Beyond All Doubt Part 8
After following the stream that he new would lead him back to the field where the Shay army was stationed for more than two hours, he ran back to the small camp where he and Duo woke that morning. Painting as he reached the familiar small opening by the water, the Japanese soldier fell to his knees, scanning his eyes over the soft ground.
Finally finding a set of prints that he recognized belonged to his friend, he found the direction that Duo had run. "He went to the east," he thought aloud as he looked up in that direction. Rising to his feet, he ran off in hopes to find his friend... before Treize's clan did.
* * * * * *
As the sun began to set in the distance that evening, day watch's shift ended as they began to head back towards the camp. It had been a long few hours of scanning the woods. Rubbing the back of her blue-haired head, Sette sighed deeply, "Well, so much for seeing any action. From the feel of things, it should be a peaceful night, too."
Looking over to her silent friend, the tomboy noticed her gazing ahead blankly. Frowning, she asked, "Are you all right, Kumi?"
Almost waking from a dream, the taller girl straightened as her cobalt eyes blinked. Gazing over to her friend, she forced a smile and shrugged, "Yes, I'm all right. Just thinking." At that, she turned her head forward again, her eyes clouding over again.
Sette nudged Kumi's shoulder and smiled slightly, "Hey, I know that Heero will be all right. And I know that you're his sister, but you know him better than to get into any trouble that he couldn't get out of."
Turning to her friend, she smiled to her sadly, "Yes, I know that you are right there." Her smile faded as she frowned deeply, "I just can't stop being protective of him."
"And no one could fault you for that," the tomboy grinned in reassurance as she patted the taller girl's back.
Nearing the center of the large encampment, they found Trowa, Quatre and Wufei sitting by a small fire amongst the small tents where the soldiers slept. Looking up to see the two young women approach, Quatre smiled warmly, "Welcome back, girls."
Gazing towards them from the fire, Trowa asked, "How was the watch?" At the sight of his lover's cobalt eyes lightening at the sound of his voice as she looked towards him, he gave a small smile.
Rolling her eyes, Sette answered, "Boooooring."
Laughing, Kumi nodded, "Yes, that it was. But, we know that's better than the alternative." Taking her place next to Trowa, their hands quietly sought each other, giving a firm squeeze.
With Trowa's rank, they both knew better than to display any of their compassion in the presence of the other soldiers. Seeing their Commander embracing or kissing his mate around them, the men could become jealous or question Trowa's commitment to his duty over his emotions for one individual.
Rising to his feet to meet Sette halfway, Quatre chuckled deeply, "It's just like you to poke fun at standing watch." Standing before her, he winked at her, "I missed you."
Snorting good-naturedly, his fiancée hugged him tightly as she replied quietly, "Missed you, too." She looked over to the cooking stake over the fire. Sniffing at the air, she asked, "What are you guys cooking?"
Well aware of how she would react to the answer, Trowa smirked, "Pheasant." As expected, Sette's eyes grew large.
"My favorite!" the tomboy beamed as she quickly moved to sit next to Wufei, pushing him down the log to make room.
Ignoring the blue-haired girl at first, the Chinese Captain examined the roasting meat and noted, "You both came back just in time. It's just about finished." At the insistent showing from the blue-haired girl, Wufei finally moved over so she and Quatre could sit as he scowled at her, "Pushy harp."
Sette quickly retorted, "Seat hog!" At their friends' snickering, they both looked up, yet continued to nudge each other back and forth for more room.
With a sinister smirk, Trowa asked, "We're not going to have to separate you kids, are we?"
Folding her arms across her chest, his mate shook her head and grinned, "It's amazing the two of you never tire of your bickering."
Looking up at her to notice the sheathed dagger hooked to her belt, the tall Commander frowned slightly, "I've been meaning to ask you where you got that weapon. I never knew you had anything like that at the house."
Placing a hand protectively on the blade at her side without thinking to do so, Kumi met his eyes and replied, "I don't, other than whatever weapons Heero practiced with. But this..." Her gaze lowered to the dagger in her hand for a moment before looking to her lover again and stated, "This was a gift from Duo."
