A/N: I do not own Gundam Wing, nor do I own Zarek. Zarek is not my own character, but is instead property of Sherrilyn Kenyon and the Dark-Hunter Series. You do not need any knowledge of those books to understand this chapter, though.

Chapter 7

In The Mist of Memories


I hate it here, Duo thought to himself as he appeared in the shallow mists and hazy plain of purgatory that was dedicated to the Goddess of Memories. It was a lonely place, cold and detached, where every other step threatened to put you into the horrible memories she collected like most people collected trinkets. It was the worst place he could be, where all the good and bad memories of gods and men alike floated aimlessly across the landscape. The closer you got towards Mneme's temple, the more and more horrible and painful they became. She had a strange fetish for the agony of others—most likely because she could feel nothing herself.

Watching his steps, he felt his way through the waist deep fog, being careful to feel for and avoid the empty slight, frozen blue patches that indicated the roiling recollections of others. Dancing his way through, he could feel the tell-tell goose bumps that signified when one was too close. Not all could be fully avoided, and each time he even slightly brushed against one, his body would jerk as if hit, and he would attempt to jump his way out of it. By the time he approached the lone, Greek style white building standing in stark contrast to the washed out, black sky, he was biting the inside of his cheek bloody in an attempt to block out the horrors he had seen.

The doors were already open, as if anticipating his arrival. Mneme, the beautiful woman, was lying back across her chaise lounge with a bored but dreamy look. One hand was splayed languidly across her own breasts, the other resting lifelessly beside her head.

Pure white eyes followed his approach with a predatory intensity, brows barely furrowing in displeasure as he drew close.

"You're late," she breathed, her trademark, eerie, three-toned voice filling up the room and echoing lazily off the walls. Duo shivered in spite of himself, and forced himself the rest of the way to her side

"If you would just let me transport directly here," he began, but a quick flick of her wrist cut him off, effectively—and literally—removing all abilities to speak until she deemed him worthy once again. A cold chill trailed down his spine as he noted her thumb moving across her nipple, a long fang emerging to bite in anticipation on her lip.

"I don't want to hear excuses…" she hissed, cruel eyes studying him hungrily. "Kneel, my disobedient slave," she murmured, rolling onto one side to prop herself up on an arm. Duo complied. He knew better than to fight back by now—had the whip wounds to show what disobedience would cause. Icy fingers slid across his jaw, trailing down over his neck and causing paper thin lacerations to form where her nails touched. The sting would have once brought tears to his eyes as a boy, but now they were almost comforting. A gentle touch from a woman who knew no kindness.

Moving the frigid digits to his chest, she snagged his shirt with her pinky, giving a displeased tug.

"You dress inappropriately," she stated, indicating the black leather he had worn the night before to meet Solo. He shook his head, opening his mouth to beg his mistress for forgiveness, to only have silence. Idly, he wondered whether she would let him talk or not again…sometimes, she kept him mute for centuries.

The displeasure at his clothing choice was easily cured, as she willed the garments into nothingness, leaving him prone and naked by the side of his owner. Swallowing hard, he felt her snowy, winter gaze make circles over him. Should she ever want to take his memories and emotions normally—to feel the world and passion he felt through his eyes—he wouldn't have minded. Being unable to experience emotion, he could understand why Mneme would crave someone to make her feel something other than the constant numbness she was cursed to. He would have gladly shared them and himself, even if it meant having his own experiences dulled.

Instead, she stole them from him. Made him feel the emptiness that she did. Ripped from him his memories, his hopes, his ambitions, his dreams. Everything that made him, him. Afterwards, he would still know them, still realize that they were there, but the feeling would be gone. His memories would be like pictures he had no relation to. Inside, he would be cold. Sometimes, it took him only a few days to recover, other times, centuries. But now? Now, his heart screamed at the idea of her being able to steal his love of Heero and Wufei from him. Even if they didn't remember him, it was all he had left.

His heart screamed with agony, but he could make no sound. Keeping calm and still, he stared at her, trying to mask the agony in his heart. A sadistic smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she took in a giddy breath. Pressing her hand over his heart, she slowly began to draw on what he had been through during the war.

