"Chichi…!" the raven-haired little boy called out as he took his little steps running towards his father, who is sitting alone, absorbed by the book he was reading. The book was, naturally, a gourmet cookbook. As the boy took another step, suddenly he tripped on a pebble and was on his way to the ground, but two gentle hands grasped just in time on his little body tenderly and lifted him up.

"Hmm… I just can't leave you alone, can I?" A mother's beautiful azure eyes twinkled as she kissed the apple of her eye. Her beloved husband's son. Yuuhi's son. The boy giggled at the feel of his mother's affection on his cheek and he threw his little arms around her neck affectionately. "Haha…!" he squealed.

Sayaka turned to Yuuhi, who was already on his feet the moment he saw his young son falling off, and she smiled.

Sayaka… look at us… we're so happy now… Yuuhi stepped towards her and their little son. He gazed into the little wonder who, now, was struggling away from his mother's arms to jump into his father's. The little wonder who shared Sayaka's azure eyes, and the Yuuhi's boyish looks.

"Chi…chi…!"  the boy giggled again as his little hands waved about in the air towards Yuuhi.

Yuuhi took the boy in his arms and held him close. He closed his eyes and savored the warmth for a moment.

He felt his eyes getting hot, and warm tears started to trickle down his cheek. He opened his eyes, and found himself slumped down on a cold floor. The scene that was before his eyes was merely a beautiful dream. A dream that never existed, and will probably never exist. Ever. His arms were clutching Sayaka's motionless body, as if holding a priceless relic. He could feel her chest heaving against his, very faintly, and her weak voice whispering softly, faintly as she gasped for air…

"Yuuhi… I love you…"

Yuuhi held her closer, his tears dripped onto her face endlessly.

God… please…

Please…

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The guard toppled down by Yuuhi's feet, unconscious. Two distinct red marks were on his forehead, from the strong force of the both ends of Yuuhi's chopsticks point blank on his skull. Yuuhi peered out of the hallway corner and saw a dark, empty passageway. He signaled 'clear' and signaled for everyone to proceed.

"The shrine is on the 50th floor…" Sayaka said. "Ceres… iie… Aya wa… she's being contained at the 49th floor. Suzumi-san is contained on this floor…" she told Yuuhi. Then she turned to Tooya. "I don't know where they're holding Aki…"

"That's enough information…" Tooya answered. "I will go for Aya…"

"And I'll go for Onee-sama!" Yuuhi exclaimed, then he tossed a communication device to Tooya. "Keep communications open at all times." He smiled.

Tooya caught the device promptly and nodded. "Kiotsukete, Aogiri." He said calmly, and made his way along the passageway towards the stairwell with a few men.

As Yuuhi took his step, he felt a weak tug on his arm. He turned around, and was gazed upon by Sayaka's worried eyes. He lifted his palm and touched her cheek gently. "It'll be all right…" he said softly. "I will protect you, Sayaka…"

They were silent for a moment, then Sayaka took his hand and pulled him. "Kochira… Yuuhi…!"

* * *

The sounds of guns being cocked echoed throughout the dark corridor. Then, more similar sounds followed as Tooya's men did so the moment he stopped his steps.

From the invisible darkness in front of Tooya, few figures emerge out into the light, their gun barrels pointing right at Tooya. From the corner of his eye, he could see his men raising their weapons, and he motioned for them to cease.

His eyes gleamed, and in a split second Tooya had sprung forward, almost too fast for the eyes to see other than a sweeping soft crimson glow. And Tooya's silhouette emerged amidst the fading glow, standing still among the broken men and weapons who, just a second ago, was still standing in their stances. A crimson glowing dagger was in his hand.

"Sugoi…" one of Tooya's men murmured.

Tooya glanced back at his men, his eyes were now glowing almost of something sinister. "Ikuzo." He commanded calmly.

"Matte, Tooya." A familiar voice called out from the curve of the hallway as he walked off. Tooya glared towards where the voice had came from immediately, only to meet the eyes of Wei. Tooya halted his steps again, then after a moment, he turned around towards Wei.

