Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Deceptions Revised ❯ Dark Deceptions Revised 5 ( Chapter 5 )

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"It doesn't matter at this point," Heero interrupted. "What matters is protecting them against further attacks. Wufei, you job is to watch over Relena. Trowa, you guard Quatre. I'll protect Duo in the mean time."

"Why do you get to protect the braided boy? Why can't I?" Wufei teased.

Heero hissed, his eyes narrowed at the asian boy. Overhead, the light shattered, plunging the room into darkness.

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Chapter 5

Duo knocked softly on Quatre's door, not wanting to disturb his friend if he was resting. When he heard his friend's gentle voice, he stepped inside, his eyes lighting on Quatre's pale frame.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, walking over to sit on a chair beside Quatre's bed.

Quatre smiled, reaching over and patting Duo's hand reassuringly. "I'm fine, Duo. I'm nowhere near as bad as I was yesterday. Relax, okay?"

Duo cursed, raking a hand through his bangs. "I can't, Kat. There are too many strange things happening for me to relax. I'm a bodyguard hired to protect you and Relena, and yet in the space of a week, both of you were attacked while under my care! Do you know how insulting that is to me, career and friendship wise?"

"Look, you couldn't have foreseen something like this happening. No one would have been able to. You told me once that strange things happen in life. You just have to roll with the punches."

"Quatre, I told you that after we discovered we could talk to each other using our minds! This is completely different!"

"How is it different?"

"Well for one, you and Relena have become the target for vampires! Vampires, Quatre! Monsters from myths and legends that come in the night to suck the life out of you! How the hell am I supposed to protect you two from that?"

"Hire more men."

"And put them in danger? Most of them have families, Quatre. I can't put anyone in that situation. I'm having a hard time not firing the ones we have now just so they don't have to go through what Byouki and Janen's families did."

"Everything will turn out fine, Duo. You just have to have faith in your own abilities. I know I do."

Duo managed a crooked smile. "Only you could remain optimistic during a crisis," he joked. Duo leaned back in the chair, crossing his arms behind his head as he stretched out his legs. "You know that guy at the carnival? The one you said brainwashed everybody?"

"Yes, I remember him."

"I just realized a few hours ago that he was the one who rescued us."

Quatre blinked in surprise. "Truly?"

"Yep. Came out of nowhere when the second attacker came after me. Afterwards, he told me he would clean up the mess left behind. He seemed pretty protective of you, Q-ball."

Quatre blushed as he looked down at his hands. "I . . . don't know what you're talking about."

"Well I sure do. Shoved me out of the way when I tried to get to you. Yep, protective indeed. Strange too, considering he brainwashed my men again!"

"Oh no! Are they alright? What did they say?"

"Oh, the usual. We were playing an innocent game of flag football when two crazed assailants doped up on drugs attacked us from the trees. I managed to subdue one while my men tackled the second. While handcuffing them, one hit man got away, knocked down the two guards handling the second hired assassin, and in the end they both got away. My guards, of course, have no memory of our rescuer."

"But that's not what really happened, is it?"

Duo snorted. "Hell no! While I did manage to bring down one of them, the second attacked me. The uni-bang dude tackled and took down the attacker and then ordered me to take you back to the hotel. What he did with the bodies afterwards, I'll probably never know. What I do know is that the memories of my men have been tampered with. Again."

"At least no one was really injured."

"You're lucky you didn't get a concussion, Kat. By the way, I've gotta go talk to Yuy in a while."

"Why?"

"Our knight in shining one bang glory told me he knew Heero and worked with him. Puzzling, isn't it? And I do so love a good puzzle." Duo rubbed his hands eagerly. "I'm going to get to the bottom of this, Kat. One way or another, I'm going to get to the bottom of this mystery."

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"Heero! You're back! I heard you reconsidered your resignation after hearing of Quatre and Duo's attack."

Heero nodded absently at Relena. "Speaking of Duo, have you seen him?"

"I believe I saw him speaking to Father a few minutes ago. It could have been about Father's change of plans."

"Change of plans?"

"Yes. Father had originally planned on staying here in the Europeans but because of the recent attacks, Duo suggested he cut short his stay and travel to America. Duo believes that perhaps the trip overseas may lesson any chance of another attack."

Heero knew no matter where they traveled, the minions of evil would always find them. They were cunning and crafty, and Heero needed to be on his toes at all times.

"Do you know when they will be finished?" he asked politely.

"No. It could take a few minutes or a few hours, depending on how amiable Duo is. Although, from the mood he was in when I saw him last, you might want to find something to do for the next hour or so. It might take a while."

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Duo leaned back against the far wall of the elevator, tilting his head up and sighing. The meeting with the Vice Foreign Minister had been long and tedious. Darlian had been all for changing his plans to include a trip to America. His advisors were not. It had taken over three hours of arguing to convince them otherwise. Duo had been tempted to whip out his scythe and cleave a couple of heads. The aftermath was the only thing that had stopped him.

The elevator dinged, signaling a stop at a floor. Duo opened his eyes and saw a young man hobble past the open doors.

