Sins of Love and Past

By DragonMage

Chapter 3

Duo woke up the next morning tired but happy. He had had fun last night at the festival with Wufei. He had thought it was strange that a boy at 19 had never tasted ale or been to a festival before but he pushed it aside. His father was probably a hermit and he had never gone out before. Duo *had* met the boy first at the lake.

The knight kicked off his covers and stepped out of bed. He pushed open the window of his room and was happy to find that the sun was out and the day was warm. The rain from two nights ago was gone and everything was nice and dry again. The ruined shops that had been burnt down were being repaired today and there hadn't been a single sighting of that dragon anywhere. Well, not yet anyway. He just hoped that the dragon never did come back, although at the same time he wished it did so he could take care of it once and for all so they wouldn't have to worry about more future attacks.

He quickly got dressed and ate the breakfast Hilde had laid out for him and left his house and headed for the palace where he would continue training the new recruits. He was half way through the gates when he spotted Trowa already giving his students instructions.

"Good morning, Trowa," Duo said cheerfully as he neared his friend.

"Morning, Duo. How was your night at the festival?" Trowa asked as he gave his students a quick five-minute break.

"It was good," Duo said, nodding.

Trowa smiled. "I saw you with that boy you bumped into yesterday."

"Yeah. He came over for some training and we ended when the festival started so we decided to go together," Duo said, shrugging. "He's all right when he's not being annoying."

Trowa laughed.

"All right, I've got to go get my students together. I'll see you later for lunch?" Duo said as he walked off.

"Same time, same place," Trowa called after him.

Duo nodded and waved. He shouted for his lazy students to get together and they started the day's lessons with the staff before moving on to the swords.

~*~

Wufei laughed as he ran out through the gates and up into the lake. He had provoked his brother, yet again, and now Heero was racing after him ready for his blood.

"Give me back the pearl, Wufei!" Heero shouted as he swam faster, trying to catch up with his younger brother.

"Never!" Wufei swam harder and soon shot out of the lake and into the air. He looked back and watched as his brother also burst out through the water, hot on his tail.

They raced around the sky, causing the rains to fall as they played. Soon they were throwing the pearl back and forth while they flew around trees and mountains. The rain fell harder as they continued to play.

"See! Playing in the human realm isn't at all that bad," Wufei said as he tossed the pearl back to his brother and smiled.

"Yes, but we better stop this rain before those dragon hunters come out and try to kill us," Heero said as he opened his mouth and swallowed the pearl for safekeeping.

Wufei nodded and they flew back down the shores of the lake. They quickly transformed into their human forms and sat down on the boulders at the side of the lake. The rain had immediately cleared up the minute they stopped playing and now they were watching the rain water drip off the leaves and branches of the trees onto the ground. Of course, they were seated well and far from the rainwater.

"The human world is very different," Heero remarked as they lay there staring up at the clear blue sky. The rain had emptied out the clouds and they were a nice fluffy white color against the deep blue. The sun was high in the sky and warm but they had their backs to it so it didn't come into their eyes, allowing them a nice view of the sky.

Wufei nodded in agreement. "That's why I like it so much. It's different from out own world. There's so many things you can explore and see."

"It's dangerous though," Heero said quietly. He turned to Wufei. "I want you to be careful. That dragon hunter that went after you last time can hunt you down. Remember the last dragon that had been taken down?"

"Of course, Heero, I'm careful," Wufei said defensively. Of course, he hadn't told his brother that he was actually associating with said dragon hunter. He had no idea why he even went to the training grounds to bother the dragon hunter but he had. There was something about the hunter that had attracted him and he couldn't help but learn more about him. He liked the dragon hunter. He had a sense of humor and he was nice as well. There was nothing bad about him--well except he hunted dragons. <Maybe I can change him. Show him that dragons aren't as bad as they seem to them. They've all been misinformed about dragons. I should try to set them straight.>

"Not careful enough," Heero said, shaking his head.

"You're the one who started the rain," Wufei pointed out.

"I know," Heero said with a smile.

Wufei rolled his eyes. He sighed softly and smiled slightly as he watched the clouds float by. "Do you want to go into the city and see the people there?"

"No, thank you. This is as far as I go," Heero said, shaking his head.

"You really don't like the human realm, do you?"

