body moved reflexively to counter things I hadn't had a chance to fully register. The spread out group of people entered the camp and I struck. Or, more precisely, my body reacted... and a lot more swiftly then it ever had before.

My knives and all other man-made weaponry were forgotten. Only my claws were necessary as I tore through those at the back of the group. Though it seemed like only luck - something that was impossible given the situation - one of the first people I sliced down was the one who had been hiding all of them. Even as chaos erupted around me, I was still moving; slicing through flesh and armor. I was aware of what I was doing, but I wasn't sure how I managed some of it.

I'd always been flexible, but I was barely completing one move before I was beginning another - twisting my body into positions I'd never even considered trying before and using the movements of those attempting to harm us against them such as stepping out of the path of a sword at the precise time one of the attackers moved into the arc of the swing. I even intercepted moves before they had a chance to injure those in our party.

And then it was done. I was standing and they weren't, it hadn't taken more than a couple of minutes and not one of the Maganacs, Guards, or the other Guardians had needed to bloody a weapon.

All I could really do was stand there; dripping blood that was not my own and try to understand what I'd just done as my Sixth Sense receded. The others were shocked; even Heero wasn't able to keep his face blank but all I really felt was numb. I'd taken out about twenty - obviously trained - men and though I remembered that I'd done it, I just couldn't seem to figure out how I'd done it. I could describe each move I'd executed, but I couldn't have replicated more than half on demand and that... frightened me....

***************************

Though stunned by what I'd done, both Zechs and Wufei ushered me back into the tent we'd occupied earlier. They proceeded to strip and wash me and I was so out of it that I just let them scrub away the blood with gentle touches and soft words, not bothering to utter a single objection.

But the numbness lasted only so long. They'd dressed me in the only thing they'd managed to find on such short notice - one of Zechs' spare long-sleeved tunics, that was about five sizes too big for me - which finally snapped me back into focus. Worse, I remembered something I'd managed to forget; something I'd never wanted to remember. "I've done this before..." It came out barely a whisper and a bit shaky but that could have been because of my body visibly vibrating. I remembered that I'd let my Sixth Sense take over once before, but I hadn't remembered what had happened during that time.... until... "When I was nine... they came... they knew... Lady Helen and Lord Maxwell made me hide... the other children were being escorted to a church... they never even got out of the Manor... blood was everywhere and the screams..." My hands automatically pulled my ears flat against my skull, trying to block out the terrifying howls of agony and pain that couldn't be blocked out. Sounds that were only in my memories.

I felt arms wrap around me and pull me into the warmth of Zechs' and Wufei's bodies but it wouldn't stop the words or the memories. "They only asked Lady Helen and Lord Maxwell where I was after the others were dead... but they didn't ask for a Kitco or for me by name... they asked about the Guardian... they knew, even when I didn't and so did Lady Helen and Lord Maxwell. They should have told them... if they had they would have lived but they didn't and they died and I had to do something... and I did... only it was too late... I slaughtered all of them but... the other children... the Lord and Lady... they were already dead... I was almost too late again... I almost lost everyone all over again..."

"You didn't loose any of us Duo! We're all just fine, you saved us."

I blinked at Zechs in confusion for a moment as my mind slowly sorted through everything. "I did?"

Wufei pressed my palm against the bare skin of his chest, under his tunic and directly over his heart. "Feel my heartbeat and know that you ensured the strength of it."

So I did, and as I did I slide my other hand under Zechs' shirt and over his chest to feel the reassuring rhythm there as well. "Not this time. It didn't happen this time." The world swam around me and I had just enough time to wonder if fainting was going to become an unwelcome habit, and how the Fe Meroller Empire had known that I was a Guardian so long ago - before the others or myself had, before I blacked out.

***************************AUTHOR'S NOTE********************************

Because someone asked... I'll make sure to have more Wufei in the next part! Sorry, but when you asked this one was already finished....