peace knights chap 7

He smiled…

That was all Heero thought as he stared at the trusting amethyst eyes. Somehow, there was no more pain, no more sadness in the eyes he once saw. He tore his gaze away from those attractive eyes immediately as he realized his slave was coughing.

“Are you alright?” Heero asked frantically as he tapped Duo’s back gently.

Duo seemed to try to say something but nothing came out. He looked surprised and tried again. Yet this time, he started to cough again.

“Water?” Heero asked, concerned as he reached for the glass of water on the bedside table. Gently, he put it to his slave’s mouth and allowed him to sip the water once he stopped coughing.

“Will you be fine for a while?” Heero asked Duo, “I need to get the healer.”

Duo nodded weakly as he tried to give the other boy a smile. He tried to figure out answers to his questions. He tried hard to remember where he was, who the other person was and most importantly…

Who am I? Duo asked himself, as he closed his eyes, why can’t I remember anything? Who am I? Who am I? Think! Think! Think!

The more he thought about it, the more his head hurts. He tried to scream his frustration but somehow, no sound came out.

He pulled his hair as the pain increased. He tried to stop the pain but it only became worse. He opened his eyes and tried to focus on the scenery outside the window.
The glare of the sun hurt his eyes but somehow, he couldn’t tear his eyes away.

Maybe clouds would be better, he thought, or maybe a drizzle? I like rain.

It was then the pain in his head decreased as dark clouds blocked the sun. Then rain started pouring down heavily without warning. Yells could be heard as people outdoors started to scramble for shelter.

Wow! I didn’t know what I wish could come true, Duo thought, but I thought a drizzle would be nice, not a shower.

He sat on the bed, entranced by the rain outside the window. Somehow the pain was gone.

~at the corridor~

“Trowa!” Heero yelled as he opened Trowa’s door.

“What?” Trowa snapped as he looked up from his book. He was supposed to finish this book and write a review for the doctors. Well, he was not Heero who could finish his in within an hour. He envied Heero’s photographic memory. A lot, really. He would give anything to join Quatre in the garden and not at this stupid book.

“Did you use your power?” Heero asked worriedly.

“No. why? Did someone use his power?” Trowa asked as he stood up, book abandoned.

Heero nodded. He had felt someone using his power. They never really used their power unless they were in danger. So it was not Trowa. Then he turned to move out of the room to find out if it was Wufei or Quatre.

However, he was stopped at the door by a drenched Quatre and an amused Wufei.

“Hi, prince Heero,” Quatre greeted the prince as he smiled sheepishly, “caught in the downpour.”

“Yeah. You two should be outside just now. The rain just pours down without warning. It was actually funny to see trained soldiers started yelling and sprinting for shelter all of a sudden due to rain. And what was even funnier was when their looks of surprise when the rain started to fall down heavily all of a sudden!” Wufei explained in an amused tone.

“You are dry,” Trowa commented as he took a towel and handed it to Quatre, resisting drying Quatre himself due to the two of them in the room.

“He was under a tree and had enough time to put up a magical shield, master,” Quatre explained.

“And you did not shield Quatre as well?” Trowa glared at Wufei.

“Well, he was too far away from me. And a little rain will not kill him,” Wufei said in a nonchalantly tone. He did not think Quatre would fall ill that easily.

“It’s okay, master,” Quatre said in defend of Wufei, “I was running around when the rain fell. It was entirely my fault.”

“Not your fault, Quatre,” Trowa said firmly.

“Yeah, it is the rain’s fault,” Wufei joked, “and why are you here, prince Heero?”

“Hn. I was trying to see who used his power. Was it you, Wufei?” Heero asked.

“Nope. I was careful not to use my power. And before you ask it was not Quatre’s. I was with him the entire time,” Wufei replied, “and I did not feel anything just now.”

“Neither did I,” Trowa answered as Quatre shook his head as well.

“Hn,” Heero grunted before he realized something and he swore.

“What?” Wufei asked as he watched the crown prince dashed away suddenly.

Trowa shrugged but he followed after his brother with Wufei and Quatre behind him. Somehow, it seemed that it was becoming a habit for the two princes to dash around the palace’s corridors nowadays.

“Sally!” Heero yelled as he banged on the healer, “Sally!”

“What?” Sally asked as she opened the door immediately, “it’s you, prince Heero. He’s awake?”

“Yes,” Heero answered curtly as he started to walk back to his room with Sally beside him, “but he still can’t speak.”

“That’s all?” Sally asked.

“No, he’s trembling and in pain but I don’t know why,” Heero admitted as he showed his worry, “is he going to be okay?”

Sally was about to ask more questions when Heero reached the door. However, Wufei yelled at him before he could even open the door.

“What?” Heero snapped. He was never known for his patience.

“Trowa and Quatre will not be able to get in,” Wufei answered nervously at the prince’s deadly glare.

“Hn,” Heero grunted but Wufei could feel his anger. Well, after all it was his fault.

Heero opened the door and stepped in, muttering something as he motioned the rest to enter. However, he did not even look to see if the rest of them were following before he turned and made his way to the bed where his slave was in.

“Duo?” Sally called as she pushed Heero away to look at the boy, thus enabling the rest of the occupants to see Duo as well.

However, what they saw was not the frightened boy they were used to for the few days before the attack. Instead of amethyst eyes that were blank with emotions, they were now bright with innocence and trust.

“Duo?” Sally asked as the boy just looked at her with confusion.

“Remember me? Sally?” Sally asked but those eyes gained no recognition, “okay, just know that I am a healer and wants to make you feel better. So I have to give you a checkup if that is okay with you? I mean you no harm.”

And she was rewarded with a bright smile.

~ In the same dark manor~

“What do you mean by you fail?”

“I am sorry, Sir. But I will succeed the next time! Give me another chance, Sir!”

“You have already lost your chance!”

“But Sir! I will kill him! I want to kill him!”

“So? You fail! That is enough!”

“But, Sir! Let me try again!”

“Give me a reason.”

“If I don’t kill him now, he is going to kill me in future!”

“Well, you can try again. But not now. Wait for my orders.”

“Thank you, Sir!”


~in the garden of gundam palace~

“Duo! Get back here!” Wufei yelled after the laughing boy who had tagged him and ran away.

The boy just laughed and ran even faster. Wufei yelled angrily at the injustice of Duo’s actions but he could not stop the smile on his face. He looked over to Quatre who smiled apologetically to him before dashing off as well.

It had been a whole week since the attack on Duo. He had recovered but all his memory was lost. However, somehow, Wufei was glad that he had lost his memory. The boy without his memory was innocent and cheerful. No dark past or fear haunted his eyes. He was always smiling and was so trusting that Wufei would like to kill the one who had broken Duo before.

Though Duo was much happier, he still could not speak. Sally said it was something in his subconscious that renders him mute. Duo was upset without the use of his voice but he sure was optimistic. The lack of his voice did not keep him from getting into mischief. And Duo was very good at sneaking around, much to Wufei’s annoyance. What was worse was that prince Heero had to resume his studies since summer break was over and Wufei was to teach and look after Duo and Quatre about the workings of the palace.

Quatre was quiet and listened attentively while Duo was frequently distracted. However, he was able to understand what Wufei was saying and quick to grasp any difficult concepts. Currently, he had been able to convince Wufei to have lessons in the garden with Quatre’s help. Though Duo could not speak, his eyes spoke volumes. Together with Quatre, the two of them could more or less get anything they want.

Quatre was sweet and polite while Duo was charming and mischievous. Each of them held a special place in everyone’s heart. The two of them might be slaves but none of the servants treated them as such.

It might be Wufei’s imagination but he thought that he sensed an air of regal confidence. But then Quatre was a slave, there was no way he possessed such confidence. Then again, Quatre never spoke of his past. All of them only knew that Quatre suffered a lot due to his powers as a peace knight. He looked very upset at the slight mention of his family. Well, at least he was comfortable around them though Wufei was not sure if he knew they were peace knights as well. It seemed that Trowa did tell him but Quatre did not manage to catch the meaning or hear the words.

But whatever the case was, there were only short of one more knight. Water. The knight who could control water. Whoever he was, Wufei hoped he would be found soon. Powers especially like theirs might not be good to leave unsupervised. All of them had to train and keep their power under control. Even Quatre’s. Well, since the two princes were going to be busy, Wufei was given the task again.

Not that it was bad; he enjoyed having things to do other than just studying old books or checking the wards in the palace. Teaching Duo was a challenge and Quatre was so much easier. But he could still manage fine. The only thing that was a bit more troubling was that he would have to leave Duo somewhere so he would not see Quatre using his powers. They had decided to keep it a secret from Duo. Not that they did not trust him. It was just that the fewer Duo knows, the less the risk of him being hurt will be smaller.

It was then the feeling of something hitting his back brought him back to reality. Annoyed, he looked around and found a grinning boy hanging upside down from the tree closest to him. Before he could grab the boy, the boy moved quickly and climbed up the tree.

“Duo! Get down here!” Wufei yelled angrily, “you are to have mathematics now and not tree climbing! Or even playing catch-me-if-you-can with me or Quatre! Get down now!”

Duo just laughed and stuck his tongue at the ranting Wufei. He found a branch that looked sturdy enough for him to rest on and made himself comfortable there. However, it was not long before something grabbed his braid and pulled hard.

He gasped before he fell to the ground. Luckily for him, he did not climb very high. He fell onto something. Or rather someone.

“Get off me, Duo!” Wufei yelled as the boy scrambled to his feet and tried to get of again.

“No you don’t,” Wufei said calmly as he reached and pulled at the braid for the second time in the past ten minutes.

Duo whimpered as he fell again and glared at Wufei for pulling at his braid. He pouted as Wufei continued to rant about the injustice of running away from lessons. Duo just listened halfheartedly.

It was boring. Soon, he knew that Wufei would try to make him read about some boring essay again and make him write down what he thought about it. Well, how could he get away from this?

Umm… if I try to distract him? Or I run away quickly? No. try that before, Duo thought, maybe I told him I am sick? Nope. Heero will know. Then he will worry. He is so nice. I don’t want him to worry. Actually, Wufei is nice to me as well. But I don’t want to study. Umm… what to do?

He looked around absentmindedly, ignoring Wufei’s glare and ranting. What to do? Duo continued to plot in his mind.

“Duo! You are not even listening to me! That is injustice!” Wufei screamed. No, yelled. He would never admit that he screamed. That was what an onna does, not him.

It was then Duo started to point frantically at something behind him.

Must be another trick, Wufei thought as he glared at the panicky boy in front of him.
“No, Duo. I am not falling for such a stupid trick,” Wufei said as he tried to grab Duo who had started to run again. He held onto the boy’s right arm but Duo tried to break free of his grip. It was strange. Duo did not seem to be acting.

Wufei turned, just in time to catch sight of a group of soldiers surrounding Quatre. Shocked, he let go of Duo and sprinted to Quatre with Duo following behind him.

“What are you all doing?” Wufei yelled at the soldiers as he made his way next to Quatre. He noted that the soldiers surrounding Quatre were not of the palace. They were from Mag. What were they trying to do with Quatre?

“We meant no harm, sorcerer,” one of them said as he stepped forward.

