He smiled…
That was all Heero thought as he stared at the trusting amethyst eyes. Somehow, there was no more pain, no more sadness in the eyes he once saw. He tore his gaze away from those attractive eyes immediately as he realized his slave was coughing.
“Are you alright?” Heero asked frantically as he tapped Duo’s back gently.
Duo seemed to try to say something but nothing came out. He looked surprised and tried again. Yet this time, he started to cough again.
“Water?” Heero asked, concerned as he reached for the glass of water on the bedside table. Gently, he put it to his slave’s mouth and allowed him to sip the water once he stopped coughing.
“Will you be fine for a while?” Heero asked Duo, “I need to get the healer.”
Duo nodded weakly as he tried to give the other boy a smile. He tried to figure out answers to his questions. He tried hard to remember where he was, who the other person was and most importantly…
Who am I? Duo asked himself, as he closed his eyes, why can’t I remember anything? Who am I? Who am I? Think! Think! Think!
The more he thought about it, the more his head hurts. He tried to scream his frustration but somehow, no sound came out.
He pulled his hair as the pain increased. He tried to stop the pain but it only became worse. He opened his eyes and tried to focus on the scenery outside the window.
The glare of the sun hurt his eyes but somehow, he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
Maybe clouds would be better, he thought, or maybe a drizzle? I like rain.
It was then the pain in his head decreased as dark clouds blocked the sun. Then rain started pouring down heavily without warning. Yells could be heard as people outdoors started to scramble for shelter.
Wow! I didn’t know what I wish could come true, Duo thought, but I thought a drizzle would be nice, not a shower.
He sat on the bed, entranced by the rain outside the window. Somehow the pain was gone.
~at the corridor~
“Trowa!” Heero yelled as he opened Trowa’s door.
“What?” Trowa snapped as he looked up from his book. He was supposed to finish this book and write a review for the doctors. Well, he was not Heero who could finish his in within an hour. He envied Heero’s photographic memory. A lot, really. He would give anything to join Quatre in the garden and not at this stupid book.
“Did you use your power?” Heero asked worriedly.
“No. why? Did someone use his power?” Trowa asked as he stood up, book abandoned.
Heero nodded. He had felt someone using his power. They never really used their power unless they were in danger. So it was not Trowa. Then he turned to move out of the room to find out if it was Wufei or Quatre.
However, he was stopped at the door by a drenched Quatre and an amused Wufei.
“Hi, prince Heero,” Quatre greeted the prince as he smiled sheepishly, “caught in the downpour.”
“Yeah. You two should be outside just now. The rain just pours down without warning. It was actually funny to see trained soldiers started yelling and sprinting for shelter all of a sudden due to rain. And what was even funnier was when their looks of surprise when the rain started to fall down heavily all of a sudden!” Wufei explained in an amused tone.
“You are dry,” Trowa commented as he took a towel and handed it to Quatre, resisting drying Quatre himself due to the two of them in the room.
“He was under a tree and had enough time to put up a magical shield, master,” Quatre explained.
“And you did not shield Quatre as well?” Trowa glared at Wufei.
“Well, he was too far away from me. And a little rain will not kill him,” Wufei said in a nonchalantly tone. He did not think Quatre would fall ill that easily.
“It’s okay, master,” Quatre said in defend of Wufei, “I was running around when the rain fell. It was entirely my fault.”
“Not your fault, Quatre,” Trowa said firmly.
“Yeah, it is the rain’s fault,” Wufei joked, “and why are you here, prince Heero?”
“Hn. I was trying to see who used his power. Was it you, Wufei?” Heero asked.
“Nope. I was careful not to use my power. And before you ask it was not Quatre’s. I was with him the entire time,” Wufei replied, “and I did not feel anything just now.”
“Neither did I,” Trowa answered as Quatre shook his head as well.
“Hn,” Heero grunted before he realized something and he swore.
“What?” Wufei asked as he watched the crown prince dashed away suddenly.
Trowa shrugged but he followed after his brother with Wufei and Quatre behind him. Somehow, it seemed that it was becoming a habit for the two princes to dash around the palace’s corridors nowadays.
“Sally!” Heero yelled as he banged on the healer, “Sally!”
“What?” Sally asked as she opened the door immediately, “it’s you, prince Heero. He’s awake?”
“Yes,” Heero answered curtly as he started to walk back to his room with Sally beside him, “but he still can’t speak.”
“That’s all?” Sally asked.
“No, he’s trembling and in pain but I don’t know why,” Heero admitted as he showed his worry, “is he going to be okay?”
Sally was about to ask more questions when Heero reached the door. However, Wufei yelled at him before he could even open the door.
“What?” Heero snapped. He was never known for his patience.
“Trowa and Quatre will not be able to get in,” Wufei answered nervously at the prince’s deadly glare.
“Hn,” Heero grunted but Wufei could feel his anger. Well, after all it was his fault.
Heero opened the door and stepped in, muttering something as he motioned the rest to enter. However, he did not even look to see if the rest of them were following before he turned and made his way to the bed where his slave was in.
“Duo?” Sally called as she pushed Heero away to look at the boy, thus enabling the rest of the occupants to see Duo as well.
However, what they saw was not the frightened boy they were used to for the few days before the attack. Instead of amethyst eyes that were blank with emotions, they were now bright with innocence and trust.
“Duo?” Sally asked as the boy just looked at her with confusion.
“Remember me? Sally?” Sally asked but those eyes gained no recognition, “okay, just know that I am a healer and wants to make you feel better. So I have to give you a checkup if that is okay with you? I mean you no harm.”
And she was rewarded with a bright smile.
~ In the same dark manor~
“What do you mean by you fail?”
“I am sorry, Sir. But I will succeed the next time! Give me another chance, Sir!”
“You have already lost your chance!”
“But Sir! I will kill him! I want to kill him!”
“So? You fail! That is enough!”
“But, Sir! Let me try again!”
“Give me a reason.”
“If I don’t kill him now, he is going to kill me in future!”
“Well, you can try again. But not now. Wait for my orders.”
“Thank you, Sir!”
~in the garden of gundam palace~
“Duo! Get back here!” Wufei yelled after the laughing boy who had tagged him and ran away.
The boy just laughed and ran even faster. Wufei yelled angrily at the injustice of Duo’s actions but he could not stop the smile on his face. He looked over to Quatre who smiled apologetically to him before dashing off as well.
It had been a whole week since the attack on Duo. He had recovered but all his memory was lost. However, somehow, Wufei was glad that he had lost his memory. The boy without his memory was innocent and cheerful. No dark past or fear haunted his eyes. He was always smiling and was so trusting that Wufei would like to kill the one who had broken Duo before.
Though Duo was much happier, he still could not speak. Sally said it was something in his subconscious that renders him mute. Duo was upset without the use of his voice but he sure was optimistic. The lack of his voice did not keep him from getting into mischief. And Duo was very good at sneaking around, much to Wufei’s annoyance. What was worse was that prince Heero had to resume his studies since summer break was over and Wufei was to teach and look after Duo and Quatre about the workings of the palace.
Quatre was quiet and listened attentively while Duo was frequently distracted. However, he was able to understand what Wufei was saying and quick to grasp any difficult concepts. Currently, he had been able to convince Wufei to have lessons in the garden with Quatre’s help. Though Duo could not speak, his eyes spoke volumes. Together with Quatre, the two of them could more or less get anything they want.
