Title: "Kitsunetsuki: Shuurajou"
Author: Duo no Tsuin (yeah, that's me!;)
Pairings: 1+2/2+1, 3x4, and 5+? (I guess that should
be mentioned)

Warnings: (THIS is long)
Wufei POV, Angst, OOCness for a reason, some
shounen-ai/yaoi, coarse/bitter language, suspense and
horror, supernatural references, and probably some AU
with bits of violence thrown in . . . and maybe a few
elements of death.

Standard Disclaimers:
In Shinigami's name, please tell me you know these already . . .
*sigh* all right. I don't own Gundam Wing or those kawaii little
bishounen. In Nataku's name, are you happy now!?
*audience sweatdrops* But I did, however, write this story. It is born
of my own insanity, my views on life, and, of course, my utter disaffection
for a certain real individual on which Heero's character is based. And the
most important thing for you to remember while reading this . . . most
everything is here for a reason. A character seems to say, do, and think
the same things repeatedly, no matter how OOC they seem . . . then it's
meant to be that way. Oh, maybe this should be in warnings . . .
*sweatdrops* sigh, oh well . . .

Warnings:
Angst (otherwise known as "Duo mental anguish" *dodges sharp pointy
things and explosives being thrown her way*), OOCness (heh heh, you
should know about this by now), some shounen-ai/yaoi, coarse/bitter
language, suspense and horror (so I’ve been told -_-), supernatural
references, and probably some AU with bits of violence thrown in . . .
and maybe a few elements of death. Other than that . . . *smirk* just read . . .

<*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*><*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*><*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*>

Kitsunetsuki: Shuurajou

– Spirit Possession: A scene of bloody carnage

By Duo no Tsuin

<*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*>

I remember the scene like it had happened yesterday. A person never
does forget the first time. The first time someone sees a body stiffly hit
glass– shattering it into flesh cutting rain. And the body, the blood
drained body, lying in the ever-growing sea of red. No, they would
never forget.

No one had expected blood from that corpse. No one had believed he
would ever jump, not really. Oh sure, they'd joked about it. According
to the majority, he was the type.

I can still see him sitting there on the window ledge of the circular
lunchrooms' stage, looking outward, as he did so many times. The
stage was just a raised triangular platform, and it was just one part
of the lunchroom that was bordered . . . no, it was walled in by large
glass windows. None would approach him there– even I knew to
keep my distance. That is, none except one boy.

The name of Duo Maxwell was known by all at that school. He was
popular and kind to all. Oh, true, he was kind of a practical joker . . .
and deep down, for some of us deeper than others, we all knew he
meant no harm. No matter what always stuck out in the students minds
when they heard that name, always they remembered the braid, that
nearly three-foot long length of braided chestnut hair. It was his
signature. Without it, he was just another in a faceless crowd.
Until, that was, he spoke.

He could clear a room with his booming . . . hn, such a kind way to
put it . . . voice or stun them to statue silence. Whether the center
of the social world or just another student, it was always his choice.
And most often, he chose the epicenter.

And outside of it all there was Heero. He was Duo's epicenter.
Everyday Duo bounced his way through the room, his eyes
looking for something . . . someone. And when he found him,
his violet eyes lit up.

Now don't get the wrong idea. Everyone could see that they had a
special bond. After all, he was the only one that seemed impervious
to that stone carving glare of the Perfect Soldier. He never said it in
words, but his glare spoke volumes. "Don't even think about it,"
was its usual response. But Duo, he always did.

Perhaps that's not right either. He never thought about it. He just
walked up to Heero, sat down, started talking, and amazingly enough
he even sometimes spoke back. Okay, so he usually said, "Leave me
alone, Duo," or "How come you can't run as fast in gym as your mouth
does when you talk?" And his most used response? Glare city,
sweetheart. Ah, young love.

Just don't tell Heero that. Why? Let's just say that he was
certifiably homicidal. "Although he turned out to be suicidal in
the end," as many students put it. We, being his comrades,
should know.

How did it happen? What had changed? To the untrained
observer, nothing was amiss. But I knew him. I knew that
something was wrong.

<*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*>

"Hey, Duo, how was your day so far?" Ah, Quatre, the honor
student with the short blond hair and the boyfriend called Trowa
with those mysteriously tame long brown bangs.

Duo didn't answer. After walking slowly into the lunchroom, he
slumped down into a chair and looked blankly at the table.

Quatre tried again, "Duo . . . is everything okay?"

Nothing.

I smirked . . . he wasn't the only one who liked playing practical jokes
every now and again. "Maxwell, they're serving burgers and fries for
lunch . . . better hurry before they're all gone," I taunted. It won't fail.

"Huh?" Duo looked up slowly, speaking with a nearly hidden air of
dread. "Oh, I'm not feeling very hungry today . . . "

Huh? Duo not hungry? And since when does he dread coming to lunch?

Quatre bit his lip. "But, Duo . . . " He was thinking what we all
were. ". . . you haven't been 'feeling very hungry' a lot, lately . . . "

It was true. Duo hadn't actually eaten lunch with us since . . .
Friday the 13th, my mind finished. Had it been that long?

