Adoramus Te
Author's Note: So this is the fic I had working in my mind for a little while. This may be slightly AU since I haven't read Crossfire. I'm sort of going by what I see in the OVA and in the manga with these two. I took a few liberties and changed a few things. Hope that was cool.
"Remain steadfast in the journey of faith... young people, swim against the tide; it's good for the heart, but it takes courage."
- Pope Francis
"God gave you the trials in life because he knows that you are able to afford to survive."
- Innah Delos Angeles
By: VampireQueenAkasha
~O~
I
Their first mission.
Heinkel and Yumiko were to travel into hostile territory in southern Brazil to put an end to a potentially dangerous cult. It was interesting to see how they would work together considering they constantly squabbled.
Maxwell had given them their orders and despite Heinkel's protests to working with the young nun, he was insistent about their mission and that it was final. Heinkel had no understanding how they had come to fight so much; as children, they had gotten along great.
Well once the mission was finished, Heinkel would be glad to go her own way.
They arrived in São José, checking into an inn. The room was sparse with only one bed, a wool rug and small bathroom. There were a few tables, dressers and a television. Heinkel set her pistols down onto a table and Yumiko stretched a little, giving a low yawn.
"I'm going to get washed up," she said.
"Good." Heinkel told her, popping a cigarette into her mouth. "I'll go over the report."
Yumiko hummed a happy tune as she entered the bathroom. Once the sound of water running filled the air, Heinkel sat down on the edge of the bed and opened her report, stuffed into a manila folder. There was a photo of a man who was believed to be an informant to this cult; thin, ugly mustache, muddy brown eyes and shoulder-length black hair. His name was Manuel de Santigo. Hiding somewhere in the city.
"So do you think we'll find him here?"
Heinkel was startled when she heard Yumiko's voice near her ear. She hadn't even heard the nun finish her shower. The nun was leaning over her with a curious smile.
"Dammit, Yumiko..." she snapped.
"Well, do you think he's here?" Yumiko asked, not noting Heinkel's attitude.
"He is. But we only have a short window to capture him." Heinkel said. "So we're going to sleep for a few hours before we move."
"Alright."
Heinkel and Yumiko both moved to lay in the bed. It took a few awkward seconds before they glared at each other.
"I'm getting the bed." they said, together.
"I drove us here." Heinkel snapped.
"Do you really think I should sleep on the floor?!" Yumiko exclaimed, furious by the idea.
Heinkel removed her glasses and set them down onto the table beside her. "Maybe the bathtub?" she suggested.
"Forget it. I'm not sleeping there. I'm sleeping here and you can't stop me."
"Fine. Sleep here. Just don't kick me or you're ending up on the floor."
Yumiko shrugged her shoulders. "Fine."
Heinkel began to unbutton her clothes, leaving herself in a tank top and her breeches. When she noticed the nun began to undress, her eyes widened and she quickly turned her head away, immediately reddening.
"Yumiko, what are you doing?" she demanded, in a high, startled voice.
"I like to sleep in the nude, Heinkel." Yumiko said. "It's more comfortable."
Heinkel stiffly rolled onto her side, away from the nun as she wiggled under the sheets beside her. Yumiko took a few moments of wiggling around before finally stilling.
"Heinkel, are you okay?" Yumiko asked, "You feel a little warm. I hope you're not catching a fever."
"No!" Heinkel groused, tossing the sheets over her head.
O
Seven Years Ago
Heinkel had her eyes covered and her face was bright red.
"Yumiko, for the last time, make yourself decent!" she demanded.
Yumiko was standing naked in the room, trying to analyze a birthmark on her thigh. "Heinkel, please stop being so silly and tell me if this looks like a birthmark or not." she insisted.
Heinkel rubbed her face with one hand and cast a stare to heaven. "This is improper behavior, Yumiko. Put your clothes on!"
"I've heard enough of your yelling," Maxwell's voice emerged from the hallways. "What are you two arguing abo-OH!"
His eyes widened and he gave several startled yelps, covering his eyes when he saw Yumiko standing naked there. He quickly covered his eyes and spoke furiously, not to mention in a flustered manner.
"Yumiko!" he barked. "For the love of God, dress yourself!"
O
Manuel was easy to spot.
It was four in the morning and he was departing from a bar. He was wearing a thin green coat, a pair of blue jeans and large brown boots.
