.Welcome to 'Summoning'. I am happy to embrace all of my new readers, and will always be faithful to the ones that have always been with me. I appreciate all support and enthusiasm, so feel free to enter 'Sanctuary' whenever you please. Thank you all very much!

I've been working at an incredible rate on story developments. I just created the cutest line for 'Arim' to say towards his relationship with Eiri, but revealing it would undo the web of grand surprises I have planned. That's not the only detail I've been working on, mind you. Brace yourselves for one heck of a fluffy ride-we're only getting started. Last chapter's cliffhanger won't be the last cliffy. Thanks again to all of you!

Theme of 'Summoning': 'Sanctuary (Future Mix)' of Utada Hikaru, 'Nothing Can Stop Us' by t.A.T.u

Angels in flight…

(I need more affection than you know…)

My sanctuary, my sanctuary...

Horror swept through the fellowship as a tsunami, filling the hearts of each member at a breathtaking rate. In an instant the worst possibilities were brought under a glassy surface of predictions, each remnant of the fellowship fearing for the lives of their two companions. In an instant, the chaos of the outside world brought itself to an icy halt, leaving the remaining members in the midst of overwhelming chills. Seconds flashed by their eyes as the bright beam continued to consume them, shaking their hearts as it caused the ground beneath their feet to tremble. The expiration of ten seconds brought about the fusion of relief and shock, though, which was quite a welcome fusion but just as overwhelming.

Mika clasped her hands to her mouth, eyes widened in a combination of disbelief and elation. Relief blossomed throughout the hearts of her family as they looked up the scene that had just unfolded, right before their very eyes. The light had vanished as quickly as it had come, revealing a rather miraculous sight. Hiroshi Nakano, still standing over Eiri as a shield, was no longer the musician he had returned to Anuryn as. Instead of the black attire he had begun the journey in, he was bathed in the clothing of an Anurynian Summoner-garments he had been introduced to before. He hardly had anytime to reacquaint himself with the attire, though. Time was still flashing by in beams of lightning, carrying screams and beast roars with it.

The one he had chosen to protect was beneath him, looking into his shocked face with puppyish eyes-eyes that were surprisingly similar to a certain pair of violets. The author, moved by his friend's stalwart protection, sent his rescuer a small smile of silent appreciation. The guitarist, however, was far too stunned to even nod in return. He had transformed into a frozen athlete, one that had been shoved underneath a spotlight and hardly knew where to turn next. Standing as his urgent crowd of supporters, Mika and the others formed attempts to galvanize him into action.

"Don't just stand there, you idiot! Do something-anything!"

"Hiro! Please, you remember what to do!"

"Fight, Hiro, fight!"

That small statement, spoken by the unfaltering Claude K. Winchester, drove fire into his heart. Memories of their preceding battles rushed into his heart, causing him to remember the stance he had taken as a Summoner. He began to remember what it had been like during their prior adventure, what it had been like to fight for everything he loved. Fight for everything he believed in…fight for the couple that sought eternity. His close friend's words, as usual, pierced his soul with vigorous fortitude and revived his previously buried memories, creating a fire that would never be broken. Flames swept through him, almost creating a new person, a brand-new soul, as they worked their magic. The fire within him had been awakened due to a simple purpose: his desire to protect his friend, Eiri.

Lightning lit up the Summoner's eyes. Time came to a complete stop, even as it continued in the eyes of his friends. Feeling as though he had been transformed into a hero he had only encountered through dreams, he formed a barrier around his dear friend and peered into the eyes of the towering demons-beasts that no longer sent his heart crashing into the pits of his stomach. Relief continued to sweep through the hearts of his friends as he began to utilize everything that had been given to him, remembering the purpose he was meant to serve: a guardian of his precious friends. The shield he formed around himself and the author propelled him down the beginning of his new journey, one that would inevitably carry his role to new heights.

The formation of the shield was quickly followed by the rejuvenation of a familiar friend. The intensity of the battle rose as he clasped his hands together, still within his own tornado of frozen time. The eyes, heart, destiny and soul of an ancient Summoner propelled him further down the road of a newborn destiny, bringing themselves into his soul. He truly felt as though someone had united their soul with his, which explained why he now felt as though he could move and break mountains. Someone had taken over his previous self-someone that was intent on guiding him.

Taking a glance upon the silent, fearful author, realizing that his friend's eyes resembled the eyes of his missing husband, the Summoner revived an old friend. Winds, taking the form of cold but crystal blue melodies, rose around him as his heart began to sing a time-honored melody…summoning an old friend he had met only months ago. The remnants of the fellowship, including the author, watched in awe as a familiar face rose from slumber. It was the face of Axion, one of Anuryn's most treasured eons…a beast that had served ancient Summoners in the past, and also served Hiro well during his last venture. With his newborn determination rushing through him, the rejuvenated Summoner urged his awakened friend to clash against the demons…orders ringing from his mouth with the love, devotion and faith of a true Summoner.

