Sleeping Baka
part fourRelena clutched desperately at her "fiancé's" arm, smiling gleefully at the guest who welcomed her on this night. Heero, much to her dismay, stood silent and motionless. Only his eyes moved, searching for something in the crowd.
"Heero darling, aren't you having fun?"
"Hm."
Relena frowned, following his gaze to try to find what he searched so eagerly for. She could see nothing out of the ordinary though.
"Heero, sweetheart, would it hurt you to look happy?" she asked absently, pressing a wrinkle away in her long white dress.
Heero's frown deepened, "There's nothing to be pleased about."
"Silly!" she laughed, "You're going to marry me! What could make you happier?"
"A pound and a half of explosives."
Relena ignored him, allowing the next guest to kiss her hand before speaking again, "It will be a beautiful wedding. Father's already prepared everything. We can be married tomorrow if I so desire."
Heero grunted in disapproval, his mind seeking more appealing thoughts. He was so deep in his daydreams he lost most of what else the foolish girl on his arm talked about. He heard bits and pieces about how her hair needed trimming and how there was some blemish she just couldn't seem too buff off her face but that was about all. Nothing of interest to him in the least.
"Your highness."
Heero snapped back to reality and glared at the servant, wandering what could possibly be more important than visions of the Darlian Princess spontaneously combusting.
"May I present to you, Lord Duo Maxwell."
Heero blinked back his surprise as the said boy stepped through the blood red curtains and smiled at him. Alright, so maybe this was more important. The black clad young man was a surreal vision to behold. Duo walked up the red carpet and bowed before him, braid tumbling over his right shoulder.
"Good evening, your highness." he said with an almost joking tone, "I told the man at the gate you were expecting me but he still gave me a hard time."
Heero tried not to smile, "I see you managed to get in all the same."
"I'm very persuasive." his smile, impossibly, grew.
Relena looked between the two men and frowned. So... this is the one you warned me about. She tugged on Heero's sleeve, "Darling, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" she asked with deceiving sweetness.
Duo looked at her as if he'd only now realized she'd been standing there, "Oh, hello!"
"Yes...hello." she extended her hand for him to kiss. Duo took it in his own and shook it in a friendly handshake. The look on Relena's face sent Heero into laughter.
She pulled her hand from his and scowled, "How dare you! I'm a princess and deserving of respect! You don't shake the hands of a lady! What kind of 'lord' are you?"
Duo shrugged his shoulders, "How many kinds are there?"
Heero laughed harder still, throwing his head back in arrogance as Relena fumed.
"You are the most impossible man! Have you no respect for Heero's bride to be?"
Duo's eyes flew wide and shock and hurt reflected upon his features, "You mean you and Heero are-"
"We're going to be married." she said with a cruel smile, pulling closer to Heero and snuggling her hand against his arm.
"Oh... con..congratulations." He forced a smile and glanced briefly at Heero, "Well, since I took the trouble of getting this far, I guess I should just enjoy the party, ne? I... I'll see ya." Duo bowed again and walked away, willing himself to smile and laugh as if the world were still twirling on his fingertips and his feet sill soared above the ground. The act didn't impress Heero nor fool him. He ripped his arm from Relena and glared at her, "You're vicious."
"And you're marrying me, Heero. You don't have to get used to it now because there will be plenty of time to do so in the future as we rule together as King and Queen."
He shook his head determinedly, "I'll never marry you. Not in this life time or the next."
He left her standing alone on the red carpet, her face wide in shock and disbelief as he made his way through the crowd of people.
"No Heero Yuy, you will be mine. Fate will see to it."
Her words were deft too all, spoken only in a whisper as she looked on.
After a few minutes in the dance hall, Duo retreated to the empty gardens behind the castle, unable to stand anymore happy couples twirling around him. He kicked at stones with his polished black boots, cursing them and the man who had given them to him.
"I'm such an idiot. I came all this way just to find out he's getting married! What did I expect though. That he'd take me in his arms and tell me he loved me?"
"You never gave me a chance to."
Duo turned, a bright crimson rising in his cheeks, "H-Heero! I didn't see you there! W-What are you doing out here. Won't your fiancé miss you?"
Heero walked closer, a strange light glowing in his prussian eyes, "I wish you wouldn't call her that."
"But you're going to marry her aren't you?" Duo asked.
