Hell's Gate

A/N: This is a depressing fic. If you don't like this kinda fic, don't read it. It includes blood, cursing, and suicide. Also, there are 'religious' themes as well as 'religion-bashing', somewhat. If this is offensive, please do not read this. If you do read after my warning, please be reminded that you WERE warned, and a flame would be slightly stupid. Thank you very much.

Also, I'm drawing this story out in manga form now as well. Expect that to be up...oh...in a few years. ^_^ kidding, but it will take a while.

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"I came to see you, like I said I would."

She stood still as the wind blew her dark gray hair around, her light blue-gray eyes pained. It was so quiet there. No one else was around. Her voice bounced off of everything, making it sound ominous.

"I even remembered to bring it. It was hard to find, but I found it for you."

There was no answer for the young girl. Shes tood transfixed to the spot as she just stared sadly. In her hand was dark blue tulip with silver streaking it. She held it lightly, afraid she may crush the lovely thing.

"It's only been a month since...since you did it."

She kneeled and carefully laid the tulip down on the ground in front of one of the graves. Then she sat down with her legs folded under her. Forcing a painful smile, she gazed upon the silvery stone.

"I've missed you. So, I've decided to come see you more often. How's that sound?"

The girl pulled her knees up to her chest. She started rocking back and forth as tears theatened her eyes. She waited until her voice was normal again before she spoke again.

"All day, you know what's been going on? I keep..I keep seeing that day. Over and over. The funeral, mostly... You know?" She sighed. "I remember what they were saying afterward. Mom yelled at me for wearing what I did."

She chuckled ruefully. "You did tell me not to dress up if I was still around when you died. To be normal. So I went normal. Mom said I was being disrespectful. She just didn't understand... Neither did any of the other people there. But that's okay, right? I didn't like them much anyway..

"You hurt me, you know," she said finally, letting the tears go as she burried her head in her arms. "It hurts. You just...why? Why did you do it? You had so much going for you! And... and... I miss having someone to talk to..."

She stood finally and stubbornly wiped away her tears. She straightened her clothes and brushed off the grass before looking back at the grave. Slowly, she smiled again. A real smile.

"I'll come back again soon. Thanks for listening. I feel better now."

Then she turned and walked away. A lone droplet fell down onto the top of the gravestone as a strange wind flew away from it.

* * * *

"No! Get away from me! HELP!"

She stopped when she heard the screams. One word flew through her mind: Mom. Quickly, she reached into the second mail holder and pulled out her pistol, making sure it was loaded, before carefully opening the door. She heard sounds from her mother's bedroom and quickly made her way to it. She tried the lock. It wouldn't open. Cursing under her breath, she stepped back, getting ready. Then she lashed out and kicked the door down with one try. Inside, the intruder was holding her mother down. He looked back at her and the girl extended her arms, pulling back the hammer of her gun. Her eyes were narrow and angry.

"Step away from her now," she growled. The intruder stood and backed away from the older woman, who was laying curled up and whimpering. The girl stepped back trhough the doorway.

"Come here and keep your hands up. Don't try anything or I'll blow your head off."

The gun-weilding girl walked backwards, keeping her eyes on the following man. She felt a table behind her and seached it with one hand. She found the phone and picked up the reciever. Without her eyes leaving his, she felt out the keys and hit 911. She pulled the reciever up to her ear, and waited. The Intruder didn't move, afraid of the gun and the bullets it contained.

"Yeah, we had an intruder," the girl said suddenly. "Yeah, he's still here. He's not going anywhere. Mom might be hurt. I didn't get a good look at her. No, I can't go see. 'Cause if I go, this guy'll make a run for it. Look, lady, just send over some cops to pick him up! BECAUSE IF I GO INTO THE OTHER ROOM, HE WON'T HAVE THE FEAR OF ME SHOOTING HIM! NOW HURRY!"

She slammed the reciever back down and glared at the man. He was tall with long, shaggy black hair. That was about all she could see in the dim light. Other then his mismatched clothing. It didn't take long for them to hear the familier sounds of squad cars coming. The girl didn't move, but the man shifted uncomfortibly.

Four police men came in quickly. The girl glanced over at them.

"Here's the guy," she said simply. The cops proceeded to cuff him and lead him outside. One of the men walked up to her.

