Chapter 11: Memories of Past

Amy walked through the corridors of the Palace, her light blue gown sweeping around her feet as she made her way to the back garden, her mind swimming with the dark image that she had just seen down in the dungeons. Walking around the fountain, she paused and looked down into the rippling water, remembering the sight of Koaru, chained to the wall, broken and bleeding, the life in his eyes almost extinguished.
Sitting on the lip of the fountain, Amy fought the anger she felt towards her father for his deception. Closing her eyes as she felt the burning of tears forming, a voice softly spoke to her.
"Are you alright, Princess?"
Opening her eyes and looking up, she saw a young man she had never met before. He wore a pure white uniform with gold and blue trim. Around his waist was a thick brown leather belt with a golden buckle, from which hung the golden guard and handle of a sword. His hands were covered by thick white gloves that opened up around his elbows, and around his body was the dark blue cloak of a royal knight; a Chevalier. His light blue eyes were locked onto hers as she watched a slight breeze cause his neatly trimmed golden hair to wave around his head.
Amy nodded her head to his question, rubbing her eyes dry with the back of her hand. Looking up again, she saw that he had offered her his hand, which she slowly accepted, letting him pull to her to her feet. Catching his eye again, she felt her cheeks start to burn, but couldn't look away.
"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked again, slightly concerned, "Your face is a little red."
Amy blinked and looked away in embarrassment. The young knight smiled and walked her over to a the steps leading into the Palace, where they both sat down.
"Umm," she stuttered slowly, "who are you?"
No sooner had she asked the question than did everything around her start to glow, the Palace, grass, bushes, fountain, the young knight all started to grow brighter till they were lost; blended into a pure white haze through which floated a single word.
"Tenshi."

Amy's eyes snapped open in her dark room, the far wall illuminated by the streetlight outside her window. Sitting up slowly, she closed her eyes, thinking hard. That was a memory from the Silver Millennium; one that she had never had before.
"Tenshi was there..." she muttered, her heart racing. "I had no idea..." Feeling tears burn her eye lids, she bit her lip, trying to clear her mind.
"What does this mean?"

Across the city, Tenshi lay in his bed, glaring up at the ceiling, trying to ignore his racing heart and the fear crawling through his mind.
"That same dream," he said slowly, reaching up and wiping the side of his face, running his fingers through a warm, moist sticky substance. Pulling his hand away, he looked at his fingers, narrowing his eyes at the sight.
Blood.
Getting out of the bed and walking to the bathroom, he flicked on the light and stared into the mirror. Blood was covering the right side of his face, running from the top edge of his hair down to his chin. Grabbing a towel, he wiped his face clean before examining his head.
No wound.
Tossing the towel against the wall in a fit of rage, he leaned on the sink, his mind swimming with the dream.
"It can't be him," he said, trying to reassure himself. "He's not that powerful." As he spoke the image of his dream flew back; a man wearing a black and blue outfit, a large crescent shaped blade in his hand. The man's aura was so dark that it had made the night sky seem bright.
Looking down at his bare chest, Tenshi frowned as the jagged red scar slowly faded away, the same it had every time since the dream had started.
"It can't be him," he said again, clenching his fists. Closing his eyes and bowing his head, he heard the voice of doubt speak in the back of his mind.
"He has the same eyes, though."
Tenshi opened his eyes again, remembering the piercing red eyes the man had; the exact same eyes that had locked onto him when he fought Koaru. Taking a deep breath he turned and walked out of the bathroom, turning off the light as he left.
"What does this mean?"