"Tooya…" the leader of his men stepped up, trying to talk him out of what is obviously going to happen next.

But Tooya merely narrowed his eyes. "Go." He said briefly, and reverted his eyes back towards an old enemy who, obviously, still holds bitter grudges against him.

As the men vacated the hallway, they now stood face to face alone in the darkness. Eyes gazing as though burning a flame through each other.

"Why do you keep doing this, Wei?" Tooya asked finally.

"Don't question me!!!" Wei suddenly roared as he sprung forward in a flash, a thunderous blow hitting Tooya, sending him smashing into a wall. And it crumbled upon Tooya, burying him underneath their heavy weight. There was silence for a moment, until a soft crimson glow enclosed around the rubble, and each piece of the rubble vaporized into dust, sending a force that created a sandstorm like phenomena right towards Wei.

Blinded by the dust, Wei finally opened his eyes again just in time to see Tooya's dagger plunging right towards his face. He dodged it barely, feeling its sharp blade graze into the flesh of his right cheek. They stopped for a minute, as Wei gathered his balance and wiped the blood off his face.

Irregular breathing commenced, and death glares exchanged in the malicious silence.

"You shouldn't have turned against us in the first place, Tooya." Wei finally spoke, swinging his chain whip casually.

"Why does the Mikages earn such faithfulness from you?" Tooya stepped back to take an attack stance as he saw Wei doing so. "Why, after all this time, you remain so faithful by their side!? Open your eyes, Wei!!!" Tooya roared in anger.

"I have devoted my life for Kagami-san." Came the dry reply from his former colleague. "A dead man such as yourself has no need of knowing the reasons behind it."

"You're a fool, Wei."

Wei smirked. "We'll see who's the bigger fool!" As he finished his words, he charged forward again, and Tooya charged as well. The chain wrapped around the dagger, and the force created a blast that sent windows and walls around them shattering into pieces. But their glares were never off one another, both vicious and murderous.

Blasts exploded, weapons clashed, and to kill was in their eyes. As Wei's chains suddenly wrap around one of Tooya's leg, he yanked on them, causing Tooya to stumble onto the floor. Taking his chance, he swung his other weapon as he charged on top of Tooya.

Tooya winced, feeling sore, but then he saw danger coming right at him. As fast as lightning, the dagger that had dissolved back into his body appeared in his hand again, and he charged upwards towards Wei.

And blood splashed out in the air. Tainting the white walls.

Blood… red blood…

Human blood…

What a beautiful sight…

"You bastard useless child!" came the yell of the middle-aged man as the whip cracked onto the back of the young child.

The child no longer cried as he used to. He was accustomed to growing up in an environment of abuse. His father, who never said a single kind word to him throughout his nine years of age, and his elder brothers and sisters, who, bullied him cruelly. He was used to being beaten and battered to a point of death, and was used to the sight of blood.

The sight of his own blood.

He could never understand why his father and siblings hated him so much. He would look the other way, and met the eyes of his compassionate yet helpless mother. Abused just as he is, neither of them could seek comfort in each other's arms as they were never allowed to hold each other.

"Do you think I would let you embrace that man's son in your arms?" His father would yell at his mother. "Did you really think I took him in to be my bastard son? To live in the lap of luxury of being your son? He will pay for your sins against me, you ungrateful bitch!"

Naruhodo…

It was then that he understood…

The father he had always known, the father who had always hated him, wasn't really his father. And as he grew up still amidst beatings and slavery by his own 'family', he learned the truth little by little.

His mother was their mother too. But he didn't share their father. His mother was raped by a powerful foreigner who was passing by in their little village in China, who had taken an interest in the beautiful young woman walking in the marketplace. But no one believed her. Not even her husband, her children, or her parents. Ever since then, she had been labeled as a whore by her own family, and worse, she became pregnant as a result of the horrid illicit sexual crime performed against her.

