Disclaimer:  Do not own Shadow Hearts.

**

Author's Note:  The trio scenes were more afterthoughts.  I can't seem to think of anything really good for them to do, although they should become larger factors in the plot soon.  Other than that…enjoy!

**

[Halley]

            "'Keep out or suffer the Seraphic Radiance's wrath.'"

            I moaned and rolled over.  It was barely dawn and Margarete was up, looking at Yuri's notebook.

            "Can't you keep it down?"

            She opened the notebook, ignoring the warning on the cover.  "He's gonna kill you if he finds out," I said, remembering how defensive he was with it.  She ignored me and flipped through the pages.

            "1911, 1911, 1912," she chanted, flicking past the pages.  I sighed in frustration and stuffed my head under the pillow.  "1912.  1912.  1912.  1913…"  She was quiet for a moment.  "Pain."

            That got my attention and interest for a second, but then I felt annoyed.  "Margarete, stop looking through other people's things.  Especially Yuri's, he's not even here."  Margarete ignored me again and now I was a little angry.  "Margarete—"

            "Yes?" she said, looking up with innocent wide eyes.  She suddenly looked very young.  This threw me off for a few seconds and she returned to the years, chanting in an almost sing-song voice, "1913, 1913, 1913."

            "Come on, that's his."

            "But they're wonderful."

            They?  "What?"

            "The pictures."

            Now I was interested again.  I'd always thought the notebook was a journal.  But it had pictures?  Never would've guessed he was an artist.

            Suddenly I heard a ripping noise.  "Margarete," I hissed, "What are you doing?"  She folded the piece of paper she'd ripped out twice over.  "Yuri is going to be so pissed off—"

            "No, it's alright.  It's a picture of me," she explained.  With a devilish smile, she slipped it into Keith's hand as he slept.  I shook my head as she closed the notebook and slipped it back in our belongings.  Wearily I laid down and went back to sleep.

**

[Yuri]

            Something was pushing me.  "Yuri, time to wake up."

            "Don't wanna," I grumbled.

            "Please?"

            "You guys kept me up all night talking to Hyuga, I want sleep now."

            I heard Alice sigh, stand up, and walk away.  I kneaded my trench coat, trying to get comfortable.  I'd had to stand guard for most of the night just so Fox Face could take Alice into the Graveyard.  I should've taken her in, but Fox Face said he'd been called…right…

            Speak of the devil, I could hear him walking over now.  I closed my eyes tightly and then—

            I lashed out with my fist, sending Fox Face flying over to Alice.  "God damn," I muttered, wiping off the saliva, "Disgusting dog—"

            "You hit him," Alice said.

            "Reflex, and I barely hit him."  I grimaced as I realized Fox Face had gotten me pretty good.

            Meanwhile, Fox Face was whimpering like a baby.  "Here, let me…" and Alice healed him.  I'd barely touched him.  Then she glared at me.  "He was only trying to wake you up."

            Fox Face turned to look at me and I could have sworn he was smirking.  I bit my lip and reminded myself I couldn't kill my other half.  Not while Alice was here.

**

            "Syth!  Hurry up!" Persephone said frantically.  Kain forced her to slow down as she was half walking, half running.

            "You can't go all the way to Tripura like that," Syth pointed out.  "And I'm carrying the supplies."

            "But everyone knows where he is now!" she said, sounding panicked.  "And if we don't get there soon, he might be gone—or he might be found—and in jail—or executed—"

            "Pers?"

            "What?!"

            Kain put his hand in front of her face and uttered a sleeping spell.  Persephone dropped immediately and Kain slung her over his shoulders.

            "Thank the gods, we don't have to listen to her anymore."

            "Kain?"

            "Yes?"

            "Um,"  Syth pointed out reasonably, "Shouldn't you put an illusion over us, so it doesn't look like we're kidnapping a girl?"

            Kain realized the sagacity of this suggestion a few seconds too late, because by that time whistles were blown and wolves were howling.  There was no way to explain themselves; even explaining themselves would land them in jail.  "This is why I hate the City of Earth!"  He groaned.  "Stupid law-abiding—"

            "Shut up and start running!" Syth yelled, already ahead of him.

**

[Halley]

            "What is this?"

            I looked up from my task of packing.  "Finally, you're up.  That's just from Margarete."

            "And where is she?" Keith asked, starting to unfold the paper.

            "She went downstairs to get some breakfast.  You almost done Sharon?"

            She poked her head under Zhuzhen's bed again and then nodded.

            "What is this?"

            The second time Keith said it, his tone was odd.  He sounded a little angry, but I couldn't remember the vampire ever getting mad.

            "Dunno.  Margarete said it was her picture."

            "She's nude!"

            "Really?"  I craned my neck and realized that Keith was right.  I quickly averted my eyes.  "That's weird.  Why would she…and she got it from Yuri's notebook…"

            Keith flung the paper down and took out Yuri's notebook.  I looked over his shoulder, this time too curious.

            The first picture might have been a family portrait, but only the mother looked normal.  The father wore a fox mask, and what should've been a child in the middle was a demon.

            Keith skipped the next few pages.  A sunset.  He skipped again.  Scribbles all over the page, with Japanese characters slashed out.  Skip.

            A naked girl.  "Who would've guessed," I said sarcastically.

            Keith started flipping more quickly.  The girl again, another man with a fox mask.  A different woman, also drawn with no clothing.  Yuri tied back as ravens tore off his skin.  Alice, luckily only from shoulders up.  Her face was darkened, half of it hidden behind yet another fox mask.

            "What's with the mask?" I wondered.

            Keith paused and I took the time to look closer.  In the background there were dozens of masks, laughing.  Although they were only outlines, the shapes resembled the four masks we'd fought.

