Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Night of the New Moon ❯ The Living and The Dead ( Chapter 4 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and all it's characters don't belong to me.
Warnings: Shounen ai, AU, 1+2, a tiny little blood, angst, violence, & death? ^.^;
Authors note: Tiny bit of language here. Nothing serious. This is the last part I post
that will focus on plot developement. It only gets better from here. ^.^
Night of the New Moon
Part 4 'The Living and the Dead'
by: Lotus-chan
Heero proceeded to ignore Wufei when he followed him into the hallway. "Heero." Heero
didn't answer, slow down or look back. Wufei frowned and walked ahead, stopping in
front of him. Heero growled, "Get out of my way." Wufei had no intention of moving,
"Look, I don't understand why that story made you this upset but either way we need to
talk. Now." He opened the door conveniently placed to his right and waited. Heero
scowled at him but to avoid further trouble, entered. Wufei followed him inside and closed
the door behind him.
They were in the library. Its walls were lined with shelves full of books, most of which
looked older the he was. There was a plain wooden table set under one of the windows
with two matching, and very uncomfortable looking, chairs on either side of it. In the
middle of the room was another, yet very low table surrounded by bean bags and stacked
with magazines and a few old manga. The rest of the library was littered with overstuffed
armchairs.
Wufei walked over to the table and sat down in one of the chairs. Heero followed the suit,
sitting across from him and leaned back in the chair, crossing his arms. "Well? What do
you want?" he asked bitterly. "I'm not blind, Yuy. I saw the way you reacted to the story
and I know I missed a few things while the Inn keeper was telling it. I want to know whats
going on." Heero was still glaring at him but Wufei didn't seem phased by it. He returned
Heero's glare with one of his own, every bit determined to sit there and wait an eternity if
he had to, to get an answer.
When Heero still didn't move, Wufei sighed and decided to elaborate. "Ok, when Okada
was talking about this killer ghost, you responded almost as if you bought into what he
was saying. Like you actually believed..." "And what about you?" he snapped,
interrupting. "You looked every bit as interested in what Okada had to say. I didn't think
you believed in ghosts, Wufei."
He frowned, "I don't. It's all bull. Ever since I got here, Okada's been spouting stories
incessantly about a pair of ghosts that supposedly haunt the cliffs and kill people. I've just
been trying to make sense of it all, for lack anything better to do..." He tilted his head to
the side slightly as he watched Heero. "Back when we were looking at the painting, the
two of you seemed to know something I didn't... about the other guy. I mean, the one that
*didn't* look like you."
Wufei noted with curiosity that Heero stiffened and shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
Heero was never fidgety. Wufei's eyes widened slightly, "Don't tell me you believe all this
ghost crap." Heero's gaze shifted to the window and didn't answer right away. It made
sense that Wufei didn't believe any of it. He hadn't believed it either at first. Then again,
Wufei hadn't met Duo yet... which suddenly reminded him of Duo's request.
Wufei was noting with interest that the anger was slowly fading from Heero's face and he
wondered what he could be thinking. But Heero shook his head at that moment and
frowned again, "It isn't any of your business what I believe." Wufei's expression became
serious at the response, "No, I guess it isn't." but the seriousness fell from him almost as
soon as it came, "I should know better than to try to figure you out." Heero smirked at
that.
Wufei sighed and leaned forward, folding his arms over the table. "How did you find this
place, Heero?" Heero raised an eyebrow at him, "I should ask you the same question."
Wufei stared down at the table, looking every bit as wistful as he felt. "I can't go back to
L5 anymore. I'd hoped to go to China where I planned to look for the rest of my family
but... I couldn't stay. They were already looking for me there. I had to find a place like
this, as far away as possible.
"It was Master O's idea for me to come here. The war is over and fighting is pointless
now. I'd rather just avoid them for as long as I can." His voice sounded tired when he said
it and under any other circumstance Heero would've left it alone but there was something
he didn't quite understand. "What do you mean by 'them'?" Wufei looked at him
surprised, "You don't know? I thought Doctor J would've told you by now."
Heero shook his head without moving his gaze from the boy across from him, "When I
said good-bye, I meant it. I cut myself off from everyone long ago." Wufei nodded to
himself and sat back, "Then us meeting here really was coincidence." he paused, "Heero,
the war may be over but it seems we're not out of the woods yet." Heero's brows
furrowed. "What do you mean by that."
Wufei sighed, "Master O has informed me that although the Romefeller Foundation is
under going several changes to accommodate for times of peace, there are still some
people within who hate the colonies and despise us even more. Whoever they are, they're
bitter that we reached the end like this and they still want their revenge. They are delaying
the extraction of our execution orders for as long as possible even though the military is
slowly being dissolved."
He shook his head, "But it's not enough. They seriously want us dead. A few days ago a
bounty was announced by a 'nameless client'. There is a contract of 5.5 million credits
offered for *each* one of us. Naturally, what condition we're in at capture is not of
concern to the 'client'. Dead or Alive, as the cliche goes." Heero's frown had only
deepened. Life seemed to be delivering him one shock after another recently. The latest
few hadn't been that bad. So ghosts existed, so what?
But this... this was *not* good. The earth was crawling with bounty hunters. To be blunt,
it would only be a matter of time before they were found. The colonies were always an
option, of course but odds were thats the first place they'd look. "You're sure there aren't
any restrictions or conditions? Is there a time limit on the contract?" Wufei shook his
head. "K'so..."
There was a sudden knock at the door and he instinctively reached behind him for a gun
that wasn't there. Heero cursed under his breath, he'd have to start carrying it again. "You
boys in there?" Heero ignored the Inn keepers voice and looked at Wufei, who's right
hand had unconsciously reached across his waist for something he was very obviously not
carrying. Could he still have his sword somewhere? "Hai." Wufei answered.
"Well, Sofie came up and prepared lunch. It'll be waiting for you whenever you're ready."
After a moment of silence, footsteps signaled Okada had finally walked away. Heero
looked at Wufei, eyebrows raised, "Sofie?" Wufei smiled as he stood up, "The cook." And
just like that the tension in the air seemed to have vanished. Heero stood gratefully and
followed Wufei to the door.
As he stared at the back of the ex-Chinese pilot, Heero sighed inwardly. A bounty meant
trouble and certain discovery no matter where they went. A place like this would only
delay the inevitable. All he knew was that he'd be very grateful if the next greatest
problem he faced was dragging Wufei down the cliff with him.
---------
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Wufei cursed for the second time when he tripped over the
steps of the back porch and barely caught himself before he fell. He'd never seen Heero
this... animated before and frankly, it was getting on his nerves. He couldn't believe he'd
let Heero talk him into this. At least now Wufei knew whether or not his comrade believed
Okada's ghosts stories.
"You're both full of it, you know that Heero?" He said it under his breath but Heero
caught it right away and grinned. When Wufei caught up with him, they were already half
way to the slope. Wufei crossed his arms and walked beside him silently, sulking. Heero
had *insisted* that they go down only after the sun set despite Wufei's protests of the
cold.
