xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Title: Is This Called Destiny?
Chapter: Nine
Author: Jumping Jellybeans
Disclaimers: I don't own Gundam Wing, Sailor Moon, or this song.
Author's Notes: THE END IS NEAR!!!!
Symbols: '...' = thinking
"..." = speaking
^*^...^*^ = song
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The sharp, silver blade was bathed in blood, blood that gave off an eery silver glow to his eyes. Winds around him stirred ever so slightly, whipping up patches of dust as the darkened clouds above him released first one raindrop, than another. More began to fall in rapid succession as he threw the blade onto the ground and started into the forest at a dead run.
The normally vibrant green forest was now filled with odd noises and strange shadows. Invisible winds pulled thorny branches back and then released them, trying to thwart his progress towards the dead center of the forest. Around the bend, the air rippled as vines wove themselves together to form an impenetrable wall, their mistress had told them to keep watch, she had told them to keep anyone from following her.
Duo clenched his teeth in frustration as he met the thorny wall of vines. He had had enough of this, the hell with this living forest! A thin barrier within him gave for a split second, sending power pulsing through him, replacing the blood that pumped through his veins. During this breif moment, his attire changed and the forest quivered and gave up. An opening in the wall appeared, allowing him passage if he moved quickly.
He took the chance without hesitation and he continued to run through the forest, following a faded path of silver footprints.
^*^Some say love it is a river^*^
^*^That drowns the tender reed.^*^
Usagi staggered through the forest, half numb with cold from the icy rain, both arms still dripped freely but all that she could feel was the dull pain left in them. Trees around her whispered warnings and she paused momentarily to listen to what they had to say.
He's coming.
Who?
After you.
Who is it?
Deadly power.
Tell me who it is!
He calls himself Shinigami.
Usagi threw back her head and laughed, an insane laugh that echoed through the forest. How typical, Shinigami coming for her. Well, she was dying anyways, all he had to do was wait a little longer. Then she could hopefully make a bargain with him to stay with Duo, forever.
^*^Some say love it is a razor^*^
^*^That leaves your soul to bleed.^*^
Duo crashed through the forest, slightly panicked as the footsteps grew fainter with every step. All traces of power were gone from his veins and, indeed, he had never known it had been there. Lightening flashed in the sky above him and a fresh shower of rain pounded on his head, back, and shoulders. By now, he was soaked to the bone and his braid was heavy with water.
"I won't let you die, Usa. Not while I'm still here." Duo muttered under his breath as the trail grew fainter and fainter.
^*^Some say love it is a hunger^*^
^*^An endless, aching need^*^
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Hotaru rose from the black, marble stone, her dark purple dress swishing slightly. As if in a trance, she moved towards the entrance of her domain to meet the gatekeeper. It was something she must do every night.
"I give you permission to shut the gates." she said softly, her violet eyes skimming the dark, gloomy path that lead to the Gates of Death.
"There is one soul that is rapidly approaching." the wizened gatekeeper whispered, his voice hoarse and dusky, "She is quite near the moment. Let me wait for her a while longer."
"You may wait and I, myself, will escort her to the waiting room." Hotaru answered steadily, her eyes never leaving the dark path.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Usagi crumpled in a heap in the middle of a clearing, her breaths coming in short, ragged gasps. A faint smile flickered on her face as tired, crystalline blue eyes took in the quiet meadow. This was 'her' special place, she was the only one that came here. She remembered her first time here clearly, every detail was burned into her mind.
**Flashback**
Usagi slid into the clearing, her Juuban High uniform messed up and torn. Tears streamed down her face and she was forced to bite her fist in order to keep any sounds from escaping her mouth. She couldn't afford to be discovered again by those eighth grade boys. She had already seen what they had done to several of the girls in her grade and she had had some first-hand experience herself.
**End Flashback**
Pain tore through her suddenly, provoking a strained gasp. As if on cue, a flash of lightening darted through the sky, tracing a random path of brilliant light. Another tug and she felt the source of all the pain, her soul was parting. The bond between her body and soul was breaking, strand by strand, already, she could see the wavering path of death before her eyes.
'Does everyone feel this pain?' she thought idly, closing her eyes as a fresh torrent of rain poured down on her, 'Or is it just me?'
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Duo stumbled as a flash of hot fire tore through him bringing with it an image of Usagi, lying on the ground, her eyes closed. In this mental image, he could almost see a ghostly figure rise from her before fading back into rain. He needed no knowledge from anything to know what that figure was, he knew and he increased his speed. More hot fire flashed through him, each time showing the ghostly spirit remaining there longer than last time.
