NOTES: Hello all! Sorry about the
extremely looonnngg wait. I had to get myself out of a dark cave that I
had hidden in since the 11th. Trying to vent, I started
another fic The Dark Road, which will be the darkest fic that I have
written…it ain't that pretty. But, thanks to friends who were very
persistent (winks), I am sort of out, and ready for The Way Home.
Now as a warning, this part has references to the Gundam Pilot's
pasts, as well as the Slayer's pasts. I had heard that Amelia's sister is
Naga (the one from the movie) and that both had seen their mother (King Phil's
wife) get murdered. I'm not sure if its true, but still I'm going to use
it. Also, this chapter has A LOT of references to The Targets. So if you haven't read it yet, you might get
confused a little.
Blood, and violence!
Now, on with the fic!
THE WAY HOME
Part V
Heero was dreaming. He had to be dreaming, for it was
impossible for him to be where he was at the moment. Where was he?
Walking through a heavy forest with Trowa, Wufei, a sorceress, a mercenary, a
chimera, and a princess, on a 'magical journey' to find Quatre and Duo.
Not only that, all of them were wearing semi-medieval clothing, and armed for
the times!
He had to be dreaming.
Of course, he could be in some sort of drug-induced dream, for
Heero never dreamed about such things. Maybe Relena had cajoled him into
trying some of her cooking. Maybe he had eaten something rotten.
Maybe OZ and Whitefang had somehow poisoned him.
But Whitefang and OZ no longer exist.
And also, if he were actually in a dream, then the previous time
he was in was also a dream. He had never been kidnapped and taken to the
early 21st century. He had not met four assassins who later saved him and
Quatre from torture by the hands of a group with special powers…
Powers that would later in the future would be called the GT
gene…or Newtype.
Powers that Quatre possessed and could barely control.
But Heero still had the bruises and cuts that were half healed
from his torture. Wufei and Trowa could barely stand the smell of
trash. As for the missing Quatre and Duo, Heero could still vividly see
the cross that had been savagely carved into Duo's neck, which he covered with
a turtleneck borrowed from the assassins. And Heero could remember
helping treat the acid burn marks that read 'HELL' on Quatre's forehead and
feeling relieved that Quatre's bangs covered the scarred tissue.
No. This was real. He was here, somewhere so far in
the past that there were no documentation, no history of such a time. How
could the world have forgotten magic? How could the future forget so much
of it's past? It was clear that the magic was going to dwindle sometime,
and the people would eventually loose the abilities, and loose the
knowledge. Then sorcery and magic would be hunted, the people killed.
He thought of Swartz…the group who had attacked them and tortured
him and Quatre. Those four were angry, wanting a new world where they
wouldn't have to hide, wouldn't have to be feared. The world created
them, their anger and their hatred for all whom were normal. Heero
remembered Nagi, a youth who had strong telekinetic powers. He remembered
the things he said to Quatre, the questions he had of the future in AC 197.
"The world has no future to look forward
to. We are all doomed to repeat everything over and over. War, death,
murder…everything. It also seems that there is no future for people like you
and I." He gave the boy a hard look. "Or is there? Tell me Quatre, in
the future, what do the people know of us, or has the world governments
continued to hide us? Are we still experiments, Quatre?"
Quatre had gone pale at Nagi's words, his eyes
downcast looking anywhere but at Nagi. The young Swartz boy's lips thinned and
he said softly, "I thought so. There truly is no future to look forward
to."
Quatre's head snapped up, "There is! There
always is! What of other people's futures? Would you rip that away for your
selfish wants?"
Nagi threw his head back and laughed a dry
mirthless laugh of one who found nothing in the world to laugh at. "You
truly are too much. Your naïve thoughts and hopes will only destroy you."
He stopped laughing and sighed. "They will destroy you if you continue to
walk around blinded by your 'hopes' and 'dreams'."
Heero suddenly spoke. "All people are
justified to have those."
Nagi turned to the perfect soldier. "Even
if they are a lie? I've learned long ago that lying to myself will never give
me anything." He cursed. "You both are fools. Your like WeiB, they of
all people have no futures yet they still go on, trying to protect others and
trying to live on with lives that are already doomed."
