Heya! It's chapter nine! Whew! Waaaa… I can't believe it… we're coming close to the climax again… I remember how it felt like when I was typing "Facing Your Fears", which was about 3 or 4 months ago. FYF: Loss didn't have a climax because, well, it doesn't have one. It was originally supposed to be part of AGAIN, but I can't have Mikoto leave for 10 months and continue it without her, right?
Oh well, doesn't matter anymore. Past is past.
Well, for now. Let me say this. This chapter is some sort of a history lesson. As much as I wanted to put Kamikoto fluff moments, I couldn't… but this should prove to be interesting, if you can answer a question at the end of this chapter. Well, see ya later!
Chapter 9
"Avery and you? What do you mean? Cielo-san?"
Mikoto asked, looking at another version of her which had blonde hair and blue eyes. Cielo Elizel Y'l Vlad, the presider of the Prophetic Angel, looked at her before sighing.
"His real name is Aviaries Veolia Anderwick. From your present time, this story took place about 6 centuries ago. It was also about that time, when I…I was sent to do my mission."
Cielo said, as the introduction to her very long history lesson. Mikoto looked very intent, she was keen on listening to every word Cielo was about to say. Cielo had a small smile, before continuing.
"At that time, people believed in angels, gods, destiny and fate. True, the gods built the world in hope for the better good, but the humans misunderstood something. They thought that they were so special, that they had control over the gods. They thought that they were equals with them." Cielo said, her head lowering in disappointment as she remembered what had happened all those times ago. "That was where they were gravely mistaken."
Cielo stood up and walked towards Mikoto, shocking the half-angel half esper hybrid.
"Please, don't worry. I won't do you any harm, I already told you that."
"Then what're you doing, Cielo-san?"
"To see is to believe. That's what the humans from my time kept saying. I just think…it would be…better if you saw it for yourself, Mikoto."
"See? See what?" Mikoto asked, as confusion was growing inside of her. Cielo put her index finger to Mikoto's forehead before looking at her seriously.
"I need you to see the darkness of this human world."
Cielo said grimly, as she watched Mikoto's eyes widen, then close as she passed out yet again on the bed. Silence was brought. And in a span of seconds it was shattered by a small, maniac laugh. Cielo covered her mouth and her knees fell to the floor, beside the bed. She took deep breaths as she clutched the blankets in one hand, and her mouth in the other. She looked at Mikoto, who was seemingly troubled in her sleep. Cielo moved her hand, using all the energy she had, to reach Mikoto's face and caress her cheek. She had an apologetic smile, as she looked at her, with watering eyes.
"I…I'm sorry M..Mikoto… I didn't want you t…to see the d-darkness…b-but… it's the only way… My time's running out… Please…p-please….save him…"
She begged as her eyes slowly closed, her body, falling limply to the side of the bed, as her consciousness slowly slipped away from her.
'Where am I?'
A voice asked. Mikoto's eyes opened, and she found herself in a desert like place.
"Where…where did that voice come from?" she asked herself. Mikoto turned her head left and right, in search for the voice. Not too far away from her, she saw a white cloth, scattered on the ground.
"What is that?"
Mikoto asked as she walked closer to it. A few steps was all it took to reach her destination. Mikoto examined the 'thing' that she saw closely, and realized that it wasn't a thing, but rather, it was a person.
"C-Cielo-san?" Mikoto asked, she was about to help her, until a voice, similar to hers, stopped her.
"Permission to answer: Yes, that's me. Actually, that's us, young angel."
The voice said. Mikoto looked back and saw another Cielo standing behind her, except she was in a tore up, blood stained white dress. Mikoto was about to call her name again, until she noticed something.
"You…you're not the Cielo-san I talked to, am I right? You're eyes, they're hollow. You're hair; it's dark brown. Cielo-san's hair is pure blonde."
"You are mistaken. That body, you, and I are one in the same. We are all the same."
