Hi!
This is the last chapter, the epilogue. Thank you very much all of you out there who reviewed and read my little story. It really means a lot, and it kept me writing through to the finish!
Would any of you read a sequel or a prequel if I chose to write one? If you would like one, the other, or both, then tell me, and I'll see what I can do.
This is a SHORT chapter. That's why it's an epilogue.
Heero/Duo wins.
Thank you again to all of you who have reviewed!
Disclaimer: My search has taken me to the bottom of the oceans, where there is no light except for glowing fish, but the rights to owning Gundam Wing were not there, either.
The song in this chapter is "A Lifetime" by Better Than Ezra. It is not mine. Don't sue me over it.
Enjoy!
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Shinigami
Allie woke up 8AM, Graduation day
Got into a car, crashed along the way
Duo was singing softly next to him as they looked out over the ocean, a song Heero recognized as "A Lifetime" by some band. Well, it does fit, to some degree. Virginia did die.
We arrived late to the wake,
stole the urn while they looked away
And drove to the beach
'cause I knew you'd want it that way
After Virginia had destroyed herself to kill the former Queen of Demons, Eileen, the remaining eight members of her circle had found themselves confused and in pain. Heero had managed to drag them back to Quatre's house, where they had basically crashed for the next week, dazed and hurting over the loss of their Queen and friend.
And you were standing
On the hood of the car
Singing out loud
When the sun came up
Heero knew everything, though. He out of all of the remaining Guardians remembered his past life. So he knew that, in time Virginia would be reborn, just as they had been, and he knew that they were going to have to find her.
And I know I wasn't right
But it felt so good
And your mother didn't mind
Like I thought she would
And that REM song was playing in my mind
And three and a half minutes
Felt like a lifetime
Felt like a lifetime
Unfortunately, she had left him as High King while she was dead. Just what I need. Politics. But he knew that not only his circle, but all the immortals needed a leader. He just happened to be the only one fit for the job, as not only did no one else remember their past, but the line of succession passed to him, as he was stronger than all the others in the circle save Virginia.
And you move like water
I could drown in you
And I fell so deep once
'Till you pulled me through
He did need to bring them Home, though. They needed real teachers to help them get stronger, as the other four were rapidly catching up to their teachers. Home would be good for them all, actually. He needed to re-meet the Advisors, and bring the news of how their Queen had died. He was pretty sure they already knew that she was dead; they would have felt the passing of a Queen to Death's Halls.
You would tell me,
"No one is allowed to be so proud,
they never reach out, when they're giving up"
After the others had been fully trained, they could begin with their jobs – the jobs of being Guardians. Virginia had done it alone, save for the Shinigami, for 9 thousand years. Now there were eight of them to go around. Heero hoped she had left notes.
And I know I wasn't right
But it felt so good
And your mother didn't mind
Like I thought she would
And that REM song was playing in my mind
And three and a half minutes
Felt like a lifetime
He was pretty sure Duo understood now that he was the leader of the Shinigami until their Eldest was reborn. He knew Duo could handle it, and he knew that Kitten and the other Shinigami would help him as best as they could. He smiled to himself. If I know Death, he will want to help, too. It is not in his nature to let them struggle, and who would blame him? He created them, after all. And we will help, too.
Are you sitting in the lights?
Or combing your hair again?
And talking in rhymes?
Are you sitting in the lights?
Heero continued thinking to himself. I think I will only stick around for a few months when I bring them to Virilia. Then I will go on to doing what I'm supposed to be doing – guarding against the misuse of magic.
When I got home, heard the
phone, your parents had arrived
And your dad set his jaw, your mom just smiled and sighed
He looked at Duo, still singing that song next to him. He and Quatre had really taken Virginia's death the hardest. Quatre had felt her die, that was why he had broken free of the link before it backlashed into the rest of the group, causing their shield to fall. And when Virginia died, her shield had collapsed, causing the force of the Final Strike to destroy all the demons as well. Luckily, she had had presence of mind enough to shield her Guardians. They would all have died if she hadn't.
(And you move like water)
But they left soon, and I went to my room
Played that disc that you'd given me
And I shut my eyes
Swear I could hear the sea
Duo had, of course, taken it hard too. His only living relative had basically committed suicide right in front of him. Heero thanked a God he didn't believe in that Gene was also a mind healer. With his and Heero's help, Duo had begun to get better. He was still upset (duh), but it was no longer the destructive force it had been when Heero had explained to him that his sister had just died. Heero could have died for hurting Duo like that.
And we were standing
On the hood of your car
Singing out loud when the sun came up
He guessed that, in time, they would all heal. And then, when they were ready, they would go back to their duties as Guardians. And one day, the High Queen would be reborn, Heero would (finally) be able to step down and simply become a Guardian again, and they would all be together. And Duo wouldn't cry anymore when nightmares came of his sister dying in front of him.
And I know I wasn't right,
But it felt so good.
And your mother didn't mind,
Like I thought she would.
And that REM song was playing in my mind
And three and a half minutes
Three and a half minutes
Felt like a lifetime
Heero heard Duo's voice fade away. "Pretty. A fitting tribute to her, I think." He murmured.
Duo gave him a weak smile in return. "Now what?" He asked, his voice quiet.
"Now, we go on living. She did not want us to cry over her. You'll see her again, Duo. Even now she is not truly gone. She's here now, if you choose to listen."
: That's right, Love. I'm always here for you, if you just listen for me. Don't cry for me, I wasn't worth it. You must be strong, for both the Shinigami and the Immortals will need you. Can you be a Guardian::
Duo's eyes widened as he heard her voice on the breeze. It did sound different, Heero reflected, than mind speech. Duo nodded.
: Then live. :
Again Duo nodded. "See?" Heero said. "She'll always be here, and now she can help us when things get too difficult. Be happy for her. Remember, she was fading, which is a very painful death. Final Strike was quick and painless. And Duo… I'm always here."
Heero sensed her smile at them, from wherever she was. "Come on, let's go home." He said.
They left the beach for the last time.
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Well, you all like?
Hopefully. That was kind of what I was aiming for when I wrote this story.
So, I hope you all enjoyed it.
IF ANY ONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I WOULD BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM AT THIS POINT. ASK ME IN A REVIEW OR E-MAIL ME. I WILL ANSWER.
Thanks for sticking with me!
DarkLady