(Sunningdale - 1790)
When the curtain fell, the whole theater was full of applause from the audience. On
curtain call, all the performers came to the stage and gave appreciating bows. The
audience was full of praises for their excellent performances.
A young man sat silently alone at a gallery. He was Earl Herrod, son of the Duke. A
handsome aloof young man with piercing blue eyes and solemn-looking face, he was
considered an eccentric aristocrat, a loner who never joined the other noblemen in their
hunting or horse riding activities.
For three consecutive nights, he was there at the theater, watching the performances of
William Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice". But it was not the play that had
attracted his attention. Rather, it was one of the performers, a young boy with an unusual
long braid of chestnut hair that had captivated him. The young Earl rose to leave as the
performers disappeared behind the curtain.
At the back stage, all the performers were chattering excitedly at the success of the
play, how the audience loved it. Walking towards his dressing table, Dylan saw a huge
bouquet of flowers on the table.
"Oh, how lovely!" the boy exclaimed, holding up the flowers. Their fragrance
very subtle and sweet.
"Did anybody see who sent this?" he asked. For three nights in a row, he had
been receiving flowers from an unknown person and he was dying to know who sent them.
"I did! I did!" a girl yelled out.
"Who is it, Holly?"
"You are not going to believe this. It's Earl Herrod!" the girl squeaked
excitedly.
"His Lordship? The…the Earl himself? Oh…my…" the boy uttered the
words almost beneath his breath and then he added quickly, "Is he still around?"
"The Earl is leaving. Go quickly, Dylan!" Holly pushed him to the door.
* * *
"My Lord!" Dylan called out as he ran up to
the Earl.
The Earl was about to board his carriage. Turning around, he saw the beautiful boy
approaching him.
"My Lord, I must thank you for your kind support on our performances and also those
beautiful flowers you sent me."
"Think nothing of it." The Earl eyed the boy carefully. Looking at him at a
closer range, the Earl found the boy even more beautiful, more captivating.
The boy began to blush furiously under the Earl's intense glare.
"My Lord, will you….will you come and see my performance again tomorrow?"
Dylan asked hesitantly.
Lord Herrod grabbed his chin and tilted his face up; his deep blue eyes were strangely
arresting as he stared into the boy's captivating violet pool.
"Would you like me to?" he asked as his thumb caressed the boy's luscious lips.
Dylan felt himself quivering at his touch. Their faces were so closed that he could feel
the Earl's warm breath against his cheek. Looking at the handsome Earl, Dylan whispered
shyly, "I would be most honored if you will come again tomorrow, My Lord."
"And I shall be here." the Earl promised as he released him.
Dylan stood alone on the pavement and watched as the coach drove away. He sighed dreamily
as his hand went up to touch the lips that the Earl had just caressed. The feeling of his
thumb on his lips still lingered.
* * *
(Sunningdale - Present Day)
Heero's eyes flew open. The morning sunlight was slowly seeping in through the drawn
curtains. Heero sat up in his bed. He shook his head hard. Ever since he moved to this
town a month ago, he had been plagued by strange dreams every night. He dreamt of himself
as an Earl of the 18th century. Very strange indeed.
Pushing back the covers, Heero got up to get ready for school. School was another
disaster. Heero dreaded it. He'd changed schools so many times that he had lost count of
it.
Being an orphan, he lived with his aunt and uncle. For years, the family had moved
wherever the company sent his uncle, hence all the different schools. Being constantly on
the move, Heero had hardly made any friends. He was mostly a loner on his own. As his aunt
and uncle were childless, his childhood was a very lonely one too, resulting in his cold,
unfriendly attitude.
Dragging his feet up the long, cracked concrete sidewalk, Heero walked to his locker and
dumped his books in it. Soon, more students came streaming into the school, sending forth
a sea of blue jeans and multihued T-shirts.
Heero dragged himself through the day, not really paying any attention to the class. He
was still thinking about the dreams that he had, dreams that didn't fade as he replayed
them in his mind.
* * *
(Sunningdale - 1790)
Lord Herrod opened the door and ushered the boy into the room.
Dylan gasped in awe.
The room was so beautifully decorated. The walls were painted in a light shade of violet
with flowers at every corner of the room. White lilies, yellow daffodils, red tulips and
purple iris, surrounded by multihued phlox, making a bower of blossoms and scenting the
whole room with their fragrance. Against one of the walls was a huge couch-like bed that
looked most cozy and comfortable.
