CHAPTER EIGHT:

AC 195

Murray’s Stop N’ Go Food Mart

L2

Old Murray polished the shelf for what seemed to be the umpteenth time, a light whistle of a popular oldie escaping his lips as he eyed his handiwork with appreciation. He loved his little shop. It wasn’t much of a place, compared to the growing demand for more expensive-looking grocery stores that were now beginning to sprout all over the city. His food store catered to the travelers that had the tendency to stop by a lot. An occasional straggler or two…no one too fancy.

No one that is… until today.

He heard the tinkle of the bell that hung above his door and spinning around with a ready smile on his face, he was a bit stunned to see the three handsome young men that walked into it. Not that men coming into his store should have surprised him. No, it was, rather, the air that surrounded them. They had this…untouchable look about their personas. Kinda like the ‘look-but-please-try-not-to-touch-or-you-might get-your-butt-kicked’ look.

They didn’t look any older than fifteen…sixteen, tops. Each dressed in casual, but expensive-looking clothes; the tallest of them, a boy with long brown hair that fell over one eye, walked up to the counter and asked him a question. Murray was quick to notice how polite and well-spoken he was. The boy was dressed in dark slacks and a white turtleneck shirt, his companions dressed in pretty much the same way. His thoughts were cut off, however, as the boy spoke up again.

“We are looking for someone, Murray. Would you mind helping us? According to lots of people, you are quite famous for knowing about the city.”

Old Murray eyed the young man warily. He noticed that even though the other two looked like they were appraising his goods, they were quite attuned to the conversation at hand. Murray swallowed thickly and suddenly wished that he had other customers to keep him company. There was something quite disturbing about the bright green gaze pinned on him.

“I don’t…don’t know who told you that news, fella…but you are looking at the wrong guy,” he finished with a slightly nervous laugh. “I am just an old man with my store here. I don’t hurt nobody. I don’t bother nobody. That’s the way I do business.”

He laughed sheepishly again and stopped just as suddenly as he noticed them now staring at him with slight irritation. The dark-haired Chinese-looking boy snorted and dropped the magazine he was holding, walking up to the counter as well. Dark onyx depths blazed with slight anger as the boy leaned upon it and spoke out quite clearly.

“You are lying, old man. We did not come here to hurt you. We just need you to tell us a few things and then we will be on our way.”

Murray nodded numbly, although his hands were beginning to reach underneath the counter to press the button that would send the police right over. This action was quickly stopped as the last boy’s cold words froze him.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

Murray’s remaining resolve wavered into nothing as he finally realized that he wasn’t dealing with ordinary people here. His hands shook as he stared at them in growing fear. “Who…who are you people? What do you want?! I haven’t done anything!”

Trowa was quick to cut in as he noticed the man about to lose it. “We are here to help you, sir. Please, you must help us. You are the only one that can do it.”

“Why?! Why me?! I don’t know anything….” He gasped in shock as the silent brown-haired boy, with piercing blue eyes, stalked up to him and raised his sleeve up. Murray was quite taken aback at the intricately designed tattoo of an angel in flight on his forearm and he didn’t need to be a genius to figure out who these boys were. “Shido’s angels…” he whispered in awe. He finally regained his senses and began to bow in apology. “A thousand and one apologies for my distrust. But one can never be too careful in this time and age. Please, forgive me.”

Heero pulled down his sleeve. “You are forgiven,” he said a bit coldly. “Now will you help us?”

“Yes!” the old man said without preamble. “If you will follow me to my rooms upstairs, I can make you some tea and refreshments. Please…it would be an honor to have you in my home.”

Wufei nodded and gave a small smile. “We accept your…” He was quickly silenced by Trowa’s harshly whispered ‘Shssh.’ All three boys spun around sharply, eyes narrowing as they noticed the shadow in front of the store.

“He knows we are here,” Heero muttered angrily as they noticed the person dart away quickly. “I will go after him.” Not waiting for them to agree, he ran out of the store with a speed that left the storekeeper quite stunned.

