Here's the next chapter, 'cause I was bored! I do apologize though, because I may have gotten the timing off. I totally forgot about Bastien. I will continue to try and make the chapters longer though, so please review ^^
(Hikaru's POV)
I woke up, realizing that I was now in Frau's bed and that he wasn't in the room. I slowly rose and headed out the door, searching for Teito or Hakuren. Just then, my head started killing me. A child's voice rang through my head.
"There you are~ Ayanami's pet! Come to me, I would like your help with something. If you don't…Heh, let's just say your friends will come to harm."
I didn't want to go, but my body began moving on it's own to where this child was. Rok followed me as I went down multiple hallways and corridors, before finally reaching a room. The pain in my head increased tenfold and I collapsed to my knees as someone came up behind me.
"Brat? What are you doing here?"
He bent down towards me and I shakily pointed to the door.
"It's here…Help them…Help me…"
He burst into the room where a child was sitting, holding a man by his cloak. The child lifted their head as smiled evilly at us.
"At last, we can meet, Zehel…Pet."
I started shaking when I laid eyes on the scene before me. Bodies of prisoners were scattered; some on the floor, but many hanging from the ceiling. They were obviously tortured.
"What the hell are you trying to do?"
Frau launched himself at the child who just shrugged, and threw the man they were holding at Frau. Frau realized that this man was still alive, and I knew he would have trouble fighting a wars while protecting him. I rose from my position in the doorway, slowly making my way over to the child while they were distracted. Said child made a dark orb and threw it at Frau. It spread and was absorbed by the bodies around us, bringing them to life to attack Frau. The scythe he had sliced through them easily, but the child froze. Frau had tossed the man aside as he fought, but I stayed close by him. Darkness flowed around the child as they grew upset about Frau's scythe. The child froze again, but the child came back and threw two daggers at the prisoner. I jumped in front of him and one dagger hit me in the shoulder, the other hit and killed Rok. I bit my lip and Frau attacked the wars again, finally slicing the child in half, but it was too late. The wars disappeared and Frau ran over to me.
"Hold on Hikaru. Just deal with the pain a bit longer okay?"
I nodded, gripping his shirt hard when he removed the dagger from my back.
"Idiot, what were you doing here anyway? You're still injured and should've been resting."
I frowned, looking at Rok, when guards ran into the room. Their voices grew foggy as my consciousness slipped, but I could make out them ordering Frau to drop his weapon, as Rok circled above me.
No…It wasn't him…and I'm sorry Rok…
(Teito's POV)
No way…There's no way Father would've done that…
Vines creeped up next to Labrador and he looked really worried.
"There's trouble. They're saying that Frau will be getting the death penalty!"
"What? W-What happened?"
Castor turned to me, distressed.
"I was trying to avoid telling you, but Frau was caught for using a warsfeil weapon. He's been imprisoned at the Dungeon of Light."
Labrador gasped suddenly, causing us to return our attention back to him
"Castor, Hikaru…"
"What about him?"
"He was there and was hurt by the wars. They've taken him to first aid, but he hasn't woken up yet. He is Frau's only chance at this point, but he was badly hurt and the flowers are concerned that the wars' darkness may have infected him. We need to get to him quickly."
Not Hikaru too!
"Take me with you!"
"No, Teito. If he has been infected by the wars, it is even more dangerous for you to be there. He's attacked you once already. We don't need a second time."
They both ran off, but I couldn't help but be concerned for Frau and Hikaru's safety.
(Hikaru's POV)
"The bascule's tainted, but this room's already been purified…and just now…Bastien…"
I followed behind Teito and Hakuren, not knowing why they couldn't see me nor where we were going. We ran down a set of stairs behind Bastien's bookcase, but when we reached the bottom, Bastien stood there. I could only make out select words of what he said.
"Thank you. You are…kind…sorry…capture you…"
He attacked them, but I only saw flashes of what was happening. Hakuren captured, Teito trying to help, a dark orb. Then the scene changed. Frau met with the wars, Castor hurting Ayanami, Zehel. Everything disappeared and all I saw was white. A young man walked forward, smiling and next to him was Father, just the way I remember him. They both spoke simultaneously.
"You know what you have to do."
I sat up fast, breathing hard, before leaning forward from the pain in my back.
"Hikaru! You can't be moving so fast. Do you remember what happened?"
