In all honesty, he was convinced that Zachariah would finish him now. He was completely weak at this point and he knew that there was no way that he would be able to recover. The acid had fully stopped the injections that he had taken all these years. It was as if none of his work had mattered because Zachariah had created something better, more efficient. It would eventually erase the very fact that he had ever existed. Did it bother him that no one would really remember him? The only ones who would remember him were the ones who had their lives changed by him. Did he really want to only be remembered by a handful of people? He had wanted his name to be known worldwide, yet that would never happen. Perhaps it was better to inflict scars on a small number. That way, he knew that he would remain in their lives forever.<br/><br/>As their position changed, he merely stared up at Zachariah. He was waiting for the inevitable moment where his brother would take away his life. Would Zachariah have chosen another path to end him or was this the only option that God saw fit? Maybe God knew that even if there had been a more civil way, Raziel would have come back again until it came to this point. This was the second chance that Zachariah had to rid him and God did not want a repeat of five years ago. They both knew that there would be no more chances after this. It would have been either Raziel who won or Zachariah. In the beginning, it was Raziel who had thought he would conquer the Holy Land. Now, God had guided Zachariah to the finish line. It seemed as if Raziel and God had lost one another along the way, but when had that happened? It was unclear when it happened but there was not enough time to even think about it.<br/><br/>Indeed, how long had they been fighting? It was far too long for Raziel's liking. Then again, he merely wasn't thinking about this battle, it more revolved around their lives. He was tired of it, the constant battle he had with himself. Perhaps Zachariah didn't see it but Raziel had been battling for ages against him. He had always tried to be the one that everyone looked up to and at one point, it had happened. However, it had always been accompanied alongside of his old friend. Never had he been in the spotlight by himself, maybe that was why he was bitter. No, he knew that was the reason. He had always been jealous of Zachariah. There was this uncanny ability he had to make everyone like him, to make them feel safe. Raziel always had to have Zachariah talk to others for him; he just didn't have that ability.<br/><br/>He came off as too arrogant and too selfish but when living in the other's shadow, how could he not have gained such a personality. In his own way, he had become a charismatic leader. He had gathered those that society had rejected and gave them a purpose. Hadn't he done something good? He had saved those from the darkness and gave them a belief in God and His Kingdom. They had all become loyal followers of God and Raziel. Had he done wrong all his life? Ah, that was something that probably already had an answer that he wished not to think of. He grimaced at the weight of the body on top of him. With such a fragile body he had, it was certainly painful to be in this position. He was happy that Zachariah still chose to respond to him, knowing that his open ended statement would lure him in. He grinned a little as his old friend continued to ridicule his personality and his life choices.<br/><br/>It had always been like this. He was always being scolded for the things he had done and the beliefs he had. It had always been like this, so it was of no surprise that it continued one, even as he was dying. Oh Zachariah, he was never good at hiding his emotions from Raziel. The crazed man had always seen through the other's thoughts. The slight crack in his voice told him that this battle wounded Zachariah. Good, the man deserved to be torn. He noted the gun and quirked a brow. Would he really go through with this awful task, killing him, his brother? Ah but that moment never came, the bullet through his skull didn't happen like he thought it would. Instead, Zachariah left him to die on his own, disbelief on his face. He stared up at the graying sky, searching for the answers that had plagued him for years. So, this was how it was going to end, how...boring. He had honestly thought that Zachariah would kill him and yet...he hadn't.<br/><br/>His chest began to shake as a laugh rumbled in the back of his throat. No, of course not! Zachariah may have sounded angry, but he wouldn't kill him. He wasn't so heartless to watch him suffer either. Instead, the man ran away from the blood that he didn't want to stain him. That was how things worked between them. Raziel's laughter grew as he found the situation hilarious. He coughed slightly as a burn went through his lungs, his breathing becoming labored. It was a shame really, he had been so hopeful that his friend would end his misery, his falsely led life. He wondered how things would have been if he stayed beside Zachariah and watched their organization flourished. He gasped for air as the acid ate away at his lungs. No, he wouldn't have been satisfied with being by Zachariah's side. He would've defected and this battle would have happened later on. He was too proud to share all his work with another.