Part One: Strangers and Chapters
Since the night of March 23, AC 195, all that had been coming to pass was nothing more than heartache and the love that had been lost. It was a normal day, nothing more than what the other days of war would have been like. Nothing had been depicted out of the ordinary and nothing had been out of place. But after a couple of days, I hadn't heard from the Deathscythe pilot and was beginning to worry for his well-being. After a month, and no one really hearing from him, more and more people close to him began to worry as well.
But then, after the war had been won and the colonies prevailing, people started to wonder. That was when my unhappily ever after had begun...
Quatre had been living with Trowa, and Catherine had gone to live with them, after the circus on L3 had burnt down. She was one of the three survivors. They had taken her in and given her that piece of the Barton-Winner Estate to live on; she was very grateful to them for that. Wufei was more or less a wandering martial artist, not calling any one place with the name of 'home.' As for me, I had settled down with the former Queen of the World, but I never forgot him. My mind often wondered about what happened to him. He had virtually disappeared off the face of the universe.
Gone completely.
There never was a body found, or even a notice of his disappearance. It was almost as if he had never existed. Now at the age of twenty-five, Quatre called us to a meeting. He never told his objective or his verdict. He just told us to come, and it was of the utmost importance.
I didn't want to go. Seeing his face on the news already brought bad memories, not to mention what it would do to me, seeing him in person. But even so, Relena had urged me to go. But I still wanted a reason. She had given me one; "It would give you a chance to get away from me. I know that you never loved me. It was all out of pity, and I know it. Here is an offer to leave, why not take it?"
That was what she had said to me and I took the opportunity. Now I stood outside the front doors of the Barton-Winner Estate, waiting to be let in. I knocked on the doors and a maid came.
She led me in, showing me through the red-carpeted hallway to a room at the very end. After opening the door, I was greeted by the faces of the three that fought either against me, or along side of me during the war. I was surprised that Chang had even decided to show up. I looked to Quatre, ten years older but he still had that simple innocence about him.
"What is it? I'm coming here to get an answer."
Quatre gestured for me to have a seat but I remained standing. "Heero, won't you sit?"
"Not until I'm told what you want from me here."
Quatre's eyes wandered to the maroon tiled floor. "It's not what I want of you. But it is something that some one else wants of you." I questioned him with my eyes. What was he talking about? Was I going to be called to be a bodyguard for someone? I took his offer up and sat down on the black leather couch. Quatre smiled. "Would everyone else care to take a seat as well?" Trowa did, as did Wufei. Quatre then moved to a door that lay at the other end of the room. "I have someone here that I would like you all to meet."
He opened to door and my eyes widened.
Out from the door walked a man that was no more than our age. He had multiple scars across his body, and from the looks of it, had the life of a warrior. His eyes looked like they where haunted by the image of their childhood being torn away. His long hair was tied back in a braid that reached his knees and the way he stood spoke volumes. His cloths were torn from what looked to be a sword. The cut marks where precise and sharp. He wore only black, black baggy jeans, black tank top with a pair of black lace up boots.
I'm sure he noticed my reaction first and moved to say something. "Hello," he said to the group.
Quatre then offered his guest a chair. He took it and looked to us all. He remembered us and if he was who I though he was, then I remembered him as well. "I was about to ask a favor of you, but from the looks of all of your faces I think I need to answer a couple of questions first." Wufei was the first to speak. "What's your name?" he demanded, placing his hands idly upon his hips. The person whom was nameless as of now moved to speak.
"My name was forgot to you long ago. You can just call me Stranger."
"Stranger? Well what do you need of us?" Trowa asked, next in line.
"At the present time, I came from a completely different world then you. I know it might not be in my favor to ask, but I need your help. My world, the world that bore its face to me when I was no more then fifteen is in the middle of a crisis. It is in the same crisis as it was at the time I came to it. I think I remember you from when I was that age, although it was so long ago." He paused and looked to me, as if waiting for me to object. I did, and he knew what I was going to say.
"We're only twenty five and twenty six. How the hell could you have meet us fifty years ago?!"
"Heero, I knew that you were going to ask that question. You see, in the world that swallowed me up, time flows differently than it does here. You should know that. Why else would I bring up something this troublesome?"
"You think I'm going to believe in parallel world? That's the kind of things I fill my child's head full of as a good-night story!"
"Child's? So Heero, what is your child's name?"
I thought for a moment, deciding why I should tell him. He couldn't be who I thought him to be. Plus, that nonsense that he was talking about couldn't be true. "Say that we where to help you, why in the world would we, and then how would we?"
