Here I try to convey
all the thoughts in my head,
but regret stays my hand.

Chapter 4
-from marble heights

Mamoru leaned against the balcony railing, his back to the wind and the people far below him. He wasn't scared of the height, although maybe it was more concern than fear he was lacking. He smiled a bit and tried to see the great height in his mind's eye. He imagined looking up from the courtyard to the observation tower's only balcony and seeing a figure in black leaning so lazily against such a superficial railing.

"What a mood to be in," he said softly, chastising himself. He put his hand to his forehead, sighing, but stopped when he felt the smooth cold metal against his skin. Withdrawing his hand, he saw his ring; a symbol of the crescent moon inlaid with gold on the opal surface, and set in a band of white gold. He slipped it off his ring finger, and turned to lean on his elbows, to examine it. How easy it would be for him to just drop it. Watch it disappear in its descent, a height too great to even hear it land. He smiled then and slipped it back onto his ring finger.

Such a superfluity, he thought. It was because of this sentiment that he refused to wear the uniform of the student council. "Not just that," he breathed, plucking at his dark sleeves, "All of this, this entire school!" He stood up straighter, all but leaning out over the railing. The sunlight couldn't penetrate the shadows in the courtyard, but instead glinted off the roofs of the surrounding buildings. It was too much. Everything seemed ethereal, clean and perfect. Such elegance, he thought, such cold elegance that even the sunlight cannot penetrate. "Almost like it was designed that way," he mused, looking at the expanse of the large courtyard. He imagined the words he spoke being carried off by the wind, over the buildings and out of the school grounds entirely. If he were to plead, to whom would the winds carry his cries?

"Such a precarious position, Mr. President," a soft voice disturbed his thoughts.

He smiled to himself. He knew who it was without turning around. Rei always had a way of seeing through things. "Whatever do you mean," he said, glancing over his shoulder, still smiling. He liked her company.

Rei didn't approach the balcony; she instead stood a little ways behind Mamoru, feeling a bit like she had interrupted something. Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything, she thought. Her long black hair swayed softly with the passing breezes. Mamoru turned to lean his back against the railing once again. "You're early," he said offhandedly, noticing Rei's sudden discomfort.

"I can't really say I didn't expect to find you here," she replied, outwardly ignoring his statement. "You're the one who called the meeting, after all."

Glancing once more out over the academy, Mamoru walked past Rei and sat at a table set up for the meeting. After a moment she joined him. "Is it important?" she asked taking a seat opposite him.

He looked at her for a moment before responding. "Yes." Rei's brows furrowed. Mamoru reached into his coat pocket and pulled out an envelope. He tossed it over to her. She looked at it for a moment before picking it up. It was addressed to all of them, but she still didn't want to open it.

"It's from him." She set it back down again. "World's End." Rei was silent for a moment, but then spoke again. "What I want to know, though, is who is…" she trailed off, noticing Mamoru wasn't paying attention. She looked to where he was looking back into the tower. "A cat!" she exclaimed upon seeing a small white cat poking around inside.

Then they heard a voice. "Artemis!" Minako stepped out of the shadows of the interior room and onto the wide balcony, following the white cat. "It's dangerous up here; you can't just go wandering around wherever you please." She picked him up and walked over to the table.

"Where did you get that cat?" Rei asked at the same time Mamoru asked, "Artemis?"

Minako sat down with Artemis in her lap before explaining. "He's been following me around since yesterday so I decided to name him. Look at this mark on his forehead!"

Mamoru and Rei leaned in and he repeated his question. "But why Artemis?" On the cat's forehead was a strange yellow mark in the shape of a crescent moon. Mamoru's eyes widened and he glanced down at his ring.

Rei and Minako didn't notice. "I just like the name I guess," Minako said, shrugging.

"I think what Mamoru means is that if the cat's a boy, why didn't you name him Apollo?"

"Apollo? What are you talking about?"

Rei sighed. "Artemis is a Greek goddess. She has a twin brother, Apollo. Seems kind of strange to give a male cat a female name." To Rei it also seemed a bit lonely. Where is your Apollo then, she asked the cat silently. He stared up at her with large blue eyes.

"Oh. Well, the name seems to fit," she said lifting the cat into the air. "He definitely looks more like an Artemis than an Apollo." The little cat meowed at her in discomfort.

Rei was looking at Mamoru now, who was staring at his ring. "Mamoru?"

He broke his reverie. "Hmm? Hey, does anyone know where Seiya is?"

"He's probably off -" Minako's speculation was interrupted by the sound of the inner chamber doors opening. Seiya walked out to the balcony briskly, a smug on his face. Michiru followed behind.

"What's this all about then?" He asked taking the last seat. Michiru stood a small distance away, not paying attention to the proceedings.

Mamoru glanced over at Rei who took out her notebook. She was the secretary, but it was more like she was responsible for fabricating the minutes of their meetings. She often made up functions on a whim, and the rest of the council wouldn't know about them until students congratulated them on this magnificent party, or that successful fundraiser. If what they really talked about at these meetings were to get out somehow…

Mamoru reached into his pocket and retrieved the envelope. "Here," he said simply, tossing the letter onto the table. Rei looked at it from under her eyebrows briefly, but then returned to her notes.

Minako snatched it up while Seiya leaned forward frowning a bit. "To break the world's shell," she read. "What's the meaning of this?" she asked more to herself as she broke the seal. She unfolded the parchment and was silent.

Seiya lost his patience. "Well? What is it?"

Mamoru answered. "A new duelist."

Rei dropped her pen. Seiya and Minako were staring at Mamoru, waiting for him to continue. "It says right there," he indicated the letter. "Keep reading."

Minako scanned the letter looking for the name. "I don't even know this person," she said, slightly confused. She handed the letter to Seiya. "How can he do this to us? How can World's End just add another duelist who we haven't even heard of?" Her tirade was cut short by Seiya's chuckle. All three looked at him. He smiled at them clearly amused.

"Seiya," Rei said slowly, "Do you know this person?"

He leaned back in his chair, "Yes." He said simply, carefully placing the letter back on the table.

to continue

AN: okiedokie, this is the chapter whereI take down my original, la.So! If you haven't read the original yet, then all the better, because it was really the worst thing I had ever written. Even myHarry Potter fic was better...yeah. As always, reviews are much appreciated. I know, I know, it'll take like a whole 3 seconds out of your day, but you know, I guess it's really the thoughtthat counts, right? Karma and all that jazz. This is my longest chapter for the revision, so it holds a special place in my heart.Iknow that's not saying much, but hey, I have a short attention span!Betweenrewatching key points inboth anime, finding new L'arc en Ciel to type to, gettingsomeone to proof itandstill going to classes,I'm lucky to post anything at all. Don't forget eating. I've been forgetting it myself, lately...
Btw, I find Kasou is an excellent song to write to. Hyde-sama! XD