He shook his head, "My father has arranged it to be that way but I refuse to go through with it. I can't marry somebody I don't love. I'd rather die than marry her."
Duo grabbed his shoulders, "Die? Heero, don't joke like that! I'm sure she's not all bad!"
Heero took Duo's wrists in his hands and pulled them to his chest, "I don't plan on dying, Duo. I've decided to take my life in my own hands and do what I want to do for a change. Because you're here with me, I have the strength and incentive to do it. I'll address the entire kingdom and denounce myself as the heir before them all. We can leave together then, free of restraints. If you'll join me, that is."
Duo's mouth fell open in shock, "You'd leave all this... for me?"
Heero stepped closer, closing the gap between them, "You taught me something in the glenn. Something I'd forgotten and it awakened feelings I thought I'd never feel again."
Duo felt panicked, his pulse racing and his heart pounding in his throat, "And what's that?"
Heero inclined his head, lips grazing the other's as he whispered, "That a kiss, can make everything better."
Duo's eye flew wide as Heero kissed him, gently at first but with growing force. His eyes fell to slits then closed completely, his conciseness embodied in a pleasure he'd never experienced before.
Trumpets blared in the background, calling the assembly of guest to still and listen to royal announcements. Heero closed the kiss and looked to the platform in the distance, "It's time. Wait here, I'll be back for you shortly."
Duo nodded dumbly, feeling lightheaded and dizzy, and watched as Heero went back into the castle and the crowded halls of delighted guests.
Wow... what a kiss! Duo thought as he stumbled towards a bench in the guardian. His weakened legs gave out, sending him tumbling forward only to be caught in two gentle arms. He looked up briefly, catching the hazel stair that glared with content, "And now you die, Solo Churchill. As was foretold, you will join your family in death."
Relena?
With a million questions running through his mind, Duo slipped into the oblivion that called for him, endless sleep claiming his senses and fulfilling Peacecraft's evil curse.
"Where the hell is he?" Trowa swore, clutching his coat closer.
Quatre flew beside him, his hair flapping in the breeze, "Maybe if we fly closer to the ground we'll be able to see better." He suggested, still unsure as to what kingdom they were flying above at the moment. Being one of the three- just- fairy- men- who- just- happen- to- have- magical- powers- and- wings- but- are- in- no- way- effeminate- unless- you- count- the- blonde- one had certain benefits, the power of levitation being one of them.
Trowa nodded solemnly, "We'll stop at the Yuy castle. The king is holding a ball in honor of Prince Heero this evening. Maybe we'll find him there."
"I haven't seen the prince since he was a child. Do you think Duo went to the party?"
"He might have. It's the best place to look considering the entire kingdom's supposedly attending."
Quatre shook his head, "I still can't believe this is happening. Duo's never done things like this before!" he noted as he slowly descended towards the earth, "Why would he sneak out?"
Trowa's gaze was steady and forward, "It's that boy he met."
Quatre gasped. The thought hadn't occurred to him, "You think he snuck out to be with… but they just met! Things can't have gotten serious between them this quickly!"
"You forget that this is a fairy tale, where love is always at first sight and something bad always happens just before the two people can live happily ever after."
Quatre shook his head, "This is horrible, Trowa! There are still hours till dawn!"
"That's why we have to hurry."
Trowa tensed as his heals touched the ground and stepped onto the firm walkway of the festive sounding castle lawns. Quatre joined him shortly, looking frantically from side to side, "I don't see him. Maybe he's inside."
"You check there then, I'll search outside," Trowa advised, transforming his clothes into formal robes to blend in with the surrounding people.
Quatre followed suit, running ahead and through the castle gates. He entered the great hall in time to hear the collective gasp of the crowd and a shout of the king.
"You're out of your mind!"
Quatre moved forward though the people, curiosity peaked by the tension filled room.
"It's my life and I can do whatever I damn well please!"
He heard a woman crying.
"Look what you've done! You're not my son. My son could never listen to a woman's tears and remain so unmoved!"
"You've been blind from the start, father! I was never like you, thank God! You just refused to see it! Until now. Good-bye father!"
Quatre watched as the crowds parted and Heero stalked off towards the nearest exit. My, how he'd grown. Quatre resisted the urge to follow him, sure he wouldn't know anymore about Duo's whereabouts than he himself did. As he watched him walk away, a burst of smoke engulfed the prince and vanished just as quickly leaving nothing in its place. No smoke, and no Heero. There were screams and shouts of terror calling Quatre to make his presence known.
