Revolutinary Duo-kun Part 8
Power
Anger grew inside of him like a tangible mass. It started somewhere in his mind, or maybe near his heart and expanded through his entire body. This entire time? All this time? Duo couldn't stand it. All this time, all those duels, during that entire time he'd been using the exact power that had killed the two people he cared the most about. He'd even worn the cloak of Death when he'd won the duels. And each time it was this amazing power, he'd never felt anything like it. He'd even enjoyed winning the duels.
But now all he think about was the boy behind the cloak. It could have been anyone else, even Quatre, and he might have been able to let it pass. But no, of course not. Quatre hadn't killed Father Maxwell and Sister Helen, Heero had. It had been years ago but he could still remember that day perfectly, and he could still feel the sadness he'd locked away. Finally the answer was before him and besides the hatred and sadness there was another emotion. One that literally tore him in half. Betrayal. Heero had known that entire time, and had never said one word. Heero had known. Heero had betrayed him.
Duo grasped that anger with his mind, wrapping it around his body in a protective covering. At his chest his hand clenched into a fist and he felt his body grow warm. He didn't even think of anything as the sword appeared in his chest, that seemed perfectly normal. His thoughts were only on Heero, and how much Duo wanted to rip him apart for what he had done. Duo pulled out the sword and charged forward with a scream of rage. His mind barely registered Treize quickly stepping out of the way and Heero raising his own sword to block the blow with expertise.
"Duo,"
"Shut up! It was you this entire time!" Duo attacked without thought, just swinging the sword and slashing, wanting more then anything to just end it all. He moved fast, avoiding Heero's moves with what could only have been luck. Yet... it was too easy. Duo swung forward and his sword contacted with Heero's flesh. He heard Heero give a low hiss and clutch his arm, he stepped back from Duo and met his eyes.
"You let me hit you." Duo growled. He brought his sword up once more but it stopped there. He couldn't bring himself to strike. Those blue eyes were staring at him, waiting. And Duo saw pure emotion behind them. For once they weren't blank, there was actually emotion.
Sadness. Regret. Pleading?
Duo's grip faltered on the blade and his anger began to fade. 'He really wants me to kill him,' Duo thought sadly, 'he really wants to die.' Duo shook his head and tightened his grip on the sword. "I won't forgive you!" But his voice cracked slightly. When he brought the sword down he found he had to force himself, he'd lost the will to fight and part of him didn't even want to win anymore. Not if it meant losing Heero. But the sword was already moving. At the last second Heero brought his own sword up and blocked the blow, staggering backward from the force. Duo found his rage building again, he was completely confused and couldn't figure out what to do. As he tried to sort his tangled thoughts out his body kept reacting and he kept fighting.
~*~
Somewhere behind the two Treize and Zechs watched in silence. All around them the gundams stood still, almost as if they were waiting for that one moment. Treize watched Heero closely. The boy wasn't moving with his usual speed, he was hesitating. This was certainly a strange development.
~*~
Heero blocked the blows without much thought but he still couldn't bring himself to completely fight back. He didn't want to fight Duo. For what seemed like the first time he didn't care about the duels. He cared about the other boy, and nothing else. The look in Duo's eyes when he'd found out that it had been Heero the entire time, that had hurt the worst. The look of utter disbelief and then hatred. If Heero had been anyone else that look might have shattered him. It almost had.
So why was he still fighting? He had to. He knew where his place was. In the end it didn't matter who dueled, who lost, who won, the gundams were the only things that mattered. In this battle they were to be awakened and Duo would die either way. There was no way to change that, so why did it matter so much? Heero knew he wanted to protect Duo but he couldn't figure out how. If the gundams awoke and Treize seized control...
Heero watched Duo's eyes quietly as he blocked the blows. He wasn't even really paying attention to the duel. Which explained the mistake he made next. Heero wasn't supposed to make mistakes. But this time he did, he erred on the side of instinct. Duo must not have been holding the sword as tightly as usual, for as they connected it flew from his hands. Heero moved without thinking and realized a second too late what was going on. There was a sickening sound as his sword penetrated flesh. Heero's eyes went wide and he let go of the sword as Duo collapsed to the ground. Both swords disappeared as the duel ended. Heero dropped to his knees.
"Duo!"
