Title: The Devil Has Blue Eyes

By: Aina Song

Fandom(s): Gundam Wing

Genre: Yaoi (with some Het thrown in)

Rating: PG-15

Warning(s): Contraband; Fusion; Language; Death; Murder.

Pairing(s): Heero/Quatre (constant mentionings of Het pairings)

Reviews: Yes, please.

Author's Note: (I'm afraid my usual Disclaimer will not be enough this time, so bear with me.) I, Aina Song, hereby acknowledge the illegality of the following fusion fiction, which is based very thickly upon Clara Wimberly's The Jeweled Heart of Rosemont Castle. I do not claim any rights or privileges her book may have earned her, nor do I claim credit for the book itself. This fanfiction follows her plot almost to the letter, with few changes tossed in here and there, but I must again press that it does so without the explicit permission of Ms. Wimberly, her editor(s), or her publisher(s). This fiction was not written for money; I do not profit from this in any way, shape, or form. Please excuse the illegality of it all, and I do hope my own readers will try to look past my unlawfulness and enjoy the fiction nonetheless. Thank you.

Teaser: He did not care that he was the lost heir to a winery fortune - especially since he couldn't remember that earliest piece of his childhood. He only wanted to reclaim the family that had been kept from him. But there was another who was determined to unmask him as an imposter. And, at the same time, a strange cold presence stirred again at his return, anxious to finish what it had started so long ago…

Chapter Twenty-Four

Quatre must have blacked out under the force of his fear, because the next thing he knew he could hear Heero's voice and feel strong arms circling around him. He was pulled against a warm chest, and soothing words were whispered into his ear.

He blinked, coming back to himself, and lifted his head to meet the other's steady gaze. It was still dark in the room, but he could see the glimmer of Heero's eyes as he returned Quatre's stare. "What happened?" He asked quietly.

The blond looked around the room, unable to believe the shadow had already left. But the room stood empty. "Wh-where are Treize and your mother?"

At that moment someone appeared in the doorway behind Heero. It was Wufei. He carried a small kerosene lamp, which he placed on a table near the door. The light reflected upward, showing the alarm in his obsidian black eyes.

Heero turned to him, drawing slightly away but still holding Quatre by the shoulders. "Wufei, would you get Treize and bring him here?"

The man's eyes flicked away. "He… he's asleep now, Mister Yuy. He was feeling poorly tonight, as I understand."

Quatre heard Heero utter an oath under his breath. "And my mother? Where is she?"

"I don't exactly know, sir," Wufei admitted quietly. "She's not in her room."

"Very well," Heero muttered on a sigh. "Light the lamps here and then go back to bed."

Any other manservant would not have been able to resist a bout of curiosity, and would have taken more time than necessary in the hope of learning anything worth gossiping about. But it seemed Wufei's loyalty to Heero was unquestioning - he went about his task quickly and efficiently, then took up his own lamp and closed the door behind him as he left.

Heero turned again to Quatre. "Now… tell me."

"He was here again," the blond spilled in a rush. "And this time he threatened me - told me to leave here before it was too late."

He looked bewildered as he listened; shaking his head, he lifted a hand from Quatre's shoulder to rake his fingers through his dark hair. "But this doesn't make sense," he slowly muttered. "I know him; he would never do something like this."

Suddenly his eyes fixed upon the chair, and the clothes Quatre had left there. Standing, the darker man strode to it and gathered the silk bronze shirt into his fist. Even from the bed and in the dim lamplight, Quatre could see that his new shirt was now nothing more than a tattered mess of scraps that hung from Heero's hand. There was such a look of outrage in Heero's eyes that it compelled the blond more than did the slashed shirt.

Heero shook his head as though unable to believe what he had found. Then his eyes lifted to Quatre. "We will go to see him tomorrow, you and I together. I intend to put a stop to this no matter what it takes." His vow was made through clenched teeth, and Quatre did not doubt its sincerity.

It was almost morning when he left. The blond could see Heero was worried about his mother - though Quatre himself felt that perhaps Hiromi had gone to be with Treize, to allay her own concern about his health.

