Eyes Beneath the Shadow

By: Quatre Raberba Winner (Quatre-Chan/Onna-Quatre)

(*****First thing first. I was inspired to write this fic when I was watching a friend of mine play Devil May Cry. Those of you who have seen the game know what I'm talking about. Those who haven't you'll find out as I go along. Just so people know there is no 2x5 in this. I'm saying this ahead of time because something happened between the two to make it come out that way. Now enjoy.*****)

Duo sat at the kitchen table as he at his now somewhat cold dinner, while holding an icepack to his eye. He let out a deep breath in frustration, "He didn't have to hit me so hard.. ."

*Flashback*

"This is not cool Heero!" the American griped as he gathered some things for his next mission, "I don't see why I have to go on this mission with WuFei. We don't need the Gundams, so why can't you go?"

"Because the mission called for you two. With WuFei at your side you'll get done in half the time."

"But this is only to gain information on the space take over. What does he need me for?!"

The Japanese boy kissed his koi on the cheek, "Because he will not dress up as a girl."

"Girl?!"

"Yes. This base is full of female soldiers, you'll be 'one of them'. While you're getting acquainted WuFei will sneak in and out. That simple."

"Whatever.. ."

The mission had gone as planned, well except for the unexpected rainstorm. The two boys jumped out of the truck and made a mad dash for the house. When they entered the other three pilots were no where to be seen.

"Maxwell, wait here for the others. I'm going to take a shower." He walked up the stairs.

Ten minutes later, the violet eyes pilot decided to microwave some leftovers that were in the fridge. At least this was one meal he could cook and not burn the house down or so he hoped.

When he sat down to eat his food he could hear footsteps coming down the stairs. The Chinese boy walked in wearing a pair of pajama pants and a towel on his shoulders. His black hair fell onto his shoulders so that the cloth would absorb the moister.

//Look at him.//

Duo looked at WuFei's face at first, but then his attention started to drift from the Shenlong pilot's eyes to his bare chest.

"Maxwell, why are you looking at me like that?"

//Approach him.//

The longhaired pilot stood from his seat and made his way over to the onyx eyed boy. He stood in front of him, //Kiss him.. .// Duo moved his hand behind WuFei's head and kissed him full on the mouth.

WuFei pulled away and slugged the American across the face, "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"Huh?"

"Why did you do that?!"

"Do what?"

"Just stay away from me.. ." he left the room.

Duo looked at his now wet hand, "Did I.. . kiss him?"

//He can kiss very well.//

He looked around the room, "Where is that voice coming from?"

*End flashback*

"Why the hell would I kiss him?"

//Because I told you to.//

"Who are you? Where are you?"

//I am you, you are me.//

"Get out of my head!!!"

"Duo, do you need some mental help?" came a nasal voice.

"Heero you're back. Where'd you go?"

"To the store." Quatre answered as he walked into the kitchen with four bags of groceries with Trowa close in tow.

Heero took a few glances around the room, "Where's WuFei?"

"He went upstairs after I kissed him."

"You what?!"

He blinked, "What?"

"You KISSED him?"

"Did I say kiss?"

"Yes and you never lie. How could you?!"

"Quatre," Trowa spoke as he took a hold of his lover's arm, "I think we should go into the next room."

"But.. ."

"No buts, let's go." He dragged the blond out of the room.

"Listen Heero, I didn't mean to. I didn't know what I was doing."

"What? Did you mistake him for me?"

"No, I heard this voice and then one thing lead to another. I'm sorry."

"Sorry isn't going to make this go away." He turned his back to him, "I can't even stand to look at you right now." He walked out of the room.

//Sorry Duo.//

"No you're not. Get out of my head!"

WuFei was packing some stuff into a bag when the Japanese pilot entered without knocking. He stood in the middle of the room as he watched the onyx-eyed boy, "What happened that caused Duo to kiss you?"

"I don't know. I don't even want to know."

"You didn't do anything?"

"No, I didn't. All I did was walk into the room, then he started to stare at me and the next thing I knew he was headed straight for me and then he put his lips right onto mine. I'm surprised you didn't question his black eye."

"After what he did he's lucky I didn't hit him." He looked at the bag, "Where are you going?"

"On another mission. I'll be back in two weeks." He left with his bag over his shoulder.

'Duo,' Heero thought, 'this is going to take awhile and you know it. Nothing you can say or do right now will comfort me and now it seems like WuFei doesn't want to have anything to do with me. I have a hard enough time making friends as it is, if I lose him then you will follow.' He walked out of the room.

Quatre sat on the couch with Heero's sacred laptop in his lap, "Heero?"

"Hn."

"We have a new mission. We have to go southeast of this current location. We'll be okay without WuFei, right?"

"Let's head out now."

The ground was wet from the rain, the four boys walked silently around the area, seeing nothing and no one around. Quatre grabbed onto the Latin boy's arm, "Something's wrong."

*Snap!*

"Heero?" Duo questioned, "What was that?"

The Japanese boy turned his head and saw about five Aries fly over head, "Run!"

The other three complied rather quickly. As they tried to head back to their truck the enemy MS turned back around and began to fire at the ground. To give the OZ flunkies a challenge the four of them split up.

Duo ran into a cave that was in the far distance. He plopped himself onto ground catching his breath, "They shouldn't.. . be able to find me in here.. ."

//You left your friends out there to die?//

"I thought I told you to shut up."

//No you told me to get out of your head.//

"That too."

"02, come out with your hands in the air!"

"Shit." He whispered.

//Looks like you need me after all.//

A bright white light filled the cave as two screams could be heard. Once the light had vanished the OZ soldier was lying on the ground in many different pieces, Duo was lying on the ground unconscious and next to him stood a girl that was a little taller than the American, she had chestnut brown hair that went to her knees and dark cobalt blue eyes. She wore tight black pants and a tight red shirt, a black trench coat and tied to her back was a rather large sword.

She yawned, "That was too easy.. ."

"Duo?!"

"Duo!"

"Baka!"

