CHAPTER SIX;

AC 188:

The Chang Family Compound on L5:

“I still say he is too young to be taken away.”

“Elder, I can understand your concern, but even you have seen the kind of power the boy has.”

“Yes, I have seen. He is, after all, my son.”

A tense silence befell the small dojo as the head of the Chang clan stared blindly out into the well-kept gardens and lawns. He seemed to have aged overnight and his current visitor wasn’t helping matters either. He should have realized that sooner or later, someone would have taken notice of his son’s unique ability to detect evil and even go as far as to protect himself and others from it. He hadn’t expected it to be this soon, though. Sighing deeply, he tucked his legs beneath him and stared at the long blonde-haired young man before him.

Zechs Merquise. The renowned demon Hunter and Cleanser had come to take his son away.

Everyone knew of the blonde’s reputation. Many have believed him to be one of the lost angels of Hajira. The Hajira, according to legend, were made up of seven demons, each with the power and strength of the gods. They destroyed and killed without mercy, spreading their teachings of hate and chaos throughout the Earth. These demons sent out armies to take over innocent souls, most of them through childbirth, since it was the easiest way to steal a body. Out of the seven demons, only one had a sudden change of heart, something that was not accepted by the others. And so realizing that they had a traitor in their midst, the remaining demons cast him out, along with his army into the inky darkness of the Eternal Abyss. The name of the lost demon was Shido, and so all those who believed in his teachings became known as Shido’s Angels.

And Zechs Merquise was one of them.

Shido’s angels had become successful in saving the souls of many innocent people. Although many lost their lives in the battles that they faced with cacodemons and lesser evils alike, their success ratio was much higher and so many had sent for their services to help in eradicating any such troubles in their lives.

The job of Zechs was simple. To recruit as many ‘angels’ as he could to help in his quest. Many of Shido’s original angels had lost their lives in battle and so the need for new and stronger hunters was inevitable. With the permission of his master, he had set out to look for the few that did have the power to help. Hence his current stop at the Chang Household.

Wufei Chang, a boy of eight, had caught his eye from the moment he had been born. The boy’s strength was incredible and his ability with the sword could prove to be very useful. His master had been pleased with his suggestion and so they had waited for the boy to reach a respectable age. The earlier he began his training the better for. But first, Zechs knew he would need the approval of the reluctant father.

“I beg of you, Master Chang. We will let no harm come to him. He will be trained in the best way possible and I am sure he will make you proud when he returns. Think about it, he will be helping out innocent souls and rescuing the lives of many others.”

The older man could only sigh and lower his head in defeat. “I cannot refuse you. I knew that he was destined for such a role. Who am I to stop the will of the gods?”

Zechs bowed respectfully and got to his feet. “I thank you, honorable father. I would like to speak to the boy, if I may.”

The man nodded again and clapped sharply. Immediately a young man dressed in traditional black Chinese clothes stepped out from nowhere. “You sent for me, Master?”

“Where is my son?”

“Master Wufei is in the gardens practicing with his katana. Do you wish for me to send for him?”

Zechs shook his head and replied smoothly. “I will go to him myself. You do not have to bother him. Please, show me the way.”

Bowing again to the older man, he followed the servant out of the dojo and into the beautiful lush gardens filled with every imaginable plant and exotic creation. Standing on top of a rock, balanced rather precariously, was the slight figure of the Chinese boy. Dressed in a plain white training gi, he had struck a pose similar to that of a ballet dancer in flight. The jet-black hair framed an oval face that was currently scrunched up in intense concentration. His exotic features were already beginning to show signs of the handsome young man he was bound to become. Zechs sat upon a nearby rock and waited patiently for the boy to be done, sharp eyes noticing each delicate and precise move with interest. His master was going to be very thrilled with his conquest.

Wufei had noticed the strange man, but had stubbornly refused to acknowledge him. He tightened his lips instead and focused all his attention on his daily exercise routines. He knew why the man was here and he wasn’t sure he was ready to go. But then again, this was the opportunity of a lifetime. He was going to be sent to the best school for demon hunters in the land and they wanted him to be a part of it. He knew all about such hunters and their reputations. In some colonies, these hunters were even worshipped.

