It had taken a bit of travelling about the city to gather what was needed -- and a very sharp knife for the final ingredient. A few drops of his own blood, and the mix was finished, swirled lightly to stir.

/I wonder what Wufei will think of this... what he'll think of eternal life./

A quiet knock sounded at the door, almost silent.

Easily, he walked to the door, still holding the bottle and swirling it. With one hand, he opened it.

"Good evening," Trowa said quietly, a bit surprised. He hadn't really expected either of the two to be awake, but he'd felt the urge to get away from the rapidly forming triangle in his own suite. He was glad his son had found companions more apt to suit him than Wufei ever would, but the sweetness Duo and the blond were heaping upon Wufei's tiny sibling was almost nauseating. "I do hope I'm not interrupting!"

"[No, no -- you just missed interrupting, though,]" he smiled faintly, still swirling the bottle of elixir. Wufei was asleep in the room beyond, and... well, Trowa would not disturb him. "Come in?"

"Yes, thank you," the old man said with a certain amount of relief, limping in, cane in hand. "Heavens. Another moment with those three and I do believe I'd have fairly murdered my own child!"

"Oh?" he asked, amused, closing the door behind the man. "Why is?"

"Your friend and my son have taken to romancing Meiran with a passion," Trowa chuckled. "Were it not so annoyingly cloying, I would think it lovely. However, one more compliment and I believe the girl will die of of a sugar induced attack!"

"[Then that would mean she is already dead,]" Treize mused with a slight wink. Oh, he'd watched Mirialdo court Lucrezia in the same manner, and though he'd not loved her to begin with, soon after he was head over heals for her. "[The three will do well together -- I knew they would.]"

"[Pharaoh,]" Trowa said quietly, thoughtfully, as he seated himself. "[Did you truly seek eternal life? And if so... why? Oh, it's the question of a foolish old man, I grant you, but I was curious. Why did you do so?]"

"[It was the whim of a foolish *young* man,]" he murmured, unable to meet Trowa's eyes. "[I thought I could rule the world. I could have.]"

"[And why did you not?]" Trowa asked thoughtfully, trying to look at Khush directly.

"[Because once the horror of what I had done reached me fully -- through tests of the elixir on my subjects -- I realized I had not the heart for it.]" And he at last raised sapphire eyes to meet green.

"Ahhh." Trowa nodded his understanding slowly. "[Of course. I see. I am deeply sorry, Khush, but I had wondered.]"

"[It is all right -- distant past, to say the least,]" he commented, still swirling the bottle in his hand. "[Drinking?]" Trowa asked curiously. "[Bad for your health, these doctors say, but what do they know? Nothing, truly. Pompous windbags, the lot of them.]"

"[I do not think drinking could kill me,]" he replied with a faint smile. "[And there would be little sense in me drinking this.]"

Restrained curiosity piqued at Trowa as he smiled easily. "[That's also true, isn't it?]"

A slight smile flickered at the edges of his face. "[What is also true?]"

Trowa chuckled quietly. "[Drinking certainly isn't likely to kill you!]" He seemed slightly amused by the matter before he sighed. "[I suppose I should go back to my rooms. Ah, to be young again and to cavort with the dance-hall boys as Quatre and I were accustomed....]"

One eyebrow arched slowly, and Khush couldn't help but smile a little. "[Oh? Your wife must have not been too pleased with you.]"

"[Quite true,]" Trowa responded with a slight sigh. "[But after Duo was born, she moved to Paris with her sister and so we had little of one another's company. It was well, for Relena, though sweet, is not what I would have preferred.]" He smiled in return. "[Ah, the follies of youth and the responsibilities of blood. So often do they clash!]"

Khush let a small smile play over his face. "[How very true. They clash often.]"

A light chuckle sounded. "[Truly, Relena was happier living in Paris than she would have been with me. She had her own peccadillos, I'm sure, and the matter is much more amusing in my old age.]"

"[I am sure it is,]" the immortal man smiled slightly. The elixir would be ready soon... and Wufei would surely be overjoyed. "[How old are you?]"

Trowa laughed a little. "[Only fifty-four but old enough to die, that much is certain,]" he replied. "[So many things in the world to see and do... ah, I'm glad you came to us. It wasn't fair, Wufei in that house alone all the time, and perhaps now he'll see and do the things he should. Quatre had strange notions, truly...]"

"[Perhaps,]" he mused, swirling the bottle a bit higher, within Trowa's line of sight. "[He will have plenty of time to do anything and everything he wishes.]"

"[Immortality,]" Trowa whispered reverently, eyes rivetted. He closed them, finally, breathing in deeply. It was not something for him to think about. He wouldn't think about it. "[Good. He loves you, desperately, I think.]"

"[As do I, elder,]" he replied, still mixing it. "[As do I. I can only pray that he does not turn on me as Mirialdo did.]"

"[I sincerely doubt that it would be so,]" the other murmured, "[but of course I cannot promise that it would not. You think him ready for such a weighty condition as immortality?]"

"[Truly? No. But I cannot deny him it, and I cannot deny that I fear something may happen to him before I have the chance to do this,]" came the easy reply.

"[Did you not raise Mirialdo from centuries long death?]" Trowa asked quietly. "[I understand your desire to not deny him anything. I don't think he should be denied that which will make him happy. Only...]" He sighed. "[Ah, they are merely the ramblings of an old man too close to death. Such a miracle it does seem but...]"

"[But...?]" he insisted.

"[But a miracle which seems entirely too much of a temptation to me,]" Trowa said with a soft laugh. "[I suppose it comes with death, this desire to be as eternal as Khush. Ridiculous, really.]"

"[If you were given the chance, elder, what would you do with immortality?]" he asked, mind starting to... think again.

That required some serious rumination. "[I think,]" he said slowly, "[I would like to do all the things I missed once Quatre wed Dorothy in search of a mother for Wufei. I miss him,]" he confessed with a quiet sigh. "[He was ever the wanter of the two of us. 'Let us see this!' or 'Let us do that!'.]" A chuckle sounded. "[I'm not quite sure I ever had the time to want for just myself.]"

"[Interesting lives you two led,]" he mused, turning away from Trowa. "[Would you like some coffee?]"

"Yes, please," Trowa said in English. He sighed slightly. "Yes. Interesting lives, and our children have become much of ourselves. Wufei is so like Quatre..." /So like his father.../

He turned away, pouring a cup of coffee for the man, adding a bit of creamer... and on a final whim, poured in a dash of the elixir. /Oh, I'm sure I'll suffer for this.../

"Thank you," Trowa said, taking the cup and holding it momentarily to warm his ancient chilled fingers. He smiled slightly. "Yes, Wufei is like his father. He will lead you on adventure after adventure and he will never tire of them; never tire of learning new things with you."

"[I believe the first thing I shall throw my heart into learning will be your tongue,]" he mused, standing by the window with his hands clasped behind his back.

"[You're quite well-spoken and you understand it, when we speak, do you not?]" With that, he raised the cup... and swallowed.

Khush allowed a furtive smile to play over his lips. "[Understand, yes, but I cannot speak it so easily. Some words elude me. Any that I miss when I hear it, I simply trace back to the latin or gallic root.]"

"A brilliant man," Trowa whispered. An unbelievable tingling was working its way through him almost violently and he closed his eyes tight as his heart seemed to implode and then relax once again. He gasped violently, a hand rising to clutch at his chest, and then the pain was gone and he could breathe a sigh of relief. How very strange, he thought dazedly, raising the cup again. How very, very strange.

Treize tilted his head to one side. "Brilliant?" he questioned, then laughed quietly. "[Only sometimes am I as bright as the sun,]" he spoke, and as he did so, threw fully aside the curtain in that room, letting strands of setting sunlight fall in.

