Chapter 10

"Ready for today's edition?" Celes asked as she sat down.

"What makes you think there will be an edition today?" Keima asked, poking at his breakfast.

"Nothing happened yesterday." Asuka pointed out, swirling around her juice.

"Or the day before."

"Or the day before that."

"Fine." Celes grumbled, "How about you Asuka? Talked to Shinji?"

Asuka sprayed her juice across the table into Keima's face. Keima grabbed his napkin.

"Thanks." Keima muttered, "I always like juice with my food."

"Sorry." Asuka apologized.

"It's fine."

"So have you?" Celes asked.

"No." Asuka muttered.

"Why not? It's not his fault!"

"He went and had a kid with that…..that……"

"Asuka." Keima said in a low voice, "I was there listening too. Between when you died and when Yoko was born was like two hundred plus years."

"So?"

"That's a long time to be alone, don't you think?"

Asuka shrugged, "Rei's done well."

"Shinji isn't Rei." Keima pointed out.

Asuka went silent.

"Good morning." AU Sayoko said as she sat down beside Asuka. "Where are the others?"

"Rayne is probably heading to bed." Celes replied, "She has this sun allergy."

"Morgan is also probably asleep." Keima added, "Your mother and your Aunt are out looking around the city. Lime is upstairs with Otaru and Yoko. Cherry and Bloodberry are in the kitchen and Megami……."

"Is there." Celes pointed, "Show time."

The group went silent as Megami came out of the kitchen with a plate of food. She then sat down and started to eat. A moment later Sentaro came down the stairs and went into the kitchen. When he came out, he took a seat across from Megami.

"Oooh yeah" Celes cackled, "More money coming my way."

"It isn't official yet." Keima muttered, "Besides, Arael has yet to make an appearance."

They waited for another ten minutes. By that time, Sentaro had gotten up and put his plate away. He then walked out the front door.

"……and once again," Celes said, "Arael is a no show." Celes looked at her watch. "I gotta go. Lime and the other Sabers are being released today."

"Where is she?" Keima asked, "This is the fourth day now."

"She spends a lot of time to herself, sitting on the roof." Asuka replied.

"Well how is she supposed to end up with Sentaro if she stays up there?" Keima asked.

"Just let her be." Asuka said, "She needs time."

"We seem to have plenty of it." Keima grumbled, "First we get repeated demon attacks, now nothing. What are they up to?"

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Heaven

Sayoko walked up to the door of the Ikari home and knocked. After a moment or two, the door swung open to reveal Yui.

"Hey Auntie." Yui said.

"Your father here?" Sayoko asked.

Yui nodded. "He's in the back, brooding."

Yui led the way through the house towards the back.

"Asuka still won't talk to him?" Sayoko asked.

Yui nodded.

"Why?" Sayoko asked.

"He had a kid with another woman."

"But that's in the future!" Sayoko replied, "Hell, both Asuka and I are……were……will be…….hell I don't know."

Yui shrugged. "I've given up understanding Mom's moods."

Sayoko chuckled, then paused in the living room. Sitting there were Kristine and Cayla.

"What are you two doing here?" Sayoko asked.

"Talking to Yui." Kristine replied.

"Right." Sayoko glanced at each girl curiously, then returned her gaze to Yui. "Out back right?" She then stepped out the door.

"She's getting more curious." Kristine muttered.

"So is Sempai." Cayla added.

"There's really little we can do." Yui replied, "We're stuck up here. Arael is the only one that can do anything and she's……."

"A love sick puppy." Kristine finished.

"Exactly. By the way, how is that going?"

"Sempai asked Asuka the last time they conversed." Cayla said, "Arael is avoiding Sentaro, and vice versa."

"Uh oh." Kristine murmured, "Trouble in paradise."

"Don't suppose you'd be willing to get him to talk to her?" Yui asked.

"Heck no." Kristine replied, "I got Megami in the pool."

"Kris, he's your brother."

"Fine. I'll talk to him." Kristine raised a finger, "But I'm not pushing him towards Arael.

"Deal."

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Draco moved quickly through the halls of Hell, followed closely behind by Loki. He reached a door guarded by several cloned demons. They parted, allowing the two to enter the room.

There were no lights on, only the light from the door prevented Draco and Loki from hitting anything.