And thus Wei Fei Li was born into a family that despised him, and sees him as a child of curse. His mother's husband had vowed that the innocent child will pay for his mother's sins, and thus came the abuse, the beatings, the torture, the horrible, painful childhood…

He hated his father, and his siblings. And he hated his mother too. He hated himself. He hated his life. He hated everything around him. Why? Why do I have to be born into such a horrid life?

Until one day, on his tenth year of age, he walked into his home finding his family massacred. Heads decapitated off their heads, and limbs torn from their bodies. His hateful father, siblings, and also his silent mother. Amidst the blood and bodies, sat a foreign man. He looked silent and calm, and it was as though the blood did not affect him.

"Wei Fei Li." He said softly in a deep, husky voice. The minute he spoke, Wei knew who he was. The man smiled at the expression on the boy's face, and he chuckled. "Clever boy." He said again as he stood up. "Come. I have freed you from the torture and abuse you've endured for so many years. You will come to Japan and live to serve your true family…"

"Mikage…"

The vision of his childhood faded away and he was returned back to reality. There was only deafening silence, and the pain. The pain caused by Tooya's dagger that had plunged right into his heart.

"Live… to serve… my true family…" Wei mouthed the words as he felt his life pulling away from his limbs slowly. "Live… to serve… Kagami…"

"…my… brother…"

Tooya was paralyzed by shock at the last words he mouthed. Wei's body crumbled into his arms, his eyes still open wide, yet his soul had departed from his body to the afterlife. There was the deafening silence again. Then Tooya retracted his hand from Wei's flesh, and the lifeless body toppled onto the floor.

Tooya glared into his hand that was stained with Wei's blood. There was an unspeakable anger reflected in his eyes.

Mikage Kagami…

I will make sure that your evil will truly end this very night…

* * *

Aya sat on the floor, curled up, hugging her knees. Cold… She shivered. Her face was pale, and she felt weak. She thought of Tooya, and her child, Aki. A drop of tear rolled down her cheek. Tooya… will we prevail evil this time…?

She closed her eyes and rested her temples on her knees.

Ceres… She called out silently to her alter ego.

Yes, Aya…?

I'm… I'm afraid, Ceres…

Then in the darkness of her closed eyelids, she could see Ceres' figure emerge out of the shadow. Ceres looked pale as well, yet she was still beautiful. The tennyo smiled bitterly, and floated gracefully to Aya's side. Enclosed in the tennyo's arms, Aya could almost feel a hint of warmth amidst the cold darkness.

"We must be strong, Aya…" Ceres whispered as she caressed the girl's hair gently. "We must have faith…"

"Faith?" Aya murmured as she rested her head on Ceres' bosom. "Faith in what… Ceres…? I don't think I could gather enough of it in me to even believe in any hope right now…"

"Faith in love, my child." Came Ceres' soft reply.

"Love?"

Aya felt Ceres' hands grip her shoulders and pulled her away from her embrace. Her eyes were now met by Ceres' gaze. The glimmer in her eyes was none other than determination. iFaith…? Yes, Ceres could still have faith… but I…/i

"Have faith in Tooya's love…" Ceres spoke, as she took both Aya's hands. "Just as my faith remains in Mikage's love…"

Suddenly, they saw a figure in the corner of their eyes. Both women turned, and found themselves looking at a distraught looking Mikage Shiso. Then the darkness dissolved back into light, and Ceres found herself sitting on the room's cold floor. And yes, Mikage was still there, standing right in front of her.

"Ce… Ceres…" he mumbled with a trembling voice as he looked down at her with a strange gaze. His eyes were familiar, but then in a split second they were sinister again. Suddenly, he threw his hands and grabbed on his skull. Now curled up on the floor, he was howling in agony.

"Mikage!" Ceres screamed and ran towards him. As she knelt down by him, suddenly his hands grasped onto both of her hands. But they were shaking, and his grip was not a malicious act, but more of a cry for help.