Quatre was sweet and polite while Duo was charming and mischievous. Each of them held a special place in everyone’s heart. The two of them might be slaves but none of the servants treated them as such.
It might be Wufei’s imagination but he thought that he sensed an air of regal confidence. But then Quatre was a slave, there was no way he possessed such confidence. Then again, Quatre never spoke of his past. All of them only knew that Quatre suffered a lot due to his powers as a peace knight. He looked very upset at the slight mention of his family. Well, at least he was comfortable around them though Wufei was not sure if he knew they were peace knights as well. It seemed that Trowa did tell him but Quatre did not manage to catch the meaning or hear the words.
But whatever the case was, there were only short of one more knight. Water. The knight who could control water. Whoever he was, Wufei hoped he would be found soon. Powers especially like theirs might not be good to leave unsupervised. All of them had to train and keep their power under control. Even Quatre’s. Well, since the two princes were going to be busy, Wufei was given the task again.
Not that it was bad; he enjoyed having things to do other than just studying old books or checking the wards in the palace. Teaching Duo was a challenge and Quatre was so much easier. But he could still manage fine. The only thing that was a bit more troubling was that he would have to leave Duo somewhere so he would not see Quatre using his powers. They had decided to keep it a secret from Duo. Not that they did not trust him. It was just that the fewer Duo knows, the less the risk of him being hurt will be smaller.
It was then the feeling of something hitting his back brought him back to reality. Annoyed, he looked around and found a grinning boy hanging upside down from the tree closest to him. Before he could grab the boy, the boy moved quickly and climbed up the tree.
“Duo! Get down here!” Wufei yelled angrily, “you are to have mathematics now and not tree climbing! Or even playing catch-me-if-you-can with me or Quatre! Get down now!”
Duo just laughed and stuck his tongue at the ranting Wufei. He found a branch that looked sturdy enough for him to rest on and made himself comfortable there. However, it was not long before something grabbed his braid and pulled hard.
He gasped before he fell to the ground. Luckily for him, he did not climb very high. He fell onto something. Or rather someone.
“Get off me, Duo!” Wufei yelled as the boy scrambled to his feet and tried to get of again.
“No you don’t,” Wufei said calmly as he reached and pulled at the braid for the second time in the past ten minutes.
Duo whimpered as he fell again and glared at Wufei for pulling at his braid. He pouted as Wufei continued to rant about the injustice of running away from lessons. Duo just listened halfheartedly.
It was boring. Soon, he knew that Wufei would try to make him read about some boring essay again and make him write down what he thought about it. Well, how could he get away from this?
Umm… if I try to distract him? Or I run away quickly? No. try that before, Duo thought, maybe I told him I am sick? Nope. Heero will know. Then he will worry. He is so nice. I don’t want him to worry. Actually, Wufei is nice to me as well. But I don’t want to study. Umm… what to do?
He looked around absentmindedly, ignoring Wufei’s glare and ranting. What to do? Duo continued to plot in his mind.
“Duo! You are not even listening to me! That is injustice!” Wufei screamed. No, yelled. He would never admit that he screamed. That was what an onna does, not him.
It was then Duo started to point frantically at something behind him.
Must be another trick, Wufei thought as he glared at the panicky boy in front of him.
“No, Duo. I am not falling for such a stupid trick,” Wufei said as he tried to grab Duo who had started to run again. He held onto the boy’s right arm but Duo tried to break free of his grip. It was strange. Duo did not seem to be acting.
Wufei turned, just in time to catch sight of a group of soldiers surrounding Quatre. Shocked, he let go of Duo and sprinted to Quatre with Duo following behind him.
“What are you all doing?” Wufei yelled at the soldiers as he made his way next to Quatre. He noted that the soldiers surrounding Quatre were not of the palace. They were from Mag. What were they trying to do with Quatre?
“We meant no harm, sorcerer,” one of them said as he stepped forward.
To Wufei’s surprise, the one who spoke was someone he had seen at the banquet before he left to check on the palace’s wards. What was he doing here?
“Ambassador? What are you and your soldiers trying to do with prince Trowa’s slave?” Wufei asked suspiciously as he set his glare on Rashid, the ambassador from Mag.
He might be an ambassador but he would not be polite to someone who tried to hurt one of his friends.
“The prince’s slave?” Rashid asked, looking surprised, “he is really the prince’s slave?”
“Yes,” Wufei replied as he narrowed his eyes at Rashid, “what is going on here?”
“Oh Allah! He’s the prince slave? A slave?” Rashid muttered as he looked at Quatre, face paled, “your.”
What Rashid was going to say was cut off with a slap. Surprised, Wufei looked at Quatre. Before he could react, Duo reached and tried to pull Quatre away. However, Quatre ignored Duo’s attempt as his eyes filled with unshed tears.
“Don’t you dare call me that! I have not been that for years! All of you hate me! You don’t want me!” Quatre yelled angrily as tears threatened to fall.
No! I will not cry! I have no ties with them. Not anymore, Quatre thought as he glared at the man he once was very close with.
“But… Master…” Rashid tried to say something but Quatre cut him off again.
“If you still respect me, let me go,” Quatre said simply, “I have no ties with you or anyone. I am just a slave. A nobody.”
“But,” Rashid protested, “but your Father is very worried about you, Master Quatre! He wants you to be safe!”
“Safe?” Quatre laughed bitterly, “I am safe here. I have people who accept me. Not people who abandon me. Not people who just ignore me!”
“But,” Rashid tried again, “he is still your father. He needs you. And your sisters! Don’t you remember them? Especially princess Iria?”
“No. she let Father send me away. They did not listen to my pleas. And none of you, not even one of you came to see me in that year. All of you were glad to send me away! So don’t talk to me about them or anything to do with them. I am no longer a Winner. I am just a slave, a prince’s slave,” Quatre said coldly but tears fell, “at least prince Trowa and the others in this palace accept me and treat me well.”
“Quatre?” Wufei spoke up, noticing that Rashid and the other soldiers surrounding them were all quiet and looked very upset and guilty. But Wufei could not understand what was happening. Who is Quatre? Or rather was since he said that it was in the past.
“I am okay,” Quatre said after he took a few minutes to calm himself, “can we go, Wufei? It’s time for the lessons.”
Duo pulled Quatre’s sleeve as he tried to express his concern. It was so frustrating that he could not speak. Quatre looked so upset. He wanted to cheer him up. Furthermore, who were these soldiers? He had never seen them before. Well, even if he had seen them before, he could not remember since he had lost his memory. Somehow, he did not think they were bad people but then they had made Quatre upset. So they were bad.
Quatre tried to smile weakly as he turned his glance to the worried boy behind him, “Duo, I am fine. Don’t worry. Let’s go for our lessons.”
“Master…” Rashid’s voice trailed off as Quatre gave him a glare.
“I am not. Now, please let me go,” Quatre said firmly as he walked away with Duo following, his hands still holding onto Quatre’s right sleeve, hoping to get Quatre’s attention. But Quatre just kept moving forward.
The soldiers parted when he moved towards them. They bowed their heads slightly as a show of respect. Somehow, Wufei thought he saw looks of guilt, sadness and even anger on their faces as they looked at Quatre.
“What is going on here?” Wufei asked, perplexed at the fact that the ambassador looked so upset and all the Mag soldiers respect the prince’s slave, “who is Quatre? Or rather was?”
