Chapter 6
'Heero's was a god?' Duo thought numbly. The moment Rya had left for a cup of coffee, things had gone into full blown rampage and hell.
"YOU'RE A GOD?! AND YOU NEVER TOLD ME?!!" Duo screamed, Heero stared at Duo calmly. He was always like that, calm, collected. Damn him. Heero sighed.
"I couldn't tell you. If I had, then what? Admit it Duo, you've always been skeptical. Before any of this, you yourself would have put me into a mad house." Duo sputtered.
"I would not-!!"
"Think about this Duo. The perfect soldier, has just announced, that he is a god, not only that but you're a god too. Think Duo, use that head, that's what it's there for."
"I thought it was just there for decoration." Soa said chuckling. Duo growled at him, then glared at Heero reproachfully.
"Okay, so maybe I wouldn't have believed you-"
"Hallelujah! He's come to his senses!" Soa cried thrusting his arms up while giggling. Duo stared at Soa awestruck.
"Uh, bro? You okay?" Soa smiled at him, his deep golden eyes round with innocence.
"Sure! Why wouldn't I be? I mean, it's not like this is out of the ordinary or anything I- EEP!" He suddenly clapped his hands to his mouth and began whacking himself on the head.
"Not now!! Of all times! Not NOW!!" He yelled out. Duo stared at him appalled. Quatra tilted his head curiously.
"Is this normal?" He asked softly.
"Not really." A voice commented. A small form melted out of the wall and fully formed to reveal the Goddess Alacrity. Soa glared.
"Funny, figures you would show up right now. CURSE IT ALL!!" The girl sniggered.
"I was asked to watch you. Tern and Lila knew this would happen. Though it is amusing." Soa grumbled out
"Let's see how amusing you find it when I dump your head into a rain barrel." He began to whack his head repeatedly.
"And who are you?" Quatra asked politely. She bowed.
"My name is Alacrity, or Ashura. I am the goddess of speed." Quatra nodded slowly.
"I hate this! I hate this! I hate this!!" Soa cursed out loud. Wufei raised an eyebrow.
"Soa what in the name of the high gods is the MATTER with you?!" He demanded. Alacrity grinned and looked at them, her arms folded over her chest.
"When Soa was attacked by Chrysaetos, the dark energy damaged his, and he'll be a little hysterical for a moment." She explained. Soa glared.
"Tahadre po tana!!" Alacrity gasped and whirled around to face him.
"Chrysaetos! Mind your tongue!!" She yelled glaring at him. "Camo tassay!!" (Or I'll hurt you.) (A/N: This is my own language. So don't bother remembering it, I have no idea what I'm saying either. Anyway, what Soa said before was; Godamn that F*cking B*stard!!!) Soa glared back at her.
"Tomo ya niy!!" (Screw off!!) The GW gang were all staring at them puzzled. With the exception of Heero of course, he's come a long way in memory wise. So he had no trouble keeping up with the conversation.
"PASA MORAY-!!!" (WHY YOU LITTLE-!!!)
"Sudo mo kaiyo." Everyone stared at Heero. (Calm down already.) Duo stared at him a little annoyed.
"I really hate the fact that you three are talking in a completely alien language to us." Wufei sighed.
"This from the guy who can't even say hello in French."
"Course I can!! It's bon-jarr!!"
"That's BONJOUR Duo." Trowa said in exasperation. Duo shrugged.
"Whatever." Soa sighed.
"This is not good . . . For the next 24 hours, I will be absolutely powerless. The only thing I can do is martial arts, human style, but that'll be useless against Jepson and the like." He sighed. Duo stared, then shrugged.
"So we can only wait it out, fine, guys? I vouch for some coffee." He said walking out. Wufei and friends followed, Heero, spared Soa a glance, before exiting as well. As soon as the door was shut, Soa's face hardened. Alacrity waved a hand, and black fire flew from the corners, it enveloped the whole room, she turned to look at him.
"We're shielded from any sort of eavesdropping. What do you want to know?" She demanded. Soa glared, his eyes in pain.
"How . . . . . how bad?" He whispered. She flinched and looked away.
"5 wounded. 7 fatally wounded. And . . . . . . . . . and 3 dead." Soa froze.
"D-dead?!" She nodded somberly. Then sat down on his bed with a wince. That was when Soa noticed the bandaged gash on her leg. He sighed.
"So you really came to protect me."
"And because Tern ordered me to. Things are crazy over there. It's really scary . . ." She murmured. Soa suddenly caught the hint.
"Wait a sec- you said Tern only. Where's Lila?! My mother?!" Silence. Alacrity turned to face him, tears fell silently down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry Soa. After Cyprus showed up . . . . ."
~ Flashback ~
"Such words. There is a human saying, respect you elders. Perhaps it's time I show you why!" He screamed and lashed out with a bolt of dark lightening. Soa yelled as darkness enveloped him. The door banged open. His mother ran in.
"Soa! Lyre! Get out of here!" Lyre wasted no time escaping, no one, even in panic, refused an order from the high god. She grabbed Garda and fled. Soa wavered. Lila screamed
"Go!!" Soa scowled. Despite his bleeding arm and sprained ankle, he wouldn't run. Nothing would make him run from Cyprus.
"DIE!" His enemy screamed and lashed out again. Soa, was about to dodge, when something held him still. His eyes widened.
"Nice try." A voice hissed into his ear. "Goodbye Chrysaetos." Lila, who was across the room, was too slow to move, the bolt hit him dead on, and as the light cleared, Soa was revealed, on the ground breathing through gritted teeth. Lila moved her hands up, palm out, she whispered a word. Soa vanished.
"Avenge my death." She hissed.
~ End ~
"After he showed up, well, a battle took place, when we finally got there, the place was wrecked, and . . . . I will never forget how she looked. But it doesn't make sense, how could Cyprus become so strong and . . ." The rest of her talk was drowned out by the roaring of his ears. Alacrity wasn't human, so loss wasn't a big deal for her. But he was still green, loss affected him greatly, to make it worse, he was now in his human form, the loss hit him dead on. A lone tear fell down his face. His mother, his TRUE mother, was dead. That was the problem with being a god, when you were reincarnated, you remember everything from your past life. Including the deaths of all your family and friends. It hurt, a lot. And now, his true mother was dead as well? He couldn't except it. Suddenly the door opened.
