And He Doth Descended: Part 3 by Kuriyamimizu

And He Doth Descended Into the Depths of Heaven
-Part Three-
Kuriyamimizu

-Speak softly and carry a large stick, you will go far.- (Jade’s mantra)

Thank you to Mark Anthony and Tina someone for letting me rip off their song and place it in here! (that’s basically saying that I didn’t write it!)

Heero sipped at the iced tea that had come with his meal. His fellow pilots were talking around him, their voices blending in smoothly with everyone around him. He had perused the menu and ordered something earlier, it was still in the process of being made. As he took another sip of his drink he realized that nature called.

Quatre looked up as I excused myself, a hint of---concern, detectable in his eyes. No one else was adverse to let me go. I’m not a conversationalist. I walked away form the table without anyone noticing me. After a short walk I found my way to the men’s room and got my business taken care of. As I pulled the drawstring on the loose pair of pants I was wearing, I turned to the mirror to check my appearance and froze. There was a woman in the room as well. She was standing uncomfortably close to me. I should have been able to hear her breath. She was standing a little off to my left, her eyes closed, her graceful features set into a look of complete and utter indifference to her surroundings.

I didn’t think the clientele of this particular restaurant was quite as perverted as to go into the wrong bathroom, but it wasn’t my business to say anything. I just wanted to walk past her and get back to my lunch. As I started to walk past her I winced, because most likely I would brush her shoulder as I walked. And then, I realized that there was no one there!

I looked to my left and empty space greeted my rapidly widening eyes. I couldn’t believe it. I guess I’ m finally going insane. Took me long enough. I sighed again and started to walk back out when my eyes came to the mirror once again. And there she was, standing where she had been, except for the fact that now she had a curious look on her face, as if something had confused her.

For a moment my mind went completely blank. After about five minutes I realized that the disjointed moan of distress and confusion had originated from my own throat. This was all wrong. Women do no appear in mirrors. The rational part of my mind was desperately throwing suggestions hither and yon, trying to tell me this and that. But, somehow I was sure that she was real. When she spread the wings that had been hidden behind her back, I became even more sure of the reality of her existence instead of denying myself further. Somehow it felt like something I should just take on fate, like a precious few other things. Examples of which being that, most likely the sun will rise tomorrow, I will continue to breath for another minute, et cetera, et cetera.

I was brought out of my daze by two factors. The angel, for that was the only word I could find to describe the etherial woman standing before me, folded her wings, and she spoke. The sound of her voice wasn’t something that could be heard in the air around oneself, however I heard it as clearly as I had anything else in my time. It was a sweet, clear, melodious sound, like that of wind brushing over water, or through the trees, stirring the leaves to sing.

/Odin? No, he’s Heero now, Fusei no baka, if he can hear you, he’d respond to Heero./

I found my own choked, half angry, half surprised voice cutting through the silence of the bathroom, and resonating off the tiles.

“How do you know that?”

/What?/

“My name!!”

She smiled, something comparable to a sudden sun-burst, or a painting of immeasurable beauty. In that smile I saw what had been hinted at in the faces of those that I knew but refused to get closer to. I saw the beauty that presented itself gently in Quatre, hid and yet showed flamboyantly in Duo, lived in Wufei’s movements, and even lived somewhere in Relena. True beauty, something divine and wonderful.

/I’ve always known your name./

I just stared. There was no more need for words. I just had to speak with my mind. She would know. I knew that she would understand my meaning. It felt as if I knew this woman. I wanted to ask a thousand questions right then, however, they wouldn’t come to mind. There was just one question that presented itself and subsequently came off of my lips.

“What do I need to know?”

Another smile, so gentle, so warm. It was as if this woman existed solely for me, guaranteeing my protection.

/ah, Odin, all you really need to know is that angels will be watching. Don’t be afraid. And go with your instincts. That’s all I have to tell you for right now./

I nodded dumbly. I could tell that the expression on my face was completely and utterly vulnerable. All of my walls had come down. I had to ask one more thing, for my thoughts had finally assembled into some semblance of order.

