1 Sanctuary of Angels

1.1 Chapter Two

Sara leaned her head against the glass mirror, her long honey brown tresses cascaded down her back freely, she was completely leaning against it, her hazel eyes closed in thought, closed in the hopes that she would block out the noise. Her small form was presses against the mirror her back against it, there she sat perched upon the marble counter a few inches away from the pearl white sink. The marble was so cold, she was so cold. Slowly, she wraps her arms around her knees to bring them closer to her chest, her arms crossing around her knees as though to protect her from something. She swallows slowly trying to get rid of the lump in her throat; she had been trying so hard, not to cry, trying so hard. She had brought this upon herself after all; her eyes squeezed shut, if only she could concentrate on something other then the screaming going on in the other room. Carelessly, she lets a slender leg slide down, the nightgown now less strained shimmered in the bright light of the bathroom, a petite floral print gown, made of satin, with lace fringe and lining. It had been a gift from her mother, as though it would somehow lessen the loss of her brother. She chocked back a small sob, chewing on her bottom lip. The yelling on the room was coming solely from her mother, her Onii-chan voice she could not hear through the walls. Her darling mother had made sure, that the walls in this house were thick too, its own cocoon, self-sustaining from the filth that existed on this earth, or so she loved saying. The girl turns her head letting her ear press up against the glass, as though hoping to catch something; it was basically a loud noise. It would be less torture if she could hear what he was saying in reply…just one word of reply.

Setsuna listened to his mother ramble on for the umpteenth time about the past; it was all she ever really managed to talk about. Yes, he was a sinner, no he was not going to taint his sister if he could help it, she rattled endlessly on, and for the most part he was silent, it was the stony silence, that probably bothered her the most. When she was finished with her tirade, he would talk to her, otherwise he did not really give a damn what she was saying. It had been the case that no more then a few moments, that he had entered the house with Sara, then out marched his mother. Self- righteous as ever, she had gone right for Setsuna, but Sara had almost seamlessly ignored her, taking his hand she lead him to the drawing room, or would be, basically a very empty room with lots of dust. There she waited in silence, she had opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by a

" Go to your room Sara, while I and Setsuna…have a talk." She had tossed him a look, he had nodded not uttering a word, then she shot a very hurt look at her mother and ran out of the room, and up the stairs he would imagine. Then his mother had walked to the door, closed it, turned to him and started talking. She had not stopped talking since, and he hoped, that she had not heard half of what his mother had been saying to him. It was hard to believe that she had a shred of relation to him, half the things that were coming from her mouth. According to her, he was still the " antichrist" bent upon destroying the purity of Sara, deprived of her presence, he had gotten here by "no way of God" and like the "devil himself" had appeared on the doorstep one day. He was sure she had said more damaging things, but if he had bothered to listen his temper would have flared and he did not want to yell, no need to upset Sara further. So he waited, listening to her talk about how "unnatural" he was, how she was glad that Sara had enough sense to leave him but like, "the plague" Setsuna did not seem to be unavoidable. He smirked inwardly; she had not changed in the least. Slowly through the barbs of her words, he had gotten very close to the wall, at first he had stood perfectly straight, but the more she spoke, the more lax he appeared to be. Until he was leaning against the bare wall, he sighed inwardly letting his head rest against the wall. All he wanted to do was see Sara, talk to Sara, but that was too difficult. He had been so cold listening to his mother, but now it seemed he was warming up, it was a pleasant feeling…

On the other side of the wall, almost on the exact place that Setsuna lay against, Sara sits pressed against the mirror, she opened her hazel eyes, slowly she lets her hands falls at her sides, and both of her legs slide down, she had been so cold. All she had wanted to do was have Onii-chan stay there with them, she felt warmer now, and safer somehow.

Setsuna had been so consumed with the thoughs of Sara that he had almost missed his opening, with crystal clarity his mother words, snapped into focus, a small jolt, as though he had known, this was his chance with Sara.