            "Must be Fox Face," he said.

            "Fox Face?"

            Keith flipped again.  There was a series of monsters, ranging from bats to a large demon holding a staff.  Then a ripped paper, showing where Margarete had torn her picture out.  Beyond that was a picture of a monster.

            "He drew that?"  Keith said incredulously.

            I shrugged, rather confused.  "I guess so…I wonder why he didn't draw Alice—"

            Keith turned to the back.  Around there, almost every other page was Alice, and maybe half of them were clothed.  He flipped the pages quickly so we could barely see—a god thing.

            "Okay…"

            "Can I see?" Sharon asked.

            "No!"  I took the notebook from Keith and quickly shut it.  I shoved it in with the rest of our things. "Let's just…let's go see Margarete and Zhuzhen."  I lifted the bag onto my shoulders and walked out the door.

            Downstairs, Zhuzhen was trying to pay for the room but was finding it difficult with the strange currency.  Margarete wasn't being helpful at all; she had taken six coins and was arranging and rearranging them into different patters.  She looked up at us and smiled.  "So did you like the drawing?"

            "No," Keith said stiffly.

            Sharon reached in the money pouch and started counting.

            Margarete shrugged.  "I guess that's why Yuri's the artist and you're not."  She smiled broadly and said, "He drew it in Shanghai.  It was a wonderful night."

            "Here, sir."  Sharon dumped the coins in the man's large hand and he nodded, accepting it.  Zhuzhen only looked surprised.

            "How did you know?"

            "He told me."  'He' must have been God.  I wondered if it really was or not, and how long this would go on for.

            Zhuzhen turned and looked at my face.  "What's wrong with you?"

            Was my face still red?  "We found out what was in Yuri's notebook."

            His eyebrows rose out of curiosity.  "And what was it?"

            "Well, Margarete found a picture of herself and gave it to Keith.  And there were a lot of Alice.  No clothes for either."

            To my surprise, Zhuzhen chuckled.  "No wonder he keeps it secret.  Alice would probably kill him if she knew.  But he had a picture of Margarete?"

            "Right here," Keith said, annoyed.  "But not anymore—"  Before he could tear the paper though, Margarete plucked it from his grasp.

            "You don't ruin good artwork!" she chided him.  "And this is a memento of our special night in Shanghai—"

            "What do you mean, 'special night'?  You and Yuri weren't ever alone in Shanghai," Zhuzhen said.

            Margarete stopped mid-sentence and turned to Zhuzhen.  Once again she had an impish smile.  "I know.  But it's fun watching him turn red," she said with a toss of her head to the vampire.

            Keith looked puzzled now.  "You mean—you two didn't—"

            "Of course not.  But I wonder why you're getting so upset."

            "Margarete!"  Keith yelled, back to being annoyed.  She laughed easily and ran outside.

            I shook my head.  "What's up with her today?"

            Keith stormed out and we followed him.  Margarete snuck up on the vampire and then jumped on his back.  "Carry me!"

            "Off, Margarete," he said stonily.

            "Please?"

            "Off."

            She slid off him reluctantly.  "Hmph.  I guess it's true, jealousy is a green-eyed monster."

            "What?"

            She spun around and stuck her tongue out.  Margarete was acting so immature and childish it was hard to think she was the same person who had been so tired and aggravated last night.  But her aura was still the same…

            "Margarete."  The spy stopped and turned to me.  "Did something happen yesterday?"

            The mischievous smile was becoming permanent on her face.  "Not yesterday, but this morning."

            "What?"

            "I was reborn!" she yelled, and then laughed.  People were looking at us.

            "Margarete, if you're going to say something stupid, could you say it less loud?"

            She turned and walked backwards, reminding me of Selphie.  She was pouting.  "I thought you'd understand best, Halley."

            I rolled my eyes.  "Margarete…"

            "You know, now that I'm reborn, I shouldn't be Margarete!  I need a new name."  She jumped up on the rim of a fountain, earning even more stares.  "My name will be…" skimming her hand through the top part of the fountain, "Aquila Rose!"

            This to an entire crowd of people.  I did my best to pretend I didn't know her.  Keith had a dubious expression as he watched her, obviously wondering if she was insane or not.

            Sharon climbed on the fountain and tried walking on the rim as well.  She fell in though and I quickly lifted her out, shaking my head.

            "Come down, Margarete," Zhuzhen said.  "We've got to go."

            But Margarete shook her head.  "That's not my name."  She swung her legs as she sat on the higher ledge, her hair getting matted down by the fountain's spray.

            Zhuzhen rolled his eyes; even he could put up with only so much.  "Fine.  Aquila, come down."

            "No!  Not 'Aquila', 'Aquila Rose'—"

            Impatient, I knocked her off the fountain with Air shot towards Keith.  The vampire had little time to react and caught the wet spy.  "Better?" I asked sarcastically.

            She grinned and slung her arms around his neck.  "Much."

            I ignored Keith's glare.  My priority was keeping the nutcase happy.  If that meant he had to suffer, fine.  I could hear Margarete giggling and Keith muttering something profane as we finally began to leave.

**

[Yuri]

            "I wish I had my notebook," I grumbled.  We had just gotten out of the forest and were resting for a few moments on a grassy hill.  I rolled on my back and gazed up at the clouds.

            "You know, you never told me what you keep in there," Alice said teasingly.

            I smiled at her, knowing the day she found it I would die.  Fox Face started growling.  Alice turned to him and leaned forward, interested.

            "Really?  Pictures of what?"  He better not tell her about her pictures, I thought, right as Alice exclaimed, "Of me?"

            I looked up to check that she wasn't going for her book.  But she seemed pleased; she had a pretty blush across her cheeks and I wished again that I had my notebook.

