The War of the Assassins
Part 6
Strife stepped through the Slice and did not notice as it closed behind him because he was utterly dumbfounded at the sight that met his eyes. There he was - the man he had seen so many pictures of in so many books and magazines, the man that had been his idol when he was growing up. It was Heero Yuy.
Strife got over his star-struck daze quickly as he realized the perilous situation that his idol was in. Heero Yuy, his favorite Gundam pilot, hero of the war, was about to be killed by Odessa and possibly Fused into Diablo. No, not Odessa, he corrected himself as he saw her eerie black eyes, Diablo. He was incredibly relieved. Despite his mind control and his previous statements to Rag, he felt as if he would still have some trouble with destroying Odessa. But now - she didn't even exist anymore. All that was left of her was Diablo, and Strife could deal with him easily.
He started striding purposefully towards where the two were standing, and noticed that Siren had cast a spell on Heero. Paralyze. "Didn't think that she'd sink so low..." he muttered to Rag.
"Well, she's not Odessa anymore, remember?" she replied wearily. "Aren't you going to cast a Remedy Spell?"
"I'm on it," he acknowledged. Strife felt something change in the air. Siren had finally noticed his presence and turned to look at him, obviously surprised. He couldn't quite get used to the disturbing sight of seeing Odessa being possessed by Diablo. It was as if she were tainted, dirtied by his evil. And Diablo had gotten strong...
Strife shook his head, ignored Siren's dark glare, and concentrated on casting his spell. There was no telling what Siren would do, and he'd be damned if he let his favorite Gundam pilot die with a gun in his hand. He raised Ragnarok and gathered the necessary Threads, and wove them into the correct pattern. Red light glowed in the air and hurled towards Heero as Strife threw the spell.
Fortunately, Siren could not block the Remedy and cast Paralyze at the same time, and she was also taken off guard, so the spell reached Heero safely. Strife watched as he immediately dodged the sword heading towards him and fired all at the same time. He was impressed by his courage, but knew at the same time that it wouldn't work. He was not surprised when Siren blurred out of the way and reappeared again, unharmed. Heero had collapsed onto the ground; it was only then when Strife noticed the huge, frozen gash on his back and knew that he had been poisoned by Diablo's darkness. Strife shook his head in awe - the pilot had moved fluidly and with grace, as if he had no injury at all.
"Impressive," Rag murmured, "he held out even when he was poisoned. He's stronger than I thought..."
Strife agreed with her, but did not waste time to reply. Instead he shouted to Siren, who was about to slice the boy open, "Leave him out of this, Diablo! This is between you and me!"
Siren stopped to laugh at him. The sweet, musical voice of Odessa answered him dryly, "But I was never one to obey you, was I, Strife?" She began to raise her black sword.
Strife was not fooled by her trick. He put on a burst of speed and managed to place his fiery Blade between Diablo and Heero. Siren glared at him darkly as their two Blades clashed, crackling with energy. He could feel Rag's shock at the strength and utter evil of Diablo, but he ignored it for the time being.
Strife said fiercely between gritted teeth, "You can't fool me by using Odessa's voice, Diablo. And I thought I said to leave the kid alone."
Siren drew back her Blade, and held it close to her, alert. Strife did much the same, putting his body between her and Heero, who appeared to be unconscious. She laughed again, harshly. "I'd never think you would defend the brat, Strife. It's not like you, Mr. Elite Assassin," Diablo said mockingly.
"Careful Strife," Rag warned, "he's stronger than you think." Strife knew that she had measured Diablo's strength in the brief instant that they had touched, and could tell that the Blade Soul had gotten much stronger than he had ever imagined.
"Alright," he replied to Rag. He then glared at Siren, trying hard not to lose his temper. He had been doing that a lot lately, which was not like him. "I'm here to destroy you," he said simply.
Siren was amused. "Destroy me? Your precious Odessa?" she replied, her twisted voice practically dripping with condescension and contempt.
