Waltz of the Moon

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

Disc 3

Heero and Duo kept their eyes locked onto the full moon until they heard a howling noise. Pulling away from each other they slowly surveyed the area. Seeing nothing right off, the paladin reached into his robe towards his gun.

"Heero, wait." The black mage broke away from his love and carefully moved towards a slowly moving shadowed figure. Taking a deep breath he lit a fireball in his palm to light up the territory around him. His violet eyes widened a bit when he saw a small ice wolf limping over to him. "Heero!"

The Prussian eyed boy made his way over to his companion. Kneeling down he reached out his left hand. "It's okay… we're not here to hurt you."

Howl Growl Snarl

The two boys took another quick surveillance. That's when the noticed five more ice wolves surrounding them, but they all seemed to have their eyes on the mage. Duo tried to move away, but every which way there was another wolf in his path.

"What did I do to deserve this…?"

"Master Yuy!"

The young travelers hastily glanced over in the direction of the inn and watched as the woman from behind counter dash towards them. She stopped behind the wolves, then spoke in a soft tone, "It's all right, they were just trying to help the little one. These boys pose no threat to you or this town. Please, let the paladin heal your puppy and then head back to the mountains…"

The animals kept their icy cold eyes on Duo and Heero performed some healing magic. Once the small creature could move it licked the Prussian eyed boy on the cheek then the tiny pack walked off.

Duo sighed in relief. "Why were they looking at me like that?"

"The wolves around here hate death. They can sense the astral plain and when they do they feel that they have failed to protect us."

"That still doesn't explain anything."

"If they just smell the plain like in the middle of no where they know someone had passed on and they failed, if they smell it on a human they think that that person had killed." The woman stated.

"I still don't quite get it, but I'll believe you."

"It's very late, please head back to your rooms."

Heero nodded, "We shall and thank you for the assistance."

In the morning, the three boys looked over to their king, whose eyes fluttered open. The lancer released a sigh, "Are you all right?"

"I… I think so."

"What caused you to freak like that?" The black mage questioned. He was starting to question a lot of things, like why the wolves were just growling at him and not Heero.

"I'm not sure." He admitted as he sat up and rubbed the sleep from his aquamarine eyes, "I just… I just…"

"You just what? Don't worry Quatre, we're not going make fun. I wouldn't want to piss off my employer who also happens to be the king of Momoiro and whose husband could probably snap me like a twig."

Quatre giggled at the longhaired boy's statement. "I just saw something that in my opinion I cannot explain. It felt so unnerving, then calm and then frightening again…"

"Could you identify anything that you saw?" this came from the paladin.

"I don't know. It's all fogged up in my mind right now…"

The blonde's husband placed his strong arms around him, hoping to provide some comfort that his significant other sorely needed. "When the time comes, I know you will confine in us."

"Thank you, Trowa… all of you…" with the help of his love, the white mage made it out of bed. Giving off a gentle smile to his companions he said, "We've wasted enough time. Let's be on our way and save our friend."

~~~

Kamui smirked a little as he gazed through the clouds outside the main chamber. "Master Kamui." A voice called behind him. The black haired boy turned his attention to find Celestia standing only a few inches away.

"What is it?"

"I don't mean to sound rude, but aren't you having a little too much fun at the mortals expense?"

He laughed at the accusation, "My dear, you have nothing to worry about. I am merle expressing the joy I feel in seeing that these boys are doing whatever they can for a friend." The overseer approached his female companion, stopped before her then gently placed his left hand on her cheek. "I know you fear for them."

"They're just kids, Kamui…"

"Age has no factor here. Look at what has been happening in the lower region. One year ago, Duo tried to destroy that lovely planet out of anger and now Chi is trying that again by taking WuFei into his evil hands. These boys know what's at stake here. That's why they are warriors…"

"But…" tears started to form in her aqua eyes.

Kamui lifted his hand up and wiped the moister away, "Don't cry. I will continue to watch over them, but you must know Celestia, that WuFei will not be able to keep this up. Yueh will awaken."

"Then what will happen to WuFei?"

"One would have to assume that he will take Yueh's place inside of the body and sleep forever…"

The sea blue haired girl fell to her knees and let her tears fall, "He's lost so much already and now you're saying that he has no hope?!"

The black haired boy knelt down, "I know how you feel, but he can't keep running from this. I don't know if I can, but I will try to find away. This is my promise…" leaning forward he placed his lips on her left cheek, kissing away the droplets of sorrow.

"Lord Kamui."

He pulled back. "What is it Millenia?"

"I have just sent three of the Soldiers of Heaven down to the lower region. But I am skeptical."

"Of?"

"Of the Astral Walker's words. He said that that girl, Mura, was capable of stopping all of the madness on the planet, but I don't believe that to be so."

"Treize is going on guts, however, you are correct. Guts alone can't win this battle."

"Then why let her into the soldiers?"

"Because she knows her limitations. Besides, in another way of looking at the situation, you are mistaken, Mill."

"How so?"

"She brought out something in those boys that with a quick glimpse it seems that they have lost it. In this case, giving her the mark and making her a Soldier of Heaven they can have it back."

"Kamui, what is 'it'?" Celestia asked while picking herself up off of the ground.

The green-yellow eyed seer turned back to the girl whom he was soothing and gave off the original smirk that he had plastered on his face.

