Chapter Three: Only the Beginning
by Clay
Woot! Finally finished this story after *counts on fingers* um, many , many months of ignoring it! I have my reasons for taking this long, including 3 car accidents, a judicial hearing, a robbery, Otakon, and general other fun stuff. This story has actually been finished for months and months, but my air conditioning sucks and my room is like a sauna, so I'm hard pressed to sit for long periods of time in here and type. And now that I've given you numerous lame excuses, on with the finale of Lady of the Lake. ^_^
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Quatre checked the address scribbled hastily on a slip of paper one last time and then knocked on the door.
Heero had spent the last two days sulking, staying holed up in his room, sitting silently at the dinner table, and grumbling moodily to Quatre's frequent "Are you all right?" But it had taken as long to find this guy. Quatre only hoped he could help.
The door opened to a young Chinese boy, hair pulled back in a tight, low ponytail, and wide wire rimmed glasses perched on his nose. "What?"
"Uh, hi. I got your address from Chris… Chris Tucker… and he sai-"
"Come in."
The boy spun and retreated into the apartment, leaving Quatre on the front step. "Okay…." He stepped inside and was met with the heavy scent of sandalwood. Smoke from the incense hung low in the air, parting in waves as the boy swept through to disappear from the room. Ornate, stained glass lampshades filled the scene with dim colored lights. The furniture was a heavy dark oak, the cushions patterned beige silk. It all seemed much too lavish for a kid apparently living by himself.
The boy, Wu Fei Chris had called him, reappeared from behind crimson silk curtains with two cups of tea.
"Sit," He ordered.
Quatre complied and was rewarded with one of the cups. Wu Fei seated himself and leaned back in his armchair, sipping from his own cup. He must have been over half way finished before he spoke.
"What do you want?"
"Well, I heard from some guys at school that you can do things-"
"Get to the point."
Quatre hesitated a moment and then said, "I want you to bring someone back from the dead."
"I see." He nodded slowly and continued to sip his tea. After a few minutes of silence, he was finished and stood. "More tea?"
"Um, sure." Quatre handed him the lukewarm remnants, "Do you think you can help me?"
The boy ignored him and once again disappeared behind the curtain. Quatre sighed, looking around the room again. Two Siamese cats stared back, seated side by side on a large television. "Hey, kitties…" He crossed the room to them and extended one hand. Both cats pushed their heads into his palm, purring contentedly.
"Sit."
He hadn't heard anyone enter, but turning about, Quatre found Wu Fei already seated in his armchair, fresh cup of tea in his hands.
Quatre returned to his seat on the couch and lifted the tea to his lips. Spicy and sweet, it mirrored the comfort of the apartment.
"What you're asking requires strong, dark magic." The boy was watching him with deep brown eyes, "but it can be done. But I need to know why."
"Why I want you to…?" Wu Fei nodded. "Well," Quatre cleared his throat, "My cousin… well, I think he might be in love with him. With the dead guy."
Wu Fei was nodding again, expression intense. "That should help. Love is very powerful. Is this someone he knew in life?"
"No, the guy's been dead a long time."
"Very well, I will help you."
Quatre smiled, relief flooding his body, "Thank you. Thank you so much."
The boy held up a hand. "I need a few things. First, his body. Also, something that ties him to life… a possession perhaps. And last, a living relative. Once you obtain these things, come back to me."
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"You want me to what?!"
"Shh!"
Quatre leaned across the cafeteria table and threw a hasty glance around the room. "Not so loud. I need you to help me get his body."
Matthew shook his head, "You want my help in digging up a corpse?"
"It's the only way. Please?"
"Well…" His dark eyes sparkled, "Bringing someone back from the dead sounds like fun. Count me in. One question, though."
"Anything," Quatre agreed happily.
"Why? Why is this so important?"
"To make Heero happy."
"Heero? I don't get it."
"Heero and Duo…" Quatre shrugged, "they seem to have a thing for each other."
Matthew blinked. His eyes widened and he leaned forward, whispering loudly, "Are you telling me that Heero's gay?!"
Both heads swiveled to where Heero was getting reacquainted with his most common ex.
