31-Oct-2000

Duo: and is that a bad thing?

Not necessarily. Enjoy people!

Author: Tigress Pern
Archived at: GW Addiction
Warning: Alternate univers, slight OOC, various
pairings (yaoi/non-yaoi)
Disclaimer: I don't own GW or any of the song lyrics used. They belong to their creators.

Haunted Life by Tigress Pern

Chapter 10

The rain had started falling again. It ran down the window, creating tiny rivers on the glass. With all the strength he could muster, he set one foot on the step and began to ascend. The staircase seemed long and foreboding as the shadows played across the steps. A flash of lightning illuminated the room and for a moment he faltered. No, I can't, he told himself and gripped the banister. Placing one foot in front of the other, he moved forward. An infinite number of hard wooden stairs spread out before him in his mind. Each one taking him one step closer to his goal, yet it was so far away that he wondered if he would ever make it. The grandfather clock at the base of the staircase chimed the first bell of midnight. I have to hurry.

Trowa didn't care any more about anything, but Duo. He couldn't let Heero, Catherine and Quatre do this. It was wrong. With Wufei and Meiran behind him, he hurried up the three flights of stairs. At the landing they turned and darted towards Duo's room. The door was closed. Trowa narrowed his eyes and grabbed the doorknob. Immediately he jerked his hand away.

"What's wrong?" asked Meiran.

"The handle is frozen." Trowa replied.

"Let me." Wufei offered. He got a running start and slammed his shoulder into the door, jarring it open. He fell into the room with Trowa and Meiran practically running him over in an effort to enter. Catherine turned when she heard the door crash open. She was white and there was perspiration beading on her skin. Her eyes darted from Trowa to Meiran helping Wufei up.

"Trowa." She breathed. He narrowed his eyes in a cold hatred that she'd never seen, but she was so numb that it barely registered. Beside her, Quatre looked as bad as she did. The three stood at the edge of a circle with ancient symbols written in white chalk inside. Large candles were placed about the circle in between where they stood. In the center a soft column of white light glowed. Trapped in it was Duo.

Trowa stalked towards Heero, who was on the far side of the circle with his eyes closed chanting. Determined to stop him at any cost, Trowa let his anger boil inside him. That rage gave him strength and courage to face anything.

"Oh my God. Is that Duo?" Meiran hissed staring in awe at the trapped ghost. They could see his human form plainly. He watched them with frightened eyes. "This isn't right. He's not ready to go." She said. She turned to Wufei. "It's not right! Look at him, he's not ready!" Wufei clasped Meiran's hand and gave it a brief squeeze.

"You're right. We have to break this ceremony up." With that he moved away from her and towards Quatre. Meiran moved towards the silent Catherine.

"Their energy is being drained to send me to the other side!" Duo called. Wufei jerked his head up and smiled at him.

"Arigatou." He said. Quatre turned to him with glassy eyes and didn't move. "You're supposed to be Trowa's friend." Wufei snarled. "This isn't the way to show it."

Meiran glared at Catherine with contempt. How could she do this to her own brother? Duo was his friend. He hadn't done anything to warrant this.

"How dare you bitch." Meiran growled before punching Catherine square in the stomach. The older woman folded like a rag doll as she longer had any energy to stand. She rolled onto the floor. Meiran shoved her away from the circle with her foot. Looking over her shoulder she saw Wufei do the same to Quatre.

Heero was so intent on his spell that he didn't notice anything that was going on about him until Trowa's punch landed him on the floor. Heero shook his head and looked up to see a glowering Trowa above him. Light from the candles shadowed his facial features, yet Heero could see fire dancing behind one visible green eye.

"Let him go." Trowa ordered towering over Heero.

"No. It's time to finish my grandfather's request."

"Your grandfather was a homophobic bastard!" Trowa shouted. Narrowing his eyes, Heero used a leg sweep to bring Trowa crashing to the floor before scrambling up.