"You said that your mother might be hurt?" he said kindly. She nodded and pointed into her mother's bedroom.

"I think he was trying to rape her."

The man nodded and walked inside. Seconds later, he exited, helping her mother walk. Her mother looked up at her, frowning.

"Ikari..?"

Ikari smiled painfully. A bruse was welling on her mother's eye. "It's okay now, Mom. He's just gonna take you to get looked at, okay?"

"Okay.."

* * * *

A group of students stood at the entrance to the school, talking and laughing. They had just gotten back from summer vacation. Ikari frowned as she watched them. Her distaste of people in general had only gotten worse as her light progressed. She silently walked past them without a glance.

"Hey, it's Goth Chick!" She heard from behind me. She frowned at their stupidity as more calls came.

"What's up? Sacrifice anything lately?"

"I heard your so called 'friend' Sabin killed himself! What, he get bored of you?"

Ikari stopped imediately. Her fist shook as she clinched them and tried to contain her rage.

"That was low dude," one guy said.

"So? Why would she care? She hated everyone anyway."

"Still, man.."

Ikari turned around and glared at the group. She stalked back to them, her body trembling and her eyes flashing murderously.

"Who said it," she growled angrily. Slowly, all heads turned to one boy in particular. Ikari remembered him. He was a total jerk. Ikari lunged and punched him hard in the face, hearing a crack as he nose broke. He fell with the force of it and blood ran down his face.

"How dare you even joke about that?" she hissed, her voice low. Tears stung her eyes but she refused to let them go. "You don't know anything about how it feels."

None of them said anything. They had never seen Myotso Ikari so angry before. It was scary. Ikari turned on her heel and walked into the school silently. Slowly, the group of teens entered as well.

Nothing else really happened that day. At lunch, Ikari walked to her normal table and sat down, setting her lunch bag on the painted wooden surface. She looked down upon it and stared at the pictures and messages that had been scribbled onto it in past years. A pang of saddness hit her as she reviewed them, remembering many a day she and Sabin had written on it. Then she remembered that the school was to get new tables this year. They would throw these away. She had to find away to keep this one...

Another body coming to sit across from her startled her from her revery. She looked up at the other person and raised an eyebrow.

"What do you want, Taylor?" she said somewhat rudely. Taylor was an american that had transfered to their school a few years back. She was a popular girl and beautiful too, with long wavy blond hair and bright blue eyes. Tall and thin, she was exactly like all the others. Today, however, she was dressed in full black; sporting long pants and a long sleeved shirt. She was usually in light colored belly shirts and short skirts...

"I heared about Sabin," Taylor said quietly. Ikari winced. So that's why..

"Yeah, well..."

"It's not your fault, you know."

Ikari's frown deepened and she lowered her brows. How do you know? "I never said it was. What are you implying?"

Taylor bit her lip. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"You didn't mean to, but you did. I know you just want to help me, but right now, I need to be alone."

Taylor nodded and stood. "I'm glad, at least, that you didn't make that same mistake he did.."

Ikari didn't respond as the blond girl walked away. She didn't respond because she was too busy trying to keep from crying. Someone cared.

* * * *

He felt guilt full his heart as he watched her sorrow. Tears fell from his own crimson eyes as she wept in her room, all alone. All he wanted was to reach out to her, comfort her...

"Don't."

He turned his head slightly and looked at the other figure behind him through his brown hair. The other boy was a bit shorter with dark blue hair ending just below his collar bone and gray-blue eyes. He was dressed in a pair of tattered blue jeans, boots, and a white shirt with a red jacket over it. Light angelic wings hovered behind him. The Angel was looking back at him pleadingly and reached out to touch him. He flinched away.

"Sabin, I-"

"Shut up, Fedeth," Sabin growled. Fedeth frowned concernedly as he watched Sabin walk to the mortal girl's bedside. Sabin was younger then he, only eighteen when he died. Fedeth himself couldn't remember how old he was. He was eighteen when he died as well. Sabin was tall and strong. He intimidated the other angel for a while. Mostly because he was fallen. Sabin did have wings, like Fedeth. But they were dark gray in color, symbolizing his sin. The sin of suicide. Sabin wore a pair of jeans and a white tank top with no shoes. He had pale red ribbons tied around his wrists and around his right ankle was an anklet. Fedeth hadn't enquired about the strange peice of jewlery and didn't plan to.

