~O~
V
A trail of blood.
Manuel dragged himself into a munitions closet, gathering a belt of grenades. He collapsed onto the floor once, but struggled to regain his footing again. He was dizzy, losing blood faster than he could stop.
"Ah yes, Manuel..." he muttered, to himself, "What a fun day then. Shot up. Cut up by playing cards. Such fun, yes?"
A vampire rushed into the room, spotting the bleeding man. His eyes widened and he raised his gun. "How are you still alive?!" he cried.
Manuel aimed his gun at him and fired several rounds, shredding the vampire's body into ribbons. He laid there for a few moments, breathless.
"I'm sorry, Gloria... I deserve this..." he mumbled. "I deserve to die here..."
There was a shout of pain he could hear echo through the base. Frowning, he leaned to one side, able to recognize it as Heinkel's. That pushed him forward, despite how weak he was from blood-loss. This was his chance to redeem himself from his sin.
"Oh no, not yet!" he groaned, struggling to his feet. "Not yet! I'm not going yet!"
He struggled to make his way out of the munitions closet and ended up collapsing onto the floor again.
"Fuck...!"
Meanwhile, Heinkel was pinned to the wall, Yumie's sword shoved through her side. She clenched her teeth, struggling to hold back another cry of pain. It was unbelievable agony and Yumie had slowly twisted the blade deeper into her.
"Kill her, Yumiko." Raizo ordered.
Heinkel groaned, sweat beading down her brow. She clutched the blade, slicing her hands up in the process. She met Yumie's lifeless stare and smiled weakly.
"...It's just like when we first met, yes?" she huffed, "All we did was try to kill each other."
Yumie didn't react.
"If...this is how it ends...so be it!" Heinkel spat, "I am a soldier of God! An instrument of His Divine Will! I will face my death here, if I must..."
She gave a shout of agony, forcing herself forward. It allowed the katana to cut deeper through her body. Yumie reacted only the slightest when she felt blood-soaked hands touch her cheeks.
"But I won't let you give up." Heinkel told her. "Not like this. I can see you're still fighting. Fight! Keep fighting until you have no breath left to fight!"
Yumie's lips pursed. She blinked rapidly and Heinkel watched her struggle. Her eyes continued to narrow and dialate as she fought Raizo's control.
"H-Heinkel..." she mumbled, "I...I can't..."
"Yes, yes you can, Yumie!" Heinkel cried, wincing at the agony in her side. "Fight!"
Yumie's hands shook on the hilt of her weapon. Raizo's eyes narrowed and he focused harder. Yumie winced and groaned, thrashing her head.
"Come on, Yumie. You can do it. You're stronger than this..." Heinkel whispered. "Look at me."
Yumie's eyes narrowed and she struggled to hold her gaze on the other woman. Her vision dimmed and blurred before Heinkel's visage appeared, as clear as day. A weak, exhausted smile touched her lips.
"Heinkel..." she mumbled.
Heinkel grimaced and Yumie's smile faded. She stared down at the sword through Heinkel and cried out, quickly removing it. Heinkel slumped forward with a groan and Yumie caught her.
"Oh God, no." she gasped.
"I'm fine." Heinkel told her.
"No, you're not! I put my blade through you!"
"Yumie, it's alright. Really..."
Raizo snarled and started forward, but Heinkel aimed one of her guns at him and fired several rounds. Raizo dashed away in a mad attempt to avoid the bullets, but several cut into his legs. He grunted and quickly fled down the corridors.
"I should go after him." Heinkel said. "He will pay for this."
Yumie shook her head. "No. Let me do it. This...this is my fault..."
"No! No, it's not your fault, Yumie," Heinkel ordered. "But we need to see the mission through to the end. Go after him. Make him suffer dearly."
Yumie smirked. "I intend to."
O
Raizo made his way to the surface, frantically hurrying toward a helicopter that was starting up. His legs were bloodied and he was leading a trail of blood behind him from his limping. Before he could make it, Tubalcain stopped him. The finely-dressed man was sitting casually in the back seat, legs crossed.
"Tubalcain!" Raizo shouted. "We need to go!"
Tubalcain smirked at him. "No, I need to go, my friend."
Raizo stared at him in disbelief. "What? No, no, I don't-"
"You didn't kill her, Raizo." Tubalcain told him. "My superiors are not too happy. Not one bit. ALSO, you allowed them access to our documents. As you know, HE doesn't take kindly to failure. It's such a shame too. You had such promise."
Raizo shook his head frantically. "We can still win this!"
"Actually, I was going to do it myself," Tubalcain remarked. "But I rather like this better. Death by your own kin. I'd love to stay and witness that, but I am on a schedule."
