Title: Scythe and Sword, Heart and Soul
Author: Red Roses (redroseskt@aol.com)
Archive: EMERGED AS ONE
Category: Line challenge from Duo-neko, yaoi, (later on).
Rating: G for setting up- R later
Pairings: None yet
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing characters are the property of the copyright owners Bandai and such and such. The land and river are mine, especially the river. My river. I have no cash- only lint and an old car wash coupon, so don’t sue!!

Feedback: Drop me a line if this is good!

Scythe and Sword, Heart and Soul

by Red Rose

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Chapter One: Meet and Greet

"Duuuuuuo! Duo, where are you?!" the high voice of Princess Relena woke Duo almost immediately. He scurried from his bed, debating on whether to stay and help or flee and run. Deciding the latter was safer, Duo ran to the window.

"Duo, come out this instant! I need your help on finding a gown for the conference today! Delegates from Oz are coming to discuss united front treaties, and you know how important it is,"

Relena opened the door to Duo’s room, fully expecting him to be there, waiting for her word. So when she found he was NOT there, and the glass windows wide open, Relena’s fair, pink skin took on a brilliant shade of red.

"DUUUUUUUUUOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

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"They have such large fields for wild flowers," Xiao La sniffed, readjusting her position as she sat at the helm of the open carriage. "Heaven knows what kind of fits the pollen will give me." Treize patted her hand absently, eyeing the different mile layouts of the ground. Already, organized arrangements and tactics formed in his mind of the coming battle.

He motioned for the leader of his guards to come to him. "Yes, Your Highness?" asked the sergeant. "Niko, I want you to head back to the castle. Gather a small front army, and begin the attack on the northern side. Knowing Zechs, he’ll have his own army there to protect the stables. Once finished, gather all the horses and take them back to Oz." Niko nodded, turning his horse and galloping back down the road.

In the back of the carriage, Trowa silently looked at the sky, his one emerald eye glittering from beside his bangs. ‘I always liked that shade of blue,’ he thought to himself. Resigning to the cushions, he closed his eyes for a nap.

Beside Trowa, Wufei was reading the parchment sent by King Milliardo. "He wants to discuss the unity of the kingdoms peacefully . . . justice demands this be a dignified meeting." He set the scroll down and cast a glance at his brother before closing his own eyes. At the sound of hoof beats, he turned to find Niko dashing back the opposite way. "What the devil is he doing?" Wufei turned his nose up in annoyance.

Heero, his arms folded and eyes set, was watching the upcoming castle. Neither a word was said nor action was done by him the entire trip. As the reached that castle front, Heero suddenly looked to his right.

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Duo snickered, running towards the gates in a giddy frenzy. ‘Forget the conference; it’s much too lovely a day to spend babbling about politics and mindless talk.’ He approached the gates, and to his dismay, saw 12 or so guards lining the walk.

A trumpet sounded somewhere, and small procession entered the courtyard. Duo ran to the nearest rose bushes and hid, carefully watching through the thorns. A large carriage, decorated in fine oak wood and gold lining, rumbling to the castle doors. Inside sat 4 well-dressed people. One, Duo knew, was King Treize. The crown atop his head sort of gave it away.

The other 3 looked to be his sons. Duo could have cared less, and was about to vault over the wall when something caught his eye. A boy about his age, or a year older, was looking at him. With a gasp of alarm, Duo sprinted over the wall and out to the open.

After a few good yards he stopped, slowing his pace and walking along the road to the forest.

"I hope whoever that was won’t squeal on me . . ." Duo shook his head to forget that person, and turned his thoughts to the season ahead. He always fancied the springtime.

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Heero blinked once, almost stunned. Whoever that boy had been, he was fast! Still, Heero had managed to catch those eyes. At such a violent shade of purple, those eyes continued to blaze in his mind. "Who . . . " he murmured, before being distracted by Trowa’s shaking of his shoulder.

"We’re here," he stated. Heero nodded, standing up and stepping out of the carriage. The small party made its way to the front doors, only to find King Milliardo waiting for them.

"Ah, Treize. I’m glad the journey was safe and thorough," Milliardo said as he shook his friend’s hand. "Allow me to present my family to you. This is my darling wife, Noin." Noin gave a curtsy, smiling gently at them all before stepping back.

"This is my daughter, Relena." Relena stepped forward, giving a delicate dip and smiling sweetly at Treize. Her eyes, however, stopped dead on Heero.