"Usa-chan, don't leave me again. You can't." Duo declared under his breath, "I can't live without you."
^*^I say love it is a flower,^*^
^*^And you it's only seed.^*^
Duo stumbled into the clearing and stiffened as he saw the unmoving body lying in the dead center of the clearing. He raced to Usagi and pulled her into a half-sitting position.
"Usagi, wake up!" he cried, violet eyes filling with fear when she didn't respond.
^*^It's the heart afraid of breaking^*^
^*^That never learns to dance^*^
'Duo?' Usagi thought dreamily as another spasm of pain shot through her, the road before her got more solid by the second, 'Is it really him?'
She was warm and cold at the same time in this dark, dark place. Usagi could sense a semi-concious part of her struggling to stay in the living world.
"Usagi, get up! This isn't the time for jokes!" Duo yelled, half crying, half laughing.
^*^It's the dream afraid of waking^*^
^*^That never takes the chance^*^
'Duo, you're dead.' Usagi whispered softly to herself in her mind as she place one foot onto the dark road, 'I'm coming after you, remember?'
A web of black power whirled around her, immobilizing her soul as she tried to take another step. She fought it, nothing was going to keep her from reaching Duo. Usagi tested it, trying to figure out who was trying to stop her, and the name shone out in her mind, 'Shinigami'.
'...is Duo?' she asked herself as she sensed his familiar prescence within the black web, 'Is he alive?'
Slowly she opened her eyes and found herself staring into violet ones, "D-chan?"
^*^It's the one who won't be taken,^*^
^*^Who cannot seem to give^*^
"Why didn't you tell me?" Usagi asked sorrowfully, her eyes filling with tears, "Why did you have to go and fake your death?"
"Gomen nasai, I thought..." Duo paused, what had he thought?
"I don't want to die." she whispered, "I don't want to die now that I've found you. I'm scared of death. This is my last life, Duo, and I wanted to live it out with you. Someone always told me when I was younger that with the end, comes hope and rebirth. But I'm not going to come back Duo. Ever."
^*^And the soul afraid of dying^*^
^*^That never learns to live.^*^
Duo felt her slipping away and he hugged her closer, "You can't leave me like this, Usa-chan, I won't let you."
"It's too late, D-chan, the gatekeeper is waiting." Usagi whispered tiredly, "Zutto ai shiteru."
^*^And the night has been too lonely^*^
^*^And the road has been too long.^*^
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
"Here she comes." the gatekeeper croaked, "This one's take her own life, yes she has. Dunno what these mortals are thinking these days. Life ain't a gift that should be thrown away."
"Hai." Hotaru replied quietly, "I hope we can save her soul from damnation before it's too late."
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
A ball of sapphire blue light flitted into the clearing and released a ghostly image of a lady, "Hurry, bring her back before it's too late." she whispered, "Before she reaches the Gates of Death."
"I can bring her back?" Duo asked, his voice edged with hope.
"You can, but only because she's your soul mate." the lady replied softly, "Call her by her soul name, and you need to give her some sort of gesture that tells her soul that she is wanted back, otherwise, she will stay with Shimegami (sp?) forever."
The slightest flicker of doubt wound itself around Duo, but he dismissed it, he was willing to give it a try. If it didn't work, he could always track down this lady later, however, if it did work, and he didn't try it, he would never be able to live with himself.
"Wait, one last question!" Duo said, bringing his eyes to meet the lady's as she began to fade away, "What's her soul name?"
"You already know." she whispered softly, "Your soul knows. Farewell, Duo Maxwell."
^*^And you think that love is only^*^
^*^For the lucky and the strong.^*^
'My soul knows.' Duo thought as he closed his eyes, 'How do I find it?'
It seemed like eternity before the name hummed and shone in his mind, when in reality, it was only a few seconds, but seconds were precious now for she was traveling farther and farther away from the living world. Duo bent down and kissed her, a feather light kiss that would get the message across.
"Come back, Selenity, come back to where you belong." Duo whispered softly in her ear, "Come back to me."
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
"There she is." the gatekeeper croaked as a near-transparent figure appeared around the bend of the road, "She's a pretty one, don't make no sense why she took her life, eh Shimegami?"