"Yes?" came a deep voice.

"It's time." Draco said, "Go. Fulfill our destiny."

"It's about time." The deep voice said. Then there was a flash, then nothing.

"I hope you are right about him." Loki said.

"You didn't protest much before I cloned him." Draco snapped back.

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"You know sitting up here avoiding him isn't going to change things."

Arael glanced over her shoulder to see Asuka walking along the peak of the roof towards her. Upon reaching the Angel, Asuka sat down on the roof and looked off in the direction Arael had been looking in.

"Nice day."

"Yeah."

"Yen for your thoughts?"

"I do not believe I can spend Yen on Terra 2."

Asuka nodded, "Yeah, the exchange rate probably sucks too. So are you just going to sit up here until they attack again?"

"Maybe."

"Arael, sitting up here isn't going to change anything."

"Perhaps not." Arael agreed, "But I want things to return to normal."

"Sorry to break this to you, but things won't be normal ever again."

Arael sighed.

"I know."

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Earth

He appeared in the countryside, far enough from the city that no one would see him, yet close enough to see the lights and hear the traffic.

He hated it.

The Lilim had destroyed this world that had been a paradise, and now it was payback, tenfold.

His body began to morph and grow. Soon a giant being of white light stood upon the plain. He looked towards the city with glowing red eyes. He then pressed his hands together and closed his eyes. His hands began to glow. He opened his eyes, now flashing a brilliant red.

When he pulled his hands apart, a bright flash went off, brighter then even the sun. The flash incinerated everything around for miles. A shockwave formed and continued on where the flash left off, leaving in it's wake a red glow.

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Terra 2

Arael was staring at the city when it felt like something had clenched her chest, tightening ever slowly. Her eyes went wide as she let out a gasp.

"Arael?" Asuka asked, "You ok?"

Arael felt her entire body shudder uncontrollably. A roaring noise filled her ears, blocking out most other sounds. She could still hear Asuka, but she couldn't tell what she was saying. The clenching in her chest increased, now causing her pain. Tears rolled down from her eyes. She could hear Asuka's frantic cries now, as well as another voice crying out.

Then she realized it was her own.

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Heaven

Peorth stared blankly at the main screen. Alarm after alarm screamed at her, at the admins. But there was nothing they could do.

Except watch.

"What's happening?" Belldandy asked, as she, Sayoko, and Kristine entered.

"It's……." Peorth tried to speak, but words failed her.

Belldandy looked up at the screen, as did Sayoko and Kristine. Kristine frowned and immediately ran to the SysOp panel. What she read made her jaw drop.

"My goddess……."

"What is it?" Sayoko asked.

"Adam." Kristine replied.

"Second Impact.' Belldandy murmured.

"This is worse." Kristine replied, "This is making Third Impact look like a small firework."

"Is there…….?"

Kristine shook her head.

"No one on that planet will survive."

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"Dammit help me here."

"I got her. I got her."

"Ease her down gently."

"Don't drop her!"

"I won't!"

"I don't know why you're bothering."

"Shut up you stupid Demon!"

Everything was a blur to Arael. She heard the voices, but wasn't able to respond. She could feel their hands as they carefully moved her, but she knew not where.

Then another voice spoke, silencing all the others, a voice she knew from the past.

"I know you are out there." The voice said, "They told me you were the last."

Arael's throat tightened up as if fingers had wrapped around her throat. Her heart practically stopped cold.

"You betrayed your brothers." The voice continued, "And you have betrayed me."

When the voice spoke again, it practically caressed her ears.

"You will pay for what you have done Arael."

Then all went silent and dark.

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Hell

Draco and Loki looked up as the grey haired man entered the control room.

"Well?" Draco asked.

The man turned his red eyes on Draco.

"I have down what you asked Demon," The man said, "and more."

Loki frowned. "More?"

"I reached out to the Fifteenth." The man said, "She knows I have returned."

"That was a bit premature Adam." Draco replied, "Those people could actually do something."

"Do what?" Adam asked, "Dying is the only thing they will do. I was only defeated before because of betrayal." Adam loomed over Draco. "Arael is nothing to me, but a bug to be squished."

Adam then turned around and left the room.

"What have you created?" Loki asked.

