Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets ❯ ??? ( Chapter 28 )

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One would like to say that a battle fought is a battle won, but that is not always the case. In a perfect world the good guys always win and the bad guys always lose- - - this is not a perfect world.

From the flames emerged two forms, neither complete, neither whole. The images were blurry as if just out of phase as they battled each other in hand to hand combat. It was like watching an action movie without the subtitles. The two forms were so close in size, build, and looks that the only thing distinguishing them was Duo’s braid which whipped frantically behind the figure on the right.

It seemed like a lifetime before the winds began to slow and the rage in the air settled to anger. The other pilots wanted desperately to help but could find no opening in which to aid their friend and lover. The battle was so hard to watch that it hurt but there was never an opening in which the two were apart or distinct enough to know who to fight. When the last blast hit them it was like all the emotions the universe had to offer- fear and frustration; envy and jealousy; lust and shame; anger and pride; consternation and confusion; wrath and malice; suffering and regret; until they were nothing more than dark clouds swarming from the center to cover everything they touched.

Cries and moans from below echoed through the breeze these clouds stirred the air within the station. It was overwhelming, especially to Quatre who’s heart was clenching with each new wave until he felt as if he were dying. Heero held him tightly trying to protect him as best he could.

Just when they thought they could take no more waves followed the clouds; only these were definitely different from those that had come before. When despair hit them it was covered by the stronger hope; fear was stilled by courage; constraint was loosened by independence; hate was destroyed by love. It was the last that echoed through each pilot, healing and caressing each before moving on to the others.

They had all been knocked to the floor by the emotional turmoil they had been put through; it would have made a lesser man cry, but not the Gundam pilots. Slowly they drew themselves together and forced themselves to stand, though they only made it their knees before each looked to the battle again.

The battle, however, was done and only one now stood. They almost feared which they now faced.

The face that lifted was neither a sneer or a smile. It was carefully blank, the eyes downcast, and the body deceptively relaxed.

“Duo?” Quatre whispered, his body trembling.

There was a twitch but not much more. It left the pilots fearful that, perhaps, they had lost their friend.

“Duo speak to us.” Wufei almost begged for his friend and lover to be all right.

It was startling when the light laugh reached their ears and even worse when the dark wings unfurled, spanning almost the entire room.

“He is here.” The voice was dark, but not Duo’s nor the Commander’s, and that confused the waiting pilots.

“Who?” Heero growled at the creature that now stood before them.

The face lifted, the eyes glowing orbs of amethyst, as the hair darkened and twisted into small braids. As he looked at them, his mouth smiled, softly with only a hint of malice before it turned into a smirk. In one fist a dark staff formed until it became a scythe, the symbol of only one person.

“Shinigami.” Trowa breathed.

“I am the controller now.” Shinigami smiled. “The dark evil is dying but the flame of good is dim. There is power here must be contained and I am the only one powerful enough to do so.”

Slowly standing the pilots feared facing off against Shinigami. Not because they thought they’d lose but because he was the embodiment of Duo’s fighting spirit.

“Fear not, brothers, one day we will return.” Shinigami spoke slowly as he began gathering shadows to him.

“Return?!” Wufei shouted. Quatre gasped and Trowa took a step toward the dark form as Heero nodded in understanding.

Shinigami looked at the two his counter-self deemed worthy of his love. He felt something soft and warm pass through him to touch them but nothing more.

“We must gain strength to destroy the one who attempted to separate us.” He informed them as he stepped toward the window. “Fear not, we will return when the time is right and we are stronger.”

The dark form reached the broken walls that had once separated the bay from the control room. It paused as it stepped onto the precipice.

“The child lives as does the Dragon, his protector, and the Elf, his guardsman; his friends, the Immortal Prince and the stoic Warrior. They are like no other and are everlasting.” Shinigami’s wings folded in so that he could fit between the steel bars. “For now it is my destiny to guide him. Be at peace.”

Before any of them could react, Shinigami leapt out the window and unfurled the black wings. To the amazement of all he headed straight for the damaged bay doors. Cutting an opening big enough for him, he went without -hesitation- into the vacuum of space.

Sometimes the secrets can destroy the life you’ve made; other times it can create a new one, but it always changes it.