Sinking

Part One

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"Master Quatre please get up,"pleaded one of Quatre's loyal Maganac soldiers. "You've barely eaten or risen from bed in weeks."

"Please leave. I want to be alone,"Quatre mumbled from his pillow. He was laying on his side with his back to the soldier.

"But Mas..."

"Get OUT!"Quatre shouted angrily. Quatre sat up from his bed, and turned to face the worried soldier. The soldier gasped in surprise at Quatre's appearance. Quatre's usually cheerful face was streaked with tears. His eyes were red and puffy, his hair was a ruffled, greasy mess, and his shirt looked like it hadn't been washed in a long time. His hair had also gotten longer. His bangs hung down to his chin and the rest of his hair was only a few inches shorter. Quatre narrowed his eyes dangerously at the soldier to properly enforce his order.

"I...I'm sorry,"the soldier said softly as he left, shutting the door behind him.

'I should'nt have yelled at him,'Quatre thought. 'They're all worried about me.' Quatre put his hand to his face as he felt more tears come. "Why won't the tears stop?"he whimpered. He turned on to his stomach and buried his face into his pillow as he started to cry uncontrollably again. "Trowa where are you!"

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"Oh yes, go right in,"a soldier wearing sunglasses said to Heero and Duo as the arrived at Quatre's mansion hidden deep in the Sahara desert. "Please help Master Quatre." Duo looked at the soldier curiously as Heero opened the door. The huge house was strangely quiet. There was a butler wearing a regular black suit with a stiff, white collar standing at the bottom of the stairs. As the two walked forward they both suppressed a gasp.

The mansion was beautiful. The floor was all marble and the draperies hanging from the windows were white silk. In the front living room there were four old victorian couches with floral print, and even an old fashioned fainting couch. Beautiful Italian paintings hung on the walls, the picture frames were pure gold even. On the oak side and coffe tables were large bouqets of pink roses and baby's breath. On one wall was a huge fireplace that was taller then Duo, and plenty more grand furniture.

"Oh you must be here to see Master Quatre,"he said as he walked over to Duo and Heero. Duo knodded and Heero just stood there like a statue. "Come this way,"the butler said as he walked towards the grand staircase he was standing before earlier.

'Wow! What a great house,'Duo thought as he looked around. 'How can Quatre be in bad spirits in a house like this?' When the party had reached the top of the stairs the butler pointed to a door down the end of a long hallway. "Master Quatre's room is there,"he said as he turned to walk back down the stairs. Duo patiently waited until the butler had dissapeared from view before he raced towards the door, his braid flapping behind him. Heero just followed behind Duo slowly. "Hey Quatre!"Duo cried as he flung the door open, putting on his widest smile possible. "How've ya been..........Quatre!?" Quatre lay on his stomach, his face buried in his pillow, and his left arm hanging limply off the bed.

Quatre's room was just as grandly decorated as the living room. Quatre's bed was a four posted canopy bed. The sheen black cloth that hung from the canopy gave the room a mourning look. The silk sheets that Quatre lay under and even the curtains that hung from the floor length windows were black. There was another old victorian couch covered in satin pillows and a fainting couch. There was a nightstand next to the canopy bed with a blue vase filled with white lilies on top.

Duo walked to the side of the bed and started to shake Quatre roughly by the shoulders. "Quatre! Quatre you ok!?"he shouted. Quatre felt light in his hands but they could both hear his labored breathing. Quatre raised his left arm and smacked Duo's arms away. Duo backed up and bumped into Heero.

"Quatre,"Heero gasped. Quatre turned his head and looked at them. He still lay on his stomach and the left side of his head rested on the pillow. Quatre looked at them with dead, blank eyes. No light shown in them. His face was dirty and streaked with tear stains. He didn't even seem to be looking at them but through them. Duo ran over and kneeled beside Quatre. He grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly.

"Quatre it's me. It's Duo and Heero."Duo exclaimed. Quatre looked at Duo as if he didn't know him. Quatre jerked his hand out of Duo's grasp and slapped him hard across the cheek. Duo went sprawling backwards, and put his hand to his face. He looked at Quatre in shock.

"Don't touch me,"Quatre whispered menacingly, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Duo. "Don't touch me!"he cried.