He looked up, and what Ceres saw were the eyes of her Mikage. The eyes of the man who had loved her with all his heart and soul. "Ce… res…" he mouthed her name as his green eyes watered with tears. "My… beautiful Ceres…"

Ceres could no longer hold back the tears in her eyes. She threw her arms around her lost husband and kissed him, again and again. Have faith in love… in those who loved you… However, a mere moment was all they have. Ceres turned at the sound of an opening door, and found herself staring eye to eye with a shocked Freya.

Eyes widening in shock, rage, and yes, vengeance, a glow enclosed around Freya. "You will [b]never[/b] have him again… I will never allow it… ever…" she hissed as her eyes glowed devilishly. The room was suddenly filled with extreme heat and thunderous force that came from her rage.

Ceres held Mikage tight in her arms, but then she felt his hands grip her wrists again. She looked down, and to her surprise, was once again looking into possessed eyes. As she gasped and released Mikage, he grabbed her and twisted her arms behind her back.

"Miss me, Ceres?"

* * *

Sayaka placed her palm on the door that remains as the last barrier between them and Suzumi. She paused for a moment, then a violet glow came out from her palms, and the door fell into pieces.

As the dust settled, Yuuhi could gradually see the figure of his sister-in-law, lying motionless on the cold floor.

"ONEE-SAMA!!!" he yelled instantly and dashed into the cold, empty room. He crouched by Suzumi's side, wanting to touch and hold her in his arms, but paralyzed from the shock of seeing her condition. He was afraid that if he held her, his fear would be realized. That she was really dead.

Sayaka knelt by Suzumi's side. She cupped her palm on her mouth to muffle her sobs. Then she gently touched Suzumi's face. Cold… But as she pressed on the pulse point of her neck, she could feel a very faint pulse. "She… she's alive…" Sayaka stammered. "Yuuhi…! She's alive!"

Yuuhi's face brightened with hope at Sayaka's remark. He finally reached out his trembling hands and lifted Suzumi into his embrace.

"Yuu…hi…?" Suzumi's weak voice whispered softly as Yuuhi cradled her.

"Hai… nee-sama… I'm here…" Yuuhi replied softly and clutched her closer. "Everything will be all right now…"

"Yuuhi-san!" one of the men interrupted the moment as they rushed into the room. When Yuuhi and Sayaka looked up, two of the men had a blonde-haired figure draped around their shoulders. And Sayaka knew immediately who it was.

Alec looked up as he felt Sayaka's hand touch his face, then his eyes widened in shock. "Sayaka…" he muffled her name, then struggled to force a smile into his battered face.

Sayaka felt pain ripping her heart apart as she saw his condition. He was bruised and battered, eyes bloodshot with internal bleeding. "Kami-sama…" she whispered under her breath in horror as she swept a strand of his hair away from his eyes. "What have they done to you…"

"I know… I know where they're holding Ceres… and the child…" Alec stammered.

Yuuhi looked up at his words. He immediately extracted out his walkie-talkie. "Tooya." He spoke. "Where are you?"

* * *

Rushing across the hallway in the 49th floor, Sayaka seemed troubled. This is all going too smoothly… She thought to herself. Something is wrong… They had ordered half of their men to bring Suzumi and Alec to safety, out of the building, while the rest proceeded with Yuuhi and Sayaka to meet Tooya at the location that Alec had specified.

They saw a glimpse of light at the end of the hallway, and Sayaka's heartbeat went faster and faster in suspense.

"Tooya!" Yuuhi exclaimed as he rushed into the room, but he stopped in silence at what he saw.

Sayaka took a step backwards to lean on the wall behind her. In front of her, was Tooya's figure staring into a wall bathed in blood into a message.

'If you want Ceres and the child alive,

bring the mana and the tennyo to the shrine.'

"Tennyo…" Yuuhi murmured in horror as he turned around and was met with Sayaka's helpless eyes.

Kuso…

What should we do now!?

* * *

Mikage's strong hand slammed Ceres onto the floor of the shrine. Freya emerged behind him, a sly smirk on her face. "So how does it feel now, Ceres?"

