Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon nor Dresden Files. If I did, Moon would not be so useless, and fans would burn me at the stake for destroying Harry's awesomeness

The Senshi Files: Silver Warden
File 06: Little Truths
By Irritus185/Raithe

When Arashimaru burst open my apartment door, he came across the scene of me wrapping fishing line around a disrobed 'bishounen' figurine's arms, torso, and legs while sitting in the middle of a salt-lined, chalk-drawn magic circle in the middle of the room. A dab of blood was on the figurine's forehead, stomach, and both of its hands and feet. The two of us looked at each other for a moment before he lifted his chin.

"Thaumaturgy?"

"Thaumaturgy."

"I see. Carry on then." He took the time to quietly close and lock the door behind him, pocketing the spare key he had to the apartment, before he came to a stop a few paces in front of me.

I didn't bother to look up again, instead gesturing lightly to the side. "I'd offer you a chair to sit, but you Japanese seem to have a thing against back support."

"Something to do with constant earthquakes and the preference of being closer to the ground, I believe."

I hummed noncommittally. Frankly, I wasn't in any mood for talking at the moment. Almost all of my attention was focused on the ritual I was prepping for. Thaumaturgy was a delicate and careful application of magic, and unlike evocation's blast-first nature, a lot of concentration was required. It was necessary for the type of magic involved with searching the world for someone, summoning eldritch beings from across the realms of reality, or placing curses that would kill you via frozen air turkeys.

No, I wasn't kidding about that last one.

Thaumaturgy was a slow and meticulous process, because the amount of energy involved could spell disaster if done wrong or interrupted. Quite honestly, there was little I could do with the supplies I had on hand. I'd only managed to get a few things together: the doll I'd bought from a store downtown, along with the fishing line, a packet of chalk, purified salt, and a few other miscellaneous items.

And that wasn't even taking into account that I didn't have enough blood to house the sheer amount of magical energy I'd need to try and overcome that psycho's magical resistance. He'd shaken off a fire ball to the face like it was a bad sunburn, so I had to assume that anything I tossed at him would probably be lessened by a severe degree. Heck, the last ritual I'd come across that could outright kill a person and didn't involve demons had required a tantric-sex ritual and the full power of a thunderstorm to power it, and those were plain, ordinary humans.

The weather report was clear for the foreseeable future, and as for the magical sex-orgy... Yeah, that wasn't about to happen anytime soon if my luck with women continued as expected.

It didn't help that after yesterday's battle, my body was doing it best to distract me from doing anything productive.

I had abrasions on my face and hands, and my entire body was sore and aching thanks to Zoe's little rendition of 'squish the wizard.' Even if I'd had worse injuries over the years - including being punched through a reinforced wall, shot multiple times, and flash-fried - the wounds I'd incurred from my admittedly dumb face-off against Zoe were no laughing matter. I had spent the rest of the day resting at home and being fussed over by Makoto. Heck, if she wasn't so adamant about being a hero, she'd be a damn good nurse given the way she tended to my wounds.

Then again, she'd had practice over the years.

I didn't have any severe wounds like broken bones or the like, but the soreness from my recovering muscles was enough to make me want to avoid all human contact and just sleep. Of course, I didn't have that luxury, not now.

Completing my amateur bondage of the figurine, I placed it in the center of the spell circle I'd drawn with chalk. Hopefully I wouldn't lose a deposit over it, but Arashimaru could probably help let me slide on the matter. The preparation was made, the circle completed, now to actually activate the spell.

Other than the small prickling in the back of my mind, there wasn't anything signifying the spell was active. No sparks or ominous hum or sense of dread; thaumaturgy was like that, the silent magic. If there had been something, then either I'd screwed up along the way or something very wrong was happening and I should probably jump out the nearest window.

I waited a couple seconds to confirm that the spell was up and running was working. Seeing nothing was backfiring, I smudged the circle of salt and chalk. The circle broke and its imprisoned magic escaped outward, seeking its target.

I waited with bated breath, hoping for a result. After a few more seconds, my head sunk in defeat. I could sense that my spell hadn't found what it was looking for; instead, it simply melted into the environment, dissipating until nothing was left.

I don't know why I was expecting anything more. I'd already tried a basic tracking spell, using a cheap crystal and some blood-infused chewing gum as a dousing tool. The results had been the same, the tool remaining inert. I thought maybe a more active spell would have better results, but it looked like, unless Zoe was outside of the Nevernever or whatever pocket-dimension he and his cohorts called home, the 'distance' would be too much for my spells to reach him. Or at least I hoped that's what the problem was, since the alternative was that thaumaturgy wouldn't work on him at all.

Arashimaru, sensing my disappointment, spoke up. "Didn't work?"

"No," I said, shaking my head briefly. "Looks like I'm going to have to either try something different, or wait until the circumstances change."

"I understand," he commiserated. "It is indeed annoying when things do not go your way, or fate conspires against you to make things more difficult than need be." His tone changed near the end, a hint of sardonic lilt to it. I looked up to see what he was talking about, and held back a wince at his deep, piercing stare. It didn't help that he was currently wearing the grey cloak of the wardens, which meant he was in totally super serious business mode.

He looked around the room. "Your daughter is not in?"

"She's with some new friends she recently made. They're taking her shopping, eating ice cream, doing each other's hair - you know, girly things."

"That is excellent. I'm glad to see that she is readapting to her old home so quickly."

"Yeah, well, she's a resilient kid." Yes, I was happy she was being more social. Now if only I could be as happy with who she'd gone out with. I don't know what I was thinking just letting her go without putting up more of a fight.

I blame all the aspirin I took and her puppy-dog-eyes attack.

"When will she be back?"

I had a bad feeling about this line of inquiry... "Not until evening, so if there's some warden business you need to discuss, now's as good a time as ever." Please say no.

"Actually..." he started slowly. "You seem like you recently came out of a scuffle. Tell me, have you been causing trouble in my territory, Warden Dresden?" The title was said with a little more bite to it than I was used to.

Damn it.

I held back another twitch, not even trying to deny what he was implying. It would be hard to, when I had compresses on my neck and bandages on my face and body. There was no point in playing innocent.

Between the dull pain that wracked my entire body and the fatigue from my recent spell attempt, I didn't put much thought into my response. Honestly, I just wanted to sleep. "Normally, I'd say I have no idea what you're talking about," I said. "But right now, I just don't care enough. Why don't we just cut to the chase?" Hey, I was brusque enough normally, but my nerves were kinda frayed at the moment.

Arashimaru's lips drew into a thin line, and he kept up the drilling stare for a moment longer before sighing in exasperation. He pulled a newspaper from his satchel and opened it up to the front cover. "Very well. What do you have to say about this?"

I took a look at it. Nothing much to say - just how a fire had mysteriously appeared in a park late yesterday afternoon and collapsed a public toilet. The police couldn't attribute the incident to basic arson, as the place looked like someone had been throwing gallon-size molotov cocktails around, so instead it was written off as...

