Pain's Lessons By OmoideKeeper
       Duo paced around the room, watching Zechs who sat on the couch which had appeared in the darkness, a deep crimson seat of comfort. _How *is* this going to end? I don't know, Zechs. I don't know. I love Heero, but whenever I love someone, something goes wrong. The Guardians cause my pain, and so I cause them pain, but it can't be like this forever. It's just an endless circle of hate, and we've learned nothing from it except how to harm one another. I don't want Heero to be hurt, but then again, I never want them to be hurt. I want this to end happily for once, just one time where everyone's happy. Is that too much to ask, Zechs? Don't stand in my way this one time. I need Heero. I need them both._

        "Did you say something, Duo?" Zechs asked, looking up from his thinking. Something had touched his mind, the gentle feeling of another presence sharing a moment, whispering soft words to him, seemed to overcome all barriers he'd thought he'd erected with the God of Death. _Damn it. I don't want this to end like it did five years ago, but it doesn't really matter. I don't want Duo to be alone forever. If I deny him this chance, he'll never be complete, he'll always be wondering what he could've had, what could've been if I'd chosen to let him be his own person, given him a chance to live a life of his own._

        Duo glanced over at the platinum haired man, noticing the tired look in Zechs' eyes. "No," he replied, wondering how long they'd been waiting for this night, the night that would end everything for good or for evil. _Zechs is my enemy, but somehow...he's also my friend. Somehow in the middle of our war, we became something to each other. Sometime during the brief interlude where we loved each other, we learned to understand. Maybe the pain taught us something after all._ "Why?"

        "Never mind. I just thought I heard something," Zechs replied, returning to the darkness of his thoughts. _Something's changed in the world we came from...the world we live in. I can hear something singing in the midst of the darkness, a joyful song. Even if it's really there, and I'm not just going crazy, what's happening? I've never heard anything like this. It's almost as if something happened that could change the entire face of the world...or something's about to happen. What am I supposed to do?_

        "Tell me," Duo asked, his gaze curious as they fell on Zechs. "What do you hear, Zechs? I was listening too. I'll tell you what I heard if you'll tell me," he promised, his eyes honest as they looked into the lighter ones. _Would he really want to know? Would he believe me, think I'm only trying to force him to see what I want? No, this is Zechs I'm talking about. No matter how many times we fight, he always seems to remember those few weeks where we learned so much about ourselves and each other._

        Finally Zechs responded, his eyes slightly bemused as if he couldn't understand why he was agreeing to this obvious madness. "I heard a song. It wasn't like anything I heard before. It seemed so happy, so hopeful." Zechs blushed, realizing how foolish he sounded. As if Shinigami would care about that. _No,_ he realized, _Shinigami wouldn't care. But Duo Maxwell would._ That made all the difference in the world to the blonde, and he smiled inside. Something good was coming, and he knew he'd have to stand aside to let it happen. For Duo's sake.

        Duo looked at Zechs, his eyes capturing the slowly unfreezing ones. "Your sister died. She thought as she left her body, that she wanted you to take over the kingdom she would inherit. She decided that she'd been worse than she ever thought she could be as a girl, and hoped that you'd forgive her." Duo held his breath, hoping he'd done the right thing by telling Zechs. He knew the Guardian hadn't like his sister, but it seemed as though something good would come out of it for the last Guardian. After tonight, Zechs would be out of a job, and Duo wanted to make sure he'd have something to go to. Relena had taken care of that for the God.

        Zechs smiled. So Relena had passed on and he hadn't actually had to do anything. It was rather nice actually to know he'd have a place once his job was finished. _Thank you, Duo, for allowing me this one last thing. I know you didn't order it, but you had a hand in it, even if you don't realize it. For that and for so much else, thank you._

        "Hey, Zechs, let's go check on Heero, ok? I know he said he'd be right back, but it's been a while, and..." Duo trailed off.

