Everything was pitch black all of a sudden. No matter how large he made his eyes, Duo still couldn't see anything, not even the back of his own hand. Turning left, Duo stared into empty space; everything was a big dark hole, yawning up at him and eager to swallow him up. "Where the hell am I?" he asked, somewhat rhetorically.
Suddenly, something flickered to his right, and he quickly turned around. However, as soon as he was facing that side, the flame disappeared. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the flicker again, and once again turned right. But like the last time, it disappeared as soon as he was facing it. "Stay still, you friggin' thing!" he growled, turning in circles and trying to find the elusive flame.
A few minutes later, a silky, female voice spoke so suddenly Duo jumped. "Hello, my dear, and welcome." As soon as she finished the sentence, the whole room lit up and walls of flame surrounded Duo.
"Who are you?" he demanded, his face turning red from a combination of anger and exhaustion from the day's earlier events. "And what is this place?"
"Ah, my son. You don't recognize your own home?" The fire parted to reveal a beautiful woman, dressed in black with silver cuffs. Her hair, chestnut brown, was bound in a single braid behind her back. There was smile on her lips, warm and welcome.
But Duo hardly felt warmed or welcomed. "Son? Home?" With his insides turning with anxiety and his face hot with heat, Duo was definitely not a happy person. And being confused just added to his rage. "What're you talking about?!"
If anything, the woman's smile got brighter. "This is your home, Duo love. This...is Hell." The woman swept her arms apart, and the flames rose even higher. Shadows danced on the light, showing people bent over with fatigue and weariness. A high-pitched scream sounded, sending shivers up Duo's spine. "Don't you recognize it?"
"He...e...e...ll?" Duo stuttered, his eyes wide as his irritation lay momentarily forgotten. The light of the fire reflected off his violet eyes, making them glow even brighter. "You've got to be kidding me."
"Death hardly lies, dear," the woman said, raising her eyebrows.
"You're Death?" He stared at the woman, who met him eye to eye. Before she could answer, he looked around and asked, "And how come this fire doesn't hurt me? Is it fake or something? You know, illusion?"
The woman shook her head. "You are Shinigami, the Lord of Death. Fire can't harm you, especially not in your own home."
Duo turned to stare at the woman again. "Shinigami? Man, and I thought I was making that up…"
A chuckle came out of the lady's throat. "You have so much to remember, love," she said.
"Well, if I'm the Lord of Death, then you must be the Grim Reaper, right?" he asked, halfway jokingly.
She shook her head. "No. That's your father. I am your mother, Shi no Tenshi, the Angel of Death."
"…Angel?" he managed to choke out. "You don't look much of an angel..." She did look like an angel, actually, dressed as elegantly as she was and with her heart-shaped face lifted high up on a slender neck.
A look of hurt flashed across her face before she regained her composure. "Well, that's who I am."
Duo swallowed hard and wiped his sweaty hands on his pants. "So…why am I here?"
Shi no Tenshi looked at him, long and hard. "You really don't remember..." she sighed. "Your father died one of your years ago, and I've been holding the place together. But I can't handle it much longer...we need you to take the place. That's why I summoned you."
But Death's immortal! He can't die!" Duo protested. All thoughts of Heero were completely wiped out of his mind.
Shi no Tenshi nodded. "True. I'm not sure how he died, but he did." Duo's mother beckoned to him. "Now come along. I want to show you your kingdom."
Duo was about to follow when the little voice of reason spoke in his mind. 'You're not really going, are you? What proof has she that she's your mother?' Duo hesitated.
The lady in front of him turned around and looked at him questioningly. Her eyes sought his, and he realized something startling. She looked like him. Or rather, he looked like her. They had the same heart face, the same brown hair, and, to top it off, they had the same violet eyes. "Aren't you coming?"
With his voice of reason silenced, there was nothing to stop him. "Of course," he said, and scampered after her.
