Fear of Angels

                                Part Three

                              Tatiana Celeste
                            lintila@hotmail.com

Akio lay in the grass staring up at the stars.

"Wow, this is just so awesome," one of the boys next to him, said, "Isn't
it Akio-san?"

"Aw don't bug him, he's always got his head in the clouds."

"Yeah," the other boy agreed, "Is it some girl?"

"Hey, have you ever seen his sister? Wow..."

Akio's eyes narrowed.

"No. Hey Akio-san I didn't know you had a sister, what's her name?"

"Anthy," Akio replied in a distracted voice.

"Hey, that's a pretty name. So what's she like?"

"Quit bugging him, I'm sure he doesn't want you hitting on his sister, do
you?"

Akio sat up.

"Aw you know I'm joking, hey where are you going?"

Akio was standing now, turned towards the school. Anthy... One day she would
grow up and find someone else to depend on. One day she would have a prince
of her own. One day, would he have his own princess? Would they be
separated? One day he would die. So would she. One day they would dance
with the Angels and be no more then a shadow, a memory in the minds of
those who chose to remember them.

~ The one who revolutionizes the world...that person will be able to change
the world as they see fit~

If he changed the world, they could always be together. They would never
grow old, they would never die, and they would never mourn or struggle to
remember the other. But, if he changed the world, he would die. That was
probably to ensure that no one would attempt it without a good reason, but
perhaps there was a loophole, a way around his own death. Then he and Anthy
could always be together and the world and time could do nothing to stop
it.

"Akio-san?"

"Are you all right? Akio-san?"

******

How, how could he go about this without sacrificing himself? There had to
be some trick to it. Akio's brow creased as he stared out the window. How
indeed. He was angry with Dios. He was angry that Dios had given him the
hope of eternity while dangling it out of reach. Damn him. Akio's eyes
narrowed. But he was still a part of himself wasn't he? Dios...He was Dios.
But he didn't want to be. Damn it!! Damn it!

"I don't want to be you!! Dios!" He was yelling, not caring who heard him.
"I don't care what you want of me! Just...please..." The sun was beginning to
rise in the distance and he could see the morning star, Venus, his
namesake...his name...was that his destiny then? The fallen one? He had denied
Dios...he hated Dios...he cursed Dios...this was his destiny? So be it.

******

"Excuse me, are you Akio's roommate?"

"Yeah, hi there, your...Anthy right?"

"Hai. I was wondering if he was all right. I haven't seen him in days, I
was worried."

The boy shrugged, "He's alright I guess, he's been keeping to himself a lot
though. It's strange," he ran a hand absently through his hair, "It's like
he's trying to figure out this big mystery or something. He was yelling
something about Dios the other morning, woke me up, I don't think he's
slept in a few days. You want to see him? I can take you up there if you
like."

"Thank you," Anthy said with a small bow.

"Sure no problem, so what grade are you in?" He asked as they began
walking, "Sixth, seventh?"

"Sixth."

"Yeah... so how long have you and Akio-san been here eh?"

"Most of our lives."

"Really? Wow, what about your parents?"

"They...died," Anthy said hesitantly, looking away.

"Oh...oh I'm sorry, I didn't know. Akio doesn't talk much as it is you know.
So, is he your only family?" Anthy nodded.

"You must be close, I can see why you're worried if you haven't talked to
him in a few days. Why don't you guys stay together?"

"Huh? Oh, we did for a while but they decided to separate us."

"Yeah, well I'm not surprised, the dean of students is something of a tight
ass. Here we are," he opened the door, "after you."

"Thank you," Anthy walked past him, but waited while he closed the door
before moving further.

"Yeah, just up these stairs, well I'm sure you know where it is," he
grinned. "Here, I'll get that door for you, hey Akio-san you have a
visitor. Akio-san?"

"Onii-sama?" Anthy called out quietly, peering into the room. Akio
continued to stare out the window, ignoring both of them. His hair was
disheveled and his uniform wrinkled.

"Hey, its your sister, aren't you going to say hi to her?" Akio's eyes
narrowed at the disturbance. Anthy's hand lightly touched his arm, her
green eyes filled with worry.