“That is our crown prince Quatre Raberba Winner,” Rashid replied firmly, “and that will never change. Not now or ever.”
~at the library ~
Are you alright? Duo wrote on his board with his special pen. Both were given to him by Wufei, to ensure that he could communicate with others even when he could not talk.
“Yes, I am” Quatre smiled weakly but Duo could see the unshed tears in his aquamarine eyes.
Yeah right, you are. If you are, we will not be hiding in the library. And I wonder where Wufei is? He knows we will be in the library if one of us is upset. So why isn’t he coming here? Duo wrote quickly before Quatre could answer anything.
Quatre smiled at his friend. It was nice to have people who care about him. He was happy here. Maybe even more than his childhood.
“You are not needed here.”
“I’m so sorry, Quatre but it is for your own good!”
A gentle slap on his arms brought Quatre back to reality. Duo was looking at him worriedly. He shook his head to calm his friend.
“Bad memories,” He explained curtly.
Memories? Are memories bad? Duo wrote again, is that why I can’t remember them? But I want my memories back. It’s so hard sometimes.
Quatre smiled sadly. It was always sad to lose one’s memories. However, in Duo’s case, he was happy for him. Losing his memory enable Duo to be so innocent and happy. To Quatre, it was worth it. He was very pleased to see Duo so unlike the boy he had met at the slavers’.
He had remembered the first time he had seen Duo. Duo was thrown into the room or rather cage that he and a few slaves shared. It was a long time before anyone of them dared to approach the unmoving boy after the slavers had thrown him in. actually, he was sure that he was the only one who dared approach Duo.
Slaves did not make friends and especially with another slave. It was for a very simple reason. Slaves were killed easily. It was foolish to care for someone who might die the next day.
Yet, something made Quatre approach Duo. It was not usual for him to approach someone. He was usually scared and frightened of anyone since he was captured. He wanted to throw away his feeling ever since the day his father sent him away. He was so scared of caring for someone and then betrayed by the same person. However, something told him to approach Duo. Quatre turned him over to see if he was still conscious.
The first time he looked into those eyes was not everything he could forget. Duo looked so blank. No emotions or anything. Not even fear that almost all slaves had in their eyes, no matter how they tried to hide. And Quatre was very good at reading people.
“What happened to you?” he had whispered at the boy. But the boy only stared at the ground, unblinking, and uncaring.
Now, the same boy was in front of him, scrambling to ask questions to ask. He might still be unable to talk but he was happy, cheerful and innocent. It might be temporary but Quatre hoped Duo would never remember his past. His memories filled with too much tears.
A hit on his head brought him back to reality to a glaring Duo who had just thrown his board over at the boy sitting over him. He chuckled at the boy as he picked up the board to read what was written.
JUST BECAUSE I AM MUTE DOESN’T MEAN THAT I LIKE BEING IGNORED!!! First Wufei and now you! Duo had written across the board, AND I HATE BEING IGNORED!!! So next time before you go into a daze, GIVE ME A WARNING!!!
Quatre could not stop laughing at the words. He tried to compose himself but failed when he saw the pouting boy. Duo sure was comical. It was so different from the boy he was thinking about earlier. Yet, he could see that one thing never changed, Duo was still concerned and tried to help him. He knew Duo was trying to cheer him up. Even if it involved throwing things at him. It was successful since he sure was feeling much better now.
“Thank you, Duo,” Quatre smiled at the boy who immediately loses his pouts and looked at him in concern, “I am better now.”
Just as Duo was about to gestured something, Hilde’s voice interrupted them.
“Quatre? Are you there?” Hilde asked as she entered the library. She knew that Duo and Quatre like spending time in the library and the garden.
“Here!” Quatre answered as Hilde poked her head into the room.
“Prince Trowa wanted to speak with you,” Hilde said before she asked worriedly, “you are not in trouble right?”
“I’m not sure about that,” Quatre said uncertainly.
“I hope not,” Hilde replied sadly. She had taken quite a liking to Quatre since Quatre was so nice to Duo. She could see that he really cares about people around him.
“And Duo, prince Heero said you can stay here till dinner,” Hilde continued, noticing Duo sitting beside Quatre.
Duo smiled and waved at them before he disappeared somewhere among the shelves of books. He loved books. He always enjoys reading in the library. Quatre and Hilde smiled at their excited friend as they started their way to prince Trowa’s room.
Well, it seemed like Rashid did tell them of my past, Quatre thought, if they want to hear whole thing, it will be a long story.
~somewhere in the library~
Hmm… I wonder what books I will read today, Duo thought as he picked up a book with a very nice hardcover, maybe this. The legend of Peace knights, I wonder what it is about. It seemed thick enough to last me till dinner.
With that, he took the book carefully out from the rack. He knew that all the books here were precious and he was so happy that the princes allowed both him and Quatre to read the books.
With the book in his hands, he looked around to make sure that he was alone before he opened a door that was painted as a wall. It was not easy to find the door. The only reason Duo found this secret room was the fact that he fell into the room a week ago. Since then he came into this room whenever he was alone. He did not tell anyone about this room, not even Quatre.
The room was a bit dirty so Duo cleaned up a bit. It did not have the lamps Wufei supplied around the castle. Wufei’s lamps will lit up with a tap unlike the usual candles or oil lamps. Instead there was a nice fireplace and a few candles, providing more than enough illumination around the room for him to read comfortably.
Soon he was lost in the world of peace knights…
“What are you doing here?” an angry voice demanded suddenly.
Shocked, Duo dropped his book and glanced at the man standing at the other side of the room. He caught sight of the clothes the man was wearing and he kneeled down immediately.
“Always bow when you see someone dressed in expensive clothing,” Heero had told him once.
“Yes. You have to remember that, Duo. It is very important. You might get in trouble if you don’t bow to some people,” Wufei explained.
Duo had looked at them in confusion. Before Quatre stepped in and said in more simple words.
“Duo, both of us are slaves. We are supposed to respect everyone. The maids and most of the guards have grown fond of you and they would not take any offence even if you play pranks on them. They like you. But for people of higher status, they want you to respect them. So you kneel and bow when you see them okay? That will make them feel better,” Quatre explained patiently, “and if you don’t kneel and bow to them, they might punish you. And then you will be in pain. And with you in pain, Heero will be upset. Do you want him to be upset?”
Duo shook his head and nodded.
“So you promise?” Heero asked and he signed in relief at Duo’s solemn nod. He did not like the fact that Duo had to kneel and bow at someone. But he knew Duo had to do that. He was a slave. Though he disliked this fact, he had to accept it. Just as Trowa accept this fact about Quatre.
It was then Duo nudged Heero and smiled at him innocently, he wanted Heero to be happy and that was all that matter.
So here he was doing what he had promised. He wondered who the man was. How had he even got into the room? He was facing the door he entered and he did not notice anyone coming in. the man must have entered from another door. But how? He did not even know there might be people who knew about this room.
“Answer me,” the man demanded.
Duo trembled a bit at the angry tone the man used but he was lost as to how to answer him without looking up or gesturing. He shook his head in frustration.
“What do you mean by shaking your head? I ask for an answer!” the man snapped angrily.
Well, he have the same patience as Heero has, Duo thought, how to tell him.
Finally taking a chance, Duo looked up and gestured his mouth and then pointed to the board he had left on the armchair he was sitting on earlier. He took the pen and held it out.