“Who are you?”

/I’m watching you Heero, Odin, however you want to know yourself as. Always watching./

“A-ah.”

/Go back to dinner, they’re waiting./

Again I nodded and walked out. Even as I left the warm sight of her, I could feel the walls reassembling, rebuilding themselves after the sudden and unexpected breach. My own emotions had betrayed me in that instant, however, they weren’t unpleasant. If that was what it was to feel then I think I’d like to do it more often. And even if I couldn’t feel then maybe I would hear the singing again.

Quatre was beginning to fidget. He had a strange urge to jump up and follow Heero into the bathroom. There was an irrational fear in his heart, and he couldn’t find the source. Then again, that same fear had been building since earlier that morning. He became aware that the topic of the conversation had switched to things he had been doing recently and therefore turned his attention back to what was being said.

“Ne, Quatre, any luck with those scrolls you found in your father’s drawers?”

The blonde smiled at his friends and found an inquisitive face in his collection of emotion.

“Hm? Forgive me, I was spacing.”

Trowa raised an eyebrow and repeated his question.

“What about those scrolls you were working on translating? Anything interesting?”

For a moment Quatre was silent. He had found his parents old hope chest. At first he hadn’t planned on opening it, however, on the urging of all of his sisters he had. The contents had turned out to be varied and interesting. There was everything in there from his mother’s wedding dress to the scrolls that he was working on translating.

“It’s a little bit hard, it’s old Arabic, and the language has changed some since then. The wording is a little confusing.”

Trowa nodded. Wufei watched Quatre and sipped his drink thoughtfully. Something was very off this evening. There was a tinge in the air of things to come. It was the same sort of feeling that he had gotten just before Miriam had died. However, he wasn’t about to mention anything to the other pilots. They didn’t need to know. His thoughts trailed idly back to Duo, who was most likely sleeping back at their safe house. He found himself mildly concerned for the boy. No, he was kidding himself, he was very concerned. More so than he should be for a simple comrade.

He knew why he was concerned too. It was a hard truth to face about himself, especially since his feeling would most likely be non-reciprocated. He was in love with Duo. It was simple in that way. He had realized it a long while ago. That fact, that little part of his heart he was not in any way open to. No one would ever know. He was raised to be very, correct, and those sort of feelings wouldn’t do at all, especially for another boy. He glared, annoyed at a piece of hair that fell between his eyes, just hovering in his range of vision. His hair was a lot like his emotions, slowly but steadily stepping out of the tight control he had put on them. He sipped at the glass in his fingertips again, only just listening to the conversation going on around him.

“--ght, and part of the text has to do with angels.”

Wufei was suddenly aware of the topic of conversation when angels were mentioned. It was like someone had shoved him very roughly back into reality, as if he needed to hear the next bit of information.

“What about angels?”

Quatre looked at him, and then beyond him, as if he were looking at someone standing just behind the Chinese pilot. The little blonde smiled and then looked directly at Wufei once again.

“I was just saying that the scrolls say something about a plague of angels. It’s really interesting stuff.”

“I’m sure.”

Even Wufei was surprised at how cold his voice sounded. He didn’t mean to be stern with the boy. Indeed the Arabic pilot had said nothing to warrant such a mood change. Still, something in his words bothered Wufei to such an extent that it felt like he had to get off the subject. He’d been given the required hint, and now he had to ponder it.

He was saved from having to explain himself by the arrival of Heero. Said Wing pilot was looking more than a little leery, and something was very different about his eyes. Quatre was the first one to pick it up. The thing that was off about Heero’s eyes was the fact that they held something in them beside the normal cold, formality. It was as if he had seen God.

“Heero?”

Surprisingly enough, it was Trowa that spoke first. The tall youth had even ventured to raise about halfway out of his seat, concern littered onto his face.

The Japanese pilot looked up, with those same disjointed eyes and asked a simple question without using a word.

“Hm?”

