Chapter 13

"We got food!" Huang shouted as he ran into the bandit camp with the game in his hands. It was a large, plump looking hare with the arrow still stuck inside of it as it bled all over the place. He grinned happily and started for the cooking hut.

"Jeez, Huang, it's bleeding everywhere!" Ming exclaimed as he pulled the arrow out of the hare's limp body and shoved his lover into the hut where all the blood would be taken care of. It would be cleaned, skinned and then the meat would be used for tonight's meal.

"What? We got food, didn't we?" Huang said as Ming continued to shove him inside.

Wufei rolled his eyes as he walked into camp with two hares in his hands. He had cleaned them off, unlike Huang, and they weren't dripping blood. He handed them to someone who could take care of them and went off to clean his hands in the near by stream. He was only a little tired from the hunt and he could already feel himself getting stronger. Sweating out the left over poison through exercise was the best cure he could think of aside from those horrid stuff Ming would shove down his throat every chance the damned healer got a chance. He would beat the healer to get him to stop making him swallow that junk but then he'd have Huang to deal with.

"How was the hunt?"

Wufei straightened and turned around. He smiled as Tian walked out of the shadows of the trees and into the sunlight.

"It was good. We have plenty to eat tonight. Hmm...Do you feel like fish as well? I can go down to the river and catch some. There's more this year! We can salt them and put them away when we need them," Wufei said cheerfully.

"Wufei, there's something I need to show you," Tian said seriously.

Wufei's smile immediately melted away. "What happened? Did something happen?"

"Come on, follow me," Tian said, turning around to head back to the camp.

Wufei frowned and followed silently. He wondered what had happened to cause his lover to be so serious. I hope it's nothing really bad.

When they reached the camp again, Huang was tickling Ming to the floor and all the men were laughing and cheering as Ming screamed "Yield!". Everyone knew what was going to happen tonight. Obviously, Huang had a lot of energy today from the hunt. Wufei almost felt sorry for Ming except the healer loved that kind of *ahem* attention from his lover.

"Are you going to stand there all day or are you going to follow me?" Tian asked a bit sharply as he tried to get Wufei's attention.

"What *is* wrong? What put you in such a foul mood?" Wufei demanded as he followed Tian into the main cabin.

They walked silently to Wufei's room where Tian then told him to wait and left. Wufei muttered some choice curses underneath his breath as he walked over to his bed and sat down. What the hell is so important, anyway? He fell back on his bed and sighed as he thought of that morning's hunt. It had been pretty fun, although all their noise had scared off most of the game, they still got a lot to eat tonight.

The door opened and Wufei sat up to glare at Tian but his glare widened into shock.

"Hello."

"Aw...hell no," Wufei breathed as he stood up and stared at the man in front of him. "No. Nonononononono....You're dead!"

The supposedly dead Prince Heero shrugged and leaned against the wall. "Obviously, I'm not, Wufei."

"But...I was at your funeral!" Wufei shouted almost hysterically as he backed away from Heero. "You're dead! Everyone knows that!" His heart was pounding painfully and the room was suddenly spinning. He couldn't believe what was going on. He was shocked when he felt tears slide down his cheek and drip down to the floor. He reached up and quickly scrubbed them away. "You're dead. What are you doing? Haunting me? What did I do to deserve that?"

Heero stepped forward and tried to touch Wufei but the bandit jerked away.

"Stay away from me. You're DEAD!"

"I'm not dead, Wufei! I...I faked the death," Heero said softly.

"Faked it?" Wufei repeated harshly. "You *FAKED* it??" He stared at Heero in shock and hurt. "Why did you do that? Do you know what kind of hell I went through because I thought you were dead!?"

"I never knew you cared."

"Fuck you!"

"Quatre never could break you of that habit of cursing..." Heero trailed off thoughtfully. He sighed and reached out towards Wufei again. This time the bandit didn't jerk away. He bit his lower lip as tears continued to slide down his cheek. Heero rubbed them away as he continued to look at Wufei with adoration, tenderness and...and something else.

"You're dead," he repeated, his voice cracking as he tried to make sense of what was going on. Gods above, these past few months have been hell. What did I deserve to get cursed with this? Love? Jeez...if this is love I won't have any part of it!

"I'm not dead, Wufei. I faked my death," Heero explained calmly as he continued to wipe away at Wufei's tears. It broke his hear to see the person he loved crying. He hadn't expected Wufei to react like this. The bandit had always seemed to immune to these kinds of emotions. He wanted so badly to pull Wufei close and just hold him but he wanted to take things slowly so Wufei didn't start and run away forever from him.

