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 5/?

Spirito in pulmos... cruoro in venaes
(my breath in your lungs... my blood in your veins...)
~~~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

She started clawing at the debris surrounding her. Completely encased, surrounded by metal from the wreck. Sharp ears could here Relena whimpering and holding her haughty act till the end. 'Damned girl' her thoughts whispered.

Another voice rose to her hearing, a deeper voice, one carrying an older weight to it.

"Shit!!!" Dorothy screamed. They didn't need that bitch here! Not now!! The Bean Si was helpless in close fighting... With a final slam against the metal she tumbled out of the wreck.

Moloch turned with his evil grin plastered on that innocent face. He just chuckled and walked towards her. Steps sure and steady, evil spewing from him in every direction. She was as good as dead, but she couldn't... not yet... ! She had to fight that thing-

"Well heeellllo sweet and innocent lil Segomo! How is my favourite lil war goddess?" the sweet voice dripped with udder revulsion.

Dorothy choked as a swift arm thrusted at her neck, and small-clawed fingers lifted her off the ground. "You... sorstis et ... sorstis audire mea ad se vo-... vocare..."<1>

Tightening his grip, the small blonde boy snarled. "None of *that* please. Besides you can't cast when you're unconscious."

One single movement and all she saw before millions of pins slammed into her mind was brick. Gods! Gods the pain... She barely could feel her left shoulder stinging in agony. Her head hit the ground, only echoing in her mind. A sickening thud that seemed to echo across the black void of her mind. She couldn't even say the name of the woman she was supposed to protect. "Relena... forgive me..."

She let herself slip into the warm of blackness surrounding her. Those voices seemed so far. Beyond her plane of existence now...

Are we to think that humans can survive in this day and time without the use of weapons?" Was that... that was *that* daemon's voice! What was his name... Moloch? Yes that was it! What did he mean.... She didn't understand... What was that daemon rambling about...

"Innocents are not to shed their blood for a lifeless cause. We will fight against your kind, daemon!"

Oh! She knew that voice. Sun on the meadows of the isles, her Relena. That sure strong voice that demanded attention... cut off forever with a shriek.

Dorothy couldn't find the strength to open her eyes, yet she could almost feel the pain Relena was going through.

"And to those who know nothing of peace? What will you do with them? Cast them aside and let them drift without a cause? The world is not some mindless toy for you to play with according to your whims. Peace never exists because humans are not a peaceful animal."

It must be that woman, if one could call it that. Daemons were sexless things, striving only on the pleasures of evil. To even grace that thing with a sex was immortal... Gods!! What were they doing to Relena? Why couldn't she stand up? Why weren't her limbs responding to her commands?

Gods!!! She was to be the one being hurt... Relena had to live... Dorothy could hear the pain etched in that once perfect voice, gasping for air, rasping with torture. "We can make them see the truth!!"

A place in the Bean Si's dreams.

. "That's right... Mindless cattle who have lost a whim to bow to you harpies in your false complete peace. That is not what humanity is." NO! NO! NO!!! That daemon brat and his lies! They were on the right side!! How could he even think daemons could achieve good and peace in human realms?

"Please... Relena stop his lies...." She whispered wishing her lips would part for her to say those words... Moloch. The Hebrews used that word. Liar? Bastard...? Either one was describing that daemon.

Silence...

They...

What was happening?! Gods, she needed her strength to stand and open her eyes...

"We are the truth... We are their hope... We will achieve total peace... " Chocked and whispered. So far... So distant and cold. She felt a flame in her heart flitter away, leaving no trace that it was ever there...

They...

They had killed the Bean Si.

No glorious scream to the dead. No. 'The gods can not have abandoned her... not now!!!' the blonde girl's minds cried out.

"Yes, humanity will gain their peaceful times, but not through Neamhan. Not through the Order of Almadel. *We* will bring it, final peace that is. No song of morning Banshee. No mournful screams for me?"

"What about the other?"

Oh how she prayed for deliverance now.

"Dorothy? Duo never said, best to leave her... "

No...

She opened her eyes to haziness, seeing the last of their teleport. "NO!!! KILL ME YOU DAEMONS!!!" she sobbed as strength returned to her body.

Slowly, so painfully, the world spinning and turning as she tried to find Relena. "Please still be alive!! Please, don't be dead! Relena?! Do you hear me?! Gods, please..."

The trail of blood spread across the dead gray stone. Stumbling and hitting the ground more than once, she crawled and dragged her wretched body to the dead.

And was not prepared for the scene...

"RELENA!!!!" she screamed to the cold, unfeeling ruins. Looking at the lifeless corpse she turned around and lost the contents of her innards... The smell of death too strong to deal with. *Her* death was too much to deal with.

