Hell's Angel
Chapter 11
By: Lily
Archive: -anrui- ()
'kay, here's my little ditty for the chapter: First off, I don't own Gundam Wing or Sailor Moon, I just used the characters within my own plotline. Secondly, I'd like to apologize for taking so long with this story. Third, this will be the last chapter of Hell's Angel, but Hotaru and Duo's story is nowhere near finished. Instead I will be starting a sequel. Don't have a title yet, but you'll know it when you see it. Finally, I do now have a private archive of my own works up, so if you find my work intriguing, I'd suggest you take a look. Thank you, everyone, for reading.
Hotaru arrived within the lush chamber that was Shinigami's personal quarters, and gently lay her lord down on the plush king sized bed. Simultaneously, her mind reached out and touched those within her trusted circle: Michiru, Setsuna, Haruka. Then suddenly, remembering Michiru's warning, wished she hadn't contacted Haruka. Perhaps she wasn't to be trusted anymore.
The thought came too late, because soon her advisors and fellow generals appeared also within the room, responding to the haste her mind had impressed upon them. "It's done," she announced, staring directly at Setsuna. The green haired woman looked impassive, but underneath Hotaru could see the understanding in her merlot-colored oculars. She knew how difficult it had been for Hotaru to snatch away the life that Duo had so doggedly built.
"Good," Haruka said gruffly, "About damn time. People were starting to worry." Michiru glanced at her lover with a small smile that abruptly faltered. Remembrances of her omen popped into her head, and a feeling of betrayal clawed at her heart. "Yes," the blue haired woman finally agreed, "It is good that you have finally made a decisive move, Hotaru. Now, maybe, we stand a chance against Heaven."
Nodding succinctly, Hotaru stepped back from the bed. "It will be some time before he recovers. I want one of the maids to check in on him every hour. Setsuna, pick one you deem trustworthy. Tell her if I hear she's told anyone, I will hang her by her heels in the dining hall and skin her alive with my bare hands. The three of you will go about your normal duties. Do not give any indication that he's here. If you need me, I'll be resting in my rooms."
That said, the infinitely cold general made way for the much warmer woman in Hotaru's heart, and swiped a small chunk of Duo's bangs away from his face and behind his ear. A soft smile claimed her features before she remembered who she was and who was witnessing the moment. Snapping into upright posture, she nodded a succinct farewell to the other general's and vanished to her rooms with a stamp of her booted foot.
"Well she's certainly not as happy as I'd have thought," Haruka muttered. Michiru looked at her with an odd glance, but then recovered and nodded her agreement. "Yes, out of everyone I would have thought she'd be rejoicing the most. You know how close she and the Shinigami were."
"Of course," Setsuna broke into the conversation, "Some of that closeness may have been in rumor only. You know for a fact that the one rumor where the young demons said Hotaru was Shinigami's Mistress was just that; a rumor."
"Oh please, Setsuna," Haruka's voice was filled with exasperation, "You know as well as I do that they were nearly inseparable." The blond general shifted her stance, wings tucked behind her neatly, leaning against the wall. With deep blue eyes, deep enough to conceal secrets, she studied the young man who is and was their Lord. Hotaru was right; he did look exactly the same.
Michiru grinned, seating herself on the very edge of the bed, and crossing her legs in a very feminine, princess-like gesture she hadn't quite grown out of. Wrists hanging loosely on her knees and slightly slouched, she volunteered her own opinion to the conversation. "Except when our Lord was off with another woman.or two.or three." At Setsuna and Haruka's incredulous glances, Michiru shrugged and straightened defensively. "Oh come off it, you know as well as I do what our Lord did behind closed doors. Hell, sometimes they weren't closed at all!"
"Yes, but to speak of him in such a vulgar manner, Michiru.You act as though no one will hear you," Setsuna reprimanded in her patient, soft voice. "Plus, he's right fuckin' there!" Haruka shouted, pointing unabashedly at the slumbering Shinigami.
The blue haired general glanced at the longhaired boy curled up on the opposite side of the bed, and shrugged nonchalantly. "He's can't hear us. You both know that. He will be dead to the world until his body recovers from the changes it's undergoing."
Setsuna sighed, rubbing her temples where a headache was just beginning to form. "That's not the point!" Haruka shouted. "Yes," Setsuna agreed, "It's a matter of ethics." Uncharacteristically, Michiru snorted through her nose, expressing her opinion quite succinctly. "Haruka's yelling would wake him up first," she said, standing up. A light chuckle escaped her lips. As Setsuna joined her, much to Haruka's dismay, Michiru abruptly stopped and said, smile still in place, "Let's get going. We all have our duties to attend to. You heard the Mistress's orders."
Within a moment, all three high-ranking women were gone, leaving a lone braided young man on the burgundy velvet bedspread.
Hotaru sighed heavily as she returned to her own seldom-used rooms. She really hadn't wanted to go back to these tomb-like quarters, but staying with Duo was not an option. She had too many things to attend to and a reputation to uphold. If the lower-ranking demons caught whiff that the Shinigami had returned and Hotaru, his 'Mistress', at least according to rumor, was keeping a bedside vigil, the gossipmongers would be hounding her yet again.
Quickly unlacing her boots and tossing them on the other side of the room, Hotaru flopped onto her black bedspread and tried to think of what she should do next. The obvious would be to feed; she needed her strength to shield Duo's aura from the rest of Hell and whoever else would be able to sense him. It was her sworn duty to protect Duo, especially in his most vulnerable moments, which this certainly counted as.
