Vega: Hey y'all. -waves a little- I know I know. It's been a very LONG time since the last update. I have ton of excuses but I don't think you guys really care. So let me say this much, I'm outta school right now and I have a part time job so that means more updates. You love me now right?

Wufei: Start the story already.

Vega: Fine. Oh, and I'm trying different symbols since doesn't allow some. So bare with me.

Chapter 12

Kek reappeared in the very clearing that Duo and Christian reunited, very proud of himself. He had left Duo and Christian so stunned and angry, they didn't even feel that he was less than a mile away. The first part of his plan was done. He had made the prince desperate and rash by taking his beloved. Kek glanced at his kneeling prisoner. He could understand why Duo felt so strongly for this particular mortal. He was strong, controlled, and easy on the eyes. He would make a glorious play-thing.
Once he found Heero in the hall it was an all too perfect opportunity to pass up. Kidnapping Heero was just the beginning. Duo had a special place in his heart for all his friends and with each of them being taken, he'd a little of himself and what little control he has over his powers. He'd get reckless and he would be slaughtered. The very thought of killing Duo again brought a vicious grin to Kek's face.

As much as the death of Duo brought him joy, Kek force himself to concentrate.
"Well, pet, I guess it's time to get you some playmates. Don't you think so?"
Blank, bottomless eyes looked at him and blinked slowly, uncaring.
Kek raised a clawed finger to his palm and barely winced as he sliced open this hand. The blood flowed freely from the wound and down his arms as he stretched the towards the sky. He began the first strings of his spell.
"Spirits of darkness and shadow, heed my call. Obey my will."

The sky slowly began to darken and the shadows of the forest seemed to crawl towards Kek. Darkness engulfed the area, drawn by lust for his blood. Heero sat, unmoving as the shadows crept around him. He didn't flinch as the unnatural funnel of blackness spun down from the sky, as deadly as any tornado, and landed a mere four feet in front of him. The shadows on the ground and the tornado of darkness seemed to merge into one before Kek, like a dog called by his master.

Kek's eyes shone their brightest red as he growled his order. "Bring them to me. All of them. Bring those close to the heart of the prince to me. Go!"
The darkness let loose a roar of obedience and exploded into dozens of snake-like creatures, off to do Kek's bidding. Satisfied, Kek licked the remaining blood from his hand and grabbed Heero's chin.
"Now all we do is wait." And they vanished.

Back at the house, Duo was walking the thin line between sorrow and insanity as he sat on the couch, head in his hands. There was nothing Christian could do. Duo blocked him from his mind and if he tried to use any magic, Duo might forget himself and attack. So he did what he could; he was there for him. But Christian had to admit he was extremely disturbed. Neither had expected this turn of events. Kek had never involved other people directly. But then again, Kek had never been free.
"Allen-sama, I think we should go prepare."
Silence.
"You must be ready for the battle tomorrow. Kek is much stronger now," Christian winced at the way Duo's shoulders stiffened, "and if you aren't prepared—"
"I'll be defeated," Duo muttered, "And everything will go to shit. Is that what you were going to say?"
"No I wasn't."
"Then you might as well, because it's true. I know he's stronger, I can feel it." He stood up and walked to the steps. There was a fire in his eyes as he looked back at Christian. "Tomorrow will be the end of it all." He disappeared upstairs.

Though he loved Duo as strongly as he would his own son, Christian was not nearly as confident as Duo seemed. Something about Kek's aura had frightened him. It was truly something to be feared. He reached for one of his spell books and that was when he felt it. Something dark, something controlled by blood, something in the room. He looked at the window and saw the threads of darkness rush in.
Christian looked almost serene as they raced around his feet. "So that's how he wants to play, huh?" With one last look at the stairs, he accepted his fate, peacefully. "So be it." The darkness swallowed his form and he was gone.

Upstairs, Duo paused as he set down a candle as a sharp pain came to life in his chest. A tear slipped down his cheek but he continued on. He knew Kek had taken Christian and the others were next, but he had to let it happen. He needed to concentrate.
Miles away, Wufei sat feeling very safe and secure, even though he was on an Oz base. This time he wasn't a prisoner, but a very welcomed guest to his lovers. He couldn't explain how it happened but love had somehow found its way into the hearts of one gundam pilot and the two most powerful men in Oz. At first Wufei had issues about sleeping with the enemy, but Trieze and Zechs showed him he had nothing to worry about. Nothing outside the bedroom doors mattered.
Only clad in his white pants, Wufei sat draped over Zechs' lap quietly reading his favorite poem aloud while an equally undressed Zechs lean against Trieze and allowed him to marvel at his hair and the sharp contrast it made with Wufei's skin.