Trembling, Trowa raised the cup, draining it just as those rays came in, dancing golden around him. It intensified until he shook as if he was in a gale, the cup dropping from his fingers and shattering on the thin rug that covered the hardwood floor. A gasp shook from him and he closed his eyes. "My GOD!" he cried. "What....!" He meant to say, 'what have you done!?', but it was obvious, was it not? Obvious what Khush had done, for he lifted his shaking hands to look at them -- young, new, not the age-spotted things that had trembled with age, before, whereas now they shook with shock. "Khush...!"

He watched the man reach an age of, perhaps, thirty, and then stabilize. "[Some deserve it.]"

Green eyes welled with shocked tears. "My God." It was all he could think of to say. "My dear sweet God!"

Lips thinned into a slight smile, Khush turned to pick up the vial from before, and returned to swirling lightly. "[Indeed.]"

"Good God..." Trowa seemed mesmerized. Everything -- absolutely EVERYTHING! -- had a tinge of newness, an edge of golden radiance, that he had never truly noticed before. The world sang with the potion in his veins, bubbling merrily along and he wondered: did Khush feel this all the time? Did it never fade? The sun, sinking slowly below the horizon, sang to him, and he could almost feel his hair, his very skin, yearning towards those last fading rays, waving in search of it. "Thank you. [Thank you!!]"

"[You are very welcome,]" Treize murmured, looking toward that setting sun. "[Perhaps it now makes sense to you that I worship the sun?]"

"[Perfect sense,]" Trowa said reverently, holding out his fingers towards the light. "[Beautiful and perfect sense, Khush!]"

"[Enjoy it,]" he murmured, turning from Trowa to return to the bedroom and Wufei's comforting, waiting arms. He still carried the vial as he carefully pushed the door open, stepping in silently. "[You are a wise and gentle man -- already tempered by strain of long mortal years.]"

"Good God," Trowa whispered to himself once again. "Good God."

The dream... the dream was so very realistic, twisting and writhing beneath golden blond and chestnut, fingers touching so intimately... so very sweetly and he was so hot! The covers were kicked off and he sighed audibly. He wished it was Khush, touching him, making him feel so very hot... so disturbingly wet, and he gave a deep sigh once again, turning his head to the side. "Hnnnn...!"

A slight smile flickered over Treize's face as he gently pulled the covers back over his little love, sitting on he edge of the bed. Damp strands of sweetly tangled hair were twisted around Wufei's head, and Treize set aside the vial. Yes. He could very happily spend eternity like that. With Wufei. "Khush..." It was a breath of wishful sound and he released his breath even as Duo caught a nipple in the dream, a breath that turned into a whine. "Duo...!"

Sapphire bright eyes widened for a moment in disbelief, and then... then he heard that name exclaimed again... and jerked away from the bed violently, dropping the vial in the process.

The sound of shattering glass broke his dream and he sat up in bed, shaken and sweaty. What a very strange thing! Meiran....

That had to be it! They were twins, weren't they? And so Meiran was next door.... and having a very interesting time, from the 'feel' of it! He rubbed an eye sleepily and stretched, wondering about that sound from earlier, and frowned as he realized that his lover was looking at him with an altogether displeased-seeming expression. "Khush...?"

Turning away, he shook his head. There was nothing *quite* like having your lover moan someone else's name after having just been with you. /He may want me, but he still *loves* that boy. I can't handle that. I won't... I won't allow it./ "[Nothing,]" he answered, voice tight. "[Nothing at all.]"

"Khush?" Wufei asked again, something in that voice disturbing him. He wondered, for a moment, if Khush had seen into his dreams... but if he had, then he'd have known that it was Meiran next door, and not his -dreams- at all, only a reflection. It must be something else, then, and his brows knit tightly.

"[Nothing,]" he repeated again, voice tighter than before. "I am going to leave. I am not needed here."

"Wh... wh... what?" Wufei's throat was tight, the sound of his speech weak. "I don't... I don't understand, I... I... Khush? Wh... what do you mean?" Cold chills coursed over him and he shook, tears welling. Khush... didn't mean what it sounded like! He was sure...! Khush would never...!

"[You still love Duo, Wufei -- You still want him. I'm not needed here,]" he murmured, back to the young man.

A sputter came in response. "[Well... but... I mean... That's just RIDICULOUS!]" Wufei told him. Khush's language carried emotions so very much better than English! "[I've never loved Duo! I...]"

"[Moaned his name in your sleep. Writhed while dreaming of him,]" he murmured, casting a sad glance back to Wufei. "[All I have ever asked for was monogamy. From both you and Mirialdo. Mirialdo did not agree, and it seems that, at least in your heart of hearts, you want to be with another.]"

"I said wh...? Meiran..." Wufei began, looking at Khush with all of his heart on his face. That didn't matter, though, did it? Because Khush would always doubt him, now. Always. "[I don't love him at all,]" was all he could think to say. "[I have never wanted him, in my heart of hearts or anywhere else.]"

"[As you say,]" the immortal man noted, voice almost sullen. He drew a long breath to steady himself, and then began to walk slowly towards the bedroom door. "[You should see to your father-in-law.]"

"Trowa!" Wufei began scrambling out of bed. "Oh, gods, his heart..." Clothes that had been scattered on the floor where he left them were picked up once more and slipped into hurriedly, his face screwing up slightly with worry. "Khush... is he all right? Please, Khush, don't be angry with me...!" So much on his mind, and he didn't know what to do or think in that moment.

"[Your father-in-law is a new man. And I am leaving,]" he spoke softly, making a detour to the closet to grab his jacket. "[Sleep awaits me in the desert.]"

Bright tears began to chase down slightly rounded cheeks, dark eyes wide with hurt. "[You will re-entomb yourself, Khush, over a handful of dream words that have nothing to do with anything at all?]" /I'm not as good as Mirialdo. Of course. Not enough to keep him from going beneath the sand again./

"[Wufei, can you assure me that they were only dream words?]" he asked, truthfully, eyes hoping... hoping that he could. "[Please...]"

"[Would you believe me if I did?]" Wufei asked softly. "[Would it matter to you that they were only dream words and not even important?]" He could not tell Khush what he was dreaming or Khush would never believe him!

"[If you cannot assure me they were just that... Yes, they will remain important. Dreams are the gateway to what the mind wants. Needs.]"

"[They were only dream words, and not even mine, I don't think,]" Wufei responded, sorrow in his voice. "[Not that you will believe me. Will you?]"

"[They fell from your lips, Wufei,]" He reminded in a soft, sad tone. "[Your lips, your dream -- what is there to believe? If you have some reason, please, do tell...]"

"[I think they were Meiran's dreams and not mine at all!]" Wufei confessed. "[Or, if not dreams, what is happening next door then... but I want only you, Khush! You must believe me!]"

Treize's expression flickered for a moment, and at last he nodded. "[All right. I believe you, then.]"

"Do you really?" Wufei asked, frowning. He sighed slightly. "It's true. Now, I'll go check on Trowa..."

"[There's little to see to,]" Treize noted, dragging his spirits back from the depths of the underworld. "[He's fine.]" And as Wufei began to walk past him, he couldn't help but pull Wufei into his arms, holding him tightly. The vial's contents had soaked into the carpet and evaporated, leaving only shards of glass behind. He'd have to make it all over again...

Those black eyes closed tightly for a moment and Wufei breathed a sigh. "[I love you, Khush. You over all beings, always. I love you. No matter what you ever think, I will always love you, and I will love you until the day that I die.]"

He bent his head to nuzzle against soft black hair. "Forgive me for doubt."

"[Always,]" was the answer, accompanied by a slow sleepy smile. "Always, my beloved Khush."

He drew away a little, pressing a kiss to Wufei's forehead. "[Mortals... Do you always get tired after making love?]"

