yellowhorde (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
yellowhorde) wrote2004-06-08 05:57 pm
yellowhorde) wrote2004-06-08 05:57 pm
Entry tags:
Shinigami and the Dragon Pt 6/?
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing and I make no money from this or any other fanfic I write.
Pairing: None
Category: General
Rating: R
Warning: None
Title: Shinigami and the Dragon
Author: yellowhorde
Dishes crashed loudly against the wall, but Akunin was simply to enraged to notice that he was destroying his only set of china. The dishes were soon followed by the glasses, the silverware and the cooking ware. An almost coherent thought slipped through the tall, dark haired man's distraught mind. (If I keep this up, I won't have anything left to eat with....)
Akunin whirled away from the broken pile of rubble and resumed venting his rage against still more inanimate objects. He slammed his fists against the walls hard enough to hurt, but his mind simply refused to acknowledge the pain. A cloud of red fury blinded him to everything except his own tormented thoughts. Blood trickled down his mangled fists, unnoticed.
(Why? Why did he chose Duo and not me? How could Lord Shinigami chose that weakling over me? Had I not served him loyally for years? Had I not done everything he asked of me..? Had I not been dedicated...devoted in my job? How COULD he? I was his First Lieutenant! Why not me!?)
The tall man slammed his bleeding fists into the wall again, again, again... He was no sniveling weakling who would cry at the death of on miserable old man! Yes, he had been in the front row along with Duo's friends Quatre and Heero and he had seen the tears in his rival's eyes and had been totally disgusted. Crying like an old woman! Pah!
He slammed his bleeding fists once more into the wall. He did not feel the agony that he wrought upon his body, and right now, it probably wouldn't have made any difference. He hurt in a much more fundamental way. His soul cried out in anguish. He felt betrayed, hurt, helpless. Cheated. These feelings cut into him with knives that left no traces of blood, but yet, did much more damage than any pain he could inflict upon himself.
A scream build up in his throat and it could not be contained it was insistent, demanding... needing release. He gave into the primitive need, for he would not have been able to hold back even if he had tried. The scream ripped painfully from his throat, carrying all the frustration, all the pain, all his misery. He shrieked like some wild thing, giving into his fury, but still he hurt, still he burned with anger. He screamed until his throat was sore, and then he screamed some more. There seemed to be nothing he could do to fight the fires of hate that raged in his heart. Nor did he want to, so he didn't even try. Burn baby, burn!
Finally, emotionally and physically spent, Akunin fell silent and turning, slumped against the wall, his back sliding against its cool smoothness, until he was resting against the carpet. Helplessly he pulled himself up into a tight ball, his knees to his chest. He cradled his face in his bleeding hands as his shoulders began to heave uncontrollably. He gave in to the feelings that ripped through him. And finally he allowed himself to cry, hot tears washing down his handsome face. Hiding his face in his hands he sobbed his misery. His thick ebony hair fell in graceful waves about his face, hiding him from the world at large. (Who is the weak one now?) his mind sneered at him. Akunin viciously shoved the thought away.
Akunin was dimly grateful that his friends had allowed him to escape to the privacy of his chambers. He had not wanted them to see him like this, some weak pathetic creature crying and rocking in the silence of his chambers. No, he had to be stronger than that. He could not cry in front of them, especially not Kodachi. He must be strong in the eyes of his love. (I will be strong for you, my dear. I will be strong enough for the both of us. I am not conquered yet!)
Slowly, Akunin managed to gain some semblance of control. He picked himself up off the ground in one smooth graceful movement. He padded over towards the sofa and sank into its black leather depths. He leaned his head back and allowed his burning eyes to slip closed. Maybe he had been lying earlier when he claimed to have a headache, but he sure did have one now. Intense displays of emotion always did that to him, so he usually avoided them whenever possible. He thought briefly of getting up to fetch some aspirin, but he just didn't feel up to it. He sighed heavily and allowed his mind to shut down. (No more time for thinking...I'll think later. Now I just want to sleep... maybe if I'm lucky, I'll never wake up...)
*****
Tome lounged gracefully against the wall in Shinigami's formal chambers, looking very handsome in the black formal attire that fitted him like a dream. The dark cloth merely emphasized the paleness of his skin, captured the gorgeous depths of his beautiful eyes, which burned like bright emeralds. With delicate, almost elfin features, iridescent skin smooth as silk, and dark ebony hair that fell nearly to his waist, Tomo could not be considered overly masculine by any stretch of the imagination. He was, to be perfectly honest, exceptionally beautiful, in almost a feminine manner. This did not bother Tomo in the least. He knew he was attractive and not just to the foolish girls that flocked about hoping to catch his eye, his heart. He ignored them, as always, for his appetites ran to the more...extreme. No, those silly little girls were simply to weak to meet his needs...
