Disclaimer: All rights and privileges to Shin Kidousenki Gundam Wing are trademarks and property of Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency, and associated parties. The characters of these works are used WITHOUT permission for the purpose of entertainment only. This work of fiction is not meant for sale or profit.

A Shade Darker: Epilogue: A Shade Brighter

By: Elf

Aurora looked at the fading fang marks on her neck. They were almost gone. She had enough scars on her hand and didn't want any more. She looked at herself in the mirror and nodded in satisfaction.

Today, Duo was coming out of the hospital and she was glad for that. She had visited him every day with Quatre, Heero, Zechs, Une, and Noin. She had met Hilde and Cye and liked them. She and Hilde were becoming fast friends. It had been a while since Aurora had someone her own gender that she could call a friend. She was also becoming close to Quatre. The blooming physic had a billion questions to ask each day about power and such. Not that she minded.

She turned in the mirror, getting a better look at herself. She was wearing a simple burgundy velvet dress that Treize had bought for her. He was having fun dotting on her and teaching Trowa, she realized. Vampires couldn't have children for the most part and Treize didn't want to damn a child to life as a Dampier she realized, to walk on the edge of light and dark. So, he had adopted her for the most part.

Until I go live with Duo, that is, she said with a smile as she spun in the mirror, liking how the dress swirled around her legs. She had kept her hair loose, only tying it from her face with a matching ribbon, letting it fall to her slender knees. She smiled softly and wondered what was going to happen to her.

There was a knock on the door. Aurora said, "Come in." She smiled at the cherubic blond looked at her with huge, aqua eyes. He held out his arm for her in courtly style and she took it after she slipped in the black swede coat that Treize had supplied.

Quatre said, "You look beautiful. I don't think Duo's going to be up for that yet." He blushed a little at his joke. She laughed at him and patted his arm.

"Oh, you don't know Duo that well then," she said playfully as they walked down the stairs of Treize's estate together. Treize and Trowa were asleep in their respective resting places during the daylight hours.

At the front gate was Heero, Zechs and Noin waiting for them. Aurora saw all of her and Duo's things packed in the back. They were going home today. Their home on L2. Aurora was slightly nervous, moving in with him so soon. After all, they haven't even been on a date yet, but they did sleep together. Multiple times.

She smiled as she slid into the car. Heero and Zechs had a small argument on who would drive. Noin rolled her eyes and looked at Aurora. She said, "Men."

"Oh, don't you know it," Quatre said with a smile. Aurora laughed as Zechs smiled triumphantly and held the keys in his hand. His half-brother merely shrugged and sat beside Aurora. Heero looked her over then ahead.

Then, the engine started and they were off.

******

"So, you knew about the Cycle and everything and didn't let me in on it?" Duo asked the boy standing beside his bed.

"Yes," the slightly arrogant Chinese accented voice replied.

Duo looked into Wufei's black eyes and asked, "So why didn't you help me?"

"I'm not Catholic," Wufei replied as he crossed his arms.

Duo snorted and replied, "But you're a magic user, Wu-Man. A Dragon Clan, no less. A true wizard. You could have kicked the fuck out of that witch's ass and back."

"They wouldn't let me," Wufei said, looking ashamed, "And I couldn't disobey them because that would be unjust."

"Riggghhhttt," Duo replied as he laid back into his bed.

Wufei arched a delicate eyebrow. He said, "You won and didn't die. You proved yourself strongest and prevailed. You won a great victory, Duo."

"I still could have used the backup," Duo grumbled as he pecked at the fabric of his blanket. He was going home today. Sally had okayed it. He would be home with Aurora. Hilde had found her a new place, so she wouldn't hurt him with Cye around constantly, then she had found out about Aurora. She had been really glad about the new place then after she had seen them together.

Wufei sighed and replied, "Duo, you're a warrior, you may not like it, but you are. You have to fight, to win. There are people who depend on you. You won this battle, Maxwell, but there will be others."