The person answered again. Mikoto took a step back, narrowing her eyes at the girl in a blood stained dress.
"No. You're the battle mode of Cielo-san. Those blood stains are proof of it."
"Answers are varying. You are both correct and mistaken. I am Cielo Elizel Y'l Vlad, she is Cielo Elizel Y'l Vlad, and you are Cielo Elizel Y'l Vlad. The blood on this dress is from the efforts of all three of us. We are all held responsible."
"What the hell are you talking about?! Cielo-san and I never killed anyone! Besides, my name is Misaka Mikoto! I'm not who you think I am!"
Mikoto shouted, her hands balling up into a fist. The other girl just stared at her, with her cold, cruel eyes.
"You are what's left of Misaka Mikoto. Your humanity has been eaten away, I can tell that."
"Oh yeah? How come you can tell huh?!"
"Because I was the one who ate it."
The girl answered, making Mikoto open her mouth in shock. She shook her head, before shouting once again.
"You're lying! If you really did eat it, then why am I still here? Why am I still alive?!"
"It is all because of your will to live. Your desire to be with the one you love is keeping you alive, for the mean time."
"What the hell are you talking about?! You-"
"Pay attention. Watch the events to come carefully."
The girl answered pointing to Cielo's unconscious body. Mikoto followed her gaze and saw Cielo waking up. She was about to run to her side, until a blast of pure white light, passed through her, blowing her hair, and barely missing her head.
"Do not interfere. You cannot interfere. You are here to merely watch and observe."
"Using an angel's technique against an angel is kinda stupid don't you think?"
"No. You are not completely an angel. You are a nuisance. You are nothing. If I only had a choice, I would have annihilated you."
"Tch." Mikoto grunted in irritation. That girl was pissing her off. She looked behind and saw Cielo standing up.
'Where am I?'
A voice asked again. It was the same as before. Mikoto looked around to seek the owner of the voice.
"What you are hearing is that body's thoughts. We are in her angelic reality, her consciousness."
The girl said, appearing behind Mikoto. Mikoto decided to ignore her and just focus on Cielo.
'Oh, that's right. The gods…the gods have sent me…on a mission… a mission to kill. I must kill humanity.'
She said standing up. Cielo walked further and further as thought clouded her mind, while Mikoto and the other girl was following closely behind, listening to her thoughts.
'Must…must I kill humanity? Thy wonderful race...Which thou has proven how thy worthy it is… beings which value love, and believe in thy powers. Must I kill such a inspiring race? I am but an angel. An angel following the wishes of the god's. An angel without a heart or a mind. Must I be the one to judge the fate of such a race?'
She asked herself as she neared a small town. It was a town, bustling with life. Men and women in medieval clothing roamed around. Carriages towed by horses, scattered in the city. It was wonderful.
'I must see. Put thou to a test. If one such being was to come and give thy help, thus I shall thou return and make plea. Yes, a test. A test, to decide the fate of humanity. Thy shall be condemned or not in such fair conditions.'
She thought to herself. Cielo, in her ragged white dress, sat on the street side, waiting for help to arrive. She prayed to save humanity, she didn't want to kill such a wonderful race which displayed brilliance from where she stood before in Heaven. But days have passed, yet no one came. Person after person passed by her, gave her dirty looks, called her dirty and undignified. She paid them no mind, as she waited patiently.
'It has been a week, yet no one has helped me. Some even hurt me, physically and emotionally, saying that I was a dirty rat… why… why would they treat me like this?' she asked herself as she buried her head in her arms. 'Is it time? Should I give up on Humanity? Should I destroy it? Is humanity really an evil race?'
"Are you alright Miss?"
A voice asked, Cielo looked up and saw a young man with wavy ash blonde hair that reached the base of his neck. His eyes were a dazzling emerald green color, looking at her, a face full of concern.
"Miss? Are you alright?"
