Matthew awoke in the middle of the night. He found himself on a king size bed, wrapped in white sheets and blankets. Above him was a ceiling with a spinning fan, the moonlight shone through the curtains of an open window. And beside him was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

To Matthew, an angel slept peacefully. Her brown hair draped and flowed, like water in the breeze. The moon lit up her face, showing a small smile. She lay there with only the blankets as her cover. No other piece of cloth touched her body. Her outfit from earlier discarded on the floor, along with his clothes. However, even though she was completely naked, Matthew made no attempt to touch her. They had made love earlier that night, but he didn't dare to disturb her now. Except, to lean closer and lightly kiss her cheek, causing her to stir.

"I love you." He whispered, adjusting the blanket to cover her better.

Matthew yawned quietly and rolled to sit on the edge. He stopped when he felt a hand grab his wrist. Turning to look back, he saw the angel awake.

"Hello, Beautiful." Matthew said, leaning down and locking lips with her.

"Hello, Handsome." She replied, breaking the kiss.

He tried to move, but she held him in her grip. Her expression also changed from joyful and content to worry and fear.

"Please, don't go." She whispered pleadingly, "It's not your war to fight."

"It's not about who's war it is." Matthew replied, placing his free hand on hers, "I swore that I'd serve my country. I don't go to fight my enemy, I go to protect my men and my home."

Matthew noticed a tear form in her eye and leaned in closer.

"But, don't worry." He said in a reassured tone, "This is my last tour. After this, I'll be yours forever."

His angel seemed to relax a little, but she still showed concern. However, she released her grip and Matthew turning to sit on the edge of the bed, his feet touching the floor.

The rumble of the APC echoed over the radio chatter. Matthew looked down at his boots, taking the picture he kept in them and looking at it. Putting two fingers to his lips, he kissed them and touched the face of his angel.

"I miss you, baby." Matthew said quietly, tucking the picture away and taking hold of his rifle.

Inspecting his weapon, Matthew felt a nudge from the soldier sitting beside him. Looking over, he recognized the face and grinned.

"This your last tour, Blackwood?" The soldier asked.

"Yes, it is." Matthew replied, "Truth is, my fiancé gets too worried. So, I figured I'd resign while we're still young."

"Got any plans for after?"

"I don't know. Maybe I'll become a cop or something."

Another voice boomed over the radio, sounding panicked.

"This is Hunter 6-5! Maj. Jack West!" The voice called, overlapped by the sound of gunfire and static, "We're under heavy enemy fire and have several wounded! Current number of tangoes is not available at this time! We need immediate support and Medivac!"

"Hunter 6-5," Matthew's commanding officer replied, "This is Hunter 8-1. Support is currently on route. E.T.A. five minutes. How copy? Over."

"Five minutes, solid copy! We'll hold the line until you get here, 8-1! 6-5, out!"

The commanding officer now addressed his men, staring darkly.

"Gentlemen," He said, readying his weapon, "prepare for Hell!"

Shortly, the sounds of bullets hitting the armoured vehicle rattled throughout the interior.

"How far are we from, our deployment site?" The commanding officer asked over the rattling.

"It's this next left." The driver replied, turning the wheel.

But, just as he rounded the corner, an explosion happened under the APC. Destroying some of its wheels and stopping it cold.

"All units, all units! Move to secondary deployment site! Lead vehicle has been disabled by IED!" Matthew's CO ordered over the radio, "Stay close to the buildings and stay alert! Hunter 8-1, out!"

Standing from his seat, he scanned the men with him.

"Everyone alright?" He called out, receiving several positive replies, "Good. We need to move and rejoin the rest of the group. Corp. Stevens, get that door open."

"Yes, sir." The soldier siting next to Matthew said, standing and unlocking the door.

Pushing it open slowly and exiting the vehicle, Stevens took a position against the corner and signalling it clear. The other ten soldiers, including the CO and driver, exited their transport and took up other defensive positions. Matthew moved to the front of the APC, using it for cover as he watched for any trouble.

"Alright, Hunter 6's position is due southwest of here. About half a kilometer." The CO said, looking at a map, "Fastest way is through these buildings. If we're lucky, there shouldn't be much resistance. Move out!"

Leading the way, the CO took his men through an alleyway and around a large building, with Matthew and Stevens as rear guard. They didn't get far when bullets zipped by and tore into the concrete.

"Shit!" The CO exclaimed, "Technical! Fall back!"

They retreated around the corner, taking defensive positions facing toward where they came from. The technical didn't advance after them, but they knew it didn't leave either.

"Blackwood, Stevens, Thompson," The CO commanded, looking at Matthew and the other two soldiers, "you three flank from the second floor of that building. Take out that technical from the high ground. Vance, Ramos, Greene, you'll flank it from behind. The rest of you are with me, drawing its fire. Move!"

Matthew and the other two advanced toward the building and entered. To their surprise, there was only a handful of enemies on the second floor, making it easier to get their job done. Hearing the technical fire toward the front group, Matthew's team and the team behind the technical opened fire. Tossing a grenade into the technical, rendering it useless.

After a while they arrived to help the other units. But, even with the added firepower, bullets flew, blood poured, and explosions erupted everywhere.

"RPG!" A voice called out, causing Matthew to look and take cover, just as it flew over him and exploded.

Matthew recoiled from the punch he had taken to his face, feeling another hit his gut. Collapsing on the floor and heaving.

"You let rage and fear control you, Matthew." An older Asian man said, walking around the younger man, "You must learn to channel it and be its master. Not the other way around."

Matthew stood and raised his fists again, wiping sweat and blood from his face.