I looked at Labrador and saw Castor next to him. My eyes widened and I reached forward and grabbed him.
"What are you doing here? You're supposed to take Frau's place!"
"What are you talking about?"
I looked out the window and saw that it was just barely getting dark. What happened in my dream hasn't happened yet. I looked between the two concerned bishops and pulled my hand through my hair.
"Before I woke up, I had a dream. It was very real, but no one could see me. I only got fragments of what was going on, but I think I know who has infiltrated the church."
They both looked confused, so I began explaining.
"It was a vision of sorts. Bastien he's the one you want. He's been tainted by the darkness and he's after Teito. There's a passageway behind his bookcase and Teito and Hakuren go down there. Bastien is a wars and he attacks them."
"In that case, we have to go arrest him now."
"You can't. There's no proof, besides, you're suppose to take Frau's place in the dungeon. You have a chance to get the wars that snuck in and a chance at the one controlling all of this. Frau needs to become Zehel so you need to protect his body. He has to help Teito."
They seemed to understand and I grew light headed, falling forward again. Labrador caught me and laid me back down, as Castor left. Labrador moved some stray hair from my face and smiled softly.
"Don't worry, Hikaru. You have done well to help us. Now you just need to rest."
I closed my eyes and left the rest to the bishops, mentally apologizing to Teito, for he will end up going through a lot tonight.
"I'm coming"
I jumped from the bed, running down the hall. My injuries were healing quickly since I'd been asleep since the dream, but that was the least of my concerns. Teito was infected with wars and I discovered that I had the power to do something about it. Something was guiding me, so I found Teito quickly. The wars had begun to take over and I spotted Hakuren just as the two intruders knocked him out. I stepped out from the shadows, ready to give up my life to protect Teito and his friend. The child from before spotted me.
"Ah, I see you've healed up properly. Just in time too. Grab the Oak kid and follow us."
What? Does he think I'm still in Ayanami's control? If so, then I can use this to my advantage.
I nodded and picked up Hakuren, taking him to the hawkzile the two were getting on. Hakuren awoke while we were in mid air, shocked that I was just sitting there. I smirked at him and nodded towards the taller guy who had Teito. He smiled and we both attacked. Hakuren was stopped, but the flowers around the guy distracted him. Hakuren nodded to me and I destroyed the hawkzile.
We all fell, Hakuren grabbing Teito, while I pulled out my wings. I grabbed Hakuren and Frau appeared, grabbing Teito.
"Good work Hakuren, Hikaru!"
I nodded and dropped Hakuren onto Frau's hawkzile, before leading them into the clouds. Frau poured something on Teito and began yelling about the wars. I flew closer.
"Frau, you can't take out the eye, but I can absorb the wars! Samil told me how and all I need you to do is protect me when I do it."
"No way! The darkness that exist in wars could kill you!"
"Frau, you already know that I am more than willing to die for him, but I have also learned the importance of living. I won't die. Not from this. Besides, I still have to take the bishops exam."
I smiled a true smile at him and he finally gave in. I began extracting the wars and was just about done, when the hawkzile was cut in half and we began falling. The eye of Mikhail was struggling to make wings of it's own, so I dove down and grabbed him only to be hit by the child from before. I heard a snap and pain flowed through my back, letting me know that my wing was now broken. I turned as I was falling and saw Teito, just as the eye of Mikhail separated itself from him.
"Samil, I will be leaving, but be sure to keep an eye on my vessel. We will surely find each other again."
"Of course, what do you take me for?"
A chuckle went through my mind as I fell, waiting for someone…anyone to stop my decent to the ground. I closed my eyes as my hair and clothes were whipped by the wind. I saw visions flow through my mind. Father was there and Teito as well. Apparently, I had met Teito before, when I was put in the hands of the church. Him and Father were the only ones who bothered to care…and now-
"Hikaru!"
I opened my eyes as Labrador caught me and pulled me onto his hawkzile, careful of my injured wing.
"You did well."
I nodded and we soon landed, just as people began flooding out of their homes to witness the destruction caused by the eye of Mikhail. Labrador helped me off and Teito tackled me in a hug.
"Hikaru, I'm glad you're okay and thank you for helping me out."
I smiled and nodded as Hakuren walked over and ruffled my hair. He saw my wings, and gave me a questioning look.