"Quatre?"Heero gasped as he leaned down to help Duo up.

"Don't touch me!!"Quatre screamed as he moved farther away on the bed as if he were afraid. He rolled back over and started screaming into his pillow.

"Quatre stop it!"Heero shouted. He ran over to the bed and forced Quatre to roll over. Quatre was screaming so loud all other sounds were drowned out. Duo covered his ears to stop from hearing Quatre's screams. Quatre was clawing at Heero's face, and yanked at Heero's hair. Duo grabbed Quatre's arms and pinned them above his head. Quatre screamed louder, and started to kick his legs underneath the silk sheets. Heero sat top of Quatre's knees and grabbed the sides of Quatre's face with his hands. "Quatre stop! STOP!!"he shouted. "Quatre calm down! You've got to calm down!" Quatre paid no attention, instead he continued screaming and struggling. Heero raised his hand and punched Quatre across the cheek. Quatre's head whipped to the side from the blow. His eyes opened wide, and he stopped screaming. Duo let go of Quatre's arms, but Quatre made no attempt to move them down. Quatre looked up blankly at Heero. Heero started to shake him by the shoulders. "Quatre snap out of it!"Heero screamed at him.

"Quatre's dead,"Quatre replied calmly, stonefaced.

"Quatre's not dead!"Heero shouted back. "Quatre's alive!"

"Quatre's dead,"he whispered. He smiled to himself, one of his sweet, innocent smiles. "No pain! No pain when you're dead!"he shouted happily to himself. He started to giggle and soon the giggles turned to hysterical laughter. Heero quickly let go of him as if he were on fire. "Quatre's dead! Quatre's dead! Quatre's dead! Quatre's dead!"he screamed. He was repeating it over and over again. Duo clamped his hands over his ears and squeezed his eyes shut.

"No! No! NO!!"Heero shouted. He tried to grab Quatre's hand but Quatre wouldn't allow it. Quatre got up and sat on his knees on the bed and smiled happily at Heero.

"No pain!"he screamed. Tears were streaming down Quatre's face but he still smiled. Quatre stood up and wrapped his long arms around Heero, hugging him tightly. "No pain! No pain! Dead! Dead! Dead!" Heero pushed Quatre away and Quatre stumbled back. Heero punched him again.

"See Quatre! Pain! You're not dead!"Heero shouted. He grabbed Quatre by the shoulders. "See Quatre! See!" Quatre tried to look down but Heero grabbed his chin and jerked his head back up. Quatre's chin trembled and his face grimaced.

"No. It's not true,"he whispered. "I am dead." Quatre wrapped his arms around Heero's neck and cried against his chest.

"Quatre it's ok. Everything's ok ,"Heero whispered soothingly into Quatre's ear. Quatre clung desperately to the back of Heero's shirt. Duo felt a pang jealousy. He stood by watching from a corner of the room. He knew he was being selfish but he couldn't help but want Heero all to himself. Duo walked out of the room, leaving them alone for awhile.

"Heero I'm sorry,"Quatre sobbed. Heero stepped back and held Quatre's face. He wiped away Quatre's tears with his thumbs, and held his forehead against Quatre's.

"Shh,"Heero said softly. "Everything's going to be fine. Now rest." He urged Quatre towards the bed and helped him into the covers. Quatre sniffed sadly as Heero kissed him lightly on the forehead. 'I'm acting like a damn mom,'he thought uneasily. He left the room and stopped in the hallway to close the door behind him. When he turned around he saw Duo leaning against the wall across from him.

"Quatre's gone insane again hasn't he?"Duo whispered. Heero knodded.

"He's become catatonic,"he muttered.

"Because of Trowa?"

"Yes,"Heero replied. "I think we should stay here awhile to comfort Quatre, and to protect him."

"Protect him?"

"I'm afraid he might try to hurt himself,"Heero said as he knelt down and leaned against the wall. He covered his face with his hands, and hunched over. His shoulders shook with his sobs. Duo was astonished. He'd never seen Heero just come undone and cry like that. Duo knelt down in front of Heero and embraced him tightly. Heero never made a sound, just cried silently. "I feel so bad for hitting him,"Heero murmurred. Duo hugged Heero tighter and stroked Heero's hair and neck comfortingly. "Duo,"Heero mumbled. "I want you to go ask if we can stay here for awhile."

