Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Lord of War ❯ The Traveling Lord ( Chapter 11 )

I usually always wait for my wonderful Beta Reader to get back to me before posting, but since it has been so long…I guess I’ll post early and re-post once she’s done. So, all the crappy spelling and grammar and sentences that don’t make any sense are completely mine.


Also, here are a few replies to some of the reviews I got that I thought more than one of you may be thinking about:

~ I have some other works, but not many. As far as GW stories, I only have two. My one-shot “First Birthday” I’m proud of but “Lessons”, which is a 1x6 centered fic, is currently being revamped because it, for lack of a better word, SUCKS! It was my first fic…and you can tell *sweatdrop*. Anyway, that’s about it. (if you go to the “other works by this author” when you’re at one of my stories, the list will pop up.)

~ You’ll find that spontaneity rules their relationship for a while since they’re both too stubborn to admit their feelings *grumbles at the reluctant lovers*. So, expect more sudden moves.

~ Zechs and Duo’s tribe will be making an appearance, I promise. But as for when…well, I like my secrets. : )

~ It’s true that it may seem that Duo got over it rather quick, but the truth is he didn’t. He isn’t sure if the person they found was Solo, and he doesn’t like jumping to conclusions about that type of thing. Also he’s knida in denial and decides to focus on the fact that Heero did that for him instead of facing the fact that his best friend may be dead. Don’t worry, he’ll be a bit more angsty in this chapter.

## I laughed every time I got a “finally” in a review, and so did my muse…though hers was more of a cackle. Happy to hear that it was anticipated!


IMPORTANT: Read the small note at the end of this chapter PLEASE!!!


Chapter 11: The Traveling Lord

Duo snuggled into Heero’s chest, sighing contently as he refused to wake up. He was too comfortable to move, even if the sunlight was hitting him right in the eyes from the small crack in the curtains. Though he knew that the events of last night were sure to come back and bite him in the ass…possibly literally, as soon as he started thinking about it, Duo reveled in the state of bliss of the early morning without a care for once. As long as he was here with the beautiful Lord sleeping next to him, he could pretend that the world beyond the curtain didn’t exist. Burying his head deeper into Heero in the fight to stay in his blissful mindset, he heard the said man chuckle.

“Don’t want to get up, huh?” Heero’s voice was husky and deep, causing Duo to shiver unintentionally. The Aiko looked up at him, still half asleep, into Heero’s eyes that were partly open. The blue of his eyes was even darker than normal as he rubbed Duo’s back in soothing circles, causing Duo to sigh in content once again //Gods, I love his hands//. The Aiko scooted so he was face to face with the Lord. “You sayin’ you do?”

“No, but I don’t think the world will allow us to just stay here, no matter how comfortable we are.”

Duo frowned and pouted a bit to make Heero smirk. “Damn.”

Heero reached up to steal a kiss while smoothing his hands down Duo’s sides, making the Aiko moan. “Umm, feels good.”

The world still felt so surreal, like it had last night. Like the only people in the world were he and Heero and nothing existed beyond the bed curtains. Heero’s strong yet smooth and gentle hands continued to massage him, keeping his mind in the bliss they had created together //I could stay here forever…//.

The bed curtains were thrown back, revealing a very pleased Sally. “Good morning! How did you two sleep?”

Instead of ducking away and blushing like a normal woman would have, Sally just stood there and grinned at them. “…Or not sleep, depending on how I’m reading the situation.”

Duo scowled at her but was too shocked at the facts to mutter a word. Luckily, Heero wasn’t as bad off. “Quit your grinning and fetch us some breakfast, Sally.”

“Okay!” Sally smiled and walked away with way too much pep in her step.

The moment lost, Duo sat up and stared at the bright room around them, then looked down at himself, clad in nothing but his skin and a light sheet. His heart began to beat faster as the events of last night rushed back to him and confusion set in. Should he be regretting this? Would Heero expect this all the time…would he expect even more? Would he expect him to give in and let him…him…

Duo’s head was swimming in a fog of total loss when he felt Heero slide behind him and wrap his arms around Duo’s waist. “Are you all right?”

“I, uh…” Instinctually, Duo tried to pull away until Heero nuzzled the nape of his neck with his nose, causing him to stifle a moan. “I…”

“Relax, Duo. Just relax.” The Aiko tried but only found himself becoming more worked up. “You’re holding your breath, Duo. Relax.”

Duo closed his eyes and released the air he had been holing in then fell back onto Heero, welcoming the warm touch…though he still felt like he shouldn’t. He shouldn’t feel this comfortable, he shouldn’t, he--//…I can love him//. That though echoed in his now vacant mind. Duo sank further into the comfort Heero was supplying him. Whether he wanted it or not, he had fallen for the Lord the first time their eyes met. He had tried to deny it to himself and others, refused to utter that dangerous word out loud. But it was there, slowly imprinting itself on his mind like it had done with his heart weeks ago. The heart he could fight to ignore, but that coupled with his mind…it was a losing battle. Duo turned to look Heero in the eyes and was met with a clear, tender gaze.

//How long// he wondered. //How long until you imprint yourself on my soul as you have my mind and heart?//

# # # #

“Spill.” Quatre glared at him.

Heero just blinked at the man. “What?”

“You’ve been walking around with that secretive little smirk all day and I want to know. So spill, Yuy.”

He and Quatre were walking to their first conference together outside of the palace as they were talking. “I don’t, how do you say it, ‘kiss and tell’, I think?”

“Yeah, well, that’s because you never–wait, what?!” The blonde gawked at him. “You mean, you two…?”

“As I said, Winner.” Heero couldn’t help but smirk as he walked a little faster to get ahead of the man. He didn’t want to admit that he was still feeling…odd inside to the prying Lord. It had always been there, this odd feeling, ever since he first saw Duo, but now…it was so much stronger and so much more confusing. It was like he was walking around with bubbles in his stomach and a lightness in his heart that swelled whenever he saw the braided man. He had to admit that he liked the feeling but it was still disconcerting nonetheless. And ever since last night…he just couldn’t describe it, no matter how hard he tried. He wanted it to stop…and yet at the same time couldn’t stand the thought of it ending.

