Fear of Angels

                                 Part Six

                              Tatiana Celeste
                            lintila@hotmail.com


Akio had left the game untouched for the most part; he wasn’t ready to go 
through the disappointment again.  He focused instead on the academy, what 
he needed to do was guarantee that he would always be able to control some 
aspect of the academy and this was difficult when he was only in the lower 
administrative positions.  It also didn’t help that he had to periodically 
stop to make sure that he was not remembered.  It would look suspicious 
should one who worked for ten years to look just as he had ten years ago 
while the others grew slow, gray and wrinkled.  Luckily the duels aided in 
dulling people’s memories.  Several times they had thrown a victim to the 
swords and awoken side by side.  Several times they had to reacquaint 
themselves with those around them.
Anthy spent her time indoors now, and he had agreed to let her have some 
pets other then Chu-Chu to keep herself occupied.  Granted he thought it 
would go as far as a kitten, or perhaps a puppy, but her collection grew.  
She was trying to be a mother to nature itself...ironic since she, unlike 
other goddesses, would never truly have the chance to be a mother.  But he 
wanted her to be happy, she had grown increasingly depressed and withdrawn, 
perhaps she needed to be put out into society more.  She was even growing 
lax in her gardening, letting the aphids conquer her cherished roses.
He stared out the window, his constant habit, there was never anything else 
worth doing, and sometimes if he focused hard enough, he could escape from 
the whispers.  "Anthy..."
"Hmm?" she was dangling a bit of string in front of a small kitten.
"I think I am going to get a telescope."
"That’s nice."
Akio sighed in exasperation, "This is pathetic, look at us!"
Anthy turned her head, her attention on him now despite the kitten’s pawing 
at the string that she absently dangled.  "What do you mean onii-sama?"
"I mean...look at us!  What are we doing?!"
"Uh," Anthy looked at him questioningly.
Akio raised his fist angrily and rammed it through the window; the glass 
shattered and fell to the floor.
"Akio!" Anthy jumped up and quickly made her way to him, insistent that he 
show her his bleeding hand.
"It’s beautiful Anthy," Akio said in a strained voice, "my own pain.  This 
throbbing, blinding..." his voice trailed off.
Anthy busied herself with picking the glass from her brother’s hand despite 
the fact that he struggled to pull it away, too fascinated with the red 
blood that trickled over his dark hand and down his arm.  He was enthralled 
by the silent thud that the droplets made as they fell and hit the 
carpeting, the beat of his pulse and the throbbing of the lacerations.
"We can bleed Anthy..." he said in an awe filled whisper, "we have our own 
pain..."
"Yes..." Anthy said in a confused and frightened voice.
"Their pain...my pain...its nothing.  I was holding back."
"Holding..."
He looked at her and placed his blood-covered hand on her cheek, taking one 
of her hands and running it across the jagged edge of glass in the window.
Anthy screamed, struggling to get out of his grip, "Onii-sama!!"  She looked 
at him, her green eyes filled with fear.
"Isn’t it beautiful?"
Anthy just trembled, clutching her injured hand to her chest, the blood 
staining her blouse.  "Onii-sama," she was close to tears now.
"Yes," he closed his eyes and let his head fall back, "Feel it Anthy, 
cherish it, embrace it.  As long as we know our own pain the pain of the 
world won’t matter to us.  We must be cold to the world...eternity belongs to 
us.  Dios cared to much and this is where he made his mistake."
Anthy’s mind raced, she couldn’t focus and her hand was throbbing with pain. 
  She closed her eyes and let her head hang down.  What could she do though? 
  Akio was her life...what was she going to do leave?  How long had they been 
alive?  How much had the world changed?  She couldn’t survive on her own:  
She didn’t think Akio could survive either.  They were too devoted to each 
other. They needed each other.  Locked together forever.  Locked together, 
for eternity.
She felt a hand caress her cheek but she didn’t open her eyes.
"I’m sorry Anthy, did I hurt you?" The voice was sympathetic and kind.
"It’s alright Onii-sama." She said plainly, noticing the change in his 
voice, leaning her cheek into his hand.  The blood was beginning to dry in 
places, stiff and crusty.  "We should...should clean up, your hand will get 
infected."
Akio ignored her, lost in his own thoughts.
"What is it onii-sama?  What are you thinking?"
"The duelists..."
"Duelists?" Anthy opened her eyes, disappointment welling inside her.  She 
had hoped he would leave the game for a little longer, "You are ready to 
begin again?"
"Yes," he said encircling her, "We must get more involved in the lives of 
our duelists.  They need a reason to fight...that’s the problem."
"What about Dios?" Anthy asked curiously.
"Don’t worry about that, I know who he has chosen."
"You do?" Anthy asked with some surprise.
"Yes...and she will be no threat at all."
Anthy looked up at her beloved with surprise, "She?"

