*...* denotes thought
------ lines between these symbols connotate a flashback
******* identifies a break in scenes
[1,2,3,4,...] signifies author notes at the bottom of fic
Author's notes: mmmm, I seem to be on a Heero angst role... heh heh heh
Shinigami VS Duo Part 2
Reality or Fantasy?
[And so we begin with our abducted Heero... or was he??]
Heero slowly opened his eyes; his vision blurry as it struggled to eliminate the haze of sleep. Usually one to wake alert, this new change in his return to consciousness was the first indication that something was not right. Blinking his eyes furiously, Heero managed to right his vision with seconds, only to be presented with a new problem.
Heero clearly remembered falling asleep, that was not a problem. However, his last memory had been of the ceiling in the bedroom that he and Duo had claimed as their own during their stay at Quatre's estate.
Wait a minute, that wasn't entirely accurate.
His last memory had been falling asleep, curled into Duo's embrace, and inhaling the scent of their most recent joining.
Satisfied that he now had the correct last memory firmly in place, Heero took another preliminary sweep of his current situation, after pulling himself up to a sitting position. Instead of the domestic, lavishly decorated bedroom he remembered, the four walls that surrounded him were dark, almost to the point of black.
The room itself was cast into shadows, with no windows or visible sources of electrical lighting. Heero's vision was hindered, although he could make out vaguely familiar shapes that he assumed were pieces of furniture in the room. A single candle was by his bedside, giving off a faint, but almost unusable illumination.
The bed upon which he was currently laying was unfamiliar yet erotically sensual at the same time. The bed was large, surely a custom size, with a very plush mattress. The sheets were made of a very fine silk, black in color from what Heero could tell. As he experimentally ran a hand along the fine material, unconsciously relishing the coolness beneath his fingertips, he glanced upwards to note the lavish drapes that hung from posters. His observative gaze noted that the drapes around the bed could be pulled shut, hiding the occupants of the bed from the outside world.
It was about this time that Heero noticed his lack of clothing. While nothing new, especially since the establishment of a sexual relationship with Duo, in his current situation it was unnerving and unsettling. However, upon further self examination, Heero found his original observation to be incorrect. He was wearing a pair of boxers, silk as well but of an indeterminable color.
*Hn, I guess it's a relief I'm not totally butt naked, but - eh? What's this?*
Heero paused to glance at his left wrist which was adorned with a piece of jewelry he definitely DID NOT remember. Fitted snugly around his slim wrist was a metal circlet, perhaps an inch and a half in width. The candlelight reflected off of the metal in a bright aurora, indicating the metal to be of light color like silver or titanium. Heero tugged at the circlet with his other hand, but the piece of jewelry did not move. Puzzled, he brought it closer to the candle's flame to examine it.
After a brief perusal, he failed to find a seam or a clutch that would release it. The metal was too small to slip over his hand, which confused Heero as to how it had gotten onto his wrist in the first place. With a shrug, he gave up looking at it and focused in on his surroundings.
*Guess I'd better try to figure out where I am.*
Having made his decision on his next course of action, Heero flipped back the corner of the sheet and swung his legs slowly to the side of the bed. Using the nightstand by the bed as a support, he pushed himself on his feet, only to collapse back onto the bed mere seconds later.
A black wave of nausea passed through his mind, causing the room to spin around him. It was smothering, blanketing his mind in a terrifying slate of darkness. Heero moaned as his self-orientation whirled on its axis, raising both hands to clutch at his throbbing temples. As quickly as it had occurred, the nausea faded away, leaving his mind once more clear. Yet Heero dared not move, for fear of bringing on another bout of disorientation.
He was so focused on not moving, he failed to pay attention as the door to the chamber opened with a slight creak. However, upon a loud crashing of dishes and cutlery, Heero opened his eyes and jerked his head towards the sound, thankfully not inciting another near blackout.
"You're awake!"
The familiar and much welcomed voice was like an oasis to a parched wanderer. Heero's eyes widened in a mixture of surprise and relief as his gaze fell upon his lover, Duo.
