Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Raven - Death's Companion ❯ A Problem Halved ( Chapter 6 )

Whew, that was a long break and I don't feel any more rested >.< Anywho.. I'm back, this is Raven - Chapter 6. The long awaited and surprisingly much asked for continuation of my probably long forgotten fic.. anywho's thanks for bearing with me.. and on with the show.

Disclaimer - I don't own `Fei(Nuuu!) or Duo(Noooo!!) or Trieze(Thank God) or any of the other Gundam characters, this is for fun, for my enjoyment and for the enjoyment of so many other Gundam Wing fans, so please don't sue.

Warnings - Another "short story long" chapter. Bit of Violence, bit o' language.. you know the usual kind of stuff. If you have read five chapters of this thing and I still have to tell you it's Shounen ai, you're as bad as my friend who got seven whole episodes through Yami no Matsuei before realising it's a "girl's" anime. Well here goes anyway. Shouen ai / Yaoi - 13x5, 2x5.

Rating - R.

Chapter - 6/?

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Raven - Death's Companion

A Problem Halved

Avenged Suffering.

The Silence stretched after Duo's last comment. In fact, it had been so long now that the

American boy was beginning to regret telling his Asian friend anything. It was a damn-stupid idea. He should have known that Wufei wasn't ready to talk. He should've seen that when the boy hesitated in the first place. Silently cursing himself he forced that by now famous smile of his onto his face and made his violet gaze raise to look at the boy again. Dark eyes were closed, their owner stayed so still that for a fleeting moment Duo thought that he may have been dead.

"Do you really want to know Duo?" The Chinese boy's voice finally called out. It had taken Wufei a long time to gather the courage to actually answer him. Duo looked a little unsure. Truth by told, even he wasn't sure whether he wanted to know anymore. Wufei looked so uncomfortable just thinking about it, and he knew that they had made that deal, but if the Chinese boy didn't want to share then Duo wouldn't force him. The American was about to voice his thoughts when Wufei spoke again. "Two years ago I hadn't fought outside of my martial arts training." Duo blinked. "Less than twenty-four-months ago I was living somewhat happily with my family."

"I led a spoiled life, I was the finest young scholar in my clan. At fourteen my parents decided that I was old enough to be married." Wufei closed his eyes and tilted his head away slightly. "She was her clan's strongest, a spectacular fighter, over opinionated, loud, stubborn-" Duo stopped him before he could carry on. "Reminds me of someone.." The American smirked, settling back against his tree and getting comfortable, Wufei was good at telling stories, every word kept Duo's attention, and both boys knew that even if Duo wasn't looking at Wufei, that he would be listening intently. "Yes, I suppose we were similar, only we felt passionately about different things. I found my peace in the pages of literature, she found hers in the dojo. Meira-"

The name almost stuck to his tongue. He had never told anyone her story before, except the spirit within his Gundam. Her story changed into a different tale each time he had told it to her, thanks to his imagination. She had been a princess one time, a warrior in Pre-Colony China in another, he had even woven her story into a story of Gods and demons and one foolish human boy. He knew that nothing made Meiran's spirit happier than hearing her him tell her tale of heroism, and now it was time for someone else to share in it. He looked up after the small bout of silence and then forced himself to carry on.

"Meiran and I, we argued. We argued every day, over many things, but mostly over our stances on the ongoing war. She thought we should fight with everyone else against oppression. I believed we should stay out of it, if we stayed out of it the Alliance would have no reason to attack us." He paused, waiting for Duo to chastise him, much like Meiran once had, but when Duo made no move to, he decided to do so himself. "I was a coward, I know that now. She often told me the same. We began to resent each other, she hated the fact that she didn't have a husband who would fight for justice. I hated the fact that I had a wife as stubborn as I was." He produced the smallest smile at the reminder, how he missed those days now..

