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Ariel was driving in her black camaro, speeding down the open roads, heading towards Angel’s place for a visit with her and the guys. She smiled at the thought of seeing Angel and Heero, always vowing to keep the two together no matter what. The other guys, Wufei, Trowa, and Quatre were total sweethearts to her and she enjoyed their company. Then, there was Duo. The other man she loved with all her heart. She sighed sadly, totally confused, trying to forget the horrid events of earlier in the day.
She pulled into the parking lot and sighed as she grabbed her purse and got out of the car. She slowly made her way to Angel’s apartment, but stopped, when she saw the door left slightly opened.
“What the...?” Ariel whispered to herself as her eyes narrowed, sensing trouble. She slowly pushed the door open, peeking inside, placing her purse on the floor just inside.
A rather large man in a beige trench coat had managed to keep everyone quiet and still. She let her eyes wander, seeing that this man had a gun pointed right at them all, waving it side to side. Heero held Angel close, trying to protect her; the others were stilled because the man was obviously serious.
Ariel’s eyes narrowed and started flickering silver. She stepped into the apartment and silently stepped towards the man, stopping a few feet behind him. A deathly glare on her face as she flexed her hands, readying to fight.
Angel and the others noticed Ariel’s presence, slightly relieved for some possible help but showing no signs to acknowledge her presence.
The man prepared to shoot at them when Ariel spoke. Her voice cold and threatening. “I suggest you drop that gun.” Her eyes narrowed as a scowl appeared on her face.
The man snapped his head up and turned around, stepping to the side, keeping the group in eye to easily attack if needed. An evil smirk appeared on his face seeing Ariel.
The silver immediately fled from her eyes, as they opened wide and she gasped. Her face lost all color as the evident look of fear filled it. She began trembling slightly and eyed the man.
She took in a deep, shaky breath as she took a step back.
“Ariel?” Angel’s voice asked as she watched her friend slightly cower in fear.
Heero held Angel close, watching the scene carefully. He glanced over at Duo, who was watching Ariel intently, cocking his head to the side, trying to figure out what was going on with her.
Everyone watched Ariel in confusion and all felt a sudden urge to hurt him, but he pointed the gun right at Ariel. The room fell quiet.
The man smirked again and snarled at Ariel. “Well, well, well. We meet again, Ariel.” He takes a step closer, causing her to shudder and take another step back away from him. “I’ve missed you...” His voice sickened her.
Ariel took a gulp and immediately forced out her defensive walls. The fear left her eyes, but they all saw that it still hinted in them. She glared at the man and the gun pointed at her. “I dare you.” Her eyes started to changing to the sapphire blue color she got when fighting. She made fists with her hands and set her feet apart in a fighting stance.
The man grinned at her and took a step closer, lowering the gun, but holding it close. “I can’t kill you yet.” He kept getting closer to her. “I need you again.”
Ariel froze with his movement. Her eyes flashed with the sudden fear and then darkened with hatred.
Everyone felt helpless. Heero and Wufei held Angel down, avoiding her to go in and help for fear that she could cause the man to snap and shoot Ariel. Trowa had a scowl on his face, not pleased at all. Quatre feared for Ariel’s safety but wanted more than anything to help her. Duo shook his head slightly, feeling completely helpless, watching one of the women in his life throw up a wall attempting trying to block him and everyone from her fear, but knowing she was weakening in thought of that man.
The man took another step towards her and grabbed her arms. Ariel gasped and looked down at his hands. She let out a scream, of complete fear, as she pushed the man back away from her. Her eyes were wide as she looked at him.
He gave her a twisted smirk as he turned around and aimed the gun right at Duo, who was sitting on the floor. Everyone gasped as the man prepared to shoot.
Ariel let out a small growl, her eyes flashing as she grabbed the man with her left hand, turning him around, causing him to lower his aim, and she punched him with her right, sending him flying back towards the wall, and falling on the ground. The gun dropped to the floor, forgotten. She glanced at the group, breathing hard and then turned to glare at the man, stepping towards him with a sudden courage.
