Chapter 12: Marco becomes a nanny and Anastasia finds a cloud

Anastasia

We were flying at light speed. It was that feeling when in movies you see the characters' faces becoming plastered back because of the pressure. Well, it was indeed awful. A dull grey narrow road, similar to a wormhole was pulling us higher and higher, tearing us apart from the Human Realm.

I couldn't hear the others behind me. The crashing sound of the air pulling us was destroying my ears and then regenerating them again. And my body was stretching, pulling and compressed again and again. Not the best feeling.

And then everything became silent. I blinked, trying to focus on my surroundings. There were clouds, so many clouds! And the sky; the deepest blue of midday I have ever seen. So clear and beautiful and the wind was soaring, giving more easiness on my wings. Another pair of wings appeared beside me. Feith with Murasaki was eyeing with longing the sky, just like I did.

Maybe it was the feeling of freedom the sky was offering us, or the angelic part that was calling our wings back to the Heaven Realm. "We haven't reached Heaven yet. This is a checkpoint." Feith said beside me and I turned on my back, looking on the others.

Arsenia was patting Leonard's back as he had bent down. He was...

"Oh God! He is-"

"Puking, I know." Marco grunted near me and looked at the sky too. His dark clothing and wings were on a great contrast with the silence around us. The black scythe was on his back while his board shoulders were tense; he wasn't on his known field anymore.

"Marco, this is a safe part."

He looked at me frowning, "How you can tell?"

"We know it to our essence Marco." Feith spoke for me and held Murasaki closer to his arms.

I brushed my fingers over her forehead; she was cold but her powers were returning. "Soon she will awake Feith."

The ghost of a smile appeared on his lips. "Thank you Anastasia."

"A little help back here?" Arsenia urged, pointing at the still vomiting Leonard. Marco dismissed the situation with a glance and I rolled my eyes at him. "Anyway," he said, "where will head next? Should we choose the Division or go wherever the Portal takes us?"

"The Second Division. That's where we will go." I said and Feith glared at me.

"Anastasia you can't enter the Second Division like that! There will be Gladiators everywhere!"

"But we will be able to free the prisoners. The gathered ones from the Fortress told me so." I spun around and eyed both Marco and Feith. "He rules them with fear. If we give them hope then they will be able to fight back. This is no longer about following orders in the name of the Four Lords, it's a dictatorship."

Marco grinned, that smirk which suggested more trouble. "I follow Ana. We could also find information about the location of the Garden, where the other Lords are held."

"You sure are." Feith muttered and Marco snarled in response.

"HEY! How about this one!" a frustrated Arsenia shouted while Leonard gagged once more.

I flew closer to the pair and rubbed the Grim Reaper's back, soothing him with words. Leonard glanced up at me and smiled.

I wished he never did. At least for the thing that was stuck on his teeth.

"Ok, we are moving!" Feith spoke and flew upwards heading to the direction the trail of the Portal was taking us.

I clasped Leonard's back and nodded to Arsenia, letting her know that he needed company. She groaned but didn't complain. Marco covered my left side as we both followed Feith higher to the sky. We didn't speak much as we all were thinking of the outcome back on Earth. I hoped Ivan hadn't survived the assault of the Grim Reapers and Leito would be chained by the next time I would lay my eyes on him. Only for the remaining Angels I was worried; their voices and pleading were making my chest heavy from compassion. At least, I could save their families for them.

Marco's fingertips touched my cheek. It seemed he could feel my distress. I turned and smiled at him, trying to cast away the worried look and pressed his cold palm on my cheek. He grinned and we both turned upwards, seeing the sky.

The clouds had started to gather together, giving the idea of creating a storm. But no thunders or lightings could be seen or heard. Feith landed on one of the closest clouds and we followed him. It was strange stepping on pure air, but there was the idea of a fluffy ground below my feet, like stepping on a mattress.

"We will head there." Feith pointed at the gathering clouds, "and Anastasia, you will have to use your powers to take us higher. I would do it myself but I am not strong enough."

"I will try."

Marco leaned and touched Murasaki's head. "When will she awake? I don't want her entering the Portal fainted; she will lose the fun of it."

"Slap her." Leonard spoke behind me and a yelp was heard. Arsenia must have punched him.

"What happened to Murasaki was worse than Middle Age's tortures. But if you want her to awake..." I trailed off thinking of an anthem or a song anything an Angel could use in these cases? What's the point of knowing a billion tunes and lyrics if I can't help the ones in need?

Marco tapped my shoulder, making me turn. "How about combining my part and yours? It worked once."

"I don't want any part of you in her!" Feith snarled at Marco but he smirked. "I don't want any part of mine away from my body too."

Oh boy, this was getting worse! "No one will have to lose a part of his body! So cut off with the chit chat." I glared at the men. Marco grunted and Feith stroked Murasaki's purple hair.

Annnd that's when Murasaki's eyes fluttered open. We all leaned above her, watching the Shinigami waking up. And honestly I exhaled relieved for the first time since we left our friends behind.

"God Murasaki...you had us all worried." I patted her head. Marco near me grinned and Arsenia with Leonard smiled. But Feith crushed her in his arms making Murasaki groan.

"Do you always have to leave breathless?" she muttered, tiredly but with a grin.

"If I am the one causing it, then yes." Feith said and pulled back, caressing her cheek with his knuckles.

"Awww."

"Yuck." Marco grunted and I pinched his forearm.

Murasaki and Feith snapped at us and they laughed. It was strange seeing them together. An Angel and a Shinigami. Then again who was I to judge them? Looking at the sky above us, the clouds began swirling together once more. "Murasaki, can you fly?"

"I think so Anastasia, why?"

"We will have to get past that." I pointed at the clouds.

"Fuck, no."

