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Warnings: Bring on the bastardized Duo’s and the uber-uke Heero’s. Bring on the madness and the insanity and the slow culmination of this long drawn out fic of angst and angels. Wahahaha! Everyone’s gonna be pretty OCC ‘till we hit the epilogue. Wheeeeee *falls back into the story*

Copyrights: Characters besides the angels and various originals that appear within this feature are the property of Sotsu Agency and Sunrise, not me. Don’t sue.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

 Alex’s eyes glittered in the blinding and painful light of the desert sun.

<What is it that you want to know Duo-san?>

 Duo smirked at her, his shadowed eyes holding a dangerous glint.

<Everything three is to know about the things. What are their purposes? Where are they?>

 Alex sighed, readjusting her wings unconsciously to shadow her eyes from the sun. She was a creature of the night and the blinding white that enveloped all of the sand around her hurt her eyes.

<They’re swords for you and Heero. They were made so that you could fight. The powers that be want to see you fight it out until the end and there’s always been some sort of a morbid and romantic air about swordplay. So those are the weapons that have been chosen for you. When the time comes, minions from either world will come and stand with you, and after that, for lack of a better term there will be a massacre. Whichever side wins will determine the balance of the world to come.

 People are mistaken in their assumption that the world will end in a fiery ball of destruction. They wanted to think that everything would end and the human race along with everything else on this rock will simply cease to exist. Such is not the case. The powers are beings that will endure far beyond anything we could ever hope to strive for. They want to watch human events move in one of two directions. If my master, the lord of the dark, has his way then humans will slowly loose the rest of their morality and everything will again go back to the Greeks. Everyone will be free of his or her moral constraints yes, and in turn the world will become much more anarchistic. If the lighter being wins then everything will be pure and moral by the divine sense, and not necessarily completely according to the scripture that is here now. Men wrote those books, and man makes mistakes. The course of human events will truly be pure. And the culture that you have built up all of these years means naught. There are pros and cons to either side, but that’s the way things seem to be shaping up. If you were to kill each other at the same moment by some sort of messed up coincidence, then things would stay the same as they always were and Chronos would be pissed.>

 Alex paused for a moment, a contemplative look slipping into her amethyst eyes. <Last time that Quatre stopped time he was angry. If things were to negate themselves then he would have to reshape time and someone would have to take the penalty for it…I’m not sure who though. >

 A young look still hovered about her features, the way that her eyes moved in thought, the uncertain set of her jaw and the slightly pouting look on her lips all offset the fact that she was still a –very- young individual at heart. She would always be so, even through all of her experience, pleasure and pain.

 Heero stepped up, fanning out his long wings in a rush of heated air, disrupting the waves that were floating up from platinum sands.  <I have a question for you Alexandria. >

 The small demon involuntarily pulled back. Standing before her was God’s chosen, and that made her extremely nervous for reasons that she couldn’t deign. It didn’t make sense that she should be afraid of Heero, for after all she had been an angel herself at one point. Yet still she feared him and couldn’t find any way to amend her fear.  So she looked at him from where she had backed up to instead.

<Ask away. >

 He smiled at her, a gentle smile, befitting of a divine being. <I want to know if the doctors really wanted me to kill myself. >

 Alex’s eyes widened to almost impossible sizes as she thought back to several months ago. She hated herself for that action almost more than she hated almost anything else that she had done during this miserable time on Earth. It had been mean, and conniving and something decidedly devilish to do, but she had sent him the message, telling him to self-destruct. If he had just followed her orders then they wouldn’t have this problem in the first place. However, she amended, Duo would also be short a lover and that would not bode well with the young American. So she took a deep breath and got ready to answer the angel’s question. Before she had a chance to open her mouth Fusei spoke from where she had been silent in the background.

<I did it Heero. I was the one that sent you the message. Back at that time I had rather foolishly thought that I could accomplish something by ending this life for you quickly. I suppose that it’s only fitting that the one time you choose not to follow orders would lead to the end of the world. >

 The others stood passive, listening to all the details and drinking them in slowly, savoring the bittersweet mix of emotions that moved through them at the realization of how big the situation had gotten. They couldn’t say much, there wasn’t all that much to say. The required questions had been asked and all that was left was for all to ride out the waves of chance and see if they could manage to keep their ‘heads above water’ as it were.

