Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Choice of Death ❯ Chapter 4

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

Jim: You're really going to stick with this aren't you?

Chan: Yeah! Isn't it great?

Jim: No.

Lloyd: Shut up, Jim! Roll fic!


Trowa sat alone in the large and disturbingly quiet throne room. He had been losing himself in thought for days now. Although he knew that it wasn't his place, he couldn't help but let his mind wander to Heero's new slave. Then from time to time it wandered back to the king himself. He found they were both slipping farther away from each other day by day. They were now closer to being complete strangers than they were to being mere associates. His mind kept asking the same question over and over again. What had happen to his childhood friend?

What had happened to the boy who thought that slavery was wrong, who had dreams of banishing it from the kingdom once he was crowned king? They had thought alike at one time. It was when their parents had wedded that they began to grow distant. There were changes, but it was small enough to be ignored, nothing to worry about. Heero still had the dream of abolishing slavery from his kingdom. Then the king passed away due to what was believed to be a murder. Though his father had died, Heero was not immediately crowned king. Trowa's mother was still queen and therefore was the rightful ruler. However, as fate would have it, driven by depression of a love lost, Trowa's mother killed herself three days after. The gap that had formed between them then grew larger. Suddenly Heero didn't have the interests in the rights of slaves. Maybe suddenly becoming king -and at such a young age- made you think differently. There were other matters he had to attend to and other duties that needed his service.

However, Trowa knew it couldn't have been Heero himself. Maybe someone, or something, had convinced him that slavery was something that was needed. For all he knew, Heero could have been convinced to believe that the outlawing of slavery was disastrous to the kingdom. If that was the problem, then it could be righted. Yet, many of Heero's slaves feared him, which didn't help the situation much. Masters usually strive off of the fear of their slaves. Heero, although he hadn't been at first, was one of those masters. The feeling of dominance was much more appealing than the feeling of equality. No matter what, Trowa knew there had to be a way to get Heero, his friend. . . his brother back.

He heard the creak of the door from the farthest wall that held the servants' entrance and he looked up to find himself staring into violet eyes. He knew just by looking at this boy, that Heero was soon to change. Duo would help in his own way. He may not be aware of it, but he would be an important key to many things. Trowa smirked to himself as the boy stared back at him. This boy was probably the best thing to have come along in a time of need.


Duo had finally managed to escape the two brainless idiots that were assigned to be his escorts throughout the palace grounds. It had taken him hours to convince, more like threaten, Heero to let him tour the palace without him. Of course he sent two idiots to replace him. He had been sent off with the warning that any slave found without an escort would be punished without question. He hadn't been the least bit scared at the warning and he lost his two escorts. It wasn't easy, but he managed to lose them in the busy halls of the servants' quarters.

The many hallways had confused him. The palace was huge, the largest human building he'd ever seen. It was nowhere near as large as the caverns of the underworld, but it was still large. His thoughtless wandering had led him to a door, and he hadn't hesitated to open it. Now he wished that he had. His eyes met with emerald and he froze on the spot. Of course he would have headed back, but the door had already closed behind him. Almost as if it wanted him to have this encounter with the prince.

The two continued to stare at each other, each waiting for the other to speak. Duo tensed as Trowa stood from his seat and started to slowly climb down the stairs toward him. He felt that Trowa was a person that could be trusted, however, he couldn't be too sure.

"It's not everyday you find a slave unescorted.", Trowa's voice echoed off of the walls, "Especially the King's Own."

Duo didn't answer, he only continued to stare into jade eyes, not willing to be the first to break eye contact. The prince and himself now stood a good foot away from each other, but he still held his ground, ready for the worst to happen. Though he doubted that it would come to that.

"Does Heero know that you're by yourself?", Trowa asked, "I'm pretty sure that when he left you, you had at least two guards with you. It must mean you purposely lost them."

Duo wasn't the least bit surprised to find that Trowa had figured out why he was alone. He was startled by the smile he was given though.

"It isn't exactly the streets.", Duo replied, "I'm pretty sure that there isn't a single person who would dare try anything."

"You'd be surprised. It may not be the streets, but it can be just as dangerous inside of the palace as it is out. Especially for a slave like you."

Duo went to respond but found it best not to. He could take care of himself, he knew that, and he most definitely knew that Trowa knew that. The prince was just giving a few words of caution. There were the same amount of lord and ladies to equal those outside of the palace that would do anything to harm him in anyway.

