Anastasia

"Tomo get her out! NOW!" Marco screamed and a flash of blue filled the room, blinding us all. Soon Tomo and Kyoko were nowhere to be found.

Marco stood in the front, covering me from the seated black-dressed figure. Death was playing with a PSP. He played with a PSP!

"What in the name of your company, do you think you are doing!? Haven't ever heard of the 'death glare' old man!?" Marco snarled and I gulped.

Provoking one of the most powerful creatures in the universe was a suicide! Feith had also withdrawn standing too near Marco covering me.

"I AM SORRY!" Death screamed and I was sure that my eardrums left for vacation.

"Lord Death, we simply never expected you to appear so..."

"You freaked us out!" Marco completed his words.

I heard a crack and I leaned to the right, taking a look from Marco's side. Death had put his PSP on fire. Poor PSP.

"I came to see how are you doing and...oh what we have here?" the black hooded head snapped at me.

"Hello..." I waved with trebling hand.

Marco pushed me back. "She isn't accustomed to your presence Death." Marco spoke with steady voice.

I moved away and stood near him. "Marco, please introduce me to your ex-boss."

Death laughed. And it was scary. "I like her!" he clapped his skeleton hands and nodded to sit. "You too Feith." He pointed at the Angel.

We sat in a line. Marco in the middle, I on his left, Feith on his right; Death had taken his seat across us.

"Now let's get to know each other. First of all, it's nice meeting you alive and kicking Anastasia Peters. One of my best Spirit Seers as also the host of the Concealed Feather; you are famous on Death Realm!"

"I am? Why does it not make me happy?"

Marco snorted and Feith grinned.

"You have become something like a symbol, but all on their time." He turned at Feith. "How is Murasaki?"

"Her wounds have yet to close. Currently, she is sleeping and Tomo is infusing her with bits of energy, enough to sustain her need for souls."

Death pulled out a black box and gave it to Feith. "Try these on her. I hope it will help."

"Can you explain what happened to Murasaki?" I asked Death but Marco gripped my hand, a sign to make me shut up.

"It's alright Marco. She, especially, has every right to know."

"That is not reassuring. Both Ana and I have many questions."

"And I will answer them." He turned at Feith again and gave him instructions of how to apply the medicine on Murasaki's wounds.

"I will attend to it right now."

"No Inspector. I want you too in here."

Feith sat and looked at us.

"Ten years ago, Rath, Leo and Nard brought me unpleasant reports." Death began and I stilled.

I knew those three. They were the few friends Marco had at his life as a Grim Reaper and remembered their life stories, since that Christmas night.

"Two souls passed on Heaven without my approval, a Grim Reaper was forced to break his contract and a Spirit Seer disappeared from the Human Realm. These were too much for me and of course I demanded explanations."

It didn't need to say that all these reports were concerning me, Marco and my parents.

"So what happened?" Marco asked with impatience.

Death scratched his head, above the hood. "I called upon the Four Lords and an answer came. We were going to hold our meeting at the most neutral place on Creation. So I took 50 of Grim Reapers and went. Only when I finally reached the meeting point guess who I saw?"

"Ivan..."

"Lord Machias." Feith said after me and I looked at him.

"Wait. Machias and Ivan? Together? That's impossible!"

Marco snarled. "That fucker..."

"Indeed Marco. That bastard made a deal and now he has become an Angel once again. He ambushed us and I would be a goner if it wasn't for Murasaki."

I gasped, looking at him. "Murasaki shielded you? But...well...you are Death. You can't be killed right?"

He turned at me and I swear that I felt like I was in a horror movie. "There are things in the Creation which can kill me. But Machias isn't a fool. Imagine a world without death. We would be like 'Warm Bodies' don't you think?"

More like 'Walking Dead' I wanted to say but I passed that.

"So Murasaki was able to teleport in the front of the Ryous' and I was glad for that. I am thinking of letting her be reborn, after this mess is over."

For a Grim Reaper to be reborn was the ultimate honor. It meant that the soul would have a second chance in life but the newborn person would keep his or her memories as a Grim Reaper, a reminder of their past mistakes. Immediately images of snow and my confession to Marco filled me with sadness. "What happened next?"

Death shrugged and filed a cup with sake. "After you were gone, I stayed back to the Company trying to find my powers and a way to see what the heck had happened to the rest of the Lords. But the world had already started to collapse."

Feith turned then and began. "In the first two years of your absence, all the governments of the world started to act weird."

"Weird? What do you mean?" Marco looked at him, eyebrows frowning.

"Everyone became suddenly goody lovely people, declaring that wars are stopped, funds will be put for the rest of the poor and that the cure for AIDS and cancer had already been found but they were refusing to sell it cheaply."

"No way..."

