Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Wrath of Shinigami ❯ The Deal ( Chapter 6 )

Wrath of Shinigami

Aiko Tama & Seki

Duo felt good as the warm water sprayed over him. He was glad to be rid of Shinigami for a while. It wasn't exactly warm in the lunar city since they were currently on the dark side of the moon. Of course there was technology to help that, but it was still cold running around naked! Duo cursed Shinigami for the hundredth time. Thank whoever invented hot water, Duo thought to his self. He quickly finished up and got out of the shower, remembering like always to shut off the water. He toweled off quickly and stared at himself in a full length mirror hanging on the bathroom door. He smiled to himself. No wings. Then a brief flash of worry swept through him. Heero.... What was it that Shinigami said about Heero? The eyes in the mirror glowed a brilliant purple instead of the soft violet eyes Duo was accustomed to. The image smirked, "You are worried about him? I promised I'd get him, Duo. You can't stop a God, especially the God of Death. I, Shinigami, will have Heero. He should've been mine, but I let you win that round."

"But why? If you could take him at your own will why didn't you then?"

"Your feelings for him stopped me. I thought it would be nice to give you a chance to say goodbye. I didn't anticipate for him to actually... well, to share such feelings. Don't get me wrong, sexuality is just sexuality. It doesn't matter. It's your body and your soul I don't exactly approve of it, but why not let you have your time. I need you." Shinigami glared straight into Duo's eyes.

Duo sighed, "why me?"

"That isn't important. I just want you to know I will see Heero to the other side. He will die. You must accept it. It is a way of life. The moment you are conceived is the moment you are sentenced to death!"

"That is a morbid way of looking at life," Duo groaned.

"But, it's true!" Shinigami laughed, "what? You want me to tell you to live your life to its fullest and not focus on death because death is morbid? It isn't how you die but how you live? Something thought out and inspirational? That isn't the point. The point is Heero Yuy. His death will come long before yours. You must accept his fate. Do me a favor and just forget him. Hilde likes you. Quatre is single, if guys are the only way you swing." Shinigami rolled his eyes. "Besides they are both more alive than Heero. He's been dead all his life. He has forgotten all about human emotion. He doesn't care."

"He's not totally devoid of emotions! He hides them! That doesn't mean they don't exist!" Tears streamed down his face. He looked away from the mirror.

"Tell you what. If you can bring out Heero's emotions. I mean his real emotions, and then we'll talk." Shinigami laughed, "I'll be watching." In the mirror Duo's violet eyes returned to normal.

"Greeeeeat...." Duo got dressed in his usual black attire and hurried out of the bathroom. He almost ran right into Heero. "Oh... hey...."

"Hn." Heero nodded. There was a long awkward silence. "You okay?"

"Yeah," At least Heero was making an attempt at filling in the eerie silence. "Um... does it bother you?"

"What?"

"That I am really Shinigami?"

"No. It's weird, but it doesn't bother me." Heero sighed.

The moment was still awkward. Duo secretly wished Heero would just tell Duo what he was thinking or feeling. Maybe it really didn't bother him, but Duo knew no one's mind was empty and no one was devoid of emotion. Shinigami said he'd talk if Heero just made some sort of effort to show his emotion. "It bothers me." Duo finally said. Heero raised an eyebrow at the braided pilot. Duo decided to continue. Maybe lashing out his real feelings will spark something from Heero, "I hate it! Shinigami is after you Heero! I don't want you to die, but what scares me the most is I can't hold him back forever.... If I lost you... I'd kill myself."

The Perfect Soldier just stood there. No emotion reached him. He just said simply, "Let him take me. Just not until the next battle."

"Why? You want to embrace a soldier's death? A soldier doesn't know when he's going to die and doesn't think about it! A soldier does his best, Heero!" Duo ignored the tears, "A soldier does his... h-his best. He wants to win. He doesn't think about loosing and in death you lose!" Heero just turned his back and walked away from him. Duo didn't chase after him. Just ran back into his room. He flung himself on the mattress and wept. "I DON'T WANT TO BE SHINIGAMI!" He yelled to the empty room.

"Duo?" a soft voice came from the open door Duo didn't bother closing when he walked in, "are you okay?"

"I deal with Death himself! Does that look like it's okay to me?" Duo didn't even bother with whoever was at the door. "It's not fair!"

"Tell me about it," Duo felt the mattress springs move as whomever the voice belonged to sat on the bed. He felt a delicate hand touch his arm.

Duo didn't even flinch, "I hate him! Shinigami just wants to take Heero away and Heero... he... h-he just doesn't care! He doesn't care if he dies! Why would some one not care?"

"Heero has also dealt with death, just in a different way. He is a soldier. He saw many lives lost and he took many lives. He doesn't know how to deal with it. So, to keep from going nuts I guess he suppressed everything he feels. Even what he feels for you."

Duo turned and sat up. He stared into the watery blue eyes of Quatre. Duo wiped his tear streaked face. "So, I was right about him suppressing his feelings?"

"Yes, but sometimes he lets a little go. I've seen him cry. He won't admit it of course, but he has feelings. I don't know why he cries. He doesn't open up to any of us like you do." Quatre gave Duo a hug and didn't let go. He held Duo tightly, "give him time. He'll come to his senses. I think you are just the one to do it."

Duo looked up at the blond pilot and smiled, "maybe."

"Have you told him how you felt?"

"Yes...." Duo wiggled. When Quatre eased his grip, Duo stood up.

