AN: If there are any mistakes please don't hesitate to point them out. My computer wasn't saving the file correctly so I'm not sure what round of editing I've actually posted. The story may make no sense at all. I'm too tired to care. I've been up all night trying to get it to work. I'll fix any problems tomorrow after I've had some sleep. I just thought I should get the story up as soon as possible.
12.) The Healthy Dead
Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not,
there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion.
-Dalai Lama
REI
"I don't want to go back. Please don't make me leave." I repeated when I saw emotion stir in his expression. I felt tears well up in my eyes. I couldn't go back there, the very thought of returning made me feel ill.
I noticed the way his jaw clenched slightly, his eyes became distant.
I recognized the look. It was the same one I had before going to war. He was preparing himself for something. I found I could no longer look him in the eyes, I had a feeling I knew what was coming.
However his next words surprised me.
"I won't make you do anything, Rei." He told me softly. I looked up, not fully understanding. I had expected him to order me away from this place of rest. His expression was still grim however... And that didn't bode well. There was a soft sigh on his part. I could tell he was about to reveal his trump card.
"What about Minako?" Ares asked. My conviction wavered. And that was all it took. I wanted to curse his name but couldn't as that place disappeared and the world was filled with pain again. He had known what asking that would do. He knew I would hesitate when she was brought up... and I couldn't blame him for that small manipulation.
"Rei, please wake up..." A voice above me begged, an aching sensation of horror and distress filled me. I opened my eyes, doing my best to take in a breath. I let out a cough, starting to jerk into a sitting position. Setsuna's hand rested on my shoulder holding me down.
"You're back." Setsuna said, relief was evident in her voice.
"Damn it." I choked out, coughing again. I was doing my best not to start crying. I struggled to take in another breath. There was a coppery taste in my mouth. Gods, everything in this world hurt so much. I didn't want to be back here. There was nothing for me here. I'd left all meaning back there.
APHRODITE
I watched as Rei returned to her world. Her pain lingered behind her, wafting about Ares like smoke. I slid a hand along his shoulders. He gave a heavy sigh, I could see that he was holding on to Rei's presence. Mixed in with Rei's pain was Ares' sadness, he was grieving.
"It's things like this that make me question myself." He murmured. I immersed myself in his feelings, sorting through what he was going through. After that it was easy to decipher what he was thinking.
"She needed to go back, Ares." I told him, doing my best to reassure him. I was used to him questioning himself and normally I'd allow him to sort through it on his own... but this time it was something deeper. Underneath the grief... was hate. This was something he hated himself for.
"But she wanted to stay." He replied, I was beginning to sense the anger rising within him. It was the most dangerous kind of anger... it was anger turned inwards. He had such potential for anger, it was bound to tear him apart someday. He was angry that this was something he had passed to Rei.
"You cannot protect her from everything." I whispered. We had done all we could for them given the circumstances. We may have been gods but there were always things beyond our control.
"I can barely protect her at all." He stated.
"We have done all we could for her. Our children..."
"Our children are dead. She has no more protection." Ares snapped at me.
"They can be brought back. You know this as well as I do." I replied. I felt his anger fading. The grief and hatred still lingered within him but it was muted somewhat. I squeezed his hand gently, trying to calm him. "They aren't truly dead, they simply no longer exist in the mortal realm but they can return to her side. Should they chose."
Ares gave a shaky sigh.
"She's not strong enough. Not anymore." He murmured, I noticed his eyes were watery. He regretted the life we had given Rei.
We stood together in silence. I could feel the churn of emotion within him fade into calm. He turned to me.
"You say that I've done what I can for her." He stated. I nodded. There was a faint upwards quirk to his expression.
"Well, if I've done what I can for her - you need to start working on Minako. For a goddess of love she sure is dense." Ares commented, with a chuckle. I wanted to roll my eyes, but instead chose to retain my dignity and poise.
"She is young, Ares, and still has much to learn." I chided, doing my best to look disapproving. This man was... Peculiar. Exceptional. Extraordinary.
"Rei's young." He pointed out with a something akin to a smile. I could sense that he was finding much amusement in my daughter's predicament. He opened his mouth to say something more...
I sighed, knowing the only way to shut him up now would be to kiss him. As I rose up on tiptoes to press my lips to his... I couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret. This shouldn't have happened to Rei, we shouldn't have had to send her back.
MINAKO
I had remained in the common room even after Rhode had left. I rested my head back against the wall, I was finally coming back to myself after the shock of Rei dying. I raised a hand back to my heart at that.
Whenever I thought about her it was hard to breathe. The terrible sense of loss was still raw in my heart. I got to my feet shakily, doing my best to ignore the constant ache. A part of me was missing now that she was gone.
I took a deep breath and then was floored as the pain in my heart multiplied. I was left gasping as a whole new set of emotions seized me. Agony. Terror. Confusion. Despair.
I sucked in a breath, struggling to my feet. The feel of the emotions was familiar, the part of me that was missing had returned. I was made whole... even though I was now painfully aware of what loss meant. I could now experience everything she was feeling, she was no longer able to conceal it from me. Whatever the reason was for this drastic turn of events... I could not bring myself to care. At least at the moment. Right now my only thoughts were of...
"Rei." I murmured, feeling frantic as I tore through the halls. She was alive. There was not other explanation for the reappearance of her feelings. The sensitivity I was experiencing could only mean that she was no longer able to contain it. It had all become too much for her to bear. I stumbled slightly, struck by a sudden knowledge.
She was back and I could not bear to lose her again.
I skidded to a stop as I caught sight of Ami and Makoto down one of the the halls. Makoto's head was bent towards Ami's, her arm rested around her small frame.
"Ami!" I called out, my feet carried me towards them without a conscious decision to change directions. Ami turned to me, startled by the urgency in my tone.
