"So?" Rekki asked, as Tenkou climbed into passenger seat of the jeep.
	Tenkou adjusted her backpack at her feet so she could close the door and 
then looked up at Rekki.  "So what?" she asked, pushing her hair behind her ears 
and buckling her seat belt.
	"So," Rekki put the jeep in reverse, "is the kid a little helldemon posing as a 
child, so it can aid the MorningStar Foundation in overthrowing the government 
and seizing control of the country?"
	Tenkou laughed.  "No," she admitted, "I don't think so."
	"All that worry for nothing," Rekki remarked, as she switched to drive.
	"Oh, I don't know if it's all for nothing," Tenkou replied, playing with the 
cuff of her violet sweater.  "I mean, I don't think the kid was sent to kill me, but I 
don't think he's entirely normal, either."
"Well, he is from another country," Rekki reminded her, shoulder-checking 
and then making a lane change.  "Besides, as my experience goes, what most 
humans consider to be 'normal' is still pretty damn strange."
	"I can't argue with you there," Tenkou agreed.  "Still, there's something 
about him.  Something that's just-- different."  She chewed on her lip, thoughtfully.  
"Different in the way that Yamato seemed different the first time I met him.  Well, 
not exactly the same, but I just get the same sort of feeling from Ethan."
	"Yamato is more an exception than the rule," Rekki reminded her.  "Plus, 
it's not good for your mental health if you keep trying to see monsters in every 
shadow, Tenkou."
	"I know," she sighed.  "It's just that once you know they're there, it's really 
hard to pretend you don't."

*
Darkness: Children of the Phoenix
Two: First Impressions
by: Chandra Rooney
darkness@cloak-and-dagger.co.uk
*

	The heavy smoke of the incense wafted about Gevura as she knelt before 
the enrobed figure.  Candles provided the only light in the darkened room, their 
flicking orange flames fuzzy and indistinct in the overpoweringly sweet haze.  
Bowing low to the floor, Gevura raised her head.  "Wise and powerful--"
	"Speak not, child," the woman beneath the robes warned.  "Save to explain 
why you dare to violate my sanctuary."
	Gevura swallowed.  "I am seeking justice," she told the woman.  
"Judgement upon the one who has killed my siblings--"
	"From a family that you have forsaken," the woman finished.  Her delicate 
hand moved over the pool of water before her, its surface as smooth and glassy as 
a mirror.  "I have foreseen your coming, Gevura," she announced.  "I know why 
you are here and the identity of the one who you seek."  She gathered her robes to 
her as she stood.  Gracefully, she glided down the steps towards Gevura.  The 
woman reached up and lowered her hood.  "Now tell me why I should help you."
	Gevura swallowed as she looked up at the beautiful face of the woman.  
Dark red hair tumbled around the woman's shoulders in intricately woven designs.  
Golden eyes watched Gevura, and between the woman's dark red brows a red 
spiral overlaid a pentagram.  "My cause is just," Gevura told the woman.  "This 
man has killed many.  He should be made to answer for his crimes."
	"Little girl," the woman replied, regarding Gevura sadly.  "It pains me to 
know you will never understand the full extent of this deception until it is too late."  
She stepped past Gevura.  "Very well.  Come with me."
	Gevura pulled herself to her feet.  "Lady Avalon?" she asked, hesitating.  
"You're really going to help me?"
	The Lady shook her head.  "No, child, I am not going to help you," she 
replied, gravely, "I am only going to give you what you want."

*
The girl with the long dark brown hair twisted the phone cord around her 
finger as she waited for someone to pick up.  She was dressed in a pair of jeans and 
a green knit sweater.  "Come on," she muttered, checking her watch, "I'll have to 
go back to class soon."
	"Good morning, Morningstar Gallery," a crisp voice said.  "How may I 
help you?"
	The girl checked the small business card she was holding in her hand.  "Is 
this Mr. Estralas?" she asked.
	"Yes, this is Vincent Estralas," the voice replied.  "How may I help you?"
	"This is Katy-- Katherine Coope, Mr. Estralas.  You held the show for me 
on Saturday--"
	"Oh, yes, Ms. Coope.  How are you enjoying your stay in our fair city?" he 
asked.  "You haven't run into any problems at the school have you?"  There was 
the sound of papers shuffling.  "I was quite certain that everything in order, but I 
suppose something may have been overlooked due to the size of the group--"
	"Oh, no, everything's fine at school," Katy insisted.  "I was just wondering 
if my missing portfolio has turned up yet."
	"Your portfolio--?  Oh, oh, yes.  The pieces of artwork that were misplaced 
at the gallery," he sighed.  "I'm very sorry to report that they haven't turned up yet.  
I will personally look for them this afternoon, Ms. Coope.  I do apologize.  This 
matter should have been sorted out much sooner, but that little incident at the Gala 
has thrown a wrench in everyone's plans."
	"What did happen anyway?" Katy asked.  "One moment I was on my way 
to the ballroom to hear your speech for the scholarship presentation, and then the 
next thing I knew I being escorted out--"
	"Just a small incident," Vincent repeated.  "I really shouldn't be telling you 
this," he continued, after a moment, "but we've been having a bit of trouble with 
security lately.  There was a bit of a breach at the Gala Saturday and the guests 
were escorted out just to be on the safe side."  He paused.  "We're in the process of 
remedying the problem as we speak, but I believe we may look into a more private 
presentation of the scholarship just to be safe."
	"Oh," Katy sighed in relief.  "All right."
	"Myself or someone else from the Foundation will contact you or your 
mother when we have more concrete information," he continued.  "I apologize 
once again about the misplacement of your portfolio, Ms. Coope.  I'm afraid I'll 
have to let you go now.  You take care."
	"Thank you, I--" Katy stopped as the phone clicked in her ear.  "Will," she 
finished, hanging it back on its cradle.  Sighing, she indicated to the person next in 
line that it was okay to come into the office and exited through the main door back 
into the bustling hallway of the high school.
	There seemed no indication that the lunch break was nearing its end.  
Students gathered in clusters around lockers, walking the halls or buying snacks in 
the cafeteria.  Katy looked around, wondering how long it would take her to feel 
like she belonged here.  The Shining Light Academy was one of the premier 
schools for visual and performing in arts in America, and she considered herself 
quite lucky to be granted a full scholarship to attend.
	Just because she didn't have to worry about footing the enormous bill to 
attend the exclusive school didn't mean that there weren't other things to worry 
about.  The school system in America was different from the UK one that she had 
spent most of her life in.  Plus, it was ridiculous to assume that someone could 
come into a school that most of the students attended since kindergarten and hope 
to be welcomed into the clearly defined cliques.
	Katy sighed.  Her morning classes consisted of the required courses for a 
standard graduation in the state, but her afternoons were devoted to a daily studio 
block.  From the meager information she could glean from the other students, 
studio block was usually just a period of unstructured time to pursue your own 
interests.  Apparently a female university student who was working on an 
education degree taught it, and she could care less if the kids stayed for the entire 
time or not.  So long as she showed up to take attendance, she received her credits.
	Oh well, Katy shrugged.  She might as well go to the studio class early, 
since there was no reason for her to remain wandering the halls aimlessly like the 
rest of the drones.  Maybe some of her fellow classmates would be in the studio 
already.
	She walked to her assigned locker and twirled the combination lock until it 
opened.  She pulled her supplies and sketchbook out of the locker, and then 
relocked everything else safely inside.  Pausing, to recall which way the studio lay, 
she turned and began making her way through the crowd.
	
