Fear of Angels

                                 Part Seven

                              Tatiana Celeste
                            lintila@hotmail.com


Akio climbed the stairs up to Ohtori’s office.  The academy had yet to 
change family hands and he and Anthy had seen two other generations of 
Ohtori’s here.  The new line of Ohtori had been here for quite sometime now 
and this patriarch would soon die.  Akio planned to replace him when he did. 
  Ohtori Academy was his domain and he needed full run of it until he could 
achieve the revolution.
"Can I help you?" the secretary asked in a high-pitched voice.  She was 
asserting her authority, at least what little authority she had.
"Yes, I have an appointment with Ohtori-sama.  I am Himemiya Akio." Akio 
said in a gentle voice followed by a delicate smile.
The secretary went over the planner, "Ah yes, please sit over there 
Himemiya-san he will be right with you."
"Thankyou," Akio said with a small bow before seating himself.
He made a show of flipping through a complimentary magazine; he couldn’t 
believe people actually read this dreck.
"Himemiya-san, Ohtori-san will see you now," The secretary said finally, her 
voice growing kinder and more respectful the more she said to him.
"Thank you," Akio said with a polite smile as he stood.  He cleared the 
waiting room and entered the large office.
"Ah, Himemiya Akio is it?" the old man asked looking up from his papers.
"Yes sir," Akio said politely.
"Have a seat," he waved his hand towards a chair.
"Thank you sir," Akio said sitting, folding his hands in his lap.
"So, how long have you worked for us again?"
"Only few years sir," Akio lied easily.
"In administration correct?"
Fool, couldn’t even remember who he was...well that would change, "Yes sir."
"Excellent," the man smiled and flipped through some files, "It looks like 
you have been doing a good job, your supervisor speaks very highly of you.  
I think you could have a bright future here."
Yes, that was what he wanted to hear. "Thank you sir."
"Now, why don’t you come to dinner at my house tonight Himemiya-san, my wife 
and I would be honored to have you for dinner.  Perhaps...you would even like 
to meet my daughter," the older man chuckled.
"Yes sir, I would be honored sir.  But..." Akio paused; Anthy couldn’t be left 
alone like that, she had been left alone with Chu-Chu once to often.
"What’s the problem?"
"I’m sorry sir, my younger sister..."
"Oh, you don’t want to leave her out?  Bring her along then," Ohtori nodded, 
"Seven o clock on the dot then?" he chuckled again.
"Should I bring anything?" Akio asked politely.
"No no, just yourself and your sister," Ohtori said.
Akio stood and bowed politely, "Thank you sir."
"Oh your welcome, I like to make an effort to know my employees every now 
and then."

******
"Dinner?" Anthy asked.  Chu-chu sat up, ready to hear the conversation.
"Yes," Akio said calmly.
"I..." Anthy looked down.
"You will be coming with me Anthy, we will not dishonor Ohtori by refusing.  
If all goes to plan, we should be able to rule the school freely."
"I understand."
"Put on the white dress, the one without the waist" Akio said sitting on the 
white couch, "I want you to look younger then you physically are."
"Yes Onii-sama," Anthy said weakly, unbuttoning her blouse in front of him 
and changing her clothes unabashedly.
"Is this alright?" she asked, smoothing out the simple dress.
Akio studied her, "Yes...but," he rose to his feet and gathered her hair up in 
his hands, "You’re to beautiful onee-chan," he said softly, kissing her 
cheek.
Anthy blushed, uncertain what to say, more unused to the compliment then the 
kiss.  Akio had been distant lately.  Then again, so had she.
"Here," he began to roll her hair up into a tight style, "Ohtori-san has a 
daughter, I don’t want her to feel threatened, you know how young women can 
be."
"Hai onii-sama," Anthy said quietly.
Akio brushed his sisters bangs out with his dark fingers so that they curled 
prettily around her forehead marking.  "Wait here," Akio said leaving the 
room, returning quickly with a small box.
"What is that?"
He opened it carefully to reveal the pair of wire rim glasses that she had 
worn when they had gone after Kaoru Miki.
"Onii-sama?"
"There, now you’re beauty will be preserved from the world."
"I don’t understand."
"In time you will," Akio said, "I plan to place you into society again, we 
have been secluded here with the stars for far to long. Unfortunately my 
pride prevents me from allowing the world to see you as you are.  We must 
disguise ourselves Anthy, the world cannot know that we exist as we do."