“Heero.”

Heero broke out of his thoughts and saw the Emperor walk up to him. “Good morning, my Lord.”

“I heard of what happened at the military review. It seems you have been hiding your skills from me.” The Emperor smiled as he ushered Heero into the conference room.

“I-I didn’t intend to…” Heero trailed off. Perhaps he had meant to, just a little. It was never a good idea for anyone to know just how strong you are, the soldier in him had always warned him, and he had always followed that advice.

“It’s alright. We were just surprised, Heero. Daresay, everyone was. True we knew you were impressive, but we’ve never seen you in action before. I hear your speed was one to be reckoned with.”

Heero and the Emperor sat down beside each other at the conference table. “I, well, I’ve just been lucky that I have never had a reason to use my skills…till recently.” Heero had to hold back a growl from the memory of Maxus’s slight. The thought of what he called Duo still boiled his blood.

“Yes, I heard what he said to your Aiko. Most distressing.” The Emperor said rather quickly then waved his hands to start the meeting, causing the other Lords to sit down. Heero blinked at the man then decided to let the odd behavior slide as Crescentius began his report.

“We have been having some difficulties in the southern region with failure of crops, though we can’t readily find the cause. Some suspect that the soil just needs to be replenished.”

Primitivus stood. “I can send three mages to the region to re-fertilize the soil, but it will still be useless for this season’s growth. The village will have to wait for next year to plant again.” Sitting down again, Primitivus folded his hands and placed his chin on them. “How is their livestock then?”

“Not too bad, considering the loss of the crops, but I am still worried.”

“Perhaps if they join with one of the neighboring villages they will survive the winter without us intervening any more than we already will.” Varius added.

Crescentius shook his head. “No, I do not agree. Then they would be hindering the production of one of the neighboring villages. I would rather have one unproductive village that we need to help that one unproductive village and another less productive one that we would probably still end up having to support anyway.”

“I agree.” Heero added in.

“Very well then, Primitivus will send out some of his mages and we will use the reserves to help the village through the winter. Next report.”

The meeting continued on with various reports of problems in the border villages ranging form small drought to small flares of disease. Heero listened intently, soaking in the information as it was delivered. It was strange, almost all of the bordering villages and cities were having problems of one kind or another. The border city of Farsia even had problems with arson. Two of their store houses had been burn to the ground in the past week //just what in the hell is going on out there?//.

During the report, Heero caught a fair amount of glances at him yet again. Everyone was worried, he knew that, and understood. No one cared for the alternative to these growing problems, but it was in the back of their minds nonetheless.

Crescentius finished his report after two and a half hours of deliberation on the subject then they moved on to Varius’s report, which passed by relatively quickly. Only one and a half hours for his this time. It was then that they decided to break for lunch.

“Heero.” Crescentius called out then ran up to him while they were in the banquet hall, eating a light lunch. “I um…I hate making you worry like that, and you aren’t required to come to this particular meeting, so…”

“Don’t worry yourself over it, Crescentius. I like knowing what is going on in the kingdom, even if it doesn’t directly relate to my house.”

“I understand that it’s just…”

“The point is you do not have to attend these meetings, Yuy.” Primitivus interjected.

Heero stared at the two then closed his eyes in defeat. He knew what was coming.

# # # #

Quatre looked on with sad eyes. Though he couldn’t hear what was being said, he knew all to well what was being discussed. He had expected it for a while now, unfortunately, but it still hurt his heart thinking about it. Not bothering to stay for the rest of the meeting, he headed off to Heero’s house. He needed to talk to Sally…and Duo.

# # # #

Duo sat in the bath, staring at the steaming water lost in thought, the report of what Heero’s people found swimming through his head. He was able to forget it in the darkness of night and in Heero’s arms, but now that the sun was up, he couldn’t run away from the truth. The Lords words came pouring from his memory and into his heart, which he had tried vainly to protect last night. Though he knew Heero would have helped him cope in the dead of night, he had chosen to hide from it and lose himself in the Lord’s embrace. He had dreamed about the idea of touching Heero for a while now. But last night it was for all the wrong reasons and he knew it.

At first, Duo wanted to be mad at Heero for taking advantage of him, but the more he tried to justify his anger, the more he felt none. He had wanted some way to escape and Heero had given it to him, even asked if he was sure about it and didn’t push any farther that Duo was ready for. The man had been perfect, sweet, and gentle, while Duo had been complete fool. He couldn’t blame Heero; he had done nothing wrong and, in truth, everything right. It was his own fault that he felt like shit now and he finally saw what he tried to hide himself from last night: His people were being eradicated. Hunted down for no reason and killed with no remorse. The braided Aiko scooped up some water and splashed it on his face, letting his tears mix in with the run off. //Why? Why are these people killing us and not taking our land? Why are they doing this? Who are they?// Duo held back a sob //Solo, are you alive…or was that you?//.

Flashes of the people he knew now were dead plagued his mind until they settled on the thought of the child sized grave Heero had spoke of. This time Duo couldn’t help but choke out a sob. Who was it? Who was it in that grave? The faces of all the children of the village danced through his mind, causing more tears of pain to drip into the water below. He felt so alone now. He knew his world was falling apart as soon as he was sold to the highest bidder. But even then he had hope that his tribe was safe and would come looking for him, but last nights report had ripped all of that away from him and left him bare to the harshness of reality. There would be no rescue. And if he were to escape or even be set free, there was nowhere to go home to. True their land was still there and relatively untouched, but he had always been told that home isn’t a place where you live, but the people you live with. And they were gone, some of them permanently.