"My grandfather is no such thing!" Heero snapped.

"If he isn't, then why did he hate Duo? He was a wonderful friend! Ask him! Ask him why Hiroshi Yuy turned on him!" Trowa yelled climbing to his feet.

"I don't have to..."

"ASK HIM!" Trowa roared. Heero straightened and with a look that could kill turned to Duo.

"Why did my grandfather hate you?" he demanded. Duo stared at him for a moment.

"Because I told him that I thought he was handsome and real dish. It unnerved him that I, another male, would be showering him with compliments, gifts and wanted to be with him. He didn't think it was right, that it was immoral for a male to love another male." Duo said plainly, his eyes locking with Heero's.

"YOU LIE!" The words were screamed with a mixture of shock and pain. "My grandfather was a wonderful caring, accepting man!"

"No, he wasn't. He was a bigot. He hated me because I was a homosexual. He hated anything that didn't fit his narrow picture of normal. He would have thrown out his kin if they were like me."

"No he wouldn't have! Grandfather would have understood. He would!" Heero's voice quavered slightly. He was shaking with anger. Across the circle, Wufei and Meiran watched the exchange with shocked looks. On either side of them, Catherine and Quatre were struggling to prop themselves on their elbows. Wufei glared at Quatre as the boy lifted his head. He dropped it immediately ashamed.

"Heero. Hiroshi found out what I was and nearly beat me up for it. After that he refused to talk to me and started spreading rumors. Then I died. He kept the rumors circulating that I was evil and instilled them in you. That's the truth. The only reason Hiroshi Yuy hated me was because I was gay." The final words fell heavily in Heero's ears. He shook his head.

"No, Grandfather wasn't like that. He was accepting, he would have accepted you, he would have accepted you....he would have accepted me." He sank to his knees, his hands covering his ears. "Grandfather would have accepted me. He wasn't..." The words stuck in his throat. He trembled, sobs threatening to render him unable to continue. "He would have accepted me."

"Heero, there's no point in continuing on with this." Trowa said softly, comprehension spreading across his features. "Let Duo go." Heero let his arms fall to his side. He looked up at Duo then at everyone else. What had he done?

"Let him go." Wufei snarled.

"Yes, please. You shouldn't follow in an old bitter man's footsteps. You aren't Hiroshi Yuy. You are Heero Yuy." Meiran said.

"I can't." Heero replied.

"WHAT?" Trowa, Wufei, Meiran and Duo chorused.

"I don't know how." He admitted. "I didn't think I'd have to stop the ceremony."

"It doesn't matter." Duo said sadly. "It's after midnight, my energy is fading. It's too far along and even if you could stop, it wouldn't matter. Heero said all but the final word and that is enough to send me along."

"Duo." Trowa said, his mouth trembling.

"Trowa, I want you to know that you've been the best friend I've ever had. I really enjoyed our time together." He turned to face Wufei and Meiran. "You two are great. Thanks for helping Trowa and me. You two do make such a cute couple. I hope everything works out for you. As for Quatre." Quatre looked up at him. "I understand what you did. You have a good heart; it was just in the wrong place this time. Don't let it happen again."

"I won't. I'm so sorry." Quatre whispered. "I wanted to protect Trowa from the inevitable. It would hurt him less if you were exorcised now."

"Quatre, it hurts me no matter what time he leaves." Trowa said. Quatre hung his head. Duo looked at Catherine.

"I don't think you know your brother well enough or you wouldn't have done what you did. Yet, I know you did it out of love. I'm sorry about harassing you, at least I got your VCR to say some other time than 12:00." Duo tried to smile. Catherine just stared, she was too confused, but one look at her brother's pained face and she knew she'd been wrong.

"Heero, Hiroshi loved you, but he had problems. It may be best that he's moved on. Maybe he'll learn tolerance in his next life. Just know that you're not alone." Duo motioned towards Trowa. Heero glanced at him, then hung his head. He stared at the floor, tears sliding down his cheeks.

