Title: Lord of Death 14?
Author: Seraphim Grace
Archive: Always appreciated and replied to.
Rating: R, I think it really needs to be, there's a lot of suggestion this chapter.

Pairings: Burgeoning 1x2
Warnings: Angst. Some gore.

Notes: AU, and features necromancy

Duo and Heero are taken to a strange world where Duo is worshipped
because he calls himself Shinigami

The sunlight was thin, filtered through by dawn clouds. In the half-light Mamoru looked grey and shining, like he was made of stone, he wore an ash grey colour similar to the colour of morning and his dark hair was shining. In comparison Heero looked small and thin, he struck Duo as looking like Mamoru must have at that age, before the years had made him broad and hard. They stood in similar poses, but where Mamoru carried his sword pointed to the left, Heero's was pointed to the right and they were circling, watching, learning the other's pacing. Tobin put his arms around Duo's shoulders as he watched; this would not be a quick spar like he and Mamoru had shared. This would be a match, not of equals, but easily of masters. Heero learned so quickly that even now, less than a week since he had come to Dathyl he was competent and confident with the blade.

"How long did he last the last time?" Adam asked from the side, arranging the heavy bear skin around Duo's shoulders, although they couldn't make him stay in bed they did baby him and keep him warm.

"Twenty one minutes." Tobin answered, "which is longer than anyone else has in years." Duo pushed his elbow into Tobin's ribs hard with a murmur to be quiet.

Mamoru had seen an opening, and took it; rather than bring his sword up in the arc he had taught Heero as an opening move, and he brought the hilt of the sword up in a disembowelling move than Heero blocked easily. Their eyes were on each other and not the swords. In the distance there was a rumble of thunder and a few heavy splats of rain began to fall on the palace's paved courtyard. As Heero blocked the sword strike he stepped back out of the range of Mamoru' feet and in a move that caused Tobin to whisper Seraphim he slammed his forearm into Mamoru' sword hand. Mamoru took that as an opportunity to bring his blade up to Heero's throat, where it was blocked by his own sword. Mamoru widened his eyes slightly as the rain began to pelt down on the pair, slicking their clothes to their skin. The boy might not have been an equal match to Mamoru, but he was talented.

Mamoru made his mind up and stopped holding back, Tobin hissed through his teeth seeing the slight change in posture, so far Heero had matched him, or he had matched Heero, now it seemed the boy would end up on his back in the dirt the way that the rest of them did. Mamoru moved like lightning, flashing back and forth in the rain and suddenly rather than predicting and acting against Mamoru' movements Heero was forced to react. He was still coping though, much longer than anyone else had when they fought Mamoru. The boy had obviously never fought anyone like this before, and it must have lasted ten minutes before Mamoru held the sword point to Heero's throat, Heero's sword in the fabric at Mamoru' waist. "Concede."

"I concede." Heero said lowering his sword at last, Mamoru sheathed Ran in a single gesture and then bowed. "You are amazing." He said with a trace of awe in his voice.

"Thank you," Mamoru sounded cold at that. "I have a gift for you, Heero, for learning so quickly."

"I must learn to help Duo." Heero answered stiffly, "it is of no matter to me to give me gifts. I am his Senshisha and I must learn the weapons of this place to protect him as is my duty."

"Nonetheless," Mamoru said, walking across to where Duo sat with Tobin and Adam, and took from beside them a wooden box, "such gifts are necessary when one's pupil reaches a certain stage of development."

Almost reluctantly Heero opened the proffered box and removed from it a broadsword and sheathe. The sheathe, or saya, was enamelled in a lacquer the colour of Duo's eyes and Duo's eyes bulged when he saw it. In a smooth clear motion Heero drew the blade free and ran his finger down the engraving underneath the hilt. "Fushi no saiai." He said aloud.

"Immortal beloved." Adam whispered behind them, "a fitting name for a sword."

"I think someone's trying to tell you two something." Tobin added with a laugh, "but that is a pretty sword, hey, Mamoru," he called out, "that sword's nicer than the one you gave me."

"The one I gave you is nearly a thousand years old and had served many a Senshisha, I had this one specifically made for Heero as there was no other available. He will be asked to show his sword to the empress when he makes his vow therefore he needed a sword. I did consider asking you to lend him yours."

Tobin went pale, "I would never give it up, you know that, you gave me that sword to protect me after," he paused, "after Dramathen."

"Hence I had another sword made for Master Heero." Mamoru answered stiffly.

"Can I play?" Duo asked.

Tobin nodded and bowed to Mamoru signalling that he was really not in the mood for the all out battle that Mamoru wanted and was hinting at. "Do you have a weapon?" Mamoru asked, Duo looked at Adam who handed him his sword. "Then we will begin. Have you had any formal instruction?" Duo shook his head. "that much was obvious from the way you hold the blade. Point the tip low, holding it high means you use more energy maintaining pose than attacking," his voice was almost numb as he spoke, "your motions should be fluid, like grass on the wind." Behind him Tobin was mouthing the same words, "to be successful in battle, you should be like water, it finds the path of least resistance, and, Tobin, I know perfectly well what you're doing behind my back, find yourself something more practical to do."

"Yes, Mamoru," Tobin said taking a brush out of the saddlebags and muttering under his breath, then he laughed, "I haven't done that since I was a boy," he said, looking at Mamoru.