"I know that Wufei. I know that better than you could ever know. I'll fight and I'll probably die, but I'm the God of Death. How can Death be killed?" Duo replied with a grin.

Wufei looked at him curiously with his sloe eyes. He said, "Sometimes your logic stumps me, Duo. You have your scars, wear them proudly. Show your strength and courage. You may be a baka at times, but you're one of the strongest people I know. After Yuy of course."

"Of course," Duo replied wirily as Wufei walked to the door, his white jacket swirling around him.

Wufei smirked at him and said, "Next time, Duo, we'll fight together."

"Promise?" Duo asked with a grin. He fell silent as he felt a familiar presence run into the room, strait into Wufei. Wufei gave Aurora a look of distaste as he looked her slight form over. She glared back at him and he smirked. He took one last look at Duo before he walked out of the room.

Aurora ran over to him and perched herself on the bed. He had to admit that she looked lovely. She reached out and stroked the bandage around his throat. He reached over and caressed the fading bite mark. "I missed you," Aurora whispered as she leaned on him.

Duo stood up, bringing her with him. He stripped out of his robe, giving her an exaggerated view of his body. He felt the want and need swell up inside her and he smiled as he slid into boxers and jeans.

She walked up behind him and lightly danced her fingers over his scars. He froze for a moment and jerked away. He turned around to face her startled expression and took her face in his hands. They both had some healing to do, he realized as he looked at her. Then he kissed her.

Let it be what it may, Duo thought wirily, hoping that Wufei could hear his thoughts.

******

Night had fallen and Quatre and Trowa were sitting in Treize's snowy garden. Quatre hunched over in his flight jacket as he looked Trowa over. Trowa looked at him, tilting his head so his tawny hair uncovered both dark green eyes.

Quatre asked, "What are you going to do?"

Trowa smiled faintly and traced his cheek with his finger. Quatre sighed and leaned closer. He answered, "I'm going to learn with Treize. You have things you need to do for the Winner corporation and I need to find out what I can do and what I am."

Quatre blinked back tears. He asked, "Is this good bye?"

"No, Little One, it isn't. We'll still see each other. I just need to figure things out. And I'm immortal, you're not," Trowa answered in a sad voice. The graceful vampire stood up, looking every inch the graceful vampire he was with his black duster. "Besides, you're just too pure and good," Trowa said softly.

"I don't care what you are!" Quatre shouted, standing up. He placed his arms around Trowa's waist and said softer, "I don't care. You're still Trowa. I don't care if you're a werewolf or a zombie or a demon, you're still Trowa, and that's all I care about."

Trowa wrapped his arms around the cherubic boy and held him for a while. They just stood in the snowy garden, holding each other. Trowa knew that they would meet again. He simply knew it deep in his soul.

******

"You owe me," Minerva replied, holding out her pale hand. Zechs looked the vampire over and so did Noin. Minerva snapped, "Your half-sister is the hardest person to get along with. If I hear one more speech about pacifism, I'll go insane."

Zechs wrapped his arm around Noin's shoulder and guided her into the palace. He had a lot to think about, to consider with his sister, his brother, and Noin. He had something to live for, something light and good. "Together, we'll do it together," Noin had told him and Zechs had known she was right.

Zechs replied, "Tell Forest to put it on my tab."

"She'll kill you for that," Minerva said, bristling, her light, bright green eyes narrowing.

Noin looked her over and said, "She can try."

"Dammit!" Minerva shouted into the hall.

******

Heero stood at the ancient church, sword in his hands. The place was in ruins, stain glass littering everywhere. He felt the vampire near him, the hunger, the greed, and the young girl he held in his arms.

This was his mission in life now. There was no need for Heero Yuy, the Perfect Soldier in this time of peace, but there was need of Heero Yuy, Defender from Darkness. He saw the vampire bent over the little girl.