"Eh, well, I . . . " He shifted in his chair, like he was hiding
something . . . ". . . I've just had other stuff to do besides eat."

The rest of us nearly spit out our prechewed, chewed, and
swallowed food alike. Other stuff besides eating?! Since when?
He's got to be lying . . . "But Shinigami never lies . . . " That's
what he always says.

"Like what . . . " I ventured.

"Um, well . . . " Duo scratched his head. "I've been doing
research for future missions."

Again, our food almost found its way back up and out.
I was skeptical. "Such as . . . "

"Oh, believe me, Wufei . . . " Duo tilted his head and his
voice took on a new intensity, one reminiscent of his
battlefield Shinigami persona. Did the room suddenly get
colder? ". . . you'll find out soon enough."

Lunch for the most part, was surprisingly pleasant. No, "I hope we
can stay here just a little longer," or "Is Heero off making love to his
laptop again," and, most noticeably, no Duo. At least, none of the
normal Duo. 'Normal' and 'Duo' . . . not two words that really go
together. There was nothing "normal" about that braided baka.

As Duo sat there motionlessly, he didn't look at anything in
particular. He just stared. Now, I shiver at the memory. He was
eerily silent . . . deathly silent.

"So, Duo, have you talked to Heero yet today?" Quatre,
sometimes you have the worst timing for your sweet intended queries.

"No," He answered calmly.

"Why not?" Quatre flashed that beautiful, sometimes naive,
smile of his. And usually, it could move mountains. But this mountain
was far longer standing than we knew. And the smile was equally as
innocent then. "I'm sure he'd love it if you would just go say hi
to him . . . he can't survive with only his computer for company."

"Hn. How much you wanna bet? Heero doesn't need anyone . . .
and especially not me . . . " Rising to leave, Duo made it clear that
the subject was closed . . . for the moment. He's so bitter.
Dammit, Heero . . . what have you done now.

"I guess . . . he's just fed up," Quatre said as we watched the retreating
braid bouncing to and fro, all the while carrying none of its former enthusiasm.

Trowa finally spoke. "It may be that he just needs some time
to himself . . . apart from the situation . . . and Heero."

"Hm." Well, it's about time . . .

"Yeah." Quatre smiled as Trowa's hand covered his, looking to
his lover for assurance. "You're probably right."

Hn. At the time I thought it, I really had believed that it would
be better if Duo distanced himself from Heero. But things
always seem to get worse . . . around us, at least.

<*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*>

There was something in the air that October . . . something dark . . .
something that was outright menacing. Duo had been especially
quiet then. Whatever it was, he carried it within. And Duo wasn't
the only one acting uncharacteristically.

Heero was being even more of a recluse than usual. Oh sure, it's
not like he never avoided us at lunch. There was always something
with Heero; missions, mission related any things, Gundam repairs,
something. But it was rarely to get away from us . . . Hn, he didn't
even avoid Duo on his worst days. But something had changed . . .
they both had changed.

When was the last time we all ate lunch together, all five of us? I mused.
Let's see. It was . . . I gasped. Friday the 13th . . . it was the same day
that Duo last ate lunch . . . But was there a connection? Or was it just
a coincidence? Of course it's just a coincidence, I reminded myself.
But still . . . It's not like I had a better explanation.

And if that was the common factor and they were both acting strangely,
then one could easily assume . . . and that's all that matters.

<*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*>

It got to the point where Duo wouldn't even bother to talk to Heero
anymore. I was wondering why. And unlike Quatre and Trowa, who
thought maybe it was for the best, I refused to beat around this bush.
I know. I usually didn't pry into others' lives . . . but when there's a
possibility that any one of my teammates' lives could be at risk, I'll
make an exception. That couldn't have anything to do with the fact
that Duo was spending most of his time in my room instead of his
shared one with Yuy, could it? Hn . . . you damn well right it could!

I was all settled into my unpretentious single room, with my homework
in front of me at my uncluttered desk, when all of a sudden . . . there
was a timid knock on the door. Hn. Probably Quatre. I thought. It's
probably about Duo. As I opened the door expecting to see that
wonderfully bright smile . . . I found a sullen faced Duo. Hn. I hate
being right.

I waited for him to talk first, just like he always does, but no words
came. I was growing impatient. "What it is now, Maxwell?"

Duo flinched like he had been hit. That's not like him. Must be
trauma from antagonizing Yuy too much . . . Damn you. What have
you done to him now, Heero? "Uh . . . sorry to bother you, Wufei,
but . . . uh . . . can I . . . ?"

Something was definitely on his mind . . . something always was when
he didn't what to be in the same room as Heero. I sighed. "Come on in,"
I said quietly as I opened the door wider.

Slowly, Duo entered the room, and hesitated. No matter how many
times he comes in here, he always makes fun of my room. Yes . . . just
a desk, a chair, a dresser, a bed, and a bedside table with a lamp. Oh,
ha ha ha . . . so Wufei has no life . . . "Mind if I sit down?"

"Do as you like."

