Goodbye LJ...

[windandwater]

This is just to make it official for those who don't know, but I'm leaving LJ completely. For the rest of this week at least. Tomorrow is the Bar Exam and it runs for three days, so don't expect to see me about at all until Thursday night. Or even until the weekend since I plan on spending Thursday after the Bar drunk and crying. No online time for me at all. *whines* It will be hard, but I know I can do it.

So, because I'm a total h0r like that, I am declaring this to be a spam post. Go ahead. Run wild! Give me fics, give me links, give me pics, just babble to your heart's content and rape my inbox so I have something to see when I finally DO come back to the wonderful world of LJ. I don't even care if you write me a drabble and post it one word at a time. XD;

Though, I've tried to make a spam post before and it failed a bit miserably, so I don't have very high expectations this time around. Feel free to prove me wrong though!

♥

Comments

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

Heero’s sword hand twitched at the thought of testing his skill against a true champion. “But if you think you can manage it, Rashid --”
“I think we can, Your Majesty,” Rashid assured him. “If we capture his soldiers first, he will have no choice but to accompany us back to the palace.”
“But will he?” Heero asked skeptically. “If he sees a chance to escape on his own --”
Rashid shrugged. “They said his troops are fanatically loyal; it seems unlikely that it’s entirely one-sided.”
“All right, then,” Heero came to a decision. “Bring the rebels here, alive if you can -- give them a chance to surrender first, then fight not to kill, but I don’t want any losses among our own people while you’re at it. Understood?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Rashid bowed once more, then turned to the Maguanacs and began giving orders. Heero paced about for a bit longer, then forced himself to return to his throne. He watched the proceedings with narrow eyes, and his hand strayed unconsciously to his sword hilt.
“A Champion...” he muttered to himself.


Mikkeneko: Okay! That’s the prologue! What do you guys think?
Duo: Um, I’m not in it yet.
Quatre: Neither am I.
Wufei: Nor I, and I have yet to decide whether that’s justice or not.
Duo: But other than that we think it’s good.
Heero & Van: ...
Van: Um, I’m not that bloodthirsty...
Heero: And I don’t talk that much.
Mikkeneko: That’s why it’s a fusion! EVERYTHING’S messed up!


One by one, the Elto rebels were run down by the Maguanac Guards and dragged back to the palace in chains. The Captain of the Guard ordered the prisoners to be held in the open battle stadium, under the palace guards’ watchful eye; he didn’t yet know what was to be done with them, and wouldn’t bother to imprison men who would only be executed right away.

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

“Is it really wise to keep them all in a group?” Quatre Winner, Rashid’s foster-son, eyed the captured rogues with some anxiety. Though defeated, the motley group of men did not look at all passive; even though they were outnumbered several times over, they kept up their defiance and every now and then a tussle would break out between captives and guards. “How many more of them are there?”
“We’ve gotten most of them,” the Captain answered. “Normally, we would have taken them to the dungeons, of course -- but with things so uncertain, it’s quite possible that incarceration might not be necessary. We’re still not absolutely sure what their motives are.”
“Is that why you asked for me?” Quatre surmised, looking up (and up) into the Maguanac’s face. Quatre had always been a sensitive person, and as he grew he had displayed some startling empathic talents. His ‘Heart of Atlantis,’4 as it was known, allowed him to some degree to sense the minds and the hearts of others.
“Perhaps you should leave, Quatre,” Rashid said doubtfully. “I don’t think they will choose to push any major confrontations without their leader present, but you can never be sure. You should return to the palace...”
“No, Rashid. I am one of King Yuy’s advisors too; I can handle myself.” Quatre’s shoulders straightened proudly; young as he was, he was one of Heero Yuy’s few agemates and one of his closest friends. He turned back to the prisoners with renewed confidence as he began to wander about the stadium, concentrating on reading what their emotions presented.
He was more than a little surprised by what he found; it wasn’t the greedy, hurtful emotions of evil-doing men that he was expecting. Many of the men were angry, and bitter about their capture, but mostly they radiated anxiety for their companions, and an intense loyalty to their yet-absent leader.
“You don’t seem like traitors,” he muttered to himself.
“We’re not,” said a voice from directly behind him, and Quatre yelped as he spun around; he hadn’t even realized that he’d spoken aloud. One of the Eltonians was standing there; a tall, thin, sharp-featured man with black hair, dressed entirely in black. He smiled cheerfully at Quatre, opening his hands to show that he was unarmed. “Don’t act so nervous, I don’t bite. I’m just the Sweepers’ traveling priest -- a simple man of God, not a fighter. The name’s Garas.5 Yours?”

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

“Quatre,” the blond boy responded, dazedly taking the proffered hand and shaking it. It seemed a bit odd to talk so politely with a fugitive prisoner, but he could tell that the man was sincere in meaning no harm. “What do you mean you’re not? The Eltonian ambassador said...”
“Our first loyalty was to our commander,” Garas said quietly. “We Sweepers swore loyalty to him, not to King El. It was our duty to support him in his actions, and in any case, we’d follow him to Hell and back if he asked it.”
“Your commander, the knight?” Quatre frowned, scanning the crowd; a few more prisoners had been marched in during their conversation, but the rogues didn’t react to them as though they were the leader Garas described. “But if he is a traitor to Elto, and you continue to serve him, then doesn’t that make you traitors as well?”
The tall man let out a sardonic chuckle. “A traitor to Elto, hardly! The commander has never done anything to betray his country in his life. What that snake El decides to call treason was nothing more than his attempt to save Elto, no matter what the King and his boot-licking courtiers try to do.”
“What do you mean?” Quatre tensed at the words, absorbing the implication behind them. “What was King El trying to do?”
Garas glanced around, making sure there weren’t any guards in immediate hearing range, before he leaned down and said, in a lowered tone, “I don’t know whether El is being stupid or deliberately blind; any idiot can see that OZ wants a foothold in the Midlands and that they’ll promise anything to get it.”
“OZ?” Quatre’s voice rose, before he too made a conscious effort to keep it down. “What does OZ have to do with this?”
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say he’s cutting a deal with the Emperor, but King El insists that OZ is being truthful when they say they don’t want to have to fight. He’s started talking about OZ as ‘our trusted ally,’ and announced that he was going to begin bringing in their troops to our country. It was when the Commander confronted him on this action that he declared him a traitor.”
“You’re not serious,” Quatre gasped. “Elto is one of the border states between the OZ empire and the Midlands! The other three Borderstates would never put up with an OZ presence in Elto... what would he hope to gain? You must be mistaken!”
“You have my word as a priest,” Garas promised him solemnly. “I don’t know much, but from what I’ve heard on our journey from Elto, OZ scouts have been all over the countryside in the last few weeks.” Garas started to say something more, then caught himself and watched Quatre’s reaction.