~Hobble?~

The young man turned to Duo and offered him a smile. A feral, jagged tooth smile. Just as Duo's eyes widened, the lights in the elevator blinked erratically before blowing out. The elevator lurched, throwing Duo against the wall before it ground to a halt. Swearing, he looked up.

And saw sharp, serrated teeth coming at him.

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Quatre bolted upright in bed, one hand clutching his chest as he gasped for breath.

"Duo!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.

Footsteps pounded towards him, his door to the suite bursting open.

"Sir! What's the matter?" one of the guards questioned, firearm held at the ready.

"Find Duo!" Quatre shouted. "He needs help!"

The men dispersed, never questioning Quatre's order. They knew not to, when it came to their boss. Quatre turned when he heard the sound of softer footsteps approaching.

"Quatre? What's the matter?" Relena asked, standing at the door to his room.

"Duo's in trouble, Lena! I know he is. We have to find him before it's too late!"

"Just stay in here, Kat. I'll go get Heero. I was just talking to - "

Relena turned just in time to see a figure rush towards her. She shrieked as the individual tossed her over his shoulder before darting down the hallway.

"Quatre!" she yelled helplessly.

"Relena!" Quatre scrambled out of bed, his legs tangling with the blankets. Kicking free, he skidded into the hallway, his heart pounding with fear from his stepsister. He blocked it off as he sprinted after her. "No! Relena!!!"

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The three hunters froze, every muscle immobile as their acute senses picked up the disturbance. They had been discussing further actions when their instincts were triggered. Cursing a blue streak, they dissolved into mist and flowed into the hotel through the ventilation shafts. Heero appeared in the hallway, snagging the first security detail that ran past him.

"What happened?" he demanded.

"Relena has been abducted! Quatre tried to follow and was taken as well. Duo's trapped in the elevator that's stopped between floor 66 and 67. We suspect he is engaged with an enemy."

Heero's eyes bled crimson as he let the man go. He raced down the hallway towards the elevators, his objectives clear.

Rescue Duo. And kill the bastard who was in there with him.

Upon reaching the elevators, Heero witnessed the crowd already gathered. They tried to pry the doors open with crowbars, trying to reach their boss. He ducked around a corner, morphing into mist once again before flowing between the cracks of the elevator doors. Even in his altered state, he could hear the sounds of battle inside the small box. The crash of a body colliding against the hard metal walls. The slap of flesh against flesh.

Heero changed back into his originally shape, dropping on the roof of the elevator with a thud. He jerked back the top panel in time to see Duo's body slam against the wall directly beneath him. Heero snarled before jumping down.

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Duo's breath rushed out of his body as he was thrown against the wall for the fourth time. He slid down to the floor, wiping his hand across his bloody lip. It was another one of those undead goons in the elevator attacking him. Joy.

He tried to scramble to his feet, knowing if he stayed down he would die. His hand reached up to grip the railing for assistance, his eyes widening when the zombie lunged forward. He was too late!

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a blur dropped in between Duo and the creature. It landed in a crouch before slowing rising to its feet. An air of menace and barely controlled rage surrounded it as it matched growl for growl with the monster.

Duo blinked. Once. Twice. Three times, believing his mind was playing tricks on him. Standing before him was none other then Heero Yuy.

The ghoul hissed, backing away slowly.

"Status, Duo," Heero demanded.

"Nothing broken, just bruises," Duo answered automatically.

Heero grunted in acknowledgement. He clenched his hands into fists, knuckles cracking in the heavy silence. Now that he had Duo's assurance of his health, he closed his mind off to everything but the battle. He balanced on the balls of his feet, motionless. Seconds ticked by as the hunter faced off with his prey.

The monster leapt forward, claws raking the air. Heero exploded into action, meeting his attack directly. Ducking to avoid the talons coming at his face from above, he dropped to the ground, his leg spinning as he knocked the creature's legs out from under him. Heero rolled ontop of it, his left hand gripping the fiend's throat, the other raised in a fist. Eyes bleeding red, Heero brought down his fist onto the beast's face over and over, the sickening crunch of cartilage and bone filling the silence in the elevator. Razor sharp nails ripped Heero's arms and face as the creature struggled to loosen Heero's hold on him.

With a victorious snarl, Heero plunged his hand into the monster's chest. Blood spurted, arching into the darkness of the elevator like a geyser. Duo gasped as droplets scattered across his face, his eyes wide and unbelieving. At that point, he didn't know who the real monster was.

Heero, or the creature lying beneath him.

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Trowa appeared amid a blanket of trees, the darkness of the night surrounding him in its soothing embrace. But Trowa had no time to appreciate nature's beauty. An evil terror had taken something from him and he was going to get it back. No matter what.

A rustle of leaves sounded to his left. He took a step back, blending into the shadows deeply. From out of nowhere burst a figure, an indiscernible lump thrown over his shoulder. In a blur of movement, Trowa reached out and caught the back of the individual's shirt, halting his escape. Pale blonde hair jerked up, revealing startled sapphire blue eyes.

"Please help me!" cried the young woman.

Trowa easily plucked Relena out from the evil minion's grasp and thrust her behind him.