Wufei stretched slightly, pleased, at least, that Khush was not going to leave him -- for the moment. "Mmmm," he answered. "Perhaps not. Perhaps it is only a peculiarity of mine."

"[A sweet peculiarity,]" he mused, still holding the little one against him. "[It is good to have something I can call mine -- to be with such a one.]"

Wufei turned slightly, lifted his face. "I love you, you know," he said solemnly. "Terribly much."

Treize allowed a slight smile to flit over his lips. "[And I have no idea what I've done to deserve such devotion.]"

"[Only saved me from a fate worse than death,]" Wufei replied lightly, nuzzling before he moved to go into the other room.

With a slight smile, Khush waited to see what Wufei's reaction to his would-be father-in-law's new state. "Sir, are you feeling all right?" Wufei asked as he walked into the sitting room, looking at the tall straight form standing at the window. Trowa turned, bright auburn hair and flashing green eyes shocking the tiny black-haired creature. "Oh, my God."

With surprisingly sure footsteps, Trowa moved forward, taking Wufei's hands and looking into those shocked ebony eyes. "Wufei.... look! Look!" He was giddy, almost like a school boy, and Wufei couldn't help but feel pleasure for him even as he wanted to weep.

/Everyone but me.... he'd give it to anyone but me.../ What was worse, Wufei wasn't even truly sure he wanted it, except that he wanted to be by Khush's side for always! /I'm so unimportant to him that... that..../

The expression on Wufei's face was easy to read, and Treize frowned, stepping toward his young lover. "[Little one... it is not as you are thinking -- I was going to give what was left to you, and when I heard... heard you moaning Duo's name, I... dropped it. The vial broke. In a week I can make more.]"

"[Are you sure you'll trust me that long?]" Wufei asked with no little resentment, face strained slightly. "[Maybe tomorrow you'll think it's Mirialdo I want. Or Meiran. Or Trowa!]"

"Wufei..." Trowa said, stunned. "Don't..."

"[Do you not believe that I love you, Wufei?]" Treize asked, expression concerned as he walked toward Wufei. "[I've only worried because I've been back-stabbed often enough in my lifetimes...]"

"[I don't know what to believe,]" Wufei answered, shaking his head, black strands of hair falling in his eyes. "[I... I love you terribly, but that you could even doubt me once... I... I will wait and we will see. All right, Khush?]" he asked pleadingly, suddenly desperately dependent on the other man's answer.

"[Am I on probation for mistaking your sleepy moans for what they seemed to be just then?]" he asked, raising one eyebrow slowly. "[Please do not do this...]"

Trowa frowned slightly, still wobbly in his new condition. "[The both of you are as ridiculous as children!]" he said, surprised by the strength in his voice.

"[No...]" Wufei answered slowly. "[No, just...]"

Lips thinned, Treize nodded. "[Yes, we are being so. And Wufei, give me time -- I will give you the elixir. I simply need the right conditions again.]" And for a moment he worried if that was the only reason Wufei was putting up with him... for the secret of immortality.

Was that it? And there he was, the great proud Pharaoh, begging to get a chance to give it to the boy. That he could be so tightly manipulated...

/I don't WANT the bloody elixir, I just want you to want me more than you do anyone else!/ "It's only that it was unexpected," Wufei said softly. "I'm glad for you, sir. I wouldn't have wanted to lose you." That said, he hugged Trowa tightly.

That said, Trowa smiled and patted the smaller man on the back. "It's all right, child," he murmured.

Treize watched, wondering how much he'd misinterpreted... or if he had at all. "[I'm... going to go out,]" he said, looking at Wufei. "[To the desert. For a walk. Do you wish to come, Wufei?"

"I'm welcome?" Wufei asked tentatively.

"[Yes, you are, Wufei -- I think that we need to have a talk. Alone,]" He said, still holding his jacket over once arm. "[Do not worry -- it is nothing to worry over. I just wish to talk.]"

It took all Wufei could do to dredge up his little smile. "Good evening, sir," he wished Trowa quietly, gathering his own jacket. He was still a little sleepy, still smelled of sex, but that was not so important, he thought, as going with Khush.

Treize slid an arm over Wufei's shoulders, smiling slightly as he guided Wufei from the room. Yes... they would talk once out of the hotel...

The night was quiet, stars sparkling overhead as they stepped out into cool air, the city quiet around them as Wufei rested his head slightly against Khush. "Treize?"

Treize drew a breath of that crisp air, and tightened his arm around Wufei's shoulders for a moment, then slid it down around the young man's waist. "[It's been rather hectic in there, and if I am correct, this is supposed to be a vacation... Hence I thought it should be relaxing and enjoyable. It's pleasant out here.]"

The slender Englishman relaxed against his lover, smiling slightly. "Yes. [Best to get away,]" he said softly. "[Best to be here, just with you.]"

"[I do enjoy your company, Wufei,]" he mused, walking down the street slowly. "[I'd thought, perhaps.... we could purchase horses and go out into the desert. Do you wish to?]"

"Yes!" Wufei answered passionately. "Let's go into the desert, under the stars!"

It wasn't hard to find and purchase horses -- though the renter had found them suspicious -- and neither was it hard to set Wufei atop one, gracefully mounting his own beast. "[There are paths in the desert... rocky paths, leading into mountainous structures... come.]"

The stars were bright overhead, as Wufei had known they would be, blazing with white light that crept down through the acrid air of the desert as they travelled out the gates. Each stride of the horse took them further away and he clung to the animal slightly. Riding was not something he had done often and he had to accustom himself to the notion that he would be even sorer in the morning than he had been of late... but that was all right! He was with Khush... and that made everything perfect.

Sidling his animal up beside Wufei's, he grasped half the reins and one slim hand within his. "Pretty?"

"Oh, yes!" Wufei said fervently, face alight with the sheer happiness brought on by all of this, doing away with that miserable thought from earlier. "It's wonderful, Khush! Oh, thank you!"

"[There is a place that I know of...]" His eyes scanned about, before he reached into one pocket with his other hand, withdrawing the gold-leafed necklace from before. It had been sitting in the box he'd given it to Wufei in, and on an absent thought, he'd grabbed it. "[If it doesn't bother you too much, I would like to see you wearing this. It's very beautiful on you.]"

With care, Wufei lifted his hands from the reins, leaving them in Treize's hands trustfully as he took the necklace. It didn't take long to put it on and when it was placed around his neck, he smiled at Khush with all the warmth and adoration in him. "I love you," he breathed sweetly. "[Oh, I love you!]"

The smile on the man's face was genuine, as he stilled the ride, and caressed a hand lightly over that necklace. "[And I love you, my little one. Please do not doubt that any longer.]"

The corners of that smile twitched briefly and Wufei's brows knit together. "Only... you seem to love Mirialdo so," he said finally. "And I can't be that... I can't be worthy of the things you'd give for him." He could not begrudge Trowa the elixir... did not, for he loved the older man as dearly as he had his own father.

"[Loved him. Loved,]" he spoke, stressing the past-tense. "[What things would I give him that I would not give you, Wufei?]"

"Nothing, I suppose," Wufei answered softly. "Only... but it doesn't matter, really, I don't think. I love you, with all of my heart," he sighed with no little pleasure. "And even if he is beautiful, he is also more than a little mad, so perhaps that is all right."

"Very mad," Treize murmured. "[And to me, you are prettier than he is -- you have a beauty both inside and out.]"

"Khush!" A vibrant flush lit up his face, almost unnoticeable there in the twinkling light of the stars. His smile was much more obvious. "You are wonderful..."

"[And you are perfectly sweet, little one,]" Treize smiled, handing the reins of Wufei's horse back to the boy. "[Now, come with me -- I know a ravine that is... breathtaking in the night.]"

