Why on earth have I not updated? I don't know. Maybe laziness. Maybe lack of motivation. Maybe combination of both.
I'll try to end this fic within five chapters. Not making any promises though.
You all can just skip the first scene since you've reviewed it already.
To avoid confusion:
Michiru= Sayoko's stepmother/ aunt
Michiko=Sayoko's mother, older sister to Michiru
I really need a beta reader. Anyone wanna be one?
New reviewers for incomplete chapter 13:
DayDreamer9: What'll happen next, you ask? Oh, not much. Just a few secrets revealed, more characters emerge, and a few deaths here and there. Nothing unusual :P Thanks for the review
Riyna-chan: I hope you liked my ridiculously lengthy review. As you can guess, I ramble alot. I plan on making Apollo less scary, but then again, I never planned him to get this..er.... insane --
Destiny Goddess: Ooooh, suspensefulishness, a new word just for me. I'm muchogratefully thankacious for your reviewingation.
Senagirl: Someone said my style is great. Weeeeeeeeee! [twirling] Arigatou!!
Pai297: Thanks for the congratulations on my fic and graduation. [tosses cap into air] The ceremony bored the heck out of me; three hours full of speeches, speeches, and more speeches. But I'm outta high school! Yipee!!
Talisman of light: Thanks for the review. m/ m/ Sorry, I always wanted to type that smiley :P
Nix Entente: Now now, no need to be hasty. Apollo may be a friggin' psycho, but not a friggin' flippin' psycho. There's a distinct difference XD. And don't worry, Apollo will be stopped. He's not the strongest ArchAngel around... but maybe I've said too much..Anyway, enjoy this new chapter.
Navi-Zero: Sure, I'll tell you that everything will get better. May not be the truth, though. :D Thanks for the review...Hey wait, I think you're my first male reviewer! Sweet!
Divine Guardian: Honestly, even I don't know if I should feel sorry for him. But sooner or later he'll mature, and maybe even develop a conscience. Maybe. Possibly. Perhaps.... Thanks for the review.
And now, onward to [complete] chapter 13.
Chapter 13: A Human's soul
"Yes. I am one of the legendary ArchAngels. If you wish, I can do anything you desire from me. But my strength relies on you. I cannot achieve my full power without your acceptance." Apollo smiled softly, sweetly, eyes twinkling. "Sayoko-sama, what is your decision?"
No. This could not be happening. Locked in Apollo's emerald gaze, Sayoko did not want to grasp the horrendous truth. But it was true; she could no longer deny it. Apollo was an ArchAngel. Apollo was the cause of all her misfortune. Apollo was a killer.
Shock soon gave way to anger.
"Decision? Decision?!" The words came out hot and fast, stinging with feelings of betrayal and fury. "You lied to me, took away my friends, made me an outcast, and you want me to make a decision?! YOU MONSTER!" Smack! Sayoko hurled a massive slap to his face. Startled by the blow, the Angel touched his bruised cheek with trembling fingers. "Sayoko-sama?"
"Do you have any idea what you've done!" Sayoko ranted on. "You've killed people, Apollo! You're a murderer! How can I accept you after what you've done?" Brown eyes blazed resentfully, new tears bursting through. "I trusted you. How could you do this to me?"
"I did it for you." He reached out to hold her, but the enraged girl smacked away his hands. "I didn't ask for this. I never wanted you to begin with! Papa forced me to make you and enter the tournament. If only you hadn't been created, Akiko and Tamomo-san would be... Mama would have been...." It was too much. Sayoko crumbled over her knees and whimpered.
The confused Angel descended to her eye level. "I don't understand. I gave you everything you wanted. Why are you angry with me?"
The trembling girl raised her teary face, full of contempt. "You don't get it at all. You've done horrible things, but you don't even think what you've done is wrong. It's like you have no soul."
"Wrong? Soul?" The Angel frowned at the unfamiliar concepts. "What are those?"
Sayoko sniffed. "You'll never understand what it means to have a conscience or a soul because you're not human; just something that kills without mercy. Akiko tried to warn me about you, but I wouldn't... listen...." Her words drowned into garbled sobs.
