---------------
Kyuuketsuki Duo
Segue 4:4
Shinma Koneteki
---------------
	"The stars are so beautiful tonight."

	He spun dramatically from his place at the woman's side and came 
before her, holding both her hands and looking deeply into her warm, 
brown eyes.  "No," he responded.  "You're beautiful tonight."

	She smiled.  "What, only tonight?" she teased.

	He gestured expansively with both their hands.  "You're 
beautiful every night, my love.  But tonight, even the shine of the 
stars pales in comparison to the sparkle in your eyes."

	"Well, of course, silly."  She freed her hands and playfully 
tweaked his nose.  "It's not every night I have a man give me a rock 
like this."  She waved her fingers before the man's face, and he took 
the hand gently, and brushed his lips across its back.

	"Is that all it is to you?" he countered cheerfully.  "Just a 
rock?"

	"Hey.  I'll have you know, it is so important to me that I even 
moved my grandmother's ring to make special room for it."  It was a 
delicate silver kitten that had been displaced, its tail curling around 
her finger now on the other hand, to set her new engagement ring apart.

	They continued in companionable silence down the quiet park 
path, very few people there at this time of night as they strolled 
leisurely along with their fingers entwined.  Suddenly, a shadow flitted 
across their path, and they caught sight of a black furry tail as it 
scurried its way beneath a bush.  As they drew even with the bush, a 
plaintive meow issued forth, and they stopped.

	"Oh, honey, we should check to see if that cat's lost or 
something," she said.

	The man agreed, knowing full well how much she loved animals, 
cats in particular.  He liked them as well, so had no problem with 
crouching down beside the bush and peering through the leaves.  A pair 
of luminous yellow eyes blinked back up at him, and the cat meowed 
again.

	"Hmm, well, I think I see a tag on its collar.... Lemme try to 
get it out."  He slowly reached his fingers up to the cat, trying to 
lure the feline out from its hiding place to discover its owner.

	"Ow!"  He pulled his fingers back out abruptly.

	"Oh!  What's wrong?"  She knelt beside him and inspected his 
fingers.

	He hissed in mild pain.  "I think it bit me or something."

	She pulled a tissue out from her purse and gently swiped the 
welling blood from the shallow wound.  "Poor thing must be hungry or 
something."  She looked up briefly from her task as the night birds 
roosting in the trees suddenly gave flight.

	He wrinkled his nose in irritation.  "Great.  After all my 
efforts, it decides to come out on its own," he observed ironically, as 
the black cat came out of its hiding place of its own accord.  "Now 
maybe we can..."

	"What's wrong?"  She looked at the cat herself, and gasped when 
she saw the cat's eyes were glowing in a manner that was definitely not 
natural.  She clutched at her fiancee's sleeve.  "Mike...," she trailed 
off uncertainly.

	He pulled them to their feet.  "I think we should get out of 
here."  He eyed the cat nervously, but could do no more than stay rooted 
in place as more cats emerged from the bushes, all different sizes and 
colors, but each with fey, glowing eyes.

	They pounced.  Two screams split the air.  And a silent boy 
watched, hidden in the shadows beneath the tree, hair obscuring his eyes 
as he placidly scratched behind the ears of the cat he held in his arms.

                              ************

	The two prospective parents walked through the orphanage with 
the matronly director, touring the facilities and getting a look at the 
children.

	"You'll find that we do the best we can here," the director was 
explaining, "but what these children really need is a real home, where 
they can get the personal love and permanence that we simply can't 
adequately provide here."  The couple nodded absently, watching a small 
group of children on the front lawn play 'Ring Around the Rosie' over 
and over again at the tops of their lungs.  They passed under the arched 
doorway and inside.

	The trio continued the tour around to the yard, just in time to 
see two of the larger boys closing in on a small, slender child, who 
seemed to be hovering protectively in front of something even while 
facing down the boys in wide-eyed fear.

	"Get out of our way, squirt," one of them growled.

	"Yeah, get out of the way, wimp!" the other enthusiastically 
echoed.

	The boy shook his head.  "Leave it alone," he whispered in a dry 
voice, then swallowed in fear.

	The first boy grinned nastily.  "Make us."

	The director stopped them short in their menacing approach.  
"Bobby!  John!"  The boys whipped around at the sound of their names.  
"Get away from him!"

	They looked at each other, then back at the trembling boy with 
looks the director couldn't see that clearly said that he was lucky this 
time, before chiming in unison "Yes, Ms. Wallace," and stalking back 
inside.

	Ms. Wallace turned back to the guests and began herding them 
back to the children's quarter.  "I'm sorry you had to see that.  I'm 
afraid so many of the boys here try to prove themselves worthy of love 
by gaining power over the others.  You know, if only they could --"

	The woman cut her off.  "What about that other boy?"

	"Other boy?  Oh, him.  He's lucky to even be here, he is.  His 
mother died from some disease picked up from her street walking, his 
father was killed by some thugs he owed money to.  Poor thing didn't 
have any relatives the authorities could find, so he ended up here.  I'm 
afraid his past causes some of the other children to tease him a little 
bit.  Kids will be kids, after all.  The animals seem to like him, 
though.  But why don't we go see some of the other children?  Over 
here..."