"That was beautiful, Wufei," Trieze sighed as Wufei closed the poetry book.
"I agree."
Wufei gave his lovers a rare smile and sat up enough to give each of them a kiss. They all knew what it meant. It was time to leave their little paradise and deal with the real world; where they were at war. Wufei hesitantly left the warmth and sat at the edge of the bed and…
"Trieze, you're floor is missing ."
Trieze started and Zechs made a sound of confusion. "What?" They crawled over to their young love and peered over the edge.

And there it was, or more precisely, wasn't. The plush cream carpet was gone, leaving a endless void below them. Before the shock wore off, vines shot from the darkness and wrapped around Wufei's dangling feet, dragging him down.
"Wufei!" Zechs leaped up and grabbed Wufei's arm while Trieze latched onto the other and pulled.
Wufei was too scared to make a sound, but his struggles became frantic. It was like a tug of war with evil and the three males were losing. Suddenly several more dark vines burst from the floor and wrapped around the Oz general and his second. It pulled them all into he void, their shouts silenced as the blackness closed in on itself and faded away.

There was a hitch in Duo's breathing as he sat, silent in his room with books spread around him. Another sting of pain let him know someone—Wufei—was taken. For a moment he lost his focus and the flames surrounding him flickered. He took a deep breath and concentrated.
Something was wrong. Quatre could feel it in his soul. He and Trowa had left the safe house grounds and ventured into town to run a couple of errands. They were heading to the local pharmacy when he felt it. A cold burning that stole his speech and made his fingers numb. He stumbled and Trowa caught him, pulling him towards the park so they could be alone.
"What is it, Quatre?"
"…Pain. So much pain."
"Whose?"
"Duo. Duo's hurting and…"
"What?"
"I can't feel the others. They aren't dead, I…I just can't sense them."

Trowa was silent as the sun began to set. He knew he would never be able to understand how his lover felt to be able to "feel" those close to you but Quatre explained it to him once. It was like everyone he loved had a season. He was autumn; peaceful and warm, a safe place. Heero was like winter; cold, beautiful and full of hidden life. Wufei was spring; lively, spirited, unpredictable temperament. Duo was summer with his everlasting life and care-free nature sprinkled with ups and downs. To suddenly be without those sensations… Trowa couldn't even begin to imagine.

Suddenly Quatre tensed and stared wide-eyed at the shadows of the trees. Trowa followed his gaze. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, though his instincts told him something was off. And as a gundam pilot, you only had your instincts. He pulled a shaky Quatre to his feet and began to back away. It was then that he noticed the shadows seemed to take shape. Not that of a person, but of something less human. There was only one thing to do.

"Run."

And they did. Neither questioned their reasons for running; it was just the most natural response. The park was eerily deserted as the two teens ran, but it seemed like there was nowhere to go. Every shadow seemed to draw nearer, every source of light seemed to fade away until all that was left was a dark alley to be cornered in. Backs against the cold brick, Trowa and Quatre laid eyes upon their pursuer for the first and last time.

It was swirling mass of black dragging itself along onspider-like legs, feeling around for its prey. As it approached 03 and 04, it seemed to speed up, knowing the end was drawing near. They didn't even have time to scream. Trowa just wrapped his arms around Quatre and they were swallowed by the darkness.

Duo watched the beautiful colors of the sunset fade into night as the pain faded as the last two of his friends were whisked away from this earthly plane. Papers and opened books littered the floor and the candles were burned to the last bit of wax, but none of that mattered. Duo simply stared into the night sky, memories dancing in his head like a movie. The good times, the bad, the times when the only happiness he knew was with those he loved and lost. He shifted onto his back and stared at the ceiling, letting his eyes travel around the room. The bedpost, a shirt hanging from the headboard, the bookcase minus the books, a trinket box… a picture. It was more a collage he pieced together. Since none of the pilots would pose for a group photo (Heero said it was a breech in security they couldn't afford), Duo took it upon himself to take pictures. He was in the center, manic grin firmly in place while he posed in front of a building with a WANTED poster of himself right behind him (same expression). Around that was Quatre playing the violin, Trowa cooking, Wufei reading and Heero cleaning his gun.

People he loved. He has lost so many already. Not again.

Never again.

to be continued...

Vega: Ok people here's the deal... that's all I have written down. I do have an outline but I've strayed from that already so I have to rethink how things are going to work.

Wufei: So you mean that's all! I get snatch into a void and left floating there until you do soemthing about it!

Vega: -shrugs- Basically.

Wufei: I don't like you right now.

Vega: -cuddles- But I stilluv you!

The Button... BECKONS! (reviews inspire)
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