Monster. Murderer. No soul. Apollo winced from her harsh words. They were constant reminders of who he was, WHAT he was. The radiant Angel bowed his head. "I can do many things as an ArchAngel. But even though I try, I cannot be like you Sayoko. I cannot be human. But you can still accept me as I am, can you? Isn't that what friends do?"
Her face twisted with disgust. "You've ruined my life and you dare call me your friend! I hate you!"
Silence.
No movement. No speech. Apollo sat motionless before her. Hearing those powerful words did more than just crush his heart. The once exuberant green eyes dulled; life drained from his face; even his illustrious aura lost its glow.
At that fateful moment, Apollo had lost his soul.
And at that moment, the demonic madness within him revived.
A smirk crept his lips. "Then I hate you as well."
With terrifying speed, the Angel lashed out and grabbed her wrists, squeezing his fingernails until it pierced her skin. Sayoko cried out in pain. "If you are not my friend, you are my enemy. You have made your decision, and you now will reap the consequences."
His clutch tightened, she could feel her wrist cracking under the pressure. It was too horrifying for her to believe. To see Apollo, once tender and compassionate, inflicting so much malicious pain frightened her beyond words. "Apollo, stop! What are you doing?!"
"Your orders mean nothing to me. You are no longer my Deus." Crack. Sayoko screamed as her wrist twisted under his cruel grip. But Apollo remained indifferent, flinging the girl away as if discarding trash.
"I wanted to give you everything," he spoke, his icy voice somewhat softening. "Anything you asked for I would have done. I wanted you.. US to be happy. But if you cannot accept me for what I am, you no longer deserve me." Apollo stood up, demonic eyes pulsing, his body glistening a wickedly red aura. With a repulsive glare,the Angel flew off and drifted into the darkness, his last words echoing in the abyss: "Am I monster to you, Sayoko-chan? So be it. I will show you what a monster is capable of."
--
Apollo proved good on his threat.
Days after his disappearance, an outbreak of madness spread across Angelic Layer. One by one Angels were succumbing to a mysterious plague, becoming more violent, more disobedient, more vicious in their attacks. Finally, the inevitable arrived. From Buranche's brutal slashing of Shirahime, to Mao's decapitation by Ranga, Angels all over Japan were killing each other. And Sayoko knew Apollo was behind it all.
Do you hate me that much, Apollo?, Sayoko sniffed as creaked open the door to her house. She looked down at her broken wrist. Do you care that Suzuhara is disqualified because of you, or that the Tournament's postponed? No...you probably enjoy watching me suffer.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this," sighed Sayoko's father from the kitchen door. Sayoko stalled in the hallway and listened on. She could hear her stepmother's voice laughing.
"Who are you fooling? You knew Alpha would pull a stunt like this when she found out. It was the same with Michiko. What were you thinking when you gave him to her?"
"Sayoko-chan was the last hope we had for him. She could have brought out his full potential."
"But she didn't. And now he's raising havoc among all the Angels. You know what we must do."
"Do what?!" Sayoko flung herself into the kitchen. The stunned adults looked at each other.
"Yes, Hoshi-chan, do what?" Michiru glanced smugly at her husband and awaited his response. Hoshiko glanced at Michiru, then at his daughter, then at the floor.
"Oh NOW you're silent. I suppose I'll have to tell her." Michiru folded her arms over her business suit, facing Sayoko with an annoyed sneer. "I'm sure you know by now that Apollo is an ArchAngel. But your failure as his deus has caused him to disrupt the harmony of Angelic Layer. Now we must clean up your mess."
"My failure?" An offended Sayoko snapped.
"Yes, your failure. Apollo has capabilities even we do not know of. With the right Deus, he can unlock his true power. But with a naive and inferior deus such as yourself, he becomes mental unstable and eventually turns destructive. Frankly," Michiru added with a touch of arrogance. "You're not good enough to be his deus."
"Michi-chan, stop." Hoshiko ordered. Michiru glared back. "No. It's time she found out the truth." She turned back to Sayoko. "As his deus you were supposed to strengthen his abilities and keep him in check. In essence, you were to control him, not befriend him, but you failed in both. Just like Michiko-neesan."
