WARNING WARNING WARNING! This chapter contains a description of the death of a major, well-loved character, and could be disturbing to some. Memory sections are clearly marked - if you think this will bother you, please do not read those sections!

Step Inside the Circle Part 11

>>Trowa began a low chant and, quite suddenly, the entire room gasped as they found themselves back on that day, trapped in Heero's memory.<<

~*~

Gwydion-Trowa's voice surged through the minds of all present effortlessly. All, that is, except Duo's - the long-haired young man looked around in surprise as even Wufei's face went slack, eyes glassy and unseeing under the influence of the druid's power. He met Trowa's eyes uncertainly.

Green eyes gleamed back at him. "I need you to let me in, my Lord. I cannot bridge your mind without your permission."

"Cannot, or will not?" Duo asked rhetorically, not surprised when the Druid didn't give him an answer. He gave the man a nod and closed his eyes-

He was awash for a short moment in a sea of green that faded to blue, and finally faded completely.

~*~

[Memory Sequence - HEED THE WARNINGS!]

BOOM.

BOOM. BOOM.

Heero started awake, heart beating furiously fast as he once again heard and felt something beating against the building.

BOOM!

Disbelieving, his eyes strayed to his bedside clock as he threw clothing on and grabbed for his weapons. He could distantly hear the sound of keening - Bean Sidhe had been disturbed as well and, from the sound of it, whatever stood at their doors was anything but friendly.

BOOM.

He ran down the corridor, heart in his throat. Gwydion had set the Seals, as they always did on the shortest day - the last day of the thinning of the barriers between Hell and Earth. He did not doubt the druid's strength or power; therefore, whatever was attacking them now had been strong enough to break through the Seal.

He felt a reassuring presence at his side - Zechs was running with him, easily matching his stride. Heero was instantly calmer. There was very little their Prince was not capable of.

They made it to the entryway - Bean Sidhe was already there, fingers elongating into ebony claws as they watched. Heero moved to his left, Zechs moving to his right, all three knowing that others would join them shortly. The walls in front of them trembled-

BOOM!

Dust and rocky projectiles flew everywhere as the wall finally gave way. Heero squinted to see through the dust that hung in the air like a shroud, one hand automatically thrown up to protect his eyes. Enemies were jumping through the broken wall, though one figure, dark and menacing, seemed rooted in place, watching everything in silence.

Formorii!

Keening in anger, Quatre Bean Sidhe attacked immediately, not even bothering to shield himself from the remnants of the front wall.

Preternaturally fast and lethal, Quatre was still quickly overcome and fighting hard for his life.

Heero could see Zechs drawing his sword and charging - he drew both of his own blades and attacked with a yell.

Zechs looked angry beyond belief. It had been a very long time since anyone had been brazen enough to attack the home of the Goddess' representative on Earth, not to mention a Prince of the Tuatha De Danaan. Two Princes, really, if one counted Heero, despite his mixed ancestry.

Of all the Formorii, he could only think of one who would have been so bold and so vulgar. And that one had every reason to hate Zechs with every fibre of his being, if he'd managed to free himself from Hell.

Zechs' sword gleamed blue-white in the darkness and crackled with energy as he effortlessly cleaved his way through the attacking Formorii. Any creature unlucky enough to be caught on his blade was immediately frozen solid, and soon there was a veritable obstacle course of defeated enemies behind him as he made his way towards the still-unmoved figure, out beyond the wall.

Heero could hear the druids coming in behind him and whispered a quick prayer of thanks to the Lady as he dove into the fighting. Off to the right, he could tell that Zechs was going for the one figure that had not moved, as yet, and he cursed under his breath. He had to get there!

Twin blades almost seemed to give off sparks as Heero fought - to his enemies, it looked as though he wielded pure light, a brand of fire so terrible and final that it did not dare to dance in flames.

Caught between fire, ice, claws, and a handful of druids with Trowa at their head, the attacking Formorii began to falter.

And then the unmoving figure moved.

As it stepped forward into the light, even Zechs stopped to stare in shock. It was a man-shaped figure, but grossly misshapen, limping on one leg that was shorter than the other. Ragged-looking, long, lanky arms ended in huge hands with clawed fingernails. And his face...

One eye missing. At Heero's left shoulder, Gwydion hissed in anger, "Balor!"

Several things happened next, all at the same time.