The second item on her mental checklist would have to have been keeping up appearances. She had a meeting she needed to attend later with several outer provinces Keeps' seneschals. The purpose was to discuss fortifying their strongholds in case Heaven attacked. The Keeps would serve as a place to evacuate the townspeople to, as impenetrable as they were. There they would be able to hold out against the enemy until reinforcements could come. That is, provided they were stocked up with enough water and food to last, and enough soldiers.
The third item would be, possibly, skinning the silly little twit who went blabbing that the Shinigami had returned. Hotaru grinned maliciously, violet eyes lighting up with an unholy gleam. The demons under her command had witnessed her merciless nature before, but a warning may need to be issued.
Rising from the bed, she set about changing into clothing appropriate for Hell's particular fashions and befitting one of her station, then set off on the first task. Waltzing into the kitchen, the violet eyed woman was halfway through with her breakfast when Setsuna contacted her telepathically. *The servant girl, Aris, is attending to our Lord every hour on the dot.*
*Thank you, Setsuna. Your service is much obliged.* Hotaru sent back, stuffing a slice of apple into her mouth. She'd decided on food rather than going out hunting. She wanted to stay close for when Duo woke up, and prowling around for someone to feed on wouldn't provide that. Plus she didn't think she could stomach someone else's blood; too drunk on Duo's she was and far too spoiled by its richness and power. So the violet eyed demon set about stuffing herself until she felt full and even past that point. The cooks looked astounded that their general, who was small and petite and almost heart-breakingly fragile-looking, could pack down that much food. Hotaru caught the fleeting thought of 'where was she putting it all?'
Finally sated, Shinigami's supposed-Mistress left the kitchen, much to the cooks' relief. Stalking down the hallway, she passed the open door of Michiru's office and stepped gracefully inside, shutting it behind her. "Anyone listening?" she asked the blue haired woman seated at her desk, dutifully going through the stack of paperwork in front of her. "There shouldn't be," Michiru said in reply, glancing up from whatever document she was looking over, steepling her fingers. "What is it that you need, Mistress?" The tone of Michiru's voice was strangely somber and resonant with Protocol.
"I just stopped in quickly to ask if you've had any more visions," Hotaru said vaguely. She saw Michiru slowly shake her head. "No, Mistress, I have not. I can try again later if it would please you." Hotaru smiled, "Yes, please, do that. The reason I ask is that.the more I think of it, the more it would make sense. At almost every corner the enemy seems to outwit us. A traitor among us, or perhaps a spy lurking amidst the masses, is very logical. It would have to be someone with fairly high rank, but someone people wouldn't necessarily suspect."
Michiru frowned thoughtfully, her eyebrows drawing down behind her glasses in a way that didn't necessarily befit her. "I cannot find flaw within your logic. Shall I broach the subject with Setsuna and Haruka?" The phasing was so automatic it slipped out before Michiru could stop it. Of course they shouldn't tell Haruka. "Much as it pains me to say so," Hotaru began, "I think we're going to have to start keeping some things from Haruka. Just to be safe. However, she's innocent until proven guilty. You know that as well as I."
"Of course, Mistress. That was foolish of me," the blue haired general amended. "It's quite alright. Old habits die hard, ne?" Hotaru grinned, and straightened, "Return to your previous activities." With that she spun on her heel and left the room.
Continuing on down through the maze-like halls, Hotaru finally ended up at the formal meeting room where Setsuna stood patiently outside of the door. "The seneschals await you, Mistress," she stated matter-of-factly in her smooth voice. Nodding her understanding, Hotaru stood in place until Setsuna swung open the doors for her and announced her presence. The seneschals all rose, and Hotaru took quick stock of them. Most were ancient souls who had seen much of life already, one or two middle-aged men. That was it though.
The seneschals all bowed lowly to her, and waited for her response. Protocol demanded that they weren't allowed to sit until she had taken her seat. With a pointed nod of greeting, Hotaru coolly greeted them. "Gentlemen.and Lady," she said, with a small smile at the one elderly woman who rose. With long, quick steps, she sat at the head of the table, and Setsuna at her right hand. Centuries ago it would have been herself in Setsuna's chair, and the Shinigami in the very seat she now occupied.
"Please be seated," Hotaru intoned. The Keeps' caretakers slowly lowered themselves onto the old, extravagant chairs of the meeting room, and looked to her for further direction. "We all know why we're here, don't we? So let's just cut to the chase. War between Heaven and Hell is inevitable. The best we can do is prepare for it. During the times of war, the Keeps will act as strongholds for the civilians. That means you'll need supplies. So let's just start on my left and go around the table. State what your province is, the population, and we will get you everything you need."
That said, the droning began and Hotaru listened intently, planning carefully. Setsuna wrote down everything that was said with a studious attention to detail, much more than Hotaru had ever had when she'd advised the Shinigami. She'd mostly relied on her memory. Every so often, Hotaru interrupted the droning with a particular comment to Setsuna to add onto her notes.
Soon enough the meeting was over, and Hotaru left the seneschals in the meeting room with a feeling akin to relief. Setsuna stayed behind to show the officials out, and would no doubt be busy later tapping their resources to provide all the necessary supplies to the provinces in Hell. One thing Hotaru had to say for being the Shinigami's replacement was that she didn't have to do the grunt work anymore.
The black haired general then proceeded to 'keep up appearances' and went about her normal routine, checking up on everyone and everything that she normally checked up on. So far no one seemed to be noticing anything odd. Keeping up Duo's shield wasn't that difficult now that she'd replenished her resources. It was a simple matter of the barest concentration.