        "You're worried about him. Let's go," Zechs sighed, and the two began making their way to the staircase, hoping they wouldn't fall and kill or seriously injure themselves.

        "M-Master," Trowa stammered, his eyes becoming fearful and submissive all at once, obvious confusion apparent in both Heero and himself. Quatre surely didn't know the way to this place within themselves, the sanctuary from the pain both youths had endured. However, there he stood, a golden light radiating from him, calming the midnight around him. "I-I didn't know you were here," he added unnecessarily. The black around him seemed to grow in comparison to the suddenly gentle darkness around the world they saw.

        Heero remained silent, staring at the honey-blonde youth before him, the cerulean eyes bright and innocent, looking just as he had the day they'd met so long ago. _What the hell's going on?_ he wondered, wishing he'd thought to bring Duo and Zechs upstairs with him, banishing the hope just as it arrived. He didn't need those two involved in the problem which concerned only three. Heero, Trowa, and Quatre. They were the only ones who needed to get into this mess. _Duo...I *do* love you. Trowa helped me realize that, but at this point, am I ever going to get to tell you that? I don't know why Quatre's here, and I...I don't know. I can't say it aloud, but I'm scared, Duo. I need you._

        "Don't call me that, please, Tro-chan," Quatre winced, a pained look coming to his face as he looked at Trowa. His gentle eyes clouded for a moment, a soul deep wound evident as he walked over to place a tender kiss on Trowa's cheek. "We have a lot to talk about. All three of us," he added, turning to Heero. "Please listen to me, Heero. There's not much time before *he* finds us," Quatre added, motioning that they should all sit.

        "Who's coming, Quatre?" Heero asked, sitting as the other two did. "And why should I listen to you after all you did?" _Damn it, I don't understand any of this. Trowa seems just as confused, and that sure as hell doesn't help any. I thought he'd know what's going on._ "What did you do to deserve the love Trowa gives you? What gave you the right to hurt him, to hurt me?" he asked, his eyes burning into Quatre's.

        Trowa glared at Heero, his gaze saying all he needed to. It was a warning of what would happen to Heero if he didn't shut up and let Quatre talk. "Q-Quatre," he stumbled over his name, so used to calling him by the title he'd chosen to wear. "I think it's a good idea if you start by telling us about this *he* who you think might find us." _This Quatre's so much like the one I first fell in love with...but if this is Quatre, the real Quatre, then who is 'Master'?_

        Quatre looked down, not really wanting to answer Heero's questions. "The other me is coming. He takes over sometimes, when I let my guard down. He used to only come for moments at a time, to only take his anger out on objects." The blonde looked up directly into Heero's eyes. "But then I met you.

        "I met you and it all changed. During those first few months, he kept trying to make me let him through. I resisted, and one day, we fought. He threw me here, and I could only watch as he hurt you." Tears rose in Quatre's eyes, but he refused to tear his gaze away from Heero's.

        "I watched when you came here, too afraid to come near you except when you slept. That was when I asked you to leave, to go away from *him* and find someone who would care for you the way you deserved to be cared for. For weeks and weeks I begged you while you slept, and finally you left."

        Quatre looked down again. _This is harder than I thought. I never knew how much energy he stole from me until now. It's a good thing I made him think I was too weakened to fight back anymore._ "Once you were gone he disappeared for a while. I thought he was gone for good. It seemed like he was. I was myself again."

        Trowa realized what Quatre was about to say, and he raised a hand to stop his love. "And then you met me?" the green-eyed boy suggested, his voice gentle and peaceful. "It was the same thing all over again, wasn't it, Quatre?" _This explains so much. Even so...does Heero believe? If he doesn't, things could go downhill swiftly. I think we're all going to have to work together to get out of this mess._

        Quatre nodded, then shook his head. "Not exactly." He turned his tear-filled eyes to Trowa, asking for forgiveness. "I don't know how he did it, but he managed to chain me here. He's convinced that he's the one who should have full control of my body, and he's succeeded in convincing almost everyone that he is me. He's been planning this party for a while. He chose everyone who he invited with great care, finding things to ruin everyone. Starting with Chang WuFei."