Ceres looked up at her nemesis. She had been drained of blood. Her head was now starting to spin from her weakness. No… I must hang on… if I slip away from consciousness… Aya won't be able to withstand this…

"Don't worry…" Freya said softly as she leaned down closer towards Ceres. "I won't let you die… at least not until you witnessed all your beloved friends go through a slow, painful death…"

"Damn you to you hell, Freya…" Ceres hissed in anger. "It's me you want… just kill me and appease yourself… but leave the innocent alone!!!"

Before Freya could react to her remarks, suddenly they heard a mild explosion from the shrine entrance. Behind the smoke, silhouettes of three figures stepped into the shrine. A soft crimson and violet glow enclose around the three.

"Let Ceres go, Freya." Tooya's voice echoed throughout the marble walls as he emerged from the settling dust.

Freya smiled. "I'm so glad you could join us, Tooya." She replied. Then her eyes immediately glared towards Sayaka, who stepped up next to Tooya, then towards a very much alive Yuuhi. The smile disappeared from her face, and she looked angry. "You disappoint me, my dear Sayaka. It seems that you have broken our agreement in the first place and deceived me. I don't think I'm very happy with that."

"I suppose none of us are at this very moment…" Sayaka replied calmly.

"I see you've grown a little bit bolder." Freya smirked, then suddenly, she disappeared from where she was standing and appeared right in front of Yuuhi. In a flash, she has Yuuhi's face in her palms and he didn't even have a chance to react yet when he suddenly found himself embraced in a kiss with Freya. "Say goodbye, Sayaka…" she hissed softly as a bright glow emerged underneath their feet and their entwined bodies descended to disappear into the dimensional portal.

"Yuuhi!" Sayaka screamed and she leaped to hold Yuuhi's hand just in time as Yuuhi was about to disappear completely into the portal. As their hands touch, Sayaka was sucked into the oblivion as well. The glow faded, and the three were gone.

Tooya was left standing there alone, faced with Mikage.

"So you've come back for more beating, Tooya?" Mikage mocked, as he lifted his hand in the air to produce his dagger.

Tooya stood still, his eyes staring at Mikage with a fiery gaze that could almost burn a hole right through. Then without words, he dashed forward and attacked Mikage. Soon, the two were involved in a vicious and spectacular battle that shook the shrine.

"Yamette!!!" Ceres screamed. "Onegai, Mikage!!!"

Mikage's eyes glanced towards Ceres at her scream, and the deranged glow in his eyes suddenly faded away. At this slim chance, Tooya immediately landed a powerful punch on his face. Caught off guard, Mikage fell onto the floor and when he opened his eyes, Tooya was charging at him at full speed. Seeing Tooya, he became possessed again. Pulling out the dagger, he stopped Tooya's as it came right towards his head.

The shrine rumbled as crimson and violet blasts shatter the glass windows. The two were still holding on, struggling to kill each other, but unable to do so. Suddenly, amidst the battle roaring, they heard the sound of a crying child.

Tooya's quick eyes immediately reverted to where the sound came from. The familiar sound. The sound of his crying child. "Aki!" But in that moment of lapse, Mikage swung his dagger and stabbed it right onto the side of Tooya's lower abdomen. Then a powerful kick sent him crashing onto the floor.

Blood flowed out of the open gash, and Tooya cringed in pain. But only one thing is in his mind now. Aki… where is Aki!?

Steps crunched on the shattered glass. And Tooya saw Mikage Kagami standing in a distance. In Kagami's arms, was Aki, Tooya's sweet baby girl. Kagami smiled at Tooya, and leaned closer to kiss the baby's head gently. "Sweet sweet child." He said softly, as he gently rocked the crying child.

Tooya gritted his teeth, and struggled to get up on his feet.

"I suggest you not do that." Kagami smirked. "If you want your child alive…" he said again, as his other hand produced a shiny blade and trailed it down the child's skin. "Then again… I probably shouldn't even spare her… considering that you have murdered my brother…"

Tooya slumped back down on the floor. "You're insane… Kagami…"

Kagami smiled. "That's simply subjective. Now, may I have Ceres' mana…?"