"What's wrong?" She asked, I noticed Makoto's eyes narrow. They both seemed thrown by my agitated air.
"It's Rei." I gasped, feeling a particularly agonizing throb in my heart. "Please, you have to help her. Don't let me lose her."
AMI
"Minako, Rei's dead..." I replied, not knowing what else to say. My words seemed to only infuriate Minako for she shook her head vigorously and seized my arm.
"She's in pain." Minako stated, as if she thought I was being unreasonable. I glanced at Makoto, clearly we were thinking the same thing. Minako had lost it. I reached out and laid my hand gently on Minako's arm.
"You don't understand, Minako. There's nothing left for me to do." I told her in a calm a voice as I could manage. Minako was starting to worry me. What if she had suffer a psychotic breakdown?
"No. You don't understand. She came back. And you have to help her." Minako snapped, a slight sob broke through her statement. Her next words spilled out as if she couldn't contain them any longer. "She's hurting. We have to make it better."
Minako was as close to hysterical as I had ever seen her. Usually she was more... restrained. This was a startling change in demeanour. A worrying change.
Then again, Rei had always managed to provoke a response from Minako. Perhaps this hadn't changed in death.
As I was considering this, Minako did not wait for me to reply, but rather left Makoto and I in the hallway as she started back to her room. I had no choice but to follow. I was deeply concerned for Minako. We all handled death differently... perhaps Minako wasn't handling it as well as the rest of us.
REI
I clenched my jaw as pain shot through my chest, I sucked in a deep breath through my nose trying not to let it out in a scream. My body went into spasms, my mind was fading out again. My back arched against my will. The edges of my vision darkened and narrowed. I struggled to suck in another breath, unable to remember what had happened to the air I had just sucked in. Pain was blotting everything else out.
Setsuna's hands grasped firmly at either side of my face, forcing me to look at her.
"Rei, Rei, listen to me. Just breathe. Don't think about anything else." She told me, one of her hands gently running through my hair. I tried to follow her advice. I closed my eyes, forcing myself to concentrate on the simple act of breathing. Pain continued to lance through my body, feeling an aching hole in my chest. I felt Setsuna adjust how we were sitting - her arms around me, my head rested on her shoulder.
I raised a hand to my chest. It felt like my heart was being torn apart. I began to hyperventilate as pain racked through my body. My ribs and lungs seared, tortured by the agony that was spreading through me.
"Everything is going to be alright." Setsuna whispered, one of her hands coming up again to stroke my hair. "I promise."
I found myself sobbing, the pain increased as my vision began to fade out as it was clouded by the darkness that threatened to consume me. I tightened my grip over the place where my heart should be. My fingers pressing against the skin and bone, leaving bruises in their wake.
The intense pain in my heart was slowly being overpowered by something, it wasn't a necessarily a painful sensation... though it did feel vaguely like someone was tightening their grip on me. Darkness clouded my vision. It felt like I was falling, though the hold on my heart was firm and unrelenting. It would not let me be taken.
The door to the room banged open. In an instant the darkness retreated from my vision, it was like I was seeing for the first time. Framed in the doorway was the one who had pulled at my heart in the darkness.
"Minako." I whispered hoarsely, this time the darkness that rose up was warm and comforting. I let myself go.
MINAKO
As I ran through the halls I could feel the cold clutch of darkness on her heart is if it was on my own. I was doing my best to drive it away but I still felt as though I was losing. The most I could hope to do was fend it off. And I hard pressed to even do that.
After what felt like an eternity I finally reached the door to my room, I thrust it open. Her eyes met mine as if she had known, or perhaps hoped, that I would appear. In that brief instant I knew what she was thinking.
Her voice was too soft for me to hear but watching the way her lips moved... I knew what she had said as she passed out. My heart twisted cruelly - even through her pain Rei looked at me like I was her personal saviour.
My feet moved against my will, propelling me towards the bed. I reached a quivering hand reached out towards Rei. I drew in a shaky breath, her emotions had faded as she lost consciousness. I grasped her hand in mine, falling to my knees at her side.
The connection between us, whatever it was, was still in place. I closed my eyes and lowered my head to where our hands were clasped. Through our connection I could feel the after effects of her emotions. When I had entered the room... she had felt relief and reassurance. All simply because I was there.
AMI
I was stunned into silence as finally caught up to Minako. She was kneeling by Rei's bedside, a look of extreme relief on her face. I looked to Rei, catching the subtle rise and fall of her chest. She was breathing.
She was alive. That was impossible.
My legs threatened to give way. What in the nine hells was going on here? This went against everything I knew. All the rules of life and death... were seemingly disregarded.
There were always rules. There had to be rules. There had to be a reason for what was happening. There had to be purpose and order to what went on... If there wasn't, what did that mean to us?
What did it mean if Rei existed outside of these basic laws of nature?
I was brought out of my thoughts Minako raised her head. Her words rang in my head. She's hurting. We have to make it better. I approached the bed, catching Setsuna's eye.
"How did this happen?" I asked her as she began to lay Rei down on the bed. Minako moved out of our way.
Setsuna's gaze met mine. It seemed like she was considering her answer carefully.
"I couldn't tell you." She finally replied.
"Is that because you don't know or you're not allowed to tell me?" I asked, sharper than I had intended. Setsuna shrugged in answer. I brushed it aside and returned my attention to Rei.
I carefully reached out and felt for her pulse, needing to reassure myself that this wasn't all in my imagination. A steady beat echoed under my finger tips.
My hand dropped to my side. This couldn't be happening. It didn't make sense.
I shook my head, doing my best to ignore my own thoughts and feelings. Rei was in poor condition. Whatever had brought her back to life had been unable to repair her body.
I carefully examined her, making sure I hadn't missed any injuries she had sustained. When I didn't find anything that would further complicate her recovery I returned my attention to the injuries I had patched up earlier.
