CHAPTER SEVEN; PART TWO
BY LOYCE
He could understand why Duo fell in love with this place. Earth was unlike any other place he had been to before. Since he had been self-exiled from Hell, Heero had spent most of his time stuck in the mortal realm. Sitting on the edge of the rectory roof, he looked on as the city came to life with each passing second.
From his perch, he was able to watch Duo as he completed his daily chores. His lips quirked as he held back the laugh at watching the once proud demon, reduced to pulling weeds from the over grown flowerbeds. However, Duo seemed to be enjoying the menial task. As his friend picked up the trash bag, he groaned and a grabbed his side.
Though the mystical pendant around his neck had healed the wound, the pain still radiated from his tired muscles. He had taken a blow from Sally before the cross had protected him from further harm. Sally was not any easy force to deal with, as he had learned on the battlefield many years ago. Heero was still amazed that even as a mortal, Duo had been able to evade the attack from one of Heaven's best warriors.
However, it still plagued Heero why Akmen had sent Dorothy to dispose of him. Dorothy was cunning and powerful, but Akmen had to have been aware that she was no match for him, so why had he sent her on a mission he knew she was going to fail. His head snapped up; he had the answer. Akmen had wanted her to fail, but then a new question was raised: Why?
Knowing he wouldn't find out the answer in this realm, he once again focused his efforts on trying to protect his friend. Following advice that had been given to him long ago, Heero closed his eyes and listened to the wind, trying to find that natural rhythm Duo had talked about and listening out for the next threat that would be coming their way.
The wind changed direction for only a spilt second, but it was enough time for Heero to realize he wasn't alone anymore. He didn't need to turn around to know who was standing behind him. "Relena."
"Heero." Her cool voice responded.
At her acknowledgement, he lifted up from his position and turned to face her. It took almost all of his strength to keep a mask of indifference on his face. Relena stood only a few feet away from him, clad in a flowing pale peach dress. Her blond hair was unbound from it's normal ponytail, dancing in the mid morning breeze around her face. Without knowing it, she had created another image that would plague his waking thoughts.
"I'm not here on orders, I just wanted to let you know that." Relena took a tentative step toward him.
His eyes narrowed as she took another step forward. "If you're not here on orders, then why are you here?"
"I'm not exactly sure." Relena replied, folding her hands together in front of her.
"How's Sally?" Heero hadn't meant to ask the question, but it passed his lips before his mind had a chance to stop him. He had always respected the angel, and he knew that once Wufei found out about her injuries, nothing would keep the smitten demon from giving her a piece of his mind.
Shock was visible on Relena's face, coupled with a puzzled glint in her eyes. "I don't know. I was in Daedalus garden talking to..." She paused, causing his suspicion to be peaked, before she continued. "When she returned she was taken to the infirmary. I only got to see her for a moment, but she was in intense pain. My understanding is she took a serious blow from the priest."
"Hn."
An uncomfortable silence grew in the small distance between them. Finally, he turned away from her and tried to focus his attention back on Duo. He thought that she would take the hint, and leave, but Relena continued to hold her ground behind him. Why couldn't she just leave him alone? Heero knew why, because from the moment he first laid eyes on her, she caught his attention with her grace, compassion and determination. It didn't take him too long to realize that he felt all of the same feelings and sensations that Duo had described to him about when he knew he was in love with Hilde.
"Heero?"
He kept his eyes trained on the man he was protecting. "You're still here? I thought you left." He'd kept his tone cool and emotionless, getting the desired response out of her. Anger poured off her, but instead of turning away, she walked up to stand beside him.
"I don't even know why I bothered listening to him."
She caught him off guard with her mumbled comment. "Who?" Heero cringed at the sound of his voice breaking past his lips. What power did Relena that whenever she was around caused every ounce of common sense he possessed to flee his grasp? The damn annoying inner voice was about to identify the power when she interrupted.
"Quatre."
Shaking his head, Heero dismissed her when both of her hands flew up to her mouth, too late to stop herself from mentioning the Quatre's name. So, the little demon took it upon himself to try and play matchmaker. His hand balled into a fist. Didn't Quatre know that until the realms were safe, and finally brought together that this wouldn't work? And even then, he didn't...
Relena cleared her throat, causing him to glance at her out of the corner of his eye. The determine set in her chin, informed Heero that she wasn't planning on leaving until she had said what she had come to say. "I've had a lot of time to think over what you said to me earlier." Relena sighed. "You're right, this is not God's plan. Love is the greatest gift he gave us, why would he want to see it destroyed."
