The Gate of Death
Jo-chan
Disclaimers: Standard Gatekeepers disclaimers apply. I don not own the characters and I'm merely borrowing them for a page or two. Please don't sue, I'm a good kid.
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Chapter 2- Promises Made
In his apartment, Shun paced agitatedly. His gaze kept straying towards Ruriko's darkened room. Not a sound was heard since he took her back to her house. Ruriko was quiet and subdued, not even rising to the bait when he tried to tease her to cheer her up. His mind kept flashing images and traces of his conversation with Specs and Feye who worriedly accosted him earlier.
// Ukiya-senpai, I'm worried about Ikusawa-senpai... with the knowledge of the negative gate, AEGIS international will most likely call for a... a cessation on Ikusawa-san's quintessence," confided Specs worriedly as he cast a worried look at Ruriko's pale and forlorn figure.//
// Hai, hai, hai, Taicho-san. As far as I know, AEGIS international has a policy on gatekeepers who wield the negative gate. That every negative gatekeeper is a threat to human existence and AEGIS international has orders to end the threat no matter what the cost," added Feye somberly.//
Ukiya could feel the tears that stung his closed eyes. Turning, he slammed a fist against the wall, punching a hole through the cement as his gate power also erupted. Hardly feeling the pain, he fell onto his knees. He could suddenly hear the sound of sobbing from Ruriko's house. There were agitated voices, most likely from Ruriko's parents as Ruriko told them about the procedures AEGIS international would most likely take upon their knowledge of the negative gate.
// Gomen Ruripe, I failed you...//
The future seemed so grim. It was true though that the gatekeepers were admired and acknowledged as Earth defense members but without Ruriko in his life, everything he'd worked hard to protect would be meaningless.
There was a sudden fall of snow inside his apartment. Yukino suddenly appeared, her eyes that have seen infinity seeming all the more sad. Hisame squeaked on her shoulder and as Yukino raised her hand, a perfect snowflake drifted from her to Shun's direction.
Shun stared at it, the solitary beauty of that perfect snowflake reminding him so much of Ruriko's beauty and spirit.
"In the face of adversity, even in death, one must not give up until the last breath is gone from your lips," stated Yukino as she reached out a hand and placed it on Shun's trembling shoulders.
"Don't give up Ukiya Shun, it is not only your future that is shrouded in turmoil but the existence of another," whispered Yukino before the sudden rush of snow engulfed her and she disappeared as mysteriously as she emerged.
"Not just my future but the existence of another," whispered Ukiya as he held the perfect snowflake in the center of his palm. Finding no other strength, he gave into his tears but as each tear dropped, resolve and determination grew. The will to save the life of the one he loves.
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In the headquarters of the AEGIS Far East Branch, the chief commander contemplated his choices.
His first choice as the commander of AEGIS is to surrender the gatekeeper who wielded the negative gate. It would have been duty and nothing more, to kill the gatekeeper who wields the negative gate, specifically the dangerous gate of genocide as written on their policy.
His next choice was one that stemmed from his own conscience: to keep silent about the knowledge of Ruriko Ikusawa's ability to bring out the gate of genocide. It would mean one less life on his shame and the countless times Ruriko Ikusawa aided AEGIS Far East Branch would have been rewarded.
His hand hovered above the AEGIS hotline. The international phone connected to all the AEGIS offices in the world and it would take only one button to press before he notifies the rest of the world about the gate of genocide being opened.
"Shiei?" Ms. Ochial asked tentatively as she set down his cup of coffee. Her worried eyes watched his inscrutable expression and the opening and closing of his fist.
"Arigatou Ochial-kun," he said absently as he set his hand away from the handset before bringing it back up to hover above the phone. Keiko Ochial watched the battle that raged so transparently in the man she loved. Hardly believing her own daring, she took the hand that hovered over the AEGIS hotline.