Keening in anger, Quatre Bean Sidhe simply bowled over his closest attackers as he ran straight for the Formore. For him to be there... he had been banished into the Land of Death countless millennia before, and he did not belong amongst the living! Heero watched in amazement as Quatre's hands and arms went through one last shape change, elongating, claws drawing together until arms and hands resembled nothing so much as the wickedly-sharp, cruel scimitars of the blond's homeland, only pulsing black, as though the very lightest tap from one of them would suck the very soul out of a creature. He charged for Balor-

Behind them, the Lady arrived, guarded by her faithful Aspects.

And from Balor's other side, Zechs screamed a challenge and charged, himself.

Trowa and Heero found themselves mobbed and were forced back to back as they attempted to fight their way free, both their minds bent to their two friends, locked in combat with the demon once called Death. They were worried - neither had seen a weapon in either of Balor's hands but, if they remembered their history properly, he didn't need one at all. And to make matters worse-

Relena screamed as several Formorii finally made it past the foremost defenders and through the druids, heading straight for her.

Though the Aspects were there and protected her without question, the damage was done. Zechs, Heero, Trowa, and Quatre all felt their concentration slip at the very idea of Relena being in danger, and the banshee turned halfway towards the sound-

It was the break Balor had been waiting for. Grabbing a dead man's sword, he charged full-on at the banshee.

Quatre never stood a chance. He screamed as the blade pierced his side, and was bowled over by the fierce charge and slammed through the wall, creating a second hole.

Trowa went ghastly pale, green eyes glowing alarmingly cold in his face - he dashed after them, screaming Quatre's name. Heero and Zechs were no more than a step behind.

Quatre's blood was soaking into the ground - he was completely still, tattoos already faded. Both Zechs and Trowa went to him immediately, leaving Heero to square off with Balor.

The Formore laughed deeply, enjoying the panicked looks shared between druid and Prince as they struggled to save one of their own. He turned his single eye back to Heero, though, and lifted a forked eyebrow. "Ah, little Greine, shall you be the next to die?"

Heero saw red, but forced himself to calm down. Balor wanted him to get angry, to lose control. He circled, never taking his eyes from his enemy. "You do not belong here, Formore. Go back to the hell you came from!" Darting forward, he attacked.

Heero knew he was both fast and inhumanly strong, and yet Balor was matching his every move, still wearing that horrifying, demented smile that spoke of immeasurable pain, should Heero fail.

He had no idea how true that thought would prove to be.

~*~

The Formore was incredibly strong - Heero was torn, locked in truly deadly combat, and at the same time trying to keep an eye on his three friends, one of whom was injured very badly.

He took heart that Balor seemed to be fighting as hard as he was to keep up.

Swords flashed, and pain radiated up Heero's arms at the force of Balor's hits. It was like duelling with a wild animal, except Balor was a true Blademaster. Despite his deformities, he moved fluidly, and if Heero strayed too close, he would lash out with a clawed hand. Heero had several deep scratches on his hands, arms and face; he could only hope the Formore's claws were not poisoned.

Quatre was still down, though. As Balor backed off for a moment to catch his breath, Heero dared to dart a look over his shoulder-

Behind him, Zechs heaved a sigh of relief as he saw Quatre's slim chest beginning to rise and fall of its own accord. He pulled the smaller blond into a careful hug, eyes closed. "I'm so sorry. So sorry he touched you. You are not his prey, none of you are..."

"Zechs," Heero breathed, disturbed. What on Earth could he be thinking?!

He cried out in pain, though, as Balor rammed him from the side, and he was forced to roll away, practically right into Zechs' side, to avoid being stabbed.

Zechs, meanwhile, was pushing the blond into Trowa's waiting arms, giving the druid a firm look. "Get him indoors. Even with your healing, he has lost too much blood."

Heero was already back on his feet, but he was definitely distracted. He hissed in pain as Balor managed to get a slice on his left arm...

Trowa nodded his head in an abbreviated bow, unquestioningly. "Yes, your Highness." He gathered Quatre close and made to stand, but was stopped with a hand on his arm. He looked down. "Zechs?"

The tall blond gave him a tiny smile, though it didn't seem to reach his eyes. "Be safe, my friend."

"And you, Prince." Trowa stood and made his way back inside, mindful of the precious burden in his arms.

Something was terribly wrong, and Heero knew it at the core of his soul. Zechs was-

Balor's sword once again sliced along his right leg, and Heero hissed angrily. Jumping out of strike range, he forced himself to gather his wits and concentrate. He attacked again, swords blurring into a swirl of light around him as he battled. Behind him, He knew Zechs was again on his feet, and it gave him renewed hope. Balor was being forced to dodge more often than not, and was bleeding from several nasty cuts... so why did he look so pleased about it?