*
	Alan Stone was beginning to wonder if anyone, save Binah, ever used the 
Morningstar Foundation's library.  Once again, the two of them were the only ones 
in the expansive collection.  Not that he minded.  The quiet was nice, and he felt 
that he and Binah could speak more freely together than if others had been 
studying nearby.
	"I really am sorry about the mix-up, Alan," Binah was saying.  "I don't 
know what could have happened."
	"It's all right," Stone assured her.  "I much prefer having a student that can 
speak English anyway."
	Binah smiled.  "Does he seem to be fitting in?" she asked, turning her face 
towards him.
	"Yes, as far as I can tell," Stone replied.  "Tenkou mentioned she heard him 
rolling around last night-- bad dreams, he told me this morning."  Binah nodded, 
but he couldn't help but notice the strange expression she was wearing didn't fade.
	"Alan," she said, raising her head again, "I asked you here because I 
thought I should explain my actions at the Gala.  You must think me insane to have 
insisted we ignore a mur--"
	"Yes, the Gala," Stone muttered.  "I've spent the past two days thinking 
about what happened, Binah."  He leaned forward.  "I'd like to ask you a question 
now, and no matter how strange it sounds, I would appreciate if you answer it as 
best you can."
	"I-- of course," she nodded.
	"Those strangers at the Gala," he began, "the two young men, the one that 
that looked like Zellar and his friend.  Who were they really?"
	Binah sighed.  She reached forward and touched his hand.  "Viola's 
Twilight and Judgement," she replied.  "At least, that is who they claim to be."
	"You don't believe them?" he asked, placing his hand over hers.
	"Twilight and Judgement were names invented and then given to a pair of 
personified forces," Binah replied.  "They only existed because someone long, long 
ago thought it would bring comfort to a people."
	"But you fear them.  You believe enough to fear that he would try to take 
Tenkou."  He shook his head, an ugly look on his face.  "He wouldn't have to try 
very hard.  I found out that she had been seeing him ever after I forbade her." 
	"She didn't know," Binah pulled back.  "It's hard to say, it may even have 
been Yamato see was seeing."
	"I don't understand," Stone protested, "I thought that monster was Zell-- 
Yamato."
	Binah sighed gently.  "I suppose I should explain," she began, "about what 
Yamato really is and his relationship to the man who calls himself Judgement."

*
	Reims rested atop the lamppost and looked across the street at the brown-
haired girl who she carried the strange baggage with her through the courtyard of 
the school.  "You've really gone all out to hide yourself away this time, Ethanael."  
He chuckled.  "How clever you are," he licked his lips.  "No one would expect to 
find you in such a form.  It's too bad you weren't clever enough to cover your 
flames."  He watched as the girl tugged open the door to the building and pulled 
herself inside.  Upon her back, the delicate orange flames danced.  To the 
untrained eye they were invisible, but Reims knew full well what they were and 
how to see them.  "Clever," he smiled oily, "but not clever enough."
		
