AN: Well, here I am. I'm so sorry for the EXTREME delay! I've been away and haven't had a computer to type on. But here I am, on another update! I hope you haven't completely forgotten about the story. This is a pretty good chapter. A LOT happens. Well... in MY opinion at least... I mean... you may not think so, but I do... Well, anyway, please R&R!

NOTE: I do not own Juvenile Orion or its characters. But my own created characters are MINE respectfully. Thank you.

Chapter 10:

Tears

The small form at the Pure Angel's side had stopped struggling only moments ago. He had decided that wasting his energy was just a waste of his time. His hair was mildly bloodied by where he had had his head rammed into a wall by accident and a small part of his rib was fractured from where he had been slammed into the hard stony floor.

"You know, Israfel, I don't want to dirty my hands on your innocent blood. Just do as I say, and I will not be forced to hurt you."

Amou sat up only slightly, but had to lay down once more. His head spun like an out-of-control top and everything in the room was but a blur. He could do nothing. He now realized how truly helpless he was.

Then the thought crossed his mind.

'If only Tomonori-san were here…'

"Who is this "Tomonori-san" of which you speak?"

Amou's eyes widened in fear. How could he have known he was thinking about him? He stared up into Taharial's pure cold silver eyes; a small trickle of blood leaked from the deep gash in his head.

"T--Tomonori-s--san is…. I--It's none of your business." He hadn't managed to say it with much strength. In fact, it came out in a pitiful whisper that caused the Pure Angel to snicker devilishly.

"Let me guess. Is he the only one that matters to you? Is he the one you'd do anything for, even denying your own existence just to see him smile…?"

Taharial walked over to a dark corner on the opposite side of the chamber and reached into the darkness. In his hand, Amou could see a glowing white orb, about the size of an orange. The lights sometimes grew brighter; at other times dimmer.

"I too, feel that way about a special someone. My life is meaningless without him. I would do anything for him…" The Pure Angel turned to him, his eyes lit up wildly by the light of the orb, "Anything."

Amou looked as best at the glowing orb as he could, yet the pounding in his head was preventing him from taking in a lot of what he was seeing. But he suddenly snapped into full comprehension as he saw his Tomonori-san and the gang fighting a large white demon with a red mane and blackened wings.

"I'LL KILL YOU, YOU LITTLE BITCH! NO ONE WILL TAKE MY KANAME FROM ME!"

That was the first and last thing Amou heard as the small orb closed up in the hand of the pure angel.

"Dear Israfel… You do not want them hurt, do you? If not, I suggest you do exactly as I say…"

Amou thought for a moment. It didn't make any sense. How would this angel prevent--

Then it hit him.

"You… Are YOU the one that released that beast from the underworld?"

Taharial smirked.

"You were always the smart one, weren't you, Israfel? Yes, I am the one who led the beast to Kaname and am also the only on who can put him back into his prison. I was the one who heard its far-off cries and got a sudden idea.

I watched it in my orb; the poor broken-hearted thing transformed slowly into a crazed animal, hungry for its long lost love. I then decided to strike a deal with it. I would lead him to His sweet Baal if he would eliminate his friends…" his smirk widened, and what little light in the room illuminated it to give him the look of a crazed demon, "All except YOU."

"M--Me…?" Amou stuttered out, his eyes widening in fright, "What do you need me for?"

Taharial turned away from him once again and reached back into the darkness. He pulled out a gleaming object, even brighter than the orb. He held it out to Amou with an ever-widening grin.

"Play Gabriel's Horn for me, or I shall allow them all to DIE!"

---

As the others raced about, trying to figure out a way to restrain Balan, Kaname could only think of one thing.

'He called me by my real name…'

It was, despite how insignificant to all the others it was, a great distraction to him. Why would he suddenly call him by his name, unless he had--

"KANAME-KUN!"

He was snapped from his trance as he heard Mana's voice ring out loud and shrill. His eyes traced to where her scream had come and gasped.

Balan had her in his grasp, insectinoid fangs stretched in place over her pale neck, saliva dripping maliciously.

"MANA!"

He jumped over the unconscious Isshin (who had been thrown violently into the ground after one of his attacks had failed) and ran to Balan at top speed.

"LET HER GO!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.

Balan eyes gleamed evilly as a horribly wicked idea came to him.

"Very well…"

He threw Mana as if she was a small tennis ball across the tent-room and into a ruined pile of machinery. There came a sickening crunch from where she hit.

Suddenly, Itsuki sprang from behind Kaname and into Balan, his hands drawn before him in a psychic attack.

Kaname stared at Itsuki, his eyes amazed by the raw aura coming from Itsuki's open palms.

"KANAME! GET KIRIHARA! HURRY!"

Kaname had almost forgotten about her, but now that he remembered, his eyes widened in fear.

He darted across the floor desperately, straight to the pile of ruination where Mana had landed. And as he saw her, he couldn't breathe for the first time.

She lay there, all of her bones broken. Some poked out painfully while others remained crushed inside her body. Blood dripped and oozed out of punctures made by parts of the broken metal.

"M--Mana…." he stuttered, coming to a horrid realization.

He knew she wouldn't make it.

He gathered up her broken body as she coughed up a bit of red liquid.

"K-- Kaname…. Kun….? Is…. That…. You….?"

"Yes, Mana, I'm here… Please… We'll get you to a hospital… Just… Please… Don't die.."

"Ka… na…me… I….. I am… Sorry….."

Even though a battle raged all around them, time stood still for Kaname. All he could think about was how much he wished they had had more time together; how much he wished he hadn't been so stubborn about expressing his feelings; how much he would miss her when she---

"Please, Mana, you can't die!"

"I… love… you…"

He cried then. For the first time in the longest time, he cried. He cried as though no one was around; as if everyone was dead; as if he was the last person on Earth. The tears the he had refused to cry all the times he had ever been hurt spilled down his cheeks and onto Mana's pink school-girl uniform.

He was the first to know, and at this moment, the only one to know.

She was dead.

Yes, I am prepared for the angry Mana-fans. Hopefully, if you ARE a Mana fan and are reading this, flames will be ignored by me doing this:

--puts hands on ears and goes-- LA LA LA! I'M NOT LISTENING!

Yes, I know, that is very juvenile, but please, no flames. But don't let it stop the reviews! Please be patient for my next update! PLEASE!