Sins of Love and Past

By DragonMage

Notes: I am sooo happy!! I am gonna wrap this thing up and quick! Yes!! *jumps up and down* Once this is done, I can devote my little energy to my other fiction!

Thanks everyone for the cool replies! *grin and winks*

Chapter 5

The Next Morning...

Duo woke up earlier than normal and quickly got dressed. He wanted to see Wufei and make sure he was okay before Altai got her filthy hands on him. Duo quickly left his apartment and walked quickly towards the cells where Wufei was being guarded and kept. He passed a few people along the way but he didn't bother saying 'good morning' to them. He had much more important things to do at the moment and they all involved a certain man with black hair. When he reached the doors, he waved away the guards. Luckily, they did as they were told due to Duo's status as a knight.

Closing the door behind him, Duo walked over to the limp form on the bed of straws and bent down beside him. This time he did give into temptation and brushed the hair out of Wufei's face. He checked the man's pulse and found it strong. Yet, how was it that dust kept Wufei out for this long? What was that stuff? It hadn't affected Duo in any way, it just smelled bad and made him cough a bit. But when Wufei had been exposed to it, he ended up like this. It was all too obvious what was the truth.

<But I don't care you're a dragon--it sure explains a lot of stuff--I'm going to try and protect you, Wufei. It's not going to be easy though,> Duo thought ruefully. He bent down and kissed Wufei gently on the forehead. <Ugh, how did I end up so infatuated with you? This is insanity...>

Suddenly, Wufei moaned.

"Wufei?" Duo was grateful the guards were gone as he kneeled down beside Wufei. "Come on...wake up."

Wufei slowly opened his eyes. "...Duo?"

"Yes. You're finally awake," Duo whispered. He trailed his fingers down the side of Wufei's cheek. "How do you feel?"

"...where...am...I?" Wufei asked drowsily.

"In a cell."

"...the dragon hunter...I..."

Duo stared into Wufei's eyes. They were unfocused and dilating. It had to be that stupid dust doing this to him.

"Can you hang on for just a while?" Duo asked softly as he cupped Wufei's face with his hands and tried to get the dark haired boy to focus on him.

Wufei nodded but it looked more like a cork bobbing up and down. His whole body felt...out of control to Duo's touch. Duo sighed and kissed Wufei again before standing up and brushing his clothes off. He turned and left the cell. He had to do something! But what?

~*~

Trowa looked around the courtyard where the King and Queen stood with Altai at their side and the soldiers and knights from yesterday gathered around them. Where was Duo?

Altai was holding a bottle of that potion she promised and her lips were murmuring something. Probably the spell. Her dark eyes were narrowed and she looked fierce as her black hair whipped behind her as the wind picked up. Trowa looked up and noticed that the clouds were gathering and darkening. None of the weather mages said anything about rain...

<Duo! Where are you?> Trowa thought furiously as he looked around. Just when he was going to give up and look for Duo the man appeared.

"Where have you been?" Trowa demanded.

"I went to see Wufei," Duo panted.

"You sure took your time," Trowa murmured.

"Hey!"

But before any small argument could break out two soldiers appeared with Wufei in between them, his head bowed and his arms limp as the men carried him. He was barely coherent as they men dragged him into the center of the circle and dropped him off. He fell in a messy, white heap and lay there, unmoving.

"What is wrong with him?" Queen Relena demanded sharply, her blue eyes sharp with worry.

"It is merely a side-effect of the dust. He'll be fine," Altai said smoothly. She stepped forward and knelt down beside Wufei. She pulled out her bottle. "I am going to give him a potion that will allow me to have control over his transformation. When we pour water on him, he'll change but he'll only stay for as long as I allow it. Once I have proven he is a dragon, I will change him back to his human form where he is no threat."

"Very well. Proceed," King Treize said, nodding.

Altai grabbed Wufei's hair and pulled his head back, causing his mouth to fall open. She poured the liquid into his mouth and nudged his mouth closed. She placed her fingers at his throat and urged him to swallow. When she was satisfied she stood up and took a few steps away from Wufei.

Slowly, the young man began to awake as he came to his senses. He pushed himself up on to his hands and coughed, swallowing and making gagging noises. He then lifted his head and looked around himself.

"Wha..."

*splash*

A soldier had snuck up on Wufei and threw the water on him.

