Title: Crossing Paths part 15/15?

Author: Deathangelgw

Disclaimer: They aren’t mine….so no suing thankies!

Warnings: AU, OC, OOC, yaoi, het, slight angst.

Pairings: well….um….teehee…

Rating: PG-13

Note: well….after multiple death threats, I’m coming out with the *coughs* last part.  Glad everyone enjoyed….now I can work on something else!

Feedback: most welcome of rare things this is…

‘thoughts’

/telepathic speech/

Ryo moaned softly as he stirred slowly.  His body felt like he had been hit by a ton of armored bricks.  He opened his eyes, looking around as a gentle breeze blew his hair from his tear and sweat stained face.  He leaned up and looked around more, blinking his bleary eyes as he focused on the bodies around him.  As he gazed at his friends around them as they slowly came back to consciousness, his eyes saddened as he saw that three of his friends weren’t here.  Sitting up slowly, he looked at the field that they were in, the city of Shinjuku in the distance, a gleaming testament to their victory….and loss.

Shu groaned loudly as he leaned up, his eyes searching for Wufei’s as they sat up.  Wufei grimaced as he looked at Shu, then rubbed his forehead. “We…made it?” he croaked out, then sighed softly as tears filled his eyes. 

“Not…all of us.” Heero’s rough voice floated out as he sat up as well, looking at the city as Ryo did.  Ryo looked over at Heero and started.  Heero’s eyes shone with unshed tears as he looked over at the city, the wind that blew across the grass blowing his bangs out of his face.  A movement caught their eyes and they looked over to see Byakuen, Nasuti, and Jun running towards them.  Kayura was behind them, walking at a more sedate pace; the Staff of Kaos clanging softly as her sorrow filled form came towards them.

The Troopers and the Gundams that remained stood up slowly.  Touma’s body was hunched slightly, grief and sorrow a palpable aura around him as they watched their friends’ approach.  Panting softly as they slowly stopped, Nasuti and Jun smiled at their friends, but the smiles slowly disappeared as they saw the tears or grief on their faces.  Byakuen went over to first Ryo, then Touma, nuzzling against them in sorrowful comfort.  “Ryo…..Where are Seiji, Genaisa, and Quatre?” Nasuti asked softly and the others bowed their heads.

Ryo took a deep breath, then let it out as he replied, “We….had to sacrifice them.”  Nasuti and Jun gasped in shock as they stared at the shaking Rekka.  Nasuti looked over her shoulder, then went over to Shuten. 

They looked into each other’s eyes for a minute, then Nasuti moved into Shuten’ embrace. “They can’t be!  Ryo…you said that you were going to help them!”  Jun’s angered voice shouted out.  They looked to see tears running down the youth’s face as he glared at Ryo.  “They were…supposed to come back!  They weren’t…supposed…to...die!” his voice sputtered out as sobs wracked through him.  Ryo went over to him and gathered the sobbing boy to him as they both cried softly.  The others’ heads lowered in sorrow as well and the wind picked up around them.

Suddenly, Kayura’s staff began to clang loudly, then glowed brightly.  They all looked up in shock as Kayura stepped away from the glowing staff and Anubis went to her side, holding her gently as they all watched in wonder.  Three balls of light began to form next to the staff, slowly expanding and taking shape.  They all gasped sharply as the forms became humanoid, then cleared.  Genaisa, Seiji, and Quatre floated before them, still in their demon forms, faces slack in death.  A strangled sob left Touma’s voice as he moved to go to them, but a voice stopped him.

“Samurai Troopers.  Gundam Warriors.  You willingly sacrificed the ones whom you cared for in order to save all life.  Now, a choice is before you,” the voice spoke softly, coming from the glowing staff.  They all started slightly, watching in shock as the three warriors transformed back into their human forms, dressed in flowing white robes.  The voice continued as their bodies floated to lie out flat, slightly floating off of the ground. “We of the Light recognize your struggles for the sake of the good.  We are offering you a chance to save your friends.”

Ryo stood up, holding Jun to him as he looked at the glowing staff. “What can we do?  Tell us please!” he cried and the other warriors nodded, stiff with expectation.

“In order to bring them back, their life forces need to be rekindled.  If you are willing, you may each give a small bit of your own life forces to them.  But, be warned.  Your own life spans will be shortened with this and theirs won’t be as long lasting either.  But, they will be alive,” the voice replied softly, seeming to float on the wind as they listened and gazed at their friends.

Duo looked at the others and said softly, “I don’t know about you, but if our lives can bring back theirs, I say go for it.  Screw the shortened life!  It wouldn’t be worth very much if we let them die because we didn’t want to sacrifice ourselves a bit.” 

The other warriors nodded firmly, then looked back at the glowing staff. Speaking in a firm tone, Ryo declared, “We accept this and ask of the Light to bring our friends back using us as their life line.”

