The mountain of laundry in the basement had stacked nearly as high as the washer; an indescribable odor radiating from its depths. P.C.�s pilot wrinkled her nose at it, though she was becoming accustomed to the stench, �I swear these boys create radio active laundry.� It took nearly an hour before the first load had been detoxified and was ready to fold. The darks were the first to emerge, a vast majority of them Duo�s. Basket tucked on her hip, the slender German carted the load upstairs, flicking off the light as she past.
The crimson painted door was firmly shut, as typical. Amber rapped her knuckles across it twice in fair warning, �Duo, I�m bringing in your laundry.� An answer didn�t return to her so she assumed he wasn�t inside. No sooner than she�d entered, the basket fell from her slack hand. Acceptance was the word she�d come to understand more when she knew that she couldn�t separate the two teenagers, but that word wasn�t present as she witnessed the scene before her. Two bodies moved in a smooth, sweat slicked motion, neither taking notice of the infuriated woman at the entrance. A bullet in Duo�s bare back halted the activity instantly. A muffled cry from the death of darkness was the only accompaniment to Jess�s shout, �Amber, what are you doing?!�
The huntress didn�t bother to respond as she took a second aim between pilot two�s eyes. The freckled redhead blocked her shot, �No! Don�t do this!� Duo shoved his thumb and index finger into the wound and withdrew the slug of lead. At his command, the flesh closed into a, once again, unblemished span. Amber lowered her gun and pointed at the door, �Jess, get out. Duo and I need to have a talk.� The small Irish woman hesitated. Shinigami glanced at the other half of his room and the concealing shadows that would be his advantage. He touched the young woman�s hand gently and whispered in her ear, �I�ll be alright. I don�t want you to get in any more trouble than you are already in. Go on.� Jess looked at him questioningly, on the verge of tears. Amber�s second and more threatening order shook Jess into wrapping herself in the ebony comforter and climbing out of bed, �Get out!� Knowing the lock wouldn�t keep her out; Amber shoved Duo�s dresser in front of the door. When she turned back to the bed, the demon was gone. She peered into the soupy darkness in the back of the room and reached for the light switch. A pop and clinking of falling glass killed that option. �You can�t keep me from her. You try in and you will bring down the wrath of Hell.� Amber scoffed, �If you�re the wrath of Hell, then you might scare the stuffed toys in Jess�s room. Otherwise, I don�t find you threatening.�
Ruby eyes glinted at her from the shadow, startling her slightly. A swift pull on the blinds brought faint highlights into the room, but nothing more. The spot she�d glued her gaze to, the last place she�d homed in on Duo took his shape. The pupils of the glowing red orbs she�d taken as his way of intimidation narrowed as the light fell on them. Massive ebony shapes darkened the space on either side of his lithe body, the claws on their edges gleaming. Several shots were sent off in that direction, but the span was empty before they hit. Shinigami�s laughter came form every shadow, sending a shiver of uncertainty down Amber�s spine, �You can�t kill me with that thing. Even a direct shot to the head couldn�t kill me.� Amber growled under her breath, not sure which direction to speak in, �You won�t be around her again. You�re going to break her heart!� A sharp hiss came from her left, �What reason would I have to?�
She sent a shot in that direction, �You always say you have good intentions, until you leave. That�s the way it is with every man!� A flash of silver was the only indication of movement before razor claws raked her gun arm. She dropped the weapon with a cry of surprise and fell to her knees to retrieve it, �Damn it!� Gray-green eyes searched the surrounding ebony for a sign of her enemy, but found nothing. �Not so tuff without your gun, huh?� Such a complex, yet simple weapon. So many parts to complete one task, killing another living being.� As she kneeled, Amber withdrew a dagger from its sheath on her calf, �I�ve killed plenty of people without it.�
She was carefully listening to his voice and the shadows he came in and out of. To his downfall, he moved in a pattern. Amber poised her weapon before the section of wall she knew he�d come from next. The moment the black moved, Amber plunged the dagger into flesh and through a breastbone that protected something far more important. Duo gasped as the piece of steel pinned him to the wall. He tried to return to the shadow at his back but the source of his energy was speared. Amber leaned her weight onto the weapon, the demon�s blood spilling over her hands, �We�ll see how long you last with a knife in your heart.� Pilot two�s callused hands scrabbled at the handle of his death warrant. He knew if he didn�t withdraw the blade, that he would be unable to heal the wound.
