Disclaimer: All rights and privileges to Shin Kidousenki Gundam Wing are trademarks and property of Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency, and associated parties. The characters of these works are used WITHOUT permission for the purpose of entertainment only. This work of fiction is not meant for sale or profit.
Author's Note: This is an alternate reality fanfic where vampires, witches, werewolves, zombies, etc. exist. Also, all the scenes in the cartoon with Trieze standing out in the daylight, they never happened. The events of this story take place after the Gundam Wing series last episode and before "The Endless Waltz". Thanks. Please send all comments to Jennifer Bratcher, at slaybrat@aye.net and/or slayerbrat@yahoo.com. Thank you very much. I hope you like my serious stuff as much as my comedy.
A Shade Darker
Part One
Duo was glad to be back home. He wanted to see Hilde and get back to work as possible. Being the Scourge of the Underworld (his current nickname this week) was a calling that he had no control over. It wasn't like being a Gundam pilot. If he had wanted to, he could have refused Professor G's offer to be the Deathscythe pilot, but, along with fighting the Forces of Darkness, Duo had a natural talent for piloting and salvaging.
He whistled as he approached his junkyard, where he was surprised to see that Hilde wasn't waiting for him. "Hilde!" he shouted out, all of his senses on full alert. They could have found me. A former White Fang solder that was turned, I wouldn't be surprised, Duo thought as he pulled out his pistol. It was loaded with silver bullets for the supernatural. Most things of the supernatural could be killed with silver. Like vampires and werewolves.
He moved slowly, almost a shadow. The others had always wondered how he could sneak around things so easily. It wasn't because his Gundam had hyperjammers, even though that helped, but it was his Calling. He was born into this life and he had powers to help give him an even chance against the dark nastys he faced.
He moved quicker than a normal person. He was just a bit stronger. He could move undetected by the supernatural. His blood couldn't be drunk by a vampire; it was poison to them. He could sense the undead and when magic was used. He was empathic, meaning, he could sense others' emotions. He also healed faster than most.
When Oz had captured him and beat him, he was in worse condition than when Heero found him. He could survive most injuries if he had enough time. When he had broken onto Moon Base and let the scientists beat him the reason he didn't cry out was because he had hurt worse while fighting vampires.
"Hilde," he called out again as he entered their main office. Duo was shocked to see Hilde laughing with a guy their age with reddish brown hair. He was good looking, Duo had to admit in a heterosexual way, and the God of Death was jealous.
Hilde stood up. Her black hair fell into her clear blue eyes as she smiled at him. Duo always had the urge to push that hair back from her face with his fingers, and now, with that guy sitting beside her, he knew that he wasn't going to get the chance.
He could sense both of their nervousness and their joy for each other. Great. Damn empathy, he thought dryly as he plastered his trademark smile on his face. He put his gun away and said, "Sorry, Hilde, I'm just a bit jumpy."
She replied, "It's okay, Duo. I want you to meet Cye Acht. Cye, this is Duo Maxwell."
The guy stood up and looked at Duo with clear aqua eyes. He said, in a faint Australian accent, "Hello. It's nice to meet you, and an honor. A Gundam pilot, I can't believe it."
Duo shook his hand and said, "Hi, any friend of Hilde's is a friend of mine." Yeah right. Come on, why can't you be some evil warlock or a vampire? Damn it. It's just not fair, he thought to himself, keeping the trademark grin plastered on his face. "So, how did you meet Hilde?" he asked, trying to keep his voice pleasant. Heero would have known that something was wrong with him, surprisingly, Hilde didn't.
Maybe I was wrong, he thought sadly, but he was glad that Hilde had found a nice normal guy.
******
Earth, Unknown
Trowa's body was on fire. He could bearly move. He stumbled in the snow, falling flat on his face. The cold didn't bother him, and he could see much better in the dark. He could make out animals moving in the pitch darkness, twigs swaying in the breeze on the trees at great detail. He could hear animals in their burrows, things moving in the woods. The tantalizing scent of a rabbit reached his nose, then a deer.
He rose up, some part of his brain that he didn't know he had taking over. He became focused, searching for his prey. His fangs were throbbing in anticipation. His whole body was ready for the kill. He ran into the woods.
