Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Two Sides of a Coin ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 8 )

Disclaimers: own nothing, not mine.

 

Warnings: the same. Please heed. And lots an' lots of oocness.

 

Chapter 8 --- a show of abilities and magic. And a revealing of truths and beliefs.

 

 

 

 

“What happened?” Wufei asked the silent man who was staring at the departing army. “Heero!”

 

Ear-splitting silence. Used to it as he was, Wufei was brimming with too much anger and irritation and Heero's silence only fueled it. Only his fear that he might do something unlikely to the man prevented him from approaching Heero any closer, preferring instead to stand in the middle of the room.

 

He was weary of it; the uncertainty and chaos that Heero had wrought into their lives when he left all those months ago. Duo became unstable; obsessed with where Heero might be and what he was doing, and then declaring war against a small, relatively peaceful agricultural kingdom like Srafia just because he had been convinced that it would make Heero return to him. And so it did, for Heero did indeed approach Duo only a mere few months after he declared war that Wufei had hoped things would immediately return to what they used to be.

 

However, it had not, Wufei thought bitterly, staring at the slim back, wondering why he continued to stay with them and their chaotic lives when he could just return to peaceful Mount Riyun. But then, he thought, he knew the reason why.

 

He loved both men like brothers, finding in them a kindred spirit that matched his sense of honor and justice. That was why. And that was also why he could no longer bear watching them dance around each other with hate, insane possessiveness and distrust emanating from Duo, and impossible, unreadable apathy from Heero. Watching them for two days --- two days! --- and seeing the palpable violence that surrounded both men had been enough to convince Wufei that perhaps his friends would be better off if they ended their relationship, never mind that Duo would never allow it, or that they had four years of harmonious relationship behind these present events.

 

He could still sense the traces of emotions that used to glow vibrantly between them, but it seemed to be waning or perhaps it just got so covered with Heero's and Duo's present enmity. Wufei had been hoping for something to happen to break those two disturbing days, but this was not what he was expecting; Duo leaving before even the dawning of the day, merely requesting curtly that he stay with Heero in Srafia for two weeks before bringing him back to Methru. “With or without his consent!” Duo snarled those words to him, violet eyes darkening with impotent anger…

 

“Heero! Answer me, damn you!” he said once again, rather sharply. “What have you done to make Duo leave like this? I can't believe it! Why must you keep on hurting him? He loves you so much and I doubt that he would willingly leave you _here_!” He was babbling he knew, and he said the last word as if the place was a vile one, and it is, to his mind, for it had been the reason that the Duo that he respected, that was his friend, was vanishing.

 

Finally, a movement as Heero shifted on his feet slightly, who then replied quietly, almost without emotion inflecting his voice. “I never meant to hurt him. I didn't wish to. But this was the only thing that I could think of.”

 

“What exactly did you do?” Wufei's eyes narrowed and he was unable to keep the chill from his voice.

 

Heero shifted on his feet once again, uncharacteristically so, for it did not match the lack of emotion that he seems to wish to portray and had been portraying for the past days. Then he turned and Wufei gasped.

 

A few seconds later, Wufei began to rant about injustice and loss of honour.

 

“I provoked him.” But Wufei did not hear it, for the words were said softly, almost sheepishly, and the dark-haired man was busy thinking of ways on how to make his long-haired friend make up for such actions.

 

On one side of Heero's cheek was the red impression of a hand. Knowing how strong the Shinigami-king is --- and he didn't doubt that the handprint was Duo's --- Wufei knew that it would soon darken, leaving marks that would have been more suited to a strike of fists rather than a simple open-handed slap. Heero's lower lip was also split, and there were faint shadows that were like imprints of fingers around the young king's neck, other than the numerous, almost savage, reddish marks that Duo must have left on Heero on one of their most recent, and most probably brutal, couplings--- the gods knew that even the looks between the two rulers for the past few days had grown increasingly stormy, that is, on Duo's side, while Heero began to slide into a mask and aura of indifference, as if the few days had made him too weary to care any longer.

 

Wufei was already sputtering about going after Duo and demanding that he pay for this violence that he had committed when Heero sharply said his name, calling his attention back to the still man who had visibly grown angry. Wufei gaped, for it had been the first defensive emotion that he had seen in days from the man who used to be so proud.

 

“*I* ---*provoked* --- *him*,” Heero grounded, his eyes continuing to harden into a pair of dark, blue ice. “Besides, mine and Duo's affairs are of no concern to you. I beg you to remember your own business and tend only to that.”