"I don't believe I know your name.", Trowa suddenly said breaking the silence, "Would you allow me to learn it? Or would you rather I call you slave?"

"No.", Duo said with a hint of smirk, "I'd rather you call me, Duo."

"Duo.", Trowa repeated testing it on his tongue, "It's strange but it suits you. I believe you should try and return to your escorts before someone sees you."

"You've seen me-"

"Someone who isn't exactly like myself.", he told him stopping him short, "There are those that get pleasure in knowing a slave will be punished."

Duo found it was probably best not to argue and go along with what Trowa was suggesting. He most certainly didn't want to go through the trouble of having Heero try his best to make him back down with anger. Trowa was most definitely right. There were those that were watching him, waiting for him to make one wrong move; one in particular was Treize.

"I told Heero that boy was more trouble than he was worth."

Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Duo's eyes went to behind Trowa where Treize stood in the main entrance of the throne room, Wufei by his side. The ebony-eyed boy glanced up at Duo before turning away. Duo glanced back to Trowa, who gave him a look that told him to do nothing and say nothing; he would handle it.

"Lord Treize.", he said flatly, more bored, as he turned to face the man.

"Your Highness.", Treize replied with the same bored tone. "I believe there is a penalty for slaves who are found unescorted, and it applies to every slave, including the King's."

"I am very much aware of it. However, it does not apply to Duo.", Trowa replied before Duo could retort.

"Really now?", Treize asked interested, "How so?"

"I am his escort.", Trowa supplied, "Or do you find me ineligible to be?"

Duo grinned at Treize over Trowa's shoulder and watched in amusement as the man grew angry. He had just lost his chance to give Duo one of those lessons he'd promised him and if he knew better, Treize wouldn't stop there. There would be many more encounters between them.

"Duo, I believe it's time that I took you back to the slaves' quarters.", Trowa suggested, cutting into the tension that had built.

Without objection or hesitation, Duo followed right behind Trowa, who started to make his way from the throne room. He chanced Treize a smirk as he passed him before completely leaving, shutting the door behind them. They weren't too far away from the throne room when Trowa stopped, turning back to Duo.

"Why did you help me?", Duo asked before Trowa could say anything.

"I can't stand Treize anymore than you can.", the prince admitted with a smirk, "And I like making him mad."

"Well thank you.", Duo said, following as Trowa started to lead again.

"No need to. Any friend of Quatre's is a friend of mine."

Friend, huh? Well if that's what he wanted him to be, Duo was sure that he wouldn't mind very much.


"YOU WHAT?!"

The loud boom of Heero's voice had surely shaken the walls as much as it had the two guards that had just told him the words he was not ready to hear after a long and tiring day. The two guards kneeling before him coward away as angry colbat eyes burned down at them both. They had just delivered the news of Duo's disappearance, and they weren't in the best of positions.

"We're sorry, Your Majesty.", one apologized pathetically, "But-"

"You lost him!", Heero interrupted, infuriated, "How in the hells did you lose him?!"

The two guards looked to each other as if either would have the answer to Heero's question. Their silence only helped to fuel Heero's anger and he growled in frustration. He knew that he shouldn't have let Duo go off without him. However if it wasn't for the meeting he had with the council - and various threats on Duo's part - he would have given Duo a tour of the palace himself.

He turned away from the trembling idiots before rubbing his temples; this was all too much. He didn't know just exactly how long this would last, and he also didn't know just how long he'd be able to take it. The sound of the suite doors opening urged him to turn around, and as he did he found Duo walking inside, Trowa and his pet behind him. He looked to the two guards on the floor, now curious as to what their story would be since it seemed now that Duo was no longer missing.

"Now tell me again.", Heero started much more calmly than before, "What happened to my slave?"

Watching the two guards fumble for words and feeling pity for them, Trowa decided it was best to save them from his brother's wrath.

"I relieved them from their position of escorts.", Trowa explained, his eyes telling the guards to just nod and agree, "And told them to leave Duo with me. They must have forgotten."

"Is this true?", Heero asked, his eyes landing on the pair of men kneeling on his floor.

"Yes, Your Majesty.", they both chorused, heads nodding.

