Well, it has been a long time. So sorry for that. I've been busy lately.
Thanks very much to those who reviewed!!-
Mariana1, BluePig, MiakaChan5, Changing Seasons, leemax, Kael Kalespel, dark cloud, Fragile, Hikaru, Kenren19, rikasakuraduo-heerosyliaspike, sg, summer, Aymery, Dole, violeteyes, sanamimorris.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the GW characters so don't sue.
"Only the dead have seen the end of war."
-Plato
---
The rising sun was hidden by a sheet of dark clouds. The weather mimicked the mood of the day. The war raged on, death tolls mounting. Duo found himself sitting on a comfortable chair behind a brownish-grayish desk. He was absentmindedly tracing patterns around the desktop with the back of his pencil. His teacher stood before him, lecturing as usual. Duo's book was open, however, he was not paying any attention, his mind already preoccupied. His teacher, Trent, noticed this.
"Master Maxwell, are you paying attention?" Duo flinched at the use of the formal endearment with his last name. Most of the time when they were alone in their lesson Trent would call him by his first name, but now he was irritated.
"...Um..."
"Is something wrong?" A worried tone ebbed into Trent's voice.
"...Not really." Duo was mulling over his dream several days ago with the mysterious boy in it, however, he could not very well tell that to his teacher, no matter how intimate their relationship was. They may be good friends, but Duo wanted to keep some things to himself.
"Well, I suppose this will conclude our lesson for today. Besides, it seems you need some time to think on whatever seems to be egging at you."
"Right." With that, Trent walked out of the study.
Duo sat motionless. The more he thought about the dream, the more it seemed to fade away into the fabric of time. After some while like this, Duo grew weary and got up to return to his quarters. Once there he plopped down on his down doublet and stretched lazily. The sunlight was making him drowsy, however, his stomach called. Duo then realized he had not eaten for several hours and hopped off the bed to run down the stairs and into the kitchen.
In the corridor that separated the kitchen from the other parts of the house, Duo stopped. Something smelled interesting. He could not quite pick up what it was, but it smelled familiar. Then it clicked and he ran as fast as he could into the kitchen. There, he was stopped in his tracks. A body, drenched in glistening blood, lay motionless. Duo paused for a split second before rushing towards it. His breath was stuck in his throat as he knelt down and turned the body over with trembling hands only to reveal what he had feared.
Usagi lay there, her body already paling from the loss of blood. Her eyes were beginning to dim slowly.
"D-Duo? I-is that you?"
"Yes, I'm here so hang on." Duo knew that his foster parents did not share very many feelings for him, and he felt the same, however, they had raised him and he knew he owed them his life. He was nothing, a nobody, before they came along. He made to get up to call for help, but the grip of his foster mother, held him back. "It is-t-too late for me. P-promise you will rule the n-nation when Haji and I are gone?"
"Of course, but-"
"Shh...silence child. There is no doubt that I will die. I know I haven't showed you affection as a mother should, but I can leave you with one th- thing." Usagi's voice seemed to strengthen as she spoke. "I will leave you with this one thing."
"But-"
"Silence child! Go into my room and look behind the painting of the black rose. There is a safe there. The combination to the lock is 32.5.1. Inside, there will be only one thing. Take it. It is now yours."
"No! Stop!...you-" Duo's voice faltered. Usagi now lay in his lap, her soft eyes closing.
"Farewell, Duo."
"I-" Duo stopped as Usagi's body went limp and lifeless.
"No! This is not happening!" Duo rushed down the corridor, Usagi's blood down his front. He found a servant and told them to call his father, medics, and some law enforcement in a rushed voice.
"Right away, sir," said the servant, bolting down the corridor.
Duo paused in the hallway, a myriad of thoughts racing through his mind as he sunk to the cool marble floor, Usagi's blood traveling down his palms and onto the floor. It was just like what had happened before when he was a child. The memories came racing back to him of his dear friend, Solo, lying motionless in the deserted alleyway. Duo buried his head in his arms which now rested on his knees.
Footsteps slapped the floor, signaling the approach of a group of people. At this, Duo promptly got up. Usagi needed help and now was not the time to be weak. Several men, presumably the medics, and his adoptive father came into view.
"Where is she?" Haji yelled.
"In the kitchen." Duo said in a voice which was surprisingly articulate.
"Come on, let's go!"
Duo chose to run after them, but then halted as he remembered what Usagi had said. However, he berated himself for thinking such thoughts because even though there was a minute chance of her surviving, she may well pull through. Duo didn't think he should take anything of Usagi's if she were still alive. With that in mind, he raced to the kitchen only to see Haji leaning over his wife, clutching her hand in what looked like a death grip.
Duo croaked out, "Well?"
"I'm terribly sorry, but she has passed away," replied one of the men standing near him.
