Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ All in the Band ❯ Chapter Thirteen ( Chapter 13 )

All in the Band

Part 13

Amataru Arcus

1x2 3x4 Rx1 5xS

Yaoi

PG-13

Disclaimer: These are not my characters. I am lazy and have taken someone else’s creation and have formed my own story around them. Don’t sue me, I have no money!!

Warnings: It is yaoi, gay, slash, what ever you want to call it. It gets dark and angst-ey. I’m really sorry for those who were waiting for the yummy lemon but it just didn’t fit into the plot of the story so I cut it out… I told you from the beginning it had a plot and the plot came first…

Authors Note: What? This is the last one? Did I actually finish it?! Hazah!! My final fanfic has finally been laid to rest - I mean completed. This went on longer than expected and is has been the longest fanfic I have written to date (and hopefully ever). If you would like to continue reading my original stuff and keep track of my goings on, please head over to the <a href=“http://www.sucrose-san.com”>Sucrose-SAN Studios</a> main site! Read, *Reply*, and ENJOY!!

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The rain patted on the window ledge in a slow mellow rhythm mimicking the mood inside the conference room. The fate of Wing was on trial after their debut tour ended abruptly. Milliardo questioned each boy individually for their input as to which direction they wanted to head, if any direction at all.

It was no question that the band was starting to fall apart. They had to constantly delay appearances and on a couple of occasions they actually canceled some shows. Sales radically dropped and all but a handful of sponsors pulled their money. The atmosphere when the band members were together, which was rare, was very cold and awkward.

Quatre and Trowa were still not talking to each other and being in the same room seemed to bring the worst out in both. Several times Milliardo just threw his hands in the air and sent them away to cool off. Duo had tried to fix the ties between the two at least bring them back to being friends but Trowa was too victimized by Quatre to forgive him. Quatre at first wanted to patch things up but each time Trowa threw such harmful names at him that he finally gave up.

Duo and Heero had spent one night in each others arms that left the two still pondering what went wrong. When the two woke up Duo was in tears and Heero was lost in his own mind. Duo had flashbacks of the time with Solo and was fearful of loosing Heero in the same way. With Duo acting melancholy towards the whole situation Heero figured he pushed him self on him against his will and the two never spoke of the night again.

Wufei was stuck in the middle of it all and was never present for anything the band did. He had the ‘I’m better than you’ attitude anytime he did show up and everyone was spiteful of him for that fact. Most of his time was spent with Sally wandering around or sitting in his room working on pieces for his on work.

“What happened guys?” Milliardo said as the conference room door shut as the last person entered. “You all wanted this so much.”

The room was silent minus the gloomy weather outside. Not even Duo could come up with a smug remark and was too afraid to.

Milliardo started to hand out large packets of paper and threw one in front of each member. “These are the contracts that you all signed. In it states the band will not disband unless each of the parties present when the band was signed agrees to the disbanding. I need approval from each of you, including my self, in order to go through with this,” he placed a piece of paper in the middle of the table labeled ‘Agreement of Breaking Contract‘. “If you all sign this there will be no going back and no monetary obligation to pay back any loans that the band has taken out.”

He sighed deeply then sat in the large leather office chair at the head of the table, “Continuing this band at the state it is in right now will only bring on more debt then profits. I’m not going to boggle you down with financials but I want you all to know that if you don’t break up now then you must do a complete one-eighty to turn profits around. If you don’t disband now and nothing changes then you will be obligated to pay off a percentage of reparations.”

Milliardo folded his hands and sat back in his chair eyeing each individual. Everyone’s eyes were on the paper in the center of the table. Standing up Milliardo made his way to the exit. “If you don’t have any further questions about the situation I will be waiting outside in the waiting room while you all discuss the matter. I will give you a half an hour at most.” He waited a couple of beats before taking his leave.

The room was even more silent then it was when Milliardo started the conversation. Even the rain had ceased to fall in hopes of hearing what their decisions would be.

“I can’t take any more of this,” Duo said at last and stood up. “This is ridicules! If Solo were here…” his sentence trailed off as he started to pace around the table.

“Well he’s not here, Duo. You need to get a grip on reality. Forget what Solo wanted. The fact is it doesn’t matter now - or ever - about what that twat wanted!” Wufei shouted as Duo paced behind him.

