The Shadowman

Title: The Shadowman




Author: Cold Silence




E-Mail: writer.coldsilence@gmail.com




Category: Alternate Universe. Medieval Times.




Pairings: So far: 4 x Relena, 5 x Meiran, Odin x Catherine




Warnings: NC-17. Yaoi. OOC. (I'm trying to keep them IC, but I don't think I've succeeded.) Death. Squick. Incest. Rape.



Story is also found here: http://www.geocities.com/colorfuldelusions/index.html



Comments: This chapter contains death.







The Shadowman

(The Farming Arc - Final)





       
Beneath the marble floors of Castle Sandrock, there was a maze of catacombs that etched themselves deep into the plateau. It was within these twisting corridors that a group of nervous nobles found themselves; sweat dripping from their brows as they formed two lines along an aisle. They were inside a massive, but unadorned room that smelled of ashes and burnt flesh, walls that consisted of hard rock chiseled into shape by man. The granite texture of these wells absorbed all luminescence cast towards them, causing the chamber to be pitch black.




       
The room itself would have been rather unassuming, if it weren't for its source of light. At the end of the aisle roared a massive furnace, fashioned so that its entrance was shaped like a fanged mouth. Massive jaws extended from a snout twisted in a strange mix of anger and fright, emerging from a face with blank, stone eyes that stared forth from beneath a hair of stone snakes. Fire leapt from its throat, threatening to lick at the expensive silk that clothed the gathered men and women, and lifting the temperature by several degrees.




       
It was rather unnerving, to say the least.




       
"You do not have to be here." Quatre's voice was hushed, and full of concern as he addressed the wife at his side. Relena held a handkerchief to cover her nose and lips in an attempt to ward off the smell.




       
"It is because of our existence that these kind of things happen. It would be wrong for me not to be here." Her voice held the usual stubborn edge, causing the king to hold back a sigh. She had been behaving even more livid ever since he sent the Shadowman away, and the current situation made the atmosphere counterproductive for creating heirs. Bah.




       
They began the procession down the narrow row of people, pacing towards the gaping monstrosity that jutted out of the wall and spat flames. Two guards waited by the furnace, where they restrained a squirming noble who kept trying to get away.




       
Lifting his voice so that he could be heard above the fire and the man's whimpering, Quatre addressed those gathered around him. "This man has been found guilty of high treason. He is responsible for telling military secrets to the Mystics, and in fact carries some of their blood. He conspired against the throne." He paused in the middle of his speech to turn a a blue-green glare the captive. "He conspired against the Winners. He tried to take MY Shadowman. He wanted to hurt my family. For this, he will be sacrificed to the God of Death!"




       
"NOO!" Everyone was shocked into staring at the shouting prisoner. "The Winners will fall! For generations you have destroyed my ancestors!" He continued to yell even as the soldiers began pulling him to the furnace. "My own children cannot live a peaceful life in fear of you! Justice will be served! Justice!!!"




       
Anything else he had to say was swallowed up in a scream. The guards had tossed him into the fire, and it took a couple seconds before they could hear the hallow thump of a body crashing into the ground. The pit inside the furnace was so deep, that it would be impossible for him to climb out.




       
Flaxen colored lashes drifted shut momentarily. He could not show how much doing this made him feel ill inside. These people would tear him apart the moment they saw any weakness. He had to stay strong if he was going to protect everything his predecessors have ever worked for. The next time those eyes fluttered open, Quatre was once again displaying his strength.




       
"Let this serve as a warning to all of you. I will not tolerate traitors." After pinning them all with a look, he lifted his arm, and Relena delicately linked her elbow with his. The nobles watched with varying degrees of awe, jealousy and fear as the couple strode down the aisle, Quatre's navy blue robes and Relena's pure white dress fanning behind them like a proud banner.




       
"How much longer can you pretend it doesn't bother you, brother?" Speaking once they were out of earshot, she added a rude emphasis to the last word.