 

Midnight eyebrows rose, and then the onyx eyes flashed as Wufei folded his arms over his chest. “I see,” he said, his voice frosting over as well. “Very well then, your Majesty. King Duo requested that I --- *guard* --- you and *return* you to Methru two weeks hence. He also asked me to remind you of the time limit that he has given you.”

 

Sharply and without much addendum, Wufei spun on his heels, walking angrily towards the doors. Then paused as he remembered something. “You are not my liege, Heero, and neither is Duo. This I do because I feel obligated, but never think that you are above me.”

 

Heero remained unmoving, his face completely impassive.

 

Wufei's sharp, angry steps echoed all through out the room, breaking its silence. Then the black-haired man paused once again, this time by the great arching doors.

 

“You are quiet adept at provoking people, Heero. I never thought that you could be so --- callous. I guess that I'm not such a good judge of character after all.” Wufei said this with a tone of bitterness and mockery, both to himself and to Heero.

 

_________________________

 

It was only when Wufei's footsteps no longer echoed from down the halls that Heero allowed the expression of pain and self-resentment cross his face.

 

Everything, everything that he does, he seems to always fail. Always failing, his sacrifices never enough. He felt torn, pulled at the edges towards many opposing directions, and no matter how he tried to fulfill all of the expectations of other people he ends up disappointing them all.

 

With a sharp scream that resembles that of a wounded, hopeless animal, the pale man whirled around and slammed his clenched fist into transparent glass.

 

He poured all of the frustration and anger and loathing that he had bottled up inside himself for three days into that punch, and his fist glowed with dark, bluish light in the last moment before it slammed into the glass panel. A loud crash, and then the whole section of the windows broke simultaneously, as if a force larger than the fist of a small man hit it.

 

Heero was gasping, and he stared, mesmerized, at the broken pieces of glass that fell like sharp, shining droplets of rain, the early rays of dawn shading them red. Power was still flowing inside him; a strong, ever-present energy that he tried to use and exude as little as possible. It overpowered him a few times, the energy: Wing Zero, when his emotional levels were shooting up, particularly his anger and other darker emotions, like resentment at himself. It is overpowering his control now as it feed on his emotions and gave him an access to vent it.

 

Outside, the brilliance of the dawn was suddenly covered by large, dark clouds that rapidly evolved from what used to be fluffy, white clouds and rumbles of thunder began to echo loudly. As lightning began to flash and strike the green covered land randomly, the land quaked.

 

All throughout this rapidly growing chaos, Heero stared out into the world with glazed eyes, his soul and consciousness no longer seen behind those brilliant orbs. Watching but not seeing, hearing but not listening, he only came to his senses when the moving earth forced him to totter to his side. With a jolt, Heero's eyes unglazed, and he looked around him in confusion as his world shook violently. It was only when he saw the bright orange glow of fires on the far fields caused by the still randomly striking bolts of lightning that he realized what he had done.

 

With a deep whimper of helplessness, Heero fell on his knees. “Stop --- stop, please,” he whispered weakly, as he reached within himself to stop the swirling energy that flowed like blood in his veins. “Zero…”

 

As sudden as it came, the earth stilled, and the lightning and thunder stopped as heavy rain began to pour down, dousing the fires on the fields immediately. Heero heaved a sigh of relief and stood up to reach out to and ensure that no one was hurt just because he lost control.

 

Heero sighed in relief when he felt that no one in the city was hurt, for the lightning storm did not reach them, and majority of the people ran towards Gaia's sky colored temple as soon as the first unnatural trouble occurred. His body grew rigid though when he reached out towards small villages surrounding the city. Most of the lightning that had reached the ground had struck the fields; the farmers' livelihood and Srafia's major source of income. The heavy rain was beating the fires down even now, but it was too late, for large spots have been burned, almost half of the farmers' expected crops.

 

NO…. Heero would make sure that his people get what they deserved and should, and they deserve a wealthy harvest. So the young man reached deep within him for the power that Wing Zero, and in consequence, Gaia, had given him.

 

Beneath the charred ground, seeds sprouted, leaves unfurling and extending, reaching out thirstily for the silver rain. In a few moments, swaying stalks danced with the rain and the winds, replacing what was taken by fire.

 

Withdrawing the energy back within himself, Heero sighed, when his sight allowed him to see a fallen tree, uprooted due to the violent tremors that followed the lightning storm. Heero wondered why he felt drawn to this tree when many others like it had fallen, when an echoing cry relayed itself to his senses. A child… a young girl was trapped underneath the great tree! Heero cursed himself for not feeling this, but then he wouldn't, for Gaia's powers were merely connected to the land and the plants and animals that depended on it. Mortals do too, but they were not under Gaia's care, more complex as they were, and needing closer attention. No, it was the God of death, and therefore life, who cared for them.