The three Gundam boys wondered around the area after the Aries had somehow managed crash into the far off mountains. They walked slowly making sure that all of the soldiers had retreated or died.

"Look, there's a cave over there. Maybe he took cover inside.. ." The blond spoke with a slight bit of hope in his voice.

"Hn." Heero's voice was still cold, but his eyes were filled with concern and fear for the American. He may have been mad at the boy, but he didn't want any harm to come to his koi.

The boys entered the cave, it was dark and rather drafty. As they walked they could see the silhouettes of two people. The one on the ground they recognized as Duo Maxwell, the other was a mystery to them.

Heero's Prussian eyes widened, "Duo-Chan!" he ran over to his fallen koibito, "Open your eyes. Please Duo, say something!"

Trowa and Quatre watched their comrade try to awaken the longhaired boy. The Heavyarms pilot's eyes shifted to the person that stood next to their friends. He took a step forward, signaling the Arabian to stay where he was. "Who are you." His voice never went up and didn't show any sign of fear.

The person in question looked over their shoulder, then pointed to Duo, "I am him, he is me." she stated.

Quatre arched an eyebrow, "Excuse me?"

"Duo-Chan, please.. ." the Japanese boy put all of his anger aside and pressed his lips against the violet-eyed pilot's.

The pilot of Deathscythe awakened when Heero had pulled away. He smiled at his lover, "You still mad?"

"Baka! Don't you ever do that again!" he hugged him.

"Aw, how.. . sweet." The female commented.

Duo turned his attention to the girl, "Why do you keep saying that I am you?"

"You use my title."

"Shinigami.. ." he whispered.

"In the flesh. By the way, my name is Shin."

The American's eyes shut once again as he passed out in Heero's arms. The girl smirked, "It's not like you haven't seen me before."

An hour passed and Duo was still unconscious. Heero had laid him on the couch once they had gotten back at the safe house. Trowa sat in the corner watching every move that Shin made and while the Latin boy was tending to treat the female like an enemy his lover served them all tea and was starting to indulge himself in a friendly conversation with her.

"So, how did you end up on earth?"

She glanced at Trowa, then shook her head, "I don't think it's wise for you to be talking to me."

"Why not?" he asked with a very innocent tone.

"Because I said so." She glared at the blond.

The Arabian pilot began to shake, "O.. . okay."

"Ha, Ha!! I'm just screwin' with you!"

"Don't you ever mess with my angel ever again!"

She turned her gaze to the now infuriated pilot, "What? I'm not allowed to have a little fun?"

"Not like that!"

"Trowa, calm down." Quatre stood and took the girl's hand, "I'm very sorry. He normally doesn't speak."

She laughed again, "It's all right. Anyway, as answer to your question; I've been on Earth all along."

"What?" Heero asked arching an eyebrow.

"I made a deal with him." She approached the Deathscythe pilot and knelt beside the couch, "Little Duo Maxwell, the only survivor of Maxwell Church." She blew on his face.

"Wha?!" his eyes flew open, "What the hell?"

Shinigami grinned, "Rise and shine, bright eyes!"

"It wasn't a dream. You're real."

"Duh. You remember the deal we made, right?"

"I thought that was a dream too."

"Nope. You said if I let you live long enough to get the smiles of the colonies back, then you'd come with me. I just decided to tag along with ya."

"Inside me?" his voice went a little higher just then.

"Yes, but there is no need to worry. I only really popped up when you used my title."

"You mean that you are there when Heero and I are.. ." he felt a hand clasp over his mouth.

"I try not to show up then, but no. I'm referring to when you are in battle. Although I do tend to take control of you every now and again."

The Japanese boy looked straight into her dark blue eyes, "Were you in control of him earlier today?"

"Possibly."

"Why did you decide to come out of Duo now?" Trowa's voice still had a bit of anger in it and he could feel the small Arabian trying to hold him back.

"When you guys were on your mission he was about to be killed."

Quatre looked confused, "But don't you have to have the last word on that?"

"No."

//Help me!//

Shin's eyes widened. She took a few looks around the room, "I hear something." She shut her eyes, //Where are you?//

//I don't know. It's so cold and dark out here.//

//I sense your eyes are shut. Calm your self and open your eyes. Let me see where you are.// she could see the surroundings of the house that she was in right now. Shin took a breath, //Listen carefully run until you see a house.// she opened her eyes.

The American looked at her strangely, "Shin?"

There was frantic pounding on the front door. The God of Death strolled over and opened it. A girl with black hair that was tied into pigtails and torn clothing stood before her, out of breath and drenched with rain. The girl looked at Shin with tired eyes, "Lord Shinigami.. ." she fell forward and passed out in the blue eyed girl's arms.

~~~

WuFei sat on the floor in another safe house. He didn't really like lying to the others, but he needed to get his thoughts and emotions under control. 'Why would Maxwell do something like that? He could have done it to get back at Yuy for something, but that can't be it. They were getting along just fine. Besides that kiss was something else as if it wasn't him at all.' His thoughts were interrupted by a disturbing image.

His eyes flew open, "Nataku." He stood from where he sat and approached the window. The rain continued to come pouring down against the windowpane. He put his hand on the glass and set his eyes to the dark clouds that hung over head, "I sense you are no longer at peace.. ."

~~~

Shin looked over her shoulder and saw seven eyes wide open, "Do you have a place where she could rest?"

Quatre nodded slowly still in wonder of who the girl was, "She can use WuFei's room.. ." he turned and lead the way to the Shenlong pilot's room.

"Heero, what's happening? That looked a lot like.. ." Duo's statement was cut short by his koi who just walked out of the room without a word.

The door to the bedroom was open a little, letting a very few rays of light to come through. The God of Death sat on the edge of the bed waiting for her companion to awaken.

"Ugh." The girl opened her eyes half way and waited for her vision to focus. "Shin, we have a problem." She attempted to sit up, but was pushed back down.

"Rest. Quatre has gone to get you some clothes so you can change out of those rags. Tell me, why and how are you back in the mortal realm?"

