Disclaimer: I am so sick of writing this damn thing! You all know the drill. I don't own WISH. It was conceived and drawn by the lovely ladies of CLAMP. The only thing that I lay claim on are the original characters of Ameijusto and Suishou, and a few other odds and ends that I have added for artistic flare.

A WISH Fanfiction

HEAVEN AND HELL

(Chapter Nine: Admission of the Heart's Innermost Desire)

Darkness turned to twilight and twilight changed to every shade of purple, blue, orange, red and yellow as the sun sprang to life. The sun rose and with it the promise of another day in live.

Early morning, the dawn just spreading across the sky Ameijusto was awake and greeting the glorious morning that come and already thinking on the tasks that must be accomplished during the course of the day. There was one in particular that must be done. There was one task that had precedence over all the others. Although Ameijusto was not looking forward to doing it but it was something that had to be done. It was time to say goodbye to the past and move on with the future.

She gracefully got out of bed, fixed the sheets. A glance at the window revealed just how early it was. There were very few angels roaming the skies of Heaven at this early hour. That would change soon enough though. () The Morning Rites would commence soon so it was important that her errand be completed and she return before it began. Her absence from the event would undoubtedly be noticed and she simply couldn't afford to make any more mistakes or draw anymore attention to her actions. Since time was not on her side she had be hurry but also be careful about being spotted, especially when creating the portal that would take her to her destination. She quickly, pulled her mass of black tresses loosely together with a ribbon which hung over her shoulder, and shifted through her closet for appropriate attire before heading out the door. It was important that she chose something befitting her title but also it had to be something with a great amount of flexibility. She sneaked out her room and through the extensive corridors of the castle.

She met with a little trouble when she entered the courtyard. There was no way that she could have had it fled the castle without meeting someone in the courtyard. It was inevitable. It wasn't going to be a problem. She smiled, and greeted the several angels gathered who greeted her in turn. She excused herself from them and walked out the gate and toward her errand.

Once beyond the castle it was much easier, but she couldn't afford to slack in her vigilance. She carefully chose a discrete path that would lead into one of the several neighboring gardens. She strolled at a leisurely pace and wondered along the trail for a couple minutes before making her move. Ever weary of prying eyes Ameijusto searched the area, opened a portal to the Bridge and was gone. The only witness' were the surrounding trees.

Instantaneously, she was transported to the lush and fertile greenery of the Bridge. As usually it was breath-taking. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, picking up the fragrant scent of flowers in the air. She took a moment to take it all it. It seemed as if it had been an eternity since she's last been here. Deep down inside she felt a longing for the Bridge and it took everything within her to resist it. It was not the time for it, nor was it the reason she'd come today. She smiled despite herself and began her search. It didn't take her long to find the place that she was looking for which was surprising. It has been so long since she had been in this particular part of the Bridge that she was certain that its discovery would take awhile. Perhaps luck was on her side on this decision. Nevertheless, she now stood in the very first place that she and Kouryuu had met many, many months ago. Those days seemed so distant, like they had been lived by someone else in a different era, but in truth it only been ten months. And the last three weeks of those ten months for matters to disincarnate into nothingness like they had. Nostalgia creep over her coming back to this place, and the memories of all their good times came flooding back to her like the raging waters of a dam. She shook them off though, casually looking around her new surroundings.

There nestled between a groove of trees, was the small babbling brook. The memories came upon her again, as she stopped in her tracks and listened to the flow of the water. I can hardly believe that this is the very place where it all began. It was so simple. Beginning with a request and a promise, and so very different than how the matter concluded—strained and complicated. Maybe it's true that things are not as simple as we think it is. I was so naïve then. There were many good times that we shared here on the Bridge. Like the time when they had fallen asleep underneath the protective shade of a large maple tree, laughter as she fashioned crowns from flowers to adorn Kouryuu's unruly hair, and others. There were many other countless memories that they created on the Bridge. But just like there had been good times their counterpart also existed. Notably there were times in which Kouryuu had been dark and brooding. He has been frightening some days. Of course, there was no need to even reminisce about his most recent antics with those demon girls; that wound was still very freshly engraved on her heart. Still she remembered them all, the good and bad together and the tears welled up and eventually spilled down her cheeks in silence. They were not those of sadness thought but rather ones of happiness. Those had been hard times, juggling Kouryuu and her studies but they had meaning, and continued to have some. She took a deep breathe and closed her eyes hand over her heart, thinking on the past-their past.

Dropping her hand, wiping the tears away she made peace with the Bridge. In her time that Bridge had been good to her, there was not denying that. But that was now the past. The future was her only concern. The memories would always been with her and she would never forget her time went her or with Kouryuu. It was just time to move on in the name of progress. Turning her back on it she prepared to pick of the pieces of her fragmented life. She wished her memories of Kouryuu a fond farewell and set off.

