"Such an interesting experience," was what Kaworu thought as he waltzed through the streets of Academy City while carrying an injured Index on his back towards Komoe's house.

If those passer-by didn't know better, they'd thought that a charming young man was carrying his sweet, beautiful girlfriend back home under the romantic, starry night sky. However, the various patches of bloodstains on Index's clothes would instantly change the scene to a satisfied murderer happily dancing his way to his victim's burial ground.

Pain was like a blanket of needles being dragged along through an internal roadway in his body as he continued to make his way to Komoe's house. Apparently, that blanket was a gift from the Imagine Breaker. It also left a congratulation note stating how impressive he had been for figuring out how to bypass the limitations of the Imagine Breaker, potientially distorting its original purpose.

While the Imagine Breaker will negate any supernatural power in question, but if said power was simply too overwhelming then there would be a delay in completely negating it. Hence, if Kaworu were to continuously input vast amount of Telesma, he could bypass the Imagine Breaker.

However, he realized that the pain served to remind him that his vessel can only take so much.

After climbing up the stairs, he reached the doorstep of Komoe's apartment, located on the second storey on the two storey building that looked like a old, rundown mansion from far.

It was relaxing to sit down by the table in the living room and take a puff and perhaps a bottle of beer while you're at it while reading a book. Empty beer cans and piles of cigarettes stuffed into several ashtrays littered the entire living room, who only had a low coffee table, television and a few bookshelves.

Komoe couldn't remember when she had started drinking and smoking. Probably during her university days in Kyoto where she was often discriminated against due to her size. Desperate to be properly treated as a proper adult, she begun to smoke and drink, which apparently earned her respect from her fellow peers. Thus, she continued smoking and drinking which surprisingly remained as a habit to relieve stress.

After graduating from university, she decided to enter Academy City as a teacher because she wouldn't be discriminated since everyone is special in their own way there. During a health check, the doctor remarked that her body is a piece of fantasy when she revealed that she smokes at least 19 sticks per day. At first she thought that the doctor was making fun of her. Surprisingly, when she received her health report, she saw that she was much healthier than an ordinary adult.

After Komoe finished the book, she changed into a pink jumper suit and was about to go to sleep when she heard a loud bang that nearly shook her half-empty can of beer off the table.

"The door is made especially sturdy as a defense from those newspaper sellers. Yes, yes, I'll go get the door. Please kindly wait for a moment."

"Kamijou-chan...?"

Kaworu said as he gently pushed her aside, "No time to explain."

"B-but it would be troublesome for me..."

Embarrassed at how unkempt her living room was, Komoe rushed to clear away all the cans littered about and kept all of her ashtrays into an empty space on one of her bookshelves.

Grinning sheepishly as she turned to face Kaworu, "Do you hate woman who smokes?"

Ignoring the question, Kaworu placed Index lying face down on the floor by the coffee table, completely exposing the bloody wound on her back.

Komoe's face instantly turned into one of horror when she noticed the blood on her back,"What happened?!"

Just then, a soft, white glow emanated from Index. She slowly sat up as if nothing happened to her, however, all emotions seemed to have escaped from her eyes.

Moving her pale lips, Index began to speak, "What is the current time in Japan Standard Time? Also, what is the date?"

Komoe replied with a trembling tone in her voice, "It is 8:30 PM on July 20th…"

"You did not seem to reference a clock. Is the time accurate?"

"I do not have a clock in my room, but my internal clock is accurate down to the second, so do not worry."

Glancing out from the window, Index said, "From the location of the stars and angle of the moon… the time matches the direction of Sirius with an error of 0.038. Now, to check once more: the current time in Japan Standard Time is July 20th 8:30 PM, is that correct?"

"Yes...?"

And then, capturing a single drop of blood dripping from her back with a finger, she drew a complicated looking star-shaped symbol on the now bare coffee table.

"Angel. May I request your angelic name."

Komoe looked at Kaworu with confusion, "Angel?"

"How about no."

After a brief pause, Index continued, "Very well. I will just need you to levitate above the center of the table while I will be seated at the right end and she will be seated at the left. We will initiate a healing ritual that will supply me with the necessary mana to survive."