Tomo straightened up with a sigh. He tugged irritably at the confining collar. He hated to get dressed up. He actually preferred to wear as little as possible. But what the hell, it had been the passing of the title of Shinigami. A once in a lifetime event. He had agreed to wear this ridiculous monkey suit because Akunin had wanted him to look his best. Tomo smiled to himself. He couldn't refuse a request from his beloved friend. Yes, he knew that Akunin did not think of him in that way, but he could always hope... If the First Lieutenant wanted him to get all spiffed up, then it was all fine and good. Although, if he had known that his friend was not going to be appointed the coveted position of Shinigami, he wouldn't have bothered dressing up in the first place. It had all been such a shock to everyone... but it must have been especially hard on his dear friend. Akunin had had his eye on that particular position for years.
Tomo's attention was dragged from the more serious matters when Heero Yuy wandered by heading towards the punch bowl, cup in hand. Tomo felt his heart skip a beat. He had always admired the young tousled haired youth. He was so impassive, so beautiful, so perfect... Tomo's eyes tracked the movements of the slender boy as he weaved gracefully through the crowd.
Tomo's green eyes glittered with almost predatory intensity. (Hmmm....I'd love to get into those pants...) he leered. The older man's mind conjured forth all kinds of delightful sensory images...the snap of the bull whip, the gleam of light on a finely honed blade. In his mind's eye he could all but hear the wretched screams begging for mercy, see the younger boy's pale skin as he writhed in agony...He shivered in delightful anticipation at such lovely thoughts coursed through his eager mind. Ahhh...the coppery richness of freshly shed blood, the salty tang of sweat, of tears...! Tomo pulled himself away from the wall in one smooth movement, his eyes narrowing to slits as he moved forward, intent on his prize...
A sharp insistent pain to his left ear pulled Tomo from his delightful fantasy in a hurry. He whirled, hands raised to give the rude individual a piece of his mind... or a taste of his fists... He pulled himself short as he came face to face with his twin sister, Kodachi. Unable to gain his attention by talking, she had yanked at his poor tender ear. She glared at her younger brother reproachfully. Her hand fell from his smarting ear and went to her hips. Her eyes, identical to his own, flashed green fire. She was very beautiful when she was angry, not that he would ever tell her that. And she was definitely angry at this moment.
"Earth to Tomo..! I've been talking to you for several minuets now! Snap out of it, will you?" Her eyes darted in the direction of her brother's lustful gaze. (Is sex all he ever thinks about?!) "Get your mind out of whatever gutter you have it in! We need to go speak to Akunin about this unexpected change of plans." As Kodachi glanced almost casually at the object of her brother's intense desire, she studied her brother's next intended "conquest" carefully for a moment. Tall, slender, thick brown hair and gorgeous blue eyes... (Hmmm...not to shabby...)
Heero, unaware of the intense scrutiny he was under, was sipping nonchalantly from his cup, listening politely to a young petite brunette clad in a very clingy little black dress. And it was indeed, little, not much was left to the imagination. The dark haired youth nodded his head every once in a while, but he didn't really appear to be very interested in what the young girl had to say. Kodachi's eyes narrowed and an evil smile played across her lovely lips. Her brother always did have excellent taste in men. She almost pitied the unfortunate boy. He had no idea what 'pleasures' her brother had in store for him...
She turned her back on her brother and glided towards the exit. She called back over her shoulder to her brother who was casting lounging glances back at his chosen 'prey'. "You can indulge in your fun later! Let's go!"
Tomo cast a longing look over his shoulder as he obediently followed his sister. Pity. He shrugged his shoulders and sighed in resignation. He hurried to catch up with the retreating form of his twin, his long. black clad legs covering the distance between the two in no time at all. As he fell in step with Kodachi, he couldn't help but notice how many pairs of eyes followed his sister's form as she strode confidently through the hall.
The red dress she wore, shot through with delicate golden patterns depicting fall leaves swirling in the breeze, suited her voluptuous form wonderfully. She had worn it especially for Akunin since he simply loved the way she looked in the outfit. She walked gracefully through the hall, head held high, a sunny smile gracing her delicate porcelain features. She joyfully called out and waved greetings to friends she knew, occasionally stopping for a moment to speak with one or another of her closer girl friends. Her long black hair, woven through with strings of tiny golden bells, cascaded in gentle waves down her back and almost to the back of her knees. Each step was accompanied by a gentle twinkling that annoounced her presence to the world. Wherever she moved, eyes followed. Many men admired her beauty and wished that she could be theirs, but none dared approach. She belonged to Akunin, and the former First Lieutenant was not a man many dared cross.
*****
Akunin slowly became aware of a steady knocking sound coming through the dark fog that surrounded him. At first he thought it was his head pounding, but no, it was the brass knocker on the front entrance to his chambers. He carefully shrugged off the last shreds of sleep and tried to raise his head from it's position against the back of the leather sofa, but it was painfully stiff from falling asleep in such an awkward position. He moaned softly as he managed to bring his head up. Pain flared behind his red, swollen eyes. The knocking went on and on, which did not do his headache any good. (I should just keep quiet and maybe whoever is out there will get the point and go away.)
