Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Walking On Glass ❯ Walking On Glass ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimers: They aren't mine and I am making no money for writing this or any other story nor do I own the rights to 'The Little Mermaid' by Hans Christian Anderson.

Pairings: 1x2 5+2 1xR

Category: Fusion/Angst/Death/AU

Warnings: YAOI and death

Ratings: R

Title: Walking On Glass

Author: yellowhorde

Feel free to send comments/constructive criticism to yellowhorde@hotmail.com

WALKING ON GLASS
Part One


The timid youth curled up behind the rock that protruded from out of the churning ocean. It was worn smooth after a millennium of exposure to the ever-moving sea and warmed by the blazing sun above. But the violet-eyed boy noticed neither the texture nor the temperature of the stone that was his sanctuary. He lay half in and half out of the water, his long chestnut brown hair fanning out behind him, undulating with the swell of the tide. Beads of water glittered like jewels against his bare torso, which was smooth, flawless, and as white as fine porcelain. Every once in a while, he dared a peek around the barrier that was hiding him from the frolicking figures on the beach. Each time his eyes were drawn unerringly to the slender boy with the messy brown hair and the magnificent Prussian blue eyes - his handsome prince. None of the other humans mattered to him in the least.

Duo sunk further down into the warm salty water with a heavy sigh. The faint prickling sensation in the back of his eyes warned that tears were threatening. He crossed his arms on the rock before him and, bending his neck, cushioned his head against them. The tears that flooded his wide violet eyes brimmed over and finally managed to gain their freedom. They slid down the boy's smooth cheeks in a steady flow, until, finally, they became one with the gently lapping waves. The boy buried his head into his arms, hiding his face from the light of day. Gentle sobs shook his thin shoulders.

(Trowa and Quatre were right... Oh, why do I torture myself so? He doesn't even know I really exist. To him, I am probably nothing more than some imaginary mystical creature- a drunken sailor's hallucination. He is a man of the land, and I...I am a creature of the sea...)

Duo lifted his head and with his two powerful arms easily pulled himself onto the rock, water cascading from his lean body. The young merman was secure in the knowledge that the group of laughing teenagers on shore could not see him from this vantage point.

(Even if they had been able to see me, they probably wouldn't have believed their eyes.) The boy thought bitterly.

Having settled himself comfortably, back resting against the stone, his long powerful tail curled under him, flippers dangling in the water, Duo set about braiding his long tresses. It would take some time, but time was something he had plenty of.

While the young creature tended to his hair, his mind engaged in a bit of delightful fantasy.

(Oh, if only I was a human...I would be out there right now, romping and playing merrily on the sand. Standing besides him, feeling the warm salt breeze as it caressed my face gently, breathing the same tangy air...)

In his mind's eye Duo was running and frolicking on the pure white sands of the beach, laughing, smiling... At that moment, Duo would have given anything, traded anything, paid any price just to spend one day besides that wonderful human. Just one day.

The memory of their fateful meeting danced through Duo's mind as he sat, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his body, the wind in his hair, the sound of the surf pounding the shore and the never-ending squawk of the gulls as they fought and haggled over dinner. Allowing his eyes to close, Duo relived that wonderful day.

It had been dark and stormy, he recalled. The ship his prince (if he really was a prince, though it would not have mattered to the lovesick Duo one way or the other) had been sailing aboard had been flung against the rocks by the torrential rains and gale force winds of the hurricane that howled and screamed. (What sort of fool ventured out in such weather?) Duo had thought. Eventually, overriding good common sense, which screamed that he had better stay away from that ship and all those on board, the young merman glided over to the rocks where the ship had meet it's terrible end.

(Are you crazy? Humans EAT fish! And to them you're just another piece of tuna - a tuna with the upper torso of a man - but tuna all the same!)

Did he really believe that the humans would cast their nets for him, catch him, and eat him? No, not really. But there had been so many horrific tales of those poor unfortunate Merfolk who had come in contact with the dreadful species called Man. Not all had survived the encounter. But enough had escaped to spread the fear of Man throughout all of the kingdoms of the sea. So despite all of his bursting curiosity, Duo approached the wrecked vessel with a great deal of caution.

As the longhaired youth drew closer and closer to the wreckage near the rocks, he became increasingly aware of the numerous lifeless bodies that floated face down in the water. His heart filled with compassion for the poor unnamed souls who had lost their lives this fateful day. He paused for the briefest moment, beautiful eyes closing in reverence as he sent a heartfelt prayer to whatever gods may be listening, Human deities or his own. It really didn't matter.

(Please, grant them peace... ease their eternal suffering...Comfort those loved ones left behind...)

Suddenly, Duo became aware of some sort of presence. There had really been no other way to describe the sensation that coursed through his slender body. He knew without any doubt that he was not alone. His eyes flew open, and he scanned the dark depths of the sea. Over there! A figure was sinking, in slow motion, deeper and deeper into the briny depths. From the trail of air bubbles that made their way slowly towards the surface, Duo knew that this one was still alive. But not for long if he didn't DO something!