"Ok boys, wrap up!" said another.
"Please leave the body where it is." A gentle voice told Haji.
"Why?"
"The cause of death was a bullet to the heart, most likely from a sniper."
"But-"
"There will be more men coming in to check the room to determine where the shot came from. There are already men searching the grounds. I suggest you stay away from the windows and do not allow anyone to leave the castle. Moreover, you should block off all ways of getting in and out of the kingdom."
Haji, mouth was dry and he choked out something incoherent before getting up and walking away in a trance like state to go fulfill the necessary precautions.
"The same applies to you, young man. Don't come near the body. I'm already blocking off this section of the house. You are in danger too, so the same precautions are employed to you."
Duo nodded and walked out of the kitchen. He somehow made his way into his bed chamber and let himself be swallowed into the soft down of the bed. Red hot anger consumed him as he vowed to murder the bastard who had done this. In a rather vindictive mood, Duo disregarded the fact that standing next to a window dangerous and walked up to the window on the far side of the room. Hot tears started to cascade down his cheeks silently. After looking out onto the emerald grass of the grounds for a while. Duo retired to his bed to fall into a deep slumber.
---
"Did you get him?"
A sigh echoed from the young man's lips.
"What? Don't tell me you started all that ruckus up at the castle and you didn't even get the heir?" "There was no way I could get him, sir!" The boy said quickly. "He was nowhere near any window and I had to leave after I shot the old woman."
"Which old woman."
"The queen."
"Ah...that, I suppose, is better than nothing."
"Uh...Thank you, sir."
"Hm..."
"Can I be of any assistance?"
"No, you ma return to your tent. I think we will be leaving for Eleter by tomorrow morning."
"Yes, sir!"
General Miste looked to the castle some odd twenty five miles away. He was decently happy as at least they had nailed one of the royalty. He wondered what would happen next. The war still raged on with no end in clear sight. A sigh escaped his lips. Tomorrow would bring a new day of war.
---
Duo woke with a start from a haunting dream about his adoptive mother. Blood was a reoccurring site and he felt more tired than he had before he had gone to sleep.
"Oh!" Duo remembered the 'something' that Usagi wanted him to have.
He debated whether to get it or not. Finally, he peeked out into the corridor. A couple of guards were patrolling the corridors. Duo groaned. They were there for his protection in case something happened, but right now Duo wasn't in the mood to share as to why he was sneaking into his mother's private belongings. Besides it would elicit suspicion. He decided to try again later and chose to entertain himself with a book as the sky outside indicated that night had fallen sometime ago.
---
"What happened?" Haji questioned the general who was heading the investigation.
"We know that the queen was shot in the heart by a sniper. The bullet came in through the west window in the kitchen."
"And?"
"Pardon me, sir, but and what?"
"Did you find him?"
"I'm terribly sorry but we have not been able to locate the sniper. The grounds were searched along with the woods. The only evidence we found of our sniper was gunpowder residue on a hill nearby."
"I want you to find him! Do whatever it takes!"
But, sir-"
"I want you to find him and I want you do find him now!"
"Of course, sir." The general bowed and left the room.
Haji sat down on the couch, silently crying, however, the tears of sadness were replaced with those of anger. Haji vowed to kill the sniper. He vowed to kill every Eleterian with his own hands by any means possible. Abruptly standing up, Haji raced through the castle utilizing the secret passages to avoid anyone else. Soon he found himself outside the castle and in the crisp night air. He acquired some armor and then went to the stables to pick out the best horse. Once suited up and ready, Haji took off into the deep night.
---
Heero was somewhat satisfied. He had just received a report that stated that the queen of Dareal was dead. Although he was hoping it had been his adversary which he had never seen, Heero was still gratified that the queen was dead as it would slow Dareal down for sometime with all the arrangements and such. Heero blamed the deterioration of health of his father on Dareal even though they did not know that he was dying. He pushed these thoughts aside as he addressed the kneeling general in front of him.
"Very well, you are dismissed."
General Miste rose from his kneeling position and bowed once before departing, leaving Heero to his own thoughts. He walked to the balcony and opened the French doors which led him onto it. He wanted the war to end. This had always been father's wish dying father. The enemy did not have anything to do with it, or did they? ---
"Master Duo!"
Duo cringed and cursed as he dove behind the covers. He had just been about to sneak to his mother's room, however, the yell had sent him back under the covers. The door burst open to reveal the culprit, a servant.
"Master Duo!" he panted. Duo was starting to get a tinge of worry at the state of the man.
"What? What is it?"
"It's your father, the king!"
Duo froze. Shivers of fear lanced through his body.
"What? What happened?"
"The king, he- he-"
---
Well this chapter was more interesting than the others, wouldn't you agree? So sorry that it is short compared to the last one. Thank for reading.
