peace knights chap 3

“No!”

Noticing that the scream came from within the room he was about to enter, Trowa dashed into the room without a second thought. However, what he saw made him froze in shock. Sally gasped as she entered the room.

The candles with their stands, statues, gold paperweights, and even frames made of gold were floating in the air. Some even sped through the air. Trowa felt a slight hotness on his sign.

What is it? He thought for a second. However, he ignored the feeling immediately as he noticed Quatre in the grips of a nightmare.

“No! No! Let me go! Please!” Quatre’s distressed shouts continued, “stop! Please don’t beat me, stop!”

“Quatre, calm down! You are safe now. No one is going to hurt you,” Trowa was besides Quatre in a flash, holding the trembling boy who had wrapped his arms around his head.

“This is…” Sally trailed off, not knowing how to describe what she was seeing.

“Shh, Quatre. You are safe. Safe. Calm down,” Trowa held Quatre in his arms as he spoke gently.

It was then the things that were floating started to drop. Only then, did Sally stepped towards the bed the prince and his slave were in. however, before she could ask any questions, the door was burst opened quickly.

“Trowa? It was you, right? Are you alright?” Wufei asked as he and Heero dashed to stand besides Trowa.

“What happened?” Heero demanded. It was clear he was worried for his brother.

“You guys felt it too? I am not imaging it?” Trowa asked, a bit disorientated. He looked over to Sally for confirmation.

Still a bit confused at what had happened, Sally could only nod her head. Trowa looked stunned at her nod. Sally could not help wondering what had happened.

“What happened?” Heero demanded again as he glared at Sally and Trowa.

However, both Trowa and Sally seemed to be too confused to answer. Wufei, ever impatient, broke the silence.

“What happened? The room looked like a strong wind had just passed by. And why did you use your power, Trowa? You know you are not supposed to use it without reason,” Wufei said angrily.

“You felt it too?” Trowa asked again as he looked at both Wufei and Heero.

“Of course we did. Both Heero and I,” Wufei snapped angrily.

“I did not use my power just now,” Trowa said quietly as he tried to comprehend what he had witnessed.

“Of course you did! We felt it!” Wufei yelled, not caring about the fact that he was yelling at the prince.

“Calm down, Wufei! Prince Trowa did not use his power. I was with him the whole time,” Sally tried to calm the angry sorcerer.

“What happened?” Heero asked again, glaring at Sally.

“When we entered just now, those things were floating,” Sally pointed to the objects on the floor, “and Quatre seemed to be in the grips of a nightmare.”

All the attention was suddenly on Trowa’s new slave in his master’s arms. Frightened aquamarine eyes were turned to meet emerald eyes for comfort. Trowa simply gave him a gentle smile.

“It’s okay, little one. You have not done anything wrong,” Trowa comforted Quatre who seemed to be on the verge of crying in fear.

“I did it again?” Quatre asked fearfully, “I am sorry, master! I have not done it intentionally! I am so sorry, master. Please don’t send me away!”

“I don’t want to leave! Please, Iria! I beg you! Don’t make me go! Please!”

“I’m so sorry, Quatre but it is father’s wish. You know I can’t go against him.”

“But… please don’t send me away! Please!”

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

“Please master!” Quatre begged as he shook his head to get rid of the memory he remembered.

“It’s okay. No one is angry about it. No one is sending you away. Hush, don’t cry,” Trowa said gently, “can you tell us more?”

“I think whenever I am experiencing strong emotions; things will get out of control. I don’t know why but there is just this power within me. It made me…” Quatre sobbed, thinking that his gentle master would definitely abandon him. After all, who would want a freak for a slave?

“Do you have any birthmark?” Trowa asked simply.

“Can I?” Quatre asked timidly as he tried to shift himself. It would not do to make his master angry when he knew that his master was going to make him leave eventually.

However, Trowa only smiled as he put some distance between Quatre and himself. He did not seem to be disgusted with the fact that his slave was a freak. The others could only wait to see what Trowa was trying to do.

“Come on, it’s okay,” Trowa encouraged as he noticed Quatre hesitate for a minute.

Slowly, Quatre pulled up his pants to his knees to reveal a birthmark just below his right knee. Trowa, Heero and Wufei were stunned as they realized what the birthmark meant.

“This is… I can’t believe it! We have been searching for them so long! This is so…” Wufei ranted as he recognized that birthmark.

“Injustice,” Trowa finished for Wufei with a small smile. He was shocked at the sight of the birthmark but he was happy too. Well, it seemed that his slave was not just any other slave.

“Please master! Please don’t throw me away!” Quatre cried as he thought that the others were shocked at the fact that he was cursed.

“What?” Trowa was surprised as he watched Quatre starting to sob.

“I know that birthmark means that I’m cursed. No one will want a freak near him. No one will want me. Even … my family … they don’t want me,” Quatre cried as Trowa wrapped his arms around him.

“No, I am not going to give you away. Calm down,” Trowa said gently, “do you know the meaning of your birthmark?”

“That I’m cursed?” Quatre replied, not looking at Trowa.

“No, little one. It means that you are one of the Peace Knights,” Trowa replied as he noticed Sally, Wufei and Heero sneaking out of the room quietly.

“Peace knights?” Quatre asked as he sniffed.

“Yes, little one. It means that you will help protect the world,” Trowa smiled as he noticed Quatre’s teary eyes flash with curiosity, “see?”

Trowa pulled up the sleeve of this left arm to show a birthmark, “yours means gold while mine means woods. They are words in an ancient language. For you, you can most likely control anything that is made of gold while I can control the plants.”

“Really? I’m not cursed?” Quatre asked again fearfully, “are you going to throw me back to the slavers, master?”

“Of course not! You are staying with me, little one. You are not escaping that easily,” Trowa teased as his words were rewarded with a bright smile from Quatre that he liked very much.

“I know now. And I do not want to escape,” Quatre replied softly as he lay in Trowa’s arms.

“Let’s get some sleep and talk more tomorrow, okay?” with that, Trowa snapped his fingers and the room became dark.

Silence followed as both lay in the bed, trying to feel comfortable.

“You know, little one, you need a bath,” Trowa teased.

“Sorry, master. I will go now,” Quatre said seriously, as he tried to move in the dark.

“I’m just joking, Quatre. Take one tomorrow. For today, sleep well,” Trowa pulled Quatre back as he hugged him, “I don’t care if you are dirty or not, you are staying.”

“Thanks, master. I will stay here. Forever if you want,” Quatre replied as he put his head on his master’s chest.

“Call me Trowa. I don’t like to be called master,” Trowa said as he smiled and continued, “and I want you to stay forever.”

“Trowa?” Quatre called gently.

“Yes?” Trowa asked as he closed his eyes.

“I’m just calling,” Quatre said with a smile before his smile turned into a frown, “I … I can’t sleep.”

“What do you mean?” Trowa asked sleepily. He was tired after all the excitement in the day.

“I have… nightmares,” Quatre hesitated. He had to let Trowa know this.

“No, you won’t. I’ll be here to protect you,” Trowa assured him as Quatre looked at him with trusting eyes, “I’ll protect you, little one. Forever and ever. Do you trust me?”

“I do. I’ll sleep now, Trowa,” Quatre replied as he closed his eyes.

Soon, light snores could be heard in the room.

As the trio had sneaked out of the room, knowing that Trowa and Quatre needed their privacy, Heero remembered something important.

“Kuso!” Heero scolded himself suddenly as he started to sprint for his room.

Surprised, the other two followed him immediately. After all, it must be very important for their usually calm prince to dash off like that.

However, what they saw made them freeze. All they saw was Heero’s new slave standing in the middle of the room with Heero bellowing. However, the two started laughing as they realized what had happened.

“I know I told you to stay and don’t move. But I meant to stay in the room, baka! Not stand there like a statue! I did not mean it that way! What are you thinking?” Heero yelled as he helped his slave put on a tunic.

His slave only looked at him blankly and obeyed whatever instructions Heero gave him. Heero just got more frustrated at his slave’s lack of response though he did notice him shivering. Of course, it was cold, standing in the middle of a room naked and not moving. How stupid can he get? Risking his health like that just because of a misinterpreted order?

“Baka!” Heero scolded again at his slave as he glared at the two standing at his door laughing, “Stop laughing! It’s not funny!”

“Well, you could say that again,” Sally said as she stopped her giggles, “And why do you leave him like that? He’s weak and is vulnerable to any diseases.”

“I thought Trowa or Wufei was in trouble when I felt the use of power,” Heero explained as he guided his slave to his bed, “so I ordered him to stay and not move.”

“So he took it as an order to not even move. Heero, you have to know that slaves are to obey their masters no matter what the orders are. Even if they knew the order might kill themselves, they have to do it or suffer a worse fate,” Wufei said quietly as he stood besides the prince and his slave, studying the slave.