" What am I going to do with you Setsuna? Huh, What?"

He did not hesitate; he had lied before he was willing to do it again,

" You can toss me out on the street, your own son, but I promise you, I only came here to wish Sara luck on her upcoming marriage."

Sure he had, right after she had told him in the sanctuary, what seemed hours ago, days, the knowledge still stung, but it would be good leverage, a good protection, a good hindrance. His disease was so interesting, jealousy was, and he had yet to meet him.

" Setsuna…"

" There is really nothing more I can do to her mother, you took her away, she is getting married, if anything now she will be less distracted missing her brother…and as for the rest…we both knew that foolish matter would change in time."

At this point his mother became silence and fixed him with a look that could cut through steel, his hazel eyes flashed for a moment, and then she nodded slightly, obviously seeing what she had wanted to see like always.

" You can stay here, Setsuna unlike less forgiving folks, I forgive you, for Sara, I will allow you to stay in home…but if I see anything-"

Sara walked into the room, quietly and her mother promptly stopped talking, her eyes burning into Setsuna into his reaction at seeing Sara. She did not get what she had expected from either of them. Instead of going directly to Setsuna, she went to her, hugging her warmly, she kissed her cheek, " I love you mother, no matter your decision-"

"Where you listening to our conversations Sara?"

"No, but I just thought you would be finished talking by now."

Her mother sighed at this, and then looked to Setsuna who was merely standing against the wall still, his eyes on his mother, almost as though asking permission, perhaps event to speak. Could it be that he was being an obedient child after all of the years? Her heart warmed slightly at the idea. She glanced at the time, it was almost her late night shift, and she was already in her work clothes, ought she really leave them alone? She had already made her decision, and somehow she knew God would protect her Sara. She hugged Sara back partially before saying, as she gathered her things in a hurry, " Setsuna can stay, and now I am off to work, be good Sara, my God keep his faithful." And with that, she closed the door leaving brother and sister alone.

Sara stood across from her brother silent, and for a tense moment neither one spoke. Despite everything, she had been right, it had not been quite the breeze she had imagined but it had nevertheless worked out, and they would be in the same house, though right now alone. She shook off the feeling that perhaps it was not such a good idea, and took two steps towards Setsuna, her bare feet cold against the wood floor.

Setsuna watched her approach, not moving, outwardly it seemed as if he did not care, about her hesitance, about the expression in her eyes, how her hazel eyes never left his, how she only seemed to be able to see him. He was going to ignore it, the small bundle of heat that had started at his very core, the moment the door had closed and they were alone, ignore how is spread making every nerve tingle, he could ignore it, he would, if only she did not approach so slowly. She was a breath away from him now. He did not know anything about God keeping his faithful, not if she kept moving towards him, looking at him that way, so close. If she would only back up he could breath so much easier. Sara, stop looking at me like that, Sara…

" Sara…" it startled the silence.

It had worked, she stopped and glanced at her brother, her hazel eyes not understanding, why he had said her name and out of nowhere, it did not exactly make any sense. Why now, what was her brother thinking?

" Yes Onii-chan?"

The boy winced inwardly at the word, but still managed the small smile on his lips, glancing at the time deliberately,

" It is late Sara…you should go to sleep. Its so late."

Sara's hazel eyes widened at his comment. That was all he could say? That it was late? For the first time, since the divorce they were going to live together, after the separation, after all of the sleepless nights, the tears on her pillow, all he could say was that it was late? It was then that she realized that, she was so close to him. Close enough so that she could feel is breath on his lips, his breathing, was not deep at all, but shallow, like…like her breaths were.

" S-Sara…Sara it…its late…"

He said her name so softly, almost as if it were a prayer, perhaps her name was the only prayer her had every known, the only prayer that had ever brought him comfort, the on redeeming light, the name that gave his life the slightest bit of meaning, the most beautiful name. Let God keep his mother, he would keep Sara.

