Disclaimer:  I don't own Shadow Hearts.  Do own Anne and Isaiah and Locke.

**

            Yuri carefully laid Anne down on the nearest furniture, the armchair.  She was thrashing now, lashing out with her fists and feet.  "Don't worry, I'm coming," Yuri said, hoping she could hear.  Then he lay down and concentrated hard on the Graveyard.  There were clattering noises as Alice rushed in, but he shut her worried questions out.  There was no time for questions and answers.  Later, once Anne was out of danger…

            The rusted gates banged as he pulled them open.  "Anne!"

            The ornate doors of the temple were already gaping open.  They had already forced her to go beyond.  Yuri swore angrily and ran into the temple.  Then he stopped, his eyes taking in the scene.

            The Gold, Grail, and Staff Masks gazed down at the small figure on the floor, laughing.  The small creature had lethal claws and a spotted pattern on its entire body.  Otherwise, it resembled a human.  It was trembling as it stared up at him, holding a sword and wearing the mask that went with the weapon.

            Yuri was choked with rage as he spat out, "Get off my daughter, you damn mask."

            Sword mask laughed.  As its mouth opened, so did Anne's thin lips behind the mask.  "Daddy…daddy…"  Her tears were already spilling over onto the mask and Yuri could see how terrified she was.

            "GET OFF HER!"

            The emerald mask smirked.  "Scared, boy?  Bring back any memories?  Ah, memories.  That reminds me…"  As he spoke, Anne screamed, fair skin changing into tawny fur.  She brought both arms up to her head and clutched fistfuls of shortening brown hair.  Her chest heaved with sobs muted by the Sword Mask.

            The Harmonixer wanted desperately to destroy the mask.  Trying to keep his rage inside, he said, "She's a child.  She's too young for the Trial."

            Now Staff Mask was the one laughing.  "She is a young thing, isn't she?  Even younger than you…the second youngest Harmonixer in the line."  The smirk growing, he added, "If she survives to be one, that is."

            "Age matters nothing to us," Gold Mask declared.  "She has fused, and now it is time to see if she is worthy of that power."

            "You're destroying her!" Yuri yelled, unable to hold his anger anymore.  His fists clenched and he knelt by Anne, trying to seize the Sword Mask.  Instead, he found the sword up at his throat, held by a wide-eyed Anne.

            "None of your interfering," the mask said coldly, as Anne stammered, "Daddy…it's not me…the sword…"

            "I know," Yuri told Anne, backing away.  He glared at the tear-stained mask.  "I swear, if you don't get off her right now…"

            "You should be grateful," Grail Mask said.  "Here is another fusion soul for you to use."  The seven-year-old cried out, and Yuri could see the joints of her knees beginning to twist painfully, to bend as a cat's did.

            "Shut the fuck up!  This is my daughter!"

            "Not for much longer," Sword Mask taunted.  Anne tried to speak, but now all that came out was growling.  The change was almost complete; she bore little resemblance to a human girl.  "Ah, what would be a suitable name for this one?  Do you want to do the honors, boy?  After all, you are her father…"

            "I will kill you," the Harmonixer said, his whole body trembling.  "If you don't stop it…I am going to kill every one of you…"

            "Ohoho.  What a useless threat," the sapphire mask gloated.  "You may defeat us, but you can never kill us…you should know that very well boy."

            Yuri knew now there was nothing he could say to stop the masks.  Instead he concentrated on Anne.  If he couldn't stop her transformation, it would soon be complete.

            "Anne, he's trying to scare you, isn't he?"  The feline child nodded as her ears began to point upwards.  With a look of surprise, she put her free hand to her left ear.  She became more panicked as she felt the fur on one side and how high it had gone on her head.  Yuri grabbed that hand.  "Don't think about it!" He admonished her.  "You're still human.  That's all that's important."

            Sword Mask's smirk grew wider.  "Still human?  Your father must be blind, Anne.  Look down at yourself.  Are humans covered in fur?"

            "C'mon Anne," Yuri tried to cajole her.  "Who are you going to trust, me or some stupid mask?"  She wanted to believe him, but the mask was right.  People didn't have fur, animals did.  She was a monster.  She looked like one, she sounded like one.  When her father saw her doubt, he said, "Sword Mask tried to turn me into a monster too."

            Anne was surprised and looked over her father.  He seemed completely normal.  So that meant…she could be normal too, right…?

            Yuri nodded, understanding what she was thinking.  "You'll be fine.  Just like when you were stuck as the tiger.  It's the same thing."

            The girl shut her eyes, trying to focus.  She could see herself in front of a mirror.  She had brown eyes and brown hair and brown spots…

            You're going to be trapped as a monster! the mask told her.  Try as she might, she couldn't see herself without the spots and fur.  Her frustration fueled the fear inside, and she could feel a tail growing, curling around her right leg.  Anne screamed, a growl that built into a shriek, and Yuri grabbed her shoulders, trying to snap her out of it.