Out of nowhere, a barbed whip sang out in the darkness, and Heero's only warning was an anguished cry from his dearest friend as the weapon wrapped around his throat and shoulder, ripping into unprotected flesh with a sickening sound. Heero had just enough presence of mind to flick a sword at the lash, shattering it-

Zechs ran forward and rammed into Heero just in time, to prevent Balor's borrowed sword from gutting the young man. He gasped in pain as it bit into him, instead.

Heero catapulted backwards, clutching at his throat, out of his mind with pain and fear. He did his best to remember a healing spell - any healing spell. He watched in growing fear as his injured Prince and the demon exchanged furious blows. Who had attacked him? What happened?

Meanwhile, Zechs and Balor were circling each other and, though the blond tried to hide it, Heero knew the wound in his side was slowly draining him. The Formore feinted at him, and Zechs seemed to know he had precious little time - he reached out and grabbed the enemy's blade, smiling in satisfaction as it crumbled and exploded in his hand.

Zechs smirked in satisfaction as Balor's face took on a shocked, fearful look. He stepped back, murmuring his own healing spell...

Heero just saw it - stealthy movement off on his right, hidden in the gloom. A figure, poised and ready to strike! He surged to his feet. "NO!"

Zechs spun-

He caught Heero as the man was knocked into him with enough force to send both of them sprawling. A spear was imbedded in his chest and, at its other end, a brown-haired woman with crazed, brown eyes was cackling with glee.

Zechs fought to pull the spear from his friend - the spear Heero had taken in his place - only to scream, himself, as the barbed whip sang out again and caught him across the face.

Distantly, Heero could hear dogs howling on the air.

Balor grinned as he lifted the spear - and the man stuck on it - and used it to toss Heero into the crumbling wall like a rag doll. The half-breed yelled in pain as a large section of wall came down, burying him in rubble. The spear snapped under the pressure of his impact and the weight of the falling stones, and stabbed deeper into him. He screamed.

Unable to move, Heero was forced to watch as Balor began circling the injured Prince.

Zechs was stumbling in clear agony - the left side of his face, including his eye, was badly cut and bleeding so heavily, there was no way he could see from that eye, and he was forced to spit blood from his cut cheek and nose. Blood running from the slash on his forehead spilt into his good eye, and he rubbed at it. His other hand searched around him for his sword...

"Looking for this?"

He barely had a moment to gasp when his own blade bit into him. Zechs' eyes went wide, and he tried and failed to turn away from Heero, falling to his knees. "Greine, don't watch. Don't see..."

Zechs' whisper had been low-voiced, but was still loud enough. Heero felt tears running down his face, and he struggled to breathe, to move, to do something. Anything!

Balor jerked the weapon free and let it fall carelessly. His prey was already on its knees before him. He spared a smile for the brown-haired woman. "Your sense of timing is impeccable as always, Une."

She gave him a small bow. "Happy to have pleased you, Treize." They shared a small smile before both turned on Zechs.

A crazed gleam in his one eye, Balor-Treize's lunge was lightning-fast, one punch of his clawed hand ripping into the Prince's flesh.

Zechs was unable to scream for the pain, but Heero did it for him, watching his friend's blood flowing-

The dogs were swarming to the smell of fresh blood, and Heero cursed them, shaking in anger and pain. "Zechs! Oh Goddess, Zechs..."

The blond finally looked up and right into his eyes. Heero's horrified, pain-filled eyes were glued to him and to the gaping hole in his chest. "Zechs..."

"My friend, tell Noin..." the Prince managed to rasp out before his eyes rolled up into his head and he collapsed, lifeless.

~*~

Heero could not breathe, could not speak or even think for the mind-numbing pain as he stared with unseeing eyes. He could feel it deep in his soul - Zechs was truly gone. This wasn't just some kind of horrible nightmare. And his murderer...

He struggled to get free, eyes darkened with hate and rage as he watched Balor's hounds accepting their treat from his hands and licking his fingers clean. The woman was distracted, her eyes on the remaining piece of wall and the defenders rushing out past it-

Heero felt his body breaking as he forced it to move, grabbing for his Prince's sword and stabbing it with all his remaining strength and power at Balor-Treize-

The Formore screamed as blue-hot power poured through the blade and pierced into his very soul. Heero's aim was true - it had hit the monster's black heart.

The woman - Une - turned and kicked the sword from Heero's grasp before she wrapped one arm around her liege lord and seemed to vanish with him into thin air. The dogs squealed as several druids ran at them, and they fled into the trees.

Heero collapsed on his side, staring at Zechs, and all he could do was cry until he closed his own eyes and knew no more.

