"One must be a sea, to receive a polluted stream without becoming impure." - Friedrich Nietsche.

Chapter 1

His smile. She remembered his smile, when she got struck down yet again.

That's wonderful. If you're able to obtain the power to realize your will, that'll mean not one of the people by your side will die.

As her body flew through the air, she thought of him. Why was it that she always pictured him, when in greatest desperation?

Her body slammed into the ground. The sound of something cracking rang over the colorless and dull scenery. All air left her lung at the impact. A violent pain run from her spine throughout her entire body. She noticed the metallic taste of blood in her mouth. Her tattered uniform and the blonde of her hair was smeared with the stain of the soil and barren earth, that stretched over the land as far as her eyes could see, while her body slid over it.

With tears in her eyes she got up, her muscles quivering in exertion.

It might be even more difficult than to annihilate the enemy.

Her sight was blurry, as she took in the raging crowd of impurities and exorcists of today's battle. This was the biggest fight she had attended, since she'd been on the island so far and it was a fierce. From where she stood, she could see the forth and back of the advantage on both sides. Impurities and exorcists fell one after another.

Most exorcists falling weren't dead, yet unable to fight any longer. Causalities. That's what they are called here on Tsuchikado island. Mayura couldn't except that. For most of the fight she had healed injured exorcists or sealed them behind a spell barrier, draining most of her spell power. While kneeling over another injured an impurity had caught her by surprise and fighting it, she had lost the upper hand, but managed to drive it back.

She sensed it. It was still lurking for her.

After getting a quick overview of the battlefield, she turned to the impurity. From what she had learned so far, she knew, if she didn't take care of it now, it would soon become a Basara - an impurity in human form. Her last battle with a S rank Basara, Higano had shown her, that they should be stopped before that. An insane, inhuman giggle, broke her out of her line of thought. "Kuuukuukuuu, you're giving up already?"

Her determination grew. She wouldn't give up, she had to become stronger. She didn't want to be weak. She was chosen an Heavenly Commander for crying out loud. Byakko lend her its strength to protect. Protect was what she was going to do. Bringing the talisman for her special enchantment out, she chanted the formula conjuring her weapons, just as the impurity rose his arm for another attack.

In the end, isn't the only person bringing you down, you yourself..?!

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Her eyes. He sometimes wondered about them, when he had time to think.

Those eyes were always reflecting so much emotions. From adoration to hope, from anger to despair. It was a wonder in itself considering who her father was. And then she had surprised him, when she had looked at him with determination. He had tried to shake it off, tried to get rid of the feeling of sympathy. It was neither needed nor wished for and an unreliability in battle. A distraction from his higher course. But she reminded him of his reason to fight then. In that moment Shimon had thought back to the time, when he was training under Seigen-san. To become strong. To be strong enough to make sure his sister will survive.

The reason I want to become strong, is to protect the people before me who are hurt.

It had struck him and he couldn't help but was willing into training her. At that moment she had moved something in him. While training she had been insecure although she was a fast learner. Again memories of his own insecurities came back to him. He still had moments of insecurity but tried to keep them to himself. These feelings didn't belong on the battlefield and while he fought, he was nothing but confident. He had learned to be and had thought back then how she might be able to do so, too.

She had utterly amazed him, when she revealed after the fight with Higano and Hijirimaru, that Byakko had chosen her as the next Heavenly Commander. After the surprise ebbed away he came to understood, why Seigen-san gave her the talisman before they traveled to Megano. Because she cared the most about people, it was no wonder the mother of love would lend her her strength.

Now he was walking through the headquarters aiming for his meeting with Arima-san, as he considered their next training session. As Heavenly Commanders they were both paired up and he was responsible for her training as exorsist and Heavenly Commander. Although he was used to act and fight alone, to his own surprise he didn't mind. What was it about her he acted so out of character?

Ugh, he hated it, when he brooded to much about the same thing for too long. He shouldn't care about his feeling towards her. He had responsibilities that shouldn't be ignored and his first and only priority. What was it about her that made him care? She was Seigen-san's daughter but never had he told Shimon to look after her.

"Oi! Shimon-kun!"

Shimon was startled for not noticing the head of the exorcists group, Tsuchimikado Arima, sooner. "Arima-san?"

Stopping to wave his hand in greeting – they were only a few steps apart but the silver haired, tall man didn't seem to mind, Arima's cheerful expression turned grave. "I know we had a meeting about Otomi-san's development, however I fear, the discussion has to be post-poned. The mission on the third layer (1) turned out very harshly. You should back Otomi-san up."

A sudden fear rolled through him. Controlling his emotions, he tried his best to simply nod. "Hai, Arima-san." Turning around, he sprinted of to the battlefield.

On his way, it occurred to him, that he didn't say proper words of parting to Arima-san.

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Blindly slashing down on the enemy, Mayura tried her best to keep focus. She was totally exhausted and at the limit of loosing consciousness but the need to save as many people as possible kept her going. The exorcist were in advantage now. The mass of impurities was cut down to a minimum. Yet, there weren't many exorcists who were still able to fight.

Exorcising had been the most difficult task, she had faced on the isle. Now she was like a tigress that protected her puppies, raging dangerously through the foe's line.

Just when she was launching an attack on an impurity, her body was suddenly frozen. She was totally depleted having used the maximum of her spell power. Her sight became foggy and a wave of nausea broke down upon her. This was it, this was the end. Just as she felt herself, loose her stand, the impurity emerged into her field of sight. When she closed her eyes, she saw his smile again. 'I'm sorry, Shimon', she thought as the world grew black around her. A last smile grazed her face and she hit the ground.