“Twat? You fucking-pussy-cunt-sucker!” Duo spun on his heals and faced Wufei. “If you would actually act like a member of this band then we could have solved some of our problems together!”

Wufei stood up to the challenge and stepped inches from his face, “All of *our* problems are personal relationship problems! If Trowa’s coked up boyfriend weren’t such a selfish bitch there wouldn’t have been a rift between the two! And if you and Heero would come to grips with each of your wet dreams you wouldn’t be so uncomfortable all the time!!”

“That’s unfair, Wufei!” Trowa stood up as well and shouted across the table slamming his fists into the hard wood table. “Quatre has recovered from his addiction and has said he was sorry about the damage he’s done! Just because we aren’t the best of friends anymore doesn’t make you stop coming to our rehearsals.”

“That’s enough!” Heero said from his sitting position hands folded tightly against his chest not looking at anyone. “This discussion is about what to do now about the band. Not what we should have done. Stick with the here and now.”

“Oh Mr. Replacement wants a word in does he?” Wufei scoffed. “Mr. High and Mighty. If you want the honest truth I think it’s been your fault. Everything started to fall to pieces once you joined.”

“That’s not true!” Quatre shouted back pointing at Wufei. “We were in bad shape *before* he came into the picture. He was one of the solutions to our main problem.”

“What problem? The one where even the leader knew how fucked we were and abandoned us?”

“He didn’t abandon us, fucker!” Duo shoved Wufei’s shoulder back.

Wufei pushed Duo even harder. “Don’t touch me faggot!!”

As the heavens fell from the sky all hell broke loose. Flashes of rage shook the windows and made the hair on the back of their necks raise. In the flurry of flesh and fabric no one could tell who struck first but everyone was sure that both Duo and Wufei were going at it with no holds bar.

Before Trowa and Heero made it to the brawl to separate it they had already done enough damage to drench both in blood. Duo’s nose was running down his face and into his mouth and there was a large cut below Wufei’s left eye were the flesh broke. His eye was already starting to swell and Duo’s nose was out of place.

Not even when Heero and Trowa had a firm grip on the two did they finally stop flailing their fists in the air. Duo had successfully knocked the wind out of Trowa’s gut with his elbow and Wufei whacked Heero’s chin with the back of his skull leaving behind a large gash.

Holding Wufei with Heero’s arms wrapped under his armpits and holding the back of his head he lead him back to his chair. “That’s enough you two.” Duo had walked willingly back to his own chair and tilted his head upward to stop the flow of blood. “I think this proves that we can’t settle our differences. We need to make a decision now.”

Quatre bit his lip and nodded. Taking the initiative he reached for the piece of paper and signed his name on the first line. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t handle the pressure of being successful with everything I do. I’m sorry everyone…” Tears started to weld up in his eyes and his hand started to tremble as he let go of the pen.

“I don’t want fame anymore. I just want to have a normal argument with my loved one without everyone knowing all about it in the magazines,” Taking the paper from Quatre Trowa signed his name and held Quatre’s hand when he was done.

With out saying anything else Heero wrote his name down next and folded his arms and looked at the two bloody unsigned members.

Grunting Wufei wiped his blood covered hand and then took the paper from Heero. “There’s no sense continuing this madness,” he said as he dotted his ‘I’.

Everyone stared at Duo.

All that Duo ever wanted was seconds away from being destroyed. His band was going to be destroyed by once piece of paper. If he doesn’t sign he thought to himself, then nothing would change. He would still have his band. But it wasn’t Duo’s band. It wasn’t Duo’s dream. Everything belonged to Solo. It was all bequeathed to Duo after that fated accident.

Duo couldn’t remember what he joined up for in the first place. It was never in any of his desires to be in a band. He just wanted to be off the streets and with a family. Solo was the first to offer a solution to this. Unfortunately it seemed it was only a temporary fix. His family was in shambles and even the trouble of the street still found him here.

He didn’t know where else to turn though. Once the band wasn’t tied to each other anymore everyone would disappear and leave him. Duo didn’t save up enough money to live off of for the rest of his life and he certainly didn’t have any skills to back him up after the money dried up.