"Oh, this is too beautiful!" he managed to breath out.
"Do you like it? I have this room decorated specially for you."
"You shouldn't have gone through these expenses for me, My Lord. Such extravagant use
of money."
"It's worth every cent spent as long as you like them. Dylan, would you like to stay
here with me?"
"Of course, My Lord. But...alas, I am just a street kid, a nobody while you, My Lord,
are a nobleman of high society status. I am not worthy of you." Dylan lamented
regretfully, fingering the petals of the lilies absently.
The Earl frowned at the boy's remarks. He walked to him and hugged him from behind.
"You are not a nobody," the Earl said fiercely. "To me, you are special.
You are like an angel, a very beautiful one."
Dylan turned to the Earl and pouted at him adoringly. His beautiful violet eyes smiling up
joyfully at the Earl.
"This boy is so innocent and naïve. All his feelings, happy or sad are always shown
clearly on his face. There is no pretence in him at all. Oh, how I love him." the
Earl thought to himself, feeling the boy's cheerful nature and innocence beguiling him. He
felt a burning desire rise within him.
"I want you, Dylan." Lord Herrod pulled the stunned boy into his arms and
crushed his lips against Dylan's. His desire grew tempestuous, fiery and compelling as he
picked Dylan up in his arms, carrying him towards the huge, luxurious bed. Dylan gave a
cry of protest but he had no chance to say more. Lord Herrod tumbled him down on the bed
against the pillows and then his mouth, passionate and demanding, was on Dylan's.
Pulling away, Dylan said laughingly, "Don't make me too sore, My Lord. I still have
performances tonight and ...mmmph...."
Words were forgotten as they drowned themselves into a sea of fiery passion. Moans of
pleasure and cries of ecstasy were the only sounds emitted from the bedroom.
* * *
(Sunningdale - Present Day)
The dream ended abruptly as the alarm clock rang. Heero grimaced as he turned the
offending clock off. The dream was so vivid that he wasn't quite sure where he was. For a
moment, he thought he was still in the bedroom, peeping at the two lovers.
He got up and went for a cold shower. That erotic dream was getting at his hormones.
Sitting at his desk by the window, he gazed out at the open field dazedly. He was still
thinking about that strange dream. He was so engrossed in his thoughts, he did not notice
when the teacher had entered the classroom with a boy following behind her.
"Class, today we have a new transfer student to Sunningdale High. This is Duo
Maxwell." The teacher introduced the new boy to the class.
The girls were whispering and giggling among themselves, looking at the new boy dreamily
while the boys smiled at him with warm welcome. Heero broke his gaze and turned back to
the class on hearing the whisperings and giggling. His eyes turned wide in disbelief when
he saw the new boy. With violet eyes, a long braid and a charming smile, he looked just
like the Dylan from his dreams.
"It can't be! I must be hallucinating. These bizarre dreams are driving me
crazy."
For the next few days, Heero was observing Duo from a distance. The boy had established
quite a following of drooling girls within a short time and he was hitting it off with the
guys as well. The fact that he was a very good basketball player had earned him more
admiration and popularity. Heero found the boy very beautiful, very fascinating. He felt
himself drawn towards him unconsciously.
But they had never actually talked to each other. Duo would just give him a smile and a
nod whenever they crossed each other's path. Heero had an unexplainable feeling that he
knew this boy for a long time but they had never met before until now.
* * *
(Sunningdale - 1790)
Draping a blanket over the naked body of the beautiful boy who was soundly asleep in his
bed, Lord Herrod gently caressing his beloved's face.
"Beautiful, so beautiful." the Earl murmured. This boy had satisfied him the way
no women could. He wanted so badly to keep this boy by his side forever. His innocent
smile and sparkling violet eyes never failed to bring a smile to his usual grim face. This
boy was the spark of his life.
He brushed back a lock of the boy's chestnut hair and marveled at its softness. For most
people, the long hair would make them look unkempt but for Dylan, it only enhanced his
beauty, making him more desirable.
A knock on the door disrupted his reverie. A servant announced the arrival of Lady Regina.
Lord Herrod frowned at her untimely arrival. Putting on his coat, Lord Herrod placed a
kiss on Dylan's lips before going down to meet the Lady.
Lady Regina paced around the room excitedly. Daughter of a Duke, she had a reputation of
being a terrible spoiled brat. She had been dreaming of the day when the Earl would ask
for her hand in marriage.