~*~*~
With the tour of Hell almost over, Shi no Tenshi and her son stopped for a rest. "Wow, but this place is ~big~," Duo remarked. Was that a good or bad thing?
She sighed and nodded. "Yes it is. All the evil in the world…" She sighed again. "But…not everyone down here is evil…"
Duo looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"There are people down here with pure hearts that were damned because they killed." She looked around her. "Shocking as it is to Christians like you, it's true. The one section I haven't taken you through is the dungeon for those that have killed." She hesitated.
He noticed her hesitation almost immediately. "So why not? We can go now."
Shi no Tenshi shook her head. "No, we can't."
"Why not?"
"Because…" She turned her face away, refusing to look Duo in the eyes. "I have my reasons."
Duo narrowed his eyes but decided not to push the subject. At least, not for now. Shi no Tenshi, encouraged by his silence, looked up again. "So are you ready to take over?"
He blinked. "Take over?" he asked somewhat dumbly.
"Of course take over," she said. "You're the heir. You're Shinigami."
Duo blinked again. His mind was operating at a super-slow pace, thinking through everything she'd just said and everything he'd just seen on his little 'tour' through Hell. Then, suddenly, he came up with a somewhat brilliant idea. "Maybe," he said. "But you have to show me the last section before I make my decision."
Taken aback by her son's words, Shi no Tenshi recoiled as if struck. She faltered. "But…Duo…" He looked at her, trying to appear stern. "I don't…" She looked at him again and sighed. "As you wish."
She stood up and Duo followed triumphantly. She looked at him one last time before turning to the path. "Come with me."
Duo followed her obediently as they walked down the path together, son behind mother. A few yards ahead was a gate, which opened automatically as Shi no Tenshi and Shinigami came into view. They entered and the gate shut again.
Duo looked around him, slightly shocked by what he saw. The place was different…much different…then what he'd seen already of Hell. Heavy chains were draped across the section, leading from the ceiling to the floor. Men and women alike were toiling away, sweating profusely as the flames licked at their feet.
Duo let his eyes wander from figure to figure, when suddenly he froze. That one in the corner, with the shock of dark hair… Was it…? Duo stepped forward and tripped over a huge link of chain. The whole chain rattled. The man he'd been watching looked up at the sound and Duo nearly fainted.
Heero. It was Heero. That not-boy-but-not-quite-man face definitely belonged to Heero. His Heero. With a cry of half joy, half relief, Duo started to sprint forwards but was stopped by a cold hand on his shoulder. "You mustn't, Duo," Shi no Tenshi said softly.
He turned to glare at her. "He's my friend!" he hissed angrily.
A look of sorrow crept into her eyes. "That's why I didn't want you to come here…"
"You…" Duo sputtered. "You mean, you knew Heero was here all along and you knew he was my friend and you didn't TELL me?!"
His mother opened his mouth to say something, changed her mind, and closed it again. A pleading look came over her face.
"I don't believe you…" Fighting to keep his voice steady, Duo went on. "Release him. I demand you to release him now! Oh hell, if I'm Shinigami, I may as well release him myself!" With a final huff, he took a stride forward. Then he stopped.
Everyone had stopped whatever they were doing by then and were staring at him and Shi no Tenshi. They were all silent and attentive, Heero especially. Duo blinked in surprise. The Japanese boy had moved up and was standing almost right next to him by the time Duo had finished ranting. "Um…hi Heero," he said meekly.
"What are you doing here?"
Duo tried to grin. "What, there's no 'hi Duo, so glad to see you,' for me?" Heero arched an eyebrow. "Well…uh…I'm…"
Shi no Tenshi broke in. "He's visiting his kingdom."
Heero turned his gaze to the woman. "M'lady."
Duo looked from him to Shi no Tenshi and then back. "You know her?"
"I've seen her around."
Duo sighed. "Is it just me, or is this getting kind of complicated?"