"Yes way! And the best of all which was my favorite, everyone, and I mean all the leaders of the world, went on a press conference and declared that Area 51 was true and that aliens existed."

"Holy chocolate eggs!"

"Damn I lost something like that."

Feith seemed to enjoy our reactions but I saw him becoming grim. "Well, there was chaos for a while and everyone seemed to be happy but that wasn't right."

"Why not Feith? Truths were told and the world could become a better place."

"Machias messed with everyone's heads."

I turned to Death. "Excuse me?"

"He put his best Inspectors as hosts on these humans, messing with their minds."

Marco refilled Death's cup and I saw him drinking it with one sip. I wondered where it would go.

"He messed with their free will." He said finally.

Now it was making sense! "Free will was the gift God gave to the humans..."

"Continue." Death said.

"If it is taken then...the Balance becomes unstable?"

"Machias messed with the very core of the Human Realm; it's people. After these first two years everything started to crumble. Famine, extreme weather and soon after that, earthquakes and tsunamis. I haven't been this busy since the Second World War!"

Marco smirked. "Glad I wasn't there."

"Was that sarcasm kid?"

Feith came between them. "Now you see what is happening. But the worst part isn't that."

Suddenly I was tired. I didn't want to hear for anymore destruction. What had happened to my Uncles'? Helen and Christin? Were they still alive? Or I was going to mourn more people than I was already doing? "There is more Feith?"

Marco touched my shoulder and I looked at him. He was concerned about everything I had heard but I smiled nervously, trying to make him feel relieved.

"Anastasia the people lost hope and they believe that the Apocalypse has come."

"I don't blame them Feith. What of the Lords? All these years and no sight of them?"

"Machias used some of the oldest scripts, which had been put out of use for more than 10000 years."

Death gulped. "He threw them to the Garden. And before you start asking, both of you, it's a place where the Lords used to go when they were meditating and giving reports to the Big guy."

"But here's the trick. One Lord must stay behind and assume leading the Four Divisions in their stand. Before Machias exiled me I saw him organizing an army."

"An army? Why would he use an army?"

"Don't tell me that he plans to take over Earth. Humans are weakling in front of them."

"Geez thanks for the support Marco."

He grinned. "I meant it on a metaphoric way Ana."

"He plans to destroy my Company and then if he is still nuts, taking over the 'other' world."

Marco stopped breathing and for a moment I thought he became blue. He hit his fist on the table, breaking it at two and making the cups fall to the floor. Rage flared and his face, making his demonic eye shine blood red. "They are crazy! None has ever reach Hell, moreover taking over!"

Quickly, I grabbed his elbow, motioning Marco to calm down. Even if we couldn't read each other thoughts he knew the move and soon he sat back, with his expression softening with every breath.

"That's where you two are getting in."

Bull's eye.

"I want you two to go to Heaven and free the Lords. My Grim Reapers will not hold for more and I am too young to give up of my powers to the Machias or the asshole Ivan."

"Once again you put all the weight to someone else's shoulders. Haven't you ever though for once that we have sacrificed too much!?"

"Marco..."

"No Ana! My story aside, you have nothing to do with this!"

"On the contrary she has."

"Feith?"

The Angel brought in the front one of his long grey feathers. The feather shined and then an image was formed. Gates, they were Gates, the entrances to the first, Second, Third and Fourth Division. I knew that from Auge's memories.

Death spoke and pointed at the images. "Do you recognize these Anastasia?"

I explained to everyone with detail what every gate meant and Feith made the image disappear. "Do you see now how important she is?"

Marco snarled and turned at me. "Ana, you can't continue, like that!"

Pain was in his voice and I couldn't stand it. But both Uriel and Auge taught me that everything were happening for a purpose. I was sure that I had mine in this freaking world.

"I can't still control my flying and I don't know what powers I have. How will I be able to fight if I don't know my limits?"

"Ana!"

"Hush Marco, please." I smiled at him while he was glaring at me as if I had stolen his favorite collection of Whitney Hiouston covers.

"That's why I brought these, for both of you." Death stretched his right hand and opened his bony palm.

A single black orb was in his hand. He let his hand down and the black orb flew to Marco. He caught it and closed his fist around it. "A scythe Death?"

"Not any scythe. That baby can control your powers and you can use it for your...other abilities too."

I knew that Marco had a thing for scythes. He would usually polish his previous, silver one with such care, where I could easily say that the scythe was a substitute for a lover. Marco pressed his fist and a faint pop was heard. He exhaled and closed his eyes smiling. "So good."

I chuckled.

Death turned at me. "For you sweetheart I have two presents." He lifted his long black clothing a row of black smoke swirled outside of it. The smoke stopped in front of my kneeling knees and took a form.