       
"As long as it takes, Relena." Tightening his hold on her arm, he tilted his head to gaze down at her, his eyes much softer than they were moments before. "As long as it takes."




       
"I see. So you intend to do this for the rest of our lives."




       
Unable to bear looking at him anymore, the queen fixed her eyes forwards and remained silent for the rest of the trip back to the castle. Several passageways later, they emerged from behind the tapestries surrounding the raised dais of the throne room. Much to their surprise, a visitor was already awaiting them there.





--------------------------------------





       
Merian had flown all the way from the mountains to Castle Sandrock just to see the king. She was tired, she was hungry, and she wasn't about to go through the usual riff raff that entailed meeting the Winners. The sentries guarding the throne room scattered when she led her dragon right through the massive double doors. Normally, they would have retaliated against such an unannounced entrance, but one massive roar from the creature had the foundations shaking and the soldiers reluctant to step forwards.




       
They were pretty much used to this kind of arrival from Meiran anyway. Although she never grew up with the others as Wufei had, she was well known for her fiery attitude and spirit that rivaled the clan leader's. The woman was much more vocal when it came to the issue of being sworn to serve the Winner family, and she was not afraid to object it to the king's face. However, like the rest of the Dragon Clan, she was honor bound to serve and obey until they were formally released from their oath by the king.




       
Dismounting from the dragon, she proudly waited for the Winners to arrive. It wasn't long until they made their appearance from behind one of the tapestries covering the walls, their surprised looks indicating that they were not expecting her.




       
"I bring bad news, your Highnesses." She didn't bother bowing, which caused Quatre to lift a brow in amusement. Wufei's wife made Relena look tame.




       
"Exactly how bad?"




       
"Your army is lost. The monsters destroyed them all."




       
Relena's breathe escaped in a soft gasp. "Pargan..."




       
Once more, Quatre found himself steeling against his emotions. "Are they all gone?"




       
"They are all dead." Confirming his question in a clipped voice, she continued in the same tone. "Our enemies are behaving in a way that is completely organized; I am positive the Mystics are telling them what to do. They have picked off your elite force, and they are heading for Sanc. They are coming for you."




       
A short silence fell upon them, broken by the intermittent sounds of Relena's weeping for their lost friend.




       
"I suppose you want the Dragon Clan to be part of the first line if your defense." Her voice came close to a snarl as she address the quiet king. He didn't answer her, and it seemed to make her even angrier. "Very well! As part of our debt of honor, we will protect you, your Highness."




       
Any other biting words she had to say were halted with the lift of Quatre's hand. Heeding the gesture to stand down, she waited impatiently for whatever the man had to say.




       
"I want you to join Wufei in Sanc. The threat to the Shadowman in this castle is now gone." He locked gazes with hers. "Bring Duo back."




       
"As you wish, sire."





--------------------------------------





       
Hinges gave way with a screeching groan, releasing the heat that had been trapped inside a small space. Blue-violet eyes peeked through the oven door, followed by what was undoubtedly a shit-eating grin.




       
"Yaaaaaaaaaaaah, look who's laughing now, turkey!!!"




       
The fowl that was currently roasting to a golden-brown had no answer, save for an occasional sizzle.




       
"You thought you could escape me huh? You thought you could outwit me?!!! EEE-wrong!!! That's why the Shadowman got you while you were sleeping! Look at you, all naked, here, let me help you with that."




       
Lifting a wooden spoon, he began scooping up sauce and spreading it all over its skin. "There, don't you look so pretty now!"




       
"Duo. Stop gloating over the turkey."




       
Smirking, Duo closed the oven door once more and turned to face Trowa. The tall boy was leaning against the kitchen doorway, and looking a lot better than he did two days ago. He was dressed in what was obviously "Sunday's Best", his usual baggy outfit replaced by a billowing white shirt, tan-colored breeches and a matching leather vest sporting green floral print. Duo wore the same outfit, the upcoming ceremony required that they all men and women dressed the same for some reason.