 

The girl's cries were growing weaker as the cold seeped into her, as well as the tree's weight, although the tree tried to keep itself from crushing her, using its remaining life force as a result. “Oh, Gaia… please help me,” was Heero's whispered plea as he tried to move the tree, but his own energy and will had been used up his previous actions, when he made the crops grow back.

 

He failed, he knew, when he felt the concentrated energy of the tree fade. He did not feel or see the girl's spirit slip away, but he felt the God of Death treading his lands.

 

Duo… truly the Shinigami-king… Death, coming to take the life that has faded…

 

Suddenly feeling very tired and weakened, Heero allowed his heavy body to fall, and he only felt the prickling pain of numerous pieces of glass dig into his skin faintly, when the sweet hands of unconsciousness hugged him. And yet his last thoughts were his incompetence, his inability, and his beloved, angry lover, whose real power he had finally seen.

 

____________________________

 

“Take half of the men and return to the palace.” Duo had told him curtly. Solo dared not argue or ask why, for the tangible darkness that danced around Duo told him that the man, no, the god living within this mortal flesh that was his brother, had personally seen to the deliverance of a freshly freed soul.

He also knew what Duo, or rather the real Shinigami-king meant. Palace meant Heero, and if he read it right, the freaky show of calamitous weather was somehow connected to the man. Although he has no idea why, or how. All that he has is his liege's order.

 

“Right away, your majesty.” He merely said, rising to his knees as Duo flicked his wrist.

 

Outside the royal tent, he gestured to his own right-hand man.

 

It didn't take long before the gallops of horses were heard retreating.

 

Inside the tent that Solo had only recently left, the king sat unmoving, only the clenching of his jaws setting him apart from a dressed marble.

 

Duo wanted to run back to his lover himself, not sending his brother instead. But the memory of darkening bruises and Heero's shuttered eyes that looked up at him as his hands encircled the pale, slim neck prevented him from doing that. He almost killed him, because he burned to own the man, with no one or thing challenging his claim. With Heero's death, he would, for isn't he the god of death and life?

 

But Heero's eyes… they did not plead, nor did they challenge. No, they merely looked resigned, and shone with love and sorrow.

 

Love… he hated it, for it made him aware of his own feelings, for the love that he felt back, but which had turned to hate. Love and hate, all for this mere mortal who had the spirit of pure steel, who loved everything and everyone; whose sense of responsibility exceeds even his own; who feels obligated to everyone, that he --- Duo, Shinigami-king, god of death and life--- he couldn't bear it in the darkness of his jealousy.

 

____________________________

 

Master J had sensed it, but it had been too weak for the Goddess was rapidly allowing her own powers to seep into Heero, retaining only the necessary energy to keep the planet alive until its impending doom. So when his senses tingled, Master J still puzzled over the feeling, wondering at what could have possibly caused it. It was only when the walls shook and fragile furniture fell that his thoughts fell on Heero.

 

The perpetually unchanging man cursed inwardly while he swiftly strode across the circular hearth to the bookshelf that hid the secret and only door to the room. He should have known. Klef had continually warned him about this, telling him of Heero's despair during that one time that the young man spoke to Klef alone before he rode to his divine lover. Klef had told him of the unease between the two beings, but he, he who had witnessed the changing times and the fall of innumerable men, had failed to respond to the warnings appropriately. But it was all because he trusted Heero's strength. Besides, he knew that power was needed to be released to help with the formation of the three entities that he and the Goddess Gaia had hoped and planned for…

 

But the strength of the tremors told him that he had overestimated Heero's self-control as well as the extent of the powers that Gaia was willing to pass to Heero. The wizard breathed a prayer of gratitude to the king who ensured that the palace and the city surrounding it have a very strong foundation, although it was joined by a steady stream of curses towards the distance of his hidden rooms to the royal chambers, as well as the draftiness of the secret passages. It was a good thing that he had the oversight to enchant the torches along the walls 200 years ago, otherwise, he would be running along drafty halls as well.

 

Then the tremors stopped, so sudden that Master J was not aware of it in the beginning. He sighed a breath of relief, and his steps slowed, thinking that the crisis was over. However, another set of tingles ran along his spine, and the pull on the magic that Gaia had given him when he was born more than 600 years ago had told him that Heero is now practicing a different set of enchantment, this time much more dangerous, for it involves the need for greater control and energy.

 

Master J still staunchly believes that Heero has the necessary will and control to pull this new development off --- the slip earlier had been planned after all --- but for the necessary energy…

 

Master J broke into a run, cursing and hoping simultaneously that his boy would not be so foolish so as to pour the last dredges of his life force with the energy he needs to assuage his desire to repent for a fault that was not entirely his.