Duo splashed himself with more of the cooling water from the bath, praying that it would somehow stop him from thinking all of these dark thoughts, but it didn’t work. They were still there, still strong, and still painful as hell. His heart felt empty and he even began to shake from the feeling. Duo squeezed his eyes shut and felt his tears strain out of them in a constant flow down his face. What did he have left? His homeland was barren, his family gone, and his freedom a mere memory. All he was now was a rich Lord’s slut. He proved that last night when he traded his body for the comfort Heero could give him. He was just lucky Heero hadn’t pushed it any further. Maxus’s words from yesterday rushed into mind and he found himself believing them. //I am a Marshna whore. Why would Heero ever love me. What good am I?//.

Opening his eyes again, Duo surveyed the water he was sitting in. Never had a big pool of water looked so inviting. All he would have to do is sink his head and inhale…//It would be so easy…//. He welcomed the idea of water flooding his lungs, slowly drowning him into oblivion. Almost craving the burning sensation of his lungs filling with the warm liquid, Duo began to lean foreword.

# # # #

Quatre walked thought the threshold of the house and was hit by the strongest wave of emotions he had ever felt, causing him to double back and land on the marble flooring. His head was swimming with someone else’s thoughts that he couldn’t seem to block out. No matter how hard he tried, the waves of self disgust and loneliness coming from one of the houses inhabitants stormed into his mind ruthlessly. He was so off balance, it took him a while to comprehend who he was sensing //Duo…//.

Failing to see strait as he ran, Quatre stumbled along the hallway and towards the impending doom he felt coming from the Aiko. Reaching the bathing room, the blonde slipped in and saw Duo wallowing in the bath, about ready to pitch forward into the water. “Duo!”

The Aiko jumped at his voice and stared at him in pure shock, trails of tears slowly streaming from those expressive violet eyes. Quatre’s heart clenched tightly at the sight. Duo was in pure agony. “Duo, what’s wrong?” Quatre asked quietly as he took a few steps towards the braided man.

“N-Nothing, Kat, really. Just a few bad thought runnin’ through my head is all.” Duo tried to grin, but failed miserably.

The blonde Lord shook his head and sat on the edge of the bath. “You can’t fool me. Tell me what is wrong.”

Duo shook his head. “You’re reading too much into it, I’m fine.”

The Aiko stood up and grabbed a towel that he promptly wrapped around his waist. Securing the towel, Duo strode out of the bathing room and towards his own quarters.

“Duo!” Quatre yelled after him, stumbling up off the floor and following him. The man had just made it to his room when Quatre slipped in and close to door behind him. “Stop this, you know I can read you. Now tell me, please.”

“Don’t worry about it. I can take care of myself.” Duo threw at him defensively as he dug through his dresser and pulled out a new toga.

Normally, if this were Heero, he probably would have left by now and bugged him about it later after he had a chance to sort it out, but Quatre was afraid to leave. He knew what he had felt and he didn’t like it in the least: Duo had felt suicidal…he still did.

# # # #

The blonde watched him with worry evident in his eyes as Duo slipped on his clean clothes. Quatre closed the small distance between them and laid his hand on Duo’s shoulder. “I know you can take care of yourself, but that doesn’t mean you have to all the time.”

Duo sighed. “Look, I know you’re just trying to help, but you can’t, okay?” //Not unless you can change the past…//

“Yes I can.” Quatre pushed him back onto the bed and sat down with him. “Everyone needs someone to listen to them, Duo, and that’s what I’m here for. Now, tell me.”

The offer sounded good, but he was already in too deep here. He already considered too many of the people here friends and even considered one something even more //…Heero// and that was already too close for comfort. If he opened up to Quatre now…

“Please Duo, you scared me with what you were feeling.” The blonde pleaded.

At first Duo didn’t understand what the hell could have scared him, until he remembered his own thoughts about the bath he had been sitting in a while ago. //Oh man, he felt that?// “I’m fine.”

“No you’re not. Tell me.”

“No.” Duo growled, though he felt himself caving //leave now…I’m too close already!//.

“Please.”

“Drop it Kat!”

“No!”

“Yes!” //Please, Kat…//

“Tell me!”

“Leave!” //Don’t leave…//

“Not until you tell me!”

“Alright!” He heard himself say out loud instead of in his mind like he had meant. His outburst shocked himself and he felt hot tears streak down his face once again. Duo tried to hide that fact. It was one thing to cry by yourself, but another to do it in front of someone.

Quatre didn’t let him however and pulled Duo into a hug. Feeling those unusually warm and kind arms wrapped around him, the Aiko broke down and told the man what he had found out last night, complete with how he handled the news. Quatre stayed silent the whole time, rubbing his back like Solo’s mom used to do when he was upset.

It took a while for Duo to finish and that was when he choked out, “I’m disgusting and weak, aren’t I?”

Quatre pulled him back so their eyes could meet. “No, you were hit with a lot last night. You are not weak, just human.”

Duo looked away from those clear blue eyes. “But I’m still disgusting.”

“Duo,” Quatre started lightly. “You have feelings for Heero, don’t you?”

“Yes…” Duo whispered in reply, amazed he was able to say it out loud.

“Then what is so wrong with turning to him for comfort?”

“It was the wrong type of comfort that I pushed for. We played around. I let him…touch me.”

Quatre shook his head. “Oh Duo. You said so yourself that you were touched by his kindness last night, right? That the fact that he did all of that just for you made you feel good and you wanted to get closer to him because of it.”

“Yeah….”

The blonde cocked his head. “Then what is so wrong with what happened last night?”

“I…”

“Did he push you?”

“No.”

“Did you enjoy it?”

“Yes”

“How does that make you disgusting?”

Duo was at a loss. It did feel good, amazing even, and Heero had treated him kindly and even delicately. Was it really so bad that he enjoyed it? His heart said ‘hell no’ while his mind said ‘yes’. His soul decided to stay quiet on the subject. “I…I guess it doesn’t.”

