Chapter XXIX: The World We All Love

The last Black Archangel had died…

But Sanae evolved thanks to Shinobu's last wish. Her armor changed almost completely. First she had long, soft sleeves… And now they were short and veil-like… Her suit changed to fit her expecting silhouette… And out of having some satin ribbons on her feet like Kurai, she had too the foot protectors.

And her Staff… had turned into a Lyre.

"Sanae, please… Protect the ones you love, the ones I love, and the world we all love with our powers combined… Now that you truly are the Archangel of Love…"

"Shinobu-san…Neither your sacrifice, nor the others' one will be in vain. I swear."

Of course, the Archangels, Kai and Tsubasa observed astonished and saddened the evolution of the Archangel who had life within her. And yet, seeing that Sanae now had enough energy to fight for this world spurred her friends to fight.

Kurai was terrified of seeing that her rival, her other side had evolved, and now seemed stronger than her She felt her power wane, and attacked desperately, although Sanae avoided the attack.

-Kurai, why do you keep fighting against yourself and against myself? Why do you want to destroy everything if that's not what we want?

-Don't you tell me what I want! I was born to destroy!

-That's not true, Kurai. No one is born to be evil… Except evil itself.

-Shut up! Shut up! –and Kurai attacked Sanae with all what she had, but the Archangel avoided it with a simple flutter of her wings. –Death Wave!

-I don't want to fight, Kurai. Please understand me.

And yet Kurai's Death Wave hit Sanae, making its collateral damage affect the Archangel; Sanae was practically dying.

-SANAE! –was the only thing Tsubasa could shout as he flew towards his wife, terrified. Sanae was as pale as death itself, and though her eyes were open, she didn't answer to anything. However, she hadn't been the only one affected by the Death Wave; Kurai was too in that cataleptic state, and Kuro, using its Tenebris Aeternam to distract an exhausted Kai, dashed towards its Kurai.

Tsubasa was desperate. This was the second time he was about to lose Sanae in his life. He didn't want to lose her nor their son. He couldn't lose now that he needed her to merely live.

-Sanae, please, don't leave me… Don't die… Please –he said, tears falling down his face freely. –If you die, it's all over for me. Not even soccer can make my life meaningful, because you're my reason to live.

-And have you lost your hope? –said a voice outside the barrier, in front of him. Daichi was there. You think everything's going to end like this? Don't be dumb, niisan!

-Daichi…

-Take her out; Mom and I will take care of her.

-Mom?

-Here I am, son –Natsuko said, her voice cracked by the tears. She had seen Shinobu's death. –We'll take care of Sanae.

-Mom, Daichi, domo arigato gozaimasu… Although I don't know if it'll help.

-I thought you had grown up after so much time, Tsukai –said a voice, very familiar for Tsubasa, Ryou, Genzo, Taro, Kojiro, Sanae, Natsuko, Daichi… And Kuro.

Shiro, the White Raven was there, already grown up. Its snow-white feathers gleamed.

-Shiro!

-Are you going to let the New Genesis happen? You think the Archangel of Love will survive if you let the Black Guide win? Don't be such an idiot, Kami no Tsukai!

Once again the being in white, I mean, the White Raven had told Tsubasa off.

-Besides, you have lots of people counting on you. Azumi, Herman, Tooru's little sister, Kai's friend, Rivaul… Even your own cat –Natsuko added.

-All of them?

-And not only them, brother. Without knowing it, the whole world counts on you…

While Kuro looked at its much hated rival, it decided to leave Kurai in that state, since if she didn't wake up, Sanae wouldn't wake up either… and decided to kill the Kami no Tsukai while he didn't realize what happened behind him. The Antiarchangels kept on fighting, devoid of any will, of any feeling that was not hatred… And the Archangels, worried for their ally, fought to avoid being beat.

Nonetheless, the white-winged beings saw that Kuro was going to attack Tsubasa, and tried to stop it with their attacks, but the Antiarchangels, guessing what their enemies were doing, countered the attacks with their own.