 

_______________________

 

Sally hurried after the page sent by Wufei. The panicked look on the boy's face warned her to expect something bad, but she was still shocked when she entered the cold room.

 

“What happened?” she gasped, her eyes falling on the Riyun warrior after she had taken in the completely broken windows. On the floor beside the widows lay the dull shards of glass and she immediately noticed the copious blood puddling along a section of it.

 

“Healer,” Wufei sharply called her to the massive bed. The man held the king's upper body up as he tried to remove the bloody tunic, and Sally hurried to his side, barely flinching when she saw the remaining shards of glass that had imbedded deep into her king's back.

 

“Wait, let me remove this first,” she said, gently and swiftly removing the shards.

 

“What happened?” she asked when they had finally removed the ripped tunic and bandaged his back, maneuvering Heero so that he lay on his stomach. “It's so cold in here and so is he.” Sally's gaze lingered on the red bites and bruises that scattered all over the young king's back. They were not caused by these recent unusual incidents, she knew.

 

Discomfited by the path that her thoughts were taking, Sally threw another glance at the high, completely broken windows to try to dispel them.

 

She succeeded in distracting herself from her present thoughts, as she once again began to wonder at the clean break that destroyed the window panes into jagged pieces. How could they all break at the same time? Sally doubted that the earthquake or the lightning did this, and the pattern of the break almost formed a perfect circle; a part of the ceiling and the floor also baring cracks.

 

Wufei stared at the bandages which were rapidly turning red. “Healer, is there nothing else that you could do?” Sally returned her gaze back to the young king. Heero's breathing was normal, but he looked abnormally pale, and Sally had the niggling feeling of something --- strange.

 

“I think that we better move him to the healing chambers. It's getting too cold and wet in here,” Sally gestured towards the nonexistent windows and the rains that lashed in.

 

Wufei nodded and was about to turn the man to gather him up when the sound of rock scraping against rock reached his ears and his eyes caught a part of the wall beside the headboard of the bed slide open and reveal an old man that he knew well enough.

 

“Master J,” Wufei growled in surprise and loathing, but the man ignored him, hurrying instead to their side to peer at Heero's pale face and feel his pulse.

 

“Good, he was not foolish enough to drain himself completely,” the wizard muttered, still oblivious to them all. However, it did not last long, as his piercing gaze fell on Wufei.

 

“Do not move him,” he ordered, then turned to look at the broken windows. Muttering, the wizard made a gesture and the shards on the floor suddenly rattled on the floor, and then they lifted and fitted piece by piece on the windows until the panel was whole again and the noise of the raging storm was muffled. Another flourish of his hand, and the sodden carpets dried.

 

“Heat,” Master J whispered, looking around until his eyes fell on the fireplace. In a blink of an eye, a huge, blazing fire roared to life, despite the fact that only a few coals remained.

 

“Good,” the wizard nodded to himself, and then turned to look at the two mortals beside his boy.

 

“We need to wake him up to stop this storm, otherwise, his efforts would be for nothing,” Sally heard the wizard say, and although he looked at them, Sally knew that the wizard was speaking to himself. Sally wondered if this was the almost mythical wizard who delivered Srafia from destruction by bringing back Gaia's essence, he seemed powerful enough, and although he already looked old, he felt older, almost ancient.

 

“Where is the god that you follow, Riyun warrior?”

 

Wufei blinked. God that he follows? The dragons?

 

Master J saw his evident ignorance and the old man made a sound of disgust.

 

“Where is this Shinigami-king of yours, as you prefer to call him!” the ancient man clarified.

 

Wufei blinked again; combining god and Duo is very---curious--- even if he is called Shinigami-king. “He left, early this morning,” Wufei hastily replied when Master J's face tightened with irritation. It is not advisable to annoy a very powerful wizard.

 

The wizard was annoyed nonetheless. “Left!” he exclaimed even before Wufei finished his sentence. “For all the trouble that he went to get my charge back, he just left! What is wrong with this god!?”

 

That word again, *god*; Wufei was about to ask the old man about this when he noticed that the man had canted his head to the side, an intense expression of concentration furrowing his forehead. After a moment of silence (for even Sally remained still as if instinctively feeling that it is required when one is around this strange man), a half-satisfied smile spread on Master J's smile.

 

“Horses… your Shinigami-king must have sensed that his chosen one is drained for he had sent his brother in his place.”

 

Another space of time taken up by silence, longer than before. Sally shifted on the side of the large bed that she sat on besides Wufei. The wizard seemed to be waiting for something, while the Riyun warrior beside her was staring at the older man strangely, his forehead furrowed as if he was trying to figure something out.