The man’s eyes that were glaring at him softened, “you can’t speak?”
Duo nodded and moved towards the board. He took the chance to study the man. The man was dressed in expensive clothes like Trowa and Heero. He had an air around him that Duo could not recognize. Most importantly, he realized that there were similarities between Heero and this man. Both of them had the same glare though their eye colors were different. Both of them had unruly hair that was dark though Heero’s seemed a bit darker.
Yes, sir. I have an accident or something and I have lost all my memories, Duo wrote.
“You are a slave?” the man asked. He noticed the collar Duo was wearing after he had read the words Duo had written.
Duo nodded, a bit annoyed at the tone the man was using. So what aren’t slaves human? He hated all these people who think they are the greatest just because of some blood.
“So what are you doing here? Who is your master? How dare he let you around unsupervised,” the man demanded.
Duo rolled his eyes. Somehow, he was no longer fearful of this man. Maybe it was the fact that he realized that the man looked very alike to Heero. Fierce but kind.
I stumbled into it, Duo wrote before he passed the board over to the man to read.
“If that is the case, you should get out of here and never come back,” the man said calmly though he still seemed angry.
Duo was annoyed. Why should he leave the place just because he asked him to? Sure, he was a slave. But he did not like the thought of leaving just because he was told to.
Why? Duo wrote. If he explained nicely, maybe I will, Duo thought
“Because I say so,” the man replied, annoyed that Duo was not obeying him.
Duo rolled his eyes. Who does this man think he was? He ignored the man and settled down once. No way he was leaving just because he said so. Somehow, Duo formed an attachment to this room.
“What are you doing? I want you to get out of here!” the man yelled angrily but Duo just ignored him.
He pretended to continue reading the book but he was alert to anything the man might have done in his anger. Heero had told him how dangerous it was to make someone angry. True, he should not have angered him in the first place but he felt that the man should take it for granted that everyone will obey his commands.
“Stop ignoring me, you slave or I will punish you!” the man threatened.
Duo sighed and picked his board up. He scribbled something before he threw it in front of the man.
Well, using violence will mean that you are not confident that what you say is right. So you need this show of power to prove that you are right, Duo wrote as he held the board for the man to read.
“You insolent slave!” the man yelled angrily, “you… rude child!”
The man could not thought of a better way to scold the rude slave in front of him. It had been years since someone disobeyed him in his face and never had it been a slave who dared to defy him.
I am not a CHILD! I have enough of that from Wufei! I AM NOT A CHILD! YOU STUPID OLD MAN!!! Duo wrote angrily, throwing at board at the man but he missed.
“You are a child! And I am not an old man!” the man snapped back and he threw the board back at Duo who in turn dodged as well.
Could have fooled me. The way you were ranting is like a seventy old man who was angry about some kids teasing his dog! Duo scribbled and threw the board again.
“Yeah? And the way you are acting is like a five year old losing his temper!” the man replied and threw the board at Duo again.
AM NOT!!! Duo wrote and held it up.
“are too!” the man yelled as the two of them glared at each other.
Finally Duo backed down sulkily. He pouted at him before he realized what he was doing. Then he giggled as he realized how stupid the two of them were acting. A rude brat and a ranting old man. So unlike their appearances.
The man looked at the laughing slave as if the slave was crazy. Who would suddenly laugh uncontrollably when he was arguing? It was then he started to think about what they had been doing. That brought a smile to his face. It felt good. It had been so long since he lost his temper and even much longer since he had smiled. The both of them had been acting real weird just now.
I’m sorry, Duo gestured. True, he was not supposed to disobey orders but he could not help it. It was in his nature to defy orders unless the orders were reasonable. Being of a higher rank was never enough a reason to Duo.
The man smiled. It was strange but he was not angry at being disobeyed by a slave. Somehow, he was even happy about it. It had been so long since someone talked to him like that. But he knew he had to tell the slave not to do such a thing with others. Not many would hesitate to punish the slave if he pulled a stunt like this.
“I guess I’m wrong in making you leave because of my rank. But bear in mind, other people might not appreciate being talked to like that. You can get into real trouble you know,” the man said gently.
Duo smiled brightly. He knew the man was concerned for him. And somehow he liked the man. Again, it might be the fact that the man looks like Heero. But there seemed to be something in the man that made Duo want to cheer him up.
Duo picked up his board again and started to scribble, is this room really important to you? If yes, I will leave and promise not to tell anyone about it. I have not told anyone yet. I really like this place. I know it sounds a bit weird but there is a feeling of something nice here. I don’t know how to describe it but it is something that really warmed my heart? Umm… I don’t know.
The man widened his eyes a bit before he composed himself quickly. It was weird but this slave here managed to make him lose his composure so many times within ten minutes. And the fact that he sensed something.
You must have thought I am weird or something. But do you mind if you tell me the reason you don’t want me here? I know I am just a slave. I should not ask questions or go into any places I like. I also know that it is easy for you to kill me. But… Duo smiled a bit nervously as he stopped for a while, looking at the man, I really like to know. And maybe I will not come in here again if I understand your reason. But you know you have got to get someone to clean this place at least fortnightly. This place is so dirty when I first stumbled into it! Cobwebs and dust everywhere!
The man chuckled before he became serious. Somehow, he felt that it was okay to talk to this slave. He knew that the slave had no idea as to who he is. Well, if he knew, he did not think the slave would argue with him. But then he knew that this boy was different.
“This room used to belong to my wife. It was her reading room. No one in the castle knew about this room. It was a place for us to talk or read in peace. But then she passed away. I… I... I only entered every year at our wedding anniversary,” the man said in a monotone but Duo could detect the sadness behind his tone.
I’m sorry. I will not come into this room anymore. It is my wrong and if you want to punish me, I will accept it. I should not have come in here. I… have tainted your memory. I am sorry, Duo apologized. He felt so bad, disturbing other people’s memories. He had lost his own so he knew how precious memories were.
“No. you are not at fault. And I did not mind you coming in as long as you help to clean up this place. And I think you will once again brighten up this room. It had been too dull since she passed away. But promise you will not tell anyone about this room or me for that matter,” the man said.
Yes, I promise! And I am Duo. I run. I hide. But I never lie! Duo grinned as he nodded.
The man smiled, “well, I guess I just have to trust you. I am Odin but you can just call me uncle since I am older than you.”
Hey! You are not that old! Why should I call you uncle? Duo protested.
“Maybe it is the fact that I have sons your age?” the man smirked.
WHAT?! You are kidding? You don’t look that old! Duo wrote in disbelief.
The man just continued smirking and Duo rolled his eyes. Talk about appearances being deceiving.
“So, Duo. What are you reading when I came into the room?”
Duo held the book cover for Odin to read. Odin looked a bit surprised at the title before he smiled.
“Peace knights. There is quite an interesting story. I’ve read about it,” Odin answered.
Duo smiled and pushed the book to Odin and pointed at him and then at the book.
“What? You want me to tell you about the story? Aren’t you going to read it?” Odin asked.
Nope! I read it because no one read it out to me. Can you tell me the story? Please? Really please? Duo pleaded as he turned his best puppy eyes at Odin. He knew till now, no one could say no to his look. Even Wufei had succumbed to it.
Odin just sighed in resignation as he started to tell the story, “it was said since long ago, that, whenever the world is in danger of being torn to pieces, five peace knights will be united….”