Seconds elapsed, making one thing clear. Hiro's friends removed themselves from the sidelines, also wanting to execute the same purpose that had driven the musician onto the battlefield. They too wanted to protect a certain someone, and so they dashed out of safety's way in order to reach the line of fire. Their fierce loyalty towards their friend made one fact clear: in order to awaken hidden fire, the wielder's purpose had to be immaculately strong. So strong that it would cause the wielder's previous limits, previous stages of life, to break. The second they rushed to the field ignited their own flames, causing their hidden fire to begin its flight…iving them the power they needed to defend their beloved friend.

Intensity rose to a feverish pitch. The expiration of ten seconds brought the level of bloodshed down, but adrenaline rose beyond the heavens. Battle cries rang out as flames rushed by Hiroshi's eon, coming from the childlike Sakuma's chakrams. He too had been transformed into a new soul-outside of the battlefield, Ryuichi had been a playful, sweet being with the mannerisms of a timid puppy. Within the battle, life presented a different story. He retained his natural enthusiasm but was endowed with a high degree of strength, not only physical but mental. Suguru had not only been given one role, but two roles as well-his previous role of 'Mage' had returned, allowing him to unleash torrents of flames against the devilish army, but he had also been assigned the role of a Bladewielder. A duet of blades kept themselves within their hands, as Eiri's previous blades had kept themselves at his sides, and glimmered as their own whipped them through the air.

Claude K. Winchester was joyously reunited with his pair of 'special friends' (as he called them). Grinning, shouting battle cries as though he were the Chieftain of a tribe, he delivered barricades of bullets that struck their targets with black ice. Listening to his friend's merry battle cries and self-promotion-K loved to cry out things that fell along the lines of 'You've messed with the wrong guy'-Suguru and Hiroshi could hardly hold back laughter, even in the midst of fiery danger.

Mika had been given the agility, grace and dexterity of an archer. As if they were bullets within a gun, she sent floods of fire arrows into the eyes and hearts of demons. Tohma had been given the same role (which was met with a swift kiss and embrace), firing the same degree of arrows alongside his beloved wife. Several minutes elapsed before Princess Niha was able to join the fight-with catlike grace, she flew onto the scene and executed her own set of moves. Happy to see that almost all of her friends had awakened their fire, she smiled inwardly as she assisted in their mission to eradicate the abrupt flow of darkness.

The mournful cries of Anurynian soldiers were soon replaced by the cries of falling demons, beasts that struck the floor and vanished in dark streams of translucent, black starlight. According to the ways of Anuryn, the physical form of any being, demon or human, departed from its existence in a wave of light. The demons were embraced by the black lights of the darkest hellholes, carried away as their blood fell to the cold floors of the palace. A mere fifteen minutes elapsed before the end of the battle arrived, due to a stunning display of strength from Suguru and Ryuichi's end. The two of them had formed a dynamic duo, eradicating the last two demons with a wildfire.

Following the advent of the end, the ones responsible for the end congratulated each other with a high-five. Smiles twinkled within their eyes, glimmering in the midst of restored serenity. The members of the fellowship congratulated each other happily, embracing each other as though they were a part of a victorious football team…happy to know that they had emerged from their battle victorious. Two members of the fellowship had kept themselves from the battlefield, even though hidden flames had stirred within one of them. Tatsuha Uesugi had been endowed with a brand-new role, one that came with breathtaking blue attire, but kept himself out of the fray. Protecting his brother Eiri had been his first priority, even though his heart burned with the desire to extract revenge upon the demons that had awakened. Silently he had kept his eyes upon his friends, dearly hoping that the battle would end in their favor-happy to see that it had.

Congratulatory messages brewed within the ones that had taken flight to the battleground. K ruffled the hair of both Hiroshi and Suguru, treating them as though they had merely completed one of their rehearsals. Mika and Tohma embraced each other, happily crying as peasants that had received an eternal fortune. Ryuichi worriedly noticed that something was wrong on Tatsuha's end, but was quickly swept into the arms of Anuryn's beloved Princess. He couldn't take his mind off of Tatsuha's facial expression, though. Something was bothering his lover, and it most definitely had something to do with Eiri.

Minutes elapsed. Hiro fell to the floor, clearly exhausted by what had taken place. The flames that had consumed him took a temporary leave, restoring his natural persona but keeping him in the role of a Summoner. Feeling as though he had just won a war against an entire nation, he looked upon the faces of his friends in awe. "I don't know where all of that came fro m…" he began, breathing heavily. His swift manner of speech made something clear: he had been temporary transformed into another person, a soul with undying courage, and was quite stunned by the temporary change. "…but one thing's for certain. I was scared shitless! I don't know where any of that came from!"

As his other friends fell into serene silence, their eyes glowing with love, he looked upon the silent author's face with a loving but rueful smile. "I love Shuichi, yes." he began, shame covering his soft features. "But I don't know if I could do what you're about to do. I could hardly protect you from that pack of bastards. I'm too much of a coward!"

Laughter had left his lips, but he was clearly ashamed of what he had said-clearly ashamed of the truth. Earning deep sadness from the eyes of his future lover, Suguru, Hiroshi slowly hung his head with a drifting stream of laughter…laughter that slowly died away into small, tiny chuckles of exhaustion. That misery wasn't given too much of a lifespan, though. A moment later, the warm words of a certain author entered his heart. "You're not a coward, Hiro." the novelist began, warmth melting his eyes. "That's not true."