The American looked up at him sadly and gave a small smile. Heero's mind flew into a panic. No! He couldn't have! But he had. He'd stabbed Duo straight through the chest... and now the boy was going to die. From one small mistake. Heero didn't know what to do, but as he met Duo's eyes he saw the hatred was gone. It was replaced with something else...
"I forgive you Heero," Duo whispered softly.
Treize took a step forward from behind them. "Kill him, awake the gundams!"
Heero didn't even glance back. He just watched in silent amazement as Duo grasped his hand and placed it on his own bloody chest. The area grew warm and the hilt to Duo's sword appeared once more. Those violet eyes seemed to say everything.
"I can't," Heero shook his head. He knew that if he took the sword it would likely kill Duo.
Duo coughed and a small amount of blood came up his throat. "Do it, or I'll kill you myself."
Heero swallowed slowly and grasped the hilt. Taking a deep breath he pulled the sword from Duo chest. A single phrase came from Duo's lips as Heero turned toward Treize.
"Ai... shiteru."
Heero didn't respond. Instead he clenched his fists around the blade and glared up at Treize. Heero gave a cry of rage as he plunged forward. All around him the gundams came to life, light shooting out from their bodies as they moved to stand. The light burned so brightly everything became a shining flash of light.
Heero paid no attention to the blaze of light. His mind was only on Treize as he charged in for the kill.
~*~
Treize looked up from the desk to see Relena stroll into the office. Setting down a few papers he smiled at her.
"Have a seat, Ms. Peacecraft."
Relena shook her head. From her pocket she produced a pin and placed it slowly on the table. "Gomen, but I'm afraid I can not accept our offer. My dueling days are over."
Treize raised an eyebrow in surprise. Relena simply shook her head.
"I'm not a young girl anymore, Treize-sama. I don't need your duels to capture my dreams, I've learned I can do that on my own." Relena smiled and turned away, leaving the office before he could object. Treize only watched in surprise as the door shut behind her.
A silent figure stepped out of the shadows. He moved toward the desk until he stood directly in front of Treize, without a single word. Then he pulled out his large curved sword and pointed it straight at Treize's throat.
"And now Melian will be avenged."
The only response was silence as the sword moved forward. A second later Wufei exited the Student Council office and unbuttoned his Student Council top. Rolling the sword inside the thick fabric he tossed it back in the room with the badge, then closed the door and turned his back on Treize and the Student Council forever.
Finally Melian could rest in peace.
~*~
Trowa and Quatre stood silently at the edge of a large lake, watching the sun shinning reflection across the water's shimmering surface. Both felt as if they could stand there forever, with just the other and the water's beauty. Quatre smiled and reached into his pocket, pulling out Trowa's locket. Trowa looked surprised.
"You kept it?"
Quatre nodded. "I thought you'd like the honors."
Trowa nodded and took the locket from his hand. Then he threw it into the air. Both watched as the locket sailed over the water to about the middle of the lake, where it broke the surface and sank beneath the bright blue. Quatre smiled and turned to Trowa.
And they kissed.
The time for hiding was over. Their love was real, and there was no more need to hide or wish, now was the time to live and be happy.
~*~
Zechs watched as Relena exited the girl's bathroom, stopping to throw the pieces of her Student Council uniform into the nearby trash can. He had to admit that the normal school uniform suited his younger sister quite well. His sister...
"You wanted to speak with me about something?"
Zechs nodded and began to walk with her. Like his sister he too had abandoned his Student Council uniform for the maroon normal uniform. It would take some getting used to, but he could live with that. After all he had more important things to do. Like tell the truth.
Which was exactly what he was going to do. It was time Relena knew about her older brother.
~*~
Heero glanced back into the mirror as he pulled the black jacket on over his green tank top and blue jeans. He didn't even wince as the coarse jacket fabric rubbed against his cut, it didn't hurt enough to waste the effort. The room around him was completely empty, save for the bunk bed and two desks. Everything else had been packed away long ago. Heero's stuff was all in a dark duffel-bag, ready to go. Turning around Heero looked at the room one more time.
For a second he let himself remember the smiling boy who had lived here with him for a small time. Those violet eyes, that long shining hair. But he stopped the memories, now was not the time. Swinging the duffel bag over his shoulder he flipped out the lights and closed the door.
As Heero walked away from the school his mind began to wander.
"I don't know why you forgave me Duo. But I'm going to earn that forgiveness and this time I'll save you."
And he smiled.
OWARI
Back to Snow Tigra's Fanfictions Page