Duo kept his face buried in Bakari’s chest, unable or unwilling to pull away. He shrugged, still hearing those foreign words echoing in his mind. <I wonder what... mayo mpapa?... means....>

Bakari smiled to himself and shook his head fondly at Duo’s hidden face. “Duo,” he said a little stronger, but humor touched his voice.

Duo found himself grinning into Bakari’s chest, all his worries suddenly as distant and ephemeral as a haunting mirage in the midst of a boiling desert. “Don’wan’go’ta’schoo’” he muttered, pitching his voice to sound like a sleepy child disobeying his parent.

Bakari laughed, one of the very few times he ever did, and began the messy job of gently pulling a clinging, nearly purring Duo from his chest. He chuckled, his voice fully amused now, “Duo. Duo, are you listening to me? You need to work.”

Duo grinned and finally let Bakari pull him away. When he was in the African’s view he stuck his lower lip out in a melodramatic pout and declared, “You’re no fun!”

Bakari only looked at Duo and smiled, truly –smiled- for the first time Duo saw (and, he suspected, in a lot longer time considering how strict the man usually was). For one brief moment, Bakari’s eyes unfocused and he was smiling straight into some thought, maybe a memory, his hands tightening reassuringly on Duo’s shoulders.

Seeing that look cross Bakari’s face suddenly made Duo’s heart clench.

Suddenly all Duo wanted was to protect this man who was so gentle and kind yet strict and serious. He wanted to see him smile more often, laugh more
often.... He wanted his ebony eyes to shine from within like they were right then.

The feeling was similar to the ache in Duo’s heart long ago when he’d realized one day how important Heero was to him. It was that protectiveness that had caused Duo to throw Heero’s laptop once, so angry that Heero was losing himself to the war, maybe forever. And when Heero had gotten so angry, Duo had been happy. Because anger was a step past denial and a step toward peace.

As that thought crossed Duo’s mind, Bakari’s expression slowly lost its glow until he was staring at Duo with an innate sadness. Duo brought his eyebrows down in confusion. What could have upset Bakari so much...?

“Duo, I am truly sorry to put you in these positions. I... I hope you know that. But it is necessary. Just as this is.” Bakari let go of Duo’s shoulders, slipping his hand into a pocket and retrieving an item that he held out to the younger Nightwalker. “Bring this to her,” he said simply, staying an extra moment to look at Duo in concern before he bowed his head slightly and left as silently as he had come.

Duo held the object out, staring at it in the dim lighting in his room.

A golden pentagram necklace calmly spun on its delicate chain, bringing a flash of memory so swiftly to Duo’s mind, he didn’t have time to think.

^^ Duo brought his eyes up from the newcomer’s combat boots, passing her skirt and medieval blouse to rest on her chest. A simple silver star within a silver circle glimmered at him, sparking as if it had a life of its own.

Looking up, he met the gaze of a girl with the strangest eyes he’d ever seen. Golden brown with midnight ringing the pupils....^^

Duo brought his eyebrows down in thought. “It looks just like hers,” he murmured, thinking aloud, “Except hers is silver.” He blinked and shrugged, slipping the necklace in a pocket.

“Bring it to her? No prob, Bakari. I can do that.” And with a grin like the Cheshire Cat, Duo faded from view.

Cassidy paused long enough to shove some of her dull chestnut hair from her eyes. “Maybe I _shouldn’t_ grow my hair out,” she muttered moodily, “It’s starting to piss me off....”

Sighing, she shoved between two large men blocking the sidewalk as they talked about random stupid things. <SO not in the mood for grocery shopping right now,> she thought grumpily, <and I STILL don’t see why Nadira got out of it....> Grumbling incoherently, she wrapped her arms around her middle, pulling her jacket tighter. It wasn’t as if it was cold—far from it, the air was pleasantly and very surprisingly warm—it was more just something to do. She brooded as she strode along, completely ignoring the world around her.

“Hey there, Cutie,” murmured a voice directly into her ear.

Cassidy nearly jumped out of her skin, immediately throwing herself violently away from the voice as a strangled cry caught in her throat.

Wide amethyst eyes regarded her in surprise from a hauntingly familiar heart-shaped face. “Duo!” she cried stupidly, unable to come up with a more coherent thought.

He grinned. “One may venture to guess, yeah.” He hopped down from the garbage can he’d been perched on and stretched. Tonight he wore a loose,
long sleeved crimson shirt that wasn’t entirely buttoned, and pants that looked very similar to the ones from the rave except these seemed more leather than vinyl.

She eyed him warily, melodramatic annoyance winning over her anger. “Seriously! Are you trying to KILL me?”

Duo blinked, again, surprised. “What are you talking about, Cassidy?” He glanced once around to see if anyone was watching. They were currently at
the end of an alleyway that ran between two large, dingy buildings. A drunk was passed out at the dead-end and people filed by the entrance like ghosts through a haunted field, barely seeming to touch the world around them as they were so engrossed in their own thoughts. With an almost lazy wave of his hand, Duo swept the shadows around him and Cassidy until no one would see or hear them, even if they stood centimeters away.

Of course, to Cassidy, it just looked like a flippant gesture.

She threw her hands into the air in frustration. “What the hell ARE you anyway?! You showed up out of nowhere at the rave, pop into my room, then look like you’re dying right before you disappear!” She suddenly walked right up to him and poked his shoulder. “If I couldn’t touch you I’d think you were dead or something.” Her expression pulsed as if she was suddenly disturbed. “Maybe that’s not so wrong....” she mused softly in a morbidly thoughtful tone.

Duo chuckled, shaking his head. “Nah, nothing so melodramatic. I just like to think of myself as unique,” he said with a wink.

Cassidy puffed her bangs from her forehead and stared at Duo for one long, searching moment. Then she shrugged. “Fine,” she said in resignation, “If I’m going to be insane I may as well get something out of it.” She wandered over to the same garbage can Duo had been standing calmly on, waiting for her to pass by so he could catch her off-guard. Instead of standing or crouching on it like Duo had, however, she simply sat, swinging her legs as she braced herself with her arms. “So, whaddya want?” she asked calmly.

Duo grinned. “Got a present for ya.”

She looked confused. “Why?”

Duo’s grin faltered the slightest bit. “Well....” He glanced away, his eyes catching on the bridge right outside the alley during a sudden parting of the crowd. He absently focused on the distant moon reflected off the dark, undulating waters of the river.

“Well....” Cassidy prompted somewhat impatiently. Her shoes made a soft, hollow noise as she repeatedly tapped her heels into the garbage can.