 

Sally wondered at what these two mysterious men were thinking, replaying the recent scenes back on her mind when the wizard, Master J, turned his head towards the doors. Wufei too, had sharply turned to look at the still doors. A few moments later, Sally heard footsteps --- owned by about half a dozen of men to make such a strong echo --- and then the massive doors opened to reveal the Shinigami-king's blond, effervescent brother, only this time, a scowl darkened his face, which further deepened when he saw the man standing at the middle of the room. “Master J!”

 

A tone full of loathing.

 

Then the whisper of swords being drawn from their scabbards.

 

Followed by a deep, unafraid chuckle.

 

Sally stared at the wizard, half fearful for his being. Solo too stared at the man. “This is no laughing matter, wizard! Do you know how pleased my liege would be if I deliver your head to him? Protected as you are by Gaia, I doubt that you could survive us!”

 

The wizard's chuckles died down, settling down into what could only be described as an infuriating smile. “Perhaps,” the man shrugged, and then beckoned for Solo. “Come, you can kill me soon, but for now, I need you to revive Heero. Your brother had surely granted you with some of his powers, did he not?”

 

Solo hissed, and the men behind him shifted uneasily, but before anything drastic could happen, the wizard spoke again, his expression completely serious now. “Enough! Heero needs life energy and you could give that to him, I know. If this storm does not stop, Heero would blame himself and he would be even less pleasing for your temperamental Shinigami-king!”

 

Hesitation, then Solo slowly returned his sword back to its scabbard, although he was still rigidly on guard, and his face and tone were suspicious. “And just how is my reviving Heero going to stop this storm, wizard?” he asked while crossing the floor towards the unconscious man. But before Master J could articulate a reply, Solo exclaimed.

 

“What in the Shinigami's name! He's drained of life energy!” Swiftly, Solo placed a hand over Heero's shoulder and closed his eyes. The other occupants of the room kept still for all of them knew what was going on, except for Sally, although her Healer's knowledge and the few teachings of the Riyun that she was able to assimilate gave her an idea of what was going on.

 

According to legend, Shinigami, the god of death and life, counterpart of Gaia, the goddess of the land and the waters, chooses a few to whom he gives the ability to heal. These chosen few were usually born in Methru, although they roam the lands to share their gift. It seems that Solo is one of them.

 

A few moment's later, Solo withdrew his hand, and then Heero shifted. Sally immediately stood up, followed by Wufei, and Master J took their place beside Heero. Gently turning the pale man on his back (the bandages were still stained with blood but Sally dared not to protest among such powerful beings), Master J tried to bend low with the intention of whispering something to Heero's ear but Solo growled. “Wizard, say what you have to him out loud.”

 

Master J turned a baleful eye towards Solo, but he talked loud enough for everyone to hear. “Heero, do you have enough energy now to stop the storm?”

 

Wufei's eyebrows rose and Sally felt hers did too. The question was very strange and Solo wondered when Heero acquired such ability (if it is real) and if Duo knows. Meanwhile, dark lashes fluttered and glazed dark-blue eyes stared straight at Master J.

 

“I couldn't control it. I killed her.” Heero said in a quiet, anguished voice. “I failed. Find another vessel,” he added, although this time, an indifferent tone slipped into his voice.

 

“Oh, child. You have not failed. And do you think that choosing death over your duties is not an act of failing itself? Come; stop this storm and then rest. I heard that he had left you to your own devises but I'm certain that there is a compromise here.” It was not a question but Heero still nodded. “Two weeks.” He whispered.

 

Master J looked a little angry, his mouth tightening. “That does not give us enough time,” was all that he said though.

 

Heero did not reply. He merely closed his eyes. Sally thought that he had gone back to sleep when the din of the storm suddenly lessened. Master J stood up afterwards, but Wufei had already slipped behind him, a dagger digging into the small of his back.

 

“Now, Master J, you will tell us what is going on, because immortal though you may be, we would kill you if need be,” the Riyun warrior threatened.

 

Sally stared with shock. The wizard had called Wufei a Riyun warrior, so that basically affirmed her previous conclusions. But these were not the actions of a Riyun warrior, whose main path follows that of Honor!

 

“I thought that you were Riyun, but it seems that you were not.” Sally found herself saying. Behind her Solo laughed, his tone filled with bitterness.

 

“Are you questioning his honor, healer? You should not. He is doing this for a friend.”

 

Sally prepared to reply, when Master J gave a long sigh. “Enough of this. Let me go, Riyun. I told you, you could kill me soon, but for now he needs me. Killing me would only make things harder for him, and in consequence, for you *friend*. I doubt that you would like that.”

