Revolutinary Duo-kun: Eternal Revolution Part 5
Choices to Run or Stay
Solo blinked rapidly and shook his head. What the hell was going on? One minute has was walking across campus, toward the basketball court and now they were fighting with swords? It wouldn't have struck him as quite that strange had it only been two people with swords, but this scene was so much more. Wufei wore his normal school uniform, with the black and white jacket hanging open to expose the white dress shirt beneath, while he held a dangerously sharp curved scimitar, a threatening gleam in his eyes. Wufei looked perfectly normal save for the sword, but Heero... Heero was dressed in some strange ornate outfit resembling a prince. Golden cord and embroidery adorned the shining silk-like fabric as he stood there in the thin light. He held a thin glowing blade and his face was locked in emotionlessness save for the quiet threat.
"I swear Wufei, if you lay one hand on him I will kill you."
Solo looked between the two glaring boys in confusion. Heero was going to kill Wufei? Why? While Solo was flattered at the gesture of protection he was still confused beyond belief. Why the swords? Why the uniforms? Why the glowing? And... and why did this all seem so familiar?
Solo blinked and in his mind he saw Wufei above him once again, raising his sword to strike, and once again Heero jumped forward to protect him. Everything was the same in his memory, except that Wufei had been wearing an outfit just like Heero's, save it was purple instead of yellow. Solo opened his eyes and slowly started inching away from both boys when he heard another voice from behind him.
"I thank you for your help, Heero, but that won't be necessary."
Solo froze from the sound of that voice. Turning his head slowly he swallowed, he had been right. It was Catherine... but at the same time it wasn't. She looked different, very different. She didn't have her normal, happy smile of enjoyment of life, instead her lips were tilted in a very small smirk as she focused her attention on the two boys and their swords.
"Catherine?" Solo muttered in disbelief. What the hell was going on? Why did everyone suddenly have swords? Why was everyone fighting all of a sudden? And why did it feel like this had all happened to him before? The memories struck him like lightning, repeated scenes of Heero and Wufei dressed in those strange outfits. Solo closed his eyes and held his head, trying to concentrate and make them stop!
Catherine's eyes moved to Solo long enough to see him cringe from the onslaught of memories and they narrowed. "I appreciate the gesture, but protecting Solo is my job!"
Her words rang in Solo's mind and he opened his eyes to see her race past him, toward the two boys. Solo's body froze in shock as a dark black cape appeared over her shoulders, flying backward as she charged forward, her sword outstretched and the badge on her chest glowing.
Badge... cape... cloak... black... Death. Solo's eyes widened and more scenes flashed before his eyes. A church... a blast... dead bodies... dead people he cared about... a boy in a cloak... a boy with cobalt blue eyes... Solo shook his head, trying desperately to stop the scenes. He heard a yell and clash of metal from somewhere behind him and opened his eyes, just in time to see Wufei had pushed past Catherine and was heading straight toward him. Solo ducked and Wufei's sword swung over his head, slicing a chunk from the tree trunk just behind him. Solo's eyes went wide with fear and he scrambled away quickly. He may have learned how to use a sword after he got out of the hospital but those skills didn't do him any good if he didn't have one!
"Wufei! Why are you attacking him! Catherine is Death!" Heero's voice rang over the sound of his sword blocking Catherine's blows. Wufei paid no heed and continued to glare at Solo, waiting for his chance to make his next move. Heero cursed and shoved Catherine to the side, racing past her to leave her forgotten. He jumped in front of Wufei's blade and blocked it just before it hit its target.
All Solo could do was stare, he was too shocked from the things happening around him and the things happening in his mind to move.
"The duels won't stop until they are both dead! Until all the duelists are dead!" Wufei growled angrily.
Heero opened his mouth to yell back but a movement caught his eyes behind Wufei and suddenly the Chinese boy was staring ahead in surprise. He dropped his sword and stumbled forward toward Heero. Heero jumped backward on reflex and landed next to the stunned Solo, he froze when he saw the sword in Wufei's back and the dark figure of Catherine looming above them.
"I won't let you." Catherine's voice was a low hiss and the badge on her chest grew so bright Heero was forced to shield his eyes and Solo turned away. Catherine moved like a snake and reached for the center of Wufei's back, where a hilt to a sword appeared just in time for her to grab it. As she unsheathed the dark bladed scimitar from Wufei's body he went limp and the other sword floated up into the air to merge with the one she held.