"I thought he and Relena…."
Quatre shook his head, "I don't know about that. The thing with Duo scared him. I think he's trying to forget it."
"Why not let him?"
Quatre let his gaze linger on the couple a moment before replying, "I don't know. A feeling, I guess. This is something I have to do."
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"I can't believe I let you talk me into this." Trowa held up a heavy gold cross and let it swing in the breeze. "You know Heero's going to kill us."
The exhuming had gone off without a hitch, Duo's coffin now covered and secured in the bed of Heero's truck. It was nearly four in the morning, and Quatre and Trowa were on their way to pick up Wu Fei while Matthew got Heero.
"Love makes you do funny things, huh?" Quatre smiled sleepily to his boyfriend before turning his eyes back to the road.
"It's late. Is this guy even going to be up?"
"Yup. He's waiting for us."
Trowa frowned, "Do you actually think this is going to work? How much did you pay this kid?"
"Nothing. He said he didn't need money. Said this is like his hobby or something."
Trowa snorted, "Interesting hobby."
"All right! We're here. Be right back."
A few minutes later, he was back, toting Wu Fei. Trowa turned to the new boy. "Hi. I'm Trowa." He extended a hand. The boy ignored him and Trowa lifted an eyebrow. "Friendly guy."
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"Where are you taking me?"
Matthew laughed at the half-asleep Heero and wiggled his eyebrows. "To fulfill your destiny."
Heero grunted and turned away, "I'm going to sleep."
"I'm surprised I got you out of bed in the first place. I thought for sure you'd kill me."
"I still might." Heero murmured into the seat back.
"Well, according to Quatre, this'll be worth it."
"Quatre!" Heero was suddenly wide-awake and close to panicking. "Where are we going?" He paused a moment, mind working furiously, "And where's my truck?"
"It's a secret. Calm down."
"Where are we going?" Heero repeated, getting angry.
"Chill we're here." Matthew brought the car to a stop on the side of a deserted road.
Heero pulled himself out of the car and looked around, recognition filling him with dread. He growled to Matthew as a sheet of cold anger stole over him, "Why are we here?"
"To meet lover boy." Matthew gave him a wild grin. "Come on; you have to introduce me." He took off at a run and was entering the grove of trees that hid the lake from view before Heero realized he was gone. With another growl, Heero ran after him, catching up as Mathew stepped onto the pier.
"Duo? Where are you?" He was singing, "We have a surprise for you."
"Matthew, no," Heero pleaded.
"Too late." He grinned.
Duo materialized at the end of the pier, an almost identical grin on his face. "A surprise?"
"Hi!" Matthew ran forward, hand extended, "I'm Matthew, your great nephew!"
"Cool!" Duo shook his hand emphatically, "It's nice to meet you… but this isn't the surprise, is it? I was hoping for cake."
Matthew shook his head, quirking an eyebrow at the ghost, "Um... no. It's a secret."
"A good secret?" Duo asked hopefully.
Heero watched the scene unfold with worry filled eyes.
"Heero?" Duo was approaching him, head tilted curiously, "You okay?"
Heero took a step back, "I don't want to be here."
Duo stopped, hurt. He turned away, body fading, "Then go."
"Wait!" Matthew looked angrily from Heero to Duo. "Both of you calm down! Wait for the surprise."
"Surprise!"
All three turned to see Quatre, Trowa, and a stranger toting a long, decrepit wooden box.
"What the Hell is going on?" Heero eyed the box suspiciously.
"Mine?" Duo smiled again, albeit obviously confused, and Heero felt actual fear bubble up from the pit of his stomach when he realized the box was just the right size to fit a body. What the Hell were they planning on doing?
They placed the box in the grass at the end of the pier and Trowa lifted a crowbar from the top.
Wu Fei approached Duo. "This him?"
"Yup." Quatre shared a smile with Matthew.
Heero watched as Trowa began to pry the top off the plain wooden box. It came off fairly easily considering the condition of the box, and soon Heero found himself staring at the insides of a hundred year old coffin, and at a pile of bones loosely held together by a worm eaten suit. "What the Hell are you doing?"