He turned and looked at her profile. Relena was staring down into the courtyard, watching Duo lift the heavy garbage bag and carrying it over to the dumpster. "But that still doesn't answer one last question..." Her eyes never left the priest. "Why do you care so much, Heero?"
Heero couldn't help himself. Taking hold of her chin, he tilted her face toward him, looked into her aquamarine eyes, and tried to keep himself from drowning in them. "Duo gave up his life for love. It was something I didn't understand at the time, why he would willingly sacrifice all that he was for that one emotion. But I do now." Letting go of her chin, he moved past her. "There are some things that are worth fighting for, once you believe in them."
A few moments before the wind shifted its direction again, and Heero knew she had gone, leaving in her wake a scent that could have only been hers; clean and pure. The lingering smell only helped to refuel his reasoning to stay away from her. Something sweet and innocent, like Relena, did not need to be soiled by someone like him.
****************
Hilde sat in the back room of Catherine's shop, feeling more out of place in the Wicca store than she did at the Cathedral. Pulling her feet up in the plush chair, she hugged her knees closer to her body while she waited for Catherine to return from her customer. Her body still hummed with shock over what she had just been told; she was the reborn spirit of a fallen angel and someone was out to kill her.
Normally, she would be able to laugh something like this off, rolling her eyes and ignoring these weird people entirely. Unable to sit still any longer, Hilde unfolded her legs and pushed out of the chair. However, there were too many things that kept adding up, like a puzzle, all the pieces fit in some fashion or another.
Her stride ate up the length of the room in a short time, and spinning on her heel, she paced. From what information Catherine had told her, she had been able to piece together that Duo had an important role in her previous life. But the witch would always avoid the question when Hilde outright asked her. It all came back the initial feeling she had when she met him; she had been correct, Duo was familiar to her.
Making her sixth pass across the room, Hilde watched Catherine through the doorway. "I'm sorry about that..."
Hilde waved her off, interrupting the apology. "Help me. Help me remember everything."
Catherine dropped her gaze and looked at her painted toenails that stuck out from the hem of her long skirt. "I... I can't."
"Look, Catherine, all I want to do is find out what in the hell is going on." She placed her hands on her hips. "You keep telling me that these dreams I'm having are actually memories from a former life, a life that has 'come back to haunt me.' But yet you won't help me remember any of it, to help me prepare myself for what could arise."
"Hilde..."
Letting her hands fall to her sides, Hilde curled them into fists. "Fine, I'm out of here." With a quick turn, she pushed back through the curtain and made it halfway across the sales floor before she heard Catherine's voice.
"Wait! Wait, Hilde."
Hilde turned around from her spot and saw Catherine move away from the doorway. "Trowa will hate me for this, I want you to know." She motioned for Hilde to follow her into another room. "There is a way that I can help."
Curious, Hilde's feet lead her across the room and through the beaded curtain Catherine had stepped through only seconds before. The first thing that struck her was the light, so bright and white, she had to close her eyes to allow them to adjust. When she opened them again, the light had dimmed and only faint sunlight passed through the sheer curtains over the windows. The small circular room empty except for a slab of marble held up by statues. Hilde moved forward to examine the statues, finding that each one represented a different element; Earth, Fire, Water, and Air. Looking around her, she noticed that her hostess was no where in sight.
The white marble table seemed to call to her, so disregarding the eerie sensations that crawled up the back of her neck, Hilde walked over to the center of the room. Just like she expected, the stone was cool and smooth to the touch. Her fingers tingled as they ran across the top, stopping when the reached the rounded edge of the slab.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Catherine's voice broke the peaceful silence in the room causing Hilde to jump. She cast a glance over her shoulder and found the young Wicca standing to her left, a steaming couple of orange liquid held in her outstretched hand. "What is this place?"
"It's kind of hard to explain..." Catherine held out the cup, offering it to her. "But I'll try to simplify it by saying it's a place that will help you focus your energy while you sleep."
"While I sleep?" Hilde looked down at the cup, and reluctantly took it from Catherine's grasp. "I don't quite understand what..."
Smiling, Catherine motioned for her to sit on the marble table. "Drink. It's a mixture of honeysuckle and wormwood, warmed by a heated stone of petrified wood. All three of them help promote memories through your dreams. The petrified wood helps keep your dreams focused on your past life."
Somehow, with her reassuring smile, Catherine had gained Hilde's trust. She lifted the cup to her mouth and slowly drank down the mixture. The taste wasn't as bad as she originally had thought, even though a piece of stone sat in the bottom of the cup. Once she had finished the drinking, she handed the cup back to Catherine, flashing her an apprehensive look. "What now?"