Trowa didn’t like the expression on Heero’s face at all. There was something wrong with him. With that look in his eyes he looked serene. So serene that he could go and die in the next moment and he would be fully resolute that he had led his life right. It was if some hand had reached out and touched him. It was wrong, it wasn’t Heero. He could have done a whole bunch of things, punched the Wing pilot, shaken him, talked to him, done nothing at all. However Wufei beat him to it, and in a calmer form.

“What’s on your mind Heero?”

Heero looked to Wufei and the Chinese pilot saw what Trowa had, that unnerving serenity. He blinked with large onyx eyes and waited for the Japanese pilot’s answer.

“Angels.”

That one little word stopped the conversation dead. Somehow by mutual and silent agreement, they had all decided that nothing more needed to be said at that time. It was right. Quatre paid the bill and they all filed silently out, each with a burden on their shoulders even more enhanced with Heero’s little statement.

Fusei sat quietly in the presence of the almighty. Praise had come her way. She had done well in talking to her assigned protectorate. She had then been told to wait for her new partner. She sighed impatiently, her long, flowing black hair swirling slightly around her. She didn’t agree at all with the newest details that she had gotten from the other angels. It almost seemed as if the boss were going to pull--- no she wouldn’t think that way. It would be the worst case scenario at any rate. Still, she couldn’t believe that they needed representatives from hell---

There was a parting of the other angelic forms around her, and many dirty glances given. Through the sudden gap in the crowd came a little girl, with bright purple eyes and bat wings, that moved in a downbeat every so often to keep her aloft. This little scrap of soul was definitely not one of hell’s fiercest minions. Not by a long shot, and most definitely one of the youngest. She looked to be barely past four hundred.

She came up to the relatively taller Fusei and stopped, dropping to rest her feet on the ground. The former arch-angel squatted down and presented her hand. The little girl in turn took hers and shook it uncertainly, as if waiting for a snide comment to come her way. From Fusei at least she would gather no such thing.

When no introductions were given her way she sighed and then folded her wings, assuming a business-like aspect.

/I’m Alexandria. I’ve gotta find..Fusei. We’re on as-as-assignment together./

Fusei smiled. It was refreshing to see youth.

/That would be me chibi. Did your boss give you any directions?/

The little blonde nodded, her eyes shining.

/He said that we have-ta get Maxwell and Yuy together./

Fusei raised an eyebrow.

/Together how Alex?/

The little girl blushed slightly. Even though she was a resident of the netherworld and had seen some of the nastiest and the most perverted things one would ever dream of coming across she was still slightly chaste.

/Uhh--they have to be lovemates./

Fusei still wasn’t clear.

/Can you be any more specific chibi?/

The child looked even redder and with a soft rush of wings brought herself up to whisper in Fusei’s ear. The angel raised her eyebrows even higher than they had previously been. She looked at the little demon quizzically and then spoke again.

/And the almighty is all right with that?/

The little girl nodded.

/Yeah, my boss said that he had half the decision./

Fusei stared blankly out into the clouds, a slow sinking dread seeping into every part of herself. She knew that it would come down to that again. Yet why did it have to be now? She’d have to check with Brynn, Sakura and Stephanie, however, if she was correct, then they were in for something of a large scale in proportion in all respects, and leaning toward very unpleasant for all involved. Another question worked it’s way into her mind and her eyes widened. The little demon seemed well informed and she had to ask.

/What about the seer?/

The little demon sighed and then looked up at her, with eyes that were too dark for one so young. One feather was still clutched in the chubby fingers of one small hand. Fusei noted that the pattern on the feather was very similar to the patterns on her own feathers, just ever so slightly different.

/If the seer interferes then we are to kill him and the dragon and the guard as well./

Fusei let out a long, rushing breath.

/This is not good./

My little guest is gone now. She left a little while ago saying that she had to go and meet her partner. She promised that she would come back and talk to me. A good portion of my mind tells me that it was all a dream, and that I imagined it all. But the part of my brain that allows me to have faith in religion and the many things that I just cannot understand and cannot be explained tells me to give her a chance to prove herself. And to prove me wrong.