Heero’s eyes met Wufei’s haunted eyes for a minute before returning to his slave. He knew Wufei would feel upset if he saw the pity Heero feel for him since he was once a slave. Slaves were not treated well. Wufei was lucky that he had Trezie as his master and Trezie freed him not long after he got him.

Somehow, Heero was jealous of them. He hoped he could find someone like that too. Maybe… his new slave. Already, he felt a strong sense of protectiveness for him. He was so beautiful and so sad. He wanted to see a smile on his slave’s face. It will be a beautiful sight.

“Please treat him well, prince Heero,” Wufei said gently as he saw the blank violet eyes.

The young slave must be hurting so much to have such eyes. They reminded him of himself when he was just a slave, suffering from the abuses of his various masters before Trezie became his master. He felt pity for Heero’s slave as he seemed even young yet he already knew so much pain. It is injustice!

To Wufei’s surprise, the slave lifted his hand to pull gently on Wufei’s sleeve. It was as if he was trying to comfort Wufei with the little gesture, saying that he understood his sadness and he thanked him for asking Heero to treat him well.

Heero was surprised at the movement too. This was the only reaction he saw the slave gave other than trying to do what he was supposed to do as a slave. Somehow, it hurt that he was not the one receiving the gesture.

Wufei smiled at the slave before he turned to Heero again, “well, please treat him well, my prince. And it might be best that both of you get some rest while Sally and I retired to our beds. I for one know our general is complaining that I left him at a very bad timing.”

“Good night. Rest well. I will be examining him tomorrow and I want him rested, prince Heero,” Sally said as she retreated from the room with Wufei.

Silence filled the room as the healer and sorcerer left the room. Heero looked at his slave as he pulled the blanket and covered him.

“Sleep well, baka,” Heero said gently.

He undressed himself as he noticed violet eyes looking at him in fear. For a moment, he wondered why his slave was afraid. Then understanding dawned on him and he could not help smiling at his slave.

“Baka,” he scolded gently at his slave, “I’m sleeping on the couch next to the bed tonight.”

Violet eyes blinked and closed as his slave drifted off to sleep. Heero could not help smiling as he realized how much his slave trust him by sleeping without waiting to see if he was really sleeping on the couch.

“Baka,” he scolded gently again. Maybe he should just call his slave “baka.” It suited him too well.

Then he lay on the couch, thinking about the day as he closed his eyes.

The day was tiring yet rewarding, he concluded, I got a slave and we found a peace knight. Maybe tomorrow will be just as interesting…

Soon, the crown prince drifted to sleep.

“Baka…” he mumbled in his sleep.

peace knights chap 2

I am hurting.

Those eyes. He remembered himself having those eyes.

“Am I just a tool? I am just needed to be your heir?”

“So what? Why do you think I need you?”

No, it’s over! It happened long time ago! I have already told myself it is not important! Not important! Heero screamed in his mind, but why?

Somehow, Heero managed to pull his eyes away from the violet eyes. He glared at the back of his horse, trying to forget what his thoughts earlier. However, he could not stop wondering about the slave. Somehow, he knew he had to keep the slave himself. He felt an overwhelming protectiveness towards the boy younger than he was.

He doesn’t deserve to have those eyes. They are filled with so much pain, Heero thought as he contemplated what to do with his slave. Not mine since Trezie was the one who paid but well, Trezie would not care, would he?

As Heero was thinking of how to get the slave from Trezie since Trezie was the one who paid thus the master of the two slaves, someone else was thinking along the same line too.

“What’s your name?” Trowa asked the trembling boy leaning against him on the horse after a few minutes of staring at him, “You’re safe.”

The slave just turned and smiled timidly at him as he said softly, “I’m Quatre, master.”

The smile made Trowa lost his bearing for a minute. The boy’s smile was beautiful. He had not seen anyone with that smile before. So innocent. So pure. Like an angel’s smile. The one he saw in the temple of the seer before. Something told him that he should protect the smile on the younger boy’s face.

“Are you in pain?” Trowa asked, noticing that the slave was still trembling.

“Cold, master,” Quatre said simply.

It was then Trowa noticed that the boy was only wearing a simple dirty short-sleeved long tunic that reached his knees. That was all. No wonder he was cold. Judging from the boy’s looks, he did not think the boy was a local.

“Where are you from?” Trowa asked curiously.

However, there was no reply. Trowa looked down and smiled gently as he noticed that Quatre had dozed off. He held him a bit tighter to prevent him from falling down the horse. Well, maybe he could keep him.

Behind the two princes, Trezie and Wufei were studying the two boys’ expression. Wufei was feeling better now and his attention was now focused on the two slaves. His unpleasant flashbacks were forgotten quickly as he caught sight of Heero’s expression to the slave with the braid. For a moment, he thought that he saw angst in Heero’s eyes but it was gone quickly and replaced with a glare of determination.

“Wufei,” Trezie called softly and gestured Wufei to look at Trowa.

To Wufei’s surprise, he could see a gentle smile on Trowa’s face. Trowa rarely smiled that. Knowing Trowa’s training, he could understand why Trowa always kept to himself.

“Well, maybe those six thousands golds really worth it, don’t you think?” Trezie smiled.

“Well, maybe I do not need to do the change personality spell after all,” Wufei, grinned as the group continued into the palace with thoughts on their mind.



~palace of gundam~


Heero put the sleeping boy on his bed, facedown as he ordered the maid, Hilde to get some food. He figured that the boy would be hungry.

“My slave,” Heero mumbled to himself as he looked at the figure on the bed.

Trezie had been generous to give the two slaves to the two princes respectively. Somehow, Heero felt embarrassed at the smirk that Trezie wore when he told them that. Moreover, Wufei’s knowing glint in his eyes did not help Heero feel better either.

Heero sat down besides the young boy. The boy had fallen asleep during the ride back to the palace. Heero put the boy’s braid neatly across his chest. Though the braid was dirty, it was long and beautiful. Heero had never seen someone with such long hair other than the Colonel Zechs. Yet, Zechs’s hair was blonde and he never tied it. He often wondered how Zechs could stand the heat.

The boy moved slightly. Heero looked at the boy’s closed eyelids. Those eyes. The beautiful yet anguish eyes. He was glad he was not looking at them now. However, he could remember the beautiful color of violet.

Heero walked to the wardrobe to find some clothes for his slave. Slave. He did not like this word. He did not want to call the boy by the word “slave”. However, he did not know the name of the boy. It was strange now that he thought about it. He had not heard the boy utter any sound even before he was awake. He did not make any sound even when he was hit. He knew the other slave did. Quatre. Trowa had said that was the name of the boy.

A knock broke his thoughts. He pulled a long clean tunic and long pants out of the closet as he grunted. He put the clothes besides the boy and waited.

The door opened immediately by the healer, Sally. Sally put a box she was carrying before she approached Heero and his new slave.

“How is he?” Sally asked, “What’s his name?”

“Sleeping. I don’t know his name,” Heero said in a monotone.

“I see. Well, let’s see to his injuries and we can see what to do with him,” Sally said cheerfully as she noticed the gentle stare Heero was giving the boy.

Heero nodded as Sally sat besides the boy. Sally started to examine the boy as Heero helped her to take off the boy’s dirty clothes or rather the only tunic. Both of them gasped as they saw the scars on the boy. However, as a healer, she started to examine the slave’s injuries closely.

“It is not good, Heero,” Sally said after a while as she covered the boy with a thin blanket.

“Hn,” Heero grunted.

Sally took it as a sign of agreement and she continued, “I need something for the welts. Some of them are already infected. I will have to stitch the wounds. However, I can’t do it now. I need to go back and get the things ready first. Do you think you want to move him to the slave quarters? I am sure I can get one of the guys to help.”

“No. I want him here,” Heero said in a monotone but his eyes showed a glint of protectiveness.

Surprised, Sally took a moment before she argued gently, “Prince Heero, you have to understand that this boy is sick and unable to do anything. If you keep him here, you will have to take care of him.”

“Then I will,” Heero said in a determined tone, “I don’t like him in the slaves’ quarter. Anything can happen there.”

Sally was stunned for a moment before she smiled brightly, “then I will make sure that he recovers quickly. First, I will have to give him potions for his wounds. He is malnourished and beaten repeatedly from what I can tell. He is too quiet in his sleep. I don’t like it.”

“He does not even make a sound,” Heero said quietly.

“Well, I will go back and make the potions after I check out Trowa’s slave,” Sally promised as she took out a packet of potion and handed it to Heero.

“Ask Hilde to brew this and make sure that the boy drinks this. This should numb the pain and I will make more potions for him to drink later. Let him sleep as much as possible,” Sally continued.

Heero nodded, “thanks, Sally.”

