Death’s Kindness:

 

Besides the obvious tension that filled the car, neither pilot could deny the beauty of the city that surrounded them. They had long left the main city of Chitose and were in the breathtaking spectacle that was Sapporo. Amidst the looming buildings – an obvious sign of how technologically advanced it had become over the past few years – there were still signs of a natural beauty that was evident in its city parks and gardens.

 

However, just as quickly as they had made their way into the city, the metallic shadows of industry and its chaotic noise and mayhem slowly gave way to a single road and even more lush forestry. Several houses, all hidden within rows of white birches and Katsura trees could be spotted within several miles of the other. The further they went, the more remote the Hayakawa household seemed to become. It was as if the family had made it a point of duty to dispel themselves away from human contact or from civilization in general.

 

“We should be arriving home any time now,” Ryouga said with a warm smile as Duo caught sight of what looked to be a lake of some sort hidden behind a cluster of trees. “This area belongs to our family,” the older man was saying in a pleased tone. “We’ve made it a point of duty to protect all that nature has provided for us. Grandfather insists.”

 

I’ll bet he does, Duo thought ruefully as he gave a soft nod in response. Heero’s eyes remained fixed on the passing landscape, neither relinquishing his hold on Duo’s hand nor paying much attention to what his cousin was saying.

 

The American pilot caught a glimpse of Tatsu’s wary glance and for an instant, Duo found himself wishing that Heero would let go of his hand. Ryouga had made no mention of their actions throughout the ride, but there was no doubt that he still disapproved of what Heero was doing.

 

Souji made a left turn and Duo could feel the hairs at the back of his neck prickle in awareness as the looming wooden gates to the Hayakawa residence greeted their gaze. The walls were incredibly high, the design on them intricate and old enough to let one know just how much history lay just beyond it. A sturdy wooden plaque could be seen on the right side of the wall with the word ‘Hayakawa’ written boldly in Kanji upon it.

 

Souji honked once and like a man on death row awaiting his entry into the gas chamber or worse, Duo swallowed tightly as the heavy wooden gates swung open slowly – each loud creak of its hinges like a ticking time bomb within Duo’s head. For a moment, he wasn’t sure of what he was seeing before him, but as he willed his thoughts to become coherent, he was mildly surprised not to find a long line of men in samurai outfits with swords ready to slice their heads off. In fact, there seemed to be no one at all, as the car continued its slow drive into the large compound. The gates began its slow creaking sound again and even without turning around, the pilot was aware that it was shutting them within the grounds.

 

Now, we’re in for it.

 

The road was made up of pure white gravel, which made a sickening crunching sound as the wheels of the car moved carefully upon it. The trickling sounds of several small water fountains within the miniature gardens that dotted the landscape were a sharp contrast to the rather annoying sound. The house, itself, was an extremely long bungalow that seemed to stretch for miles. In reality, the house was made up of four long bungalows all joined together to form a rough rectangle. In its midst was yet another garden of which the matriarch of the household considered her precious and most private haven.

 

“Welcome home, Miwa…Maxwell…” Ryouga announced unnecessarily as Souji finally brought the car to a stop before the main front door. “As I told you already, your luggage must have arrived by now and has been placed in your rooms…”

 

A light beeping sound interrupted his words as his fingers reached for the cell-phone within his breast pocket. Mouthing out an ‘excuse me’, he opened up the door to slide out of his seat quickly already speaking to someone on the other end of the line in rapid-fire Japanese. Duo sat back against the seat with a light chuckle as he tried to get rid of the nervous butterflies that were beginning to make a home within his stomach.

 

“Home sweet home, Heero,” he mumbled softly as he turned to glance at his silent partner. “So…what do you think?”

 

What could he think? Just what was Duo expecting him to say or do? Jump for joy at seeing the place his mother had been born and raised? A mother he barely even knew? A family he had only been curious about and now…

 

“Take my advice and release him now, Miwa,” Tatsu interrupted softly as he glanced outside the window to see his friend and an older man now talking to each other. “I know you two have feelings for the other, but for your sake…you will have to keep your relationship under wraps while you are here.”

