Title: Kage Riku <The Shadowed Lands>
Author: kc-chan
Disclaimer: not responsible for acts of large dungeon and dragon dice hitting you, and that the Gundam boys ain't mine
Warnings? Yaoi, OOC, AU. Angst... and death and a whole bunch of flashbacks ^__^ Timothy Leary eat your heart out!
Spoilers: for the whole Gwing series.
Pairings: 2x5; Meirenx5; and 13xMeiren. . . Lilith x Trieze; 6x1x9; 3x4; and others that I probably forgot ^__^;;
Archive: You wanna post it on your site? Email me. . .
**NOTE** not all the spells in this piece are fully mine, they have been given to me by a friend Akumu ([email protected] ) as well as a thanks to her for having her roommate do translations from the LDs for me. There are places in here that dialogue was directly altered from the series. My whole goal was to make this a what if...? to the series. I think people are able to distinguish my dialogue and thoughts from those of the series. as to how close they are, they are a mix from me meddling with them, her translations and watching of the dub. The lines borrowed from the series are directly copyright to Bandai and are used without permission. Many of Relena's speeches are changed only slightly, due to the fact that why change the Peacecraft ideals. I snipped and edited the translation, but those are very much not my words.
Notes:
"<<speech in this denotes it isn't in English>>"
//flashback//
*astral speaking*
<<lyrics>>
Special Note of thanks to Cheshire-san ([email protected]) and Sapphire Rose-san!!!! ([email protected]) for beta-ing and proofreading!!

Kage Riku
[The Shadowed Lands... ]

