Ivan glided downwards following the wind stream. The troop of the five Gladiators, who were accompanying him, flapped their wings faster, trying to match his speed. Although they were following the orders of Lord Machias, distress was written on their faces.

They didn't want to be close to Ivan.

"Move your wings faster! We have to reach Greece before sunset!" he roared to the troop and they sped up without complaining.

Ivan had been flying all around Europe for more than a week. He had searched all the devastated countries, the abandoned houses, even the destroyed churches, searching for Anastasia and Marco. Purposefully, he had left Greece last, knowing that the size of the city and its desolated state now would make it easier to search.

Besides, he wanted to have a 'heated' reunion with the girl he had seen for the first time inside the forests of Japan, between a Grim Reaper and a Shinigami. Ivan smirked with his thought and moved faster, heading to the south of Europe.

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

Anastasia

I was gazing from above. Everything was covered with water.

My city.

My home.

Breathless, the others behind me didn't speak. But I felt Marco's grip on my shoulder. He was trying to reassure me. Almost half of the city was covered with water, which was sparkling crystal blue under the cold sun of December.

Here there was no snow since we had mild winters with much humidity. The WhiteTower was also gone underwater and the center of Thessaloniki up to the point of the Egnatia street and the AristotleUniversity was completely gone.

Since the whole city was made upon a slope, the lowest part, the one closer to the gulf was already gone. But the Old Walls and the SevenTowers were still standing towards the rising side of the slope.

Without thinking I sped up, heading in the direction of the Old Walls. I thought I heard Marco screaming behind me, but I didn't respond. I was too focused on my flying. I was heading to my home.

When I finally saw the familiar road I landed and continued on foot. Emptiness and deserted streets were all around me; the people had already left, heading towards higher places with the fear of another tsunami.

But I was running to the only place I could still recall and need to see. I turned to the corner and headed straight. Then I had to turn left and the house would come into view.

Suddenly someone grabbed me from behind and my head hit hard on the chest. "Ana! Slow down!" Marco's rushed voice sounded close to my ear. He was panting hard as he followed me.

"Good to find her Marco. I didn't know she had become so fast." Feith's voice came from behind and soon the hurrying steps of the others followed.

Marco tightened his hold around my waist. "What were you thinking Ana? If they saw you-"

"Home Marco, my home is around the corner. Please..." I whispered not caring for my trembling voice.

He let me go and slowly I walked, turning to the last corner. My house stood on the corner of our block, close to the exit towards the road. The two-story house was still standing and strangely it wasn't destroyed.

"What is this? This is a wreck!" Murasaki with Shiro on her shoulder spoke.

"It is not destroyed Murasaki!" I hissed at her but Feith coughed.

"Before losing my powers, I had placed a camouflage shield around the perimeter of your house. Only I and the owner can see its true form."

Grateful I hugged Feith, making him freeze from surprise. "Thank you Feith." I said as I stepped back, while Marco was growling. Kyoko and Tomo, who were on his human form, smiled. "It was nothing. At least I had to do that."

Feith walked first and I followed him. He stepped on the entrance and made room for me to pass. "There is no need for a key. Just open the door."

I touched the door's knob and it opened. The scent of books and chlorine filled my nostrils as I stepped in. Everything was as I remembered it. On my right, it was the living room with the fireplace and the Christmas tree my family, the ghosts and I had decorated for the holidays ten years ago. On my left, the kitchen was, with the table and the four chairs.

Up ahead the chairs to the upper floor, led to my parent's room, a guest room, and my bedroom too. Behind the stairs, into a separate part, my father's study with the huge collection of books has its door closed.

"I didn't touch anything," Feith murmured as Murasaki and Kyoko paid their respects, taking together with Tomo, their shoes off.

Shiro took his human form and came closer to me. "Can we use the house Anastasia-sama?"

I was still dazzled and emotional, so I simply nodded. Marco was all this time near me but I didn't dare to look at him. He pressed his palm on my shoulder. "Take your time." He spoke softly and kissed the top of my head.