"Hey guys! Anyone for some . . . . coffee?" Duo asked, his smile dropping like a rock once he saw Soa's face. His brother looked at him, his eyes shadowy.
"Duo." He croaked. Alacrity took the hint and left. Duo walked in and shut the door.
"What is it?" Duo asked. "What happened Soa?"
~~~
Duo was stricken, he had no idea what to say. What COULD he say? This was his true mother here, he knew he should feel bad, but he had never met her, how was he supposed to feel? All too confusing. Soa was huddled on the bed, alone and silently crying. There are some people who can cry and look elegant. Soa was one of them, his pale skin was tracked with moonlight through the open window, stray hairs danced across his skin delicately, his golden eyes were sparkling with a hidden glaze. But the sorrow on his face was terrifying. It seemed to cut right into his very heart.
"Soa? I'd ask if you were okay right now, but obviously, that isn't the best thing to ask since you look like shit." He said softly with a careful smile. Soa smiled at his brother.
"Thanks Duo, I'm just . . . . . torn a little right now. By tomorrow this'll all be gone though. I'll be a god again and without emotion." He laughed bitterly. Then stood.
"Midnight by the clock, c'mon Duo." He said thrusting sheet covers aside and grabbing his discarded clothes. Dressing, Duo gaped.
"Soa! Where the HELL do you think you're going?! And for gods' sake! Do that behind a curtain or something!" Duo screamed spinning around, his back facing Soa. Soa pulled on his pants and shrugged.
"Like I'm supposed to care. Anyway, we have to visit home, and they're going to need all the help they can get. Brace yourself, I know you've seen carnage, but nothing is quite like a battle between gods." And with that, he grabbed Duo's arm, and pulled him forward.
"What the-!" He never finished, because a deep shadow had enveloped them both.
~~~
"Duo, Soa, I brought you something hot to drink." Rya said as she opened the door. Looking up she gaped, the cups fell with a crash.
"Duo? SOA?!"
~~~
A silence enveloped the wasteland. Duo kept close to Soa, what on earth? Burnt trees, dead grass twigs, fried bodies, what WAS this place?
"This was the Valley of Poran." Soa said calmly. He waved one hand, light flared briefly and lit up the ground, it was green all over with long grass, kids seemed to run over it, a perfect happy place, the vision disappeared, leaving only the decayed life. Duo became paralyzed. Soa looked back once he noticed that Duo wasn't behind him. He carefully grabbed his brother's wrists and dragged him on.
They reached a large manor, it seemed endless as made of a glimmering marble. Stepping inside Soa took a deep breath.
"AKOUGAMARO!" He screamed. Footsteps sounded. Someone came skidding around the corner, barely prevented himself from crashing into the pillar and ran on until he was a foot away from the two gods. He tried his breaks, and went skidding across the floor, right past Soa who stepped off to the side dully, and out the front door.
"Kouga." Soa said dully. The boy ran up the steps panting.
"Sorry!" He said, bright blonde hair was cropped to his ears in wavy thick curls, green eyes filled his charming face, his face was made for grins, but it was now smudged with dirt and worry. His white shirt was crimson stained and his brown pants were torn in several spots. A sheath on his side revealed a cracked, but not yet broken sword. But it wasn't his outfit that caught Duo, it was his wings. Pure bright feathered wings, made purely of fluff. They ruffled themselves, then settled comfortably on his back. Kouga leaned over while panting.
"Why didn't you fly?" Soa asked curiously. Kouga pointed to his left wing. Only now did Duo and Soa see the white linen wrapped around the arch of the wing.
"Got hit by a Dark Bolt from Treachery."
"They got out?" Duo demanded. Soa stared at him.
"They've been out since the last two new moons." Duo sighed.
"Oh lord . . ." Soa looked at Kouga. Kouga had bowed deeply once more.
"My lord Shinigami. An honor to see you awake again." Kouga said softly. Duo looked taken aback.
"Uh . . . . thanks. I think." Kouga looked at him curiously.
"He still needs a bit of polishing." Soa said with a quick grin. Kouga smiled.
"Forgive me. My name is Akougamaro. Kouga for short. I am the god of sky. One of the lesser gods, I was also Chrysaetos's tutor. I also assume I will be yours as well."
"What?!" Duo cried out. Soa clapped a hand over Kouga's mouth.
"Don't take anything he says into consideration." To Kouga he hissed. "Not yet." Kouga flushed heavily and nodded. Soa stepped back as Duo glared, something was going on, he'd ask Soa later.
"Take me to Tern." Kouga bowed deeply.
"Yessir."
~~~
Everywhere they looked, there were signs of wreckage and chaos, gods were fixing things up as carefully as possible, while others looked like they were healing injured ones. Duo kept walking when he tripped over something, looking back he drew in a sharp breath. Soa looked back, as did Kouga. Soa kneeled down next to the motionless figure and petted the unicorn along it's neck.
"Poor thing. Probably died trying to defend it's home or one of the gods." Soa murmured softly, then he gave the dead mythic one last pet and stood again.
"Let's go Duo." Duo nodded stiffly, the death of something so innocent was a sin. He got up and followed Soa who was led by Kouga.
"So how do you know Kouga? I mean, besides him being a god and your tutor."
"He was also the first god I met after Semblance. The one who took me here. Kouga led me to Tern and Lila, after that, he was appointed as my tutor and he became my best friend in the process." Duo was about to reply when Kouga told them to be quiet as they entered the main hall.
"My lord! I announce my lord Aquila Chrysaetos and-!"
"Soa!" Soa was embraced roughly.