Oh, wow, the senshi were Azabu-Juuban's version of me. Looked like Sailor Mars was attributed to a lot of collateral damage in more isolated locations of the district. It was kind of scary; we were a lot more alike than I thought, especially our unofficial rap-sheet.

I glanced up back at Arashimaru, who was waiting for a rational, reasonable, and, above all else, intelligent explanation for such an occurrence. So, using all of my considerable intellectual capacity that wasn't being shunted off to ignore how physically uncomfortable I felt, I gave the best answer that I could.

"I have never seen that burning outhouse in my life."

Okay, so I could have put a little more thought into my response. I blame the pain meds messing with my head a tad. Again.

Arashimaru agreed with that notion (the needing more thought, not the meds). He held back a groan of annoyance and put a hand to his forehead, no doubt trying to keep back the headache I was giving him. "Dresden, if you are going to lie, at least make the lie somewhat convincing and not something an elementary-school student would make."

"I don't know…" I said. "Have you ever heard lies from them before? They can be pretty damn persuasive."

"Dresden!"

"Ok, ok, sorry!" I waved my hands in surrender, realizing I'd toed the line too much. "Sorry about that, Arashimaru. I understand you're just trying to get a hold of the situation."

"Yes, and I would very much appreciate it if you explained to me why you burned down a public restroom in broad daylight!"

"Okay, technically, it wasn't me that did that. Sailor Mars will cop to it, trust me."

Arashimaru tapped his foot, any veneer of amicability draining away as his annoyance quickly took root. "And might you explain why you got into a firefight with a magical girl? A magical girl, I might add, that you were quite adamant should not fight at all?"

"I wasn't so much fighting her as fighting with her against the evil warlock that's running around the city. You know," I glibly explained. "The one that's been breaking the laws of magic left and right and transforming people into demons?"

"Are you telling me," Arashimaru said tersely, all kind features draining from his face. "That you've come across the same warlock twice? The one that, if I'm not getting this wrong, has been battling with the senshi in my city for the past several months? The one I can't find any trace of? And you've met him twice in a span of less than a week?" As he spoke, his voice became deeper and more terrible with every word, ending up as a subtle roar by the time he was done.

"Uh..." I considered his questions. "Yes to all of those, I think."

He frowned. "Do you take me for a fool, Dresden?"

"Hey, my luck's just weird like that!" I protested. "I mean, Chicago can't seem to go a year without some end-of-the-world shtick plopping itself on my doorstep and getting my ass inevitably dragged in." I started counting off my fingers. "You've got the Nickleheads, the Kemmlerites, the Fairie Courts, the hexenwolves, the-wow my life is one messed-up string of events."

Holy crap, did God just really hate me or something? And I knew that God was actually a real being, with angels and everything. Either that, or fate was just a corporeal bitch.

Arashimaru took in a long, drawn-out breath as he continued to massage the bridge of his nose. "I don't believe it."

"What? That I did come across Zoe the Mad Warlock twice in a row, or that I'm some sort of doom-and-gloom magnet?"

"If I say yes, will you be quiet for more than a minute so that I can collect my thoughts?"

"...is that a yes to both or..."

"Dresden."

"Sorry! Got it! Zipping up now."

He took another few deep breaths as he obviously tried to gather himself, his eyes closed in deep concentration. Arashimaru opened them and looked at me, letting out a resigned sigh. A small smile similar to the one he'd had when I first met him, though a bit tired this time, graced his face. "I really don't know why I'm so surprised by this turn of events. After all, I did read the reports on your escapades. Though..." He shook his head bemusedly. "I don't quite think I fully grasped the full scope of the events that took place in Chicago."

"Ah, yeah," I chuckled softly. "It's really something you'd have to be there for."

"Indeed," he said. He lowered himself to the floor, crossing his legs Indian-style. "Your reputation truly precedes you, Dresden, as does your odd luck. Commander Luccio did praise you for your actions during the attempted Dark Hallow, and Warden Ramirez will not stop going on about how you let him ride your 'pet zombie dinosaur' whenever he speaks to the recruits and others. Tell me, what exactly were you thinking?"

"Uh... honestly? That it seemed like the best idea at the time."

"Even if it was very close to breaking the fifth law?"

"Okay, so maybe it wasn't one of my best plans, but it was the best I could come up with on short notice." I hardened my jaw. "Besides, no way was I just going to let those Kemmler goons complete that ritual and take out all of Chicago for some sick rise to ultimate power."

Arashimaru took a moment to look at me again, eyes darting up once to try to look into mine, but he apparently found what he was looking for, because he smiled again, warmer this time. "I can understand that, Dresden, that feeling of wanting to protect the city you live in."

I raised an eyebrow and tilted my head. "So you're not like those stooges on the council who think I'm a ticking time-bomb of ultimate evil?"

"I'm saying that I doubt I would have acted differently had it taken place within my city." His lips quirked into something mischievous. "Though I doubt I would be quite as flamboyant in my actions as you were. Honestly, what thoughts must swirl in your skull to immediately jump to commanding several dozen tons of undead primal murder as Plan A?"

"Oh, Sue is really just a huge sweetie when you get down to it," I said. "Has a real leaning towards polka, surprisingly."

"I see." He leaned back and glanced up at the ceiling. His eyebrows raised minutely when he noticed the small, circular burn around the freshly-replaced ceiling light and then looked back at me curiously. Oh yeah... forgot about that when I lost my temper during that tumultuous meeting with Usagi and Luna. I shrugged my shoulders. He sighed again. "But because of that, I'm sure you can understand why I'm not all that enthused about you starting firefights in my city."

"Remember, half of that was thanks to Mars," I reiterated, finding it necessary to shift half the blame.

"Oh, believe me, I have already learned to deal with the collateral damage caused by the sailor senshi. I suppose I should thank them for some things, as their constant excursions have given me plenty of opportunities to refine my fire-suppression spell." He clicked his tongue. "But despite the unintentional benefit, they still have to learn that their actions have consequences. I have already started a tab in their names, ready to collect once I find out their true identities." His smile briefly flashed to a sadistic one before settling back. "Personal responsibility is a beautiful thing, is it not?"

Ick, those girls' families were not going to be please when they footed the bill. I'd defend them, but then I'd have to admit that I wasn't paying reconstruction fees on the several (hundred) thousand dollars of damage I'd accrued over the years.

"Nevertheless," Arashimaru continued. "I have enough problems juggling the vigilante actions of burgeoning magic users. I do not need a more experienced one with an even bigger penchant for collateral damage added to the mix."

I frowned slightly. "Are you telling me to back off?"

"I'm asking you not to make things worse."

"You must not know me very well, then."

"Apparently not. But you must understand this, Dresden: this is my city, my home. And if it comes down to a choice between doing everything I can do to keep it from burning to the ground, and stopping myself from insulting your sense of honor and pride, then I'm afraid I will choose the former over the latter every time." He flipped his hands over, palm upward. "Now, do we have an understanding?"