Komoe suggested hesitantly, "Why don't I call an ambulance instead?"

"I don't understand what is an ambulance but if it is not going to supply me with the necessary mana within 15 minutes then I will no longer be capable to sustain my life." Index's voice, just like her eyes, were devoid of any emotions.

Following Index's instruction, all of them got into position.

"The centre will supply the mana needed while the left is responsible for transmission of mana to the right."

"But how do I do that?" Komoe asked.

"Sing. Follow the melody that I will also be singing.

"We will begin in 3,2,1."

Soft music started to fill the room as Index begun to sing. Komoe could hear that this was Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Ode to Joy. It grew louder and louder as Kaworu slowly transformed into a white humanoid figure with four thin translucent wings. The symbol on the table glowed brightly and surrounded the figure in a pillar of red.

Although she didn't exactly understand what was going on (Really? Kamijou Touma is actually an Angel in disguise?!) but right now, all she could do was to join in with the singing first, then ask for details later.

Kaworu's surroundings melted into a space filled with vast darkness as he felt both Index and Komoe's singing resonating deep inside his soul.

"Such beauty. Singing brings joy. It is the highest point in the culture that Lilins have created."

Somewhere in the darkness, a soft light flickered. He went closer to the light and he smiled.

So you've found me.

Yes, Shinji. Do you wish to leave this place and return?

I'm happy here. I don't wish to return ever again.

Don't you wish to amend the pain that you believe you've inflicted on them?

Rei and Asuka?

Yes. You could turn back time again.

No, that's enough. I ended up hurting them once more... again and again.

I see. That boy?

Yes. He... is a much better person than me.

A sharp pain interrupted the conversation as he increased his output of Telesma to prevent the Imagine Breaker from negating all of it. If this goes on, he might just suffer from multiple organ damage from pushing too hard.

When he felt the resonation disappearing he stopped his flow of Telesma, slowly sucking the scene away back into darkness before reverting back to reality and slowly floated down on the table with his human form visible once again.

"Healing is complete and along with the replenishment of mana, I have confirmed the avoidance of any life endangerment. John's Pen mode will now go to sleep." Index said before she collapsed to the ground. A peaceful smile could be seen from her face.

"Kamijou-chan, I demand to know what is going on!" Komoe said as she put both of hands on her hips facing Kaworu who sat peacefully under the bright morning sky by the metal railing at the balcony in her bedroom. Index remained asleep like a baby on the futon behind her.

"Kamijou Touma got himself into some trouble. His misfortune once again earned him a place in another alternative universe where he must struggle to find a way to escape. I am his replacement for now. You may refer to me as Kaworu Nagisa if you wish, but Kamijou Touma is very much preferred."

"What nonsense are you talking about? You ARE Kamijou Touma, no? Same hair and face."

Sensing that being perfectly honest with the suitation would not work, Kaworu decided to approach her question in another way.

"Heaven banished me to Academy City and the Imagine Breaker is my power that I use to atone for my sins. In order to save that poor nun who was critically injured by some malicious Lilins, I have no choice but to reveal my true self."

"... Are you being intentionally sarcastic on purpose?"

Kaworu got up from the railing and kneeling down as if he was proposing to her, he clasped both of her hands with his cold hands, eyes staring deep into Komoe's eyes, "If you were a complete stranger, I wouldn't mind involving you, but I owe you a favour, so I don't want to involve you."

Shocked at how romantic Kaworu seemed all of a sudden, she took a quick step back and her face flushed a bright red, "S-saying things like that and trying to cover everything up doesn't mean I will forgive you.

"I'll go to the supermarket and get some food for breakfast. Meanwhile you should think about how you'd properly explain the situation to me."

Before Komoe closed the door and left the room, she added, "Sometimes when I go shopping, I tend to forget things, so if I forget, do remember to remind me."

"Touma..."

Index sat up on her bed with a slightly dazed look. She tried her best to escape from that woman who discovered her while making her way back to Touma's apartment. Once again, she jumped from rooftops to rooftops but that woman was agile as she kept up with her. Finally, she felt a searing pain in her back, but before she could collaspe, she must first retrieve the hood in his apartment. Sadly, when she reached the doorstep, her body gave out, causing her to slip into unconsciousness.