******
Dios had shown him who he wanted to fight, a first, and Akio was going to 
make it a point to control her.  She would become so delusional that she 
wouldn’t know which way was up and she would be so devoted to him that she 
would lovingly hand him the Sword of Dios and open her arms to the 
surrounding blades.  All that was needed was for him to visit her, but she 
had to be ready to accept him.  Currently she was too young and the needed 
tragedy had not made her ready, but all he needed to do was wait...yes...she had 
to be completely devoted to him...nothing could stand in his way, not even her 
parents.
But while Dios had his chosen in mind, Akio had also chosen an ideal 
duelists.  He was holding true to his word and was focused on the lives of 
the four who would take a part in the new duels.  Really he only expected 
one to make it through the duels, the others were just ornamentation, extra 
challenge should the girl make her way to the duels.
He looked over at Anthy who slept next to him, Chu-Chu was no where to be 
seen, then again the creature usually made a habit of leaving the room when 
he and Anthy were thoroughly enjoying each others company.  Oh well, all the 
better then.
Anthy stirred and rolled over, freeing his arm so that he could comfortably 
move without disturbing her.  He left the warmth of the bed and opened the 
window, staring out at the night sky.  The moon was dark, just a sliver, 
allowing the stars to shine in all their glory.  He adjusted the telescope 
and pointed it towards Venus.  Soon Venus would shine brightly.  This wisp 
of a girl would be no match for him.  He looked over at Anthy’s still form.  
Together forever.

******
Anthy shifted gears and pressed her foot on the gas pedal, her hair a 
plaything of the wind.  Her other hand gripped the steering wheel so tightly 
that her knuckles were white.  The artificial yellow light of the headlights 
was in view and she braced herself for the impact.

******
"What are you doing in there?"
"Leave me."
"Leave you? But the living have no use for coffins."
"I don’t want to live anymore...it’s not worth it."
"Oh?" he reached out to stroke her soft hair.
"No.  It’s not worth living if nothing will last, best to just end it now."
Similar words to those of Anthy all those years ago, why bother living if it 
came to an end.   "What if I could show you something worth living for?"
"What?"
"Little princess, all you need is a reason to live, something to fight for, 
to search for," he reached down and lifted her from the coffin and held her 
close in his arms.
"No! Put me back! Put me..." She opened her eyes and looked at him, "You’re no 
one I know."
He smiled, "No, I’m not."
"W-who are you? Let me go!"
"If you wish to die, then does it matter who takes you where?" Akio asked, 
chuckling as the girl blushed. "To answer your question though...I am a 
prince," He set her down on the ground.
"A prince? What do you want with me?"
"Well, you’re a princess aren’t you? I’ve come to save you."
"Save me from what?" The child looked up at him endearingly, her blue eyes 
wet with tears, which he kissed away tenderly.
"From yourself."
"Why?"
"Because, that’s what princes do," he looked into her eyes and smiled 
gently, "Princes save Princesses."
"What’s that?"
"What’s what?"
"Over there," the child pointed.
Akio turned his head. In the distance a shadow had appeared, displaying a 
woman who looked like Anthy, being pierced by sword after shining sword, her 
wrists and ankles were even held together by a number of blades that ran 
through them.  Was that what awaited him?  He shook it off.
"I want...to help her," the child said in a quite and awe filled voice.
"What?" He looked down at the child who was staring at the vision.
"I want to save that princess," she looked at him, her blue eyes showing her 
strength, "I want to be a prince."
So this was why Dios had insisted that he make this girl a duelist...She would 
make her way through the duels; she would take the brunt of the swords; and 
she would revolutionize the world for him.  She would come back to him.
"It takes a strong person to become a prince," he said, "If this is what you 
want then," He could feel her pain now, her grief for her parents and her 
fear of being alone and something washed over him, a gentleness as he took 
her hand and placed a ring on her engagement finger, a silver ring, with a 
pink rose crest, "You must never lose your strength or nobility, even when 
you are grown.  This ring will lead you to me," he told her gently before 
kissing her once more and taking his leave.
~So,~ he thought as he looked upwards toward the sun, his true form 
returning, ~She is Dios after all~
Anthy waited in the idling car, her legs curled up beneath her demurely.  He 
smiled.  The bride awaited his return.
He opened the door and slid into the white leather seat.  So sad that such a 
tragedy would visit a child so young.  But he would never tell her that it 
was this car that had run her parents off the road; or that it was his 
sister behind the wheel while he waited in the shadows for the right time.