"Thanks." Duo collapsed onto my bed, always the dramatist, but
tonight he seemed weary. He laid there, silent, gazing absently at
the ceiling. I, meanwhile, pulled my chair from the desk and sat
facing him. I should probably have just gone back to my work, but I
was going against many of my usual patterns lately . . . we all were.
So why not another? Something's not right . . . what in the Hell is
with him? As Quatre put it, is he just fed up with Yuy? Or is it
something else . . . something more . . .

"What is it about October . . . " Duo began suddenly, snatching
me from my musings.

"Hm?"

"What is it about October that just seems so . . . sad?"

"Perhaps fall reminds people that they are only human, mortal . . . "

"Hn. That may be. . . "

"But, likewise, there is spring. . . the renewal of life . . . " Hn. I don't
know if I believed it then. . . I still don't know if I believe it now.

"Eh, I don't know . . . maybe it's just the haunting quality of Halloween . . . "

"Meaning?" Oh sure, I felt like pointing out the stupidity of such
a celebration, but who am I to talk . . .

"Halloween . . . the Day of the Dead . . . All Soul's Night . . .
Hallow's Eve . . . so many names for the same day . . .
the same occurrences . . . "

"Such as?"

"Eh . . . the usual . . . wandering spirits, ghosts, demons . . .
they're all here for one reason . . . "

I rightly sensed that it would be inappropriate of me to debate
the existence of such things . . . at this time. "Which is?"

"Death . . . "

There's that chill again. This school should get their heating
systems checked . . . not that they really care about whether or
not the students are well enough to even comprehend the
attendance policy– wait, did he just say . . . ?!. . . this is more
serious than I thought.

<*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*>

My conversation with Duo, if you could call it such a thing, did not
progress much beyond that one word. Death. And soon, Duo was
dead to the world . . .

No! I didn't kill him! This is injustice . . . ! Heh, that got your attention.
Okay, now that my audience has been thoroughly subdued . . . I will
continue. Ahem.

As I was saying before . . . Duo was dead to the world . . . and snoring
on my bed. He should have been in his own . . . or maybe even Heero's . . .
I snorted. Sure, I could wake him, but few have ever woken Duo up and
lived to tell the tale . . . Besides, Duo needed the rest. I smiled. I could
use it as an excuse to leave my room . . . and practice my skills of
interrogation!

As I stalked down the halls to Heero and Duo's room, I smirked.
Oh yes, part of me hoped Yuy resisted.

<*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*>

"Yuy, open the door!" I banged on the door once more. I waited a
second . . . and then started in on the door again. "Yuy, if don't
open the door this minute I swear I'll–"

My pounding fist nearly made contact with a miffed Yuy.
"What in the Hell . . . !? Wufei! Is there a reason why you're threatening
me while breaking down my door in the process!?"

"You tell me . . . " I placed my hands on my hips . . . but only so I
wouldn't be tempted to strangle him on the spot.

"Huh?" If I didn't know any better, then I'd say that he was
genuinely surprised by my question. In fact, he looked like he
had just woken up. But the lights are on . . . Not that I noticed
light coming from under the door when I got there . . . I wasn't
looking. But still . . . Yuy? Sleeping at this hour? Granted, it wasn't
early, but it wasn't late when compared to Heero Yuy's work schedule.
He rubbed his eyes. He was . . . "Look Wufei, I just woke up . . .
so I'm not exactly sure what is going on." He was calming down . . .
momentarily. He stepped forward and looked up and down the hall
before flicking his head for me to enter. When the door was closed
behind us, he opened his mouth again. "Just tell me where Duo is!"

Now it was my turn to be surprised, but I didn't turn around to
face him. I crossed my arms. "Since when do you care." Oh great,
now I sounded bitter.

Heero sighed. Okay, now I was curious . . . so I turned around.
What I saw made my inherited bitterness fade away . . . and turn
it into masked concern. His eyes . . . they look so . . . empty . . .
"Duo's been acting really strange lately. In fact, I haven't seen
him at all."

"Huh?" Then where has he been sleeping at night . . .

"He hasn't been here at night."

"How would you know? He could just be getting back late–"

"Dammit, I know!"

I'll admit, then was not the time to antagonize him. But since when do I
ever listen to advice? "Exactly how would you know!? You're always
sitting at your computer ignoring him . . . or off on some mission . . . "
I snorted. ". . . Or polishing your Gundam . . . "

It was Heero's turn to shift moods. He smirked. "How could I . . . since
you're always hogging the polish?"

Since when does Heero joke? Well, heh, I guess I deserved that one.
I felt the corner of my mouth nearly lifting. "Point is, Yuy . . . Duo's upset
about something . . . and he's listing you as the cause."

"How come I'm the only one around here who thinks about things
other than myself and what pleases me!?"

"'Other than . . . what pleases you!? Oh come off it, Yuy! You're the
most selfish of us all!"

Heero almost seemed to flinch at that one. Yeah, go ahead and flinch,
you bastard! But, if anything, he just set his jaw more firmly into its
imperturbable form. "Where's Duo?"