Despite how hard he tried to ignore the comment, Strife found himself getting angry. "You're not Odessa," he snapped. He was strangely getting angrier at each word he spoke. "You corrupted her, Diablo. You killed her," he added, voice breaking. It was easier to blame it on Diablo than on himself.
Rag could sense that he was losing control. "Get a grip, Strife!" she commanded, failing to keep the anxiety out of her voice.
She almost succeeded in snapping him out of it, but before he could completely calm down, Diablo added, feigning puzzlement, "Funny...I always thought that it was you who corrupted her. That you destroyed her with your - how should I say - unfaithfulness."
Strife recoiled as if slapped. The words stabbed into him like knives and the Meadow started to swirl dizzily around him as they sank in. He's right, I corrupted her. I destroyed her. He felt an overwhelming anguish replaced immediately by an insane rage. "No!" he roared, enraged. "You're wrong. You're wrong!"
Siren merely laughed at him and said dryly, "Wrong? I don't think so. Don't forget that I was once her Blade Soul. I know everything about her, and so I know that she blames you."
She blames me. The words echoed in his head and destroyed any shred of sanity he might have had left. Strife's vision began to be tinted with a blood red.
"Strife! Stop this!" Rag shouted frantically. "You must not lose your temper, it'll make you reckless! You'll lose!"
Strife hadn't even heard Rag. His whole world was centered on the perverted figure that stood in front of him, mocking him with her words and her mere presence. Her whole body seemed to say, "This is because of you," and it drove him mad. He hated seeing Odessa like this; he couldn't stand it. He had to destroy her so that he would never have to see her black eyes and tainted aura ever again, or be killed in the process. Either way would free him from his crippling guilt.
A furious, inhuman roar tore out of his throat as he charged Siren in a blind rage.
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Odessa's joy at seeing Strife again had faded quickly when she realized that all he saw in her was Diablo, no matter how much she tried to tell him otherwise. And she had almost fainted when she heard that he was supposed to destroy her, not save her. She had thought that he really was just a jerk, despite what she had tried to convince herself these past three years, and was just about to give up on him when she heard him say broken-heartedly, "You killed her!"
And then Diablo had denied it and blamed it on him, then she had seen the anguish and guilt in his face, and had watched in utter surprise as he attacked Diablo in a blind rage, all in the name of her. That's when she knew that he still loved her. Odessa could tell just from the expression of guilt and pain on his face that he had never loved Aerowyn and had always loved her, and she wanted to melt in his arms.
But of course, she couldn't. And her beloved Strife had flown off the handle, even now he attacked her recklessly and without the excellent form he had worked on so long in Training. She watched in horror as he expended all of his energy flinging fireballs and using sloppy, energy-draining maneuvers. It's only a matter of time before Diablo retaliates, and then he dies.
Odessa wanted to cry. Strife had saved Heero, whom she had not wanted to die, but now she would have to watch him be carved apart by her Blade in exchange. And with Strife gone, Heero would have no chance. She would lose both of them. She had never felt so helpless in her entire life.
The large, black mass of Diablo's aura suddenly shifted. Diablo was beginning his counterattack. Odessa saw Strife gradually slipping, having used up almost all of his energy already. She knew that she couldn't stand watching him die, and that she had to do something, soon.
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Duo gaped as he saw a tall, lanky, dark haired, green-eyed man step through the air. One instant there was just air, the next a red slit, and then the man casually stepped through as if he were stepping through a door. And that wasn't all, he was carrying a huge, blood red sword that was on fire just like Siren's sword.
From then on, one shock just followed another. Duo watched as the stranger gave Heero a look that reminded him of the awed look ordinary civilians gave Relena when they met her in person, and then the stranger actually rescued him. By doing something funny with his sword and sending an odd ball of red light straight towards Heero, which had miraculously unparalyzed him. Duo had just decided that the man had probably cast a spell when Heero collapsed onto the ground, and he could see for the first time that he was badly wounded.