Wufei had donned the long sleeved white shirt he almost always wore but Heero had just
slipped on a jacket over the tank and walked out like that. Wufei noticed out of the corner
of his eye that it wasn't even buttoned and Heero didn't seemed at all bothered by it. And
here he was, freezing. Damn him.
-----------
At their brisk pace, set by an obliviously eager Heero, they reached the edge within
moments and slid down the rocky slope. Heero absently noted that it was much easier
when he wasn't in such a hurry. Careful of his footing, he made his way to the bottom,
looking for any sign of Duo along the way. His gaze set on the boulder and he stopped.
Duo was half hanging off the boulder, upside down, his head inches from the water. The
only reason his thick braid hadn't fallen in was he'd tucked it around his neck. He didn't
seem to have noticed them when they came down. Heero looked behind him to see if his
friend had followed him. Wufei was indeed walking toward him, dusting off his white
clothing, "Well?" he asked. "Where's the ghost?"
Heero made a face at the cynicism and mutely began walking toward the boulder. As soon
as Wufei's gaze fell upon Heero's destination he frowned curiously and squinted. Walking
up next to Heero he folded his arms over his chest, "Heero, that's not a ghost, that's just
another guy. He's probably a local." his voice held an unbelieving tone that Heero didn't
miss. But it wasn't his job to convince Wufei of what Duo was. He agreed to bring him
down here, that was it.
Heero frowned as he climbed onto the slick rocks. Duo wasn't moving. He was staring
out at nothing almost as if in a trance. So still, it didn't even look like he was breathing.
Heero caught himself at the last thought. For a second, he'd forgotten Duo was dead... did
he even need to breathe?
He stopped at the boulder and Wufei stood next to him, giving him a questioning glance
when no one moved, but Heero was still trying to take in the solemn look that shown
completely alien on Duo's face. Finally Wufei nudged him. He shook his head, coming out
of his own brief reverie, "Duo."
Duo started and looked up. Heero's frown deepened when an emotion that shouldn't have
been there flashed across Duo's face before being replaced by the ever-present smile.
What on Earth would someone like Duo have to be afraid of...? "Hi!" Duo raised himself
back effortlessly onto the boulder with supernatural grace. Wufei blinked at it but that was
all the visible response.
He jumped off the boulder and with two quick steps tackled Heero. Heero's eyes widened
as the other boy hugged him. "I didn't think you'd be coming back so soon!" His
happiness seemed so genuine that Heero found himself hugging the braided boy back, the
frown disappearing. Wufei raised an eyebrow, "coming *back*?"
Duo pulled away to look at Wufei and his expression brightened even further, if that were
possible. "It's YOU! Wufei right?!" Wufei looked a question at Heero but Heero shook
his head. He hadn't told him. "How did you know my name?" Duo grinned, "I've known
that for a while now. I've been dying to meet you ever since you got here! You and Heero
are NOTHING like the people who usually stay at the Inn and I NEVER get to see
anyone 'cause people get spooked real easy when they hear Kenji's ghost stories."
He frowned in a mock-pouting gesture, "You'd think he was *trying* to scare people off
on *purpose*." but the smile returned just as fast, "No one's ever had a ki that caught my
attention like this! It's been decades since anyone's been down here, ever since Kenji hurt
his knee an' got older an' stuff. This is so cool! You never even look out a window,
Wufei. I was afraid you'd leave before I could talk with ya!"
Wufei's eyes were slowly widening the more Duo went on. He'd never known a person
could... talk like that. He shook his head, "Wait a minute. You're telling me your this
ghost Heero and Okada keep talking about?" Duo's smile wavered, "I prefer spirit."
Wufei stepped back and gave Duo a very scrutinizing look. Duo blinked and Wufei circled
him until he came back to Heero. "Ok, you *do* look a little like the guy in the painting
but I'm still not buying it."
Wufei took a step closer and took Duo's arm, "If you're dead or a spirit or whatever then
shouldn't you be see-through or something? Or at least cold?" Wufei let go and Duo
looked down at his hands, puzzled. He *was* warm. How could he have not noticed a
change this fast? "You look very much alive to me." Heero was curiously silent during all
this.
Duo opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by a soft beeping sound.
Wufei started and reached under his shirt to pull out a square beeper sized object that had
been attached to the rim of his pants. (1) Altron's alarm was beeping steadily in his hand.
Heero's eyes widened, "You brought your Gundam here?" Wufei was too busy
concentrating on crushing the alarm in his fist to hear him, "I didn't think they'd find me
this quickly..."
"Who'd find you? Something wrong, Wu?" Wufei ignored his questions and turned to
Heero, "Altron's hidden in a cave in the cliffs about a mile from here. I'm going down
there to see who or what set off my alarm. If I'm not back by morning, leave." Wufei
turned to go but Heero took his arm before he could run off. "I should go with you."
Wufei shook his head, "I can take care of myself Yuy and if worse comes to worse it's
best that only one of us be taken and not both."
Wufei's voice held such determined finality that Heero let him go. Wufei climbed up the
slope faster than he'd thought he could and disappeared over the top within seconds. Duo
cleared his throat, "As much as I love being ignored, I can't help but be a little curious.
What the hell just happened??" Heero shook his head and turned back to Duo, "Nothing,
forget it." "Oh, no you don't! Wufei looked like he was gonna have a cow when that little
thingy went off and I wanna know why he had to leave!"
Duo crossed his arms and tapped his foot on the rocks as if that was the final word. Heero
sighed relenting, "The short version would be that Wufei and I made enemies during the
war that are still a threat to us even after it's end." Duo raised an eyebrow, "I get the
feeling there's a whole lot more to it than that." Heero shrugged and walked passed him to
climb up onto the boulder.
Realizing that he wasn't going to get any more information out of him at the moment,
Duo resigned himself and joined him. When Duo leaped up and sat next to him with all the
grace of a true ghost, Heero hesitated a moment and then took the spirits hand. "Why so
fast this time?"
The question caught Duo off guard and he looked at Heero as the former pilot inspected
his now warm and tangible hand. He shrugged casually, "I suppose it's because there were
two people down here this time. The cove will only give me so much from one person
unless I take it myself. Two people means twice as much energy." "Oh..."
Heero looked up at Duo then, allowing a curiously worried expression to fall over his
face, "Duo, when Wufei and I came down here you didn't even notice us. I saw the look
on your face. What's wrong." The humor drained from Duo's face in record time. He sat
there in silence for several seconds just looking into Heeros face before finally shifting his
gaze, looking past him to the opening in the cove.
Heero turned to see what Duo was looking at and found that the dolphin pod was
swimming far out in the distance. "They won't come near the cove this close to a new
moon." Heero turned back to him when he spoke again but found that Duo was still
looking past him. "They're too scared." As he gazed into the spirits face Heero felt
unprepared for what he saw.
Duo had left himself completely open to Heero without realizing it and in his eyes was
such a deep sadness and loneliness that it made something within Heero's chest tighten.
He had to look away. But before he had, he'd caught a glimpse of something else as Duo
gazed at the animals swimming in the distance. Longing... envy. "Duo."