Returning to her quarters hours later, Hotaru kept that same cool, unreadable mask on her face which had been present for most of the day. Trying to get at least a small bit of sleep, the violet-eyed demon shed her clothing and willed her dark, feathery wings away. They only got in the way while trying to sleep.
Stepping into the only clean pair of pajamas she had, a silk set that Michiru and Haruka had bought her on some special occasion a while ago as a gag gift, Hotaru readied herself for at least a bit of sleep. The black shorts were cut scandalously small, even more so with the slits up the side. The matching top, if it qualified as that, was merely a scrap of fabric with the liking of a tank top. There was a matching robe, of course, which she threw at the foot of her bed.
Tying up her shoulder length hair wasn't difficult, and soon enough the general was crawling under the covers, looking possibly more feminine than anyone had ever seen her. Hotaru fell into an uneasy sleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow, dreaming of her childhood with Duo, or his past incarnation, on Saturn. She was but a girl-child on that fateful night that Duo fulfilled his born destiny and became the vessel for the spirit of the Shinigami, and thereby the Shinigami himself.
The years had gone by quickly, and Hotaru saw less and less of Duo, busy as he was with his newfound duties. The young Saturnian women seethed with jealousy that the princess, already so privileged, should also be in the good graces of the lord god himself. Then came faint snatches of Hotaru's memory of her birthday party, so long ago it seemed: boredom, then Duo. Pleasurable agony soon followed and the discovery that her course in life had then on been altered.
Of course, her duty as the Princess of Saturn came before serving the Shinigami, or at least it had back then. Duo had been understanding and allowed her to continue most of her life normally. Her duties as the sovereign of silence led her to becoming a senshi and taking that morsel onto her already-full plate. Beryl attacked and broke through the outer senshi's defenses, sadly, and laid waste to Hotaru's beautiful kingdom. It was devastation, destruction, and ultimately the only thing left on the princess' once-lively kingdom.were its three eternal queens: Silence, Destruction, and Death.
Devoting herself to the only thing she had left, Hotaru threw herself into her life as a demon. She was sure she made a nuisance of herself at first, bumbling along in her attempts to fit in and be useful. Finally though, Duo had taken her under his wing, risking the appearance of favoritism, and guided her to her new (and current) position. Hotaru dreamed fondly of their conversation long ago when he'd announced her new title.
/ "Hotaru," Duo had called quietly, slipping into her old quarters in the middle of the night. Tiptoeing just in case his friend and subordinate was asleep. He found the dark haired girl curled up in the middle of her bed, wearing a man's nightshirt. Groggily she came awake as the violet-eyed man sat on the edge of her bed.
"My Lord, what are you doing here? Should you not be in bed?" she had asked, her voice sounding lower and huskier than normal, still clouded with sleep. Pushing herself up on her elbows, the girl blinked rapidly in the complete darkness of the room, adjusting to the change from the darkness behind her eyelids.
Duo smiled, reaching out to brush back her bangs. "'Taru, are you trying to parent me?" He chuckled with barely suppressed mirth as Hotaru stuttered out, "O-of course not, my Lord! I was only saying-"
"I know, 'Taru-chan," he interrupted, grinning mercilessly, "I was only playing with you. And how many times do I have to tell you, when we're alone like this, let's try and keep it informal? I have enough people bending over backwards to try and kiss my ass." Hotaru frowned with her put- upon-princess look on her face. "Duo, it's just not proper."
"Proper schmoper," he admonished, waving his hand dismissively, "Anyway, 'Taru, the reason I'm here isn't just to drag you out of a sound sleep. I'm not that sadistic. I wanted to say that.well, you've come a really long way in your training and stuff, and.I'm really proud of you." Duo's smile widened as he witnessed the telltale signs of Hotaru's blushing.
"Thank you, Duo," she said in her normal reserved tone. Sitting up straighter, she looked directly at the braided young man, hands in her lap, awaiting the second half of what was to come. "And because of that," Duo finally continued, "We've decided to give you a.promotion of sorts."
"Promotion?" Hotaru replied with her head cocked to the side, staring at Duo in such a manner than it reminded him of a curious kitten. "Well, my advisors and I have decided that.you're going to be my general."
"General?!" Hotaru screeched and almost fell over, "But Duo, I-"
"You are perfectly qualified," Duo interrupted smoothly, "You did excellent in all of your warfare lessons, are skilled with the martial arts, and I know for a fact that you did most of the tactical planning during the time when Beryl attacked. You'll be perfect for the job. I have the utmost confidence in you." The last bit was phrased in a very un-Duo-like manner; it was more like the confident tone of voice the Shinigami used. The compliment made Hotaru blush and cover her mouth with her pale hands.
Hesitantly, she reached out to Duo with one trembling hand. Duo took it with a small smile, and squeezed reassuringly. "You have done me a great service this night, my liege. There is no doubt in my mind that your influence was used to obtain this position of high honor for me, but.I will accept it with the highest amount of gratitude. May my service always prove to be that of an arrow flying straight and true." The words were spoken slowly, somberly, and Hotaru was sure that Duo could see the tears burning in her eyes.
"I accept your vow of servitude with humility, my lady. It is a great honor to have you in my Court, General Hotaru." With that Duo raised the fine- boned hand he held in his own to his mouth and pressed a gentle kiss there, as one would do on the kingdom of Saturn when presented to its Princess.
Lowering Hotaru's hand, Duo suddenly grinned, spoiling the serious moment. "Now go to bed, General. You'll receive a list of your duties tomorrow morning, and oh-your quarters will be moved. Lucius, the old general, will be arriving mid-day to help you get acclimated to your new lot in life. But, ugh, I've got to get going; I have to wake up early in the morning for a meeting.."/
.Wake up early in the morning for a meeting.wake up early in the morning.wake up.