The black scarab, the red thread which was tied tightly around the hilt and the familiar scent of spiritual energy almost made me cry. Haimei's sword was mine once again. "Where did you find it?" I tried to hold my voice steady as I took the katana in my hands.

"It was destroyed but it followed you two when you escaped. Feith gave me the parts and I fixed it, giving some more...traits." Death giggled under his black hole of a face.

I would kiss and hug him if I wasn't too preoccupied. "What is the other one?"

Death clapped his hand and the dread sound made me shiver. From the insides of his opening hands a golden shining ball was formed and then it too flew towards me. When it landed on the floor the light fainted. "Oh my God," I whispered as I took the golden pouch in my hands. A thin golden belt was around it and it fell down as I lifted it closer to my eyes, "it's Auge's...Uriel's gift."

I looked Marco. He too was stunned and too shocked to answer me. So I turned at Death. "Where did you find it?"

"She left it for me when she entered the Spiral or Reincarnation. Auge hoped that the person who would wield it would be wise and brave."

"Again with that name! Who is Auge?" Feith asked once more.

Marco snarled and titled his head at him. "She is known as the "Concealed Feather". She was the one who resided in Ana's body and the one Machias sought to destroy. Happy now?"

I turned at the pouch; it was not heavy but the power it was emitting was strong. I knew what she had stored in it. Feathers from her wings, which had the power to teleport the owner in every direction, using strong will. "Thank you Death, for helping her and us." I smiled at him.

He laughed and the sound was once more scary. "Do you remember what happened to you at Nether Realm Anastasia?"

I shivered. Although Marco had told me what he had seen, how Auge took my soul and made golden wings sprawl from my back, still many were hazy memories. I nodded in answer and Marco breathed heavily beside me.

"How is Golden Skies, Death? Is she safe?"

"Yes, and she told me to send her wishes to you. Gedo has been kicked quite a lot and of course, he will not pursue you further."

I smiled. "That's good to know."

"Although..." Death paused and looked at me and Marco "...there is one thing you must know."

"What?"

"Golden Skies told me that in order to complete the prayers of your calling, as also helping Auge with yours and Marco's powers, a...sacrifice had to be made."

I tensed and tightened the sword and the pouch. "What kind of sacrifice. Is she..."

Death moved his hands quickly. "No, no Golden Skies is safe. Well, a life has to be given for another to exist, so a part of you was given as a tribute."

I looked at my body frantically while Marco stared at my back. "I don't see anything missing."

Death pressed his skeleton hands on his black long robe and he lowered his hooded head. "You are barren Anastasia."

Everything stilled. I stopped breathing and lost my voice. So, I grabbed the sword and the pouch and stormed out of the room, closing with a wild thud the door behind me.

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

Marco

Everything but that; anything but seeing Anastasia losing more of herself. I saw how empty her gaze became when Death told her that. Getting up I grabbed Death by the hem of his hood and punched him. Wildly. And I enjoyed it.

"Marco stop!" Feith cried behind me but I ignored him. My mind was too full of all I've heard until now and when I wasn't focused I couldn't control myself or my powers.

Black chains appeared from the floor and I found myself kissing the floor while Death stood above me.

"Under other circumstances I would have already thrown you to the Nether Realm...again. But we are in dire days and we need yours and her help."

I swore. "That doesn't explain why Ana had to lose the only thing that gave her hope! How will she be able to live if she is childless? If she can't bring new life and hold it with her own hands, what is the meaning of her life!?"

A chuckle was heard from D. "Would you prefer being your child the one she would hold?"

I heard Feith yelp but I remained silent. I haven't thought that far. Fuck, I didn't even know if we would be alive the next day, but I wanted a future with Ana by my side. Or on top of me.

"Have you calmed down?"

"Free me."

The chains disappeared and I got up. "Is there anything more to say?"

"No, I am done for today."

"Then get the hell out of this house." I spat as I got out from the room and closed the door behind me.

I ran across the narrow corridors of the house looking for her aura. Since she wasn't accustomed to her powers, there was a strong trail of her energy in every corner of the house, as if she would appear from the corner, smiling and blushing.

The sound of plates made me turn to the left and head towards the storeroom, where Tomo and Kyoko held provisions for the winter as also clothes and weapons. I should bring Ana and try to find better clothes for her. When I slid the door open, Tomo was putting a box of plates on another one.

"Marco-sama?"

I sighed. "Is Kyoko better?"

He grinned and left the box. "She is resting, Death scared her but I was able to take her away before he could see her. Thank you for the warning Marco-sama."

"No problem. Have you seen Ana?"

Tomo looked at me surprised. He didn't know. Before he could answer I left the storeroom heading to Kyoko's room. Her room was at the west wing of the house, close to Anastasia's room.

I knocked and a soft voice was heard. "I am sorry Kyoko, but I need you to tell me where Anastasia is."

