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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 6: Fir Greets the New Year The boy looked somewhat like a rabbit popping its head out of a burrow, small nose twitching. Heero was much relieved to find Duo not actually swallowed by the dark dirt. "You must view this, Heero Yuy." The boy's eager face again disappeared into shadow. Hastily, Heero dropped to his knees, thrust his head through the soil space, into abysmal gloom. "I can see naught," he stated. "Come through. Preferably feet first," Duo advised, with a chuckle that suggested his own headfirst transit had been an uncomfortable one. Reluctantly, Heero ventured into the clammy evernight place. "Know you. Being of those born, borne upon water, as I am. My sinking beneath the ground in this manner is contrary to my nature," he stated with a shudder. "How create you that light?" "I do not. The lamp stone of its composition grabs small bits of luminescence from the passage, borrows and magnifies them," Duo explained of the glowing source in his palm. "There must exist small vent holes along the way that allow air and some scraps of light down here. I believe this is a catacomb as well as subterranean passage. There are the ancient funeral remains of many interred upon small shelves in the walls, see you?" Yuy glimpsed the first of several shrouded forms that disappeared in multitude into the dismal distance. "Yes, I see them," he agreed, while glancing away. "Their death souls have vouchsafed to us the manner of their demise. And the secret of the passage way. The gallows tree in the past had been used to execute those who were risen in opposition to the Su cult. But that was long ago. The current Tanist is ignorant of many things, including the existence of this tunnel. He having murdered the prior priest of the cult. In so doing he lost much knowledge. But that is our gain." Yuy noted with alarm the boy's voice fading with increasing distance. He hastened after the glowing light source. Duo's explication continued through the gloom, stirring the musty dust of centuries in shock at his crumb of vitality. "The death souls state that this inhumation tunnel goes all the way to the barrow mound. Therefore, Heero Yuy may triumphantly reveal its existence to his Liege Lord Merquise. That commander can then employ it, taking some of his military force through the catacombs. A surprise, rear action assault upon the Tanist of Su's minions will ensue. While the main force of his allies pursue a frontal attack. And all will be well for Heero Yuy. Triumphant. Victorious." "Stop. Why proceed?" Yuy demanded, arriving breathlessly, and immediately grappling the boy to a halt stand. "If the tunnel is long neglected, we should confirm there be no cave-in or other impediment to your soldiers' progress. I am correct in my surmise, am I not? Of your warriorly intent?" "Yes," Heero answered with a sigh. He could barely discern the sparkle of the boy's eyes, the soft pallor of his face, shrouded in gloom. "And your Lord's plan of assault will be for the first day of the New Year, will it not? To guarantee the Sun's blessed presence for another year." Yuy nodded bleakly, uncaring whether Duo could see the gesture. "Then matters it not how risky the current undertaking. Since my life is already forfeit upon Solstice Eve." The boy shrugged out of his comrade's wilting grip and turned to resume his forward way. "I cannot think what to say. How to reply," Heero groaned. "Duo. It seems I have no righteous action open to me. Either I betray you. Or my Liege commander and my comrades-at-arms." "Then must you allow events to unfold as they may," Duo advised easily. Yuy could hear the shrug in the boy's voice. "Do you desire a torturous death?" Despite his meaning, the demand sounded angry. Or betrayed. "I think not," came the contemplative reply. "Then why not flee while the opportunity exists?" "It seems I, too, have no righteous action open to me. I cannot believe leaving this Tanist to prey upon the populace is a good thing. And despite my hearty disapproval of battle, I cannot but think your Lord Merquise a more worthy leader than the Tanist. If only because he commands your steadfast loyalty. As you have indicated, yourself, my flight would precipitate premature discovery of the Merquise's force and stock of arms. And I cannot perceive my leaving you to die in my stead a worthy act." Yuy growled, from deep in his chest. "Therefore must I also allow events to unfold as they may," the boy concluded. Now they strode along, together, in silence. The walls narrowed their measure first. Then the ceiling closed upon them, until they had to crouch to make their way. Heero felt the touch of the dead, reaching bony digits to brush against his living flesh. The dank atmosphere had demise clinging spider webs onto it. Accusations seemed trapped therein, moaning "too late for us, too late. where lies justice? where righteousness? too late for us, too late." Each contact of his feet and hands