"No!" Wufei screamed before he quickly changed and transformed into a pure white dragon. The same dragon that had attacked the people a week or so before.

Duo's eyes widened as he watched Wufei change. <No...> Logically, he knew Wufei was a dragon. But he had hoped so hard that it wasn't true, that it was all assumptions and Wufei was perfectly human.

"Duo..."

"I know," Duo whispered as he looked over to his friend. "I know."

Trowa's expression saddened. "I'm sorry, Duo."

"It's...I know, Trowa," Duo murmured.

Wufei was groggy and panicked as he looked around himself. He wanted to escape but there was so little room and he didn't want to hurt anyone. And, somewhere inside of him, something hurt and he couldn't find the energy to escape. He just lay there, confused and weak. How had this happened to him? He didn't understand anything...

Then he spotted Duo standing in the circle of people around him. <Duo? Duo knows...> He suddenly felt a pang of sorrow. <Duo hates me. He knows I'm a dragon now and he hates me. He's come to watch me die...> Betrayal burned inside of him and Wufei felt himself give up. <He hates me. He knows I'm a dragon and now he hates me. What will I do...? Oh gods...Heero, you were right. I should have never come up here. I am going to die, brother, because I have been foolish. I am sorry.>

Suddenly Altai screamed something in a strange language and Wufei changed back into his human form. He collapsed onto the ground and didn't move his energy spent and the poison in his system killing him.

"Is he alive?" someone shouted.

"He won't be for long," Altai said, shrugging. "In order to control him, I had to poison him as well. He won't live for long. But it doesn't matter." And they all knew why. Dragons were to be hunted and killed when found. It was law. There was no reason to keep this one alive.

"Take him away!" King Treize ordered.

Some soldiers stepped forward and picked up the limp body of the dragon and carried him away.

Duo stood there, feeling cold and numb, as he watched. He was going to lose Wufei forever. He was going to die. He had been poisoned.

"Duo, are you going to b all right?" Trowa asked softly.

"No," Duo answered truthfully. "I'm not. He's going to die, Trowa. What am I going to do?"

"Don't do anything stupid, Duo," Trowa warned.

Duo nodded slowly even though both of them knew that Duo couldn't keep his promise. After a few minutes, the king and queen dismissed them all and they returned to whatever they were suppose to do, some with heavy hearts and some in confusion. It had been a strange event and no one knew what to make of it.

~*~

Altai smiled triumphantly in front of the mirror as she combed her long, messy hair. She had done it. She had done that many, many times but now, she had finally done it to her dragon prince. The poison was going to kill him but his blood will stay remain pure enough to be consumed, the immortality would still be there for a few hours. It was already getting dark and she planned to sneak into the cell he was going to die in and take the blood. Then no one could stop her from doing anything she pleased.

She smiled darkly as she began braiding her long, thick hair. She was going to finally get what she had been waiting centuries for, and oh, she could already taste the sweet blood of forever life.

~*~

<What am I going to do? They left him in that cell to die in! He was going to die in all that filth! I don't want that, he doesn't deserve that!> Duo thought frantically as he paced back and forth in his room. <Gods, Wufei, I am so sorry. I am so sorry you ended up like this. Maybe if you never knew me you would have never been there when the dragon hunter spotted you. I am so sorry.> He ran his fingers through his bangs and clutched them almost painfully. His heart ached for Wufei and he felt near despair. Someone he cared about was going to die and he felt as if he could do nothing about it.

<I do care for him, so much. I...I suppose I do love him,> Duo admitted to himself. He felt a half-relief and half-fear at that. <I can't let him die in there. He needs to die beside the water. He can't die in there! He will never be at peace...>

Finally coming to a decision, Duo whirled around and grabbed his cloak. He was going to get Wufei out of their if it was the last thing he would do. He marched out of his room and down the hallway, heading towards the cells.

He was half way there when someone called out to him and stopped him. He turned around. "Trowa."

"Where are you going?" Trowa demanded.

"It's none of your business," Duo said, shaking his head. "Go back to your room, Trowa. Pretend you never saw me."

"Duo, this is stupid. You care for him, yes, but is this worth it?" Trowa asked, his eyes demanding truth from the braided man.

"Yes," Duo answered truthfully. "I do care for him, deeply. I think I might be in love with him. I've never been in love before, Trowa. I don't know yet. But I can't let him die in there. He needs to die beside the water."

"Duo..."

"He'll never be at peace and I will never forgive myself. Dragons love water. Remember what I once told you?" Duo asked softly.

"When it rains, the dragons come out to play..." Trowa whispered.

"See? He needs the water, Trowa. I can't let him die in there." Duo smiled faintly. "Hey, it'll be okay."

"No. I'm going to help you." Trowa took a deep breath. "I'll distract the guards and you take Wufei out of there. Do you think you can manage that?"

"Yeah. Thank you, Trowa," Duo said gratefully.

"Hey, what are friends for?"

~*~

Duo waited in the shadows as Trowa wove some silly story about monsters being outside of the palace walls. Since people were still pretty nervous and superstitious the guards immediately believed him and ran off to "save the day".

When they were gone, Trowa motioned for him to come out of his hiding place. Duo crossed over to the door and stuck the key he had inside. He turned the lock and pushed open the door. Trowa handed him a small torch. He smiled his thanks and walked inside.

The sight of Wufei laying there in the damp darkness with his white clothing stained beyond repair broke his heart. He gave Trowa the torch back and dropped down beside Wufei. He gathered the unconscious man into his arms and kissed him tenderly on his forehead, his own heart hurting the whole time. <I don't know why, but I feel as if everything that has happened to you is my fault,> he thought mournfully as he stood up with Wufei's sickeningly light form. He didn't like it. Wufei wasn't supposed to weight this little.

Trowa led the way as they escaped from the cells. They stayed in the shadows until they came to the stables. It seemed impossible easy and Duo was forever grateful. Trowa saddled a horse and soon he was ontop of it with Wufei cradled in his arms.

"Thank you, Trowa," he whispered, reaching down to clasp his hands with his friend's.

"No problem. Just get out of here and stay alive. That's all I ask," Trowa whispered.

Duo nodded and rode off towards the forest where the Mist Lake was. If Wufei was going to die, it was going to be near water.

~*~

Altai smiled faintly as she walked down the hall, her stride full of purpose. She was going to finally get her hands on the immortal blood. She could already taste the sweet, powerful blood in her mouth. She reached the cell and checked around. She was surprised that no guards were in sight but she didn't care. She walked over to the cell door and kicked it open. Once she was immortal, no one could stop her so there was no point in being sneaky about anything.

She stepped into the cell, smiling. But her smile quickly melted away into a frown, and then anger. Where was her dragon?! Where was he?? He wasn't in his cell! Someone had taken him away.

She whirled around furiously; someone was going to pay. But as she turned, a blade met her neck. She looked up, startled, and met dark green eyes.

"I knew there was something wrong about you," Trowa Barton murmured before he drove the dagger into her neck.

She gasped and choked on her own blood, staring at Trowa with wide eyes. Then she fell to her knees, knowing she was going to die. The last of her immortal strength had faded away a week ago. That had been the reason why she had been so intent on finding the dragon and drinking it's blood. She had needed it so badly.

"You...you..." she choked and fell over. She closed her eyes, cursing the green-eyed man and the world, before she fell away to the darkness of death.

Trowa stood over her body for a moment, then he turned and left. He always knew there was something funny about that woman.

~*~

Duo slid off his horse, still holding Wufei tight, and landed almost silently on the dirt ground. He looked down at the pale body in his arms and he buried his face in Wufei's neck for a moment. <I love you, and now I'm going to lose you. What am I going to do?>

He carried Wufei over to the lake and sat down beside it. He watched as the moonlight reflected off the waters, making it glitter beautifully.

"Wufei? Wufei, can you hear me?" Duo whispered as he looked down at the pale face and brushed away dark strands of hair. "Can you hear me? If you can, please wake up. I want you to wake up."

Nothing.

"Wufei? I love you. I know it's sudden and stupid. We only kissed once and then you were taken away from me. But I do love you. I love the way you smile, your laugh, your sense of humor. And I love your sweet tooth." Duo pulled Wufei closer and pressed his cheek against Wufei's. "Silly...stupid...Does it make sense? Nothing makes sense. I love you..." <And I'm going to lose you. Gods, my heart hurts tonight...it hurts so much...>

Wufei suddenly moaned and his eyes fluttered open. He looked up and smiled weakly at Duo. "Duo..." He rested his head against Duo's. "I love you too."

Duo smiled and kissed Wufei gently on the lips. "You heard me?"

"Every single word..." Wufei raised his head, his innocent black eyes full of love as he took in Duo's profile before asking the question he already knew the answer to. "I'm going to die, aren't I?"

"Yes," Duo whispered, not wanting to lie to his love. "That damn bitch poisoned you."

"I can't change into a dragon. I'm too tired...and I don't think I can." Wufei's voice was weary and it cracked slightly. "I'm stuck as a human."

"Is that a bad thing?" Duo wondered. He didn't know why he wasn't breaking down, sobbing and begging Wufei to live forever. Maybe it was shock or something. But he felt perfectly...calm. And he didn't know if that was a good thing or not.

"I don't know..." Wufei closed his eyes. "Maybe not. Being a human isn't bad. Weak, but not bad."

"Oh, thank you," Duo drawled.

Wufei smiled and opened his eyes. "Are we crazy?"

"I don't know."

"We love each other, don't we?"

"Yes we do."

"How?"

"I don't know... Maybe I've always loved you, maybe I only just loved you." Duo smiled and pressed his forehead against Wufei's. "I love you though. It doesn't make sense, does it?"

"I thought we didn't like each other," Wufei murmured. "I thought...we weren't meant for each other. We were only friends..."

"Looks like we're more than that," Duo whispered. "Aren't we, Wufei?"

"Thank you for bringing me to the lake...Maybe...maybe I can call my brother and he can tell everyone what had happened..." Wufei's eyes slid closed again and he seemed to be concentrating. Then, after a moment, the water began to ripple...

Heero rushed out of the water and quickly changed into a human being the minute he touched the ground. He saw Wufei nestled against a human boy's arms and he felt his anger flare, and the fear as well.

"Wufei...What happened?" Heero demanded as he walked over to his brother and knelt down before him. "Wufei?"

"I'm sorry, Heero. I broke my promise. I didn't...I wasn't careful," Wufei whispered, opening his eyes to smile sadly at his brother. "At least I'm not the heir."

"How can you say that?" Heero asked. "Can't you take the form of a dragon? If you do, you'll heal. Your human body won't matter anymore..." But even as he asked, he already knew it was impossible.

"Poison. I can't," Wufei said, shaking his head. "I love you, Heero. Tell Father and Mother I love them as well."

"I love you too, Wufei," Heero whispered. He looked at Duo. "You didn't do this to him, did you??"

"No," Wufei said, shaking his head. "No. He did not. He's...he's....my lover..."

"Keeping secrets was always a hobby of yours," Heero said dryly. He reached out and pressed his lips against Wufei's cheek. "I'll see you again, little brother. I'll be waiting for you."

"Don't...wait for too long. I might...not...come...back as a dragon," Wufei breathed, his voice weak.

"You're..>"

"It's permanent, I believe," Wufei said sadly.

"I'll find you, little brother. I swear." Then Heero stood up and left.

"He's strange," Duo remarked as he watched Wufei's brother disappear underneath the water.

"Yes, he is," Wufei agreed. He smiled at Duo and reached up to brush his fingers along Duo's face. "I love you..so much..." then Wufei closed his eyes and went limp in Duo's arms.

Duo sat there for what seemed like forever as he tried to realize that Wufei was dead. That someone so important in his life was dead...

Closing his eyes, Duo pulled Wufei close and began to cry. He cried for all that they had lost, he cried for the pain Wufei had to suffer...He cried for both of them. But even as he sobbed, he realized that something had changed in the air. He felt something reach out...

With amazing speed, Duo caught the hand that was going to touch Wufei. He looked up, his face streaked with tears. "Don't. Don't take him."

Death stared at the boy who had so daringly grabbed his hand in such a disrespectful way. "You are telling me not to take this boy's life? You dare?"

"I dare. Don't take him," Duo pleaded. "Please..."

"He is dead, Duo. There is no need to cling. I know you love him, but you can always love another," Death said, shrugging. He pulled his hand loose from Duo's grip and started to pull Wufei's soul of his body.

"NO!" Duo clutched Wufei's body closer. "Don't touch him! Don't take him away!!"

"What can I do? I am Death," the shadow said, shaking his head. "It is my job. Now stop interfering."

"What if...what if you take me in his place?" Duo dared. "Please. If you can...take me in his place, do it! He doesn't deserve to die like this. He's...worth so much more."

Death blinked. "You're willing to give up your life for him?"

"I'd give up everything," Duo whispered truthfully.

Death looked thoughtful. "Even...your humanity?"

Duo frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"Give up your humanity, take my place, and he lives," Death whispered, his eyes intent.

"I...you want me to become Death?" Duo asked, eyes wide.

"Yes. If you take my place as Death, I will spare him," Death whispered, smiling. "Is it a deal?"

"Why do you want this?" Duo wondered.

Death suddenly looked annoyed and angry, but not at Duo. "Because I tire of Death. I tire of wandering the world picking up souls to be judged. I need a vacation!"

Duo looked down at Wufei's still face, he could feel him cooling in his arms. <He's dead...but his soul hasn't left his body. I can save him...he can live a full life...> He bent down and kissed Wufei deeply. "I love you. Please understand my decision." Then he looked up at Death with unafraid eyes. "You have a deal. I'll take your place if you spare Wufei and let him live a full life."

"He is mortal now. He will live a mortal life," Death warned.

"It doesn't matter. As long as he lives," Duo said, shaking his head. "And...and I want him to be happy."

"I'm not the God of Love," Death said, looking annoyed.

"So...take *my* place," Duo said, smiling sadly.

Death stared at him. "You're not serious... Are you??"

"We *are* switching places. I take your place and you make sure Wufei is happy and lives a full life. Deal?" Duo demanded.

Death stared at the pale, slim boy in Duo's arms. <He's beautiful. I suppose it won't be so hard...> "Fine." He nodded. "I'll take care of him and make sure he stays happy."

"And...wipe his memory clean," Duo whispered, his voice breaking. "I don't want him to remember his pain...or of me."

"Why?" Death asked, bewildered.

"He'll live easier without knowledge of me," Duo said, closing his eyes painfully.

"You're giving up so much..."

"I know. So, how do we do this?" Duo was determined as he stared at up Death, his violet eyes daring the God to make this deal.

Death stared at Duo for a moment. Then he nodded. "Take my hand. That's all you have to do." He held out his hand and waited for Duo, waiting to see if Duo had enough nerve to do it.

Duo smiled faintly and reached up. He clasped hands with Death and they switched places.

~*~

Two years later...

Wufei smiled as he leaned against the tall tree and stared off into the distance, his dark eyes misty and full of wonder. The air was sweet and clean, full of health as spring flowed into the world again. He had a book in his lap and he was almost done with it. His hair was loose and danced around his face.

He made a beautiful picture.

"Wufei!"

Wufei turned and smiled at the man walking towards him. "I thought you were going into town today."

"I decided it was better to stay home with you," Darian said, smiling as he plopped himself down beside his little lover and kissed him on the cheek. "What are you doing sitting here, staring off into nothing?"

"Just thinking...Darian? What do you think about dragons?" Wufei suddenly asked.

Darian's eyes widened. "Ah...They're mythical creatures, Wufei."

"Really? I don't know...I feel as if they're real," Wufei murmured.

"Stop dreaming," Darian laughed even as he felt a quiver of fear and nervousness. He hoped Wufei wouldn't remember. It would destroy the beautiful young man in ways he didn't want to think of. Darian--formerly Death--had been living with the lover of Duo for two years now and he himself had fallen in love with the beautiful young man and he hated it every time Wufei was upset about something. Duo had made the right decision when he asked for Wufei's memory to be wiped away and replaced with other memories. Both of them didn't want Wufei hurt.

"But it's so fun," Wufei protested teasingly. He leaned against Darian. "Today is a good day, isn't it?"

"Yes, very good," Darian agreed. He smiled and pulled Wufei close. He looked up at the blue sky. <Thank you, Duo. I can see why you love him...I'm going to take good care of him. I promise you.>

~*~

Death--formerly Duo--watched as Darian and Wufei talked and smiled at each other. He knew both of them were in love with each other and he was happy for Wufei yet his heart ached at the same time. But he told himself that he had made the perfect decision when he took Death's place to save Wufei. Now Wufei was happy, and to him, that was all that mattered.

Before Death could dwell anymore on his thoughts, he was needed once again. He turned and disappeared, leaving his musings and longing for another day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am so sorry this chapter seems so sucky. I'm tired, starving but I decided to work on it since, well, I wanted to get it done. *laughs weakly* Oy...This is good...I ended it quickly...yea!! Comments please, even if this chapter sucked.