A voice called through the door, muffled but unmistakable. "Open up, Akunin! We know your home! Your not fooling anyone!" Damn, it was Tomo. The tired man frowned impressively. That fool would not simply give up and go away. He would just keep knocking until he was let in. Persistence was a quality Akunin admired, but damn! he had been hoping for some peace and quiet.
"Come in already! The door isn't locked!"
Akunin rolled his eyes and allowed his head to fall limply against the back of the sofa with a soft groan. He brought his hands up to his face and rubbed his temples gingerly in small tight circles, hoping for some relief from the pain that assaulted his brain. No such luck... He heard the door open, then close with a bang. He winced at the fresh pain the sound had sent ripping through his head. (Gods, just let me die, right now...) Footsteps approached and the dark haired man opened his eyes and straightened up. He shot a malevolent glare at Tomo who had proceeded to squeeze into the inadequate space between him and the arm of the sofa. Akunin grudgingly scooted over to make room for the leggy man at his side.
Akunin became aware of the presence at his back bare moments before the delicate hands covered his eyes. It was the bells in her hair that had given her away. He breathed deep the scent of his beloved Kodachi. Freshly cut lilies and something else... something he recognized but was unable to place. Like fresh spring water, but sweeter. Or perhaps the delicate scent of rain. He gave up after a few seconds. Did it really matter? She was here with him, and just her being with him made him feel just a little bit better. Her hands were so cool against the heat of his brow. He smiled with genuine affection, a smile few others had ever witnessed. "I should have known you would stop by."
Kodachi laughed, a deep seductive sound that sent shivers up and down the spine of her lover. She leaned over him and planted a gentle kiss against the top of his head. "How could I possibly stay away in your hour of need?" Smooth as water, she slid around the sofa and cuddled up next to her love, offering her own form of comfort, which Akunin gladly accepted. She carefully took his hands in hers and examined the damage he had inflicted on them. They would heal in no time. That was one of the many advantages they had over human beings. Their ability to heal so quickly... She pressed her soft lips against her love's skin, tasting the exciting richness of fresh blood. She sighed in contentment.
Akuin's strong arms wrapped around the woman's slender form. He held her close and felt himself relax against her. Only in her presence, and ,of course, her ever present brother's, did he ever allow himself to let go... to really be himself. For he truly felt that they were the only individuals in all of the gods creations that understood the real him. They did not judge or criticize. They merely accepted him, as he accepted them. It was an arrangement that worked fine for the three companions.
Tomo cheerfully punched Akunin in the arm, ignoring the scowl the larger build man shot in his direction. "Hey, relax man! It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings! And I for one haven't heard anyone singing, fat or otherwise!"
"Fat lady...sings...?" Both his friend and his sister looked at him as if he had sprouted another head. It was Kodachi who had managed to find her voice first. She glared at her twin brother, an accusation apparent in her lovely eyes. "You've been sneaking off to that worthless planet again, haven't you?!" You know you're supposed to stay up here!"
Tomo crossed his arms across his slender chest. He returned his sister's glare with one of his own. "So what if I have, huh? It's not exactly forbidden, now is it?" He didn't understand why his sister was so bent out of shape. He just went down there to occasionally have a little fun. There was no harm in that. If he accidentally "broke" one of his little toys he picked out, who would notice? The world below had a serious issue with over crowding anyway, as far as he was concerned. He was just having a little fun now and then. That was all. No harm done, really.
"Besides, at least the humans have some sort of sense of humor. Which is more than I can say about either of you two." Tomo flung himself back against the arm of the couch and proceeded to pout. With Kodachi spending all of her free time with her precious Akunin, she had little time to spend with her own flesh and blood. Who was she to deny him a bit of fun? It just wasn't fair!
Silence fell over the group. Kodachi, still angry at her brother, cuddled up closer to Akunin. Let him get pissy if he wanted to. She was just worried about him, that's all... She breathed deep the masculine scent of her lover and released her breath in a long sigh. She let the anger and tension fall away. No point in arguing with her twin. Tomo did whatever he felt like doing. There was no reasoning with him.
Tomo watched the two lovebirds cuddle in silence. A look of incredible longing... an aching hunger.. filled his beautiful eyes. How he wished he could be as free with his affections as his dear, sweet sister. He had to admit to himself that he was jealous of the love between his sister and his best friend. They looked so happy, so content... It tore at his heart, made him sick with envy. He would have given anything, anything in the world... in the universe, to experience that sort of bliss... But it just wasn't meant to be apparently. He averted his gaze to allow them some semblance of privacy. He felt like such an intruder. (Why am I even hear? If I were to walk out this very moment, I doubt either would notice...or care.)