 

Heero frowned and his grip tightened. Duo winced inwardly and felt his hand tremble.

 

Just…let…go…

 

“I’ll let you in on a secret,” Tatsu continued but stopped as he waited for Souji to make his way out of the car. Realizing that they were about to usher the pilots into the house, the older man spoke quickly. “I am just like you two. I am in love with someone and he can never know…neither can we tell the other how we feel or display our affections because of his family…”

 

“You’re in love with Ryouga?” Duo asked incredulously as his peripheral vision caught sight of said man walking back towards the car. “How…when…?”

 

Tatsu shook his head quickly with a small smile. “It doesn’t matter now. We’ve both come to a compromise and I do not want to see the same thing happen to you two. At least…respect the family’s wishes and just be…friends…okay?”

 

Ryouga rapped lightly on the window and Heero lowered it slowly. “Are you two ready now?” he asked around a warm smile. “My father and the rest of the family are ready to meet you.” He stepped away to allow Heero access to open the door.

 

The Japanese ex-pilot was just about to lead his partner out again, when he was stunned at the sudden release of Duo’s hand from his grip.

 

“Duo…”

 

The American smiled and gave a soft nod. “I’m ready, Heero. You don’t have to hold me all the time, you know.”

 

Heero’s brows knitted into a frown of confusion and yet irritation as he tried hard to ignore the feeling of emptiness at losing the only intimate contact between them. It was the final straw that would break the camel’s back. It was all going to crumble around him and losing Duo could very well be the death of him at this point. But instead, he found himself shrugging lightly as he stepped out the car.

 

“As you wish, Duo,” he muttered thickly while his sharp and curious gaze fell upon his surroundings with reluctant admiration.

 

The man who had been speaking to Ryouga earlier walked up to them with a small smile on his features. Even before speaking, both young men could tell who he was. There was no denying the same striking features on his visage that closely resembled those of his sons.

 

With a quick nudge from Heero, both bowed in respect to Suoh, the oldest son and heir to Takeshi Hayakawa’s empire (if you wished to call it that).

 

“Welcome home, Miwa…and Maxwell…please follow me this way.”

 

Always as an after thought, Duo thought with an inward sigh as Suoh led them up the small flight of stairs, where he motioned for them to take their shoes off. Doing so quickly, while trying hard to balance the bag of gifts they had gotten for the family members, Duo took the time to admire the sparse, yet rather expensive looking decorations that met his gaze.

 

They made their way past a small alcove, which Ryouga was quick to whisper to them as it being the ‘tokonoma’. There were several art pieces, kanji scrolls and Duo was sure he had spotted several samurai swords held within its hallowed walls.

 

There was a low murmur of voices in the room before them and this time Duo knew they had finally reached the point of no return. He held his breath as he watched Suoh make his way ahead of them to speak to someone inside the room. He stole a quick glance towards Heero and wasn’t sure of just how his partner felt about things right now. Heero was so painfully blank that Duo had the insane urge to shake or slap him right out of it.

 

Ryouga and Tatsu gave them both reassuring smiles before making their way into the room with soft greetings of ‘Tadaima’. Some other words were exchanged and Duo was beginning to hope that they would get through this ritual quickly. He wasn’t sure he could take the tension anymore and to his chagrin he felt himself break out in a cold sweat.

 

Fuck. Even handling deadly missions hadn’t been this bad.

 

His fingers were beginning to itch badly as the thought of blowing something up right about now became a bit too overwhelming. Of course, fucking Heero was another option, but he doubted that such a thing would be allowed at this point in time.

 

After what seemed like eons, Suoh finally returned with an apologetic bow. “Please come in. We are sorry for keeping you.”

 

He pushed back a shoji screen that led them into a large living room, which seemed to house over twenty tatami mats on the floor. Around a small black and rather sturdy wooden table in the middle of the room, several zabuton had been placed for kneeling or sitting purposes. Fortunately, or unfortunately, every single pillow had an occupant except for two, which were clearly meant for Heero and Duo.