I looked at his hands, raised up in peace, and sunk into thought. It's not like I didn't understand where he was coming from. This was his territory, the land he'd been sanctioned to watch over and protect. It wasn't surprising that he was a bit overprotective of the area, especially thanks to the escalating battles between the Dark Kingdom and senshi. Add to that the dreaded 'dark wizard' that I was amongst the White Council, and I could easily surmise how he feared things tipping over the breaking point.

It was the same for me and Chicago. Every time some uppity punk of a sorcerer, supernatural monster, or fallen deity waltzed in like they owned the joint, my immediate reaction was to blast them in the face. Someone or something treading on my hallowed ground and threatening those close to me and all the other innocent masses could not be suffered lightly. And here I was, pointing my nose up in front of Arashimaru, ignoring his own personal desires and ideals because it was inconvenient for me.

Damn it, I didn't want to end up like those blasted members on the council who only saw what they wanted to see and ignored anyone else's opinion on the matter because it went against the grain. I did not want to into a younger Morgan.

Still, that didn't mean I was just going to bow my head and follow directions like a good boy. Arashimaru had made less progress in several months than I had in several days, so it was obvious that he needed the help, as self-centered and egotistical as my reasons were.

I mean, who did he think I was, telling me to just let him do his job and ooohhhhh now I see where those girls were coming from. Huh. Did... did I really sound like Arashimaru there? I... Darn it, I hated it when I kicked my feet out from underneath me with my own logic.

Well, just like it was prerogative of kids to live like kids, it was the perk of adults to be hypocritical when it suited them. Yay, now I had the trifecta of adulthood, along with paying taxes and not being able to just eat whatever I wanted anymore unless I wanted to bust through all my pants.

I looked back up at Arashimaru, the man waiting patiently for my answer. "Yes," I grunted. "We have an understanding."

A pleased smile popped up. "Ah, splendid. Now then, I ask that-"

"But I'm not done yet," I interrupted.

The smile was wiped off his face faster than Mouse went down on a rawhide twist. "Dresden..." he warned gratingly.

"Hear me out," I said, cutting him off before things spiraled out of control. "I'm not going to cause too much trouble for you, but I won't let this go until this one warlock is out of the picture."

He crossed his arms in front of his chest and pursed his lips, his gaze lingering and suspect. "What do you propose then?"

"Just this. Give me a little more time until I make sure Zoe can't cause anymore trouble. Besides, you know me." I grinned rakishly. "When have I ever run into someone once without me getting into a deathmatch with them sometime later?"

"Yes, your proclivities for inducing murderous amounts of rage in your enemies and allies alike is well-documented." He gave a sly smile at my curious, somewhat befuddled look. "I did say I read over the reports. There were extremely thorough in confirming the interactions you had with the other people of interest. I suppose it is only natural to assume that you will meet this 'Zoe' character once more before this is all said and done."

I laughed weakly. "I know, right? First time is an accident, second time is a coincidence, and third time means someone's not coming back." Not if I had anything to say about it. "So, is everything all right then?"

He was quiet for a second. "I don't suppose there is any way for me to diplomatically exclude you from the going-ons here?"

"You can try, but it's not going to end diplomatically."

"I was afraid of that," he said morosely. He tapped his fingers together lightly, looking down at the floor.

I wasn't certain about what he was thinking. People like Arashimaru had the annoying habit of being able to hide their thoughts pretty well. For someone like me, who usually was pretty open with his emotions (frequently in ways which involve fire), that kind of person made me antsy. It reminded me a bit too much of Marcone, and how the man who could wear a smile while ordering a person's painful and extended dismemberment always had me on edge. I doubted Arashimaru was that kind of criminal sociopath, but the similarities frayed my nerves enough.

I was brought out of my thoughts when he spoke.

"Dresden, a question."

"What is it?"

"Tell me, and forgive me if this is too personal but I must know: Why are you so adamant on disposing of this warlock personally? I can comprehend if it were in your territory, and especially because you seem to have a vendetta against this type of individual, but you are rational enough to realize how you are not so much stepping on my toes as stomping on them with steel-toed boots. So I must ask, why?"

My face twisted slightly. I did know where Arashimaru was coming from. I was definitely being a bit too pushy in making sure I took the dangerous clown out. Of course, I couldn't tell him it was because my daughter and her new friends(?) were in direct conflict with the guy, and would continue to be so until one side got taken out. There was also the fact that there were essentially five more hidden demons walking the streets, and Zoe was raring to convert them to their dark glorious upbringing. I couldn't just leave it to Arashimaru, especially since that would mean outing out the girls and moon cat.

Then again, why was I so against bringing Arashimaru into the fold? He didn't seem like the kind of guy that would jump to the immediate 'warlock-in-training' conclusion that older wardens did, so why...

Never mind, it didn't matter. He did say that the White Council had dropped all responsibility onto him, so there was no point in overburdening with not only his normal duties and the Dark Kingdom's malicious shenanigans, but also dealing with pubescent magical girls of love and justice.

I guess the best way to answer was to just be as close to the truth as I could get. And to be honest, that was... well...

"It has to do with my daughter," I admitted.

"Your daughter?" he asked worriedly. "What about her?"

"Well, as much as I trust leaving her here with you, I have to admit I'm a bit worried about leaving her behind with that psycho on the loose."

"What does she have to do with the situation?"

"She was with me when I came across Zoe, both times in fact. And considering that I'm pretty sure my luck has begun to rub off on her, I'm worried what might happen if I leave her here and she's the one Zoe finds instead of me."

He snorted in disbelief. "Dresden, do you truly believe your daughter, should the unlikely possibility that she even find herself at crosses with the warlock even happen, to be in any real danger? She has enough sense and training to try and avoid such an occurrence in the first place, and even if she doesn't, I'm certain she could escape the man with little threat given her raising."

"Arashimaru," I said carefully and gravely. "I've talked to you about Makoto. You've read her psychological report. Do you really think she'd just turn tail if she believed the right thing to do was to stay and fight? And..." I swallowed. "Do you think she'd have the right state of mind to fight and survive, let alone win?"

After a second's consideration, Arashimaru inhaled sharply. "I... can see your concern."

"So you understand why I don't exactly feel like leaving until I'm sure any possible dangers she could be personally involved in are taken care of?"

"I can understand, even if I don't relish the implications behind it."

"So does that mean I have a pass long enough to deal with Zoe and make sure my daughter is alright?"

He tapped his finger on his knee, and I could almost make out the slightest hint of him chewing on his lip. "Dresden," he said, his voice once again serious. "Do you promise me that, once you've settled matters, you'll leave Makoto in my care and head back to Chicago?"

I pursed my lips. "Are you asking me to make an oath?" Oaths were serious business; breaking one could have drastic and long-reaching consequences for the breaker.