To Wufei’s surprise, the one who spoke was someone he had seen at the banquet before he left to check on the palace’s wards. What was he doing here?

“Ambassador? What are you and your soldiers trying to do with prince Trowa’s slave?” Wufei asked suspiciously as he set his glare on Rashid, the ambassador from Mag.
He might be an ambassador but he would not be polite to someone who tried to hurt one of his friends.

“The prince’s slave?” Rashid asked, looking surprised, “he is really the prince’s slave?”

“Yes,” Wufei replied as he narrowed his eyes at Rashid, “what is going on here?”

“Oh Allah! He’s the prince slave? A slave?” Rashid muttered as he looked at Quatre, face paled, “your.”

What Rashid was going to say was cut off with a slap. Surprised, Wufei looked at Quatre. Before he could react, Duo reached and tried to pull Quatre away. However, Quatre ignored Duo’s attempt as his eyes filled with unshed tears.

“Don’t you dare call me that! I have not been that for years! All of you hate me! You don’t want me!” Quatre yelled angrily as tears threatened to fall.

No! I will not cry! I have no ties with them. Not anymore, Quatre thought as he glared at the man he once was very close with.

“But… Master…” Rashid tried to say something but Quatre cut him off again.

“If you still respect me, let me go,” Quatre said simply, “I have no ties with you or anyone. I am just a slave. A nobody.”

“But,” Rashid protested, “but your Father is very worried about you, Master Quatre! He wants you to be safe!”

“Safe?” Quatre laughed bitterly, “I am safe here. I have people who accept me. Not people who abandon me. Not people who just ignore me!”

“But,” Rashid tried again, “he is still your father. He needs you. And your sisters! Don’t you remember them? Especially princess Iria?”

“No. she let Father send me away. They did not listen to my pleas. And none of you, not even one of you came to see me in that year. All of you were glad to send me away! So don’t talk to me about them or anything to do with them. I am no longer a Winner. I am just a slave, a prince’s slave,” Quatre said coldly but tears fell, “at least prince Trowa and the others in this palace accept me and treat me well.”

“Quatre?” Wufei spoke up, noticing that Rashid and the other soldiers surrounding them were all quiet and looked very upset and guilty. But Wufei could not understand what was happening. Who is Quatre? Or rather was since he said that it was in the past.

“I am okay,” Quatre said after he took a few minutes to calm himself, “can we go, Wufei? It’s time for the lessons.”

Duo pulled Quatre’s sleeve as he tried to express his concern. It was so frustrating that he could not speak. Quatre looked so upset. He wanted to cheer him up. Furthermore, who were these soldiers? He had never seen them before. Well, even if he had seen them before, he could not remember since he had lost his memory. Somehow, he did not think they were bad people but then they had made Quatre upset. So they were bad.

Quatre tried to smile weakly as he turned his glance to the worried boy behind him, “Duo, I am fine. Don’t worry. Let’s go for our lessons.”

“Master…” Rashid’s voice trailed off as Quatre gave him a glare.

“I am not. Now, please let me go,” Quatre said firmly as he walked away with Duo following, his hands still holding onto Quatre’s right sleeve, hoping to get Quatre’s attention. But Quatre just kept moving forward.

The soldiers parted when he moved towards them. They bowed their heads slightly as a show of respect. Somehow, Wufei thought he saw looks of guilt, sadness and even anger on their faces as they looked at Quatre.

“What is going on here?” Wufei asked, perplexed at the fact that the ambassador looked so upset and all the Mag soldiers respect the prince’s slave, “who is Quatre? Or rather was?”

“That is our crown prince Quatre Raberba Winner,” Rashid replied firmly, “and that will never change. Not now or ever.”


~at the library ~

Are you alright? Duo wrote on his board with his special pen. Both were given to him by Wufei, to ensure that he could communicate with others even when he could not talk.

“Yes, I am” Quatre smiled weakly but Duo could see the unshed tears in his aquamarine eyes.

Yeah right, you are. If you are, we will not be hiding in the library. And I wonder where Wufei is? He knows we will be in the library if one of us is upset. So why isn’t he coming here? Duo wrote quickly before Quatre could answer anything.

Quatre smiled at his friend. It was nice to have people who care about him. He was happy here. Maybe even more than his childhood.

“You are not needed here.”

“I’m so sorry, Quatre but it is for your own good!”

A gentle slap on his arms brought Quatre back to reality. Duo was looking at him worriedly. He shook his head to calm his friend.

“Bad memories,” He explained curtly.

Memories? Are memories bad? Duo wrote again, is that why I can’t remember them? But I want my memories back. It’s so hard sometimes.

Quatre smiled sadly. It was always sad to lose one’s memories. However, in Duo’s case, he was happy for him. Losing his memory enable Duo to be so innocent and happy. To Quatre, it was worth it. He was very pleased to see Duo so unlike the boy he had met at the slavers’.

He had remembered the first time he had seen Duo. Duo was thrown into the room or rather cage that he and a few slaves shared. It was a long time before anyone of them dared to approach the unmoving boy after the slavers had thrown him in. actually, he was sure that he was the only one who dared approach Duo.

Slaves did not make friends and especially with another slave. It was for a very simple reason. Slaves were killed easily. It was foolish to care for someone who might die the next day.

Yet, something made Quatre approach Duo. It was not usual for him to approach someone. He was usually scared and frightened of anyone since he was captured. He wanted to throw away his feeling ever since the day his father sent him away. He was so scared of caring for someone and then betrayed by the same person. However, something told him to approach Duo. Quatre turned him over to see if he was still conscious.

The first time he looked into those eyes was not everything he could forget. Duo looked so blank. No emotions or anything. Not even fear that almost all slaves had in their eyes, no matter how they tried to hide. And Quatre was very good at reading people.

“What happened to you?” he had whispered at the boy. But the boy only stared at the ground, unblinking, and uncaring.

Now, the same boy was in front of him, scrambling to ask questions to ask. He might still be unable to talk but he was happy, cheerful and innocent. It might be temporary but Quatre hoped Duo would never remember his past. His memories filled with too much tears.

A hit on his head brought him back to reality to a glaring Duo who had just thrown his board over at the boy sitting over him. He chuckled at the boy as he picked up the board to read what was written.

JUST BECAUSE I AM MUTE DOESN’T MEAN THAT I LIKE BEING IGNORED!!! First Wufei and now you! Duo had written across the board, AND I HATE BEING IGNORED!!! So next time before you go into a daze, GIVE ME A WARNING!!!

Quatre could not stop laughing at the words. He tried to compose himself but failed when he saw the pouting boy. Duo sure was comical. It was so different from the boy he was thinking about earlier. Yet, he could see that one thing never changed, Duo was still concerned and tried to help him. He knew Duo was trying to cheer him up. Even if it involved throwing things at him. It was successful since he sure was feeling much better now.

“Thank you, Duo,” Quatre smiled at the boy who immediately loses his pouts and looked at him in concern, “I am better now.”

Just as Duo was about to gestured something, Hilde’s voice interrupted them.

“Quatre? Are you there?” Hilde asked as she entered the library. She knew that Duo and Quatre like spending time in the library and the garden.

“Here!” Quatre answered as Hilde poked her head into the room.

“Prince Trowa wanted to speak with you,” Hilde said before she asked worriedly, “you are not in trouble right?”

“I’m not sure about that,” Quatre said uncertainly.

“I hope not,” Hilde replied sadly. She had taken quite a liking to Quatre since Quatre was so nice to Duo. She could see that he really cares about people around him.

“And Duo, prince Heero said you can stay here till dinner,” Hilde continued, noticing Duo sitting beside Quatre.

Duo smiled and waved at them before he disappeared somewhere among the shelves of books. He loved books. He always enjoys reading in the library. Quatre and Hilde smiled at their excited friend as they started their way to prince Trowa’s room.

Well, it seemed like Rashid did tell them of my past, Quatre thought, if they want to hear whole thing, it will be a long story.


~somewhere in the library~


Hmm… I wonder what books I will read today, Duo thought as he picked up a book with a very nice hardcover, maybe this. The legend of Peace knights, I wonder what it is about. It seemed thick enough to last me till dinner.

With that, he took the book carefully out from the rack. He knew that all the books here were precious and he was so happy that the princes allowed both him and Quatre to read the books.

With the book in his hands, he looked around to make sure that he was alone before he opened a door that was painted as a wall. It was not easy to find the door. The only reason Duo found this secret room was the fact that he fell into the room a week ago. Since then he came into this room whenever he was alone. He did not tell anyone about this room, not even Quatre.

The room was a bit dirty so Duo cleaned up a bit. It did not have the lamps Wufei supplied around the castle. Wufei’s lamps will lit up with a tap unlike the usual candles or oil lamps. Instead there was a nice fireplace and a few candles, providing more than enough illumination around the room for him to read comfortably.

Soon he was lost in the world of peace knights…

“What are you doing here?” an angry voice demanded suddenly.

Shocked, Duo dropped his book and glanced at the man standing at the other side of the room. He caught sight of the clothes the man was wearing and he kneeled down immediately.

“Always bow when you see someone dressed in expensive clothing,” Heero had told him once.

“Yes. You have to remember that, Duo. It is very important. You might get in trouble if you don’t bow to some people,” Wufei explained.

Duo had looked at them in confusion. Before Quatre stepped in and said in more simple words.

“Duo, both of us are slaves. We are supposed to respect everyone. The maids and most of the guards have grown fond of you and they would not take any offence even if you play pranks on them. They like you. But for people of higher status, they want you to respect them. So you kneel and bow when you see them okay? That will make them feel better,” Quatre explained patiently, “and if you don’t kneel and bow to them, they might punish you. And then you will be in pain. And with you in pain, Heero will be upset. Do you want him to be upset?”

Duo shook his head and nodded.

“So you promise?” Heero asked and he signed in relief at Duo’s solemn nod. He did not like the fact that Duo had to kneel and bow at someone. But he knew Duo had to do that. He was a slave. Though he disliked this fact, he had to accept it. Just as Trowa accept this fact about Quatre.

It was then Duo nudged Heero and smiled at him innocently, he wanted Heero to be happy and that was all that matter.

So here he was doing what he had promised. He wondered who the man was. How had he even got into the room? He was facing the door he entered and he did not notice anyone coming in. the man must have entered from another door. But how? He did not even know there might be people who knew about this room.

“Answer me,” the man demanded.

Duo trembled a bit at the angry tone the man used but he was lost as to how to answer him without looking up or gesturing. He shook his head in frustration.

“What do you mean by shaking your head? I ask for an answer!” the man snapped angrily.

Well, he have the same patience as Heero has, Duo thought, how to tell him.

Finally taking a chance, Duo looked up and gestured his mouth and then pointed to the board he had left on the armchair he was sitting on earlier. He took the pen and held it out.

The man’s eyes that were glaring at him softened, “you can’t speak?”

Duo nodded and moved towards the board. He took the chance to study the man. The man was dressed in expensive clothes like Trowa and Heero. He had an air around him that Duo could not recognize. Most importantly, he realized that there were similarities between Heero and this man. Both of them had the same glare though their eye colors were different. Both of them had unruly hair that was dark though Heero’s seemed a bit darker.