He closed the door of the helicoptor and tipped his hat before taking off. Raizo watched him go, shouting with fury.
"TUBALCAIN!" he roared. "YOU'LL NEVER BE RID OF ME!"
"I might."
Raizo closed his eyes with a weak laugh and turned, facing Yumie.
"You would kill your own kin, Yumiko?" he hissed. "While I stand here, helpless?"
Yumie just smiled. "You're no kin to me, Raizo. The dead do not speak. The damned do not deserve the right to address me!" She raised her katana in a perfect killing pose.
Raizo struggled to catch his breath and focus, but he was disoriented from the silver in his leg, gradually working to boil his blood. He couldn't concentrate. He was in so much pain.
"You think you're in pain now?" Yumie advanced like a violent storm. "Just wait...Raizo. Wait and see what I am capable of giving you. You tried to make me kill my friend. But I am not so easily controlled!"
Raizo hissed sharply. "Come then!" he snarled.
The two opponents surged forward, Raizo howling with his last ounce of strength.
Blood sprayed through the air.
Raizo and Yumie stood apart from one another. A splash of blood fell from the vampire. He gave a weak gurgle, legs shaking in a weak attempt to stay standing.
"Sh-Shima-Bara Battou-Ryuu Xhong...Kui?" Raizo choked.
Yumie's arm was dripping of blood, but she hadn't taken such a fatal blow.
"That's right..." she said.
"Oh..." Raizo laughed, blood pouring from his mouth. "...like your father..."
He gave a final, dying groan and fell to his knees. Finally, he collapsed foward, into a pool of blood.
"Amen." Yumie quietly said.
O
Heinkel opened her eyes as Yumie appeared.
"Alright, Heinkel." she said. "Up you go."
She slipped one of Heinkel's arms around her shoulders, helping the woman stand. Heinkel winced sharply, hissing through her teeth.
"Did you...do it?" Heinkel asked, as they started forward.
Yumie hesitated. It was unusual.
"It's finished." she told her. "We need to return to the Vatican."
Heinkel grunted in pain.
They walked through the training hall and Yumie grinned at Heinkel. "When we get home, you're singing for me, Heinkel." she joked.
Heinkel sputtered a weak laugh in response. "You...wish."
Before they could make it to the exit, several guns were pointed at them. Heinkel and Yumie froze and turned, spotting seven vampires with assault rifles, pistols and machine guns at the ready.
"I'll deal with them!" Yumie hissed, readying her sword.
Then, she groaned, exhausted and almost fell over. Heinkel caught her and almost fell forward herself.
"I don't...think so."
Everyone turned their focus to Manuel, who was leaning against the wall with several grenades strapped to his chest. He had his thumb slipped into the pin of one.
The vampires gave several uneasy grunts, backing away.
"He doesn't have it in him!" a vampire hissed. "He's a damn coward! A coward who gave us his wife!"
Manuel chuckled weakly. "Try me, puta."
He looked at the two women. "Go. Get out of here!"
Heinkel and Yumie stared at him in amazement.
"End of the road for me, ladies. Now get going." Manuel said.
He stood in front of them, using his body as a shield so they could leave the base. The vampires snarled with indignant fury.
"Kill him!" the vampire who had spoken screamed.
They opened fire on Manuel, filling his body with bullets. Heinkel and Yumie quickly retreated. Yumie dared a glance back, watching Manuel's body collapse.
With a grenade pin clutched tightly in his hand.
Her eyes widened.
"GET DOWN!" she shouted.
They quickly scrambled, seconds before the grenades detonated. The two women were thrown through the air, landing in the water while the vampires inside were obliterated by the force of the grenades.
Yumie and Heinkel climbed from the water, coughing. They collapsed beside each other, taking a moment to rest.
Heinkel met Yumie's gaze and the nun smiled from behind her damp locks.
"That...went well..." Yumie remarked.
Heinkel gave a snort, but smiled anyway.
"I'm going to sleep now," Yumie said.
Heinkel patted her shoulder. "You've earned it, Yumie. Go ahead and sleep."
Yumie closed her eyes with a small sigh.
Heinkel just held onto her as tightly as she could.
She wasn't about to let go.
O
"They did well."
"Yes. And the information?"
"Millennium. Interesting. A Nazi organization we originally believed to have been terminated in Warsaw in 1944."
Maxwell and Anderson discussed the results of Yumiko and Heinkel's mission in the Bishop's office that morning. Anderson seemed quite impressed by their success, regardless of its overall outcome.
"This is going to get interesting." he remarked.