After what seemed a very long while, Kodachi straitened up and set about the business at hand, that is, the matter of Duo's shocking ascension to power. His appointment had astonished the entire population. It had been totally unexpected. There had been no warning, no indication that Shinigami would do something so unprecedented. It defied all tradition! She had spoken to several individuals after the Ceremony. Not all had agreed with Shinigami's choice in successor. Many were firmly opposed to the idea of Duo as Shinigami. Maybe there was some way this could be used to Akunin's advantage...
"Do you think the Shinigami caught on that you were poisoning his favorite wine?" the woman ventured tentatively. It was the only thing that made any sense to her. She shook her head, however, dismissing the very idea even as Akunin shook his head. They had been very careful, it seemed unlikely that the old man had suspected a thing. But even if he had suspected poisoning, wouldn't he have called it to anyone's attention? Perhaps Doctor Catherine Chapel? Wouldn't he have had Akunin arrested on grounds of high treason if he had known, or at least put under surveillance? "So he must not have suspected a thing," Kodachi reasoned. "But then why did he defy all tradition and appoint Duo? It just doesn't make any sense!"
"I don't think he had any intentions of appointing Akunin as Shinigami in the first place." Tomo spoke up. He felt he needed to put in his two cents worth. "Duo is Doctor Chapel's adoptive "nephew" and I believe that the Shinigami and the good Doctor were much closer than anyone ever suspected. It's simply a case of nepotism, if you ask me."
"What difference does it make WHY Lord Shinigami promoted Duo to the position of Death?" Akunin fumed. "What's done is done. How are we going to guarantee that I will still have a shot at gaining all that power? If I don't become Shinigami, that means that neither of you will be able to gain the abilities and powers associated with being First and Second Lieutenant. Because I seriously doubt that that young whelp will chose either of you to fill the position."
The trio fell silent, each lost in their own private thoughts. It was a dilemma. Akunin had planned on granting the twins the positions of the Lieutenants upon his ascension to power. There was simply no others he would have wanted so close by his side, no one else that he trusted. Now it appeared that all of their scheming, all their plans had been for naught. Surely there must be some way to come out on top of this situation. But how?
Kodachi's mind was racing furiously, conjuring up ideas, finding them lacking and dismissing them. Then trying out some more. She was leaned over, her chin resting on the heel of her hand, her elbow propped on her knee. Suddenly, the faintest glimmer of an idea presented itself. She tested it, and found that it may have some merit. Hmmm... Might it be possible?
She sat up and looked over to her boyfriend who had intense look of concentration on his face. "Akunin..." She began slowly, "...who will Duo chose as his First and Second Lieutenant?"
"How am I supposed to know?" Akunin snapped. He sat up and ran a hand through his thick black hair. It was an irritated gesture. His whole posture, the entire set of his body, his face, screamed that he was frustrated, angry. "He can pick whomever he damn well wants. I suppose he would chose someone with some sort of experience... or someone who was willing to learn. It's a position with a lot of responsibility. Not many people are willing to take on such a burden."
"That's just my point." Kodachi exclaimed, her face lighting up in triumph. "Who could possible have more experience than you? You've served under Lord Shinigami for so many years. Why wouldn't Duo chose someone who already knew how to do the job? He might appoint you as Second Lieutenant or maybe even First!" Kodachi's face was flushed with pleasure, her hands clasped before her ample bosom in pure rapture. They had a plan! They were back in business!
"Shinigami's chosen Lieutenants are the only ones permitted in his company at any time without constant surveillance. After all, if he can't trust his Lieutenants, who can he trust?"
Akunin's face broke out in a malicious grin. There was some hope after all! His own depression fell away in tatters to be replaced by a colder more calculating train of thought. It all made sense to him! Why hadn't he thought of it sooner! He clutched Kodachi to him and his villainous laugh rumbled forth. "You're right, my dear! Surely, Duo would chose his former co-worker as one of his lieutenants. Maybe even his FIRST Lieutenant!" He kissed her soundly on the cheek. "I could poison Duo, just like I had been poisoning the old man! No one would be the wiser!"
"Hmmm..." Tomo thought hard on the presented plan. Try as he might, he could see no flaw in their reasoning. It made sense, perfect sense. "It just might work..." he mused aloud, slowly getting acquainted with the idea. "If his death might seem unusual to some, could it not be said that the pressures of the job were too much for the carefree and happy youth? Would it really surprise anyone that he may wish to "retire" to put an end to his own misery?" It would not be the first time that a Shinigami decided that he was unfit for the position and decided to step down. "Who would question his decision? Who would DARE?" Tomo grinned at the next line of reasoning. "After all, the only way a new Shinigami could take over was with the death of the old one."
"And sensing his death was near, he would have no choice to hand that power over to ME!"
Akunin began to chuckle low in his chest. Things were beginning to look up! The laughter rose in pitch and volume until it filled the room. Tomo and Kodachi exchanged amused glances with each other as their laughter mingled with that of their friend's. They had a plan! Life just couldn't get any better than this! Soon, all their dreams would fall into their outstretched hands like ripe fruit! Sweet fruit of triumph!