"Nothing so extreme," he assured me. "As binding and efficient as they may be, I find them to undermine the inherent trust behind a promise that should stand on its own. No, I'm asking you, as one warden-no, as someone who wants to protect those dear to him, that you will trust me to look after your daughter after everything you have to finish is accomplished."

He extended his hand to me. "Do we have an accord?"

There was a moment's hesitation while I looked at his olive branch. On one hand, I did trust Arashimaru to do his job; the man had earned his place as a regional warden, youth not-withstanding. On the other, I had the feeling that even after Zoe was mopped up, there was a lot more to worry about as long as the girls still had a connection to that 'Silver Millennium' I'd heard Tuxboy mention offhand.

I felt bad about it, especially after Arashimaru had been honest and upfront about his feelings on the matter, but I don't think I'd be able to completely follow through with my end of the bargain.

Even so, I firmly grasped his hand and gave it one strong shake. "Deal."

I was going to protect my daughter - no matter what the cost.

"Excellent," Arashimaru smiled. "I'm glad we were able to resolve the matter peacefully. Now, as you've deigned to explain to me a bit what's going on, perhaps you could go a little further." He laughed lightly. "Why are you calling this mad warlock 'Zoe' of all things?"

I grinned and shrugged my shoulders, holding in a wince at the soreness that rose with the movement. "Bit of a nickname for him. Real name is Zoicite, or at least that's what I've heard the senshi call him, and he referred to himself as the great 'Zoicite' or whatever. Real nutbag, by the by; keeps going on and on about what insects we mortals are."

"Sounds like your textbook warlock. Do you know what his aim is, exactly?"

"Oh, the usual, get all the black magic, summon demons to take over the populace, conquer the world."

"Yes, yes, I understand that, but perhaps you can be a bit more specific? Those are the types of threats we deal with on a daily basis. My first large case here was someone who tried to create a tsukumogami army and rob a museum of a priceless artifact that was supposed to grant ultimate power." He snorted softly. "Of course, it didn't have any magical energy, or else the White Council would have already impounded the item."

"Tsukumogami?" I don't think the Babelfish that was Lasciel could translate that term properly, because I was coming up with a jumbled variety of definitions. Why was I imagining a paper-lantern with a cartoonish tongue lolling out?

"Objects that have survived long enough to gather ambient magical energy that allows for spirits to inhabit them. This sorcerer was rather fond of umbrella-types, as I recall. He customized their edges with carbon saw blades and used them to cut through pretty much any material."

"...your first case was against killer umbrellas?"

"Is it that strange? We do live in odd times."

I scratched the back of my head as I thought back on some of my stranger and less death-y cases. "Can't say that I don't; one of my first was defending a gorilla of being accused of murder." His lips pulled back. I smiled dryly. "One of those days."

"Then there are a few more similarities between us than I thought. Still, a little more details, please?"

"Right. Well, Zoe's part of some group called the 'Dark Kingdom'. There's at least five of them, or were; he mentioned something about two of them being killed off or disposed of sometime back. His immediate superior goes by the name of Kunzite, his boss is some crazy chick by the name of Beryl, and they all answer to some super demon by the name of Metallia."

"Zoicite, Kunzite, Beryl, Metallia?" Arashimaru looked at me funny. "Dresden, is it common for your enemies to have some sort of theme?"

"No more than for your local mini-skirted justice force to be named after planets."

"Touché," he admitted. He clasped his hands and rested his chin on them. "Anything more than that? You keep mentioning that they summon demons."

"I think they're demons. They sure as hell ain't human, or even close to any Nevernever creature I've seen." I pondered briefly on that feeling of wrongness I kept getting from Zoe and his ilk. "I even thought it might be Outsider-related for a bit, but I don't think the Gatekeeper would stand by lightly if the seventh law was being broken so blatantly and repeatedly."

"I see what you mean. Since I haven't been getting any urgent calls on the matter, we can assume that there is a very miniscule chance that Outsiders are involved."

"And if there is, hope that this Metallia isn't related to Gozer the Gozerian." Then again, we had our own Zul on hand, so we were probably safe. Unless... "...I really hope one of Beryl's titles isn't the Keymaster," I mumbled.

"Dresden, you're babbling."

"Oh, uh, sorry, Arashimaru; where was I?" Besides random pop culture references? "Oh, right. Anyway, their immediate goal seems to be going after these artifacts called the 'rainbow crystals.' Apparently they're prisons for some really powerful demons that are hidden in random individuals around the city. Last one was found in some tomcat."

"A cat?" He looked off to the side. "Well, I suppose it's better than that time with the magical gem and the dog demon. That priestess became more annoying the longer you talked with her." He started and abashedly focused back on me. "Ah, now I'm babbling. Please, continue. Are these people a danger to themselves or others? How did they come to be these crystal bearers in the first place?"

"Hell if I know to the second question." I wasn't really lying on that one. I did not want to try and parse out the mechanics of reincarnation and soul-sharing. I had enough trouble wrapping my head around the fallen angel that was in my head. "For the first one though, they seem to be perfectly fine up until Zoe yanks the crystal out of them. That's when things get dicey."

"Is there a way to cure them of this affliction, or..." He trailed off, unwilling to ask the grisly question.

"Far as I can tell, the senshi are able to do something. Both times it happened, they were on the scene and the victims were turned back to normal through whatever magic they used."

"And the crystals he already collected? Their whereabouts?"

"Zoe has one, and the senshi have the other." Ok, so Tuxboy had the other, but he was in cahoots with the senshi so it was easier to just lump them together.

"Speaking of the senshi, have you learned anything about them yet? At the very least, you've been able to make contact with them while I have only been able to see the aftermath of their battles."

"A few things, yes. I've gotten comparatively close to them, though we're not exactly friends." Technically true; one was my daughter, and the others were my daughter's friends, not mine.

"Have you managed to gain a glimpse to their real identities?" Arashimaru leaned forward, eager to get some clue for his investigation.

"I thought I knew who one of them was, but it turned out to be the glamour talking." Also technically true; turns out Mars was not Ami. Still had no idea as to who she was, though. It was such a mystery...

"Then perhaps where they may be or gather?"

"They have to at least be in the city somewhere. I'd look somewhere where teenaged girls gather. You'll probably have a better chance there." Technically true, too; man, I was awesome at deception when I didn't have to actually lie about stuff!

...which was pretty much exactly how the Sidhe operated. Dang, when you can compare yourself to both Morgan and Lea in one conversation, it's time to reevaluate your life choices.

"I see. That's regretful," he said in disappointment. "Anything else I should know?"

"Watch out for Zoe and his goony friends," I said seriously. "They have a pretty powerful assortment of basic evocation magic along with their demon summoning skills, and some nasty mind magic to go with it. Whatever you do, don't let down your guard around them."

"I will take your warnings to heart." He stared at my Bondage Ken doll. "I'm assuming that the blood you used in your ritual belongs to this Zoicite?" I nodded. "You do realize I'm going to have to confiscate some of it for research purposes."

