Moonlit Masquerade
Chapter 2: Questions, and Flashbacks
By: Katsuya Maxwell

Author's Notes: Phew! Do ya know how long it took to get this idea? It took months! And, I have a new comp y'all so, I should have no more problems with it crashing anytime soon. Hopefully.... Well, you had better review other wise... I'LL DISCONTINUE!! And, I'm trying to contemplate if I don't get a lot of reviews, should I just take it off or let someone else do it.. because to put it to the point, I'm losing my inspirations. R/R!

Disclaimers: The Usual Apply!

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They heard a lot of noise coming from Wufei's room and saw Duo and Wufei running about. Karissa stuck out her foot and Wufei was sent flying onto the floor again. "You should really watch where you're going," she said coolly and grinned. "So now what?" Duo asked looking at everyone.
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(Next morning)
Duo opened his eyes slowly, still tired from the day before, and slightly sore from all the falling. He glanced at his alarm clock, and his eyes widened when he noticed that it was 6:00 in the morning. He silently walked down stairs, and smelling cinnamon tea, he peeked into the kitchen. 'No one in here. Whoever it was must have gone back to sleep. Oh well! More cinnamon tea for me!' Duo thought, licking his lips. He was just wearing long black pants, and no shirt, meaning his good body was basically being exhibited for whoever walked into the kitchen to see. His hair was not neatly combed, and gave him a wild appearance, not to mention, the way his eyes seemed to drink the tea, made him look like a young child.

Unknown to him, Hotaru was leaning against the wall, sipping at her tea quietly. A smile played with her lips, threatening to make her giggle at his cute appearance. She was careful not to reveal her presence, so she just had her head peeking behind a wall. When he sat down to stretch himself out, her eyes moved along the muscles on his chest, a small grin escaping her shell.

"It's not good to spy on people, you know," Duo said, not even looking at her. She stepped out from behind her corner, stomping on the remainders of her interest in him. Duo stood up, and went outside onto the back patio. He sat down, enjoying the soft breeze of morning air, and the beautiful sunrise. Hotaru sat in the chair next to him, and carefully sipped at her tea, her eyes half closed from the brightness of the large and neverending star. "So, Hotaru, are you leaving today?" Duo asked, trying to get rid of the silence.

"Yes, I am. Trying to get rid of me?" Hotaru asked, relaxing under the beauty of the morning. "You're very popular in school, aren't you?" Hotaru asked, not really paying attention. "Yes, I mean, no. I mean.... Well, no, I'm not trying to get rid of you... and yes, I am sorta popular," Duo said, getting his speech tied up. Hotaru giggled involuntarily, but when she stopped, the day seemed to promise happiness for Duo. Duo turned his head, and looked at Hotaru's relaxed form under the sun, noticing the way her hair seemed to be outlined in gold, and her eyes seemed to glow.

Her laughter sent butterflies fluttering around in his stomach, and the way her eyes seemed to stare through his soul, gave him chills. No other girl could do that, especially not any smart girl. He was afraid of this feeling she gave him, this feeling of security and the promise of happiness; Duo was afraid for the first time, and did something he never thought he would do....

Duo stood up quickly, and quietly said, "I need to get some more tea." He walked back inside with a brisk step, hoping he didn't offend her in any way.

....Duo ran. He walked away from this strange girl, tempted to run away, and locked himself into his room. He went upstairs anyway, not to hide, but to change so he could go shopping for supplies at the mall. The mall was his escape, his escape away from the strange emotions tugging at his heart like a whirlpool, threatening to pull his head off so he could be lost forever. Duo, lost in his thoughts, stepped into the shower, letting the warm water cascade down his back.

'Do I want to be pulled free from the chains that hold me down? Do I really want to head into the storm, and discover its secrets? Do I really want to fall down a bottomless pit, falling into endless violet?' he asked himself over and over. He put his right hand on the wall, allowing the water to drip down from his long hair, as he thought about those violet eyes...

He closed his eyes, as a flashback of a recent event found its way to the front of the line, in Duo's mind.

*Flashback*
"REAPER'S SILENCE!" Death shouted, letting a black energy orb slam into one of the strangely dressed sailor senshi. "...SHAKING!" a voice shouted from behind him. He quickly jumped up into the air, letting the attack pass by from under him. 'That was a close call,' Duo thought.

Not many survivors left, just a few of the ultimately transformed goddesses.... Supreme Goddess Serenity, Supreme Goddess Mars, Supreme Goddess Uranus... They were split up and right now, only Supreme Goddesses Serenity, and Uranus were together. He scanned the battle field to check how accurate his list was, but his eyes locked with another. 'Oh god! She can't be... she's now fully awaken....' Shinigami thought. Violet eyes softened at his sight, but they were soon replaced by orbs of black-violet... it was Shinimegami. His heart seemed to leap out of his chest at the sight of his past lover, and forgetting about the battles he landed in front of her.