“Well, it’s my job,” Sally smiled as she moved towards the door, “just take care of the boy, prince Heero?”

Just as Heero was about to reply, there was a knock. Sally opened the door to find Trowa standing outside the door, hand raised in midair.

“That was fast,” Trowa commented.

“Why are you here?” Heero asked bluntly, “I thought you are looking after Quatre?”

“I am. But Quatre told me something that you need to know,” Trowa said simply, “something Sally should know as well.”

“What?” Heero snapped, not liking the fact that he did not know something he needed to know.

“I promised Quatre that you will not mistreat your slave even when you learn this fact about him,” Trowa said as he looked at Heero.

“I will not mistreat another human being!” Heero snapped angrily, “I thought you know me better than that!”

“I do,” Trowa replied calmly as he met Heero’s glare, “I am only saying.”

“What is it then?” Heero demanded. He hated people who tested his patience.

“Your slave does not talk,” Trowa said simply though a hint of worry was in the gaze he leveled on Heero.

“Why?” Heero asked softly but both Trowa and Sally could see that he was upset.

“He doesn’t know,” Trowa said calmly as he looked at Sally for help.

“It should be psychological since I did not find any damage to his throat when I examined him earlier,” Sally said simply, “we have to wait till he is awake to find out more.”

Just then, Heero and Sally heard a gasp from Trowa. Surprised, the two of them followed Trowa’s line of sight. Sally gasped slightly at the violet orbs staring at her. Those eyes looked so sad and … so dead.

Those eyes… I have seen them before… on Heero… Trowa thought as he looked over at Heero.

“Hey, boy,” Heero said softly as he turned the slave’s attention to himself, “are you feeling better?”

The slave just looked at Heero blankly then nodded slightly. He seemed to understand what Heero was saying.

“I am your new master,” Heero continued, noticing that the boy wore no expression.

However, at his words, the boy struggled to get out of the bed. Having no idea what the boy wanted to do, Heero went to stand in front of him and tried to stop him.

“No! You are not to get out of the bed!” Heero snapped as he tried to push the boy back to the bed.

The boy stopped for a moment before he started to retreat to a corner of the bed, away from Heero. His eyes gazed at Heero timidly before the boy curled into a fetal position. It was as if he was preparing himself for a beating.

“Heero, don’t shout at him,” Trowa warned as Heero was about to yell at his new slave in anger.

“What?” Heero demanded, “he was not supposed to move! Now, he most likely makes his injuries worse!”

“I know you are worried, Heero but please! You are scaring him,” Sally said calmly as she approached the boy trembling on Heero’s bed slowly.

“Sally is right, Heero. I think I know what the boy had been trying to do. Quatre tried to do the same thing before I could stop him,” Trowa said calmly.

“What is he trying to do then?” Heero answered, trying to keep his frustration under calmness. After all, he was a calm person.

“Well, I was told that a slave is not allowed in their master’s bed unless with permission. One is supposed to kneel behind his master at all times unless with specific instructions. And that a slave is always punished when he disobeys his master or when the master feels like it,” Trowa said with a disgusted look.

“Are you telling me that there are people who treat others in such a way?” Heero said angrily as he watched Sally trying to calm his new slave down.

“Yes and I don’t like it,” Trowa said simply.

Heero turned to his slave to find him still in the corner, trembling. He thought of what Trowa had just said. How could people treat others like that? He sat on his bed, a few steps from his slave.

“Sally, let me,” Heero said simply as he held a hand to touch his slave’s trembling form.

Sally retreated to stand next to Trowa as the two watched Heero trying to calm his slave.

“Hey,” Heero called gently, “I am your master but I am not going to hurt you. You are safe here. Lie on the bed and get rest? Sally, the healer will try to heal you later, okay?”

Heero continued to talk as he pulled the frightened boy into his arms. He rocked him gently while telling the boy that it was safe. Soon, the boy seemed to doze off and Heero tucked him properly on his bed.

To say that Sally and Trowa were shocked, was an understatement. Never once had they seen Heero so kind to another person. It seemed that the young fearful slave had brought out the more humane side of the stoic prince without even trying.

“I’ll see to Trowa’s slave and see to this boy again later,” Sally said as she watched Heero staring gently at the young slave.

Heero only nodded absentmindedly as Sally and Trowa left the boy.

“Well, I dare say that the boy is good for Heero,” Sally said with a smile as the two of them stepped into the hallway.

Trowa nodded but something seemed to be on his mind.

“Let’s hope that your slave is good for you, prince Trowa,” Sally smiled.

“Quatre,” Trowa said simply, “I don’t like people calling him a slave.”

“Well, I see,” Sally replied with a smile. It seemed that Trowa had already taken a liking to his own slave, Quatre.

Together, the two of them walked towards Trowa’s room as they were each absorbed in their own thinking.

The boy must be suffering, Trowa thought, those eyes… I had seen it before... on Heero… when he refused to say anything a few years back…

Trowa could not help wondering about what had happened to Heero’s slave. It must be traumatic.

He shook his head to clear his thoughts as he reached his room. He had to focus on Quatre. He was sick but not as bad as Heero’s slave. Just as Sally was about to open his door, Trowa heard a loud scream.

“No!”

I hate books...

Summary: Wufei's POV.
"I don’t like books and I’m sure they don’t like me either,” Duo said, grinning.
Why? Read to know.


It was almost midnight. Moonlight filtered in from the curtains. I yawned. I was tired but I knew I had to wait for him to return. The rest of them were on missions. I knew that Maxwell would not mind if I dozed off or something.

But it was not honorable. I promised Winner that I would check Maxwell for injuries after his mission. Maxwell had a bad habit. He hid his injuries whenever he could. Sometimes he did not even tend to it. I knew he did that so as not to worry us. The other pilots including myself did that too. But he was the worst.

“And Shinigami scores! Yeah!”
“Duo! Your right arm!”
“Oh, it’s okay!”
“No, it’s not.”
“You are bleeding!”
“How did you get hurt, Maxwell? We are only playing basketball.”
“How?”
“Get him to his room now!”

So here I was, waiting for him to return. I continued reading the pre-colony book I had gotten hold off. It was a good book with adventures and humor. I checked the clock again only ten minutes had passed.

I closed the book in irritation. He said he would be back at ten. Sure, there was always room for delays and things. But to be late for two hours? I was about to put down the book when the door opened quietly.

“Finally! Where have you been?” I demanded as I glared at him, taking the chance to see if he had sustained any injuries. Then again, he made it difficult for me to check his well being since he was wearing his usual black priest suit.

“You waiting for me, Wufflers? I am so happy!” Duo grinned as he threw himself onto the couch.

“No! I was not! I am just trying to finish this book,” I denied as I pretended to read the book, “well, I’m sure someone like you will never understand the joy of reading.”

“Yeah, so what? I don’t like books and I’m sure they don’t like me either,” Duo said, grinning.

Yet, somehow, I could feel that the grin was forced. Something happened on his mission. He seemed upset and tired.

“Well, maybe it is because you don’t do them justice so they don’t like you?” I said with a hint of sarcasm though I was not sure why I did.

“Well, books are like people’s lives, don’t you think? Not only biographies, I mean everything. Life’s like a story? Do you know how many people would be dying to read a book about our lives? Killing? Piloting?” Duo said, his grin becoming more of a sad smile, “well, you know something? I don’t want to have a life that is worth writing. I want to have one which is boring.”

I was surprised at his speech. I always thought Maxwell was a clown. I knew he was more than just a childish pilot who always pranks his comrades. But I did not know he could be so deep. Maybe I was wrong about him.

“Well, then no one might want to read about your boring life,” I said simply with a smile.

“So what? I don’t think I like people intruding in my privacy,” Duo retorted with a grin.

“I thought you hate things that are associated with the word “boring”?” I asked again, raising an eyebrow as I closed my book.

“Maybe, or maybe not,” Duo said with a wistful smile, “then again, how can we ever be normal?”

“I don’t know, Maxwell,” I answered quietly.

Maybe Maxwell was not as shallow as I thought. But then again, he was always so cheeky and doing things that irritated me. He was always grinning and joking even during missions. It was like the war did not affect him. He did not take anything seriously and it was always upsetting me.

I hate frivolous people. They were just not serious enough. One needed to respect others even if they were the enemies. But he just yelled and sometimes even sang songs. It was as if all the killing did not get to him. But yet, I knew it did.

Maxwell had nightmares. In fact, all of us did. But then he had it most often. For a while, I actually thought that having nightmares was a weakness. It was actually Maxwell who taught me that having nightmares was never a weakness but strength.

I could still remember the time when he woke me up from one and he had stayed and talked to me. We were on a mission together, living at the countryside, somewhere near a military base. The place reminded me of L5 and that very night, I saw Meiran dying in my arms again.