Either way he couldn’t keep this up any longer. They needed to get away before things got worse. Without thinking any more about the issue Duo closed his eyes as he wrote down his signature and sealed their fate.

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Milliardo shook each of the former Wing band members as they filed out of the conference room, a little more hesitantly for Duo and Wufei’s hand. Everything went smoothly after they had gotten everything off their chests just an hour ago. Weights seemed to be lifted off their shoulders once Milliardo passed out a copy of the signed parchment making it feel official.

Trowa asked if Quatre wanted to go out to the local restaurant and talk things through. Quatre flung his hands around his neck and kissed his check then quickly backed away and blushed offering his apology. Trowa laughed and took his hand in his and kissed it. Leading him towards the elevator Duo and Wufei watched and smiled at them.

“Glad that issue is over…” Duo wiped his brow and sighed. Wufei grinned and nodded. Saying nothing more he walked up towards the second elevator and pushed the down button. As the door opened he turned around and waved slightly at Duo.

Duo wiped his nose again, it still didn’t seem to have clotted. “Let me take a look at that,” Heero said and tipped his head back with his finger on his chin. “I think it’s broken, Duo.”

“Yeah, that’s what it feels like…” He shrugged and smiled a crocked smile. “Bet I sound like a chipmunk too.”

“Not really,” Heero looked around the hall for something. “Let’s get you cleaned up then head to the hospital.”

“I can take it from here. You did enough already.” Duo quickly added as Heero’s face turned down, “In a good way!”

“I don’t care,” Heero grabbed his wrist lightly and lead him down the hall following the men’s room sign.

Entering the bathroom Heero started to run the water on a wad of toilet paper. “What do you plan on doing now, Heero?” Duo said under the wet swab. “’Cause I don’t know what to do now. I’m not sure what there is out there besides music and stealing.”

Heero‘s attention was momentarily stolen by a quick clanging sound from a stool near the corner of the room. “I’m not sure either…”

“That’s good to hear,” A cold effeminate voice said from the direction of the previous stool in question.

Turning around sharply Heero tapped his toe hard on the tile and the hidden knife flew out of it’s hiding spot and into his hand. “Simone.”

She kicked the door open and revealed the gun in her hand complete with silencer. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time you know.”

“I’m sure you have,” he edged slowly to the right getting in front of Duo protectively. “It’s not your taste to kill in front of a witness.”

She laughed menacingly brushing her slick black bangs behind her ear. “You are mistaken. There are no witnesses. I’ve got a hit on both of you conveniently.”

“What’s going on?” Duo’s voice trembled in his throat. “What do you mean a hit?” He looked at the back of Heero’s head then back to Simone looking for an answer.

“You know I don’t usually spare time to explain things to my prey but - you’re cute you know. I see why Heero came to you.”

“Came to me?”

“Aww… Does he really not know what you were before you met? I was hoping for this,” she tilted her head to the side and chuckled. “I get to ruin your ‘hero’ persona.”

“I’m sorry Duo. I didn’t mean to get you involved…” While she was momentarily distracted by her own amusement Heero spun around on his one heal and used his other leg to nock Duo flat on his back. Using the momentum Heero sliced the air with his knife then the neck of Simone. Dropping the gun she shakingly fingered around the hilt of the blade.

“Damn you…” she sputtered out the words and blood. Her knees went limp as she hit the floor. She started to reach for her gun but wasn’t quick enough. Heero held it above her with confidence.

“I told you all that I was out of the game. I’ve got my payment for ‘Hecktor’ and he will be severely disappointed if he waited all this time only not to get it.” With out looking back at Duo he spoke, “Close your eyes, Duo. Don’t open them till I tell you.”

Duo did as he was instructed. He closed his eyes as tightly as he could and felt the nausea in his stomach grow. Just knowing what was going to happened filled his mind with enough imagination to turn his stomach. He fought back the rising in his throat as best he could.

“You can open your eyes now, Duo.” Heero spoke gently.

Opening his eyes he found the body was no were in sight. How long did he have his eyes closed he wondered. He didn’t think he passed out but he very well could have. “Where-Where did she go?”

“I took care of her. It’s best if you don’t ask questions about it.” Heero offered out his hand to help Duo up but he refused.