With care, he took the leather and followed Khush, heart beating rapidly with excitement and the beauty of the night. The sound of sand was everywhere, crunching beneath the horses hooves with soft shushing noises, the light desert breeze caressing his face. There was no moment in his life that he could single out that held any more delicate crystalline happiness than this one and he revelled in every moment of it.

The sand gave way to solid and sturdy rock, as Treize lead Wufei away from the normal tourist places to visit. Shades of reds, pale oranges and other natural tones conquered the rocks, and Khush lead on in silence, smiling and wanting... wanting so badly to see that special place after so long...

So he stopped dead as his eyes focused on the once perfect area -- to find that the land there had been bought. There was a rich-looking house seated at the bottom, a winding pathway down... "[By the sun.]"

"Treize?" Wufei asked, tilting his head to the side. The house was there.... and it didn't seem as if Khush had expected it at all. Well. Things *did* change...

Khush's eyes widened, and he turned his horse around abruptly. "[There was a grove. So much for the idea of seeing it.]"

"Maybe if we go further down," Wufei began.

"[No. There is a house there. It was a small place, but beautiful... and now it has a house on it,]" he mused, almost bitterly.

Wufei thought for a moment before saying softly, "Perhaps if we went out into the desert itself... it's beautiful there, Khush."

Nodding the man turned his horse back in the direction that had gone before -- away from the rocky path, towards the desert. There had to be an oasis somewhere in there...

The ride was so beautiful, even though Wufei could feel some of Treize's frustration still. He loved every moment of it -- the shadows of things far far away, the acrid air, the sound of the horses. The only thing that might have been better, he thought to himself, was if they'd had camels! That made him smile, just as the leaf-necklace made him smile as well, fingers reaching up to touch it with pleasure. Well... to hell with eternity, really! He'd be happy just to be with Khush, always and always, until he died...

Keen eyes picked out an oasis, and Treize lead Wufei towards it, dismounting in a single, smooth movement. "[Perfection.]"

A few abandoned little structures circled the trees and the little lagoon that made up the oasis and Wufei's breath caught with the wonder of it. Oh, it was as lovely as books always described such things -- much lovelier, in fact! He was enraptured, face lit up with amazement. "Oh, Khush..." he whispered, looking around from atop his horse, still.

Smiling now, pleased once more, the immortal turned to pluck Wufei from the horse, and, still holding him in his arms, he walked toward the bank of the little lagoon. "[Would it please you to stay here a while?]"

Wufei laughed and kicked a foot lightly. "It would please me to stay here forever and ever!" he said with a pleased sigh. "Or at least until we have to go back again."

"[Best to leave when the sun begins to rise -- because it will get hot very fast,]" he smiled, setting Wufei down as he himself sat down on the bank. "[This reminds me of my youth.]"

"Tell me about it," Wufei said softly, taking off his shoes.

"[Sitting near the flooded Nile, looking at all the lushness about, reading with my tutor...]" And then things became hazy. "[It truly was so long ago. I cannot remember everything.]"

The young man had been steadily stripping and was now dangling a bare foot in the water. "I wish you did. I would like to hear about everything you've ever done. I know you but I don't know you somehow... and at the same time, it doesn't matter, because I love you so." He paused. "Do you think it's safe to go in?" he asked a bit worriedly.

"[Yes, very safe -- these little oasis are actually rises in the water table. They seem to well from the sand. But I would not try to reach the bottom. Just stay near the top and it's perfectly fine,]" he instructed. "[And I barely know myself any longer.]"

Wufei rose, skimming off his pants. Clad in nothing more than the golden necklace of leaves, he held out a hand. "Come with me!" he implored. "Let's swim!"

Treize rose, and stripped away his own clothing, smiling at Wufei. A brief pause, and he grabbed the smaller hand, diving gracefully in before the boy could.

The water was remarkably warm, satin against skin, and Wufei followed Treize around the pool, playing a bit before settling back to floating, amazed at the sheer brightness of the world around them. "[It's so beautiful, Khush!]" he sighed with pleasure. "[It makes me think so much of you...]"

"[When one has been in the world as long as I have, you do begin to resemble it,]" he spoke, keeping his head above the water with barely any effort at all. So warm, and natural... he breathed a smiled sigh, and swam closer to Wufei.

That presence so close made Wufei shiver and he turned, dropping down in the water slightly to move closer to Khush, limb stroking limb almost a surprise. "Khush..."

"Dear one," he murmured in English, pulling Wufei into his arms in that water, still keeping both of them afloat with little effort. One hand stroked slowly through warm, damp hair, and he smiled before kissing gently at those lips. All the while, he began to steer them closer to the shore. "This is so beautiful," Wufei whispered against his slick flesh. "Thank you. Thank you so much..."

"No need to thank me," Khush murmured, at last simply standing up in the water, the line of it lapping lightly at the top edge of his chest. He still held tightly onto Wufei, not wanting to let go of him, or lose a perfectly ethereal moment. Just then, it seemed... A memory from the depths of his mind reached him. He'd done the same thing before with his charioteer so many many years before. "[Because I missed you dearly during the years when you were gone from me, my first love -- you would not know, but everything I did with Mirialdo, I compared with how things as simple as conversation had been with you.]"

It made little sense, truly, for a moment, and then the memory struck of Treize speaking about another lover from long ago. Wufei smiled gently, fingers reaching out to brush ginger locks away from that noble face, his legs rising to wrap about the man as he kissed him sweetly, so sweetly. "[I love you, my darling. I shall love you for all of eternity. Forever, my fiery Khush.]"

The night-life in Cairo was as rich as it had been years ago and Trowa strolled through it with the confidence granted by his youth. Everything seemed bright and fresh to him tonight, as it should, he supposed. He was extraordinarily grateful to Khush... yes, he was. Still, what would he tell Duo? He wouldn't worry about that now; that could wait, he thought, as he entered into the small dancing hall in one of the seedier parts of town.

It was filled with smoke and men and Trowa knew that he'd found just the sort of place he wanted. Women flitted hither and yon in the building but they were mostly for show, he thought, or for waiting the tables. He caught one and managed to get a drink as he moved further in. A small stage occupied one end of the smoke-filled room, little candles burning all around it, electricity not present yet in this hole-in-the-wall sort of place, and he waited patiently, looking about.

Ah, the times he remembered in just such places! He and Quatre had come to drink in them, to fuck one another and the women there, and every moment had been golden. Perhaps, given a little time, it would be golden again.

It had been both his pleasure and his curse to work there -- or so the boy thought, straightening his vest as he walked past the table that the handsome auburn haired man was at. He paused a moment, still absently adjusting his dancing costume, eyes trained on the man's face.

The motions of someone only feet away caught his attention, and teal-bright eyes took his breath away utterly. It was strange, here in this land, to see blue eyes, a golden-capped head, and he gasped with shock. "Q.. Q...Qua...!"

The man was stammering something, and the boy approached the man. He looked rich... could be a well paying customer. /My first. But you do what you have to do to keep fed./ "Hello, sir -- can I be of help?" he asked, speaking in the gutter tongue of the Cairo streets.

Managing to get himself under control, Trowa gave the boy an absolutely dazzling smile -- a smile he'd given no one in years and years. "Sit down, my dear boy. What is your name?" he asked in the same language, smiling. "Where are you from?"

"My name is Joshai," he smiled in return, slightly cynical expression softening as he sat down across from the man. He leaned forward a little, aware that his vest opened when he did so. Better for seduction, if that was what he wanted to get from the man. "And I come from... Here. Born and raised here. My parents died when I was young, so I'm not sure where they're from -- you, sir?"

"England," Trowa replied softly. "How would you like to go somewhere else? Without all this..." A wave of his hand indicated the smoke, the leering old men sitting in a corner. "Somewhere cleaner?"

"Lead on," Joshai smiled.

It was a short trip; not back to the hotel, no, not yet, for he was fascinated with the boy and wanted to see.... He wanted to see everything about him that he could, just based on the fact that he looked so deliciously much as Quatre had when they were young.

