A Path Paved by Destiny

By DragonMage

Chapter 1

A young man with long black hair tied back in a severe ponytail rode into the small town. Some turned and gave him a passing glance before returning to their previous duties, but some watched as he rode through the dirt streets and towards the inn. He was wrapped in a black cloak with the hood pushed off, his boots were clean and well worn. With the cloak around his body, there was no telling what he hid underneath the clothing.

He slid down from his horse and gave it to a near-by stable boy. He walked with firm, confident steps. He didn't falter once or turn to stare back at those who scrutinized him. He walked directly into the inn and too the innkeeper. Those in the taproom barely looked up from their drink as he passed them by. He was no interest to them.

"I would like a room," he said in a quiet, voice as he stopped in front of a tall, tubby man with a mean looking scar coming down the side of his face.

The innkeeper stared at the young man for a moment before nodding. "What else will it be?"

"Food." The young man reached into his cloak and pulled out a silver half crown. "Will this be enough?"

The innkeeper nodded and took the money--which was more than enough--slipping it into his dirty apron. He turned his head slightly and shouted. "Duo!"

After a few moments, a tall young man dressed in a loose white shirt and dirty pants appeared. His face was open and cheerful, violet eyes dancing. He also had a ridiculously long braid hanging down to his hips.

"Yeah, boss?" he asked, grinning as he nodded at the nicely dressed young man in front of his employer.

"Take this man to the third room on the second floor," the innkeeper instructed.

"Will do!" Duo nodded at the young man and cocked his head to the side. "Come on." He headed for the stairs and turned back to check if the other man was following him. He was. As they walked up the stairs, Duo discreetly watched the silent young man from the corner of his eye.

When they reached the top of the stairs, Duo decided to ask a question. "So, what's your name?"

"Wufei."

"Wufei? That's a strange name. I've never heard of such a name in these parts. Where are you from Wufei?" Duo asked curiously.

"Do you ask every single customer these questions?" Wufei asked quietly.

"No. It's just that you...Aw, never mind. Let me show you to your room," Duo said, gesturing to the rooms down the hall. They walked past two doors before stopping in front of a third. Duo fished out a key from his pocket and handed it to Wufei. "Here it is. It's clean enough, I guess, but I would check around first. I'll come back up with the food later. Enjoy your stay, Wufei!" Then Duo disappeared back down the stairs.

Chang Wufei stuck the key into the keyhole and gave it a quick turn. The lock 'clicked' and he pushed open the door. He walked inside, closing the door behind him, and took a good look around. There was a single bed off the side, a table with two chairs, a dresser, and a mirror. It was pretty simple and looked stuffy. He walked over to the window and pushed it open. Immediately, a cool gust of air filled the room. He turned and walked over to the bed. He undid his cloak and dropped it down on the small bed. He was dressed simple in a long white tunic and black pants with a black belt around his waist and a sword clipped to it. On the upper left corner of the tunic, right at his shoulder, was a green and black dragon stitched into the silk cloth.

He pulled the string holding his hair together away and allowed his hair to fall down to his shoulders. He ran his fingers through his hair a few times before tying it back up. Then he sat down on the bed and stared out of the window.

<Mother, I am almost there. Just like I promised you, I will avenge you. What has been done to you is a great wrong and I know you're soul won't be able to rest until the punishment fits the crime. I swear it, Mother, you *will* rest in peace.> Wufei was deep in his thoughts, but not deep enough to miss the sounds of footsteps coming up the stairs. He stood up and turned around to face the door.

Knock! Knock!

"Come in," Wufei called out as he walked around the bed and headed towards the door.

The door opened and Duo walked into the room with a tray of food. He smiled cheerfully at Wufei was he walked past the other man and to the table. He placed the tray of food down with great ease and turned around.

"So, do you like it?" Duo asked, still smiling.

"It'll do," Wufei said, waiting for Duo to leave the room.

Duo nodded. "Yeah, it's all right. I keep telling Boss to clean it up a little. Maybe then he'd get more business."

"Don't you have something else to do?" Wufei asked, looking just a bit annoyed.

"Not really. It's my break," Duo said, as he walked around the room with great curiosity. "So, what are you doing here little Jeno?"

"I'm just passing by. I only need rest for the day and I'll be on my way by morning," Wufei said as he walked over to the table and sat down. He had only been sitting for a moment when Duo plopped into the chair across from him. <He's not going to go away,> Wufei realized as he picked up the bread and began to tear it.

"Really?" Duo looked thoughtful for a moment. Then he saw the dragon on Wufei's clothing. "...Isn't that the symbol for the Dragon Clan in the East?"

Wufei was, without a doubt, surprised. He snapped his head up and stared hard at Duo. "How do you know that?"