TO BE CONTINUED...
CHAPTER SEVEN
Pairing: None
Category: General
Rating: R
Warning: None
Title: Shinigami and the Dragon
Author: yellowhorde
Dishes crashed loudly against the wall, but Akunin was simply to enraged to notice that he was destroying his only set of china. The dishes were soon followed by the glasses, the silverware and the cooking ware. An almost coherent thought slipped through the tall, dark haired man's distraught mind. (If I keep this up, I won't have anything left to eat with....)
Akunin whirled away from the broken pile of rubble and resumed venting his rage against still more inanimate objects. He slammed his fists against the walls hard enough to hurt, but his mind simply refused to acknowledge the pain. A cloud of red fury blinded him to everything except his own tormented thoughts. Blood trickled down his mangled fists, unnoticed.
(Why? Why did he chose Duo and not me? How could Lord Shinigami chose that weakling over me? Had I not served him loyally for years? Had I not done everything he asked of me..? Had I not been dedicated...devoted in my job? How COULD he? I was his First Lieutenant! Why not me!?)
The tall man slammed his bleeding fists into the wall again, again, again... He was no sniveling weakling who would cry at the death of on miserable old man! Yes, he had been in the front row along with Duo's friends Quatre and Heero and he had seen the tears in his rival's eyes and had been totally disgusted. Crying like an old woman! Pah!
He slammed his bleeding fists once more into the wall. He did not feel the agony that he wrought upon his body, and right now, it probably wouldn't have made any difference. He hurt in a much more fundamental way. His soul cried out in anguish. He felt betrayed, hurt, helpless. Cheated. These feelings cut into him with knives that left no traces of blood, but yet, did much more damage than any pain he could inflict upon himself.
A scream build up in his throat and it could not be contained it was insistent, demanding... needing release. He gave into the primitive need, for he would not have been able to hold back even if he had tried. The scream ripped painfully from his throat, carrying all the frustration, all the pain, all his misery. He shrieked like some wild thing, giving into his fury, but still he hurt, still he burned with anger. He screamed until his throat was sore, and then he screamed some more. There seemed to be nothing he could do to fight the fires of hate that raged in his heart. Nor did he want to, so he didn't even try. Burn baby, burn!
Finally, emotionally and physically spent, Akunin fell silent and turning, slumped against the wall, his back sliding against its cool smoothness, until he was resting against the carpet. Helplessly he pulled himself up into a tight ball, his knees to his chest. He cradled his face in his bleeding hands as his shoulders began to heave uncontrollably. He gave in to the feelings that ripped through him. And finally he allowed himself to cry, hot tears washing down his handsome face. Hiding his face in his hands he sobbed his misery. His thick ebony hair fell in graceful waves about his face, hiding him from the world at large. (Who is the weak one now?) his mind sneered at him. Akunin viciously shoved the thought away.
Akunin was dimly grateful that his friends had allowed him to escape to the privacy of his chambers. He had not wanted them to see him like this, some weak pathetic creature crying and rocking in the silence of his chambers. No, he had to be stronger than that. He could not cry in front of them, especially not Kodachi. He must be strong in the eyes of his love. (I will be strong for you, my dear. I will be strong enough for the both of us. I am not conquered yet!)
Slowly, Akunin managed to gain some semblance of control. He picked himself up off the ground in one smooth graceful movement. He padded over towards the sofa and sank into its black leather depths. He leaned his head back and allowed his burning eyes to slip closed. Maybe he had been lying earlier when he claimed to have a headache, but he sure did have one now. Intense displays of emotion always did that to him, so he usually avoided them whenever possible. He thought briefly of getting up to fetch some aspirin, but he just didn't feel up to it. He sighed heavily and allowed his mind to shut down. (No more time for thinking...I'll think later. Now I just want to sleep... maybe if I'm lucky, I'll never wake up...)
*****
Tome lounged gracefully against the wall in Shinigami's formal chambers, looking very handsome in the black formal attire that fitted him like a dream. The dark cloth merely emphasized the paleness of his skin, captured the gorgeous depths of his beautiful eyes, which burned like bright emeralds. With delicate, almost elfin features, iridescent skin smooth as silk, and dark ebony hair that fell nearly to his waist, Tomo could not be considered overly masculine by any stretch of the imagination. He was, to be perfectly honest, exceptionally beautiful, in almost a feminine manner. This did not bother Tomo in the least. He knew he was attractive and not just to the foolish girls that flocked about hoping to catch his eye, his heart. He ignored them, as always, for his appetites ran to the more...extreme. No, those silly little girls were simply to weak to meet his needs...