"I'm not sure if I will be allowed to fill you in on all the details with you believing, but I need to know if you will help us."
"You think we will even consider it if we don't know what the hell we are doing?!"
"I can agree to it."
I looked around and noticed Wufei nodded in response to Quatre's statement. Trowa nodded also. "Why would you?" I asked to them and they looked at me without any remorse. "Why do you think? If I don't do this, my conscience will never forgive me. I'm going to do it. I can't hear about people in trouble and then go about my business as if nothing happened. Heero, you should as well. I think you might know who this is." I shook my head. It had to be Duo, but it isn't. It couldn't be Duo.
Maybe I was more ashamed of what I had become and had vowed never to let Duo see that. He would laugh at me and start to pity me. I wouldn't be able to stand it. Especially since I lo-.
No, I wouldn't even think it. It was Duo and now that I had found out what happened to him I know that it was just a joke. He was probably injured until the end of the war and just never recognized as alive. And now he was coming to mock us and trick us into this as a good laugh.
"I'm not going to agree," I said and the others looked disappointed.
"Heero, what is your child's name?"
I wasn't going to look to him. He didn't know what this was doing to me. That bastard didn't see it. Why was he being so cruel?
"Heero? What is your child's name?" He repeated again and I looked up too meet the gaze of the one I had missed so much.
"Maxwell."
He smiled and I cursed that my lips had ever parted.
I cursed that I had ever let him get to me that much.
But he knew as well, I had loved him and I was feeling the downfall of that right now.
He knew that very well.
I didn't want to clean up the mess that would have come out of my love for him. It wouldn't happen.
"You remember your friend Duo?"
We all looked up to him. "What about him?" Wufei started.
"While the war was still raging one night, he walked out to an old town on the Earth. The town was where he had grown up and while he was there he didn't realize that there was a portal that lead into an alternate reality. One where the war continued no matter what happened. While you lived through a war with three chapters, he lived and is still living in a world with sixty-five chapters and counting. But now the chapters have leap into a second volume and have started a second part. He appeared in the reality without war for some strange reason and can't figure out why."
His face dropped and his eyes began to water slightly. A mist of phantom tears fell from his eyes and he walked up to me.
"Heero, I missed you. You see, the title in chapter 29 is A Hero's Death. I never thought in this other book you would be a character. I'm so sorry, I wasn't there to save you when you where dying. I didn't come in time and I'm sorry." He wrapped his arms around my waist and hugged me.
I felt my heart catch in my throat and I looked down to the mass of chestnut hair.
"Duo, is that really you?"
He backed away and tried to smile. "I don't think I have become Duo yet. I might someday, but for now call me Stranger."
I looked down to him even as he was backing away and noticed that he was the same Duo that I had lost ten years ago. Though his skin was torn with the scars that marked his body, it was he. It was Duo and he was here. But still for some reason I didn't think that I could have helped him for him to only leave again. He would just leave again. I couldn't go through with that again.
I wasn't sure if I could face him now, even if he was standing right in front of me.
What would I say? Now was my chance but I couldn't find my voice.
"So how would we get back to your reality?" Quatre asked and Stranger turned his back to me. "I was thinking about you telling me how the war was won in this time so that I may take the knowledge back into my time. I can't stay here when I know that in my time the war is continuing. I just need information and my Deathscythe in this time."
"I think the last part of your request is impossible."
He looked panicked. "Why?! What happened to Deathscythe!?"
Wufei crossed his arms. "Because of the peaceful times and the predominate pacifism that is ruling we needed to dispose of the gundams. But why don't we go back into your reality and fight? We made a difference here when we where younger. Now that we are older we should be able to turn it into peace without a hitch."
His eyes widened. "No! You can't go back with me! You don't understand, once you go there you won't be able to come back here!" Trowa raised an eyebrow.
"Why is it that you're here, then?"
He shook his head. "Do you think that if I possessed the power to travel between the worlds that I would wait until now to do it!? This was a once in a lifetime occurrence! I don't even know how it happened! All I know is that it won't happen again. I only know how to get there, not back."
He had a point. Why would he wait until now? It wasn't within his power.
"Why don't you just stay here?" I asked suddenly.
He looked down. "How could I? I wouldn't know how to live; my life is back with the war. I wouldn't be able to leave it. Back there, I have a job. I am the only one left to protect Relena-sama. I can't let her die. Everything had gone berserk. I need to protect her. I promised Heero that. I need to fulfill all the tasks that he left unfulfilled and that would be the number one priority."
The name Relena made me stiffen as I looked to him. Did I really make him promise that?