By: Kc-chan

Chapter 3

Novus Ortus, Proditis, et quaesita Amare
(Rebirth, Betrayal and forced love)<1>

~~~~~'~~~@

Heero attempted to growl at the thing that he swore was Duo when he left of this mission. Duo, as he had known since he met the pilot had auburn hair, this... *thing* had fire red hair, loose, not in a braid, and a malevolent smirk, fangs, and a bunch of shapeless ooze that seemed to beckon and move at his whim... No... That wasn't Duo, that Heero knew.

And somehow the mission went entirely wrong. They were supposed to destroy Tallgeese and Zechs, not hard. That is until Duo and those black things caught and ensnared him. Heero wasn't sure if he should even worry about the fact that he had failed in his mission... Actually, he didn't give a shit about the mission just getting away. Duo had hurt him! His brain was still numb from some mind attack. He could feel the bruises forming, the blood on the side of his head, running down his cheek. But in all the times he had been captured, not once had he ever been bound and gagged so completely. A gag cut off all mouth movements, the damn thing had him tied up with his arms secured around his legs, knees inside them. He was curled into a sitting egg basically, making an escape near impossible... He growled again at the thing he thought was Duo...

"Calm yourself, As-mo-de-us-kun, you need to be polite to your host." Duo replied sing-song like, smirking down, and patting the mop of hair Heero had. Oh, he was boiling with excitement that his plans were beginning to shape up. Well, all of them but Wufei, but as he repeated, "It is only a matter of time..." He knew Wufei loved him and that Wufei needed him, otherwise he would have attacked him by now. And it wasn't like Wufei even knew how to be human, he had spent a near millennia as a daemon and sixteen years as a human. He shook his head, he had to remain clear in this situation...

Zechs walked into his study, he was tired, the White Fang obviously could not think for themselves! All day he was commanding, and he usually loved it but these soldiers... they infuriated him to know end! They didn't have the training Noin usually gave to the soldiers he had to deal with! He could feel the headache swelling. The only thing he wanted right now was some peace and ...

And stopped short at the sight of Gundam pilot 02, Duo Maxwell. Well, a creature that resembled the famed Duo Maxwell, the Gundam pilot, and growling and hissing bound Heero Yuy struggling next to him. "Pilot 02...?" he ventured. He swore he knew what the Deathscythe pilot looked like... He was sure that this was Duo... But highly estranged, or daemonic. No, perhaps, daemonic was a more apt description of the boy in front of him.

The pilots being here were in a manner, off putting. That Duo was there, completely calm and Heero was not. Heero was not calm by far. Judging by the way he kept hopping and struggling and there was something in those eyes. Something that thrilled him... Something he swore...

"Zechs-kun!! Long time no see!" Duo smiled cheerfully, meandering around the former Oz officer's office. He smiled at the look Zechs' gave him.

"How the hell did you get on board?!?" Zechs exclaimed, not caring at the surprise in his voice, nothing indicated they were here. He did not like to be taken by surprise. He knew exactly how superior this ships security was when compared to OZ's. And the Gundams would have appeared on the view screen immediately...

"Ohhh... Silly! I can always find you!" Duo giggled and patted Heero's head again.

"HMMMMMMMM!!!!" Heero screamed, thought it was quite muffled by the gag around his mouth.

"And why is your compatriot bound and gagged and why in nine hells are you in my office?!" Zechs demanded raising a gun to Duo's eye level. He didn't like the feel of the air... The situation. And he didn't like the fact his love... "My WHAT?!?!" he screamed mentally and corrected himself... It wasn't right for a *pilot* to be hurting like that.

Duo pouted, or mock pouted, "You wouldn't shoot me."

Zechs growled, "Don't bet on it." And fired.

The bullet slammed straight at Duo, but his shadows stopped it, and the bullet hit the carpet with a muffled ping. It was complete instant reply and Zechs stood, rooted and in a state of shock.

Silence captivated the room.

"You...You..." Images pounded and racked his brain. It wasn't feasible that Duo had done what he had done... it wasn't... it wasn't...

Zechs screamed in pain and fell towards the ground. Supporting himself with his arms, he panted to the plain rug. Pain... his head was on searing fire...fire...death and pain... and pain...searing...agonizing and hurting...

Duo smirked and walked casually over to the taller man, grabbing the gleaming blonde hair and yanking Zech's head back. "You don't shoot your master." He smiled as torture and pain smoked over the man's eyes. Ohhh... He felt somewhat bad, he would have loved to let them sleep, let them live... But he couldn't and they would have to understand...

Pain erupted into his blood, screaming and clawing at the rug. Shadows covered the walls to keep the screams from reaching any unwanted ears. A black ooze that fluctuated and waited their master's wishes. Watching the old ones rebirth. Watching them begin...

Heero choked back. He pushed away from the Tallgeese pilot, shuddering. "Zechs has gone mad..." he thought as he watched the older man toss and turn in complete agony. Those eyes...those damn eyes! Staring at him. He knew- Gods! He knew those eyes before he was born.

Horns erupted from the man's upper temples, curling back, looking a lot like a sexier version of goat horns. Ears lengthened and formed peaks at the end. Fingertips became claws and a long devil's tail uncurled from his bottom.

Heero mentally felt overwhelmed, the beauty and uniqueness of the man who possessed Zechs was overwhelming. He could barely control his sexual desires as they rose.

Duo smiled as he saw the tightness beginning to appear in the perfect soldiers tight pants. He turned to Zechs who was blinking in shock and bowed slightly, "Mephistopheles, the destroyer, welcome back." <2>

Zechs nearly fell over, he knew that name... he was... That was him. And with a sudden reassurance he stood and bowed back replying, "Sammael? Master?" and looked at Heero. Those were searing eyes, Zechs smiled at him and looked back at Duo...

Heero almost swallowed his tongue right there. Zechs called Duo his master?!?! "They have been on the same sides of the war... but... and that thing was calling Duo Sam...Sammael? Sammael?" it hurt to think...

Zechs caught sight of Heero's gaze and smiled evilly. "I see you have found my servant."

A muffled scream in protest came from Heero.

Duo laughed, "Well, I need him to be awaken... It seems as if your servant doesn't agree with that name." And he picked up the bound Heero and walked over to Zechs, letting the Wing pilot slam onto his tushy as he hit the floor with a thud.

Heero screamed again in vain. He could never really remember ever being truly *scared*. Now, he was now *terrified*. He knew he was shaking. The Japanese boy didn't want to be left by Duo in the hands of the enemy... especially not Zechs.

That same said man knelt before him and gently lifted the his face.

Zechs held back a small sigh. It was upsetting that his servant didn't remember him. It was very strange, but he could remedy that. It could hurt the boy, but leaving him in this emotionally dead form would be worse than death to his lover...

Duo chuckled, "I am afraid I must take my leave. Tomorrow, I trust Heero will have awakened. But right now I must tend to the others. I leave the job of Aka Manah to you as well, Zechs. Fare thee well." And with that the dark, moving shadows wrapped around their master and took him away leaving Heero with uncertain dread.