He silently ran up to it and cut his head off. The little girl looked up at him with huge, grey-blue eyes from under a lock of chestnut brown hair. He lifted her into his arms and said, "Lets get you home."

******

Duo sat at his computer, thoughtfully stroking his braid. Everyone was doing okay. Heero was vampire hunting. All Heero knows how to do is fight and kill, Duo realized sadly. Heero, you need a good woman in your life, he thought as he looked at the e-mail Heero had sent him.

Zechs and Noin were figuring things out. Minerva had sent him an e-mail telling him that much. Minerva had went back to Forest, of course, but she had asked for Heero's address and e-mail of all things.

Trowa was training with Treize. Quatre was back at Winner Corp. Duo knew that those two would see each other as much as possible. It was pretty damn obvious, and if that was their thing, Duo would be okay with that.

Duo found himself jumpy lately. Especially if something touched his neck or his back. He hadn't even let Aurora do that. He now knew why she was so touchy about people touching the scars on her hand. It was personal. And he had woken up from nightmares with Lilith killing him, raping him, all kinds of wonderful things like that.

He shivered and felt slender arms wrap around him. "Hey," he whispered, leaning on her.

"Hi," she replied, nuzzling his shoulder with her nose. He chuckled at the tickling sensation, inhaling her lavender scent. He spun around and caught her, sitting her on his lap. She laughed and threw back her shining golden head.

He kissed her quickly before he stood her up. He looked into Aurora's silvery eyes and said, "Baby, there's some things I've gotta do." She nodded and walked out of the office. Duo stood up and walked over to the book shelf.

He had built it himself, out of steel and aluminum. He pressed a button on one of the shelves and a hidden panel revealed itself. There was an ancient leather bound journal with a quill pen and ink lying there. He took the contents out and ran his fingers over the hard brown leather. He walked back to his desk and sat down.

He carefully paged through the parchment until he found a blank page. He thought, I'm glad that Sister Helen taught me calligraphy once upon a time. He opened the ink and dipped the quill into it. The Called had been keeping records like this for thousands of years he realized as he looked at the blank page. This book even had accounts of Liam O'Roruke in it. It spoke of Angelus and Dracula. It read heavily of Lilith.

Duo planted the quill on the page and chewed on his lip. Then he began to write:

After Colony 196

Duo Maxwell

Gundam Pilot, Called

The Cycle of Darkness has been completed, with the death of Lilith and the opening of the gates of Hell stopped. An uncountable amount of vampires and ghouls had been exterminated in the battle as well as a Satanist witch named Jason. Lilith, most notably, had been slain by one of her own fledglings.

This isn't me. I'm Duo Maxwell. I wasn't meant for this sort of shit. I'm the God of Death. Wherever I go, a shadow of Death follows me. I lost my parents, my best friend, and my surrogate family while I survived, unchanging.

A lot of shit happened to me in this battle. I was beaten , tortured, and fell in love with a wonderful girl. I almost died as well. Death takes a whole new meaning when she almost claims you herself. At least, I hope Death's a chick when she takes me . . .

Anyway, I really don't know how to do this. I'm a master at randomness and chaos, not a book keeper. It's simply not my style.

I do know this though. There will always be evil in this world, always be darkness. I'm always going to be leery of certain things now and there are things that I can't forget, no matter how much I want too.

Since I'm a Called, its my duty to kick its ass.

Duo Maxwell

The End!

Really!

So, what did you guys think? Should I do a *shorter* sequel or not? Did you like it?

I would like to thank Marce, Trio, Sam, Katrina, and all those others who helped me along the way like Space Vixen X and Cherry Blossom. And to Shini-Chan for writing all of those wonderful MSTs for me and the fan art. I'm also thanking Poka Dot for fan art as well. Thanks guys. And, most of all, to the people who review. You are the ones who get me off my ass and writing.

Duo appreciates it as well!

Thanks,

Elf.