Disclaimer: I do not own Angel Sanctuary or any of its characters; that honor goes to the wonderful Kaori Yuki and whoever else is involved. I do however own any original characters I may happen to slip in here.


AN: This could have possibly been longer than even the last chapter but I decided to just save it for the next for an easier lead in. My creative juices have really been flowing for this story so expect a few twists and quicker updates!

I'd like to thank Crying Butterfly for her very very flattering compliment, especially coming from a fellow writer. I'm happy you felt like you'd still gained some useful insight from the last chapter and I appreciate your analysis also. It helps me realize if I'm doing something right. I'd also like to thank DarkRoxy for her more in-depth review. I'm glad I am writing Kira well! I didn't want to lose his natural, biting humor but he couldn't be seen as hateful. He's a complicated young man, but I always saw him as someone who could appear cold at first, but was actually very caring underneath but afraid to show it; at least that's what I've gathered from the manga so far. Thank you for also letting me know the last chapter still did a sufficient job.


' ' are Thoughts

Italics are Past events

Italics in bold are Song lyrics


Hope End

Chapter 12: Divided Loyalties


Sara smiled up at Kitsune from her seat upon her bedroom chair. She laughed as Kitsune tossed her tank top right onto her face.

"I wouldn't worry about how cute you look just yet. You have a while to go before you'll have to be worried about looks," Kitsune laughed "You'd still look good in anything," she smiled.

Sara smiled back. "Thank you. You're very pretty too Kitsune. Your voice and your eyes are incredibly charming."

Kitsune glowed from the compliment, smiling a bit more. "Oh stop it Sara, you don't mean it."

"I do! Now stop kidding yourself. I think I'll need to use the wheelchair for maybe a week more. My fractured hand is still bothering me," Sara sighed.

"Alright. I'll wheel you out to the front. Who is it that's picking you up again?" Kitsure asked, looking for Sara's shoe.

"Kira's taking me. He's off today and my mother will be making her first appearance at one of my sessions," Sara groaned, rolling her eyes.

"Oh…Kira. Your old friend right?" Kitsune asked as she finally found Sara's sneaker and kneeled to place it on her left foot.

"Yep. It's weird, because you know, I finally feel like I'm getting to know him. I realize now just how much of a stranger both of us were to one another despite are link through my brother."

Kitsune nodded, before looking at Sara with a smile. "Let's get you into your wheel chair and then I'll carry your crutches. You sure all you want is a bagel?"

Sara nodded. "Okay, and I'm sure all I want is a bagel," she grinned, "and a cup of orange juice would be good."

Kitsune helped Sara into her wheelchair and wheeled her into the kitchen for breakfast. Sara told her about her visit the other day as Kitsune toasted and her bagel and covered it with cream cheese. She poured Sara and herself a cup of orange juice, and joined Sara at the table, munching on her own bagel happily as she listened to Sara's story.

"And the doctor, who's name was Raphael, finished the session showing me one other exercise and today we're going to be doing leg exercises. He was really nice and cheerful and he had a great smile."

Kitsune chuckled. "I'm sure he did. You gave a good picture of him in your story. I'm sure you'll—" but Kitsune's comment was cut off by the distinct sound of a horn.

"Oh! I think Kira's here. Is there anything in my teeth?" Sara asked anxiously, smiling widely for Kitsune to examine her.

Kitsune shook her head and smiled. "No there isn't. You didn't spill or drop anything on yourself either. You look fine in your shorts and tank top and your hair is still in a neat ponytail."

Sara grinned. "Thanks again Kitsune. I owe you one. I'll try to stop being so fussy. I am enough of a mess already."

"No, you're never a mess Sara," Kitsune gently admonished, taking the elevator with Sara down to the first floor. They arrived quickly and soon Kitsune was pushing the young girl out into the early morning sunshine.

Sara beamed once again cheerfully. "It's really a beautiful day, isn't it Kitsune?"

Kira smiled at the two women and honked his horn. He quickly directed Sara's attention back to the vehicle and from her blissful examination of the city streets.

"Hey there pretty ladies. All ready Sara?" he called.

"Sure I am. I'm sitting up front with you right?" Sara asked. Kira nodded and got out of the car to help Kitsune place Sara into the front seat, the already moved back to accommodate her casted leg.

Sara's companions gently helped her into the car and Kira took the wheelchair from Kitsune and folded it up, placing it into the backseat.

He climbed back into the driver's seat and smiled and waved at Kitsune, Sara doing the same.

"Thanks for the help Kira," Kitsune said, smiling slightly. "Have a great day Sara. I'll see you later."

"My pleasure Kitsune," Kira grinned again and waited for Sara to say her goodbyes before speeding off.

"See yah later Kitsune! Thanks for the help this morning!" Sara shouted, waving to her as they finally zoomed away.

Kitsune waved after the two young cohorts with a gentle smile on her face. Unbeknownst to them, the moment they were out of sight, Kitsune's dazzling smile had become an unhappy frown.