Sabin tentivly reached out and stroked Ikari's hair. Her sobs slowly deminished as he pet her. She had been trying to fall asleep and he was helping the process. Ikari curled herself slightly under the dark sheets, clutching them tightly. Sabin frowned at her grief. He hadn't thought it would hurt her so much...

"We have to go," Fedeth said quietly. Sabin lingered long enough to brush a few stray strands of dark gray hair out of the mortal's face before he relented and turned away.

"When?" he asked softly. Fedeth frowned.

"I don't know.."

* * * *

"It's time, guys."

Fedeth stared at the other angel, mordified. "But she can't be ready yet!"

Gabriel shook his head. "It's time."

Sabin frowned. "Who's going to awaken her?"

"Caylis, one of the Gatekeepers. He volentiered for it," Gabriel answered.

"Caylis? But...he's so kind. Why would he ever have done that?"

"Satan made a deal with him. If he does it, he'll be allowed back into Hell." Gabriel shrugged. "You know how his kindness got him risen."

Fedeth frowned. "And he'll only be risen again later. He does know that, doesn't he?"

"He gets a pardon."

Sabin stared at him. "A pardon?"

Gabriel sighed. "No, I don't think that will be in your near future, Sabin."

Sabin's scowl returned. Gabriel seemed to ignore the fallen, though, and looked at Fedeth instead.

"We need her to close the gates soon. Those Gatekeepers are having a hard time keeping everyone on the right sides. Even with Kami there-"

"Kami is there?!" Fedeth exclaimed. His eyes darkened to a crimson that riveled Sabin's own with his anger. "How could you let Kami be there? She's only seven years! And a new soul at that!"

"She's still a Gatekeeper, and I think you should calm yourself before you do something rash to get yourself fallen," Gabriel warned. Fedeth shut his mouth quickly and silently fumed as he tried to get control of himself again.

"Kami isn't the issue here," Sabin said quickly. "The Chosen is."

Both unfallen angels nodded.

"Caylis will need help. You have to get him with her alone and let none of the other mortals interupt," Gabriel said sternly. Sabin and Fedeth nodded before leaving to their task.

* * * *

Today was just like any other day. Ikari stayed in bed most of the morning, rising only to get a few peices of toast before returning to her room. She had saved up the little bit of money she could get to customize it. The walls had been painted in a dark blue as well as her ceiling with dots of yellow and white in star formations. Many lamps adorned the cornors and different book shelves with translusent black and purple scarves over them. Ikari sat and stared into one of the starry walls as she ate her small breakfast. That day seemed even bleaker then normal. She turned her gaze towards the window and looked out into the world. Even the outside seemed sad today.

A flash of movement caught her attention and she turned her head to see. There was someone there. He was tall with strangely spicky hair and....wings. Ikari widdened her eyes at the wings. They were...demonic.

"A-A..." she stammered, not able to finish as she backed up to her wall. The demon stepped foreward into the light. His hair was deep red and his eyes a kind blue. He wore a denim jacket with the sleaves ripped off and baggy pants tucked into his boots. Around his left forearm, he had a blue ribbon tired. His ears were strangely elongated, like elvin ears in her books, and the left was peirced with a silver earing. He was strikingly beautiful.

"Sh," he said kindly, a sad smile on his pained face. Ikari started feeling calmer. She folded her legs under her and watched him, cautious.

"Who are you?" she asked. The demon shifted his weight uneasily.

"My name is Caylis," he said. She tilted her head to the side, looking childlike. Caylis smiled. She reminded him of someone he used to know.

"Why are you here?" she asked. Instantly, he became tense. Whatever the reason, it wasn't good. Ikari felt scared again.

"I've come...to awaken you," he said softly, gravely.

"Awaken? But I'm already awake."

Caylis shook his head. "No. You are dormate and shall remain so unless I wake you."

"I don't understand..."

"I know."

Caylis reached into his jacket and pulled out a long jagged knife. Ikari gasped as realization hit her. He was going to kill her!

"No," she said softly. Caylis's face turned to one of determined sadness as he grabbed her hands and pinned them over her head with one hand. She fought him, but the demon was much stronger. Soon, the dagger was at her throat. Ikari knew it was too late. She turned her eyes up to look into his.