Movement was heard from the inside and the door opened. Kyoko was on her pajamas, white with stamps of...unicorns? "Marco-sama, I haven't seen Onee-chan. Did something happen?"

A lot. I wanted to say but I smiled nervously. "If she comes tell her to wait me at her room. And stay in tonight. The weather is cold."

"Understood."

I patted her head, making the Japanese child blush and left. I didn't need to run before getting out. The winds were freaking cold for December and at this point I was missing the mild climate of Greece, where you had to worry only about the humid at the winter.

Spreading my wings I took off easily, moving against the wind. Although I hadn't flew like that for more than 5000 years I could still use my moves. Ana couldn't have gone far. And the shield was big enough so technically she was safe. But knowing her she perhaps would be already in trouble.

I couldn't blame her and I couldn't stand the way many things in both our lives had changed. The snow was like razors on my skin as I flew into the night. With no moon to guide, I had to use the strongest of my senses and for a moment I was glad for the return of my demonic powers.

Ana had seen the past. My past and Auge's. She had seen how I used to be and I was freaking beyond comparison with her calmness and her courage. A normal human would have already gone nuts. Ana was a Spirit Seer and she could see ghosts. 'Normal' was a world which didn't apply to her. She was found as the host of Auge's soul and now she is a half Angel, partially human and a Spirit Seer.

How she was still standing, I couldn't understand. But running away from the house at night was dangerous. Not in this weather and surely not in her condition.

Something appeared into the night, as I flew above the tops of the trees. It was small and shiny and it didn't take long to materialize in front of me as I halted midair. The golden feather was smooth and long, reminding me the painful memory of Auge's wings.

The feather floated closer and its soft surface brushed my lips, like a kiss.

"Can you take me to Ana?" I asked although anyone would think me as a mad, asking guidance from a feather.

Its light circled me and I lost sight of the sky. Solid ground was now, under my feet while the snow had covered completely the earth. Snowflakes were falling slowly, not like razors into the wind but softly like diamond dust.

The forest around me was silent but the surge of power was into the air. She was close. I passed through the empty trunks before reaching the clearing. Like a round training circle into the middle of the forest, with the snow covering it completely, it was the perfect landing ground.

"Ana?" I tried to call her. No response.

The flapping of wings was heard above me and I rose my head. And there she was. Flying downwards with the sword on her hand and the golden feathers circling her like charms, she looked like a descended Angel. The pouch was tied on her waist and the thin golden belt was glimmering.

When her feet touched the ground she fell to her knees, folding the golden wings on her back. The feathers shined and merged with her wings, resonating with her powers. I could feel the atmosphere charging around her but her human body had taken too much effort.

"Ana?"

Her head snapped towards me. That beautiful round face, the lips and the long blond braid around her neck were making her look ethereal. But her mismatched eyes, the left brown and her right at the colors of dawn, were sad.

Walking closer I covered the distance between us. "I was looking for you. Why did you leave the house?"

Her lips parted, trying to answer but she lowered her head. I leaned down. "Ana, let's go home and rest ok? We will see what we will do in the morning."

"Am I...still human Marco?"

Her question struck me. Of course she was! "You are a human, a Spirit Seer and now a half Angel. Everything makes who you are. And above all you are my Anastasia."

She looked at me and I cupped her cold face. How long was she flying? "Do you hear me Anastasia Peters?"

"I do."

Beautiful, sweet Ana. My Ana. My companion into this mess and the one I am afraid of breaking beyond repair.

Her hand trailed on my cheek to my jaw and chin. Her eyes tired and red, from crying, closed for a moment. Slowly she leaned to my chest, resting her head on me. "I will never... can't... have children."

"I don't care. As long as I have you with me I want nothing more."

A sad chuckle was heard from her and shivers made her body tremble. Quickly I brought the wings around us covering her from the falling snow. "Marco?"

"Hmm?"

Her lips found mine, brushing softly each other. A soft kiss, sad but caring. Her eyes locked in mine as her hands closed behind my neck. She pressed her forehead in mine and breathed. "I love you."

And I needed nothing more than that.

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

Anastasia

Nothing mattered at that moment. Only his touch and his words. Marco kissed my cheeks, my nose and my lips, whispering again and again strange words in his language, the demonic dialect.

They were like music and despite my attempt to translate it, I didn't have a clue. He smiled at me, that breathtaking smile, which was one of his kind. Lifting me up and taking the sword in his hands, he spread his winds ready to take off. "Hold on tight."

I nodded and he flew upwards. I was holding him from the neck while my legs were tied around his waist. His right hand was holding me tightly from the waist while the left held the sword.

"Sometimes," I heard him whisper, "I wish I could read your thoughts again."