"Sure,"he replied. "I'll go ask the butler if it's ok. I'll be right back." Duo got up slowly and walked down the stairs, leaving Heero alone with his sadness.

Duo found the butler in the kitchen and asked if they could stay until Quatre was back to normal. The butler agreed and said that they could choose any room they wanted.

"I'll take this room, and you, Duo, take that one,"Heero said when Duo had told him the butler had agreed. His room was on the right side of Quatre's room and Duo's was on the left.

"Why seperate rooms?"Duo asked suspiciously.

"Easier to intercept Quatre should he try to escape or sneak out or something,"Heero explained calmly, not at all shaken by Duo's death glares. "Besides we shouldn't rub it in Quatre's face that we still have each other when he has no one." Duo looked down and shook his head in understanding. Noticing Duo's sad expression Heero walked up and wrapped Duo in a loving embrace. Duo, however, didn't return the hug, instead he left his arms hanging at his sides. "I'm sorry,"Heero whispered in Duo's ear.

"Why are you apologizing?"Duo asked sadly. "You didn't do anything. I just feel bad for Quatre cuz if I ever lost you I would act the sam...," Heero had leaned down and interrupted Duo by kissing him passionately, forcing his tongue into Duo's mouth. Duo urgently returned the kiss.

"Me too,"Heero whispered when he had broken away. He hugged Duo tighter and buried his face in Duo's neck. Duo smiled. He wrapped his arms around Heero's neck, closed his eyes, and hugged him tightly back.

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After Dinner:

Duo slowly walked up the staircase trying desperately not to drop the tray of food he was carrying for Quatre. According to the butler, Quatre hadn't eaten for three days, and barely anything before that. Quatre had to be suffering from malnutrition, so Duo had begged the butler to let him try to get Quatre to eat. Heero had tried to talk Duo out of it, but he was too stubborn.

[ "I want to make Quatre get better,"Duo had explained to Heero. "He doesn't seem to recognize me. I want to help him remember." ]

Duo balanced the tray on his right knee as he carefully opened the door to Quatre's room. "Quatre? You awake?"Duo whispered as he placed the tray on a small nightstand that was next to the canopy bed. Duo grabbed the black sheen fabric that hung from the canopy and tied it to one of the posts, he did the same to the other side. There was a slit in the cloth so one could go on to the bed without going underneath the cloth. He moved to sit down on the edge of the bed but decided against it. Quatre lay on his stomach, his face in his pillow again. "Quatre?" To the sound of his name Quatre turned over and looked at Duo with his dull eyes. 'His eyes look dead,'Duo thought. It was hard enough for him to even look at Quatre.

Quatre's eyes were no longer shiny nor full of hope. Quatre's lips were slightly parted and his breath came out in long hoarse gasps. Duo sat down next to Quatre's still form and picked up the fragile boy and cradled his back in his left arm. With his free hand he grabbed the glass of ice-water off the tray he had brought in and put it to Quatre's lips. He tilted the glass slightly and Quatre drank it all down. 'His throat must have gone dry from all that screaming,'Duo thought. He placed the glass back on the tray and laid Quatre back on to the bed. "Quatre do you want to eat something?"Duo asked. Quatre just shook his head. "Quatre you have to eat something. You're really thin and you're gonna get sick." Quatre just stared back at Duo stonefaced.

"I want you to get out,"Quatre said quietly.

"What!?"Duo cried.

"I want you to get out. I want you to leave my house and me,"he replied.

"Not likely. You know me and Heero would never leave no matter how much you screamed."

"I never said I wanted Heero to leave. I just want you to leave,"Quatre whispered dangerously. Duo stared down at Quatre. His eyes wide in surprise.

"Why do you want Heero to stay?" Quatre didn't answer. "Why do you want me alone to leave?" Still no answer. "I want to stay Quatre, and you know I'd never leave without Heero. But besides that I want to stay and help you." Quatre remained quiet and stonefaced. "How can I make you better?"he asked.

"Bring Trowa back to me,"Quatre answered as tears began to fall from the corners of his eyes.