/When we were young!/ He almost laughed aloud at the sheer luxury of that thought but resisted, heading into a small cabaret that was cleaner than the one from which Joshai had come. The boy walked at Trowa's side, smiling. Well, at least this man wasn't going to pin him against a wall and fuck him like he'd heard about from some of the other boys. "What do you want to do, sir?"

"Talk, my dear boy. We shall talk and get to know one another. Hm?" Trowa said easily. Yes, that would be... /Perfect./

Joshai smiled at Trowa as they entered the place. He tugged a bit nervously at the edge of his vest. "All right, Trowa."

A sudden realization struck him. "Clothes! You need clothing, don't you? Well, we shall get something for you! Something proper!"

Blonde eyebrows raised. "B-but, Trowa, I'm wearing clothing!"

"Something English," Trowa whispered. "I want to see you in tweed and in a white shirt. And I want to see you naked and I want to... ahhh, but that can wait, can't it? At least momentarily!"

"Momentarily!" Joshai smiled, throwing his arms around Trowa's waist and laughing. This man was wonderful!

So sweet... so like Quatre had been, when they were young and strong and so very much in love. "Yes. Yes, let's get something to drink. We'll drink and we'll go out into the desert at night. Would you like that?"

"Oh, very much!" Joshai smiled. It was perfect, almost too good!

That being said, Trowa moved quickly, getting a bottle and heading out into the streets once again with his lovely young companion, finding camels and buying them quickly and cheaply, along with a few blankets. "Come!" he said cheerfully. "Let's go!" Oh, it was wonderful, to feel so young and alive!

Joshai knew how to mount one, and it seemed, so did the Englishman -- which was a delight, in the least! Laughing and beckoning for Trowa to follow him, he urged his beast forward. "I'll beat you there!"

"We shall see about that!" Trowa called, and the race was on!

Roaring down the back streets of Cairo on a camel was something to be seen indeed, but Joshai slowed as they reached the desert, smiling.

With a chuckle, Trowa pulled up beside him. "Well, my boy?" he asked. "Any glorious sights you'd like to show me?"

A smile slid over Joshai's face. "There is an oasis, though others have probably already claimed it for the night... but there is a cave..." He gave Trowa an impish grin.

"Well, then, dear boy!" Trowa exclaimed. "Shall we go?"

Nodding, Joshai urged his camel forward in the proper direction, though the warm, dry night air.

The cave the boy had indicated was arid, full of sand and quite, quite empty, from what he could tell. Trowa smiled slightly upon seeing it, dismounting from the camel with a grace he certainly wouldn't have shown only hours ago. He quickly tied the animals' reigns off on a protrusion that seemed made for just that thing and went to help the lovely young boy off of his own camel, as well.

Joshai smiled as his feet touched the ground. "Thank you, Trowa!" he smiled, walking easily farther into the cave. "I live here. I've a bed, and some other things here -- no one bothers coming here to rob me."

/Good heavens,/ Trowa thought, a pang of sympathy striking him. "I see," he replied quietly. "How old are you, Joshai?"

"I'm nineteen, Trowa," he smiled striking a match to light a candle. Strangely, the cave wasn't barren... it had a warm, homey feel to it. "Around here, you can't just be a dancer when you're my age. I'm lucky I'm as small as I am." For a moment Joshai wondered why he'd brought the man to his only safe place... but he trusted him, strangely enough. Still smiling, he wrapped his arms around Trowa's waist, setting his head on the other's chest. "I like you... you're so nice."

Trowa's voice was slightly raw as he replied. "You shouldn't be so trusting, little one. There are dangerous men abroad."

"But you're not one of them... I feel that you're not," he murmured against the strong muscles. "Are you?"

"Far from it," Trowa breathed, lifting the boy into his embrace slightly, head dropping down to search out those lips. "Oh, far from it!"

Joshai gave a soft laugh, lifting his head to meet that mouth. Yes, the man was kind, and... he'd pay well. Which was something Joshai hoped would get him through the month without having to do again. Not every customer he'd find would be so kind, so, so... so perfect.

As their mouths parted, Trowa looked deep into warmly sparkling blue eyes. Yes.... this mere child reminded him so very much of Quatre, before all of the bitterness.... "Come with me, little one. Abroad, anywhere, everywhere!" He was not afraid to disappear, as he knew he must. Trowa Barton must die, he knew that... and there were so many things to *see*, as Wufei would say! "I'll take care of you!" he declared, impassioned.

Those words started Joshai. "You... you would? Oh, yes!" He tightened his arms around the man in a happy grasp. "Oh, oh, yes! Please!! I want to get out of here!" Joshai laid down beneath Trowa, smiling -- unable to not do so! The man was strong and smiling above him, and he couldn't help but give a quiet laugh, slipping his arms around the man's neck, shaking his head a little to move blonde strands from his eyes. "Thank you! Thank you!"

"You are a delightful creature, aren't you?" Trowa breathed, spreading sweet wonderful kisses down Joshai's throat and pressing him gently beneath him.

"I hope I am," he nearly purred, clinging harder still. Oh, such passions that pulled to life in him... such... "Oh, that feels wonderful!"

The sound of Trowa's voice was soft and rich as warm caramel. "Good," he murmured. "It should." Teeth bit lightly at the cluster of nerves just below Joshai's jaw and he pressed down into the beautiful young creature, erection rubbing against erection through far too much clothing.

He felt as if his nerves had overwhelmed his small body, for he shook from the delicate, yet overwhelming pleasure caused by that light nip, and the feel of another's hardness grinding slowly against his own. "Oh, please!" A plea for what, Joshai didn't know, but he wanted more of those feelings... much more.

"Sweet little one," came the whisper. "Oh, so sweet." Hands trailed down his side, teasing and light, stroking away the little vest, opening the pants that revealed as much of his legs as they hid. "Beautiful little one..."

Shed now of his clothing, Joshai let out a soft, needy sound. "Oh, please Trowa... I want to feel you..." Illustrating his point, he lifted one hand that was shaking from pure excitement, and tried to open Trowa's shirt.

That shaking hand made his breath catch and he stroked his fingers up to lightly tweak a nipple. "Hush," he murmured, beginning to suck its mate, pulling it gently with his teeth, tugging and then sucking soothingly.

He gave a low gasp, but continued to try to open Trowa's shirt -- much, much slower now. At last he gave up, tangling one hand into Trowa's hair, arching into that heated mouth.

Hot mouth caressed the boy's belly, teasing and nipping at his sternum as Trowa's hands teased his cock. So long, since he'd been able to feel such passion! It was almost as new as if he'd never done it at all, and he felt so much... so very much.... and so *POWERFUL!* "Ah, Joshai!"

The young man let out a low moan, arching his hips up toward those hands. "Oh, oh, please, Trowa! I want you! I want!"

"Do you know what you want, sweet one?" Trowa asked quietly. "Do you have oil?"

"I want someone special like you to take my virginity," Joshai smiled, unable to not hug the man close to him. "It's in the niche to the left."

A virgin... how unbearable and unreal! Trowa rose up on his elbows, reaching over to the indicated place and grasping a stoppered bottle, pulling loose the cork with easy fingers and coating his fingers to slide them between the angelic creature's cheeks. "Yes.... and I've wanted you, so very much..."

Joshai jerked, eyes closed tightly. "Oh, oh, please! Trowa, please, please..." He was speaking in English now, and it seemed as if those were the only words he knew. But he was being touched *there* of all places, and he'd never thought it would feel good *there*.

His fingers delved deep, so deep, touching the angelic creature so far inside! The tips of those digits found the softness of Joshai's prostate and Trowa stroked it with the sure knowledge of a man with long experience with pleasure even as he leaned down and kissed the boy's belly warmly. "Yes, little one, yes..."