 Dorthy looked up to the sun that seemed to be finally deciding to voyage once again across the skies to it’s resting place behind the horizon. The black velvet of the evening was slowly creeping across the skies of their collective dreamscape and filling with milky white stars. She shook her head, sending the loose pieces of blonde hair that lingered about her face dancing.

<My dear friends, we’ve learned all we could this evening, and now it’s time to sleep a while and then rejoin the waking world. There’s not much we can do until this is all played out. I do know this though, I have some Christmas shopping to do. >

 Over on the Southern corner of their hexagonal arena Duo perked. <Didja’ get something for me?>

 Everyone smiled at the vibrancy of the demon. The Duo that they knew seemed to be fairly in control of himself at that moment, causing them to breath a little easier. Dorthy threw a casual grin over his way.

<That I did. >

 Duo’s eyes lit up like those of a happy seven-year-old.  <Sugoi! What is it? Can I have a hint? >

 Dorthy smiled. < No, you may not. I’ll give it to you on Christmas, that is if you promise to dig yourself out from under the scary-you to receive the gift. >

 Duo smirked, a dark light dancing in one eye while the other remained clear with pure Duo-ness.

<Well y’see, he’s very hard to quell, and he’s not all that bad, he’s just an asshole. I’m not a complete son-of-a-bitch, just a good fifty percent. > Scanning the rest of the group he smirked, mischief dancing through his features.

<What about you people? >

 Wufei smirked.  <I got my Christmas shopping done early this year. And you’ll get it when you get it Maxwell, don’t even bother to whine at me. >

 Trowa nodded.  <I got done early this year as well, it’s not anything huge, but I think you’ll like it.>

 Duo grinned. Heero spoke from his place.  <I’ll need to shop too. You and me Duo. >

 Duo gave a mock-grin. <Nimyu Ryoukai! >

 Everyone watched slightly amused as the –divine being- fought off the urge to flip Duo off. Then they saw the small smile creeping into his eyes and yet not quite onto his lips. Through this interaction they were assured that something had to be done, none of them should die, it just wasn’t right. They all had a right to love and live. Especially Heero, now that he had finally admitted to himself that he really was capable of loving something. That something was the thing that he had to fight, life just wasn’t fair sometimes.

 Fusei turned her eyes scanning into the distance as Quatre stepped forward, the shadows of the falling sun hiding his features. No one could honestly say how long he had been there, and how much he had heard. He disappeared before Fusei even had time to utter a squeak. She shook her head and faded out as well, leaving a translucent feather to flutter slowly, ever downward toward the ground before disappearing in a blue light.

 Alex faded out next, a black sort of an aura curling about her like an amorous snake and a flash of purple coming from her eyes as she exited the scene. Duo left shortly after Alex, flapping his monstrous wings a couple of times before disappearing in much the same fashion that Alex had followed. Trowa and Dorthy both turned walked three steps and exited the dreamscape quietly as if fading into the fading heat waves.

 Wufei, by far had the most beautiful exit of all, he simply closed his eyes and flames licked up around him, hugging his body and covering him. When they receded there was cool night air left to Heero. The boy stayed there a moment, unwilling to get up. The inner him wanted to talk, and now seemed to be the best time to do it, because they could be face to face.

 Heero, the normal boy appeared before him, his manner, expressions, and attitude a sharp contrast to the angel. The disheveled young man with a slight scowl on his face looked much like a disobedient and desperate child in comparison to the calm acceptance of the angel. His clothes fitted him tightly, showing that he was ready to work, run, and kill. The winged one stood in loose fitting things that suited his divine persona. He wouldn’t be running anywhere and the only time that he would pick a weapon up would be to fight with Duo.

 The ‘younger’ version of Heero sighed, staring at the image of divine grace before him.

<I don’t understand you at all. And I don’t think you realize some things. >

 The angel cocked his head to the side slightly, curious as to what his other self thought he had missed.