"Then it wouldn't be fun Marco. I like having you guessing my thoughts."

He grinned. "You are right, but I still miss it."

By the time we reached the house, the winds had already subsided. It was quiet and there was no sign of Tomo or Feith. Marco landed in front of my room and opened the doors from the side of the garden, getting in with haste.

"I should turn on the hearth. It's freezing." He murmured as he put me down and headed towards the small hearth which was located at the right side of my room.

I found my futon and pillows already open and thanked silently Kyoko. Taking off my shoes and without caring about my damp from the snow clothes, I fell to my bed, ready to pull the soft blankets up.

"Ana, don't sleep with the clothes." Marco spoke like the damn adult he was and I groaned.

"I am too tired for that."

He didn't say anything in protest. But as I made myself comfortable, turning to my right and placing my wings behind, I found Marco taking his side on the futon, pulling the blanket above us.

We didn't speak but we looked at each other, as the warmth filled the room. His hand found my waist and pulled me closer, tucking the blanket under my chin, with his head resting on the top of my head.

"The nightmares go away when you are here." He murmured and I pressed a kiss on his chest. "Those days when we first came here, you were asleep for so long...I thought that you wouldn't wake up."

"I woke up."

"Yes, and with a pair of wings. That was one of the horrible nights..."

I still remember the nightmare. How he fire burnt me whole and his voice brought peace in me. "And now we have to save the world. Why do I think that everything have come straight out from '2012'?"

"Oh that was a cool movie...especially the flying giraffes."

We laughed silently, having lost the sense of time and before I could speak more I drifted into a dreamless sleep.

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

I woke up when I sensed the first light of the day. Like I had an inner clock I could tell even when the dawn was beginning. Slowly, I stepped out from my room, leaving Marco sleeping and headed to the store room, where Kyoko had told me that I could find more clothes.

After almost one hour of searching, I found new jeans, long sleeved gloves in the color of dark blue and a topless shirt, which would be good for summer but not in the winter. It was torn a little and reminded me of an old yukata. Still, I wore it.

After a brief stop at the bathroom for the necessities, I rushed back to my room, only to find Marco yawning, sleepily.

"Good morning, sleepy head."

He gave me a glare. "Why so high in spirits?"

"Well, it's a new day and I want to get over with what Feith might have in store for me on training."

He got up, gathering the futon. I leaned to help him and he gave me a stern look. He was again worried, but I had to try my best not to make him sad. The fact that now I would be childless was hurting both of us but now it wasn't the time to think of babies.

"I think that it would be good for once to make breakfast. Kyoko has taken good care of us and it would be rude not to help her."

Marco nodded. "I agree with that and I have to check upon Murasaki, making sure that Feith isn't doing anything perverting on her."

I laughed and Marco caressed my hair. "Are you alright?"

"Now I am fine."

He took the sword and gave it to me. "We might as well train in sword fighting."

"Ok."

We both got out and headed to the kitchen, which was connected with the living room via the sliding doors. As Marco started to gather yesterday's mess, I opened the cupboard looking for the tea.

Thanks to my new sense of smell I spotted the small box, behind the plates. Taking it out, I opened the small fridge and also grabbed the remains of some canned tuna, a loaf of bread, a tape ware of beacon and cheese as also a glassy bottle of milk.

"We need more food. Do you think that we should go hunting Marco?" I spoke above my shoulder.

"I thought about that too." Marco said as he opened a new table sheet "maybe we could also use this chance for exercising flying."

"Who will go flying?" Feith's voice came from the living room and I walked to greet him.

He was wearing a new pair of jeans and a white jumper but...

"Feith how can you wear clothes while you have the wings?"

"It's trick. You force the joints to distort around the fabric. It's comfortable and also helps in flight."

I glared at him. "And when you were going to teach me that?"

"He will not teach you anything the way he lives." Marco mumbled as he passed near me and Feith snapped.

"You shouldn't have left, young lady! How..." he stopped talking.

"Feith?"

"Why are your powers in control?"

Marco smiled and put his arm around my shoulders. "The feathers resonated with her wings, thus helping her keeping her aura in check."

"Amazing."

"Ok, I think that's enough of my powers. Shall we make breakfast before Kyoko wakes up?"

We all worked in the kitchen making small sandwiches with tuna and some with beacon. I told Feith too about the idea of hunting and he agreed, strangely.

"It will be good to train outside the shield. Maybe as well get to see a tengu for once!"

I peered at Marco. He shrugged and passed me the pot for the tea. Soft steps were heard from the living room and the three of us snapped. Kyoko walked in with her trousers and her kimono blouse, startled.

"Ohayo."

"Morning. I took the chance and made breakfast today. I am going to make some tea too."

"Onee-chan there was no need."

