Title: Walking in the Shadows. Pt. 13/?

Authors: Deathangelgw and Nightshadow

Disclaimer: They aren't ours....but we can sure as hell play with them!!!

Warnings: AU, slight OOC, sap, dark, angst, language, mention of torture, yaoi, shounen-ai yea…

Pairings: Varied, but the main is 2+/x5x2, 1xOCx1, OCx4xOC, 3xOCx3

Rating: PG-13….everything getting better!

Note:  *cackles* OH we are so evil!!! Well….we are bringing in some new people…AND we are popping up some more interesting ideas!! For those who are wondering about the armband…hehe it’ll get explained…

DA: uh, yeauh maybe….

NS: *thwaps her* Baka!!

Both: Please Review!!

'thoughts'

*thoughts*

Watching the slim form in front of her, Shay smiled slightly. He was doing well, what with the strength of his symptoms after only five days of travel.

Wufei sighed softly as he moved with his steed. 'Five days....and it feels like an eternity...' he thought to himself glumly. He looked over his shoulder at Shay and smiled slightly, making sure she was still with him.

"Not too much longer, till we meet the next town," Shay called as she looked at him.

Wufei grinned at her and nodded, then looked ahead. He sighed softly as he rode, then looked over as he heard a call. Smiling softly in joy, he turned Shenlong. "Zechs! Is that really you?!" he called out as he rode over to the waving rider.

Zechs laughed softly as he smiled. "Your Majesty...what a wonderful surprise!" he cried in delight. Clucking to Shetan, Shay hurried to catch up. It'd been a while since she'd seen Zechs and their friendly competition had been sorely missed.

Wufei grasped arms in the traditional warrior fashion with Zechs, smiling softly. "It is good to see you, old friend. What brings you around here?" he asked as he settled Shenlong.

Zechs tossed his long blond hair out of the way as he grinned, winking at Shay. "Same as you two, rounds. I had heard in the northern towns that some poachers and slavers were roaming around, so decided to investigate," he replied calmly.

"If you meet them, give them a good drubbing for me too. I'll do the same if tis us who spies these dogs." Grinning, Shay nudged Shetan up even with Wufei.

Zechs grinned back. "Oh you will, will you? Think a mere girl can handle these beasts?" he asked lightly. Wufei chuckled softly as he shook his head. The two arguing was something he *didn't* miss.

Chuckling, Shay kicked Zechs lightly. "This mere girl has to put up with three other guys and handles them quite well. And if I can survive Duo, I can survive anything!"

Zechs cocked an eyebrow in interest. "Who is this Duo?" he asked, curious. He glanced over and blinked as he saw a soft blush crossing Wufei's face as the King stared straight ahead.

Looking to the side at Wufei, Shay smiled. "Oh, just the newest resident of the palace who knows our King VERY well."

Zechs' other eyebrow went up in surprise. "Really? Do tell!" he asked in bland curiosity.

Wufei growled halfheartedly at Shay as he sighed. "He...is my mate," he replied softly, looking down to hide his blush.

"He's wonderful. One of the funniest people I've met and adores Wufei to death. Their bonding was beautiful to behold." Shay smiled at the memory of the two, though somewhat melancholic over what she herself was missing.

"Bonded, huh? I look forward to meeting this Duo soon then," Zechs stated with a gentle smile.

Wufei cleared his throat in embarrassment. "And what of you, Zechs? Have you found anyone? And when can we expect you to visit us?" he asked as he gazed at his friend.

Zechs looked down and sighed. "Alas...I have not found such a one yet, but I hope to come and visit soon. It has been a long time since I saw our beautiful Phoenix Gate," he replied softly.

Nodding, Shay smiled sadly. "Aye, nearly seven years. Will you be staying for a while? I've rather missed our play."

Zechs' face softened as he smiled at Shay. "I hope to...but being a Guardian, I can't say for certain," he replied soothingly. Wufei grinned slightly as he looked down. He knew a secret...