"Well...I've seen one before on a man passing through here two years or so ago. I asked him about it and he said he was from the Dragon Clan in the East," Duo explained. "A relative of your's come by here before?"

"I don't know," Wufei said, shaking his head as he turned his attention back to his food.

Duo was silent for a moment, staring at the silent young man as he ate. "I also heard that the clan had been wiped out only a few months ago."

Wufei dropped his bread and looked back up at Duo. "What are you doing here? I didn't invite you."

"No, I invited myself." Duo paused. "Look, I'm sorry if I hit a sore spot for you."

"Go," Wufei said tightly.

Duo nodded and stood up, knowing he did something wrong by asking such personal questions. "All right. Have a good stay, Wufei." Then he left, closing the door quietly behind him.

Wufei sat there for a long time. Then he closed his eyes and controlled the fresh pain inside of him. Gods, it hurt. It really did. For months he had been traveling, keeping his mind off the massacre of his people. But now...now he was so close to getting his revenge that the memories and the pain was resurfacing.

Only so many months ago King Treize had ordered the death of the Dragon Clan in the East of his kingdom, Riddion. Wufei had no idea why King Treize had ordered such a thing, especially when the clan had done nothing to ask for his wrath. They hadn't done anything, even when King Treize took over their country, they remained silent and peaceful. Then, one day, out of nowhere the death of the Dragon Clan was ordered and the king's soldiers came riding into their village, killing everyone--including women and children.

Wufei had only survived because his mother, Sally Po, had thrown herself in front of him when an arrow came flying his way. His mother died immediately but not before telling him to run. He had ran away and hid safely up in the trees until all the soldiers were gone when they thought they had killed everyone. At night, Wufei had came back down to find all of his family, his friends, his *people* dead. He worked night and day--for so long he lost track of the days--until every single one had been buried, given their respective prayers for a comfortable afterlife. Of course, he knew none of them would rest until their deaths had been avenged.

He had taken his sword from underneath his burnt house, and a set of white clothing that had been buried along with it. Dressing in the traditional robes of mourning, he went on his way with all the money he could find to seek his revenge. It had taken a while to travel so far to the North where the king lived, but it had been worth it. He was so close now, only a few towns and cities away, and soon he would kill the king, even at the cost of his own life. At least, he reasoned, he would be with his mother again.

Of course his mother was not his true mother, but his adopted mother. He had no idea what had happened to his birth mother or father, and he didn't care. They weren't the ones who took care of him. He owed nothing to them. But he did owe his adopted mother and his clan something for giving him a wonderful life as a child, for accepting him even he wasn't of their blood. He owed them a lot for who he was.

And he was going to make sure their deaths don't go unpunished.

Finishing off his meal, Wufei walked back over to the bed and lay down. He would need to rest and have enough energy to continue on his mission. Soon, so very soon, he would have his revenge...and all will be well.

~*~

Duo Maxwell stared up at the beamed ceiling of his room, which was right up in the loft of the barn where the horses were kept. He was playing with the end of his braid and thinking about the strange young man from the Dragon Clan; Wufei. He hadn't meant to pry and poke at fresh wounds but he had been honestly curious about the young man. Everyone knew the Dragon Clan had been wiped out by the king's command, so why was there a young man walking around with the Dragon Clan symbol stitched into his clothing. The only obvious answer was that, he was a surviving member of the Dragon Clan. But how? They were thought to be completely wiped out, all men, women and children were killed.

<Looks like one got away,> Duo thought as he remembered how the Dragon Clan warrior looked like. He was a very beautiful person, gold and dark all over. Duo really liked his eyes. He took the window to the soul principle to another level.

Just when Duo was about to fall asleep he was jerked away when he felt something coming closer and closer to the inn. He sat up and quickly pulled on his clothes before jumping down from the loft and silently making his way back to the inn. He could feel the power growing stronger as the *thing* or whatever it was got closer and closer. Duo could feel its evil intents and it almost overwhelmed him. Whatever this creature was, it was evil. Pure evil.

Ever since he was a child Duo always had a sixth sense when it came to magic. He could sense it with no problem and he could feel how powerful the person was just by being in the same room with them. It amazed some people and scared others. Magic wasn't allowed in Riddion because King Treize feared it would put up too much rebellion in the country. Anyone who wanted to practice magic had to do it outside of Riddion borders.

And now someone was breaking the rules.

<But who could it be after?> Duo could already feel the evil entity's intent. It wanted someone in the inn...

Wufei!

<Oh gods...He's...Shit! Wufei!> Duo rushed up the stairs, his feet carrying him silently so he didn't wake anyone up. When he reached the door he was angry to find it locked. He pulled out a long pin from his hair and began to pick it. Soon, the door was open and he was inside the room. He grabbed a candle and clumsily lit it.