Snorting just seems to be the fashionable thing to do. "Where you
can't hurt him anymore." I unfolded my arms and attempted to walk
past him. Oh, it's not as if he stopped me. His lowered head and
hooded eyes just warranted filing away for later review. The moment
slowed down in my mind. How often have I seen him hang is head
like that? That's his look of . . . defeat. I was almost falling for it, falling
for it like Duo always does . . . So I just grabbed the image of a
disheartened Duo and latched onto it. He was my lifeline.

As I reached the door, I stopped suddenly. "If you do see Duo,
Wufei . . . " His voice was so quiet . . . almost sad. Hn. But Yuy's
never sad. "Just tell him. . . "

I turned around to look at him. The clenched fists at his sides did not
escape my appraisal. "Yes . . . " I attempted to prod without causing
him to shut everyone out permanently.

"Nothing."

I sighed. "Goodnight, Heero. I'll tell Duo you were enquiring about
his whereabouts." My hand was on the knob, turning it . . .

"I did notice that he wasn't here . . . I stayed up every night waiting . . .
and he hasn't come back . . . not since . . . "

Okay, I'll admit . . . sappity, sappity, sap. Oh, you're killing me here,
Yuy . . . But that didn't stop me from staying. "Since . . . "

"Friday . . . Friday . . . the 13th . . . " Heero whispered.

Again, that damnable day came up. Despite my contempt for such
superstitions, I think I heard myself gasp aloud. And, apparently,
so did he.

"I know . . . " He retreated from my distaste and sank to the comfort
of one of the beds . . . whose, I don't know. "I never believed in
stupid superstitions either."

Nataku, why is it so damn cold in this dormitory . . . I hate past
tense. His comment hinted, teased me. And I took the bait. Time
for the much awaited interrogation! "What happened between
you and Duo that day, Heero?"

<*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*>

Despite how it was often misconstrued, Yuy actually had some
integrity . . . like I said, some. And Heero just wasn't the type to
avoid the issue . . . He's often as direct as Trowa or I are . . .
Trowa, I thought. Maybe he could shed some light on Yuy's
equally erratic behavior.

Knocking on the door to Trowa and Quatre's shared room, I waited.
Maybe Trowa can offer another perspective . . . maybe he knows
what to do about Heero . . . The door opened.

"Trowa, I . . . uh." I looked past Trowa cautiously. Nataku, tell me
that Quatre isn't here . . .

"Quatre's not here."

Not that it is necessary to avoid Quatre, but it might be easier that
way. . . Hn. It would be easier if I talked to Quatre . . . "Oh . . . uh . . . "
Why is this so hard!? "Got a minute?"

He thought it over. Or, at least, I thought he did . . . not that I could
tell either way . . . but why would he have to? Gesturing to enter, he
stepped back.

"So, notice anything . . . interesting lately . . . " I said as I walked
past Trowa and into the room. Since when am I so vague?

"Beating around the bush has never been your choice method of
attack, Wufei . . . what's up?"

"Hm, well . . . " I said as I stuffed my hands deep within my pants'
pockets. Why do I suddenly have a feeling that I'm acting like
Maxwell? . . . maybe I'm possessed . . . and why did it come out like
that . . . it's not like anyone else . . . Kitsunetsuki? No, way . . . it's
just not possible. See what hanging around him has done to you!?
You're losing it, Chang!

"Wufei?" Trowa prodded gently.

"Uh . . . it's hard to explain . . . "

"You're worried about Duo, aren't you?"

My composure was faltering. It took me too long to realize I hadn't
answered. My back stiffened, my hands came quickly out of my
pockets, and then they went to my sides. "Of course not," my voice
had regained its usual quiet, defiant edge.

"Hm. Well . . . in answer to your earlier question, Duo's behavior
has seemed a little . . . "

Demonic . . . Oh, Nataku, where did that come from? I've let myself
watch too many of those horror movies with Duo . . . I hate Halloween.
And I hate carrying on inner monologues . . . especially when the
whole point was to be having a dialogue with someone not in my
head, for once.

". . . withdrawn," Trowa finished.

"Um, yeah . . . "

Trowa chuckled. Since when does he do that? "He's not the only one."

"What's that supposed to mean!"

"Oh, nothing. Maybe it's the fact that we've all been here for so long.
Maybe it's the threat of winter's arrival in the air. Who knows, maybe
it's Halloween . . . "

"You don't believe in that nonsense, do you?"

Trowa shrugged. "It does exert reactions of many variances
in people . . . " Trowa's lip curled up. ". . . but especially you."

"Hn." I crossed my arms. I wonder . . .

Trowa's mouth straightened once more. It almost looks like his face
just took on an even harder edge . . . "October's a weird month . . . "
He tilted his head forward, his one visible green eye attempting to
imprint something in my brain . . . and it was working. I'd never seen
him so intense before . . . it damn well bordered on scary. "And on
Halloween, well . . . anything can happen." For the first admitted
time in Chang Wufei's life, I was scared. It's cold in here . . .

<*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*>

"Trowa, I–" Quatre had walked in through the closed door with a smile
on his face. But, almost instinctively, it faded away. It was as if the very
air in the room was tense . . . and inhalation of it led to paralyzation of
the lungs. But, of course . . . that wasn't possible.