            "Could I see it sometime?"

            Fox Face nodded and I instantly protested.  "That's my notebook."

            The kitsuune seemed annoyed and Alice asked, "Why not?"

            "Because…they're not that good," I said lamely.

            "But it sounds lovely."  Seeing my raised eyebrow, she explained, "The butterfly one."

            I remembered that one.  I'd drawn it shortly after Blue Castle, after Fox Face and I had become one… "Yeah, I remember."

            Alice frowned.  "Is something wrong?"

            I shook my head.  She continued frowning; I remembered that a Demon Eyes wouldn't need to ask if something was wrong, she'd know.  "I drew that picture right after you guys found me in Keith's castle.  After I accepted Fox Face."  I looked over to the fox, thinking he would start growling an answer, but only found myself reflected in his dark eyes.  I went back to the sky, looking for shapes in the clouds.  After a while, wishing that they wouldn't be so damned silent, I continued, "It's just weird.  I realized that…I feel different now."  I shook my head and rolled onto my stomach.  It was hard to describe, but…I remembered when I drew that picture, even though we were heading into danger, I felt so peaceful…why didn't I feel that way now?  Was it because of Fox Face?

            Fox Face gave a low growl.  "You could accept him again," she said gently.  That had obviously been his intent, and now he was waiting for my decision.  He had an earnest expression, unusual for him.  I could see myself even more clearly in his eyes…his eyes…they were mine, weren't they?  My eyes…in a kitsuune's face…

            "No."

            All seven of Fox Face's tails lashed against the ground.  The sound was like a whip cracking.  There was no growling; he simply got up and walked away, back towards the forest.

            "Fox Face!"  When Fox Face didn't respond, Alice stood up.

            "Why are you following him?"

            She stomped angrily and glared at me.  "Because he's you!"

            I realized that I had made her upset.  There were tears in her eyes.  "Alice—"

            She turned away, not even caring it gave me a nice view of her black panties.  "Fox Face?"  Alice started running after him, making him run too.  "Fox Face!"

            I leaned back and shut my eyes.  "Shit."

**

[Halley]

            Sharon suddenly leaned over, making me stop.  Her upside-down frown prompted me to ask, "What's wrong?"

            "What was in the notebook?" she asked, her pout turning into a smile.

            "Nothing for a little girl to see."  I remembered something and turned to Keith.  He was still carrying Margarete in his arms, her head resting against his chest as she dozed.  "Keith!"

            "Yes?"

            "What's Fox Face?  You mentioned it when we were looking at the notebook."

            "Zhuzhen could probably explain it better," he said with a nod to the Adept.  "But as far as I understood, Fox Face was another half of Yuri."

            I stared at him, wondering if he was joking.  "Another half…what?!"

            Margarete cocked open a sleepy eye.  "Fox Face?"  She chuckled.  "Wasn't that crazy.  Running around with a mask, pretending you're your dad, and beating up yourself…good thing he died."

            "He didn't die," Zhuzhen corrected.  "Yuri accepted him."

            "What on earth are you talking about?"  What Margarete had said especially confused me.  But maybe she was just being crazy again.

            "It's a bit complex," Zhuzhen said, walking alongside me.  I gave Sharon a boost—she was starting to slip again.  "But Fox Face is a part of Yuri.  Yuri called him Fox Face because of the mask he wore.  He had no idea that Fox Face was himself.  He actually believed Fox Face was his father."

            "Fox Face wasn't some voice in his head was he?"  They were making it sound like Yuri was insane.  Very insane.

            Zhuzhen sighed and shook his head, his pigtail flailing around.  "Fox Face was an actual person.  He appeared only when the Malice was full and then he would try to kill Yuri."

            "But he is Yuri."

            "Yes."

            I stared at Zhuzhen.  "You have to be joking."

            Zhuzhen tossed up his Holy Peak staff in sheer aggravation.  Margarete simply laughed.  "Everyone's crazy about something.  Like I'm crazy about Keith."  Mischievously, she took her finger and sketched out a heart on Keith's chest.  "Hmm?"

            She had gone from annoying him to flirting with him.  It figured.

            "Margarete, please…"  The vampire's long-suffering tone was pleading; he obviously wanted her to stop.  But she didn't.  I face forward again, so I didn't see them, but I could hear Margarete whispering.  Instead I looked to the horizon, which was dark with heavy gray clouds.  "Looks like rain."

            "Rainstorms are common between the cities of Air and Water," Sharon told me, playing with my hair.  "We should put an extra covering on our tents or we'll get soaked."

            Zhuzhen was looking at her curiously.  He caught my attention and raised an eyebrow.  I shrugged.

            "Oh!  Don't you believe me?"  Sharon had obviously caught us.  "It really is God!"  Again she bent over my head and asked, "You believe me, don't you Halley?"

            "Well it's…kind of hard to swallow," I told her.  She pouted right as Margarete knocked my shoulder, striding at a furious pace.

            The spy turned and yelled, "You're not even living!  You have as much emotion as a corpse!"

            I think she's mad at Keith.  I looked at the vampire; he seemed rather perplexed about how to take this.  His hand was on his chest.  He opened his mouth and tried to explain, "Margarete, I—"

            "So what if I'm a mortal!  What does it matter?!"

            "It doesn't matter—"

            "Obviously it does!"  And then Margarete turned her back to him, ending the discussion.  I gave a low whistle as she walked far in front of us.

            "Any more doubt if she's insane?"

            Zhuzhen shook his head.

            "Damn woman," Keith grumbled, coming up to us.  He was still rubbing his chest and I asked why.  "She kept hitting me there with her fist," he said.  "I just wish she'd listen to me.  It really isn't that…"

            She was keeping up her brisk pace, increasing the distance between her and us with each second.  "I don't think she will."

