Death, Be Not Proud
Underneath Society
~-~
Muse#5: *is grinning madly* Well, she won't write a lemon. But I think I got pretty close here.
Muse#7: I can't *believe* she actually listened to my bunny-ears and bat wings suggestion. *drools*.... althought, I'm not complaining....
Muse#10: Yay for you people! She hasn't worked on MY story forever!
Muse#4: Hahahahahaha! DO you see? The victims-- I mean readers-- reviewed faster this time! Therefore, the next chapter came out faster! It's a wonderful system! *cackles evilly*
Muse#12: Stupid monkeys. I *liked* it when Usagi and Koto were fighting more.
Muse#2: But now Usagi wants to snog! YAY! *goes into Zero system mode* STUPID ZECHS! WHY ARE YOU SO DAMNED HOT?! Oooh... bunnies! Yay!
Muse#5: *inches away from #2* Uhm... yeah. NEXT!
~'~
Heero yanked open his laptop, growling. Duo was sprawled across the couch, watching him. They were both equally frustrated by their latest mission. Never had they gone so long without even a whisper of the whereabouts of the victim. And what was even worse is that they received e-mails from the pair every three days-- and each of them had been filtered and transferred and blah blah blah until he didn't know if they came from Singapore or New Bismarck.
He let out a howl as the damned computer beeped. It was probably J again, nagging about finding her. He opened his account and was ready to growl and hn until the sky fell. Instead a simple text message popped up. He read it once, twice, and then motioned for Duo to get his sorry can over there.
Duo began to read it aloud, his eyes wide.
"Hey, Hee-chan! It's me, Usagi. Koto's busy so I get to write this. I'm supposed to inform you that we had received a mission from inside Romasfeller to kill Zechs Marquise... do you know him? Ah, what a cutie! Oh, yeah. Back to subject. Anywho, we're just going to kidnap and have hot monkey sex until Capitan Schizoid here decided to trust us completely. And then we're going to have hot monkey sex with her. Koto's yelling at me to stop saying that, that we'll be having hot monkey sex with no one. Heh. That's what *he* thinks..."
He stopped and grinned. "Have I mentioned lately that I'm in love with her?"
Heero glowered at him. "Yes, you have." He immediately began a trace on the e-mail. Duo rolled his eyes at the stoic soldier.
"Honestly, Heero! Why do you bother?" He buried his face in the arm of the couch, but then started up as Heero let out a triumphant cry of delight, so unusually in itself that Duo was up and peering of Heero's shoulder before even asking the reason.
He read the screen and frowned. Had Heero finally lost it? "This is where Colonel Une is stationed, not where they are."
Heero looked irritated. "There are two references to Une in her note. Une is the only one in Oz and Romafeller with the authority to order an assassination on Zechs who she would call--"
"Capitan Schizoid." Duo caught the drift. "So she must have given the direct order to them, meaning that—"
"Where Une is, they are." Heero finished, looking very satisfied with himself. "So let's go."
Duo was already pulling on his jacket and out the door. "Way ahead of you, man."
~*~
Kagami grumbled as she climbed out of the mobile suit and promptly came face to face—or rather, face to chest with Zechs Marquise.
"That was a low blow, Marquise. I wasn't aware you were a dirty fighter." She hated looking up at him, she hated it she hated it she hated it…
He noticed the death glare and fought down a grin. He actually liked this pilot. She was young, no more than sixteen, and good at what she did. Too good, if you asked him nicely, but he didn't really mind it for some reason. She was very beautiful, too. Her hair was a dark copper color and her eyes were silver, a combination he found disturbing. For her size she didn't appear to have the strength it took to control a mobile suit, but she handled hers expertly.
Even though he had made a nasty decision to go for her back, she'd managed to beat him anyway.
"When I am danger of being bested by a little imp of a witch, I resort to such tactics." He retorted smoothly. Her eyes, he noted, were the same color as his hair… how remarkable…
She saw the thought run through his head and started. She had been too angry, a second ago, to pay attention to his thoughts. Could Marquise be attracted to her? She blushed a little.
-Oh, please. You're flattered because Mr. Hormone thinks you're good bedmeat? I thought you were madly in love with me.-
Kagami scowled and looked up, where Kage leaned over the catwalk-like railing that ran level with the mobile suits' heads. *Aw, is Koto jealous? *
-Never, you cozy bitch.- He sounded sour, and she smiled up at him. Point for Usagi!
Zechs followed her line of sight and found the growling young man staring down at them. "That's your brother, right?"
She nodded. *I was just thinking that perhaps this could be useful, Koto. It'd be a lot easier if he came with us willingly. Look into his mind and you'll see he'd welcome us both.* She smirked. *Come on down. Let's chat him up.*
-Oh yeah, that should be interesting.- In spite of himself, he sounded interested anyway. He vaulted himself over the railing and landed gracefully on his feet beside Kagami. Zechs instinctively jumped back but Kagami just rolled her eyes.
