Teito awoke with a start when he heard the soft din of music. He slowly sat up on
his bed to rub at his sore eyes as the strings of a violin and a voice of a woman
continued their song together.
Teito winced when he looked up at the sunlight that poured in through the
windows. Morning already? he thought with a sleepy expression.
He noticed the bed next to him was empty. Its sheets were flung to the side.
Where's Carmen? he thought worriedly when Mikage, the pink little dragon
sleeping on his pillow, awoke with a cry and leaped from the bed to scurry to the
window.
" Mikage…" Teito groaned as he forced himself to rise. " What is it?".
He followed Mikage to the window to look down into the courtyard. Below, he could
see Carmen, washed and dressed, playing her violin beside the fountain while the
mermaid Lazette sang beautifully along. Carmen was smiling happily as she
followed the mermaid's voice.
Teito himself smiled at her delighted expression, relieved to see her up and playing
her music. Mikage tapped the window's glass with his paws and then chirped at
Teito.
" Good idea." he smiled at the dragon, " Let's go see her."
Teito searched for his white priest robes but instead found a fresh black and gold
one folded neatly on a chair. He quickly changed and then picked up Mikage to
head downstairs.
As he walked across the courtyard to Carmen and Lazette, he was enchanted by
their music. With Lazette's angel like voice and Carmen's effortless skillful draws
with her bow, they were the perfect duo. Teito watched them quietly until they
ended their song.
" That was beautiful." he said to Carmen and she turned to smile at him.
" Great wake up call, isn't it?" Carmen said, " I decided to practice this morning and
while I played, Lazette joined me with her singing!"
" It is very rare for a Noel mermaid to sing with a human." said a new voice.
Everyone turned to see Bishop Castor approaching them with a smile. " Lazette
must really like your music, Miss Carmen."
" Good morning, Bishop Castor." Teito and Carmen greeted him.
" Good morning." he said, " i'm happy that you two are looking better today."
" Yeah…" said Carmen with a small smile, "Oh! Sorry if I've waken you up! I
shouldn't have played so early in the morning."
Castor waved his hand. " It's not a bother. We bishops rise early to attend to our
duties. I was awake when I heard your music. You and Lazette were lovely."
" Thank you." grinned Carmen. Castor turned to Teito. " Teito-kun. Would you like to
hear a proposal?"
Teito and Carmen perked with interest. " Sure." Teito said.
Castor took out a flat gold square from his sleeves and showed it to Teito and
Carmen. It had a Bascule symbol engraved on the surface along with writing
underneath.
Castor said " This is a special pass for bishops who travel across the country to
cure the people from Verloren's curse. This allows the bishops to enter the borders
without questioning and can get free lodging anywhere. And the best part about it,
the pass includes one companion who is not a bishop. This means all that applies
to the bishop, also applies to his companion. Are you still interested?"
Carmen said " It sounds pretty useful. How do you get it?"
Castor continued " Well, one has to become a bishop. Only they can receive these
passes. But you're in luck. There is a bishop exam being held here in a few weeks.
Pardon me, Miss Carmen, but you can't participate. I mean no offence."
Carmen shrugged and smiled " None taken."
" But Teito can enter." said Castor," He can learn to be a bishop and take the exam.
Only if you want to."
Teito made a pondering look and turned to Carmen. " What do you think?" he
asked her.
Carmen replied " It would be nice to get one. It'll be easier to travel. You know we
can't stay here much longer. The military knows we're here. My suggestion is
become a bishop and get the pass."
If I can go to other places, I can learn more about the Eye of Mikael, thought Teito.
He nodded. " I'll do it."
" Excellent." said Castor, " We'll teach you everything that we know and get you
ready for the exam. You'll learn some new techniques on zaiphon casting.
" Sounds good." said Teito but then shuddered when the thought of Frau training
him came to mind. Carmen put her hand on Teito's shoulder.
" Thank you, Teito." she smiled, " I know you'll do great."
Teito gazed at her cheerful face, wondering if she was still mourning for Mikage
inside. I will not fail you! , he wanted to say to her, I swear I'll become a bishop to
protect you!