My eyes narrowed as my hands approached the chest wound I had struggled with. Something was different. I gently removed the bandages and dressing, I could no longer hear or feel the air escaping from the injured lung. I looked back up, watching the steady rise and fall of Rei's chest. The injury had healed... at least partially. There was still a deep wound but it no longer seemed to be as terrible.
Perhaps whatever had brought her back to life hadn't been able to completely reverse the damage... but it had taken care of the worst of it.
I looked over at Minako who had been watching me almost anxiously.
"It seems like she's going to be fine... in time." I told her. What she did next could only be described as a sigh of relief.
"Thank the gods." She murmured.
And somehow... despite the fact I called myself an atheist, I agreed with her words. Perhaps this had been the work of a higher power. And if that was the case, perhaps there was a reason Rei seemed to exist outside of the laws of nature. Maybe we all did. It was the only explanation.
I slowly took a few steps away from Rei.
"I should go inform Prometheus of what has happened. Michiru as well, she would want to know." I stated. I was just about to leave the room when Rei began to stir. Makoto's hand brushed my shoulder. It was just then that I noticed Setsuna had disappeared.
"You're needed here. I'll go find them." Makoto told me. I turned to thank her but she was already gone.
Rei groaned quietly, the noise was pained.
I knew why Makoto had volunteered. She hated seeing people in pain... whether it be emotional or physical. Most of her life was spent trying to protect people from pain. Over the past few days she was becoming more and more aware of how much Rei needed this protection as well. It was why she was the one going to get Prometheus and Michiru... she wanted to alleviate their pain.
MINAKO
As Rei began to wake up I backed off slightly, unsure of how she would react. I didn't know how she would feel about this. If what Rhode had said was true, if Rei really was in love with me, it was clear that I had hurt her. She would be well within her rights to hate me now.
Ami approached the bed again and began helping Rei sit up. I watched in silence, debating whether or not to stay with them. Ami resolved the issue for me.
"Minako, can you hand me the vial with the blue lid? And a syringe as well. I'm going to give her something to help with the pain." Ami asked, I nodded and knelt down by her medical kit. After a few moments of searching I finally located both of the requested items.
I handed them to Ami and looked away as she injected the fluid into Rei's arm. Rei looked slightly stunned by her surroundings.
"How are you feeling?" Ami asked quietly.
Rei met her gaze for a moment. I could see a lost look in her expression, she shook her head softly and looked away.
Ami glanced at me. I came a bit closer. Rei wasn't looking at either of us, she seemed quite focused on the window.
Ami gestured for me to try talking to Rei. I nodded and she turned away to tidy up her medical kit...
"Rei?" I asked softly, she turned to look at me. Almost as soon as she looked at me, Rei's hand jerked towards her head, a look of intense pain on her face.
"Rei?" I questioned when I noticed the blank, unfocused look in her eyes. She didn't respond. A faint twinge of worry began to make its self known. I tried a few more times to attract her attention... but she was unresponsive. The longer it went on... the more concerned I became.
"Ami..." I called out over my shoulder trying to get her attention, urgency laced my voice. Ami turned sharply to look at me, then she noticed that my attention was solely focused on Rei.
I could hear other people entering the room. I glanced over, Michiru and Prometheus stood in the doorway. Makoto and Haruka lingered just behind them. Prometheus' eyes narrowed as he watched Rei, I ignored that. There would be time to figure him out later. Right now I was worried about Rei.
Ami appeared slightly alarmed as she approached and took in Rei's distant expression. It was almost as if she were somewhere else. Ami immediately began trying to figure out what was wrong. After a few moments a frown creased her features. I could hear her muttering under her breath about seizures and brain tumours in a questioning tone. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed as Michiru took a single step into the room as if she couldn't help herself, a look of disbelief was firmly planted on her face. A gnawing sense of unease formed in my stomach.
I reached down and took Rei's hand in mine, I gave it a gentle squeeze. As my hand touched her's I felt the first flicker of fear.
I bit down on my lip, unsure of where that had come from. Apprehension swelled within me, it was quickly overshadowed when I felt the cold brush of complete horror. I finally recognized the emotions, I was beginning to have a hard time telling my feelings apart from Rei's. But these were most definitely Rei's emotions.
I closed my eyes and focused in on her feelings, trying to sort through what was going on. I was momentarily flinched back as pain raced through me. The moment my hand parted from Rei's it disappeared. I clenched my teeth and reached out again. This time I didn't pull away as pain flooded through me, I fought through it as I tried to reach the core of Rei's emotions.
Vague impressions of what was going on inside her mind filled my awareness. The scenes were shaped by Rei's reactions to what was happening. The longer I stayed the clearer things became, I tightened my hand on Rei's. Her fear was overpowering.
An image flashed before my eyes. The world was burning. Fire raged around us, glimmering through the smoke.
As quickly as it had come, it disappeared. It was like Rei had sensed my presence and pulled away. She didn't want me to see what she was experiencing.
I withdrew from her mind, watching as awareness returned to Rei's eyes. They seemed filled with pain. It looked like she was going to throw up. Her face had become even more pale, the telltale signs of her exhaustion were more apparent than they had been before. Whatever had happened had taken a lot out of her.
"Rei. What happened?" Ami asked. This time her expression demanded a response.
"I'm fine." Rei muttered. "Don't worry about it."
I could feel the lie spread through me. There wasn't a single way in which Rei was 'fine'.
"How long have you been having these visions?" Prometheus asked from the doorway. The expression on his face was guarded, like he was trying to distance himself from something. Rei looked over... seeming surprised at his presence.
"What do you mean?" Ami questioned, looking between the two siblings. Prometheus was still watching Rei carefully almost as if she was something dangerous.