"So you're finally awake."

"Who exactly are you?"

"I am from an alternate universe."

"Then why are you here?"

"Somebody did summon me using the Lance of Longinus after all. But that's a long story."

"Tell me."

"Beyond comprehension for mere Lilins."

Index's cheeks puffed up like a small child being looked down upon, "Tell me."

"Why do you want to know so much?"

"Because I'm curious!"

"Why are you so curious?"

Unable to stand this anymore, Index did what she did best when she was upset. Biting.

"Such misfortune...?"

"Bathtime~ Bathtime~" Index sang happily while she skipped along together with Kaworu holding a wash basin with both hands towards the bath house.

After Komoe came back from her shopping, it really seemed as though she really did forget about everything and allowed both Index and Kaworu stay in her house with no conditions attached. Unfortunately, her house lacked anything even close to a bath, and so the both of them had to head down to a nearby bath house at night.

"Touma, Touma," said Index as she nudged at his arm lightly.

"Do you like the name Touma? You've been calling out my name for about 158 times already."

"207 times," Index corrected, "I just like calling your name for no reason." Her expression was like that of a child going to an amusement park for the first time.

"There must be a reason why. So why?"

"You're annoying for an Angel."

"I'm just curious."

Index realised that Kaworu wasn't carrying his own wash basin, so why was he heading to the bath house also.

"Where's your basin? How are you going to bath without it?"

"Aren't we supposed to share the basin?"

Index stopped to put down her wash basin and folded her arms with a hurt expression on her face, slightly biting her lower lips, much to Kaworu's surprise. Was this an offensive question to that Lilin?

"Touma. So you are that sort of person."

"...?"

"I hate you."

For the second time today, he had been bitten by Index, this time on the head.

"Honestly, what is wrong with bathing together?" Kaworu wondered as he watched Index headed on to the public bath alone.

After some time, he found it strange that there was no people in the area. Checking the time displayed on a department store's electronic billboard, it was exactly 8 PM. It would still be some time before most people would be asleep, and yet, there was nobody else but him.

And then he smiled, Kanzaki Kaori was 2 days earlier than expected.

After coming to a major road with three lanes in each direction, he waited for her to make an appearance.

Less than a moment later, he heard her voice like a sword colliding into his A.T field, "Stiyl carved the Opila rune for a people clearing field and so all of the people around this area have had their focuses averted so that they avoid approaching here for whatever reason. Most are likely inside the buildings, so worry not."

Turning behind, Kaworu saw a girl wearing a T-shirt and jeans with a leg boldly cut off and a two meter plus Japanese sword with its blade hidden inside a black scabbard hanging from her waist.

"My name is Kanzaki Kaori, and I'd like to take the girl into our care without any trouble."

"Why?" Kaworu asked curiously. Of course he knew that she was here to take away Index due to her perfect memory taking up 85% of her brain capacity after memorizing 103,000 grimoires, causing her to die if the remaining 15% of her memories isn't erased in one year intervals.

What he really wanted to know was why did she decide to face an angelic being like him alone just to take the girl back. Did that battle with Stiyl not prove how much power he possesses simply from manifesting only two of his wings alone.

Yet her voice remained calm as if this was a casual conversation, "I will repeat myself, I'd like to take the girl into our care without any trouble."

"Why do you choose to ignore my question?" Kaworu's voice was genuinely curious without a single trace of fear nor annoyance.

"I will repeat myself again, I'd like to take the girl into our care without much trouble."

"Why are you repeating yourself when you haven't answered my question yet?"

The blade of a wind turbine just a few meters behind Kaworu instantly got sliced into half like butter and it fell heavily to the ground, causing light tremors around the area.

While it seemed as though Kaori sliced the blade with only her mind, but this was simply because she had drawn her blade faster than the human eye could perceive.

"I believe I don't have to repeat myself anymore."

"I am an Angel and I possess much more power than you, even so, you choose to confront me alone. Why?"

"Just because you possess Telesma doesn't automatically makes you more powerful than me.

"Nanasen."

