A piercing ring cut through the air, and Akiko groaned. "What now?" Ignoring Sora's pout, she slipped out of bed and pulled on her shirt, and then drew out her cellphone. "What is it?" she snapped. A moment later, she blanched. "Oh… it's you. I'm sorry… It's just, I was with Sora, and… No, we weren't! I didn't even ask him to!"

She turned to Sora. "It's Yuki. Hang on a second." She turned back, and spoke quietly for a few minutes, and then snapped the phone shut and turned to Sora. "We've got a problem."

Sora nodded. "I heard you say 'Aquarios'. Is something happening?"

Akiko nodded. "He's back. He sent a message through Yuki that he wants to finish that interrupted duel."

Sora nodded, and tossed the covers back. "Okay. Let's go."

Akiko grabbed his arm. "Wait… are you sure? You're still sick."

Sora nodded. "I know. I'll need you to come with me, just in case." He smiled. "Besides, there's nobody I'd rather have by my side in a battle like this."

Akiko nodded, and darted for her bag. "Okay! We'll get him for sure this time!"

A few minutes later, Haruko and Akiko arrived at the designated field. Haruko looked around. Broken ice floes floated on a wide stretch of ocean. He shivered slightly. "This place…"

Akiko looked at him. "Are you sure you're all right?"

Haruko nodded. "Yeah… for now. We should finish quickly, though. I'm getting chilly just being here."

A cold laugh made them both turn. "Like it? I think it suits me pretty well, don't you?" Aquarios strode forward, holding his glaive upright. "So, shall we begin?"

Haruko shook his head. "No." He raised his katana. "Let's finish." He charged.

Akiko roared and followed him. "We'll take you down, Aquarios!"

Aquarios blinked. "Wait… that voice…" He jumped out of the way and slammed his hand down, calling a dragon from the water. "I know you!"

Akiko snorted, and thrust his lance through the dragon's head. "I don't care! You're going down!"

Aquarios sneered, and swept down his hand. "Just like I thought."

Haruko's eyes widened. "Akiko! Look out!" He ran forward and tackled him, knocking them both out of the way as the water that formed the dragon cascaded down, freezing into ice as soon as it touched ground.

Akiko stared at the mound of ice. "Thanks, Sora!"

Aquarios grinned. "You're not out of it yet!" He raised his hand, and a massive head rose from the water. He let out a howling laugh as the head rose further, revealing a long, snake-like neck. "The sea's mightiest creatures bend to my will!"

Akiko grunted. "Nasty…" He looked down. "And we didn't get away unscathed, either." He pointed to where both players had a foot stuck in the ice. "See?"

Aquarios laughed. "Get them, my pet!"

Akiko's eyes flared. As the massive head swooped down, he grabbed Haruko by his leg and pulled him free with a powerful jerk, and then tossed him away. Haruko got to his feet just in time to see the serpent's head dart down and grab Akiko in its jaws. "No!" he yelled, running forward, but Aquarios got in his way, forcing him to defend himself.

Akiko grit his teeth. "Let me go!" he shouted, squirming in the creature's mouth. The creature paid him little heed; it proceeded to toss its head back and give a single gulp. Haruko grit his teeth as Akiko vanished from sight.

Aquarios laughed. "That's one down! Looks like you've lost another girlfriend, Haruko!"

Akiko's voice sounded gently in Sora's ears. "Don't worry, Sora. I'm not done yet."

Haruko turned to look at the serpent. It began to cough and writhe, and a small part of its throat began to bulge out. Aquarios stared. "What the…?"

A bright flash shone out from the creature's neck, and with a hideous yell its head fell into the sea, severed neatly. Akiko stood grimly astride the stump, scythe raised. "That was disgusting!" he yelled, and leapt down. "You're going to pay for that!"

Aquarios prepared to defend himself, but Akiko crashed down and landed a blow that made his shield ring like a gong. Before he could react, Haruko flew in from the other side and buried his katana in him up to its hilt.

He turned to Haruko, and smiled. "Thanks…" he muttered softly, and then raised his hand. "Now, allow me to return the favor!"

A burst of icicles flew from his hand, and pierced Haruko over and over. With a gasp, he flew backwards. Akiko grit his teeth and took the opening to attack Aquarios, slicing him again and again with his broadsword. Aquarios smiled, even as he tried futilely to protect himself. "Shouldn't you be more worried about your boyfriend?" he muttered.

