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The Lyrebird War. Chapter seven.

~ By Sweetdeily.

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Heero sighs, his frozen eyes still on mine. “Why do you make it sound like everything that has happened to you has been my fault, Duo?”

I shake my head sadly. “I do not mean it that way, Heero… but you fear me… you, who could do the most damage to me, and you fear me. I do not suck little children’s lives away. But you are right; I do not belong in this world.”

Heero leans forward, hands catching my chin gently. “What are you?”

I fall forward into his touch, curling myself around his body. “I don’t remember.” I whisper it to him. He is so safe, so right, but how can anyone who feels this way to me fear me? It isn’t right!

Is this what all his hard work has made of him, the years he has progressed on this war to have me as I am now? Years of searching for me have caused him to fear me? I feel such pity for myself that after all this time he should be more afraid of me than in love. What if he does not even desire me? What if he is simply carrying on the wishes of his father?

“Do you even want me, master? Do you even care for my body? Or are you just fulfilling your father’s will?” I pull back, staring at him with my lavender eyes. I have lived without his touch or voice for so long that I cannot believe how weak I feel right now. I am not the strongest of creatures, but I am still stronger than I am acting right now. So why do I feel like if he rejects me now I won’t be able to live?

“I… I don’t know what you want me to say to that, Duo. I… you are amazingly beautiful, possibly the most desirable person I have ever seen and at first I thought making you use your powers for me would make my father happy but… I don’t care what he would think anymore, it’s like you’ve stolen my willpower and I want to… I don’t even know how I feel; I’ve never…” He reaches for my cheek as he speaks and even though I flinch he rolls his thumb over my pale skin.

We stay like that for the longest time, frozen in place; his eyes boring into my soul.

I startle when there is a knock at the door. Heero’s left eye twitches, but that is the only sign that he is surprised.

“Who is it?” He asks me. I shrug, it isn’t Trieze.

“Who is it?” The King barks out. He slides off the bed and goes to the door, opening it just slightly. Whoever is outside coughs a few times, voice hoarse and raspy, they exchange a conversation too low for me to hear.

I gather it is information about the war. I play with the hem of the robe I’m wearing as I wait for the conversation to end. I have no idea what is to happen in the next week, I know that in a few months I will go to Hilde, I also know that Quatre should be with the man with no voice over the next few days…

Quatre! I cannot believe I have forgotten about him! The Trowa man has him at the moment, and poor Quatre was screaming. I shudder, I hope the man did not try to do anything to Quatre, I do not wish to give the man with no voice a broken lover. I glance up at Heero; he is still talking to whoever is outside. I open and close my mouth a few times, it would be rude to interrupt his conversation and I do not want to be rude, but… I bite my lip.

Heero is scowling now, whatever the person outside is telling him, he does not like it.

I shift around on the bed, leaning over to hug one of the smaller posts, at the end, I can’t move much further because of the chain around my ankle.

I look around the room and sigh, I’m slowly becoming bored, I suppose I could check on Trieze and see if he has found Zechs.

I close my eyes and cast my mind outward.

/Long steps, made of grey flagstone ascending in a spiral anticlockwise spiral motion. The gaze turns and fixes on the long corridor before hi;, the steps aren’t what he’d be after. Brigs and dungeons are downward or on the same level.

“Duo…”

Annoyance, obviously. He starts walking again, power animates the blood that courses through his limbs and lifts his legs, swings his arms, makes his jaws move, his nails and hair grow. It is not natural this power.

“Piss off Duo.”

The niggling presence at the back of his mind gives a grin.

“No.”

“What?”

“Who is that?”

“Heero.”

“Yes?”

“Piss off Duo, I would like some semi-privacy.”

“What do I care? You want to find Zechs and smooch him, eh?”

“What the hell are you talking about Duo?”

“Actually, yes.”

“Are you even listening to me, Duo? Hey…”

“That reminds me, if you see Zechs, ask him about this whole ‘General’ thing.”

“What?”

“What?”

“When I asked about Zechs Heero asked if I meant ‘General Zechs’ I want to know what that is about.”

“What the hell are you talking about Duo, and to who? Duo…?”

“Alright. You may wish to tell Heero what you’re doing, he sounds confused.”

“Of course he sounds confused, Trieze. I am staring blankly into space and suddenly I just start talking? Who would understand it?”

“Zechs and Quatre.”

“Are you talking to Trieze? Where is he-it… Trieze? How come I can’t hear him?”

“True but…Ow!” /

I fall flat on my back as a sharp bite on my arm knocks me back into my own body. “Ow! Heero, that hurts.”

“Don’t ignore me again then.” Heero rubs my arm gently with the same fingers he used to pinch me. Bastard. The door is closed again and he sits beside me on the bed, well, no I lie there, I am practically in his lap. He must have finished speaking to the other person.

“I could not un-focus my attention enough to hold two conversations Heero. I might be powerful but I am not all powerful.”

He doesn’t seem very convinced. “Tell me, this Quatre, does he have a connection with General Zechs?”

I nod. “Zechs was only part of our group because of his interest in Quatre. That and Trieze would not allow me to kill him.”

Heero smiles softly and cups my chin, leaning forward to press his lips against mine. “I see.” He murmurs as he draws back.

“Why do you ask?” I whisper to him.

“He interrupted Trowa and this Quatre person and will not leave until YOU have approved anything.”

I can’t help the delighted little laugh that slips from my lips. “Well I suppose I will have to see what was going on before I do anything…”

Heero frowns. “I could just kill him Duo.”