"Please don't hurt me," she whispered. With a strangled cry, Caylis shoved the dagger swiftly into her chest with tears in his eyes. Her head fell down slack and she didn't make another sound.

* * * *

"Where am I?"

That was the first question that came to her mind. That and 'Why aren't I dead?'. She opened her eyes and sat up, looking around. She was laying in the opening of a giant metal gate. The gate was adorned with golden twists and flowers. It was beautiful. Ikari looked to one side of the gate. Clouds stretched endlessly from it. The sky was a brilliant silver and she faintly heard singing coming from that direction. Then she turned to the other. The other side was bleak and misterable. It's skies were dark and stormy with bursts of silvery lightning here and there. She could hear screams from far away.

"Hello, Ikari."

Ikari stood quickly and looked at the speaker. She was a young girl with short black hair and green eyes. The girl was so young, it almost hurt to see her. Ikari knew that where ever she was, anyone she saw was dead. A child so young... Then she saw them. The girl had wings. Both of them were dismal gray. The strange thing was that one was angelic while the other was demonic. The girl smiled cheerfully. She wore a light green shirt with three black stripes, a white skirt, and light gray sandles. The last things Ikari noticed were the child's ears. They were pointed. Not as much as Caylis's had been, but still pointed.

"Don't worry," the little girl sad happily. "You're safe here. Neither side can get you."

"I don't...understand...Who are you?" Ikari said slowly. She frowned, her brows drawn. The girl only took her hand.

"My name is Kami. I'm a Gatekeeper. It's okay, Ikari. I will protect you."

"Kami... isn't that God in Japanese?"

Kami blinked then smiled sheepishly. "I wouldn't know. I'm not mortal."

Ikari didn't say anything more. Kami led her away from the gate to a small building that Kami had dubbed 'The Den'. Inside, there weren't many people there. In the few rooms they looked in, only one other person was seen. She was older then Ikari by a few years and had the height to prove it. She was tall and thin, reminding Ikari of Taylor. The strange woman had dark brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and sparkling blue eyes. She wore a tight fitting body suit with shorts on and on the tip of her nose were modest looking glasses. The woman didn't say a word to them.

"Hello, Blue," Kami said cheerfully. Blue smiled back. Then Kami led Ikari away.

"She was muted," Kami explained once they were away from the other woman. Ikari nodded.

"How come she has no wings?"

"They were taken away with her voice," Kami answered. She smiled. "Not that it matters. Gatekeepers don't really need them. And if you were wondering, she was Angel."

Ikari blinked but decided not to go further into the subject. Kami stopped when she heard a sound. Ikari heard it to. It was a young man's voice yelling for someone to calm down. Kami frowned.

"Uh-oh.." she said softly.

"What?"

"I think you should wait here. I'm going to find out." With that, Kami left. Ikari stayed there as told and waited exactly five seconds before decided to follow. Kami opened the door just a crack and looked inside.

Caylis sat there with his head in his hands, his wings wrapped around him and his body shaking. He was crying. An angel with black hair and dark eyes was with him, as well as Sabin.

"Caylis, it's okay. You had to do it," the angel said kindly, patting the demon's back. It did nothing to help to poor soul.

"Kyidi... You shoulda...seen her," Caylis choked, his voice retched in sobs. "It was...horrible.. I...I HATE BEING A DEMON!"

"Calm down!" Sabin growled, grabbing his arms. Caylis only sobbed in responce.

"I wish I was a mortal again!" he shreiked. "Then I wouldn't remember ANY of this!"

Kyidi frowned as he rubbed the risen's back and looked at Sabin. Sabin scowled.

"It is possible," Sabin said. "You'd have to convince Devil-man and God first."

"I'd do it! Just to get her face out of my mind!" Caylis vowed, raising his head to look at Sabin. Tear streaks stained the light flesh. "It's like her eyes are burned into my eyelids, Sabin! It's horrible!"

Sabin frowned again. "I'll help you. I may not be able to get into Heaven anymore, but I'll help you with Satan."

Caylis nodded and stubbornly wiped his tears away. "Thanks, Sabin."

"Anytime, Cay." Sabin smiled. "I have to redeam myself anyway..."

"SABIN!!!!!!!"

