Sacrificed During a Violet Moon

Description: Duo's POV, except for beginning part. Duo, ever since he was a little baby, never knew his family. He was left to an orphanage in the city without anything but the clothes he wore and the necklace around his neck, something that speaks of his mysterious and painful past. Yet, when after almost 18 years of his life he has to return back home, he never expected it to be a repetition of things he never remembered in the first place of when he was just a baby, chosen as the sacrifice of the violet moon and a past come back to haunt him.

Pairing's: 1+2/1x2 (if you haven't noticed I abhor 2x1 and you will never see me with anything relating to it, sorry to all those fans who do, my best friend for example), 3+4/possibly 3x4 (I most likely won't, since I believe that their relationship works best if subtle hints are dropped from the sky), 13+6+5/possibly 13x6x5 in future, 13x5 mention in past but 6x5 in past (this has become my most favorite paring next to 1x2). As I am on Fanfiction all MA material will be on my website in livejournal.

Chap 5: Varelet

"And yet I think it must be the wound, the wound itself, which lets us know and love, which forces us to reach out to our misfit and by a kind of poetry of the soul, accomplish, for a moment, the wholeness the drunk Greek extrapolated from his high or flagellated out of an empty heart,"

Nothing beats waking up to the smell of fresh rain and thunder. You may think me weird but I love dark and stormy days. I looked out of the large windows at the wet and blurry world outdoors; thinking today was going to be a beautiful day to explore…inside of course. I crawled slowly out of the warm, and many numerous blankets that I had unconsciously pilled on top of myself and swung my legs over the bed side. Just as expected a tiny morning shiver raced up my feet, causing me to pull them up and under myself for the time being. Hard wood floors and Duo Maxwell during the wee morning hours did not mix pleasantly.

I glared at the innocent floor, eyes trying to burn some heat into its chilly surface, but alas I hurriedly scurried from the bed to make a mad dash for the bathroom. A wonderfully warm shower and a clean pair of clothes was all I needed. Plus some breakfast.

Now, I love food. Don't get me wrong here, but I hate breakfast. Something about eating in the morning just turns me off to anything. I have figured out I can have fruit, bacon or sausage, scrambled eggs or omelet occasionally, and corn beef and hash. Wonderful stuff hash. Everything else can be tossed down the shooter.

Casually I meandered down the hallway, mood already brightening as my mind awoke from it's usually grogginess associated with getting up at 8 o'clock in the mornen. I passed by Heero, still looking devilishly handsome and a sudden thought occurred to me…Heero probably hated mornings just as much. Silly, I know, but no one likes getting up. At least I don't think so. I should do a survey one of these days…just to satisfy my curiosity over the matter. I can just see it now. Going up to random people with a grin on my face, still in my pj's and asking them if they like getting out of their warm beds and starting another re-occurring day just like the one before. I'm sure my hypothesis would win though.

During breakfast the usually people were situated at the table, in the exact same order as last night, and get this…still doing exactly the same thing. The only difference was that Relena seemed a little bit disheveled, or at least not as made up as she did during the day. Morning must also not be something she concurred with as well. Plus there was an extra man sitting to the left of her highness, a regal air circulating about his well slicked golden head that made Relena's seem only a tiny drop of water in a vast ocean. This must have been the manager.

He looked up a grin coming over his aristocratic features, "Ah, you must be our newest guest. Mr. Maxwell, I believe." I nodded, fascinated at the man's unique eyebrows, which appeared to have been something of an afterthought when he was put together. "Well, I will give you an abridged tour of the manor. But I'm sure you know mostly everything I could have told you. I must apologize for not meeting with you yesterday, but something came up."

"I don't mind…not at all." I smiled at the man before returning to my cheese omelet and hash with a side of grapes.

When everyone was finished they all dispersed like mice trained to go and find the cheese at the end of the maze. Quatre smiled at me on his way out, while Daniel gave a thumbs up and a tacky good luck grin. Apparently Quatre had secret business to attend too and Daniel…well, he's just in his own little world. I walked over to the manager who introduced himself as Treize. What a funny name, Treize.

"Now, what would you like to see first? Do you have any questions?" We had started to walk towards the pink wing, Relena no where in site.