Trowa and Wufei exchanged a glance and shrugged. There would be no need to stop Heero. The boy had a mind of his own. Trowa was the first to speak up again. “Take us to your rooms, Murray. And may we advise you to lock up your shop. We will compensate you for any losses in profit.”

“Ah, there will be no need for that,” Murray gushed out quickly. “Just having you in my home is enough compensation for me.”

He made his way to the front door and turned the sign around. Working quickly, he switched off the lights and motioned for them to follow him towards the back rooms. Through an apparent storage room filled with boxes of extra produce, they were led up a small flight of steps into a small but tastefully furnished room.

“Please make yourself at home. I will make the tea.” He quickly disappeared through another door, and the boys could hear him clattering about the kitchen with his activities. They sat upon the cushioned floor, tucking their legs beneath them as they stared at the décor in silence.

“I hope your intuitions are correct this time, Trowa. I would hate to think that we have come all this way on a wild goose chase.”

“Hn…”

“He could be on Earth, you know. I mean…he has been drifting in and out of the colonies like crazy. We can barely keep up. How are we sure that he is here?”

“You saw the person watching us. He must have sent whomever it was to find us. He is here. I can practically smell him.”

Wufei nodded solemnly. “The stench of death. He has many recruits. It is getting too hard to keep up with…”

Murray came back into the room with a tray. “A thousand apologies again for the delay. I discovered that I had no more green tea, so I had to make the regular ones. I hope you do not mind.”

Both boys shook their heads and accepted the small cups filled with the sweet liquid, sipping gently as they waited for their host to settle down as well.

“This is very good,” Trowa commented, placing his cup back onto the low wooden table. He clasped his hands together and leaned forward to pin his gaze on the older man intently. “Now, Murray, you said you were going to help us, am I correct?”

“Anything you wish for. I am more than willing.”

“In that case…” Trowa began with a small smirk. “Tell us everything you know about the Maxwell Church Fires.”

Heero lost all sense of time and place as he pursued the dark-clad, agile figure through the confusing maze that made up L2’s streets. He wasn’t tired by any means, but whoever this person was…

Too damn fast!

He cursed as a throng of giggling schoolgirls blocked his path. He had to crane his neck to look above their heads; noticing, with a really colorful curse spilling out of his mouth, that the figure had disappeared down an alley. He was finally able to move and not having much hope of catching the person, he could only stare at the empty alley with a snort of annoyance. He couldn’t believe he had lost the lesser demon. Well, he had to give Amon Ra some credit. He did know how to chose the best people as followers.

Duo…

Only this time, seven years later, he was no longer the little orphan boy known as Duo. He was now simply known as Duo Maxwell. The Duo Maxwell. The only known survivor from the infamous Maxwell Fires. But Heero knew better. Shido’s Angels knew better and for the past seven years, Duo/Amon Ra had led them on a wild goose chase that had left many messengers dead in its wake. Heero sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

Lord Khushrenada had not exactly endorsed the boys’ current trip. If anything, their leader had no idea that they were doing this. Trowa had brought up the idea and Heero had jumped on it immediately. His reason being to look for the demon and to deal with him head-on. He failed to mention his real motive, however, which was simply to see the boy, the innocent and beautiful being that was Duo. Although, Heero doubted that any traces of that boy was left. Amon Ra would have complete and total control by now. Heero could not help feeling that he had somehow let Duo down. He had a chance to destroy the demon and he had failed. He had been tricked and he was now to pay.

At least Heero knew that Duo was still on L2. He would get to see him, yet. He had been patient for seven years, he could wait for seven more. He spun around on his heels and began to walk back to the Food Mart. His senses failed to notice the smirking dark shadow that watched his every move.

The Grand Hotel

L2

Quatre moaned in delight as he felt the talented hands knead his tired and aching muscles with expertise. He buried his face into the soft pillow and kicked out his legs lazily, his moans becoming louder as the hands moved lower.

“Ah…you are so good to me, Pierre. You have really good hands.”

“Anything for you, Master Quatre.”