But his question fell on deaf ears. The stranger was busy rooting through a worn hemp bag as the others watched. He pulled out a bowl, a branch of some sort and various other items, ending with a jar of sand that he poured in a circle around a vaguely bemused Duo.
At the stranger's nod, Trowa pulled a large gold cross from his pocket and carefully looped its chain around Duo's neck. Duo's eyes widened. "My… where did you get--?"
But Wu Fei silenced him with a look. He motioned for Matthew to join Duo in the circle and then took up the jar of sand again to surround the coffin before telling everyone to stand back, seating himself in the grass.
"Trowa!" Heero made one last angry attempt at figuring things out, "What are you doing?"
Trowa placed a hand on Heero's chest, looking into his eyes with complete seriousness. "Calm down, Heero. We're bringing him back."
"What!"
"Calm. Down." He repeated.
Heero stared in disbelief. This was impossible.
"Boy!"
Heero and Trowa looked up to see Wu Fei glaring at them.
"Get over here."
Heero glared at him and stomped over, "What?"
"You love the boy. I need you to call to him."
"What?" Heero backed up a step, "I don't love him. I don't even know him!"
Wu Fei ignored this and demanded, "Sit." He smeared a fowl smelling paste over Heero's eyes as he reluctantly complied and continued, "Picture him in your mind. Pull him to you. Begin now."
The stranger was chanting in another language, musical syllables dancing through Heero's head and he closed his eyes, giving in to irrational thought, and the hope that Duo really could be brought back to life. The rhythm of the chanting began to lull him into a hypnotic state. Duo appeared clearly in his mind, amethyst eyes sparkling, chattering happily. He imagined a muscled body encased in sheer silk and soft leather, a body he'd definitely like to get to know better, and a mind as well. He had felt immediately comfortable around Duo, something that had never happened before… but that wasn't love, was it? After all, he wasn't gay, and besides, he had just met Duo. He couldn't love someone he didn't know.
The words popped unbidden into Heero's mind: love at first sight. But that wasn't real, was it?
Ghosts weren't supposed to be real either, a small part of his thoughts reminded him.
Nonetheless, he could see himself hanging out with Duo, relaxed, watching TV or doing homework. He remembered their kiss and imagined himself lying in bed, Duo spread against him, both nude, bare chest to bare chest, his hand diving through Duo's long silken hair, and Heero couldn't help but find the image erotic, his breath quickening. He saw himself coming home from a nameless job ten years from now to find Duo on the other side of the door, a little girl clinging to his jeans. It all seemed so inviting and so real. He wanted to give it a try.
A scream ripped through his thoughts, and Heero's eyes flew open. Wu Fei turned on him, black eyes on fire, "Shut your eyes! Call him!"
Heero did as he was told. He pictured taking Duo into his arms and holding tightly.
The screams continued, though he did his best to block them out, and Heero felt a strange jolt. It was as if his very soul was being torn from his body, and, considering what they were dealing with, he wouldn't be surprised if that were the case. He pulled back with difficultly. It hurt so badly he could hardly breathe. After what seemed like an eternity, he felt a snap, and his "soul" flew back with such a force that it blew him onto his back. The pain was gone, but he felt very, very tired. It was an effort to force his eyes open.
A clear black sky studded with stars greeted him. The screaming had stopped, but heavy panting was coming from the direction of the dock. With all his remaining energy, Heero lifted himself up to look around. Wu Fei sat silently beside him, head bowed. On his other side, Quatre was tucked in Trowa's arms, both staring at the coffin.
Both sand circles had been charred black and were covered with the sheen of glass. Matthew knelt alone on the dock, clutching his chest.
"Damn," He whispered and let the hand fall, "You didn't tell me it would hurt so badly."
Wu Fei looked up, "You didn't ask."
"Did it work?" Quatre detangled himself from his boyfriend and took a tentative step forward.
A hand shot out of the coffin to clutch at the side, followed shortly by the other. A head slowly appeared as Duo sat up. He took a moment to breathe before standing - and promptly falling back on his ass. "Ow!"
Wu Fei actually smiled, "It worked."
