Disclaimer: I do not own Shakugan no Shana, but I DO own Shakugan yes Shana, haha!! ^_^

--------

Michiru: 1 + 1 x 2 = ?

Ryosuke: 4

Michiru: Stupid!

--------

Chapter 7 – Betrayal

After the battle, Zeus decided to return to the headquarters. As he reached his destination, someone whispered his name.

"Zeus..."

At once, Zeus knew who that was- his ally Kojiro Takasu.

"What?" Zeus asked.

"I know what you're planning,"

"But I have hardly any idea of what you're talking about,"

"Don't lie to me, Zeus,"

"You're interrogating me or something?"

"I'm not. But you should know what you're doing,"

"I am perfectly aware of my doings and its outcomes,"

Both of them paused for a little while before Zeus began, "He really is Golden,"

"That kid?"

"Yes,"

"You awakened Golden from him?"

"Exactly,"

"Tell me, then. How did you do that?"

"I told him that the maid was dead and he managed to awaken it. Simple yet effective,"

"You saw the Flame?"

"Yes, shining bright, golden in color,"

"Wonderful, so after that we'll just hand him to Kuvestar and our work is done. We'll share the Flame and gain immortality. A Flame which may never be put out, huh?"

"Do you obviously think that he would really share it?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Anyways, Kojiro, I doubt you'll be able to fight him. Nor me. Nor Ryosuke. I think Kuvestar is the only one who can,"

"Yeah, some helluva cheating skill, gaining a skill of a unit by just touching it? That's what they say 'imba' in DotA…"

"What's a DotA?"

"Oh, it's a game. There's even your name in it! Zeus, the Lord of Olympia. One of the Sentinel's Intelligence Heroes,"

"Whatever…"

"Hey, Zeus,"

"What?"

"Make him appear again. I have a plan,"

"Then tell me what you have in mind, or would you rather keep your brilliant ideas to yourself?"

"How do I expect you to know what to do if I did not tell you?"

"Shoot,"

"Shoot what?"

"I mean tell me about this so-called brilliant plan of yours,"

"Success is guaranteed, Zeus. But there's only one question. Bring him to Kuvestar? Or ask Kuvestar to go to him?"

"It's obvious, Kojiro. Now tell me everything,"

"Alrighty,"

Meanwhile, back in Sakai residence, Shana was grumbling non-stop. Yuji, who got tired of Shana yelling, looked at the clock stupidly to know how long Shana had been mumbling, until he noticed something.

"Shana, the clock is ticking,"

At once, Shana stopped grumbling and looked up at the clock. It was already four o'clock, which means Wilhelmina and Michiru should have been back by now. No Flame Hazes or Mystes have battled without stopping the time.

"Yuji…" Shana said with determination.

Yuji knew what she meant and he did not stop her from doing what she wanted. Something cropped up between Wilhelmina and Michiru and he knew that Shana had to investigate.

"Should I come with you?" Yuji asked.

"I don't think so…" Shana said softly. If she brought Yuji with her there may be a chance that Yuji may face danger. If she left Yuji alone at home one of the four Mystes would capture him. Yet, unlike the Bal Masque, the four Mystes were not looking for Yuji, but Michiru, so Yuji may be safe and sound here.

"Okay," Yuji whispered, "Please be careful, Shana,"

Shana nodded and said, "I will,"

Without further ado, Shana ran out of the house. When she got out, she looked around. She had no idea where Wilhelmina and Michiru went. There were no signs of battling either. Shana was about to leap into the sky and find them before she saw someone standing in front of her holding a person bridal style in his arms.

Shana knew who that person was just by looking at the silhouette. She walked towards the person worryingly, knowing perfectly well who that person was carrying.

"Michiru…" She whispered as Michiru appeared in her vision. He was carrying a battered and unconscious Wilhelmina.

"I'm sorry…" Michiru said sadly, "It was too late. She's dead. It's my entire fault,"

"NO!" Shana screamed, "SHE"S NOT-"

"I'm sorry," Michiru apologized yet again.

"NO!" Shana screamed once more, refusing to accept that Wilhelmina had gone forever. She continued to scream and cry as Michiru put Wilhelmina on the floor, tears flooding in his own eyes.

Then, quite suddenly, she heard a swish that sounded like someone leaping towards them. She spun around and saw Zeus standing in front of her.

Shana brandished her sword and readied herself into a battle stance. Yet, Zeus ignored her calmly and walked towards Wilhelmina. His hand was about to touch her when Shana's sword came down, barely missing him as he dodged it.

"Keep your hands off her," Shana said angrily.

"Only if you want her to continue sleeping," Zeus retorted calmly.

"What?"

"I did not kill her. Rest assured I did not,"

"So why is she like this?" Michiru asked angrily.

"Hypnotize. I was using my hypnotize lightning. She's only fast asleep," Zeus answered

"I never heard of hypnotizing that hurts," Michru retorted, not forgetting Wilhelmina's screaming.

"It was just temporary. You can't stop yourself from feeling pain when you receive an electric shock,"

He walked towards Wilhelmina for the second time and touched her. As Zeus' hand touched her, Michiru and Shana could hear a small moan from Wilhelmina. Shana called out her name happily and rushed towards her, glad that she was alright. Furthermore, Wilhelmina even had the strength to stand up, as if that incident had not happened at all.

Michiru looked at Zeus and said, "Why did you do that for?"