Slowly, I climbed the stairs, heading up. I was walking steadily as if the room was spinning around me. I thought that soon, Mom would come from her bedroom, shouting at me to hurry up for school, or Dad was going to test me again on History. I passed the two rooms and I opened the door to the last one on the end of the hall.

My bedroom was as I remembered it; with pale purple walls and the completed puzzle of the CaliforniaBridge, framed on one of them. My closet was on my right with a vanity mirror near it, while my bed was on my left. Across my bed was my desk, which was under the window from where I like to gaze out when the night was falling, either waiting for Marco or looking at the night city.

A separate door was leading to my bathroom, which was on the left side of my room. I stepped in hesitantly draining the faint scent of jasmine. Funny, was that the reason Marco was saying that I had the same scent?

Eagerly, I looked at the walls; maybe Perseus and Haimei would pop out, arguing about wine and sake. Or Kachina would greet me as usual, calling me 'Otekah' which meant 'sun maiden' in her language.

But they weren't here anymore and they wouldn't come back.

Not one of them.

The plump on my throat became heavy and the tears started to fall. After all my mental promises that I wouldn't cry, that I wouldn't be weak on insecurity, I am crying like a baby, sitting on my bed. Slowly, I stopped and cleaned my eyes getting up from the mattress.

I opened my closet and searched under the still, perfectly piled jeans and shirts until I found it. The iron box, which had stickers of ponies and hearts on it, was still here. Smiling, I took it to my hands and sat on the floor, crossing my legs. Every time, when I would feel sad or depressed, I would open it and stare at my childhood memories, trying to make myself feel better.

Marco didn't know about it and of course, I never told him. Some girly secrets should be kept hidden. Pushing up the cover of the box, I peeked inside; many, many paintings, drawings either with oil pastel or crayons, from my days in primary school were packed carefully folded on small squares. Near them, I had put the clay figures of four tiny figures.

The one with the dress was Mom, the bigger one was Dad and the small one with her one hand tied together with the edge of the other figures hand was me and Marco. I remembered when I had done that to summer camp and the teacher had told me that I knew how to give details to my art.

I never understood her, since I always sucked on painting. The crystal vile and the blue glowing orb were lying close to the clay figures. The vile contained a fragrance, gift from the Ryou family, ten years ago on the days of the holidays. I remembered when I and my ghosts were reading together Kyoko's letter, saying that she was learning about her powers and that Tomo with Murasaki was helping her.

The glowing blue orb, which was made of glass, was made from Tomo. It had the power to search the auras of the ghosts near me. But as I took it on my palm, the orb didn't react, something that made me worry. Why weren't any ghosts around? After all this destruction anyone would expect a high rise on the souls who had died with unfinished business.

A faint knock on the door made me look up. Marco stood at the entrance of my room. He looked hesitant with his wings folded on his back, careful not to catch too much space.

I grinned. "Come in Marco."

He took a step and in an instant he relaxed, sitting beside me on the bed. "I never realized that this room offered such peace."

"What can I say? It must be the Feng Sui."

He smirked. "I guess it is," and pulled one of my drawings, opening it carefully, "did you made this?"

I peered at the drawing. It was showing Marco, as a wide black stain, with no particular characteristics of human anatomy, flying to the sky. I had made puffs of clouds with blue crayons around him as also the moon. On the black stain, the small figure of a girl was sitting with her tiny arms opened and a yellow line on her head was drawn backward. It seemed that the girl was laughing as she flew into the night sky.

Marco looked at the painting and then at me. "Seriously? After all these years I expected you to attain some sense in art."

"Says the one who doesn't like art museums." I scowled but Marco kissed my cheek, letting his lips linger a little more on my skin.

"Are you alright?"

I turned slightly, brushing our noses together. "I've been better." I replied as I took the drawing from his hands, folding it and placing it into the box. I closed the lid and got up, hiding the box again into the closet.