"Yup." Marco called the others closer. "We will try to fly as closer on each other as we can. We don't know what traps they may be laid before us."

"The Portal cannot be planted with traps. It's impossible." Feith retorted as Murasaki left his lap and fixed her kimono, summoning a new pair of sash and short kimono pants, fitted with high heeled leather boots.

I had to learn that trick too.

"So we go up." Leonard fixed his black gloves, the two scythes gleaming on his back.

Remembering the way Auge was moving back and forth between Heaven and Earth, I knew the procedure of summoning myself on the Realm. Yet following the way to the Division was trickier. If you couldn't stay concentrated on the path you wanted to follow then let's say that the void between universes from Doctor Who was a playground for alien babies.

"Feith, if I leave a trail behind, can you follow it?"

"Sure."

"Then we move in a line. I will go first, then Feith, Marco and the rest on behind."

Marco pulled my shoulder. "Why not on a circle?"

"You will have to follow Feith's lead. He can stay concentrated on my lead and guide you. I can't be concentrated on everyone and follow the path to the Second Division at the same time."

Murasaki clasped her hands. "Makes sense. Let's get over with it. My blades are itching."

It will be fine Marco. Trust me.

He rolled his eyes on me. I always do. Simply I can't trust anything angelic around here.

I touched his cheek, kissing him softly. He groaned and pressed his hand upon mine. "Something to keep at."

"I am really going to enjoy this." he wispered and I felt the flush on my cheeks.

Without another word, I stretched the long wings, letting the wind current pass through the feathers. Even the atmosphere around here was different, peaceful. I glanced at Feith; he was helping Murasaki with the balance on the cloud. I guess she had never stepped on one either.

Arsenia was chatting with Leonard; still the idea of the twins merging into one young man was giving me the creeps. But their presence here is comforting. Marco stepped near me and uncurled his wings, long black and silky.

He winked at me and shouted at Feith to take off. The Angel together with Murasaki flew above us and I followed with Marco and the Grim Reapers on out tow. Quickly I took the lead on the head of our flying line, heading up.

The clouds, as if they had sensed us, gathered together, their color changing from white, slowly to grey.

It was time.

Pulling the whip from my thigh, I started to sing. But my voice was not coming as strong as I wished it to be. Maybe that cold on the back of my neck was the fear I was sensing as our group entered the clouds. Thick grey and white mist surrounded us but I didn't stop. Moving the golden, curling line around me I continued to sing, stronger and stronger, sensing Feith's trail behind me, keeping in check my presence. The crashing sound of thunders deafened me and soon lightning flashed close to us.

Almost to close.

Ignoring the sight, I leapt up, making a whole loop around the flash, curling the wings around my body and opening them again. Moving my left hand, the whip hit the clouds, sending the mist away, never stopping flying.

As I reached the ending of the song fierce wind, like a tornado, pulled us together all the way up, jerking our bodies higher and away from the clouds. I screamed, mostly of shock rather than fear, and the voices of my friends followed from behind.

The tornado suddenly ceased as we passed through the last part of the Portal. Blinking rapidly I focused around me. The air was thin, the temperature drop cold but under my skin warmth was holding me like a protective cocoon. Everything felt right, like a long forgotten feeling.

Everything felt like home.

"We made it." Feith shouted with a big smile on his face. His grey hair and eyes seemed to glow, showing his heavenly heritage. And his wings were moving with more grace, like there was no need to flap them continuously.

I felt the same way too; the wings were moving slower like there was no need to keep my height and I could see that Marco had realized that too.

"What could you guess? Gravity's laws don't apply here." He said as he rubbed his chin, looking around with suspiciousness.

Murasaki, Arsenia and Leonard breathed in the scenery and sheathed their weapons. I tied the whip back to my leg and pointed to the horizon; there behind the thick white clouds, the outlines of a steel fortress could be seen.

"Is that?"

"Yes Marco, that's the Second Division, Gabriel's HQ."

"You know what they say about men and big buildings right?" Marco said with a teasing smile but Murasaki groaned near me, muttering "men".

"Really Marco? I thought that was applying to men and guns." I tipped my chin staring at him, "Or was it scythes?" I finished parting my lips and showing the tip of my tongue.

Everyone laughed.

Marco's mismatched eyes glowed black and red.

Yup, I was screwed.

Feith clasped Marco's shoulder, like men do. "Good luck. You'll need it." He flew back and pointed at the setting sun, behind the outlines of the steel, floating fortress. "We should try and find a cloud home, before heading to the Second Division. There are also night patrols."

"But clouds are private. No one will let us in."

Arsenia lifted her hand. Feith turned to the girl. "What is a cloud home?"

"Ah now that's an excellent question."

"He got into nerd mode." Marco said and I nodded.

"I find it sexy."

We both stared at Murasaki, too stunned to gasp.

"Each Angel, despite their Division, owns their homes in the form of clouds. When families are formed the clouds get bigger. Let's say also that you have the chance to decorate and redecorate the cloud according to your tastes. That's how Angels live."

"Cool." Arsenia nodded.

Leonard raised his palm too.

"What?" Feith asked.

"You can put anything you want in the cloud, right?"

"Sure."

Leonard's black eyes glimmered as he smirked. "Even a playroom?"

Murasaki choked her laugh and I cracked up. Marco snorted and hit Leonard on the head saying to watch his language. Arsenia looked at him with utter horror.

Sighing, I poked Murasaki to follow me. We made our way through the clouds, while I was trying to sense the emptiness between them. The Angels knew how to put barriers on them though.

"How are you feeling Murasaki?" I asked. Despite her cockiness, I knew that the Shinigami had deep scars in her, just like we all did.

She flipped her long, waist length, purple hair and rested her right palm on the hold of her swords. "I am tired like shit but I am still holding. That Leito shouldn't be roaming to the skies. The kid is depraved!"

