Scene One - Five: Gundam Wing After Dekim
Scene Five: Shinigami Comes Alive
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Scene Five: Shinigami Comes
Alive
“Heaven Beside You”
mother once said to me, “If you become a soldier, you’ll be a general; if you
become a monk, you’ll end up as Pope.” Instead, I became a painter and wound up
as Picasso.
living room of Quatre’s newly purchased house.
It was not a large home by Quatre’s standards, being only four bedrooms
and two bathrooms in size, but it was home for now.
takeover had reached its cataclysmic end, the Gundam Pilot’s once again the
world’s saviors and Heero their champion.
But Duo was not happy and had not been ever since Relena Peacecraft had
locked Heero in the hospital. She would
not even let Sally in to check on Heero.
For the first week Heero Yuy had been lying in a deep
healing sleep, as Dr. Yokatta called it, or a coma as Duo termed it.
had not allowed anyone to see him or have any contact with him.
skills to get in but if he were caught he would have to kill to complets
ms
mission to see Heero, but there was peace so there should be no more
killing. There was no way he could
rescue Heero from Relena under such restrictions.
now because they were no longer needed in this new age at least that was what
the politicians and the naïve people would have you believe.
politicians and their lies.
This was the first time he had ever seriously considered
giving up Death and Shinigami, completely shoving them aside and ridding
himself of their influence. After the
first war he had never really let them go, he had not really wanted to.
possible. Besides which, he was used to
their company and why get rid of a partnership tharkedrked better than a
well-oiled machine? Duo had never seen
the sense in silencing them. Death had
been his friend for as long as he could remember.
most of the people he had ever cared for in any great capacity.
carried with him, and he respected and liked Death because he understood it.
to be beautifully sickening. This made
him different to Death, and special. Duo
was someone Death wanted very much to live.
Death, however, was not the same as Shinigami.
that they were two separate entities. He
had discovered this truth early on in life, a truth few ever fully understood
until they were on Death’s threshold.
Death and Shinigami wanted him to know because he was a friend, a
kindred spirit, one of them. The
difference was this, Death marked people and helped them along the way whereas Shinigami
took their souls on the rest of the journey and sent them to their proper
destinations.
The Gundam Pilots were special like Duo was and both
entities agreed on this because they knew that Duo could entrust everything to
the Pilots if he wanted. Not only were
the other Gundam Pilots faithful to Duo but when he needed someone they would
be there for him. However they were
special in another way as well. Death
had marked each of them and Shinigami had tried to take them but the Pilots
spirits were pure and they lived still.
So Duo continued to sit in the living room, wanting only
to go and check on his partner and best friend, or at least give him his
contact information. The only problem
being that the bitch would not allow anyone who was unauthorized by her near
‘her precious’ Heero. Relena was making
him sick and angry. It was above saying
that he could not get away with killing the Queen of the World, could he?
>
He continue sitting silently in the cozy room, despairing
that he would probably never see Heero before the Wing Pilot disappeared for
good, as Duo had a feeling he would. Duo
could feel someone watching him, Quatre most likely, but he did not move an
inch.
“Duo?” Quatre called out after having observed his friend
for several moments. “Area you all
right? Can I come in and sit and talk
with you for a while?”
“Sure Q-man,” Duo said as Quatre took the seat across
from his chair. ‘Besides it’s your
house. I’m surprised you haven’t kicked
all of us out yet,’ He silently added.
“I’m fine though Quatre,” Duo went on talking.
say goodbye. Heero was my partner and
best friend, you know? Don’t get me
wrong, you’re my little brother and all, but I can’t even say goodbye.”
“Well,” Quatre said slowly trying to gage his friends’
reaction. “If I can get you into the
hospital without being detected could you get up to Heero’s room?”
Duo nodded looking at Quatre expectantly, his head cocked
to the side as he watched the blond Arabian from under his bangs.
got in to the inside undetected. But Duo
remained silent, he could tell Quatre had something more to say.
“Would you do something for me in return if I get you
in?” Quatre asked, aquamarine eyes subdued, his voice dropping so low that Duo
had to practically lean out of his seat to hear his words.