Shi no Tenshi sighed too. "It's getting complicated."
A small smile spread across Heero's face. "Mother and son…"
Duo snapped his head up. "How'd you know?"
He shrugged. "You look the same, you think the same, you talk the same… The list can go on for a long time."
Duo felt a sudden pull at his heart. Heero had noticed. After all these years of 'Oh, it's just Duo,' Heero had actually noticed what kind of a person Duo was. And he had even noticed Duo enough to be able to compare him to Shi no Tenshi. Duo blinked. 'Oh hell no! I'm not falling in love with him! Not now!' Falling in love could wait for later…
He turned to Shi no Tenshi. "Let him free. Please, can't you? If you're in charge here, can't you let him go? Give him his life back?"
Shi no Tenshi looked down at her son and suddenly felt as if she were going to cry. The one thing he'd ever requested and she couldn't give it to him… She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Duo."
"Why not?" Duo was using all his self-control to keep his voice reasonable and not angry or whiny.
Her dark eyebrows bunched together in a frown. "I can't, love. His soul is scarred from all the murders he's committed. I can't."
"HE DIDN'T KILL BECAUSE HE WANTED TO!" Duo cried. "LET HIM GO!" Heero looked surprised at Duo's sudden burst of anger.
"I can't! Understand that, Duo. I can't let him go!"
"Why not?" Duo was breathing heavily now, and the only that stopped him from attacking her was the fact that she was his mother. And that Heero was standing right there next to him, and he didn't want to make himself seem any stupider then he already was. "Why not?" he repeated.
"Because each person he kills is like another chain added on, binding him to Hell, hence all the chains," she explained. "I can't release him from them."
Duo closed his eyes tightly, denying what he'd just heard and seen. "But he...he can't stay here!"
"I'm sorry..." Shi no Tenshi looked like she was about to break down at any moment.
Duo was about to say more to her, less offensive and more comforting because he didn't want to see her hurt, when suddenly the ground opened up and he dropped through. The last thing he saw before he entered oblivion again was Heero's face. 'Heero…'
~*~*~
Duo bolted awake, panting heavily, sweat covering his forehead. "It was a nightmare," he said, trying to reassure himself. "Just a nightmare." But then a sudden flicker of flame that had definitely ~not~ come from a candle jumped at the foot of his bed before vanishing. 'Okay, not a nightmare...'
Then he realized something. "I've got to save Heero!" He slipped out of bed and hastily changed into jeans and a white shirt, then pulled on his shoes and ran out the door.
~*~*~
It was raining, and Duo stumbled a lot in his haste, but he finally made it to the cemetery. The old gate creaked as he entered, causing his hand to unconsciously fly to the cross he wore around his neck.
Quietly, he walked over to Heero's grave and gently pressed the 'H' on the tombstone, opening up a door that wasn't there before. How he knew to do this, he didn't know, but at least he now had an opening. He tumbled down the stairs and into the familiar setting of Hell. Two huge Dobermans out of a nightmare rushed out of the darkness and straight at him, but then stopped as they recognized him as the Lord of Death. "Good dogs," Duo said absently, patting them on their heads as they whined and wagged their tails furiously.
Duo then took in a deep breath and walked forward, staring at the yawning tunnel ahead of him. 'This is your home...it's all right. You can go in…go on in…'
After what seemed like eternity in a dark tunnel, Duo stepped out into light, greeted by the thick, unmistakable air of fear and pain. Once again, he found himself staring at huge chains that glowed red amidst the leaping flames.
A figure was curled up, unmoving, beyond the chains closest to Duo. Unable to stop himself, Duo ran towards the fallen boy and turned him over, unable to stifle a gasp of shock when he recognized who it was. 'But…I supposed it's just right to find Heero where his grave is...' he thought, cradling his friend. 'I better get him out of here though...and fast!'
Duo gently brushed back one of Heero's bangs and asked, "Heero? Can you hear me? It's Duo..."