But there was someone else, someone whose energy was completely tapped. Kai had been at Tsubasa's side, and saw that Kuro rushed as quickly as lighting towards the Messenger of the Gods, its katanas in its bony hands and a mask of hatred and fury on its pale face.

-You'll have to kill me if you want to face Tsubasa-kun! –the young Kage no Tsukai exclaimed, nullifying Kuro's attack with his Solar Eclipse.

-Get out of my way, Kage no Tsukai…

-No way! –and Kai fought against Kuro, trying to buy some time so Tsubasa could do something to save Sanae.

Meanwhile, in Hamburg, Herman and Marie were in the airport, since the young woman had decided to return to Munich now that her brother had disappeared some days ago, or that she believed. However, Herman, who used to be an expert secret keeper, couldn't stand it anymore and decided to tell Marie the sad truth.

-Marie, the truth is that your brother became too much of an Ice King and disappeared… Because he practically sold his soul to the Devil.

-What?

-To be honest, Karl never overcame his rival issues with Genzo, and he had it so much in his mind he took the path of evil… And now he only thinks of destroying Genzo.

-You mean, Karl's going to kill Genzo?

-That, if Genzo hasn't become stronger. Your brother even killed a friend of his, Genzo's, and mine. It was the architect that disappeared, but it's not the truth. Akuji Tooru died and now is part of Genzo.

Marie burst into tears. No wonder she was so afraid of her brother; now he was a soulless, emotionless, bloodthirsty being.

-Herman, isn't there something we can do now?

-I really don't know, but I know that Genzo went to fight the last battle of his life, and we can only pray for him.

In Paris, Azumi was in her apartment, with Hester on her lap. The cat had appeared at her door some days ago.

-Hester, I'm scared…

-Meow?

-I don't know why, but I'm scared, very scared.

The cat looked at her, with a worried look on his eyes.

-I have the feeling that Misaki-kun is fighting his hardest battle and I don't know what to do.

Hester jumped off Azumi's lap, ran to her room, and returned dragging a picture of her, Taro and Wataru in his moth. It seemed he was telling Azumi that Misaki wasn't alone, since he and Wataru were one person now… And she had to keep her hopes up for them.

How? I don't know, but Azumi understood what Hester meant to say. No wonder Wataru loved cats, and he usually said that Hester was smarter than other felines.

-You're right, Hester. I have to trust Misaki-kun and the others. They're our only hope after all.

And Hester meowed approvingly. Maybe he was just a cat, but he had never lost his hopes.

"How is it that human beings lose hope so quickly, if the beings of light are going to win?" –the cat thought, slightly confused, but he didn't stop trying to cheer his late owner's friend.

In Japan, Komichi couldn't sleep. Just like Azumi, she had a feeling, but she knew that Kai was facing his fate in that moment.

"Kai-kun… Don't give up. Don't you dare give up. We're all counting on you and the others…" –and flat on her bed as she was, she prayed for her best friend to win in the hardest battle of them all.

Back in Barcelona, everyone except Tsubasa, Sanae y Kurai fought with all what they had. Tsubasa tried to wake Sanae up without achieving it… until he chose to do something very risky—he'd give his energy to Sanae.

-It may not work, and probably Kurai will wake up and kill me, but if Sanae wakes up with this, then so be it! –and concentrating his power, Tsubasa closed his eyes and transferred his energy to the unconscious Archangel… Making her wake up at last, but at the cost of him being totally exhausted.

-Tsubasa… What, what happened?

-Kurai attacked you and… You were practically dead for a while…

-But, what did you do? You're completely exhausted.

-How do you think I stopped you from dying? It was the only thing I could do to save you, Sanae.

-Tsubasa… -and Sanae couldn't help but thank her husband by kissing him. To be honest, she couldn't nor wanted to avoid it. –Now it's my turn to fight.

Sanae stood up, not without some difficulty, and rose up into the air. Just like her good side, Kurai had gotten up, but she had weakened a lot.

-Now I will destroy you, Archangel of Love –the evil being murmured, her yo-yo in her hand.

-You're not going to beat me this time.