~~~

Melody sobbed into her wife's shoulder. She hadn't stopped the river of sorrow since her brother was taken. As much as she tried Kirin knew the only thing that would calm her life-mate down was to have WuFei back unharmed, but she knew the truth.

Taking her gaze off of Melody she glanced down at her necklace, only two out of the four charms remained. "I'm sorry…" she whispered.

"Why?" the other woman choked out.

"Melody…" she knew there was no easy way to tell her lover what was to come, but one thing was for certain, Melody had to know the truth even if it hurt. "There is something you need to know…"

"Yes?" she asked, quite eager to hear what the blue haired woman was going to say, though her tears still didn't let up.

With a shaky hand, Kirin raised it up and wiped away a few of the droplets. "Listen, before I tell you, you must promise me that you'll hear me out before you react. Okay?" she saw her nod then with a deep breath she began, "I knew that WuFei was going to be taken…"

"What?!" the black haired female was outraged to say the least. She stood from the mattress, which she sat, and with no second thought she slapped her wife across the face. "How could you not say anything?! If you knew he was in danger you should have said something so we could have prevented it!"

"You promised that you would hear me out, so please calm yourself." She sounded very calm herself after being slapped, "Right before you and I were wed I met the Lord of the Heavens, Kamui. With him was the Phoenix, Ruby and someone that I had never met, but heard about from you."

"Who?" the question was rather hard sounding.

"WuFei's wife, your sister-in-law, Merin. Kamui had requested that I seal her soul into that chamber in the basement so that one day when WuFei appeared he could use her strength and save all that we hold dear."

"I don't understand. What does this have to do with his abduction?!"

"It has to do with more than that… I knew about Duo too."

"What?!"

"The things that you thought were just stories were actually prophecies. I didn't want to believe it, but Kamui had told me that WuFei would come to Vishira and then he would claim his wife's soul. And with a subtle hint, he told me to reread the 'story' of the black mage. There were two different versions to that prophecy. One was where the black mage destroyed everything on this planet and the other is what had actually happened. Fate is what decided it and that's what's caused WuFei's kidnapping. There was another prophecy about the Lord of the Moon, Yueh." She paused trying to hold back her own tears, "Yueh is what's causing WuFei all this pain…"

"But when Quatre and I said something about it, you… you knew and you still failed to correct it. How could you?!" the tears started to fall at a much faster rate, most likely due to the fact that her wife had played dumb and put her brother in a life or death situation.

"Lord Kamui told me not to repeat this to anyone, even you. As depressing and hurtful it is, this is WuFei's fate. All the males in his family go through some kind of transformation that has been in his family since the beginning of time… Each of the males are plagued with some kind of powerful being. Some with even worse intentions than others. Your brother can't hold him back much longer. That's why he said that he didn't want to become a full summoner."

"What do you mean?"

"The inner selves of the Chang males feed on power. That's why the Changs were summoners, the inner beings could feed on the power given to them by the Elemental Spirits. When they gathered them all they would become full summoners and the more power they possessed the less time it took for the being to awaken. In WuFei's case it won't take much longer…"

"Even if Kamui said not to, you should have said something! We aren't supposed to keep secrets from each other!"

Kirin stood from the bed the took her wife's hand, "Even if I had, there would have been no way to prevent Chi from taking him." She lifted the hand to her lips and gently brushed it against them, while one of her tears made their way down it, "You can't stop fate. No matter how much you wish to. The wheels of destiny will continue to turn even after we pass on…" not expecting it then, the third crescent moon shattered. Moving her free hand, she felt the empty spots and her eyes quivered, "The waltz…"

"The waltz? What waltz? Kirin, tell me!"

