BROKEN SHACKLES: PART II

VII – Behind a Tattered Veil

Teito's eyes fluttered. Where am I? Soft music drifted over him from far away. I know this song. Where..? Where have I heard this song before? Such a gentle sound… his eyes opened.

The sunlight streaming through the tall windows lit the pale room with a peaceful radiance. Teito sat up, feeling the slide of soft fabric against his skin. The room was sparsely furnished, but held a feeling of "home." The door opened, and a trio of black-robed women entered with smiles quite bright in contrast to their somber attire. Teito blinked, opening his mouth to ask where he was, but then he paused. For a moment, different faces smiled out from under the wimples.

Little lamb, brought to us by Heaven.

Teito shook his head slightly. He looked at the Sisters again, and a smile came onto his face, hesitant, but true. "Good morning." He could not explain the feeling of nostalgia as they helped him dress and led him out into the shining courtyard. But when he saw the majestic towers of Barsburg Church, he felt his eyes grow moist with tears. Why? What is it that I should remember about this place? But when he reached for the feelings, they slipped beyond his memory, like a breathtaking rainbow that vanished after the storm had passed.

()()()

The bishops watched the child's every movement with an almost obsessive focus. Labrador was the first to say what each of them held at the forefront of their minds. "He is no different than before." Castor's brow furrowed, and Hakuren shifted uneasily. "It is almost as though he is…" the gentle priest trailed off, unable to give voice to the suspicions they all entertained.

Castor adjusted his glasses, the glare hiding his eyes. "Where is Frau?"

"Watching from a distance, like us, I'm sure." Hakuren petted Mikage absently. "He probably can't bring himself to face him yet, in spite of everything."

"Or perhaps because of it." Castor sighed. "We can only watch for now, all of us, even when we meet him. Something is different about this reincarnation than what we have seen before." The other bishops nodded their agreement, their eyes fixed on Teito as he walked through this day for the second time.

()()()

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

Ayanami's fingers had not stopped moving since the end of his meeting. Hyuuga leaned on the back of the chair, smiling in spite of the dark aura emitting from his superior. "Oh Aya~" he sang.

Konatsu sighed from his seat at the table across the room. "Hyuuga. Please sit down and do your work like Katsuragi does." He shook his blond head exasperatedly, shuffling papers as he did so.

Hyuuga grinned. "Come now, I just wanted to know when we would be going after little Teito." He leaned down next to Ayanami, eyes glinting over the frames of his tinted glasses. "Well, Aya?"

The tapping stopped.

"Not yet," was his only answer.

Hyuuga straightened. "Well then. In that case, I think I'll take a walk down the hall." As he reached the meeting room door, Ayanami spoke again.

"Do not do anything foolish, Hyuuga." There was a note of warning in his tone.

Hyuuga paused, his smile becoming slightly edged. "Of course not, Aya." The door closed behind him with a click.

()()()

He watched quietly, waiting for the inevitable. Master, my master. They will come for you. Ayanami's leering smile remained firmly in his memory. I will protect you. This time, for sure-!

A gentle laugh rang through his consciousness.Do not be too hasty, Mikhail. He will call you, as he always does.

… yes. I know. But as he watched his gentle, helpless master, the eternal being felt a twinge of yet another emotion, one of many that this most recent and precious master had awoken in him. Please… call me quickly