With grim determination, the merman shot forward, slicing through the water with a practiced ease of any born to this world.

(Oh, please, don't let me be too late...!) His mind begged.

He put forth a desperate dash of speed and managed to grab hold of the body. Duo wrapped his arm firmly around the man's torso as he made his way towards the surface, dragging his precious cargo with him. Up toward the light and the life giving air that all humans required in order to sustain their lives.

The teenaged boy's heart was hammering with exertion as he struggled with all his might towards his final destination. Suddenly, with an eruption of foam and a spectacular splash, he gained entrance to the air above the waves. Glancing towards the figure in his arms with some concern, Duo noticed how pale and still the boy was. His hair, plastered against his head was a rich shade of brown.

(I have to get him to the shore as quickly as possible, or he will die!)

With this thought firmly in mind, the youngster hurriedly glanced about him, gaining his bearings. There! About one hundred yards to his left - a beach with sparkling white sand! Duo set off at a good clip, making sure that the boy's face remained above the waves as he fought and struggled through the heavy seas.

Having finally managed to drag the human boy far enough up the beach to avoid the grasping tide, Duo fell besides him, exhausted. The dry sand, which clung maddeningly to him, felt strange against his body and scales. It coated him - his arms, chest, tail, and hair. It was truly annoying. Suddenly, he jerked upright as realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. The man he had so recently saved was from the ruthless clutches of the sea was so still, so pale. In fact, he showed no sign of movement whatsoever! And, if the merman was not mistaken, the human was not breathing! There was no tell tale sign of rhythmically rising chest to suggest that he was, in fact, alive!

(Get the water out of his lungs! That should do the trick!)

Hurriedly, Duo turned the human's face gently to one side. Licking his lips nervously, he placed his hands on the bare torso of the brown haired boy. Having never done anything like this before, he wasn't sure if it would cause more harm than good. But he knew he had to try something! (He'll die for sure if I just sit here idly and do nothing.) That thought send a wave of horror cascading through the sea creature's body. No, he must not die!

Exerting firm but controlled pressure, Duo pressed down on the human's chest, pushing up towards the upper chest as he did so. Water gushed out of the youth's lungs with every push until, finally, the unknown man started to couch and gasp convulsively. Quickly, the wracking spasms eased, then ceased all together. The human was breathing steadily on his own. Duo breathed a huge sigh of relief.

(That was close! Too close!)

The human curled up in a fetal position, shivering miserably with cold. He was soaked through to the bones and had just lived through what must have been a terrible ordeal. Duo had no dry clothes, in fact, no cloth of any sort, to offer the boy. So he did the only thing he could think of - he cuddled up to the poor soul and wrapped his arms protectively about him, offering what warmth and security he had without hesitation.

The slender youth, sensing the nearby warmth, rolled over and wrapped his arms about the figure besides him without once opening his eyes. Gradually, his shivers subsided as he dried. The sun peeked its head out from the clouds and smiled down on the world below, adding its powerful heat to that which the creature of the sea offered the human. Eventually, the human boy's shivers subsided completely and he lay still, caught in the warm embrace of the merman. With a soft sigh, he slipped into an exhausted slumber.

Duo remained still as he gazed down at the face of the human. A strange sensation overtook him as he lay on that lonely beach, arms draped protectively around the calmly sleeping figure. He felt at peace for the first time ever. He didn't dare move, for if he did, he may awaken from this glorious dream. How he had longed to find someone who could make him feel this way! All his life he had searched and searched. And now, he had found that someone. And it was a human.

Have a bit or irony, my boy! It's good for the blood!

Finally, Duo could stand it no more. The merman slowly lowered his head, his long, thick hair spilling about the two like a shimmering curtain. He gently pressed his lips against the warm, smooth cheek of the human. Much to his surprise, the man tasted like the salt of the sea, familiar and comforting. And so warm! Merfolk never radiated so much heat! It was truly amazing! He pulled back for a moment, studying that lovely face. The human's hair had dried in disarray, wild and free. Duo smiled and gently ran one hand through those messy locks, feeling it's smooth silkiness. Rubbing the fine strands between his fingers, he watched the way the golden highlights seemed to catch and almost reflect the sunlight. How beautiful!

A small moan pulled Duo away from his reflective thoughts. He glanced down at the human in his arms. A wistful smile graced his handsome face once more. (I wonder...) He lowered his face towards the boy and his own trembling lips brushed against the soft lips of the human. Duo closed his eyes and reveled in the sensations that coursed through his body. He deepened the kiss, an unfamiliar fire warming the very depths of his soul. To his surprise, the arms about him tightened their hold and a thrill shot through the merman as he realized that the man was kissing him back!

How long had they lain on that sun-warmed beach, entangled in each other's arms, man of the land, creature of the sea? Not long enough if you asked Duo. His world came to sharp focus in that one blissful moment. That perfect point in time where his was, for the first time in his life, perfectly happy, perfectly content. But it was not to last for long. No, real happiness never did last as long as it should. Such a pity.