       
The Shadowman couldn't get over how fast Trowa recovered. He was told that Marie and Meia had tended to him while he was laid up, and now only yellow splotches marked where he had been bruised. Looking back, he wondered if the boy wore such loose fitting clothing to hide previous abuses. It galled him to think that his premises could be entirely right.




       
"Duo." The small smile the green eyed boy was wearing faded somewhat, his voice soft as he spoke. "Thank you. For what you did."




       
Recognizing the solemnity of the moment, his own mirth made an abrupt disappearance. "You don't have to thank me. It just seemed like the thing to do... I bet Heero does it all the time, doesn't he?"




       
"Aa. Its one of the reasons he doesn't make many friends."




       
"Aw who needs friends when he's got guys like us, right?" Encouraged by the return of Trowa's upturned lips, he grinned as he continued to speak. "Where is he anyway?"




       
"I think he want to talk to Ma."





--------------------------------------





       
Heero hesitated just outside of Catherine's dressing room, a loose fist still poised in the air. He hadn't spoken to the woman ever since the fight, and the very thought of facing her again brought an awful feeling in his chest. However, he couldn't stop thinking about what Duo said, and the Shadowman's speech was haunting his every moment of solace.




       
This wedding was going to happen whether he liked it or not. Today they would begin a new life, and the very least he could do was make peace with his new stepparent. It wasn't as if she was a complete stranger, Catherine had been in his life for as far back as he could remember. She was Trowa's mother, and perhaps, she was really as lonely as Odin had been ever since his own wife passed away.





       
Decision made, he allowed his knuckles to drop against the door in a light rap. His sleeves pooled past his wrists when he allowed them to drop back down to his sides, causing him to wrinkle his nose with annoyance. The reason they were so long was because Meia thought he looked kawaii (1) like that.




       
"Cooooming~!" The joy in Catherine's voice could be heard a mile away, and the door swung open to reveal the blushing bride. Her wedding dress was almost blinding white, with skirts that bounced with her every movement. The twins had worked hard on the design, making the bodice tight with cross-crossing strings at the front, and sleeveless so that a transparent shawl of white could be worn over her shoulders. Hair curled and face was painted, she was lovely with her shadowed eyes and pink lips. She looked so happy.




       
"Heero..!" Surprised marked her tone, but she quickly recovered with a wistful smile. "Please, come in!"




       
She stepped aside, allowing the quiet boy to enter. Heero seemed to have lost all ability to speak the moment he laid eyes on her, and could only dumbly do as she said once he walked inside.




       
"I was hoping you'd come, won't you sit down?" She pointed towards a stool at the same time she lowered herself onto a wicker chair. The shepherd settled down as he was told, hands flat on his knees as he began looking decidedly uncomfortable.




       
"You don't have to say anything Heero, I know why you're here." Prussian eyes raised to meet hers, and she offered another small smile before continuing. "I'm sorry for yelling at you like that. I know I overstepped my authority telling you what to do at the pens.... I just didn't like to see you fighting. Demo, you were right, I am not your mother."




       
Self-consciously smoothing the folds of her dress, she continued. "I am not marrying your father to take him away from you. And.. I am not out to replace your mother. I can't do that, Nataku was too special."




       
Heero's fingers tightened at the mention of his mother's name. "Trowa's Pa, well, he died a long time ago, when Sanc was taken over by the Winners. He died protecting me and my little boy, though he's not so little now." She laughed, a sound as much full of pain and loss as it was filled with cheer. "I know.... I know in my heart he would have wanted me to move on and be happy again. And I know Nataku would have wanted the same for your Pa and yourself."




       
"Maybe he'll never love me the way he did her." Her lips trembled as she reached forwards, and carefully placed her hands over Heero's clenched ones. "But that's fine, because all I want is to be happy and have a family again. I want you to be a part of that Heero, because I love you too. I want us to always be together. Can we be together, Heero?"




