Ares Long Lost Love

Death Will Part Us. . . . (The End)

The night was cold and dark, a storm had rolled in and Kimiko sat alone in the house. Her parents returning to their home to secure the windows and doors as well as to usher the farm animals into safer quarters. Kimiko wasn't upset by their absence though, the warmth of the roaring fire beside her kept her feeling happy and safe. The light casting a beautiful glow upon her as she hummed a soft nursery rhyme to her unborn child. Her eyes closed so they wouldn't be burned by the light as she rubbed her stomach with a smile upon her face. A fresh pot of tea rested beside her as she lay across the cushions. Her lips parting to allow the warm brew to warm her insides as well. She pulled the blanket around her more and sighed opening her eyes as she glanced at a wedding portrait. "Oh ares.... tonight is the end of your second day, and I feel our child will soon be here. I pray that when I wake you will have me in your arms." Her hands reached up to the locket she wore and she smiled gazing down at his small captured picture. She lifted herself up with some trouble but in the end she was on her feet. She scuffled across the floor the blanket tightly clasped around her as she made her way to her bedroom. She had been carrying a small light and placed it on the table next to her bed. She lowered herself down upon the mattress and quickly blew out the light. Her eyes feeling heavy with exhaustion and she could feel sleep overtaking her. KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! Her eyes flew open and she felt her heart soaring. Could it be? Could her prayer have brought him back? She heard the knocking continue and with her arms outstretched waddled her way across the house the light of the fire offering her little assistance. "Oh ares!" She opened the door but her heart sank again as it was only a traveler. "Please miss... The storm... it isn't letting up, can i rest here until it passes?" Kimiko nodded and allowed the poor man inside lighting some candles to illuminate the dark home. She waddled to the kitchen to fix some fresh tea for the man since he had to be freezing and sighed softly. "My apologies for not answering it sooner, it is hard to move about with my protruding belly."-"That is no trouble miss, thank you for giving me shelter." The man was rubbing his arms quickly to warm himself before moving and sitting by the fire. Kimiko watched him and smiled softly, she always welcomed travelers into her home. They sometimes offered items for trade and she enjoyed showing off her unique collection. Of course Ares was usually with her, but still she saw no threat of this man. She came over carrying a cup of hot tea and smiled holding her stomach. "Here sir, to warm your bones."-"Thank you very much... how soon are you expecting?"-"Oh this little one should be arriving sometime tomorrow I believe, they haven't stopped moving about for hours." The man swallowed nodding as he drank the tea. Kimiko yawned and sighed. "Well I am afraid I must leave you, the night is growing and I feel my energy leaving me."-"oh... no trouble miss...." Kimiko had turned leaving him and sighed walking to her bed once more. She laid herself upon the fluffy cushions and felt her eyes fluttering closed. The soft patter of rain lulling her to sleep, ares will be here soon..... soon....soon....

Ares groaned as he had landed in a mud pile. He chuckled staring at his dirty clothes, Kimiko hated him tracking muddy boots in the home. No way around mud coming in with him unless he stripped naked, and he didn't intend on surprising his poor pregnant wife with something as outrageous as that. He looked around and noticed something was off, this wasn't his usual spot.... He shook his head smirking more thinking of how Kimiko would tease him for getting off course during his travel and he began his trek up the valley to his home. The thought of her precious smile making him warm enough to brave the fierce cold rain around him. He walked for at least an hour or so and from our standards it would be close to 4 am, the sun would be rising soon and while he was tired the promise of her kiss woke him up more. He could see the house but noticed the door open. Perhaps the wind... but something more was unnerving to him, he couldn't hear it... the sound of Kimiko's murmurs. His eyes widened in fear and he dropped the sword he carried running inside crying out. "Kimiko! Kimiko my darling im here!"-"Ar...ares...." His eyes shot to the sound of a window. He ran around his house and tackled an intruder to the ground growling and smashing his face in until it was nothing but a gooey red paste. He shook in fear as he made his way back inside with haste discarding his clothes quickly until he was in his trousers. His eyes filling with tears as he turned the corner, red.... nothing but red stained the walls. Kimiko had been sliced across her chest and belly by the intruder, but her legs and the floor also stained with blood as a long cord was connected from her. He could see a small leg and wondered if his child slept...no he prayed. He was coming closer to her and his legs failed him causing him to collapse beside her. Kimiko's chest rose slowly as she whimpered in pain, her body gushing out more blood as she continued to die. She lifted her hand weakly to his cheek, his own hand holding it firm and kissing it through the blood. "Kimiko my darling, if only i had gotten here sooner."-"s...shh ares, d...don't worry about me."-"Not worry about you, your covered in blood"-"t...the... baby.... please.... tell me....the baby...is ok." His heart broke more as he dared his eyes to move lower and stare at the cord coming from his wife. She had to endure childbirth alone, or possibly with the stranger feigning innocence only to betray her and murder her with no reason. He swallowed hard lifting himself slightly only to let out a cry of agony and press his face into her frail hands as he saw his poor child with its own wound laying on the bed. The infant had been pierced through its own heart with a shallow blade and was limp and lifeless upon the blood stained sheets. "ares..."-"Shh, kimiko my love don't move... i sent word to my siblings... someone... someone will come i know it. Do not ask of me the state of our child."-"Please... is it?" Ares could only nod causing Kimiko to shudder and let out soft cries. Ares lifted her into his arms and cradled her to his chest rocking her trying to calm her down. "Kimi, try to calm. If you keep stressing yourself you'll bleed quicker."-"Ares... its too late for me."-"No.. my darling dont say such things." Kimiko was crying slightly as she kept staring at him with all the love in her weakening heart. "I will always love you....and I will find you again."-"Kimiko my blossom don't please..."-"Don't turn cold."-"turn cold... why would i be cold, you are the one turning to ice." Kimiko lifted her hand to his cheek tears falling down her face as she whimpered. "I will see you again, in a new life. And we will have our family.... I promise."-"Kimiko dont leave me, i beg of you don't leave me." A figure emerged from the shadows and approached Ares slowly before resting a hand upon his shoulder. "Ares..." His eyes lifted as he saw Hades, it was rare the lord himself came. Kimiko began closing her eyes whispering. "i love you..." over and over again as Ares wept holding her face against his own. He clung to her now limp body screaming out in rage, grief, agony as his heart began to shatter into tiny pieces. Hades went to pull Kimiko away but Ares only held her tighter. "Ares let me take her...."-"No, i wont let her go."-"Ares you must let me take her, or she will be lost forever."-"No, you can't take her from me...." Hades sighed and moved to the small child lifting it into his arms and holding it against his chest. He held his hand out to Ares and said with remorse. "I do not wish to bring this pain upon you.... but I must take her." Ares wept more as he felt Hades remove the soul from Kimiko causing her body to be as cold as ice and lose the luster of color that is life. Kimiko's ghost had looked at Ares in grief her injuries not piercing through to her soul. Her words were mute though as she cried out to him and fell against Hades in grief. "Please let me speak with her!" Ares screamed through tears holding her body. Hades shook his head holding her soul to him. "The dead have no voice Ares...." With those words Hades vanished from the room leaving ares to wallow in his grief. Ares stared at his wife's cold dead body and gently kissed her eyes and lips one last time muttering. He lifted her in his arms and went out to the garden, the sun beginning to peak through earlier than it should. Perhaps out of mourning from apollo. Ares went to the cherry blossom and set Kimiko against the tree cupping her cheeks in his hands. "I will find you again... I swear on my life that every day i will search for you. I will not rest until I have you in my arms again."