As always, all the credit goes to mystik-dawn and her awesome writing skills! Yes, I finally admitted it... she writes all of these chapters, I merely just brainstorm with her and bring in the ideas. There is no way I could become this good of a writer so I needed a partner and she is it. :D So thank mystik for the epic writing and me for my crazy imagination if you decide to review! Cheesecake is always welcomed as payment for my writer ^^
P.S We don't own 07-Ghost.
Chapter V—
March 24th, 2143: 4:14 PM—
"How did you find us? Are you ok? Did he do anything bad?" Alex shot out, question after question. Mikage put up his hands and laughed.
"I'd love to answer all of your questions, but I'm really tired," Mikage replied, "is there a bed I could borrow for a quick nap?"
"Follow me," Teito said, and led the way. Alex happily followed Mikage and Teito, relieved that Mikage was here. She noticed that Mikage was staring at her face, and quickly turned away.
"Everything's going to be alright now," Alex thought, "Now that Mikage's here, it's going to be alright."
"Stop deluding yourself," Lazarus warned, "Don't let your guard down."
"Nobody asked for your opinion," Alex sourly thought.
"Alex?" Alex looked up, realizing that Mikage said her name.
"Is something wrong? You seem to be in deep thought," Mikage remarked.
"Oh no, I'm just wondering how long you're going to sleep," Alex hastily replied.
"Maybe for an hour or two," Mikage said, "It was a long journey." Curiously, Mikage didn't say anything after that, and they arrived at Teito's room. There, Mikage happily crawled into the bed, and within minutes was snoring away.
Teito and Alex looked at him. "Thank goodness he's here," Alex said, "Now we don't have to return to the military!"
Teito looked somewhat uneasy. "I don't think it's over yet," Teito said. There was a short moment of silence.
"Should we go attend the mass?" Alex finally asked, "We did promise Bishop Castor." Teito nodded, and they both walked over to the large hall where the mass was taking place.
There, Alex and Teito looked wondrously at the scene before them. Alex stared at the numerous people standing in the pews, singing along with the huge organ; she noticed Razette seated by the organ and playing it, while singing too.
Alex felt someone nudge her. Turning, she saw Teito nudging towards the front of the hall. Alex craned her neck, and nearly screamed when she saw Bishop Frau stare back at her, looking amused.
"What the hell?" Alex angrily hissed, "He's staring at us!" She felt uncomfortable with his cocky grin, and noticed Teito had a similar expression on his face.
"Can we go?" Teito whispered.
"No," Alex replied quietly, "They might notice and start getting mad at us."
Teito sighed, and they both faced the front. Alex felt odd, standing there, unable to sing along with the words. To her intense surprise, she heard Teito singing beside her.
"You know this?" Alex asked. Teito nodded and replied, "I heard it before from somewhere." Teito continued to sing, and Alex gave a small smile.
"Teito is certainly happier now that Mikage is here," Alex thought, "Then again, I am too."
"You won't be soon," Lazarus said. Alex groaned.
"Go away!"Alex angrily thought.
March 24th, 2143: 8:43 PM—
There was complete silence in Ayanami's office except for the faint sound of the fountain pen scratching the paper. Ayanami was efficiently writing his paperwork; he never faltered in his writing, nor did he speed up.
Ayanami kept a nonchalant face, but he was feeling very pleased with himself. He was able to find out that Teito Klein and Alexander Night were staying at the church (how very pathetic yet obvious of them...his kors had immediately recognized their presence). Normally it would pose a problem, due to the sanctuary laws, but Ayanami had a hidden card up his sleeve.
"He will be already at the church by now," Ayanami thought, satisfied, "he would meet Teito Klein and Alexander Night." Since he already took half of the boy's soul, he can easily take the right opportunity and take over the boy and deal with the two run-ways.
So far, the boy had only arrived a few hours ago, and was "tired" from his journey. Ayanami smirked, knowing that the boy was still recovering from the soul-splitting.
Ayanami was aware that Miroku was desperate to have Teito Klein back. Miroku was hiding something from him (as usual, why does he still not trust him?), and Ayanami was determined to find out. What was so special about Teito Klein? Ayanami had a mild suspicion that either he or Alexander Night was having the Eye of Mikhail—he mostly thought that it was Teito, since he attacked him when he was talking about it, but he wanted to be sure.