Carmen noticed him frowning and poked at his forehead. " What's that frown for?"
she asked with a puzzled look.
" Ah! Nothing!" Teito blurted and shook his frown away.
Castor laughed softly " Teito, I suggest you see Bishop Bastien's demonstration of
the healing zaiphon. It's just down that hall way."
Mikage suddenly hopped off Teito's shoulder and ran across the courtyard to
gallop down the halls.
" Mikage!" Carmen and Teito cried and ran after the little dragon. They saw Mikage
following a tall boy wearing the robes of a acolyte who strolled down the hallway.
He was oblivious to Mikage behind him as the baby dragon flapped his furry wings
and flew to the stranger's shoulder.
" Hey! Wait! You have my dragon!" Teito cried after the boy with Carmen following
him. The boy with long blond hair tied into a pony tail turned to whoever shouted,
laying his serious violet eyes on Teito. He had a beautiful, mature face with a hint of
arrogance on his frowning lips.
Teito stopped when the boy looked at him. " My dragon…he's on your shoulder."
Teito said while returning the boy his own frown. The handsome stranger turned to
his shoulder to see Mikage smiling at him.
" So he is." said the boy calmly as Mikage jumped off to scurry back to Teito. " You
should look after your pet better."
Teito gave this snarky young man a glare when he noticed the boy looked very
similar to someone. A snobby, weasel character that used to bully him back at the
academy.
" Are you of the Oak family?" Teito said with dislike. The boy noted the tone and
replied haughtily " Yes, I'm Hakuren Oak of the noble family. Why do you ask?"
" You look very similar to Shuri Oak. Your traits must run through the family."
" Don't compare me to that idiot!" spat Hakuren, " I'm a well educated man with the
highest marks in all subjects. I will excel at the exams and become a bishop. Are
you here for the same reason, judging by your clothing. "
Teito said " Yes, I'm also taking the exams."
Hakuren retorted " Well good luck. You won't get very far. It's too difficult for little
boys."
Teito, feeling his blood rise, snapped " And I don't expect someone from the
snivelling Oak family to pass at all!"
Hakuren gritted his teeth and clenched his hands into fists. " Are you challenging
me, Shorty!" he snarled as they both got ready for a fist fight.
" Boys! Boys!" Carmen exclaimed as she came between them, " In case you've
forgotten, you're in church! This is a place for peace and tranquility. Now set aside
your quarrels and shake hands."
Teito wished Carmen hadn't intervened, not because he wanted to beat the living
daylights out of this snob, but the strong prejudices the Oak family had, especially
for gypsies.
Hakuren was staring blankly at the young gypsy girl before him who smiled
cheerfully at his cross face. He took a step towards her and Teito braced for any
physical or verbal assault on Carmen. Hakuren looked down Carmen's face
when his cheeks blushed red.
Huh! thought Teito with a puzzled look.
Hakuren took both of Carmen's hands and enfolded them into his fingers as he
gazed into her eyes with a smile.
" I'll happily hold your hands instead, my lady. I beg your pardon for having to
watch our childish behaviour. My name is Hakuren Oak by the way, and may I have
the pleasure in knowing your sweet name?"
Teito couldn't believe it. Hakuren was totally infatuated with Carmen at the second
he laid eyes on her, even though she's a gypsy. He suddenly turned from a
egotistical jerk to prince charming. Something Teito can not allow.
Carmen, squirming her fingers in Hakuren's grip, said politely
" Carmen Iglesia. Nice to meet you…I think."
Hakuren didn't hear her last comment as he continued passionately
" Oh, what a beautiful name! It suits your dark angelic beauty! Carmen. Your name
whisks me away to the warm, tropical land that resides in your eyes."
Carmen backed a little with a crooked smile. " Thank you. I'm touched."
Hakuren followed her to stand uncomfortably close while still holding her hands.
" Please tell me, my Carmen, that you are an angel who fell from heaven to grace
me with your beauty and kindness!"