Tomo straightened up with a sigh. He tugged irritably at the confining collar. He hated to get dressed up. He actually preferred to wear as little as possible. But what the hell, it had been the passing of the title of Shinigami. A once in a lifetime event. He had agreed to wear this ridiculous monkey suit because Akunin had wanted him to look his best. Tomo smiled to himself. He couldn't refuse a request from his beloved friend. Yes, he knew that Akunin did not think of him in that way, but he could always hope... If the First Lieutenant wanted him to get all spiffed up, then it was all fine and good. Although, if he had known that his friend was not going to be appointed the coveted position of Shinigami, he wouldn't have bothered dressing up in the first place. It had all been such a shock to everyone... but it must have been especially hard on his dear friend. Akunin had had his eye on that particular position for years.
Tomo's attention was dragged from the more serious matters when Heero Yuy wandered by heading towards the punch bowl, cup in hand. Tomo felt his heart skip a beat. He had always admired the young tousled haired youth. He was so impassive, so beautiful, so perfect... Tomo's eyes tracked the movements of the slender boy as he weaved gracefully through the crowd.
Tomo's green eyes glittered with almost predatory intensity. (Hmmm....I'd love to get into those pants...) he leered. The older man's mind conjured forth all kinds of delightful sensory images...the snap of the bull whip, the gleam of light on a finely honed blade. In his mind's eye he could all but hear the wretched screams begging for mercy, see the younger boy's pale skin as he writhed in agony...He shivered in delightful anticipation at such lovely thoughts coursed through his eager mind. Ahhh...the coppery richness of freshly shed blood, the salty tang of sweat, of tears...! Tomo pulled himself away from the wall in one smooth movement, his eyes narrowing to slits as he moved forward, intent on his prize...
A sharp insistent pain to his left ear pulled Tomo from his delightful fantasy in a hurry. He whirled, hands raised to give the rude individual a piece of his mind... or a taste of his fists... He pulled himself short as he came face to face with his twin sister, Kodachi. Unable to gain his attention by talking, she had yanked at his poor tender ear. She glared at her younger brother reproachfully. Her hand fell from his smarting ear and went to her hips. Her eyes, identical to his own, flashed green fire. She was very beautiful when she was angry, not that he would ever tell her that. And she was definitely angry at this moment.
"Earth to Tomo..! I've been talking to you for several minuets now! Snap out of it, will you?" Her eyes darted in the direction of her brother's lustful gaze. (Is sex all he ever thinks about?!) "Get your mind out of whatever gutter you have it in! We need to go speak to Akunin about this unexpected change of plans." As Kodachi glanced almost casually at the object of her brother's intense desire, she studied her brother's next intended "conquest" carefully for a moment. Tall, slender, thick brown hair and gorgeous blue eyes... (Hmmm...not to shabby...)
Heero, unaware of the intense scrutiny he was under, was sipping nonchalantly from his cup, listening politely to a young petite brunette clad in a very clingy little black dress. And it was indeed, little, not much was left to the imagination. The dark haired youth nodded his head every once in a while, but he didn't really appear to be very interested in what the young girl had to say. Kodachi's eyes narrowed and an evil smile played across her lovely lips. Her brother always did have excellent taste in men. She almost pitied the unfortunate boy. He had no idea what 'pleasures' her brother had in store for him...
She turned her back on her brother and glided towards the exit. She called back over her shoulder to her brother who was casting lounging glances back at his chosen 'prey'. "You can indulge in your fun later! Let's go!"
Tomo cast a longing look over his shoulder as he obediently followed his sister. Pity. He shrugged his shoulders and sighed in resignation. He hurried to catch up with the retreating form of his twin, his long. black clad legs covering the distance between the two in no time at all. As he fell in step with Kodachi, he couldn't help but notice how many pairs of eyes followed his sister's form as she strode confidently through the hall.
The red dress she wore, shot through with delicate golden patterns depicting fall leaves swirling in the breeze, suited her voluptuous form wonderfully. She had worn it especially for Akunin since he simply loved the way she looked in the outfit. She walked gracefully through the hall, head held high, a sunny smile gracing her delicate porcelain features. She joyfully called out and waved greetings to friends she knew, occasionally stopping for a moment to speak with one or another of her closer girl friends. Her long black hair, woven through with strings of tiny golden bells, cascaded in gentle waves down her back and almost to the back of her knees. Each step was accompanied by a gentle twinkling that annoounced her presence to the world. Wherever she moved, eyes followed. Many men admired her beauty and wished that she could be theirs, but none dared approach. She belonged to Akunin, and the former First Lieutenant was not a man many dared cross.
*****
Akunin slowly became aware of a steady knocking sound coming through the dark fog that surrounded him. At first he thought it was his head pounding, but no, it was the brass knocker on the front entrance to his chambers. He carefully shrugged off the last shreds of sleep and tried to raise his head from it's position against the back of the leather sofa, but it was painfully stiff from falling asleep in such an awkward position. He moaned softly as he managed to bring his head up. Pain flared behind his red, swollen eyes. The knocking went on and on, which did not do his headache any good. (I should just keep quiet and maybe whoever is out there will get the point and go away.)