[End Memory Sequence]

~*~

Trowa caught Heero carefully as the man's eyes slipped closed and his knees buckled. He saw tears on his friend's face and knew his own face was similarly wet. Even so, he could not imagine the heartache of re-living a moment such as that... He could suddenly understand why the half-breed had kept the details secret for so long. Holding Heero tightly to his chest, Trowa could do nothing but rock him and weep.

Noin sat in white faced shock, the pain on her face so complete and heart-wrenching that it actually hurt to look at her. Yet her eyes were dry.

Watching from her seat, Relena wasn't sure Noin was capable of crying, anymore. But if she couldn't, then everyone else would, in her place. Without questions, she stepped down from her seat and threw her arms around the other woman. Noin's arms slowly came up around her, as well, and Maeve and Badba joined in, as well.

Trowa looked up and towards the corner where he'd seen -

There was no need to look further - Duo was already at his side, blue eyes wide with shared grief and sympathy. He reached out.

Trowa allowed him to pull Heero from his arms, and watched as Duo carefully supported the other man, who clung to him like a small child. Duo caught Wufei's eye for a short moment before he turned and looked down at Noin. He reached out and put a hand on her shoulder.

She looked up, eyes red with the need to cry, to let it out.

Clinging to Duo, Heero looked up and into her eyes. "He... he never finished saying it, but I know... his last thoughts were of you. He loved you, Noin, and the last thing he would ever have wanted... Don't live a life of hate. Remember him - remember how much you were loved, but let him go."

Her eyes flashed red for a short moment, but it was as though a light switch had been thrown. Her tears began to fall, and she sobbed unashamedly in front of everyone, and clung to Relena as though her life depended on it.

With a gentle word, Duo turned his friend and left the room.

~*~

Trowa kept looking off over his shoulder, and Quatre nearly growled as he pulled the druid along down the hallway.

The man was barely awake. He'd fought a difficult battle the night before, set the most powerful Seals he could manage over the Lady's domain, helped to heal the victims of the attack, and only then had gotten some rest of his own. And then - just in case that wasn't enough - to have seen that...

Quatre could not believe what Heero had gone through, could not fathom the pain he'd felt in hiding such horror from everyone and bearing it all on his own. Then again, Heero hadn't had anyone to truly turn to, not the way he and Trowa had turned to each other for comfort...

Trowa's hand caught his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. "Heero. I've got to go find him."

Quatre shook his head. "No, Trowa. Not right now."

"But..."

The blond stepped in front of his lover and looked up into his eyes. "Duo will look after him, love. You know it. Now let me look after you."

Trowa stared down into Quatre's face. It was an incredible mystery to him - he knew precisely how dangerous and powerful his lover was, and yet looking at him now, large aqua eyes wide in a pale face, lips pursed, signs of tears still showing...

He pulled the smaller man to his chest and just held him silently.

Quatre could feel Trowa's breath hitching in his chest, and he quickly steered them both into the druid's quarters. He never released his hold on the other man as he got them both settled on the bed, still rumpled from a restless few hours' sleep the night before. He ran gentle hands over Trowa's back, crooning words to him softly as the young man continued to tremble.

When Trowa finally looked up again, his soulful green eyes were red-rimmed. "I had never thought of it before... that Zechs really meant to say goodbye. He knew what was going to happen... Oh, Goddess! WHY?"

Quatre kissed his forehead gently, not resisting as Trowa rolled him onto his back and settled over him, still staring down into his face. "I don't know why, love, but I do know... He accepted it and tried very hard to spare us all because he loved us. I think... in the end, he was both horrified and relieved to have Heero at his side - shattered that his friend had to witness it, and yet pleased to have someone so dear to him with him to the end." He laced his arms up and around the druid, holding him tightly. "Does that make sense?"

Trowa nodded, leaning down to place a light kiss on his lover's lips. "Quatre... thank the Goddess, I have you... Seeing that, I could only imagine how I would have felt, in Heero's place..."

Quatre shuddered and pulled Trowa down to him. "Don't speak of such things!" He kissed him, hard.

Trowa groaned, all his senses tingling as the kiss deepened and he felt strong, capable hands fumbling with his clothing. He needed this, needed to hear Quatre's voice and feel those hands, those lips on his skin...

Quatre was awash in sensation. Trowa's rich, lilting voice was calling his name breathlessly in between kisses that tasted like sunlight. Hands were pulling him free of his clothing, running freely over his body, pressing his legs open. Lips trailing down over exposed flesh.

Trowa's forehead was pressed to his as their bodies joined, and Quatre felt that incredible connection, not just the heat between their bodies, but their spirits, as well. Gasping his lover's name as he surrendered complete control to the druid.