 

This time it was Solo who growled. “No more of your games and threats, wizard. And who says that everything would be *harder* if we kill you. Perhaps it would be easier; after all, if I remember things correctly, it was your secret whisperings that made all of our lives hell.”

 

“No. it was necessary.” A new voice said, and everyone turned to stare at Heero who was laboriously propping himself up on the pillows. “Let him go, Wufei. He is right, I need him. Besides, I have questions of my own to ask him.” the last sentence made Master J smile with undisguised relief.

 

“Good.” Was his only reply though, then after slipping easily from Wufei's grasp --- much to the surprise of every Methruians' and Srafians' present --- the wizard strode towards the doors. “I'm going to speak to Klef, your majesty. In the meanwhile, you should rest.” This was said with a reproachful look at everyone in the room. “I *suggest* that only the healer stay.”

 

Solo's men flanking the doors parted for the wizard without waiting for Solo's orders. It was not needed though for it was quite evident that their leader is incapable of dishing out such orders for the moment; he was too busy staring after the wizard and controlling the urge to strangle him.

 

“I HATE him, horrible, HORRIBLE, ancient man!” Solo contented himself by spitting the words out.

 

Wufei nodded while Sally merely smirked; delighted that there *is* someone capable of frustrating these men, particularly Solo, who had been absolutely horrible himself with his goading. Sally decided to join the wizard and provoke the man herself. “So, haven't you heard him? Leave. His majesty needs his rest.”

 

Solo glared at her. “When J said Healer, would he not have meant me? It was I who had healed him after all.”

 

Sally folded her arms across her chest, a determined, victorious look on her face. “*I* am called *healer*, *you* are called Shinigami's *gifted*.”

 

Solo sighed with frustration and looked at Wufei who seemed to be preoccupied with something before him. Following his gaze, Solo's eyes fell on Heero who was staring outside the windows. The sun had begun to peak past fluffy, white clouds again as if there had been no vicious storm thrashing about only a few moments ago. The only sign that it rained was the shining droplets on the window panes like dew on grass. All in all, it made a pretty scene, but the anguish and vulnerability on Heero's face told whoever was looking that the view did not please him, or that he noticed it at all.

 

“I think that we *all* should leave,” Wufei concluded and ushered the two outside, but they all paused when Heero called Sally.

 

“Captain, would you be so kind so as to tell my *uncle* that I want to see him as soon as possible?” Heero asked; his voice and face showing none of the emotions that the three had seen.

 

Sally nodded, mumbling the proper response and then slipping outside with the others.

 

“Uncle?” Solo asked as soon as they had closed the door firmly behind them.

 

“Why, yes. Craig and Sano are his uncles.” Sally replied with a bit of surprise. Solo motioned for two soldiers to guard the doors along with the usual Srafian guards.

 

“Really?”

 

Sally hesitated, hearing the odd tone on that voice. “They're his mother's brothers.” Dark, angry expressions dominated the faces of the two men.

 

“And why were they not the ones who challenged that scum Sloane Xenne?” Solo asked mockingly.

 

“I… don't know… Perhaps they were planning to… they arrived only a few months before I did… and …” Sally was flustered.

 

Wufei snorted. “Cowards, that's what they are…, all you Srafians are… cowards and scheming bastards…”

 

Sally stopped, but the Methruians continued on, oblivious to her action. Or perhaps they just don't care, Sally thought, Wufei's words still ringing in her ears. How could they say such a thing with such bitterness and loathing? It was quite evident that they look down on them and Sally wondered if that was how they see Heero as well. She also wondered why everything feels complicated.

 

She was not blind, nor was she naïve.

 

She had seen the way her liege and the Shinigami-king treat each other. It made her shudder and sad somehow, for the loathing that both men feel was incompatible with the kind of relationship that they used to share that the Methruians liked to talk about.

 

The Shinigami-king is a legend, never mind that his family had been ruling Methru since time immemorial. He was a legend because he was rarely seen by his people. It was said that all Methruian heirs look alike though; dark, almost violet-colored eyes, long, chestnut hair and pale skin. If the king deigns to show himself to his people, he was always dressed in black and white, sometimes with red joining the colors of the royal set of clothes. Despite the distance that the Shinigami-king keeps, his people loved him, and he was worshiped as the representation of the god of death and life.

 

God… the wizard, Master J, had asked for the god that Wufei follows, “this Shinigami-king of yours, as you prefer to call him!” were the exact words of the old man. Of course, there was the legend, but Srafians does not believe in the Methruian religion. Of course, there is a god of death, but they find it hard to believe that a god would deign to take on a mortal form, especially since Gaia herself melded with the land.