Sabin whipped around just in time to have the girl fling her arms around his chest and start sobbing. Sabin frowned and let his arms fall around her.

"Hey.."

Kami frowned from the door. "I couldn't stop her.."

"It's okay," Kyidi told her, smiling sadly. "She would have found out anyway."

Caylis watched in sorrow as he remebered how she had looked at him before he broke down and started to cry again. He jumped from he seat and ran out of the room. Kami fell into step behind him.

Sabin sighed heavily as the newly dead girl clutched him. "You can let go now. I won't get any deader then this."

Ikari let go at that and looked up at him. Her eyes burned angrily and she slapped him.

"WHY DID YOU DO IT?" she screamed, taking the fallen by surprise. Ikari started beating on his chest as tears rolled down her cheeks. "WHY?! WHY?! WHY?!"

Sabin grabbed her arms, forcing her to stop. Ikari just desolved into sobs and he hugged her. Kyidi watched, saddened.

"You left me alone, you big jerk," Ikari sobbed. Sabin silently held her until she quieted.

"She's asleep," Kyidi said quietly. Sabin nodded. He carefully picked the girl up and looked at the unfallen.

"She has no wings," he said. Kyidi sighed.

"She's not an Angel or a Demon. My guess is that neither higher power can claim her."

Sabin nodded. "I'm glad."

"You're ashamed, aren't you?" Kyidi asked. Worried. Sabin scowled.

"No."

Kyidi sighed. "Might as well take her into one of the rooms. She'll need the rest...for tomorrow."

"So soon?" Sabin asked, drawing his brows.

"Fedeth and Gabriel told me. We don't have anymore time."

The Gate was as magnificent as before. Ikari stood in awe before them. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked back to Sabin.

"You're on the Angel side," he said, his eyes never leaving the Gate. Caylis walked by them onto the other side. As soon as he had past, his gray wings darkened until they were completely black. He looked back at them, a sad happiness in his face.

"I'm going home now, until after the Closing," he said. Ikari frowned.

"What about the Trial?" Sabin asked.

"It won't be for a while." He frowned.

"Trial...?"

"To get my life back. I want to be a mortal again." His smile brightened. "I want to be able to die. To feel pain. To feel love... Demons can't feel love. Not unrisen ones. And even after being risen, only to a degree."

She slowly nodded, understanding. Caylis turned his back to them and walked away. Kyidi walked up to them calmly.

"Are you ready?" he asked. Ikari nodded.

"As ready as I can be," she said..

That was when Fedeth flew down to them and frowned.

"Sabin, we can't let this go through. If the gates close, it would mean that no mortal's soul will reach here," he said hasilty, glaring at the boy. Sabin stared at him.

"Then why do the Powers need it to be closed?!"

"I don't know," Fedeth admitted. He looked at Ikari, his eyes hardening. "In any event, I cannot let that happen."

"What are you planning?" Kyidi asked nervously. Fedeth sighed.

"Both of you, turn around."

"What? Why?" Ikari asked.

"Just do it, please..."

Ikari frowned, but turned her back to the angel. Sabin hesitently did so as well. Kyidi followed in sync. Fedeth stepped back and whispered faintly, "Forgive me..."

Ikari screamed as firey pain shot up from her spine. Sabin cried out as well. Kyidi just stiffened, his pain too much for him to bare. Then the angel fell to the ground. Another slash of pain and Ikari fell, her back bloody. Sabin soon followed her. He turned his head weakly and stared desperately at the scythe weilding angel.

"W...Why?"

Fedeth was crying. "I couldn't let the mortals suffer."

Sabin watched as Fedeth's wings started to darken. it started at the base before spreading like a virus to the tips of each feather. Fedeth looked down, his lips barely moving as he uttered the words.

"Rule one: Never hurt one of your own..."

Then he faded away. Sabin layed his head down and looked at Ikari. Her eyes were closed. Sabin stretched his hand out and grasped hers, not surprised to find it cold.

"I'm sorry," Sabin whispered. Then he closed his eyes as well.

* * * *

The Gatekeepers found the three dead in front of the Gate. They were sent to be reborn. Caylis was sent soon afterward. The gate will remain open and none can close it. The Chosen has not matured. Both of the Powers, Good and Evil, have to wait. And wait they will.