Duo trained his gaze back on his friend, his expression little changed. Heero sighed
inwardly and looked back at him, "What are you afraid of, Duo. What could someone like
you possibly have to be afraid of? That woman?" Duo's eyebrows rose at the last bit,
"You know 'bout Selena?" Heero nodded, "Hai, but... you're dead. What can she possibly
do?" Duo chuckled, but it was dry and without humor. "She can take my existence from
me, for starters."
Heero's brows furrowed at the comment, "What do you mean your 'existence'?" Duo
sighed. "I'm dead, Heero. You'd think it couldn't get much worse than that but it does.
For now I'm stuck here and after centuries of trying to figure it out I still don't know how
to leave. I figure I'll be here for all eternity or at least until Selena decides shes bored
enough to take my existence from me.
"I don't know how she can do it but she can, its one of those things I just *know*. Like
how she can leave her grave and I can't. We're supposed to be bound to our graves, we're
not supposed to able to leave but she cheats." Heero raised an eyebrow, "how?" Duo
passed a hand through his messy chestnut bangs. "Well, she doesn't appear every night
like I do. Even conjuring up a visible form takes energy. She kinda... lays dormant for a
few months until shes saved up enough energy to be able to leave and do her dirty work
without any outside help.
"You see, normally, if we *tried* to leave our grave sites without enough energy to
sustain ourselves we'd simply cease to exist. With a normal death you at least go
somewhere. You move on or something I guess, but if a ghost 'dies' they just stop...
being." Heero was stunned, "You're not joking." He shook his head. "Iie," he paused. "I
wonder sometimes why she's stalling. Why she doesn't just do it and get it over with..."
Heero had no answer to that. In fact, he didn't know what to say. He sat in awkward
silence for a few moments until Duo finally broke it. "You should leave, you know.
You're no safer staying here, especially now." Heero shook his head. "I already went
through this with the Inn keeper. I can take care of myself. I'm not afraid of some ghost
and there really is no place better for me to go right now, anyway."
Damn he was stubborn. "You don't understand, Heero. She could kill you if she rises
while you're still here!" Heero frowned, "Why do you feel so concerned anyway?" Duo
blanched. "Well... you're my friend, ne? Its not exactly safe around here right now and I
wouldn't want anything to happen to you." Heero considered that for a moment and
nodded absently to himself. "I wouldn't want anything to happen to you either..."
Duo was slightly taken aback by the abruptness of Heeros words but his expression
quickly turned to a lopsided grin, "Kinda sounds weird when you're talkin' to a dead guy,
don't it?" Heero's expression remained serious when he asked, "Were you happy, when
you were alive I mean?" Duo's surprise was evident in his voice, "Where'd that come
from?"
Heero shrugged, "I've heard of stories where people stayed behind after dying because of
some unfinished business or because they lived unhappy lives. Thats why I asked." he said
simply. "Oh well, yeah actually. I *was* pretty happy with my life, I guess. At least until
right before it ended..." He almost whispered the last part.
Heero's grip on Duo's hand tightened and Duo blinked, startled. All this time he hadn't
realized that Heero'd never let go of his hand. "Was it because of *him*?" The question
was said very unemotionally and very monotone at the same time. But it was the way
Heero had said 'him' that made Duo frown. "Are you talking about Katsuhiro?"
Heero's grip tightened at the name and Duo had to suppress the urge to 'eep'. If Heero
didn't watched himself he'd crush his hand. "Uh, heh. I'll take that as a yes." Heero
blinked as if he hadn't realized he was doing it and loosened his grip but didn't let go.
"Gomen." Duo grinned, "s'alright, I know ya didn't mean it." Heero nodded, looking
away, "You still didn't answer my question."
Duo's small grin slowly died on his lips and he paused as if trying to remember. "For some
time I thought it was him. If you know this much already, Kenji must've told you the rest
so it's no shocker to hear that I loved him." Heero's eyes closed at the last part and his
hand let go.
Duo continued, oblivious to the suspicious behavior. "I must've spent the next miserable
hundred years pinning after him just hoping one day he'd come back. Naturally, he never
did. After that first century came and passed I knew it would be impossible to see him
again. Human beings only live for so long, after all. Anyway, thats when I seriously started
to think about how I'd finally leave. I began to think it was my feelings for him that held
me here. That maybe if I just... let him go *I* would be freed too."
Heero looked back at him suddenly. Duo's voice had gotten heavy and he was shocked to
find unshed tears in his eyes. Duo turned a painfully fake smile on Heero when his gaze
shifted back to him. He shrugged nonchalantly, as if this didn't bother him at all. "That's
when I realized what a complete baka I'd been. I mean, there I was waiting around a
*hundred* years for him to show up again when he probably moved on after I died. And
even if he did come back, what then? I was still dead."
The tightness in his chest had grown the more he listened and before Heero knew what he
was doing, he pulled Duo against him in a tight embrace. Duo stiffened in his arms and
Heero hesitated, wondering if he'd done the right thing. But before he knew it, he felt
arms wrap around him in return and relaxed "You still love him then." he said softly.
Heero felt Duo chuckle dryly and shake his head. He took a deep breath and when he
spoke, his voice sounded tired. "Four-hundred-plus years is a long time to get over
someone, Heero. A very long time." Heero's eye's widened. Had he really been here that
long? "You know, I hadn't thought of him in years. Not 'til I saw you. You just look so
much like him..."
Heero nodded, "Hai, I saw the painting." Duo blinked and sat up. "What painting?"
"There's a painting in the Inn of you and... him. Okada showed it to us while he talked
about you." Duo smiled slyly to himself for a moment, allowing himself to slowly fall back
into his usual good humor before he spoke again. "No fair, Heero. You know my life story
now but I still don't know anything about you."
Heero frowned, "Does that matter?" "Of course it does!" Duo said with an enthusiastic
smile. He fully intended to pursue the matter this time. The previous topic had felt too
awkward and uncomfortable for him. He inwardly reflected with a slight shock that he'd
never opened up to anyone like that before and it felt... weird.
So he smiled even wider, "Heh, well, naturally if I make a friend I want to know a little
more about him." Heero paused a moment before responding to that. If Duo thought he
was fooling anyone by quickly seeking the comfort of a cheerful mask he was seriously
mistaken. But then again, maybe it wasn't so much comfort than protection.
He realized with some surprise that the direction his questions had been taking were
actually bordering on... nosey. What was it his business to know how Duo felt about
anyone? Why had he been so curious about something like that anyway? He blinked
suddenly. As a matter of fact, since when had he had a conversation like this with
*anyone*??
A hand waved up and down his field of vision and he focused back on it's owner. "Hmm?"
Duo tilted his head and gave him an inquiring look, "what were ya thinking about?" Heero
shook his head slightly, "nothing." Duo sighed, "well, are you gonna tell me anything at
all? C'mon, I've wanted to know *all* about you from the moment I sensed you."
Heero's lips thinned as his mind returned to the previous subject. "Why? Why me?"