The deer looked at him with soft, liquid black eyes. Trowa held her gaze as he stood there. The doe didn't move. He walked over to her, placing his hand on her nuzzle, stroking the velvety fur there. He didn't remove eye contact during the whole time.
He leaned his face up against the doe's throat, then turned into it. The doe started to shy away. Trowa grabbed hold of her and sank his new fangs into her throat.
******
"So, how did you two meet?" Duo asked, still grinning.
Cye smiled and answered, "On Peacemillion, actually. I was one of the medical officers there under Sally Po."
"He helped take care of me after you saved me," Hilde told him.
Hell, sometimes being a Gundam pilot was more complicated than being a vampire hunter. Right now was one of those times. Duo smiled and said, "Well, thanks. Ya know, Hilde's one of my best friends, and I'm glad that she made it out okay." Yeah best friend, not girlfriend.
"Well, you're the one who saved her," Cye pointed out. Yeah, but if it wasn't for me, she wouldn't have gotten in that trouble.
Hilde said, "I wanted you to meet Cye sooner, but with all that happened with Libra and everything . . ."
"It's cool Hilde. I understand. I'm just glad to meet ya," Duo said cheerfully. She was happy. Their nervousness was completely washed away with that. He sensed their happiness and that made him feel good about Hilde. They just weren't meant to be.
He stood up and shook Cye's hand. He said, "Well, you take Hilde out and have some fun."
"Duo, what about the yard?" Hilde asked him. She wanted to go out, but he was sensing loyalty for him.
He grinned and said, "It's okay, Hilde. I can watch it. Go out with your boyfriend." He waved at them as Cye took her hand and they walked out of the door.
The comlink beeped. Duo slid over to the communication screen and turned it on. He was surprised to see an old priest on the screen. He had a square-jaw, thick snow white hair, and steely blue eyes.
Anyone who was a warrior against the Forces of Darkness knew who he was. This was Father Kincad. Kincad was a paladin for the church before he became a priest. Besides, he was the one who could find the people with the special bloodlines that had the abilities to be vampire hunters. He had found Duo at Maxwell's Church.
"Father Kincad, how may I help you?" Duo asked respectively.
Kincad answered, "Duo, there is a time of great Darkness coming."
"And I care how?" Duo asked, just a tad pissed.
"It's your calling, boy," the priest told him sharply.
Duo turned away. He knew what it meant. Many of the great hunters of the past, Anita Blake, Liam O'Rouke, William Smythe, Alex Harris, had died stopping the Cycle of Darkness. It happened every thousand years. It was when the first vampire tried to summon up the Elder Demons from Hell. It was a nasty time. Vamp activity increased, promises were broken, and humans died under the cover of darkness.
It just happened to be Duo's luck that the Cycle was about to come to a head. Duo didn't want to die. Not now, not ever, well, at least until he was old and grey, with his pretty wife at his side and a number of cute grandchildren and beautiful children at his side. And a pretty nurse with a nice cleavage to fuss over him.
Kincad snapped, "It is your duty. You were born into this life."
"I was born into Death. You should have seen that by now, Father. Everyone around me dies," Duo told him with a wicked grin.
Kincad sighed and said, "If you couldn't be drained, I'd worry about you turning vampire. You're already disgraceful being a Gundam pilot and using that damned Gundanium scythe that you use."
Duo turned away and closed his eyes. He said, "Father, you don't know all the death I've seen. That I've dealt. You sit there in the Vatican on Earth dictating things that belonged in the 20th century, A.D."
Kincad sneered, "You had your fun as a Gundam pilot. Now it's time to fulfill your duty as one of the Called. You have the Calling."
"Burn in hell," Duo told him, knowing fully well that he would shock the old priest. He turned around and indeed, the priest was pissed. His icy blue eyes were flashing at him and he was heaving.
Father Kincad stuttered, "How dare you . . ."
"I dare a lot, man. I am the God of Death, I gave up on your faith along time ago, Kincad," Duo replied with a mocking grin.
What Kincad said next was like a shot the gut, "Father Maxwell would be highly disappointed in you, Duo."
