Lux ex Tenebris: Light From Darkness
Chapter 1
It's been about two days since the gang met Leo in Reviel and Gilbert was on edge worrying about his master. He couldn't stop thinking about what had happened to them during the festival.
"Talk to me?" Oz says in confusion as he turned to look at the boy he was speaking to
"Yes, Oz-kun*?" The boy says calmly looking back at Oz with a small smile on his lips. "You see… I've come for you." He states with his hands in his lap politely.
"Come for me…What for?" Oz says with his eyes hardening as the two looked at each other, almost like they were seeing inside of each other. Oz then scowled, sensing Gilbert and Alice moving to stand behind him. 'This is just like looking into the eyes of the exact opposite of what we are…' Oz thought confusedly before he shook his head. 'No, it's not. Leo is my friend… He was Elliot's friend too! Why would I even think such things?' He thought wanting to smile at Leo but his lips formed a scowl.
"I believe you already know why I have come." Leo says calmly.
"To talk right?" Oz says casually and Leo let out a soft chuckle.
"That is so…" He says softly. "I have a plan, you see. It involves both of us working together though, which you may not be willing to do." Leo says softly as he watched Oz's face intently.
"I see. And what is this plan of yours?" Oz says casually with a slight curious look.
"I'm afraid I cannot tell you at this moment. After all members of Pandora are listening to you, correct?" He says casually as Oz shrugged.
"I, usually, don't know whether they are or not unless they show themselves." Oz replies causing Vincent to chuckle softly but he stayed silent.
"Why are you showing your faces to us?" Gilbert states harshly as Leo tilted his head curiously.
"Because, I wished to speak with Oz-kun, Gilbert-sama**... That is not a crime. Vincent here also wished to see his precious big brother as well, so we are very glad to have found you." Leo says innocently as he looked back at Oz. "He is one of the only friends I have left after all. You are still my friend, correct?" He adds watching Oz smile softly at him.
"Yeah… I'm still your friend, Leo." He says gently before frowning. "But, I'm willing to help you but I won't if it's going to hurt the innocent people around us." Oz states in a serious tone before Leo looked at him confusedly.
"There are no innocent people… Everyone is impure in some way or another… Everyone has committed a sin. Everyone has done something that they could go to hell for. There are no innocent people in this world, Oz-kun." Leo states calmly and Oz shook his head.
"That may be true but these people, the ones around us now, have no idea the abyss even exists. They live their lives day to day, whether, it be a miserable or happy one. If your plan involves getting them hurt then I won't help you." Oz states and Leo smiled at him.
"How do you know it might hurt them when you don't even know what I wish to say?" Leo asks amusedly and Oz frowned.
"I know who you are… No one else seems to have figured it out but I've seen things, so I have…" Oz says with a slight sad look in his eyes.
"I see… Well, I expected no less, Oz-kun is quite smart after all." Leo says smiling happily and Oz felt his lips twitch.
"What are you two going on about?" Alice states in annoyance to Oz, who simply smiled at her.
"It's nothing, Alice… You've got nothing to worry about." Oz says calmly reaching up and patting her shoulder.
"Yes, Alice-san***, you've got nothing to worry about, my business is with Oz-kun today." Leo says with a small chuckle as Oz pulled his hand away from Alice.
"Unless you tell us what your plan is you have no business to discuss with my master." Gilbert states and Leo softly laughs shaking his head.
"Then shall we go somewhere more private, Oz-kun?" Leo asks standing with his hand stretched out to Oz as if he expected Oz to reach his hand. Oz reached his hand up to take the other male's hand, with the intent to go with him, but he and Leo both were grabbed by their servants and pulled back right as a woman appeared between them wielding an axe. The group was not so surprised by the weapon but more of the giant white wings that were spread wide from her back.
"I think not you will not!" She shouts letter her long flowing hair hide her face. "As ordered by my master, I have been told to stop the two of you from repeating the same mistakes." She says standing up with a cold look in her vermilion eyes.
"Just who are you?" Gilbert states with hatred in his eyes as the woman flipped her gray hair back exposing her young face with eyes filled with seriousness.
"I am a chain known as Birth. I am the first of the Intention's greatest creations and my master will no longer stand for you people hunting her like she is something to be owned." The woman states as he lifted her axe.
"You, Lord Oz Vessalius tell the other Dukes of this meeting and give them a message. If they continue their quest to obtain her there will be chains more beautiful and more powerful than any they have faced before and they will defeat the Dukes if they choose to obtain her." The woman states with harshness in her voice watching Oz's terrified eyes stare at her. "And do not think that this warning does not extend to you, Lord Leo…" She states but stops when Vincent steps forward stopping her.
"Oh, we completely understand, My Lady." Vincent says interrupting her before she could finish her threat.
"If you understand then take your leave. All of you…" She states as she watched Gilbert push Oz behind him and draw his gun. "Oh please, Lord Gilbert Nightray… You offend me by drawing such a weak weapon. My powers are far superior to even that of your precious Raven." She states highly before turning away. "I suppose, I shall take my leave but if two do wish to continue, me and my fellow chains shall revolt. No man can conquer us…" She states before jumping up and taking off into the sky.