"Stay out of the way," he commanded, his focus solely on the vampire's henchman. He heard a quick scrambling before there was silence.

The crony snarled as he surged forward, hands drawn up in fists. Trowa dissolved instantly into vapor, streaming away from the attack and reappearing ontop a low hanging branch. He pushed off from the limb, darting forward like an arrow. Nails lengthened to deadly talons ripped the creature's arm open from shoulder to elbow, drawing forth a hideous scream full of pain and terror echo into the night. Trowa's momentum carried him past the monster but he whirled around in midair, plunging his fist deep into the back of the demon. As he continued to fall, his hand tore out a withered heart.

Trowa rolled neatly to his feet, the blackened organ still in his grasp, his back facing the creature. He heard the thud of a body, then the thrashing of limbs as it fought to continue it's evil existence. Blue flames engulfed his hand, leaving him unscathed but incinerating the heart to ashes. The body fell still as Trowa directly the fire to encompass the carcass.

He turned around to face the burning body. From behind a few leafy bushes, Relena burst forward, tears streaming from her eyes as she wrapped her arms around Trowa's waist.

"Oh thank you!" she sobbed brokenly. "I was so scared! Please, oh please take me back to my family! I want to go home!"

Something flickered across Trowa's eyes before disappearing. He wrapped one arm around Relena, his gaze turned towards the hotel building.

"Close yours eyes and hold on tight," he ordered before using his preternatural speed to disappear into the night.

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Quatre screamed and hollered at the top of his lungs, one fist beating useless against the arm of the man dragging him away. Tear trails stained his flushed face, eyes glittering with helplessness. He dug his heels into the ground, twisting and jerking in hopes of escape.

"Stop!" hissed his abductor. He raised a clawed hand up in preparation to strike. Quatre turned his head away, eyes clenched tight as he braced himself against the pain. He waited for it . . .

. . . and waited, and waited some more. Braving a peak, he opened his eyes. A katana was pressed against the assailant's neck, the moonlight dancing across the slender blade as if in glee. Quatre followed the length of the katana to the hand that held it and finally to the owner himself. Emotionless onyx eyes gazed back at him, as dark and mysterious as the night surrounding them.

"Let the boy go," Wufei ordered.

The kidnapper merely snarled his annoyance. Without batting an eyelash, Quatre's rescuer shifted his grip on the katana and brought it down. The blade fell like the petals on a rose, slicing through flesh and bone and severing the man's grasp on Quatre's arm. Quatre stumbled back as the creature howled in pain, blood spraying from his wound to paint the ground black.

Growling low in his throat, the monster attacked Wufei with his remaining limb. Wufei leapt back and landed in a crouch, katana poised above his head in readiness. Wufei rushed forward, the sword swinging upwards in an arch. A gash appeared on the ghoul's chest, stretching from his left hip up to his right shoulder. Wufei whirled, spinning around and to the left of the fiend. He brought his sword to his side and plunged it forward, straight into the right side. Feet braced apart, he jerked it sideways, the sharpened blade of the katana effortlessly slicing through sinew and muscle until it reappeared on the other side of the man's body. Wufei poised motionless, his blade stained black with blood. The minion remained standing for a moment, his eyes wide, blood pouring from his parted lips. His eyes rolled to the back of his head as his upper half tipped backwards. His lower half buckled before toppling forward. Two halves severed completely.

Wufei slowly stoop upright, his beloved katana loose at his side. He placed a slippered foot against the ghoul's chest as he wiped his blade clean of blood. He turned to look at Quatre, a glimmer shimmering in his eyes.

"Do not fear me," he spoke softly, soothingly. "I am a friend of Heero Yuy. I came to help you."

Quatre's eyes scanned Wufei's features, searching for truth. He bit his lip as he followed his gut instinct and nodded his acceptance.

"Please," he begged, "just take me back to the hotel."

Wufei nodded as he stepped forward. His keen eyesight caught the twitch of muscles in Quatre's legs before he crumpled forward. Fortunately, Wufei's arms caught his light body. Cradling him bridal style, Wufei shook his head down at the boy who had fainted.

"Just what the hell is going on here?" he muttered under his breath before sprinted forward in an indiscernible blur of movement.

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"Master, we've established contact with the Chosen One."

"Good. And the Hunters?"

"They have no inkling to our plans, master. They are clueless. We have lost Renaldo and numerous servants."

"Renaldo was an overeager fool who didn't listen to directions. He didn't deserve to see the glorious end to my plans. As for the servants, we can always create more. Now go. Stick to my orders and very soon, we'll have an end to all Carpathians and the world in our hands."

. . . TBC . . .


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Lady S: Wow! I like the direction of this fic much better then the first!

Wufei: I do as well, onna.

Duo: You only like it because you were introduced earlier in the story and there's no possessive, obsessive Heero around!

Wufei: Which is why you hate this fanfic.

Duo: Damn skippy! Why'd you have to go and change everything, Lady S?

Lady S: Stop you're whining, Duo. You'll get your possessive obsessive Heero. It'll just be a little later in the story. I want to develop the characters more realistically.

Duo: Well how about you develop Heero having a raging hard-on for me?

Everyone: DUO!!!