	The boy watched them wordlessly as they left, then turned his 
attention back to the small, broken bird that lay in the dust behind 
him.  The little bird was already dead, probably the victim of some 
feral cat, but at least he could give it a proper burial without those 
bullies desecrating its corpse.

	Unseen, two figures observed the scene silently from the tall 
tree overhanging the orphanage walls.

                              ************

	"The gall of that woman!"

	Heero cocked an eyebrow at his ranting charge.

	"Didn't you hear the way she was kissing up to those 
prospectives?  Trying to play the pity card while at the same time 
clearly not wanting those kids in her care any longer than necessary."  
Duo stopped his pacing in front of his companion and waved his hands in 
his face.  "And then those bullies!  She didn't even scold them!  Just 
said 'Get away from him' like that kid was a rabid dog or something!  
Kid's got a bad past attached to him and all of sudden, let's treat him 
with contempt!  Let's just brush him under the rug, you wouldn't want 
him, let's go see all the other, well-behaved children!"  Duo took a few 
deep breaths, imagining his hands around the obsequious woman's neck.

	Heero remained silent for a few moments in contemplation.  "You 
empathize with the boy," he stated.

	"Yes, I empathize with the boy," Duo retorted, crossing his 
arms.  "I was that boy.  I had nicer caregivers than he does, but 
still...."  He trailed off, anger dissipating from his tone as he heaved 
a weary sigh.  "I know how he feels."

	"That doesn't make what he's done right," Heero pointed out 
reasonably.

	"Of course not.  I'm not trying to excuse him or anything."  He 
plopped himself down on the beanbag.  "I just ... I understand his 
choice."

	"Will that be a problem?"

	Duo raked his fingers through his bangs.  "No, no, it won't be a 
problem.  It won't make things easier, but it won't be a problem."

                              ************

	Bobby and John walked up to the young boy sitting quietly in the 
corner after dinner.  "Hey, kid."  The boy didn't look up.  "Hey!  You 
listen when I'm talking to you, kid.  We got unfinished business."  The 
child still paid them no mind, nor did the little drama attract the 
attention of anyone else in the room.

	John looked at Bobby, then roughly grabbed the boy's shoulder.  
"Hey!"  He snatched his hand back immediately when the boy abruptly 
lifted his head at the contact and snarled viciously at them.  They 
stared at him for a few silent, frightened moments, then regathered 
their false bravado.

	"What's this, now?  Acting like you one of your little beastie 
friends?"

	Ever the bully's second, John chimed in.  "Think that's going to 
save you, kid?"  He tried to grab the boy's shoulder again.  The moment 
his fingers brushed the boy's t-shirt, the boy lunged at him, tipping 
him over and landing him on his back on the floor, the boy seated on his 
chest as he pummeled him.  Bobby was stunned for a moment before 
reaching in to help his friend.  He managed to pull the boy off of John, 
but then the boy made to scratch at his eyes, and Bobby let go.

	Finally, the fight got the attention of the other children, and 
a general brawl ensued.

                              ************

	"Hey, kid."  The boy turned at the sound of the voice.  He 
hadn't expected there to be any people on the streets at this hour.  He 
wasn't even supposed to be there, but after the scuffle, he made sure he 
was out of the way and unable to be found.  His only company for the 
night should have been his new friend, the one he hadn't told anyone 
about.  "You shouldn't be out here all by yourself at night."

	The speaker was a young man of medium height and slight build, 
clothed in a loose, long-sleeved, black shirt, and comfortable looking 
black pants tucked into black boots.  A red ribbon threaded its way 
through the young man's long, chestnut braid, which hung over one of his 
shoulders, and two tiny silver bells were attached to the end of that 
ribbon, where it tied the braid off.  His expression was open and 
friendly, but the amethyst eyes which regarded him were solemn and 
otherworldly.

	'He's dangerous,' a smooth voice whispered to him.

	The boy regarded the stranger as he lifted a hand out to him 
unthreateningly.  "Come on.  Why don't I take you home?"  The boy looked 
self-consciously over his shoulder.

	The stranger smiled easily.  "Don't worry about your friend."

	'He's trying to separate us,' the voice purred.

	'But nobody knows about you!  I didn't tell!  Just like I 
promised,' the boy protested silently.

	"I'm sure he'll be alright."

	'He knows.  It doesn't matter how.'

	"Come on."

	'He knows.  I told you nobody can know.'

	"I'll bring you home safe and sound."

	'He's trying to get rid of me.  You'll never see me again.'

	'But he looks nice enough --'

	'But you're too scared to fight him, you mean?  Just like you're 
too scared to fight off those bullies?  Without me, you're nothing, boy.  
Without me, you would still be that no-name, nobody little worm living 
out that doormat little existence of yours.  Is that what you want?'

	The boy shook his head as the stranger looked steadily at him 
with violet eyes.

	'Then get rid of him.  You're still hesitating?  Fine, then.  
Run off into your little corner and hide.  Let me get rid of him.  Like 
I got rid of those bullies.'