Yes, sir. I have an accident or something and I have lost all my memories, Duo wrote.

“You are a slave?” the man asked. He noticed the collar Duo was wearing after he had read the words Duo had written.

Duo nodded, a bit annoyed at the tone the man was using. So what aren’t slaves human? He hated all these people who think they are the greatest just because of some blood.

“So what are you doing here? Who is your master? How dare he let you around unsupervised,” the man demanded.

Duo rolled his eyes. Somehow, he was no longer fearful of this man. Maybe it was the fact that he realized that the man looked very alike to Heero. Fierce but kind.

I stumbled into it, Duo wrote before he passed the board over to the man to read.

“If that is the case, you should get out of here and never come back,” the man said calmly though he still seemed angry.

Duo was annoyed. Why should he leave the place just because he asked him to? Sure, he was a slave. But he did not like the thought of leaving just because he was told to.

Why? Duo wrote. If he explained nicely, maybe I will, Duo thought

“Because I say so,” the man replied, annoyed that Duo was not obeying him.

Duo rolled his eyes. Who does this man think he was? He ignored the man and settled down once. No way he was leaving just because he said so. Somehow, Duo formed an attachment to this room.

“What are you doing? I want you to get out of here!” the man yelled angrily but Duo just ignored him.

He pretended to continue reading the book but he was alert to anything the man might have done in his anger. Heero had told him how dangerous it was to make someone angry. True, he should not have angered him in the first place but he felt that the man should take it for granted that everyone will obey his commands.

“Stop ignoring me, you slave or I will punish you!” the man threatened.

Duo sighed and picked his board up. He scribbled something before he threw it in front of the man.

Well, using violence will mean that you are not confident that what you say is right. So you need this show of power to prove that you are right, Duo wrote as he held the board for the man to read.

“You insolent slave!” the man yelled angrily, “you… rude child!”

The man could not thought of a better way to scold the rude slave in front of him. It had been years since someone disobeyed him in his face and never had it been a slave who dared to defy him.

I am not a CHILD! I have enough of that from Wufei! I AM NOT A CHILD! YOU STUPID OLD MAN!!! Duo wrote angrily, throwing at board at the man but he missed.

“You are a child! And I am not an old man!” the man snapped back and he threw the board back at Duo who in turn dodged as well.

Could have fooled me. The way you were ranting is like a seventy old man who was angry about some kids teasing his dog! Duo scribbled and threw the board again.

“Yeah? And the way you are acting is like a five year old losing his temper!” the man replied and threw the board at Duo again.

AM NOT!!! Duo wrote and held it up.

“are too!” the man yelled as the two of them glared at each other.

Finally Duo backed down sulkily. He pouted at him before he realized what he was doing. Then he giggled as he realized how stupid the two of them were acting. A rude brat and a ranting old man. So unlike their appearances.

The man looked at the laughing slave as if the slave was crazy. Who would suddenly laugh uncontrollably when he was arguing? It was then he started to think about what they had been doing. That brought a smile to his face. It felt good. It had been so long since he lost his temper and even much longer since he had smiled. The both of them had been acting real weird just now.

I’m sorry, Duo gestured. True, he was not supposed to disobey orders but he could not help it. It was in his nature to defy orders unless the orders were reasonable. Being of a higher rank was never enough a reason to Duo.

The man smiled. It was strange but he was not angry at being disobeyed by a slave. Somehow, he was even happy about it. It had been so long since someone talked to him like that. But he knew he had to tell the slave not to do such a thing with others. Not many would hesitate to punish the slave if he pulled a stunt like this.

“I guess I’m wrong in making you leave because of my rank. But bear in mind, other people might not appreciate being talked to like that. You can get into real trouble you know,” the man said gently.

Duo smiled brightly. He knew the man was concerned for him. And somehow he liked the man. Again, it might be the fact that the man looks like Heero. But there seemed to be something in the man that made Duo want to cheer him up.

Duo picked up his board again and started to scribble, is this room really important to you? If yes, I will leave and promise not to tell anyone about it. I have not told anyone yet. I really like this place. I know it sounds a bit weird but there is a feeling of something nice here. I don’t know how to describe it but it is something that really warmed my heart? Umm… I don’t know.

The man widened his eyes a bit before he composed himself quickly. It was weird but this slave here managed to make him lose his composure so many times within ten minutes. And the fact that he sensed something.

You must have thought I am weird or something. But do you mind if you tell me the reason you don’t want me here? I know I am just a slave. I should not ask questions or go into any places I like. I also know that it is easy for you to kill me. But… Duo smiled a bit nervously as he stopped for a while, looking at the man, I really like to know. And maybe I will not come in here again if I understand your reason. But you know you have got to get someone to clean this place at least fortnightly. This place is so dirty when I first stumbled into it! Cobwebs and dust everywhere!

The man chuckled before he became serious. Somehow, he felt that it was okay to talk to this slave. He knew that the slave had no idea as to who he is. Well, if he knew, he did not think the slave would argue with him. But then he knew that this boy was different.

“This room used to belong to my wife. It was her reading room. No one in the castle knew about this room. It was a place for us to talk or read in peace. But then she passed away. I… I... I only entered every year at our wedding anniversary,” the man said in a monotone but Duo could detect the sadness behind his tone.

I’m sorry. I will not come into this room anymore. It is my wrong and if you want to punish me, I will accept it. I should not have come in here. I… have tainted your memory. I am sorry, Duo apologized. He felt so bad, disturbing other people’s memories. He had lost his own so he knew how precious memories were.

“No. you are not at fault. And I did not mind you coming in as long as you help to clean up this place. And I think you will once again brighten up this room. It had been too dull since she passed away. But promise you will not tell anyone about this room or me for that matter,” the man said.

Yes, I promise! And I am Duo. I run. I hide. But I never lie! Duo grinned as he nodded.

The man smiled, “well, I guess I just have to trust you. I am Odin but you can just call me uncle since I am older than you.”

Hey! You are not that old! Why should I call you uncle? Duo protested.

“Maybe it is the fact that I have sons your age?” the man smirked.

WHAT?! You are kidding? You don’t look that old! Duo wrote in disbelief.

The man just continued smirking and Duo rolled his eyes. Talk about appearances being deceiving.

“So, Duo. What are you reading when I came into the room?”

Duo held the book cover for Odin to read. Odin looked a bit surprised at the title before he smiled.

“Peace knights. There is quite an interesting story. I’ve read about it,” Odin answered.

Duo smiled and pushed the book to Odin and pointed at him and then at the book.

“What? You want me to tell you about the story? Aren’t you going to read it?” Odin asked.

Nope! I read it because no one read it out to me. Can you tell me the story? Please? Really please? Duo pleaded as he turned his best puppy eyes at Odin. He knew till now, no one could say no to his look. Even Wufei had succumbed to it.

Odin just sighed in resignation as he started to tell the story, “it was said since long ago, that, whenever the world is in danger of being torn to pieces, five peace knights will be united….”

peace knights 6

Duo's POV


“Duo!” Heero yelled in shock as he ran towards in the unconscious boy.

He kneeled in front of the boy, not really sure of what to do. He only knew he had to do something. His mind was in a whirl. Everything seemed so unreal to him.

Maybe I can put him on the bed? Or maybe I have stopped his bleeding first? Or must I check for his injuries? What shall I do? Will it be okay for me to touch him? What if I hurt him? Heero thought as he felt his heart beating faster and faster, can I accept the fact if he is really dead?

He lifted a shaking hand towards the unconscious form on the floor.

Please be alive! I don’t know what I will do if you are not, Heero begged mentally.

His shaking finger reached the unconscious boy’s neck and trembling, he found a pulse. It was weak but it was there. He dropped his hand in relief and tried to think of what to do. His mind was still in whirl. An arm pulled him backwards as someone took her place opposite him.

“Sal…Sally?” Heero asked in a shaky voice.

However, Sally ignored him and started to check Duo’s injuries. Someone pulled him up to his feet, moving him away from Sally and Duo. He was so disorientated that he did not protest to being lead around.

“Trowa?” Heero looked at his brother who had led him to a chair some distance away yet he was still able to see what Sally was doing, “will… will he be alright?”

“Don’t worry,” Trowa said simply as he rested a hand on Heero’s shoulder.

Heero shook his head as he started to glare at the healer, scrutinizing her every moves. A hand patted his shoulder again. Heero looked at his brother to find him giving him an amused smile. He glared at him but Trowa only shook his head.

“Calm down and stop glaring at Sally,” Trowa said simply, “she knows her job. Let her handle it.”

Heero grunted but he did try to stop glaring at her. He only looked at her with a threat that said clearly “I will kill you if you make a mistake!” He did control himself from going over and demand an explanation for every action Sally made. He did.

“Heero,” Trowa warned quietly.

Just then, Sally yelled at her apprentice, Sylvia, to get some clean water. That was it. Immediately, Heero dashed to the bath room and appeared with a basin of water.

“Prince Heero?” Sally asked a bit, stunned at the speed Heero was using.

“You asked for the water,” Heero replied, his eyes fixed on his slave on the floor, “how was he?”

“I have already closed the wound with my gift. I need to wash the blood off before I bandage his wound to prevent it from opening any time too soon,” Sally explained as she started to clean the blood away.

“There’s a lot of blood. Will he really be alright?” Heero demanded.

“I did not say he will be okay, Heero. The thing is head wounds bleed a lot. So having all these blood did not say anything. You have to understand a head wound is complicated. It might be fatal yet it might not. It can have different types of side effects. For example the loss of memories,” Sally explained as her hands never stopped moving.

“Memories?” Heero muttered as he turned slightly to look at Trowa who did not seem to have heard their conversations.

“The very bad news that I have now is that,” Sally hesitated to tell Heero.

She did not know how the crown prince would take to this news. Though the boy had only been in this castle for a few days and he was unconscious for the most part, she knew that prince Heero had been close to the boy.

“What is it?” Heero snapped though he was dreading the news.

“If he did not wake up before tomorrow night, he might stay that way for the rest of his life,” Sally said quietly.

“Why?” Heero demanded, “I thought you said that he is going to be alright?”

“I don’t know if there’s blood clot or any brain damage. I don’t know what side effects there might be. The worst that might happen is forever in coma or not being able to move,” Sally answered calmly.

“So if he wakes up before tomorrow night, then he will live on?” Heero asked quietly as he glared at the unconscious boy.

“You know, prince Heero, glaring at him without him knowing will not help him to wake up,” Sally sighed, “I need to find him a clean bed. Zechs?”

However, before Zechs got into the room, Heero carried the boy gently in his arms and laid him down on his bed.

“Prince Heero, someone had to take care of him throughout the night,” Sally said as she watched Heero tucked the limp body into his bed.

“I will,” Heero said simply as he settled down in the armchair besides the bed.

“But… but Heero you will have to stay all night and waited for him to wake up,” Sally said, exasperated, not sure that the prince actually understand the responsibility he wanted to take up.

“Then I will stay up the whole night,” Heero said determinedly.

“But…” Sally tried to protest but someone tapped her shoulders to get her attention.