"Onii-sama, I was worried about you, what's wrong?" He turned and looked at
her, his green eyes cold, empty, dark, like something had been ripped from
him.

Anthy gasped and stepped back.

"I know what to do," he said finally, his eyes boring into her own, a dark
smile across his face. "Dios will not have his way."

"What are you talking about? Akio-san, your scaring her, hell your scaring
me," the roommate protested.

"Hmph, fool."

"Onii-sama!" Akio moved away from the window and looked at his roommate,
"How would you like to see eternity?"

******

"Onii-sama!!" Anthy cried out, panting as she ran after Akio who was
dragging the student across the campus, "Wait! Stop!" she paused and leaned
against a tree to catch her breath...tree? The forest! No! She pushed herself
harder, her bangs clinging to her sweat soaked forehead, her neck. This was
going so wrong so very wrong! What was wrong with him? Finally Akio stopped
and threw his roommate onto the ground, the boy struggling to get up,
himself gasping for air.

"Stay there Anthy," Akio demanded, "Don't move any closer, I know what I'm
doing."

Anthy began to cry helplessly, tears intermingling with the sweat, "This
isn't what they wanted Onii-sama! Don't do this!"

~Do you know do you know~

~Do you know do you know~

~Which is the path you have chosen~

"It won't work! You can't send just anyone in your place! They have decided
for you. It must be you. No one else can replace you!"

"No! I will not leave you Anthy! I know what I'm doing," Akio made his way
towards the trembling girl, abandoning the student who scrambled up and
began edging his way out of the forest, and clamped his hands around her
thin arms, "Look at me Anthy. If we change the world we can be together
forever and you won't have to fear the angels anymore, but if I do it the
way they want me to then, then you'll be alone. Don't you see? Do you
understand what I'm saying? They want to take me from you." He looked at
her now with softened eyes.

Anthy nodded hesitantly, "I understand. From now on you and I will help
each other to go on living. Just as we did before...except."

"Yes, its going to be different now Anthy, are you ready? Will you explore
eternity with me?" He held her close.

"We will never be apart," Anthy said softly.

"Never," Akio said, surprised when Anthy pulled away and looked at him
knowingly, "What is it Onee-chan?"

"I know how to protect you from the swords," she said, her green eyes sad.

"How? What do you mean?" Dios had told him nothing about this.

Anthy closed her eyes. She knew she had to protect her brother; she would
not let them take him away. He would not sacrifice himself to the swords
because she would stand in their way. This of course would put her in
danger...until a new Dios could be found to take the swords and after that,
they would be fine...they just needed a new sacrifice. She took Akio's hand
and placed it on her chest, looking deeply into his eyes.

"You know what to do," she said softly, "You know this is the only way we
can be together until someone else can be found." Akio nodded, he could
feel the gentle pounding of her heart beneath his hand she cupped her small
hands over his own and closed her eyes.

Akio's eyes widened as a luminous light began to emerge from Anthy's chest
and something solid pushed against his hand trying to break free.

Anthy cried out, not expecting the amount of pain that would come with
this, not only did the pain emerge from the sword that exploded from her
chest, her body felt as if an infinite number of blades had been pushed
through her body. The only comfort came from Akio who had placed his free
arm around her waist, easing her backward. Her hands weakly fell to her
sides and Akio was better able to grasp whatever it was that was coming
from her chest. He didn't know what this was but he knew that it should be
removed. He pulled gently at the object which slid easily now from her body
and held before him a glistening sword, the blade like polished silver,
reflecting everything around him...until it faded away into nothing.

He felt panic rise in his chest, cold panic gripping at him. What had just
happened? "Anthy?" He shook her body gently but she didn't stir and her
breathing was shallow. Out of the corner of his eye he could see his
roommate watching them with a panic expression.

"What the hell was that?" He asked in a panicked voice. He had had enough
of this, first being dragged into the forest by a seemingly insane Akio,
and then the exchange between him and his sister, what was that about? And
this...a sword had just come out of her chest! "Akio-san...what...?" He grasped
for words that would not come. This was all beyond him.

