Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Elements ❯ Chapter 29 ( Chapter 29 )

Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out. I've been so busy and stressed out these last few weeks that I didn't have any time to write. Anyway, this chapter is dedicated to Fuji Fox, for giving me all of my reviews for Peace Children at ff.net. Thanks!

Disclaimer: Neither Gundam Wing nor its characters are mine. They are the property of their respective owners. Rhys (when he shows up) is not mine. He is the property of Laurel K. Hamilton. The Sidhe, the way I use them, are Laurel K. Hamilton's interpretation of the faeries from mythology. If I use Hands of Power, which I might, they are the creation of Laurel K. Hamilton, too.

Pairings: 2x1 (eventually), 6+1, 5+1, implied 3+4, R+H, H+9+H, others to be named Rating: NC-17, Warnings: AU, OOC, probably lemon, semi Duo- bastardization (don't worry, he gets over it), angst, NICE RELENA Chapter 18, 3x1 lemon, but don't worry, it's just sex.

//blah// denotes thought

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R version archived at: fanfiction.net

The Elements

Chapter 29

"Are you okay?"

"How do you know those names?"

"Duo, what happened?"

"How *do* you know those names?"

Duo heard the questions voiced by his friends-and Rhys-and dismissed them. What he couldn't dismiss was when Rhys grabbed his shouders and shook him, repeating his question for a third time.

"*How* *do* *you* *know* *those* *names*?"

"I-They were in my head," Duo said, trying to get Rhys off him. Rhys looked at him with contempt, and Duo was sure he spit out something like 'A human!' "They were in my head! And I loved them! *You* tell *me* what that means!"

"No," Rhys said, backing up, allowing Duo to rise from the chair. "It's not possible. You are not to him what I am to Rafe! The Goddess would not make it so a human could have that kind of hold over someone so powerful. No. Not possible."

Duo advanced on Rhys, backing him into a corner. "What do you mean by that?" Duo spat. "What power do I have over Death, and how can I use it to our mutual advantage?"

"Over Death?" Rhys laughed, his eyes watering madly. "None. You have nothing over him. But over Heero? You have power over his heart. You command *his* love."

***

Bel looked up and admired the crisp, cool water falling from the cliffside. It had taken him all day, but, finally, he had made it. Mustering up all his courage-he was about to step into the lion's den-Bel closed his eyes and touched the water fall, feeling around for the door. Grasping the handle, he whispered the password. With a swish and a flick and an unimpressive light show, Bel stepped into the portal and vanished from sight-to the other side of the world, where his "parents" lay in waiting.

***

Duo stared increduously at Rhys. Obviously, the stress of the impending Armageddon had cause the fairy-elf-Sidhe-*whatever* to lose his mind. "Are you crackers?" Duo asked, in all sincerity. "When I was out of it, did you fall and hit your head? No? Then, I ask you this, why the *hell* do you think I have any power over Helena? What am I, then? His soul mate? His One-True-Love?"

Rhys quirked an eyebrow at Duo, causing him to fumble in his tirade.

"What?" he demanded, turning around to face Wufei and Trowa. "What is it?"

"Duo," Trowa said slowly, lifting himself up from the bed, "you just called Heero `Helena.'"

***

Bel stepped out fo the portal into the foyer of King Legarian and Queen Ayiana's palace. A servant bowed before him-properly, like a servant was supposed to-if he was surprised to see Bel there, he didn't show it. Bel motioned for the servant to rise-one of the King's, Bel noted with disdain, if the small stature and pointed features were any indication-and he did.

"My Lord Prince Leif," Pargan stated. "I was not aware you would be coming, or I would have had a suitable entourage waiting to welcome you."

"No need, Pargan," Bel said, assuming the stance of a prince who had every right to be there. "I was merely in the neighborhood, as they say, and I decided to drop in." Bel took off his jacket (A fine leather garment he had appropriated from the body of one of Leif's classmates. Rioting in the streets and such, simply *dreadful*), and handed it to the old man.

"Yes, indeed," Pargan agreed, folding the jacket and placing over the back of a nearby chair, to be taken care of later. "

And will my Lord Prince Leif be staying the night? I can have your chambers ready within the hour."

"No, no. That won't be necessary," Bel said, with mock joviality. "I just came to see my parents. Where are the King and Queen?"