Seven mysterious wind blades appeared out of nowhere, slicing the asphalt, streetlights and the trees lining the area at set intervals as it flew past them. Several fist-sized pieces of asphalt was sent flying towards Kaworu, yet it seemed as though it was meant to intentionally miss him by only mere inches. A soft click could be heard as the blade returned to its scabbard.

Perhaps it was foolish of her to go easy on a being who possesses Telesma; would that honestly scare it away?

Kaworu remained unperturbed, even slightly curious to why it had missed him.

"Lilins are often afraid of others who are stronger than them. But you are showing mercy to someone stronger than you. Why?"

"Up till now, you keep claiming that you are stronger than me. Why don't you show me how much stronger are you."

"If you don't erase her memory in one year intervals, she will die. Why won't you tell me this was the reason why."

Kaori clutched her sword, "How did you know?" Her voice that was once calm became hesitant and nervous, as if she had finally met her idol for the first time and doubting that this was real. In some ways, she really did have this feeling. Could an Angel really be the solution to save Index without erasing her memories?

"To trust means to open up your heart. It leaves you vulnerable in so many ways. I see."

As her gaze met his, she realized how hypnotic it was, seemingly promising anything that you desire, so long as you submit to that gaze. Sensing that this could be a hypnosis spell, Kaori quickly jerked her head to snap out of it.

"I will ask as many times as it takes. I'd like to take the girl into our care without much trouble."

"Salvare000. Be the salvation of those who cannot be saved."

A jolt of shock ran down her spine as she took a step backwards now, clutching her sword even tighter. Her magic name that she no longer wish to reveal to anyone causally rolled off his tongue as if it was just a convenient fact for whatever he was up to.

"Erasing her memories and then decide to abandon her. When the time comes, you'll just retrieve her and erase her memories again, and then... Is this what you call salvation of those who cannot be saved? Really? I didn't know."

Those were not the words of a sarcastic protagonist trying to talk sense into her, rather, it was like a genuine question asked by a child because he was curious and eager to learn something new.

Kaori started to tremble, clutching her blade even tightly than before, she glared furiously at him, "Shut up. You know nothing at all."

"That's because you wouldn't tell me anything. Why are you so angry? You can't blame me if I know nothing at all."

"Shut up. SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!"

Leaping straight towards Kaworu like a bullet, she sent the blunt end of the scabbard plunging through his stomach and finishing with a side kick that sent him tumbling to the ground at an angle.

Stepping on his stomach, she began stabbing his right arm with the blunt end like a sewing machine. On hindsight, that would be foolish for that reckless dash left her completely open to any attacks that he might try. She had let her emotions got the better of her.

"We tried! We tried everything we could! We spent spring trying, we spent summer trying, we spent fall trying, and we spent winter trying! We promised to make memories that she would never forget and we made journals and photo albums!" The expression on her face made it seem like she would shed tears of blood.

The blunt blows crushed his arm again and again, "…But none of them worked," and her hand stopped, resting the blunt end on her arm.

"Even when we showed her the journals and the photo albums, she just apologized. No matter what we did and no matter how many times we tried, even if we remade the memories from scratch, nothing worked. Everything returned to zero whether you were family, her friend, or her lover."

She released her foot and scabbard from him and took a few steps back, but she trembled so much that it seemed she could not take another step. "We… could stand it no longer. We could not bear to see that smile of hers any longer."

Kaworu stood up, his gentle smile remained intact with no sign of pain even though she had assaulted him moments ago, "You choose to lessen the pain as much as possible rather than give her the cruel fortune of knowing you. If she never had the precious memories she had to lose, then the shock of losing her memories would lessen. But not once did you take her feelings into account, how selfish."

"…Shut… up."

"If you were a little stronger."

Her voice was pained and quiet, "I said shut up..."

"But you're weak. You cannot do anything."

Kaori clutched the hilt of her sword with her other hand so hard until her knuckles turned white, tears beginning to form at the corners of her eyes.

"WHY CAN'T YOU SHUT THE HELL UP."

She drew her blade from the scabbard, slashing him with one single strike from a distance only to see a translucent blue wing that glowed warmly in the night arched over, shielding him from that strike.