"Now, stretch out on the table, close your eyes and breath deeply. The mixture should begin working soon."
As Catherine began to chant, in a language foreign to Hilde's ears, she laid down on the table. Her vision began to blur before she had a chance to close her eyes. Then, a fuzzy sensation washed over, reminding her of the nights she'd close down the bars on Bourbon Street. "Did you spike my drink?" Her speech was slurred.
"No, Hilde. Please just relax and let the dreams come to you."
Relaxing, Hilde felt the warmth of the bright light wash over every inch of her body. At first, it felt like she was flying with without any constraints to hold her down. Unfortunately, the feeling didn't last long. With in a matter of seconds, the warmth was ripped away from her and she fell into the darkness...
Her muscles screamed in protest as she lifted her sword, delivering another blow to her opponent. Even though she tried to remind herself that this was a war, Hilde watched with sad eyes as the young female demon fell to her knees, clutching her side.
"You bitch!" Her venom filled voice barely penetrated her veil of blond hair.
"I'm far from that Dorothy, though I couldn't say the same thing about you." Shaking her head, Hilde stepped away from the young demon and continued to fight her way back to her commanding officer. The ground around her was littered with bodies, from both sides of the battle. However, the conflict was nearly over. Akmen's attack had been stopped just short of the pearl gates of Heaven.
As she hovered above the ground, she looked at the fallen bodies, identifying a few friends she had lost. But her eyes were mainly searching for him. His presence had rung out at the beginning of the battle, but now, she was unable to feel him at all. If Duo had been hurt or killed, she wasn't sure if she could survive without him.
Off to her left, she caught a quick moving blur and barely had enough time to use her sword in defense. Sparks flew in the air as the metal blade of her sword was met with the powerful blow of another. Pushing away from her enemy, Hilde whipped her head around and regarded the young demon that squared off with her.
His blue eyes spoke of compassion and sadness, which contradicted the blood dripping off his armor. He took an offensive stance, the blade of his sword glistening in the dying light of the day. All in all, it seemed that the young demon was only fulfilling orders, and not taking an ounce of joy in the chaos and destruction that surrounded them.
Hilde landed on the ground, planting her feet firmly into the soil. Raising her own sword, she waited for him to make the first move. Before he did, his eyes changed color, mirroring the fires that burned in the background and she felt her heart sink in her chest. This wasn't going to be an easy battle.
With lighting quick speed he charged at her, almost knocking her to the blood tainted ground. Hilde had to spread her wings to keep her balance, using them as leverage against her attacker. Their swords were crossed in an 'X' between their bodies, and Hilde knew he was stronger than her. If they kept up, she would end up cut by both of the swords.
Spinning to her left, Hilde broke off the attack and swung her sword around in time to block his next offensive move. The air between them was once again filled with momentary sparks as the two blades connected. All around them, angels and demons continued to fight; cries of the wounded and dying were almost drowned out by clang of metal.
Exhaustion began to set into her weary body and her opponent was using her fatigue to his advantage. She couldn't keep continuing to block his attacks, eventually he'd break through and she'd been hanging from the other end of his sword. Trying to figure out a strategy left her open for one of his attacks. Hilde leaned to the side, ducking the initial blow, however, the sword pierced the edge of her wing.
Pain radiated throughout her entire body, consuming all thoughts. Like the practice session with Trowa all those years ago, she lost control on her temper and lashed out. With both her hands fisted on the sword, she stepped forward, punching him in the face with the flat end of the sword. He stumbled back, trying to recover his balance, but before he could regain his footing, she raised her knee and hit him in the groin.
The young demon's eyes widened in shock as he crumpled to the ground, an painful whimper escaping his dry lips. Both of them were breathing heavily, trying to catch the breath that they had spent during the course of the battle.
She stood over his crouching body, the tip of her sword pointed at his throat. "Do you yield?"
Blue eyes blazed with anger before they changed back to their original clear blue color. "I yield." His hand released its hold on the hilt of the sword, allowing Hilde to kick it out of his reach. "I'm impressed by your skill, Hilde; even if it was somewhat underhanded. The elders have taught you well."
Removing her sword from his throat, she let herself smile at his compliment. "I'm a lot older than I look, Quatre." Hilde took one last look at him before she turned away ready to continue her search for Michael.
She didn't have to move an inch from where she had been. Instead of finding her mentor, her mentor found her. As he flew closer to her, he withdrew his sheathed sword. Concern mounted in her when she saw him complete the action. Then he called out, "Hilde, behind you!"
Michael lunged at the young demon that was climbing back to his feet with his sword gripped in his hand. The older angel knocked the young blond demon back to the ground and stood over him with his sword raised. "Return to Hell!"