"The day has finally arrived."
When she saw the Earl, she gave a cry of delight. She ran towards him and clung her arms
on his.
"Oh, My Lordship, I am so excited. Our fathers have finally decided it's time for us
to solemnize our marriage. After being engaged for so long, we are finally getting
married." the woman squealed happily, showing the young Earl the letter from her
father.
Reading the letter, Lord Herrod's frown deepened. Lady Regina, oblivious to the Earl's
silence, was prattling about how they should plan for the wedding, who to invite and where
they should go for their honeymoon.
"There will be no wedding. I am breaking off this engagement." the Earl said
abruptly.
Lady Regina blinked at the young Earl. "What?! What do you mean by breaking off our
engagement? You are my fiancé. We are betrothed to each other since we were
toddlers."
"Like you have just said, My Lady, we are betrothed to each other since young. This
is an arranged marriage decided by our fathers, a wishful thinking on their part that I
feel no oblige to fulfill."
"But why?"
"Because I have no love for you, My Lady." Lord Herrod said coldly.
The Ladyship stared at him in disbelief and her tone turned spiteful and full of venom.
"There is someone else, isn't it My Lord? Who is this person? Who is this bitch, this
shameless creature who dares to vie with me for my fiancé?"
"My Lady! I will not tolerate such impudence in my house. And let me remind you of
your status." His tone was ruthless and dangerous.
Lady Regina's face turned red with anger. "You will marry me. I will see to it that
you marry me and no one else."
"Good day, My Lady." the Earl gestured to his butler to show Lady Regina to the
door.
She stormed out of the house angrily.
Lord Herrod looked at the retreating woman in disdain. A downright spoiled brat, Lady
Regina was possessive in public, deliberately indiscreet about their relationship, wishing
everybody to know of their engagement. There was no way he was going to marry this woman.
Looking up, Lord Herrod saw Dylan standing at the landing at the top of the staircase.
Dressed in a pair of loose pajamas, his unbound hair framed his ashen white face. His eyes
were wide with confusion and uncertainty, his body trembling in fear.
Lord Herrod's brows creased with concern at the sight of the frighten boy. "He must
have overheard what that woman said."
Striding up the stairs quickly, he held the trembling boy in his arms. "Dylan my
love, what is wrong?"
The boy clung to him tightly. "Is it true? Is it true that My Lord you are going to
marry Lady Regina?"
"This is an arranged marriage by our families. Our fathers are old friends. They hope
to unite the two families with our marriage." Lord Herrod explained with a sigh.
"Me….what about me, My Lord?" the boy sobbed in his arms.
The young Earl tightened his arms around the sobbing boy before whispering to him.
"Come with me."
Lord Herrod took Dylan back to his room. From a drawer at the writing table, Lord Herrod
produced a pair of beautiful rings, ornate with ruby and sapphire. Slipping one of the
rings onto Dylan's ring finger, Lord Herrod explained to the stunned boy.
"This pair of wedding rings is one of my family heirlooms. My grandmother gave it to
me for my wedding. Now that you are wearing it, it means you are married to me. You are
rightfully mine now, Dylan."
The boy looked up at the young Earl. He was trembling, his violet eyes search the Earl's
face as if he thought he could not have heard him correctly.
"But…what about Lady Regina?"
"Her presence need not concern us. What is more important to me is that you are here
with me and we are together."
"To….gether?" Dylan hardly breathed the word.
"Yes, together. You will always be with me, safe in my arms now and forever."
Very gently, he put his arms round Dylan. "So, with this ring, I wed thee, my
love."
"Oh, My Lordship….."
Lord Herrod pulled Dylan closer, his lips sought Dylan's and he kissed him until his
breath came quickly between his lips.
* * *
Dylan was about to hop off the coach when the Earl
pulled him back. Holding him close, the Earl was most reluctant to let him go. He
whispered to the boy. "I will go back home to talk my father out of this marriage
with Lady Regina. Then I will come back for you, my love. I promise."
The boy hugged the Earl tight. "I trust you, My Lord. I will be waiting for your
return."
The Earl found his lips again and kissed him passionately.
At a dark corner, a pair of eyes flashed with sheer anger as they observed the two kissing
figures.
"So, he is the reason for your refusal to marry me. That son of a bitch! He is just
some low-level actor. How could you love another male? This is totally illicit." Lady
Regina snarled in the dark.
