“My dear, I am going to check on the maximum security cell myself, meanwhile, will you keep an eye on Avarice when he brings the four girls?  Actually, why don’t you speak to them? I know how much you wanted to before...”
    “I thought YOU were going to speak to them.”
    “Just tell them to expect death.”
    “Which is more than they deserve,” she grimaced, “especially Her Royal Highness Princess Serenity.”
    Lord Takeuchi pecked the cheek of his lady softly as he left the library, she did not react to the kiss as she would have a few weeks ago, in fact, she did not react at all.  She did not flinch or blush, her mind was happily fixated in what would happen in a few minutes, the ecstasy that would come. Looking at his retreating figure, she stood from her seat and smoothed her cape, she then tucked a slip of paper in a pocket of a cape, together with the henshin sticks and the communicators that had been confiscated. Smiling she left the library, and did not look behind her.  She was looking forward to an event immensely; the game was only just beginning.

   They found themselves kneeling in front of an empty throne, with large daggers being pointed at the back of their necks and shackles attached to the end of Avarice’s hand.  The hall was fully decorated in the shades of deep purple and black, humoring the dark gothic design, and the gargoyle like creature standing behind them. The door opened, they did not turn and look at who entered, but they nearly jumped out of their skins when they heard Ami’s smooth, calm voice speak to confirm their worst fears, “Avarice, you may leave us alone, now, wait outside.”
    They felt the grasp on the shackles on their necks loosen, as Avarice struggled to keep hold of the situation. “No! You are not supposed to be here, it was my understanding that that Lord Takeuchi, and Lord Takeuchi only, was to speak to them!”
    “Well,” Ami said calmly as they felt her footsteps coming closer to the, the footsteps stopped behind them, and they twisted to look at Ami. Gasping, they stared at her one luxurious blue locks, now blond in color, and her eyes were cold, void of emotions but of hatred. They couldn’t make out what made her different, but it would seem that she had forgotten her past. “You understood wrong.” She said flatly.
    “But, this is impossible…”
    “Come Avarice, you are a mere security officer, are you questioning my authority, the authority which has been delegated to me by his lordship himself? You know my title, do you not?”
    He glared at her, “yes, Lady Takeuchi.”
    They gasped at the announcement, the fact that Ami had fallen in their clutches, not only having completely betrayed their cause, but to have been married to that man who was responsible for her capture? It was impossible, yet, from what Avarice had just said, the impossible had occurred.
    Ami ignored them, and adverted from their gaze, “and yet you continue to question my authority?”
    “Who is questioning your authority, my dear?” Said a new voice, and a new pair of footsteps.  Twisting around even more, they saw a tall lean figure approaching them, his short straw-blond tresses caught a glint of light, and his green eyes gleamed from curiosity, and perhaps inquisitive power as he stared at Avarice.  His aura was different from that of Avarice, where Avarice glowered with hatred, he seemed to be made of light, his eyes shone as it rested on Ami, and there was something in his movements that didn’t seem to quite originate from that of the Negaverse.  The authority that rested on him did not seem to affect him at all, he was mildly mannered, and his attentions to Ami showed nothing but love and admiration for her. Wrapping his arm around Ami’s waist, to which Ami winced slightly but quickly recovered and looked back at him indifferently, Lord Takeuchi stared at Avarice, “I should certainly hope that it is not anyone in this room.”
    “No, my lord, I was merely making sure.”
    “Do you doubt my lady’s word, Avarice?”
    “No, my lord, I dare not.” Avarice said, snarling at Ami subtly.
    But the man caught the glance, “I certainly hope that that snarl was not meant for me...” He paused for his words to take an effect, “or my lady here.”
    “No, certainly not, Lord Takeuchi, I would not dream of that my lord.” Avarice then dropped the chains to their shackles and retreated.
    “Very well then, they are all yours my dear.” Lord Takeuchi looked at them with a cursory glance, then smiled at Ami.  Touching her cheek, his mannerisms seemed to melt even more under her gaze, while Ami’s gaze dropped, the defences which had been put up when Avarice was in the room dropped.  She caught their looks, and her eyes lightened, blushing like a young girl, but remembering her place, she held his hand and took it away from her cheek.  She did not return any of the affections bestowed upon her.  Nodding, he turned away from her, and left the room.
    Ami did not speak, she stepped onto the platform which held the throne and sat there, contemplating for a moment. She looked at them, her eyes intense, full of thought, her lips parted in preparation for what she was to say.  She looked past them when the door clicked closed and smiled at them, a smile that seemed to break the ice.  Surprisingly, her aloofness seemed to drop even more without the presence of security, but the moment of comfort was broken when Avarice re-entered the room. She spoke in a calm, controlled tone, much like Dr. Mizuno had when they broke the priceless vase in her house, but it was filled with underlying wraith, she was seething, “Avarice, did you not hear what was just commanded of you?  Need I repeat it?”
    The temperature in the room seemingly dropped, both holding each other’s stares coldly, they could almost feel the menacing glare from Avarice drilling a hole through their backs.  It was a game of power-play, and they could see that Ami was winning it by a long mile.  Leaning backwards, they could see both Avarice and Ami from the corner of their eyes.  She sat with her legs crossed, her body slouched slightly to one side as she propped her chin on the palm of her hand, and her elbow rested on the arm rest.  Avarice, however,  was working overtime, they could see him moving slowly, deliberately, as if calculating the next move carefully.  He looked lost for a moment, then took in a deep breath as if to say that he would cut his losses, without fully admitting defeat.  He walked up to her, and stepped onto the platform as well, and leant towards her.  “You win this round, but I know the truth.  Be scared, be very scared, I WILL bring you down in the most painful way possible, that I promise you.”
    Ami leaned back into the throne in a relaxed manner, “oh Avarice, despite all your threats, you don’t worry me in the least. You’ve been known to break promises, and this will be one of your last... You see, I know how to deal with you, and I will make sure that you are out of my way. Now get out of here before I have to throw you out, or take any action that YOU will regret.” She smiled at him sweetly and under the pretence of innocence, but holding his gaze steadily until his dropped, and he turned to leave the room.

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