"You put it so nicely."

"No Anastasia, I am so tired, I can't swear."

I flew closer, patting slightly her right shoulder. Murasaki smiled at me, the kind of smile that was tight, yet grateful.

"Hey!" Arsenia was heard above us, looming closely. "Feith found a deserted cloud. It's this way." She pointed to our left and we followed her back to the others, passing through the small and big clouds.

Marco had already checked the perimeter and Feith was able to disable the security spell on the puffy white mass. He explained quickly to the others the way we could all enter and leave the cloud and simply, he jumped into it. I took Marco's hand, pulling him with me, as I already knew how to enter the cloud through Auge's memories.

The feeling was different from the memories I had seen. The crisp cold should have cracked my skin, if I was full human, but now it felt like cool raindrops, caressing my skin and then quickly disappearing. Marco's fingers tightened in mine but we were already standing into the Angel's house.

We landed on the living room; there were two long couches in an L shape with a small wooden table in the middle. To our right a small kitchenette, white and grey marble on the counters, was completing the united space.

"It doesn't look destroyed or raided. More like-"

"They left it behind, expecting maybe to return." Marco spoke for me and I nodded.

A crushing sound made the three of us turn; Murasaki was standing near Arsenia and Leonard who had fallen, head down, to the wooden floor. "Ouch." They groaned and got up.

"Well, it's big enough." Feith commented while he paced around. Murasaki touched the white wall and strangely it pulsed, creating a ripple of rainbow colors.

"Cool."

"That's the heater Murasaki." Feith said it as a matter of fact and she gave him the how-the-hell-should-I-know-that look.

Soon the temperature rose and we were all gasping for a whim of cool air. Feith quickly punched, then, the wall and the heat dropped. "No touching." He glared at the younger Grim Reapers who were ready to open the kitchenette.

Murasaki flipped him off. "Anastasia let's see the other rooms." She spoke as her arm snaked around me, pulling us away from Marco and Feith. Across us a wide hall was leading into an open room with lots and lots of books, positioned on piles and on steel shelves. Despite the technology I had witnessed so far, I found it strange for Angels to use printed books.

Then again, some things will never change.

"Messy." Murasaki said.

"No, it's tidy. You have no idea how untidy a bookworm can be."

She shrugged and continued to the small corridor which was on our right. It took the one on our left, casting a last glance on the books. Dad always liked the smell of the fresh printed paper and the memory of him sitting on the desk, studying ancient Greek and Latin with me, created a lump on my throat.

A wooden door was in front of me as I reached the end of the corridor. Pushing it open, I was welcomed from the faint scent of vanilla and cinnamon. Whoever used to live in this room was surely female. The bed was the first furniture I noticed. King size couldn't even describe it. Neatly made with soft white blankets it was a temptation for me.

Across of the bed, to my right, a full body mirror and a wardrobe complete the bedroom. A window with thin glass was showing the sun setting sky, the colors of purple and orange illuminating into the room. And I stood in the middle of this room, wondering if I have already intruded more than once into the lives of those around me.

"Ana?"

Marco was standing in the doorframe, watching me. His black wings were tucked closer to his back, as he tried to walk into the room. His body was bigger than an Angel's. "You seem worried." He said softly.

"No, just tired." I smiled and unclasped the back pack from my waist. "Too much adrenaline for one day." Soon the sword and the whip followed and I tucked them on the small cushion chair close to the window.

"The others have settled on the living room and the other room across the library." Marco spoke as he opened the door, which it seemed to lead to the bathroom. "You should eat. We've packed enough food." He said and quickly walked back to the door, ready to leave the room.

Was that...anxiety? Or was he...embarrassed?

"Marco, turn around."

"What?" he tilted his head back, his eyes already glowing. I smiled and took his hand pulling him closer to me. "And here I though I was getting punished."

He smirked and his no longer gloved fingers, touched softly my neck, trailing down to my shoulder and back to my jaw." Who said you weren't? I am still debating the form."

"Oh?" I snaked my hands around his neck and kissed his chin, stepping on my tiptoes. Marco pulled me up, his right hand holding tightly my waist while the other settled on my nape, pulling me closer for a deeper kiss.

Breaths mingled, lips smashed together, yet I couldn't stop. He was intoxicating me. And I was doing to the same to him too.

"Bath." I breathed in his mouth and Marco nipped my lower lip.

"Hell yeah."

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Arsenia felt like she was the character on a manga. Not the main one, of course, but more like the one who falls into the way and assists the main heroes. She loved the secondary characters. For some reason she was drawing strength from that. And the irony was that her illusion of strength didn't help her when she had taken the pills and laid on her bed, disappointed from her life, the ass of a boyfriend and even worse, from her parents.

Still a Grim Reaper's life was more interesting than her old one.

She sat on the couch and pulled out her black boots. The cape was already folded near her and when she pulled the zipper of her black jacket down, a whistle came from the other side of the couch.

"What?" she demanded, eyeing Leonard.

He was sitting on the other edge of the L shaped couch, staring at her with what seemed to be a mix of curiosity and passion. Arsenia saw his black eyes scanning her black jeans, the pink tank top, passing from her chest and settling on her lips.

Yup, he was really crazy.

"Nothing, just enjoying the view."

She glared at him. "Good. That's the only thing you will get."

Leonard straightened then, and crossed his arms around his chest. "Well, sorry about that, but being locked into a fucked up cell, losing your energy over and over, leaves you...unsatisfied in some levels."

Arsenia smirked. "Poor baby. Glad I am not in those levels."

"Who said you aren't?" Leonard laughed and Arsenia groaned.

"Noisy kids." Feith mumbled behind them as he walked at the kitchen and the two Grim Reapers scowled at him.