As I looked at my clothes, I decided to change, after cleaning them off dust. "Do you think maybe we have still water?" I asked Marco who had sat on my desk.

"There is no electricity in miles. Kyoko and Tomo disguised themselves and went to look for food and information. We will soon know." He shrugged and got up.

I never imagined that we would walk and talk normally in my room after everything we've been through. As if the war, the secrets and betrayals never had happened. But as Marco stretched his hand, asking for mine to touch him, I curled my fingers between his, feeling the coolness of his skin.

It was never the fear of dying or the secrets or the mission Auge entrusted me with, that made me afraid. No, it was, is, the thought of never touching Marco again and feel his lips against mine. That's the only thing that matters.

We are both alive.

And we both will face our fears, together.

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

Anastasia and Marco got down to the living room, still holding each others hands. Marco was trying to think of a way to look for Ivan, even if that meant that he had to leave Ana behind. But his promise, the one who gave to her, made him shove away the thought.

Not long before, he would put Anastasia behind, letting himself deal with the crap of his actions. But Anastasia had taught him that help would always be needed, be it from friends or people both they never expect to encounter.

The voices from the living room made both of them snap from their thoughts. As Marco entered first and Ana next they saw Feith and Murasaki arguing while Shiro, on his human form was sitting quietly on one of the couches.

"Why do you want to polish the sword? There is no need for polishing!" Feith commented on the blade, which rested on Murasaki's lap.

The Shinigami had already taken off the sleeves of her kimono, letting it fall on her waist, tied only by the sash. Her bare pale shoulders looked trained while her bosom was tied tightly with wide straps of white cloth. For a reason Feith couldn't take his eyes from her.

Anastasia tapped Marco's elbow, making him lean closer to her. "Is that what I think it is?" she asked with a playful voice and Marco smirked. "Let him suffer a little. Murasaki seems to enjoy it too."

They both smiled and entered the living room. Shiro got up, catching the attention of the others, and bowed with respect. Feith left a tired sigh and leaned back, curling his grey wings closer to his shoulders. "We are lucky. This part of the city hasn't sunk yet."

Murasaki sheathed her sword, letting it lean to the arm of the couch. "Any ideas of what we will do from now on?"

Anastasia hadn't thought of that, but she wanted desperately to learn more of Earth's condition. Marco sat on the couch, pulling Ana on his lap. She cuddled herself on his chest, letting her head rest on his shoulder. Shiro looked at the pair with pure question. As the head of the Tengu tribe he had never encounter beings like Anastasia and Marco, who had combined their natures together.

"I think that we should wait for Kyoko and Tomo to return. Together we can think of something. And I really want to know more about Earth." Ana spoke with a steady voice and Murasaki nodded.

"I tried to travel to the Death Realm but it's permanently closed."

"Closed? D. closed the Company?" Marco asked and pressed his hand on Ana's knee. She touched his white knuckles, trying to make him calm.

Marco's grip became lighter. "If D. put that barrier then that means the Angels have found a way to invade the Realm."

Feith disagreed. "That's impossible. We are beings of the light and we can't dwell in the darkness of the Death Realm. It would be equal with trying to enter Hell through the Flames of Hell's Gates."

Anastasia stilled; maybe a pure Angel couldn't do that but there was someone else.

"Ivan." She blurted out and everyone looked at her. "When Feith and I were trying to find the Portal, we came across five Angels, Inspectors."

She explained what they had encountered and when she stopped Feith's eyes widened, Murasaki was growling from fury and Marco was holding her hand tightly, maybe of fear for bursting out his demonic energy and destroying everything.

Shiro shifted and got up from his couch. "If I may, what reason has the Head of the Fourth Division to seize the powers of the others? As far as I know all these eons the Heaven Realm worked on perfect harmony."

Feith, Murasaki, and even Marco stopped speaking and thought about that. But Anastasia already knew and from her assumptions, she had reached a safe conclusion. "I know why." She said slowly and everyone turned at her again.