Duo sighed. “You probably don’t want to know anyway,” he said seriously, his amethyst eyes suddenly very heavy and intense when they swung back to
regard her.

She studied his expression and, for one terrifying moment, she felt a sense of déjà vu wash over her. She distantly heard herself say with a challenging smirk, “Try me.” Almost before the déjà vu started it was gone, leaving her wondering if she had imagined it or actually experienced it.

Duo sighed. “Well... it’s actually a really long and boring story but the gist of it is this: you have some special blood in you we’re trying to protect.”

Cassidy’s eyebrows raised, her eyes widening in complete surprise. That hadn’t really been the answer she’d expected. ... Not that she’d know what
she expected anyway but it _certainly_ wasn’t THAT.... “What...?”

Duo shrugged. “Like I said... long story.... But you are special so we’re taking special care of you.” He grinned. “Don’t tell me you’re actually UPSET at this.” His eyes were sparkling with amusement.

Cassidy frowned, “Actually,” came her wondering voice, “I’m not.” She blinked. “Isn’t that weird? You’d think I’d be afraid or something... but I’m not anymore....”

Duo was quiet a moment as if silently agreeing. Then he quietly reached into his pocket and pulled out something that glittered between his fingers, even in the poor lighting. Silently, he passed it to her. Their skin gently brushed as he deposited the precious necklace in her palm. Though his touch was smoking ice, she remained still while he shivered at the sensation. Sometimes he hated his skin, but sometimes he enjoyed it. Not all touch was erotic... in fact, most wasn’t. Just simply... disorienting. Intense. Passionate would even be a better word if it didn’t imply anything sexual. Every touch was so precise it was numbing. And, annoyingly, even after a full year of living day in and day out with the same feature, he had yet to get used to it.

He wondered if he ever would.

Duo was so distracted he didn’t realize at first that she was talking. When he did, he shook his head slightly and said, “Eh?”

Cassidy reverently held the golden pentagram necklace in her hands and said softly, almost as if it was the first time judging by the raw awe in her voice, “It’s ... incredible. Why...?” She looked up with dark, searching eyes.

Duo was confused.

It was a necklace. Big deal. So maybe it was gold and shined pretty in the light. So?

Because of his inability to grasp the apparently massively awe-inspiring piece of metal, it took him a few moments to respond. “Ehhm... protection. Just wear it, k?”

Cassidy blinked slowly but nodded, a beam alighting on her face. “I will!” She reverently clasped it around her neck while Duo shook his head good-naturedly at her.

Women.

Go figure.

Duo deeply inhaled the fresh air and stretched, placing his hands behind his head as he turned. “Alright... think I’m gonna get going then.” He flicked his wrist and the shadows dropped, looking almost as if some unseen light had flickered back to life and now dimly shone on their two pale forms. He began to stroll from the alleyway when Cassidy’s voice stopped him.

“Duo,” she said with an urgent tone to her voice. For one moment her gaze flickered distractedly over Duo’s shoulder but before he could look back she
was smiling, looking truthfully into his eyes.

“Wha—“ he started to ask but she cut him off.

“Thank you,” she said warmly, firmly, as she tucked the golden necklace beneath her shirt. “Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Now, go! Have fun!” She grinned, shooing at him as Duo stared at her incomprehensibly. Finally, after a few moments of silence, he shoved his hands in his pockets and ducked his head.

“Just doin’ my job,” he said truthfully but also in a tone that seemed to say ‘you’re welcome.’ Turning again, he left the alleyway and Cassidy behind as he moodily wandered the streets.

Tonight, he wanted no Nightwalker shit.

Tonight, he just wanted to be human....

Heero looked up in surprise at the noise.

He knew that voice from miles away, asleep or awake, dying or in perfect health.

/’Cause I dream at night about you/

<Duo,> his mind breathed readily, soothingly.

Heero spun, his acute senses honing in immediately on Duo’s position. The object of his obsession for longer than even Heero cared to admit was currently jumping off a garbage can in a remote alleyway across the busy street from Heero. The second the Japanese teen realized Duo may see him he fell into the midst of the crowd, working his way closer to the alleyway. Since Heero had initially only heard Duo’s voice and not what he said, Heero listened intently now to understand what was happening.

“Seriously! Are you trying to KILL me?” a female voice demanded. Heero’s eyebrows drew down. A female voice he somehow vaguely recognized....

“What are you talking about, Cassidy?” Duo’s soft, almost disinterested voice asked. He sounded slightly confused, genuinely curious, but also decidedly distracted. Heero twisted around a person and walked with the crowd, watching the alleyway intently. Duo was scanning the crowd but he was doing a half-ass job or he would have noticed the intense Prussian stare directed his way.

Almost lazily Duo waved a hand in a dismissive gesture and suddenly shadows swirled rapidly around the girl and Duo, concealing them from view and silencing them in the process.

Heero stopped walking in shock.

Behind him, someone made an annoyed sound deep in their throat and shoved past him. Heero used the momentum to push through the crowds and hide in a
deep, dark doorway where he could brood until Duo left.

Because, invisible or not, there was only one way out of that alleyway. And Heero intended for it to be with him.

It was 2 minutes later when it finally hit him.

Cassidy.

Heero knew that name!

^^ “Are... are you looking for someone? Maybe I could help....” The girl looked at her friend, who shrugged helplessly. Heero shrugged slightly, stopping only because he didn’t want to be more rude to the girl. He’d already scared the shit out of her by screaming Duo’s name and yanking on her shoulder. No need to do anymore harm.... “My... name is Cassidy. And this is my friend Rikki.” The chestnut haired girl introduced herself first than her friend. ^^

The name echoed in his mind as Heero tried to fathom what was happening.

Why would Duo be talking to Cassidy...?

Not too long after Heero had come to that conclusion, he heard movement in the alleyway. Heero immediately inched closer, knowing he was fast enough to duck into the shadows before anyone not specifically searching for him would see.

“Duo,” came Cassidy’s urgent voice.

Heero couldn’t help it. He had to know if Duo was really in there, if Cassidy was who he thought she was (he had been unable to get a good look at her before they disappeared). So... Heero did something incredibly stupid.

He peeked around the corner.

Duo was (<Thankfully!> Heero angrily berated himself) faced away, in a position implying he’d been leaving when he turned partially to face Cassidy again. For one terrifying moment, Cassidy’s eyes flicked past Duo to meet with Heero’s widening, guilty gaze. Heero felt a flash of fear that Duo would turn and yell at him, or worse—disappear—and never come back again.

