Ayashi no Yuugi II: Final Sunrise

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.

Sorry for the long wait! Senior year was tough as hell, now that I've recently graduated, I have a part time job! In a little under three months, I'll be starting college! Wai! Time moves so fast!… Anyway, R&R!

Chapter 16: Leap of Faith: Part IV

There was a timid tap at the cherry wood door. "Admiral?" a quiet voice said nervously.

The quiet feminine voice was enough to rid the scathing hatred running through her veins for a second. Kayla took a deep breath, and another, and another, and willing her breathing to become even, she arranged her features into a calm and pleasant mask.

"Come in, Lunamaria," she called.

The door swung open and a young girl, hardly more than twelve, dressed the green and black uniform of a CSA intern entered the office. She fidgeted, toying with the embroidered cuff of her uniform.

"Lord Fire has sent a message. You are to depart for the Remalna Resort immediately. The EVAs that are operational and are synchronized with the pilots are to go as well."

"I see. I was about to give the order to leave anyway. Activate the Alvis system the moment squadron five leaves the Headquarters."

"And the Fenris system, Admiral?"

"Not unless there is no other option. The Siegfried units are also only to be used as a last resort. I'm afraid the Orbital Bases have been using them too often. The enemy is recalibrating their strategy and weapons for long range attacks. They may not have fission shields to counter the particles and render them neutral, but the enemy is not stupid. They won't come into the range of the Units unless they let their guard down, but that won't be easy either. So far, only the Quebec base is untouched, but that's because we're underground with a school on top for the Children of the CSA to take on their secondary education. All the enemy really sees is a school, so chances are, they won't attack. Nevertheless, I won't take any chances, not with the lives of the children at stake. I will not sacrifice the lives of children for the sake of peace. See to it that they are protected."

Lunamaria saluted. "Yes Admiral."

Kayla nodded. "Dismissed." Lunamaria saluted again and left.

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July 14, 200 AC; 7:26 AM

The Meat Market Nightclub, Remalna Resort, Budapest, Hungary

The four CSA Agents stepped wordlessly off the Remalna Resort's Guest shuttle, three automatically assuming a guard formation around the fourth, a woman with amber eyes and black hair with violet highlights, who was dressed in a black velvet strapless gown. Around her neck was a chocker of black velvet with a single white stone in the shape of a crystal. Her hands were covered by black silk gloves to her elbow, and chandelier earrings of white stone and sterling silver hung from her ears. Her skin was pale, and her crimson lips were full and sensual.

"Remember your place… If WITCH is there, PACK will undoubtedly be nearby. Mark your territory, and keep your collars on, and do not under any circumstances, take your collar off. If you do, the repercussions will see to it that you never disregard my instructions ever again. You belong to Libra, only to be shared with Scorpio or Death, do you understand?" Kayla said calmly.

"Yokai!" the three agents snapped salutes and Kayla smiled.

"Yoshii… let's go!"

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Alexa sighed as she slipped into the bath. She smiled as she leaned back and closed her eyes as the hot water soothed her, and her tense muscles relaxed. It seemed like forever since she had last had a break, and now that she had finally reported in, she was ready for a long awaited rest…

She jerked upright in the tub full of lukewarm water at the sound of someone pounding on her door. Alexa sighed and got out of the tub and pulled on a bathrobe before stepping out of the bathroom. She glanced into the peephole and rolled her eyes at the sight of a mass of blonde hair. Tiredly, she opened the door.

"What are you doing here, Milliardo?" she growled.

Milliardo frowned. "Is that anyway to greet an old friend, Arashi dearest?"

"Urg," Alexa waved her hand at the blonde pilot, motioning him into the room. "Don't call me that. Tsukino Arashi died in a Z class mission several years ago along with Tsukishiro Miyuki."

Milliardo entered the room and sat down in one of the chairs as Alexa closed the door. "Which reminds me, why did the two of you fake your own deaths?"

Alexa sighed. "It was for the good of the mission. With the Kamui power returned to Kami-sama's authority, there was no reason for Arashi, Miyuki, Subaru, or Seishirou to remain Earthside. At least, that was what we thought until Nautilus decided to merge with Chaos. So now we are back, only without Omnyouji or Sakurazukamori. Shinn won't be able to fight chaos as he is now, we need the lighter aspect of Shiniigami in order to fully combat Chaos…"

"So we have to awaken Duo Maxwell and pull him from the confines of his own mind?" Milliardo's voice was tired.

"Yes, and I can guarantee you that it will not be easy. Shinigami guards his mind as if his life and sanity depended on it, which, if you consider his name and his duties as a deity representing Kami-sama's authority, it does."

"So how do we pull him out?"

"First, we wait for Kayla to arrive. Then we finish this mission, and we drag Duo out of his mind, kicking and screaming and thrust him into the forefront of his consciousness. We need him, we need Duo to combat Chaos, or everything will descend into chaos…"

"So now what?"

"We wait."

"That doesn't help."

"We have no choice."

"I know."