"This is my youngest son, Quatre." Quatre bowed nicely, smiling sincerely and looking the boys over. Milliardo gave an exasperated sigh. "I’d introduce my eldest son Duo, but he seems to have run off somewhere."

Treize shook his head with a laugh. "It’s quite all right! Boys will be boys. Speaking of which, these are my own children. My eldest and heir, Heero." Heero bowed, looking at the floor. He felt Relena’s eyes boring into the top of his head.

"My second son, Trowa. Don’t mind his quietness, he’s never one to talk."

Trowa looked up a bit. "Only when necessary, Father." He nodded his head to the others, noting that Quatre returned it.

Treize gestured to Wufei. "My youngest, Wufei." Wufei bowed curtly, eyeing Milliardo with steely eyes. A sharp cough from the left indicated that Xiao La had been left out. Milliardo acknowledged him and turn to Treize.

"My sweet wife, Xiao La Chang, from the shores of China." Xiao La smiled thinly, turning her head up some in a snobbish manner.

Milliardo signaled for the doors to be open, looking at Treize. "Please, come in and lets talk about this whole business."

Treize nodded, following Milliardo as Noin escorted Xiao La to the East gardens for tea. Wufei turned on his heel, walking off to another part of the gardens.

Relena immediately took Heero’s arm. "Well Heero, allow me to show you the castle. It is always beautiful in the daylight! The West wing is off limits only for royalty. You and I can take a walk there!" She chattered on, leading a sullen Heero away.

Trowa turned to Quatre in amusement. "I suppose it is you and I now," he quietly said. Quatre nodded, looking down a bit and smiling. "I’m not very good at tours . . . but I could show you the music room I have."

Trowa’s eyes widen slightly. "A music room? I think that would be great." He smiled, standing next to Quatre. "Shall we go then, Prince Quatre?"

Quatre laughed, "Just Quatre is fine!" The two went inside.

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As many peasant folk knew, spring in the Sanc Kingdom can always be described as ‘pure, exalted beauty.’ To Duo, it usually meant flowers in bloom, sparkling rivers and excellent fields for sparring. It was usually hard to find a partner though.

‘Why can’t there be one good person to fight with? Quatre couldn’t hold a butcher knife, let alone a sword to my scythe. And Relena . . . I won’t go there.’

Duo took the long scythe from its sheath on his back, swinging to the front with incredible ease. The long, black rod extended a few feet, allowing the razor-sharp blade to cover more ground when swung. The sunlight above cast a diamond-like gleam on it, making Duo smile.

"Tis beauty in thine own self!" Duo quipped, running his hands over the smooth rod. Taking a stance, he began to fight with imaginary soldiers as he cut and slashed the air.

After a good hour or so, Duo tired of the game, and sat down on the hot rocks near the Solarian River. He was about to dip his feet in when he hear a harsh shout from the northern fields.

"CHARGE!! No prisoners, men! We fight for unity!!" The battle cry echoed in his ears as Duo ran in the direction of the yell.

To his shock, 2 miniscule armies were battling each other near the mouth of the river. Duo slapped his forehead in irritancy, forgetting the river was the dividing mark between the kingdoms of Oz and Sanc. He turned to run back to the castle when a sharp and powerful blow to the head sent him reeling.

"Oh my . . . Captain Niko!! There’s a kid here!!" The yell pounded into Duo’s skull as he struggled to sit up. He didn’t have to go far when a meaty hand clamped itself around his arm, yanking him up. Ale-soaked breath blew in his face as the Niko looked at him.

"Heh! This is a kid, all right. Too weak and frail to be out in battle. Toss him by the river and let some merchant pick him up."

Duo was thrown to the other soldiers, who clumsily supported him. Darkness started to prick his eyes as consciousness left him.

He awoke some time later to find his face inches from the river. His mind registered where he was.

‘Solarian River . . . named after Solara Horuka . . . 200 years ago . . . after the fall of the . . . the . . . Solara River . . . Solara . . . ‘

Duo finally gave up, and passed out completely.

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OH WOW!! I did it, minna-san!! I wrote a fanfic-sorta. I just luuuuv Heero and Duo as a couple, and all these ideas flew in my brain so fast it shoved my basic addition right out! Other than 1+2 (hehehe) I know diddly-squat, but it’s worth it!!

E-mail me, everyone!!