Until next time,
Hotaru
Mariana1, BluePig, MiakaChan5, Changing Seasons, leemax, Kael Kalespel, dark cloud, Fragile, Hikaru, Kenren19, rikasakuraduo-heerosyliaspike, sg, summer, Aymery, Dole, violeteyes, sanamimorris.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the GW characters so don't sue.
"Only the dead have seen the end of war."
-Plato
---
The rising sun was hidden by a sheet of dark clouds. The weather mimicked the mood of the day. The war raged on, death tolls mounting. Duo found himself sitting on a comfortable chair behind a brownish-grayish desk. He was absentmindedly tracing patterns around the desktop with the back of his pencil. His teacher stood before him, lecturing as usual. Duo's book was open, however, he was not paying any attention, his mind already preoccupied. His teacher, Trent, noticed this.
"Master Maxwell, are you paying attention?" Duo flinched at the use of the formal endearment with his last name. Most of the time when they were alone in their lesson Trent would call him by his first name, but now he was irritated.
"...Um..."
"Is something wrong?" A worried tone ebbed into Trent's voice.
"...Not really." Duo was mulling over his dream several days ago with the mysterious boy in it, however, he could not very well tell that to his teacher, no matter how intimate their relationship was. They may be good friends, but Duo wanted to keep some things to himself.
"Well, I suppose this will conclude our lesson for today. Besides, it seems you need some time to think on whatever seems to be egging at you."
"Right." With that, Trent walked out of the study.
Duo sat motionless. The more he thought about the dream, the more it seemed to fade away into the fabric of time. After some while like this, Duo grew weary and got up to return to his quarters. Once there he plopped down on his down doublet and stretched lazily. The sunlight was making him drowsy, however, his stomach called. Duo then realized he had not eaten for several hours and hopped off the bed to run down the stairs and into the kitchen.
In the corridor that separated the kitchen from the other parts of the house, Duo stopped. Something smelled interesting. He could not quite pick up what it was, but it smelled familiar. Then it clicked and he ran as fast as he could into the kitchen. There, he was stopped in his tracks. A body, drenched in glistening blood, lay motionless. Duo paused for a split second before rushing towards it. His breath was stuck in his throat as he knelt down and turned the body over with trembling hands only to reveal what he had feared.
Usagi lay there, her body already paling from the loss of blood. Her eyes were beginning to dim slowly.
"D-Duo? I-is that you?"
"Yes, I'm here so hang on." Duo knew that his foster parents did not share very many feelings for him, and he felt the same, however, they had raised him and he knew he owed them his life. He was nothing, a nobody, before they came along. He made to get up to call for help, but the grip of his foster mother, held him back. "It is-t-too late for me. P-promise you will rule the n-nation when Haji and I are gone?"
"Of course, but-"
"Shh...silence child. There is no doubt that I will die. I know I haven't showed you affection as a mother should, but I can leave you with one th- thing." Usagi's voice seemed to strengthen as she spoke. "I will leave you with this one thing."
"But-"
"Silence child! Go into my room and look behind the painting of the black rose. There is a safe there. The combination to the lock is 32.5.1. Inside, there will be only one thing. Take it. It is now yours."
"No! Stop!...you-" Duo's voice faltered. Usagi now lay in his lap, her soft eyes closing.
"Farewell, Duo."
"I-" Duo stopped as Usagi's body went limp and lifeless.
"No! This is not happening!" Duo rushed down the corridor, Usagi's blood down his front. He found a servant and told them to call his father, medics, and some law enforcement in a rushed voice.
"Right away, sir," said the servant, bolting down the corridor.
Duo paused in the hallway, a myriad of thoughts racing through his mind as he sunk to the cool marble floor, Usagi's blood traveling down his palms and onto the floor. It was just like what had happened before when he was a child. The memories came racing back to him of his dear friend, Solo, lying motionless in the deserted alleyway. Duo buried his head in his arms which now rested on his knees.
Footsteps slapped the floor, signaling the approach of a group of people. At this, Duo promptly got up. Usagi needed help and now was not the time to be weak. Several men, presumably the medics, and his adoptive father came into view.
"Where is she?" Haji yelled.
"In the kitchen." Duo said in a voice which was surprisingly articulate.
"Come on, let's go!"
Duo chose to run after them, but then halted as he remembered what Usagi had said. However, he berated himself for thinking such thoughts because even though there was a minute chance of her surviving, she may well pull through. Duo didn't think he should take anything of Usagi's if she were still alive. With that in mind, he raced to the kitchen only to see Haji leaning over his wife, clutching her hand in what looked like a death grip.
Duo croaked out, "Well?"
"I'm terribly sorry, but she has passed away," replied one of the men standing near him.
"Ok boys, wrap up!" said another.
