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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 3: Cedar Much Revered. The fire faded and collapsed. The early bejeweled sunrise glittered inward through secret passages. Heero Yuy luxuriated in the feel of another's warmth pressed to his body. The other stirred against him. "Why is the ash tree cruel?" Yuy demanded upon the sudden thought. "Hmmm?" Murmured in drowsy vibrations against his bared shoulder, where his shirt had been dragged by the other's active slumber. The sleepy boy seemed somewhat inclined to break fast upon the tender flesh there. "Duo. Before. You said 'ash tree cruel'. How can a mere tree be cruel? Or kind, for that matter. Or anything other than wooden?" A sigh rose from under the covers, shimmered on the frozen air as if in contemplation of becoming a miniature blizzard. Then gave up its aspirations and dispersed. Next, a groan. "Surely am I cursed. Another, like my master-before was. Ever cheerful and energetic upon first daylight. Such folk are truly a marvel of nature." "In what mode or manner is the ash tree cruel?" Yuy, smiling, persisted. "Believe you not in the souls of trees, in their varied temperaments?" "No. Such was not my upbringing." "Then you seek a practical response?" "Yes. And while you are about that, why is the birch called noble? I should think it would be 'birch tree cruel', since the canes thereof are used to beat people." A louder groan. "You strike home with that one, Heero Yuy. I burn in a hundred places I never before appreciated." "I should kill him slowly for that," the Tanist's servant growled low. "Later. For now, why is the ash tree cruel?" Duo laughed, a musical sound. "You are a most determined scholar. Very well, then. The ash tree is known to change the soil in which it stands. Such that other plants do not grow well in its vicinity. A fact that should be noted by gardeners and farmers. Since the ash tree kills its nearest neighbors, it is said to be 'cruel'." "Interesting. And how now for the nobility of the birch?" "The birch matures slower than other trees. So that its limbs retain the lithe suppleness of youth. Making the branches ideal for use as flails." Here another groan, accompanied by some squirming. "Much to my personal discomfort. Regardless, the lengthy immaturity implies the nobility of the birch. Other trees, being mere plebeians, must arrive at their destinations in a timely manner. The lazy birch may take its leisure along the way, implying its noble birth." "A convoluted explanation. But acceptable. And why is the 'cedar much revered' ?" "That one is simple of reply. In many distant places, the cedar is the sole tree that grows both straight and tall. So it is often employed as a construct material for buildings that are meant to be imposingly large. Such as temples and churches. Hence the cedar's association with reverence." "Duo. You are a wellspring of information." "Of that you may rest assured. My master-that-was daily filled me to bursting with his knowledge." There came a pause that seemed somewhat sadly contemplative. "And speaking of wellsprings and bursting, I must go outside to make water, or die." The boy rolled off the pallet, onto the cold floor, and attempted dizzily to stand. Heero Yuy was instantly at his side. The two staggered outside the hut and found themselves nearly blinded by the dawn's dazzling snowscape. Blinking, squinting until his eyesight settled, Duo leaned against the hovel wall. He fumbled at his breechclout, icy fingers trembling. Heero Yuy micturated upon the edifice with cold-driven haste. Actions gratefully completed, he turned toward the other. The boy was still fumbling blearily with his undergarment. Chuckling, the servant reached out to assist. "Nay, friend," Duo protested. "This log is not so massive as to require two men in its handling." With that, he freed his member and urinated, a steaming cloud bespeaking the warmth of his small, solid body. Heero Yuy inspected the process closely. Offering a truly wicked smile, he was about to comment in a rather lascivious manner. When he was interrupted by a hawk's sudden skirl. A high cry swooping low across the ground. Darkness came over the Tanist's servant. Scowling, he addressed the boy. "Best get you back inside. You appear none too steady this morning." And then, as if to obscure his cloudiness, he smiled briefly. "Aren't you going to seize upon that call as an opportunity to regale me with your raptor lore?" Duo leaned against the shelter. Folded his arms across his slender chest. "I know enough of birds to hear their distinct voices accurately. And know them different from any sound that deceitful man may emit." The boy challenged him. "There are many predator hawks here. Some larger than others. And more dangerous," Heero Yuy snapped back at him. He took the boy's shoulder in his strong fist and escorted him back into the hut. "Lie down. Before you fall down. I shall find us some victuals shortly." And he departed, in response to the signal call.