<< What do you mean? >>

<Don’t you see? That’s not Duo in there. He’s sleeping, the other one tired to kill him, and it’s just a façade. You’re so in love with him, but he’s going to hurt you, us. When you look at that boy you see Duo, and he is, to you. But when I look at that boy I see someone cold and calculating. I don’t think he knows what love is.>

 The angel laughed harshly. <<Don’t confuse belief in someone with naiveté. I am fully aware that, the side of Duo that we see now would like nothing better than to rip my heart out with his bare hands. But the Duo that you love so much has something to say about it also. He colors some of that boy’s actions. The events that are coming will reflect the fact that Duo’s current persona is a demon. It’s very possible that he might try to rape us, hurt me, injure me, all without laying a finger on us or laying an outwardly cold word down. That’s just the way that he is. >>

 Heero stared with cold disbelief at the faith in his own eyes. It was like his other self was drugged or something. How could he continue to love the other boy even if he was going to methodically try to shatter the both of them?

<< Think about your own question carefully Heero. That’s the way that love is sometimes. >>

 The angel’s eyes flashed slightly. <<I think you need to dream a while. Stay here and see what you kind find, ne? >>

 Heero wanted to reach out and protest to what was going to be done, but he couldn’t. It would be a futile point to try and beseech something that wasn’t listening. He sat down on the sand and sighed, watching his alter ego disappear in a flurry of feathers. He caught one, mid flight and rubbed it absently against his cheek.

 Wufei woke up cramped and sore. His back hurt and he couldn’t understand why, then it made sense. He had been rolling around in his sleep last night and had ended up half-on the bed and half-off. The dreams had been; sensual. He couldn’t find any other word for the feeling of flames dancing around his form, covering him with hot and enticing fingers of warmth, pushing rushing flashes of heat through him. Saki…no her name was Sakura, she had been with him, quietly in the background, watching him and every now and then frolicking in the flames as well, the heated air currents pushing her ebony hair about her form, the flames accentuating every curve and plane of her body.

 With an absent hand he stroked a finger up his bare chest, as he was in an inverted state, following the curve of his stomach up to lie his hand flat there, just above his abdomen. It had been a good evening. Sakura was lurking somewhere close, she always was. With a small grunt he pulled himself back onto the bed and into the comforting softness of the pillows. With barely a thought the plethora of candles in the room lit and started flickering. The blinds were drawn on the windows, but even if they had been open it wouldn’t have mattered too much. All that there was to be seen outside was falling snow.

 Staring around his small room his eyes fell to the laptop. There was a little light blinking. Raising his eyebrows in a sardonic fashion he rose, turned on the machine and waited for it to boot up, happily aware of the fact that the atmosphere hadn’t turned chill to match the conditions outside. When a little ping announced that it was ready to go, Wufei punched in several sets of codes and looked at a scrambled message. After two more sets of codes the text came clear. When he read the little message he almost laughed out loud. This was really a message from outer space, he could track the original starting point just fine. His instructor had left him a simple message.

= It’s Christmas, take time off and get into the holiday spirit. No more missions until January unless otherwise notified. =

 He grinned and fell back against the bed, almost ecstatic at that thought. Sakura faded in behind him unexpectedly, twining her arms about his slim waist.

<Good news? >

 Wufei turned around and kissed her cheek, a passing, but affectionate motion. He wasn’t sure how well it would fly, but he had finally gotten over the initial uncertainty that had held him back from such actions in the past.

“Yes, it’s very good news. I don’t have any more missions until January. Everything’s going very quietly.”

 She smiled at him, her bright, crimson eyes catching the light of the flickering candles. “I’m very glad to hear that chibi. >

 He growled playfully. “I’m no chibi onna.”

 She let a mock-offended look cross her porcelain features. <I’m a tenshi for your information, not just some onna. >

 He shrugged. “Winged or not, you’re still an onna.”

 She slugged him lightly in the shoulder. <And you’re an asshole, now get up and get dressed, you still have some Christmas shopping to do so you’re going with Duo and Heero today! >

 Wufei cocked an eyebrow at her. “Since when do I have to do what you say?”

 A wicked gleam crept into her eyes. < Since I could tip you off of the bed and then transport you outside buck-naked. That’s when. >

 He sighed heavily and rose, pulling her with him piggyback style with her wings falling forward to cover them both.

“Then I guess I am forced to follow your tyrannical bidding, no matter how much it pains my pride and heart in doing so.”

 She laughed, something that reminded him of ringing bells of the sweetest nature he had ever listened to.

<Do come off of yourself. >

 He turned his head over his shoulder and winked at her. “You first.”