Miroku was going to send him and the Blackhawk unit to deal with a rebel group up north. "That's not a problem," Ayanami thought, "I can still control him at Ribidizle."
Looking down, he realized he had stopped writing. Ayanami picked up his pen and went back to work. As he started to write again, Ayanami suddenly realized the strange emotion coursing through him.
Excitement.
March 25th, 2143: 9:21 AM—
Alex groaned, and muttered, "Stop it..." Slowly opening her eyes, she realized that Teito and Mikage were poking her.
"Gee Alex, still the lazy-sleeper," Mikage teased. Alex angrily tossed her pillow at him, and soon the entire room was filled with squeals as the three of them got into a pillow fight.
Mikage and Teito mercilessly swung their pillows at Alex, who gasped, "Stop! I give up!"
Mikage grinned and said, "Well get up now!"
"We have to show Mikage around the church!" Teito replied, "Hurry up!" They both left the room, and Alex quickly fixed up her clothes.
Outside, she saw Teito talking to Mikage. "Let's go eat some breakfast!" Mikage cheerfully replied, "I'm starving!"
"The food here is different," Teito remarked, "It's...interesting."
"Teito is just being picky as usual," Alex interjected, "There's no meat here, but there's this cool eye-fish stew and flowers!"
"Eye-fish? Flowers?" Mikage asked, curious. He was feeling famished—he didn't have dinner last night from his deep sleep.
Teito nodded, and Alex said, "Let's go grab some breakfast first! We'll show you the rest of the church after!"
March 25th, 2143: 11:15 AM—
"This place is huge!" Mikage remarked, "It's amazing you don't get lost here!" The three of them were wandering through the garden, while showing Mikage around the church. The afternoon mass had started fifteen minutes ago, and both Alex and Teito didn't want to see that pervert again.
"Don't ever go with Alex alone anywhere," Teito warned, "You'll definitely get lost."
"Hey!" Alex retorted, "My sense of direction isn't that bad!"
"Right," Teito replied dryly, "We were supposed to help the sisters with laundry and you made us wander into that perverted bishop's room by accident."
Mikage laughed while Alex flushed. "It was an accident!" Alex angrily said, "I'm sure you can't make it around perfectly!"
"We even ran into one of Bishop Castor's dolls!" Teito retorted, "It was so awkward and scary having it guide us back!"
"Perverted bishop?" Mikage repeated, curious.
"Oh my gosh, you have no idea," groaned Alex, "He reads pornography, he makes disturbing comments, and he always gives lecherous stares."
"He gave you a porn book!" Teito said, "He's got big attitude and he looks insane!"
They passed through the garden and arrived at the huge room where the 07 Ghost statues were. Mikage stared up at them, and Teito asked, "You know the 7 Ghosts, right Mikage?"
"Yeah," Mikage replied, "I and my brothers would play that game." Alex noticed his voice crack slightly at the mention of his brothers.
"Is everything ok Mikage?" Alex asked.
"Huh?" Mikage said, looking at her, "Oh no! Everything's—" He suddenly stopped, and started staring at her.
Alex felt her face heat up again, and asked, "Is something wrong?"
"You look different," remarked Mikage. He suddenly coughed and hastily said, "Well, apart from your scar, you just look different."
Teito cleared his throat and slowly said, "Alex is a girl."
There was a brief silence, before Mikage burst out laughing. Without thinking, Alex angrily punched him, and Mikage fell to the floor, gasping.
"You're a girl?" Mikage panted, standing up.
"You have a problem with that?" Alex asked back.
"So...your name is actuallyAlexandra?" Mikage asked, saying the name slowly. Alex nodded. It felt odd, hearing Mikage say her real name.
"Alex-chan!" Mikage said slowly. Alex gave a little face at the new ending of her nickname. Teito smiled a bit.
"It's just..."Mikage started, and then asked, "So how did you end up in the military academy?"
"Either it was the military academy or being a sklave," Alex said, giving a wistful smile. She thought back of Madeline, Madam, and that stranger.
"Wow," Mikage remarked, "It seems like I know nothing of you too Alex-chan!"
He smiled and said, "If there's anything you both want to tell me, don't hold back. Say what you want." Mikage's smile made Alex's heart lift.
"Well, I have a secret too," Teito confessed suddenly, "I figured this out recently." He began to tell Mikage and Alex about everything he remembered—his real heritage, his childhood, and how his father had died at the hands of the army. Mikage and Alex were silent during his entire explanation.