"I don't know. Everything is a blank, all I know is that I woke up in some strange lab and I wasn't the only one. The person that was there that was not 'dead' said that she was going to revive some of the strongest warriors from past years."

"Why?"

"I'm not sure."

"Excuse me." the blond walked in and set a pair of clothes next to the girl that was lying down, "Here, if you feel up to it I'll take you into town and get you some new stuff, but for now Duo said you could use these. Let me know if you need anything." He smiled at the two females and then left.

"Rest now. I'll come and check up on you later." She stood and approached the door.

"Shin?"

She stopped, but did not look back, "What?"

"I saw what you made Duo do to my husband. I saw that just before everything went black. Tell me something, why did you do that?"

"For fun."

"Fun? Fun?! You call getting Duo in trouble between two of his best friends, almost breaking him and Heero up, then giving WuFei a mental break down fun?!"

"Cool it, justice girl. I admit I had fun with it, watching all the friction was the fun. The kiss wasn't bad either."

"How dare you do that them!"

"Did you ever tell WuFei that you loved him, Merin?"

"What?"

"Did you ever say 'I love you' to him?"

"No."

"Then perhaps he doesn't know how except affection from others. Being his wife, you should have said it at least once considering that is how you really feel." She walked out.

"Hey."

"What do you want Heero?"

The Japanese boy kept a short distance, but the glare that he gave meant that he was very serious, "So it was you."

"You knew once I said that I could take control of your koi."

"Yes, but from what you told her you did it for fun. But that is far from the truth isn't it? You like him."

"I'm not going to even answer that."

"Then answer this; why didn't you just split from Duo and tell WuFei. You could have just passed yourself off as a normal girl."

"He would have known. WuFei is someone that is completely out of my reach. He is Merin's and that is something that I will have to except."

"Then why the kiss?"

She looked straight into his Prussian blue eyes, "Because I just wanted one kiss from him, a kiss from someone."

"But you were a mortal once. And you've never been kissed?"

"That's right. Back in my time there was a war going on and I would see so many civilians and soldiers in pain. I would say to them 'do you want me to take away the pain?' their eyes would tell me their answer. I killed them and put their souls to rest. When it was my time to die, the gods of higher power gave me the position of Shinigami."

"I see, but one thing still bugs me."

"What?"

"Did you mean to try and split me and Duo up?"

"Affirmative."

"Why?"

"I was inside Duo, remember? No matter how much I tried, I couldn't except that he had chosen you. Now that I am free you can be together as much as you wish." She walked off.

"There's still something missing. And I'm going to find out what." He walked into his and Duo's room.

Shin stood outside in the back of the safe house. Her two pistols were drawn and she was knocking soda cans off of the wooden fence. Soft footsteps made their way over to her. She stopped her firing but did not face the oncoming person. "What is it, Duo?"

"How did you know it was me?"

"I've been inside you for so many years. I've been able to sense your movements besides I was sure that you'd come to talk to me about that kiss."

"Yeah. Heero said you.. ."

"Yes, what he said was true."

"But he says that there is more to that story."

"What would make you think that?" she turned, aiming her guns.

The American started to shake slightly, "Nothing.. ." he squeaked. "Are you going to kill me?"

"Huh?" she blinked and looked at the two pistols, "No!" she put them back in there rightful place, that being the holsters under her coat, "I was doing some target shooting to let out some anger."

"Phew." He sighed in relief. "Did you name your guns Ebony and Ivory?" he chuckled nervously.

"No. Their names are Deathscythe and D-Hell."

The chestnut haired boy then locked his violet eyes with her cobalt ones. Now very serious about his next question, "Could you tell me the rest of it?"

"There is nothing left TO tell! Leave me now, Duo."

"But Shin, I really want to know why."

"Just go. I have nothing to say to you or anyone."

Duo turned on his heals and headed back to the house, 'Heero's right.' He thought, 'You ARE hiding something and now I want to know.. .'

As he walked back into the house the front door opened and in walked the Shenlong pilot. The American blushed, but then shook it off, "Hey WuFei. Heero said you were on a mission, did it go bad?"

"I.. ." he sighed, "I wasn't on another mission. I'm sorry I lied, but I needed to get my thoughts together. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to my room and going to bed." He walked up the stairs.

"Duo?" the blond questioned from the kitchen, "Was that WuFei's voice I just heard?"

"Yeah."

"Did you tell him about.. .?"

"Oh shit! WuFei, don't enter.. ." he dashed up the steps just in time to see him enter the bedroom, "Your room."

The room was dark, but the moon gave it enough light to see. The raven-haired pilot approached his bed then noticed a pile of Duo's clothes on his nightstand. He blinked, 'Why would Maxwell's clothes be in my room?' He then saw a lump in his bed, "What the?" he pulled down the blankets which then revealed a nude woman lying there. "What the hell?!?!?!"

Her eyes fluttered open not only after hearing the outburst, but also from the cold air hitting her bare skin. She sat up and turned her attention to the dazed and confused Chinese boy, "WuFei?" she quickly covered herself, "WuFei, how dare you enter this room without knocking!"

"Me?! This is MY room and you're supposed to be DEAD!"

"WuFei?" Heero questioned as he entered, "There's something you need to know."

"And that is?"

Duo popped his head in the door and grinned, "Your wife's back!"

"Merin," the Japanese pilot spoke up once again, "get changed into those clothes. We'll take WuFei down stairs and then we can talk." He signaled for the onyx-eyed boy to follow him.

He took one more look at his wife and then followed the Wing pilot out of the room with Duo closing the door behind them. Merin stared at the door for a few seconds before she brought her knees to her chest. She felt very uncomfortable and insecure, but most of all she felt alone. "Are you that unhappy to see me WuFei?" she asked out into the empty room.

About five minutes later the Chinese girl made her way down stairs and into the living room. She looked at the six people; Trowa was sitting in a large armchair with Quatre in his lap, Duo sat on the floor with his koi at his side, Shin was leaning against the wall and tried to remain hidden in the shadows then there was WuFei, who was sitting on the couch with his eyes shut.

"What's going on?" the raven-haired boy asked with a slightly angry tone.

