Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ the Inheritance ❯ the Inheritance - 3 b ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: If I were an owner of every single thing I desire, including Gundam Wing, the rest of the world would have nothing. If you own something it means that I don't own the boys. Damn.

Rating: NC 17

Warnings: yaoi, yuri, AU, furs, rape, tort,lemon, angst, tort, n/c incest, sap, of D/s, fivesome, mpreg, anal, oral, rim, happy ending... I think there should be some more warnings but I can't remember which ones

Pairings: 1x5x2x3x4, 13x6, Sal/Noin, others

Summary: *groan* Heero, the half-breed sorcerer was excluded from every community because of a murder he commited ages ago. Present war can bring him an acquittal... or even more pain.

Beta-reader: the wonderful hells-angel8. Thank you!!

 

The next day Duo woke up to the sound of angry yelling. The sound wasn't near and it didn't look like it was directed to him, so he decided to turn his attention to the second most annoying thing in this moment.

“Turn off...” the young delta mumbled and burrowing his head into the soft pillow. Of course, the sun didn't comply, but Duo already turned his a bit sleepy mind somewhere else.

`It's not my pillow…' Duo rubbed his cheek in the soft and silky material then banged his head into it a few times for a good measure.

`No bumps on the forehead, no prickly feathers, non-irritated skin from the coarse material…Yup, definitely not mine,' Duo sighed in delight and stretched, letting his tired body sink deeper into the luxurious bedding.

Ten seconds later the door to his room banged open.

“Aaaagh!” Roared Duo and fell on the floor.

“Shut up!” Snapped the voice, which seconds earlier was heard from the downstairs.

Duo stretched his neck a little to look at his unwelcome guest from his bed.

In the door stood young delta with black hair, dark slant eyes and a tiger's tail lashing behind him with irritation.

`Oh, shit! An aristocrat from the Dragon Clan!' Hazy thoughts passed Duo's mind and disappeared in the overwhelming sleepiness.

“You! Are you Duo Maxwell, the Shinigami?” the newcomer asked imperiously.

“Uh-huh…” mumbled the longhaired delta climbing up the bed.

“Are you the fiancé of an exiled alpha, Heero Yuy?” The descendant of the Dragon Clan watched incredulously while the half-asleep delta curled into a ball on the covers.

“Huh?” Duo mumbled. `Fiancé… fiancé… oh, right, I'm the fiancé…' thought Duo while his hand patted the bed in the search of a pillow.

“Are you going to marry alpha Yuy, you idiot,” asked the aristocrat with a growing irritation. His rich robes rustled when he marched towards Duo and shook him. His hand was shoved away by an arm armed with pillow.

“I wanna sleep… go `way…” Duo shoved the pillow under his head and fell asleep.

“I don't believe this…” the aritstocrat groaned. The tiger-shifter stood motionless for a while and finally threw his hands in the air. “They're crazy! Gods! Don't make me spend the rest of my life surrounded by these loons!” With those words, the delta left the room banging the doors.

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The second time Duo woke up, the sun was high enough to not shine straight into his eyes. There was no yelling and the wonderful smell of a cooked meat was teasing his senses.
Duo's nostrils moved and he sat up turning in the direction where the scent was more distinct.

`Hmm… veal,' Duo slowly opened his eyes in the hope that the smell would materialize itself into a large portion of the delicious meat. His hopes came true in the form of a big plate full of well-cooked and skillfully decorated veal held by a blond delta.

“Hey, last time you were a brunet,” Duo noticed unintelligently.

The blond delta's eyes widened as he blinked cutely a few times. “Uh… I'm sorry?”

Duo shook his head trying to get rid of the fog clouding his mind. When it didn't help he wiped his eyes, slapped his face few times then stretched and froze in the middle of the act when memories rushed to the surface.

`Oh no, oh no, oh no…` Duo put his hand to the face and fell back on the bed. `I'm screwed. I actually agreed to… shit… but, it's not like I had a choice. Still, to be maneuvered into something like that… What the hell the Council is thinking? Of all this... this is just plain weird! I'm now bound to a psycho… Why did they insist so much on this? There's something going on… Fuck, the meeting!' The last thought caused him to jump straight on the floor.

The blonde, who had been watching the laying delta with softness and compassion in his eyes, was a bit worried. He could clearly feel the confusion and anger which ruled the long-haired delta right now. The pitiful sight was making him want to comfort the slumped male, but just then this sorry figure turned into the bundle of bustling energy.

