Ayashi no Yuugi II: The Final Sunrise
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.
Chapter 7: Immortal Threads can be Cut
A figure clad in a wine colored robe, with a long chestnut braid falling down his back to his knees carrying a scythe in his hand with outstretched bat wings stood in the swirling vortex of blacks, green, blues, reds, and violets. He floated in the darkness, ignoring the swirling and shifting colors that made up Existence, his head bowed as his pale face was bathed in a white light that was the Creator…
"Are you willing to do what you must to guard this earth, Shinigami?"
"Yes my Lord."
"Then go to Earth. With Omnyouji, Sakurazukamori, Gaia, and Cosmos, start up an orginiation to guard and train those blessed by me, and seek out Kamui. Bring back the 'Kamui' Power without killing Kamui, if possible, and see to it that Kamui can live a peaceful life."
"Yes my Lord."
"Shinigami, you will have to tear humans from their lives rather than guiding them during this mission. Are you willing to end the lives of these mortals before their time?"
"No, my Lord, but I will do so none the less."
"Then go. You will meet your companions on Earth, and you will do my will. All will have been arranged by Gaia."
"Yes my Lord," Shinigami said, bowing his head deferentially.
He faded out of the vortex that made up Existence, the only place that the Goddess of Existence, Cosmos, did not rule. So now he would work with three immortals with whom he did not get along with, as well as one who was his servant. Omnyouji and Sakurazukamori would follow the wills of Gaia, Cosmos, and himself, but what of the remainders? From what he understood, Gaia would follow Cosmos, if Cosmos should decide to command her, but to his understanding, neither he, Cosmos, nor Gaia enjoyed being ordered about. So who would command this mission?
Excerpt from Ayashi no Yuugi: Chapter 14: Wishful Memories
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March 16, 200 AC; 2:35 PM
CSA Sanq Kingdom Headquarters
Shinn glanced at his perimeter sensors and fired of another round from his rifle before he was thrown roughly against his harness. His eyes narrowed as this time, as the sensor beebed, signaling an enemy coming in from behind. The Gundam turned to face the enemy MS…
There was a sudden burning in his abdomen…
His head falls back, amethyst eyes widen, the pupils shrink into tiny dots, and his lips part as blood rushes out followed by a sharp exhalation…
And everything went black…
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Inside the headquarters, Hilde, busy trying to maintain control and keep her people alive, never noticed the destruction of her best friend's Gundam. Inside their cockpits, Alexa and Kayla watched in horror as the Gundam Descendant LX went up in flames.
"NOOOOO! SSSHHHHIIIIIINNNNNNN!"
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March 16, 200 AC; 2:35 PM
Colony L2, Asuka Residence
In the kitchen, Quatre froze as his 'Space Heart' registered something wrong. It took a while to figure it out, but when he did, the Arabian felt a horrifying numbness spreading through his body and mind. The cup of coffee in his hands fell to the floor, the mug shattered against the pale blue ceramic tiles, and the hot liquid splashed over his shoes and on the legs of his pants, but Quatre paid it no attention.
All his attention was locked on the emptiness in that part of him which held his bonds with all of his dearest friends…
"…ner?"
"…tre?"
"Winner!"
Quatre heard his remaining friends as if from far away…
"Duo…" the word left his lips in a nearly inaudible whisper. "Allah, No!" the small blonde cried as he collapsed on the wet tiles, sobbing.
"Quatre!"
A pair of hands grabbed his shoulders. Quatre raised his head to see Trowa's concerned face. Behind him were Wufei and Heero, both of their eyes showing concern.
"It's Duo…" he choked out, "He's gone… I—I can't feel him anymore!"
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In the Darkness, a single thread within a single large tapestry releases a steady hum. The thread is pitch black, the color so dark that it glows. Suddenly, the gentle glow flares dangerously, and the thread snaps in two with a resounding CRACK! The glow surrounding the two pieces fades, and the humming falls silent.
The sudden snapping of an immortal thread causes the three women sitting before the tapestry to freeze, and for a long while, there is no movement from the women sitting before the tapestry. And then, after a long moment that seemed to encompass Eternity, the women begin to move once more.
The white haired woman, sitting at her spinning wheel, turns her head toward the sound and raises a slender and pale hand to her wide open cherry lips in horror, her blind eyes, covered in a milky white film, widens, and the barely visible pupil shrinks into an almost nonexistent dot.
Beside her, the golden haired woman with bronze skin carrying the measuring tape stares at the tapestry, her golden eyes and face blank of emotion. The air around her flexes, revealing her agitation.
Beside the golden haired woman, is another woman, she has a dusty complexion and dark raven locks. Her eyes are black swirling pools, with neither iris nor pupil. She looks at the tapestry, and her eyes narrow fractionally, but her face is otherwise impassive.
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March 16, 200 AC; 2:55 PM
CSA Sanq Kingdom Headquarters
The Savior Gundam and Guardian Gundam tore through the enemy MS ruthlessly. The vid-links were shut off, leaving only the radio on. No one knew that inside the cockpits of the two Gundams, the two pilots had silent tears streaming down their faces.
All anyone knew was that the loss of one of their comrades had spurred the two to a new height, and there was only silence coming over the radio, silence and the occasional grunt of assent to a new instruction or the warning shout to the remaining comrades.
All around the two was a sea of death and destruction.
Shinn may have been Death, but in a mortal form, even an immortal thread can be cut.
The Nautilus would pay for cutting his thread…
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A single white light appeared in the darkness, and in the midst of it was the dark figure of a being with outstretched wings, radiating love, forgiveness, loyalty, mercy, and benevolence. At the arrival of the Being, the three women bowed. The figure raised a hand, and pointed at the tapestry, and a beam of light shot forward from His finger, and enveloped the tapestry. The broken pieces of the Dark thread soaked in the light, and the benevolent being vanished. The Dark thread trembled and the two ends came together, seeking the other, and melded seamlessly.
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It's dark…
It hurts…
A flash of gold...
Warm blue eyes…
Brown hair…
A single flash of green…
Cold blue eyes…
Clicking of a laptop…
A pale figure performing a kata…
Onyx eyes…
Who are you?
You seem… familiar…
Do I know you?
Why are you so sad?
It hurts...
Help…
Please…
It hurts…
It hurts…
IT HURTS…
IT HURTS!
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Kamui Gaia 07: Dundundun! So, Duo is, for all intents and purposes, dead. I'm so evil!
Mitsuki Cosmos: What was with the light and the thread?
Kamui Gaia 07: Who's in pain?
Mitsuki Cosmos: Find out more in the next chapter!