Heinkel slipped on her glasses and followed behind, giving the man a wide berth. He walked casually down an alleyway and glanced back briefly when he noticed the woman following him.
He began to walk faster and Heinkel increased her gait to keep up with him.
Suddenly, Manuel broke out in a run and Heinkel gave chase.
He ran down the alley, vaulting over garbage cans and dumpsters. Heinkel was not far behind him, leaping over the obstacles in her path. Manuel was just about to run around a corner before he tripped, falling flat on his face. Yumiko stepped out from the shadows, holding her sheathed weapon with a grin. Her "other half" had taken over - she wasn't wearing her glasses.
Manuel glanced down and noticed that she had been the one who tripped him.
Before Manuel knew it, he was yanked into the building near them and bound in a chair.
Heinkel raised a photograph in his face, displaying a picture of a blood-painted pentagram with an eye in the center. Manuel paled at the sight.
"So what's this?" Heinkel asked him. "Why has this been showing up around the city?"
Manuel grinned and shrugged. His Portuguese accent was thick when he spoke. "I don't know. Why are you asking me? I'm a simple delivery worker on the docks."
Heinkel sighed. "That's not what we know about you."
Yumie gave the man a smack on the head with the hilt of her weapon. He winced and looked up at Heinkel with a panicked grin.
"I don't know anything!" he insisted. "I'm just the dock worker!"
Heinkel drew out her pistols and pointed one at his head. He gave a frightened cry.
"But you work for them. This pagan cult." she said.
"I-I might do a little shipping work, but that's it!" Manuel cried, "I don't know anything! I swear to God - "
Yumie gave a mocking scoff. "Don't blasphemy, heretic." she warned. She drew her sword and leveled it beneath his chin. "If you don't know anything that could help us, maybe I should take some off the top. What do you say, Heinkel?"
Heinkel shook her head, waving Yumie off with a flick of her gun. "Yumie, back away a little," she ordered.
"Come on!" Yumie griped, "He's not going to talk. We're wasting time."
"Yumie!" Heinkel warned, giving the nun a look. "I have this. Back away."
Yumie gave a long-suffering groan and did as she said, backing away from the man. Heinkel kept her gun raised to Manuel's head.
"We have a plane not far from here." she told him. "You're going to take us to where we need to go. If not, then I will bring God's judgment down upon your head right here, right now."
Manuel shook his head desperately. "No, I can't! I - Okay, okay!" He quickly changed his mind when Heinkel pulled back the hammer of her weapon. "I'll do it!"
"No tricks." Heinkel warned. "If you try to run, Yumie here runs a lot faster than you."
Yumie just smirked at Manuel, who gave a frightened wince when she feigned removing her blade from its sheath.
O
Manuel screamed the entire time.
Yumie had chosen to hang him from the plane by a cable cord. Heinkel simply rolled her eyes as she piloted the plane through the Canyon of Itaimbezinho. Sometimes Yumiko's "other self" had a tendency to act with the utmost immaturity about these things.
Manuel had claimed that the cult was here, but she saw no signs of any peculiar activity below.
"Yumie, bring him back in." Heinkel ordered.
"Right." Yumie brought Manuel back into the plane. She smiled at him. "So...are we going to talk?"
"I told you!" Manuel cried, "They're here! In this canyon!"
"You know how big the Canyon of Itaimbezinho is?" Yumie snapped.
"Yes, I know! I'm Portuguese, you crazy puta!" Manuel shot back.
Yumie frowned, raising her sword. "What did you call me?"
"Enough!" Heinkel ordered. She glanced back briefly to Manuel. "I hope your memory returns, Manuel. If you want to stay alive."
Suddenly, something whistled through the air. Yumie looked up just in time to see a rocket-propelled grenade flying toward them. Heinkel saw it too. Her eyes widened and she jerked on the controls of the plane in a futile attempt to avoid it.
The shell took out the left wing of the plane and it spun out of control. Heinkel struggled with the controls while Yumie quickly hurried into a seat belt while aiding Manuel into one.
The plane spun wildly through the air before it crashed into the trees below, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Heinkel was jerked forward, her head slamming into the controls before she lost consciousness.
A five-year old Heinkel sat in the chair, her mouth bloody. Yumiko sat in a chair beside her, also in a similar state.
Alexander Anderson sat in front of them from behind a desk, disappointment on his face.
"This is the third time this week," he said, "The third time that I've had to stop a fight between you two."
