Chapter 6
Back in the living room while Trowa, Quatre, and Heero hurried about checking Duo's vital signs, he too was stressed in his unconscious state. Though in his mind he was surrounded by darkness of the dreamscape he knew somewhere in the shadows lurked Kek.
"Your end is drawing near, demon!" he called into the blackness. "Christian will help me destroy you this time." The only sounds he could hear were his own echoes.
"Destroy me?" a voice called from the darkness. "No one can destroy the Great Destroyer, not even you young prince," Kek spoke from his hiding place.
"Nothing is impossible."
"Perhaps you have forgotten the many other times you tried to defeat me in this life. Do you remember?"
Silence.
"Do you!"
"I was a child," Duo growled through gritted teeth.
"Do you remember your first try in this life? You lost and your payment…Solo's life."
Duo clenched his fists, but said nothing.
"How about the Maxwell Church? All those children. Father Maxwell. Sister Helen. All paid for you loss with their lives. It was your fault these people died."
With barely suppressed rage, Duo calmly spoke. "I will not lose to you again. You will no longer take the people I care about away from me."
"Ah. But you will little prince, and not only will I take their lives I will take yours as well."
"You will do no such thing!"
"Your are in no position to be giving me orders! You can't stop me, but it shall be entertaining to see you try, I must admit. I suggest you go now, you've stopped breathing and your friends are worried." Though he knew Duo could not see him, Kek smirked.
With a low growl at the evil spirit within his mind, Duo brought himself back to consciousness.
*~*~*
Now considering the situation he was in, Duo didn't know whether to curse or praise his bad timing. When he woke himself up, he woke up right in the middle of Heero giving him CPR. Being the opportunist he was he decided to enjoy it while he could. It was everyday he woke up to kissing Heero, even if the said person was trying to get him to breathe. When Heero pulled away and frantically started to pump his chest, Duo decided he had worried his friends a little too long. So he coughed a few times to let them know he was alive and well.
As expected he got the usual varied results. Quatre flung himself at Duo and hugged the mess out of him and Trowa placed his hand on Duo's shoulder and gave his impression of a smile. But Heero's reaction shocked Duo. Heero had grabbed both of Duo's shoulders and began to shake him repeatedly; ignoring the fact Quatre was still latched on to him. "Don't you ever do that to us again! Ever!"
Duo blinked, shook his head and blinked again. He started to chuckle but it soon turned into a hacking cough.
"Hey Q-man…loosen up," Duo joked at the over-affectionate blond, though he was wincing in pain.
"Oh! Oh Duo, I'm sorry! Are you ok?" Quatre babbled pulling back for Duo.
"Yeah," he said bring his hand to his chest, "I'm ok." (1)
While Quatre fussed over him some more, Duo noticed something, or rather someone, was missing.
"Where's Heero?" he asked, trying not to seem obvious.
Quatre and Trowa took a quick glance around the room. Indeed the Perfect Soldier had disappeared.
"I don't know. Maybe he went to check on Wufei and the prisoner," Trowa suggested. Quatre shuddered at the mere thought of Christian and Duo tensed.
Suddenly Duo remembered what Wufei said about Christian's effect on Quatre. If what he was thinking was true… He had to make sure.
"Quatre?" Duo said, trying not to let his voice become too serious.
"Yes Duo?"
"What happened when you touched Christian, I mean, the prisoner? Wufei said something about you behaving strangely."
Trowa placed his hands on Quatre's shoulder as the little blonde shook his head, absently bringing his hand over his heart. "I don't know what happened really. All I felt was pain, but not my own. It was the pain of someone who has lived years experiencing nothing but pain in one way or another. I felt he was on his own mission the he knows he can't complete, but he keeps trying anyway. He's put his soul on the line for this…mission."
Duo took a moment to reflect on what Quatre had said. It was true that Christian had experienced a lot of pain, both physical and emotional, for the sake of his mission: protecting his master until the end. And it was also true that he couldn't give up, for his duty, as well as his curse prevented him. Being an immortal, he lived through the best and worst of times searching for where his master maybe in his next life. That was another reason Duo hated, no despised his curse. Not only did he have to suffer but those closest to him, those he loved, were also its victims.
Quatre was about to suggest they go back and check on Heero and Wufei, but before he began he stifle an oncoming yawn. Duo and Trowa couldn't help but smile at him. He was too kawaii for his own good sometimes.
"Maybe you two should get to bed," Duo said.
Trowa nodded and helped Quatre stand up. He put his arm around the tall pilot's shoulders, smiling angelically at him, then glanced over his shoulder at Duo.
"What about you? Aren't you going to bed?" he asked sweetly.
"I'm heading to bed soon. Right after I get something to eat," Duo responded, patting his stomach.
Quatre chuckled. "If you say so. Goodnight Duo."
"G'night,"
Trowa nodded politely and the couple made their way down the hall and around the corner to their shared room.
*~*~*
Duo sat back on the couch and pulled his legs up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them. He rested his head on his knees and sighed. Now that he was alone, it left him alone with his thoughts. Confusing, frightening, overwhelming thoughts. But instead of dwelling on them, he decided to push them to the back of his mind like he usually does with his disturbing thoughts. As he started to doze off on the couch, a voice in his mind woke him tenderly. It was Christian's voice.