 

But there was no mockery or disbelief in Master J's tone when he asked after the Shinigami-king, it was Wufei instead who was baffled… and then her own king suddenly had the powers to control a storm…

 

“I think I need to talk to Noin and Master Klef…” Sally muttered, purpose suddenly spurring her to swift action.

 

______________________

 

“What's wrong?” Solo asked.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“You look troubled.”

 

“Yes. And you don't.”

 

Solo's eyebrows rose. “Why should I?”

 

“I see…” conclusions began to form within Wufei's mind, and he hardly cared if they were preposterous. “He really is a god then…”

 

“Who? And who said so?” Solo tried to act nonchalantly, but the second question betrayed his knowledge.

 

Wufei sighed. “I used to think that the drama between Heero and Duo is ridiculous, and I wondered why you didn't put a stop to it. I see things a little clearly now. I was just wondering if ---“

 

“I do not doubt that Heero knows the real identity of his lover, yes. How he knew, MASTER J must have given him a clue. And yes, I thought that it was ridiculous too, but when I saw Heero's strength --- I knew that he is more than he seems…”

 

Wufei remained silent for a while. He was glad that he did not need to pry these things from Solo, that Solo decided to tell him freely, but what he was being told somehow dismayed him.

 

“When?” When did Solo see Heero in a different light? Wufei prided himself to be a good judge of character, but here was another one telling him that Heero was a good hypocrite. He said so, and felt the sting of misjudging a person for the second time that day.

 

“I don't think that he was acting, for he was truly weak, except for some special occasions when he seemed to have greater strength --- remember that one time when we were out hunting without Duo and Heero got separated from us and we found him with the wounded woodcutter? I visited the woodcutter because I felt something strange when I healed him. He was hurt very badly; it was quite obvious that the bear that attacked him was intent to kill him, but somehow, the animal left…”

 

Solo paused as he collected his thoughts and began again. “The woodcutter told me that he really thought that he was going to die when Heero arrived and slammed against the bear. He thought that Heero was a fool, for--- well, the bear was huge, and Heero is ---“ Solo shrugged and Wufei nodded. People see him as weak as well just because of his appearance and build which is quite similar with Heero's.

 

“When he slammed against the bear, the animal was thrown as if it was a mere rag doll. The woodcutter told me that he thought Heero was going to die, but then the bear and Heero stared at each other, then the bear licked Heero's face and left.”

 

“And you believed this woodcutter's story? Surely he must have been delirious with his pain and fear. The story itself is quite ridiculous.” Wufei snorted but Solo remained serious.

 

“He was in great pain, yes, but I had measured the level of his sanity, and found him very sane. Heero is truly more than he seemed. Perhaps Gaia had given him powers like the way that Duo had…” Wufei immediately filed this as another proof for one of his conclusions, but Solo seemed to have slipped intentionally. “…besides, the storm was another proof.”

 

“And does Duo know?”

 

“I don't know.” This time, Solo replied with a great deal of hesitation. “I don't think so. If he does… I doubt that he and Heero would have learned to love each other. He would have killed him immediately, I think.”

 

“And why is that?”

 

“Because Gaia took the one other mortal that Duo had ever loved.”

 

“How?”

 

“I do not know. But the spirit of the mortal was removed from his grasp and he hated her since.”

 

“What is the name of the mortal?”

 

Solo gave another shrug. “I do not know. And I doubt that it is important anymore. Duo never found his spirit ever again. Gaia could be vindictive. I believe that she had destroyed him, although Duo chose to believe that she was, and still is, only hiding him.”

 

Wufei shuddered. Destroyed… The image of a spirit being torn to pieces, howling in pain in the process --- it was enough to make him rethink about the benevolence of the goddess of the land.

 

_______________________

 

 

Quatre Rebarba Winner was uncertain on how to react. Oh, he did not doubt that the woman is truly the queen of Srafia --- he trusted Trowa, after all, and he doubt that after saving his life, the man would decide such an elaborate scheme just to assassinate him. No, his silence was due to surprise and curiosity. Kingdoms kept each other at hand's length after all, particularly Srafia and Methru. Other than merchants and traders, neither kingdom held any relationships with those around them.

 

So he found it surprising that the Srafian queen came to him begging for momentary sanctuary. When he asked from what, his gypsy friend only told him that the queen's brother asked him to do this.

 

Despite the Srafian royalty's efforts to keep themselves isolated, Quatre knew of the present totalitarianism of the family, so he concluded that some civil war or assassination was again plaguing the kingdom --- the ruler of the desert kingdom decides that the later holds greater possibility. He also knew that the present ruler was Sloane Xenne, the husband and cousin of the woman standing rigidly before him.

