Teito stood in what looked like a giant indoor arena; except instead of a simple floor there were multiple levels of bridges that stretched from one end of the room to another.

He stared at Mikage with wide eyes.

"Mikage?" He whispered. Mikage grinned.

"Teito." Teito recoiled. That was not Mikage's voice. That was when he noticed his eyes. Violet.

"You monster." Ayanmai tilted his head.

"What? You don't like my present?" Oh shit.He was in so much trouble. He whirled and pulled at the door. It didn't budge. He heard chuckling behind him. Teito had fallen right into his trap.

"It was hard, finding this body. I didn't plan on having it decay so much but I think it adds a little charm." Teito turned around to face Ayanami. He killed his emotions.

"So your brilliant plan is to kill me with a barely functioning body?" Ayanami smirked.

"Hardly. You will return with me." One bone wing unfurled smoothly from his right shoulder. Teito gasped.

"A kor?"

"I'm not as simple as them." Red zaiphon swirled around his entire body, spinning faster and faster. Then he threw it.

Before Teito could react or throw up a shield, two people dropped down in front of him, one taking the hit. It shattered and collapsed, falling off the bridge landed with a splash far below. Wait. Not people… Castor's dolls.

Teito summoned his own zaiphon, watching the remaining doll stand in front of him. Ayanami casually killed off the doll and turned to face Teito. Teito charged with a yell. That's not Mikage. Just his body. That's not Mikage. Just his body…Ayanami scoffed.

"Do you really think you can fight me?" Teito threw his zaiphon, landing on soft feet. He ignored the dust cloud and spun around, summoning his zaiphon once more. Ayanami was behind him. He looked surprised to see Teito facing him. There is no way I was going to fall for that trick again. Frau doing it once was enough.

Without hesitation he threw his zaiphon again and again. He chased Ayanami who kept jumping to avoid the bursts. Teito followed him, never managing to land a hit. Ayanami was laughing. Teito stopped before he tired himself out and faced off with Ayanami again.

"My turn." Teito braced himself for Ayanami's charge. He didn't even see him move. In less than a second, Ayanami was inches in front of him. He grabbed Teito's neck and kicked his legs out from under him, slamming him fast first into the ground and then planting a heavy boot on his back. You have got to be kidding me… I didn't even see him move!

Teito struggled beneath the boot.

"Like I said. You're coming with me." Teito growled and opened his mouth to reply. All that came out was a scream. He felt a bunch of thin somethingspierce the back of his head. A dark presence pushed against his mind, almost making Teito pass out. He lost feeling starting in his feet and then moving upwards. He's taking over my mind and body… Like fuck I'll let him!

Before he lost feeling in his arms, he gathered his zaiphon and aimed it at the concrete beneath his body, disintegrating it immediately. He fell through and screamed again as the tendrils were ripped from his skull. He flipped over in the air and saw Ayanami hovering in the air with a frown on his face. Then Teito was submerged by cold, black water. And he sank.

Frau POV

Frau kept his forced smile on his face and hands folded in front of him. Almost over, almost over, almost over…He usually didn't mind mass too much, but the brat had been worrying him lately and Frau was concerned that he might try to leave again.

Castor suddenly stiffened beside him. Frau and Labrador cast glances over to him.

"Two of my dolls have been destroyed. The two closest to Teito." Frau felt his stomach plummet. Fuck."Something like a kor has appeared." At their confused looks Castor explained. "It only has half a soul."

"Where is he?" Frau whispered.

"The exam room. That's where I got my signals last." Castor replied. Labrador sighed.

"It has begun. Hurry to him Frau." Frau looked over to Castor, who nodded.

"Sorry then. I'll have to leave mass to you." Frau felt his body freeze as he summoned his ghost and scythe. He left his body behind as he rushed to Teito.

"May God be with them." Castor spoke silently, watching Frau retreat in his ghost from.

Teito POV

Some say you see your life flash before your eyes before you die. Teito didn't see that. He saw all his memories with Mikage. Them meeting, them sparring, the meals, the late night conversations, the laughter, their promise, his death. Like hell if I let Ayanami use Mikage's body against me. Like hell if I let Miroku win. I am NOT going back.

Teito opened his eyes and drew his zaiphon around and underneath him. He used it to project himself up and out of the water. Ayanami opened his mouth, but Teito didn't let him say anything. He felt energy buzzing at his fingertips. He aimed his zaiphon like bullets, in a cone like aim. Ayanami swiftly dodged it, only to get clipped by a more subtle, dagger-like zaiphon. It hit his shoulder, right next to the wing.

Ayanami jumped back. No blood came out of the wound, the skin was already rotted.

"Clever." Ayanami growled before drawing his zaiphon as well. Teito, still floating on his zaiphon, zoomed further up, putting a bridge between them. He sent another zaiphon in an arc, hitting the spot where Ayanami had stood. Ayanami followed him up and threw a burst of his own zaiphon. Teito dodged and sent another back.

They went back and forth, both dodging and throwing, not landing a hit. Teito felt himself getting angrier and angrier with each throw. How DARE he! I will kill him!