Almost in the same instant that Trowa turned his attention away form
me, Quatre's smile returned. "Oh hi, Wufei!" He cheered.

The breath that I didn't realize I'd been holding in came out in a whoosh.
"Hi, Quatre." Nataku, that was pathetic. What must he be thinking?

But his smile only intensified. "Good. This saves me telling you later.
I just came from talking to Heero."

Trowa said nothing. He just stood there quiet and expressionless
with his hands in his pockets.

I might as well speak. "About what?"

"Well . . . " Quatre walked to his bed and sat down, all the while smiling
dreamily. "We talked about Duo."

"Oh," I sighed. Something wasn't adding up. I raised one black
eyebrow. "So why so elated?"

"Because . . . he's agreed to talk to Duo. None of us have gotten
through to him . . . "

Oh, really? But since when have we all tried? "So?"

"So . . . I have a plan."

"Hn. So why is that a surprise," I grumbled. But when that same
green eye, which had been assessing me all along, looked my way
as it darkened, I attempted a recovery. Things were just getting
weird and, momentarily, so was the room temperature . . . "I mean . . . "
It was for Duo . . . I could at least try. I sighed, defeated by my weakness.
"What do we have to do?"

<*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*>

I listened as Quatre enlightened us. And Trowa, he just stood there.
It was like he already knew what Quatre was going to say. Trowa . . .
he knew Heero as well. They were friends but the kind that didn't really
need words. They were just that type of person. They were prime
examples of the strong and silent type until the end. The end.

The day Heero's end came brought with it unique circumstances and
an overwhelming sense of dread. We all knew it somehow. All five of
us, we could feel it. But then, October's Halloween at Aveuglement
High School had its history. And no one knew about it until it was
too late.

For crying out loud, few even knew what the school name meant.
It's French, that's all they knew . . . not that I new any more than
they did. Ask a French student or teacher at that school what it
means . . . none will say. Of all the schools that I've been to and,
because of my . . . habits I've been to a few, all its members seem
to know at least that much. From the first moment I set eyes on it,
I never liked that school. You should know . . . my first impressions
have formed a pattern of forsaking me. But not this one.

That school and its dormitory seemed to have their fair share of
discrepancies. The most renowned of which began with the erratic
behavior of its ventilation system. Granted, it may sound small. But
why don't you trying paying attention in a class that literally
simmers your brain! Wish you were wearing Yuy's trademark
attire? So be it. Then move to your subsequent class, sometimes
even next door, and expose your limbs to numbing immobility in
the arctic classroom. Heh heh. Makes Trowa look smart, ne? But
even then, the rooms are never the same. One day, the Sahara,
and the next . . . Antarctica. Even within the same day . . .
the same hour, the atmosphere is indiscriminate.

For some unknown reason, the majority of the student population
would submerge itself into desultory apathy. Yes, even we did.
At least, that's how it was often interpreted. The students, however,
didn't always agree on their reasoning. Sometimes, they would
forget . . . or even lose homework. More often, they would utterly
omit its due date or importance altogether. Sounds just like any high
school, doesn't it? On the contrary, it's just another piece of the puzzle.

I probably shouldn't even verge on the debate over the architecture.
I remember lunch periods where the five of us would debate its
meaning . . . and Duo would always lead the way. He's the one who
thought it up in the first place. It was he who . . . Duo. Yes, it was all
his dream . . . all his musings . . . all his distractions . . .
and all his fears.

<*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*>

The library was almost empty that day . . . as it usually is. The sea
of wooden tables surrounded by merciless wooden chairs was
vacant . . . except one table. Heero, Duo, and I were supposed to
be working on our group project . . . supposed to be . . .

"Duo . . . " The pilot in question had his head turned away from us,
laying its side on his palm, and his braid was lying limply against
his left shoulder. It was as if he was trying to look at the world in a
new way. I wonder if I'll ever get used to being right. Nope.
Still hate it. "Duo."

"Huh?" The braid of our beloved baka swung sideways with such a
vengeance that he nearly pegged himself in the nose . . . but not before
taking two heads with it and going in a 360 around his head, ending up
against his right shoulder.

"Duo!" Yuy and I nearly yelled. I say nearly because that freaky
librarian, you know the one I mean, was giving us the evil eye again.

Leaning back low in his chair, Duo closed his eyes and held up his
hands in concession, attempting to repress his body shaking laughter.
"Gomen, guys!"

I sighed as I suppressed any homicidal urge . . . his face was just
too . . . innocent. Hn, Shinigami, innocent . . . what a comparison.
And Yuy, well, while he grimly rubbed his neck I whispered for the
both of us, "Maxwell, be careful where you swing that thing."

Normally, Duo would have laughed or even argued with me, but this
was just days before . . . that faithful Friday. His smile soon faded.
"Gomen nasai," he sighed. He started to turn away from us again.

"Duo, we're supposed to be working our social studies assignment.
" Ah yes, "the study of being social," as Duo once called it . . . but
maybe if it were that then Duo would have had no problem.

He sighed. "I know . . . but I just can't concentrate . . . " He started
to turn away again.

I lifted my eyebrow. "Then what, pray tell, is so captivating over there?"