And another battle began. However, one by one the Archangels that had been fighting fell to the floor, completely beaten.

-I can't fight anymore –Ishizaki murmured while he fell to the ground, while Santana was about to deal him the final blow.

-I'm done in… I want to keep on fighting but… -Hyuga was tapped too, and Hino was ready to finish him off.

-I couldn't keep my oath… -Taro whispered, falling, and Pierre seized the hem of his cloak.

-We let everyone down –Genzo said, while Schneider, expressionless, made his weapon spin.

-What? You can't give up! You have to keep on fighting! –Daichi shouted. –If you die, you think soccer will exist? Or your friends and family?

-Daichi's right. Everyone's counting on us –Kai said, evading Kuro's attack by the skin of his teeth.

-Hey, guys, I think there's only one thing we can do –Ishizaki said, trying to stand up.

-What?

-there's only one way out… The Star.

-No! –Shiro cawed. –the Star isn't powerful enough!

-And them, what can we do? –Misaki asked, getting up in spite of his injuries.

-The answer's obvious –Kojiro said, already standing up. –We have to attack at the very same time.

-Hyuga's right –Genzo answered. –And if it's not that, then nothing can beat Schneider and the others. Sanae, you take care of Kurai! We'll beat the Antiarchangels!

-OK –and Sanae plucked some of the lyre's strings, playing a strikingly beautiful melody. Kurai couldn't stand the melody the Archangel of Love was playing, and rushed towards Sanae, but she at last had found her power.

-I'm afraid this is it, Kurai… Song of the Angels!

Her lyre kept away, Sanae extended her arms to her sides, and a blinding light, followed by a mysterious, heavenly song flew out from the young woman, covering Kurai. Immediately Sanae went towards the being, and embraced her with her arms and wings protectively.

For an instant, a gust of dark wind flew away between Sanae's wings, and the only thing left there was an exact copy of Sanae… who returned to its place: inside the pregnant woman.

That had been Kurai's end.

-KURAI! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Kuro had lost its creation, its 'daughter.' The being that represented the darkness that the Black Guide thought was the Earth's fate had disappeared among the loving embrace of its benign side.

-Kurai… How could you? How could you destroy her? –the dark being's hands trembled. It had never had so much fury inside it. -How… could YOU! Tenebris Aeternam!

The attack raced thru the space inside the barrier, attacking anyone in its way equally. And it seemed that was the only attack that could stop the Antiarchangels completely, since Santana, Hino, Schneider and Pierre fell like flies, almost unable to get up on their feet.

-Incredible… -Daichi murmured out of the barrier, while Natsuko observed everything in silence… And Koudai observed it all from the building's entrance, seven feet away. He couldn't stand being alone in the apartment, and along with his daughter-in-law's cat he went downstairs to se what happened.

Kuro was so full of fury that only one thought invaded its mind: Finish the Kami no Tsukai off, making him suffer as much as it could, destroy every cell of his body, make his Darkness cover the earth, etc., etc.

Of course, its evil aura grew, and it tried to attack Tsubasa, but something, or better said, someone avoided that.

Kai… who had been completely pierced by the Black Guide's cruel katanas.

-I told you you'd have to kill me before attacking Tsubasa, Kuro! –the young man said, enduring the pain bravely. - I call at the Shadows for the Fate cast upon me! Solar Eclipse!

The attack made a bull's-eye on Kuro, but since the Black Guide had had its swords in its hands, it dislodged them from Kai's body, making an immense spurt of carmine liquid fly out of the Kage no Tsukai.

-Kai! –Tsubasa exclaimed, while Natsuko covered her youngest child's eyes, since she didn't want him to see that. –Kai, why did you do it?

-For you, for our friends… And for all the people who love this world… -and the last of the black-winged beings became a part of Tsubasa… Whose fury now knew no limits.

-Kuro… You have gone too far. You have fallen too low… ¡You're not going to win this time!