“It’s all right, Wufei. You can cry if you want. No one will laugh at you,”
“No… crying is for the weak. I am not weak...”
“You are not. You are one of the strongest people I have met.”
“I am weak! I am crying and I have nightmares!”
“So what? Who says having nightmares is a weakness? I say it’s a strength!”
“You know nothing, Maxwell!”
“Wufei? Are you saying I am weak?”
“No! You might be loud, rude, childish, cheeky, noisy and so many things but you are not weak.”
“Why? You know I have a lot of nightmares.”
“But…”
“Wufei, I know you like justice and everything. Everything in your world is seen through weak and strong.”
“But that’s true. The strong survives but the weak dies, Maxwell. This is the way of life. From nature to human beings.”
“So is that the reason you fight with OZ? Isn’t OZ strong while we are weak?” “No. we are stronger than OZ.”
“Your world might be all around strong and weak but the strong can also protect the weak and make the weak strong, Wufei.”
“But so what? It just means that everyone can be strong.”
“No that’s not my point. The point is that though it seems that having nightmares is weak. You can be stronger with them.”
“So what you mean is that nightmares are good?”
“Of course not! Who wants nightmares? What I mean is that you should be tougher and get over your nightmare. When you have achieved that, doesn’t that mean that you are stronger?”

After that talk with Maxwell, somehow, my nightmares became more bearable. I did not think them of failures but as strengths as I overcame each of them.

Though I would deny under torture, Maxwell was truly a great friend. He was brilliant and had a very different view of things. He was able to live, in his words, to the fullest. Even if it meant in the midst of the war. I hate to admit but he was able to get what he wants once he makes up his mind.

“Wufflers?” Maxwell’s voice broke my thoughts.I turned my attention back to him. He had seated himself at the couch across from me. Somehow, I had tuned him out as he was saying something about us not being normal.

“Let me think, you have not been listening to me and is about to ask me not to call you Wufflers? Right, Wuman?”

“If you know what I am going to say, then stop calling me Wufflers!” I retorted as I opened my book, ignoring Maxwell.

“I really hate books,” Maxwell continued, “books tell lies.”

That got my attention immediately. I never knew that books tell lies. I mean I know Maxwell hated reading. Well, he made that quite obvious. And he hated lies. “I run, I hide but I never lie” that’s his motto. I agreed with him though I did not take it that extreme. It is after all honorable to be honest to people who you considered your comrades or friends.

“Lies?” I asked, keeping the curious tone out of my sentence. It would not do to encourage him. He could go on on a theory for hours if he wanted too. Just like the theory that he does not believe in God but only believe in Shinigami.

“Yes, lies. Book covers might not give you a preview of the story. It is like a mask. Nobody can know the book’s true identity unless they read the book,” Maxwell explained.

“Mask?” I asked, feeling more curious. How could a book wear a mask? Though I hate to admit, his theories had always intrigued me.

“Mask. Like all of us. Heero has his mission mask. Trowa has his blank mask.Quatre has his diplomatic mask and you have your justice mask,” he grinned, “and you guys are trying to hide your pain and things from the others.”

“Really? Then you hid your pain behind your joker?” I demanded.

He looked surprised, “hey, don’t get angry, Wuman! I am just saying. After all, I am just a shallow person right?”

I was not angry with him. I was angry with myself. “Shallow person” wasn’t that what I always thought Maxwell was? He was the joker who did not take things seriously. Wasn’t that what I always say he was?

“You are not a shallow person, Maxwell,” I growled. How could he really think that what I said to him in anger was what I think of him?

He looked at the floor for a minute in silence before he continued, “as I was saying, book covers don’t often show what the stories are. I remember the first book I read other than the Bible, Father Maxwell used to read to us. The cover was beautiful. I think that is the nicest book I have ever seen. But the story… well…”

“What is it?” I asked curiously. Maxwell actually read things other than Deathscythe’s data or his mission data.

“It is a tragedy. It …well… made me very sad at the ending,” he said with a hint of embarrassment.

“Tragedy?” I asked. What sort of books would Maxwell classified as tragedy when he is a terrorist?

“Yeah, Wuman! I thought there was nothing wrong with your hearing?” Maxwell joked.

“Maxwell! How many times have I needed to tell you my name is Wufei!” I yelled, exasperated. What was wrong with my name that he could not call it properly?

“Well, I don’t know. Maybe when you are already used to it?” Maxwell laughed as he dodged the cushion I threw his way.

However, I could not help thinking that Maxwell’s movements were a bit slower than usual. He was the fastest among the rest of us. He said he was trained to be fast for all his life. It was strange but we had a mutual agreement not to pry into others’ pasts.

“Hey, I think I need some beauty sleep already, Mr I-love-books,” Maxwell joked as he turned to leave the room.

However, it was too late. I had already spotted the wet strains on his right sleeve. Somehow, I did not think that they were just water.

“Wait, Maxwell!” I yelled at him as he tried to walk to his room quickly. Well, he was limping. Guess he had tried to hide that from me when he first entered the room.

“Ben dan! Stop moving, you idiot!” I snapped as he just continued on. He was already swaying.

“I am fine, Wuman!” he said as he gave me a weak smile.

“You are an idiot, Maxwell!” I yelled at him angrily as I caught him in my arms before his face hit the ground.

“Sorry, Fei. Guess my cover’s blown?” he grinned painfully as his eyes closed.

“Idiot,” I scolded him as I carried him to his room.

I lay him on his bed as I bandaged his right arm and left thigh. That idiot! He was shot in his right arm and left thigh. He had bandaged his injuries roughly with the little supplies he kept in Deathscythe before returning to the safehouse.

The bullets were out. He was lucky that they were clean shots. However, I had no doubt that he would dig them out himself if they were not. Sometimes, he could scare me as much as Yuy who could set his own leg without flinching.

“Stupid,” I scolded him again as I pulled the blanket over his frail body. Maxwell was not as cheerful as what he often appear to be. He had his own share of problems as well as his determination to end the war.

However, I often forgot about this side of him. He hid too well. I looked at his pale face. How many times had I misread his emotions? His book cover was what he hated so much. His cover was so different from what his life story.

He might hate books. But his life was already so alike to one of the books he hated so much. I smiled sadly at that fact. Should I be amused of this fact or should I be sad about it? I did not have the answer. All I know was that fate was not kind to any of us. Reality was harsh. We had all learnt that since young.

“Fei? I’m sorry,” he apologized sleepily as he struggled to keep his eyes open, “I interrupted your reading.”

“Idiot. You should have told me you are injured,” I scolded him gently, knowing that he was too drowsy to remember the conversation tomorrow.

“I am sorry,” he repeated with his eyes half-closed.

“Maxwell, you don’t need to hide everything behind a beautiful cover, okay?” I told him. I knew I had to tell him that. I was afraid that someday, he might hide his injuries till it was too late.

“I know. Just an instinct I have since I was five,” he mumbled almost incoherently. I smiled at him. He looked like a child when he was like that. There was no trace of the God of Death who had so much blood on his hands. He looked so innocent. But I knew better. No one could be innocent if they were terrorists. Even Quatre who looked like an angel had his fair share of blood. Sometimes, I lamented at the fact that why it would have to be us. But as Maxwell had said before, better us than someone else.

“Sleep, Maxwell,” I said soothingly before I remembered something, “oh yeah, Maxwell, what was the book that had a beautiful cover but made you cry?”

“Romeo and Juliet,” he replied softly before he finally succumbed to his need to sleep. Romeo and Juliet? Who would have thought Maxwell would cry over such a story? I snickered as I settled down on the chair besides his bed. Well, someone had to make sure that he was well at night.

Soon, darkness closed in on me.

Sunlight streamed through the curtains as I opened my eyes. I was disoriented for a minute, trying to remember where I was.

Maxwell. He was injured. I rubbed my eyes as I looked at the bed. I was expecting to find him still asleep.

However, once again he surprised me. He was gone. The bed was made and I could hear some noises in the kitchen. He must have got out of the bed when I was asleep. It was then I noticed the blanket around my shoulders. Well, he was even able to put a blanket on me without waking me up. He must have felt better. Then again, it was Maxwell I was thinking about. I signed inwardly. Was I able to keep him out of trouble without affecting his healing? At least was I able to keep him in bed till one of the others came and helped me with him. Life would be interesting for the next few days at least.

Just as I was thinking about my fate for the next few days, something on the bedside table caught my attention. It seemed that Maxwell had put it there for me to see. I was surprised as well as impressed after I read the poem. It seemed that Maxwell could be quite poetic when he wanted to be. However, I had really got to get him back in bed where he was supposed to be.