I lifted a palm at her. "There is. You have been keeping us here for a while, also putting up with his behavior." I showed Feith behind me.

Marco laughed and Feith protested.

"Where is Tomo?"

"Oh he left early to search for medical herbs. The forests are full of them." She spoke with more relief and took out the cups.

"We should resume flying today." Feith started as we all sat down.

"We can try sword fighting. Now that Ana has a weapon I don't see the reason why not."

Feith looked at me. "I want that too Feith. But first..." I pulled the blade out from it sheath and brought my braid on the front.

No scissors could cut them but an enchanted sword... I sized the length and pushed the blade. A hrsss was heard and the braid fell to my knees, glowing golden.

"Wow!" Kyoko uttered as my hair started to become curly and soon my curls were all around, as my hair was finally on shoulder length.

"One problem is gone." I picked the braid and Feith stretched his hand.

A dagger hit the table, stopping Feith's palm from moving. We turned at Marco; he was glaring Feith, his red eye glimmering.

Mine! The thought suddenly was heard in my mind and I shook it startled. It couldn't be, the bond was severed when Marco fell to Nether Realm. Unless...

I touched the tilt of the black dagger, feeling the warm black flames caressing my skin.

"Ana no!" Marco shouted but I had already taken it to my palm. The black flame became white and the blade transformed from deep black to shiny silver. The tilt also changed color becoming from onyx black to golden.

"Bless His wisdom! You changed the demonic power to angelic!" Feith squealed from excitement.

I turned to him and then to Marco. He too was astonished, eyeing the dagger and me. "You shouldn't throw the blades like that." And I gave him back to dagger.

"You think I can touch that now?" he looked at the weapon cautious.

"The Law doesn't apply to us, so I guess it's alright."

Marco touched the blade and it transformed back to a demonic one. Feith studied it and came to the result that we were both capable to share our powers, thus being in total balance.

"I think that Onee-chan could be the one who could restore the Balance. Same goes for Marco-sama."

"You think that Kyoko?"

"Why not Marco-sama? You helped us before and I am sure you will make it again." She smiled at him and Marco turned to me.

"That concludes today's lesson. Shall we try outside?"

I nodded and we both got up, opening the sliding doors on our way to the outside. Feith and Kyoko followed too and our fogged breaths filled the cold morning. With no clouds today it was the perfect occasion. Feith stretched his grey wings flapping them wildly.

I opened them too. My shoulder blades felt pressed for a moment as the joints moved but soon I was flapping the golden wings, feeling them stronger.

The sound of footsteps came to my ears and I turned to the edges of the forest. Kyoko near me shouted Tomo's name but I couldn't see him anywhere.

"Oh you haven't seen this." Marco commented near me and smirked.

I turned to the direction he was looking. From the outskirts of the forest blue shining kitsunebi emerged first, creating a path. Slowly the creature entered out vision field, first coming the strong white feet and then the rest of the body.

"No way..." the fox was big and tall, taller than an adult man with spiky ears, deep blue eyes and the familiar red spot on his forehead. Tomo was magnificent but what surprised me was the tails.

Nine long white tails were moving behind the fox making Tomo look even more magnificent. I turned at Marco and Feith. "How did he grown so much? I thought that foxes-"

"Need time? No, it is the distorted Balance which made Tomo grow so quickly." Feith spoke and crossed his arms.

Marco rubbed his chin. "In Shinto, the spirits and gods are highly connected with nature and Earth. They stay in slumber as long as nature is balanced but when the bond is severed..."

"Then the spirits awake?" I completed his words and headed to the direction of the girl and the fox.

"Amazing Tomo! You have grown so much!"

The fox moved his muzzle from Kyoko's hands and looked at me. "Thank you. I have been hunting all morning and I have brought supplies." He turned and licked Kyoko's cheek before heading to the direction of the others.

Kyoko was blushing, rubbing the spot where the fox "kissed" her. I smiled and took her elbow. "So will you tell me how it's going?"

"Going what?"

I nodded towards Tomo's direction. "How did you know he was coming? I didn't sense anything."

Kyoko grinned. "It's a trick Tomo taught me. With concentration, I can determinate his position by scenting him."

"You use smelling?"

"It's not exactly like smelling your surroundings; it's more like feeling the inner scent of each person."

"Oh." That was a nice power. "So how Tomo 'smells'?"

Kyoko left a sigh, which was that of a love stricken girl and I giggled. "Smoke and burnt wood with the sweet scent of the sakura blossoms. That's how Tomo smells to me."

She walked away waving at me to continue with the training and I followed her lead. Marco and Feith spoke with Kyoko and she rushed back into the house.

Marco came closer. "What were you saying with Kyoko?"

I smirked. "Girl stuff."

"Oh, now you are keeping secrets?"

"Not the ones which concern you." And pinched his shoulder.