"Who's there?" a deadly voice demanded.

Duo felt a sword pressed to the back of his neck. The candle caught the flame and lit up the room.

"Wufei! I'm sorry I had to break into you room," Duo began as he tried to move away from the sword.

"Stop. Don't move. Explain yourself," came the harsh orders.

"Something's heading this way and it wants you," Duo said hurriedly. He turned around, risking his life, to face the other man. "You've got to believe me!"

"How do you know?" Wufei asked, frowning.

"Because...because I'm sensitive to magic, okay? But we've got to get going! Someone--or something--is here to kill you," Duo whispered, sincerity in his violet eyes. He turned and rushed over to the windows and closed them until there was only a crack. Then he peered out of it. He could see something moving quickly through the shadows in the distant. Thank the gods it was still far enough, but they would have to work quick anyway.

Duo turned around.

"You have to get out of here!"

"Are you sure?" Wufei asked as he slid his sword into its sheath and began to get dressed. He had no idea why he believed this boy, but he did. There was something about him that told Wufei he wasn't lying.

"I'm not lying," Duo swore. "I'm going to go get the horses ready." Then he was gone from the room.

Wufei wondered why the boy was trying to help him but said nothing as he clipped his sword on and grabbed his things. Then he headed out of the room, down the stairs and to the stables where his horse, Nataku, was being kept.

Duo was finished when Wufei appeared.

"Thank you," Wufei said, nodding as he leaped on to his horse and gathered the reins in his hands. He was about to give something to Duo as his thanks when the young man suddenly leaped on top of Nataku and settled comfortably behind Wufei. He was holding a small pack.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Wufei demanded as he turned around to face the other man.

"I'm coming with you," Duo stated simply. "Look, I just want to get out of here, okay? I don't want to be around when that thing decides to wipe out this town to find whatever its finding. Probably you. King Treize wiped our your clan, right? Maybe he found out about you still being alive and he's trying to finish up the job."

"How are you so sure...?"

"I just am, okay? Please, take me with you," Duo begged, his violet eyes vulnerable and full of pleading.

Wufei hesistated and almost said no. But this boy had warn him...He could just drop him off at the next town and go on his way. "Very well. But you can only stay with me until the next town."

"Okay, I'm fine with that. Now let's get moving!" Duo urged as he wrapped his arms around Wufei's waist and rested against him.

Wufei ignored the sudden warmth on his back and kicked Nataku into a run. They rode quickly out of the stables and on to the streets. Then they were escaping in the opposite direction of the creature.

~*~

"So, it didn't get him?" a dark voice asked.

"No. He escaped before the creature could even reach him. We had no idea how he knew it was coming, but he did and left the town."

"Damn. I thought I got rid of the last of his kind," the man spat furiously.

"Obviously not. He's still alive."

"Very well. Dispatch more soldiers and a few more creatures to hunt him down. I want him dead, do you understand?? He's the very threat to my throne and I will not risk it!" King Treize shouted as he stood up and pounded his fist against the arm rest of his chair.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

~*~

A day later...

Wufei sighed as he came to a stop at a clearing. It was big enough for them to set up camp yet small enough so no one would notice them. He turned around to tell Duo to get off but the other young man was fast asleep against him, his arms still tightly wound around Wufei's waist.

"Great," Wufei muttered underneath his breath. He gently pulled the arms off around his waist and leaped down from his horse. Without a support, Duo slid down and Wufei caught him easily.

"Mmm...wha's goin' oon..." Duo murmured as he his eyes slowly opened.

"Nothing. Just go back to sleep, Duo," Wufei said quietly as he grabbed a blanket and threw it on the ground before setting Duo down on top of it. He wrapped the boy up in the blankets securely before starting camp. He just hoped he had enough food for the both of them and enough blankets. He had never expected to have someone come with him on this trip.

When Nataku was unsaddled and grazing, the fire was roaring, and the blankets and food were laid out, Wufei began to make dinner. He occasionally glanced at Duo's sleeping form while he sat beside the fire. He sighed softly and wondered what he had gotten himself into. He couldn't bring Duo along and the next town wouldn't be for another two days. He was going to have to deal with the braided boy for two more days before going off on his own again.

By the time dinner was finished, the moon was out and full in the sky. It's milky lights shone down on them and Wufei couldn't help but marvel at Duo's beauty. He snorted softly and turned away. He couldn't be thinking like that. He had much more important things to worry about. Like his revenge against King Treize for the death of his clan.

After eating his dinner, Wufei crawled into his bedroll and fell asleep. He was sure Nataku would watch out for the both of them for any danger. Right now, he was going to rest for another day's journey.

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Oooh...fantasy. I hope I'm doing good.

Started: March 24, 2001