They fight for what is right. They have a sense of justice and an unquenchable honor.

And he wanted to be a part of it.

Finally getting done with his exercises, he sat cross-legged upon the stone rock and closed his eyes in meditation. And still not looking at the patiently waiting blond man, he spoke up clearly and loudly.

“Yes, I will come.”

Zechs Merquise grinned in approval. Yes, things couldn’t be going any better.

The Khushrenada Estates

Northern Hemisphere

Earth

The man paced up and down the large Victorian room, with his hands clasped behind him and his face in a thunderous scowl. He eyed the silent boy sitting on the chair and he resisted the urge to possibly strangle him. But, he knew that he couldn’t. Trowa Barton was probably the best demon hunter he had ever seen in all his years in this business, and the boy had never given him cause to complain since the day he had been brought in for training.

Now nine years old, the young boy had been picked up from the streets of L3 by one of his messengers at just the tender age of three. Apparently an orphan, he had noticed the boy’s uncanny ability and had set about to hone his innate gift. Needless to say, the rest was history. His proficiency was amazing and he was yet to fail a mission. That was until now…

“You do realize the enormity of what you have done, do you not, Trowa?” he asked a bit coldly, as he stared into the passive features.

“Yes, Lord Khushrenada,” came the quiet reply. “I let a demon get away.”

Lord Treize Khushrenada, age unknown, placed his hands upon the table in exasperation and growled. “That was not just any demon, Barton! That boy is hosting the demon Amun-rah! For crying out loud, we finally detected him after all this time and then you refuse to kill him!! What in the world came over you?!”

The other boy, was the young hunter’s stray thought, before he quickly squashed it down.

“Do you know the history of Amun-rah, Barton?!” Treize shouted angrily.

“Yes, Lord Khush…”

“You knew and yet you let him get away! Amun-rah is merciless and has the ability to go beyond the limits of evil! The host is clearly not strong enough to contain him at the moment and Amun-rah is frustrated! But the boy is going to grow up and with each passing hour, day, year, he grows stronger and stronger, until trying to kill him will be all but impossible! Why, didn’t you kill him?!”

Trowa stared blindly at the large ornate desk and gripped his hands tightly upon his lap. “The boy, sir.”

“The boy??”

“He was with a human. I could not…”

“And since when did a human being in the way stop us from accomplishing our goals?! Come to think of it, you should have killed them both! The human is probably already under his power, as we speak.”

Trowa nodded gravely. “He has given his soul away, sir.”

The elder sighed and sat upon the black leather seat, his eyes closed in thought. He too had noticed the strange relationship between the human and the demon. His brow furrowed in even deeper thought. From what he had seen, the boy was still capable of having normal human emotions. Amun-rah had not completed the rites yet, or the boy would have begun to display the symptoms that signified him being a puppet for the demon-god.

/ I have already claimed him! /

Or had he? Maybe they still had a chance to save the human child. Maybe Amun-rah was a bit frightened of the human’s strength. Treize had felt the pure heart of the young blond - had seen that it was already beginning to get tainted with the evil within.

“Is it too late to save the host?”

Treize opened his eyes to stare at the impassive face before him. “Why do you ask?”

Trowa pursed his lips and stared blindly at the floor. “I felt…I felt…that there was still a human side to him. It was like a cry for help within the soul. It seems like Amun-rah hasn’t quite completed the takeover.”

“Of course he hasn’t. The boy is still a child.” Treize made it sound like Trowa was ten times older than the boy in question. Not that the stoic boy ever acted his age. Sometimes, Treize could swear he was speaking to a fifteen or twenty-year-old. He got up from his seat and paced to the windows. “If we can only find a way to trap them together, then and only then can we have a fighting chance…”

A light beep on his vid-phone interrupted his musings as he stared into the face of his second-in-command. “What is it, Zechs? Any good news for me?”

The longhaired blond smirked a little at the frown on his superior’s face. “I take it you were unable to catch the demon.”

“You guessed it. What news do you have for me?”

Zechs’ smile widened and he leaned in closer to the screen. “I have gotten the boy.”