*
	Katy pulled open the door to the studio and stepped inside.  The room was 
empty and dark.  Looking around, she noted the drawing desks and the longer table 
off to one side.  A teacher's desk and chalkboard rested against the other wall.  At 
the back of the classroom was a door leading to the open area behind the school.  
Afternoon sunshine from the high skylights poured down to create an island of 
light in the middle of the floor.
	"It appears you can have your pick of the spots," a pleasant voice said 
behind her.
	Katy shrieked and dropped her portfolio to the ground as she whirled 
around, ready to throw her backpack at the intruder.
	The young man behind her looked rather perplexed by this.  His twilight 
blue eyes regarded her for a moment and then he gave her a warm smile as he 
raised his gloved hands.  "Did I startle you?" he asked.
	Katy gaped at him.  What a stupid thing to ask!
	He lowered his hands and extended one towards her.  "I'm Matt," he told 
her.  She looked at the deep blue glove on his hand that reached from his wrist to 
his second knuckle.  Then she looked back up at him.  He seemed older than the 
other sixth years-- seniors she had seen in the hallways.  His glossy black hair fell 
in his eyes, the tips died a dark blue color.  He was dressed in a white t-shirt and 
dark denim trousers over black boots.  "I supervise this open studio class," he 
continued, waggling his fingers a little as if to remind her that his hand was still 
stretched out before her.
	"You're the teacher?" Katy asked, hurrying to shake his hand.
	"That's one of the things they call me," Matt replied, easily.  "You must be 
one of the students.  Katherine Coope if I'm not mistaken."
	"Katy," she corrected, letting go of his hand.  "I don't care to be called 
'Katherine'.  But how did you know?"
	"Very well, Katy," he smiled, and bent to retrieve her dropped portfolio.  
"This second section of open studio was created this week to accommodate the 
extra students that are here because of the exchange."  He handed her the portfolio 
and then stepped to the wall so he could turn on the lights.  "So there's only eight 
of us.  On the plus side it means I can spend more time with each of you than if it 
had been a full class." He paused.  "So they tell me.  I can't help but wonder if they 
just don't trust me with a large group."
	"How can you be the teacher?" Katy asked.  "You're so--"
	"I'm working on a bachelor of education at the college," Matt explained.  
He smiled suddenly.  "Don't let my good looks fool you, I'm much older than I 
appear."
	Katy gave him an odd look and then changed the subject.  "Exchange?" she 
asked.
	"There's about thirty-four other exchange students who arrived from 
various places last night," he replied.  "Seven more of them will be joining us in 
open studio while they're here."
	"Isn't that rather silly to open a class for two weeks?"
	"Maybe some of them will end up staying longer," Matt suggested, 
shrugging.  The door opened and he brightened, looking at the person who had just 
walked in.  "Good to see you made it, Hikaru."
	Katy turned, wondering how it was that Matt knew everyone's names.  The 
boy standing in the doorwell was a few inches shorter than Matt, but still taller 
than her.  His blue eyes were hidden behind a pair of purple-pink tinted glasses and 
his pale blond hair.  His pale skin seemed almost white in contrast to his black 
clothing.  From what Katy could tell it appeared to be one of those school uniforms 
she saw so often in anime and manga.
	"Katy," Matt was introducing, "this is Karu.  He's from Gunma.  That's in 
Japan."
	Katy looked at Hikaru.  "He doesn't look Japanese," she muttered.
	"I'm not," Hikaru replied.  "I just live there sometimes."
	"I've got a lot of fun things planned for us to do," Matt told Hikaru.  "You'll 
enjoy our time together.  I promise."
	Hikaru raised an eyebrow.  "Are you certain you have the qualifications to 
teach this class?" he asked, walking over to the table and setting his bag on it.
	Katy followed him and placed her things on the other side of the table.  She 
glanced at Hikaru from the corner of her eye.  He was something all right, but 
Japanese wasn't it.
	"You can't be mean to me, Karu," Matt informed him, "I'm the teacher."
	"Sure you are."  Hikaru caught Katy watching him.  He grinned and rolled 
his eyes.  "This will be interesting," he told her.  She blushed, dropping her gaze 
and nodding.
	"Karu!"  A girl with large almond eyes panted at the door.  Her long black 
hair had been placed in two small buns with a long pigtail hanging from them.  Her 
creme pleated skirt and navy shirt with cream scarf resembled the female 
equivalent of Hikaru's uniform.
	"Looks like you found me, Mei Ling," Hikaru remarked.  "Good job.  Now 
you hide and I'll find you."
	"Very funny," Mei Ling panted, as she scampered over to the table and 
dropped her bag beside him.  After she'd caught her breath she turned and fixed 
Katy with a very dark stare.  "Don't get any ideas about Karu," she warned, "he's 
got a girlfriend."
	"Mei Ling," Hikaru began, giving Katy an apologetic look, "this is Katy--"
	"Oooh, I hate this thing," Mei Ling whined, tugging at the collar of her 
shirt.  "I don't understand why we have to wear them.  We should dress like 
everyone else here does."
	"I think you look very cute, Mei Ling," Matt remarked, smiling at the girl 
with the Chinese name.
	Mei Ling turned and clasped her cheeks, a starry look in her eyes.  
"Really?" she breathed.
	"That's the teacher," Hikaru told her, flatly.
	"Does it matter?" Mei Ling demanded.  "He's still cute."
	"So you can check out other boys but Karu can't talk to other girls?" Katy 
asked.  "That doesn't seem very fair."
	"I don't have a boyfriend," Mei Ling snapped.  "He has a girlfriend.  She 
would want me to make sure he's good while he's away from her."
	"It's all right, Katy," Hikaru told her.  "Mei Ling's just doing what she was 
asked to do.  Even if she's a little overprotective."  He gave her a smile whose 
warmth matched that of Matt's.
	"Are you from Gunma too?" Katy asked Mei Ling.
	Mei Ling gave her a blank look and then quickly glanced at Hikaru.  He 
nodded.  "We came from the same place didn't we, Mei Ling?"
	"Oh, of course we did," Mei Ling laughed.
	The three of them looked up as three other students filed into the 
classroom.  The golden bell on the black ribbon around the girl's neck tinkled as 
she walked past them towards the drawing desks in the back of the room.  Her 
blue-green eyes stared straight ahead, and her black hair was pulled into pigtails.  
Katy tried not to stare at what the girl was wearing-- or perhaps not wearing.  The 
little black piece of material she had on looked more like a bikini than a shirt and 
the leopard-print dress that was unbuttoned to her naval over the top looked like it 
was several sizes too small.
	The tall boy on her left had longish died green hair and flat hazel eyes.  He 
was dressed in gray snake-print pants and a half-undone shiny silver shirt.  As he 
walked by he caught Katy's eyes and licked his lips.  Katy shivered.  He gave her 
the creeps.  The boy took a seat at the drawing desk next to the girl.
	The other boy was smaller and trailing behind the group.  He had light 
purple eyes and short gray hair-- like a bleach job gone wrong.  He was wearing 
khakis and a red hoodie.  Instead of walking past them he stopped at the table.  
"May I sit here?" he asked, carefully forming the words through his thick accent.
	Mei Ling gave him a funny look.  Katy decided that he seemed much more 
like a real exchange to her.  Hikaru watched the other boy.  "The people who sit 
here are my friends," he told the boy, after a moment.
	"We can be friends," the boy replied.  "Yes?"
	"All right," Hikaru nodded.  "You may join us."
	The boy nodded, sitting on the one side of Katy.  "My name is Ezekiel, but 
please call me Zeke."
	"Call me Karu," Hikaru replied.  "This is Mei Ling and Katy.  Do you 
know who the other two are?"
	Ezekiel briefly looked at the two students sitting back in the desks.  The 
girl blew a bubble with her gum.  "She is Neko," he replied.  "And he is Tokage."
	Hikaru nodded.  "Thought so," he replied.  "Relax, Zeke, you just stick 
with us."
	"Yes," Ezekiel nodded.  He looked at Mei Ling and Katy and then returned 
his gaze to Hikaru.  "Thank you."
	"Don't thank me until it's over," Hikaru replied, oddly.  Ezekiel nodded.