Akiko glanced towards Haruko, to see him struggling to get onto the floe once more. The attack had knocked him into the ocean, and the look on his face made it clear that the water was not the right temperature for swimming. Akiko darted over and pulled Haruko up to the shore. "Sora!" he yelled.

Haruko looked up at him, shivering badly. "Sorry…" His eyes widened. "Look out!" He shoved Akiko out of the way, but before he could move, water crashed down on him and froze around him. Aquarios gave a cold chuckle as Akiko got up and stared.

Akiko began hacking at the ice, but his weapons merely bounced off. Aquarios laughed. "Finally! Finally, we can sacrifice Haruko to Lady Morganna!" He motioned lazily with his glaive. "Move out of the way, little girl, and I'll spare you for the time being."

Akiko tensed. "No! He's my leader, and my love! I won't let you hurt him!"

Aquarios shrugged, gathering white energy into his right palm. "Fine, then. Die along with your boyfriend, if that's what you want." With a loud "Ha!" he thrust his hand forward, launching the Data Drain speeding towards Haruko.

It never reached him. Both Haruko and Aquarios stared as a wall of black dots erupted into being in front of the ice. They turned to see the same black dots bubbling up from Akiko. Haruko stared. "Akiko!"

Aquarios stared. "AIDA… You've been using AIDA to fight AIDA?"

Akiko nodded. "I'll do anything to protect you, Sora. No matter what the cost." He chuckled harshly. "After all, I never promised you that I wouldn't die protecting you."

Haruko blanched. "What are you thinking? You can't control it! It'll only end up consuming your mind! You're going to end up in a coma!"

Akiko shrugged. "I've controlled it up until now, and I've used its power for months." Black dots began to surge around him, and pieces of his character began to shatter and fly away. "As for the coma… if it saves your life, I don't care if I spend a while in a coma. After all, I know you'll save me from it in the end. Just like you'll save Alkaid!"

Aquarios smiled. "Interesting… An AIDA duel? I'll accept your challenge!" He charged. "You'll never defeat me! I am a Disciple of Morganna!"

Akiko snorted, and charged, forging a weapon of his own as he came. "You're letting AIDA control you, idiot! A weak-hearted person like you won't ever beat me!"

With a giant flash of light, the two fighters clashed and flew past each other. Aquarios smirked. "Got her," he said softly.

Akiko turned to him, now fully transformed. Her real face glared at her opponent from below a black helmet that hid her hair beneath it, and she held a massive, two-handed sword that Haruko recognized as a Scottish blade known as a claymore. Skin-tight, flexible armor, jet-black and decorated with red lines, covered her entire body, but hid the fact that she was now a girl. She snorted. "You're the one who was 'gotten'," she said.

Aquarios blinked, and then looked down as his shield quivered and snapped in half. "What?!" he screamed.

Akiko charged again, swinging her claymore as she came. Aquarios yelped and jumped back, landing in the water. Akiko snorted, and dropped her blade, raising her fist and concentrating pulsating black energy into it. With a yell, she slammed her fist down on the water. The water's surface deformed into a crater under the impact, and then an entire section of ocean exploded upwards, and Aquarios flew into the air along with the foam and spray, utterly stunned. Akiko seized her blade and leapt into the air after him, spiking him back down to the ground with a powerful slash.

He chuckled softly as she landed next to him. "Not bad," he said, as he blocked an attack that was meant for his head. "It seems we're not so different after all."

Akiko snorted. "What are you talking about?" she asked, swinging laterally at him. "You and I are nothing alike."

Aquarios shook his head. "Not true," he said, blocking her with the shaft of his glaive and swinging the free end down towards her head. "After all, we're both fighting for someone we love, someone we'd do anything for."

Akiko paused, ducking backward to avoid his blow. "What are you talking about? You're a Disciple!"

Aquarios nodded. "True, but not really by my choice. The deal I made with Pyrrhia was that she would not be harmed as long as I fought for him." He grit his teeth, and swung again. "I'll do whatever I must, kill whoever I have to… as long as my Mamori lives, I don't care who else dies!"

Akiko stared, not even feeling the blow as it sliced into her. "Hanada… Meikan-san…" Her eyes focused, and blazed. "You…" She charged forwards, swinging her blade in all directions. "How could you? You know that Tamaki-sensei cares about both me and Sora!"

Aquarios backed up under her onslaught. Several strikes broke through his pitiful guard, landing solidly on him. "I don't… understand…" he muttered. He stared at her sword. "How can she be so strong? That sword's easily as large as her, and yet she's swinging it around as if it were as light as a toothpick!"