He was still smiling as he retracted the wings. This was a smile of mockery. Dropping her knees to the ground, Kaori cursed herself for being that useless. She had not lost the battle yet, but she could not take it anymore. It felt as though her mind had been utterly violated just by looking at his persistent, gentle eyes.

To her surprise, he walked up to her.

"Injure me."

Kaori looked up in shock. What nonsense is he uttering now.

"Injure me."

Using her scabbard as a support, she stood up, "What?"

"If you don't injure me, she might just run away again."

"...?"

"Then I'll injure you then."

Manifesting the same wing, he levitated 4 meters up into the air with the moon on his back. From that wing, he propelled crystal shards like a rocket towards Kaori which she swiftly sliced it into pieces.

"Archangel...? Impossible. Their very existence itself could distort the world, but nothing strange had happened."

While he did possess Telesma, Kaori merely thought of him as a powerful being. Even though he claimed that he was an Angel, she beileved that this was a tactic used to scare her away. However, what she was seeing now seemed to prove her wrong.

Looking at him now, she saw that the smile was gone. Is this what he is really capable of?

Soon, he began to manifest three other wings. The blue and the golden wing were a pair while a white and a black wing were another pair. Under the pale moonlight, it seemed as though he was a god that descended into Academy City.

Instead of crystal shards, he sent sword blades flying towards Kaori which she deflected it with ease and it vanished as soon as it landed on the ground like a virtual simulation falling apart.

Before she could even think, more sword blades went coming her way. As if that was not enough, the crystal shards were back together with the blades.

This can't go on. Eventually, this would tire her and this could only mean one thing. Death.

After a few minutes of slashing, she noticed that one of his wings had disintegrated and he seemed to be losing his balance. Lesser and lesser shards and blades rained down upon her as the seconds past. A sign of weakness. Good. Perhaps the being would tire himself out before her.

Eventually, all of his wings disintegrated and Kaworu crashed towards the ground. His face was drenched in blood that flowed freely from his eyes and nose as he lay on the ground unconscious.

She closed her eyes for a moment. And then, she decided that this was enough.

"Touma?" Index said as she stared down at Kaworu as he lay in a futon.

Back in Komoe's bedroom, what a relief. Kaworu thought. He had given her the choice to incapacitate him so that he would be the burden that would prevent Index from running away. Yet, she refused to do so, forcing him to increase his output of Telesma to the point where it would nearly kill him. Fortunately, Kaori had spared his life while he lay unconscious, otherwise he would no longer be able to return anymore since Kamijou Touma's existence is the core that bounds him to this universe.

Kaworu smoothly got up as if nothing had happened to him, "I'm perfectly fine. Hmm.. the sun is up. I've been out all night I suppose."

"It wasn't all night," replied Index, "It's been three days."

"..."

Index's voice grew soft, "Hey... I'm sorry."

"For?"

"I didn't know that you were fighting other magicians for my sake," she said as the tears started to well up in her eyes, "I'm sorry that I got you into this.

"Komoe said you collapsed in the middle of the road. She was the one that carried you back to the apartment. I couldn't do anything at all… I couldn't save you, Touma."

Kaworu paused to look at her thoughtfully, and then he decided to smile, "I'm your guardian angel, it is my duty to protect you."

"...! I-I'll get some porridge!" Index's face flushed a bright red as she rushed to the kitchen. Her heart started to beat wildly. So charming all of a sudden, that idiot. If he wanted to cheer me up, the least he could do is to say that it's okay instead of saying such stupid things, she thought as she scooped porridge into a bright blue bowl from a pot.

"Is that how you use a chopstick?" Kaworu asked as he watched Index carrying a bowl of porridge while holding a chopstick with her right fist.

She started to stir the porridge with the chopsticks, "I think so."

Just then, a knock on the door drew her attention.

"Could this be Komoe?" Index said.

However, a voice came from the other side of the door, "Kamijou-chan, I'm not sure what's going on, but it seems we have visitors." It seems that Komoe had spotted whoever had knocked on the door as she returned from wherever she had been.

The door clicked open and standing behind Komoe was Stiyl and Kaori.