That was all Heero thought as he stared at the trusting amethyst eyes. Somehow, there was no more pain, no more sadness in the eyes he once saw. He tore his gaze away from those attractive eyes immediately as he realized his slave was coughing.
“Are you alright?” Heero asked frantically as he tapped Duo’s back gently.
Duo seemed to try to say something but nothing came out. He looked surprised and tried again. Yet this time, he started to cough again.
“Water?” Heero asked, concerned as he reached for the glass of water on the bedside table. Gently, he put it to his slave’s mouth and allowed him to sip the water once he stopped coughing.
“Will you be fine for a while?” Heero asked Duo, “I need to get the healer.”
Duo nodded weakly as he tried to give the other boy a smile. He tried to figure out answers to his questions. He tried hard to remember where he was, who the other person was and most importantly…
Who am I? Duo asked himself, as he closed his eyes, why can’t I remember anything? Who am I? Who am I? Think! Think! Think!
The more he thought about it, the more his head hurts. He tried to scream his frustration but somehow, no sound came out.
He pulled his hair as the pain increased. He tried to stop the pain but it only became worse. He opened his eyes and tried to focus on the scenery outside the window.
The glare of the sun hurt his eyes but somehow, he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
Maybe clouds would be better, he thought, or maybe a drizzle? I like rain.
It was then the pain in his head decreased as dark clouds blocked the sun. Then rain started pouring down heavily without warning. Yells could be heard as people outdoors started to scramble for shelter.
Wow! I didn’t know what I wish could come true, Duo thought, but I thought a drizzle would be nice, not a shower.
He sat on the bed, entranced by the rain outside the window. Somehow the pain was gone.
~at the corridor~
“Trowa!” Heero yelled as he opened Trowa’s door.
“What?” Trowa snapped as he looked up from his book. He was supposed to finish this book and write a review for the doctors. Well, he was not Heero who could finish his in within an hour. He envied Heero’s photographic memory. A lot, really. He would give anything to join Quatre in the garden and not at this stupid book.
“Did you use your power?” Heero asked worriedly.
“No. why? Did someone use his power?” Trowa asked as he stood up, book abandoned.
Heero nodded. He had felt someone using his power. They never really used their power unless they were in danger. So it was not Trowa. Then he turned to move out of the room to find out if it was Wufei or Quatre.
However, he was stopped at the door by a drenched Quatre and an amused Wufei.
“Hi, prince Heero,” Quatre greeted the prince as he smiled sheepishly, “caught in the downpour.”
“Yeah. You two should be outside just now. The rain just pours down without warning. It was actually funny to see trained soldiers started yelling and sprinting for shelter all of a sudden due to rain. And what was even funnier was when their looks of surprise when the rain started to fall down heavily all of a sudden!” Wufei explained in an amused tone.
“You are dry,” Trowa commented as he took a towel and handed it to Quatre, resisting drying Quatre himself due to the two of them in the room.
“He was under a tree and had enough time to put up a magical shield, master,” Quatre explained.
“And you did not shield Quatre as well?” Trowa glared at Wufei.
“Well, he was too far away from me. And a little rain will not kill him,” Wufei said in a nonchalantly tone. He did not think Quatre would fall ill that easily.
“It’s okay, master,” Quatre said in defend of Wufei, “I was running around when the rain fell. It was entirely my fault.”
“Not your fault, Quatre,” Trowa said firmly.
“Yeah, it is the rain’s fault,” Wufei joked, “and why are you here, prince Heero?”
“Hn. I was trying to see who used his power. Was it you, Wufei?” Heero asked.
“Nope. I was careful not to use my power. And before you ask it was not Quatre’s. I was with him the entire time,” Wufei replied, “and I did not feel anything just now.”
“Neither did I,” Trowa answered as Quatre shook his head as well.
“Hn,” Heero grunted before he realized something and he swore.
“What?” Wufei asked as he watched the crown prince dashed away suddenly.
Trowa shrugged but he followed after his brother with Wufei and Quatre behind him. Somehow, it seemed that it was becoming a habit for the two princes to dash around the palace’s corridors nowadays.
“Sally!” Heero yelled as he banged on the healer, “Sally!”
“What?” Sally asked as she opened the door immediately, “it’s you, prince Heero. He’s awake?”
“Yes,” Heero answered curtly as he started to walk back to his room with Sally beside him, “but he still can’t speak.”
“That’s all?” Sally asked.
“No, he’s trembling and in pain but I don’t know why,” Heero admitted as he showed his worry, “is he going to be okay?”
Sally was about to ask more questions when Heero reached the door. However, Wufei yelled at him before he could even open the door.
“What?” Heero snapped. He was never known for his patience.
“Trowa and Quatre will not be able to get in,” Wufei answered nervously at the prince’s deadly glare.
“Hn,” Heero grunted but Wufei could feel his anger. Well, after all it was his fault.
Heero opened the door and stepped in, muttering something as he motioned the rest to enter. However, he did not even look to see if the rest of them were following before he turned and made his way to the bed where his slave was in.
“Duo?” Sally called as she pushed Heero away to look at the boy, thus enabling the rest of the occupants to see Duo as well.
However, what they saw was not the frightened boy they were used to for the few days before the attack. Instead of amethyst eyes that were blank with emotions, they were now bright with innocence and trust.
“Duo?” Sally asked as the boy just looked at her with confusion.
“Remember me? Sally?” Sally asked but those eyes gained no recognition, “okay, just know that I am a healer and wants to make you feel better. So I have to give you a checkup if that is okay with you? I mean you no harm.”
And she was rewarded with a bright smile.
~ In the same dark manor~
“What do you mean by you fail?”
“I am sorry, Sir. But I will succeed the next time! Give me another chance, Sir!”
“You have already lost your chance!”
“But Sir! I will kill him! I want to kill him!”
“So? You fail! That is enough!”
“But, Sir! Let me try again!”
“Give me a reason.”
“If I don’t kill him now, he is going to kill me in future!”
“Well, you can try again. But not now. Wait for my orders.”
“Thank you, Sir!”
~in the garden of gundam palace~
“Duo! Get back here!” Wufei yelled after the laughing boy who had tagged him and ran away.
The boy just laughed and ran even faster. Wufei yelled angrily at the injustice of Duo’s actions but he could not stop the smile on his face. He looked over to Quatre who smiled apologetically to him before dashing off as well.
It had been a whole week since the attack on Duo. He had recovered but all his memory was lost. However, somehow, Wufei was glad that he had lost his memory. The boy without his memory was innocent and cheerful. No dark past or fear haunted his eyes. He was always smiling and was so trusting that Wufei would like to kill the one who had broken Duo before.
Though Duo was much happier, he still could not speak. Sally said it was something in his subconscious that renders him mute. Duo was upset without the use of his voice but he sure was optimistic. The lack of his voice did not keep him from getting into mischief. And Duo was very good at sneaking around, much to Wufei’s annoyance. What was worse was that prince Heero had to resume his studies since summer break was over and Wufei was to teach and look after Duo and Quatre about the workings of the palace.
Quatre was quiet and listened attentively while Duo was frequently distracted. However, he was able to understand what Wufei was saying and quick to grasp any difficult concepts. Currently, he had been able to convince Wufei to have lessons in the garden with Quatre’s help. Though Duo could not speak, his eyes spoke volumes. Together with Quatre, the two of them could more or less get anything they want.