And then Heero would never be able to tell him everything he needed to say.

Luckily, Cassidy recovered immediately, cutting off Duo’s half-formed “Wha...” with a friendly, strong, “Thank you.” She put something that shined in the light under her shirt. “Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Now, go! Have fun!” She was grinning and waving her hands at Duo.

Heero silently thanked her for giving him time to hide again as he slipped into the shadows. His breathing was faster than normal, his heartbeat quickened. <Please, PLEASE let this work! I can’t keep this in anymore... I need to tell him. I need....>

“Just doin’ my job,” Duo said in his honest tone but it was warm. Luckily he was hunched over when he passed Heero, apparently completely lost in
thought.

Heero waited a moment for the crowd to fill in just enough to assure a quick hiding place should it be necessary but not so much he’d lose sight of his spiky-haired friend.

Just as Heero began to stride away he felt a pressure at his arm and turned with a blink. Cassidy stared back at him with a small smile on her lips as
she quickly murmured, “He’s not dead. Good luck. Sorry I didn’t see you earlier to tell you....” And with that, she slipped into the crowd the opposite way and disappeared.

<Just as well,> Heero thought as he pressed into the swift human sea, <She’d probably get in the way.>

Through the whispering of soft night air, Heero followed his dark angel with the hopes of a life spent with Death.

/When it's dark and the night lays me down
When the moon shines the light on my ground
I just run where my thoughts take me to/

Duo mused idly as his body went into autopilot, leading him through winding streets and dark alleyways with ease. He didn’t think of much and yet he thought more than he had in a very long time. Time was a slow burning fire for him, warming his mind with a numbing yet exhilarating tension. The more he thought, the more questions he found himself raising.

For one, he was _sure_ he didn’t have all his memories back yet. Some things still seemed distant, caught, spun into some ethereal dreamcatcher he may never find again. It was rather disturbing because he really wasn’t sure if he’d always been aware of these missing memories or if they were recent. Just that he didn’t remember something... something very important.

And there was something else, too. Something about the people around him that seemed strange. Cressida... Cassidy... Bakari... Serafim... hell, even
Heero and the other pilots. Though... Heero more for some reason.

Duo frowned.

Back to Heero again. He sighed. He knew he should just forget him, act like he never existed, but DAMN that was hard! Every movement of the air
reminded him of—

Suddenly Duo stopped and laughed bitterly.

“Well, fuck, isn’t THAT ironic?” he mused aloud, making himself move again as he hunched down even further.

One year ago... fuck, was it only ONE year??... Duo had been thinking these same thoughts. But that was right before he met Cressida. Right before he
fell asleep in that damn hotel room. Right before he awoke to white and a creepy song playing from some weird contraption. Right before warm, strong arms encircled him and made him feel like life didn’t matter anymore—nothing mattered—as long as those arms were there.

Holding him.

Comforting him.

Loving him.

Duo shuddered, almost feeling those arms wrapping their peaceful caress around his tired body. He felt himself sigh as he absently kicked a rock. But now those arms were around Relena. Or even Cressida, although something about that bothered him and Duo was pretty damn sure that was a lie.

But not REALLY sure.

He scowled minutely, crossing his arms. The wind blew past his meandering form, tracing soft tendrils of sweet promise across his cheek, filtering through his thick eyelashes and dancing on his sunset hair. Duo stopped abruptly, looking up to the night sky, peering intensely as if piercing space with his gaze.

Space.

Gods, the war seemed forever ago now.

It had been so important to him. His only life, his only goal. He had felt like he was helping—protecting—_saving_ so many souls with the neon of his scythe and gleam of his eyes. He’d felt like he was giving back as much as he could to all those who had been wronged (namely by him) by saving peace for a species wracked with war.

Was there peace now?

Duo’s pensive amethyst gaze trailed over the shining diamonds of the stars to rest on the large, shimmering moon.

<Is _this_ peace?> He barely even realized he’d thought that.

Duo shoved his hands in his pockets and began wandering again.

<Is there ever peace?> he heard himself wistfully breathe in his mind. He thought a moment then replied, as if he truly were having a two-sided conversation, <I don’t know. Maybe there’s peace for some and strife for others. Maybe the world is based on a lie and the only peace we know is the bliss of our ignorance. Maybe there’s always another layer that refuses to give... but when it does, you feel nothing. So maybe –that’s- peace.... Eye of the storm. Emptiness before the bursting point. Maybe peace is nothing but the absence of pain....>

He glanced up at the moon again, wondering why something about it was reminding him vaguely of something else. <Is this peace?> he asked himself again, closing his eyes to the night. <I don’t know. And I don’t think I ever will....>

Somewhere in the dark recesses of his mind he wondered if that was a blessing or a curse.

/’Cause I can’t live in this world
Without love, without you/

Heero trailed Duo worriedly. His friend was slumped forward, moving with what would probably be swift meanderings to anyone who didn’t know him, but
to Heero the stumbling screamed of sadness and mindlessness. He was drawn to the shadows it seemed, weaving through the alleys with an innate grace as he disappeared and reappeared from pools of pitch black to the sanctuary of the netherlight from the full moon.

At one point, Duo suddenly stopped and straightened. Afraid Duo had noticed him, Heero dodged into the sheltering curtains of the shadows. But instead of spinning for a confrontation, Duo just spoke aloud in a soft, wryly surprised voice that echoed through the empty alleyway back to Heero’s startled ears.

“Well, fuck, isn’t THAT ironic?”

Heero frowned, wondering what that was about. But before Heero could think much more, Duo slouched forward again and began his slow, somehow melancholy wanderings. As he trailed his friend he studied his movements.

Duo was quicker than Heero remembered. And a hell of a lot quieter too, which was saying a lot considering he was already the stealthiest of any of the Gundam pilots. He also seemed more graceful but, disturbingly, more predatory as well. His movements were like the stalking of a black panther through the shrouded night; you caught sight of him once in awhile, and what little you saw seemed coiled to attack at any moment.

The most disconcerting part was that, judging by how Duo carried himself, it didn’t appear as though the baka realized his own intimidation.

Heero’s eyes twitched. Intimidation wasn’t the correct term. More like... power? No, presence.

Duo’s presence was incredible. If Heero didn’t know him, he probably would have been unnerved by being near him.

And that was saying quite a lot.

Heero shook his head as a soft breeze ruffled through his hair, tugging playfully at his clothing. Enough musings. Now was the time to consider how he was going to get Duo to listen, what he was going to say, when he would make his move.