“Let him,” Trowa said once he got Sally’s attention.

Sally only sighed as she looked over to see the other prince standing behind her, shaking his head with an amused smile.

“Fine! Then I will get one of the maids to clean up the place and check on Duo first thing tomorrow morning. Or better yet, prince Heero, please call me the moment he opened his eyes,” Sally said firmly as she fixed a glare at the crown prince.

However, Heero did not even spare her a gaze but he did grunt a reply. Well, that was all she could get from him. She gathered her things and made her way towards the door when she remembered something.

“Have any of you see Hilde? I thought she was injured too?” Sally asked. Actually Wufei only said that she was just unconscious but he had not stopped and checked on her or Duo.

“Treize took her to her room. Wufei is with them. They wanted to ask questions about the assassin. She was only unconscious though you might want to check up on her,” Trowa replied simply as he started to head out of the room after Sally.

Sally raised an eyebrow as she glanced at Heero then at Trowa. Trowa only shrugged and gave her a look that said he was not needed so he was off to his room.

“Going back to the banquet or Quatre?” Sally asked with a grin.

Trowa only shrugged then headed in the direction of his room.

Sally grinned as she watched prince Trowa walked away. She knew the two princes were attached to the new boys. Well, they were so sweet together. All of them even Duo who was more often asleep than awake for the few days he was here. She knew that the boy was attached to the crown prince. Every time she tried to get the prince to leave the room to examine the boy, the boy would reach for Heero’s sleeve secretly, at least in her opinion since Heero never did realize. Well, he was too busy glaring at Sally at the suggestion that he should leave the room.

“What do you mean you did not see him?” Sally could hear Wufei’s loud ranting from Hilde’s room as she approached. Well, seemed that the dragon was angry again.

“He hit you, onna! How can you not have seen him? Even if it is from behind, you would at least try to see what happened!” Wufei continued to rant.

“Calm down, dragon! You are spouting fire,” Treize said, trying to calm his lover but it only got worse.

“You think this is funny? Amusing? I have you know that it is not!” Wufei yelled as he continued to rant more about the injustice that how an assassin could get pass a protective ward set up by him.

“Well, what was the objective of the ward?” Treize cut in before the enraged dragon could continue with yelling about injustice.

“To keep the prince safe, of course!” Wufei snapped, upset that Treize broke his rant.

“Then the assassin could not be after the prince?” Sally asked as she stood in the doorway.

“Of course! If not he cannot even get into the room. My ward will always work!” Wufei yelled angrily, “and what are you doing here, onna?”

“Can’t you pay some respect to a healer, sorcerer? I am here to check up on Hilde.” Sally replied in exasperation. Wufei really needed to work on his attitude sometimes.

“Nope, I don’t even want to try, onna,” Wufei replied immediately as he turned to look at Hilde who seemed to be in a daze, sitting on her bed, “Hilde?”

However, he did not get any reply. Hilde seemed to be lost in her thoughts. Irritated at the lack of response, Wufei yelled at her which made Hilde jump in surprise.

“What?” Hilde asked, startled.

She had been lost in thoughts about the assassin. She did not tell the general and sorcerer that she did see the assassin. She turned back when she saw the shadow of the assassin. However, the assassin had covered his face and was wearing black long sleeved shirt and pants. Yet, she still felt a familiarity about the assassin. It was as if she had seen him before. She could not put her finger around it.

“Hilde?” Sally called again.

Hilde jumped a bit. She turned her attention back to reality again. It was then she realized she was facing a steaming dragon, an amusing dragon and a concerned doctor.

“Sorry, I am just thinking about the assassination. Maybe it was not the prince he was after? I mean at least half the staff knew that the prince would be at the banquet, right? So that’s means he is after Duo?” Hilde voiced out her doubts.

“Duo’s just a slave. Why would anyone want to kill him? He’s not even here for more than a week!” Sally protested.

“But then if Heero was there and the assassin could get into the room, won’t Heero be in danger as well?” Trezie asked thoughtfully.

There was a stunned silence before someone ran out of the room in a hurry and shouts and footsteps followed closely behind.

“Dragon! Stop! What do you think you are doing?” Treize called as he ran after the running sorcerer. He cursed as he realized that Wufei had run at his full speed. It was almost an impossible task to catch up with Wufei when he ran that fast. Even if he was the great general and Wufei was just a sorcerer.

By the time he managed to catch up with Wufei, he was just in time to witness a bright light, followed by the fall of Wufei’s body. He dashed in time to catch his limp body before he fell to the ground.

“Are you alright? what have you done, dragon?” Treize asked frantically.

Luckily, Wufei was just drained of energy. That spell he had just cast must be very strong to take so much energy.

“What’s going on here?” Heero’s voice broke Treize’s thoughts.

“Well, just that Wufei here got some explanation to do,” Treize shook the body in his arms gently, “come on, dragon, you got to explain what you have done before you go to bed.”

“Don’t want to wake up! I’m tired! Want to sleep,” Wufei mumbled as he tried to bury his head into Treize’s chest.

“Come on, dragon! You can’t sleep now,” Treize said with an amused smile, “come on! Prince Heero definitely needs to know what it is that you have done to his room!”

“But it is injustice that I have to wake up when I am so tired!” Wufei cursed as he refused to open his eyes.

Treize was about to say something when he heard a snort. He turned as he remembered that prince Heero was still looking at them, waiting for an answer. No doubt he found this scene funny. After all, who would have thought that his dragon, the sorcerer, could be so adorable? But then, if Wufei were to continue this, all the respect had tried so hard to get would all be lost.

“Hey, come on, dragon! Prince Heero is still waiting and looking at you! If you don’t want to wake up, I will have to do something drastic,” Treize threatened softly, “something you will never live it down for years.”

Wufei’s eyes opened slowly as he heard the phrase “prince Heero is looking” and then he heard footsteps approaching quickly. He was tired. He knew he should not cast such a strong spell. But then, he had vowed to protect his friends and Heero was one of his friends and possibly Duo as well. He could not allow someone to hurt the vulnerable boy. The boy seemed so sad and he wanted him to smile.

It was then something broke his thoughts. He opened his eyes in shock as he heard a snort and a loud feminine “oh!” that he recognized to be that onna healer. He pushed Treize away with newly found strength and he stood on his weak feet, leaning against the wall.

“Treize! How could you do such a thing with… with Heero and that onna looking?” Wufei yelled as he looked around with a red face.

The prince was smirking and the onna was giggling. Wufei glared at the culprit in anger and embarrassment. Yet, Treize just smirked at him.

“Why? Don’t you know that was how sleeping beauty is awakened?” Treize deadpanned.

“I’m not sleeping beauty!” Wufei yelled as he started to rant about injustice while glaring at the general, “you’re so dead!”

“Well,” Prince Heero interrupted the dragon’s threat about what he was going to do to the general for kissing him in front of people especially when an onna was present. Heero really did not want to know what his closest friends did in their private lives.

Wufei stopped his ranting immediately as he realized that Sally and Heero were still there. He turned redder if that was possible and looked at the floor.

“Aren’t you going to tell me what spell have you cast on my door or room?” Heero asked impatiently. He had wasted enough time, standing here, looking at the short entertaining drama between his sorcerer and his general. Now he wanted to go back to the bedside, looking after Duo. He wanted to make sure he was alright.

“Umm… maybe showing is better than telling?” Wufei asked, hesitating. Now that he thought of the spell, maybe it was a bit overboard.

“Can we go inside the room to talk? It might be better if we kept it to ourselves and only released part of the spell to the rest of the castle,” Wufei explained.

“Hn,” Heero entered the room without hesitation.

“Umm… onna! I got something to ask you! Treize, can you go in first? I need to prove something,” Wufei said with an innocent smile. He was trying hard to look innocent. It was payback time.

“Okay,” Treize hesitated. That smile on Wufei’s face made him hesitate. His dragon never smiled that innocently. But then what could he have done? Heero had gone into the room.

“What is it you need help with sorcerer? After all I’m just an onna,” Sally asked, curious.

“Just wait and see onna. It’s payback time,” Wufei hissed as he looked at Treize who was entering the room after Heero.

Suddenly, Treize felt a force as he was suddenly thrown backwards and collided with the wall on the other side. He groaned as he sat up.

“What was that?” he asked groggily before he snapped, “Dragon!”

“Payback!” Wufei smirked as Sally giggled. Heero just looked back with a smirk and walked back out of the room.

“Well?” Heero asked, his voice showing a hint of amusement. It was not everyday that he got to see his general fall to the ground. Actually it was also not everyday he got to see the sorcerer’s face so red either.

“Yes! Well, I demand an answer too, dragon!” Treize demanded as he brushed his pants.

“Umm… maybe Sally wants to try as well?” Wufei asked as he continued to lean against the wall. He was actually trying very hard to stay on his feet. The spell drained him.

“Of course not I am not stupid,” Sally protested, “so what did you do, sorcerer?”

“Well, I placed this spell to keep people out of the room. That’s all,” Wufei said simply.

“And?” Treize prompted. He knew that could not be all. After all, he knew his dragon never does things by half.

“Okay, maybe it keeps everybody out except prince Heero and Duo,” Wufei answered as he looked at the floor. Well maybe it was too extreme.

“What do you mean by that?” Heero narrowed his eyes, not liking what he had interpreted from Wufei’s sentence.

“I just mean that only the two of you can enter or exit from the room,” Wufei shifted nervously. He knew that prince Heero was going to be angry with him. Now that, he thought about it. It would cause a great inconvenience especially now that Duo was injured.

“Great! Dragon, you never do things by half,” Treize sighed, “so how do you expect Sally to look at Duo if she could not enter?”

“Umm… maybe break through the wall? Or maybe carry Duo out?” Wufei suggested hopefully but at Heero’s glare, he sighed, “umm… just kidding?”

“So?” Heero snapped, “What should we do now? Baka definitely needs Sally to look at him and I need people to carry food and clean up the room. How do you expect us to do so?”

“I’m sorry, prince Heero. But I did make sure that I put a spell to allow you to allow some people to pass through. You just have to say a few words to the person to allow him or her inside,” Wufei explained and added softly as Heero continued to glare at him, “I just want you and Duo to be safe.”

“I know you mean well, Wufei,” Heero said softly, “but next time, please think before you act.” He was angry with him for acting so irrationally but he knew that Wufei was just trying to protect him. Wufei tended to act in extreme ways. But it was these extreme ways that showed how much he cared for his friends or family. Wufei had lost a lot of things in his short life.

“I’m sorry, prince Heero,” Wufei apologized, “well, do you think you can allow Treize, onna and myself to enter the room?”

“Of course, what should I do?” Heero asked as he looked into the room, towards the bed. This was taking far too long for his liking.

“Just go into the room and say “I allow you in”, that’s all,” Wufei replied as he moved closer to the door, gesturing the other two to do so.
“I allow you all into the room,” Heero spoke in a monotone before returning to his spot besides his bed where Duo was sleeping in.

“Well, so sorcerer, how about you making the first move?” Sally raised her eyebrows in question.

“Why should I? I thought it is always ladies first?” Wufei replied, smirking a little.

“Oh? I thought I am an onna not a lady?” Sally retorted easily.