 

But if it was the queen's brother who sent her to him --- Quatre also wondered which brother for he also heard that both brothers of the queen were supposed to be dead.

 

“Forgive me this question if it seems impertinent, your grace, but I thought your brothers were dead?”

 

Quatre's sharp eyes noticed the subtle flinch, but Relena answered with equal respect. “Yes, your grace, so did I. it was only four days ago that my younger brother, Heero, showed himself to us. He --- had killed Sloane.”

 

No love lost there then, Quatre thought with Relena's cold use of her husband's name. “I see. Another question, your grace.” He asked tentatively but Relena merely nodded. “If Sloane Xenne is dead, why did your brother decide to send you to us?”

 

This time, the hesitation was evident, along with anger and sadness, strangely mixed. Relena also looked at Trowa quickly, as if asking him to reply. And so Trowa did. “The Shinigami-king had declared war to Srafia. Heero thought that it would be unsafe for his sister and nephew to stay there.”

 

“I see. Your majesty, Queen Relena, you must be tired.” Quatre motioned for one of the servants standing in attendance. “Please escort Queen Relena and the others to the left wing and allow them to choose there accommodations,” he said before turning back to the woman. “Please follow him, your majesty. And forgive me for being remiss of my manners.” He meant asking questions that were obviously troubling.

 

Relena accepted his apology with a curtsy. “Thank you, your majesty. And please, I prefer if you address me by my own name. I was never truly a queen, for it is my brother who is the true heir of Srafia, not my husband.” Quatre nodded and the woman left.

 

After a moment's silence, Quatre stood up and walked to another set of doors leading to a more private room where he held conversations and meetings that were more delicate than the simple grievances of his simple people. If anything, the affairs of other kingdoms with war colouring it was delicate matter indeed. Quatre also sensed that there are more to the facts than Trowa and Relena had deigned to share, and he is intent to know them all. After all, he did not wish to have Methru and its god-worshipped king as an enemy. They were too powerful even for him.

 

Quatre stared in silence at the flowing water at the center of the room. Trowa had been his friend even before his father died and he descended to the throne. He was one of the few people who knew Trowa when he was still with the mercenary group, so despite the aloof way that Trowa treated him, Quatre did not doubt that he was his friend.

 

“He was your friend too?” Quatre finally asked, and he did not to turn his head to see Trowa nod. Silence once again, but it was because Quatre knew that it would be enough; his silence asked `so why did you leave him?' for him.

 

The silence that followed was long, but then, Trowa stood from where he sat. Quatre had thought for a moment that his friend would leave, but Trowa only walked towards the water and stared down at it. “We planned that he would come with us here. I really thought that he would. But in truth, he never intended to. He really meant to stay. He pretended to be Sloane Xenne's lover for months, just so he could cleanly assassinate him without any casualties or chaos, but then ---“

 

“How?” Quatre cut in. how did he pull it off, pretending to be the lover of a man who knew him for almost all of his life?

 

“Magic. And I think that he had changed. Although I already met him as he was.” Trowa shrugged uncaringly then resumed his story. “Only a month after we infiltrated the palace, Methru declared war. It was not clear to me why in the beginning, but before we left --- Heero told us that the Shinigami-king was his lover.”

 

For once in his life, Quatre did not understand, and he said so. Trowa laughed bitterly at this. “You never met him. And you have never been in love, haven't you?”

 

Quatre felt strange at this, as if a knife was twisting inside his stomach. He remained silent as he collected his composure, and he was glad that his voice did not quaver when he spoke. “You loved him.”

 

Another rising of slim shoulders. “I don't know. Perhaps, or perhaps it was just a form of trickery. I no longer care, but…”

 

Trowa walked towards the doors. “I promised to take care for his sister and bring her here. I have kept my promise. Now it is up to you to decide on what to do with them.”

 

Quatre nodded slowly. “I will take care of them.

 

“How about you? What will you do?”

 

“The festival of the god will be held soon.”

 

Methru. Quatre sighed. “Be careful, my friend.”

 

“Goodbye, Quatre.”

 

Quatre stayed where he was for a long time, trying to sort his warring emotions. Poor, poor Trowa. To fall in love to someone like this Heero who seemed to be owned by somebody else.

 

He was still thinking about it when Rashid came in and told him that it was already deep within the night and that he had missed dinner. After politely thanking his most trusted man and declining dinner, Quatre went to his rooms.

 

*You have never been in love haven't you?* Trowa had asked. *You have never met him…” he also said.

 

Heero Yuy. How could he be different from his totalitarian kin? What is so special with him?

 

Curiosity, bafflement --- anger….

 

 

 

TBC