Heero looked from WuFei to Merin then back to the Shenlong pilot, "We're not quite sure. All we know is that Shin over there is the God of Death and somehow your wife is back from the dead."

"Somebody shoot me." he mumbled although it was loud enough for Merin to hear.

"Why would you want someone to kill you?! You know that there is no honor in dying that way."

He stood from his spot on the couch and looked straight into her dark eyes, "Because this is hell!"

"How do you know?" Came the low voice in the darkened corner.

"Because nothing is as it seems. This whole thing is driving me to the end of my sanity!"

Shin stepped into the light. Her cobalt eyes were hard, "Do you think that's what hell is? If that's what you think then it is so. And I know what's going through your head, your wife has somehow been revived and one of your best friends and comrades kissed you full on the mouth. Yes, nothing is as it seems, but stop to think.. . you're not the same either."

"True. Tell me this though, if you are the God of Death then why haven't you explained anything yet?"

"Because I too have no idea. Something or someone has been tampering with fate and I will try to find what's going on, but for now why don't you spend some time with Merin."

WuFei looked at his wife then back at Shin. He said nothing to no one and walked out of the room. Merin watched the Chinese pilot retreat and plopped herself onto the couch. She looked at everyone, "I'll just spend the night down here. I don't think my husband can handle me being in the same room as him never mind the bed."

It was around midnight and as expected Duo went down stairs for his nightly snack. Shin made her way into Heero's room. She stood near the door and stared at the sleeping pilot, 'He's not so bad, when he's sleeping that is.' She thought as she shut the door.

She made her way over to the Japanese boy. She pulled herself onto the mattress and held Heero's arms down with her hands and sat on his stomach so he was incapable of any movement, "Metalia, wake up."

"Duo.. . Now's not the-" his eyes opened fully and when his vision came into focus he saw Shin restraining him in a rather seductive manner, "Get off me!"

"I want to speak to Metalia."

"Who is Metalia?"

Her eyes started to give off a strange and eerie red glow, "Awaken Metalia!"

Heero's eyes started to glow the same color as Shin's, he blinked a few times, but when he started to speak a feminine sounding voice came out, "What is Shin?"

"Took you long enough."

"Well excuse me for trying to protect the balance of life and death."

"And a hell of a job you're doing and please note the sarcasm!"

"What?"

"Merin has come to the mortal world and not in the same way that you and I are here. She has been revived, so now that brings me to my questioning. Where the heck were you?!"

"Here. Not here as in Heero's mind and heart, but here as in the darkness. I thought I felt some kind of disturbance. It felt like magic."

"But no one in this era should have such power. Everything now is done by machine. I need you to see how many others have been revived and I will be there shortly."

"Yeah.. ." she blushed, "And if you are going to come can you get of me now? This is rather embarrassing for me to be restrained like THIS by my boss."

"I will get off when you are back in a slumbered state. It is too soon for him and the others to know about you and it's really too soon for Quatre to find out what's been lying in his soul. Now hurry up and go back to sleep."

Heero's eyes shut and then reopened with his normal Prussian eyes staring angrily back at Shin, "Why are you holding me like this and why are you in here?"

"Just trying to see what Duo sees in you." She got off and left the room. She sighed in relief as she walked down the hall, 'Good, he remembers nothing.'

The next day was rather non-eventful. Heero and Duo tried to investigate the situation with Shin, Quatre and Trowa went about their normal day's activities and WuFei shut himself in his bedroom leaving his friends and wife alone. Of course with the American pilot and his koi looking to interrogate the death goddess Shin was nowhere to be seen.

At around seven at night, the cobalt eyed girl showed up once again. She lay on the grass on the other side of the fence. Footsteps made their way towards her and stopped just a few inches away. "Can I talk to you?"

"You can say whatever you'd like to, WuFei."

He sat down next to her, "Why me? Why do you like me in that way?"

"Who told you that?"

"Maxwell. He told me everything, so could you answer my question?"

"I feel that you and I are one in the same. I can't explain it, but that's the way I feel. I know what I feel for you is love, but I'm not supposed to admit it."

"Why not?"

"Because as the God of Death I am not supposed to have feelings and emotions that you mortals have. I gave up the right to feel when I lost my life and became Shinigami. To put it bluntly I'm like you. I'm not supposed to have any remorse after I 'kill' someone. That's why Duo feels nothing when he fights. Who am I kidding anyway, you would never have this same feeling that is 'non-existent' in my being." She sat up.

"And if I do?"

"I'd say you're yanking my chain."

He moved a little closer and brushed his lips against hers. After mere seconds he pulled away, "I've never been on the receiving end of love nor on the giving."

"WuFei.. ." Shin put her right index finger to her lips.

"When you had Maxwell kiss me I was overly confused to say the least. I had no clue about you, so I thought that he had taken an interest in me rather than that of his koi. But I put more thought into it and then became even more confused."

"Then what did you come to?"

"That it wasn't him. I felt that it was someone else. That kiss was the kind passion that he would give to Yuy. But I knew deep down that I had found someone who liked me for who I am unlike Nataku."

"I see. But Merin does love you."

"No she doesn't. She's hated and despised me since we met."

The longhaired girl stood and glanced at the boy next to her, "You're wrong, she did and still does love and respect you. You are hers, so this isn't meant to be."

"I'm not hers and I never was. When she died I lost all ties to her."

"No you didn't, she's alive now."

"I don't care. I am free from that marriage."

"It still won't work." She started walk away and took a small breath, "I am the God of Death and therefore I cannot have feelings and emotions. Death feels nothing thus nothing should lye in my so called heart." Then she was out of sight.

"That's not true.. ." he whispered.

"WuFei, we have to talk."

"Nataku, I don't feel like talking to you right now."

"That's funny, whenever there was something wrong you'd always come to me."

"What do you want?"

"You need to know my true feelings. Feelings that I've had since.. ."

"Enough!" he interrupted, "I've had it. I know what you're going to say and I hate to tell you this but I don't share those feelings. This whole situation has opened my eyes and you are not in that sight." He turned to head back to the house.