Unable to find her voice, Hilde could only watch in horror as Michael brought the clean point of his sword down with all the force in his body. However, he was immediately pushed off his prey, by a violet-eyed demon, whose energy was boiling over with rage.
"Duo..."
He glared at her before turning his gaze onto Michael. "Quatre was beaten Michael, he wouldn't have attacked her again. Some demons have a code of honor when it comes to battle."
"None of the ones I've ever met." Michael countered with his silver eyes flashing.
Hilde watched the two men prepare to square off, both of them reaching for their swords. She was torn between the man who had been her mentor and the demon that had stolen her heart. Finally, unable to stand the tension any longer, Hilde jumped in between the men, with her back towards Michael, her blue eyes pleading with Duo. "Enough. The battle is over."
As she looked at him, even covered in the blood of her fellow angels, Hilde couldn't not find fault with him. They each had their own path, and though they came from different places, love had brought them together. However, if she was going to defuse at volatile situation, she was going to have to choose sides, and it wouldn't be Duo's. "Please, just leave."
Hurt shone in his eyes, before he masked his emotions and turned away from her in grand fashion. Hilde looked on as he helped the young demon to his feet, both of them heading off into the opposite direction. Before she moved off with Michael, she did catch him looking back over his shoulder with his eyes narrowed. Sighing, she picked up her sword and placed it back in her sheath.
With her arms wrapped about her waist she walked back into Heaven's gates by herself...
...The pure, clear water of heaven ran red. Like times before and times to come; but it was still an eerie sight to behold. Hilde cupped the pink tinted water and washed away the last traces of blood from her body. It had taken a while to wash the bloodstains from her pale skin, and all of the scrubbing had made her skin raw.
Stepping out of the tub, she grabbed the lavender tunic off the chair and held it against her body as she walked to the window. The battle had been fierce and in the end, no one could have been called the victory. Both heaven and hell sustained heavy losses, but if a winner had to be declared, it would be heaven. They had been able to hold off the attack that Akmen planned.
Images of Duo holding his sword over Michael's body flew into her mind, causing her to falter as she pulled the soft tunic over her head. She knew that he was out there; she could feel him and he was hurting. Sighing, Hilde pushed away from the window and took hold of her sandals. It was wrong, but she had to see him, to let him know that she was hurting just as badly as he was.
Careful not to disturb anyone, Hilde flew out, heading for the battlefield. The moon provided little light as she made her flight, but it was enough to help her spot him. In the dim light, one could hardly tell that he wasn't an angel; that he didn't belong in her realm. His silhouette stood proud and strong, overlooking the now clean battlefield. The dark black wings blended into his shadow, finishing the off the look of a lone warrior.
As silently as she could, Hilde landed behind him. She tucked her wings against her body, bringing them around her arms to ward off the chill in the air. Duo made no move to acknowledge her presence. On unsteady feet, she walked up beside him.
"Duo?" Her voice sounded weak in her own ears.
The amethyst colored eyes she loved never looked away from the blood-soaked field. At first, Hilde wasn't sure if he heard her, so raising a hand she placed it on his shoulder and called out his name a second time.
Again, he continued to stare out even when she gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. They stood there, the night growing longer, staring out over the battlefield with the stars and moon looking down. Minutes ticked by like hours. Feeling there was nothing left to say between them, Hilde released her hold on him and turned to leave.
"I could have lost you today."
The sound of his voice pierced the silence that had been growing between them. Hilde felt her heart stop at the mere hint of emotion that was underline in what he had said.
"Duo, we both know the risks in being warriors and we've both accepted those risks into our lives..."
This time he turned to face her, making her stop short her speech. His eyes glistened with all the emotions that had remained unspoken in their relationship.
"No, Hilde. You're wrong. This has nothing to do with the two of us being soldiers and the risks we take every time we are called to battle. This has to do with the two of us and how..." He paused. It took him a few deep breaths before he could continue. "Do you know how I felt while I watched you take blow after blow and still continue fighting? I felt pride for you, but at the same time, I was scared that you'd end up like so many of the others. Lying on the ground with vacant eyes." Duo shuddered. "I... Hilde, I can't... if I lost you, I'd..."
Through tearful eyes, she watched as he moved toward her, stopping just a few inches from her body. Hilde could feel the warmth pouring off of him, and instinctively stepped into his embrace, not caring if he carried the consuming fires of Hell within him.