He asked again. Cielo couldn't talk; she was too stupefied by the glamour of the man in front of him. Not hearing a response from her made him worry.
"Hey. Mil, come here for second won't you?"
He called out to another man not too far away; he had black straight hair, just long enough to frame his face and eyes, which were onyx black in color as well. The person, Miliahelm, as he was called, walked over and looked at them.
"Ave, for what in the name of English muffins are you doing?"
"Trying to help this poor girl obviously! Look at her!"
"Yes, I already am. I meant, what are you trying to do actually? She's a random girl from the streets!"
"And so?"
"And so?! Aviaries Veolia Anderwick. Have you gotten completely bonkers?! You can't just pick someone up from the street!"
"My screws are completely tightened and they will not fall of anytime soon Mil. I just want to help her. Can you help me run a psychological test on her later?"
"Fine Ave. But she's your responsibility, got it? I don't want getting tied into this twisted plot like a pretzel."
"I know Mil."
The man said with a smile. He then turned his attention back to Cielo who was still staring at him. He smiled warmly at her, making blood rush to her face forming a blush. Ave gave off a small laugh.
"You're blushing."
"B-blush? What..what is a blush?"
Cielo asked. Ave tilted his head to the side, while Mil face palmed.
"Oh good lord, we have an idiot on our hands…"
"Don't be so mean Mil. It's alright Miss. It's a normal thing for girls such as yourself. Do you need help?"
"Help? I..I…"
"You can't tell us?" Ave asked, Cielo nodded her head. She looked up and saw Ave smiling happily at her. "It's alright. I understand that we all have secrets we need to keep. But anyway, why don't you come with us first? We'll treat you to lunch okay?"
He said taking her hands and standing her up. Cielo lost her footing and stumbled, but Ave took hold of her waist.
"Woops, someone's haven't been eating properly. You're very light you know that?"
He said with a smile. Cielo's face heated up again and she averted her gaze away from him. Mil snickered and laughed, while Ave glared at him.
"She probably thinks you're lame and hates you already, Ave."
"Shut up Mil! A-anyway Miss, let's go okay?"
Ave said, happily tugging on Cielo's hand. While walking, Ave suddenly stooped and looked at a certain shop.
"What's the matter Ave?" Mil asked. "Ha? Oh, well… Just stay here okay? I'm just gonna buy something over there." He said pointing to a shop, and walking in, leaving Cielo and Mil alone.
"Sigh, that guy can really drive a calm of Brits mad. Picking up a girl and then leaving just like that? Ugh…"
"I am sorry. I do not wish to bring you trouble." Cielo said lowering her head.
"Oh? A deep speaker huh? You're language is very fluent but you can be dumb as a sack of wet hair?"
"I wasn't given prior knowledge, pardon me."
"No, no. it's quite alright. I should apologize though. You got dragged by Ave…"
"Ave?"
"Yes, that guy's name is Aviaries Veolia Anderwick. My name is Miliahelm Von Gurbent. It's very nice to meet you Miss…?"
"Are you asking for my name?"
"Well, yes. Its common courtesy in England. Are you not English?"
"No, I am not. I do not have a name as well."
"You don't?" Mil asked looking at her. Ave came back carrying a bag of dresses in both of his arms.
"What are those Ave?!" Mil asked/shouted.
"Dresses obviously."
"I know that! But for who?!"
"I figured that Cielo might not have any clothes, other than that ragged piece of cloth, so I bought her some."
"Cielo? Who in the English Navy's name is that?!"
"Hers." Ave answered pointing to the clueless girl behind them. "I overheard you guys and I decided to name her that." He answered with a smile. Mil face palmed once again.
'A name… this man… he gave me a name…'
Cielo thought blissfully in her mind. A smile made its way to her lips.
"Cielo…" she muttered, catching the attention of Ave and Mil, her two new friends.
"Yeah, your name will be Cielo Elizel Y'l Vlad, meaning a beautiful angel. Do you like it, Cielo?"