"So, one day, as she was calling me a useless scholar who wouldn't stand up and fight for all the good and just people who couldn't fight for themselves.. I snapped. I took off my glasses and placed them to one side before I stood up from -my- field.. -my- sanctuary and I told her that Justice didn't exist.. That her precious Justice was nothing but a group of stupid ideals that no one could actually live by." Wufei was glaring at the darkness infront of him in self-hatred, wishing for the darkness to reflect the hate back at him. Duo was shocked, not really too surprised, but shocked. Wufei hadn't believed in Justice? The one thing Wufei thought was worth fighting for and he didn't actually believe in it? It made no sense!

Wufei looked up at him. "She was as shocked as you are that I would say that to her.. And so she also snapped, she said that Justice did exist and she would prove it to me.. She said she would fight me to prove her ideals and I accepted." The Chinese boy chuckled to himself and then winced slightly as the subtle action jolted his ribs. "It was immature of me.. But I thought if I finally beat her she would listen to me.. She would finally give up the charade." Wufei paused to catch his breath, the strain on his body of just talking finally catching up with him. "Its started to rain.. just as the first punch was thrown. The ground grew wet and slippery but we were both too focused on the fight to take notice. She was an excellent fighter.. Graceful and Strong.. It took almost half an hour but I beat her..

"And as she slid to the floor I told her that we wouldn't have that argument again.. I was right.. Justice didn't exist.. she would have to cope with it." Wufei moved slightly stiff joints to try and bring life back into them. "..Of course she resented me even more after that.. She would barely talk to me. I was proud that I had finally gotten through to her but then Master O told us about the mobile suit he was developing.. It was almost complete all it needed was a name…" The boy coughed, a sign of his fatigue before he managed to continue. "We had gotten quite close.. Master O and myself… and I told him about my battle with Meiran.. He pointed out to me that she was not the type of person to accept defeat so easily. He told me that I was a fool to believe that she would stop believing in justice just because I had beaten her in one fight… And of course.. he was right."

Duo moved slightly closer to the Chinese boy, placing an arm on his friend's shoulder in a show of support. "A few weeks later I was in my library reading and our colony was attacked. It seemed I had been proven wrong.. We had done nothing to aggravate the alliance and yet they were attacking us. Meiran was missing.. I found her infront of the new mobile suit.. and the suit it was based on. She was on her way to the older model. I shouted for her to stop.. told her that women shouldn't fight and she told me that she would no longer be a woman anymore if it meant she could fight.. she would be Nataku…" He had to pause again at the return of the memory. Meiran making her way up to the cockpit, looking down at him as if teasing. Duo squeezed softly, afraid of aggravating any of Wufei's wounds. "Nataku..?" He asked quietly..

Wufei nodded.. "Nataku was a god of war.. of warriors.. Meiran took that name and climbed into the cockpit of the suit. Of course I cried out for her to stop.. but she was so stubborn. And I thought I would take the incomplete Gundam to try and bring her back.. to try and save her… It was only when she left me for that battlefield that I realised how much I would actually miss her if she was gone… So I followed her. They were going to pollute our air supply and kill us all that way… The canisters were easy to see once we were in flight. We fought many suits back.. mine at the time only had a beam cannon.. So though I was trying.. I was still only support for her.. She was amasing.. She wouldn't answer me as her battles went on.. I kept calling her Meiran.. trying to get her to stop the fighting.. But then my beam cannon was knocked from my suits' grasp.. and I was surrounded.."

Onyx eyes blinked lifelessly, he was lost to the memories, as if he could see it all infront of him. "I was so weak.. I couldn't hold my own in a battle full of weaker opponents.. One of them said it was in the name of Trieze Kushrenada.. They were fighting for him… but there was nothing I could do so I prepared myself for death and went to charge forward only to find Nataku infront of me.. She took the blast… The old suit couldn't take the strain and it was destroyed.. I called her Nataku for the first time then.." His eyes refocused and though they were glazed he was obviously not going to let any tears fall. "She had survived.. and the other suits.. they just left us alone.. To this day I'm not sure why… I gathered her to my suit and she asked me to take her to that field that I liked so much… The field of flowers she wanted to protect.."

