The Gods Affair

Chapter Eleven

Makoto crept quietly down the hallway, her feet barely making any noise. In her hands rested a nicely done up tray of soup and medicine.

As she approached Minako's room, she didn't bother to knock, there was no point is disrupting the slumbering goddess, she needed all the sleep she could get. It had only been two weeks since the nightmare, and yet it still remained fresh in everyone's minds. Minako was as vulnerable as a baby in her weakened state, and it had become crucial for everyone to be with Minako at all times. She had yet to be let out of sight.

Nudging the door open with her foot, Makoto scrambled into the pitch-black room. Instinctively she scanned the room. Nothing seemed out of place, but the eerie silence that met her ears, sent her into awareness. Something was wrong.

"Minako?" Makoto muttered cautiously, quietly making her way to the side of the bed. She gently placed the tray down and stared at the bed.

It was empty.

Minako winced in pain as she stumbled, her arm shooting out to right herself just in time to prevent her from falling. Her body ached in protest with each step she took, and she knew it was only a matter of time before the pain consumed her completely.

So why was she out here? In the middle of a dark deserted park, and heading straight towards the sea.

It was almost as though she was being called. Something was telling her to keep going. She needed to go to the sea, almost as much as it seemed to need her. Her mind was void of everything but the sea and pain.

"Aphrodite"

The voice startled her, and without thinking, she turned to the speaker. It just seemed natural to react to the name.

The speaker was a skinny woman with blackish hair. Perhaps it was darker because it was night? Minako couldn't tell. The way the woman looked at her though, it was as if she knew her. But that couldn't be right. Minako had never seen her before. Such a hateful look.

"Do I know you?" Minako asked, hugging her broken body protectively.

"Oh, I suppose so. maybe not though. Someone like you might be too high and mighty to know someone like me. A lowly servant girl bound by hard times." The girl said slowly. There was something in her voice that mocked Minako though. And irritated her.

"I'm sorry, I don't know you. Maybe if you told me your name..."

"Names mean nothing to us. Names are for mortals. We have no need of them. Come with me." The woman smiled as she turned and walked down the beach.

Something inside of her screamed no, but the curious side of her couldn't resist. So Minako slowly made her way down to the beach, stumbling and half falling. It took so agonizingly long, but something drove her. She knew this woman. Something inside of her recognized her, and this same something, told her to turn around. But how could she?

"My your slow. Have you hurt yourself?" The woman said, turning around to face Minako, who had finally reached the water's edge. The woman stood in the water, not seeming to notice her clothes getting wet.

"Something like that," Minako murmured, dropping to her knees. Her teeth ground in pain, she shivered.

"Let me help you."

Before Minako could open her mouth, the woman was hoisting her to her feet and towards the water. Minako gasped out in pain as she was slowly dragged. The water came as a surprise, even though she was expecting it. The sheer ice coldness of it sent pillars of fear through her.

"Your shivering. Poor thing," The voice purred, "If you were immortal, I'd be dead."

"Let me go," Minako whispered.

"As you wish, My Lady." With those final words, The woman's hands vanished from Minako's body and suddenly she was in the water. Her head only bobbed above surface for mere seconds before she was submerged under the water. For a moment, Minako managed to force herself to stand. she could feel the ground, and with strength born out of desperation, she stood.

The first thing she saw was the woman's smiling face. Then the woman leaned over, so her face almost touched Minako's, "My name, is Hilde. And when you die, remember one thing. Shinigami is mine. In fact, he was mine before he was ever yours. You're just some wanna-be Goddess who has no one to love her. The Goddess of love, and yet, your so lonely... that's all you'll ever be."

Then her hand was on Minako's head, forcing her down.

Am I lonely?

The pale walls of water closed in on her, slowly suffocating her.

Why can't I have love?

Minako hands shot through the water, frantically trying to reach for life.

Goddess?

Red mist began to creep into her vision as pain seared through her lungs. Was this it? Was she destined to die at the hands of some crazed woman?

Never

Power surged through her, touching her very soul. The red mist cleared, and suddenly, even then pain was gone... Minako felt nothing but power. Everything was clear, clearer then it had ever been before. Without a thought, she reached up and grabbed the woman's hands.

Screaming

There was something so satisfying about the horrified screams of the woman above her. Something told Minako that this was right... the pain the woman was feeling.

Minako rose from the chilling confines of the water, to look at Hilde with emotionless eyes.

Terrifying

"You c-can't" Hilde whispered, stumbling backwards.

Minako raised her hand, with only one thought in her mind... kill.

Golden light

Minako froze.

What was this light? Fear entered her quickly, forcing her backwards... but this movement caught her foot on a rock in the water, and she went tumbling backwards into the cold water. It was like a wake up call.

Minako came up sputtering and cold.

All she saw was darkness. Hilde was gone.

What was that light?

Minako shuddered as she dragged herself out of the water. She had felt so cold, so emotionless... so powerful. It was frightening to hold so much power and not feel anything... if she hadn't woken up when she did... what would have happened?

Minako slowly looked down at her body. All traces of wounds and scars were gone.