"Why?"

"To be with you."

"How does faking your death equal to that?" Wufei closed his eyes as he leaned into Heero's touch. Before he knew it he was in Heero's arms, his head resting on Heero's shoulder. He breathed in the wonderful, musky scent that belonged only to Heero. He almost cried harder at the sweet sensation of just having Heero's arms around him, holding him tenderly. It had been so long...so long since he had been held like this by Heero.

"Wufei, as a prince I couldn't be with you," Heero explained softly as he held Wufei. The bandit felt much more thinner to Heero and he remembered that Wufei hadn't been eating properly and that the poison had done one helluva job ravaging his body. He couldn't wait until Wufei regained his health again and Heero would have his strong, beautiful bandit back.

"So?"

"So I had to fake my death. I'm not a prince anymore which means I can be with you forever now," Heero said softly as he buried his face in Wufei's silky hair. "No one knows what really happened, we did a pretty good job staging the "asssination". Now...now nothing can hold us back."

Wufei pulled out of Heero's arms and backed up a couple of steps. He was silent for a moment before looking up and staring Heero straight in the eye. "And what if I didn't want you? What if I didn't love you anymore? Then wouldn't everything you've just done been a stupid risk?"

"It was a risk worth taking," Heero replied honestly, his dark blue eyes serious and utterly sincere. "I love you, Wufei. How can I NOT give it a chance and throw the dice? I want to be with you for the rest of my life. I'm willing to give up everything for that. Heck, I already have."

"You're a stupid idiot," Wufei shot at him, shaking his head. "A very, very stupid idiot. I can't believe you did that!"

"And here I thought I'd actually get a nice welcome back from you," Heero said sarcastically.

"What did you think you'd get?" Wufei demanded furiously. "You fake you're own death to be with me! Me! I'm only a fucking bandit while you're some idiotic prince! You gave up *everything*!! Did you think pulling that stupid stunt would get me into your bed??"

"Well...Not right away..." Heero admitted, his blue eyes dancing with amusement.

"Gods, you're a bastard," Wufei said, shaking his head.

"So, does that mean you love me?"

Wufei looked very, very lost suddenly. His face was pale and tears were still making their way down his smooth cheek. He wrapped his arms around himself and stared down at the ground. All Heero wanted to do was hold him forever, to kiss away his pain and apologize to him over and over.

"I missed so much. When I heard you died...I went to the palace to see you one last time. Quatre wouldn't let me in," Wufei finally said.

"It was under my orders."

"So, he knew?"

"Of course he knew. How else could I pull it off? While they were preparing my "funeral" I hid and Quatre brought my meals to me secretly and informed me on everything that was going on around. Only he, my brother and Duo knew what had happened," Heero said solemnly. "I couldn't tell you what had happened since...I wanted to surprise you."

"Oh...it was one helluva surprise," Wufei muttered.

"Wufei, I never meant to hurt you like this. I never meant it. I don't love Relena. What you saw in the garden was a mistake. She kissed me, not the other way around. I love only you, Wufei. I always have. You...you make me so happy," Heero said, running his fingers through his hair. "It's hard to explain really."

"Love is always difficult to explain," Wufei agreed quietly.

"Forgive me, Wufei...I never wanted to hurt you." Heero took a step forward and held out his hand. "I love you."

Wufei stared at the hand for a long time before he slowly reached out and placed his hand in it. Heero immediately pulled Wufei close and held him tightly.

"Gods, when I thought you were dead--Don't you EVER do that to me again!" Wufei shouted, his voice slightly muffled as he buried his face in Heero's neck and held the other man tightly. "I love you, Heero...I love you so much it doesn't even make sense."

"Then don't try to make any sense of it," Heero joked softly as he ran his fingers through Wufei's hair and pulled his head back. He smiled down at the absolutely beautiful bandit and leaned down to kiss him. The kiss started out gentle and chaste but it quickly turned into something more. Longing, want and utter love was put into every bit of the kiss as he held Wufei's warm body tightly against his own.

Wufei parted his lips at Heero's demanding lips and trembled as he felt fire burn through his body, the desire completely eating away at him as he felt himself consumed and lost into Heero's touch. Only Heero could do that...Only Heero. Tian could never evoke such a burning desire inside of him, no matter how much he had wished it so when he was with his older lover.

After a long, looong time the kiss was finally broken. Heero leaned his forehead against Wufei's and smiled at his flushed lover.