Akio frowned as his roommate panicked he was on the verge of a break down
at this point and his terror wasn't helping Akio any. What was wrong with
Anthy? What had she just done?

~I am the Rose Bride~

The soft voice reverberated in his mind over and over as he held the girls
body close to his own.

~I am the Rose Bride~

Akio looked down at Anthy's face, her closed eyes and pale complexion. What
was he supposed to do?

By Dios what was he supposed to do?

"TELL ME!" He cried out to the heavens, "TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" He was ready
to sacrifice himself if necessary if that would mean that she could come
back to him.

The sky broke open at that point and an enormous castle, like the one he
had seen in his dream, descended partway from the heavens, shining by its
own light. From the center something fell, hurtling towards the earth on a
destructive course, falling right towards him...no...to Anthy's now exposed
chest. He couldn't move fear petrified him as the sword drew nearer and
impaled Anthy's chest.

The girl gasped as if new life had been breathed into her, her green eyes
opening once more and her uniform vanishing, replaced by a flowing dress
the color of blood, covered in fine ornamentations that the rich and noble
would wear. Atop her head appeared a golden tiara contrasting beautifully
with her dark hair.

Akio's hand involuntarily went to the hilt of the blade as it was sinking
in and great power filled him. He cried out. His senses were overwhelmed;
the voices of the world filled his ears and the pain and suffering. He shut
his eyes, gasping for air as if he was being crowded, as if the world was
closing in on him. "Stop, please stop!! Stop! Go away!!" he was yelling
now, releasing Anthy who crumpled to the ground, and clutching at his head.

He fell to the ground and moments later he felt two small hands...tangible,
real, kind. He opened his eyes hesitantly; his body trembling as the thin
arms encircled him and held him close, rocking him gently as if he were
only a child.

"Onii-sama," the gentle voice whispered.

"Onee-chan," he relaxed in her arms and closed his eyes, unaware that he
now wore the clothes of a prince.

******

The unfortunate roommate sat on the leaf-covered ground, awareness seeping
in. What was that? What had...had...he shook his head. That wasn't possible. A
sword had fallen from the sky and impaled that girl. She should, by all
rationality, be dead. She wasn't though. There she was, stroking Akio's
hair as he held her close, trembling. They had been transformed, that was
certain. They looked like...like...a Prince and Princess. He sat there in awe.
They both emanated such beauty, especially the girl as she consoled her
brother.

Maybe this would be a good time to leave. Yes...Akio seemed to have calmed
down from that lapse of madness and she would understand he was certain. He
stood up, noticing a radical difference in perspective. The ground should
have been farther away than this. Panic gripped him as he looked at his
hands, which were gray and small, chubby. What was this?!

He remembered passing out when that light erupted, but nothing like this.
He turned his head at the sound of rustling leaves, the girl, Anthy know
kneeling before him, enormous when before he had towered over her by a head
when they walked through the hallway.

He opened his mouth to speak, to ask her if she knew what had happened but
nothing came out of his mouth except a, "Chu?" Chu? What? He clamped his
hands over his mouth.

Anthy held her hand out to him, "I'm sorry," she said quietly.

Sorry? About what? He tried to ask her but that infuriating chu insisted on
crossing his lips.

"Onii-sama, it looks like we have a new member of the family," Anthy said
picking him up gently. "I'm sorry, I don't know your name," she whispered
in his ear as she carried him closer to Akio, "But it looks like your one
of us now."

He relaxed into her warm hand. Perhaps, this wasn't so bad. He grew more
nervous though as Akio looked at them with wild eyes.

"What's that?" the older boy asked his sister in a shaky voice.

"This is Chu-Chu."

"Chu...Chu?"

"Hai, he was your um..."

Akio just nodded.

They were so calm about this, why? Well...he supposed it wasn't any stranger
then what had happened already.

"Can we take him back with us Onii-sama?" she kneeled next to him, holding
the creature in front of her brother.

Akio looked at it distracted, his eyes narrowed with pain, "What ever."

"Chu?"


                              End of Part Three