* * *

Yuuhi opened his eyes, and found himself lying in a blank space. They were trapped in a dimensional vacuum.

"Yuuhi!!!" Sayaka called him from a distance. But before they could get to each other, suddenly Freya's laugh echoed in the infinity of space.

"You disgust me." Freya appeared, floating amidst the space in front of them. "Love disgusts me! What it does is make you into something pathetic and weak!" her eyes glimmered with what could only be… hate.

"You're wrong!" Yuuhi stood up and spoke in a challenging tone. "What do you know of love!?"

"Foolish boy." Freya snorted. "I will show you the pain and sufferings of love." And to Yuuhi's horror, suddenly a blast emerged from her palm and went straight for Sayaka.

He didn't even think anymore. His steps immediately took him to counter the blast with his own body before it hit Sayaka. He was protected by the tennyo-crested bands he was wearing, but the powerful blast forced his sturdy feet to slide backwards. Sayaka's arms enclose around him, and her chi merged with Yuuhi's barrier, blasted away Freya's attack into dust.

Yuuhi suddenly dropped onto his knees. He coughed out blood as he was wounded internally. "I will end all your madness… Freya… and send you to hell…!" Yuuhi hissed as he looked up.

Dame da… Sayaka looked up at Freya. She's much too powerful…

"Your stubborn nature is very amusing, Aogiri Yuuhi." Freya laughed. "I look forward to see you kill me with your own hands… as it would also mean killing your dear Sayaka…" she smiled victoriously. "She is me, and I am her."

Freya's words felt as if it had put Yuuhi's heart to a stop. He had wished that it wasn't true. That none of this were true. He shut his eyes and gritted his teeth in hopelessness. Suddenly, he saw brightness flashed behind his closed eyelids, and when he opened his eyes, he saw a bright silvery light enclose around him, absorbing another chi blast that Freya had release upon him. The light subsided, and Sayaka stood in front of him, her eyes of gold and her hair of violet, transformed into a tennyo. She glared at Freya with fire blazing in her eyes.

She is me… and I am her…

"You've toyed with our fates enough, Freya…" Sayaka said with determination in her voice. Her eyes reflected an awakening. She has no doubts in her eyes, nor fear or hesitation. She lifted her palm and gathered an orb of force on it. It grew bigger and bigger, crackling with energy and force.

"You amuse me, Sayaka…" Freya laughed.

"You underestimate me." Sayaka said as she closed her eyes, her voice calm. "I now understand… what I am… and what I can do." she continued, then as she opened her eyes, she released the orb towards Freya. The powerful orb trapped Freya in its crackling force, and Freya howled in pain as she felt her body ripped by its force. Then slowly, the infinite vacuum around them dissolved…

* * *

"Tooya!!! No!!!" Ceres screamed as Tooya held out his hands in front of his chest and a glow emerged atop his palms. Slowly, the mana inside his body appeared in all its splendor. Kagami's eyes glimmered in excitement as he saw it.

"Sumanai… Ceres…" Tooya said softly, his eyes gazing at Ceres for forgiveness. He turned towards Kagami. Aki… I… I can't let her die in Kagami's hands…

Mikage stood in front of Tooya, staring at the mana with amazement in his eyes. He smiled victoriously. "It's all over for you, Tooya…" Mikage hissed as he took the mana in his hands.

As the mana left Tooya's hands, he was suddenly paralyzed by pain and weakness. Tooya collapsed onto the floor, helpless, and at loss for blood. It's all over… I'm going to die…

Mikage placed the mana on the altar when the shrine rumbled mildly.

Yuuhi opened his eyes and found himself lying on the floor of the shrine, enclosed in Sayaka's arms. iHow did we…?/i Turning around, he saw Freya slumped on the floor not too far away. It looked like Sayaka had managed to wound her.

Sayaka opened her eyes, and cringed in pain. The damage she had done to Freya had successfully broke the spell that she had cast to trap them in an inter-dimensional vacuum. But whatever wounds and pain Freya had attained, was attained by her body as well.