******
"I think I saw Kyouichi and Touga at the church yesterday," Anthy said, 
brushing strands of hair from her face.
"Good, the more connected they are the better," Akio said satisfied, "And 
you are certain no one saw you."
"No one at all Onii-sama, not even Chu-Chu would have seen it."
"Wonderful. Would you like to stop for something Anthy?  Ice crème?"
Anthy looked at him, "You’re in a good mood," she said softly.
"Yes, I am."
"Why?"
Akio chuckled, "Dios is going to play right into our hands I am certain of 
it."
"What’s she like?"
"She’s a princess, like all the others."
"Oh?"
"Yes," Akio replied, though, the way the girl had responded was different 
then he expected one her age to respond.  "She thinks she is a prince 
though."
Anthy giggled, "Really?  Who gave her that notion I wonder."
"I haven’t the foggiest," Akio glanced briefly over at Anthy who was staring 
out at the ocean now.  "Are you sure you are prepared Anthy?"
Anthy looked at him, "Yes."
"You understand that you will have to give yourself to them entirely, what 
ever they ask of you you must give it eagerly, blindly."
"I know.  It is what I choose to do."
"Divine justice perhaps?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, according to Dios and the Shadow Bride you were responsible for my 
death the first time after all.  And now, you have two more deaths to 
account for. Punishment wise you have been let off quite easily."
Anthy’s eyes widened but she said nothing, instead turning her focus back on 
the ocean.
Akio chuckled darkly.

******
The man looked up at Akio, "A recital you say?"
"Yes, your children are really quite talented.  I think that people would 
enjoy watching them, especially after they wrote such a delightful song.  
Really I cannot hear it enough times."
"Yes, it is quite impressive isn’t it?" the man said proudly.
"Do not worry though, I shall pay for the hall.  All other expenses will be 
mine as well."
"Really Himemiya-san, all this just to hear my children play..."
"They aren’t just children sir; their playing is the thing of angels," Akio 
said passionately, feeling Anthy’s hand tighten around his own as he 
mentioned Angels. She still held onto that ridiculous childhood fear. 
Granted, if she had gotten over it she might have left him by now.
"Well, I don’t know..." The man rubbed his forehead.
"If you allow them to play...I can assure their entrance into the prestigious 
Ohtori Academy."
The man looked up at Akio in disbelief.
"Of course, if you don’t want to..."
"I’ll do it.  It will be wonderful. I’ve been trying to get them in there 
for some time now!  Are you sure you can guarantee it?"
Akio just smiled in response and rose to his feet, "I look forward to the 
performance."
"Thank you for giving them this opportunity Himemiya-san," The man said 
bowing.
"Really, it is nothing at all for the chance to hear them play."
"I wonder, Kaoru-san, if I might have a copy of the sheet music, it is 
incredibly hard to find at the moment," Anthy said softly.
"Certainly, Certainly miss.  Would you like them to sign it?"
Anthy and Akio exchanged a look, "No, don’t worry about it," Anthy answered.
"Alright then, I’ll be back in a moment."
They waited for Kaoru to leave before speaking.
"Are you sure that they are right for this?" Anthy asked, polishing the 
glasses that Akio had insisted she wear.
"Oh yes, of course...one of them will be recycled later."
"Of course. No soul is wasted hmm?"
Akio chuckled, "Indeed. Waste not want not."
"So cruel."
They looked up as the door opened, "Here you go young lady, the Sunlit 
Garden, I hope you enjoy learning to play it."
"Thank you sir," Anthy said darkly taking the music, "I will."

**
Anthy and Akio sat in the front row; the house lights were still lit.  Anthy 
flipped through the program over and over again much to Akio’s irritation.  
He finally snatched the booklet from her.  This would be the decider of the 
twins.  Each one was capable of being a duelist but he could choose only 
one.  It all came down to this moment and how the lone twin Kozue handled 
herself.  He knew Miki was ill.  He had planned on it and had Anthy ensure 
the illness.
If Kozue handled herself well, then she would be one of his duelists...if not 
then...she would be the scrapings used for later.  The lights dimmed at last 
and the curtain opened.  A polite applause scattered throughout the room and 
Kozue was pushed out onto the stage.
She stared at the audience, her face paralyzed with fear.  She did try. Akio 
gave her that.  She sat at the piano, stumbled through several notes...she 
couldn’t even play the chords.  A moment later and she was running off the 
stage in tears.
"It looks like it is the boy then," Akio said plainly.
Anthy wrung her hands nervously; she didn’t like this. They were playing 
with the minds of these children now.  Who knows what trauma they had caused 
the little girl. She glanced at Akio who was standing, his face obviously 
pleased.
"Let’s go Anthy, we need to work on our next prospect."