Feith coughed and we turned at him. "We should begin. Would you like to take off first Anastasia?"

"I will try." And I opened my wings.

Cold air rushed through the golden feathers and I flinched from the temperature. So the wings were sensitive. As I started to flap up and down, I pinned my hands on my sides and jumped.

In an instant I had left the ground and I was flying above the house's rooftop. Marco and Feith caught up quickly with me, calling out tips and instructions of how to avoid the wind, or how to glide down, careful on my landing.

It took us around three hours before I could make a complete circle around the house in different heights. As I grew bold, I even tried to loop in the air, laughing with my results. It had always been humanity's dream to fly. But this, this was into an entirely new level!

"Good one Ana!" Marco moved closer, careful not to crush his black wings to mine.

"Try to land now!" Feith shouted above me and I started to glide downwards.

The trick was not to land with the wings still open but to levitate a little taking time to find the best spot. That way the speed would have already been reduced and there would be no danger of crushing.

As I bent my back, my feet shoot up and I lifted my arms above my head, like diving. When I got closer to the ground I kicked my feet in the front, moving the wings back and forth before landing again. The feeling of the stable ground left me with a sense of disappointment. I wanted to go higher next time.

Feith landed first. "That's for a start. You did well Anastasia." He smiled with confidence making him look younger.

"We should try sword fighting next."

"No she is young for that."

Young?

"No she is capable on fighting. Don't forget the first time you met her." Marco left a groan and I got in the middle.

"Ok, boys calm down. I must train into fighting. I want both of you teaching me. Both the angelic way," I looked at Feith "and the demonic a.k.a. the Grim Reaper way." I looked at Marco. "Can you at least agree in that?"

Marco grinned. "No problem with me."

Feith shrugged but he agreed too. "Fine."

Tomo came out from the house, in his human form and marched toward us. He bowed to the men and turned at me. "The braid you left behind is excellent material! I managed to forge something, if you want to try it."

Excitement filled me. "What did you make Tomo?"

His blue eyes shined as his fox ears twitched. He unwrapped the small cloth from the small bundle he was carrying when he came and showed his invention to us. It was a tilt, similar to that of a katana, with no blade or even sheath.

"What is that exactly?" Marco's voice had a tone of irony while Feith leaned to study it better. "What could it be?"

I took the tilt on my left hand and pressed it. The surge of power left my chest and rushed into my hand. "Oh my!" the power took form and soon the golden line emerged from the tilt, moving gracefully around me.

"A whip! You made her a freaking whip!"

I swung it left and right and the line shined following my thoughts. It worked like an extension of my body answering my thoughts and following my command. "It's great Tomo! Thank you!"

The fox smiled and turned to Feith asking him about the seals on the barrier. Marco walked around, placing an arm on my shoulders. "It looks good on you...the whip I mean."

"For Chocolate's sake Marco!" I squealed, feeling my cheeks hot.

He smiled and kissed my cheek. "It will be good on fighting. No one expects an Angel carrying a whip."

"I will have the surprise element with me then." I muttered as we walked back to the house.

"I am sure you will."

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

The dinner was full of meat. In every form. Tomo had brought a good catch from hunting and Kyoko with me cooked it. I was able to learn her recipes and thank to that freaking knowledge of 5000 years, I was glad for having angelic powers.

"How is Murasaki Kyoko?"

"No change. But the medicine D. brought helped."

I looked at her grim expression and rubbed her shoulder, as she cut the last piece of cabbage. "I will try and sing. Angels know anthems of healing. Maybe it will help her."

She gave me the bowl and smiled sadly. "I hope that too."

"Well I can try and work on controlling my aura. Marco says that he is having a hard time dealing with the overflow." I talked a little louder as I placed the bowl on the table.

Kyoko laughed. "He likes you Onee-chan and he wouldn't say things to upset you."

"I know but with the uncertain future in front of us, I want to live for these tiny blissful moments."

Kyoko made the round of the table and hugged me. Sometimes I forgot that she had grown, having the same age as me, despite the fact that I should be 29 by now.

"Kyoko," I looked at the small window which had view at the forest from the kitchen, "what is your scent of love?"

She pulled back and grinned. "Tomo told me that I smell like ink mixed with sakura."

"Then you have much in common."

She sighed and sat to the kitchen's table. "I am scared Onee-chan."

I sat near her, with surprise. "About what?"

"I am afraid that I will grow old and die, leaving him alone behind. A human's lifespan..."

"Is shorter than the one of a fox's."

She nodded, with tears watering her blue eyes.

"I don't blame you for being afraid." I thought back, when at my summer holidays, when Marco had come with us, I found out how I felt for him. "I was like that too."

"What did you do?"