Heero's eyes fluttered open. "Duo...?" Disbelief was in his voice, but when Duo nodded, he smiled weakly. "So you came back…"
"Yup. Come on. Let's get you out of here." Duo stood up with Heero's arm around his neck and helped him walk towards the steps. A few steps away from the stairs, a yell stopped him.
"That's him! That's the intruder!" A crowd of demons came running towards them, the lead one with eyes flashing red.
A sudden gasp came from the back, stopping the demons' advance, and then the crowd parted for one of the demons. "That's Shinigami! Shi no Tenshi's son!"
A collective gasp went up, and then a demon came up timidly to Duo. "Why are you taking him out?" he asked. "My lord?" he quickly added.
Duo stared at the title but recovered quickly and said fiercely, "Heero's my friend. I can't let him die!"
"But...but if you take every one of your friends out, there won't be any one in here!"
"How do you know?!" Duo defended himself, holding Heero even closer. His heart started to beat at a faster-than-usual rate. He was becoming desperate; he couldn't give his best friend to these demons!
The demons sighed and looked at each other, unsure of what to do. Suddenly, someone at the back called, "The lady's coming!"
Everyone parted as Shi no Tenshi came down, her dress sweeping the ground. "Duo!" she exclaimed, her eyes flashing with anger. "You're not supposed to be down here!"
"You can't take Heero from me!" Duo exclaimed, trembling. "Please!"
Her expression softened. "Oh Duo. I'd let him go if I could...honest! But I can't..."
Duo bit his lip. "Well, I'm not leaving his side!"
"But..."
"I'M NOT LEAVING!" Heero looked up, surprisingly touched by Duo's protectiveness. 'Thank you…' he thought, not heard by anyone.
Shi no Tenshi frowned. "But you can't stay here!"
Duo narrowed his eyes. "I would've sworn you were the one to summon me here in the first place! Hell, this is my kingdom, damn it!"
She took in a shuddering breath and gazed imploringly at her son. "Duo, you can't stay here until you let go of your home on Earth! You're too attached...you can't stay here. You'll die, eventually, if you stay away from the place you belong for too long!"
"But you said I belong here..."
"You're heart and soul are still on Earth, not here. You can't live here until you let go."
"Then I'll let go!" he declared angrily.
"It's not that easy..."
Duo snorted. "Oh, so giving up my best friend is?!"
"I never said that!" Shi no Tenshi's face was twisted with pain. "Oh Duo, you don't know! You couldn't know how much it hurts to watch you every day, but being unable to help you, to be there for you!"
"And now you're against me..." she added softly.
"This better not be an act to get me to leave!" he hissed.
Heero sighed. "Duo..." he mumbled softly. "She's not lying. I can tell...she's not a bad woman...really."
Duo looked down at him. "I want to believe that...I really do!" he answered. "But I can't." He looked back up at his mom.
"I've waited 6 thousand years for you!" Shi no Tenshi exclaimed.
Startled, Duo raised an eyebrow. "How can that be possible?"
Almost sobbing, she explained. "Each of your days is a year for us, over here...and I've waited 17 of your years!"
He looked in horror at Heero, still leaning against him. "You mean...Heero's spent half a year here already?!"
She nodded reluctantly.
"Oh god... I really really have to get him out of here...now!" Duo's mind was set. He was going to get his friend out of here, no matter what the cost. He didn't deserve to be here.
"DUO!" Now his mother's voice held the stern tone that all magically parents had. "Go back, before you waste away down here! I promise I'll watch over Heero until you can come back. I swear I will!"
Duo looked at her, unwilling to hand Heero over. "It's alright, Duo. Go." Heero smiled again, hoping to reassure him.
Hesitation, then confusion, then hundreds of other emotions passed over his face. Finally, Duo sighed but let go of him. "Fine. But you better not do anything to him!" Shi no Tenshi nodded and a small smile of relief lifted the corners of her mouth. Then, with a gesture of her hand, a hole appeared behind Duo.