"Heh. It looks like we won't have to worry about you escaping with those injuries," Stiyl said while he lit a cigarette with a small flame on his finger.

Kaworu turned to look at Kaori and smiled.

"If you don't injure me, she might just run away again."

A brief moment of shock ran through her face. He had seen through their plan of burdening Index with an injured person. They wanted her to refuse to give up on him so that he would function as a convenient shackle. But why would he want to be that burden? Everything he said yesterday... was just reverse psychology? Kaori thought. Apparently it failed spectacularly, otherwise he wouldn't have to bluntly request her to injure him.

"Leave, magicians."

Index stood between the magicians and Kaworu holding the bowl of porridge, ready to throw it at any moment as a diversion.

It was all going exactly as they had planned... or maybe that sliver haired boy known as Kamijou Touma's plan. Kaori had an uneasy feeling about this guy. It seemed as though he knew everything about them, however they knew nothing about him except his name and that he's a Level 0 ESPer.

While the pathways are different between a normal person and an ESPer, rendering an ESPer being unable to use any form of magic, but its hard to say for an ESPer who possesses Telesma. After all, it is a different form of mana.

"Leave! Please… I'll go wherever you want and I'll do whatever you want. Just please, I beg of you…

"Just don't hurt Touma anymore."

Kaori glared furiously at Kaworu just for a brief moment. Hurt him? Nobody could hurt him unless he himself decide to get hurt. So powerful that he had to literally beg her to injure him. Every word that he said 3 days ago on a cold night by the roadway was meant to anger her so that she would overpower him and injure him. However, he ended up in tormenting her so much that she dropped her knees to the ground.

"The time limit will come in another 12 hours and 38 minutes," announced Stiyl, "You know so much about us, surely you understand what we meant by time limit."

The both of them said nothing more and merely left the room.

"If I make a deal with them…" Kaworu looked at Index's face covered with tears as she spoke, "I can keep your life from being destroyed anymore, Touma. I won't let them intrude on your life anymore, so don't worry."

He wiped a tear from her face and smiled reassuringly that everything would be alright.

This time, I will surely make you happy, Ikari Shinji.

Night came and Index was asleep on the futon. It seemed that Komoe had headed for the public bath leaving the two of them alone in the room. That was fine, Kaworu thought. No causalities there.

He stood by the black rotary phone in Komoe's room that could have been called an antique. Kaori would call soon enough and he didn't want to miss that important call.

Moments later, the phone started to ring and Kaworu picked it up immediately.

"It's me. You can tell who I am, right?"

"Kaori," he preempted her, "I'll be waiting."

And then he put down the phone. Strangely enough, everything seemed to be happening 2 days earlier than expected. Something is wrong, but perhaps it might be the distortion from the vast amount of Telesma that he has been using recently from fighting those magicians. The Imagine Breaker felt like a curse in RPG games, twice the mana spent to cast a spell with only half the damage. For now, his vessel has been damaged so much by the vast amount of Telesma that he forcibly used to bypass the Imagine Breaker that he could only rely on the right hand of misfortune that belonged to Kamijou Touma.

Kaworu slipped his right thumb and forefinger between those lips and forced her mouth open. Just a little more, he thought, and her curse would be removed. The oddly warm saliva wrapped around his fingers but he didn't seem to notice as he continued to press forward to jab at the back of her throat.

Finally, he felt a small lump that seemed like a symbol. And then, he touched it.

A slight shock grazed his right hand like a blade running through his skin and at the same time, he was forcefully blown backwards.

Floating up into the air like a limp puppet being taken out from toy box, Index turned to look at Kaworu with glowing blood red magical circles in her eyes. At that moment, she truly looked like a monster awakened from the darkness of a innocent little child.

However, Kaworu seemed to be admiring a strange beauty that only he could see from that monster who now floated about a few meters away from him.

"Warning: Chapter 3, Verse 2. All barriers for Index Librorum Prohibitorum's collar from first to third have been breached. Preparing to regenerate… failed. The collar cannot self-regenerate. Switching priorities to the elimination of the intruder in order to protect the 103,000 archived grimoires.