"Your mother was a seer. We always thought the skill hadn't been passed on to you... Now tell me, how long have you been having these visions?" Prometheus asked, there was a hard edge to his voice.
"I don't know." Rei replied wearily, she caught his disappointed look and amended her answer. "Awhile, it's hard to tell how long."
Prometheus nodded, he appeared rather preoccupied. I reached out, trying to get a read on him. His emotions were conflicted. He was concerned and slightly...apprehensive.
"I have things to attend to, I must be going." He stated, before leaving the room. My eyes narrowed. There was a sense of determination about him that had me curious.
I left Rei's side and went to follow him out of the room. As I left I noticed Michiru making her way closer to Rei. Her emotions were in turmoil, there was fear, resentment, and anger... if I wasn't mistaken.
I shut the door behind myself as I followed Prometheus, I wanted to put as much between myself and what was going to happen in that room. Eventually Prometheus stopped walking and waited for me.
"Why are you following me?" He asked lowly.
"I wanted to ask you about something." I replied.
"Then ask." He told me.
"Rhode told me about Phobos and Deimos." I stated clearly. This took him slightly off guard, this wasn't what he was expecting. However he still understood my question even though I never truly asked it.
He frowned as he continued to think on Rei's guardians, I could feel the sadness that was welling up within him.
"I've begun to prepare funeral pyres for them, it's what Rei would want." He replied after a short time. "Now that she's... back, I suppose I should wait until she's feeling better. She'll want to be there. I guess we just have to figure out how to tell her..."
I nodded. I could tell from Prometheus' feelings that the loss of Rei's guardians would be devastating. He was apprehensive about telling her. I sensed that we were now both thinking about the way Rei had refused to lift a hand to defend herself against her father. What would the loss of her friends do to her?
"You're worried about more than dealing with Phobos and Deimos..." I commented, sensing the turmoil still within him.
He looked at me before giving a deep sigh.
"Rei's visions are worrying. In the past, seers were trained from a very young age... they were taught how to manage their powers. Rei hasn't had that training."
"And...?"
"And it means that she's a danger to herself... and possibly those around her."
"I still don't understand why you felt the way you did..."
"There might be something I can do to help her... it's just going to be difficult." Prometheus replied, this time his concern out shone all his other emotions. He was simply worried about Rei. I had to wonder though... how did he think he could help her? He wasn't a Bonehunter, what could he possibly do to help her?
MICHIRU
Upon hearing that Rei was somehow alive an incredible sense of relief had flooded through me. But now that I saw her, I could feel nothing but annoyance and rage.
Minako brushed by me as she went to follow Prometheus. I stood frozen in place as I looked at Rei. She looked up a me. Her brow furrowed as though she didn't understand what was going on. Earlier I had blamed myself... now all I saw was Rei. The sense of understanding I had experienced when Haruka had explained what Rei had been doing was gone.
Before I knew it, I was yelling at Rei. How dare she push me away because she was afraid of hurting me? How dare she treat me like I was fragile after all we'd been through together?
I took a pause, trying to catch my breath. I caught sight of Ami out of the corner of my eye, she was looking at me in a disapproving manner.
"I didn't want to hurt you." Rei murmured weakly, the look in her eyes was undecipherable. I could tell her fear of herself was still something she lived with daily. I found I couldn't bring myself to yell at her anymore. I reached out to her, placing my hand on her shoulder gently. She flinched slightly but did her best to hide it. I leaned down towards her. Our faces were inches apart.
My lips met hers in a lingering kiss. When we separated, her hand was rested on the back of my neck. I felt tears prickling at corners of my eyes.
"I loved you... you idiot." I whispered, letting my head rest against hers. My voice was hoarse, it was hard to talk about this.
"I know." Rei replied, her fingers playing with my hair. I pulled back a bit, giving her a stern look.
"If you do that again, I'll kill you myself." I told her seriously, this forced a small laugh from Rei though I could see the action pained her.
Rei nodded, the barest hint of a smile on her face. The smile faded quite quickly, disappearing behind the agony in her eyes. I reached down and took her hand in mine, running a thumb over the bandages that wrapped around it. I took the seat next to her bed. Ami approached again, giving me a reproachful look. I didn't even want to think about what was going through her head at the moment.
"You're stuck with me, you got that?" I asked Rei. She gave another slightly forced smile.
"Yeah, sure thing Princess." Rei replied. I could sense that she was attempting to appear okay for my sake – she was still trying to protect me. I gave her hand another squeeze.
Rei's eyes slowly slid shut as her breathing began to even out. She was finally getting some rest.
HARUKA
I placed a hand on Michiru's shoulder comfortingly. I still didn't like seeing her kiss Rei but it wasn't really my place to call her on it. The two of them had history. They had been such a large part of each others lives. And they would never be that for each other again. They just needed time to reconcile their history with their future.
That kiss had just been the final stage in their farewell. They had left marks on one another that went too deep to see. And now they'd finally healed, I knew that with certainty. Watching Michiru sit with Rei I knew it was over.
Gods, it was so obvious now that I could hardly believe that I hadn't seen it earlier.
Michiru and Rei had only held on to one another until someone would be there for Rei in the way I was there for Michiru. Michiru had just been trying to keep Rei's head above water, Michiru was her safety net. And that was alright with me. It was good to finally understand what had been going on between them.
I mean they still loved each other... but it wasn't in the same way that they had before. They had let go of one another. I nodded to myself, leaning back in my chair. There was nothing to worry about. Some part of me was saying there was never anything to worry about.
I wrapped an arm around Michiru's shoulders, running a thumb up and down her arm. She leaned into my body taking comfort from my embrace. Her hand was still placed over Rei's. And that didn't bother me in the slightest.
"She'll be alright Michiru." I whispered. Michiru looked over at me and smiled. This time she actually seemed happy.