It was at that moment that Midnight appeared, his head between Duo and Heero. They all looked at him and he nodded slowly to them all, never taking his eyes off of his Mistress.
“Why didn’t you help her, Midnight?” Duo glared at him, shaken. He looked back at Ariel, fearing for her.
“She has to do this on her own...” the black winged-unicorn told him, closing his eyes.
“What do you mean?” Heero looked up at him, his eyes slightly narrowed.
Midnight ignored him and sighed.
Ariel was shaking but she walked up to the man, leaned down and pulled him up by his long wavy black hair. He got up and grinned at her, but he only received a deadly glare from the girl. She began walking towards him, her eyes flashing in anger and hatred. The fear was gone for the moment.
The man frowned and started backing away as she got closer.
“Are you happy with yourself?!” She screamed at him. “Are you?!” She shook her head in disgust, forgetting completely that the others were in the room. She only focused on the man in front of her and fighting her will to not kill him.
“Who the HELL do you THINK YOU ARE?!” Tears streamed down her face as she rounded the room with him. “Do you KNOW how you made me feel?”
The room was quiet except with the exception of Ariel. Heero held onto Angel, protecting her and restraining her at the same time. His eyes narrowed at the man in front of Ariel.
Duo let out a low growl before asking Midnight, never taking his eyes off of the man. “What is she talking about?”
“It gave you PLEASURE....” she shuddered as the words left her lips, “seeing me cry, begging for you to stop. To leave me alone,” her throat felt like it was closing up on her. Her eyes momentarily drifted.
**FLASHBACK**
A young Ariel screamed at the top of her lungs. A man in a beige trench coat had grabbed her by the arms and dragged her into a dark desolate alley. He pushed her down on the ground, pinning her small body under his knees as he ripped her clothes. She cried, begging him to stop as he slapped her hard, giving him enough time to remove his pants and force himself within in. She cried and screamed the entire time.
When he finished with her, he slapped her a few more times, cutting her side with his pocket knife, and left her to bleed and suffer. A sick grin on his face as he left her alone in the alley.
**END FLASHBACK**
Ariel shook her head forcefully, clenching her eyes shut, trying to rid herself of the memory. She took in another breath and opened her eyes to look at the man with a look of disgust.
“I was six years old,” she said calmly, getting everyone’s attention at sudden gentleness. “SIX YEARS OLD!!” She screamed, her hands in tight fists. “And you RAPED ME!!!” She broke down into tears at the word. “YOU RAPED ME!!!” She let down her guard.
There was one huge, collected gasp in the room. Wufei held down Angel’s hand as Heero tightened his grip on her. He narrowed his Prussian blue eyes at the man, letting out a disgusted sound. He wanted more than anything to snap the man’s neck. But his attention suddenly shifted to Duo.
His best friend was already crouched down and glaring at the man, as if he was ready to attack and rip the guy to shreds. The anger was more than evident on Duo’s face and his violet eyes flashed dangerously as he narrowed them even more.
The man smirked at Ariel’s pain. His grin widened when he saw her crying and when she let down her guard. He jumped out at her, pushing her down on the floor, pinning her underneath him.
Everyone was ready to attack him but Midnight’s voice boomed over them. “MISTRESS!!!” Midnight jumped over the couch and rammed the man’s chest with the side of his head, sending him crashing through a glass curio, leaving him unconscious with all his injuries.
Angel ran out to Ariel, dropping to her knees, reaching out to hug her friend. Heero was beside Angel and Duo on the other side of Ariel, both reaching out to help her sit up.
Wufei glanced over at the man. “He’s finished for now.” Returned to look at Ariel.
Quatre and Trowa both exchanged worried glances as Midnight walked up, next to them.
“Ariel?” Angel touched Ariel’s shoulder.
At the touch, Ariel’s eyes widened in fear and sat up instantly, pulling away from everyone. She looked around in fear, tears steadily coming down her face. She stood up shakily and backed away, eyeing them all cautiously.
Her sobs broke Angel’s heart. “Ar...” Her own tears were flowing down her face. Heero held her close but watched Ariel carefully.