Akiko continued her frenzied assault. "We're nothing alike, Aquarios! I would never kill for Sora! I don't care what happens to me, as long as he's safe… but I won't hurt others!"

Aquarios grit his teeth and blocked the next strike. "Shut up! What do you know about me, anyway? They'll kill her if I don't kill for them!"

Akiko howled and spun at an impossible speed, ducking under his guard and knocking him back. "Don't you see what you're doing to her? No matter how much she tries to hide it, I know she's been feeling worse and worse lately. What happens to them is on her conscience, Aquarios! She doesn't want you to kill for her!"

Aquarios snorted. "I don't care! Mamori… and our little Tsubaki… I'll kill anyone who threatens them!"

Akiko's next blow snapped his glaive in half. "Then why haven't you killed Pyrrhia yet? You're pitiful. We may fight for the ones we love, but that's the only way we're alike." She swung down again. "I risk my life for Sora's sake. What do you do for Tamaki-sensei? All you've done is let yourself be blackmailed into killing others, all in the name of loving her." She smirked. "I bet you like killing them. That's why you do it!"

Aquarios pushed her blade back with one broken piece, and with a howl he launched a desperate attack against her with the blade. "Don't you dare talk to me like that!"

The strike only knocked Akiko's helmet flying, and she turned to him, her sandy-blonde hair flying in the wind. "You're nothing like me," she said coldly, and struck him across the back with all of her might.

The blow sent Aquarios skipping across the water, to crash back on the floe where the battle had begun. Akiko leapt lightly across and landed in front of Haruko. Aquarios staggered to his feet. "Enough…" he muttered. AIDA particles surged out of him. "Enough! Let's go, Hyozanryu!"

With a roar, a long, sinuous dragon burst out of the wall of blackness behind him. Aquarios laughed and took to the air, his eyes shining red. Akiko sighed. "Sora… I'm sorry." She raised her head, black energy surging around her. "We're on! Itou!"

Haruko stared as her own dragon burst into existence around her. Unlike all the other Dark Avatars he'd encountered, this one was lit with a bright golden light, and it eyes were the exact same shade of blue as Akiko's. Five spikes rose from its head, and Akiko floated in its center, surrounded by AIDA particles. With a roar, the dragon spread its wide wings and took to the air.

Aquarios laughed. "A Chinese dragon against a European dragon… this fight keeps getting more and more interesting!" He charged, and Hyozanryu pierced straight through the center of Itou. Akiko yelled and whirled around, and Itou opened its mouth wide and spat a burst of lightning at the enemy.

Aquarios' eyes bulged, and he tried to dodge, but when he evaded the bolt, Itou darted down with surprising speed, slashed it with powerful claws, and then caught it, dove, and smashed it into the ground. Hyozanryu slithered quickly into the water to recover, and Itou turned to Haruko.

Haruko stared. "Akiko… what are you doing? You're going to…"

Akiko floated gently up in front of him. "It's okay, Sora. See?" She brought her eyes up to his, and he saw that although the whites of her eyes had turned black, her eyes were still the same blue as always.

Nevertheless, he began to cry. "Akiko… why?"

Akiko smiled, and gently kissed him. "Because I love you, Sora. And that's also why I can use it. The strength of my heart, combined with my love for you, allows me to keep AIDA at bay." She tensed. "Even so…"

With a loud splash, Hyozanryu burst from the water and spat a blast of ice at her. Itou whirled and countered with a bolt of lightning, and the two streams clashed, creating a massive reaction of energy at the center. Akiko grit her teeth and forced her will into the attack. Slowly, Hyozanryu's attack was pushed back, and Aquarios yelled in fear as the ice stream broke and let the bolt through. He was once again barely able to dodge.

Akiko glared up at him, but with a hiss, Hyozanryu darted forward again and sank its teeth into Itou's neck. Itou roared, and began to slash at its enemy's long body with its claws. Haruko stared. "I've… got to help!" he yelled.

Akiko nodded. "You want to help? Then be ready!" Itou reached out and seized Hyozanryu just below its head. In response, the serpent-like dragon coiled its body around its opponent and squeezed hard. When Itou refused to let go, Hyozanryu opened its mouth and blasted it with ice.

Akiko winced under the onslaught. "Fine, then…" Electricity crackled around the five horns on Itou's head, and suddenly a powerful shock burst out of it and into Hyozanryu. Lightning and ice flared around both dragons, creating massive bursts of light and energy. Within moments, the barriers on both Avatars shattered simultaneously.