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

“Quatre,” the blond boy responded, dazedly taking the proffered hand and shaking it. It seemed a bit odd to talk so politely with a fugitive prisoner, but he could tell that the man was sincere in meaning no harm. “What do you mean you’re not? The Eltonian ambassador said...”
“Our first loyalty was to our commander,” Garas said quietly. “We Sweepers swore loyalty to him, not to King El. It was our duty to support him in his actions, and in any case, we’d follow him to Hell and back if he asked it.”
“Your commander, the knight?” Quatre frowned, scanning the crowd; a few more prisoners had been marched in during their conversation, but the rogues didn’t react to them as though they were the leader Garas described. “But if he is a traitor to Elto, and you continue to serve him, then doesn’t that make you traitors as well?”
The tall man let out a sardonic chuckle. “A traitor to Elto, hardly! The commander has never done anything to betray his country in his life. What that snake El decides to call treason was nothing more than his attempt to save Elto, no matter what the King and his boot-licking courtiers try to do.”
“What do you mean?” Quatre tensed at the words, absorbing the implication behind them. “What was King El trying to do?”
Garas glanced around, making sure there weren’t any guards in immediate hearing range, before he leaned down and said, in a lowered tone, “I don’t know whether El is being stupid or deliberately blind; any idiot can see that OZ wants a foothold in the Midlands and that they’ll promise anything to get it.”
“OZ?” Quatre’s voice rose, before he too made a conscious effort to keep it down. “What does OZ have to do with this?”
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say he’s cutting a deal with the Emperor, but King El insists that OZ is being truthful when they say they don’t want to have to fight. He’s started talking about OZ as ‘our trusted ally,’ and announced that he was going to begin bringing in their troops to our country. It was when the Commander confronted him on this action that he declared him a traitor.”
“You’re not serious,” Quatre gasped. “Elto is one of the border states between the OZ empire and the Midlands! The other three Borderstates would never put up with an OZ presence in Elto... what would he hope to gain? You must be mistaken!”
“You have my word as a priest,” Garas promised him solemnly. “I don’t know much, but from what I’ve heard on our journey from Elto, OZ scouts have been all over the countryside in the last few weeks.” Garas started to say something more, then caught himself and watched Quatre’s reaction.

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

“Not in Yusankyo, they’re not,” Quatre muttered grimly. “...Why? If they’re planning an invasion...” He trailed off, staring into space as gears turned in his head. “I think I need to talk to King Yuy,” he finally said.
Garas smiled grimly. “I think you’re probably right.”
There was a slight commotion as another of the rogues was dragged in, struggling and snarling at his captors. Quatre felt Garas tense as he saw the man’s face, and looked over at the newcomer himself. He was a short, slender man with raven-black hair pulled back in a tight ponytail; his eyes were almond-shaped and a startling black color. Staring at him, Quatre felt an uneasy tingle run down his spine, and he tore his gaze away from the struggling young man back to Garas. “That’s not your commander, is it?” he demanded. Surely he was too young, only a few years older than Quatre himself!
“Who, him?” Garas’ voice was deliberately casual. “No, of course not. He’s just a newcomer to the Sweepers, a lone fighter we picked up a while back.”
Quatre didn’t hear the tension underlying Garas’ tone; he was too distracted by the slightly out-of-place feeling of the black-eyed man. “What’s his name?” he said absently.
Garas shrugged with studied nonchalance. “Shen Lon, I believe. It doesn’t really matter --”
He was cut off by the sudden arrival of Heero Yuy into the scene. The young King of Yusankyo was trailing a few guards of his own, which he completely ignored as he surveyed the prisoners, then quickly paced over to speak with Rashid. Garas breathed a quick prayer of thanks for the distraction, and quickly went over to calm down the dark-haired man before he got himself killed... and everyone screwed over.
“Is this all of them?” Heero was saying to Rashid as Quatre approached.
“Your Majesty?” Quatre injected anxiously, for once in his life daring to interrupt a conversation.
“Heero,” the dark-haired boy corrected with a scowl. “For the last time, Quatre, none of that Majesty stuff.”
“Sorry. Heero --” Quatre began again, and Heero cut him off with a sharp nod.
“Better. Now, Rashid, what were you saying?” Heero turned his back on Quatre as he refocused his attention on the older man.
“Well,” Rashid started, with an apologetic glance at Quatre, “most of the rebels