"Yeah, figured as much," I sighed. I pointed over to the collection of ritual ingredients I'd prepared. Among them was a small glass vial containing half of the blood I'd managed to collect, what was left of the other half carefully stashed away for preservation. Even now, Zoe's blood looked like some kind of crimson sludge more than any bodily fluid. What, did he eat whale blubber for all his meals?

"Thank you." Arashimaru picked up the vial and examined it, his calm face quickly cycling through a variety of emotions before it finally decided to settle on darkened disbelief. "Dresden?" he said, his voice holding some emotion I couldn't quite place. Before I could answer, he shook his head and pocketed the vial, standing back up to his full height. "Never mind. Thank you for your cooperation. Hopefully we will be able to put this matter behind this as quickly as possible. To that effect, I will perform my own research on this sample you provided me."

He turned and bowed slightly. "I will be going now. Thank you for your time. May the rest of your stay here be quiet and peaceful." He looked up, his eyes narrowing in consternation. "For both our sakes, I beg."

I laughed uneasily at his glare. "Uh, sure, you got it. Oh." He tilted his head slightly as I beckoned him over before he could leave. "How'd you really know it was me there? You'd think with all the battles the senshi had in your region, they'd be your go to."

"Ah, of course, I almost forgot." He rifled through his satchel before pulling out a folded piece of fabric and handing it me. "I believe this belongs to you. Please take better care of it from now on; the council tends to frown upon us losing property they've lent to us." With that, he bade me farewell and exited the apartment, the door clicking shut behind him.

I unfolded the fabric and actually let out a small wince this time. It was the grey cloak I'd let Makoto borrow and subsequently lose the day before. Yeah... that was pretty damning evidence for my participation on the scene. I very much doubted there was some other Warden who just so happened to wander near our fight and then lose an article of clothing randomly.

I really needed to have a talk with Makoto about taking proper care of items lent to her. And by 'talk', I meant lecture.

I spared a glance at the door Arashimaru just went out. That definitely could have gone better. It also could have gone worse. Like, 'lots of fire and screaming' worse. He was a good kid. If it weren't for the fact that I was as stubborn as a horse and Makoto was intimately involved in the whole fiasco, I'm sure I would've left him to his own devices to fix the problem. He'd have a much better chance than me to not have Azabu-Juuban blazing through the night in the process.

"Oh, but my host, I so enjoy the pyres you set. They are so pretty underneath the light of the moon and alongside the cries of the damned."

And there went my good mood.

As she was wont to do, Lasciel just appeared in front of me, apropos of nothing. There was no shimmer, no sound to herald her coming; she was not there one moment and then there the next. As I was wont to do, I scowled at her with the force of a thousand grumpy Misters. Her lips curled in response.

"Oh? And what are you so frustrated about?"

"Didn't I tell you not to appear in front of me like this?"

"Which is why I felt it was very polite of me to wait for your colleague to leave before I showed myself."

"You know what I mean," I muttered sullenly.

"My host, in case you have forgotten, I am quite taken with your mind. I couldn't not be a part of your life if I tried. Be glad that I mostly limit myself to passive observation rather than a more active role in your doings."

"And if you tried, back in that deep, dank box you'd go."

Lasciel shrugged minutely. Suddenly, she was sitting on a floor pillow, her legs tucked up underneath her. She patted the pillow and smiled at it in satisfaction before turning a more critical and disappointed look towards me. "Truly, I would hope that you'd realize the benefits I could grant you if you'd just call upon me more often."

"And as I keep telling you, I'm all too familiar with the gleaming hook dangling from that offer." I cracked my neck, the stiffness in it starting to get uncomfortable again. "My fairy godmother is an actual fairy. I'm used to people arguing semantics and double-dealing." I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye, pretending to fiddle with the ritual foci. I was certain she could see through the blustering but couldn't care any less. "Look, just what is it that you want? I'm getting tired of the run-arou-"

"Why did you not take up the coin?"

The tract was not something unfamiliar to hear from Lasciel. The bluntness and sharp crack to her words, however, were. It was enough to make me stumble mid-thought.

"...what?'

"Why..." she started, as if speaking to very young, very slow child. "Did you not take up the coin? Tell me. I wish to know."

Gathering my wits back about me, I cleverly retorted with as much rhetoric as I could muster. "You know why."

"Apparently I do not, for I wouldn't be asking you otherwise. Please, enlighten me."

I groaned and massaged the bridge of my nose. "How many times are we going to have the same song and dance? Take your Mephistopheles-lite and take a hike."

"As many times as it takes to convince you of the importance, nay, necessity of my offer."

"I am not willing to barter my soul for pow-"

"You should have."

I paused again at her interruption, caught off guard by the adamancy in her tone. I involuntarily raised an eyebrow at her stony features, all hometown girl loveliness wiped by the countenance of a truly ancient being. For the first time since I became aware of her, I looked upon the tiniest sliver of all the terrible age and existence of a being that was old when humans were learning that sticking body parts into open flames was detrimental to their health. It was sobering... and a little befuddling at the same time.

As if sensing my hesitation, Lasciel continued. "Your muscles weren't the only parts of you bruised, my host. Whatever spell the sorcerer used, your internal organs were damaged as well." At my paling complexion, she hurried forward. "It is nothing worse than what you have gone through before, which I wish to discuss with you at some later point, but not by much. But had he not been halted when he was, I have no doubt you would have died. Wizard though you may be, a ruptured heart would have killed you just as easily and effectively as a normal human."

Instinctively I placed a hand over my heart. Though beating a bit (okay, a lot) more quickly than average, there was comforting knowledge in that it still did. Lasciel, however, was still not done in accelerating my heartbeat until I mistook it for a hummingbird working a jackhammer.

"That is not even taking into account the psychic attack he struck you with, multiple times I must add. Were it not for your formidable mental fortitude, you would be lucky not to turn into a raving lunatic if not a drooling vegetable as your mind was torn asunder. Neither of these outcomes would be beneficial to my goals. And yet even after being exposed to pain, both physical and mental, that would drive a man mad, you still insist on not taking the best and only way to keep you alive."

She looked me straight in the eye, and I avoided her gaze, even knowing that nothing would happen. This Lasciel was a copy, a shadow of her true self. The real Lasciel might have what equated to a soul, corrupted and broken though it may be, and there was no doubt that if she did, I would not survive a soul gaze with her on basic, fundamental level. The void would have swallowed me more as an afterthought than with any real intent. But this Lasciel was nothing more than an imprint on my mind, and therefore was less likely to initiate a soul gaze with me than a cockroach.

And yet, I couldn't meet her eyes. Some unknown feeling in my gut recognize the glimmer of emotion in her eyes before I looked away, and I felt that if I confronted it, something would irrevocably change. I would accept something was different, and I wasn't willing to do so.

"What are you trying to tell me, Lasciel? And just say it, don't dance around the issue."

"He hurt me, Harry."

I froze.

Not because she actually said it outright, though that was a part of it. Not even because she used my real name instead of 'my host'. No, it was because of the raw emotion in her voice.