 

Short of openly gawking at each family member, both boys remembered their manners and fell to their knees quickly before the obvious owners of the household. It had been a brief glance, but Duo had caught sight of the rather stern expressions on both Takeshi and Akane’s features as he held out the simple gift of a bottle of the best wine he and Heero could afford. For Akane – and thanks to Relena’s suggestion – they had gotten her an antique Victorian embroidery set. It was bound to be useful especially when it came to taking care of her extensive kimono collection…at least they hoped it would.

 

“Ah…wine from the vineyards of Italy,” Takeshi observed with a quirk of his lips. “It’s good to know that my grandson has good taste.”

 

Heero was about to open his mouth to say that Duo had actually picked it out, but was silenced by the quick glance that was thrown at him from said ex-pilot.

 

Akane, who was dressed in a simple dark blue kimono, gave a small nod of acceptance at her gift. She thanked them politely and remained dutifully silent beside her husband. Takeshi made a slow motion towards his oldest son and with a responding nod; Suoh began the quick introductions to the other curious members of the household.

 

There was of course, his oldest son, Souji followed by Ryouga, his younger sister, Hikari – who was quite pretty and obviously head over heels with the young man she had by her side, and of course, his last born, Isumi, who had just turned sixteen a few days ago. Iruka, the second son to Takeshi was proud to show off his own offspring – Kiyoko, who was happily married and looked a bit… unfriendly with the scowl on her visage – Waya, who looked amiable enough…and…

 

“Sakura, my youngest daughter…is out of the country at the moment,” Iruka explained with an apologetic smile. He failed to notice Heero and Duo’s shared knowledgeable look. Duo tried to hide his smile as Suoh began to motion towards the silent female sitting on his left.

 

“That is Harumi…”

 

“Yuroshiku!” she greeted with a wide smile as she bowed lightly. “I assume you know my son already.”

 

She turned her gaze to a scowling Rei, who looked even more uncomfortable beneath the piercing looks that were now thrown at him from their visitors. He lowered his head and mumbled something in return.

 

Harumi didn’t seem to mind that her son was acting a bit strange as she motioned towards another young man (who looked about a year younger than Rei). “That’s Akira, my youngest child. He’s about to get married soon…”

 

“Mother…not now,” came the soft interruption from Akira, but Harumi – as usual – seemed to enjoy embarrassing her children. It was quite amusing really.

 

“There’s nothing to be shy about, is there?” She laughed softly and turned her gaze on Heero with a wistful smile. “But it is nice to know that Yoh is with us again. You look so much like…”

“He looks nothing like Yoh,” Akane interrupted so curtly that everyone in the room was rendered silent at the sound of her voice.

 

The Wing pilot lowered his head and clenched his hands into tight fists upon his lap, ignoring the concerned looks that came his way. Duo lowered his head as well wishing beyond anything that he could give his partner a much-needed gesture of reassurance and support.

 

Takeshi cleared his throat and gave a curt nod towards the two boys. “You must be tired from your journey and although it is customary to share some tea with us, I think it is safe to say that you will both be willing to pass up the gesture today, correct?”

 

Hardly waiting for either boy to give a suitable reply, he began to give his orders to Isumi. “Show Mr. Maxwell to his room. Ryouga, you show Miwa to his. We shall meet again in the morning,” he concluded with a light bow of dismissal as he slowly rose to his feet to make his way out of the room. Akane followed right after him with hardly a glance towards her grandson and it took all of Duo’s strength not to give her a piece of his mind at how cold she was acting towards him.

 

However, to his amazement, once Takeshi and Akane left, everyone seemed to give a collective sigh of relief. It seemed as if they weren’t the only ones who were feeling the pressure of being in the presence of the Great Ones – as Duo had inwardly dubbed his new ‘grandparents’. He made a move to get closer to Heero, but a light tap on his shoulder had him stilling his movement.

 

“Are you ready to go now, Maxwell-san?”

 

Duo caught a glimpse of Heero already being led away by Ryouga and he frowned lightly in displeasure. Couldn’t he even say goodbye or see you in a while or something?