"Then, is it true..?" Sayoko asked fearfully. "Was Mama Apollo's first Deus?"
"Yes," replied Michiru matter-of-factly, no hint of sympathy. "Your father, mother and I were the three designers behind Project ArchAngels. Michiko handled Alpha; we were the deuses of Beta, Gamma and Delta."
"And did he..to his first Deus...did he..."
"Yes, and he'll do the same thing to you. Everything he has done until now he has done before with your mother."
It was true. Her worst fear had come to light. Disgusted by her parents' lack of concern, Sayoko screamed out, "You knew he killed Mama, but you gave him to me anyway?! How could you do this?!"
"We were desperate." Michiru said blandly. "Sayoko, didn't you find it strange that you knew nothing about Angelic Layer though your family creates Angels for a living? We kept you ignorant of Angelic Layer for a reason. Any Deus would have realized that Apollo was not a normal angel and might have grown suspicious. What we needed was someone naive enough not to ask questions about his origins; someone with little knowledge of Angelic Layer. And that person was you."
Sayoko calmed down long enough to ask, "But you could have chosen any one who didn't know Angelic Layer. Why me?"
"Simple. You were the easiest and most available person we could think of. Our other 3 ArchAngels were captured and his first Deus died. If we couldn't find at least one deus that was compatible with him, Chief would have cut our funding, and Project ArchAngels would have been a waste." She sauntered over to Sayoko with a cocky expression, high heels clacking, red lips toying into a dark smile. "So as you can see, little Sayoko, you were merely a last ditch effort to save money. Your father didn't give you Apollo as a gift; he was using you a guinea pig for his invention."
"That's not true! Icchan and Papa had faith in me to become a great deus. I wasn't just a guinea pig."
"And you believed them? Don't make me laugh. They had less faith in you than I had." The blond flicked an amused glance at her silent husband. "The only reason Chief is teaching you is because you own an Advanced Angel. He's interested in Apollo, not you. You're just a third-rate Deus."
"Enough, Michiru..." Hoshiru said weakly.
"You're lying! I earned my way into the Nationals. I don't need Apollo to win. Right, Papa?"
Hoshiko stared sadly at the floor.
Sayoko was too shocked to cry. All this time you were lying to me.. Apollo was right. I couldn't trust any of you.
"Perhaps if we found a deus that was competent, Project ArchAngels might have been a success. But it's too late. Apollo is too powerful and mentally unstable now." Michiru's sarcastic voice turned cold. "We must terminate him."
The tears began to flow down Sayoko's face. "No... NO!! You can't kill him! He's done bad things, but he doesn't mean to. I can still change him. Right, Papa?"
Her father didn't answer.
"Kill him?" Michiru chuckled darkly. "You act as if he's alive. You should know by now that he has no soul."
Sayoko bowed her head, thinking back to her own rage-incited words she flung days before. She clutched her school blouse at the painful memories. "I know he's not human, but to me he's alive. He has feelings; he has a heart. He's my friend. And I won't let you take that away from him!" She whirled around and flew out of kitchen with not a glance back. The door slammed loudly behind her.
--
"YOU IDIOT!"
A punch to the face sent Daemon flying to the wall. Raven flared blazing black eyes into his, fists still stinging from the blow. "You were supposed to keep surveillance on the Prototype, but you let it escape? Now it's controlling all the Angels in Japan, and we have no idea where the hell it is!"
Daemon rubbed his cheek blithely. "You look even more beautiful when angered, Rav-chan--"
Another kick to the chest embedded the Daemon back into the concrete. The incensed Raven paced wildly around the laboratory. "Ahou! Your plan failed as usual. You said that Namida-san would have stolen Alpha by now, but she hasn't. And we can't test his abilities during battle with the Tournament postponed. How are we going to capture him now?"
Daemon peeled himself off the wall. "I admit, I have not been attending to my missions as of late, and Youkou-chan has yet to inform me of her decision. But can you not see the beauty of this situation? The Prototype is obviously rejected by his deus. Now that they're separated, capturing him is even more simple then we had planned."
Raven glared at him suspiciously. "And how do you supposed we do that? We don't know where he is."
