Quatre, still blushing bright red and now fully clothed rode behind his half shocked half seething superior. He had to admit though, that it was surprisingly comfortable riding Sandrock bareback. They had returned to the riverside in search of Quatre’s mare only to find her gone. Wufei was livid at her lost and seemed to be having a hard time believing that Sandrock was actually a Unicorn who seemed to possess telepathic abilities.

Wufei had asked, for example, where Sandrock’s horn was. The sandy horse had explained that he had lost it to a hunter a year or so ago but Wufei had just snorted angrily and snapped a few choice insults at Quatre before leading him towards the campsite.

The sun was beginning to dip at the horizon and Quatre’s eyes were beginning to feel heavy. He lent forwards against Sandrock’s neck and sighed deeply.

<Is he always this stiff?>

"He has been for as long as I have known him." Quatre whispered, eying Wufei’s back. "I don’t think they like me. They didn’t want me to join them."

<Why not?> Quatre shrugged.

"They’re a tight knit group. They think I’m going to interrupt their work." Sandrock snorted and glared at Wufei’s back.

To himself he wondered; <I wonder how much it would take to make that horse throw her rider...>

*****

Duo eyed the soldiers around their campfire with searching eyes, judging by their uniforms they were members of Her Majesties Royal Guard. What are they doing all the way out here?

Still, he was not sure about approaching them, he could still feel Shinigami in him, prowling near the surface, looking for more prey to sink her teeth into. He did not want to attack these soldiers, all he wanted was food. He had sold the mare but had not had enough time to purchase food before the people of the village began to succumb to the instinct to kill him.

His eyes took in their swords and steeds, examining their builds. Both radiated a strength like no other Duo had ever encountered before. Were he to change, they may have the power to destroy him. He smiled grimly and was about to approach when two more horses appeared and he shrank back into the shadows, watching

*****

Heero noticed Wufei’s livid expression immediately and he sighed. It had to be the boy.

"What did he do this time?" Trowa questioned, fondling a knife in an intimidating sort of way. Quatre swallowed nervously.

"Don’t. Ask." Wufei ground out as he tied off Nataku and threw himself onto the ground, angrily.

"Where is his horse?" Heero asked, eying Sandrock. Quatre rolled his eyes, heaven forbid they should just ask him!

"He lost it." Wufei replied, rummaging through their supplies for something to eat. Trowa’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

"You lost your horse?" Quatre nodded miserably and prepared himself for the impending onslaught.

*****

Duo flinched in sympathy as Trowa began yelling furious insults at the cadet. He must be his Trainer or something. Duo thought, shaking his head. The poor kid. He can’t be much older than they are, yet...He just seems to young.

Intent on rescuing the boy, Duo stood from his hiding place and approached the circle of light around the camp.

However, instead of rescuing the boy, his arrival seemed to rescue the instructor as Sandrock had been preparing to kick. Silence feel across the camp as all eyes fell on the weary traveller. He offered the soldiers a small smile and a wave.

"Hi." Silence. "Erm...I was just wondering..." The stares were really beginning to bother him. "Are you guys...Alive?" Wufei blinked and Duo sweat dropped.

All eyes trained dubiously on this strange boy. Eight eyes look in the long braid and violet eyes. Eight eyes examined the black clothes, walking boots and the light pack hanging from the boys shoulder. None of the soldiers had ever seen anyone like this boy before and he unnerved them.

"Who are you?" Duo turned to Heero with his most winning smile which had, of course, absolutely no effect whatsoever.

"My name is Duo Maxwell." He said, bowing dramatically and casting a friendly glance at Quatre who smiled at him. "I was just wondering if you had any food you could spare?" He questioned, straightening up. "I haven’t eaten in days." He added, going for the sympathy vote.

Heero glared at him. There was something about this boy which made him uneasy, an odd feeling stirring in the pit of his stomach but he pushed it away, as a Royal Guard it was his responsibility to help any and all of Her Majesties subjects. He glanced at his companions to gauge their responses to the strangers request. Wufei shrugged, duty was duty after all. Heero stepped to the side and gestured towards the fire, his face it’s usual blank mask.

