Beta Written by Tskui

Special Thanks to Leslie.

Beyond All Doubt Part 4

Another two weeks came and went since Duo's announcement to join the Shay army. True to his word, the very next day, he went along with Heero to the palace to do just that. Training together brought about many advantages for the both of them in knowing that they could work on their exercises together at the end of their shift.

Trowa and Wufei also made sure that none of their superiors got out of line with either of the new recruits. Whenever possible, they made sure at least one of them was the standing officer overseeing the progress of the new soldiers.

In the living room of the small house on the hill over Shay, Kumi was in one of the wooden chairs, stitching a tear in Trowa's uniform shirt. Looking after three soldiers proved to keep her days from even becoming dull. As she tugged the last stitch in place, there was a knock at the front door. Cutting the remaining string with her teeth, she looked up and called, "Come in."

Quatre and Sette stepped inside as they smiled at her. "Hi, Kumi," the blonde Arabian greeted as he closed the door behind him.

Just behind him, his fiancée pointed at him and announced, "Look! I got him away from the horses!"

Chuckling deeply she folded Trowa's uniform, Kumi rose from her chair and asked, "And what brings the two of you here?"

The tomboy folded her arms and pouted, "What? I got him away from his horses, aren't you happy? Now I need a reason?"

Playfully rolling his eyes, Quatre explained, "My father has taken over the estate and stables over for the next three weeks, so I'm finally able to make more social visits."

Smiling brightly at that, the silver-haired girl replied, "That's great, Quatre."

Rubbing her hands together as she tried to look towards the kitchen past her friend, Sette grinned, "So... what's for dinner?"

Shaking her head, Kumi smirked, "We have to wait to see what Heero and Duo managed to catch when they get back from their practice." Trowa walked into the living room after having showered. Holding his uniform shirt out to him, she smiled as he accepted it with a kiss on her cheek.

"Trowa, home so early?" the blue-haired girl asked as he turned towards them.

Nodding, the tall commander answered, "My shift ended early today. Tilting his head to the side at the blonde Arabian, he grinned, "But I don't recognize you."

Extending his hand, Quatre laughed, "It has been a while." After they shook hands firmly, he turned back to his host and inquired, "Then Duo is getting around better?"

Her cobalt eyes widening, Kumi nodded, "It's amazing. He was injured just three weeks ago and he is walking as though nothing happened. I never saw anyone heal so quickly from that kind of injury."

Humming to herself, Sette commented, "He is an odd one. I still can't get over his hair. What soldier would ever have hair that long? It would be far too much work for them to have to take care of."

Quatre added, "I will say he'd rather different. He's Heero's age, and yet Wufei has said on several occasions that he fights with more precision and skill than the most experienced soldiers in the army. Where is he from, anyway?"

"Did he ever say?" the tomboy piped in with curiosity in her eyes. Trowa remained quiet, taking in the conversation and watching his mate defend the young stranger yet again.

Frowning, Kumi shrugged to them, "Duo never really talks about it. I think it's hard for him since he's been away for some time now. We just thought better than to press the issue."

Mumbling under his breath, her lover sorted quietly, "'We', meaning you and Heero." Kumi shot him a glance out of the corner of her eye as a hint to drop that subject again. Quatre and Sette missed what was exchanged between the two of them as the blonde teenager's head was lowered, nodding thoughtfully.

Sette, in the meantime, had turned her attention to the window. Walking towards it, she leaned out and gazed to the woods as she waited. In the far distance, she could make out Heero and Duo as they walked towards the house.

The braided soldier was laughing heartily about something with a large sack clung behind him. Carrying his quiver and bow over his shoulder, even the normally stoic Heero was smiling a bit. With a bright gasp, Sette turned to the others and smiled, "Looks like we'll be eating well tonight, everyone."

With a chuckle, Kumi asked her, "Care to help me with the cooking this time?"

Her blue eyes widening, the tomboy replied quickly, "Um... maybe I should help them carry what the brought in." Before the others could say anything further, she was out the door as fast as her feet would allow as her friends laughed to themselves.

Kumi walked into the kitchen, motioning for Trowa to follow. When they were along in the cooking area, he sighed deeply, "I still think that you and Heero are a little too trusting of Duo."