Other than their eyes widening at that, neither Trowa nor Wufei had a chance to respond before Sette piped in excitedly, "And look! He gave me this, too!" Removing what looked like a large ball of dark fur latched to her own belt. Unraveling the fur, she placed her right hand within the folds. Holding her hand up and extending her fingers, she revealed that it was actually a panther paw with long, sharp claws leashed from the furry fingertips.
All but falling off of the log, Wufei cried with wide eyes, "H-He gave you... that!? What was he thinking!?"
Smirking at the startled Captain, Sette turned towards him with a wicked grin, "What's the matter, Fei? Am I making you nervous?" As she slid closer to him with the menacing claw, Wufei nervously backed up.
Laughing at the scene, Quatre shook his head, "Duo knows Sette very well to have given her that." Removing a golden ball from the pocket of his loose pants, he added, "And he also gave me this compass."
Raising so that the fire reflected from it so the others could see, his friends notes the exquisite detail in the craftsmanship of the device. "It led us right to Wufei and the reinforcements that were heading here. We would have been wandering those woods endlessly without it."
'He knew they would try to follow us,' Trowa thought to himself, a small amused smirk on his face. 'That's why he gave them a compass and weapons.' Silently, he thanked the young fey for watching after the three members of their family he felt were being left behind. As Kumi took a seat beside him, he reached over and squeezed her knee briefly before removing his hand.
Sighing deeply, Wufei shook his head, "Why he gave a weapon to a woman and a compass to a man, I'll never know." As soon as he came to the same conclusion as Trowa to why Duo left those instruments to them, the Chinese soldier smiled slightly to himself.
Gazing over the roasting fowl, Kumi announced, "I believe the pheasant is done." Carefully and with Quatre's help, she took the split from resting over the flames.
Bouncing where she sat, Sette cheered, "Great! I'm starving!" As everyone gathered around took a chunk of meat, they sat in silence, eating.
After a peaceful moment, the tomboy licked her fingers as her eyes widened. Looking up to her friends, Sette smiled brightly, "I almost forgot. You'll never believe who I ran into today!"
Gasping softly, Trowa turned to her with wide, frightened eyes, fearing he already knew the answer. "Who did you run into, dear?" Quatre asked, his intrigue clear on his features.
Pointing to the largest of the tents behind her, she answered, "I saw Sally Poe at the healing tents this afternoon! I'd recognize those braids anywhere." Smacking his head at the answer, Trowa closed his eyes and frowned deeply.
Peering through his fingers, he noticed Wufei sitting straight and rigid, his own dark eyes widened. Regaining his composure, Wufei shrugged, "Oh. That's nice."
Brightening at the news, without noticing the raven-haired boy's first reaction, Kumi blinked in surprise, "You never told me about that when you returned from the tents."
With a nod, Sette explained, "I wanted to tell everyone at the same time. It's been some time since any of us have seen her."
Trowa swallowed hard before meeting his comrade's dark eyes and said quietly, "I was going to tell you... I was trying to think of the right way to bring it up."
Wufei gave him a small nod, showing that he understood as Sette turned to him with concern on her face. "I thought that you might be happy to hear the news," she told him quietly, with genuine respect for her sparring partner. "I thought there may be a chance for the two of you to... you know... work things out."
Making his flustered state more evident, the Chinese soldier quickly replied, "Yes, well, there isn't much for Sally and myself to talk about."
"Are you sure, Wufei?" Kumi asked, knowing just how close the young couple had been when they were courting. The reasons for their separation never were revealed to any of Wufei's friends, he being such a private person. They were all very upset to know that they were not able to make things work.
At Wufei's determined nod, Sette lowered her head as she frowned deeply, "Oh. I'm sorry, Wufei."
For just a moment, those around watched a sweet moment between the to people that seemed to be at each other's throats more often than not as Wufei turned to the tomboy with a tiny, sincere smile, as if reassuring her that he appreciated the effort.
That moment quickly vanished when Sette's eyes narrowed as she suddenly shouted" Did you give her any of your remarks of why women are inferior!?"