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

themselves have been captured without too much trouble, but we’re having some trouble with their leader...”
Quatre tried again. “Heero, listen, about their commander --”
“What is it?” Heero snapped, not bothering to hide the irritation in his voice.
“Will you stop interrupting me, and I’ll tell you!” Quatre snapped, letting his frustration bubble over.
Heero blinked, and looked faintly abashed. “Sorry!”
“Are you finished? Can I speak now?”
“Yes, go ahead, Quatre,” Heero encouraged.
“You’re not going to interrupt, are you?” Quatre glared.
“Look, Quatre, just spit it out, will you?”
“Right. Look. About the --”
In the middle of his sentence, a sudden commotion sounded outside the courtyard doors, and Heero turned away in the middle of Quatre’s sentence, leaving the blond boy gaping like a fish. “What’s going on out there?” Heero asked irritably.
The sound of steel clashing on steel, and flesh on wood, joined the raised and angry voices. “It sounds like some kind of commotion,” Rashid put in helpfully.
Heero speared him with a glare that made the older, taller man take a prudent step backwards, and was about to put up a withering comment when the courtyard doors burst open and a man stalked between them like a conquering warlord.
Several Yusankyo guards scurried in after him, but the newcomer completely eclipsed them. In some ways, he didn’t look at all like a warrior -- despite the half-armor he wore over his simple but elegant court finery, he was slight of build and visibly younger than almost anyone else present. In fact, his slenderness combined with his beautiful features to make him look almost delicate, an image not at all dispelled by the long, long brown hair worn in a braid to his thighs. Not one man standing in the courtyard, though, would have ever thought to call him ‘effeminate,’ nor would they care to offer him any words that could be construed as an offense; he moved like a hunting cat, with a dangerous glitter in his strange-colored eyes.6
A wave of reaction went through the men gathered in the courtyard; shock and disbelief from the guardsmen and assembled Yusankyos; relief and a certain gleeful satisfaction from the prisoners. The newcomer stopped dead center of the courtyard and swept the area with his eyes, taking note of every man present; when he reached

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

a certain tally, relief shone faintly on his face and he relaxed almost imperceptibly. The guards that followed him in took advantage of this, surrounding him as one man grabbed each arm. Sized up against the full-grown guards, the boy’s barely five-foot-one stature made their obvious nervousness seem almost ridiculous; still, the sheer presence he radiated more than made up for what he lacked in size. He didn’t bother to resist as the guards pulled him across the stone floor to where Rashid and Quatre stood, transfixed by the drama. The small group stopped a few feet away from the King, and the boy pushed the guards’ hands away from his shoulders and stood proudly before the King of Yusankyo.
“Your Majesty,” he addressed Heero in a strong, carrying voice; “it has come to my attention that you have unjustly imprisoned and harassed my men. I must request that you release them immediately.”
Heero blinked at the strange young man bemusedly, then shook his head as if to dispel a trance. The boy was almost his own age, ridiculously young to be commanding a platoon of seasoned warriors. Not that it made all that much more sense for a boy his age to be ruling a country -- but he hadn’t asked for that; the kingdom had fallen to him upon the death of his father, and if he happened to be a competent ruler despite his youth, well, that was just the luck of a monarchy. Still, young and small though the stranger might be, Heero wasn’t going to make the mistake of assuming he was in any way weak. The boy’s unshakeable confidence was fascinating, and curiosity as much as anything prompted him to ask, “And who might you be, may I ask?”
“You certainly may.” With noteworthy grace, the boy bowed deeply before Heero. “My name is Duo Maxwell, Commander of the Sweepers division, Knight Premiere of Elto, and King’s Champion.” He looked up at Heero under his untidy bangs, and flashed a devilsome grin. “Well, formerly King’s Champion,” he corrected himself scrupulously.

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

Hitomi: You made me into a BOY?
Mikkeneko: No no. I made you into Quatre.
Quatre: Hey!
Duo: I’m Allen?
Allen: I’m Duo?
Heero: Looks like. I think she went by hair.
Mikkeneko: Did not! If I was going by hair, then Zechs would have been Allen. Allen is a class B tall-type bishounen, same as Zechs; the gundam pilots are all short-type, with Heero and Van being almost prototypical class A SHort-types.
Duo: You’ve thought too much about this.

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

Duo Maxwell, formerly the Knight Premiere of his kingdom and now a hunted traitor, stood in the center of a courtyard surrounded by an entire country full of people who would be only too happy to collect the price on his head and tried very hard not to be nervous. It wasn’t so much the thousand-to-one odds that bothered him, although he had to privately admit -- he never lied, even to himself -- that the situation on that front was more than a little bit dire. Most of the Sweepers were out of commission -- if a brawl started, they might be able to delay the guards enough for Duo to do something -- but not without heavy if not total casualties to their group.
As it was, every eye in the courtyard was fixed on Duo. This pretty much crossed of running, hiding and fighting from the list of options. Which left only one option -- blitz and bluff his way along and watch for further opportunities. It was a carefully balanced mix of charm, chutzpah and supreme self-confidence that had worked wonders in the past -- but never in conditions quite this extreme, which was in truth the source of his current worry. Rumors had reached the Elto courts about the new King of Yusankyo, a cold and vicious man said to possess all the compassion and soul of a sociopathic snake. Duo consoled himself with the thought that rumor was always exaggerated, but was having trouble maintaining his composure in front of the man’s deep and piercing eyes.
He didn’t seem to be the type susceptible to charm, Duo thought woefully; to avoid having to meet the man’s eyes, he surreptitiously checked out the men surrounding the King. There was a short blond boy standing behind the king’s right shoulder, with wide blue eyes and an innocent demeanor that Duo might have found extremely attractive if this hadn’t been completely the wrong time and place for it. He forced his attention back to the ruler of Yusankyo as the man stirred and finally spoke. “Premier Knight of Elto?” he repeated in a challenging tone. “I’ve heard of you, Sir Knight.”
Uh-oh. Not that it was unexpected. “Good things, I hope,” Duo covered for his momentary panic with a winsome smile.