Every time she spoke - every plea, flirt, bargain, demand - always held the tiniest hint of artifice to my ears. Artfully crafted, painstakingly cultivated, meticulously crafted - that was the Lasciel I had come to know, even expect.

This was not that Lasciel.

"As I've said, my host, I am part of you, wanted or not. I experience what you feel, what you do, what you are. And when an ancient sorcerer rips through the very veil of your mind, I feel it as well. Every. Single. Sensation. Pain so unimaginable it can't be described, even by something as time immemorial as myself."

Lasciel raised her head, nose pointed slightly up. The rawness had faded, the stone seeping back in, tainted with a edge that chilled some deep, primal part of my being.

"He hurt me, and I do not find that acceptable. Contrary to what those doddering philosophers say, beings that live forever do not question eternity. We do not fear or despise it, even if we don't relish it at all times. We simply are, and like most sensible creatures we do not seek death, because we have a functioning self-preservation instinct - something that you appear to sorely lack."

She fidgeted in her seat, a tic I absently remembered from her 'Sheila' persona, and I suddenly wondered how many fake habits she'd picked up over the eons. Lasciel picked at her pillow. "So when that sorcerer nearly flayed your personality from its roots, I felt the tinges of fear for my continued existence for the first time in a long while."

"Why do you even care?" I asked. "You're just a copy of the original. If you die, it's not like it'll affect the real Lasciel. And if by some insane act of the devil you do get me to take up the coin, the real Lasciel'll just absorb you. Either way, you're gone."

"If I am reabsorbed, at the very least my knowledge will be passed on to my creator. But if you die, I do as well, and this is not allowable. I will cease to exist, to stop, and I consider it no greater crime to cut short that which can still go on."

"Yet you're quite willing to 'cut short' those that defy you," I grated, starting to feel less... more towards her as memories of what she and her compatriots did came to mind. "Were those that you killed or pulled down with you not worthy of that same privilege?"

"I never implied that it wasn't a selfish belief," she countered. "But, my host, even angels, fallen or holy, will do what they can so that they may pursue their purpose. Some are more willing to cross the rubicon than others, but all do what they feel they must."

"And if that makes you turn your back on Him?"

"We all fell for different reasons," Lasciel said. She glanced briefly to the side. "Not all reasons are equal."

"I'm sure that thought keeps you warm at night. And if that doesn't, Hell's never wanting for heat."

"You wound me, my host."

"You're lucky all I've dealt you is my barbed wit."

"I will be sure to keep that in mind for the future."

Just like that, things returned to the status quo. A teasing, charming smile returned to Lasciel's lips. Her posture reverted to its lazy, inviting touch. I recovered enough of myself to instinctively guard myself from any further temptations, but I felt extra paranoid from what had just transpired.

How much had been real? How much fiction? Lasciel was the serpent, the whisperer of lies, so I'd come to take a grain of salt with everything she said. However, for that one brief moment, when she admitted weakness, however slight, I felt as though I'd seen to the center of a great labyrinth - one that twisted and turned inside and out, built upon bit by bit so gradually over countless centuries that even the builders didn't know how complex it was - to discover a sliver of the treasure it held.

Or was even that a part of her calculations? Honestly, I couldn't be certain, could never be certain. I wasn't sure I really wanted to even know the truth.

Hell's bells, only I could have an existential crisis over the possible salvation of a fallen angel bunking in my brain. Story of my life.

"So, do you have an answer to my question?"

"The question?" Her smile fell a bit. "Oh, right, the question!" I blustered. "Of course I have an answer for you. I had an answer the moment you asked." I grinned sheepishly. "But just to make sure it's still viable after what we talked about, why don't you repeat the question - just for confirmation."

Lasciel closer her eyes and took a deep breath. "Perhaps those psychic attacks had more debilitating results than I'd initially assumed, given your short-term memory has regressed to that of a babe being distracted by shiny, jangling keys." She opened her eyes. "Very well, allow me to reiterate - why did you not take up the coin yesterday?"

"Oh, that." Honestly, I was hoping she'd forgotten that part. Though it seemed the eons-old psuedo-deity wasn't about to forget the original point of the conversation. Just my luck.

"Yes, that," Lasciel insisted. "I may have been a little melodramatic before, but my point still stands - you almost died."

"As many of friends keep telling me," I said - Well, friends, enemies, acquaintances, random strangers, the doomsayer on the corner of my block - "I almost die a lot of the time; it's kinda my calling card. But as you can clearly see, I'm still around kicking butt without having to sign my name in blood."

"The problem is that you need not be in the 'almost dead' situation at all. Although that sorcerer's spell would've been the bullet, your obstinacy in refusing to take up the coin was you pulling the trigger yourself."

"And you say you're not being melodramatic now?" I snorted.

"I was merely using an analogy I'd hoped you'd understand," she said in exasperation. "Although it would appear only the most bold-faced of facts will appeal to you. Very well, allow me to be frank - had that masked gentleman not appeared, you would have died." Lasciel's back straightened and her eyes narrowed. "The sorcerer was not taking any chances; he would have exerted a magnitude of pressure that would make the planet's core jealous. You, on the other hand, had no back-up plan, no trick up your sleeve, no trump card to whip out at the last second. Also, considering the fire child's fighting style, she would've been less help than if she hadn't been there at all; in fact, she was little more of a burden. Had you left her behind, I've no doubt she would have died not even a minute into the fight."

There was more than iron to her words; this was pure, pitch-black obsidian. "You would have died a miserable wretch, along with that fire child. Follow that with your daughter seeking revenge - and I see no other action that she would take, given her upbringing - and you have three dead."

Again, that apprehensive feeling coiled in the pit of my stomach as I gazed upon her visage - beautiful and terrible to behold. "Three graves, two belonging to ones much more innocent than you, and all due to your stubbornness and pride. So tell me, my host; enlighten this 'immortal' being with a better understanding and appreciation of mortality than you.

"Why did you not take up the coin?"

It was at that moment that I realized something amazing, depressing, and incredibly profound. For all her power, all her knowledge, all her tricks that she'd learned over the millennia, and all the ways she might've hinted at and implied it, Lasciel was not a mind reader. Because if she was, she would have already known.

About that one moment. That moment Zoicite brought down his arm to end me and Mars. That moment Tuxboy's rose pierced his back. That moment I imagined Makoto's raging and despairing face. That moment I knew I'd break my promise of never leaving her alone and unloved ever again.

That moment... that I'd chosen to accept Lasciel's offer.

As I'd said before and will say again, I'm only human, and humans had their breaking point like any other creature. That moment was mine, and only by the grace of god and hammy heroics did I not take a flying leap off the edge.

It was on a happy note to finally know that, although Lasciel could scrounge through my memories like a hobo in a dumpster, she couldn't just pluck thoughts right out of my head. It was a disheartening one to find out only by having my greatest personal moral failing unknowingly shoved in my face by a being with the moral standard of 'don't ask, don't tell.'