"Did I really make you promise that?"
He grinned. "Why not? Yes, you did. She was our only chance at peace, even to this day. I couldn't abandon her. Just as I couldn't abandon you. She was my second chance. She was the world's second chance. They keep sending assassin after assassin to kill her. That is what more or less of these scars are from. How could I ever abandon her?"
"She bares no significance in this day and age. Why would she now?" I spat to him and he was taken back a bit.
"Remember how important she was in the war? Like me, her greatness will only shine in times of trouble. You never know how much a person is, nor do you know their potential until you ask them to rise. Remember that."
I nodded but I still disagreed with him. But like a child with a toy, I had no right to protest.
After the discussion, Quatre showed us to our rooms for the night. The themes present would continue at breakfast tomorrow. I then slipped off into my room, after looking to Stranger one last time. I knew that it wasn't going to be the last time I saw him, so I could rest easy. But how long would he be here? How long was he going to stay? The facts troubled me, but I needed to talk to him about what was going on and what happened to him. I wasn't sure. Before I could think anymore, I heard a knock on the door. Calling back over, I shouted, "Come in."
The figure that had presented itself to us before was here now. Standing before me, he walked in. "Heero, I would like to talk to you."
I nodded, "Well, you're already in the room, so talk."
He crossed his arms. "I don't think you know what I have been through, that's why you're so hesitant to help me. You sure are the same Heero Yuy I remember."
"What if I am? At least I wasn't the one who disappeared without a trace."
"You think I planned that?!"
"Well knowing you, that is very possible."
"Stop being a jackass Heero. Listen to me."
"I'm listening."
"You don't know what has happened so don't try to force pity ahead of what you're thinking about. I can show you what happened, if that would help you make your decision."
I chuckled. "Are you telling me that in this 'alternate reality' your people possess the power to show people things? Sound fun." I commented dryly.
Duo growled back, "Don't make fun of the things you don't understand."
I chuckled again. "So I take it in this 'alternate reality,' you people have advances in the knowledge department?"
Duo glared and then walked over to me. He smirked as he let his hand lash across my face. I looked back up to him and that was when I realized that he was being dead-serious. He wasn't joking and he was going to show me that. "Heero. I don't have time to fool around with you; you are either going to listen to me or not." The stinging pain was coming from my face and it forced me to listen to him.
"Okay, Heero. I can tell you or I can show you. What do you want me to do? You might not be as comfortable as possible with the 'show' but it would be easier."
I looked to him and shrugged. "Well, if showing would be more effective, then that is what you should do, right?"
"Well, it would be much more effective."
"Then show me."
"Kiss me."
I was taken back a little bit at his request. "What?!" I demanded and he shook his head. "I knew that you would take it that way."
"What other way would I take it?!"
"That would be the way for me to show you."
I shook the feeling off and he ran a hand through his hair. "Do you still want me to show you?"
I thought about it for a second and then came to a conclusion. "What should I expect?" I asked and he thought for a moment. "Well, you will experience and see all that I have seen, more specifically all I will let you see. It will be quick, but don't draw away."
I nodded. "Then close your eyes." He did and I leaned in, his lips meeting mine.
All at once, I felt as if my mind and my body where no longer linked. I wandered around through the air until I came to a field where Duo was standing, looking out around the plains. Where was I? I looked to the scenery and then realized that it must have been on L2 some where, where ever Duo might have been.
Red.
Trowa had died from self-destructing.
Blue.
Wufei died after losing in another battle. Treize didn't have mercy this time.
Gold.
Quatre let go after Dorothy assassinated him.
Green.
I lay dying before my eyes; more or less Duo's eyes. As I watched, the eyes that I was using filled with water and uttered a phrase. "Heero! Don't go! I need you! You can't go!"
I drew away from Duo lips and he looked to me. "There was more, why did you stop?"
I looked down. "What happened? How did I die?"
Duo placed a hand on my shoulder. "Zechs; Oz became more tenacious and they would stop at nothing to secure the world in their power."
I shook my head. "What did you mean when you said that you needed me?" He smiled. "What do you think? I said what I meant. I do need you. My least favorite chapter was A Hero's Death. I even hate it more then one of the up coming chapters: Shinigami's Death."
"You know what will happen? Why do you name the events as chapters?"
"I know that I'm going to die soon after I get back to the other reality. It's going to happen and I can't deny it. If you looked at it as a book it isn't as sad. You know that there will be a happy ending so you learn to wait for the happy ending." His voice was low.
"If I were to kiss you again then would I see more of what you saw?"