"Please leave the body where it is." A gentle voice told Haji.
"Why?"
"The cause of death was a bullet to the heart, most likely from a sniper."
"But-"
"There will be more men coming in to check the room to determine where the shot came from. There are already men searching the grounds. I suggest you stay away from the windows and do not allow anyone to leave the castle. Moreover, you should block off all ways of getting in and out of the kingdom."
Haji, mouth was dry and he choked out something incoherent before getting up and walking away in a trance like state to go fulfill the necessary precautions.
"The same applies to you, young man. Don't come near the body. I'm already blocking off this section of the house. You are in danger too, so the same precautions are employed to you."
Duo nodded and walked out of the kitchen. He somehow made his way into his bed chamber and let himself be swallowed into the soft down of the bed. Red hot anger consumed him as he vowed to murder the bastard who had done this. In a rather vindictive mood, Duo disregarded the fact that standing next to a window dangerous and walked up to the window on the far side of the room. Hot tears started to cascade down his cheeks silently. After looking out onto the emerald grass of the grounds for a while. Duo retired to his bed to fall into a deep slumber.
---
"Did you get him?"
A sigh echoed from the young man's lips.
"What? Don't tell me you started all that ruckus up at the castle and you didn't even get the heir?" "There was no way I could get him, sir!" The boy said quickly. "He was nowhere near any window and I had to leave after I shot the old woman."
"Which old woman."
"The queen."
"Ah...that, I suppose, is better than nothing."
"Uh...Thank you, sir."
"Hm..."
"Can I be of any assistance?"
"No, you ma return to your tent. I think we will be leaving for Eleter by tomorrow morning."
"Yes, sir!"
General Miste looked to the castle some odd twenty five miles away. He was decently happy as at least they had nailed one of the royalty. He wondered what would happen next. The war still raged on with no end in clear sight. A sigh escaped his lips. Tomorrow would bring a new day of war.
---
Duo woke with a start from a haunting dream about his adoptive mother. Blood was a reoccurring site and he felt more tired than he had before he had gone to sleep.
"Oh!" Duo remembered the 'something' that Usagi wanted him to have.
He debated whether to get it or not. Finally, he peeked out into the corridor. A couple of guards were patrolling the corridors. Duo groaned. They were there for his protection in case something happened, but right now Duo wasn't in the mood to share as to why he was sneaking into his mother's private belongings. Besides it would elicit suspicion. He decided to try again later and chose to entertain himself with a book as the sky outside indicated that night had fallen sometime ago.
---
"What happened?" Haji questioned the general who was heading the investigation.
"We know that the queen was shot in the heart by a sniper. The bullet came in through the west window in the kitchen."
"And?"
"Pardon me, sir, but and what?"
"Did you find him?"
"I'm terribly sorry but we have not been able to locate the sniper. The grounds were searched along with the woods. The only evidence we found of our sniper was gunpowder residue on a hill nearby."
"I want you to find him! Do whatever it takes!"
But, sir-"
"I want you to find him and I want you do find him now!"
"Of course, sir." The general bowed and left the room.
Haji sat down on the couch, silently crying, however, the tears of sadness were replaced with those of anger. Haji vowed to kill the sniper. He vowed to kill every Eleterian with his own hands by any means possible. Abruptly standing up, Haji raced through the castle utilizing the secret passages to avoid anyone else. Soon he found himself outside the castle and in the crisp night air. He acquired some armor and then went to the stables to pick out the best horse. Once suited up and ready, Haji took off into the deep night.
---
Heero was somewhat satisfied. He had just received a report that stated that the queen of Dareal was dead. Although he was hoping it had been his adversary which he had never seen, Heero was still gratified that the queen was dead as it would slow Dareal down for sometime with all the arrangements and such. Heero blamed the deterioration of health of his father on Dareal even though they did not know that he was dying. He pushed these thoughts aside as he addressed the kneeling general in front of him.
"Very well, you are dismissed."
General Miste rose from his kneeling position and bowed once before departing, leaving Heero to his own thoughts. He walked to the balcony and opened the French doors which led him onto it. He wanted the war to end. This had always been father's wish dying father. The enemy did not have anything to do with it, or did they? ---
"Master Duo!"
Duo cringed and cursed as he dove behind the covers. He had just been about to sneak to his mother's room, however, the yell had sent him back under the covers. The door burst open to reveal the culprit, a servant.
"Master Duo!" he panted. Duo was starting to get a tinge of worry at the state of the man.
"What? What is it?"
"It's your father, the king!"
Duo froze. Shivers of fear lanced through his body.
"What? What happened?"
"The king, he- he-"
---
Well this chapter was more interesting than the others, wouldn't you agree? So sorry that it is short compared to the last one. Thank for reading.
Until next time,
Hotaru