******

The siblings waited outside the door.  Akio had rung the bell and it was 
just a matter of time before a butler answered it and led them to a waiting 
room.
"Don’t be so nervous," he said to Anthy before sitting on one of the plush 
chairs.
"Ah hello Himemiya-san," Ohtori said, entering the room followed by his 
wife.
Akio stood and he and Anthy bowed deeply.
"Hello sir, I thank you again for the invitation" Akio said.
Anthy looked down at the floor, her hands held in front of her.
"Be polite Anthy," Akio said looking at Ohtori apologetically.
"This is your sister?" Ohtori asked.
"Yes sir, this is Anthy."
"What a pretty name," Ohtori held out his hand to Anthy.
"Be polite Onee-chan," Akio said again in a stronger voice, "I apologize, 
she’s quite shy."
"It is a pleasure to meet you Ohtori-san," Anthy said softly, giving him her 
hand.
He kissed it in a gentlemanly manner then turned his attention to Akio, 
"Kanae should be down in a moment."
"Yes sir."
"Hello," a young feminine voice called out softly from another room.
"Ah, what wonderful timing," Ohtori said, "Kanae dear, in the study."
The blonde girl entered the room carefully, her pale face brightened by a 
societal smile and framed by blond hair and highlighted by blue eyes which 
contained a sort of dullness due to the absence of thought.  Akio found her 
somewhat disgusting despite her physical beauty, but he smiled charmingly 
and bowed in her direction.
"Kanae, this is Himemiya Akio, he’s got a bright future ahead of him at the 
academy."
"A pleasure to meet you Kanae-san," Akio said politely.
Kanae blushed and smiled, "Yes, a pleasure to meet you too."
"Well, shall we move this to the dining room?" Ohtori suggested.
Kanae was studying him and Akio mocked infatuation...if he could get the 
Ohtori’s to eat out of his hand then he would be set.
Anthy remained next to him, the epitome of insecurity.  Her hands were 
folded and her head and eyes were cast down.  Perfect, he had no doubts that 
she would serve her part in his next plan well.

**

"So," Ohtori said cutting his meat, "What are your plans?  Where do you see 
yourself in ten years lets say."
Akio took a sip of wine, "To be honest, I see myself running the school," he 
said with a debonair grin.
The old patriarch laughed, "That’s what I like to see, ambition! Good for 
you Himemiya-san.  Yes, young and ambitious...you know you remind me of myself 
when I was younger..."
Akio pretended to listen to him as the man droned on about his youth.  Akio 
knew very well what this man was like when he was young...he also knew quite a 
few things that his wife would be horrified to know should she ever find 
out.
"Anthy-chan, do you go to school at Ohtori?" Kanae asked in attempt to draw 
the girl into conversation.
Anthy started at her plate, numb.  This was different then reeling in 
potential duelists, at least then she and Akio were in control.  This was 
free form conversation, something that she shared only with Akio and 
Chu-Chu.  She wished they had discussed before hand what she should say in 
response to these types of questions.
"Yes," Akio said, "She’s been going there for, what Anthy two years now?"
"Yes, Onii-sama," Anthy said, relieved that he had taken the answer for her.
Kanae looked at them, "Funny, I’ve never seen you before, then again I’m in 
the high school," she smiled.
"Well perhaps you all will get to know each other more," the older man broke 
in, "I’ve been watching you Himemiya-san, and I’ve seen the way you’ve been 
working with the students, particularly the Kiryuu’s son."
Akio’s eyes widened just slightly, impressive that the man watched him this 
closely, perhaps he had misjudged him.
"You have also done a lot for the school, that Rose Garden for one, that was 
your idea wasn’t it?"
"Yes sir."
"Yes, the student’s just love that.  I want to work closer with you 
Himemiya-san, see what you are really capable of, perhaps you will run the 
school in ten years."
Akio smiled, "Thank you sir, for the opportunity," he squeezed Anthy’s hand 
under the table; things were working exactly as planned.