"Morning, Zechs." Kage surprised himself by letting his voice be warm and inviting.
"Zechs, this is my brother, Kage. His bite's worse than his bark, but luckily he barks more than he bites." She smiled mysteriously. "But you really might want to watch his bite, anyway."
-The only thing that keeps me from jumping you is the fact it wouldn't bother you in the slightest.-
*Sorry, my dear. You corrupted me. It's your own fault. But in no way let that stop you…*
Zechs was aware, somewhere in the back of his mind, that the looks that passed between the two were more than just that. Something whispered telepathy and he laughed at himself. What a stupid idea, he scolded himself. They're siblings, of course they can argue with faces. You've seen it before, Zechs, old man, and you'll see it again. Why are you so jumpy about these two? It is because you like the little one?
He pushed the thoughts away immediately.
Yet, somehow, five minutes later, with almost no protest, he was being led away by Kagami, who smiled at him almost shyly, and Kage, who followed, smirking like the cat who got the canary and the parakeet.
~'~
Zechs began to feel just a little uneasy as he was led outside the compound by the petite girl, who surprisingly was stronger than he'd thought, almost dragging him at a swift walk.
He smiled, trying to hide his discomfort. It only increased as they passed the tree line and went into the dark forest as the sun set behind the mountains.
The trees were everywhere, bushy firs and gigantic redwoods and leafy maples. They walked for so long, Kagami following no given path but seemingly sure of each step. Zechs thought that they'd passed the same stunted elm four times but wasn't sure, especially not the way Kage kept up a jolly banter.
"So, how long have you been a pilot, Marquise?"
"Ever since I was fourteen. That's why your sister is remarkable to me. She is better than I with considerably less training. She'll be beating up gundams soon." Yes, there was that damned elm again! Where in hell's name were they leading him? How could he have been allowed himself to be seduced so easily?
He thought back and found he could only conjure up a memory of how their eyes were so teasing and beautiful and how their lips were so inviting and full, as though they'd never felt a kiss. He didn't remember anything else.
He noted this, and his senses became more wary. What kind of devil work was this?
Kage had been watching Zechs very carefully and saw his thoughts. He mentally called to Kagami and she replied she too had noticed. She changed her path and stopped leading the trio on a endless figure eight into a denser, darker part of the forest.
Zechs started at the sound of a near wolf howling that his territory had been breached.
-He's going to panic soon.-
Kagami looked back and nodded.
*I know. Why do you think I'm hurrying? I'd like to make distance in case he screams.*
Kage laughed at the picture.
-I know he will, yet I can't picture him screaming.-
"So, where are we going?" Zechs was trying futilely to hide his growing wariness.
"Silly Zechs—if we told you, it wouldn't be a surprise!" Kagami said brightly, as they came to a huge redwood tree. They'd been running forever, it seemed. They were at least two miles inside the forest.
*This is it, right?*
-You! You don't even remember—ah, never mind. Yeah, this is it. I'll open the door, you calm Paranoid Boy down.-
"You're going to love it, Zechs, I know you are." She smiled to see the magick of the place was already getting to him; his lids were drowsy and trying to close. But it was only heightening his panic. His thoughts grew louder and whimpered of poisons and drugs.
"What are you? Where are you taking me?" He had no idea where in the forest they were, but as the magick took hold of him all of his questions he inquired without shame. He was no longer sure of anything about the duo, of their sparkling, too-big eyes or their gorgeous hair and delicate bodies that possessed strength that was impossible. Everything he saw now only led him to doubt their humanity.
"What are you?" He repeated, desperately now, as sleep demanded louder to take him.
Kage finished the short chant and a large doorway appeared in the side of the tree, which was no different from any of the trees around him yet as he fell asleep, Zechs could have sworn that a shimmering glow had taken Kage, Kagami, and the tree…
He awoke a little while later to the sound of arguing voices. He kept his eyes shut and listened, waiting for information. He didn't know they knew the very second he awoke, but that did not stop them from yelling at each other.
"I don't care, Usagi! You are NOT having hot monkey sex with him! Or me! We have a mission to do!"
"Ah, come ON, Ko-chan. You can't tell me you don't want a ménage a trios with us. You'd be lying through your teeth and you know it. Why are you so uptight? We're perfectly safe here, even if Heero and Duo are on their way. Which, by the way, that was a dirty trick you made me play on them—I love it!" Her voice was much too exuberate and excited. Zechs resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
Kage's voice was amused. "I think I liked you better when you were stupid, Usagi."