"Kamui gave this to me, so I could anticipate this and comfort you… Once this last charm breaks, Yueh will awaken and WuFei will be no more…"

"No…" Melody fell to her knees and gripped her chest, "It hurts…"

"Melody?" she knelt before her.

"I can't stand… the pain…" she collapsed.

The emerald eyed female took her into her arms, "Melody?!" there was no response, "Melody!!!!!!"

~~~

WuFei lay on his back, staring what he assumed to be the sky or ceiling. The place he had been taken to gave him the most unnerving feeling. He was still restrained by the shackles on his wrists and ankles. The ground had an eerie purple glow and the thing he was staring at was pitch black, he couldn't see much else except for the Elemental Spirits who were pretty much in the situation that he himself was.

Thankfully Chi's not here… he thought. He wasn't sure if he could handle going through another one of those 'sessions'. He sighed to himself, It was over a year ago… and I failed in completing my task. What do you think of me now, Nataku? Or even you Mura, what do you think? Am I still a disappointment? Of course I am…

"Now why would you go and think a thing like that?"

"Shut up, Yueh."

"How rude, I just want to talk. Seeing that I have nothing better to do."

"Be quiet. This is all your fault, you know?"

"How so?"

"This is MY body, not yours. If you didn't exists I wouldn't have been taken to this place. Where ever it maybe."

"Correction, this is OUR body. You need to learn to share."

"Hn."

"WuFei, don't think I wanted this. Before that first encounter with Chi I was asleep."

"And now you won't shut your trap."

"Look, had you kept your cool that day and all the other times you mildly freaked out, I would still be sleeping. But here's a nice slap of reality for you, I am awake and I will take over this body and go back to the heavens."

"Heavens?"

"You're a smart man, do you remember the story of the Lord of the Moon?"

"Yes."

"I'm him. I take all power from the moon, but since I was trapped here on the planet in this body, I haven't exactly had a chance to go back to the Soldiers."

"How DID you come here? How did you get inside my body?"

"That's a load in a half, however I will explain it to you. Seeing that I still have nothing better to do."

*Flashback*

Yueh entered the main room of the central building of heaven. His shoulder length blue-green hair was tied back in a tight ponytail and his aqua eyes were full of worry, seriousness and fear. After all he was called in to speak to the Overseer. He wore a long, blue and white coat and blue pants, his shoes were black and happened to match the cloth that was laced between his arms, but also seemed to float without a breeze. One would have to wonder if the piece of clothing had a mind of its own.

The man bowed before the throne that held the black haired child. Kamui smirked to himself slightly when he observed the fact that the Lord of the Moon was trembling, "You needn't be afraid, I have no intentions of harming you in anyway."

"Really?" his head shot up, then he released a sigh of relief. "That's great news!" he thought for a second, the relief slipping away. "If I'm not in trouble, than why have you summoned me here?"

"I have a mission for you."

"Mission? I command the moon, what could I possibly accomplish?"

"Much more than you realize, for you see it has to do WITH the moon."

"I haven't noticed any trouble."

"Of course you haven't, you've been paying more attention to your life-mate."

"Well I have to. Otherwise he'll get upset and throw things."

"Just like a woman in the lower region?"

"Ye- Hey, don't try to corner me like that. Especially when Millenia is standing over in the shadowed corner."

He smiled. "Sorry. Seriously though, a village in the lower region called Droconia has never had moonlight."

"And you're just informing me of this now?"

"At first I thought it might have been bad weather making it so overcast that no one would be able to see the moon or stars. Then I thought it was you just slacking off as usual."

"Hey, in my defense, I have a lot to deal with."

"As do I."

"Point taken."

"So now I am thinking that it has to do with something within the town and I want you to go investigate."

"Me?"

"Yes, you, Lord of the Moon. The moon is your responsibility. The moonlight brings the people hope that the sun will rise and bring forth a bright tomorrow."

The aqua-eyed man brought his left hand to the back of his neck then began to rub it gently, "Not that I want to get out of doing something so noble for you and the people of the planet, but you do realize that there are humans down there working on a story about me, right? What am I to do if they see me?"

"That's why we'll be giving you a new body."

"Say what?!"

"We have no idea how long it will take you to figure out this small dilemma, so we are to give you a new body that way you'll blend in with the Droconians." He sat back in his seat, "Ruby has one all set for you, all you have to do is go."

"Do I have time to say 'good-bye' to Muruka?"

"Of course. I would never wish you bad fortune, especially with a man like Muru."

