Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Gundam Wing and the Men of Sherwood Forest ❯ The Jousting Tournament ( Chapter 11 )

Chapter 11: The Jousting Tournament

Little John arrived at the inn early the next morning with news from Sherwood. “Robin sends his congratulations on your stunning victories, Sir Heero. He deeply regrets not having the opportunity to personally witness your unparalleled prowess.”

Heero snorted. “That sounds like Robin.”

“Before I left yesterday,” Little John continued, “I heard that the odds on Sir Heero have gotten quite short. In fact, a few dealers are no longer taking bets on the joust.”

“That must have Gisbourne ticked off, if he's heard about it,” Trowa commented.

“I would think so,” Little John agreed. “We may have difficulty redeeming all of our wagers after Sir Heero defeats him.”

“Stop calling me `Sir',” Heero muttered. “I recognize that you all think I'm great. Just use my name.”

“How modest!” Duo chuckled.

Little John inclined his head. “Perhaps in private, Sir Heero.”

Heero groaned.

“Say Trowa,” said Duo. “Where are Quatre and Roku?”

“They're finishing up a spell. Remember, Quatre was going to make a mail shirt out of Wu-Fei's scales for Heero.”

“Oh, that's right. He figured out how to do it?”

“Yeah, last night after we… um… Before we went to sleep.” Trowa grinned sheepishly. “They should be down soon.”

In fact, Quatre and Roku walked in at that very moment. Quatre had his hands behind his back and a big smile on his face. Roku was grinning too.

“Stand up, Heero,” Quatre said. “I have something for you.” Heero stood up and Quatre dramatically swept out the dragon-scale shirt, holding it up against Heero's chest. The shirt hung down to his hips and the sleeves extended to just above his wrists. “I think that will fit. What do you think?”

Heero slid a hand over the smooth scales appreciatively. “This is really great, Quatre. I'm very impressed. It feels like satin.”

“Look at the way it shimmers!” Roku said. “It's so pretty.”

“It certainly is,” Duo agreed.

Everyone crowded forward to examine the shirt close up and feel how smooth it was.

“It feels just like your skin, Wu-Fei,” Duo said. “On your back, I mean. It's like the scales are still on you.”

Wu-Fei rubbed the shirt with his fingertips and then slid a hand under the back of his own shirt. “You're right. It does sort of feel the same. That's weird.”

Everyone insisted on comparing the feel of the shirt to the feel of the scales on Wu-Fei's back and agreed that it did feel the same.

“Try it on, Heero,” Quatre said. “I want to see how it looks.”

“Ok.” Heero took off the padded shirt he wore under his armor and slipped the mail shirt over his head. The supple material flowed over his muscles and settled against him like a second skin. “That's interesting,” Heero murmured to himself. He bent, twisted and flexed in different directions and the shirt moved with him, stretching as necessary to stay flat against his skin. It shimmered in rainbow colors when the sunlight struck it.

“That's beautiful,” Little John said. “But it looks too flimsy to serve in the place of chain mail.”

“Let's test it,” Heero said. He produced a knife out of nowhere and flipped it to Duo. “Stab me.”

Duo grinned broadly. “You don't know how many years I've waited to hear those words!” He lifted the knife and plunged it toward Heero's chest without the slightest hesitation.

The dragon-skin shirt turned the blade like plate steel.

“I'll be damned!” exclaimed Little John.

“Dragon scales are the hardest substance in the world,” Quatre stated matter-of-factly. “He could take a crossbow bolt to the chest and survive, although it would leave one hell of a bruise.”

“In other words, he wouldn't even notice it,” Wu-Fei said.

“That is the most amazing thing I've ever seen!” said Little John. He felt the shirt again. “And these are the same scales Master Wu-Fei shed from his back a few weeks ago?”

“Yup. All those scales came from our fire-breathing friend here.”

“Well, Sir Heero, had I even the slightest doubt before about your certain victory over Guy of Gisbourne, it's gone now,” Little John chuckled gleefully. “I look forward to seeing Gisbourne laying on his back in the lists, a defeated man.”

“I think it's time to get ready,” Trowa said.

“Right.” Heero put his padded shirt back on and the others helped him put on his armor.

“I'll go get your horse, Papa Heero.”

“Thanks, Roku.”