And in the middle of his furious cry, the true last evolution happened. Tsubasa's armor didn't change much… But it became stronger. Instead, his power had increased at an incredible rate, and his sword had evolved. IN fact he now had TWO pair of wings, as white as snow, as powerful as eagles' wings… And the fury of the true, the real Kami no Tsukai shone as a brilliant aura surrounding the young man.

The light he emitted infused the other Archangels with the energy they needed, and these knew they could only beat the Antiarchangels in that precise moment.

And just when they were about to attack…

"Ishizaki-san… It's tome to beat the darkness that threatens to destroy this world" –Jinko's voice echoed in the Archangel of the Earth's mind.

"Hyuga-kun, let's get 'em, pal!" –Rairyuu said in Kojiro's mind.

"Misaki-kun, it now depends on us. There's no turning back" –was what Wataru said in the Archangel of Water's mind.

"It's the beginning of the end, Wakabayashi-kun. It's now or never!" –Tooru's voice said to his friend.

"Sanae, for the ones who have died, for the ones who have fought… It's time to beat the Darkness that threatens us all" –were the Archangel of Chaos' words for Sanae.

"Tsubasa… Show them what we're made of" –said Kai to the Kami no Tsukai, reminding him that he wasn't alone.

-Desert Storm!

-Burning Fury!

-Oceanic Darts!

-Northern Lights!

-Song of the Angels!

There weren't five attacks hitting the Antiarchangels; there were TEN. Not physically, but spiritually, Jinko, Tooru, Rairyuu, Kai, Shinobu and Wataru attacked with the powers they had had when they were alive. While…

-Don't you dare revive or return, Black Guide! Shout of the Gods!

Tsubasa's attack had turned into a column of white light rising to the skies. He was one with the shining; he was pure fury.

It was the fury of the being whose fate chosen by him was to protect his friends, his family… And his wife and the child they expected.

"Only you own your fate. Fate is never controlled by anyone out of yourself, and that is the only thing you can keep in mind and believe is true. The New Genesis under the cover of darkness is equivalent to the destruction of everything in this world… And this world has too much life, too much hope in its future… Because this is The World We Love."

And when the Archangels' attacks hi the Antiarchangels, and the Shout of the Gods annihilated Kuro, everything ended… Once and for all.

At last the hardest battle of their lives was over.

Kuro hadn't even said a word when the Shout of the Gods hit it. The Messenger of the Gods' fury had been too much for it. And the battle had ended since no trace of the Black Guide had remained.

Of course, everyone, including Sanae and Tsubasa fell to the floor, completely done in. However, they had the great idea of going back to normal.

-Brother!

-Tsubasa!

-Son!

Tsubasa's parents and brother ran to the semiunconscious young man.

-Niisan, are you OK?

-I'm just tired… How are Santana and the others?

-Still out cold.

-I hope that beating them and Kuro made their dark powers vanish. I need you to do me a favor, little brother.

-What?

-I need you to go and see if they have any black marks under their eyes.

Daichi ran to the place where Santana and the others were. Trembling with excitement and fear, he went near each of them to see if there was anything, but the marks had disappeared. The combined attacks of the Archangels had made the trick.

-They don't have anything at all, niisan! Not one mark under their eyes!

-Great… -and Tsubasa sighed, relieved. He recovered his energy little by little, just like the others, and they stood up, although Sanae was till sitting on the floor.

-It's hard to stand up… -she admitted.

Tsubasa and the others went near to the former Antiarchangels immediately, while they were just waking up.

-O que estou fazendo eu aqui? (What am I dong here?) –Santana said when he woke up completely. Every inch of his body hurt, but he couldn't remember anything. –I only remember I was in Brazil…

-Mon tête… (My head…) –Pierre murmured, while he rubbed his face, and he was surprised of seeing Misaki there.

-Gott… –Schneider tried to stand up, but he was too tired. However, he was startled of seeing that he wasn't sensible to sunlight anymore and of seeing Genzo there, worried.

-Diablos…Me duele cada hueso de mi cuerpo (Rats, even my pockets hurt) –Ryoma complained, still not noticing that Hyuga was there.

-Welcome back –was the only thing the Archangels said to the soccer players.