******
Anthy stood in the back of the dark room, unseen, unheard.  Waiting.  The 
girl with the sun kissed hair finally left for the locker room, the mutual 
male friend leaving as well.  She left for the locker room secure in 
believing that no one knew her secret...and she was right to a point.  Akio 
knew though, and so did she, but it would have to be Juri who revealed it in 
the end.
Shiori was left alone, sitting on the metal chair waiting for her friends to 
return, left out because she did not fence.
"You love him, don’t you?" Anthy asked, emerging from the shadows.
"Huh!? Who are you!?" Shiori practically leaped out of the metal chair she 
was sitting in.
Anthy made a calming gesture and Shiori sat down again, "He is handsome," 
she said offhandedly.
"Oh, he’s...he’s in love with Juri though."
"Arisugawa-san doesn’t seem to love him back.  That isn’t very fair to him 
is it?" Anthy asked, sitting at the girl’s feet.
"No...," the girl began, gasping suddenly as Anthy began to run her fingers 
overthe girls exposed legs, "Who are you?" Shiori asked, pulling her legs 
away from Anthy’s fingers.
Anthy ignored her, "He could love you, if he was given the chance.  Take 
Arisugawa from the picture and he will follow you.  Take Arisugawa from the 
picture and you no longer have to live in her shadow."
"She’s my friend thought, I couldn’t leave her like that."
"Give her a message of hope then," Anthy said, twirling an orange color 
blossom between her fingers that seemed to appear from nowhere, and then 
running it down the girl’s unsuspecting leg.
"Message of...hope?" Shiori asked, twitching her leg away from the flower.
"Yes, tell her that if she believes in miracles, they will come true," Anthy 
said with a smile, "Because it is true.  Miracles happen all the time and if 
she believes, then her dream will be fulfilled.  If her dream if for the 
three of you to be happy then..."
"I don’t know," Shiori said in a quiet voice, her eyes seeming to focus on a 
fabricated future.
"Think about it.  Don’t rush.  Whatever you decide," Anthy stood, placing 
the rose in the girl’s hands and kissing her cheek.
"Thank you?" Shiori responded uncertainly, but Anthy was gone now, and Juri 
was reentering the room.

******
"What is this place Onii-sama?" Anthy asked curiously, peering out the side 
of the car, having to sit up part way because she was slouched.
"It's a hospital."
"What a funny word."
"You've been sheltered too long," Akio said, hazarding a look over to his 
sister.
"Perhaps.  Is this is where people go to..."
"Die? Sometimes, sometimes they are cured of the plagues of the body though; 
such is the bane of mortality."
"Onii-sama?"
"Hmm?"
"Why do we seek eternity if we are already immortal?"
Akio mulled over the question a moment before answering, "It is one thing to 
be immortal Anthy, it is entirely another to have complete control over the 
world in which you dwell."
"So, if we revolutionize the world..."
"Then we will gain power over it...and no one will get sick, or die."
"Why are we here then?"
"Someone here wishes to grasp eternity...I intend to give him that chance."

******

"You wanted to see me sir?" Touga peered into the office room.
Akio looked up from the paperwork on his desk and smiled, "Yes Kiryuu-kun, 
come in please."  Akio smiled as the red haired boy shyly made his way into 
the office; fear toyed with him.
"Sir, if this is about the other day when..."
Akio laughed, cutting Touga off, "Do not worry about that, I want the 
students here to be comfortable, and learn openly.  They really shouldn’t be 
restricted by such trivial rules."
"Um, yes sir."
"Tell me," Akio said, folding his hands on the desk, "What are your plans 
for the future?  What intrigues you the most?"
"Well, I don’t quite..."
"You’re family is quite prestigious, perhaps power?"
"Well, I suppose so sir," Touga studied him with suspicious blue eyes.
Akio smiled at this, "That is always a good thing to strive for, but, there 
is something even greater young Touga."
"What is that sir?"
"I will tell you in due time, if you really want to know.  Until then, I 
have noticed that you and Saionji Kyouichi are not as close friends as you 
used to be.  One must always have friends."
"Yes sir, we have had our differences."
"That’s too bad.  Here, we will make a deal.  Continue to be Saionji’s 
friend and later, I will tell you a secret."
"All right sir," Touga said in a confused voice.
"Excellent," Akio said, opening on of the drawers.  Other then the girl, 
Touga was the only one to receive a ring yet, "Here give me your hand."
Touga did as he was told, extending his hand to Akio, staring at the ring 
that was slid onto his finger.
"Only a member of a very select group will wear this ring Kiryuu-kun," Akio 
began, "You are one of the first, but keep your eye out for others who will 
follow.  Know this though...you will always be their leader."
Touga took his hand back, staring at the ring, wondering what all this truly 
meant, "Yes sir."

