Fear of Angels

                                 Part Five

                              Tatiana Celeste
                            lintila@hotmail.com

"Hyaa!!!" The girl ran towards her fellow duelist a battle cry on her lips.
Anthy watched passively as the girl fought to win, her reputation was
staked on it. If she lost again End of the World would drop her from the
game. That's the name he had come up with...that was what he would bring, the
end of this world with the promise of another. They both knew that it had
never occurred to this duelist why she fought, just one day she had
received a letter and was told to meet out in the forest. There had been
several other people there and they dueled until there were only six
victors left. That was when Anthy appeared, revealing herself to them, the
first duelists; Their rose seal rings shining brightly on their fingers. No
one really knew who she was, or even if she went to the school but what
they had seen her do...and the sword. They had easily been convinced. None of
them would ever forget that day.

The duelist yelled again, her eyes fierce and flashing but to no avail...the
other duelist second-guessed her move and deftly removed the rose.

"Damn! Damn damn!" The girl fell to her knees gasping for breath. She had
been so close this time.

"Congratulations...you will move onto the next level," The Anthy said
impassively, taking back the sword of Dios. There was nothing between her
and the victor. She had no connection to the duelists that fought for her
and her power. None of the duelists even knew who she was; they just saw
her here, dressed as the Rose Bride, the bearer of the Sword of Dios.
Engagement to her was just a term for the victor and meant very little. She
had classes with one of them, but they never did figure it out.

The losing duelist pounded the ground with her fist, this had been her last
chance...her last chance to save her family...her last chance to save
others...no...her last chance to get what she wanted. Eternity. Anthy closed
her eyes. She had been no different from the others.

******

"How did the duel go this time Anthy?" Akio asked, staring up at the
ceiling, Chu-Chu next to him, mocking the action.

"Umi lost."

"Ah, yes...this does seem a little biased to the fencing and kendo members
doesn't it?"

"It shouldn't matter to Dios' chosen."

"No...it shouldn't."

Anthy sat next to Akio. He had changed over the past year while they were
developing the dueling game. He had gained more insight, more power...at
times she wondered if he was omnipotent. Then again...she had also changed.
She also sensed things, knew things that she shouldn't. Illusions were also
becoming easier to create. Her body had grown to that of fourteen or
fifteen. Akio had hardly aged at all. She wondered why. Would she remain in
this frozen body for always? Perhaps this older body was more outwardly
respected then that of a child's body. Dios had been in a child's body
though...but she would never fully grow up either she assumed it was a fair
trade.

They spent most of their time in the East dorm now, rarely leaving. Twice
the administration had given their room away only to discover that the two
orphans still remained. Akio sometimes would go out at night and look at
the stars, but he had almost stopped attending classes altogether, just
enough to keep from getting expelled, choosing to study on his own what he
needed to know. He had even kept Anthy from many of her classes, opting to
school her personally. She didn't mind though. She didn't mind that they
were together all the time. She wanted this to last forever. She was happy
even if they didn't achieve eternity...to her the game was just a way to pass
time, which to them no longer truly existed.

Akio sat up, "The next level will be fought next week..."

"You sound displeased."

"This isn't working."

"No?"

"There's something missing...a connection. I have no link to these duelists,
no control. I only really know how they are faring in the game when they
duel and that isn't very often. I had to tell them to duel last time. It
was as if they didn't care!"

Anthy looked at him with unreadable eyes, "What should we do?"

He lay back down on the floor, "I'll figure something out."

"Mmm," Anthy lay on the floor next to him and closed her eyes, draping an
arm over his body, "I'm tired."

******

Akio entered the building; he knew this would be the best way to go...at
least as a good test. He had gotten a job at Ohtori in administration after
graduating and was welcomed openly. Actually no one remembered him, no one
recalled the Ohtori orphans. Then again...it had been a long time. He and
Anthy now lived off the money that their father had put away for them. He
and Anthy would have moved from the area long ago but the forest was the
center of all of this...they couldn't leave it. He was reconstructing the
game, it didn't work this way, he could find nothing out and he could not
influence his duelists properly, not yet. Until then he needed another way,
another plan until he could gain the power that he needed to influence the
students.

He had arranged a meeting with some of the students, ones that he had been
following. They were quite intelligent and all desired a bright and fortune
filled future. They all desired eternity. There had to be another way to
reach eternity besides these duels, perhaps something that wouldn't involve
Anthy so much though that wasn't guaranteed. Unfortunately if this didn't
work he knew that he might have to separate from her...if only for a little
bit.

He entered the room and set down his briefcase...he was early. He sat in the
chair behind the desk and waited patiently as the chosen students trickled
in. They would serve their purpose; construct a more elaborate arena other
then fighting directly in the forest. What a stupid idea that was, how many
of the duelists had lost due to a tree root? Once the arena was completed
they would build their own grave: Yet another elaborate test of his
duelist's abilities. They would of course need a direct leader...but that
would come later. Many more trickled into the room, unaware of the
proposition that he was about to make them.

~Welcome sacrifices~ he mused to himself with a grin before standing to
address them all.

******

They all wore the ring now, all one hundred of them. Such a perfect and
beautifully round number. All that was left was to bring in the next pawn.
Akio had studied him, read about him and read his thesis. He could indeed
use this young man to his own designs.

Professor Nemuro Souji...he would indeed be an asset, all he needed was to
seal the contract with the ring. Akio narrowed his eyes cunningly. And of
course from what he learned from the lovely Tokiko...hmm yes lovely indeed...he
knew that Nemuro couldn't do anything but help him with his plan. Akio
noted the odd infatuation that Nemuro had with Tokiko and her dying
brother. That was how he had gotten Tokiko to join him as well...