She strolled somberly into the plain and was just about to clear it completely when she looked up and saw an unwelcome sight. As if on cue emerging from the forest line only meters away was Kouryuu. He didn't seem to know that she was there. He was fat too busy keeping the leaves from whipping him across the face, and once through the forest completely, brushing the leaves from his clothing. She couldn't more. She stood as still as a statue. Her invisibility was only momentary and she knew it, but she couldn't bring herself to do anything. Once he finished his task and looked up. And just like that, the two were face to face with nothing to say.

Kouryuu was paralyzed. He'd been roaming the landscape of the Bridge since leaving Earth, all in the hopes of seeing Ameijusto. And now that she was within his sights he didn't know what to do. And apparently, nor did she just as he stood unmoving and wide-eye so did she. Then slowly, her face began to change. It went from being surprised to complete resolve. She tosses her hair and continued on the way, ignoring him. She'd remembered her resolve, and would not let if fail at its first test.

Kouryuu was hurt, but under the circumstances not at all surprised by her behavior. He was just glad that she hadn't resorted to violence right away, but ignoring him felt much worst. Physical pain was something that he could deal with, in time it would heal and his body would be no worst for the wear but in matters of the heart pain was something he loathed. She was pretending as if he didn't exist, like everything between them was nothing, like he was nothing. It burned him up inside and brought him to a boiling point. Without realizing it his hand shot out as she brushed by him, to grab her wrist. "Wait."

Ameijusto reacted at once, whirling around in a split second. "Let go of me! You have no right to detain me like this, you ..you filthy demon!" She wrenched her wrist out of his grasp and backed away from him. "What reason can the possible be for me to wait for you? You're lucky that I don't kill you this very moment."

It was in the moment that Kouryuu understood just how difficult that was going to be. She wouldn't even listen to him. Nothing will happen if she refused to even talk to him. Still he gathered his courage and took a step forward. "Ameijusto, please? This is important to me…"

His face was pleading with her to respond.

Ameijusto glanced around frantically. Honestly she had no desire to quarrel with him despite what she had said weeks ago. After all, she had just made peace with their past and it would haunt her until her dying breath if she killed him here. She merely wanted to leave the Bridge and the past behind her where it belonged. Kouryuu was acting sincere and for some reason that bothered her. She wanted out and the forest provided her with the exit she so desperately needed. She leapt into the veil of leaves hoping to leave Kouryuu behind.

Kouryuu, for his part, was stunned. One second she was there glowering at him and the next he was in front of nothing but air. He smiled. He had never been the one to back down from a good chase. Quickly before she gained too much ground he followed her into the dark forest. Nothing could be heard but the rustle of leaves in the distance as he tried to reach her before she could slip through his grasp.

Ameijusto knew couldn't keep this up forever. Once she sensed that her resolve was weakening it was only a matter of time before her bravery also collapsed under the strain of keeping up her cold appearance. But why, why should this frighten her so? She was still thinking on this intently as she darted further into the wilderness, scanning the trees behind her as she watched for any sign of pursuit. When she could see none, she redoubled her efforts tired to move faster. It was all too easy, her escape, although she has seen nothing she knew he was out there somewhere and terror gripped her anew.

Panting and exhausted she came to a flattering stop, resting against a tree. Watching and listening, but nothing could be heard but the furious beating of her own heart. It was overwhelming. The noise, the horrible noise threatened to give her whereabouts away however there was no calming it. The only thing that she could do was continue to run, this time there would be no stopping, no rest, until she reached the golden Gates of Heaven.

Kouryuu caught his quarry long ago. As she leaned on the bark of a tree, her frantic surveillance of the surroundings, all these things he saw and more. He knew that this was his test, his one and only chance to right all the wrong that's been done. Soon Ameijusto would move on, more hurriedly than the first, and who's to say that such an opportunity would ever present itself again. It was now or never. Even as he neared her hiding spot, she was preparing for fleet again. An action that he wouldn't permit.

She was off running again but she didn't have the chance to get far. Camouflaged by the crackling sound of leaves, Kouryuu dropped out the tree Ameijusto had sought refuge beneath. He seized her wrist for the second time today with more force than the first, spinning her around hard against the tree trunk. Escape was made impossible, because on either side Kouryuu formed a barrier with his arms, effectively rendering her immobile.

"Wait!"

Ameijusto cursed herself mentally for allowing the situation to spiral out of her control, not that it ever really had been. She longed for home as she tried to devise a plan that would take her there. This is not good. I should not be here with him, and definitely not like this. I need options…I could try to run again, but he would surely stop me again before I got too far. Damn him for trapping me like this! I could use my magic to create a distraction to get away. His hands are in the way, I need my hands to perform the spell. I guess that only thing I can do now is to wait for an opening. At the first opening I see…Even though, it was the only solution that she could make out she still didn't like it. It would only work under a certain set of circumstances, and if there are none, than she was trapped until the conclusion, whatever what that may be.