Aquarios laughed. "Got you!"

Akiko shook her head. "No. This is the end for you." She nodded. "Now, Sora! We're in the right alignment; Data Drain us both!"

Haruko blanched. "Are you crazy? You'll go into a coma!"

Akiko grit her teeth. "Hurry! I can't hold him for long!"

Haruko stared. "But… Akiko!"

Akiko whirled on him. "I'm losing control." Her right eye began to dim, and then to flicker slowly between red and blue. "Hurry, while I'm still me!"

Haruko stared, tears running down his face. "Akiko… why?"

Akiko smiled. "I already told you. Because I love you." She tensed. "Now, hurry!"

Haruko nodded. "Right…" He closed his eyes, and focused all his strength into his love for Akiko, his desire to protect her from AIDA… and his anger at Aquarios and the other Disciples. The Twilight Bracelet shone with energy, melting the ice around it. Haruko's eyes snapped open. "Data… Drain!" he yelled.

A golden beam shot forth from the bracelet and pierced both Akiko and Aquarios through their hearts, and a golden sphere erupted around them as the Data Drain began.

With a terrible scream, an enormous quantity of AIDA particles boiled out of each of the two fighters. Data flew from them both into the bracelet, and Haruko winced as Akiko screamed in pain from the attack. Both struggling dragons burst into tiny spheres, and with a crack, the ice surrounding Haruko shattered.

He dashed forward and caught Akiko in his arms as Aquarios gently floated to the ground nearby. "Akiko!" he yelled.

Akiko smiled. "How the heck… did you make it… through this, back then?" She coughed. "Ow… Well, if you can survive a Data Drain, then I certainly can."

Haruko stared down at her. "I'm sorry… I was weak, and because of that, you had to do this for me…"

Akiko began to shine blue. "No. I chose to do this a long time ago. And you're just as strong as I am. Stop blaming yourself for what happens to everyone who decides to take a bullet for you. It's not your fault that I let AIDA infect me, so I could better protect you." She laid a hand on his cheek. "I love you, Sora."

Haruko bent, and kissed her. She giggled. "Hey… I felt that… That's cool!" She smiled, even as her body began to dissolve. "Make sure… I don't sleep too long, okay?"

Haruko clutched the remaining parts of her to him. "I'll be right there. Make sure you're awake by the time I get to you, okay?"

Akiko laughed. "Okay." By now, her face was the last remaining part of her. She gave him one last smile, and then was gone.

Aquarios coughed. "Haruko…"

Haruko looked at him. "What?"

Aquarios sighed. "I know… I don't deserve it… but I need to ask a favor of you."

Haruko glared. "Oh?"

Aquarios nodded. "I… I want you to protect… Yuki… I made the others swear… that they wouldn't touch her… but…"

Haruko stared. "Yuki-chan?

Aquarios nodded. "Yes… I love her… so much…" His eyes wavered. "I'm… sorry about what I did… to Alkaid. I know… you loved her, like I do Yuki…" He coughed, and began panting more heavily, struggling to hold on to consciousness.

Haruko nodded. "Okay… I'll protect her." His eyes darkened. "But I don't think I can forgive you. Not for a long time."

Aquarios chuckled. "I'm not… surprised. Not even you… can forgive what I did."

Both of them turned as the familiar sound of someone warping in echoed across the field. Yuki appeared in a whirl of energy, and darted straight to Aquarios' side. "Meikan!" she yelled.

Haruko stared. "No… Hanada-san?"

Aquarios nodded. "Yeah…"

Haruko looked at Yuki. "So… you're Mamori-san?"

Yuki ignored him, holding Aquarios tightly to her. "Meikan…"

Aquarios chuckled softly, and scratched her ear gently. "Mamori… he got me. That Sora-kun's one tough kid, you know. And Akiko-san was just amazing…"

Yuki smiled. "I know. Zefie let me watch the whole thing, even though she wouldn't let me come before now."

Aquarios sighed, as his body turned blue and began to dissolve like Akiko's had. "Mamori… take care of yourself, okay? And our little Tsubaki…"

As he vanished, Yuki turned her tear-filled eyes to Haruko. He stared. "Mamori-san… I'm…"

Before he could finish, Yuki darted forward and gave him a bone-crushing hug. "Thank you, Haruko!" she wept. "Thank you, so much… You've given me my Meikan back."

Haruko blanched. "But… he's a Lost One now…"

Yuki sniffed. "I know… but it's gone. AIDA's gone from his mind, and I finally have my wonderful husband back."