Duo sighed heavily as he picked up his discarded pen and hit
it against his neglected notebook. "Aw, nothin' . . . "

"Then why stare at it so?"

"'Cause . . . " Touching the tip of his pen to the paper, he attempted
to make each letter, of what few notes he had taken . . . perfect. Every
dot perfectly round . . . every line perfectly straight . . .

I was beginning to be frustrated by the situation. "Duo, just tell me so
I can get back to work."

"Don't let me keep ya . . . " Deciding one word was wrong, he scribbled
it out . . . boxed it in . . . and proceeded to make the paper completely black . . .

Oh, yes. I was beginning to be frustrated, all right. "Dammit, Maxwell,
for once in your life why can't you–"

"Just let him be, Wufei." Ah, our . . . hero to the rescue. The great
Heero Yuy speaks. All must obey. Of course, this wasn't the time
or the place for such things to begin . . . my sword would tangle
in the chairs.

"Hn." I looked back to my work as Duo sat up straighter in his chair.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw their eyes catch. Sure, it was
only for a moment, but that didn't make it any less memorable.

"Arigatou, Heero," Duo whispered quietly, the corner of his
mouth perking up slightly. "Doumo arigatou gozaimasu." Such light.
Duo, the American, speaking Japanese. He didn't know much, just a
few words here and there. Hn, sometimes it seemed as if Duo
learned it just from being around Heero, as much as he was.
And as few words of his native language the Japanese spoke
aloud, then all the more effort Duo would put into perfecting
their pronunciation and usage. Oh sure, he'd use them as much
as he could casually, but when he said them directly to
Heero . . . there was just something unintelligible in his
voice . . . something that make the simplest word . . .
perfectly beautiful.

And his wide violet eyes, how they would shine at his gesture . . .
only to have them cloud over as a stone hearted Heero Yuy looked
away saying, "Heiki." Hn. Just "don't worry about it?" That's all?
You're completely frigid . . .

Crestfallen, Duo sighed as he looked away once more . . . and went
back to his silent vigil.

Yuy and I dove back into our work . . . and silence.

"Ever wonder . . . " Duo whispered sometime later. ". . . why the
library looks as it does? I mean, if you took away all the books,
shelves, and desks–"

He had stopped so suddenly. I looked up. I hate to ever see him
like that . . . so detached . . . so . . . sad. I sighed quietly.
"What do you see, Maxwell?"

"Ever hear of architectural auras? . . . well, like a person, you can
get a first impression from a structure . . . like this room . . . It's not
that there's something really wrong with it, although, this room is
just . . . weird. Sometimes if there was a great concentration of
emotional energy, whether pre or post construction, the structure
itself . . . remembers . . . Unless, that is . . . one believes in ghosts . . . "

Okay, this was getting way too weird. Where in Nataku's realm
did this come from?! Oh, it's not like I don't believe in ghosts . . .
that was how I was raised . . . But . . . "Architectural auras?!
That's just . . . " And, naturally, I just had to open my
big mouth . . . "Maxwell, that's just nonsense! Buildings have no sense
of consciousness!!"

"Sshhh!!" Damn nosy librarians . . . ever notice how they lurk . . . just
waiting for you to breathe too loud . . . And that one, well, she had been
looking for a reason to throw us out . . . especially Duo. But . . . no one
attempts to throw a mock death glare our way . . . and gets away
unscathed . . .

Whether we realize it consciously or not, there's a motive behind
everything we say and do. Duo had no reason to act as out of
character as he did then. And Heero had no motivation for killing
himself. At least, there was no real motive behind either case
of transference . . . unless something else, something tainted
by evil, projected its nature so vehemently.

And speaking of evil . . . I still had the Halloween dance to worry about.

<*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*>

It had been decided that this dance, the Saturday prior to
Halloween, would have costumes required to enter the decorated
location. Quatre was on the dance committee for this very event.
He had to go early to set it all up. However, it just worked out that
the rest of the committee couldn't show up until just before the dance.
Such is the spite of Destiny.

Heero had protested adamantly, but Duo has a way with words.
Heero's stone façade caved beneath the soft and bright blue eyes
he knew so well. And so after much "persuasion" by Quatre and
Duo, the rest of us would help them set it up. We never actually
voiced whether we should regret this decision, but maybe it was
better that we should be there. Better us than the others. Better
Heero than an innocent. At least, that is what we told ourselves.

"Just get away from me, Heero!" And so it began, Duo's voice raised
in anger. But it wasn't his own. Everyone turned to look at the focus
of malice. Heero!? Perhaps if the roles were reversed, the majority
would have believed that. Those very words. Heero had said them
before. But Duo!? Not sweet, Heero obsessed Duo. When had he
ever wanted to be away from him, aside from the times he could ignore
him no longer and his longing was all consuming?

It was a well-known fact by Quatre and myself that, no matter how much
Duo masked his true feelings, he had it bad for Heero. It's not as if he
didn't hide it well, but we both knew. I think we all knew, even Heero.
We didn't interfere; their feelings were their own business. Maybe
that night would never have happened if we had interfered. But that
was before we knew why it happened. A lover's quarrel? That was a
more accurate assumption than we could fathom before then, before
we knew the truth. It was a lover's quarrel, one that had lasted
for all consuming unknown years.