The thought chased Hotaru into consciousness, shooting straight up in bed. Gasping, she looked around the pitch-black room, trying to figure out what it was that had woken her. With a shock, she realized what time it had to be. Scrambling out from under the covers in a flurry of motion, the violet- eyed woman tossed on her robe and hurriedly tied it, vanishing into thin air.
When she reappeared, Hotaru stood within the Shinigami's room, facing the window settee that Duo had so loved to perch upon and read when he thought no one was near to witness it. Except Hotaru; Duo had never cared much about whether Hotaru was there or not.
Spinning quickly to face the bed, the general was faced with the twitching form that was Duo, arising slowly from his unnatural slumber. Hotaru's body tingled and she realized that Duo's awakening was pulling down her carefully structured shields. Grimacing, she poured even more power into them to defend them from the onslaught. "Stupid ass," she growled as Duo's eyes began to flutter and consciousness was merely a breath away.
Then abruptly Duo arched his back, gasping, as new life flooded his body. Indigo oculars were revealed to the room, and his gaze snapped back and forth wildly. Moving closer, Hotaru peered cautiously at him. "Duo?" she called hesitantly, "My Lord?" Those impossibly colored eyes locked on her pale, slim figure and recognition flared within their depths. "'Taru?" he choked out.
In a movement too graceful to be human, Hotaru slid onto the large bed. "Duo," she cooed, gladness lighting up her features. Then suddenly her face turned dark. "Stop fighting my shield, Duo. You're making it difficult to maintain." A blank look greeted her. "But.it hurts. Feels like."
"Suffocating. I know," Hotaru nodded her understanding, "But it is necessary. They will descend on us like a pack of wild dogs if I drop the shield too soon. Just stop pushing against the shield, and all will be fine." Duo took a deep breath, inherently understanding the warning, and miraculously as he slowed his breathing and heart rate, letting his body ease into a state of relaxation, the shield settled from something wound uncomfortably tight to the equivalent of a soft, warm blanket wrapped around him. "What's going on?" he asked, looking at the foreign creature before him.
"I told you I was looking for the Shinigami. I told you I found him. You told me to bring him home. So I did." The explanation was simple, concise, but Duo still found it impossible to believe. "Me?!" he squeaked, "I'm not the god of death! I can't be! I've lived my whole life on earth; I'm just an ordinary kid! I mean, I would know if I were the god of death!"
Hotaru raised one fine eyebrow in incredulity. "And just what is it you call yourself it battle again?" Duo looked utterly stricken. "I'm not." he just barely whispered, eyes wide, breathing a little heavy again. "You are," Hotaru said with fierce conviction. "And I can see it in your eyes that you know it too. You remember."
"But Hotaru, I-"
"Shut up, Duo," she said kindly, her eyes holding far too much understanding. She knew just how it was to wake up one day and find your entire perception of yourself changed by one simple fact. "You are the Shinigami. The spirit has always been within you, the abilities, the power. Why do you think you never died in battle no matter how badly you were injured? The only thing I did was return you to Hell."
Duo stared at the violet-eyed woman above him. "Hotaru, I don't know how to be the Shinigami anymore. It's.been too long. Besides, I have a life on earth. People are going to be wondering when I don't show up for work. Plus there's Gaia, and my friends, and." he trailed off, the enormity of his thoughts overwhelming him temporarily.
"I will teach you," Hotaru answered quite simply, "You can learn to be the Shinigami again. You don't have to completely abandon your human life either. After all, I've been posing as a mortal and running Hell myself quite successfully these past few months."
"I-" Duo seemed to deflate, the denial leaving him in a puff of breath. "Okay.Hotaru, you're my general, right?" Momentarily off balance by the abrupt shift in topics, Hotaru merely stared before stumbling out, "Yes. Yes, I am, Duo." He sat up carefully, scooting closer to the dark haired woman. "I used to tell you everything, right?"
"Yes. Well, a lot," Hotaru amended, scooting closer to him as well, responding to the childlike anxiousness she felt stirring within Duo. "I'm scared," he admitted, "I'm afraid of all this: the responsibility, the power. I don't want to do this. I've already lived through two wars. I don't want to die in this one."
They sat beside one another, old and new friends, Hotaru fighting back tears. "I know, Duo. I don't want you to do either. You won't. I swear it on my life." Even if it kills me, she added silently. Duo reached out, remaining uncharacteristically silent, and grabbed her subtly trembling hand within his larger ones. "I'll do it though," Duo began, filling up the loaded silence, "I'll be the Shinigami because it's what I was meant to do. It's something I can't escape, and denying it won't help. I'll do it for you, and for everyone else out there fighting in my name, for my realm."
Hot tears trailed out of Hotaru's eyes, sliding unnoticed down her elfin features. There was really nothing she could say in reply, but she could show her support in the touch of her hand against Duo's, squeezing gently but firmly. They sat on the bed together as the sun began to color the sky with amazing hues, looking out the large bay window, loving the presence of one another and dreading the trials to come. There were no declarations though, merely the heartfelt promises they had made to themselves.
I will keep him safe no matter the cost.
I will lead these people in this terrible war.
For you.
Because I love you.
- - FIN - -
And here is the long-overdue conclusion to Hell's Angel. Be on the lookout for the sequel in which Duo settles into his role as the Shinigami, while trying to convince his friends there's nothing wrong. The war comes to fruition. More of the past is revealed. Will Hotaru and Duo's love for each other ever be known by the other? Find out in the sequel.