       
Heero's lashes lowered as his gaze turned downwards to the hands loosely draped over his. He seemed to decide something, before turning his palms upwards and opening them so that her fingers could twine in his.




       
Catherine was SO happy.





--------------------------------------





       
The wedding took place amid a clearing within the grove of apple trees. White ribbons and dozens of wildflowers decorated the orchard, which was brimming with people from all over the countryside to watch the happy occasion. They were celebrating in the traditional way of the Light, which was why the location was hidden away from prying eyes. Most country folk thought the king would disapprove of any gathering that was not made in the name of the Dark.




       
"You know, the Winners don't really care whether you worship the Light or the Dark. All this hiding wasn't really necessary," spoke a bemused Duo.




       
"Better safe than sorry." Trowa's answer nearly made the long-haired boy roll his eyes. He knew the peasants weren't stupid, but boy were they ever ignorant. When the taller boy left, Duo took his place within the crowd to watch the proceedings.




       
It began with prancing children decorating the ground with flower petals thrown from their baskets, followed by Marie and Meia dressed in stunning white dresses. They took their places off to the sides of the village minister, and all eyes turned expectantly behind them for the next person to arrive.




       
Trowa accompanied a smiling Odin over the path of pink and white petals; the older man dressed almost completely in white save for the navy vest over his shirt. Whispers of how handsome both men looked trailed in their wake, making the groom beam and causing the younger boy to suddenly feel like a piece of meat on sale. Odin took his place in front of the minister and Trowa stood off to his side.




       
Then, gasps filled the crowd as Catherine entered with Heero beside her. The boy had his arm linked with hers, and the Shadowman was relieved to spot a contented expression on the shepherd's face. He was glad to see that they had gotten their issues resolved, for some reason the thought of Heero in pain bothered him.




       
As the minister began to drone on, Duo found himself becoming reflective. This wedding was very different from the ones he had attended to in the past. For one, there was a sort of pride in that he helped make this happen. Usually nobles left all the details of the ceremony to their servants, and all anyone was required to do was dress nice and show up for the ceremony.




       
"Do you, Odin Lowe, take Catherine Bloom to be your light, your life..."




       
Secondly, he truly felt that he was a part of all this. Even the clothes seemed designed to pull the community together. At Quatre's wedding to Relena, he could clearly remember everyone dressing in their finest silks, attempting to out class one another with the best outfits. Here, everyone wore the same thing, adding to the unity that the celebration represented.





       
"Aishiteru... itsumo.." (2)




       
He didn't understand what they were saying to each other, but the look in their eyes and the exchange of rings were clear. Strange, how this wedding didn't seem to exclude anybody the way Quatre and Relena's did. Theirs was an all encompassing love, inviting everyone to share in its wonder and beauty. When they spoke those foreign words, it was almost as if they were speaking to him too.




       
Was this what it was like to be a part of the Light?




       
The ceremony ended with a loud cheer, and a heated kiss that made both Heero and Trowa blush. Then the bride was scooped up in the groom's arms, and Odin carried her back to the Bloom's cottage, whose interior was decorated with enough silk, mirrors and fragrant candles to make it one honeymoon to remember.




       
There was much partying done in their honor, complete with drinks, games, and especially turkey. Night fell, and far in the distance, the inner city of Sanc was ablaze with light. It was the final day of the festival, and bonfires were lit all over town for everyone to burn their masks. It didn't take much persuading to get the Shadowman to hop on a cart and travel to Sanc again. He was having way too much fun to say no, not to mention he was feeling a bit tipsy.





       
"You shouldn't have let him drink all that saki." (3)




       
Trowa was of the mind to agree with Heero's observation, since Duo was currently trying to speak Nihongo.





       
"Chisai toki atama ni otosarete shima-ta!!" (4)




       
Trowa raised a brow. "Why does he speak perfect Nihongo when he's drunk?"




       
Heero gave a small shrug in answer to his friend's inquiry. Who knew what went on in Duo's head half the time, maybe he knew Nihongo all along and just didn't realize it.