Nagi yanked at his hair suddenly and whirled on
Quatre. "Damn you! Why? Why haven't things changed?! Answer me?!"
Quatre stared at Nagi, facing the boy's anger
and frustration with a calm demeanor. "I don't know."
The boy drew back and took a shuddering breath.
"Tell me…tell me what they did to you?"
Quatre started, "What…?"
"Tell me about the future? How do they deal
with people like…us?" Asked Nagi.
The world had created Quatre's 'other half', the
half that hated and would be willing to kill friend and foe to protect himself
and Quatre. The other half that was brought up during the war with the
help of the Zero System, the other help that was brought up after Quatre's
torture with Swartz. The other Quatre had nearly killed them all, until
Duo appeared, and clamed him down. This other half, this other
personality was created when Quatre was a young boy, when his father hired some
scientists to help Quatre learn to control his powers. Instead, they used
malpractice, and beat him, till finally the 'other' Quatre emerged and used the
powers against them. That was how the
future dealt with people like Quatre and Swartz.
Heero glanced at Lina Inverse. Strong, happy, and full of
energy. He wondered if Swatrz ever got a chance to be that way, if Quatre
would be able to be that way with no fear of his other personality.
The girl saw him staring and raised an eyebrow. "What are
you looking at?"
Trowa who was asking Zelgadis some questions about Shamanist
magic, and Wufei who was in the middle of a heated debate with Amelia about how
to go about spreading Justice, looked at him in concern.
Heero ignored the looks and said, "How long will it take to reach
this Philia?"
Lina shrugged and said, "Maybe three days. Depends how fast
we walk." She then looked up at him, "So, when are you going to tell us
what your friend's look like? You have to tell us something so we can
help find them."
Suddenly out of nowhere, Gouarry was between them, even startling
Heero who had not heard the tall man move. "But Lina, isn't Philia going
to find them with her Holy Magic?"
Heero had never met anyone as dumb and Gouarry, Relena's pacifist
ideals sometimes ran close to it, and sometimes Duo's actions and rashness came
to mind when he looked at the tall blond.
Lina's eyebrow quirked and she snapped, "Why do you have to have
the brains of a squid? Let me try to make it simple," She took a breath
then said in a soft sing song voice that spoke volumes of violence and death if
not understood immediately. "We just might run into their friends on the way to
Philia's, but we won't know its them cause we have no clue what they look like.
So to be on the safe side I wanna know what they look like."
Gouarry's face became serious in thought for a moment, then he
smiled tenderly down at Lina and said, "Now that you put it that way it makes
perfect sense!"
Heero smirked as he heard Zelgadis groan, "Oh brother."
Lina let out a defeated groan and dropped her head into her
hand. Heero blinked as her image reminded him of the time he had reset
his broken leg and totally disgusted Duo. Duo had dropped his head into
his hand the same way Lina did. For a moment he was not looking at Lina,
but at Duo. Loud mouthed, competitive, reliable Duo Maxwell.
Then something caught Heero's eye. A small figure in white
hiding behind a tree.
It can't be!
Heero broke into a run, ignoring the startled calls of his
companions. He nearly tripped over a tree root but ignored it as he
stumbled to the tree and found…
Nothing.
"Heero! What the hell were you doing?!" Demanded an
ill-tempered Lina. Behind her the rest came. Heero slid down to his
knees and gasped for breath, no realizing that he had been holding it the whole
time.
Trowa was next to him, asking, "Heero, did you see something?"
Heero managed to nod his head.
Zelgadis scanned the area and said, "There's nothing here.
Are you sure you saw something?"
Amelia edged closer to Zelgadis and stuttered, "Maybe it…it was a
ghost."
Yes…it was a ghost…I killed her…
"There's no such things as ghosts." Scoffed Wufei.
Trowa looked about to say something when he gasped and turned
extremely pale. Heero looked at his companions and saw that all were
staring over him, all prepared to fight. Slowly, Heero looked over his
shoulder and saw a tall man in an orange flight suit. A thatch of blond
hair topping a roguishly handsome face. Heero did not know who he was for
a moment, then he recognized him…
The man smiled and waved his hand, his eyes on Trowa who had stood
up, stiff and pale, green eyes wide. "Hey, No Name! I want to show
you something!"