"No. Wufei, listen to me," Heero said with sudden seriousness. He sat up on his elbows and faced his brother. "If you don't be careful and stop these trips to the human realm it's going to be your downfall."

Wufei frowned at his brother's tone and expression. "Have you seen something, Heero?"

Heero sighed heavily and ran his fingers through his thick hair. "I don't know. I just have this...feeling. Please listen to me, Wufei, and stop going to the human realm."

Wufei was silent for a moment. Then he spoke. "I can't stop going but I will be extra careful."

Heero shook his head. "That's not enough! You're gonna get yourself into a lot of trouble if you don't stop."

"But I can't stop, Heero. I love this realm just as much as I love our own realm. I can't leave it," Wufei said, shaking his head. "It'll hurt me. Please, Heero, understand me."

"I'm trying, Wufei, but I just can't see how you can love a realm that might end up killing you," Heero said angrily.

"Please, Heero, just let this go. I'll be extra careful and I won't go out as much anymore. But I just can't stop all together."

Heero stared at his brother for a long time. Then he nodded. "Fine. But if you get yourself hurt I'll kill you."

Wufei smiled at his older brother's protectiveness and nodded. "I'll be careful."

"Good. I'm going to go back. I have a date," Heero said with a small smile as he leaped off the boulder and dove back into the water.

Wufei sat there for a long time, going over his brother's words. Then he sighed and laid back down on the boulder and continued to admire the sky as the sun warmed him up.

~*~

Duo hated to admit it but he suddenly missed Wufei. Sure, they had only knew each other for less than a day but he had been hoping the exotic boy would make his appearance during or after the training sessions. But so far the boy hadn't appeared. It was almost night fall and everyone was turning in for the night and Wufei still hadn't appeared.

After he put away his things, Duo wondered what he was to do. He could just go back home and let Hilde feed him and then go to bed like he usually did. Or he could go to the bars and play a little bit of dice with Trowa. But he didn't feel like doing any of that. Instead, he wanted to spend his time with Wufei.

<He did say he lived in the woods. I don't think it'd be that hard to find him. I'll just go back to the lake and see if I can find him,> Duo reasoned with himself as he saddled his horse and got on. He gathered the reins in his hands and rode towards the forest. <I must be an idiot doing this.> He shook his head and tried not to wonder why he was doing this. But he just kept on riding towards the woods.

By the time he reached the lake the moon was peeking out behind the clouds and the sky was dark but there was still enough to see by. Again, Duo was wondering what he was doing. It was crazy. Sure, Wufei was a nice boy but it didn't mean he had to go through such trouble looking for the boy. Why did he want to see Wufei? It was stupid but he seriously had no good reason other than the fact he wanted to see Wufei. <Something is wrong with me,> Duo decided as he neared the lake.

He was right around the edges of the clearing around the lake when he heard sounds of splashing. He raised an eyebrow. Who took a bath at this time of the night? He climbed down from his horse and tied it to a tree. Then he pushed back the foliage and stepped through. What he saw stopped his breath.

Wufei was waist deep in the shallow part of the lake, glistening wet from the bath he was taking. His muscles were nicely defined in the dim moonlight shining down on the waters of the lake. The boy was completely oblivious to his silent watcher as he hummed softly to himself while he washed himself.

Duo blinked as he noticed his breathing had became a bit heavier than normal and his heart was pounding. <What's wrong with me??> he wondered as he continued to watch, spellbound by Wufei's languid movements. He knew that Wufei was a nice looking boy and any girl would want to go out with him but that didn't explain why he was feeling so warm. He had been attracted to a few girls in his life but he had never felt this sort of attraction for a boy! <No way, I'm just...No, I can't be attracted to him. That's wrong. That's NOT right...> Or at least that's what his brain told him. His traitorous body said otherwise.

Taking a deep breath, Duo decided to make his appearance before he did anything stupid. Like run. He had came out here for a purpose. What was it again? Oh yeah, he was looking for Wufei...Why? <Aw, shit. What's the point of this? What *am* I doing out here?>

SNAP!

Wufei whirled around at the sharp sound of a twig breaking and his eyes widened when he saw Duo.

Duo tried not to stare at Wufei as he walked over to the edge of the lake and waved at Wufei. The boy looked incredibly good with his wet hair framing his face and his wet lips parted in shock.