"No, just the standard tour for now I think. I'm sure I'll be able to figure out a couple questions later."

You can guess what we did next. We went through the pink wing, Treize quickly going over rooms and who had stayed where. Apparently, Lowe Yuy had many mistresses along with his wife. Each had a room in this wing. Plus, here's the kicker, the wife knew and held parties with them on occasion. Talk about a dysfunctional harem.

"Now, during the last year of young Heero's life, Lowe Yuy had set about on finding him a wife. They found a suitable candidate in one Ms. Madeleine Peacecraft. She was about three years younger then him, nothing too major, and he brought her here to this wing to get used to the house. Heero didn't like this, as you can imagine from what everyone has already told you." He paused at one door, simple in an overly elegant way. "This was her room; Ms. Relena Darlian now occupies this suit along with the three conjoining suites on this side of the hall." That didn't surprise me one bit.

After that we moved on out of the overly princess hall. My eyes felt like they were bleeding from all the whites and pale pinks. "Heero, when he heard of this, which was only a day after her arrival had, what you may call a tantrum of sorts. Things got broken, in a nutshell. You're probably wondering when his lover came into play?" I nodded eagerly, ready to get to the good stuff. "Well Heero had met Varelet; this isn't his actual name since we have found no records to trace it to anyone. It must just have been an alias of some kind. But he had met him when Lowe hired on a painter to fashion a portrait of…"

"You mean the one of Heero near the blue wing?" I interrupted him, the story running through me like an electrical charge. I've always loved puzzles. How every piece has a place to fit, you just have to maneuver them into getting there. Yeah so I liked to cut a piece in order to get it into a slot if it's not cooperating but who doesn't?

"Uh, no. That painting, we aren't sure of the artist, some believe it was the old man, but most believe it was his apprentice…Varelet." My mouth must have had that goldfish appeal. You know when you get real close to the tank and their staring at you with their mouths open, mimicking the ones looking in. Yep, that's right. People admire things with their mouths open. Can't be helped so don't even bother trying.

"Now, the artist that Lowe hired painted a portrait of the immediate family, which hangs in the library, if you ever get a chance to go there check out the differences in the two paintings. You'll be hard pressed not to know that two different hands sculpted them. But don't tell Ms. Relena, she'd blow a casket." I laughed, picturing Relena screaming at the painting, telling it to switch makers. What would it do for her psyche if she had been admiring a painting done by a man who killed her beloved…supposedly? "Now the funny thing is Lowe, at the time, was in a verbal war of sorts with the neighboring town lords. Lowe was by far the strongest and owned far more land then most so he considered it his job to take over the position as high lord…or king if you will. Most of the neighboring lords didn't like it but knew that since there was no real higher faction to bestow the peace it was for the best. So, the family portrait was done as a beginning to the royal family of Lowe Yuy. He was considered a king, if you will for about ten years before an up rise occurred not a year after his son's death."

Treize stopped at the blue wing. Heero's benevolent picture still serenely displayed at its entrance. "Now this place isn't all that clean, but we can go in anyway. It's not off limits, but don't get into any trouble like some folk do when shiny items are pushed back from sight." I nodded again, smile still in place as he pushed the two black doors open. The hall was dimly lit, only by the watery windows on both sides of us as we walked down to another door. This led to a much darker hall, which was most likely the bedrooms.

"Lowe's was to your right, it was a much bigger suite as you can imagine and Heero's was to our left." He turned, leaving me no alternative but to follow. He pushed open one of the closest set of doors, which led on into a massive room filled with books, a sitting area placed about a massive brick fireplace, and a desk that was pushed back against the far windows. "This was Heero's study. Probably where he spent most of his time. We have moved all the books that were in this wing into the library in its own personal section, if you care to look." Treize hurriedly walked over to another set of doors to our left that opened up to the bedroom. It appeared to be about the size of my bedroom times three. I think my entire apartment could fit in here. That sucks for me.

The room was entirely Spartan but in a pleasant 15th century way. Meaning it was still pretty dect out. The bed was in the middle of two balconies, seeming to look as if it could fit at least a dozen people comfortably. Blue was an abundant color here obviously with a mixture of pale cream and copper. Many different shades of blue decked the walls, tapestries, rugs and blankets. "I'm sure you're still curious about Varelet, so you can ask away if you like."

