Author's Notes: I got it out! On time! My God, it's a first!! XD
Guys, this is NOT the last chapter – so don't run away from this story when you're done reading here today.
Disclaimer: Usagi, Mamoru, and Seiya belong to Takeuchi Naoko and a bunch of other suits. I, however, own the rights to 'Heaven's Flames' and this plot line.
Heaven's Flames
Chapter 23
Usagi smiled slowly as she felt those cold lips against her forehead. She dipped her head back to stare into Mamoru's eyes. The lips were smiling, hints of fangs peeking out, but those crystalline eyes were dead. Usagi's brow crunched up.
"Uh, uh," the vampire reprimanded gently. He leant his forehead against his lover's own. "No crying. We promised each other." His eyes fluttered closed sadly, as did Usagi's. "No tears." His voice hitched.
The blonde pulled back and leant up so their noses were touching. "Right," she agreed shakily. She forced a smile.
"OK, guys!" Seiya's cheerful, yet still gruff, voice broke through the calm night. "Who wants to go first?" he boomed cheesily, as if this was some kind of magic show where he would need volunteers.
One of the boys took a shaky step forward. He gulped. Mamoru eyed the boy sadly – he couldn't be any more than thirteen.
"I-I'll go, sir…" the young boy offered. Seiya grinned his cocky grin.
"Step right up." The raven-haired police officer took the boy's wrist and gestured for him to sit. "I'm just gonna hook you up."
Mamoru arched a curious eyebrow. He had been wondering how Seiya was going to get all these children home, but he never got the chance to ask. Now, seeing the large, metallic, black box next the boy, the vampire was even further confused.
The box had dials and switches placed sporadically about the top half of it. There was a screen in the middle with something akin to a heart monitor. All along the bottom half of the contraption was electrodes.
Seiya attached two of the electrodes to either side of the boy's head. There was one put on his jugular (Mamoru swallowed hard), one on each palm, and one on each calf. The police officer said something to the boy, which he nodded to. Seiya then lifted the boy's shirt and placed one electrode right where the boy's heart was, and another on his stomach.
"OK, all set." Seiya sat back on his haunches. "You ready to see your family again?"
There were tears in the boy's eyes. He nodded his head vigorously, biting down on his bottom lip. Usagi smiled.
"Here we go, then." He flicked some switches on the box. The screen lit up and the boy's heart beat began to be monitored and the sound magnified.
Usagi's stiffened when she felt Mamoru's nails dig into her waist. She looked over at him in surprise to see his head turned away and eyes closed painfully. He was biting his tongue to restrain himself and a thin trail of blood trickled down his chin.
"Mamo-chan!" Usagi whispered. She wiped away the blood with her fingertips. "Are you OK?"
The vampire slowly opened his eyes. Usagi noticed they seemed to be a shade darker. He looked like he was in pain.
"I'll be fine," he managed weakly. Contrary to his words, his hands never loosened their hold on his lover. Usagi didn't mention it.
Before the thrumming of the boy's heart beat could further eat away at the vampire's nerves, a flash came from the machine. They all made a little squeak, even Seiya, and shut there eyes quickly.
They all stayed that way a moment, trying to let their eyes heal from the sudden burst of light. Then, after a sufficient amount of time they opened them again.
The boy was gone.
Seiya smiled smugly. Everyone else gaped.
"H-how…?" one of the girls commented, befuddled.
Seiya shifted into Indian-style. "So, who's next?" he asked cheerily.
The same girl stepped forward. "I will!!" she cried eagerly.
Usagi blinked and turned to her lover, who had relaxed drastically since the pounding heart beat stopped. She looked at him quizzically, as if he might have the answer for the phenomenon they just witnessed. Mamoru shrugged.
As the girl was set up, Mamoru took a step towards Seiya, letting go of Usagi.
"Seiya, how…?"
The older man tossed a quick glare to Mamoru. The vampire faltered slightly. The glare, however, quickly dissipated and was replaced with a fake smile.
"This little baby," he replied, patting the box, "sends a wave of electricity through the person." He paused. Everyone was still staring at him, dumbfounded. "Well," he continued, resuming placing the electrodes on the girl, "the body of yours on Earth has this same contraption hooked up to it." He leant over, the girl fully hooked up, and flicked a switch for the screen to turn on. Mamoru tensed. Seiya grinned. "Right now, there's a harmless current flowing through that body. The second I hit the switch for this box to do the same…" He did so, and the same flash ripped through the forest. He shielded his eyes, as did everyone else, but continued explaining. "The two bodies then wind up merging back together." The light faded. The girl was gone.
Mamoru felt Usagi clinging desperately to his arm. She must have grabbed him during the flash. His heart thudded painfully.
They had spent only a few weeks together, and yet they loved each other more then anything. They fought together, laughed together, cried together, and loved together. The days they spent in each other's company were bittersweet. Nothing was ever easy for them, even in this little amount of time. But, they over came it all. He saw her as more then a ditzy, blonde teenager. She saw him as more then a blood-sucking vampire. They loved.
And they lost.
Any minute now and their time together would end with a flash before their very eyes. Literally.
They held one another while the last survivor, aside from themselves and Seiya, was hooked up to the machine. Usagi rested her head on Mamoru's shoulder, and the vampire's lips pressed against her temple. They clung to each other for one last time as Seiya played with dials. They pulled back and stared desperately into one another's eyes as the magnified heartbeat began to pound. Mamoru never noticed it. They leant down for their last kiss.
