Author's Note: Dammit, I was trying to set this entire thing up to fit into the last entry but blurty wouldn't allow me to go past Chapter Thirteen. It is so damn annoying too. I apologize for this. I really do. The last one is alot longer than I am sure this one will be, but this will be end of this story. The next one is an Inuyasha story. I do hope you will take the time to check it out tomorrow night.
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To Pluck A Rose
by Utena-chan















Chapter Fourteen













Hades had refused Persephone's request to join him. He wouldn't even hear of it. She was remain in the bedroom until further notice. He wasn't about to let Death to take her before his eyes. No one would ever touch his wife, not if they dared a painful death.

Death was to be an expection to pain. It was for Hecate he was allowing only punishment to come in the form of a plan. Everything he set up had come from this simple plan from the invitation to dinner arrangements. There was to be no room whatsoever for mess ups. His beloved wife depended on this.

"My lord," a voice from the doorway of his study interupted his thoughts, "your dinner guest has arrived and awaits your presence."

Hades nodded his head and rose from the leather chair. There was no chance of backing out now. He would go through with it. He simply despised having to do what he planned. The lavander-haired one had been the best companion to his sister, but now...now he wondered if she would be able to take on the job on her own. Of course, he would offer whatever possible assistance to her.

He moved out of the study and towards the large hall knowing Death would be there waiting for him. He was far from disappointed when he did. The tall figure seemed occupied with the paintings that surrounded him of Persephone. For a moment, Hades stood there with narrowed eyes. He could sense the obsession with his wife long before he even stepped into the room.

Finally Hades cleared his throat sending Death to spin on heels. His long black robes swirled around him.

"Good eve, my Lord Hades," Death greeted with a bow of his head. He tucked his hands behind his back. "I can see by the portraits of the Lady Kore that marriage life has been a blessing here."

"It has," Hades agreed gesturing towards the dining room. "Come let us eat and drink while the night is still early."

Death nodded his head in agreement allowing Hades to lead the way. The two men spoke of work and the Underworld in general. The topic never once straying to thoughts of Persephone and this was just as best. Hades would have been in a terrible temper to have his wife's name pass from the lips of another. No other had the right to speak her name so intimately as he did. It was a privilege granted to him and this he held sacred above all else.

"Please take that seat, Death," Hades replied gesturing to the exquisite chair at the opposite end of the table as he took a seat. He watched the other hesitate momentarily before allowing himself the luxury of relaxing.

The chair, alive, reacted violently sending chains and metal clasps around Death's form and Hades rose from his seat to glare the offender.

"As punishment of trying to steal away my wife, you will spend an eternity sitting in the Chair of Forgetfullness. Be relieved that I do not toss you into the depths of Tartarus."

Death stared up at him with confusion at his words. The chair's power already taking its toll upon the jade green-eyed god. He simply didn't understand at all and this caused Hades to finally sigh. He had done his duty and motioned from his guards to enter and remove Death from his sight. Now, he could rest knowing his beloved wife was safe.










Some Few Months Later








Spring was nearing and Hades knew that it would come time to lose his wife once more to her Mother. Since the incident sometime ago, they hardly spoke of it. Simply referring to it as that 'horrible period in time'. There was no other way of putting it. At least now, they could breath easy and they were far more carefree around each other.

Spring also brought forth the sounds of love in the air. Hades had grown even fonder of his young wife as the days turned into weeks and months. He always brought her some treasure from deep within his realm, but always Persephone would refuse such luxurious trinkets.

"I don't need that," she would say with a smile tugging on the corners of her mouth, "All I need is your love. Its all I could ever want."

And he gave it to her freely, loving every spent moment he could with her. Even during the slowest days in Tartarus, he always rushed home to be with her and she often left her duties as well behind for time with him.

"I love you so much," Persephone whispered resting her head on his shoulder.

"I love you too," he replied, "always and forever."

"Do you promise that if we fade away that we will find each other again?"

"For you, I promise by the River Styx."















Epilogue










Ohtori Gakuen
The Present









She was being shaken from the depths of her dreams and this caused a frown to mar her lovely face. She didn't want to leave these dreams just yet. Not when she had seen and learned so much from them. To know she had lived this life before had sent her dream-filled mind reeling with this information.

A part of her ached to relive such a life again. She wanted to return to him...to stay in his arms all over again. She would give up her vows of chastity just for her dark king. She loved him moreso than ever and finding him again was just not an allowance of Fate. They had made sure of this as they were the ones who had weaved the tapestry of life.

"Utena?" Touga's voice called to her and slowly she opened her eyes, allowing the fading sun's light to adjust in her eyes.

"Maa, Touga?" She mumbled turning her water-blue eyes upward to look at him. "I had this dream..."

Pressing a finger to her lips, he silenced her. He didn't need to hear of the dream. He already knew...had lived it once or twice before. Looking into her eyes, he allowed his own to speak the volumes of words between them and he saw hers widen in recognition.

"You!" She gasped, half reaching up to touch his hair and face. "You were in my dream. It was you all along that I loved. I never saw it before. I was blind, Touga. If I had known the truth, I would---"

"Its done and over, Persephone," He cut her off, "we have all the time in the world now together."

"Hai, Hades," she smiled leaning forward to taste his lips. "All the time in the world."
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The End