Catherine's misty blue eyes turned to Solo and Heero. The expression sent shivers down Heero's spine and he actually had to force himself not to back away and leave Solo unprotected. The look in her eyes had faded from dangerous to something far worse. Instead of a lack of life in her eyes they were too bright, too open. She watched them with a look that could only be called insanity. Heero reached back and clasped Solo's hand, preparing to run with the shocked boy in tow, whether he liked it or not. Whatever was happening to Catherine it had just pushed her over the edge and there was no telling what she would do.
Moving very slowly and cautiously Heero stood to his feet, his free hand pulling on Solo's. Solo numbly tried to move to his feet but his knees were visibly shaking and he was constantly blinking, trying to get the images out of his head. Heero stopped moving as Catherine slightly tilted her head.
"I don't know why I didn't realize this before," she whispered quietly.
"Cat..." Solo choked out her name, having trouble breathing.
"I know how to protect you now."
Heero's eyes narrowed, that didn't sound good. "Duo, run," he muttered to Solo.
Solo didn't move, but the mention of the other name seemed to steady him slightly. He at least regained his ability to stand on his own, though he was still concentrating on Catherine with a look of fear and confusion.
"There's only one place safe enough for you," Catherine said taking a step forward.
Heero and Solo both took a step back to equal the distance between them and Catherine.
"Death is the safest place in the world." Catherine froze as she spoke the words and time seemed to stop. Suddenly she was moving, and so was Heero. Heero's sword flew through the air, straight for her as she moved forward. Heero yanked on Solo's arm and suddenly they were both sprinting across the campus lawn for the nearest cover.
Heero finally pulled Solo around a corner and they stumbled into the shadows behind the building. Heero pulled Solo to the ground and clamped a hand over his mouth, both froze. Solo's wide eyes watched without protest as Catherine slowly stalked past them, eyeing the shadows. Heero and Solo stayed stone still and she seemed to stare past them for the longest minute of Solo's life, then she turned and disappeared to search the rest of the shadows. As soon as she was gone Heero's hand slipped away from Solo's mouth.
"What the hell was that?" Solo whispered.
Heero's head was turned away, still watching the place where Catherine had been, finally he glanced back. He didn't answer.
"What's with the swords? And the outfits? And that glowing thing on her chest? What did she do to Wufei... why is she trying to kill me?!"
Heero's eyes watched Solo quietly, he didn't answer for a long time. "Whatever power she has acquired has reached its limit. She can't control it."
Solo struggled to sit up, holding his head as if it really hurt, which it did! "What power?" He flinched and shut his eyes, drawing a concerned look from Heero. Solo opened his eyes again and met Heero's eyes. "You... you called me Duo back there. Who is... who is..."
"Duo," Heero whispered, repeating the name.
"Who is Duo?"
"You... are," Heero whispered. His voice was light, as if he was realizing the answer just as he said it. He watched in a mix of awe and confusion as Solo struggled to his feet.
"No, my name isn't Duo, it's Solo." Solo took a few steps back from Heero, shaking his head.
Heero stood up and reached toward Solo, perhaps trying to calm him? Solo shook his head once more and continued to back away. "No, just stay away. I can't do this... I'm getting out of here!" Solo turned on his heel and bolted out across the campus, racing far away from everything.
He didn't even glance back to see if he was being followed, it didn't matter. No matter who tried to follow him, no matter who tried to catch him they never would, because Solo Kama was a master at running. He raced across the soft grass, his heart pounding in his chest. All he did was run as his mind raced around trying to make sense of everything. What was going on?! Why was everyone he'd ever talked to acting so crazy? Why were they trying to kill him?
Solo stumbled over something in the dark and was sent tumbling forward to the ground. He landed hard on the grass with a thud and his world dropped into darkness.
~*~
"Solo! Calm down! Solo!"
Solo gritted his teeth and clutched his head as the onslaught of memories racked through his brain, as if trying to force him to remember. He shook his head so furiously that his hand knocked against the bedside table and sent a vase of roses shattering across the floor. The sound of shattering glass seemed to wake him out of his momentary madness and he blinked, gazing around the hospital room in confusion. For the moment the memories stopped and he was able to relax. Beside him Catherine watched him closely.
"Solo..."
Solo shook his head slowly. "They won't go away... and each time my mind tries to remember it hurts. It hurts..."
Catherine leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him. "So then don't remember," she whispered softly in his ear.
Solo's eyes darted to her face and he pulled away so he could look at her. "Don't remember?"
