Figured I should put a disclaimer here since I borrowed another character from another show. Neither the Gundam Pilots nor the ferry girl, Hinageshi belong to me. They belong to the authors/production companies of Gundam Wing and Yuu Yuu Hakusho respectively.
I could tell from a couple of the reviews that a few people were confused. Shinigami is Wufei Chang. Wufei did not exist until Shinigami decided to become a Gundam Pilot after Meiran's death. Shinigami has not possessed Wufei, he *is* Wufei. Any flashbacks or past memories were kind of retrograded into place when Wufei decided to join the war. Shenlong was only used as a template for Nataku. Hope that helps!
Part 11 of ?
Shinigami strode out of the house as quickly as he could without looking undignified. He should have been at the business of saving his love's life an hour ago, but he couldn't help but feel the past conversation had been the right thing to do. Still, there were things he had to do now. Starting with getting help for Duo, ending with taking care of whomever dared to touch him.
Shinigami opened the door and looked at the motorcycle he had ridden in on. "Nataku." One word was all that was required as the outlines of the black bike shimmered. In seconds, standing where the bike had been was a large white mare. She shook her hair-covered hide to settle her saddle and tossed her head, looking at her master with a twinkle in her eye. She had enjoyed the last year immensely. Before this time spent on Earth, she had mostly used only two shapes, the white mare, or a large black dragon. It was much more difficult, but a lot of fun, to be something mechanical such as a motorcycle... or a Gundam.
Besides, she liked her Master's chosen mate. He was a lot of fun too.
Well... except for the time he had painted her pink with fluorescent green spots... She still shuddered in remembrance of *that* escapade.
She looked at her Master in concern. That expression did not bode well for whoever had made him so angry. Nope, it did not bode well at all.
Wufei swung himself into the saddle. Nataku required no directions as she phased herself and her rider away from the mortal realm, to the home of the Gods.
Minor gods and other beings hurriedly moved out of the way of the almost running god of Death. The expression on his face was easily readable, 'Don't get in my way.'
"Shinigami-sama!" Hinageshi jumped to her feet happily, only to pull up short as she got a good look. "Is something wrong, Shinigami-sama?"
"Did you manage to keep track of those gods I asked you to?" Shinigami asked, even as his hands danced across the computer terminal she had been sitting at.
"Hai." The ferrygirl pulled up the notes she had gathered. "As far as we have been able to determine, the only one to go near your priest is"
"Thanatos," Shinigami hissed. He was staring at the date of Duo's death. It was the same as it had been the last three times he'd checked. There was no other reasonable explanation for the God of Painful Death to have come for the mortal when it was not his time to die.
"That's correct," Hinageshi told him, seemingly not at all perturbed by the interruption.
Shinigami pulled up a picture of his priest's sickroom. "Is there anything in Thanatos' file that might give a hint what poison was used... What the hell!"
The red-haired ferrygirl looked up quickly at the growled words. It was extremely unusual that the God of Death's Justice would ever curse, even as mildly as that. Looking at the picture, it didn't take a genius to figure out what was wrong. Hovering over the bed of the weakened pilot was a black clothed figure. They watched as the Arabian pilot became aware of his presence.
"Thanatos," Quatre said softly, but with steel in his voice. "I believe Shinigami-sama asked you to leave."
Thanatos turned to look at the young blond. Slowly he grinned, a very macabre vision, on his bone white face. "But Shinigami's not here, is he? And do *you* believe you can stop me?" he hissed.
Quatre strode forward. "I can certainly try," he answered back steadily. The other pilots couldn't see what the youth was talking to, but that didn't stop Heero from having his gun pointing at the apparition.
Thanatos turned away from the boys who were truly no threat at all and looked at the one he was hovering over. Out of one sleeve, he pulled a blood soaked rose.
"You!" Quatre almost shouted. His face was a mask of anger as he watched the god brush the rose over Duo's lips. The other pilots saw only the sudden presence of blood trailing over the still sleeping boy's lips and down to his neck. With one accord they all raced towards the bed, determined to do anything they could to save their friend.
"Is there any way we can talk to them?" Shinigami asked worriedly. He knew that there was, but it had been so long since he'd had to use the equipment, that he wasn't quite sure how to do it.
Hinageshi nodded silently as she pressed some buttons. "Go ahead," she whispered.
"Quatre, Heero, Trowa! Back off! If you touch him, you'll die!" Reluctantly, the pilots stepped back from the bed.
"Thanatos," Wufei's voice was hard, low and dangerous, but the fact that he wasn't physically there seemed to give the other god courage.
"Shinigami," Thanatos snarled back. "Why did you have to get involved? This has nothing to do with you. Go back to your precious scrolls and judgments." He practically sneered. "He's mine! The bloodsnake venom makes him mine, and no one would have even noticed he was gone until his true death date. What are you going to do? Go crying to Kami-sama?" The sneer was still on his face as he dropped the rose and reached his hand out towards the sleeping boy. He, as well as everyone watching, knew there was no way that Shinigami could get there in time to save his priest.
Hinageshi covered her eyes in despair. This was not how it was supposed to go. And even if Shinigami-sama did get his revenge, it wouldn't get him his consort back from the realm of the dead. So she didn't see the god of Death reach out and open the box surrounding the one button that had never been pushed. And push it. The first she knew of it, was when the alarm went off throughout the entire complex.
First her eyes flew up to the screen to where Thanatos had laid his hand on Maxwell's face. Thanatos' face was a mask of disbelief as the young pilot went on breathing. Then her eyes tracked towards her boss, who was staring upwards with an intent expression on his face, and his hands... on the button.
"Shinigami-sama? What did you do?" she practically screamed.
"I will not let Duo die," he answered calmly.
"But... but... to stop Death all over the world for one boy? Do you know what you've done?" she screeched.
The god turned to look at her. "Of course." He turned back to the screen and swore. Hinageshi went to answer the ringing phone even as she looked to see what else could go wrong. The bed was empty and the god of Painful Death was nowhere to be seen. Obviously, Thanatos had decided that if he couldn't have Duo's soul, he'd make do with the body.
"Hello?" Hinageshi answered the phone and her eyes went wide. She turned to her boss who was already heading out of the room at a fast clip. "Shinigami-sama! The phone! It's Kami-sama! He wants to talk to you!"
His answer floated back as he went through the door. "Take a message!"
Hinageshi blinked in disbelief, stared at the phone in her hand, and gulped.