She finally placed her arm back down against her side and with a heavy sigh, made her way back into the house to nap a little more and then get ready for work.


"This is actually a good thing all of your friends are working today; I get to have you all to myself," Kira grinned with mock wickedness.

Sara laughed as Kira wheeled her toward the almost familiar physical therapy room.

"I won't let you turn me Kira Sakuya," Sara threatened playfully, giving him a wry smile over her shoulder.

Kira grinned wider. "You can try, but I've led many a lady down a path of mischief."

"And here we are, right on time," Kira announced, opening the door for Sara and allowing her to wheel herself inside.

Sara's mother glanced at the opening door and abruptly broke off her dialogue with Dr. Raphael. She rushed out of his glass-enclosed office to Sara with an anxious look on her face.

"Sara! Sara darling!" She yelled, her hands clasped as if in prayer. Her eyes were already filled with tears of joy and Sara blushed in embarrassment as her mother dropped to her knees right in front of her.

"Oh Sara! You look so healthy! So wonderful! So—so—so okay!" Sara's mother gushed, laying her head into Sara's lap and laughing foolishly.

"It's been so long. I'm so happy I could be here with you today," her mother mumbled against her leg, Sara gently patting her mother on the back and stroking her hair.

"It's alright mother. It really is. See? I'm fine, now calm down." Sara spoke soothingly and smiled with reassurance at her mother, her mother lifting her tear streaked face to look at Sara more directly.

"I'm happy you could also be here today. Let's have a good time, okay?" Sara asked her, nodding until her mother was soon nodding in agreement with her, a shaky smile upon her own lips.

"Yes, yes Sara. How silly I'm being," she laughed, standing up once again and smoothing her partially wrinkled clothing.

"We will have an excellent time here. Oh, hello Kira!" Sara's mother said brightly, shaking a slightly baffled Kira's hand.

"It's so nice to see you again. You are such an outstanding example of what young men should aspire to be today. I can't thank you enough for all you've done for my Sara; You and this Dr. Raphael here both have done so much," Sara's mother smiled, turning around to the doctor who had just entered the room.

"He was a pleasure to speak to Sara," her mother stated, looking at Sara now and still shaking Kira's hand. "I hope you like him too Sara—do you?"

Sara reddened, humiliated even further by her mother's irrational behavior. "I like him very much mother. Please sit so we may begin the session."

"Oh! Yes! I'm sorry. Please begin Dr. Raphael," Sara's mother apologized, bustling off to take a seat on the bench Sara's friends had gathered upon at the last session.

Kira looked at Dr. Raphael, smiling slightly. "It's nice seeing you again doc," Kira said, offering out his hand to Raphael.

The blonde-haired doctor looked at his hand with a slight pause, before finally taking it and shaking it firmly. "It is nice seeing you again…Kira."

Sara watched the exchange, her eyes widening with slight surprise. "So you two do know one other," she stated rather than asked.

"We've met," Raphael said shortly and soon moved behind Sara and gently pushed her over to their workout bench once again.

Dr. Raphael took his clipboard out from under his arm and examined his notes. Kira took the hint and moved off to sit beside Mrs. Mudou.

"So last time we did a greater workout on your left rotator cuff and shoulder blade than we did on your left leg. Today, we'll be doing just the opposite."

Mrs. Mudou sat up ramrod straight in rapt attention of Sara and Dr. Raphael's interaction. She was already taking notes herself and really hadn't looked at Kira since her previous greeting.

Kira welcomed the silence as he found Sara's mother a bit overwhelming (AN: Perhaps the understatement of the year).

Dr. Raphael was showing Sara all seated exercises to adapt to her other injuries. He had her slowly point her toes forward until she felt a slight tension. When she told him she felt the pull, he had her hold her position for twenty to thirty seconds.

He next had her rest her heel onto the floor and pull her foot and toes back toward her body. He once again made her hold her position for twenty to thirty seconds.

Sara giggled, and Dr. Raphael smiled at her as she quipped that she felt like a ballerina warming up for a concert. The two continued to share a chuckle throughout her exercises, Sara especially amused when Dr. Raphael told her whenever she was on a tiresome date, she could just do these exercises under the table, and even trace the alphabet and as many numbers she wanted with her feet to keep her in shape whilst keeping her from crying in boredom.

Kira pointedly yawned during their childish banter and purposely tried to look as unresponsive to Raphael's jokes as possible. Raphael caught his yawn when he had been particularly loud and had narrowed his eyes slightly before returning his attention to Sara.

Sara was oblivious to the whole affair, her next concentration being on strengthening all of her leg muscles. Dr. Raphael had her now extend her good leg out in front of her and hold it for about twenty to thirty seconds once again for as many reps as she could manage.

He finally helped her onto the floor, and they both placed their feet on a towelm and using a stretch band they pushed their feet forward for resistance exercise against it to help build muscle.

By the time they were all finished and Sara was safely seated back into her chair, Sara was grinning happily and seemed to be radiant with both her glee and the light gleam of sweat on her smooth, creamy skin.

