I'm going to do something I've never done before, reply to my reviewers from chapters 8 and 9:
Jamfase: Thanks! The chapters on Youkou's, and Raven's, past will be coming up shortly, hopefully, and I hinted at who this mysterious Michiko is through the fic, especially chapter 5. You'll definitely figure it out by this chapter. As for the age difference, I try not to think about it. I must admit though, for me to read fanfics far better than mine by writers who are younger than me does make me a bit insecure -_-;;. Thank you for reviewing.
And those drawings were bunnies, not kitties ^_^
Nix Entente: Sorry for the short chapter. But my chapters are hardly short, and I need to cut down on my writing. Thank you for reviewing.
Lady Sage: Thank you very much! I thought the use of A.Is was also a cliché, but I tried to add my little twist on it. Anyway, thank you again.
Kanshisha no Yurei: Arigatou. Once I'm done with Project ArchAngels, whenever that may be, I plan on writing it.
Paige-chan: Yet another well deserved thank you. I'm trying to limit the amount of narrative I use, but I'll continue to write more, just for you ^_~
Alright, I've made it to Chapter 10. Now the interesting stuff begins.
Warning: Another freaky-Apollo moment.
Denial
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Michiru picked at her food. It was a delicious dish, but there was too much on her mind to eat.
"My, you are quiet today," her companion mused. He sipped his wine. "Hardly what I call a lunch date. Still, how could I resist an exquisite meal by an even more exquisite lady?" He patted her hand.
She smiled sweetly. "Take your hand off me, or it won't be just food I shove in your mouth."
"Temper temper, my love. No need for that language." He folded his arms over the table; his demeanor cold. "Now, to business. We've been keeping surveillance on the Prototype since activation. His power has increased exponentially. It is imperative for you to retrieve him as soon as possible."
"I can't."
"And why not?"
"Sayoko and Alpha are inseparable. The brat hasn't let him go since she had him. I can't get a hold on him."
"Are you backing out of our agreement?"
The blond snapped vicious eyes on him. "Agreement? If you mean being blackmailed by the likes of you, Daemon, then yes, I am."
Daemon chuckled. "Michiru, may I remind you that due to the ArchAngel you helped create, 2 people are dead, another handicapped, and countless property destroyed? We are cleaning up your mess. It's only fair to assist us."
"And if I don't, you send me to jail. You government agents have a twisted sense of fairness."
He quirked an eyebrow. "It is you that have a distorted view of fairness. I would think you of all people would help us. Afterall, he did kill your twin sister, correct?"
Michiru burst into a delirious laugh. "As far as I'm concerned, Alpha did me a favor. Michiko was always in my way."
"Intriguing." Daemon reached into his wallet and flipped through the contents. "Anyway, you are not crucial to our operations. We merely need someone to separate the girl from the prototype. I already have a backup plan in case you fail."
"Seems simplistic. You think taking Sayoko away will solve everything?"
"Yes, actually." He folded some bills on his plate. "An ArchAngel's weakness and strength rely on the Deus. We dispose of the Deus, we take away it's power." The black-haired spy raised to his feet and took her hand into his. "Don't fail me, koibito." He planted a sweet kiss on her hand, then with a smile left the restaurant.
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A knock on the door. Sayoko walked in, gift in hand. "Hello."
"Konban wa," Tamomo bowed slightly. He was propped against the bed's iron posts. Most of his injuries have healed, and besides a few cuts the teenager was in good health.
"Hey, you came!" Akiko gave her a quick hug, then helped her with her coat. Sayoko sat down and handed Tamomo the present.
"It's just a few get well cards and Angel clothes," she said sheepishly. "It's the least I can do, with your Angels and all..."
Akiko laughed, and plopped herself beside the older boy. "Relax, Sayo-chan. Tammo-chan's a wiz with Angel mechanics. He's already repaired Sunlight and Twilight, and he'll be out of the hospital by tonight." She poked him playfully in the ribs. "Don't think I'll go easy on you in our next battle. You may have taught me Angelic Layer, but this year I'll beat you for sure."
"I look forward to it," Tamomo chuckled. He turned to Sayoko. "You've been doing well too, I've heard. You made it to the Nationals, and being tutored by the Great Icchan himself. Our Sayoko has become a skilled Deus."
She scratched her head, blushing. "It's luck, really. We haven't battled in an interactive Layer yet, but Apollo and I--" she halted. Tamomo and Akiko cast anxious eyes to ground. "What's wrong?"
"It's about Apollo..." Akiko mumbled. Sayoko fished in her purse for the Angel. "You want to see him?"
"NOO!" They both shouted. Akiko snatched Sayoko's purse and stuffed it in a nearby drawer. "Em... I think it's best we talk to you alone."
"What's wrong with you guys? Why are you suspicious of Apollo?"