Folding her arms, she shrugged and frowned, "And I think you're a little too paranoid. Duo's the best thing to have happened to Heero. He was never able to make any friends of his own. Heero only met Wufei, Quatre and Sette through the two of us." Biting her lip, she plead quietly, "Please, try and be a little less protective. I know that you see him as your little brother, we both have to own up to the fact that he can take care of himself."

Lowering his head, the Commander accepted that truth for what it was. "All right," he replied softly. With a small smile, he kissed the top of her head and nodded, "I'll try not to judge him so harshly."

Smiling warmly at him, Kumi leaned up and placed a soft kiss on his lips. When they parted, she whispered, "Thank you."

Waiting just past as the house as the two boys approached, Sette watched as Duo smiled brightly at her and waved, "Hi, Sette."

"Hey, you two," she replied with a wave. Gasping playfully at the sight of the small grin on the other teenager's face, her eyes widened. "Heero, is that really a smile I see?" she asked in awe. He frowned teasingly at her as Duo snickered and shook his head. The tomboy sighed, "And it disappears so quickly. You're going to grow up to be a very lonely old man, my friend."

Chuckling deeply, the braided fey tossed the sack that he had been carting at her. At her easy catch, he smirked, "I imagine that you came to get out of cooking again?"

Blinking innocently at him, she replied with an air of shock "Me? Get out of cooking? Never?"

Duo raised an eyebrow at her as Heero snorted, "More like 'all the time'." Sette made a move to throw the heavy sack at him when the other boy stood in between the two of them.

"Now, now, kids," Duo snickered. "I don't have any support to keep the two of you separated." Giggling, Sette turned to run back in the house as the others followed.

When they entered the house, Kumi looked up from peeking into the sack filled with pheasants and smiled at Heero, "You're getting much better."

Nodding, Duo pat the Asian boy's back as he grinned proudly, "He's almost a professional now." Heero smiled a bit and glanced at him, almost as a silent thanks as Kumi went into the kitchen. Winking back at him, Duo walked towards his room. Closing the bedroom door behind him, he sighed deeply with a saddened frown. Falling onto his bed, he stared up to the ceiling in thought.

Quatre looked up at to the young soldier and grinned, "It's a rare to see you happy, Heero. It's a nice change." Giving a small shrug, the dark-haired teenager put his quiver and bow away near the door.

Trowa folded his arms and watched his mate's brother with a small smirk of pride as he said, "You and Sette picked a good night to visit, Quatre. Tomorrow, Heero and Duo will be receiving their metals to serve in the Shay army. Over the last two weeks, they managed to impress all of the superiors that trained them and they want to see them both moved up."

Both Quatre and Sette's eyes widened at the news. "Congratulations, Heero! That's great," Sette beamed as she turned to face him.

"Thanks," Heero replied simply as he cleaned his arrows. When he finished and the topic of discussion between his friends had changed, he walked to Duo's room and knocked on the door.

With an arm folded over his closed eyes, Duo made no move to get up from his bed as he called, "It's open."

Stepping into the room, Heero set his bow in the corned and turned to the young man on the bed. Frowning slightly, he asked, "Is something wrong?"

Removing his arm and opening his violet eyes, the fey smiled sadly up at him, "Just thinking."

"About your friend?" the other soldier questioned.

Duo's smile faded as he nodded and sighed, "That among a lot of other things." Sitting up on his bed, he pulled his legs up to hug them against his chest.

Leaning against the wooden closet, Heero replied, "Like?"

Shrugging, he answered, "You, Kumi, Trowa, Quatre, Sette, Wufei..." Biting his lip, he lowered his head and closed his eyes. Faintly, he whispered, "I never had a family before." Opening his eyes to see the question and concern in his friend's eyes, he explained, "I was... abandoned more or less when I was very young. I was taken in by a woman who I suppose I could consider like a mother, but she had a way of distancing herself with her parenting."

Frowning deeply at that, the dark-haired teenager asked quietly, "No one else?"

Shaking his head, Duo answered, "These last few weeks, I actually had my first look and what it might have been like to have had a family of my own, and it's been amazing. I'm just worried about all of you, too, what with this battle coming." Meeting his friend's gaze, he stated firmly, "I promise to do whatever it takes to protect all of you."