Zechs fought down a start of surprise. With his eyes closed, his other senses were instinctively heightened, but it would have taken a fool to miss the tone hidden in Kage's voice. It was love, the kind of love that Zechs had forgotten existed, the utter, complete kind of love that engulfed you heart and soul and everything else that could be taken from a being. For a second he was bitterly jealous of Kagami, for having that kind of emotion directed at her, but his jealousy was overtaken by a sense of peace. It was hard to feel the existence of such a love and not feel good.
Kagami sobered, as though she knew his thoughts. "That's enough of that, Zechsie. Come on, up and at 'em, and stay out of complicated affairs which you have no business prying in. Don't try to pretend, now, you're awake and you know I know it. You might as well wake up and let Ko-chan and I explain who what how and why."
Zechs opened his eyes as he tried to sit up, but found he could not. He was bound down by no visible rope or shackle. It was as if the feather-softness of the bed disabled him from sitting up. His body wasn't complaining. Now that he noticed it, the bed was thick and soft and cotton, stuffed with what felt like the cushiest feathers, in violets and yellows.
Kagami was perched on the edge of the bed, sitting as delicately as any refined lady would, yet she seemed to assume this pose naturally and without thought. Kage stood beside her, tall and beautiful, elegant in every breath, his hand on her shoulder as thought neither of them noticed it, as if it were the more natural and unremarkable thing in the world. How appropriate such beautiful and dangerous beings loved each other.
He couldn't understand what the conflict was…
"Oh, and yes. You mustn't think of us as that anymore. Truly, my name is Koto and she is Usagi. We have changed our appearances but for all sake of informality call us by our real names… not that it makes that much of a difference." Kage—no, Koto, smiled at him, but it was a smile lacking in warmth.
"We will answer your questions now that you are safe. Yes, my friend, you were in danger. You see, your authority is threatening. Une ordered us to kill you. And no details about it, just do it, don't care how, et cetera. And since we don't know you, it isn't like we had any objections." Usagi was speaking in a very conversational tone of voice.
The seriousness of it, however, was not lost to Zechs. "Then why don't you? Why all the trouble?"
Koto sighed. "We're getting to that part. You see, we don't particularly dislike you or anything. And since we don't abide by human rules, we've decided that because of the huge role you're going to play in this and because it would be a big no-no to kill someone as beautiful as you, we're going to let you live. But that means you have to stay with us so we can protect you. Une is not a fool and there are others who want your head and aren't as nice as us."
"What—"
"Are we, yes, I'll answer that." Usagi said firmly. Koto shrugged and moved to an expensive-looking chair and sat down.
Something in his black eyes flashed at Usagi, and she laughed. "Oh, really, you think so? I have a better idea than you do." But he had said nothing!
"First question, yes, we can hear each other's thoughts, and yours, and everyone else's. It's quite convenient. And what we are can not be put into words, really. We're immortals, but not quite gods. We can do many, many things you cannot, but we can still find ourselves confused. We're not human, but we're not inhuman, either. We… we are everything, but, we are nothing."
In the strangest way, Zechs understood. She didn't want to say goddess, for fear he would think her perfect. But she was, only a human goddess, capable of mistakes and emotion, and of death, both to herself and others.
Then he heard a voice in his own mind. -I am surprised you understand, Human. But you do. Thank you.-
Startled, Zechs looked up to find Koto staring at him. Usagi was not unaware of the exchange and smiled. She was happy that Koto was comfortable with Zechs staying here. For a while, she had been worried about the arrangements. Koto was very particular about his territory.
She smiled, glad she could hide her thoughts from Koto, even if he knew she was hiding them. At times she thought that he acted as though *she* were his territory as well, and unlike as it had been with Mamoru, she didn't mind in the least if he was possessive. In fact, instead of being angry it made her feel warm and fuzzy and at times sent jolts of electricity through her like Mamoru never could.
She was so lost in her slightly hentai thoughts of exactly what she was going to do to Koto that she didn't notice that a panel in the wall had lit up to a bright red.
"Come on, Usagi!" Koto was up like lightning and grabbed her by her wrist and dragged her out, stepping through the wall itself like it wasn't even there.
Zechs didn't know whether to be relieved or terrified that he was alone at last. But he finally got to look around at the room he was in without having to worry about decapitation.
He sat up, taken back for a moment that he was no longer tied to the bed. But then he let his eyes travel around.
The room was large, much larger than the tree had been, so he knew he was not inside the tree, at least. The ceiling and walls were red, the floor covered by luscious black shag carpeting. There were several pieces of beautiful antique furniture arranged professionally throughout, with large mirrors in strategic, yet classy, places. At the far end there was an entire kitchen, stove and refrigerator included, and at the other corner at the far end was a bathtub large enough to accommodate over eight people if they were friendly and deep enough that Zechs would have been up to his chest.
