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Part 2

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Light from the streets managed to find its way into the building, lighting up the small droplets of blood like broken ruby. Trowa glanced in each direction for a sign of Duo, his mind doubted Duo's easy demise as the story was told by Heero, but his soul told him otherwise. It was like being called by two sides of the same coin. The soldier in him was growling at him to suck it up, prodding at his emotions until they where dry and unaffiliated with the situation. His human half, Duo's friend, was crying and desperate for any shred of evidence to suggest his whereabouts. Neither sides of him was satisfied, aside from the blood before the alter, nothing was disturbed.

"You heard me.. Scream?" Heero asked quietly, dubiously. The normal monotone was barely present, his voice rising and falling with each letter.

Quatre nodded, "Yeah... I don't know... it was really strange... Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. Then again, just outside, I was swept up in emotions-.. and images. Yours... and Duo's..."

Wufei looked away from Trowa, whom he had been watching quietly, "Duo, is he still alive?" There was enough proof already to suggest Quatre and graduated from empath to psychic, always the skeptic though, he was ready for the smallest trace of inaccuracy.

Guilt washed over him in tides, there was no way he was alive. No way he was breathing, his heart had stopped, and a new silence took up the space between passing ticks of the clock. "No, he's-..."

Heero's face fell devoid of feeling.

Quatre looked around for a moment, his eyes sweeping up the sides of the walls and down to the alter where they stopped. Something was anchoring him to the broken pieces of wood, the candles still standing in the air unused and coated with neglect.

The group followed his eyes, and Heero rose to his feet from a crouching position and walked towards the object.

"What is it Heero?" Wufei asked.

"Words... Japanese characters...."

Trowa at Quatre who was fixated on Heero. He was still a boy, 19 years old, fragile looking, tired, and incredibly childish looking. His eyes clear and deep, untainted but haunted. "What do the say?"

"They say..." Heero felt the words fall over his lips like anger bursting from a gun, "Shinigami wa, dare desu ka?"

"What does that mean?" Trowa asked, Duo and him where the only ones who could speak only a few important words of Japanese like: Toilet, water, and food; and read not a single character.

Wufei cleared his throat, "It roughly means 'Who is Shinigami?' Does it say anything else?"

"Ee..." Heero mumbled lapsing into his foreign tongue. "It also has a few words in English: Death is far too sweet.....to enjoy it painlessly...... So drink it slowly."

Duo flashed in Quatre's mind again, his neck throbbing under phantom teeth, his last thoughts materializing in the silence. I guess this is it... don't be an idiot and try and save me...just stay there... close your eyes, Heero, man. Look away, don't watch me like this...I wish I could say it... but ... The string was interrupted by more nerve crumbling pain. I want to tell you... The image of Duo moved in startling off colored frames, his lips parting as his heart began to stop. Each beat like a faltering bass drum ringing in the air. Heero... I love you...

Moments played in Quatre's mind continuously. Duo crying in Heero's arms after a very bad mission, his body wracked with pain from broken bones he had tried to set... like Heero. The two of the laying in bed laughing in the comfort and privacy of their bedroom. Duo slipping between emotional rivers and lakes of corporeal pleasure, his form completely interlocked with Heero's.

"Quatre?"

Quatre looked up in horror at Heero, not because what he witnessed but in blatant empathy and uncontrollable pity. Not once in their relationship... did they acknowledge or shared their feelings for each other with one another. Duo died not really knowing Heero had loved him, died agonizingly wishing he could tell Heero that he treasured him body and soul. Duo's heart had stopped... before he knew that someone loved him, something he had never heard voiced before.

---^-^---TBC---^-^---

Ending Author's Note: See, taking Japanese does come in handy when writing fanfics! Now understand, it's very doubtful that you'll ever get updates so close together. So, AHEM! Enjoy them! Again, as I've said before... and probably will several times in the future, please read, rate, and review! If there is anything that is so GAAAH! About the story please let me know. Also, if you have any ideas don't hesitate to e-mail me... I could always use a little verbal prodding to get the creative "juices" flowing. **rolls around laughing inanely** Yup!