Chocking up her lunch, Dorothy crumbled onto the ground, finally working the nerve to face the body. Or, what was left of it. The once beautiful and proud girl, lay in strew in shreds. Limbs pulled from the body, eyes gouged out... Scalped and broken. No pretty picture now. Not the death one should wish for others...

Sobbing to the skies, the cracked and rain spewed down from the heavens, morning the loss that day. A too high price to pay for world peace. Dorothy clumsily touched the blood smeared locks. Sobs broke free from her throat, tears hit the body, trying to clean away the death beset upon her...

"Forgive me Relena... I never told you..." With one last sob she reached forward and pressed her lips against the princesses. Cold and still, not a remnant of the flame Dorothy wanted to feel. Trembling she pulled away and stood. In her mind she swore Aka Manah and Moloch were going to die just as, if not more so, pain than her love. "Mark my words Moloch... I will make you pay. I will make you pay so dearly... You will watch as I steal your love from you. I will force you to watch me de-moral him! This is my promise to you! Do you hear me?!"

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

Noin laid on the soft silk, ravishing in the feel of water sliding over her legs. She found it amusing that Moloch would have such, she searched for the word, *pleasant* d�cor. Whites and silvers didn't seem to suit the little hell spawn. Then again neither did that angel he was always cuddling. *That* pair had always earned themselves a second glance. Sure they were cute almost cavity forming sweet together, and she could actually accept that from an angel... Even the angel of Death himself. But Moloch?

Turning over, eyes dancing in the candlelight. Strange that she actually accepted the invite from the brat. They never got along more than a few curt words...

"Well, it seems as though these modern times make sedimental fools of us all..." she slid off the comfortable sheets and walked around the room. Heart still in unrest, she saw double windows gentle and soft moonlight dancing through transparent gauze.

"Mephistopheles..." she whispered, walking to the large window opening onto an even larger balcony. Tears gathering at the corners of her eyes, she tried to will them away.

She slammed her fists down onto the railing, wincing slightly at the shocking pain that rippled up her arms at the sudden impact. Hitting marble wasn't probably one of her better thoughts but she was worried and upset and...

It was no use anymore! Her legs slowly gave out, sliding onto the cool marble floor of the balcony. Chilly against her legs, muscles tensing at the shock in the temperature change, and finally her hands slammed against the marble over and over as she gave into the sobs that were lodged in her throat.

"Mephistopheles! How could you leave me alone you spurius ... pulcher dominus... " She sobbed into unfeeling hard floors. Hands pounding into the stones in direct parallels to her sobs. <2>

Heero stood by the windows watching Aka Manah sobbing in the moonlight. He felt the same, though he would only break in front of Zechs, never anyone else. Not the hysterics Noin was in. pathetic.

He sighed with the wind, then again he did get _one_ night with their master, and while she had none not that she had deserved their master's love...

Silence echoed for long moments only her sobs and the sighing wind heard...

"You always did look good on silk..." a soft, husky voice came from her entrance.

She looked up, strappy piece of lace sliding down some, wisping slightly over full breasts... quickly wiping any trace of tears from her eyes. After all she wouldn't want to show weakness in front of Zech's favourite, now would she?

Heero smiled and waved a hand in dismissal, "Too late..."

Noin bared her teeth in an attempted snarl. Standing up and quickly fixing herself and stormed past the all too innocent looking brat standing on her balcony. "Piss off."

Heero blinked. Usually his presence brought the "I want you to jump me and let me be your slave" from people's mouths. He turned and leaned forward a bit into the room and replied back in a strange yet sadistic singsong manner, "You know, I don't think I have ever revoked that action from anyone but you, Aka Manah... strange isn't it?"

"Could it be because I find you to be nothing more than a worm?" she sneered at him.

"A worm? You little bitch! You're such a whiny bitch!" Heero growled back at her.

The two were caught in a stare down a sphere of majik resting in Heero's hand and Noin twirling a majik dagger ready to strike. The heat of their glare practically sparking fire. There they stood for a few moments... long moments sizing each other up.

Finally, Heero just dissipated his sphere and rolled his eyes, " Wouldn't want to even waste it on you."

Noin blinked in surprise and hissed, hand stopping the twirling blade and clutching down on it to where her knuckles began to turn white. "_Excuse me?!?_"

Heero turned, grinning from ear to ear, knowing she would get even more pissed off. She was so predictable. And casually he called over his shoulder, "You aren't worth the effort to fight, Noin." Oh he could almost feel her anger...

Noin narrowed her eyes, the little brat... the little manipulating brat... she smiled baring her fangs slightly and asked calmly, "Are you saying you don't have the balls to stand up to me, Asmodeus?"

_That_ got his attention. He turned quicker than one could on the edge of a knife and hissed, the air around him crackling with dark energies. "What did you say?"