        WuFei walked over, whispering the spell which would lead Relena's spirit to whatever afterlife she deserved. "Yanda mistre nakle kulin..." he murmured, watching through his dark eyes as a brief flash of white assured him that his magic had done its work. "Onna, we should..." he stopped as he saw his partner struggling with a dark figure just behind him. "WHAT THE HELL?" he asked as he began concentrating on another spell that would hopefully drag them out of the mess.

        Sally gasped as the being went for her throat, sinking its nearly insubstantial fingers into her neck and slowly choking her from beneath the skin, bruising the light skin with incredible strength. _WuFei...help..._ she inwardly whispered, concentrating on breathing. Her skin began to pale to a deadly blue as she struggled for breath after breath.

        "Yanda kulin nakle enrail!" WuFei called, focusing his energy on the miserable creature who was making quick work of his partner whose struggles became less and less effective. While he didn't entirely *like* the girl, he still felt somewhat responsible for her well being. He froze as he realized nothing happened to the beast as the spell hit it. _Damn it, what's going on? That spell should've obliterated it...or at least sent it back to wherever it came from! The only things that can escape the spells of death aren't real, and they can't hurt mortals..._ His mind froze as he realized that was the reason no one else seemed to notice Sally's plight. They weren't mortal, and therefore, this thing could destroy them.

        WuFei took a deep breath, knowing he only had once chance to try what he was about to do. _Shinigami! We need your help,_ he sent into the void of his mind, searching for the ever constant presence of the god. He hated calling upon Shinigami for assistance, it made him feel so weak, but Sally's life depended on it, and he REALLY didn't want to have to explain her death to Duo. Nor did he want to have another woman die for him, die because of him.

        His thought train froze at that thought. _Another? Who else died?_ he wondered as he sent blast after blast of energy at the beast, hoping Shinigami would return. His mind was spinning in the realm of half-conquered memories, deep shadows of his past he could never quite grab. It seemed he'd always known there was something missing in his life, but he'd been content to ignore it and follow Duo's instructions. Now those memories seemed to be the only thing that could save both WuFei and everyone else in the hall. He *had* to remember.

        It was time for him to call upon anything that would help them, and he planned on doing just that. He closed his eyes, concentrating, and a blast of light growing in his hand as pain tore through his body. The energy he poured into the blast formed together to form a glowing sphere, the shape changing into a dragon at the last moment.

        The dark beast turned its attention on WuFei and the light, releasing Sally for a moment. It seemed torn between ripping out Sally's throat and going after the dark haired youth. It growled, watching WuFei through suspicious eyes as it moved in, still holding Sally who now was barely breathing. It knew WuFei was doing something, but it couldn't understand what.

        WuFei bit his lip, focusing only on the dragon in his hand. He brought the dragon to the front of him, his eyes remaining closed as he visualized the scene within his mind. "Go," he whispered, and the dragon sprang forth from his fingers, intent on its prey. WuFei gasped as the power he'd felt building within him suddenly evaporated, leaving him feeling weak and vulnerable for a moment, completely drained of all his powers as assistant to Shinigami.

        WuFei's dragon leaped, growing to the size of its opponent. The beast screamed in anger and frustration, throwing Sally away from him, her head snapping backwards like a child's doll's as she flew through the air and landed against a wall. The dragon tackled the beast, and together they disappeared, although the sounds of the battle didn't fade from WuFei's mind until he heard the triumphant cry of the dragon and the agonized shriek of the dying beast.

        The dark-eyed youth ran to see what he could do for his partner, but his gaze found Sally lying lifeless where she'd been thrown. Barriers within WuFei broke, and the memories came rushing back, a flood of emotion causing him to mentally stagger under the weight.