Trapped in circles of endless thoughts, Heero followed Duo half way across the city to a deserted district that he’d never seen before. The moon lit the path down the street but Heero had long ago ducked for the cover of the trees lining the empty street. He slipped from shadow to shadow almost as if he was an extension of the night, making no sounds as he trailed the enigmatic boy who had managed to crack his barriers with a smile and a promise of forever.

Duo didn’t seem to realize he was home at first because he just wandered straight to the front door, somehow miraculously making it up the steps without stumbling flat on his face. His pale hand reached out, the moonlight glinting off his skin and, for a surreal moment, painting Duo the perfect paradox: alabaster skin with ebony and crimson hair, and eyes the color of twilight with a smile to rival the sun. Heero caught his breath, imprinting the image forever in his mind, to cherish should Duo turn him away. But all too soon the moment had passed and Duo vanished like a dissipated curl of smoke into the dark house.

Heero found himself biting his lower lip, something he hadn’t done for more years than he could ever care to remember, a habit from his very early childhood before he’d been trained in the many arts of a killing machine.

<Now what?> he silently asked himself, amused in a strange fashion at his predicament. It seemed rather ironic that he had waited a year for Duo to come back, never believing he would, only to have him appear and disappear... and when Heero finally managed to make it back to him, the Eternally-Prepared-One found himself at a loss.

Duo would laugh.

The thought brought a sad smile to his face, softening his Prussian blue eyes to a melancholy purr. He would find how to win Duo back, because he
couldn’t live without him anymore.

He just couldn’t.

Surveying the yard quickly, Heero was about to rest against the tree he was squatting by when he saw light shine in a pale yellow rectangle onto the lush green grass of the front lawn. Heero noticed a shadow figure blocking the light partially and looked up, seeing Duo’s pensive gaze staring through the window.

Heero couldn’t help a larger smile then as he flitted silently through the shadows to arrive at a perfect hiding spot. From his new vantage point, he was hidden from any but the sharpest of eyes yet he had a perfect view of Duo as he leaned almost completely against the window pane.

<God, he’s beautiful,> was all Heero could think as he gazed upon his friend from below. The moonlight illuminated Duo’s heart-shaped face, glinting off the auburn and golden of his bangs hanging tauntingly in front of his large, violet eyes. He had a small wistful smile caught on his face as if a picture had been taken and frozen for a few breathtaking moments in the warm, comfortable night. Heero vaguely felt himself shaking his head, feeling as if he was falling under a spell, mesmerized by Duo’s beautiful expression.

As he leaned against a nearby tree, Heero let out the softest of sighs, basking in the detachedness he felt just by watching Duo.

He didn’t see the figure behind him until it was too late.

Cassidy slipped through the crowds with a small smirk playing on her lips. DAMN she felt good! She had seen Duo again (which had been an immense relief seeing him still alive, though why she cared she had yet to figure out), she’d gotten this kick ass necklace that made her feel comforted and... whole... in a way she remembered feeling only once before but not when. AND she’d seen Heero and helped him with Duo as much as she could!

Beaming happily, she was considering treating herself to a 20 oz of Mountain Dew and a bag of Orville Redenbacher popcorn when someone bolted past her, nearly throwing her off balance. Turning to glare angrily, Cassidy caught sight of the person’s face as the person fled around a corner at breakneck speed.

Before she knew it, Cassidy was sprinting after too, not even bothering to disguise her pounding feet that rivaled the frantic beating of her heart.

Short red-brown hair and eyes of golden midnight.

WHY was that girl familiar...?

Cassidy ran as fast as she could, trailing the girl with the strange eyes as she tried to understand what was so naggingly important.

Cressida sprinted through the busy night streets, not caring who she slammed into or knocked over. All she saw was the immediate ground before her as she pumped her legs as fast as she could, trying to follow the merest wisps of a trail that even –she- wasn’t sure she could trust.

Without her necklace, Cressida felt powerless, but she didn’t care. She had to help Heero and Duo.

Hiking her pack higher on her shoulder, she pushed herself faster. Had she a heartbeat, it would have been erratic. Instead, all she had to accompany her was the echoing of her footsteps as she ran desperately through the city.

She didn’t notice the girl trailing her, nor the comforting pulsing of her pentagram necklace nearby.

Duo stared out the window blindly, eyes unfocused as he absently traced the pattern of the moon on the shining window pane. The moon was always pretty,
making him feel calmer, more alive. The thought brought a small smile to his face bordering on wistful yearnings. <Is this peace?> he thought, wondering in some distant part of his mind why he cared so much about peace suddenly. <Is this freedom?>

Somehow, he was afraid the answer was no. Still, that didn’t stop him from smiling and thinking of all the pleasant memories he wanted to. Yawning, Duo moved away from the window and fell onto the bed. <Maybe it’s not peace, I don’t know, but the night itself sure is peaceful.>

With that thought, he began to drift asleep.

Heero was still slightly out of it when he got slammed in the chest, thankfully pushing him away from the tree instead of deeper into its trunk. He let out a surprised “Oof!” that resounded in the quiet night, followed closely by the crashing of the sticks he landed on. Recovering quickly, Heero jumped up, his right leg stretched to the side while his left supported him in a half crouch. His arms were straight in front of his body, his fingertips lightly splayed against the ground for balance. With an angry glare, Heero searched the night for his opponent.

Heero couldn’t see anyone but suddenly he felt another pain in his chest as if someone had roundkicked him. He flew into the open yard, stopping himself with hard hands pressed into the soft grass. He scanned intensely, still not seeing anyone. He had to shake his head, the dull feeling refusing to leave his mind.

Suddenly he was kicked on the side, his breath leaving his body in a whoosh, his pain aching as if something vital had been hit. Ignoring the physical pains, Heero steadied himself and closed his eyes. The darkness behind his eyelids engulfed him, comforted him. Listening intently, he smirked when he heard the softest indications of a noise. He dodged just in time as he felt an invisible –something- pass right over his chest. Rolling to a stand, Heero stood in a defensive pose, his hands to the sides as he pounced back and forth on the balls of his feet.

He listened and heard an even quieter noise, as if the person were trying harder. Dropping backwards, he snatched his strong arms up and caught the
–thing- in midair, dragging it down to the ground with him and immediately rolling so it was pinned beneath him.

Shimmering into view beneath him was a leg, the rest of the body somehow invisible. Narrowing his eyes, Heero stared at where the leg should meet the torso. He thought he was beginning to see the outlines of something when he was hit bluntly on the side of his head. Another punch was going straight for his throat, presumably to stop the flow of air, but Heero blocked and stumbled back, shaking his head.