I rush forward, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Please do not! I mean… at least… at least give me a chance, master… please?”

He sighs, staring into my eyes from inches away. “If I do… you will tell me everything you are capable of?”

I nod again. “Yes.”

He pulls a set of keys from behind his back and begins to unlock my ankle chain. “Oh and Duo…”

“Yes?”

“My name is Heero, call me master again and I will get angry.”

I nod hurriedly. “Sorry.”

He catches my chin before I can look down, holding me steady even when I flinch. “I’ll forgive you this time, but stop cringing every time I touch you.”

“It is habit.”

“I noticed.”

We leave it at that. He takes my hand and draws me to my feet, even though I don’t need the help. Standing he is not much taller than me, but where I am wraith-like he is well muscled, his body toned well with muscles that I am not even sure I have.

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Three guards stand outside of General Barton’s room, I have not been able to get a close look at the Rasen palace guards before and when I do I find it very interesting. They are far better maintained and trained than those that I remember from the Alasa kingdom. But those memories are buried by years and years of new sights and happier times. Still, I cannot help but admire the fact that they do not even stir when my stunning beauty passes them by.

The king tightens his hold on my hand and I am reminded that it is not only because he wants me, it is also because he fears me. He should not fear me, I cannot kill these guards; they are all young and healthy, not even unconscious.

Voices talk in the room, I recognize the voices instantly.

“General Barton… Zechs.” The King announces our arrival before I can even see around the open door.

The scene that greets me is comical at best, and looking back on it, I cannot even describe it without choking on my food.

Quatre is naked and on his knees. The bed he kneels on is covered with light blue sheets and white pillows are scattered around the room, it’s no trouble to mentally figure out how they got everywhere. A dark haired man is behind Quatre, his bangs are unusually shaped and I can only see one eye, he looks tired. Then again, he is naked and he holds a thin chain that connects to a little leather strip around Quatre’s neck in one hand.

Zechs looks rather disshelved and holds a sword to the brunette’s neck, his eyes shift as I walk in. the long haired blonde’s outfit is crumpled and I think I can see several bloodstains on it. He has numerous cuts all over his face; none look deep enough to be serious. There are several other people in the room, most have swords drawn, pointed at Zechs.

I start chuckling and I almost pull Heero with me when my legs give out.

“Duo! Ohhhh, I’m going to kill you Zechs! I’m going to fucking hurt you soooooo bad!” Quatre bursts out in embarrassment.

“Little one, I hope you didn’t just swear…” The soft tones belonging to the brunette make me crack up even further.

So that was why Quatre was screaming.

This thought brings about more laughter until I’m crying I’m laughing so hard.

“I see. Well, if that is the case, I shall take my leave.” Zechs slides his sword back into its sheath.

“Oh, c’mon now Zechs keep your sword out, you will not fit in if you do not. hehehehehehhehehehe… oh gods!” I slap the ground as I try and breathe through the laughter.

/ The hand slapped against the ground several times, he was having trouble breathing through the sound coming from his mouth. It was pretty funny.

“What has gotten you laughing this much?”

“Heh, take a look for yourself. Hehhehe, I-I f-f-found Z-zechs. Hehehehe!”

The eyes lifted to take in the scene of two naked people on the bed, one Quatre, the other an unknown person, who despite having been caught off guard, has a great battle aura about him. A tired looking Zechs also meets his view, both blondes’ faces’ are glowing red with embarrassment.

“That is pretty amusing.”

“Amusing, heh, Trieze-” He chokes as he tries to breathe enough to talk and laugh at the same time. “Look at their faces! It is so funny I cannot breathe.”

“You do not really need to breathe, so I don’t see the problem. I am coming.”

“No, you are not coming, I do not know who is, but I do not think it is Zechs! Ahahahahahahahahahaha!” /

“Oh bloody hell, Duo! You had to show that to Trieze?” Quatre wails as Trieze leaves my thoughts.

I look up at the display again and actually manage to get over the humour. I clamber to my feet, this Trowa Barton man is the one with no voice, I can tell from his aura, he reeks of a creature too close to death. I vaguely recall something about my chest that is meant to happen right after I see this man-with-no-voice as I begin to speak it slowly comes from my memories to the forefront of my mind. “I am sorry Quatre. You had me very worried. But now I am happy. He found you. This is good. It means things are… are… oh gods-”

I cannot finish my words; a sharp pain in my chest has stopped me. Fuck.

I choke, tasting my own blood at the back of my mouth and look down; I can see the tip of the sword protruding from my chest and the dark blood that graces the blade. In a haze I hear people screaming as I reach up and touch it with my fingers. The steel is cold.

“DUO!!!” Quatre screams body jumping toward me.

“WHAT THE FUCK?!?!” Zechs voice floats to me in a slowly blackening haze.

“Duo…!” Is that Heero? I can’t see him… barely hear him.

My Heero… my Heero, I was so close… I was just going to…

Remember… it all.

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~ To be continued…

Sweets: Reviews? As usual, I am sorry about the lateness at which this was posted, it would have been a few days ago, but I had a few things on that meant I couldn’t get on the computer. I am very sorry about the fact that I can’t update this story more often; I realize there are several people who read and like it. Then again, at least it’s not constantly THERE, piling on top of other stuff you have to read. Meh, ‘nuff said. Reviews? Oh, and the dialogue when Duo was talking to Trieze was meant to be confusing, three brownie points if you were able to follow it.