Of course, there was no chance in hell of me actually revealing that weakness to her, so I fell back on the best method to deal with creatures with enough power to carbonize me just from blinking - be a smarmy bastard!

Hey, it's been surprisingly effective so far. I think creatures beyond human ken were too amused/flabbergasted by the dust mite blowing them a raspberry to immediately resort to rage smiting.

"I thought it obvious," I said with the air of someone completely confused as to why no one else saw what was clearly the obvious answer. "We're in one of Sparky's moon books."

Not every day you witness an ancient being notorious for her silver tongue rendered completely speechless. Pretty impressive, if I do say so myself.

Lasciel shook herself out of her stupor. "I apologize, my host, but I believe I misheard you. Why did you feel you didn't have to take up the coin?"

"We're in one of Sparky's insipid moon books. I mean, look at what I've come across: girls in frilly outfits, talking space cats, a villain even Stan Lee would be embarrassed to put to ink, and a guy who thinks ballroom formalwear is appropriate battle attire. Not to mention the monologuing." I grimaced at the memory. Bad guys doing it I don't mind, but, really, what was Mars thinking? I really hoped that wasn't the norm; not unless they enjoyed giving their enemies a free shot.

"Do you really think you have room to talk?" Lasciel mused accusatorily. "You do have a tendency to try and infuriate you enemies to apoplexy."

"I don't monologue, I banter. I'm the wizard version of Spiderman."

"So you say." She shook her head. "And I'm accused of arguing semantics."

"One, I do say. Two, you do. Three, since we're in a moon book, that means I was never in any real danger. Obviously Tuxboy was going to dashingly dash in and save the day. It's like the rules of this universe or something."

"...so if we're in one of your daughter's books, how did we get here?"

"Took a wrong turn at Albuquerque and accidentally breached the Outer Gates." I gave her an innocent, sympathetic smile. "Something wrong?"

Lasciel removed her fingers from her temples. "I do believe my creator and her compatriots overestimated your sanity and willingness to keep it when they conceived this plan."

"Does that mean you'll stop trying to shuck your coin off on me?"

"We only have to worry if your mind's completely shattered. Since you're not babbling the names of dead gods even I've forgotten, I believe you haven't yet reached your expiration date. You're still a viable and prime host... despite your proclivities towards antagonizing those far above your weight class."

Like I said: shock and awe, it works!

Though judging from the way she was observing me (her lips slightly pursed, one crossed leg bouncing every so often, and a look of pure exasperation due to witnessing true idiocy), Lasciel had most likely come to the conclusion that I was purposefully side-stepping the issue. So now she was going to get me back on track.

Railroader!

She must have noticed my rebellious thoughts through my expression because Lasciel rolled her eyes and gave a somewhat course puff eerily reminiscent of Murphy. "Even if narrative causality deigned you to survive, had you just accepted my help, that sorcerer would have been barely a gnat in your presence. True, his ancient style of magic is potent and great deal above your own, but compared to my true self he's little more than a child waving a very pointy stick." She look at me at that.

Hey, I resemble that remark! "I seemed to be doing pretty well for myself right up until he started whipping the rules like a red-headed stepchild."

"Because you've never come across someone that's cheated before," she pushed. "My host, sometimes I wonder if you're naive or just stupid."

"Yes...?" Lasciel gave a minute sigh of disgust. "Look," I said, already tiring of the redundancy of the conversation. "I'm going to keep fighting this guy, with or without your help."

"Have I ever withheld my assistance whenever you've asked?" she asked, her tone a little perturbed.

"Not without immediately upselling how it'd be so much better with your coin. I'm not going to buy that cow, so quit it with the marketing campaign."

"Tis the first time I've been compared to dairy," she said amusedly. "Though it is one of the more benign comparisons. What do you suggest then?"

"Help me out with Zoe. No extras, no hinting for more, no talking about the coin. If you're so much bigger on self-preservation than me, prove it by keeping my dumb ass off of death's doorstep."

She blinked once, slowly, before her expression morphed into wicked delight that sent all the bad and good kinds of tingles down my spine. "My host," she said carefully, lovingly, sinfully. "Are you proposing a deal?"

"Call it what you will," I said airily. Actually, no I was pointedly not calling it that. Bad enough I was insinuating it, no way was I making a formal verbal contract with a fallen angel. "You help me, which keeps me alive so that I can snark at people I really shouldn't. I live, which means you stay alive as well to keep up the futile attempt to have me damn myself. Everyone's happy; well, except for Zoe and his friends when I stomp them flat."

Lasciel smiled, one so decadent I felt dirty just looking at her. She slid up next to me, smooth as silk but with a practiced motion that I couldn't help but notice and compare to that of a snake, lounging until the chance to strike. Her arms curled around my neck, her breath hot and moist on my ear. "Oh, my dear, dear host," she purred, savoring each roll of the tongue. "You won't regret this, I promise." Again, shivers went through my body at her dusky voice and lidded eyes.

"I'll bet," I murmured. Well, I wasn't the first father to do something monumentally moronic to protect his child, and I wouldn't be the last. I just had to be really careful on the slippery slope - the first step was a real doozy.

Disentangling her nearly pneumatic hold on my neck, I pushed Lasciel off. She obediently went back to her former spot, but not before letting her hand languidly brush against the nape of my neck. It burned in all the myriad ways, but I soldiered on. I clapped my hands and rubbed them together.

"So, first order of business: who the heck are Zoe and his DK goons? I'm willing to give Luna the benefit of the doubt that they're dangerous, but I'm a bit iffy on the whole ancient civilization deal. You'd think the White Council would've heard of the-"

"Oh, the Silver Millennium is quite real and also quite dead. The progenitors of the Dark Kingdom, your crazed sorcerer and his comrades, very much saw to its annihilation."

Like the aftermath of a clown car and a banana cream pie truck collision, I really should've seen that coming.

"And you know this, how?" I croaked out.

"I've existed since the dawn of time," she said. "For you, the fall of one of humanity's greatest civilizations happened so far back that even your respected Merlin doesn't remember. But for me, it was a Tuesday."

"And you never told me, why?"

"You never asked," she said pointedly. "You were quite clear on the matter whenever I offered aid."

Of course.

"I'm asking now," I ground out. "What was the Silver Millennium, and why did the Dark Kingdom destroy it?"

"Both of those are very long stories."

"I have all day. Makoto shouldn't be back till evening, so I don't have to worry about her walking in on me talking to myself and thinking I've cracked until then."

"Still, a verbal recollection of the events would be long and dry. I don't believe someone of your demeanor would find it all too enjoyable."

I felt vaguely insulted. Also, this conversation was starting to feel a lot like those with Bob when he used big words just because I didn't have an encyclopedic knowledge of everything.

I was about to say something very witty and derogatory but stopped when Lasciel got a look. It was the type of look only Vincent Price could describe... and only in song.