"Hello, Wufei," Duo said, smiling cheerfully as he shouted for his lower extremities to plainly shut up.

"Duo? What are you doing out here?" Wufei demanded as he continued to stand there and stare at Duo in shock. "And how did you find me in the first place?"

"We first met here so I figured you lived around the area," Duo said, shrugging.

"All right. What are you doing out here?"

"..."

"Duo?"

Duo sighed and decided to tell the truth. Maybe it wouldn't be that bad. "You didn't come today and I had wondered if something happened."

Wufei nodded as he slowly walked out of the water.

Duo's eyes widened and he promptly whirled around to give Wufei some privacy while he tried to battle that stupid blush creeping up his cheeks. <Wrong! Liking a boy is wrong! Liking girls are right. Shit, body, you've got to realize that!>

While he talked to himself Duo could hear some rustling as Wufei pulled the clothes that had been lying on the bank of the shore on.

"You can turn around," Wufei said with a hint of amusement.

"Ah, well, I just thought--" Duo began.

"No, I understand. But we're both boys, aren't we? There's nothing to hide," Wufei said almost innocently.

Duo decided not to answer that as he turned around and nodded at Wufei. "So, you live out here, huh?"

"Yes."

"With family?"

"No. I live alone. My family didn't want to come with me so I just came by myself."

"That's nice. Where is your house?" Duo asked as he looked around curiously. He had never seen a house or cabin anywhere near the lake so he wasn't sure if got all of this right.

"Oh, it's far from here. I walk here every day because I love the lake so much," Wufei said, shrugging.

"Ah, I see. Well, it is nice," Duo agreed, nodding.

There was a brief silence as both boys tried to think of something to say.

"So you came out here because I didn't show up?" Wufei asked a bit tentatively.

Duo laughed awkwardly. "Well, yeah...I don't know. I like you as a friend, Wufei, I guess."

"That's nice. Well, now I suppose I'll make sure I come to the city every day now so you won't have to worry about me," Wufei said as he looked up at the moon.

Duo tried not to dwell on the ethereal features of Wufei's face that were currently being illuminated by the soft milky moon light. He reminded himself yet again that liking boys were bad and he should stop. Besides, it wasn't like his feelings were returned. <Feelings? Nooo, I have no feelings at all! No feelings! Just lust. It can be taken care of easily! Just have to find someone...Argh!! This is impossible.>

"You don't have to," he finally said after he snapped his attention away from Wufei's face.

"No, I want to. I don't go down to the city very much and I want to." Then Wufei gave him the most sweetest smile and Duo lost his trail of thinking as he ended up just staring at the handsome face like an idiot.

Wufei scrunched up his eyebrows and looked at Duo strangely. "Duo, why are you staring at me like that?"

Duo blinked. "Um...Oh, uh...It's nothing. I just thought I--Never mind." Duo felt like smacking himself. He was becoming an utter idiot, that's what he was becoming.

"All right. If you say so," Wufei said, nodding.

"Well, I better get going. I'll see you tomorrow?" Duo asked.

Wufei nodded and smiled again. "Of course. I'll be there around the afternoon. Maybe you can teach me how to fight."

"Great. Well, bye then," Duo said, waving before he disappeared back in the direction he had came from.

When Duo disappeared through the trees and Wufei could no longer hear his footsteps did the dragon breathe a sigh of relief. It had been some trouble controlling his form in the water but he had managed to keep it together since he wanted to clean his human form. It wouldn't do for him to walk around like a dirty street urchin, would it? Besides, from the way Duo looked at him it was clear that he liked what he saw.

<Did I just think that?> Wufei flushed and tried to make sense of what was wrong with him. Gods, he had never reacted like this with any dragon or human before. How was Duo special? What was it about him that caused Wufei to give him a second glance, to smile at him, to make him stutter so adorably. <There are no rules against liking boys among dragons,> he thought to himself as he ran his fingers through his hair and quickly dried it. <But I don't know about humans. What a strange predicament. Is Duo feeling awkward about liking me?>

A smile graced his lips at that thought. Did Duo like him? Or was Duo one of those shy people who weren't comfortably with nudity? But then Duo didn't seem like a very shy guy... Of all strange humans he had to like, it had to be a dragon hunter. How tragic.

