Disclaimer: I do not own G Gundam or any of its characters.
A.N.: Oh my gosh, I am so sorry to all the readers of this fic. Thank you for not screaming at me, but also for not forgetting me and all your encouragement. It took me a while to get this chapter, and when I did, my computer broke, had to send it in, problems with the files, thought this chapter and all my work was deleted, but got lucky, and here it is! I promise this story's gonna be finished up soon. Don't worry, it's my baby, and I love it, so we're gonna keep going. Probably next chapter up in 2-3 weeks. Forgive me, but the second wave of midterms and papers is upon me. I'll do my best, and let me know if there are still fans out there reading! Opinions and comments, whether by review or e-mail, are most appreciated.
I apologize for the shortness in length, but I want to make sure that people are still reading before I spend too much time and write too much. If I get 15 reviews by next Friday, I'll do a special post (up by Saturday) including a part with Domon and George. If not, it'll be up in the 2-3 weeks as said before.
P.S.- My friend Mina has done some fan art for this fic, so if anyone would like to see, I can e-mail you a scan of her sketches. Or, if any of you talented authors is also gifted artistically, we would love to see what you've got as well. Feel free to e-mail me or send me link!
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WARNING: PG-13 rating applies; religious themes, you know the drill with that by now I hope.
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These Foolish Games: Chapter 22
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Past the point of no return
No backward glances
The games we've played till now are at an end . . .
Past all thought of "if" or "when"
No use resisting
Abandon thought, and let the dream descend . . .
What raging fire shall flood the soul?
What rich desire unlocks its door?
What sweet seduction lies before us?
Past the point of no return
The final threshold
What warm, unspoken secrets will we learn?
Beyond the point of no return . . .
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Plink!
Father Xavier bowed as he swung the golden incense thurible in one hand and held the rest of the long, shimmering chain in the other. The rhythmic metallic beating of the chain against the thurible resounded in the candle-lit great hall of the admirable stone cathedral as he completed his circle. Returning to where he had begun, he paused and bowed low to the ground for a final time.
The table was set up in the middle of the aisle, and moonlight streamed into the room from the stained glass clerestory windows high above, causing the smoky haze that circled the table to glow in shades of yellow, lavender, azure, green, and rosy pink. Flickering candles from the chandeliers above and torches lining the sides illuminated the pale gossamer shroud covering the body on the table.
The father raised himself up, gestured to Mother Anastasia who was standing off to the side with folded hands, and handed the thurible to her. He sighed, running a hand through his thinning white hair as they walked back through the transept and into the sacristy through a door behind the elevated marble altar. There, Mother Anastasia removed the cover from the bowl of the thurible and extracted the burning coals inside with tongs.
"I only wish we knew who she was."
Father Xavier looked at Mother Anastasia as he washed his hands in the icy water basin on the counter before him.
She glanced up from her cleaning as she spoke. "So we could notify her loved ones."
Father Xavier nodded grimly. "Yes. It is quite a shame. Let us preserve the body for a short while, then if it is not claimed by family nor friend, we shall give it a proper resting place." He shook the water off his hands and patted them against the cloth covering his slightly plump frame.
Mother Anastasia finished cleaning the thurible and hung it in its proper place. She smoothed her conservative black habit and turned back to Father Xavier as they walked back out of the sacristy and down the steps from the altar.
"Sister Brigid is here now along with Sisters Elizabeth and Lucretia. They will place more rushes around so as to conceal the odor and pray over the body until the next shift in two hours time."
"Thank you Mother Anastasia. I apologize for waking the convent at this late hour, but the circumstances were most unusual."
She nodded in understanding. "Of course. The poor girl was in horrible shape. We cleaned and wrapped the wound, and Sister Sarah sewed the gown back up to preserve the lady's appearance."
They walked down the aisle and paused by the young lady's still body. Her face was blurred through the shimmering diaphanous sheet. Her curling aqua tresses peaked out from underneath, and Mother Anastasia gently lifted the shroud to politely tuck them back under. She folded her hands and sighed, "To think of someone doing such a ghastly deed to so young a soul. And on the steps of Pitié Cathedral." She shook her head. "Tres terrible."
"We can only hope that she is someplace better, with the Lord. Perhaps he took her away from the demons afflicting her here on Earth so as to give her a rest in paradise."
Mother Anastasia whispered a prayer, and when she was done, Father Xavier turned back to her.
"Brother Seitt and I will take care of the mess outside the cathedral. Please see if you can get some water and a rag for me."
Mother Anastasia shook her head. "That is not necessary, I can clean the steps and the door. You will need your rest for tomorrow's early mass, and Brother Seitt is busy tending to his fellow monks in the infirmary. There is no need to disturb him, given what little rest he manages to receive."
He smiled sadly, noting the resolution in her eyes. Ever since his collapse a few years ago, Mother Anastasia had taken extra good care of him, even though so much time had passed since the incident. Whenever he would protest, she would only insist more. She was such a kind and unselfish woman: a true servant of the Lord.
Father Xavier patted his old friend on the back. "I will see you in the morning, then."
Mother Anastasia nodded and watched him retire from the cathedral. She turned to face the wooden doors that stretched high above at the end of the center aisle. She needed to cleanse the mess that was outside the church doors. She had taken a vow years ago to do just that, but she had never known it would also include a literal meaning.
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Sunlight streamed in through the narrow window, glaring onto Marie-Louise's sleeping face. Her eyes fluttered open, squinting in the morning light. Putting a hand up in front of her face to block the sun, she sat up the pile of straw and looked around.
Rain was all ready up, standing at a second window, leaning against the wall, her arms folded over her pink gown. She turned around and faced Marie-Louise with a sad smile on her face.
"'Morning," she said as she walked toward the real Mersenian princess.
Marie-Louise stood up and sighed, "What are we doing? We've been waiting here for nearly a week, cooped up in this room. Meals three times a day, never seeing anyone, hearing anything. What does General Ulube want from us?"
Rain shook her head. "I don't know."
"Money?" Marie-Louise suggested.
"A man as decorated as Lord Ishikawa doesn't need more money. Or fame."
"What about revenge?"
"Revenge? Against who? Your father? He has no connection to General Ulube."
"Hm, you're right. He doesn't. Ulube is from the Sauvillian army. I could understand some sort of connection with the tragic Sauvillian-Shalian war, since it was then that he lost his career." Marie-Louise plopped down in the straw. "Why would he team up with the King of Shalie? They were on opposite sides during the war. General Ulube is Sauvillian."
"Yes, however they have a common enemy now." Rain glanced up at Marie-Louise. "The Sauvillian government, particularly Prince Domon and his family. The war caused many tragedies, and neither of them has quite forgotten the wrongs."
"So why are we here? Mersenia was not involved in the war, we took a neutral stance!"
"Bait, my dear." General Ulube's voice echoed in the near-empty room. His hand gripped the doorknob, and the other gestured for the soldiers to enter in behind him. "The trap has been sprung, your darlings Prince Domon and Sir George are on the move with their troops, ready for the challenge of war. The whole of the Sauvillian army will be upon our doorstep within one week's time. And now we must go wait for our prey."
Speaking to the guards, "Bind their hands with the rope. Tightly!" He shouted with a growl. "We will moved them to the underground labyrinthine dungeon. They will be more difficult to find down there. I have worked too hard for too long to take any risks now."
A sinister grimace crossed his face underneath the glittering mask.
"It is much too close to the end. I will have my revenge before the week is through."
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TBC.