"I'll be sure to ask about those later. For now, I'm satisfied with you helping me save Teito."
I felt someone touch my injured wing, which twitched slightly. I turned and saw Castor looking at them in interest and Frau poking them.
"Look, I know they're interesting and all, but could you please not do that?"
Frau looked at me and just grinned before picking me up and carrying me to get it patched up.
That night, I heard a voice singing. I followed the sound as the words grew clearer.
"Through the stars, courage and memories…I'm looking for your footprints…"
I found that Teito was the one singing, so I ran up to him and used my zaiphon to splay out the next part.
"I pray you rest peacefully for all eternity…This is the middle of the dream"
"Is that the Raggs Requiem?"
I was startled a bit by Frau, but it turns out he recognized it. Teito thanked him for helping Teito and Frau apologized for losing the eye, but I could hear how upset he really was. Teito looked down at his hand, longingly.
"It's probably because I was an unfit vessel for it."
I shook my head and something came over me, the air around me growing thicker.
"That's not true. Mikhail spoke to me. He told me that we'd meet again and to protect you. I've never seen Mikhail so hooked on a single vessel. You should be proud that he has chosen you."
The feeling went away and I fell forward as Frau came down and held me up. He smiled down at me and Teito leaned against us and sang the song of our past, lulling me asleep.
(Normal POV)
"Today's fortune says, 'The first thing you obtain this morning is a lucky item. Don't let it go! The angels will come to you to grant you happiness?'" A man with pale blonde hair mumbled to himself, as he climbed up the steps to the church. He pulled out a gold bishop's pass, smiling to himself, but he suddenly dropped it. He chased after it, but it snapped in half when Teito stepped on it.
"I'm sorry." Teito apologized. The man turned to him, before running off yelling, "I'll remember this!"
The same man continued to run down the halls until he ran into Hikaru, knocking them both to the ground. Hikaru got up and helped the strange man up, as he picked up on half of his bishop pass. Hikaru grabbed the other half and handed it to him. The blonde looked up with a smile.
"Ah, another examinee?"
"Yes. And you are…Relikt (Rilect), right?"
Hikaru's collar was grabbed and he was shoved into the wall by the blonde. He was about to put his hand to Hikaru's forehead when Castor appeared around the corner.
"Lance, don't."
"Why shouldn't I? He obviously knows who we are. Why haven't you erased his memories?"
Castor sighed and removed Hikaru's eye patch, revealing his blood red eye.
"He is the vessel of Samil. It would be odd if he couldn't recognize us."
"B-But-"
"I'll explain the rest later. Hikaru, this is your partner for the bishop's exam."
He pushed a mean looking black haired kid forward, told the two kids to 'make nice' and left, dragging the blonde with him. Hikaru looked at the kid and held out one hand.
"I'm Hikaru Ryutan. Let's both work hard for the exam."
The boy looked at his hand and shook it.
"Name's Michael Tonks. You better be prepared. You'll be doing most of the work."
Hikaru looked taken aback, but shrugged it off as they headed to the main hall.
The main doors opened and the examinee's walked through. All of a sudden, a great pressure washed over them and many were unable to escape. Hikaru wasn't even bothered. He'd felt real fear and this was nothing compared to what else he's gone threw. His partner had a little bit of a problem, but Hikaru came over and offered his hand.
"Ch, I don't need your help."
Hikaru was shocked again. I was just trying to be nice. I'm not normally this trusting, but I was making an effort for Teito…and for myself. He thought. His partner finally rose and they went on to the next part.
Questions lined the wall and each pair had to answer the question on their door to continue. Hikaru answered it quickly and went through to a hallway. They were attacked by…something, but Hikaru defeated it and answered the question that was on it's chest. Michael just stood back and watched, which caused Hikaru to worry and get slightly angry. Just when he was about to snap at Michael, a hole opened up in the floor and they were dropped into, what Bishop Lance called, the Kor's Palace.
"If you defeat the kor and answer 50 questions between the two of you, you can move on to the next test."
Hikaru began defeating kor after kor, but he felt happier when he saw Michael doing the same.
"Oh. You've been through quite a bit haven't you?"
"Come to us. We will ease your pain."
"We can even make your mother love you if you so wish it."
