Disclaimer: I do not own Angel Sanctuary or any of its characters; that honor goes to the wonderful Kaori Yuki and whoever else is involved. I also do not own the song "Good Morning Beautiful" by the Deftones. Some other people do (whoever that is)! I do however own any original characters I may happen to slip in here.

AN: This is actually my second fanfic of Angel Sanctuary and I took the other one down. I might put it back up someday, but for now, I'll go with this idea. I'll do my best to update regularly.

Some chapters will have songs woven into them but this story is not a song fic if I'm thinking right. Correct me if I'm wrong!

' ' are Thoughts

Italics are Past events

Italics in bold are Song lyrics

Hope End

Chapter 1: Temporary Sanity

One of these days you'll break me of many things

Some cold white day, but you're crazy if you think I would leave

you this way

She stumbled blindly through the heavily falling rain, weeping and every now and then losing her footing on the slick, grimy street. She was not really aware of where she was going as her already slick hands attempted to grip the stained walls of the random buildings. She just had to get away.

The pain was just too much and seemed to be the only thing she was really aware of. She smiled briefly to herself, thinking of how she had at least accomplished getting away from her mother and away from that ill-fated flight to England. For some odd reason, Sara just knew she wasn't supposed to get on that plane, no matter what happened she just knew that.

'Perhaps God does still have something better in store for me...Even He can only laugh so long at one old, cruel joke,' Sara thought bitterly and in earnest.

You should wake up before the wrath comes

(me and you) could take off before the wrath comes...soon

But how could she ever really escape him? 'I can escape her...I can escape England, but I will never really escape him. Not yet at least,' she thought grimly. She would forget...somehow.

She knew where those "other girls" went to have fun, distract themselves, from either schoolwork or boys. She was even in a way friends with some of those girls during their tearful lamentations about their teen woes; they always ended up inviting her along with them to "the place", asking if she had any troubles of her own. Sara always turned them down; she never had such problems like theirs, but, 'Oh,' she thought ironically, 'what would they say to see me now?'

And one of these days I pray it will be sometime soon

On a day like today, you'd be crazy not to want me to teach you

the way

She finally reached her destination. She was surprised that she even remembered her way to here, the girls always telling her "just in case". Fate had led her here she believed, just the same way fate had told her not to get on that plane. The building itself was bathed in shadows, a few light bulbs of a dull, yellow shade enchanted the stone steps up to the entrance. The building itself was a faded brick red, more brown than red these days, fat and squat in its appearance.

It fit her mood however, the music of one of those American artists flowing out in depressing cords. It sounded like something Setsuna liked to listen to, and at that thought Sara could fill hot tears fill her gold-brown eyes once more. She quickly bit them back and opened the dark door to disappear inside the blue-black darkness.

You should wake up before the wrath comes

(me and you) could take off before the wrath comes...soon

The warm atmosphere immediately enveloped her soaked form. Even though it wasn't quite pleasant it did warm her. The air was thoroughly scented with cigarette smoke and cheap beer, both old and new. She wrinkled her nose up involuntarily at the new thick smells and timidly stopped only a few steps from the doorway. 'What now? Where to go in a place like this?'

Suddenly Sara observed the bar up front. The people luckily looked to be only a few years her senior seeing that mostly teenagers and sometimes young adults congregated here. 'It should be safe enough to sit up there.'

Well I know what you're like - I've read it on the walls

You're too tired, you choose heaven over the earth and me but

come on please...

She quietly perched herself up on one of the solid wood stools, the cushion still warm from its previous occupant. She leaned forward, resting her elbows upon the bar and hopefully allowing her dark golden hair to cover her face fully and at least most of her small figure.

'What to do...how to forget...' suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by a cheerful female voice. "What can I get you little one?" Her voice was pleasantly raspy, her bright green eyes quickly assessing Sara. Sara raised her head up slowly, bewilderment obvious upon her features.

"What can you get me? Well I-I don't have much money..." "Don't worry, it'll be on me angel," she winked pleasantly at Sara, already turning away from her to fill her up a pleasant little fruity mixture (AN: Yes you can tell I am not really familiar with drinks).

"This will help you release some of that obvious tension in your face angel. Usually the more pleasant it tastes the more alcohol is in it. I'll only give you half a glass. This should taste like Hawaiian punch." Sara nodded, murmuring her thank you and tentatively sipping the bright red mixture.

This act of rebellion suddenly filled Sara with a dark excitement; she'd never drunk in her life. The drink almost immediately made her a bit woozy but other than that she did agree it tasted just like Hawaiian punch.

"Oh...uhhh...about my age--" "Don't worry about it; we serve minors all the time and I'm really not that old myself. Not exactly legal but usually they don't look as young as you, but usually just as down. What's wrong? Guy troubles? Oh yeah, by the way, my name is Kitsune." She smiled pleasantly, revealing one gold tooth.

Sara smiled back, put at ease, but still very much on guard when it came to her "guy troubles." What could she possibly say? That she was in love with her brother?

"No...just family troubles. My friends always offered to bring me along with them here but I always declined. It isn't so bad." Sara continued to slowly drain her drink, settling into a pleasantly foggy awareness.

"Nope isn't so bad at all. Even our regulars are relatively pleasant. We never do get much trouble here, just an easy-going joint for the lost and forlorn." She smiled again tilted her head a bit giving Sara another mischievous look. "Now what's such a good girl doing in a place like this? Seems someone like you wouldn't have that big of a family problem to have to resort to such a dingy place such as this. I love the place, but it doesn't exactly look like any five star restaurants." Sara could feel the heat rising to her cheeks.

You should wake up before the wrath comes

(me and you) could take off before the wrath comes

Well (maybe you) should take off

(yeah you) should take off

"Well I just decided to be bad for once OK? I just needed to get away from the pressures of my life at the moment. There are pressures on good people, loving people, too," Sara blurted out a bit sharper then she meant to. Kitsune raised her black eyebrows up slightly. "Whoa killer didn't mean to hit a sore sport. Let's talk about more pleasant things. So what's your name anyway?"

Sara and Kitsune talked for hours on end, Kitsune full of stories about the Rising Sun as the joint was widely known as, though it of course looked to be the complete opposite of its name, and Sara mostly just had to listen. It was nice talking to Kitsune and she promised she'd return soon, most likely tomorrow night.

"You're lucky it's a Friday or I'd be questioning you about school. Need a ride home?" Kitsune questioned, doubtful that Sara could take care of herself. "I'm not going home anymore...it isn't much of a home anymore anyway," Sara replied with a heavy sigh.

"Hey no sweat. You could totally hang out with me and my roomies. You're lucky too, I'm just coming off my shift. Come along little one," Kitsune laughed, grabbing an ancient purse and lighting a cigarette almost automatically. She looped her arm through Sara's and led her into the wet night air.

Alright, well I know it's not too long and nothing too exciting has happened yet but I promise you I'll get the ball rolling soon. Remember, REVIEW and feel free to give me ANY tips.

Angel of Mirth