She nodded. "If your memories are that painful then just forget them. You're in a new city now, with new people who care about you. If your past hurts you that much then you should leave it buried behind. If there are no memories then it doesn't hurt right? So just forget it all then."
He looked away from her toward the white wall, trying to think. A shadow on the wall shifted and formed into a three dimensional shape... into a boy with dark blue eyes and unruly hair. Solo blinked as the boy stepped forward.
"Duo," he spoke softly. His face was filled with a kind of pleading and though Solo was sure he didn't know the boy very well he knew that that beautiful face hardly ever showed emotion, even if he had always wished it would. "Duo, please don't forget."
Solo blinked and glanced from the sad boy to Catherine. From Heero to Catherine. It was almost as if he had to decide between them... but he couldn't. He barely knew Catherine and he barley remembered Heero but he couldn't chose. An unknown past versus a possible new future? How could anyone expect him to decide between the two?
"Can't I just have both?" Solo muttered softly.
"Solo, just forget all about him." Catherine smiled quietly. "Forget your past and live happy now. If you forget it all you'll never have to worry again."
Heero shook his head and frowned. "The past is always behind us, whether we like it or not. You can never bury your shadow for it always reappears with the fading light."
~*~
Solo opened his eyes and moaned. He must have knocked himself out when he fell and hit the ground. And that dream... He sat up and looked around in the soft twilight. Time had certainly passed since he'd come outside, it was that time of the night a breath away from morning, where everything was silent and calm, as if time had stopped. Everything was silent except for the sound of metal clashing together.
Solo jumped to his feet and turned toward the sounds. They were far away but there was no mistaking what they were, Catherine and Heero were still fighting. He had to stop them, he had to help them both and stop the duel, but he wasn't sure how.
"Well, I'll just do it how I always did, I'll improvise." Solo raced toward them, determined to get there and stop them before the situation got any worse. As he raced over the grass his mind played scenes of people dueling with swords. He couldn't remember the people and yet they were familiar. All he knew was that these duels had to end, just like Wufei had said. But contrary to what Wufei had said they didn't have to end in bloodshed. He just had to figure out how to stop them.
Solo soon found himself back near the basketball courts. Wufei lay near the tree, he hadn't moved since Catherine's attack. His eyes moved across the field of grass to the two figures with their blades locked together. Catherine still wore the strange ghostly black cloak flowing off her shoulders, but she looked very different. Her hair was frazzled and her eyes locked in determination, still she was in much better condition then Heero. Solo could tell Heero was struggling to stay standing and his grip on his sword wavered with each breath he took. The side of his strange uniform, near his chest, was stained black with dried blood, obviously Catherine had struck a blow early on, just after Solo had run off. Neither saw Solo watching them, they were both too intent on their opponents.
Solo took a step forward, not sure what to do. Maybe he could distract them...
He didn't get a change to make a decision. Just before his eyes Heero's grip on his sword gave out and he stumbled backward to the ground. Catherine save her chance and quickly knocked away his sword with her own blade, then rested her tip on his neck. Heero glared at her. Raising her hand the badge on her chest immediately began to glow and Heero gave a cry. Solo swallowed in that moment and dove forward.
Rolling near Heero's body he caught Catherine by surprise, he seized Heero's sword out of her hand and tumbled onto the ground a few feet away. The bright sword seemed to pulse in his hands for a moment before it settled on a steady glow. Solo slowly stood up and faced Catherine, raising Heero's sword. Meanwhile Heero lay silently on the ground, as silent and still as Wufei.
"This stops now!" Solo growled. "Stop this Catherine!"
Catherine turned toward him and eyed him with a entertained smile. "I'm only try to protect you Solo, that's all."
Solo shook his head. "You're not protecting me Catherine. Trying to kill me is NOT protecting me!"
"Solo..." Catherine's smile faded. "The only place that is truly safe is death." She took a few steps forward and swung for him with her sword. Solo quickly jumped out of the way, dodging the blow rather then attempting to deflect it.
She was trying to test him, to see what condition he was in for a duel. He'd taught her those moves when they'd studied together. Solo knew better then to make any move toward her until he had a plan, and he would need one quick. Whatever that sword was in her hands, it was powerful. She seemed to have gained the strength of many more people on top of her own. He needed a plan quickly.
A plan... He dodged away again as she took another swing with frustration. But Solo didn't make any move to go against her, his mind had caught onto something. Each time Catherine made a move and those two times she'd taken swords from Heero and Wufei the badge on her chest had been glowing. He recognized the badge, not completely, be enough to know it was important. Well, in any case, it was worth a shot.
