AUTHOR'S NOTE- I can't believe it. Today's the basketball teams first game and WE WON! When I was waiting for the game to start I couldn't calm down so I had to write. Anyway, you guys benefit from it. :) Here's a new chapter!
Kal watched me.
"Your end is coming Angel."
"Heh, since when could you read thoughts?" I scoffed.
"I know of you true linage Angel. It's not hard to guess what you think considering what is going on," He replied.
"I don't know why but that sentence…" I trailed off and frowned at the overly familiar statement.
"Have you told them, Angel?" Kal asked me.
"Told us what?" Teito asked.
"That answers your question," I said with a small chuckle.
"Mmm…do you plan to tell them?"
I paused. I looked at Teito who was watching me with intensity.
"I don't think I will get to choose," I replied.
Kal turned to face look at Teito as well then he smiled a half smile.
"True, with this child, it's assured."
I nodded. Then a crash interrupted us.
"…the warmonger. I broke his promise. He will most assuredly be here. I will pay for this when he comes…Take Millea Klein and escape from here," Wolf ordered.
"No. This is a good chance for me. I've been chasing after him for many years in order to destroy him."
'That shadow…he said he tried to kill all of us before…'
"That black shadow, you said he was your brother…he couldn't be the last ghost…could he?" Teito asked.
"Yes, he is Landkarte."
"Landkarte was the one who helped father and I reach the god houses though! Why did he…?"
"Ten years ago the remaining ghosts, we gathered at the church. Profe at the time thought it was odd that the pope would try to steal Pandora's box like that so we checked the past using Relikit's ability. From there we found that Landkarte had been influencing the pope. Landkarte appeared not long after and killed the reapers but only managed to blind me. I had run away but not until I had found out his motives….I still remember those words. His motives, his desire for peace, warped and twisted…"
"What did Landkarte say?" I asked Ea. Ea turned to face me.
"I wanted to make a pure world filled with love. However, I just couldn't do it. Love and hatred were emotions that were just two sides of the same coin, but humans couldn't sever themselves from it….Even Verloren couldn't escape the play of love and hate…and so I reached a conclusion. If I can't have one or the other, I'll just erase it all. That nothingness will be perfect, just like the perfection at the bottom of the sea."
"That…that's…"
"Insane. I know," Kal turned away, "I told him so myself."
Teito squeezed his mother's hand and then stood up.
"Kal…change everyone's soul number here except for mine," Teito ordered.
"Teito, no."
"I plan to meet up with Frau and the others and escape the fortress. I don't plan on dying yet Angel," Teito explained.
"Fine, if you're not dying then you should be fine with me coming with you," I said.
"Angel," Teito warned.
"No, I'm coming. Someone has to drag you back alive," I countered.
Ea had been listening to our conversation silently, then he said, "So you two plan to be bait."
We both turned to look at him.
"Rather than not knowing who Landkarte will appear in front of," Teito began.
"…it's much easier knowing he will only appear in front of us," I finished.
"Teito…your wing still hasn't recovered…." Ouka pointed out.
"Eh?" Teito glanced at the blackened wing, "Now that I think about it…there's no feeling…"
'What? Mikhail should be-'
A bang caught our attention and we looked at the door.
Ouka eyes widened, "Ayanami's closing in! He's almost here!"
"Ouka! Back up, we can take him together-"Teito broke off and stared at his hand, "Mikhail?"
The only possible conclusion hit us both at the same moment.
"It can't be…Mikhail is broken?"
I glanced sharply at Teito.
"What do we do then?" I asked.
Ouka turned towards the door again, "Leave Ayanami to me Teito! You need to get out of here!"
Kal turned to the Emperor, "Are there any other exits beside that door?"
"Yes! Follow me!" Wolf ran away from us towards the back of the room.
Ea ran after Wolf and then backtracked when he saw that Teito was not moving. He grabbed Teito and pulled him along. Teito strained against Kal's arm.
"We can't leave Ouka here!" Teito yelled out.
"Do NOT waste Roseamanelle's determination. Your mission is to protect Pandora's Box!" Kal shouted back.
I looked at Ouka and she watched them leave. Then her eyes focused on me.
"Go," She ordered. I searched her eyes, reluctant to leave her to such a difficult battle. I saw something in her eyes. I can't stay. I nodded and respected her will. I turned to leave but then I whirled around as I realized I could do something. I cast a barrier to hold the doors down for only a few seconds longer.
"Ouka…" I considered the words I could say and decided upon, "Good luck." She flashed a brief smile at me as I dashed away after Teito and Ea. I stepped into the black ring that surrounded the group on the floor and watched as the metal walls built itself around us. Slowly blocking the view of Ouka as she turned to face the new enemy. A loud bang echoed in the room just as the heavy thud of the last brick rang out, signaling our departure from the scene.