"Jerk." Leonard said at the same time Arsenia muttered "birdy". They stared at each other and laughed, a crazy stressed laugh and soon they came closer, speaking of their battles, even their work as Grim Reapers.

Feith watched them from the other side of the room and sighed. Murasaki had already gone to the other rooms, after his pressure to get some rest. And he was betting his right wing that Marco and Anastasia were getting too intimidating at the other room.

Great, exactly what he needed. The Angel pulled a circular crystal at the size of his palm from the inner pocket of his gray tunic, which hardly reminded a tunic at all, and placed at the table. He had stolen it from the Cloud Fortress, while Anastasia was trying to free Murasaki. The act didn't stir in him feelings of sin, only gave him pure determination.

Dire times require dire measures. Feith liked that quote. Pressing his thumb on the crystal, the screen flipped on and a hue of silver light covered it. Feith flipped his fingers on the screen, searching for the maps of the Divisions. Anastasia had told him that Machias was holding the families of many Angels as prisoners on the Second Division and also the information about their location was shared between the troops and the HQ of the Fourth Division.

He stared for a while at the lines and the squares that formed the Second Division's steel fortress until soft fingers trailed a line at the nape of his neck. Feith tilted his head back; Murasaki's violet eyes were looking at him as her purple hair was covered with the white towel. She was wearing a simple blue kimono and some water droplets were still lingering on her pale skin.

"Interesting." She motioned at the crystal.

Feith shrugged. "Just gathering information."

"What and Inspector thing to do." She said with tease.

Feith rolled his eyes at her. "How are you feeling?"

Murasaki sat near him and stared at the crystal for a moment. "Better." She stated and sighed. "This will get harder."

"It will be, but we'll still get to have some fun." Feith said and touched hesitantly her cheek.

She leaned to his touch, a small smile appearing on her lips. "Are you seducing me Angel?"

"Don't mock me Shinigami. Who's seducing who?" Feith retorted and they both smiled.

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Anastasia

Marco's hands pressed gently at the base of my wings, easing the soreness. I moaned with relief and looked up at him. Resting his head with his right hand and his elbow holding his weight on the mattress, Marco was looking at me as his left hand was drawing patterns around the part where skin met bone and feathers.

He was utterly stunning.

"Better?" he murmured and I shivered.

"Yeah."

"You flew quite a lot, it strained the wings."

He pulled the white cover above me, covering my nakedness, and his right arm found its way around my waist, flushing our bodies together. I had no idea how sweet love could be. Not only on the emotional level but on the physical too.

Still I dreaded the moment these small times together, because I feared that they would never come again. Slowly, I brushed away the black locks that had started to make their way down to his forehead and Marco peered down at me. "What are you thinking?" he said.

I smiled at his frown and pulled my hand from his forehead, settling my palm on his chest, above his slowly beating heart.

Thump, thump. It didn't beat like a human's, nor like and Demon's. I had learnt from Anapedia that the heart beating of Angels and Demons was faster than a human's. Yet a Grim Reaper was in no need for a heartbeat. Marco's heart beating was slow, as if his heart was lazy to keep beating continuously and so it settled on a specific rhythm.

"I am curious that's all."

His silence urged me to continue. "Where the entrance to the Garden may be, or if the tower of the Demon Record will still exist on the Second Division. Damn, I even wonder if we can find help."

Marco sighed. "You think a lot Ana. For D's sake rest that head of yours for once."

I reached up and leaning I settled on top of him. "And you should be more considerate about our problems."

He smirked. "Last time I checked, we had left our problems outside the bedroom. Now, come here." And his arms pulled me closer, his lips ready to lock with mine.

"HOLY SHIT!" a familiar voice screamed and we both looked up.

Leonard was standing at our room. He hadn't even opened the door! He had flashed himself inside. "I think I lost my eyesight for a moment." Leonard took in the sight of me on top of Marco, our wings open and the blanket. Oh crap, the blanket.

It had fallen to my waist.

"And how you know," Leonard licked his lips, staring at me. "Nice view Anastasia."

A growl came under me. There's no need to look and see that Marco was a step before shredding Leonard to pieces, glue him again and start over. In the blink of an eye, Marco was punching Leonard, sending him flying out from the room, taking the door together with him.

Annnd he had already his pants on, leaving the broad shoulders, the deep scars on his back and long wings show.

"Marco!" I shouted as I grabbed the sweater and the shorts, running behind him.

When I finally reached them, they were both standing in the living room with Feith and Murasaki already trying to calm Marco. What was worse, Leonard had pulled Arsenia in front of him, using her as a shield. Poor girl, she was looking at Marco terrified, sensing his demonic aura.

Irritated, I walked past Marco, pulled Arsenia away from Leonard's hold and slapped the Grim Reaper. "Next time, KNOCK!" I hissed at Leonard, who had placed his hand on the reddening cheek. "I know your background and your sick humor. I wonder how Rath dealt with you."

Slowly, I calmed and continued looking at him. "But, it's rude to enter another's room, even flash in them. Last time you did that, Perseus and Haimei were ready to fight you. So, no more interrupting, am I clear?"

"Yes, ma'am." Leonard said and sat to the couch, placing his hands on his lap, like an obedient child.

Turning around, I found Marco, Feith and Murasaki staring at me wide eyed. "What?"

"It took me a century to make him listen to my words and you just...slapped him?" Marco said pointing to Leonard.

"Then we should appreciate Anastasia's discipline methods. They can be handy." Feith agreeing in his own way and went back to the kitchen, while Marco retreated back to the room.

Murasaki stepped closer to me and leaned, her hands clasped behind her back. I stared at her violet eyes with question. "Hmm, water, vanilla and what do you know, sex." She whispered with a smirk.

"Murasaki!" I whispered-shouted at her feeling the heat on my cheeks.

"Not my business. But I am curious."