        His eyes were distant as he walked towards another wall, his eyes finding the secret passageway easily. Sounds of fighting rose behind him, but he ignored them as he continued on his way, slipping into the shadows unnoticed by the combatants.

        "Shinigami...I remember..."

        Duo burst into the room where Heero, Trowa, and Quatre sat, his eyes blazing as his mind recalled the words he'd caught as he and Zechs had made their way upstairs. "Who's going to do WHAT to WuFei?" he asked, his voice dark and menacing, but not quite Shinigami's. A ferocity he didn't know he possessed as a mortal rose up within him and he crossed the room to grab Quatre by the front of his shirt. "What the hell's going to happen to WuFei?" he demanded, not noticing as Trowa forcibly removed Duo's hands from the golden-haired boy, standing between the love of his life and the soul deep wrath of Duo Maxwell, ready to protect Quatre from anything.

        Quatre looked at Duo, his eyes confused for a moment. The confusion collapsed as Heero crossed the room to Duo's side, whispering words which calmed Duo...to an extent. "Duo Maxwell?" Quatre asked, gazing at the other boy's evident anger. "The one who took over my body will, or did, try to destroy him with the beasts from the darkness." Quatre noted the slight wince from Trowa and understanding filled his aquamarine eyes. "But I felt a power arrive, something that defeated a darkness demon. I'm hoping that your WuFei was the power."

        Heero stepped back as he heard Quatre's words. _*His* WuFei? Was Duo cheating on me as well? I thought it was just that he was Shinigami, but..._ Zechs entered, and he observed the scene for a moment before walking over to Heero and punching him. *Hard*. "Idiot. Shinigami *loves* you. You don't know anything about what's going on, so don't start accusing Duo of cheating on you. If you doubt him that much, you don't deserve his love."

        Duo stared at Heero for a moment. "I think I'd better start talking," he spoke to the air around him. He crossed to Heero, his eyes hopeful. "If you want me to, I can explain, Heero."

        "Maybe you *should* explain to him, *Shinigami-sama*," a voice cut through the air, striking at Duo and making him dare to dream all at once. He never thought he'd hear that voice talking to him like that again, thought the one who spoke to him was gone forever, like a whisper in the dark. "I think it's time you explained a lot of things to everyone."

        "WuFei," Duo smiled, and he turned to face the dark haired youth who'd died to give his love to Shinigami, only to have their love thwarted by the Guardians. WuFei nodded, as if he'd only been missing his memories a day, and not five years. Duo ran over and glomped his lover, planting a kiss on the lips he'd missed for years. "Aishiteru, WuFei," he whispered, holding the other close, never wanting to let him go again, wanting to revel in this.

        Zechs cleared his throat, bringing Duo back to the present, and to Heero. "Why don't you let me explain, Duo?" he asked, his eyes expressing his happiness for Duo. The chestnut haired youth nodded, drawing both of his lovers near him and relaxing, knowing he had both of them at last, even if it was only for a few moments before Heero chose. Trowa sat near the door, watching the others. They all watched Zechs intently, waiting for his story.

        "Duo is Shinigami, the God of Death. However, in the beginning of time, Shinigami fell in love with two mortal boys. It seemed like he was doomed to eternal unhappiness, forced to watched the two he'd given his heart to perish.

        "Shinigami wanted to be able to keep those two, and so he made a deal with the God of Life. The Life God would create mortals who would defend the two from Shinigami, knowing that if they ever chose to be with Shinigami their lives would be immortal, but their souls would never return to the light where they would be given new bodies.

        "Throughout the years, Shinigami has sought those two. Five years ago, he found one of them.

        "Shinigami recognized the boy, but he did not recognize Shinigami as the one he'd loved at the beginning of time, his mortal memories differing from those of his soul. It hurt him to not understand why his love didn't remember him.