Glaring around the lawn, he searched for the outline or the leg, but he saw nothing. He was just about to close his eyes again when he noticed the impression of a foot in the soft grass. Heero jumped back just as another kick or punch whisked right by his stomach. Heero stared at the impression on the ground, concentrating on bringing the person who was attacking him into focus.

Though he dodged the next hit he was smacked in a spiraling sprawl directly afterwards. He rolled a few feet, landing on his stomach with his left cheek pressed into the fresh earth. He opened his eyes barely a slit, willing his eyesight to find the man and latch on. As his gaze darted around the yard as much as he could see while still appearing to be out, Heero was disappointed to realize he still couldn’t see anything.

He was just about to jump up again and try to fight like he had been when a flash of Odin Lowe spread through his mind like quicksilver honey—lightning fast yet thick and opaque. There wasn’t a scene that accompanied it, not even really anything but enough of an imprint for Heero to recognize him. For one slow, burning moment, Heero was confused. He slid his eyes closed to think, picturing Odin Lowe in his mind as he tried to understand what that was about.

Suddenly Heero’s eyes flew open of their own accord and he jumped up. Standing in front of him, outlined in shimmering, disappearing ripples of black energy, the person itself invisible, was his attacker. Heero narrowed his eyes and smirked. He pushed off the ground, sprinting forward, surprising even himself with how quick and exact his movements were. The figure stopped in shock, leaving itself open for Heero’s swift punch straight to the stomach then his slam on the upper back. He kicked the figure in the side and was just going for its head when suddenly it shimmered from view. His fists rammed into the earth even as he was already growling and turning.

The figure was standing across the yard from him then, facing him and not moving. Slowly, feeling like he was in a dream, Heero stood and turned to face his opponent. He hadn’t even had the chance yet to wonder who it was, what it was, why it was attacking him. All he knew was he had to get it before it got him.

The figure held its left hand out, palm facing the sky. Heero followed the movement, glancing at where the face would be if he could see anything other than the surreal outline. The black ripples suddenly flared a bright orange and red, turning into the molten outline of fire. Heero narrowed his eyes, instinctively shooting his gaze back to the hand that had been upturned to the unforgiving sky.

In slow motion, Heero saw the fireball forming like a spherical whirlwind of dancing flames and biting shadows. It turned into a sphere of molten lava chasing crimson-black shadows. Ripples of angry murky almost-brown energy sparked from the fireball just seconds before the it reached its peak and exploded into a full blown blaze about the size of a regular campfire. Dancing amongst the flames were those shadows, licking intimately at the red-orange maddeningly, almost like malevolent, sentient embers. Heero began to throw himself to the side, knowing somehow that if he were hit fully with the fireball, he would be killed.

Heero saw the figure bring the fireball up, aiming at Heero as he moved too slowly, too late out of the way. The fireball arched through the air, Heero
sluggishly moving out of its line of fire. He could see it coming still, but he could do nothing.

All too soon, time snapped into fast-forward. He was rolling out of the way when he felt an intense pain scorch his entire back and most of his left side. Completely astonished by the level of agony, he distantly heard himself cry out in pain as he crumpled to the ground. His vision was beginning to black out at the edges as small flamed still licked at his clothing. The smell of burnt hair and skin permeated his mind, his heart beating faster in fear.

His eyes were squeezed shut in pain but as he was finding himself losing consciousness he quickly opened them to stare at the foot of his attacker. His gaze traveled excruciatingly slowly up until, for a moment, his vision blurred and he swore he saw someone he hoped he’d never see again. Then his sight snapped into focus and he found himself staring at a teenage boy with shaggy brown hair and bright green eyes. He squatted down next to Heero, a burning smirk on his face. “Hello again, Heero,” he said in a calm voice and Heero distantly felt himself shaking his head to clear it. Everything was becoming so fuzzy and slow.

“What?” he said softly.

The teenager smirked then stepped back, talking as he walked. “I’m surprised you got as far as you did. I should have killed you long ago. Not that it matters anymore—I’m going to do it now. And don’t worry—Duo and the others can’t hear you. I put them to sleep.” He smiled pleasantly at Heero from a distance. As the sluggish Japanese teenager watched, his opponent was drawing his hands from a cupping motion in front of him in an arc to both his hands facing the sky like before. In the air where his hands trailed, a living, breathing rainbow of fire danced tauntingly in the air. The flames licked at the man’s skin and face but he remained unharmed. Blinking slowly, Heero knew he should be standing and running, but for some reason he found he couldn’t move. He blinked again, very slowly and stupidly, fading gaze settling on the rainbow of fire that the man was now playing with again.

As Heero watched, the man connected his hands palm to palm, careful to keep the rainbow in a bubble above his hands. The seconds his palms touched, the ends of the rainbow fire connected, creating a ring of black and red-orange flames that spun as if compelled. The man had his hands cupped beneath the ring of fire, an inch or two of air between his palms and the blaze.

Heero tried to force himself to stand but he couldn’t—he felt so weak for some reason. It was a losing battle just keeping conscious and CARING. As he watched the man raise an arm and aim the ring at Heero, the Japanese ex-pilot slid his eyes closed in defeat.

<Duo!> he whispered in his mind, <Duo, I wish I could have.... Gomen nasai, Duo....>

He didn’t have to open his eyes to know the ring of fire was on its way to meeting his unmoving flesh—the heat was so intense he could feel it from across the yard. The closer it got, the more it stung, the more it stole of the small amount of strength he could conjure. Sighing, he decided to have his last thoughts be of a laughing pair of amethyst eyes.

<Gomen ne... now I’M the one who broke his promise... my promise to find you and keep you....>

Heero felt the air itself almost burst on fire at the intensity of the flames so close to licking his skin.... But in his mind, violet eyes were shining and a small wistful smile sat on a pair of full lips.

/I walk the night/

Cressida ran faster, fear clenching at her heart. She knew she was going to be late!! She sprinted down another alleyway, willing herself to move faster, faster, faster until her legs felt like they were on fire with her effort and her lungs were almost bursting from pressure.

Still, she ran on.

/I walk the night/

Duo groggily shook his head, wondering why he was coming out of a good dream. He yawned, rolling off the bed and pushing himself up as he stretched and idly cracked his neck and back.

“Man, I’m tired,” he murmured sleepily, yawning again as he wandered to the window. As he approached he could already see that it was still night—which was strange, because he didn’t usually sleep at night anymore. Lately, he’d been sleeping at the peak of the day when he was at his weakest.

