Author: May Chang
see prologue for warnings. disclaimers

/ ... / = thoughts

The Path Between + Chapter 3

The day started out relatively normal. That is, if you exclude the strangely subdued Zechs and Noin in the back. I was out in the front, chatting with Quatre about something (I can't remember half the things I say!), while Heero, Trowa and Wufei were in the back. I think they wanna make sure we don't get attacked from the back. Stupid, really. I mean who would wanna hurt little old me? I so cute and cuddly and --

~BOOM~

Quatre and I were thrown off of our horses, as were Zechs and Noin.

"SHIT!!" I screeched, quickly covering Quatre's little body with mine. I glanced up to see Zechs covering Noin, his blade out and glaring about. Heero, Trowa and Wufei quickly rode up and hopped off to check on us.

"Where's the fucking bastard?!" I hissed angrily. Quatre peeked out from under me, making sure that Wufei was alright. I could actually sense Wufei's relief. I looked around, then at the hill from where, to my utter dismay, a chaos blast was shot right at us. I threw up a shield and was nearly thrown back by the sheer force of it. I could hear Wufei cursing, as well as Zechs growling angrily.

"Milliardo Peacecraft! I know you're out there!" a voice rang out. Actually, a female voice. "Come out now, or I'll blow your friends to hell!"

"What?!" I yelled, totally clueless. "Now, look here, lady, there's -- "

"What do you want, Une?" Zechs snarled, glancing about. I think my jaw dropped. Zechs knows this bitch?! And who the hell is Milliardo Peacecraft?! A figure suddenly appeared on the top of the hill, giving me the first look at this lady.

She looked a few years older than Zechs and Noin, wearing a white dress and cloak. Typical. The thing that made me blink, though, was the fact that she was riding a gray stallion. I absently sent out a probing thought, and blinked with shock as I found out that she was more gray than white.

"Lord Trieze wishes to speak to you," she commanded. Zechs didn't look all too happy. Then again, neither did Wufei, for some reason.

"An onna?!" he hissed indignantly. "The great chaos-master sent a woman?!"

"If I have your promise to leave my friends be!" Zechs countered back. Une smirked, nodding sharply. Zechs then got off of Noin, and gently kissed her before mounting Epyon and riding off towards Une.

"Now just wait one damn minute!" I said, getting off of Quatre. Quatre quickly scooted on to his feet and stood beside Wufei, his staff out and looking nervously at the woman.

"Duo!" I turned to look at Noin, who was glaring at me. "Just.... Let it lie, Duo."

"What?!" I yelled, incredulous. Then I turned back, and they were gone.

+

We made camp that night by a stream, just off the road. After dinner, Heero and Trowa sat by my side, while Quatre cuddled up to Wufei. Noin sat across from me, staring vacantly into the fire.

"Noin, babe? I would love an explanation about now," I said. "Why the fuck did you let Zechsy go? And who the hell is Milliardo Peacecraft?" Noin looked up at me, and sighed softly.

"Zechs is just a cover name for him. His real name is Milliardo Peacecraft, also know as --"

"The Lightning Baron," Quatre finished solemnly.

I blinked at the blond. The Lightning Baron? The guy who single-handedly destroy a squadron of Kazarian soldiers with just a sword and shield? The heir to the Sanc Kingdom?? That guy??

Well, this bites. I could've just handed all my debts to him.

"Yes, him," Noin said, nodding. "He was supposed to be the heir to the throne of the Sanc Kingdom, but he felt that his hands were too stained. So, he just left his kingdom and changed his name, so that his people won't come and find him."

"There have been rumors surrounding the disappearance of Prince Milliardo," Quatre commented thoughtfully. "Some thought he was abducted, other believed he just up and left, caring only for battle. Now we know why."

"And we're going to go rescue him!" I said. Noin blinked, then grinned viciously at me. I grinned back. Then I looked at the other guys. "You people in or not?"

"Of course we are!" Quatre blurted out. Wufei sighed and nodded. It would seem that wherever Quatre goes, Wufei would follow, even to the gates of Hell.

"Just as long as I get to fight," Wufei growled. I grinned evilly.

Then I looked at Heero and Trowa. They looked at each other and then at me, and nodded.

"Of course, there will be compensation, yes?" Trowa whispered seductively into my ears. I began to blush. Heero smirked at me, Quatre was blushing furiously, and Wufei and Noin looked exasperated.

"Now who's the horny one?" Noin asked.

+

I shifted uncomfortably on my saddle. When Heero and Trowa want compensation, they wanted compensation. I don't think I should sit for a week at least. Oog..... pain...........

Quatre looked at me sympathetically, then returned to his conversation with Noin. Heero, Trowa and Wufei were again in the back. I sighed, rolling my eyes as we continued down the road.

"Anou..... Duo?" Quatre called from behind. I turned, blinking at the blond. "Do you happen to know where we're going?"

"Truth be told? No," I replied. The others just stared at me. "What?"

".......You have no idea where you're going?" Heero asked.

"Um, truthfully, yeah."

"........" Trowa responded.

"Barton, I don't think now's the time to say such things," Wufei replied.

".........."

"Just be glad we're on a chaos road," I said, pouting slightly. "I'm not that stupid."

"Um, right. Duo?" Quatre said. "What's a chaos road?" I nearly fell off of Shinigami. Didn't the masters back at Recluce teach them anything? I gestured absently.

"A chaos road is what chaos-masters of old use to travel on. They still do, especially Dekim," I explained. "One can sense the chaos just oozing out of the road."

"Is that why I'm feeling pretty sick?" Quatre asked. I turned to look at the blond. He did look kind of pale, now that he mentioned it...

"Um, try not to think about it, Quatre," I replied. "You're already sensitive enough to chaos as it is. Anyways, I figured I'll just follow this chaos rode and it'll lead us straight to --"

I never finished the sentence, because Une decided to show up at that moment. With a lot of soldiers for backup. A lot of soldier. Well, at least Wufei got his wish for a good fight.

+

[ch. 2] [ch. 4] [back to Singles l - z]