Light.

His eyes struggled wearily to focus, and a hand settled on his cheek.

"Don't move." A girl's voice, full of love and concern.

His fingers began to clutch at the air, as pain filled his body, from his heart and all over his body. It was odd, as he had never felt the feeling before.

"Can you hear me, Angel?" The same girl.

His eyes struggled again, and this time the world came into focus: a blue sky, sun shining, and the face of an angel. Or so he thought, when he realised it was merely her aura of innocence and purity covering her, when he realised who it was.

He lurched upwards into a sitting position, and he stared at her. The girl stared back at him, with a smile on her face. His hand came up to his left cheek where his mask was supposed to be and touched cold porcelain.

With a sigh of relief, he looked at the girl and smiled.

"Thank you, lady."

"You're not hurt, aren't you, Angel?"

He laughed. Such was the irony of life. As himself, she became his Angel of Music, always a figure of beauty and grace. As the Phantom, he became her Angel of Music, a figure of mystery and...love.

Strange as it seemed, he somehow suspected that there were powers of the Phantom's Mask that he had not discovered yet. And one of it seemed to be the ability to make a person feel loved...if the one wearing the Mask truly loved that very individual.

He straightened his suit jacket before making sure his Skullfire Staff was not lost. Before he got up however, the raven-haired girl clutched at his arm.

"Before you go...I...I want to do something."

He gave that hesitant look, that look which it alone spoke volumes; about the raging emotions in his heart, about the hungering desire in his soul, about the hope within him that he hoped would be extinguished and yet he knew it never would.

For he was afraid as he was a man of great imagination; when someone, especially this beautiful, innocent girl that made him want to, and risk his life for her so many times, spoke to him.

His imagination would prepare him for a thousand and one reciprocations of his love, and a million and one rejections of his love. And he would be let down and encouraged at the same time, for it would be for some mundane request, as it was not what he wanted, and yet not what he was dreading of.

But now he was not the young man whom everyone jeered.

He was the Phantom, the man who was feared by his enemies, and loved by the good.

He nodded.

The girl leaned closer, and closer to him, her eyes focusing on his, and for a moment the Phantom thought she was looking for a hug.

Apparently he did not notice the hand that crept up to his face, and in one swift pass, removed his Mask.

Immediately he felt the power pass from him, and his abilities returned to that of his own training. He knew his face would change, into his regular self, of winter grey and midnight blue orbs into plain dark sepia, of beautifully styled strands of soft silky hair turning into a mop of rough hair, of soft, marble-smooth skin into teenage pimple-marked skin.

Despair came over him. His identity was now known, the reason how his ability to enchant her with his voice was now known, his watching over her because he loved her and not because he was her guardian angel now known.

It was over.

His head bowed, and his eyes misted over, in preparation for the look of shock, betrayal, and finally disappointment and sadness that would hurt him more than all the torture devices ever invented throughout history.

She smiled.

He blinked. She was...she was smiling?

"I know."

That was all she said, before she went on her tiptoes, her head tilted upwards...

And kissed him.

He felt her tongue brush across his lips, teasing him. He hesitated only for a moment, before he kissed her back.

And this time, he prayed that it was no dream.

***********

Heheh.

Like my new layout? Lol.

**sings** THE PHAAAAAAAANTOM OF THE OPERA IS THERE...inside your..." ('mind' cannot be heard as it is too low for him)

Okay. Whatever.

ANyway, have not been touching computer much as, yes, I have a hugge stack of games in room! PS2 games to be exact. SOme old, most new! And I am HAVING FUNNN!!!

Tho somehow GTA made me forget that there was cell today. Shiat.

Whatever.

Hey man, I'm kinda sick of life.

Really. It seems to have no point, bringing us from one point to the other.

What others have gone through, I am going through now. I bet at poly I'll go through a Goth kick. IF I actually make it to poly that is (shit fool, what if i fail?!). I guess sometimes life just likes to kick you in the ass.

Oh yea, hanging out late is a good thing if you have 1) a good friend who's very funny. 2) a good friend who's very funny and drives a vehicle that can sit both you and the other fren as well.

Cos that's what happened a coupla days ago. Eph and leon and Josh. Three stooges hanging out after a night of LANning. Lol. Stupidity.

I have a question for you girls who actually read this. Do you like people who, y'know, abuse you and only try to love you at times? Cause that's a factor I'm seeing lately.

Pretty girls in love with men who treat them like shit one day and tell them they love 'em the next.

Nuts man, if that method works, I want to be like that. Hey, the women love it, right?

Lol. Juuuuuusst kidding.

But not really.

***********

A blade suddenly ripped through his back, its silver edge stained with blood.

Joshua fell to his knees, the pain ripping up through his body from his stomach, his eyes watering from the pain.

He wondered whether that would be the day he died.

And maybe he could join Jayne.

His Hyperion longsword was knocked aside, and his enemies surrounded him, their laughter echoing in his ears.

Looking around him, he saw no one there to help him. His father was on the other side of his wall, his Life Group preoccupied with themselves.

Jayne

He smiled as he saw a Death Templar standing above him, its eyes glowing with both hatred and for once, satisfaction.

You don't have to wait anymore

It raised its demonic runeblade up in the air, and slashed downwards.

I'm coming to you now.

Joshua smiled, and closed his eyes.

Excruciating pain exploded all around him. Knowing that his life was nearly over, he mumbled a Sacrificial Prayer of Holy Extermination, and poured the rest of his life essence into it.

A moment passed.

Then enormous beams of white light slammed into the fortress, the waves of holy energy ripping all that was evil from the physical and spiritual realms, and healing the good in all areas.

From afar, it was as if the Heavens themself bombarded the forces of evil. And it was, for the Lord heard his prayer, and the price he paid for it, and intervened directly.

The legion, or Ashura of evil warriors, was all but destroyed, and only a few returned to the rest of the six hundred thousand strong army, which stayed a few hundred miles away.

For awhile everyone cheered.

Then Jeric halted.

"Where's Joshua?"

Of course no one heard him, and most who did didn't care; he could die for all they cared. But Jonathan heard him, and began searching with Jeric.

All around the designated area of his Life Group, the Lightbringer could not be found. Then Jonathan realised where the heavenly bombardment had come from, and he shook his head.

"He's gone."

josh fatesealer turned back time on 1/22/2005 10:44:00 pm.