The Astaris holding the plate, backed away a few steps, startled. His back hit the door which thumped, creaked and gave away under the small form.

Duo stopped in his search for some clothes and looked at the entrance. One second there was a boy with a plate and the next his food supplier managed to disappear behind the door and meet with the floor with a loud thump. Through the frame he could see one miserably looking puma-shifter covered in the meat and the gravy. Above the victim of the bunglers in the construction industry, were standing two amused and heavily armed betas and one of them was nudging the shrinking figure with the handle of his axe.

“Hey, stop that!” Duo quickly crossed the room. The warrior with the axe raised his head and seeing the furious Shinigami storming at him, equally quickly raised his weapon. In the same time his companion calmly assessed the situation and stepped between the two looking-for-a-fight Astaris.

“Stop that, both of you! Garr, keep your temper. Delta Maxwell, please calm down, we don't want to hurt anybody!”

“Don't think so highly of yourself! The only people hurt here would be you two,” growled Duo, but stopped obediently. He was in trouble even without the potential fight and as much as he needed the confrontation to let off some steam, the fragile future of the orphanage depended on his self-control. He threw a quick glance at the blonde to make sure that he was unharmed and then directed his glare at the warriors. The two betas responded with the equally hostile stares but any further arguing was prevented by another beta climbing the stairs.

“Garr, Henz, leave these two and go down. The first one is throwing a fit,” announced the newcomer. Indeed, from the downstairs there were coming some muffled cries and the patter of many paws. The ears of all Astaris turned in the direction of the sounds and soon they heard a louder but still muffled roar accompanied by louder crack and very clear and colorful cursing.

“It's too quiet for him,” noticed Garr, attaching his axe. “What did you do, cut his tongue off?” The hope in the warrior's voice was poorly hidden.

“No, only gagged him and clapped him in irons. But we didn't manage to chain him too well and now he is running down the corridors after the key keeper and brandishing the loose chain knocking down whoever tries to stop him.”

At these revelations both warriors looked at each other and hurried down after the messenger leaving behind two stunned deltas.

“What was he talking about?” asked Duo and reached his hand out to the sitting delta. The boy looked up at the hand and blushed furiously, but accepted Duo's help. At the questioning glance, he blushed more and averted his gaze.

“They were talking about Chang Wufei, the first fiancé, I suppose. He had stayed on the ground floor when I was bringing you breakfast. He was arguing with every single person since they carried him in and it looks like our warders got sick of it. Um, by the way, I'm Quatre Raberba Winner, the third fiancé. It's nice to meet you, delta Maxwell. I hope we'll be friends.”

Duo, absent mindedly shook the offered hand, trying in the same time to absorb Quatre's words, smell him, hear the voices from the lower floor and recall something about the name "Winner" that was bugging his mind. His brain made notes of all the coming data, catalogued them, processed and came out with results.

Duo Maxwell was still shaking the hand when the powerful wave of realization hit him with the stunning force. It burst through Duo's world, smashed its order and flooded farther, leaving behind the spilled remainders of the basic knowledge about the life.

“Excuse me. Could you repeat your name, please? I'm afraid that I heard it wrong…” Duo heard himself saying while his mind was insisting that yes, he heard it perfectly right.

“No, you heard it right. I'm Quatre Raberba Winner and yes, from those Winners,” sighed Quatre.

“Oh… oh! I didn't know that the Councilor Winner had an Astaris son. I've always heard about your twenty-nine human sisters. You were under cover or something, man? Or someone made a mistake during counting and you were figuring all this time as one of your sisters?” Duo's mouth was moving by its own will and force. The young orphan felt as if his body separated from his mind and took its normal routine. His mouth was uttering the words, his eyes were noticing the embarrassment of Quatre and his tail was weaving friendly. The world was turning, the time was passing by and Duo's brain was still and blank, not able to comprehend the enormity of the news.

“No, I just was a very sickly child and I was kept away from other children. And later…” Quatre shrugged and looked down. His eyes quickly returned up and the blush that paled during the conversation crept back with the new force. Duo also looked down and noticed that he still was slowly shaking the hand of his interlocutor.

 
`Well, seems like my body is in shock too. Duo, pull yourself together. Stop trying to understand it, it's no use. The Councilor is making you marry the mad sorcerer, that's fine. The Council made the decision to marry off the extremely powerful, rare and influential Dragon aristocrat with the exiled nut, that's fine. Beta Winner has the Astaris son and the said son is getting married to the loony alpha, that's fine. You see, Duo? Everything is fine. Now let go of that hand, say sorry like the good boy and pinch yourself hard to wake up.'