~~~~~'~~@ @~~'~~~~~

Wufei walked down the hall towards the kitchen. Stifling a small yawn, he sleepily blinked. It was his turn to cook breakfast, though he felt like hell literally ran him over. And now the growing awareness of what or more keenly, who Duo was. His former feelings, his former life as both Vrita and Apaosa were fresh in his mind. "How in nine hells am I to deal.. with...th..." he stopped when he noticed Duo, Quatre, and Trowa bustling around the kitchen.

Nothing would be odd about this, say that they were acting completely normal. And Trowa was cooking...Again.

"Um... Morning?" he tried his head hurt... His body hurt... And he was hurting with what took place last night, caught between a dream and reality. Wanting, yet, hoping it wasn't real. Though... Duo was in him... *Took* him... He shook his head. There were things he just couldn't deal with right now.

Quatre turned and smiled, "Morning, Wu-chan! How did you sleep?"

Something wasn't right, and something was very, very wrong. First, Quatre sounded wicked. Evil and malicious, not sweet and nice. Trowa was cooking. Trowa hated cooking and would gripe on the pilot who missed cooking duties...

And Duo was smirking at him like everything was perfect with the world; running his eyes over what Wufei knew was a sexual undressing of his body...

"Morning Wu-chan!" Duo smiled and strutted over to the confused boy. Oh, his Vrita was beautiful. He hooked both arms around the boy and pulled him close. Duo loved this one, so loved this boy. His fallen knight.

Quatre shrieked with laughter at the look on Wufei's face. Sweetly priceless. Shock and lust... Those beautiful things on Vrita's face! The American pulled Wufei completely against him and pressed his lips to the boys neck, lips brushing earlobes and nibbling at leisure.

Trowa chuckled and went back to cooking, "Dead or near dead?" he asked Wufei who was trying to be indiscrete about removing Duo from his waist. Bright red as Duo kissed him on the lips, he meagerly nodded. Trowa chuckled some more, Vrita always brought out the best in their Master...

Then it dawned on Wufei's passion-numbed mind what the silent pilot had asked him. "Nani?!?" Wufei blinked and looked confused at the Heavyarms pilot cooking.

"Meat? Do you want your meat dead, or no?" Trowa answered like it should have been known.

"Undead!!" Quatre chanted twirling around the kitchen stopping to peck his lover on the cheek.

Wufei blinked. It slowly dawned on him... They... They were reincarnated together like nothing had changed. Quatre was Moloch. Trowa was Dumah. Duo was Sammael... He wondered if Heero had befallen his fate yet.

One thought came from nowhere - he had to leave. And it had to be *now*. He was going to get redemption. Never again would be weak.

The Chinese pilot thrusted an elbow into Duo's ribs and took off.

"Get him!" Duo hissed as his shadows began to creep to chase down the boy.

"On it!" Quatre shouted, only a few paces behind the fleeing boy. Trowa a few steps behind the blonde.

"You... You are not getting away Vrita. You are _mine_!" Duo hissed as he stood. Purple eyes began to follow the boy's movements through the shadows.

~~~~~'~~@ @~~'~~~~~

Heero whimpered as those larger hands unbound him, stroked him and unclothed him. The trembling couldn't stop. Over and over he kept repeating his mantra - He didn't want this...

Zechs cooed and patted his toy... His servant and lover. "Asmodeus?" he purred into the smaller pilot's ear. "I hate to hurt you... just let it go..."

Heero shuddered and gasped, trying to pull away as Zechs took a hold of his manhood. "Let...Let me go!!" he shrieked.

"This is not like you...Heero." Zechs said, rather unhappily. The Sank prince didn't think he would have to, but... He stripped the boy of all clothing, exposing a petit but smoothly muscled body to the pale morning light...

The sun seemed to creep over those muscles, illuminating them in heaven's light. "Time to awaken and come to me, servant. My little lover."

Heero hissed and spat out, "I am not your servant, kisama!"

The blonde merely chuckled and slowly started teasing the boy's manhood. Stroking in gently then roughly, pressing his lips to Heero's neck...His other hand teasing the poor boys nipples.

Heero shuddered as he felt himself clenching... He *had* to have more control over his body than this!! Knowing he had been trained from practically birth, he was suppose to know how to deal with these situations!! So why couldn't he remember any of it!??!

His head arched back into the touch of the older pilot, one hand teasing his penis till he wanted to explode the other tracing patterns of ecstasy along his chest, his nipples hardened and a desire in him building as those lips captured every thought...

