Sunshine.

I thrived in it. Of course I did, I was 'flower,' and flowers were healthy when they were in the sunlight. As I stood at the edge of the cliff, my toes hanging off the side, I breathed in the crisp sea air, letting it permeate my being. Perhaps it would help my lungs, but right now, I didn't care. Today I was going to do something I hadn't done in a very long time.

As I stretched my arms above my head, I heard footsteps in the gravel. I sensed my sister among the group. "Ageha-san?" called Misao tentatively. That's right. She'd never seen me do this before. Though Murasaki knew I could, she probably thought that I was going to jump. She was partially right.

Wind in my face, I propelled myself forward, throwing my arms out to either side.

"Ageha-san!" my nurse screamed, laying on her stomach at the edge of the cliff, gazing down.

Before I was even anywhere near the bottom, I unfurled my wings. Carefully, as not to damage them, I began to flutter them, at first merely slowing my descent, gradually coming to a complete stop before shooting upwards. I giggled at Misao's startled gasp and Muteki's joyful laugh.

My wings were a bright magenta color, and they looked absolutely wonderful against the light blue skies. They used to be black and red, like all Ageha started with, but as was the case for all but one of us, they began to change when we were about thirty or fourty. Muteki had been the only exception. Hers had remained as their color. Whether or not that had changed over the decade or so we'd been apart was unknown.

I got my answer when she decided to join me. Revealing her wings, I noticed that while they were still predominantly black and red, strong tendrils of turquoise had begun to weave their way into her wings. I grinned. "Imoto-chan, you late bloomer, you," I jested to her confusion, "You're finally changing, eh?"

Her surprised expression made me want to laugh. She turned her head to gaze at her wings, her eyes widening in awe. She gasped, "So… pretty…"

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

I looked up in amazement at the butterfly-women. I'd seen Ageha Muteki's wings, and no doubt they were beautiful in their ethereal shade of turquoise, but the deep magenta of Ageha Hana's wings held a friendly, welcoming, basically comfortable aura. Wings like those belonged on the backs of gorgeous and exotic Fey royalty.

Kohaku elbowed me softly. "Oi, Yokawa, you okay? You're spacing out on me."

Blinking, I threw her a smile. "Yeah. I'm fine," I redirected my gaze to the pair of Ageha, "This may be one of the best assignments we've ever gotten, ne?"

She smile and placed a hand in the crease of my elbow. "They are amazing, aren't they?"

"Mmm."

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Even in the darkest hours, I was there for her.

The hallways in this section of the base were not as aptly lit, for things that occurred down here weren't to be witnessed by any except those that were involved. This was the deepest, darkest pit of Shinsei Karasu, where the Priestess cast away those who were unfit to serve, or, as in most cases, those that needed to be put in their place.

Of course, Akanazo-dono complied and did as was commanded of her, and therefore I did the same.

As I walked along, the amount of light became less and less until I could barely see three centimeters from my face. Fumbling in the void for a few moments, I was able to find the terminal. A few swift, precise keystrokes and I heard the thunk and hiss of an opening door. Slipping through, the door closed behind me. It only allow ten seconds of being left ajar before it closed automatically. I swept the wall to my right for the light-switch.

After a brief click, the bright, sterile overhead lights flickered to life, revealing the two inhabitants of the cell.

A high pitched giggle sounded. "Come to gloat more, Yura?"

I looked down at the girl. Her unseeing lavender eyes looked up at the spot where I stood. "I'm not Akanazo-dono," I told her, and she frowned. Her short light blue hair was untidy, falling in front of her face.

The other girl in cell scowled, her crimson eyes clearly displaying her annoyance. "What do you want, Naminatae? Haven't you done enough already?" Her voice had a melodic quality to it that when angered as it was, made me flinch.

"Trust me, Ageha, I don't enjoy your place any more than you do. You're more important than you think you are," I informed them.

The red eyed one ran her fingers through her long, pin-straight green hair. "You don't think we realize that? Of course we know. Why else would we not co-operate? Your beloved 'Priestess' is a lunatic," she retorted fiercely, yet calm.

I narrowed my eyes.

"But you know that, don't you, Kasumi?" the green-haired one said, sticking her face between the bars.

I struck out, the back of my hand connecting viciously with the delicate girl's cheek, the side of her head rebounding against the bar, leaving behind a splatter of shiny red blood. She to her knees, her flawless, slender hand tenderly cupping her wound. She made not a sound, except for her heavy, startled breathing.

Startled as I was from my own actions, I had no control over the next words to leave my mouth. "While you are important to my leader, impudence such as this shall not be tolerated to any extent, Ageha Merodi," I said harshly.

Her only reply was a sad look. I was the bad guy. I knew it. I hated it. But I couldn't stop.

"Merodi… I sense you are hurt… Naminatae, I swear if you have hurt my sister I the way you hurt me I will-"

"She's fine, Ageha Kokoro. Get over it."

With that, I turned and left the room, my original purpose for entering their cell lost. As soon as I stood once more in the darkness, I clamped my hands on my head, suddenly accosted by a severe headache.

'Obey.'

It repeated. Over and over again like a sick mantra.

Somewhere, deep inside, I knew… Ageha Merodi was right.

The Priestess wasn't –

The Priestess wasn't –

She wasn't –

I couldn't –

My mind wasn't my own. It was all her doing…

Can't –

She's –

I had to –

I'm sorry, Yura…

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Another great chapter… yay!