~*~

Duo looked over at Wufei who was munching on another cake with supreme contentment. They were out in the city, just walking around and talking about any random thing that came to mind. Wufei seemed fascinated with the city and couldn't seem to get enough of it.

"Wufei?"

"Hmm?"

"Why are you so protective of dragons?" Duo asked, remembering their first meeting at the Mist Lake.

"Because I know that they don't deserved to be hunted down like demons," Wufei replied after swallowing a mouthful of cake.

"And how do you know that?"

"I know some, Duo," Wufei answered honestly. He then gave Duo a sharp look. "But I'm not revealing them to you, Duo. I can't. They're my friends and I will not betray their trust in me."

Duo nodded slowly, understanding Wufei's words. Ever since he had met Wufei he had started seeing things in a somewhat different light when it came to dragons. "But they still hurt people. They burn attack towns and cities, burn down houses, and scare the populace. How can they be good? They are demons!"

"Are not!" Wufei denied vehemently. "They're beautiful, magical creatures like unicorns and phoenixes. They are creatures who deserve to live. The only reason why they do the things they do is because they have to protect themselves. They don't do it because it's fun! Dragons take no pleasure in destruction! Surely you don't."

"Of course not!"

"As well as the dragon." Wufei was still frowning yet his expression softened some. "They don't deserve to be hunted down like demons, Duo. They’ve done nothing but protect themselves. Is that not the natural instinct of every creature?"

"Why do dragons even show up in cities when they can just stay in their own world?" Duo demanded. "They're safer there, obviously! If they just stayed away from the humans they wouldn't be hunted."

"Duo, don't you see what beauty this world offers?" Wufei asked with a deep passion in his smooth tenor. "Don't you see what this world has to offer to someone? Sometimes dragons can't help but fall in love with this world. It's filled with so much warmth and there are so many new and exotic things for a dragon to discover! They are curious creatures as well, same as humans. They come to the human realm because they like it, appreciate it and want to learn from it." He paused and then smiled. "Dragons live for a very long time, Duo, and sometimes the dragon world gets boring when you've seen every single reach of it. To have another world only so far away is very tempting to those who would risk it and go out to explore it."

Duo watched as Wufei's face took on a dreamy yet sad expression. Then it disappeared and the pale boy was smiling cheerfully.

"Does that explain anything for you?"

Duo nodded slowly. "Yes, it does. You speak as if you know from experience?"

"Dragons are very expressive people," Wufei stammered. "It's not hard to remember their words when it's said with so much passion."

"You're probably right," Duo agreed, although he felt there was something not very right with the way Wufei acted just a moment ago.

"Ah, so, how are the rice cakes here?" Wufei asked, desperate for a change of subject.

"Good."

"Good! Let's go buy some!" The pale boy laced his fingers with Duo and began to pull him with him as he went in search of a vendor.

~*~

"Duo, what's wrong?"

Duo snapped his head up from staring at his soup and blinked at his friend. "Huh?"

"You're not eating and you're awfully quiet. Is there something wrong?" Trowa asked with a trace of concern for his usually active friend.

"Not really. Just thinking about things," Duo admitted.

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Stuff. Dragons. People. I've just been given a lot to think about, that's all," Duo said with a careless shrug.

"You were with that boy again. Wufei, isn't it?" Trowa asked.

"Yeah."

"You guys seem to be getting close," Trowa remarked.

Duo narrowed his eyes at his friend. "What's that suppose to mean?"

"Nothing. I'm just saying you're getting close. I thought you two hated each other at first sight."

"No. We don't hate each other. We just have to different beliefs and we tend to disagree on them. Loudly," Duo told him, grinning. "He's an okay kid."

"He does seem that way. Strange though. His skin's too pale and his eyes are too dark." Trowa dipped his spoon into his soup and blew on it before shoving it into his mouth.

"What are you talking about, Trowa?" Duo asked, frowning slightly.

Trowa looked at his friend. "What I'm saying, Duo, is that Wufei might not seem like the person you see right now."

Duo tried to get Trowa to expand on his words but the other man refused to say anything else on the matter and kept on eating. Soon enough, Duo tired of pestering his friend and finished off his soup as well. But Trowa's words never left him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, that has been the longest writer's block I have EVER had in my life... Okay, maybe not. But it's still bad....