I am her… and she is me…

She ignored the pain. This has to end… all of this… And she stood up on her feet. "Stand up, Freya." She said. "We'll conclude this here, right now."

"I admire your stupidity." Freya spoke as she stood up, clasping her chest. "You should stop fighting me, and join me instead. I will spare you and your beloved Yuuhi in the perfect world I will create. I will let Yuuhi and you have your love… isn't that what you want… Sayaka…?"

Sayaka froze at her words. She turned to look at Yuuhi.

"Naoki!" Sayaka's voice echoed throughout the hallway. Her eyes sweep every corner of each room as her feet trod along the hallways looking for her little son. "Naoki-chaaaan!"

She opened the door to her bedroom and looked inside. There on the bed, caressed by the afternoon breeze, lies a sleeping Yuuhi. Curled in his arms was their raven-haired little son, breathing rhythmically, sound asleep in the warmth of Yuuhi's embrace.

She smiled as she closed the door silently behind her.

Naoki.

The song of faith.

The fruit of their undying faith in love.

Yuuhi mumbled softly as she touched his face, then opened his eyes. "Sayaka…" he smiled sleepily. "What are you doing…?"

"Sssh…" She put a finger at her lips as the little child mumbled in his sleep .

Yuuhi smiled, and tucked Naoki closer in his embrace. He took Sayaka's hand and pulled her gently towards him. She lied down next to him and felt his arms enclose around her. The child stirred slowly, but did not wake as he was now snuggled in the warmth of both his father and mother's embrace.

"I love you Sayaka…" she could hear Yuuhi's voice whisper softly.

She closed her eyes and savored the warmth she felt…

… and wished that it will never end…

Her dream faded away. Yes, it was nothing but a beautiful dream. Something that can only happen by the powers of…

… a miracle.

And by the grace of God. Or…

Freya's perfect world… Her mind thought of the possibility of a dream come true that Freya had enticed her with. But then, she opened her eyes, and there was clarity reflected in it. Sheer awakening. "No." she replied softly. "Your world is not the kind of place I will let my child live in!"

Yuuhi looked up, shocked at her remark. Child…?

Freya chuckled. She wiped the blood off her lips and signaled towards Kagami. Kagami nodded and extracted a device out of his pocket and pressed a button on it. Something hummed to life around the shrine and four pillars ascended from the floor around the altar. On two of the pillars were glowing manas. As Freya lifted her hand, Ceres' mana that was on the altar suddenly lifted up, as though controlled by telekinetic powers, and floated onto the third pillar. The shrine rumbled again mildly as Ceres' mana took its place, and the three manas started to react against once another, building an electrical current around them, crackling with heat.

Sayaka's eyes looked at the three manas in horror. My mana! But how did they…

"I should thank Suzumi Aogiri for doing such a wonderful job in finishing what you left behind, Sayaka." Freya smirked.

Catching Sayaka off guard with her remark, Freya suddenly disappeared from where she was and appeared as quick as lightning in front of Sayaka, and in a flash, Sayaka was strangled. Despite being choked, Sayaka suddenly grasped onto Freya and blasted her off. Freya crashed onto a wall. Feeling pain. She looked up at Sayaka, surprised that the girl had suddenly gotten so powerful in such a short time. She has awakened. She has realized that she has my powers…

"Mikage!" Kagami exclaimed. "We need to proceed with the ritual!" he continued as he watched the two tennyos face off. He smirked at the sight of the now weak Tooya. He will no longer be a threat to us. And Ceres is already weak as well…

Mikage nodded and closed his eyes. Slowly, the mana came into form atop both his palms.

Sayaka appeared in front of Freya and strangled her. From her hands came an electrifying force that paralyzed Freya. Die… die… Freya! She grimaced in pain as she felt the same effect overtaking her body. I have to withhold this… I can't let her… win…

As Freya weakened, suddenly the evil glow faded away from Mikage's eyes. He dropped onto the floor, his head pounding hard. And his surroundings faded into a deafening silence, until in a distance, he could slowly hear a soft voice singing a song. A familiar voice. iWhat's happening? Whose voice… is it…?/i When he opened his eyes, he saw the beautiful grounds of heaven, a beautiful green meadow filled with colorful flowers. And he remembered. He remembered everything.

