Hey there. It's nice to start writing a fic again. Finally I'm writing
about my favorite pairing, 1x2. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the GW characters so don't sue.
"A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon."
-Napoleon Bonaparte
---
Lost Dilemma I-
The sun rose, as it did every morning, slowly over the battle scarred remains of what used to be a stunningly beautiful land. No denying it, it was still a beautiful land, however, the stench of death and blood invaded the air.
The sunlight was warming, like an innocent blanket over the dying greenery. The plants had deteriorated over the years, slowly losing their once present luster. It was as if they knew; as if they felt that a war was happening between two rival nations, and had chosen not to see the death of the last warrior, for even though the humans could not feel it, something was coming.
There was a war. Not just any war, but a war that had raged on for centuries. A war that went farther than just killing the opponent, but a war that reached the abyss of the minds of those involved, embedded in history forever.
Two nations fought, and still fought until the meaning just seemed to disappear. People began to wonder, what was the point anymore? What was the meaning behind it? Simple. The war had continued on for centuries with no victor, and neither side would admit defeat or give in any sign of wanting to call a truce or a peace treaty. The first nation to do so would be considered weak, and it would be recorded in history forever. Foolish, it seemed, that people would fight for a reputation in the future when the present seemed all the more important, but people can be strange.
Here on the dawning of a new day, something was going to change; something major, and it was going to impact the outcome of the war forever...
---
The room was spotless. Clean enough that you wondered how it were possible that anything could be so neat. The scheme of the room was black and white. Tiles that were black marble with a small diamond of white granite on them plated the floor. Stunning furniture littered the room, blending in with the light grayish-blue walls and other features to make an elegant and mysterious room. A covered window hid a stunning view of a lake, however, as of late the tranquility of the view had dwindled. White bed hangings rested gently on the black silk bed sheets, which were dented with the pressure exerted by a body.
A body lay on the bed in light slumber. Perfect features graced the face: brown hair, which was highlighted in some places by the few rays of sunlight that escaped through the screen, flawless lips, slightly parted as the boy took in deep breaths, his elegant, yet strong chest rising and falling gracefully. A few hints of creamy skin were visible from under the silken sheets, flawless in every way.
Cobalt blue eyes flickered open, pausing for a fleeting second on the ceiling before closing again and reopening. He was Heero Yuy. The boy who was the heir to the throne of Eleter, a nation which had been at war for centuries. Right now he was tired beyond belief, but he heaved himself out of bed, never disregarding his duties for an instant.
The night before had been extremely taxing on him both mentally and physically, but nowadays it seemed as if everyday was getting worse and worse. Heero had lessons for the first half of the day and then physical training ranging from archery, sword play, hand-to-hand combat, horsemanship, and a number of other activities. It was possible that he was being worked so hard because the current king was suffering from a most likely terminal disease. He was very contagious and was not allowed any visitors save for the doctors who wore protective suits. Heero had not seen his father in months. Odin, the king, had been giving orders to his look alike who had been informing him of what was coming to pass in the war. So far the opposing kingdom, Dareal, had not suspected anything, or so they hoped.
Heero stepped into the shower. Warm water slid down his supple body, causing him to sigh in satisfaction. However, he soon had to end his short period of bliss and attend to his daily routine. Slipping into tight white pants, a white shirt with a black bow tied at front and a blue cape, Heero put on his knee high boots and walked out his room and into the marble hallway. He sometimes hated wearing these clothes, and today was one of those days. He seemed not to have received enough sleep and was sluggish as he made his way down the expansive staircase and into the breakfast parlor.
"Ah! Good morning, Heero!" Heero was greeted by his mother as soon as he had walked in.
"Morning," and a nod of the head was all she got as Heero sat across from her on the glass table.
Food was set in front of him by a maid and Heero began to eat. The food would have tasted incredibly delicious to any outsider, however, Heero ate it as if it made no difference because he was used to eating it and it tasting as it did so now. Drusella, Heero's mother, didn't bother making conversation. She knew that Heero would only respond with 'hn,' or 'I see,' or some such thing like that. He was unresponsive, but especially unresponsive in the morning, and now with what happened with his father...
Drusella tried not to think much about it. She didn't want to depress herself even more than she already was. There was finally a break in the war and she planned on using that to her benefit. She had not been allowed outside the castle area on her husbands order in fear of being kidnaped or assassinated. As much as she respected her husbands decisions, this may be the only time in years that she would be allowed outside the castle grounds.
Drusella also knew that Heero would be ascending the throne soon. It was only a matter of time before Odin died. A sad frown creased Drusella's brow; she wanted to go see Odin. She got up to leave just as Heero finished.
"Excuse me darling," she said before quickly hurrying out.
