Chapter 9.
 
31 December 1999
11:00 PM
 

Ken blinked at the church.

"Back to the place it started," Aya said firmly.

"It's funny to think he wants to destroy the world from here in Tokyo. I'm sure there are better places to do it from," Ken mused. "Like Israel, the holy land."

"But you notice he concentrated most of his storms and disasters in this area. Eastern Europe and Asia," Youji added. "It doesn't surprise me at all. Maybe it's Omi, but I think he feels a tie to this place. And he knows we're out here. He'd want to rub it in our faces."

Ken nodded. "One hour, guys. What can we do?"

Aya closed his eyes. "There is only thing to do."

"Aya?" Ken blinked.

"It's Omi's body that he is using. Without Omi's body, he can't do what he has come to do."

"Yeah, but how do we get him out?"

Aya turned to look over his shoulder at his teammate. "Only one way."

With that, Aya moved toward the door. Ken blinked, trying to figure out Aya's cryptic answer when Youji's hand fell on his shoulder. Ken looked back at the tall assassin, who looked back at him with sorrowful eyes, then walked past him after Aya.

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Aya opened the church door, looking in for immediate danger. His eyes widened at what he saw. Bodies lay sprawled around the altar, crumpled like forgotten dolls. Bodies clothed in the black garments of the holy profession. In the center of the altar stood Omi, looking up at the bloodstained Jesus on the cross.

He was dressed in dark slacks with a long, black coat over them, hands tucked into the pockets. He didn't acknowledge Aya's presence. Youji and Ken followed Aya through the door.

"Omi!" Aya yelled. Omi turned his head slowly, looking back to the group. Nearly twenty years old, and he had hardly gotten any bigger. He still looked like the cheerful, innocent youth they remembered.

"I feel a sense of nostalgia, seeing you again," Omi said as he slowly turned around.

Aya narrowed his eyes. "We will stop you here. We will not allow you to continue!"

Omi chuckled, bowing his head. "If you think you can."

Aya crouched, katana sliding out of its sheath.

"Omi, if you're still in there..." Ken asked pleadingly. "Please, fight him."

Omi snickered, spreading his hands and leaving himself vulnerable in a show of fearless arrogance. It looked like a mockery of the figure on the cross. "I AM Omi Tsukiyono."

"Never," Youji hissed.

"Midnight." Omi smiled, stepping forward with bloodied hands still outspread. Flecks of blood marked his face and hair, crimson sin against white and gold. "And a new era begins."

"Never!" Aya dashed forward, katana drawn.

"Aya, nooo!" Ken screamed, darting forward to stop him. Omi tilted his head back slightly, watching Aya approach, the smirk still on his lips.

Aya slashed, and Omi leapt into the air as if taking flight. Aya's katana struck the ground as Omi flipped in midair over his head and landed gracefully behind Ken. Ken whirled to face him before a simple backhand from Omi sent him flying into the pews to the left.

"Omi!" Youji screamed, sending his wire flying at the smaller blonde, trying to wrap that slender neck. Omi's hand shot out and caught the wire as it neared him, letting it wrap around his hand. With a fierce tug, he jerked Youji forward and down to the floor. Youji blinked a green eye through strands of aureate hair as Omi's foot came down on his head.

Youji gasped to feel the pressure increase, grinding his cheek into the carpeting and continue pressing. The scream broke free of his throat unbidden. Then he heard Omi cry out and the pressure was gone. He lifted his head to see Omi facing Aya, the katana stained with blood. Youji's eyes widened to see the still unhealed wounds on Omi's back through the rent in his jacket. He still carried the stigmata. Just as they all still did.

"Omi would agree," Aya snarled, tilting the katana for a side strike. "You have tormented him for too long."

Youji scrambled forward and wrapped his arms around Omi's legs. Omi glanced down at him long enough for Aya to lunge. The blade cut deep into his side, coming to rest only when it stopped against his spine.

"Forgive us," Aya whispered into Omi's face when shocked blue eyes looked back at the redhead. Aya twisted the sword and jerked it out. Blood splattered Youji and he let go, rolling on his side, away from the blonde.

Omi looked down at his torso, clasping a hand to his stomach as blood continued to spill onto the floor. He lifted the other hand out toward Aya as if asking for help to continue standing. He fell to his knees in front of Aya and Aya dropped to his knees with him.

"Bear us no ill will, Omi," he said quietly to the small blonde. Omi looked up at him, and his hands darted out to grab Aya around the throat.

"It'll take more than that," he snarled, and squeezed.

"Omi!" Youji barreled into his former teammate, sending them both sprawling onto the floor. Aya fell on his back, clutching at his throat as he made choked, rasping noises.

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Ken reopened his eyes, lying on his back on the floor between pews. His whole body felt the battering it had taken from the pews as he slowly used the same pews to pull himself back to his feet. Youji was on his knees over Omi, wire pulled tight in his hands as Omi's feet kicked wildly. Aya lay on his back, clutching at his throat and convulsing. Ken ran over to Aya's side, trying not to listen to Omi's choked sounds as Youji carried out their duty.