Duo froze and approached the screen. The Deathscythe pilot sneered, "Don't you even say that to me." He wanted to go to Earth and the Vatican and kill Kincad himself. Unbidden, images came to his mind.
******
After Colony 190, Maxwell's Church
The nun stepped forward with the scissors in her hand. Duo backed away from her, holding the length of chestnut hair in his hands. The ten-year-old boy told her, "You're not cutting off my hair, Lady."
Sister Helen replied, "I have to, young man. It's simply unsanitary."
"Hell will freeze over first," young Duo told her, protectively holding his locks. The nun's eyes widened as she looked at the little boy who just used such fowl language. Duo told her, "Just stay the hell away from me, Sister."
"Sister Helen, what seems to be the problem?" a deep voice rang out. Duo turned to see a tall man wearing a priest's robes. He had smiling brown eyes and grey hair. He smiled down at Duo as he played with his rosary beads.
Duo asked, "Who are you?"
"My dear boy, I am Father Samuel Maxwell. It's nice to meet you," the Father told him, holding down his hand. Duo looked at him doubtfully.
He told the priest, "I'm leaving soon as I get a chance."
Father Maxwell only smiled and told Sister Helen, "I think there is something else you can do with his hair, am I correct?"
Helen sighed and took out a brush from the folds of her habit. She ran it through Duo's hair, holding him while he tried to squirm away. He relaxed as the tangles were smoothed out of his hair. She deftly plated it down his back. Testing the braid out, Duo swung his head side to side, liking the movement of it, he smiled.
He chirped cheerfully, "Man, I can move easier with this, thanks. Imagine all the things I can steel with this kind of mobility. Thanks, Lady!"
Father Maxwell clasped him on the shoulder and told him, "What if I said there is more to life than being a thief. That you're very important, little Duo."
"What do you mean?" Duo asked skeptically.
"How about I'll show you," the priest suggested.
******
Duo glared at the computer screen and at the smirking priest. He flipped him off and said, "Burn in hell." With that, he shut off the screen. He spun away with his usual energy and started to pace around the office.
The Cycle of Darkness is almost complete, Duo. You can feel it in your blood. That tingle that you've been ignoring at the back of your neck, God of Death. You can feel it, a snide voice told Duo in his head.
"Shut the hell up," Duo told it, still pacing. He had been feeling really uneasy lately. He had trouble sleeping and a wander lust. He thought he wanted to get home, but there was no home for someone of the Calling. Not during the Cycle.
He slammed his fist into the wall. His hand jarred with impact, his knuckles were scraped. His whole hand throbbed and the scrapes burned when he withdrew it from the wall. He had made a huge crack in the wall that was smeared with his blood.
"Damn it," he cursed as he headed off into his room.
******
It was dark. He was running after something. Something that he hated for no reason except that it was bread into his blood. It was a hot, pure, sheer hatred that he had never felt before. The creature turned and snarled at him.
White fangs gleamed in the light, red eyes glowed in the dark. He didn't give it a second thought as he pulled out his gun and shot it right between the eyes. In his cold monotone, he said, "Mission accomplished."
******
Heero Yuy jerked awake. Sweat trickled down the young Gundam pilot's forehead as he looked out the hotel window. He stood up and walked to it. He jerked up the sash, letting the cool air wash over him, whipping at his hair and cooling his flushed skin.
He'd been having this dream for the past two weeks, right after he had delivered the card and bear to Relena. He didn't know what it meant, and since Heero only believed in the logical, he didn't take it as a sign of any kind. It was just disturbing to him.
Exspecaly the fangs and the red eyes part, as well as the sheer hatred that he had felt toward it.
He started to pace the room, which was usual to the Perfect Solder. He couldn't sit still for any long period of time lately either. He had this urge to move, to act, to hunt. He looked around the hotel room. This strange urge was going to drive him insane.
As a wise person once told him: "Live by your feelings." Heero began to pack.
******
Trowa slumped into the snow. A real storm had started up, swirling around the young vampire. He didn't feel the cold, well, he felt it, it just didn't bother him. His hands were shaking as he held his knees.