Like his arms, his dark wings encircled her, holding her against his body. Wrapped in his loving embrace, Hilde didn't care what the consequences of their love could cause them. All she knew was she loved the demon that held her in his arms with every fiber of her being. In that moment, she told him the three words that would forever seal her fate.
"I love you."
She didn't need him to say the words back; his actions always proved she was a part of his heart. Sometimes the words were more damaging if spoken instead of being hidden deep within. Hilde's eyes drifted closed as she snuggled closer against his armor.
"Not as much as I love you, Hilde."
Her eyes sprung open and tears threatened from behind her eyes. This moment was the one that would be forever etched in her mind as the moment all of teachings she had learned were wrong.
Taking hold of her chin between his finger and thumb, he tilted her face up to his. A devilish smile played with the corners of his mouth as he leaned in closer to her. He stopped just short, brushing his nose against the tip of her own.
"We're playing with fire, you know that?"
"I know."
Then his lips were on hers. Soft and yielding, yet hard and demanding all at once. It felt like she had been sucked into an ocean, never knowing when the next wave would sneak up on her and drag her deeper into the kiss. Her eyes drifted closed as he applied further pressure against her lips, his teeth nipping at her bottom lip. His hands slipped up along her spine, across the sensitive place where her wings rose from her back. The feeling elicited a deep sigh and a shiver to escape her body. Duo's hands continued to travel up her back, finally fingering her hairline before he sunk his hands into the tresses, pulling her head back even further and allowing him complete access to her mouth.
The last thought that crossed her mind before the world around them ceased to exist, was the fact that they had crossed a forbidden line and were bound to be burned...
Coming out of the herb induced trance, Hilde blinked her eyes a few time to adjust to the dim light filtering through the curtains. Pushing up on her elbows, she tried to swing her legs off the edge of the marble table, only to be knocked down by a wave of nausea. Her head spun with the power of what she had just remembered.
It was true; all of it. There was no mistaking the emotions and images as an over active imagination. She was the spirit of an angel, banished from Hell for falling in love with a demon. The same demon that now resided in the body of a priest.
She couldn't help the dry laugh. "Talk about your irony."
Reaching up, Hilde rubbed her throbbing temples and attempted to rise from the bed one more time. The nausea was still present, but it hadn't slapped her down like before.
The soft sounds of fabric caused her to lift her eyes and watch the young Wicca glide into the room. In her small hands, she held a steaming cup.
"Are you still feeling nauseous?"
Hilde smiled as she accepted the cup of tea. "Just a little bit." She stared down into her hands, watching the brown liquid slosh against the sides of the cup. Never had she felt so alone and unsure.
Catherine tucked her skirts under her legs as she sat down beside her on the table. "I'm not about to tell you that I understand what you're going through, because I'd be lying but I do know that there are... others that are trying to help you and the priest."
"You mean, others like Trowa and the dark-haired man that saved me the other day?" She watched as Catherine confirmed her question. Taking a quick sip of her tea, Hilde tried to organize her jumbled thoughts. "The others; are they... What I'm trying to say is are they..."
"The others are angels, as well as demons, Hilde. Some are out to protect you, while others..."
"While others are out to destroy us." Finishing Catherine's sentence, Hilde drank down the rest of her tea.
The chime came from the front of the store, signaling another customer. "Excuse me. People have such awful timing." Sighing, Catherine rose. "Just relax a little while longer. You're system has had quite a shock. I'll be back as soon as I can." With graceful movements, she disappeared through the doorway.
Hilde looked into the bottom of the empty cup. She had never been one to back down from a fight before, and neither the entities of Heave and Hell were going to scare her. Pushing off the table, her feet hit the floor, but her knees gave out from underneath of her, pitching her forward. After a few seconds, her legs felt steadier and setting the cup down on the table, Hilde peered around the doorframe.
Across the sales floor, Catherine was discussing some stones with a young red headed girl. Taking the opportunity while her hostess was distracted, Hilde snuck out of the room and disappeared out the back door.
TBC??
-------------------------------------
Sorry about the earlier post of Chapter Seven. I wasn't aware that BI had a posting limit.
This is the part when I tell you that there are no more written chapters of this story. *ducks thrown food* I know, I know. But the rest of the story is planned out. What I need now is for anyone that wants to find out what happen to Duo/Hilde, Heero/Relena, and the rest of the cast to send a PM, AIM or email to Lara Winner and beg for Chapter 8. She's currently stuck in the land of Inuyasha, but I'm hoping that you can help me get her back.
So, your mission, if you chose to accept it: Is to write to Lara Winner and let her know how much you love this story. It's the only way to have it continue.
I hope you've enjoyed it so far... Here's hoping that we can see it to an end.
- Loyce