Heero nodded and got up himself to head towards the library. Since he preferred not to exercise his body right after a meal, Heero started his daily reading in his favorite chair near the window in the library. He stayed there for the next two and a half hours before finally stretching and heaving himself off the comfortable chair towards the training room.
Today he elected to train alone and dismissed his trainer/sparring partner after finishing some of his other activities. He felt like being alone. Changing into more appropriate clothes for working out, Heero started a light jog which turned into run around the expansive gym. After two miles, he stopped, sufficiently warmed up. Next, he chose to bench press for an hour. This done, he picked up his sword and experimented with a few practice swings, trying to get used to the weight of the sword. Eventually he was making strong slashes in the air and as he maneuvered around an invisible enemy. To an untrained onlooker, it seemed like Heero was executing a strange, yet beautiful dance.
Heero trained for hours and hours, way over his required and maximum limit. For some reason he felt like he had to. Almost as if he had to be better than his father who was known to be the best in the land. It was said that nobody could beat him, however, Heero was more than determined. He could feel streams of sweat flowing down all over his body. He felt like he was going to collapse, but he carried on. He had never before worked this hard and he was determined to utilize all of his wild, intense energy as much as he could. As Heero's session came to a close he took on last swing in the air and landed with one knee on the ground and one foot.
The pain that had seemed to disappear when he was training and moving, came crashing down on him all at once. His muscles groaned in protest as he staggered up. Heero knew he had to get back to his room. If his mother saw him she would throw a fit, and at this moment he wasn't in the mood. Swaying as he started to walk, pain wracked his body. This was an exhaustion he hadn't felt before. Heero sank to his knees on the soft padding of the floor and let unconsciousness swallow him.
---
The day came to an end and fading sunlight shone through the open window, a light breeze sailed in reluctantly. Heero lay on his bed, lost in a dream.
The dream concluded with a boy, not much older than him. He just stared at Heero with...amethyst eyes? Amethyst? Which being had amethyst eyes? Heero had never seen such a person. Then Heero saw something that was almost as unusual. That was a yard long, chestnut braid going down the boy's back. Eyes stared at Heero. He felt like he should look away, but the temptation was too much. The boy wore all black, the distinction between the different garments not obvious. His body was something Heero could not take his eyes off. It was slender and strength was well disguised in that lithe body, nonetheless it was there. If he could just have that body under him...moaning....writhing...Heero shook his head. What was he thinking? Why was he feeling this now?
Then suddenly they were in a field now and the boy had a dagger. Heero instinctively tried stepping into a defensive stance, however, he found himself paralyzed. The boy raised the dagger and Heero noticed how beautiful it really was with its solid platinum, jewel encrusted handle attached to a blade made of Gundanium, the toughest metal known to man. However, Heero had little time to marvel at the dagger as it descended towards him an alarming rate. He stared at the dagger, in his last moments he didn't want to die a coward. Instead of piercing his flesh, the dagger dug into the Earth. Heero looked up at the boy, but he vanished in mists of smoke. A light started shining in the distance and he tried to reach up for it, grasping with all his might, however, much as he tried he just could get it. The light started spreading in his line of vision and just as he though it was going to consume him, he awoke, startled.
Sweat, cold and sticky, rolled down his back. His sheets were drenched. Heero looked amazed down at them. This had never happened before and that mysterious boy...Who was he? Why was he in his dream? What did he want? These and many other questions sped through Heero's mind.
The time was only three o'clock in the morning. Had he slept all that time? Heero realized that he didn't check the time when he came back into his room so he had no idea when he finished training. In fact, he had very little recollection of the previous night. It was all a haze of pictures and sounds. Someone must have brought him here, but who? He couldn't remember being lifted to anywhere. Oh well, he could find out later.
Heero lay back, exhausted mentally and still physically. He was due to awake in at most four hours so he might as well catch some rest. Crawling back into bed from his sprawled out position, Heero lay his head back on a soft pillow and let slumber consume him. He would deal with this later in the morning.
---
Odin was dying and he knew it. No longer could he keep hope. His wife had visited him earlier and asked him to continue on living, however, Odin knew that the last chapter in his book of life was coming to a close, forever. He hated living like this: no being able to see his son, always meeting people through glass or in suits, and he was just plain sick of the damned war. He had the utmost faith in Heero. He had made sure that Heero receive the best education and training from the most reputable of people. He would not settle for less on his offspring.
One thing, however, that he did not converse with Heero about and that was love. Heero had always had decently loving parents who cared for him when they were not busy, which was not too often. However, no denying that Odin and Drusella had faith in Heero. They knew that Heero was a smart boy, never receiving unsatisfactory grades and always excelling in his physical training. They were confident and proud about Heero. He would make an excellent ruler.