"I mean," finished Teito, placing a hand through his brown hair, "You knew me as a sklave, and all of a sudden this comes up..."
He looked up and muttered, "It must be difficult to believe. Sorry."
"I believe you," Mikage suddenly said, his face serious. Alex and Teito stared at him, slightly surprised.
"I mean, you've always acted so imposing," Mikage continued, "and arrogant." Teito immediately scowled and punched him.
"That's mean!" Teito cried.
"Since when have you become this mean?" Alex asked, "At the academy, you weren't teasing this much!" Mikage and Alex laughed, while Teito stood there.
"Well, what do you want to do?" Mikage finally asked.
Teito opened his mouth to reply, but then fell silent. He began to clutch his head, and his eyes widened. He was about to fall to the ground but Alex caught him by the shoulders. Mikage and Alex stared at him, worried at Teito's sudden mood swing.
"Teito?" Alex asked, gently holding him by the shoulder, "Are you ok?" Teito didn't answer and continued to stare distantly with his wide eyes.
"That's my mission," Teito suddenly said, "To find out the history of the Ragg's Kingdom." Turning to Mikage, Teito clutched his robes and said, "Mikage...I'm sorry. You came to bring me back, right?"
Alex's heart began to thud heavily. Why was she feeling so scared all of a sudden?
Teito looked up into Mikage's eyes and said, "But I can't return to the Imperial Army!" Mikage's shocked expression vanished into a smile; Alex noticed his eyes change.
"Can you stand?" Mikage gently asked, and Teito nodded. Both of them stood, and Alex asked, "Mikage, will you be alright?" If Mikage was sent here to get Teito, then what was going to happen to him, now that Teito didn't want to go back?
"Do I want to go back?" Alex wondered for a wild moment.
"Teito, Alex," Mikage said quickly, "Listen very carefully to what I have to say." He grasped Teito and Alex's shoulders hard and continued, "Listen to me while my voice is still able to reach to you, ok?"
Teito and Alex shared a confused look before looking back at Mikage.
"First," Mikage began, "Don't make the Imperial Army your enemy. Revenge produces nothing in the end. Even if you hate someone enough to kill them, you won't be saved from it. Always face forward. Walk down the path of light."
"Second," continued Mikage, "Teito, you suck at accepting people's kindness and opening yourself up, while Alex, you are one of the clumsiest and laziest sleepy-heads I have ever known, but you both are still my best friends. I always pray for your happiness. I'll always be by your side. Don't ever forget that."
Alex and Teito stared at him, stunned by his words. "Why does he sound like..."Alex thought; she didn't want to finish her thought.
"Why didn't you talk at our graduation?" Alex finally asked.
"Mikage? Why are you saying such things?" Teito stuttered.
Mikage gave a nervous laugh and ran his hand through his hair. "Well, I can't go back to the Imperial Army either. I give up."
"Then," Alex began, but Mikage interrupted her.
"I have one last request," Mikage said.
There was a moment of silence.
"Kill me, both of you," Mikage finished, not looking at them.
"What?" Alex and Teito said at the same time, "I can't kill you!" They looked at each other, and then back at Mikage.
Mikage was holding his elbows together. He started to kneel to the ground, and began to shake. Alex's heart was thrumming madly. What on earth was happening?
"Then...hurry up and run!" Mikage groaned, "I can't hold him back much longer." Teito and Alex rushed to his side, but Mikage pushed them away.
"Not I," Mikage slowly said, "Someone else...is after...you." Teito and Alex stared at Mikage, scared and surprised.
"Damn it!" Mikage yelled, "There's no way I can sell you out! To me, you both are just as important as my family!"
"Tell us!" Alex said, "Who is this person?"
"We can't leave you alone," Teito said, "After all that we've been through together!"
Suddenly, Teito was thrown to the ground wildly. Alex gave a small scream and rushed to Teito's side. Teito looked back at Mikage; a small bruise was visible on his cheek.
"What are you doing?" Alex asked. "I'm scared," Alex thought, "What the heck is wrong with Mikage?"
"From now on, I'm going on my own!" Mikage declared out loud. His eyes were staring at the empty air, as if someone else was standing there. Teito and Alex stared at him, helpless.