       
"Atashi katai hakebune no otoko ga suki." (5)




       
Duo suddenly found his mouth covered by two sets of hands, both Heero's and Trowa's. The old man driving the cart turned around in his seat to give them an odd look, perhaps not quite believing what he heard, before pivoting to face forward again.





       
"Duo, lets talk about something else, onegai." (6)




       
"Hai Trowa! So'm.. how do you get your hair to stay that way?"




       
"........"





--------------------------------------





       
By the time they got to Sanc, Duo couldn't tell up from down or left from right. The night was a blur of lights, Prussian eyes, warm laughter and dancing. Intoxicated on more than saki, he was high on life, this moment in time. He wished he could stay like this forever, with real friends and a life where he felt truly needed and wanted.




       
He didn't want to be the Shadowman anymore.




       
In the middle of walking towards a table for more punch, he suddenly found himself grabbed and dragged into the shadows of an alleyway. It took a few moments to blink the world back into position -- it insisted on shifting every time he made sudden movements -- and found a pair of slanted brown eyes staring at him.




       
"Wufeeeii!! I swear I'm -hic- leaving right now! I just sorta wandered to the market n'..."




       
"He's drunk," A blunt voice stated to Wufei's left. Merian's face was a study in non-expression as she stared at Duo, her fingers curled around her waist.




       
Duo suddenly covered his backside with his hands. "Don't spank meee! I swear I'll be good!"




       
This caused the woman to tilt an eyebrow upwards, and for Wufei to emit a discreet cough.




       
"Duo. The king has finally found the traitor and executed him. It is time to go home."




       
"Home....?" A confused look crossed the features of his heart-shaped face. "But Wu I am home, with Heero and Trowa and Cathy..."




       
Before he could ramble on even more, the Dragon leader began administering light smacks to Duo's cheeks. The boy gave a warbled protest, but within the next few blinks, he seemed to begin to sober up.




       
"This is not your home. You are the Shadowman, and you belong to Quatre. Your home is in Sandrock."




       
Lightly rubbing his abused cheeks, the cobalt eyed boy smiled sadly at Wufei. "I knew that, I was just testing you. But...can I ride back with them? I want to say good-bye."




       
"Whatever for? That is a waste of time." Merian was silenced by a gesture from Wufei, her nose wrinkling in distaste at her husband's decision.




       
"You may go. Say good-bye, and then we leave."





--------------------------------------





       
The three boys sat in a cart ambling its way back to the outskirts, a silence falling between them. Maybe it was the effects of drinking the saki, but Duo couldn't stop thinking, or seeing things.




       
He kept remembering how he had helped Heero deliver Stepper's foal. How many times in his life had the quiet boy done that? Brought fourth life with his own hands. Women may only have the pleasure and pain of birth, but Heero came very close to matching that experience to a certain extent. With his own hands. Duo couldn't get over that. The animals here were like his children, and he protects them daily and watches them grow. There was a quiet tenderness there one couldn't notice unless they were looking for it, and it extended to Trowa, who must have been protected by Heero all his life.




       
Once again, he acknowledged how lucky those two were to have each other. To think that they had both let him in this circle, it warmed him. He didn't want to go, but he had no choice. His life...was shadow. Theirs was light.




       
"I'm going to go check on Stepper and the foal." Hopping over the side of the cart upon arrival, Trowa began jogging towards the barn at the Lowe residence. Heero was on the verge of following after him, but a hand on his shirtsleeve stopped them. He canted his head back to Duo, a questioning gaze alighting in his Prussian eyes.




       
"I.." His throat inexplicably felt dry. "..I have to go back."




       
At first, Heero didn't understand what all the fuss was about. Of course they had to go back, it was late enough. However, the strain in Duo's voice made him realize what he really meant.




       
"You have to return?"




       
"Yes..." An uncomfortable pause fell upon them, Heero's face unreadable in the darkness. "Heero, I want to thank your family for letting me stay. I'd do it in person but I'm sure Odin and Catherine are, um...busy, eh heh.."