“Mmmm…” The blond giggled slightly and buried his face within the pillow again, before a small whimper of loss escaped him as the talented hands were quickly withdrawn.

“Pierre…” he began in protest, before a more familiar and stronger hand replaced the former. Quatre’s groans became even more audible, as his body reacted pleasantly to the new sensation. He arched his back sensuously, his arousal throbbing and aching for sudden release as a surge of desire flared through him.

“Ah…Duo…” he gasped out weakly. He was going to come in a matter of seconds and he was powerless to stop it. His master’s simple touch was enough to send him floating high amongst the clouds of ecstasy. He ground himself against the white sheets, needing to release himself. His master had no plans to touch him any time soon and that was fine by him. Just knowing that the other boy desired him in such a way was enough.

Panting harshly now, he squeezed his eyes shut as he felt the hands dip even lower to pull down the white cloth that had been draped over his waist. He shivered slightly from the chill, but was soon warmed up as he felt the fingers delve into his hidden depths, seeking, searching and probing. Quatre clamped the cloth with his teeth, stifling his scream as the fingers found his prostate. He thrashed and bucked against the table, his mind threatening to snap at the expertise in which they worked within him. One final brush against the sensitive region sent him spiraling out of control. In mere seconds, he soiled the pristine sheets with his essence, the sticky liquid spurting out of his turgid organ in torrents as the mind-blowing orgasm wracked through his body.

With a weak grunt, he collapsed unto the narrow bed, trying to catch his breath, feeling the sharp bite on his lower back. He groaned in both pain and pleasure, his body already stiffening again at the sensual action. It was quickly squashed as the next words came out of his lover’s lips.

“They are here again.”

Quatre felt his blood run cold, spinning around sharply to stare into the beautiful face that belonged to his mate and master. Orbs of deepest amethyst stared back at him with something akin to lust and an underlying look of annoyance.

“Where…how…I thought…”

The boy known as Duo leaned forward to seize his lips in a quick, breathless kiss, before standing to his full height and pacing restlessly to the window. Dressed in his customary black attire made up of a simple silk shirt and slacks, the long braid hung down his back, his hands clasped behind him as he stared out of the window.

“I sent Mikey to check it out. I knew I sensed something this time around,” he said with growing impatience. “We are going to have to leave again, my love.”

Quatre was already beginning to shake his head as he got off the bed, almost falling down in his haste. He walked up to the stoic boy, unmindful of his naked state and tried to reason with him. “Why do we always have to run? We can handle them now, can’t we? I mean…we are much stronger now, are we not? I hate having to move all the time…”

“Do you tire of me then, my love?”

Quatre winced inwardly at the icy and deceptively calm voice, before lowering his lashes and muttering softly. “No. You know that I could never tire of you…”

“Then why do you doubt my motives? Do you think I enjoy running away like a coward each time I know they are close?!”

“Please…my darling, do not be upset with me. I should have known better.”

Duo stared at his hands with a thunderous scowl on his face, the words tumbling out in a rush as his anger grew. “They just never give up, do they?! I need a little more time! I need more souls to make mine! Then and only then can I reach my full potential!! And then there is this fool that I possess!! He won’t die!!”

Quatre could only stare at the darkened expression with a hint of sorrow, but he kept his mouth shut respectfully. He was quite aware of what the demon, his master, spoke of. The boy…kept fighting. Duo was still alive in him and doing a very fine job of not allowing him to reach his full potential. Quatre had had the chance to see the real boy beneath the angry demon. And each little moment spent with him was one that he cherished and held dear.

“Do not tell me you have pity for him?”

Quatre raised his head sharply and shook his head rapidly. “No! Of course not! Why should I have such feelings for him? You are the one that I want, master. I fell in love with you not him.”

Oh, what a lie…

Amon Ra eyed the flushed-looking boy with a skeptical glance, his fingers tapping against the wall in a steady staccato. “Duo and I are one, Quatre. Never you say we are different. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes…I understand,” he muttered a bit miserably, before he found himself staring into laughing eyes. “What…what do you plan on doing…now?” He asked a bit breathlessly. Kami, his body was already tingling in anticipation. He could feel that strange surge of power flow through him and his slightly flushed face seemed to brighten with energetic color. His breath quickened, his cock hardening again as he drowned himself within the mesmerizing violet eyes.