There was a series of large, glassy panels floor-to-ceiling one the wall Koto and Usagi had disappeared into, as well as a console running half the length of the wall with all sorts of buttons, levers, and other things with strange symbols. On the other wall a huge fireplace was crackling with strange yet comforting purple flames.
The bed itself was in the exact center of the wall and was colossal in its size. All of a sudden he felt very small and engulfed by the soft depths and got out of the bed, although he had to roll over twice in order to reach the edge.
"Master, may I help you with anything?" Zechs jumped and spun around to find a slender young Asian woman dressed in formal kimono of gold and purple, her long raven hair cascading down her back and her green cat-eyes flashing at him. Beside her stood another young woman, also dressed in formal kimono only the colors for this one were black and red, and she was not Asian. Instead her skin had a deep, natural tan and her hair was a shining dark burgundy, the color of red wine, and her eyes were big and dark cobalt.
"Yes Master, may we assist you?" The second one added.
Zechs could only stare at their beauty and their sudden appearance for a moment. Then: "Who are you? What are you?"
Giggling, the second girl answered. "I am Semele and she is Leda. We are creations of the Master and Mistress and have orders to do anything you command."
"Anything." Leda repeated slyly. "Are you hungry? Would you like to bathe or a change of clothing? Or there are other deeds we could perform for you... there is little we can not do..."
After a few more words exchanged, Zechs found himself taking them up on all three offers, although with a slight nagging feeling that he had been coerced... again...
Goddamnit, what was it with these people?!
~'~
Usagi and Koto had slightly bigger problems than Zechs at the moment, but not big enough so that it kept Usagi from sending delightfully obscene mental images of just what Zechs might be doing with Semele and Leda and then what he might also do with them later on. The dirty looks Koto shot her way didn't stop her silent giggles.
They were high in the treetops, watching Heero and Dup pick their way through the forest, Duo several feet behind Heero and being quiet for once. Usagi had a wicked idea. She silently informed Koto of her plan, who simply rolled his eyes.
-I'm now completely sorry I corrupted you. You take the term 'horny teenager' to a whole new level.-
*Come on, you know you want to take him home too. I think he'd make a great addition. At least let me tickle him.*
-Too risky.-
*I am so going to get you back. He would too have looked good in a leather thong, bat wings, and a bunny-ear headband.*
-I'm not saying he wouldn't. I'm saying you can't capture him just so you can glomp him. -
She straightened up, her eyes brightening. A wicked idea came into her mind, and this time she did not consult Koto, party-pooper that he was. Before Koto caught drift of her intentions, she concentrated slightly and snapped her fingers.
At once, Duo felt a very light breeze and noticed that he suddenly felt a few pounds lighter and was not so hot. He looked behind him but nothing had dropped out of his pack, so he immediately looked down.
It was a good thing that his shriek coincided with Usagi's laughter. It was so loud Heero spun around to kill him but instead dropped gun, pack, and jaw.
Duo Maxwell, Shinigami, was completely naked except for a pair of large bat wings extending from his shoulder blades, a black leather thong, a pair of white, fuzzy bunny ears and a smile. Oh yeah. And his braid.
In spite of himself Koto grinned at Usagi, who grinned back. -We're nothing but a couple of mischievous forest pixies.-
*Beautiful forest pixies. And I'm not complaining.*
"Wh-what happened?" Heero cursed the being who made his voice squeak and promised dark revenge upon them. "Where are your-- your clothes?" Oh, yes, someone would die. They would die long, painful, and they would be awake for every moment of it.
Duo, on the other hand, wasn't all that upset about his clothes. He had been sweating anyway, and the change was really quite welcome, as was the vision of Heero Yuy with drool pooling out of the corner of his mouth.
*What are you waiting for?* An little voice in his mind whispered suggestively. *He obviously likes you... spandex really doesn't hide much...*
Automatically Duo's eyes traveled downwards on Heero's young, strong body, and his cheeks flamed. But the blush quickly faded and Duo dropped his pack and tackled the perfect soldier.
For once, Heero voiced no objection.
~'~
Muse#1: You know, you really need to work on LLB, Authoress-san.
Authoress: I'd love to. Considering this is a story I've had on the backburner since way before I:NSN. And that's a long time, you know.
Muse: 13: Perhaps you shouldn't have started posting this.
Authoress: *shrugs* No one was reviewing my really bad poetry. I had to trap reviewers *somehow*.
Muse#4: HEY! GET OVER HERE AND WRITE!
Muse#10: Ha! Not on YOUR story, Doro-baka! She's going to write on MINE!
Authoress: Now, chill you two! Or I'll work on my Mulan fic and you can both for to hell!