“Babe?” Duo’s voice was soft. He looked at her lovingly, and slowly got up, getting her attention.
But Ariel’s mind was not with her. She shook her head as she slowly kept backing up from the group, crying hysterically. She stopped a few feet before sensing the wall behind her. She eyes mindlessly wandered to the ground, her attention focusing on the gun that lay there. She slowly bent down, picking up the metal weapon.
Heero’s eyes widened. Trowa held Duo back, knowing that anyone getting near her could cause more damage.
Angel shook her head as she watched the dark-haired girl look at the gun. There was a tender look on Ariel’s face and a subtle smile on her face as she took the gun in her right hand, as if she were readying to shoot. She lifted it up in front of her, studying it.
“Mistress....” Midnight’s voice demanding. “Put it down!” She looked up at him and gave him one of her death glares. He repeated himself. “PUT the gun DOWN!!!” He slowly took a step towards her.
His movement tensed Ariel as she spoke; her voice cold. “Don’t come any closer Midnight.” She glanced at everyone, her eyes narrowed. “None of you.”
Heero took a deep breath. This was definitely not like the girl they all grew to love. He held Angel close. He was just as scared as the girl in his arms was.
Midnight tried reasoning with her. “Ariel...you have to put the gun down. You’ll feel a bit better if you do.”
Ariel’s eyes flashed in anger and hurt. “Feel better?” Her voice slowly getting louder. “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER?!” She waved the gun around in the air. “NOTHING!! I’ve spent years trying to FEEL BETTER. To NO AVAIL!!!” She glared at them all, then focused on her winged advisor.
“YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE!” she shuddered. “I’m not worth anything...ANYTHING! I‘m not worthy of being a DAMN PRINCESS. I’m not worthy of RULING THE UNIVERSE! I’m not worthy of anyone’s LOVE! ANYONE’S!! ” She was nearly in hysterics. “Everyday, I wake up and I want to vanish...be thrown away in the garbage, hit by a train. Anything. I want to DIE! HE...” pointing the gun at the man, “took everything from me! EVERYTHING!” Her voice cracked as the tears never ceased falling. “I see his face in my dreams...in my thoughts.” Shaking her head. “I can’t live like that anymore.” She looked at the gun, her eyes softening.
“Ariel...” Duo’s voice was a soft whisper. Trowa slightly tightened his hold on him, his own face grim.
Ariel shifted her attention from the gun to her left hand, which she had risen, showing it to them. “Look...” Her hand shaking as she sniffled. “No ring...” Her face saddened at the words and she looked down, gripping the gun.
“Ariel...” Angel’s voice was quiet. “Where is the ring?” She asked as she stared at her friend’s hand.
Lowering her hand, Ariel lowered her face to the side, closing her eyes for a second and then looking at Angel. “He has it. Dick took the ring back.” Her face flushed even more.
Quatre glanced at Wufei and then looked back at Ariel. “But...why?”
**FLASHBACK**
Dick overheard Ariel talking to Midnight about her reoccurring nightmares of the rape. He stormed in and glared at them. “You lied to me?” His face showed his anger. “Why?”
Ariel was shocked and glanced at Midnight.
Midnight closed his eyes, “Because I told her not to tell you.”
Dick shook his head. “I can’t believe this Ariel! You should have told me!! I could have helped!” The glare he had given her overwhelmed her as he screamed in her face. “I CAN’T TRUST YOU!! You listen to a DAMN WINGED-HORSE...and don’t tell ME?!” He shook his head at her. “You were raped! Great! Just GREAT!” He smirked when she began to cry. He forcefully grabbed her hand, pulling off the ring he had given her when he asked her to marry him. “It’s over Ariel. IT’S OVER! I CAN’T MARRY A LIAR!!!”
Ariel dropped to her knees, hugging them, sobbing hysterically.
**END FLASHBACK**
A slight scoff came from Ariel. “He found out that I was raped. He doesn’t want anyone that lied to him especially if it was just hiding the fact about being raped.” She looked up at Midnight, a cold look on her face. “Thank you very much Midnight.”