~o~

Lunch the next day was a stiff, awkward affair. Treize tried to act as though nothing was wrong, but the strain was evident between him and Hiromi. Afterward Heero told Treize that he and Quatre were going for a ride. His only reaction was a quiet, sad smile. The blond was certain his father knew how worried they all were for him, and he supposed Treize felt angry with himself or having taken to the bottle again so soon.

When Quatre came outside, he found Heero waiting with the horses outside the stable. The darker man watched him as he approached, and Quatre was all too aware of the way those blue eyes darkened as they raked over him. Heero did not bother to disguise his look, but let his eyes assess the blond boldly.

Quatre felt a flush of warmth coloring him beneath his collar, suddenly unable to meet the other's gaze. Heero gave a quiet laugh, likely very aware of what he was making the blond feel.

As they rode through the vineyard, Heero pointed out the variety of grapes, commenting on their flavor or the color of the wine they produced. Quatre found it all irresistible, much more so than when Zechs had brought him here. But then, he supposed that was because of whose company he was in this time. He could no longer deny his growing attraction to Heero, and he found himself watching the darker man constantly, aware of Heero's every smile, every enthusiastic phrase that passed his sensuous lips.

"You love it, don't you?" Heero said suddenly.

"What…?" Quatre had been so caught up in the look of the other man, that he hadn't been aware of what Heero was saying.

Heero laughed, clearly enjoying the blond's lapse. "The vineyard, seeing the vines grow and blossom with fruit… there's nothing like it. I only meant it's obvious that you enjoy it as much as I do."

"Yes," Quatre admitted, returning his smile. "It's something I can't quite explain, but I was drawn to it the first time I came here." He took a deep breath and gazed at the lush greenery that surrounded them and whispered softly in the breeze. "I-I love the earthy smell of the vineyard, the warmth of the wind out here in the open; I love the sound the wind makes as it rustles through the leaves."

The darker man's look was quiet and knowing, as if he had thought the very same things himself. "Wait until harvest. You'll never want to leave."

As they approached the trail up the mountain Quatre's heart beat a little faster; his stomach felt full of lead, and his mouth was dry. Heero glanced at him several times but said nothing. Once they had passed through the dark, cool hollow and reached the crest of the mountain, he stopped, turning in his saddle to look at Quatre. "Are you afraid?"

Quatre's first impulse was to lie. He hated to admit just how unnerved he was by the whole ordeal, even if meeting the Demon had originally been his idea. But something in Heero's look kept him from it. Besides… he knew the darker man could see right through him, and he sensed Heero Yuy was not a man to tolerate liars.

"Yes."

Heero reached a hand across to briefly cradle the blond's jaw. "I won't let anything happen to you, kawaii."

The small log cabin looked the same. Heero tied the horses beneath a tree on the edge of the neat yard. Then he set his hands to Quatre's waist and pulled him close. Quatre shifted against him, unable to help himself. The darker man made a soft noise in his throat, a sound of humor but also of regret. He seemed to feel the tension that passed through them, just as Quatre did - and he, too, seemed to need to remind himself why they were there.

The place was completely silent, and Quatre felt an uneasiness begin to spark up his spine. Suddenly, as they neared the cabin, a blur of black flew from around the house… the wolf. It stopped, its powerful muscles tensed and ready to spring as its dark eyes stared at them.

Heero stepped in front of Quatre, reaching back silently until his hand touched the blond's arm. The gesture was protective, and Quatre pressed closer to his back.

"Shinigami!" Heero said in a low command. The wolf did not move, but its ears came forward the slightest bit.

"Behave yourself," he added firmly. "Stay."

The wolf whined and lowered its belly to the ground. Quatre was amazed to see the slow, friendly wave of its tail as it brushed against the grass. The animal gazed up at Heero with a sad, almost apologetic look in its alert eyes.

From the back corner of the cabin, the blond saw another movement. He was certain it was the man they had come to visit. But, seeing Quatre, he disappeared again behind the cabin, out of sight.