But before he could reach him, the stranger and Siren had a conversation that he was too far away to hear, the stranger had become infuriated, and he had started attacking Siren fiercely. And then wonders of wonders - he started flinging fireballs from his sword.
Siren deflected one with her sword and it landed with a burst of flame three feet away from Duo. He could feel the intense heat as it flew by him, and his immediate reaction was to drop to the ground, belly first. He spit out a wad of dirt. "I sure hope that guy's on our side," he muttered to himself, slowly getting up and eyeing the large crater the fireball had made with wonder.
"Duo!" Quatre called, panting as he ran up to him. Trowa and Wufei were right behind him.
"Quiet!" he hissed back in return, pointing at the two warriors fighting a short distance away, "Do ya want them to hear or somethin'?"
Quatre immediately clamped a hand over his mouth, eyeing the chaos warily.
"Heero's still out there," Trowa said quietly, his emotionless gaze fixed on the figure lying limp in the middle of the meadow.
"And he's not exactly in the safest place," Wufei added dryly, as numerous fireballs pummeled the earth around Heero's body.
Duo swore, and hoped that Heero wouldn't be vaporized by the time he reached him. He suddenly remembered something he'd noticed about Heero. "Hey, he's injured too. I saw this huge cut on his back just a few minutes ago," he stated to the other pilots.
"How bad is it?" Quatre asked worriedly, making sure to keep his voice down.
"I'm not sure," he admitted, "but I haveta get him out of there. I don't know if that strange man is on our side or not, but whoever he is, he's gonna burn Heero to a crisp pretty soon!"
The other pilots all eyed the said 'strange man' and the careless way he was throwing deadly fireballs, and seemed to agree with him.
"Just who is that guy anyway?" Trowa remarked curiously. "I thought I saw him step through the air a few moments ago."
"I know," Duo acknowledged, scratching his head. "He just sorta...appeared. But we can worry about him after I get Heero."
"By yourself," Wufei said in disbelief, obviously thinking that Duo wouldn't be able to pull it off.
Duo glared angrily at the other pilot and said indignantly, "I can do it! I'm the master of stealth!"
Wufei snorted. It was obvious what he thought of that.
Surprisingly, Trowa of all people came to his defense. "No, he's right. If we all try to reach Heero at the same time, one of them," he vaguely indicated Siren and the stranger, "will most likely notice. It would be best if Duo goes and we stay behind."
Duo gaped in surprise, but when he thought about it, he supposed it was just the most practical way of going about saving Heero. And Trowa was the most practical guy he knew. But he still couldn't help shooting Wufei a 'I told you so' look. Wufei glared back.
"Be careful, Duo," Quatre said softly, apparently not noticing the two giving each other ugly looks.
Pointedly ignoring Wufei, he grinned and said cheerfully, "Ah, don't worry 'bout me, Quatre. I'll have Heero back in no time!" If I'm not burned to a crisp myself.
Suddenly a fireball crashed to the ground a few feet away from where the Gundam pilots were standing. Duo jumped, Quatre flinched, and Trowa and Wufei just stared at the smoldering crater. "I shouldn't tempt fate," Duo muttered to himself, and then turned and started to make his way to where Heero was still lying, oblivious to the chaos around him.
"You guys should probably find some cover!" he called back as more fireballs started to rain down on them. Duo saw Trowa nod from the corner of his eye, and then the other three pilots headed back to their respective Gundams.
He tried to keep low to the ground and out of sight, but it was obvious that the two magicians were pretty engrossed in their fight and wouldn't notice him. Still, Duo made sure to make a large circle around the two and keep as far away as he could without losing sight of Heero. He finally reached him and eyed the smoking craters scattered around his body. Duo shook his head in disbelief as he noticed a crater right by Heero's head. "You are one lucky man..." he said, amused, and then frowned when Heero made no reply. Duo took off his oversized helmet and checked his pulse and found it steady. Heero was still alive, but unconscious.