Noin trotted back, smiling at nailing him with her verbal come back, "No wonder Zechs must have reawakened you soooo easily. Not what we use to be, eh? No more 'perfectus parvus militis'..." then stopping and haughtily looking at his manhood snickered, "Well, maybe it is a perfect _little_ something." <3>

The air burst into flames around him... _that_ woman... that gods cursed woman. He stormed over to her and hissed darkly, "We were completely happy until you came along!"

Noin growled back, "What?!? You insolent cur! I was around long before you were even big enough to be some hell spawn!"

Heero snarled up, right back at her, "Oh yeah, and how long was I around before he and I were hitting the sack? He never noticed you till _I_ mentioned you were almost cute. You were absolutely nothing you little trollop. He only has sex with you because you are a toy to him!!! Fucking entertainment!!"

Noin belted him. She reared back and let all her emotions free when her hand connected with his jaw. He fell smack down on his ass, hand to cheek staring up at her in shock. Noin had never hit him. Even in their worst of fights, she never actually _laid_ a hand on him.

He looked at her. She was shaking uncontrollably, he couldn't tell if it was from her anger, rage, or hysterics. Tears flowing down her cheeks, eyes a blaze with hate and fury. Sobs that were lodged in her throat were bubbling up.

"You bastard!" she sobbed, shaking uncontrolably. "You fucking bastard!"

"Aka Manah..." he whispered, not even sure if it was audible. He had never seen her like this. This was... he didn't know what it was, but he didn't like it directed at him.

"Shut up!! Shut up!! Shut up!! SHUT UP!!!" She sobbed slowly slipping to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. "Do you even know what it is like to be a succubus and not be able to seduce the one thing you want the most!?!? Do you have any idea of _how_ long I wanted him to even fucking _notice_ me?!?! And all you had to do was smile! Fucking smile!! Where as I could walk in front of him naked and he wouldn't even notice.... He never noticed me..." and with that last whisper of hate and fury spat out she gave into her tears and cried, curling to touch her head to her knees.

Heero sat there in mute shock. Oh he wanted to bite his tongue now. He didn't mean it... it never meant any harm... but he was jealous because, to put it blankly even in bed they would fight for his attention. That they proved that it was possible to have three way sex and only notice two people there, themselves and Zechs.

"That's not true..." Heero whispered looking at her.

"Yes it is!! He doesn't care about me!!! You said you're self he only sees me as a fucking toy!!!" she screamed back at him.

"Listen to me..." Heero began inching closer to her.

She pushed him away, "No you listen! You don't what its like! Everything comes to you so easy!"

"I'm sorry." He said. Looking at her, trying to catch her gaze.

"Wha-?" she looked up and got snared in cool Prussian blue orbs, gleaming with something she never expected from him. Sadness.

"I'm sorry." He repeated a little stronger this time. He slowly touched her, hands and fingers wiping the tears from her eyes. "Without that chip on your shoulder, you really look rather pretty."

Before she could answer he dragged her onto his lap, just holding her. He never thought she was pretty before... but he never saw her like this... vibrant, emotional, and literally, acting like the scared thing she was. He remembered stories from childhood, from the elders of his clan about her.

She was always feared, a hatful girl... once human, and brought under one of the hell masters. Scared and abused for years, till Mephistopheles took her away, and by then she had too much daemon blood in her to be human, so his master turned the girl into one of his servants, tainted, but one of his.

All she was; was a scared girl. He pressed his lips to hers. Warm, soft and tasted of roses and white wine... sweet and fresh. He nipped until she parted those full lips and he darted his tongue into her mouth... so warm... so sweet. He hadn't tasted her for such a long time... jealousy and fighting for their master's attention drove a stake between them.

Noin moaned into his mouth as she felt fingers tease her nipple and strong hands massage her breast. His tongue flaming in her mouth... he tasted of spring and rain... like the tartness and freshness of the mountains after the rain. Almost without thought she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned up into the kiss. Pure need and desire.

Heero moaned as he felt those arms slip almost hesitantly around his waist. He softened the kiss, gentler and more passionate though he could feel himself growing hard as soft fingers teased his spine and slipped off his shirt.

Their lips parted to let them gasp in a breath and to his surprise a small blush had produced itself across her cheeks. "Adoranda... " He whispered brushing full lips over her small neck. A giggle bubbled from her throat, sweet and almost as innocent as the first time they made love. <4>

Noin nipped at that neck, gods, they had fought for centuries and biting each others heads off because they needed their master but to actually try and find relief in each others arms. They... they had never tried that. It had never crossed her mind. He was beautiful in his incubus form, taking on a hazy almost glowing skin tone, full lips, eyes. That childish body taking on the lust greater than any males in his eyes, such a hunger and she was going to show him how to make love...