~~~~~'~~@ @~~'~~~~~

Wufei struggled to maintain his balance as he spirited down the halls, racing towards his bike. The only thought racing through his thoughts was that he *had* to escape...

Skidding through a door, conveniently dodging one of the blonde's punches, he decided his objective was no longer just escaping. It was escaping alive.

"Fuck the bike! I've got to get to Shenlong... Nataku save me..." he whispered as he swiftly avoided Sammael's fire attack and scrambled towards to front door, in hopes of reaching his Gundam to escape...

"The forest!" screamed the shadows, informing Trowa, Duo, and Quatre where to head to.

Wufei slammed into a broad wing that sent him flying though the wall and landing barely conscious in a pile of plaster and wood.

Trowa glared down, the master wanted the boy alive and relatively unharmed. He summoned his sword to his hand, he had to control the little knight.

Wufei scampered back, clawing for anything, "Trowa stop it!" he screamed, shaking with fear... After all, he reminded himself, he was still human... They could hurt him. A lot.

The French boy moved closer and closer, not speaking, just watching. Burning eyes watching his prey.

And Wufei was reminded why Trowa was referred to as the silent angel. It was worse than anything looking at an angel who could kill without contempt. Who would kill like the said angels of old- in cold blood. Wufei closed his eyes and used his strength as Vrita to call his weapon.

The L3 pilot stepped back in surprise as Wufei lunged at him, with a sword... He had forgotten that the Chinese youth would have access to his divine majik in that form. The blade struck its target and Dumah started screaming as the blessed blade collide with his wing.

Wufei didn't wait to find out how badly he had hurt Trowa... No. The *thing*.

There was only one thought now, and that was to escape. He didn't want to think about hurting a fellow pilot... friend... He wanted to escape...

Quatre rounded the corner to see his love be struck by that accursed knight's blade. Trowa hissed and stood, "I am fine. But he won't be."

Duo seeped up from the ground, "Vrita. Stop it."

Wufei glared at him, surrounded by shadows, looming around him waiting to strike...

~~~~~~~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~~~~~

Heero screamed as Zechs pushed himself mercilessly into his hole. He convulsed in rapturous pain... it hurt... it hurt... it hurt...

Zechs continued his assault, grinding himself into the tight little brat.

Heero panted, "Yam..Yamatte!!" He was hitting white fuzziness and Zechs slammed against a certain spot, and Heero screamed like he was being torn apart inch by inch...

Zechs released and watch his lover come back after all this time, rolling, crying, and sobbing... It was hurting the boy...

Heero stopped trying to hide the sobs and released everything, pain, hurt, death, sorrow and reached for anything to console him... He was being torn apart.

Zechs pulled the boy into his lap, soothing the boy, his lover, his Asmodeus... "Shhh... I am here..."

And Heero just believed it...

Zechs smiled as the boy relaxed and the changes began; he didn't want his lover to hurt anymore...The boy was too fragile.. Too beautiful.

Small horns emerged on the boys temples, not very large, claws and blue turquoise hue colored his skin till it reached his elbow. Then small faery wings of blacks and human blood reds spilled from that war scarred back.

"'Topheles... I hurt..." a small weak sounding voice muttered. Not sounding at all like the Heero he was. But a boy who just wanted to be held...

Zechs stroked the boys mop of brown hair, "Yes, Heero... I know... I will take it away... but let us clean you, we must meet up with a certain master of ours. Do you remember yet?"

Heero blinked, "Sammael... Sammael is our master. 'Topheles? Hold me a little longer, please?"

Zechs smiled and obliged his lover, after all Heero was the patron of passion, pleasure, and sensuality. And the lords knew, Heero was still breath taking in appearance...