felt crawling with maggots. Each inward breath seemed laden with corpse dust, of which he partook until he doubted his own existence. Am I dead, too? And buried in these catacombs? But his mortality returned suddenly upon a wailing, banshee keen. Shivering, he gripped the boy's hand spasmodically, which he could not recall seizing. "What is that baneful cry?" Heero whispered in horror. " 'Tis merely a doe rabbit. Torn from her young. Screaming upon her life's end." The boy snuffled at the air. The sweet incense of fire-consumed fir needles intermingled with the bloody smell of carnage. "There is the burning of her entrails now. We must be nearly under the altar stone, the sacrificial flames." "Back!" Heero hissed in the boy's ear, and dragged him away. "If we scan the ceiling, we may find hint of egress," Duo replied. "I did not know rabbits could scream," Heero admitted through his clenched jaws. "In truth, it is a sad sound, and rare," the boy agreed. "The innocent ones' chief protection being in hiding, silence. They only make cry in final despair, in extremis, when all is lost." Yuy recalled in an instant his recent comparison of Duo to a rabbit. The boy's small upturned nose, the silkiness of his hair, the supple smooth feel of his flesh over sturdy leanness. The silence of his passionate coupling. In a turmoil of agony, Yuy cast the images aside. "There. There it is. You will not fail to find it when you return, Heero Yuy," Duo murmured, lips nearly caressing the other's ear with the whisper. Yuy glimpsed the dimly outlined wooden shutter, fixed between the overhead supporting beams. "I shall not fail to find it," he agreed. "Now enough." And hastily he pressed the boy back upon the return steps of their way. So brisk upon the retreat that even the corpse hands could not stay them.
"My Liege Lord Merquise, being in this neighborhood for the peaceful wintering of his people, might well have left the Tanist to his own devices. Except the Tanist was too foolish to keep away from my Lord. The Tanist of Su dared cast his eyes upon Merquise's kinswoman. My Lord's young sister, to be specific. The Tanist of Su proposed she would be a suitable Priestess of the Moon. And perhaps become espoused of the Tanist. You can imagine my Liege Lord's reaction to that." Duo rolled his eyes and grinned widely, considering the hideous personage that was the Tanist of Su. "Oh, aye, that can I." "Meanwhile it seems, My Lord Merquise's sister had come to cast her eyes. Well, to be blunt, cast her eyes upon my person," Heero felt that he might be blushing. He continued hastily. "And since my Lord has a certain, hmm, preference also for my person. The whole tangle seemed unlikely of resolution." He glanced sidewise at the boy. Duo seemed scarce able to suppress open laughter. His facial muscles appeared painfully drawn in the effort of stiflement. "It occurred to my Lord to offer me in servitude to the Tanist, whilst his sister, as he said, came more upon her ripening maturity. This to placate the Tanist. And remove me as a bone of contention from his family. And I, being sworn Thane unto my Lord Merquise. Would serve as spy upon the Tanist's activities. While Merquise obtained his kinsman, the Lord Treize' support. To forward a military action against the Tanist of Su and his repulsive minions. All, likely, would have gone well. With the sole exception that you, Duo, have stumbled into the midst of this." "So that now, things are more tangled than ever?" Duo laughed aloud. "Indeed are they!" Yuy agreed. "But here is our solution, methinks. You will stay here. Inside the hut, warm. Rest and recover from your injuries. I shall seek out my Lord Merquise with news of this catacomb tunnel. Urge my commander to immediate action. With the advantage of surprise, we need not wait for the New Year's first day. Our attack is bound to be a success. Even with only the arms and men immediately available. Surely this, then, will solve our problems on the nonce." Yuy set Duo's small person firmly upon the hut's threshold. "You will remain here. Not go seeking trouble. Promise me, Duo. Swear upon whatever you consider most binding." "I swear upon my personal honor. I shall not go willingly forth from here. I shall not go seeking trouble," the boy replied softly. Heero grasped Duo's chin, lifting it until their looks met in the middle. Seawater blue waves drawn toward the perse Solstice sunset heavens. "Then shall I rely upon that saying." He turned and strode resolutely away. A gentle smile graced the boy's features as he watched his comrade on his way. "An excellent plan, Heero Yuy. May all your endeavors succeed, kind friend. On this day, and in the future." Then the boy watched as the sun, long past the zenith, descended toward the waiting horizon. Night's shade would soon settle over this patch of wintered earth. On this, the shortest day of the year. Light departing, darkness descending. The Winter Solstice Eve had caught him. ~ * ~ tbc....
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