Sensing the sarcasm, Wufei spoke up, “Ariel. It was not your fault. He shouldn’t have left you because you hid that you were raped from him. I can imagine that it is not something one wants to remember, much less talk about.” He looked at Midnight.
“You forbade me from telling Dick the truth, Midnight.” Her voice just as cold as the look on her face. But then she broke down into tears again. “I lost everything now. No one wants me... no one is going to love a liar. Much less a raped liar.” She shook her head again and then raised the gun, nodding to herself.
“That’s not true, Ariel, you know that!” Midnight spoke to her.
“He’s right...” Duo watched her carefully.
She smirked in disgust at the injured man. “Damn you. For taking everything from me.” She looked at Quatre and smiled softly. “Don’t ever change Quatre.” She moved her vision over to Wufei. “I’ll always respect you, Wufei. You have a family now.” She looked at Angel and Heero. “Ang...Heero. I love you both so much and I thank your for everything. But I am sorry that I lied to you all about this as well.” Her eyes showed all the sadness in the world. “Trowa,” looking at him. “You’re one hell of a dancing partner.” She smiled sadly.
“Ariel...” Angel croaked out. “What...” shaking her head, crying as Heero held her tightly, fighting his own tears.
Ariel looked at Midnight. “Always my protector...always there.” She sighed sadly. “I’ll always see you Midnight.”
She turned to look at Duo. Her heart pounding painfully in her chest. Her face paled and she closed her eyes, looking away. “Oh, Du...” Tears came from her eyes. “I really do love you. So much it hurts...but,” she sighed sadly, opening her eyes. She looked at him.
Duo took in a sharp breath. He could read her entire heart and soul through her sad, dark brown eyes. “Ariel...don’t...” He felt his heart start breaking. His eyes held hers for a moment before she turned away.
Ariel took a step back, turning around slightly. She closed her eyes tightly and shivered. “I love you all...I always will.” She lifted the gun to her head, aiming it at her right temple. She slowly started to pull the trigger.
A shot rang out, startling everyone. Ariel screamed in shock as the gun she held fell to the ground, shooting itself, hitting the injured man. She shook as she looked down at the gun and then at her hand. She slowly turned around with sad, wet eyes to see Duo, lowering the gun he had just used to shoot the one out of her hands.
“Like hell I’m going to let you die,” Duo stared at her. “You don’t deserve to die Ariel.” He pocketed the gun and took a few steps towards. He slowed down when he saw her hunch down, frightened. He whispered to her. “Ariel...Babe,” he looked at her. “I’m not going to leave you. I’m not going to let anything else bad happen to you.” He smiled at her softly.
“I’m not worth anything Duo...” she looked up at him warily, shaking her head. “Nothing at all...” She slowly dropped to her knees, falling forward, letting her hair fall all over the place. Her sobs were quieter than before.
Duo looked back and silently nodded to the others. His own tears coming down. He stepped closer to her, bending down and soothed her hair. “Babe...” He pulled her closer to him, holding her tightly as he laid his head down on her back.
Ariel’s battle with her emotions had just been taken over by the man holding her. She felt slightly better but still was miserable, crying hysterically.
He shifted her up, so she was sitting upright, next to him. He lifted her face with his hand, making her look at him. He wiped away the stray tears from her face. “Hey...don’t cry. I don’t like it when you cry.” He tried reading what was inside of her.
She let out a soft, whimpering sigh as she let her eyes become an open book to him. Letting him see her love, her pain, her anger, her fear...and her slight bit of hope that things will work out. The tears slowly ceased.
Duo held her tighter as he rocked her, glancing at everyone in the room, nodding to each, giving them a smile small. He spoke gently to her as he soothed her hair. “No one is ever going to hurt you like that again, Ariel. EVER.” He kissed the top of her head. “None of us will let that happen. I won’t let that happen.” His voice seemed to give her hope as she slowly nodded and closed her eyes, letting out a shaky sigh. “For I am Shinigami and no one messes with my girl.”
The End....