Life In Death

Chapter Two

A tall brunette stood in the door way of a new two story house. The blue door way framed by dark brown walls. This was their new home.

Smiling the older teen stepped into the living room area of the smiling only a bit as he spotted two other teen attempting to unpack.

One was a slightly shorter blonde with shining blue eyes and a loving smile holding up what looked to be a microwave. Beside him was a black haired Japanese boy with Persian blue eyes and a stern look on his face carrying a box of canned foods.

Dancing around the two teens was the shortest of their little messed up family. He was laughing purple eyes shining as a three foot long chestnut braid flew behind him.

It wasn’t long before the taller Japanese man balanced the box on one arm before grabbing the braid of the shorter teen yanking it harshly only to receive a surprised yelp and whimper.

“Oh come on Hee-chan what was that for!” cried the braided one lightly holding the back of his head tightly.

With a smirk the perfect shoulder replied, “Maxwell either grab a box and help or stay out of the way.”

Laughing the blonde sauntered into the room once more this time not carrying anything and Duo looked at him and scowled, “What you laughing at Q-Ball!”

Snorting the blonde shrugged before bursting into yet more giggles walking up to the tall brunette by the door speaking softly, “Trowa why don’t you go give Wufei a hand up stairs and do the room you and Duo will be sharing hmm?”

As if on cue a tall scholar Chinese teen came down the stairs with a sigh and a pair of bright green boxers in his hand.

Throwing them at Duo the black eyes teen shouted, “Maxwell you will keep you disgusting undergarments out of the hallway! We have been here for less than two days and you are already being a pig! Learn some discipline!”

Throwing the boxers into the other teens face he stomped back up the stairs his hand gripping the handle of his sword tightly.

Heero frowned and put down his box before slipping up the stairs after the slightly smaller teen.

Trowa’s brow twitched and he turned to Quatre who sighed and nodded his head, “Yes let’s not push it just come help me in there kitchen okay?” With a nod the tall brunette picked up the box his fellow pilot had put down and carried it into the kitchen with ease.

Duo laughed lightly before heading up the steps quietly and slipping into the room he would be sharing with Trowa before slipping out the window and onto the roof with a small laugh. Quatre had gotten the built in ladder from that window specifically for him as he was prone to lay there and relax.

Reaching the roof he looked around and took a step toward the centre of the roof and then over to Quatre’s window balcony. Sitting down he allowed his legs to swing over the tall blonde’s balcony.

The braided teen slowly closed his eyes before suddenly finding himself flying forward with a sharp pain in his upper shoulders and back. Twisting himself he landed on the balcony on his back as something else landed on him knocking the air from his lungs in a big whoosh.

“Duo what was that! You better not have broken anything!” he heard the blonde shout from below.

“Maxwell you alright?”

“02 answer us!”

“Duo you hurt”

Groaning the small teen sat up whatever was on him rolled into his lap he rubbed the back of his head gingerly before shouting back to the others, “I’m alright and no nothings broken but I don’t know what hit me!”

Looking down his breath caught and gently he replied just as the other four reached the door guns drawn, “Scratch that what hit me might be hurt.”

In his lap was a smaller teen than even him. Long waste length black hair spilled slowly Duo turned the boy over to find him completely unconscious a bruise forming on his cheek where he had probably propelled into Duo.

Slowly Duo examined the boy as the other four pilots remained silent the kid was obviously no threat at the moment. Grimacing Duo lifted up the boys right sleeve finding a small intricate dagger pulling it from the sheath he examined carefully before speaking softly, “To intricate to be used for actual combat most likely just for decoration or family heirloom.” As he continued to search the boy he came across a small note folded up opening it his eyes widened as he read, “Oh dam poor kid”

Quatre snatched the paper quickly scanning before tears brimmed in his eyes, “he just lost two family members and an unborn… That’s horrible. According to the date it was just two days ago!”

Growling Heero stepped forward grabbing the kids wrist harshly checking for a pulse, “Bring him inside I want to question him when he wakes. And finish searching him to make sure he has no other weapons on him. Also check him for other injuries don’t want the kid dead before I have my answers.”

Though however cold that statement had been the others nodded. They didn’t know the kid so they didn’t know why he was here and until they did he could be a threat. Even with the war over it didn’t mean there still wasn’t a few radicals revenge.

Sighing Duo stood before lifting up the kid bridal style grunting lightly, “Damn Hee-chan this kid feels really light. Q-Ball how old do you think he might be?”

Humming gently the blonde brushed back a piece of his hair carefully before replying, “Well judging from his size and how light he feels to you id guess about 13 maybe 14.”

Nodding Duo carried him in and laid him down on Quatre’s bed gently. The other pilots all stood around as both Duo and Quatre finished searching him only coming across a chain with two rings on it clearly family heirlooms.

Frowning he carefully examined them and then the dagger they pulled of the boy, “Ah Duo you were right the dagger’s symbol matches the crest on the Lupin ring!”

Smiling he set the note, necklace, and dagger with halter and sheath on the bedside table. Nodding to Duo the braided teen backed up as Quatre slowly removed the teen’s shirt none were expecting what they saw.

Foot shaped bruises marred the boys pale chest and stomach. Several scars from what seemed like a belt buckle crisscrossed over the younger boys back. Several other scars were etched along his body were unusual. Like the claw like marks on his left shoulder and the knife wound on his arm to the strange pierced scar and lightening bolt scar.

Quatre put a hand over his mouth as he examined them carefully finally speaking after several long moments, “Signs of abuse and malnourishment. Judging from the lack of self defence and varying age of the scars I would say from a parental figure or someone he knew. He is severally underweight which means he could before older than what I had guessed earlier.”

Sighing Heero stepped forward and examined the boy before stating clearly, “Alright let him rest when he awakens we will question him about the current wounds and how he ended up here but we will not ask about the scars as that will only cause him to panic. Quatre as he is to be resting in your room and you are more adept with strangers he will be under your watchful eyes. The rest of us will stand guard one at a time with you at all times. Who ever got to him could come looking for him. Duo as you do not seem to like helping us set up the house you will stay here with Quatre first.”

Nodding in understanding none saw Quatre smile gently at the mothering tone in the perfect soldier’s voice. Not many knew but all the pilots had hidden traits. Quatre and Heero were the mother hens of the family while Wufei liked to be the teacher of the group. Trowa was the silent protection and Duo despite his jokefull exterior was always the person you could come to with your problems. Smiling the blonde pulled up a chair next to the bed covering the boy up carefully brushing the boys locks to the side before sitting down carefully taking the boys hand into his own.