"Go on, love." Her expression softened. "And come back soon…"
Suddenly, something flickered to his right, and he quickly turned around. However, as soon as he was facing that side, the flame disappeared. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the flicker again, and once again turned right. But like the last time, it disappeared as soon as he was facing it. "Stay still, you friggin' thing!" he growled, turning in circles and trying to find the elusive flame.
A few minutes later, a silky, female voice spoke so suddenly Duo jumped. "Hello, my dear, and welcome." As soon as she finished the sentence, the whole room lit up and walls of flame surrounded Duo.
"Who are you?" he demanded, his face turning red from a combination of anger and exhaustion from the day's earlier events. "And what is this place?"
"Ah, my son. You don't recognize your own home?" The fire parted to reveal a beautiful woman, dressed in black with silver cuffs. Her hair, chestnut brown, was bound in a single braid behind her back. There was smile on her lips, warm and welcome.
But Duo hardly felt warmed or welcomed. "Son? Home?" With his insides turning with anxiety and his face hot with heat, Duo was definitely not a happy person. And being confused just added to his rage. "What're you talking about?!"
If anything, the woman's smile got brighter. "This is your home, Duo love. This...is Hell." The woman swept her arms apart, and the flames rose even higher. Shadows danced on the light, showing people bent over with fatigue and weariness. A high-pitched scream sounded, sending shivers up Duo's spine. "Don't you recognize it?"
"He...e...e...ll?" Duo stuttered, his eyes wide as his irritation lay momentarily forgotten. The light of the fire reflected off his violet eyes, making them glow even brighter. "You've got to be kidding me."
"Death hardly lies, dear," the woman said, raising her eyebrows.
"You're Death?" He stared at the woman, who met him eye to eye. Before she could answer, he looked around and asked, "And how come this fire doesn't hurt me? Is it fake or something? You know, illusion?"
The woman shook her head. "You are Shinigami, the Lord of Death. Fire can't harm you, especially not in your own home."
Duo turned to stare at the woman again. "Shinigami? Man, and I thought I was making that up…"
A chuckle came out of the lady's throat. "You have so much to remember, love," she said.
"Well, if I'm the Lord of Death, then you must be the Grim Reaper, right?" he asked, halfway jokingly.
She shook her head. "No. That's your father. I am your mother, Shi no Tenshi, the Angel of Death."
"…Angel?" he managed to choke out. "You don't look much of an angel..." She did look like an angel, actually, dressed as elegantly as she was and with her heart-shaped face lifted high up on a slender neck.
A look of hurt flashed across her face before she regained her composure. "Well, that's who I am."
Duo swallowed hard and wiped his sweaty hands on his pants. "So…why am I here?"
Shi no Tenshi looked at him, long and hard. "You really don't remember..." she sighed. "Your father died one of your years ago, and I've been holding the place together. But I can't handle it much longer...we need you to take the place. That's why I summoned you."
But Death's immortal! He can't die!" Duo protested. All thoughts of Heero were completely wiped out of his mind.
Shi no Tenshi nodded. "True. I'm not sure how he died, but he did." Duo's mother beckoned to him. "Now come along. I want to show you your kingdom."
Duo was about to follow when the little voice of reason spoke in his mind. 'You're not really going, are you? What proof has she that she's your mother?' Duo hesitated.
The lady in front of him turned around and looked at him questioningly. Her eyes sought his, and he realized something startling. She looked like him. Or rather, he looked like her. They had the same heart face, the same brown hair, and, to top it off, they had the same violet eyes. "Aren't you coming?"
With his voice of reason silenced, there was nothing to stop him. "Of course," he said, and scampered after her.
~*~*~
With the tour of Hell almost over, Shi no Tenshi and her son stopped for a rest. "Wow, but this place is ~big~," Duo remarked. Was that a good or bad thing?
