Chapter 12

"It's late. Where are you going?" Tian asked as he watched Wufei grab his sword and clip it on. His lover was dressed up in a loose white shirt and tight black pants with soft boots. His hair was tied back in a ponytail and he had a hard expression on his face.

"To the city," Wufei said quietly.

"Why are you going to the city? Do you know how much of a risk that is? Everyone is going crazy of Prince Heero's death. They're suspecting everyone! What if someone recognizes you as a bandit?" Tian demanded.

"They won't," Wufei said quietly. "No one knows me as a bandit, remember?"

Tian sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Why are you going to the city, Wufei?"

Wufei paused as he slid his dagger into its sheath. "Because...I have to."

"Why, Wufei? I want an answer!"

"I can't give you one, Tian," Wufei said tightly.

"You're not gonna go after the killer, are you?" Tian asked.

Wufei shook his head. "No, I'm not."

"Then what are you going to do?"

Wufei looked at Tian. "Please, just...let me do what I have to do, Tian. Just leave me be."

Tian looked at Wufei for a long time before he nodded. "Fine. But be careful."

"I will. I always am," Wufei said, nodding before he left the room.

~*~

Wufei stood in the shadows as he watched the guards stand their posts at the front gate of the palace. He knew he couldn't get in through that way and fortunately for him he knew his way around the palace. He stayed in the shadows as he moved to side of the palace that was less guarded than the rest. He easily scaled the wall and landed in the garden. He looked around carefully before he began to make his way to his old room. He just hoped the window was still open.

He stopped when he heard some footsteps on the stone path. He quickly stepped into the shadows and pressed himself against the stone wall. He waited and held his breath until the footsteps faded before he continued walking. He finally reached his window and smiled when he saw that the window *was* open. He took a deep breath and scaled the wall faster than he had ever done before. He slipped into his room and crouched down, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkness of the room. He swallowed hard when he saw the familiar surroundings around him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then he stood up and moved over to the door.

He placed his hand on the doorknob and waited until he didn't hear a single sound before he pushed open the door and peered outside. The hall way was empty. Now, where do they keep...Where's Heero? He slipped out of the room and moved through the hallways silently. He had only a vague idea of where Heero was being kept, exactly where the king had been kept.

Wufei was careful and soon he was near the room. He stopped and hid when he saw the guards at the door. He was thinking of a way to take them out when Quatre appeared and waved them away. When the guards were gone, Wufei darted forward and grabbed Quatre's hand before the manservant could go into the room.

Quatre gasped and turned his head, his eyes widened when he saw Wufei.

"Quatre," Wufei breathed.

"Wufei...What are you doing here?" Quatre asked.

Wufei released Quatre and stepped back. "How are you doing, Quatre?"

"I'm...I'm fine," Quatre said quietly. "What about you?"

"I feel miserable," Wufei said quietly.

"I'm sorry, Wufei," Quatre whispered.

"Quatre, you have to let me see him," Wufei said softly as he glanced at the door. "I need to see Heero."

Quatre was silent. "You can't."

Wufei stared at Quatre. "Why not?"

"I'm sorry, Wufei, but I can't allow that," Quatre said, shaking his head. "Prince Trowa said no one is to...come near Heero except for me and him."

"Why? Quatre, you *have* to let me see him!" Wufei said, grabbing Quatre's hand. "I have to see him!"

"I'm sorry, Wufei, but I can't," Quatre said regretfully. "I'm under orders.."

"So break them! Please, Quatre, you...you have to!"

"Why?" Quatre suddenly asked.

Wufei swallowed hard and stared at Quatre. "...I have to say good bye."

Quatre's blue eyes softened but he shook his head. "I'm sorry. I know you want to, but I can't allow that. I can't break orders."

"Quatre, don't...don't do this," Wufei said, shaking his head. "Please, I have to say good bye. I--I never got to say good bye."

"I know, Wufei, I know. But...I'm sorry."

Wufei stared down at the ground for a long time. Then he shook his head. "No! NO! You have to let me see him, Quatre! You have to!!" Wufei was shouting now as he stared at Quatre with wide eyes. "I have to see him! You...you can't follow orders! Please...I need to say good bye!"

"No! I can't," Quatre said.

"Don't deny me this, Quatre! Don't! I need to see him! I need to say good bye!" Wufei shouted. Or I'll never forgive myself. I never got to say good bye, I have to say good bye!

"Why is that so important, Wufei?"

"Because I never got to say good bye! If I don't say good bye...I won't be able to let go," Wufei said, his eyes moist.

"You still care about him?"

"I've always cared about him."

"Then why did you leave?"

"Because I couldn't stand to stay here any longer. I never belonged."

"I'm sorry."