Duo couldn't help but think that Meiran not only wanted to protect the actual field. But protect the man that reminded her of that field as well. "So I took her there.. we knelt there together and she finally said she understood why I went there so much.. I told her to hang on.. That she'd be okay.. but she laughed at me.. She looked into my eyes and we both knew that she was going to die.. I told her that she was right.. That I wasn't worthy of being her husband… that I was weak… but she argued to the contrary.. told me how beautiful my field was and then just.. died… I cried that night.. And when my suit was complete I named it Shenlong.. it was what Nataku wanted it to be called… I said that the guardian was too weak, then. But Nataku still watches over me.. she possesses the suit she died protecting.." He paused.. And Duo looked at him.

"'Fei.. You okay?" Violet eyes gazed. "Yes.. I'm fine.. just remembering how much I miss…" his whole body stiffened. "Can you hear that?" Duo peered into the darkness, trying to follow Wufei's darting doe-like eyes. "Yes `Fei.. it's called a deer.. this place is called the woods.. many creatures like that live here.." Wufei glared at him and pushed him away slightly. "I am being serious Maxwell." Duo smiled a crooked smile. "Back to Maxwell now eh? Should've known it couldn't last.. And for your information I was being serious too.. it was just a deer.. This has got you shook up `Fei.. just calm down okay..? Focus on the rest of the story.."

Wufei blinked. "Rest of the stor-? Oh… Yes.. him.." Wufei sighed, trying his best to block out the bad feeling that was creeping over him. "I decided I would take Shenlong to earth and live to Nataku's beliefs…I would defeat all those that were not just.. and I would kill Trieze Kushrenada because he was the only name I had in connection to the attack on my home.." He coughed again, only this time making sure to cover his mouth to buffer the sound. "..I came to earth with those main objectives… and I destroyed anyone who tried to get in my way… I wouldn't.. and still won't stop until I have defeated Trieze.." He hesitated, this was where it came down to it.. where Wufei would actually have to reveal himself to Duo.

Could he really do it? He forced his mouth to open. Duo halved his problem.. now it was his turn. "…I searched for him for weeks.. I thought the earlier I fought him.. The earlier I would be able to stop my fighting in the war… When my colony.." he fell silent. "When they self destructed because I couldn't protect them…. just like with Nataku… When they self-destructed I had to find Trieze.. I couldn't defend my colony.. I couldn't defend my wife.. I was useless as a soldier and I wanted my part to come to an end.." Wufei paused.. this would be the sentence that would give it away. "And then.. a few months ago I found him.. He was so proud… so self righteous. I challenged him to a duel using the Broadsword I had brought from home.. and he accepted. I wanted to fight him because by my tradition… If I lost I would be killed.. and if I had won.. then I had achieved all that I had wanted and therefore I could stop fighting." Wufei looked up, he had thought that the time that he had attacked Trieze would've given away the affair.. But Duo seemed oblivious. "As you can determine by Trieze being alive.. and my being here.. I lost.."

He cast his eyes downwards. "I had lost and therefore disgraced the honour of my ancestors and my wife…" Wufei was about to continue to tell of how his life now belonged to Trieze but Duo had raised his hand to stop him. Quickly, the god of death rose to his feet. "Shit.. sorry `Fei.. shit.. shit!" Wufei blinked up at him. "What?" Duo looked into the darkness beyond them. "You were right.. something's coming.. That deer was probably spooked - shit! Come on.." Duo knelt down and helped Wufei back to his feet. The Chinese boy winced and he raised the leg he was shot in slightly above the floor to try and ease the pain. "Maxwell.. it would be stupid for me to attempt an escape in this condition.." Duo laughed quietly. "'Fei.. I came here expecting you to be dead.. If I was willing to drag your corpse outta here, there's no way in hell I'm leaving the alive version of you behind.. Now come on!"