Trowa watched Duo fade into light. He wanted to run into the circle and grab Duo, but he knew it wouldn't accomplish anything. Duo was leaving him. Tears welled up and Trowa couldn't control them. They flowed freely from his eyes in a steady stream. Sniffing he whispered something.

"Trowa I'll miss you terribly. If reincarnation does truly existed, perhaps we'll meet again." The light around him intensified. "I would have loved to stay with you forever."

"DUO!"

Duo was being pulled away from Trowa. He didn't know where he was going, but he knew he'd miss Trowa. He'd come to love him. Yes, love was the right word, Duo was sure of it. I don't want to go.

"You don't have to." A voice said. Duo whirled around and found himself looking into the face of a woman with beautiful green eyes and a sweet smile.

"Excuse me?"

"I said, you don't have to go."

"I'm dead, I have no choice."

"Well, there is always an exception to every rule." She said her eyes twinkling.

"I don't think I understand. Shouldn't I be on my way to Heaven or my next life or something like that."

"You could be, but you said you didn't." Duo cocked one eyebrow at her.

"Exactly what are you getting at?"

"What I'm getting at is that you left one very much in love with you boy back there. Knowing him and I do know him, he is very upset. You should go back there and straighten things out with him."

"Like that's going to solve anything. I'm dead, he's alive, there is a problem here." The woman smiled again.

"I can see why he likes you." Duo paced back and forth in the limbo he'd found himself in with this infuriating woman. "Duo."

"How do you know my name?"

"Because my son keeps praying that you'll be watched over. Even as you left that world, he asked us to keep an eye on you."

"Son?" The woman nodded. Suddenly Duo realized where he'd seen this woman before. "You're Trowa and Catherine's mother!"

"Bingo!" she clapped her hands together. "Anyway, since my husband and my death, Trowa has been very withdrawn. I think he blames himself for our deaths although neither are his fault. He can't stop life from happening. You're the first person to bring back some fire that used to be in him." Duo remembered the picture of the young Trowa playing with his stuffed lion. He'd seen it on the floor of Trowa's room under its frame. The child had looked so happy. "I've been watching my son and you. I must say that you are the right one for him."

"I'm dead. What good am I dead? I can't really touch him or do anything physical for him." Duo blushed when he realized what he'd meant by physical. Mrs. Barton smiled and laughed.

"I'm not asking you to do that. I'm giving you a choice to go back and be his friend. Besides you were doing fine without the physical contact. You gave him what you had, that's all I'm asking you to do again." She walked over and touched Duo on the shoulder. "My husband and I want you to be with our son for all his days. We love him dearly and want him to be happy. You make him happy Duo."

"You mean, I can go back. I don't have to move on?"

"You'll move on when the time is right. Let me tell you that the time is not right." Duo nearly jumped up and down in joy.

"I can go back! I can go back to Trowa!" Mrs. Barton nodded. "YEAH!" He hugged her tightly. "I'll take good care of him."

"Keep an eye on Catherine too. Oh, and Heero will need someone to talk to. He's in shock still, but I think he'll turn around. He can't say he didn't complete his mission. He did exorcise you, just that you're coming back."

"I won't let you down!" They released each other. Mrs. Barton smiled again. Duo realized that she was prone to do that, he wished Trowa would do it more often. Maybe he would when Duo got back. "Um, how do I get back?"

"That's easy. Robert!" A man appeared, he had the same brown hair Trowa had.

"You called Lenore?"

"Duo needs to get back and we're going to help him." she winked and grinned at him. Robert Barton nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"You're a good boy Duo. Take care of my son."

"Yes sir!" Duo saluted.

"Now come take our hands Duo." Lenore Barton said offering him one delicate hand. The other held her husband's firmly. "It's time you returned home." Duo took her hand and then joined hands with Robert. "Concentrate on Trowa. You have some of his life force in you, so it should be easy. That's it."