Quatre smiled and hugged him. “No, it doesn’t, it just means you’re letting your heart make few of the decisions now days.”

Duo felt better about the whole ‘Heero’ issue, but his heart still felt empty. Quatre must have picked up on it. “I’m sorry about your tribe. I’m sure the rest of them are safe and sound and just as worried about you as you are of them.”

“Yeah?” Duo quirked a grin.

“If they’re anything like you, then I’m positive.” Quatre smiled reassuringly.

“Thanks Q-man.”

Quatre blinked at the nickname, but didn’t say anything about it.

It was them that Duo thought of something that had been bothering him for a while. “Hey Q?”

“Yes?”

“Can I ask you something? It’s a little…odd.”

Quatre smiled at him and shook his head. “Please Duo, just ask.”

“Okay, so, you know how Heero and I…” Duo trailed off.

“Yes.”

“Okay well, here’s the question: How the Hell did Heero know how to do all of that stuff?”

Quatre blushed a deep red as Duo continued.

“I mean, everyone keeps saying that I’m his first Aiko, which means he’s most likely not been with anyone, yet he knew where to touch and how to kiss and all of the crap that you’re supposed to learn as time goes on but he already knew it and all and I was just wondering how, y’know ,because its really weird, not that I’m complaining or anything because it was nice last night, well better than nice really so I just couldn’t figure out how he could make it so nice without any--”

“Duo, Duo stop! Breathe, you’re turning purple.” Quatre giggled.

Duo took a few deep breaths and then turned his attentions back to Quatre, who was looking a bit embarrassed. “He knew how because he was taught, Duo.”

“Taught? You guys teach that stuff?” Duo was in shock.

“No, no. Not everyone is taught. But Heero was…oh, um, about Heero, Duo…”

“What about him?” Duo asked, a bit more lighthearted and yet even more confused then he was earlier.

“He may be a little…withdrawn when he comes home.”

Duo’s smile faltered. “Why?” Was Heero regretting it?

# # # #

Quatre saw the light that had just returned a little fade out of Duo’s eyes and decided not to continue. “Oh never mind. It’s just a bunch of political nonsense anyway that he’ll be upset about. Don’t worry about it.” He would just have to talk to Sally about it later.

Duo seemed to feel a bit better. “Oh, okay.”

“I know!” Quatre said as a thought dawned on him. “Why don’t I take you to the Kaito House.”

“The who?” Duo blinked.

“You know, Primitivus, Tertius, Tricieus, all of them…?” Quatre gestured with his hands.

“Oh them,” Duo smiled, finally understanding, the frowned at the thought. “Why in the hell would I want to go there?”

“You met Tertius, right?” Quatre said knowingly. Little Tertius had said that he and Duo had met at the banquet a few days ago while they were talking over lunch yesterday.

“What about him?” Duo obviously still didn’t follow.

“Well, Primitivus isn’t home and I bet Tertius would love to teach you a little about magic. I would be a good way to pass the time.”

Duo gave him a funny face. “I’m not so sure about that Kat. I mean, me and magic don’t mix…at all.”

“Oh nonsense,” Quatre smiled. “You just haven’t been taught by a genius yet.”

The Aiko seemed to ponder the idea for a while then nodded. “Why not, it’ll pass the time. And, if I do end up blowing anything up, it’ll let out a little of the steam I have stored up from yesterday.”

# # # #

The Kaito house was practically empty when he and Quatre made it there. Though he was with a Lord, they still used the back entrance, which lead them to the room Duo had met all of Primitivus’s Aiko weeks ago.

“Stay here until I come back with Tertius, okay?” Quatre smiled.

“Sure.” Duo watched him leave and stepped into the main room. Once inside, he saw all of the Aiko huddled together, deep in conversation. Duo strained his hearing and made out the words ‘military review’ and groaned. Not even a whole day and they were already talking about that? Lorlia was sad.

Tricieus looked up from the group huddle and smiled when his eyes met Duo’s. “Duo! How have you been?”

The rest of the Aiko looked up and smiled pleasantly at him //great, they’re looking forward to a first hand account//. Duo inwardly rolled is eyes at the prospect of having to tell them the story when he remembered the conversation he had with Wufei yesterday. ‘Yuy exercised his authority to protect your reputation. All I am asking, is that you do the same’ was what he had said and Duo bit his lip at the memory. He owed it to Heero to make sure the rumors were in his favor. “Hello, Tricieus.”

“Come, sit. Get comfortable.” Tricieus motioned to the overstuffed pillow beside him and smiled yet again.

Sighing, Duo crossed the room and sat down, feeling the eyes of the group on him.

“So,” Tricieus started. “What have you been up to lately?”

Duo was about to open his mouth when Illinus spoke up. “Oh please. All you want to hear about is the military review he went to yesterday so quit stalling.”

Tricieus blushed a little but the rest of the Aiko stared at Duo expectantly. Sighing, Duo relayed what happened yesterday, from the pathetic sparring they were forced to lay witness to, to the ass hole Maxus and their duel. The Aiko stayed silent through it, apparently engrossed in the details of the earlier day’s events.

“I won the duel and pinned him to the ground, which was when he called me…” Duo looked up into the Aiko’s eyes and saw understanding there and sighed in relief; they weren’t going to make him say it. “That was when Lord Yuy had to pry me off of him and sent me away. It was when I looked around the corner that I saw the confrontation between Lord Yuy and Maxus.”

“So Maxus did provoke it, by insulting you, Lord Yuy’s First Aiko. No wonder Lord Yuy was so angry.” Illinus concluded. The rest of the Aiko shook their heads in agreement while Duo let out a sigh of relief //that went better than I thought it would//.

“We heard that Lord Yuy lifted Commander Maxus clear off the ground with one arm, is that true?” One of the other Aiko asked.

Duo couldn’t help but smile. “Yep.”

“Wow,” Tricieus said for all of them.

The decidecly oldest Aiko was about to add something when Quatre re-appeared with Tertius beside him. “Lets go, Duo.”