Muse#2: *snickers*
Underneath Society
~-~
Muse#5: *is grinning madly* Well, she won't write a lemon. But I think I got pretty close here.
Muse#7: I can't *believe* she actually listened to my bunny-ears and bat wings suggestion. *drools*.... althought, I'm not complaining....
Muse#10: Yay for you people! She hasn't worked on MY story forever!
Muse#4: Hahahahahaha! DO you see? The victims-- I mean readers-- reviewed faster this time! Therefore, the next chapter came out faster! It's a wonderful system! *cackles evilly*
Muse#12: Stupid monkeys. I *liked* it when Usagi and Koto were fighting more.
Muse#2: But now Usagi wants to snog! YAY! *goes into Zero system mode* STUPID ZECHS! WHY ARE YOU SO DAMNED HOT?! Oooh... bunnies! Yay!
Muse#5: *inches away from #2* Uhm... yeah. NEXT!
~'~
Heero yanked open his laptop, growling. Duo was sprawled across the couch, watching him. They were both equally frustrated by their latest mission. Never had they gone so long without even a whisper of the whereabouts of the victim. And what was even worse is that they received e-mails from the pair every three days-- and each of them had been filtered and transferred and blah blah blah until he didn't know if they came from Singapore or New Bismarck.
He let out a howl as the damned computer beeped. It was probably J again, nagging about finding her. He opened his account and was ready to growl and hn until the sky fell. Instead a simple text message popped up. He read it once, twice, and then motioned for Duo to get his sorry can over there.
Duo began to read it aloud, his eyes wide.
"Hey, Hee-chan! It's me, Usagi. Koto's busy so I get to write this. I'm supposed to inform you that we had received a mission from inside Romasfeller to kill Zechs Marquise... do you know him? Ah, what a cutie! Oh, yeah. Back to subject. Anywho, we're just going to kidnap and have hot monkey sex until Capitan Schizoid here decided to trust us completely. And then we're going to have hot monkey sex with her. Koto's yelling at me to stop saying that, that we'll be having hot monkey sex with no one. Heh. That's what *he* thinks..."
He stopped and grinned. "Have I mentioned lately that I'm in love with her?"
Heero glowered at him. "Yes, you have." He immediately began a trace on the e-mail. Duo rolled his eyes at the stoic soldier.
"Honestly, Heero! Why do you bother?" He buried his face in the arm of the couch, but then started up as Heero let out a triumphant cry of delight, so unusually in itself that Duo was up and peering of Heero's shoulder before even asking the reason.
He read the screen and frowned. Had Heero finally lost it? "This is where Colonel Une is stationed, not where they are."
Heero looked irritated. "There are two references to Une in her note. Une is the only one in Oz and Romafeller with the authority to order an assassination on Zechs who she would call--"
"Capitan Schizoid." Duo caught the drift. "So she must have given the direct order to them, meaning that—"
"Where Une is, they are." Heero finished, looking very satisfied with himself. "So let's go."
Duo was already pulling on his jacket and out the door. "Way ahead of you, man."
~*~
Kagami grumbled as she climbed out of the mobile suit and promptly came face to face—or rather, face to chest with Zechs Marquise.
"That was a low blow, Marquise. I wasn't aware you were a dirty fighter." She hated looking up at him, she hated it she hated it she hated it…
He noticed the death glare and fought down a grin. He actually liked this pilot. She was young, no more than sixteen, and good at what she did. Too good, if you asked him nicely, but he didn't really mind it for some reason. She was very beautiful, too. Her hair was a dark copper color and her eyes were silver, a combination he found disturbing. For her size she didn't appear to have the strength it took to control a mobile suit, but she handled hers expertly.
Even though he had made a nasty decision to go for her back, she'd managed to beat him anyway.
"When I am danger of being bested by a little imp of a witch, I resort to such tactics." He retorted smoothly. Her eyes, he noted, were the same color as his hair… how remarkable…
She saw the thought run through his head and started. She had been too angry, a second ago, to pay attention to his thoughts. Could Marquise be attracted to her? She blushed a little.
-Oh, please. You're flattered because Mr. Hormone thinks you're good bedmeat? I thought you were madly in love with me.-
Kagami scowled and looked up, where Kage leaned over the catwalk-like railing that ran level with the mobile suits' heads. *Aw, is Koto jealous? *
-Never, you cozy bitch.- He sounded sour, and she smiled up at him. Point for Usagi!
Zechs followed her line of sight and found the growling young man staring down at them. "That's your brother, right?"
She nodded. *I was just thinking that perhaps this could be useful, Koto. It'd be a lot easier if he came with us willingly. Look into his mind and you'll see he'd welcome us both.* She smirked. *Come on down. Let's chat him up.*
-Oh yeah, that should be interesting.- In spite of himself, he sounded interested anyway. He vaulted himself over the railing and landed gracefully on his feet beside Kagami. Zechs instinctively jumped back but Kagami just rolled her eyes.