So much has happened today. I hardly know what to do with myself. There’s just too much going on subtly. Being an undercover agent was always part of my mission and I’m beginning to see underlying currents now. To tell the truth, I’m getting scared.

I would have never thought I would be receiving demons as protectors. I mean, I know I’ve taken on the title of Shinigami, however, that’s only a part of myself. Somehow I would have thought that if anything my protectors would be angels. I would have thought that being the devoted Christian that I am, and most definitely was, I would be entitled to an angel. I guess that after killing so many people that their faces blur and become indistinct, and their screams become an indistinct background noise, then the salvation and light of heaven would most likely be denied to me. In the face of such things, morals and principles seem to fade into the background. Or so it would seem. For now the only companies afforded me are those of the spider in the corner and the white walls.

I’m really beginning to dislike those walls. More and more they’re coming to echo my state of mind, empty, cold, emotionless and flat. I don’t want to be that way. I don’t want to be like Heero. The metal of the little crucifix that I always wear seems cold against my flesh, as if it doesn’t want to be on me. With suddenly very cold fingers I reach and pick up the small piece of metal and look at it.

“Are you angry with me father? Don’t you realize that I was only doing what I had to?”

No answer, however, a little feeling of reassurance swept through my mind. He’s not completely angry with me. Just annoyed. Perhaps it’s just my imagination, however the ghosts with me seem to be serene today.

The other pilots will be coming back soon. I guess I ought to get up and get dressed. I move my head experimentally and find no pain in movement. Therefore rising and dressing is the right course to take. Sitting up gives me a moment to vertigo that is rather unpleasant but bearable. In the silence of the room I slipped back into the dark garb that was my normal dress. I half expected the little demon to reappear any moment.

I was just about to slip on the hat when I remembered that my hair was still confined in a bun. It wasn't hot anymore, the heat had turned off while I dozed. Out of pure sloth I trailed my hands up my neck to pull at the pencil that I had stuck my hair up with and stopped--there was something wrong with my neck. Cautiously I ran my fingers back down the place that they had just passed. There it was, just a little lump, right where my main spinal column ended. It was probably nothing. Yet the sinking feeling in my stomach wouldn't let me be content in that fact.

Wufei was the first one out of the car. He seemed almost overly in haste to get away from his fellow pilots. As the rest of them entered the long hallways of the safe house Wufei had already disappeared into the shadows.

Trowa was concerned. He was following Wufei's instincts. The Chinese pilot had always been able to figure out when to be wary and when to walk tall. Something about Heero was making him wary. Therefore it was time for the rest of the pilots to tread lightly as well. As for himself, he wouldn't be outwardly concerned. For that matter, he was never outwardly anything. When he looked down he found Quatre walking at his side, a pensive look on his face.

"Daijoubu ka?"

Quatre looked up and blinked. "Hmm?, yeah daijoubu. Why do you ask?"

"You look pensive."

"Everyone's acting funny, what am I supposed to look like?"

There was a little too much venom in Quatre's voice. Most likely it wouldn't be wise to pursue the matter any further. I stuck my hands into my pockets and strode on beside him, not really wanting to say anything more, instead offering my support through my silence. How much he cared for the boy at his side. It had always been something present and deep rooted. His affection for the other boy had spanned all the way back to the first time that they had met. Quatre had come out of Sandrock, surrendering, and yet still smiling. And then he had been invited over and had tea. Somehow a friendship had sparked between them, he the cold untouchable one, and Quatre the angel. That was his private nick-name for the Arabian pilot. He knew that many others shared his evaluation of the Sandrock pilot.

Heero had disappeared down a side-hallway as well. It left just the two of them walking inexorably toward the kitchen. Trowa wasn’t hungry, but he supposed that Quatre wanted tea. He would drink lots of tea when he was nervous, or trying to figure something out. Today it seemed at if it were both circumstances brought together, so to the kitchen they walked.