"Thank God for that," Duo said to himself, relieved. "Relena would've killed me if I came back without ya."
At that, Heero stirred and opened his eyes. "Duo..." he said in some surprise.
Duo grinned. Figures he'd wake up after I mention Relena. "Hey buddy!" he said brightly, "Looks like you're awake. You had me pretty worried back there. How ya feelin'?"
Heero slowly sat up and Duo saw him involuntarily wince as he pulled the skin around his wound. "Like hell. What are you doing here?" he replied steadily, though his face was covered with sweat and his arms were trembling minutely.
Duo frowned. Heero almost never showed that he was in pain except if his wound was really serious. And he definitely rarely admitted it. "I should probably check that wound of yours," he stated dubiously, ignoring his question. Heero did not reply. There was an odd, glazed look in his normally alert eyes, and it frightened him. I don't think it's just the cut that's bothering him...
But Duo bent over Heero's back anyway, and gasped at the sight. The cut itself wasn't that deep or really that gruesome, it was just large. But the blood that matted around it was hard and crystalline, and odd black pus was seeping out of it, seemingly freezing the blood.
"Heero, your - your blood..." Duo stammered, "it's frozen."
Heero grimaced. "I know. There's something else wrong with me - I think I'm poisoned," he said calmly and surely, as if he were stating that he thought it'd rain tomorrow.
Duo knit his brows in confusion. "But - how? And what kind?" He hadn't seen any poison coated on the sword, he was pretty sure Siren didn't carry any with her, and she had not shot any poison darts.
"Through her sword, but...I don't know exactly how - and I don't know what kind of poison it is." Heero replied incoherently with some effort. He was now covered with cold, clammy sweat and his whole body was trembling. He didn't even seem to notice the stranger and Siren fighting a short distance away, or the numerous craters around him, and Heero noticed everything.
Screw the stranger and his fight, Duo thought, I have to get Heero out of here. He looks terrible. "Heero," he began with concern, "do ya think you can stand up? I haveta get you out of here before another fireball heads our way and actually hits you."
Now it was Heero's turn to be confused, "What fireballs...?"
Duo stared at him. "So you really haven't noticed..." he said in disbelief. By the look on Heero's face, he hadn't. Duo shook his head and said hastily, "Never mind, it doesn't matter. I'll explain later. C'mon, I'll help you get up."
"No, I got it," Heero replied as he shakily got to his feet, lacking all of his usual cat-like grace. Duo watched as he tried to take a step, bit off a cry of pain, and then started to collapse again.
"Whoa there," Duo said in alarm as he caught Heero's arm and pulled him up. "Just let me help you out, man," he continued, putting Heero's arm around his neck and supporting most of his weight.
"Thanks..." Heero said dazedly, only half conscious.
"No problem," he replied, lacking his usual cheerfulness. Duo then realized he had left the Zero System helmet lying on the ground and he picked it up with his free arm. Howard would've killed me if I just left it out here, he thought with a small smile.
They started walking slowly, and Duo noticed worriedly that Heero more or less staggered, not walked, and he had to catch him frequently when he started to collapse. On top of that, fireballs were still raining down on them and Heero wasn't alert enough to spot them, so Duo had to dodge them all by himself.
After awhile, Duo noticed that Heero wasn't even walking at all and that he was practically carrying him. He had become unconscious again. Duo took a look at his face. It was pale, clammy, covered with sweat, and his lips had a blue tinge to them. His breathing was shallow and had an odd rasping quality to it. Duo started to get really worried and knew instinctively that he couldn't let him stay unconscious. "Heero," he said anxiously. "Wake up, man. Snap out of it!"
Heero did not reply nor did he wake up. Duo was about to start shaking him when he heard a voice that froze his blood. "Time to die, Strife," he heard Siren say grimly. He turned his head in horror and realized that he had paid so much attention to the fireballs and to Heero that he had accidentally walked right where Siren and the stranger were fighting. Fortunately, Siren didn't notice him, being too busy with the man who kneeled before her with Diablo at his throat, his own sword lying behind him, out of reach.