Duo hesitated a moment at the question before falling backward onto the boulder, tucking
his hands under his head. He gazed up at the black sky, his brows furrowed as he thought
of a way to answer, "how can I say this... To be honest, I guess, it's because you feel so...
different to me." Heero raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Duo's eyes drifted closed briefly as he mused. "Well, you see Heero, most of the visitors
to the Inn are tired spirits. People who are too distracted or stressed out to really care
about anything other than their own existence. Or too old for it to matter. They're burned
out, uninteresting or just closed off. Especially to me.
"Kenji likes to say that it's only younger people that can see me, for example. It's not
exactly like that. It's just the older that people get the more distracted or rapt up they
become in their own perfectly logical lives. They could be looking out a window, straight
at me and not see me. Maybe even because they don't want to."
He opened his eye's then, looking directly at Heero with a genuine smile, "But you're
different. I could feel you the moment you arrived. You have a kind of fire... a spirit like
none I've ever felt before." He grinned at the stunned expression on Heeros face, "So, you
see. You can't blame me for being a little curious." Heero was struck speechless and Duo,
taking note of that, held his hand up to him.
Heero blindly took it and was roughly pulled down next to him. Duo chuckled and shifted
onto his side in order to face his living counterpart and waited, gazing dreamily at him as
Heero, quite to his surprise, found himself telling Duo anything he asked.
-----------
Some time later the night seemed to have grown even darker and Duo was staring at
Heero in awe after he'd spoken of the experiences life had thrown at him. Had been doing
so nearly since Heero began his tale. Duo had not been expecting anything close to the
things he'd heard and, for once, words failed him.
Things had been quiet for a few minutes and Heero, laying on his back, was staring at
some point past the stars in the sky, most likely lost in the memories that speaking of his
past had resurfaced. Duo bit his lip as a wave of guilt washed over him. Heero had his
reasons for not wanting to speak about his past and now he knew why. He felt awful
about having pursued the subject and regretted having been so persistent about it.
Without really thinking about it, Duo inched up closer to Heero and wrapped an arm
around his chest. As much for Heero's comfort as for his own. He rested his head against
Heero's shoulder and closed his eyes. Heero blinked and looked at the boy curled up next
to him.
Duo's rich chestnut hair seemed to almost give off a healthy glow as it lay in it's plaited
mass behind him. The scarce moonlight, reflected in the water, played along the perfectly
sculpted features of his face as Heero watched. Duo's touch was comforting, his skin just
as warm and Heero suddenly felt entranced as his gaze went from Duo's fine eyebrows, to
his thick lashes down to the slight curve of his lips. He had not looked like this the first
time they'd met. Why hadn't he noticed before?
As if feeling his gaze on him, Duo opened his eyes and looked at him. He was amazed to
find a tiny smile on Heero's lips. Heero gazed at him a moment longer before bringing a
hand up to brush a few stray bangs from Duo's eyes. "You're beautiful." he said without
thinking. Duos eyes widened and a blush blossomed over his face. He opened his mouth to
say something but Heero placed a single finger over his lips to silence him.
There was a sudden feeling rushing through him as he gazed into those blue-violet orbs
that he couldn't explain. A feeling that he had never felt before and one that demanded to
be recognized. Never being one shun his emotions, no matter how confusing or new they
might feel to him, Heero decided to allow them to speak for themselves. "Duo, I want you
to look this way everytime I come to visit you."
Duo stared, eyes still wide. "e-every... time?" He nodded, "If it's a question of energy
again, I *want* you to take it from me, whenever I come down to see you." He said
seriously. "T-to see me..?" Duo repeated intelligently. Heero nodded once and raised a
hand to his crimson stained cheek, "You've been here for a long time and I... I don't want
you to be alone anymore."
After hearing that, the shocked expression on Duo's face slowly slipped and gave way to a
dreamy smile. He looked as if he was finally going to say something but the abrupt look of
concern on Heero's face stopped him before he uttered a word of what was on his mind.
"Something wrong?" he asked. Heero's hand left his face and went to his, now much
paler, hand. "You're cold." he frowned, "why?" Duo raised himself on his elbows to look
over behind the cliffs.
The sky on the horizon was turning a pale blue and the black of night was beginning to
fade. He sighed deeply. "It's nearly dawn. I go before the sun rises." Indeed Duo lost his
solidity at that moment and Heero's hand, which had been holding onto his, lost it's grip
and went through. Duo took in Heero's disappointed expression with a somewhat
reassuring smile, "The night went by fast, ne Heero?" Heero nodded slightly, looking at
the hastily brightening horizon with complete hatred.
He heard Duo chuckle suddenly and felt as if a cool breeze had passed over his cheek.
Heero quickly discovered this was his companion's ghostly hand and found a gentle smile
on Duo's face as he gazed down at him. "Before I go, I want to give you something." He
then sat up and slipped off the boulder. Heero looked at him curiously and followed him
onto the sand. Duo kept walking back and forth, looking on the ground and occasionally
shuffling his feet against the sand, which had no effect, as if looking for something.
"What are you looking for?" Heero asked, but Duo wasn't listening. He was muttering
something to himself, "I'm *sure* it fell off that night... where could it... Aha!" He
stopped a few feet away from another boulder and kneeled on the ground in front of a pile
of sand. Heero walked up to him with an inquiring look, "Duo, what are you..." "It's right
here, I'm sure of it!" he said interrupting, pointing at the ground. "Heero, could you dig
through the sand a bit and see if you find it?"
Heero raised an eyebrow. "Trust me." he said with a slight grin. Heero nodded his
agreement and kneeled on the ground, "okay, but what am I looking for?" he asked as he
began sifting through he sand. Duo's grin broadened, "you'll see." After throwing aside a
few seashells it wasn't long before Heero felt something long and thin and pulled it out of
the sand.
A long golden chain lay in his hand, surprisingly still in very good shape after centuries of
having been buried. Heero sat back, brushing the sand off of it and found that the part of it
dangling off his hand was carrying a golden crucifix. Duo smiled brightly, "it was mine a
long time ago and now I want it to be yours, Hee-chan." Heero looked up, surprised by
the name but at the look on Duo's face he could only answer back with a small smile.
Heero raised the two ends and latched it around his neck. "Arigato." Duo felt as if he were
in a dream as he raised a hand to finger the image of the crucifix around his neck while
looking at the real one around Heeros. "Now that you have something of mine, we have a
bond together." Duo said. "What do you mean?" But Duo shook his head and said,
"another night."
He was fading in and out and could feel his time slipping away. He scoot himself up closer
to Heero, first gazing at the crucifix lying over his chest, then up into Heero's cobalt blue
eyes and *knew* he must be dreaming. Duo slowly leaned forward and saw Heero's eyes
drift closed in response before closing his own. His ghostly lips barely brushed the other
boys as the intrusion of the sun drew even nearer, clearing away the last of the stars. He
opened his eyes to gaze a final time into the face of his new love and along with the night,
vanished.