"Our victory." Draco replied.

"You very well could have created our deaths."

"No." Draco said with a smirk, "He cannot harm us. It is hardwired into his brain, along with orders to obey us."

"It doesn't prevent him from adding to his orders."

Draco shrugged, "So long as the primary goal is reached, what do I care what else he does."

"Whose primary goal?" Loki asked, "Yours, or his."

"Ours." Draco replied, "Enough talk. It's time to set the final plan into motion."

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Terra 2

Arael opened her eyes and sat up. She found herself in the bedroom over the restaurant that she had shared with Yui. A quick glance to the window showed the night had fallen. Arael let out a long sigh, then placed her head in her hands. Did that really happen? Did she really hear his voice? She remained there for a moment until she heard a soft snore.

She quickly looked to the opposite side. Sitting in a chair beside her bed, a book laying hazardly in his lap was Sentaro. Arael slowly moved her legs over the side of the bed and leaned forward, peering into Sentaro's face. He seemed peaceful, sleeping there, though he'd probably end up with a bad crick in his neck.

Arael lowered her feet to the floor and stood up. She slowly moved towards the door. Just as she reached it, a floorboard let out a low groan. Arael froze in place, hoping the noise wasn't as loud as she thought.

"You're up."

Apparently it was as loud as she thought.

"I did not want to disturb you." Arael said softly, still facing the door.

"Too late for that." Sentaro said, rising to his feet. "Everyone is disturbed. All because of you."

He moved beside her, and opened the door.

"You hungry?" he asked, "You've been out since before lunch."

Arael started to reply no, but then her stomach growled, causing her to blush.

Sentaro just smiled.

"Guess that's a yes."

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The restaurant was quiet, considering most of the occupants were upstairs asleep. Only four people were awake. Rayne, Celes, AU Lind, and Asuka were sitting in the only lit booth, talking quietly. All conversation stopped when Sentaro arrived leading Arael from the upstairs

"Good evening." Asuka said, "Nice to see you up and about. You know you scared me half to death."

"I'm sorry." Arael whispered.

"Don't be." Asuka moved forward and hugged Arael. The Angel stiffened.

"What?"

Asuka released Arael, then gently moved her into the booth. Sentaro climbed into the booth next door, but kneeled on the seat behind Arael, allowing him to rest his hands on her shoulders. While she found it unexpected, she did find it to be pleasant and reassuring.

"We know why you had that attack." Celes said.

"You do?" Arael asked. She was still unsure what had happened.

"About the same time you had your attack, Earth was…….." AU Lind's voice trailed off.

"….it's been turned into a cinder." Rayne finished.

"Wh..at?" Arael's stuttered slightly.

"We know how." Asuka said, "It was Adam."

Now Arael was trembling uncontrollably. Sentaro gently squeezed her shoulders, letting her know he was still there. Arael reached up with her right hand and grabbed his left, and squeezed back.

Thank-you.

"I heard him." Arael said softly, "He knows I live. He…….blames me for the loss of the others."

"Great." Rayne muttered, "Now we have the all powerful Angel that killed half of Earth's population once and has now finished the planet off, looking for us. Does anyone else have a problem with this?"

"He was stopped before." Asuka replied, "We'll stop him again."

"With what? We have no Evas."

"He was stopped well before the Evas. Hell, he was stopped well before most of recorded history."

"If my memory serves," Celes said, "he and all the others were stopped by Lilith."

Asuka nodded, "They were stopped by Lilith. But Lilith no longer exists for us in that form."

Lind raised a hand. "Could we awaken the Lilith of my universe?"

"I wouldn't even try it."

"Why not?" Sentaro asked. He'd flipped his left hand around and was now holding Arael's hand in his. "I mean, having Lilith here would make it easy to stop Adam then, wouldn't it?"

"It might." Asuka replied, "But look at it like this. Their universe never had a Mana. They also never had a second impact. Their Hild fought long and hard to get a hold of that Sayoko. Now, what makes you think that their Lilith is going to be willing to help us? Moreover, if we wake up their Lilith, what's stopping the other Angels from waking up?"

"She is right." Arael whispered, "Disturbing the mother and the father was what woke us, indirectly."