**

[Yuri]

            "Alice!"

            After fifteen minutes I had entered the forest after them.  Alice must have been really upset if she hadn't calmed down by now.  "Alice!"

            Using my claws, I slashed at the vegetation, trying to clear a path as quickly as possible.  "Alice!"

            She couldn't have gotten that far…what if she was mad and ignoring me?

            "Alice, I'm really sorry.  I didn't mean to get him mad, I just—"  Well, I had known that not accepting would make him mad.  But I hadn't refused just to make him mad.  "C'mon, come out!"  Feeling stupid, I shouted, "Please?"

            I sat down and waited, listening for any sounds.  My temper rose as no one, not even Fox Face responded.  Why the hell were they forcing it on me like this?  Didn't they understand…?

            They probably thought since I did it once, what would be the trouble getting me to do it again?  But last time I'd had one foot in the grave.  Now that I had time to think about it…I couldn't really see the point in accepting him.  Wasn't he the embodiment of my weaknesses?  Wouldn't I be better off without him?

            And…I could never accept being a monster.  Maybe I should, maybe I was supposed to…Alice didn't seem to mind at all…but then Margarete and Zhuzhen and Keith and…

            Halley.  I remembered the day before we left, how odd he'd been acting around me, what he'd almost said.  If I really were a monster…would he hate me for that?

            "Why the hell should I care what they think?" I said sullenly, tearing a leaf apart.  Why should I…but I already knew, didn't I?  They were the only friends I had…the only friends I'd had in a while.  I was fine if they were gone, fine if they were halfway around the world.  But I couldn't stand the thought of one of them hating or fearing me.  I snorted derisively and leaned back.  "I wonder if they've made me stronger or weaker…"

            After a while I decided that Alice really must have been too far away to hear me and stood up again, backtracking further into the dense groups of trees.  A branch crossed my path.  Annoyed, I sliced through it—and the whole tree shook.  I frowned at the tree.  I hadn't used much force, and it was a pretty stout tree.  I shrugged it off and walked forward.

            "Alice?  Fox Face?  Hey, Fox—"  Something snagged around my ankle.  My view turned upside down, full of dirt.  I was lifted into the air, and there I dangled, almost twenty feet off the ground.  "Oh shit," I moaned.  I hadn't heard or felt any trap going off, but someone had gotten me good.

            Looking up, there was a thick vine wrapped around my lower leg.  My first thought was to simply cut the vine with my claws.  But as high up as I was, that'd be a bad idea.

            Instead I fused into Seravi.  Using the free talons, I tried to scratch the vine.  But a second vine came down, grabbing the other leg.

            I disembodied and stared at them incredulously.  "Just what is up with these things?"

**

            Persephone woke up, feeling very groggy.  She looked down at Kain and asked, peeved, "Did you use a sleep spell on me?"

            "And nearly paid my life for it," he groaned.  "Gods!  I hate that city.  I loathe it!"

            Syth shook his head.  "They've got an amazing law system.  The only one better is Eden's."

            "The only one better—you mean the only one worse!" Kain spat on the ground, showing his distaste.

            "You just don't like it because it catches you."

            "And you!"

            "How much farther do we have to go?" Persephone asked.  "Will we be there soon?"

            "No, it'll be a while."

            Persephone could feel the uneasiness rising in her again, threatening to overwhelm her.  "Kain, could you use the sleep spell again?"

            "Are you about to rant at us again?"

            "Maybe."

            "Then with pleasure," he said, easily putting the girl back to sleep.  "This is a lot better."

            "It's not exactly a permanent solution," Syth pointed out.

            Kain shrugged.  "What is?"

**

[Halley]

            Sharon had mud all over her yellow dress.  The hill was so slippery she could barely take five steps without falling into a puddle.  The mud was constantly sucking my feet down.  Zhuzhen was actually the fastest of us, using his staff to support him.  Margarete was still walking ahead of us, probably halfway down the other side by now.

            Or not.  She had decided to wait for us at the top, sitting morosely with her arms hugging her knees.  "Are you cold?" Zhuzhen asked.

            Her mouth moved, but the rain pouring down was louder.  I knelt down and heard her whisper, "She's calling me…Margarete is calling me."

            She was definitely insane.  "Margarete—"

            "I'm not Margarete!"  She shook her head vehemently.  "I'm Aquila…Aquila Rose…I'm not you…It's my soul…"  Her left hand reached to her chest.  She lifted her eyes to mine; they were a dark intense blue.  "Stop it Margarete…"

            Kieth looked as bewildered as anyone, but he offered his hand to her.  "Come on, M-Aquila Rose," he caught himself.  "We'll rest as soon as we find someplace suitable.  Don't sit in the mud."

            She took his hand but remained sitting.  "Please come to my world?"

            The vampire frowned.  "Your spirit world?"

            "Yes, I—"  Her head fell forward, and her shoulders slumped.

            "Hey are you alright?"  I asked, worried.  I shook her shoulders and her head tilted back.  Her eyes were no longer intense but seemed washed out, faded.

            "She must be in her spirit world then," Zhuzhen said.

            Keith sat down in the mud.  "I'm going to see what's wrong."

            Something dragged her there…  "I'll go too.  Zhuzhen can you keep a fire going?"

            "Why?"  I pointed up at the sky, still dark and overcast, and our already drenched clothes.  "Got it."  No one needed to get pneumonia while we were trying to help Margarete…with whatever was wrong.

            "Can I go too?" Sharon tugged on my sleeve.

            "Sure, just hurry up alright?  Know how to get—"

            "Yes, I do.  Her spirit world is full of pillars, some that move and some that stay in place, and water around the pillars.  In the center there's a temple."