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

“Not particularly.” The young king pinned Duo with an unblinking gaze. “In fact, I heard that you were a coward and a traitor, who broke faith with your king and turned against your country.”
“Oh,” Duo said, after a short pause. “That.” Well, what was he supposed to say? Duo wondered desperately. It was technically true, after all. He swallowed against a spate of babble explaining exactly why he’d done it, and that he hadn’t really betrayed his country at all, it was just that fat old fool El’s fault and really wasn’t -- but no. He wouldn’t make excuses.
“I wonder what should be done with you,” King Yuy mused. “After all, if the rumors are true, such a treasonous coward could be planning an insurrection in a neighboring country.”
Duo stood straight at that pronouncement, on slightly firmer ground. “Your Majesty, neither I nor any of my men have any ill-intent towards you or your people,” he said firmly. “You have my word on it.”
A slight smirk crossed the other’s lips, and he raised a sardonic eyebrow. “The word of a traitor?” he challenged.
Duo scowled at the word traitor. “My word as a knight,” he corrected. “I may run and hide, but I never lie.”
“As a knight,” King Yuy echoed his words; his eyes were beginning to glow with some intense emotion, and the fingers of his right hand twitched slightly. “A King’s Champion, no less. At such a young age. You must have been extraordinarily skilled.”
“I like to think so,” Duo replied uncomfortably, a bit puzzled as to the direction the conversation was taking. There was a moment of silence that stretched on interminably; just before Duo’s self-control broke and he started to fidget, the King returned his attention to the long-haired boy in front of him.
“Fine then,” he pronounced. “Since you’re so confident of your own skill with a blade, then your fate will be decided by a trial of arms.”
Shock ran through the assembled audience at the announcement, and none were more shocked than Duo himself, but he -- barely -- managed to hide his reaction. “If you say so, Your Majesty,” he replied respectfully, but internally he was hopping up and down with glee. There wasn’t a man in Elto who could best him at swordplay; this was a better outcome than he could have prayed for. A sudden fear spiked through his relief, though, and he blurted out, “But what about my men?”

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

“Not particularly.” The young king pinned Duo with an unblinking gaze. “In fact, I heard that you were a coward and a traitor, who broke faith with your king and turned against your country.”
“Oh,” Duo said, after a short pause. “That.” Well, what was he supposed to say? Duo wondered desperately. It was technically true, after all. He swallowed against a spate of babble explaining exactly why he’d done it, and that he hadn’t really betrayed his country at all, it was just that fat old fool El’s fault and really wasn’t -- but no. He wouldn’t make excuses.
“I wonder what should be done with you,” King Yuy mused. “After all, if the rumors are true, such a treasonous coward could be planning an insurrection in a neighboring country.”
Duo stood straight at that pronouncement, on slightly firmer ground. “Your Majesty, neither I nor any of my men have any ill-intent towards you or your people,” he said firmly. “You have my word on it.”
A slight smirk crossed the other’s lips, and he raised a sardonic eyebrow. “The word of a traitor?” he challenged.
Duo scowled at the word traitor. “My word as a knight,” he corrected. “I may run and hide, but I never lie.”
“As a knight,” King Yuy echoed his words; his eyes were beginning to glow with some intense emotion, and the fingers of his right hand twitched slightly. “A King’s Champion, no less. At such a young age. You must have been extraordinarily skilled.”
“I like to think so,” Duo replied uncomfortably, a bit puzzled as to the direction the conversation was taking. There was a moment of silence that stretched on interminably; just before Duo’s self-control broke and he started to fidget, the King returned his attention to the long-haired boy in front of him.
“Fine then,” he pronounced. “Since you’re so confident of your own skill with a blade, then your fate will be decided by a trial of arms.”
Shock ran through the assembled audience at the announcement, and none were more shocked than Duo himself, but he -- barely -- managed to hide his reaction. “If you say so, Your Majesty,” he replied respectfully, but internally he was hopping up and down with glee. There wasn’t a man in Elto who could best him at swordplay; this was a better outcome than he could have prayed for. A sudden fear spiked through his relief, though, and he blurted out, “But what about my men?”

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

Duo Maxwell, formerly the Knight Premiere of his kingdom and now a hunted traitor, stood in the center of a courtyard surrounded by an entire country full of people who would be only too happy to collect the price on his head and tried very hard not to be nervous. It wasn’t so much the thousand-to-one odds that bothered him, although he had to privately admit -- he never lied, even to himself -- that the situation on that front was more than a little bit dire. Most of the Sweepers were out of commission -- if a brawl started, they might be able to delay the guards enough for Duo to do something -- but not without heavy if not total casualties to their group.
As it was, every eye in the courtyard was fixed on Duo. This pretty much crossed of running, hiding and fighting from the list of options. Which left only one option -- blitz and bluff his way along and watch for further opportunities. It was a carefully balanced mix of charm, chutzpah and supreme self-confidence that had worked wonders in the past -- but never in conditions quite this extreme, which was in truth the source of his current worry. Rumors had reached the Elto courts about the new King of Yusankyo, a cold and vicious man said to possess all the compassion and soul of a sociopathic snake. Duo consoled himself with the thought that rumor was always exaggerated, but was having trouble maintaining his composure in front of the man’s deep and piercing eyes.
He didn’t seem to be the type susceptible to charm, Duo thought woefully; to avoid having to meet the man’s eyes, he surreptitiously checked out the men surrounding the King. There was a short blond boy standing behind the king’s right shoulder, with wide blue eyes and an innocent demeanor that Duo might have found extremely attractive if this hadn’t been completely the wrong time and place for it. He forced his attention back to the ruler of Yusankyo as the man stirred and finally spoke. “Premier Knight of Elto?” he repeated in a challenging tone. “I’ve heard of you, Sir Knight.”
Uh-oh. Not that it was unexpected. “Good things, I hope,” Duo covered for his momentary panic with a winsome smile.

