Notes: Gomen, gomen, gomen for making everyone wait sooo long to have this come out! I have been busy, no da. Neways, I just wanted to say thank you to all those people who pushed me--Lilie nee-chan--into getting this thing done! Oh, and thanks to Kitty too! *grin*

Chapter 10

"Heero? What's the matter?" Quatre asked as he walked into his prince's room to find Heero standing on the balcony, leaning over the rail and staring up at the darkened night sky.

"What am I going to do?" Heero asked softly.

"About what, Heero?"

"Wufei. What am I going to do with him?"

"I don't understand, Heero. Isn't he going to stick around?" Quatre asked as he walked over to Heero and stood beside his prince. "He's recovering nicely and I bet he'll be moving around giving you trouble soon enough. Your brother's crowning will happen soon and everything will be set on its rightful course. What else is there to worry about?"

Heero turned and looked at Quatre with sad eyes. "I'm...I'm going to let Wufei go, Quatre."

Quatre's eyes widened. "Why, Heero?"

"I can't keep him around...Not like this. He's a prisoner!" Heero sighed heavily and closed his eyes. "Oh, I want to keep him. I want to have him. But I can't. I'm a prince and princes are suppose to marry women and have plenty of babies to carry on the blood line. If I was the sixth or seventh son they wouldn't care. I can go and get lost in the world and never come back and they'd never care. But my father only had two sons...And a bunch of asshole relatives. The family line depends on both of us."

"Heero, Trowa is betrothed. An heir will be born. I don't see what's wrong. You can still have Wufei."

"Society won't allow it, Quatre. I can't keep him without hurting both him and me," Heero said, shaking his head.

Quatre looked down at the railing and sighed softly. Heero was right. There was nothing they could do but let Wufei go and allow the bandit to live out his life without having to bother with them and "society". It was sad really. Heero loved Wufei so much.

"So, you're going to let him go?" the blonde asked quietly.

Heero nodded. "Yeah."

"When are you going to tell him?"

"When he's better and he can leave on his own."

"Ah. Well, you still have until then to spend time with him."

"I know."

"I'm sorry, Heero."

Heero sighed. "I know."

~*~

Wufei grimaced as he felt the pain in his back pull at his senses while he slowly made his way over to the window. Like any human being born to live in the woods, the confines of his room were starting to grate his nerves. He needed to feel the cool air against his skin and breathe in the sweet scents of nature coming up from the gardens. He sighed heavily as he leaned against the sill and took deep, slow breaths. The poison had done a number on him. He could have taken any arrow to his back without any complications after a few days of rest but that poison was what did him in. No one could fight poison in a few days.

When his breathing had evened out and the slight dizziness that had been around the edges of his consciousness faded, he reached up and undid the locks on the window. Then he pushed the glass up with all his might. When he finally got it stay in place, he leaned out of the window and took his first breath of fresh air in the longest time. Gods, it felt wonderful to have the sweet, fresh air in his system again.

Closing his eyes, Wufei lost himself into the wonderful feeling of the sun and the air mixed with the scents of the garden below. He was in heaven.

He had been so lost in his own little world he didn't hear Heero enter his room or even come near him until he felt a warm, strong hand on his shoulder. He started and whirled around, causing the dizziness he had been fighting back flooding his senses. He blinked as the blackness at the edge of his sight spread. He didn't realize it as he fell like a worn doll into Heero's arms. He moaned as his head fell back while Heero lifted him up and carried him back to the bed. He sighed in relief as he was placed on the soft comforts of the warm bed.

"You shouldn't have gotten up," Heero scolded.

"I felt fine," Wufei murmured with his eyes closed.

"Well, you're not. It's going to be a while before you actually go and move around like you used to. That poison was very strong. You're lucky you're still alive," Heero said quietly as he reached out and brushed away the strands of hair out of Wufei's face, loving the soft touch of Wufei's skin against his own. He resisted the urge to bend down and kiss Wufei. Gods, he did care and love the bandit with all his heart but...He sighed softly as he watched Wufei slowly drift back into a deep sleep.

Heero sat there and watched as Wufei slept. The slim bandit was breathing evenly and his face was so smooth and serene. That was the exact word he would use to describe Wufei. Serene. It always seemed like nothing disturbed Wufei's calm exterior. Except, of course, when he was angry with the prince.

Almost laughing out loud, Heero settled for an amused smile. Wufei had thought he loved Relena this whole time when he was actually in love with the bandit. It was absolutely absurd and Heero didn't know what to think or say. Or maybe...Maybe he could use that little thing to his advantage. He knew that Wufei had some sort of feelings for him and if he wanted to make sure Wufei went back to where he belonged he needed to play on whatever feelings Wufei had left for him.