The sudden confrontation surprised him. His blade was out in a pulse. And he nearly slashed his opponent before recognition caused recoil. He leaped back, off balance, queasy with his unspent heart's rush. "Yuy," the voice murmured low, stern, regal. "Liege Lord," the servant sank down upon his knees, abased in the snow. There stood over him a man, seeming all formed of glistening skysnow. Eyes of icelike quality. Silver hair fallen over solid shoulders like wind swept drifts upon glaciers. His fist clutched around a signet ring, the gemstone icelike as his eyes. Yuy kissed the proffered signet, then allowed his warm lips to travel the palmar flesh, at last to rest upon the surmounting pulse, which quickened accordingly. The servant awaited his Lord's will. The boy felt fingers running through his hair, stroking the skin at the nape of his neck. A soft, unsatisfied sigh, before he was released. "Rise." The servant stood, eyes lowered. Silent. "Make haste. What news?" "My Lord Merquise, great grantor of generous largesse. The Tanist of Su still speaks of the Solstice as approaching. He is not specific, but it must be a matter of a few days only. There are nightly rituals. The screaming of beasts in their slow death throes. A pounding of hammers upon wooden drums. Chants. Orgiastic rites. The shrieks and moans of those taken harshly perforce." The servant shuddered. The Snowlord smiled gently, genteelly down. Stooped to place a chaste kiss upon his servant's forehead. "Poor boy, my messenger. Yet must you linger. We shall not act before the Solstice Eve is past. The superstitions of the debased, benighted locals being what they are. Their terror of the death of the Sun will prevent their support, else wise. And my kinsman's people, not yet fully arrived. When Lord Treize has his men gathered. Then we shall see." The showing of perfect teeth in that slightly amused smile promised bloodshed and destruction. With a sickened sensation, Heero Yuy's heart sank into the depths. "My Lord Liege being so great. Can he not declare when the Solstice has come and gone? Need it meet with the Tanist's agreement?" "Boy! Woulds't have me command the Sun and Moon for thy mere pleasuring?" Amused laughter. "Not so my Lord Liege." The servant sank again to his knees. Curled so low his hair swept the snow. "I plead not for my own comfort. There is a sacrifice, awaiting a cruel fate. Solstice Eve's sacrifice. A boy, merely. Innocent. True. Lost. Hopeless. Please." Now the Snowlord scowled, thunder threatening. "Do not beg, boy. I mislike saying thee 'nay'. Things must go as I command. Trust to the wisdom of thy elders and betters." "Shall I die then in his place, my Liege Lord? To save him, allow myself gutted upon the cold stone altar, instead? The Tanist's bestial minions, drinking my blood?" "Your life is not your own to give. Bear that in mind. My Thane. Mine." The Snowlord's ice eyes pierced the servant through his heart's pulsing. "You will do your duty. Will you not?" "Aye, my Liege Commander. Always my duty." This upon a sigh. When the servant looked up, the Snowlord had left him again to his lonely vigil. The servant grasped the sack of provisions left him, turned upon his heel and hastened back toward the hut.
Cursing low, he dropped the sack of provisions and ran again outside. There was the place where the Tanist's minions had beaten the boy. He stooped to retrieve a bloody, trampled mass, a leathern rope. He had seen the boy tied, restrained. But then at the culmination of the inquisition, Duo's limbs were free. A chill ran down Yuy's spine. How had he not noticed earlier? How had the boy escaped the bonds, in full view of his captors? How had he clouded the observers' minds to ignore this freed state? Was Duo a human being? Or in fact some magical being, some demon, such as the Tanist had implied?" "A demon would not need a haversack or quarterstaff. A demon would not bleed upon his restraints. Don't be a fool, Yuy," he chided himself. "Name yourself a warrior?" Well, but where had this most troublesome, non-demonic, very human, very wayward charge have gone now? Logic would have directed the boy to escape at first opportunity. Yuy cast about, studying the snow for footprints. Several sets lead toward the center, the place of the dead. None looked small enough to belong to Duo. But none save Heero's lead in any other direction. Could the boy fly? Yuy started off at a brisk stride, following upon the Tanist's way. After many minutes of breathless pacing, he came to a place where a stream ran over boulders, rubbed smooth with water's run through many lifetimes of men. At a slippery place of clear green ice, he found what he sought. The imprint of the boy's tread as he had teetered on the treacherous surface and landed briefly outside the footprints of the Tanist and his minions. It was certain, then. Yuy's imprecation was intensely offered to the surrounding spirits of the forest. Contrary to any normal sense of preservation. Duo's footsteps pointed forward toward the place where the death souls called to him. Directed headlong toward the cruel altar. Stone jaws that opened to receive the writhing, torn flesh. Steaming spilled lifeblood. The Solstice Eve sacrifice ran toward his fate. ~ * ~ tbc....
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