Amon Ra chuckled and leaned forward to kiss him gently. “I think we ought to say hello to them, don’t you think? After all, it’s been such a long time.”

“Yes…we haven’t seen them physically for almost seven years,” Quatre replied groggily. He was high on his master, that much was certain. He hardly felt himself being lifted to his feet, but what he did feel was the warm suction of a hungry mouth enclosing his turgid flesh. And with a sharp cry of pleasure, he allowed himself to fall into the oh, so wonderful throes of passion.

Murray’s Apartment.

The light from the lone candle created an almost eerie display of shadows as the four figures huddled around it solemnly. The three young men listened with rapt attention as the older man spoke of the demon that they were after. Most of the story they already knew, but there were other little tidbits that left them all puzzled and even more intrigued.

“The police found them standing by the side of the road, at least that’s what they say. According to the story they like to tell us, the two boys were crying and looking lonely and lost, sort of and they had been given blankets and taken to the head sheriff’s house to spend the night. Naturally, they assumed that they were both children from the orphanage. I mean, they were standing right there, ne? Only problem Sheriff Pangborn had was…how the hell had the kids survived? It was shown on the news the next day. Man, I had never seen anything like it. The whole thing, burned to the ground. Not even a doorstop left. Total and complete ash.”

“Did they find any bodies?”

Murray shook his head. “No way…I told you, every single thing was burnt to a crisp. Not even a shoelace was found. Pretty depressing stuff if you ask me. But as for the boys, you should have seen the whole media circus that surrounded them. They were so cute and lost and lonely and I tell ya, I have never seen so many people want to adopt those two before. Well now, it didn’t take too long before them press people got a hold of who the blond one was. They found out that he was the son to that Winner fella and man, oh, man, wouldn’t you believe it?”

The boys already knew, but they kept silent.

“The old man and his crew got whacked. All of them! It left them police guys pretty stumped, I tell ya. They didn’t know what the hell to do. Not that they told anyone, but I hear that the police think that it was some kind of supernatural force that killed them all. Anyways, now that the blond one…gah…”

“Quatre.”

“Aha, now that Quatre was with no family, both boys were automatically whisked away to some foster home to be taken care of. But then again…strange things began to happen in that foster home.”

“What kind of strange things?”

“Strange fires. Kids getting sick for no reason and some even dying. And this all started once those two came in there. Yah, I heard that old Mrs. Pearson, the one who ran the home, could not get those two apart even for a second. It was as if they were twins or something. Anywhere the longhaired one would go, you could be sure blondie would be right behind him. Anyways, finally this man comes along one day and offers to adopt them. This guy was the most powerful man in all of L2. I mean, he had connections, know what I mean? So he goes ahead and adopts them both and takes them into his mega-castle place.

The three boys exchanged quick glances again. Pegasus, a cunning, wealthy entrepreneur, whose only desire was to gain even more wealth. How ironic. Amon Ra must have sensed him from a mile away and had lured him right into his trap.

“Well, this guy takes them in and boy, did that make news! If that fella was rich before…once those boys came into his life, he became stinking-filthy rich, you know what I mean? They just kept on a-coming, but the funny thing was…the more the guy became rich, the less people began to see of him. Till one day, he stopped coming out altogether. Instead, it was either the long-haired boy or the blonde one that came out to give the workers orders. Every time they would say ‘Master Pegasus cannot be reached at this time.’ Boy, it was creepy. It took a whole three months before some poor servant found the master, himself, locked away in his bedroom.”

The boys noticed Murray shiver and Wufei asked softly. “What had happened to him?”

The shop keeper shook his head sadly. “They said he looked drained. Like someone had just sucked his entire energy and blood from his body. Naturally, no one could have suspected that it could have been the two innocent boys.” Murray’s eyes narrowed in thought. “I don’t know about you all, but I have never really liked those two.”