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

“What about them?” King Yuy said with no little irritation. Duo didn’t really want to push his luck, but he swallowed and forged ahead.
“Whether or not I’m actually guilty of treason, Your Majesty, the Sweepers have done no more than follow their own oaths to me. It isn’t right that their fate should rest on the outcome of this battle.”
The king cocked his head to one side, eyes narrowed. “They have pledged their lives to you. You don’t think that they should live or die by your skill? You doubt your own fighting ability that much?”
Duo looked startled for a moment, then actually chuckled. “Oh, no, it isn’t that. I just want assurance that you won’t take it out on them when I win.”
There was a moment in which even Duo wondered if he’d gone too far, before the king finally gave out a laugh. It was not a particularly pleasant laugh. “Is that what you were worried about? Very well. You have my word that if they do not interfere in the battle between you and Yusankyo’s champion, then no harm will come to them.”
Duo let out a slow, silent breath of relief. Even if by some fluke he lost the battle, then his men would have some chance. “Well, all right then!” he cried, grinning like a maniac as he stretched exaggeratedly. “Let’s get this show on the road! Who’m I up against?”
He went through an exuberant little dance that was actually a series of warm-up moves, enjoying the reactions he got from his audience and using the opportunity to size up the assembly of the king’s guards and bodyguards. One of them had to be the Champion. He stopped to look more thoroughly up -- and up -- and down the goliath that hovered protectively between the blond boy and the King. Duo decided that the heavily muscled retainer was most likely Duo’s new opponent, and set about taking the man’s measure as a fighter. He was without a doubt the largest man Duo had ever seen -- in fact, pound for pound he probably outweighed some small countries, livestock included -- but that didn’t necessarily translate to battle prowess, as Duo well knew. In fact, larger men often got cocky and overconfident when facing an opponent as small as Duo, although that was a weakness he couldn’t count on in the King’s Champion. Still, speed was often more important than --
His assessment was rudely interrupted, though, as the King moved his hands up to his throat and undid the clasp of his robe of office. He removed the ornately decorated cloak and handed it to one of his bodyguards, revealing a much simpler, more practical outfit underneath. Duo’s mouth dropped open as the King’s hand moved to the long, slender sword belted at his waist.

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

“What about them?” King Yuy said with no little irritation. Duo didn’t really want to push his luck, but he swallowed and forged ahead.
“Whether or not I’m actually guilty of treason, Your Majesty, the Sweepers have done no more than follow their own oaths to me. It isn’t right that their fate should rest on the outcome of this battle.”
The king cocked his head to one side, eyes narrowed. “They have pledged their lives to you. You don’t think that they should live or die by your skill? You doubt your own fighting ability that much?”
Duo looked startled for a moment, then actually chuckled. “Oh, no, it isn’t that. I just want assurance that you won’t take it out on them when I win.”
There was a moment in which even Duo wondered if he’d gone too far, before the king finally gave out a laugh. It was not a particularly pleasant laugh. “Is that what you were worried about? Very well. You have my word that if they do not interfere in the battle between you and Yusankyo’s champion, then no harm will come to them.”
Duo let out a slow, silent breath of relief. Even if by some fluke he lost the battle, then his men would have some chance. “Well, all right then!” he cried, grinning like a maniac as he stretched exaggeratedly. “Let’s get this show on the road! Who’m I up against?”
He went through an exuberant little dance that was actually a series of warm-up moves, enjoying the reactions he got from his audience and using the opportunity to size up the assembly of the king’s guards and bodyguards. One of them had to be the Champion. He stopped to look more thoroughly up -- and up -- and down the goliath that hovered protectively between the blond boy and the King. Duo decided that the heavily muscled retainer was most likely Duo’s new opponent, and set about taking the man’s measure as a fighter. He was without a doubt the largest man Duo had ever seen -- in fact, pound for pound he probably outweighed some small countries, livestock included -- but that didn’t necessarily translate to battle prowess, as Duo well knew. In fact, larger men often got cocky and overconfident when facing an opponent as small as Duo, although that was a weakness he couldn’t count on in the King’s Champion. Still, speed was often more important than --
His assessment was rudely interrupted, though, as the King moved his hands up to his throat and undid the clasp of his robe of office. He removed the ornately decorated cloak and handed it to one of his bodyguards, revealing a much simpler, more practical outfit underneath. Duo’s mouth dropped open as the King’s hand moved to the long, slender sword belted at his waist.

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

“You’re up against Yusankyo, of course,” the man said imperturbably, drawing the sword as he stepped forward off the platform. He set the tip of the razor-sharp blade to rest on the wooden planks as he smirked at his shocked adversary. “You’re up against me.”

Mikkeneko: Oh, enough talking. Will you just fight already?
Heero: Normally she’d have us kissing by now.
Duo: She’s behind on her schedule.
Mikkeneko: Mou... [stamps foot] What wouldn’t I trade for characters that don’t get uppity on me!
Quatre: What about me?
Mikkeneko: Yeah, I’d trade you.
Trowa: ... [translation: Would you trade him to me?]
Quatre: You’re not a gypsy, Trowa.

