Standard disclaimer applies


Because all angels
fall.
And she is no exception...

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Les Anges Méritent de Mourir

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She was always too beautiful,
too soft,
and too innocent
for this dark, bloody world.

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"No, mommy!" Crying, falling, sobbing. A girl straight out of a fairytale. Porcelain skin, thick waist length chestnut hair, warm brown eyes staring blindly down at the prone form splayed across the floor. Slumping, grasping blindly at soaked folds of clothing. So much blood---

((I don't want to be alone))

"Mommy! Don't leave me..." Screaming. Helpmehelpmehelpmehelpmehelpmeplease!

Not alone.

"Are you alright?" Blood red eyes, ebony hair, concern. Kindness.

"Mommy-" Tears threaten to overflow.

"-loved you." The boy finishes, prying the girl off of her mother's cold body. "Now she's in a better place. It's peaceful there. Be happy for her, she has finally escaped this cruel world."

Innocent, only a child, "Mommy's happy?"

"Yes, of course."

She loves me
She loves me not
She loves me
She loves me not

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9 Years Later

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Mikan used to be an angel. Bright, happy, innocent, pure. Never again. She fell hard. A beautiful tragedy. After all, even angels deserve to die.

"Mikan, you have a new assignment," Persona says - her slave-driver, keeper, jailer. She loathes him. But she does not want to be alone. Never again.

"Yes, father?" Resigned to this torture, this lifetime of destruction.

"Your target is Natsume Hyuuga." Her chest aches. ((What is this foreign emotion, why is it so painful?)) Natsume…her protector, savior, hope, comfort.

Still… she can not disobey, for she is her father's cold, unfeeling puppet.

"Yes, father."

Loyalty knows no bounds

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"Natsume." Mikan stands rigidly, as if she will shatter under the slightest pressure. The boy before her stares down at her pale form through piercing crimson eyes. Her only true family.

Our Father...

"He sent you here." Natsume's lips curl in disgust.

"Yes." ((How can she bear it, he wonders, to hold the weight of the world on such slim shoulders?)) "Prepare yourself, your final judgment approaches." Mikan smiles eerily.

Who art in heaven...

"Mikan. Don't do this." A sick feeling pools in the pit of Natsume's stomach as she slowly draws a katana from her pack.

Her only reply: "I'm sorry."

"Who made you a god, Mikan?" he asks sadly, "Why do you decide who lives and who dies?"

Hallowed be thy Name...

"It's his fault," Mikan states sadly. How she wishes this was true. To not be at blame, to be pure, to reclaim lost innocence. ((Oh bless me Lord for I have sinned))

Not me.
Don't look at me.
Don't touch me.
Don't listen to me.
I'm not here,
Because if I'm not here,
You cannot see me crying.

Thy kingdom come...

"I'm sorry," she whispers brokenly, advancing, weapon glinting. "So sorry..."

"Don't you want it to end, Mikan? You don't have to do this."

Mikan looks up at Natsume through tormented, bloodshot eyes, and he represses the urge to shrink away. "Don't you see? It never ends! My bond with him is eternal, everlasting..."

Till death do us part

"I don't want to do this, I really don't!" Stop this, pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease.

Thy will be done...

Natsume frowns, "Your future is your own. This is your choice, Mikan. Be selfish for once. Choose!"

"I can't." She is broken beyond repair. Cracking under this burden. This trust, this blind devotion, these lies. Because she does not know how to live any other way.

On earth as it is in heaven...

"Mikan, listen to me." Natsume approaches the girl slowly. "Look at me." His hand is under her chin, lifting her face to his.

"No!"

Don't touch me.
Don't listen to me.
Don't pity me.
Don't look at me,
Stop looking at me!

She flinches away, gazing up at him through teary eyes.

Give us this day...

Natsume's eyes widen as the blade bites the skin of her small hand, drawing blood. "Leave me alone!" She holds the weapon at him shakily. "Prepare yourself."

Our daily bread...

As Mikan stands, he backs away sadly. She is a fallen angel. His monster. His pride, passion, love and failure.

His responsibility.

And forgive us our trespasses...

"Please, Natsume," she chokes out, "Forgive me for this." Her grip on the katana tightens. Blood trickles down from her hand, pooling on the floor. She does not notice.

As we forgive those who trespass against us...

"Please," she grinds out, eyes wild. "Say it! Tell me it's okay! Tell me you understand! Tell me you love me!"

Lying. "You are above this, Mikan, you are an angel. My angel."

Lead us not into temptation...

"Your fallen angel," Mikan amends, lunging, katana in hand.

But deliver us from evil...

Natsume dodges. He looks down into her pleading brown eyes. "Please, please," she's shaking, "Please save me, Natsume-kun." She is spiraling out of control.

Lunging
Dancing
Twirling
Fighting
Deadly
Dangerous
Beautiful
Alive.

"Please..."

For thine is the kingdom…

"Please let me go." She collapses at his feet in convulsions. So dirty, tainted. Broken pieces of an angel.

And the power…

Don't look at me.
Don't touch me.
Don't pity me.

Forever and ever...

Natsume's emotions war with each other as he looks down upon her pale, drawn face.

"Please, Natsume. Please let me be selfish. I just want to rest, I'm so tired."

Kiss me
Kill me

Her hand shakes as she presses her katana into his hand. "Please." He accepts the weapon sadly.

Natsume looks down into Mikan's wild, begging eyes. He clutches the blade - her comfort, peace, release, salvation and sanity. Hope…his final gift to her.

As Natsume's grip on the weapon tightens, he glances at the broken girl and his resolve strengthens. He draws the weapon gently across the pale skin of her neck.

Liquid fire spreads across her throat as she looks up into his glowing crimson eyes and smiles serenely. "Thank you." Peace at last…

Rest
In
Peace

Amen.

Because even angels deserve to die...


Inspired by angel puppeteer's writing style, feedback is greatly appreciated! Thanks to Corvus Corone for the beta :)

~SL~