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…