Haruko sighed. "I'm sorry, Mamori-san… I shouldn't have let my loss get in the way."

Yuki snorted. "Don't be silly! I know how much Alkaid meant to you. And Akiko-chan told me all about your sickness."

Haruko nodded. "But… you should stay out of the game for a while. Not for me, but for Tsubaki-chan's sake."

Yuki shook her head. "No. You've given me back Meikan. So, no matter what, I'm going to help you get back the people you've lost." She nodded and said, "And besides, I want to see Nagi, and Mirage, and everyone else come back."

Haruko smiled. "You're right… but what about Tsubaki-chan?"

Yuki smiled. "It's okay. I'm staying with my sister right now, and she knows all about the AIDA problem. So if something happens to me, she'll make absolutely sure that nothing bad happens to my little baby."

Haruko nodded. "Okay." He grinned. "How's Tsubaki-chan doing, anyway?"

In real life, Mamori gently rubbed her stomach. "She's fine!" she said. "She's getting even bigger, you know. I'll show you the next time you come by Akiko-chan's school." She giggled. "And she's getting pretty active, too. I got barely any sleep last night because she was kicking around." She yawned. "In fact, I'm going to catch a nap right now, while she's being quiet."

Haruko blinked. "What about Hanada-san?"

Yuki smiled. "It's okay. My sister's already called an ambulance for him; he was staying with us, too." She yawned again, adding, "And don't worry about Akiko-chan. She's terrifically strong, and I just know she'll pull through." She winked. "I'll expect her at school on Monday, like always. See ya, Sora-kun!" She smiled and warped out.

Sora sighed, and pulled off his M2D. "Akiko?" he called softly.

There was no answer. Sora raised his head, dreading what he knew he would see. Akiko sat slumped in her chair, still wearing her M2D, her eyes closed. He got shakily to his feet and walked over to her. "Akiko?" he called again. He quickly put his hand on her chest, checking her heartbeat and breathing. Both were normal, and her face was calm and relaxed, with a slight smile on it.

Mistral entered, her face for once downcast. "I heard her yell… is she all right?"

Sora lifted Akiko into his arms, gazing at her. She looked exactly as she did when she was asleep, but Sora knew it wasn't sleep. He grit his teeth and hugged her tightly to him. "Akiko… please, don't leave me…"

Mistral laid a hand on his back. "Sora-kun… she'll come back…"

Sora sobbed. "Akiko, I can't go on without you. I can't do this anymore!" He fell to his knees and squeezed his eyes shut, crying openly.

He didn't really know how long he stayed like that, but suddenly, a pair of strong arms wrapped around him, and a pair of soft lips pressed against his. He opened his eyes, and a pair of deep blue eyes looked back.

Akiko stirred in his arms, and her hair fell across his face, filling his mind with the scent of pine needles. He drew back, barely daring to hope. "Akiko?"

Akiko giggled, and kissed him again. "Sorry to worry you, Sora. I just needed to rest for a few minutes, from the strain."

Sora laughed. "Oh, I've done that to you way too many times to be able to complain about it now." He hugged her. "I can't believe you're okay!"

Akiko nodded. "Hey… I see black…"

Sora blinked. "You mean… you're blind? Or is AIDA still there?"

Akiko giggled. "Nope. Thanks to you, AIDA's completely gone from my mind. No… but I do see black here… and here." As she said "here", she placed her finger gently on the center of first one eye, and then the other.

Sora blinked. "Oro?"
Mistral giggled. "She's right, Sora-kun. Your eyes are back to normal."

Akiko smiled. "They probably won't stay that way for long- after all, Chika-san still hasn't come back yet- but for now, it's good to see you happy again."

Sora nodded. "Yeah… and now, we're finally getting closer to stopping AIDA."

Akiko grinned. "Yeah! That's two Disciples down, and two to go!" She sighed. "But, it looks like I can't help you anymore. That blast would have wiped out my character data entirely."

Sora hugged her to him. "It's okay. And maybe Renée-chan can figure out a way to recover it."

Akiko smiled. "Yeah, maybe…" She broke off, looking concerned. "Sora… you're shivering again!"

Sora blinked, and realized that his teeth had been chattering for the past few minutes. "I guess I didn't realize…"

Mistral smiled and pulled back the covers. "Well, let's get you into bed. And I'll come in a while later with some chicken soup, okay?"