Archive: -anrui- ()
'kay, here's my little ditty for the chapter: First off, I don't own Gundam Wing or Sailor Moon, I just used the characters within my own plotline. Secondly, I'd like to apologize for taking so long with this story. Third, this will be the last chapter of Hell's Angel, but Hotaru and Duo's story is nowhere near finished. Instead I will be starting a sequel. Don't have a title yet, but you'll know it when you see it. Finally, I do now have a private archive of my own works up, so if you find my work intriguing, I'd suggest you take a look. Thank you, everyone, for reading.
Hotaru arrived within the lush chamber that was Shinigami's personal quarters, and gently lay her lord down on the plush king sized bed. Simultaneously, her mind reached out and touched those within her trusted circle: Michiru, Setsuna, Haruka. Then suddenly, remembering Michiru's warning, wished she hadn't contacted Haruka. Perhaps she wasn't to be trusted anymore.
The thought came too late, because soon her advisors and fellow generals appeared also within the room, responding to the haste her mind had impressed upon them. "It's done," she announced, staring directly at Setsuna. The green haired woman looked impassive, but underneath Hotaru could see the understanding in her merlot-colored oculars. She knew how difficult it had been for Hotaru to snatch away the life that Duo had so doggedly built.
"Good," Haruka said gruffly, "About damn time. People were starting to worry." Michiru glanced at her lover with a small smile that abruptly faltered. Remembrances of her omen popped into her head, and a feeling of betrayal clawed at her heart. "Yes," the blue haired woman finally agreed, "It is good that you have finally made a decisive move, Hotaru. Now, maybe, we stand a chance against Heaven."
Nodding succinctly, Hotaru stepped back from the bed. "It will be some time before he recovers. I want one of the maids to check in on him every hour. Setsuna, pick one you deem trustworthy. Tell her if I hear she's told anyone, I will hang her by her heels in the dining hall and skin her alive with my bare hands. The three of you will go about your normal duties. Do not give any indication that he's here. If you need me, I'll be resting in my rooms."
That said, the infinitely cold general made way for the much warmer woman in Hotaru's heart, and swiped a small chunk of Duo's bangs away from his face and behind his ear. A soft smile claimed her features before she remembered who she was and who was witnessing the moment. Snapping into upright posture, she nodded a succinct farewell to the other general's and vanished to her rooms with a stamp of her booted foot.
"Well she's certainly not as happy as I'd have thought," Haruka muttered. Michiru looked at her with an odd glance, but then recovered and nodded her agreement. "Yes, out of everyone I would have thought she'd be rejoicing the most. You know how close she and the Shinigami were."
"Of course," Setsuna broke into the conversation, "Some of that closeness may have been in rumor only. You know for a fact that the one rumor where the young demons said Hotaru was Shinigami's Mistress was just that; a rumor."
"Oh please, Setsuna," Haruka's voice was filled with exasperation, "You know as well as I do that they were nearly inseparable." The blond general shifted her stance, wings tucked behind her neatly, leaning against the wall. With deep blue eyes, deep enough to conceal secrets, she studied the young man who is and was their Lord. Hotaru was right; he did look exactly the same.
Michiru grinned, seating herself on the very edge of the bed, and crossing her legs in a very feminine, princess-like gesture she hadn't quite grown out of. Wrists hanging loosely on her knees and slightly slouched, she volunteered her own opinion to the conversation. "Except when our Lord was off with another woman.or two.or three." At Setsuna and Haruka's incredulous glances, Michiru shrugged and straightened defensively. "Oh come off it, you know as well as I do what our Lord did behind closed doors. Hell, sometimes they weren't closed at all!"
"Yes, but to speak of him in such a vulgar manner, Michiru.You act as though no one will hear you," Setsuna reprimanded in her patient, soft voice. "Plus, he's right fuckin' there!" Haruka shouted, pointing unabashedly at the slumbering Shinigami.
The blue haired general glanced at the longhaired boy curled up on the opposite side of the bed, and shrugged nonchalantly. "He's can't hear us. You both know that. He will be dead to the world until his body recovers from the changes it's undergoing."
Setsuna sighed, rubbing her temples where a headache was just beginning to form. "That's not the point!" Haruka shouted. "Yes," Setsuna agreed, "It's a matter of ethics." Uncharacteristically, Michiru snorted through her nose, expressing her opinion quite succinctly. "Haruka's yelling would wake him up first," she said, standing up. A light chuckle escaped her lips. As Setsuna joined her, much to Haruka's dismay, Michiru abruptly stopped and said, smile still in place, "Let's get going. We all have our duties to attend to. You heard the Mistress's orders."
Within a moment, all three high-ranking women were gone, leaving a lone braided young man on the burgundy velvet bedspread.
Hotaru sighed heavily as she returned to her own seldom-used rooms. She really hadn't wanted to go back to these tomb-like quarters, but staying with Duo was not an option. She had too many things to attend to and a reputation to uphold. If the lower-ranking demons caught whiff that the Shinigami had returned and Hotaru, his 'Mistress', at least according to rumor, was keeping a bedside vigil, the gossipmongers would be hounding her yet again.
Quickly unlacing her boots and tossing them on the other side of the room, Hotaru flopped onto her black bedspread and tried to think of what she should do next. The obvious would be to feed; she needed her strength to shield Duo's aura from the rest of Hell and whoever else would be able to sense him. It was her sworn duty to protect Duo, especially in his most vulnerable moments, which this certainly counted as.