"Trowa Barton." Whispered Trowa, in a voice that shook.
Heero saw Zelgadis's eyes narrow on Trowa, Lina was looking from
Trowa to the other Trowa, Amelia looked frightened and Gouarry looked clueless
though he had placed himself slightly in front of Lina.
The man stepped forward, and Trowa shrank back almost
fearfully. "No Name, come on! It's a picture of my little niece,
Mairemia. Don't tell me the others have been giving you problems."
He smirked. "Didja kick their asses again. Hope you didn't break
any arms cause they need them to finish Heavyarms."
Heero slowly came to his feet. They all knew that Trowa had
taken his name from the dead man, but dead was the trick. It was no trick
of light or anything. Trowa Dekim Barton was standing before them, waving
for Trowa or 'No Name' to come look at a picture of his niece Mairemia.
"No Name…" Started the man again, when Trowa did something that
even shocked Heero. Throwing his white cloak over his shoulder he took
out one of his small daggers and threw it with deadly speed. The dagger
struck the other Trowa in the chest, right center on the heart. The man's
eyes widened, and blood welled up to his lips. The fingers that held up
the picture shook and loosed their hold and the photo fell to the floor just as
the man keeled over forward, dead.
Amelia shrieked, "You…you killed that man!"
Lina whirled to Trowa and was about to start yelling at the pale
looking boy when her eyes widened in shock. Instead she leapt toward
Wufei, driving him down moments before a thin rapier cleaved the place he was
standing.
Heero began to feel the first stirrings of fear when he recognized
the man who held the rapier.
It was non other than Trieze Kushrenada.
Wufei gaped, his almond black eyes wide and shaking, looking
absolutely terrified. He ignored the fact that Lina was still partly on
top of him, having almost practically knocking herself out by ramming into
Wufei.
Though Heero would later deny it, he was frozen in spot, staring
with the same horrified expression.
Trieze lifted the thin sword and said imperiously down at the
terrified pilot of Shenlong. "I have come to finish the duel. This
time I won't hold back."
Wufei was shaking his head and moaning as he tried to get the
still stunned Lina off of him, "No…not again…I can't do it again…"
"Wufei! Lina get away!" Cried Zelgadis, drawing his
sword just as Trieze raised the rapier again, intent of plunging it down and
killing both Wufei and Lina.
But it was Gouarry who intercepted the blow, shattering the
thinner and weaker blade. Then, ducking down he swung the and slashed the
former OZ leader across the stomach and knocked him down with his
shoulder. Trieze fell and did not move, his hand still clutching the
handle of the broken rapier.
Ignoring the body, the tall swordsman knelt next Lina and pulled
her off the Chinese boy. Lina groaned and said something about hard
muscles made of stone.
Zelgadis growled, "What is going on here? Who are these
men?"
Heero shook his head, not knowing how to answer. He looked
to Wufei and found the boy shivering and looking at Trieze's body. Heero
knew the hardest thing Wufei had ever done was kill the former leader of
OZ. His ghost had haunted Wufei for a year, and nearly drove him to
betraying his ideals during the Mairemia incident. Heero looked back and
saw Trowa kneeling beside the body of Trowa Dekim Barton, his eyes far away.
Zelgadis stalked to Heero and grabbed his shoulder and shook
him. "Answer dammit!"
It was Trowa who spoke, "These men are dead. They were
killed. I saw this man murdered in front of my eyes, and Wufei killed the
other during the war. They're dead…so how can they be here…alive…"
Lina, now finally coming to her senses looked down at the second
body. "I have no clue what is going on, but I want out of this
forest. Get your perverted hands off of me, Gouarry!" Gouarry
immediately let go of the girl.
Huffing, Lina stepped over Trieze and grabbed a trembling Amelia
and started walking. Gouarry shrugged and followed though he kept his
sword out. Zelgadis looked back at the three and asked, "Are you coming?"
Heero nodded and saw Trowa go over to a still traumatized Wufei
and help him to his feet. They started off in a fast walk, obviously all
of them wanting out of the forest. Heero wanted out just as much as them
all. He did not want to have any of his ghosts coming to him. He
was sure he had caught a glimpse of one, but the sooner he saw clear sky, the
better.