The lists for the jousting tournament, like the arena, were a permanent fixture in Nottingham. The high stands could accommodate hundreds of seated spectators and a railing installed in front of the stands on both sides allowed room for several dozen more to stand, except for a gap in the middle on one side in front of the shaded and padded seats where the nobility would sit. The gap allowed the jousters to salute Prince John before their contests and to receive his congratulations after a victory.

The group escorted Heero to the staging area where the knights were preparing for the contest and found Alan and Will already there.

“We've been looking over the selection of lances,” Alan said. “I picked out a dozen or so for you to use today, Sir Heero. There are so many knights entered in the joust, I think you will end up riding at least eight passes, assuming you unhorse your opponents on the first pass.”

Heero nodded. “Thanks. I'll try to be efficient.”

“Just try not to kill anyone,” Quatre admonished him. “Land good hits on their shields, please.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

They left Heero in Alan and Will's care and went up into the stands.

Roku pointed. “I see Mr. Treize and Mr. Zechs.”

Treize and Zechs were sitting with the other nobles in the canopied section of the stands. Zechs waved at them and they waved back.

“You know, I really missed this,” Duo said as he sat down. “There's just something so delightfully primal about watching two guys try to jab a six meter wooden stick through each other's midsection.”

“You have a very primitive streak in you, Duo,” Wu-Fei said.

“Thank you. Later on, I'll show you some of my other base instincts.”

The first pair of knights rode into the lists and saluted Prince John. Each pair of knights rode against each other until one of three things happened: one of the knights was un-horsed, one knight landed two solid hits to his opponent's body, or the pair had made seven passes. If neither knight landed a hit to the body, points were awarded based on whether or not one knight broke his lance on the other knight's shield. In the event that neither knight was unhorsed or landed two blows to the body, the winner was determined by the number of broken lances, since a broken lance indicated a more direct hit to the shield. It was possible for a tie to result, in which case both knights were allowed to advance. A knight could also withdraw, if he was injured by a blow but managed not to fall off his horse.

No knight was eliminated from the first round of the joust until he had lost three times, so the crowd had the opportunity to see each knight compete multiple times. The competition would continue into the afternoon until only eight knights remained. Those eight knights would then compete the next day in three rounds of single elimination jousts to determine the final winner.

In his first match, Heero sent his opponent flying off the back of his horse on the first pass.

“Ouch!” said Duo. “That has got to hurt, hitting the ground in all that armor.”

“I think the padding inside is supposed to help that,” Little John.

“It still leaves bruises,” Wu-Fei said. “Sir Hagrimore told me once that falling off a horse in full armor hurts just as much as jumping off a tall building.”

Little John winced. “That sounds unpleasant.”

“And knowing Hagrimore when he'd been drinking,” Duo added with a chuckle, “I bet he tried it.”

“Oh, dear.”

“Look, it's Sir Guy's turn,” Roku said.

“Watch him carefully,” Trowa said, “just in case Heero's not in a good position to see his technique.”

Gisbourne broke his lance on his opponent's shield on the first pass. As he trotted back to get his second lance, Quatre frowned.

“That was a good hit. It should have knocked that guy off, or at least rattled him.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” agreed Duo. “Gisbourne's position was perfect. There's no way that guy should have been able to sit still through that. Gisbourne pulled the hit.”

Little John stared in surprise. “Are you saying he cheated? But why would he do that?”

“To improve the odds,” Wu-Fei grumbled. “No doubt he's heard that the bookmakers were giving even money on him and Heero this morning and Heero un-horsed his opponent in one pass. Depending on how this afternoon goes, the odds could be in Gisbourne's favor by tomorrow. I imagine Gisbourne is planning to place a couple of bets on himself, win the contest and clean up.”

“That's dishonorable!” Little John exclaimed.

“I think we're all agreed Guy of Gisbourne is not an honorable man,” Quatre said.

Gisbourne knocked the other knight off on the next pass and trotted off the lists to a chorus of cheers.

“He's a good jouster,” Trowa admitted grudgingly.

“Yeah,” Duo nodded. “It's not easy to cheat at jousting without people seeing it. I'll run down and talk to Heero. I'll be right back.” Duo jogged down the steps.

“Do you think we'll get through the whole first round by lunch time?” Roku asked. “I'm getting hungry.”

“Don't you have a snack with you?” asked Quatre.

“Yes, but Papa Duo said we could have meat pies for lunch. I like meat pies.”

“Why don't you eat your snack? I'm sure you'll still have room enough for meat pies later.”

“Ok.” Roku produced a shiny red apple. “Would anyone like an apple?”

