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The God's Affair – Chapter Ten
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The nauseating smell of burning flesh was what forced Minako to open her eyes. Her body ached in many places, and her head throbbed, but other than that nothing seemed affected.
There was something about the place Minako was in though, that seemed to drain all the happiness from her body. Her body felt heavy and depression became an overcoming emotion. It was with the little motivation she felt that she managed to stand.
Almost immediately she wished she hadn't.
The place reminded her strongly of what she had always imagined hell to look like. Fire, blackness, echoing screams and the misery that was almost enough to send Minako to her knees.
Fighting a wave of nausea, Minako glanced around, looking for Hotaru. Was she here with her?
"Hello?" Minako whispered weakly, trying to get the attention of someone, preferably someone friendly.
"Hello little angel."
Instinctively Minako reached for her henshi pen, but her fingers only grasped air.
"Who's there?" Minako whirled around, trying to face the stranger.
"Oh, you don't know me, but you did once."
The speaker was male, and he had a teasing sort of tone. Minako marked him as enemy and prepared herself in case of a fight, despite her weak body she would fight to the death.
"What do you want?" Minako growled, "Why am I here?"
Suddenly a figure materialized out of the blackness. He was handsome in a dark sort of way, and for some reason, he reminded Minako of Duo.
"You're here, because you've been interfering with something you shouldn't be." The man growled, "You're here to die."
Minako's body went cold. This man was planning on killing her. No matter how many times someone threatened to kill her, she never got used to it.
Trying not to seem too obviously, Minako scanned the area trying to look for something that could be used for a weapon.
"You'll find nothing to protect yourself, I've made sure there will be no mistakes. Feel free to scream though, it just makes this all the more pleasant."
"You sick bastard!" Minako cried, stumbling backwards.
"No need for name calling, as you're duty is to purify the world, mine is to corrupt it. We only do what comes naturally to us."
"You won't get away this." She said lamely, "Usagi will kill you."
"She doesn't even know you're here." He said shrugging, "Now, enough idle chit-chat." As the words left his mouth, a large black whip appeared in his hand.
It was a very crude whip, obviously made for torture. It bore bloodied spikes and sharpened bones that could only have come from humans.
As she stared at the weapon, a kind of odd feeling overcame her fear and the depression that had settled on her. It was like a warm light.
As though in a trance, Minako stood erect, with the kind of dignity of a queen. She wouldn't die screaming, nor crying. She would die like the soldier she was.
The harsh blows of the whip bore down on her defenseless body. It tore cruelly at her milky skin, forcing her to her knees.
Blood was everywhere. It covered her entire body and formed a puddle around her feet. The pain was unimaginable, but the only thing Minako could think about was the people she cared for.
Usagi with her easy smile.
Ami with her brilliance.
Rei with her firm kindness.
Makoto with her loving defensiveness.
Hotaru with her dark love.
And Duo…
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Devin felt wonderful as he watched the goddess crumple to her feet. The pain and torture he could feel from her was little, but it measured greatly. Each drop of blood that touched the ground of hell made the world sing in power.
Suddenly it all stopped. All the pain, depression and anger were gone. No more bad emotions.
Devin's blows stopped, his eyes wide.
Minako, despite her fatal wounds stumbled to her feet once more. Blood covered her inch of her, wounds opened savagely, and yet she stood.
An eerie golden glow surrounded her, seeming to keep her alive.
Devin recognized the power almost immediately. Shinigami. But it couldn't be… he was on earth with no memories of earth.
How was Shinigami protecting Aphrodite?
Then the world he had so cunningly created began to crack. Enormous groans overtook the room, causing it to split and shake.
Then it shattered like glass.
With one last scream of rage, Devin disappeared.
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Usagi knew she was fighting a losing battle, but she continued to wrap her friend's wounds as they opened.
As Minako lay there in bed, she had begun to bleed continuously. Huge wounds had appeared on her once flawless body as though from their own accord.
"How is she doing?" Makoto asked, her eyes masked.
"Not good, if we don't find something quickly she's going to die." Ami whispered helplessly.
Then a loud scream echoed through the room.
"Minako!" Usagi yelled loudly, trying to restrain her friend as she thrashed about the bed.
"She came out of the comma." Ami gasped in surprise.
It didn't take long for Minako to stop moving, falling into a deep sleep. With the help of Usagi's crystal and Ami's healing skills, they managed to put Minako into a stable state.
Minako's sleep was dreamless, and undisturbed.
Hotaru watched the golden goddess sleep peacefully, her wounds healing nicely.
This was beginning to turn into a war. Her brothers and sisters from hell were determined to see Aphrodite dead. The question was, when the time came, which side would she chose.
As a princess of hell, her position was with her brothers, but as a friend of Heaven her duty called to them.