Heero saw him, too. "Duo," he called. "Come on out, we want to talk to you." When the Demon did not show himself, Heero heaved a sigh and then pitched a bit of mockery into his voice: "Duo… you're not afraid, are you?"

His words were surprising, so different from the way he had asked Quatre, so taunting.

The black wolf whined and reached its paws out on the grass as it inched its way toward the two of them. The blond stepped back, still not trusting the big animal. But Heero's hand squeezed his arm before slowly pulling Quatre around to stand beside him.

"He won't hurt you. But don't run from him, or let him see that you're nervous." He looked back toward the rear of the house. "Duo, this is getting ridiculous. There's someone here who wants to meet you. But if you're not going to show yourself-"

"All right, fine!" A surprisingly young male voice hollered, sounding more than a little annoyed.

A shapeless black shadow stepped out from behind the house, and as it drew near Quatre saw that it was a man in tatters. He looked like a shadow that had risen up from the earth. He wore black trousers and an overly large black shirt, both torn so badly they were little more than scraps that hung loosely about his body. He was barefoot. His long hair reached below his waist in glistening cinnamon cascades that gleamed almost red in the sunlight. The sun also glinted from something else, something metallic hanging from around his neck - a small gold crucifix, the sight of which taking Quatre by surprise.

When there was but a handful of paces between them, he paused. And Quatre could not help but stare at the man's heart-shaped, cherubic face, so young and flawless, despite the countless years gazing back at them from within his eyes… eyes that shone a deep, pure amethyst in color. Was this why he hid himself here on the mountain - his ageless face, and those strange eyes? Was this what Heero had meant when he called the Demon a man in isolation that was 'different?'

The man propped a fist upon his hip as he glared at Heero. "Why couldn't you get a clue and pretend I wasn't here?"

"We could do that," Heero offered challengingly. "We'll leave right now."

He rolled his strange eyes. "Shinigami. Hunt."

The wolf relaxed immediately, getting up on its feet and shaking itself before trotting away. The Demon finally turned his eyes upon Quatre, and he dropped his fist from his hip. "Hey…"

"Hello," the blond replied, feeling unaccountably shy. "Your name's Duo?"

"Yeah."

"I'm…"

"Yeah, I know you. Quatre Raberba." A small grin quirked at his mouth, before it was gone again; "I'd know you anywhere."

"We wanted to talk to you," Heero reminded.

The man nodded, "Heard you the first time, kid. Come on inside."

The interior of the cabin was cool after the warmth of the hot sun. The room seemed dark for a moment before Quatre's eyes adjusted. A faint, smoky aroma lingered in the air, and he found himself relaxing against his will.

The man motioned to a small couch, which appeared to be little more than a thinly cushioned hardwood bench, and they sat down. "Want a drink?" The Demon asked Heero, who nodded. When he turned his strange eyes to Quatre, the blond had to remind himself not to flinch.

"Y-yes. Thank you."

The man made a small noise, something like a snort of reluctant amusement, then turned and left the room.

Quatre turned to stare at the darker man sitting at his side. "Heero?"

"Still afraid of him?" He asked softly.

"N-no, but…"

"But he does seem different," Heero said, completing the blond's sentence for him. "Duo was left on the steps of a church when he was an infant. His eyes immediately frightened the townsfolk; they thought him a child of the fey, a devil faerie. But the priest and his daughter adopted Duo without hesitation. While they were alive and able to protect him, he was treated well enough. But a fierce storm struck one night, and the church was hit by lightning and burned to the ground, taking the priest and his daughter with it. It happened on the thirteenth anniversary of the day Duo had appeared, and so he became the object of ridicule and scorn for the suspicious townsfolk. He finally gave up on them all and came to live here, in the mountains. That must've been thirty, thirty-five years ago…"

"What?" Quatre gasped. "But he looks so young."

Heero's dark blue eyes became troubled; "There is much about Duo that he himself cannot explain. He tries to take it all in stride, but I know he suspects some of the townsfolk's superstitions had a ring of truth to them. His eyes, his face, the spry build of his body… At almost fifty, he could pass for twenty. And it scares him," Heero added, his voice dropping to a low whisper, hinting at his own fear for the man. "If he can look so young now… how will he look at sixty? Eighty? Will he be allowed to age, to grow weak and become grey and wrinkled before he dies? Or will death come upon him unawares, to steal the very breath from his lungs and the life from his eyes… Will death even reach for him? Will he be allowed to die?"