What sort of monster am I? He thought as he looked up, wrapping his arms around himself. He didn't know what to do. He looked up into the swirling whiteness of the storm, seeing the velvety blackness of night behind him. He stood up and began to walk. Where he was walking, he had no idea, but he knew that he had to get away from here.
******
Duo took one last walk around the colony, to say good bye. He had left Hilde a short note, saying that he had business to take care of and that she may not see him again. He had sent her his love as a friend and told her not to worry about him. Maybe her new squeeze, Cye, would keep her out of trouble. Probably not, but a guy had to hope, didn't he?
The thing about the colonies was that there wasn't true sunlight. Sure, there was the artificial sunlight, but that wouldn't touch a vamp's undead hide. So, vampires could be out 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It was harder to hunt vampires in the colonies, he noticed. They could pose as human so easily. Luckily, he had his sense to help him hone in on the fiends.
He was dressed in his duster and priest outfit, the clothing of the Hunter, even the hat was missing. His silver cross was dangling in plain sight, catching and reflecting off the light. He walked with his usual unconstrained energy, but if any of the Gundam pilots, Relena or Hilde saw him, they wouldn't recognize him. His movements were more carefully planned, more stealthily than ususal, more graceful.
He really did look like the God of Death.
His hair started picking up at the back of his neck and arms. He felt the hum in his head that signaled that the undead was near by. He turned out all of his senses, focusing on the feeling. He wasn't surprised to notice it was an ally.
Vampires liked allys. One could easily drag someone back, drink them, and stash the body there. It was dark, quiet and private. It gave Duo an advantage though. If it was a dead-end ally, the vamp didn't have any where to run except past Duo, which the Hunter liked just fine.
He walked into the ally. Indeed, there was a female vampire wearing leather with a young boy draped in her arms. The boy's hazel eyes were glazed and a euphoric expression was on his face. She'd hypnotized him. No big surprise there.
She looked up at Duo with blood stained fangs and glowing red eyes. She hissed at him and asked, "What are you doing, boy?"
Duo drew his scythe from his duster. He spun it out into the open and rested on it. He quipped, "Hunting."
The feme vamp dropped the boy and approached him, her hips swaying seductively. She told him, "You're a pretty one, you know. I wonder how you'll taste."
Duo grinned and told her, "You can try, but I'll doubt that you'll like the flavor."
"Smart ass," she hissed.
He replied, "I know." She charged at him, which Duo was ready for. He ducked down, swinging the scythe upward. It impaled her. She screamed. It wasn't silver, so she would heal immediately after he shook her off the blade. He shook her off the blade. She rose up, her hands cradling her stomach.
He watched the wound seal up in moments. A vampire's healing capabilities where simply amazing. He spun the scythe. He took her head off in a clean swipe. She exploded into ash before his eyes, littering the ground.
The boy giggled from where he was lying. He's screwed, Duo thought as he walked over to the giggling teenager. The guy was slightly younger than Duo with unruly reddish hair and hazel eyes. A cute kid. That's what he was, a kid. An innocent kid.
Duo got pissed. "Damn it, get up." The boy giggled. Duo hauled him up and slapped him. The boy blinked and looked at Duo. The Deathscythe pilot knew he must have been a sight. Angry violet eyes, flapping black coat, the silver cross, the priest's collar, the braid, and the blood stained scythe. He probably really looked like the God of Death now.
The boy snapped, "What the hell are you doing?"
"Saving your life, you ungrateful ingrate," Duo snapped at him, annoyed, he slammed him into the wall. Not hard enough to hurt him, but to wake him out of his stupor.
The boy's eyes became clearer as he looked at Duo. He touched his throat, noticing the puncture marks there, the trickle of blood. He blanched. Duo rolled his eyes and thought, Took ya long enough, pal.
The boy said, "That girl . . ."
"Yeah," Duo said with a nod. He looked down at his watch. He only had half an hour to make it to the shuttle station. Better make it quick with the kid and leave. Duo told him, "Yeah, takes necking to a whole new meaning, doesn't it? Yeah, vampires are real, yadda yadda, but you won't see them again, blah blah, and your life's changed forever. Got it, good." He patted the boy's shoulder and turned to leave.