            "Anne!  Anne!"  Her eyes flew open, focusing on her father.  "Trust me.  You can do it."  But she shook her head.  It was too late, she couldn't do anything.  "What about Isaiah and Mom?"  He was pleading now.  He couldn't see any traces of humanity in Anne, and wasn't sure if she was human anymore.  But her eyes…they were still the same.  That was a good sign, wasn't it?  "They'll be really sad if you don't change back.  And…I'll be really sad, too."  She could see his mouth trembling a bit, could see how worried he was.  "Please?"

            She was distracted from the fear by this thought.  She didn't want to leave everyone.  She already knew she'd be all alone, but she hadn't thought of everyone else.  They would be sad, wouldn't they?

            Anne was sure they were still human.  So she focused on them, seeing their faces.  Isaiah trying hard to help mommy run the store…and Daddy and Aunt Margarete, laughing at a joke as Mommy frowned at them…Uncle Keith and Leon, both arguing as the other adults tried not to laugh…and Locke, exploring every hiding place of the castle with her.

            She felt the tail shrink and a rush of relief.  Seeing her father's joyful expression, she knew it was working.  She was changing back.

            But Sword Mask was determined not to let this Harmonixer escape.  Awful images, of birdlike monsters picking at her stomach, tearing it open…if she didn't stop them, they'd kill her…

            Anne pushed it away.  That was how they had first tricked her into changing.  She wasn't going to fall for it again.  Daddy was right here…she didn't have to fear anything.  She concentrated hard; slowly changing…slowly…she tried to let go of the sword stuck in her hand…

            And then it dropped.  Sword Mask flew off her, cursing as it reattached itself to the sword.  Yuri quickly picked her up, hugging her.  "You all right?" he asked.

            She looked over herself.  No tail, no spots.  Quickly she tried to dry the rest of her tears.  "Yeah."

            Yuri laughed at the masks.  "God, you guys are getting rusty!  You can't even beat a seven-year-old?  I mean, I know she's good—she's my kid after all—"  He smiled at Anne, making her smile in return, before turning back to the masks, "But still, c'mon!"

            "Anne May Hyuga, step forward for your judgment," Grail Mask intoned.

            Yuri wondered what it meant.  Judgment?  She had passed, hadn't she?  But maybe it happened for every Harmonixer that passed.

            "Step forward," the mask said, looking impatient.

            Hesitating, Yuri put his daughter down, keeping his eyes on the masks.  If they tried anything, he'd fuse in a heartbeat.

            Anne looked up at her father, uncertain whether to go forward or not.  He gave a small nod to her, still staring forward at the council of four.  She took three small steps forward, gazing on the Sword Mask.  It was still glaring at her.

            "Anne May Hyuga, you have failed."

            "What?!" Yuri demanded, striding forward.  "Are you blind?!  She's still human, you guys didn't do anything to her!"

            "It's obvious the girl would've failed if not for your interference," Staff Mask countered.

            "Three times now, boy, you have cheated us," Sword Mask spat out.  "But this time we will have our justice."

            Yuri bristled, but then shook his head.  "What's my punishment?"

            "Your punishment?  Your punishment is your daughter's."

            The Harmonixer turned on Gold Mask, outraged.  "No!  I was the one who cheated.  She did nothing wrong, so don't you dare--!"

            "Anne May Hyuga," Grail Mask said, cutting Yuri off.

            "Y-yes?" Anne said uncertainly.  She didn't like how this was going.  How were they going to punish her?  They weren't going to change her into a monster again, were they?

            "You passed, so we cannot take you now."  She nodded, not really understanding.  "But you would have failed if your father hadn't come."

            "You don't know that!" Yuri yelled.  He thought of fusing, but he couldn't start a fight with Anne in here, and as Grail Mask had pointed out, defeating them was useless.  He could only protest…but his protest was ignored.

            "One day we will come for you Anne.  Usually the day a Harmonixer comes to us, he is destroyed.  However, for your father's cheating and cowardice, you will not be destroyed.  Instead, you will be our slave for all of eternity.  Has your mother told you of hell?"  Anne nodded, already frightened by the idea of being destroyed.  "We will make your existence a very hell.  You will wish every day that you were never born.  This is your fate.  You have your dear father to thank for it," the mask ended maliciously, looking on the older harmonixer with contempt.

            The masks disappeared, fading into the black.  Anne turned to her father, asking, "Daddy?  They can't really do that, can they?"

            He didn't say anything.  His silence scared her.  Why wouldn't he answer?  She walked over to him, grabbing his hand.  "They can't, right?"  He still wouldn't tell her and her voice became shaky.  "Right?"