"Quatre you know I can't bring Trowa back to life,"Duo said softly as he moved his hand to wipe away Quatre's tears. Quatre smacked Duo's hands away.

"Leave me alone,"he said as he rolled over on to his side with his back to Duo. "Just get out." As Quatre requested Duo got up and left. As Duo walked out the door he came face to face with Heero. Duo knew without asking that Heero had overheard the whole conversation. Heero just walked passed Duo and into the room.

Quatre rolled over to look as Heero walked menacingly toward him. Quatre sat up and looked up at Heero completely terrified.

"Stand up,"Heero commanded angrily. Quatre glared at Heero and didn't move. "I said stand up!"he shouted as he grabbed Quatre roughly by the arm and pulled him to his feet.

"Ouch! Let me go!"Quatre screamed. Quatre was fully clothed, wearing a pair of khaki pants and a white shirt. His clothes were dirty and he looked like he hadn't changed them in weeks. Quatre was so thin now that his regular clothes were now too big for him and they hung off his body. "I am the master of this house and you will let me go!"

"I will not,"Heero replied. "You are going to eat." Heero picked up the tray of food and pulled Quatre over towards the desk. Before Heero could set down the tray on the desk Quatre swung his hand at it. The tray flew out of Heero's hand and fell to the floor. All the food that was on the tray landed on the carpet. Heero turned and glared at Quatre angrily. Quatre immediately regretted what he had done and cried out in alarm. Heero picked Quatre up and slung him over his shoulder. Heero walked out of the room and descended down the stairs much to the surprise of both Duo and Quatre. Quatre started to yell in protest and he punched Heero's back with his small fists and kicked his legs wildly. Duo just trailed behind them, looking on in amusement.

Heero walked into the dining room and through Quatre down on to the marble floor. Quatre landed on the floor with a loud thud, and had the wind knocked out of him. Quatre whimpered as he stood up. His butt had been injured from the crash landing and he was rubbing it lightly. Heero pulled a chair out from the table and grabbed Quatre's arm. He jerked Quatre up and threw him on to the chair. "Duo go get some food!"Heero ordered.

Duo ran out of the room and into the kitchen. The kitchen was huge and full of appliances. It looked like one of those fancy resturaunt kitchens. It took him awhile but he finally found the refrigerator. Inside all he could find were some fruit and vegetables besides the usual essentials like milk, butter, dressing and the like. He grabbed an apple, an orange, some grapes, and a plum. When he was turned to leave he spotted the storage room where the canned and dry foods were kept. He ran inside and grabbed a samll loaf of bread. He ran back into the dining room carefully holding all these items in his arms. Duo placed them down on the tabletop gently so that the fruit wouldn't roll away.

When Duo returned he found Heero sitting sideways on a chair next to Quatre's. Heero had laid his legs across Quatre's lap to weight him down should he try to stand up and run off. Heero looked at the things on the table which Duo had brought and selected an orange. Heero leaned back and began to calmly peel the orange while Quatre struggled to throw Heero's legs off of him. Duo sat across the table from them and decided to watch and see what would happen.

When Heero was done peeling the orange he took a slice and sat forward. He grabbed Quatre's face and forced the orange slice into his mouth. Quatre had tried to spit it out but Heero had covered his mouth with his hand, refusing any such action. Quatre swallowed the slice angrily and crossed his arms over his chest defiantly. Quatre's whole demeanor changed suddenly and he grabbed the rest of the orange away from Heero and began eating it eagerly. When he was done he smiled contentedly, obviously savoring the sweet taste.

Quatre, without any warning, grabbed Heero's ankles and pulled him forward. Heero, taken by surprise, slid off the edge of the chair and landed on the floor on his back. Quatre, now free, smiled down at Heero. Quatre grabbed the small loaf of bread off the table and slowly walked out of the dining room and towards his own room.

After Quatre had left Duo leaned over the table top and smiled down at Heero who still lay in a heap on the floor.

"Well...at least you got him to eat,"Duo said cheerfully. Heero just muttered some curses in Japanese as he sat up and rubbed the back of his head where a small bump had surfaced.

The End

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Love it? Hate it? Please e-mail me with any input on my writing. I'd very much appreciate it. I'm workin on a 2nd part to this and any input or suggestions would be great.

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