"Tell me, slave…? Does it hurt to know that those who caused you damnation, now once again could care less on where you are?" she wondered, calling up images of Heero and Wufei. Duo just swallowed, attempting to close his eyes, only to find himself paralyzed. Laughing harshly, she shifted to lie back again, drawing him up on her bed by waving her finger in a "come hither" motion, long thighs spreading.

"Or do you really think that you're little plan will work?" Eyes going wide, he looked at her in shock. She hadn't had time to get to that part in his memories, so there should have been no way for her to know. He wanted to demand how, but he could do nothing other than follow her will as she pulled his body between her legs. Insides rolling with disgust, and he wished he could have cried out loud the way his soul was screaming inside. More than anything, he wanted to feel Wufei's arms around him, or see Heero's strong expression as he called him an idiot and told him everything would be okay. Instead, he was left staring down at Mneme's callous smile as she wrapped long, frozen thighs around his waist.

"Do not worry, little boy. You are my pain toy. And nothing will ever change that." With that, she drew him into her body, and threw herself into his mind, forcing him to relive everything that had happened since they had last seen one another.

A single tear broke through his eyes, while the rest of him moved as her silent, pliant toy.

oOoOo

Blinking wearily, Heero slowly opened tired eyes, only to be greeted with pure nothingness. Empty blackness surrounded him, leaving him feeling oddly cold and alone. Scrunching his brow, he felt an odd wave of dizziness overcome him as he tried to gather his bearings in this cold, lonely place.

Where am I? he thought curiously. The last thing he remembered was lying down, wishing Wufei were with him. It was the first time in a long time that he had spent a night away from his lover, and he had dreaded the thought of a lonely bed, or not having his heart beat to lull him into happy dreams. That must be it, he realized, trying to shake off the grogginess that dulled his senses. This must be a dream… A hint of relief washed through him. Giving out a small sigh, he went to reach up to brush a strand of ruffled hair from his face…

…only to realize he couldn't move.

Eyes widening as a strange fear seized him, he jerked his body hard, trying to free himself from the hold on him, only to find freedom seemed impossible. What the…? Pressing forward again, he tried to lift an arm or move in some way, but the more he struggled, the tighter the choke hold on his body seemed to get. He gave a nervous swallow. This had to be a nightmare…only a nightmare…

"HEERO!" The scream tore through the painful slice, causing him to jump in surprise. Chills trickled down his spine as the word echoed off invisible walls. "Please…dear Zeus, I don't want to hurt anymore," it sobbed. Somehow, the plea sounded familiar, arousing feelings so fiercely protective, he thought he would surely be shredded apart by their intensity. The fight against his invisible bonds suddenly became violent, fueled only by the agonizing sobs that grew louder by the moment.

"No more," it begged. "Just let me die…please…I'd rather die than forget…"

Heero tried to call out—to yell that he heard. That the victim wasn't alone. But every sound he made was swallowed by the oppressive space around him. Heart thumping, his determination only grew, every muscle bunching as a mute, but tenacious growl ripped through his throat. "Heero…" The voice was fading, and the Japanese pilot's eyes flickered around as best he could, hearing the ragged breathing that was filled with tears and pain. As he continued to fight, he searched through the oblivion, trying spot the source, wanting to put a face to the voice that drove his head and heart into turmoil. Slowly, it faded, until slightly hiccups were only heard. Distant at best, he had to struggle to make them out.

Panting from the intensity of his own struggle, he let himself relax a moment, trying to gather his strength and nurse the soreness forming in his body. Still, he continued to search for the source, peering off where the noises had previously come from.

"Stare into the abyss too long, and the abyss will stare into you…" Heero jumped at the words, spoken in a threatening, sensual purr in his ear. Bristling, Heero attempted to turn and see the voice, yet still remained immobile. Every hair stood on end as he realized his own vulnerability. Loud footsteps echoed, like thick soled boots on a metal floor, as the speaker moved to stand before him.