MICHIRU
Haruka and I sat in relative silence next to Rei as we had for the last hour. Ami had left a short time ago, going to get some rest after explaining Rei's condition to me. I cast a worried glance at the door. Minako had yet to return.
I had sensed that the relationship between her and Rei had changed since Rei had died and come back. I couldn't even define how it had changed... but there was something different between them now. It was infinitely more complex than it had been earlier.
It seemed to me that there was now a greater chance for one, or both, of them to be hurt in a way they would never recover from. I was more wary of their relationship now but somehow I still felt surprisingly optimistic. Things were changing between them and that was cause enough for celebration.
There was so much that could go wrong though... I didn't understand much of what was going on in Minako's head even if I could easily decipher Rei. That was the most worrying part of their relationship. Minako could change everything. She had changed everything.
I sighed as I continued to think on it. Something told me that Minako was dealing with emotions she didn't let anyone else know about. The way she had watched Rei earlier had given that much away. She appeared reluctant... but not in the way she used to. She was cautious now.
As if on cue, the door opened and Minako entered. She didn't seem surprised to see Haruka and I still sitting there. She gave me a tired smile, however her eyes flicked to Rei. She frowned.
"How is she?" Minako asked me as she lingered by the door. She seemed wary of fully entering the room. I could feel her hesitation, it was stifling.
"Come sit." I said, doing my best not to make her feel uncomfortable. I needed to figure Minako out. I needed to make sure that Rei would not come to further harm.
My attention returned to Rei as Minako approached the bed cautiously. I watched as Rei slept fitfully, my heart had broken when her heart had stopped. We were only friends now but what we had been still affected me. Watching Rei die had hurt so badly. The relief I'd felt when she was living again was unlike anything I'd experienced before.
I reached out gently, my hand brushing some stray hair out of her face. My finger tips practically burned she was running such a high fever. I needed to know that Minako was willing to help Rei – to look after her. Rei needed someone in her life who would be there for her when nobody else could. Part of me hoped that that person would be Minako.
We remained in silence for a few minutes longer, Haruka was watching me idly. Her fingers tracing over my shoulders in a comforting way.
"You still haven't told me how Rei is..." Minako commented, glancing at me again. I took in a breath, deciding that now would be the time to figure out what Minako was going to do.
"Ami says it's safe to move her now, she's stable enough." I said, looking over to Minako. "If you'd prefer, I can look after her in my rooms..."
"No." Minako replied sharply. I did my best not to smile as she blushed and stuttered. "I mean, thank you but no. I think this is something I need to do."
I could almost feel Haruka smiling next to me. I could tell she found Minako's reaction incredibly funny.
"I've never seen her that flustered." Haruka whispered in my ear, as she hid her smile. Minako didn't seem to notice for her attention had returned to Rei. She looked almost confused by her own actions.
MINAKO
I sat next to Rei until the first light of dawn began to peek through the windows. Michiru and Haruka had both left in the small hours of the morning. Only I remained in the room. Everyone else had gone to bed hours before.
But I couldn't sleep. My thoughts whirled around in my head, giving me no rest, so I remained seated next to Rei in the dark.
I curled up in the soft chair by the bed, wondering what would happen when Rei awoke. I wasn't really concerned about what would happen when she awoke... I was more concerned about what I'd do about it.
Prometheus had told me that he didn't want to be the one to tell Rei that Phobos and Deimos had died. He had asked me to tell her. I couldn't say no to him... but I dreaded talking to Rei.
I had told myself I'd do my best not to hurt her anymore... but then I had agreed to be the bearer of bad news. I knew what ever her reaction would be to learning of her comrades' death wouldn't be good. From talking with Prometheus I'd gathered that they were less like protectors... and more like family to Rei.
The look on Prometheus' face when he was telling me had been... almost wistful, like he wished he could have been that to Rei. They weren't close, despite the fact they seemed to trust one another. There was something missing from their relationship.
I sighed, standing up to shut the blinds before the light woke Rei. Ami had said she needed all the rest she could get. I wrapped my hands around the thick fabric of the curtains, preparing to close them.
"Don't shut them." Came a soft voice from the bed. I turned around and found Rei was awake.
"I didn't realize you were already awake." I commented, trying to hide my surprise. Rei didn't reply, she was barely making eye contact with me.
I lingered by the window.
"You should try and get some more sleep." I advised... my words sounded forced, even to my own ears. Rei still didn't reply, her head shook almost imperceptibly. I frowned.
"Why don't you want to sleep anymore?" I asked her, approaching the bed. She looked away from me, I focused my attention on her emotions, trying to gain what knowledge I could.
The first layer of emotions was blank... obviously a shield of some sort. I dug deeper... and almost reeled back upon coming up against a wall of pain. I drew back.
There was no point delving deeper. That kind of pain... it was a wonder she had slept as long as she did. I looked over at her, there was no indication of the pain she was suffering. There was just silence. I allowed her shield to rise back up, letting her have her privacy.
Her attention was focused on the world outside the window. As time stretched on, her frown grew more pronounced. I did my best to ignore it as long as possible, knowing what she was waiting for. Finally she looked over at me.
Where are they?
She didn't have to ask the question out loud for me to understand it. I hesitated slightly. A panicked look entered her eyes. She knew what I was going to say. I bit down on my lip.
I could feel the burning need with in her as well as the horror that suddenly grasped her being.
"Where are they?" Rei choked out, finally voicing the question that was on her mind.
"I'm sorry Rei. They're dead." I whispered, feeling weighed down by her emotions. I reached over to take her hand and offer whatever comfort I could. Rei pulled back. I struggled to calm her inconsolable grief with just my emotional input.
"Dead?" She asked, her voice was devoid of feeling... but I saw tears beginning to build up in her eyes. She shook her head. "No. They can't be..."