“Just go in, dragon,” Treize said as he pushed Wufei into the room.

“How is he?” Sally asked as soon as she entered the room after the sorcerer and the general.

“He hasn’t woken and he did not even shift or make any sound at all. Is that normal?” Heero asked, worried. He knew he was acting a bit out of character but he did not care. He only wanted the boy in his bed to be okay, to smile at him.

“It is okay. Give him some time,” Sally smiled reassuringly at the prince, “he will make it.”

“He’d better be if not I’ll kill him,” Heero threatened as he glared at the sleeping boy.

Sally smiled at the absurdity of the sentence, “well, like I say before but I will repeat, glaring at him when he is unconscious will not help, my prince.”

“Yes. I agreed with Sally. It is useless unless you can light fires with glares like Wufei,” Treize said with a smile. It was not often that he could see the prince caring so much for another person. Usually, Heero would just hide his feelings.

“Okay, I am really leaving now. But remember to call me the instant he woke up,” Sally said after a few minutes of Heero glaring at both Treize and herself. It was fun to tease the prince but then she did not want to die now. She was still young after all.

“And I think I should take my leave now with him,” Treize said as he pointed to the sorcerer who had dozed off in one of Heero’s armchair some distance away from the bed the moment he sat down in it, “are you sure you will be alright , my prince?”

“Hn,” Heero grunted as he resumed to glaring at his slave on the bed.

Sharing a smile with Sally, Treize picked Wufei up and they exited the room quietly. Heero just continued to stare at the boy’s heart-shaped face.

He’s so beautiful. He looks so innocent yet those eyes say volumes of hardships and pain he endured, Heero thought as he stroked the boy’s hair gently, he’s an angel. A fallen angel. I wonder how he looks like when he smiles. It must be beautiful.

“Sleep well, baka, and get well soon,” Heero whispered gently as he watched the boy silently.


~in Duo’s pov~

“Where am I?” I asked myself but no sound seemed to come out.

It’s weird but I couldn’t seem to open my eyes. It had seemed like a long time since I was aware of my surroundings.

“Who am I?” I asked myself again. It was still the same. No sound came out.

It seemed that my memories are all blurred. Images flashed across my mind. What was happening?

“Am I dreaming?” I tried again but the result was the same.

“Sister Helen! Sister Helen!” a voice cried. Was that my voice? Why was I crying? Who was I calling?

Then there was another voice and a blurred face, ‘don’t worry kid, you are alright. We will stay together. I will always protect you.” Who was that? Why couldn’t I see his face? However, I… I felt that I trusted him.

“No! No! Let me go! Don’t hit him! Stop it! Stop it!” it was my voice! Who was I shouting at? What had happened? Why couldn’t I see anything?

All I could feel was pain. It was so painful. I thrashed about. Stop it! Stop the pain, please! There were a lot of voices going around my head.

“You useless slave!”

“You deserved to die!”

“You must obey what your master says no matter what!”

And then there was pain again. The feeling of something hitting me painfully. Again. And again. Stop please. I tried to scream, to beg, to do anything to stop the pain. But no sound came out.

Then as suddenly as they came, they stopped. I could hear a voice speaking in concern.

“It’s alright, baka. You are safe. No one is going to hurt you. I will protect you,” the voice said gently.

Somehow I trusted that voice. I could feel gentle hands holding me, stroking my hair gently. The hands and voice eased away my pain. Slowly, I tried hard to open my eyes. It seemed to be a long time since I opened my eyes. My eyelids were so heavy. Slowly a little by little, I opened my eyes.

Then all I see are blue cobalt eyes staring at me in concern.

I smiled.



To be continued…..

peace knights chap 5

“Prince Heero! Prince Heero!” Howard called after the crown prince who seemed to be lost in his thoughts.

True as what he thought, the prince just walked away at a faster pace instead. Howard chuckled as he looked at Hilde. Her eyes were still red and she seemed to have her attention fixed on a small dagger in her hand.

“Lass?” Howard called softly. He recognized that dagger. It was a gift from Solo to her. It meant a lot to her.

“Could he?” Hilde asked as she stared at the small dagger. Solo had given it to her that day. It was the last time she had seen them.

“Duo! Stop your nonsense! Hilde is leaving to have a better life. So…”

“But I don’t want her to leave!”

“Duo! Stop that! We want Hilde to have a better life even if it means leaving us behind. You love Hilde, right? She’s your big sister, right? You want her to be happy?”

“Uh-yeah.”

“So don’t make things difficult for her, little one.”

“I know but it’s just…”

“Here, Duo, I promise we will keep in touch, okay?”

“You promise?”

“Yes, I promise so stop crying, okay?”

“Duo, give Hilde your gift.”

“Okay!”

“That’s very nice, Duo but I don’t think I can keep them very long. Did you make them yourself?”

“Yeah! Sister Helen taught me and I made them all! Do you like it?”

“Yes, I do. These cookies look nice. You know I love cookies. I will eat them on my way. Thanks, Duo.”

“Solo has a present for you too!”

“Here. Something for you to defend yourself with. You can keep it in your pocket. Hilde, I will not be able to protect you anymore but I want to be safe. Promise me.”
“I will, Solo. Take care of Duo and yourself too. We will stay in contact. Thanks a lot for the small dagger. I will treasure it, always.”

“Lass?” Howard’s voice broke her thoughts.

“Can he be alive? Howard, tell me he might be. Tell me he is!” Hilde’s tears fell as she gripped the dagger harder.

“Lass, I don’t know. I really don’t. It has been so long. You had to let it go,” Howard put his arms around her shoulders, trying to offer her some comfort.

“But Duo is alive, right? Duo is alive! So maybe…” Hilde sobbed hopefully.

“Lass, I hate to say this, but we both know that Duo is special,” Howard said quietly but he emphasized on the word “special”, “and are you sure that he should not tell the princes and the others about Duo’s power?”

“No!” Hilde hissed and her voice dropped to a whisper, “Father Maxwell and Sister Helen warned all of us not to say anything about it. Not even Duo knows. He is still young and they don’t want him to realize. Moreover, it is a dangerous thing for others to know. Some might even harm Duo.”

“I know, lass. But don’t you think that you have to at least let prince Heero know about it?” Howard asked.

“No! No one is to tell anyone else about it,” Hilde said stubbornly.

“Are you really sure?” Howard asked again as he watched Hilde nod, “I trust you this once but Hilde I think, I want to take a look at the Kid. Do you think the prince will let me?”

“I don’t know. You will have to ask him. He seemed so lost in his thoughts,” Hilde put the dagger back into her pocket slowly as she raised hopeful eyes to look at Howard, “Howard, I can’t stop myself from thinking about Solo. What if he is alive?”

“I don’t know, lass. We can’t be sure if he is dead or not. We have to ask Duo. But in the Kid’s condition, I don’t think we should pester him. Let him heal first, okay?” Howard said gently as he took a step back, “and, I have to remind you, Hilde, that Trent has asked for you to be his bride again. I have to give him an answer or rather you have to.”

“I know. But if Solo is alive, then… Howard, you got to help me,” Hilde pleaded.

“I know, that is why I have not promised Trent anything,” Howard sighed, “but lass, you know that the higher hope is, the greater disappointment will be.”

“I know, just that… well you know you still have to hope,” Hilde smiled sadly.

“Howard!” Howard was cut off from whatever he was going to say by Trezie’s yell.

“Yes?” Howard grinned at the general.

“I just want to confirm the date for the new batch of armory for the soldiers. When will it be ready?” Trezie asked as both of them started to walk towards the armory with Wufei trailing behind them.

“Well, guess that’s that,” Hilde sighed.

“Um… are you all right?” a tentative voice asked gently from behind her.

Hilde spun around to meet innocent aquamarine eyes.

“You are… Quatre, right?” she smiled weakly, “I’m fine.”

From the doorway, she could see prince Trowa rummaging the cupboard. He seemed determined to find something. She must have looked puzzled as Quatre volunteered an answer.

“Master Trowa is trying to find a coat for me,” he explained with an innocent smile, “he promised to bring me to the garden today.”

“Really?” Hilde smiled gently. It’s good to see that Trowa was kind to his slave and she was very sure that prince Heero was the same. Well, he was almost scared to death when Duo stopped breathing.

“Yes!” Quatre smiled brightly, “it has been so long since I walk in a garden.”

Hilde smiled at the eager look on Quatre’s face. He looked so innocent. How could someone make him a slave? She could not help realizing that those aquamarine eyes were almost the same as violet eyes she had seen before. What had happened to Duo? What had happened to him and…? Solo?

“Are you sure you are alright?” Quatre asked in concern again.

Hilde smiled weakly, “I’m fine. It’s just that you remind me of Duo.”

“Duo? He is the other… boy? He’s nice but he is always in so much pain,” Quatre said sadly, “he’s very nice to me and tries to help me even when most of the time he is already hurt.”

“Hurt? What happened to him?” Hilde asked. She wanted to know what had happened to her little brother.

“Well, Miss Hilde…” Quatre said hesitantly.

“Call me Hilde. Just Hilde,” Hilde cut in, “well?”

“It’s just that we are slaves, Hilde. We are beaten and starved till a master decided to buy us. They are …supposed to…break us.” Quatre said sadly, looking at the ground with unshed tears. He was recalling the short yet long time with the slavers.

Hilde was shocked at the revelation. She knew that slaves were not treated well by the slavers. By the look on Quatre’s face, she knew it was very bad. She regretted the question almost immediately. She did not like to see the young boy looking so scared. She looked on the floor, looking remorseful as she thought quickly on how to cheer the boy up.

“Quatre?” a voice full of concern broke her thoughts.

Hilde looked up in relief as she saw Trowa standing behind his slave with a hand on his back. Quatre seemed better as he smiled at his master.

“Yes, master?” he replied, “I was just talking to Hilde.”

“About the other boy?” Trowa asked as he shot a look of disapproval at Hilde from behind Quatre. He knew how much Quatre cares about the other boy.

“I …need to get going, prince Trowa and Quatre,” Hilde said tentatively. Well, it had been a rule not to annoy any royalty especially the two princes of Gundam.

“Can… is it possible for me…,” Quatre asked timidly, turning his head to steal a glance at his master before continuing, “for us I mean… to help him?”

Hilde smiled at the concerned boy as she shook her head, “I don’t know. After all he is prince Heero’s slave, it will have to be his decision. Well you can pray for him if you want. I’m sure that will be alright.”

“Quatre, don’t keep Hilde from her duties,” Trowa reprimanded him gently as he saw Quatre opened his mouth for another question.

Quatre blushed as he mumbled an apology to both his master and Hilde. With that, Hilde disappeared down the corridor, leaving the two boys.

“Quatre,” Trowa said as he led Quatre back into the room, “I know you are worried about Duo. But you have to relax. Heero will take care of him.”

“I am sorry, master,” Quatre apologized, not looking at Trowa, “it’s just that I want him to be happy. He has been so kind to me.”

“And since he took care of you before, I guess he will want you to be happy, Quatre. Not to worry about him and cause inconvenience to others,” Trowa said reasonably.