“Sure, I'll have one,” Wu-Fei said.

“I wouldn't say no,” said Little John, “if you have another.”

Roku produced more apples and everyone munched away.

Duo returned. “Hey! Apples! Got any more, Roku?”

“Yup.” Roku handed Duo an apple as he flopped down in his seat.

“What did Heero say?” Trowa asked.

“He saw Gisbourne's fight. He says Gisbourne gripped the lance with a little bit of space between the guard and his gauntlet so it would slide a bit on impact before shattering. That little bit of give absorbs just enough energy to keep the impact from knocking the shield back. Heero says he does that all the time to keep from running people through if he lands a body blow.”

Little John's eyes went round. “But he un-horsed his opponent!”

Duo grinned. “But the guy only just cleared his horse's tail. If Heero had really put some effort into it, the guy would have flown three horse-lengths, not one.” He chuckled. “Anyway, he says he's not planning to do that when he jousts with Gisbourne.”

“So he might run him through?” Wu-Fei said brightly. He sat up straighter. “Too bad that won't be until tomorrow.”

“It might cause trouble if Sir Heero kills Gisbourne,” Little John said worriedly.

“Don't worry,” Duo said cheerfully. “Heero wants to humiliate him. Gisbourne can't suffer the embarrassment of defeat if he's dead.”

“And a few lance holes won't kill him,” Wu-Fei added with a chuckle.

They watched as the remaining matches of the first round were completed and the second round started. After a dozen or so matches of the second round were completed, a break was called for the midday meal. Treize and Zechs joined the others.

“We decided to skip lunch at the castle,” Treize said. “Are you eating at the inn?”

“No,” said Trowa. “We're going to cruise the festival grounds and see what's available. Duo and Roku recommend the meat pies at this one particular booth.”

“They're really good!” Roku spoke up.

“Well, on that recommendation,” Zechs said with a smile, “I think we should all go.”

The meat pie booth was popular, but at the sight of nobles in the crowd, the proprietor shoved the other patrons aside to make room for Treize, Zechs and their party right in front.

“Now, noble sirs,” he exclaimed. “I, Bernard Belbow, have the very finest meat pies in Nottingham, fit for even the finest table, and all at quite reasonable prices, too!” He rubbed his hands together eagerly. “How many shall you have?”

“Two each for all of us,” Treize said, “and two extra just in case.” He winked at Roku.

“Very good, my lord!” Belbow beckoned quickly to his cooks and the pies began piling up on the counter.

Treize handed the man a gold coin. “I appreciate such swift service.”

Belbow bowed to Treize with an ingratiating grin. “You are very generous, my lord! I shall throw in two more pies to show my respect.” He beckoned to his cooks again.

Between Duo and Roku, the pies were disappearing from the counter just as fast as the cooks were putting them out. When they finally moved away, Treize looked around.

“So how come each of us is holding only one pie when I ordered over twice that many?”

Duo grinned. “We're just hanging onto your seconds for you. Roku will have it when you're ready.”

“I couldn't possibly eat more than one of these,” Zechs said. “It's huge.”

Duo's eyes sparkled. “I know!”

“I can't eat this at all,” Wu-Fei complained. “Lord knows where this meat came from. You know they eat rat in this century, right?”

“Marinated rat is a delicacy!” Duo exclaimed. “And it keeps the rat population under control.”

Wu-Fei turned green.

“Would you like some bread instead, Papa Wu-Fei?”

“Please.”

Roku traded Wu-Fei's meat pie for a small loaf of bread.

“I know a place where we can get berry tarts with clotted cream for dessert,” Duo said.

“That sounds good,” said Trowa. He licked his fingers.

“You're finished already?” Quatre remarked in surprise. He was only half done with his pie. “This is a lot of food.”

“I was hungry.”

“Apparently.”

“Are you going to finish that, Mama?”

“No.” Quatre handed the remainder of his pie to Roku, who wolfed it down in three quick bites. Quatre shook his head. “Do try to chew your food occasionally, Roku.”

“Yes, Mama.”

When the joust resumed, there was an air of seriousness in the demeanor of the first two knights to appear. They clashed with a loud snapping of wood as each man shattered his lance on the other's shield.

“I guess both these guys already have two losses,” Duo said.

“Probably,” agreed Wu-Fei.

When Heero's turn came up again, he was paired with a burly knight who had beaten his first two opponents in a single pass. This knight, Sir Verleon, looked even bigger than Gisbourne.