Heero let his lips drift from that high neck to those shoulder bones, pressing against that peachy and glowing skin. He had never witnessed the beauty of her legend first hand. Stories always remarked of her beauty. Never did he see it with the master and him. Zechs probably saw it alone, but she never had showed him.

Her slim fingers worked their way along his chest, tickling and teasing. full lips sucking on his nipples. Gods. He now knew why she was a legend. He pulled back and slid that silky nothing off of her, revealing such a beautiful body underneath. Glowing and sparkling.

He pinned her underneath him, undressing himself and slid himself into her, enjoying the warmth and wetness that beckoned him. She moaned in pleasure. Hips jerking up to meet his. Buckling and jerking till their movements became one.

Both drowning in the pleasure they were causing. It swirled around them, excess power dripping from them. As he slid in and out of her, sending her mind into white-hot fire. He gasped at the rapture coursing through him until she screamed and climaxed and he followed.

He caught himself and rolled to the side, hands around that slim waist and rolling her on top of him. Beautiful. This was what Sammael had meant. He let his pride step in the way too many times. He traced her shoulder and arm, feeling the soft skin smoother than silk. Like satin.

She pressed her lips to his once again. They needed each other as much as they needed their master. Gods. She felt so warm. And snuggling into that secure embrace she tucked her head into the space between his neck and broad shoulders. Sighing in happiness.

He brushed his hands through that mop of hair she had. Beautiful. Divine. Perfect. And holding her closer, he laid his head against her head and drifted into slumber as well.

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

Meiren sighed and brushed the curtains away from the window... she felt the death of the Bean Si... some protector Dorothy was, but she had expected it, why else would she had taken a different vehicle. An almost evil grin crossed her face.

A hesitant knock on her door moved her back from her thoughts.

"Neamhan?" a voice came in, drifting almost inaudibly through the thick wooden door.

Meiren sighed and called out, "enter Badhbh..."

Catherine stepped in with a rather cross look upon her face. "It didn't work he hasn't returned nor, " she held out a letter and walked closer to Meiren, "nor do I think he will return."

Meiren casually took the letter from Catherine's grip. Clearing her throat she muttered out loud scanning the rather brief message, "regrets, will not be returning other business has deterred me from ever rejoining. Catherine- Conoidh tu ag an geatabealach an marbh. Signed, Trowa." <5>

Catherine hissed as those Gaelic words slipped off Meiren's tongue. "The little madadh!!" <6>

Meiren set the paper down on the desk and leaned on it, eyes wandering to look out the window. After a long moment she softly said, in a calm voice, "well, it seems as if Sammael is getting smarter and his servants are cutting any ties with us. You will not remain at the circus. The angel of the silent death has learned that somehow you were there. I know you could not have given him any clues..."

Catherine sighed and fell back into on of the oversized armchairs by the desk, "they probably avoiding anyone they know isn't one of them. Damn..."

Meiren sighed, "it would seem so. Well played Duo."

Another sudden knock calls them from their silence, and Catherine gets up to open the door. "Sally?"

Sally stepped in looking rather put out. "We have problems..."

Meiren flipped around, "problems?"

Sally nods and stalks across the room, papers in her hand and bluntly says, "Seems like Sanc Kingdom and its "Peace Principal" have been dragged into this war now..."

Catherine sighs and collapses back into the chair, "perhaps we came too late into the game..."

Meiren snorted and rolled her eyes, flipping through the papers and maps detailing the movements of all sides. "Well, Dorothy should have left when I told her too... most likely they will come to hunt her as soon as Sammael knows she is still living."

Catherine sighs, "we should evacuate all the mortals now. What would be the point if all we were left with was blackened corpses?"

Meiren chuckled, "That would never be good. If Sanc Kingdom is destroyed, the 'Complete Peace Principal' will truly become a dream... And sadly Relena's death will not be convenient or beneficial. We will have to try and rally at the Romefeller Foundation through a honorary tactic..."

Badhbh smiled, "Quite clever. The Sanc Kingdom does not wish to take up arms and fight. So the only available tactic is to say that if this country becomes a target and is the cause of war, Sanc Kingdom will yield its sovereignty and dissolve its existence.... Brilliant Meiren."

Sally smiled, "Whatever the reason, the Complete Peace Principal must not be the origin of any fighting... while I will take Relena's place and Dorothy... shit."

Sally quirked an eyebrow, "so we need her alive?"

Meiren sighed, "I or Wufei..."

Catherine's eye lit up, "wait... Wufei. That's it."

Sally looked over at the Celtic goddess, "what's it? A Gundam pilot won't help the matter... he fights... remember?"