Kira gazed at Sara a bit admiringly, deciding she looked much better after a little laughter and exercise.

'She looks as if she's just been on a trip to the fair and isn't ready to go home yet,' Kira mused.

'The only problem is, I wish it wasn't that dumb intern that had made her so full of joy like that,' Kira frowned.

Raphael wheeled Sara back over to where her mother and Kira sat, Sara's mother rising to her feet with a bright smile on her face. She immediately took Raphael's hand into both her own and shook it vigorously.

"You looked so professional and excellent! You're such a handsome and talented young man. I can't thank you enough for working with my daughter today!" Mrs. Muduo prattled, simply beaming at Raphael.

Sara's face colored with mortification. "Oh mother, please stop."

Raphael smiled gently at her mother and then at Sara. "It's alright Sara. I'm flattered, it was a pleasure meeting you Mrs. Muduo, and as always a delight working with such an enthusiastic patient such as yourself Sara."

Mrs. Muduo was simply drunk with joy and patted Sara's shoulder affectionately. "Isn't she just perfect?"

Kira made a gagging gesture so that only Sara could see and Sara had to struggle not to laugh. Kira grinned at her and Sara smiled back.

Mrs. Muduo was ignorant of the entire exchange, but Raphael shot Kira a look of disdain in secret. He was all smiles once again as he turned back to Sara, placing a hand upon her shoulder.

"Well Sara, you can do all of those exercises at home. I prepared a list for you so you can remember it all and I wish you a marvelous day."

"And I wish you a marvelous day Dr. Raphael! Are you going along with Kira back to your friends' place Sara? Would you like to go out for lunch today?" Mrs. Mudou asked her daughter, slowly wheeling her out after Raphael handed her the list.

"It was a great session as always Dr. Raphael! See you next week!" Sara called back over her shoulder. "Mother, let's wait just outside here for Kira. I'll go to lunch with you. Let's talk about some possible restaurants as we wait."

Mrs. Mudou nodded and followed Sara's directions, leaving Kira to talk alone with Raphael. Sara seemed to know that the two familiar acquaintances needed to talk about...something.

Kira gave him a smug smile and crossed his arms in self-satisfaction. "I see a certain someone has a little interest in a certain friend of mine."

Raphael turned away from him and continued to walk back to his office, Kira lazily following him at a leisurely pace.

"I don't have to answer to you," Raphael replied calmly.

"Oh yes you do. Sara's well-being is one of my top concerns right now, not only for me, but for a good friend of mine. I just can't let her pick up fleas from just any old dog," Kira answered back sarcastically.

Raphael sat down calmly at his desk, pulling some paperwork towards him. He shot Kira a hard glare at his comment. "Then I wonder why she even knows any slimeball like you at all," Raphael said back derisively.

"I don't care what you think and it's sad to see you're still holding a grudge over your girl falling in love with me. I did nothing to entice her. Obviously she was in need of something and I gave it to her," Kira responded pointedly.

"It's not my job to worry about another person's integrity and anyone else's relationship; I hardly even knew you, and it sure as hell didn't look like you two were involved from the way you treated one another."

"It seemed to me like you'd broken up that very afternoon and there was a rumor around campus that it had been over since last week," Kira said more seriously, placing his hand on Raphael's desk and looking him challengingly in the eye.

Raphael grit his teeth angrily and held Kira's gaze. "Yes, we were having some problems. Yes, we had broken up the week before, but we were about to get back together! And then you had to come along and ruin things!"

"Hey, I don't intentionally involve myself into a relationship that doesn't concern me. I wanted what she was willing to give and I wasn't going to try and over-analyze things and think of how some guy who treated her like crap would feel or even how her Papa-dearest would feel for that matter," Kira shrugged, taking his hands off Raphael's desk.

"You're just a dirty agent to a complicated equation resulting in a terrible outcome. And anyway, you don't know crap about relationships or taking care of anyone for that matter—including yourself! Look at you! You went from taking one year off from entering a university to four!" Raphael responded heatedly.

"I can take better care of Sara than you can. And hey, as long as I haven't stopped desiring to learn about life and not just learning about numbers and books--I'm a better person that you. You think getting some swanky degree makes a person better than somebody else. Well I'll tell you right now, it doesn't buddy," Kira replied back just as crossly.

"Fine! Let's bet on it then! We each spend two weeks worth of time with her and we'll see who she's willing to become the girlfriend of," Raphael challenged.

"It's a deal. We start this at her next session. I won't put any moves on her until then, nor will I mention this to her," Kira agreed, holding out his hand for Raphael to shake on it.

Raphael took Kira's hand and shook it firmly. "Let's see who can be the better man this time."


Oooh! Bam! In your face! Hehe. I enjoyed writing this chapter. I am also very eager to write the next one! Some exciting things are about to happy and a few comical as well as questioning events. Please REVIEW and motivate me even more! I also really do like knowing if I've done something right through your responses. It really helps me as a writer. Till we meet again...

Angel of Mirth