Strength leaked from his body with his life�s blood, his now blue eyes finding no sympathy in the huntress�s gaze. Crimson slipped from his mouth as he took a struggled breath to speak, �Pull�pull it�out�please. Please!� Fury flared in Amber�s expression; she shoved the dagger deeper, the handle pressing to Duo�s bruised flesh. He cried out weakly and squirmed against her, his scarlet stained hands still fighting her grasp. Amber could feel the struggling movement of his failing heart slow to a complete stop. It was several moments before she dared pull the knife out of the unmoving body.
The shadows all across the room began to dance as though some one introduced a strobe light into them. Amber lashed open the second set of blinds and the darkness gathered in the center of the floor. The mass of moving darkness formed a human shape with a massive wingspan. Shadow melted away to reveal a well-built man with jet-black hair that hung to his waist. Small, ruby eyes gleamed from under his lengthy bangs and red tipped, black feathered wings flared at his obvious annoyance. A harsh voice, an older echo of Duo emitted from the leather-clad body, �What have you done to my grandson?�
Poseidon jolted at the sudden formation of a very dark presence. Heero appeared at his elbow, �Lucifer, why is he here? Go take care of him.� Having long since given up arguing with him, he trudged upstairs to the source of the energy. His walk shifted into a sprint as he realized who was in the room with the dark prince. The door and the dresser behind it yielded to the first shove of his shoulder. Shadows swirled sporadically around Duo�s room, a majority of them swarming Amber. She was fighting them off as well as she could when she spotted Triton.
As she opened her mouth to shout something at him, one of the inky splotches flew down her throat. Trowa took in Duo�s inert form and Lucifer in one quick sweep of the room. Knowing a fight wouldn�t free Amber in time, he fell to his knees, �Stop! Please, let her go!� The first fallen regarded him with slight humor, �You want me to release her? After what she�s done? You�re going to have to strike some kind of bargain.� The golden arch raked his mind for ideas, �I would give you my soul, but I�m already going to Hell anyway.�
Lucifer smirked, �Then you�ll take her place?� The nod wasn�t even pondered, coming out instinctively. The shadows shifted and Amber panted for breath. Trowa bowed his head and let them take him. The crimson archangel knelt beside the form of his descendent and reached to scoop him up. The longhaired youth�s body didn�t move, but a soul that was a strange mix of pilots seven and two was in the dark one�s arms. The assaulting shadows fled to one wall, leaving Trowa to his air, and opened themselves as a portal to Hell. The demon with angel wings looked at the teenagers holding each other thankfully and shook his head, �Feel lucky I decided to spare you, but you will not be so fortunate if I see you again.�
Amber kissed Trowa�s face feverishly, then slapped his and kissed him again. He held her until she was finished, saying nothing. After nearly a minute of this, the battle worn young woman threw her arms around his shoulders, �What were you thinking, taking that for me?! What if he�d decided not to pull them away?� Trowa sighed, �Then I suppose I�d be dead.� She glanced at him, �And what would I do if that had happened?!� His emerald eyes met hers sincerely, �The same thing that Jess is going to go through, I suppose. At least now that Duo�s gone.� His comment struck home hard in Amber�s mind, �But, it needed to happen. He was going to hurt her.�
The look Triton administered gave her slight regret and she groaned, �Maybe you�re right, but I don�t think I�d be the best person to tell her what happened.� Trowa shrank back, �Don�t look at me! I�m horrible at breaking news to people! We need someone who can break it to her gently.� A slender figure in the doorframe leaned to one side, �I suppose I�m going to talk to her then?� At Trowa�s nod and thankful smile, Quatre turned down the hall. He found the freckled Irish girl curled on the edge of her bed, hugging a pillow in the curve of her body. She looked up at him with tears on her cheeks, �What happened?� Pilot four sat beside her, �Well, Amber and Duo had a fight, as you probably figured. Things got kind of nasty�� The young girl�s eyes widened significantly, �Amber?!�
Pain crossed his face, �No, Amber�s find�Duo has�left us.� An uncontrolled sob wracked Jess�s small frame as she fell on the blond Arab�s shoulder, �You�re lying! Duo�s not dead, he can�t be!� Her tears soaked into the pale pink cotton of his shirt; Quatre winced, �He�s not dead permanently, he�s demon after all. He�ll come back as soon as he can.� The sobs slowed, Jess sniffling slightly, �He�s coming back?� He placed a hand on her forehead and reached for the demonic presence he knew as the death of darkness, he was well aware that the connection in Hell would hurt terribly.