       
Nervously raking his hands through his forelocks, Duo realized his fingers were still clenching Heero's sleeve and forced himself to release the fabric. "I really had a great time, even when we were working. I guess this is good-bye.."




       
They found themselves staring into each other's eyes, and the cobalt eyed boy found his throat tightening.




       
Come on Duo, say it. 'I'm the Shadowman'




       
Heero looked at Duo expectantly, feeling that he had something more to say.




       
I'm the Shadowman, I'm the Shadowman, damnit why can't I say it!




       
"You'll visit?" Heero seemed to blurt out his words, and it surprised them both to suddenly hear himself speak with a slight lilt to his voice.




       
A smile suddenly broke across Duo's face. Visiting! Of course! Why didn't he think of that before? This wouldn't have to be a real good-bye after all, so he didn't have to tell... "Of course I'll visit! You'll probably see me so much you'll be sick of me."




       
"I'm already sick of you." After a short pause, Heero's added with a very small upturn of his lips. "But I won't mind."




       
"How do you say good-bye in Nihongo?"




       
"Ja matta ne."




       
"Well then, ja matte ne Heero-chan!"




       
Heero cringed at the mention of 'chan'. Damn Marie and Meia for giving Duo lessons. "Ja, Duo."




       
"Give my regards to Trowa and everyone else!" Duo slid off the cart, that smile still plastered on his face as he pivoted on his heels and began walking down the road towards Sanc. Heero watched his form become one with the darkness, before sliding off the cart himself and heading back home at a lethargic pace.





--------------------------------------





       
Crickets chirruped from the low grass, and a soft wind caused the trees around him to rustle. All alone again.




       
Hands tucked into the pockets of his breeches, Duo walked down the road to Sanc. He couldn't help the way his mind kept replaying certain events over the past week. A mere week that felt like months.




       
His thoughts were fragmented, and he blamed it all on the alcohol that he thought of such strange things. Like the way the moon looked when viewed through the bedroom. Wing chasing his own tail. The dearly departed turkey ducking beneath the tool shed. Trowa idly swinging a length of rope as he watched Stepper prance about the pasture. The far off look in Heero's eyes when he sings. Cathy's smile, Odin when he's chopping wood.




       
Images gave way to textures, senses. The smell of being out in the open. The frigid water when taking a bath. The hard bed. Heero's hands shaking him awake. Heero's hair as he helped pick the mask free of the tangled locks, while he was glared at with deep, deep blue eyes.




       
Sensuality turned into events. The night he want camping with Trowa and Heero. All the time they spent at the pastures with the sheep. The first day he met Heero. That one time Porkchop got lost, and the Prussian eyed boy held the lamb in his arms and murmured comforting phrases that he couldn't understand all the way back home.




       
His mind latched onto that last memory. Heero and Porkchop..what was it about remembering him that way? The image seemed to displace itself, and suddenly the black bundle the boy was holding was Duo as he curled up against that chest --




       
His footsteps suddenly came to a halt. Cobalt eyes blinked several times, before a groan escaped his lips. "I HATE SAKI!!!!"




       
"We heard you well enough, Shadowman."




       
Peering through the fringe of fringe of bangs that covered his eyes, Duo spotted Wufei and Merian waiting by the side of the road. Behind them, Shenlong impatiently dug its claws into the ground.





--------------------------------------





       
"So he's gone." Trowa rested on what used to be Duo's bed, his arms tucked behind his head. Viridian depths stared up at the ceiling with a contemplative look.




       
"Aa."




       
They were quiet for a few moments. Heero unconsciously stroked the side of his pillow with his fingertips, where a swatch of moonlight slanted over the pale fabric. That strange resonance was back, and it was growing worse as time went on. Come to think of it, when did he stop feeling it? Perhaps a week ago...




       
"Do you miss him?"




       
Heero paused in the idle movements he was making, resuming when he answered softly. "Maybe a little."