“Behind the cover by DM
Beautiful cover on the front,
Full of happiness thought to be.
Buried deep inside the book itself,
Sorrows and woes to be unmasked.
Happy it might seem
Sad it is feeling now
A cheerful life thought to be
A breaking heart lies beneath
Putting on a blissful mask
Trying to spread joy around
Beneath the mask that is
Hiding tears shedding down
Hope binding the breaking heart
But for how long will it last?
Brighten the pages with your touch
Insert your love and care
A true friend you would then have found
Treasure the friendship forever you must.”

I read it once more before I put it back on the table. Then I turned and went to find the poet who wrote this poem. Somehow, I think this was his show of trust for allowing me to glimpse the other side of him without me laughing at him.

“Maxwell! Get back to bed!” I yelled as I stomped towards the kitchen.

“Hey, Wuman! You are awake! Want some sandwiches?” Maxwell grinned at me.

“You are going to bed! You are injured!”

“But Wufflers, I will be bored and I’m fine now. It takes more than bullets to kill the great Shinigami!”

“No Maxwell, I don’t care if you are bored or not. You need to rest for your wounds to heal. You are going to bed!”

“But Fei…”

“no buts! I am not going to risk Winner’s wrath because you are bored!”

“Please Fei…”

“Maxwell! You are a gundam pilot! It is not honorable to use puppy eyes!”

“Please I don’t want the bed, Fei…”

“…maybe the couch, Maxwell. Watch the television.”

“Thanks, Wufflers! You are the best!”

“Don’t hug me, Maxwell! Go away!”

“I know you love me, Fei!”

Well, I knew it was going to be a long long day…

*****the end*****

How is it? Boring? I hope not. I just thought that I should get it out of my mind. The poem “behind the cover” was something I have written when I was 14 I think. So I just have to fit it in. so it is actually by me not Duo. But I will love to share it with Duo.
Well, give me reviews ok? Thanks a lot! : )

The Vein Forest

actually a story written for a writing competition...
but then i decided it fit too nicely as a fan fic to show the love n struggle of the siblings...


He knew she was sitting there, right behind him. She was looking so calm and collected while observing the raging battle. But he could sense her worry, trepidation, fear and sadness in her heart. Being the queen of a country meant that she had to hide all her feelings behind a veil of calm. He knew she was exhausted. He knew she was frightened. He knew she longed to be free from her responsibility. He knew. But there were nothing he could do about them. At least nothing he could do without revealing his true identity.


All he could do were to win battles and protect her silently. He shifted his mask slightly, trying to see the battle better. He had never liked this metal thing he wore on his face but it was his only way to prevent anyone to recognize him as well as a way to hide his feelings.


Seeing his soldiers on the losing side of the battle, he reacted quickly. He sent out an urgent command. Change formation now, he told his soldiers through telepathy. Immediately, his soldiers started to retreat slowly, their free hands clenched to the amulets they wore around their necks. Just as he expected, the enemy army thought they were retreating and were chasing after them, closing their distance from the castle walls where he stood, waiting. Good, he thought silently.


“Mist, mystery of the sky, makes another victory on our list, by blinding the enemy’s eyes,” he chanted the long string of words. His eyes narrowed in concentration as he felt the familiar sense of his power surging through his body, waiting to be released. “Now!”


A thick fog started to form around the whole battlefield. However, he could see his soldiers. All those who wore his hand-made amulets could. The rest would be unable to see their surroundings. Slowly and silently, his soldiers started to take down their enemies with a swift move of their weapons.


With the knowledge that the sorcerers on the enemy’s side would not be able to break his spell, he grinned triumphantly. He then turned and bowed at her, announcing that their victory was near. She looked at him and smiled with relief.


“Good work,” she said softly, eyes fixed on the battlefield. However, he thought he had sensed confusion in her heart.


He touched his mask again, making sure that it was in place. She could not have known it, could she? He knew he could not tell her. If he did, she might be forced to kill him. This was not what he wanted. It would be too much for her to bear. Now, he could only be one of her outstanding subjects and nothing more.


He was the sorcerer who used sorcery to protect his country. He was the general who planned ambushes and strategies to be used and the person who commanded troops in battles. He was the healer who was in charge of healing his soldiers. He was the chief guard who protected the queen and her subjects. He had so many positions; yet, he still could not tell her how intimate their relation actually was.


If his identity were revealed, thousands of people in this country would want to kill him. He knew it. He was supposed to be killed at birth or be banished from the country forever.


He was the “bringer of chaos”. A child that the ancient prophecy had said to be born when the end of a country was near. The child said to possess a great power that could destroy a country. The child was born with a sign. A small tattoo of four triangles pointing outwards was to be found on his right arm. He was this child who was thought to be the destroyer of his country- the Vein Forest.


At his birth, his parents had to put him into a basket and left him to drift away, separating him from them and her. An old sorcerer saved him. He became his apprentice, learning the art of sorcery. He learnt all kinds of skills from the villagers living in the nearby village. He became a master of different arts from the knowledge in books. And he learnt quickly.


Maybe it was the power that was said to be within him that helped him. Maybe it was his thirst for knowledge. Maybe it was his desire to keep himself busy in order to drive away his loneliness. Maybe it was his determination to learn as much so as to make his family proud of him when they reunite. Maybe…


He was a powerful sorcerer, skilled in using the Four Elements. He could use the element “ air” to fly. He could create rain using the element “ water”. He could make a fire out of thin air with just a snap of his fingers. He could even change the structure of the land with carefully chosen words. These were all a little of what he could do. With some mollification to the different spells, he could do a lot more.

Furthermore, that was not what he was. He was a healer, with the ability to bring miracles. He was a skilled swordsman. He was often challenged by knights from all over the world because of his fame and he had never lost. He was a master of strategies. He was able to outwit even the most notorious thief in The Vein Forest and had taken most of the credit in the thief’s capture.


He was all these at the young age of fourteen though he had never actually left the village. People went to the village to look for him for help and he had never rejected any of them. Thus, he earned a very good reputation among the people.


At that time, he had used his magic to find out about his destiny in life, his family and his future. He might not be a seer who could see one’s past and future but his magic showed his family as well as his destiny. His discovery of him being the prince of the Vein Forest shocked him and the reveal of his destiny nearly killed him.


With just a peek of his destiny, he was never the same again. He was so shocked and bewildered by what he had found out. He cursed his destiny. He yelled at the Gods in Heaven for being so cruel to him. He just could not accept his destiny. The revelation of his destiny broke his dreams into such tiny pieces that he knew he could never piece them back again.


His hope of reuniting with his family shattered upon his discovery. As a child, his greatest dream was to find his family. He hoped to be able to celebrate all the special days in his life with his family. He wanted to have a mother nagging at him. He wanted to have a father to scold him. He wanted to siblings to go horse riding with him or to complete with him in swordplay or archery. He wanted a younger sibling to protect and to dote on. He wanted to feel the warmth of family.

But he knew it would not happen. No one wanted connections with a “bringer of chaos”. No one would want to be friends with him, much less wanted him to be part of their family. And he knew it was especially true for a royal family who believed their country would be destroyed by their very own son. These thoughts only brought more sorrows and pain into his heart.


He went into depression. He could not find interest in anything anymore. He would hide in his small room for days, weeping silently. He would not talk to anyone even the kind sorcerer who had raised him. He became a living dead. He had even complemented suicide before but he lacked the courage to do so. He just went on living in the hut, isolating himself from the people who cared for him. He knew they were trying to help but he was too depressed to accept their help.


It went on for months till a messenger from the castle came, seeking his help in the coming battles against the neighboring country’s invasion. The messenger hoped that he would be able to use his skills in the battles.

He agreed readily. It was then he had climbed out of the dark pit he had thrown himself into upon the discovery of his destiny. He thought that maybe working might numb his pain. Maybe at the castle, he would see his family. He might not be part of the family but he could be their friend. He could still protect them. A new flame of determination burned brightly in his heart. It was then he lived once again. He had found the strength to continue living and a new motive to move on.


The first thing he did before going to the castle was the trip to the blacksmith’s. He made a mask that revealed only his eyes and the lower part of his face. It was an attempt to prevent anyone from recognizing him. He knew he had a twin sister and twins usually resembled one another. He could not afford people finding out his true identity.


Ever since reaching the castle, he had never taken off his mask except when he knew no one would see him. He did not like it but he had no choice. Also, he paid special attention to the sign on his arm, careful not to reveal it to anyone.


Upon reaching the castle, he learnt that his parents were dead. They had died due to their grief of losing their son, leaving his young twin sister to be the queen of the Vein Forest.

On hearing this piece of history, he had come so close to breaking into tears of joy and grief. His parents did remember him! They did not hate him. They had loved him and their deaths were the evidence of their love for him.