Kouryuu looked deeply into eyes and she couldn't tear herself away from his eyes. Like so many times in those distant days, his ruby eyes took hold of hers and held them in a continuous stare. It was he who broke away first, bowing his head and slipped down to his knees. In a small voice at first Kouryuu began to speak, "Please wait. There are some things that I must say before we permanently part ways. I think that I owe you that much, and you owe it to me to listen."

He was quiet for a moment, before beginning again more softly than the first time. His voice has become so hushed that she could barely hear him. "Do you remember when you asked me why? When you asked my why I wanted to see with you? I don't think that I ever gave you an answer- the right answer. I'll tell you now. My intentions when we met have changed since I've come to know you more. Initially, they were perhaps not the most honorably. I wanted you to become like all the other 'relationships' I've had. I wanted you as another conquest, to become like some many other women I have loved in my lifetime. I have changed drastically since then. You become my friend-my one and only friend. Am I wrong in thinking that I had been a friend to you? I have told you more about myself than any other living soul in the three realms combined and in turn you understand more about my character and soul. A soul you accused me once of not having…Then one day, out of the blue, you pronounced our last meeting, and I was hurt. I was in pain when you said I would never see you. I would be alone again in the world without anyone to share my feelings with and that became anguish. That was not the case and I was graced to see you once more at your induction at the Bridge. I was overcome with joy but you were unattainable then, bond to your new duties, like I am bound to mine. Yet I continued to hope and was rewarded for that hope, which the Cat Twins destroyed. I feared as I have never done in my life that that you hated me. They accused me of misconducts that I daren't repeat, because they knew something about us that I didn't."

She'd be listening to Kouryuu carefully. Why, why is he telling me all this? And why am I still here listening? This is my chance is wasting away. Her actions didn't make sense even to herself. Why she remained was unknown, but somehow she was compelled to do so. Her body simply didn't want to obey her command to run.

"I'm tired, Ameijusto. I'm tired of the mask I must wear to survive. I tire of Hell's petty squabbles and court intrigue. I'm tired of it all. All I really want is to find peace; the type of peace that I have when I am around you. I…I love you!" He could feel her swift uncomfortablyat the mention of the word 'love' especially since it was directed toward her.

Love? He loves me? I don't believe it. Ameijusto was shocked. One of the highest ranking demons in Hell just declared his love for her-an angel.

"Everyday I wake in the morning with the thrill that I might see you. My heart skips a beat when I'm near you. You're the only thing that I want from this life. All the troubles that I have melt away when I am close to you. Through you, life holds more beauty and promise than I thought possible. And you are beautiful. Everything about you is beautiful. Your vibrant purple eyes, your raven hair, your body, and soul. They are all beautiful. You are beautiful." She was not sure when he had begun to move again, but he was on his feet again staring straight into her eyes. Closer and closer he leaned forward, one hand drifting to caress the tender skin of her cheek. The second that would have made it a kiss, she resisted putting her hands on his chest.

"Please. Stop. Kouryuu. You don't really mean any of this. Even if you do, what you think this is, isn't love. You don't even know what love is!"

Kouryuu felt as if something that hit his across the face. He couldn't believe his ears. He knew what love was, what else could explain how he felt about her. He pounded his fists angrily into the tree. "Dammit! Don't patronize me. I've just told you I love you! Does that mean anything to you, anything at all?" His ruby eyes flared with his raising anger as he searched for the answer he sought in her face. Ameijusto looked away, refusing to meet his stare any longer.

He understood. Dropping his arms to his side, all he could do was clench them together into fists. There was no telling what he would do if he released them. He tried to compose himself, swallowing his pride through barred teeth. "I see. I am sorry to have bothered you with my pity emotions. I will never bother you again." He backed away bowing stiffly. "Goodbye." He walked into the woods and disappeared.

Ameijusto fell to the ground her legs unable to support her weight. She gasped for breath as if all the air had been knocked out of her. Why? I should be happy, right? This is what I wanted. He is gone forever. So, why does this make me unhappy? Why do I feel like I do? My heart. It feels like its going to break. I knew. I knew he meant it when he said 'I love you'. But do I love him? There could be no denying that she enjoyed his company. Just as she comforted him, he'd provided her with an outlet for her feelings. Could their friendship ever more than that, a friendship? She thought back to the day when she held him under the willow tree as he doubted his self worth, the times of discovery that lead to brilliant heart-felt smiles, and the changes in his personality that she'd noticed. Over the months, he'd become warm heartedly and thoughtful, very different than how he was in the beginning. And yet somehow it was more than those things. When I hurt him it hurts me even more. My hurt aches for him especially since when I know its in my capability to make it better. Is that what I want? I want to take all the hurt and mistrust out of his eyes, and replace it with love. I want to see him smile more because I know he deserves it after the kind of live he's had. Is that love? Is that what love is supposed to be?