Frowning, Heero waved them away in dismissal, turning back to his small table with its variety of wines and ciders. The two stood, bowing in thanks to Trowa, before completely leaving and closing the doors behind them. Trowa watched as Heero poured himself a cup of spiced wine, before his eyes traveled to Duo. The boy was silent and it seemed as if he was waiting, preparing himself for whatever Heero would decide to lash out with.

"What business did you have with my personal slave?", Heero asked, back still turned.

Duo looked back and forth between the king and the prince, knowing that this might not turn out well. He went to speak, but Trowa held up a hand to silence him.

"I had no business-"

"Yet my slave was with you!". Heero snapped, turning back to glare at the banged prince.

With his outburst, Duo had frowned and Quatre had flinched behind Trowa, who only stared impassively at the king.

"Give me one good reason as to why my slave-"

"I have a name!", Duo yelled angrily, and Heero only shot him a look that told him to stay quiet.

He didn't want to, but Quatre's eyes pleaded with him over Trowa's shoulder.

"I thought. . .", Trowa started after some silence, "that maybe Quatre would enjoy Duo's company."

"A slave should be satisfied with his master's company.", Heero spat, eyes burning at the blond who shrank even more behind the tall banged man, "If you taught your slave his duties and to be well behaved-"

"Quatre is a damned good slave!", Trowa suddenly burst and Duo found that it startled him.

He hadn't expected that the prince could become so angry. It must not happen very often and it was proven by the look of shock on Quatre's face. Heero himself had been caught in a short moment of being stunned, but he quickly recovered. Now the two stepbrothers matched each other glare for glare.

"Don't you dare say another ill word about Quatre.", Trowa growled, fists clenching, "He's the most disciplined slave you'll find in this entire castle. Line up the pitiful masses you call slaves and he'll rank higher than any of them. So don't you preach to me on how ill-behaved he is, because I have no interest in listening to you."

"Who the hell do you think you are?!", Heero demanded, and Trowa forced himself relax.

The man turned away from his stepbrother, his hands resting on Quatre's shoulder to calm the clearly frightened boy. With a glance to Duo, Trowa started to leave, guiding Quatre toward the doors.

"I am Trowa of Elthree[1], crown Prince of Sanq, your stepbrother and your friend.", he answered finally as he reached the door, looking back over his shoulder, "Or so I had thought."

With that Trowa left completely, doors slamming behind him, leaving the king glaring at the wooden doors as Duo stared at him. Duo didn't move, since he wasn't so sure as to what the king would do. Heero had now turned back to his table of wines, eyes glaring down at the table top as if it had caused his anger. He didn't know what to really do or say, because he was sure it wouldn't matter. Duo would be his difficult self, and that was what pissed him off.

Duo watched as with a yell Heero angrily threw over the table, bottles and containers falling with it and breaking. As the glass and liquids rained across the floor, Heero turned back to pin Duo in his spot with cold colbat eyes.

"I didn't ask for much.", he started, eyes scanning over Duo, "It was the simplest thing I could ever ask you to do."

Duo didn't respond, as was expected and the king turned away to start pacing. Violet eyes carefully followed him, and Heero ran a hand through his hair.

"All you had to do was listen, all you had to do was obey and yet. . .", Heero paused in his sentence to turn and look at Duo, ". . .and yet you insist on disobeying my every command."

"I-"

"You were not asked to speak!", Heero yelled, stopping Duo's retort.

"I can speak-"

"When you are told to speak!", the king bellowed, and Duo countered with a glare, "You may not want it, but you are my slave and as such you are expected to do as ordered. And since previous orders were not followed, you must and shall be punished."

"You have no right-"

"I have every right!", Heero shouted, once again stopping Duo short, "You yourself gave me that right when you promised to stay here for two weeks. You agreed to be my slave and go along with the duties of a slave. That includes agreeing to the consequences that will befall you in the event, such as today, that you decide to go against my word. You disobeyed me, Duo. Therefore, it's only natural that you'll be punished for it."

Duo went to open his mouth, but the king shot him a glance that made him decide against it. Unfortunately, Heero was right. He had agreed to go along with Heero's proposition, no matter how much he hated it. Today he had broken the rules, and he knew he would have to face the consequences of doing so. Damn him for a fool for ever agreeing to anything at all and damn his father for not finding him faster. Looking to Heero who now sat on what seemed to look like a smaller version of his throne across the room, Duo sighed.