Duo's voice was almost frantic as he started toward the opposite direction of the approaching noise. "Shit.. sorry.. shit!" Wufei glared at him while trying to keep pace and not fall unconscious. "Be quiet! You said we should get out of here.. it doesn't help if your constant nattering attracts them!" Duo glanced sideways at him and smiled. He added a nod to confirm that he would be silent from then on before both the boys crossed the terrain with surprising ease. They had only got another five hundred meters before Wufei's leg gave on him. He fell with nothing more than an almost silent grunt. Duo froze and listened out for the approaching units. Dawn was quickly approaching and the night sky was giving in to the power of light, the sky above them beginning to turn a dark orange. Wufei had an idea, the general kit for soldiers on foot at night included a pair of night vision goggles.. soon to be rendered useless.

With a signal from his right hand Wufei told Duo to lift him up slightly off the floor. Duo obeyed and with the utmost care lifted Wufei from the floor. Wufei reached up and clasped onto a tree's branch. Pulling himself up until he could twist his body and sit on the branch. The pain was evident over his face. He shouldn't have tried such an athletic thing already, but it was almost impossible to sign all that to Duo in the time that they had. Duo smiled, getting the idea and scrambled up the tree himself, helping Wufei slowly to his feet so they could both get a little further up the tree and use it as cover. The sunrise was quite magnificent, making the treetops seem like a sea of fire. Both of the boys sat frozen until they heard the easily recognisable sounds of footsteps close in on their position. It wasn't long before soldiers were directly below them.

"Send us out to find them.. you'd think after all the destruction they've caused that he'd be glad to see them go.." one soldier complained. Duo smiled and held a thumb up to Wufei who nodded only slightly and leaned against the tree trunk, one of his arms wrapped around it so tightly that Duo could see it paling under the pressure. A concerned look came over his face and he went to lean forward but Wufei's hand stopped him. He shook his head weakly and leaned it back against the tree trunk. He hadn't had any sleep and his injuries were complaining and the headache he was getting wasn't getting any better. He waved Duo back.. if he moved now they were both done for. That boy worried about him too much.

Duo's brow creased slightly into a frown. Wufei didn't look good.. that run must've aggravated his condition.. because Duo was starting to get that feeling when people weren't going to make it.. people he cared about.. Wufei blinked blearily and leaned forward. Only Duo's hands stopped him from falling, they supported eachother like that for a few seconds. "I can't protect those I love.. I'm just as cursed as you are.." his voice was so quiet it was almost soundless. Duo looked at him and willed him to be still, his amethyst eyes searching the other boy's onyx ones. Duo could feel how hot Wufei's hands were and could only imagine how hot his forehead was. Something was seriously wrong. "I'm sorry.." Wufei said, his eyes pleading for forgiveness before they closed completely and Wufei became dead weight.

Duo had to think quickly, he pulled Wufei to him and placed his foot against the tree trunk.. It supported them for now.. but even the smallest shift in the wind would send them both toppling to the ground. He pressed his head against Wufei's shoulder to smother the tears. Solo died like this.. Solo died.. and now Wufei as well? "Please.. hang on `Fei.. just hang on…" And so he sat like that, cradling Wufei against him waiting anxiously for the immediate danger to pass.

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Well that's the end of Chapter 6. What did you think? Reviews please and I shall get started on Chapter 7 Right away.

Wufei : Great.. I'm unconscious again.. You just like doing this to me don't you?

AS : I just happen to think you'd look cute unconscious, all vulnerable and lovely. *begins to daydream*

Duo : You know `Fei? She does have a point.. *always begins to daydream*

Wufei : Hey! Are you two even listening to me!? Hey?!! Hey!!!!

Bai de Bai

^_^ Avenged Suffering ^_^