"Findabhair!" Soa cried out exasperated. Duo gaped, the girl had pointed ears, and leaves buried in her long wavy hair. Deep narrow green eyes were clenched as she hugged his brother. A garland of white flowers encircled her head and a bracelet made of tiny veins covered with miniature leaves circled her wrists. Behind her he could see a man with sharp eyebrows, just as harsh green eyes and he, like the girl, wore only an outfit made of green. The only true difference was that he had green hair that flew about the place in a messy shape, as if an endless wind were blowing. The girl drew back smiling, then she saw Duo.
"Oh my- Shinigami? Duo?" Duo nodded cautiously, when he himself was met with a bone crunching hug. Literally.
"Duo!" She laughed crazily. "You're all right! How are you? Are you eating well? You're so thin! Oh my gosh, the girls must be all over you!! I haven't seen you for nearly 1000 human years! Are you healthy? Are you injured? Hurt? How have you been? Your braid! It's beautiful-!!"
"Let him breath Fin." Soa said laughing. She smiled at him. Then turned to Duo, looked him over once more, then hugged him again. When she drew back, she was still laughing crazily. Soa looked at Duo, who, with pleading eyes, nearly voiced help. He chuckled.
"Duo, this is Aquila Findabhair. The goddess of the forests and our sister." Duo looked at her in shock. The man came up next and bowed.
"My name is Finvarra. I am Findabhair's husband, and am king of the fairies." Duo gaped.
"Fairies?" He squeaked. Fin laughed.
"Finvarra, be nice." His wife commanded him, then turned to Duo.
"Even though this place has been in chaos, I am glad to see you." She turned to Soa.
"Good luck brother. You shall need it if you are going to do what I think you are." Soa nodded as they two vanished. Duo sighed.
"Anything else? A long lost cousin? Perhaps a distant aunt?" Soa chuckled.
"Not yet. Come." He ordered. Kouga had vanished, and Duo asked Soa why.
"He's afraid of Fin. He thinks that she'll root him to the ground." Duo laughed. They walked through great oak doors and found themselves in a large grand hall. It seemed undamaged for the most part. Duo found his clothes had changed, Soa's had become a white shirt with loose rippled sleeves. They were secured by two large golden armbands, his pants were a dark brown and slightly loosed, a sheath on his side revealed his favorite weapon, with only one side in the sword form. His hair was tied into a ponytail still, but he had bracers on his hands and the necklace glowed faintly. Duo himself had changed. He had a deep tight black shirt, with a pair of black jeans, tied to his back somehow, was his scythe. He had wrist bands on, along with a simple silver bracelet on his right wrist, and on his left was a golden shackle that trailed a golden chain behind him. His necklace too glowed in the firelit chamber. The two walked forward, Duo found it someone annoying that the chain didn't make any noise as it trailed along, it was annoying. Soa was silent. They stopped short of the throne, the entire courtroom like space fell quiet as the occupants stared at the two, a large fiery bird on a perch next to the chair looked at them with cat like eyes. Duo gulped. That was a phoenix, he'd heard the stories. The phoenix stared, then, Duo was sure that if it could, it would have smirked.
"Presenting-!" It began, and Duo stumbled, a talking bird. Oh heaven.
"Aquila Chrysaetos and his twin brother Aquila Shinigami!" Wind whirled, it finally settled onto the throne and a figure revealed itself.
"Soa." The figure acknowledged him. Then turned to Duo who backed up a step.
"Duo . . ." he trailed off, Soa stared at Duo from the corner of his eye, then rolled his eyes. Suddenly, Duo's memory flashed.
~ Flashback ~
"What?!" Soa screamed with a glare at Duo who tried his best to ignore it.
"We have decided, that once you two have grown up and Cyprus and Jepson decide their time has passed, Soa shall be destruction, and Duo will be Death." Soa scowled.
"You're playing favorites again!"
"No." Lila replied. "He did his job."
"Forgetting that he can't even KILL someone! You've always liked him better then me!"
"With behavior like this it's no wonder!!" Tern roared. Soa brushed it off.
"I can kill quicker then Jepson! I came up with the plan for the third war and *I* was the one who saved you, yet you choose him?! Forget this! Damn you all to oblivion!" Soa screamed in fury, then stomped off, before exiting the door however, he glared.
"I hate you all."
~ End ~
~ Flashback ~
"Cool!!" Duo yelled as he ran his hands over the silken fur of his unicorn steed. It's fur was pure black, the mane was shimmering strands of silk. Soa stood from the door of the stable, his scowl was obvious. He turned away and walked off. Duo could recall his memories, Soa had gotten nothing for his birthday.
~ End ~
~ Flashback ~
"Duo, pick what you shall use." Lila said softly, smiling. Duo instantly picked which weapon he would use. A scythe. Lila looked at Tern, both knew what that meant, he was chosen for destruction, not life. They smiled softly.
"Here you are Soa." Lila said as she focused completely on Duo, she handed him a sword. He scowled, took it, then dumped it onto the floor and walked out. Duo had never even bothered to look.
~ End ~
~ Flashback ~
"Hey Soa." Duo said happily as he watched his brother practice with a sword. Soa said nothing. Duo scowled, he'd never bothered to notice that Soa was concentrating, for the blade he wielded was not normal. It was formed of black lightening, and completely unstable, it took every fiber of Soa to control it.
"Soa!" Duo screamed. No reply. Duo walked up, and ignoring everything his teachers had said about not interfering with a practice session, yanked his brother's hair and yelled
"SOA!!!" while letting go. He jumped back in case his brother tried to swing a blow, but that didn't happen. The lightening flared as Soa's concentration was broken. It flew everywhere, lashing out and slicing his arm. As the black energy vanished Soa cried out, his arm severely cut. Duo ran from fear, but Soa said nothing as he glared at his brother from the corner of his eye.
***
"Fool!!" Tern screamed. "You ruined that entire section of the palace! Are you just careless or stupid?" He hissed. Soa said nothing, his fists were clenched showing white knuckles. Lila scowled.
"Answer Soa!"
"Why bother?!" He snapped. Tern growled.
"You DARE to talk back to-!!"