Sitting up in his seat, the Captain glared at her and yelled, "What are you implying? That I said something inappropriate to Sally!?"
The tomboy crossed her arms over her chest as she snorted, "Well, you do tend to blurt things out before thinking them through."
"Now, now," Quatre tried to intervene as he tried to put a hand between the two of them.
Leaning towards the young woman, Wufei growled, "I do nothing of the sort!"
Kumi turned to Trowa in concern as the Commander's own eyes narrowed as he ordered sternly, "All right, that's enough, you two." Straightening at his voice, his two friends quieted and slowly returned to eating in silence.
Doing her best to easy the air, Kumi grinned, "So, what else has been going on today?" At that, the band of friends went back into a casual, friendly chatting over some of the things that the day held for them.
When the meal and conversation had ended, Wufei rose to his feet and informed the others, "I need to go make my rounds."
Stretching, Sette yawned, "And I need to get to bed." Standing up, she headed towards the tent that she and Quatre shared. Looking over her shoulder, she waved to her friends and called, "Good night."
Turning to his raven-haired friend as he got up as well, Quatre sighed deeply, "I'm sorry for her outburst. She just can't help herself sometimes."
Wufei chuckled deeply, "I know, Quatre. No need to apologize since I know she didn't really mean any harm. I'm not mad at her." Bowing to his three companions, he said quietly, "Good night to you all." With that, he walked off to his post.
"I know that Sette didn't mean to upset Wufei, Quatre," Kumi frowned in concern. "Please make sure she's all right."
Giving her a warm smile, Quatre winked. "I will," he promised. "Good night." Turning away, he quickly followed his fiancée.
As he rose from his own seat, Trowa sighed deeply, his mind tired from so many events having unfolded the last few days. Offering his hand down to his mate, he asked, "Shall we retire as well, then?"
Gently accepting his hand and stepping close to her tall lover when she was on her feet, Kumi nodded, "Yes. Let us rest." Quickly kissing her cheek, Trowa led them to the Commander's tent. Looking off to the woods, the young woman spoke in a faraway tone, "Sleep well, Heero, Duo, wherever you are."
When they entered the tent, Trowa began remove the leather belt that kept the loose blue shirt of his uniform close to him. Lowering it to the floor, he looked to the young silver-haired woman and began, "Kumi, I have to thank you for being so patient and understanding with me."
Seeing the confusion in her cobalt eyes, he smiled slightly and shrugged, "I mean about the fact that I can't be as open with our relationship in front of the other men."
Chuckling deeply, Kumi answered, "I don't mind it at all, Trowa. I know how important it is that the men here respect you." Stepping up close, she wrapped her arms around him, pressing their bodies together. Leaning up, she kissed her lover deeply.
When they separated, she licked her bottom, grinning lip and her hands moved under his shirt and up his chest. Looking up into Trowa's clouded eyes, she smirked mischievously, "And I also know that those same rules don't apply when we're out of everyone's sight." Trowa returned the same smirk and leaned in to capture her lips again as they moved towards the bed that they shared.
* * * * * *
A few hours later, Heero laid atop a tall hill, looking down on a valley hidden in the folds of the thick wood, filled with tents and campfires. From his spot, he recognized the dark uniforms and armor on the men below belonging to those of Treize's men. His eyes narrowing on the sight, he removed his bow and dagger.
With the guards of the encampment counting on more than one person to look out for, Heero managed to slip silently through the folds of tents having avoided any of the men patrolling around. Knocking an arrow onto his bow, he pressed forward, unaware of the dark-clad soldier that was now following him.
The sharp tip of a blade pressed against the back of his neck, causing Heero to freeze where he stood as the deep voice behind him ordered, "Don't move."
Cursing silently to himself, Heero slowly rose his hands. Without warning, he suddenly spun forward, turning to throw his dagger, taking off the moment the weapon left his hand. Catching the guard in the shoulder, the taller man cried out as he fell to his knees. At the cry of one of their own, those soldiers nearby ran in the direction of the alarm, bearing their weapons.