“Oops, sorry about that. I guess you surprised me quiet a bit. Nice to meet you, by the way.” Duo smiled widely and let go of Quatre's hand. “Listen, why don't we go down and look at the performance of that Chang guy, hm? You could change your clothes as well, since my breakfast seems to be quiet attached to them.” Duo pointed at the big greasy spots on the expensive clothing. The young puma-shifter looked at his clothing with the slight disgust and nodded silently.

“Good. Come on then.” Duo flashed another quick smile and turned towards the stairs in the same time pinching discretely at his arm. It hurt. He tried to pinch the second arm harder, but the results were the same. The incredulous voice of the younger delta saved him from further damage.

“Wait! You want to go down like that?”

“Like what?” Duo turned towards the flushed boy. Quatre waved his hand somewhere in the direction of Duo's belly.

“Like that! Look at yourself! Don't you see anything missing?”

Duo obediently looked down and inspected his body, paying special attention to his middle parts.

“Nope, everything's in the right place,” he stated.

“I'm not talking about THAT, stupid! I'm talking about your clothes! Or rather the lack of them!” Quatre was visibly agitated.

“Well, it's not my fault that they took my clothes somewhere,” shrugged Duo. “I searched the drawers and they were empty. I suspect that the guards throw those rags out since they were too dirty and damaged. Not that I mind, I'll have the pretext to ask for the new one. Of course, if our dear husband will have the desire to dress his deltas.” Duo ended his statement bitterly.

“What do you mean? Why would he oppose to us being dressed?” Quatre asked innocently.

At those words, Duo's eyes turned into the saucers. “What do I mean? Don't you know that most of the deltas spend their married life naked or half-naked? Have you never gone to the marketplace or walk down the streets? In the Center there are thousands of married deltas running with their asses naked. It's the common custom between betas, gammas and alphas to boast about their ownership of pretty sex slaves and to order those slaves to run around naked to confirm those gasconades. Don't tell me you didn't know about it.”

Quatre paled and shook his head slowly, his ears flat on his skull and his tail clutched in the trembling hands. The pure terror in the small delta's eyes made something in Duo's heart melt slightly. The innocence of the young Winner and his free from prejudice attitude towards the generally feared God evoked in the orphan the protecting feelings. The little blonde clearly didn't know what he was getting into and if his engagement with Yuy was voluntary - in which Duo seriously doubted, but he wasn't sure what could force the son of the representative of the betas in the Council - he still had the time to break it.

“Quatre, you can just break your engagement with Yuy. He's exiled and you're the son of the Councilor. I'm sure your father won't have problems with arranging some compensation for the annulled agreement. You're young and you can wait for someone you know and who will respect your wishes. There's no need to hurry,” advised Duo.

His words brought even more fear in the sky-blue eyes. Quatre grasped his tail more tightly, curled slightly and shook his head firmly.

Duo twisted his head a little and pricked up his ears. He tried to find the reason for the blonde to step into this damned marriage and so far he didn't come with anything convincing.
`Unless…'

With narrowed eyes and tight voice Duo asked, “Quatre… I'm sorry to bring this up, but… did Yuy have something to do with your abuse?”

Quatre swallowed and shook his head again.

 
“No, he didn't. I've never met alpha Yuy. Those who…did this… they were someone else. I don't want to talk about it,” he added quickly in the tone of someone who had to say the same thing too many times already.

Duo nodded empathically and decided to change the subject. It was no use to dwell upon it anyway, he had the growing suspicion that he knew who was behind this engagement.

“You're right, no need to talk about the sad things when the situation is pitiful. Let's have some fun! I can still hear the chase under us. Come on, we'll cheer on this noisy Dragon,” Duo grabbed the surprised blonde and dragged him to the ground floor.

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The show on the ground floor was in his fullest loveliness. Although the black-haired delta was still in the chains, there was no mistake about who was winning this match. The betas were passing on the keys in the speed that was saying a lot about their dislike to becoming the center of attention of the furious dragon. Their ranks were also shrinking visibly. Most of the warriors were finding much more important, urgent and safe matters to attend to. Usually they employed themselves with helping the injured betas.

“Why didn't they just throw something at his head and end the brawl,” asked Duo from the safe place from which he had good view of all floor.

“He's the dragon-shifter,” responded Quatre in a voice that clearly said that it covered everything.