Who he was.

Who he loved.

Ceres…

The spell had been broken. And Mikage now found himself in the middle of an unfamiliar place. Confused. What happened to me? He thought as he looked at the mana in his hands.

A blast exploded between Freya and Sayaka. They were both thrown away from each other. When the smoke settled, Yuuhi could see Freya standing intact. She had been weakened, yes, but she will live. Sayaka, however…

"Your efforts are in vain." Freya spoke to Sayaka. "Yes, you have the powers to weaken me, but doing so means killing yourself." She continued. "And your human body can't take as much as my immortal body." She said.

Sayaka looked up at Freya. No… Her eyes were brimming with tears. She could feel the strength sapped away from every single one of her limbs. She knew she was fighting a lost battle. There was no way to kill Freya. Nothing I did is harming her…

Freya stepped up, and held out her palms in front of Sayaka's head. "I will make this fast and painless for you, Sayaka…"

"Not so fast, Freya!" Yuuhi exclaimed suddenly. When Freya turned her head, she froze in horror when she saw her mana in his hands.

But then a smile broke back into her face, and she started laughing. "You're truly threatening me with my mana?" Freya laughed.

"Urusai, Freya!" Yuuhi exclaimed. "I mean it!"

"Oh how I'd love to see that…" Freya chuckled. "I'd like to see you kill the woman you love. Go ahead."

Yuuhi turned to look at Sayaka. She looked at him helplessly, and she could only nod at what he was about to do. "Do it, Yuuhi! Please!" she screamed. His hands were ready to crush the fragile mana, but he couldn't do it.

He couldn't do it if it means Sayaka's death.

"Yuuhi!!!!" Sayaka screamed as she pushed herself to get up. "Do it!!!"

Tooya lifted up his hands amidst his short breaths. "A… ki…" he murmured his daughter's name.

Mikage opened his eyes, and saw everything clearly. He was himself again, freed from all evil that had possessed his soul.  turned towards Kagami, who was holding the child, and in a split second, Mikage had appeared in front of Kagami. Taken by surprise, suddenly Mikage's powerful palm was already on Kagami face, ready to crush his skull. Frozen by shock, Kagami was unable to retaliate as Mikage took the child from his hands. Then he held out his hand, and lifted Ceres' mana away from the pillar, breaking the reaction between the manas, and let it float towards Ceres.

Freya turned towards Mikage and glared at him in shock. She didn't even realize that her spell had been broken. Angered, she attacked Mikage with a blast. Sayaka's eyes widened in horror as she saw the blast coming right towards Mikage, who is holding the child in his arms. But he countered with a blast attack, and the two powerful forces clashed onto each other, and the impact was overwhelming.

Kagami stepped backwards towards the door as the walls rumbled. Mikage and Freya were now engrossed in a powerful forceful battle. The two orbs of chi forces rammed against each other, attempting to overtake one another, and blast the other away into dust.

Amidst the shattering walls and blinding light, Freya's mana that was in Yuuhi's hands suddenly lifted away. What's happening!? Yuuhi's eyes followed to where the mana was going. And to his horror, it floated right into Sayaka's arms.

She looked at him with a faint, bitter smile. And he knew what she was about to do. Time felt as if it had slowed down to a stop as he forced his steps towards her. And he could see the beautiful dream once again. Him, Sayaka, and their child… But it shattered into pieces, along with Freya's mana that was now enclosed in a violet glow from Sayaka's palms. As the glow became brighter brighter, the mana deteriorated, and then dissolved, leaving nothing more but sparkling silvery dusts floating amidst the thin air, showering Sayaka's face as her body slowly dropped onto the floor.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Yuuhi roared as he caught her body in his arms.

And then… there was only silence…

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