"Morning, Zechs." Kage surprised himself by letting his voice be warm and inviting.
"Zechs, this is my brother, Kage. His bite's worse than his bark, but luckily he barks more than he bites." She smiled mysteriously. "But you really might want to watch his bite, anyway."
-The only thing that keeps me from jumping you is the fact it wouldn't bother you in the slightest.-
*Sorry, my dear. You corrupted me. It's your own fault. But in no way let that stop you…*
Zechs was aware, somewhere in the back of his mind, that the looks that passed between the two were more than just that. Something whispered telepathy and he laughed at himself. What a stupid idea, he scolded himself. They're siblings, of course they can argue with faces. You've seen it before, Zechs, old man, and you'll see it again. Why are you so jumpy about these two? It is because you like the little one?
He pushed the thoughts away immediately.
Yet, somehow, five minutes later, with almost no protest, he was being led away by Kagami, who smiled at him almost shyly, and Kage, who followed, smirking like the cat who got the canary and the parakeet.
~'~
Zechs began to feel just a little uneasy as he was led outside the compound by the petite girl, who surprisingly was stronger than he'd thought, almost dragging him at a swift walk.
He smiled, trying to hide his discomfort. It only increased as they passed the tree line and went into the dark forest as the sun set behind the mountains.
The trees were everywhere, bushy firs and gigantic redwoods and leafy maples. They walked for so long, Kagami following no given path but seemingly sure of each step. Zechs thought that they'd passed the same stunted elm four times but wasn't sure, especially not the way Kage kept up a jolly banter.
"So, how long have you been a pilot, Marquise?"
"Ever since I was fourteen. That's why your sister is remarkable to me. She is better than I with considerably less training. She'll be beating up gundams soon." Yes, there was that damned elm again! Where in hell's name were they leading him? How could he have been allowed himself to be seduced so easily?
He thought back and found he could only conjure up a memory of how their eyes were so teasing and beautiful and how their lips were so inviting and full, as though they'd never felt a kiss. He didn't remember anything else.
He noted this, and his senses became more wary. What kind of devil work was this?
Kage had been watching Zechs very carefully and saw his thoughts. He mentally called to Kagami and she replied she too had noticed. She changed her path and stopped leading the trio on a endless figure eight into a denser, darker part of the forest.
Zechs started at the sound of a near wolf howling that his territory had been breached.
-He's going to panic soon.-
Kagami looked back and nodded.
*I know. Why do you think I'm hurrying? I'd like to make distance in case he screams.*
Kage laughed at the picture.
-I know he will, yet I can't picture him screaming.-
"So, where are we going?" Zechs was trying futilely to hide his growing wariness.
"Silly Zechs—if we told you, it wouldn't be a surprise!" Kagami said brightly, as they came to a huge redwood tree. They'd been running forever, it seemed. They were at least two miles inside the forest.
*This is it, right?*
-You! You don't even remember—ah, never mind. Yeah, this is it. I'll open the door, you calm Paranoid Boy down.-
"You're going to love it, Zechs, I know you are." She smiled to see the magick of the place was already getting to him; his lids were drowsy and trying to close. But it was only heightening his panic. His thoughts grew louder and whimpered of poisons and drugs.
"What are you? Where are you taking me?" He had no idea where in the forest they were, but as the magick took hold of him all of his questions he inquired without shame. He was no longer sure of anything about the duo, of their sparkling, too-big eyes or their gorgeous hair and delicate bodies that possessed strength that was impossible. Everything he saw now only led him to doubt their humanity.
"What are you?" He repeated, desperately now, as sleep demanded louder to take him.
Kage finished the short chant and a large doorway appeared in the side of the tree, which was no different from any of the trees around him yet as he fell asleep, Zechs could have sworn that a shimmering glow had taken Kage, Kagami, and the tree…
He awoke a little while later to the sound of arguing voices. He kept his eyes shut and listened, waiting for information. He didn't know they knew the very second he awoke, but that did not stop them from yelling at each other.
"I don't care, Usagi! You are NOT having hot monkey sex with him! Or me! We have a mission to do!"
"Ah, come ON, Ko-chan. You can't tell me you don't want a ménage a trios with us. You'd be lying through your teeth and you know it. Why are you so uptight? We're perfectly safe here, even if Heero and Duo are on their way. Which, by the way, that was a dirty trick you made me play on them—I love it!" Her voice was much too exuberate and excited. Zechs resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
Kage's voice was amused. "I think I liked you better when you were stupid, Usagi."