	Mei Ling reached across the table and poked Katy.  "Psst!" she hissed.
	Katy frowned, pulling her arm away from Mei Ling's reach.  "What is it?" 
she asked.
	"What are the weird boy and Karu talking about?" the other girl demanded.
	"How should I know?" Katy asked her.  "I just met you guys."
	"All right," Matt announced, and Katy and Mei Ling both turned.  The 
student-teacher was sitting on his desk with his legs dangling over the side.  He 
was looking at the sheet in his lap and taping the pen against his leg.  "I know who 
you all are, but for the sake of your classmates, I'm going to embarrass you by 
doing a role call.  Please raise your hand when you hear your name so everyone 
can look at you.  First up, Ezekiel."
	"Our teacher is very different," Ezekiel remarked, ponderously, as he raised 
his hand.
	"Katy," Matt called.  Katy raised her hand and he ticked off her name on 
the sheet.  "Mei Ling?"  Mei Ling waved her hand, smiling at Matt 
enthusiastically.  "Good," he nodded.  "Karu."  Hikaru lifted his hand in a half-
hearted wave.  "Miss Neko who perfers to be called 'Kitty'?"  The girl in the tight 
dress stretched.  "And Mr. Tokage who wants to be known as 'Iz'?"  The boy next 
to her leered as he waggled his fingers.  Matt nodded to himself.  "Which leaves 
Ethan and Valen," he remarked, closing the folder.  "Do any of you have other 
classes with Ethan Rook or Valen Tyne?"
	"Like, what kind of, like, name is Valen Tine?" Kitty asked, sounding 
bored.  She 
	"So that's a no."  Matt was pulling back his left glove, and Katy assumed he 
was checking his watch.  "Seems strange they'd be late to the first class.  Did 
anyone see them trailing behind in the hallways?"
	"How should we know what they look like?" Iz asked, grinning like an 
idiot.  His tongue momentarily poked between his lips, and then it returned back in 
his mouth.
	"I suppose it's too much to expect you would have actually paid attention to 
your fellow exchange students," Matt remarked.  He tapped the pen against the 
palm of his hand for a moment.  "If they don't show up in five minute, I'll have to 
go look for them.  If and while I'm gone Karu is in charge."
	"That's a good idea," Mei Ling remarked, nodding.  "Karu is _very_ 
responsible."  Hikaru gave Mei Ling a funny look, but she didn't acknowledge 
having seen it.
	Katy wasn't quite sure if she liked Mei Ling.  The other girl seemed whiny 
and pushy, but if Katy had to choose between Mei Ling and Kitty she'd take Mei 
Ling.  Both Kitty and Iz gave her a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.  Zeke 
seemed really shy, so it was hard to tell anything about him just yet.  Hikaru was 
definitely the nicest one of the bunch and really cute, too.  Too bad he had a 
girlfriend.
	"Okay," Matt hopped off the desk and clapped his hands together.  "Why 
are we here?"
	"Why are you asking us?" Iz called back.  "You're the teacher."  He 
chortled at his stupid remark, and Kitty joined in with a fit of half-suppressed 
giggles.
	"Why shouldn't I ask you?" Matt replied, walking back towards where Iz 
and Kitty sat.  "Perhaps the two of you would like to join the rest of us at the 
table?" he suggested, as he indicated the empty seats.
	"We're just perfect where we are," Kitty replied, drawing out her 'r's.
	"Statistically those who sit in the back of the classroom do poorer than 
those who sit in the front.  But it's your choice."  He shrugged and turned back 
towards the table, placing Kitty and Iz behind him.  "Open studio is traditionally a 
sort of 'free block' that allows students to pursue their own projects in whatever 
strikes their fancy that day."  He paused.  "But here's my wild and crazy idea.  
Each of you is going to create a self-directed study program that you will be 
responsible for following and completing during our time together.  A program 
that includes daily assignments."
	"You want us to work?" Iz demanded.  "No one said we would actually 
have to do anything."
	"You're in school, Tokage," Matt replied, patiently.  "It seems to go without 
saying that you will have work to do."  He turned back to the class.  "Now, you're 
probably all as pleased as Iz about having to do this, but keep in mind that you 
decide how heavy your workload will be.  This is a lesson in making deadlines and 
setting goals for yourself."
	Katy raised her hand.  "What sort of projects do they have to be?" she 
asked.
	"Asking about the guidelines, smart girl." Matt tapped his nose.  "The 
guidelines are simple.  The program should have an objective.  You will have an 
assignment handed in at the end day, and there will be some common thread that 
links them all together.  As for what form you wish this to take, that's completely 
up to you-- within reason, of course.  Anything that endangers yourself or your 
classmates will not be approved."  He paused.  "So get out your sketchbook or 
notebook and start brainstorming some ideas.  Hold down the fort until I return, 
Karu."
	"Sir," Hikaru replied, with a small salute.  Unlike Iz, there was nothing 
mocking or pretentious about the action.
	Katy pulled out a notebook and uncapped a pen.  This was way more 
structured than what she'd been led to suspect, but part of her was glad.
	"Do you think Matt is short for something?" Mei Ling asked, digging 
around in her bag until she found a notebook.  "Like Mathaeias or Matthew or--?"
	"Who cares what his name is?" Iz asked, looking up from inscribing 
something into his drawing desk with a wicked-looking penknife.  "It's not like it 
matters."
	"He is rather cute," Kitty drawled around her gum.
	"You want him?" Iz asked, looking over at her.  "You can have him."
	"You're so generous," was her sarcastic reply.
	Hikaru and Ezekiel exchanged a worried glance.  Mei Ling made a sour 
face.  It appeared the rest of her classmates shared Katy's impression of Kitty and 
Iz.  "Anyone have ideas about the project?" she asked, trying to break the uneasy 
silence that had settled over the table.
	"Perhaps a study of the local environment would be interesting," Ezekiel 
began, quietly.  "I like landscapes.  They are less complicated than people and 
more honest."
	"Could I make costumes?" Mei Ling asked, looking up from her notebook.
	"Can you?" Katy asked.  "You know how to sew?"
	"I make most of my own clothes," Mei Ling replied.
	Katy blinked.  "You do?"
	"Of course," Mei Ling replied.  "Doesn't everyone?"  She wrote a few more 
things down in her notebook.  "Say, Karu, what are you going to do?"  Hikaru 
shifted uncomfortably.  "But you must know a lot about art," she persisted.
	"That doesn't necessarily mean that I do a lot of art," Hikaru replied, 
hesitating.  "I suppose my personality lends itself to photorealism, but I don't have 
the patience or near-obsessive attention to detail necessary to enjoy or excel at it."  
He shrugged.  "I'll think of something.  What about you, Katy?"
	"I've always wanted to create a comic," Katy replied, feeling her cheeks 
redden.  "I just never had the time.  I've started a few, but then things have come 
up and I've stopped and never gone back to them."
	"We'll have to make sure you don't abandon this one," Hikaru replied, with 
a little smile.  "You won't pass if you stop halfway through."
	"Isn't this cute?" Iz asked, slamming his hands down on the end of the 
table.  "The four of you sure became fast friends."
	Ezekiel scooted his chair closer to the other end of the table.  Mei Ling just 
gave Iz a dirty look.  "No one likes you," she told him, simply.  "Go away."
	"That may be," Iz leered at her.  "But it doesn't change who's in charge of 
this operation."
	"Er..." Ezekiel began.
	"Ignore him," Mei Ling remarked, tossing her hair and returning to her 
notes.
	Katy nodded and looked down at her own notes.
	Hikaru seemed unable to followsuit.  "What is your problem?" he asked Iz.
	"My problem," Iz sneered down his nose at Hikaru, "is that I seemed to 
have gotten the weakling cowards of the bunch.  You're all just going to be good 
little boys and girls?  Just going to sit there and draw up your little plans and play 
along?"
	Hikaru stood.  "We're in school, Tokage," he replied, simply.  "Part of our 
role as students is to complete the tasks given to us by our instructors.  We're not 
'playing along', we're doing our jobs."
	"Our jobs?" Iz took a menacing step forward.  "I think you've forgotten 
what our jobs are.  In fact," he cracked his knuckles, "I think I ought to remind 
you."
	