His search found the dark boy in an exhausted, but conversational state. He connected the soul mates and shut down his link to the conversation; feeling that what was said was none of his business. Blinding heat surged across his senses, sapping his strength quickly. When a relieving smile crossed Jess�s face, Quatre broke the connection, �I�m sorry, I couldn�t hold it any longer.� To pilot seven�s surprise, he collapsed after saying so. The slender young woman lightly kissed his cheek, �Thank you Quatre, I�ll be alright now. He told me everything I needed to know.�
The only being even slightly delighted by Duo�s absence made swift use of it. Helios had thoughts in mind as he made his way into Jess�s room unannounced. Soft music flowed from a CD player in the corner, the song Heero recognized as the one she�d sung at the karaoke bar. Jess closed her book with a curious glance, �What do you need?� Two callused fingers under her chin recalled to mind that he wasn�t very trustworthy, �He seemed to care so much for you. Going to change you into a demon, wasn�t he?� His fingers trailed up the side of her face, coming to rest between the expressive emeralds that took in the world. �You wouldn�t make a very good demon, you�re to cute.� Pain and white overwhelmed her senses.
The noble of the desert prepared lunch for Dreamchaser�s pilot, knowing she still needed a bit of counseling over Duo�s absence. He entered with a smile on his face that quickly faded, �Jess?� The freckled girl turned her gaze over her shoulder, peering around a white expanse of wing. Quatre set the tray aside and sucked in a shallow breath, �Duo�s going to be furious! Did Heero do this?� A bleak nod brought a furrow to his brow. Barely noticeable black darkened the base of the newly born angel�s feathers. The blonde youth cocked his head, �Um�Jess, could you give me a loose feather?� She did as she was asked, placing the ebony based shell feather in his outstretched hand.
As his fingers brushed hers, a realization struck his mind, �You�ve got an angelic presence residing in you, not the fact that you are an angel, a second presence�I think you may be pregnant.� The youth gave him a confused look, �An angel, but I�ve only been with Duo and he�s a�� His subtle nod answered her unfinished question, �I�m going to take these things to Trowa, he will know more about all of this.�
Quatre left the winged girl to find some one who would know the answers to her questions, but Trowa could only tell him very little he didn�t already know. �You say that Heero changed her recently, so she�s had no chance to be in contact with Duo, as he�s in Hell. And yet, the black in her feathers is on the wrong end for it to be dark contact. It�s at the base as though it�s coming from inside; even the touch of shadowed flesh causes darkness to spread from feather tip, not the other way around�I don�t know what to tell you about her being pregnant the way she is, but, somehow, I believe it�s important. You must take this to Michael, he will know.� Surprise flooded the Arabian�s features, �Michael?! I�ve never met him, what if he doesn�t take me seriously?� Poseidon took his shoulders, �Then go to Gabriel, he was your mentor. He will believe you and take you to him, just don�t let Heero know. I don�t want to see how he would deal with this."
Stark white, reflective gold, and glimmering jewels dominated the plain above, dazzling the eyes of all newcomers. Apollo lightly touched down on the cobblestone path carved of rose-veined marble. A glance around the robed figures reminded him of his faded jeans and powder pink T-shirt. Aware that he didn�t wish to take the time to change, he folded his wings and started up to the massive domed building that held the angelic council.
