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Journey of a Thousand Miles

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step"

-Confucius-

Part 12

"Dear Trowa,

I'm not sure if you have already heard, but our trip to Greece has been unexpectedly cut short. I'm sending this letter from a small port where we are currently anchored to stock up on fresh water and provisions. By the time you'll receive it we should already have reached Sank. I'm sure you are wondering why we are traveling to Sank. Perhaps it is best if I start from the beginning…"

::::: Start Flashback :::::

We had just returned from a two day trip to Olympia, and were sitting down for afternoon tea when Duo appeared at the hotel.
"A telegram just arrived for Mr. Merquise," he said. "The captain asked me to deliver it right away."
"Thank you, Duo." As Zechs unfolded the paper and started to read his expression turned very serious.
"Is everything alright?" my cousin asked, concerned.
"It's from my sister," Zechs explained. "My father's condition has worsened. His personal physicians are giving him no more than a few weeks to live. Relena says he has asked to see me. The Spirit of the Sea is on the way to pick me up. She should arrive in about two weeks." As the blond aristocrat slipped the telegram into the pocket of his coat, he gave us an apologetic look. "I suppose this means we won't be able to finish this trip together. I'm sorry."
"Don't be silly, Zechs," Treize frowned. "What are you apologizing for?" He turned to face Duo, who was waiting by the door for his dismissal. "Tell Captain McKay to ready the Rebecca. We will be leaving port before nightfall tomorrow."
Duo nodded. "Aye, Sir."
"What are you doing?" Zechs asked the duke.
"We are going to sail toward Sank," my cousin told him. "If we meet your father's ship half-way we can get you home twice as fast."
The younger man shook his head. "No, Treize, you don't have to do that."
"But I want to."
"What about this journey? What about Quatre? You promised to show him Greece, and we have only been here little more than a week."
"Quatre understands."

I nodded as the two men looked at me. Of course I understood.
"I'm sorry about your father, Zechs. I know that, in spite of everything, you love him. I want to make sure that we get you to Sank in time to make your peace with him."
"Thank you, Treize." The blond aristocrat gave a wry but somber grin. "Somehow I have the feeling that he is too stubborn to die before I get there, now that he has made up his mind to see me."
Once Duo had left, I excused myself and went to my room. I would imagine that Zechs and my cousin would rather be alone right now.

About an hour later Treize came to see me.
"How is Zechs?" I asked him.
"He is alright," my cousin assured me as sat down on one of the chairs by the fireplace. "His father has been very sick for a long time now, so this news didn't come totally unexpected."
I nodded. "Still, it has to be difficult to know somebody you love is dying and there is nothing you can do about it."
"I'm sure it is."

There was a long moment of silence before my cousin looked up and at me. "Quatre, I know we promised that we would go to the festival tonight, but I'm sure you understand that Zechs doesn't feel much like socializing."
"Of course." I nodded understandingly.

"I want to be by his side right now, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't enjoy yourself. So, I thought that Duo could take you to the festival instead."
"Do you mean it?" I asked excitedly. "That would be wonderful."
"Very well," Treize gave me a soft smile as he rose. "Why don't you get yourself ready while I send a carriage to the port to pick up Duo?" he suggested.

::: End Flashback:::

The festival - I forgot what the locals called it - was an enormous three day event. Zechs told me that they have dozens of celebrations like this all throughout the year. There was music and dancing in the streets, vendors selling goods and food everywhere you looked. I don't think I have ever eaten so much. But it is just impossible not to. Everything is so delicious.

Trowa, I'm sure you would have loved it. It is like nothing you will ever see in England. But then again, the people here are nothing like us English. I have found that they are much more open and friendly (well, at least most of them are). They live a simpler life in many ways, but I think they have a lot more fun and take more joy in little things.
Anyway, Duo and I strolled through the streets for hours and had a wonderful time until…

::: Start Flashback :::

While I was still looking at the display of keepsakes and knickknacks one of the vendors was selling Duo had already moved on to the next stand. For a short moment I lost him in the crowd and I gazed around trying to find him when I suddenly ran into the semi-softness of a human body.
"Pardon me," I stammered as I took a startled step backward. The young man I had bumped into was a little older than I, probably Duos age. He glared at me and muttered something in his native language before he walked away. I didn't understand what he said, but obviously Duo did, because he scowled and called the boy something that didn't sound like a compliment.
"What did he say?" I asked.
"He called you a stuck up Pom.(1)"
Now I was scowling. "He is calling me stuck up?" I snorted. "At least I apologized. This wasn't completely my fault. He didn't look where he was walking either."
"Think nothing of it," Duo made a dismissive gesture.
We walked on and we would have probably forgotten the whole incident soon if not somebody had suddenly tapped me on the shoulder.
"You!"
"Yes," I turned to face another local boy, at least a head taller, and a lot heavier, than I was.