" I'm definitely not. Can you please…" Carmen fidgeted.
" I may be a bishop in training, but we can still find a place for a pleasant
conversation, Lady Carmen."
Teito was getting sick of this and shouted " Let go of her! Can't you see she's not
interested!"
Hakuren tore his gaze from Carmen to glare at Teito for interrupting his courting.
" Go away, Shorty! If the Lady Carmen is uncomfortable, she would say so! Now-!"
Carmen quickly said " Don't you guys have a demonstration to see? I would hurry if
I were you."
" Oh! That's right!" exclaimed Hakuren and turned back to smile at Carmen, "
Forgive me, mon chérie, I must be off. But we will meet again soon!"
He released her to sprint down the hall way. Teito went to the bewildered Carmen.
" Carmen, if that guy comes close to you again…"
Carmen sighed " It's okay, I can deal with it. Anyway, you should go too."
Teito nodded " Right. See you later."
Carmen waved him off as he followed Hakuren. She sighed again and shook her
head when a voice said behind her " Boys. They are so strange sometimes."
Carmen turned to see Castor watching the boys. Carmen groaned " Why do boys
always want to start a fight at the second they meet?"
Castor laughed " It's usually the beginning of an unbreakable friendship."
" You mean Teito and Hakuren will become friends? They hate each other's guts."
Castor shrugged. " Thats how it works. Miss Carmen, I have something to ask you."
Carmen noticed his serious tone and tensed for the unexpected.
" When you wore the collar," Castor began," how did you remove it?"
Carmen frowned and lied " I don't know. I was unconscious."
Castor drew closer." Carmen, I'm pleased that you're cautious around others you
don't know, but you can trust me, Labrador and Frau. I know who removed the
collar from you, the only one who could and who's presence is strong about you .
It was a deceased Ghost by the name of Vertrag, also known as Fea Kruez. "
Carmen jumped when the bishop said the name no one else could've known.
" Who are you really, Bishop Castor?" Carmen said.
Castor smiled gently " You have met four of us, Carmen. I'am one of them."
Carmen gasped and felt her body tremble as she stared with wide eyes at this man
who is no doubt one of the spirits. She could feel it now. The power that resides in
this being.
" Then Frau…that was him back then." she whispered.
" We debated if we should erase you and Teito's memories of us. No one has ever
discovered our identities without their memories being erased."
Carmen took a step back fearfully and said to the Ghost " Is that what you're going
to do now?"
Castor answered " We decided not to. Frau made a point that if we did, you would
lose your memory of Mikage's death. And since you have the sight, that we know
too, you can't be brainwashed anyway. I imagine you would tell Teito everything
again."
It would be painful to implant Mikage's death into Teito again, but he needs to know
the truth, Carmen thought, he would want me to. Castor winked through his lenses
" So, can you keep this all a secret?"
Carmen snorted " Of course, Bishop Castor! I'm not intending to search for my
death wish just yet."
" Good!" Castor cheerfully said, " Well then since that's sorted out…"
" Oh wait Bishop Castor!" said Carmen " I would like to do something for the church.
You guys have been so kind to us and I don't want to sit around while my debt
towards you is unpaid. Is there any work I can do for you?"
Castor was going to tell her not to worry when an idea came to mind.
" Actually, there is something that just came to mind…" *
" You did well!" Frau applauded Hakuren as they shook hands. " I love this book!"
The two laughed merrily in the library with Teito frowning at them. While he studied
for the exam, he witnessed Hakuren give Frau a ' text book' that Frau apparently
likes.
" This is bribery! " Teito yelled at the perverts, seeing Hakuren's clever strategy.
Teito still can't get along with that guy but he found out Hakuren had really good
zaiphon skills and was pretty smart too. A tough rival indeed.
Teito, with Mikage on his shoulder, sighed when a ladder rolled along the shelves
and into the mens' views. They saw Carmen at the top of the ladder while holding a
stack of books in her arm. She hummed a cheery tune as she started to place each
heavy book into the shelves.
" Carmen is a Page for the library now?" Teito said and then smiled to himself, "She
does love books. She fits right in."