“Yeah, I can see that. But I can also see that he's a delta,” Duo sniffed the air. “I admit that he's a really strong delta, but still. The two dozens of beta warriors wouldn't play a chase with the insolent delta no matter what clan he came from. And yes, I know that the Chang Clan is the only Dragon Clan that survived the Abandonment. They teach that in every school, even the lousy one like the Professor G's.”

“Professor G's school is not lousy,” protested Quatre. His new clothes rustled when he turned quickly.

“How do you know? You attended it?” asked an interested Duo.

“No, I had the lessons with Instructor H.”

Duo whistled in appreciation. It was a very good teacher with very high pay. There was no wonder that he was employed to teach the Winner son. Duo had to admit sincerely that his own teacher, assigned for the Maxwell orphanage, was not bad himself. Well, he was thousands times better than doctor J, the most cruel and demanding of all teachers.

“If you had lessons with H and you didn't move from your house how could you know that G's school is not lousy?” Duo pointed out the lack in the logic.

“I was raised to become the representative of the deltas in the Council. I have been getting the monthly report about every important thing that was happening in the Center and the Saint Grove,” admitted Quatre.

“Sorry to dispel your illusion, but those reports weren't saying anything about such an important thing as the delta's treatment by their husbands. How could you be a good representative if you wouldn't know about the situation of the one you were representing,” snorted Duo and turned back to watching the show.

 

He had enough of the politics and politicians for the rest of his life. The sight of the furious aristocrat tackling down and beating the shit out of the warrior with the keys was much more interesting and not so stressful.

But this scene again brought up the fact that the warrior was defending himself in every way that wasn't damaging for the delta. This meant that it wasn't successful of course.

The tiger-shifter managed to unlock the chains and grab some elfish sword from the weapon stand when Quatre spoke again.

“I didn't know that the reports were incomplete. My father was insisting that everything was fine and he was giving me the books describing the life of the deltas. I admit that I though that they looked like a bit old, but I had no premise to not trust my father. And my own people, the family of Maguanacs, were saying similar things as the ones in the official reports.” Quatre hung his head. “I really wanted to know the Center and its citizens. I sneaked out a few times to look at the city by myself, but I always did that during the night. The only Astaris I saw then were the night guards or prostitutes and I was avoiding them for the obvious reasons.”

Duo looked at the apologetic delta and sighed. `He's as innocent as a baby. Yuy is going to eat him alive. Looks like I have another little one to protect and care for…'  The delta reached out and embraced the younger fiancé with his left arm.

“Don't worry little one. It seems that you didn't have an alternative. For me it looks like you were trying, with your own source of information and all.” Duo winked and Quatre smiled a bit slyly. Duo cheerfully realized that the little blonde may not be the walking innocence after
all.

 

“Now our main concern should lie somewhere else. Yuy is an exile, right? So, he's allowed to spend only three weeks in the Center during one year. Plus, he can participate in the yearly meeting with the Gods. Do you have any idea where he lives in between the visits?” The naked delta kicked away the part of the warrior's armor that rolled in their direction.

“No, to be honest I never thought about it,” admitted Quatre picking at the second part of the armor. He examined it carefully then shrugged and threw in the same direction it came from.

“But I know that he works for Emperor, Kusherenada. He started to work for him about two thousand years ago, after the end of the war with the West. Rumor has it that he helped him gain the status of the Emperor and built the City of Wonders. I know for sure that he's in the regular contact with our ambassador, beta Zechs the Marquise. But I never heard about his place of residence.”

“Well, I know that he dabbled in magic. I heard that he has some high level of power, even after his outburst during his youth. He's considered the anomaly between the sorcerers because of that. But in the same time, they fear him too much to do something about it or study it deeply. Oh, and I know that he has a rotten attitude.”

“You met him! I though that deltas were forbidden to walk in the streets when Heero Yuy was in the city?” asked Quatre, jumping with excitement.

In the place he was sitting a moment ago plunged the familiar axe. Duo frowned at it, pulled it out of the wood and threw it back.

“No, I haven't met him. Father Maxwell met him once when he was summoned to the Council's meeting about three hundred years ago. He said that Yuy was sitting during the whole meeting glaring and scowling and he looked at Father as if he wanted to kill him. And when someone asked him about the opinion about the discussed matter he only grunted and glared some more,” related Duo.

“Maybe he had a belly ache or a headache,” disconcerted Quatre.   

“Constantly?R 21; Duo asked with irony. “My other acquaintances who saw him in other occasions described him in exactly the same words, `a scowling, antisocial jerk'. Every ailment passes with time, but not the character. Our fiancé is a jerk.” Duo stated strongly.