*

	Ethan sniffled and rubbed at his eyes.  All the hallways in the school 
looked the same to him, and he was hopelessly lost.  When he'd asked someone for 
help, they'd taken him to the wrong open studio class and the teacher had made fun 
of him in front of her class by calling him a 'stupid little alien that couldn't read'.  
Hadn't he seen that this class was for real students and that he needed to go to the 
class they'd made for the dumb exchange students who didn't understand English?
	 the voice asked.  
	Ethan sniffled again.  "I'm sorry," he mumbled.  "I just--"
	 the voice fumed.  
	Hanging his head, Ethan curled his legs up to his chin and tried to get as 
close to the huge Douglas fir's trunk as he could.  "Please just leave me alone," he 
pleaded, his voice muffled by the sleeves of his sweater.
	 the voice snorted.  
	Ethan whimpered softly.  The voice had haunted his dreams last night, 
tormenting him and taunting him while he had tried to sleep.  To his horror, it had 
continued after he'd awaken in the morning.  The voice wouldn't go away and 
nothing Ethan did seemed to make it happy.
	"Thought you could hide, did you?" a new voice asked.
	Ethan's head jerked up, expecting to see a hulking bully leering above him 
with his fists raised.   the voice told him, sighing.  Ethan quietly 
turned around and peered out from the side of the tree trunk.
	A small black-haired boy was back against another tree trunk, his lip 
cracked and bleeding.  His pale purple eyes were wide with fright.  The boy was 
dressed in a red sweater and black vest and trousers.
	The bully was a tall man in leather trousers and what appeared to be a choir 
robe.  His knee-high black leather boot moved in a swift kick, catching the small 
boy in the stomach.  As the boy doubled over in pain, the man grinned.  A devilish 
light appeared in his green eyes, and he casually pushed the strange long lock of 
red hair from his face as the boy coughed.
	 the voice in Ethan's head hissed.
	"Listen to me you little gnat," Reims continued.  "It wasn't very wise for 
you to stray so far from that old witch's broken down temple, but since you're out 
here you might as well put yourself to good use."
	"I don't know what you're talking about," the boy protested.  "Please, you're 
hurting me--"
	"Shut up."  Reims kicked the boy again.  "Obviously you were sent here to 
find Fortune.  But you won't be returning him to that harpy.  You're going to work 
for me."
	"That's not fair," Ethan whispered.  "He's twice the size of that kid and way 
older than him--"
	 The voice paused.  
	"What do we do?" Ethan whispered.  "Should we go get a teacher?"
	  A mental 
sigh echoed through Ethan's head.  
	"Who is?" Ethan asked.  "I don't understand what you're talking about."
	
	"Just sit and hide?" Ethan repeated.  "How can I help that boy by doing 
that?"
	  The voice paused again.  