Aya's eyes were wide and wild as he struggled to breathe.

"Aya." Ken clasped his hands on either side of his teammate's face. He saw the panic in the lavender eyes as his body continued to twist and struggle against suffocation. Ken grabbed Aya's hands, pulling them from his throat. What he saw stopped him cold. The skin sunk in over Aya's throat. It was no longer pulled snugly over a properly shaped windpipe.

Ken looked back to Aya's eyes and saw pleading there. He felt tears sting his eyes as Aya stopped choking and his struggles weakened. Aya looked at him silently, eyes the color of the evening sky begging for something. Something he couldn't say.

"We'll take care of her." Ken gently stroked a pale cheek with the back of his gloved fingers as if telling Aya he wasn't alone. Relief flooded those eyes and a grateful smile tugged at his lips. His body twisted once more, leg twitching in its last act of denial before coming to rest and Aya's eyes fluttered closed.

Ken choked on a sob, closing his eyes and letting his head hang. Then he reeled, hands clutching at his head as warm liquid rolled down his face.

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Youji tugged tighter, seeing his wire disappearing into pale skin. Omi still struggled with him, one hand holding the exposed length of wire and the other clutching at the front of Youji's outfit.

Tears rolled down Youji's cheeks, blinding him thankfully. He didn't have to see those blue eyes as he strangled the life out of them. Omi's hand slid from the wire to his hand, gripping it and squeezing. Youji screamed, feeling his bones compact under the pressure and pulled for all he was worth. The bones in his hand snapped, driving his scream higher.

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Ken blinked his eyes, wiping blood out of them to see Youji with his head thrown back, screaming in agony. Omi flipped them over, ending up kneeling over Youji, and Ken clenched his fist, claws slipping into place.

"Omiiii!" He darted forward with the scream, hand drawn back to slash. Omi seemed to ignore him, hands clutching into the fabric of Youji's outfit. Ken threw his arm forward, aiming at the bleeding back before him. At the last moment, Omi rolled backwards onto his back, pulling Youji up with him to his knees. Ken's mind screamed, unable to stop his forward motion in time.

Youji blinked at him, eyes confused as if he didn't know how Ken had gotten there. Omi released Youji and somersaulted backwards past Ken's leg. Youji stayed sitting up, staring at Ken. Ken couldn't move, frozen in his position.

Youji opened his mouth and all that came out was a gurgling noise. Ken kept staring in horror, his mind unable to process anything else. Youji's eyes became half-lidded and slowly he started to slip backwards. Metal blades slipped back out of pale skin, and blood followed in their wake, splattering Ken's face as if it had been spat at him.

Youji hit the ground, eyes staring straight up as his life rushed from his neck to spread across the floor. He gasped with loud gurgling sounds, drowning in his own blood. He convulsed once, then once again. Then he lay still.

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Ken stayed as he was, blood collecting in rivulets down his face to drip off his chin. He could only stare at the blood dripping off his extended blades. He finally dropped to his knees, eyes wide and staring. A harsh laugh snapped his head around.

Omi was dropping the wire that had wound his throat to the floor. As Ken watched, the red lines that marked Omi's throat filled in, returning to unblemished whiteness again.

"And then there was one." Omi smiled. Ken gasped, drawing in air in shuddering breaths.

"Wait." Omi lifted a finger. "It's coming."

Ken opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He tried again, but all that came out was a strained whimper. Then he screamed as pain pierced his foot.

"The..." he stuttered before the same pain lanced his other foot.

"The stigmata," Omi finished for him. "You get to carry all three. Aren't you special?"

The pain subsided and Ken lifted his head again to look at Omi. Omi glanced at his watch.

"Not much time left." He looked back to Ken. "Just enough to kill you with."

Ken pushed back to his feet, feeling blood filling his boots.

"I...won't...fail..." He fixed his eyes on Omi.

"That's what they thought too." Omi smirked. Ken clutched his fists, claws locking in place with a sound that seemed louder than usual.

"Can you kill me...Ken-kun?" Omi asked. Ken blinked to hear the familiar term of affection.

"I'm still Omi, you know." Omi tilted his head to the side and smiled. It wasn't one of his cruel, mocking smiles, but one of Omi's old ones. One that was full of warmth and happiness. "It was just me and you in the beginning, Ken-kun. Before Aya-kun and Youji-kun joined."

It sounded so much like the old Omi, Ken wavered in indecision, his claws retracting.

"It's not too late, Ken-kun," Omi continued. "You can stay with me, and I can fix everything bad that happened to you. All you have to do is say 'Yes'."

~ Say a prayer for the dying

while there's still time ~

Ken blinked at the voice singing to him. Omi frowned, turning his head to look around.

~ Pray for good

and pray for love ~

Omi hissed, narrowing his eyes.

~ Pray for peace

and pray it's enough ~

Ken felt something loose in his heart slip back it belonged, locking into place.