The following morning found Koaru walking up the steps towards an old shrine on the outskirts of the city. Sliding the doors open, he stepped inside as the sunlight filled the room, causing a shadow shoot from the lone figure sitting in the center of the room.
"Morning Siefer." Koaru said as he shut the door and walked over to the young man, who ignored him.
"You fight with Mitarashi again?" Koaru asked, and Siefer snapped a glare at him.
"No I didn't!" he shouted, causing Koaru to grin. Siefer and Mitarashi had called a truce with him and the Scouts, Mitarashi had even asked Serena to Cleanse her so she could be a normal human and not have to fight anymore, though Siefer had flat out refused to be Cleansed. Instead, he continued to train, working on developing his telekinesis and swordsmanship.
"Then why the tude?"
Siefer remained silent for a while, then sighed.
"Fine, I did fight with her."
"About?"
"She wants us to sleep in the same bed."
Koaru fell over laughing, causing Siefer to glare at him in a way that would kill most people.
"Dude...that's a problem why?"
"I asked him last night, but he didn't answer."
Koaru looked over at the far wall where a second door was open and the short, pink haired girl stood, looking rather upset.
"Morning Mitarashi." Koaru said, trying to be polite.
"Koaru," she snapped, glaring at him, "I told you, my name is now Ayama. Mitarashi was the name given to me by King Soul. I don't have any need of it anymore."
"Sorry, Ayama." Koaru corrected himself before getting to his feet and looking around. As always the room was lined with swords that the two ex-knights trained with. In the corner rested the red and black sword that had belonged to Koaru's uncle; the same blade that had claimed the lives of his parents.
"Anyway, the reason I'm here. I need a sparring partner."
"Need to try and beat that guy with the rapier?" Siefer asked, and Koaru looked at him, surprised.
"How do you know about Tenshi?" he asked, and the warrior smiled.
"I watched him kick your ass down at the harbor the other night. It was very entertaining."
"Nice to know," Koaru said, his smile gone. "So will you help me train or what?"
"Why bother?" came a voice from outside the shrine. All three occupants turned just as the doors were blasted into the room, one slamming into Ayama and carrying her into the wall where she slumped down, out cold. Koaru and Siefer watched a young man entered the room, jagged back hair and dark red eyes staring them down as a purple cape billowed out behind his violet armor.
"Who the Hell are you?" Siefer shouted, his temper spiking.
"I won't waste me breath telling you my name," he said, pointing his hand towards Koaru. "You won't be alive long enough to remember it."
Koaru's eyes snapped open in shock as an invisible wall slammed into him, throwing him through the air until he crashed into the wall. He felt dizzy as he fell to the floor, never noticing when he landed.
"Damn it," Siefer muttered, staring at Koaru's unconscious form. Turning his eyes to the wall where the swords hung and snapped his fingers. Seven blades flew off the wall and sped towards him, two landing handle first in his waiting hands, the other five hovering around him, slowly circling in the air.
"Oh, that's impressive," the intruder said, grinning. Waving his hand, he caused every remaining sword to jump off the walls and line up behind him, each blade pointing towards Siefer, who felt his pulse slow, sweat running from his brow.
"Shit," he whispered as ever blade rocketed towards him. A flash of white filled his vision, and he blinked. Opening his eyes he saw every blade frozen in the air, coated in a thick sheet of ice.
"I was wondering when you would finally show yourself, Shiro."
Siefer looked past the intruder and saw Tenshi walking towards them, his sword drawn, eyes locked on the dark haired warrior.
"It's been boring waiting for you to show up."
"Oh, I'm so sorry Tenshi," Shiro said sarcastically, smiling, "I thought you were having fun with the weakling over in the corner and blue haired cutie."
Tenshi's eyes narrowed at Shiro's words, a dark blue aura radiating around his body as his rapier resonated. With a huge battle cry he swung the sword, causing Shiro to leap high in the air, leaving Siefer to watch as Tenshi's attack slammed into the shrine, encasing everything in ice. The cold pierced through his body, and he felt darkness start to swallow him, locked in a block of ice. Watching through the haze in his eyes, he saw Tenshi take off after Shiro, leaving them locked in his attack. Siefer started to wane when a sudden explosion of black flames blasted the ice off of his body and knocking him to the floor. Sitting up slowly, he saw black flames surrounding Koaru's body, melting all the ice in the room. Siefer cringed as he listened to the swords crash to the floor. Turning and looking out the doorway, he felt a shiver run through his spine.
Tenshi had left them for dead.