The braided Aiko nodded and said his goodbyes to the others then followed Quatre and Tertius through the house to a practice garden somewhere on the mansion’s grounds. It was a simple place at fist glace; a few fruit bushes, grass, an herb garden, a tree or two and a few long tables. It was when you looked on the wall that you saw all the bottles and urns full of magic ingredients, much like what Heero had in his magic room at home. Only in this little garden of magic there were all kinds of magical trinkets that he had never seen before.

“Most of these things are pretty basic, but we do have some of the more impressive items out here, like these.” Tertius pointed at a pair of large marbles sitting on a stand next to the door they had just walked through. Duo leaned in to inspect them. “What are they?”

“Ancient ‘Weather Builders’.” Tertius smiled.

Duo looked towards him in confusion. “Huh?”

The young Lord giggled a bit. “They were used in the ancient times to create rain. Apparently you have to chant something in the ancient language and they work.”

Duo just stared at them in awe. The ability to control the rain is the same as the ability to control life. If his tribe owned a pair, that Celestial Gift never would have…Duo shook that dark thought away. The fact that he had never known still angered him inside whenever he recalled the memory. He opted to change the subject in his own head. “So, do they work, then?”

“No, well, theoretically they do, but my brother can’t seem to figure it out.”

“Maybe you will.” Quatre interjected. Little Tertius blushed then moved away from the Weather Builders to the center long table. Duo looked to Quatre for an explanation, which was when he saw the blonde mouth ‘later’. Understanding, Duo made his way over to where Tertius was waiting.

“Now, Duo, have you done any magic training before?”

“A little,” Duo muttered, remembering the poor squirrel that had been at the wrong place at the wrong time back in the day. Damn that light spell.

“Okay, so I take it they most likely did natural spells?” Tertius began to set up some of the bottles of ingredients and stones on the table in front of him.

“Sure, natural.” Whatever the Hell ‘natural’ meant.

“Like…?” Tertius led him on.

“The basic light spell and growth spell. That’s all.”

“Did you master them?”

“Define ‘master’.”

Tertius looked up at him and gave him a confused look, then smiled. “You gave them a little too much power I take it?”

Duo smiled and nodded, causing Quatre to giggle.

“What’d you blow up?” Tertius inquired.

The Aiko frowned. “A squirrel.”

Tertius snorted and then went to the shelf to grab something. He came back with a rather large globe in hand and placed it on the table. The light blue and white colors of the sphere seemed to swirl in it, making it almost look like a piece of the sky was trapped in the orb. Tertius tapped the sphere and said, “Just in case.”

Duo blinked at him but decided not to worry about it as the young Lord placed a concentration stone and a candle before him. “Okay, I want you to try the spell that they taught you before and light this candle.”

Duo nodded and concentrated as hard as he could, remembering the quiet chant he had been taught in his childhood. Once he felt the magical energy build up inside him, he released it towards the candle.

Nothing happened.

“Damn it all.” Duo growled.

“Try again.” Tertius encouraged, then stared at him as if he were trying to read his soul.

Duo nodded, then turned his attention back to the candle, this time he waited until he thought the magic inside him was going overflow before he released it, directing it towards the tip of the flint on the candle.

Nothing.

“Fuck.” By the Gods he hated magic.

“It’s okay, it’s been a while since you’ve last done this, correct?” Tertius smiled.

“Yeah, but still. A light spell is supposed to be so easy, but I can never seem to get it until I get pissed off enough to blow something up with it. Maybe magic just doesn’t like me.” Duo grunted the last part, causing Tertius to laugh.

“It’s not possible for magic to hate you; magic is a part of you. It’s a part of everyone. Every living creature has magic in it; only the amount of magic varies depending on the person or thing.”

“Yeah, well, then I just don’t have much or something.” The braided Aiko grumbled.

“I don’t think it’s that, Duo. I ‘m pretty sure I know what it is, but I want to make sure. So, try one more time.” Tertius pushed the candle closer to him as an invitation.

Duo sighed, and then began to concentrate once again, becoming more and more pissed off as time went by. Finally, Duo felt the power leave him, only it traveled too fast through him and he felt more magic behind it then he remembered creating.

The candle burst into flames, melting all the wax in one great burst, then fizzled out.

Tertius reappeared from under the table a minute later.

Duo glared death at the candle.

Quatre tried not to laugh.

Tertius did laugh, and then began to pick at the remaining wax that had splattered all over the table. “Well, it lit.”

Duo turned his glare to the young Lord as Quatre busted a gut behind him.

“I think I know what’s wrong.” Tertius declared as Quatre calmed down.

That statement perked Duo’s ears up. “Really?”

“Yep. You see, people’s magic is usually connected to their emotions at least a little, since magic is part adrenaline from your own body’s production. But yours is completely in sync with your emotions, and I mean completely. You don’t do anything until you’re upset and then you push out too much magic and over-do the spell. At least from what I can see.” Tertius pointed to where the candle used to reside, proving him point.

Duo blinked. “Then, I have to be pissed off if I ever want to do any magic?”

“No, it’s just the type of emotion you have strongly depicts what will happen. If you’re angry, things will be destroyed, if your sad, things will be fixed, if you’re scared…you get it?”

“I think so,” Duo smiled, though he was still just as lost as before. “So, what’s that for?” Duo pointed to the large orb Tertius had retrieved earlier.

“This is what we call a ‘Retainer’. It collects magic that is being generated around it and stores it, hence the name ‘Retainer’. This is actually a fake one.”

The Aiko raised an eyebrow. “A fake one?”

“Yep. The real Retainers are a type of person, actually.” Tertius smiled. “They are a people who are born randomly that actually don’t have any of their own magic, so they absorb it from others and retain it. Then, they use that magic as their own.”