Treize could barely contain his excitement as he gave an acknowledging nod to the questioning look on Trowa’s face. “How soon can you both be here?”

“We are taking the shuttle…like normal people,” he said with a light chuckle. “Although the boy seems tough enough, I wouldn’t want to scare him by flying and besides…we are coming back to Earth, ne?”

Treize nodded. “Yes, Zechs. You have done well. Expect a fine reward on your return,” he added with a flash of lust dancing across ice blue depths. The look was not lost on the observant young boy, who sat as stoically as ever on his seat. He was used to his masters’ activities. He had been forced to watch some of them at times. Needless to say, his young eyes had seen more than their share of sinful images.

Zechs laughed lightly. “Yes, my Lord. I will expect a very fine reward. See you in a day.”

They both signed off and Treize’s grin widened as he turned back to face Trowa. “Barton! It looks like you will be getting yourself a new partner soon.”

“Yes, Lord Khushrenada.”

“Although…” Treize paused in thought as his frantic pacing stopped abruptly. “There is one more person we are looking for. He is quite elusive…”

“Heero Yuy?”

The Lord raised an eyebrow in faint amusement. “I see you have been doing your homework. Yes, Barton. His name is Heero Yuy. His reputation as a demon hunter is quite well-known in that colony. We have tried to reach him and he keeps evading our calls. Most of our messengers always end up either dead or badly injured.”

“I assume he is not interested.”

“How can he not be interested?” Treize snorted in derision. “As soon as I dangle Amun-rah in his face, he will come running to us like a baby. You just watch and see. I will get Heero Yuy on our side, no matter what it takes.”

The Hidden Temple

L1

Heero stood naked in the middle of the lake and raised the ceremonial bucket over his head. With a low prayer emitted from his lips, he doused the water upon his head and bent down to repeat the process. One hundred times. One hundred purifications. The artificial temple built deep beneath the bowels of the colony was a place used for such rites. His employer expected him to come back to the house totally and completely purified. No need bringing the scent of the unholy into the house with him.

Ignoring the chill that was beginning to seep into his bones, he picked up the bucket for the ninety-eighth time when the image suddenly flashed through his mind. Cobalt depths widening in shock, he dropped the bucket in surprise. How was that possible? He couldn’t be a psychic. His training hadn’t required him to do so, but yet there it was. As clear as day. He had seen…

Fire.

With a ‘whoosh’ sound, he felt it again. He closed his eyes and stood as still as a statue. Channeling all of his energy into the feeling that grew within him, he could feel the dank coldness of the cave slowly give way to warmth…a fiery warmth…a warmth that smelled like…

“Fire…”

He opened up his eyes and came face-to-face with flames now surrounding him. The cold stones of the makeshift cave which surrounded the lake were gone. Instead, towers of the hot flames encircled him, leaving him effectively trapped. He could barely make out the laughter at first, but it slowly gained strength and volume. Soon, the booming, maniacal sound of glee seemed to come from all sides. Heero could practically smell it. It was the demon. It was…

Amun-rah!

In the language of the dead, the demon spoke out loudly. “Yes, Heero Yuy. I have come to take you away. To take you into the abyss where you belong!”

He spun around sharply expecting to see something ugly and disgusting, but was stunned to see the young boy with long chestnut locks flying all around him. Dressed in only a white sleeping shirt, shocking amethyst depths stared into widened cobalt.

Kami-sama…he is…beautiful…

“Of course I am. Do you really think I would choose an ugly body to go into?”

Heero was still unable to move. He was drowning within those violet orbs. He could feel himself get hypnotized. He had to snap out of it. He couldn’t allow himself to fall into Amun-rah’s clutches so soon.

“You are fighting a losing battle, Heero Yuy.”

“What do you mean?” His voice seemed to be coming from a mile away.

“You and your fellow demon hunters think that you can get rid of me that easily? I don’t think so! Argh!!”

A trail of fire was spat his way, and on autopilot, Heero held out his hand to shield himself, a light pale blue aura forming a protective block in the process. The demon laughed again in delight. “Ah…you have the power of the shield. How effective. Although, that little trick is not likely to work against me in battle.”

