Anastasia

"Nee-sama! Nee-sama! Ai ta kata!" Kyoko spoke fluently, her japanese quite clear to me like Greek and English.

We both had fallen to the floor and she was whimpering above me.

"Kyoko...you have grown." I noticed the obvious change and she lifted her head smiling at me.

"Kyoko-san I believe it's better to let Anastasia rest. You made quite an entrance." I heard Feith commenting tiredly above me.

Feith knew Kyoko? How? I looked at him with a rising eyebrow. Feith stood still and held my gaze until he smiled.

"How do you know Kyoko?"

"He is a good friend Onee-sama. He helped us a lot." Kyoko answered for him and I turned at her.

"He did?"

"Hai."

She sat near me and I looked at her; she had grown but that fact filled me with dread, as I started to realize what had happened.

"How long have we been missing Feith?"

His grey eyes became darker, I could see it. He was hesitant to speak and my fears were proven true. I felt someone pressing my hand and I looked at Kyoko.

"Ten years...you've been gone for ten years Nee-sama."

Oh God...

I threw away the blanket which was still covering my feet, making both Feith and Kyoko gasp. I put my palms to the floor and tried to get up from the bed.

"No, you can't get up Anastasia."

"Shut up Feith! I am getting up and I am expecting an explanation!" I almost roared at him.

The anger and the sadness had filled me. And here I was expecting to find myself at home, instead I was in Japan ten years later than the time I was gone and still I hadn't seen Marco!

"Feith-san, can I have a moment with Nee-sama?" Kyoko spoke with calm voice, making me look at her.

He left a hard breath and the Angel stormed out from the room, leaving us alone. Kyoko got up and went to the other side of the room, opening the sliding doors.

Light, real light, filled the room. The cold wind blew the candles, and the clean air filled my lungs. I took a deep breath thank full for the blessing of the true wind.

"It's around 12 at noon. Now it's December 14th and the year is 2030." Kyoko informed me as she moved back and rearranged the blanket on my feet, putting a jacket on my shoulders, covering my bare skin and curled wings.

She knelt and sat near me, with her hands placed on her lap and looked at me. I was sure that by now, she had sensed the missing ghosts. Just like me, Kyoko bore the power of a Spirit Seer, which had occurred on her 11 years ago, when she was just eight years old.

It was that time when I first met Ivan, when he tired to kill her but instead Moe, the fox spirit and one of Haimei's companions, was sacrificed in order to protect her, leaving Tomo, her brother, as Kyoko's guardian.

"Kyoko..."

She looked at me with these blue eyes and I remembered the sea. The sea, which was always giving me the familiar feeling of being safe and at home. Back in Greece and Thessaloniki, my home city.

"I can see it Nee-sama. There is no one around you." She admitted with low voice.

What could I tell her? That Haimei had died in order to help the rest of us escape the Third Circle of Nether Realm? That his demise was my fault?

"Marco-sama told me that Ojii-sama had the form of a crane."

I remembered that; Perseus was an eagle, Kachina an owl and Haimei a crane. Their last words were a comfort and a farewell. So I decided to deliver the message.

"Haimei had a last request...before he would leave. He told me to tell you that he loves you so much and that he was proud to have such a descendant."

I saw Kyoko's hands becoming fists.

"I am sorry Kyoko...I am so, so sorry!"

My eyes felt hot again; the golden tears of my right eye had already started to fall, painting the white blanket yellow. I whipped them quickly, turning at Kyoko.

"Did Ojii-sama have...an honorable last moment?"

"Yes...he fought like the best samurai and his war cries were immense." I shivered remembering his cries and bravery at the cursed circus of the Third Circle and how Axius, its Keeper, made him disappear.

"For helping my relative to move on and for coming back safe, I thank you Nee-sama." Kyoko spoke as she bowed into the most respective form of the Japanese way.

I touched her shoulders making her get up. She looked sad and grateful, relieved, at the same time. I couldn't be more happier meeting a familiar face at this moment, even if ten years had already passed.

"So Kyoko...how are you? And how is Tomo?" I tired to change the subject.

She smiled and fixed the ponytail of her long straight black hair.

"Tomo is fine. Both he and I have become stronger in these years and helped Murasaki in many cases, as exorcists."