“What ho!” Prince John called out to Treize. “That knight looks sure to take your cousin. His arm is as thick as a tree stump!”

“He is a big fellow,” Treize agreed with a nod. “He might indeed give my cousin some slight trouble.”

The two knights settled in place, facing each other. When the flag was lifted, they spurred their horses forward and their lances dropped down to point at an angle across the low fence separating the riders. Heero's lance was dead still despite the pounding gallop of his horse. It struck dead center on Verleon's shield and immediately brought to light the fact that Verleon had made a tactical error. Undoubtedly because of his vast size compared to Heero's smaller bulk, he apparently assumed he could take the impact from Heero's lance without difficulty and therefore made no effort to turn the blow. Subsequently, the power of Heero's strike brought him to a halt instantly, even though Heero's lance shattered on impact, and Verleon's horse galloped out from underneath him. The knight hung in the air just long enough for his horse's tail to clear his backside, and then he dropped straight to the ground, landing rather unceremoniously on his armored butt.

There was a moment of stunned silence and then the audience erupted into thunderous applause, chanting Heero's name and stamping their feet until the stands were vibrating. Heero self-consciously waved one gloved hand before riding off the lists.

Prince John stared with his mouth hanging open.

“I think he had to put a little effort into that one,” Zechs commented.

“It's better for him if everything doesn't come too easily,” Treize said wisely.

The other Gundam pilots were applauding just as vigorously as everyone else.

“That was great!” Duo cried.

“I think he's starting to have a little fun,” Wu-Fei added. “It looked like he was almost smiling just then when he waved.”

Gisbourne was obviously irritated when he finally rode out for his match. His face was dark and his brows hovered so low over his eyes it looked like he was squinting. He dispatched his opponent quickly by aiming for his head instead of his shield. The knight tried to shift aside to avoid the blow, but the move spoiled his aim and his lance struck the edge of Gisbourne's shield and didn't break. Gisbourne managed to land a glancing blow on the side of the knight's helmet and he tumbled sideways from his horse.

“That's a filthy tactic!” Duo snarled angrily. “In Arthur's day, they would have disqualified a knight for that.”

Little John was surprised. “In truth? Gisbourne does that all the time to defeat a difficult opponent.”

“The man is lower than a snake's belly!” Duo grumbled. “I bet he'd stab a guy in the back, too.”

There was only one more match after that and the two knights made four passes before one had landed two good hits. With that knight's elimination, the field had been reduced to the requisite number of eight men and the contest was over for the day. As they exited the stands, Duo made his way over to Treize.

“Treize, are you having dinner at the castle tonight? I want to come with you and play dice with the nobles. I've cleaned out everyone else.”

Treize lifted an eyebrow. “You can't possibly need any more money. And besides, if you win all the nobles money, how are they going to pay their debt to me when Heero whips Gisbourne's butt tomorrow?”

Duo pouted. “Aw, come on! What else am I going to do all night?”

“Why don't you oil Wu-Fei's scales?” Zechs suggested with a smile.

Duo brightened immediately. “Now there's a real good idea. And his scales are still fairly new. Regular oiling is important for good scale health.”

“You're a thoughtful friend.” Zechs put his arm through Treize's. “Anyway, I'm tired of hanging around with nobles. Let's go bar-hopping. If you get me drunk enough, maybe you'll get lucky.”

“I have to get you drunk for that?” Treize smiled. “I thought all I had to do was say bend over.”

“That works too.”

“Nevertheless, bar-hopping sounds like fun. Duo and Wu-Fei can come with us and then we can all go back to the castle later to, ah, sleep.”

“Cool!” Duo said. “I'll go get Fei.”

Heero, Trowa and Quatre declined to go bar-hopping and Quatre declined for Roku.

“He sees quite enough of Papa Duo's debauchery, thank you.”

“Aw man!” Roku muttered.

In the morning, Zechs had trouble keeping his eyes open and he kept leaning his head on one hand. “Now I know what Friar Tuck meant about the sun being too loud,” he groaned. “What the hell were we drinking last night?”

“Ale!” Duo said cheerfully. “It's great stuff isn't it?”

“Ugh!” Zechs grunted. “Did I throw up?”

“No,” Treize laughed, “but I do recall you singing some of the filthiest drinking songs I've ever heard.”

“I was singing? Oh god!”

“You weren't that bad,” Wu-Fei assured him. “But you kept getting offers for sexual favors and Treize nearly got in a fight.”