Duo decided that the only smart thing to do was to get the hell out of there, but then the helmet suddenly slipped out of his sweaty hand and hit the ground with a loud thud. Uh oh. Siren lifted her head at the noise and glared at him with her black eyes. "Oh no, you're not getting away from me. I'll deal with you brats later," she said fiercely. Her eyes flashed angrily as she raised her free hand and Diablo began to glow brilliantly. Duo realized with dismay that he suddenly couldn't move a muscle. Heero hung on to him like a dead weight, still unconscious. Shit, we're in trouble now...
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Strife had fought like a Beserker, wildly, carelessly and without any reason. He had only known that he was angry, and that he had to kill Siren. He ignored the desperate cries of his Blade Soul as he flung fireballs recklessly, not caring where they landed and attacked with sloppy sword maneuvers. He did not care how he managed to destroy her, he just knew that he had to.
And yet when she retaliated and he started to lose, his anger gradually faded and he felt no bitterness. In fact, Strife began to feel relieved that he was going to die. He could finally be at peace, free from the world, free from a tainted Odessa, free from his guilt. So when Rag flew out of his hands and he felt Diablo at his throat, he did not care. He merely waited for the end and welcomed it wholeheartedly. His soul had died three years ago; perhaps now he could join it and be at rest.
Strife felt an odd sense of detachment. He saw Siren move her mouth and he heard her speak, but the words did not register clearly in his mind. It was as if he were listening to a foreign language, knowing only that she spoke but not what she said. It was the same with Rag, who was still shrieking to him about something. He saw Siren move, but the movement had no meaning to him, and no purpose. The fact that she lifted her hand was just that - she lifted her hand. It meant nothing to him. He felt cold, empty, and dead inside. Nothing could possibly matter to him now. It would all be over soon.
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Odessa watched with tears streaming down her face as Strife lost. She had known that he'd lose from the moment he started fighting, and yet she could do nothing. The thing that upset her most was not that he was going to die though, it was the dead look in his eyes as he kneeled before her. It was the look of a man who accepted death only because it'd be an escape, a man who welcomed it because living was too painful. It was the look of a man who's soul had died before his body.
Odessa hardly even noticed Heero and the man with the braided hair; she was so transfixed by his gaze. The dead, empty look in Strife's usually animated green eyes was more than she could bear, because she knew that she had caused it. A sick feeling in the pit of her stomach rose up her throat to become a tortured sob. "Strife!" she cried at the top of her lungs, "I'm still alive! You didn't kill me! You didn't lose me! It wasn't your fault! Strife!" He didn't hear her, he just gazed at her blankly with that sick, twisted look as Diablo inched closer and closer to his neck.
"No!" Odessa sobbed wretchedly, her shoulders shaking. "You can't die! Let him go, Diablo - let him go!" And without realizing exactly what she was doing she punched the thick, dark mass that she was standing next to in sheer rage and desperation. Her hand did not just go through the shapeless mass like she had expected, though, it actually met resistance and then sank in. She watched in utter surprise as Siren flinched and pulled back her Blade. That's it, she thought in wonder. That's how I can fight Diablo.
Odessa began punching and kicking the shapeless black thing with all of her might. With each blow she landed, Siren recoiled as if physically struck. She staggered back a few feet and dropped her Blade, crying out in pain. "What are you DOING?!" Diablo roared furiously within her mind.
She ignored him and focused her intention on Strife, who was still kneeling on the ground, only minutely surprised at Siren's pain. "Get up Strife!" she shouted desperately. He did not stir. "Get up, get up, get up!" she screamed, frustrated, now tearing and scratching at the solid black mass along with punching and kicking it. Strife still did not move for his Blade. I'm not reaching him, she thought despairingly. Odessa suddenly noticed that the black aura-like mass had started to fade a little bit, no longer so oppressively dark or thick. She could almost see the grayish light of The Void filtering through it.