"And I remember when you did that the first time around." Mamoru said dryly. "Now watch, Duo, think of water when you attack. Water can shift stones and wear away mountains, ice destroys and cherishes, nothing stands in the way of water. Now watch," he brought his sword up in a graceful arc that would have cut Duo in two, "now replicate it," Duo tried to, and Mamoru with barely moving blocked it, "and again," he shifted slightly, sliding Adam's sword against Mamoru's broadsword, who brought his sword up to bring the blade away from him and turned so Duo's blade was brought against himself. "Did you see what I did?" Duo nodded, "now let's try it again." Duo took a step back as he brought the blade up from his knees, forcing Mamoru to turn his sword to block the blow, then without warning, Mamoru drove his shoulder into Duo knocking him flying unto his back.

Josian shook his head at Heero as he went to interfere. He settled back down to watch.

"Watch me, not the sword." Mamoru barked. "the sword can be in either hand, it is just an extension of my arm. I am the weapon, not the sword. Try again." Duo kept his eyes on Mamoru this time, who blocked his attack, as Duo stepped out of the way of a shoulder nudge, tripped over his outstretched leg and fell again.

"Duo," Tobin said, "if it makes you feel any better, you're doing better than I did the first time."

"Again!" Duo said standing up. His face was a mask of fury and the air around him crackled with fiery sparks.

"As you wish." Mamoru said, "I am quite content to knock you down all day."

"We'll see about that. Don't hold back."

Mamoru raised an eyebrow that Duo had even noticed that. "As you wish," he said, and in a flurry of blows Duo could barely see to block he was flat on his back with a sword point to his throat and a foot on his chest. "Just because a katana is designed to slash doesn't mean it can't thrust, you are less exercise than Mina, perhaps the two of you should spar in future."

"I will defeat you," Duo said and the air around them grew hot, a single drop of blood fell from Duo's nose for him to wipe away angrily.

"Not in that temper," Tobin said, "calm down, watch him, not the sword, try to predict what he's going to do, where he's going to be. Now count to ten," Duo snarled out the numbers, calming as he went through the upper register, "now try again."

"You sound like him," Heero protested.

"I trained him," Mamoru said, "and if Duo shows that he can control his temper I will train him, just as I train Heero."

Duo bowed his head and then he brought the sword up, and rather than allowing Mamoru to block it, he stepped back bringing the sword within the radius of Mamoru' face, he was forced to bring his forearm up to protect his eyes, but it was not enough to stop him kicking out and sending Duo sprawling. "Much better," he said, "but remember, I am the weapon, not the sword."

"Maybe he's not suited to the sword." Josian ventured, Mamoru shot him a dark look. "Well, it's true, not everyone works as well with the sword, he disarmed Tobin with a pair of knives, maybe he's just not a swordsman."

"A Dathylian sentiment." Mamoru snarled. "Would you be happier, Duo, if you used your knives?" Duo nodded, throwing the sword away and pulling two long knives from hidden sheathes at his boots. "then let's begin."

Tobin put his hand on Heero's chest, "even in the mood that he's in he won't hurt him, just watch."

It was over before it had begun, Duo was quick but the length of the broadsword had meant that although his manoeuvre to slit Mamoru's throat was successful the sword had gone through his jacket, if it had have been a battle, they would have both ended up dead. Nevertheless Mamoru bowed to his opponent, "that is called sheathing the sword, Duo," he said quietly, "and must never be attempted, the cost is often too high." And Duo took note of the words, often, but not always.

Later Duo sat having his long hair brushed by Otonna who seemed to have taken over as their primary maid. "You did well against Lord Mamoru," Otonna said, "the entire palace is abuzz with it, it's the closest someone's got to him with a knife in twenty years."

"It took seconds." Duo said sadly.

"There's no shame in that," Otonna said, "Lord Mamoru is the champion of the Lady of Meirin, he is a paragon among Senshi, no one's beaten him in a fight in twenty years, I've seen some of the greatest swordsmen defeated in minutes and never even draw blood on him, you had a knife to his throat."

"Otonna," Duo said turning around, "I know you're trying to make me feel better but it's not working. He beat me, fair and square."

"From where I was sitting it was a draw." Heero said. "He killed you at the same time you killed him. Otonna," he turned his attention to the maid, "will you show me how to do that?"

"What fight with knives?" She laughed, "you need to speak to Prima about that." Even Duo laughed.

"No," Heero said missing the joke, "to braid his hair, I would like to learn."

Otonna's smile was fond. "Duo, do you mind?"

"No, of course not." He said. "It's always a pain to start and I trust Heero with my hair."

Heero moved to stand beside the maid, but she handed him the brush, "now separate it into three strands," with her watching he did as she said, "now you need to pick them all up without mixing them up, like this," she arranged his hands for him, "now the braiding is the easiest bit, it's just one over one under, like this," she moved his hand braiding the hair, "now you finish."

It took much longer for him to braid it than he had seen Duo and Otonna manage it, and when he was done it was straggly and rough. He was just about to undo it when Otonna stopped him. "It's very good for a first time, isn't it, Duo?"

"Much better than mine." Duo said with a winning smile, he could see just how nervous about it that Heero was, "shall we try again, I've got nothing on my itinerary this afternoon, have you, Otonna?"

"No, master Duo, and seeing as he's doing such a good job, how about he does mine next?" She reached up to undo her wimple.

"I don't know." Heero said looking worried.

"Don't worry about, think of it as really great practise for braiding Princess Relena's hair." Duo's tone was pleasant and teasing.

"I have no intention of now or ever braiding her hair." Heero said stiffly, "baka." And Heero remembered what Mina had said, that when he called Duo baka he was really saying something else, and for the first time, he knew it was true.