--------------------------------------





       
The Shadowman's return was a solemn occasion at Castle Sandrock. Shenlong once more alighted on the balcony, and the three figures riding it slid off its back to the marble floor. Quatre waited with a wistful smile on his face, and his wife by his side.




       
"Welcome back Shadowman! You look...different."




       
"You've got a tan," Relena added with a slight chuckle. Duo found himself checking his arms, and sure enough, his skin tone had changed to a golden sheen thanks to the hours of laboring in the sun.




       
"Well what do you know, I didn't even notice until now." Looking back up, he smiled at the two blondes. They were surprised to find that Duo seemed calmer, as if some of the nervous energy he had been harboring all this time had evaporated. "So what's the news?"




       
"We have lost our elite forces in the mountains. Pargan is gone, Duo."




       
Duo's body stiffened with tenseness. "Pargan.. I should have been there to protect him."




       
"There was nothing you could have done Duo, it was just his time." Voice tinged with regret, Quatre tried to comfort his long time friend by placing a hand over the Shadowman's shoulder. "We have been steadily gathering our forces to counter the upcoming attack on Sanc. I'm afraid some creatures have already begun appearing in the villages."




       
"They're arriving in Sanc?" His voice was full of alarm. Immediately, he began clawing at the studded Gundam surrounding his neck. "Get this thing off! I have to fight them!"




       
Quatre shifted his grip from Duo's shoulders to his struggling hands, causing them to still. "Don't. We will find a way to take that off, preferably one that doesn't involve you hurting your neck."




       
"Besides, the Dragon Clan will be protecting the village and the castle." Wufei's voice broke into the conversation, his tone also meant to assuage the Shadowman's apprehension.




       
"We will be the first line of defense for your dear king." Meirian added with almost a derisive sneer.




       
Relena openly glared back at the other woman, while Quatre simply tried to ignore the rudeness in her voice. "For now, I'm sure you'll want to sleep in your own room tonight. Get some rest Duo, we'll catch up in the morning."




       
Numbly, Duo nodded his assent before turning to walk into the castle. He hesitated when suddenly, one of the doors flew open, and bit back a grown when an excited looking Tsuberov began to approach him.




       
"Lord Duo! Thank the heavens you are all right! Look at you, all tanned like a peasant! Let me see your face!"




       
Trying not to cringe, the old man cupped his face and turned it left to right so that kisses could be planted on both sides of his cheeks. Ugh. Sometimes he hated tradition.




       
"You have been gone for a week! A WEEK! You are completely behind in all of your lessons. Why, we haven't even gotten to the chapter on why we think the world is round, and the theory behind why the sun rises to the East..."




       
Tuning out the old man for the time being, the Shadowman trudged through the halls of the castle towards his bedroom. Tsuberov trailed next to him, apparently unaware of the fact that he was being ignored. Duo's thoughts were still miles away back at the farm, lingering over the people he had to leave behind. He supposed they would live happily ever after as one big family.




       
A family.




       
Pausing with his fingers hovering over the doorknob to his room, he interrupted the old man's ranting in a quiet voice. "Tsuberov, what happened to my parents?"




       
Shocked into silence, his tutor stared at the boy who waited with his head bent. He had been carefully avoiding this question ever since Duo learned how to speak, but something told him that now was a good time to finally tell him the truth.




       
"Why don't we find someplace to sit. This may take a while to explain."




       
Nodding, Duo opened the door and motioned for Tsuberov to follow him in. The air in his room felt stale compared to being outdoors, and he tried not to let it stifle him as he meandered through the darkness. Leaning over a wooden table situated in the middle of his room, he used the pieces of flint available to strike a candle to life.




       
The soft glow illuminated the little space, and he sat down on one side of table. Tsuberov took his place on another chair, and folded his hands atop its flat surface.




       
"Helen and Maxwell Winner, those were your parent's names." He looked up to find Duo listening intently. "Maxwell met Lady Helen one day in the gardens, and they soon fell in love. They lived --"




       
"Why did they leave me?" Too tired to listen to another long winded speech, the Shadowman cut right to the chase.