“Have you spoken to them personally?” Heero asked sharply.

Murray nodded. “Yes. One time and that one time was enough. It was last year or so. They came here with their big limousine and stuff, looking like they owned the place. They like to wear black, I noticed. They almost act like them vampires, but I know that demons can’t stand those low level beasts. Anyways, they come in and I am expecting them to act all huffy and rich like, but to my shock, they acted like the perfect gentlemen. I swear, if you weren’t as sharp-eyed as I am, you would have thought they were just regular, normal kids.”

“What did you say to him…I mean, them?”

This time Wufei and Trowa stared at Heero’s vehement question with raised eyebrows, but remained silent again. Murray blinked and frowned again. “Well…I didn’t really say much. They just came in to buy some snacks. They said they had some long journey to finish or something. And that’s all I know.”

Another thick silence fell before the sound of a gun being cocked was heard and the cold voice from the demon hunter filled the eerie silence. “So, how long were you planning to keep up with the pretense, Murray? I could very well finish you off now, once and for all.”

“Heero…” Trowa said softly, placing a hand upon his arm. He turned his head around to pin his gaze upon the blazing cobalt depths. “He told us what we needed to know, you don’t have to do this.”

“His job is done. Our job is to get rid of the demons and that is what I am doing.”

Murray lowered his head and mumbled softly. “You can kill me if you like. I will not lie and say that my days being under his control have not been filled with prosperity. I have enjoyed every minute of it. But, I grow old and weary. I know he only needs my energy…to complete him.” He raised up his eyes to stare at them with sorrow-filled orbs. “I was once a happy man. I had a family that loved and cared for me. But he made me…he made me….” He shook his head, his voice cracking with emotion. “Amon Ra made me kill them all. And I was foolish enough to believe that I could gain happiness by being rich and popular. That is what he is, my dear boys. He preys on human weakness. He will exploit it for all he is worth and once he has finished…”

Murray turned to face Heero with a small smile. “I spoke to the one named Duo.” At Heero’s small gasp, he continued. “Yes, he is a fine young man…who continues to fight for his freedom. You must help him. You all…must help them…hah!”

The sound of someone clapping floated over to the four men and spinning around sharply, four pair of eyes came face-to-face with the dark-clad figures that stood by the doorway. Murray whimpered in fear and cowered to the floor, already beginning to mumble out words of apology.

“Silence, you old fool!” came the harsh reprimand from the slightly taller figure. “That was such a wonderful tale that will have an equally deserving ending.”

Low growls emanated from the three demon hunters, but it was Wufei who got to his feet first. “Damn you to the fires of hell, Amon Ra! I will finish you off, now!” He reached into the long coat he wore and whipped out the wicked-looking knife, dashing headlong towards the seemingly immobile figures and consequently ignoring the cries of ‘Stop’ from his companions.

“Argh!!” Wufei screamed in pain as he was tossed across the room by some unseen force. He hit the wall with a sickening thud and crumpled to the floor unconscious, as the remaining two stared at their fallen comrade in shock.

Quatre lowered his hand and smirked coldly. “A foolish decision for your friend to make. If you would like to join him, then feel free to come forward.”

Trowa and Heero, who had their fingers on the trigger of their guns ready to shoot, faltered a bit as they stared into piercingly violet and aquamarine depths. Heero was having a hard time controlling his raging emotions now. He was finally face-to-face with the boy that had filled his dreams and nightmares alike for the past seven years. The boy he had once thought beautiful was now…

Simply breathtaking. Indescribable. Surreal almost.

He swallowed tightly and shook his head. He couldn’t allow himself to be fooled by the outer beauty. He just couldn’t!! He shut his eyes as Murray’s words rang through his mind.

/ He is a fine young man…who continues to fight for his freedom. You must help him….Duo…/

I need you alive…Duo! Please…forgive me for doing this!

And with an anguished cry of ‘NO!!!’ torn from his lips …he pulled the trigger.