Darkness and Light: Part 2
Thunder
cracked in the distance as I walked along the beaten gravel pathway.
Gravestones, old, misshapen, and unreadable, lay around me, sat crookedly into
the damp, cool ground. I sighed and continued on, paying the oncoming storm no
heed. I had more important matters on my mind.
It has
been lonely this past year. A year of poverty, death, and searching....a search
that most likely is in vain. I stared quietly as I passed a tall, lovely statue
of an angel, with feathery yet stony wings outspread, clad in ivory colored
robes. Quite lovely, but not the angel I have been searching for.
I have
been searching for him ever since I came to Earth, and it feels as though I've
been all over, when I know that I have only covered a mere distance. It seemed
as though my search would never end, and I would be forever doomed to walk this
planet, waiting and looking. Ironic,
isn't it? I had been been banished from Hell, only to return to Purgatory.
The sky
was horridly gray, and I pulled the black trenchcoat I wore closer to my body
as I continued to wander through the graveyard.
Many
have wondered why I call myself the God of Death. Sometimes, I even ask myself
that, considering my fallen status, but then I remember that I had inadvertenly
killed an angel, stripping him of his heavenly radiance...I had committed
sacrilige....
The
rain began to pour. Wordlessly, I jammed my hands into my pockets and bowed my
head, the cold water streaming down my face. While others ran for shelter, I
continued my trek through the rain, my chesnut bangs plastered to my forehead.
The streets were deserted, with the exception of the few cars that passed by,
cascading water upon the sidewalk on which I walked.
I found
myself shivering as night neared, and my body quaked with the advent of
illness; pnemonia, most likely pnemonia. I had foolishly forgotten that this
new, frail human body that I possessed wasn't as strong as that of a god.
The
rain had become harder, and, weary with illness and hunger, I stopped upon the
muddy side of the road. I had been walking so far that I had long left the
town. The rain showed no sign of
stopping, and I was burning up with fever, though I was freezing.
I tried
to take another step, to keep going, but I found that my knees no longer seemed
to work, and my feet felt nearly nonexistant. I tried desperatly to regain my
balance, but I was feeling horribly lightheaded, my vision blurred. As I fell
to the cold, wet asphalt, victim to illness, I heard a car door slam in the
distance and a pair of voices come near me. Then, my world faded to darkness,
into blissful unconsciousness.
*******************
I
was...I was flying. I could feel the steady beat of leathery wings against my
back, the gentle breeze blowing against my body. I opened my eyes, and saw the cheerful white billows
of cumulus as I soared.
Many
times had this dream come to me, and it always was the same. Once again, I was
among the clouds, just like before I had been proclaimed God of Death, gliding
through the skies carelessly. Then, I would always hear a laugh of joy below
me. And, everytime, I would look down through the thin clouds-and it always
ended there.
I
continued to coast the breezes, when, just as I expected, I heard the laugh. I
glanced down, subconsciously ready for the dream's end. But..this time it
didn't.
From
the clouds emerged a beaming angel, hair of palest gold and wings of whitest
snow. The feathery wings moved in perfect unison with mine as he neared me,
aqua eyes gleaming.
"Duo...I've
missed you..." came his gentle voice. It made my heart lap and ache at the
same time, I had heard his voice again, yet it had only been a dream.
"I've been searching for you...all this time...and now..." His marine
eyes were glistening with tears, "I have found you..."
"...Quatre..."
His
touch felt so real...so warm and inviting against my skin. His gentle
fingertips against my cheek, the heavenly warmth that radiated from him..it was
pure euphoria. Pure, false euphoria...yet I had waited so long to taste his
sweet lips andhold his warm body in my arms. Finally...
I
lowered my lips towards Quatre's, ready to feel his silky caress again..I had
been more starved for his touch than food itself. But suddenly, my angel had
vanished, along with the sky, and left me in darkness.
Lightning
flashed outside, and thunder cracked in harmony with the roar of wind and rain.
I was in a house, safe and away from the elements, though I still shook a bit
from fever.
Those
voices..they must've brought me back to thier home and cared for me. I hoped
that they came to check on me soon. I wanted to thank them.
I
curled into the warmth of the large, soft bed, clinging desperatly to the image
of Quatre that my dreams had given me. It was then that I realized that my
caretakers must know good medical procedure. They had freed me of my soiled wet
clothing, and had dressed me in non-restricting light pajamas, witout even
waking me. I was impressed.
The
door creaked open, and a dim light flicked on. I glanced over, and saw a young
man, perhaps the age of 23, walk in, carrying a wet washcloth, food, and some
sort of medecation. He was obviously of Middle Eastern descent; I could tell
from his dark hair and onyx eyes, as well as his attire. He was very handsome,
and wore white, slightly billowy pants and a loose tan shirt with a vibrant red
vest over that. Atop his short black hair sat a jaunty red fez. He smiled
warmly and walked near me, setting the food tray and medicine on the
nightstand.