Duo closed his eyes and concentrated on Trowa. He could feel energy from Lenore and Robert flowing into him. There was so much, he felt as if he were drowning. He hadn't realized they were so strong. Energy swirled around him, in him and through him. Tiny currents ran up and down the length of his body. He could actually feel the electrical shocks when they came in contact with his ethereal body. More energy poured into him, it was if he were an empty glass that needed to be filled. He staggered under the shear weight of it. He kept his hands firmly linked with Lenore and Robert's. Letting go meant that he wouldn't be able to get back. It was becoming hard to hold on. It felt as if he were being forced down. His knees wanted to give out, but Duo held on. "Hold on Duo. Just a bit more." Lenore's soft voice said. "Soon you'll be with Trowa." Suddenly he felt himself being pushed away. He tumbled at least that is what he thought was happening, towards the inevitable. Duo was frightened, but he didn't let that get in the way of thinking of Trowa.

Trowa sank to his knees. Duo was gone. He could almost hear his heart tearing apart. Trembling, he didn't fight the tears that continued to flow. Beside him Heero was kneeling too. He stared at Trowa in wonder and sudden understanding.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. "I shouldn't have done it. I thought I was saving us from his evil."

"But he wasn't evil." Wufei said. "He was a boy. A boy as real as any of us. He was our friend. He could have been your friend if you'd let him."

"You didn't need to carry the hatred Hiroshi had for him with you." Meiran pointed out. "You could have stopped, but I understand you were honor bound."

"But sometimes you have to break oaths to do what is right. It is a choice we all must face. Was it truly necessary to destroy one boy to get to another? Do the ends truly justify the means?" Wufei looked sternly at him.

"I just wanted to prove that I wasn't a complete failure. Duo was right, Grandfather wouldn't understand. I think he knew what I was before I did. That may be why he was so harsh to me in his final days."

"Maybe." Wufei replied. Heero hung his head.

"I've screwed everything up. All I wanted was to please Grandfather."

"Heero." Trowa's voice sounded distant. "I understand. I know you loved your grandfather. I loved my parents, but never had the courage to tell them what I was. I don't know how they would have reacted, but I don't think they would have turned on me. Your parents didn't care for you, but Hiroshi did. You loved him and were trying to be a good grandson. I forgive you." Heero didn't move. He'd been forgiven, but he knew he had a lot to make up for.

"Trowa." Catherine was on her feet. "I'm sorry too. I didn't realize...I just jumped to conclusions. I haven't been a very good sister. Mother and Father would hate me."

"No, they know you love me. You don't have to say anything more." Catherine burst into tears. She felt horrible. Trowa wanted to go over and hug her, to tell her everything would be all right. That he forgave her, but he didn't have the strength.

"Look!" Quatre's voice echoed throughout the room. He was pointing to the middle of the circle where a small orb of white light had appeared. It grew and became a column of pure light. Forced to shield their eyes, the six people wondered what was happening. The light extended to the edge of the drawn circle before intensifying for a moment. Then it was gone. It took a moment for their eyes to readjust to the darkness.

"I don't believe it." Meiran said in a hushed voice. He grabbed Wufei's hand and held it tightly. Beside him, Quatre finally climbed to his feet. He stared in amazement at what was in the middle of the circle.

"Duo?"

He heard his name. Slowly Duo opened his eyes. Candles still burned around the outside of the circle. I'm back, he thought. A relieved smile turned the corners of his mouth. He offered a small prayer of thanks to Lenore and Robert for their help and the usage of some of their energy. With their combined power, Duo noticed that he retained his human form. He could see his hand and judged that he was lying on his stomach. For the heck of it he wiggled one finger. He giggled like a little kid. A sensation he identified as aching, riddle his body. It had been a long time since he'd felt it that he didn't recognize it at first. Tactile aching, probably the result of landing on the floor he reasoned. This body is more solid than the one I could conjure up earlier. Lenore and Robert's power are far superior to mine.

