Sorrow Filled Endings

Zechs and Duo slumped through the last of the trees into a clearing. Duo collapsed on the ground, his feet burning from so much walking. Zechs sat next to him and pulled the small blond into his lap. The tasks had been more difficult than they had first anticipated. After the Sphinx, they had to outsmart a monkey's tricks, outrun a lion in a race, pull the tooth of a sick dragon, travel through the darkness and battle a spider, and built a new home for a family of rodents. They were waiting for what the seventh task would be. Judging by all the others, it wasn't going to be easy.

Duo curled into his lovers lap and sighed. "Do you think we'll ever find it?"

Zechs absentmindedly stroked Duo's back. "I'm sure we will. We've already passed six of the seven orders. The last must be around here somewhere." He pulled Duo back and looked into his eyes. "Do not worry, my love. We will find the Lady."

Duo smiled and leaned in. His lips brushed gently against Zechs, who moaned before he could catch himself. Duo chuckled seductively. "Overly anxious, Love?" He teased.

Zechs smirked, embarrassed. "It has been three days. Can you honestly say that you do not feel it?"

Duo grinned and reached down to grasp his lover through his pants. "No, I feel it just fine." He winked.

Zechs smirked and leaned in again when a large explosion behind them broke the moment. They turned and scattered into the forest to avoid the flying splinters of fallen trees and bushes. When they turned around, they saw a large lizard of some kind standing with a very hungry look in its eyes. Zechs turned but couldn't find Duo anywhere near him. Panicked, he looked back at the beast and noticed it had caught sight of something. Turning to the direction the creature was looking, Zechs saw Duo sitting in the bushes. His wing was caught in the tree and he couldn't move. Zechs couldn't tell, but it looked like his wing might be broken.

The tall blond quickly rose and started forward. He wasn't sure how he could stop the lizard, but he couldn't let Duo be hurt. If he could at the very least distract the creature until Duo can wiggle free. He ran to the creature and, with all of his strength, sent his fist into its side. A searing pain swept through his body and when he looked down, the flesh on his fingers had been burned off. He screamed in pain and fell to his knees.

The lizard, distracted by the scream, turned and started towards the now injured angel. Duo watched the beast turn from him and head towards his lover and he panicked. He looked around him but couldn't see anything he could use as a weapon. Looking up at his broken wing he winced at the thought of what pain there was to come from his next move, but he had to do it; for Zechs. Duo clenched his fists around his robes and yanked as hard as he could on his wings. He heard a sickening crack echo through the clearing and the blinding pain that shot through his back confirmed his injury. Blinking through the pain, Duo turned to see the creature vastly approaching the still cringing Zechs very slowly, as thought taunting him.

Now free from the tree, Duo tried to carefully tuck his wing back into place. It was bent at a very odd angle and every movement sent sharp pains through his body. Finally he managed it and stood up.

"Hey, big and ugly!" He shouted and the creature paused. "Yeah, mess with someone your own size why don't you!" He shouted and took off running. Remembering what happened to Zechs, he was very careful to avoid the creature's skin as he ran large circles around it. The braided dark angel grinned. His plan seemed to be working. The creature was getting dizzy…or was that angry? Before Duo had time to react, the creature snapped its head in the opposite direction and made hard contact with Duo as he made his next approach. The pain from Duo's wing suddenly seemed like a paper cut compared to the burning sensation across his stomach from the fire animal's skin.

Duo was slammed backwards into a tree. Another crack signaled the breaking of his other wing and the clearing was filled with his loud cry as he made contact with the ground. Zechs watched with horror as Duo flew. How could they defeat a creature they couldn't touch? Zechs looked around them desperately and then he saw it. Over on the very edge of the clearing was soft blue circle. Approaching it, Zechs confirmed his suspicion; it was water. Turning to look at the creature he gasped when he realized it was positioned directly above Duo, who wasn't moving. Zechs opened his large wings and cupped as much water into them as he could. Then, carefully, he ran back into the center of the clearing.

"Hey!" Zechs yelled.

The creature paused with its mouth wide open to gaze at Zechs.

"I think its time you cooled off." Zechs glared and jerked his wings forward, releasing the water from them. The creature let loose a high pitched shriek as the water made contact. Zechs watched with satisfaction as the water soaked skin began to flake off, as though being burned. The creature collapsed on the ground, fiery red blood leaking from its open wounds as Zechs approched. He stood over its gaping jaws and knelt down. The creature wasn't moving and, as far as he could tell, it wasn't breathingeither. Zechs nodded and turned to find his lover. Duo lay crumpled against atree. His wings werebent in odd positions andhis stomach was badly burned. Just underneth him, Zechs noticed a rather thick pool of blood.He ran over to Duo and knelt next to him, afraid to move him.

"Duo?" He whispered and hesitantly brought his hand out to touch the marred face of his lover. "Duo?" He repeated.

Duo didn't move. Taking calmling breaths, Zechs reached forward and placed his fingers to his throat. He felt to pulse, but then again, perhaps Dark Angels were different than White Angels. Zechs prayed he was wrong.

"Duo?" He asked again. Still the body didn't move and Zechs felt his composure slipping. He reached forward and pulled the fragile body of the dark angel into his lap.

"Duo please, you have to hear me." He pleaded, tears gathering at the corners of his eyes.

Duo remained still.

Zechs lost control andwrapped his arms around the lifeless body and cried. He was too late. Why hadn't he seen the water earlier? Usually he was so much more observant than that. Where did that creature come from and why couldn't he defeat it? They should have taken the eastern path. Why didn't they take the eastern path? Perhaps if they had, Duo would still be…He couldn't even say the word. Pulling back he looked at the tear soaked face of his lover. Zechs had been crying all over him. He had failed. He had failed to protect the first and only man he would ever truly love. Right when he thought he could be happy...and then this happens. Zechs leaned forward and wiped the tears from the peaceful face and kissed his lips softly.

"I'm so sorry…" He whispered and held him close. "I should have been quicker." He looked up at where the beast lie, surrounded in its own blood and he sighed. He couldn't quit now, not after they have come so close; Duo wouldn't want him to quit now. What would he say? He looked back down at the gentle face of his lover and smiled sadly.

You know what he would say...His brain said. He would say "You can't quit! Not after we've come so far! You have to save the people of Earth!" Yes, that is what he would say. Duo was always so kindhearted. With a heavy sigh, Zechs nodded.

"I will finish what we started, my love. I promise." He whispered and, with one last kiss, he gently laid Duo's still and bloodied body on the ground. He stood and said a silent prayer before turning and walked through the clearing to the path on the other side. Before disappearing he looked back over his shoulder at his lover. "I will come back for you…" He whispered before disappearing into the darkened path of the forest.

Ahh, don't kill me! ducks Trust me, I know what I'm doing. No promises on anything, but trust me, the story as a whole has a happy ending.