Wufei walked silently down the hallways, his mind blurry, and thoughts everywhere at once. All the talk of angels, he didn’t know what it was exactly but it had disconcerted him. He needed to refocus his thoughts, and the only way that he could do that was through a kata or meditation. It was too hot in the house to meditate. The atmosphere wasn’t right. So he would practice. He was walking down one of the less-used hallways toward a large, empty room, filled only with mirrors on the walls, and windows where one wall should be. That room always held the perfect temperature and the wood paneling under-foot was perfect.

In that direction he headed, only to find the room occupied. Right in the middle of the room was Duo, standing there with his eyes closed, earphones on, singing along with something playing only in his ears. He was dancing as well, to an extent.

Wufei found it enticing and alluring to watch the slow, and almost seductive movements of the Deathscythe pilot as he sang.

“Moon so bright
Night so fine
Keep your heart here with mine
Life’s a dream, we are dreaming

Race the moon
Catch the wind
Ride the night to the end
Seize the day
Stand up for the light

I want to spend my lifetime loving you
If that is all in life I ever do

Heroes rise
Heroes fall
Rise again
With it all
In your heart can’t you feel the glory?
Throughout joy throughout pain
We can move worlds again
Take my hand
-Dance with me!-

Wufei was completely spellbound, watching the dark teenager, reflected many times over in the mirrors that surrounded them.

I want to spend my lifetime loving you
If that is all in life I ever do
I want to spend my lifetime loving you
If that is all in life I ever do
I will want nothing else to see me through
If I could spend my lifetime lo-ving you

Wufei watched enthralled as a thousand mirrored Duos moved around him, his deep and seductive voice rolling off of the walls and filling up his mind with it’s own exotic and sweet melody. He was dressed in black, all black; a tank-top and tight fitting pants, his hair coming unbraided even as his body swayed in time to the rhythm.

The line, ‘dance with me’ was punctuated by Duo reaching a hand out to the air, as if beckoning someone to come and join him. It was irresistible. He was irresistible period. Wufei honestly couldn’t say what it was that drove him out onto the hard wooden floor of the mirrored room. It was as if someone unseen was there and had given him the okay. The song that Duo was listening to was on repeat. He could just hear the faint strains of music coming from the headphones which were playing at unhealthy volumes. The beat was simple enough, almost a tango beat, slow though, and fun.

I snapped my eyes open as someone looped a hand loosely about my waist and started to dance with me. The first reaction that raced through my mind was to reach for my gun. However when I saw who it was that was dancing with me I stopped altogether and kept doing what I had been doing. Wufei was dancing with me, his eyes in that moment away from my face, as if lost in some moment that he had long yearned for. In such close proximity I finally noticed how much of a shrimp I really am. Good old Wu-man had almost a full two inches on me. The second thing I noticed was just how graceful he really was. I would have expected anyone else to fumble by now, yet he kept my step and pace perfectly, blending himself into my self-set rhythm. It was a very odd moment. I decided to close my eyes and pretend that I didn’t know that it was him.

When Wufei looked down Maxwell still had his eyes closed, as if caught in his own moment in time. His voice had never faltered. It was as if he were perfectly fine with just anyone dancing with him. Yet the line had called for a partner. As Duo’s voice began to trail off from his second repetition of the song he’d had enough. This situation was so odd, and in his mind it was as if Maxwell sang just for him, making it all the worse. He had to get out of there. And so he let the other boy go, uncrossing his fingers with Duo’s slim ones. And he got out of the room with as much speed as his dignity would allow him. He could find somewhere else to practice his kata.

In the background another set of eyes watched Duo as he took off his headset and stared out of the door from whence Wufei had come and then exited by again. The same witness watched Duo shake his head, causing the chestnut waterfall of silken strands trailing down his back to shimmer, and then proceed to pull said hair back into a ponytail.

“I never knew you danced.”

I wheeled, this time actually pulling the gun to face the new person in the room. Two people sneaking up on me in one day is my limit. I found Heero staring at me over the barrel of my gun, completely indifferent to the fact that he could have had a whole new set of holes inserted into his head had he surprised me just a little bit more.

“Heero!”