“I'm possessive.”

Zechs hung his head in his hands. “I'm so embarrassed!”

“That's ok, you behaved yourself. At least until I got you back to the castle. You were a little wild after that.”

“I was?”

“Oh yeah!” Treize grinned. “I thought I was going to have a heart attack.”

“I don't remember any of this!”

“Bar-hopping was your idea.”

“If I ever make such a foolish suggestion again, hit me.”

“How about I just spank you? Oh wait, I already did that last night.” Treize chuckled warmly.

Zechs groaned. “I'm getting old. I used to be able to hold my liquor.”

“You're just out of practice,” Duo said. “We should do it again tonight.”

“You're insane.”

Duo just laughed.

A big crowd was already forming when they arrived outside the lists later that morning. People were clustered all along the route to the staging area, anxious to get a glimpse of Heero. Duo made his way through ahead of the others with Roku beside him, calling out “Make way for Sir Heero, festival champion!” This produced both cheers and good-natured boos, but the real effect was that people crowded forward and paid less attention to their purses. Duo had relieved a dozen or so plump gentlemen of their excess coin and passed it to Roku by the time they reached Alan and Will in the staging area.

“Did you hear the news?” Will asked when they stopped beside him. “Gisbourne was in a brawl last night.”

“Was he injured?” Heero demanded.

“No, but he nearly crippled some poor sap. He claimed the fellow insulted him.”

“But what I heard,” Alan put in, “was that the man wasn't even talking to Gisbourne. He and a companion were arguing about a wager they had and it came out that the fellow had bet on Heero. Gisbourne just attacked him.”

“That's not right,” Duo growled.

“I should say not,” Will agreed. “I daresay we won't be the only ones happy to see Gisbourne lying face down in the dirt later.”

Heero nodded sharply. “I'll be glad to oblige you.”

“Let's go sit,” Roku said eagerly. “I don't want to miss any of the matches.”

“Good idea.”

Normally, it would have been more fashionable for the nobles to show up at the last minute, but today the stands under the canopies were already crowded. Treize calmly shooed two other gentlemen aside so he and Zechs could sit next to Lady Margaret.

“Today's match promises to be most exciting, my lady,” Treize said smoothly. “Should you feel at all faint at any time, I urge you to lean on me.”

Lady Margaret's breathing quickened. “You are such a gentleman, Lord Treize,” she said a little breathlessly.

Mayor DeBoers' mouth worked soundlessly.

“Ah, here are the first pair,” Zechs said. He leaned over and whispered loudly to Lady Margaret, “it excites me to watch men locked together in sweaty combat.”

Lady Margaret went pale and every person within earshot, man or woman, suddenly looked faint.

“Indeed?” Lady Margaret whispered hoarsely.

Zechs leaned back and trailed his fingers through his hair with a brilliant smile. “Oh yes,” he purred. “A demonstration of powerful manhood is undeniably stimulating.”

Lady Margaret slumped against Treize and there was a sort of domino effect as nobles all around Zechs collapsed against a neighbor.

Treize shook a finger at Zechs. “Restrain yourself, my dear Count,” he murmured, “or I shall have to spank you again.”

Zechs tilted his head to one side and regarded Treize through his bangs. “Oh dear!” he murmured back. “My poor bottom!”

With a small moan, Lady Margaret fell into a swoon.

Mayor DeBoers went red-faced with jealousy. He gestured angrily to Prince John. “I think the knights are ready to begin!”

Prince John, who had been watching Zechs with helpless admiration, waved hastily at the two knights and the men prepared to joust.

The first two matches were exciting, but it seemed as if no one was really paying much attention. But when Heero came out in the third pair, the audience rose to their feet with a loud cheer. Heero inclined his head in acknowledgment and the cheer swelled to a roar.

“Man, I didn't know Heero could play a crowd,” said Duo.

The other knight looked a little dismayed and Heero didn't waste any time putting him out of his misery. Within seconds, the poor fellow was stretched out in the dirt looking up into the bright blue sky. Heero favored the crowd with a small wave on his way out, earning another roar of adulation.

Gisbourne entered while the crowd was still cheering and the noise quickly faded away to half-hearted applause. The angry scowl that formed on his face was plainly visible and his opponent, unfortunately, bore the brunt of his wrath. Gisbourne smashed his lance into the other knight's shield so powerfully, the shield cracked. The knight was not knocked off, but he dropped his shield and from the way he cradled his arm, it was clearly broken.