It was Lina who cried out, followed by Amelia and even Gouarry and
Zelgadis. Heero looked and found a young boy, smiling maniacally up at
them. He was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, looking more
like a girl. Yet, Lina was frightened as well as the others.
The boy spoke, reaching for Lina. "Cast the Giga
Slave! Go on! You don't want me to snuff out the life of all your
friends. I am Hellmaster after all. Go on Lina! Cast
it!" Heero shivered and he saw both Trowa and Wufei cringe when the boy
threw his head back and laughed, the most evil sound they had ever heard coming
out from those angelic lips.
Yellow eyes shining with madness.
Lina swallowed a scream, turned tail and ran, not her or her
friends bothering to confront this child. Heero had no desire to find out
what the boy was about, so they followed, the maniacal laughter taunting them
from behind. Ahead, Heero heard Lina stammering, "He can't be
alive! He can't!"
Heero looked back to see if they were being followed when he ran
into Zelgadis who had frozen still. Heero stumbled back, hurting after
literally colliding with stone. Zelgadis was staring to the side, his
cold blue eyes frightened. "No…" He whispered.
Heero looked and saw a tall man in red with a staff standing with
a small smile on his white porcelain face. The others continued to run,
only Trowa stopping to look at the man, green eyes narrowed.
The man pointed the staff toward Zelgadis who flinched. "Do
you want to be strong, Zelgadis?"
Zelgadis growled and backed away, "You're dead. You can't do
anything to me anymore, Rezo."
"You are my puppet. I can control you with a word."
"I am not your puppet! Never again!" Screamed Zelgadis, his
voice breaking.
Trowa suddenly grabbed the stone young man and yanked at
him. "He's dead, you said! Come on!" Rezo laughed, and Zelgadis
growled under his breath. But he stepped back and ran, Trowa and Heero
following.
Like them all, these people had their own ghosts and demons to
deal with. That child with the eyes of a madman, the man who called
Zelgadis his puppet. They were the same. They were dead, yet alive
and still haunting.
They stopped when they caught up to the others, only to find
Amelia weeping on her hands and knees before a beautiful woman covered in
blood.
"Amelia!" Cried Zelgadis, running to her and keeping his eyes on
the woman. "Get up! She can't hurt you, she's dead! They're
all dead!"
Amelia shook her head and reached her hand out toward the
woman. "But I should have done something! I should have done
something!"
The woman's blue eyes sparkled slightly and her head shook.
"M…Mommy…"Cried Amelia.
All of them, including Lina and her friends looked in shock and
horror from Amelia to the woman. Amelia continued to cry, "I'm sorry
Mommy! I should had shouted! Naga and I should have saved you!"
Again the woman shook her head, and smiled gently. Then she
turned her back on them and walked away, nearly gliding with the grace of a
queen. Amelia turned to Lina and buried her face onto the older girl's
shoulder. "Miss…Miss L…Lina…" She sobbed.
So slowly, they walked on, supporting a still weeping Amelia
between them. To their shock, Wufei helped support the girl, his obsidian
eyes gentle as he helped her walk. He said nothing about her weakness, or
her tears.
It was while walking that Heero, Wufei and Trowa finally saw
Lina's magic at work. They were all jumpy, and at one point, and twig
snapped and Lina whirled around and screamed, "Fire Ball!" As she spoke
those two words and ball of raging inferno appeared over her hand and she threw
it where the sound came from.
Of course, the only thing she burned was an innocent tree.
There were no ghosts out for vengeance.
They met no other obstacle when they were finally clear of the
forest. Heero allowed himself to tiredly fall to grassy ground, noticing
the others doing likewise. Heero looked up to the sky and almost smiled.
Then a small face popped in front of his face.
"Heero!" He heard Lina cry out. But Heero said nothing
as he stared at the cute face of the nameless girl in white.
"Are you still lost?" She asked, stepping back and letting
him sit up.
Heero looked at her, noticing the small puppy next to her
feet. Heero replied, "I can't find my way back."
The girl looked sad at this, putting a small finger in her
mouth. Heero noticed all his companions looking intensely at him.
But like Amelia, he had no fear of this one hurting him. The girl smiled,
"Do you have friends? Mary here is my friend. If I get lost, she
will help me fine my way back home!"