Hakuren exclaimed while watching Carmen, " Aha! So she's an intellectual girl!
Now I like her even more. She's definitely my type."
" Stay away from her, Hakuren! She doesn't need you." Teito growled. Hakuren was
going to retort when Frau smirked deviously " So, you two like our cute, little book
worm, huh?"
Hakuren said enthusiastically " Of course!"
Teito rolled his eyes and said " Well, I'am her friend."
Frau beckoned the boys closer. " Come here and Professor Frau will tell you the
secrets of a girl's heart."
Hakuren instantly stood closer while Teito dragged his feet to join the circle. Frau
said " Lesson one ; girls have different tastes for boys. Most like the badass, cool
type ( like moi) or the charismatic, classy ones. But in Carmen's case, she likes the
goody-too-shoes. So that brings us to lesson two; be a gentlemen."
Hakuren scribbled down notes in his book as the bishop lectured.
" It's easy and girls love it." Frau said "They go crazy when you open a door for
them, offer to carry their books, or catch them before they trip. That one is the lady
killer. Chivalry is a must. Every woman wants their own knight in shining armour.
And finally, lesson three, put these effective lessons into action. Now pay attention
class as the professor of love shows you how it's done."
Teito tried stopping him but the bishop was too quick as he crept to the ladder
unnoticed. Carmen was oblivious to the bishop as he edged toward the bottom of
the ladder with his back facing the shelves. He whistled and made an innocent look
as he lifted his leg to kick backwards at the ladder.
Carmen, pushing in the last book, felt a violent tremor in the ladder and tried to
hang on when her boot slipped from the rung. She cried " Whoa!" before she fell
from the shelf. Frau was right under her and raised his hands to catch her with a
perverted smile.
Come to Papa! , he thought gleefully, just wait Carmen until I catch you in my arms
and impress you with my girl squealing coolness. You won't know what hit you!
From the side, a hand shoved Frau from the ladder and sent him flying into the wall.
Hard.
Carmen felt warm arms catch her from underneath and held her legs and back
against a body.
" Are you alright, my dear?" said a civilized, concerned voice above her. She
looked up to meet the kindly, grey eyes of a middle aged man with short black hair
and wearing the robes of an archbishop.
" Thank you!" she sighed in relief, " I thought I was a goner there! Funny, that ladder
seemed sturdy enough."
The archbishop said " My poor girl, it was the workings of a pervert."
Carmen scratched her head, " Pervert?"
Frau recovered from the impact into the wall and spotted the archbishop assistant
holding Carmen in his arms while smiling down on her.
" Back off, old man! I found her first!" Frau shouted and ran to Carmen's saviour to
try to take her away. The older man quickly lifted Carmen just above Frau's reach
as the young man flailed his arms after her.
" Oh, that pervert. Silly me." Carmen said while watching Frau claw for her.
" So this was what you were doing in the library. Have you no shame?" said the
archbishop in annoyance, " No, down you naughty boy."
" Gimme!" Frau squeaked.
Teito groaned " Frau, you're an idiot. Why did I listen to you? Carmen, are you
okay?"
Carmen nodded " Thanks to this lovely gentleman."
The archbishop smiled and carefully put Carmen down on her feet.
" Is this young lady an acquaintance of your's, Teito-kun? You two seem to know
each other." said the kind man.
" She's a friend of mine."
The archbishop turned back to Carmen, " Pardon me, Miss Carmen, but I don't
believe I introduced myself. I'am Archbishop Assistant Bastien. Pleased to meet
you." Bastien greeted her in the language of the gypsies.
Carmen gasped excitedly at him " You know our tongue! That's impressive! Not
many outsiders can speak our language, and you're not bad either. Where did you
learn it?"
The others watched Carmen and Bastien talk back and forth in her language while
Frau and Teito understood not a single word.
" Oh, Bastien can speak gypsy." said Teito.
" Damn." cursed Hakuren as he pounded his fist into his palm, " I know it too. I
should've spoken it to Carmen. Bishop Bastien is clever."