Zechs fought down a start of surprise. With his eyes closed, his other senses were instinctively heightened, but it would have taken a fool to miss the tone hidden in Kage's voice. It was love, the kind of love that Zechs had forgotten existed, the utter, complete kind of love that engulfed you heart and soul and everything else that could be taken from a being. For a second he was bitterly jealous of Kagami, for having that kind of emotion directed at her, but his jealousy was overtaken by a sense of peace. It was hard to feel the existence of such a love and not feel good.
Kagami sobered, as though she knew his thoughts. "That's enough of that, Zechsie. Come on, up and at 'em, and stay out of complicated affairs which you have no business prying in. Don't try to pretend, now, you're awake and you know I know it. You might as well wake up and let Ko-chan and I explain who what how and why."
Zechs opened his eyes as he tried to sit up, but found he could not. He was bound down by no visible rope or shackle. It was as if the feather-softness of the bed disabled him from sitting up. His body wasn't complaining. Now that he noticed it, the bed was thick and soft and cotton, stuffed with what felt like the cushiest feathers, in violets and yellows.
Kagami was perched on the edge of the bed, sitting as delicately as any refined lady would, yet she seemed to assume this pose naturally and without thought. Kage stood beside her, tall and beautiful, elegant in every breath, his hand on her shoulder as thought neither of them noticed it, as if it were the more natural and unremarkable thing in the world. How appropriate such beautiful and dangerous beings loved each other.
He couldn't understand what the conflict was…
"Oh, and yes. You mustn't think of us as that anymore. Truly, my name is Koto and she is Usagi. We have changed our appearances but for all sake of informality call us by our real names… not that it makes that much of a difference." Kage—no, Koto, smiled at him, but it was a smile lacking in warmth.
"We will answer your questions now that you are safe. Yes, my friend, you were in danger. You see, your authority is threatening. Une ordered us to kill you. And no details about it, just do it, don't care how, et cetera. And since we don't know you, it isn't like we had any objections." Usagi was speaking in a very conversational tone of voice.
The seriousness of it, however, was not lost to Zechs. "Then why don't you? Why all the trouble?"
Koto sighed. "We're getting to that part. You see, we don't particularly dislike you or anything. And since we don't abide by human rules, we've decided that because of the huge role you're going to play in this and because it would be a big no-no to kill someone as beautiful as you, we're going to let you live. But that means you have to stay with us so we can protect you. Une is not a fool and there are others who want your head and aren't as nice as us."
"What—"
"Are we, yes, I'll answer that." Usagi said firmly. Koto shrugged and moved to an expensive-looking chair and sat down.
Something in his black eyes flashed at Usagi, and she laughed. "Oh, really, you think so? I have a better idea than you do." But he had said nothing!
"First question, yes, we can hear each other's thoughts, and yours, and everyone else's. It's quite convenient. And what we are can not be put into words, really. We're immortals, but not quite gods. We can do many, many things you cannot, but we can still find ourselves confused. We're not human, but we're not inhuman, either. We… we are everything, but, we are nothing."
In the strangest way, Zechs understood. She didn't want to say goddess, for fear he would think her perfect. But she was, only a human goddess, capable of mistakes and emotion, and of death, both to herself and others.
Then he heard a voice in his own mind. -I am surprised you understand, Human. But you do. Thank you.-
Startled, Zechs looked up to find Koto staring at him. Usagi was not unaware of the exchange and smiled. She was happy that Koto was comfortable with Zechs staying here. For a while, she had been worried about the arrangements. Koto was very particular about his territory.
She smiled, glad she could hide her thoughts from Koto, even if he knew she was hiding them. At times she thought that he acted as though *she* were his territory as well, and unlike as it had been with Mamoru, she didn't mind in the least if he was possessive. In fact, instead of being angry it made her feel warm and fuzzy and at times sent jolts of electricity through her like Mamoru never could.
She was so lost in her slightly hentai thoughts of exactly what she was going to do to Koto that she didn't notice that a panel in the wall had lit up to a bright red.
"Come on, Usagi!" Koto was up like lightning and grabbed her by her wrist and dragged her out, stepping through the wall itself like it wasn't even there.
Zechs didn't know whether to be relieved or terrified that he was alone at last. But he finally got to look around at the room he was in without having to worry about decapitation.
He sat up, taken back for a moment that he was no longer tied to the bed. But then he let his eyes travel around.
The room was large, much larger than the tree had been, so he knew he was not inside the tree, at least. The ceiling and walls were red, the floor covered by luscious black shag carpeting. There were several pieces of beautiful antique furniture arranged professionally throughout, with large mirrors in strategic, yet classy, places. At the far end there was an entire kitchen, stove and refrigerator included, and at the other corner at the far end was a bathtub large enough to accommodate over eight people if they were friendly and deep enough that Zechs would have been up to his chest.