The second item on her mental checklist would have to have been keeping up appearances. She had a meeting she needed to attend later with several outer provinces Keeps' seneschals. The purpose was to discuss fortifying their strongholds in case Heaven attacked. The Keeps would serve as a place to evacuate the townspeople to, as impenetrable as they were. There they would be able to hold out against the enemy until reinforcements could come. That is, provided they were stocked up with enough water and food to last, and enough soldiers.
The third item would be, possibly, skinning the silly little twit who went blabbing that the Shinigami had returned. Hotaru grinned maliciously, violet eyes lighting up with an unholy gleam. The demons under her command had witnessed her merciless nature before, but a warning may need to be issued.
Rising from the bed, she set about changing into clothing appropriate for Hell's particular fashions and befitting one of her station, then set off on the first task. Waltzing into the kitchen, the violet eyed woman was halfway through with her breakfast when Setsuna contacted her telepathically. *The servant girl, Aris, is attending to our Lord every hour on the dot.*
*Thank you, Setsuna. Your service is much obliged.* Hotaru sent back, stuffing a slice of apple into her mouth. She'd decided on food rather than going out hunting. She wanted to stay close for when Duo woke up, and prowling around for someone to feed on wouldn't provide that. Plus she didn't think she could stomach someone else's blood; too drunk on Duo's she was and far too spoiled by its richness and power. So the violet eyed demon set about stuffing herself until she felt full and even past that point. The cooks looked astounded that their general, who was small and petite and almost heart-breakingly fragile-looking, could pack down that much food. Hotaru caught the fleeting thought of 'where was she putting it all?'
Finally sated, Shinigami's supposed-Mistress left the kitchen, much to the cooks' relief. Stalking down the hallway, she passed the open door of Michiru's office and stepped gracefully inside, shutting it behind her. "Anyone listening?" she asked the blue haired woman seated at her desk, dutifully going through the stack of paperwork in front of her. "There shouldn't be," Michiru said in reply, glancing up from whatever document she was looking over, steepling her fingers. "What is it that you need, Mistress?" The tone of Michiru's voice was strangely somber and resonant with Protocol.
"I just stopped in quickly to ask if you've had any more visions," Hotaru said vaguely. She saw Michiru slowly shake her head. "No, Mistress, I have not. I can try again later if it would please you." Hotaru smiled, "Yes, please, do that. The reason I ask is that.the more I think of it, the more it would make sense. At almost every corner the enemy seems to outwit us. A traitor among us, or perhaps a spy lurking amidst the masses, is very logical. It would have to be someone with fairly high rank, but someone people wouldn't necessarily suspect."
Michiru frowned thoughtfully, her eyebrows drawing down behind her glasses in a way that didn't necessarily befit her. "I cannot find flaw within your logic. Shall I broach the subject with Setsuna and Haruka?" The phasing was so automatic it slipped out before Michiru could stop it. Of course they shouldn't tell Haruka. "Much as it pains me to say so," Hotaru began, "I think we're going to have to start keeping some things from Haruka. Just to be safe. However, she's innocent until proven guilty. You know that as well as I."
"Of course, Mistress. That was foolish of me," the blue haired general amended. "It's quite alright. Old habits die hard, ne?" Hotaru grinned, and straightened, "Return to your previous activities." With that she spun on her heel and left the room.
Continuing on down through the maze-like halls, Hotaru finally ended up at the formal meeting room where Setsuna stood patiently outside of the door. "The seneschals await you, Mistress," she stated matter-of-factly in her smooth voice. Nodding her understanding, Hotaru stood in place until Setsuna swung open the doors for her and announced her presence. The seneschals all rose, and Hotaru took quick stock of them. Most were ancient souls who had seen much of life already, one or two middle-aged men. That was it though.
The seneschals all bowed lowly to her, and waited for her response. Protocol demanded that they weren't allowed to sit until she had taken her seat. With a pointed nod of greeting, Hotaru coolly greeted them. "Gentlemen.and Lady," she said, with a small smile at the one elderly woman who rose. With long, quick steps, she sat at the head of the table, and Setsuna at her right hand. Centuries ago it would have been herself in Setsuna's chair, and the Shinigami in the very seat she now occupied.
"Please be seated," Hotaru intoned. The Keeps' caretakers slowly lowered themselves onto the old, extravagant chairs of the meeting room, and looked to her for further direction. "We all know why we're here, don't we? So let's just cut to the chase. War between Heaven and Hell is inevitable. The best we can do is prepare for it. During the times of war, the Keeps will act as strongholds for the civilians. That means you'll need supplies. So let's just start on my left and go around the table. State what your province is, the population, and we will get you everything you need."
That said, the droning began and Hotaru listened intently, planning carefully. Setsuna wrote down everything that was said with a studious attention to detail, much more than Hotaru had ever had when she'd advised the Shinigami. She'd mostly relied on her memory. Every so often, Hotaru interrupted the droning with a particular comment to Setsuna to add onto her notes.
Soon enough the meeting was over, and Hotaru left the seneschals in the meeting room with a feeling akin to relief. Setsuna stayed behind to show the officials out, and would no doubt be busy later tapping their resources to provide all the necessary supplies to the provinces in Hell. One thing Hotaru had to say for being the Shinigami's replacement was that she didn't have to do the grunt work anymore.
The black haired general then proceeded to 'keep up appearances' and went about her normal routine, checking up on everyone and everything that she normally checked up on. So far no one seemed to be noticing anything odd. Keeping up Duo's shield wasn't that difficult now that she'd replenished her resources. It was a simple matter of the barest concentration.