"I dread your curiosity." I sighed and rubbed my temples.

"Is he good?"

I choked at her question and looked at Arsenia and Leonard, who were sitting silently at the couch. Turning back at Murasaki, I decided it would be good to tease her and save Marco the embarrassment of becoming her next victim. "I am leaving it to your imagination. Still, what's your deal with Feith?"

"Ah..." she stumbled at her words, seeing for the first time the Shinigami blushing.

"Yeah, thought so too. Now you know how it feels." I laughed and headed back to the room.

Next day, right after dawn, we left the cloud house heading straight to the HQ of the Second Division. While most of us kept looking at the colorful from dawn sky, I carved the moment where wings could be seen between the clouds. I wanted to experience the way Auge had lived. How gently she had waved at the passing flying Angels or how easily she used to glide around the clouds.

Feith next to me said something about the main entrance of the steel fortress that was drawing closer and closer and I remembered the way Auge's and Gabriel's feet had caused the rainbow ripples on the floor at the entrance of the Division. Or the shield, that was always covering Gabriel's fortress, had opened for Auge to enter.

I noted Feith and Marco, who was flying behind me, with my remarks. The Inspector said that we could always break the shield down, like I did with the Cloud Fortress.

"Bullshit, Ana was tired after that. How do you expect her to fight?"

"Boys, scat." Murasaki said above us. "We'll see in time, let's arrive first."

We reached the HQ fast, by following the wind currents. It felt like entering the highway of the Heaven Realm, which to me seemed really awesome. Gabriel's HQ reminded me of skyscrapers placed together upon a gigantic part of earth. Clouds were covering it from below, somehow holding it on the air. What amazed me were the red lines that stretched around the HQ, circling it like the rings on Saturn in all directions, creating a circular cage around the Second Division.

"That's strange. This wasn't here the last time."

"Ah, then Machias wants to make it harder."

Marco manifested his scythe and got ready to smack the flowing lines. "Then let's play."

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Machias, head of the Fourth Division of the Inspectors, was looking at the crystal panel with dangerous silence. His grey hair and shiny grey eyes were in contrast with the dark, long grey robe he wore. It was a sign of his status as one of the Four Lords, now the only one.

His plans were going so well, yet the appearance of the two abominations was a thorn in his foot. A steel one actually. On the panel, the report of the surviving troops, accompanied with a video feed was informing him of the destruction that occurred above the Adriatic Sea the previous day.

Leito was injured but alive most of his troops were in fear of the power Marco and Anastasia had showed yet in their eyes was gratitude. Gratitude for there was freedom in the action of Marco, Anastasia and gang. Oh yes, Machias knew about the Shinigami, Murasaki, who had shielded Death, Leonard, the psychotic Grim Reaper and one of Marco's acquaintances, Arsenia, the new addition on the Grim Reapers, a sad soul who had committed suicide and finally Feith.

The Inspector had been assigned by Machias to search the Concealed Feather a.k.a Anastasia and report back to him. He did well his job until the moment of Marco's and Anastasia's fall to the Nether Realm. From that moment his actions were driven more by the desire to protect Anastasia's world rather than remain loyal to his Division.

The result was the stripping of his half powers but not the cut of his wings. Machias could see in Feith's eyes desire. But for what? He hadn't yet found out. As for Ivan? The being was more useful as a slayer than anything else. A tool to exterminate the duo and their companions.

Machias settled back to his wooden throne and chuckled. Oh what Raphael and Gabriel would say if they could see him now. He had absolute power and having the entrance to the Garden blocked, even He was banished from the Creation. The trick had worked well and Machias couldn't feel prouder. He longed to show to Uriel his achievements. Slap his success to her and make the female Lord acknowledge his superiority.

He would let Marco and Anastasia advance. For now. The changes he had sensed on the Human Realm were a distraction but something that could be dealt with. The Angels, especially the Gladiators would enjoy this war. And when Ivan was retrieved? Marco and Anastasia would experience the tearing of their bond.

In every possible way.

Vain, envy and pride. Three deadly sins mixed together. Now Machias understood why the First Sinner, Lucifer, had created them.

And in that thought he laughed.

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Kyoko screamed. Not the frightened kind but the one of anger. She pulled her bow from her back and fired blue hued arrows to the crawling shadows. Tomo near her sneered at them and his big white paws hit the ground sending tremors towards them.

"They are too many! We must escape!" Rath shouted and pulled Christin closer to his back.

They were running from the shadows that had crept from the openings on the earth. Shiro had found out that Hell was coming on the human Realm and feared the moment Hell's creator would decide to take a stroll to the Realm too. They had left Ana's house and Greece behind and now they were running into the thick, devoid of leaves, forests that used to be Romania.

Tomo and Rath had flown them here but the dark scars were making their appearance with a growing speed. All of them had already the vague impression that they were not going to make it.

Shiro, the demon crow, screeched from fury and sharp black wings darted from his long black wings as the crow man took down the shadows one after another. The group gathered together, back to back, and tried to calm their breaths. They were safe.

For now.

"Rath?" Christin rasped and held his black coat tightly behind him.

Kyoko sheathed her bow and Tomo took his human form again. "We can't stop now. Let's fine a safe place, shield ourselves and wait for the minions to pass."

"Now way! I would-"

But Shiro's words disappeared into the thick black fog as it quickly surrounded them all. Everyone fell to the ground, invisible chains pinning them to the cold earth. Shiro, Rath and Tomo screamed at Kyoko and Christin as the fog covered them from their eyes, separating the women from the men.

"KYOKO! KYOKO!" Tomo bellowed while Rath was shouting Christin's name too.

Christin and Kyoko looked around them frantically. With their bodies, face down, pinned to the ground they could feel the cold and the heat of the black fog's touch. Like a lingering darkness that wanted to creep into their minds and souls.