"True, we do not." The black-clad spy gestured to two Angels sitting obediently on a nearby table. "But they do. After all, who is more adept than capturing an ArchAngel than another ArchAngel?"
--
Apollo sat atop a high building surrounded by jolting power lines. Dangling his feet over the ledge, he overlooked the city with a thoughtful gaze, winds flapping his golden overcoat behind him. Sighing,he sank his head between his hands.
He missed Sayoko.
But he hated her as well. He remembered the words all too clearly: "...You're just some THING that kills without mercy... You've ruined my life and you dare call me your friend! I hate you!" His eyes sparked hatefully just by the thought.
"Isn't this what you want Sayoko-chan? To see what a monster I can be?" he smirked, surveyed the bustling streets. It was too easy. He was awed by his own power to destroy his fellow Angels, and when the time came, he would kill Sayoko.
"Would you like me to destroy your family as well?" He giggled in his madness. But his laughter soon ceased; the smile faded. He didn't understand it. He couldn't bring himself to destroy his former Deus, but why? Why did he feel empty without her?
"Because you still care for her."
Apollo didn't bother turn around to know who said it. "Solana."
Solana stood behind him, radiant in her jeweled skirt and orange top. "I can sense that your Deus has rejected you. But I cannot allow you to put anymore lives in danger. Please stop--" She gasped abruptly as Apollo slowly faced her. Something was terribly wrong with him. His skin had dulled into an awful gray shade. His glistening wings were a murky black, and the once golden halo and aura were a hideous blood red. And his eyes.. they were dead ruby orbs, no life at all. Solana turned her eyes in horror. Is this what happens when an ArchAngel is consumed with hate?
Apollo's dead lips sneered at her reaction. "Stop? For what purpose?" he croaked from the roof's ledge. "I am a murderer. I am a monster with no soul. All I can do is kill without mercy."
"You are not a monster--" She reached out, but was snapped back by a loose power line.
"Don't touch me," the ArchAngel ordered as the illuminated wires hovered around him. "Go away and don't come back. I hurt all those that come close to me."
Solana clutched her skirt, emotions rising. "That is a lie!"
"Is it? I have no recollection of my past, my present is in turmoil and my future uncertain." His voice lowered to a sad whisper. "My Deus has abandoned me. I have nothing else to live for now."
"You're in pain, Apollo. You're confused. I understand. But killing all the Angels to hurt your Deus will not make it better."
"Then what will?" He angrily shouted back. "I do not understand! Why does Sayoko hate me because I am 'wrong'? Is it 'wrong' to protect her?"
"No, but it is wrong to cause her and other people pain. Your intentions were pure-hearted, but your actions were astray." Solana took a tentative step forward, offering her hand to her brother. "I know deep down you don't want to do this. Please stop this. Sayoko can still forgive you."
"For..Forgive?" Apollo asked in his confusion. Solana smiled softly.
"Forgiveness is much like acceptance. And isn't that what you want from Sayoko-san?"
"Sayoko can still accept me?" Apollo looked down at her hand and stepped down. But just as their fingers touched, two fleeting shadows dashed between them and flung them to opposite sides. The golden-haired Angels landed simultaneously on their feet and faced their new opponents.
Two Angels stood before them. One, a male Angel dressed as a ninja with jet black hair cascading to his knees. The other, a female Angel, with a magnificently layered black kimono hanging off over her bare right shoulder, hair pinned up in a bun. Both wore a dangling crescent moon from their chained collars, as well as a blindfold over their eyes.
Apollo stood up, but Solana quickly restrained him. "We must flee," she spoke with quivering fear. Apollo glanced back at her. "Why?"
"You don't remember them, do you?" Her face whitened with anxiety. "Look at them carefully. Are they familiar to you?"
Apollo stared at the strangers. They were slender yet powertype Angels, and remained deathly silent and still, like two zombies poised to attack. Something was not right with the two, but what he wasn't sure.
At once, the black-haired Angels removed their handkerchiefs and faced their enemies.
Emerald green met emerald green.
Apollo blinked in surprise, "They're the same as us."
"Yes," Solana said sadly. "They are Gamma and Delta, our younger siblings. And they have come to capture us."