Then this case of love came up several times. Would Heero fall in love with someone? He didn't seem the type too bow down to emotions, but Drusella and Odin knew that Heero understood that the family name needed to be carried on. They knew that Heero wouldn't be reckless and unfaithful to anyone. This closed the matter for quite a long time.
Now Odin was looking back, reviewing all that had to be done. He could always fill in an advisor who would tell Heero what was going on in more depth. That was settled. He called over a servant, clothed in a air tight suit and told him to retrieve an advisor.
---
Heero made his way downstairs. It was silent as of now, however, in half an hour the servants would be waking and bustling about. Heero liked it this way, quiet and alone. He went to the kitchen in search of food. Finding some bread, he had some toast with marmalade while peering at the clock, which read five o'clock AM. He couldn't have waited much longer in bed even though he knew that he would be reprimanded for venturing out his bed.
For the next couple of hours, Heero killed time by reading in the library. He heard the beginnings of life starting to stir within the expansive property. Heero sighed and got up to attend to other things.
---
"Sire, we will attack within the next month."
"Is that all they can give us? Such a brief estimate? That is surely to long a period of time for us to stay encamped here."
A tired general replied to his subordinate. Eleter. That name forever remained in his mind. His home land, Dareal, had been at war with Eleter since long ago. He was given orders to take over a small Eleterian village to use as a base, however, he was not allowed to make much commotion as the opposing nation was never to find out. That was what he was supposed to do; whether that happened or not was for fate to decide. He had just received orders to halt the attack for several weeks because of some inter-nation spying. They might not have to take the village and the general, General Anatsu, had no wish to do so. He was a ruthless man, however, scruples were not lost on him. He had no desire to plunder the moderately poor village for fun or to capture the women for pleasure like other crude generals would. No denying he had faithfulness to his nation, but yet, he followed the general laws guiding a humane society.
"Yes sir," replied the subordinate.
"Very well, that is fine with me, dismissed."
"Aye sir," and with that and a nod and touch to the hat, the subordinate walked turned and walked out the tent.
"We will have to wait and see now," sighed Anatsu as he sat down on his makeshift desk to go over battle plans, "what comes, comes."
---
Amethyst eyes started out the window, lost. They were placed on a face that had beauty which far surpassed that of any other person in the land. A long, slender neck accentuated a flawless face with creamy skin. His body was lithe and pliant, the idol of all who met him. However, the most stunning aspect of the boy was his long chestnut braid that reached down to the end of his back. Dim sunlight streamed filtered through the many trees outside the window and into the room, highlighting the boy in splashes, making him look ethereal.
A sharp command broke the dream-like trance of the teen.
"Duo Maxwell, come here right now!" called a man from the next room.
Duo got up and walked into the room to meet his foster father in his chair at his desk. Duo's parents had died a long time ago when he was young so he had no recollection of them. Haji and Usagi had been taken him in because Usagi was barren, unable to produce a single heir. They had seen Duo at an orphanage/slave house and noticed how determined, stubborn, and strong Duo was and saw him as their heir to the throne. They didn't really love Duo, sure they liked him, but to them he was just a person to pass on the responsibility of ruling the nation. He had been tested through training that most nobles and royalty were put through in the recent years and had passed with flying colors, proving his capability. Very few people actually knew that Duo was an orphan and so far very little information had leaked out.
"I hope you know in light of the recent assassination attempts your daily training will doubled. We cannot have a weak ruler. The time may come when I will not be around and we have no idea when that will occur so best be prepared."
Duo nodded in acquiescence.
"I will make sure to double my efforts."
"Very good. That's the spirit."
Duo nodded minutely. He knew that his 'parents' didn't really love him, but that didn't really bother him. He would be all alone soon enough as his father passed away. However, he preferred to be as such, never having to put up with other people. That was the best part of being alone. He remembered that day clearly as he sat down in his usual chair near the window. He remembered it, but yet it seemed like it was fading slowly as the years progressed.
++++++++++ Flash Back++++++++++
They looked at him like he was some animal that was in the zoo, peering down at him with scrutiny.
"And you're sure that this boy has remained untouched?"
The owner of the orphanage wasn't sure if the lady meant physically which he was sure the boy was not or politically, but then he remembered that the boy was only seven. He knew that a boy that age couldn't already have a political opinion.
"Yes, I am positive. He has never been adopted before so there is no prior influence on him."
The king and queen nodded.
"Good. We don't want a plotter or a conspirator in our midst. Nor, of course, a boy who is not..." the king trailed off.
"Of course, my lord," said the owner, bowing low, showing his understanding."