            "I…don't know…" he said uncertainly.  It did nothing to assuage his daughter's fears.  He was aware of that by her stubby fingernails pinching into his callused hands.  What on earth could he say?  "Let's get out of here, Anne."

            She nodded and followed him, grasping tightly by the hand.  She wanted to ask him to pick her up and carry her, but he was so silent.  He wouldn't even look at her as they approached the large gates.

            Both of them woke up, surrounded by the other adults and children.  "Was it the masks?" Alice asked.  Yuri nodded.  "Well, at least everyone's fine."

            Alice noticed her husband staring at her, making her feel uncomfortable.  His eyes were near amber in color.  Anne was huddled in the armchair, hugging her legs as she watched Yuri.

            "No?" she asked.  They didn't seem hurt, but it was obvious something was bothering them.  "What's wrong?…"

            Yuri got up and walked away, shaking his head as he walked down to their bedroom.  Alice turned to their daughter, hoping to get an explanation.  "Anne, what happened?"

            "The masks tried to turn me into a monster, but daddy helped me.  But…he wasn't supposed to," she said softly.

            At hearing the first part, Alice gasped and examined her daughter, satisfying herself that she was physically fine.  "You're all right?"

            Anne shook her head and then reached out for her mother.  Alice took her as she began crying, patting her back reassuringly.  "What's wrong?" she whispered.

            "Daddy helped me change back," Anne told her.  She hugged the blue cloth of her mother's long dress and rubbed her face on her mother's shoulder.  "But the masks said he'd cheated too much, and I'd be punished for it.  I'm going to be their slave."

            Alice shook her head, patting down Anne's hair.  "No you're not.  Daddy and I won't let them do anything to you."

            "Is daddy mad at me?" Anne asked.

            "No, he's just upset," Alice reassured her.

            Margarete looked down at her son.  "I hope you've learned your lesson."  Locke nodded quickly.  "Alright, but if you ever do this again…"  She trailed off ominously but then suddenly hugged him.  "Just don't, alright?"  Locke nodded, still mute, and his mother turned to Keith.  "I'm going to put him in bed."

            Keith agreed and then looked down at Isaiah.  The child had been very calm through the whole ordeal, and the vampire wondered why.  "How are you feeling, Isaiah?"

            Isaiah had been watching Alice comfort Anne, but he faced the vampire when asked.  "I'm fine.  Mommy healed me."

            Keith raised an eyebrow.  "Weren't you scared out there?"

            "Yeah, but then Locke gave me a Pure root."

            The vampire shook his head in disbelief, looking after his wife and son as they went down the hallway.  That would explain it.  Alice had heard too, and smiled wanly, somewhat grateful she only had to comfort one child.  "I think you should go to sleep," she suggested to Anne.

            Anne nodded, her head resting on Alice's shoulder.  Alice held her hand out for Isaiah and took him to Locke's room, then, still carrying Anne, brought her to her room.

            "Mom?"  Anne asked while she was being tucked in.  "You know how daddy saved you?"

            "From Roger Bacon?"

            "Yeah."  Anne hesitated, and then asked, "Do you think he'll save me?"

            Alice thought about how her husband had stormed off.  He shouldn't have done that.  He should've—he should've comforted Anne.  Her daughter sounded so uncertain, but she was sure.  "Yes, he will."  She kissed Anne's forehead.  "Sleep tight."

            Anne still seemed uncertain as she closed her eyes.  Alice watched her daughter for a few minutes at the door, waiting until her breath was slow and steady before leaving.  She walked down the hallway, her temper with Yuri growing each minute until, putting her hand on the doorknob, she planned to give him a lecture.

            She never turned the knob.  A muffled sob stopped her.

            Yuri was crying.  Alice had never heard Yuri cry before and, almost without thinking, tried to make out what he was feeling.  A wave of fear and shame washed through her, nearly overwhelming her, before she turned away from the door, feeling ashamed herself.  She wondered if she should even go in; she could feel his desire to be alone, to have no one know he was crying.  Respecting his wishes, she went back down the hallway.  She curled up on the sofa, pulling a pillow underneath her head.  This would have to be good enough for tonight.

            She dreamed that the masks were laughing as they led Anne away into a black nothingness…and Anne followed, never looking back even though Alice called her name continually.

            Alice reached toward Anne and felt soft cloth.  She opened her eyes and saw a blue blanket covering her.  Yuri made sure it covered her shoulders, then froze as he realized he'd woken his wife up.

            "Sorry," he whispered.