Quatre nodded, "what did he say?"

"He didn't say anything, but he acknowledged it."

"That's a start...." Quatre frowned. "Show him."

"I did...."

"No, I mean," Quatre blushed, "with emotions, not with... y-your... er body."

Duo laughed at the nervous Quatre, "I did. He knows how I feel about him dying."

"That's obviously not enough. Show him you care."

So, how would I go about doing that? Duo thought to himself. He thought for a long moment before suddenly the pain started again. Duo shouted, "Shinigami, please don't!" The pain continued. Duo fought with Shinigami again. He wasn't going to let him take over. He knew he was after Heero again. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"Your time is up. I am tired of this charade. He must go. I gave you time. You took advantage of it at first. You have one last chance to say good bye, so don't waste it." Shinigami spoke with no remorse.

Duo screamed, "No! I won't have it!"

Heero was the first to rush in, "what are you yelling about?"

Duo quickly removed his shirt and felt to the ground as the last of the pain crippled him. The giant black wings burst out faster than before, crippling Duo even more. As soon as they came out Duo dropped to the ground in pain. It was so intense he lost the ability to speak, so reassuring Heero was out of the question. As if he cared. When that question passed through his head Shinigami took full and complete control. "He now even doubts your ability to feel emotions," Shinigami laughed, but he couldn't get up. He tried. "Nothing against you or anything, but you must die! It is destiny!"

"Why can't you leave Duo alone? Why can't you just let him rest? Did you know it tires Duo mentally and physically?" Heero said without emotion.

Shinigami laughed, "I should've waited. I didn't know he was still weak from last time. I thought the more I took over the better he'd be able to handle the transformation. I guess it isn't that way yet. Maybe it isn't me. Maybe it's you! You made him cry last night! He wept and wept. I wanted to ease his pain by letting him sleep while I took over, but then wouldn't have been possible." Shinigami moaned.

"Leave him alone! Can't you see he's gone through enough?" Duo shouted sprouting tears from the glowing eyes.

"You will not defy me!"

"You can't even get up let alone take him! Go away!" Duo shouted. Shinigami fought to gain control again. The wings flapped and settled. Duo closed his eyes and focused, "This is my body!"

Heero stared at Duo in amazement as the braided pilot screamed out. Suddenly the wings disappeared but the feathers went everywhere. Heero ran over to Duo. Duo fell from his hands and knees to the floor. His breathing was labored as he slipped into unconsciousness. Heero picked him up and set him on the bed gently. By then all the other pilots entered the room. Heero explained it all with a single sentence, "It was Shinigami and Duo fought him."

Quatre stared at Heero, "are you okay?"

"Hn. I am just worried about Duo." Heero's comment made Quatre smile, but the significance didn't hit the other pilots.

"He'll probably be back to normal," Wufei shrugged.

Heero shook his head, "it's my fault."

"How could it be?" Trowa asked.

"I let him love me." Heero sat on the foot of Duo's bed. "I didn't realize that dying would effect him so much. Now that fight has almost killed him. Of course the only person stopping that from happing is Shinigami. That is all I thank him for."

Wufei raised an eyebrow, "you aren't mad he likes you?"

"No." Heero answered simply not willing to go into why. But, he had that grace since Duo's eyes fluttered open.

"I feel like shit." Duo said honestly.

Heero placed his hand on Duo's thy and looking into Duo's eyes with a serious expression, which got Duo's attention. With that done Heero said, "rest."

Duo wasn't planning on anything but resting. "Of course."

"I am serious Duo. And if Shinigami can hear me I don't want him around. I don't want him foiling your rest."

Duo stared at Heero, "why do you care?"

"You'll kill yourself!" Something flashed in his eyes then he composed himself, "or rather Shinigami will."

"Oh, so basically you don't want me to die?"

"Basically."

"Why?"

"I… I just don't want you to."

"Ha. Ha. Nice try. Come on, tell me." Duo grinned and sat up.

Heero pushed him back to a laying position, "I told you to rest. I care about you."

"Really? Heero Yuy cares? Watch out!"

"Shit, Duo! What the hell do you want me to say?" Heero's expression was unreadable.

"Tell me what you are really thinking."

"Later."

Quatre butt in, "you might not have a later."

Heero groaned, "I love you." He said that to Duo.

Duo grinned, "oh Heero! Thank you. I know how hard that was."

"You have no idea." Heero looked away.

"See, Shinigami. Heero does have emotions. I knew all along."

Heero laughed, "you make me seem like a heartless person." Duo's eyes started to glow again. It caused Heero to yell, "Don't! Haven't you caused enough damage to this poor guy?" Complete rage transformed Heero's expression.

"I am not going to have him transform. I promised Duo that if you showed real emotions I would make a deal. Would you might if he and I spoke alone?"

Everyone looked at one another. Heero agreed as long as Shinigami didn't transform Duo. Everyone hesitantly agreed afterward and left.

When they were finally alone Shinigami spoke first. "Duo, if you never fight my transforming you I will let Heero live. For awhile I mean. He has to die eventually and you will have to accept it. But, maybe now is not the time. You mustn't of course focus on this. I don't even know when I would absolutely have to take him. Even when or if I find out I won't tell you. But, the deal is that you not fight me and he lives."

"But you have to let me rest in between your transformations… it makes me weak." Duo answered.

"Alright. I will. Is it a deal?"

"It's a deal."

"Thank you, Maxwell. I will let you rest now." Shinigami disappeared.