"Because I met you; without you, my heart feels warm. I am truly happy," Mikage continued, closing his eyes, "I'm leaving...don't let me die...before I hurt my family...you!"
"It can't be," whispered Teito, "Did the army do something to you?" Alex shivered, remembering the man who had hit her with his zaiphon and half-blinded her.
Mikage opened his eyes, and Alex gasped. Instead of the warm honey-brown she was used to seeing, his eyes had a crazy glint in them...there was red.
"You can't escape Teito, Alex," Mikage hissed, "You both are coming with me." He held out his arms, summoning his zaiphon. Alex's eyes widened at the sight of his zaiphon.
It was blood red.
"Someone's controlling him!"Alex realized, "He's being possessed!"
"ALEX RUN!" Lazarus's warning was too late. Mikage/? flung his zaiphon towards the two stupefied teenagers. Alex quickly shut her eyes, waiting for the impact, but it didn't come.
Opening her eyes hesitantly, she gasped when she saw that it was one of Bishop Castor's freaky nun-dolls standing there. Teito immediately pushed Alex aside, as the doll and Mikage/? began to battle.
"Hoh," Mikage/? remarked, "There's an arrogant doll maker around." He sent another wave of incredibly powerful zaiphon, making the ground shake. Other dolls appeared, but some of them were obliterated from the powerful zaiphon.
"Hurry! We have to stop him!" Alex said. Teito nodded, and summoned his zaiphon. "We can't hurt Mikage," Alex reminded him. Mikage/? hurled a string of zaiphon towards them, and Teito blocked it.
"Alex, focus,"Lazarus said, "Don't let your emotions get the best of you! Help your friend quickly!"
Alex closed her eyes, and started to summon her manipulation zaiphon. She felt the small threads whirl around her fingers, and she threw them towards Mikage/? The threads wrapped around Mikage's legs, and Alex tugged them. Unaware of Alex's attack, Mikage/? tripped.
"Run!" Alex screamed, grabbing Teito's hand. Teito nodded, and they both began to sprint down the hallway.
"We can't let the others get involved in this," panted Teito.
"We have to split up!" Alex said, looking behind them. Mikage/? was running behind them, and was summoning another wave of zaiphon. Looking forward, Alex saw another hallway.
"Go!" screamed Teito. Alex nodded, and began to sprint towards the left, not daring to look back.
March 25th, 2143: 12:43 PM—
Castor's eyes snapped open.
Labrador looked at him curiously. "Is something wrong?" Labrador softly asked. Frau stared at him keenly. Castor blinked and muttered, "I can't sense one of my dolls anymore."
"Teito-kun and Alex-chan are in danger!" Castor said out loud. He closed his eyes again and continued, "I think…it's the western tower, where the 7 ghost statures are…her responses have stopped."
"I'll go," Frau quietly said; he strode towards the exit.
"Be safe," Labrador called. Frau didn't answer.
March 25th, 2143: 12:43 PM—
Ayanami cursed silently. Now the stupid girl and boy had split up.
"The girl will be easier to take down compared to the boy,"thought Ayanami, "I can easily subdue her and then go after the boy."Smirking, he moved his fingers, controlling the boy's soul again.
March 25th, 2143: 12:44 PM—
Alex continued running down the hallway. "You have to leave the church now," Lazarus commanded,"that person who attacked you is controlling your friend!"
"Ayanami?" Alex thought. She tried to look back, but cursed. Because of her blind eye, she wasn't able to have peripheral vision anymore.
Suddenly, she gasped as she realized that she had run into a dead end. There was a door in front of her, but Alex had no idea where it would lead to. Whipping around, she saw that it was too late to turn back—Mikage/Ayanami was advancing towards her. Alex quickly turned around and opened the door; she sprinted inside, but stopped when she realized that she was on a thin bridge.
"There's no escape for you now, Alexandra," hissed Mikage/Ayanami, "you will die and Teito Klein will return to the Imperial Army." Alex turned around, and looked at her best friend.
"Leave us alone!" cried Alex, "We didn't do anything wrong!"
"Teito Klein nearly tried to assassinate me, and you assisted in his escape," Mikage/Ayanami replied, "nobody cares about a measly orphan like you, but Teito Klein cannot leave the Imperial Army."
He summoned his zaiphon and threw it towards her. Alex yelped, and tried to dodge it, but failed. The zaiphon hit her at her leg, crumpling her to the ground.
