Vega: See? Two chapters! ::smiles::
Wufei: You know you can stop sucking up now.
Vega: ::through clenched teeth:: No I can't...

Chapter 9

After Christian had settled in with the gundam pilots, he was eventually able to gain their trust. He and Wufei were seen constantly sparring, neither winning, but just simply enjoying the challenge of a worthy opponent. Quatre and Trowa discovered the man's love of music and that he played the piano beautifully; the trio was heard playing together every evening, their melodies flowing throughout the house. Heero even gave Christian the time of day; the two were usually seen seated in the same room just enjoying companionable silence; though there was always an undercurrent of tension. But when it came to Duo, Christian and he were almost inseparable. The others thought that Duo, of all of them, would be the most weary around Christian considering he was found snooping around his room while he slept. But Duo chatted quietly and easily with him as if they were long time friends: a fact that bugged Heero to no end. Wherever the green-eyed blond was, Duo wasn't far behind and visa versa. The peace was short lived, as are many things for these five teenagers usually were. A mission came in.

Heero had them all gather in the living room to brief them on the mission. Quatre and Trowa snuggled on the couch, Wufei sat cross-legged on the floor, and Duo sat on a recliner as Christian leaned over the back. The closeness of the two made his trigger finger twitch, but had no choice but to ignore it; there was a mission to concentrate on.
"This mission is for all of us, Christian included. We are to infiltrate an OZ base suspected to be building a new gundam and training pilots to use it. Since there are six of us, we need to break into teams on two." He looked over at the couple on the couch. "Quatre and Trowa, you two need to take out the security system and plant bombs around the compound. Wufei and Christian, we need you to infiltrate the main building and download everything on the new gundam and our gundams and upload a virus. Duo, you and I will fight the soldiers as a distraction for the others. Is everyone clear on their duties?"

They all nodded, all but Duo that is. "Heero, wouldn't it be better if I were to infiltrate the base with Christian? I'm better suited for the job than Wufei. Besides my gundam is still on the fritz since the earlier the week."

Heero looked over at the braided baka. He was right, but that didn't mean Heero was going to admit it. All he did was nod, and try not to growl when he saw Christian's eyes light up on Duo.

"OK, we move out at dawn. We all should return here before sunset. Dismissed." Heero stood up and took his laptop with him to his room. The others went in there own directions to prepare for the next morning.

Duo and Christian were the only ones left in the living room when the meeting was ended. Duo sighed and Christian rested his hands on his shoulders.

"What is the matter Master Allen? I mean Duo-sama."

Duo chuckled slightly. "I said either would do, Christian. I don't think I'll be at my best on the mission. Your presence has kept Kek at bay, but it's still a problem. I need to get him out of my system for me to function at maximum"

The two sat in silence, thinking about the situation. Christian pushed himself from behind Duo and paced the room. He spoke as he walked. "Master Allen, I have devised a way to, as you say, 'get Kek out of your system'."

"What?" "I have been reading during the night and I have found a way to contain Kek until the time is right for your battle. It requires much concentration and energy to create but the results are worth it. Are you willing to give it a try?"

Duo sprang from his seat. "Hell yeah! How do we do this?"

Christian looked around to make sure they were still alone. He grabbed hold of Duo's hand and dragged him up to his room. He sat Duo on his bed as his fished around in the closet searching for the sorcery book he was researching the previous night. A pleased grunt alerted Duo of Christian's discovery. Christian sat next to Duo and flipped through the book, looking for the appropriate page. Duo looks into the book as Christian flew through the pages. His eyes caught several types of spells and history that he found overwhelmingly familiar.

"C-Christian," Duo cleared his throat. "Christian, where did you find this book?"

Christian hands froze and he took a deep breath. "I found it in our home about 80 years ago, in what used to be the secret tunnel."

Duo caressed the book lovingly. "Father used to let me read it with him. He said I could learn a thing or two to help in the future." He shook the memory off and concentrated on current matters. "What exactly are you looking for?"

"Ah ha! Found it! Look here m'lord." Christian pointed to an old, faded page written in their old language. It took Duo a few minutes to translate and understand it; it's been over a hundred years since he last saw it.