“But, all living things have magic, you said so yourself.” Duo contradicted. He had never heard of a people who could be born without magic…he didn’t even think it was possible. Magic courses through the veins of everyone and everything, that’s why they’re alive. At least that’s what he was taught.

“Like I said, it was very rare and random for one to be born when they were around. I don’t think they even exist anymore, considering one hasn’t even been documented for two hundred years.”

“Huh.” Duo stared down at the orb, following the small wisps of white that were swirling around inside with his eyes. “So, it’s absorbing my magic right now?”

“All of ours actually,” Quatre pointed out. “But since none of us are concentrating or building up our magic as of now, it’s absorbing very little.” The blonde looked up at the sky and frowned. “Well, I should be going. Take care of him Tertius.”

The young Lord nodded and smiled as Quatre left. “Well, let’s do some magic.”

# # # #

Wufei scanned the manor once again, annoyed that he was suddenly the only one of consequence in the mansion. The sun was close to setting and no one could be found where he or she should be. Sally, who was usually found in the kitchen helping with dinner, was nowhere in the manor. Yuy wasn’t home yet. Phinneaus had disappeared and hasn’t been seen since yesterday. And the Aiko was yet to be found as well.

Frowning, the young monk stalked outside to the practice grounds where the Aiko was usually found at this time of day.

Nothing.

“Damn it all, where the hell is everyone!” Wufei grumbled to himself. This was all that Aiko’s fault. Before he came, he knew where almost everyone was at any time. Now, not only could he not find that menace, but Heero, Sally, and that annoyance Phinneaus were all missing. Phinneaus he could overlook because he was pretty sure that the pain had returned home, but everyone else was still in trouble.

Growling, Wufei stocked off to the Royal Court, intent on finding Yuy. Not that he wasn’t use to this, by the Gods was he quite skilled at the hunt by now. What with Yuy’s habit of running off whenever he could manage. He had always been like that, ever since they had met all those years ago. Smiling, Wufei thought back to the first day they had met. He had been in solitary because he had accidentally slept in one too many times. He never could manage to wake up before the sun without any help. Sunrise, no problem, but when the stars were still shinning bright, his body refused to wake, for damn the resultant punishment.

The solitary room had become a regular place for him when he lived at the temple. He was often found there, meditating in the darkness of the small temple room. True, it wasn’t as if he was locked in, but despite his impressive knowledge of disciplinary actions, he was a good student at heart. One of the best in his class, grading wise. He just…always found ways to deserve punishment: from reading under the willow by the lake while he was supposed to be practicing katas to challenging the high brothers of the temple and winning. Though he never did understand why he was punished for that.

He was thinking about that very reason when he had heard the small wall panel slide back and a young blue-eyed brown haired boy slip in to join him in solitary.

“Who are you?” Wufei whispered as the boy held a finger up to his lips.

“No one.” The boy answered, his eyes twinkling with mirth.

It was then that Wufei heard people running frantically about outside. “Lord Yuy! Lord Yuy! Where are you?”

The voice wasn’t familiar, but he could tell that the person was worried.

“Please child, come out!” That was the Master’s voice.

“Young one!” //Brother Xian?//.

Assuming that the boy with him was this ‘Lord Yuy’, Wufei raised an eyebrow and began to call back, but the pleading look those blue eyes were giving him silenced his call. Instead, he asked, “Why are you hiding?”

“Because I’m free right now.”



Wufei was jutted out of his reminiscing when he came across Heero walking back to the manor. “Heero, why did you not tell me--”

“Not now, Wufei.” Heero mumbled and continued to walk past him and towards home.

Wufei followed after him, surprised at the Lord’s mood. “Yuy? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m just…just a bit tired.”

He looked more depressed than tired. “Are you certain?”

Heero just nodded and continued his journey home as Wufei watched on. Furrowing his brow, Wufei tried to think of a reason the man would be upset and could think of none…considering he now knew fist hand that Yuy and the Aiko were getting along very well.

Wufei blushed and pushed the memory away of walking into Yuy’s bedroom last night unannounced. That would be the last time he checked on Yuy before bed. Late night checks would be safer.

Hopefully.

So then what could it be?

Stumped on the reason but knowing a way to cheer the man up, Wufei headed towards Barton and Winner’s new home. Pray to the Gods that the man was home.

# # # #

Duo returned to the manor with a smile. He had actually managed to do the light, growth, and even the telekinetic spell before he had to return to the House of War, the moon now framed by a dark sky. With that ‘Retainer’ being used, Duo actually managed to concentrate more without the fear of killing something.

What he wouldn’t give to have Solo and the rest of the guys here, right now, so he could show off that he could do magic, and had a lot of it too. That would stun the shit out of them. Serves them right for picking on him about it for years…//ass holes//.

Duo’s smile faltered as he thought of them, the fear that Solo was dead bubbling up from his gut, making him feel ill.

Shaking the unwanted fears out of his head, Duo made it to the manor and headed towards his room to change for the night. The Aiko trusted himself enough to use the light spell to light a lantern to use in his room as soon as he stepped in. Slowly breathing and concentrating hard, he managed to get the lantern to flicker to life. He smiled to himself; maybe magic wasn’t all that bad after all.

Duo slipped on a night toga and carried his proof of his success to Heero’s room, intent on telling the man what he had accomplished. It was then that he heard a strange voice coming from Yuy’s room. Curious, Duo poked his head in first and found nothing. Then, looking around to make sure Wu Fu wasn’t anywhere in sight, he slipped into the Lord’s chambers and heard the voice coming from the balcony. Walking lightly to the curtain that separated the room from the balcony, Duo hid behind it and listened intently to the strange voice.

“…the rice fields go for miles, bordering the Kingdom of Takami-Koku, their waters thick with lilies, grass, and rice. Fish swim among the waterlogged crops; beautiful fish with wild colors, ranging from the darkest red to the brightest blue. They each protect their small homes, fighting each other when one swims too near to their domain.