Hopefully he would be able to snag a couple of extra gold pieced if he treated his guest with the utmost respect. He was rewarded generously with a brown sack filled with gold coins.
"That shall take care of him," said the king, "send him out to us. Our carriage awaits just outside the gates."
"Very well, sire. I will see to him being there shortly," and after the owner's bow, the king and queen whirled out towards the beautiful carriage a few meters away. "Do you think this was a good decision?" Haji said to his wife.
"It's the only choice we have," replied Usagi, "and besides, he'll turn out to be good, just you wait."
"I sincerely hope so."
--
"Let me go!" screamed a seven-year-old Duo, kicking fiercely against the older man's iron grip.
"Pipe down!" screamed the owner. He was not going to let his good fortune be ruined by the young boy.
Duo struggled with new vigor as he was pushed forward. He was forced down a corridor into a room where he was put on a chair and chains wrapped around his ankles and arms.
"Now don't move or this will hurt even more." Duo knew what they were going to do. Every unfortunate person which passed through those doors and was going to have lodging in this dismal place was branded on the neck and wrist. However, as soon as they were going to leave the tattoo on their necks were burned off, but the ones on their wrists were left on, forever a reminder. Duo writhed even more as he saw the hot iron coming towards him.
"Stop moving!" yelled the owner loudly.
Duo did not stop. However, another man soon came and held his head back, exposing that milky neck. Duo screamed as he felt the hot metal touch his skin, burning through his epidermis. He screamed for all he was worth until a gag was placed on his mouth. Choking, Duo wondered if he could just die. It seemed like it would be so much simpler than going through this excruciating torture. After a horrendous five minutes the pain was gone, but Duo was passing in between consciousness and unconsciousness. However, a bath in ice cold water was more than sufficient in waking him up.
"Get up! There are very important people waiting for you!"
Throughly awoken by now, Duo struggled to his feet. Clothes were roughly tossed to him along with a comb. Duo knew what to do and set out to complete his ablutions.
---
"I wonder what is taking that boy so long!" muttered Usagi.
"Patience dear, they should be out any second now." Haji said sighing.
"We'll have to clean him up when we get back home so people don't know where he comes from."
"Of course."
"I noticed some tattoos on him. Do you think they will remove them? I thought that the man...what was his name?...oh, whatever, it doesn't matter, but didn't he say that the tattoos placed on the skin in a way that it was done nowhere else? Didn't he also say that they couldn't get them removed anywhere else?"
"Stop panicking dear. Im sure they will remove all the tattoos and if they don't we can always hide them with a peace of clothing or such. They public will rarely see him anyway and they aren't exactly blatant."
"Very well dear." she sighed.
---
Duo didn't go quietly at first, but then he realized that at least he would be getting out of this hell-hole. He was ushered across the dead lawns of the orphanage/slave house. Two people emerged from a carriage just several meters away. Duo looked at them as they neared. He could tell already that he could never love these people. In fact, Duo didn't know who he could love. It was a rather foreign emotion to him as he was never exposed to it. Climbing into the carriage, Duo felt uneasiness. He did not know why he was here, and right at this moment the sick feeling in his stomach told him that it didn't want to know either.
++++++++++End of Flash Back++++++++++
Duo was dreaming. He was walking down a long corridor. At first Duo was curious the walls were a light green shade. However, he saw the doorway ahead of him beginning to shrink. He panicked. He needed to get out of this hallway because for some reason he felt like he just had to. The walls flared red as he was panicking and becoming frustrated, which, in turn made him angry. Duo was running so fast that he could not feel his legs anymore. His heart was throbbing against his chest. He was almost there...the walls turned a parade blue, but Duo had not time to marvel at how they did that. All he knew was that he had reached the archway. Flinging himself through it, he found himself sliding towards an exquisite young boy who was raising his arm as if to strike him, however, this did not happen. Quite the contrary happened. The boy caught Duo in his arms. Duo looked up into stunning Prussian eyes. Duo felt like drowning in their depths. Strong arms encased him, showing off the power that was hidden in the boy. Tousled brown hair accented an exquisite face. Duo peered into the blue pools again only a second early before the boy vanished into thin air and he fell towards the dark ground. He woke up with a jolt and found himself on the ground with his fallen chair.
"I was just dreaming," panted out Duo to himself as he wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead.
He didn't know what had just happened. Who was that boy that had caught him and disappeared? Duo had never seen him in his dreams before now. All he knew was that he was connected somehow with this person and that night after his training sessions, he lay tired in his bed with only one feeling...foreboding.
---
Well here is the first chapter. I know it is boring because it explains about their backgrounds more than any real plot or1x2 goodness. Just build up. That will come in later chapters. I promise!