Frau growled and fumed at his mentor for stealing his thunder. Bastien and
Carmen were laughing together when Bastien turned to Frau.
" Frau." he said "The Archbishop wants to talk to us."
Frau sighed " Alright. See you brats later."
Bastien bid good day to Carmen and the boys before leaving with Frau. Carmen
was still chuckling when Teito asked " So, what did he say to you?"
Carmen wiped a tear and smiled " It's a secret."
Teito was really concerned now. Carmen said " Well, that was the last stack. I'm
going to do my laundry. I'll leave you guys to your studying."
Teito said " I'll be here when you're finished."
Mikage leapt from the table and landed on Carmen's shoulder to squeak excitedly
in her ear. She giggled as she petted him " You want to come?"
" What a thoughtful, kind girl you are ,Carmen, to be concerned with my studies."
said Hakuren adoringly " I promise you I will not fail!"
Carmen's upper lip twitched. " Um, good! See ya!" she quickly said before running
out of the library. *
I took in a deep breath of fresh air as I stood outside in the church's courtyard while
carrying my basket of clothes that needed to be washed in the fountain. It warm and
bright today with tiny clouds spotted here and there. It seemed to be always sunny
here.
Mikage was nuzzling against my neck, his warm furry body comforting as I stood
alone in the courtyard. I smiled at the cute, little dragon. " Ready to some washing ,
Mikage?''
" Burupya!" he cried, but I knew he really wanted to go for a swim. I walked to the
fountain's side and put the basket down to shuffle through the heap. My happy
expression turned frantic when I realized something was missing.
All of my bras were gone.
There was no mistake, I knew I put them in the laundry basket after I used them.
Then where did they go!
I angrily flung my clothes out of the basket , clawing my way to the bottom when I
heard someone snickering behind me. I looked up from my heap to see Frau
grinning at me.
" Lost something?'' he chuckled. It was too obvious.
I marched over to him and yelled " So you're the culprit! Frau, give me back my bras
or I swear to God…!"
Frau shrugged while still smirking " I don't know what you are talking about. There's
a bra bandit on the lose. I would be careful, Miss Carmen, and protect the one you
are wearing now with your life. You might lose that one too…Yeow!"
Mikage had flew to Frau's head to sink his teeth into the bishop's scalp. I couldn't
help but giggle at the little dragon gnawing on Frau's head. Frau took the dragon
into his fingers and lowered Mikage to meet his little, disapproving eyes.
" Telling me to back off, huh?" Frau murmured to Mikage with a serious look.
Mikage spat a small flame from his mouth before returning to my shoulder.
" Good boy." I said to Mikage and petted his little head.
" Carmen?" Frau spoke with a frown, " Are you still mourning over Mikage?"
My smile disappeared into a thoughtful look.
" Yes." I said, " I think I'll never stop. I can't let him go, he's constantly on my mind. I
love him and he will always be the only one for me. But it doesn't mean I can't
continue. Teito is still here and in terrible danger. I'll do everything to protect him
and others with Mikage in my heart."
Frau smiled faintly " You love Teito, don't you?"
I nodded, still looking sad. Frau bristled my hair with brotherly affection as he said
" Keep doing what you have to do. You have a strong spirit"
Frau then turned from me to walk away when I cried after him
" Frau! I just want to say thank you!"
He paused to listen, " For Everything." I said with a smile. Frau looked over his
shoulder and winked with a small smile. As he disappeared into the church, I
murmured " But I'm still torching your room after I get my bras back."
While Mikage paddled his little paws in the fountain, I scrubbed my clothing. When
everything was clean, I took the wet clothing to the laundry line and hang them to
dry. Then I made my way down to the stables to visit Vivo.
" Hey my courageous friend." I said when I approached him in his stall. He snorted
in greeting and then sniffed at the pink fuzz ball on my shoulder. I treated him a
nice long carrot when everything turned white.