"How could you do this to me?" Duo said as he stalked forward.

But alas, Heero did not answer. He stood alone on the stage,
waiting for the scene to play out.

Duo spoke again in pained bursts of speech. "I trusted you.
I loved you." His hand strayed to his chest, skeleton-like fingers
brushing his heart, and clenched as the words chilled the air.
"And yet you ripped my heart still beating from my chest."

If Heero was afraid, he did not show it. But a twitch of his lip said
otherwise, barely holding his mask of indifference in place.

"But you," Duo gestured toward the unruffled pilot and shook his
head forlornly, ". . . you have no heart. And even if you did, it is polluted
with corruption. The very blood it pumps through your body is evil
in its essence. It is poison. And the love I felt for you became the
bitter aftertaste." Emotion gripped his throat, choking the words
from him. But his conviction slew the invader. He would win.
Ever since that night long ago, he had always won.

"I should have let you die that day we met . . . but no, I was blind to
your true nature. Your love tainted me . . . made me weak. No, it
was never I who was the weak one; it was you."

Heero, silent for too long, forced his hard-set mouth to form the words.
"Duo, you . . . you're not making any sense–"

"Ah, but I am." He smiled wistfully at first, but the soft lips would
take on a new solidity, "I see it all so clearly now. All that is left is
to wipe the slate clean, and erase you from the world's memory . . .
my memory. And as you killed me, so now I return the favor!"

Looking back it was so quiet then. The room stood still in
breathless anticipation, knowing unconsciously how it would end.

"It ends tonight !" He flew toward Heero, arms stretched
out with purpose. Heero found the strength to hold his ground.
But Duo's hands held their prey in a constricting grip and
new only to tighten.

Heero seemed to be fighting the pain, however, even he
could not hold his breath for that long. Lungs burned and clenched
eyes watered as his precious air was choked from him. But he wasn't
fighting back. None of us were.

All who knew him were at a loss for words. Someone needs to do
something, my inner voice barely choked up as I was consumed by
the very moment itself. A power was there that night. And that power
wouldn't let any of us help. It froze us in place. Much more than simple
fear, it wound its dark arms around us and enveloped us in its warmth.
In the warmth none of this was happening. It was so inviting . . .

But he's dying! My mind screamed. I had to wake up. I had to. But my
eyelids were so tired as they moved slowly downwards. I needed to
focus. Just focus on what is happening. But it was too much.
I thought of Duo and how much he loved Heero. But it occurred to me
then that we never really knew how Heero felt for him. Maybe if he knew,
maybe then . . . I had to tell him. Heero needed to tell him.

Something happened inside of me at that moment. I had my mission
and I would not fail. Emotions began dancing chaotically through
my unnaturally compliant heart, I grabbed onto them all. In my grip,
I compacted them. Slowly they fueled their way toward my lungs.
Once there they festered, grew.

My lungs exploded, for I had been holding my breath almost in
time with Heero. On a burst of air they pushed their way through
that blockage in my throat. And with that went the words,
all the emotions.

"Heero!"As if the night couldn't be any weirder, his eyes flew
open and he awoke, startled, as if from a dream. But the dream was
very real.

Heero acted quickly. His strong hands encircled Duo's, but he
would not relent. His eyes gleamed of revenge and his once
beautiful mouth twisted into a snarl. No, it is wrong to call that
thing Duo. It wasn't him. And Heero, he knew that better than any of us.

Fighting for life-giving breath, he whispered between gasps, "Duo!
What are you doing?!"

Duo's eyes softened momentarily. "H-Heero?"

"Duo," we all wondered what he would say. He was never one for
words, but if he chose them wisely tonight then he might have a
chance. ". . . naze da?" Why, indeed?

"I-I . . . " Duo had returned, but it was short-lived. Eyes darkened
once more, his voice yielded words not of his mind, his heart. "The one
you call Duo is no more. Only I remain!"

By this time, as I later found out, only Heero and I were aware of
what was going on. And that was probably a good thing.

"You're not Duo. You're a . . . "

"Ghost, poltergeist, tortured soul . . . take your pick."

"What are you doing to Duo?"

The phantom laughed heartlessly. "All you need to know is that
you will soon be joining him."

All the time that Duo had been acting less and less himself, he
was losing his soul. He was dying. Time was running out. "You're
no tortured soul. You never had one. Mami! You are feeding off
of Duo's. Why?" Oh sure, call it a 'deceiving spirit' . . . no chance
of it becoming angry after that.

"Feeding is such an uneloquent word. I prefer assimilation. He and I
are one. We share the same thoughts, feelings, and pain. And, from
what he tells me, you are unworthy of living. You calmly take the
lives of others for your own means. And you show no remorse. For
this you must pay!"

Heero hooded his eyes. "I cannot argue with that, so quit with the
dramatics. Just get it over with."

The onryou snickered, "My . . . pleasure." As his white knuckled
fingers began to dig into Heero's flesh, his arms fell limply at his
sides. Revenge was this spirit's only mission.