Until next time,
Hotaru
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the GW characters so don't sue.
"A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon."
-Napoleon Bonaparte
---
Lost Dilemma I-
The sun rose, as it did every morning, slowly over the battle scarred remains of what used to be a stunningly beautiful land. No denying it, it was still a beautiful land, however, the stench of death and blood invaded the air.
The sunlight was warming, like an innocent blanket over the dying greenery. The plants had deteriorated over the years, slowly losing their once present luster. It was as if they knew; as if they felt that a war was happening between two rival nations, and had chosen not to see the death of the last warrior, for even though the humans could not feel it, something was coming.
There was a war. Not just any war, but a war that had raged on for centuries. A war that went farther than just killing the opponent, but a war that reached the abyss of the minds of those involved, embedded in history forever.
Two nations fought, and still fought until the meaning just seemed to disappear. People began to wonder, what was the point anymore? What was the meaning behind it? Simple. The war had continued on for centuries with no victor, and neither side would admit defeat or give in any sign of wanting to call a truce or a peace treaty. The first nation to do so would be considered weak, and it would be recorded in history forever. Foolish, it seemed, that people would fight for a reputation in the future when the present seemed all the more important, but people can be strange.
Here on the dawning of a new day, something was going to change; something major, and it was going to impact the outcome of the war forever...
---
The room was spotless. Clean enough that you wondered how it were possible that anything could be so neat. The scheme of the room was black and white. Tiles that were black marble with a small diamond of white granite on them plated the floor. Stunning furniture littered the room, blending in with the light grayish-blue walls and other features to make an elegant and mysterious room. A covered window hid a stunning view of a lake, however, as of late the tranquility of the view had dwindled. White bed hangings rested gently on the black silk bed sheets, which were dented with the pressure exerted by a body.
A body lay on the bed in light slumber. Perfect features graced the face: brown hair, which was highlighted in some places by the few rays of sunlight that escaped through the screen, flawless lips, slightly parted as the boy took in deep breaths, his elegant, yet strong chest rising and falling gracefully. A few hints of creamy skin were visible from under the silken sheets, flawless in every way.
Cobalt blue eyes flickered open, pausing for a fleeting second on the ceiling before closing again and reopening. He was Heero Yuy. The boy who was the heir to the throne of Eleter, a nation which had been at war for centuries. Right now he was tired beyond belief, but he heaved himself out of bed, never disregarding his duties for an instant.
The night before had been extremely taxing on him both mentally and physically, but nowadays it seemed as if everyday was getting worse and worse. Heero had lessons for the first half of the day and then physical training ranging from archery, sword play, hand-to-hand combat, horsemanship, and a number of other activities. It was possible that he was being worked so hard because the current king was suffering from a most likely terminal disease. He was very contagious and was not allowed any visitors save for the doctors who wore protective suits. Heero had not seen his father in months. Odin, the king, had been giving orders to his look alike who had been informing him of what was coming to pass in the war. So far the opposing kingdom, Dareal, had not suspected anything, or so they hoped.
Heero stepped into the shower. Warm water slid down his supple body, causing him to sigh in satisfaction. However, he soon had to end his short period of bliss and attend to his daily routine. Slipping into tight white pants, a white shirt with a black bow tied at front and a blue cape, Heero put on his knee high boots and walked out his room and into the marble hallway. He sometimes hated wearing these clothes, and today was one of those days. He seemed not to have received enough sleep and was sluggish as he made his way down the expansive staircase and into the breakfast parlor.
"Ah! Good morning, Heero!" Heero was greeted by his mother as soon as he had walked in.
"Morning," and a nod of the head was all she got as Heero sat across from her on the glass table.
Food was set in front of him by a maid and Heero began to eat. The food would have tasted incredibly delicious to any outsider, however, Heero ate it as if it made no difference because he was used to eating it and it tasting as it did so now. Drusella, Heero's mother, didn't bother making conversation. She knew that Heero would only respond with 'hn,' or 'I see,' or some such thing like that. He was unresponsive, but especially unresponsive in the morning, and now with what happened with his father...
Drusella tried not to think much about it. She didn't want to depress herself even more than she already was. There was finally a break in the war and she planned on using that to her benefit. She had not been allowed outside the castle area on her husbands order in fear of being kidnaped or assassinated. As much as she respected her husbands decisions, this may be the only time in years that she would be allowed outside the castle grounds.
Drusella also knew that Heero would be ascending the throne soon. It was only a matter of time before Odin died. A sad frown creased Drusella's brow; she wanted to go see Odin. She got up to leave just as Heero finished.
"Excuse me darling," she said before quickly hurrying out.