"No! Please, Quatre, just give me a minute with him!"

"I'm sorry, Wufei, but I can't," Quatre said firmly.

"Gods, just one minute! That's all I ask of you!"

Quatre shook his head. "Guards!"

"No!" Wufei shouted, staring at Quatre in shock. He couldn't believe Quatre just called the guards on him! Why? Why was Quatre like this?

The guards appeared and nodded at Quatre for instructions.

"Please escort this man off the palace grounds. But, do NOT hurt him," Quatre ordered firmly as he waved his hand at Wufei.

"No!" Wufei shouted as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He stared at Quatre. "No! NO! You can't do this, Quatre! You can't!" He struggled as he felt the guards began to pull him away, but he had no leverage and he was still weak. "I haven't said good bye!"

Quatre looked down at floor as Wufei was pulled away.

"I never got to say good bye!!"

~*~

Wufei pounded his fit into the tree and screamed his rage. He closed his eyes and tried very hard not to cry as he rested his head against the tree trunk and took deep breaths to clam himself down.

He couldn't believe what Quatre did to him! He thought Quatre was his friend, he actually believed Quatre would help him. He was so wrong. Quatre was like anyone else, he followed orders. And then he called the guards on him! He had never been so angry or upset with anyone in his life before.

"How could he do that?" Wufei whispered out loud as he banged the tree with his fist over and over again. "How could he?" And why did you have to go and get yourself killed, Heero? You fucking idiot! How could you do that to yourself? I thought you were smarter than that. I thought you would know to be careful. But you weren't careful and now you're dead. And I'll never be able to say good bye.

Opening his eyes, Wufei looked up at the sky and stared at it. The stars were out again and the moon was full. How many nights had he stared up at the night sky, wishing to be home with Tian and the others? But now, all he wanted was Heero to be alive and safe. But that was kind of impossible. Heero is dead. And tomorrow he would go and see the funeral. Although, if he had heard correctly the funeral was going to be private as well.

Running his fingers through his hair, Wufei went to find an inn.

~*~

When the funeral began everyone in the city was gathered at the church as they tried to see what was going on in there. But the doors were kept closed and the only things the people on the outside could hear were the droning chants of the priests and the mournful singing that happened at almost any funeral. The city was all in mourning, they had lost a prince and a king all in the same month. Such a thing did not seem lucky at all.

Wufei stood with the crowd, dressed up in a black cloak so no one would recognize him. He watched under the hood as some people cried and sang along with the songs being played. They really did love Heero. He pushed through the crowd and almost tripped over a child but he made it over to the side doors. He looked around, searching for any kind of entrance.

Then he spotted two lines of priests dressed up in black cloaks moving for one of the doors. He smiled as he slipped through the crowd and fell into step with one of them. He would see Heero if it was the last thing he could do.

"Where have you been?" a voice hissed at him.

Wufei started. Apparently whoevers place he was taking was late. Whew! What a relief... "I'm sorry," he whispered back so his voice wasn't recognizable.

"Whatever, as long as you're here," the priests whispered.

Then they slowly walked into the church.

While the priests made their way to the front of the church, Wufei slid away from them and hid in the shadows underneath a walkway along the sides of the building. He was careful and knew he was nicely hidden from view as he watched the procession of priests continue to the front. The singing died away to a hum and the priests began to take their places. Then they began to pray.

Looking past the priests, Wufei spotted Heero's coffin. It was all laid out, nice and handsome with all sorts of royal stuff surrounding him. Soon the coffin would be taken away and buried.

"Heero," Wufei breathed as he thought of the prince who held his heart. And still did. Gods, what am I going to do about you? I leave you for a few days and you end up dead. You can't take care of yourself at all, you idiot. He bit his lower lip and closed his eyes, willing away the tears that threatened to come and tried to get a grip on himself. He took a deep--silent--shaky breath and opened his eyes. He couldn't start bawling like an onna out here. It wouldn't be right, him being a bandit and all. And bandits don't cry in public, only in privacy.

Staring at the coffin he came to do what he had to do: he said good-bye. When the priests finished up their praying and wishing, they began to file out of the church. Once again Wufei fell into step with one of them.

"Good job," the priest beside him whispered in approval.

Wufei tried very, very hard not to laugh. Or cry.

~*~

"Did you do what you had to do?" Tian asked quietly at the doorway of Wufei's room. The exotic bandit was sitting on his bed, the cloak slipping off his shoulders and his eyes distant as he stared off at nothing.

"You know, I never thought he'd end up dead," Wufei admitted quietly as Tian walked into the room and sat down beside him on the bed. "I just thought he'd be fine. That he'd marry, grow old and have plenty of children running around for us to steal from."