"Was that really a chain?" Oz says in confusion as he looked at Gilbert and then to Alice. He notice the girl looked petrified and had her mouth hanging wide open. "Alice…?" Oz says as she watched the girl tremble. "Are you alright?" He asks placing his hands on her shoulder.
"T-that thing… I've never sensed such a thing. She didn't look tough but that was not human… I don't even believe it's a chain. It can't be a chain." Alice says with wide eyes.
"Hmm… It seems that both, Demios and Door-mouse, also are a bit bothered by her appearance." Vincent says glancing at Zwei who looked uncomforted by his words.
"Raven doesn't seem intimidated by her at all." Gilbert says softly as if in relief before he felt Oz's hand in his.
"Gil… Let's go. I think we should leave for now." Oz states quietly, glancing at Leo, who was staring at him with curiousness. "We're leaving, Leo. And, I believe that if our goals are the same then we can team up to accomplish them." Oz states watching Leo frown at him.
"Then until that time comes see me as only your enemy, Oz-kun... I do not wish to cause you any harm." Leo states before he turned and walked away.
"It's was nice seeing you, Big Brother… It was a shame that we could not chat longer." Vincent says casually before walking away and Gilbert grimaced.
"Right… I have a lot I want to ask you about, Vince. Remember that." Gilbert says in a serious tone before he watched the three disappear into the crowd that seemed oblivious to what had just happened.
'That woman threatened us… And now everyone is on high alert. Just how powerful could those chains be?' He thought as he heard the sound of gun fire and a scream of agony and he gasped because it sounded like Oz. Fear suddenly over took over his body and he jumped out of his seat. He bolted out the door heading to Oz's room only to see a group of guards crowding around. "What happened?" Gilbert shouts pushing his way through to see Oz lying on the ground with a couple of people checking on him. He felt his heart race in panic and worry for his friend. "Oz!" Gilbert shouts running to the boy's side. He was gripping his chest and tears were running out of his eyes. 'Was it the Incuse?' He thought terrified as he heard Oz mutter something. "Are you alright?" He whispers.
"Mother…" His master whimpers causing Gilbert to tilt his head.
"It was a Doji***, sir…" One of the guards surrounding them says. "It burst through the window and attacked Oz." He continued causing Gilbert to grit his teeth.
"You're wrong…" Alice states and Gilbert noticed she was standing there leaning against the wall in front of Oz. Gilbert frowned before he picked Oz up bridal style.
"If you people have time to stand around and gawk at my master then get to work on tracking down the thing that attacked him." Gilbert shouts causing the men to scatter.
"No…" Oz moans grabbing Gilbert's jacket as he carried his master into his bed room.
"What happened, Alice?" Gilbert states knowing that the girl had followed him.
"There was a woman with long blonde hair standing outside of Oz's room, she smelt exactly like Birth did. Oz had seemed shocked at the site of her and called out to her using a strange name. He then ran to her and embraced her, she hugged him back she looked happy to see him." Alice says softly watching Gilbert lie Oz onto the bed. "She told him that she had been brought back to life for a special purpose and she would make sure no one in this world was harmed. She then told him she knew of our illegal contract." Alice says tilting her head slightly as she watched Oz struggle to get up. "She said that it was alright and she would help us… She then pulled out some type of necklace. Then next thing I knew the woman was being shot at and Oz was screaming at them to stop. She threw the necklace at Oz telling him to use it before she burst out the window and disappeared." Alice says softly watching Gilbert hold Oz down gently so he would rest. "Oz seemed really angry at them for shooting at her, though…" She says softly as she continued to watch the two. Oz had closed his eyes and seemed to fall unconscious. Gilbert then pulled the boy's boots off his feet. "Say, Seaweed head… What's a mother?" Alice asks softly and Gilbert looks at her curiously.
"Why are you asking this all of a sudden?" Gilbert questions as Alice crosses her arms.
"Oz called the chain mother. I was just curious as to what it meant." She says calmly as Gilbert looked at her with slightly wide eyes.
"Oz called the thing that attacked him Mother?" Gilbert says before he remembers Oz was whimpering that word before he was picked up. Gilbert then turned toward the boy and started unbuttoning his shirt, intending to look at the contract but when he pulled the shirt aside the contract was not there causing him to gasp. "I-It's gone…" He says as he noticed the locket like necklace around Oz's neck. Carved into the front was a symbol that looked like the Incuse but it was missing a chunk and Gilbert frowned.
"Where'd Oz's contract go?" Alice questions before she sensed something coming toward then and she looked toward the balcony door, where the blonde appeared causing Gilbert to draw his gun. "Hey, it's mother…" Alice says with a surprised look, pointing to the woman, who simply smiled at her.
"I'm afraid that's not my name, Alice B. Rabbit-san. My chain name is Death. And you are Gilbert Nightray." She says calmly as she watched Gilbert curiously. "It is a special pleasure to meet the dear friends of my son." She says calmly smiling at him but Gilbert didn't falter by her words.
"What have you done to my master?" Gilbert states in an ordering way and the woman frowns.