"Too easy," scoffed Mikage/Ayanami. He slowly walked towards her. Alex whimpered, fearful; she tried to crawl away from him but he was too fast for her.
He towered over her, and suddenly he thrust his gloved hand to her chest. Alex screamed as she saw to her great surprise that his gloved hand went inside her chest. Pain seemed to erupt everywhere; her blind eye was throbbing, and it felt as if her body was on fire.
She dimly heard Lazarus's voice, "Leave her alone!" before the pain melted away. Alex felt her mind grow hazy, but forced herself to stare up angrily at Mikage/Ayanami.
Meanwhile, Mikage/Ayanami had a contemplative—almost troubled—expression on his face. "Well well little girl," Mikage/Ayanami mused, "you have more secrets than what you are telling. You will have to be brought back after-all."
"Leave me alone," Alex hoarsely whispered.
"It's a shame," Mikage/Ayanami continued, ignoring her, "because I only brought one collar. I will have to keep that for Teito Klein then."
"Oh god," Alex thought, "Teito is in serious danger. I have to warn him!"
"Forget Teito, worry about yourself!" Lazarus replied.
Alex summoned her zaiphon, but Mikage/Ayanami was too quick. Alex screamed as suddenly Mikage's/Ayanami's boot came crashing down onto her hand. She heard a crack, and dimly realized that he had broken her hand.
"You bastard," gasped Alex, tears welling up in her eyes. She never felt such hatred in her entire life; she badly wanted to kill the person in front of her, but the x-shaped scar on his cheek reminded Alex painfully that she couldn't—Mikage was her best friend.
"HEY! YOU!" a voice called out. Mikage/Ayanami looked behind, and Alex felt her heart soar. Teito stood there, a determined expression on his face. He immediately swung his zaiphon towards Mikage/Ayanami, but it was easily blocked.
"Teito!" gasped Alex, "Go! He's dangerous!"
Mikage/Ayanami laughed coldly and asked, "Do you want your friend to die?" Teito stopped throwing his zaiphon, but it was still flowing around his hands.
"Leave her alone," Teito said, "I know you want me. I'm here."
Mikage/Ayanami smirked and advanced towards her. Teito shouted again, but Mikage/Ayanami wasn't listening. Alex crawled farther away from him until she touched the wall. Alex had no idea what he was doing until it was too late. Mikage/Ayanami whipped his hand forward, and Alex cried out as she hit the wall hard. She felt her vision grow blurry, and she was falling backwards...
"TEITO!" screamed Alex, but her voice felt different. Her vision swam around her, and eventually became black. The last thing she remembered before blacking out was the wind and the red eyes.
March 25th, 2143: 12:56 PM—
Ayanami smirked as he watched the girl get teleported with his wars. The girl had no resistance whatsoever, and had easily fallen for his trap.
"Silly girl," Ayanami thought.
Despite his success at capturing her, he was still quite troubled at what he sensed when he tried to sift through her memories. Instead of finding any clues about the Eye of Mikhail, he found another presence inside the girl. It seemed so familiar, and it even spoke to him—Leave her alone!—but he still wasn't sure who it was.
What troubled Ayanami the most was the fact that the presence radiated raw, ancient power—the same power that he had from his previous life.
"I'll have my answers once she and Teito Klein are here," Ayanami thought, "I'm killing two birds with one stone. The wars has the girl, and now I just have to put that collar over Teito Klein."
Closing his eyes, he controlled the boy's soul once again and faced Teito Klein.
"Teito Klein," Ayanami said out loud, "Hide and Seek is over."
March 25th, 2143: 12:54 PM—
"No!" Teito cried out as he watched Mikage/Ayanami hit Alex's head hard. Alex cried out, screaming Teito's name. Teito started to run towards her, but he was too late—Alex was swallowed up by darkness that appeared on the ground.
Mikage/Ayanami turned towards Teito, his eyes glinting. "Teito Klein," Mikage/Ayanami coldly stated, "Hide and Seek is over."
To Teito's astonishment and horror, a bony wing sprouted from Mikage/Ayanami's back. "You're a kor?" Teito gasped out; his heart thudding.
"Frau could fix that," Teito thought, "Mikage can come back!"
"A kor?" Mikage/Ayanami asked contemptuously, "I'm not as kind as they are." All of a sudden, Teito noticed the doors behind him and Mikage/Ayanami slam shut.