--------------
End of Part 4
(1) Yeeeah... I made that up. Hey! Don't look at me like that! How else was I gonna get
rid of him?? ^.^;
Warnings: Shounen ai, AU, 1+2, a tiny little blood, angst, violence, & death? ^.^;
Authors note: Tiny bit of language here. Nothing serious. This is the last part I post
that will focus on plot developement. It only gets better from here. ^.^
Night of the New Moon
Part 4 'The Living and the Dead'
by: Lotus-chan
Heero proceeded to ignore Wufei when he followed him into the hallway. "Heero." Heero
didn't answer, slow down or look back. Wufei frowned and walked ahead, stopping in
front of him. Heero growled, "Get out of my way." Wufei had no intention of moving,
"Look, I don't understand why that story made you this upset but either way we need to
talk. Now." He opened the door conveniently placed to his right and waited. Heero
scowled at him but to avoid further trouble, entered. Wufei followed him inside and closed
the door behind him.
They were in the library. Its walls were lined with shelves full of books, most of which
looked older the he was. There was a plain wooden table set under one of the windows
with two matching, and very uncomfortable looking, chairs on either side of it. In the
middle of the room was another, yet very low table surrounded by bean bags and stacked
with magazines and a few old manga. The rest of the library was littered with overstuffed
armchairs.
Wufei walked over to the table and sat down in one of the chairs. Heero followed the suit,
sitting across from him and leaned back in the chair, crossing his arms. "Well? What do
you want?" he asked bitterly. "I'm not blind, Yuy. I saw the way you reacted to the story
and I know I missed a few things while the Inn keeper was telling it. I want to know whats
going on." Heero was still glaring at him but Wufei didn't seem phased by it. He returned
Heero's glare with one of his own, every bit determined to sit there and wait an eternity if
he had to, to get an answer.
When Heero still didn't move, Wufei sighed and decided to elaborate. "Ok, when Okada
was talking about this killer ghost, you responded almost as if you bought into what he
was saying. Like you actually believed..." "And what about you?" he snapped,
interrupting. "You looked every bit as interested in what Okada had to say. I didn't think
you believed in ghosts, Wufei."
He frowned, "I don't. It's all bull. Ever since I got here, Okada's been spouting stories
incessantly about a pair of ghosts that supposedly haunt the cliffs and kill people. I've just
been trying to make sense of it all, for lack anything better to do..." He tilted his head to
the side slightly as he watched Heero. "Back when we were looking at the painting, the
two of you seemed to know something I didn't... about the other guy. I mean, the one that
*didn't* look like you."
Wufei noted with curiosity that Heero stiffened and shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
Heero was never fidgety. Wufei's eyes widened slightly, "Don't tell me you believe all this
ghost crap." Heero's gaze shifted to the window and didn't answer right away. It made
sense that Wufei didn't believe any of it. He hadn't believed it either at first. Then again,
Wufei hadn't met Duo yet... which suddenly reminded him of Duo's request.
Wufei was noting with interest that the anger was slowly fading from Heero's face and he
wondered what he could be thinking. But Heero shook his head at that moment and
frowned again, "It isn't any of your business what I believe." Wufei's expression became
serious at the response, "No, I guess it isn't." but the seriousness fell from him almost as
soon as it came, "I should know better than to try to figure you out." Heero smirked at
that.
Wufei sighed and leaned forward, folding his arms over the table. "How did you find this
place, Heero?" Heero raised an eyebrow at him, "I should ask you the same question."
Wufei stared down at the table, looking every bit as wistful as he felt. "I can't go back to
L5 anymore. I'd hoped to go to China where I planned to look for the rest of my family
but... I couldn't stay. They were already looking for me there. I had to find a place like
this, as far away as possible.
"It was Master O's idea for me to come here. The war is over and fighting is pointless
now. I'd rather just avoid them for as long as I can." His voice sounded tired when he said
it and under any other circumstance Heero would've left it alone but there was something
he didn't quite understand. "What do you mean by 'them'?" Wufei looked at him
surprised, "You don't know? I thought Doctor J would've told you by now."
Heero shook his head without moving his gaze from the boy across from him, "When I
said good-bye, I meant it. I cut myself off from everyone long ago." Wufei nodded to
himself and sat back, "Then us meeting here really was coincidence." he paused, "Heero,
the war may be over but it seems we're not out of the woods yet." Heero's brows
furrowed. "What do you mean by that."
Wufei sighed, "Master O has informed me that although the Romefeller Foundation is
under going several changes to accommodate for times of peace, there are still some
people within who hate the colonies and despise us even more. Whoever they are, they're
bitter that we reached the end like this and they still want their revenge. They are delaying
the extraction of our execution orders for as long as possible even though the military is
slowly being dissolved."
He shook his head, "But it's not enough. They seriously want us dead. A few days ago a
bounty was announced by a 'nameless client'. There is a contract of 5.5 million credits
offered for *each* one of us. Naturally, what condition we're in at capture is not of
concern to the 'client'. Dead or Alive, as the cliche goes." Heero's frown had only
deepened. Life seemed to be delivering him one shock after another recently. The latest
few hadn't been that bad. So ghosts existed, so what?
But this... this was *not* good. The earth was crawling with bounty hunters. To be blunt,
it would only be a matter of time before they were found. The colonies were always an
option, of course but odds were thats the first place they'd look. "You're sure there aren't
any restrictions or conditions? Is there a time limit on the contract?" Wufei shook his
head. "K'so..."
There was a sudden knock at the door and he instinctively reached behind him for a gun
that wasn't there. Heero cursed under his breath, he'd have to start carrying it again. "You
boys in there?" Heero ignored the Inn keepers voice and looked at Wufei, who's right
hand had unconsciously reached across his waist for something he was very obviously not
carrying. Could he still have his sword somewhere? "Hai." Wufei answered.
"Well, Sofie came up and prepared lunch. It'll be waiting for you whenever you're ready."
After a moment of silence, footsteps signaled Okada had finally walked away. Heero
looked at Wufei, eyebrows raised, "Sofie?" Wufei smiled as he stood up, "The cook." And
just like that the tension in the air seemed to have vanished. Heero stood gratefully and
followed Wufei to the door.
As he stared at the back of the ex-Chinese pilot, Heero sighed inwardly. A bounty meant
trouble and certain discovery no matter where they went. A place like this would only
delay the inevitable. All he knew was that he'd be very grateful if the next greatest
problem he faced was dragging Wufei down the cliff with him.
---------
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Wufei cursed for the second time when he tripped over the
steps of the back porch and barely caught himself before he fell. He'd never seen Heero
this... animated before and frankly, it was getting on his nerves. He couldn't believe he'd
let Heero talk him into this. At least now Wufei knew whether or not his comrade believed
Okada's ghosts stories.
"You're both full of it, you know that Heero?" He said it under his breath but Heero
caught it right away and grinned. When Wufei caught up with him, they were already half
way to the slope. Wufei crossed his arms and walked beside him silently, sulking. Heero
had *insisted* that they go down only after the sun set despite Wufei's protests of the
cold.