“The rice field itself is broken into squares, each square belonging to a family. Women, with their skirts tied up, trudge through the waters, picking the crops as they ripen…”

The longer Duo listened, the less he believed it. That was Trowa! The man that he had barely heard speak two words was going on about rice fields such detail that Duo could have painted a picture. Confused, Duo was about to head out and ask ‘what the hell?’ when a hand came down on his shoulder and kept him rooted in his place.

“Leave them.”

“Why?” Duo blinked back at the monk whose hand had stopped him.

Wufei pulled Duo none-too-gently out of the room, then turned to answer his question. “He needs this.”

The Aiko qwerked an eyebrow. “Who needs what?”

“Yuy. He likes to listen to Trowa.”

Yeah, that answered the question well. “Less cryptic please.”

Wufei sighed deeply then dragged Duo towards the kitchen. Once there, Wufei poured himself a hot cup of tea as Duo sat at the bar. It wasn’t until Wufei took his first sip of tea that he spoke. “How much do you know about Yuy?”

Man, he was asked questions like that a lot here. “Not much, apparently. I know he’s an insomniac, works too damn much, worries all of his friends constantly, and it the sexual fantasy of all the Aiko I’ve met.”

Wufei apparently sucked his tea down the wrong tube and began choking and spurting it back up. A slight red hue was evident on his face as the man looked up at Duo. “Was the last part truly necessary?”

“You asked.”

Wufei pursed his lips together in an annoyed manner, but didn’t comment. “Do you know why I am in his service?”

Duo nodded. “Yeah, because his parents were killed and the Emperor was freaked he might be next, right?”

Wufei narrowed his gaze for an instant then returned to a neutral stare. “Do you know of the restrictions placed upon him?”

“Restrictions?” Duo blinked.

“Yuy is not allowed to leave the city unless it is completely necessary.” Wufei explained coolly.

Duo’s eyes widened in shock. “Not allowed to leave? Why the fuck not?”

“Safety reasons.”

The braided man looked out the window and frowned. “So, he’s never been outside of the city?”

“He has been, once. But that is all.” Wufei took a sip of his tea and joined Duo’s gaze of the world outside. “That was when we met.”

Duo sighed, feeling bad for Heero. “So, he’s a prisoner in his own Kingdom?”

Wufei nodded his head. “You could think of it that way.” The monk finished off his tea and met Duo’s eyes. “That is why Trowa cheers him up so.”

Duo’s mind clicked. He had heard before that Trowa traveled a lot. Hell, the man even knew where he was from, just by lookin’ at him. “So, Trowa tells him stories about his travels? I didn’t think the man was capable of saying more than two sentences per conversation.”

Duo caught the other man smile a bit at his comment. “He doesn’t, usually. But he makes an exception for Heero.”

“He describes the places he’s been, so Heero may have the chance to picture them in his mind.” Quatre explained as he entered the kitchen and the conversation. “Heero has always been cooped up. He wasn’t even allowed to leave to go to his own best friends wedding.”

The Aiko’s brow furrowed. “You mean Phinneaus’?”

The blonde nodded sadly.

“Who the hell decides that? Heero’s not a slave, he’s a fucking Lord!” Duo found himself shouting. Wufei held up a hand to silence him.

“Believe me, I am well aware of the injustice of the situation, but there is nothing we can either say nor do about it. This is the Emperor’s decision. What he says is law, Aiko.”

Duo scowled at the man as if he were the one who had made the decision then got up and headed towards his room, pushing by Quatre as he did so.

Could this place be any more fucked up? They had slaves that did their bidding, sex slaves to play with, class systems purely based on blood, a dictator who decides everything, Lords that were prisoners in their own homes, families who happily sell their children as Aiko, and even grown men gossip like lovesick girls. If Solo ever saw this place, he’d be laughing his ass off at these idiots, and Duo would be laughing right with him.

But now, he was so incorporated in their society, friends with important people…almost lover of a Lord…

Why, oh why, did he have to fall for Yuy?

Duo found himself lost in his own thoughts as he made his way back to his room, unintentionally slamming the door once he was there. Annoyed more than pissed, he threw himself on his bed and sulked, praying that sleep would take him soon so he could get all the thoughts running through his head under control. Then again, all this thinking may give him some pretty fucked up dreams.

Groaning to himself, Duo lay on his bed and tried to rest and not think about what he had learned. About half an hour later, he heard a knock at the door. The Aiko grunted his permission for the person to enter and Sally came through the door.

“Hey, Heero is calling for you.”

Because of his new found talent with magic and his acquisition of additional knowledge about Heero’s situation, he completely forgot about his fear of what would happen tonight once he was alone with the Lord in bed.

Well…he just remembered.

“I…uh--well, um…do I have to?”

…//Smooth Duo, real smooth//…

Sally just blinked at him.

“That didn’t come out right. Could you just tell him that I’m already asleep? Please Sally?”

//Coward// His inner voice chided.

//Damn straight!//

Sally let out a sigh. “Duo, quit acting like an idiot and go to Heero’s chambers. You’re acting as if it’s your fist night with him all over again.”


Duo opened his mouth to retort, but Sally’s glare silenced him. Groaning again, Duo slid off his bed and headed towards Heero’s chambers… as slowly as he could possibly manage.

Slipping into the dark room, Duo looked around for Yuy and found him already in bed, waiting for him. “Get lost?”

Duo ignored him and slid into bed, his back to Heero. “G’night.”

The Aiko still felt the man’s eyes on him, not that he was surprised. He was acting like a child, he knew that, but he just couldn’t think of what to say…or how to act, after what happened //note to self: think things through more often//.

Heero sighed audibly and placed a hand on Duo’s shoulder. “Duo, you don’t have to act this way you know…like I’m going to jump you suddenly.”

Duo could hear the hurt in his voice, though the man was trying to hide it. He had never thought of it before but…perhaps him acting this way was hurting Heero’s feelings. He felt bad suddenly and turned to meet Heero’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m just not used to these types of situations.”