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
 

 Duo woke quietly, slipping into the waking world like a shadow. A part of him felt very smug, as if it had just won a minor battle. ‘Shinigami’ as he more accurately might be described, was slightly intrigued. If he could cooperate with the other side of himself then he would be all the stronger.

“But why would I want to go and do a thing like that?”

 As he looked down he noted that Heero was sleeping beside him, the other boy’s head resting on his chest. The angel looked so peaceful that Shinigami couldn’t quite bring forth the words to describe the scene to himself. The being looked beautiful and disgusting all at once. Conflicting emotions tore at his innards and made him wonder what he was trying to accomplish. He knew that he ought to be ripping the feathers from those great wings and disabling his enemy before the coming confrontation, to save himself the trouble. Another part of himself argued against that, bringing forth the flimsy excuse that killing him now would take all the fun out of life. He knew in the deep part of his heart where Duo resided, that it was the inner man, speaking out against the desecration of the one life that he treasured above all others. So instead he decided to play along with the little charade he had kept going for  this long. He stroked a long and pale finger down Heero’s cheek, his touch feather-light and gentle.

 The angel stirred and looked at him, Prussian eyes seeming as clear as dawn after a rainstorm. He smiled up at Duo.

“Morning.”

 `Duo' smiled at him, knowing that the mask was shining with it's full glory.

"Morning yourself." He watched complacently as Heero rose and stretched, many things popping from the uncomfortable position that he had fallen asleep in. Even amidst the sounds of his bones readjusting themselves Heero smiled. "Want breakfast?"

 Duo's growling stomach was all that he needed as an answer.

With a smile he spoke.  "What do you feel like eating?"

The demon took a while in thinking about that. A scone and chocolate milk sounded better than fine to him at that moment. Technically he wasn't supposed to be eating anything very interesting, but he wanted food and not the hospital fare. Putting on the best set of puppy dog eyes that he could muster he smiled at Heero.

"Scones and chocolate milk? Pleeeeeeeeeease?"

The angel looked contemplative, and Duo wondered if he was among the few on the entire planet that could resist his full-force puppy dog eyes. When the tiny hint of a smile crept onto Heero's lips he knew he had won. The angel turned, furling his wings back to make it easier to walk, as if he had been doing it forever.

"Sure, any preference on scones?"

 Duo bounced on the bed, grin on at full force. "Apple please!"

 Heero nodded, just as he was about to walk out Duo called from on the bed, "My treat, grab my wallet out of my pants and don't come back until you have food!"
 
 Heero quirked an eyebrow at him and nodded. "Niminu ryoukai." Just as Heero was leaving he paused and stuck his head back in the door. "You feel up to going out soon? I checked with the doctors and they said that we can take you home tomorrow. I want to go Christmas shopping today so I'm taking you with me, that is, if you want."

 Shopping with Hee-chan…that sounded like a great idea. In the midst of nodding enthusiastically Duo began to wonder if the other side of himself really did have more control than he had first thought. He heard his voice replying with an enthusiastic air.

"Sure! That sounds really great! I don't want to sit on my ass all day!"

 Then Heero smiled, nodded and was gone.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

 Quatre sipped a mug of tea absently, his mind on other things. Stephanie stood behind him, her wings whispered as her lips moved and he nodded at the sound of her voice in his mind.
"I know he's getting out of the hospital today. I was monitoring them."

 Another bit of speech from Stephanie, the set on her face clearly displeased with him. He flipped the page on the newspaper that was lying in front of him, there for aesthetics, and not much else.

"Don't lecture me, I won't tire myself out. I've been through worse."

 She spoke again, her eyebrows knitting together as her face took on a more serious and severe set. He glared over his shoulder at her, his crystalline eyes taking on a very dangerous light.

"I'm not overconfident. I'm perfectly aware of my limitations, I haven't shown anyone what I can do. Nobody knows just how powerful I am. I'm going to get everyone through this completely alive and well, I don't intend for anyone to die. Not anyone important."