"I've done nothing wrong… I simply use my powers to remove my son's contract from his body and placed it inside the locket I was making him the day that I died. Is it wrong for a mother to love her son even though she has become a chain?" The woman asks casually and Gilbert grimaces.
"So, you admit that you are one of the chains that are here to stop us." Gilbert states coldly and the woman smiles amusedly.
"Stop you? My, what has Birth told you all? Something frightening, I suppose. We are here to protect the intention of the abyss. She had stumbled upon one of her own memories that she had cast away and she does not wish for history to repeat itself and cause you all your lives to end. We are created to watch over you people and keep you from obtaining her power. I suppose, that is trying to stop you though…" She says crossing her arms underneath her breasts before she smiled warmly.
"How many more are there of things like you?" Alice states with a small pout on her lips.
"Right now there are only me and Birth… We are searching for the others." She says calmly and Gilbert scowled.
"Searching?" He questions glaring at the woman who seemed eager to respond to him.
"Yes, each of us new chains has a soul and a conscious. We are people that lost our lives prematurely in one way or another. Our souls then recreate the bodies of the Life they had lost and the intention gives us our powers." The woman says gently.
"Are you trying to tell us you are practically human? Who, on earth, would believe such a nonsensical thing?" He says coldly.
"Believe it if you will... I simply want to protect my children and that is why I came here today. That necklace around Oz's neck is where his contract resides now… Destroy it and the contract will return to Oz's body. Do not destroy it and he will not be dropped into the abyss and will have full access to B-Rabbit's powers." She says in a serious voice watching Gilbert lower his gun.
"Why would you do something like this for us?" He questions and the woman tilted her head.
"Us? I did it simply for my Oz's sake…Not for Pandora's and not for the people around him. I hope Oz learns of the deceit he is surrounded by soon or he will end up just like Jack. Cold…Alone…and used to the point of his death." She says coldly, catching Gilbert with her emerald green eyes. Then she suddenly smiled warmly at him. "But you won't let that happen…The minute you find out, please take him somewhere safe and protect my little boy." She says before she turns and disappears. Gilbert quickly moved to the balcony to catch her but he found that she was gone and there was only a gentle breeze.
"Shit… What did she mean by that? Who's lying to my master?" He muttered in annoyance as he turned and walked back into the room.
"My Rachael… you sure ruffled Raven's feathers." Birth says as she sat on the roof of Pandora with the blonde woman, Death.
"I did as I was told and gave them the information and in return, for giving that information, Alyss-sama let me remove Oz's contract." Death says calmly as Birth laughed softly.
"They have given us Chains a name already, though…Doji meaning a sprite with white wings, basically angels." Birth says with a slight smile.
"Angels of the Abyss… It's lovely don't you think?" Death says with a giggle.
"Yeah, it suits us girls perfectly." She replies as she held up her hand. "Shall we go back, Rachael?" She asks softly and Death nodded.
"Have you found enough souls?" Death asks softly and Birth smiled.
"Two… The last one I found looked very interesting and I think it'll make a good soul to become Rebirth. After all it has been reborn about as many times as that Baskerville soul." Birth replies smiling a gleeful look on her face.
"Hmm… A soul powerful enough to keep up with such a tainted soul would have to be its exact opposite wouldn't?" Death replies with a slight excitement.
"Yes… And I believe it is." She says standing.
"This will be most interesting." Death says happily as the disappeared into orbs of light.
Definitions thanks to Sensei's Library ( http:/ senseis .xmp. net/?JapaneseNameSuffix)
* -kun: Generally for male children. Also could be used when addressing a male of lesser status. High school boys are "kun", but -kun can also be used a term of address by an older man to a younger man, or among friends and equals. Thus a boss can address a junior male employee as -kun, but the employee will address the boss as Kacho, or maybe -san or -sama, depending on the situation.
**-san: serves as a mark of respect. A person may be addressed with the "-san" suffix if the speaker does not know the subject well, but the speaker does not wish to be rude to the subject, or when the subject has a higher social rank than the speaker. Nobody can reasonably take offense at -san. (Well, some people can be offended by anything, but that is a different issue.) -san is used for both males and females. Girls become -san when entering high school, boys become -san when leaving high school. Obviously, individuals may have different experiences, but we're talking about a rule of thumb.
***-sama: used as a polite term of address to someone noticeably older or of higher status than yourself. Thus clerks and waiters and other service sectors employees will call just about everybody -sama, probably as 'o-kyaku-sama' (Ms Guest, or Mr Guest). O-sama is also used as a standalone title. It's very polite and shows either that the person you are addressing outranks you by a large margin is much older than you, or you are in a very formal situation - or maybe you don't know their name and need a polite address. It is sometimes translated into English as 'Lord' or 'Lady', but it is more like 'sir' or 'ma'am'. I can't explain in which cases you call someone "-sama" other than the obvious cases ("oto-sama" (otō-sama) - instead of "oto-san" (otō-san) - to call your father if you have a rich family and have to show very very big big big respect to him; or when talking to a "Lord")
**** Doji: a spirit with white wings, accounted in European mythology as being like an angel.