But Hotaru did not respond as her eyes took in each detail of the girl traveling up the road, "Usa-chan..."
The girl looked up and sapphire eyes met dark violet ones, "How did you..."
Hotaru's eyes filled with tears as she started towards the girl, "It wasn't supposed to be like this. You were never meant to die, Usa-chan. Ever. Don't you know?"
Usagi opened her mouth to reply when she felt a slight tug in her heart, followed by more that got stronger and stronger. Pinkish light surrounded her and encased her in a bubble that lifted off the ground bringing her away from the gates, 'D-chan?'
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Silver mist filled the clearing and took shape of a featureless girl that reached out to brush Usagi's forehead. The air hummed with magic as the girl melted into Usagi. Duo froze as Usagi coughed and stirred in his arms, he didn't want to move and break the spell, in case this was just his imagination.
"Duo? H..How did I get here?" Usagi asked, tears streaming down her face, "I thought..."
Four, different colored glows appeared in the meadow as the rain stopped, interrupting Usagi's sentence. The glows solidified into four senshi wearing fukus, each had the symbol of one of the outer planets blazing on their forehead.
"Hime, we've come to bring you back to where you belong." the lady with dark green hair said, offering a white-gloved hand which Usagi took hesitantly.
The lady pulled Usagi to her feet and Duo stood up as purple light surrounded the two women.
"What the-" Duo started but the shortest senshi placed a hand lightly on his arm and shook her head while she placed a light immobilization spell over him.
The light disappeared and Usagi bit her lip as she turned to look at Duo, tears sparkling in her eyes.
"Do you understand why you must come with us?" the lady said gently.
"Hai, Setsuna-chan, demo..." Usagi whispered tearfully.
"Taru-chan will take care of him." Setsuna replied, "For now, you must leave him with her."
Usagi nodded and turned to join the two other senshi. Duo was forced to watch as they faded away into nothing before he was released.
"We'll meet them later, Shi-chan." the senshi whispered, "We have some matters to attend to first."
^*^Just remember in the winter^*^
^*^Far beneath the bitter snow^*^
^*^Lies the seed that with the sun's love,^*^
^*^In the spring, becomes a rose^*^
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
You better review, peeps! Or I might decide to withold the next chapter for a little bit, once I finish it.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Title: Is This Called Destiny?
Chapter: Nine
Author: Jumping Jellybeans
Disclaimers: I don't own Gundam Wing, Sailor Moon, or this song.
Author's Notes: THE END IS NEAR!!!!
Symbols: '...' = thinking
"..." = speaking
^*^...^*^ = song
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The sharp, silver blade was bathed in blood, blood that gave off an eery silver glow to his eyes. Winds around him stirred ever so slightly, whipping up patches of dust as the darkened clouds above him released first one raindrop, than another. More began to fall in rapid succession as he threw the blade onto the ground and started into the forest at a dead run.
The normally vibrant green forest was now filled with odd noises and strange shadows. Invisible winds pulled thorny branches back and then released them, trying to thwart his progress towards the dead center of the forest. Around the bend, the air rippled as vines wove themselves together to form an impenetrable wall, their mistress had told them to keep watch, she had told them to keep anyone from following her.
Duo clenched his teeth in frustration as he met the thorny wall of vines. He had had enough of this, the hell with this living forest! A thin barrier within him gave for a split second, sending power pulsing through him, replacing the blood that pumped through his veins. During this breif moment, his attire changed and the forest quivered and gave up. An opening in the wall appeared, allowing him passage if he moved quickly.
He took the chance without hesitation and he continued to run through the forest, following a faded path of silver footprints.
^*^Some say love it is a river^*^
^*^That drowns the tender reed.^*^
Usagi staggered through the forest, half numb with cold from the icy rain, both arms still dripped freely but all that she could feel was the dull pain left in them. Trees around her whispered warnings and she paused momentarily to listen to what they had to say.
He's coming.
Who?
After you.
Who is it?
Deadly power.
Tell me who it is!
He calls himself Shinigami.
Usagi threw back her head and laughed, an insane laugh that echoed through the forest. How typical, Shinigami coming for her. Well, she was dying anyways, all he had to do was wait a little longer. Then she could hopefully make a bargain with him to stay with Duo, forever.
^*^Some say love it is a razor^*^
^*^That leaves your soul to bleed.^*^
Duo crashed through the forest, slightly panicked as the footsteps grew fainter with every step. All traces of power were gone from his veins and, indeed, he had never known it had been there. Lightening flashed in the sky above him and a fresh shower of rain pounded on his head, back, and shoulders. By now, he was soaked to the bone and his braid was heavy with water.