"I shall be off once I have finished my business here." Bowing to his master he left the chamber to walk back to his partner.

Yueh entered his home after stalling for what he assumed was an hour. His husband welcomed him with a warm smile and embrace, which the moon lord was reluctant to return. "What's wrong?" the other man questioned once he pulled away to look into his partner's eyes.

"I have to go to the lower region and Kamui doesn't know how long it will take…"

"What's the assignment? Maybe he can get someone else to go."

He shook his head, "It is only something that I, as the Lord of the Moon, can take care of."

"But if the moon's involved than the stars would be too. Why wasn't I summoned? Is Kamui saying that the stars hold no point?"

"Calm down…" Yueh said, chuckling a bit as he moved his hands up and down his husband's arms, "That's not what he's saying at all. It's just in that one place that the moon does not shine, so until I can find out what's wrong, the stars will have to wait."

He nodded understandingly, although he was still a little disappointed. "You will come back to me, won't you?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Closing the gap he placed a small kiss on the other's lips before he pulled away. Taking a few steps back he took a long look at his spouse, hoping to remember him as he was.

The man had short purple and silver hair, his bangs a little messy as they tried to cover his sky blue eyes. He had an average build that was covered by a long, navy-blue jacket that had the sides removed, white pants, black shoes and two black gloves that covered his delicate hands also on the back of them, there was a red five-pointed star. But the one thing that stuck out at that moment, were the tears that had started to fall.

"Please don't… Leaving is hard enough as it is…" Yueh stated as his own tears began to well up in his eyes. "I love you, Muru. Never forget that…" with one last look, the turquoise haired man turned on his heels and exited his home, now on his way to see the Phoenix.

The moon's guardian entered a small building that was located next to the main one of Heaven. Seeing no one in sight, he advanced closer to the closed door over to the right of him. One thing was for sure Ruby never did like to keep things clean.

The house itself was fairly simple, from the door you could make out a tiny kitchen to the left, regardless of what the mortals think the heavenly ones do require to eat, anyway just a few feet away from the cooking area was a tiny dining room. In there was the typical stuff one might find in a normal dining area like a table and a very fancy chandler hanging right above it.

If you moved to the right side of the door, you'd see a door leading to the basement, if you just shrug that off then you'd notice a small hallway leading to a relaxation area. Yet another very simple space with a couch, couple candles, two armchairs and multiple bookcases full of books naturally. The biggest highlight would most likely have to be the large window that gave a wonderful view of the main palace that just so happened to look right into the Overseer's bed chamber.

When done in that room the only other place to go is up the stairs, which would lead you to the bedroom of the legendary firebird. More books were found, but in this case they were always strewn about on the floor. Anyone who comes to see this woman tries their hardest not to enter this abomination.

Yueh opened the door that now stood before him then carefully made his way down the narrow staircase. With only four steps remaining, the aqua-eyed man misjudged the next step, proceeding to fall the rest of the way down and landing with a thud and a low groan.

"As graceful as ever, I see." Ruby stated with her back to her colleague.

He stood from the floor then proceeded to dust himself off, "How would you know if you can't see me?" the question was asked with all the humor he could manage. Chuckling a little to himself, he dreaded the next words that were to escape his lips, "So where's this new body I am to be breaking in?"

"Are you ready for such a surprise?"

"What are you talking about? I'm just dressing up like a Droconian man… right?"

"Nope, sorry." She spun around and grinned.

"I don't think I like this…"

"The people of Droconia are very opened minded, but it is them who know about you to a great extent. After all, they pray for you to somehow bring them the moonlight. If we gave you a man's body they might be suspicious of you using your abilities. However if you were female…"

"So you're saying I'm going to turn into a woman?!"

"What's the matter?" she got in his face a little bit, an evil gleam began to shimmer in her red eyes, "You afraid of the opposite sex?"

"No… it's just that I like who I am and whom I share my life with. What if some sexy man approaches me and one thing leads to another, the next thing you know I have his penis between my legs and thus carrying his child!"

"First of all; I could have done without that and second you have put WAY too much thought into that."