As he came closer he noticed with distracted interest that maybe the sun was rising after all because there was weird light coming in. Frowning, he
finally made it to the window and peered blearily out.

Immediately his eyes widened in shock.

Serafim was standing in the middle of the yard, doing something with that freaky ass fire he controlled. Duo opened the window the call out and ask what the hell he was doing out in the open like that when he noticed Serafim looked like he was talking and aiming at something. Following Serafim’s line of sight, Duo blinked slowly as he saw something (someone?) on the ground. He leaned out the window to get a better look, accessing his superior night vision. The image leapt into focus frighteningly fast, but at first Duo still didn’t understand.

Until he saw a crack of Prussian blue and a messy head of tousled hair.

Duo’s eyes widened as he felt his entire body grow cold. His heard hammered in his chest, his throat suddenly completely dry. Slowly, too slowly, he looked back at Serafim and was horrified to see him draw back the ring of fire, aiming it at Heero who for some reason was NOT FUCKING MOVING!

Duo was screaming “NOOOOOO!!!” as he blindly threw himself out the window, knowing as he began to fall that he was going to be too late, that there was
no way in hell he’d be able to get across the yard in time, and even if he did, what was he going to do?! His thoughts ran in a frantic jumble, confusing him more and slowing him down. He was to panicked to think rationally, too terrified to reason.

Suddenly Duo got a flash of amethyst eyes that seemed to shine silver and a woman’s comfortingly smiling mouth. The flash cleared his mind, and suddenly time was slowed for him. He focused on Heero, praying to every deity he knew (especially Shinigami) to give him the strength and speed to save Heero. Because if he was hit with that fire, there would never be a Heero again. Not even a soul.

As abruptly as the vision, Duo suddenly felt a wave of energy centering in his torso pulse out into the air. He could actually see the ripples of color flowing through space, turning everything into colors of the rainbow, only negative. Then, with a forceful pulse that pushed the air from Duo’s lungs, causing him to choke on his scream, Duo felt himself stretch like a rubber band, bending and twisting and rearranging.

With a crash to the air, Duo was suddenly in front of Heero, seconds before the ring of fire came. He spread his arms out protectively and focused all his being on protecting Heero, saving him from this fate. He didn’t care what happened to him, as long as Heero was safe and very much alive.

The ring of fire shrieked at Duo at an alarming rate, the heat of its inferno pushing against Duo like an oppressive second skin. He almost choked on the smoke, but he forced himself to concentrate. Somewhere in his mind, Duo vaguely noted that he could very well be killed since Serafim was a fellow Nightwalker. But Duo didn’t care. All he cared about was Heero. His friend. His... his _best_ friend. (1)

Inches before the fire actually hit Duo it encountered a dome shape forcefield that glowed a strange mixture of amethyst and crimson. The fire spread and flared around Duo and Heero like the fires of the heavens when something crashed through the Earth’s atmosphere. The grass erupted in short lived flames as the ring of fire continued to scream unabated.

Duo shuddered at the sound. The ring of fire literally WAS shrieking and screaming at him. He could almost hear the voices of thousands of broken whispers reaching into his mind, sobbing for mercy, screaming in fury. He gritted his teeth and continued to glare at the fire but his brief lapse in attention resulted in a fluctuation of the force field protecting him. The fire got closer, now mere centimeters from his cringing form.

Still, he refused to give up.

Serafim narrowed his eyes then suddenly shot another burst of fire to feed directly into the ring of fire. Duo slid back a few feet from the impact against the fire that hit his force field and shoved him. He felt his heels touch Heero’s still prone form and his anger suddenly became uncontrollable.

In a silently twisting circle that overlapped his force field (exactly as the shadows used to envelope him), Duo was wrapped suddenly in undulating silver and amethyst. The entire night went silent, not a sound, not even the shrieking of the ring of fire, making it past the new dead hush. Duo barely even glanced at the new dome, too angry to notice anything beyond his fury and hatred. Suddenly the dome shattered into millions of small rotating, free floating daggers of silver with glints of violet in the soft moonlight.

“Give. It. Up. Ser.” Duo growled out almost demonically.

Serafim looked vaguely surprised but he laughed as he shook his head. “You may think you’re strong, but there’s no way you can beat me! I’m a Dreamer
in a Nightwalker’s body. I have advantages from both sides.” He smirked. “You’re just a Nightwalker in training.”

Duo didn’t show any surprise at the Dreamer comment as he struggled to keep control of the daggers that wanted to rip into who he thought was his
friend. “I’m fucking serious,” Duo said in a deadly quiet tone, the only sound in the completely still night.

“I had you before, Duo, I can have you again. And I will.” Serafim narrowed his eyes lecherously, running his gaze up and down Duo’s trembling form. It was becoming harder and harder for Duo to stay in limbo with the daggers created but not used. They wanted to disappear into the air or rip into their enemy, not rotate in waiting.

“SERAFIM!” Duo ground out furiously, sweat beginning to cover his body as he struggled to keep control of the force field denying the ring of fire while he kept the daggers at bay.

“Cano, Duo. Serafim’s been dead for quite awhile now.” The bright green eyes glittered ominously in the night.

Completely surprised, Duo let his restraint on the force field go just enough to barely stop the ring of fire in time. Now there wasn’t even a centimeter between Duo and the force field that was holding off the blazing inferno. “I don’t care!” Duo yelled, feeling his body slipping further and further back under the pressure. Soon, if something wasn’t done, he was going to trip over Heero and kill them both.

“Your mother was almost as good a fuck as you,” Cano suddenly said thoughtfully as he gathered energy for another bolt of fire.

Duo lost the little bit of control he had left.

Instead of letting up on the force field, he loosed the whirlwind of daggers at Serafim’s form. They attacked like a sandstorm, each dagger like a silently screaming grain of sand that threatened to rip through any and all material it came in contact with.

Unfortunately that apparently didn’t include Serafim.

The daggers swirled uselessly around his form and he laughed merrily. “You’re just like she was, too. How amusing.” He gathered more energy, the air nearly bursting with power as he continued calmly, “But then, she met the same fate you will, once I’m through with you.” Duo felt drained beyond belief after the exertion of holding the daggers back and then the shock of seeing them do nothing. Slowly the silver-violet daggers faded into nothingness, leaving Duo to struggle with the ring of fire that was threatening to devour his soul. “You see, it’s worse with you, because you’re more rebellious. More fiery. Something your mother never had. She was very playful. And beautiful... Fates, was she beautiful.... But she never had that fire within like you do. And that’s the part that makes breaking you worth it.” He trailed off happily, as if speaking about the beauty of a painting.

Duo felt bile rise in his throat as he realized just what he’d been doing for the past year. Swallowing his nausea, he spoke through gritted teeth. “How do you know my mother, you fuckhead?”

Serafim smirked. “Everyone knew Willow, my dear boy. She was the most beautiful in all the lands. And also the most unattainable.” He narrowed his eyes, pausing in gathering the energy to glare hatefully at Duo. “She taunted everyone she came in contact with then danced out of their reach like a fucking fairy! She _deserved_ to be raped repeatedly and killed.”

Duo’s eyes widened in shock as realization hit him. “You killed her....” His hold on the force field slipped through his grasp as he realized who he was facing; the man who had made him an orphan. The man who had fucked with his head and then his body and now the one person Duo could ever love.

Something in Duo snapped with a vengeance, sending his vision into angry burgundy swirls. “YOU FUCKING KILLED HER YOU BASTARD!” The ground erupted in swirling violet vines that whipped around Serafim’s startled form. Duo no longer had control of his own actions—it was like he was watching from
outside his body, completely detached.

His pale hands molded the force field, which had miraculously not disappeared, forming it into a cup around the fire. Holding the fire and force field in one hand, Duo’s other hand turned palm to the sky. Erupting into existence was an undulating abyss of the deepest black. It rippled and swirled around itself lazily, like a predatory cat cleaning itself right before a kill.

Serafim’s eyes widened. “That’s....”

Duo narrowed his eyes, amethyst sparking to a deep fire. “Say goodbye, Cano,” he said sweetly just before he drew his arm back to launch the void at his enemy

Suddenly Cressida’s voice shrieked through the air, “NO! DUO! DON’T!!!”

Duo stopped himself just before he let go and turned in surprise to see Cressida sprinting toward them, someone close behind her. “Dori?” He cried incredulously.

She came to a skidding halt a few feet from the stand-off. “Don’t... Duo,” she panted, “That could... make things very... bad.”

Duo blinked stupidly. “What...?”

Suddenly fire was screaming at Cressida’s unprotected side. She looked over in surprise, drawing from within herself a field of protection, but she was too weak. Duo started to extend the force field to her but it was only half-way protecting her when the fire struck. It rebounded off the edge of the force field and began a quick spiral in toward Cressida, who was too shocked to do anything.

But before the fire struck, or even before Duo could react anymore, a bronze pillar spiraled into existence in front of Cressida. It was very nearly translucent, more a soft image in the mind than anything, but when the fire struck it, the pillar absorbed all its energy and suddenly pulsed with power. “Cressida!” yelled Cassidy suddenly, and Cressida turned just in time to see something shimmering fly at her. She reached up automatically and caught the item in her hand, immediately feeling herself completely permeated with her personal energy manifold.

With a slow smirk she turned to Serafim. “Duo,” she commanded, her eyes shining with life and her skin practically glowing golden, “Be prepared.”

Duo blinked but before he could ask anything, the bronze pillar compacted and shot with lightning-fast force at Serafim. He couldn’t dodge in time,
his skin and muscles burning away beneath the onslaught. He screamed and his voice suddenly sounded exactly like Cano’s. Duo turned large, confused eyes at Cressida but she was glaring importantly at him.

Suddenly he knew what to do.

Duo stared at the black mass in his hand, forming it and cooling it in the same motion. Within seconds he held a large bloodstone in the palm of his hand, with an unbreakable white chalcedony chain glinting in the dim light.(2) Smirking at Serafim, Duo effortlessly dissipated the ring of fire and force field with a flick of his wrist. He slowly started to approach the man who had taken so much from him and given nothing but pain and loneliness back. Cano/Serafim started to back away from the approaching boy but bronze and gold flared around his legs, pinning him in place.

Duo approached slowly, lazily, a burning smirk lighting his face and turning his eyes into smoldering amethyst fires that almost burned just to look at. “Cano, Cano, Cano,” Duo spoke lightly but his tone was lethal, “What –are- we going to do with you...?”

Cano swallowed, his eyes wide. “What –are- you?” he whispered.

Duo’s smirk got even more malevolent. “Just a training Nightwalker, according to you....”

Duo stopped directly in front of Cano who was now gathering energy for another attack. Duo narrowed his eyes and, with seemingly no in between movements, his empty left hand went from loosely dangling at his side to gripping Cano around the throat. His arm went straight through the beginnings of an energy build up, the power slithering around his crimson long sleeved shirt intimately. Cano’s eyes bulged as his breathing was cut short. “Leave my friend’s body,” Duo ordered in that same quietly, lethally calm voice.

Cano started to shake his head but Duo sent an energy pulse through his arm, directed at Serafim’s spine. The jolt of electric fire unbalanced Cano enough that Duo was able to dig his own magical grasp beneath Cano’s soul. Duo started digging at the hole, forcing Cano’s soul to unlatch from Serafim’s corpse. “You’re finally going to pay for your crimes,” Duo stated quietly, still pushing at the hole, “In a way you deserve.”

Cano was struggling valiantly but in the end Duo’s strength won out. Lightning fast, Duo wrapped his energy around Cano’s soul before it could escape or dissipate. He continued to speak calmly as Cressida and Cassidy walked on either side of him. Serafim’s corpse fell to the ground, the bronze and gold disappearing from his legs. “You may expect me to kill you, but I won’t sink to your level. Instead I’m going to teach you the lesson you never learned.”

Cano’s soul pulsed in fear as he felt himself getting pulled closer to the bloodstone Duo was holding out. “Everybody feels,” Duo said softly as he shoved the soul into the stone, sealing it immediately with silver fire that was joined after a moment by bronze and gold, “Even you.” Duo ended on a melancholy whisper, holding the pulsing stone in his grasp. Slowly he turned pained violet eyes to Cressida’s midnight gold. “Here,” he said softly, depositing the treasure in her shaking hands.

“Duo, I’m sorry—“ Cressida began but Duo shook his head.

“Hey... don’t worry. He’s your dad, not your responsibility. We don’t get to choose who we’re born to.” He shrugged uncomfortably, avoiding eye
contact with Cressida who only sighed heavily, slipping the necklace on.

Cassidy looked between the two nervously. “Hey, listen, I don’t know what’s going on or anything but I think maybe you need to help that guy over
there. He was looking kinda sick when you were....” But before she even had the chance to trail off, Duo had already bolted over to Heero’s side, sliding to a halt on his knees as he crouched over his friend.