"I missed you so much," he breathed as he kissed Wufei on his eyelids, his nose, his cheek, his lips, his chin. He couldn't get enough of Wufei.

Wufei smiled warmly as he melted against Heero and sighed happily. "I love you...Don't you ever leave me again or I swear I will kill you."

"Promise," Heero chuckled as he pulled Wufei over to the bed and sat down with him. He took in Wufei's pale complexion and his heart ached. "Are you still sick?"

"Only sometimes. I'm healing," Wufei said, feeling more than warm at Heero's concern.

"That's good. I want you stronger enough when..."

"When what?" Wufei asked softly.

"Wufei, are you willing to leave your friends and come with me to Alaris?" Heero asked a bit anxiously.

"Alaris?"

"Yes. You see, now that I'm dead it's better if I go someplace where no one would recognize me. We can live together without any trouble since I have plenty of money. My brother would never allow me to starve or lack luxury in life. What do you say? Will you come with me?"

"Well, I suppose I have to since you've already given up everything. It's only just."

"Wufei, I don't want to force you--"

Wufei looked up and silenced Heero with a quick kiss on the lips. "You're not forcing me, Heero. I want to come. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Heero sighed in relief and tightened his hold around Wufei. "You don't know how happy that makes me."

"As happy as it makes me?" Wufei asked softly as he played with Heero's sleeves.

Heero chuckled.

"I love you," Wufei whispered.

"I know."

"Arrogant prince."

Heero laughed. "I know."

Wufei smiled and closed his eyes. Soon, he fell asleep against Heero. The supposedly dead prince lifted Wufei easily--the bandit was already thin to begin with and with the poison and lack of food he ate, he was even lighter--and laid him gently down on the bed. He pulled the covers up and kissed Wufei on the forehead before leaving the room.

Outside he met up with Tian. He smiled and bowed slightly to the older man. "Thank you for letting me see him. I know you two are...close."

"Just take care of him. He means a lot to all of us and we don't want him hurt," Tian said, shrugging.

"I'm not going to do that ever again."

"When will you be leaving with him?"

"I don't know. As soon as he's ready, I suppose."

"All right. I guess you'll be sleeping in his room tonight." Tian bowed slightly and walked off.

Heero leaned against the door and thought back to everything that had happened since he met Wufei. If it was that interesting, he wondered how it would be like in the following years he was determined to spend spoiling the bandit to his heart's content.

~*~

When Wufei woke up he was startled to find the room dark. Had he slept for that long? He sat up and stretched, working out the kinks in his body. When he finished, he was feeling pretty good. Then he remembered everything that had happened to him. Heero...

He looked around the room, searching for the prince. He was starting to get out of bed when the door opened and Heero walked into the room with a tray of food.

"I thought you'd like to eat something," Heero said, smiling as he walked into the dark room and placed the food down on a table and walked over to the window. He pulled the curtains back, letting the little bit of dying light fill the room. He lit a couple of candles before walking back over to Wufei who had been paying attention to every single thing he had been doing since he came into the room.

"How'd you know I'd be awake?" Wufei asked as Heero sat down beside him on the bed.

"Would you believe me if I told you we were connected some way and I just knew?" Heero teased.

"No."

Heero laughed and brushed Wufei's hair out of his face and kissed him gently on the forehead. "I didn't know. I just thought you'd like to have something to eat so I went to get it. When I came back, you were awake."

"That makes more sense," Wufei murmured as he leaned against Heero and smiled.

"I suppose that's good. So, are you up for something to eat? I hear you haven't been eating properly from Tian," Heero said in a slightly scolding voice.

"Well, Tian is a worry wort. I'm eating fine," Wufei said defensively.

"Sure. Come on, Fei, let's get something inside of you," Heero said as he stood up and walked over to the table. He picked up the tray and walked back over to Wufei's bed. He sat down and broke the bread. He dipped it into the thick broth before lifting it to Wufei's lips and nudging them apart so he could get the food in.

Wufei opened his mouth reluctantly and took the morsel of food into his mouth. He chewed slowly and swallowed.

Heero raised an eyebrow at Wufei. "What's wrong? Isn't it good? Tian said this was your favorite kind of broth."

"It's good..." Wufei said slowly.

"But...?"

"But I'm just not hungry."

"Ah, so you *haven't* been eating properly," Heero said, shaking his head and tsking in a motherly-hen way. "That's bad, Wufei."

"I know," Wufei grumbled. "I've been told so. I just don't feel like eating."