“So let Hilde and Heero do their job?” Trowa said gently as he put on one of the smaller coat he had found in his cupboard. Well, it did look a bit too long for the sleeves but it would do.

“I understand, master,” Quatre said, not meeting at Trowa’s eyes.

“I know you will still worry, little one,” Trowa said gently, “if you are not, then there will be a problem, I think.”

Quatre’s eyes widened as he met Trowa’s emerald ones. He was surprised that Trowa had already known him so well. He found it hard not to care for someone. Well, maybe it was just his nature but the boy, Duo had been nice to him.

“Well, I do know that you are an empath,” Trowa smiled, just a little but it was enough for Quatre to smile brightly at him.

“Thanks, master,” Quatre said as he smiled.

“So let’s go to the garden now, shall we?” Trowa asked as he opened the door.

Together, they walked towards the garden. Quatre stared at the floor as they walked. As a slave, he was supposed to keep his eyes on the ground. However, he was curious. He wanted to know what the manor looked like. He had fallen asleep when he first arrived. He knew his master was a prince from the way the others addressed him. He never got a look at the castle when they locked him in his cage. Well, he did not even know how Gundam looked like if he was not captured.

He shivered slightly as he recalled the days he spent with the slavers. He knew he was weak. He could not help thinking that he might deserve to be a slave since he was a freak. No! He wasn’t a freak. Master Trowa said so!

But he might be just saying that to comfort him. He was weak and a freak. They even rhyme! No! He had to be strong. Master Trowa needed a strong slave. Not one who cried or even shivered at the slight mention of something that reminded him of his slavery. But those days made him remembered the hurt he felt in his heart.

He felt it hard to overcome his fear. After all, he was a slave. Now and always. It would constantly remind him that he was no longer a prince. Not even a noble or a peasant but a slave. The lowest type of slave as well. He hated himself. He hated everything that had happened to him.

Why? He used to ask. But now, he was glad that he had met Master Trowa. It was funny. Fate allowed him to meet someone so kind to him after he thought he was no longer a person worth caring for.

Why? He asked again. He was cursed. No one should be kind to him. But Master Trowa had said he was one of the peace knights. He knew the legend. But it was just a legend. His Father felt that he was cursed. His sisters allowed him to be taken away. His family did not want him. Why?

“Little one?” the gentle voice broke his thoughts as if he could sense the feelings of his heart.

Quatre looked up at his master’s emerald eyes as he smiled weakly, “yes?”

“Look around you, little one,” Trowa said simply as he directed his slave’s attention to the scenery around them.

Quatre looked around him curiously as he smiled brightly this time, “it’s beautiful!”

Somehow in his musing, they had reached the garden or it was what others called the place.

“The flowers and grass! They are so beautiful! Does this really exist?” Quatre exclaimed as he rubbed his eyes hard.

He could not believe his eyes! He had lived in the desert since birth. He had been in Gundam for quite sometime but this was the first time he had seen such beautiful flowers all around him. And there were so many flowers! Maybe he could lie in the middle of the flowers and looked at them all day?

“Yes,” Trowa said gently. He could understand the glint of euphoric in Quatre’s eyes. He could understand the joy of seeing so many plants. After all he was “wood”.

Well, that was what he brought Quatre here in the first place. He needed to show him that he was not the only peace knights around or a “freak” in Quatre’s terms. He wanted to show him his secret. Not many know this. Not even the King or his so called uncle. Yet, somehow, he knew he should, no, have to tell Quatre. After all, he was the boy who made him feel happy.

However, for now, he was happy to watch Quatre exploring the plants while shouting out questions about each type of plants.

On the other hand, Heero was not happy at all. He went back to his room to find his slave sleeping but no healer. Sally had not stayed with his slave as she had promised. He thought of demanding an explanation from Sally but then he would be leaving his slave alone.

“Stupid Sally,” Heero muttered angrily as he sat down on the chair besides his bed, watching his slave sleep.

However, his anger almost diminished as he watched his slave sleep. Duo. That was his name. He studied Duo’s face. This was the first time he had the time to study him carefully. He had been too focused on the boy’s eyes for the last time he was studying him.

Duo was beautiful. His face might be a bit too pale but Heero was sure that he would make sure that color would return to Duo’s face. He brushed his hand across Duo’s bangs. Duo was sweating. However, the room was not hot.

Maybe I should open the window? But will that make him too cold? Then again, it’s morning so that might not be a bad idea? Heero thought as he stood and started to pace across the room towards the window.

However, he hesitated when he reached the window, maybe I should wipe his sweat off first?

Just as he was trying to decide what to do, someone stepped into the room. With his mind occupied, he did not realize that until…

“Prince Heero?” Sally’s soft voice startled Heero, causing him to jump slightly.

Sally could not help giggling softly, keeping quiet so as not to disturb the sleeping boy in the room. Her mind was still on the fact that she had managed to make the great prince Heero jump in surprise.

Wow! Nothing ever surprises the great prince Heero, Sally chuckled and she knew she had been witnessing an indecisive Heero as she stepped into the room, watching him pace around the room.

Wow! And not to forget the funny scene earlier. So many different emotions from him just after he met Duo for one day? Sally thought as she smiled at the prince.

However, her eyes met glaring blue eyes which made her cease her giggling almost immediately. Well, she had almost forgotten that the prince Heero Yuy did not like to be laughed at. She started to apologize and maybe tease Heero when those glaring eyes turned to the sleeping boy and then to the door. Well, he sure seemed mad. Then again, she was a healer. You could not kill a healer… right?

“Where were you?” Heero demanded quietly yet Sally could feel the anger in Heero’s voice perfectly. And an angry prince Heero was one almost feared by everyone in the castle.

“The king wanted me, prince Heero,” Sally answered without showing her fear. She knew that prince Heero would not hurt others in anger. She had known him since young. However, she still felt a little fearful whenever Heero got angry especially with her.

“Why?” Heero snapped, “You left him alone! He could be hurt when he woke up. He could be scared when he woke up alone. He could be…”

Sally nearly smiled happily at the ranting prince. The boy had managed to make the prince care for him in such a short time. Heero had shown more emotions in just the last twenty hours than a whole year.

Heero was trained to be emotionless. To be the perfect ruler. One who would not let emotions influenced his decisions. True that, it would make him impartial and all but it also made him into a boy with no emotions. No, just a boy with minimal emotions. Prince Heero would have to always keep his emotions behind a wall of ice. If not, King Odin might send him to Dr J and the other professors for retraining.

However, what they did to the princes were never told. It had to be bad enough so as to be able to make the two princes hide their feelings for almost all their lives. Yet, with the two new boys, they seemed to be showing their emotions more in just a day.

“Are you listening to me, Sally?” Heero demanded.

“Of course, Your Highness. But to clarify the matter, I have Catherine looking into the room at a fifteen minutes interval and the boy had taken some sleeping potion. He will not wake up till later unless he had a stronger resistance that I do not know about. He will be fine. Moreover, it was the King who had summoned me. I have to go,” Sally explained as she noticed the glare intensified as soon as she mentioned the king.

“Why did he summon you?” Heero narrowed his eyes. To say his father and he did not get along was an understatement.

“Two things. First thing, you might have already guessed, about the two new slaves. I only give him their medical examination results,” Sally replied, “second, an ambassador from Mag is coming, remember?”

“Today? I thought he will be arriving three days later?” Heero asked, not liking what he had just realized.

“Well, he seemed to have quickened his pace. The whole palace is in chaos, trying to prepare the rooms as well as the feast,” Sally shrugged, “and I have to brew potions! The King wanted some sleeping potions for the ambassador and his people for them to have a good night sleep.”

“Then the feast will be tonight?” Heero asked unhappily.

“Yes, I supposed so, Heero,” Sally said simply, not realizing what was the problem.

“Then he will be alone,” Heero said in a monotone.

“Who?” Sally asked, not sure what the prince was talking about.

“Duo,” Heero replied with a hint of unhappiness.

Sally blinked for a moment before she realized what the problem was. She suppressed a smile as she suggested Heero to ask Hilde to look after Duo in his absence. The prince was so cute when he was worried. Especially for the new boy, Duo. Somehow she wanted to know how Duo would react to the prince’s over protectiveness.

Just as Heero was about to comment, there was a shattering of glass heard from Heero’s room. Heero threw open the door in shock and ran to his slave. It seemed that his slave was in the midst of a nightmare as he thrashed around. It seemed that he had hit the glass of water on the bedside table.

Not knowing what to do, Heero just pulled the boy into his arms. The boy was trembling. Heero only held him tighter. Then he started to rock him lightly, saying soothing words in a low voice.

“Hush… you are safe here. You are having a nightmare. Don’t be afraid. You are safe,” Heero whispered and rocked him gently on the bed.

“Prince Heero?” Sally whispered quietly, “I need to go. I will get Hilde so you can go to the feast. You need to go.”

Heero only nodded absentmindedly. He focused on getting Duo to stop trembling and go back to sleep. The feast could wait for all he cares. He did not even notice the fact that Sally had stepped out of the room if not for the click of the door.

Well, things can wait. Duo comes first, Heero thought, nothing will make him second.



~In an manor elsewhere~



“So it’s confirmed?”

“Yes, Sir. The boy who escaped from the Maxwell church Massacre is indeed the prince’s new slave.”

“How do you confirm that he is the one?”

“I have a very strong witness, Sir.”

“So you think you can do it?”

“Yes. Sir.”

“How can I trust you? You have failed twice already.”

“I will not fail this time, Sir! I have found the boy and I am not letting him get away this time. Please trust me, Sir.”

“Are you sure? Death will be your punishment if you fail. Carry out the assassination as fast as possible! I want it done by tonight.”

“Sir? Isn’t it too fast? He is now the prince’s slave so it might take a lot of planning.”

“No. the prince will be busy with the ambassador from Mag so tonight is the best time.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Succeed or die, Trent!”

“Yes, Sir!”



~the garden at the palace of gundam~



“Quatre,” Trowa called softly at the boy who was using his lap as a pillow and had his eyes closed.

“Yes, master,” Quatre replied somewhat groggily.

“Hey, you can’t sleep here, little one,” Trowa reprimanded gently, “You will catch a cold.”

“Uh-huh,” Quatre replied softly, making Trowa smile. He looked so cute like that. Well, maybe he should not spoil such a moment.

Trowa just sat there, studying Quatre’s angelic face. He looked so innocent. Yet, he was a slave. He was beaten and betrayed by his family. How could he still be so concerned? So kind? So innocent?

“I will protect you, little one, always and forever,” Trowa said gently as he brushed a lock of hair from Quatre’s closed eyes.

It was then he noticed the sun beating down on them. With a swift motion of his hands in a familiar motion, the trees bent and covered them in their shadows, providing shade for them. Trowa smiled and watched his slave sleep peacefully.

Another day, perhaps, Trowa promised in his mind, another day I will tell him that I have a gift too. For now, I want him to be happy in my arms.

Back in Heero’s room, Heero was also watching his slave sleep in his arms. He had been holding him since his slave’s nightmare. Somehow, he did not want to let him go. He wanted to protect him from the pain he knew Duo was experiencing.