But this was not what he wanted. He wanted to reunite with them. He wanted to enjoy what others had called the “family love”. But now, he could not. He would never see them again. He could only remember his parents as the foggy image he remembered when they left him on his own. He did not want this! But he could do nothing about it. Now, all he could was to protect his only kin silently and from afar.


Someone nudged him back to reality. It was then he realized he had been staring at her while deep in thought. He saw her blush and gave him a small smile. Embarrassed, he turned quickly to look at the battle, cursing himself silently for acting so carelessly. He knew how such actions encourage tongues to wag in the castle. He would never want to be in such a limelight. He definitely did not want to add more to the growing number of problems he already had in his hands.


Furthermore, it would make him at a higher risk to exposing his true identity. What if she took an interest in these rumors? What if she wanted to investigate into his past? What if she found out? What if… the thought trailed off. Through empathy that only twins shared between one another, he was able to detect a strange feeling in her heart. It seemed to be a type of happiness that was sweet yet dangerous. He did not know what it was but since it did not posed any threats, he just ignored it and continued to reprimand himself for his carelessness.


She stared at his back, as he seemed to be deep in thought again. She stared at the short messy hair that swayed in the breeze. He looked so mysterious and so handsome. She longed to see his face under that metal mask he wore. Was he as handsome as she had imagined?


Somehow, she found him familiar. It was as if she had seen him before. However, this was supposed to be their first meeting, It should be. But she could not help thinking that the color of his eyes and his hair were the same color as hers. The tone he used reminded her of his father, the king. The triumphant grin he wore just a moment ago was identical to hers when she defeated her teacher in swordplay few years ago. She was curious about him. Something was attracting her to him. His looks? His talents? His fame?


Just before this meeting, she had not seen him before but she had heard a lot of things about him from the maidens who served her to her own subjects and even her own friends. Everyone had only good things to talk about him. He was talented in many areas.


His mask did not scare off anyone but attracted everyone with the air of mystery. She was told the women and girls in the castle as well as in the village called him the “the mysterious prince”. He was kind, polite and caring. He would help anyone regardless of their gender or status. Her subjects complimented him as a skilled swordsman, powerful sorcerer, sharp code breaker and a good strategist. Everyone liked him as he was. Not because of his looks or his wealth or who his parents were. To her, he was a living legend.


She had blushed when she saw him staring at her. Secretly, she hoped that he had noticed her because of her beauty or her talents and not because of the fact that she was the queen. She wanted others to know her as who she really was and not know her just as the queen. She was a beautiful young lady and she wanted others to know that she too was a girl who wanted to have fun and freedom that other girls at her age wanted.


She could not help sneaking glances at him when she knew no one was watching. There was this attraction she felt towards him. At seventeen, she had heard a lot of things about this thing called “love”. Could it be what she was experiencing now? All of a sudden, she felt shy and was conscious of her looks. As the queen, she was always dressed in the beautiful dresses she liked and she hoped he would like her taste of clothes.


She stared at his back again. She hoped that he might turn back to look at her again. But he did not. He seemed to concentrate on the battle once more. He seemed to be deep in thought. Maybe he was thinking of her. She hoped so but she knew it was highly unlikely.


However, he did turn after a while. But, he was yelling something to the soldiers standing nearby and was dashing towards her. She could feel a tension in the air. A foreboding feeling hit her with such a great force that she nearly fell off her seat. She knew something bad was going to happen though she had no idea what it was. She just felt it.


Confused, she looked around. She could not understand what was happening. Suddenly a rain of sharp-looking arrows flew towards her. Shocked, she could do nothing but to gape at the fast approaching arrows. She shut her eyes tightly, bracing herself for the pain she knew the arrows would cause once they made contact on her body.


However, she felt a pair of hands pushed her out of her seat as she felt something heavy slammed into her. She snapped open her eyes immediately, only to be greeted by the worst scene she had ever witnessed in her entire life.


He was on the floor in front of her with an arrow in his chest and blood flowing freely from the wound.


Stunned, she dropped to her knees next to him. Another rain of arrows had begun to fly towards the castle walls. The enemy archers were again at work, greedy for more results. They were shooting towards the castle walls in the hope of killing the queen or any other important subjects. She looked at him, not caring about the arrows. Blood was already pooling around his body. She shook herself out of her stunned trance. She knew she had to help him despite the fact that she, as the queen, should be retreating instead of attending to a wounded.

Moreover, he had already set up a magical shield around both of them earlier to deflect all the arrows except the fatal arrow that went into his chest. She knew that for a while, they would be safe. Noticing the fast flowing of the blood from his wound, she knew she had to react quickly. She could see his life energy fading away with each passing second.

Immediately she tore away his long sleeved shirt to reveal his wound. She used the clean sleeves to wipe away the blood so as to enable her to stop the bleeding. While trying hard not to blush at the sight of his hard muscles, she tried to apply pressure around the wound to stop the blood from flowing.


It was then she noticed the sign on his right arm. The achingly familiar sign her mother had sketched in her diary. The sign’s significance her father had written in his journal. The story about the child with the sign she had read in both her parents’ diaries. The relation she had discovered she had with the “bringer of chaos”. The grief her parents had for him and her own dreams of finding him one day.


Could he be? Could he be? She asked herself silently. Happiness and anguish hit her at the same time as she took in this new piece of information. She hoped to find her brother but she feared that this might be the last time they would see each other. With much hesitation, she reached for his mask with a shaking hand. She needed confirmation even if she already had the answer. Yet, she could feel the hope and fear mixing in her heart as she prayed that this was all part of her wild imagination.

He protested violently but he was too weak to stop her. She tore away the mask to reveal a handsome face that he had been hiding throughout the years he had lived in the castle. The face he did not want her to see.


She took in a sharp breath as she took in his features. The same eyes. The same nose. The same contour of the mouth. And the same ears. She almost thought she was looking at her own face only that the face she was looking at was more masculine than hers. It was then she knew who she was looking at and who had just saved her life.


“Brother? You are my brother?” she whispered slowly in her teary voice, more a statement than a question. She did not know whether to feel ecstatic or mournful. She was too confused and her heart was on the verge of breaking, as she could not decide on what to make of this whole incident. All she could do at the moment was to stare at him.


He started to shake his head vigorously at her question causing blood to trail from his mouth. She held his hands tightly. She knew he was slipping away but she was helpless about it. She did not want him to go. She had just found him- her long lost brother whom she had hoped desperately to find one day.


“You are! Don’t deny it! I don’t understand! You knew I’m your sister! If not, you would not even come to the castle. You would not save me. Why did you keep it from me?” she screamed tearfully, finally snapping out of the conflicting feelings that bind her heart a few seconds ago.


“All this while, I have been trying to find you but you were in the castle all along. You were so close to me but I didn’t know. You have been by my side all these years, protecting me silently, looking at me from afar and supporting me without my knowing. You have, haven’t you? But why did you keep quiet? Why didn’t you approach me? No one knows you are the “bringer of chaos”. Only father, mother and I know. It was a secret kept tightly among our family. No one else knows. All of them thought you died upon birth. Why didn’t you come to me? Why didn’t you tell me your identity?” she cried incoherently as sobs wrenched themselves out of her no matter how hard she tried to keep them in.


She was so touched that he still loved her even with his tough life. She had everything she wanted, living in luxury but he had nothing. Yet, he had still loved her and even died to save her. She was delirious to have finally found him. However, she felt so distressed that she might never have the chance to talk to him again.


She had finally found her brother. She had just realized that her brother had been her guardian angel for the last few years, guarding her silently and from afar. But he had tried his best. For his efforts, he had given away his life. But this was not what she wanted. She did not want him to leave her. She did not want him to go.


She had just found her brother. He had not called her “sister”. She had not chatted with him. She had not completed archery and swordplay with him. She wanted to know whether she could be as good as him in these areas. After all, they were twins and twins usually had the same abilities.


She had not hugged him. She had not felt his brotherly love. She had not done any of the things she dreamed of doing with him. She did not share any memories with him. She did not want him to go.


“Stay with me?” she pleaded.


He reached out and wiped away tears from her cheeks. Blood had stained his hands, leaving a patch of dark crimson flowing down her cheeks, dirtying her face but she did not care. She wanted to hug him but she knew she could not. At least, she could not in his current condition. But somehow, she knew there would not be another chance for her to do so in the future.


At this thought, she did not care. She pulled him up with great difficulty and hugged him, avoiding the protruding arrow. She felt his blood stain her beautiful dress but she did not care. She had enough of protocols in her life and she hated them. She liked the feeling of being in his arms. She liked the warmth she felt coming from him. She looked at him with tears filling her eyes as she knew there was no “more another chance”. Soon she would be alone in this world.