The boy called out, "Hey, you're one of the Gundam pilots, aren't you?"
He almost gets killed by a vampire, and he notices that I'm a Gundam pilot. Duo almost laughed as he headed out of the ally. He took off running back to the salvage shop.
******
Heero got on the shuttle. He felt a strange tingling on the back of his neck and arms. It felt like the hairs there were standing on end, and an uncomfortable feeling in his brain. Like a buzzing that was focusing on something. It was the same way he had felt when he met Trieze, he realized.
Someone, a girl his age with long, wine-colored hair and pale green eyes looked at him. She was dressed in a black turtleneck sweater and jeans. That was the girl he was getting the feeling from. She smiled and waved at Heero.
When the shuttle landed, Heero went after her. He had to kill her. He couldn't explain it. He just had to make sure that she was dead. He hated her. There was something wrong about her.
Heero looked around, he had just missed her.
******
Trowa had made it back to the village. He couldn't go back to the circus. What would they think of him there? He didn't want to see the fear in Cathrine's face when she found out what he was now. A vampire.
He was stronger, faster, and his senses were more keen, and he had other powers as well. His heart didn't beat in his chest. He was undead. Strangely enough, he could hear Duo Maxwell saying, "Trowa a vampire, cool! I wanna be a vampire. Hey Trowa, change me!"
He leaned back in the ally and sighed. His breath didn't make a little puff of white steam in the air. He didn't breathe either. His lungs just simulated the act of breathing to make him look more human. A rat skittered by.
Trowa was on it in an instant, holding the fowl creature down. It disgusted him to sink his teeth into its throat and drink. There was precious little blood in the rodent and he was still hungry.
"Trowa Barton, well this is a surprise," a familiar voice said mockingly.
He looked up and the first thing that he said was, "You're dead. Wufei killed you."
Trieze Kushrenada smiled and replied, "I am undead, technically, just as you are my fine friend."
"Go away, leave me alone," Trowa hissed.
"With your rats?" Trieze asked, pushing at the rat with his shining black boot. He wasn't in his Oz uniform, but he was elegantly dressed in knee high black boots, black slacks, and a royal blue shirt. A black cape swirled around his shoulders, making him look like an elegant vampire.
Trowa could sense power radiating off of him. He felt threatened, so he backed up and snarled.
Trieze smiled and said, "Trowa, I just wish to help you."
"Why should I trust you?" Trowa sneered between clenched fangs.
Trieze smiled elegantly and answered, "Well, I'm the only one who knows and understand what you are going through, my lovely Gundam pilot."
"Burn in hell," Trowa snarled, backing up.
"You're hungry. Do you really want to kill someone like this, Trowa? Drain their blood?"
Trowa hissed, "Go away."
Trieze smiled again and replied, "Trowa, Trowa, Trowa. You don't. I can help you."
"I don't need your help," Trowa said proudly.
"Fine," Trieze said as he drifted out of the ally.
Trowa felt something wrong. He got an image in his head. He was at the circus. Catharine was talking to him. Smiling. He lured her in with his gaze and she froze. He could play with her mind, make her do things that she would never do if he saw fit.
The power gave Trowa an incredible rush. He laughed. He took her carefully in his arms. She was warm and soft against the lithe planes of his body. He nuzzled her aurbren hair away from her neck. He breathed in her warm, sweet, spicy scent. She smelled like cinnamon and sunlight.
He kissed the place on her throat where her pulse throbbed beneath the surface. With a quick flick of his tongue, he licked the warm, saltiness of her skin. She sighed and leaned against him. He felt his fangs lengthen and throb with anticipation. He smiled as he penetrated her skin and began to drink her warm, sweet blood.
Trowa gasped and found that he was back in the ally. He had enjoyed the vision. He shivered as he stood up. He called out, "Trieze!"
The vampire was back in the ally, smiling beautifully at him, his rich blue eyes twinkling. He asked, "Yes, Trowa?"
Trowa shuttered inwardly. This went against everything he knew. He answered, "Help me."
Trieze held out his hand and Trowa took it.
To Be Continued in Part 2!