-Ohayo! This is my story. I know so far it's been confusing but it will start to get a bit better. Uhm, if you feel very strongly about any sort of religion, you should not be reading this. I would love to hear your comments on this story, so reviews are very welcome. Arigato!-

Part three: Angels on Earth

"I had the dream again." Angel's voice barely reached the ears of those around her. In a circle sat Louie and Lizzy O'Malley, Aisha Iwakura, Lian Nataku, Mako, and Rasid Kurama. Rasid's arms cradled his daughter protectively as the others all began to discuss the strange dreams that Angel was receiving. Mako was having them as well.

"Another?" Lizzy asked.

"Yes."

The subject seemed to trouble her and she pursed her lips. Lizzy watched, quietly placing a hand over the girl's own.

"It's always so blurry, but I can tell something very bad is going on. I can almost feel the death around me..."

For such a young and normally optimistic woman, these words were strange to hear from Angel. The dreams had started to plague her a few months back. Her eyes came to Louie's, and in answer his seemed to say, `My powers here are limited, I don't know what to tell you.'

"Mako." Now Lizzy was speaking, looking up from Angel's tired face. "I want you to stay with her at all times. Tell me, are your dreams any clearer?"

"No. It was dark, blurry, and terrifying, and that's all I could tell you."

"You've got us on your side, Angel," Aisha whispered, leaning closer. The girl's touch was warm, and Angel felt some of her strength return to her.

"Thank you. I really need it."

Rasid held his small daughter closer, murmuring softly into her ear. Lian sighed and stood.

"Listen, you've got all of us. The point is, Angie, we know this is hard but it can't be helped. So we'll deal. Now, is anyone else hungry?"

There were several nods and Lian walked away to order pizza. Angel stood as well and began to pace.

"There are other dreams, too," she said, thinking hard. "Other dreams that are about different times. Once I saw Queen Elizabeth's court. Could you imagine? No one's ever really been able to see that. Once I saw some kind of Egyptian temple...and it goes on."

Louie shook his head, trying to push away the images she was speaking of, trying to ignore the things she was saying.

"They were like different lives, all throughout time. You have no idea what it was like having those dreams..."

"Listen, luv," Louie said quietly, "you're under a lot of stress and I want you to take it easy. No, just listen." He held up a hand to stop her coming protests, his eyes pained. "I don't want you to keep pursuing this boy. It's for the best."

"How can I help?" Mako asked.

"Watch over her. She needs her companions more than ever now."

"Sure thing."

The group fell silent, each thinking very different things. It seemed like darkness was ahead.

~~

The Archangel Michael stood gravely, arms crossed neatly over his chest. It was either this or the end of the world.

"Michael." Archangel Gabriel stood beside him. "You think..."

"I know. If she were to give into temptation this time, the Apocalypse would ensue."

"Why this time, Michael?"

"Because God is on Earth. Because the second coming of God is prophesied to bring about Apocalypse. Because He is down there, secretly or not, He cannot ignore the fact that she will be tempted again and that if she fails as she has countless times before, He must reveal Himself to the world. He must bring Judgement."

"So to keep them apart is your answer?"

"Better two damned, Gabriel, than the entire world."

"Damned?"

"If she is tempted, yes. If not, her pain will only continue until she joins us in Heaven and leaves the mortal realm behind."

"After all these centuries, all these lives, she has never chosen Heaven over life. You think she will join Heaven this time."

"The pain will be too great for her to handle. She will succumb in one of her next few lives. Then mankind will be safe. For a while."

Archangel Gabriel shook his head, staring at Archangel Michael with sad eyes. "It is a sorry day when one sees Heaven doing Hell's work."

"I would hardly call it Hell's work, Gabriel. This will also rid the area of the demons she draws to her."

"Michael, I can only pray you know what you're doing."

"I believe I do, Gabriel."

"Then, go with God."

"You as well."

~~

Angel shook herself from a dream. A dream, ironically enough, about angels and the exile of Adam and Eve from Eden.

Shaken, she slid on the slippers and walked through the apartment. Wrapping her arms around herself, she looked to the sky.

Allah, I ask for nothing except the simple knowledge that you're truly out there.

Her prayer was shortened by Mako walking into the room and placing her arms around the smaller woman.

"The dream? Adam and Eve?"

"Yes. The dream."

"This is weird. Neither of us have any sort of religion," Mako commented. Angel whimpered and buried her face into Mako's shoulder.

"I feel so helpless and weak."

"I know, little Angel."

"Adam and Eve..."

"Don't worry, sweetheart, I've got you."

~~

"Quatre-sama...can't you sleep?" Abdul asked as he stepped into the room. The young man shook his head.

"No. I keep having strange dreams."

"Allow me to help, Quatre-sama. I'll tell you about the family I had."

Quatre nodded and sat on his bed after offering his friend a seat.

"Twenty-three years ago I was married. When you were four, Quatre-sama, I had a newborn baby. A little girl, so precious and sweet. She died, though, not long after. My wife, too."

"I wish I could have known her," Quatre replied, and smiled. "Thank you, Abdul."

"Goodnight, Quatre-sama."

"Goodnight."

But after Abdul had left, Quatre's dark mood remained. "Adam...and Eve...what am I missing?"

~~

Gabriel glided silently over the Winner Estate, praying. He circled above Quatre's room, eyes ever watchful.

`Lord please bless him, guide him through these hardships.' Lower, lower he circled, until he was floating before the window.

`Sleep now, Quatre, and have sweet dreams.'

And with the blessing of sleep bestowed upon Quatre, Gabriel returned to the heavens to watch.

~~

The Lord looked upon the face of the devil and the demon, and of the fair angels beside Him.

"If she must be tempted, she must be tempted alone. The man must not be with her." The angel spoke.

"Yes," agreed the Lord.

"Afraid?" asked the devil.

The Lord did not respond, but the devil knew the answer.

"She has been tempted before and failed," commented the demon.

"She will not fail," answered the angel.

"No," agreed the second. "This time she will not fail."

"We shall see," the devil said.

~~*~~Fin!

-Ohayo! Are you getting it yet? Hopefully I haven't given away too terribly much. Please let me know how you're liking it!-