TO BE CONTINUED
I'll try to end this fic within five chapters. Not making any promises though.
You all can just skip the first scene since you've reviewed it already.
To avoid confusion:
Michiru= Sayoko's stepmother/ aunt
Michiko=Sayoko's mother, older sister to Michiru
I really need a beta reader. Anyone wanna be one?
New reviewers for incomplete chapter 13:
DayDreamer9: What'll happen next, you ask? Oh, not much. Just a few secrets revealed, more characters emerge, and a few deaths here and there. Nothing unusual :P Thanks for the review
Riyna-chan: I hope you liked my ridiculously lengthy review. As you can guess, I ramble alot. I plan on making Apollo less scary, but then again, I never planned him to get this..er.... insane --
Destiny Goddess: Ooooh, suspensefulishness, a new word just for me. I'm muchogratefully thankacious for your reviewingation.
Senagirl: Someone said my style is great. Weeeeeeeeee! [twirling] Arigatou!!
Pai297: Thanks for the congratulations on my fic and graduation. [tosses cap into air] The ceremony bored the heck out of me; three hours full of speeches, speeches, and more speeches. But I'm outta high school! Yipee!!
Talisman of light: Thanks for the review. m/ m/ Sorry, I always wanted to type that smiley :P
Nix Entente: Now now, no need to be hasty. Apollo may be a friggin' psycho, but not a friggin' flippin' psycho. There's a distinct difference XD. And don't worry, Apollo will be stopped. He's not the strongest ArchAngel around... but maybe I've said too much..Anyway, enjoy this new chapter.
Navi-Zero: Sure, I'll tell you that everything will get better. May not be the truth, though. :D Thanks for the review...Hey wait, I think you're my first male reviewer! Sweet!
Divine Guardian: Honestly, even I don't know if I should feel sorry for him. But sooner or later he'll mature, and maybe even develop a conscience. Maybe. Possibly. Perhaps.... Thanks for the review.
And now, onward to [complete] chapter 13.
Chapter 13: A Human's soul
"Yes. I am one of the legendary ArchAngels. If you wish, I can do anything you desire from me. But my strength relies on you. I cannot achieve my full power without your acceptance." Apollo smiled softly, sweetly, eyes twinkling. "Sayoko-sama, what is your decision?"
No. This could not be happening. Locked in Apollo's emerald gaze, Sayoko did not want to grasp the horrendous truth. But it was true; she could no longer deny it. Apollo was an ArchAngel. Apollo was the cause of all her misfortune. Apollo was a killer.
Shock soon gave way to anger.
"Decision? Decision?!" The words came out hot and fast, stinging with feelings of betrayal and fury. "You lied to me, took away my friends, made me an outcast, and you want me to make a decision?! YOU MONSTER!" Smack! Sayoko hurled a massive slap to his face. Startled by the blow, the Angel touched his bruised cheek with trembling fingers. "Sayoko-sama?"
"Do you have any idea what you've done!" Sayoko ranted on. "You've killed people, Apollo! You're a murderer! How can I accept you after what you've done?" Brown eyes blazed resentfully, new tears bursting through. "I trusted you. How could you do this to me?"
"I did it for you." He reached out to hold her, but the enraged girl smacked away his hands. "I didn't ask for this. I never wanted you to begin with! Papa forced me to make you and enter the tournament. If only you hadn't been created, Akiko and Tamomo-san would be... Mama would have been...." It was too much. Sayoko crumbled over her knees and whimpered.
The confused Angel descended to her eye level. "I don't understand. I gave you everything you wanted. Why are you angry with me?"
The trembling girl raised her teary face, full of contempt. "You don't get it at all. You've done horrible things, but you don't even think what you've done is wrong. It's like you have no soul."
"Wrong? Soul?" The Angel frowned at the unfamiliar concepts. "What are those?"
Sayoko sniffed. "You'll never understand what it means to have a conscience or a soul because you're not human; just something that kills without mercy. Akiko tried to warn me about you, but I wouldn't... listen...." Her words drowned into garbled sobs.