Or maybe I'm just being an arrogant ass who actually thinks Wufei would care for him, Heero thought ironically as he reached out and took Wufei's hand into his own. He held the slim, sword callused hand in his own before lifting it up to his lips. He kissed the hand gently before leaning over and kissing Wufei on the forehead. I love you, Wufei...I don't know what's going to happen when I do what I'll do. But I just hope no one gets hurt except me.

With that resolved in his mind and heart, Heero stood up and left the room.

Wufei slowly opened his eyes.

~*~

Wufei healed quickly yet steadily over the next few days. The crowning was being prepared by Quatre and Trowa while Heero stayed by Wufei's side and entertained the healing bandit so he didn't do anything stupid like walk the whole palace. He was still weak, even if he didn't want to admit it. But he was getting stronger and stronger to Heero's relief. He ordered some men's clothing made and gave them to Wufei so the bandit didn't have to wear dresses anymore. He remembered the day when he did that...

//Wufei pulled an expression of disgust as he stared at his closet. "Ugh, I finally get to leave the room but I have to wear these goddamn dresses. Injustice!"

Heero shook his head and smiled as he walked into the room with a bundle of clothing in his arms. "You don't have to wear that anymore."

Wufei turned around and raised an eyebrow at Heero. "I don't?"

"No, you don't. I figure you'd be more comfortable in these," Heero said as he handed the bundle over to Wufei.

Wufei smiled as he unrolled the bundle, revealing men's clothing. His eyes lit up and he grinned broadly at Heero. "Thank you! Gods, you don't know how happy I am!" He then quickly stripped off his clothing in front of Heero without giving a second thought.

Heero blushed as he whirled around and tried to banish the image of Wufei's golden, naked body from his mind. Of course, that was impossible.

"What are you turned around for?" came Wufei's muffled question as he bandit obviously was trying to pull his shirt on. "Damnit! Ouch!" Wufei hissed in pain and Heero quickly turned around, relieved the bandit had at least pulled on his pants.

"Here, let me help," Heero said as he reached out and began to ease the soft cloth over Wufei's smooth shoulders. His hand brushed against them and Wufei's neck. He had to suppress a deep shiver of desire inside of him as he helped Wufei tie some loose strings around the V-neck of the shirt.

"Thanks, Heero," Wufei said softly as he stared at the prince with a strange expression on his face.

Heero swallowed a bit hard and nodded. "You're welcome." He tried not to stare at Wufei's soft lips but it was so hard! Finally he just muttered a stupid excuse and fled the room.//

He ached to hold Wufei in his arms again but he didn't feel like that was going to happen anytime soon. Not with Wufei sick and his decision to let go of the beautiful and exotic bandit. He wanted so badly to just grab Wufei and kiss the breath out of him, but that was something he didn't have permission to do.

Heero was leaning against the railing of the balcony and staring off at nothing when he felt a presence behind him. He turned around and smiled when he saw Wufei standing there, dressed warmly in his men's clothing with his hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. He was still too pale for Heero's comfort but he looked stronger and his eyes were full of life to his immense relief.

"What are you doing out here? You should be in bed," Heero scolded.

Wufei shrugged and stepped up beside Heero. "I've been in bed far too much these past couple of weeks. I thought it was time I got up and moved about. I do need to build up my muscles, you know."

"Of course I know. It doesn't mean I like you walking all over the palace," Heero snorted.

"I'm happy you seem to care, Heero," Wufei said teasingly, although his eyes conveyed another message.

Heero nodded solemnly. "I do care, Wufei. How can I not?" He reached out and smoothed his hand over Wufei's flawless cheek without wanting to. He slowly pulled away and turned around to stare off at nothing again.

"Heero..."

"Yes?"

"...It's a nice night, isn't it?"

Heero looked up and smiled slightly. "Yes, it is."

Wufei fell silent as he tried to think of something to say. He opened his mouth to say something but snapped it shut again. He sighed softly and stared down at his hands. He had so much on his mind and he had so many questions to ask Heero. Like why does he still care, why did he even keep him around? Didn't Heero have Relena...? Wufei was so confused and he had no idea how to voice it. He was tired of everything and all he wanted was a straight answer from Heero. His heart ached and he didn't know what to do about the ache anymore. Everything was thrown into a fucked up mess when he found Heero kissing Princess Relena. And now it was even worse with Heero being so kind to him--and he had no idea why.