"Well, I know that. Hopefully you shall." Grinning Shay tossed her braid back. "I've improved a great deal since you left."

Cocking an eyebrow at the challenge, Zechs grinned. "Really now? So you've moved from sticks to actual swords, hm?" he asked lightly, grinning. Wufei snickered as he shook his head.

"Hmmph. I was already using swords when you left! As you well know." Nudging his booted foot, Shay shook her head, grinning. "It was you who wished the wooden when we sparred."

Laughing, Zechs shook his head. "That was only so you could keep up!" he protested laughingly.

"I kept up just fine." Smirking, Shay winked. "As I recall, it was I who had to pull you back up from hanging over the battlement when you tried to catch me while I practiced."

Both men snickered at the memory. "Ah yes...I remember that. What were you doing again, Zechs? Watching for parrots?" Wufei asked teasingly as the blond blushed slightly.

"Sure he was." Chuckling, Shay smiled broadly. "And of course he forgot that parrots live nowhere near the Palace..."

Wufei snickered again as Zechs reddened some more. "Alright then...I was looking for...something else," Zechs retorted evasively. In truth, he had been admiring Shay's grace as she had practiced and had leaned too far over....but like he was going to admit that!

"Ahhhh," was her only comment as Shay smiled. *I suppose I can dream...*

"Besides...what were you doing behind me anyways?" Zechs asked, switching the topic easily, though inside he was wishing the same thing as he had then...that he could have held her longer.

"Sneaking up on you of course." *And doing some well earned staring.* Tangling a hand in Shetan's mane Shay continued. "You have the best expressions when someone gets you."

Zechs felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment as he hastily cleared his throat. Wufei snickered softly and sighed. "Much as seeing you two argue for old times' sake...we need to get to the town before sundown," he stated regretfully.

"True." Nodding, Shay moved Shetan closer to Zechs and his mount, extending a hand to him. "It was great seeing you again. Hopefully you'll be able to stick around for a bit."

Zechs smiled as he took her hand in the traditional fashion of warriors then turned it to place a gentlemanly kiss on the top of her hand. "I look forward to it. Until then my friends!" he declared as he nodded to his King and took off at a gallop.

Wufei grinned as he looked over at Shay, eyes filled with mischief. Smiling wistfully at the departing figure, Shay turned back to the road before, one finger lightly tracing where he'd kissed her hand. Wufei started snickering as he followed her. "Oh now I have seen everything..." he stated lightly.

"What? Seen what?" Confused, Shay turned to look over her shoulder at her King and friend.

Wufei smirked. "How long has this little....crush been happening, Shaya?" he asked as he winked.

"Ack! Not the name! ANYTHING but that!" Grimacing, the female twin shook her head quickly. "And what crush?" Wufei chuckled as he cocked an eyebrow at her, then looked back the way Zechs had gone wordlessly. "Ummmm, well, I suppose a while, hopeless as it may be." Shrugging, Shay turned back around. "It's not like anything will ever happen.” Wufei snickered softly, but didn't say anything as he let his horse follow her to the town.

*~~**~~*

Heero sighed softly as he walked down the halls. After much prodding from Larak and Shalon, he was going to confront Duo. The braided man had woken up earlier that day and seemed to be doing all right, but they wanted to know how he was doing. "Why couldn't they have just done it themselves? I'm no good at this..." Heero grumbled as he came down the halls heading for Wufei's rooms. He knocked politely on the door, waiting for an answer nervously.

"Whoever it is, come in or die where you stand. And enjoy your trip, be it wither way!" called out a loud cheery voice.

Heero blanched and swallowed hard. 'Great...he's pissed...' he thought to himself as he pushed the door open and peered in.

Catching sight of the other man, Duo waved slightly, if albeit nervously. "Come on in."

Heero stepped in, bowing his head. "I came to check up on you at Larak's request," he said softly, standing at attention stiffly as he kept his gaze down.