A soft sound that was half a sob, and half a cry of triumph left Joshai, his lean body arching up toward that mouth. "Oh, yes!"

"Would you like me inside of you?" Trowa purred, tongue lashing out to taste the tip of the man-child's erection.

"Oh, please..." That was nearly a whine, heady from the pleasure as he bucked his hip up to that mouth.

"Yes..." Trowa rose, coating his erection with one hand and propping himself above Joshai with the other. "Slow, all right?" And with that, he began to press himself forward.

It was hard not to thrust up to that hardness pushing slowly into him; harder still to not cry out at the delicious agony of it. A small series of strained, "Oh, oh, oh," left his lips as he forced himself to keep his hips still.

A slow release of air came as Trowa found himself seated to the hilt, hands stroking the delicate face beneath him. "Oh, yes," he purred audibly, capturing those pretty swollen lips. "Yes!"

Another whimper, this time released against that mouth, as Joshai rocked his hips in tiny motions back and forth. He arms came up around Trowa's back, and he held tightly to him, bare chest to chest, loving the feel of it. "Oohhhh..."

With an easy stroke, Trowa pulled out, beginning to thrust with smooth precise motions, holding the boy. There was something about his body, some infinite power, and he held it tightly reigned in, fully aware that he could hurt the delicate creature beneath him. Those lips were taken again and again in the sweetest of kisses, with only the sounds of their panting breaths and Joshai's little cries on the air.

Both heaven and hell, wrapped together in one, pain, heady and strong, mixed with overpowering pleasure... Joshai could only arch, again and again, onto that thickness that possessed him.

Trowa sighed against the boy's ear. It was so very lovely, so much like holding Quatre! His fingers stroked through those sweet golden curls and he moaned, the tight clamping around his shaft utter ambrosia.

"Uhn!" Joshai uttered, arching up, eyes closed tightly now. "Please... more!"

With that sweet pleading, Trowa shifted closer, moving more quickly, deeper, groaning softly beneath his breath. "Joshai..." Oh, how sweet! "UNH!"

The thickness inside him brushed something... something so perfectly, that Joshai couldn't stop himself -- he felt a throbbing call within him, and trembling, came with a low moan.

Ah, there was a sharp clenching around him and he thrust deep once and again and came in the boy, holding him tight as his synapses fired behind closed lids. How very sweet... how very perfect!!

Being filled like that felt strange, but Joshai felt it only absently, more focused on his own waves of pleasure. Oh, it felt so good! "Trowa..."

Lips brushed lips, silencing them sweetly. "When we finish here," Trowa said softly, "we'll go back to the city. We'll shop, and I'll take you away..."

Another soft whimper, and he closed his eyes, clinging tightly to Trowa. The man was like a prince! A knight in shining armor, come to take him away from the despair of poverty, and the idea of having to sell himself for food."Oh, thank you, Trowa! Thank you!"

"Beautiful sweet Joshai." Soft kisses rained down upon his face. "Sleep for a bit and then we'll go.

The young man nodded, sighing happily. "Oh, thank you so much, Trowa... I love you..."

"Yes," Trowa breathed softly before saying in that ancient language, "[I love you, sweet little one...]"

Understanding only some of the words, Joshai smiled. "Oh, you're perfect, Trowa. Perfect..." he trailed off sleepily.

"Sleep now," Trowa repeated softly. "Sleep, darling perfection..."

Khush walked slowly beside the horse Wufei sat astride, as he led both animals. The night air was cool, and familiar, and the streets were blissfully near silent. "[How do you think your... Duo is getting along with the others?]"

"[Beautifully,]" Wufei replied easily, his hands stroking the horse in praise for his night's journey. "[Duo could get along with anyone, my Pharaoh! Well,]" he paused. "Perhaps everyone but you."

Treize gave a soft laugh. "But me. [Yes, you are very right -- but there are many reasons as to why we two, Duo and I, do not get along.]"

"And I'm the biggest one," Wufei said with a little frown before shrugging. "Do you think Meiran...?"

"[And Duo get along very well,]" Treize finished, looking up at the mounted boy. "[I'm glad to endure many hatreds, for you -- to have and keep you.]"

Leaning down, Wufei's hand lightly touched Treize's face. "I could never love anyone as I love you," he said intently.

"[And I am glad to have found the perfect love that you are, Wufei," Treize smiled, halting the walking of the horses a moment to lift his head up to the boy's, to take a kiss.

"You're too sweet!" Wufei laughed huskily, leaning down to meet those lips.

"[Me, sweet? You are the one that tastes of honey and sand,]" came the rough murmur.

The flush that came over that warmly colored skin was more of desire than embarrassment. "Perhaps we should have stayed longer," he replied.

"[Perhaps,]" Khush murmured. "[But I care not who sees and who doesn't.]"

"Ah, Khush, my Pharaoh, I..." The sound of a car rattling by caught his attention as he sat up straight to keep from falling off of his skittish horse. "Whoa!"

Lucky for him, the ancient man still held the reins, and was not about to let Wufei ride off on him by accident. "Steady."

"Good heavens! They could kill someone like that!"

Treize only watched the vehicle retreat. "[Yes, but they're such works of art into themselves.. fascinating.]"

"Nasty smelly things, really, I... Oh... oh, oh, oh! LOOK OUT!"

It only took that one warning to make Treize dodge out of the way, dragging both horses and Wufei with him

"JOSHAI! NOO!!!"

They'd been walking back from the desert, both half asleep when the rattle trap vehicle had gone barrelling down the street, frightening the little blond.

Joshai had been crossing the street, just a few paces ahead of Trowa when he heard the man's call, and spun. "Trowa, wha--"

And then it hit him.

The sound was appalling. Wufei heard it even from across the street, the wet smack and consequent squelching noise, and he turned away quickly, a hand clapped over his mouth.

"NOOOO!!!"

The horses's reins were quickly tied around Khush's wrist, and Wufei was pulled from his mount and to the safety just a little beside and behind Treize. After a moment, he began to make his way to where the car had been -- it was now already driving off -- and where there was a body, and a young man...

Trembling fingers, fingers that had been old less than twenty-four hours before, lightly touched the face of the delicate creature bleeding out his life on the dirt-filled street. "Joshai..."

"Toro...wa..." Joshai breathed in a gasping breath. "It hurts, Trowa... it hur...ts."

It was all Wufei could do not to vomit then and there; the stench of blood and... other things was overwhelming and his black eyes drowned in hot tears as his dearest Trowa stroked the face that looked so disturbingly whole... that face that... looked like... "Oh, my God." The desire to faint was overwhelming, but he didn't. It would have been as disrespectful as vomiting.

"[It will be all right, little one,]" Trowa said gently in Egyptian. "It will be all right."

"[Thanks... for making me... happy, at least... ahn! A little before... oh, love you... hurts much,]" he managed to say, before his body gave a convulsion and tears slid from his eyes.

Gently, Treize turned Wufei's face away; there was nothing to be done. "Yes," Trowa said softly, thumbs wiping away the tears upon those gentle sun gold dusted cheeks. "Yes. Love you." His own green eyes were terribly damp as he cradled that lovely face one last down, Wufei's soft weeping barely audible.

Joshai said nothing more, and drew at most three more pained breathes before no more came from him small body. Wufei's weeping was more audible now, and Treize could only stand there, letting his love cry.

"Good night, sweet prince," Trowa whispered brokenly. "And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."

Treize watched the man's expressions; he was already learning how un-mortal he was. How much pain that caused.

And there was nothing he could say -- no words of regret, for he'd never even seen the boy before, and now he was dead, having so obviously touched Trowa.

"Poppa," Wufei whispered heart-brokenly. "OH, Poppa!"

"Yes," Trowa said, those green eyes never leaving that sweet face. "Yes, yes."