REI
"Dead?" I asked numbly, feeling tears beginning to prick at my eyes. I shook my head. "No. They can't be..."
I glanced back to the window, knowing that if Phobos and Deimos were to come... that's where they'd be. I had waited for them and they hadn't sensed that I needed them. That had never happened before. There could only be one reason for them failing me, they had to be...
"Oh gods..." I murmured. They had been the one thing I could rely on in this world... and now they were gone. Gods.
I had nothing left, how much more could be taken from me?
I brought a hand to my mouth, doing my best to stop myself from sobbing.
MINAKO
I watched Rei's face betray the burgeoning emotions within her. I reached out, trying to help her. She was so distracted by her emotions that she didn't pull away.
When her father had tried to kill her all I could see was her pain and suffering... as well as the anger and hate. There was a certain type of detachment in her cold eyes when she fought. Now I was seeing a whole new side of her. The loyalty. The compassion.
The complete humanness of her was now revealed in her emotions.
She was still in pain however, this time the emotional torment was directed at the loss of people dear to her as opposed to her earlier inner turmoil. The grief in her eyes reminded me sharply of watching Michiru learn of Rei's death... it also struck a chord with me. Is this what I had looked like upon loosing Rei? I still couldn't understand the utter sense of loss I had felt when she had died... but looking into Rei's eyes, I could see that she understood what she was feeling completely. And she was worse off for it.
I sat down on the bed in front of Rei and wrapped my arms around her, bringing her head down to rest on my shoulder. I did my best to push her into just letting go. She needed an outlet for her emotions, she couldn't keep holding them inside. They would consume her if she went on the way she was going.
Eventually I could tell by the shaking of her shoulders that she was crying. I did my best just to let her cry, it was a part of the recovery process. She had to let herself grieve to begin healing.
Slowly the crying stopped, I let go and distanced myself slightly. I wanted to make sure she was alright with me being the one to offer her comfort. Perhaps I should have just asked Michiru to be the one to help Rei through this...
As I moved back, Rei moved a hand up to her eyes, wiping them gently. She looked up and met my eyes.
Her gaze was guarded again, it was like she was worried about making herself vulnerable in my eyes. I knew that she probably had good reason for feeling like that. We hadn't exactly understood one another. Or possibly she had understood me. Maybe she still understood me... and that's why she was so cautious.
I reached out again.
REI
I stayed still as she reached down and adjusted the sling about my neck, her hands lingered momentarily around my shoulder. A slight movement from her hand brought our bodies into light contact.
A contact that disappeared almost as suddenly as it had occurred. It was almost a caress, it was almost loving.
I cautiously looked up and met her eyes, the eyes I found were not the same eyes I had grown accustomed to. They were not angry or irritable but concerned and almost embarrassed.
I reached out uncertainly but before my hand could settle on hers, she turned away sharply. I clenched my jaw as a sudden unwanted feeling of rejection washed over me. I rose to my feet and exited the room before the whole situation combusted.
MINAKO
I glanced over my shoulder as Rei exited the room. Why had I stalled? I wasn't afraid of her exactly. I was, however, bewildered and frightened by the power I seemed to hold over her. I was now aware of the lengths she'd go for me. Our entire relationship thus far was painted in a new light... I knew that my every action had influenced Rei in some way or another.
I fought back a shudder. This kind of power was unnerving. I was just learning what it meant to be afraid of myself. I feared what I could do to Rei.
I knew that was part of the reason I hesitated. I was afraid of myself. But more importantly I was beginning to fear my emotions. I sighed, looking in the direction of the door.
I knew at the root of my feelings for Rei was in my connection to Aphrodite... and her connection to Ares. I had to wonder if Rei was tied to me in the same way. I knew they didn't prize love in the same way we did on Venus... what if she was being forced into this solely because she was Ares' avatar.
I didn't want her to be tied to me like that. There had to be a choice.
REI
I had no choice. I needed answers. There was only one person who had the ones I sought. Setsuna. I needed to find her. She would know who I had to speak to. Ares had told me that I would figure out who to talk to. So far this was my only idea. It may not have been the best idea ever... but it was all I had.
Setsuna may not be able to tell me what I wanted to know but I was fairly certain I would be able to at least get a hint. Something within me was saying that I already knew the answer... it just wasn't coming to mind.
I continued on my way, not particularly trying to find Setsuna. I knew that if it was meant to be... I would find her. If not... there was no point in straining myself.
"You were looking for me." Setsuna stated, coming up behind me. I nodded, she glanced at me. "You should probably sit down."
I followed her to the common room and sat down on one of the couches. Setsuna sat next to me.
"What did you want to talk about?" She asked.
"You already know, don't you?" I replied, wincing at . She shook her head.
"I'm not privy to everything the gods do or discuss." She told me. I frowned. That certainly changed things. A look of knowing flashed through her eyes.
"Ares told me I needed to find someone else to talk to about our purpose here." I explained.
"And you naturally thought of me... this wouldn't happen to have anything to do with Phobos and Deimos would it?"
I frowned, clenching my hands. I felt the wound tear open again.
"Rei. Where did you go when you died?" Setsuna asked in a quiet voice. I looked over.
"It don't know. It was somewhere outside the gates." I told her... I still didn't have a word to describe where I was. It had encompassed everything and nothing at all.
"Limbo. That's the word you're looking for." Setsuna told me. "It's a place of transition, ruled over by my father."
I nodded, that made sense. Then I paused.
"Your father?" I asked.
"My father." Setsuna replied. "Hades."
SETSUNA
Rei looked a bit confused, as if she had no idea why this was relevant. Underneath her quiet exterior I could sense that she was frantic. She needed the world to make sense again. Everything that had happened over the last little while had thrown her off balance.