"You," he repeated. His English was broken but comprehensible. "You bumped my friend."
I nodded. "Yes, and I apologized for it. It was an accident."

"Apology not good enough. Why do you think you can come and make trouble?"
"He is not trying to make any trouble, alright," Duo intervened. "Why don't we all just go on our way?"

"Keep out," the boy glared at Duo. "This is not your matter."

"But it is," Duo retorted. "If you have an issue with my friend you also have an issue with me."

"You have big mouth, Pom. You want to fight?"
"Nobody wants to fight you." I assured him. This was becoming ridiculous. An inner voice told me to turn around and walk away, and I should have probably listened to it.
He snorted. "That's right. You Poms only talk. Big mouth but no guts. You are - how do you say in your language - um…big coward."

That was too much. I had been called many things before but never a coward. And I was not going to stand for it. "I'm not sure why you are making such a big deal out of this, but if you want to fight, fine. I would love to teach you a lesson."

He grinned smugly. "Come to wharf if you brave enough. I'll wait for you in one hour."
"We will be there." I assured him grimly.

"You are not really planning on going to the pier, are you?" Duo asked, after the boy had walked away.

"I do," I told him.

"I was afraid you would say that," he groaned.
"He insulted us. I'll not let him, or anybody, get away with calling me a coward."

*****

The pier was dark and at first I thought our opponent hadn't bothered to come, but then I saw him and half a dozen other boys standing in the shadows near one of the storehouses.
"Look," he taunted, "the English cowards."

"You brought six lackeys along and you are calling us cowards?" Duo replied mockingly.

"Shut your mouth."
"This is between you and me." I said as I took off my coat and tossed it to Duo. "Everybody else should stay out of it."

To my surprise the boy nodded. "First one on ground loses."

"If I win you will apologize for your remarks."
He grinned smugly. "You will not win."
"Quatre, this is foolish." Duo hissed.
"I know what I'm doing," I told him sharply. "Stay out of it."
The other boys surrounded us in a loose circle while my opponent and I stood toe to toe checking each other out. Perhaps he really thought he could not lose because he was older and bigger than I. His first punch came suddenly and unexpectedly, but I managed to sidestep it with ease. Silently I thanked Zechs for his fencing lessons which had made me a lot more agile than I used to be. I blocked and countered the first few attacks with little effort. One of my blows connected with his chest and he stumbled backward. I could tell that he was becoming angrier by the minute. Perhaps he was afraid to lose face in front of his friends. I gave Duo a glance and a confident smile. My opponent used that moment of diverted attention to palm me in the face. I could feel blood, sticky and warm, trickle from my nose, and I wiped it away with the sleeve of my shirt.
Suddenly the boy's hand disappeared into his pocket, and when it came out again he was holding a switchblade knife. My eyes widened and I took a step backward.
He grinned in a sinister way. "You still think you will win, Pom?"
"You bastard," Duo cried out angrily. But before he could do anything he was rushed by several of the other boys.

I swallowed convulsively as I watched every move he made. When he slashed at me I jumped backward. The tip of the blade barely missed my chest. He attacked again and again. I was only able to watch and evade him. From the corner of my eyes I could see Duo fighting with three attackers who were trying to stop him from coming to my aide, and I hoped that they wouldn't hurt him. I knew I had to do something. Behind me was the wall of a storehouse and I was going to run out of room really soon. When I thought that I had studied his moves for long enough, I reacted. Instead of retreating further I dashed forward. I trapped his arm and brought my left hand down on his wrist as hard as I could. He cried out and dropped to his knee. The knife fell from his hand and I kicked it swiftly away. As I stood over him my opponent knelt on the ground, cradling his broken wrist. It didn't seem like he had any desire to continue this fight.
Suddenly the high-piercing tone of a police whistle sounded and everybody except for the boy on the ground, Duo, and I scrambled to get away. I was panting, still trying to catch my breath. Duo grabbed me by the arm.
"Let's get out of here."
I nodded but it was already too late. Somebody grabbed me from behind by the collar of my shirt. Duo gave the constable one of his most charming smiles. "Good evening, Sir."
Somehow the man didn't seem impressed at all.