Heero blinked. "I have friends." He said.
The girl giggled and gave the astonished Heero a peck on the
cheek. "Then you will find your way. Don't worry!" With that
she flounced back, Mary leaping at her feet. Waving at him the girl ran
back into the forest with her puppy, laughing gleefully without a care in the
world.
All seven of them sat in silence, looking toward the forest where
the girl had disappeared. Not saying anything, no knowing what to say, or
if they had anything to say. The wind blew, and the trees rustled and the
grass blades danced, but still they sat not wanting to destroy the piece.
"Well hello there!"
Wufei let out and undignified squawk, causing everyone to leap to
their feet ready for another ghost. But Heero found himself gapping at
the purple haired man that hovered over Wufei, grinning like he found
everything of anything amusing.
"Xellos!" Cried Lina. Heero looked at the others, and
could tell that the four were suspicious of this man. No fear, so he must
be real. "What the Hell are you doing here?"
Xellos landed on the floor, and smiled charmingly at them
all. Heero noticed that he kept his eyes shut. Heero immediately
did not trust him. The purple haired
man looked toward the forest. "You
know, I heard that this particular forest was haunted." H paused and grinned with his eyes shut at
each and every one of them. "They say
it is haunted by the souls of all who were killed in violence throughout time,
from the past, present…" He looked at Heero and his grin became larger, "and
future."
Lina glared, and Heero
stiffened. How did…
"That would have been nice to know before we went in there!" Snapped Lina. "Now answer my question, you crazy freak: Why are you here?"
Xellos turned his head to Lina and said, "Well,
I came to help you on your search!"
Xellos looked to Heero and his eyes opened slightly. If possible,
Heero would have swallowed his tongue. Amethyst eyes twinkled
malevolently at him. Eyes only one other person Heero knew had.
Xellos smirked and said, "Almost a day ago I came upon two
interesting young men."
Heero stiffened, and so did Trowa and Wufei. Could he be
talking about…
"They had run afoul with one of the Fishmen, who was after their
blood. I saved them of course, being the great guy that I am." This
earned him four dirty glares, and three suspicious ones. "They were lost
and were looking for their three friends." This eyes grazed all three of
them. Heero could not help but shiver as their eyes met.
"Now the funny thing about these two was their origins. I
had never met them before but it was obvious that they should not be walking
together like friends."
Heero was totally lost now. He had no clue what Xellos was
getting with those last two sentences. He looked at Wufei who had his eyes
only on Xellos, Trowa was frowning, looking troubled.
"What are you talking about Xellos? Did you find these guys
friends or not?" Demanded Lina impatiently.
Xellos nodded. "Of course I did! But you see Lina, did
you know that their friends, those two boys are in actuality a Golden Dragon
and a Monster?" He then pointed a
finger at Heero who stiffened, feeling a wave of uncalled for fear. "And that this boy here is an Ancient
Dragon?"
***
"You look cool."
Quatre graced Duo with a small smile, and continued to stare at his reflection in the small battered mirror. Valgaav had literally dragged the two of them to the nearest town and made them get some appropriate clothing. The town was small, and when they had entered they received many stares of suspicion. Quatre knew immediately that if they were not careful there would be trouble.
The two had no choice in what they would be wearing. Snapping irritably at the two of them, Valgaav forced them to sit on a rough bench in the tailor's shop and wait. At first, the old tailor had refused to do service for them, but then Valgaav had grabbed the man by his old tunic and lifted him boldly off his feet. Quatre had protested, yelling at Valgaav to put down the man. Valgaav had shrugged and dropped him, but Duo had caught the man and lessened the impact of the fall.
The man didn't need anymore convincing.
The old tailor and Valgaav had been gone in the depths of the shop for nearly three hours, and Duo was loosing his patience, but Quatre told his friend to stay put. He knew that Duo bored meant that Duo was going to get into trouble. And trouble in this town was that last thing Quatre wanted.
Finally after another hour of waiting, Valgaav had immerged with a pale and exhausted tailor, carrying their new clothes. He had handed Duo a long sleeved black tunic, belt, and trousers that were all black, with boots to match. There was a long cloak too, but it was light, and did not weigh the braided boy down.