"Did you cry when I killed him?" Ayanami taunted. Teito ignored him. "Did you cry when he died for you? When he took a blow meant for you, not him?" Teito grimaced. Ignore him. Don't listen to him. Concentrate…"He would still be alive if you never spoke with him. If he never knew you."

"Fuck you!" Teito yelled. Ayanami laughed at him. Teito was furious.

"He died for nothing, your precious Mikage. I've got you now." Teito gritted his teeth, red hazing across his vision.

"Shut. The. Fuck. Up!" With each word he sent a stronger burst of zaiphon, and with each burst the method was different and larger. On the last word, Teito threw all of his energy into a massive, spear like zaiphon that sped across the space between them. It pierced Ayanami in the chest and pinned him to the floor of a bridge. Ayanami's eyes were wide as Teito landed and approached him.

Teito looked down at Ayanami.

"Get out of him, you bastard." He spoke quietly and his zaiphon swirled around his fist. He raised his arm for the killing blow. Ayanami smirked.

"As you wish." Teito froze as violet eyes faded into gold. All smugness, hate, and coldness melted from Ayanami's face. It was replaced with love.

"Teito." Mikage smiled softly at him.

"Mikage?" Teito felt all the anger drain out of him and his zaiphon fade. He still kept his distance, a little wary. "How are you alive?"

Sadness crept into Mikage's eyes.

"I'm not, Teito. I'm still… dead."

"Then how?"

"He has a part of my soul. He took it when I was hit." Teito collapsed to his knees.

"Mikage… I'm sorry, I-"

"No, don't be." Mikage interrupted. He smiled at Teito again. " I would do the same thing, every time. I am glad you've kept your promise." Teito felt tears slipping from his eyes.

"Of course I did. It was hard, Mikage, without you. I wish…None of this ever happened. I'm sorry…" Mikage reached for Teito and grabbed his hand.

"He is still in me, Teito. He will take over again soon. He was waiting for you to drop your guard." He grimaced. "I can hold him back for only so long." Teito jerked forwards, gripping his hand tighter.

"Mikage, no! Don't go!" Mikage smiled warmly at Teito, pulling his hand from his.

"Know that I am always your friend, your brother, your family. Live, Teito. I love you." Teito yelled at him not to go, but he could see him fading. Teito stumbled back and raised his fists once more, summoning his zaiphon. It was weak. And he was slow.

Ayanami threw a burst the second he had full control, it hit Teito square in the chest and onto his back. Ayanami was on him once more, tendrils in his mind. Teito tried summoning up his anger from earlier but failed. He lost feeling quickly, he had no energy to resist the darkness that was calling to him. His consciousness faded to the sound of Ayanami laughing somewhere above him.

He was floating. He was peaceful. But something was wrong. There was something he had to do, something for someone. Someone whom he loved, someone who was always full of smiles. Golden eyes and a scarred cheek floated across his vision. Teito sat up with a gasp.

"Mikage!" How could he forget? He looked around. He was floating in darkness. Where am I? He didn't feel quite right, he didn't feel whole. Is this my mind? Memories came rushing back in. Frau. The Church. Ayanami. Fuck. I'm trapped in my own mind and body…

"No.." He muttered to himself. "I will not be trapped!" He thrashed around, screaming and yelling, trying to summon his zaiphon. He was helpless. He was trapped. "Let me go! Let me out!" He refused to quit yelling on the chance Ayanami could hear him. If anything, Teito would make sure to give him a headache. There was no reply.

Teito froze as he heard something off in the distance. Footsteps. He tried to stand but failed, as there was no ground or anything around him. A large figure approached. Teito clenched his fists, preparing to fight, but paused when the he came into view. Not Ayanami. Teito eyed him warily.

It was a giant man, dressed like akin to a knight, but not as much plated armor. He had a strange circlet around his head, long auburn locks, and glowing red eyes. He stopped in front of Teito and kneeled, somewhow.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Mikhail, Master."

"Master?"

"Do you require my help, Master?" What the fuck is going on? Teito shrugged. Might as well.

"Yes." Mikhail smiled, it was a cunning smile but Teito felt like no matter what he wouldn't turn it against him.

Pain lanced through his right hand. Teito grabbed it and held it to his chest. The pain got worse and worse, feeling like someone was repeatedly stabbing his hand with a knife while it was on fire. Teito grunted and held his hand tighter.

"What the fuck…" Suddenly, the pain shot from his hand and throughout his entire body and being.

He screamed.

Frau POV

Frau rushed through walls, floors, and ceilings. What did that brat get himself into?A scream suddenly echoed off the walls and through the corridors. Frau froze. It was a scream full of agony and it sent chills down Frau's spine. Teito…
Frau shot off once more, going as fast as he could possibly go, his heart racing. Please… Let me make it in time…

Frau burst through the walls and onto a bridge. He looked up to see Teito standing with his head bowed and a half decomposed boy with one kor wing in front of him. Zaiphon suddenly shot out from Teito. It burst everywhere in long strands, covering most of the arena and knocking out a couple bridges. That much power can't possibly be coming from Teito…All of the strands converged on the blonde kor, taking out the all surrounding bridges and causing a massive cloud of dust and debris to hang in the air.