She missed Aphrodite. While Minako was a great friend, Aphrodite was always a confident person who seemed to know the answer to everything. Aphrodite would have known what to do.
"Minako, hurry up and get you're memories back. We need you." Hotaru whispered to the darkness. Only silence met her.
Seeing her brother had been hard. Shinigami had always been her favorite brother, the one whom had looked out for her.
When he had looked at her though, there had been no recognition or anything that seemed to say he remembered her.
Hotaru took Minako's hand in hers. It was still warm. Even though Minako had lost so much blood, she always remained warm, almost like something was protecting her.
She smiled, "My brother was cold until he met you, but you showed him how to love. Aphrodite, my brother loves you. He needs you. And whether you know it or not, he's watching over you."
Hotaru closed her eyes, simply enjoying the warmth of the goddess.
~*~
"Duo?" Hilde asked, snuggling closer to the silent pilot, "What's wrong? You've been so out of it all night."
"It's nothing."
"Well it's something," She insisted, "Please tell me."
Frustration flooded through Duo. Something was wrong and it was pissing him off. He had been in a bad mood for days now.
"Duo?" Hilde repeated.
Suddenly Hilde found her lips captured roughly by Duo's lips. He was always so rough, and yet, Hilde wasn't complaining. But just as quickly as he had started, Duo pulled away.
"Duo?" She asked, confused.
Nothing. Duo felt nothing every time he kissed her. It was an unexplainable hunger that couldn't be satisfied. Maybe it had something to do with her cheating on him. Maybe that was it.
"I'm tired." He said before flipping over and pretending to sleep.
"You can't be tired." Hilde huffed, "You're never tired."
"Well I am now." He insisted.
Hilde sighed and laid back in her pillow. He had been so irritable these last few days, but why? It couldn't be because of Aphrodite, he didn't know about her. So what was it?
Duo lay awake listening to Hilde's breathing slow down until she finally fell asleep. For some reason, it made him sick to sleep with her anymore, which made no sense.
Silently, Duo got up and went to find a spare couch to sleep on.
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Sorry This took so long . its so hard to believe it's already chapter ten. It seems like just yesterday I started this story –Sigh- they grow up so fast ;-;
Review Responses:
JupiterLover – Er, Actually I haven't thought that far ahead, but I don't think Makoto is going to get mad at Duo, yet anyways. Thanks for the review!
Tenshi-Hotaru – personally, I never really liked Hilde in the anime, but that was probably just because I was jealous of her lol. Yep, I think Hotaru's going to be playing a key part in this story! Thanks for the review!
Kazzeh Sodapop – Hilde will get what's coming to her, I just need to figure out a way to do it, hmm. Lol thanks for the review!
SVZ – you're right. For some reason I always screw up 'think' its always that word -_-; lol I love that story you brought out about Minako/Duo were he's obsessed with her. ^^ I can't wait for you to update it! (If you were planning on another chapter(hopefully!)) Arrrg I'm tempted to hand in a pink assignment now. My teacher is driving me crazy! Every thing has to be in his words otherwise its wrong T_T grrr lol sorry, I'll stop complaining. That's for the review!
Hikari Kage Shi – I'm glad I got the name right ^^ Thanks for the review!
Vega03 – I' glad you liked that part, I wasn't sure it was okay or not. Thanks for the review!
angelicmayuka – I'm sorry ;-; It took so long for me to update too. Must be my evil streak -_^ lol Thanks for the review!
Jewels14 – If I killed Minako I wouldn't have much of a story, but then, I've already killed her once lol. Thanks for the review!
Airlady – Thank you ^^ and thanks for the review!
Chibi Horsewoman – I'm glad to help! Lol even if I didn't realize I was doing so ^_^ Thanks for the review!
AznxAngel – I'm sure Hilde will get what's coming to her, thanks for the review!
Usagi Basher – I love your suggestion! Would you mind if I used it? Thank you for the review!
Tenshi no Hikari * Ai – Thank you ^^ and thanks for the review!
sspanchan – Me too! Lol Duo/Minako have always been my favorite. Thanks for the review!
syunikiss – Thank you so much for your kind words. It means a lot to me ^^ I love Duo/Minako too, lol hence my little Minako/Duo organization. -_^ Thank you so much for the review!
Aphrodite's Scribe – I'm glad your enjoying it! Thanks for the review!
angelwings6117 – Thank you so much ^^ I'm so glad your enjoying it. Feel free to point out any mistakes! Thanks again!
Princess Insanity – you'll have to tell me when you post it, I'd love to read it. Sorry this took so long ^^;; I've been getting kind of lazy. Thanks for the review!
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Thanks again to everyone who read my story, till next chapter!
~Ceso