        "So he went to the current Guardian of Life, and he spoke with him on the memories for a long time. Shinigami, being immortal, had no concept of the differences between the memories of soul and mortal. He didn't understand why his love didn't recognize him, or why he seemed so suspicious of him.

        "The Guardian had been given orders by his god not to tell Shinigami about the subtle differences which held his love back from him, but after some persuasion," Zechs managed to keep a straight face as he remembered the *types* of persuasion Duo had used to secure the knowledge he needed. "The Guardian told him in order to win his love he needed to make the boy love him and have him die for Shinigami. That would bring about the only way he could have the one he wanted.

        "Shinigami was rather upset about this," Zechs continued, remembering the several days of swearing which had come after Duo's learning of what would happen. "But he returned to the boy, intent on at least the first part of his task. And he succeeded, as he knew he had to."

        WuFei took up the story, his eyes never leaving Duo. "Eventually, I found out he was Shinigami, and I...reacted badly. Duo and I almost went our separate ways because of that." Duo winced at the memory, and WuFei kissed his temple, soothing the god. "There was a fire, and I lost my life trying to get Duo out, and my sister lost hers trying to save me. However, something went wrong after my death. When I awoke in Duo's realm, I remembered nothing about what had happened for the entire time of my life. My mortal memory had been erased, and it was too soon for Duo to do anything to bring back my soul memories. We were separated again.

        "Duo enlisted me as his assistant, and we've been sending souls to the afterlife for five years now. All was going well. Then, a year ago, he met you, Heero. He was so happy, and I started remembering bits and pieces of my childhood. And you know the rest." WuFei paused a moment, as if considering his next words. "But we didn't count on this darkness happening. Shinigami, this character we're facing has power over the darkness, a power that killed Sally. I suggest we leave. This world isn't safe."

        "Leaving already?" a cruel voice asked bringing everyone's attention to the speaker. He looked exactly like Quatre, except for being a head taller, and his eyes which glinted sinisterly in the almost non-existent light. Dark ropes bound Trowa beside him, one of them keeping his mouth closed. Trowa's eyes were fearful as his mind slid back to the punishment earlier. _No...no! This isn't Quatre..._ "Why don't you stay a while? I'm sure you'll enjoy the show," he commented to WuFei, blocking the doorway with a few more summoned beasts of darkness.

        Zechs and Duo began calling upon their spells, but another voice stopped them. "Leave them out of this," Quatre demanded, his eyes blazing with anger as he gazed upon the one who hurt so many of those he cared for. "Haven't you done enough to them yet?" he asked, moving towards the impostor. "Haven't you caused enough pain? Aren't you satisfied yet?"

        The impostor watched Quatre coming nearer to him, finally clearing his throat when Quatre was just out of reach. "I wouldn't move from that spot if I were you, Quatre. Something...*unpleasant* might happen to your precious Trowa," he warned, a rope tightening around Trowa's throat as he spoke. Quatre froze, his eyes darting to the green-eyed boy who struggled against the cords, trying to tell the one he loved to run from this place, to run far and fast to save himself.

        "What do you want?" Quatre asked irritably. It was a standstill. If the impostor hadn't gotten a hold of Trowa, he'd of had no advantage, and he would've lost. He was out numbered by too many to have won fairly. So he'd taken Trowa.

        Heero bit back a growl as he watched the events unfolding. He had to do something, but what? Any move he made would cause Trowa's death. Any move he didn't make would be the cause of death for someone else. _Damn it. What the hell can I do? Nothing I do is going to change anything for the better! We're all helpless in this, and now I can't..._

        "Your spells won't affect the darkness, Shinigami," WuFei warned softly to his love, attempting to stop the problem he'd have if Duo let go of the power he was gathering before it started. "Don't waste your energy on something that won't work. I don't think the Guardian's spells are strong enough to harm it. We have to think of a plan," he whispered urgently, not wanting Duo to get hurt in a battle he could never win. "I can't lose you again."