"Take a seat. Boy." Quatre suppressed a sigh and moved to sit beside the fire, rummaging through their supplies and beginning to prepare their meal. Duo took the proffered seat by the fire, a large smile which never quite reached his eyes, plaster onto his face.

"What are you doing out here alone?" Wufei questioned.

"I’m travelling to meet a friend." Duo replied brightly. Wufei nodded, apparently satisfied with this explanation. "So... Who are you guys? I assume you have names?"

Heero glared, as usual, but conceded and gestured to Wufei. "Chang Wufei, Lieutenant Trowa Barton and Quatre Winner." He spat Quatre’s last name like it tasted bad or something. Quatre rolled his eyes.

"Nice to meet you all. And you?" Duo prodded, beaming at Heero.

"Captain Heero Yuy." Duo nodded once and settled back against a tree trunk.

"So...You guys are quite away from the Palace, what are you doing out here?"

Wufei shrugged and settled back as Heero and Trowa sat, neither one appearing to want to answer his question. Quatre gave him a sympathetic smile at his mildly hurt look and spoke up.

"We’re hunting."

"Oh! So you guys are on vacation!" Heero rolled his eyes.

"No." Quatre replied in a tired voice. "I don’t think they’ve ever had a vacation in their lives." This comment earned him a triple Death Glare. "We’ve been sent by Her Majesty herself to catch a creature no one has ever seen before."

Duo frowned. "How can you catch a creature no one’s ever seen?"

"No one has lived to speak of it." Heero said in his usual monotone, glaring pointedly at Quatre who sighed angrily and returned his attention to the fire. "It has been massacring people left right and centre." He added. Duo stared with wide eyes at the Captain as, behind him, Quatre speared a couple of potatoes on sticks to cook.

"What’s this thing called?" He asked, trying to keep his voice steady. If they were after him, he could let them kill him and it would all be over.

"We do not know." Was his only reply.

<It’s you.> Came the reply in his head, making him look up in surprise. His face lit up as his eyes fell on Sandrock.

"Unicorn!" He scrambled to his feet and left the circle of fire light, heading over to where the horses were tethered, patting Sandrock’s neck.

<I have a name now you know.> Duo grinned.

"What are you doing here? Ok, stupid question." Duo added, glancing at Quatre. "I see you found him then." Sandrock whinnied.

<They are hunting you.> Sandrock informed him, eying the three soldiers dubiously. <They have been sent to capture, not kill.>

"People have tried that before." Duo mumbled under his breath. "They didn’t live to tell of it. No one ever has."

<You should run.>

Duo shook his head. "If I run, they chase. Beside’s the fewer the people the longer it takes for the instinct to kill me to kick in." Sandrock gave him a sympathetic look.

<It is hard to be hunted every day of your life. Always running.> Duo nodded with a sigh.

"So. It really is a Unicorn is it?" Duo turned to find Wufei approaching them, a mildly surprised look on his face. He handed Duo a plate of food and moved to feed the horses. "For a while, I thought the boy had finally lost it." Duo shrugged and bade Sandrock goodbye before returning to the fire side.

They ate in silence, Duo keeping his eyes locked on the fire, well aware of the four penetrating gazes trained upon him. He ate quickly, welcoming the warm feeling of the hot food sliding down his throat. It had been to long since he had had a hot meal.

Heero watched the traveller wearily. There was something about this boy, something which made the back of his mind itch, as though he had met the boy before. But he was sure that he would remember those bright violet eyes and that meter long braid which curled behind him on the ground like a snake. He took in his travel worn clothes and the dirt smudges on his pale skin. He did not look much like a traveller, at least not one who travelled in the sun all day. Something in his heart told him to trust this boy, but his mind told him to get as far away as possible. He shook his head and tried to focus his attention on his food.

Wufei shifted his position on the ground restlessly. His eyes seemed pulled towards the braided boy far more than he would have liked. There was something about those violet eyes that drew him like twin magnets. He examined the build of the boy beneath the black clothes, examining his boots, his mind automatically visualising the types of tracks the boy would make. Some habits are hard to kick.