The staff glowed brighter, as if in approval, then replied, “Very well.  Step forward, Warriors.  Encircle the ones you love and we will begin.”  The young men nodded, then moved into a circle, surrounding the three bodies.  Taking hands, they closed their eyes.  Nasuti, Jun, Byakuen, and Kayura watched in silence as the staff’s glow grew in intensity.  A small ball of light appeared before the staff, then shot out, going into each of the warriors.  As they were each penetrated by the ball, they each flinched with pain, bending slightly forward as they were weakened by the ball.  After it had penetrated each of the warriors, it hovered above the three motionless warriors.  Splitting into three orbs, the light then plunged into Seiji, Quatre, and Genaisa.  Three bright columns of light surrounded them and their friends watched in wonder as a wild wind picked up suddenly.

After a minute or two, the wind died down and the columns faded.  Genaisa, Seiji, and Quatre’s bodies floated down so that they were lying on the ground.  As the others watched with wide, hopeful eyes, the three took deep breaths and slowly opened their eyes.  Gasps and crows of joy greeted them and the others rushed forward, hugging and kissing the three as they blinked in confusion, returning the hugs and kisses dazedly. 

When the joyful celebration had calmed a bit, they stood up, Genaisa leaning on Touma, Seiji on Ryo, and Quatre on Duo as they looked at the staff.  It slowly floated down to Kayura and she smiled at them, relief and joy on her face at seeing them all alive.  They smiled back, but then Rajura said softly, “I guess this is good-bye now.”

The other warriors looked at the Masho in confusion and they went over by Kayura.  But, as they neared her, she raised her hand with a small smile. “You now have a choice as well, former Masho of the Youjakai.”  They looked at her in shock and her smile grew.  “You may choose to return with me to the Youjakai, or you may stay here and live a normal life.  And die as mortals.”  Her voice was kind and gentle, offering them something she knew was within their hearts.  They looked at each other, then turned slightly, gazing at the warriors and Jun and Nasuti behind them.

*~~**~~*

Shu sighed softly as he looked up at the ceiling.  Wufei chuckled softly as his head rose and fell with Shu’s chest.  Shu smiled down at Wufei, but then his smile faded.  It had been three days since the defeat of the Shadows.  Genaisa, Seiji, and Quatre had slept for a day, then had joined them.  They didn’t remember much from the battle, which concerned the others, but they had told them what little they needed to know.  The three knew that the others were trying to protect them, so they didn’t press too much.  The former Masho had all elected to stay in the mortal realm.  Even Anubis.  He had first had a special talk with Kayura before she had left, but it was without regrets that they had chosen to remain mortal. 

Nasuti and Shuten had been inseparable since then, as had Touma and Genaisa.  Chuckling softly, Shu had to admit that they all had actually been inseparable, almost as if in wonder at their being alive.  Sighing sadly, Shu looked at Wufei again.  The Gundam pilots were leaving that day, returning to the Preventers.  None of them knew if they would see each other again.  Which was probably why they were all hesitant to be apart.

Looking up at a noise, Shu locked eyes with the tiger blue of his friend and leader.  Ryo’s eyes gazed at him sadly and said softly, “It’s time.”

The Troopers and Gundams looked at each other as the former Gundam pilots stood next to the cab that had come to pick them up.  They couldn’t find any words to start as they all stared at each other.  The former Masho as well as Nasuti and Jun had already said good-bye to the five youth, leaving the eleven warriors alone to say their good-byes.

Genaisa sighed softly as she tucked her hair behind her ear and said softly, “Well, we did it.  We all worked together and succeeded.”  She smirked as she added, “And you were even able to put aside your machoism for that!”  They all laughed softly at this and she went over to the Gundams.  Giving them each a tender hug, she smiled at them, speaking softly to each.  They each nodded at her, smiling gently.  Finally, she stopped in front of Quatre.  They smiled at each other, then lightly kissed before hugging each other tightly.  Nothing was said between the two Keys as they parted, but their eyes sparkled with tears.  Pulling back, she watched as Touma said his good-byes, then they both walked back into the house, leaving the others to say their good-byes in peace.

Seiji and Quatre, Heero and Ryo, and Wufei and Shu went into separate groups, talking and saying tender farewells as Trowa, Shin, and Duo chatted softly, exchanging numbers before coming back together as a group.  They all then said their farewells to the others, and then the Troopers stood back as the Gundams got into the cab.  As the dust from the cab faded, Ryo asked softly, “Do you think we’ll see them again?”

As they watched, Shu murmured just as softly, “I hope so, Ryo old buddy…I hope so.”  Slowly, the sun set on the four warriors as they watched the men they had come to love as much as each other go off into their own world.

OWARI…..Or is it? ~_^

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