"Your father?" Treize asked softly,

"He looks like Poppa," Wufei whispered, the violent twisting in his belly coming close to overwhelming him.

"Aa." Khush kept up stroking Wufei's back. "[Don't look, Wufei.]"

"It's so awful!"

Trowa's hand never stopped stroking the sweet bloody face. "Yes."

"Trowa," the ancient started. "[I'm going to go into the hotel, then get help.]"

"Help for what?" came the morbid response as Trowa's hand crept down, touching the crushed flesh that had been whole and pressed to his own so recently. "A little late for help, isn't it?"

"[Do you plan on leaving him there?]" the pharaoh asked evenly.

Trowa didn't answer at first, seemed to stricken to answer, and Wufei moved away from them slightly, unable to bear so much as a moment longer. "Quatre..." he finally said mournfully. "Joshai..." He sighed. "So. This is what immortality is."

"[Yes, this is it,]" Treize whispered, letting Wufei go to watch the horses as he stepped forward. "[It gives as much as it takes. You'll find him again, though. And it will have been worth it all.]"

"[You think so?]" Trowa asked, the pain bearing down on him now almost impossible to take. "[You think it's worth it, to find what you love and then lose it once again?]" Those dark jade eyes darted to Wufei... Quatre's son, by blood, as Meiran was his daughter. They looked so much like their mother....

"Yes," Khush spoke in English. "[It is.]"

"[And when he dies, will you have the fortitude to wait another millennium for him?]" Trowa said in a low voice. His fingers traced Joshai's face gently. Quatre... he had been just like Quatre... but that was ridiculous, wasn't it, for Quatre had only been dead a short time.

"[I have done it once before,]" Treize murmured.

A non-committal grunt sounded as Trowa stood slowly, never looking away. "[It's why you went beneath the sand, isn't it.]" It was a statement, not a question. "[And you've come here to do it again. And Wufei will let you, won't he?]"

"[I believe he won't,]" Treize spoke slowly. "[And I do not think I will be returning to that state of before.]"

"Good," Trowa replied softly, wiping a bloody hand on his pants leg. "No one deserves this kind of sorrow."

"[And what will you do, Trowa?]"

"[Go from here. See things, I suppose. I was always inclined to stay at home, like Duo.]" He sighed. "[Quatre was the one who would see things, enter tombs, climb mountains.]" A shake of his head followed. "[But now, time stretches before me infinitely... doesn't it? So I'll do the things Quatre would do if he had infinity. For Quatre...]" His gaze rested on the dead boy laying in the street. "[For Joshai.]"

"[For both of them,]" Treize mused quietly. "[You will find him again -- it seems the soul is quick to get back to you. You will not have so long to wait. And until then, enjoy your new gift as best you can.]"

"[How long did you wait, Khush?]"

"[I don't know how long you'll have to wait -- I likely denied myself many chances by having myself buried. It was a weak escape.]"

"Yes," Trowa spoke softly. "Go get someone, Khush," he ordered without thought. "Go get someone to get him up off of the street."

Instinctively, Treize bristled at the order -- then stopped himself, realizing the man was deep in grief. Silently, he walked away to find the local police.

"Father?" Wufei asked respectfully from some few feet away, the nausea finally under control, the desire to faint almost gone entirely. "Are you all right?

"I'll be fine, Wufei," Trowa told him softly. "Stay there and don't look."

Wufei shuddered. "I'm sorry," he whispered, a breath barely heard as the wind stirred the sand in the street.

"I know," Trowa replied. /I know./

Mirialdo stretched, looking at his two lovers. "[You both sleep like dogs.]"

With a grumpy mumble, Duo reached over, stole Miri's pillow and buried his head beneath it.

The immortal looked at Duo, gave a smirk, then shook the man. "[Wake up...]"

"No," he said distinctly, wrapping an arm about Meiran's waist and shifting her closer to him.

The woman sighed, and shifted against Duo, while Mirialdo only stayed where he was frowning. "[Do you want water dumped on the both of you?]"

Another mumble came from Duo and his hand fumbled across the sheets in search of Mirialdo.

The blond immortal grabbed that hand. "[Yes...?]"

"[C'm back t'bed. 'S not mornin' yet.]"

"[I don't sleep,]" Mirialdo said mournfully. "[And I'm bored.]"

Yawning, Duo caressed the line of Meiran's waist tenderly. "[You could study English a bit more... or order breakfast and coffee. Get me coffee and I'll get up...]"

Mirialdo watched Meiran snuggle closer to Duo, and he sighed. "[I'll go get 'coffee'.]"

"Nnn." Duo agreed. "[We'll get up when there's coffee. Five more minutes,]" he promised.

"[Fine,]" the blonde grumbled, sitting back and rising to his feet.

Nudging Meiran, Duo sighed. "[I'm up, I'm up.]"

Mirialdo was already off and hunting out coffee -- unfortunately, he didn't know what it was. But, he'd learn... hopefully.

Meiran gave a grumble, sighing. "Mmm?"

"'ll be back with coffee," Duo told her quietly, crawling from the bed and grabbing a robe, heading after Mirialdo.

"Mmhmm."

Hopelessly confused by all the *gadgets* in the room, the Pharaoh simply *stood* there.

"Miri..." Duo said softly. "[Hang on.]"

A phone call later and coffee was on the way.

Mirialdo looked at the phone. "[This time is amazing.]"

With an incoherently sleepy murmur, Duo moved forward and wrapped his arms around Mirialdo, yawning. "[What time did you say it was, again?]" the blonde asked, pulling Duo closer. "[You feel good.]"

"['s too early,]" Duo yawned. "[That's what time it is,]" he replied, nuzzling tightly against the tall blond man.

"[We can ignore the coffee if bed will prove entertaining...]" Mirialdo said provocatively.

"Nnnn, Miri," Duo husked, reaching up and grasping a handful of silken platinum hair to pull the man down for a kiss. Mouth ravaged mouth slowly, sensually. "[Meiran will probably commit horrible atrocities if we go back without coffee.]"

"[Oops,]" the blond chuckled. "[We'll just have to keep ourselves busy until the coffee comes...]"

"He!" Duo laughed as a knock came on the door. "[Well, I think our timing's off.]"

A soft curse left Mirialdo, as he went to get the door, snatched the coffee, and closed it.

"[Pleasant of you, Miri,]" Duo drawled.

"[I don't like seeing people who aren't pleasantly disheveled until dawn,]" the immortal smirked.

"[Which looks to be peeking over the horizon, might I add,]" Duo said, waving towards the curtained window.

Before the blonde could say anything more, a knock sounded on the door.

Duo sighed as he went to open it. "Good God. Victoria Station!"

It was Khush, and Mirialdo bridled at that. "[Your father...]" he spoke to Duo, "[Needs help... we need help getting a boy's body off the street...]"

"Good heavens!" Duo blinked. "Father? What's going on? Give me a minute... I'll get dressed!"

Mirialdo sighed, and without a word more to Treize, walked from the room to put on clothing.

They dressed quickly in the dark, Duo murmuring to Meiran that they would be going out for a short time before they returned to Khush and the drawing room. "Where's father?" Duo asked.

"[Kneeling beside the boy who was hit by a car,]" Treize replied.

"Good God." Duo was gone with no more than the flit of his braid, hurrying from the suite.

Treize followed after him, and Mirialdo behind him. On the road, just down from the hotel were three visible forms.

"Father!" Duo cried, rushing forward only to stop in shock, more from the look of him than from the bloody sight before him.

"Duo," his father said softly. "We should get Joshai inside. We should..." His fingers had yet to stop touching that lovely golden face.

"[We'll take him inside, then contact someone to... bury him,]" Treize murmured slowly, looking at Wufei.

Mirialdo showed only fascination with Trowa's transformation. "[You're one of us now!]"