 He ignored the tears that spilled slowly down her ivory cheeks, turning away from her pained expression. His voice was cold, small, and hard. "No, I'm not anyone important. I can't let them all die. Wufei, Dorthy, Heero, Duo, or you, any of the angels. I can'tlet it happen to Fusei or Sakura, Alex…or Trowa…Don't you realize that I'm just a doll? I wasn't born, I was created in a tube. They have first dibs on life. "

 Trowa, the said pilot stepped out from behind the doorway he had been standing in, listening to the conversation. His face was tight, eyes cold. In three steps he walked over to Quatre and grabbed his chin roughly, forcing the little blonde to look straight at him.

"T-trowa…" , Quatre was fully aware that he must have had the countenance of a frightened rabbit. The hand that wasn't holding his face was held halfway up tensed, as if he were about to strike. Yet the blow never came and for an agonizing sixty seconds Quatre was treated to exactly what was running through Trowa's mind, all of the hurt, the anger, frustration and betrayal. When the single tear fell down from his eye he let Quatre go roughly, bringing the back of his hand up to wipe the offending droplet away. He walked out again, his manner completely cool, angry. The front door slammed and the sound of one of the motorcycles starting up filled the silence of the morning. Quatre didn't look in that direction, he didn't want to. He continued to scan through the paper as if nothing at all were wrong.

When more footsteps entered the kitchen he didn't even look up.

"Morning Dorthy."

 She growled, cracking him solidly across the cheek with her palm.

"Those who have the will to live survive, those who don't, perish. You don't exactly understand that we are all aware of the risks that we are taking and don't need you to coddle us. You did it once before and it didn't solve anything. All you are doing is hurting us!"

 She wasn't angry in the same way that Trowa was, just frustrated with him. Instead of standing there and staring at him she walked over to the counter and filled a mug full of water and stuck
it in the microwave in preparation for tea.

"We're here to protect you Quatre, not the other way around."

 Quatre sat ridged and silent, and did not say a word.
_ _ _ _ ___ _  __ _  __ _ _

  Wufei walked down the stairs quietly. Things were going down and people were upset, there was a stressed and angry quality about the air that he didn't like, it wasn't pleasant. Sakura floated down silently after him, watching the surroundings with almost calculating interest. It was her foremost job to make sure that nothing damaging came to her beau and she was determined to do her job well. When the duo entered the kitchen they found tense serenity.
 
Quatre was reading the newspaper in an intense manner. His eyes moved as if he were desperately trying to find any excuse not to look up from the printed text. His voice was falsely cheerful as he
spoke as they entered the room.

"So, going Christmas shopping with Heero and Duo today?"

 Wufei blinked a couple of times, mildly surprised that Quatre had known of his plans beforehand. The shock wore off and he gave an assenting "uh-huh".

Quatre nodded, his golden bangs hiding his eyes."Have fun, and don't get trampled by the crowds, it's crazy this time of year."
 
 Wufei nodded, buttoning up his jacket. "I will, thanks for the warning."
 

 He pursed his lips to ask where Trowa was when two things stopped him, an icy glare from Dorthy, and a cautionary hand on his shoulder. He raised an eyebrow and looked at Dorthy, silently asking for an answer. The set of her eyes and the small shake of her head was all the reply that he got. From that information he decided that it would be better if he were to keep his mouth shut.

"I'll see you later then, I'm going over to the hospital."

 Quatre nodded mutely and Dorthy waved mordantly from her place on the counter.  Wufei exited the tension filled kitchen shortly thereafter. The drive to the hospital was quiet and uneventful. The wind howled past him as he speed up rather secluded roads to get to his destination. When he got there, a chipper and talkative Duo greeted him, speaking on weighty matters such as, how the male nurses compared to female, the quality of the food there versus that of the doughnut store down the street and the meaning of life.

 Sometime through the former Heero arrived and Wufei exited briefly while the Deathscythe pilot got dressed.  When he entered he found Duo in his regular clothing and looking much more alive than he previously had. When he had been swathed in the hospital gown he had the air of a small child, lost among the folds of the covers. As he stood, leaning mostly against Heero for support, he looked much better.

The clothing choice that Heero had made suited him fine. The black pants and sweatshirt weren't huge, but weren't tight either. In them Duo just looked slim, and not emaciated. At some point he had woven a black ribbon and a crimson ribbon back through his hair and the whole mess tumbled down his back, standing out against the dark of his clothes. Duo looked like himself again, Wufei observed, with a small smile touching his lips.

"You two lovebirds ready to go?"