She smiled at him, and he quickly embraced her, his scythe disappearing from his hands. "Taru-chan, you have decided to come with me and the others, right?" Death asked, not letting go of her. "Duo, how much do you love me?" Hotaru asked. "I would die for you, darling," he responded, still holding her. "That's good," Shinimegami responded, her voice cold. Before Death could ask any questions, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach. He backed away from her, a dagger sticking out of his stomach, and fell on the ground, afraid to move.

'Was this my fate? To die by my own "love's" hands? I should have known the world has no place for me,' Death thought. "Why?" he asked, in a soft voice. She looked down upon him, her emotionless eyes staring into his, before she finally replied, "I never loved you." "But, how about the Silver Millenium, and the nights we shared?" Death asked. "What about them?" she countered, her voice dead. "YOU TRAITOR!" he shouted, his soul flaring up with anger. The Supreme Goddess Mars tried to approach, but Shinimegami glared at her, warning her silently to keep away. "You never loved me, you used me to just kill me!" Death yelled. "Don't mistaken me, D-chan," at his nickname he flinched, "I like you. I like you a lot and those nights... well I really enjoyed them."

"How much could you have possibly liked me?!" he shouted in rage. Shinimegami kneeled down beside him, and kissed him, allowing him one more kiss. She twisted the dagger in his stomach, making him cough up blood, and look at her with pure sadness. "This is how much I like you," she said. She gave it one more sickening twist, and he died, a pure look of sorrow on his face. A single tear fell from her eyes, landing on his face, as she leaned down and kissed his cold lips. "Gomen. It has to be this way. Aishiteru, Death," she whispered for only her to hear. She stood up and saw only Mars, standing there in a ripped red Chinese dress, with a dragon on the dress, breathing out fire. On the back in the center of a circle was the sign of fire, it seemed to almost glow with flames as well.
*END FLASHBACK*

Duo opened his eyes, remembering that cold and tragic event. Suddenly, the wall his hand was on, turned to glass as he stared at his true self. A figure covered by black garments...no... covered by darkness and shadows, looked at him from under a dark hood. Its cobalt blue eyes stared at him, and an evil smile settled upon its face, adding on to the already sinister look cast by the deadly scythe. It was Shinigami... not Death... just cold and sick (AN: I don't mean the 'cough cough' I have a headache sick. I mean the really gross sick.) Shinigami... the now true form of the Bringer of Death.

Duo punched the glass, shattering it, making it change back to a normal wall. His fist was cut open, letting cool blood trickle down into the drain, and wash away. He sighed, and turned off the water, then stepped out, drying himself off. He slid on a pair of blue jeans, and tossed his towel on the laundry basket. At that moment, Ayane walked in, and said shyly, "I'm sorry to bother you, Duo. But, I can't seem to find a bathroom or my room."

Duo looked at Ayane, then Ayane saw the open wounds on his hand. "Duo?! What the heck were you doing?" she asked, forgetting herself. She took his hand, then dragged him out of the room, "Which way to the kitchen?"

"Downstairs," Duo replied. She pulled him downstairs, and into the kitchen, letting go of his hand to look for some bandages. She pulled some out and with great dexterity she cleaned his wounds, then wrapped his hand. "What were you trying to do, kill yourself in the shower?" Ayane asked, glaring at him. Duo grinned, "I didn't know that you cared so much." Ayane looked at him, and rolled her eyes, "Do you always joke about things?"

"No, I can be serious," Duo said, after a moment's thought. "You thought about it. You lie," Ayane pointed out to him. "Okay... okay.. ya caught me detective," Duo said, smiling his smooth smile. "I owe you for saving Quatre's life," Duo told her, as they went back upstairs. He was taking her to her room, so she could change.

"It was nothing," Ayane said, looking at the nicely decorated halls. "I owe you, and that's that. So, I have a favor to ask," Duo said, stopping her to look at Ayane closely. She raised an eyebrow, keeping a calm face, but inside her heart was strangely racing, "What's that Duo?"

"I was wondering if you would like to go to the mall with me," Duo said, his cobalt blue eyes pleading. "The mall? Sure!" Ayane said, glad she could buy some new clothes. "Alrighty, then," Duo said, smirking. He escorted her to her room, and waited by the door, so he could lead her downstairs.

Karissa had just awakened, and stepping out of her room she spotted Duo. "Why are you waiting outside of Ayane's bedroom?" she asked, looking at him suspiciously. Saria sleepily opened the door to the room she was sleeping in, and said, "What's going on and Duo, why ya waiting for Ayane?"

"Well, we're going to the mall," Duo replied, inside he was debating whether it was a good or bad idea to tell them that. "Can we come?" Reiya asked, leaning on the stair railing. Obviously she had been up while he was in the shower, or in the kitchen with Ayane. "I guess..." Duo said, thinking, 'Definitely a bad idea.'

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Author's Notes: Well, this story gets harder and harder to write. I am sorry about not posting a lot lately, but I'm running out of ideas, and I know this is something I don't spend at the mall! Anyhow, I hope you all review. If you have any... and I do mean ANY ideas, e-mail me or put it in a review. My e-mail is:

KatsuyaMaxwell@betaweb.org