"But you and I are still married! Even though I was dead, I'm back now so our marriage is still intact!"

"Wrong. You are dead. I buried you and vowed to fight and live for the justice that you believed in and I am doing so. In my memory you have gone to a better place than this battle driven world, thus I need to move on with my life."

"So you're going to try and cheat on me with God of Death?!"

"It's not cheating. You're dead, remember?" he walked off leaving her standing there to think about his words.

In the house Quatre watched the whole scene that had taken place. He jumped at the touch of a hand resting on his shoulder, "What are you up to?"

"Trowa, don't scare me like that.. ." the blonde let out a small sigh.

"Sorry, but what are you doing? Are you spying on them?"

"This is very unusual. WuFei's wife is back from the dead and did love him in the past, but never said anything. Shin had taken advantage of the fact that she could take over Duo's body and tried to put the moves on WuFei and now has confirmed her emotions for him and finally WuFei has come to terms with his thoughts and feelings revealing that he is in love with Shinigami." He sighed, "This is just the kind of story lines that soap operas have when the ratings are low."

"Yes and then they turn to cheap nudity. Quatre," the Latin boy placed both his hands in his lover's shoulders and looked deep into the aquamarine depths, "this situation is between the three of them. I know you listen in to make sure that no one gets hurt emotionally or physically, however they need to figure it out. And I know you know that. You, me Heero and Duo have all found happiness with each other and I know you want WuFei to be apart of that happiness."

"I know what you're saying and I really do want him to be happy."

"Then you know what I'm saying true. This little love triangle isn't going to go away even if you get involved. This has to be settled within their minds and heats. Not yours, not mine, no one else but theirs. No one helped us and I'm glad because each moment I spend with you is even more special than the last and that is only because you and I know what love is and how magical it can be with the right one."

"Trowa.. ." the Arabian pilot got on his toes and kissed his koi on the lips. He pulled away after a moment, "I love you and I want WuFei to feel this kind of love."

"Then leave him be. He'll figure everything out for himself."

As the longhaired girl wondered she saw a certain pilot standing in her way. His eyes held so many questions for her. She stopped and looked at the boy, "What now Heero?"

"I want answers. I see you have finally managed to come clean with your feelings that you claim that you don't have, but at the same time you wrecked another relationship."

"Are you referring to you and Duo? Or are you talking about Merin?"

"How could you do that to her?"

"I want love too. I had it once, but then it was taken away from me ironically enough it was the same day I had lost my life."

"Explain the love that you once had."

"How about I show you." She took his hand in hers and made him shut his eyes, "What you are about to see young warrior is my memory."

It was dusk in the forest that three travelers walked through. Heero watched as the three sit near a river. He looked at the female next to him then to one of the girls in the party. He pointed at the one wearing an oddly shaped blue dress and red knee-high boots, //Is that you?//

//Yes.//

//Who are the others?//

//You will see.//

"Raven, you could have told us that there were bandits in that last town!" the blond girl whined. Her hair was tied into ponytail and her eyes were as cold as ice. She wore a white robe to signify the fact that she could use white magic.

"How was I supposed to know. Besides, you were the one leading us Star."

"Humph. Well if you're going to act like that then I'm leaving."

"And where are you going to go?"

She pointed to the small clearing that looked like it lead to a hot spring, "Over there to bathe and if I see you peeping in on me you'll meet your maker!" she stormed off.

Raven plopped himself onto the ground, shutting his eyes, "Like I would want to." He muttered.

Shin sat a few inches away from him. She had her hands behind her head as she leaned against a tree, "Raven, why did you start this search?"

He looked at her in a strange manner. A piece of his shoulder length black and red hair fell into his brown eyes. He pushed it away then smirked a little, "A better question is why did you come along?"

"Curiosity. Do you really believe by getting this relic that it will end all this meaningless fighting?"

"Yes. This unparticular relic will empower my dragon pendant."

"And that will do what now?"

"Vanquish those with bad intentions."

"Do you really believe that?"

"I have to, otherwise there is nothing left to hold onto. This is the only hope I have."

"And why has Star come along?"

"I saved her from a couple of soldiers and she's followed me ever since. If you think there is something revolving around romance between us, then you are sadly mistaken."

She laughed, "I didn't say anything about that." Shin stopped her laughter, "I do have a question for you and it's rather odd."

"What?"

"Is Raven your real name?"

"No. I have no memory of my parents or where I'm from. I was raised by the elder of Skylance. He was the one that had given me this pendant. For no reason what so ever he gave me the name 'Raven'." He shook his head, "What about you? I doubt Shin is your name."

"You're right it's not. I just go by Shin, which is short for Shinigami. I call myself the God of Death because I do not fear it. I do not fear it because I have seen what death is. It's pity and I do pity those soldiers and innocence."

"What do you think the real Shinigami is?"

Shin let out a low sigh, "I don't know why people fear Shinigami and death. I think that Shinigami lets the people decide when it is their time to go and then he/she will put their souls to rest. It doesn't sound like a bad thing. And I don't think that those souls go to heaven or hell."

"Then where would they go?"

"Darkness."

"Darkness? Some afterlife."

"No, the darkness will become their paradise. They are the light and then they can create what they have always wanted. Some kind of life where everything is perfect. So nothing can upset their balance."

The brown-eyed teen shut his eyes and sighed, "That really does sound nice. Tell me something, what is your dying wish?"

"It's stupid.. ." she blushed.

"Tell me."

"I want to die in someone's arms. I want to know that someone at least cared for me. unlike those soldiers that I had killed so they wouldn't feel anymore pain." She yawned.

"It's not stupid.. ." he opened his eyes again and saw that she had fallen asleep, "So angelic. You're more of the Angel of Mercy than the God of Death."

//What happened after that?// Heero questioned, but almost in a sarcastic tone.

//Watch.//

With in a few hours after daybreak the three adventurers made it to the other side of the forest. Nothing was there, but a huge field and a castle. Raven's eyes lit up at the sight of the castle, "That's the castle of Wivern. The Goddess Gauntlet must be inside." He and the others took a step forward.