"Ah,
so our nameless visitor has awakened!" He chuckled cheerily and pulled up
a chair, sitting on it backwards. "How are you feeling?"
I sat
up rigidly and smiled weakly. "I think I'm a little bit better..I want to
thank you for helping me."
The
Arab man smiled again. "Don't thank me, thank my master. He feels that he
should help those in need. Someone he helped once called him a "Guardian
Angel". And he's only about your age, I suspect. You both appear close to
the same age." He handed me the washcloth then went to the food tray.
"My name's Darius. I won't be the only guy coming to check on you
though. About 5 of us Maguanac soldiers
have been assigned to keep tabs on you. We had to convice that kiddo not to
come up here until your fever has gone down." Darius nodded good-naturedly
as he sat the food in front of me.
"My
name's Duo...I'd really like to meet your master when I feel better.." I
replied as I began to eat gratefully.
Darius
nodded. "Let me check your temperature. Abdul and Auda were giving me a
hard time about playing wet nurse,but I don't mind. I know more about medical
stuff than those two any day!" He grinned, then looked at the thermometer
that he had pressed into my mouth.
"Am
I still contagious, Darius?"
"Just
barely. I'll call him on up. He'll be delighted. Do you like tea?"
I
nodded, although truthfully I had never drank tea. Sure, I knew what it was,
but I had never tasted it.
I
continued to eat while Darius walked to a small intercom and called to his
master. I smiled a bit. This man called a boy barely my age "master",
yet this boy didn't treat him like a servant, but more like a fellow soldier or
comrade. I concluded that it was just a term of enderment for a well-beloved
leader.
The
Maguanac walked back over to my bedside and administered the medication to me.
I made a face, as it did not taste exactly like cherries and cream, and
swallowed it with a grimace. Darius laughed.
"Yeah, we know it isn't the best tasting stuff. He should be here
any time now." As if on cue, a small knock sounded from the othre side of
the door. "Oh, that would be him! Come in!" Darius stood to leave. I
watched fixedly as the door opened and in walked a boy no younger than I. He was carrying a tea tray, laden with
two cups and a steaming pot of tea. I drew in a sharp breath.
"Q-quatre?"
The tea
tray clattered to the floor, dropped from the young man's grasp in surprise.
The china shattered, spilling tea all over the dark cranberry carpet.
"Master
Quatre? Are you alright?"
"Yes...I'm
fine..Darius..I'll take care of the mess..."
"Sure
thing, kid." He smiled curiously, then left, closing the door behind him.
Silent surprise hung in the room as we stared at each other in awe, the
shattered tea cups lying forgotten at his feet.
I
couldn't take my eyes from his crystal clear gaze. His pale hair framed his
graceful face, long blond bangs not obscuring tears of mixed emotions in
his brilliant marine eyes. He gasped
softly, hands fallen limply to his sides. He was just as lovely as I remembered
him.
"...I
don't beleive it...oh my God..."
Frankly,
neither could I. There he was, a fallen
angel reborn, standing before me. It had been a year...a long, harsh, lonely
year...time had been kind to him; he still appeared the same beautiful angel
that I remembered from what seemed so long ago. Silently and shakily, he
stepped towards me, his soft lips curved in an awed smile. When he got to my
bedside, he sat down upon the bedding next to me and grasped my hands, tears
glimmering in his eyes. He placed a hand upon my cheek, tracing my face with
nible fingertips. His touch felt like velvety silk, a touch that I never
thought I would feel again. It was as though he was trying to rekindle a
memory, long forgotten. He was so close, after so long. I pulled him into my
arms, mustering all the strength I
could, but I was glad to have his strength and warmth with me again.
"Duo..I
never thought...of all places...it's been so long..." Quatre looked at me,
blushing at his lack of words. His fathomless eyes glittered with gentle light,
a reminder of the beautiful halo that once encompassed his golden hair.
"Shhh...."
I whispered, putting a gentle finger to his lips. I smiled, and leaned up. For
a brief moment, we hesitated, content with watching each other, then I breathed
deeply as Quatre's lips pressed gently and hungrilly against mine. I could
taste and feel his tears against my cheek as they mingled with my own, and
smiled to myself as his arms wrapped around my shoulders and held me nearer, as
though I was going to vanish into thin air, just as he had to me only a year
ago. Finally, we were whole again...and my search was over...
Darkenss...searching
for Light...not even Heaven's taboo could stop me...and I had succeeded.
~*Owari*~