Murasaki. The Shinigami with the purple hair, violet eyes and the rich bodice. With her and Marco I had fought Haimei when his raged had consumed him, clouding his reason.

"Where is she now?"

Kyoko didn't answer, but her expression hardened for a moment.

"Kyoko? What wrong? Don't tell me she's..."

"Ie! Daijobou!"

"Are you sure she is alright?"

"Hai."

I didn't believe her. Kyoko was hiding something from me but she didn't want to tell me.

The door knocked and it opened slowly. The young man with the perfect white hair and shiny blue eyes, dressed in a brown kimono, with a black sash on his waist. His spiky white ears twitched when he saw me and his smile was warm.

"Tomo..." I dared to whispered, amazed seeing the fox spirit again.

"Okaeri, Anastasia-sama." He got in, with the door closing on its own, behind him and knelt too, placing the tray in front of me.

The scent of cooked meat and rice filled my nostrils. But before that, I had to greet Tomo. I raised my arms and hugged him, startling the fox, making him stiff, while Kyoko giggled behind me.

"I am glad you are fine and well Tomo."

"Arigatou." He responded and just before blinking, he was sitting right near Kyoko.

I looked at both of them. With pairing blue eyes, they seemed a nice pair. Tomo was just like I remembered him. A man around his twenties, slim figure but strong arms, which could be seen even under the fabric of his kimono. His white hair short, with some edges falling on his temples and with his fox ears; he was truly the perfect example of the supernatural, which was surrounding the land of many myths and legends.

"Itadakimasu." I muttered before digging in.

The taste, the smell, everything were so familiar and almost brought tears. How long had it been since the last time I had food, real food? In no time both the cup with the rice was done, the steak, cut in small pieces and with a red sauce on it, was devoured, not to mention the miso soup.

"Thank you for the meal."

"You've been starving."

"You have no idea how hard it was Tomo. Not to have food but feeling starvation killing you."

Both looked at me surprised; I exhaled and placed the tray to my left. Quickly my strength returned feeling power on my feet and limbs. Strange; with only just a complete meal I was feeling better.

Kyoko got up and took the tray, saying that she would bring something sweet.

"It's no need Kyoko; please I don't want to bring trouble to your family."

She stilled, her back turned at me and then she got out, closing the door behind her. Confused, I turned at Tomo. His blue eyes were clouded.

"Tomo, can you tell me what happened, while we were gone?"

"Anastasia-sama..."

"Call me Ana, onegai."

He nodded and took a deep breath.

"When Kyoko was nine, we found Murasaki bleeding before us. She had teleported at the Ryou family, seeking help."

"Bleeding? Murasaki was injured?" I couldn't hide my surprise.

"Yes, but now it's better. After that, many...strange things start to happen all over the world...Kyoko tried to explain but I could tell that the Balance was shaken."

"The Balance?" I muttered, remembering the story from Auge's memories.

The Balance. It was the one thing which held Heaven Realm, Human Realm, Hell and Nether Realm together lining them in perfect harmony. Each one served its purpose and any attempt to disturb it could cause chaos and disaster. I knew about it; when Lucifer feel from Heaven, thus creating Hell, the first battles with the Angels began.

For that reason, Nether Realm was created and the Balance was restored. When Auge and Marco fell in love, they created havoc, resulting into the punishment of both and the rest followed.

But what could have caused the Balance to be shaken now?

"Tomo, what happened to the Ryou family?"

His lips became a tight line, and the fists on his lap was also a sign of...anger? Or sadness?

"Tomo, if you don't want to tell me I will not rush you. I hope we have time."

"No Anastasia, you need to know."

Still, I was the glad the –sama was gone.

"When Kyoko was twelve, the calamity of the heavens washed the earth. The whole country shook, as the earthquakes, caused the waves to come."

Earthquakes? Tsunami?

"Ryou-sama, Kyoko's Ojii-sama, sent us away into this mansion, which is still protected by the charms he had placed. I believe now that he had felt it too...the destruction which was going to come."

He brushed his hair and sighed.

"If only I could bring her parents! At least trick them and teleport them in here!"

I didn't want to hear more. But I had to go through this until the end.

"Did the Ryou...die on the earthquake?"