“Not every ailment,” Quatre used the occasion to catch Duo's imprecision. “The wounds left by the Aran's Whip are eternally incurable.”

“Well… yes,” Duo admitted reluctantly. “But it's not our concern. The only being upon which were inflicted those injuries is Elthan and only he has to bear the constant pain of his four wounds. I see no reason for Yuy to empathize with the ruler of gods to the degree where he would be scowling constantly.”

“I… I've heard some rumors…” Quatre started uncertainly when the voice from the direction of the door interrupted him.

“Good morning delta Maxwell, delta Winner. I believe you're ready for the meeting with your fiancé? Alas, delta Winner will have to wait here for the meeting as he can't enter the town hall so freshly after his… encounter.” Standing in the doorstep, Rhoen smirked slightly at Duo while they were sizing each other up.

“I'm afraid that I can't go with you, alpha Rhoen. Although it's tearing my heart apart to not be able to visit the wonderful place where our splendid Council makes its wise decisions, I have to remain with my fellow fiancé, just like the law is stating.” Duo twisted his face in the most mockingly, apologetic smile almost managing to not bare his tooth.

Rhoen's nostrils twitched slightly.

“I can assure you that the situation is exceptional and we withdrew from so many regulations to ensure your comfort and satisfaction that bending this one is really insignificant. Please, put on the clothes that are waiting for you in the first room to the right and come with me. If
you'd be so kind to collect the delta Chang, I'd be much obliged to you,” alpha bowed slightly while looking hardly in Duo's eyes.

“As you wish, sir.” Duo smiled and tugged Quatre towards the advisable room, which was exactly the same room that was chosen by the dragon warrior for administering the justice for the betas.

Inside the first room to the right, counting from the door, greeted them the lovely picture of nicely made bed with evenly folded black clothes on it; beautiful cupboard full of food, fruits, cutlery and kitchen instruments; one descendent of the Dragon Clan kicking the beta warrior
in his rear with the determination worth the better case and a few other betas who were looking at the spectacle uncertainly and supporting their unconscious collegues.

“I'm sorry, but there's alpha Rhoen waiting outside for all betas. Could you please let go of this poor thing,” said Duo bluntly.

The tiger-shifter looked up, shrugged, took hold of beta's tail and nape and with one powerful throw he carried out the Duo's request.

Two standing in door deltas moved swiftly out of the way of the flying warrior. The rest of the betas hurried away to escape the fate of their predecessor. When there were only three fiancés left in the room, Duo closed the door and started to barricade them with the chairs and
pillows from the bed.

“What are you doing, idiot?!” barked the dark-haired man.

“Rhoen came here to take us to the meeting with alpha Yuy, but he wanted to leave here Quatre. We're not leaving him here alone, so we'll have to wait for Yuy to come to us. I doubt that Rhoen will take a fancy to our idea, so I'm preparing the room for the defense. Oh, and nice to meet you Chang Wufei from the Dragon Clan. I remember vaguely that we met
already but I wasn't awake then so I'm not counting it. And to answer your earlier question, yes, I'm Duo Maxwell, the fiancé of the alpha Yuy, although involuntary. From your behavior I deduce that your engagement is also not to your taste. If you could agree to wait here for the
Yuy's arrival it'd be wonderful, since I have to follow the decision of the future first husband. If you state that we stay here to wait for our fiancé, I'd avoid some severe consequences. And besides, we're in this shit together so I think we should cooperate. Could you please give me
that axe?” Duo reached out towards Wufei.

After the short moment of silence the tiger-shifter asked with annoyance, “Do you always talk so much?”

“Only when I'm stressed, nervous, bored, happy, irritated or agitated,” Duo smiled cheerfully. “Now are you with us or not?”

“Do I have the choice,” snorted Chang looking at the skillfully barricaded door and threw the axe. Duo caught it and fixed to the construction of the barricade.

“Now, I'll put those clothes on since they're waiting here so patiently for my attention and we'll wait for those morons in the corridor to realize that we have our own will and wishes,” Duo stated merrily and pranced towards the bed, his black tail swinging behind. “Oh, and Wufei,
please say 'we're staying here to wait for alpha Yuy, that's my decision as a future first husband.' Ya `now, only to be on the safe side.”