Duo’s violet eyes narrowed just a fraction.
of bargaining tool where a person like Duo was sure to get the short end of the
stick. This was Quatre though and he was
not like that with friends, at least not normally.
himself against what his head was telling him.
He threw caution and everything else to the wind and listened to his
heart. True it sounded like a business
deal to his ears and he probably would get cheated but the chance to say
goodbye made him more than willing to go along with whatever Quatre was
proposing.
“Ok,” Duo calmly leaned back in his chair, folding his
hands in his lap. “Name your terms my
good man and I’ll take care of each and every one of them if it’s within my
power to do so. You can trust my word.”
“I know I can trust your word Duo,” Quatre gave an
innocent smile and Duo inwardly snorted at the sweet and tender expression
Quatre was trying to project. “Even
Wufei agrees on that. Your word is worth
more than any signed contract in the Pilots eyes because we all know what it
means to you.
“Let’s move on to my terms though,” Quatre dropped the
smile. “Do you recall telling me a few
days ago that if you hadn’t slacked off there was a chance the whole Dekim
Barupriuprising could have been avoided?
Well I want you to watch the peace for me.
the Colonies and on Earth once a month.
Could you do that?”
“How would you want the report sent to you?” Duo asked,
curious to see if Quatre had thought this out at all.
“You will deliver it to a Magunac on L4 every month,”
Quatre said. “In a red envelope for no
major problems or in a blue one if a possible war is coming.”
“Before I agree to this,” Duo sat up, his tone clipped
and serious. “There are some things you
should be made aware of. Before I tell
you what those things are you need to swear on oath to me on all that you hold
dear that you will not tell anyone what I am about to tell you unless I give
permission. Do you swear?”
“I swear it,” Quatre breathed.
“All right, here it goes,” Duo muttered.
my information will be coming from the Underworld here on Earth and in the
Colonies. That’s where I plan to get my
information from. Could you deal with
that because for this agreement to work you need to understand this and be ok
with it.”
“It doesn’t bother me in the slightest,” Quatre spoke
without breaking eye contact. “At least
not in the way you’d think. I’m mostly
concerned with you getting the information on time.”
“Most of the Underworld owes me,” Duo explained. “From
the war. They owe me more than they
could evepay pay me and they’ll have some of their people gather information
for me. Basically I’ll be setting up an
information network on Earth and the Colonies.”
“How can they owe you so much?” Quatre was confused.
During the war Heero and I hacked OZ accounts and money
of their supporters,” Duo pulled his braid over his shoulder and fiddled with
the end of it. “I took most of my money
and started giving it to the Shadows on L2.
But I started to realize how bad off the other Colonies’ Underworlds
were too so I spread my charity to them as well.
more than tripling my profits and combined with my thievery I had more money
than ever. s'> The next step, naturally, was
to expand my charity to Earth and the Colonies which is what I ended up
doing. I got them transports with
cloaking devices so they could traffic their drugs, guns and other illegal
products all over, and they only had to pay for the fuel.
them enough so that they would prosper during peace more than they had during
war. They owe me.”
“Oh Duo,” Quatre was slightly horrified that his friend
had done all of this but he was a shrewd enough business man to see the benefit
of it. “Well I’m not
understand how it all works so I won’t question your judgment.
“I can get it,” Duo promised without a second
though. “This conversation never took
place. You know nothing about the
Underworld or my affiliation with them.”
“What conversation Duo?” Quatre managed to sound slightly
confused and look innocent.
‘Q’s got a poker face Trowa would envy,’ Duo thought
smugly. ‘This will work out just fine.’
“There’s a car out front for you Duo,” Quatre immediately
came out of the joking mode and moved right back into business.
you need to go. Good luck.
“Thanks Q,” Duo stood and moved to the door.
my promise.”
He got into the car and felt the engine start and the
vehicle began to move. He looked out
back through the tinted window at Quatre.
Duo knew he would not be coming back after going to the hospital, he was
going straight to work.
‘Bye Q-man,’ He turned forward.
for disappearing on them.’
He watched the passing buildings with little interest as
Abdul continued to drive on and on.