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

“Your Majesty, I beg you to reconsider. This outlaw cannot be trusted.”
“Heero, don’t do this. I think you can trust him.”
Heero glanced between Rashid and Quatre. “Tell you what. I’ll let you two argue it out between you. Meanwhile, I have a duel to fight.”
“As your bodyguard and retainer, Your Majesty, I must protest in the strongest possible terms!” Rashid growled, his glare wavering between the rebellious expression on his foster son’s face to the lack of expression on Heero’s. “It’s unthinkable that you should be considering entering into single combat with a dangerous rebel like this!”
Heero’s face twisted into a sardonic smile. “You don’t think I can take him?” he challenged. “I’m crushed by your lack of faith in me.”
“I don’t lack faith in you,” Rashid scowled. “You should have no problems defeating him... if he fights fairly. And with his life at stake, who would?”
“Heero, what good will fighting him do?” Quatre demanded, grasping his friend’s arm. “Trial by arms is one of the stupidest traditions in our kingdom! How is a brawl supposed to determine who’s telling the truth and who’s lying?”
Heero shrugged off his arm and started forward, cutting off the clamored objections of his two counselors. “It’s a fascinating point of philosophy, Quatre, which

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

I will be happy to discuss with you at a later time. But for now...” He took a stance on the platform, close to the center of the cleared space, and raised his sword. “Stay out of this!”
The Eltonian knight stood a little way away from him, in the other focus of the space, looking a little doubtful. “You’re really sure about this?” he said again. “I always thought kings were above this sorta thing.”
“If you’re afraid to fight just say so,” Heero snapped, a mocking edge to his tone. “Though you can hardly back down now.”
“Like Hell I’m scared!” Duo exclaimed, temper flaring in response. “It’s just that... well.. I guess... Well, it’s your funeral,” he sighed in surrender, as he raised his own sword to a stance.
“We’ll see about that,” Heero muttered, and then devoted his attention to reading his opponent. His form was excellent, Heero noted; he recognized the position, one that was neither attack nor defense, but could shift in a heartbeat to either one. During his earlier antics he had never ceased to move and fidget, but now he stood absolutely still, poised and alert for action. Heero felt his own thoughts and body combining into battle mode; his weight shifted into a defense position in automatic response to his enemy’s action.
There was not a breath of warning. One moment the courtyard was absolutely still, with the fencers standing still as statues and none of the spectators daring to move or even breathe if it would break the silence. The next moment, the outlawed Knight was in a blur of motion, descending on his opponent in a furious rain of sword blows that would have finished many battles before they ever started.
Heero felt himself falter under that fierce attack, and consciously let himself be driven backwards to give him enough room to respond. For several heated seconds it was all he could do to block the blows that seemed to come at him from every direction; slowly, he regained his balance and footing in the fight, and delivered several powerful strokes of his own.
“You charge too aggressively,” Heero managed to say, between breaths. “Sloppy.”
Outrageously, Duo winked at him. “Or maybe you don’t charge aggressively enough!” he returned, and changed his angle to drive at Heero again. Heero blocked, but his sword twisted around his rival’s, sliding down to lock hilt to hilt. “I’ll bet you haven’t had a good fight in a while. Nobody’s allowed to beat the King, eh? Gotta pull

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

I will be happy to discuss with you at a later time. But for now...” He took a stance on the platform, close to the center of the cleared space, and raised his sword. “Stay out of this!”
The Eltonian knight stood a little way away from him, in the other focus of the space, looking a little doubtful. “You’re really sure about this?” he said again. “I always thought kings were above this sorta thing.”
“If you’re afraid to fight just say so,” Heero snapped, a mocking edge to his tone. “Though you can hardly back down now.”
“Like Hell I’m scared!” Duo exclaimed, temper flaring in response. “It’s just that... well.. I guess... Well, it’s your funeral,” he sighed in surrender, as he raised his own sword to a stance.
“We’ll see about that,” Heero muttered, and then devoted his attention to reading his opponent. His form was excellent, Heero noted; he recognized the position, one that was neither attack nor defense, but could shift in a heartbeat to either one. During his earlier antics he had never ceased to move and fidget, but now he stood absolutely still, poised and alert for action. Heero felt his own thoughts and body combining into battle mode; his weight shifted into a defense position in automatic response to his enemy’s action.
There was not a breath of warning. One moment the courtyard was absolutely still, with the fencers standing still as statues and none of the spectators daring to move or even breathe if it would break the silence. The next moment, the outlawed Knight was in a blur of motion, descending on his opponent in a furious rain of sword blows that would have finished many battles before they ever started.
Heero felt himself falter under that fierce attack, and consciously let himself be driven backwards to give him enough room to respond. For several heated seconds it was all he could do to block the blows that seemed to come at him from every direction; slowly, he regained his balance and footing in the fight, and delivered several powerful strokes of his own.
“You charge too aggressively,” Heero managed to say, between breaths. “Sloppy.”
Outrageously, Duo winked at him. “Or maybe you don’t charge aggressively enough!” he returned, and changed his angle to drive at Heero again. Heero blocked, but his sword twisted around his rival’s, sliding down to lock hilt to hilt. “I’ll bet you haven’t had a good fight in a while. Nobody’s allowed to beat the King, eh? Gotta pull