"Anastasia you sure know more than any of us," Murasaki noted and frowned. Feith snorted. "Did you expect her to know less? She carries angelic powers."

"Is that necessary to be mentioned birdy?" Murasaki smirked and licked her lips, ready to take the challenge.

"Hey, love birds," Marco spoke and they both turned at him, with death glares. Anastasia smiled and rolled from Marco's lap, sitting near him.

Suddenly the knock on the door made everyone snap. Anastasia got up and headed to the exit. "Everyone, an enemy would never knock on the door." She stated and opened it.

Kyoko and Tomo rushed in, holding four paper bags, two on each hand. They moved to the kitchen, placing them on the counter. "What did you find?" Anastasia asked Kyoko as she helped them.

Marco helped Tomo with him and the fox took a deep breath, finally relaxing. "It's a hell out there meena. There are few people but they look barbaric."

"We found supermarkets either empty of food or full with it but with expired dates." Kyoko continued and took a sip of water from her bottle. "But there were some stores with clothes and canned food. Whatever we found, we brought it here."

Anastasia opened the bags; inside she found cans of food, which luckily hadn't expired, vases with sauce and olives. There was also a loaf of bread, wine and some energy bars with crisps of chocolate.

"These will last. Besides only you and I can eat." Anastasia spoke as she opened and started to arrange the food into the kitchen's cupboard.

Marco looked at her movements out of habit; she never forgotten her home and grief made him silent.

"Marco-sama, there is something I want to discuss with you." Tomo spoke quietly and together they moved back to the living room, joining the others.

Marco sat again and the fox kneeled to the floor, sitting with his feet crossed. "Tell us what you saw."

Tomo took a deep breath. "The few humans we saw were either living in the slums around the dry parts of the city or they were habiting the temples. I and Kyoko disguised as beggars and joined them. With a fake story we managed to know that Angels and Grim Reapers many times crash in battles above their heads. They called it "Apocalypse"."

"Damn right!" Murasaki said and Feith nodded. Shiro looked from the living room's window. "Is it possible that the Portal towards Heaven to be placed in this city?"

"If they have done that, I will be very, very pissed." Anastasia came from the kitchen and sat near Marco and next to her Kyoko.

Shiro turned at her. Anastasia held her hands together crossing them on her lap. "Let me tell you a story." She said with low voice and Marco looked at her.

"Will you tell them? Everything?" he asked hesitant for a moment.

She smiled sadly. "Only Auge's story. They deserve the truth." She held Marco's hand, asking for his support and courage.

Her eyes were afraid but Marco grinned. "Tell them."

So, Anastasia spoke of Heaven, explaining the hierarchy, the Four Divisions and after that how Auge was born, raised and her true origins. Only when she came to the part of her assignment, Anastasia skipped her meeting with Marco and directed her story to the point of Uriel explaining the Fall of Big L. aka Lucifer and the creation of Hell.

Everyone listened and they didn't dare to interrupt Anastasia. When she finished, Anastasia felt a weight being lifted from her heart. And as she looked at the eyes of her friends she saw courage and grief.

"So...the Concealed Feather was an Angel send from Him?" Feith asked rubbing his chin.

Marco shrugged. "She was one of the most powerful."

Feith looked at Ana. "And you've been hosting her soul all these years?"

"But why Machias want to overthrow the other Lords?" Tomo confused asked and Kyoko held Anastasia's hand.

"It's alright Kyoko, I am fine." She smiled at her, "I believe that Machias wanted to be the one who would lead the First Division after L's Fall. He didn't take well the fact that Uriel was sent."

"And Auge-dono's appearance was soiling his plans too." Shiro commented.

Murasaki left a heavy sigh. "You have a messed up society Angel." She said to Feith but he ignored her.

"Well, when we reach Heaven, first I am going to beat up Leito and then have a chat with Lord Machias."

"Well, you should first take your powers back!" Murasaki spoke with a mocking voice.

Feith smiled at her sarcastically and Tomo got up, suggesting to everyone about diner.