Duo nodded. "If I willed it to."
"Don't will it to this time." I kissed him and I caught him by so much surprise that he didn't will anything. Until a moment after I started to kiss him again, I went into the same mode that wasn't any longer forgotten then the other passed minutes.
"Heero, aishiteru," I heard Duo say, but instead it was as if I was saying it. I was more or less, kissing myself in Duo's body. This must have also happened to him.
As we drew back, Duo said to the other me, "This is chapter nineteen: You Promised Never To Let Go." The other me smiled and kissed Duo again. I guess I was even in love with him at that time too. No matter what reality came about, I would always love him.
But then I died when I told him I would never let go.
I never wanted to do that too him again. I felt the pain in his heart that he must have felt. I never wanted to hurt him.
Duo then drew away quickly.
"When did you figure out that the place you were in was an alternate reality? How do you know that this isn't the alternate reality?"
He stood back up. "Because the right place, the actual reality is the one where you are alive." He then went to leave the room.
"Duo, wait."
"Stranger. I haven't become Duo yet."
"No, you are Duo. Wait."
"What is it?"
"Come back here."
His face showed the questioning expression that didn't suit him well. "Why?"
I stood up. "Duo, it doesn't matter what reality you travel to, I will always love you and you can't escape my feeling. You might not love me in every reality, but I will love you."
He shook his head. "I don't believe that."
"How can I prove it to you?"
"I'm not sure it you can."
"Why not?"
"Because when I come back to the place that I have been in for so long, you won't be there. I won't be able to stand it if I get close to you now!"
"Then don't go back. I have been faced with you nowhere at all for so long. Unlike you, I never got an answer. Now that I have one and I know that you're alive I'm not going to let you go," I stated sternly.
"Why now? Why didn't you tell me when I was here?"
I walked closer to him and brushed a stray strand of hair from his face. "Because I didn't know that you would disappear." I kissed his forehead and he moved to step away. I didn't let him. Instead, I warped my arms around his waist and played with his braid, tangling my fingers into it.
"Heero, I don't want to leave you but I-"
"Just don't leave me."
I kissed down his neck and he moved to protest. He knew what was right and I did too. This, on the other hand, was not right and he knew it. He was trying to do what was right- he was trying to stop it. I was, however, urging it to continue despite his protest. I would not go any farther than he wanted me to after a point. I wasn't going to scare him away. But after a second, he didn't protest, but joined it. "Heero, I don't want to go, but I need to. Why are you doing this to me?"
"Aishiteru."
"Honto?"
"Aa."
He stopped again and pushed me away. "I can't do this. It isn't right. I won't be able to let go of you again; I'll become too attached. I can't, I can't..."
"Yes you can. I know you want to. Now just let everything go and rely on your heart. You have grown to rely on your brain too much, Duo. I never thought I would say that. Now just rely on your heart and everything will be fine. You're heart is going to tell you how to do things right, so please, please relax and follow what your heart tells you."
"...my heart...?"
"Duo, don't tell me out of all the things you gained, your heart was something that you lost?"
"No. I have my heart. But my brain is just too overpowering. Heero, I can't."
I kissed him again. "It's okay, I understand." I walked back to my bed and laid back down. Before I knew it, his hands where in my hair and his lips where on mine.
"Heero, I missed you too much to let this opportunity slip away from me." I kissed him back and smiled to myself. Good, this was going to be okay after all...
"Where did Duo go?"
"Relena-sama, we haven't been able to locate him since the last explosion at 1.395.038."
"Find him, he can't be dead. He just can't be dead."
"I know, Relena-sama. We will find him. Did he let you know where he was headed?"
"No, he just said that he would be back with help."
"What kind of help? Where would we get help from?"
"I'm not sure, but I believe in him. He is the only thing that can save us now. I don't even see why I'm still alive anymore, he is the key, why do they need me?"
"Relena-sama… don't speak badly of yourself! We do need you!"
"Why? Whether I speak poorly or highly of myself is up to me. One might be true and the other false, but it still is my decision. The only thing that is for sure is that Duo should be here with me now."
"I know you love him, Relena-sama. Will you ever let him know?"
"When he comes back I will. He has the right to know. That is when I will tell him."
".... That is if he comes back-"
"He will come back! He will! I know he will; he is devoted to winning the war and he's not going to leave and die without a word!"
"Why would he give you a warning if he was going to die?"
"He would. He had that ability to let you know things. Even if he didn't know of his death, he would still find a way to tell me that he had left. I know he would."
"As you say Relena-sama."
"I know he'll some back. I know he will..."
End of part 1
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