"Guess that means you’re still mad at me, huh?" Smiling sadly, Duo looked away. He couldn't remember everything he'd said, but he knew it'd made Heero mad.

Heero blinked and looked up. "No...I..." He sighed and looked away, worrying his lip as his mind raced on how to fix this one.

"You gonna sit down or stand there like I'm gonna bite ya? I promise I'll leave that to Larak." Winking, Duo waved at the bed and nearby chair. "Pick one. Then I don't have to crane my neck and make this headache worse."

Heero looked at him in concern, but then walked over and sat stiffly in the chair. His hands fiddled slightly with his tunic as he asked softly, "How are you feeling, Duo?"

"Like hell." Grimacing, Duo leaned back into his nest of pillows. "I want my 'Fei." *Maybe he can scare away my own nightmares.*

Heero smiled sadly as he gazed at Duo. "I wish we could get him back here...but he's days away and won't be back for some time," he replied softly, looking away.

"I know. Doesn't mean I'm not gonna complain." Peeking over the pillows, Duo watched Heero. "So, you're not mad at me?"

Heero looked back at him slowly. "Duo...when we talked...argued...you did something that no one has done since I married Larak. You frightened me," Heero stated softly as he gazed steadily at Duo. "For ten years...maybe longer now, we have been searching for a way to break the curse that is what is..." he sighed softly and looked down. "Killing Wufei. No King in our history has lived past thirty five turns. We have been striving to find a way out of that curse because of the fact that Wufei is the best thing that's happened to this Kingdom since Garyuda four millennia ago," Heero explained fiercely as he brought his gaze back up.

"Larak scared you? And how'd I scare you?" Inching upward, Duo met Heero's gaze. "So there is something going on. Course there’s an answer. Bet the Shadowland denizens would know. They know everything. It’s just getting 'em to tell it. They might be able to tell us how to break the curse and keep 'Fei-fei among the living."

Heero sighed softly as he looked away. "We've tried everything...and yes, we even asked the Shadow realms' peoples for help...to no avail," he replied softly, almost visibly fading with defeat. "He's so strong...doesn't show the constant pain he's in...and when you said that you may as well give up since he's already decided his fate....that terrified me. Because then...we would have lost him," he said softly, bringing a tear-filled gaze back to the longhaired man.

"I said I'd given up?" Confused, Duo shook his head slightly, trying to recall what exactly had passed, but found he couldn't. All that remained was a vague recollection of yelling, despair, and hitting something hard twice. After that, all he knew were the memories. "Well, I sure don't want to lose him. He's the best thing to ever happen to me. And he's so...innocent. It’s endearing."

Heero chewed on his lip thoughtfully, his mind whirling. 'He doesn't remember....doesn't remember his own despair and hopelessness...' he thought to himself as he glanced up at the longhaired man. "Duo...what do you remember?" he asked softly as he sat up.

Scrunching his face up, Duo tried again to make the memories clearer then sighed. "Well, remember you saying if something wasn't done 'Fei would die and after that it’s all foggy. Remember a whole bunch of yelling, a lot of red and screams, hitting something hard twice, and despair. It was like being back with Him, but less real, kinda. After that I WAS back there again," he finished quietly.

Sighing, Heero got up and walked over to the window, standing stiffly before it as he tried to regain control of his emotions. 'I've really blown it...' he thought to himself in almost despair. He started to wonder if he should ready his stuff for when his King returned. Hurting the King's mate would not bode well for his well being.

Carefully getting out of bed, Duo walked unsteadily over to the young bodyguard, his friend, and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Heero? What's wrong?"

Heero didn't move as he gazed out the window, watching as some birds flew past the window to land on the sill. "I am just contemplating what I will need to take with me when I am banished for my actions to his Majesty's mate," he stated emotionlessly.

"Eh? Why will ya need to do that?" Resting his other hand on the sill, Duo tried to catch Heero's gaze. "I mean, you helped find the herb, and watched over me till I got better. Why should ya get banished for that?"