~~~~~'~~@ @~~'~~~~~

Wufei struggled through the last of the shadows, breaking into the meadow and climbing up into his Gundam.

"Get him!!" Duo screamed, but Wufei revved the power and took off.

Quatre hissed at the spot the accursed machine had been in, Trowa held his lover and Duo.

"You are _mine_ Vrita. You are _mine_..."

~~~~~'~~@ @~~'~~~~~

"Miss Relena?" a voice asked from the door.

Relena turned from her window watching and nearly fell over from shock... << Neamhan... my goddess Bridgit... Mai Ran...>> <3>

A slim, beautiful woman embraced Relena, "My old friend, it seems we have awoken to dark times. How are you Relena, my precious Bean Si?" <4>

Relena smiled and nodded <<I am fine, adjusting to my new body and lack of voice again, at least for the next few days. >> tears fell freely, <<This world... What have those monsters down to it...>>

Meiren stroked the girl's hair, "I swear I will see them all and their damned master on stakes... rotting away."

Sally burst though the door alerting the two woman to her direction, "Meiren... Miss Relena..."

Meiren stepped forward, "What is it Sally? What news brings you here like this?"

Sally wanted to burst out in glee. "He is ours! He didn't betray us!!"

Relena blinked, <<Who?! Fand, dear Sally, WHO?>> <5>

Sally chuckled, "Wufei..."

Meiren smiled, "My Vrita... my knight..." She embraced Sally, "Take me to him."

Sally bowed, "Yes, my queen. And you, Miss Relena."

~~~~~'~~@ @~~'~~~~~

Wufei struggled to remain still. He had found them! He had assumed Relena was the Woman of Peace, it was only to be expected, and that Sally was here and had healed him was wonderful.

Meiren stood outside her love's door, "Goddess Diana, I have wanted this moment. You are mine forever, my Vrita. Mine." and she opened the door.

Wufei, expecting Sally looked up with a smile and blinked. "Oh...oh gods... Meiren!! My loving gods and Diana... my queen..." his thoughts blurred and he rushed forward.

Meiren fell into Wufei's embrace. Oh gods, did it feel amazing! Her knight was hers and she could finally destroy the Prince of Daemons. "Wufei, goddess, my Wufei..."

Wufei buried his head into the top of her head, inhaling her scent, her being, his heart... "Goddess, how I have wanted to hold you again!! Forgive me?"

Meiren smiled sweetly, "One can never hope to beat a daemon alone, my sweetest..."

Wufei smiled down at her, still holding her afraid she would disappear. "Alone? Never, but with you I will do anything and win... Gods, Meiren..."

Meiren smiled, "Your death is now sealed Daemon Sammael. He is mine." Her thoughts were tinting red as those words were whispered. So it was written, so it was decreed, and so it would be...

Slowly they pulled apart and Sally cleared her throat, "As much as I am sure you are thrilled to see her, Wufei, you should eat."

"Of course." And he pulled his lady's hand to his lips in a gentle kiss, "Later..."

Meiren sighed, "Later..." And before he closed the door she reached out and touched his hand and asked with worry, "You won't leave me, will you?"

Wufei blinked and smiled, "Never again shall I be parted from you, my lady..."

Meiren held his hand to her cheek, "Promise?"

Wufei kissed her cheek, "I promise, Meiren... I promise..."

Meiren smiled up at Wufei, "I love you, my sweet knight... my prince... My Vrita."

Wufei blinked but blew a kiss back. "I love..." his mind whispered. He loved her. How long did he wait for that moment? "But when she said my name... How come I wanted Duo's lips to say it? Gods! What is wrong? I should be thrilled, so how come that damn daemon haunts my every thought?! Damn you Sammael! Must you preoccupy me forever?!"

~~~~~'~~@ @~~'~~~~~

Once Wufei and Sally's steps disappeared from the hall, Meiren teleported back to Relena's suite.

<<Does he-?>> Relena started, turning to Meiren.

"No. He is mine." Meiren smiled, and gathered up her and Wufei's moment. "And I think I should impose that moment on a certain daemon, to let him know his fate is sealed, and that Vrita is _mine_."

Power lit the room, as the memory wrapped itself into a spell and floated towards its destiny. Leaving the two woman alone, with the dark light still casting an eerie glow upon their faces...