"It worked?" Heero felt his breath leave. He scrambled to his feet, a sudden rush of adrenaline coursing through every vein. He stumbled to the side of the coffin and fell to his knees. Peering inside, he saw Duo lying on his back, a huge grin on his face.
"Duo? Are you…."
"I'd better be," Duo grimaced as he propped himself up on both hands, "or all the pain was for nothing."
Heero clamped one hand around Duo's upper arm and helped him into a sitting position. The tattered remains of his burial suit barely covered the warm, tanned skin underneath. Heero felt the corners of his mouth tug into the widest grin in the world, "You're alive." Without another thought, he pulled Duo to him and kissed him. Duo laughed against his lips, returning the embrace with over a hundred years of built up passion.
"Well," Matthew smiled, getting slowly to his feet, "that's a little more than I needed to see." He threw a look over to Wu Fei. "How about I take us home?"
"Yes. Let's."
"Wait," Trowa approached Wu Fei, shaking his head in disbelief. "That's it? It's that easy?"
"You call that easy?" Matthew and Duo chorused.
Matthew put a hand to his chest again. "That was the most painful thing I've ever felt in my whole life. It's like… I feel like a part of me is missing."
"It is."
All eyes turned to Wu Fei.
"I needed the… life force, I suppose, of a relative to give Duo life. It will be returned to you in time, and if all goes well, the energy given to Duo will grow and sustain him." His eyes fell on Duo, and he nodded gravely. "If there are any problems, however, return to me." He then turned back to Matthew, nodded once and headed for the road.
"I guess I'll see you guys at school..." Matthew smiled at Duo, "Good luck."
A moment later he was gone and the remaining four exchanged looks, unsure of exactly what to do now.
"I guess we should go, too." Trowa supplied.
"But go where?" Quatre countered, "I have to admit that I didn't really think this through. Where will Duo stay? What are we going to do with him?"
"He'll stay with us," Heero answered immediately.
"And we'll figure out the rest tomorrow," Trowa continued, stifling a yawn. He gestured grandly in the direction of the truck and started off, Quatre in tow.
Heero watched them a moment and then felt warm, strong fingers slide against his palm. He wrapped his hand around Duo's and turned to see smiling amethyst eyes watching him.
"You did it." Duo continued to smile, confusion and wonder playing across his features. "You know, Heero, I think I love you."
Heero's heart did a little flip and he laughed before brushing his lips across Duo's. He met the other boy's gaze dead on and whispered, "I think I love you, too."
"Well, then," Duo slid both arms around Heero's neck. His mind was still a bit numb from the nights adventures, and deep thought was a little beyond him, "what do we do now?"
"Sleep."
"But then what?"
"Then…" Heero smiled, exhaustion forcing him to pull away from Duo. He took Duo's hand in his and led them toward the truck as he considered the question, "then… I have no idea."
"Good enough for me ." Duo's laughter echoed off the surface of the lake as they disappeared into the night.
End!
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Author's notes:
Let's see… Yes, Trowa and Heero are a bit OOC, but this is completely AU and they're being brought up in a completely different time. I tried to keep the characters' basic personalities intact while adjusting them to fit into modern American life.
Then why, you ask, am I writing a fan fic when I'm not even writing about the characters we all know and love? My reply is that I am, just tweaked a bit. It's not like I'm making Heero a giggly bouncing flaming queen or anything. This is just my version of Heero had he had a semi normal life. And besides, this is all in fun.
Also, this story begs for a sequel, which I have every intention of writing (though not until I finish up the numerous other stories I'm currently working on). After all, we still have to deal with the Relena issue, Heero's thing about "not being gay," possibilities with things going wrong with Duo's reanimation, as well as Duo being introduced into modern society, and is it just me, or does it look like something should happen between Matthew and Wu Fei? I so didn't intend anything to, but in typing up and editing this story, I got the strong feeling that those two should hook up.
And answers to random questions you might have: Where did Trowa get Duo's cross? From Matthew, of course, who got it from a box of junk in his attic. The branch that Wu Fei pulled out was a yew branch, which is used in bringing people back to life. And, yes, I know that bringing people back from the dead is a huge no-no, but this is just a story, so relax. ^_^