"You're brother is sick, Tokiko-san, such a pity."

"Hai," she peered into the teacup, "The doctors say he will die soon."

Akio looked at her sympathetically, "Doctors know much...but sadly not
enough. My mother died too young so I can understand how you feel."

"Can you?" She looked at him with such hope, her eyes relaying her emotions
all to clearly.

"Oh yes," he stroked her cheek, "But, there may be a way...a way that doctors
do not know."

Tokiko chucked, "Oh really? So mysterious Akio-san, so idealistic. What is
this way? Magic?"

Akio smiled, "Actually...yes," he took a sip of his tea, "I have many
students in my employ thanks to the board of trustees. You are welcome to
get involved, they are looking for someone to investigate. If we succeed, I
know we can save

Mamiya-kun."

"Mamiya-kun?" she repeated sadly.

Akio took her hand and kissed it tenderly, "Trust me?"

"What do I need to do?"

He could tell she was his now, the way she looked at him. "There is a
scientist, he is quite exceptional and I will need his help to achieve
eternity to save your brother...but he needs some initiative, a reason to
search."

"You want me to convince him?"

He smiled, "If it's not to much trouble."

She smiled meekly, "I suppose nothing is to much trouble for my prince."

With her agreement Nemuro was in his hand, another pawn in the game...it was
a shame that the brilliant man would also lose himself...but even he had a
duel role.

This would prevent anyone other then Dios' chosen, who ever he was, from
reaching the last levels of the game, which was even now evolving under
Akio's direction. Of course, it was all a matter of convincing Nemuro to
seal the contract with the placement of the ring. The sacrifices were in
their places...ready, waiting for death to creep in upon them.

This would be their eternal grave.

******

Anthy looked up from her book as Akio entered the room, "The meeting with
Nemuro-san went well?"

Akio ran a finger over the side of his mouth incase there was excess
lipstick there from Tokiko. He didn't want to upset Anthy with his
conquests. "Yes, it went quite well," Akio smiled sitting next to her,
"Nemuro should be initiating the duelists any day now."

"I see," Anthy closed the book and shifted so that she created space
between herself and Akio.

"Oh Anthy, there must be sacrifices," Akio said, reaching his hand out to
her, entangling his fingers in her hair. "They agreed to a contract and
this was a condition. Nemuro knows what he's doing. He is choosing this
path willingly."

"I cannot help but think of what we will do to him later...it's too cruel."
Anthy mused.

Akio ran a hand over her back, "Just be ready to play your part with the
time is necessary."

Anthy sighed, relenting to him, "Yes Onii-sama."

******

"Extra Extra Extra!"

"Oh your hurting me stop please!"

"Why there's not a scratch on you!"

"But your hurt my insides friend!"

"Insides outsides hurt the same, you should leave!"

"But he needs me," Anthy replied with closed eyes.

******

Akio stood on the newly built arena, his arm around Anthy, the wind blowing
at their hair and clothes.

"He's taking his time," Akio said calmly, encircling Anthy's waist.

Anthy looked at the floor of the platform, her arms folded in front of her.
Akio frowned; she had become so passive and distant lately. He supposed
that she was still upset with him about the Nemuro incident. She felt
suffering as clearly as he did, though in a different manner. The swords
sent her suffering...he just felt it, a dull pain now in the back of his
mind. He didn't doubt her loyalty to him though, let her mope if it would
help, let her mourn the losses...each day they grew closer to eternity, and
he knew that she would do anything for him.

"He isn't Dios' chosen," she said finally.

"I know..." Akio said calmly.

"Then why are we putting him through this?"

"We must try every angle Anthy."

"Is that why you didn't use the sacrifice?"

"Yes, it would have been a waste. No more questions."

"Yes onii-sama."

"Here he comes," Akio said releasing Anthy who moved to the center of the
platform.

The duelist in his pristine uniform walked through the gateway. Akio
frowned at the casualness in which he walked...he didn't really care, did he?
He didn't truly desire eternity...it was just a game to him wasn't it?
Something unworthy of

formality. His green eyes narrowed.

The duelist assessed him and looked Anthy over, desire plainly in his eyes.
Did he fight for eternity or for the bride herself? Little did those fools
know that she already had a prince.

"So you are my next challenge?" The boy asked in a confident voice, "You
are who I must face for the duel of revolution?" Akio nodded and saluted
him with his sword; this whelp was not worth his time...why had he bothered
letting him get this far? "Fine then, show me the sword Rose Bride," he
demanded.

Anger flashed through Akio, how dare he treat her this way! She was not a
child to be talked down to; she was a magical being beyond his
comprehension. To his annoyance she obeyed, her movements repetitive, this
was not the first nor the last time she would do this.

"Roses of the noble castle, power of Dios that sleeps within me, heed thy
master and come forth."

Akio watched in calm awe, relishing this time that he could watch her bring
forth the sword in calm beauty rather then the frantic pain of the first
time, or when the Shadow Bride had tried to take the Sword of Dios from
her.

The boy caught her and confidently took the sword from her body. Did he
understand where that sword had come from? Did he care? He obviously cared
nothing about Anthy else he wouldn't look like he was about to drop her.

Yes...Next time the Rose Bride would be revered, a position of mystery and
power...the duelists would fight for her and the power she held...they would
respect her.

"Grant me the power to bring the world revolution!!" The boy held the sword
in front of him, "Ready to lose?" the boy said confidently.

Akio smirked and took an offensive position, "Never."

                              End of Part Five