 

“Yeah, sure…I’m ready,” he murmured in response as he rose to his feet to follow the younger boy. He noticed Rei giving him a look of disdain, but Duo shrugged it off lightly with a weary yawn. The flight and now all the excitement of meeting his new ‘family’ were beginning to take its toll on his body. All he wanted to do was lie down on a bed and never wake up…

 

…alone…

 

His footsteps became slower as the enormity of the situation began to dawn on him. For the first time in months, he would not be able to sleep in the same bed with Heero. He tried to count the number of shoji screens they passed as Isumi seemed to be leading him to the very ends of the huge compound. Just where was Heero going to be?

 

“Uum…Isumi?” he called out tentatively.

 

“What is it, Maxwell-san?” the boy replied without looking around.

 

“You don’t have to call me that,” the pilot corrected quickly with a warm smile. “Duo is fine enough.”

 

Isumi weighed his options with his head cocked a little to the side as he finally came to a stop before a black and white screen. “Alright, I’ll call you Duo then.”

 

He pushed open the door and reached for a small string over his head. Pulling it gently, the dull but rather cozy looking glow from the paper lanterns illuminated the very bare room to their gaze. Besides Duo’s luggage, which took up only a fraction of the space in there, there was a closet and a door that led to a bathroom. There were no shelves for books or pictures, there wasn’t even a TV let alone a phone. Just how in the world was he to communicate with anyone else?

 

Isumi walked across the room to push back another shoji screen. It revealed a small rock garden with a rather small pond in its midst. Several koi leaped out in a kaleidoscope of colors and its simplistic beauty impressed even Duo.

 

“Do you like it, Duo?” Isumi asked with a light chuckle.

 

“Yeah, it’s pretty cool.” He glanced towards the laughing teen to get a really good look at just who he was dealing with. Isumi was pretty damn skinny but he hid it well thanks to the oversized black t-shirt and rather tight-fitting jeans he was wearing. He was also easy on the eyes and Duo could guess that Isumi was quite the heartbreaker. His dark red hair (thanks to hair dye) was rather long - about shoulder-length - and had the teendency to fall into his eyes every once in while. Duo idly wondered if ‘grandpa Hayakawa’ approved of this.

 

Isumi would lift his right hand that was adorned with several rings to push away the stray locks absently, which in turn revealed the winding tattoo of a snake along his forearm. Duo fully expected to find his ear pierced or his face filled with makeup, but it seemed as if Isumi’s rebellious streak ended at that as the boy’s face was free of any extra accessories.

 

“Like what you see?” the teen teased with a snicker as he closed up the shoji screen again. Duo had the grace to flush at being caught staring. He watched as Isumi sauntered towards the closet to point towards the futon within. “For sleeping,” he explained quickly. “I don’t need to teach you how to use it, right?”

 

Was this kid messing with him? “I know how to use a futon, thank you,” Duo replied with a strained smile. “Now, if you could just tell me where Heero is…”

 

Isumi was already shrugging. “I don’t know. He might be at the other end next to Ryouga’s room. My place is a few doors down. Besides, I’m only here for the weekend. If I had to live here for as long as my mom wants me to, I’d kill myself.”

 

Well, that’s reassuring, Duo thought with a frown as he rubbed a hand across his forehead in frustration. He didn’t know where Heero was and to make matters worse, it didn’t seem as if anyone would be willing to tell him either.

 

Fuck it all!

 

“What’s the matter with you?” Isumi asked with a raised brow as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants. “Why’s Miwa so important to you?”

 

Because I’m in love with him! Duo all but screamed at the bemused teen. But instead,

 

“He’s just my best friend that’s all. I need to know where he is…”

 

“You can talk to him in the morning, if you’re that desperate to be with him.” The teen shrugged and began to make his way out of the room before stopping to stare at the pilot again. “Are you married or something?”

 

Duo lifted his gaze to stare blankly at Isumi. “What…?”

 

“The ring.”

 

“Oh…this…” He held up his hand to the light, feeling something tight and constricting within his chest. It seemed as if a lifetime had passed since he received it from Heero at the airport. But now, the cold weight of the simple object seemed to only show just how distant they were becoming.

 

/Respect the family’s wishes and just be friends…okay?/

 

Isumi shuffled his feet impatiently. Duo lowered his hand to cover the ring with a trembling hand.