Frau watched as the kor shot out, a grin on his face and golden strands bursting from his fingertips. What the fuck? There's no way he should have survived!Frau threw himself forwards and up. Only to freeze once more in shock when he got sight of Teito.
His eyes were bright red and he had some bone like structure coming out of his right hand, which glowed with a red light and swirled with blue zaiphon. Teito smirked and dodged to the side, coming up behind him and stretching his hand out.

"Level ten, release." Another large burst of zaiphon came for the boy who threw up a shield of red zaiphon at the last minute. The shield didn't even waver and Teito realized this, halting his attack. The second he did golden threads shot out, wrapping around Teito's arms, legs, and neck. Teito cried out in pain.

Frau threw his scythe, slicing through the threads. He soon followed it and stood between Teito and the boy. The boy had a strange aura around him, and the golden threads… They're just like Fests'…The boy grinned, backing off.

"Zehel. Recognize me?" Frau growled and positioned the scythe at the joint between the wing and the shoulder.

"I have to admit, I haven't seen too many zombies in my time."

"Wrong!" The boy said mockingly. The smile quickly vanished to be replaced with a dark, evil look. Zaiphon shot out from him. If Frau was in his body it would have blown him back and seriously injured him, the attack was so fast and strong. But he was in his ghost form. So it passed right through him. Frau sliced the wing off, causing the boy to stumble. He clutched his shoulder and staggered, looking up at Frau.

"Well… I'm no match for you in that form. Gives a man like me a boost of confidence… or it would if things were different." He fell to his knees."Zehel. How is the scythe? Take good care of it for me. I'll need it back one day." Frau jerked back in surprise, shock spiking through his body.

"Impossible… You can't be…" The boy laughed as his body began to disintegrate into ash.

"About time." Then he was gone, nothing but a pile of debris on the bridge. I made it. I made it in time. Thank god…He turned to the unconscious boy only to find out he was fully awake and staring at him with, thankfully, green eyes. Oh shit.

Teito had a confused look on his face.

"You're one of the seven ghosts." Frau said nothing, debating on knocking him out. No human was supposed to see them in this form. Castor's going to kill me…"Zehel." He jerked his head up at his other name. Teito was looking steadily at him now. "You're Zehel, aren't you?" Frau was a skeleton beneath his cloak. Hopefully he doesn't recognize me… unless I speak.He recalled his small conversation with the boy. Shit. Maybe he didn't hear that.

A warm glow appeared between Frau and Teito. Teito tensed and Frau backed off. He knew what it was.

The glow formed into the body of the blonde boy, fully NOT decomposed. Teito's eyes went wide and he scrambled to his feet. He reached out a shaking hand to the boy.

"Mikage…" I've heard that before…The soul reached a hand back. Frau stared in surprise, for a soul to be able to physically touch someone they needed a strong emotional attachment.

Teito was suddenly wrapping his arms around the boy, tears running down his face. The soul hugged him back tightly. Words were whispered. Frau felt the time running out.

"Don't go!" Teito shouted. Seconds later, the soul burst into white feathers and floated upwards. Teito collapsed to his knees and his eyes followed every feather until they were long gone.

Frau hesitated, unsure of what to do. But when he saw Teito's blank, emotionless look he strode forwards and scooped the boy into his arms. Teito didn't protest, didn't move. Just stared blankly ahead. Frau left him leaning against a wall just outside of the arena. He shot back to his body which Castor and Labrador were leading down the corridor, on their way over. He slipped in and jerked his body up with a gasp.

"Frau! What happened!" Frau pulled himself out of their grasp.

"Nothing good." He muttered before running down the corridor to Teito. Castor and Labrador followed, close on his heels.

Teito was still leaning on the wall, the blank stare still in place. Not good, not good… He completely withdrew into himself…He kneeled in front of the boy.

"Teito?" No response. Not even a blink. He grabbed his shoulders and shook the boy. "Teito?!" Nothing. He looked helplessly up at Labrador who had a sad expression on his face.

"Poor dear… He's in shock, an emotional one." Labrador said. "He is in a very fragile state right now, Frau. We need to take him back and keep a close eye on him. These next few weeks are going to be rough." Frau nodded and picked the boy up once more, cradling him gently in his arms. Castor said nothing as they went back to the med bay.

Castor POV

He sat at his desk, idly spinning a pen around his fingers. Frau had just left, after telling him what had happened. The possibilities are endless…First being the strange power Teito possesses and being able to summon and shape something like a kor's wing at will. That and the change in eye color.

Second being the person who attacked Teito. Frau said he hinted at being the owner of the scythe. If that's true… Then all hell is about to break loose… literally. If he is the true owner of the scythe that would make him Verloren. And why on earth would he be after Teito? Does Teito know his true identity? Nothing is certain.

Well, one thing is. Teito saw Frau in his ghost form and identified him as one of the seven ghosts. And that was very unfortunate.
Castor sighed. I have to fix that as soon as possible.Right now the boy was resting under the careful watch of Frau and his dolls. Tomorrow. When the boy wakes.Castor nodded to himself. Yes. Tomorrow, Teito will forget.