Shin stopped in her tracks, "You guys go on a head."

"Shin?" Star questioned.

"Something's here.. . Get going!"

They nodded and ran for the castle. The ground beneath Shin's feet started to crumble. As the earth under her shattered she jumped out of the way just before the crevasse had completely opened.

"Where are you?!"

"I am everywhere.. ." Came a low female voice.

Star and Raven made it to the entrance to the castle only to have a rock slab come from the ground and block their way. "No.. ." whispered the black haired boy.

"Raven, what's happening?"

"Someone has the Goddess Gauntlet." He turned to face where Shin had been standing. His eyes widened when he saw that she was in the air being held by vines, "Shin!" he ran towards her with his other companion close in tow.

A woman floated in the air as she controlled the vines that made their way around Shin's neck and lower torso. "And you dared to a pose me with such feeble weapons as a whip and a broad sword?" she laughed as she had the vines tighten their grip.

Star could only stare at the girl before her. The woman had long flowing silver hair and dark red eyes. The blonde girl took a step forward, "Robin?"

"I am no longer 'Robin', dear Star. I am Spell Bound."

"Robin, what's happened to you?" she looked at Spell Bound's wrist and sure enough there was the Goddess Gauntlet, "What have you done?!"

"This whole world will parish at my hands starting with this girl!"

"Why?! Shin has done nothing!" Raven shouted.

"She killed my father! And now she too will die!"

Star took a few more steps, the wind started to pick up and pushed her back. She fell to one knee, "Father was dying! He needed to be put to rest. Robin, he loved both of us." tears started to make their way down her cheeks, "I know you know that, can't you just let him rest in peace?! Our mothers have never gotten along, but they have one thing in common; they loved our father. And my mother was the one that told me to come after that relic to end this senseless killing!"

"My mother was the one that told me to come after it so I could get revenge and now I will get part of it!" she raised some of the ruble and formed it into a rock spear. She had the wind pick again and it pushed it forward, plowing right throw Shin's mid section.

The vines vanished and the blue-eyed girl fell to the ground. Spell Bound laughed maniacally before she herself disappeared. Raven held Shin in his arms, "Shin, open your eyes!"

Her eyes slowly opened, but her vision was blurred, "Hey.. . I got my dying wish.. . At least I know.. . that you cared.. ."

"Don't try to speak. Star will heal you, so save your strength."

"No. This is for.. . the best. It's my turn to go.. . to my paradise. I just hope I was.. . right about it. if I was.. . then I'll see you every day.. ." she raised her hand and had it rest on his cheek, "My love.. ."

"Shin.. ." tears streamed down his face.

"Ha, tears. That's an added feature.. . to this wish.. ." her eyes shut and her arm went limp as did the rest of her body.

"Shin?" Star squeaked.

"Shin? Shin, answer me." Raven held her body close, "SHIN!!"

Heero opened his eyes and saw that he was indeed in the same place he once was, "Why don't you tell me another fairy tail."

"What?"

"You don't expect me to believe that. That man you called Raven looked very much like a certain pilot we know."

"You don't believe a word."

"No, I don't."

"Then go look over there." She pointed to a large tree a few feet away.

They approached and under the tree was a grave marker. The Japanese boy looked from the monument then to the God of Death, "It was true?"

"Very much so."

"Then you think WuFei is Raven."

She nodded slightly, "His soul was never collected."

"Did you get Star's soul?"

"Yes. I remember when I saw her again. She was about 40 and was in terrible pain because of some poison that someone had planted in her drink and food. She smiled at me and dyed with that smile. But I never saw Raven again."

"But how could WuFei be Raven?"

"Reincarnation. Like I had said before the people have the say weather or not they leave this mortal world. Raven could have decided to be reborn as WuFei."

The Japanese boy sighed, "But why?"

"Don't know. He could have thought that I had come back as someone or.. .'

"Did Spell Bound or rather Robin die?"

"No, the Goddess Gauntlet can give eternal power and life if that is what the holder wishes. She could have easily destroyed the planet, but.. ."

"She felt alone." Heero said in a low tone.

"That's why she's been resurrecting the soldiers. she must want to bring back her family and the first on her list would be her father, who was one of the soldiers back then." She turned and saw a run down 'building'.

The pilot of Wing followed her gaze, "That's new."

"Castle Wivern.. ."

"Shin, didn't Merin say she was in a lab?"

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean that couldn't have redecorated. Heero," she looked right into his Prussian blue eyes, "I'm going to the castle. I need you to get the others away from here."

"Not a chance. Fate is something that we all have to decide for ourselves and I for one am not going to sit back and do nothing. I know the others would agree."

"You're right. Then get them and meet me at the entrance to Wivern."

"Nimo Roukai." He ran off.

She watched the Japanese boy run towards the house. She shook her head, "I'm sorry.. ." she turned her attention back to the castle and started on her way. 'Heero Yuy, I'm starting to see what Duo sees in you.'

Shin slowly opened the wooden doors. The castle was cold and dark. Cobwebs clung to everything as she took a step the floorboards started to creek. She carefully took out one of her pistols. Not knowing what was to come she moved towards the stairwell that was to the upper left.

(*****Clarification. I hate doing what I call 'descriptive blah' meaning that I hate to describe scenery and clothing. That's why it normally sucks when I have to do it. If you are a gamer and have played Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII then you'll understand my references if not then you can think what you want. I would picture Castle Wivern looking something like a cross between Magus' castle and Guardia Castle from CT, the basement of the Shinra mansion from FF7 and Ultimicia's Castle from FF8. Very creepy and I'm sure you gamers might agree.*****)

Outside the five pilots and Merin searched the area. Heero let out a sigh, "I can't believe she went in."

"She just wanted to protect us. She's always been that way." WuFei commented as he opened the doors.

Merin raised a questioning eyebrow, "How would you know?"

"I just do.. ."

Shin proceeded to make her way down the spiraled staircase. When she reached the bottom there was a long hallway and at the end was one door. She kicked it open and aimed her gun. Her eyes widened, the room had an eerie green glow and low moans could be heard from the shadows. She took out her other pistol as she once again started to move.

