a/n: (waves sheepishly) Hello everyone. This is the first time I've written anything in this fandom, and so I appreciate any and all feedback I get for this fanfic. (thank you in advance, to those who review) I wrote this because I really do love the relationship between Wonrei and Lien. Ah, the title is latin, and roughly translates as "At the moment of death".
Disclaimer: I don't own Gash/Zatch Bell. (sobs quietly in background)
In Articulo Mortis
The clock is ticking and all she can see is blood. Dripping to the stone methodically, each drop adding to the already too large puddle staining the stones beneath his body. She can feel her tears, hot and wet, streaming down her cheeks as she presses her hands tightly against the wound, hoping against all odds that she can somehow staunch the flow.
Blood wells between her fingers and stains them red.
"Wonrei!" She sobs, her voice cracked and broken.
His eyes are dull, almost lifeless as he stares up at her through thick lashes and long white bangs. He is smiling, and it is breaking her heart. A trembling, weak hand reaches up to caress her face, and her cheek is sticky with blood as it drops away. Quickly, she takes it in her own, pressing it once more against her cheek.
All she can see is scarlet. There is blood everywhere, too much, too much, and she knows when this is over she'll never be able to wear red again.
His lips move, but she cannot hear him speak. The gentle murmur of his voice falls upon deaf ears as the tears stream harder and she chokes back the sobs welling in her throat.
Megumi and Tia are pulling her away now, and she lashes out as his hand slips from hers, screaming in rage as the others restrain her. He is mortally wounded they say, and this is the only way he'll be able to survive. She screams again, they're being parted, parted, and there's nothing she can do about it.
She breaks free, rushing to his side once more. She begs to God, to any God, praying frantically for a miracle. But she knows that this is real, and the only miracle that ever happened to her was him.
There is the smell of smoke, and the book is flaming, and she no longer holds back her sobs. A gentle hand reaches up once more, tangling in her loosened hair, pulling her downwards. She gasps as he kisses her, and she can taste his blood on her tongue as they take in each others essence, making it last, knowing that this memory would be all they had to carry themselves forward.
He is disappearing, and she is choking on her tears, hiccupping, clutching his hand tightly as it fades from view. And when he is gone, she throws herself onto the stone, so cold and unfeeling, letting it take her sorrows away. Gentle hands touch her shoulders, and she throws herself into their embrace.
He was all she ever wanted, and now he was gone. Destined to be a memory.
"Wonrei, right now, I'm very happy you know. Since I get to live with you…"
"Wonrei, I love you…"
"Eventually we will have to separate…"
"Let us at least have our feelings, if nothing else."
"I always want to be with you, Wonrei!"
"The only path that's left for me is…to live on in your heart."
-End
a/n: Please don't kill me for the ending! The italicized text at the end here consists of lines taken from the subbed version of the anime.
Oh!
Thank you for reading. (bow)