Heero smiled quietly at him. “Neither am I.”

“So, what do we do? I mean, how do we act towards one another?” Duo sat up and rested on the headboard, much like Heero was.

“I’m not sure. I guess, just the way we have been acting.”

“Which is…?” Duo lead on, considering they didn’t really have set ways of acting towards each other.

“Slightly annoyed of one another.” Heero answered, quirking a smile.

Duo smiled back. “Sounds good to me.”

Heero nodded and laid down, Duo following suit with a yawn. He was tired, considering how long of a day he had today. What with, depression, denial, magical lessons, and the new found knowledge about Heero…he was bushed. Then again, what he learned about Heero still confused him. “Hey Heero?”

“Hm?” Heero groaned, turning to face Duo once again.

“Why aren’t you allowed to leave?”

Heero’s eyes widened with shock. “What?”

“The city, why can’t you leave it?” Duo reiterated.

Heero stared at him a bit longer before answering. “It was a judgment passed down by the late Emperor after my parents died. The new Emperor just…doesn’t see the problem with it and has kept the policy.”

“But, how the hell is that fair? I mean, Trowa goes out all the time.”

Heero seemed to think on that for a second before he sighed and said, “This may sound horrible, but Trowa’s life isn’t as important as mine, according to our ways.”

Duo frowned. “So, you just listen to is stories? Why don’t you just sneak out sometime, and see the world for yourself.”

The man looked at him as if he was growing another head. “Are you crazy? Do you have any idea of how much trouble the people of my house would be in for letting me leave?”

“Uh, Heero, you don’t have any family.” Duo reminded him. “There isn’t anyone in your house.”

“Then where the hell are you? The Court?” Heero chided as he sat up. “Duo, they would punish all of the servants for letting me leave.”

Duo blinked up at him. “You’re shittin’ me.”

“No, I am not ‘shitting you’.” Heero glared. “I would rather just stay here and obey my emperor than wonder off and come to find that all the people who have taken care of me through the years were executed because of it.”

Duo looked away from Heero, sad for the man. How could he live being imprisoned behind stone walls? With his tribe, Duo had always been free, free to run off, free to come back, free to live life like the way he wanted. But Heero…the man hasn’t once gotten the choice in any matter, not even the ones that would change his life. He never chose to be Lord of War, never chose to stay locked up in Lorlia, and from the sound of it, won’t really get to choose whom he marries either. The man didn’t know the meaning of freedom any better than a common slave did.

Perplexed, Duo shook his head. “It’s just hard to imagine. I mean, in my tribe…at my home, we get to run free and chose who or what we wish to be. But here…”

Heero lay back down and hugged the covers to himself. “It’s just our ways, Duo.”

Duo nodded in understanding and closed his eyes, intent on letting sleep claim him quickly. That was when he heard Heero once again. “Duo?”

“Yeah?”

“What is your home like?”

Duo blinked up at the ceiling. “My home? It’s uh, well, like any other tribe, I guess.”

“Then what are tribes like?”

“You know, there, well…” Then it hit him. Heero didn’t know, He was asking him to describe the place like Trowa did with the land he visited. Thinking hard, Duo tried to describe it the best he could.

“Right about now, we would be bringing in a nice size crop, and celebrating with a festival. The woman would be dressed in their finest: colorful clothing, beads, jewelry made from bone and wood. Young woman who are not yet married play games, trying to predict whom they will be married to in the future, the older helping with the feast. They sit in a circle, each with their own tasks, from chopping root to juicing fruit, as they chat and gossip. The children play sill games, running around the central fire, which is only lit for special occasions, while playing chasing games and showing off.

“We men would be out hunting, hoping to bring some meat to the celebration. The younger take point, trying to sharpen and prove their skills as huntsman, as the older watch and critique. A great many boys earn their second piercing during the harvest celebration…I would be earning my fourth, being sent out alone this year to catch the main meat for the spit.”

Duo sighed at the thought and looked over at Heero…and smiled. The man had his eyes closed, smiling at the description Duo was giving. At first Duo thought he was asleep, until the other man peeked an eye open, questioning Duo silently about why he stopped. Smirking, Duo continued.

“Other men would stay behind, those who wish to be married soon, and would be trying to find the courage to ask the woman. Which, believe me, is not easy. They usually give them tasks as a sort of way to prove themselves. Sometimes there easy, while others could be life threatening, even. It all depends on whom you’re asking and whether or not she likes you. I heard Solo had one hell of a time.

“Once the hunt was finished, the Festival would begin. Our village would all gather at the fire, our homes like a barrier from the outside world, surrounding us and protecting us. The Chief would call a silence at the start of the sun falling behind the earth and then would tell the tribe of the engagements that were successful, then introduce the couple to the tribe, making their engagement official. Afterwards, the Chief tells of the hunts that went well, giving the young men who earned it their second piercing or more, depending on who was hunting. Once that was over…”

Duo drifted off as he looked down at Heero again, who this time was asleep with a light smile on his face. The Aiko smiled back at the sight, then shifted down into the blankets and closed his eyes.

Heero didn’t wake up once that night.


TBC…
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Hey all! Okay, I did this for 1x2ML but I forgot to do this here on MediaMiner, so:

This story is rated X/NC-17 for more than its sexual content though it may not seem like it yet. Lord of War is exactly as its name implies: there will be gore, death and downright nastiness later on. I like to place the warnings on the chapter that they happen in so none of the story is given away too early in the game.
So, unfortunately I can’t tell you exactly what warnings that will be in this story but I will do this--if you think you can’t stand some of the scenes because of the graphic content, then say so in a review and I’ll post an edited version perhaps on adultfanfiction.net or something.
I promise I WILL warn you at the beginning of the chapters if there is a new aspect to the story that has to do with the rating. So, just for your info...hope I didn’t scare you off.

Ja-ne!

ShinigamiGirl

And as always, Review please!