I knew she was searching for some hint as to what direction she should take and...I wanted to help her. It was a difficult thing to do given my circumstances though. I had done my best to steer the conversation to something that would be useful to Rei. I smiled as I watched her contemplate what my father had to do with it.
"I'm not the best person to tell you about it - you'll figure out who to talk to." I told her, hoping the phrase would trigger her realization. I watched Rei's confusion fade into a look of stunned disbelief. She seemed amazed. She had taken my hint.
I got up off the seat, leaving Rei to her future.
REI
Hades. That was who I was meant to find, I went to get up and gave a hiss of pain when I moved. Setsuna gave me a stern look.
I recognized that Setsuna was doing her best to tell me who to speak to without explicitly doing so. I hadn't expected her to be so straight forward about it.
I'm not the best person to tell you about it – you'll figure out who to talk to.
She had basically told me to go speak to her father.
What purpose did my return to this world served? Why did I have to come back to life only to return to him... Why couldn't I have just spoken to him while I was in his realm... or at least close to his realm. How was I supposed to find him now?
Just as Setsuna went to leave the room, I caught her attention.
"What is the purpose of this?" I asked her.
"He'll tell you everything when you figure out how to talk to him." Setsuna reassured me. I paused over her choice of words.
"You said 'when'... not 'if'." I pointed out. She smiled again. I took that as a good sign. That didn't exactly make me feel better though. If I went back there... I didn't know if I would come back.
MINAKO
After she had left I tried to convince myself to rest, to go to sleep, that I didn't care about her. But try as I might, I just couldn't. Not when her scent had invaded my pillow and claimed it for its own. That intoxicating mix of undefinable scents just wouldn't let me sleep as it constantly reminded me of her.
I let out a long sigh and sat up in bed, wrapping my arms around my knees. Maybe I should go find her... just to make sure she was alright.
I walked from the room, I needed to go after Rei. I quickly picked up on her emotional trail and followed it to its source. As I neared the common room, Prometheus was approaching from the opposite direction.
"The pyres are ready." He commented. "I take it you've told Rei?"
I looked towards the door of the common room. I nodded.
"And how is she?"
"Disbelieving. Horrified. Depressed."
Prometheus nodded. I could feel a change in Rei's emotions.
"Determined." I added as an after thought. He looked at me like I was losing my mind. I shook my head. "I don't understand either.
Prometheus pushed open the doors to the common room, we found Rei sitting on one of the couches.
"It makes sense now." Rei murmured, looking over at Prometheus and I. I glanced at him, wondering if he felt as unnerved as I did.
"It's time Rei." Prometheus said in a wavering voice. She simply nodded and rose to her feet.
Not once did she look at me.
Prometheus guided Rei out of the room, doing his best to subtly help her. She seemed to be weakening again. The colour her face had regained was slowly being drained away.
Once out in the palace grounds Prometheus led us to a wide open field where two funeral pyres had been erected.
"Do you want to say anything?" He asked. Rei shook her head, raising a hand. Prometheus mimicked her. Flames ignited themselves at the base of each of the pyres... I hardly noticed.
I was watching Rei as she focused on the pyre before her. Her eyes closed as flames began to stretch skyward, a tear trailed down her face. I reached down and took Rei's hand gently in my own.
I was consumed and enthralled by the burning desire to help her. I closed my hand more tightly around hers. She had lost too much already. I would not allow anything more to be taken from her. Some part of me knew I could help her.
REI
I was reaching out towards that place of death within my soul. It was there, just out of reach. The place of gods and immortal existence was forever beyond my grasp. It faded away slowly, allowing me time to acknowledge my own failure.
Distantly, as if in another world, I felt someone reach down and take my hand. The connection strengthened me, pushing me towards the world of the gods.
And suddenly, I was there. An older man greeted me calmly.
"I was wondering when the avatar of Ares would finally show up." Hades greeted, watching me closely. "I must admit I'm a little surprised that you returned to my realm so willingly."
I remained silent, watching him closely. He was a fearsome figure in Martian belief, he was the unseen victor on every battle field. The Bonehunters had long painted him as an ally and benefactor to their cause... a gentle steward of the dead. I had seen enough of death and dying to know that there was nothing gentle about what he did.
He was stern and sometime cruel... but he was always just. People went to him when it was their time and not a moment before.
"It was necessary."
"Are you talking of your return or your prior departure...?" Hades asked, a knowing look in his eyes. I sighed.
"Both. I guess."
"You'll need more conviction than that if you hope to save your friends." Hades told me. I was shocked. He saw my look and laughed.
"No, I'm not talking about Phobos and Deimos. They're lesser gods, they can never truly die. They simply... change form. I was talking about your 'mortal' friends... the ones you intended to die for in the first place."
I was silent so he continued.
"That was a novel idea by the way - trying to change the future by way of your own death. It was an intelligent move... if not a completely wise one."
I got the feeling he would continue on in this way if I let him so I cut in.
"You mentioned Phobos and Deimos...?" I asked. He nodded.
"The children of Ares and Aphrodite. Yes, what did you want to know?" He asked me. I didn't know what to say to that.
"Judging by your past actions... I'd guess that you want them back in the world of the living." He commented. I frowned, surely it couldn't be that easy.
"I would only ask that of you if they wanted to come back. I would not take them away from this world without their permission." I replied, knowing that as much as I missed them... I wouldn't force them to come back.
Hades chuckled.
"They have been waiting for you to come for them." He told me. "Their mortal bodies have been vanquished but they can still return."
"How?" I asked. I could see a look of approval in his eyes. It was like he was saying he knew why Ares had chosen me as his avatar.
"They can only return if they are rooted in the mortal realm by something else. Either by sheer will or your own life. Every option has its' drawbacks."
"What kind of consequences are we talking about?" I asked him.
"Did I say consequences?" He replied, a cunning glint in his eyes. He was enjoying this.