Heero nodded and got up himself to head towards the library. Since he preferred not to exercise his body right after a meal, Heero started his daily reading in his favorite chair near the window in the library. He stayed there for the next two and a half hours before finally stretching and heaving himself off the comfortable chair towards the training room.
Today he elected to train alone and dismissed his trainer/sparring partner after finishing some of his other activities. He felt like being alone. Changing into more appropriate clothes for working out, Heero started a light jog which turned into run around the expansive gym. After two miles, he stopped, sufficiently warmed up. Next, he chose to bench press for an hour. This done, he picked up his sword and experimented with a few practice swings, trying to get used to the weight of the sword. Eventually he was making strong slashes in the air and as he maneuvered around an invisible enemy. To an untrained onlooker, it seemed like Heero was executing a strange, yet beautiful dance.
Heero trained for hours and hours, way over his required and maximum limit. For some reason he felt like he had to. Almost as if he had to be better than his father who was known to be the best in the land. It was said that nobody could beat him, however, Heero was more than determined. He could feel streams of sweat flowing down all over his body. He felt like he was going to collapse, but he carried on. He had never before worked this hard and he was determined to utilize all of his wild, intense energy as much as he could. As Heero's session came to a close he took on last swing in the air and landed with one knee on the ground and one foot.
The pain that had seemed to disappear when he was training and moving, came crashing down on him all at once. His muscles groaned in protest as he staggered up. Heero knew he had to get back to his room. If his mother saw him she would throw a fit, and at this moment he wasn't in the mood. Swaying as he started to walk, pain wracked his body. This was an exhaustion he hadn't felt before. Heero sank to his knees on the soft padding of the floor and let unconsciousness swallow him.
---
The day came to an end and fading sunlight shone through the open window, a light breeze sailed in reluctantly. Heero lay on his bed, lost in a dream.
The dream concluded with a boy, not much older than him. He just stared at Heero with...amethyst eyes? Amethyst? Which being had amethyst eyes? Heero had never seen such a person. Then Heero saw something that was almost as unusual. That was a yard long, chestnut braid going down the boy's back. Eyes stared at Heero. He felt like he should look away, but the temptation was too much. The boy wore all black, the distinction between the different garments not obvious. His body was something Heero could not take his eyes off. It was slender and strength was well disguised in that lithe body, nonetheless it was there. If he could just have that body under him...moaning....writhing...Heero shook his head. What was he thinking? Why was he feeling this now?
Then suddenly they were in a field now and the boy had a dagger. Heero instinctively tried stepping into a defensive stance, however, he found himself paralyzed. The boy raised the dagger and Heero noticed how beautiful it really was with its solid platinum, jewel encrusted handle attached to a blade made of Gundanium, the toughest metal known to man. However, Heero had little time to marvel at the dagger as it descended towards him an alarming rate. He stared at the dagger, in his last moments he didn't want to die a coward. Instead of piercing his flesh, the dagger dug into the Earth. Heero looked up at the boy, but he vanished in mists of smoke. A light started shining in the distance and he tried to reach up for it, grasping with all his might, however, much as he tried he just could get it. The light started spreading in his line of vision and just as he though it was going to consume him, he awoke, startled.
Sweat, cold and sticky, rolled down his back. His sheets were drenched. Heero looked amazed down at them. This had never happened before and that mysterious boy...Who was he? Why was he in his dream? What did he want? These and many other questions sped through Heero's mind.
The time was only three o'clock in the morning. Had he slept all that time? Heero realized that he didn't check the time when he came back into his room so he had no idea when he finished training. In fact, he had very little recollection of the previous night. It was all a haze of pictures and sounds. Someone must have brought him here, but who? He couldn't remember being lifted to anywhere. Oh well, he could find out later.
Heero lay back, exhausted mentally and still physically. He was due to awake in at most four hours so he might as well catch some rest. Crawling back into bed from his sprawled out position, Heero lay his head back on a soft pillow and let slumber consume him. He would deal with this later in the morning.
---
Odin was dying and he knew it. No longer could he keep hope. His wife had visited him earlier and asked him to continue on living, however, Odin knew that the last chapter in his book of life was coming to a close, forever. He hated living like this: no being able to see his son, always meeting people through glass or in suits, and he was just plain sick of the damned war. He had the utmost faith in Heero. He had made sure that Heero receive the best education and training from the most reputable of people. He would not settle for less on his offspring.
One thing, however, that he did not converse with Heero about and that was love. Heero had always had decently loving parents who cared for him when they were not busy, which was not too often. However, no denying that Odin and Drusella had faith in Heero. They knew that Heero was a smart boy, never receiving unsatisfactory grades and always excelling in his physical training. They were confident and proud about Heero. He would make an excellent ruler.