"I have no intentions of beating you.", Heero said before Duo could speak, "I will stay true to my end of the bargain and I will not lay a hand on you."

Blue eyes raised to meet violet, and the king stood to walk closer to the braided boy. He was soon standing directly in front of the shadow, eyes running over him again. Today he had been dressed in black again, and much to Heero's disappointment, the lithe body was covered more than usual. Not to say that the boy didn't look as attractive today as he did any other. Duo nervously shifted as Heero watched down at him. He felt the colbat eyes running over him, and he felt his skin raise in goose bumps. The blue eyes then caught his and Duo froze as he stared back into them.

He had no idea what was happening to him, since his stomach now felt as if he had swallowed an immense amount of butterflies. Damn this human form, there were too many feelings and unexplained reactions that came with it. Like the warm feeling that seemed to be taking his cheeks as Heero smirked down at him. He wondered if the dragon and Quatre had these problems, too.

"What!", he snapped, now uncomfortable with the entire situation.

"I just figured out what your punishment is.", Heero said turning away, "How well do you do manual labor?"

"What do you mean?", Duo asked curiously.

Heero only chuckled before walking over to the large window that stood across from the doors that led to the bedroom. He motioned Duo to walk over, and the violet-eyed shadow did that cautiously. Now standing next to the king, Duo watched as he pushed open the window, which looked more like doors. Which it was most likely, because it led to a balcony. Heero walked out, Duo following, knowing he was expected to. Now outside, Heero pointed to the fields where people worked, toiling there since the earliest hours of dawn. They were serfs, Quatre told him, bound to the land that they worked on. Their lives were controlled by Heero, or whoever the lord of the lands were. They could never leave; they were slaves themselves. Wufei called them labor slaves, since they did everything that had to do with manual labor. He couldn't figure out what Heero's purpose was in showing him this?

"Those fields over there are where the serfs work the land in order to produce the essentials needed for the castle. Like wheat, fruits, vegetables.", Heero told him, hands going behind his back, "They work all day, until sunset, with a break at noon. Everyday, except the last day of the week. They toil and they work, and starting tomorrow, you'll be right along side them."

Duo went rigid and he quickly turned to face Heero, who only smiled at him.

"What!", he demanded, sneering at the now smug looking young man.

"You heard me.", Heero said turning back to watch over the castle grounds, "Tomorrow you'll be working with the serfs. That is your punishment, the best I can think of since solitary confinement doesn't seem to work. So, you'll be driven to work like a labor slave. However, you won't get the break at noon, and you will work well past sunset. This will carry on until I believe you've learned your lesson."

With that Heero turned, heading back into the suite leaving a stunned Duo on the balcony. Quickly getting over his shock, Duo turned to watch Heero walk away.

"You can't be serious!", he called, and Heero only ignored him.

Duo's jaw clenched, and he felt himself steadily growing angry. Heero wasn't serious, he couldn't be.


Heero was very serious, indeed. Duo glared at the king, as he sat atop his horse, riding past with eyes scanning over him and the others who worked. He had been out here since dawn. He was starting to feel sore and his hands were getting calluses. He had never worked this hard in his entire life, and now he had to. All because his master had chosen it as a punishment for his disobedience. He glared daggers at the king as he raised the hoe again, striking it into the ground. The serfs had been surprised to see him this morning but they said nothing. Just showed him what to do and allowed him to start along side them.

Heero had come after sunrise playing the role of overseer, since according to the serfs, the usual man wasn't present today. He heard a bell ring and he watched as the serfs dropped their tools to walk away. From the sun's position, he could only say that it was now noon. It was time for a break. Dropping the hoe, he started to stumble away, his throat pining for a drink of water. He paused as a horse now blocked his way, and he gazed up to find Heero looking down at him with a raised eyebrow.

"And just where do you think you're going?", the king asked, as his horse whinnied.

"It's noon, the serfs get a break-"

"The serfs get a break.", Heero repeated stopping him short, "Not you. Back to work."
Duo glared up at the young man, but the king was unaffected.

"You heard me.", he said calmly, "Grab your tool and get back to work."