“I want answers,” Duo demanded as he got up quicker than his stomach liked. “What the fuck happened?!”

Heero sighed deeply and looked away. “That was a hit man. Someone put out a hit on both of us,” he turned back to Duo and stared him deeply into his eyes. “I’d bet it was the same person who put out a hit on Solo.”

“Solo? There was a hit on Solo? Who put the hit on Solo?!” Duo started trembling again as he lost his temporary strength in his legs and nearly fell. Supported by the nearby sink he pushed Heero’s hands away again denying help.

“I don’t know. You need to listen to me. Let me finish before you give me what I deserve. And I deserve all that I have coming to me.” Duo eyed him questioning but nodded his head. “I was a hit-man like Simone. We both worked for the same network but we never worked together.

“It was very rare that other members knew what the other was doing. I’m assuming for my hit they told her what I was assigned before I quit. I was to hunt down and murder Solo.”

I felt like all the air was sucked from Duo’s body following that sentence. His eyes widened and shook his head in disbelief. How could his former love been killed by his current love? This was absurd. Duo reasoned that after Wufei knocked him in the nose it knocked him out and this was all one big dream.

“Duo, listen to me. Someone put out a hit him because he got to close to you. That’s why I was hunted down too. I knew that would happen to me if I got close to you as well. I didn’t kill Solo. I saw how much love was between you two and I couldn’t face taking that away from either of you. You two didn’t deserve it.

“Many people deserved what came to them. I’m not one to judge who deserves death but those who paid that much to get rid of one person had to be worth it. After two weeks of research I realized he wasn’t. I refused to do it and gave the money back to the middle man. Then I gave my notice.

“They had an estimate on how much money they would make out of me on my life time. I had to pay them back for the difference of what I already made them and what I was going to make them. The only way to make that much money in that short of time was to become famous. It was the first answer that came to mind. Another hit-man killed Solo in my stead so I knew there was a place with Wing.

“I took that opportunity and joined. I walked a thin line between getting close to you and not. I strayed a couple of times and I don’t regret any of it. I only regret I have to leave you now.” Heero leaned forward and kissed Duo on his tear stained lips. “I’m sorry…”

“Heero…” Duo whispered as he opened his eyes after Heero left his lips. He didn’t know what else to say. He loved him so much. Always wondered why he was pushed away so many times. Even though he was furious that Heero came that close to killing a loved one he still didn’t do it. Duo couldn’t deny his love for this murderer in front of him. “Don’t leave me.”

Tears fell from Heero’s cobalt eyes. A life times worth of tears were shed in one night. He grabbed his love in his hands and cried fiercely on his shoulder. “I can’t be with you Duo. I need to keep you safe. I’ll take the fall for this murder. I’ll put the blame on my self so you can escape from it. I make it my life goal to find out who did this to you. Who did this to us. I’ll give them what they deserve. I’ll take away those they love-”

“No, Heero! You’ve gone so long with out staining your hands with blood-”

“It’s all I have. I have to face the music. If I give in now I’ll be put away from life and the person will go free to torture you forever never letting you live in happiness. I’ll give my life for your happiness, no one deserves it more than you. I’m sorry. I love you so much…” Kissing Duo one final time Heero knocked him out with his fist and disappeared forever.

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Duo awoke several hours later in the hospital surrounded by his friends and police. He said he couldn’t remember anything that happened. The reporters assumed Heero went nuts and tried to kill Duo in the bathroom but there was a witness and took care of her, got scared and ran away.

None of it made any sense at all but no one pressed the issue further with Duo. He was already shaken up enough for a life time.

Years passed and they all stayed good friends. Trowa and Quatre got married and adopted six children into their family living on the hill. Wufei and Sally never got married but they stayed together and acted as if they were. Milliardo produced several more records with different bands but none were as successful as Wing and he finally retired.

Duo lived in a large house as a foster parent for wayward children. He never married or had any serious relationships after Heero. He was always afraid of the consequences of what might happen to them if he did. Every year he was given a birthday card from someone referred to as his ‘dark angel‘.

One year the card didn’t come as expected. Instead it was a newspaper clipping of the death of Relena and Hilde in a tragic car accident on the same road Solo was killed. Written in the margin was a single sentence,

“You are safe now.

-Your Dark Angel”