Catherine smile widened, eyes glittering in plans. She jumped out of the chair and over to the desk Meiren leaned against... pushing around papers and looking for things... "L5 was destroyed by war... the Chang clan was fighters... Wufei _was_ a pacifist... so... Meiren being his wife will pick up the pieces... Sally, send Hilde to get Dorothy. She will stand as Meiren's advisor. Wufei can swear allegiance to the Romefeller Foundation...."

Meiren smiled. "Of course. Our colony was destroyed... we want peace between the colony's and earth. We will fight against OZ; my "husband's" may be tainted, but a Gundam pilot who swears allegiance to Romefeller. Dorothy as my chief advisor... we will lead the plans in Relena's honour..."

Sally looks between the two, "Meiren?"

Meiren nodded, "Go get Dorothy. We will start a new revolution..."

Sally leaves and Meiren turns to Catherine... "I will elect you to my council as a citizen... to promote the ideal further...take your leave and await further orders..."

Catherine bows and leaves... the door closing echoing through the large room.

"And with Wufei's allegiance... going to the Romefeller Foundation... perhaps it is time to pay an old friend a visit... after all I will need a true knight again..." a soft almost malevolent laughter echoes in the rafters of the dark room...

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

Wufei sighed looking through the silence around him... space... it was always so hollow feeling... he wasn't sure if that was his old memories sifting through or the fact he was scared of the future... He was drifting in the middle, not human and definitely not divine anymore. He clenched his fist and his holy sword wouldn't even respond. Not even a dim light. He had lost his chance. Gone. He wasn't a daemon yet... just damned. Whether he helped Meiren or not, he was still damned.

But sitting in the void of star clusters was not helping... even if he torn the living shreds out of those Mobil suits...he still was angry... furious... "Gods!" he screamed fists hitting the control panel again...

Fingers harshly ran themselves through black hair, eyes wincing in anger as they grazed over his small horns... he hissed when he realized that Sammael had let it lengthen a bit... yanking it over his shoulder he fingered the mane of hair flowing over his shoulder... he couldn't hide anything... he could chop his hair to the length it had been merely hours ago... not that length it was settling at now...

With a grunt he pulled out his katana and sliced his hair roughly watching at least two feet of hair drop to the ground. It was harshly done, but at least he liked it at his shoulders...

But he couldn't rip out the horns on his head, grown from his forehead... nor the hints of claws where flimsy nails had been... nor those daemon cursed fangs... or the elfin ears... a sob climbed his throat. "Why..." he whimpered. "Why must everything work against me? Aren't I doing the right thing... aren't I appeasing you yet? What more must I do??" he finally gave into sobbing... after all he couldn't do it in front of Meiren...

He looked through teary eyes at the black expanse laying in front of him. "Damn you Sammael. Does it please you to torture me so? Why must you be here? I just want to redeem myself. Damn you Sammael for taking Duo, for taking my humanity again." And tears flowed down bronze cheeks, he whispered so softly that only the gods could hear, "And damn me for enjoying it and wanting it. "

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

Meiren sighed. She wanted to rip off heads but she sat there remaining in tears and yet looking proud. After all, her pride would only be wounded for a little longer

"Your heart must be overwhelmed by the loss of her country and Princess Relena, Miss Meiren" Lord Dermail said, sitting across from the girl, who was flanked by Dorothy.

Dorothy smiled a teary smile, "Thank you, Lord Dermail we are most indeed grateful for your condolences" and Meiren handed her another Kleenex.

Meiren sighed, "At least it isn't hard for Dorothy to be in grief now this will give me the upper hand if fate will let me play my hand"

"This tea was grown in my garden." Lord Dermail said pouring them both warm tea into porcelain teacups. "It may not satisfy your taste but please do try it. Milk Miss Dorothy? Meiren?"

"Plain is fine, thank you Lord Dermail, and there is no need for your hospitable treatment towards me. We merely wish to continue Princess Relena's hopes and dreams for peace"

Lord Dermail blinked and smiled, "Of course. You must have grown rather close over these last several months. All you wished for is peace for her honour?"

Dorothy smiled and took her cup, stirring it softly and replying, "That is all she would ask for. I will follow Meiren as I would have Relena. Relena and Meiren were close and shared too many similar experiences, one could swear they could have sisters in another life with their beliefs."

The elderly man said nothing, but the Chinese girl could see triumph gleaming in his eyes.

Meiren kept from beheading the arrogant man hosting them and giving them refuge. They had to surrender, or at least pretend to for a while to make themselves gain a better position. She looked up and met his eyes with tears but hope and stern pride shining through, "What are your thought about the situation, my Lord?"

"The Romefeller Foundation has saved you and Dorothy in order to protect your and your former Princess Relena's ideals." Lord Dermail said, eyes twinkling in triumph.

Meiren's hands clutched the sofa in mock shock while Dorothy exclaimed "What?!"