Quatre was sweet and polite while Duo was charming and mischievous. Each of them held a special place in everyone’s heart. The two of them might be slaves but none of the servants treated them as such.
It might be Wufei’s imagination but he thought that he sensed an air of regal confidence. But then Quatre was a slave, there was no way he possessed such confidence. Then again, Quatre never spoke of his past. All of them only knew that Quatre suffered a lot due to his powers as a peace knight. He looked very upset at the slight mention of his family. Well, at least he was comfortable around them though Wufei was not sure if he knew they were peace knights as well. It seemed that Trowa did tell him but Quatre did not manage to catch the meaning or hear the words.
But whatever the case was, there were only short of one more knight. Water. The knight who could control water. Whoever he was, Wufei hoped he would be found soon. Powers especially like theirs might not be good to leave unsupervised. All of them had to train and keep their power under control. Even Quatre’s. Well, since the two princes were going to be busy, Wufei was given the task again.
Not that it was bad; he enjoyed having things to do other than just studying old books or checking the wards in the palace. Teaching Duo was a challenge and Quatre was so much easier. But he could still manage fine. The only thing that was a bit more troubling was that he would have to leave Duo somewhere so he would not see Quatre using his powers. They had decided to keep it a secret from Duo. Not that they did not trust him. It was just that the fewer Duo knows, the less the risk of him being hurt will be smaller.
It was then the feeling of something hitting his back brought him back to reality. Annoyed, he looked around and found a grinning boy hanging upside down from the tree closest to him. Before he could grab the boy, the boy moved quickly and climbed up the tree.
“Duo! Get down here!” Wufei yelled angrily, “you are to have mathematics now and not tree climbing! Or even playing catch-me-if-you-can with me or Quatre! Get down now!”
Duo just laughed and stuck his tongue at the ranting Wufei. He found a branch that looked sturdy enough for him to rest on and made himself comfortable there. However, it was not long before something grabbed his braid and pulled hard.
He gasped before he fell to the ground. Luckily for him, he did not climb very high. He fell onto something. Or rather someone.
“Get off me, Duo!” Wufei yelled as the boy scrambled to his feet and tried to get of again.
“No you don’t,” Wufei said calmly as he reached and pulled at the braid for the second time in the past ten minutes.
Duo whimpered as he fell again and glared at Wufei for pulling at his braid. He pouted as Wufei continued to rant about the injustice of running away from lessons. Duo just listened halfheartedly.
It was boring. Soon, he knew that Wufei would try to make him read about some boring essay again and make him write down what he thought about it. Well, how could he get away from this?
Umm… if I try to distract him? Or I run away quickly? No. try that before, Duo thought, maybe I told him I am sick? Nope. Heero will know. Then he will worry. He is so nice. I don’t want him to worry. Actually, Wufei is nice to me as well. But I don’t want to study. Umm… what to do?
He looked around absentmindedly, ignoring Wufei’s glare and ranting. What to do? Duo continued to plot in his mind.
“Duo! You are not even listening to me! That is injustice!” Wufei screamed. No, yelled. He would never admit that he screamed. That was what an onna does, not him.
It was then Duo started to point frantically at something behind him.
Must be another trick, Wufei thought as he glared at the panicky boy in front of him.
“No, Duo. I am not falling for such a stupid trick,” Wufei said as he tried to grab Duo who had started to run again. He held onto the boy’s right arm but Duo tried to break free of his grip. It was strange. Duo did not seem to be acting.
Wufei turned, just in time to catch sight of a group of soldiers surrounding Quatre. Shocked, he let go of Duo and sprinted to Quatre with Duo following behind him.
“What are you all doing?” Wufei yelled at the soldiers as he made his way next to Quatre. He noted that the soldiers surrounding Quatre were not of the palace. They were from Mag. What were they trying to do with Quatre?
“We meant no harm, sorcerer,” one of them said as he stepped forward.
To Wufei’s surprise, the one who spoke was someone he had seen at the banquet before he left to check on the palace’s wards. What was he doing here?
“Ambassador? What are you and your soldiers trying to do with prince Trowa’s slave?” Wufei asked suspiciously as he set his glare on Rashid, the ambassador from Mag.
He might be an ambassador but he would not be polite to someone who tried to hurt one of his friends.
“The prince’s slave?” Rashid asked, looking surprised, “he is really the prince’s slave?”
“Yes,” Wufei replied as he narrowed his eyes at Rashid, “what is going on here?”
“Oh Allah! He’s the prince slave? A slave?” Rashid muttered as he looked at Quatre, face paled, “your.”
What Rashid was going to say was cut off with a slap. Surprised, Wufei looked at Quatre. Before he could react, Duo reached and tried to pull Quatre away. However, Quatre ignored Duo’s attempt as his eyes filled with unshed tears.
“Don’t you dare call me that! I have not been that for years! All of you hate me! You don’t want me!” Quatre yelled angrily as tears threatened to fall.
No! I will not cry! I have no ties with them. Not anymore, Quatre thought as he glared at the man he once was very close with.
“But… Master…” Rashid tried to say something but Quatre cut him off again.
“If you still respect me, let me go,” Quatre said simply, “I have no ties with you or anyone. I am just a slave. A nobody.”
“But,” Rashid protested, “but your Father is very worried about you, Master Quatre! He wants you to be safe!”
“Safe?” Quatre laughed bitterly, “I am safe here. I have people who accept me. Not people who abandon me. Not people who just ignore me!”
“But,” Rashid tried again, “he is still your father. He needs you. And your sisters! Don’t you remember them? Especially princess Iria?”
“No. she let Father send me away. They did not listen to my pleas. And none of you, not even one of you came to see me in that year. All of you were glad to send me away! So don’t talk to me about them or anything to do with them. I am no longer a Winner. I am just a slave, a prince’s slave,” Quatre said coldly but tears fell, “at least prince Trowa and the others in this palace accept me and treat me well.”
“Quatre?” Wufei spoke up, noticing that Rashid and the other soldiers surrounding them were all quiet and looked very upset and guilty. But Wufei could not understand what was happening. Who is Quatre? Or rather was since he said that it was in the past.
“I am okay,” Quatre said after he took a few minutes to calm himself, “can we go, Wufei? It’s time for the lessons.”
Duo pulled Quatre’s sleeve as he tried to express his concern. It was so frustrating that he could not speak. Quatre looked so upset. He wanted to cheer him up. Furthermore, who were these soldiers? He had never seen them before. Well, even if he had seen them before, he could not remember since he had lost his memory. Somehow, he did not think they were bad people but then they had made Quatre upset. So they were bad.
Quatre tried to smile weakly as he turned his glance to the worried boy behind him, “Duo, I am fine. Don’t worry. Let’s go for our lessons.”
“Master…” Rashid’s voice trailed off as Quatre gave him a glare.
“I am not. Now, please let me go,” Quatre said firmly as he walked away with Duo following, his hands still holding onto Quatre’s right sleeve, hoping to get Quatre’s attention. But Quatre just kept moving forward.
The soldiers parted when he moved towards them. They bowed their heads slightly as a show of respect. Somehow, Wufei thought he saw looks of guilt, sadness and even anger on their faces as they looked at Quatre.
“What is going on here?” Wufei asked, perplexed at the fact that the ambassador looked so upset and all the Mag soldiers respect the prince’s slave, “who is Quatre? Or rather was?”