“Sis,” he whispered weakly, sensing her distress. He pulled away from her to take one last look of her. He wanted her to be the last thing he saw before falling into the sleep that lasted for eternity. He fought hard to keep his eyes open. He tried hard to give her a smile to console her but his glazed eyes betrayed his pain. His smile looked so sad to her that she could only cry even more. He summoned all of his energy to speak his final words to her.


“Live well, will you? I will guard you from wherever I go. Smile always?” With that, he gave up his fight and allowed his heavy lids to drop and led him into the sleep that he would not wake up from. Then his body felt limp and stiff in her arms.


“No!” she screamed tearfully.


She tightened her hug. She wanted the warmth in his body to stay. She wanted him to be alive. She wanted him to talk to her, to joke with her as other brothers did with their sisters. She wanted him to dote on her. She wanted him to do his duty as her brother. She only wanted him. But no matter how much she pleaded, how tight she held on to his body, he never responds.


He was gone. Forever.


She knew he would not be back. She knew he had gone away but she refused to believe it. She was still waiting for the chance to be his guardian angel instead of him being hers. She had not spent more than a day together with him. She had not done anything for him. And she wanted to. But there were no more chances for her to do so.


She struggled to lay him on the ground gently, staring at him as pain and loneliness radiated from her face. She did not notice the disappearance of the magical shield that disappeared since sorcery that used to sustain the shield had been used up with his death. She did not feel the pain on her right arm where an arrow had just grazed her. She did not respond when one of the generals told her they had won the battle regardless of the loss of their best general and all the enemy archers had been killed instantly by their own archers.


However, she felt no relief but instead she felt that a deep pit of emptiness in her heart. She felt numb to anything in the entire world. He was gone. That was all she knew. She refused to leave his sides as the maidens who served her urged her to. She just wanted to stay by his side and be his guardian angel this time.


The hard-earned victory had saved the country from invasion. The victory had ensured that no one in her country had to suffer as the war between countries had ended. No one in their country would be taken as prisoners as they had won and survived this long war. However, the victory came with a heavy price. The victory robbed her of her most important person in her life, her brother.

There had been so many things she wanted to share with him. There had been so many activities she wanted to do with him. She had so many words she wanted to talk to him. But it was too late. He was gone.


All because of her. Because of her, he was not here anymore. Because of her, he had to give up his life. Because of her, he had come to the castle to help in the battles. Because of her, he had to be stronger to protect her. All because of her.


He was her only kin she had since the deaths of her parents’ years ago. Now he left her as well. He was gone. He was not coming back. He was dead. She was alone in this world. There were no one left she could call family. She was the only one left.


Regret, guilt and loneliness filled her heart. She did not feel happy for the victory. She did not feel the relief that the prolonged war was finally over. All she could feel were pain and pain and nothing else. It was then spots of darkness clouded her vision. She could not see clearly anymore. She heard incoherent voices of their subjects and the maidens who served her but her mind could not register what they were saying. Soon, she let herself fall into the darkness that seemed so comforting to her.


A year later, the young queen died of grief. No one knew whom she was grieving for but there were rumors of her grieving for the one who saved her with his life. The man who was once the living legend. The man who was skilled in almost everything. The man whose relation with the queen was unknown. All that the people knew was that the queen did love the man with the mask deeply.


The legend of the “ mysterious prince” lived on.


With the death of the young queen, the Vein Forest had no leader. It led to the internal war of the struggle for the throne, causing the fall of the Vein Forest, which was the country that was once so rich in resources that neighboring countries were constantly trying to invade. Now, the Vein Forest was taken over by the very same country that was defeated before the death of the queen. The very last victory the young queen and the “ mysterious prince” had won. Yet, with their death, the country fell into the enemy’s hands and that hard-earned victory became worthless even with the heavy price.


Ultimately, the “bringer of chaos” did cause the fall of the Vein Forest in directly but no one knew about his existence.

how was it?

peace knights chap 1

~palace at gundam~

“Prince Heero? Prince Trowa?” a maid called out tentatively as she knocked. She knew how the two princes hated interruptions when they were talking.

However, it was time for their lessons with Dr J, one of the King’s advisors. She was told to ask them to go down to the laboratory. She shivered slightly as she thought of the strange place. She would not want to spend a minute there. The place was creepy.

“Excuse me, your highnesses?” she called again, louder this time. However, there was still no answer.

Well… I did try… maybe I should… the young maid thought as she put her hand on the doorknob and just a turn.

Suddenly someone tapped on her shoulder. Shocked, the girl jumped at the tap. She spun around to find herself looking at one of the general, Lady Une.

“Yes?” the girl managed to squeak out while calming down.

“Hilde, you can’t go in,” Une said simply.

However, the meaning was clear and Hilde groaned. She understood perfectly what had happened without getting in the room.

“They sneaked out again, didn’t they? Well, I don’t know anything. I just say I can’t find them to Dr J,” the girl just signed.

Sometimes these two princes were trouble. They hated lessons and did not always attend them. Then again, she could not really blame them. After all, even she herself did not like the five advisors. They seemed so creepy sometimes.

“Well, that makes the two of us,” Une said in a resigned voice, “the general is wanted by Sally for a talk about the health of the troops. She wants to speak to him since this morning.”

“Well, they will be back soon, right?” Hilde asked as the two of them signed before parting their ways to give their respective messages.

~outside the palace~

“Well, you two missed another of J’s lesson again. I hope you realize that,” Trezie said as the group of them was finally on their way home from the trip to the village near the palace.

“Hn,” Heero grunted while Trowa only smirked.

“Do you honestly think they care?” Wufei asked as he shook his head at the expressions on both the princes’ face.

“No, actually. I don’t think they care but I just wanted to state a fact. And it was boring riding with no conversation going on,” Trezie signed, “maybe, Wufei, do you think we could…”

Before Trezie could continue, Wufei cut him off with a big exasperated “no!”

“Hey! I have not even said what I want!” Trezie argued before he put on a smile that made Wufei blushed, “I just want you to use your magic and do something with the personalities of our two royal highnesses over here.”

“Whatever it is. You jolly well know that I am not allowed to use magic for personal gain. And don’t talk if you have nothing to say,” Wufei shot back at Trezie, “and it is not my fault that the two of them are so quiet and boring.”

“Stop talking about me like I am not here,” Heero glared behind him to look at the pair of lovers on the horses behind them.

“Well, why do you think we tend to do this?” Trezie asked, smirking.

“Cause you are bored?” Trowa finally made a comment.

“And that is because why, your royal highness?” Trezie grinned slightly.

“Because Wufei does not allow you to stare at him as you did on the other trips,” Trowa concluded in a monotone.

“That’s not true!” Wufei argued weakly as he blushed.

“Well, maybe that’s true, my little dragon,” Trezie teased, “You look cute when you blushed.”

“No, I don’t!” Wufei exploded, “this is injustice! And this conversation is getting ridiculous!”

“Whatever you say so, dragon. You can’t stop what others,” Trezie was cut off by a commotion in front of the group.

“What happened?” Wufei asked as he moved to the front of the group. After all, the two of them were supposed to be protecting their two princes.

“I’ll take a look. Stay here. I mean it,” Trezie said as he rode towards the commotion.

However, what he saw made his stomach turned.

“What happened?” Heero was suddenly besides him, followed by a smirking Trowa and a resigned Wufei.

“You are supposed to stay there!” Trezie hissed in anger. These two never ever listened to him.

“I am the crown prince. I am above you. Why should I listen to you?” Heero glared at Trezie as he approached the group in front of them.

“Stop, Your Highness!” Trezie protested but Heero had already ridden in front of him towards the crowd while Wufei followed him quickly.

What kind of bodyguard can one be if his charge never listens to him? Or should I think what kind of prince would ignore his own general’s warning and rushed into trouble? Only the great Prince Heero, Trezie thought, well if Heero would to listen to him, then they would not be here and Heero and Trowa would be in Dr J’s class.

“No! Stop!” Wufei’s distressed voice cut off his thoughts.

“Damm! I forgot I don’t want Wufei to see this!” Trezie sped off towards them.

“Wufei!” Heero demanded as he followed Wufei down the horses, trying to calm down the younger sorcerer.

To Heero’s horror, instead of calming down, Wufei started to chant a spell.

“Fire of the dragon hears my cry,” Wufei’s chant was cut short as Trezie’s hand covered his mouth and stopped him.

Trezie whispered calming words to Wufei, “you are freed now. You are safe. We will put a stop to this somehow, okay? Calm down.”

Wufei calmed down a bit but all he could see were images of the whip hitting his body. He could feel the stings of the whip on his body. He felt pain. It was making him hard to see.

“Stupid slave! Can’t even walk properly! You want to slow everyone down? I would show you the price of falling down!” an angry voice yelled followed by sounds of a whip hitting flesh.

I am safe. I am safe. I am safe, Wufei told himself, I am no longer a slave and no one can hurt me. I am safe. I am safe.