"YOU DARE to blame me?!" Soa screamed. "I've HAD it! None of you know what I've been through! Do you know how aggravating it is?! To stand here?! And watch you pamper that BRAT??" He screamed. Then he took a deep breath. "Forget it. Forget what I just said." He murmured and walked out leaving a stunned Tern, Lila, and Duo who cowered, hidden behind a corner.
***
"Do you think we-?"
"No. Soa is only upset. He is fine." Tern interrupted as Lila sighed. Kouga raced in.
"My lords!! Please- come quick!" He screamed on the verge of tears. Tern and Lila rose hurriedly.
***
'Clearly one son is enough for you. Why bother with a second? No matter, sadly, I will be reborn, just kill me at birth. It will make life a lot easier for me, and for you. I regret to say, that you never knew what I was like, had you even the littlest of care for me, you'd have seen this a long time ago. Ask the librarian or Jepson. They'll tell you what you need to know.'
The writing shone in glowing letters on the wall. Beneath the wall lay a bloody heap. Lila gasped as she clung to her husband. Soa was the heap, blood tracked all over the walls and was a pool on the floor. Jepson fell to the floor in agony.
"He . . . . .he kept asking me what happens to gods when they die. I didn't think that he'd . . . . . . my god . . ." He whispered horrified. Kara, Goddess of literature clung to the wall for support.
"He'd . . . . . asked for books on how humans and how some gods committed suicide, I didn't think he was up to anything!" Cyprus shrugged. Tern whirled around on him.
"YOU! Did you have anything to do with this?!" Cyprus shook his head.
"No, if there is anyone to blame, it is you, for neglecting my nephew. I did know what he had planned, but I couldn't do anything to stop him, besides, this will teach you a lesson. You don't feel pain do you? Either of you?" He asked shrugging. Tern and Lila paled. Neither of them felt pain, though even they should have felt a little, where was it?! It had been true, what Soa had said, neither of them had loved him. They wanted to feel pain, but it wasn't there. Soa was right. They had neglected him. They had only loved, one son.
~ End ~
Duo stared at Soa. Duo had been the cause of misery for Soa, to the point that even a god wanted to kill himself. What had caused this change? He looked back at Tern who was smiling at him. Duo brightened.
"Father, I am sorry." Soa murmured. Tern nodded.
"Lila, yes well, everything shall be righted and we need you two for rebuilding the kingdom."
"And after?" Soa asked carefully.
"After?"
"Well . . . . we ARE going after Cyprus aren't we? And the others?" Soa demanded.
"Soa, think! We don't have time. More important things must be-!"
"More IMPORTANT?? What is more important then avenging you wife?! My MOTHER!" Tern flinched.
"Soa, you have to focus. That is not a large matter."
"NOT A LARGE MATTER?? This is my MOTHER! I can't believe this! I agree that the kingdom need's to be rebuilt, but after! We have to go after him anyway, if we don't he'll be a madman!"
"Of course that you believe he's still alive-"
"WHAT?? I was ATTACKED by him! Lila is DEAD because of him! What more proof do you need? You think I hurt myself?! For what?!"
"Soa, you are found of attention, like when you committed Hara Kiri-"
"You think I did that because of ATTENTION?? I did it because I thought you didn't need me!! Clearly you still don't! Now that I think of it, did you even need Lila?!"
"Don't you dare speak of her in that manner!"
"We have to go after Cyprus!! Duo! You agree with me right?!" Soa yelled turning to his brother. Duo flinched.
"Soa . . . . . he's right. Judging by what Cyprus has done to you in the past, you'd be killed easily. It's better to-!"
"FINE!" Soa screamed. "I don't care! I'll kill him myself!"
"Soa!" Tern rose to his feet. "I order you as your god lord! Do NOT go after Cyprus!" Soa whirled to face him.
"Oh?" he asked softly, his voice tight with anger. "Fine." He hissed. The entire court watched in horror as Soa's quick adept fingers undid his sleeve, he pulled it up, then ripped off the bracer, his skin was pale for a moment, the blue light flare and revealed a blue intricate patter drawn on the area above his wrist. It seemed a little scientific. He scowled and gouged his other hand into the flesh of the marking, his nails ripping his skin away, tiny riplets of blood cascaded to the ground.
"Soa!" Duo cried out, Tern remained shocked. Soa finally wrenched his hand away and it held a blue crystal, dripping with blood, the wound immediately healed.
"This is my source point. I hereby relinquish my hold as the god of destruction. From this moment my name is no longer Soa, nor is it Aquila Chrysaetos. I am a nameless mortal." With those words, his arms, which held the crystal, gave a sharp jerk towards the ground, the crystal shattered on the floor. Wind blasted from it, and when it had settled, Soa had changed, Duo saw it now. A golden aura around his brother. Memories flooded his head. White auras signified human mortals, green for animal mortals, bronze for the earth, blue for immortal animals, and gold for gods. Soa's aura was changing from gold to white, it seeped out into the hall and vanished. Duo looked at his own hands and saw gold outlining them. He gaped once more at Soa. Once the light vanished, all was deadly silent. Soa turned to face Duo whose face was deadly pale. Soa reached up and ripped off his golden necklace, his eyes opened, they were no longer a resonating gold. They were a simple hazel. The shape was no longer dashing, he was an ordinary human. A mortal. With a lazy movement, he tossed the necklace at Duo.
"Here. I had thought you had changed. But I was clearly wrong." He said dully. "Give it to the new god of destruction. Goodbye Aquila Shinigami, god of death."
"Stop it!" Duo yelled. "You've never called me that!" Soa looked at him dully.
"I am no longer your brother, I am only another soul to be collected. No fears, I shall see you soon, after all, I'm going after Cyprus. According to you, I'm going to die, and what is a mortal to defy the god of death?" His body began to slowly vanish, starting with his feet, it was now past his knees.
"Goodbye Aquila Tern." Soa said turning to his former father. Now the only thing left was his upper chest. He spoke his last words as his eyes peered right at Duo.
"Goodbye Aquila Shinigami. The god of death, and the new god of destruction. My once treacherous brother." He vanished completely.
Disclaimer: Not mine, I do not own anyone but Soa, all the gods except Heero and Duo, and the plot. Oh, and Rya.