Beautiful, Prussian blue eyes flickered open, slowly. Duo broke the kiss with some dismay, and a great deal of regret. He pulled back and smiled down bashfully at the owner of those deeply, expressive orbs. He felt like he was drowning, being pulled into those blue eyes. A hand tentatively reached up and caressed Duo's face. Gently, those fingers feathered over his features sending thrills of pleasure coursing through the longhaired youth. Those same fingers finally plunged into the dark thickness of the merman's hair. Duo leaned his head against that hand, heaving a sigh of contentment.

"You are so...very... beautiful..." The man murmured softly. He pushed himself up onto his side and stared with open awe at the exquisite being before him. "My name is Heero, Heero Yuy. What's your name?"

Heero desperately longed for that name, for he felt lightheaded and very tired. He needed a name, the name of the person who had obviously saved his life.

(Oh, please give me your name, fair creature! Tell me, so that I know that this isn't all some wonderful dream - or hallucination!)

"My name?" Duo stammered.

(Oh, gods! He wants to know my name! Am I dreaming! Can all this really be happening?)

"My name is... is Duo." He breathed softly. Bowing his head suddenly, the flustered youth felt his face crimson violently under the weight of that beautiful stare. His heart fluttered madly. He bent forward and planted a chaste kiss on Heero's upturned forehead. "Yes...my name is Duo."

At that precise moment, rational thought intervened and ruined everything. (What are you doing?) It screamed. (He's a human! You're a merman! How do you suppose he'll react when he discovers - ANY MOMENT NOW! - That you are a fish? Flee! Now! And maybe he'll believe that all this was just some dream brought on by the terrible aftershock of his ordeal! What are you waiting for? Get going!)

Duo, confused by his sudden rush of feelings, feelings he had never experienced before, not with any other living creature, did flee. He had fled back to the safe and comforting sea. And now, as he sat on the sun- warmed rock, several weeks after that fateful day, crying out his hurt and anguish, he regretted his actions, his fear, no, not just fear. Cowardice. Regretted them deeply, with all of his heart, all of his soul. What a fool he had been!

"So, it IS true, then. You're in love with a human."

The rich, cultured voice startled Duo, who had believed himself to be alone. His head shot up and he glared at the intruder who had materialized mysteriously at his side. (I hadn't even heard him surface!) The young man felt vaguely embarrassed. To think that anyone had seen him crying like some small child! Swiping his hand viciously over his eyes, destroying the evidence of his weakness, Duo continued to glare hatefully at the older man.

"So what's it to you, pal?" He snapped defensively.

The unknown intruder, a handsome merman with short-cropped brown hair that framed his face in gently waves, held his hands out as if in defense of some blow. He was smiling brightly, disarmingly, his deep blue eyes twinkling merrily. "Hey, there's nothing wrong with it! After all, love is love, right?" He edged closer, making no sound as he glided through the water. He continued, "Why don't you just tell him how you feel?"

Scoffing at that last statement, Duo laid his head to rest on his raised tail, much as a human would lay their head on raised knees. "You just don't get it, do you? Pal." He put much sarcasm on that last word. "He's a human. I'm a fish. It just wouldn't work out."

(Whom are you trying to convince?) Duo's mind spoke up, quietly. (This stranger - or yourself?)

The handsome stranger folded his arms across his smooth, muscular chest. He looked, hell, he even sounded rather smug as he replied, "There are ways you could make it work. IF you really wanted to, that is." He beamed his disarming smile at the lad. It was friendly, pleasant. But something dark had darted quickly across his expressive blue eyes. Something that Duo had not been able to decipher, something he recoiled inwardly away from, instinctively fearing the dark he thought he had seen.

Duo dismissed the sudden feeling of approaching doom that settled briefly over his soul, like a dark cloud, a warning. He shooed it away hastily. Almost before the first seeds of doubt had been planted. This stranger was offering him the only hope he had had in weeks! Who was he to throw away such an opportunity at true happiness? If he had listened to his heart in the first place, he could have been arm in arm with his prince!

(Maybe, maybe not. There's no way you could say for certain that the human would have accepted who and WHAT you are) Duo chose to ignore that thought. He just pushed it roughly from his mind. Let's try a little optimism. What do you say?

"Really?" Duo sat up straight and gave his fellow sea creature his undivided attention. "You're not kidding around, are you?" Wide, violet eyes narrowed in sudden suspicion. He wanted to believe that the man was being truthful, sincere. He needed to believe. And so, the young naive merman dismissed all feelings of dread and unease. He brushed them away and locked them up in the deepest corners of his mind. Like the young, innocent he was. Poor Duo.

The man nodded his head slowly, his smile never wavering. "Oh, yes! I mean exactly what I say. I know a certain individual who just may have the solution to all of your problems. I can take you there now, if you'd like."