For Quatre, Valgaav gave him a long sleeve white robe trimmed with gold that went to a little below his knees, a white sash that went around his waist, light blue trousers and white boots. He had a white cloak with a hood.
Quatre frowned slightly and looked back at Duo. "Duo…your scar…"
Duo started and placed his hand on the side of his neck, where the cross-shaped scar was. Valgaav, who was standing aside smirking, grabbed Duo's hand and yanked it away.
Duo looked about to cuss the daylights out of the other for touching him when Valgaav said, "So this is your human heritage."
"Wh…wha…?" Stammered Duo, trying to retrieve his hand from Valgaav's hold,
Valgaav looked at Quatre then down at Duo. "Monster's do not scar. This is proof that you have some humanity in you." He let Duo go.
Duo stepped back and growled, " 'Some'? Arrogant…"
"Duo," Said Quatre, trying to calm Duo down. "Forget about it, okay."
"You have your own scars as well, Infant." Said Valgaav. "You try to hide them behind your hair, but I see them. They are in strange runes that I cannot read."
Quatre grimaced and gingerly touched his forehead, feeling the rough scarred tissues beneath his fingers. His memories of Farefello's torture were vague. He could barely remember a thing. Of this torture, he only remember being held down while Farefello held in his hand a pitcher and gently tipped its contents.
He didn't remember anything else. And was thankful for it.
"Its says," Whispered Quatre in a shuddering voice, "Hell."
Valgaav blinked, looking confused. "This was burned to your forehead." Valgaav smirked then. "Funny. I would think that your Bane would consider those burns his badge of courage and flaunt them. But not you."
Quatre found himself shivering, not wanting to think anymore of it. Duo saw this and said, "Can we go now? We're just wasting time here."
Quatre gave his friend and smile of appreciation, then looked up at Valgaav saying, "Yes. We are wasting time."
The tall Ancient Dragon shrugged at this, and waved at them to follow him out. They both followed, but Quatre hesitated and looked back at the old tailor. He flinched as he sensed hatred and disgust from the man. Turning back he practically ran to catch up to Duo and Valgaav.
Quatre whispered to Duo, "There is something not right here."
Duo looked at him, then looked around. He stiffened slightly, but grinned, "They're just staring cause we look odd, that's all."
Quatre was relieved that Duo noticed the odd looks. But he knew that the people were not staring cause of the way they looked. It was something else. The look from the tailor spoke volumes. Also the reason why he had refused in the beginning to make them their clothes. Whatever the reason, Quatre reverently did not want to know. He wanted out of the town.
Then, a rock was thrown, hitting Duo on the back of his head.
Duo whirled around, his cloak flying around him, and his braid snapping back. He picked up the stone and shouted, "Whose the jackass with a death wish?!"
Valgaav now stopped and was looking at Duo, the stone, then at the townspeople. His eyes narrowed, and he bared his fangs slightly as one man stepped boldly forward, in his hand was another stone, which he threw at Valgaav who easily knocked it away.
A woman stepped foreword, holding her child to her breast. "We know what you are, creatures! We know what you bring! Go back to your dark home and bury yourselves there and never come back out!"
A teenage boy stepped forward and threw a stone at Duo again. Duo dodged and threw the stone he was holding, hitting the boy on the forehead and making him fall, stunned. Duo was furious as he shouted, "What the Hell are you crazy people talking about?! Why the Hell are you throwing damn stones at us?!"
"Monster! Get out!" The few people were now becoming a mob, in their hands they held rakes, shoves, and a few had some scythes.
Quatre cried out, "Please, we are not here to harm you! We are leaving now!"
"Kill them!" Screamed another. "Kill the Dragons and the Monster! Kill them all!"
Duo was inching backwards, looking still furious but a little nervous. "Okay, three to fifty is not my idea of a good fight. I say we run."
Quatre nodded, side stepping a stone thrown easily. He looked at Valgaav and gaped as before his eyes the man disappeared. He heard Duo curse, and felt an odd sense of betrayal. Where had he gone, and why had he chosen now of all times to disappear. "Valgaav!" He shouted. "Valgaav!"
Quatre stumbled back as Duo grabbed his arm. "Forget about the bastard, Quatre! Lets just get the Hell out of here. These people are out for blood! Shit!" He cursed again, and yanked harder on Quatre's arm.
