Thank you again to my wonderful beta-reader, who has fixed this mess into something vaguely readable. Kaori-chan whom, if she was ever torn apart by rampaging monsters, I would not hesitate to spend hours fixing her with sellotape, Ebi-sensei who brightens up my life with her awful puns and Maiko-sama who is vaguely sane, all have my thanks. And you! Everyone who has reviewed, read, favourited or followed me/ this fanfiction have my infinite thanks!

This chapter is dedicated to everyone who feels that they had failed their language oral exams. (Especially to Maiko-chan who ended up shaking the examiner's hand for reasons unknown…)


Chapter two: Fall of the Seven Ghosts


For those who did not know Ayanami well, he was a cold hearted, uncaring bastard and he liked it that way. He did not see why he had to justify his actions to anyone; after all, he doubted whether anyone would have fared better under his conditions. He was the reincarnation of the most powerful God of Death, Verloren, who had been shunned and mocked by the Chief of Heaven for looking for the one he loved the most. Twice, he'd been so close in possessing the Eye of Mikhail and both times, his replica of all things had rescued the boy from him.

And his dreams; those were the worst of all. There was not one night he went without dreaming of his dead lover. He didn't want to dream, or even sleep and so most nights he worked in his office, plotting; how to take over the military, how to acquire the Eye of Mikhail and how to get rid of his replicas. These thoughts helped him forget about her and the hard work resulted in his rapid promotion. Killing two birds with one stone. Easy.

In order to take the Eye of Mikhail, Teito Klein would be needed and the boy was just so elusive. There really was no other word for it. And speaking of the boy… How many meetings have they called about him now? Five? Seven? Fifteen? More than Ayanami cared to remember anyway… But this one… There was a different mood to this one; a rather optimistic mood but the air was full of fear, he could taste it.

"Ayanami-kun, it has been five months since the initial escape of Teito Klein, formerly Prisoner 2741. Have you any further strategies to call him back to our side? There will be opportunities lost if he does not return. After all, that boy was the best sklave I have ever taught."

"Miroku-sama, I apologize deeply but if you just give me another month-"

"Overruled. You have had five months and no results. I think it is finally time for the master to discipline its stubborn pet, hmm."

Ayanami stiffened slightly, a gesture that no one but his subordinates behind him noticed. Realizing that there was no way he could persuade the old man to hand the case back over to him, he sat resigned and the subject of the ridicule of his peers.


Teito was fully prepared to collapse on his bed as soon as he reached the dormitory. He couldn't because Hakuren was sitting on it. The little pink Fyulong flung himself on Teito, overjoyed that his friend was unhurt.

"I've been expecting you to come back covered in wounds, fractures and bruises from the state Mikage arrived in."

Teito offered Hakuren a tight smile. "Sorry."

"So you should be." Hakuren's expression softened as Teito remained tensed up in the corner of the bed. "Hey, are you alright? And don't say fine," he added quickly seeing Teito open his mouth.

Teito smiled properly at that.

"I really am fine, just…" He trailed off, losing focus.

"Just…" Hakuren prompted gently.

"Frau's being annoying again," the boy grumbled. Hakuren smiled; Teito obviously had no idea how adorable he looked at the moment and seeing as he wasn't suicidal, he wasn't going to inform his friend anytime soon. Instead he put his arm around the younger boy.

"Hey!" There was the usual protest.

"You know, all this time, you've been trying to grow up so fast and still you're as cute and naïve as if you were still a little child." Hakuren earned a growl at that comment. "You've still got a long way to go, Teito, but remember that you're not alone anymore and you never will be again. And besides, what's so bad about being young anyway? Youths today don't know what they have…"

"Hakuren, you sound like an old man." Teito struggled out of the older boy's grip. "And besides, I don't see how that long speech was going to fix the problem of Frau being annoying."

Hakuren sighed. "I guess what I'm trying to say is…" He paused. "Name three things which you find annoying about Bishop Frau."

"Huh?" said Teito, intelligently, thrown by the sudden request. Hakuren looked at him expectantly.

"He's a porn loving pervert who hits on every woman he sees. Er… He's overly protective of me. Umm… He… umm… He teases me all the time."