"Well, I'm going to force you to eat. You need to eat so you can get your strength back. Didn't you just come from a hunt? Haven't you been taking care of yourself at all?" Heero demanded as he teared off another piece of bread and dipped it into the hot broth. He lifted it to Wufei's mouth again and the bandit obediently opened his mouth.

"I'm fine. Seriously, I am. I'm always okay," Wufei said confidently.

"Hardly," Heero drawled.

"Are you saying I'm not okay?"

"Just eat, Wufei. We'll argue about your mental state some other day." Heero smiled as he tore some cheese and slipped it into Wufei's mouth to give it something to do other than talk.

~*~

A few days later...

Wufei woke up slowly, feeling absolutely warm and content as he turned and pressed himself tighter against his lover's body. He didn't want to open his eyes at all as he drifted in and out of the dream world as he breathed in Heero's wonderful scent. He pressed his lips against Heero's neck and kissed it softly before he settled back comfortably--as content as a cat--and drifted back asleep.

Heero opened his eyes when he felt Wufei fall back asleep and smiled as he gently ran his fingers through his lover's silky hair. He had been staying at the bandit camp for the past few days and through the whole time he had gotten to know Wufei's friends. No wonder he had wanted to protect them so badly in the past. They were good people, even if they *were* bandits. He had went hunting with them a few times and danced with them when they celebrated an ambush, although he was a bit peeved that the men they ambushed were his citizens but so were the bandits. Only, they didn't pay taxes.

Of course most of the time he was with Wufei, getting the bandit to eat and build up his strength. They haven't made love yet though since Wufei was still healing and Heero didn't want to tear the wound open no matter what the bandit said about it being perfectly fine. But he was completely content with holding the bandit at night when they slept and talking to him about little things. When Wufei was fit--to Heero's eyes that is--they would go to Alaris and spend the rest of their lives together. Everything was perfect and Heero was hoping to keep it that way.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Tian, but it was just that fact that Tian had been Wufei's lover that irked him. Yes, Wufei had plenty of other lovers but Tian had been the first--and only, thank the gods--one Wufei slept with when he returned to the bandit camp. Tian was okay---as long as he kept his hands off of Wufei.

Wufei woke up again and he smiled when he saw Heero was awake. "Good morning, lover."

"How do you feel?" Heero asked as he smoothed back Wufei's locks of hair and kissed his forehead tenderly.

"I feel wonderful," Wufei said, smiling as he laid his head on Heero's shoulder. "What about you?"

"Wonderful. Do you think you're strong enough to...go to Alaris?" Heero asked tentatively.

Wufei was silent for a moment. Going to Alaris meant truly leaving behind his friends. He loved Heero but...he also loved his friends.

Heero began to get nervous when Wufei was quiet for too long. He was about to say something when the bandit beat him to it.

"Yes. I think I am strong enough to go to Alaris," Wufei said, looking up at Heero's Prussian eyes. "I only have a little to pack and then we can go."

Heero smiled in relief and kissed Wufei deeply. "Thank you."

"Why?"

"For coming with me to Alaris."

"How could I turn you down after all that you've given up to make this work? I love you, Heero, I don't want to be away from you."

"Good. Then we'll leave tomorrow morning?"

"Yes. Today we'll say good bye. I wish I could say good bye to Quatre and Duo though..."

"Oh, we're not going to lose touch with them. We'll write them letters," Heero murmured.

"Is that safe?"

"Perfectly. Everyone suspects I'm dead, why would they try to think otherwise?"

"If you're sure..."

"I always am."

Wufei shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Cocky."

"Well, when you're a prince, you have to be in order to survive court life," Heero said dryly.

"Hmph. Whatever, just don't get too cocky or I might have to do something about it," Wufei said threateningly.

"Oh? And what is that?"

"I don't know...No sex?" Wufei said, smirking.

"That's cruel, Wufei," Heero said seriously although his eyes danced with amusement.

"I know," Wufei said, smiling sweetly. He suddenly gasped as Heero's hand wandered down to some rather sensitive parts of his body. "Oh...Oh, you...Heero...No...Ah--! Heero!" He blushed and buried his face in Heero's shoulder as he tried not to cry out again. Evil man...thinks he can actually persuade me to pull back my threat?

"Yes, Wufei?" Heero asked as he turned on his side and continued to caress and gently play with his lover.

"You're a very, very naughty man," Wufei managed to pant.

"I know, Wufei."