            I stared at her.  "Are you sure?"  If she was right about this, I'd really believe her about being an angel.

            She nodded impatiently and pulled me down to sit.  She then laid down and quickly fell asleep.  Seeing Zhuzhen's sputtering flame that he struggled to keep alive in the downpour, I closed my eyes and tried to think of water.  Not too hard when it kept hitting me.

            "I wont!—Listen here—no, I don't want to—there's no other way—No!"

            "Is she arguing with herself?"  I wondered, and then took a step back.  Partly because Sharon was right, but mostly because I was right.

            Two Margaretes were standing on a pillar, arguing.  One was dressed as normal with the usual ponytail, but the other wore an elegant sleeveless rose red dress and had her hair down.  Even stranger, that one was shining brightly, making it hard to tell the difference between her hair and skin.

            "Is this one of those 'Fox Face' kind of things?" I asked Keith.  He shrugged and approached both, getting their attention.

            "I knew you'd come Keith!"  The Margarete in the dress hugged him around the neck, her luminosity making Keith seem a shade darker.  "Help me, please.  She wants to destroy me."

            Keith put his hand on Tyrving's hilt, but the other Margarete's words stopped him.  "Point that sword at me and you will regret the day you came out of the coffin."

            The vampire stopped, and then looked back at me, begging for help.  Understandable; helping the wrong Margarete would probably earn a death sentence from the other.  I shrugged and pointed at the ponytailed one.  "I think she does a better impression of Margarete."

            "That's because I am Margarete!"

            "What're you yelling about?"

            I turned towards the source of the new voice.  Sharon was already facing the temple and I realized she was glowing slightly too.

            A Japanese woman frowned as she looked at us.  "Margarete, what exactly is going on?"

            "I don't know what they're doing her," she said, flinging her hands up in exasperation, "but look what's happened to me!  What's going on?"

            She pointed at the Margarete dressed in red.

            "Oh no," the Asian woman groaned.  She was dressed in a loose red robe weighted down with silver chains, with a purple sash.  "How did that happen?  A persona can't form in a day…"

            "What does it matter how I formed?  I did and I don't want to be destroyed!"  Margarete clung to Keith tighter, almost choking him.

            "So wait…you can't be Margarete…"  I slowly tried to piece this together.

            The Margarete hugging Keith shook her head.  "No.  I told you, I'm Aquila Rose."  Her grip on Keith loosened and she asked fearfully, "You won't let them destroy me, right?  Even though I'm…I'm not Margarete?"

            We stared at Margarete, wondering why she would want to destroy her anyways.  Finally the spy sighed, rubbing her temples like she had a headache.  "Mnemosyne, would it really destroy her?"

            The Asian—Mnemosyne—nodded.  "I'm afraid it would.  She's only a day old, far too fragile to survive if the crystal was taken from her."

            "You can't turn her into a shadow soul?"

            "No.  Lethe is too powerful.  If it didn't destroy her, it would corrupt her—which is even worse."  Mnemosyne walked on the pillars towards where we were.  "I'm sorry," she said to Aquila Rose, "But there's just no way—"

            "Then leave her as a shadow soul!"  Aquila Rose insisted.  "She's fine, isn't she?  Just let me become permanent—"

            "That would take years!  We don't have the time—"

            "Why not?  We have all of eternity."

            "Oh God, there's another?"  Keith sounded both worried and exasperated.  Aquila Rose clung to him, gazing up at the second woman to have emerged from the temple.

            She also looked like Margarete.  Her outfit was plain, a short white dress encircled at the waist by a gold chain with sapphires.  "Isn't that right, Mnemosyne?  We have all of eternity to find salvation."

            Mnemosyne said nothing, but looked down into the pool.

            "What's a few years to us?"

            "Yes…what's a few years?"  Aquila Rose repeated.  Then she looked to Margarete.  "Please?"

            Margarete did not look pleased at all, but having no argument against, she turned to the newcomer.  "And who are you?"

            "What does it matter who I am?  Either you'll let the poor girl live or you destroy her."  She had reached the pillar next to us and nimbly crossed.  "Which is it?"

            So then, are we stuck with Aquila? I wondered.  Margarete watched both Aquila Rose and the other Margarete, trying to decide.  Mnemosyne had a furrowed brow, obviously upset, but she didn't say anything.

            "I think," the other Margarete said, her chain rattling as she moved forward, "I think Aquila Rose is an improvement."

            "What?" Margarete demanded.

            "She knows what she wants.  She pursues it.  She'll be happier.  Won't you, Aquila Rose?"

            Aquila Rose looked up into Keith's face and then nodded firmly.

            "Don't worry.  I'll help you."

            Aquila Rose let go of Keith for the first time and walked around him, going to the other woman.  I could see them walking up, face-to-face, when Sharon cried out, "No!  Get away from her!"

            She turned her head to look at Sharon.  There was a flash of metal across her breast; I could see so clearly her horror and fear.  She grabbed the other woman's arm as it plunged into her chest.  "W-why?"

            "You may have an adult's body and mind, but you are a child.  You're too naïve, too trusting.  If you were to live, we would regret it."  In her left hand was the dagger she'd struck Aquila Rose with.  There was no blood on the dagger though.  Aquila Rose wasn't even bleeding.

            "Please don't kill me," she whispered.

            The other Margarete jerked her arm out.  Aquila Rose dimmed, and she seemed as though made of glass—and then she fragmented into tiny shards of crystal that fell on the pillar with the sound of a window shattering.

            I stared at the pile of rose, gold and peach.  That had just been a person—now it was nothing more than crystal.

            "You killed her," I heard Keith say in disbelief.