Duo reluctantly did as told, snatching up the hoe from the ground and starting to work with vigor, fueled by anger. He glared at Heero as he muttered very colorful words under his breath. Heero only smirked, turning his horse to ride off to where the serfs now slept or ate whatever lunch that was being served. He looked back to check on Duo, who much to his satisfaction was still working and he then climbed off his horse to join the slaves in eating. He was offered a seat by a man who seemed nervous by his presence, and he gave him a nod of thanks as he sat.

His position at the table allowed him to overlook Duo at a distance, and he was glad for that. He accepted the mug of ale that a young girl placed before him, and he thanked her softly, causing her to blush before scurrying off. He had never mingled with the common people before this, so the amount of faces that looked at him in shock as he looked up, he wasn't surprised to see. He simply nodded to them, before grabbing himself some of the bread and cheese that was placed before them. There was no meat he noticed, and he found that it was probably because meat was usually given to the nobles. He could stand a sitting without it though. He looked to Duo, who seemed to pound away at the ground in anger and he sighed. He would probably be paying for this in some odd way or the other.

The serfs had recovered from their shock, and were now drawn into conversation amongst themselves. To Heero's surprise, there was talk of politics and not everyday common problems that he believed would have been main topics. He had been careful not to comment, but he listened attentively. Many of the men here had given out solutions to problems that he probably wouldn't have thought of himself. Now he saw why Trowa mingled amongst common men more than he did nobles. They were smarter than most in his court now that he thought about it. He unconsciously gave an opinion on a conversation that two men across from him were having, and the table froze, eyes glued to him. He ignored the stares, turning back to his meal, but a voice from behind him caused him to turn.

"Your Majesty, when I heard you were with the serfs, I didn't expect to find you amongst them.", Treize said, looking around him in distaste.

He hated being around the peasants. They had no class, etiquette, and they weren't clean. He felt a tug on his shirt sleeve and he looked down at the small child that smiled up at him with a dirt streaked face. He gently pushed him away, glaring down at the dirt that now stained his shirt where the boy had tugged it. The mother led the boy away, nervously looking back at Treize, knowing what the man was capable of.

"What brings you out here?", Heero asked, taking a drink from his mug, "Would you like to join us?"

"I'd rather not.", Treize said quickly, as he stepped closer to the king.

He stepped carefully, most likely afraid that if he stepped in the wrong place he would stain his precious boots with something horrible. Heero watched in amusement as Treize wove his way past the children and young girls who were busy serving the other tables, not wanting to touch them most likely. He also noticed that Treize was alone, which wasn't like him. He always had Wufei by his side; always. He chanced a glance to where Duo was, and he found the sloe-eyed boy was now working alongside him. He would have stopped him, but he decided not to. He turned back to Treize, who now stood next to him, and he noticed that the men at the table watched on with lowered heads.

"Is there a reason for your search of me?", Heero asked, continuing to bite into the bread.

Treize watched him as if Heero were crazy, as if it was filth that the king was eating, and he cleared his throat.

"There is a problem that we need to discuss with the council.", Treize said, trying his best to ignore the fact that Heero didn't much care about his surroundings.

"And what's the problem?", Heero asked, raising his cup to take a drink.

It seemed as if Treize was becoming highly offended as he continued to dine on the food that in the Captain of the Guard's case was unfit for the royal palette.

"I believe it's a private matter.", the man said, eyes looking to the other men at the table.

"Come now.", Heero said, standing, "I'm sure that anything you have to say can be said in front of these men. They may be able to even help."

"You don't expect me to believe that these. . . people . . . are smart enough to know anything about politics?"

Heero only looked up at him and Treize found the answer in his eyes. He didn't have time to deal with this, he would catch Heero at another time.

"I believe I'm needed back at the castle.", Treize lied, and Heero only shrugged.

He watched the man walk past him to the field, most likely intent on dragging Wufei away. Though he couldn't be sure, Duo did have a strange affect on the ginger-haired man, so he kept an eye on them; just in case.


Duo was now working at a steady pace, enjoying his conversation with the dragon and happy for his company. It seemed that he wasn't the only one with problems. Wufei had began to tell him of the small incident that had happened last night. Zechs had paid his uncle a visit, which for the dragon spelled trouble.

/I don't understand it, Duo./, Wufei said as he stopped to look at him, /I want to ask Quatre about it, but I'm afraid of what it could mean./

How come?, Duo asked, still working.

He had to after all.

'Master's orders. The sadistic son of a-'

/I don't want it to be what I think it could be./, Wufei said, cutting Duo's private thought short.

