Notes: This takes place two months after the last chapter
Disclaimer: You know the drill. Remember I'm poor so don't sue me.
The Princes' Choice
Part 4

"Heero, do you think we shall ever find our life mates?" Quatre asked his
friend.
They were approaching a small village, near a forest that was rumored to
be magical. Heero was hoping that maybe he would find his life mate in there.
Or at least come close. However he didn't know what to do for his friend.
Every time they came into contact with a new group of people Quatre would
get his hopes up and then have them dashed, when he was rejected or felt
burdened by the amount of emotions coming off the other people. The last
group was the worst. Quatre had been so overwhelmed that he couldn't get out
of bed. And at one time he some how managed to run from the camp only to
almost fall into a ravine. This was beginning to depress the young desert
prince greatly. And Heero was worried that he might get killed on this trip
if things continued the way they were.
The village was small; it had a small inn that Heero was able to get
rooms for every one in. Rashid and Abdul, and some of the other knights found
a stable for the horses and camels, and saw to it that all the horses were
well taken care of.
Wufei and Meiran found the inn to be less than adequate. Which was odd
since they had no problem sleeping out in tents. Heero never thought he'd be
able to figure that one out. But to Wufei and Meiran's credit they did not
complain too much. And after settling in they stopped complaining all
together.
Heero, Quatre, Wufei and Meiran sat down in the inn's dining room to eat.
The room set off not far from the entrance where they could watch everyone
coming and going. Heero rather enjoyed it, seeing all types of people. The
inn seemed to be the town meeting place. Every one came in there. To buy,
sell, visit, and eat, anything.

Trowa was heading into town again. He hadn't excepted to come back so
soon. Normally he wouldn't return for few more months. However, Duo had
accidentally burnt his blankets and some of his clothes. Trowa tried not to
be mad. Duo was only trying to practice his magic. It wasn't his fault that
there was no one to teach him. At the moment Duo was relying on what had been
taught to him over five years ago. But Duo and fire don't seem to get along.
"Trowa!"
Trowa turned around quickly. Not many people knew his name. In fact most
of them were forest creatures. So hearing his name actually scared him. When
he saw who was yelling for him he wanted to die. There, running towards him
was Duo. Most of his clothes burned and looking way too small. Which was hard
to do seems how Duo was small. His hair flowing all around him. Trowa shook
his head, Duo knew better than to leave the forest.
"Trowa," Duo stopped in front of him and looked up with big violet eyes
pleading. "Can I come with you?"
Trowa was shocked. "Duo, you know your not to leave the forest. Someone
will see you."
"So. I look a lot like you. I am big enough to pass as human."
"Aa. But my friend you are not. You look too fey. Your pixie background
shows up a lot. And I'm sure that your elf side will draw some attention too."
"You don’t seem to mind."
"That's because I see you as my brother, not a possible life mate."
"Please, Trowa. I promise not to be any trouble." Duo put on his best sad
lost face he could. Trowa couldn't resist, he nodded. "YEAH!!!" Duo jumped
for joy.
"But you have to behave. And try not to draw attention to yourself."
"Oh yes what ever you say Trowa." Trowa groaned, he didn't like this one
bit.
The two continued to walk into town. Duo look all around, wanting to see
everything. Trowa however just kept his emotionless face pointed straight
where they were going, the inn.
Trowa entered the inn with Duo close behind. Duo was a little nervous,
since he had never been in this type of building before. Trowa tugged on his
arm so he would follow and headed for on of the counters.

Heero watched as two new people came in. One was tall, lean, and had
strange hair that covered half his face. The other was small, fey looking and
had long hair that went to his knees. Or was it she? Heero wasn't too sure
from where he was sitting. But there was something about the fey looking
creature that caught his attention.
Quatre noticed that Heero's attention was not on the group. Quatre
fallowed where Heero's eyes were at. He noticed a tall lean man and his
friend. However the tall man caught is eye. His hair was so unusual, the way
his bangs covered half his face. He just sat and watched as the two walked up
the counter.
Meiran noticed that the two young princes were no long paying any
attention to her or her husband. She nudged Wufei in the side. He glared at
her. She pointed to their companions. Wufei raised an eyebrow, and with his
eyes followed where the two were looking.
"Is there something interesting over there?" Wufei asked.
Heero turned to him, "Hn?"
"I asked if there was something of interest over there. Both of you seem
preoccupied."
"Nothing."
Meiran sighed, "Oh please. We are out here so that the two of you can
find Life mates. If you see someone of interest then you should pursue it.
What good will it do you if you don’t go after it?"
Heero looked at her. "Perhaps our friend does not know how to proceed,
wife." Wufei offered. Meiran giggled, and Heero glared at him.

"Please have a seat and the innkeeper will be right with you." The lady
said. Trowa nodded to her and dragged his friend with him over to a table.
Duo sat down and looked around. Sitting at the next table were four other
people. Three men and a woman. They looked important. They wore fine looking
clothing and he couldn't help but noticed that their were looking at him and
Trowa.
"Trowa," Duo tapped his friend on the arm. "I think we're being watched."
Trowa turned at looked at the people at the next table. He nodded to
them. They nodded back, and kept watching them. "I see."
"Does this happen to you all the time?"
"No. Most people in town know of me. They are travelers. Possibly
royalty."
"Why do you say that?"
"The clothing they wear is of fine cloth. Most people can't afford to buy
that."

“Why are they staring?”

“I do not know.”
"HEY! Forest boy!" some one called out. Trowa turned to see who it was.
He was not happy to see who it was. Muller. He had bad written all over him.
He was known to go into the forest to hunt for magical beings. Trowa had
stopped him several times. Muller walked up to him and Duo. "And what do we
have here?" Muller got close to Duo. Duo backed away trying to hide next to
Trowa.
"Leave him alone, Muller." Trowa warned.
"I've never seen him around before. And you don't normally come into
town with anyone else." Muller reached out to touch Duo hair. Duo shrunk down
in his chair.
"I said leave him alone."
"Why? Is he your life mate?"
"No he is my friend. Now leave him alone!"
"If he ain't your life mate then he's fair game." Muller grabbed Duo's
wrist pulling him closer. Duo whimpered in fear.
"You were told to leave him alone." a monotone voice said.
Muller looked to see who was talking to him. The guy wasn't very tall,
his hair was a mess and his cobalt blue eyes were a blazing. "And just who
the hell are you?"
"It doesn't matter. You were told to leave him alone. Now let him go."
"Make me."
Wufei at that time stood up along with Meiran, and Quatre. Trowa was
stunned no one ever helped him. He had to defend himself in town. Rashid and
Abdul choose that time to enter the inn. They saw their master and his
friends. They looked about to fight.
"Rashid, it would be a very bad thing if Prince Quatre was in a fight."
Abdul pointed out.
"Yes it would."
Unknown to Trowa Muller's friend Alex was coming up behind him with a
bottle in hand. All Trowa knew was something very hard hit his head and Duo
screaming his name as darkness over came him.
Disclaimer: Hello I don't own it. I’m poor starving artist.