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"Ash Tree Cruel "Written By: Asymphototropic
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam wing. Author: Asymphototropic (attracted toward the
light, but never quite arrives there) Rating: NC 17 Warnings: yaoi, violence, AU Summary: Duo is a wanderer, drawn to an ancient
barrow in the hopes of speaking to his master's death soul. Heero
is a guardian servant in this dangerous place. Will the death soul
seeker become a sacrifice on the bloody altar of a cruel cult? Pairings 1x2
"Ash Tree Cruel " Part 11: Kowhai Scholar The first sunrise of the New Year was blinding in its brilliance and biting in its bitter iciness. Heero felt the intense cold through his stupor. Then saw the piercing light right through his eyelids. He knew before ever he rose, what the stealthy outdoor winterscape had become during their scant rest. Rising from the pallet, he watched his breath puff densely in front of his face. Stooped to stack more deadfall wood on the embers of the fire. Finally turned, placed his shoulder and hip against the door, thrusting hard. It did not budge. The exit was snowbound. Yuy staggered back to the fire circle and pissed into it, cautious not to extinguish the life sustaining flames. Then he collapsed back under the covers. When the boy murmured and stirred, Heero whispered. "Sleep more. You require rest." The lashes fluttered, though the sky eyes seemed clouded. "Too much beer. Drowning therein," Duo mumbled. He crawled to the fire circle, to release a urine stream into the ashes, and then struggled back onto the pallet. "We are buried in snow," Yuy said, gathering the boy near and arranging the throws carefully around him. "Oh," Duo replied, eyes slammed shut again. "I promised to answer you. On the break of sunrise of the first day of the New Year. You were to ask of me any questions. And I would respond to as many as I could." "Later will be soon enough for that," Yuy growled. "Be at peace." "I cannot let go of the sights. And sounds and smells. They keep prodding me awake. With swords' points. And daggers." "So it is for the warrior, sometimes after battle." "I was supposed to run and hide." "But you felt you could not. You fought well, instead." "My master..." "Is dead. You made your decisions as best you might. None who know you blame you." The boy offered a sigh, and stirred restlessly, shifting his bandaged hand higher on his bandaged chest. Head tilted, Yuy examined the seeker's unease. Then reached beyond his sword, where it lay close at hand. "The Merquise's kinsman, Lord Treize, retrieved this. From the person of our slain enemy. All agreed it is to be yours for the keeping." In his hand lay the intricately carven cedar plaque. "Because you are considered the least likely person to have aspirations toward becoming the next Tanist of Su." Duo offered a wry chuckle. "Mayhap if I grow taller someday?" Heero laughed softly. "My commander would prefer that post to remain deserted. And though the role would wear oddly upon your person. 'T'would look even stranger upon your face. Being no harshness there, I ween. No jot of cruelty at all." He handed the object to the seeker. "Though not followers of the god, the Norsemen were too wary to burn his plaque. Opinion seemed strong that Su might seek retribution for its destruction." "And what do they suppose Su has to do with this?" Duo asked, smirking, as he fingered the carving. "That it is Su's dictum to his followers on Earth, arcane symbol of his Tanist's power," Heero stated, but raised an eyebrow quizzically toward the seeker. "Su's dictum is exactly, precisely what this is not," Duo laughed. "Do tell. Then what, prithee, exactly, precisely is it?" Heero laughed also. " 'Tis a child's toy." Heero Yuy choked in response. "A toy?" He had expected a surprise, the boy's facile features having warned him. But the leap from bloody sacrificial altar to dimpled infant hands was wider than he had supposed. "Oh, aye. A pretty primer. An alphabet. An aid in teaching the young their letters. An innocent doggerel. Devoid of all menace whatsoever. And in no whit referring to Su's cruel power." "You recognize the writing?" 'Indeed do I, and well that. For it was the first language that e'er my master taught me. 'Tis the language of our homeplace," Duo replied, fingering the letters dreamily. "Each of the symbols is a simplified botanical image, see you?" "And how spells the text?" Heero smiled, coaxing his comrade's revelation. The boy read, softly. The look of his perse eyes, the yearning sound of his voice, seemed to evoke an image of a distant place. Of vast craggy mountains, with pinnacles clouded in mist. "Ash tree cruel The ensuing silence settled upon the two weary warriors, and they drowsed again, awhile. Servant and seeker, ocean borne and sky bound. The vast white blanket of the winter world, both a comfort and a menace to them. The double edged blade of life and death ever near their pulsing hearts. ~ * ~ tbc....
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