She smiled faintly at his surprised expression and shook her head. Still holding his hand, she said, "Shiei, Ikusawa-san deserves a chance at life. Don't take it away by doing something a few policies instructed you to do." Her heart plummeted as the Commander shook his head in negation.
"I can't. I've always followed orders," he said roughly as his hand reached out for the phone once more. His hand paused once again, hovering above the hotline.
Miss Ochial smiled as she faced him. Cheerfully, she spoke, "Demo... there's always a first time for everything ne?"
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Ruriko slowly closed the door of her room, her head bent down as tears ran down her face. It hurt so much to tell her parents the possible consequences of having the negative gate. It was bad enough having to convince them of allowing her to continue her role as an Earth Defense member but to tell them of the possible actions AEGIS would operate upon her ability of the negative gate... it was unbearable.
To her surprise, when she looked up, she found Ukiya sitting on the couch by her window. His face was solemn, completely unlike him as he gazed silently at her. Ruriko sniffed and tried to put on a happy face. She wiped the tears from her cheek with the back of her hand. She tried to smile but it was a watery, tremulous smile. She cleared her throat and tried to speak. "G--gomen Ukiya-kun... I'm acting so silly... I'm acting like the sniveler you used to call me..."
Ukiya said nothing but continued to look at her. Ruriko walked towards him, occasionally rubbing the tears that escaped from her eyes. She stopped when she stood between his legs, looking down at his beloved face. His hands were gripping his knees tightly and Ruriko tried to crack a joke. "Ukiya-kun... don't grip your knees too hard, I might have to heal you and accidentally use the negative gate..."
Ukiya gave a pained look and suddenly, Ruriko collapsed, weeping as she knelt before Ukiya, crying on his knee. "I'm so sorry Ukiya-kun, I tried so hard, I didn't want to be another burden for you... or to give up like your oji-sama demo... I'm not strong enough... I'm not strong enough," sobbed Ruriko.
Ukiya gripped Ruriko's shoulders and knelt before her as well, taking her into his arms. He shook her a little. "Ruripe, don't give up! Don't! You're the one who gives me strength, without you, I'm nothing!" he said as he began stroking her back. Ruriko looked up to gaze into his face and her breath got caught in her throat. There was pain in his face but determination was etched so firmly in his face too, that she felt tears cease.
"I swear Ruripe, no matter what, until the last breath has passed from my lips, I'll never let anything happen to you. Please believe me, please don't give up. Please give me a reason to fight for," whispered Ukiya as he framed Ruriko's face in both his hands.
Drawing a shuddering breath, Ruriko nodded, feeling the intensity of Ukiya's emotion only partly through his words. His entire being was corded with tension and resolve as he spoke, as he held her, as he looked into her eyes. She pressed her face against his shoulder, glad to have such a solid support in the midst of chaos. Still feeling the tension, she gave voice to her own faith in him. "Hai... I promise Ukiya-kun," she whispered against his skin before she turned her face up to meet his gaze once more.
The strain left Ukiya visibly after her words. In his eyes she found only love and a commitment to her life, to her existence. She felt tears sting her eyes once more but this time it was different. It was tears of hope, relief and faith. "Arigatou," she whispered as she tilted her face up to his.
Ukiya shook his head as he smiled tenderly. "Iie... thank you for having that much faith in me Ruriko," he said before he touched his lips against hers and kissed her. The kiss was sweet and poignant, with promises made upon their devotion. It was in that brief moment when they shared the same breath, were one in their connection, and were united in their goal.
The goal to save her life.
But it would be a long and arduous journey that they would have to take.
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"Yatta! This is it!" crowed Specs as he held up a fat dusty file from the AEGIS information cabinet. The others crowded about him, looking as dusty as him in their search for old records. Bancho looked green from all the papers while Reiko's eyes looked a little glazed. Reiko shook her head to clear her brain.