Maxwell nodded his head, focused on the papers laid out in front of him. "Yes. But first...we should find the collaborator responsible. They knew of us, Anderson. Someone here gave up our secrets."
"I wouldn't worry about that too much," Anderson told him. "I have my suspicions I know who it could be."
"Really." Maxwell was doubtful.
While they continued to talk, Yumiko was kneeling before a cross, in the middle of prayer. Heinkel found her and approached.
"Yumiko, I've brought some wine for you." she said, smiling. "Your favorite."
Yumiko didn't answer. Her features were grim.
Heinkel's smile disappeared. "What's the matter?"
Yumiko stared at her, pained. "I almost killed you, Heinkel."
"But you didn't."
"I almost did, though."
"But you DIDN'T." Heinkel said, firmly. "I am still alive. You fought his control and won. We can move passed this now."
Yumiko considered this before shaking her head. She seemed so tired and saddened by the possibilities. "No. I need to be alone right now. Please, Heinkel. Leave me be."
Heinkel looked a little disappointed. "Oh. I see. Alright then. I'll leave you to it."
She straightened and walked away, leaving the nun with herself and God.
That night, Heinkel had fallen asleep in her bed and was awoken by the sounds of footsteps. She was mildly surprised to find Yumiko climbing into bed with her. The nun was wearing only a night dress.
"Yumiko?" she said, rubbing her eyes once before focusing on the other woman.
"I couldn't sleep." Yumiko told her, holding onto Heinkel with a peculiar desperation.
Heinkel laughed gently. "You haven't done this since we were kids."
"I know. I just... I just can't sleep." Yumiko murmured, somewhat flustered, "I want to sleep with you tonight."
"Okay."
Heinkel began to rub her bare arm up and down to comfort her a little. Yumiko murmured with content and snuggled into the other woman. After a few moments, Yumiko grunted with discomfort and wiggled a little.
"Heinkel...your knee. It's...poking me in the back." she said.
Heinkel grunted, embarrassed. "Sorry."
Yumiko smiled a little. "It's fine."
The two were silent for a little while before Yumiko arched her eyebrows up at Heinkel.
"So are we going to do this now?" she asked.
"Yes. Let's do this now." Heinkel said.
Immediately, the two began kissing one another, entangling themselves in the sheets.
O
The following day, Yumiko was waiting in the car while Heinkel discussed the next mission with Maxwell.
She honked the horn and Heinkel sighed, looking over her shoulder.
"Yumiko! Give me a minute!" she yelled.
Yumiko looked impatient, leaning back in her seat before she slammed her heel on the steering wheel once, blaring the horn.
Heinkel rolled her eyes and resumed her conversation with Maxwell. "Anyway, I will be ready. Yumiko and I - "
The horn was blared once more and Yumiko held her foot there for an extented period of time while Heinkel attempted to ignore it. Yumiko raised her eyebrows, folded her arms across her chest and kept going. Maxwell merely smirked at the sight and glanced at Heinkel.
"I think she's anxious to get started." he said.
Heinkel sighed heavily and walked to the car. "Yumiko?"
"Yes?" Yumiko asked, innocently.
"Stop it, please."
Yumiko lifted her foot from the car horn. "Okay."
"Thank you." Heinkel said, exasperated.
She walked to the driver's side of the car, just as Yumiko scooted over. Heinkel started up the car and gave Yumiko a funny stare.
"What?" she asked.
"Don't put your foot on my steering wheel." Heinkel said, annoyed.
"Alright. I'll keep that in mind." Yumiko laughed.
They drove away and Maxwell watched them go. His smile disappeared, gradually darkening. Now that they were on their next mission, he would take care of finding that little...collaborator.
Yumiko and Heinkel had been separated by Anderson.
They were in the middle of a fight and he split them apart.
"Children!" he scolded. "There will be no fighting!"
Heinkel glared at Yumiko, her childish features twisted in a furious scowl.
"She started it!" she yelled.
"No, you did!" Yumiko shouted.
"Enough!" Anderson ordered. "Now then, you two will have to learn to get along. One day, you may end up working together."
Heinkel scowled. "With her? No way!"
Yumiko stuck her tongue out at Heinkel and the other girl did the same.
"I'm not going to work with her!" Heinkel sneered.
"I'd rather sniff Enrico's sweaty shoes!" Yumiko shot back.
"Both of you. Go and say your prayers then." Anderson ushered them away. "There will be no more fighting...and no smelling anyone's sweaty shoes."
It was funny to Heinkel, even after all of these years.
They ended up working together, just as Father Anderson said.
She glanced over at Yumiko, who blew a puff of air on the window and drew a little bird in the glass. They had gone from hating each other as children to...this.
These things happened.