A voice called through the door, muffled but unmistakable. "Open up, Akunin! We know your home! Your not fooling anyone!" Damn, it was Tomo. The tired man frowned impressively. That fool would not simply give up and go away. He would just keep knocking until he was let in. Persistence was a quality Akunin admired, but damn! he had been hoping for some peace and quiet.
"Come in already! The door isn't locked!"
Akunin rolled his eyes and allowed his head to fall limply against the back of the sofa with a soft groan. He brought his hands up to his face and rubbed his temples gingerly in small tight circles, hoping for some relief from the pain that assaulted his brain. No such luck... He heard the door open, then close with a bang. He winced at the fresh pain the sound had sent ripping through his head. (Gods, just let me die, right now...) Footsteps approached and the dark haired man opened his eyes and straightened up. He shot a malevolent glare at Tomo who had proceeded to squeeze into the inadequate space between him and the arm of the sofa. Akunin grudgingly scooted over to make room for the leggy man at his side.
Akunin became aware of the presence at his back bare moments before the delicate hands covered his eyes. It was the bells in her hair that had given her away. He breathed deep the scent of his beloved Kodachi. Freshly cut lilies and something else... something he recognized but was unable to place. Like fresh spring water, but sweeter. Or perhaps the delicate scent of rain. He gave up after a few seconds. Did it really matter? She was here with him, and just her being with him made him feel just a little bit better. Her hands were so cool against the heat of his brow. He smiled with genuine affection, a smile few others had ever witnessed. "I should have known you would stop by."
Kodachi laughed, a deep seductive sound that sent shivers up and down the spine of her lover. She leaned over him and planted a gentle kiss against the top of his head. "How could I possibly stay away in your hour of need?" Smooth as water, she slid around the sofa and cuddled up next to her love, offering her own form of comfort, which Akunin gladly accepted. She carefully took his hands in hers and examined the damage he had inflicted on them. They would heal in no time. That was one of the many advantages they had over human beings. Their ability to heal so quickly... She pressed her soft lips against her love's skin, tasting the exciting richness of fresh blood. She sighed in contentment.
Akuin's strong arms wrapped around the woman's slender form. He held her close and felt himself relax against her. Only in her presence, and ,of course, her ever present brother's, did he ever allow himself to let go... to really be himself. For he truly felt that they were the only individuals in all of the gods creations that understood the real him. They did not judge or criticize. They merely accepted him, as he accepted them. It was an arrangement that worked fine for the three companions.
Tomo cheerfully punched Akunin in the arm, ignoring the scowl the larger build man shot in his direction. "Hey, relax man! It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings! And I for one haven't heard anyone singing, fat or otherwise!"
"Fat lady...sings...?" Both his friend and his sister looked at him as if he had sprouted another head. It was Kodachi who had managed to find her voice first. She glared at her twin brother, an accusation apparent in her lovely eyes. "You've been sneaking off to that worthless planet again, haven't you?!" You know you're supposed to stay up here!"
Tomo crossed his arms across his slender chest. He returned his sister's glare with one of his own. "So what if I have, huh? It's not exactly forbidden, now is it?" He didn't understand why his sister was so bent out of shape. He just went down there to occasionally have a little fun. There was no harm in that. If he accidentally "broke" one of his little toys he picked out, who would notice? The world below had a serious issue with over crowding anyway, as far as he was concerned. He was just having a little fun now and then. That was all. No harm done, really.
"Besides, at least the humans have some sort of sense of humor. Which is more than I can say about either of you two." Tomo flung himself back against the arm of the couch and proceeded to pout. With Kodachi spending all of her free time with her precious Akunin, she had little time to spend with her own flesh and blood. Who was she to deny him a bit of fun? It just wasn't fair!
Silence fell over the group. Kodachi, still angry at her brother, cuddled up closer to Akunin. Let him get pissy if he wanted to. She was just worried about him, that's all... She breathed deep the masculine scent of her lover and released her breath in a long sigh. She let the anger and tension fall away. No point in arguing with her twin. Tomo did whatever he felt like doing. There was no reasoning with him.
Tomo watched the two lovebirds cuddle in silence. A look of incredible longing... an aching hunger.. filled his beautiful eyes. How he wished he could be as free with his affections as his dear, sweet sister. He had to admit to himself that he was jealous of the love between his sister and his best friend. They looked so happy, so content... It tore at his heart, made him sick with envy. He would have given anything, anything in the world... in the universe, to experience that sort of bliss... But it just wasn't meant to be apparently. He averted his gaze to allow them some semblance of privacy. He felt like such an intruder. (Why am I even hear? If I were to walk out this very moment, I doubt either would notice...or care.)
After what seemed a very long while, Kodachi straitened up and set about the business at hand, that is, the matter of Duo's shocking ascension to power. His appointment had astonished the entire population. It had been totally unexpected. There had been no warning, no indication that Shinigami would do something so unprecedented. It defied all tradition! She had spoken to several individuals after the Ceremony. Not all had agreed with Shinigami's choice in successor. Many were firmly opposed to the idea of Duo as Shinigami. Maybe there was some way this could be used to Akunin's advantage...
