WARNING: If you get offended easily by language or the use of religious references, DO NOT READ. Also, violence ahead. Though I don't mention blood. ::sweatdrop:: But still, VIOLENCE.

'What a surprise,' he had said. It's amazing how three words could burn my skin and freeze it over all in one moment.

Gabriel.

I loathed and feared him. Loathed because he was responsible for killing my friends and family; feared because he had the power to do it again, that and so much more.

My hands started to clam up as I turned to face him. I brushed my fingers against the clasp concealed underneath my cuff sleeve, feeling the cold metal beneath my skin, letting the weight of the gun strapped to my forearm bring me back to reality. I couldn't let my emotions get the better of me this time. I couldn't let the history between us dislodge my focus. And most importantly, I couldn't let Gabriel know I had a weapon that could kill him practically sitting in my supposed empty hands.

If he got wind of it, he'd tear my arm out before I could draw the gun. If I didn't manage to kill him, I wouldn't be needing that arm.

With those two realities seared into my mind, I faced my greatest adversary and smiled.

It was the bravest thing I had ever done.

Sabel

Chapter 2: A Mortal Will

By Little Ucchan

Gabriel stood on one side of the room with the only exit at his back and a mere few yards separating himself from his prey. He could taste victory in the air. It made his lips curl up into a smile.

"I never thought you would come to me willingly," Gabriel chided, shoulders shaking with mirth. "Have you finally changed your mind about me?"

Sage produced a smile of his own. "No. I still want to cut off your head with my nodachi."

The Archangel shook his head, chuckling some more. "Such violence, Sage. It's hard to believe that you are one of mankind's fabled heroes."

"Even harder for me to believe that you're one of mankind's supposed saviors." Sage raised his arm and the clasp gave way, the gun hidden up his coat sleeve sliding down the length of his arm straight into his waiting hand. He leveled the barrel at the Archangel's chest before another word was said. "You've failed my expectations, Gabriel."

"As you have mine," Gabriel countered, eyes glistening with humor. He shook his head again. "A gun, Sage? I always pegged you for a traditionalist."

"These kill faster."

"Demons, you mean?"

"Archangels."

Gabriel's lips twitched. "You are bluffing. Bullets cannot kill us."

"How about bullets fused with enough spiritual energy to shatter a soul?"

The smile disappeared. "I see… Rowen has been busy these days," he mused. "I had assumed he would be here to see how well his new toy held up on the battlefield." Gabriel glanced about, as if to find the archer hiding nearby. "Where is our resident genius?"

"You know where he is."

"Oh, right." The Archangel smirked. "Such a level headed man… to be suicidal."

Sage tightened his grip on the gun. "You're a sick son of a bitch, you know that."

"Language," he laughed. "You're in the presence of the divine."

"Divine my ass."

Gabriel laughed some more. "So amusing."

"You don't believe me?"

"On the contrary. I do believe you. What I do not believe is the reliability of that experimental weapon."

Sage cocked the piece and aimed for Gabriel's head. "Then let's try it. Let's see if you get up once I put a bullet through your head."

"Come now, Sage." Gabriel smirked. "Do you really think you can hit me with that?"

A push of air, subtle as someone's whispered breath, brushed by the base of Sage's neck. "I'll be gone before you can pull the trigger."

Sage kept the gun leveled at the Archangel in front of him. "I'm not falling for it Gabriel. Mind tricks don't work on me."

"Oh?" the voice behind him asked, then disappeared. "Are you sure you have not already fallen for it?"

Sage twitched.

"You are not certain anymore," Gabriel stated, this time his voice coming from above. "You see me in front of you… but you do not know if that is really me. Or if…" The voice faded out. "I've been standing behind you all…"

A push of air.

"…this…"

A whispered breath.

"…time."

A pair of hands skimming his shoulders.

Sage spun around and froze. Gabriel wasn't there.

Sage threw his arm behind him and fired, but Gabriel was already on him. His shot went wild as he was slammed onto the floor, the impact leaving him dazed until the shocking pain of the gun's metal brace being crushed against his arm brought him back to reality. Sage screamed as bones were broken, his entire right arm in pain.

"Well, now this was unexpected." Gabriel had straddled his waist and now had his other arm pinned against his back. He smiled as he leaned in closer to Sage's face, putting more pressure on his arm and shoulder. "I imagined our final confrontation to be more… grand."

Sage gritted his teeth and tried to move, but Gabriel's weight stopped him from succeeding. He bit his tongue as the pain in his shoulder intensified.

"What's wrong, Sage? Didn't think you could be taken so easily?" Gabriel frowned. "You are a fool to believe that you could stand up to me without your armor."

"Better a fool than God's bitch."

Sage's head was slammed against the ground before he realized it, pain exploding throughout his entire brain and making his eyes burn. Within another second, his wrist was snapped, his shoulder dislocated, and his lungs robbed of its air when Gabriel kicked him in the stomach, sending him crashing against the stone pillar at the center of the room.

The Archangel towered above him, his face hidden by the light but the anger clearly visible. "Do not ever speak about Him that way again, mortal!! You have no way of understanding what He is trying to accomplish!! He is trying to save this world!! The world that you love so much!!"

Sage slowly propped his back against the pillar with his right arm. He felt the bones were fractured, but still useful. "How? By casting it further into darkness?" He scoffed. "To save the world or to destroy it, I don't care what he's trying to accomplish. What there is to gain will never be able to justify what we've lost."

"That is the curse of all mortals." Gabriel knelt in front of Sage, placing his hand in front of the Ronin's forehead. "You are not able to see beyond what is in front of you."

Sage smirked. "So, you'll be my guide?"

Gabriel hesitated.

Sage's smile broadened. "Then fine. ...Take me back."

Gabriel got up with a start as the pillars started to glow, lighting up the magic circle on the floor. The stale air of the chamber began to pick up and cleanse itself, turning into a strong wind that howled through the entire chamber.

Gabriel gritted his teeth and turned to Sage, who still had that smile on his face, and who also had his right hand pressed against the pillar.

His eyes widened. "No!!"

"To the place where this all began!"

The room exploded in a flash of light so strong that Gabriel had to shield his eyes and close his mind to the intense energy that washed over him. But as soon as it reached its peak, it collapsed onto itself, and the light vanished.

The room was dark. The dust was starting to settle itself. And the only one left in the room was Gabriel.

He stared at the spot he last saw Sage, imagining his pitiful state and triumphant smile staring back at him. Gabriel sighed, the corner of his lips curling up in an exasperated smile.

"You fool."

Author's Note:

Short and sweet. I really am stupid enough to take on multiple projects at the same time. And I am rewriting RWU so I can move forward with the plot. ;; Before anyone kills me, the original will still be up. I just need to work the plot tighter so I don't run into these roadblocks that keep popping up everywhere. If you want to kill me, or mock kill me, leave a review, and if you really want to rant and rave at me, email me . Until next time!!