Dear Readers: Due to time constraints I was unable to work on this story for an extended period. As a result it became inactive and I have had to resubmit it. I apologize for any inconvenience and have dedicated myself to bringing the entire story to you. Thank you for your previous reviews and words of encouragement.

Light Our Path Through the Darkness, Minerva!

Chapter 1

A pale figure danced gracefully across the glowing surface, moving in time to the strands of Stravinsky's Firebird playing softly in the background. Its bright scarlet bodice and tutu were covered in strips of iridescent red, orange, and yellow cloth, fluttering and shimmering with each spin and jump, consuming the ballerina within a living fire. Hands and fingers sheathed in matching gloves of the strips never stopped moving, like small birds trying desperately to fly back to their nest. Long braided coils of silvery-white hair were wrapped tightly in satin ribbons of red, several strips of the translucent cloth attached neatly to the buns. But the most striking feature of the figure was its golden eyes. They appeared to be lit from within, as if the fire had moved into its body and the eyes had become a window to the inferno.

More than once the ballerina came perilously close to the edge of the platform, flickering like a candle's flame, before pirouetting at the last moment and making its way back.

A woman's distant voice called out over the music, "Kylie Bielchowski! Have you finished packing yet?"

The figure stopped, balancing on toes attached to long legs held straight and crossed at the knees, upper body tilted at the waist. Its arms were pulled in and formed v-shapes across the bodice, hands and fingers straight. The head was turned away, eyes closed, a sad expression upon its face.

"Not yet, Mom!"

Next to the glowing surface a young teenage girl was seated on her ankles. A wireless headset with long, white, wing-like adornments to the earpieces poked through her mass of elbow-length, wavy, black-blue hair. An attached pink visor rested over her eyes. She was wearing a thigh length purple nightgown adorned with images of cartoonish fuchsia kittens over pink leggings. Colours which betrayed the child within who was not yet at ease with the flowering woman without.

"The flight leaves at 8am sweetie. You won't have time to finish before we leave if you wait till morning," her mother said loudly, the sound of dishes and glasses clinking together trailing behind her words.

Kylie reached out and gently lifted the tiny ballerina from the Layer, pulling her close before taking a deep breath. "Mom, do I really have to go?"

Her mother poked her head out from the kitchen into the living room. Errant strands that had escaped her ponytail of long, straight hair the same colour as Kylie's feathered around her olive face. She was wearing a plain white apron tied over a silky blue shirtdress. Bright yellow gloves glistened with droplets of water that swayed perilously as she spoke, "What!? It's been two years since you last visited your grandparents! Don't you want to see your Jiji and Soba?"

Kylie turned towards her mother. She bit her lower lip while her upper lip trembled. Through the pink visor her tinted eyes were wide and mournful.

Her mother snorted. "Don't even young lady. That look may wrap your father around your pinky but it doesn't faze me for a second."

Kylie's face fell and her shoulders slumped. She pressed a button on the headset which caused the wings to collapse then slipped the headset off and sat it on the now dark Layer. With a quick movement she propelled herself backwards onto the plush sofa behind her, landing with a soft thump. She kicked her left foot over one arm while the other foot rested on the floor. She drew the ballerina up till the doll's head rested just under her chin. "You know how Jiji feels about Angelic Layer, and the Tournament is in two months."

Her mother sighed. Hatsuka loved her youngest child but knew that she was prone to brief fits of dramatic melancholy. Walking into the living room she deposited a small dish towel onto the end table then took off her gloves and dropped them onto the towel before sitting next to her daughter's head. Combing Kylie's splayed hair with her fingers she said, "I know sweetie. Your Jiji can be stubborn and he doesn't see how much Angelic Layer has helped you since the accident. He thinks it's just a childish game and a waste of effort. Give him time. He'll come to love Minerva as much as we all have."

Kylie rolled over onto her side. She whispered, so quietly Hatsuka could barely hear. "He doesn't want me to bring Minerva."

Her mother gasped, "Did he till you that?"

Kylie nodded into the cushion, crying quietly.

Hatsuka's eyes flashed with anger.