Sara had stopped, but at such a distance that it would make even her pause. Suddenly, she could feel her hands at her sides, and then she wrapped her arms around his shoulders hugging him closely, she closed her eyes, and for a moment, she thanked God for bringing her Onii-chan back to her after all he had found her in Sanctuary.

Setsuna on the other hand, had been totally unprepared for her touching him, the soft fragrance of her hair, the gentle pressure of her body against him, how for a moment, he was held. He had wanted to let her hug him, it seemed normal that he would keep his hand at his sides, that is what normal siblings did, right, right? Not, as if he had any idea, but in the end, his hands had won and her encased her in his arms, hugging her back, and for a moment, it came to him, a soft and gentle peace. She was in his arms, and there was no one to comment, and for all they knew, it was right. Maybe if he held her for just a little longer, the feelings would go away, maybe for her, he could be as pure as his mother wanted, as pure as everyone expected him to be. Then, came the slight jolt, as though a reminder of normalcy he had been hugging her too long, and slowly he had wanted to hold her closer to himself, to become apart, to…Setsuna pushed Sara away gently, as gently as he could without sacrificing anything for speed.

Sara blinked her hazel eyes now wide open, for a moment she did not know why, but then she knew. She had been close for too long, she had wanted to be there, more then, then she should of, a small blush paints her cheeks before she glances away, her voice soft in the darkness, " Setsuna…"

Setsuna did not breath, his breath was being held, his could feel only two things, the heat and his heart a short fast pulsing, his whole body pulsing, just exhale, a small exhale, why did she have to say his name, why now? His jaw clenched slightly.

" Your bed room will be on the left upstairs…goodnight Onii-chan," she said very swiftly.

Sara took the few steps to her Onii-chan and standing on her tiptoes gave him a small peck on the cheek, then not waiting for a response, turned on her heel and walked out of the room and down the carpeted hall, her bare feet barely making a sound, as she ran up the stairs as quickly as she could.



Setsuna had been almost completely stunned by her words, a soft relief, at the mention of his room, and then the feathery touch to his cheek, a moment longer, had she tarried and his hands would have started acting up again. He did not need that; he put an aquiline hand to his cheek where she had kissed him. He was a storm inside; it had never really subsided, had he been a fool? A fool, in the dark alone with Sara? His hazel eyes peeked through the doorway up at the steps. He would wait until he heard the door close to dare going to his room, which is probably right next to his. He was lighted headed in a daze, he had not really done anything had he and he could still smell her, on him. He slid down the wall sitting done with a thump. He could still smell her on him, Sara, why did she have to hug him, why did she have to be so close, he could almost taste.

" No…" A small bang against the floor, his fist hitting the floor. He shook his head violently. He could taste nothing, except air, she was not his to do anything of the kind with; she was his sister, his sister. This was ridiculous, it was absurd, it was nothing but the truth, it had been so easy to lie to his mother, he had seemed to lose the ability to do it to himself without error. Setsuna sighed looking up at the ceiling, it was then that the soft sound of a door closing above caught his attention.

Sara gently closed the door behind her, and padded across her dark room to her bed, where she sat down with great care, a small hand to her lips, she had never made it a habit of kissing Setsuna, it was obvious why now. She felt…so very light headed so very strange; she chewed on her bottom lip in the darkness. It hurt so much to think about, it seemed to complicated, and she shook her head. No, it was not complicated at all, he was her Onii- chan, and she loved him…she loved him…she loved him. The girl brushed away the tears in her eyes, at the idea, before she slid off her bed, to say a silent prayer before bed. She climbed in as silently as possible, tucking the covers up and around her; she closes her eyes, though not at all tired. The more she tried not to think of him, the more Setsuna appeared, sleep would cure it. Sara tried in vain to find peace in her sleep, it was so cold without…something…or someone…." Onii-chan" she murmured as she drifted off…