"Calm down! All of you, there is no need to panic!" he shouted, making his way to the platform the startled king and crying woman occupied.
King Philip recognized him immediately, "Master Quatre! What's the meaning of this? Why have you stolen my son?"
Quatre was aghast, "I.. I did no such thing! Your majesty, I-"
"Why should I believe you? You don't even know what prate means!"
Quatre sweat dropped.
"Besides, you can't fool me! That was magic! I know magic when I see it! Now bring my son back!"
"But I-"
Laughter filled the room with a thick presence of evil. The candlelights flickered and their flames grew cold, the color of ash and the midnight sky. The laughter faded as a body materialized, one of power and cruelty.
"Great Peacecraft!" King Philip gasped, falling back against his thrown in fear. Relena screamed and fell to her knees sobbing, "You're the one who killed by fiancé!" she accused heatedly.
Peacecraft laughed again and took a glass orb from his robes, "On the contrary, I've just saved him. From making the biggest mistake of his life." He twirled the glass orb in his hand. Inside, the prince stood, miniaturized and motionless.
He turned towards the king and bowed, "You asked for him to marry young Relena. With my magic, he shall do so willingly."
Philip stood again, hesitantly, "You can.. do this? I thought magic had it's limitations."
"White magic does but I am a master of the dark arts. The universe is mine to wield and I offer to use my powers to aid in your crisis."
Peacecraft rolled the glass orb in his hand faster and faster till the boy inside was a mere blur, "Nothing is done for free though. In return for this act of good will, I ask for you to banish the three- just- fairy- men- who- just- happen- to- have- magical- powers- and- wings- but- are- in- no- way- effeminate- unless- you- count- the- blonde- one from your service and entrust their duties to me."
King Philip almost smiled, "Yes, yes of course! Thank you Great Peacecraft! I'll do anything."
"No, your highness!" Quatre shouted, "No good can come of this! Nothing that comes from the works of Peacecraft can benefit anyone but himself! He's only working towards his own gain!"
"You are discharged, Quatre." The king shouted, "So be gone."
"But-!"
"LEAVE!"
Quatre suppressed an angered scream and glared at the evil man before him, "I don't know what you have in all of this but we'll find out and we'll stop you. Good always triumphs over evil! It is the way of things."
"Perhaps in other storybook romances but not this one. I am winning, Quatre. Can't you see?" he gestured to the crowd of people, the king and Relena, all who starred hatefully at… Quatre. Peacecraft came closer, inclining his head to whisper into the young man's ear, "I have Heero, I have you and your partners, I even have Solo who you so cleverly hid from me. Despite your efforts, everything has come to play as I have predicted and labored for. You see, you've already lost."
Quatre stepped back in furry, "No. This isn't over till the last page turns." With that, he disappeared, leaving the platform and its insane occupants behind him. He entered the gardens and shook his head, trying to make sense of it all, "Trowa! Trowa! We've got trouble! Peacecraft's at it a-…oh no. No…"
He stopped, unable to take another step closer to his friend and partner. Trowa sat on a garden bench, Duo's head cradled against his chest. The braided boy's eyes were closed and his lips had paled to a light blue. Trowa looked up, face free of emotion but eyes betraying it all, "We were too late."
Quatre fell to his knees where he stood, fists balled at his side, "Peacecraft said he'd… damnit Trowa how did he know! How did that bastard know."
Trowa was silent, the sound of the rustling wind speaking of his outrage for him.
"I just can't believe it," Quatre whispered, "Not two in one night."
Trowa looked down at him, "What do you mean? Is it Wufei?"
"No…It's Peacecraft again. He…He's got Prince Heero." Quatre said with difficulty, "He's going to cast a spell on his to make him marry Princess Relena."
Trowa stood, the braided boy's body still cradled in his arms, "Relena Darlian?"
"Yes, why?" Quatre asked, confused.
"Come on, Quatre. We can't help Duo anymore."
"But.. what about Wufei's gift? Duo can't have died… his spell should have put him in a death like sleep."
"We don't know how to awaken him, Quatre." Trowa noted harshly, "There's nothing we can do for him. But was can still help Heero if we hurry."
Quatre nodded and stood, "What about Wufei? Where is he?"
Trowa sighed and looked to the sky, "I don't know."