Duo was off the rock and in the water in the blink of an eye. Things were starting to look up! With a huge grin, the boy extended his hand out towards the charismatic older man. "Hey, thanks a lot, pal! By the way, my name is Duo. Duo Maxwell. What's your name?

"Treize. Treize Khushrenada at your service." He took the younger boy's offered hand into his and gave it a firm, friendly shake. "Now, let's go and make all of your dreams come true. What do you say?"

*****

Trembling with exhaustion, a very wet, very sore Duo slowly, painfully dragged his protesting body just a few more inches up the long, deserted sandy beach. It was all the tired boy was able to manage. Every fiber of his being was shrieking, "You had better stop all of this pain nonsense or we are going to really HURT you!" Poor Duo would have laughed if he had had any strength left to do so. But to be perfectly honest, he felt more like crying.

Salt water, cool and foamy, surged around the slender youth, lapping almost playfully against his bare skin, causing a fresh crop of goosebumps to sprout. Duo's long dark bangs hung limply into his face, unheeded. The boy's head hung low as he fought to gain some control of his rapid panting. Hot air ripped painfully through his throat. The rest of his long wavy hair trailed behind him, like a cloak, tangled and matted with sand particles.

The boy's lips moved continuously, as if speaking, but no trace of sound issued forth from his mouth. (Just a little further. just a little further.) These words chanted through his numb brain repeatedly like a mantra...or a prayer.

(Just a little further and I will be safe.)

Finally reaching the absolute limit of his endurance, the boy collapsed bonelessly to the ground. He lay as if dead for a few heartbeats, then a shuddering cough ripped it's way through his chest - his whole body shook with the force of it. Duo struggled to raise himself up to his knees, as a hot wave of nausea took hold of him, control of him, spinning his vision and sending terrible darts of agony shooting into his poor defenseless brain. Moaning silently, he lurched forward and noisily vomited the contents of his stomach onto the pristine sand. Blood and sea water everywhere. Yuck.

He heaved again and again, until there was nothing left and still the poor boy retched. Beads of sweat dotted his hot brow as one after another, dry heaves wracked his body. His stomach muscles cramped convulsively.

(Oh, please, God) the slim youngster prayed frantically between heaves, (make it stop or let me die! I can't take much more of this.)

God must have heard that tiny little prayer and taken pity on the poor lad for eventually his body ceased its expulsive efforts. Dimly grateful, the longhaired youth rolled a few feet away from the mess he had created and curled up into a tight little ball, his hair falling over him like a blanket. He just wanted to hide- hide from the world at large. It was just too full of sick, twisted people - no creatures was a much more appropriate term - terrible, malicious creatures that were out to hurt you just because they could. A vision of the Sea Witch sprang into his mind. Her cold unfeeling eyes, that twisted smile of malice. Shuddering, Duo shoved that thought away - Hard.

Sure enough, now that Duo was safe on dry land (who would ever guess that he would ever even think such hearsay!) the exhausted teenager's body began to make its presence known with a vengeance. It hurt so much. Curled into a fetal position, trapped in a world of pain he feebly tried to decide which body part hurt the most, but he hasn't having much luck. His whole body was one screaming agony - his tongue, his head, everything! Clenching violet eyes closed, Duo tried to ignore all that hurting, but his body would simply not let the matter rest.

(Hey, you! Duo! Yes, you! This is your body speaking! You can't ignore me! I won't let you! I am in a world of hurt here, little man! From the top of my head to the bottom of my-)

Gasping as realization finally smashed into him, Duo bolted upright, unintentionally inflicting still more torture to his poor throbbing skull. Another bout of nausea threatened to wash over him in a sickly hot wave, but the tired boy grimly fought it off and managed to send it packing. There would be no more vomiting! Not if he had any say in the matter.

(You promise?) A timid voice, like that of a small child spoke up in his mind. (Yes, I promise) Duo did his best to reassure that oh so small voice. (I HATE puking! It is one of the most absolutely worst things in the world! ) That small voice in his mind -maybe his inner child, for all he knew- agreed whole heatedly.

Getting back on track, Duo found himself gazing down in pure astonishment at his lower regions. His, long, powerful fish tale, with it's delicate pattern of shimmering scales, the same tail he had had since the day he had been born - hell, probably since he had been conceived - was gone! And in it's place- Oh unbelievable! In its place were two long, shapely HUMAN legs! Reaching out tentatively with pale, wrinkly fingers (WRINKLY? My fingers have never been like this before!) Duo touched those wondrous legs. (These are MY legs! Mine! Does that mean that I am really a human?)

He gave a sharp smack to the unfamiliar appendages and, yes, it stung! The astounded youth was not dreaming! They were real! This was not some strange optical illusion, no cruel hallucination. They were real! Really real! He was a human - a real, honest to goodness, walking upright on two legs, human being!