What's the big deal?, Duo asked looking to him, He came to visit his uncle. That's all you told me, and it doesn't seem that you should be this upset about it. Is there more to the story?

Wufei, who had started to work again, paused. He turned to face Duo, who looked up at him in question. From the look on the ebony-eyed boy's face, there was probably a lot more.

Do you care to share?, Duo tried, wanting to stop and give Wufei his full attention.

/Zechs is an evil man./, Wufei said, striking the earth with the hoe hard enough to make Duo wince, /A conniving bastard./

Seems nice to me., Duo said nonchalantly, gaining himself a glare.

/I knew it was best not to trust that boy./, Wufei continued, /I knew he wasn't there just to spend time with Treize. Who in the hells would want to spend time with that man?/

Duo went to answer, but he couldn't since Wufei was rambling off again and pacing back and forth, hoe in hand.

/I should have read it in his eyes that he wasn't there for Treize. How could I have been so stupid, so blind? I let my guard fall, and he took advantage of it./

What in the hells are you talking about!, Duo demanded, now more than curious as to what Wufei was going on about.

Looking back to find that Treize was still fighting his way through serfs to get here, Wufei looked to Duo, who had taken the risk of pausing in his work to listen carefully.

/During the visit, Treize was called away for some trivial matter or the other./, Wufei told him, eyes downward, /Much to both our surprise, Treize left without me, leaving Zechs in charge of me. I figured that since Zechs didn't much care for being a caretaker of slaves I'd finally have peace of mind now that Treize was temporarily gone. I couldn't have been more wrong. I had left to go out on the balcony to try and see if I'd be able to star watch, a passing hobby of mine, and he followed me. I hadn't noticed he was behind me until I was turning back to head into the suite, and that's when it happened./

What?, Duo asked, finally able to get a word in.

/Of all the disgraceful things./, Wufei ranted, once again pacing, /Has he no shame, no honor? To just do such a thing, my gods it's so-/

What did he do!, Duo cried, Wufei stopping in his pacing.

He sighed before looking up at Duo, the braided boy catching the faint tint of pink in the dragon's cheek. He even wondered if Wufei was having that butterfly feeling he himself had only yesterday.

/He kissed me, Duo. He grabbed me and kissed me./, Wufei said, now looking off into space, /I hadn't expected it, I didn't now how to react. I wanted to push him away and I wanted to stop him./

Did you?, Duo asked, shock written on his face.

The sloe-eyed boy slowly shook his head, and Duo's mouth fell open.

Well why not!

/I don't know! I tried to, I really did, but instead of pushing him away I just let him. I blame myself for letting it happen, come to think of it I didn't really try to stop him. I didn't even care if Treize had walked in on us. That's not the worst of it./

There's more?, Duo asked, dreading whatever it was Wufei had to tell him.

/Yes, I'm afraid there is./, Wufei said with a nod, /I believe that I actually enjoyed it, and I also think that I wouldn't much mind if he did it again./

Duo eyes were now wide with disbelief. He couldn't believe his ears. Wufei, the one slave he thought would never fall in love, at least not with a human, was most likely falling for the blond nephew of his ass of a man master. Why had Wufei decided to tell him, and not Quatre first? He only shrugged; it wasn't important. What was important was that Wufei was probably feeling a bit weak at the moment. He most likely had never had to deal with this kind of emotion before, though Duo couldn't understand how he could be of much help. He himself didn't much care for love at all. It was a human emotion that he had no use for. And yet, Wufei had somehow been trapped in it, or was going to be.

Why not go to Quatre with this?, Duo asked curiously, and Wufei glared.

/Quatre, no matter how sweet and innocent he may look, would enjoy teasing me with it until I allowed him to "help me win my true love's heart". That boy has just as a sadistic mind as Treize when he wants to. He's my friend and all but he really knows how to torture you without even trying. And do you know that Zechs had the gall to actually laugh afterwards!/

Duo only shook his head with a smile, a feature he barely did nowadays, except for when he was among Quatre and Wufei. It quickly faded though as Treize walked up behind Wufei, blue eyes staring down at Duo. Wufei, feeling someone behind him, looked over his shoulder. He didn't react much, just that his face became impassive, and he took to hoeing the ground again. Duo stood leaning on the tool, eyes locking with Treize in what could only be a small battle. He knew that Treize was soon to say something that would annoy him; he could feel it.