“What do you plan to do?” Heero asked coldly.

“What do I plan to do? Why, Heero, I am glad you asked. First of all, I am going to get rid of that miserable church and all its occupants…tonight!! I need to free myself from the restraints of that damned place. I have been silent for too long…”

Heero smirked. “So, the host is fighting against you, ne?”

Amun-rah glared in disdain. “Shut up!! The host, as you put it, no longer exists! I have taken complete control!!”

Heero smiled coldly. “I don’t think so, demon. I can still…feel him…still…sense him…inside…”

Amun-rah snarled as he watched the boy approach. “What do you think you are doing?! Stay back or I will not hesitate to kill you!!”

Heero paid no mind and walked up to the other body that bristled with fury. Amun-rah glared angrily and spat out again. “I warn you for the last time!! Stay away!!”

And raising his hands to his forehead, he sent out two rays of razor-sharp fire blades towards the hunter, and was left speechless as they were nimbly dodged. “Stay back!! I am warning you!!”

“Duo! Can you hear me?!” Heero shouted out in normal-speak. “I know you are in there, Duo. I know you can hear me…”

A harsh laughter came out of the young lips. “You are wasting your time, Heero. I told you, Duo is no longer here.”

“Silence, demon!” He growled angrily as he stopped within inches of the now pale visage. “You are not that strong and I could destroy you right now!”

“And end up killing him, Heero.”

“I don’t care. As long as we get rid of you, my work here is done.”

And before he could stop himself, he cradled Duo’s face within his palms, his cold blue eyes softening a bit as he noticed the flicker of uncertainty behind the amethyst depths. “I can see you, Duo,” he whispered softly. “I know you are still in there. Let…me…help…you…”

He lowered his lashes and pressed his lips against the cold ones before him. He ignored the cries of anger from the demon and instead focused his attention on the smaller dying one.

They were both floating in a place that was inky black. The real Duo stood before him now. Gone was the crazed look in his eyes and instead, a shy little boy stood while twiddling thumbs a few feet away. Heero smiled a bit wistfully. He could have been friends with the boy…if things were different. He had never had a friend. No one of his age, anyway.

“Who…who are you?” Duo asked shakily as he backed away from the approaching boy.

Heero stopped and sighed. “I am a…I am Heero.”

“Heero…” Duo seemed to mull this over. “So, why are you naked, Heero?”

The hunter had the grace to blush. “Uum…I was bathing…I mean…purifying myself.”

Duo cocked his head to the side and stared at him in bewilderment. “Purify yourself?”

“Yes. It’s a custom for us hun…people…”

“Oh.” Duo seemed to think this over again. “I am a Catholic,” he announced with a grin.

Heero smiled softly and nodded. “I know.”

“I don’t have many friends, Heero,” Duo continued, almost gushing now in his haste. Eager amethyst depths stared into his in silent plea. “Would you…would you be my friend?”

Heero couldn’t bear to look into those eyes any longer and he turned his head away. “I don’t know…”

“Oh, please, Heero!” Duo begged with tears in his eyes now. He latched himself onto the naked boy and wept softly against his back. “I want a friend. I need a friend. Nobody wants to play with me. They say I’m too weird. You don’t think I’m weird, do you, Heero?”

The hunter swallowed tightly and cursed softly. “No, Duo. You are not weird.” You are just another host for a demon. And I will have to kill you eventually.

“Then why won’t you be my friend?!” Duo cried out. “Why?!”

Heero had only a moment to figure out the strange sticky feeling and dull pain that flared through his body before looking down. The drops of blood splattered the non-existent floor as he stared at the long fingernails that had ripped a hole right through his stomach.

“Duo…” he gasped out weakly. “Why…?”

The beautiful face smirked wickedly. “I warned you, Heero. Duo is no longer here. I create illusions or have you forgotten the full extent of my powers?! To exploit your weakness is my game. And I have every intention of fulfilling that request. Goodbye, my dear hunter! We shall meet again!!”

His body was dropped unceremoniously and he found himself floating down into nothingness. So, he was going to die this way. He was going to be killed by his weakness…

Duo.

