====
Trowa looked up at the clear night sky. He can’t remember when was the last time he saw the stars shine so brightly from earth.
He heaved a heavy sigh and looked back down at the ground. Heero and Quatre had never shown up and it was about 10:00 at night already.
"Where are they?" he sighed again. He wanted to go to sleep…
"Zzzzz…grr…ugh… nice lady… I don't wanna go to school today… zzzzzz… *chuckle, heh I dunno go to school… zzzzzzzzzzzz…."
Trowa looked oddly at the American pilot as he talked in his sleep. Duo was sprawled atop of a huge rock with his arms and legs dangling from whatever end, his mouth wide opened.
"Even when he's sleeping he's not quiet." Trowa turned to look at Wufei who had been mediating for at least 5 hours already.
"Maybe he fell asleep." Trowa stated reaching over and shoving Wufei with his index finger lightly on the shoulder. He got no response so he looked back up at the night sky.
"ZZZZZZZZZ…"
Trowa turned grumpily to the loud obnoxious snoring coming from Duo.
He then heard the sound of dried leaves crunching underneath someone's feet. He looked up to see two figures making their way toward him and his companions.
Wufei felt a familiar presence, opened his eyes, and stood up beside Trowa.
====
Heero walked through the trees and night air, making his way towards his fellow Gundam companions, still holding Releena in his arms, whom was now asleep.
As Trowa and Wufei watched Heero walk slowly nearer, they saw he was holding someone, wrapped in a blanket. The long hair signified it was a woman (among other things), but her face was buried in Heero's chess.
"ZZZZZZZ…"
Both Trowa and Wufei face faulted. Wufei turned to the sleeping Duo, who still lay sprawled atop of that rock, and pushed him over so he could fall off.
Duo woke up with a start and jumped up and into a battle stance, ready for action.
"Huh? Where are we, are we being attacked!?"
The two ignored him and walked over to Heero quickly. Duo followed.
"Heero, where have you been? And where's Quatre?" Duo demanded.
Heero ignored him and looked at the girl in his arms, moving her slightly so her sleeping face was not hidden anymore.
"It's the Princess…" Wufei exclaimed.
"What happened to her, she looks like…"
"Hell… I know… I got there too late… I couldn't help her…" Heero said mournfully.
Duo pushed past Trowa and Wufei to peer at the girl Heero was carrying.
"Releena!?"
"Quatre and I were taken by surprise and captured by a military Soldier calling himself… Lieutenant Craft…"
The boys watched as Heero eyes hardened at the mention of his name.
"What happened, where's Quatre?" Trowa asked.
"Craft told us that he was working for Releena and was given orders by her to have us executed…" Heero stated, ignoring the boys in front of him. He looked down at Releena sorrowfully. "But it wasn't true…"
"We escaped and I sent Quatre to the Sank Kingdom to see what was up with Releena. I went after Craft… when I got there…he had… Releena… I was too late…" Heero closed his eyes and sighed heavily.
He felt a strange heavy feeling on his heart and was trying desperately to figure out what it was.
"Is she alright? What happened?" Duo asked, reaching over and putting his two fingers to Releena's neck checking for a pulse. When he found one, he idly wiped some damp hair from Releena's face and she stirred, clutching to Heero and whimpering.
"What happened?" Duo repeated.
"Releena was… raped…" Heero said his voice icy cold.
All the boys eyes widened and Duo gasped. They all felt extremely sad and mad.
"My god…" Trowa whispered.
"Lieutenant Craft…" Heero growled. "…He's gonna want to kill her. We have to hide her till she's well enough to take care of herself." Heero stated, turning around and walking off.
The boys followed, a million questions on their minds, but seeing as how Heero was in the mood to kill at the snap of a twig, they stood quiet. All they could think about was the poor Princess.
Duo frowned and put his hands in his pocket roughly, kicking a stone that was in his way.
"Man, this sux! I'm gonna kill this Craft guy Heero… and when I get my hands…" Duo began but was stopped as Heero's voice interrupted his own.
"I couldn't protect her. She was calling for me and I…"
Wufei stopped walking and stopped Heero as well. Heero frowned. "Get out of my way." He growled.
"No."
"Move!" Heero shouted reaching into his pants and pulling out one of the guns. He had it pointed directly at Wufei's head. Wufei stood there staring at Heero casually.
"Is this what the Princess would want… Releena would not want to hear you blaming yourself for shit that isn't your fault! Snap out of it Heero!" Wufei shouted snatching the gun easily from Heero's grasp.
====
"Mrs. Noin are you sure of what your saying!?" Quatre said.
Noin nodded her head solemnly, tears streaming down her face that she tried desperately to wipe at.
"Releena hired Lieutenant Craft after she was given word I'd be away on a mission for more then 3 months. I had no idea this was going to happen Quatre! Where is she!?"
Quatre put a hand on Lucrezia's shoulder. "Calm down… I'm sure we'll find her. I'm sure Releena is ok."
To Be Continued…