 Duo grinned at him. "I know you're just jealous Wu-man, because I have a hot, sexy man for a boyfriend and you are tragically without."

 Wufei smiled enigmatically. "It's all right. I don't mind. I don't really mind at all."  Duo peered at him curiously, but the Shenlong pilot volunteered no other information. Heero shrugged and with no apparent
effort lifted Duo up, causing the smaller pilot to squeak in surprise.
 
"Ne, Heero, I can walk you realize…"

 Heero gave him `the look' and switched him around so he was in a piggy-back position. Duo shrugged and grin, wrapping his arms tightly about Heero's shoulders. Fusei and Alex followed invisibly, Alex behind the pair of lovers and Fusei to the front, providing a front and rearguard against almost anything that would come up. Alex looked ahead at the two of them and shook her head.

<Heero doesn't realize at all…>

 Fusei looked back at her, her bright lips barely moving. <Perhaps it's the way things are supposed to turn out…>

 Alex watched, her violet eyes reflecting the entire scene as Duo's arms tightened marginally around Heero's neck. To the casual observer, one would only think that he was getting a better grip on
Heero. She knew the difference, it was rather obvious to her when she could see that he had positioned his hands so that he could strangle the other boy with minimal effort. Yet Heero wasn't completely
oblivious either, on the same token he moved around marginally so that he could counter the same effort without much of his own. There was an entire struggle for dominance going on unconsciously that made
both guardians nervous.
 

 Alex looked over and frowned, Wufei saw what they did, as did Sakura. Both were watching the pair out of the corners of their eyes, spectators that were too polite to interfere in a game that they didn't feel they had licensee to play. Wufei broke the small silence that had fallen with a chipper, "shall we go?"
 

 With a silent nod Heero started walking out, Duo giggling and clutching onto his neck, all smiles. Wufei stalked out silently after them, holding the countenance of a panther.

In a light tone that completely offset the actuality of his personality he spoke. "How are you my precious little one?"

 She shifted once, uncomfortable, but passing her discomfort off for the need to shift her wings, which she did in a casual way. <I'm quite well, and I trust you're getting better?>
 
Duo smiled, letting his laid back smile greet the mass populace. "Never been better. So my sweet little archangel, when do I get my sword?"

There was a cold sliver of a tone in his voice that sent shivers rippling down her spine in waves. <January first,> she answered calmly, <at midnight. There will be snow falling…>

 Duo smiled, caressing her cheek lightly with a forefinger. He drew it down her form slowly until his hand rested lightly on her midsection.

"I trust you're taking good care of my weapon?"

 She nodded, her eyes downcast. <Of course.>

Her `voice' was small, she was afraid of him, he scared her so badly that she didn't know what to think. This wasn't the Duo that she knew and loved, this was an imposter sitting there with his eyes, his voice, and his body.

"You're frightened aren't you?"

 His voice was so soft that it only reached her ears. To everyone else around him, he appeared to be a longhaired boy sitting on a bench and taking in the scenery of the mall. He received no answer to his query and so sent it again, the same quiet, cold tone filling her ears. "I asked you a question, why aren't you answering me?"

<Yes> she choked out, her wide, almost panicked eyes still riveted to her knees and the tattered material that formed the covering for her modest frame. <Yes, I am afraid of you.>

 His smirk was cruel, malicious, not the flippant gesture that almost always graced Duo's face. "Why is that chibi? You think I'm going to hurt you?"  She didn't answer, staring quietly down at her knees, her
wings beginning to reflexively fold over her smaller form, giving her a kind of a shelter from the quiet attacks she was undergoing. He spoke again, just as softly and yet so much angrier to her ears.

"You think I would do you damage?  Why would I do that? You're my little sword-bearer, you're my vessel. Why, without your worthless flesh I wouldn't have a weapon for the lovely duel that is coming up
for me. You're so important that I can't even find the words."

 He had the words all right. They stung her like a thousand heated needles pressing slowly into her flesh. She knew this kind of a game. He was playing with her, testing her, seeing if he could get her to loathe herself just a little more than she already did. Her head sunk slowly down to her knees and she couldn't find the strength of mind to meet his taunting gaze. His voice reached her yet again, and as hard as she tried she couldn't defend against the barbs that came to her through his soft speech.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I make my little fallen angel cry? I'd forgotten that you're just a dumb child under that façade. If your body hadn't grown up then my sword would have killed you as it grew. Forgive me, I don't expect you to understand me. Fear me if you like…"

 She brought her head up slowly, her hair, the color of tarnished gold, slowly falling back from her face as she met his gaze, violet to violet, violence to anger.