Standing at six foot three, the man was all muscle and threat. Cold blue eyes were filled with a cruel humor, peering out through rustled black hair that reminded Heero of Wufei's after they had sex. A close trimmed goatee was curled slightly at the tip, twitching as the man lightly gnawed his lower lip with a long, vicious fang. Leather pants encases long legs, and a black silk shirt hung open, to show the eight pack abs and nipple piercings. Silver earring glinting, the man tilted his head to the side curiously at the rage filled expression on Heero's face.

"You're probably wondering who I am…?" the man asked curiously, giving him a cold smirk. Heero growled, and was surprised to find that the sound actually carried this time. The man snickered. "My name is Zarek," he stated coolly, "but you can call me Dickhead. It's a common nickname." Heero blinked his surprise, fear faltering a moment at the statement. Dickhead…?

His thoughts were cut off as whimpering returned, whispering Heero's voice. Growling again, Heero struggled to break free.

"Where am I?" he hissed, grateful now that he could be heard. Zarek quirked a bemused brow.

"We're in your mind," he deadpanned, staring at him drolly as if it should be obvious.

"Then why can't I move?" Heero ground out, punctuation each word with a snarl. Zarek shook his head. For once, the man was actually impressed. If only the other Hunter's could see this boy, they'd finally meet someone who could out snarl Zarek himself. Amused at the prospect, probably more than he should be, the Roman took a step back, glancing towards where the crying was coming from.

"That's your doing," he stated, turning to look back to the Japanese man. "You let them bind you, and condemn the Dragon for fighting back. As you did when you let them mold you into the perfect soldier, you now let the gods mold you into their perfect little play toy. You let them use you for their sick idea of punishment…and in the process…" A scream ripped through the darkness, and Zarek looked towards it, face wincing visibly. "In the process, you just move on. You're too egotistical to see the world for what it is."

"What are you talking about? Who is that?" Heero demanded, wanting to choke the man from frustration. What was he talking about? Brow lifting again, the Roman slightly stuck his tongue out, dragging a tongue ring across his upper front teeth as he watched him thoughtfully a moment.

"I can't answer that for you," he finally replied. "That would be breaking the rules, and would only get him hurt worse."

"What rules?" Heero balanced the words out, trying not to scream. God, this guy was frustrating.

Instead of answering, Zarek ignored the question. Part of the Roman wanted to kill Zeus for letting these types of things stand, but part of him also got a weird kick out of being oracle for a day. "If you want to see him, and if you want to go to him, you have to come to terms with who he is," Zarek told him. Cerulean blue orbs narrowed on him as Heero stopped his fighting, forcing his breathing to be steady.

"How do I do that?" he ground out emphatically. Sighing slightly, Zarek turned his head up and looked to him from the corner of his eye.

"As my wife would say 'For once in your existence, can you at least admit you were wrong?'" A soft, calm smile stole Zarek's features for a moment as he reflected on her, before his face hardened once again, returning to the cocky expression it normally held. "You've made a crucial mistake in doubting the one person you never should have. Realize that…and you might be able to save yourselves yet." Brows furrowing, Heero watched him quizzically.

"Why are you doing this?" he demanded. "Are you the one who's hurting him?" Which "him" he was talking about, Heero didn't know. Whether it be the voice, or Wufei, he couldn't decide. Zarek shook his head, the air about him turning sincere.

"Trust me…I, of all people, don't agree with this. I know what it's like for the gods to be against you, Yuy, and I of all people know what it's like to be a slave to them as well…" His eyes became distant, as if recalling painfully memories, a slight snarl pulling up the corners of his lips. "I've done all I can…good luck."

With that, Heero was once again left alone.


Sorry it's taken so long to get this chapter out. Hope all of you don't mind. I wanted to have the part with Heero completed, but decided against it. Also, I need to do some major touch ups on this, but I figured this was better than nothing, and I should be reposting this fully completed soon!

As I said before. This is taking a completely different turn than what I thought would happen, so I'm having to re write some of the chapters as I go. I hope you all don't mind, and I hope that you enjoy!