            His eyes were still red from crying.  He probably thought it wasn't noticeable though, and Alice did nothing to disillusion him.  She only shook her head, and then scooted into the sofa, motioning for Yuri to lie down besides her.  He actually hesitated a second, making her smile.  "Do I have to ask twice?" she said teasingly.  Yuri lay down and Alice spread the blanket over the two of them.  He faced away from her, both of them lying on their sides.  "What exactly happened in the Graveyard?  You said something about a trial, didn't you?"

            "Every Harmonixer goes through the trial after their first fusion," Yuri said in a flat voice.  He sounded tired.  "One of the masks tries to use their worst vice against them."

            Fear, Anger, Envy, and Hate.  "If the Harmonixer passes…"

            "Then they get to live.  But if they fail, they become a fusion soul.  Their element is based off whatever fusion soul they used.  Anne would've been an Earth class fusion."

            No wonder he was so worried.  Alice wrapped her arms around his stomach, trying to comfort him.  "Anne was going to fail, wasn't she?"

            "Yeah."  His voice sounded choked.  "She looked like a cat…they were almost done."

            "Then it's a good thing you stepped in," she said.

            "She'd be better off a cat than a slave to them," Yuri said bitterly.

            Alice was outraged at this statement.  "How can you possibly say that?!"  When she got no answer, she softened her tone.  "Look, it'll be fine.  It's just like Atman, isn't it?  All you have to do is defeat them, and that'll destroy the contract.  Won't it?"

            "It won't work," Yuri said heavily.

            "Why not?"

            "Because.  They're her masks, she has to be fighting against them for them to be defeated.  She'd be killed in one hit."

            Alice thought for a minute, and then finally hugged him tightly, reassuringly.  "Then, let's do this.  We don't know when they'll come, so let's assume we have some time…maybe a few years."

            "Maybe.  They didn't come after me for a while," Yuri said.

            "You failed your trial?" Alice said in surprise.
            "Well, I didn't really fail…I escaped from it mid-trial."

            "How on earth did you do that?"

            "They didn't expect someone to tear himself in half just to escape."

            This took Alice a few seconds to piece together.  "Fox Face?"

            "Fox Face," Yuri said wearily.  He had only remembered the trial after joining again with Fox Face, and it sure answered why Fox Face had been so screwed up.  Sword Mask could pull some pretty nasty tricks.

            A moment later, Alice continued, "Well…so we assume we have a few years.  Let's get Anne ready for a fight with the masks."

            Yuri thought about it.  She was pretty strong physically—for her age, of course.  She could improve on that.  They'd have to work really hard on her fusing though.  "It'll take so long to get her to that stage…"

            "We have to try."

            Yuri nodded.  "Alright.  Yeah, let's do that."  At least it'd be something.  And if she got strong enough to just survive against them, it'd probably be enough if Alice and him were with her.  He yawned, his mouth stretching wide.

            Alice smiled, glad her husband sounded more cheerful.  "That's good.  You want to plan the rest in the morning?"

            Yuri was already asleep.

**

            Anne, surprisingly, had had a good night, too deep in sleep to dream.  She was still rubbing the sleep from her eyes as her father carried her to the car.  She liked how nice he was being to her today, and snuggled closer to his shirt.  Yuri was trying to make up for the night before.

            "You're sure you'll be alright?" Margarete asked skeptically.

            Alice nodded, her silver cross swinging with the motion.  "Yes.  Yuri and I have it all planned out."

            "Well, if those masks give you any trouble, come to us and we'll help you give them a thrashing," she said with a wink.  Margarete still loved a good fight.  She turned as Keith came to the door and asked, "Is he still asleep?"

            "He says he doesn't want to come out."  Keith shrugged.  "Perhaps he's still tired."

            "Probably."  Margarete looked up and groaned.  "Oh, not now, he's back."

            Alice looked up as well to see a golden bat fly in one of the windows.  She laughed.  "I thought you liked him Margarete."

            "Yes, but he either plays with Locke or bugs Keith.  And since Locke is out, Keith'll be in a bad mood tonight."

            The vampire shook his head.  "I have patience with him."

            "Yeah, about this much."  Margarete held her thumb and index finger apart a few centimeters.

            Isaiah tugged on Alice's long skirt.  "Mommy…"

            "Alright, alright, we're going," she said with a laugh.  She turned and walked away, waving goodbye to Keith and Margarete.

**

Author's Note:  My explanation for fusion souls and Fox Face are different from my explanations in Shadow Souls.  The reason for the differences is because they suit the storyline better in each fic.  ^.~  Now, explanations for the explanations:

The fusion souls theory explains why there's such redundancy.  It always did seem kind of odd.

The Fox Face theory just popped into my mind because he wears a mask.  I got the idea for both the trial and how he was formed from that.

**

Reviewers:

I am really sorry.  Fanfiction.net will not let me check reviews, and I seem to have deleted all my e-mails with reviews for the last chapter.  I thought I saved it in another document, but I can't seem to find it.