"They were drown from the hug waves. The same happened with the biggest part of Tokyo."

"Oh God...no..."

I held my palm on my mouth, hoping to seal my scream. Not the kind Ryous', not Kyoko's mother and Grandfather, who knew about Haimei and my ability!

I turned at the closed door, with regret eating me from the inside. Kyoko too had lost her family...

"We and Murasaki managed to stay here. For your information, this mansion is at the Saitama area."

"Saitama?"

"We are deep in the forest, close to the mountains at the eastern borders of Saitama. Arakawa river flows from here and the hiding is perfect, if you can add the seals of the Ryou family and the ones Feith-san also placed upon a great part of the perimeter."

"Which reminds me, how did you meet Feith?"

"I would be glad to answer that." Feith's voice was heard from the door and it opened.

"Don't tell me you were eavesdropping!" I pouted, displeased.

"On the contrary, I came to fetch Tomo. It's time for the patrol." He spoke to the fox near and he got up.

"Anastasia, I am glad you came back. Now I hope to see Kyoko smiling again."

"I am glad too."

He bowed and the blue flames covered his body, as Tomo took his leave from the open side of my room, towards the snowy forest.

"At least he filled you with the details." Feith spoke behind me and sat down.

"Feith, what the heck has happened to the world? And don't tell me that aliens arrived. I will not buy that!"

"I wish aliens would arrive! You know, they are quite peaceful races across the universe."

My mouth dropped to the ground.

'They exist?"

He looked at me with the kind of expression are-you-kidding-me-now and he left a groan.

"That's not our problem now! We have to deal with worse."

The door opened again and Kyoko entered, bring a small plate with pink fresh baked bums. I could smell the sweet chocolate which was inside the small round crisp and I felt my mouth watering.

"You are drooling."

"I do not!" and quickly I whipped my mouth.

Kyoko laughed but I could tell that her eyes were red; she was crying.

"Kyoko-san, would it be a bother if you could help Anastasia with the bath?"

"Not at all Feith-san! I will go and prepare the bath right now!"

She stormed out from the room and closed the door again. I pushed the blankets and crossed my feet, stretching my arms above my head. With such long hair, I wondered how I would be able to have a decent bath, not to mention the golden wings.

"You speak like a boss Feith."

"I've been living with them for a year. And I knew that they were your friends so..."

He stopped speaking, looking at the snowy scenery outside.

"Oh I see, you know my file."

"I do, I am an Inspector after all. And since I found Murasaki wounded with Tomo and Kyoko trying to help her, I couldn't leave them alone."

"How did they trust you?" At least that was a crucial question, which was bugging me.

"Tomo has...many powers. I am kind of jealous how the Shinigamis use fox spirits on the Asian branch of Death Inc. He saw my memories and although he detested the way I treated you, he agreed to let me stay."

Tomo had become that strong? Now he had earned more points on my power scale.

"The condition of staying was to help them with the barriers around the house and fill them with info about their surroundings. They had been quite secluded and that is depressing."

"I can tell..."

The door opened again and Kyoko got in, carrying white bath towels and shampoo.

"Clean yourself and then we will speak of the rest." Feith advised me and left again, leaving us together.

"It's been so long since the last time we had a bath!"

"I remember. You were such a shy child!"

"Nee-sama!" Kyoko blushed as she squealed.

"Hey, you can call me by my name. You know I don't mind."

"Commenasai"

"It's ok. Now let's move this hell of hair before I grab the scissors and cut them all!"

We laughed as I tried to walk around the room, having the long hair following me from behind, like a carpet of gold. Kyoko brought scissors but when we tried to cut them, the scissors broke.

"Crap...now I've seen it all."

"We will find a way Onee-chan." She reassured me with a giggling voice and we both walked out from the room.

Although weak, now I could walk slowly, as if my feet were touching the ground for the first time. Judging from the corridors, with the wooden floor and ceiling, the house had to be Japanese-like style. There were many closed sliding doors on our right but from the left the windows were showing the snowy forest on the outside.

Kyoko led me away from the residential side of the house into a separate building, which was connected with the main house through another corridor. The corridor was made of thick wooden columns, which were creating a line, connecting the bath and the house. It wasn't open, like the usual ones on the big houses, but white walls with square, wooden-crossed bars on them windows on them, were holding out the cold.