Heavy steps echoed. Kyoko and Christin saw the body appearing, coming right through the mist. Clothed in black with a fine red robe cape falling on his shoulders, the man walked closer. His pale skin and red eyes together with the fine long jet black hair, made the blood run cold in the women bodies. He stopped walking right in front of them. And grinned.

"Well, well. Friends of the Concealed Feather. This hunt was a fortunate one."

He knelt and pulled Christin's face up by holding her chin tightly. "Will you tell me where she is? As also that bastard son of mine?"

"Please..." Kyoko croaked and the man turned to her.

"Anata wa on'nanoko ga, watashi o miru koto ga dekimasu ka?" Can you see me girl? He asked and the red cape was pulled back, as if brushed away from a rush of wind.

The cape became feathers and the long red wings stretched above his head.

"Akuma." Devil. Kyoko whimpered.

Christin screamed.

-------------------------------

Anastasia

Marco moved his scythe slashing the last of the red lines that covered Gabriel's HQ. In order to find more about it at the beginning, Marco kindly had tossed Leonard, literally, tossed him to the red lines, electrifying him.

Poor Leonard, he looked like burnt chicken.

"We've made our way! Come on!" Feith shouted and we all dove into the sky, heading for the HQ's entrance. I took the lead and with a loud scream, courtesy of distorting an anthem and combing it with some tunes of 'Nightwish', we made our way into the building.

I could sense the auras of all Angels. They were trapped into one of the smaller skyscrapers which was ascending towards the Demon Record. I knew the way by heart and so I let Marco know, through a shared though, where I was going. We fell into a formation; Marco near me, Feith and Arsenia above us while Murasaki and Leonard wee covering our backs.

Marble corridors with painted murals of the sky were passed, images of peace printed on the walls. I liked them and felt like the artist who had made them, angelic mojo or not. When I reached the closed double doors with five Angels guarding them, three Gladiators and two Inspectors, Marco sped up and with a roar his scythe slashed though the wing of the first Gladiator, shredding away his right wing.

The Angel screamed from pain and fell to the ground. I leapt into one of the Inspectors and our swords clashed together. "Impossible!" he said, probably seeing my ability to fight Angels, despite the fact that I was half one. I thanked the purple wristbands and my bond with Marco for that.

"Nothing is impossible!" I shouted and with our swords still crashing, I jumped up and kicked his head, sending him to the ground, knocked off.

Turning around I realized that the other Angels were already defeated while Feith was touching the surface of the closed marble doors. "Either this is ridiculously easy or we are falling into trap."

"No biggie, we are going in either way."

"Likie!" Murasaki said near me and pulled out her second katana, ready for fight.

Marco, Feith and I pushed the doors, breaking at the same time the protective shields.

When the doors opened a cool rush of wind passed through us. But what we heard made us even more curious. Rustles, small flapping could be heard though the dark room and quickly I lifted my arms, sending two balls of light into it.

The light balls exploded like fireworks and the room was lit. No, it wasn't a room but a gigantic chamber with hundreds, no thousands of cages, which were hovering mid-air. What was in the cages made Marco curse, Feith groan and Murasaki swear in Japanese.

Babies. Angel babies were into the cages. Small bodies crumbled into the iron bars, which were shining from the protective spells. Boys and girls with many, many colors on their wings. Golden, blue, white and grey. When they felt the light and turned to us, they wept; some smiled and began shouting and other, which were older, around ten to fifteen were calling us to set them free.

"God..." Arsenia held her mouth with horror in her eyes.

"Man, that's cruel. Even Death is more merciful." Leonard said and touched Arsenia's shoulder, holding her in one place.

As I averted my eyes from them, I opened my wings ready to take off. With the first flap, I ascended close to the first cage. The boy inside it was small, around seven years old. At least he looked like he was seven. "I am freeing you." I said softly and with a move from my whip, the door of the cage disappeared and the boy flew to my arms, crying loudly.

I held it tightly soothing his back. His wings were blue, a Healer. I wondered if Healers could help with the scars of the soul. That kid would definitely need it.

"What's your name?"

"Valan." The boy said and looked at my eyes. "You are..."

"I am a friend. And my friends are taking you all out."

"My parents..." he sobbed and I patted his head.

"Are they here too?"

"No, in a different chamber, at the end of that one." Valan said and pointed at the deep chamber, far away from where I was.

"Ok, we'll take them out. Can you fly Valan?"

He pushed his small wings up and quickly flapped them. The boy felt skinny in my arms, as if hunger had already made its toll in him. I knew that Healers needed the power of air to survive. Valan would heal soon. I pointed at the ground, where Arsenia had already started to gather the descending children. "That's Arsenia. She's a Grim Reaper but she is a friend. If you can stand and can walk, help her. I am going to free the others. Ok, Valan?"

The boy looked at me, his brown eyes shining and he nodded, gliding down. I passed all the cells, helping the children getting out, boys and girls of all kinds of Angels. Some laughed, other cried while other saw me with suspiciousness and that was an understanding.

Marco's voice came from up. I flew towards him and I gasped. Babies, all of them with tiny tunics and curls on their heads had surrounded him, their tiny wings flapping wildly. Ohters had clung to his feet, others were pulling his hair, while some of them had already grabbed his wings, moving together with the flapping black feathers.

"Ana help!" Marco yelped when he saw me and I laughed. Some of the babies flew towards me and I opened my arms welcoming them. A lullaby came to my mind and I began singing.

My voice echoed to the chamber and all sound ceased as the children of the Angels listened to me. Marco was finally free from the clinging ones and one of the girls snaked her arms around him, settling her small head on the base of his neck. "Pretty." She said and Marco smiled at me. When I was done I lifted my arms moving around the baby boy I was holding. The baby laughed and flew away from me, following Feith and Murasaki who had come to help us.