Returning to her quarters hours later, Hotaru kept that same cool, unreadable mask on her face which had been present for most of the day. Trying to get at least a small bit of sleep, the violet-eyed demon shed her clothing and willed her dark, feathery wings away. They only got in the way while trying to sleep.
Stepping into the only clean pair of pajamas she had, a silk set that Michiru and Haruka had bought her on some special occasion a while ago as a gag gift, Hotaru readied herself for at least a bit of sleep. The black shorts were cut scandalously small, even more so with the slits up the side. The matching top, if it qualified as that, was merely a scrap of fabric with the liking of a tank top. There was a matching robe, of course, which she threw at the foot of her bed.
Tying up her shoulder length hair wasn't difficult, and soon enough the general was crawling under the covers, looking possibly more feminine than anyone had ever seen her. Hotaru fell into an uneasy sleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow, dreaming of her childhood with Duo, or his past incarnation, on Saturn. She was but a girl-child on that fateful night that Duo fulfilled his born destiny and became the vessel for the spirit of the Shinigami, and thereby the Shinigami himself.
The years had gone by quickly, and Hotaru saw less and less of Duo, busy as he was with his newfound duties. The young Saturnian women seethed with jealousy that the princess, already so privileged, should also be in the good graces of the lord god himself. Then came faint snatches of Hotaru's memory of her birthday party, so long ago it seemed: boredom, then Duo. Pleasurable agony soon followed and the discovery that her course in life had then on been altered.
Of course, her duty as the Princess of Saturn came before serving the Shinigami, or at least it had back then. Duo had been understanding and allowed her to continue most of her life normally. Her duties as the sovereign of silence led her to becoming a senshi and taking that morsel onto her already-full plate. Beryl attacked and broke through the outer senshi's defenses, sadly, and laid waste to Hotaru's beautiful kingdom. It was devastation, destruction, and ultimately the only thing left on the princess' once-lively kingdom.were its three eternal queens: Silence, Destruction, and Death.
Devoting herself to the only thing she had left, Hotaru threw herself into her life as a demon. She was sure she made a nuisance of herself at first, bumbling along in her attempts to fit in and be useful. Finally though, Duo had taken her under his wing, risking the appearance of favoritism, and guided her to her new (and current) position. Hotaru dreamed fondly of their conversation long ago when he'd announced her new title.
/ "Hotaru," Duo had called quietly, slipping into her old quarters in the middle of the night. Tiptoeing just in case his friend and subordinate was asleep. He found the dark haired girl curled up in the middle of her bed, wearing a man's nightshirt. Groggily she came awake as the violet-eyed man sat on the edge of her bed.
"My Lord, what are you doing here? Should you not be in bed?" she had asked, her voice sounding lower and huskier than normal, still clouded with sleep. Pushing herself up on her elbows, the girl blinked rapidly in the complete darkness of the room, adjusting to the change from the darkness behind her eyelids.
Duo smiled, reaching out to brush back her bangs. "'Taru, are you trying to parent me?" He chuckled with barely suppressed mirth as Hotaru stuttered out, "O-of course not, my Lord! I was only saying-"
"I know, 'Taru-chan," he interrupted, grinning mercilessly, "I was only playing with you. And how many times do I have to tell you, when we're alone like this, let's try and keep it informal? I have enough people bending over backwards to try and kiss my ass." Hotaru frowned with her put- upon-princess look on her face. "Duo, it's just not proper."
"Proper schmoper," he admonished, waving his hand dismissively, "Anyway, 'Taru, the reason I'm here isn't just to drag you out of a sound sleep. I'm not that sadistic. I wanted to say that.well, you've come a really long way in your training and stuff, and.I'm really proud of you." Duo's smile widened as he witnessed the telltale signs of Hotaru's blushing.
"Thank you, Duo," she said in her normal reserved tone. Sitting up straighter, she looked directly at the braided young man, hands in her lap, awaiting the second half of what was to come. "And because of that," Duo finally continued, "We've decided to give you a.promotion of sorts."
"Promotion?" Hotaru replied with her head cocked to the side, staring at Duo in such a manner than it reminded him of a curious kitten. "Well, my advisors and I have decided that.you're going to be my general."
"General?!" Hotaru screeched and almost fell over, "But Duo, I-"
"You are perfectly qualified," Duo interrupted smoothly, "You did excellent in all of your warfare lessons, are skilled with the martial arts, and I know for a fact that you did most of the tactical planning during the time when Beryl attacked. You'll be perfect for the job. I have the utmost confidence in you." The last bit was phrased in a very un-Duo-like manner; it was more like the confident tone of voice the Shinigami used. The compliment made Hotaru blush and cover her mouth with her pale hands.
Hesitantly, she reached out to Duo with one trembling hand. Duo took it with a small smile, and squeezed reassuringly. "You have done me a great service this night, my liege. There is no doubt in my mind that your influence was used to obtain this position of high honor for me, but.I will accept it with the highest amount of gratitude. May my service always prove to be that of an arrow flying straight and true." The words were spoken slowly, somberly, and Hotaru was sure that Duo could see the tears burning in her eyes.
"I accept your vow of servitude with humility, my lady. It is a great honor to have you in my Court, General Hotaru." With that Duo raised the fine- boned hand he held in his own to his mouth and pressed a gentle kiss there, as one would do on the kingdom of Saturn when presented to its Princess.
Lowering Hotaru's hand, Duo suddenly grinned, spoiling the serious moment. "Now go to bed, General. You'll receive a list of your duties tomorrow morning, and oh-your quarters will be moved. Lucius, the old general, will be arriving mid-day to help you get acclimated to your new lot in life. But, ugh, I've got to get going; I have to wake up early in the morning for a meeting.."/
.Wake up early in the morning for a meeting.wake up early in the morning.wake up.