"Oh, thanks. Um, ok how about…well, what did he look like?"

Treize laughed, the whole head thrown back in hysteria thing. "Well, you are inquisitive aren't you? Um, that's a hard question to answer. No one really knows, as I've told you, about Varelet. The only things we do know are that he was a brilliant painter, loved by almost everyone in the castle…except Ms. Peacecraft. It is said that during their brief stay together they got into many…hush hush fights. You can imagine how much Varelet paid for these inconveniences. The only reason he was even allowed to continue staying here was because of Heero and his master John Deŕorock. Anyway, as I was saying before, he was loved by everyone. His demeanor was considered even better then any nobles. And there were rumors that have not stopped circulating till this day about his eyes. They were violet." Treize paused, and I could feel his stare boring into me.

So I had violet eyes…well they were more cobalt in my opinion but who cared what I thought anyway. "So…is that everything about Varelet?"

"You're quite into this subject aren't you? Usually people are more into Heero's murder?"

"I thought it wasn't proven that he was murdered by Varelet?" I walked closer to the window, gazing down to the world below. Heero had a magnificent view off the cliff. He could probably have seen for miles.

"Yes, that's true. But he was murdered, that was for certain."

"How do you know?" Ok, I didn't mean for it to come out so…snide but surely he couldn't know…especially since it happened, like what, a gazillion years ago?

"It's true. There's no way of knowing for certain now a days." And he left it at that. Odd. "Come, there's a little more to see."

We exited the room, going back towards the main hall. "I'm going to show you the entrance to the red wing. I'm sure you've already heard rumors about it. I hear that you've got Hilde as a maid, right?" He looked back at me and I hesitantly nodded an agreement. I wasn't sure if agreeing would get the chatty maid fired or me branded in for some in coming trouble.

"Well, then you know not to go down there…right?"

"Um, sorry, but I don't quite understand why people can't go down there. Is it dangerous or something?" I couldn't help but be curious. Exhibit A ladies and gentlemen. You will pay a wholesome price for going down into what appeared a basement where one Heero Yuy was found massacred. Exhibit B…the entire wing was completely red. Why would anyone make a completely red wing? That's just creepy.

"Well, in a matter of speaking yes. The only reason the owner will tell us is that no one needs to go down there. End of discussion."

"Have you been down there?" I couldn't help but wonder.

Treize smiled sadly at me…how odd…and looked again at the two double mahogany doors in front of us. I didn't even realize we had gotten here. "Yes, I have. Once… It was about two, three years ago. One of our visitors decided to take it upon themselves to go visiting. It's dark, cold, and the walls feel as if they are moving in towards you. I couldn't even bare walking down the stairs to get to the main hall. There is no electricity down there, so it's completely dark. Our visitor was all the way down the hall in the room Heero was found in. I don't think I would have risked going down there for anything except my job. They paid the fine but…still managed to weasel themselves back into coming here."

"Boy that sounds a lot like what that Relena girl would do." I snickered thoughtfully at the picture of Relena in her brilliant pink taffeta dress, wandering blood red halls. Visiting a room dank with some poor boys spirit. Hoping beyond hope that he was still there for her to love. Ah what sick devotion. I looked up at Treize. He was smirking down at me as if I had just won a million dollars.

"In fact. Your right…and wrong. On with the rest of the tour then." Well, that was the first time my jaw actually hit a floor. Did she actually go down there? What did he mean by that?

"So how much money do you have to pay for going down there?" What, so sue me. I just wanted to know if I could take out a loan to pay it off or not.

"Lets see. During my many years here, only three people have gone down there to my knowledge. Two paid it off and weaseled there way back here to stay the other went bankrupt and has to pay off their debt by working here… Um…I'd say it's about…" Treize bent down and whispered the rest of the sentence into my ear.

"Oh…so that's a lot of money hmm?" Sarcasm my best friend. And by the way…I'd have to work here for my entire life and then some to pay that off. What can I say; I'm pushing my bank account just by coming here.