Taking a deep breath, Wufei was determined to tell Heero what was on his mind. He was never known to be a coward and he wasn't going to start being one.

"Heero?"

"Yes, Wufei?"

"Why?"

"Why what, Wufei?"

"Why are you so nice to me? And...and aren't you suppose to be with Princess Relena instead of...worrying about me?" Wufei half-stammered. "I mean...Heero, what's going on?"

Heero straightened and looked at Wufei who was pale except for a slight flush to his golden cheeks. He also looked unbearably sad. His eyes were downcast and he was swallowing hard.

"I don't love Relena, Wufei. What you saw that day...It was a mistake," Heero admitted truthfully.

"You swear?" Wufei asked softly.

"I swear."

"Why are you taking care of me? I've just been trouble for you since I came here. Why didn't you just...let me go?" Wufei asked, his breath catching as he fought back a lump of pain in his throat. His eyes stung and his vision blurred a little but he didn't dare wipe away his tears. If he did, Heero would know he was almost crying.

"Do you want to be let go, Wufei?" Heero asked softly, almost sadly.

Wufei looked up at Heero and blinked, his eyes moist. "Yes," he lied. He didn't want to leave, that was probably the last thing he wanted. But everything was so wrong and Heero didn't love him. The best thing to do was leave and all he needed was Heero's permission--no matter how much he was against it. He wanted to just hold Heero and allow Heero to hold him and make everything better again. But things couldn't be better anymore, not right now. Everything was so wrong. He just wanted to go away.

Heero nodded slowly as he thought over Wufei's answer. So, I guess having him leave is a good thing. He took a deep breath--ignoring the deep pain in his heart--and said softly, "Then you're free to go, Wufei. I release you from your sentence. You don't have to worry about your friends, they'll be safe."

Wufei nodded and sighed almost in relief. He put on a false smile and bowed to Heero. "Thank you, Prince Heero." He pretended to be excited as he turned and left.

Heero thought sadly as he watched Wufei leave.

~*~

The next morning...

"You're really leaving?" Duo asked, sighing as he helped Wufei dress and pack to go back home to his friends.

"Yes, I really am leaving. I just can't stay here, Duo. I don't belong here," Wufei said, shrugging as he shoved another shirt into his bag only to have Duo take it back out and fold it neatly before replacing it.

"I know you don't belong here. But I'll miss you," Duo said truthfully.

Wufei turned and smiled at Duo. "But...be happy for me. I'm going home, Duo!"

"I know, I know. I'm just being really spoiled right now. You will come back and visit?" Duo asked.

"I'll try. I doubt it though. Tian might miss me too much and keep me around till he's sure I'm going to stick around. He's done that a few times," Wufei said, laughing weakly.

"Ah, well...At least you'll be going back home. Home is always the greatest place to be, huh?"

"Yeah. Yeah, that's right," Wufei said, nodding.

Duo silently regarded his friend before opening his mouth to ask the real question that had been running through his head. "Do you *want* to leave?"

Wufei paused, his back turned to his friend. Then he nodded and turned around, a slight smile on his lips. "Of course."

"Liar."

"So what if I am?" Wufei said, shrugging. "I have no place here, Duo. Even you can understand that, can't you?"

"I--Wufei, if you want to stay you should tell Prince--"

"No, Duo," Wufei said firmly as he walked over to the bed and shoved some more things into his pack. "I am going. I miss Tian and I miss the others. I miss...I miss the life of a bandit. And that yearning to go back to that life is far stronger than the one I have to stay."

Duo sighed and nodded. "All right. Whatever you say. Just...just come around and visit sometimes."

"You know, that is impossible," Wufei said softly.

"I know. But there's always hope," Duo said, smiling sadly.

"I'm going to miss you, Duo," Wufei said honestly.

"Same here, Wufei."

~*~

"Are you sure you don't need a horse?" Quatre asked, frowning as he watched Wufei shoulder his pack in front of the castle gates.

"Quatre, honestly, it'll be a bit strange if I go back with some fancy horse from the palace. The others might thing I betrayed them. I can't have that, now could I?" Wufei said as he adjusted to his pack. "Besides, walking will do me good. It's about time I get some fresh air instead of being locked up in some stuffy, cold castle."

"Oh, thank you for insulting my home," Quatre drawled.

"What? Look, I better get going if I want to make it back my nightfall. Good bye, Quatre," Wufei said, shaking the blonde's hand. Then he turned and smiled at Duo who gave him a tight hug. Heero wasn't there, he had been caught by some of the advisers concerning the Crowning and couldn't show up for the good bye.