Ave asked with an embarrassed smile, while he scratched the back of his head. Cielo, as now the girl was called, smiled at him.
"Yes, very… Thank you...Avey…"
"Avey? But his name is Ave, Cielo." Mil said joining in on the conversation.
"Ah! I want to thank you too, Milly." Cielo answered with a smile. Ave started laughing loudly.
"Milly! Cielo called you Milly! Ahahahahahaha!" He laughed. Mil laughed and argued with Ave, who was still busy laughing his butt off. Cielo smiled and watched from the guidelines.
'This world, these humans… they aren't worth the punishment they were cast. They deserve to live happily in this world of theirs. They deserve to be with the ones they love… I should return and tell the gods this…but how?'
"Eh? Cielo? What's wrong?" Ave asked, upon noticing the sad expression on Cielo's face, an expression she didn't notice herself.
"Oh, it's nothing… I..I just realized something… That's all. Please don't worry about me, Avey."
"Heh, it feels kinda weird...having someone call me Avey like that…"
"You don't like it?"
"No, it's not that all. I like it, really…." Ave answered with a blush, Cielo smiled, but she felt a mild sensation of evil. Was it anger? No, it was too small for an emotion like that. Hate? Still, it was too small… Then, what was it? What was that dark emotion hovering in the air?
"Do you understand now?"
Cielo's battle mode asked, as she and Mikoto stood above them, seemingly floating. No one could see them, seeing as they were mere spirits, illusions casted by a spell.
"What's there to understand about? This is just about Cielo and Aviaries meeting!"
"You are far too naïve. You do not see the evil in things; you only see what you wish to see. You turn a blind eye to the darkness of this world."
"What are you talking about?"
"You are too much of an amateur. You do not see the evil behind the cruel world. Can you not sense it? The evil lurking around them?"
The girl pointed to the three who were happily chatting and walking away. Mikoto looked closely, and saw a dark purple cloud like mist, wrapping itself around the three.
"What the-"
Before Mikoto could finish, she saw Cielo pass out, startling the two men she was with.
"CIELO-SAN!"
She shouted, but alas, her voice could not be heard.
"Shirai-san?"
Touma asked as he read the static from the other side of the phone line.
"Ah, Kamijou-senpai, I am on my way to Onee-sama so-"
"Shirai-san, I want you to listen carefully okay?"
Touma said as he looked at his right hand, whilst his left hand held a small keychain, of a certain frog character, with a head of spiky black hair. It was the Gekota keychain Mikoto had given him.
"Very well then Kamijou-senpai. What is it?"
Kuroko answered, realizing the seriousness in his voice.
"Could you please stay by Mikoto's side? Never leave her alone, make sure that someone is always with her, someone you can trust. Don't let her go out late at night, or past her curfew. Please don't investigate about what happened in the café anymore. Be wary of the people who come into contact with her. If someone new approaches her, have his or her background checked okay? Make sure she eats properly and sleep enough as well. You-"
"Kamijou-senpai, please just hold on a second. What are you talking about?! Onee-sama will be safe with me, you know that. Why are you saying so many things? And what about the people who come close to her? You go to the same school as her, you should be the one to do-"
"I can't do it anymore Shirai-san."
"And why not?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. He took a deep breath, before looking at Tsuchimikado who stood in front of him, holding a huge suitcase and two slips of paper. Seriousness was written all over his face.
"Ready to go, Kami-yan?"
"Uh..yeah, just a sec okay?"
He answered him. Kuroko was confused.
"Go? Go where Kamijou-senpai?"
"Shirai-san" He closed his eyes and sighed again. "… I …I'm going to England."
-Chapter end-
TOUMA! DAMN YOU! DON'T LEAVE HER!
sorry I just gotta fangirl out.
QUESTION: why is touma in england? hmmmm?
oh well, thanks for reading! please review! i hope you enjoy! JA!