"We already tempted fate once. I'm not willing to let their world go to crap to save ours." Asuka sighed, "Sayoko is getting Eva Unit-4 up and running."

"Not much good unless she can get it here." Celes muttered.

"She is hopeful the gates will reopen." AU Lind replied, "They have not yet given up."

"Meanwhile," Asuka glanced at Rayne and Celes, "Don't you have something to do?"

"Yeah yeah." Rayne stood up, and headed towards the door. "The night is still young……"

"…and there's a scorcher of a moon out." Celes said with a smirk, "Sure you don't need lotion?"

"Fuck off." Rayne growled. The two vampires left.

"Lind…." Asuka began.

"I'll make sure they don't kill each other." AU Lind replied, "But if they keep it up, I might kill them." She soon followed the vampires out.

"I have a few things to check on." Asuka said, "Try to keep it down."

"Yes Auntie." Sentaro grumbled.

"Oh, and Sentaro……"

"What?"

"Don't be too rough on her."

"WHAT!"

Asuka chuckled as she left.

"What did she mean by that?" Arael asked softly.

Sentaro went red. "She …..uh….well….uh….she was……joking."

"Joking?"

"She thinks I…..uh….might get rough if we…uh….well….make-out."

Arael blushed and bowed her head.

"Oh."

"Not that I would or anything…I mean…I you see…..um….what…I mean…it's not that your ….um….." Sentaro continued to ramble.

"Thank you."

"Uhhhh huh?" Sentaro looked down at Arael, "For what?"

Arael slowly turned around and looked up into Sentaro's face.

"For telling me." She replied, "Most times, everyone says they'll tell me later."

"Yeah well I…….hey you said 'they'll'. You used a contraction."

"So?"

"You never have before."

Arael frowned. "Was I not supposed to?"

Sentaro patted her shoulder. "Don't worry about it. I just wasn't expecting it."

"Sentaro." Arael said, "What is this?"

"Eh?"

"This." She pointed to his hand, still resting on her shoulder. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Besides a hand I mean."

"I know what you mean." Sentaro replied, "Besides your attempt at humor." Sentaro sighed, "Honestly, I don't know."

"You……don't?"

Sentaro blinked, "You did it again."

"And you are dodging the question."

Sentaro moved around and sat beside Arael.

"I don't know how to say it." He began, "I mean, I know I care for you…………"

"But?"

"…….I just don't know." Sentaro replied, "This is all so……I mean, its happening so fast."

Arael looked down at her hands.

"I see."

"Arael I….."

She held up her hand.

"Don't say anything more." Arael replied quickly, "I don't wish to hear it. I can see I must have been mistaken." She then vanished.

"Well damn." Sentaro muttered.

"Baka."

Sentaro looked over to see Yoko standing nearby.

"What did you say?" he asked.

Yoko lifted up Mr. Bear.

"Mr. Bear thinks you're a Baka and I agree."

Sentaro frowned. "You know you shouldn't use words like that."

"My special friend said you were a baka too." Yoko replied, "You were a Baka to Arael."

"Yeah," Sentaro agreed, "You're probably right about being a baka to Arael. Wait……. a 'Special friend'?"

"Yes. She could only be seen by me and my Momma."

Sentaro frowned. 'Only Mana and Yoko could see……..'

"Tell me Yoko," Sentaro said, kneeling down, "What does your 'special friend' look like?"

Outside, clouds began to gather.

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Thunder rumbled overhead. Arael wrapped her cloak around her and pulled the hood over her head as she walked along the riverbank.

"It did not say anything about rain." She mumbled to herself. Her thoughts drifted to her conversation with Sentaro.

'He did say that he cared for you'

"But he does not feel more." She mumbled.

'It is too soon. He has only known you have feelings for him for a short time. This must be allowed to sink in.'

"It still hurts that he will not respond sooner." She muttered back. "It will hurt more when he says no."

'He has not said no yet.'

Arael paused. All around her the rain began to fall.

"No," she agreed, "he hasn't."

"Has anyone ever told you it is strange to talk to one's self?"

Arael's blood went cold at the voice. She slowly turned around, peering out from under the hood of her cloak.

There, standing before her in the rain was Adam, her father. But there was anything but parental love in his eyes.

"I told you I would come for you." Adam said, glaring at his offspring, "And I keep my promises."