Strong hands suddenly stilled his falling movements and he slowly opened heavily-lidded eyes to stare into concerned-looking faces above him.

“Do you think he is still alive?” came one voice.

“Of course he is. Nothing can faze my boy.” That was his employer’s voice.

“You forget who your boy was fighting with just now, sir. I suggest you let him come with us. We will take good care of him.”

“And why should I allow my boy to become one of your angels, hmm?”

“We are all after one and the same thing, sir. You know this as much as I do. Let us take Heero. He is the missing link to finally defeating Amun-rah. You must let him come with us!”

Heero willed his seemingly frozen lips to move. “Doctor…” He gasped out weakly.

Immediately an old man’s face was inches away from his. “Heero? Are you okay?!”

Heero nodded lightly and tried to adjust his vision. He could only make out the longhaired blond man carrying him. There were others but he couldn’t figure them out. He was in too much pain at the moment.

“I have…have to…”

“Have to what, Heero?”

“I have to…follow them…” he finished with a weak gasp, before passing out in shock.

Treize shook his head and spat out coldly. “Do you see, sir? How long do you intend to keep him here? He has to come. He said so himself.”

The old man sighed and clapped his hands together twice before bowing. “I guess I have no other choice, do I? Go ahead and take him, but you must promise to bring him back to me, safe and sound.”

“We give you our word, honorable father.”

The old healer watched the two men and two silent boys make their way out of the temple with his ward for the past eight years cradled gently in their wake. With a heavy sigh, he faced the silent lake with growing trepidation. Heero’s blood had not spread out like it was supposed to in the water, instead, the stain formed a perfect circle in the middle of the lake. An ominous presence in the now tainted sanctuary.

The time had come.

It was the beginning of the end.

Father Maxwell and his companion walked down the long hallway, each carrying the necessary materials needed for this act that would be frowned upon by the church. They stole worried glances at each other periodically, each knowing that they were about to do something that might change their lives forever.

They got to their destination and genuflected in reverence before the altar, as they noticed the silent figure waiting for them with the candle in her grip.

“Sister Helen.”

“Father Maxwell. Father O’Brien. Good evening to you two.”

Maxwell noticed that the young woman looked quite sickly and pale. He couldn’t blame her since he wasn’t in the best shape either. “Sister Helen, you do not have to come with us, you know. You could always stay here until we return.”

She shook her head vehemently. “No, Father. I must come with you. I have to see…to see him…”

She choked back a pained sob and turned her face away. Taking in deep breaths to compose herself, she spoke out a bit calmly. “Follow me.”

They had decided to perform the exorcism rite in the lower rooms of the church. A small room with only an altar in the middle and a large crucifix with the Lord hanging in the background completed the Spartan design. The only source of light came from the group of candles that had been placed at the side of the room.

The trio walked into the room, eyes taking in the still figure already placed on the altar. With his eyes closed and his hands clasped upon his chest, Duo looked almost angelic.

“Look at him,” Father O’Brien said softly as they stood around him. “How could anyone even think that he could be capable of such things?”

Helen could only brush away the bangs lightly from his forehead. They had to sedate him in order to bring him down here. It was as if he had known about this tonight. The fight he had put up had almost killed the strong young men that had been brought in to carry him out.

A hand was placed upon her shoulder and she spun around to pin tear-filled eyes to her superior.

“You had best stay at the side, Sister.”

“No…”

“Do as he says, Sister Helen or you will leave the room entirely.”

Helen gasped at the sharp tone from O’Brien’s lips before bowing slightly and making her way to the end of the room.

The two priests sighed and began to quickly dress themselves in the appropriate garb. Minutes later, O’ Brien held the vial of holy water and began to sprinkle it upon the passive body, his lips moving about in slow prayer. As soon as the prayers were stopped, the loud sound of something crashing against the wall above them caused all to gasp softly. A smoky, almost burning smell began to fill their nostrils as each turned slightly fearful eyes to one another.

Father Maxwell turned away to stare at the peaceful boy with his heart now in his throat.

“It is beginning,” he whispered hoarsely. “Finally, you get to take us all to hell with you.”