            "Don't be silly," she snapped.  "It was barely formed, all crystal."  Sharon shined too, not near how Aquila Rose had, but enough to make me grab her arm and pull her behind me.  The motion alerted her to us, and her eyes narrowed at me.  The dagger was pointed at me.  "Where were you?"

            I tensed but tried to stand my ground, mindful of Sharon behind.  "When?"

            Her eyes were slits in her fury as she stalked towards me.  "When?  When Sarah was murdered, you backstabbing little—"

            "As opposed to chest-stabbing?"  In response, she raised the dagger.  I'd just crossed the line and my mind raced for a spell.

            Mnemosyne grabbed her arm before she could stab me.  "He is a boy," she ground out, "and he remembers nothing.  You will not harm him."

            The Margarete look-a-like put down the dagger slowly, still staring at me.  "Very well.  But when he does remember," she pointed the dagger at me again, "We shall have a nice chat."  She turned and then tossed something to Margarete.  It was something small that glowed a bright blue.  The spy caught it with ease.

            "…Well…"  Margarete said uncertainly, looking at Mnemosyne, "We go to Lethe now?"

            "Yes, that's right."

            "Hold, Mnemosyne.  You have some things to explain.  "Why is there a time limit?"

            The woman shook her head.  "Not now, Lamia."

            "I know there is.  Why?  Didn't we have all of eternity?  What has changed since then?"  Her thin gold and sapphire chain swayed as she marched up to Margarete.  "I thought it was only Tiresias.  Who else is alive at this time?"  When there was no answer, her voice became low.  "This is my spirit world, Mnemosyne.  Answer before I force you to."

            "Asher…and Sarah…Methuselah…and me…"

            "So you reincarnated yourself?"  Lamia sounded surprised.  "I was not aware you were alive at the time."

            "We never met."

            She nodded.  "And what about him?  Hyuga?"

            "Yes."

            Her blue eyes narrowed, but she said nothing and sat down by the shards of Aquila Rose.  Mnemosyne beckoned to Margarete and, still clueless, we followed them.

            "So that wasn't you today?" Keith asked Margarete.

            "No, I've been locked up here.  But that's odd…that a persona formed.  Mnemosyne said it usually takes a few years before a persona is fully formed."

            "I think," Mnemosyne said, stopping in front of the temple, "I think it was because she had your brain, which is full of memories.  The soul develops a persona by interacting with the memories.  In a newborn, there are no memories, so no persona.  But she had all the memories needed…"

            "Persona?  Soul?"

            Margarete turned and held out her hands.  She held a small, irregular blue crystal.  "This is my soul.  I'm a persona.  Actually, I'm a shadow soul right now."

            I shrugged.  "Can't tell any difference."

            "You could if you were one too.  Mnemosyne and I are both see-through.  You're all normal.  And another difference is, of course, I can't get into my own body."  She rolled her eyes and I laughed.

            "Too bad.  You missed everything Aquila Rose did."

            "What?"

            "Nothing important," Keith said smoothly, giving me a death glare.

            Walking through the temple, I found it old and worn, with water leaking through the roof.  The dripping water reminded me of the storm going on in the real world.  We had to find some kind of shelter soon.  How long had it been?

            "How far?"  Sharon whispered.  "It's so dark in here…"

            Mnemosyne easily summoned up a ball of flame, bright enough to light most of the hallway.  "Is that better?"

            "I thought you were a water class," Margarete said.

            "I have control over all elements, but I'm most skilled at fire."

            "Kind of like me," I thought aloud.  Mnemosyne looked confused and I clarified, "But I'm best at Air magic, not Fire."

            Sharon tugged at my shirt.  I ignored her at first, but she only tugged harder until I turned around.  "Pick me up," she pleaded.

            "What's wrong?" I asked, lifting her.  Her body was trembling and I wondered if she was cold.

            "I don't like her," she whispered.  Her green eyes were wide with fright.  "She's a bad person."

            "Shh."  I wondered what scared her so badly.  Had she sensed something I hadn't?  No, there was nothing malicious in Mnemosyne's aura.  Margarete seemed to trust her too, which said something.  Sharon was probably just upset about what had happened before.

            "What the devil?"

            I paid attention to my surroundings after hearing Keith.  The hallway had suddenly disappeared; a mile-wide river with dark waters was in front of us, rushing from our left to our right for as long as I could see.

            Mnemosyne sighed happily.  "This is Lethe."  Then her eyes suddenly narrowed, and she shouted, "What are you still doing here?!"

            A young man stood at the riverbank, looking in.  At Mnemosyne's shout, he jumped and turned to us.  "I-I was just d-deciding like you told me to—"

            "I told you to choose before I got back!"  She gave an aggravated sigh and asked, "Look, you do want to see her, don't you?  That what's-her-name…"

            "Elaine!" the man said indignantly.  "A gentler soul than ever lived!  She—"

            Mnemosyne groaned.  "Yes, you nut.  Elaine.  Do you want to see her again?"

            "Of course!"

            "Then jump in!" she roared.  Sharon sniffled, but it looked to me that she was just annoyed, not really angry with the guy.

            "B-but…what if she hates me?"

            "Let's make this simple.  Are you ever going to stop worrying and go in?

            "Maybe…" he said hesitantly.

            "That's good enough for me," she said, marching up to him.  She shoved him into the river and watched calmly as he flailed and then went under.

            Keith and I both started forward, but Margarete stopped us.  "Don't worry.  It's not harmful."

            "How's drowning not harmful?" I asked incredulously.  The man soon emerged though, with a cross expression.  Mnemosyne helped him up.  Why had she thrown him in?  "I don't get it."

            "He's a shadow soul now."  Margarete pointed further down the river, where a bright green light shone.  "There's his crystal."