Quatre fisted his hands in his lap and clenched his jaw, but could not halt the tears streaming from his eyes. When Heero looked up and saw this, the darker man looked extremely guilty. He lifted a hand, thumbing the blond's tears away. "I am sorry, gypsy," he murmured. "I did not mean to ramble on like that, nor to upset you."

The blond nodded, biting his lip in an attempt to chase back the rest of his tears. "I-it's all right. I guess it's just… that I can relate. Not with the ageless bit, but… Gypsies aren't always met with open arms…"

Heero smiled sadly, reaching to catch his hand to Quatre's bound hair, letting its cool golden strands spill from his fingers. "I apologize for my part in that, as well," he whispered gently. "When he returns, let me ask the questions, kawaii."

Duo came back with a round tray and three frosty glasses of lemonade. He still seemed wary of Quatre, but there was hard-earned trust in those strange eyes for Heero. He sat in a stiff wooden chair across from them. "I take it you told him about me?"

"Yes," Heero said simply. "And briefly about your church."

"It was Father Maxwell's church, not mine," he shrugged. "His family and the Khushrenadas were always friendly with each other, so it seemed only right to hide myself on their mountain."

"Duo," Heero said, setting his glass down and moving to the edge of the uncomfortable couch. "We think Quatre Raberba is the son of Treize and Leia… the little boy who disappeared all those years ago."

"Yeah, I thought that was why you wanted to see me."

"It seems Rasid Darlian took him and kept him. When he died, he mentioned the name Duo, your name, as if you might know something about the mystery that's surrounded Leia's disappearance all these years."

"W-wait a minute," the man stammered, his strange eyes growing wide. "Rasid's dead? When the hell did that happen?"

"Was it you, Duo, who came to Quatre Raberba's room?"

"Well, yeah, but…" He shook his head, seeming to struggle with the present. "Rasid's dead? You gonna explain this to me, or am I…"

Quatre took pity on the man. "He died this past winter, of consumption. It… wasn't easy, or quick. But I believe he fought strongly to the end."

"He would," Duo nodded with a small smirk. "That man never took anything lying down." Sighing heavily, he focused again on the blond. "Yeah, I was in your room. Sorry for scarin' you, but it was the only way I knew to talk to you. Obviously, comin' during the day was out of the question. But when you hollered like that… Guess I forgot how I must look to someone who doesn't know me."

"No," Quatre said, a painful ache tightening around his lungs for all the years this man had suffered rejection. "It wasn't that. It's just that things at the castle have been… well, strained since I came. I guess I was already on edge." He offered a shaky smile, "But last night, yes, you did shock me some. It wasn't your looks; it was what you said. Why did you feel you had to warn me away?"

Duo's brows came together in a frown. "Last night? I wasn't there last night. Hell, after the scare I gave you, I'd never have come back. And I only came that first time because I saw you here at the house and guessed why you'd come."

Heero and Quatre exchanged a glance, puzzled by his denial.

"You saw me here, then, that first time?"

"Yeah. I knew you right away. I'm guessin' you already know how much you look like Leia."

The blond frowned, confused by Duo's denial of being in his room. But if it was not Duo, then someone had gone to a great deal of trouble to look like him.

"What about Rasid, Duo?" Heero asked. "Is there anything you can tell us about Leia? Quatre Raberba says he was never with his mother. Do you know where she could have gone? We'd like to find her, if possible."

"You'd be lookin' forever then, and in vain. Rasid suspected it all along; that's why he took the kid." The man's strange eyes met Quatre's gaze directly. "He was afraid something would happen to you, too. I hate to be the one to tell you this, kid, but I don't believe Leia Khushrenada ever left that castle." He paused, chewing on his lip, but it seemed nothing could prevent his next words.

"I think your mum was murdered, and I think her body's still there, hidden somewhere on the estate."