*********Warning!  This fic contains major spoilers for the second half of
Wedding Peach.*********








Regrets by Tim Walsh

Standard Disclaimers here:

As I lay there, the energy coursing its way through my body, it all comes
back to me.  I remember the terrible war that Reign Devia started against
Tenshi-kai.  How her hatred gave her the power to dominate all of the
various factions in Akuma-kai and unite them with the intent of wiping out
the Tenshi.  
	Listening to her back then, it was all going to be so easy.  According to
Reign Devia, all of the Tenshi were weak, soft-hearted fools.  It was
supposed to have been an easy victory, especially with the power of Reign
Devia's hatred fueling us, but we were wrong.
	The Tenshi had many powerful warriors and they were easily an even match
with our own, but the problem lay in the Fighter Angels.  The Four greatest
warriors of Tenshi-kai: Angels Lily, Daisy, Salvia and their leader,
Wedding Peach.  The four of them were forcing us back out of the territory
we had gained in Tenshi-kai and Reign Devia could not tolerate losing
anything to the Tenshi.  Her hatred was too strong.
That was when I came into the picture.
	I had been nothing special when the war began. Just another foot soldier
in Reign Devia's army, maybe a little more skilled and lucky than most,
since I was still alive, but on the whole, just an average Akuma.  When the
Fighter Angels began to turn the tide of the war, I was singled out of the
ranks for some reason.  I've never known why I was chosen, but suddenly I
was brought before Reign Devia.  That was when the pain began.  I don't
really remember much of what they did to me then.  The images that I can
remember are filtered through a haze of extreme pain as they poured the
evil energy that fueled Reign Devia into me.  The next thing I can remember
after the process was being presented to the army as its new leader and
being sent to the forefront.  Reign Devia had been unable to leave her
throne room in Akuma-kai for some unknown reason, so she needed a powerful
general.  But to prevent me from being too powerful and becoming a
potential rival for her power, she locked my mind away.  My memories of
that final battle of the war are terrifying.  I had no control over my body
as I swept my way through the ranks of the Tenshi.  None of them could
stand before my axe.
	Then I came to the Fighter Angels.  The fight was devastating.  Power was
being thrown around in every direction, frying the wounded Akuma and Tenshi
and isolating us from the rest of the battle.  It came down to a battle of
sheer power as we each attempted to force our way through each other's
barriers.  Lily, Yuri and Salvia fell before me, but Wedding Peach held
steadfast.  She refused to give any ground.  Finally, she opened herself
totally to the power of Tenshi-kai that was inherent in four artifacts that
she carried.  Too bad I didn't really understand what I was facing.  I
didn't know that Wedding Peach was the Younger sister of Queen Aphrodite
and that she could tap into the full power of Tenshi-kai.  Unfortunately
for her, Wedding Peach was also carried off by the final blow.
	The pain was exquisite.  It rivaled that which had transformed me into the
monster I am now known as.  I could feel it stripping my sense of self and
memories away.  Then I lost consciousness.
	When I awoke, I was in a hospital on Earth.  I had no memories of who I
was or where I had come from.  As I recovered, the doctors and nurses
tested my mental abilities to help me be able to find a job when I left.
Finally, they did.  When I was declared fully healthy, although still
amnesiac, I got a spot as an officer on a commercial cruise liner.  It
wasn't the most interesting or glamorous work, but it was something I could
do well.  I didn't understand why I liked it so much until my memories
began to return.  It's surprising that an Akuma could actually enjoy
leading a peaceful life.  Especially once I met Minako.
	Minako had been working as a hostess on the cruise liner when we met and
very quickly we discovered our mutual attraction.  I can honestly say that
what I had with Minako was a new sensation to me.  Akuma-kai is not a place
to engender the more tender emotions, like love.  Those sort of emotions
are considered weak and therefor the province of the Tenshi, but I have
come to understand exactly how strong love can make you.  Minako and I were
married after we knew each other for only a year.  It was wonderful.  I
think I was addicted to the sensations that being in love gave me and I
needed to be with her.  	Yosuke was born just over a year after our
wedding.  As I looked at him through the glass wall in the maternity war,
it started.  My memories of my past life began to surface. At first it was
just flashes of memory, images really, but soon I remembered it all.  I
tried to put the memories behind me, but they continued to nag me for
years.  I kept all of it from Minako and tried to enjoy the time that I had
with her and Yosuke, but I could almost feel the time slipping away, a
premonition that my past was not finished with me yet.
	It was extremely shocking when one day, while I was in the park with
Minako and Yosuke, I saw her.  Wedding Peach.  She was with a man and a
little girl who was obviously her daughter.  I had to stop myself from
staring at her.  It looked as if the same thing that had happened to me had
happened to her.  She looked happy with the man I assumed was her husband
and her little girl.  The little girl looked to be a year or two younger
than Yosuke and I couldn't help but smile as I watched the children of an
Akuma and a Tenshi play together.  I just hope that our past doesn't draw
our children into these conflicts.  I never want Yosuke to have to suffer
being the Akuma general the way that I did.  He should be free to live his
own life.
	When Yosuke was eight, I started to feel it.  At first it seemed to be a
random occurrence, but every now and then, I swore I could feel the
presence of another Akuma, maybe more than one.  Fear began to seep into
me.  I knew that they would only come to Earth for a few reasons, and
getting me back was fairly high on the list.  So I began to prepare.  
	I knew that there was no way that I was going back with them.  I would not
be a mindless slave again.  I put money away and took out an insurance
policy to provide for Yosuke and Minako in case I couldn't defeat the
Akuma, or survive them.  As the days passed, I could feel them getting
closer and closer.  One morning, as I said goodbye to Yosuke before leaving
on a trip, I suddenly knew with certainty that I would never see him again.
 My intuition was well-founded.  
As I walked down the pier towards the ship, four Akuma appeared.  I
recognized them, which was a rarity since so many had died in the war.
They were Reign Devia's favorite assassins.  They were likely the only ones
who stood a chance of taking me down.  When they greeted me and told me
that they had come to take me back, I attacked.  Perhaps that was foolish
and hasty, since I was weak from being away from Akuma-kai and the source
of energy that had created me for so long, but I knew this was an all or
nothing moment.  I would not go back with them.  They had obviously been
prepared for this eventuality, because they fought back well.
Now, as I kneel here, their energy draining away my life force, I have only
one regret.  I regret that I'll never be able to be with Minako and Yosuke
again.  I'll never be able to experience the love that comes with being a
part of a family.  Goodbye, Minako, Goodbye, Yosuke.  I'll always love you.



Author's notes:
I was really inspired to whip this one out after I read Raye Johnson's
"Wishes."  I've always been sad that there was no fanfiction for Wedding
Peach, since it's one of my favorite shows.  Since my favorite character is
Yosuke, I thought I'd write a point of view piece about his father, since
so little was said about him in the series.  I have also seen the manga, so
I know his mother was still alive at the time the series would have taken
place, although her real name escapes me right now.  For anyone who might
be waiting for the next part of From the Ashes, I'm sorry but it's going to
be a while.  I lost the notes and outlines I had set up while I was in
Japan and I didn't even realize it until I came home.(I was too excited to
notice.)  So I have to rework where the story was going since I don't
remember much of what I had figured out.  Sorry about that, but I hope to
et back writing it soon.

C&C Welcome

Tim Walsh
Walshtt@muohio.edu