The baby suits you. Marco said and I looked at him. He was smiling, a strained smile, like the one he had given to me when we had found out the price for my transformation.

I took the girl from his arms and her small white wings opened. The feathers shined like diamonds while her fiery red hair reminded me of Gabriel. "Is he yours?" the girl asked me pointing at Marco as if he was a toy.

"Yup, and I am not sharing him."

"Oh..." the girl said and followed the others below towards the ground.

Marco chuckled behind me while I sheathed the whip. When I peered at his direction, his black and red eyes were glowing from anticipation. "Don't give me that look." I pouted and Marco pecked my lower lip.

"Don't tease me with your words." He growled and I smirked.

Leonard appeared behind Marco and my Demon slash Grim Reaper flapped one of his wings, sending him off. "Brute."

"Always."

"Anastasia!" Murasaki called at me and I turned. "There's another door at the end of the chamber."

"I know! One of the kids told me."

I pressed Marco's hand and flew away following Murasaki. We passed through empty cages which continued to hover, defying the laws of gravity until we stopped in front of another set of double doors. Murasaki and I looked at each other and nodded. Pushing our palms against the cold marble, we opened them.

A man's cry was heard and I lit the chamber once again. Bigger cages were hovering now, where men and women of all kinds of Angels were locked together.

"A human!"

"A Protector!"

"No she's half!"

"How?"

"His mercy upon us!"

All their voices echoed like a cacophony and I shouted loudly for all of them to hear. "My name is Anastasia Peters! Many of you might know me as 'the Concealed Feather'! I have come to free you together with some of the Grim Reapers and Feith!"

Gasps of surprise and shouts which were similar to curses echoed.

"URUSAI!" Shut up. Murasaki bellowed. "Your children are already free and safe. Please don't try to kill us as we free you!"

In that information the Angels became silent. I flew closer to the caged men and women, slashing on my way the steel bars. Like newly freed birds, the Angels flew in hundreds, creating a row of flapping wings of all colors above our heads. Murasaki did the same and soon all the Angels were free.

They landed and surrounded us. The Gladiators were the first to push back the others, forming a protective line between me and Murasaki and them.

"Are you the Concealed Feather?" one of them asked.

"I used to be. Now I am fighting to restore the Balance together with the one known as Fallen."

Surprised gasps and sounds were heard and Murasaki lifted her arm, silencing them. "We have no time! The kids are all safe together with the others at the other chamber. Follow me if you want them back." She turned to leave but I saw that the Angels hadn't made a move. This was becoming annoying.

"Are Valan's parents here?" I shouted and a woman with blue wings ran from the line of the Gladiators.

"My child! Is here safe?"

I smiled at her. "He is. He was the one who showed me the way. Just...promise me that you will not attack my friends."

The woman nodded frantically swearing in language of the Angels. I pointed at the exit and she quickly took off. In an instant the other Angels followed. Soon the chamber was empty and I made a stroll on the air, looking for cages that might have slipped my sword.

A whimper was heard from above. I stilled, hovering midair, straining my ears to hear it.

"H-Help..." the voice said.

I turned around and whirled looking for the source of the voice.

"Where are you?" I shouted.

The whimper became moan and the echo made me look up. The blood run cold in my veins as I saw the two figures tied at the arch of the chamber. Their hair were cascading down, hiding their faces and their heads were down, hiding their features.

I flew fast closer and tilted one of the women head back, pulling the hair away from her face. I stilled. Even with face pale and hair blond her beauty was striking. Her wings, golden and long were pinned with thick iron nails at the ceiling and blood was still dripping from the open wounds, as if the nails were not allowing her to heal.

"Moli..." I croaked too stunned to breathe.

Moli lifted her head slowly and opened her eyes. Dark blue irises were staring back and another moan escaped her lips. "Auge..." she said.

"No. Hold on Moli. I will free you." I placed her head on the base of my neck and snaked my right arm around her waist. With my left I used the whip and the golden line moved at my will, destroying the nails on her wings, arms and palms.

Moli collapsed in my arms and quickly I glided down, putting her gently on the floor. "Hang on me Moli." I brushed her blond locks and flew up, heading to free Meli.

Those two were Uriel's closest attendants and Auge's best friends. Images of gowns, lessons and laughs filled my mind as Auge's memories rushed in. Meli's body was smaller yet I knew that the woman was really strong. Even after 5000 years they hadn't aged a day.

After placing Meli near Moli I sat between them, taking their hand on my lap and quickly began singing. The song was one of healing, both the body and the spirit. If they could be better, the maybe they could tell me where the entrance to the Garden. I thought I heard Marco's voice from afar but I had become so focused to the song and I ignored him.

When I finally stopped singing, their bodies were glowing of health, their wings and arms were healed but their eyes were still closed. Marco was sitting across me, staring down at the women with shock on his face. When he looked up, recognition was in his eyes.

"They are..."

I nodded. "Meli and Moli."

Marco rubbed his face, suddenly too tired to speak and looked down at them. "They look like twins."

"They aren't. But Uriel knew how to tell them apart."

"Yup, she did." Meli suddenly spoke and she sat up.

Moli followed too and they both eyed at me. "Dear Lords, child. Your eye." Moli said.

"Your wings." Meli followed completing her sentence.

Their hands touched my face, feeling my skin, my hair even if they were pulled back in a bun. And they stopped on my wings.

"You have Auge's essence, but the powers are yours." Meli spoke and Moli nodded.

"She transferred her core to your soul."

"So that's what it was?" Marco spoke and the two Angels turned abruptly at him.

"YOU!" they roared and charged against Marco.

"No!" I shouted and with the whip I flanked their way to Marco, creating a barrier.

"Murderer!"

"Demon!"