"Using the 103,000 archived grimoires to determine the magic spell used to damage the barrier… failed. The specified magic cannot be determined. Putting together an anti-intruder local weapon to expose the composition of the spell." Index tilted her head like a corpse puppet. "The magic expected to be most effective on the specific intruder has been formulated. Proceeding to activate the special magic: St. George's Sanctuary to destroy the intruder."

The two magic circles in her eyes grew larger and larger, spanning about two meters across in front of her, With a tremendous noise, it seemed as though space itself had cracked, seemingly forming black special cracks spread out in every directions of a window, separating Index from anyone else in the room.

A pillar of light burst out from the cracks like a giant laser beam, forcing Kaworu to hold his right hand up instead of his wings to shield himself, scattering the light in all directions.

Just then, he heard the noise of the door opening and Stiyl and Kaori charged in.

Stiyl opened his mouth with shock, "She can use magic?"

Kaori looked at the god that basked in the pale moonlight 3 days ago now struggling against a single beam with his right hand. At that moment to her, he looked like an ordinary boy trying to fight against the monster that was Index.

"Isn't it obvious," Kaworu briefly glanced behind, " That the church was lying. Oh, and that whole thing about Index having to have her memories erased every year? That was another lie. The church was the one limiting her, so if I destroy this thing, you won't have to erase her memories anymore."

The power behind the pillar of light nightmarishly doubled and slowly but surely, Kaworu slid backwards. He grabbed his right wrist with his empty left hand to steady himself but he almost had no strength to continue pushing the beam backwards. Abruptly, it stopped.

"St. George's Sanctuary is showing no effect against the intruder. Switching to another spell and continuing destruction of the intruder in order to protect the collar."

And then the same beam shot through the cracks again. Kaworu could feel his right wrist nearly snapping apart from the pressure of that new spell.

The two magicians continued to stare blankly at Index who stood beyond the cracks.

"…"

"If you want to save Index from losing her memories ever again. Do something."

"…Salavare000."

Seven wires swiftly tore through the fragile tatami mat below Index's feet. Tilting the mat vertically using the wires, Kaori managed to make Index fall backwards. The magic circles seemed to be linked to her eyes for it moved together with her line of vision, causing the pillar of light that was supposed to be aimed at Kaworu to miss its target considerably.

As if it were a giant light saber being swung around, the pillar of light sliced through the wall and ceiling of the apartment. It even sliced through the pitch black clouds floating in the night sky. In fact, it could have even sliced through a satellite outside the atmosphere.

Dozen of feathers of light came floating down like snow from the portions that had been destroyed.

"Those are the same as Dragon Breath, the strike of the legendary dragon of St. George," Kaori stated, she never really believed that it would pose any threat to him. However, she did not realize that no matter how powerful Kaworu was, his vessel is still human after all.

He started to rush towards Index as she lay collapsed on the ground but before he could, she got up once again like a floating puppet, directing the beam once more at him.

For an instant, Stiyl gritted his teeth so hard it seemed they would crack. Perhaps defeating Index would really save her from losing her memories.

"…Fortis931."

Tens of thousands of cards flew from within his pitch black clothes. Cards carved with flame runes spiraled around like a typhoon and in no time at all had covered the walls, ceiling, and floor without gap.

Taking the cue, Kaworu manifested four of his wings and in that instant, a large explosion shook the room, crashing the pillar of light as if an invisible sledgehammer did it. For a brief moment, both Stiyl and Kaori saw the wings disintegrating into pieces moments after it destroyed the pillar of light.

Kaori noticed a pained expression on his face as he struggled to move towards Index who stood there, seemingly shocked at such a power. Just 3 days ago, he was a god that basked in the pale moonlight. Now, he looked like a boy who wanted to save her with all his power.

From the cracks, the pillar of light started to pour out once again towards Kaworu who clearly had no more strength to defend against it. Even so, he continued to move forward.

"Innocentius!"

A giant flame took on the form of a person and then spread out its arms to act as a shield for Kaworu against the pillar of light.

Just a few more steps, and she'll be okay. Kaworu thought as he inched slowly towards her.

"Warning: Chapter 6, Verse 13. New enemy confirmed. Changing combat considerations. Beginning scan of the battlefield… done. Focusing on the destruction of the most difficult enemy, Kamijou Touma."