Sora smiled, and let Akiko pick him up and lay him in the bed. "Sounds good. And if you make it, I bet it'll be delicious."

Mistral laughed. "Of course! After all, if a housewife can't cook well, what sort of housewife would she be? Nya ha!"

Akiko blinked. "She actually laughs like that… Who the heck laughs like that?"

Sora rolled his eyes, and with some difficulty managed to pull off his shirt. "She does, apparently."

Akiko smiled. "Hmmm… If you're going to take off your shirt, I should take off mine." She waited for him to close his eyes, and then slipped off her shirt and lay down on top of him. Sora quickly drew the covers up and over her, leaving only his own head showing. He sighed happily as the warmth of her body began to dispel his chills.

Akiko's laugh was muffled slightly by the blankets. "What are you up to?"

Sora grinned. "I'm jealously making sure nobody sees you without a shirt on."

Akiko rolled her eyes. "Including yourself? Come on in here, Sora."

Sora obligingly pulled the blankets over his own head as well. Akiko giggled. "I see you're wearing my necklace. Thanks!" She paused. "By the way… do you remember last weekend, when you offered to touch me with nothing in between? I… I'm willing to take you up on that offer, if you're still willing."

Sora blinked. "Huh? You were reluctant to even let me touch you through your shirt, and now you want me to touch your bare skin? What's up?"

Akiko smiled. "Oh… It's just that before, I was worried about AIDA. After all, I saw what it did to Amy-san, and she wanted to sleep with you, just like I want you to ask me to. So I tried to keep distant, in order to keep AIDA from making me hurt you."

Sora smiled. "Thanks… You're always keeping an eye out for me, aren't you?" He gently spun her around, laying her head just beneath his chin. "Let's take it a bit slower, first. One less layer, but still one layer left."

Akiko sighed happily as he pressed his hands to her chest. "Wow… that feels even nicer than before…" She grinned. "But they still feel chilly," she added, gently taking hold of them. "So…" With a sudden effort, she pulled his hands down and forced them inside her bra.

Sora laughed. "I thought you might do that. And you're right; they'll definitely be warmer there."

Akiko, meanwhile, was gasping for breath, amazed at the feeling of Sora's hands against her. She pressed his hands closer, and let out a small yelp. "Sora…" She bit her lip as Sora gently squeezed.

Sora smiled. "Wow… that feels nice. Thanks for doing that, Akiko. I bet it feels a lot nicer than when Kenji grabbed you, huh?"

Akiko blinked. "What are you talking about?"

Sora frowned. "I know Kenji. He would never have left without touching your body directly."

Akiko smiled. "Unless he was interrupted. And since Tamaki-sensei caught him before he had a chance to, I can happily tell you that you're the first boy ever to lay hands on my breasts." She sighed. "And it feels wonderful…"

Sora sighed. Akiko blinked. "Something wrong?"

Sora smiled. "Oh… it's just, I'm feeling a little guilty, since you're not the first girl I've touched like this." He shifted his fingers absently, making Akiko gasp from the sensation.

She smiled. "That's all right. It was Shizuka-san, wasn't it?" She giggled. "Sora, as long as you didn't sleep with her, I'm fine." She paused. "You didn't, right?"

Sora nodded. "If you can get me to ask you, you'll still be my first." He sighed. "But I saw her completely naked, and I touched her just like I'm touching you."

Akiko laughed. "How'd she get you to do that?"

Sora laughed. "Well, it was the same day we took Chika to the airport. I came back, and the water in my shower was running, but nobody was in there- or so I thought- so I started to take a shower…" Akiko began to laugh as he told the story. When he'd finished, he chuckled softly, slipped his hands downwards, and dug his fingers into her stomach. Almost instantly, loud giggles and laughter began to emerge from under the blankets. Mistral entered with a bowl of steaming soup, and smiled as she heard the two of them. "I guess we'll be having two guests for a little while," she said softly, and setting down the soup beside the bed, she left them alone.

Author's Notes: Two down... and Akiko's mysterious secret is finally revealed. (I do wonder if anyone actually saw that coming...) And more of Mistral being Mistral, of course. Nya ha!

I really do love Aquarios as a villain and as a character, especially in this scene. The "we're the same, you and I" speech, the complete abandonment of conscience, the full revelation of his motivations... and of course that scene that's a complete rip-off of the Hercules Disney movie (which I'm so going to be shot over), just combine so well in my mind. I really consider him my favorite villain in this piece... except maybe for Pyrrhia, but he's a very different kind of villain, after all.