       
"They didn't exactly abandon you, if that's what you think." Furrowing his white brows together, he continued. "As you know, in all the history of the Winners, there has only ever been one Shadowman in existence at a time. I don't know why, I have theories that say perhaps it is to keep the balance of power of this world in check --"




       
Hesitating at the blank stare Duo was giving him, Tsuberov decided now was not the time to embellish. "The day you were born Duo, they were very happy. But soon afterwards, they vanished."




       
"Vanished?"




       
"Yes, vanished. Right before everyone's eyes, into thin air." He made a vague motion with his hand of smoke rising into the sky.




       
"Where did they go?"




       
"Actually, I was hoping you could tell me that." He folded his hands on his lap. "I didn't see them walk into any shadows. They just simply faded from existence."




       
"So they're d...dead?"




       
"I don't know Duo. Nobody knows. The same thing happened to every Shadowman in existence before you. They fall in love, they have a son, and then they're gone forever."




       
Duo then understood why nobody had told him about his parents before. A chill went down his spine as he realized that someday, he was going to just disappear.




       
Vanish, like the shadows vanquished in the noon sun.





--------------------------------------





       
Something was wrong.




       
Prussian eyes suddenly flew open, the fitful sleep Heero had been in broken by a gut feeling. He canted his head to the side, noticing that Trowa was not in bed. However, this didn't surprise him, the other boy had been worried that Stepper was getting sick, so he periodically left during the night to check on the white mare.




       
But something was very wrong.




       
Tossing aside the covers, he immediately got to his feet, noticing the acrid smell of smoke in the air. He peered towards the window, wondering when the country folk decided to hold some bonfires of their own.




       
Almond shaped eyes suddenly widened. There was a fire all right -- and it was coming right from Catherine's cabin.




       
His footsteps thundered through the house and the front door burst open, his bare feet pounding on the grass as he ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He couldn't think, couldn't register the fact that people were screaming, and dark shapes were slithering in and out of the shadows. All he could see were the flames shooting out of the cabin, sending plumes of black smoke into the air.




       
It was a similar situation all around the outskirts. Several homes were going up in flames, and the people lived too far apart to arrive in time to help each other.




       
"PAA!" His voice was horse from the inhalation of smoke as he ran straight towards the burning house, his skin beginning to burn from the sheer intensity of the heat. "CATHY!!"




       
A pair of arms suddenly wrapped around his torso, halting his mad dash towards the conflagration. He tried to lurch out of the strong grip, his hands groping blindly against the restraints as he fought with all his strength to release himself.




       
"HEERO!" Trowa tightened his hold around his best friend, putting everything he had into keeping him from running towards the cottage. "Heero! They're dead! There's nothing we can do!"





       
"Iya!" Heero tossed his head back and forth as he continued to dig his heels into the ground. "Iya Iya Iya!" (7)




       
"Heero please!" Trowa's fingers began to dig almost painfully through the fabric of his shirt as he tightened his grip. "Please! You're all I have left!"




       
The hopelessness in Trowa's voice seemed to pierce through the fog in his head, and Heero's motions began to slow until he was rigid, and staring at the place where his parents used to be.




       
"You're all... I have...left.." Trowa lowered his head onto the back of Heero's shoulder, murmuring that same sentence over and over brokenly.




       
His friend's tears began to dampen his shirt, but all he could do was stare in shock as his entire life burned to cinders right before his very eyes.







End Chapter Eleven





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(1) Kawaii: "Cute"

(2) Aishiteru... itsumo: "I love you... forever"

(3) Saki: Alcohol made from fermented rice

(4) Chisai toki atama ni otosarete shima-ta!! : "I was dropped on my head as a child!!"

(5) Atashi katai hakebune no otoko ga suki: "I like a man with a hard dick"

(6) Onegai: "Please"

(7) Iya: "No"