Duo was standing in the open doorway, a small amount of light shining in from the hallway backlighting his figure. His eyes were wide, his jaw open with surprise and shock. His American lover quickly shook his head, a large grin spreading across his features, even as he began to walk towards the bed.
Quickly reaching Heero's side, Duo stared down at his confused lover, one shaky hand reaching up to gently cup his cheek. "Oh god, Heero," he said in a slightly choked voice. "You're finally awake! Thank the heavens."
Duo leaned down, touching his forehead to Heero's upturned one, his eyes closing in a brief prayer of thanks. His hand dropped from Heero's cheek, only to be joined with the other around Heero's bare shoulders. Heero was motionless for one shocked second before instincts had him automatically encircling Duo's waist in his own embrace and nuzzling his face in Duo's soft red shirt.
As Duo continued to murmur under his breath, his began to drop small kisses on Heero's face and neck. It was a bit awkward, considering that Heero was still sitting on the bed and Duo was standing in front of him, but somehow the braided man managed it.
As Heero's hands encountered the familiar and comforting braid of hair that fell down Duo's back, they quickly snatched it up in a strong grip, as if it were his lifeline to sanity.
After a few moments of having Duo slather his face and neck with kisses, Heero made the gargantuan effort to pull away slightly, raising his puzzled face to Duo's. "Not that I don't appreciate the gestures, Duo, but what do you mean, 'I'm finally awake'? And where exactly am I?"
Duo's own gaze went from unabashed happiness to worried concern. "What do you mean, Heero? You're home, if that's what you want to know. Although, you might not remember since you've been half asleep for six months."
Heero grew more and more confused at Duo's words, his mind telling him that his lover wasn't making any sense. "What do you mean, half asleep? And what do you mean by home? I don't recognize this place."
Heero's eyes rapidly searched Duo's, looking for any clue in the violet depths. Duo's face was by now pulled into a frown, though worry shone bright and clear from his eyes. Biting his lip, Duo took one of Heero's hands in his own, and moved to sit by him on the bed. Their gazes now on even par, Duo decided to answer his questions.
"Heero, you've been in and out of a semi-coma for the past six months, ever since you nearly got run over by that truck. You've been awake, but not aware. The hospital finally relented and let me bring you home, provided that I followed their instructions pertaining to your care. I thought that being home, might bring you back to me."
Duo's eyes became earnest, his grip tightening on Heero's hand. "And this is your home, Heero. It's been our home for the past seven years, ever since we got married."
"Married?!!" Heero exploded, his mind whirling from Duo's explanation. If he had been able, he would have shot up from the bed and placed a good amount of distance between himself and the other man. But as the case was, he did not have the strength to do so.
"Heero, we got married four months after the war ended. Don't you remember?"
Heero's disbelief and shock was getting the better of the former soldier, who was currently opening and closing his mouth like a gaping fish. "Four months after the war ended?! Duo, the war ended just a few weeks ago!"
Duo's eyes widened even further and he reached forward to grasp Heero by his bare shoulders. His strong grip held Heero still, forcing the weakened man to look him in the eyes. "Heero, the war ended a long time ago, and we did get married. We even have the commitment bands to prove it!"
With that, Duo released Heero's right shoulder to bring his attention to a circlet wrapped around Duo's left wrist. Heero's shocked eyes fell upon a band of black onyx that was a perfect, albeit darker, match for his own. His eyes flew wildly back and forth from his silver band to Duo's ebony one.
As Duo observed the confusion in Heero's face, tears began to well up in his eyes. "Oh my god, you don't remember, do you?"
Duo released Heero's shoulders, turning his face away from Heero, his shoulders shaking with suppressed emotions. Although in a state akin to panic and hysteria, the sight of a distraught Duo still had the power to rip into and shred Heero's guts. Acting on instinct, he reached out to the other man, his own grip shaky and unsure.
"I-I'm sorry, Duo. But- but I don't remember this. Any of this," he clarified.
Duo took a deep breath before turning back to his dark love, his hands quickly wiping away his tears. With a shaky breath and a brave smile, he tried to reassure him. "It's okay, Heero. I should have expected it. The doctors said your head trauma might result in amnesia if you ever woke up."
