Author: Karen, The Huntress
Rating: R
Warning: AU, Yaoi, Lemon in some parts, non consensual sex, angst, violence, language, adult situations.
Pairing: 1x2, 3x4, Sorry but I made Wufei the bad guy.
Feedback: Yes, please.
Archive: DHML Archive, Shades and Echoes.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or its characters.
Love Conquers All Prologue
Thin shafts of twilight streaked the rocky cliffs. The river flowing between the sheer faces was tinted with the evening shadow's purple hues. A lone figure stood beside the bubbling water. Silently it gazed towards the East, studying the river's steady flow until the twisting and turning of its course disappeared from sight.
High above the gorge, among the craggy granite outcrops, another solitary form prowled in stealthy movements. Black slanted eyes surveyed the lower expanses where the river carved out its path. Motionlessly it sat crouched on its haunches eyes narrowed to pick out shapes made vague by the gathering dusk.
Ryuujin, the Dragon God, had been ruler of this dark, lofty kingdom since time began or so said the legends. The ominous tales had been passed down from generation to generation. Retold by the firelight, each story had been repeated with the same foreboding counsel. Each time a warning had been proclaimed not to venture too far from the village's safety or Ryuujin would claim your soul.
Unfortunately many villagers had not heeded the Elders wise counsel. Many had dared to wander to the river's edge and none had returned. They had vanished without a trace lost forever to the Dragon's taste for human flesh and his driving desire for mortal souls. Now one more foolish human stood on the riverbank perhaps entranced by the murky water's fabled hypnotic whisper. But it was not the river's alluring call that had brought the human there. A force more powerful was responsible. The pain of lost love was the compelling factor.
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Duo Maxwell was a commoner and had no right to claim a soldier, but the when it came to matters of the heart, love knew no bounds. The soldier had returned this love, had thrown caution to the wind for secret nights in his lover's arms. He had offered to resign his command when his affair had been discovered. His status as a high-ranking warrior in the King's Army held no meaning, no reward, if it meant giving up the only light in his life.
The King had not accepted his soldier's resignation deciding that an occasional sexual liaison, however low the cast, was not worth losing one of his best Captains. Beside, the King told himself, Heero Yuy would quickly tire of this genital infatuation for surely this ordinary, uncultured peasant was only a passing fancy; something to use as a bed-warmer until someone more fitting came along.
Yuy could have his pick of many willing partners, after all being a warrior's paramour was a most sought after position. No, Yuy would soon come to his senses, kick out the whore and all would be as it should be once more.
But to the King's dismay the unsanctioned affair did not end. The castle's gossipmongers spread the news until there was not a courtier who had not heard. Now everyone in daily attendance was babbling about the King's Captain, the commoner and their scandalous behavior. Of course such ridicule was the height of hypocrisy for there was not one person in the King's favor who was not playing a game of "musical beds" at every opportunity.
Then when the King found out that Yuy was involved with a male and not a female has he had assumed, he knew he could not allow his Captain's conduct to continue. Such immoral activities, he feared, would reflect badly on the Royal Station so he set a plan in motion. He instructed the castle servants to start a rumor that Captain Yuy was involved with the daughter of a Lieutenant serving under his command. The King knew the erroneous information would quickly reach the village and that it would not be long before the object of Yuy's enamored interest would hear. That was end the affair, of that the King was certain.
The false report traveled fast. Yuy's lover did indeed hear. Duo Maxwell was well aware of his lowly status He had constantly been reminded of it since he was old enough to understand his place and experience the painful shunning. He had endured mean spirited remarks and physical mistreatment especially at the hands of the Noble's children. Even though the village priest had taught the "peasant brats" to read and write the limited education had not improved Duo's situation as far as the Noblemen were concerned. Duo was still lower class and would never be anything more.