"I won't let you die, Usa. Not while I'm still here." Duo muttered under his breath as the trail grew fainter and fainter.
^*^Some say love it is a hunger^*^
^*^An endless, aching need^*^
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Hotaru rose from the black, marble stone, her dark purple dress swishing slightly. As if in a trance, she moved towards the entrance of her domain to meet the gatekeeper. It was something she must do every night.
"I give you permission to shut the gates." she said softly, her violet eyes skimming the dark, gloomy path that lead to the Gates of Death.
"There is one soul that is rapidly approaching." the wizened gatekeeper whispered, his voice hoarse and dusky, "She is quite near the moment. Let me wait for her a while longer."
"You may wait and I, myself, will escort her to the waiting room." Hotaru answered steadily, her eyes never leaving the dark path.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Usagi crumpled in a heap in the middle of a clearing, her breaths coming in short, ragged gasps. A faint smile flickered on her face as tired, crystalline blue eyes took in the quiet meadow. This was 'her' special place, she was the only one that came here. She remembered her first time here clearly, every detail was burned into her mind.
**Flashback**
Usagi slid into the clearing, her Juuban High uniform messed up and torn. Tears streamed down her face and she was forced to bite her fist in order to keep any sounds from escaping her mouth. She couldn't afford to be discovered again by those eighth grade boys. She had already seen what they had done to several of the girls in her grade and she had had some first-hand experience herself.
**End Flashback**
Pain tore through her suddenly, provoking a strained gasp. As if on cue, a flash of lightening darted through the sky, tracing a random path of brilliant light. Another tug and she felt the source of all the pain, her soul was parting. The bond between her body and soul was breaking, strand by strand, already, she could see the wavering path of death before her eyes.
'Does everyone feel this pain?' she thought idly, closing her eyes as a fresh torrent of rain poured down on her, 'Or is it just me?'
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Duo stumbled as a flash of hot fire tore through him bringing with it an image of Usagi, lying on the ground, her eyes closed. In this mental image, he could almost see a ghostly figure rise from her before fading back into rain. He needed no knowledge from anything to know what that figure was, he knew and he increased his speed. More hot fire flashed through him, each time showing the ghostly spirit remaining there longer than last time.
"Usa-chan, don't leave me again. You can't." Duo declared under his breath, "I can't live without you."
^*^I say love it is a flower,^*^
^*^And you it's only seed.^*^
Duo stumbled into the clearing and stiffened as he saw the unmoving body lying in the dead center of the clearing. He raced to Usagi and pulled her into a half-sitting position.
"Usagi, wake up!" he cried, violet eyes filling with fear when she didn't respond.
^*^It's the heart afraid of breaking^*^
^*^That never learns to dance^*^
'Duo?' Usagi thought dreamily as another spasm of pain shot through her, the road before her got more solid by the second, 'Is it really him?'
She was warm and cold at the same time in this dark, dark place. Usagi could sense a semi-concious part of her struggling to stay in the living world.
"Usagi, get up! This isn't the time for jokes!" Duo yelled, half crying, half laughing.
^*^It's the dream afraid of waking^*^
^*^That never takes the chance^*^
'Duo, you're dead.' Usagi whispered softly to herself in her mind as she place one foot onto the dark road, 'I'm coming after you, remember?'
A web of black power whirled around her, immobilizing her soul as she tried to take another step. She fought it, nothing was going to keep her from reaching Duo. Usagi tested it, trying to figure out who was trying to stop her, and the name shone out in her mind, 'Shinigami'.
'...is Duo?' she asked herself as she sensed his familiar prescence within the black web, 'Is he alive?'
Slowly she opened her eyes and found herself staring into violet ones, "D-chan?"
^*^It's the one who won't be taken,^*^
^*^Who cannot seem to give^*^
"Why didn't you tell me?" Usagi asked sorrowfully, her eyes filling with tears, "Why did you have to go and fake your death?"
"Gomen nasai, I thought..." Duo paused, what had he thought?
"I don't want to die." she whispered, "I don't want to die now that I've found you. I'm scared of death. This is my last life, Duo, and I wanted to live it out with you. Someone always told me when I was younger that with the end, comes hope and rebirth. But I'm not going to come back Duo. Ever."