"He must have bewitched you, My Lord. That's right! He is a witch in disguised. He
must have used some black magic, some witchcraft on His Lordship. Well, I won't let you
get away with it, you little witch. I will get rid of you."
An evil plan began to form in her mind as she eyed the boy with hatred.
* * *
(Sunningdale - Present Day)
Walking downtown one day, Heero came upon an old curio shop. The shop was small and narrow
with lots of old and strange looking stuff stacking up at every corner of the shop. Heero
was looking around uninterestedly when something caught his attention. Lying in the glass
display case was a pair of beautiful ancient rings ornate with ruby and sapphire. They
were exactly the same with the ones the Earl and Dylan were wearing in his dreams.
Looking at the pair of glimmering rings, Heero wondered what impulse had made him
purchased them. Ridiculous as it may sound but somehow, he felt the rings belonged to him.
The shopkeeper was most happy to let him have the rings at a reasonable price. According
to the old man, the rings had been around in the shop for many, many years since his
grandfather's time. No one dared to buy the rings as they were rumored to be cursed.
That night, Heero was turning and tossing in his bed. He was having a very disturbing
dream.
* * *
(Sunningdale - 1790)
Dylan sat at his dressing table, looking at the ring on his finger woefully. It had been a
week since the Earl left. He was beginning to worry if the Earl will come back.
"He will come back for me. He gave me his promise. I mustn't doubt His
Lordship." he chided himself.
Suddenly, the stage door burst opened and a crowd of angry townspeople barged in.
"There he is! Witch! Catch him!" they shouted.
Dylan stared at them in bewilderment.
"What is going on?" the troupe leader asked.
"This person in your troupe, he is a witch. Since he came here, our crops were poor
and our animals died mysteriously. He is the cause of it. He has put a curse on this town.
He is a witch."
"Nonsense!" Holly cried out. "Dylan has got nothing to do with your poor
crop or your dead animals. He is not a witch!"
The angry mob began to chant. "Witch! Witch! Witch! Burn him at stake! Burn
him!"
Before Dylan could apprehend these wild accusations thrown at him, four large men burst
out and grabbed him, dragging him out of the theater. Watching from a corner, Lady Regina
smiled evilly. These gullible townspeople. All it needed was to pay someone to destroy the
crop, poison the animals and spread the rumors of witchcraft and these superstitious
townspeople will be shaken to absolute fear.
* * *
Lord Herrod held the bouquet of flowers gingerly as the
coach pulled up at the theater. He had failed to persuade his father, the Duke to cancel
his wedding with Lady Regina. The Duke was extremely furious on hearing his son's decision
to break off the engagement.
"You must marry Lady Regina. I will not have you disgrace the family's
reputation." the Duke commanded.
"This is a wish I cannot fulfill, my father. I already have another love."
"Either you marry Lady Regina or I will have you disowned!" the Duke threatened.
"I seek your forgiveness, my father but in this case, I'm afraid you will have to
disown me."
Lord Herrod was ready to give up his wealth and status to be with his true love.
Pushing at the ajar door, he was surprised to find the back stage empty. A sobbing sound
came from the other side of the room. Walking forward, he saw a girl huddled at a corner,
crying.
"Holly?" he recognized the girl as Dylan's childhood friend and partner at
stage.
"My Lord!" Holly cried out, scrambling onto her feet. "Please, My Lord, you
got to save Dylan."
"What happened?"
The girl related to the Earl of the townspeople's accusations. The Earl listened in a grim
silence.
"Absurd! Absolutely absurd!" the Earl exclaimed angrily.
"My Lord, they are going to burn Dylan at the stake!" Holly cried.
"I will save him, I will."
* * *
The men dragged Dylan onto the platform. He tried to
squirm away but he had no strength left.
"Get him on his feet and tied him to the stake," someone commanded.
Hands grabbed him by his braid; fingers dug into his arms, pulling him onto his feet.
Dylan could barely stand, his legs felt weak. Glancing up, he saw the stake on the
platform.
"What wrong have I done? Why should I be burnt at the stake?" Dylan cried out to
the crowd as the men dragged him to the stake. Dylan began to kick and buck. More hands
joined in the struggle. They dragged him up and tied his hands and legs to stake.
The crowd began to shout, "Burn him! Burn him!" as the men lit up the hays
around the stake with their torches. Fire began to spread around wildly, engulfing him.