"To awaken Golden inside you. Actually it's to see if you're Golden or not. I came to warn you,"

"Warn me of what?"

"Kojiro is planning something. He plans to make me awaken you again so that Kuvestar could touch you and obtain your powers,"

"Kuvestar?" Shana asked.

"Yes. Kuvestar's ability is to be able to use another being's ability jut by touching it,"

"He could obtain any power just by touching…?!?!?"

"Yes,"

"No way…"

Zeus turned towards Michiru and said, "Just don't let Kuvestar touch you. Or it's game over for the world. Be careful,"

"Your Flame…" Wilhelmina whispered suddenly. Then, Shana noticed it too. Zeus' Flame was very, very small, hardly noticeable.

"Haha," Zeus chuckled, "Yeah, my time is nearly up. A Mystes' Flame may shine longer than the regular Torches, but there's still a time limit. That's why Kuvestar is looking for you. Remember, Kojiro could come and attack anytime and please be prepared. Whatever you do, please don't awaken it for the time being,"

"Yeah, I can't let this Kuvestar touch me, right?"

"Yes," Zeus replied, smiling happily. Then he turned towards Shana and Wilhelmina and said, "Please protect him. The world mustn't fall into Kuvestar's hands,"

"We won't let him," Shana said confidently.

"Good," Zeus replied, and then he turned towards Wilhelmina and said, "I'm sorry. That must have hurt,"

Wilhelmina said nothing for she was still puzzled about Zeus. If he were with Kuvestar, why did he help them? Why did he attack? And what was his purpose to awaken Golden?

"I hope you all can trust me. I know that deep inside you're puzzled, but please don't let Kuvestar have his way," Zeus said a final word before leaping into the sky and disappeared.

The three of them looked up and paused there for a moment until Yuji came out.

"Oh, Shana, good," He said happily, "You found them,"

"Right, let's get inside," Shana said.

The four of them went inside the house, not knowing that someone was on the rooftop all along, watching their every move, hearing every word in their conversation. (Seriously, why on rooftops all the time?)

A man with orange spiky hair stood still, observing them. As he saw them disappear into the house, he whispered, "Bloody bastard,"

He then looked up at the sky, "What is your purpose in doing this, Zeus? You're betraying us or what?"

Unbeknownst to him, Zeus appeared behind him and whispered, "Don't be silly, Ryo. He won't share the Flame. He's just using us to get what he wants. When he got it, he'll throw us away. We won't be ruling this universe together like he promised. He'll rule it himself,"

"Don't act cocky. Your Flame is so small and it could hardly be seen. You need the Flame more than we do,"

"You ain't got much time either. So does Kuvestar. As long as Golden doesn't fall into the wrong hands,"

"You sure you don't want the Flame?"

"I should have been dead long ago, my friend. Flames are a very rare and special chance to extend your life a little longer. All beings live and die. It is a never ending cycle. When Death comes, face it, Ryo. Do not be afraid. Do not be a coward…"

"SHUT UP!"

"You are afraid of death, Ryo. You're such a coward,"

Ryosuke suddenly charged at Zeus, slashing him with his twin blades, very quickly, but Zeus managed to dodge them all.

"Stop sticking to Kuvestar. He's heartless. It won't do you any good,"

"Just shut the hell up!"

Zeus smiled and said, "If that's what you want…"

He leaped off towards a skyscraper far, far away from Sakai residence. Ryosuke leaped towards him and activated the Fuzetsu around the area.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Zeus?" Ryosuke yelled angrily, "Why are you doing this? What are you planning?"

"Ryo…" Zeus whispered.

"You ***ker!" Rysouke yelled. He began to summon wind towards his own body. Strong wind began to blow as Zeus looked on.

"I'll beat some sense into you, Zeus,"

"You won't obtain Golden,"

"Oh yeah?"

Ryosuke grabbed his twin blades and leaped towards Zeus. "Wind Shear," he whispered as he began to spin in a circle very quickly, absorbing almost everything into it, including Zeus.

"Wind Explosion," Ryosuke whispered as he continued spinning. Then, an explosion occurred in the circle in which Ryosuke was spinning. Zeus was blasted off his feet and was sent flying towards the cold, hard, solid ground below the skyscraper.

"It's over, Zeus," Ryosuke mocked, seeing Zeus flying down. Zeus smiled at him and whispered, "Goodbye, Ryo."

"Goodbye to you too, my old friend,"

Ryosuke leaped down towards Zeus and whispered, "Shadow Wind,"

He charged himself headfirst towards Zeus, himself spinning like a mini tornado. Then, his attack passed through Zeus' body, ripping him apart. Ryosuke landed on the ground and looked behind. All that he saw was a very small Flame going up to the sky. He looked at the Flame as it levitated higher and higher. He wanted to reach the Flame and touch it, but a part of him stopped him. He deactivated the Fuzetsu and continued to stare at the Flame. It was going… going… going… gone…

"What is the meaning of this?" These words came out of Ryosuke's mouth when he did not even know what he himself was saying. He did not even know to whom he was asking this question.

"Your thoughts won't affect me Zeus," He said while looking at the starry sky, "I am a coward. I don't care if he is using me. I don't feel violated at all. I wanna live forever,"

"OI!" another voice boomed and Ryosuke turned around to see Kojiro yelling, "Why the hell are you still here for? Let's get back already! Where the hell is Zeus anyway?"

"Somewhere high above…" Ryosuke whispered, "He's gone…"