*

	Valentine gave himself up for lost.  Trapped in his weakened state, he was 
at the mercy of this deranged being.  Valen could barely protect himself against a 
human, let alone something like the monster above them.
	Reims grinned viciously down at him.  "Fortune, the devious little monster 
that he is, has hidden himself as a student in this school," he told Valentine.
	"How did you know that?" Valentine found himself spluttering.  Damn 
you, Valen, he cursed once the words were out of his mouth.  What was he doing?  
He had to keep his head in a situation like this-- or he was going to lose it 
permanently.
	"I saw him," Reims replied, simply.  He smiled sadistically.  "Or rather, I 
saw _her_."
	Valentine burst out laughing.  "You've lost what precious little brain 
capacity you had to begin with, Reims," he remarked, his fear melting away.  As 
the fear ebbed, Valen's hold over him began to wean.  He managed to sit up a little 
straighter.
	Reims sneered.  "Don't attempt to trick me," he said, coldly.  "I know what 
I saw.  Save yourself the pain and just be honest with me."
	Valentine swallowed back his laughter.  Even if Reims was being utterly 
ridiculous, he couldn't afford to make the man angry.
	"You're going to befriend Fortune," Reims told Valentine, "and gain her 
trust.  Once you've done so you're going to bring her to me."
	"And what are you going to do for me in exchange?" Valentine asked.
	"I'm going to let you live," Reims replied, simply.
	"That all?"  Reims turned.  A young man with mulberry colored eyes was 
standing behind him.  The young man had deep blue hair with a swatch of orange 
in the left side of his fringe, and upon his forehead was a dark blue spiral marked 
at the compass points by four small circles.  He was wearing a white t-shirt and 
dark denim jeans.  "You'll let him live?" the young man repeated.  "Doesn't sound 
like a very good deal to me."
	Reims gave the young man a dirty look.  "What are you doing here, 
Mattaeo?" he demanded.  "Shouldn't you be off nursing that annoying nuisance 
you call a grandson back to health?"
	Mattaeo rubbed the back of his neck.  "Yeah, about that," he began, smiling 
good-naturedly.  "You see, Nathanael's sort of replaced me in the whole 'nursing' 
aspect for the today.  As a result, I've been feeling rather violent.  It's just the 
damnedest thing."
	Reims paled.  "Oh dear," he said, very quietly.  "Now, now, Mattaeo, let's 
not do anything we might regret--"
	"I see you remember what happened last time, but you really shouldn't 
worry."  Mattaeo grabbed Reims by the wrist.  "The only thing I'll regret, Reims, is 
that we're not close to any brick walls."  He extended his arm quickly, effortlessly 
tossing Reims into the wooden and cement construct of a courtyard table.  Reims 
bounced off the side of the table, landing in a heap on the ground.  Mattaeo walked 
over and bent down to look at him.  "Gee, Reims, I hope that was hard enough for 
you."
	Reims moaned.
	"Shouldn't you be getting back up now?" Mattaeo continued, poking Reims 
with the toe of his boot.  "C'mon, you big faker.  Don't tell me you're actually 
hurt." 
	Another gurgle was his only reply.  Mattaeo looked back at Valentine.  "I 
think I broke him."
	Valentine pulled himself to his feet and walked over.  Leaning on Mattaeo 
for support he looked down at Reims.  "Not so tough when you're up against 
someone your own size, are you?" he spat.  He looked up at Mattaeo.  "You're 
Twilight then."
	"Don't you listen?"  Mattaeo asked, sounding frustrated.  "Not today."
	"Oh.  Well, I'm Valentine--"
	"I know who you are," Matteao stopped him.  "You're late for class, 
Valentine."
	"Yeah, funny story there," Valentine began.  "See, I was on my way to 
class, but...." he trailed off and looked down at Reims.
	"He shouldn't cause anymore trouble today," Mattaeo replied.  He frowned.  
"I've got to get back and restore some sense of order to the class.  Hikaru's about to 
come to blows with one of Dawn's called in boys."
	"I suppose I should come with you," Valentine remarked.
	"Only if you feel up to it."  Mattaeo turned, casting a glance back at one of 
the trees.  "You'd better come along, too, Ethan."
	The strawberry-blond head peaked out from the tree trunk.  "How did you 
know I was here?" the boy asked, meekly, as he made his way to where they stood.  
Valentine's mouth dropped open.  "Ethan?" he gasped.
	Ethan blinked and gave the other boy a confused look.  "Do I know you?" 
he asked.
	Valentine grabbed Ethan by the shoulders.  "Oh, come on," he began, 
angrily.  "I know I don't look it, but you're supposed to be able to tell these things.  
It's me, Ethanael, Valentine."
	Ethan blinked again.  "Oh," he replied.  "I'm sorry, Ethanael Valentine, but 
I don't remember you."
	Valentine nearly fell over.  "No, I'm _Valentine_," he explained.  
"_You're_ Ethanael."
	"Oh."  Another blink.  "I thought I was Ethan."
	Valentine stared at him, mouth agape.  Then he turned and looked back at 
Mattaeo.  "He's lost what little sanity he had to begin with," Valentine relayed, 
gesturing to Ethan.
	Mattaeo smirked.  Oddly enough, the expression managed to keep from 
looking out of place.  "You're late for class," he told Ethan.
	Ethan's lip quivered.  "I'm sorry," he hung his head.  "But I went to the 
wrong class, and the teacher was really mean and she _yelled_ at me in front of all 
these strangers, and then I felt really bad so I just tried to find the other class but I 
couldn't, and I got really sad, so I just thought I'd stay out here where no one would 
yell at me, and then that guy came and I wanted to do something to help but I was 
scared, and then you came and threw him into a picnic table and I was safe but I 
couldn't come out because you might be a mean person who would hurt me."  He 
stopped, gasping for breath.
	"No," Mattaeo replied.  "And you did help.  I heard you call me."
	"I didn't call anyone," Ethan replied confused.  "But is that what the voice 
did?  Because it said that someone would come and help.  But it wasn't happy 
about having to ask."
	"Not, it wouldn't be."  Mattaeo agreed.  "But why didn't come out from 
behind the tree right away?"
	Ethan shuffled his feet.  "I was worried that you might throw me into a 
picnic table.  The voice thought that was really funny and laughed at me."  Ethan 
scowled, cutely.  "I don't like the voice very much."
	Valentine eyebrow twitched.  "That's _not_ Ethanael," he said, darkly.  
"He's been possessed by some little kid!"
	"Just because that's what happened to you doesn't mean it's what happens to 
everyone else," Mattaeo replied.  He placed an arm around Ethan's shoulders.  The 
young boy flinched.  "Easy, Ethan, I'm not upset with you," Mattaeo soothed.  
Ethan relaxed after a moment, allowing Mattaeo to guide him back towards the 
school.  "Come along, Valentine," he called.  "I have a feeling we'll get back to 
class just in time for an early dismissal."

*

	Alan Stone rested his face against his folded hands and tried to breathe 
deeply.  Caught somewhere between outrage and disbelief, he fought to make 
sense of the things Binah had told him.
	"Viola never told you any of this, not even in her weakest moments," Binah 
guessed from his furious silence.  "I suspected she wouldn't have."
	"We were married for fifteen years," Stone began finally.  "It had been five 
before Tenkou was born.  We had spoken of previous relationships-- but never did 
she even hint at what you're suggesting."
	"It isn't exactly as if they were dating," Binah replied.  "Such a relationship 
is more intimate than that of one between spouses or lovers.  It's a bonding of 
souls-- literally."  She paused.  "I don't quite understand it myself, all I know is 
what my sister tried to explain to me of her experiences with Twilight.  Viola 
probably felt that it wasn't something you could understand."
	"So many secrets," Stone whispered.  "There were so many things I never 
knew about her.  I was happy to accept what she told me; I never once thought to 
question her further.  Now," he took a deep breath, "now her past is threatening our 
daughter's future.  What can I do, Binah?"
	She smiled, and reached for his hand.  "You trust me," she replied, softly, 
"and you do exactly as I say."