Trowa ran appraising eyes over the stranger. He wondered what kind of combat skills the boy possessed and how much effort it would take to take him down. The braid would make it easier if it could be used as an anchor but it could also hinder his...He blinked and scowled at himself. The boy was just a traveller, he posed no threat to their mission whatsoever. His eyes left the boy sharply, determined not to suspect the poor youth. Unintentionally Trowa’s eyes feel on the Cadet and stayed their, captivated by the way the fire light lit his soft skin and danced in his passionate blue eyes. He closed his own eyes firmly and shoved those thoughts as far back into his mind as he could. The last thing he needed was to form a physical attraction to his Cadet!

"Well!" Duo said brightly as he set his plate on the ground, standing. "Thank you so much for the food but I had best be on my way."

"You are welcome to stay." Heero said before he could stop himself. He frowned internally, since when do I invite strangers to camp with us? Wufei stared at him in surprise, his mouth all but hanging open. Heero shrugged, it was to late to take the offer back now and besides, it was their duty to see the traveller safe. He frowned externally this time. Why am I trying to justify this to myself?

Duo grinned. "Really? Thanks!" He gave them all a huge smile as he settled himself back down by the fire and stretched out on the ground, coiling his braid up like a pillow and staring up at the sky.

Heero watched him as he put his plate into the pack and unrolled his blanket. There was something about the sight he made which stirred ... something, in him.

Lust.

That was it. The sight of the boy stirred lust within him. Satisfied with this answer he settled himself in for the night. Lust he had experienced before. Lust he could live with.

Duo stared long and hard at the star strewn sky. He couldn’t stay long. He would wait until they were all asleep then slip away, they wouldn’t care provided he did not steal anything. He would just wait until they were asleep and....

*****

Duo awoke early next morning to find Quatre shaking him. He blinked and sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Good morning. We’re breaking camp." Duo nodded, still feeling disorientated. It had been years since he had slept at night, preferring to travel then when he was less likely to be attacked and was able to defend himself.

He glanced around the camp, watching as Wufei scattered the remains of their fire to mask their passage and Quatre moved to tend to the horses. He scrambled to his feet and stretched, he had not felt this well resting in ages!

"Where are your friends?" He questioned, opening his pack and looking for a change of clothes.

"They left earlier." Quatre informed him as he greeted Sandrock, wincing at the mental tirade in his head which told him that Sandrock was definitely not a morning person ... err ... horse. "Lieutenant Barton is scouting ahead and Captain Yuy has doubled back to the river to refill the water canteens."

Duo just nodded in a dazed way and began to pull his shirt over his head. He dropped it to the ground beside him and grabbed another shirt, pulling it out. The tangy smell of blood assaulted his senses immediately and he quickly shoved it back into his pack, glancing around to make sure the others hadn’t seen the blood soaked garment. No matter how many times he washed it, the blood would always come back, fresh from a kill.

He sighed and pulled out a different shirt. He would have to double back to the river as well to clean the top he must have missed yesterday. All his shirts were identical. Thick black for the winter and thin black for the summer. The collars were black except for a small white patch at the front which pressed to his throat. He had always worn black. The colour of death, his colour.

"Captain Yuy has given permission for you to ride with us to the next town." Wufei informed him as Duo rooted through his bag for his hair brush, the only thing he had left of his mother.

"Thanks but, I would only slow you down. Besides, I like to avoid towns."

"Why?" Quatre questioned.

Because people tend to try and kill me. "I don’t like crowded spaces." It wasn’t really a lie. So why did he feel like he was betraying them. Not betraying them, betraying my mother, she hated lies.

"That’s a shame." Quatre said, sadly, he had been looking forward to having someone to talk to on their journey. Duo gave him a soft smile.

"I don’t have a horse." He added, pulling his braid over his shoulder and untying the piece of rough cord which held it in place. "I would only slow you up. It’s important you catch that beast isn’t it?"

Wufei nodded, pouring water over the remaining ashes and rubbing them into the earth. "It is our mission. And we never fail in a mission."

Duo laughed as he undid the braid, he could not help it, Wufei sounded so serious!

"What, is so funny?" Wufei asked coldly.

"Nothing. Hey, Mr. Wufei, how old are you?" Wufei gave him a ‘look’ and turned his back on him.

"It’s Chang. My last name is Chang." Duo frowned.

"But your friend said your name was Chang Wufei."

"My last name is given first in introductions." Wufei informed him dispassionately. "It is custom."

"Oh. Sorry. So, Mr. Chang. How old are you?"