Trowa felt Quatre's legs wrapped around him, drawing him deeper, felt his body pulsing with heat and love. The other man's tattoos were burning to life on his skin, and he knew that Quatre had never been so beautiful, so precious, so hot and generous...

It was nasty, dirty, hot, perfect. Both men cried out as the heat burst between them, and Trowa collapsed onto his smaller lover, gasping for air that he wasn't sure he even really needed, not when he was still wrapped inside and around Quatre.

The blond was stroking his back and shoulders, pressing gentle kisses along his collarbone, legs still wrapped tightly around his waist. Trowa shuddered with pleasure.

He didn't know he deserved it, but he was not going to complain when the Goddess handed him happiness. He wrapped his arms around his lover and held him close, breathing in the scent of his skin and their passion. "My Quatre..."

"Sleep, Trowa," the blond crooned gently. "Sleep, my love."

No one disturbed them.

~*~

They were both soaked to the skin, but Duo didn't say a word, just held on to the other man for all he was worth.

Heero had been silent as he led him away from the Gathering and the trial, but that passivity had only lasted precious moments before the half breed broke away with an anguished sob and ran for the doors. Duo had the presence of mind to tell someone where they were going before he followed.

It wasn't hard to figure out where he was going.

Now that Duo knew what to look for, he could see where the northern face of the House had been carefully reconstructed. Heero was on his knees near the wall; the patch of ground in front of the prone man was completely bare of any sort of life.

Duo realised with a jolt - that was where Zechs must have fallen, when the earth was stained with the blood of a God.

He forced down his own sorrow and stepped closer, sinking to his knees as well and carefully wrapping his arms around Heero.

Despite the cold, persistent rain, Duo could tell that Heero was weeping, and it broke his heart. This poor man - this poor, brave man, to have seen what he saw and held all that pain inside for so long... He held on silently, his own tears falling as Heero turned in his arms and wrapped himself around him.

One hand strayed up into water-soaked brown hair, pressing Heero's head to his shoulder. Duo pressed a gentle kiss to the wet hair against his cheek. "I've got you - I'm here."

He felt a gentle tug on the back of his head, and allowed himself a very small smile - Heero had grabbed hold of his sodden braid and wrapped it in one hand almost possessively. "Goddess, forgive me," Heero whispered over and over again.

Duo finally pressed the other man back gently from their embrace, wiping his sodden hair out of his face so they could see each other clearly. "Heero, I can't claim to have known your Zechs; I barely know any of you, honestly. But I know what I saw. It wasn't your fault - you did everything you could to save him, to avenge him. And we will - now that you have me here, we will. It is simply not yet the time."

The half breed's pain-filled blue eyes sparked. "I should have gotten free - I should have aimed higher and taken off the demon's head!"

Duo shook his head, eyes serious and sad. "For days now, you and Trowa have tried to convince me... that I need to let Wufei choose his fate, and accept his love and friendship for the precious gift that it is. I think Zechs would want you to do the same. You both willingly put yourselves in danger for one another that night - you showed the greatest love and respect for one another, as friends and brothers. You made him proud of you, and he loved you for your friendship. Do not dishonour that love now."

"I miss him, Duo," Heero whispered brokenly, tearing his gaze away and back to the barren patch of ground. "I think of him every day, and I wish..."

"I know, I know." Duo allowed Heero to pull away and stand.

His back still to the other man, Heero continued, "And now Balor's coming back. He's coming for you. What if..."

Duo surged up to his feet and stepped around him, cupping his face to force him to look at him. "He will be back. And you and I will be ready for him. We will face him and beat him together, I promise you."

Heero sucked in a deep breath of air. "Duo... I have... I have feelings... you are very important to me. I don't want to think... if he..."

"He won't," Duo replied with a small smile. "And Heero? I think I have feelings for you, too." His spine tingling in anticipation, Duo leaned forward and pressed his lips to the other man's, a gentle, chaste contact that nonetheless sent thrills and heat spiraling through both of them.

Heero's eyes opened as they pulled apart again - he looked around them, and shivered. "It's freezing out here."

Duo laughed. "What did you expect? We're in Scotland, and it's raining." He reached out and took hold of Heero's hand, enjoying the way those strong fingers felt on his skin. "Come on - let's go get dry." He led the other man back towards the doors.

Unbeknownst to either of them, the bare ground under their feet was broken by a single blade of grass unfurling itself.

By the next day, the spot would be blooming with flowers.

TBC...

 

To The Next Chapter

To The Previous Chapter

Back to Ashkara's Fanfictions Page

Back to Guests Fanfictions Page

Back to Main Page