Heero raced faster to the edge of the camp, concentrating on moving as fast as his legs would take him. From the side, two large men lunged forward, tackling him to the ground. Rolling onto his back with a deep growl, Heero desperately worked to free himself, kicking out with the heels of his feet and moving constantly. When they were unable to keep a firm hold on him, he started to break away.
Before he could get too far, one of the two guards gripped Heero's foot, tripping him as he fell hard to the ground again, grunting in pain. Looking back over his shoulder, his eyes widened as the second soldier was over him, his fist the last sight that he saw before the world went black.
* * * * * *
Duo gritted his teeth as the strong hands of the two guards on either of his arms pulled him through the sea of tents. After the brutal interrogation he had been through, he was lucky to be able to feel his feet enough to stumble along at their insistent tugging.
His braid had been cut, nearly taken away along with part of his scalp when the soldier questioning him yanked it off with his blade. His face bore a large bruise on his right cheek and a long, bleeding scar that ran from his left temple down to his jawbone.
Along with the bruised ribs many other pains he had endured during his stay, Duo was amazed he was able to stay awake as his head spun from the need of food and water that had been deprived from him.
Finally, he was taken into the tall white tent that he was all too familiar with. Inside, there was a long table covered with plates of food and bottles of wine. Sitting at the head of the table was none other than his captor. Lowering the glass of wine he had been sipping from, Treize Khushrenada smiled wickedly at his prisoner as he extended a hand to the chair at his right.
Pushed roughly into the seat, Duo glared heatedly at the tall man, even through the bruises on his face. Looking to his waiting guards, the red-haired Commander nodded and signaled with a wave of his hand to leave the two of them alone.
Saluting to him, the two brutes turned on their heels to step out quickly. Treize leaned back in his chair, taking up his glass of wine for another sip as he watched the young fey out of the corner of his eyes. His black uniform with deep red trim at the shoulders was perfect, neither a single stain of dirt, nor a wrinkle fell on it.
Lowering the glass to the table, he turned fully to the young ban beside him. His smile was gone, showing the frustration that he felt towards his uncooperative captive. "We both know that there was someone else from your small camp with you," he began. "...Someone who you helped escape."
Removing the perfect, white feather from his coat pocket that he always carried with him, he moved it close to the boy's face, adding, "And we also know that there is a fey in these woods." Keeping his eyes narrowed, the violets never looked to the feather held a few inches from his face, but focused on the unwavering green eyes watching him for any reaction.
"Unless there is something that you are not telling us about yourself," Treize sneered, "Putting two and two together is easy."
The right, cut corner of Duo's mouth tugged up in a smirk as he replied in a deep, quiet growl, "We've been through all of this before. I have no information that would interest you, so you might as well have your men beat me to death now." Leaning forward, he hissed slowly, "I. Know. Nothing."
Placing the feather safely in his pocket again, the tall man chuckled deeply, "I find it hard to believe that whatever secret it is that you'll die to protect, is something that I would not be interested in."
Sitting back in his seat, he folded his hands neatly over his abdomen. "I am not a fool. You refuse to answer any questions. And I must say that I do not approve of my men's efforts." Waving a hand over the display of food and drink before them, he smiled all too coyly, "So perhaps a more gentlemanly talk over dinner."
With a bitter snort, the fey retorted, "In other words, you mean to strike a bargain with me."
Treize grinned wickedly and nodded, "That is another way of putting it. But business can wait for the moment. I am sure you're hungry."
Folding his arms carefully over his bruised chest, Duo scowled, "I'd rather not. Either cut to the chase, or have your guards escort me back to my holding room."
His enemy blinking at that with a forced innocent look before asking, "Are you certain that you have nothing to tell me."
Duo leaned forward, grinding his teeth, and spoke quietly, "I've done all but spell it out to you, Treize. I. Know. Nothing."
Sighing deeply, Treize nodded, "Very well." Turning to the closed flap at the front of the tent, he whistled. At the sight of one of the guards entering the room, he commanded, "Take him back now. Send the other one in when this one is secured."