"That is none of your business."

"Well, you can’t be much older than your Cadet here-"

"Quatre."

"-Quatre. So why do you call him boy?" Wufei raised an immaculate eyebrow and turned to answer. What he saw tore all replies from his lips as he stared at the boy in surprise. A waterfall of chestnut brown hair cascaded down the boys chest as he dragged the brush through it, pulling out all the little kinks and knots. Duo gave him an expectant look and continued to brush.

Recovering himself remarkably quickly Wufei answered; "He has little to no field experience, he is physically weak, he has a weak stomach and feels far to much compassion for a soldier."

Duo blinked.

"You sound like you’ve thought a lot about this." Wufei just shrugged and headed over to Nataku to load up his pack. Duo gave Quatre a sympathetic look but the boy just shrugged.

"Don’t worry. Lieutenant Barton makes it his life work to tell me all that every day."

"Funny that."

"Why?"

"He was watching you all last night but he didn’t look angry just...Appraising." Quatre sighed, his shoulders sagging.

"Probably wondering what task he can give me to ‘toughen me up’ today." Duo laughed and put the brush back into his pack, separating his hair to braid it. "Why do you keep your hair so long?" Quatre asked, settling on the ground beside Duo.

"I just do. It has sentimental value I guess. My mother used to braid it for me before..." He trailed off and turned his head away, concentrating on the braid.

"My mother is dead too." Quatre said, leaning against the tree and staring up at the cloudless summer sky. "I don’t remember to much about her except her hair, like spun gold. My Father always told me she loved music, she used to sing all the time to put me to sleep."

"If you don’t mind my asking Quatre, why did you join the military? It’s hardly the life style for someone like you, no offence meant of course."

"None taken. I joined as a medic, I wanted to help people I guess. I didn’t join to fight, my family are noted pacifists."

"Noted? Are they Nobles?" Quatre nodded.

"I’m the Queen’s cousin. That’s why they didn’t want me to join them. Most Cadets who go out into the field are put into as many life threatening situations as possible but the Queen forbade Captain Yuy to do that to me. If anything happens to her without an heir, my Father would take the throne and I would be king after him."

"So if anything happens to you..."

"Queen Relena would probably have Lieutenant Barton’s head." He gave Duo a wry smile. "Not Captain Yuy’s of course."

"Why not?"

"She has a thing for him. Rumour has it she’s going to ask him to become King after this mission."

Duo laughed loudly. "No wonder he’s so anxious to catch his prey, he want’s to get back to his sweetheart!" Quatre laughed with him, he found he couldn’t help it, the boys laugh was contagious.

"I’ve heard he’s always like this." Quatre said as his laughter lessened and Wufei stopped staring at them like they were mad. "Totally dedicated, totally focused, all the time."

"Wow."

"Yeah."

"He needs a life! Or a girlfriend!" Quatre burst into fits of laughter again, totally unaware of the cobalt blue eyes watching the two from a few feet away.

"I couldn’t imagine him with a girlfriend." Quatre informed him, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. "Let alone a wife!" Duo laughed again.

"He is a little...Unemotional. I think someone must have surgically removed his personality." They both burst out laughing again as Heero’s eye narrowed dangerously. They calmed down a moment later, both sighing happily and staring up at the sky as Duo finished his braid. He lent forward on the ground to retrieve the string for his hair when he saw a pair of military boots. He looked up slowly until he was staring into those enraged blue eyes. "Erm....Quatre?"

"Hmm?"

"Look up."

"What...Oh." Quatre felt his heart sink. Judging by the infuriated look on his Captains face he had heard the entire exchange. Duo patted his arm comfortingly.

"Just remember, he can’t kill you."

"But," Heero said dangerously, "I can make him wish he were dead." Quatre went pale. Duo decided that was definitely his cue and he leapt to his feet, grabbing his pack and doing it up hurriedly.

"Well, I had better get going if I’m to meet my friend. It was nice meeting you all. Bye Quatre." Quatre just made a small noise in the back of his throat and stared hard at the ground. Duo gave Heero a bright smile which faded when bright violet met dark cobalt. "See ya around." He said in a more subdued voice and disappeared into the undergrowth, shaking his head and pitying Quatre like no other creature on earth.

*****