"Honto desu? Is it about the Gatekeeper who has Ikusawa-san's power and condition as well desu?" asked Reiko as Kaoru looked over Specs' shoulder in the dim light. She gave a nod. "Aa, I think this is the correct one Reiko-san," said Kaoru as she squinted at the file.
Feye suddenly opened the door, her face showing alarm. "Minna, someone's coming down this hall!" she hissed before she disappeared. "Iie, iie, iie! We'll get caught for sure!" moaned Bancho as he glanced around the file room. Everyone panicked trying to find a hiding room.
When the door was opened, everybody held their breath tensely. Ms. Ochial paused and glanced at the badly disguised and hidden Gatekeepers. She sighed and said, "No need to hide Bancho, I can see your hat anyway. Minna, Shiei had another assignment for you."
Laughing nervously, the mortified Earth defense members emerged from their hiding places. "Ehehehehe... gomen nasai Ochial-kun!" groaned Specs as Kaoru tried to hide the file folder behind her back. Ms. Ochial raised a brow but refused to comment any further.
She abruptly handed them a fat manila folder and said behind her shoulder, "Minna, Ikusawa-kun has exactly a week before the Commander loses control of the situation and AEGIS international gets word of Ikusawa-kun's condition. Use that time to do whatever you can to help. As the secretary of AEGIS Far East, I order you in behalf of the commander, Gatekeepers, make a mission party as soon as possible!"
Everybody's jaws dropped so far but they quickly regained their composure and saluted smartly. "Hai! AEGIS!" chorused everybody as they ran away from the room bearing the file they sought and a new, even more revealing file.
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Far away from Japan, somewhere in an Asian island, a young lady stood serenely, looking out at the sea. A man emerged from the shadows, his hands shoved in his crisp slacks. His glasses were shoved up his hair as he joined the young woman.
"Kirei..." he murmured before he glanced sideways at the enigmatic lady who stood so close to him. His odd burgundy colored eyes met the intense hazel green-eyed gaze of the young lady he was talking to.
"Yes... I know... the sea is beautiful. How do you feel Rei?" asked the young lady, her soft alto voice indicating concern. Slowly, she gathered her thick golden-brown hair, a shade of brown only slightly lighter than Ruriko's into a ponytail as she started wading into the water. She turned back to face the fair-skinned young man who has become her companion in the last month. She gave him a small smile, but even in its insignificant size, it illuminated her face, adding a glow to her almost too perfect features.
The fair-skinned man refused to answer her gentle inquiry and instead gave one of his own. "Is it true there are over a hundred islands in this province?" he asked, refusing to meet his rescuer's stern gaze. He smiled innocently and the smile was reminiscent of a youth once idolized and even made a prime-minister in Japan.
"Kageyama Reiji!" admonished the girl before Kageyama turned back to her, his eyes, reflecting his gate of knowledge. The girl noticed the use of the gate in his eyes and lapsed into silence, waiting for him to find his answer. A few minutes later, Kageyama turned to the girl and smiled in apology.
"Gomen... I'm sorry about ignoring you Jade-san... it's just that things are changing back at my home," said Kageyama as he walked over to the young lady and took his place beside her. Saying nothing, he took Jade's hand and turned her to face him.
"Looks like you'll be meeting my past soon enough," murmured Kageyama, watching the play of emotions that were so evident in her hazel eyes but were so enigmatic to most.
Jade slowly met his eyes, her own uniquely colored gate flickering in her eyes. She tightened her hold on his hand and whispered, "I can tell... that's why I'm so afraid."
Together, they looked out at the sea as memories of what they had left behind continued to haunt them.
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Author's Notes:
Kageyama's alive and what a surprise! With another mysterious gatekeeper at his side, the question of how was he able to survive his battle with Ukiya surfaces? Is the new character one of great power and evil intent or maybe the answer to the puzzle in Kageyama and Ruriko's life? Hope you liked my story. Ja matta ne! Please R&R!
~*Jo-chan