Master Allen, he said, Go to bed. I doubt Kek will bother you tonight. And I can take care of your friends and myself until morning, so there's no need to worry.
Duo blinked then he smiled. No matter the situation, Christian always looked out for him, like a big brother would.
"You dishonorable cur! Stop toying with us as if we are children and tell us who you employer is!" Wufei was in full rant mode. Poor Christian, better yet poor Wufei. He has no idea who he was dealing with.
"Wufei…" Heero's voice reasoned, "You're being irrational. There's no need to hold a sword at his throat."
"I am not being irrational! He knows too much, and if his employer has told him all of this then he too is a danger."
Sure you can handle them? Duo joked. What did you say, anyway? , he asked mentally.
He said I had indecent intentions toward you and I merely stated he shouldn't comment on indecent relationships and that he should be worrying more about his own. That's all. Christian answered, trying not to laugh as he did so.
Duo's eyes widened at Christian's comment. He knew Wufei had a relationship with Treize and Zechs, but he wouldn't expose his friend; he thought it was kinda cute. Duo had to say he was surprised that Christian could sense that from Wufei. Maybe Wufei was finally letting his guard down around them.
Plan in mind Duo once again entered the basement door and went down the stair quietly and quickly. At the last moment he tripped an uneven floorboard and drew attention to himself. With a sheepish smile, he made his way over to Wufei, who still had his sword pointed threateningly at the bars on the cell.
"Wufei. You've got a mission," he simply said, knowing it wasn't the exact truth. Even though Wufei didn't have a mission, Duo gave one to him.
Wufei glared at Duo for a quick second and then his expression softened a bit. "Are you alright now, Maxwell?"
Duo flashed a smile. "I'm fine. Now go."
Nodding, Wufei glared at Christian once more then left the basement.
"That was convenient," Heero stated.
Duo shrugged his shoulders. "I just didn't like that fact of you two harassing the guy, so I gave Wufei one of my missions. Won't take him more than two days."
"And why not have me leave? I'll treat him like Wufei did, if not worse." Heero asked. It seemed odd to him that Duo wanted Wufei to go and not him.
Again Duo shrugged. "You'd have found out it was me in 5 minutes or less. Now if we're done playing 20 Questions, I'm gonna head off to bed. Night." He made his way up the stairs, pausing at the top to cast a glance at the two young men in the damp basement. Then he was gone.
*~*~*
(1) Keep in mind that in Duo's first dream that Kek slashed him across the chest
Back in the living room while Trowa, Quatre, and Heero hurried about checking Duo's vital signs, he too was stressed in his unconscious state. Though in his mind he was surrounded by darkness of the dreamscape he knew somewhere in the shadows lurked Kek.
"Your end is drawing near, demon!" he called into the blackness. "Christian will help me destroy you this time." The only sounds he could hear were his own echoes.
"Destroy me?" a voice called from the darkness. "No one can destroy the Great Destroyer, not even you young prince," Kek spoke from his hiding place.
"Nothing is impossible."
"Perhaps you have forgotten the many other times you tried to defeat me in this life. Do you remember?"
Silence.
"Do you!"
"I was a child," Duo growled through gritted teeth.
"Do you remember your first try in this life? You lost and your payment…Solo's life."
Duo clenched his fists, but said nothing.
"How about the Maxwell Church? All those children. Father Maxwell. Sister Helen. All paid for you loss with their lives. It was your fault these people died."
With barely suppressed rage, Duo calmly spoke. "I will not lose to you again. You will no longer take the people I care about away from me."
"Ah. But you will little prince, and not only will I take their lives I will take yours as well."
"You will do no such thing!"
"Your are in no position to be giving me orders! You can't stop me, but it shall be entertaining to see you try, I must admit. I suggest you go now, you've stopped breathing and your friends are worried." Though he knew Duo could not see him, Kek smirked.
With a low growl at the evil spirit within his mind, Duo brought himself back to consciousness.
*~*~*
Now considering the situation he was in, Duo didn't know whether to curse or praise his bad timing. When he woke himself up, he woke up right in the middle of Heero giving him CPR. Being the opportunist he was he decided to enjoy it while he could. It was everyday he woke up to kissing Heero, even if the said person was trying to get him to breathe. When Heero pulled away and frantically started to pump his chest, Duo decided he had worried his friends a little too long. So he coughed a few times to let them know he was alive and well.
As expected he got the usual varied results. Quatre flung himself at Duo and hugged the mess out of him and Trowa placed his hand on Duo's shoulder and gave his impression of a smile. But Heero's reaction shocked Duo. Heero had grabbed both of Duo's shoulders and began to shake him repeatedly; ignoring the fact Quatre was still latched on to him. "Don't you ever do that to us again! Ever!"
Duo blinked, shook his head and blinked again. He started to chuckle but it soon turned into a hacking cough.
"Hey Q-man…loosen up," Duo joked at the over-affectionate blond, though he was wincing in pain.
"Oh! Oh Duo, I'm sorry! Are you ok?" Quatre babbled pulling back for Duo.