*

	They returned to the class to find that Iz and Kitty had vanished.  Mattaeo, 
having returned to his less recognizable appearance, made his way to the table of 
those who remained.  Ethan and Valentine trailed behind him.  Mattaeo made a 
show of scanning the faces that sat before him.  "Where's Ezekiel?" he asked 
Hikaru.
	"He said he had an appointment," Hikaru replied, rubbing his knuckles 
absently.
	"And Iz?"
	"Kitty had to take him to the infirmary after he had a conversation with my 
right foot," Hikaru replied, smiling.  "If I was a betting man, I'd put my money on 
them not bothering and leaving school instead."
	"Gambling on school property is grounds for suspension," Mattaeo 
remarked.  He cleared his throat.  "If I can have your attention, class.  I found the 
two missing members of our class," he paused, "but it appears that three others 
have gone missing in their place."  Mattaeo turned and indicated Ethan.  "Ladies 
and Karu, this is Ethan Rook."
	Katy and Mei Ling looked up from their notes.  "He's pretty cute," Mei 
Ling whispered to Katy.  "For a little kid."
	Katy nodded.  "He looks like he's about twelve or so," she agreed.
	"And this is Valen Tyne," Mattaeo indicated Valentine.  "Please have a seat 
at the table with Mei Ling and Katy, boys.  Hikaru, if you could come over to my 
desk, I'd like to talk to you about what happened to Iz."  Hikaru hopped down from 
his perch atop the back of a chair and followed Mattaeo over the desk.
	Valentine sat down beside Mei Ling, leaving Ethan standing at the head of 
the table.  He stood there for a moment, looking at Katy.  His expression turned 
tense, as if he was battling over something.  The he smiled slyly and his eyes 
flashed a brilliant dark green as he eased into the seat next to Katy.
	"Hey," Mei Ling said, leaning across the table to tap the spot before where 
Ethan was sitting.  "How old are you?"
	"Two hundred," Ethan replied, simply.
	Mei Ling giggled.  "No, really," she began.  "How old are you?"
	"Okay, so I'm actually closer to three," he shrugged and looked back at 
Katy.  "Hello again."
	"Again?" Katy repeated.  "Have we met before?"
	Ethan feigned a look of hurt.  "Don't you remember how we ran into each 
other at the show?"
	Katy smiled weakly.  "I'm sorry," she told him, sincerely, "but I was 
introduced to so many people then--"
	"I thought you would have remembered me," Ethan replied, pouting a little.
	"You're hard to forget," Hikaru announced, fluffing Ethan's hair as he 
reappeared at the table.  "Little brother."
	"Little brother?" Mei Ling, Katy, and Valentine echoed in unison.  Ethan 
made a noise that resembled a squeak.
	"Of course," Hikaru nodded, dropping into a chair.
	"There is a bit of a family resemblance," Katy began.
	"I thought he had a familiar look to him," Mei Ling agreed.
	Mattaeo walked over to the table.  "Okay, kids," he began.  "I'm feeling 
anti-social, so we're going to call it a day here.  So I want you to go home and give 
some serious consideration to your directed study proposals.  Tomorrow I'll go 
over them with you individually, and we'll see what where we go from there."  He 
placed a hand on Ethan's shoulder.  "Did you two ask about the assignment?"
	"I'm sure I can pass the information along," Hikaru replied, smiling at 
Ethan.  "I'll tell him about it during the drive to his host family's place."  Ethan 
squeaked again.  "Mei Ling and Valentine will have to sit together in the back, I 
guess."
	Mei Ling's feathers were a little ruffled by that.  "Maybe Ethan would like 
to sit in the back with his friend," she began.
	"Yes, yes, yes," Ethan agreed, nodding frantically.
	Katy watched them, puzzled.  She guessed that Ethan didn't get along with 
his brother very well.  He looked terrified at the thought of being in vehicle with 
him.  But, what Karu said meant that he was old enough to drive, so maybe he was 
a senior.  It was hard to tell, since he had that ageless look to him.
	Mattaeo's hand fell on her shoulder.  "Do you need a ride back to where 
you're staying?" he asked.
	"Oh, I...." Katy trailed off.  A ride would be much faster than taking the 
bus, but she couldn't very well accept one, could she?  She barely knew Matt, and 
it was probably out of his way.
	"Are you certain?" he asked.  "I wouldn't feel right knowing I'd failed to 
help someone who needed something that doesn't cause me any trouble at all."  He 
smiled.
	Katy felt her cheeks flush.  "I suppose if you were going towards the 
Morning Glory flats," she began, "I'm staying in a flat the Foundation rented out 
for me."
	"My flat's just a few blocks from there," Mattaeo told her.  "You're right 
along my route."
	"Mum told me not to take rides from strangers," Katy tried, finally.
	"I'm not a stranger," he told her cheerfully.  "I'm just strange."
	She laughed.  "Okay," she agreed, finally.  "If you're certain it won't be any 
trouble."
	"No trouble at all.  See the rest of you back here tomorrow," he called to 
the other four students making their way towards the door.  "Oh, and Ethan, Valen, 
try not to be late this time."

*
	Rekki pulled into the driveway before the Stone's house.  "Thanks for the 
ride home from class," Tenkou told her, reaching for the door handle.
	"Hold on a second," Rekki replied, touching Tenkou's arm.  "I want to talk 
to you for a minute.  I've got news."
	"Good news or bad news?" Tenkou asked, resettling in the seat.
	"I'm not sure."  Rekki sighed.  "As you may know, I live in the apartment 
below the one that Yamato's been living in during his stay here.  Anyway, I heard 
people moving around in it last night."
	"You think Yamato's back?" Tenkou asked.
	"No, I think it's Hihane.  You know, Hikaru," she added at Tenkou's 
confused look.  "Yamato's father."
	"Hikaru is Yamato's father?" Tenkou asked.  "You know that for a fact?"
	"Well, it's been a rumor in the Vaults for quite sometime, and apparently 
the big news of the Gala is that Dawn Star confirmed it be true."
	"That means Yamato is Mattaeo's grandson," Tenkou said, biting her lip.
	"Yes."
	"And Nathanael's."
	Rekki squirmed.  "Certain schools of belief would agree with you there."  
She looked at Tenkou.  "What are you thinking, Tenkou?"
	"Is Hikaru a sort of god too?" Tenkou asked.
	"Aspects of the universal force," Rekki corrected.  "The Thread and Flame 
are not what you'd call gods.  They never asked to be worshipped, and they exist 
whether you believe in them or not."
	"Requiem, is Hikaru one of them?"
	Rekki sighed.  "Yes.  He's called Truth.  Illusions, mysteries and secrets 
also fall under his guard."
	"A thief is truth?" 
	"No one's ever claimed that it makes sense.  It just is."
	Tenkou sighed.  "This is all turning out to be much more complicated that I 
thought," she replied.  "I mean, Yamato not being human is one thing.  Yamato 
voluntarily allowing himself to be controlled by someone is a little weirder, but I 
was starting to think I was almost okay with it.  But now....  This is just getting 
ridiculous."
	"Hey, don't get me started on what you humans have yourselves convinced 
as being reality," Rekki began, sounding a bit miffed.
	"I didn't mean it like that," Tenkou began, trying to make peace.  "I just 
meant that--"  She broke off.  "Okay, I'm not sure what I meant."
	Rekki sighed.  "I shouldn't have snapped at you," she said, quietly.  She 
turned to Tenkou with a kind smile.  "I guess we're all on edge with Yamato gone."
	"I'm sure he's coming back soon," Tenkou replied, forcing a brave smile.  
"How could he stay away from two cute girls like us?"
	Rekki laughed.  "I've never had a high opinion of your species, Tenkou," 
she said, somberly.  "But after meeting you, I began to understand why Yamato 
seems so drawn to your kind."  She paused.  "You're different from us."  
Awkwardly, Rekki leaned across the middle console and wrapped her arms around 
Tenkou.  "And I'm lucky to have you in my life."
	Tenkou felt her cheeks redden.  "Rekki--" she began.
	Rekki pulled away.  "I hope you're right," she said, softly.  "We're lost 
without him, aren't we?  What will we do if he doesn't come back?"
	Tenkou blinked.  "Lost?" she repeated.  She'd never really stopped to 
consider that Yamato might not be able to return.  But was she just fooling herself?  
What if he really wasn't coming back?  "I don't know," she said, finally.  "Let's not 
think about that.  He is going to come back," she added.  "I know he is."
	