"STOP IT!" Diablo commanded, his voice thick with pain.
Now's my chance. She was eerily calm, knowing exactly what she was about to do and why. So without a second thought, Odessa plunged into the black mass and let herself be swallowed by it, fighting it fiercely from within.
********************
Strife watched blankly as Siren staggered back and cried out in pain, as if she were being attacked by some invisible foe. Diablo dropped to the ground, its black aura burning sluggishly. It did not shake him out of his stupor though; he merely waited for her strange fit to be over so that he could die. He was vaguely aware of Rag shouting at him about something, but he did not understand her.
Suddenly, Siren screamed, her eyes tightly shut. When she opened them again, they were a beautiful, clear violet. Strife watched in utter surprise as her aura changed to that familiar sky blue, as pure and peaceful as the sky above him. "Strife..." Odessa said in her quiet, musical voice.
It succeeded in snapping him out of his dazed stupor. He got shakily to his feet, trembling all over. "No," he rasped painfully, refusing to believe his eyes. "It can't be...you're - you're dead."
Odessa looked at him with love and compassion shining in her eyes. "Listen to me very carefully, Strife, while I still have control," she said steadily. Strife nodded helplessly. "I know what's been killing you, what has been eating you alive. You believe you destroyed me and corrupted me, and that I hate you. You are wrong." He let out a breath that he hadn't known he was holding as she continued, "Strife...you must not feel guilty for what has happened to me. I brought it upon myself. None of it was really your fault, though if you insist that I must forgive you, then I do, with all of my heart. For the past three years, deep down, I have always loved you, Strife, and I still do," she said softly, unshed tears shining brightly in her eyes. "Forgive me for not having the courage to admit it and fight Diablo sooner."
Her quiet words lifted a weight that he had not known that he had carried for three years. He felt almost dizzy with relief. She doesn't hate me, she forgives me, she LOVES me, he thought giddily, overjoyed. Strife started to walk towards her, saying in a rush of happiness, "Of course I forgive you, Odessa. Thank you for forgiving me. You don't know how much it means to me, but never mind that. The only thing that matters now is that you're alive, and that I love you." He didn't even mind how cliché that sounded as he raised a hand to touch her pale face.
Surprisingly, she recoiled. Strife would've been crushed if it weren't for the look of love and happiness in her liquid violet eyes. She took a step away from him, while saying gently, "No, Strife. You mustn't touch me, for I don't know how long I can hold out against Diablo." Odessa shook her head sadly and added, "I can feel him even now, fighting back, and I'll only be a danger to you. Because I know that you can't destroy me even though it is your mission, but when Diablo takes over again, he'll be sure to destroy you."
Strife furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, "How did you know that I'm here to destroy you?"
"Never mind that," she replied calmly. "There's not enough time to explain."
"I don't understand," he said, frustrated. "Why can't you fight him and win? Why can't you defeat him?"
Her eyes were infinitely sad. "Strife...he's too strong, and there's too much of me that still lusts for power and will side with him. I cannot win, so I must leave before I kill you."
"But I just found you again!" he shouted angrily, devastated by her words. "You can't leave me! Not now, Odessa..." But he paused and his expression became soft as he just looked at her. Strands of her midnight blue hair floated gently in the air. She hadn't changed much in the past three years - no, she had become even more beautiful than ever. "You're beautiful..." he trailed off.
Her expression was pained as she protested, "Strife, please don't-"
"Odessa, I need you. I don't think I could bear to lose you again. Please stay with me," he interrupted, pleading quietly, knowing all the while that she'd refuse. Siren's taunting voice echoed in his mind - but I was never one to obey you, was I, Strife?
She shook her head, her hair whipping across her face. "No. I'm sorry Strife, I want to - but I can't," she said desperately, her voice breaking. She was trembling with the force of the inner battle she was fighting.