            "See?  Easy," Mnemosyne said to the man.  "Now out.  Go back to your own spirit world."  He looked like he would object, but as soon as he opened his mouth, Mnemosyne gave him a steely glare.  He wisely chose to shut up and leave.  "Oh, thank the gods," Mnemosyne said, sinking down once he was gone.  "I thought I'd never be rid of the pest."

            "But he was such a nice man," came a reply from the river.

            Mnemosyne jumped and stood.  "Sarah!"

            The woman with Alice's blue eyes and white blond hair laughed, and then lifted herself out of the river.  She wore the same white dress as Lamia had, but nothing else.  Her hair was dripping wet, reaching down to her waist.  "Hello, Mnemosyne."

            Curious, I nudged Margarete.  "Is she a shadow soul?"

            "Yes."

            "What on earth were you doing in Lethe?"

            Sarah rolled her eyes up.  "I was just swimming for fun."

            Mnemosyne was not fooled.  "Sarah, you are the worst liar I've ever known."  She raised an eyebrow.  "Were you trying to use magic on Lethe?"

            The woman smiled very guiltily.  "I just wanted to ask her a question."

            Mnemosyne flung up her red-sleeved arms.  "First Asher, now you!  I thought you'd be the last person I'd have to worry about!"  Tapping impatiently with her sandal, she asked, "So just what is this question?"

            Hesitating, Sarah glanced at us, then leaned slightly down and whispered into Mnemosyne's ear.

            "Absolutely not.  That would require more magic than I have, and an amazing amount of concentration.  If anything went wrong, Hyuga would be screaming bloody murder at me."

            "Could Hyuga do it himself?"

            Sharon whispered in my ear.  "Put me down, Halley."

            I lowered her onto the ground and she started walking towards the two women.  I followed her, keeping close.  Both women seemed fine, but I had an uneasy feeling.

            "He'd have to…no, I don't think he would.  Wait."  Sarah sighed in disappointment, her hands clasping together, but she nodded.

            "Sarah."

            Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she bent down to address Sharon.  "Hello, little one."  But then she seemed puzzled.  Her eyes widened.  "God…?"

            "Sarah, you have sinned.  You have lusted."

            My heart skipped a beat as I registered the power that had suddenly appeared.  It was greater than anything I'd ever felt before.   And coming from Sharon…?  I tried to put my hand on her shoulder but I couldn't.  There was nothing to stop me, but I had a powerful feeling that she was simply untouchable.

            "I did not lust," Sarah denied, though shaken.

            "Do not lie to yourself."  Sharon put a small hand on Sarah's cheek.  "You know what you did."

            "I have never lusted," she said more firmly, standing up.

            "The council judged you guilty."

            I finally spoke up.  "Sharon…c'mon…stop this."

            "It's not Sharon."  Mnemosyne told me before addressing the girl.  "If you were not a coward, you would not use an innocent child as your shield.  Take your own form."

            God—Sharon—disdainfully turned her head away, indicating she wasn't listening.  "I have no business with you, Hel.  I wish to speak with my daughter."

            "Daughter—"  Sarah shook her head.  "You forsook me!  You left me to die!"

            Sharon's eyes were glowing, I realized when I walked further on the right.  She had a calm expression, concerned gaze.  "I cannot help someone who has rejected me."

            For the first time, Sarah looked uncertain.  She lowered her eyes and brought her hand to her chest.  "I did not reject you then…I was trying to work your will…and I did, didn't I?"

            Sharon had a skeptical look, rare for her.  "Was that your real motivation?"

            "She did what you wanted!" Mnemosyne yelled.  "What does it matter her motivations?"

            "Because no unclean thing can dwell in my presence," Sharon said coldly.  "Sarah…"  The blonde woman turned away from her, shaking her head.  "You can still repent.  You know what to do."

            "I cannot."

            Sharon sighed—and then her knees buckled, her eyes fluttering.  Mnemosyne caught her as she fell.  She held the child close to her and swore softly.  "I should've guessed.  She was completely overwhelmed."

            "What's wrong with her?" I asked.

            She tsked impatiently.  "Nothing permanent, she'll come around in a while."

            "Was that…really God?" Margarete asked.

            Sarah answered her question.  "Yes.  It was Him."  She closed her eyes.  "It was Him…I have to go now."

            "Sarah, don't let it bother you.  It doesn't mean anything—"

            "Yes it does!" she shouted.  "It means everything to me!"  She lowered her eyes to the river.  "I really…I need some time to think.  Please understand."  Sarah bowed respectfully to Mnemosyne before disappearing.

            Mnemosyne scowled.  "If she pulls out, everything is ruined."

            "She's that important?" Margarete asked.

            "Yes.  After last time…"  The Asian woman slowly shook her head.  "If Hyuga doesn't have her support, he'll…he might destroy himself.  He might destroy his soul."  She had a pained expression.  "It won't happen though.  He's stronger than that."

            She didn't look certain about it.

            "So…my soul…?"  Margarete waved the blue stone, snapping Mnemosyne out of her mood.

            "Oh, right!  Well…let's give it a try."

            "A try?  You mean you're still not sure about it?" Margarete said incredulously.

            "Can't be sure until I try.  This is my first time turning a shadow soul back into a persona."

            Margarete looked annoyed.  "Well there's a confidence booster."

            "Shut up and let me concentrate!"  Her silver chains rattled as she circled Mnemosyne, looking her over.  "Okay.  Soul."  Margarete gave her the rock.  Experimentally, she tried holding it next to Margarete's skin and pressed slightly.

            "Ow…what is this supposed to do?"

            "I was kind of hoping the soul would just naturally go into you."

            "It's not."