"It was implied." I asserted. He shrugged.
"They vary. If managed by pure will, it takes a concentrated effort to give them tangible form in your world. If sustained by your own life... there is the chance they will be weaker but they will remain by your side for as long as your soul remains 'conscious'."
"Now, you have a decision to make. Do you want to bring them back?"
I nodded, there was a sensation in my hand... like someone was squeezing it. There was a flash of the future before my eyes. My gaze narrowed.
"And..." Hades started, I cut across him.
"Tie them to my life. I get the feeling that would be the most... useful." I told him. Hades looked at me in an appraising manner. After a time he nodded again. He appeared content.
"It is done... and in exchange I need you to pass on a message for me."
I was suddenly wary again. He gave what looked to be a benevolent smile.
"I need you to tell the young Aphrodite that she owes me now." He warned. "And remind her that I never forget a debt. She will have to repay me."
I ignored that for now. I was beginning to feel a bit pressed for time.
"I was told you had other things of importance to discuss with me." I told him. He nodded, gesturing for me to follow him. Around us the world came into greater clarity.
I froze as I noticed my surroundings. It was a room I remembered quite well. I had spent much of the first six years of my life there. It was poorly defined in my memory but somehow... I knew this was an exact replication.
I turned around, half expecting to see my mother walk into the room behind me. When the door was empty, I completed the circle to take in the rest of the room.
Hades stood next to the table by the window. A glass of wine rested on the window sill.
"The danger is far greater than you could ever comprehend. This danger never should have come to pass." He commented.
"I don't understand." I told him, knowing that he would explain. If he didn't there would have been no reason for me to come here.
Hades gestured for me to take a seat. I sat down across from him, watching him as he watched me. He surveyed me over top of his folded hands.
"I suppose I should start at the beginning. Before us, there were the Old Ones. The creators of the universe and all there is. They are the sustainers of life, death, and all the forces in the worlds. During the height of their power, they created us as companions to their greatness. They are gods to us as we are gods to you.
"Through the millennia, they grew weary and retreated into the world of sleep, nestled in dreams of their own making. Years after their departure, we grew restless and in our boredom we created life for all of you."
Hades sighed, looking weary. He appeared all too human as all hints of humour drained from his eyes. He expression resembled something akin to regret.
"And for a while, everything was good. We delighted in your humanity and life but eventually we grew tired of your politics and we too withdrew. We withdrew not into the world of sleep as did our elders, but into the heavens, leaving you to your own devices. But now, after a couple thousand years, we can no longer sit idly by."
Hades paused for an unusual amount of time. He seemed to be steeling himself for something.
"We can't do much for your world any more. We've allowed ourselves to become too far removed from your world, your people approach godhood of their own accord. We need you, and several of your comrades, to serve as our avatars... our connections to your world."
I realized this was what our powers meant, we were all exceptional amongst our people, noted for our power over the blood traits.
"But why do you need us? Why do you stir yourselves now?"
"We need you because as your people stop worshipping us, we lose our gateways to your world. We become unable to interact with you as we once did. Ares and Aphrodite, due to the nature of your planetary cultures, are still able to interact with you as they once did. Others, like Zeus, have lost this power. We may not be able to influence you directly but we have faith that you'll all chose the right path."
"Can you please just tell me what all this is about? Why did Ares pick me? Why now?"
"It's because we're needed again. One of the Old Ones has awoken and it's... hungry."
Dread filled me. We were up against a power which had never before been seen in this realm. The gods of our gods were our enemies.
Hades sighed.
"You must ready yourselves, we will send you what help we can but... There is not much we can do. Your worlds are endangered by a threat no one expected. You must be wary."
He watched me, waiting to see if I had any more questions. I couldn't think of an accurate way of phrasing any of my concerns... so I simply stayed quiet. There were too many thoughts whirling around in my head for me to make sense of any of them.
"Our time is up Rei. You must return to your world otherwise you will be stuck here for eternity... and despite how hard everything has been for you, I know that you don't want to leave it behind just yet. You have too much hope."
MINAKO
Rei finally opened her eyes, she was fully back in this world. I didn't know what had happened to her but I knew that she was watching the fire hopefully.
Out of the flames came two phoenixes, winging their way towards the sky. I squeezed Rei's hand in mine before letting go. Rei glanced at me.
"Thank you." She whispered.
A soft sigh escaped my lips as I realized it hurt to see her like this. She was looking so fragile. No, fragile wasn't the right word. Fragile meant breakable and that would have implied that she was unbroken, which was a lie. She was already broken, we had broken her. She was fractured, not fragile.
I could still see her face as she had discovered the gaping hole in her existence, she had discovered that her friends, companions,comrades, had perished. That heartbroken look had been later followed by an expression of hollow determination. She had risen from the bed with a calmness that had unnerved me, leaving without a word.
I sat down on my side of the bed, it only took a few seconds before I found my gaze drawn to Rei. Now that the fever had faded and her two guardians were alright, she finally looked as though she was resting peacefully. It was odd to see... I didn't think I'd ever witnessed her seeming so vulnerable... so open.
I tentatively brushed some hair away from her face as she slept, being careful not to wake her.
I lay down next to Rei on the bed and carefully wrapped my arm around her waist, being careful to
avoid her injuries. I didn't want to hurt her. I couldn't stand to hurt her again... and I knew I'd spend the rest of my life making up for past injuries.
I shut my eyes, allowing myself to simply be there with her... without letting anything get in the way. No emotions. No thoughts. Just simple existence.
AN: I know some of you find the constantly switching POVs a bit tedious but it couldn't be helped. That being said, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and that it lived up to your expectations and hopes in every way. It turned out a bit longer than originally planned so I hope that makes up for the delayed update. I loved hearing what you all had to say about the last chapter. Can't wait to hear your feedback for 'The Healthy Dead'.