With a huge grin on his face, Duo carefully explored his new body. His hands swept over the contours, each dip and curve of those marvelous legs. Hmmm, they were kind of long and straight and at first glance, didn't appear to be very flexible. They were very bony, especially in the middle where they seemed capable of bending. At least bending in one general direction. Instead of the iridescent scales that had glimmered and gleamed, his new human form was covered with hundreds of very tiny hairs.

(Whatever are they for?) Duo wondered. A swift sea breeze buffeted his water-flecked body causing the lad to shiver mightily. (If they are meant as protection against the elements, then I am going to end up freezing my tail off!)

Eagerly turning his attention back to the really important matters, Duo resumed his exploration. The legs were wonderful, perfect, but it was the feet that really impressed the newly formed human. Grasping one wrinkled foot into his equally wrinkled hands, the former merman carefully brought it up towards his face for further inspection.

(Hmmm, they are also wrinkled just like my hands! This has never happened to me before. I wonder if all humans have hands and feet like this? How peculiar!)

Duo carefully cast his mind back to the day he had rescued the handsome Heero. After several moments of intense concentration, the longhaired youth vaguely recalled that the young human's own hands and feet had indeed been as wrinkled as his own were now. (Just like an old person's face.) The fledgling human realized with mild amusement, (So I guess all humans are born like this. How truly odd! Does it serve some unknown purpose?)

With rapt concentration, Duo continued his careful examination of his new body parts. They were simply fascinating! The balls of the feet, the ankles, toes, heel and sole. Everything! Gently, the young man ran his fingertips over the bumpy surface and felt the intricate bones that lay just under the surface of that delicately pale skin. He traced the patterns created by the tiny blue lines that swirled hither and yon just under the surface. Contracting unfamiliar muscles, the former sea creature managed to wiggle his newly acquired toes. This amused the boy to no end, as he silently laughed his merriment. He grinned with the pure delight of a child. Being a human was going to be wonderful!

A loud gurgling from his stomach interrupted the ecstatic youth. With a resigned sigh, Duo pulled himself up to his knees and then slowly pulled himself up onto unsteady limbs. Terrible, piercing agony immediately assaulted his newly acquired feet sending piercing shafts of fire shooting up his legs. With a silent screech the boy toppled to the ground where he clutched blindly at the soles of his feet. Half expecting to see torn flesh and blood spewing forth from his assaulted body, he was amazed that there was nothing to give justification to the unbearable pain that still pulsed through his lower body.

(What the hell did that witch do to me?)

Gritting his teeth, the lad pulled himself back to his former position. The pain returned with a vengeance. With tears streaming down his cheeks, Duo did his best to ignore the pain as he slowly wobbled up the rock-strewn beach. Each step plunged him further and further into despair. The pain was not receding as he had hoped it would. Instead, with each tottering step it seemed to intensify. The unhappy lad lurched heavily to his left as his newly acquired legs buckled under the strain of movement. Desperately, he hopped, arms flailing as he attempted to regain his delicate balance. With eyes wide and mouth open in a gasp of dismay, the longhaired youth plunged to the ground, his head striking against the sharp edge of one of the many protruding stones. Intense pain flared briefly then was replaced by gathering darkness. As Duo lost consciousness the words of Treize Khushrenada swirled into the empty void that awaited him.

Make all of your dreams come true...all of your dreams… come true…all… dreams... true…

*****

The young merman nimbly followed the silent Treize Khushrenada as he led the way deeper and deeper into the depths of the vast ocean. Duo was beginning to feel nervous and apprehensive. They had left familiar territory behind long ago - at least territory that had been familiar to the young boy. Treize seemed to know exactly where he was going. He never slowed his steady pace, nor did he ever look back to see if his new companion was keeping up.

(We've been swimming forever!) Duo thought with mounting concern. There were no comforting schools of colorful fish swimming in complacent unity, no colorful coral reefs teeming with an abundance of aquatic life. The water was getting colder and darker, somehow. Though how this was possible was beyond the lad's comprehension. The surface of this unfamiliar part of the ocean was cracked and grooved with large fissures that spewed forth clouds of noxious clouds of sulfuric vapor. The heat radiating from those wounds in the ocean floor cast a sickly red light about them, turning what should have been breathtakingly beautiful into some distorted nightmare. Duo wrinkled his nose in obvious distaste as the reek of those billowing columns of steam drifted by.

With a powerful push of his tail, Duo managed to catch up to Treize. In utter silence, the young boy remained at the older man's side. Finally, when his presence failed to cause any reaction from the shorthaired merman, Duo decided to inquire about their point of destination.

"Will we..." The words had come out thin and high pitched, so the youngster cleared his throat and started again. This time his voice did not betray his apprehension. (Nervous, who me?) "Will we be there soon?"

Treize continued to stare ahead, his handsome face blank of all expression. His blue eyes had lost their friendly gleam. Now they were empty of all emotions. Well, almost. Something lurked in those lovely orbs, but the young Duo did not have a chance to decipher the meaning before they returned to their impenetrable blankness. The answer, like his face and his eyes was given without any detectable emotion.