Since his teenage years Duo had accepted his lot in life until two months ago when fate sent the King's Captain to him. As much as Duo wanted to believe that Heero Yuy loved him, he could not shake the doubts and fears that one day his soldier would leave. Duo had nothing to offer, no money, no position. The question of gender, too, was something to seriously consider. He knew that the unusual nature of their relationship could hurt Heero's chances for promotion, could ruin his career as a soldier.
Heero Yuy had been born with privilege. His father had risen through the ranks to become a General in the King's Service. Heero grew up in the Army's encampment. He learned to handle a sword as soon as he could walk; to ride a horse before his legs could reach the stirrups. Yuy had the spark of battle in his soul. Duo knew he could not let his love, as pure as it was, interfere with Heero's devotion to the military, his very reason for living.
Duo made a pledge to himself that he would never hurt his soldier, that his feelings would always be secondary to Heero's happiness. If leaving his soul mate for the sake of Heero's well being ever became necessary then the resulting pain would be worth the price. Duo could not be so unfair as to stand in the way of his lover's dreams.
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The murky water lapped at the riverbank as the waning sun yielded to night's approach. With a sigh Duo read aloud the message he had penned to his lover. It was his declaration of Heero's freedom.
"My dearest Heero. I know you belong with a girl that is your equal, your proper partner," the letter began, "so I must release you for both our sakes. I will never know love again in this lifetime. I only hope that in the next life I can have the peace I cannot find here. Please do not feel guilty about my decision to try to find that happiness. I will always hold a place for you in my heart. Perhaps if one day we meet again on the other side fate will allow us to be together. That is my sincerest wish. Do not mourn for me. Be happy. I will never forget you. With all my love, Duo."
In the muted light of sunset Duo rolled up the paper, removed the red satin ribbon securing the end of his hip length braided hair and tied the crimson band around the letter. Once after making love, as he and Heero rested in each other's arms, his koi had given him the ribbon. "Red," Heero declared, "was the color of passion." Duo promised that night that the scarlet symbol of their passion would always bind his braid just as their love would always bind his heart.
Now it seemed appropriate that the undoing of his braid, the releasing of the red ribbon, would make their severance complete. Duo did not want to give Heero a moment's pain but he could not break his promise without leaving it behind. Maybe in some strange way the ribbon would give Heero comfort. Duo closed his eyes and prayed that the satin strand would be a reminder of the brief time they were lovers. That even hours of love could last a lifetime when shared with the right person.
Slowly Duo stripped off his clothing. Each piece was folded neatly into pile. Around his neck Duo wore a tarnished gold-toned cross hung from a black cord. The village Priest had given Duo the holy symbol knowing he was too poor to buy one made from expensive metals. But as plain as the cross was Duo held it as his most sacred treasure.
"No matter how simple the cross it is precious to God." Duo remembered the Priest's words.
When he was nude except for his crude breechcloth Duo lovingly laid the bound paper on top of the folded clothes. His loosened hair feathered in the wind helping to hide his nakedness but not easing the chill.
In anticipation of the water's cold caress Duo took a deep breath and began to wade in. The water splashed around his ankles. There was no good way to die but Duo had always felt comfortable in the water. Swimming in its liquid depths he had found freedom from both his physical and mental burdens. There was a soothing sensation when the water wrapped around his body and now he trusted that the same sensation would ease his journey from this life to the next.
Deeper, up to his knees. Once more he hoped the frigid temperature would hasten his death. That it would steal away his breath as soon as he was covered by the icy currents. To his waist. A shiver coursed through his entire body, not much longer. Duo looked skyward numbly watching the last rays of the sun sink below the cliffs just as he intended to sink below the frosty flow.
"Heero please forgive me." Duo begged his lover's pardon, "I will always love you." he whispered as the water rose higher floating his hair out like a cape behind him.
Duo started to turn around for a final, longing look at the red ribbon. He wanted to remember the passion and be happy one last time. "Don't turn around." his inner voice ordered, "Remember how it was not how it is now."
TBC...
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