"The speech you presented to the world of your hope for complete peace was noble and beautiful and gained sympathy among many people." Dermail paused to take a sip of his tea watching the girls carefully. He believed them to be rather easy to exploit. "And we have fought to protect that hope."

Meiren stood and glared at him, tears quickly being wiped from her cheeks, "No one will believe such a thing...to exploit her death-"

Lord Dermail burst out laughing, "Of course they will, Miss Meiren. Of course they will."

Meiren sat down her tea cup abruptly and glared at him, "I am glad to see you find the death of a woman I considered a sister to be amusing."

Lord Dermail waved his hand, "Calm yourself. To prove that we stand behind your and Princess Relena's ideals, the Romefeller Foundation will appoint Meiren Chang as the Foundation's representative."

Meiren choked and Dorothy stood up in shock looking at Lord Dermail. Meiren choked out in complete shock, "The Foundations representative? Me?"

Lord Dermail smiled triumphantly, "Yes, and by putting you forward the Foundation will gain trust from the world."

Dorothy gasped, "But..."

"Peace will become a reality." He walked over and smiled at Meiren, "Of course it will be necessary for you and I to agree. You will be the Foundation's representative, Miss Meiren Chang, yes?"

Dorothy smiled and declared, "Oh say yes, Meiren we could show the world Relena's hopes and dreams!!!"

"What do you think...Queen Meiren?" Lord Dermail grinned rather wolfishly at the girl. She would be hard to win over but with Lady Dorothy seeming to agree.

Meiren glared up at him and walked over to the window, trying to repress a grin. Her plan was working perfectly. "I decline."

"What?!" Dorothy exclaimed in shock.

Meiren turned slowly from the window, the sounds of guns being heard over the valley, and calmly restated, "I decline. I will not betray the people who have fought for her and her ideals. I am not asking for kindness, I want her vision to be a reality."

Lord Dermail blinked in shock. He had not expected that reply, and tried again, "The highest position..."

"A figurehead to polish your marred Foundation." Meiren said and turned to look out the window again.

"It is only our means that are different. The end result is the same. You too, wish for peace, not war." When Meiren made no reply he sighed and placed his coffee cup on the tray and brushed by Dorothy on his way to the door.

As he went to leave the room he turned around and said, "Think it over, you still have time but don't forget this. Many people who believe in peace will fight and die while you take your time..." and with that he closed the door.

After his footsteps long disappeared Dorothy walked over to the window and looked over at Meiren, "We got them, huh?"

Meiren smiled, "Hook, line, and as they say my dear... sinker."

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

He sat in an office watching the screen of his television, shadows circling around him as they responded to the pictures on the television. "We have occupied this base. We are the Colony revolution fighters, White Fang. Fellow Colony men, now is the time to stand. At present our comrades have Tsubarov, the tyrant, in confinement. We do not need to obey orders. Earth has deprived us of resources and labour. But originally we were not supposed to be their equals. Let us stand, fellow Colony men. Let us build peace in space!"

Duo flicked the remote and turned it off and sighed.

"So they've done it?" a smooth voice broke through the dense silence muting the room.

Duo smirked, "Now they've thrown the Colonies right in the middle of this mess-of-a-war... aren't they the smart ones, eh Zechs?"

Zechs laughed, "They're such idiots but then again other than Wufei the Almadel he worked for were never smart." He sighed and continued, "Now we have to wait, with the Bean Si dead by Aka Manah's and Moloch's hands... I guess we will have to see how Meiren plays her cards now..."

Duo laughed, "I think we may have put a dent in the order of her plans. Unfortunately I think she may pull in other help."

Zechs quirked an eyebrow, "Other help? Who can she call on?"

"None of our concern, or at least my advisors. I will have to deal with that moot point when the time comes" the American sighed.

Zechs nodded and then asked in a soft tone, "How is...?"

Duo smiled, "Don't worry. He has some new problems to deal with. I give him a week tops before he comes back to us."

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

Dorothy smiled. "We got him! He's taking care of the incident with Tsubarov and the base with the worm Tsubarov out of your way."

Meiren smiled as her eyes glittered in the moonlight, "Yes. I know. One by one they will fall into place."

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

Wufei slashed at the suits flying at him, grunting, "Damn it!!! Damn it!!!" he kept firing and hitting but more just appeared and appeared. "Fuck! Who's controlling these damned things?!" He quickly realized they had no human pilots. Their movements to stiff and precise to ever be human, now all he had to do is find out who was controlling them.

He ran his triton through another doll, when a fiery feel went up his arm making him rip his arms away from the controls. "Shit!!"

He panted and looked down. He trembled as he realized his adrenaline was causing him to transform. "Shit. Shit. Shit. Stop. Stop!!!" He panicked, waving his hand frantically.