“That is our crown prince Quatre Raberba Winner,” Rashid replied firmly, “and that will never change. Not now or ever.”
~at the library ~
Are you alright? Duo wrote on his board with his special pen. Both were given to him by Wufei, to ensure that he could communicate with others even when he could not talk.
“Yes, I am” Quatre smiled weakly but Duo could see the unshed tears in his aquamarine eyes.
Yeah right, you are. If you are, we will not be hiding in the library. And I wonder where Wufei is? He knows we will be in the library if one of us is upset. So why isn’t he coming here? Duo wrote quickly before Quatre could answer anything.
Quatre smiled at his friend. It was nice to have people who care about him. He was happy here. Maybe even more than his childhood.
“You are not needed here.”
“I’m so sorry, Quatre but it is for your own good!”
A gentle slap on his arms brought Quatre back to reality. Duo was looking at him worriedly. He shook his head to calm his friend.
“Bad memories,” He explained curtly.
Memories? Are memories bad? Duo wrote again, is that why I can’t remember them? But I want my memories back. It’s so hard sometimes.
Quatre smiled sadly. It was always sad to lose one’s memories. However, in Duo’s case, he was happy for him. Losing his memory enable Duo to be so innocent and happy. To Quatre, it was worth it. He was very pleased to see Duo so unlike the boy he had met at the slavers’.
He had remembered the first time he had seen Duo. Duo was thrown into the room or rather cage that he and a few slaves shared. It was a long time before anyone of them dared to approach the unmoving boy after the slavers had thrown him in. actually, he was sure that he was the only one who dared approach Duo.
Slaves did not make friends and especially with another slave. It was for a very simple reason. Slaves were killed easily. It was foolish to care for someone who might die the next day.
Yet, something made Quatre approach Duo. It was not usual for him to approach someone. He was usually scared and frightened of anyone since he was captured. He wanted to throw away his feeling ever since the day his father sent him away. He was so scared of caring for someone and then betrayed by the same person. However, something told him to approach Duo. Quatre turned him over to see if he was still conscious.
The first time he looked into those eyes was not everything he could forget. Duo looked so blank. No emotions or anything. Not even fear that almost all slaves had in their eyes, no matter how they tried to hide. And Quatre was very good at reading people.
“What happened to you?” he had whispered at the boy. But the boy only stared at the ground, unblinking, and uncaring.
Now, the same boy was in front of him, scrambling to ask questions to ask. He might still be unable to talk but he was happy, cheerful and innocent. It might be temporary but Quatre hoped Duo would never remember his past. His memories filled with too much tears.
A hit on his head brought him back to reality to a glaring Duo who had just thrown his board over at the boy sitting over him. He chuckled at the boy as he picked up the board to read what was written.
JUST BECAUSE I AM MUTE DOESN’T MEAN THAT I LIKE BEING IGNORED!!! First Wufei and now you! Duo had written across the board, AND I HATE BEING IGNORED!!! So next time before you go into a daze, GIVE ME A WARNING!!!
Quatre could not stop laughing at the words. He tried to compose himself but failed when he saw the pouting boy. Duo sure was comical. It was so different from the boy he was thinking about earlier. Yet, he could see that one thing never changed, Duo was still concerned and tried to help him. He knew Duo was trying to cheer him up. Even if it involved throwing things at him. It was successful since he sure was feeling much better now.
“Thank you, Duo,” Quatre smiled at the boy who immediately loses his pouts and looked at him in concern, “I am better now.”
Just as Duo was about to gestured something, Hilde’s voice interrupted them.
“Quatre? Are you there?” Hilde asked as she entered the library. She knew that Duo and Quatre like spending time in the library and the garden.
“Here!” Quatre answered as Hilde poked her head into the room.
“Prince Trowa wanted to speak with you,” Hilde said before she asked worriedly, “you are not in trouble right?”
“I’m not sure about that,” Quatre said uncertainly.
“I hope not,” Hilde replied sadly. She had taken quite a liking to Quatre since Quatre was so nice to Duo. She could see that he really cares about people around him.
“And Duo, prince Heero said you can stay here till dinner,” Hilde continued, noticing Duo sitting beside Quatre.
Duo smiled and waved at them before he disappeared somewhere among the shelves of books. He loved books. He always enjoys reading in the library. Quatre and Hilde smiled at their excited friend as they started their way to prince Trowa’s room.
Well, it seemed like Rashid did tell them of my past, Quatre thought, if they want to hear whole thing, it will be a long story.
~somewhere in the library~
Hmm… I wonder what books I will read today, Duo thought as he picked up a book with a very nice hardcover, maybe this. The legend of Peace knights, I wonder what it is about. It seemed thick enough to last me till dinner.
With that, he took the book carefully out from the rack. He knew that all the books here were precious and he was so happy that the princes allowed both him and Quatre to read the books.
With the book in his hands, he looked around to make sure that he was alone before he opened a door that was painted as a wall. It was not easy to find the door. The only reason Duo found this secret room was the fact that he fell into the room a week ago. Since then he came into this room whenever he was alone. He did not tell anyone about this room, not even Quatre.
The room was a bit dirty so Duo cleaned up a bit. It did not have the lamps Wufei supplied around the castle. Wufei’s lamps will lit up with a tap unlike the usual candles or oil lamps. Instead there was a nice fireplace and a few candles, providing more than enough illumination around the room for him to read comfortably.
Soon he was lost in the world of peace knights…
“What are you doing here?” an angry voice demanded suddenly.
Shocked, Duo dropped his book and glanced at the man standing at the other side of the room. He caught sight of the clothes the man was wearing and he kneeled down immediately.
“Always bow when you see someone dressed in expensive clothing,” Heero had told him once.
“Yes. You have to remember that, Duo. It is very important. You might get in trouble if you don’t bow to some people,” Wufei explained.
Duo had looked at them in confusion. Before Quatre stepped in and said in more simple words.
“Duo, both of us are slaves. We are supposed to respect everyone. The maids and most of the guards have grown fond of you and they would not take any offence even if you play pranks on them. They like you. But for people of higher status, they want you to respect them. So you kneel and bow when you see them okay? That will make them feel better,” Quatre explained patiently, “and if you don’t kneel and bow to them, they might punish you. And then you will be in pain. And with you in pain, Heero will be upset. Do you want him to be upset?”
Duo shook his head and nodded.
“So you promise?” Heero asked and he signed in relief at Duo’s solemn nod. He did not like the fact that Duo had to kneel and bow at someone. But he knew Duo had to do that. He was a slave. Though he disliked this fact, he had to accept it. Just as Trowa accept this fact about Quatre.
It was then Duo nudged Heero and smiled at him innocently, he wanted Heero to be happy and that was all that matter.
So here he was doing what he had promised. He wondered who the man was. How had he even got into the room? He was facing the door he entered and he did not notice anyone coming in. the man must have entered from another door. But how? He did not even know there might be people who knew about this room.
“Answer me,” the man demanded.
Duo trembled a bit at the angry tone the man used but he was lost as to how to answer him without looking up or gesturing. He shook his head in frustration.
“What do you mean by shaking your head? I ask for an answer!” the man snapped angrily.
Well, he have the same patience as Heero has, Duo thought, how to tell him.
Finally taking a chance, Duo looked up and gestured his mouth and then pointed to the board he had left on the armchair he was sitting on earlier. He took the pen and held it out.