~*~

"Do you really want to leave with this man?" Tian asked as he leaned back and looked up at the night sky with Wufei. They were both sitting at the grassy shore of the stream, star-gazing as they talked about anything that came to mind. It was Wufei's last night with them and Tian wanted to spend some time with his little lover seeing the prince was going to have him for the rest of his life.

"Yes, I do," Wufei said softly. "I love him. I'm going to go with him."

"Why?"

"Didn't I just tell you?"

"But...how can you *love* him? He's a prince!" Tian exclaimed, waving his arms a bit dangerously.

"Are you drunk?"

"No, I'm not drunk," Tian grumbled. "I'm just..."

"Jealous?" Wufei asked teasingly.

"Yes."

Wufei was stunned into silence.

"What?" Tian sighed as he turned and gave Wufei an embarrassed yet slightly irked expression.

"How can you be jealous? You've got your pick of anyone you want," Wufei said softly.

"But I had your first," Tian said, pouting like a child.

"Tian, don't say that," Wufei sighed as he fell onto the grass and stared up at the diamond studded sky. "Don't say that...Don't make this harder."

"I..L--"

"Noo, you don't," Wufei said firmly as he sat up and looked Tian straight in the eye. "You don't love me. You only *think* you love me that way because I'm leaving."

"Do you really--"

"Yes, I really think that's true. Tian, I love you too but...Not in that way. Not in the way I love Heero," Wufei said, wrapping his arms around his legs and resting his chin on his knees. "With Heero...I feel really, truly happy."

"Don't I make you happy?"

"You make me feel safe...Like an older brother. With Heero...Heero makes me feel cherished and wanted and...and something that's difficult to explain," Wufei said as he played with a few blades of grass. "Don't be angry with me, Tian."

"I'm not angry. I guess you're right. But I'll miss you so much. I'm selfish, I know. I want to keep you here forever. But...I can't stand seeing that damned prince take you away," Tian grounded out. He looked over at Wufei and touched the smaller bandit's face with his finger tips. "I hope you're happy for the rest of your life, Wufei."

"I know I will be," Wufei said, smiling warmly.

"Good. And if he mistreats you, just come back and we'll beat the living hell out of him!" Tian said cheerfully.

Wufei sweatdropped. "Yes, Tian."

~*~

The next morning...

"Take care of him," Tian said as he placed his hand on the dark horse's side and patted it. "You know what will happen if you don't."

"Of course," Heero said easily from the horse. He rested his hand on top of Wufei's, who had his arms around his waist and rested comfortably against him.

Wufei rolled his eyes and muttered something about overprotective brothers underneath his breath.

"And have fun, Wufei. And don't forget to write!" Huang said cheerfully.

"Can you even read?" Wufei asked dryly.

Everyone laughed.

"All right. At least come visit sometimes," Huang said, patting Wufei's ankle.

"Of course," Wufei promised.

"You better get going if you want to reach Alaris in good time," Ming said softly as he leaned against Huang and smiled up at them. "We're going to miss you, Wufei."

The bandits nodded their agreement to Ming's words.

"I'll miss you all too. But, hey, we're gonna see each other in a while, once me and Heero get settled down," Wufei said, smiling.

"Yeah! You better come back!" someone shouted.

They all laughed.

"Good bye, Tian. Good bye everyone," Wufei said, waving as Heero urged the horse forward. He smiled as he continued to wave good bye to his friends until they were out of sight. Then he turned back around and settled against Heero, resting his cheek against his warm back as they headed on the road towards Alaris.

Heero smiled as he felt Wufei against this back. He felt his heart swell with happiness and hope for the best future they could have together. They had been through so much together and he knew that they deserved the best life the gods could give them. Alaris would be good for Wufei. It was a very good city and he was already thinking of many ways to keep the bandit entertained so he never got bored. Maybe they could travel around the place for a while before really settling down and starting some kind of trade so he wouldn't go crazy just lousing about. He grew up with responsibilities so he couldn't live without them. Maybe they could even adopt some children...Maybe. He wasn't sure if wanted to get gray hair early or lose hair early like his father.

He placed his hand back on to Wufei's and squeezed it tightly, loving the warm touch o his lover's hand. He turned around and kissed Wufei on the top of the head and smiled.

"We're going to have a good life together, Wufei," he said confidently as he turned back around.

"I know," Wufei murmured as he snuggled closer to Heero. "I love you, Heero."

"I love you too, Wufei."

And Heero was positive they were going to have a good life together.

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The End!! *grin* Finally!! Comments, please!! Oh...and tell me if you want an epilogue. I don't know if I should write one.

Ended: March 3, 2001