'Heero's was a god?' Duo thought numbly. The moment Rya had left for a cup of coffee, things had gone into full blown rampage and hell.
"YOU'RE A GOD?! AND YOU NEVER TOLD ME?!!" Duo screamed, Heero stared at Duo calmly. He was always like that, calm, collected. Damn him. Heero sighed.
"I couldn't tell you. If I had, then what? Admit it Duo, you've always been skeptical. Before any of this, you yourself would have put me into a mad house." Duo sputtered.
"I would not-!!"
"Think about this Duo. The perfect soldier, has just announced, that he is a god, not only that but you're a god too. Think Duo, use that head, that's what it's there for."
"I thought it was just there for decoration." Soa said chuckling. Duo growled at him, then glared at Heero reproachfully.
"Okay, so maybe I wouldn't have believed you-"
"Hallelujah! He's come to his senses!" Soa cried thrusting his arms up while giggling. Duo stared at Soa awestruck.
"Uh, bro? You okay?" Soa smiled at him, his deep golden eyes round with innocence.
"Sure! Why wouldn't I be? I mean, it's not like this is out of the ordinary or anything I- EEP!" He suddenly clapped his hands to his mouth and began whacking himself on the head.
"Not now!! Of all times! Not NOW!!" He yelled out. Duo stared at him appalled. Quatra tilted his head curiously.
"Is this normal?" He asked softly.
"Not really." A voice commented. A small form melted out of the wall and fully formed to reveal the Goddess Alacrity. Soa glared.
"Funny, figures you would show up right now. CURSE IT ALL!!" The girl sniggered.
"I was asked to watch you. Tern and Lila knew this would happen. Though it is amusing." Soa grumbled out
"Let's see how amusing you find it when I dump your head into a rain barrel." He began to whack his head repeatedly.
"And who are you?" Quatra asked politely. She bowed.
"My name is Alacrity, or Ashura. I am the goddess of speed." Quatra nodded slowly.
"I hate this! I hate this! I hate this!!" Soa cursed out loud. Wufei raised an eyebrow.
"Soa what in the name of the high gods is the MATTER with you?!" He demanded. Alacrity grinned and looked at them, her arms folded over her chest.
"When Soa was attacked by Chrysaetos, the dark energy damaged his, and he'll be a little hysterical for a moment." She explained. Soa glared.
"Tahadre po tana!!" Alacrity gasped and whirled around to face him.
"Chrysaetos! Mind your tongue!!" She yelled glaring at him. "Camo tassay!!" (Or I'll hurt you.) (A/N: This is my own language. So don't bother remembering it, I have no idea what I'm saying either. Anyway, what Soa said before was; Godamn that F*cking B*stard!!!) Soa glared back at her.
"Tomo ya niy!!" (Screw off!!) The GW gang were all staring at them puzzled. With the exception of Heero of course, he's come a long way in memory wise. So he had no trouble keeping up with the conversation.
"PASA MORAY-!!!" (WHY YOU LITTLE-!!!)
"Sudo mo kaiyo." Everyone stared at Heero. (Calm down already.) Duo stared at him a little annoyed.
"I really hate the fact that you three are talking in a completely alien language to us." Wufei sighed.
"This from the guy who can't even say hello in French."
"Course I can!! It's bon-jarr!!"
"That's BONJOUR Duo." Trowa said in exasperation. Duo shrugged.
"Whatever." Soa sighed.
"This is not good . . . For the next 24 hours, I will be absolutely powerless. The only thing I can do is martial arts, human style, but that'll be useless against Jepson and the like." He sighed. Duo stared, then shrugged.
"So we can only wait it out, fine, guys? I vouch for some coffee." He said walking out. Wufei and friends followed, Heero, spared Soa a glance, before exiting as well. As soon as the door was shut, Soa's face hardened. Alacrity waved a hand, and black fire flew from the corners, it enveloped the whole room, she turned to look at him.
"We're shielded from any sort of eavesdropping. What do you want to know?" She demanded. Soa glared, his eyes in pain.
"How . . . . . how bad?" He whispered. She flinched and looked away.
"5 wounded. 7 fatally wounded. And . . . . . . . . . and 3 dead." Soa froze.
"D-dead?!" She nodded somberly. Then sat down on his bed with a wince. That was when Soa noticed the bandaged gash on her leg. He sighed.
"So you really came to protect me."
"And because Tern ordered me to. Things are crazy over there. It's really scary . . ." She murmured. Soa suddenly caught the hint.
"Wait a sec- you said Tern only. Where's Lila?! My mother?!" Silence. Alacrity turned to face him, tears fell silently down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry Soa. After Cyprus showed up . . . . ."
~ Flashback ~
"Such words. There is a human saying, respect you elders. Perhaps it's time I show you why!" He screamed and lashed out with a bolt of dark lightening. Soa yelled as darkness enveloped him. The door banged open. His mother ran in.
"Soa! Lyre! Get out of here!" Lyre wasted no time escaping, no one, even in panic, refused an order from the high god. She grabbed Garda and fled. Soa wavered. Lila screamed
"Go!!" Soa scowled. Despite his bleeding arm and sprained ankle, he wouldn't run. Nothing would make him run from Cyprus.
"DIE!" His enemy screamed and lashed out again. Soa, was about to dodge, when something held him still. His eyes widened.
"Nice try." A voice hissed into his ear. "Goodbye Chrysaetos." Lila, who was across the room, was too slow to move, the bolt hit him dead on, and as the light cleared, Soa was revealed, on the ground breathing through gritted teeth. Lila moved her hands up, palm out, she whispered a word. Soa vanished.
"Avenge my death." She hissed.
~ End ~
"After he showed up, well, a battle took place, when we finally got there, the place was wrecked, and . . . . I will never forget how she looked. But it doesn't make sense, how could Cyprus become so strong and . . ." The rest of her talk was drowned out by the roaring of his ears. Alacrity wasn't human, so loss wasn't a big deal for her. But he was still green, loss affected him greatly, to make it worse, he was now in his human form, the loss hit him dead on. A lone tear fell down his face. His mother, his TRUE mother, was dead. That was the problem with being a god, when you were reincarnated, you remember everything from your past life. Including the deaths of all your family and friends. It hurt, a lot. And now, his true mother was dead as well? He couldn't except it. Suddenly the door opened.