            "I'm not blind.  Just hold on.  What if we…" she shut her eyes and concentrated.  "Lethe!"  Some of the water from the river rose and then wrapped around Margarete.  Already knowing it wouldn't harm her, I watched as it enveloped her completely.  Mnemosyne then entered the mass of water.

            There were mild agitations in the waters in violent shrieks and curses from Margarete.  After two minutes, the waters went back into the river, leaving a gasping and annoyed spy.

            "What were you trying to do?!"

            "Looks like that didn't work…"

            "Like hell it didn't!"

            Mnemosyne shrugged.  "I don't know.  You might be stuck."

            Margarete stared at her.  I think she would have lunged at the other woman if Keith didn't intervene.  "Is there anyone else who could help?"

            "Yes…Hyuga might have an idea.  I'll summon him, it should only take a minute."

            "He better have an idea," the spy grumbled, frowning.  She seemed anxious to get back to her body as quickly as possible.

            "And why am I being called?"

            A man had just appeared in front of Mnemosyne and Margarete.  He wore a black cloak over himself and all I could tell was that he was of average height.

            "Hyuga, I really don't know how to fix this…"

            "Oh, so just dump it all on me."

            Mnemosyne raised an eyebrow.  "Is this a bad time?"

            "He got himself stuck in a fucking tree!"

            She started laughing.  "Yuri or Fox Face?"

            "Yuri!"  At this she cracked up completely and he glared at her.  "I really don't see what's funny about it."

            "Oh, oh, nothing, it's just amusing.  Imagine how pissed off he must be," she chuckled.  "How'd he get stuck?"

            "Don't know.  The vines are grabbing at him for some reason."

            She suddenly stopped laughing and looked thoughtful.  "Where are they?"

            "I think it's where the Earth city used to be.  Oh…so that's why."  He shook his head.  "Damn plant-lovers."

            "Now, now, we have one of the clan here.  Better not offend them," she said jokingly, looking at Keith.  Hyuga followed her gaze and then shook his head.

            "Why are you bringing them to Lethe?"

            "Because I had to bring Margarete, and they followed," she said, now more seriously.  "Now will you take a look at Margarete?"

            Hyuga glanced around, as if checking for someone.  Satisfied, he stripped off the cloak, revealing Yuri's face and a black outfit, designed for fighting.  He stepped over to Margarete and looked her over once.  He held out his hand and she gave him her soul.  I still had a hard time thinking of it as that.  It only looked like crystal.

            He put one arm around her shoulders.  In his other hand, the crystal dimmed until it looked like an ordinary stone.  Then, suddenly, he punched through Margarete's chest.  Even Mnemosyne cried out when she saw it.  Keith drew Tyrving, ready to draw blood.  But when Hyuga took his arm out and murmured a few words, the crystal shined bright and Margarete appeared whole again, though greatly shaken.  She fell down on the ground, gasping for breath.

            "Wasn't that…a bit violent?" Mnemosyne said.

            "You told me to fix it, and I did," Hyuga replied.  He shrugged.  "That was the best way I could think of."

            "Are you alright?" Keith asked Margarete.  The spy took a few deep breaths before nodding.

            "She should be fine, although she might feel a bit odd for a few days.  She doesn't use magic, right?  No harm done then."

            She glared at Hyuga, obviously disagreeing, but she did stand.  "Let's just go back," she said.  I agreed; something about Hyuga unnerved me, despite how much he looked like Yuri.  Keith helped support her as we walked back and I carried Sharon.

            There was a gift for Margarete back in her spirit world.  On the pillar where Lamia had destroyed Aquila Rose were two daggers.  One was the dagger she'd killed Aquila Rose with.  The other dagger had been made from the shards of Aquila Rose; I could tell by the rose blade, the gold hilt, and the two jewels within it—her eyes.  There was a message slashed out next to it:  In case you ever have to kill a kitsuune.

            Margarete picked up both daggers.

**

Reviewers:

MikoNoNyte:  It's only when I glance over the chapters that I actually realize Yuri is getting close to being a bastard.  When I write it, it just seems like a natural reaction for him.  ::shrugs::  Hopefully this chapter lets people see exactly why he's uneasy about Fox Face.  Might get into the jealousy part later.  And if he doesn't calm down, Alice can always bash him.  But she is a pretty patient person.

Yes, Hyuga does have charisma.  I think Yuri has some charisma too.  He has his moments.  Briefly.  Bigotry is only the motive of one main character for siding against him.  Everyone else either sides with him or has a different motive for fighting against.  (  Was that too obvious?)

No no.  Kitsuune is far below god.  It should be explained…er…sometime.  (I just realized I have no clue when it will be explained!)

Alice:  Not this again…

^^;;  We'll fit it in.  Somewhere.

My brother is leaning on the devilish side right now.  He drops things on the littlest baby brother's head. -.-  And sometimes he shouts "Cry, baby Nicholas" at him.  (He is so mean right now.)

Actually, I have not yet really scheduled Michael's death, although seeing how much he is detested, he probably should get killed off sometime.

Asher.  You really don't know who he is???  I thought the scene gave it away, but I guess not so…

No, Margarete didn't forget.  I thought this was infinitely more amusing.

Greyfriars:  Um…thanks for the spraffy review :p.

Rex:  Not quite a 'soon' update but hopefully close enough.

Loki:  I'm glad you like Mnemosyne.  I'm trying to work on her character more, although I don't know if it's coming out the right way.

Arreat's Hymn:  And Yuri becoming a girl…I was thinking of having a scene where Mnemosyne jokingly threatens Hyuga of being turned into a girl, but I ended up not using it.

…I really cannot tell who you are.    Sorry.

Nights Mistress:  If Yuri and Fox Face have the most normal relationship, everyone must be insane.