Monster. Murderer. No soul. Apollo winced from her harsh words. They were constant reminders of who he was, WHAT he was. The radiant Angel bowed his head. "I can do many things as an ArchAngel. But even though I try, I cannot be like you Sayoko. I cannot be human. But you can still accept me as I am, can you? Isn't that what friends do?"
Her face twisted with disgust. "You've ruined my life and you dare call me your friend! I hate you!"
Silence.
No movement. No speech. Apollo sat motionless before her. Hearing those powerful words did more than just crush his heart. The once exuberant green eyes dulled; life drained from his face; even his illustrious aura lost its glow.
At that fateful moment, Apollo had lost his soul.
And at that moment, the demonic madness within him revived.
A smirk crept his lips. "Then I hate you as well."
With terrifying speed, the Angel lashed out and grabbed her wrists, squeezing his fingernails until it pierced her skin. Sayoko cried out in pain. "If you are not my friend, you are my enemy. You have made your decision, and you now will reap the consequences."
His clutch tightened, she could feel her wrist cracking under the pressure. It was too horrifying for her to believe. To see Apollo, once tender and compassionate, inflicting so much malicious pain frightened her beyond words. "Apollo, stop! What are you doing?!"
"Your orders mean nothing to me. You are no longer my Deus." Crack. Sayoko screamed as her wrist twisted under his cruel grip. But Apollo remained indifferent, flinging the girl away as if discarding trash.
"I wanted to give you everything," he spoke, his icy voice somewhat softening. "Anything you asked for I would have done. I wanted you.. US to be happy. But if you cannot accept me for what I am, you no longer deserve me." Apollo stood up, demonic eyes pulsing, his body glistening a wickedly red aura. With a repulsive glare,the Angel flew off and drifted into the darkness, his last words echoing in the abyss: "Am I monster to you, Sayoko-chan? So be it. I will show you what a monster is capable of."
Apollo proved good on his threat.
Days after his disappearance, an outbreak of madness spread across Angelic Layer. One by one Angels were succumbing to a mysterious plague, becoming more violent, more disobedient, more vicious in their attacks. Finally, the inevitable arrived. From Buranche's brutal slashing of Shirahime, to Mao's decapitation by Ranga, Angels all over Japan were killing each other. And Sayoko knew Apollo was behind it all.
Do you hate me that much, Apollo?, Sayoko sniffed as creaked open the door to her house. She looked down at her broken wrist. Do you care that Suzuhara is disqualified because of you, or that the Tournament's postponed? No...you probably enjoy watching me suffer.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this," sighed Sayoko's father from the kitchen door. Sayoko stalled in the hallway and listened on. She could hear her stepmother's voice laughing.
"Who are you fooling? You knew Alpha would pull a stunt like this when she found out. It was the same with Michiko. What were you thinking when you gave him to her?"
"Sayoko-chan was the last hope we had for him. She could have brought out his full potential."
"But she didn't. And now he's raising havoc among all the Angels. You know what we must do."
"Do what?!" Sayoko flung herself into the kitchen. The stunned adults looked at each other.
"Yes, Hoshi-chan, do what?" Michiru glanced smugly at her husband and awaited his response. Hoshiko glanced at Michiru, then at his daughter, then at the floor.
"Oh NOW you're silent. I suppose I'll have to tell her." Michiru folded her arms over her business suit, facing Sayoko with an annoyed sneer. "I'm sure you know by now that Apollo is an ArchAngel. But your failure as his deus has caused him to disrupt the harmony of Angelic Layer. Now we must clean up your mess."
"My failure?" An offended Sayoko snapped.
"Yes, your failure. Apollo has capabilities even we do not know of. With the right Deus, he can unlock his true power. But with a naive and inferior deus such as yourself, he becomes mental unstable and eventually turns destructive. Frankly," Michiru added with a touch of arrogance. "You're not good enough to be his deus."
"Michi-chan, stop." Hoshiko ordered. Michiru glared back. "No. It's time she found out the truth." She turned back to Sayoko. "As his deus you were supposed to strengthen his abilities and keep him in check. In essence, you were to control him, not befriend him, but you failed in both. Just like Michiko-neesan."
"Then, is it true..?" Sayoko asked fearfully. "Was Mama Apollo's first Deus?"