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'Why? Why is it so dark in here?'

A familiar face suddenly appeared. 'Otosaan, did I put shame on you?'

Faces after faces followed. Mother, grandfather, Rokuro, Adashino-san, Shimon... Where am I?

As the last face dissolved, an inhuman, an alarmingly familiar voice hissed incoherent words and the darkness trembled in its mischief.

After what seemed an eternity of this sheer a horror a small light appeared fluttering around as a bubble. The evil voice grew quiet, while the light began to spread. And then there was warmth and another familiar but welcome and soothing voice. The darkness was swallowed in the light.

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Opening her eyes, she was blinded by light. She squeezed her eyes shut and groaned for the sudden pounding pain in her head.

"Finally, you're awake." That voice, it belonged to him, didn't it?

Carefully Mayura opened her eyes again and saw Shimon sitting next to her with his arms crossed. He wore – like most of the time – an indifferent expression.

She began to notice her surroundings now. While she layed on a bed, Shimon sat in a chair next to her. The beeping of a machine was the only sound in the room. So they were in the hospital. Trying to sit up her body shivering in pain. Afraid she looked at Shimon.

His gaze slightly hardened and he stared at her in reproach. "You have used all your spell power to a point where you were on the verge of death. The miasma was flooding your body system. It is normal that you aren't able to move your muscles correctly after one day of sleep."

Feeling ashamed, she bowed her head and frowned. "I'm sorry."

Shimon sighed and turned his head away. "But other than that, you did save many lives and exorcised a large number of impurities so the line is now kept by us."

She lifted her head as she suddenly felt easier on the heart. She smiled at the boy across her. "Then I'm glad."

"Although your spell power was mostly drained because you still can't control your power like you should at this point."

Really? He always had to back up a compliment with an insult. Still she was glad, he acknowledged her for what she did. So she decided to let the issue drop and smiled at him which he commented with a rise of his eyebrow. "How long do I have to rest?"

"At least until tomorrow, you're lucky that you seem to have a fast rate of regeneration. The doctor said, you were unlikely to wake up for three days."

"Oh, well, at least there is something that I am good at." She beamed at him.

He returned her smile with a small one of his own before he put on his stern face again and rose from his seat breaking eye contact. "Anyway, I should leave you to rest so that I can pick you up tomorrow and bring you to your estate."

She blushed, instantly thinking about dates, where the boy brings the girl home. "Why would you do that?"

With his back turned to her, he told her: "Orders by Arima-san." When he reached the door, he turned his head slightly to the right. "I see you tomorrow."

He didn't see the sadness in the smile, that Mayura wore.

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The door fell into its hinges. Shimon sighed. When he'd arrived at the battlefield, Mayura had lost consciousness and an impurity was leaning over her. Shimon had just been in time to save her. Afterwards he learned, that she had put up a hell of a fight, saving many lives and exorcising a lot of impurities. Some exorcist even grinned at Shimon and said the new Heavenly Commander was a nice addition to the other eleven. Well, she was different but Shimon did not like, how she was totally ignorant of her own health and safety. It bothered him to no end.

"Now, now, it is not nice to lie to a girl, Shimon-kun." Arima-san leaned at the wall next to the door, yet again startling Shimon with his sudden appearance.

Shimon sighed again turning to the head of the exorcists. "Arima-san, what brings you here? Can I help you?" Arima's gaze felt like an examination.

"Hmmm... Looks like somebody got out of the wrong side of bed. I just wanted to check on the patient, but I see that she is already taken care of." Arima shrugged his shoulders with an easy grin on his lips.

Shimon looked away not being able to bear the scrutinizing gaze any longer. He kept his voice low and controlled. "It's not what you think. I know my responsibilities as Heavenly Commander."

Arima-san raised an eyebrow, his smile never leaving his face. "That's not what I am worried about." He suddenly slid close to Shimon, shielding his next words with a hand in front of his face. "Actually, it is quite important that the families pass on their heritage. As it is that Otomi-san is the soon to be head of the Amawaka-Clan and therefore at some point of time she is expected to procure an heir. You might have good chances being a member of a side branch of one of the most prominent families."

Shimon felt heat rising. He willed the images that plopped up to disappear. Him and Otomi dating, him and Otomi married, him and Otomi having a child. Him and Mayura in a passionate embrace... Crap! Gulping he pushed with all of his willpower the picture out of his head. He clicked his tongue in annoyance. Also he needed to be more careful, after all this could be another step in Tsuchimikado Arima-san's big scheme. Since his sister had been on the verge of death in his last battle with the Twin Exorsists, his awarness for Arima-san's shady behavior had grown.

The current chief exorcist seemed to have waited for Shimon to end his inner conflict. Now he looked way more serious. "Anyhow, what I wanted to discuss is Otomi-san's well-being"

Shimon felt a cold shudder in his inner core as he waited for Arima-san's explanation.

"Did you know that she is the only case a Kegare ochi (2) was reverted?"

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(1) I'm not quite sure of the height system in Megano on the isle yet. To be on the safe side, I figured I'll take the third easiest level as reference to where the battle occured.

(2) I'll use the japanese word which means "fallen into becoming an impurity" because the English translations which are used in the anime and manga, "Kegare Corruption" and "Fallen Impurity", aren't conveying the meaning I need.

A/N: Hello people, welcome to this story. If you liked it, consider giving it a vote. Thank you very much.^^