<I___am____not____a____child. And I____am____-NOT-____afraid of you. You puny insignificant mortal, you have no idea what fear is. You have no idea what shame and self-loathing is. An eternity damned into the most disgusting, vulgar, demoralizing and inhumane place that there is. You –humans- have the option of escape, a slice with the knife or a pill taken and your pitiful existence ends. To us it never does. I've suffered for trying to save YOUR SORRY ASS!>

 Her tone was reaching an almost hysterically angry level, she had stood up, her wings furled straight to either side of her, the tattered edges of her clothing moving with the force of her anger. Her hair floated about her face and her eyes shone a maroon color.

<You have the AUDACITY to think that such a being as yourself, an insignificant catalyst, chosen on a whim, would scare me. I've seen thirteen eternities in the BOTTOM OF HELL! And_____(YOU)___think that mere words can scare me? Everything I do is simply to humor you so that perhaps I'll be released from that eternal torture which I have been chained to for so long. Don't even venture to think that your
life, feelings, or emotions mean anything to me. If you die then so do I, and in my opinion such a state would be all the better. Burn Duo Maxwell, burn as you were meant to, I'll perform my duties as I
have been bound to do, but my help or my concern are things that I need not extend to you.>

 Duo blinked, shock and betrayal running through stunned violet eyes. The real Duo had flashed through for a moment there, now finally realizing just how helpless he was, and then the other flashed back into place, quirking an eyebrow at her and smiling.

"I don't have a whipped bitch for a guardian then, all's the better."

She disappeared from even his view in a cloud of translucent sulfuric smoke and the sounds of the wailing
damned. His quietly amused voice rang through the air.

"You realize of course that no matter where you go, or what you do you'll have to stay with me. I know you're there, that's all that's required."
_ _ _ _ _  __ _  __ _ _  _ ___ _ _

Heero and Wufei arrived out of the shop to meet a bored and impatient Duo.

"Why'd you have to take so loooooooong?" he whined, looking piteous.  "I thought I was going to die of
boredom!"

 Heero offered him a small and amused smile of condolence, holding several bags under one arm and the other.

"I have to run these to the car, I'll be right back."

 Wufei took a seat next to Duo as the Japanese boy went off. He looked at Duo and smiled, feeling himself move through the motions of conversation, feeling his usual mask slip into place. So funny, he thought, that two masks should speak without much effort from those behind, for he could see the cold amusement in Duo's eyes. Those weren't the eyes of Duo Maxwell, the tough and streetwise orphan that he knew and loved very much, those were the eyes of the devil. He was conversing calmly with the devil. The fire inside him sparked questioningly, feeling the whispered challenge that was given simply by Duo's presence, but he called for it to wait, soothing it with promises of what was to come.
 
 
 

- K u r i y a m i m i z u -
Keeper of Duo's Bloody Nightmares
Keeper of Duo's really bad migraines
Another occupant of the happy hentai house
Proud Member of the SDDI
Madam Hydra’s Sadistic Pet (mew ^-^)

Computer Caretaker of the Shinigami organization.
The Shinigami Organization
www.ShinigamiOrg.homestead.com/index.html
The only mob dedicated to Shinigami

ICQ me at #82315185
contact @: darksideduo@yahoo.com

See the art of the insanity that is the story?

White Reflection (my yaoi nook)
http://www.fortunecity.com/marina/tripcock/835/index.html
(Heero will show you in)

"The lights are on, but nobody's home.."-some really spiffy movie I saw
"Everything you want is not necessarily everything you need. Every second counts" -Vertical Horizon Music Vid.
"Fuck you no da!" -things chiri chiri will never say
"Every revolution begins with a single act of defiance"

Possessor of a mighty set of Two muses:
Chibi Kuri: little blue haired sayajin with quite a temper
Griffin: The little Duo-esque muse with a dark black braid and a kawaii set of batwings (not to mention a cute .. *BEEP*..)