Heero's jaw tightened in his sorrow. "I allowed my fear to get the best of me....and nearly killed you in my rage," he replied softly, feeling his sentence take away his home right before his eyes.

"Nearly killed me? Nah. Just a couple of bruises." Smiling, Duo patted Heero on the shoulder. "Now if you'd say, chopped my arms off, then you could say ya nearly killed me. Couple of bruises don't bother me all that much. Everybody does something when their temper blows. Point is though, that ya stopped."

"I almost didn't. What you said frightened me so much that my rage took hold. I have only gotten *that* enraged once before....and I did put the man unconscious for months afterwards," Heero replied softly, looking down in shame. "Wufei...will never forgive me in this lack of judgment..." he stated almost sadly.

"Well, ya didn't do that to me. The bruises aren't even that bad." Squeezing the other's shoulder, Duo nodded. "And 'Fei will forgive ya. I see no reason why he shouldn't. And anyway, it’s a well known fact that once two males who get on each other's nerves have gotten in a fight they become the best of friends. Least that's what Joren told me. Seems it’s finally been proven true, so cheer up."

Looking away sharply, body still tense, Heero explained tersely. "You don't understand...he *warned* me that if I let such a slip happen again, I will be banished. The fact that it happened to his own mate...is unforgivable."

Sighing, Duo shook his head. "Ok, how about this. I'm the one you got in the fight with, so shouldn't I have more say than anybody? I'm not even really hurt! It’s JUST a bruise or two! I bet if you'd totally lost control you would have broken some bones or given me a concussion. Therefore you HAD to still be in control. And I was looking forward to having you as a best of friends."

"Duo..." Heero whispered it softly, looking over at the longhaired man with sad eyes. He smirked slightly. "Shalon is right....how can you be such a good man after all of the harshness you went through?" he asked in amazement.

Smile faltering, Duo whispered hoarsely, “'Cause I made a promise. I had a twin once. I was the older. And I made a promise to him. He was really the nice one of the two of us. He used to hide hurt animals in our room and nurse them. I'd help a bit sometimes, but not enough. I should have done more, but I didn't."

Heero froze as he stared at Duo in shock. "You...had a twin?" he asked softly, his mouth suddenly dry in shock. 'No....it's not possible...'

Nodding, Duo looked away. "Yeah. We didn't look that much alike, but neither of us minded. I made the promise the day before he disappeared. I guess he'd heard something or felt something. Blackheart probably had him killed. Never really found out though."

"So....you don't know if he's...alive?" Heero asked softly as he gazed at the other man. His mind was in turmoil with this unexpected information.

"No. I can hope, but if he is, what if his life is worse than mine? He could have been sold as a slave for all I know. I wouldn't wish that on him." Turning back to face Heero, Duo raised his hands before letting them fall against his side.

"Wouldn't you want him free? Free like you?" Heero asked softly as he looked away.

Shocked that Heero could think he would want anything else for his twin, Duo glared slightly. "Yes, more than anything! Free and happy, away from that hell-house."

Nodding, Heero looked down, silent. He turned and walked over to the door. "Get some rest, Duo....I'm sure one of the others will come to visit you later," he ordered softly.

"Yeah. Sounds like a good idea." Smiling, Duo moved to leave then turned back. "Hey, Heero? Think we can be the best of friends?"

Heero turned back to Duo and smiled slightly. "We're always friends until the sun says no more," he replied softly, then turned and left the room.

"It can't be..." Stunned, Duo leaned heavily against the windowsill. "Heero?!" But the guardsman didn't hear him as he walked down the hallway, heading for his practice time with Shalon. Shaking his head, Duo smiled, stumbling towards the bed. *Damnit! I can't go after him! But he's alive...he's alive!* Maneuvering himself back amongst the covers, he stared at the door, waiting. Whoever visited him next was going after Heero...

TBC

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