<br/><br/>Closing his eyes, his laughter died down, thinking of the fool who he had once called his brother. It made him sick. Within the last few hours, he had been so sure that his plan would have worked. He had failed Sanctus Unum and himself. He had failed God, all this time. He felt a tear slid from the corner of his eye, recounting his life. He had been so pathetic and weak until he had formed Sanctus Unum. This organization had given him a new purpose, a new life and yet it was all over too soon. He cursed the cards that had been dealt to him but everything went according to God's plans. Zachariah was to succeed and he was to fail. A gurgled breath left him as one of his lungs collapsed. Fire spread through his chest and he could feel the air being sucked out of him. His heart raced, trying to compensate for the loss, but he knew that his time was up.<br/><br/>He had accepted this fate or so that was what he thought. His vision began to blur as he left his body being to go numb. He had accomplished many things in his life and yet he felt cheated. Everything had been given to Zachariah on a silver platter, while Raziel had struggled to gain what little he could. He had created something specifically for God and it was thrown and crushed under His foot. Everything, all his dreams, had never come true. He still never bested Zachariah and that was one thing that he couldn't let go of. Closing his eyes, he felt his heart ready to burst, the pain was unbearable. He would always loathe Zachariah, even in the afterlife. Raziel had deserved more yet he got less. The sounds of gunshots firing told him that his remaining creations were being wiped out. Yes, his organization would be erased from history.<br/><br/>He would be erased.<br/><br/>That was how God had planned for things to go. With a slow exhale, his life slipped out of his body. Raziel was no more.<br/><br/>----------<br/><br/>The commotion that came from the hallway caused slight alarm to run through Ivan. He glanced up as someone shouted his ran and for a moment he thought that someone was severely injured, but the name Zachariah reached his ears. A wave of relief hit him that their leader was still alive and had made it through the battle. When the man was ushered away, he began to make the proper movements to show that he was done with being treated. The medic huffed and started to under his breath about the gravel in his back but talking to their leader was more important in Ivan's mind. There was a lot that he had to catch up with Zachariah about and he was sure that the man would come as soon as he heard about Azrai.<br/><br/>Tugging on his shirt, he nodded to Shizu who seemed to be in some sort of resting state. Her eyes were slightly open though her body language showed that she was sleeping. He decided it would be best to get this talk with Zachariah over, before Shizu and Azrai woke up. He left the room walking down the hallway. He could practically feel the excitement crawling across his skin as everyone talked about the arrival of their leader. Sure, it was a big deal but he knew that Zachariah had had a tough battle. He had to deal with a person that he had considered a brother at one point or another. Ivan placed himself in that situation, as if he was facing off with Azrai and that didn't make him feel like a fucking hero.<br/><br/>He moved through the busy hallways, glancing into an operating room, noticing that the surgeons were still working on the woman who had came in with those mutilated shoulders. He wondered if she would survive, those injuries had been so severe. It didn't take him long to find the man on his mind, noticing that he was talking with Lucian. He clenched his jaw, knowing that Lucian still probably wasn't happy and Ivan wasn't exactly ready to try to talk with that man again. Then again, he seemed a lot calmer with Zachariah near him. That man must have some kind of relaxant secreting from his pores to make everyone feel calm around him. Ivan had to learn the secret one day, it would definitely be useful. Clearing his throat, he tried to look welcoming but he wasn't feeling it.<br/><br/>Especially with all the shit that he was about to fill Zachariah on.