"What does this mean?"

"It says here in the text 'to contain an evil presence you must channel the creature into an outside enclosure.' You see all we need to do is focus on a containment unit and channel Kek into it. It says this process needs to be repeated several times in 3 days time, then the evil will be imprisoned there until released."

Duo sat looking dumbfounded. Was it truly that easy? He could be rid of Kek in three days, and back to normal… well as normal as Duo could get. His eyes watered at the thought of not having to worry about Kek in everyday life and only having to deal with him once and for all. He didn't have to have the nightmares, the visions of his friends' murders, or view the countless millions of people suffering under Kek's hand. Christian raised his hand and wiped away a stray tear and brought Duo out of his thought.

"Let's do this, tonight." Duo said, his voice filled with determination.

"As you wish. I have something to channel Kek into, I came across it a few days ago." Christian stood up and went back to the closet digging around for a box. He returned back to Duo's side and set the box on his lap. He lifted the lid and removed a delicate crystal orb about the size of small basketball. It was beautiful; the light reflected from the many faces in all the colors of the rainbow. Christian gently placed it on the bed.

"It's a stunning piece, isn't it? I've enchanted it so that it can withstand Kek's presence within it. Now shall we begin?" Christian asked, looking over to Duo. What he saw startled him.

Duo was shaking and his hands were clutching the sheet so tightly his knuckles were turning white. His breathing was erratic and every time he blinked his eyes switched colors: from violet to red.
Christian grabbed the crystal ball and stood away from Duo. He set the precious item on the plush chair in his room and moved directly in front of the young pilot.

"Kek, you know you don't stand a chance against us. You will lose this time. You will no longer cause my master or his life anymore pain," Christian said when Duo's eyes blinked and remained red.

Kek looked at Christian through Duo's eyes. "It is you who doesn't stand a chance! I have lived longer than this boy can remember. What makes you think he can destroy me when even you don't know how that is done?"

"That may be true but we'll figure it out and all you can do is wait until we let you out."

"You will not imprison me, you can't!"

"That isn't you choice." Christian backed away from the possessed Duo and began to chant a few words for a binding spell. Kek fought against his invisible restraints, growling. He was losing his control over Duo and he slipped back into Duo's mind. Duo blinked and he eyes finally flashed violet and stayed that way.

"Christian… let's do this now. I-I can't take this anymore." Duo barely whispered the last part; his emotions all jumbled up.

Christian nodded and retrieved the crystal ball and brought it back to Duo. He set it on the bed and looked Duo in the eyes.

"Place your hands on opposite sides of the orb and focus you eyes on the crystal."

Duo did as he was told.

"Now focus on Kek's presence and concentrate on the orb at the same time. Don't let him gain control, just bring him to the front
of your subconscious."

Duo did this also, a sheer sheet of sweat beginning to grace his forehead.

"Good. Now the text says to chant this simple phase while thinking of Kek leaning your body. Now repeat after me."

Duo nodded.

"Creature of evil I imprison you, where you shall remain 'til thou art released."

Duo took a deep breath and stuttered. "C-creature of evil I im-imprison you, where you s-shall remain 'til thou art released."

The strain this was having on his energy was leaving him weak. As he spoke these words his body was enveloped in a light purple haze. His hands felt like they were on fire, but he dare not move them. He realized that some of Kek's presence was seeping into the orb when the clear ball began to develop swirls of red in its center. The light surrounding him disappeared and the burning stopped. He slowly lifted his hands from the orb and stared at it for a long time. He raised his gaze to Christian eyes, which held a triumphant sparkle in them.

"W-we did it?"

Christian nodded. "Yes, we did it. Now we only have to do this three times a day for three days and he'll be completely out until the battle."

Duo was speechless. It worked! He was one step closer to freedom. He leapt up from the bed and tackle-hugged Christian, burying his face in his muscled chest.

Christian allowed himself to laugh and he hugged Duo back. His young master finally had hope. Now he could be allowed to go on with his life and maybe, just maybe, he could finally capture the man he loved so much. But one could only hope. As long as Duo was happy, Christian would do everything in his power to keep him that way.