"Now, the attic is also off limits only because it's storage. One of the towers is also locked to vistors. The many rooms marked employee only are also off limits. But there's still the library, the garden, main study, lounge, and paths in and around the castle for you to explore as well as over two hundred rooms. Most of our past guests have decided to do these things on their own and at their leisure. So I'll leave you to it. If you get lost, here's a map that we issue all our guests. Have a good day Mr. Maxwell."

"Duo, please. Cliché, yes, but I feel old and stupid when people call me that." I took the map and smiled pleasantly in thanks. This was good; I'm not very adapt at asking for directions. Ha ha, just kidding.

I looked up again and found the man staring down at my neck, eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Alright…Duo. If you need anything my office is also labeled on the map. Good day."

Well, how strange. I looked down and noticed my necklace had pushed its way out of my shirt. What is it with people and my necklace? Well, what should I do first? Visit the library? No I'll do that later today." I looked down at my watch, deciphering what would be good to do at 9:30 in the morning. "I think I'll go outside." I quickly ran to the nearest window and noted that it was only dewy. "Ok, so it's not raining. I guess I should go check out the gardens and the paths like Treize suggested." With a game plan in mind, I went off down the hall nothing the colors and map that Treize had given me in order to make it safely to the front door.

I quickly followed a path to the right side of the house, in awe of how many flowers were still in bloom and the beauty surrounding such a troubled place. The hastily made path veered in two directions, one going towards the house and the other going away. I chose the one going to the house, figuring that this one would lead me to the gardens. Just to be sure I took out the map, eyes searching the outside parameter but finding nothing. Odd.

Another two minutes later and I arrived at an unusual sight. The gardens were surrounded on all sides by the largest weeping willows I have ever seen in all my life. The castle wall was still situated to my right, windows, from what most likely was the pink wing overlooking the gardens. It seemed the most plausible to me anyway.

The garden was dying; most of the flowers wilting in order to produce their offspring next season. There were benches positioned randomly on the many paths sectioning off different flower beds. "Neat." I breathed, wondering how long it took the gardeners to keep this place as…orderly…as it was. I could see no weeds anywhere. Now there's stamina. I kept walking, wondering if it would produce another path again, when I stumbled upon something…how shell we say. Well, cute for a lack of a better word.

All the way at the end of the garden, opposite from where I had entered, was a roughly made swing hanging off one of the many willows branches. I couldn't help but wonder who it was made for.

As childish as it sounds, I ran over to it and hopped on. I love to swing. It was something I relished. When I was a child at the orphanage there was a tire swing that one of the many hands we had helping to keep the place intact had decided to put up to keep us children busy. The tire, no matter how many times we swung on it, had left grease stains on us. Mother Helen had raged so many times about taking the thing down but in the end she knew it brought us joy. I know what you're thinking. Why didn't you just wash it? Well, water is precious. Water was meant to bath kids and for drinking. Orphanages can't throw money around like it grows on trees for outrages water bills.

I pushed off, relishing in the small amount of wind I produced. I was beginning to really enjoy this place. Maybe I'll even think about making a return trip, I thought pleasantly as I pumped my legs harder. I could almost touch the falling branches with my foot. Soon though, I slowed down, luxuriating in just letting gravity take its toll. As soon as I knew I wouldn't fall off the gradually slowing down swing, I fell back, the tip of my braid skimming the wet grass. From my new point of view I still couldn't see much of the cloudy sky but the willows branches, surrounding me from most of the outside world, it all just looked magical.

Sighing, I brought myself up, noting that the swing had stopped. I got up off the seat and brushed aside a few trailing branches to exit my new world. "Well, let's see what else Lowe manor's grounds have to offer." I went back to the beginning wondering if I'd remember how to leave the hasty labyrinth of paths. I found the crossroads again and chose the one heading away from the manor. I wasn't exactly sure what I'd find, but I knew it wasn't going to be just a twenty minute walk through the park.

Many birds decorated the trees surrounding me, voicing their songs as if debating whose was better. Butterflies zipped to and fro, chasing each other while fly's and other unknown annoyances labeled bugs flew about me…bugging me for all purposes of the word. As I continued my journey into the unknown my thoughts traitorously reverted back to what Treize had told me about the illustrious Lowe Manor. I felt an unknown well of sadness wash over me whenever I heard of Heero's death. To be killed so brutally was just…inhuman. No human in their right mind could do something so heinous without letting the world know at such lengths they went through to do such.

