Author notes: Sorry about not getting this out sooner, I just can't think of a poem that goes with this chapter, and the fact that school has been Hell--to say the least--doesn't help matters any. I got the next chapter all written out already, but I can't promise anything. Please do enjoy the story. And review please. Thank You. Stander Disclaimer Apply.
"Walking the Road,
I see a stranger
With hair of raven-
A raven-ness black-
And lips of scarlet-
The scarlet of blood-
Skin of ivory
Rests upon its back.
Then two orbs of Innocence
Smiling without the Black."
--Silver Wing, "A Little Girl of My"
Previously
"Self-destruction in T-minus 10 minutes and counting"
"As in Heero's words, mission completed,'"
"Stop right there..."
Chapter III: Remembrance
Mar. 22, AC 195
2023
Desert Mansion, Saudi Arabia
Heat.
Unbearable, scorching heat.
The fervor of a battlefield…
The devastations, the passions…
Of war.
Or, it could just be the pyrexia of a desert. An endless, desolated ocean of sand with no hope of an end…or a beginning; the climate, an inferno, flaming with white-hot fire that hungers for the taste of human flesh…of blood.
Yet, when the world turned cold, when Helios is replaced by Selene, his sister in grace…a heaven of ice was born. As the sun casts its last ray of warmth…of light over this cradle of humanity, a metamorphosis like none other initiates as ruby is replaced by silver, as twilight surrogates sunshine, and warmth, in its dunes, is driven away by tundra of glistening snow.
Truly a vision to behold.
But to the shadow resting in solitude on the roof of what seems to be a stately mansion, all this seems to be nothing but a child's play, unworthy of his attention. Face towards the horizon, one arm propped up on his left knee-the other supporting his frame as the second leg stretching out in front of himself in a languish style-the stranger seems almost peaceful…almost. Obvious to the world, he sat immobile in the cold, eyes focused on the sinking planet far away with detachment... his mind far off in another world, in another time... lost in the memories of the past.
Ni Hao. I'm Bi Xue. What's your name?
Nice to meet you…
... Child's laughter...
No silly, it's Chinese. Mommy told me it means 'equ…it…able bloodshed', or something like that, I think…
I'm going to get you, Blood!
... Tears....
Can I see you again?
No…I'm leaving…
... A promise of forever...
Friends forever?
Friends forever, and more...
"Beep… Beep… Beep… Beep…"
Noting the sound with a look, the figure stood up from his recline and walked down to the edge of the roof, jumping down to the soft ground about 20 feet below, landing on his feet. Straightening, he walked soundlessly to a balcony on the second floor, stood under it, and jumped onto the landing with one quick, effortless leap.
Walking into the darkened chamber, the figure continued his pace until a desk stopped him. Upon it, rests a closed laptop that kept beeping, and a necklace barely clutching the edge, a ring dangling in midair.
Grasping the charm in hand-the chain drifting with the wind-the shadow stared at it intently with sacred eyes. Putting the necklace on with numbed hands-the ring hanging over where the heart resides-he answered the call.
Perched in a chair in front of the desk, skilled fingers moved to relieve the beeping instrument. Typing in some quick commands on the keyboard, the clangor ceased in mid-sentence, a face of old lighting up the screen.
"Heero..."
To be Continued...
Explanations:
"Ni Hao" means "Hello" in Chinese. Pronounce as "knee-how".
"Bi Xue" by face value means "Emerald Blood", however, it actually means "equitable bloodshed". Pronounce as "be-xie"
Another thing, in Chinese, names are placed by order of last name first and first name last. Therefor, "Bi" would be the last name while "Xue" is the first name.