“Heero!” Duo said urgently, swallowing bile when he saw how extensive the damage was to Heero’s back, “Heero! Can you hear me?”

Heero didn’t move.

Panicking, Duo felt for his heartbeat and found there was one, but very faint. He looked up desperately, meeting Cressida’s heavy, mournful gaze.

“Duo, I—I can—try, but—“ she hung her head in sadness.

“He used the Fire,” Duo said numbly as he looked at Heero’s still form, “I can’t believe he used that on him....”

Cassidy bit her lip. “Well, if we call an ambulance, can’t he get treated...?”

Duo drew Heero carefully into his lap where he crouched completely over him. His hands softly ran through Heero’s hair as tears began to fall from Duo’s eyes. Two sets of eyes watched with heavy regret as Duo silently cried.

Finally, Cressida said softly to Cassidy, “There is a Fire that few Nightwalkers can control that literally burns the mortality from a human. It’s very powerful and generally a form of attack on a fellow Nightwalker or Dreamer simply because it’s so extreme. To our flesh, it burns. To theirs, it... kills....” Cressida trailed off painfully, gripping her necklace for reassurance. “Duo. I’ll do my best, ok? Maybe if we link....”

Duo mumbled something into Heero’s hair.

“What?” Cressida asked gently.

“I want to talk to him. I don’t want him to die! PLEASE don’t let him die!” He was murmuring desperately, his hands clutching uselessly at Heero’s shirt.

Cressida knelt beside him and smiled. “I won’t, Duo. Not if I can help it.”

Duo smiled gratefully and let Cressida place calm hands on Heero’s temples. She closed her eyes and suddenly golden light erupted into soothing rippled beneath her fingertips. The light completely covered Heero’s head then began moving slowly down his entire body. Duo watched in apprehension then suddenly put his hands over Cressida’s. The light intensified, turning a silver-gold that moved twice as fast down Heero’s body. Slowly, the burned skin began to heal, but it was slow and difficult. Cassidy stood back, watching nervously. Suddenly she knelt down and touched one hand to the grass, the other placed on Heero’s heart. A bronze aura erupted around her crouched form and the three colors melded to one shining, beautiful hue that shimmered and sparked with life and peace.

Moments passed with nothing happening and slowly Duo started to feel fear creep into his heart. What if Heero died? What would Duo do...??

But just as Duo’s mind was about to go on overload with all the bad things that could happen, Heero’s eyes popped open, confused Prussian focusing
immediately on terrified amethyst. “HEERO!” Duo cried before he knew what he was doing. He threw himself at Heero and hugged him close, trying to eliminate all space between the two. Heero wearily lifted his arms and wrapped them around Duo’s back. Cressida beamed and Cassidy blushed. Immediately the two stood and backed off to give Heero and Duo some free time.

Heero tightened his grip on Duo, never wanting to let go, never realizing how peaceful and content he was just resting in the others’ arms. “Duo...” Heero began a little tentatively but very determined.

Just then the door to the house opened and Duo was glancing over his shoulder.

“Duo... ai—“ Heero began, studiously staring at Duo’s chest as he worked up the courage to talk. He didn’t notice the door but Duo did.

“In a bit, Heero. You really need to rest! GODS you scared the shit out of me! Don’t ever do it again, you baka!” Duo grinned at Heero who’s eyes
widened in surprise.

“No,” he said stubbornly. <Damn him! Why does he have to talk so much?? EVERY time I try to tell him he interrupts me!>

Duo looked at Heero in surprise then laughed, which soon turned to tears as he clutched Heero closer and buried his face in Heero’s shoulder. “Please don’t scare me like that again, Heero. Please be ok. I’m so sorry! I—“

“Duo.” Heero said firmly, hell-bent on getting his words out, “Aish—“

Duo’s palms were suddenly on Heero’s temples as he smiled. “No, Heero, what you SHOULD do, regardless of what YOU, Mr. Perfect Soldier think, is rest. You can do all that other stuff later.” Before Heero could speak he felt a flooding of peaceful energy drift comfortingly through his mind, and he was unconscious in a recovering slumber. Duo shook his head at Heero in amusement. <Bet he was gonna say “I should go write a report on this” or something.> He bit his lower lip as he sighed. <Baka.> But the word was so affectionate in his mind he winced.

Standing gracefully, Duo held Heero protectively in his arms as he wandered toward the front door. Cressida and Cassidy were looking down at the damage on the grass and speaking in soft, excited tones. Apparently neither noticed the door open, so Duo cleared his throat loudly. “Eh, girls? Can we get inside now? I’m gonna lay Heero down....”

Cassidy looked up first and nodded, walking over. Cressida was looking at something in her hands as she strode along. “Duo, I think there’s something strange with this grass. It doesn’t look like a Dre—“ She had just looked up to glance at Duo when she froze, staring at Bakari in complete surprise. “Ba... ka... ri...?” she whispered before she fainted.

Duo blinked in surprise down at Cressida then looked incredulously up at Bakari. “Uhhh....” he said brilliantly.

Bakari smiled softly down at Cressida, walking over and gently lifting her. He looked at the two remaining conscious guests and smiled. “Well then, I
guess explanations are in order,” he said calmly as he turned and walked into the house.

Cassidy and Duo exchanged looks. Duo spoke up first in a droll tone. “Gee, Bak, I guess they are.” Laughing quietly as he shook his head to himself. “Ya know, I’m looking forward to knowing what the hell is going on for once.” He grin-smirked.

Cassidy looked down at her hand, a faint imprint of bronze still on her skin. “Aren’t we all?” she asked softly, disturbed, as she followed behind Duo closely. “Aren’t we all....”

(1) This part is originally where I was gonna end the last part, but instead of such a soft ending it would’ve said “Duo leapt in front of the ring of fire that probably would end his life.” But then... I figured I’d get killed. And my evil, mischievous side died beneath my protective, self-loving side that didn’t want rabid fans chewing on my legs and gnawing off my shoestrings. *blink* Wow.. again.. I ruined the mood. Sorry. EVIL EVIL DEATH DEATH ANGST OOOO!!! *waves her fingers menacingly* There ya go! ^____^ Back in style ^_~

(2) In case you don’t know, bloodstone is a green stone with red spots randomly strewn in it, looking like blots of blood. Chalcedony, at least the one used in this fic, is actually white chalcedony—a creamy white, really pretty rock. More on the properties and why these were chosen later ^_~

TO BE CONTINUED....