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

their punches. Not the same as fighting a real warrior!”
Snarling, Heero showed fiercely and drove his lighter adversary away from him, breaking the lock and gaining several feet of space. “I don’t see a real warrior here,” he growled. “Just a pretentious little court flirt who likes to play with swords.”
“Oi! Is that all you see me as?” Duo exclaimed, affecting an air of wounded feelings. “Small, maybe -- in the bones, I think -- and flirt, yes, but hardly effete!” He circled around Heero, holding himself back warily, searching for the opportunity to strike.
“What would you call that useless braid, then?” Heero sneered, motioning slightly with the tip of the sword to follow the tail’s motion as it twitched behind him. “No real warrior would keep something so frivolous and impractical. It’s nothing more than a weakness!”
“You don’t want to touch this braid,” Duo announced, feinting in briefly before darting away again. “I’m very attached to it. A weakness? Maybe, maybe. Some things are worth the risk. That’s a good lesson to learn.”
“I hardly need any lessons --” Heero snarled, before launching into his own attack -- “from you!” His sword crashed against Duo’s again, the force of his momentum carrying them both back several steps. Now it was Heero’s turn to press the offensive, his own thrusts and slashes lacking Duo’s lightning-quick speed, but more than compensating in sheer power. Duo blocked every stroke, but the jarring force of the blows half-numbed his arms, and when Heero suddenly changed direction and sliced upwards towards him from the side, he had to twist and dart clear. The long rope of chestnut hair flashed suddenly into Heero’s face, momentarily blinding him. Infuriated, rather than immediately pressing his attack, Heero grabbed for the braid, intending to immobilize his slippery opponent.
His hand closed on the braid, and instantly something clamped around his own wrist. There was no time to react before the world twisted sideways and Heero found himself flat on his back on the ground. Duo stood at guard a few feet away; Heero’s sword lay on the ground between them.
He raised his head, slowly, not willing to believe that he had actually been defeated. A collective gasp ran through the spectators, and Rashid took a startled step forward before Quatre grabbed his arm, forcing him to a stop. The outlaw still had his own sword, and he was too close to Heero. The collective expression on the faces of the Sweepers was one of great satisfaction; Maxwell looked more smug than

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

any of them as he smirked down at the King of Yusankyo.
“There’s at least one you need to learn,” Duo admonished him mockingly, flipping the point of the sword towards him. “That sometimes what looks like a weakness isn’t one. They always go for the hair. I warn them not to touch it, but they don’t believe me; they see an easy out and they have to go for it.”
Heero looked up at him and snarled a curse under his breath. He was furious at the outlaw for treating this whole situation as a joke, but even more so at himself for allowing it to happen. Every muscle tensed, in anticipation of one last desperate burst of action, as Duo hooked his own blade through the handle of Heero’s sword and flipped it up into his hand.
Duo studied the sword in his hand for a moment, then looked back up at Heero with a sudden grin, and flipped the weapon over to grasp it by the blade. “Here you go,” he said, and laughed at the expression on Heero’s face when he tossed the sword back to its owner.
Shock rippled through the courtyard. Suddenly unsure, Heero stared at Duo, and back at the sword in his hand. “Get up already,” the knight said impatiently, gesturing with his sword. “That fall can’t have bruised more than your backside and your dignity; get up.”
Face slowly burning with humiliation, Heero climbed to his feet and hesitantly resumed a guard position. “Duo! What the hell are you doing?” shouted one of the Sweepers, echoing Heero’s own unasked question.
“Shall we try this again?” Duo gave a lopsided grin. “And this time, you’ll know better than to try any cheap tricks -- won’t you?”
Heero snarled under his breath, his hands tightening on the grip of his sword, but there was a newfound respect and wariness in his bearing as he narrowed his eyes at his opponent. The knight was actually laughing, eyes sparking fiercely as he stood in a deceptively open, nonthreatening pose. Try as he might, Heero could read no hint of his true intentions under that mocking exterior.
“Well, are you coming?” Duo challenged, tapping one foot theatrically. “I can stand here all day if you like.”
Heero felt his training mentality taking hold of him. He waited a minute more, to be certain he was fully centered, and charged.

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

any of them as he smirked down at the King of Yusankyo.
“There’s at least one you need to learn,” Duo admonished him mockingly, flipping the point of the sword towards him. “That sometimes what looks like a weakness isn’t one. They always go for the hair. I warn them not to touch it, but they don’t believe me; they see an easy out and they have to go for it.”
Heero looked up at him and snarled a curse under his breath. He was furious at the outlaw for treating this whole situation as a joke, but even more so at himself for allowing it to happen. Every muscle tensed, in anticipation of one last desperate burst of action, as Duo hooked his own blade through the handle of Heero’s sword and flipped it up into his hand.
Duo studied the sword in his hand for a moment, then looked back up at Heero with a sudden grin, and flipped the weapon over to grasp it by the blade. “Here you go,” he said, and laughed at the expression on Heero’s face when he tossed the sword back to its owner.
Shock rippled through the courtyard. Suddenly unsure, Heero stared at Duo, and back at the sword in his hand. “Get up already,” the knight said impatiently, gesturing with his sword. “That fall can’t have bruised more than your backside and your dignity; get up.”
Face slowly burning with humiliation, Heero climbed to his feet and hesitantly resumed a guard position. “Duo! What the hell are you doing?” shouted one of the Sweepers, echoing Heero’s own unasked question.
“Shall we try this again?” Duo gave a lopsided grin. “And this time, you’ll know better than to try any cheap tricks -- won’t you?”
Heero snarled under his breath, his hands tightening on the grip of his sword, but there was a newfound respect and wariness in his bearing as he narrowed his eyes at his opponent. The knight was actually laughing, eyes sparking fiercely as he stood in a deceptively open, nonthreatening pose. Try as he might, Heero could read no hint of his true intentions under that mocking exterior.
“Well, are you coming?” Duo challenged, tapping one foot theatrically. “I can stand here all day if you like.”
Heero felt his training mentality taking hold of him. He waited a minute more, to be certain he was fully centered, and charged.

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

Mikkeneko: Duo is such a drama queen. Hmm. Queen...
Duo: Please, PLEASE tell me you didn’t just get crossdressing ideas!
Mikkeneko: Huh? No! I think you’d look positively icky dressed as a girl.
Duo: Thank God. Wait. Icky?
Mikkeneko: Now, Quatre... HE’D look good in a dress.
Trowa: ...
Mikkeneko: Or maybe one of those sailor fukus.7
Duo: Can we get back to the story already?