 

“This…ring…” he muttered softly as he began to pull it off slowly but carefully. “It’s nothing,” he finished with a wan smile towards the younger teen as he tucked it into the back pocket of his jeans with a light pat as if to solidify its worthlessness.

 

“It’s nothing at all…”

 

 

__

 

 

Ryouga tried hard not to grimace at the rather icy glare he was receiving from his cousin.

 

“I’m really sorry, Miwa,” he tried again with a small smile. “I assume he must be somewhere in the compound. I am just not sure where exactly…”

 

“How many rooms are here?” Heero interrupted curtly as he paced around the room restlessly. “How many?!”

 

“Uh…twenty…twenty-five…?” came the stuttered reply. “Listen, Miwa. I know you are concerned for your friend, but believe me when I say that he is safe and you will be able to see him tomorrow…”

 

“You’re just like me, aren’t you Ryouga?” Heero suddenly blurted out as he stared blindly out into the peaceful gardens before him. “You feel just as trapped as my mother was, don’t you?”

 

The older man shook his head but said nothing as he lowered his gaze to the tatami mats below his feet. Had Tatsu told them anything? And just what did this boy know about being stifled? He had lived all his life free from the clutches of Takeshi and Akane, even his own mother had run away in the end, so what did Heero know about suffering?

 

“Why do you continue to stay here if you feel this way, Ryouga?” Heero continued thoughtfully as he sank to the floor to cover his face with a weary sigh. “Why don’t you…?”

 

“Let sleeping dogs lie, Miwa,” Ryouga muttered a bit coldly. “Take my advice and do not ask too many questions. You saw the way grandmother reacted towards your mother. You will do well not to speak or ask any questions about Yoh. Do you understand?”

 

Heero frowned lightly but remained silent. He listened to Ryouga’s mumbled words of goodnight before the sliding of the shoji screen signified his solitude again. He raised his knees and wrapped his arms tightly around them, trying to even out his breathing as he struggled not to give in to his growing panic.

 

This house…this family…

 

It was like a noose that was being tightened around his neck and it was slowly sucking the life from him. He had to find out about his mother. What had made her run away? Just why did Akane hate the very mention of her name? Who in this place would be willing to tell him anything at all?

 

He rose to his feet again and slowly walked into the garden. The moon had risen tonight and it did its best to illuminate the surroundings with its pale glow. Running slightly trembling fingers through his hair, he wondered what Duo was doing right now.

 

Probably complaining about being hungry and wishing he could grab a bite to eat, Heero thought with a reluctant tug of a smile on his lips. Or maybe he’s about to take a shower…

 

He moaned and closed his eyes, having to steady himself against a wooden pole as the image of his partner drenched in hot steaming water caused something else to harden in response.

 

That did it.

 

He had to find Duo – to at least speak to him for one more time before retiring - and at this point in time, Heero didn’t really care if it took him all night to search the entire grounds.

 

But a shadow outside his door had him reaching automatically for a gun that wasn’t even there. Whoever it was seemed to be kneeling with…something before him or her and narrowing his eyes in wariness, he held his breath.

 

“May I come in, Miwa-sama?”

 

Miwa…sama?

 

His lips moved before he could control himself. “Ah…yes…”

 

The screen opened up slowly to reveal the bowed head of, clearly, a young female. Her raven locks were done in the traditional up-do typical of a geisha. She was dressed in a rather eye-catching yellow and pink trimmed kimono that highlighted her slender figure to his gaze.

 

What in the world…?

 

She lifted her head to pin shy black depths upon the bemused pilot. Her cheeks were now a dull pink as she pushed in the tray of food she had brought along with her gently.

 

“May I come in, Miwa-sama?” she asked softly. “I will entertain and keep you company while you eat.”

 

And regarding Heero’s small nod as acceptance, she smiled in gratitude and allowed herself into the room while making sure that the screened door was closed firmly behind them.

 

In the shadows, the watcher smiled in satisfaction. The wheels of change were beginning to turn and it was only going to be for the better for all parties involved.

 

However, there was one more to deal with. He could prove to be a bit more difficult…

 

 

 

TBC…