"Duo?" Trowa's anxious voice inquired. He couldn't be more than a few feet away from him. He needed to assure Trowa he was fine and he was back. Rising, so that he was resting most of his weight on his hands, Duo finally got a good look around him. Everyone was staring at him with wide eyes. Even Heero. He wondered how long he'd been gone. Probably no more than a few minutes judging from everyone's position. He drew his legs under him so that he was on all fours. Funny, he felt sluggish and heavy. Probably a result of having three different essences in him besides his own. Especially one from a live person, he told himself. He rolled over so that he was sitting on the floor, his legs spread out in front of him. He was still wearing the same clothes he'd died in. Red shirt, black slacks, vest, and shoes. Shoes! Wait, ghosts didn't have feet. He wiggled his toes inside his shoes and realized he could feel every fiber of his socks. A sudden tremor flowed through him from his toes to the hairs on his head. He shivered from the cold for the first time in fifty years.

"No way." he hissed. "This is impossible."

"Duo?" Trowa was standing above him now. His face looked so pale in the candlelight. Duo looked up and stared at him.

"Oh my God." Catherine whispered. Duo was in shock. His mind raced trying to figure out how and why. It just kept coming up with the word impossible.

"Duo? Is that you?" Trowa asked. Duo nodded dumbly. "Are you all right?" Trowa was kneeling down now. A shaking hand crept towards Duo's face, afraid to touch him. He'd been crying, Duo could see that. The tears had left their salty trail down his cheeks. Duo longed to kiss those trails away.

Trowa gently touched Duo's cheek. It was soft and warm, not what he'd expected. He caressed it as Duo continued to stare at him with large blue-violet eyes.

"Trowa." Duo said drawing his legs underneath him. His expression changed. Eyes sparkling with tears, Duo sniffed once and threw his arms around Trowa. "I'm alive!" he cried. Trowa wrapped his arms around Duo and held him. They could hear the gasps of amazement from the others, but Duo didn't care. He was alive. He could feel his heart beat, his chest heave as he breathed, and the tears flow down his own cheeks.

"How can you be alive?" Trowa asked.

"I don't know, I just know I am."

"There is a God."

"I don't know for sure, but I know your parents wanted us to be together. They sent me back here." Duo told him. Trowa stopped hugging him.

"Nani?"

"You're parents, Lenore and Robert. They have been watching over you and Catherine. They wanted us to be together. They love you and they wanted me to keep an eye on you." Duo paused. "That's what she meant by it wasn't my time!" Trowa looked at him with a confused look. "Lenore said it wasn't my time. I don't know how they did it, but I'm alive! I thought they were just sending me back here as a ghost..."

"You're alive?" Trowa asked. "Are you certain?"

"Of course I'm certain. I have feet!" Duo exclaimed. "Ghosts don't have feet, at least I didn't and now I do. Plus I ache. That was a hard landing on even harder floor. Not to mention it is freezing in here. I hope the heaters still work in this house." Trowa still couldn't believe it. He placed his hand over Duo's heart and felt it beat inside.

"Well?" Wufei asked. "Is he really alive?" Beside him Meiran was practically jumping out of her skin. She was holding his hand so tightly that it was beginning to numb. This was a miracle.

"Hai." Was all he said before Duo hugged him again. Meiran gave Wufei and quick squeeze and kissed him on the cheek. Startled he looked down at his smiling girlfriend. She flashed him a brilliant smile and turned towards the two boys embracing in the center of the room.

"Trowa, if you are done squeezing him till he can't breathe we'd like to hug him too." Meiran interrupted. Trowa blushed and released Duo then prepared for the impact as Meiran and Wufei assaulted them.

"Welcome to the twenty-first century Duo Maxwell." Meiran said. "We hope you like it here."

End Chapter 10

Tigress Pern