The man’s eyes that were glaring at him softened, “you can’t speak?”
Duo nodded and moved towards the board. He took the chance to study the man. The man was dressed in expensive clothes like Trowa and Heero. He had an air around him that Duo could not recognize. Most importantly, he realized that there were similarities between Heero and this man. Both of them had the same glare though their eye colors were different. Both of them had unruly hair that was dark though Heero’s seemed a bit darker.
Yes, sir. I have an accident or something and I have lost all my memories, Duo wrote.
“You are a slave?” the man asked. He noticed the collar Duo was wearing after he had read the words Duo had written.
Duo nodded, a bit annoyed at the tone the man was using. So what aren’t slaves human? He hated all these people who think they are the greatest just because of some blood.
“So what are you doing here? Who is your master? How dare he let you around unsupervised,” the man demanded.
Duo rolled his eyes. Somehow, he was no longer fearful of this man. Maybe it was the fact that he realized that the man looked very alike to Heero. Fierce but kind.
I stumbled into it, Duo wrote before he passed the board over to the man to read.
“If that is the case, you should get out of here and never come back,” the man said calmly though he still seemed angry.
Duo was annoyed. Why should he leave the place just because he asked him to? Sure, he was a slave. But he did not like the thought of leaving just because he was told to.
Why? Duo wrote. If he explained nicely, maybe I will, Duo thought
“Because I say so,” the man replied, annoyed that Duo was not obeying him.
Duo rolled his eyes. Who does this man think he was? He ignored the man and settled down once. No way he was leaving just because he said so. Somehow, Duo formed an attachment to this room.
“What are you doing? I want you to get out of here!” the man yelled angrily but Duo just ignored him.
He pretended to continue reading the book but he was alert to anything the man might have done in his anger. Heero had told him how dangerous it was to make someone angry. True, he should not have angered him in the first place but he felt that the man should take it for granted that everyone will obey his commands.
“Stop ignoring me, you slave or I will punish you!” the man threatened.
Duo sighed and picked his board up. He scribbled something before he threw it in front of the man.
Well, using violence will mean that you are not confident that what you say is right. So you need this show of power to prove that you are right, Duo wrote as he held the board for the man to read.
“You insolent slave!” the man yelled angrily, “you… rude child!”
The man could not thought of a better way to scold the rude slave in front of him. It had been years since someone disobeyed him in his face and never had it been a slave who dared to defy him.
I am not a CHILD! I have enough of that from Wufei! I AM NOT A CHILD! YOU STUPID OLD MAN!!! Duo wrote angrily, throwing at board at the man but he missed.
“You are a child! And I am not an old man!” the man snapped back and he threw the board back at Duo who in turn dodged as well.
Could have fooled me. The way you were ranting is like a seventy old man who was angry about some kids teasing his dog! Duo scribbled and threw the board again.
“Yeah? And the way you are acting is like a five year old losing his temper!” the man replied and threw the board at Duo again.
AM NOT!!! Duo wrote and held it up.
“are too!” the man yelled as the two of them glared at each other.
Finally Duo backed down sulkily. He pouted at him before he realized what he was doing. Then he giggled as he realized how stupid the two of them were acting. A rude brat and a ranting old man. So unlike their appearances.
The man looked at the laughing slave as if the slave was crazy. Who would suddenly laugh uncontrollably when he was arguing? It was then he started to think about what they had been doing. That brought a smile to his face. It felt good. It had been so long since he lost his temper and even much longer since he had smiled. The both of them had been acting real weird just now.
I’m sorry, Duo gestured. True, he was not supposed to disobey orders but he could not help it. It was in his nature to defy orders unless the orders were reasonable. Being of a higher rank was never enough a reason to Duo.
The man smiled. It was strange but he was not angry at being disobeyed by a slave. Somehow, he was even happy about it. It had been so long since someone talked to him like that. But he knew he had to tell the slave not to do such a thing with others. Not many would hesitate to punish the slave if he pulled a stunt like this.
“I guess I’m wrong in making you leave because of my rank. But bear in mind, other people might not appreciate being talked to like that. You can get into real trouble you know,” the man said gently.
Duo smiled brightly. He knew the man was concerned for him. And somehow he liked the man. Again, it might be the fact that the man looks like Heero. But there seemed to be something in the man that made Duo want to cheer him up.
Duo picked up his board again and started to scribble, is this room really important to you? If yes, I will leave and promise not to tell anyone about it. I have not told anyone yet. I really like this place. I know it sounds a bit weird but there is a feeling of something nice here. I don’t know how to describe it but it is something that really warmed my heart? Umm… I don’t know.
The man widened his eyes a bit before he composed himself quickly. It was weird but this slave here managed to make him lose his composure so many times within ten minutes. And the fact that he sensed something.
You must have thought I am weird or something. But do you mind if you tell me the reason you don’t want me here? I know I am just a slave. I should not ask questions or go into any places I like. I also know that it is easy for you to kill me. But… Duo smiled a bit nervously as he stopped for a while, looking at the man, I really like to know. And maybe I will not come in here again if I understand your reason. But you know you have got to get someone to clean this place at least fortnightly. This place is so dirty when I first stumbled into it! Cobwebs and dust everywhere!
The man chuckled before he became serious. Somehow, he felt that it was okay to talk to this slave. He knew that the slave had no idea as to who he is. Well, if he knew, he did not think the slave would argue with him. But then he knew that this boy was different.
“This room used to belong to my wife. It was her reading room. No one in the castle knew about this room. It was a place for us to talk or read in peace. But then she passed away. I… I... I only entered every year at our wedding anniversary,” the man said in a monotone but Duo could detect the sadness behind his tone.
I’m sorry. I will not come into this room anymore. It is my wrong and if you want to punish me, I will accept it. I should not have come in here. I… have tainted your memory. I am sorry, Duo apologized. He felt so bad, disturbing other people’s memories. He had lost his own so he knew how precious memories were.
“No. you are not at fault. And I did not mind you coming in as long as you help to clean up this place. And I think you will once again brighten up this room. It had been too dull since she passed away. But promise you will not tell anyone about this room or me for that matter,” the man said.
Yes, I promise! And I am Duo. I run. I hide. But I never lie! Duo grinned as he nodded.
The man smiled, “well, I guess I just have to trust you. I am Odin but you can just call me uncle since I am older than you.”
Hey! You are not that old! Why should I call you uncle? Duo protested.
“Maybe it is the fact that I have sons your age?” the man smirked.
WHAT?! You are kidding? You don’t look that old! Duo wrote in disbelief.
The man just continued smirking and Duo rolled his eyes. Talk about appearances being deceiving.
“So, Duo. What are you reading when I came into the room?”
Duo held the book cover for Odin to read. Odin looked a bit surprised at the title before he smiled.
“Peace knights. There is quite an interesting story. I’ve read about it,” Odin answered.
Duo smiled and pushed the book to Odin and pointed at him and then at the book.
“What? You want me to tell you about the story? Aren’t you going to read it?” Odin asked.
Nope! I read it because no one read it out to me. Can you tell me the story? Please? Really please? Duo pleaded as he turned his best puppy eyes at Odin. He knew till now, no one could say no to his look. Even Wufei had succumbed to it.
Odin just sighed in resignation as he started to tell the story, “it was said since long ago, that, whenever the world is in danger of being torn to pieces, five peace knights will be united….”