" We shall be there soon enough."

"Oh."

Some time later, the two sea creatures entered some sort of clearing surrounded by large boulders that seemed to be almost, but not quiet, carelessly strewn about in a sort of semi circle. The arrangement, although appearing to be natural, had a feeling of being carefully planned, very deliberate. To the far end of the clearing was a rocky outcrop overhanging the very dark entrance to a cave. There was an air of darkness in this clearing, a feeling of malevolence. Power and a hint of dark magical forces danced along Duo's skin, raising goose bums. The sense of power was strong, amazingly so, and evil. This was a place where dark magic was preformed - blood magic. Somehow, the teenaged merman was certain of that.

(Oh, I hope that we are simply passing through here.)

The young man's heart sunk in dismay as Treize swam smoothly up towards the entrance of the cave and hovered silently for a few moments apparently waiting for Duo to follow his lead.

"I guess this must be the place, huh?" Duo pulled up besides his associate, his long braided hair trailing behind.

Treize merely nodded his head. The older man's stomach was filled with dread and apprehension. Was he doing the right thing? He wished with all his heart that he were not making some terrible mistake. Offering a brief prayer for strength and guidance, the handsome man abruptly glided forward to the dark opening and called out in a loud voice.

"Lady Une, it is I, Treize Khushrenada. I have returned. I seek an audience with you."

Duo was startled at the mention of that all too familiar name. He had never personally seen Lady Une before, but he had heard a great deal about her. None of what he had heard had been complimentary. Oh no, not at all. Une had been a powerful sorceress who had been cast from the city beneath the sea for practicing dark magic. There were rumors of blood sacrifices that somehow enhanced her dreadful powers. It was also said that such strong magic became addictive, like a drug, and an ever- increasing amount of blood was needed to perform the same spells. None of this information that swam through the young man's brain did anything to decrease his nervousness.

For a long while, there was no response from inside the dark dwelling - if indeed it was a dwelling, which seemed somehow doubtful. Duo licked his lips nervously and turned towards the man who hovered at his side.

"Well, the lady doesn't appear to be home, so why don't we just head on back home, huh?"

Treize turned his head slowly towards the boy. His face and eyes were blank of all emotion. It was as if there was no one there, no soul or personality, just a body. Duo fought down the urge to squirm under that soulless gaze. He was beginning to be VERY uncomfortable here, folks.

Suddenly, from the depths of the cave appeared two glowing orbs. Slowly, a figure emerged from the darkness. The figure was most definitely female and very beautiful. But it was a cold, unfeeling beauty. Her brown hair was pulled into twin buns on the sides of her severe, unsmiling face. Her frigid eyes seemed to pierce Duo's very soul, read his mind, find him lacking.

Lady Une gazed intently at the young Duo, and the slightest smile flashed across her thin lips. Duo suppressed the urge to squirm under her scrutiny as her smile made him terrible uncomfortable. It had not been a friendly one, not indeed. It had been more like the toothy grin a shark gave its prey right before going in for the kill.

"So, this is the merman who is in love with a human?" She made it a statement rather than a question. It was as if she already knew the truth and was just out to confirm it.

Before the nervous braided youth could make a sound, Treize was answering for him.

"It is, my lady."

The Lady Une cast her gaze back towards the silent teenager. "Excellent." The slender mermaid began to circle the boy, much as a shark circles its prey - slowly, carefully, with the intent to cause great bodily harm. Duo swiveled around, trying to keep a wary eye on the woman. He did not want her at his back, oh no way!

Lady Une liked what she saw before her. He was a young, handsome merman with beautiful long hair that floated behind in a loose braid. His skin was pale and perfect, his body muscular and lean. And he had such beautiful large violet eyes. All in all, he was very attractive. He would indeed make some lucky person a find catch.

"You want to be a human, am I right?"

The Sea Witch had leaned over Duo's shoulder and whispered the words into his ear. Duo whirled around, his heart in his throat. She had moved so quickly, he had not even seen her. One minuet she had been floating in front of him, the next she was at his back. It was if she had some how clouded his mind. He stared into her beautiful eyes and fell into her hypnotic gaze. He was drowning in those compelling eyes. And he found that it was rather pleasant. Those cold eyes trapped him making it next to impossible to move or even think. Numbly, the youth nodded his head slowly, unable to find his voice.

Lady Une shook her head. "No, I'm afraid I will need verbal confirmation, my dear. Do you want to be human? Yes or no."

Duo tried to swallow past the lump of fear that had settled in his throat. His tongue flicked out and moistened his lips. When the youth was finally able to find his voice, it was small and breathy, as if he had swum some great distance in a short span of time.

"Y-yes...ma'am. I want to become human."

Actually, such a thought had never even occurred to the young merman. But he found that it made perfect sense. How else would he be able to be with Heero? The human simply could not live here in the ocean world of Duo's birth. And Duo could not walk on land. It was the perfect solution! He almost smacked himself on the forehead for being totally dense.