Something akin to amusement passed in the dark eyes and quickly disappeared unnoticed by anyone. “I, Chang Wufei of the Dragon Clan, from the position of the future first husband of the exiled alpha Heero Yuy, take the decision to stay in this room and wait in it for the arrival of our fiancé. I also order the future second and third husbands, Duo Maxwell and Quatre Raberba Winner adequately, to stay here with me,” Wufei said stately. Seeing the dropped jaws of both deltas he smirked and asked, “Officially enough?” 

Duo grinned and nodded. 'Looks like this marriage won't be a TOTAL catastrophe. At least those two are better than the first impression I had of them. And it'll be fun to rustle the feathers of this proud dragon,' at this Duo's grin widened.

“Which one of you threw the greaves inside of this room,” Wufei asked suddenly, picking up the elfish sword and examining its blade. 

“Uh, I did,” admitted Quatre who didn't move from the spot near the door during the entire time. Now though, he started to move discretely towards the window.

“Nice throw, it knocked out one of those weaklings. Are you the one that I should give the credit for the axe too?”

“That was my merit!” Duo declared proudly while pulling his trousers up.

“You almost killed me with that axe, you fool! I barely managed to dodge it. We'll settle this later,” promised the aristocrat making some difficult moves with his sword. Duo gulped and quickly finished getting dressed. In the meantime, Wufei examined the contest of the cupboard and started to put food and other things on the plates.

“What are you doing,” asked Quatre moving closer. He was presented with two full plates.

”Put them on the bed and sit there. You'll be our catapult since your aim is good. Maxwell, do you have some kind of weapon on you?”

“Nope. I'm better at dodging than in the warfare,” admitted the chestnut-haired Astaris. “But I can give somebody a good trashing if necessary,” his smirk accompanied by the reddish gleam in his eyes made Wufei look closely at the young man and mentally increased their chances. The heir of the Dragon Clan was aware of the fact that his earlier victory over
betas was the result of them holding back in the fear of hurting the powerful aristocrat. Now though, with the alpha's order behind their back, they would surely want to take the revenge for the beating they suffered.

“Good, you'll do the hand to hand combat,” he decided.

They were still preparing for the fight when Duo decided to break the silence.

“So Wufei, how did you end up in this shitty situation? And I mean the engagement, not this place. I heard that you were carried here, so I guess I can reconstruct some of the previous events,” the half-banshee asked conversationally. Wufei shot a glance at Quatre, who put on the most innocent expression.

“It's not your business,” Wufei snapped.

“Oh come on, man. We'll be spending the rest of our lives together, the more we know about each other the more peaceful will be our coexistence. So? Don't be shy, tell us! I was forced be the Council, they blackmailed me that they'll close the orphanage I was brought up in. What about you? And Quatre, you also didn't tell me your story!” Duo nudged the squirming blond on the bed.

“I… I can't say. I'm sorry, but I gave my word,” said the saddened Quatre. “But I promise that I'll tell you later, after the ceremony,” he added solemnly.

“So you're blackmailed too,” sighed Duo. “And what about you, oh the mighty dragon?”

Wufei glowered but answered quietly. “This marriage was the decision of my clan. I showed the great disobedience and this is my punishment.”

“What? You couldn't be disobedient enough to deserve such a punishment! You're going to marry the mass murderer on whom even gods turned their back! I heard that the Dragon Clan was strongly family-oriented. Why would they do something like that to one of their own?” Duo exclaimed and threw the fork on the plate with such a force it bounced and almost plunged
into Quatre's leg. The blonde quickly caught it before it could hurt him and carefully put it in place.

Duo's and Wufei's eyebrows rose at the speed with which the young Winner moved, but neither said a word. Quatre apparently wasn't as harmless as he seemed.

“I'm afraid that my silence was ensured in the same fashion as Winner's,” Wufei's acerbic statement brought their attention back to the conversation. “I can only say that although the decision about my marriage came from my Clan, the… suggestion concerning the identity of my fiancé came from the different… authorities.”

“Beautifully blooming words for the nasty truth,” snorted Duo and sat on the bed swinging his legs. “Our `authorities' started to play dirty and they have their purpose. Damn, but I'd want to know what it is.”

“Me too,” said Quatre.

“Same here,” amended Wufei and sat on the bed in the lotus position, putting the sword by his side. Their preparations were finished and now they only had to wait for the encounter.

In the three hearts between the anticipation, more or less admitted fear and despair there were shining the timid flickers of hope that the man they were waiting for wouldn't be as bad as they thought.

And maybe, just maybe they'd have the chance for the life-bond, the most precious, fragile, rare and awaited joy in the Astaris' life.