There was a series of large, glassy panels floor-to-ceiling one the wall Koto and Usagi had disappeared into, as well as a console running half the length of the wall with all sorts of buttons, levers, and other things with strange symbols. On the other wall a huge fireplace was crackling with strange yet comforting purple flames.
The bed itself was in the exact center of the wall and was colossal in its size. All of a sudden he felt very small and engulfed by the soft depths and got out of the bed, although he had to roll over twice in order to reach the edge.
"Master, may I help you with anything?" Zechs jumped and spun around to find a slender young Asian woman dressed in formal kimono of gold and purple, her long raven hair cascading down her back and her green cat-eyes flashing at him. Beside her stood another young woman, also dressed in formal kimono only the colors for this one were black and red, and she was not Asian. Instead her skin had a deep, natural tan and her hair was a shining dark burgundy, the color of red wine, and her eyes were big and dark cobalt.
"Yes Master, may we assist you?" The second one added.
Zechs could only stare at their beauty and their sudden appearance for a moment. Then: "Who are you? What are you?"
Giggling, the second girl answered. "I am Semele and she is Leda. We are creations of the Master and Mistress and have orders to do anything you command."
"Anything." Leda repeated slyly. "Are you hungry? Would you like to bathe or a change of clothing? Or there are other deeds we could perform for you... there is little we can not do..."
After a few more words exchanged, Zechs found himself taking them up on all three offers, although with a slight nagging feeling that he had been coerced... again...
Goddamnit, what was it with these people?!
~'~
Usagi and Koto had slightly bigger problems than Zechs at the moment, but not big enough so that it kept Usagi from sending delightfully obscene mental images of just what Zechs might be doing with Semele and Leda and then what he might also do with them later on. The dirty looks Koto shot her way didn't stop her silent giggles.
They were high in the treetops, watching Heero and Dup pick their way through the forest, Duo several feet behind Heero and being quiet for once. Usagi had a wicked idea. She silently informed Koto of her plan, who simply rolled his eyes.
-I'm now completely sorry I corrupted you. You take the term 'horny teenager' to a whole new level.-
*Come on, you know you want to take him home too. I think he'd make a great addition. At least let me tickle him.*
-Too risky.-
*I am so going to get you back. He would too have looked good in a leather thong, bat wings, and a bunny-ear headband.*
-I'm not saying he wouldn't. I'm saying you can't capture him just so you can glomp him. -
She straightened up, her eyes brightening. A wicked idea came into her mind, and this time she did not consult Koto, party-pooper that he was. Before Koto caught drift of her intentions, she concentrated slightly and snapped her fingers.
At once, Duo felt a very light breeze and noticed that he suddenly felt a few pounds lighter and was not so hot. He looked behind him but nothing had dropped out of his pack, so he immediately looked down.
It was a good thing that his shriek coincided with Usagi's laughter. It was so loud Heero spun around to kill him but instead dropped gun, pack, and jaw.
Duo Maxwell, Shinigami, was completely naked except for a pair of large bat wings extending from his shoulder blades, a black leather thong, a pair of white, fuzzy bunny ears and a smile. Oh yeah. And his braid.
In spite of himself Koto grinned at Usagi, who grinned back. -We're nothing but a couple of mischievous forest pixies.-
*Beautiful forest pixies. And I'm not complaining.*
"Wh-what happened?" Heero cursed the being who made his voice squeak and promised dark revenge upon them. "Where are your-- your clothes?" Oh, yes, someone would die. They would die long, painful, and they would be awake for every moment of it.
Duo, on the other hand, wasn't all that upset about his clothes. He had been sweating anyway, and the change was really quite welcome, as was the vision of Heero Yuy with drool pooling out of the corner of his mouth.
*What are you waiting for?* An little voice in his mind whispered suggestively. *He obviously likes you... spandex really doesn't hide much...*
Automatically Duo's eyes traveled downwards on Heero's young, strong body, and his cheeks flamed. But the blush quickly faded and Duo dropped his pack and tackled the perfect soldier.
For once, Heero voiced no objection.
~'~
Muse#1: You know, you really need to work on LLB, Authoress-san.
Authoress: I'd love to. Considering this is a story I've had on the backburner since way before I:NSN. And that's a long time, you know.
Muse: 13: Perhaps you shouldn't have started posting this.
Authoress: *shrugs* No one was reviewing my really bad poetry. I had to trap reviewers *somehow*.
Muse#4: HEY! GET OVER HERE AND WRITE!
Muse#10: Ha! Not on YOUR story, Doro-baka! She's going to write on MINE!
Authoress: Now, chill you two! Or I'll work on my Mulan fic and you can both for to hell!
Muse#2: *snickers*