Normally he was the smiling jester among the Magunacs but he could not
seem to pull it off on this trip so he did not even try.
deserted enclosure in front of a maintenance tunnel.
“Master Duo,” Abdul was serious as he looked into his
rear view mirror at the former Pilot of the Gundam Deathscythe.
will come to a smaller maintenance shaft that leads into the hospitals basement
where the laundry is washed. Once you’re
inside you should be able to get to Master Heero’s room.
Duo. Good luck and may Allah go with
you.”
Duo could only nod his thanks as he hurriedly made his
way into the tunnel. He found the shaft
easily and a few minutes later he found himself crouched on the floor in the
hospital basement with carts of dirty laundry.
Over the intercoms he heard news that made his heart drop to his
stomach. Heero Yuy had escaped from his
room two hours ago. Duo knew that he was
long gone, the trail would already be cold.
Duo knew that Heero was just that good, all the Pilots were.
‘But Heero’s the ‘Perfect Soldier’ who would be able to
get himself out of here if he had a broken leg,’ Duo reminded himself bitterly.
He felt old and drained as he stood from his crouched
position. He felt a shift within himself
as he stood and he swore in his heart that from that day on he would no longer
be Duo Maxwell but Shinigami, two in one at the same time.
on auto-pilot, collapsing heavily into the back seat of the car and startling
Abdul. Abdul asked no questions, merely
started the car and began driving.
“Master Duo?” Abdul asked with some concern.
“I’m fine,” Duo stuck a smile on his face.
though. As quickly as you can manage it
Abdul.”
“What about Master Quatre?” He asked as he headed in the
direction of the shuttle port.
“Just get me there,” Duo shook his head, squeezing his
eyes tight. “I’ll deal with Quatre
later.”
Abdul reached over to the passenger seat and took a
package off of it.
“Master Quatre asked me to give you this,” Abdul said
handing it over to Duo. “Do you need
anything from the house?”
“If I do I’ll send for it later,” Duo opened the package.
Inside he found a shuttle ticket good for any flight to
L2 for the entire day. Quatre had given
him enough credits that he could live on L2 like the visiting rich, although he
had other plans for the cash. And in the
very bottom was an envelope and a short note from Quatre thanking him and
telling him to make contact within two months to his house on L4 in
person. The envelope was sealed and
Quatre had written that he was not supposed to open it until the shuttle had
left Earth far behind.
‘Sure thing Q,’ Duo smiled faintly at the note.
Duo exited the car and walked swiftly into the shuttle
port. He boarded the very next flight to
L2. It was time to go back home, to his
roots.
When he reached L2
no one would be able to find him unless he wanted to be found.
Duo would get all the information he needed to keep his promise because
eventually everything of note passed through the Shadows.
that information got there.
There were no authorities there except for the heads of
the five families but they owed him just like everyone else in the
Underworld. Cops in the Shadows were all
crooked and even then they were only allowed so far in and none of them were
stupid or desperate enough to try and get deeper inside.
to kill him unless they wanted to face the consequences.
everyone there.
The Sws wws were an unforgiving place, completely wild
and owning only to the rules of the jungle.
There it was the strongest and fittest who survived and even then it was
no picnic or guarantee you would make it.
Most people there died young. It
was there he would build his power base and then all in the Underworld would
know the name of Shinigami.
Once his shuttle landed he quickly made his way to the
edge of the Shadows. Duo spotted a small
waif-like creature standing before a slightly kept up building.
“I need to speak to your employer,” Duo was abrupt.
“I don’t take orders from people fresh off the shuttles,”
The girl snorted impudently. “Get lost
unless you want trouble.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Duo smiled sweetly but his eyes
held the threat of danger. “It will only
cause you more problems. I’m not here to
hurt anyone. Tell your boss that
Shinigami is here to see him.”
“Hey there buddy,” Duo grinned.
went out ages ago. Now can I get in or
what?”>
“Take him down Tahil,” The large man told the girl.
He’s the Shinigami.
“That was a long time ago indeed,” Duo said slowly.
time.”
“So you’re here for good then?” The man asked.
“Probably for good,” Duo shrugged.