Then this case of love came up several times. Would Heero fall in love with someone? He didn't seem the type too bow down to emotions, but Drusella and Odin knew that Heero understood that the family name needed to be carried on. They knew that Heero wouldn't be reckless and unfaithful to anyone. This closed the matter for quite a long time.
Now Odin was looking back, reviewing all that had to be done. He could always fill in an advisor who would tell Heero what was going on in more depth. That was settled. He called over a servant, clothed in a air tight suit and told him to retrieve an advisor.
---
Heero made his way downstairs. It was silent as of now, however, in half an hour the servants would be waking and bustling about. Heero liked it this way, quiet and alone. He went to the kitchen in search of food. Finding some bread, he had some toast with marmalade while peering at the clock, which read five o'clock AM. He couldn't have waited much longer in bed even though he knew that he would be reprimanded for venturing out his bed.
For the next couple of hours, Heero killed time by reading in the library. He heard the beginnings of life starting to stir within the expansive property. Heero sighed and got up to attend to other things.
---
"Sire, we will attack within the next month."
"Is that all they can give us? Such a brief estimate? That is surely to long a period of time for us to stay encamped here."
A tired general replied to his subordinate. Eleter. That name forever remained in his mind. His home land, Dareal, had been at war with Eleter since long ago. He was given orders to take over a small Eleterian village to use as a base, however, he was not allowed to make much commotion as the opposing nation was never to find out. That was what he was supposed to do; whether that happened or not was for fate to decide. He had just received orders to halt the attack for several weeks because of some inter-nation spying. They might not have to take the village and the general, General Anatsu, had no wish to do so. He was a ruthless man, however, scruples were not lost on him. He had no desire to plunder the moderately poor village for fun or to capture the women for pleasure like other crude generals would. No denying he had faithfulness to his nation, but yet, he followed the general laws guiding a humane society.
"Yes sir," replied the subordinate.
"Very well, that is fine with me, dismissed."
"Aye sir," and with that and a nod and touch to the hat, the subordinate walked turned and walked out the tent.
"We will have to wait and see now," sighed Anatsu as he sat down on his makeshift desk to go over battle plans, "what comes, comes."
---
Amethyst eyes started out the window, lost. They were placed on a face that had beauty which far surpassed that of any other person in the land. A long, slender neck accentuated a flawless face with creamy skin. His body was lithe and pliant, the idol of all who met him. However, the most stunning aspect of the boy was his long chestnut braid that reached down to the end of his back. Dim sunlight streamed filtered through the many trees outside the window and into the room, highlighting the boy in splashes, making him look ethereal.
A sharp command broke the dream-like trance of the teen.
"Duo Maxwell, come here right now!" called a man from the next room.
Duo got up and walked into the room to meet his foster father in his chair at his desk. Duo's parents had died a long time ago when he was young so he had no recollection of them. Haji and Usagi had been taken him in because Usagi was barren, unable to produce a single heir. They had seen Duo at an orphanage/slave house and noticed how determined, stubborn, and strong Duo was and saw him as their heir to the throne. They didn't really love Duo, sure they liked him, but to them he was just a person to pass on the responsibility of ruling the nation. He had been tested through training that most nobles and royalty were put through in the recent years and had passed with flying colors, proving his capability. Very few people actually knew that Duo was an orphan and so far very little information had leaked out.
"I hope you know in light of the recent assassination attempts your daily training will doubled. We cannot have a weak ruler. The time may come when I will not be around and we have no idea when that will occur so best be prepared."
Duo nodded in acquiescence.
"I will make sure to double my efforts."
"Very good. That's the spirit."
Duo nodded minutely. He knew that his 'parents' didn't really love him, but that didn't really bother him. He would be all alone soon enough as his father passed away. However, he preferred to be as such, never having to put up with other people. That was the best part of being alone. He remembered that day clearly as he sat down in his usual chair near the window. He remembered it, but yet it seemed like it was fading slowly as the years progressed.
++++++++++ Flash Back++++++++++
They looked at him like he was some animal that was in the zoo, peering down at him with scrutiny.
"And you're sure that this boy has remained untouched?"
The owner of the orphanage wasn't sure if the lady meant physically which he was sure the boy was not or politically, but then he remembered that the boy was only seven. He knew that a boy that age couldn't already have a political opinion.
"Yes, I am positive. He has never been adopted before so there is no prior influence on him."
The king and queen nodded.
"Good. We don't want a plotter or a conspirator in our midst. Nor, of course, a boy who is not..." the king trailed off.
"Of course, my lord," said the owner, bowing low, showing his understanding."