"Do you think the Shinigami caught on that you were poisoning his favorite wine?" the woman ventured tentatively. It was the only thing that made any sense to her. She shook her head, however, dismissing the very idea even as Akunin shook his head. They had been very careful, it seemed unlikely that the old man had suspected a thing. But even if he had suspected poisoning, wouldn't he have called it to anyone's attention? Perhaps Doctor Catherine Chapel? Wouldn't he have had Akunin arrested on grounds of high treason if he had known, or at least put under surveillance? "So he must not have suspected a thing," Kodachi reasoned. "But then why did he defy all tradition and appoint Duo? It just doesn't make any sense!"
"I don't think he had any intentions of appointing Akunin as Shinigami in the first place." Tomo spoke up. He felt he needed to put in his two cents worth. "Duo is Doctor Chapel's adoptive "nephew" and I believe that the Shinigami and the good Doctor were much closer than anyone ever suspected. It's simply a case of nepotism, if you ask me."
"What difference does it make WHY Lord Shinigami promoted Duo to the position of Death?" Akunin fumed. "What's done is done. How are we going to guarantee that I will still have a shot at gaining all that power? If I don't become Shinigami, that means that neither of you will be able to gain the abilities and powers associated with being First and Second Lieutenant. Because I seriously doubt that that young whelp will chose either of you to fill the position."
The trio fell silent, each lost in their own private thoughts. It was a dilemma. Akunin had planned on granting the twins the positions of the Lieutenants upon his ascension to power. There was simply no others he would have wanted so close by his side, no one else that he trusted. Now it appeared that all of their scheming, all their plans had been for naught. Surely there must be some way to come out on top of this situation. But how?
Kodachi's mind was racing furiously, conjuring up ideas, finding them lacking and dismissing them. Then trying out some more. She was leaned over, her chin resting on the heel of her hand, her elbow propped on her knee. Suddenly, the faintest glimmer of an idea presented itself. She tested it, and found that it may have some merit. Hmmm... Might it be possible?
She sat up and looked over to her boyfriend who had intense look of concentration on his face. "Akunin..." She began slowly, "...who will Duo chose as his First and Second Lieutenant?"
"How am I supposed to know?" Akunin snapped. He sat up and ran a hand through his thick black hair. It was an irritated gesture. His whole posture, the entire set of his body, his face, screamed that he was frustrated, angry. "He can pick whomever he damn well wants. I suppose he would chose someone with some sort of experience... or someone who was willing to learn. It's a position with a lot of responsibility. Not many people are willing to take on such a burden."
"That's just my point." Kodachi exclaimed, her face lighting up in triumph. "Who could possible have more experience than you? You've served under Lord Shinigami for so many years. Why wouldn't Duo chose someone who already knew how to do the job? He might appoint you as Second Lieutenant or maybe even First!" Kodachi's face was flushed with pleasure, her hands clasped before her ample bosom in pure rapture. They had a plan! They were back in business!
"Shinigami's chosen Lieutenants are the only ones permitted in his company at any time without constant surveillance. After all, if he can't trust his Lieutenants, who can he trust?"
Akunin's face broke out in a malicious grin. There was some hope after all! His own depression fell away in tatters to be replaced by a colder more calculating train of thought. It all made sense to him! Why hadn't he thought of it sooner! He clutched Kodachi to him and his villainous laugh rumbled forth. "You're right, my dear! Surely, Duo would chose his former co-worker as one of his lieutenants. Maybe even his FIRST Lieutenant!" He kissed her soundly on the cheek. "I could poison Duo, just like I had been poisoning the old man! No one would be the wiser!"
"Hmmm..." Tomo thought hard on the presented plan. Try as he might, he could see no flaw in their reasoning. It made sense, perfect sense. "It just might work..." he mused aloud, slowly getting acquainted with the idea. "If his death might seem unusual to some, could it not be said that the pressures of the job were too much for the carefree and happy youth? Would it really surprise anyone that he may wish to "retire" to put an end to his own misery?" It would not be the first time that a Shinigami decided that he was unfit for the position and decided to step down. "Who would question his decision? Who would DARE?" Tomo grinned at the next line of reasoning. "After all, the only way a new Shinigami could take over was with the death of the old one."
"And sensing his death was near, he would have no choice to hand that power over to ME!"
Akunin began to chuckle low in his chest. Things were beginning to look up! The laughter rose in pitch and volume until it filled the room. Tomo and Kodachi exchanged amused glances with each other as their laughter mingled with that of their friend's. They had a plan! Life just couldn't get any better than this! Soon, all their dreams would fall into their outstretched hands like ripe fruit! Sweet fruit of triumph!
TO BE CONTINUED...
CHAPTER SEVEN