He was startled by that, but he remembered all the people around him who he never would have met without her. They only needed a few more kor, but he left that to Michael when he spotted some other examinees drowning. He grabbed two while a nearby Teito smiled and grabbed the other one. Jumping out of the tank, they put the examinees on the ground and Hikaru and Teito confronted Bishop Lance.
"They nearly drowned? Is it you job to watch people die?"
"No, my job is to impartially judge the exam. Not to save people. Oh, and talking back to the examiner is a demerit."
"Demerit or not…"
"We won't mistake what is really important." They both finished and ran with their partners to the next test. The tests kept going, one after the other, until Hikaru, Teito, Hakuren, Michael, and two older men ended up at a large cliff edge. Hikaru looked at the older men as Teito picked up one.
"Teito, I'll take the other one, if he doesn't mind of course."
"Of course not. I would expect this boy to be able to carry us both anyway."
The man climbed his way onto Hikaru's shoulder and Hikaru headed towards the ropes connecting the two cliff edges. He turned around though, when he noticed that Michael was stepping away, a bead of sweat dripping down the side of his face.
"Michael? Are you afraid of heights?"
"N-No, of course not. I wouldn't-"
RIP!
He was cut off when Hikaru tied the sleeve of his robe around Michael's head. Hikaru grabbed his hand and walked backwards, leading Michael onto the rope without him knowing. They continued walking and almost reached the end, when the rope snapped. Hikaru grabbed the rope and Michael, turning to take all the damage as they hit the wall. Teito saw what happened and ran to the edge, yelling.
"Hikaru! Just hang on, I'll pull you up!"
Hikaru shook his head and turned to the old man on his shoulders. The man nodded and climbed up the rope. He reached the top and spoke to Teito and Hakuren.
"He wants us to go without him."
"What?"
Zaiphon flew over the edge, lighting up the sky.
"Go Teito. This is my exam. Besides, don't you have something you need to do?…I'll catch up with you later. I'm not going to leave my best friend alone."
Teito smiled before picking up the second man and heading to the last question. Hikaru, on the other hand, had just managed to put Michael on his back and had begun climbing up the rope. The extra weight was hard on him, but he never gave up and soon reached the top, collapsing and removing Michael's blindfold.
"W-What happened? What did you just do?"
"I just got you over the cliff and totally destroyed my hands."
Sure enough, Hikaru's hands were bleeding after climbing up the rope with Michael. Michael smiled and helped Hikaru up.
"Looks like I owe you."
Hikaru finally smiled and they reached the last question.
"Each pair has done well to reach here, however, only one may proceed from here. Fight your partner and write the winner's name to open the winner's door, while the loser leaves through the loser's door."
Hikaru smirked at Michael, who smirked back. Hikaru walked up to the door and wrote,
"Suck it" before they both walked through the loser door. It was dark, but words appeared in front of them.
"Why do you walk the path of the defeated?"
"Because, if one learns from a loss, they have not truly lost"*
There was a pause, before more words appeared.
"There are no winners here, only companions who fight alongside each other."
Seats came out of the floor, and Hikaru and Michael were lifted up behind Teito and Hakuren.
"Ah! Hikaru! You made it!"
Teito ran over and hugged Hikaru, but let go immediately when he winced in pain.
"Sorry, I forgot. You hit that cliff pretty hard huh?"
"Yeah, but it's okay."
"No, it is not okay!"
Bishop Lance came over and bopped Teito and Hikaru on the head.
"Ow! Hey, what was that-"
"You two wrote such vulgar things on the wall! You're lucky I didn't do anything else."
They both looked at each other an asked, "What did you put?"
"I put 'suck it'."
"I put 'piss off'."
There was silence before Teito started laughing loudly and Hikaru laughed silently. Just then, Castor came out of nowhere and brought Michael towards Hikaru. Hikaru was confused until Castor waved a hand over the boy, and Michael turned out to be a puppet.
"Woah…Wasn't expecting that."
Castor smiled and pat him on the head.
"We needed someone to be your partner, but the numbers were odd so we came up with 'Michael'. You did well to pass the first exam and I expect you to do well in the next exam as well."
Hikaru nodded and Castor spotted his hands, pulling out something from his bishop robe. He began wrapping Hikaru's hands and led him to the next area, giving him a piece of advice as he walked into the next room.
"Do well to remember what is important and not what was."
"I can do that much."