"No, it's not that." Her eyes fell unintentionally on the line of trees where he'd left her. He was long gone, his path shrouded in darkness. I want to be there with him as he continues to discover himself and the world. I want to be with him through all of it. Tears sprang from her eyes, damping her cheeks and spilling onto her robes. "I can't let it end like this. Oh, God! I have to tell him." Her realization was a simple as that. There were no fireworks; there was no choir of heavenly host singing, and no bright lights. Just a simple epiphany, that always resided in her heart. The mind has harder to convince but it was always there if she only was willing to see Kouryuu for what he really meant to her. All the barriers that surrounded her heart shattered as glass and she knew where her place was-the same place her heart laid.

Gradually she got to her fee and began to pursue Kouryuu, fearing that it might already be too late. With all her strength she tore into the woods and blindly trying to follow Kouryuu's trail. "Kouryuu! Kouryuu! WAIT!!!" She knew that he was too far away to hear her calls, but she continued to call anyway as she run. Underneath her feet she tramped shrubs and brushed as they came into her path. Overhead the challenge was the same, tree branched one after another slapped her in the face, drawing blood from the force with which she hit them. She didn't care. The only thing that mattered was finding him.

Ahead she saw a flutter. Of what? She couldn't be certain. Whatever it was it gave her hope, proving to be her shinning beacon in an otherwise bleak outlook. She ran twice as fast, her eyes fixated on the foreground. The ground became unstable and without warning she tripped, stumbling to the ground. Regardless, Ameijusto was up and running, although exhausted she remained at a steady pace and ignored the throbbing pain blossoming from her fall. Faster. Faster. I need to run faster. Again she redoubled her efforts and was rewarded. A short distance in front, Kouryuu just cleared the forest and entered a meadow. She was overjoyed, and continued to running towards him. She was a few yards away now and called to him.

"Kouryuu!!" He turned around just in time to catch her as she leapt into his arms. He was completely unprepared for her additional weight, and they both toppled to the ground, like a ton of bricks. Kouryuu lay on his back, winded, but otherwise okay. Ameijusto lay atop of him, resting her ahead on his chest.

Utilizing her arms she looked at into Kouryuu's eyes. Through the curtain of her silky black hair, Ameijusto's tears began a new. "I'm sorry. So sorry…I didn't know." Kouryuu was smiling tenderly, stroking her face as she spoke.

His smile broadened, "I understand." He could resist no longer and pulled her toward him in an effort to complete the kiss he'd begun earlier that day. "Don't leave me ever again. "

He released her and in return she embraced him. "Never. I promise."

The day has succumbed to the mysteries of the night. Two lone cloaked figures stand alone in the darkness, outside a lighted gate of a residential home. The taller of the two, pushes the door slightly while the other failures behind unsure. With the other hand, the first guided the second figure along. A swift knock on the door follows, and subsequently opens moments later.

The smaller figure moves closer to the other, hanging on to the taller figure's cloak on the back. Kouryuu, pulling off his hood said, "Can we come in?"

In the entryway, Hisui and Kokuyo stood shocked. "Kouryuu, it's nice to see you again and so soon." Without further introductions of the remaining parties, Hisui and Kokuyo gave away and let them inside. "And who is this?" Hisui asked inquisitively, peering around Kokuyo and Kouryuu at the hooded figure.

"I'm sorry. Where are my manners? This is Ameijusto." He'd stepped beside her, and pulled the hood from her face. She was revealed to everyone. She stood face to face with Hisui and his love Kokuyo. She was face to face with the two most infamous people in either Heaven or Hell. She felt naked, as they continued to stare.

Hisui and Kokuyo just stood there unwilling to say anything. Perhaps they were in shock, or at least Hisui was so. Kokuyo just raised his eyebrows at her before training his dark gaze in Kouryuu's direction.

"Kouryuu. Have you come here with an angel!?"

Thanks for reading Chapter Nine!!

Akuma

Chapter Notes:

() The Morning Rites would commence soon so it was important that her errand be completed and she return before it began. Okay, this is again something that I made up for the story. I envisioned the Morning Rites being something to welcome in the new day, something like a morning pray ritual. Everyone is supposed to attend. So you can see that if Ameijusto was to be missing from this event everyone would now something is up.

Author's Notes: I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter. Its okay, but I think I can do better, so there many be a few revisions in the future for this chapter.

Nothing really important to post here. Depending on how busy I get, I might be able to have Chapter Ten ready within two week. No promises though. I promise that I will make however is that his story will be complete by the end of the summer.