Giving his a small, reassuring smile, Heero said, "We'll manage through it, we always do. Thank you, though, Duo."

Smirking, the fey nodded, "I'm sure you will." He ran a hand through his bangs and rose from his bed, laughing bitterly, "Anyway, I'm just rambling nonsense. Maybe some air will do me good." Walking towards the door, he looked over his shoulder to the other boy and told him, "I'll be back in time for dinner." Heero nodded and watched him leave, frowning sadly when his friend was no longer in sight.

Walking into the living room, Duo quietly excused himself before leaving the house. While Quatre and Sette were talking amongst themselves, Kumi and Trowa shared a concerned look at the dining room table at the sadness in the braided soldier's eyes. Reaching over to clasp his mate's hand in silent reassurance, the young Commander rose from his seat and excused himself before stepping from the house.

Duo stopped at the short stone wall that surrounded the perimeter of the estate a few yards away. Sitting atop the wall, he looked out to watch the sunset. Trowa walked up behind him silently, stopping a few feet behind him. Looking out to the sky as well, he waited and watched silently.

As the silence loomed on, Trowa noted that it was quite sometime since he took a moment to watch the sunset. Suddenly, the impending battle, his responsibility, everything was forgotten. For the first time in years, he took the time to appreciate and marvel over the beauty of the city that he devoted his life to protecting and the sun as it disappeared over the horizon.

Losing track of the time and what he was doing outside, Trowa almost jumped when he heard Duo's voice say flatly, "You don't trust me." Turning to the back of the other boy, he noted that he never looked back to notice that he had been followed.

Excusing the strangeness of that as Duo's previous experience as a soldier, it made sense to how he knew he was being watched. Finding that a valid explanation, Trowa replied, "It's hard to trust someone you know so little about."

Keeping his gaze forward to the sunset, Duo chuckled deeply, "One of the Cardinal Laws of a soldier." The tall Commander remained silent and returned his attention to the sunset. Finally, the other boy spoke again in a sad tone, "Some things are better off kept secret. I can't make you trust me, Trowa, but I swear that I have all of your best interests as my main concern."

Taking a deep breath, he nodded, "Which is why I am not pushing. What you're involved in is not my business, because it does not concern us..." Looking to the back of the other youth, he raised an eyebrow and asked, "Am I right?"

"Right," came the immediate, determined answer.

Sighing deeply in silent relief at that, Trowa nodded to himself. Perhaps he had been too harsh in his suspicions. Maybe Heero and Kumi were right all along in trusting him so quickly. "Just do me one favor," he requested at last.

Looking back at him finally, Duo nodded, "Of course."

Folding his arms, Trowa began, "I am assuming that whatever you are involved in is pretty important." Keeping their gazes locked, he said, "I am hoping that you will give us warning if we get too close to it, even if it is by accident."

"I would disappear all together before I'd let that happen," the fey reassured him. Smiling slightly, he added, "And I also want to thank you."

Tilting his head in question, the tall soldier asked, "For? You're our guest, you don't have to thank us for anything."

Looking back to the sunset, Duo thought his words through before sighing softly, "Actually, there is something. Before I met any of you, my own opinion of mankind was... bleak to say the least." There was another pause before he went on, "You all helped me realize that perhaps I was a bit too harsh to come to that conclusion, just as you had your own opinion about me. But, you all gave me a renewed hope in humanity and for that, I am grateful."

With an odd look towards him at the choice of words, Trowa tilted his head slightly again but remained silent. Looking over the city, the braided fey sighed deeply in content to himself. "It really is beautiful here," he whispered.

Nodding, Trowa replied quietly, "Yes, it is."

Rising from the stone wall, Duo turned to smile at him, "Does your culture have any tales on mythical creatures called fey?"

Unfolding his arms, the Commander chuckled deeply, "Many. My mother loved telling me stories and poems, most of them involving fey." Rubbing his chin in thought, he said, "I still remember one of them."

Lowering his hand he looked to the sky and recited from memory, "On wings of feather, silk and light, the ones known as fey take to flight. They do not doubt the day, not fear the night beyond the wall unseen by human sight. Behind the wall of uncertainty they will forever soar about..."