A moan was heard again, but this time, a little closer. She took one more step, before she felt something grab her ankle. It lifted her into the air, she looked at the face of her holder and saw nothing, but dead clammy skin and dark eye sockets. Shin quickly aimed Deathscythe and D-Hell then fired.

She fell to the ground and glanced at the dead skin, "A zombie.. .?" she stood and moved on her way, but was sure this time to keep her guard up.

"What took you?"

She stopped her movement, "Where are you?!"

The shadows brightened as Spell Bound came into view. "Welcome Shinigami."

"What have you done?"

"I'm trying to get my family back."

"I thought you wanted to destroy the world?"

"Oh I do. But as the years went by I had become lonely. Each man that I had ended up with died either by old age or by my hands. I heard my sister was murdered and I killed my mother. And now I regret it.. ."

"Not to sound cold, but you do realize that even if you didn't kill your mom she would have died some other way. You would always be alone!"

"You're wrong! Once I bring my family back I will destroy everyone on this cursed planet. We will be the only ones left and we'll be happy forever!!" she raised her right hand signaling for the zombies to arise, "These lovely things here are failures, but they will come in handy to stop you.. ."

Shin fired her guns repeatedly in every and all directions. After about ten minutes of shooting she noticed that the guns were infective as the bodies kept on coming. She quickly put them back in their holsters and drew her sword. "Come on!"

"Guys, over here!" Duo called near the stairwell.

"Do you think she went down there?" the blond questioned.

Trowa went down a couple steps and signaled for everyone to remain quiet. Faint sounds of moaning, maniacal laughter and metal hitting something sounded through out the stairwell. "She's here.. ." he stated.

The Wing pilot nodded and one by one they followed one another down the stairs. As the approached the door Quatre, Trowa and Heero drew their guns, Duo took out his scythe and WuFei drew his sword. Merin clung to her husband's arm, even though she was showing a lot of weakness at this point in time, but she didn't care. She wanted to get out safely.

They opened the door. Shin was still holding off the zombies, but seemed to be getting warn out. Three gunshots were heard, she turned her head and saw her comrades running to her, "Get away from here!" she shouted.

"They'll get no where near you, Shin." The silver haired woman raised her right hand and clenched it into a fist. The ground started to shake and like so long ago for the God of Death, large green vines came up wrapping themselves around her body. Causing her to drop her sword, "Brings back memories, doesn't it?"

"Shin!" The Chinese boy shouted and ran a few steps forward. He looked behind himself and saw Merin being swarmed by zombies. He sliced the decaying bodies and stood in front of his wife, "Stay still.. ." he ordered as he watched the rest of his friends defend themselves.

Spell Bound laughed once more as she put her other hand into a fist. Her red eyes turned their attention to the Japanese boy who was struggling to breathe. When she saw that he couldn't take anymore she released her grip and he fell to the ground.

"Heero!!!" Duo hacked and waked all the zombies in his way and knelt beside his fallen koi, "Please say something! Heero!"

The silver haired woman's red eyes locked onto the Arabian pilot. She laughed as she commanded her zombie flunkies to restrain him. She watched and laughed a bit louder as she saw the Sandrock pilot try to call out for koibito. "No one can save you.. ." she held her left hand to where her heart was, but kept it a few inches away from her body.

Very slowly she began to move her fingers inward. Quatre gasped at the sudden pain he was getting in his chest. He watched as Spell Bound unclenched and re-clenched her delicate and bloodstained hand. He gasped each and every time at around the fifth time she had clenched he started to cough up blood. His aquamarine eyes drifted shut. The red-eyed female released her grip and laughed even louder than before as she watched the body fall limp on the ground.

She returned her attention back to Shin, "These are the people you have befriended and thought that they could stand a chance against me? Ha! How delusional." She made the vines tighten.

'Metalia, Quatrine I need you.. .' The God of Death lifted her head and looked straight at Spell Bound, "They're not the only friends I've brought with me.. ." her Cobalt eyes flashed a bright red glow, "Awaken!"

"Heero, answer me!" he shook him one last time before a white glow surrounded the wounded pilot. Duo pushed himself back a few inches when he saw a metal-winged female arise from his koi.

She had dark brown hair with silver highlights that went to the small of her back, she wore a headband that had two metallic green prongs that went behind her ears, her right arm had a poofed out long sleeve and a sliver glove that covered her hand where as her left arm had a tight short sleeve. She wore a metallic green choker that went over her black turtleneck with a small wing in the center near her collarbone. She had two pieces of armor in the shape of tears that rested upon her shoulders, connecting the two shoulder armors is a 'V' shaped silver armor and hanging from that is a black mail and that reached her waist. A green band wrapped around her and below that were five pieces of armor plus black spandex shorts. Her right boot was black that had yet another green band at the top leaving a bit of skin showing and a silver heal. Her left boot went to her ankle had a green downward 'V' at the top of the silver foot ware and the heal was black.

Trowa managed to reach his fallen angel just when the same white light engulfed the blond, "Quatre!" the light got dimmer and dimmer and when the Latin boy could see again he saw a blue-eyed woman with flowing blond hair that overlapped her feathered wings and went all the way down to her ankles and she was wearing a light blue robe. He took a step forward and saw that the woman was holding Quatre in her arms.

WuFei moved a little ways away from his wife so he could get a better look at what was going on. His eyes widened when he saw that Shin had a tiny trickle of blood making its way down the side of her mouth, "I'm not going to lose you again.. ." he gripped the dragon amulet that he wore around his neck, "You and I were supposed to gain our victory together, instead you left me alone. I will not allow that to happen again. Shin!!!!!!!" a bright flash emitted from the dragon. It was only for a second, but when the brightness faded WuFei stood in the center with dark brown eyes and red and black hair, "This is as far as you go, Spell Bound.. ."

"Oh?" She tightened her grip and had the zombies arise once again to make their moves.