Solo darted forward, swinging with his sword. He caught her by surprise, moving straight for her this time instead of ducking or dodging away and his blade struck the target perfect, tearing the badge from her chest. Almost immediately she dropped her sword and the cloak around her shoulders shattered like glass. Catherine cried out as if in pain then slumped forward onto the ground, still.
Solo froze. The sight of her falling to the ground, something torn from the front of her outfit... a badge where the dueling rose should have been. He blinked as the world around him seemed to shift for a moment to an arena type setting and another female dressed in a green outfit.
He remembered her name was Relena, and she'd been the starting point for him in the duels. He'd cut the rose from her chest too... with her own sword. Solo blinked and watched the scene replay before his eyes then he was standing near the basketball court again. Solo pushed away the memories and moved toward Heero, more worried about the boy who'd tried to rescue him then some strange phantom woman he'd fought in his past. He dropped to his knees next to Heero's body and just stared, not sure what to do. As he sat there the sword in his hands began to dissolve, Solo watched as the sword disappeared and Heero started breathing again.
"Heero?"
Heero winced slightly and slowly opened his eyes. They shot open in surprise when he realized he was lying in Solo's lap, being held by the boy. But for the first time that night he realized that Solo had his hair pulled back in a braid... just like Duo.
"Duo?" Heero asked softly.
Memories tried to push forward in Solo's brain and this time he finally got the hint. Closing his eyes he let them come, not resisting in any way. For the first time he wanted to remember who this boy was that he held that seemed to care so much about him. And he did remember. The duels, the Star Prince, OZ, Death, the badges, the gundams... the souls swords... and how in the end he'd won and lost at the same time. A tear drifted down his cheek and he felt Heero's finger come up and brush it away softly.
"Duo?" Heero repeated.
"Hn?" Solo answered without opening his eyes.
"You remember?"
Solo opened his eyes and looked down at the boy lying in his arms and he couldn't help but break into a smile. Leaning down he hugged Heero tightly, startling the other boy. "Of course I remember, how could I forget you?" Solo hugged Heero tighter as Heero's arms wrapped around him. And he was telling the truth, he did remember. He remembered it all and this time he'd never let go. Never.
~*~
"Trowa! You're ok!"
Trowa nodded slowly and sat up in bed, awarding a small smile to the overly happy blond boy at the door to his hospital room. Quatre immediately jumped forward and wrapped his arms around Trowa.
"Yo kata!"
Trowa laughed softly and hugged the boy back for a long time. Then, as Quatre finally sat back, he asked. "What happened?"
Quatre shook his head. "It's a very long story."
Trowa raised an eyebrow, indicating Quatre should tell it. After all, it wasn't as if he had anywhere to be at the moment. Quatre took the hint and complied, using the next hour or so to explain everything that had happened to Trowa. What he hadn't been there to see Heero and Duo had filled him in after he'd woken up so he was able to provide a pretty good summary.
"So Heero was right all along and Solo was Duo, he just didn't remember." Quatre finished with a smile.
"What happened to Catherine?"
"They spoke to her after she'd regained herself and she explained to them that Zechs had given her Treize's dueling badge, he still wanted the power to awaken the Gundams and thought she could help him achieve it. She apologized and in the end smiled. She seemed happy the Heero and Duo were back together, after she'd heard all they had gone through."
Trowa smiled and nodded. "And now?"
Quatre giggled. "Duo and Heero wouldn't tell me. They said they wanted some alone time, something about making up for the year that they missed together."
"Makes sense," Trowa mused quietly. Frankly he didn't blame them, they needed a break from everything and the stars knew they deserved it. Looking down lovingly at the small blond boy he hugged him again tightly, reminded of his own personal battle to deal with his love for another boy. He'd won that battle, and it seemed Duo had won his. The battles were over, at least for now. "And Wufei?"
Quatre shrugged. "He left without saying much, simply muttering something about looking in on Treize's daughter. From what I hear from Duo those two would be perfect for each other." Quatre seemed to think about that for a second then his smile wilted slightly. "Trowa, do you think the duels are over this time, for real?"
Trowa shook his head slowly. "There will always be duels."
Quatre sighed in what seemed like happiness and cuddled into Trowa's arms, confusing the boy significantly. "I know, but right now they are over, and that's good enough."
True, Trowa agreed silently. Very true.
OWARI
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