Smiling, Duo concluded with him, "Beyond the wall of all fear... Beyond the wall of all doubt."

There was a small pause before the recruit grinned, "It's been a long time since I heard that poem. The tales of fey are deeply imbedded in my own culture, as well. There is one particular myth along with them that I always loved. It's said that when a fey dies, their spirit returns to its home, wherever they may consider home." Looking over to the small house behind them in the distance, he breathed, "If that were the same for us... I wouldn't mind having my soul return here."

In a quiet tone, Trowa smiled sincerely, "And I'm sure you would be welcome."

Turning to him with wide violet eyes, the braided fey closed his slacked jaw. Clearing his throat, he blinked away a few small tears, he smiled and whispered, "Thank you, Trowa." Giving him a nod, the other boy turned and headed back to the house. Duo took a deep breath and sighed deeply as he turned to gaze on the city once more. As the last sunrays flickered over the kingdom, he turned and walked back to the small cottage.

*   *   *   *   *   *

A few days later, Duo was in the field behind the secluded house on the hill on his knees. Examining a few flowers spread in the grass, he smiled to himself when he found the one he was looking for. Taking up a violet bud, he squeezed it tightly until it secreted a clear gel-like substance over the deep cut in his finger that he got from removing hooks from the fish he and Heero caught the night before.

Behind him, Kumi stepped out carrying a basket on her hip as she made her way towards the small garden not far from him. As she began picking from some of the flowers there, Duo looked over his shoulder and smiled, "Hi, Kumi."

Glancing up at him, she grinned, "Morning. What are you doing over there?"

"Just making some ointment," he answered. "I've been meaning to tell you that you have quite the nice span of plant life here."

Raising an eyebrow, Kumi regarded the small bud in his hand and asked, "You can made ointment from that plant?"

Nodding her braided friend replied, "You can make quite a few medicines with what you have here, actually." Opening a pouch hooked onto his belt, he held a few different flowers and twigs that she recalled seeing before, but never thought to be useful in any way.

"I found these in the forest surrounding this place. There are some dangerous ones, and some that could be pretty valuable, too." With a smirk, he offered, "I'd be happy to give you a lesson on some of them, if you like."

She walked towards him and smiled a bit, "Well, I don't know much about plants outside of my garden, so I could use any new knowledge. Thank you." Patting the grass before him as he took a seat on the ground, Duo spread out the plants in his other hand. Sitting in front of him, Kumi set her basket to the side.

Carefully, the young soldier cupped a black twig that was covered with small needles. "This little trouble maker is known as a Spider Prickler," he explained. "If the needles puncture a person's skin too deeply, it will empty its poison into their blood. The wound can be found by a black ring that it leaves around the cut."

He rose a bright purple flower that had been dried for demonstration. At a close glance, one would notice that it had little brown spots over its petals. Duo continued, "The serum squeezed from this Sephran can stop the spread of the poison before it becomes fatal, if it is applied quickly enough." Kumi nodded firmly, paying close attention with intrigue clear in her cobalt eyes.

Moving to a green rod, he lifted it to show it to her more clearly. At the top of the rod was a brown hook that curved forward to resemble the talon of a hawk. Pointing to it, Duo explained, "This is a Razor Sprout. It can be used to make small incisions to bleed out any infected blood if someone is poisoned by the more dangerous plants, or a venomous insect or snake."

Taking up a large, but frail flower, he held it out gingerly to show her. The pale blue petals were outlined in white. Duo stated, "There are some of the rarest flowers out there. It's called a Snow Tulip. The ointment from this will take away any pain from someone that is suffering. While it doesn't cure them, they'll be free of any discomfort."

Wincing at the sight of the last flower, Duo held up the beautiful, bright orange plant that looked similar to a water lily. Its rare shade almost glowed under the bright sunlight. "I had to remove this from the tree trunk I found attached to, but they can be found many other places. If you see any flowers this shade or shape, stay as far away from them as you can."

Her eyes widening, Kumi asked, "What does that one do?"