Duo, I, and three of the local boys who had been rounded up, were taken to the nearest police station. We spent several hours in a holding cell before my cousin came to pick us up. I was certain that he would be furious, but if he was he never let it show. He signed some papers before Duo and I were turned over into his custody. Treize didn't acknowledge us at all until we were sitting in the carriage that had been waiting outside the station. Then he looked at us very sternly and demanded. "Explain yourselves."
I recounted everything that had happened and the duke didn't say a word until I was finished.
"Do you even realize what a foolish thing you did?" he asked as I had ended my account. "One or both of you could have gotten seriously hurt or even killed."

"I realize that now," I admitted. "I'm sorry."

We dropped Duo off at the Rebecca then drove back to the hotel.

"Quatre, I want you to know that I'm very disappointed in you. Go to your room and get some sleep," my cousin told me. "I'll let you know tomorrow what our punishment will be.
"Punishment?" I echoed.
"You didn't except a pat on the shoulder and a 'well done', did you?" Treize asked sharply.
I glanced down at my feet penitently. "No, Sir."

*****

The next day after lunch we returned to the Lady Rebecca and the crew got ready to set sail. I was told to remain in my cabin until further notice.

I passed the time reading one of the books I had brought along. Shortly after we had left the port my cousin came to see me.
"Come with me," he ordered without further explanation.
We went down to the crew deck to pick up Duo at his quarters before Treize led the two of us to the kitchen. The cook seemed surprised to see us.

"Your Excellency," he said. "How may I help you?"
"Mr. Crofton, do you have any chores for these two gentlemen to do?" Treize gestured toward Duo and I. "They will be helping out down here in the kitchen for the next week."
"Is that so," the cook replied as he looked us over. "Well let me think for a moment, Sir. I'm sure I'll find something to do for them. In fact I think they could start by peeling potatoes for tonight's dinner."
"Excellent!" My cousin nodded, obviously satisfied. "That sounds like a wonderful idea." With that he turned and left us in the care of Mr. Crofton.

::: End of Flashback :::

I don't know, Trowa, if you can imagine how many potatoes are consumed every day by a crew of fifteen hard working sailors and three guests. I do have to add that the Duke took pity on us and forgave the remainder of our punishment after just three days. Nevertheless, if I have never to peel a potato again till the end of my life it will still be too soon.

I did learn my lesson though, not because of the punishment, but because of what Treize had said. After thinking about it in length, I realized that he was right. I don't think I'll ever do anything so foolish again.

Three days ago we rendezvoused with the Spirit of the Sea. The plan had been for Zechs to change ships and continue his journey to Sank, while the Lady Rebecca would return to England. To our surprise however, we learned from the Captain of the Spirit that Princess Relena herself had invited the Duke and I to accompany her brother to the kingdom. And that's very much why we are now on our way to Sank.

There are still many more stories I want to tell you, but I'm finding it difficult to put them down on paper. So I suppose they will have to wait until we see each other in person. It's ironic, really. For most of my life I have been dreaming about leaving England and going on a great journey, and now that I'm traveling I'm really looking forward to return home.

Sincerely Yours,

Quatre R. Winner

I had put down my pen and set the letter aside, so that it could dry while I addressed the envelope, when I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Come in, the door is open," I called out.
"His Excellency and Mister Merquise are sitting down for aperitifs and they wanted me to ask you if you would like to join them." Duo's voice reached me from behind.
"Thank you, Duo. Please tell them I'll be there as soon as I've finished this," I replied, without turning my head.
"What are you writing there anyway?" he asked curiously, as he walked closer and looked over my shoulder.
I shrugged. "Just a letter to a friend."
Duo didn't say anything, just gave me a strange grin.
"What?" I asked.
"It has to be more than just a friend. You have been writing all afternoon."
I snorted.
"Is it a lady or a gentlemen, tell me?" he pried.
"Duo," I exclaimed. "That's none of your business."

"Oh, you are blushing." He chuckled. "How sweet!"

I could feel my cheeks burning. I reached out and grabbed one of the pillows from my bed and threw it at the braided boy. "Get out!"

Duo laughed as he dodged the projectile with ease. While I was reaching for the next pillow he weaseled out of the cabin and closed the door behind himself.
I snorted in exasperation as I turned back toward the desk.
Duo could be such an imp. But then again, that was part of what made being around him so enjoyable. Somehow I had the feeling that I was going to miss Duo when this journey was over.

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T.B.C.

Author's Note:

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