"They are in their parlor, my Lord Prince Leif," Pargan said, nodding in the direction of the Royal Wing. "Wait her, my Lord, and I will have Monique announce you."

***

"I did not," Duo said He would absolutely, one hundred percent, under no circumstances believe that he had just called Hildegarde `Helena.' And if he did, well, that was obviously just the result fo an over-tired, over-stresse, over-imaginative mind. After all, if he admitted that any of it would true, he would have to admit that-most likely-it *all* was.

//And *that's* obviously not right,// Duo snorted. //Well, the camp thing might've happened-probably did, a couple a times, in fact-but the last thing... I would never hurt-*try* to hurt-somebody like that. In the words of Rhys, not possible.//

"Yes, you did," Trowa insisted, climbing out of bed and stalking over to Duo. For a guy who'd just had the equivalent of a heart attack, whose ass cheeks were hanging out of his hospital gown, and whose stalk was really more of a hobble, Trowa was pretty intimidating. Duo tensed as Trowa drew near. "You called him Helena, and if that doesn't prove it, or at least give evidence for it, what will? Do you need him to break free of his bonds and perform a spontaneous choreographed dance number with fifty of his closest friends?"

Duo breathed a sigh of relief. For a minute there, he'd actually thought that maybe Trowa knew the rest, about what he did to Heero. "Maybe it is true," Duo admitted, though he knew in his heart of hearts that there was no "maybe" about it. Heero's eyes, eyes that Duo hadn't even noticed he'd noticed, were too blue for it to be anything but the truth. "But, so what if it is?"

"So what?" Trowa asked. "So what if you've found your soul mate, the love of your life, the-"

"What difference does it make?" Duo cried out. "What difference does it make now, mere *hours* too late? What good does it do me to know that he was mine, in another life? What good does it do *anyone* for me to remember that he always smelled like lavender, sometimes mixed with vanilla or freshly cut grass? What is the purpose of me knowing what his body felt like, lying beneath mine in a field still wet with rain, when he was soft and curvy and his name was different, but his eyes-his *eyes*-remained the sam?. Always the same! Tell me, Trowa, what is the *point* of knowing this, when it's too late to do anything about it? When things have been done that can never be taken back."

Duo collapsed into the waiting arms of his friend, who fell to the floor with him. Trowa patted his head and ran his fingers over top of Duo's hair, trying to sooth him.

"Why did it take Death to show me what I should've known all along?" Duo whispered. "Why did It show me what I could've had-what I *did* have, long ago-moments after It took it away?"

"To play, Duo. To play," Rhys said, before he, too, sunk to the floor.

***

Bel finally was allowed into his "parents'" quarters after long agonizing minutes of tedious formalities in which he was meeted and greeted and announced and swooned over and told "it will just be a moment." He was looking forward to meeting the King and Queen. He had heard, well, almost nothing about them-only what he could pull from "My Lord Prince Leif's" mind, which wasn't much-but Bel always found it amusing to see an Elf and a Sidhe as a couple. The height difference made for some comedic moments, especially when the Elf was the male and the Sidhe the female.

Bel was not disappointed in that respect when he saw the two rulers. Queen Ayiana was a typical Sidhe beauty, obviously where Oberon's host got his looks. Standing at over seven feet tall, the Queen was majestic, her coffee brown hair falling in ringlets down to the small of her back. Her olive skin sparkled, as if the sun was still trying to kiss her long after it retired for the night. Her eyes, the deepest blue of the hottest burning star, were full of mirth as she playfully swatted her husband, laughing at some joke he had told her. She quieted down when she noticed Bel had entered the room and motioned for her husband to do the same.

With both "parents' quiet, Bel took the time to study King Legarian, the one from which his own host had acquired the majority of his appearance. Standing at an average-for an Elf, anyway-height of 4'11", Legarian looked postively ridiculous standing next to his wife. His hair was long and straight, blond tresses usually falling to his knees, but now pinned up as if he was a woman. His skin was not dark and not pale, but a perfect tan color with nary a freckle or blemish to mar it. His eyes were the color of darkest sable, expressive and warm. He had a strong chin, a noble chin, lacking the cleft that many thought a handsome feature, but fitting all the same.

Bell smirked-to himself, so as not to destroy the illusion that he was their precious oldest son-as he eyed the King and Queen. They would be worthy adversaries, but even better toys. He schooled his expression into one of woe and opened his mouth to speak: "Mother, Father, I bring grave news."

Selune