It couldn't end like this. I did what any person scared out of their
wits would do in a situation like that; I threw a proverbial
temper tantrum.

"You youkai! How can you do this?" Well, calling it a 'demon'
might get its attention . . .

The demon turned eyes on me. "Because he's letting me.
He wants to die."

How could he just give up? I was one of the few who knew– knew
about his past. But also knowing him, it seemed unbelievable that
Heero Yuy would ever give in to the enemy. However, things
had changed.

Heero's face grew paler, bluer in the artificial light. Despite his
predicament, he looked uncharacteristically calm. No, he was peaceful.

The demon's malice faded, his smile gentle once more. As his eyes
closed, he whispered so ought anyone be near, "It is done. Sayonara,
my koi . . . " And one person, his love, he did hear.

Dark eyes flickering open one last time, a wind sung voice breathed,
"You did the right thing, Duo . . . "

The spirit was surprised. "What!? How can you . . . !?"

"Forgive me . . . Duo . . . for not ever telling you . . . "

Warm tears trickling down his face, Duo spoke and pleaded, "Heero?
Heero! No, onegai shimasu, Heero . . . don't die . . . "

"Never forget, Duo . . . ai-shiteru . . . zutto . . . itsumademo" Fittingly,
it was his last word coupled with his last breath.

Formerly cascading tears of newly melted ice transformed into
streaming rivers of regret. "Heero . . . " Duo cradled the lifeless body
fiercely to his own as his legs gave way beneath him. "I forgive you. I'll
never forget, Heero . . . I love you, too . . . always . . . and forever."
Burying his face in the unruly hair, his body raked with uncontrollable
sobs. The sound echoed throughout the commons and the hearts of all.

The sound continued for mere moments, but the moments grew eternal
as the sound deepened, coarsened, and gloated. The metamorphose
was complete, hungered emotion was now able to roam free.
Dark laughter filled the room.

Eyes lit in lifeless amusement with lip curled, Duo's body reared its
head. "It's funny . . . " the new dominion reflected, ". . . they always
choose the histrionic way to go." Standing once more, he held the
inert boy inquisitively before him as he sighed incredulously. "Such
a shame . . . he really had the potential to make a marvelously bloody
corpse. Yes, I . . . I prefer a less benign end."

Heaving the remains with all his unearthly might, the glass fragmented.
Placing one black booted foot before the other, the lean form clothed
in black sauntered to the ledge and looked down. Eyes filled
with a childlike awe, the new Shinigami smiled. As the chill
night air danced about him, he spoke one more time. "Ah, a
much more befitting end indeed."

<*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*>

This night was not the first time. Nor would it be the last. Someone
had broken his heart long ago . . . and would eternally pay the price.
Possession was the key. Such as love for another had possessed
his heart, so now his spirit possessed Duo's body, hoping for
a second chance. Love may never die . . . but, then again,
neither does the pain of a betrayed heart.

<*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*><*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*><*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*>

Owari . . . ?

<*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*><*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*><*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*>

Ahh, come on . . . you know you want to email me!
(duonotsuin@yahoo.com) And whether it be questions, comments,
or flames . . . don't hesitate. Send it all! Wufei dares you too . . . ^_~

<*~~~~~~~~~~~~~*>

Wufei: "Onna, why must you always pin this stuff on me! This is
injustice!" *Wufei continues to rant on and on about justice . . . *

Duo: "Speaking of injustice, how come I was the one who
lost it in this story!"

Heero: "And how come I was the one who died? *pointing at Duo*
He's the one who lost it."

Duo: "Why you . . . !" *the two pilots begin a . . . "scuffle"*

Quatre: "And how come I'm such a . . . girl in this fic! Not to mention
the fact that Trowa and I were hardly ever mentioned . . . "

Trowa: " . . . "

DnT: *sigh* Okay, if I take this one step at a time . . .
"As I said before, most everything in this fic is done for
a reason. Quatre, every moment that you and Trowa weren't
in the fic you were . . ." *trails off into hushed whispers
in Quatre's ear*

All the pilots: *strain to listen*

Quatre: *eyes widen . . . then light up with mischief . . .
and then Quatre drags an equally stunned Trowa off to
some unmentionable location . . . *

DnT: "Now as for the rest of you . . . " *takes a deep breath
and nearly lets it all out as she sees Heero carrying a euphoric Duo
off into the abyss, both smiling all the way . . . * "Well, that took care
of itself . . . " *remembers that there's still one left . . . and smirks*
"Oh, Wu- fei!"

Wufei: "And justice is for the strong to–"
*looks at the fic writer* ". . . uh oh." Why does it always get
colder whenever she has that look on her face . . . ?

DnT: *waves her merciless pen in the air* "I would stop that blather if I were you . . ."

Wufei: *not wanting to appear weak in front of her, crosses
his arm defiantly* "Or you will what . . . "

DnT: *smirk darkens* "Oh, no reason . . . unless . . ." *noticeably
glances in the direction of exit taken by Heero and Duo* ". . .
ever hear of a 'manage a toi'?"

Wufei: "!!!!"

DnT: *chuckles* "I thought that’d shut you up!" *winks*