The thought chased Hotaru into consciousness, shooting straight up in bed. Gasping, she looked around the pitch-black room, trying to figure out what it was that had woken her. With a shock, she realized what time it had to be. Scrambling out from under the covers in a flurry of motion, the violet- eyed woman tossed on her robe and hurriedly tied it, vanishing into thin air.
When she reappeared, Hotaru stood within the Shinigami's room, facing the window settee that Duo had so loved to perch upon and read when he thought no one was near to witness it. Except Hotaru; Duo had never cared much about whether Hotaru was there or not.
Spinning quickly to face the bed, the general was faced with the twitching form that was Duo, arising slowly from his unnatural slumber. Hotaru's body tingled and she realized that Duo's awakening was pulling down her carefully structured shields. Grimacing, she poured even more power into them to defend them from the onslaught. "Stupid ass," she growled as Duo's eyes began to flutter and consciousness was merely a breath away.
Then abruptly Duo arched his back, gasping, as new life flooded his body. Indigo oculars were revealed to the room, and his gaze snapped back and forth wildly. Moving closer, Hotaru peered cautiously at him. "Duo?" she called hesitantly, "My Lord?" Those impossibly colored eyes locked on her pale, slim figure and recognition flared within their depths. "'Taru?" he choked out.
In a movement too graceful to be human, Hotaru slid onto the large bed. "Duo," she cooed, gladness lighting up her features. Then suddenly her face turned dark. "Stop fighting my shield, Duo. You're making it difficult to maintain." A blank look greeted her. "But.it hurts. Feels like."
"Suffocating. I know," Hotaru nodded her understanding, "But it is necessary. They will descend on us like a pack of wild dogs if I drop the shield too soon. Just stop pushing against the shield, and all will be fine." Duo took a deep breath, inherently understanding the warning, and miraculously as he slowed his breathing and heart rate, letting his body ease into a state of relaxation, the shield settled from something wound uncomfortably tight to the equivalent of a soft, warm blanket wrapped around him. "What's going on?" he asked, looking at the foreign creature before him.
"I told you I was looking for the Shinigami. I told you I found him. You told me to bring him home. So I did." The explanation was simple, concise, but Duo still found it impossible to believe. "Me?!" he squeaked, "I'm not the god of death! I can't be! I've lived my whole life on earth; I'm just an ordinary kid! I mean, I would know if I were the god of death!"
Hotaru raised one fine eyebrow in incredulity. "And just what is it you call yourself it battle again?" Duo looked utterly stricken. "I'm not." he just barely whispered, eyes wide, breathing a little heavy again. "You are," Hotaru said with fierce conviction. "And I can see it in your eyes that you know it too. You remember."
"But Hotaru, I-"
"Shut up, Duo," she said kindly, her eyes holding far too much understanding. She knew just how it was to wake up one day and find your entire perception of yourself changed by one simple fact. "You are the Shinigami. The spirit has always been within you, the abilities, the power. Why do you think you never died in battle no matter how badly you were injured? The only thing I did was return you to Hell."
Duo stared at the violet-eyed woman above him. "Hotaru, I don't know how to be the Shinigami anymore. It's.been too long. Besides, I have a life on earth. People are going to be wondering when I don't show up for work. Plus there's Gaia, and my friends, and." he trailed off, the enormity of his thoughts overwhelming him temporarily.
"I will teach you," Hotaru answered quite simply, "You can learn to be the Shinigami again. You don't have to completely abandon your human life either. After all, I've been posing as a mortal and running Hell myself quite successfully these past few months."
"I-" Duo seemed to deflate, the denial leaving him in a puff of breath. "Okay.Hotaru, you're my general, right?" Momentarily off balance by the abrupt shift in topics, Hotaru merely stared before stumbling out, "Yes. Yes, I am, Duo." He sat up carefully, scooting closer to the dark haired woman. "I used to tell you everything, right?"
"Yes. Well, a lot," Hotaru amended, scooting closer to him as well, responding to the childlike anxiousness she felt stirring within Duo. "I'm scared," he admitted, "I'm afraid of all this: the responsibility, the power. I don't want to do this. I've already lived through two wars. I don't want to die in this one."
They sat beside one another, old and new friends, Hotaru fighting back tears. "I know, Duo. I don't want you to do either. You won't. I swear it on my life." Even if it kills me, she added silently. Duo reached out, remaining uncharacteristically silent, and grabbed her subtly trembling hand within his larger ones. "I'll do it though," Duo began, filling up the loaded silence, "I'll be the Shinigami because it's what I was meant to do. It's something I can't escape, and denying it won't help. I'll do it for you, and for everyone else out there fighting in my name, for my realm."
Hot tears trailed out of Hotaru's eyes, sliding unnoticed down her elfin features. There was really nothing she could say in reply, but she could show her support in the touch of her hand against Duo's, squeezing gently but firmly. They sat on the bed together as the sun began to color the sky with amazing hues, looking out the large bay window, loving the presence of one another and dreading the trials to come. There were no declarations though, merely the heartfelt promises they had made to themselves.
I will keep him safe no matter the cost.
I will lead these people in this terrible war.
For you.
Because I love you.
- - FIN - -
And here is the long-overdue conclusion to Hell's Angel. Be on the lookout for the sequel in which Duo settles into his role as the Shinigami, while trying to convince his friends there's nothing wrong. The war comes to fruition. More of the past is revealed. Will Hotaru and Duo's love for each other ever be known by the other? Find out in the sequel.