Meaning it couldn't have been Varelet. But in their vengeance they sought the only person who would ever tell them the truth of the matter. "Romeo and Juliet. How their story keeps repeating itself."

I looked around wondering where in the hell this path was taking me, when I noticed something odd. The castle was now in front of me…well the back of the castle was now in front of me. How the hell did I manage that?

I drew forward, looking up towards the rooms I knew to be Heero's and then back down again. The path had stopped, veering off in two different directions. One going closer to the manor and the other going deeper into the woods away from the castle. Seeing as how I didn't feel like getting lost that day I chose the more obvious of the two. The closer I got to the castle the more my head started to pound. Odd that. It never happened before. Right between the eyes too, such a bad spot.

The path finally ended, stopping just short of a tree, which seemed to have over grown about whatever it was the path was leading too. I walked closer, peering about the tree in the hope to satiate my curiosity. The path was leading to something and I wanted to know what. I went to the right of the tree between the trunk and the stone wall. Gasping…very girly mind you, I noticed a slight gap, just big enough for a small animal to squeeze through. "Wonder if Treize knows this exists?"

Well, let's think here for a second. I am now below the cliff on which the manor sits…therefore; I am outside of the red wing… Shaking my head I pulled out the map, eyes searching until they alighted on the red wing. Yep…it was just beyond this wall.

"Why is there a cave of sorts leading to the red wing though?"

"Excuse me, but are you lost Mr. Maxwell?" I turned about and found Wufei the ever lovable caretaker glaring at me. Wonder why he doesn't like me?

"Um no. I was just wandering the paths. So, how goes it…Wufei right?" I needed to get this boy on my good side. My good hearted nature demanded it. Yeah I was a glutton for attention and people to love me. But who isn't? No one wants others to hate them unless their in sore need of medical help.

"Yes. Follow me Mr. Maxwell. Lunch will be served soon." With that he turned away, demeanor suggesting that I follow without argument.

"Please, call me Duo. So, you like working here? I'll bet this place looks cool during winter.
What's your job here? Caretaker of what?" Babbling here Duo, I thought stupidly. Well, now he thinks I'm an idiot. Wonderful.

He looked back at me; eyes narrowed thoughtfully, black domineering his entire persona. "What is with you guests in wanting me to call you by your first names?" Ah, question for question huh? I can play.

"Hm, lets see, I asked you three questions and you asked me one. Not very challenging. Ok, I'll answer yours first but then you answer mine." I paused, snickering mentally at Wufei's stunned appearance. "Ok, I got it. Because I wanted you to call me by my first name. Now it's your turn. If you forgot my questions they are, in order: So you like working here? What's your job here? Caretaker of what?"

Again there was that goldfish mouth gaping wide thing I was talking about before.

Suddenly he smoothed down his ruffled feathers and glared at me. "Talkative aren't you. I'm sure you and Hilde will get along fine. If you must know, I don't like working here. My job is caretaker of the grounds. Meaning I make sure things run smoothly around here if Treize…I mean Mr. Kushrenada can't deal with it all."

"Wow, you elaborate a lot, you know that. Oh, and I heard that by the way." I quickly skipped ahead, waiting for him to catch up with me this time. I wasn't disappointed when I felt a hand on my arm holding me still.

"Heard what?" Oh, playing coy now? Kind of cute actually.

"Treize…hm, friends Wuffie?" I smirked as he glared harder, steam actually seeping from his ears and a jolly blush staining the bridge of his noise and cheeks.

"What makes you think that?" His gruff voice sounded curious, almost wishing for me to notice something.

"It's none of my business Wuffie. I just met you so I have no right to your personal life. He's cute though." I turned around, noticing that we were now almost back to the front gates. How was it that forest practically just shoves you in the right direction? Behind me I heard and irate growl, stating that his name was Wufei not Wuffie! I couldn't help but laugh.

A/N: This chapter is by far not my favorite but it got a few things out of the way. If something didn't make sense or you noticed a mistake please let me know so I can fix it. Thanks very much.