"This is it." Kyoko finally spoke and opened the door.

The hot steam made me relax. The bathroom was huge; white tiled floor and a wide square bathtub also made of white marble, were occupying a great part of the bathroom. On our right side there was a wide square mirror, while on our left, hot was water was pouring, like a spring. The water was flowing, from a narrow made of wood pipe, into the bathtub, filling it completely.

Kyoko rushed and closed the faucet, moving the wooden pipe away. She placed it near the entrance and then she took the towels from my hands.

"Let's change. There's a locker there." and she pointed on our left "and I have already prepared clean clothes."

"Thank you Kyoko."

She smiled kindly and started to strip. I looked at the rag I was wearing. Ripped on the back and with only a thin layer of white fabric covering my front, I felt like a beggar. Seriously, why hadn't I noticed before?

"Kyoko, Feith said that when I transformed it was...bad. Were you there too?"

"No." her eyes darkened but she was looking at me. "Only Feith-san and Marco-sama. When the screams stopped and I tried to come and see you, Marco-sama didn't allow me in the room. He cleaned your body and then changed your clothes."

Ok, I knew that I was blushing. He had...oh my...

"Onee-chan, you are blushing."

I lowered my head but Kyoko laughed. I was glad she was laughing, even with my embarrassment at steak. We both quickly got into the steamed bathroom and Kyoko closed the fogged glassy sliding door behind her.

It was heaven! Hot water and shampoo with the sweet fragrance of jasmine and honey. Kyoko scrubbed my back and combed my hair, while I was holding the amazingly long strands on my hands. Only when my hair was tied on a really long braid, which was falling on the floor at least two meters long, did Kyoko poured water on my head, cleaning the reaming soap.

I turned and help her with the bath too. We didn't speak only moving, as if we were trying to hold our thoughts in our minds. But I couldn't keep pretending that I didn't know.

"I am sorry about your family Kyoko."

She looked at my reflection from the mirror across us. Her blue orbs were gleaming; I couldn't tell if it was from tears of the water. She didn't turn to look at me but her back shook, as she tried to suppress a sob.

"When we learnt that your family had died, Mother cried a lot." She finally spoke, leaving me astonished.

"What?"

"The plane crush. Father informed us and we flew to Greece in an instant. Ojii-sama met with your Uncles and your cousin..."

"Livia."

"Yes. They were devastated. Not only there were no bodies and you were nowhere to be found."

I held my breath trying to calm down. After ten years I was sure that the pain still remained. I could only hope that the remains of my family would be safe, for I wasn't going to put them at risk. I couldn't have Ivan stealing them too, from me.

"When the tsunami came...oh Kami-sama, the screams, the agony!"

I hugged her from behind, trying to reassure the trembling Kyoko.

"I know...I can tell Kyoko. But you are safe now. I am here too and I will not let anyone harm you. Tomo is here too."

"I know."

She turned at me and smiled sadly.

"We will both be fine. We will be."

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

When our bath was done, Kyoko wore a new pair of jeans, giving a spare of hers to me. We had the same body type and judging from my skinny, from hunger, body I had to fill in calories if I wanted to be myself again. White socks and slippers kept my feet warm and a strapless purple shirt was leaving the joints of the wings and my shoulders bare.

"Here's also a shawl, to keep you warm."

"Thanks."

I covered my shoulders with the blue shawl, having my long braid curled around my neck, making the hair look like a muffler. Kyoko said that I looked like an anime character and I couldn't agree more with that.

Night was starting to fall as we walked back to the main house, locking the bath behind us. Kyoko explained to me the most basics of the house, where the kitchen and her room were, but when I asked her about Murasaki, she didn't answer clearly to me.

"Murasaki is still trying to heal from her wound. When we had Feith see her, he said that we must stay away and keep our auras down."

"So a beacon of power like me would knock her off."

"I am sorry Onee-chan."

"I understand. When I can control all these...stuff I will go and see her."

Now Marco was left. I hadn't seen him since our escape and worry had filled me. I had to make sure he was here. That he hadn't escaped my gasp again, for I was definitely going to kick his ass.

Kyoko led me into a different room. That one was big, with a flat screen television and a kotetsu on the middle. Tomo and Feith were sitting discussing but when they saw me they stopped.