My body went rigid as stone while for a few seconds I saw nothing but white empty
space when colour flashed across my eyes, forming into two shapes. I saw Teito
talking to Hakuren in the library, nothing unusual happening when a purple gloved
appeared in front of me. Through the view of this unknown person, I watched his
hand reach for Teito standing in front of him, stalking closer to his back. I sensed a
dark aura coming from this hand, from the person I was seeing through. The hand
went for Teito's head.
The scene vanished and I was jolted back into the stables with Mikage and Vivo
staring at me with worried looks.
" Teito's in danger!" I bursted in panic and sprinted from the stables. I ran across the
courtyard and down the halls, using all of my energy to reach the library quickly.
Breathing heavily from exhaustion and fear, I looked frantically down the aisles of
shelves for Teito.
I practically ran everywhere when I saw Teito and Hakuren standing together,
oblivious to the bishop reaching for Teito. Without a second thought, I drew a knife
from my belt and hurled it at the strange bishop.
My blade found its mark and struck into the bishop's hand. Black blood gushed
from the blade and dripped down his fingers.
" Teito! Behind you!" I screeched as I ran to them. Teito turned to my voice and
gasped when he saw the bleeding stalker behind him. I quickly leaped between
them while raising another knife in defence, barring the bishop from Teito, or
should I say…
" Haruse. Fancy meeting you here." I snarled at the blue haired Black Hawk.
He glared at me without showing pain on his passive face despite the giant wound,
but then he smirked, " Carmen, you're alive. Ayanami-sama was right. You are
here."
" Carmen! What's going on!" yelled Teito while Hakuren stood at my side with his
bascules weapon ready. I said without tearing my eyes off of Haruse " He's a Black
Hawk, Teito. He's one of Ayanami's lap dogs."
Haruse sneered, " That doesn't matter now. I'm here to take Teito to Ayanami-sama,
but I imagine he would want you back, Carmen."
He gripped the knife with his free hand and ripped it out of his bleeding hand
without a wince or noise. After dropping the knife to the floor, he began walking
towards me.
" I'll take you first then , Carmen Iglesia." Haruse said when he was flung back by
an invisible force. He flew up into a pillar and was held there by glowing strings of
light that no other human can see.
" Everyone get back!" shouted Castor as he came in front of us with the same
strings flowing from his fingers. He glared at the fake bishop and said
" What is a Warsfeil doing here?"
Haruse cocked his head unnaturally at the question.
" You should know the answer, foolish bishop." said the Black Hawk before
vanishing in a cloud of black.
" Is anyone hurt?" said Labrador who appeared at our sides, wearing a worried
look on his beautiful face.
" I'm alright, thank you." I said to the kind bishop, " What about you Teito?"
" I'm fine." he said, though a little shaken. We were all rattled by Haruse's
appearance.
" Carmen." said Hakuren with an angry tone, " How did you know that man?"
I turned to his fuming expression and told him I used to be a Skalve for the Black
Hawks' leader. Hakuren didn't take it well.
" How dare they…!" he growled in a low furious voice. I said
"If Haruse is here, than his brat shouldn't be far. Those two are always together."
Castor turned to us, " I imagine he is also wearing a disguise. They must've got in
with the other acolytes."
I took Teito's hand into my grip, pressing his fingers into my palm nervously. They're
already on the move, I thought, but are the Black Hawks really Warsfeil? Magicians
of the Wars? *
The next day in the warm afternoon, I was watching Teito in the courtyard fight one
of Castor's life sized puppets that looked a lot like Frau. I smiled at Teito train with
the silly puppet, trying not to laugh when the puppet mocked Teito while making
funny sounds.
But my spirits were not as cheery. The dark thoughts of the Black Hawks
appearance yesterday plagued my mind. And what's worse, they're actually
Warsfeil. I shouldn't be surprised.
" Carmen! Teito!" Hakuren yelled as he came running to us. The panic shown on
his face swiped my smile away.
" Hakuren? What's wrong?" I said as he drew near. The puppet stopped to let Teito
listen.
Hakuren said " Frau has been arrested! They think he's a Warsfeil! He'll be
executed!"
Things couldn't get any worse.