"I hoped that I could live my life to the fullest giving him something of me to remember. And it had become comical-tragic, thinking that I would be an 80 years old baba, and Marco would still come and visit me."

Kyoko laughed and wiped her eyes. "If you love someone strongly, time will slow down for you. Think of the present and how you can make it worth, not the choices you want to make for the future."

The sound of the pottery clinging made turn; Kyoko had stood up. "Thank you Onee-chan." She said and lifted to pot taking it to the table.

I heard the sound of steps and Marco walked into the kitchen, almost too accidentally. One look at his face and I knew he had heard.

"Don't say a word, please."

"I won't but I am glad the kid had found someone to lean on."

"Yeah, she has."

He rubbed his short black hair and looked at me. I sighed. "It really kills you not to comment on that, doesn't it?"

He smirked. "I would never be disgust if you had grown into a granny. You would be the same beauty as you are now."

I held my breath, looking at his mismatched eyes. "And I saw you...back there."

"Please don't say more..."

His cold hand touched my face, slowly moving from my cheeks to chin, with his thumb resting on my lips. He was still wearing the wristbands, covering his scars from the handcuffs. I pressed my hand on his and took a deep breath.

What I smelled made me grin. "What?" Marco asked curious.

"Nothing." I answered and kissed his palm, getting up. "Let's go and eat."

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

When dishes and dinner was over, I wore an worn out from time, blue jacket, since I budged Feith on teaching me the trick, put my curly hair on a loose ponytail and stepped out in the night.

I wanted to fly a little more, before going to sleep. Feith had retreated to tend to Murasaki and Marco together with Tomo and Kyoko were planning on making him a few daggers.

I stretched my wings and took off. Slowly I repeated the process on slowly moving in circles heading higher and higher until I had flown away from the house and close to the boundaries of the shield.

It was a dome made of invisible force but my trained eyes could distinguish the difference. Where the shield was stretched, a faint blue and grey hue was showing on the surface of the dome.

"That's a good altitude." Marco's voice was heard below me and I looked down.

He was flying too, close to the dome and I lifted my head to the sky. There were clouds, but not much like the snowstorm, and the crescent moon was faintly illuminating the sky.

"I want to fly there." I pointed up.

Marco got to my height and followed my pointing. "Let's go."

I looked at him. "We can? What about the barrier?"

"We can enter and leave wherever we want. My aura is strong enough to keep danger away. Besides... we haven't spent much time together."

He offered me his hand. "I will carry you so you will not get tired of flying."

Bewhirled, I took his hand and he pulled me closer to his chest. I folded my wings to my back and he held me from the waist, telling me to hold on tight. Bringing my feet around his torso, I pressed my face to his chest and looked up. "Let's go."

The speed was intense. Marco flew so fast, I almost lost hearing and felt my breathing stop. Before I could realize, we were above the clouds, were the currents were so strong, I almost cried out for help.

"Don't worry, the winds will not take you away." He whispered close to my ear and I heard him chuckle. "Come on, let's advance on flying."

"Are you sure?" I looked up meeting his eyes.

"I would never let you fall."

He pushed me away from him and I unfolded my wings; quickly I found the current and held them open as I levitated above the clouds.

Marco smiled and pressed my hands. "Keep that altitude and try to learn the winds' moves. It will help."

I followed his words and we were both moving in circles flying around each other. It became easier and fun. Marco would dive into the clouds, lost into the dark white and come out again, surprising the hell out of me. While he did that, I flew in circles, following the wind, until I started making loops, bending backwards and curling my wings to my body before opening them again.

Marco stretched his hand and I leaned to his side, curling my wings again. "Satisfied?"

"Very! Can we do it again?" I asked hopeful he would agree.

He leaned and inhaled my hair, pulling the hair tie. My curls moved with the strong wind and I squealed from the movement.

"Jasmine..." I heard him murmur and I looked at him surprised.

"What did you say?"

"You smell like the jasmine shampoo you were using back home." He leaned and caught his lips on mine.

Time was lost, I didn't know how long we were kissing but before I could tell, my feet had touched the ground as we broke free from each other. Marco's eyes gleamed, his expression serious but his eyes were gentle. I brushed my hand on his cheek, messing with his hair. "Pineapple jelly bears."

"Excuse me?"

"That's how you smell to me." I tried to hold a laugh but Marco was already frowning.

"You've got to be kidding me right, Anastasia?" he asked but I was already laughing.

He left a groan and lifted me up, carrying me like a sack back to the house. "Put me down Marco!"

"No!" his voice was also sounding like a laugh and he made a circle around himself together with me.

The door swung open and Feith ran towards us. We stopped abruptly and Marco put me down. Feith's face was a pained mask and his grey eyes looked darker.

"Feith what happened?" Marco asked, feeling the aura around him.

"Murasaki...she is dying."