"Hey guys! Anyone for some . . . . coffee?" Duo asked, his smile dropping like a rock once he saw Soa's face. His brother looked at him, his eyes shadowy.
"Duo." He croaked. Alacrity took the hint and left. Duo walked in and shut the door.
"What is it?" Duo asked. "What happened Soa?"
~~~
Duo was stricken, he had no idea what to say. What COULD he say? This was his true mother here, he knew he should feel bad, but he had never met her, how was he supposed to feel? All too confusing. Soa was huddled on the bed, alone and silently crying. There are some people who can cry and look elegant. Soa was one of them, his pale skin was tracked with moonlight through the open window, stray hairs danced across his skin delicately, his golden eyes were sparkling with a hidden glaze. But the sorrow on his face was terrifying. It seemed to cut right into his very heart.
"Soa? I'd ask if you were okay right now, but obviously, that isn't the best thing to ask since you look like shit." He said softly with a careful smile. Soa smiled at his brother.
"Thanks Duo, I'm just . . . . . torn a little right now. By tomorrow this'll all be gone though. I'll be a god again and without emotion." He laughed bitterly. Then stood.
"Midnight by the clock, c'mon Duo." He said thrusting sheet covers aside and grabbing his discarded clothes. Dressing, Duo gaped.
"Soa! Where the HELL do you think you're going?! And for gods' sake! Do that behind a curtain or something!" Duo screamed spinning around, his back facing Soa. Soa pulled on his pants and shrugged.
"Like I'm supposed to care. Anyway, we have to visit home, and they're going to need all the help they can get. Brace yourself, I know you've seen carnage, but nothing is quite like a battle between gods." And with that, he grabbed Duo's arm, and pulled him forward.
"What the-!" He never finished, because a deep shadow had enveloped them both.
~~~
"Duo, Soa, I brought you something hot to drink." Rya said as she opened the door. Looking up she gaped, the cups fell with a crash.
"Duo? SOA?!"
~~~
A silence enveloped the wasteland. Duo kept close to Soa, what on earth? Burnt trees, dead grass twigs, fried bodies, what WAS this place?
"This was the Valley of Poran." Soa said calmly. He waved one hand, light flared briefly and lit up the ground, it was green all over with long grass, kids seemed to run over it, a perfect happy place, the vision disappeared, leaving only the decayed life. Duo became paralyzed. Soa looked back once he noticed that Duo wasn't behind him. He carefully grabbed his brother's wrists and dragged him on.
They reached a large manor, it seemed endless as made of a glimmering marble. Stepping inside Soa took a deep breath.
"AKOUGAMARO!" He screamed. Footsteps sounded. Someone came skidding around the corner, barely prevented himself from crashing into the pillar and ran on until he was a foot away from the two gods. He tried his breaks, and went skidding across the floor, right past Soa who stepped off to the side dully, and out the front door.
"Kouga." Soa said dully. The boy ran up the steps panting.
"Sorry!" He said, bright blonde hair was cropped to his ears in wavy thick curls, green eyes filled his charming face, his face was made for grins, but it was now smudged with dirt and worry. His white shirt was crimson stained and his brown pants were torn in several spots. A sheath on his side revealed a cracked, but not yet broken sword. But it wasn't his outfit that caught Duo, it was his wings. Pure bright feathered wings, made purely of fluff. They ruffled themselves, then settled comfortably on his back. Kouga leaned over while panting.
"Why didn't you fly?" Soa asked curiously. Kouga pointed to his left wing. Only now did Duo and Soa see the white linen wrapped around the arch of the wing.
"Got hit by a Dark Bolt from Treachery."
"They got out?" Duo demanded. Soa stared at him.
"They've been out since the last two new moons." Duo sighed.
"Oh lord . . ." Soa looked at Kouga. Kouga had bowed deeply once more.
"My lord Shinigami. An honor to see you awake again." Kouga said softly. Duo looked taken aback.
"Uh . . . . thanks. I think." Kouga looked at him curiously.
"He still needs a bit of polishing." Soa said with a quick grin. Kouga smiled.
"Forgive me. My name is Akougamaro. Kouga for short. I am the god of sky. One of the lesser gods, I was also Chrysaetos's tutor. I also assume I will be yours as well."
"What?!" Duo cried out. Soa clapped a hand over Kouga's mouth.
"Don't take anything he says into consideration." To Kouga he hissed. "Not yet." Kouga flushed heavily and nodded. Soa stepped back as Duo glared, something was going on, he'd ask Soa later.
"Take me to Tern." Kouga bowed deeply.
"Yessir."
~~~
Everywhere they looked, there were signs of wreckage and chaos, gods were fixing things up as carefully as possible, while others looked like they were healing injured ones. Duo kept walking when he tripped over something, looking back he drew in a sharp breath. Soa looked back, as did Kouga. Soa kneeled down next to the motionless figure and petted the unicorn along it's neck.
"Poor thing. Probably died trying to defend it's home or one of the gods." Soa murmured softly, then he gave the dead mythic one last pet and stood again.
"Let's go Duo." Duo nodded stiffly, the death of something so innocent was a sin. He got up and followed Soa who was led by Kouga.
"So how do you know Kouga? I mean, besides him being a god and your tutor."
"He was also the first god I met after Semblance. The one who took me here. Kouga led me to Tern and Lila, after that, he was appointed as my tutor and he became my best friend in the process." Duo was about to reply when Kouga told them to be quiet as they entered the main hall.
"My lord! I announce my lord Aquila Chrysaetos and-!"
"Soa!" Soa was embraced roughly.