"F-fear and anger aren't my problem." Matthew said, shaking his head, "I came to you because I wanted to learn how to protect everyone close to me. Without a weapon."

"And yet you seem to only learn how to get hit."

Matthew swung his right arm, attempting to hit the older man. However, the man simply ducked and spun his leg around, catching both of Matthew's legs and causing him to fall on his back. Refusing to quit, Matthew spun himself, trying to trip the man. But, he jumped and landed both feet on Matthew's stomach, before leaping off again.

Matthew retched and spat blood onto the floor, coughing heavily. The man retrieved a towel from a bucket and tossed it onto the red spot.

"Clean that up." The man said sternly, "Your blood isn't worthy of staining my floor."

Matthew said nothing as he rolled to his knees and grabbed the towel, wiping away his blood. Once it was clean, he just stayed on his knees, resting his hands on his thighs. He looked down at the wooden floor, as the old man placed a cushion in front of Matthew and also rested on his knees.

"Fear and anger are not your only problem, my student." The man said, leaning closer and presenting a cup of warm tea to Matthew, "You choose to hold on to things that have passed, refusing to accept them and make peace. You must train your mind to be the stream, before you become the river."

Matthew took the teacup and sipped it, tasting the flavour and grimacing.

"Come." The man said, standing and walking toward an open door, "I must show you something."

Matthew stood and winced as the pain gripped his body. Passing through the door, a young Asian woman stood holding an empty tray.

"I'll take your cup." She said, gesturing to the little teacup the North American man held.

She was very attractive, from Matthew's perspective. But, he only had room for one in his heart. And she could see that in Matthew as he placed the cup on the tray.

"It was good." Matthew said, giving a kind grin, "Thank you."

She nodded as she turned away and left. Matthew turned back to the old man and followed him into a garden of some sort.

"You and I see the world in different ways, my student." The man said as the walked along the path, "I am certain that you already know this. That is why, among the many students I have had over the years, you are the only one that I have showed this to. Not because you see differently, but because you know there is another side."

He lead Matthew into a small structure, some distance away from the main building. Opening the door, Matthew watched as the man took a stick from a vase beside the entrance.

"Take an incense stick and place it in the sand." He said, watching Matthew do as he was told.

The man approached a mural on the wall and held his incense above a burning candle, before placing it in the pot of sand. Matthew did the same and remained quiet, watching the old man bow his head and speak a prayer.

"There is something within you." The man said, his voicing altering and growing raspy, "And I want out!"

Without warning, the old man rounded on Matthew showing a row of sharp teeth and pouncing on Matthew. He managed to grab and throw the old man away, before running toward the door. He opened it and was met by a soldier with bullet holes all over his body.

"You didn't cover me!" The soldier said, punching Matthew, "You were my brother, dammit!"

"It wasn't my fault, Stevens." Matthew retorted, blocking the hits until the soldier disappeared in a bloom of smoke.

Matthew turned around to run again, but a young Caucasian brunette woman stood in his way. Fully naked and holding a rose, she approached him.

"One more tour and you'd be all mine." She whimpered, holding out the rose, "That's what you said. But, you still brought death home with you."

Matthew reached out and took hold of the rose. But, as his left hand closed around the stem, a flash of light and a loud bang tore between him and her. Matthew looked down to see and was horrified. In Matthew's right hand was a black and silver revolver with smoke rising from the end of the barrel.

"No..." Matthew said, dropping the gun and catching the woman, "No, no, no!"

He held her with his left arm, while his right hand pressed against the gunshot wound a couple inches above her belly button. Blood seeped between his fingers, painting her skin red. Her breathing became faint and her body slumped.

"Hey, stay with me!" Matthew pleaded, keeping pressure on her wound, "You'll be okay. I-I'll make this right."

But, it was too late. She died in his arms and faded away into nothing, leaving blood on Matthew's right hand and a rose in his left. After a moment, he heard footsteps approaching and looked to see who it was.

"You!" Matthew seethed, seeing a man with his face wearing all black, "Your responsible for all this!"

"How could I have done anything?" Demon replied, surging forward and placing his hand against Matthew's forehead, "I just watched."

Matthew's eyes shot open as he sat up, seeing Demon's hand pull away from his head. Quickly, rising to his feet, Matthew placed his hands against the bed of his truck. His head hung down and he breathed heavily, before leveling himself and turning toward Demon.

"If you weren't in my head and in physical form, right now," Matthew growled, glaring at the figure, "I'd twist your fucking neck so many times, I'd take off your head and use it as a hood ornament."

"You could try." Demon replied smugly.

Matthew could feel the rage burning within him, but he remembered what Master Yin taught him. Taking a breath and composing himself, remembering that everyone he knew was alive and unharmed when he last saw them.

"There will come a day when you'll be on the losing end, Demon." Matthew said, looking to the horizon and seeing the orange glow of the sun, "And when you are, I'll be the one to send you back to Hell."

With that, Matthew packed up his camp and climbed into the driver seat. He took another look and watched Celestia's sun peaked over the trees, before turning the ignition and roaring away.

Author's Note

Hey, everyone.

Okay, I'll admit, when I started writing this chapter, I went completely off the rails with my originally idea. I was just going to have Matthew as ex-special forces or black ops. But, as I thought about it, I decided to go this way instead.

BTW, you might have noticed that I used last names here. This will most likely be the only time I do that. Just for the fact that those are real last names. But, they're being used for fictional characters. So, if any of you have family, friends, or you have these last names and serve in the military, I wasn't trying to mock or disrespect anyone. Especially, if your name is similar to the main character.

Anyway, thought I'd share my bit. I hope you are still enjoying this story.