"Who is this person, Ayanami?" Teito wondered, "Why is he controlling Mikage and made him into something like a kor?"
"I don't know who you are," Teito began, "but why are you doing this to my best friends? You should have come directly to me instead!"
He looked up back at Mikage/Ayanami hopefully. "Is this some kind of a trade? Will you give Mikage back if I return to the Imperial Army?" Teito asked.
"A trade?" Mikage/Ayanami asked, and scoffed. "You don't deserve such a thing," Mikage/Ayanami stated, "Mikage's soul will not return a second time."
Suddenly, Teito felt a hand on the right side of his head. Mikage/Ayanami's voice came close to his ear: "He will not protect you again. That is your punishment for betraying the army."
Suddenly, Teito was hurled towards the ground. Pain shot up through his head, and he could feel a trickle of blood seep from the corner of his lip. Mikage/Ayanami's boot pressed against his throat, and Teito began to choke.
"Don't give me anymore annoyances by doing this again," Mikage/Ayanami coldly said. He held up what appeared to be some sort of collar.
"If I put this controller on you, your limbs will automatically be chained. But you know what will happen if you oppose the master," Mikage/Ayanami said, looking down on Teito, "You're coming back."
Without thinking, Teito swiftly rolled over, and felt himself falling. With a huge splash, he landed in water, and was slowly sinking.
"I have to save Mikage!"Teito desperately thought, "That's right!" Determination swept through his body; he felt light as a feather. Zaiphon swirled all around him and he swung high into the air, he could do this...all he had to do was break the wing like what Frau had done.
Red zaiphon swirled around Teito, and his eyes widened. "He was able to slip through?" Teito thought, shocked.
"It's useless," murmured Mikage/Ayanami, and held Teito by the neck. Teito's hands went to his large one, trying to force him off, but Mikage/Ayanami continued placing pressure there.
"I told you I'm not a kor," Mikage/Ayanami said, as if he were talking to a small child, "What do you plan to gain by aiming at my wing? If you cut this wing, he will die."
His words sent a chill through Teito's spine. Mikage...was going to die if he did that?
"This is your fault," continued Mikage/Ayanami, "This is happening because you stole the eye from the army and escaped prison." Teito's eyes widened at the cruel words.
"My fault," Teito thought numbly, "my fault."
"Come to think of it," remarked Mikage/Ayanami, "you said something interesting earlier. You think you're the son of the late king of Raggs? That's not something someone with a sklave status would be saying."
Mikage/Ayanami leaned closer towards Teito and hissed, "Foolish boy...the king of Raggs had no child. However...it may be worth it to investigate your body." Teito heard a faint click, and something cold wrap around his neck.
Dropping to the floor, Teito brought himself up and stared at Mikage/Ayanami. "Why aren't you killing me?" Teito demanded.
"I was ordered to capture you and bring you back alive," Mikage/Ayanami replied coolly.
Swiftly, Teito wrapped zaiphon around his neck. "Then you'd be in trouble if I died," Teito said, "In exchange for my life, let Mikage..."
"Suicidal conduct is also considered opposition," Mikage/Ayanami interjected. A sudden wave of pain overcame Teito, and he felt his eyes closing. He didn't hear Mikage/Ayanami's dim words, as the scene suddenly changed to where he was at a staircase.
"Where am I?" Teito wondered, looking around. He slowly stood up and noticed someone else was running up the stairs. With a start, he realized that the person was him.
"Is this my life so far?" wondered Teito. He slowly followed the ghostly version of himself up the stairs, and saw a huge person partially encased in the wall.
"What's with this wall?" Teito asked out loud, frustrated. He had to go back and save Mikage and Alex! He couldn't let the wall stop him now.
"Like hell I'm giving up! We promised each other that we'd die together!" Teito angrily thought, clawing away at the wall. Suddenly, the huge person moved his limbs. Teito jumped back, startled, as the person slowly bowed before him.
March 25th, 2413: 1:14 PM—
Mikage/Ayanami scowled when he felt something wet touch his cheeks. Bringing his gloved hand, he wiped tears. "What's this?" he murmured, "How absurd."
Suddenly, he sensed another powerful presence emitting from the boy started to hover in mid-air, and his eyes opened, revealing crimson red orbs.