Over the years she had grown accustomed to her father's old-fashioned views about technology. Secretly she had chosen to study computer engineering just to show him technology could be useful in so many ways. Several times since her decision they'd had "spirited" discussions about how technology made people lazy. But to tell his own granddaughter she couldn't bring her favourite toy on her visit...

No, she mentally corrected herself. Minerva was much more than a toy to her daughter. From the moment Kylie had received the doll from her uncle five years ago she had made her a friend. And in time she had stolen the hearts of both Hatsuka and her husband Joseph as well. Kylie had come so far. Accomplished so much. All of it might not have happened without Minerva's help. Kylie's angel.

She rested her hand on Kylie's head. "Don't you worry about Jiji, Kylie. You take Minerva with you. Your Soba and I will take care of everything."

Kylie sniffled as she lifted herself up on one arm to look at her mother, "Really?"

Hatsuka tilted her head and smiled, "Really."

Kylie sniffled again then made a short squeak of joy while throwing herself at her mother. "Oh thank you, Mom!"

Hatsuka hugged her tightly. "Now, go finish getting packed, ok?"

Kylie pulled back from their embrace, beaming, and gave a quick "Okay!" before bounding off the couch, Minerva clutched carefully in one hand while the other glided against the wall as she disappeared down the hallway.

Getting up from the couch Hatsuka yelled after her, "And don't forget your spare cane!"

"I won't!" came the muffled reply.

Picking up the gloves and towel Hatsuka headed back towards the kitchen to finish the dishes, glancing down at the DVD player's clock as she passed. "Working late again, anata," she whispered to herself with a soft smile. "Good thing I've already packed for both of us."

Tucked away in his office with the only lit window in a glass covered building deep in the downtown London area Joseph Bielchowski suddenly sneezed. "Ahhh!" he screamed, running his hands in a panic through his short, thick, wavy, brown hair. "Not now! I can't come down with a cold now!" Rifling through his desk drawers Joseph pulled out several pill bottles with labels like "Fight a cold with Citric Power!" Choosing two he opened the bottles, grabbed a couple of pills, and quickly downed them. Tilting his head back to take a giant swallow from a glass of water he noticed the wall clock and nearly choked.

"AHHH! Look at the time! I can't believe I stayed this late! Why didn't someone tell me?!" The last sentence echoed slightly through the empty, floor-sized space his employer leased.

Running around his office he grabbed his coat and briefcase while shoving the bottles back into a drawer before shutting off his computer. Deciding the lift would be too slow he careened down the stairwell two steps at a time. Bursting through the parking level door he made a mad dash for his car. Hatsuka's going to kill me this time for sure, he fretted.

Exactly forty-one minutes later a very rumpled Joseph entered his home, head hung low, and gave a half-hearted, "I'm home."

"Daddy!" Kylie squealed as she ran into him, jumping up to hug him around the neck. "Mom bet you'd forgotten and probably fell asleep in your office again and we'd have to go pick you up on the way to the airport in the morning."

Joseph laughed nervously. "She did, did she?" He glanced up and saw Hatsuka standing at the entry to the living room, a wry grin on her face.

"Kylie bet you wouldn't forget and that you'd be home before she went to bed," Hatsuka countered.

He tittered. Gently pulling himself free from his daughter's embrace he tilted her chin up and looked down into her eyes. "I'd never miss escorting my daughter on her trip to see her grandparents."

Kylie nodded happily before jumping back up and giving her father another hug.

"Alright you two," Hatsuka said. "It's getting late and we all have to be up extremely early to get to the airport on time to get through all the security."

Kylie gave her father a butterfly kiss on the cheek, said a quick good night to her parents, then headed towards her bedroom, skipping.

"Well, she's in a good mood," Joseph observed. Hatsuka remained motionless, her arms now crossed. Joseph closed his eyes and bowed low, "Moushiwake arimasen."

Hatsuka clucked. "Father was right, you know. Your Japanese accent is just awful."

Joseph bolted upright and opened his eyes to find Hatsuka by his side, a playful grin on her lips. "No matter how hard I try I just can't seem to teach you," she said.

He opened his mouth to protest but she slipped her hands around his neck and pulled him down to her. "Fortunately I'd never let father's opinions dictate who I would marry," she whispered in his ear.

Joseph broke out into a lop-sided smile before kissing his wife hello.