She sighed and nodded. "Yes it is. All the evil in the world…" She sighed again. "But…not everyone down here is evil…"
Duo looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"There are people down here with pure hearts that were damned because they killed." She looked around her. "Shocking as it is to Christians like you, it's true. The one section I haven't taken you through is the dungeon for those that have killed." She hesitated.
He noticed her hesitation almost immediately. "So why not? We can go now."
Shi no Tenshi shook her head. "No, we can't."
"Why not?"
"Because…" She turned her face away, refusing to look Duo in the eyes. "I have my reasons."
Duo narrowed his eyes but decided not to push the subject. At least, not for now. Shi no Tenshi, encouraged by his silence, looked up again. "So are you ready to take over?"
He blinked. "Take over?" he asked somewhat dumbly.
"Of course take over," she said. "You're the heir. You're Shinigami."
Duo blinked again. His mind was operating at a super-slow pace, thinking through everything she'd just said and everything he'd just seen on his little 'tour' through Hell. Then, suddenly, he came up with a somewhat brilliant idea. "Maybe," he said. "But you have to show me the last section before I make my decision."
Taken aback by her son's words, Shi no Tenshi recoiled as if struck. She faltered. "But…Duo…" He looked at her, trying to appear stern. "I don't…" She looked at him again and sighed. "As you wish."
She stood up and Duo followed triumphantly. She looked at him one last time before turning to the path. "Come with me."
Duo followed her obediently as they walked down the path together, son behind mother. A few yards ahead was a gate, which opened automatically as Shi no Tenshi and Shinigami came into view. They entered and the gate shut again.
Duo looked around him, slightly shocked by what he saw. The place was different…much different…then what he'd seen already of Hell. Heavy chains were draped across the section, leading from the ceiling to the floor. Men and women alike were toiling away, sweating profusely as the flames licked at their feet.
Duo let his eyes wander from figure to figure, when suddenly he froze. That one in the corner, with the shock of dark hair… Was it…? Duo stepped forward and tripped over a huge link of chain. The whole chain rattled. The man he'd been watching looked up at the sound and Duo nearly fainted.
Heero. It was Heero. That not-boy-but-not-quite-man face definitely belonged to Heero. His Heero. With a cry of half joy, half relief, Duo started to sprint forwards but was stopped by a cold hand on his shoulder. "You mustn't, Duo," Shi no Tenshi said softly.
He turned to glare at her. "He's my friend!" he hissed angrily.
A look of sorrow crept into her eyes. "That's why I didn't want you to come here…"
"You…" Duo sputtered. "You mean, you knew Heero was here all along and you knew he was my friend and you didn't TELL me?!"
His mother opened his mouth to say something, changed her mind, and closed it again. A pleading look came over her face.
"I don't believe you…" Fighting to keep his voice steady, Duo went on. "Release him. I demand you to release him now! Oh hell, if I'm Shinigami, I may as well release him myself!" With a final huff, he took a stride forward. Then he stopped.
Everyone had stopped whatever they were doing by then and were staring at him and Shi no Tenshi. They were all silent and attentive, Heero especially. Duo blinked in surprise. The Japanese boy had moved up and was standing almost right next to him by the time Duo had finished ranting. "Um…hi Heero," he said meekly.
"What are you doing here?"
Duo tried to grin. "What, there's no 'hi Duo, so glad to see you,' for me?" Heero arched an eyebrow. "Well…uh…I'm…"
Shi no Tenshi broke in. "He's visiting his kingdom."
Heero turned his gaze to the woman. "M'lady."
Duo looked from him to Shi no Tenshi and then back. "You know her?"
"I've seen her around."
Duo sighed. "Is it just me, or is this getting kind of complicated?"
Shi no Tenshi sighed too. "It's getting complicated."
A small smile spread across Heero's face. "Mother and son…"
Duo snapped his head up. "How'd you know?"