~~~~~'~~@ @~~'~~~~~

Duo looked to the night sky. He had met with his servants, nearly all were finally awake, and had sent Heero and Zechs to fetch Aka Manah. Quatre and his lover, Trowa were in bed already...

His fists clenched against the cool wood as his forehead met the clear glass of the window. "Vrita..." he whispered. He had lost his love.

A small glow appeared in the room and he slowly turned to it.

"I haven't seen one of these since the sealing of... oh gods... The majiks of the Order of Virtues. Shit." He touched the orb, knowing it was bound to be the words of that wench Mai Ran, or Meiren, as she was now.

//// Meiren sighed, "Later..." And before he closed the door she reached out and touched his hand and asked with worry, "You won't leave me will you?" ////

"Sick display. For what reason does she send this?" he muttered watching her speak at the orb. Then his face fell into shock. "Vrita..." fingers passing through the orb as he reached to touch his love.

////Wufei blinked and smiled, "Never again shall I be parted from you, my lady..."////

"Gods... Vrita... Damn you! You are _mine_! You are..." Duo's words were whispers as he watched the scene play.

////Meiren held his hand to her cheek, "Promise?"

Wufei kissed her cheek, "I promise, Meiren... I promise..."

Meiren smiled up at Wufei, "I love you, my sweet knight, my prince, my Vrita."////

Duo slammed his forces of shadows and let them consume the globe. Destroying it. "You BITCH!!!!" he screamed into the room, tears gathering. That bitch took his love!! It was *his* Vrita!! He loved Wufei! She never did! But his promise... His promise was sealing the fates. He would have to be killed and it was Wufei who was sending him there...

Quatre and Trowa looked on from the doorjamb as Zechs and Heero appeared beside them, watching their master vent his frustrations...

"Master?" Trowa whispered, breaking what seemed to be complete void of silence.

"Those bitches are declaring war on the world!! I should have guessed it." Duo hissed.

"Who, master?" Heero asked clutching to his lovers arm.

"The Order of Virtue, the newly awoken Almadel." Duo hissed, eyes glowing violet in inferno bend rage.

"The angels in the Crystal? They are awake?" Quatre muttered. They were in for it now.

Duo glared out the window, "Have you completed your task, Mephistopheles?"

Zechs swallowed and beckoned Aka Manah to step in.

Duo replied to the woman's presence without turning around. "My forgiveness Aka Manah, for awaking you so quickly. But there is a urgent matter now, if those thrice cursed imbeciles have awoken then General Trieze Krushranada will be asked to join them soon. If that happens, my order, my rule is going to get a lot harder."

Noin stepped into the light, "And Apaosa, my Lord? We, forgive my bluntness, we aren't whole without him."

Duo clenched his eyes shut, "Thank you Aka Manah. I know. But, I will deal with him. Till then we are going to stop this cursed war from escalating. Zechs and Noin, you are to go in to Krushranada's OZ. If he will not join us, kill him." He turned to Heero, "You return to space, I want those colony's protected."

The three nodded, "Yes ,sir." and teleported away.

"Quatre, you and Trowa will continue here, and will get and gather the doctors. I need my council and that is all." Duo ended.

Trowa headed towards his room, stopping when Quatre didn't follow.

"I will catch you up." the reply came and Trowa continued.

Quatre walked into the room that was flooded with the moonlight, "Master?"

Duo glared at him, "I gave you an order."

Quatre blinked and nodded then whispered, "Don't kill yourself. We need you to win..."

Duo nodded, "I won't die. You can't kill death!" And watched as Quatre walked out and closed the door.

Duo walked back to the bed and with his face in the spread cried. "Vrita! How could you betray me?!?! Vrita..." and sobbed himself to sleep.

Notes:
<1> Novus Ortus, Proditis, et quaesita Amare (Rebirth, Betrayal and forced love)
<2> Mephistopheles: the destroyer. Smooth talker, w/ an elegant manner. Unique tact of entertaining and is the prince of deceit.
<3> Neman/ Neamhan: war goddess
<4> Bean Si: "faery woman" or Woman of Peace.
<5> Fand: goddess of healing and pleasure