"She started it." Yumiko snapped, glaring at Heinkel.
"Did not!" Heinkel shot back.
Anderson glared at them. "Enough." he warned. "Now, I want you two to return to your beds and pray. You will be without supper tonight."
"But Father - " Heinkel protested.
"But nothing. Go on." Anderson ordered.
The two children groaned and stepped out of the chairs, walking to the door.
"I told you." Heinkel grumbled.
O
Heinkel awoke, immediately greeted by the sensation of pain in her head. She felt her vision returning and was granted a lovely view of sparking wires waving near her face. She quickly regained her senses and unbuckled her seat-belt, falling from her seat in the process.
"Yumie?" Heinkel groaned, "Yumie, are you alright?"
She staggered to her feet and found Yumie and Manuel in their seats, unconscious. Yumie was mumbling weakly, her head rolling around on her shoulders.
"Yumie, wake up." Heinkel ordered, unbuckling her. "Come on, we need to move."
Yumie awoke after a few moments, moaning softly in pain. Her features seemed suddenly very frightened. Yumiko was back. Heinkel urged her to her feet.
"Grab him," she said, gesturing to Manuel.
"Okay." Yumiko groaned again, rubbing her neck.
Manuel was mumbling in his sleep. "Of course I will marry you," he murmured, smiling. "...yes. Oh wait...hide in the barn..."
"Stupid idiot." Yumie was back, cursing viciously under her breath.
"Yumie, now!" Heinkel insisted.
The nun groaned with annoyance and grabbed Manuel. "Hey, wake up," she ordered, dragging him to his feet. She gave him a harsh slap.
"Ah!" Manuel cried. He looked around wildly. "I'm awake!"
He glanced over Yumie's shoulder and his eyes widened at the sounds of shouting in the distance. Heinkel followed his stare and scowled.
"We need to move." she said.
Yumie frowned at her. "I can take them."
"Yumie, we don't know what we're facing and we have no plane," Heinkel snapped. "We need to get the upper hand before they find us. Now GO!"
Yumie gave a frustrated groan and grabbed Manuel, rushing into the jungle with Heinkel tagging behind. The trio took shelter in a tree listening to the distant sounds of chatter. Manuel shook his head with fright.
"You two don't know who you're dealing with!" he whispered, in an unsettled tone. "They will kill us if we're found!"
"Who are they?" Heinkel demanded, just as quietly.
Manuel shook his head with a murmur. "They call themselves the Sons of Starlight." he told them. "Their leader?" He snorted gruffly. "Acha que é o rei da cocada preta - thinks he's hot shit or something. I'm just the guy on the outside who brings them the good news."
Yumie looked at Heinkel briefly before glancing at Maniel. "Sons of Starlight?" she questioned. "What sort of organization are they?"
Manuel sighed. "Don't know. I was enlisted as their delivery boy some time ago." he replied. "They're all drugged up on some weird shit. Thinks it'll make them immortal or something. I think they answer to a higher power, though. Never met them myself."
"They don't trust you, is what I'm understanding." Heinkel said.
Manuel chuckled. "Sim. You'd be right."
Heinkel glanced out toward the direction the plane had landed. "Well, we need to move soon."
Manuel held up his bound wrists. "Can't you undo my bonds, then?"
"When you've no longer been of use to us, I will," Heinkel told him.
"When will that be?"
"When I've killed you."
Manuel made a face. "I understand..."
A twelve-year old Heinkel stared at Yumiko with horror.
The girl was standing beside the bloodied corpse of a priest, holding her sword in one hand. Her eyes were different then - more insane than Heinkel had ever seen.
"Yumiko?" she said.
"Yumiko is asleep," the other girl said, with a small smile. It was almost cruel, but also quite delighted by the corpse below her."I'm awake. Tell me...who are you?"
Heinkel frowned. She had never seen this before. "I'm Heinkel. Heinkel Wolfe."
"Hm." Yumie chuckled, but it sounded wrong. "Yes, she talks about you quite a lot. Likes you. But this one..." She gestured to the dead priest with a wave of her sword. "This one was different. Liked her more than he should. Yumiko needed someone to help her. So I...introduced myself. And do you know what I did?"
Heinkel stared down at the dead priest. She couldn't imagine what had happened.