^*^And the soul afraid of dying^*^
^*^That never learns to live.^*^
Duo felt her slipping away and he hugged her closer, "You can't leave me like this, Usa-chan, I won't let you."
"It's too late, D-chan, the gatekeeper is waiting." Usagi whispered tiredly, "Zutto ai shiteru."
^*^And the night has been too lonely^*^
^*^And the road has been too long.^*^
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
"Here she comes." the gatekeeper croaked, "This one's take her own life, yes she has. Dunno what these mortals are thinking these days. Life ain't a gift that should be thrown away."
"Hai." Hotaru replied quietly, "I hope we can save her soul from damnation before it's too late."
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
A ball of sapphire blue light flitted into the clearing and released a ghostly image of a lady, "Hurry, bring her back before it's too late." she whispered, "Before she reaches the Gates of Death."
"I can bring her back?" Duo asked, his voice edged with hope.
"You can, but only because she's your soul mate." the lady replied softly, "Call her by her soul name, and you need to give her some sort of gesture that tells her soul that she is wanted back, otherwise, she will stay with Shimegami (sp?) forever."
The slightest flicker of doubt wound itself around Duo, but he dismissed it, he was willing to give it a try. If it didn't work, he could always track down this lady later, however, if it did work, and he didn't try it, he would never be able to live with himself.
"Wait, one last question!" Duo said, bringing his eyes to meet the lady's as she began to fade away, "What's her soul name?"
"You already know." she whispered softly, "Your soul knows. Farewell, Duo Maxwell."
^*^And you think that love is only^*^
^*^For the lucky and the strong.^*^
'My soul knows.' Duo thought as he closed his eyes, 'How do I find it?'
It seemed like eternity before the name hummed and shone in his mind, when in reality, it was only a few seconds, but seconds were precious now for she was traveling farther and farther away from the living world. Duo bent down and kissed her, a feather light kiss that would get the message across.
"Come back, Selenity, come back to where you belong." Duo whispered softly in her ear, "Come back to me."
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
"There she is." the gatekeeper croaked as a near-transparent figure appeared around the bend of the road, "She's a pretty one, don't make no sense why she took her life, eh Shimegami?"
But Hotaru did not respond as her eyes took in each detail of the girl traveling up the road, "Usa-chan..."
The girl looked up and sapphire eyes met dark violet ones, "How did you..."
Hotaru's eyes filled with tears as she started towards the girl, "It wasn't supposed to be like this. You were never meant to die, Usa-chan. Ever. Don't you know?"
Usagi opened her mouth to reply when she felt a slight tug in her heart, followed by more that got stronger and stronger. Pinkish light surrounded her and encased her in a bubble that lifted off the ground bringing her away from the gates, 'D-chan?'
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Silver mist filled the clearing and took shape of a featureless girl that reached out to brush Usagi's forehead. The air hummed with magic as the girl melted into Usagi. Duo froze as Usagi coughed and stirred in his arms, he didn't want to move and break the spell, in case this was just his imagination.
"Duo? H..How did I get here?" Usagi asked, tears streaming down her face, "I thought..."
Four, different colored glows appeared in the meadow as the rain stopped, interrupting Usagi's sentence. The glows solidified into four senshi wearing fukus, each had the symbol of one of the outer planets blazing on their forehead.
"Hime, we've come to bring you back to where you belong." the lady with dark green hair said, offering a white-gloved hand which Usagi took hesitantly.
The lady pulled Usagi to her feet and Duo stood up as purple light surrounded the two women.
"What the-" Duo started but the shortest senshi placed a hand lightly on his arm and shook her head while she placed a light immobilization spell over him.
The light disappeared and Usagi bit her lip as she turned to look at Duo, tears sparkling in her eyes.
"Do you understand why you must come with us?" the lady said gently.
"Hai, Setsuna-chan, demo..." Usagi whispered tearfully.
"Taru-chan will take care of him." Setsuna replied, "For now, you must leave him with her."
Usagi nodded and turned to join the two other senshi. Duo was forced to watch as they faded away into nothing before he was released.
"We'll meet them later, Shi-chan." the senshi whispered, "We have some matters to attend to first."
^*^Just remember in the winter^*^
^*^Far beneath the bitter snow^*^
^*^Lies the seed that with the sun's love,^*^
^*^In the spring, becomes a rose^*^
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
You better review, peeps! Or I might decide to withold the next chapter for a little bit, once I finish it.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx