Author: Alana Winters
Warnings: yaoi, citriusy scents, OOC, AU, angst, strong language, weirdness
Pairings: umm... 2x1, 4x3, etc. etc. etc... oh yeah... Shinigami x 1 [sorta - it'll be explained]
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimers: not mine, done for fanaticism not money... especially since I have none >.<
*...* 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: okay, this story was done about an idea I had, if you can believe it, sitting in the middle of philosophy class while the prof droned on about death and the like. I don't know if anyone has done this story arc before and if they have, my many apologies... I just never recall reading such a story and if there is one out there, please let me know.
Shinigami VS Duo Prologue
Death Collects His Due
Duo's mind struggled through the hazy layers of sleep that fogged his brain, clouding the usually swift thinking patterns, hindering his reaction time. As awareness slowly returned to him, he became apprised of several conditions and factors surrounding his space.
He felt the warm body that he clutched in his arms, the strong frame that he greedily hung onto, as if his grip was strong enough to keep the form from moving away should it choose to do so. The firm, yet soft flesh was bare, allowing for the most intimate of caresses. It was too unfortunate that Duo would not be given the chance to explore the tantalizing possibility that lay next to him.
As his mind expanded its horizons, becoming aware of his physical surroundings, he noticed the temperature in the room.
It was chilly... make that cold...
No, make that damned freezing...
As he started to stir, slowly dragging his consciousness from the depths of slumber, he momentarily paused to ask himself why his beloved koibito wasn't already awake. HE hardly ever slept in, especially if Duo began to stir. His reflexes were too good, even in sleep.
Although his question was not spoken aloud, the answer was clearly stated. "He's not awake because I do not choose him to be. Being a sibling of Sleep does have its advantages."
Duo thought to himself, *Hmm, that would explain it, but who's- Shimatta!*
Duo quickly bolted upright in the large bed he shared with Heero. His sleep mussed chestnut locks fell around his body, falling in a honey brown waterfall of silk. *What in the hell?*
The wry voice of before answered him dryly, "Well, that WOULD certainly be an appropriate location for me, but unfortunately, that's not where we are right now."
Duo looked around the room and his eyes widened in shock.
A tall, slender figure stood gracefully in the middle of the room, features hidden under the shadows of a dark cloak. The cloak's black, satin material fell to the floor, sheathing its wearer in its protective embrace. Although the bearer's features were indiscriminate, the stance was obviously masculine, confidence exuding like a visible aura.
However, perhaps the most obvious reasons for Duo's alarm, besides the very fact that there was an unannounced stranger in his bedroom, were the two enormous, feathery black wings that extended from the stranger's back. The wings were folded against the bearer's back, their length and span concealed from Duo's sight; but even still, the tips of the wings brushed against the floor, slightly dragging.
Duo hadn't moved from the bed, although his grip on Heero's arm had unconsciously tightened. For some reason, he felt a sense of threat from the intruding stranger, a threat that had nothing to do with his own life, but rather with the keeper of his heart.
With a voice containing more courage and boldness than he was currently feeling, Duo asked, "Who are you?"
The stranger chuckled dryly, the mangled laughter sounding strangely familiar to the braided pilot. In an amused tone of voice, the newcomer said dryly, 'Now c'mon, Maxwell. I had a little more faith in your mental capabilities than that. Who do you think I am?"
A maniacal grin made its way across Duo's complexion, the grin he often wore when battling against the forces of OZ and Romefeller as a mask to his fear. Sometime long ago he had learned that the easiest way to beat an enemy is to psych the enemy out. And what way was easier than using laughter as a tool?
With his cheeky grin still in place, Duo responded with, "Feh. I really don't care who you are. All I really want to know is why you have any business or concerns with Heero or me."
The stranger shook his head a few times, obviously disappointed with Duo's lack of curiosity. "I suppose I should be getting on with the reason why I am here. But, I would be remiss in my manners if I didn't introduce myself first. I, dear Maxwell, am Shinigami."
With that simple statement, the stranger flung off the black cloak he was wearing, allowing the light to reveal his features to the occupants of the room.
Duo had been prepared for anything, ranging from a practical joke on the parts of his fellow Gundam pilots, to even Relena Peacecraft playing the part of the intruder. What he had not been expecting was what he got.
He hadn't been expecting the intruder to be his doppelganger.
The stranger was looking back at him with the same pair of violet eyes, the same face, and the same butt length hair. Well, okay, the stranger's hair wasn't in a braid, rather it was flowing freely down the stranger's back and over his shoulders, but it was the same chestnut brown color, appearing to have the same silky texture and thickness as Duo's own. And his twin's choice in clothing was... well, to put it bluntly, Duo wouldn't be caught dead in the same ensemble, but he supposed that such an outfit was conducive to the fact that the other man had a large set of wings protruding from his back.
Duo blinked a few times as silence filled the bedroom, his own eyes wide and shocked even as the intruder continued to look passively back at him. Finally, he managed to get control of his voice back and voiced his indignation at the theft of his features.
"N-Nani??!! What kind of joke is this?? You look like me!"
The other man cocked one elegant eyebrow, his own features twisted in a mocking smile. "Perhaps it is you who looks like me."
"Kisama!"
The self proclaimed Shinigami waggled one finger back at Duo, an admonishing expression crossing his face. "Now, now. I don't think that foul language really needs to be used. We're both thinking humans... well, you're human at least. Myself, I've never had the misfortune of being a mortal. Too busy with my... work."
"And I think that this joke has gone too far. I don't know who you think you really are, but I think you should leave."
Duo didn't realize how inane he sounded, his demands coming while he was still sitting upright in his bed, not even clothed or standing.
Shinigami abruptly lost whatever vestiges of humor were left on his face, his expression turning quite serious. He practically hissed out at Duo, "Make no mistake, Maxwell. I am who I say I am. I am the god of Death, and you'd do well to remember that fact."
Duo stubbornly stuck out his bottom lip, his expression turning thunderous as well, despite the adorable pout. "Then why do you look like me?"
Shinigami shrugged his shoulders, his hands reaching up to twine a few strands of his hair around his fingers. "You really are quite an attractive young man, don't you know? I take the face of whoever it amuses me to do so. At this present time, I like yours. Besides, it's advantageous for me to do so."
"And why are you here?" he asked again.
Shinigami sighed as he tossed his hair over his shoulders, his expression turning self suffering. "You tire me with these endless questions."
The winged god's expression turned dead serious, his violet eyes suddenly glowing with an inhuman light. His mouth was set in a firm line, all traces of humor wiped from his visage.
"It's simple, Duo Maxwell. For years you have laid claim to MY name, calling yourself 'Shinigami'. I have allowed it thus far simply because it amused me to do so, but no longer. It's now time to collect what is mine."
"What do you want from me?" Duo asked stubbornly, refusing to reveal the fear that had gripped his soul.
"From you? Why, nothing more than what is owed me. I'm here to collect my payment," Shinigami smoothly replied, his features schooled into a pleasant, if somewhat condescending expression.
"Payment? What, Death wants material wealth now? Well, sorry, but being an ex pilot in an ex war is hardly a rich money making scheme."
Shinigami shook his head wearily, his impatience at Duo's disrespect starting to manifest itself. "No, I don't want material wealth. I'm more interested in other forms of payment."
"Like what?"
"Let's just say, I'm here for my pound of flesh." [1]
Duo's face turned slightly green as he swallowed... hard. "Pound of flesh?"
"Rather make that... my ninety or so pounds of flesh."
Duo's face hardened into a stoic mask as he asked, "You're going to take my life?"
Shinigami seemed to carefully mull that point over before he answered with a shake of his head. He then lifted one finger up and pointed towards the bed and the still unconscious form upon it. "No. My payment is the form of one Heero Yuy. He belongs to me now."
"NANI?!!"
Shinigami ignored Duo's outburst as he calmly stated. "He is mine."
"Like hell he is. I won't let you take him!" By now Duo had risen from the bed, heedless of his unclothed state. His hands were clenched into fists, his lithe frame held under tenuous control, literally shaking with outrage. His own eyes had begun to flash with a dangerous fire, however his ire didn't even make a dent in the demi-god's seemingly unruffled facade.
Shinigami carefully smirked at the enraged Duo, slightly mocking in tone and stance, as if he was daring Duo to strike out at him. "I'm afraid you don't have any choice in the matter. You see, you may have fallen in love with him, but so have I."
Duo's eyes widened in alarm and surprise, even as his rage and anger struggled to regain their control. However, a slight tremor of fear had managed to worm its way into his subconscious, fear that this demi-god in front of him was serious about claiming Heero for his own and the fear that in the end, there was nothing he, a mere mortal, could do about it.
But that didn't mean he was going to let him just take Heero away without a fight.
With a snarl of challenge on his lips, Duo rushed forward, intending to attack the winged intruder, heedless of the futility of such a gesture.
Shinigami snorted under his breath and swept one arm around in an arc. Unseen power rippled through the air, catching Duo in its stream. With a sharp cry, Duo flew through the air, only to smack against the bedroom wall. He slid to the floor, his body throbbing with pain, his mind hazy and unclear. His vision swam in his head, eyes unable to focus.
As the world around him slowly righted itself, Duo's vision cleared just in time for him to see his double bending over the inert form of Heero on the bed. He barely caught Shinigami's whispered words, the quiet utterance striking fear and terror into his heart.
"So beautiful... and now mine."
Duo groaned and managed to pull himself upright, his teeth clenched even as he spit out, "I won't let you take him!"
Shinigami threw back his head and laughed, his humor an even more sinister version of Duo's own maniacal laughter. He gave Duo a condescending look, his gaze full of pity for the mule headed pilot. "I'm afraid you don't have any say in the matter."
With that last phrase, Shinigami enfolded Heero's body in his arms, even as his eyes began to once more glow with the unearthly light. Simultaneously behind him, a glowing portal began to emerge from nowhere, swirling lights illuminating the contents of the room, a mysterious wind whipping the two opponents' hair.
Shinigami began to retreat into the swirling vortex, his prize secure in his grip. His voice was slightly mocking as he called out his farewell. "If you really want him back, you're welcome to challenge me for him. That is, IF you can find your way to the netherworld and make it to my stronghold before the Hunter's Moon. Otherwise, Heero is mine."
His spiel said, Shinigami disappeared into the vortex along with Heero, leaving Duo standing alone in his bedroom. Duo started, forgetting about his unclothed status as panic began to seep into his mind, and raced for the rapidly shrinking portal. However, before he could reach it, it collapsed onto itself, vanishing from view.
Duo sank onto the carpet of his bedroom, disbelief etched on his face. His eyes were wide and large, despair and shock clouding the amethyst surfaces. He reached out with one hand, waving it through the space of air that Heero had last occupied before his abduction.
His voice minute, due to his shock, Duo whispered, "No, Heero... come back."
He whispered his lover's name one more time... "Heero..."
And then he screamed it.
"HEEEEERRRRRRROOOOOOOOO!"
TBC...
[1] anyone remember which classical play this line comes from?? yeah, yeah, so Alana likes reading Shakespeare... there's nothing wrong with that... -_-
So what do you think?? Should I continue it or not? Please let me know!! Ja ne!
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