Chapter Eight: Verdict
He would say that he had never felt more nervous in his entire life, but that would be a lie, seeing as technically he was no longer alive. Afterlife, then. Duo had spent the entire recess with Heero and the other pilots trying to make the most effective speech possible. In the end, he'd scrapped it all and written something on his own. Duo felt it was better that way.
As Duo stood up about to make his plea for innocence, his hands were shaking uncontrollably and his knees threatened to give out beneath him. Swallowing hard, he began, the faces across from him a constant reassurance.
"Citizens of Heaven," he said, "I'm not going to say anything flowery or diplomatic, because that would be lying, and I do not lie." Deep breath. "All I ask is that you listen to what I have to say and take me seriously.
"I know I am not a clean soul. I am guilty of the crimes you have charged me with, I will not deny that. But the way you say it makes me out to be some heartless murderer who shows absolutely no remorse. This is the problem. I have repented for my sins a million times over. Despite almost losing faith many times, I still clung to the God I was brought up with, hoping that maybe I'd be saved from whatever I was going through." He took another long breath.
"I am not going to use the fact that the other Gundam pilots, my best friends and comrades, are here are my reason for being allowed here. I simply ask that you take into consideration all that I've said and all that I've done and make the best decision. Thanks." With no further words, he sat.
The jury left to deliberate and the courtroom was filled with tense silence. Duo and the others shot various looks across the room and Duo confessed his fears silently while Heero read his lips, only able to offer hopeful smiles in return. Duo's hands hadn't stopped trembling, and every minute felt like another lifetime. Duo eventually laid his head down on the table, fighting back anxious tears.
An indistinguishable amount of time later, the jury returned and Duo snapped to attention. Their representative remained standing.
"Have you reached a verdict?" Metatron asked.
"Yes. After a long, ardrous discussion, we finally have," the weary-looking angel began. "After considering all that's been said and done, we find Duo Maxwell unfit to reside in the Kingdom of Heaven."
Everything went in slow motion for Duo after that. The last twelve words echoed through Duo's mind, other voices were muffled and things seemed blurry as he stood up, wanting to run to Heero and cling to him like a child. But amidst the voices of the crowd, the vehement protests from Quatre and Wufei, and Metatron shouting for order and straining to be heard as he announced that Duo would be kept in custody until arrangements had been made for his departure, he didn't notice the people behind him until it was too late.
He felt someone grab him and force his hands into cuffs, and Duo lashed out, kicking and shouting, trying to wrench his way free. Heero started yelling and came over to try and get Duo free, Trowa not far behind.
"Duo! Duo, hold on!" Heero called.
"Let me go!" Duo hollered at his captors. "Heero!"
"Don't worry Duo! I'll see you soon, just hold on!" shouted Heero.
Suddenly, Duo felt something jam into his arm, and everything went black.
~*~**~*~
"They let you in."
"Yeah."
"I can't believe this."
"Me neither. I'm sorry Duo. We all are."
"Don't be. I'm not worth it."
"Of course you are, Duo. You're our best friend. You're my koibito, Duo, and you always will be... I won't forget you."
"Do you know... what it'll be like after I leave?"
"Not sure. But it's tonight. We tried for an appeal, but they wouldn't have it."
"Didn't think so."
"I wanted to make sure I was with you."
"Thank you Heero. For everything... I feel dizzy."
"Then it's starting. You're fading."
"Heero..."
"Shhh, Duo."
"I don't... I don't belong there either, Heero."
"Of course you don't belong there."
"I don't. I won't be. I..."
"It's all right, Duo. Just relax."
"Heero. Love you."
"I love you too Duo."
"I will see you again. Wait for me."
"Of course."
"Promise me."
"I promise."
"Thank... you... love..."
A long cry echoed through the night.
Owari...
~*~**~*~
Author's Notes: So ends Shinigami's Judgement. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I loved writing it. Damn that's corny. But it's far from over. Yes, I just said this was the end, but it's not the end. You know what that means. Thanks so much everyone. I heart you all.