"Findabhair!" Soa cried out exasperated. Duo gaped, the girl had pointed ears, and leaves buried in her long wavy hair. Deep narrow green eyes were clenched as she hugged his brother. A garland of white flowers encircled her head and a bracelet made of tiny veins covered with miniature leaves circled her wrists. Behind her he could see a man with sharp eyebrows, just as harsh green eyes and he, like the girl, wore only an outfit made of green. The only true difference was that he had green hair that flew about the place in a messy shape, as if an endless wind were blowing. The girl drew back smiling, then she saw Duo.
"Oh my- Shinigami? Duo?" Duo nodded cautiously, when he himself was met with a bone crunching hug. Literally.
"Duo!" She laughed crazily. "You're all right! How are you? Are you eating well? You're so thin! Oh my gosh, the girls must be all over you!! I haven't seen you for nearly 1000 human years! Are you healthy? Are you injured? Hurt? How have you been? Your braid! It's beautiful-!!"
"Let him breath Fin." Soa said laughing. She smiled at him. Then turned to Duo, looked him over once more, then hugged him again. When she drew back, she was still laughing crazily. Soa looked at Duo, who, with pleading eyes, nearly voiced help. He chuckled.
"Duo, this is Aquila Findabhair. The goddess of the forests and our sister." Duo looked at her in shock. The man came up next and bowed.
"My name is Finvarra. I am Findabhair's husband, and am king of the fairies." Duo gaped.
"Fairies?" He squeaked. Fin laughed.
"Finvarra, be nice." His wife commanded him, then turned to Duo.
"Even though this place has been in chaos, I am glad to see you." She turned to Soa.
"Good luck brother. You shall need it if you are going to do what I think you are." Soa nodded as they two vanished. Duo sighed.
"Anything else? A long lost cousin? Perhaps a distant aunt?" Soa chuckled.
"Not yet. Come." He ordered. Kouga had vanished, and Duo asked Soa why.
"He's afraid of Fin. He thinks that she'll root him to the ground." Duo laughed. They walked through great oak doors and found themselves in a large grand hall. It seemed undamaged for the most part. Duo found his clothes had changed, Soa's had become a white shirt with loose rippled sleeves. They were secured by two large golden armbands, his pants were a dark brown and slightly loosed, a sheath on his side revealed his favorite weapon, with only one side in the sword form. His hair was tied into a ponytail still, but he had bracers on his hands and the necklace glowed faintly. Duo himself had changed. He had a deep tight black shirt, with a pair of black jeans, tied to his back somehow, was his scythe. He had wrist bands on, along with a simple silver bracelet on his right wrist, and on his left was a golden shackle that trailed a golden chain behind him. His necklace too glowed in the firelit chamber. The two walked forward, Duo found it someone annoying that the chain didn't make any noise as it trailed along, it was annoying. Soa was silent. They stopped short of the throne, the entire courtroom like space fell quiet as the occupants stared at the two, a large fiery bird on a perch next to the chair looked at them with cat like eyes. Duo gulped. That was a phoenix, he'd heard the stories. The phoenix stared, then, Duo was sure that if it could, it would have smirked.
"Presenting-!" It began, and Duo stumbled, a talking bird. Oh heaven.
"Aquila Chrysaetos and his twin brother Aquila Shinigami!" Wind whirled, it finally settled onto the throne and a figure revealed itself.
"Soa." The figure acknowledged him. Then turned to Duo who backed up a step.
"Duo . . ." he trailed off, Soa stared at Duo from the corner of his eye, then rolled his eyes. Suddenly, Duo's memory flashed.
~ Flashback ~
"What?!" Soa screamed with a glare at Duo who tried his best to ignore it.
"We have decided, that once you two have grown up and Cyprus and Jepson decide their time has passed, Soa shall be destruction, and Duo will be Death." Soa scowled.
"You're playing favorites again!"
"No." Lila replied. "He did his job."
"Forgetting that he can't even KILL someone! You've always liked him better then me!"
"With behavior like this it's no wonder!!" Tern roared. Soa brushed it off.
"I can kill quicker then Jepson! I came up with the plan for the third war and *I* was the one who saved you, yet you choose him?! Forget this! Damn you all to oblivion!" Soa screamed in fury, then stomped off, before exiting the door however, he glared.
"I hate you all."
~ End ~
~ Flashback ~
"Cool!!" Duo yelled as he ran his hands over the silken fur of his unicorn steed. It's fur was pure black, the mane was shimmering strands of silk. Soa stood from the door of the stable, his scowl was obvious. He turned away and walked off. Duo could recall his memories, Soa had gotten nothing for his birthday.
~ End ~
~ Flashback ~
"Duo, pick what you shall use." Lila said softly, smiling. Duo instantly picked which weapon he would use. A scythe. Lila looked at Tern, both knew what that meant, he was chosen for destruction, not life. They smiled softly.
"Here you are Soa." Lila said as she focused completely on Duo, she handed him a sword. He scowled, took it, then dumped it onto the floor and walked out. Duo had never even bothered to look.
~ End ~
~ Flashback ~
"Hey Soa." Duo said happily as he watched his brother practice with a sword. Soa said nothing. Duo scowled, he'd never bothered to notice that Soa was concentrating, for the blade he wielded was not normal. It was formed of black lightening, and completely unstable, it took every fiber of Soa to control it.
"Soa!" Duo screamed. No reply. Duo walked up, and ignoring everything his teachers had said about not interfering with a practice session, yanked his brother's hair and yelled
"SOA!!!" while letting go. He jumped back in case his brother tried to swing a blow, but that didn't happen. The lightening flared as Soa's concentration was broken. It flew everywhere, lashing out and slicing his arm. As the black energy vanished Soa cried out, his arm severely cut. Duo ran from fear, but Soa said nothing as he glared at his brother from the corner of his eye.
***
"Fool!!" Tern screamed. "You ruined that entire section of the palace! Are you just careless or stupid?" He hissed. Soa said nothing, his fists were clenched showing white knuckles. Lila scowled.
"Answer Soa!"
"Why bother?!" He snapped. Tern growled.
"You DARE to talk back to-!!"
"YOU DARE to blame me?!" Soa screamed. "I've HAD it! None of you know what I've been through! Do you know how aggravating it is?! To stand here?! And watch you pamper that BRAT??" He screamed. Then he took a deep breath. "Forget it. Forget what I just said." He murmured and walked out leaving a stunned Tern, Lila, and Duo who cowered, hidden behind a corner.