"Yes," replied Michiru matter-of-factly, no hint of sympathy. "Your father, mother and I were the three designers behind Project ArchAngels. Michiko handled Alpha; we were the deuses of Beta, Gamma and Delta."
"And did he..to his first Deus...did he..."
"Yes, and he'll do the same thing to you. Everything he has done until now he has done before with your mother."
It was true. Her worst fear had come to light. Disgusted by her parents' lack of concern, Sayoko screamed out, "You knew he killed Mama, but you gave him to me anyway?! How could you do this?!"
"We were desperate." Michiru said blandly. "Sayoko, didn't you find it strange that you knew nothing about Angelic Layer though your family creates Angels for a living? We kept you ignorant of Angelic Layer for a reason. Any Deus would have realized that Apollo was not a normal angel and might have grown suspicious. What we needed was someone naive enough not to ask questions about his origins; someone with little knowledge of Angelic Layer. And that person was you."
Sayoko calmed down long enough to ask, "But you could have chosen any one who didn't know Angelic Layer. Why me?"
"Simple. You were the easiest and most available person we could think of. Our other 3 ArchAngels were captured and his first Deus died. If we couldn't find at least one deus that was compatible with him, Chief would have cut our funding, and Project ArchAngels would have been a waste." She sauntered over to Sayoko with a cocky expression, high heels clacking, red lips toying into a dark smile. "So as you can see, little Sayoko, you were merely a last ditch effort to save money. Your father didn't give you Apollo as a gift; he was using you a guinea pig for his invention."
"That's not true! Icchan and Papa had faith in me to become a great deus. I wasn't just a guinea pig."
"And you believed them? Don't make me laugh. They had less faith in you than I had." The blond flicked an amused glance at her silent husband. "The only reason Chief is teaching you is because you own an Advanced Angel. He's interested in Apollo, not you. You're just a third-rate Deus."
"Enough, Michiru..." Hoshiru said weakly.
"You're lying! I earned my way into the Nationals. I don't need Apollo to win. Right, Papa?"
Hoshiko stared sadly at the floor.
Sayoko was too shocked to cry. All this time you were lying to me.. Apollo was right. I couldn't trust any of you.
"Perhaps if we found a deus that was competent, Project ArchAngels might have been a success. But it's too late. Apollo is too powerful and mentally unstable now." Michiru's sarcastic voice turned cold. "We must terminate him."
The tears began to flow down Sayoko's face. "No... NO!! You can't kill him! He's done bad things, but he doesn't mean to. I can still change him. Right, Papa?"
Her father didn't answer.
"Kill him?" Michiru chuckled darkly. "You act as if he's alive. You should know by now that he has no soul."
Sayoko bowed her head, thinking back to her own rage-incited words she flung days before. She clutched her school blouse at the painful memories. "I know he's not human, but to me he's alive. He has feelings; he has a heart. He's my friend. And I won't let you take that away from him!" She whirled around and flew out of kitchen with not a glance back. The door slammed loudly behind her.
--
"YOU IDIOT!"
A punch to the face sent Daemon flying to the wall. Raven flared blazing black eyes into his, fists still stinging from the blow. "You were supposed to keep surveillance on the Prototype, but you let it escape? Now it's controlling all the Angels in Japan, and we have no idea where the hell it is!"
Daemon rubbed his cheek blithely. "You look even more beautiful when angered, Rav-chan--"
Another kick to the chest embedded the Daemon back into the concrete. The incensed Raven paced wildly around the laboratory. "Ahou! Your plan failed as usual. You said that Namida-san would have stolen Alpha by now, but she hasn't. And we can't test his abilities during battle with the Tournament postponed. How are we going to capture him now?"
Daemon peeled himself off the wall. "I admit, I have not been attending to my missions as of late, and Youkou-chan has yet to inform me of her decision. But can you not see the beauty of this situation? The Prototype is obviously rejected by his deus. Now that they're separated, capturing him is even more simple then we had planned."
Raven glared at him suspiciously. "And how do you supposed we do that? We don't know where he is."