******
Anthy pulled weeds from the flower box, sad that she had to, but they would 
choke her precious roses.  Akio had begun and funded the erection of a rose 
garden, a beautiful glass structure that reflected beautifully in the sun at 
noon.
He had had it built for her, had suffered the teasing jibes of the other 
administrators for her.  But the board of trustees and the chairman had all 
agreed in the end that it would do well for school spirit if the students 
had a place to go to relax and partake of the beauty of the roses, the 
schools symbol.
She was glad for it too, it gave her a chance to get out of their apartment, 
to do something constructive until the true plan fleshed out and she would 
join the ranks of the students themselves.  Until then she tended to her 
garden at night under the artificial lights.  No one really knew who took 
care of the roses but no one had to be hired, and no one had to be paid, and 
that suited the board and the chairman just fine.
She had developed all types of roses; their colors as varied as the colors 
of the rainbow, from the typical red, to a strange blue, and green rose, the 
likes of which did not technically exist in nature.  She smiled to herself 
pleased.
"Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t expect anyone to be here," a young male voice said 
from behind her.
Anthy turned to see who it was, she must have forgotten to lock the door. 
"Hello."
The boy stood there watching her.
"May I help you?" Anthy asked him, faltering slightly as she realized that 
it was Saionji.   She hadn’t seen him since that time in the church, so 
uncertain and insecure while his friend Touga was confident and daring.
"N-no, I was just coming here to think was all. I’ll leave if you like."
He still wasn’t that old, and it would be years still until Akio would have 
any use for him. "No, please stay, I don’t mind," Anthy said turning her 
back to him and returning to her work.
"So," Saionji said taking a seat, "You’re the one who grows and takes care 
of the roses, I had always wondered."
Anthy smiled, "Yes."
"I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around...granted most of the girls I know 
are ones that hang around Touga all the time. I guess um, do you know 
Touga?"
Anthy picked up the brass watering can and turned her attention to the green 
roses, "You are jealous of your friend?"
"Huh? No, I guess...I mean,"
"You would like to be like him though?"
There was a pause, "Yeah, I guess so.  I guess I’m lucky that he still 
considers me a friend."
"Aren’t you involved in anything? There’s nothing that separates you from 
him?" Anthy asked, watering the green blossoms.
"Oh yes, I’m on the Kendo team."
"Are you? Do you enjoy it?"
"Yes very much, I hope to be captain someday."
"You will if you keep practicing."
"Yes, I know.  I’m Saionji, by the way," he said.
"Here," Anthy clipped on of the roses from the bush and handed it to Saionji 
with a delicate smile, "Take this tomorrow to Himemiya Akio, I think that he 
might be able to help you."
"Himemiya...Akio?"
"Yes," she smiled and made her way to the door, "please lock up when you’re 
done here."
Saionji looked up from the blossom, his violet eyes wide with confusion, 
"Oh, sure..."

**

"Come in," Akio said, not looking up from the paper work.
"Excuse me, I was told to see you."
"I’m rather busy right now, what is it about?"
Saionji held out the green blossom, "Someone told me to give this to you."
Akio looked up to see the young boy holding out a rose to him, what was 
Anthy doing?  He didn’t want this boy yet, he still needed to train Touga.  
"You must be mistaken, please leave."
Saionji faltered and nodded, dropping the rose on the ground, "I’m sorry to 
have bothered you sir," he said closing the door.
"Well?" a voice said from behind him.
Saionji turned around, surprised by the voice, "You."
Anthy smiled and kissed him on the cheek, "Wait a little longer, and keep 
practicing.  You will defeat Touga someday."
Saionji just nodded dumbly as he watched the mysterious girl leave.