~ Pray for salvation

pray that we're right ~

"Give me the strength." Ken turned his eyes to the bloodstained figure on the cross behind the altar. "Forgive me."

Pain faded from his limbs and Ken found the strength to step forward toward Omi.

~ Pray one day

we open our eyes ~

Omi watched him as he approached. Ken spread his hands, dropping to his knees again in front of Omi.

~ Pray for them

and pray for us ~

"I want Omi back." Ken looked up into bright blue eyes. Omi smiled down at him.

"I'm right here, Ken-kun." Omi spread his arms toward him.

~ Pray one day

we can live as one ~

Ken folded his arms around Omi's waist, resting his head against Omi's stomach. Omi patted his hair.

"It'll be okay now, Ken-kun."

Ken leaned back to look up at Omi, loosening his hold. Omi still smiled down at him. The old Omi.

~ Pray for the children

whose time is to come ~

Ken clenched his fist, and as his claws emerged, they buried themselves in Omi's chest. Omi's eyes widened, staring down at him. Ken ripped upwards, and Omi jerked, blood spilling out of his mouth. Ken jerked upwards again, going for his heart.

~ Pray they forgive us

for the stupid things we've done ~

Omi blinked at him as he wavered and sank to his knees, dropping him down to Ken's eye level. Ken's other arm stayed wrapped around him so he couldn't pull away.

"I didn't think you would do it," he gasped.

~ Pray for good

and pray for love ~

Ken stared into Omi's eyes, tears filling his own again. "I could not fail."

Omi looked back at him and laughed. "You think you've won?"

~ Pray for salvation

and pray it's enough ~

Omi laughed again, coughing up more blood. "This body wasn't the unholy host. You've only delayed the inevitable."

Ken's eyes widened.

~ Pray for one day

we open our eyes ~

Omi lifted his left hand, lifting it in front of Ken's face. A gold ring stained in crimson shone on his finger.

"The birth of my son will be announced to the world with fire and thunder, sanctified with blood and death."

~ Pray for them

and pray for us ~

Ken stared at him, his chest heaving with deep breaths.

"Fool," Omi snorted, and coughed up more blood, limping against his arm. Ken pulled out his claws, closing his eyes in disbelief.

"Ken-kun..."

~ Pray one day

we can live as one ~

Ken's eyes snapped back open again at the soft, loving tone of the voice. Omi smiled up at him.

"Thank you, Ken-kun."

"Omi..." Ken shifted his teammate in his hold.

"Ken-kun." Omi blinked his eyes lazily. "We're going to heaven."

"What?"

~ Pray for the children

whose time is to come ~

"Aya-kun, and Youji-kun...are there...waiting...."

Ken gulped hard on the lump in his throat.

"I'll..." Omi blinked slowly. "I'll be waiting for you too."

Omi smiled as his eyes closed and his last breath slipped out of him in a quiet sigh.

~ Pray they forgive us

for the stupid things we've done ~

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31 December 1999

11:55 PM

To whoever finds this, Persia, Kritiker, anyone... We've failed. Balinese, Abyssinian, Bombay, they're gone.

11:56
 

I'm the only one left. But we're too late. There is a child to be born. That child is the unholy host. Not Bombay. The child's birth will be announced with thunder, fire, blood, and death.

 
11:57
 

Find it. Stop it. Please. Don't let us fail. Aya Fujimiya. Take care of her. She has no one else left now.

 
11:58
 

I'm tired. I'm carrying all four stigmata now. As Abyssinian, Balinese, and Bombay died, their stigmata passed onto me. They won't stop bleeding.

 
11:59
 

I can barely keep my eyes open. It's taking me forever just to find the right keys to type this. Please, don't let us fail. Someone find this and read it, pleas

 
12:00
 

"Happy New Year," a young woman whispered into the night as she gently caressed the curve of her stomach. "Happy New Year...daddy..."

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01 April 00

8:34 AM
 

As Mt. Uru erupted, doctors labored to save a young woman in labor. Her child was born in blood, screaming its outrage.

The young woman weakly laughed in joy to hear the sound as the sheets quickly soaked red, an unexplained wound in her chest spilling her life despite the efforts of the nurses.

"It's a perfect baby boy," the doctor quickly told the weakening mother.

"Tenshi," the young woman whispered, lifting a blood-streaked hand toward the wailing and kicking infant.

"My Tenshi," she whispered again before her hand faltered and dropped amid the bed sheets. A nurse took the child to clean as the doctor tried to save its mother.

The nurse returned to find the doctor pulling the sheet up over the young mother's face. In the nurse's arms, the infant blinked hazy blue eyes at the scene, and slowly, he smiled.

Note: New research relates Christ was speared in the heart. Not the side.

I wrote this with the song used in the story, 'Pray' by Tina Cousins, in mind. It also played as this was written. So was Traci Lord's 'One Thousand Fires' album. As for the Dark One not allowed to be born in flesh, the church isn't always right. I have nothing against the church or any religion! It's just a story. Isn't it?