***
"Do you think we-?"
"No. Soa is only upset. He is fine." Tern interrupted as Lila sighed. Kouga raced in.
"My lords!! Please- come quick!" He screamed on the verge of tears. Tern and Lila rose hurriedly.
***
'Clearly one son is enough for you. Why bother with a second? No matter, sadly, I will be reborn, just kill me at birth. It will make life a lot easier for me, and for you. I regret to say, that you never knew what I was like, had you even the littlest of care for me, you'd have seen this a long time ago. Ask the librarian or Jepson. They'll tell you what you need to know.'
The writing shone in glowing letters on the wall. Beneath the wall lay a bloody heap. Lila gasped as she clung to her husband. Soa was the heap, blood tracked all over the walls and was a pool on the floor. Jepson fell to the floor in agony.
"He . . . . .he kept asking me what happens to gods when they die. I didn't think that he'd . . . . . . my god . . ." He whispered horrified. Kara, Goddess of literature clung to the wall for support.
"He'd . . . . . asked for books on how humans and how some gods committed suicide, I didn't think he was up to anything!" Cyprus shrugged. Tern whirled around on him.
"YOU! Did you have anything to do with this?!" Cyprus shook his head.
"No, if there is anyone to blame, it is you, for neglecting my nephew. I did know what he had planned, but I couldn't do anything to stop him, besides, this will teach you a lesson. You don't feel pain do you? Either of you?" He asked shrugging. Tern and Lila paled. Neither of them felt pain, though even they should have felt a little, where was it?! It had been true, what Soa had said, neither of them had loved him. They wanted to feel pain, but it wasn't there. Soa was right. They had neglected him. They had only loved, one son.
~ End ~
Duo stared at Soa. Duo had been the cause of misery for Soa, to the point that even a god wanted to kill himself. What had caused this change? He looked back at Tern who was smiling at him. Duo brightened.
"Father, I am sorry." Soa murmured. Tern nodded.
"Lila, yes well, everything shall be righted and we need you two for rebuilding the kingdom."
"And after?" Soa asked carefully.
"After?"
"Well . . . . we ARE going after Cyprus aren't we? And the others?" Soa demanded.
"Soa, think! We don't have time. More important things must be-!"
"More IMPORTANT?? What is more important then avenging you wife?! My MOTHER!" Tern flinched.
"Soa, you have to focus. That is not a large matter."
"NOT A LARGE MATTER?? This is my MOTHER! I can't believe this! I agree that the kingdom need's to be rebuilt, but after! We have to go after him anyway, if we don't he'll be a madman!"
"Of course that you believe he's still alive-"
"WHAT?? I was ATTACKED by him! Lila is DEAD because of him! What more proof do you need? You think I hurt myself?! For what?!"
"Soa, you are found of attention, like when you committed Hara Kiri-"
"You think I did that because of ATTENTION?? I did it because I thought you didn't need me!! Clearly you still don't! Now that I think of it, did you even need Lila?!"
"Don't you dare speak of her in that manner!"
"We have to go after Cyprus!! Duo! You agree with me right?!" Soa yelled turning to his brother. Duo flinched.
"Soa . . . . . he's right. Judging by what Cyprus has done to you in the past, you'd be killed easily. It's better to-!"
"FINE!" Soa screamed. "I don't care! I'll kill him myself!"
"Soa!" Tern rose to his feet. "I order you as your god lord! Do NOT go after Cyprus!" Soa whirled to face him.
"Oh?" he asked softly, his voice tight with anger. "Fine." He hissed. The entire court watched in horror as Soa's quick adept fingers undid his sleeve, he pulled it up, then ripped off the bracer, his skin was pale for a moment, the blue light flare and revealed a blue intricate patter drawn on the area above his wrist. It seemed a little scientific. He scowled and gouged his other hand into the flesh of the marking, his nails ripping his skin away, tiny riplets of blood cascaded to the ground.
"Soa!" Duo cried out, Tern remained shocked. Soa finally wrenched his hand away and it held a blue crystal, dripping with blood, the wound immediately healed.
"This is my source point. I hereby relinquish my hold as the god of destruction. From this moment my name is no longer Soa, nor is it Aquila Chrysaetos. I am a nameless mortal." With those words, his arms, which held the crystal, gave a sharp jerk towards the ground, the crystal shattered on the floor. Wind blasted from it, and when it had settled, Soa had changed, Duo saw it now. A golden aura around his brother. Memories flooded his head. White auras signified human mortals, green for animal mortals, bronze for the earth, blue for immortal animals, and gold for gods. Soa's aura was changing from gold to white, it seeped out into the hall and vanished. Duo looked at his own hands and saw gold outlining them. He gaped once more at Soa. Once the light vanished, all was deadly silent. Soa turned to face Duo whose face was deadly pale. Soa reached up and ripped off his golden necklace, his eyes opened, they were no longer a resonating gold. They were a simple hazel. The shape was no longer dashing, he was an ordinary human. A mortal. With a lazy movement, he tossed the necklace at Duo.
"Here. I had thought you had changed. But I was clearly wrong." He said dully. "Give it to the new god of destruction. Goodbye Aquila Shinigami, god of death."
"Stop it!" Duo yelled. "You've never called me that!" Soa looked at him dully.
"I am no longer your brother, I am only another soul to be collected. No fears, I shall see you soon, after all, I'm going after Cyprus. According to you, I'm going to die, and what is a mortal to defy the god of death?" His body began to slowly vanish, starting with his feet, it was now past his knees.
"Goodbye Aquila Tern." Soa said turning to his former father. Now the only thing left was his upper chest. He spoke his last words as his eyes peered right at Duo.
"Goodbye Aquila Shinigami. The god of death, and the new god of destruction. My once treacherous brother." He vanished completely.
Disclaimer: Not mine, I do not own anyone but Soa, all the gods except Heero and Duo, and the plot. Oh, and Rya.