He shrugged. "You look the same, you think the same, you talk the same… The list can go on for a long time."
Duo felt a sudden pull at his heart. Heero had noticed. After all these years of 'Oh, it's just Duo,' Heero had actually noticed what kind of a person Duo was. And he had even noticed Duo enough to be able to compare him to Shi no Tenshi. Duo blinked. 'Oh hell no! I'm not falling in love with him! Not now!' Falling in love could wait for later…
He turned to Shi no Tenshi. "Let him free. Please, can't you? If you're in charge here, can't you let him go? Give him his life back?"
Shi no Tenshi looked down at her son and suddenly felt as if she were going to cry. The one thing he'd ever requested and she couldn't give it to him… She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Duo."
"Why not?" Duo was using all his self-control to keep his voice reasonable and not angry or whiny.
Her dark eyebrows bunched together in a frown. "I can't, love. His soul is scarred from all the murders he's committed. I can't."
"HE DIDN'T KILL BECAUSE HE WANTED TO!" Duo cried. "LET HIM GO!" Heero looked surprised at Duo's sudden burst of anger.
"I can't! Understand that, Duo. I can't let him go!"
"Why not?" Duo was breathing heavily now, and the only that stopped him from attacking her was the fact that she was his mother. And that Heero was standing right there next to him, and he didn't want to make himself seem any stupider then he already was. "Why not?" he repeated.
"Because each person he kills is like another chain added on, binding him to Hell, hence all the chains," she explained. "I can't release him from them."
Duo closed his eyes tightly, denying what he'd just heard and seen. "But he...he can't stay here!"
"I'm sorry..." Shi no Tenshi looked like she was about to break down at any moment.
Duo was about to say more to her, less offensive and more comforting because he didn't want to see her hurt, when suddenly the ground opened up and he dropped through. The last thing he saw before he entered oblivion again was Heero's face. 'Heero…'
~*~*~
Duo bolted awake, panting heavily, sweat covering his forehead. "It was a nightmare," he said, trying to reassure himself. "Just a nightmare." But then a sudden flicker of flame that had definitely ~not~ come from a candle jumped at the foot of his bed before vanishing. 'Okay, not a nightmare...'
Then he realized something. "I've got to save Heero!" He slipped out of bed and hastily changed into jeans and a white shirt, then pulled on his shoes and ran out the door.
~*~*~
It was raining, and Duo stumbled a lot in his haste, but he finally made it to the cemetery. The old gate creaked as he entered, causing his hand to unconsciously fly to the cross he wore around his neck.
Quietly, he walked over to Heero's grave and gently pressed the 'H' on the tombstone, opening up a door that wasn't there before. How he knew to do this, he didn't know, but at least he now had an opening. He tumbled down the stairs and into the familiar setting of Hell. Two huge Dobermans out of a nightmare rushed out of the darkness and straight at him, but then stopped as they recognized him as the Lord of Death. "Good dogs," Duo said absently, patting them on their heads as they whined and wagged their tails furiously.
Duo then took in a deep breath and walked forward, staring at the yawning tunnel ahead of him. 'This is your home...it's all right. You can go in…go on in…'
After what seemed like eternity in a dark tunnel, Duo stepped out into light, greeted by the thick, unmistakable air of fear and pain. Once again, he found himself staring at huge chains that glowed red amidst the leaping flames.
A figure was curled up, unmoving, beyond the chains closest to Duo. Unable to stop himself, Duo ran towards the fallen boy and turned him over, unable to stifle a gasp of shock when he recognized who it was. 'But…I supposed it's just right to find Heero where his grave is...' he thought, cradling his friend. 'I better get him out of here though...and fast!'
Duo gently brushed back one of Heero's bangs and asked, "Heero? Can you hear me? It's Duo..."