Wufei had donned the long sleeved white shirt he almost always wore but Heero had just
slipped on a jacket over the tank and walked out like that. Wufei noticed out of the corner
of his eye that it wasn't even buttoned and Heero didn't seemed at all bothered by it. And
here he was, freezing. Damn him.
-----------
At their brisk pace, set by an obliviously eager Heero, they reached the edge within
moments and slid down the rocky slope. Heero absently noted that it was much easier
when he wasn't in such a hurry. Careful of his footing, he made his way to the bottom,
looking for any sign of Duo along the way. His gaze set on the boulder and he stopped.
Duo was half hanging off the boulder, upside down, his head inches from the water. The
only reason his thick braid hadn't fallen in was he'd tucked it around his neck. He didn't
seem to have noticed them when they came down. Heero looked behind him to see if his
friend had followed him. Wufei was indeed walking toward him, dusting off his white
clothing, "Well?" he asked. "Where's the ghost?"
Heero made a face at the cynicism and mutely began walking toward the boulder. As soon
as Wufei's gaze fell upon Heero's destination he frowned curiously and squinted. Walking
up next to Heero he folded his arms over his chest, "Heero, that's not a ghost, that's just
another guy. He's probably a local." his voice held an unbelieving tone that Heero didn't
miss. But it wasn't his job to convince Wufei of what Duo was. He agreed to bring him
down here, that was it.
Heero frowned as he climbed onto the slick rocks. Duo wasn't moving. He was staring
out at nothing almost as if in a trance. So still, it didn't even look like he was breathing.
Heero caught himself at the last thought. For a second, he'd forgotten Duo was dead... did
he even need to breathe?
He stopped at the boulder and Wufei stood next to him, giving him a questioning glance
when no one moved, but Heero was still trying to take in the solemn look that shown
completely alien on Duo's face. Finally Wufei nudged him. He shook his head, coming out
of his own brief reverie, "Duo."
Duo started and looked up. Heero's frown deepened when an emotion that shouldn't have
been there flashed across Duo's face before being replaced by the ever-present smile.
What on Earth would someone like Duo have to be afraid of...? "Hi!" Duo raised himself
back effortlessly onto the boulder with supernatural grace. Wufei blinked at it but that was
all the visible response.
He jumped off the boulder and with two quick steps tackled Heero. Heero's eyes widened
as the other boy hugged him. "I didn't think you'd be coming back so soon!" His
happiness seemed so genuine that Heero found himself hugging the braided boy back, the
frown disappearing. Wufei raised an eyebrow, "coming *back*?"
Duo pulled away to look at Wufei and his expression brightened even further, if that were
possible. "It's YOU! Wufei right?!" Wufei looked a question at Heero but Heero shook
his head. He hadn't told him. "How did you know my name?" Duo grinned, "I've known
that for a while now. I've been dying to meet you ever since you got here! You and Heero
are NOTHING like the people who usually stay at the Inn and I NEVER get to see
anyone 'cause people get spooked real easy when they hear Kenji's ghost stories."
He frowned in a mock-pouting gesture, "You'd think he was *trying* to scare people off
on *purpose*." but the smile returned just as fast, "No one's ever had a ki that caught my
attention like this! It's been decades since anyone's been down here, ever since Kenji hurt
his knee an' got older an' stuff. This is so cool! You never even look out a window,
Wufei. I was afraid you'd leave before I could talk with ya!"
Wufei's eyes were slowly widening the more Duo went on. He'd never known a person
could... talk like that. He shook his head, "Wait a minute. You're telling me your this
ghost Heero and Okada keep talking about?" Duo's smile wavered, "I prefer spirit."
Wufei stepped back and gave Duo a very scrutinizing look. Duo blinked and Wufei circled
him until he came back to Heero. "Ok, you *do* look a little like the guy in the painting
but I'm still not buying it."
Wufei took a step closer and took Duo's arm, "If you're dead or a spirit or whatever then
shouldn't you be see-through or something? Or at least cold?" Wufei let go and Duo
looked down at his hands, puzzled. He *was* warm. How could he have not noticed a
change this fast? "You look very much alive to me." Heero was curiously silent during all
this.
Duo opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by a soft beeping sound.
Wufei started and reached under his shirt to pull out a square beeper sized object that had
been attached to the rim of his pants. (1) Altron's alarm was beeping steadily in his hand.
Heero's eyes widened, "You brought your Gundam here?" Wufei was too busy
concentrating on crushing the alarm in his fist to hear him, "I didn't think they'd find me
this quickly..."
"Who'd find you? Something wrong, Wu?" Wufei ignored his questions and turned to
Heero, "Altron's hidden in a cave in the cliffs about a mile from here. I'm going down
there to see who or what set off my alarm. If I'm not back by morning, leave." Wufei
turned to go but Heero took his arm before he could run off. "I should go with you."
Wufei shook his head, "I can take care of myself Yuy and if worse comes to worse it's
best that only one of us be taken and not both."
Wufei's voice held such determined finality that Heero let him go. Wufei climbed up the
slope faster than he'd thought he could and disappeared over the top within seconds. Duo
cleared his throat, "As much as I love being ignored, I can't help but be a little curious.
What the hell just happened??" Heero shook his head and turned back to Duo, "Nothing,
forget it." "Oh, no you don't! Wufei looked like he was gonna have a cow when that little
thingy went off and I wanna know why he had to leave!"
Duo crossed his arms and tapped his foot on the rocks as if that was the final word. Heero
sighed relenting, "The short version would be that Wufei and I made enemies during the
war that are still a threat to us even after it's end." Duo raised an eyebrow, "I get the
feeling there's a whole lot more to it than that." Heero shrugged and walked passed him to
climb up onto the boulder.
Realizing that he wasn't going to get any more information out of him at the moment,
Duo resigned himself and joined him. When Duo leaped up and sat next to him with all the
grace of a true ghost, Heero hesitated a moment and then took the spirits hand. "Why so
fast this time?"
The question caught Duo off guard and he looked at Heero as the former pilot inspected
his now warm and tangible hand. He shrugged casually, "I suppose it's because there were
two people down here this time. The cove will only give me so much from one person
unless I take it myself. Two people means twice as much energy." "Oh..."
Heero looked up at Duo then, allowing a curiously worried expression to fall over his
face, "Duo, when Wufei and I came down here you didn't even notice us. I saw the look
on your face. What's wrong." The humor drained from Duo's face in record time. He sat
there in silence for several seconds just looking into Heeros face before finally shifting his
gaze, looking past him to the opening in the cove.
Heero turned to see what Duo was looking at and found that the dolphin pod was
swimming far out in the distance. "They won't come near the cove this close to a new
moon." Heero turned back to him when he spoke again but found that Duo was still
looking past him. "They're too scared." As he gazed into the spirits face Heero felt
unprepared for what he saw.
Duo had left himself completely open to Heero without realizing it and in his eyes was
such a deep sadness and loneliness that it made something within Heero's chest tighten.
He had to look away. But before he had, he'd caught a glimpse of something else as Duo
gazed at the animals swimming in the distance. Longing... envy. "Duo."