"So you say, but it's a possibility."

"Yueh… sometimes I wonder how Muru can stand living with you." She muttered under her breath.

"I heard that."

"Good." Ruby once again turned her back to him. Taking a few steps towards a table, she revealed to him a body of a female that seemed to be in her early twenties, shoulder length black hair and her clothes were very modern. She wore a pale purple dress that stopped at her ankles and simple white slide on shoes. "This is the new you."

"May I ask how you managed to get this?"

"She's just a vessel that I had made. Technically a living doll. I can create life in many ways, this technique however is one that I hate using because the body has no one to love it as it wonders around and I can't give it a soul that I created, life needs to go to the planet and when the life they had lead is over then their souls will return. It's not fair to the mortals of the lower region to have a soulless child…"

"I get what you're saying, but what does that have to do with me using her?"

"Kamui gave me strict orders. When a mission arises for one of the Soldiers of Heaven to go to the planet and with a fairly good chance of the mortals finding out their identities then they are requested to use one of these vessels. To me it sounds very cruel, but I have no choice but to obey."

"But what will happen to my body?"

"I will remove your soul and place it within the new you. This" she pointed to him, "will remain here until you return. Then and only then will I place your soul back in its rightful place."

He cringed. He didn't like the idea of being a girl too terribly much, "Let's just get this over with…"

"Wait!" the black haired female grabbed onto the man's arm, "Lei? Would you come back to my home and have dinner with me?"

*End Flashback*

"And that's how it all began…"

"You fell in love with my ancestor?"

"Yep… don't get me wrong, I do regret it."

"What happened to Muruka?"

"I forgot all about Muru and being the Lord of the Moon when I had laid eyes on Lei. I was in Droconia for a year, WuFei and I craved that closeness that I once shared with my husband."

"I still don't get it-"

"When that man saved me, called me lovely and kissed my hand I became a mortal woman. Any essence of me being me was gone."

"So how did you get inside me?"

"Things moved very quickly between 'Kal' and Lei. We got married after a few months and then that little outburst that I had with Ruby became a reality…"

"No…"

"Yeah, the female body that I was in charge of was impregnated by your ancestor. I don't really know how, but it seemed like I was no longer in control of the vessel. So the me that was me was transported into my son…"

"I'm almost afraid to ask…"

"He had some kind of Heavenly one inside of him, but not me. I was there in another way."

"How?"

"Let's just say it's one in a million chance."

"Ugh… I was right, I was afraid to ask. But how did you end up here? Shouldn't you have gone back to Heaven when your son died?"

"Not quite. I think this was Ruby and Kamui's way of punishing me. You see I was 'reborn' into the body of a girl so I couldn't awaken. Being a male to begin with this deal with the Heavenly one only exists in the men of your family. For so long I was in the body of a female and couldn't properly awaken. When those girls were going to give birth to a boy I was placed inside them the same way I was with my son. Until the day your mother, Saiya gave birth to you."

"This doesn't make sense…"

"Maybe not, but that is the truth. So what about you? Were you planning on finding a second ruby and bring back your wife?"

"Yes and it's your fault that I had to go out on that quest. If you hadn't shown up when you did than I wouldn't have had the need or desire to go after a second Phoenix Ruby."

"What was that?" Chi asked with a high interest as he approached his prisoner, "What's this about another ruby?"

WuFei didn't' respond, he just looked away so he wouldn't have to see the other cause of his trouble.

"Hn." The dark haired man moved his left arm out and grabbed hold of the summoner's neck, tightening his hold as the young man that he was choking gasped for air. "Are you willing to talk now?"

"No… I will never… take any… orders from you…"

"You really?" he tightened his grip again. "How about now?"

"N… o…"

"WuFei, let me out!"

"No… never will I… allow you… to… take control of… me…"

"You fool!"

A circle of energy once again formed around the onyx eyed boy and sent the other man flying backwards. "WuFei, just let me out and this will be done with."

"No…" he took a deep breath, "Merin died because of what I am. I stripped her of her life and dreams. It is up to me to live for her…"

"Hm? What's this I hear? The son of KaiRyu was actually in love with his chosen life-partner?" he laughed out loud, not even trying to hide the fact that he found it humorous. "You are just as delirious as Mura. Women only have one point on this planet and that is for us men to screw them and make them bare our successor. Love does not exist and even if it did it no longer exists for you."

Please insert Disc 4…