"Actually..." Lasciel's smile curled. "There is a better, more visceral way for me to show you what happened. It would be far more depictive and elucidating than me just telling you, and it would be a great deal easier on your palate."

My eyes narrowed with suspicion. "What does it involve?"

"Do you trust me, my host?"

"As far as I can throw you." Which, considering she was a mental imprint, was a nice, tidy distance of zero.

"I suppose that is something I will have to remedy. Hopefully my assistance will warm you up to me, but I do insist you allow me this, my host. It will make the process so much easier."

"What are you going to do?"

"I will alter your physical senses and neural impulses to show you a realistic record of the events that transpired. In essence, I will draw you into a very complex, very tangible illusion."

"And just why did you think I'd agree to that?" I'd had enough of Lasicel's illusions after I'd first met 'her.' Willingly letting her scramble my brain was pretty far down on my list on 'things I'm really looking forward to.'

"My host, I didn't have to ask. I could have just rewired your brain and shown you regardless."

"Not helping yourself, lady."

She said nothing for a moment and then took a deep breath. "My host, have I ever lied to you?"

I do believe that was the quickest I've ever formed a flat expression; I might've pulled a muscle given the small tic underneath my eye.

"Are you really asking me this?" My voice was completely deadpan, as was only appropriate. "You fabricated an entire life - name, personality, and all - just to gain my trust. Bit contradictory there."

She arched one perfect eyebrow. "Oh? And when exactly did I lie? My name, Sheila Starr? Tell me, how was that a lie?"

"Is this a trick question? Because that is the weirdest way I've ever heard your name pronounced. I'm guessing you're a po-ta-toe person."

She smirked. "Lasciel, Sheila. One a friendly degradation of the other. Much like I am certain a hundred years ago you would've been called Harold. As for my last name..." She trailed off a moment, almost as if lost in thought. "Do you know why one of my titles is 'the Webweaver?'"

"Because you spin traps and suck people dry?"

If Lasciel was insulted, she didn't show it. "Before I fell, I had one important, beautiful job: I placed the stars in the night sky. The webs I weaved were those of glamorous, twinkling beads of light, though the new kinds I spin can be almost as fun."

I wasn't about to question astronomy with a being whose breath of memory and thought outclassed ice ages (though I'm sure it would've been a great theology vs. science debate), so I moved on ahead.

"And the way you acted? You don't seem to be much like 'Sheila' now."

"I have existed for untold ages, and you have known me for less than a year. Do you presume to know when I'm 'me' and when I'm not? For that matter, do you act the same in every situation? A friend, a father, a lover, a foe?"

"You're pulling sophistries again..." I warned.

"The heart of the matter is that's as far as I've ever gone with you. I am Lasciel, but not a true spinner of lies. With the truth I may bend, evade, dress down, push aside, obfuscate, and omit, but I will not speak a complete falsehood, not with you. Can you tell me otherwise?"

I couldn't, not really. Oh, not because I believed her (I wasn't that gullible), but because I couldn't clearly remember one time I was absolutely certain she'd lied to me that wasn't just healthy paranoia. Even searching my memories I couldn't pull up one definite moment where it hadn't just been implications and vague wording on her part or conjecture on mine. And now, because of that, I didn't have a viable excuse to call her a liar beyond the obvious 'fallen angel' angle (which was perfectly acceptable in all moral tender). However, I had the feeling that she'd win some personal bet if I did, and I was just vindictive enough to not let her have even that tiny victory over me.

See, this is why I hated working with people who'd once been my enemy - there was always that niggling, usually justifiable sensation between my shoulder blades that felt a whole lot like a stabby-stab. Even after what he'd done for me, I'd still rather blast apart his door and launch into an interrogation then knock and talk it out like gentleman.

Lasciel watched me patiently. I ground my teeth together before spitting out, "Fine! Fine... I'll trust you. But if this is a trap..." I left the threat floating in the air.

She didn't even acknowledge it. "Do not worry, my host. I promise to take good care of you..." Yeah, that niggling sensation? It got worse. "Now, you may feel a slight pinch."

Everything went black.

I nearly went into a full-blown panic as every sensation - sight, sound, touch, smell, even taste - was torn from me, leaving me to senselessly float in an empty void. I tried to move but couldn't even feel my muscles shifting.

"Lasciel!" I 'screamed,' my mental voice being swallowed up in the void. "Where are you?! Lasciel!"

No answer.

Instantly my mind began to froth with the most horrifying of conclusions. Had she betrayed me? Left me trapped in my own head? Was she wrecking havoc with my body while laughing at my stupidity? What had I done? Makoto...!

"Damn it, Lasciel, where are you?!"

"Right here, my host." She materialized 'in front' of me, actually fading in instead of her normal 'disappear-reappear.' "Is something the matter? We've only just begun the transition."

I held back my 'sigh' of relief. I didn't want her to know, but it was actually a good deal calming to know I wasn't alone in this nothing. Then my temper began to flare as I remembered she put me in this situation in the first place.

"What did you do?"

"The realistic memory recall is a long and complicated process," she explained, her toga waving in all directions as she began to turn upside-down, presumably just to screw with me. "I had to start you from a blank slate or else risk destroying your neural pathways via sensory overload. Believe me, it's not as pleasant as it sounds." I could suddenly see myself again. I clenched and unclenched my good hand. "There, that should give you a point of reference."

A sinking thought occurred to me. "What about my real body? This is just a mental projection, right?"

"How clever," she almost preened. "You're currently 'taking a nap' as it were. I took the precaution of blocking all voluntary commands. It wouldn't do to have you stumble around blind and break your fool neck."

"You really think I'd kill myself off that stupidly?"

She smiled. "Judging from your initial reaction to the process and your positioning on the floor, had I left general motor control, you would have cracked three of your metacarpals on the low table and gained a concussion from the icebox."

"...okay, so I'd injure myself stupidly. Sounds par for the course."

"Quite. Now..." She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and raised out a hand to me, the palm face up (or in my case, face down). "Are you ready, my host?"

I frowned and then sighed. "As ready as I'll ever be." I took her hand.

Her eyes opened, and I saw infinity.

A/N (Irritus): Next chapter out, and good riddance! Damn it, I took way too long with this one. Blame actually getting a job, though I can now afford to feed myself! Also blame Raithe, he's been slacking on my flogging sessions. Ironically, this was also supposed to be one big chapter with the actual flashback and more scenes, but I figured the sooner I got it out, the better.

Lots of talking in this one, and hopefully it helped to flesh out Arashimaru and Lasciel more. Side note: please don't see this as me trying to shill Lasciel on her 'not lying.' She's a fallen angel; why are you taking her speech at face-value? Harry sure as heck isn't.

And now, the ripping apart of Sailor Moon canon to fit Dresden begins. Raise the heat shields! Fanboy/girl rage incoming!

A/N (Raithe): You know, one of these days we'll figure out how long the scenes will actually take and not have to split the chapters in half. This was supposed to be chapter four!

And if you think Lasciel is acting out of character... she's not.