A blast from another suit caused him to freeze and look up. He was surrounded. "Shit shit shit shit SHIT!!!!" he screamed, completely panicking. This wasn't happening!

"Surrender Gundam. We have you surrounded" a voice rang clear from one of the soldiers.

Black eyes flickered. He...he couldn't fight _all_ of them!! Not even on his best day!! Not when he was panicking!! Not during the moment when he was trying _not_ to transform! "Shit!!!"

He only had one choice at the moment. He searched his brain. He didn't know if he could even cast like this. If he could remember the words, he never really had to say words to cast anything. Then again he was a daemon.

Blocking an attack he recalled any spell he could. Anything to come to mind to save his ass at this moment. Then something dawned on him.

In his office Duo laughed. "Trying to cast lil Vrita? I think I should help you. " Duo closed his eyes sneaking thoughts and words into the scared boys head. So afraid of dying. If Wufei would have let him, he would have already been safe. But he wasn't leaving his love's life to the hands of lady luck. "That should help him. " Sammael chuckled. And then whispering to the heavens, "I'll be there to help you momentarily. my love."

Words caught his attention. He didn't remember what spell they were for but as he could see the power rocketing down on his Gundam he rip open the control panel and shoved his hands into the wires, entwining and grabbing them tightly. Praying to whomever was listening, that it worked.

"Mortis ut ductor... miscere potestas pestilentia et venenum... tradere hostico in horam vivere de falxo!!!" he chanted.

Blinking, he waited.

Nothing happened.

"Mortis ut ductor... miscere potestas pestilentia et venenum... tradere hostico in horam vivere de falxo... " He tried again, hoping he was saying the words right, not having actually _spoke_ Latin in hundreds of years...

Silence. He blinked again, then an enormous pain jetted around him and hands dove into the wires with his and something very hard pressed up against his lower back...

"Sammael..." he whispered, eyes widening and he tensed.

Duo chuckled and pressed a kiss onto the boy's neck, "I didn't think it would work until you were fully transformed. You know pouting in space for five days seems a bit much."

"You...you..." Wufei stammered frozen in place.

"Is that any way to greet your savior? You just need a little help with that spell and you know, I think I might help you" Duo's voice tickled his ear.

"No!!!" Wufei screamed as shadows wrapped themselves around him, curling up his legs using their greater strength to lift him up towards their master. They were ripping off clothes and lifting him into position.

"Yare, yare... you used to enjoy these games" Duo mock pouted and commanded his shadows to lower the boy.

Wufei gasped as he felt his hole stretch to accommodate Duo's cock. Fingers tensed in the wires in shock. He couldn't suppress the moan in his throat as he felt consumed. Stomach muscles clenching and tightening. He whimpered but felt his ... his master's power surge through him. Almost comforting if it weren't for the fact he was being nailed while in the middle of a fight, where he was surrounded and was not exactly a daemon yet...

."Do you know how damn sexy you look right now?" Duo whispered huskily into Vrita's pointed elfin ear and sucked at the bronze neck.

Wufei moaned and gave up for a moment and leaned into the strong embrace, letting his master's power surge through him and work his spells.

Duo rocked his hips up against the boy and smiled as he felt the boy lean into his touches, he beamed and whispered, "Words love?"

Apaosa smiled and his small canine fangs lengthened as if ready to taste the destruction he was about to cause and in a dark whisper as his master fucked him he said, "Mortis ut ductor... miscere potestas pestilentia et venenum... tradere hostico in horam vivere de falxo!! Vexare parere dominus, Ego esso Apaosa!!!" <8>

Duo smiled as power surged through the Gundams system and exploded around the suit, screams, he could hear and taste the screams of the bastards who tried to hurt his little lover. Viruses surged though the mobile dolls systems causing fiery explosions. Pilots going mad as plagues and boils shredded their bodies. Duo laughed. His Vrita was always a creative killer, thinking of angles to use such fun powers.

Apaosa felt fire stream though his veins as his master purged deeper and deeper into him, he moaned as the pleasure shook him and finally with a scream of intense pleasure he released and his fingers loosened from the wires and fell back into his master's embrace.

"Vrita?"

The boy's eyes were heavy with lust and desire and then would flicker to self-hatred and fear. "Wha... Master? Sammael?!?!" Wufei could barely move and sighed and fell back into the strength of that secure grip of Duo's arms.

"Shhhh.... Just for a while. Let me hold you Wufei just for a while" Duo whispered, cuddling into Wufei's silk hair.

"Just for a little while..." a tired voice whispered and snuggled into Duo's arms, closing his eyes and fell asleep.

Duo chuckled softly and pressed a feather kiss onto his love's head. "Such a little conundrum you are."