Duo trained his gaze back on his friend, his expression little changed. Heero sighed
inwardly and looked back at him, "What are you afraid of, Duo. What could someone like
you possibly have to be afraid of? That woman?" Duo's eyebrows rose at the last bit,
"You know 'bout Selena?" Heero nodded, "Hai, but... you're dead. What can she possibly
do?" Duo chuckled, but it was dry and without humor. "She can take my existence from
me, for starters."
Heero's brows furrowed at the comment, "What do you mean your 'existence'?" Duo
sighed. "I'm dead, Heero. You'd think it couldn't get much worse than that but it does.
For now I'm stuck here and after centuries of trying to figure it out I still don't know how
to leave. I figure I'll be here for all eternity or at least until Selena decides shes bored
enough to take my existence from me.
"I don't know how she can do it but she can, its one of those things I just *know*. Like
how she can leave her grave and I can't. We're supposed to be bound to our graves, we're
not supposed to able to leave but she cheats." Heero raised an eyebrow, "how?" Duo
passed a hand through his messy chestnut bangs. "Well, she doesn't appear every night
like I do. Even conjuring up a visible form takes energy. She kinda... lays dormant for a
few months until shes saved up enough energy to be able to leave and do her dirty work
without any outside help.
"You see, normally, if we *tried* to leave our grave sites without enough energy to
sustain ourselves we'd simply cease to exist. With a normal death you at least go
somewhere. You move on or something I guess, but if a ghost 'dies' they just stop...
being." Heero was stunned, "You're not joking." He shook his head. "Iie," he paused. "I
wonder sometimes why she's stalling. Why she doesn't just do it and get it over with..."
Heero had no answer to that. In fact, he didn't know what to say. He sat in awkward
silence for a few moments until Duo finally broke it. "You should leave, you know.
You're no safer staying here, especially now." Heero shook his head. "I already went
through this with the Inn keeper. I can take care of myself. I'm not afraid of some ghost
and there really is no place better for me to go right now, anyway."
Damn he was stubborn. "You don't understand, Heero. She could kill you if she rises
while you're still here!" Heero frowned, "Why do you feel so concerned anyway?" Duo
blanched. "Well... you're my friend, ne? Its not exactly safe around here right now and I
wouldn't want anything to happen to you." Heero considered that for a moment and
nodded absently to himself. "I wouldn't want anything to happen to you either..."
Duo was slightly taken aback by the abruptness of Heeros words but his expression
quickly turned to a lopsided grin, "Kinda sounds weird when you're talkin' to a dead guy,
don't it?" Heero's expression remained serious when he asked, "Were you happy, when
you were alive I mean?" Duo's surprise was evident in his voice, "Where'd that come
from?"
Heero shrugged, "I've heard of stories where people stayed behind after dying because of
some unfinished business or because they lived unhappy lives. Thats why I asked." he said
simply. "Oh well, yeah actually. I *was* pretty happy with my life, I guess. At least until
right before it ended..." He almost whispered the last part.
Heero's grip on Duo's hand tightened and Duo blinked, startled. All this time he hadn't
realized that Heero'd never let go of his hand. "Was it because of *him*?" The question
was said very unemotionally and very monotone at the same time. But it was the way
Heero had said 'him' that made Duo frown. "Are you talking about Katsuhiro?"
Heero's grip tightened at the name and Duo had to suppress the urge to 'eep'. If Heero
didn't watched himself he'd crush his hand. "Uh, heh. I'll take that as a yes." Heero
blinked as if he hadn't realized he was doing it and loosened his grip but didn't let go.
"Gomen." Duo grinned, "s'alright, I know ya didn't mean it." Heero nodded, looking
away, "You still didn't answer my question."
Duo's small grin slowly died on his lips and he paused as if trying to remember. "For some
time I thought it was him. If you know this much already, Kenji must've told you the rest
so it's no shocker to hear that I loved him." Heero's eyes closed at the last part and his
hand let go.
Duo continued, oblivious to the suspicious behavior. "I must've spent the next miserable
hundred years pinning after him just hoping one day he'd come back. Naturally, he never
did. After that first century came and passed I knew it would be impossible to see him
again. Human beings only live for so long, after all. Anyway, thats when I seriously started
to think about how I'd finally leave. I began to think it was my feelings for him that held
me here. That maybe if I just... let him go *I* would be freed too."
Heero looked back at him suddenly. Duo's voice had gotten heavy and he was shocked to
find unshed tears in his eyes. Duo turned a painfully fake smile on Heero when his gaze
shifted back to him. He shrugged nonchalantly, as if this didn't bother him at all. "That's
when I realized what a complete baka I'd been. I mean, there I was waiting around a
*hundred* years for him to show up again when he probably moved on after I died. And
even if he did come back, what then? I was still dead."
The tightness in his chest had grown the more he listened and before Heero knew what he
was doing, he pulled Duo against him in a tight embrace. Duo stiffened in his arms and
Heero hesitated, wondering if he'd done the right thing. But before he knew it, he felt
arms wrap around him in return and relaxed "You still love him then." he said softly.
Heero felt Duo chuckle dryly and shake his head. He took a deep breath and when he
spoke, his voice sounded tired. "Four-hundred-plus years is a long time to get over
someone, Heero. A very long time." Heero's eye's widened. Had he really been here that
long? "You know, I hadn't thought of him in years. Not 'til I saw you. You just look so
much like him..."
Heero nodded, "Hai, I saw the painting." Duo blinked and sat up. "What painting?"
"There's a painting in the Inn of you and... him. Okada showed it to us while he talked
about you." Duo smiled slyly to himself for a moment, allowing himself to slowly fall back
into his usual good humor before he spoke again. "No fair, Heero. You know my life story
now but I still don't know anything about you."
Heero frowned, "Does that matter?" "Of course it does!" Duo said with an enthusiastic
smile. He fully intended to pursue the matter this time. The previous topic had felt too
awkward and uncomfortable for him. He inwardly reflected with a slight shock that he'd
never opened up to anyone like that before and it felt... weird.
So he smiled even wider, "Heh, well, naturally if I make a friend I want to know a little
more about him." Heero paused a moment before responding to that. If Duo thought he
was fooling anyone by quickly seeking the comfort of a cheerful mask he was seriously
mistaken. But then again, maybe it wasn't so much comfort than protection.
He realized with some surprise that the direction his questions had been taking were
actually bordering on... nosey. What was it his business to know how Duo felt about
anyone? Why had he been so curious about something like that anyway? He blinked
suddenly. As a matter of fact, since when had he had a conversation like this with
*anyone*??
A hand waved up and down his field of vision and he focused back on it's owner. "Hmm?"
Duo tilted his head and gave him an inquiring look, "what were ya thinking about?" Heero
shook his head slightly, "nothing." Duo sighed, "well, are you gonna tell me anything at
all? C'mon, I've wanted to know *all* about you from the moment I sensed you."
Heero's lips thinned as his mind returned to the previous subject. "Why? Why me?"