<br/><br/>"Zachariah," Ivan called out gently. "It's good to see that you are alive." He glanced over into Lucian's room, nodding slightly to acknowledge the male. He had cooled down significantly since the pilot had first arrived though there was still some tension. He looked back over at their leader, motioning for him to follow. "I assume you have heard about Azrai and his current condition, I would like to talk with you briefly, before you see him." He really didn't have too much time to explain everything but he would have to try his best. He knew that Zachariah already had a lot on his plate and Ivan was only piling on more. He motioned politely for Zachariah to walk with.<br/><br/>A new feeling of dread came to the Russian as he started moving back towards Azrai's room, walking as slow as possible. He had made a decision without asking Zachariah but it had been necessary. "As you may or may not know, both Shizu and Azrai were poisoned. The poison was designed to kill an Oni, like Shizu. However, Elias found a cure, which surprisingly worked. However, Azrai has sustained far too many wounds that the poison has affected him more than Shizu, causing him to be on the brink of death." He paused briefly, allowing Zachariah time to process his statements. "Now, seeing how Shizu has recovered, she came up with the idea of giving Azrai some of her blood. This may cause subtle or dramatic changes to his personality, but her blood would help him recovery better than anything else that we have at the base."<br/><br/>Ivan cleared his throat as he knew the next part would either elicit a pleasant or displeased response from the man he looked up to. "In order to give the transfusion, Shizu made a condition. Should Azrai recover, she wants to be placed as far away as possible from Azrai. Seeing how this was the only option I had, I agreed to the condition." He placed his hands in his pockets, letting out a slight sigh. "I have already made the necessary arrangements with Elias to give Shizu a place to stay, but...we still don't know if Azrai will make it. The medics said id helped but still...we're all waiting for God to give us a sign. I'm not sure if I made the best decision but if the cure didn't work then surely her blood would..." He shook his head, clenching his jaw slightly. "That's not right. I was firmly against Azrai's agreement to accepting this mission and personally, I believe that it's killing him to be around her. He's become careless and reckless. It would be best if they were separated."<br/><br/>Ivan knew that he was saying a lot but it was better to get it all out then try to find something that sounded good. Hell, even Maverick hadn't protested to her condition because everyone knew it was the right thing to do. Well, maybe it wasn't for Azrai but no one knew what he thought because the bastard was trying to die on them. Ivan's feet slowed to a stop, just a few paces away from Azrai's door. "He's still unconscious but he's breathing. Shizu has been keeping an eye on him ever since she woke up. I....I don't know what I can do anymore," Ivan said in a gentle tone, a little bit of emotion slipping through his tough mask.<br/><br/>-----------<br/><br/>Shizu had listened to the commotion happening out in the hallways. It seemed as if Zachariah was alive and back to show everyone that they had won. Had they truly won? If Azrai passed on, would it not be a loss? She had been casually resting her eyes, as her body had felt drained. She could hear Ivan and the medic fuss softly before the Russian left. Her eyes opened after the door closed, only to see a medic approaching her. "Ma'am, we need to change your bandages." She glanced down at the stained bandages covering her body. She nodded her head before getting out of the chair. She wanted to protest leaving Azrai's room but she knew she would feel more comfortable being changed in a room by herself.<br/><br/>She wondered if she was making the right decision, by forcing Ivan to take her away from Azrai. As much as she appreciated Azrai and all that he had done for her, she knew that she would only bring more problems upon him. Didn't he always say he was a magnet for trouble too? Lately, it seemed like she was as well and she didn't want to double their risk. She sighed a bit, feeling a bit distraught by all the thoughts in her head. She had barely paid attention to the changing of her bandages. The wounds on her body stung a bit, as they weren't healing as fast they normally would, her body was still recovering from the poison and blood loss. Once she was finished, she quickly moved back to Azrai's room. She had been worried that something would happen if she were gone for too long.<br/><br/>She bit her lower lip, what if nothing they did worked? Would he really allow her to see him die, after everything that he promised her? She winced slightly, knowing that she would be breaking the promise if she left. Curling back up in the chair beside his bed, she stared at him. Her chin rested on the tops of her knees. "Come on," she whispered faintly. "Please wake up soon."<br/><br/>{OOC: This sucks, my muse isn't working that well with me. Sorry D:}