“I yield!” the knight cried and he urged his horse slowly off the lists.

Gisbourne saluted Prince John and trotted smartly out.

“It looks to me like Gisbourne is more accustomed to being the crowd favorite,” Trowa remarked. “I think he's pissed.”

“Obviously, these people have been starved for a true knight,” Quatre said. “Heero is reminding them of how a knight should behave.”

“Perhaps it will lead to a reemergence of truly honorable behavior.”

“One can only hope.”

Since it was obvious everyone wanted to see Heero and Gisbourne as the final match, the director of the tournament pitted them against the winners from the other two matches in the semi-final round. Those two knights did not appear to relish the role of appetizer, but that was obviously how both Heero and Gisbourne viewed them, since each of them knocked his opponent sprawling in record time.

A short break was announced before the final match and Roku produced a small snack for him and Duo to eat.

“What are you eating, Roku?” Quatre asked curiously.

“It's a potato pancake.”

“Where did you get that?”

“A lady in the market was selling them. It has chopped onions in it.”

Wu-Fei perked up. “That sounds pretty good.”

“Would you like one?”

“Sure.” Wu-Fei munched on the pancake with an approving expression. “That's not bad.”

“See?” said Duo. “Not all the food is bad here.”

“It's probably just a fluke.”

A sudden cheer announced the entry of Heero and Gisbourne back into the lists. The two men rode side by side but they did not look at each other. They saluted Prince John and then rode to either end of the lists without ever making eye contact. Heero gripped his lance and waited as still as a statue, while Gisbourne made a show of lowering his visor and positioning his shield before grasping his own lance. The crowd held its collective breath while they waited for the flag to go up.

Gisbourne clapped his heels against his horse's sides a scant instant after the flag moved.

“Whoa!” Duo said. “Either Gisbourne has good reflexes or he cheats.”

Heero let Gisbourne's horse take four strides before he kicked his own horse into motion. From a standing start, Heero's horse was at full stride in three powerful leaps and was matching Gisbourne's horse stride for stride. Their lances dropped into position. Not a sound could be heard but the thunder of hooves and the creak of armor.

Gisbourne aimed high, going for a head shot.

Heero aimed directly for Gisbourne's shield, his arm completely rigid. As the knights closed on each other, Heero raised his shield, effectively blocking his own vision, but his arm never wavered. Gisbourne's lance glanced off of Heero's shield and slid past the side of his helmet. But Heero's lance speared into the center of Gisbourne's shield with such force that the shield cracked in two. The splintered end of the shaft rammed into Gisbourne's breastplate with a resounding clang and lifted the big knight clean out of his stirrups as Heero tipped the lance up slightly. Gisbourne was carried along on the broken point of Heero's lance for four long strides before Heero flung the lance over the fence and let Gisbourne crash to the ground.

Gisbourne skidded along on his side before rolling over twice and ending up on his face.

“YES!” Duo shouted. He leaped to his feet, along with every other person in the stands.

“HEERO! HEERO! HEERO!” The chant rose up like thunder, shaking the stands and echoing from the buildings on every side.

Duo bounded down the steps onto the lists with the other Gundam pilots on his heels. “Way to go, Heero! What a finish!” He dashed up to Heero and caught the horse's bridle as Heero swung down. “You're the man, Heero! I am so totally turned on right now!”

Heero pulled his helmet off to reveal a very slight smile. “Yeah, it was pretty good.”

“Good? It was fantastic!” Quatre exclaimed. “You're an artist, my friend.”

“I agree completely,” said Trowa.

Roku impulsively hugged Heero around the waist. “That was really neat, Papa Heero! Will you teach me to joust?”

Heero's smile widened and he patted Roku on the head. “Sure, Roku.”

A sudden cry caused everyone to turn.

“What the hell?” Wu-Fei said.

Gisbourne was charging toward them, knocking defenseless people out of his way with his heavy steel gauntlets. His thick black hair stuck out wildly from his head and spittle sprayed from his mouth as he screamed with rage. “You…! You…! I'll kill you, you wretch!” he shouted as he dragged a long-bladed dagger from a sheath at his waist and plunged toward Heero.

Heero just stood there without moving.

“Oh, I've had quite enough of this asshole!” Duo exclaimed. He took two steps, jumped into the air and kicked Gisbourne square in the face. Gisbourne went down like a felled tree. Duo brushed off his hands. “There. Now, who feels like some lunch before the shooting contest?”