Duo hesitated a moment at the question before falling backward onto the boulder, tucking
his hands under his head. He gazed up at the black sky, his brows furrowed as he thought
of a way to answer, "how can I say this... To be honest, I guess, it's because you feel so...
different to me." Heero raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Duo's eyes drifted closed briefly as he mused. "Well, you see Heero, most of the visitors
to the Inn are tired spirits. People who are too distracted or stressed out to really care
about anything other than their own existence. Or too old for it to matter. They're burned
out, uninteresting or just closed off. Especially to me.
"Kenji likes to say that it's only younger people that can see me, for example. It's not
exactly like that. It's just the older that people get the more distracted or rapt up they
become in their own perfectly logical lives. They could be looking out a window, straight
at me and not see me. Maybe even because they don't want to."
He opened his eye's then, looking directly at Heero with a genuine smile, "But you're
different. I could feel you the moment you arrived. You have a kind of fire... a spirit like
none I've ever felt before." He grinned at the stunned expression on Heeros face, "So, you
see. You can't blame me for being a little curious." Heero was struck speechless and Duo,
taking note of that, held his hand up to him.
Heero blindly took it and was roughly pulled down next to him. Duo chuckled and shifted
onto his side in order to face his living counterpart and waited, gazing dreamily at him as
Heero, quite to his surprise, found himself telling Duo anything he asked.
-----------
Some time later the night seemed to have grown even darker and Duo was staring at
Heero in awe after he'd spoken of the experiences life had thrown at him. Had been doing
so nearly since Heero began his tale. Duo had not been expecting anything close to the
things he'd heard and, for once, words failed him.
Things had been quiet for a few minutes and Heero, laying on his back, was staring at
some point past the stars in the sky, most likely lost in the memories that speaking of his
past had resurfaced. Duo bit his lip as a wave of guilt washed over him. Heero had his
reasons for not wanting to speak about his past and now he knew why. He felt awful
about having pursued the subject and regretted having been so persistent about it.
Without really thinking about it, Duo inched up closer to Heero and wrapped an arm
around his chest. As much for Heero's comfort as for his own. He rested his head against
Heero's shoulder and closed his eyes. Heero blinked and looked at the boy curled up next
to him.
Duo's rich chestnut hair seemed to almost give off a healthy glow as it lay in it's plaited
mass behind him. The scarce moonlight, reflected in the water, played along the perfectly
sculpted features of his face as Heero watched. Duo's touch was comforting, his skin just
as warm and Heero suddenly felt entranced as his gaze went from Duo's fine eyebrows, to
his thick lashes down to the slight curve of his lips. He had not looked like this the first
time they'd met. Why hadn't he noticed before?
As if feeling his gaze on him, Duo opened his eyes and looked at him. He was amazed to
find a tiny smile on Heero's lips. Heero gazed at him a moment longer before bringing a
hand up to brush a few stray bangs from Duo's eyes. "You're beautiful." he said without
thinking. Duos eyes widened and a blush blossomed over his face. He opened his mouth to
say something but Heero placed a single finger over his lips to silence him.
There was a sudden feeling rushing through him as he gazed into those blue-violet orbs
that he couldn't explain. A feeling that he had never felt before and one that demanded to
be recognized. Never being one shun his emotions, no matter how confusing or new they
might feel to him, Heero decided to allow them to speak for themselves. "Duo, I want you
to look this way everytime I come to visit you."
Duo stared, eyes still wide. "e-every... time?" He nodded, "If it's a question of energy
again, I *want* you to take it from me, whenever I come down to see you." He said
seriously. "T-to see me..?" Duo repeated intelligently. Heero nodded once and raised a
hand to his crimson stained cheek, "You've been here for a long time and I... I don't want
you to be alone anymore."
After hearing that, the shocked expression on Duo's face slowly slipped and gave way to a
dreamy smile. He looked as if he was finally going to say something but the abrupt look of
concern on Heero's face stopped him before he uttered a word of what was on his mind.
"Something wrong?" he asked. Heero's hand left his face and went to his, now much
paler, hand. "You're cold." he frowned, "why?" Duo raised himself on his elbows to look
over behind the cliffs.
The sky on the horizon was turning a pale blue and the black of night was beginning to
fade. He sighed deeply. "It's nearly dawn. I go before the sun rises." Indeed Duo lost his
solidity at that moment and Heero's hand, which had been holding onto his, lost it's grip
and went through. Duo took in Heero's disappointed expression with a somewhat
reassuring smile, "The night went by fast, ne Heero?" Heero nodded slightly, looking at
the hastily brightening horizon with complete hatred.
He heard Duo chuckle suddenly and felt as if a cool breeze had passed over his cheek.
Heero quickly discovered this was his companion's ghostly hand and found a gentle smile
on Duo's face as he gazed down at him. "Before I go, I want to give you something." He
then sat up and slipped off the boulder. Heero looked at him curiously and followed him
onto the sand. Duo kept walking back and forth, looking on the ground and occasionally
shuffling his feet against the sand, which had no effect, as if looking for something.
"What are you looking for?" Heero asked, but Duo wasn't listening. He was muttering
something to himself, "I'm *sure* it fell off that night... where could it... Aha!" He
stopped a few feet away from another boulder and kneeled on the ground in front of a pile
of sand. Heero walked up to him with an inquiring look, "Duo, what are you..." "It's right
here, I'm sure of it!" he said interrupting, pointing at the ground. "Heero, could you dig
through the sand a bit and see if you find it?"
Heero raised an eyebrow. "Trust me." he said with a slight grin. Heero nodded his
agreement and kneeled on the ground, "okay, but what am I looking for?" he asked as he
began sifting through he sand. Duo's grin broadened, "you'll see." After throwing aside a
few seashells it wasn't long before Heero felt something long and thin and pulled it out of
the sand.
A long golden chain lay in his hand, surprisingly still in very good shape after centuries of
having been buried. Heero sat back, brushing the sand off of it and found that the part of it
dangling off his hand was carrying a golden crucifix. Duo smiled brightly, "it was mine a
long time ago and now I want it to be yours, Hee-chan." Heero looked up, surprised by
the name but at the look on Duo's face he could only answer back with a small smile.
Heero raised the two ends and latched it around his neck. "Arigato." Duo felt as if he were
in a dream as he raised a hand to finger the image of the crucifix around his neck while
looking at the real one around Heeros. "Now that you have something of mine, we have a
bond together." Duo said. "What do you mean?" But Duo shook his head and said,
"another night."
He was fading in and out and could feel his time slipping away. He scoot himself up closer
to Heero, first gazing at the crucifix lying over his chest, then up into Heero's cobalt blue
eyes and *knew* he must be dreaming. Duo slowly leaned forward and saw Heero's eyes
drift closed in response before closing his own. His ghostly lips barely brushed the other
boys as the intrusion of the sun drew even nearer, clearing away the last of the stars. He
opened his eyes to gaze a final time into the face of his new love and along with the night,
vanished.
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End of Part 4
(1) Yeeeah... I made that up. Hey! Don't look at me like that! How else was I gonna get
rid of him?? ^.^;