"I told her to cut up this filthy disease!" Yumie spat, grinning. "This...false prophet of God! This heathen! This one who would hold a bible in one hand and try to put his hands on a child with the other! There's only one good answer for filth like this and that is death!"
O
It was unbearably hot that morning.
Heinkel shook the memory away as she sat by the cool stream, splashing her face with water. Manuel was fidgeting with the cuffs around his wrists and Yumie rinsed her shoes out of mud.
"I told you we shouldn't have tried to cross that river," Yumie said. "Now here we are...warriors of Iscariot marching through this unholy heat with this waste of skin."
Manuel smiled angrily. "Hey! I'm sitting right here, mina."
Heinkel unbuttoned her jacket and leaned back, grimacing. "Yes, I'm aware of how hot it is, Yumie," she said, "But complaining won't change that. We should keep moving."
Yumie nodded and gestured to Manuel. "Alright. Get up."
Manuel smirked coldly and rose. "Ever notice when white people come to another country, they give orders like they own the place?"
"Now." Yumie snapped.
Manuel rolled his eyes and stood up. He followed the two women through the jungle that would lead them back toward the canyon. After some time, Yumie had been hungry and Heinkel went on the search for food. When she returned, she found Manuel and Yumie cooking a collared peccary over a fire.
Heinkel hid the crab-eating raccoon she had found, embarrassed by her small kill.
"Oh, you should have seen her!" Manuel said, grinning, "She is a speed diabo with that sword."
Yumie chuckled. "Thank you. I know all the weak spots in all living things."
"Seriously, where did you learn to move like that?" Manuel asked, smiling. "I don't see many ladies with speed like yours."
"It just comes naturally." Yumie replied, with a shrug. "I don't think about it too much."
Heinkel smiled with annoyance. "If I haven't interrupted anything, we should be moving soon." she snapped.
Yumie started to take a bite from the piece of cooking meat, but Manuel stopped her. "Not yet, mina," he said, "You have to wait until she is crispy first. Otherwise you'll have yourself some extra mouths to feed here."
"What do you mean?" Yumie asked.
"He means stomach worms," Heinkel snapped; she was standing further from them.
Yumie grinned, cackling. "That's disgusting."
Heinkel decided to take a seat with them and impatiently began to rotate the hunk of meat cooking over the fire. She thought about her past with Yumie for a few moments as she watched the woman talking with Manuel.
Yumiko was brushing her hair in the mirror when she heard the sound of shuffling near her window. She frowned and approached, only to find Heinkel clinging precariously to the tree nearby. Her eyes widened and she gave an amused laugh.
"Heinkel, what are you doing in that tree?" she asked.
"I was..." Heinkel struggled to come up with a viable response. "Trying to find that damn wasps nest. You know how it is with those irritating little bastards."
Yumiko laughed and shook her head. "Come on inside then. You're going to hurt yourself. That would be funny seeing you fall, though."
Heinkel grumbled with irritation when Yumie helped her through the window. "Yeah, I bet it would be..."
"So...did you bring it?" Yumiko asked curiously.
Heinkel smirked and removed the bottle of wine from her robes. Yumiko excitedly took it.
"So is this what women do?" Heinkel asked, shrugging her shoulders.
"I think so," Yumiko said. "I know there's kissing and stuff like that too. But I don't think that's really allowed..." She paused and looked at Heinkel curiously. "...is it?"
"I don't know." Heinkel replied, scratching the back of her head. "It doesn't feel like it's a bad thing."
Yumiko sat in silence before smiling up at her. "Do you...want to try it?"
Heinkel swallowed thickly. "Uh...okay then."
The two leaned forward slightly.
"Do we close our eyes or...?" Heinkel was a little nervous.
"I think so."
Both leaned forward until their lips met. After a few moment of sharing a simple, chaste kiss, they parted. Yumiko blinked slowly, smiling a little. Heinkel's brows went up.
"Well..." she said. She cleared her throat. "That was..."
"Yes..." Yumiko seemed equally dazed in her response. "...that was..."
"Heinkel!"
Heinkel snapped out of her daze and looked up when Yumie yelled her name.
"What?" she asked.
"I asked if you wanted a piece," Yumie said, offering her some of the cooked meat.
Heinkel shook her head and took the offering. "Oh! Of course."
"Oy..." Manuel joked, chuckling.
He murmured something in Portuguese that sounded distinctly like a tasteless joke, but of course, Heinkel didn't understand it.