"Are you the bastard who put this choker on me?" demanded the new presence. Mikage/Ayanami immediately recognized the ancient language of the heavens.
Mikage/Ayanami barely managed to dodge a powerful attack from the boy. "Take it off," Teito Klein/? demanded, "or else I will release level 010!"
"Bind!" Mikage/Ayanami ordered. "Even with this much control, he's releasing so much power,"Mikage/Ayanami thought, amazed. Once he shouted the command, Teito Klein's body went limp and crashed to the floor.
"Finally," Mikage/Ayanami thought, satisfied. All of a sudden, a skeleton figure appeared.
"Is it you?" the figure asked, "the one who stole the damned brat's best friends?"
March 25th, 2143: 1:20 PM—
"I shall pass the god's will onto you!" Zehel cried, brandishing the scythe. Inwardly, he gritted his teeth as he fought to keep the scythe under control. It was trying to pull away from him, and seemed attracted towards the possessed boy.
"His soul," Zehel realized, "it's being eaten by the wing."
"You're just playing with Mikage's body," Zehel cried out, disgusted. "This person is powerful," Zehel thought, "Who is he?"
"Wait! Don't cut that wing!" Teito cried out. Zehel turned and faced him. "Mikage's still alive!" Teito yelled, running to them.
"Teito Klein," Zehel kindly said, "Mikage's soul will forever wander in the abyss of despair." Teito stopped, and his eyes widened. Zehel felt a pang of sympathy, but chose to ignore it.
This was his job. Zehel, the cutting spirit.
"Didn't I tell you?" Mikage/? contemptuously said, "You're too slow." Before Zehel or Teito could say anything, Mikage/? brought down the scythe upon the bony wing, shattering it into two.
"If you hate me," cried Mikage/?, "come and take your revenge against the Imperial army! Teito Klein!"
March 25th, 2143: 1:23 PM—
No.
No.
NO
NO
NO MIKAGE NO NO NO NO NO NO
Teito's brain refused to think. His mind went completely blank.
"Oh and Zehel," Mikage—Ayanami—remarked, "How is that sickle doing? You know its fated to come back to me someday. So until then, handle it with care."
Mikage's body became encased with blinding light.
"MIKAGE!" screamed Teito; he dashed towards his receding figure, stretching out his hand. He can almost touch it, he was so close, they all promised to die together, first Alex and now Mikage, no no this wasn't happening—
Teito flew into Mikage's embrace, clinging tightly against his body (why was his skin so cold?), not wanting to ever let go. He felt Mikage's hands wrap around him.
"Take care of Alex," Mikage's faint whisper came. Suddenly Teito collapsed to the ground, as Mikage's form disappeared. Teito looked up, tears blurring his vision.
No.
March 25th, 2143: 1:24 PM—
Sitting in his chair, Ayanami watched the soul in his hand twisted and formed shapes, wanting to be released.
Ayanami didn't care about the soul and said, "Its fine… Go." And the soul of Mikage disappeared quickly like a shooting star, phasing through the walls and ascending into the sky above.
"Well, that was interesting," Ayanami thought, "both of them are hosting someone powerful." Moving his hand over his cheek, the cut disappeared, leaving no trace of its presence.
Now he understood why Miroku wanted him to meet Teito Klein.
Teito Klein had the Eye of Mikhail.
"If Teito Klein is the host of Mikhail," thought Ayanami, "then who does the girl host for?" Princess Ouka had Raphael, making it impossible for the girl to have.
Ayanami turned his gaze to the floor, where the unconscious form of the girl was sprawled. Standing up, he walked over to her limp body, and knelt down. Ayanami brought his hand to touch the girl's shoulder, but his eyes widened when suddenly the girl's body disappeared in a wisp of smoke.
It was an illusion.
His eyes immediately narrowed, and Ayanami felt his thoughts racing. The girl was an illusion. He was tricked. HE WAS TRICKED.
"How could this have happened?" Ayanami thought furiously, "Nobody can do that! None of the ghosts have that power!"
Ayanami closed his eyes, trying to think. It wasn't possible that the girl was a ghost, because she didn't have a weapon of her own, and her zaiphon control was terrible. Clearly she was hosting another angel; he tried to pinpoint the last time he heard that voice.
Snapping his eyes open, Ayanami understood who that voice belonged to.
It was impossible, but he was sure that the voice belonged to Lazarus, the angel of dreams and illusions.