Frowning at the knowledge and experience that he had with flowers of its kind, Duo answered, "This is called a Wasp Sniper. If you get too close, they'll fire small, sharp needles into you. They're not poisonous, but once they are in your skin, they can't be taken out without having to dig them out. That's why I always travel with a Razor Sprout if I have to cut them out." Swallowing hard at the thought of anyone having to cut themselves to dig needles from their body, the silver-haired girl nodded.

Smiling to reassure her, the fey concluded, "The flowers that can be worked into medicines have pink, purple, yellow and blue petals in short. Any other colors belong to plants that are either poisonous or are harmful in other ways." As he put the specimens away, he shrugged, "All and all, they're the big ones to know since they're the most populated here."

"Where did you learn all of this?" Kumi inquired as her head tilted to the side a bit. "Was it part of your training as a soldier?"

Nodding, he replied, "That..." Pausing, he smiled sheepishly, "and a few cases of accidental studies on myself when I would go exploring."

Brushing off the back of her dress as she rose, she chuckled, "Well, I'll be sure to remember what you taught me. No doubt I'll have to move farther into the woods soon. That was usually Heero's area."

Rising from where he sat, Duo grinned, "That doesn't surprise me about him, at all."

As his friend moved to pick up her basket, he frowned in thought to himself before saying, "Kumi... there's something I want to give you, too."

Straightening herself, she watched him curiously and blinked in surprise, "Oh? What's that?"

Bending down, the braided fey gathered up the small pack he always carried with him, the same one that was on him when he was first found in the woods. Bearing the only possessions that he could carry from his world, he opened it to pull out a long, sheathed dagger. The sheath itself was made of beautiful, smooth redwood that curved.

Removing the shining blade, Duo held it up to reveal the great detail in the craftsmanship imbedded in the steal. Along the length of the blade was an engraving of a fierce looking dragon with a sea of flames. On the other side was a large lion, its jaws opening in a loud roar from where it stood atop a tall mountain peak. It symbolized the mystical land and the human land, each sharing the same world, yet separated.

Gasping sharply as she took in the beautiful blade, Kumi's eyes widened. Taking a deep breath, Duo told her, "This is if you ever need to defend yourself. There's no telling what is going to happen when this battle takes place, so I would feel better knowing that you had this."

Blinking, she nodded, "I haven't carried a blade in ages. But I suppose it would be a good idea to start again."

"This dagger has never failed me and I know it'll look after you, as well," he told her. "I have other things for Quatre and Sette that I plan on giving them when they stop over for dinner. I wanted to make sure you had them before Heero and I are stationed away from Shay."

Sheathing the blade again, Duo held it out to her and explained, "The sheath is actually a horn as well." His violet eyes filled with concern as he advised, "But you must not use it unless you are in great danger."

Despite her confusion behind his worry, Kumi nodded firmly and reassured him, "I promise to never use it unless it is a last resort." The braided soldier smiled his thanks and nodded in response.

Carefully taking the blade, she tucked it into the belt around her skirt where it was easily accessible. Smiling brightly, she leaned in and kissed Duo cheek gently before hugging him ightly. "Thank you, Duo," she said quietly as he hugged her back and pecked her cheek. When she pulled back, he winked at her with a grin.

Taking up her basket again, Kumi made her way back to her garden and returned to picking flowers and vegetables. Duo began to walk, only to stop before he was out of earshot. Turning to watch her, he said quietly, "I swear that I'll keep Heero safe."

Her eyes widened as she stopped her picking. Looking up at him, she saw the same concern that she felt for her brother. Along with that, however, those violet eyes held a fierce determination in keeping his word. That very determination she saw there was enough to take away any of her fears, along with her breath.

Finally, she smiled and nodded sincerely, "I know you will, Duo... and I thank you... That means a lot to me."

Softly, he replied, "I know." Placing a hand on her shoulder, he squeezed it gently. At that, he started walking off again towards the house, slinging his pack over his shoulder.

Kumi watched him disappear into the cottage. Lowering her basket, she removed the dagger at her waist. Unsheathing the blade, she held it up to take in the breathtaking artwork. Under the sun, it shimmered brightly.

Smiling to herself, she felt her own fears of the future suddenly dwindling. Sheathing the blade again, she hooked it securely back in her leather belt before taking up her basket and walking back to her home.

TBC...

 

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