Shock temporarily caused Hiro's eyes to widen, but that shock was instantly replaced with sorrow. "Yeah I am." he said softly, feeling a certain pair of arms wrap themselves around his waist…blushing at the contact. His friend, however, was not about to end the 'argument' there. "No you're not." Eiri said sternly, speaking as though he were addressing a despondent child. "What you did back there proves that you aren't. You just don't know it."

You just don't know it.

"You were…what you're meant to be." the author continued, soft voice filled with brotherly affection. "It's as easy as that. You're not a 'coward', Hiro. You're actually someone very special. Someone I'm proud to have…as a friend."

I love you, Hiro…and thank you.

Hiro caught those words within the author's eyes and smiled. Warmth flooded his heart as their eyes held each other, both pairs filled with undying devotion towards the other. "You're welcome, Eiri." he said to the other lovingly, taking the hands of Suguru Fujisaki-who had placed his arms around the musician. Squeezing the hands of his future lover, also refraining from public affection as Tatsuha had decided to do, he looked upon the face of Ryuichi Sakuma-whose eyes were focused upon the worried Priest. The strength of the fellowship's bond came through in a matter of seconds-Hiro instantly sensed that Ryuichi was troubled about Tatsuha, and instantly realized that Tatsuha was curious about Eiri's inability to participate in their recent battle. "I wonder why you weren't able to awaken, though…" he stated to the author, no longer seized by 'cowardly' behavior…rubbing his chin.

The Anurynian Princess appeared at his side in a flash, seemingly appearing out of nowhere in particular. One wouldn't have been surprised if she had fallen from the ceiling. "I can tell you that, ana'cha." she said grimly, speaking as though she were about to reveal a buried secret. Her heavenly emerald green and sapphire blue eyes were darkened by tension. "His heart wasn't in it."

"In what?" the musician asked, almost outraged. Eiri looked at his friend in confusion, bearing the facial expression of a puppy that had been tossed into a new home. "In his soul." the Princess explained, her soft voice wanting to make her words obvious. "You see…" she continued, her hand gestures highlighting the energy behind her heart. "…in order for hidden flames to take flight, their wielders have to be ready for them to fly. How can I explain this? Ah…none of your skies were cloudy with pain, so, therefore, you were able to push forth your flames and fly. All of you have begun the journey to your true selves…but our peita hasn't."

"Because he's worried sick, right?" K asked firmly, returning to the persona of a mature, duteous father. He exchanged concerned glances with the nearby Tohma Seguchi, who looked as though he were about to cry. "I understand what you're saying. In order for a plane to fly, not a single challenge can interfere with its flight. Or else it'll crash."

Niha's eyes brightened as stars within the heavens. "Exactly, ana'ryn." she said warmly, then placed a gentle hand upon Eiri's shoulder. "Peita…I know. I know you're upset over the disappearance of your beloved mate, but in order for you to fly…you've got to unlock the shackles that bind you."

Unlock the shackles that bind you.

A moment of silence elapsed, allowing the author to digest his precious friend's words. His companions observed his silent train of thought, hands over their hearts…each one of them hoping for a good outcome to this silence. Tokyo's greatest novelist rose his head after a tortuous amount of silence, but his words brought about anything but relief. "You're asking me to ignore something that's eating me." he said to Niha softly, eyes pouring out sadness…hand over his heart. He knew he had to do it, knew he had to unshackle, had to unlock himself from the pain he had been thrown into…

…knew he had to do it, in order to fly…

…but found that merely breathing was almost too painful, too difficult to do.

Tears filled the eyes of Tohma, Mika and Suguru. The kindhearted Seguchi clasped his hands to his mouth, looking into the eyes that held so much pain. Although he was a few inches away from Eiri, standing at K's side, he could feel Eiri's pain as though it were his own. Could feel it clearly…as clearly as he had…during that one, fateful day…

Let's make a promise…

You and me…

Let's just be honest…

We're gonna run…

Nothing can stop us…

Even the night…

That falls all around us…

Soon there will be…

Laughter and voices…

Over the clouds…over the mountains…

"I can hardly breathe, but I have to ignore my pain…in order to fly?"

He thought. Thought of the promises he made. Thought of the kisses he had shared…with a certain Kitten. Thought of their first time…making love…thought of…how Shuichi cherished his image of 'Prince Eiri', riding upon a stalwart steed…thought of how much he loved Shuichi's smile…

Tears flew from his eyes, bold and strong…beautiful and undying, holding pain but determination, holding anguish but valiance.

"I'll do it."

During the second half of this chapter, I just happened to stumble upon a rather beautiful song-'Nothing Can Stop Us' by the great t.A.T.u. The lyrics within the last half of that chapter are from that beautiful song, a song I believe reflects the strength of Shuichi's love for his Prince Charming. It'll be an important song during Eiri's confrontation with the High Angel Court, which is just around the corner! Once again, I take no credit for any lyrics that don't belong to me. Please adhere to that disclaimer.