"Yeah," he said bring his hand to his chest, "I'm ok." (1)
While Quatre fussed over him some more, Duo noticed something, or rather someone, was missing.
"Where's Heero?" he asked, trying not to seem obvious.
Quatre and Trowa took a quick glance around the room. Indeed the Perfect Soldier had disappeared.
"I don't know. Maybe he went to check on Wufei and the prisoner," Trowa suggested. Quatre shuddered at the mere thought of Christian and Duo tensed.
Suddenly Duo remembered what Wufei said about Christian's effect on Quatre. If what he was thinking was true… He had to make sure.
"Quatre?" Duo said, trying not to let his voice become too serious.
"Yes Duo?"
"What happened when you touched Christian, I mean, the prisoner? Wufei said something about you behaving strangely."
Trowa placed his hands on Quatre's shoulder as the little blonde shook his head, absently bringing his hand over his heart. "I don't know what happened really. All I felt was pain, but not my own. It was the pain of someone who has lived years experiencing nothing but pain in one way or another. I felt he was on his own mission the he knows he can't complete, but he keeps trying anyway. He's put his soul on the line for this…mission."
Duo took a moment to reflect on what Quatre had said. It was true that Christian had experienced a lot of pain, both physical and emotional, for the sake of his mission: protecting his master until the end. And it was also true that he couldn't give up, for his duty, as well as his curse prevented him. Being an immortal, he lived through the best and worst of times searching for where his master maybe in his next life. That was another reason Duo hated, no despised his curse. Not only did he have to suffer but those closest to him, those he loved, were also its victims.
Quatre was about to suggest they go back and check on Heero and Wufei, but before he began he stifle an oncoming yawn. Duo and Trowa couldn't help but smile at him. He was too kawaii for his own good sometimes.
"Maybe you two should get to bed," Duo said.
Trowa nodded and helped Quatre stand up. He put his arm around the tall pilot's shoulders, smiling angelically at him, then glanced over his shoulder at Duo.
"What about you? Aren't you going to bed?" he asked sweetly.
"I'm heading to bed soon. Right after I get something to eat," Duo responded, patting his stomach.
Quatre chuckled. "If you say so. Goodnight Duo."
"G'night,"
Trowa nodded politely and the couple made their way down the hall and around the corner to their shared room.
*~*~*
Duo sat back on the couch and pulled his legs up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them. He rested his head on his knees and sighed. Now that he was alone, it left him alone with his thoughts. Confusing, frightening, overwhelming thoughts. But instead of dwelling on them, he decided to push them to the back of his mind like he usually does with his disturbing thoughts. As he started to doze off on the couch, a voice in his mind woke him tenderly. It was Christian's voice.
Master Allen, he said, Go to bed. I doubt Kek will bother you tonight. And I can take care of your friends and myself until morning, so there's no need to worry.
Duo blinked then he smiled. No matter the situation, Christian always looked out for him, like a big brother would.
"You dishonorable cur! Stop toying with us as if we are children and tell us who you employer is!" Wufei was in full rant mode. Poor Christian, better yet poor Wufei. He has no idea who he was dealing with.
"Wufei…" Heero's voice reasoned, "You're being irrational. There's no need to hold a sword at his throat."
"I am not being irrational! He knows too much, and if his employer has told him all of this then he too is a danger."
Sure you can handle them? Duo joked. What did you say, anyway? , he asked mentally.
He said I had indecent intentions toward you and I merely stated he shouldn't comment on indecent relationships and that he should be worrying more about his own. That's all. Christian answered, trying not to laugh as he did so.
Duo's eyes widened at Christian's comment. He knew Wufei had a relationship with Treize and Zechs, but he wouldn't expose his friend; he thought it was kinda cute. Duo had to say he was surprised that Christian could sense that from Wufei. Maybe Wufei was finally letting his guard down around them.
Plan in mind Duo once again entered the basement door and went down the stair quietly and quickly. At the last moment he tripped an uneven floorboard and drew attention to himself. With a sheepish smile, he made his way over to Wufei, who still had his sword pointed threateningly at the bars on the cell.
"Wufei. You've got a mission," he simply said, knowing it wasn't the exact truth. Even though Wufei didn't have a mission, Duo gave one to him.
Wufei glared at Duo for a quick second and then his expression softened a bit. "Are you alright now, Maxwell?"
Duo flashed a smile. "I'm fine. Now go."
Nodding, Wufei glared at Christian once more then left the basement.
"That was convenient," Heero stated.
Duo shrugged his shoulders. "I just didn't like that fact of you two harassing the guy, so I gave Wufei one of my missions. Won't take him more than two days."
"And why not have me leave? I'll treat him like Wufei did, if not worse." Heero asked. It seemed odd to him that Duo wanted Wufei to go and not him.
Again Duo shrugged. "You'd have found out it was me in 5 minutes or less. Now if we're done playing 20 Questions, I'm gonna head off to bed. Night." He made his way up the stairs, pausing at the top to cast a glance at the two young men in the damp basement. Then he was gone.
*~*~*
(1) Keep in mind that in Duo's first dream that Kek slashed him across the chest