He stepped close to her and tenderly hooked the stray strands of her hair behind her ears, and then ran his hands through it. She did not protest or move back this time; instead she just looked up at him, her violet gaze explaining everything. There was pain there, and love, but also fierce determination. Strife knew that she would leave, no matter what he said.
"Odessa..." he murmured softly, "I understand." And then he bent over and kissed her. She was warm and her lips tasted sweet.
She gently pulled away and said, relieved, "Thank you," and then untangled herself from his arms and walked over to where Diablo lay quiescent. Odessa picked up her Blade and quickly and fluidly began to Slice. A black slit appeared in the air, and she plunged Diablo into it and enlarged it. She then turned to look at him one last time. The darkness was now visible at the edge of her beautiful violet eyes and pale blue aura, slowly seeping in, and it hurt Strife to see it.
Her eyes were shining with tears as she said quietly, "Goodbye, Strife. I promise I shall see you again...some day...if I can manage to defeat Diablo for good." She turned and put one foot in the Slice.
He forced himself to stay put and not run to her, which he wanted to do very badly. "Goodbye, Odessa...I'll find a way to stop Diablo. I swear by my Blade," he replied softly and with determination. She nodded solemnly, gave him a long, affectionate look, and then disappeared through the Slice.
Strife sighed wearily. He felt exhausted, but not devastated or anguished. He felt almost - cleansed. Yes, that was it. His soul felt pure and clean for the first time in three years, because Odessa had forgiven him and still loved him. He started laughing for no reason whatsoever except for the fact that he was overwhelmingly happy. She was alive, and loved him, and that was all that mattered.
"Well, way to go loverboy," said Rag sarcastically, lying a few feet away from him.
He jumped and cried, "Rag, I almost forgot that you were here! God I'm so unbelievably happy!" He started to walk towards her, though he felt like skipping.
"I noticed," she replied dryly and a bit sullenly.
Strife was puzzled until he realized what was bugging her. He picked her up and laughed. "Oh c'mon Rag! You know that I'm sorry! I know, I know, I'm an idiot for not listening to you. I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
His good mood seemed to be infectious. Rag started to laugh along with him and then sobered up enough to say, "Alright, ya big lug. I forgive you. But, uh, you probably shouldn't talk aloud to me. We've got some famous company."
It was only then that Strife noticed the paralyzed young man with braided hair who was carrying Heero a short distance away from him. He had a cheerful, bright, sunny yellow aura that was currently swirled with black confusion. It could only be one person. "Duo Maxwell...?" he asked incredulously. Duo was his second favorite pilot, for his good humor if nothing else.
He saw a swirl of acknowledgement and surprise in the pilot's big blue eyes. "Oh crap," Strife muttered to himself, hastily casting a Remedy Spell. I can't believe I just let him and Heero stand there for like ten minutes... He was surprised that Diablo's magic had lasted so long. His own Paralyze Spell wore off in two minutes if he didn't physically keep it going.
Rag was laughing at him. "Way to treat your childhood heroes, eh Strife?" she taunted.
"Shut up, Rag," he retorted as the spell started to do its work. Duo stirred and the first thing he said was, "God, I'm surprised that my eyes didn't dry out! Thanks, mister!"
Strife laughed. He couldn't help it. It seemed like just the thing the braided pilot would say in a situation like this. Duo blinked at him and scratched his head.
Strife noticed that Heero was unconscious and that his dark blue aura was tainted with Diablo's darkness. He started to move towards him to check him out, but Duo suddenly drew his gun and pointed it at his chest. He said suspiciously, "Stop right there, mister. Just who are you anyway?"
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yeah, yeah I know, this part was long-winded and sorta sappy and Strife hasn't even said more than two words to the pilots. But I promise that the next part will be more interesting! Nope, it's not over yet. Aerowyn will show up again and so will another Assassin soon enough. (Though probably not in the next part) If you have any suggestions about the new Assassin's name (he's male) and the name of his Blade (she's female), please tell me! EMAIL: Cutlass317@aol.com