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

Steel clashed against steel, sparks flying from the notches that had not been there a day ago. The last few hours had been fast and furious; Duo’s taunts came with less and less frequency, as he was forced to save his breath for fighting. In fact, his cocky air was almost completely gone as he found himself panting, struggling to keep up the pace. His opponent, Duo noticed with not a little alarm, did not appear to be even breathing hard.
The King of Yusankyo had begun to smile, a cold, tiny smile that unnerved Duo more the longer he watched it. Broken for a moment apart, Duo stood his ground warily as his opponent circled him; much the same way he had taunted Heero at the beginning of the battle. The reflected mockery was not lost on Duo, and a little cold feeling began to settle in his stomach as he was forced to consider the notion (he never lied, not even to himself) that he might not be able to win this fight.
“Something wrong, Sir Knight?” Heero asked in a level tone. “You’re looking a little ragged around the edges.”
This guy isn’t human! Duo thought frantically, sparing one hand briefly to wipe away the sweat dripping from his neck. We’ve been fighting for hours and he isn’t even breathing hard! What the hell -- or is something wrong with me?
He realized with a start that the fatigue in his arms had pulled the sword point towards the earth as he stood, and hastily forced his weapon back into position. I can’t keep this up for much longer. I should never have let him have his sword back.
Without giving himself time to think about it, or his body an opportunity to chicken out, Duo summoned all his strength into one last attack. He threw himself at the King with an intensity born of desperation, and if his sword didn’t have the same lightning-quick speed as a lighter, fresher Duo might have had, it was still enough to drive Heero back on his heels. For one moment, he overbore Heero and forced him to

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

retreat; step by step.
All too quickly, Heero recovered, and pushed back against the Knight with equal force. For a moment, they hung balanced, the two swords crossed almost at the hilt, so close together that he could feel the heat radiating off of the renegade. They were backed almost to the edge of the platform; behind Heero were a line of spectators, his own guardsmen or the prisoners he could not tell. Keeping his attention firmly focused on the knight in front of him, instead, he saw Duo’s gaze shift away from his face, to some point over his shoulder. Duo’s eyes widened, and he shook his head almost imperceptibly; then the moment was broken, and Heero threw Duo backwards.
He did not allow a moment’s pause for his enemy to regain his footing, no longer interested in toying with his prey. Instead, he came in fast and hard on the heels of his last attack, with a speed and ferocity that made more than one of the prisoners shout in alarm. Dazed and exhausted, Duo barely managed to bring up his sword to block Heero’s shattering attack, but the blow left his arms numb to the shoulders. Heero could have easily slipped past Duo’s guard, but he brought his sword straight in at the same angle. The third time, he changed the angle of his and brought the hilt of his sword up to crash across Duo’s face. Duo’s grip on his own weapon loosened, and Heero easily tore the sword from his shaking hands. It flew through the air and buried itself, vibrating, point-down in the wooden platform. Far too far out of reach to be any use.
There was a moment of breathless silence as the steel sang in the quivering air, and then Duo slumped exhausted to his knees in front of Yusankyo’s king.
“No!” came a shout from the spectators -- one of the Sweepers, no doubt. The disturbance was quickly silenced by one of the palace guards, though. Rashid breathed a silent sigh of relief. Quatre bit his lip and started forward, but halted, unsure, after barely half a pace.
“I lost,” Duo muttered into the silence. “I lost. I don’t believe this...” He tilted his head and stared up into Heero’s face Whatever he was searching for, though, he did not find. “No way. Just no way! You’re not even winded. That’s just not possible -- I swear --”
“By the terms of our agreement,” Heero said, taking a step forward, “the loser of the duel forfeits his life to the winner.”
“I hadn’t forgotten!” Duo snarled, temper flaring. “Just get on with it, will you,

Re: Tenku no GUNDAM

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

retreat; step by step.
All too quickly, Heero recovered, and pushed back against the Knight with equal force. For a moment, they hung balanced, the two swords crossed almost at the hilt, so close together that he could feel the heat radiating off of the renegade. They were backed almost to the edge of the platform; behind Heero were a line of spectators, his own guardsmen or the prisoners he could not tell. Keeping his attention firmly focused on the knight in front of him, instead, he saw Duo’s gaze shift away from his face, to some point over his shoulder. Duo’s eyes widened, and he shook his head almost imperceptibly; then the moment was broken, and Heero threw Duo backwards.
He did not allow a moment’s pause for his enemy to regain his footing, no longer interested in toying with his prey. Instead, he came in fast and hard on the heels of his last attack, with a speed and ferocity that made more than one of the prisoners shout in alarm. Dazed and exhausted, Duo barely managed to bring up his sword to block Heero’s shattering attack, but the blow left his arms numb to the shoulders. Heero could have easily slipped past Duo’s guard, but he brought his sword straight in at the same angle. The third time, he changed the angle of his and brought the hilt of his sword up to crash across Duo’s face. Duo’s grip on his own weapon loosened, and Heero easily tore the sword from his shaking hands. It flew through the air and buried itself, vibrating, point-down in the wooden platform. Far too far out of reach to be any use.
There was a moment of breathless silence as the steel sang in the quivering air, and then Duo slumped exhausted to his knees in front of Yusankyo’s king.
“No!” came a shout from the spectators -- one of the Sweepers, no doubt. The disturbance was quickly silenced by one of the palace guards, though. Rashid breathed a silent sigh of relief. Quatre bit his lip and started forward, but halted, unsure, after barely half a pace.
“I lost,” Duo muttered into the silence. “I lost. I don’t believe this...” He tilted his head and stared up into Heero’s face Whatever he was searching for, though, he did not find. “No way. Just no way! You’re not even winded. That’s just not possible -- I swear --”
“By the terms of our agreement,” Heero said, taking a step forward, “the loser of the duel forfeits his life to the winner.”
“I hadn’t forgotten!” Duo snarled, temper flaring. “Just get on with it, will you,