"You know I hate this mumbling behind my back Feith-san. Now that Onee-chan is better, we can speak at her." And she glanced at Tomo, making the fox wince.

"I am better now, but please keep the info flow low. I have my limits too."

"I understand. For now sit and eat and I am going to check upon...something."

That was translating as "Marco".

"Where is he?"

Feith stooped and turned at me. I was sure that my glare could kill since my patience was ending and I was a patient person.

"Honestly speaking, I couldn't care less about the Fallen. He has caused too much trouble to all of us and I don't want to imagine what can happen next."

Rage built in me. Feith didn't know what I had seen and witnessed but this was going to change.

"Do you still believe that everything –and I gestured around us- is Marco's fault? You have no idea what had happened and none of us will know!"

I turned at Kyoko and Tomo who looked at me astonished. Offering them a confident smile, I turned at Feith again.

"I will find Marco and then we will all speak and you –I pointed at the Angel- will change your mind about your boss."

Storming out from the room, I walked back at my small bedroom and closed the door behind me. I rushed to the other side of the room and drew the sliding door open, revealing the snowy scenery.

The cold was bitter, but it didn't make me shiver like it used to. I stretched my hand, palm up, and left the tiny snowflakes fall on my skin. I could see the perfect shapes, the diamond glowing as they glistered, falling slowly, like tiny little dancers at night. The snowflakes feel on my skin and in an instant they were vaporized.

Was my body that hot?

Carefully, I stepped out from the room, into the opening. It was clear of trees and I could guess that I was at the back side of the house. The circling line of the forest ahead was our border between me and my friends and the darkness, which was lurking ahead.

There was no moon, only thick clouds but my vision was as clear as ever. Great now I had night vision.

My slippers sunk into the snow, leaving behind trails, as I walked further from my open room. I wanted to feel again; my senses were still numb, after this entire expose to the Nether Realm and in a way I was still feeling that I hadn't woken yet.

The long blond braid around my neck worked as a natural muffler, hiding my neck but the shawl moved, with its edges swirling around the cold wind.

December, the month of my birthday. Although the date had already passed, memories of birthday cakes, presents and the dancing midair on a ghosts club filled me with solitude.

I missed everything and everyone. None of them would return.

The hissing sound at the top of the trees made me look up. A shadow, a flapping shadow started to appear from the sky, circling around the mansion. Lifting my head up, I followed the sound of the flapping, knowing that they were wings.

I felt my throat closing as the figure landed at the beginning of the open space around the house, close to the edge of the forest. He curled the black wings, those long majestic ones, with the silky black feathers I longed to touch.

His shoulders tensed as he rose and turned at my direction.

And there he was. Staring right though me; the ragged jeans and the old brown T-shirt were betraying his true magnificence. The black hair, similar with the color of his wings, was short, with some edges falling close to his forehead. He had hollow face and cheekbones, a sign of fatigue, pale white like the snow which was falling around us.

His eyes...I could see them clearly. His left one was black, just like I remembered it, but the other...it was a shiny ruby, red like blood, glowing into the night. The eye of a Demon.

But we were there. We had locked our gazes and still none of us dared to move. I guess both he and I were afraid that this was another illusion from Nether Realm.

"Ana..."

His voice ringed like a song I longed to hear. In that very moment, I forgot my fears, the golden wings on my back and my powers, which I hadn't still understood. So I ran; I ran towards his direction, wanted to make sure that he was there.

"No, wait!" he rose his hands, trying to block me but I moved faster.

My hands locked behind his neck and we both fell back, landing on the cold snow. He was like ice, but my warmth was enough to keep both of us in balance. Breathing fast from both need and fear, I lifted my head a little, just enough to see his face from closer.

He looked surprised but soon his expression melted into something warmer. He cupped my cheek and I leaned, eager to feel his touch. He smiled a little and we both noticed our changes. It seemed that he too had seen the color of my right eys, for he stilled his gaze at the right side of my face.

I leaned closer to his ear, eager to speak the words I wanted to say since my entrance in Nether Realm.

"Asshole Marco."

And so, I started punching him.

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Author's Note

As this book was written back in 2013, I tweaked a little with the years too. ;)