Index swung her head around, pillar of light and all.

However, Innocentius moved to protect Kaworu at the same time. The light and flames continued to eat into each other in an extended conflict of destruction and regeneration.

"Warning: Chapter 22, Verse 1. Analysis of the flame magic spell has succeeded. It is confirmed to be a distorted Christian motif described with runes. Adding in anti-Christian spells… Spell 1, Spell 2, Spell 3. Twelve seconds until the complete activation of the spell named Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani."

The pillar of light's color turned from pure white to crimson and Innocentius's regeneration speed visibly slowed as it pushed forward.

Kaworu knew that he was too weak to even lift his right hand, but so long as that right hand manages to come into contact with Index, it would be fine. He had no choice but to use his Telesma for the last time.

Propelling himself like a rocket, he tore through the air and through that invisible cracked window. Mustering whatever strength left, he swung his right hand down from above towards her.

The pillar of light and magic circles disappeared, and it was almost as if the cracks that had been running all across the room had been erased with an eraser. The both of them fell to the ground with Kaworu on top of Index. It seemed as though he wanted to protect her body from the falling feather of light.

"…Warning: Final… Chapter, Verse Zero…. The collar has received fatal… damage… Regeneration… impossible… gone."

At that moment, one of the feathers of light fell down on Kaworu's head.

Even so, he remained smiling because he won. And with that, his sister from the other side would see to it that his plan would succeed eventually.

On that very night, Kaworu Nagisa "died".

"Ikari Gendo, just how much time and money have you wasted by giving that Eva unit like a toy to your son," a old man who wore a visor said as he sat across him at a long table in a dark room. He was Keel Lorenz, the head committee of the Human Instrumentality Committee and he didn't look pleased at what Gendo did. To either sides sat 2 other representives, making up the 5 members of the committee. However, they were simply mere holo-images.

"We invested a lot of resources into your project, Gendo," said the representative of America, "not to see it being given away like some toy."

"Besides that, the costs for repairing Eva Unit 01 is simply too staggering," added the representative of Russia.

Keel stood up and slammed a fist on the table, "Your priority should be the Human Instrumentality Project!"

The remaining four members nodded their head in agreement.

"In any case, we will not allow any delay in the schedule of that project. Don't forget, Gendo, this is humanity's last hope and salvation. This is not a game.

"The rest of the meeting does not concern you. Your appearance was... appreciated."

Four holo-images on either side of the tables faded away.

"Ikari, I must remind you that there is no turning back."

Finally, the last holo-image also faded away.

"Oh yes, there is really no turning back for me. And I certainly will not allow any delay in my project."

Gendo smiled. Everything was going according to his plan. However, there was something that bugged him. Perhaps it's that father to son connection thing, but the Shinji standing before him felt like an imposter who succeeded in replacing the real Ikari Shinji. Or maybe it was because he never really took the time to understand him.

He felt a twinge of regret at that thought, but he quickly dispatched of it with an imaginary AK-47.

Always look at the bigger picture, do not let such a thought distract you from your main goal! Gendo thought as he slowly got up from his chair and left the room.

He still had much work to do. And much plans to be perfected.

Author's Note: Just in case you get confused, I assumed that Telesma in its purest form (which is what Kaworu possess inside) cannot be negated as it is a natural phenomenon, however, the unnatural phenomenon comes when it is converted into other forms, such as manifesting a wing for example.

Simply put, any attempt to use Telesma to interact with reality is considered unnatural and will be negated by the Imagine Breaker, but it cannot negate the source of Telesma itself.

Phew, hope my explanation is clear enough. I had problems actually trying to keep Kaworu in-character, hope I did a good job with that. And Index in some ways? I don't think I made her that OOC though, but if there is, do point it out to me.

Thank you everyone for reviewing as always, and if you liked the story... you can either leave a review or fav or like :D

If you have constructive criticism, I demand that you leave a review here!

Do you know that sometimes, other readers might just benefit from your constructive criticism too. (but it is quite sad that they never let you know)

Anyway, that's all from me.

EDITED: 25/03/2013

I changed a few things here and there... maybe one major change but that's about it.