Quickly looking away from the guard and back to Treize with wide eyes, Duo gave him the reaction he had been looking for as he questioned, "Who are you talking about? What 'other one'?"
"Oh, it's no concern of yours," the tall man smirked, obviously pleased to have broken through his prisoner's defenses.
His violet eyes narrowing again, Duo shook his head, "I am not a fool, either. You wouldn't not have mentioned another prisoner if it didn't concern me."
Making it very obvious that he was pleased with his findings, Treize chuckled softly, "It seems you already have a good idea of who my other guest is." Meeting the gaze of his guard, he nodded, "Bring him in."
When the tall man returned, he was dragging a struggling young man behind him. Slowly rising from his seat with wide, frightened eyes, Duo paled at the sight of the boy roughly led into the scene. Faintly, he whispered in disbelief, "H-Heero."
At the sound of his name, the Japanese soldier looked up, his own cobalt eyes widening at the sight of his friend standing behind the table. Feeling his blood boil as he took in the cuts, bruises and short hair, Heero's eyes narrowed fiercely as his head turned sharply to glare at Treize.
Humming to himself, Treize grinned wickedly, "It seems you two know each other."
Duo collapsed into his seat, blinking the shock from his eyes, replacing it with a heated gaze as he turned to the man beside him. "Let him go," he ordered in a deep voice.
"No," the Commander answered coldly. "We end this now." With the raise of his hand, the guard quickly pinned Heero's back against his chest and held his sword to the boy's throat faster than the blink of an eye. Feeling the colt steel against his neck, Heero froze and held his breath. "Slit it,' Treize shouted.
"No!" Duo cried as he rose to his feet, the chair he had been sitting on falling back. Treize raised his and again, halting the guard just as he began to press the blade harder against the exposed throat of his captive. Heero's eyes, filled with concern and terror, stayed locked with those violet eyes sharing the same emotions.
Slowly turning to face the Commander, Duo watched him with a deadly glare. As he stood there, looking into the tall man's eyes, his hair began to grow, slowly at first, then quickly passing his shoulders. At the same time, his cuts and bruises began to fade until there was no longer a trace of them. His hair continued to grow until it fell loosely well past his waist, where it had fallen before it had been cut.
Gasping sharply at the sight, the guard paled a ghostly shade his sword fell from his hands, clanging loudly on the ground. Quickly jerking free, Heero took hold of the sword, breathing heavily as he held the sword firmly against the other man's neck. Despite it all, Treize kept his eyes on Duo, leaned back in his chair, and watched him with a satisfied smile on his face as he said darkly, "Hello, fey. So we meet at last."
Holding out his hand towards him, Duo growled, "And now we part." A large sphere of blinding light suddenly appeared in his palm, causing Treize to fall back, covering his eyes and crying out in pain. The guard did the same, falling to his knees as his hands rose to cover his face. Causing the ball of light to float to the top of the tent, Duo brought it to grow brighter and much larger, blinding the entire camp when it burned through the cloth. Quickly, he turned and shouted, "Heero!"
Keeping hold of the sword as he shielded his eyes, his friend joined him as Duo's wings burst through his shirt. "Get on!" he yelled as he bent at the knees. Dropping the weapon, Heero didn't ask questions as he wrapped his arms around the fey's neck, pressing his chest against his back. Taking to the sky, they left the collapsing tent and soared into the night sky.
As the ball remained high over the encampment to secure their escape, Treize covered his eyes and looked up, unable to find a hint of the direction where his captives flew. Several moments later, the ball of light faded away, the spell certain that it gave enough time for its master to get away without being seen.
Rubbing his eyes, the guard that had been with him approached as he growled deeply, "Damn it. Don't worry, sir. I will have units sent to begin searching for them."
Shaking his head, his Commander turned to him and smiled, "No need for that. We will cross paths with them again." His smiled turned into an evil smirk as he looked back to the sky and chuckled deeply, "Besides, half the fun of the hunt is the pursuit."
TBC...
Back to SkyLark's Fanfictions Page