"Stop!" I shouted lifting my arms as I stepped between them. "He was never in fault! Machias and Ivan were!"

The Protectors looked at me with horror. "You would defend him? The one who dared to defile Auge?"

"The one who caused her Falling?"

"Ana."

"No!" I spoke at Marco without turning at him. My eyes locked with the blue of the Angels. "Auge would never allow herself to be defiled. Even Uriel wouldn't allow it! Come on girls, if you are speaking like that, then you never knew your friend, your sister at all!"

Stepping back, Meli and Moli folded their open wings and their auras calmed down. Meli looked at Moli. "Lady Uriel's words were right."

Moli nodded. "She said they would come; she meant them."

Marco's hand touched my shoulder. I should go.

No. I don't care what they say, you were never Auge's murderer.

A sad laugh echoed in my mind. My love for her killed her.

Marco...

"Are you using the telepathy of a bond?" Meli asked and I turned at her.

"Yes we do."

Moli looked above me; Marco's hand on my shoulder stiffened. "How did you find us?"

"Long story. But we must get you out. Now." Marco said and quickly he turned and flew away.

I sighed. He would feel uncomfortable and that was understood by me. Meli and Moli were the closest friends to Auge and seeing them now, I was getting the familiar feeling of being close to friends, family.

"How did you know our names, child?" Meli asked me.

I filled them in short with our story, as we flew away from the chamber, heading back to the one the children were held. Meli and Moli were quiet as I spoke and when we finally landed, they hugged me tightly.

"Thank you Anastasia." They said and tear threatened to blur my eyes.

"I am glad you are safe." I said and broke the hug turning to my friends; Arsenia and Leonard were standing near Feith, while Marco and Murasaki had retreated away from the groups of the gathered Angels who were crying and hugging their children.

"Meli, Moli, do you know where the entrance to the Garden is?"

"If Machias and Ivan hadn't changed it, then we do." And they plucked one of their feathers and combined it into a single long golden one. "Keep it Anastasia. When you'll need it, it will reveal the location."

I took the wing, grateful. "Thank you."

Meli turned. "You love him, don't you?"

"Yes, very much."

Moli sighed. "What charm does that...thing have anyway?"

I smirked. "What can I say? He is the bad-boy type."

"Anastasia!" Feith called and I turned at him. When he saw Meli and Moli, he bowed and he looked at me again. "Most of the groups are ready to go. They will find settler into clouds."

"Alright Feith." I turned back at them. "Go and keep safe the Angels. Just until I bring Uriel and the other Lords back to you."

They hugged me tightly, with sobs threatening to tear them apart. "You are a brave child. May His blessing be with you." Moli said and Meli kissed my forehead.

With a strong voice Meli and Moli gathered the Angels and together they took off, following the exit of the chamber.

I walked to Marco; his somber expression was one of pain. "I got the coordinates to the Garden's entrance."

"Finally! Let's get the hell out of here." Murasaki said and we all took off.

The noon sky was still blue as we emerged out of Gabriel's HQ. It was really quiet and no sight of Angels could be seen. Leonard and Feith were talking about cloud homes, while Arsenia was listening to them. Marco was quiet as we flew through the sky and the clouds, searching for yet another Portal.

I had the urge to see the First Division and when I had expressed the idea, everyone agreed with the thought that if we could visit Uriel's HQ then Machias would make his appearance. He would never let anyone get closer to his archenemy's Division.

The moment I felt the tingling sensation of the Portal, I called everyone to line up. As I sang and tilted my head back I felt relieved; for Meli, Moli, the children and the Angels. Marco was also hurting, I could sense that. So I poured all my emotions into the song and the Portal appeared, the round opening at the sky, surrounded my thousands of shining fragments of glass and stardust.

It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. As the Portal pulled us in the echo of a voice sang to my ears. It was a man's and a woman's song of lost hope yet unconditional love. I didn't know if the song worked like the music on the elevators but it lifted my spirits as the blue sky of the First Division appeared.

Everyone's expression changed into one of awe. Well, except me and Feith. Murasaki whistled as she felt the cold wind rushing her long pony tail back and Arsenia breathed in. "It's so peaceful."

"It feels empty." Marco grunted and he looked at the direction, the marble edges of Uriel's Division were showing.

I took his hand in mine and when he turned at me I smiled. He kissed my cheek but it hadn't any feeling in it. Everything was already too hard for him. The feather Meli and Moli had given to me started to feel hot on my belt. I pulled it holding it in front of my eyes.

Suddenly the feather flew away from my fingers and with a shout I began flying following it. "Catch it!" I shouted and everyone bolted behind me, trying to keep up with it. We flew through clouds, passed into wind streams which carried us at the highest part of the First Division.

If you could peek a little away from the blinding sun and blue of the sky, you could catch a glimpse of the stars at the universe. It was majestic in a way that brought tears to my eyes.

When I finally grabbed the feather a loud swear left Murasaki and everyone panted from exhaustion as the gathered around me. "For a damn feather!" Leonard said and held Arsenia who was ready to faint from the flying. The air here was already thinner.

Something inside me pulsed, like a cord of a violin which was strained, yearning to fill the notes. I looked across Feith's head; a lone cloud was hovering away from all the others. The shape was unchanging yet the feeling was there, deep into my core.

"Marco..." I croaked and pulled his hand as I flew towards the cloud and together we dove in it, entering its inside.

When we landed the scent of sun and trees filled our nostrils. Marco left a pained moan and I held my mouth from sobbing. Feith and the others followed suit and when they landed too they looked around.

The house was tidy, with white covers on the couch, kitchen and almost all the furniture. "Anastasia? Marco? What's wrong?" Arsenia asked.

Marco tightened his grip on my hand and looked around once more before turning at me.

"You found it. Auge's cloud."