Quatre was livid. How could he have not sensed it? He had been absolutely positive that Valgaav had been sincere in his offer to protect them and lead them to Philia. Was it true that as Valgaav had said, his powers were weak and untrained…
Would Bane have made the same mistake?
Runaway…
"Dammit Quatre! MOVE!"
Quatre bolted, nearly dragging Duo with him with his sudden movement. They ran, and Quatre had an odd sense of déjà vu. He recalled an incident over a month ago with him and Duo running through unknown streets for their lives. But instead of a mob out for their blood, they had two trained assassins going for their heads.
Quatre let Duo take the lead. The American having more experience in running away on foot would probably have a sixth sense for escaping. He grunted as a stone hit the back of his shoulder blades, and he looked over his shoulder to see that the mob had gotten bigger and much closer. One was a few meters away. People now were wielding torches and rope. Quatre took a large gulp of air and pumped his legs harder. Climbing a tree wouldn't save them this time. He wasn't sure if he could count on Xellos's appearing and saving them again.
Then he stumbled and fell, sprawling hard onto the ground. He saw Duo stop and turn around, his violet eyes wide with anger and fear as he looked from Quatre to the mob. Quatre could almost hear Duo's mind screaming, "Do something!!"
They were weaponless, they knew nothing of anything here. Monsters…Dragons…it was too much.
Runaway…
Duo ran to him, just as he was trying to get up, reaching down to haul him up again. But then one of the mob caught up to them, and collided into Duo. The braided boy flew back, and Quatre surged to his feet, ducking low and ramming into the man with his shoulder. The man staggered back, clutching his waist, and Quatre ran to Duo, grabbing his hand and pulled at his arm so that he was behind him.
Duo grunted, obviously a little disoriented from being rammed into by the man. "Quatre…what are you doing?"
Quatre did not answer him, focusing only on the mob that were almost to them. Their faces contorted into ugly specters of hatred and murderous rage. Eyes showing no remorse, even at the prospect of killing two innocent boys who had nothing to do with anything. It made Quatre's stomach turn thinking about it.
Runaway…
We are the same. Bane…he chooses to use everything that he has, not caring who he injures or kills in the process. I always hold back. If I carelessly used my powers, Bane and I would be at a draw.
It was time to test his theory. Duo and I will not survive if I don't use them. I have never used them on so many people before…but I can't hold back…I mustn't
You're learning…Shut up!
Use them, Quatre. Show them our true might!
"SHUT UP!!!!"
And Quatre let go, only holding onto a little of his control to shield Duo who was yelling at him from behind, trying to make him run. He focused his whole being on those intent on killing him and Duo and allowed his mind to snap savagely at them. He was aware of his power surging around him, causing his cloak and clothes to billow around him. He heard Duo gasp from behind but ignored his friend.
Ignore everything…that way no one can touch you…no one will ever touch you.Quatre grimaced, trying to block out that bitter voice. He felt a push in his mind and shook his head savagely, watching as the mob in front of him stopped short and clutched at their heads, falling to the floor unconscious. He knew that Bane was pushing him on…wanting to join in.
No, Bane. This isn't a game.
I wan to punish them for hurting you.
They are afraid of me.
Are you afraid of them? You mustn't, for you are stronger than they are. Look at them groveling at your feet. You have the power; so use it so that no one will ever dare hurt you!
Stop it.
You have the power…
"I SAID STOP!"
"Quatre! Stop!"
Quatre gasped, for a moment unable to breath, or see anything. He saw black then red, and felt his legs buckle beneath him.
I can't breath…I can't…He felt someone grab his neck from behind and shove him down so that his head was between his legs in the most uncomfortable position. He gasped again and nearly sobbed as he felt the cool air enter his lungs. Taking large, loud breaths he pushed upward against the hand that held him and was allowed to sit up.
Blinking tear filled eyes he met the violet ones of Duo who was smiling stiffly in utter relief. Quatre found himself smiling in thanks, but then he gasped as he saw movement behind Duo. Without thinking he lunged forward, knocking Duo down just as the man who had attacked them earlier plunged a wooden stake down, missing Duo but driving it deep into Quatre's shoulder.