The beautiful mermaid reached out one pale hand and caressed Duo's smooth cheek. Even while under her control, Duo was barely able to suppress a shudder. Her touch was vile, loathsome. His skin burned where she touched him. But he did not pull away although some small rational part of his mind was screaming for him to do just that and get the hell out of there.

"I can help you, you know." her voice was smooth as honey. It was soft and inviting. Compelling. "I can make all of your dreams come true, if you let me." The Sea Witch paused for a moment, as if considering some rather interesting thought, a strange smile quirked her shapely lips. "Of course, there is always a price to be paid and consequences to be dealt with."

"H-How…?" Duo had not meant to ask that question. Why should he ever question the lovely creature before him? She only wanted to help make all his dreams come true. But the question had somehow popped out of his mouth.

Une merely wagged her finger at him. "No questions, young man. Either you want my help or you don't." A look of impatience flashed across her stern face.

"Yes, I want your help." Those words emerged from the merman's throat slowly, thickly, as if he were drugged. And in a way he was. Her power had caught hold of him and would not let him go. Part of him did want her help. Wanted it more than anything else in the known universe. Yet, that very small voice in his head was screaming for him to leave this place now and never return. Duo did not listen to that small voice. Maybe he should have.

Upon hearing those words of affirmation, Lady Une's face lit up with a large, genuine smile - a smile of malice, but a smile nevertheless. She clapped her hands in delight. The fool had asked for her help and there had been a witness. Things just couldn't get any better than that.

"The price for turning you into a human is really very small. I want your voice - nothing more, nothing less."

Lady Une smiled in grim satisfaction, as her strange payment option was not questioned. The youth merely stared at her, his lilac eyes widening ever slightly. Duo opened his mouth as if to protest, and then apparently thinking better shut it again. Une couldn't contain the evil chuckle that bubbled forth from her throat.

(I've got you know, my dear! Hook, line, and sinker!)

Clapping her white hands together sharply, the mermaid decided to get down to business.

"Well, there's no time like the present. I guess I should mention that there will be a few 'side effects' to this type of magic, but I'm sure you'll agree that they will really be nothing to worry about. You'll get used to them eventually."

Une edged closer to Duo and was delighted that the poor boy backed away uncertainly. Her hand reached out and rested on the boy's shoulder. She squeezed it almost in a reassuring manner and gazed into the boy's near panicky eyes. There was a brief battle of wills, which Lady Une won rather easily. The boy was completely under her control for this brief period of time, and he wasn't even aware of it. The young fool. There was no turning back now. They had already passed the point of no return.

Duo tried to swallow past the lump of fear that had lodged in his throat. He managed to gulp nervously as the woman before him wrapped one arm about his trembling body and gently, yet firmly, lifted his chin with her free hand so that he was once again looking into those hypnotic eyes. She lowered her head towards the lad and Duo had a moment to think with mounting alarm, (She's not going to kiss me, is she?) before their lips meet in a strangely passionate kiss.

The longhaired boy stiffened in the woman's arms as her tongue sought entrance to his mouth. He struggled to pull away, but her grip had tightened and now seemed to be made of iron. In shame the boy clenched his eyes closed and tried with his entire mind to block the sensations that cascaded through his body out of his mind. A small whimper of protest escapes from the youth's throat. It would be the last noise the boy would make for a long time.

Lady Une was enjoying herself immensely. It had been ages since she had been in any way shape or form intimate with another creature. With an inward sigh, she got down to business. The lovely witch did two things practically simultaneously. She tore her sharp, white teeth into the delicate tissue of Duo's tongue, drawing forth a sudden wash of rich, tangy blood. One bare second later, even before the boy in her arms had had time to even react to the pain, Une unleashed her power into her helpless victim's body. She maintained her grip of steel on the boy as he began to thrash and convulse as the power burned its way through his young body, hot and scalding.

Lady Une's throat worked convulsively as she eagerly feed on the flow of fresh blood and the reveled in the wave of power that had engulfed both her and the boy. It hurt in a delicious sort of way that she had no words with to describe. The whole experience was very stimulating. Of course, she doubted her young captive felt the same way. You never could tell, though. People were strange. Finally, her bloodlust sated, the older woman released her hold on the boy.

Tears of shame and rage flooded Duo's wildly terrified eyes. Having been released, his first instinct was, of course, to flee from this horrible place, from these despicable people. Unfortunately, he found himself surrounded by a sickly green aura that held him suspended, unable to move even a single muscle on his own. Throughout his entire body was an odd sensation of being filled to the point of bursting. Was it painful, you may ask? You had better believe it!

Suddenly, a great agony far surpassing any he had ever known in his relatively brief life span slammed through the braided youth's body. It was as if his long tail was being cleaved in two with some terrible bloodthirsty sword. This bolt of torture freed Duo's body to some limited extent from the spell that held him. He writhed and twisted, mouth stretched open in a silent parody of a scream. His hands clenched and flexed, curling into claws then snapping into white knuckled fists again and again. His hair danced about him wildly, having come undone from its loose plates until it streamed and flowed about the tortured soul.