"OK, here's what I think is going on. One, you're annoyed at him when he reads porn and flirts because you're jealous."

"What?! Hakuren you…"

"Number two," continued Hakuren loudly. "He's overly protective of you because he doesn't want you to be hurt." Teito had fallen silent by now. "And finally, he teases you because it's how Bishop Frau expresses his affection."

"Are you done?"

"Yup."

Teito shoved Hakuren onto the floor.

"Hey!"

"Idiot; like any of that was true."

Hakuren shook his head in despair. "If this is what I get for helping a short moody kid, then remind me never to help again."


Labrador was talking to his flowers again. Ouida had managed to persuade Labrador to stay indoors (due to the rain which may affect a human's health) and so he was conversing with a vase full of snapdragons and wolfsbane. He hardly looked up when Frau stumbled into the room, complaining about something or another but when Castor entered a few minutes later, the flowers ceased their previous whispering immediately.

Castor… Castor…They said, pleased with the blush they were creating.

"Hush," Labrador reproached them. "Tell me more about what's coming in a few weeks' time."

He was oblivious to the argument which had begun (between Castor and Frau of course), so immersed was he in the language of the flowers.

"You do nothing except read porn every day! No wonder your intelligence level rivals that of a slug!"

"Excuse me? I'm not the one who's totally dense to their crush's feelings."

"And of course you know everything which your crush is thinking and that's why you never upset him or hurt him."

"Four-eyed doll freak."

"Moronic pervert."

There was a crash which sent all gazes flying towards Labrador who had dropped the vase in his hands. Labrador who was so graceful that he had been envied by the narcissistic Lance. Labrador who was never scared of anything was shaking.

Castor grabbed hold of Labrador's shoulders and shook him gently. "Lab! What can you see? Tell us!"

There was no sound in the room, as everyone strained to hear the purple haired bishop's answer.

"C-Castor... There will be a fight and at the end of the fight…" By now, Labrador was trembling and hiding his face. His voice had died down to a whisper so Frau had to lean in to hear what Labrador was saying. "At the end of the fight, all of the Seven Ghosts will no longer exist."

There was a brief silence as both of them tried to take in the full force of Labrador's words. All of them? Devoured by Verloren? Frau did not want to accept this but Labrador's prophecies always came true.

"Lab, I swear to God, right here in his church, that if you are messing around, I will kill you." The words came out without having been properly thought through and Frau instantly regretted them the moment he spoke them. Labrador flinched at the threat, his normal mild-mannered smile absent in the face of fear, both from the vision and from Frau's threat.

"Frau, you idiot! Does it look like Lab's lying to you?" Castor released the violet haired man and jerked Frau forwards by his collar.

"Stay out of this, doll freak. We all know that you're only defending him because you have a crush on him!"

Castor coloured a little. "So what if I do? It's not like I haven't seen how you look at Teito-kun," he spat back.

"What goes on between me and the brat has absolutely nothing to do with you, four-eyes."

"And the same goes for me and Lab."

The two bishops glared at each other, each resenting the other for broadcasting their love life.

"Is this really your main focus now? Surely you should be worrying about what will happen after Verloren devours you?" All three of them turned to see the Archbishop who had entered the room.

"How much time is there left?" he asked.

"Two weeks, and then it will be over."

"We cannot allow the Imperial Army to lay a hand on Teito Klein; we must evacuate him and hide him at all costs. Frau, you must inform Teito-kun of the situation immediately and leave the seventh district tonight."

There were no arguments; the blond was extremely anxious to keep the boy safe, after all. Tight lipped smiles were offered all around and nods. Even Castor put aside the argument they had started only three minutes ago to wish Frau the best of luck.

Without even saying anything, they knew that the centre of all this was Wahrheit Tiashe Raggs.


Notes:

Snapdragon: Protection against bad intentions

Wolfsbane: "Beware, the enemy is close."

Yeah… I'm turning into Lab…


Dafuq have I actually written? What is wrong with me? *bangs head repeatedly on the table*

Haha, I think I was the only candidate who had to restart their French oral exam before they'd said a word. Why? I kind of knocked over the microphone…