"Good bye, Wufei. And good luck," Duo said, smiling as he released his friend.

Wufei bowed gracefully before turning and starting his journey back home. When he was far enough from the gates and he was sure Quatre and Duo weren't there anymore, he stopped walking and took a deep breath as he fought back the wave of pain consuming him. He had moved too much today and now it was taking its toll on him. He reached behind and touched his back. When he looked at his fingers they were stained with blood. He rubbed his fingers along his pants and shifted his pack again to take off the pressure on the wound. Then he started walking.

~*~

Heero stood at the balcony of his room, staring off at the sky as he watched the sun slowly set. He had finished up the damned meeting with the advisers and met up with Quatre who had told him Wufei had left. He wished he had been there but he knew that it was better that he wasn't. He didn't think he could bear to see the bandit leave, disappearing from his life forever.

Well, now everything is as it should be, he thought numbly as he leaned against the railing and stared down at the cold marble. He knew that after Trowa's Crowning, his brother would then wed the princess he was betrothed to. After all of that Heero knew that he would have to look for a wife as well. Unless of course there was some secret betrothal he didn't know about. Hey, it's happened.

But he didn't want a wife. He wanted Wufei, but Wufei was probably close to the woods already where his friends lived--where he belonged. He knew he had done something good when he released Wufei, but he just wasn't sure what that was just yet. If what I did was so great, then why doesn't this hurt go away? he thought angrily.

But Wufei should be happy right now. He's free. That's what he's always wanted, Heero told himself as he straightened and went back into his bedroom.

~*~

At the bandit's camp...

Tian frowned into the fire, listening to the men around him sleep comfortably. He hadn't been able to sleep soundly at all, not since Wufei had been captured. He missed his little lover, the sweet child he had cared for ever since the exotic boy became part of their band. There had been many ambushes since the one with the prince but they weren't the same, not with Wufei gone and probably rotting away in the dungeons of the castle.

He had no idea what had happened to his exotic lover. None of them had heard of any death sentence concerning the man since he was captured so Tian was sure Wufei was probably still alive. But he wasn't so sure on Wufei's condition. His heart ached as he thought of what could have happened to Wufei during his capture.

Tian stood up and was about to go to sleep as well when he heard some noises coming from the thick woods surrounding the camp. It was a warm night and everyone was sleeping outside instead of inside the wooden house where it was too warm. He had made a count to make sure everyone was there so whoever was nearing the came was an intruder.

Grabbing his sword, Tian was ready to take off any man's head that had dared come near his camp and his friends. When he saw the shadow of a man come closer, he raised his sword, ready to strike. But he stopped when he saw the familiar face lit up by the moonlight and the fire coming from the middle of the camp.

"Wufei," Tian breathed as he dropped his sword and ran over to the man.

"Tian," Wufei whispered, smiling as he saw his friend and lover come closer. When Tian had his arms he collapsed against the older man, breathing heavily as the whole day's walk drained him of all his energy.

"Wufei, what's wrong?" Tian demanded as he quickly ripped the pack off his lover's back only to reveal a dark stain of blood on the exotic man's shirt. "Wufei!"

The men around the camp stirred and woke up to find their leader cradling their lost friend with a horrified expression on his face.

"Get Ming! Wufei's injured!" Tian shouted as he watched Wufei slip unconscious.

~*~

Ming smiled in relief as he pulled the blanket over Wufei's slim body. He straightened and turned to Tian who hadn't left at all since Wufei was brought in.

"He's fine. He lost a little bit of blood, but it can be quickly taken care of with rest and food," Ming said soothingly.

"How did he get that wound?"

"Apparently, it was from an arrow. And from the signs of it he was also poisoned. But it has been treated. The stubborn boy shouldn't have been moving around at all. The wound is still fresh and he could have seriously hurt himself by walking all the way back here," Ming said, frowning as he remembered just how stupid and obstinate Wufei could be sometimes.

"He's okay though," Tian pressed.

"Absolutely fine. He'll live. Don't worry about a thing, Tian, Wufei's strong. He'll pull through," Ming said, patting the taller man on the arm before he left the room.

Tian walked over to Wufei's bed and sat down beside the other man. He reached up and brushed away at the stray strands of black silk. He smiled as he leaned over to kissed Wufei softly on the lips. It was good to have his little lover back.

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Finally!! FINALLY!! I got this friggin' chapter done!! Comments, onegai!