"Stop! You mustn't burn him!"
Looking up, Dylan saw the Earl running towards the platform. The townspeople held him
back.
"Your Lordship, you mustn't go near the witch."
"Nonsense! He is no witch. Let him go!" the Earl struggled against the hands
that held him back.
Dylan looked at the Earl tearfully. "I love you, My Lord. I really do."
Lord Herrod watched in horror as tongues of raging fire consumed his love, burning up his
beautiful braid.
"Dylan!" The Earl broke himself free and ran up the platform, leaping into the
raging fire to hold his love.
"We will be together, forever."
Cries of terror and anguish rang out from the crowd as they watched the fire burning at
the two figures.
"No, My Lordship!" Lady Regina shrieked before passing out.
* * *
(Sunningdale - Present Day)
Heero woke up fighting for breath. His body was stained with cold sweat. He struggled to
sit up in bed; mind still tormented by the horrifying dream he just had. All the air in
the room seemed to have been sucked out. The pair of rings on the table beside his bed
seemed to be glowing eerily in the dark.
Heero felt a strong sense of another presence. Whirling around wide eyed, he saw a pale
figure standing at the door. It was Lord Herrod from his dreams! Looking down at Heero,
his face was grim but his eyes were very sad.
"Seek your true love!" the apparition whispered. Heero rubbed his eyes
furiously. When he opened his eyes again, the apparition was gone.
"What is it that you are trying to tell me?"
* * *
Heero was still very disturbed and horrified by the
dreams that he had the night before. Images of the two figures being burnt to death were
still vivid in his mind.
"Why do I keep having these strange dreams? I must be going crazy. Sane people don't
believe in ghosts, much less see them. What is really going on here?" he wondered.
When Heero took notice of his surroundings, he realized that he had came to the county
cemetery.
"How did I end up here?"
Looking at the cemetery, there seemed to be something beyond it. Something that was
beckoning at him, seeking his attention. Unconsciously, Heero began to stride into the
cemetery, slowly walking up the hill until he came upon a granite gravestone enclosed by
long grass and tangled flowers grew over the plot. Kneeling down, Heero brushed back the
grass and read the inscriptions.
IN LOVING MEMORY
HIS LORDSHIP, THE EARL,
HERROD THOMPSON
Born May 19, 1775
Died April 27, 1790
He rests with God
Heero held his breath momentarily. "The Earl had
existed just as I'd seen in my dreams. Which means all these dreams that I had are not
just fragments of my imaginations."
Leaving the cemetery hastily, Heero headed for the town library. He needed to know what
actually happened in this town during the 18th century and why was he embroiled in it.
* * *
The old library smelled of dust and disuse. Locating a
book on the social history of Sunningdale during the 1800s, Heero opened the book eagerly
and began to search for anything on Lord Herrod. He flipped through the book until he hit
the section on the Earl.
"In the spring of 1790, prominent figure of the society, Lord Herrod called off his
wedding with Her Ladyship, Lady Regina. Rumors of the Earl falling in love with an actor
were heard around the county. The actor was accused of practicing witchcraft and black
magic and was hence burnt at the stake. The Earl went after his lover and was burnt to
death as well. The grieving Lady Regina left the county and was never heard of. "
The book dropped from Heero's hands.
"All that I dreamt of is true. All these really happened during the 18th century. If
I am really Lord Herrod in my previous life, that means……Duo is Dylan. If I have
these dreams, he must has them too. If they were lovers then, that means we
………"
Heero replaced the book onto the shelf and raced out of the library to look for Duo. The
Earl's words rang in his mind. "Seek your true love!"
* * *
He found Duo at the basketball court. Approaching him
hesitantly, Heero wet his lips nervously.
"Duo?"
Duo turned around and saw Heero standing a few feet away.
"Yes?"
"Can I…..can I talk to you for a second?"
Duo looked surprised. Heero wanted to talk to him? From what he heard from the other
students, Heero never really talk to any one of them. He usually ignored them and went off
on his own. He never mixed around with anyone. But now, Heero actually came to look for
him on his own accord.
"Urm….okay."
Standing at the isolated rooftop of the school, Duo gave Heero a questioning look. Heero
stared out at nothing in particular, not knowing how to start the conversation.
"Duo, do you experience strange dreams at night?" Heero turned to him.
Duo blinked at him quizzically. "Dreams?"