                              ************

	The boy's head lifted suddenly and he clawed at Duo's 
outstretched hand.  Duo was prepared for it, being aware of the slow 
gathering of dark power that had surrounded the boy these last few 
moments.  He dodged the boy's swing, and then the lunge after that, but 
did not return fire.

	"I won't fight him," he said evenly into the night.  The boy 
leapt at him again, and again he sidestepped.  "And you won't be able to 
get rid of me this easily.  Come out and fight me yourself."

	There was a meow behind him, and he turned halfway around, 
reluctant to leave his back exposed to the boy, but needing to face the 
new threat.  Heero picked up on it instantly from his place in the 
shadows, and materialized behind the boy to hold him.  The boy struggled 
uselessly in his grasp.  Duo didn't need to ask that he not hurt the 
child -- he knew as well as Duo that the boy was innocent as could be, 
and Duo knew that Heero wouldn't harm him without good cause.  He turned 
his full attention to the cat.

	First the feline eyes began to glow, and then the cat melted and 
reformed itself into a large cat of shadows, malevolence and dark power 
flowing off its back in waves.

	"I don't think I like you," Duo informed it.  "Taking advantage 
of a child like that."

	"He invited me in," the Shinma replied.  "I was only giving him 
what he wanted."

	"What he thought he wanted," Duo corrected.  They circled each 
other warily.

	"Do you presume to know what the boy truly wants?"

	"Do you?" Duo countered.  Duo thought he knew what the child 
wanted.  A friend, and an escape, from the loneliness and the 
helplessness.  The Shinma pretended to provide it all, while feeding off 
the pain and the repressed aggression.

	The creature summoned a small army of shadowcats to charge the 
guardian.  Heero silently whisked the boy away to a nearby rooftop and 
out of harm's way as Duo released a wave of power that dispelled each of 
the conjurations as they crashed into it.  The Shinma cringed as the 
guardian's energy swept past it, but recovered quickly enough to avoid 
Duo's follow-up to the initial counter.  The street, however, was 
narrow, and with little room to maneuver, the guardian soon had it 
trapped.

	"Shinma Koneteki.  Return to the Dark."

	It was as it always was.  The portal to the otherrealm was 
opened, and the Shinma, willing or not, was drawn in with a final wail.  
The gate shut behind it with a swirling finality.

	Duo glanced up at his partner with sad eyes, and Heero 
wordlessly brought the child back down to the street.  The boy was 
released, and he fell to his knees roughly, bereft of his only 'friend'.

	Duo approached him carefully, kneeling before him and lifting 
his chin with slender fingers.  The boy looked back at him with wide, 
green eyes half hidden by his tousled hair.  Duo searched those 
vulnerable eyes, assessing the fear, the loneliness, the pain, and came 
to a decision.

	"I can help you.  I can help you deal with it, if that's what 
you want."  He knew how it was to live with those sorts of feelings 
every day, to wake up every morning to know that none of your peers will 
greet you with a sunny 'good morning', to trudge through the day amidst 
the whispers, to go to sleep every night wondering why you were 
condemned to such a bland and meaningless existence.

	The boy stared back deeply into the mysterious, violet eyes, saw 
understanding, and nodded.

                              ************

	"We're looking to adopt a special little boy, Mrs. Rogers."

	Mrs. Rogers smiled pleasantly.  "They're all special here, Mrs. 
Barton, but I know that's not what you meant.  I think I might know whom 
you're looking for, though."

	She led them to the children's playroom, mostly empty this time 
of day, as most of the children sought their fun outside during the 
warm, spring afternoons, but seated in the window sill was a boy, 
staring blankly through the panes.

	"We thought at first he might be autistic or something," Mrs. 
Rogers confided softly.  "But when we had him tested, the tests all came 
back negative."

	"Wouldn't someone know?" Mr. Barton inquired.

	"Maybe.  But the young one here is quite the mystery.  He simply 
showed up on our doorstep one night.  We tried finding out where he came 
from, but no one came forth.  He's hardly spoken a word since arriving 
here, and then only when directly spoken to.  But he's really quite a 
well-mannered, intelligent young person.  Never given me any trouble.  
Only...."

	"What?" Mrs. Barton prompted.

	Mrs. Rogers looked uneasy.  "Only it always seems to me as if 
his mind is somewhere else entirely.  As if he's always only barely 
here."  She shook her head clear of the speculative thoughts.  "Why 
don't we go meet him?"



----------
okay, so who read that first part up at the top and immediately thought, 
they are *so* going to die?

so i'm possessed of a morbid sense of humor.  *shrug*  incidentally, i 
wouldn't know anything at all about the neighbor's kids playing ring 
around the damned rosie over and over and over again as loudly as a 
bunch of little people lungs could possibly do so.

_________________________________________
This piece of fiction is the intellectual 
property of the little turnip that could.  
The basis for this fic, i.e. Gundam Wing, 
Kyuuketsuki Miyu, et al., is the property 
of someone else.  The author can be con-
tacted at jchew@myrealbox.com.  This has 
been an entirely automated message.
http://www.cs.hmc.edu/~jchew/misc/gw.html

last modified : 3/15/2002 14:34:40 PST