"The police finished their investigation of the fire at my house. It was no accident. Someone was behind it." He narrowed green eyes. "Apollo was involved."
Bewildered, Sayoko let out a nervous laugh. "You're kidding me right? You don't think Apollo could have done that?"
Akiko touched her shoulder. "I know it's hard to accept, but if Apollo is an ArchAngel, he could have the power to use Tamomo's machines against him. He already fits the characteristics. He heals by himself, acts on his own, and you even said you have dreams about him. It's the only explanation."
"What do my dreams have to do with anything?!"
"Sayoko-chan, according to legend, an ArchAngel can synchronize it's brain waves with his Deus," Tamomo explained. "Theoretically, they can share a telepathic bond. If this is true with Apollo, he fits all the criteria for a legendary ArchAngel."
Anger surged inside her. "No, no, NO! Apollo would never harm anyone! You're just jealous that I have an advanced Angel." She tore open the drawer and snatched her purse. "How could you even think he was involved!? I thought you were my.. my..." She was at a lost for words. She grabbed her coat and fled the room.
Tamomo sighed deeply, regret in his voice. "Leave her alone, Akiko. She won't listen to us."
"Nani? And leave her with him?"
"It's won't be easy for her to accept. The ArchAngel of legend was extremely powerful and destroyed his first Deus. If Apollo is truly one of them, he could do the same to her." He stared out the open window. "That's something Sayoko will never believe."
A trembling Sayoko wept in Apollo's arms.
"It's not true..." she choked out, "Tamomo and Akiko are wrong. You.. would never... never hurt.. anyone..."
The Angel held her close. It pained him to see his Deus in so much pain, but it angered him even more. He would hurt Tamomo and Akiko for making her cry..
"Apollo.. I know you aren't an ArchAngel, but if you are.." she fixed soulful brown eyes on his. "What could you do?"
Green eyes lit up in surprise, then softened. The golden-haired Angel snuggled his nose in her hair. "What would you like me to do?"
"..I don't want anything but.. I just want to know if it was true that ArchAngels can control other machines... is it true?"
"If that is what you wish..." Smiling, he cupped her teary face in his hands and wiped them dry. "I'll show you what I can do."
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A flood of light poured out of Apollo's body. He rose up, Sayoko sleeping beside him, and slipped out of her hand. From his back, silver wings sprouted and flapped; a golden halo materialized above his brow. The radiating Angel flitted to the middle of the bedroom, eyes closed, and clasped his hands together.
Outside, the lights turned dark...
()*()*()
Akiko blinked in the darkness. "What happened?"
"We must be experiencing a power shortage," Tamomo explained. "The lights should come back on in a few moments."
Akiko slipped from her chair and jutted her head through the window, peering closely. "Masaka.. Look outside! It's not just the hospital. The whole city is dark!" She spun her head around with frantic eyes. "It must be some type of blackout."
()*()*()
Youkou was cruising down busy streets when a car nearly crushed her. She skidded her skateboard to the sidewalk, then looked up. The street lights and lamp posts had suddenly gone dead, blanketing the city in darkness. In the distance, cars and buses slammed into each other, causing an outburst of panic in the streets.
"What the hell is going on?" Youkou exclaimed. On her shoulder, a shocked Solana shook her head. Apollo, why are you causing this?
()*()*()
Raven pointed to the black skyline of Tokyo. "It's doing this, isn't it?"
"Mmmm... yeah. The blackout's still spreading." Daemon tapped swiftly on his battery-powered laptop. "He's draining all the energy from Tokyo, but the Omura house still has electricity. Figures."
"I'm glad you find this amusing," she sneered, staring out into the bleakness. "It's not even at full power, but it's already capable of bringing a whole city to it's knees. How did it become so strong?"
Daemon chuckled lighthearted, closing his computer. He stood up and leaned against his comrade's shoulder. "It's the girl. She's his strength." He wrapped his arms around her neck. "And if all goes well, she'll be out of the picture."
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"No school today?" Sayoko yawned as she stumbled into the kitchen. Hoshiru nodded. "There was a citywide blackout last night. Lots of car crashes and train derailments. Since there's no public transportation, all schools are off."
"Whoo-hooh! No school!" She ran over and hugged her father, than swiped a bagel from the table. "I'm going back to sleep."
"Sweet dreams," he laughed. She bounded up the staircase to her room. Once she left, his smile quickly evaporated.
"Having doubts?" Michiru asked mockingly from the table. Her husband sighed heavily. "I was hoping he'd know how to use his power correctly by now. People could have been killed last night."
"Since when did he ever care about life? He cares only for her. If she wasn't such a moron, she would have known that." The blond rose up and headed for the bedroom. "But she doesn't. The fool possess an ArchAngel that knows no right nor wrong, and she doesn't even know it. Until she faces her denial of what he is, it will only get worse."