Whatever that light was, it was powerful.

Hilde clutched her hands closer to her body, trying to calm to furious pain. Her poor beautiful hands... now blistered and disfigured. Aphrodite had only held them for a second or so, but the effect had been frightening. So much power... or perhaps a fluke.

Hilde shuddered at the thought of the goddess. She had come out. Aphrodite had shown herself on earth and she had not been pleased at all. Being on the bad side of a god was not a smart thing. The only thing that had saved Hilde was Minako's weakness.

Hilde sneered. Pitiful mortal goddess. Seeing so much power had frightened her, when it should have made her proud. Instead, she had faltered, giving Hilde enough time to escape. And to think, Minako had not only once been a goddess, but a soldier as well. Pitiful.

"Hilde?"

Hilde looked up to see Duo standing in front of her. If he saw her hands...

Hilde backed away slowly, shaking her head, "I just got restless and went out for a bit."

"What's wrong with your hands?" He demanded.

"They..." Hilde stopped for a second. Wait... a plan formulated in her mind, "Oh Duo." Hilde let out a sob as she fell to her knees. Duo was at her side in a second.

"What happened?"

"She... attacked me for no reason. I was just standing there and she..." Hilde sobbed out, clutching her hands to her.

Duo gently took her hands in his and stared at them, "Who did this?" He asked finally. The rage was evident in his voice.

"That girl..." Hilde whispered.

"What girl?"

Hilde bit her bottom lip, "I cant tell you... I know your friends with her."

"Hilde tell me!" Duo ground out.

Hilde paused for effect before finally answering, her voice just above a whisper.

"Minako."

Well, im not dead! Its been a year I think, since I last updated and i'm really sorry for that. I've been having horrible writers block, and I lost my word program I'm going to go work on other stories now, before bad things happen lol

Review Respones!

Fallenmad - lol, I love mythology too! And of course, Minako/Duo rock XD sorry this took so long, and thanks for reviewing!

Umeko Saito - I'm so glad someone finally agrees with the big spaces. It makes it easier for me to read as well lol. POTC is pirates of the Carribean lol. Thanks for the review and sorry it took so long .

Dark Raxiel - I'll try not to make you cry but I might have to! You never know kekeke, thanks for the review! I really appreciate it!

Senshi - Sorry it took so long to update, and thanks for the review!

Angelight - I love long reviews lol! And especially helpful ones like yours! My spelling is horrible lol, and I never seem to be able to catch all the mistakes. Im so glad you enjoyed those funny bits though lol, I'd hate to think im the only one who finds them funny The character thing is hard lol. I have 11ish characters that I have to not only keep in character, but make them interesting. I think the only way I can explain the fact that the pilots were more interesting then the senshi, would be the fact that the pilots are more interesting. To be honest, I've always found the senshi to be more flat characters, but then, I've only watched the anime so maybe that's the problem. Your right though, I've noticed how flat I've made them, and I'll try to correct that in the future as for the rest of your questions, I cant answer those! Otherwise you wouldn't be interested in it anymore! Thanks for reviewing, I enjoyed your review immensely!

Aphrodite's Scribe - I'm sorry it took so long! Don't cry! Thanks for reviewing!

Venus' Double - I think it took a century and then some. Sorry for the wait, and thanks for the review.

Cin-min - I'm glad your enjoying it so far, thanks for the review!

Usagi Basher - lol okay thanks then, and thanks for the review.

Angelicmayuka - lol, sorry this took so long! I'm going to go run and update more stories after I finish up these review responses! Thanks for the review!

Cjchan - im glad your enjoying it so far! Thanks for the review!

Airlady - I never thought of it as having zing lol, thanks! I'm glad your enjoying it! Thanks for the review!

Syunikiss - slowly but yes, its getting there lol. Sorry for the wait and thanks for the review!

Vega03 - im glad you found it exciting, thanks for the review!

Princess Insanity - lol im glad you understand! Thanks for the review!

SugarNspikes - why thank you! What an honor! I'm so sorry for taking so long to update and I hope your project didn't suffer too much. And yes, Duo is hot and all that stuff. I can't understand why there isn't more Minako/Duo fics. Thanks so much for the review, I love hearing from you!

AznxAngel - rofl, thats a good way to put it! He is a scary guy lol. I love Minako's strength, I don't think she's given enough credit for her strength though. Thanks for the review! I really appreciate it!

Hikari Kage Shi - Sorry it took so long, thanks for reviewing! Hopefully the next one will be up sooner.

SVZ - sorry I'm not a Hilde fan, which is why I make her so bad, so sorry! You haven't updated "If only" yet, but then, I cant complain lol, since it took me a year to update my stories. I understand what you mean about the flow... im having problems with the flow as well. Bleh. Thanks for reviewing, I love hearing from you!

JovianShe-Wolf - sorry this chapter isn't long at all, but I wanted to get it up asap. Hopefully the next one will be longer. Thanks for the review!

Tenshi-Kaikou - Yeah, I didn't like Duo kissing Hilde either, but don't worry, she'll get whats coming to her! Thanks for the review!

Jewels14 - lol im glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the review!