When mouth brushed mouth the flash shot from the machine, and Usagi and Mamoru shuddered against each other. There were lumps in their throats, their lungs were tight, and their hearts ached. The kissed and kissed, gently and chastely. The vampire's hands slid ever-so-gently through those golden locks one last time, and Usagi wrapped her arms around that cold neck in a final farewell.
Seiya lent back, watching the two lover's in disgust. He had started to fall for the blonde beauty before him the first time they met. The police officer liked getting things done his way, no matter what. If it meant tearing the two apart in order to get to little miss Tsukino Usagi, then so be it. He would do it.
And he'd get her.
No matter what.
Seiya cleared his throat, effectively causing the two before him to break their kiss.
"Are you ready?" he asked gruffly.
Usagi felt her eyes well with tears. She looked to her lover, trying to silently plead with him. He stared down at her with a sadly smile on his lips and shook his head 'no'. She crumpled.
Usagi threw herself at Mamoru and sobbed brokenly into his chest. The vampire was taken aback.
"Hey…" he managed feebly, hands resting shakily on her shoulders. He tried to push her away, but she didn't budge. "I thought we agreed on no crying…?" he reminded softly, not wanting his voice to pitch up too high.
Usagi's grip tightened and she shook her madly against him. "No!!" she cried, voice broken with sobs. "I can't!! I can't, Mamo-chan!!" She sobbed heavily. Mamoru's shirt was wet. "I'll stay here!!" She pulled back, eyes streaming and cheeks flushed. Mamoru felt his heart break at seeing her like that. "Let me stay with you!!"
"Usako…"
Seiya's eyes narrowed. Was he really doing the right thing…? Was tearing these two apart worth it…?
"Please, Mamo-chan!!" She gripped handfuls of his shirt, pulling. "I love you!! Let me stay here!!"
The vampire wanted to cry, but he wouldn't give himself the liberty. No, if he broke down now, then he would let her stay.
He couldn't let that happen.
"Please…!" she cried again, voice barely audible over her sobs. Before Mamoru could stop it, one blood-tear fell down his cheek.
"Usako…" He reached a trembling hand out to touch her tear-streaked face. "You…"
She bit on her bottom lip, it quivering madly. Her cornflower-blue eyes swam in a sea of tears. Her eyes pleaded, begged with him. His defenses were crumbling.
A slow, warm smile parted the vampire's lips. His eyes smiled with them this time. His hand slipped to the back of her head and pulled Usagi close. The girl stiffened for a moment, and then quickly relaxed, letting herself to melt in his arms.
He would let her stay.
They would be together.
Forever.
"I love you," Mamoru whispered softly in her ear, ruffling stray golden bangs. Usagi shuddered.
"I love you," she replied through her tears.
That was all he needed.
Seiya's eyes widened as Mamoru slowly pulled his right hand away. He did it so slowly that Usagi couldn't even notice the movement. By the time the girl realized that her lover's arm was extended up and to the side it was already too late.
Seiya's back stiffened and he choked in shock.
Mamoru's hand swung down, fingers extended tightly in a chop. The hand made a sharp impact with the side of Usagi's neck.
She collapsed in his arms, out cold.
Seiya sputtered, mouth opening and closing, but unable to form any words.
Mamoru's head hung low, eyes closed. His right hand was still rigid and in the same position from the hit. His lover was crumpled in the hold of his left arm. Her knees had fallen out from under her.
The police officer's ears caught Mamoru saying something.
"Take her," he demanded softly, almost inaudibly. Seiya couldn't find the strength to move. "Take her," Mamoru repeated, stronger. There was a pause. The vampire's head swung up, eyes wide and wild. "TAKE HER!!!"
Seiya was at his feet in an instant, taking the unconscious girl in his arms. He quickly turned away from the raging vampire and laid her down next to the machine. Seiya set her up as quickly as possible, taking care not to upset Mamoru further when he placed the electrodes on her chest and stomach.
The older man paused, fingers hovering over the first switch. He didn't look to Mamoru, but instead to Usagi's face – dried with tears. He felt his gut clench.
Mamoru's eyes narrowed into slits when his lover's heartbeat resounded throughout his eardrums. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails broke skin.
He wouldn't let himself cry.
Seiya's eyes turned apprehensively to the vampire a few feet away. Mamoru's fiery eyes met his. The mortal gulped and nodded, knowing that the younger man wouldn't back down.
A pang of guilt hit Seiya, but he brushed it aside.
The flash broke through the forest, but this time Mamoru didn't close his eyes. He stared right through it, eyes unmoving from the spot where Usagi last was. And when the light disappeared, she was gone.
The vampire felt his heart squeeze and his eyes blurred with blood-tears.
Not yet.
Seiya didn't turn to Mamoru, in fear of what the younger man's expression might be. He guiltily hooked his own body up to the box and turned the screen on. When he heard his own heartbeat, he froze for a moment.
Funny, he could have sworn he was heartless…
Keeping his head down, Seiya spoke softly. Mamoru could barely hear it over the pounding.
"You did a good thing"
The light flashed for one last time.
And when it cleared, Mamoru was down on his knees, sobbing openly.
Author's Notes: I was wrong – this story has been going on for over TWO years… Jeesumcrow. Well, was that sad enough for you? I hope so, hehe.
Wait! Don't go away!!
The story's not over yet!!
Come back next week.