        Duo curtly nodded, releasing the power just as swiftly as he'd gathered it, motioning for Zechs to come closer. "We've got to do something, fast." The mortal half of Shinigami knew he stated the obvious with that, but he didn't know what else to say. Something was slipping beyond his control, and he desperately wanted it back. "If that guy doesn't get what he wants, he'll probably kill Trowa, and then dispose of the rest of us for the hell of it."

        Zechs closed his eyes, trying to figure out just what he was supposed to do in this situation. _Who's good and who's evil? I don't even know anymore. I don't even know if it *matters* anymore. I don't think I'm a Guardian anymore, I think I stopped being one a while ago. I only want this to end *right* for once. Is that too much to ask?_ "Let's just wait for a moment then, Duo," he replied.

        "What do I *want*?" the impostor repeated, his eyes dancing with evil glee. He'd won. He'd actually, against all the odds, *won*. "Well, first of all, since I understand who everyone is now, I want to be immortal," he requested, his gaze finding Duo and Zechs.

        Zechs knew the gift wasn't his to give, and he knew he wouldn't give it even if it had been. Duo closed his eyes tightly, fighting the urge to scream. _I only can give it to those who deserve it! You f*cking bastard, you don't deserve *anything*!_ "What are the rest of your requests?" he asked, gritting his teeth. WuFei slipped his hand into the god's, squeezing it gently.

        The impostor smiled. "Secondly, I want him," he replied, looking at WuFei. The dark haired youth held himself from flinching under the prying gaze. He would *not* let this bastard see him uncomfortable. Not in a hundred years.

        "NO," Duo replied stepping protectively in front of the youth he'd taken from his mortal existence to give him immortality. Nothing would get past him while he still drew breath. Nothing would harm the bright star in his life. *Nothing* would take WuFei away from him again. _WuFei's not an object someone can just take! He's a person, he's *my* WuFei._

        "No," another voice repeated, and everyone turned to stare at Heero, gazes varying from amazed to shocked to understanding. "You can't claim a person unless they want to be claimed." Heero's eyes flashed dangerously. "You can say anything you want, but you'll never touch anyone here. Not while I can still fight you."

        The impostor looked at Heero, staring for a moment. "You? *You* would dare fight me? After I've seen you broken and bleeding?" a laugh filled the air, spoiling the world. "Don't fool yourself. You could never defeat me."

        As if to prove his point, dark strands started moving for Duo, ready to drag him back to where the impostor stood, ready to introduce him to a level of pain he never thought existed before this night happened. Duo felt frozen as he watched the darkness coming towards him.

        A cry filled the air, and Duo dimly realized it was coming from him as he watched a body before him become impaled upon the dark strands, crimson blossoms appearing on the once well cared for suit. Heero fell to the ground, and the darkness began to fade.

        The impostor stared as first the beings began to fade, followed by the world itself. As his creations faded, he did as well, and finally there was nothing left of him but the memories that would never fade. Trowa gasped and his eyes found Quatre, promising so much in that single gaze. Quatre nodded, running over to embrace the one he loved.

        Zechs watched Shinigami and WuFei's anguished expressions as they saw Heero fall, and he knew there was nothing more he could, or would, do to stop their love. The God of Life had lost, and a beautiful flower of love had grown.

        "Heero!!!!" Duo cried, running towards his lover, cradling his head in his lap.

        "Duo..." Heero murmured, coughing blood. "I...didn't mean...to doubt you..."

        "Shh, Heero..." Duo whispered, trying to pull himself together so he could do something.

        A hand touched Duo's shoulder, and WuFei bent down to look at Heero. Understanding filled the black eyes, and WuFei's gaze touched Heero, gently explaining all he could. "Sleep, Heero."

        And Heero Yuy slept as the world around them faded to reveal the hall where the party had taken place, strewn with the bodies of the other guests, waiting for his loves to wake him again.