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

Back at the Romefeller Foundation Meiren looked at the clock. "Think we've made them wait long enough?" Walking over to the door to find Lord Dermail passing by.
"Lord Dermail, good evening." Meiren said, eyes baring into his.

He nodded his head, "Good evening my lady."

Meiren sighed and paused a moment then with all the strength she could muster said to him, "Lord Dermail, in the death of Relena Peacecraft... I, Meiren Chang accept the position of the Foundation's representative."

Lord Dermail blinked and stood in shock then after a long moment, "Then, welcome..." and he knelt before her, "Queen Meiren."

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

Trowa walked in the door and barely made it into the threshold when he was met with an armful of pale limbs and a mop of blonde hair. "Miss me?" and before one word was said, Trowa nearly drowned in a passionate, fiery kiss.

Quatre attacked with passion. He had _missed_ his lover. Trowa pulled back, barely avoiding a playful nip from those rosy lips.

"Frisky aren't we?" Trowa chuckled, adjusting to hold his lover. "What did I miss?"

"I killed Relena. Me and Aka Manah!!" Moloch bubbled.

"That was five days ago! Must have been one hell of a kill for you to retain the energy this long" Trowa chuckled deeply. Quatre cooed and snuggled against the broad shoulders of his lover, he loved Dumah's laugh.

Hands smoothed out blonde wisps, "I have news though..."

Quatre blinked and kissed the shoulder he was lying on, "Yes?"

"Badhbh has returned."

Quatre's head popped up and he looked at his lover, "What?" worry filled him. _That_ woman... that was whom Dumah left for him or moreover, whom Moloch flirted until the silent angel was finally won over.

Trowa smiled and kissed his lover again. True their relationship wasn't always this perfect, but he knew that this was the one. Daemon or not, Moloch needed him. "No worries love. I am sure she read my note upon leaving the circus."

A blonde eyebrow quirked up, "What did you say?"

Trowa smiled and walked, with the blonde lover in his arms, to the television and turned it on. Quatre pouted and blinked, "What did you say?"

"Patience is a virtue...." Trowa reminded the boy.

"I was never a religious person." Came the response.

"Conoidh tu ag an geatabealach an marbh" he said quietly, flipping to find the news.

Quatre thought for a few moments, Gaelic wasn't one of the many languages he made sure he knew, at least fluently. That was Dumah's forte. After moments of thinking he looked up and asked, "What?"

Trowa laughed, "Can't remember your Gaelic? Pity, after all that time I spent teaching you."

Worry flashed across turquoise eyes. "I didn't forget on purpose..."

Trowa smiled down and claimed those lips. He wondered at times, which was the real side of his daemon lover, for as much as Moloch loved pain and destruction; the boy was gentle, almost caring, and infinitely worried he would lose his Trowa. "I never said you did." He smiled and whispered into those perfect ears, "You will dwell at the gateway of the dead."

Quatre giggled, the phrase baring instant recognition in his memories. "Oh, she will be rolling in anger!!!" and pressed butterfly kisses on his lover's chest.

"And in the news, with the horrid and violent death of Princess Relena and the destruction of the Sanc Kingdom, the Foundation has chosen Meiren Chang to help lead in Relena's place..."

Trowa stiffened and Quatre flipped his head around both intensely watching the news. Meiren appeared on the screen, tears in her eyes but attempting to smile, "I loved Relena as if she was my own sister. We had shared many hardships that one could see the parallels in our thoughts. I want nothing more than to spread the peace Relena wanted. To honour her death and help keep the complete peace ideals alive, I know Relena would have chosen this..."

Quatre turned off the television. "We're in deep now."

Trowa nodded and pulled his lover close. "I think we better call Duo. He'll want to hear about this."

"We're marked now, aren't we?" Quatre asked, eyes staring at the darkened screen.

"I think this just took a turn for the worse" Trowa shuddered with a sudden chill, arms tightening around Moloch. Nothing would harm his lover. He wouldn't allow it. They would hunt down Moloch first, afterall who had killed the Queen of false peace? And those angels were vengeful...

Notes:

<1> "sorstis et ... sorstis audire mea ad se vo-... vocare..." Destiny and ... destiny hear my ca.. call. (to summon)

<2> spurius ... pulcher dominus... bastard... beautiful master

<3> " No more perfectus parvus militis..." no more perfect little soldier?

<4> adoranda... adorable

<5> Conoidh tu ag an geatabealach an marbh. Gaelic for you will dwell at the gateway of the dead.

<6> the little madadh is Gaelic for the little dog.

<7> Death as my guide... combine the powers pestilence and poison... give my enemies the hand of my scythe...!!!

<8> Plague obey your master, I am Apaosa!! The words before it look at <7>.

<9> Conoidh tu ag an geatabealach an marbh see <5>