My voice sounded odd to my ears and I felt a blush rising over my cheeks. An unexplainable feeling that I had been cheating flitted across my mind and then let itself become lost among all of the other thoughts in my head. I had to joke. It was either joke or lose face. I didn’t want to lose face.

“Ah well, I try y’know?”

The Japanese pilot nodded, and maybe it was just my imagination but it seemed as if there were a glitter of jealousy in his eyes.

*Heero POV *

I cannot believe that Wufei was dancing with Duo. It seemed so completely unlike the Chinese pilot that I know. If anything I would expect him to be slightly homophobic, however as he danced with Duo, he had this look on his face, as if he were reaching the fulfillment of a long running desire. By simply touching the boy standing before me, with the most unexplainable blush on his face he has brought himself a small fulfillment. It’s not fair. That is the only thing that I can think of. It’s just not fair. Why can’t I touch those shoulders, slim waist, run my hands over his pale cheeks, all the while staring deeply into his beautiful eyes and--- and what?

My thoughts have no semblance of order right now. I just know that I – want – Duo. In that way. Never before have I ever looked at another person in such a fashion. How could I? I don’t know. However, if Wufei can touch, so can I!

It’s almost comical to see the way that his face grows confused and the blush mounts on his cheeks as I take his face into my hands and just look at him, how beautiful he is. Some say that I have delicate features, however this boy takes the cake. No wonder both sexes can look at him and be entranced by him. He is seduction. I have to get away. I’m confused, he’s confused and I shouldn’t get close anyway. I have to self-destruct. I’m so glad that they didn’t give me a time frame for that. The reason being is that right now, I don’t think I can do that. Even if for the simple fact that I want to explore this feeling just a little further.

I let my fingertips trail down his cheeks and I turn, walking away again, and knowing in certainty that my face doesn’t betray me.

*Duo POV *

What in the name of merciful heaven was that all about? Heero was talking to me, and then he walks forward and caught my face with his hands and just looked at me with a (?) look on his face. I couldn’t see the emotion there. However, there was something in his eyes that I’ve never seen before. My knees feel weak and there’s butterflies dancing in my stomach. I’m all alone again, my fellow pilots having taken their separate ways. And managing to leave me so confused that I don’t know what to do with myself.

No, I know what to do with myself, the solution became very apparent as I felt the pain come seeping into my brain. I need to find a wall and sink down slowly until in a sitting position and try to breath normally until the pain passes. This is usually accomplished more handily in a sitting position.

Alex reappeared in the company of Fusei in the room where both boys had just been. She heard the older angel swear slightly under her breath as she realized that Heero had made himself scarce. She looked down to the little bewildered demon and smiled.

/They’re bunking together Alex, you stay with Duo and I’ll go find Yuy and make sure he’s not going to go blow himself up./

The demon nodded, and with a whisper of wings came to land near Duo. The boy was having another headache. She could take it away. That was one of the few things that she found useful about herself. Beside that her virtues were very few.

*Duo POV *

Somewhere through the red miasma of pain that had descended once again onto my scull I felt someone touch my knee, just a light touch. And then it was banished, the red pain that clouded my brain and I could once again think clearly enough to formulate a simple sentence.

“nani?”

I looked around and saw no one. And then I saw here, standing near my knee, staring at me with wide violet eyes.

/Daijoubu ka?/

“Yes Chibi, I’m fine.”

/That’s good. You had questions?/

“I can’t remember right now.”

/’kay./

As I sat there trying to regain my thought process she sat down, folded her wings and assumed an almost watchful position. I had to smile. My little protector. When my watch beeped I looked at it and good an eyeful of the time.

“JESUS!”

/Nani?!/

I found myself stunned to silence in the reaction time of a four year old. The moment the first syllables had left my lips she was on her feet, wings unfurled to their furthest in a defensive position in front of me. I smiled weakly.

“It’s all right. I just realized the time.”

/What time is it?/

“Three a-clock in the morning.”

/Oh, I forgot, humans need to sleep. You ought to do that. I’ll watch you./

“Right.”

I rose and walked to bed, oddly reassured in the fact that I had a four-year-old demon watching my back.

-End Part Three

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