A singsong voice met him halfway across the lobby, �Apollo! It�s marvelous to see you again! What returns you to the kingdom come?� The blue archangel was in his usual over-extravagant attire, today it consisted of a heavily embroidered, forest green robe with velvet blue tassels hanging from each sleeve and one tied as a belt about his slim waist. Gabriel pulled him into a swift hug, �Heaven has been so boring without your witty mind! What brings you back here?� Apollo returned his mentor�s embrace, �Well, actually, I have a dilemma.� Two thin azure eyebrows arched, �Oh? What might that be?� The situation spilled out in a rush of spoken as well as metal words, which Gabriel absorbed easily. When his explanation was complete, Quatre waited for the council member�s response. �This is complicated. I don�t have an answer for you, but if anyone does, it will be Michael. Come.�
The blonde angel obediently followed his mentor though the marble maze of the building to a pair of towering double doors intricately carved with drifting feathers. Gabriel rapped twice on the smooth platinum and waited. After a moment, it swung inward without a sound. In the void it left stood a winged creature that was approximately three inches off six foot. He was clad in a denim vest that was tattered at the sleeves and a pair of leather pants tucked into knee high combat boots. The high arch�s hair, a rusty orange, was pulled into a messy ponytail.
Michael took in his college and the smaller angel behind him, �Gabriel, what do you need?� The story yet again passed from mouth to ear, relayed this time by Gabriel. Michael listened carefully, twirling the feather that the cobalt archangel had handed him. The prince of angels spoke when Gabriel was done, �I will have to consult the prophecies over this, I know it is significant. Thank for bringing this to my attention, Apollo, wasn�t it?� The two toned angel nodded, amazed that such an important being would bother to remember his name.
As pupil and teacher walked off together, Gabriel inquired of other subjects, �Do tell me, how does Poseidon fair after that horrid misunderstanding with Rafael?� Images of the pain he�d seen Trowa endure flashed to mind, �Not very well, I�m afraid. Helios treats him horribly. He puts him through things that no one should have to endure!� Receiving the thoughts, Gabriel frowned deeply, �I will have to see what I can do about that. Helios may be in charge, but he was told to report to us rather than handle anything on his own�What of the Midian, have you found it?� �We believe so, but I am beginning to have my doubts. The half and half we suspect to be just doesn�t seem right There are other halflings and she doesn�t have more power than the rest of them.� Gabriel nodded thoughtfully, �But do recall, that it does not say how the Midian must lead the army. Just that it does.�
Months passed, Jess�s stomach swelled, feuding friends made peace, and lost companions were lamented. The solution to previous riddles was discussed among the council as the scrolls of the prophecies were scrutinized and consulted. A voice of Heaven found its way to Quatre�s mind. The cobalt arch sounded stressed to near breaking point, *Apollo, could you come up here for a few minutes, the council needs a word with you. It will be faster if Uriel comes and gets you, so just hold still. * The blonde tried to question him but found that he was already gone.
Seconds later, a gently tapered hand reached through the mirror over his dresser, a creamy oval face with tumbling amethyst locks peering out from above it, �Come, Apollo.� Wide eyed, Quatre took the offered hand of the purple arch, stepping through the cold layer of metal into a room beyond. There was a large vaulted ceiling suspended by pillars nearly three feet in diameter, the intricate mirror they�d come through leaning against one of them, and a circular table dominated the center of the room. Seated around this table were four of the oldest and wisest creatures know to creation, the fifth taking her sear at Michael�s side.
Quatre ogled at the council, the first he�d ever seen of them all together. In the order of their rank; Michael, Gabriel, Rafael, Adriel, and Uriel looked back at him, the highest chair began speaking; �You have brought to us a solution to the fabled Midian. You found her, but the situation is not as we had first predicted. This, Jess you call her, is the Midian of legend neither angelic nor demonic, but she will not be the one to lead us. The scrolls have changed, as oft they do, and have told us what will pass. Her children must survive; there will be two born to her, sired by the demon Shinigami. One will be dark and one light; both are needed for the Apocalypse that will occur in twenty-one years. That�s all we can tell you about this, though we have other subjects to address.�
A slight snarl curled Rafael�s lip, apparently they�d already spoken of the next topic. Michael glanced at the viridian arch before continuing, �Concerning Helios and Poseidon, I personally will be speaking to the jack ass about his behavior towards my old pupil, I appreciate you bringing this to attention. I can assure you that it will be taken care of. That is all, you may go.� He flipped his massive wings over the curved chair back made for them, �Uriel, would you be so kind as to take him home?� Star struck by his new information, Quatre followed her in a better mood leaving than when he�d arrived.