"True, we do not." The black-clad spy gestured to two Angels sitting obediently on a nearby table. "But they do. After all, who is more adept than capturing an ArchAngel than another ArchAngel?"
--
Apollo sat atop a high building surrounded by jolting power lines. Dangling his feet over the ledge, he overlooked the city with a thoughtful gaze, winds flapping his golden overcoat behind him. Sighing,he sank his head between his hands.
He missed Sayoko.
But he hated her as well. He remembered the words all too clearly: "...You're just some THING that kills without mercy... You've ruined my life and you dare call me your friend! I hate you!" His eyes sparked hatefully just by the thought.
"Isn't this what you want Sayoko-chan? To see what a monster I can be?" he smirked, surveyed the bustling streets. It was too easy. He was awed by his own power to destroy his fellow Angels, and when the time came, he would kill Sayoko.
"Would you like me to destroy your family as well?" He giggled in his madness. But his laughter soon ceased; the smile faded. He didn't understand it. He couldn't bring himself to destroy his former Deus, but why? Why did he feel empty without her?
"Because you still care for her."
Apollo didn't bother turn around to know who said it. "Solana."
Solana stood behind him, radiant in her jeweled skirt and orange top. "I can sense that your Deus has rejected you. But I cannot allow you to put anymore lives in danger. Please stop--" She gasped abruptly as Apollo slowly faced her. Something was terribly wrong with him. His skin had dulled into an awful gray shade. His glistening wings were a murky black, and the once golden halo and aura were a hideous blood red. And his eyes.. they were dead ruby orbs, no life at all. Solana turned her eyes in horror. Is this what happens when an ArchAngel is consumed with hate?
Apollo's dead lips sneered at her reaction. "Stop? For what purpose?" he croaked from the roof's ledge. "I am a murderer. I am a monster with no soul. All I can do is kill without mercy."
"You are not a monster--" She reached out, but was snapped back by a loose power line.
"Don't touch me," the ArchAngel ordered as the illuminated wires hovered around him. "Go away and don't come back. I hurt all those that come close to me."
Solana clutched her skirt, emotions rising. "That is a lie!"
"Is it? I have no recollection of my past, my present is in turmoil and my future uncertain." His voice lowered to a sad whisper. "My Deus has abandoned me. I have nothing else to live for now."
"You're in pain, Apollo. You're confused. I understand. But killing all the Angels to hurt your Deus will not make it better."
"Then what will?" He angrily shouted back. "I do not understand! Why does Sayoko hate me because I am 'wrong'? Is it 'wrong' to protect her?"
"No, but it is wrong to cause her and other people pain. Your intentions were pure-hearted, but your actions were astray." Solana took a tentative step forward, offering her hand to her brother. "I know deep down you don't want to do this. Please stop this. Sayoko can still forgive you."
"For..Forgive?" Apollo asked in his confusion. Solana smiled softly.
"Forgiveness is much like acceptance. And isn't that what you want from Sayoko-san?"
"Sayoko can still accept me?" Apollo looked down at her hand and stepped down. But just as their fingers touched, two fleeting shadows dashed between them and flung them to opposite sides. The golden-haired Angels landed simultaneously on their feet and faced their new opponents.
Two Angels stood before them. One, a male Angel dressed as a ninja with jet black hair cascading to his knees. The other, a female Angel, with a magnificently layered black kimono hanging off over her bare right shoulder, hair pinned up in a bun. Both wore a dangling crescent moon from their chained collars, as well as a blindfold over their eyes.
Apollo stood up, but Solana quickly restrained him. "We must flee," she spoke with quivering fear. Apollo glanced back at her. "Why?"
"You don't remember them, do you?" Her face whitened with anxiety. "Look at them carefully. Are they familiar to you?"
Apollo stared at the strangers. They were slender yet powertype Angels, and remained deathly silent and still, like two zombies poised to attack. Something was not right with the two, but what he wasn't sure.
At once, the black-haired Angels removed their handkerchiefs and faced their enemies.
Emerald green met emerald green.
Apollo blinked in surprise, "They're the same as us."
"Yes," Solana said sadly. "They are Gamma and Delta, our younger siblings. And they have come to capture us."
TO BE CONTINUED