Metalia stepped forward with her jagged sword in hand, "Let me put you at ease with yourself." She glided forward slashing through the decaying mounds of flesh. She glanced back and saw that the blond woman had a protective barrier around herself, Merin, the two wounded boys and their koibitos.

"Raven?" Shin whispered to herself as she watched him hold of the zombie army. She looked over towards the barrier, the voices of the four boys inside the casing echoed through her mind. 'You guys aren't ready yet. I understand Duo, you now live for Heero Yuy. You all deserve happiness in your lives, you and Heero more so and I won't let HER take it from you.. .' Her eyes were very cold when they had set themselves on Spell Bound. A smirk crossed Shin's face, "I am Maxwell's demon!!!!" the vines crumbled to dust as Shinigami floated to the ground.

She stood next to the Protector of Souls. Her bat wings sprouted from her back. She looked to be wearing a very revealing black dress, black gloves and boots, but those garments were actually her skin and at the end of her elbows were razor sharp blades. "Raven, I have longed to see you again, but you must flee. Help Quatrine with your friends."

He nodded and ran out of sight with the others in tow. Shin's eyes once again set themselves on the silver haired woman, "Give it up Spell Bound, you've lost."

"On the contrary, I have just begun.. ." she set the entire castle in flames and then sent her red-hot zombies after the two other females. "If I have lost then I still have won. I will take you all with me!!!"

"Baka!" Metalia shouted as she stabbed two zombies.

The God of Death sliced a good majority of the walking dead with her built in blades and zapped a few with her demonic shock. "Metalia," she looked at her out of the corner of her eye, "it's time to stop playing and put these people back to sleep."

"Understood." She lifted herself into the air, "Rest in Peace.. . Silver Stardust."

The bodies fell to the ground and once again not moving. Shin approached Spell Bound and held out her left hand, "Come to me.. ." the green-blue vein that wrapped around her wrist came to life as it moved forward and wrapped itself around the Goddess Gauntlet.

The red-eyed female ignited her right hand on fire and placed it on the vein. She laughed as Shin screamed in pain, "Oh I'm sorry is this painful?" she made the flame even bigger, "You don't know what pain is!!!"

The metal-wing female lowered herself to the ground and made a mad dash to save her superior. Right when she was going to strike the woman in the back of the head with her sword a gust of wind came flying from in front of her. The wind picked itself up even more causing Metalia to crash into the far wall.

"How does it feel?! This is only a small amount of pain that I had to go through!"

"Demonic Shock!" a blast of lightning came surging through Shin's right hand. The blast hit Spell Bound on her right wrist. The burning had stopped and she pulled the gauntlet off her opponent, "It's over Robin."

"This can't be. I have nothing.. ." she sank to her knees in tears, "Do you know how lonely I've been. All I wanted was a family and you took that away from me when you killed my dad.. ."

"Robin, do you know what the afterlife is?"

"No, but I'm sure after what I have done I will be burning in the flames of hell.. ."

"If that's what you wish. The afterlife is nothing but darkness. You get to make that darkness into whatever you please. Your family is all together with an image of you because they wanted to see you, yet they are still not happy because that is not the REAL you."

"Kill me.. ."

"Is that what you want?"

"Yes. I want to be with everyone again.. ."

"Then so be it." she held the gauntlet in front of her. The circular brace started to take form into another object. After a few moments had passed Shin was standing there with a glimmering silver scythe, "May you finally rest in peace." She brought down her weapon and watched as Robin's body fell limp.

"Metalia, take her outside and bury her next to me." she turned the scythe back into the gauntlet and placed it on her upper left arm. Shin then concentrated her thoughts and energy for a few seconds and then found her self no longer in her demonic form, "You should do the same before we go."

"Right."

~~~

Outside the castle, the five boys, Merin and Quatrine watched as Castle Wivern burned into the ground. Quatre looked at the woman next to him, "Mother?"

"Yes, Quatre?"

"Are they okay?"

"Yes." She pointed to the two figures walking towards them.

* * *

"What are you guys going to now?" Duo asked looking at the three demons/angels who were now in normal clothing.

Metalia smiled at the American due the fact that she saw Heero was blushing, "I'm off to find one of the souls that was never found."

"Whose?" Heero questioned.

"Rui's. He was the only person I had ever cared for and I'm going to find him."

"What about you, Mother?"

"I have to go back to the darkness and watch over you all."

"Oh.. ." a small tear made its way down the Arabian's cheek.

"Quatre, I don't want you to ever think that you killed me." she approached and pulled him into a tight embrace, "I love and I wanted to have you, so please don't be sad. I'll be in your heart, always." She pulled away and looked at the Heavyarms pilot, "Take care of my son, Trowa."

"I will."

Raven/WuFei walked over to Shin and put his arms around her, "And what about you?"

"I have to go back and reset the balance of life and death."

"Then I should go too. My mission is now complete." He moved his lips on top of hers.

She pulled away, "You can't. as much as I would like you to come with me you cannot. You are WuFei now and you have to live out this life. But I will keep you close."

"Wait! Shin if you are going to reset the balance I have to go with you."

"No, you don't. All the records on your death have been deleted. You have another chance at life so don't waste it Merin." Shin, Metalia and Quatrine all turned to leave.

"Shin," the Chinese boy ran forward a little ways, "tell me one last thing."

She stopped in her tracks, "You haven't changed at all." She turned her head and smiled, "And my name is Sapphire." She continued to walk.

"Till we meet again, Sapphire.. ."

The End

(*****Okay things must become clear now. The way Shin was dressed when she had the sword and the two guns was similar to Dante from Devil May Cry. That is also way Duo made the pun about Ebony and Ivory. The long and I mean LONG description for Metalia in her demonic/angelic form was from Hee-Chan. That is her character that I had made for her and I had asked her to tell me what it looked like. And that's what came out. WuFei had grabbed the dragon amulet before he, Merin and the other pilots went to the castle. I had a really good time writing this and I would like some nice feedback from all you lovely people out there. Email me atquatre_chan5@hotmail.com. I own nothing, but what is in my house so no suing please and so long for now. Ja!*****)