Throughout all of this bizarre demonstration of twisted power, Treize Khushrenada stood transfixed, unable to either close his horrified eyes or to advert his head. What had he done? He had merely wanted to help the poor love starved creature. He had wanted to help him find true happiness. But obviously he had failed miserably. How could all this anguish bring about lasting joy? Before his astonished blue eyes the former creature of the sea, once called mystical, mere illusion, drunken fancy, had been transformed to a man of the land complete with legs to walk, skip and run and-

Treize gasped in dismay as the newly formed human floundered gracelessly in the water, his hands flying frantically to his throat. Duo's eyes were impossibly wide as he struggled to breathe in the seawater, as he had done all of his life. But now, what once had sustained life now promised only terrifying death. Duo was now human, and humans could not breathe under water.

Treize swam urgently toward the dark haired woman, who gazed on in utter rapture at the life and death struggle that was being played out before her. Roughly, he seized her pale arm and yanked her around to face him. The beautiful smile that had lit up Une's face was instantly replaced by a scowl of pure anger. She tried to pull away, but was unsuccessful. The brown haired man glared at her and tightened his grip until his knuckles were white and his fingers digging into the delicate flesh of the woman's arm.

"Release him, Une! Now!" These words were hurled towards the woman with almost a physical force. Anger threatened to cloud Khushrenada's mind, but he fought it back. There was no time. With each passing second, Duo's struggles became more and more frantic, yet increasingly feeble. The sea was winning. Soon it would claim is victory.

Lady Une glared at the hand that was encircling her wrist, then back towards the furious man before her. In that gaze was a multitude of emotions: Hatred, rage, disbelief, and confusion. Underneath all those emotions lay a much deeper one… Deep in her heart, Une loved the muscular man that was hurting her now. While she did not understand why he was reacting in the manner he was to this particular situation, there was no denying that he was upset. Did the boy's life really mean that much to him? Why should her care? A jumble of confused thoughts raced through her mind.

Finally, she bowed her head in acquisition.

Treize released her wrist and was immediately regretful to see that already a deep bruising purple was beginning to spread taking the form of his handprint. "Please..." he began, his voice much softer, gentler. "Please release him. Allow him the freedom of the sea's surface. What can you possibly gain from the life of one lovesick boy?"

In utter silence, the woman made a few sharp gestures, releasing Duo from his deadly captivity. The boy wasted no time struggling towards the surface, but he was exhausted from his ordeal, and in great pain, although it was gradually beginning to fade. Unfortunately, the braided boy was not accustomed to his new form and had been without air for too long. He was floundering and beginning to lose consciousness. Darkness was closing in around him, and the terror in his heart was fading away, being replaced by a terrible, yet peaceful, numbness.

Realizing what was happening right before his eyes, Treize shot forward and seized hold of the almost unconscious boy. With all his might the powerful sea creature shot through the dark depths of the ocean, up, up. He surged ever closer towards the light of day, the world of Man. With each powerful thrust of his tail, Treize prayed that he was not too late.

Lady Une tracked the retreating form of the merman and his burden with her cool eyes. Although she would never have admitted it, she loved Treize Khushrenada with all her heart. Deeply, secretly, she held those feelings close, allowing nothing to surface. She had concealed her feelings for the handsome man for so long that it was now all but impossible for her to express such sweet, sentimental, weak feelings. She turned abruptly and retreated to the dark, lonely interior that she called home.

With an eruption of water, Treize finally broke the surface. Carefully, the magnificently handsome sea creature checked the fledgling human for signs of life. There was a pulse, and breath. When the older man carefully opened the youngster's eyes, his dark pupils surrounded by startling beautiful lilac irises contracted, reacting to the sudden intrusion of daylight. As far as he could tell, the boy was suffering no ill effects from the spell. Heaving a great sigh of relief, he gathered his bearings and set out for the nearest land, cradling the now unconscious boy in his powerful arms, mindful of keeping his head above the surf.

Upon reaching the sandy stretch of beach, the merman used his powerful arms to drag both himself and the still form of the boy up and out of the clutching reach of the ocean waves. Gazing down on the defenseless youth, his hair splayed about his slender body, Treize offered a heart felt apology.

"I never meant to cause you harm, quite the contrary. I had only the best intentions."

The older man scoffed at the end results. Lady Une had spoken of consequences and side effects. What did that mean for the boy? And would the price be too much to bear?

"But as the humans say, 'The path to Hell is paved by good intentions.' I hope that you find the love you so desperately seek."

Before turning to leave, the ginger haired man kissed the tips of his first two fingers and pressed them gently against one smooth, pale cheek.

"Best of luck, my friend."

The merman turned away from the still figure on the sand and silently returned to the awaiting sea. He did not look back.

To Be Continued…

*****