Quatre screamed in pain and fell backwards, clutching his wound as it gushed out in blood, staining his white robes and cloak. He lay on his back, gazing through pain filled eyes as the man stood over him, grinning as he raised the stake again, Quatre's blood dripping from it's end onto his ashen face.
Suddenly a flurry of black death lunged at the man, twisting the stake in his hand and turning against him, plunging it deep into his stomach. Quatre opened his mouth to scream again, not in pain but anguish as he watched Duo dig the stake deeper into the man's gut, blood drenching the braided boy's hands.
And for a brief second an amused smirk graced Duo's lips, his violet eyes darkening in pleasure. Then they were wide and trembling, the smirk turning into a small 'o' of horror. Duo stepped back as the man fell to his knees, looking up at his murderer with all the hatred of the world. Duo shook his head, looking about to apologize, but the man spat out in a hissing voice, "Monster!"
The man's eyes rolled in his head and he fell down, dead.
Duo moaned.
Quatre slowly sat up, biting back a cry of pain. "Duo…" He whispered as he felt horrible anguish that made his wound seem non-existent coming from the Duo. Quatre's eyes filled, and he called again, "Please! Duo!"
Duo turned and looked at him, and Quatre started in shock when he saw the tears swimming in Duo's eyes. "Its…it's true…" Whispered the boy who called himself Death, sounding like a small child, lost and alone. "I am a Monster…I am Death…I enjoy it. I can't live without it…I swore to never kill…and I've just done it again…"
"Duo…"
Duo looked down at his hands, hands covered in blood. "Boy's don't cry…" He said. "Especially not murdering monsters."
At this, Quatre could not hold it any longer. He started to weep, dropping his head and crying. His tears slid down his face, mixing with his blood and washing them away. Duo did not move, his face averted so that he may not watch Quatre's moments of weakness. But Quatre wept even harder, his tears amounting for himself…and for Duo who refused to weep.
He tried to swallow his tears when he felt a presence re-appear behind them. He felt Heero's presence, but knew that the person who stood behind them was not Heero. It was Valgaav.
The tall yellow-eyed man looked at the fallen bodies of the knocked out mob, then at the one dead man, at the bloodstained Duo, and finally at the injured, weeping Quatre. "I watched everything."
Quatre, in his haze of pain and anguish was minutely surprised that Duo had not already gone for the man's throat. Valgaav knelt beside Quatre and placed a hand on his wounded shoulder. Quatre flinched away, loathing at the man's touch. But Valgaav held him still and his hand started to glow.
Quatre suddenly felt like he was swimming through a stream, his mind clearing and the pain in his body drifting away with the currents. The raging emotions calmed, and he regained control of his emotions and the emotions leaking from Duo. He blinked when the hand left him and looked down at his shoulder. His clothes clean, his wound gone.
"A simple healing spell." Said Valgaav. Quatre blinked at him in shock then looked to Duo who was also watching wide-eyed.
Quatre then moved away and demanded, "Why did you leave us! We were almost killed!"
Valgaav looked at him oddly. "I knew that you did not need my help."
Quatre blinked again, not knowing how to answer.
Valgaav smirked at his expression. "You don't need me to protect you that much, Infant. I knew you had the power to stop the mob. You just were sloppy and missed one. But your friend here dealt with that, even if the outcome is…unappealing."
Duo shouted, "I killed a man!"
"Who was about to kill the Infant here. Do you regret saving him?"
"No…I…" Duo swore, his hands clenching into fists, the blood drying onto his hands. "I swore never to kill again! I could have knocked him out…I could have done something else to avoid killing!"
"But he is dead now, and the Infant is alive. Deal with it."
Duo hissed, "Son of a Bitch."
Valgaav shrugged and stood up, reaching to his white pants he pulled out a small canteen and threw it at Duo. "Wash that stuff off your hands. We still have to reach Philia."
Duo caught it, and silently washed the blood from his hands. Once done, he wiped them on the grass. They were ready to go. Quatre stayed clear of Valgaav, staying near Duo. Trying to ignore as his friend rubbed his hands together, and of the soft movement that came from Duo's lips:
It won't wash off…it will never wash off…
TO BE CONTINUED…hehehe
HOW DID YOU LIKE IT?!