“Take him down Tahil,” The man commanded.
with the boss right now.”
The girl nodded and moved into the building, Duo
followed. He was led down a dimly lit
hallway, the wallpaper peeling and yellow from age and climate.
where two armed guards stood at the ready, and then down a flight of stairs to
the basement, the safest place for a boss on the edges of the Shadows.
fist on the heavy reinforced metal door and it swung open to reveal another set
of armed guards. having a few problems with the cops or there would have just been one guard at
each checkpoint.
The girl ushered him through the hallway and into a small
cramped waiting room, which was full of people.
Without looking at any of the waiting people she strode to the wood door
and began opening it.
“Hey,” A loud angry voice piped up.
hours.”
“For a very good reason,” Duo said spinning around to
glare at the man. “I’m Shinigami.”
Several recognized the name and stared openly in
incredulity at the figure who proclaimed himself as such.
leaving silence behind him. The door led
to a tiny hallway with one more guard, the most heavily armed, before opening
into another room where the boss was.
“Shinigami,” The boss was seated in his chair but he
bowed his head respectfully. “What can I
do for you?”
“I need a base of operations,” Duo spoke, reverting fast
into his war persona. “Preferably in the
heart of the Shadows near the old church that was destroyed and never
rebuilt. A big place.
“I should be able to,” The man was thinking rapidly of
all the big buildings that he knew of.
“I know that the
mansion is available. One of the five
was thinking about taking it over but I’m sure that won’t be any problem.
livable again in three weeks. Is that
what you had in mind?”
“Perfect,” Shinigami remembered the
there?”
“The eligible men were drafted into the military,” The
boss said. “The five forced the
issue. The remaining members of the
family moved off the colony.”
“There is one more thing,” Shinigami said as though he
had just remembered something. “I
require information. I wish to set up a
network using the Underworld to get information to myself as quickly as
possible. Would that be possible?”
“Many people and places are already being watched,” The
boss admitted. “We just have to bribe to
get the information sent here. I’m
assuming you won’t want to do that?”
“No,” Shinigami frowned slightly.
outside connections and have them pass the word along that Shinigami is back
and he wants an information network set up.
I’ll be in touch and until my new home is ready I’ll stay at Mimi’s.”
Mimwas was a famous brothel in the Shadows but Mimi was a
personal friend and she would set him up with a room.
“Can you get information on the Gundam Pilots?” Shinigami
asked, breaking the brief silence.
little. “One of Kincaid’s spotted him
and is keeping tabs on him. He’s hiding
from Relena and the word is he’ll move around quite a bit.”
“Inform Kincaid to be careful and give Yuy a wide berth,”
Shinigami instructed. “He will move
around a lot. But be careful with him
because he’s paranoid and suspects everyone and everything.”
“And you don’t?” The man asked before thinking and he
paled once he registered just how his question sounded.
“We all are,” Shinigami referred to all the Gundam
Pilots. an>“an>“But not on Yuy’s level.
long term mission to fulfill for a friend.”
“What would that be?” The boss leaned forward slightly in
his chair, curious.
“Watching the peace,” Shinigami was vague.
that nature.”
1'> “L2 thanks you,” The boss rose from his chair.
of us if it is within out power to do so.”
Shinigami nodded and turned toward the door.
the street. She fell into pace beside
him on the walk to Mimi’s. Shinigami
said nothing about her decision to accompany him but he felt that she might be
useful to him with a little more training.
“Shinigami,” A voice called out causing Tahil to spin
around with a knife in her hand. “Is
that you?”
1'> “Who wants to know?” Shinigami asked without turning to
the speaker.
“Shai Ichii sent me,” The voice continued.
convenience of course. So do the
others.”
“Of course,” Shinigami drawled turning around.
message to?”
“I’m known as Cottonmouth,” The man slipped out of the
shadows expertly.
“I’ve heard the name before,” Shinigami
acknowledged. “Tell Ichii I’ll meet with
him. I’ll send word through the Arman
cartel.”
Cottonmouth nodded and slipped away again.
‘It sure didn’t take them long did it?’ He thought to
himself as Mimi greeted him and showed him to a room.