Continuing to lightly stroke the horses' noses, Wufei didn't look at anyone as they hovered near the crushed body, only continued gently stroking.

"You did it... to my father...." Duo could not decide whether he was appalled or grateful. "My father...."

"[Yes!]" Treize snapped out. "[Now, you go contact the authorities, and Mirialdo and I will lift him!]"

"No," Trowa said coolly as he touched Joshai's face for the last time. "No authorities. There's a cave, small, out in the desert. I want to take him there."

"[All right,]" Treize muttered. "[Then let us do that.]"

"I'll fetch a cart," Duo said.

Wufei whispered, "I'll go tell Meiran?"

"[Do that,]" Treize said softly.

The black-haired man hesitated. "Will you need us?"

"No," Trowa said simply, looking at Joshai still. "We won't need you."

"[Do you want anyone at all going with you?]" Treize questioned.

"No," came the reply. "[I can take care of it on my own.]"

The pharaoh let his eyes drift over Trowa and Joshai. "[So be it.]"

"[It won't take Duo long to get the cart,]" Trowa said vaguely. "[You could all go now.]"

Treize moved to go return the horses, but the blond immortal lingered, smiling. "[It hurts to have a loved one die. The longer you know them, the more it hurts."

The newly rejuvenated man caught those half-mad cerulean eyes. "[You sound as if you take pleasure in the process,]" he said evenly.

"[I've simply had it happen to me too many times,]" he uttered. "[That, or they leave you.]"

"Caesar and Lucrezia?" Trowa asked.

The blond gave a laugh. "[Yes.]"

The sound of a trundling cart rumbled along the street and stopped beside them. "Here, Father. Do you need help get..."

"No, I've got him." Mindless of the blood and other fluids leaking from the body of the small creature, Trowa lifted him up and gently placed him into the cart, positioning him precisely.

"[Enjoy the walk back,]" Mirialdo murmured, walking back toward the hotel. "[Too bad about the boy.]"

Calmly, Trowa moved to begin trudging away with the cart, stopping only once. "Be careful of him, son," he murmured to Duo. "Be very, very careful." Mirialdo didn't understand the words, and kept walking.

Duo blinked at him. "I will, Father. Will you... be coming back?"

"No," Trowa said. "I won't. I'll see you again, but I won't be coming back here." His eyes lingered over the blood-soaked dirt. "Not here."

"When, Father?" Duo asked softly.

"I don't know. Soon, perhaps. A while."

Duo nodded solemnly. "Should we all return to london?"

"Yes," Trowa replied as he moved away. "Go home, son. It's what's best for you."

He never looked back.

The little cave seemed utterly barren with no Joshai to warm its cavernous depths. Carefully, Trowa finished wrapping him in blankets that still smelled of their union, caressing the boy tenderly all the while until he was tucked away and then rising to find the spade he'd stolen on his way back.

He dug for a long time, 'til he was past the sand and through solid moist earth, lifting the slender body in his arms finally and tucking him down inside. "Joshai... sweet Joshai. I wish you had lived. You would have loved London and Paris and Rome... ahh, but I'll see you again. Quatre. Joshai. Yes."

For several moments, he rested in the bottom of that pit, simply cradling the heavy blood-soaked weight before he finally rose and began to fill it.

/Russia. I'll go to Russia. I've always wanted to see the sights there. Yes. And I'll wait for you. As long as it takes./

"This trunk's full. Good thing we'll be buying most of Miri's clothes in London!" Duo declared.

"London," Meiran sighed. "But, what of my brother and Khush?"

"[Hopefully Khush will drop into the sea,]" Mirialdo pushed in cheerfully, having openly caught the man's name.

"[Don't be like that, Miri,]" Duo scolded gently. "[You've got us and isn't that better than Khush? Things will... work out better this way,]" he said.

"[The two of you are far, far better than that snobbish, arrogant man any day,]" he smiled, pulling Meiran in for a laughing hug.

"[Proof positive,]" Duo said with a smile.

A few more soft chuckles, and Meiran hugged Mirialdo back, breathing in the smell of his beautiful long blonde hair. "[Certainly.]"

"Well." Duo paused as he shut the lid of the last trunk. "[That's it. We're ready to go.]"

Meiran thinned her lips, looking back at the hotel. "[Where's my brother? I want to say good bye to him...]"

"Having breakfast with Khush, I think," Duo told her. "Why don't you go inside? I'm sure they're in the hotel restaurant..."

"I'll be out right away!" she called back, dashing into the building to find her brother and his lover.

"[You'll be nice to her about Khush and 'Fei, won't you, Miri?]" Duo asked as she walked away.

The blond nodded. "[Her brother seems to be an all right sort -- he just has bad taste.]"

With a chuckle, Duo wrapped an arm about Mirialdo's waist. "[You can say that again!]"

Mirialdo smirked, pulling the beautiful man against him closer. "[So, what is this 'London' like?]"

"[Well, Miri, it's like this...]"

Wufei lifted the teacup easily from the saucer in his hand and drank, sighing with pleasure. There was a certain relief in being alone with just Khush, a relief and an unbearable excitement which filled him utterly. "[Peace and quiet at last!]"

"[At l... oh, here comes your sister,]" Khush laughed softly.

"Wufei!" She caught his attention with. "We're leaving now."

Standing, he hugged her close for a moment, the two blending into one. "Oh! Somehow, I thought you already had! Well! Be careful, sister. I assure you, you'll love London. You'll love being the Winner heir!" He smiled, pressed his face into the delicious smell of her hair, like coffee and amaretto.

She smiled against him. "Wufei, what will you do?"

"Oh, I don't know," he said, still hugging her close. "We'll go and see things and have adventures, I should think!"

"Come visit, please?"

"Of course!" Wufei assured her warmly. "We'll come.. won't we, Khush?" He looked to his lover for confirmation.

"Yes," he said in English. "[We'll visit.]"

"Wonderful!" More hugs passed.

Wufei kissed Meiran's cheek lightly. "We'll write, as well," he told her gently.

Meiran sighed softly. "I'll miss you brother."

"I know. We just found one another... but everything will be good in London. You'll see. Duo knows what to do and where to go and you won't have to hide in a house and never go out. It will be all right," he assured her.

She could only smile at him. "Thank you so much for this, Brother."

"We'll see each other again," he whispered to her. "You'll see. It won't be long. Now... I suspect they're waiting for you," he finished. "As much as I hate to part..."

"Yes -- I have to go now," she smiled sadly, looking at Khush. "[Take care of my brother, Khush.]"

"[I will,]" he uttered. "[Good luck to you.]"

"Don't let Mirialdo get the better of you," Wufei teased in a fit of wickedness.

"I won't let he or Duo get the better of me," she smiled. "Good bye."

"Goodbye, Meiran," he said quietly.

Her eyes were suspiciously wet. "Good bye." And before it could go on, as it would have, she left the room with a small wave.

Wufei sighed a little as he re-seated himself and raised his cup once again. "Is it right? Should we have gone back to London with them?"

"[Do you really think all five of us could have withstood each other long enough to have gotten there?]" Khush asked truthfully. "[We will visit your sister.]"

"Good," Wufei said with a sigh. "And I sincerely doubt that it would be so. Mirialdo alone would have driven me quite mad with frustration. He's nice enough... he'll make Duo and Meiran happy... but I rather think he still fancies that [snapping my neck is a fine pursuit!]"

"[Snapping either of our necks,]" Treize sighed sadly. "[A pity. He was so different before.]"

"[Will you tell me about it, my Pharaoh? That and everything else! I want to know about the past and I want to see things!] Where shall we go?" Wufei asked, smiling at him sweetly.

Treize smiled, finishing his coffee. "We will see the world together."

"Together," Wufei said with a smile. "That sounds just beautiful."