“But I can’t,” Heero whispered quietly, “not when I have this darkness of pain in my own heart.”

Suddenly a hand grabbed his right palm and gave it a small squeeze. Heero was stunned for a second before he realized that those violet orbs were looking at him and offered him his comfort in the smallest way as Duo was still very weak. It was as if he wanted Heero to stop hurting.

“Duo? You are awake? Are you hungry? Do you want anything to eat?” Heero asked in concern. However, the eyes staring at him were blank with no emotions.

“Do you want to get some broth? Or do you want to sleep more?” Heero asked again. He had to be patient for once even though he was never one.

In reply to his question, Duo just closed his eyes and lay back into Heero’s arms, causing Heero to gasp in surprise. In less than a minute, it seemed that the boy had drifted off to sleep again.

“Baka,” Heero scolded gently though he could not help his lips from curling upwards.

He held him in his arms for a while before he decided he needed to prepare for the feast. A knock sounded just as Heero finished dressing.

“Come in,” Heero said quietly. He did not want to wake Duo up again.

Hilde slipped into the room quietly, having warned by Sally that Duo was most likely sleeping. She was carrying a tray of food and water. She figured that Duo was most likely starving when he woke up. The Duo she knew had a big appetite. But maybe that was when he was growing.

Well, it never hurts to be prepared, she thought.

She nodded to the prince who she had noticed was already dressed. Good for him, the ambassador had arrived almost an hour ago and the feast was going to start in less than an hour. She was relieved that prince Heero wanted her to stay with Duo. The kitchen was in chaos and she was more than happy to be out of there.

Heero nodded as he started to give instructions in a low voice, “do not wake him up. He is tired. Give him some broth when he wakes up. He has not eaten anything for quite some while.”

“Yes, your highness,” Hilde replied quietly, “well, you better get going, prince Heero. The feast is starting.”

Heero nodded as he opened the door, “take care of him, Hilde.”

“Yes, I will, your highness,” Hilde smiled. Well, someone was overprotective of Duo.

Heero strolled slowly towards the Ballroom. He was in no hurry to reach there and sat there for hours. He only wanted to make sure that Duo was alright. He wanted to be in his own room. He had already taken most of his paperwork to his room. He could stay there the whole day tomorrow.

It was then he noticed Trowa walking in front of him. He widened his steps and caught up with him quite easily. However, he thought that there was something different from the usual gait he used. It was almost as if he was storming. But then again, Trowa almost never showed his emotions. He always wore a blank mask unless something really important affected him.

“Trowa?” Heero grunted as he noticed a quickening of steps.

“What?” Trowa snapped as he glared at Heero for a moment before he seemed to realize it was him.

“What happened?” Heero asked in a monotone though he was curious. What had made Trowa angry?

“This idiot feast is what happened!” Trowa snapped again, “stupid ambassador! What kind of timing does he have? You would think that he has the perfect sense to choose someday where we are not busy! But no!”

Heero was shocked! Trowa was ranting! He had not seen him like that for ages! How could a feast make him that angry? Little things like that happen all the time.

“Quatre?” Heero guessed. After all, he was annoyed with the fact that he had to leave Duo alone in his room. Not alone, with Hilde. But it was not the same without him himself being there.

Trowa stopped his ranting and signed, “Yes.”

“What were the two of you doing this afternoon?” Heero asked curiously. Maybe he could pick up ideas on what to do when Duo was well.

“Picnic at the garden. It was so nice,” Trowa said with a small smile.

“Oh,” Heero said, surprised, “you wanted to tell him?” Heero could guess Trowa’s motive after all they have been siblings for so long even if they are not blood-related.

“Yeah,” Trowa answered quietly before his voice took an irritated tone, “but he was so happy so I decided to wait. And then just as we were having some peace and quiet, I was informed that the ambassador from Mag had arrived and I was told to prepare for the feast and I have to leave Quatre in the room.”

Just as they were speaking, the guards at the door of the Ballroom announced their arrival. They remained quiet. Trowa slipped behind his blank mask as Heero glared at anything in sight as he was sitting. He glared even at some of the nobles who were approaching the two princes. They turned and headed in the opposite direction as soon as they met Heero’s glare.

“Ease down on the glare, Heero,” Trezie said as he suddenly appeared besides the two princes, “try to learn to be more sociable, my prince.”

Heero only glared at Trezie who chuckled in response. As friends of many years, he was pretty much immune to his glares.

“Where’s Wufei?” Heero asked as Trezie took the seat besides him at the table.

“At the tower. He had to do some last minute adjustment to the spell that was woven around the castle. The King ordered for more protection as the ambassador is an important figure in Mag,” Trezie replied in a bored voice, “it sure was boring here without Wufei.”

Heero scanned across the room. Nothing was different but there seemed to be something nagging at the back of his head. Something was telling him that something bad was going to happen. He shook his head mentally, he ignored that thought.

He took a sip of the wine in the cup nearest to him as his mind wondered about the sleeping boy in his room.

I wondered what he was doing, Heero thought just as the King arrived, the feast is just starting and it is going to be a long long one.



~in the room~



A dark figure entered the room. He took out a sword as he approached the figure on the bed. Behind him, there was Hilde lying unconscious on the floor.

Slowly, he raised his sword high and was about to stab down when the boy suddenly opened his eyes. The boy dashed quickly out of instinct as he saw the sword.

“Oh no, you don’t!” the assassin yelled as he grabbed the boy’s long braid.

The boy struggled and the assassin knocked him to the ground, straddling him, effectively stopping his escape. However, the boy did not stop struggling and his small fists managed to hit the assassin’s face hard.

“You idiot! I will kill you this time!” the assassin growled as he used his sword’s hilt to hit the boy’s head, “you escaped twice but not this time!”

The boy became unconscious due to the blow and blood was pooling around the boy’s head. With a smirk, the assassin raised his sword and was about to stab the boy’s heart when a fireball strike him. Shocked he dropped his sword.

“Damm it!” he swore as he recognized the sorcerer at the door.

The assassin lunged for the window and jumped out of it. Wufei followed him, trying to catch him. However, the assassin managed to escape by pushing one of the guards on duty into Wufei, causing Wufei to fall.

Wufei cursed for a minute before he started to head back to the room as soon as possible.



~at the Ballroom~


“Prince Heero! Prince Heero!” Catherine screamed as she burst into the Ballroom, ignoring the guards who tried to deny her entry.

Heero stood up as soon as he heard her screams and ignored the King’s look of disapproval. Trowa and Trezie followed him as he made his way to Catherine.

“What happened?” Heero demanded.

“There was an assassin in your room! He was trying to kill the boy! The sorcerer…” Catherine screamed hysterically.

However, before she could continue, Heero had already started running for his room at his top speed with Trowa and Trezie besides him.

The sight that greeted his eyes when he reached made his heart clenched in fear.

Duo was on the floor, unconscious with blood pooling around his head…

peace knights chap 4

“What? You mean the princes have slaves?” Lady Une could not believe her ears, “Since when the two stoic princes allowed anyone to be close to them? I mean other than the general and sorcerer.”

“It’s true,” Hilde replied as she walked with a tray of food towards Heero’s room, “I am told to prepare a bath and food for both the prince and his slave.”

“It’s so hard to believe that our two princes would actually want slaves! I mean they don’t seem to care for anyone, much less a slave…” Lady Une trailed off as she realized where her thoughts were heading.

“You don’t mean they would beat them? The princes are not cruel!” Hilde argued. She refused to believe that the princes would abuse slaves.

“Of course they won’t,”Lady Une agreed quickly, “Prince Heero has a famous temper, but he is fair.”

“I think we are both overreacting. The princes won’t harm their slaves,” Hilde said firmly.

“Well I’m sure,” Lady Une said as the two of them reached Heero’s room, “well, I’m on my way to meet the new recruits. Sometimes I am so tempted to strangle every one of them.”

“Good luck with the recruits!” Hilde called out cheerfully, “well, let’s see how the slave looks like.”

Unknown to the two of them, what they were saying were heard by some of the newly arrived maids who were passing by. Well, they took what they said in a wrong way and started to pity so poor slave, while making a mental note to self not to cross the crown prince and avoided him as much as possible.

Hilde knocked on the door, “prince Heero, I am here with food.”

“Enter!” came the reply.

Hilde entered. She set her tray on the table as she watched prince Heero pulling a tunic over his body. He then turned to help his slave with his slave’s tunic. Apparently, they had just finished their bath. Hilde stood waiting for Heero to give her new orders or to motion her to go.

“Baka!” Heero scolded as he realized that the clean tunic was wet already, “your hair has wet the tunic! Didn’t you wrap the towel around your hair?”

The slave only blinked at Heero, looking at the towel wrapped around his lower body. Hilde could not help giggling at the sight but she stopped giggling the moment Heero’s glare at her.

Heero turned his attention back to his slave, “I know it’s my fault that I only give you one towel but you can remind me, don’t you think baka?”

His slave only blinked and gave him a small nod. Well, it was better than nothing. At least he responded. Heero growled as he turned to his cupboard to find another clean tunic.

“Hilde? Do you think you can help braid his hair first? He’s weak and I don’t want his hair to be floating like that. I am almost sure that Zechs is the only one who can stand the heat,” Heero said as he pulled out another tunic.

Hilde smiled as she approached the slave. However, her smile froze when she met the haunted violet eyes.

What happened to him? Hilde felt a sharp pain in her heart , there is so much pain in those eyes… wait a minute, those eyes… the color… they looked familiar…

Her thoughts froze when her eyes rested on the cross in front of the wet tunic. However, the cross looked burnt and dirty, she recognized it. It was…

It can’t be… Hilde thought, how could it be him? Even if he wasn’t killed when the rest of them at the church, he should not be looking so… so haunted…

Shocked, Hilde stumbled a few steps back, knocking into the table. She could not believe it! However, it looked like him. An old memory flashed through her mind.

“Hilde, Hilde, Hilde,
She is scary and nasty
Be careful not to cross her
Or she gives you a piece of her mind
And you run for your life
Hilde, Hilde, Hilde!”

“Stop that, Duo! You are so dead when I catch you!”

“Catch me if you can!”

“Stop running and sticking your tongue at me, Duo Maxwell! Solo! Look at your brother!”

“What? You don’t like the song I teach him? I am so hurt, Hilde!”

“What? You teach him that irritating song? You two are so dead when I reach you guys! Stop running and laughing!”

“Duo? Duo? Is it really you?” Hilde asked as she stepped towards her, “are you really the little boy who always teased me and ran off before I can get to you? What happened to you?”

Hilde hugged the slave looking at her as she cried. She could not believe that Duo was actually alive after she heard about what happened to the church after she left. Everyone died, she was told. Yet, Duo was standing right in front of her.

But his eyes… they look so … dead… what happened to him? What happened to little boy who was so cheerful and carefree? Hilde thought as she continued to weep, arms wrapped around the boy to tell herself that he was real, if he is real and alive, then maybe…

“Duo? Where’s Solo? Is he…?” Hilde could not continue.

She did not want to know that the boy who she always has a crush on was really dead. She just needs an answer. She just wants to know what happened to Solo. She was not prepared for the body she was hugging went limp.