Tian almost smiled at Wufei's words but he knew that Wufei didn't want anyone smiling at him at the moment.

"But he died. He became stupid, and he died," Wufei whispered accusingly.

"I don't think he ever expected--"

"Yes, he did! Why do you think he kept me around in the first place?" Wufei demanded.

"Maybe he fell in love with you and didn't know it," Tian said softly.

Wufei stiffened.

"It could be true, Wufei," Tian continued. He reached out and pressed his hand over Wufei's smooth cheek. "Anyone can fall in love with you in just a glance."

"Who would want someone like me? My parents certainly didn't," Wufei said bitterly.

"That was in the past. And your parents were stupid. Look at the man you've grown up to be, Wufei," Tian whispered. "Strong, able, quick, and you're wonderful at the sword. You can even make a decent living if you wanted to."

"But that's no fun," Wufei said quietly.

Tian smiled this time. "No, it's not as much fun but...We all know you're just a little better than us, Wufei. We were all orphans to start with, you actually had some sort of bringing up before we found you. You have manners."

"I do not," Wufei protested, horrified at the thought of having *manners* of all things.

Tian laughed. "Yes, you do. And now that you've had a taste of palace life, it's even more so."

"I don't want to be better than you. I want to be your equal," Wufei said quietly, staring down at his hands.

Tian sighed and took Wufei's hands into his own. "I know, Wufei. But if there is ever need of a diplomat in this bandit group of ours, it'd be you."

"What are you saying?" Wufei asked softly, shaking his head as he didn't understand what Tian was hinting at.

"You're still young, Wufei, you can still become someone's apprentice. If you want to, go to another kingdom and become a knight there. You're young, strong, smart and completely capable of taking care of yourself. You don't need us bandits to pull you down from something better than this life. You don't have to steal for what you want."

"But I want to," Wufei said, staring at Tian in disbelief. Was Tian kicking him out?

"Wufei, there's a better life out there for you."

"I don't want that life! I want this life! I love this life! The whole time I was in the palace, I dreamt of coming back, of sleeping under the sky again, of hunting and being free, of being with you again! And now you tell me palace life is suited to me? Are you crazy?"

"I'm not crazy but I do want a better life for you, Wufei."

"I do have a better life! I love being here, being with everyone who I grew up knowing and loving. Tian, this is my home. No matter how capable I am of things, I'd rather stay here," Wufei whispered sincerely.

Tian smoothed his thumb across Wufei's cheek. "Are you sure? Because I'm letting you go if you want to leave."

"Never, I never want to leave," Wufei said, shaking his head.

Tian nodded and pulled Wufei into his arms to assure the other bandit that he wasn't going to be told to leave. But I still think he can do better than us.

~*~

When night fell and all of the city was locked away in their homes and asleep, three figures slipped out of the palace. They road to the middle of the city before they stood and parted, wishing their friend good luck on his decision and journey.

Lord Duo of Maxwell ripped off the hood to his cloak and turned to his riding partner. "Do you think everything will be okay?"

Quatre Raberba Winner pushed back his hood and smiled at his friend in the moonlight. "Don't worry. Everything will turn out how it's suppose to."

"Am I suppose to feel relieved over that?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'm not."

"So deal with it."

"Hmph. Good night, Quatre," Duo said as he parted from the blonde manservant.

"Good night, Duo," Quatre called after him. Then the blonde man gathered the reins in his hands and rode quickly back to the palace. He slipped back in easily and started heading for his room when he bumped into the newly crowned king in the hallway.

"Is he going to be okay?" King Trowa asked quietly.

"He's going to be fine," Quatre said assuringly.

Trowa smiled. "Good."

"Is there anything else, Your Majesty?" Quatre asked politely.

Trowa shook his head. "No, nothing else. Good night, Quatre."

"Good night, King Trowa," Quatre said, nodding before he disappeared into his room. Everything was going to be all right, he was sure of it.

~*~

The Next Morning...

"I'm going to go hunting with the others, Tian!" Wufei shouted as he grabbed his bow and arrow and clipped on his sword. Then he was running out of the door, screaming for Feng to wait for him. They were all laughing and shouting as the small band of hunters noisily crashed their way into the forest in pursue of game.

Tian laughed as he watched his little lover shove Huang before running off as the man chased after him, screaming death. Wufei was certainly back to normal today.

When the hunters were gone from view, Tian turned and coolly regarded his guest. "So, you've come for him?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"..."

"Hmph. Fine, if you don't want to say anything, then don't. But when he comes back, I want you to be mindful of his emotions. He's been through a lot because of you."

"I know."

Tian snorted. "Just don't hurt him."

"I won't."

"Good."

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...And we all know what's gonna happen now! *laughs* Comments, please!