Heero echoed Duo's word in a soft whisper. "Amnesia... my head was spinning a bit earlier and it's still a bit foggy," he weakly offered, giving up any assurance that he believed what Duo was telling him.
"And I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't stand on your own. I have been doing my best to get you to exercise every day, but I could only do so much."
Heero admitted, "I tried to stand up but I couldn't."
Duo pasted a bright smile on his face and reached forward to enfold Heero in a hug. As he buried his face in Heero's neck, he babbled, "It's okay, it's okay. You're awake now, and that's what matters. We can sort through everything in due time. In fact, I want you to lie back down, and I'm going to go call Trowa and have him come look at you."
With that said, Duo bounced up from the bed, moving with sure motions to tuck Heero back into the silken enclosure. Heero, confused and lost, allowed himself to be tucked back into bed like a little child, complete with a kiss on the forehead. "That's right, Heero. You just lay there and before you know it, I'll be back with Trowa."
Duo was already half way across the room before Heero managed to ask, "Why Trowa?"
Duo paused in his tracks to give Heero a smile over his shoulder. He gently told him, "Trowa became a doctor three years ago, Heero. After the war, he decided to go back to school. You were his strongest supporter in his decision and now, he's our personal physician. He's been helping me take care of you."
With that last little surprise, Duo walked out of the door, closing it gently behind him, but not before he blew Heero a little kiss.
His mind was whirling with everything that Duo said, including this new revelation about Trowa becoming a doctor. Heero tried to sort through everything Duo had told him, tried to rationally explain these events that he did not remember or understand. Especially if seven years had passed since the war, why did Duo look just as he remembered him?
So lost in his thoughts, Heero never heard the click of the door's lock being latched from the outside.
**********************
Duo pocketed the silver key that he used to lock the bedroom door, a sigh of satisfaction on his face. He leaned against the door for a brief moment, closing his eyes and smirking.
"Well that went well, Master. He didn't suspect a thing."
Duo's reaction was instantaneous. He flew into a flurry of action, which mainly consisted of squelching his booted foot down upon a boneless mass in the center of the hallway. With a slightly deeper tone of voice, he hissed, "What have I told you about showing up around here in that form?!"
The blob squealed in terror and slight pain, which was incredible considering it didn't have any bones. "I'm sorry, Lord Shinigami! I forgot myself! Have mercy!"
Shinigami, still in the disguise of Duo, huffed under his breath and removed his foot. His boneless minion popped back into shape, and proceeded to chase after his retreating master. Shinigami continued to stalk down the hallway, until he passed through a gold toned arch.
Once he passed through the archway, the scenery shifted from that of a mortal dwelling to the walls of his Netherworld palace. The walls were still of a black color, but represented the architecture of a castle rather than a split level domicile. Shinigami's outfit also changed, shifting from the jeans and the red shirt to a black robe and cape. His boots clicked on the stone floor, his pace steady until he reached his throne room.
Shinigami bonelessly collapsed onto his throne, sprawled in a rather undignified manner. His minion finally managed to catch up with him and continued his groveling. "It did go well, didn't it Master?"
Shinigami chuckled, his laughter sinister and dark. "Of course it did. Heero may still have his doubts, but he is so willing to trust 'Duo' and his story. And once I bring my Trowa-impersonator in, his doubts will be completely crushed."
"Does that mean you will soon have your mate, my lord?"
Shinigami's eyes gleamed, a shearing of green before shifting back to the purple orbs of his disguise. "Yes, it does Creeper. Even now, the Memory Bracelet is at work on his mind, slowly altering and changing his memories to what I desire since I am wearing the control circlet. By the time the Hunter's Moon arises, his memories of his mortal life will be completely erased and all Heero will know will be what I desire him to know. Mainly, all he will know will be me and that he is destined to be with me for all eternity."
"But doesn't that give his human friends two mortal weeks to rescue him, sir?"
Shinigami sneered and said with a snort, "As if they could find their way to my domain. And even if they do, I have contingencies to deal with that. No, Heero Yuy is mine, now and forever, as he was meant to be."
TBC...
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