*

	The sky had begun to darken in the east, and touches of pink tinted the 
bottoms of the cotton candy clouds that swam above the building's heads and 
mountaintops.  Mattaeo whistled as he pulled open the door of the flat and walked 
inside.  Depositing the keys on the stand by the door, he walked into the sitting 
area.
	His dark brown-haired accomplice was lounging in the chair, eyes closed 
and head resting on the back of the chair.  Tip-toeing over, Mattaeo leaned in close 
and whispered as seductively as he could with a straight face, "Honey, I'm home."
	No reply.  Annoyed, Mattaeo resorted to poking figure in the head 
repetitively.  "Nat.  Naaaaaaaaaaaaaat."  Poke. Poke. Poke.  "Wake up."  Poke. 
Poke.  "Come on, Nathanael.  Wake up."  Poke. Poke. Poke. Poke.
	"I'm dead, leave me alone," Nathanael groaned.
	"No, you're not," Mattaeo told him.  "You're talking."
	"So?  The dead talk all the time."
	He paused.  "Well, I can't argue with you there."  He started poking 
Nathanael harder.
	"What?" Nathanael snapped, opening his eyes.  "Damn it all, Mattaeo, I get 
to sleep about once ever two or three years.  Do you think you could maybe let me 
enjoy it?"
	"Where's Hope?" Mattaeo asked, ignoring the angry glint in Nathanael's 
deep violet eyes.
	"On the balcony," Nathanael replied, shifting out of Mattaeo's reach and 
rubbing his head.  "He's got that same fascination with the sky as his idiot 
grandfather."
	"I see you attempt to insult me," Mattaeo remarked, dryly.  "But you forget 
that it is you, Nathanael," he poked him in the shoulder, "and not I that has the 
strange obsession with what is going on above our heads."
	"The sky makes more sense than living things," Nathanael told him.  "Now, 
go away, and let me sleep."
	"Gosh, I love you too."  Mattaeo frowned.  "You didn't save the day and 
win the heart of the girl," he said, suddenly.  "So what?  Congratulations, you've 
joined the rest of us in the real world."
	"I liked my world better," Nathanael replied.  "Things weren't so bloody 
painful there."
	"Ah, but the pain reminds you you're alive," Mattaeo told him, sagely.
	"The lot of you keep forgetting that I never asked to be alive," Nathanael 
retorted, pulling himself out of the chair.  He pulled his green coat off a rack by the 
door and began pulling it on.
	Mattaeo sighed.  "Where are you going?" he asked.
	Nathanael shot him a dark look.  "It'll be dark soon," he replied.  "I'm off."
	Mattaeo folded his arms.  "You know it's only going to get more painful if 
you go see her," he warned.
	"Stay with Hope," Nathanael replied, ignoring him.  "He's the one you 
should be worrying about."

*

	Hope stared up at the darkening sky, watching as the clouds deepened to 
magenta as violet hues swept in from the eastern horizon.  The stars were 
beginning to shake off their dim daytime cloaks, their soft brilliance steadily 
increasing.  Even the moon had begun to brighten its glow.
	He drank in a deep breath of the sweet evening.  The chill of late March 
still clung to the air.  He exhaled, watching as his own breath misted out before 
him.  Beneath him, the metal railing of the balcony was cold, biting into the thin 
material of his trousers.  The balcony door slid open behind him, as he was 
reaching his hand out towards the sky.
	"Brrr, it's cold," Mattaeo remarked, rubbing his arms.  "Come on inside, 
Hope.  You'll catch a chill."
	"I don't feel the cold, Twilight," Hope replied.
	"Oi," Mattaeo made a face.  "What have I told you about that?  Call me 
'Mattaeo', Hope."
	"I don't feel the cold, Mattaeo," Hope repeated.  "The stars are so far away 
here."
	Mattaeo crossed to the railing and leaned against it.  "They just look further 
away because we're closer to the ground."  He looked out across the rooftops of the 
city.  "You're feeling better, I see."
Hope nodded.  "It's this place.  I feel a strong connection to it."
	"We should have known that," Mattaeo replied, fingers drumming on the 
railing.  "This world is your home," he added.  "Of course you'd be strongest here."
	"This is not my home," replied Hope.  "This is Yamato's home.  My home 
is in the Garden with Tenkou."
	Mattaeo shook his head.  "Tenkou is here," he told Hope.
	The other looked at him.  "Not my Tenkou," Hope replied.  "Yamato's Ten-
-"
	Mattaeo silenced him by raising his hand.  "We've been over this Hope," he 
began, firmly.  "You're not going back to the Garden.  This is your world and your 
home now."
	"This is Yamato's world," Hope replied, stubbornly.  "I don't belong to it.  
I--" He broke off, swooning as a wave of pain clenched his heart and his breath 
choked in his throat.  Teetering on the railing, he tipped over and fell spinning 
helpless to the ground.
	Or he would have if Mattaeo hadn't caught him by the ankle.  Easily pulling 
the boy back up over the railing, Mattaeo let out a sigh of relief.  "Let's go back 
inside," he suggested, gently.  "It's safer there."
	Hope allowed Mattaeo to lead him back into the apartment.  "Won't 
matter," he said, sadly.  "This is Yamato's world.  There's no part of it that wants 
me here."

*
10.23 pm  11.7.01
12.04 pm 11.10.01
*
Karu means 'hunter'.  Neko is 'cat' and tokage is 'lizard'.

Rekki is used for when Requiem is in female form, and Requiem for when he is 
male.  Sorry about the multiple name confusion.  ^_^;  One day I will fix that 
Vincent/Daylight thing.

I want a phoenix.

    Source: geocities.com/tsuki-chan