Heero's eyes fluttered open. "Duo...?" Disbelief was in his voice, but when Duo nodded, he smiled weakly. "So you came back…"
"Yup. Come on. Let's get you out of here." Duo stood up with Heero's arm around his neck and helped him walk towards the steps. A few steps away from the stairs, a yell stopped him.
"That's him! That's the intruder!" A crowd of demons came running towards them, the lead one with eyes flashing red.
A sudden gasp came from the back, stopping the demons' advance, and then the crowd parted for one of the demons. "That's Shinigami! Shi no Tenshi's son!"
A collective gasp went up, and then a demon came up timidly to Duo. "Why are you taking him out?" he asked. "My lord?" he quickly added.
Duo stared at the title but recovered quickly and said fiercely, "Heero's my friend. I can't let him die!"
"But...but if you take every one of your friends out, there won't be any one in here!"
"How do you know?!" Duo defended himself, holding Heero even closer. His heart started to beat at a faster-than-usual rate. He was becoming desperate; he couldn't give his best friend to these demons!
The demons sighed and looked at each other, unsure of what to do. Suddenly, someone at the back called, "The lady's coming!"
Everyone parted as Shi no Tenshi came down, her dress sweeping the ground. "Duo!" she exclaimed, her eyes flashing with anger. "You're not supposed to be down here!"
"You can't take Heero from me!" Duo exclaimed, trembling. "Please!"
Her expression softened. "Oh Duo. I'd let him go if I could...honest! But I can't..."
Duo bit his lip. "Well, I'm not leaving his side!"
"But..."
"I'M NOT LEAVING!" Heero looked up, surprisingly touched by Duo's protectiveness. 'Thank you…' he thought, not heard by anyone.
Shi no Tenshi frowned. "But you can't stay here!"
Duo narrowed his eyes. "I would've sworn you were the one to summon me here in the first place! Hell, this is my kingdom, damn it!"
She took in a shuddering breath and gazed imploringly at her son. "Duo, you can't stay here until you let go of your home on Earth! You're too attached...you can't stay here. You'll die, eventually, if you stay away from the place you belong for too long!"
"But you said I belong here..."
"You're heart and soul are still on Earth, not here. You can't live here until you let go."
"Then I'll let go!" he declared angrily.
"It's not that easy..."
Duo snorted. "Oh, so giving up my best friend is?!"
"I never said that!" Shi no Tenshi's face was twisted with pain. "Oh Duo, you don't know! You couldn't know how much it hurts to watch you every day, but being unable to help you, to be there for you!"
"And now you're against me..." she added softly.
"This better not be an act to get me to leave!" he hissed.
Heero sighed. "Duo..." he mumbled softly. "She's not lying. I can tell...she's not a bad woman...really."
Duo looked down at him. "I want to believe that...I really do!" he answered. "But I can't." He looked back up at his mom.
"I've waited 6 thousand years for you!" Shi no Tenshi exclaimed.
Startled, Duo raised an eyebrow. "How can that be possible?"
Almost sobbing, she explained. "Each of your days is a year for us, over here...and I've waited 17 of your years!"
He looked in horror at Heero, still leaning against him. "You mean...Heero's spent half a year here already?!"
She nodded reluctantly.
"Oh god... I really really have to get him out of here...now!" Duo's mind was set. He was going to get his friend out of here, no matter what the cost. He didn't deserve to be here.
"DUO!" Now his mother's voice held the stern tone that all magically parents had. "Go back, before you waste away down here! I promise I'll watch over Heero until you can come back. I swear I will!"
Duo looked at her, unwilling to hand Heero over. "It's alright, Duo. Go." Heero smiled again, hoping to reassure him.
Hesitation, then confusion, then hundreds of other emotions passed over his face. Finally, Duo sighed but let go of him. "Fine. But you better not do anything to him!" Shi no Tenshi nodded and a small smile of relief lifted the corners of her mouth. Then, with a gesture of her hand, a hole appeared behind Duo.
"Go on, love." Her expression softened. "And come back soon…"