Hopefully he would be able to snag a couple of extra gold pieced if he treated his guest with the utmost respect. He was rewarded generously with a brown sack filled with gold coins.
"That shall take care of him," said the king, "send him out to us. Our carriage awaits just outside the gates."
"Very well, sire. I will see to him being there shortly," and after the owner's bow, the king and queen whirled out towards the beautiful carriage a few meters away. "Do you think this was a good decision?" Haji said to his wife.
"It's the only choice we have," replied Usagi, "and besides, he'll turn out to be good, just you wait."
"I sincerely hope so."
--
"Let me go!" screamed a seven-year-old Duo, kicking fiercely against the older man's iron grip.
"Pipe down!" screamed the owner. He was not going to let his good fortune be ruined by the young boy.
Duo struggled with new vigor as he was pushed forward. He was forced down a corridor into a room where he was put on a chair and chains wrapped around his ankles and arms.
"Now don't move or this will hurt even more." Duo knew what they were going to do. Every unfortunate person which passed through those doors and was going to have lodging in this dismal place was branded on the neck and wrist. However, as soon as they were going to leave the tattoo on their necks were burned off, but the ones on their wrists were left on, forever a reminder. Duo writhed even more as he saw the hot iron coming towards him.
"Stop moving!" yelled the owner loudly.
Duo did not stop. However, another man soon came and held his head back, exposing that milky neck. Duo screamed as he felt the hot metal touch his skin, burning through his epidermis. He screamed for all he was worth until a gag was placed on his mouth. Choking, Duo wondered if he could just die. It seemed like it would be so much simpler than going through this excruciating torture. After a horrendous five minutes the pain was gone, but Duo was passing in between consciousness and unconsciousness. However, a bath in ice cold water was more than sufficient in waking him up.
"Get up! There are very important people waiting for you!"
Throughly awoken by now, Duo struggled to his feet. Clothes were roughly tossed to him along with a comb. Duo knew what to do and set out to complete his ablutions.
---
"I wonder what is taking that boy so long!" muttered Usagi.
"Patience dear, they should be out any second now." Haji said sighing.
"We'll have to clean him up when we get back home so people don't know where he comes from."
"Of course."
"I noticed some tattoos on him. Do you think they will remove them? I thought that the man...what was his name?...oh, whatever, it doesn't matter, but didn't he say that the tattoos placed on the skin in a way that it was done nowhere else? Didn't he also say that they couldn't get them removed anywhere else?"
"Stop panicking dear. Im sure they will remove all the tattoos and if they don't we can always hide them with a peace of clothing or such. They public will rarely see him anyway and they aren't exactly blatant."
"Very well dear." she sighed.
---
Duo didn't go quietly at first, but then he realized that at least he would be getting out of this hell-hole. He was ushered across the dead lawns of the orphanage/slave house. Two people emerged from a carriage just several meters away. Duo looked at them as they neared. He could tell already that he could never love these people. In fact, Duo didn't know who he could love. It was a rather foreign emotion to him as he was never exposed to it. Climbing into the carriage, Duo felt uneasiness. He did not know why he was here, and right at this moment the sick feeling in his stomach told him that it didn't want to know either.
++++++++++End of Flash Back++++++++++
Duo was dreaming. He was walking down a long corridor. At first Duo was curious the walls were a light green shade. However, he saw the doorway ahead of him beginning to shrink. He panicked. He needed to get out of this hallway because for some reason he felt like he just had to. The walls flared red as he was panicking and becoming frustrated, which, in turn made him angry. Duo was running so fast that he could not feel his legs anymore. His heart was throbbing against his chest. He was almost there...the walls turned a parade blue, but Duo had not time to marvel at how they did that. All he knew was that he had reached the archway. Flinging himself through it, he found himself sliding towards an exquisite young boy who was raising his arm as if to strike him, however, this did not happen. Quite the contrary happened. The boy caught Duo in his arms. Duo looked up into stunning Prussian eyes. Duo felt like drowning in their depths. Strong arms encased him, showing off the power that was hidden in the boy. Tousled brown hair accented an exquisite face. Duo peered into the blue pools again only a second early before the boy vanished into thin air and he fell towards the dark ground. He woke up with a jolt and found himself on the ground with his fallen chair.
"I was just dreaming," panted out Duo to himself as he wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead.
He didn't know what had just happened. Who was that boy that had caught him and disappeared? Duo had never seen him in his dreams before now. All he knew was that he was connected somehow with this person and that night after his training sessions, he lay tired in his bed with only one feeling...foreboding.
---
Well here is the first chapter. I know it is boring because it explains about their backgrounds more than any real plot or1x2 goodness. Just build up. That will come in later chapters. I promise!
Until next time,
Hotaru