Heero began to relate his dreams to Duo who was listening in silence. When Heero finished
with his story, he looked at Duo expectantly.
Duo observed him silently before bursting into a laughter. Heero was bewildered.
"That is one incredible tale, Heero, especially to hear it from you. Never knew you
could crack such a joke."
"This is no tall tale. What I just told you is true. I have checked the history of
this place, it really happened."
Duo was still laughing his head off. Exasperated, Heero grabbed his hand.
"Here, this is the ring Dylan was wearing, a token of love from the Earl." Heero
slipped the ring onto Duo's finger.
Eyeing the ring on his finger, Duo suddenly felt a strong sense of déjà vu sweeping
through him. His mind began to slip back into the past. He saw the story from the
beginning as snatches of the scenes flashed through his mind. A waking dream was playing
before him. He saw the Earl with Dylan, how they loved each other, how they were separated
and died in the fire.
His senses were bombarded with feelings of love, fear and pain. Duo clapped his hands over
his ears and groaned in pain as he rocked back and forth, shivering with terror over the
scenes that he just witnessed.
Heero grabbed his shoulders and shook him gently. "Duo, what's wrong? Are you
hurt?"
Duo pushed him away. "Don't…..don't touch me. Don't…." Duo groaned
again. He removed the ring from his finger and threw it to the ground before running off.
"Duo!"
* * *
Crouching at a corner of the dark room, Duo hugged his
legs to his chest tightly. The earlier revelation still shocked him. He wasn't expecting
such a tormenting past life. Duo shook his head violently.
The feelings of love and fear swirled around him. While he was pleasantly surprised to
know that Heero was his lover in the past life, he was badly shaken by how they died.
"I love you, Heero. And because of that, I must stay away from you. You died in the
past because of me. I can't let that happen again." Duo decided as tears stained his
pale face.
* * *
Heero frowned in concern and exasperation. For days, he
had been trying to catch hold of Duo but the boy was evidently avoiding him. He was always
mingling with a group of boys and during lunch breaks, he was always surrounded by the
girls, leaving Heero no opportunity to approach him at all. When they do crossed paths
along the corridors or at the lockers, Duo would scoot off immediately when he saw him
approaching.
"What should I do now? I have finally found him after centuries of searching, I can't
just let him go like that." Heero pondered.
He decided to confront Duo once and for all to trash things out. Looking around for Duo
after the class, he found him at the basketball court, having a game with the other boys.
Crossing the court with a determine look in his eyes, he made a beeline for the braided
boy.
Heero grasped his arm and hurled him off the court, leaving the other boys to stare in
wonder. He dragged the protesting boy to the cemetery. Standing before the gravestone of
the late Earl, Heero looked at the fearful expression on Duo's pale face. The boy refused
to look at him.
"Duo, why are you avoiding me?"
The boy bit his lips and kept quiet.
"You already know who we were in our past life, how we….were related to each
other. Fate has brought us together again. So, why are you avoiding it?" Heero asked
in a desperate tone.
Duo heaved a regretful sigh and looked away. Agitated, Heero grabbed his shoulders and
turned him around.
"Duo, we are meant to be together since centuries ago. I love you, then and now. This
is our fate, we can't escape it. This is our destiny that we can't deny.
Unless…..unless you don't feel the same for me."
Duo looked up on hearing that. Shaking his head, he cried out.
"Have you forgotten what happened then? What you forgotten how we died in the past?
I…I don't want that to happen again. I don't want…I don't want." Duo
dropped to his knees and cried uncontrollably.
Heero pulled him into his embrace and tightened his arms around him. Duo leaned against
his chest, crying sadly.
"What happened in the past won’t happen again. I made a mistake once, I won't
repeat it again." Heero assured.
"But….but what if there is another Lady Regina….." Duo voiced out
worriedly.
"No. No one can separate us again this time. Our love will last forever." Heero
took out the ring and placed it on Duo's finger, where it should rightfully be.
"Have faith in our love and have faith in me, Duo."
Duo nodded and gave him a smile. Hugging Heero tightly, he felt a sense of relief and
peace spreading through him.
Standing a few feet away from the gravestone, the ghosts of Lord Herrod and Dylan looked
at the embracing couple with satisfied smiles.
"My Lord, we are finally reunited; body, heart and soul."
Heero and Duo looked up and saw a soft rosy mist lingered around where they stood.
* * *