"I and Onee-chan will make sure of it." Kyoko spoke and Anastasia got up, heading to the kitchen.

Marco nodded to Feith and Murasaki to follow him, outside the house. Tomo and Shiro were left alone, glaring at each other with malice.

"So, what do we do?" Marco asked them, when the door closed behind him.

"I think that we should search the area for Grim Reapers. I can use some of my...skills if necessary."

"If that involves your bodice, you should stay with the girls." Feith spat and crossed his arms on his hips.

Marco shrugged. "Do anything you can. And try to search for Rath, Leo and Nard."

"Friends of yours?" Murasaki asked.

He grinned. "The only ones," Marco said and turned to Feith, "go with her, maybe there are information about Ivan and the Heaven's Portal too."

"And leaving you behind with a fox, a crow and Anastasia who uses her powers recklessly? No, of course!"

"Oi, Kyoko matters too!" Murasaki glared at him and Marco held his breath, trying to keep his composure.

"Anastasia is learning. You must give her credit for that."

Murasaki pocked Feith's shoulder. "Unless you are too afraid to be alone with me..." she fluttered her long eyelashes, faking innocence as her purple eyes shined.

Feith locked his grey eyes with hers, savoring her features. For him Murasaki was truly a riddle. And as an Inspector, he liked the complexity and was always searching for the answers.

"I will go with Murasaki," he decided "but you, Marco, must keep her safe. If the powers she has are that strong, then even Hell will want her."

The both disappeared in a puff of black and grey smoke leaving Marco stunned behind.

He had never thought of Hell.

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

Anastasia

After a can of tuna, a bottle of water and a bath with boiled water from the sea, I felt a little refreshed. Not to mention that my clothes were still fitting on me and with Feith's trick on the wings, there was no need to make holes on every shirt or jumper I had. Even Kyoko had come to like my style on clothes and gladly I gave some to her.

Marco told me that Murasaki and Feith had gone investigating and I wondered how those two would get along. Instead, there were several times when Shiro and Tomo almost destroyed the living room because Shiro in order to insult Tomo was commenting Kyoko's appearance and not in a kind way.

In the end, I and Marco decided to separate the three, by putting Kyoko on the guest room, Tomo on my parents' bedroom and Shiro in the living room. When the night finally fell, I took the blue orb from my 'treasure' box and climbed to the roof of my house, by getting out from my room's window.

I sat on the frozen red tiles and gazed at my destroyed city; I couldn't feel any spiritual energy, not even the human aura. Feith had told me that an Angel could sense the life of the humans but the only thing I could sense was...nothing.

"Ana?"

I turned; Marco was standing near me, with his right foot, holding his weight as he stabilized on the roof. He saw the orb in my hands.

"I don't feel any ghosts around. It's strange Marco."

He sat beside me and I explained to him my thinking. "I think you are right. Where are they?"

I sighed. "I don't know. Another mystery to solve I guess."

Marco held me from my shoulders. "Don't try to think everything by yourself. And also..." he shrugged and I looked at him, "you were brave today, telling to everyone Auge's story."

I leaned my cheek to his shoulder. "I believe she would want that too...telling her story I mean."

We stayed silent for a while, hearing the cold winds rushing into the night. Thessaloniki barely had any snow, only the winds and the humidity were a problem. But the sky, the familiar dome I used to fly together with Marco was welcoming me back.

Marco suddenly got up and pulled me with him. His vision was focused towards the center of the city and I tried to call him; his gaze was empty.

Someone was speaking though telepathy.

"Marco?"

He blinked and turned to me.

"D. just spoke to me."

If Death had spoken it wouldn't be good. "And?"

Strangely Marco smirked. But I recognized that expression. "Marco...what do you have in mind?"

He pulled me in his arms, lifting me up. "Get dressed babe. I am taking you to a club."

That was going to be a long night.

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

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I had some issues with my laptop so I finally managed to upload the rest of the chapters! You can continue reading them till the end!