“What?” Hilde screamed, distressed, “Duo?”

She let him down onto the floor as she tried desperately to wake him up. Heero who had been watching Hilde and his slave quietly was there immediately, trying to help his slave. He shook him hard and tried to get a pulse desperately.

“He’s not breathing! Get Sally! Quick!” Heero yelled as Hilde dashed to the door, screaming for the healer.

“Please breathe!” Heero yelled at his slave, “baka! Breathe! You have to do it!”

Heero could not do anything but kept shaking the light body. Somehow, he felt frustrated and helpless along with a great sense of trepidation, knowing that his slave might leave him. It was strange that he would feel so much for someone he knew only for a day. Yet, he knew that he had to help the limp form in his arms.

“Just breathe, please, baka!” Heero called out desperately.

Luckily, his slave started to breathe again. Heero nearly cried in relief. Half-opened violet eyes looked at him wearily before they closed. At this moment, Sally burst into the room with Hilde as well as Wufei, Trezie and Trowa.

“What happened?” Sally asked quickly, kneeling next to the pair on the floor.

“What took so long?” Heero demanded as he glared at the healer.

Sally ignored his glare and instructed him to put the unconscious boy on the bed. The others stood some distance away as Sally instructed to give the boy some air.

“What happened?” Sally asked again.

“He stopped breathing, that’s what happened! This baka did not try to breathe! What’s wrong with him? And what took you so long? He might die!” Heero snapped.

“Well, I am examining Quatre, giving him stitches and we ran here as soon as we heard Hilde screaming,” Sally snapped, irritated, “What happened to make him stop breathing? I think he has a panic attack.”

“I don’t know what happened…” Heero said as he looked at Hilde, “Hilde was hugging him and crying and the next moment he was on the ground.”

Everyone looked at Hilde in confusion. Questions were running rampant in all their minds.

“I just ask Duo about Solo… then he suddenly went limp…” Hilde said slowly as she tried to process what had happened.

“Duo? Who’s Duo?” Trezie asked, puzzled.

“Duo? Duo is Duo,” Hilde asked, confused.

“I think Hilde means Heero’s slave,” Trowa said calmly.

“I think Hilde, you have a story to tell us. Who is Heero’s slave? How do you know him? What happened to him?” Wufei asked.

“It’s quite a long story and Howard also knows Duo,” Hilde replied absentmindedly. She was still trying to piece the things she saw earlier.

“I think you guys should take that somewhere else. The slave needs to sleep in peace and I want him to sleep as much as possible. So go,” Sally instructed, “including you, prince Heero. I will look after him for the time being and I expect one of you to tell me the story later.”

“Let’s go to my room,” Trowa said simply as they moved out.

Heero looked back at his slave again before he followed the others somewhat unwillingly. Though he was very curious to know of his slave’s past, he wanted to be there to make sure he was all right.

“I will take care of him, prince Heero,” Sally said determinedly as she noticed Heero still glaring at the sleeping slave on the bed, “glaring will not help him recover faster, you know.”

“Hn,” Heero glared at Sally before he stepped out of his room.

All of them were lost in thoughts. Trowa was leading the way, looking at the floor, trying to think of what would make a young boy like Heero’s slave to have a panic attack. He knew that the slave probably suffered a lot. He heard from Quatre how the slave was like when they were with the slavers. The boy never talked or made any sound thus suffering a lot for that.

“Trent,” Trowa called out as he passed one of the guards at the hallway, “please get Howard, the blacksmith, and then stand guard outside my room and to stop anyone from interrupting. We have an important meeting.”

With that, he opened the door, gesturing to the others to follow him. However, he realized his mistake quickly.

“Stop! Out!” then he slammed his door, leaving the others outside.

“Quick! I forgot! You need to get dressed! I forgot to give you your clothes earlier!” Trowa’s frantic yell could be heard, followed by loud shuffling.

The others outside looked at each other before they realized what were happening in the room. Trezie chuckled. Heero smirked. Wufei snickered. Hilde giggled though her eyes were still red with tears.

After a few minutes of standing and laughing, Trowa opened the door with a glare. However, it only caused the rest to start another round of laughter.

“It’s not funny,” Trowa deadpanned as he allowed the others to enter his room.

“Of course not. Did you leave your slave standing in the middle of the room with nothing on?” Wufei asked with faked innocence as he looked at Heero.

Both Trowa and Heero glared at Wufei before Trowa spoke, “at least I am not so dense to tell him not to move. Quatre was sleeping in bed with blankets. After his bath.”

This time, Heero glared at Trowa and then at Sally and Wufei. Somehow, the joke of the day was Heero and his slave. Due to the healer’s and sorcerer’s gossiping, almost the whole palace knew about it. No, the sorcerer would not call it “gossiping,” that is onna to him. He would call it “sharing the joy around.”

Yeah at the cost of my expenses, Heero thought but he could not keep his smile from his face when he thought of that baka, well, we are all here to know about him.

All of them gathered around the table and sat in the chairs. There were not enough chairs so Trowa and his slave, Quatre settled in a couch not far from the table. Once everyone settled down, all the attention was on Hilde.

Hilde squirmed in her chair uncomfortably as she tried to think of where to start, well, start earlier and get over it earlier? Or should I wait for Howard? Where should I start? Who should I talk about? Duo? Solo? Can Solo be living? Or is he really dead? But if Duo is alive, he might be! Is he dead?

Just as Hilde’s mind was sidetracking to well, no one knows where, there was a knock and Howard entered the room. His entry brought Hilde back to reality.

“Well, what can I do for all of you?” Howard asked politely.

“Well, Hilde says that both you and she can supply information about my new slave. And we are all eager to know,” Heero replied simply but the others could sense an edge of impatience in his voice.

“Who is this slave, your highness?” Howard asked, confused.

“Howard, he is Duo,” Hilde answered him quietly.

“The kid? He’s a slave? How can that be?” the blacksmith asked, bewildered, “tell me it is a joke!”

“It’s true, Howard! I saw him just now! He looks so… so dead! He is not speaking anymore! I can’t believe it’s him till I saw the cross!” Hilde broke into tears again, remembering those violet eyes. They looked so different as they used to.

Howard crossed over to where Hilde was and hugged her, offering her some comfort. Hilde wiped her tears away quickly, knowing that the others were waiting. She had to tell hem what she knew. Maybe they could help Duo. From what she heard, he did not even talk now.

“Well, I guess everyone wants to hear what we have to say about Duo? How about I tell his past you add on to anything I miss?” Hilde gave Howard a smile. She had to get herself together.

“Well, let’s start with the first time I meet Duo, or rather Solo and Duo. Duo was only six years old, I think. They were young and Duo, I think was six when he was there. They had been alone and on the streets for a few years before Father Maxwell found them.” Hilde began as the others listened intently.

“Hi! I am Solo and this is my brother, Duo.”

“Hello! Are you staying here? I am Hilde!”

“Hilde?”

“Yes. Your name is Duo, right?”

“Yes! I run, I hide, but I never lie!”

“They settled in well, taking Maxwell as their last name. Duo was a hyperactive boy. His brother, Solo, and I had to be around him to keep him out of trouble. He was so adorable. He might create some chaos every now and then but Father Maxwell and Sister Helen loved him. He was like my little brother, my family,” Hilde blushed as she thought of how much she wished that she were Solo’s wife when she was young.

“Duo! Where are you? Sister Helen wants you in the study room! It is time for your lesson! Come out now! Stop playing hide-and-seek with me!”

“Boo!”

“Duo Maxwell! You are so dead! How dare you scare me like that!”

“Timid Hilde! Catch me if you can!”

“Stop, Duo! Don’t run away! You need to attend the lessons! Solo is there already!”

“Nope! If you catch me, then I go to the lesson!”

“Get back here!”

“I did ask about their parents and their lives before they got here but Solo did not want to talk about it. He forbids me to ask Duo about it. He just said there was a fire and only the two of them escaped. Duo was too traumatized and could not remember anything. Life went on with Duo getting into trouble. Not on purpose.” Hilde smiled as she thought of all the trouble Duo got on.

“Yeah, that Kid. I would not forget how curious he is. That boy nearly destroyed my place just because he wanted to make a sword when no one was around. He only managed to accidentally let a pile of paper catch fire in the end,” Howard chuckled, “well at least he managed to put out the fire before the whole place’s gone.”

“Kid! What happened? Why is this place half burnt down?”

“I’m sorry, Howard! But I just want to make a sword for Solo! I just put the paper near the stove then there was fire everywhere!”

“Can’t you buy a sword or ask me for one?”

“But isn’t it more sincere if you make it yourself?”

“You just couldn’t find fault with the Kid! He’s just too naïve and curious,” Howard laughed.

“Well, then when I was eleven and Duo was eight, Howard decided to adopt me so I can come here to the palace to work as a maid while he work as a blacksmith. It was the last time I had seen them,” Hilde said sadly.

“I had to go.”

“Really? Don’t go, Hilde! You know you want to be my big sister!”

“I’m sorry, Duo I loved to be your big sister, but I had to go.”

“If you go, then you can’t be Solo’s bride, right?”

“Duo! What are you talking about?”

“I know what I am talking about! Solo! Can’t you tell Hilde to stay? She will stay if you ask! She likes you!”

“Duo!”

“I left, promising that we will keep in contact but everything came to an end when Maxwell church was destroyed.”

“What do you mean? It can’t be! Tell me, Howard! It’s a joke, right?”

“But it’s true, Hilde! I am so sorry but it’s true! Maxwell church’s gone with everyone. Bandits raided the place.”

“Then what about Solo? And Duo?”

“I’m so sorry, Hilde…”

“I thought they were dead so we gave up searching for them. But now, Duo appeared then Solo might be alive?” Hilde asked hopefully as she looked at the others.

“Maxwell church? He’s from Maxwell church?” Heero could not believe his ears. It had been one of the most alarming cases around at that time as more than twenty children were believed to be killed along with the priest.

If he did see all those people he loved died, then… Heero’s thoughts trailed off, no wonder he was so sad…

All of the others listened quietly, trying to digest what they had just known. Silence followed as everyone was lost in his or her thoughts.

“I’m going back,” Heero said abruptly, breaking the silence, “I have things to attend to and Trowa, you know the King will want us to report to him about our slaves.”
Trowa nodded as he looked at Quatre. All of the others also rose as they needed to attend to their duties now.

“Oh, before I forget, whatever said must not be told to others other than Sally. I don’t want people to talk about my slave. Is that understood?” Heero glared.

“Duo! His name is Duo. So I suggest calling him that?” Wufei said immediately.

“Hn,” Heero replied as he turned.

Wufei snickered as he thought aloud, “I wonder how his slave will react to his grunt. How could that be taken as a reply?”

Heero spun around and glared at Wufei again. However, he was asking himself how to communicate with his slave.

“I suggest, dragon, that prince Heero will find a way and keep your comments to yourself useless you want to face the wrath of prince Heero,” Trezie placated.

“Hn,” Heero said simply as he turned to go back his room.

Well, communicating with baka might really be a problem, Heero thought as he walked to his room, well, I’m sure he will understand my grunts as Wufei had put it. Well, at least I hope so.