“Help them,” he whispered weakly to Trezie as he tried to stand on his own. He would not be a weakling. He would show them justice.

“You want to help him? Then I just hit you two! Do you think you are helping him?” the angry voice continued.

Trezie nodded as he approached the crowd and ordered them to stop what they were doing.

However, his command was lost in the haze of anger the four slavers were in. they were all gathered in a circle using their whips to beat the two slaves huddled together.

Before Trezie could do anything, Heero walked up to one of the slavers and grabbed his whip.

“Stop,” he said simply as he glared at the slavers with the promise of death in his eyes.

The slavers looked surprised and stunned at his interruption and a glint of fear when they met Heero’s glare. However, after they looked at the size of Heero, they showed no signs of fear. They simply smirked at him. After all, Heero looked so much younger and smaller than they did.

“Who are you? What are you doing?” one of the slavers demanded as he stepped closer to Heero and glared at him.

“Hn,” Heero simply replied.

The normally serious Trowa snickered immediately while Trezie looked amused. However, all the slavers looked confused at the simple reply.

“Not everyone understand your language,” Trezie said simply before adding, “your royal highness.”

A gasp could be heard throughout the crowd as they realized they were speaking to one of the royalty. Who was he? This question was on all the slavers’ mind.

“Let them go,” Trowa said simply.

“No! They are our slaves. Our goods. Our tools to golds! We can’t just let them go!” one of the slavers growled.

He was strike by the whip in Heero’s hands as soon as he spoke. The slaver stumbled back in surprise and pain while glaring at Heero. Royalty or not he would not be intimated by a mere lad especially with so many people looking.

“Why you!” the slaver yelled angrily as he charged towards the teen. However, Heero only sidestepped and punched him.

“No human being is a tool,” Heero said as he glared into the slave’s pained face.

“We buy them,” Trezie said calmly.

He had to help the two of them at least. Though he did not want to endanger the two princes in getting into a fight, one that he was positive that the three of them would win, he wanted to help the two slaves huddled together on the floor. The two of them looked so young and so weak. He looked back at Wufei who was resting against a tree near the horses, looking weak as he tried to keep his mind in present. Trezie knew he had to help them, not only because of his conscience but also for Wufei.

“The two of them were caught and had not even had their first master so their prices would be high,” another of the uneducated slavers said, “They had high prices.”

“Well, you have already damaged them,” Trezie winced. He hated speaking of these poor young boys as goods.

“They will heal,” another slave spoke, “three thousands golds for each.”

“Just give them,” Trowa said simply as he kneeled besides the two slaves.

Heero joined him as they each helped the two slaves. Both flinched inwardly at how light the two of them were in their arms as they carried them to their horses, leaving Trezie to pay the slavers. Trezie muttered something about irresponsible princes as the two princes studied the features of the slaves they had in their arms.

For a while, the two princes were lost in a daze. Heero looked at the slave he was carrying. Surprisingly, this slave had long hair that was in a braid and as Heero looked into those eyes that were looking at him blankly; his cobalt eyes were locked in violet eyes.

Somehow, he could not turn away from those eyes. Eyes that spoke volumes. Eyes that he recognized with angst and unshed tears that said something his own eyes once said.

I am hurting.

peace knights chap 0

~~~The legend~~~

Peace knights
Knights with elements of their rights
Destroying the world in the name of light
Or protecting the world with peace they might
Unite them you would be in great heights
Destroy them you would in great plights

Gold listens to his heart
Wood keeps quiet with what he thinks
Water speaks with what he feels
Fire splutters at injustice
Earth always keeps his calm
Together they are all unique

No one knows who they are
No one knows where they are
Scattered around the world they might be
When war threatens to ruin, they unite
To save or destroy the world
They decide

A symbol of word
They will be recognized by
In the ancient language of words
The knights would have them without a doubt
On their body would the birthmarks
The names of their elements

*************************

~Maxwell church~

“Hey, Solo! Race you back to the church! Loser has to do dishes for a week?” the ten year old boy with violet eyes yelled as he raced off towards the direction of the church.

“No! Wait, Duo! That’s not fair! I am carrying so many things including your share! Get back here!” the older boy demanded as he shouted at the laughing figure that seemed to run even faster as he spoke.

“Duo! You’re so dead when I catch you later! Now how am I going to carry all these back?” Solo cursed as he tried to gather all the things in his arms.

Duo laughed as he ran with his head looking back and making faces at Solo. He knew it was bad of him to leave Solo to carry everything but he promised to help with the dinner’s preparation tonight. It would be bad of him to break his promise and well, he was sure that Solo would forgive him quickly.

“La... la...” the small boy hummed a tune Sister Helen had sung to him before as he continued running with a big smile on his face.

However, the smile disappeared without a trace when he noticed the black smoke emerging in the direction of the church. Something flashed across his mind. Fire. Screams. A burning cottage. The smell of the burnt wood. Then rain. Then he remembered running.

“What is happening? What is it?” Duo asked himself as he dashed towards the burning church.

What he saw when he stood in front of the church forced him to stop dead in his tracks. It seemed that a big boulder had dropped onto the church probably rolled down from the hill behind the church. However, something told him that this was not just a natural disaster. The church could not be on fire just because of the boulder. Unless…

However, he stopped his trail of thinking as he saw something or rather someone. Half buried under a wall old ruins that were at least not yet on fire, was the figure he held close to his heart since he was in the church.

“Sister Helen?” the crying boy called quietly as he kneeled next to the figure on the floor that was wet with a red liquid. Immediately, he started to dig. He had to free her.

“Duo? You are safe! Father Maxwell was worried about you till the end,” a weak voice reached his ears as hands gently grab his bloody hands, “stop, dear. Those are sharp and heavy. You are hurting yourself.”

“But. But… you … I have to do it, Sister Helen...” the young boy cried.

“No! Listen to me, Duo. I do not have much time left. I know, dear. You have to get away from here. They are after you, I think. Father Maxwell refused to hand you over to them,” Sister Helen said quickly as if she had to say it fast or it would never be heard again.

“But…” Duo wept.

“Duo, remember not to put your hair up. Let it down or braid it as I had taught you before. Don’t let others see the symbol on your neck. Promise me you will always hide it, okay?” Sister Helen said weakly.

Duo nodded. He could not say anything. His tears were making his vision blurry.

“Solo? He’s with you?” Sister Helen asked softly and continued as she saw Duo nod his head again, “he will care for you. You two are brothers. Listen to him, okay?”

“I promise. You know I never lie,” Duo said solemnly in his strained voice, “but don’t leave me, Sister Helen. Can’t you not leave?”

“No, silly. Shinigami has come to claim me. You said before you only believe in him right?” Sister Helen smiled, “live well and smile always, dear. Your smiles are beautiful…”

With that, Sister Helen closed her eyes and her hands dropped from Duo’s small hands.

“Sister Helen? Sister Helen? Sister Helen! No! No! Why? Why take her away? Why?” Duo screamed as he continued to weep.

“Are you a kid from the church?” a deep fierce voice demanded.

Surprised, Duo spun around to see at least eight men who looked like bandits. He did what his instincts told him. He jumped to his feet and tried to run for it. However, before he could even start running. The man closest to him grabbed his arms roughly.

“Are you the boy with the symbol?” the man demanded as he tightened his grip.

Duo whimpered as he struggled but the man only gripped his arms tighter. The man only smirked while the others laughed at his weak struggle.

“Feisty? Do you want me to strip you to see if you have the symbol?” the man said in a weird tone that made little Duo froze in terror.

Suddenly, an explosion sounded from somewhere close to them. Shocked everyone looked towards the spot where the explosion occurred. The man dropped his grip on Duo as Duo ran quickly towards the bushes in the other direction.

A hand gripped Duo’s right arm again. Shocked, Duo froze only to smile in relief as he realized it was Solo. Solo pulled him into the bushes and led him deeper into the forest at top speed. They only stopped after what seemed like hours.

It was then Duo leaned against Solo and started sobbing, telling what he had witnessed in incoherent words. Solo took a long time to digest what Duo had said. The thirteen-year-old boy started to cry as he finally realized what had happened.

He pulled Duo closer and promised him that he would protect him even at the cost of his life. Then they started to grieve for the dead. Their Father Maxwell and Sister Helen and all their friends.

Duo closed his eyes and clutched his brother’s shirt tightly as he recalled what had happened again and again. However, he felt another similar memory that he did not know he had flashing into his mind. His head started to throb. It was getting more painful with each minute passed. Finally, darkness closed in around him.

wow!

ok... i decided to make a blog for my fan fics...
dun tink there will be anione here...
since dun realli advertise...
if u are here... most likely frm fan fiction.net...
will be veri glad if u can leave a comment for my fan fics...
thxs...