"I believe that the point of your punishment was so that you work and do as you're told.", Treize stated, looking down at a hand to expect an imagined hangnail, "Yet, it would seem that you like getting into trouble."

Duo only glared as the man looked up again to smirk at him, and his grip tightened around the wooden handle of the gardening tool.

"Get back to work.", he told the boy, and Duo scoffed.

He didn't move, just stood there and stared at the man. Treize glared cold eyes at the slave that refused to listen and he took a step closer.

"I said-"

"I know damn well what you said!", Duo spat, boldly stepping forward as well, "However, I don't recall you having power of me. I am the kings slave. I follow his orders, not yours. You are not my master, and therefore I don't have to do a damn thing you tell me to."

Behind Treize, Duo could see Wufei's shoulders shake with silent laughter, and he tried his best to keep his scowl. Lucky for him he was able to. He was sure that things would go from bad to worse if he had started to laugh along with the boy. Treize only stiffened at Duo's words, almost as if he hadn't expected them, which in this case he hadn't. He only knew of one way to deal with Duo's audacious words. However, he felt Heero's eyes on his back and he forced himself to stay calm. It didn't stop Heero from soon joining them anyway.

"Duo, get back to work.", he ordered as he reached them, "I don't remember telling you that you could stop."

The boy opened his mouth to speak, but a quick look to Wufei and the shake of the boy's head made him clench his teeth closed and start up with his task. The king looked away satisfied, eyes now on Treize, whose glare burned in Duo's direction.

"I believe you said you had a matter with the court to take care of.", he stated with indifference, and Treize curtly nodded.

With a slight bow to the king, Treize turned back to Wufei who continued to toil, trying his best to ignore the man that now had his eyes trained on him.

"Come, Wufei.", the man said leaving, without a look back, "And I mean now!"

Wufei snarled at the man's back, reluctantly dropping the hoe and following. With a look back, he graced Duo with a smile, before following in Treize's footsteps. Soon the king and his slave were alone in the field, much to Duo's disappointment.

"So you acknowledge me as your master now?", Heero asked, and Duo ground his teeth at the teasing edge in his voice, "You've come to terms that you're my slave? I'm proud of you."

"I am no one's slave!", Duo cried, stopping to look at Heero.

The king gave a chuckle that caused Duo to growl low in his throat.

"Come now, you said so yourself. Didn't you just say-and I quote- 'I am the king's slave'?"

"I only said that so that. . . man. . . could get the message that I won't do as he bids."

"If that makes you feel better then by all means believe that.", Heero said walking closer, and Duo once again stopped, "But I know that you've finally gotten the concept that I am your master. You are my slave; you belong to me and only me."

Duo found that Heero was awfully close to him. As the king had spoken to him, his voice had dropped to a near husky pitch, and Duo involuntarily shivered. He only hoped that the king hadn't noticed. Though when he looked into the colbat eyes, he knew that he had. Damn it.

"Back to work.", Heero said suddenly, his voice normal.

He turned from Duo, walking back to the area that the serfs were now deserting and placed himself at the table, eyes watching the braided shadow. Duo shook himself free from whatever he was caught in and he started to go back to tending the field. If he was lucky, he would be able to work until he was able to stop without having to even think about the young king. Though as luck would have it, he felt the eyes on him, and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't ignore it. He would have to bear it, and the thought of that made his stomach sink. It was with that thought in mind that Duo found the hours to sunset would feel a lot longer.


T.B.C.


[1] Elthree. . . L3...you get it....It's L3 just kinda spelled out. *shrugs*

C-Chan: Tada!

Jim: Your eyes are blood shot.

Lloyd: Leave her alone, she's been up all night wanting to get this chapter done. The readers deserved it; it's been so long.

Jim: Whatever you say man.

C-Chan: *faints*

Jim: Chan?

Lloyd: Oh well, we might as well say the author's note for her. C-Chan2 is sorry for the really long wait, as you know she's been computerless and internet deprived for a while.

Jim: Even this is limited, thank everything that lives.

Lloyd: Yes well, we hope you enjoyed it.

Jim: I didn't.

Lloyd: Please leave reviews.

Jim: Or flames.

Lloyd: No, no flames; Chan hates those. Well, ciao for now.