Fan Fiction ❯ The Goddess Sagas ❯ Crimson Moonlight ( Chapter 60 )

Chapter 6: Crimson Moonlight

`It's even more horrible hear then on Gaia...Oisa....' Angel thought staring up at the sky eyes wide in horror, she could feel her arms tremble slightly as well as her bottom lip and forcefully tore her gaze away from the sky and turned towards her comrades.

Pan stared up at the sky, eye brows creased mouth opened slightly, a expression of bafflement and confusion on her face. Next she looked over at Ayane who stood like a little mouse cowering underneath the gaze of a hungry cat. She looked frightened...no terrified is the proper word. Poor girl, she couldn't help but think as she stared at her pale and drawn face, slowly she glanced at Kip and Aria both of them just looked surprised and confused. Great....she felt depressed, they were the only ones with the slightest clue as to what was going on and both of them had no idea what was happening. Feeling her heart beating in her chest she turned to look to her left to see Leon but he only stood expressionless before he slowly turned to look down at her.

"I guess we have more then one enemy, Oisa has appeared to of split in two, but the evil must be stronger hear, for it looks more darker, redder, more horrible here then on Gaia."

Angel nodded her head slowly, shivering from his cold and expressionless tone of voice.

"Um...Y...Yeah."

"No that's impossible!!" Aria snapped turning towards them. "Oisa, can't split in two! There is no way there can be two Oisas!!"

"Oh?" Pan retorted. "I think it is possible, after all we all saw it on Gaia and now hear on earth! Yeah, I think it's possible!"

"I'm afraid she is right Aria." Kip looked up at her, still puzzled looking. "After all....we ourselves saw and felt Oisa's power on Gaia and now we feel it hear."

"....It's different hear though...." Aria began.

"D...Different?" Ayane stuttered a little turning to look at her through frightened looking eyes, even her voice trembled.

"....Yes, different...it's stronger hear. A lot stronger."

"......................."

"Well, we wont solve anything just standing hear." Leon turned to them. "Maybe the locals may know something."

"What town are we in?" Ayane asked timidly.

Angel glanced at her, frowning, the tone she asked it in, it sounded as though she was dreading a certain answer or something. Glancing around quickly she noticed a sign.

"We are in a place called Cipper." She turned towards her smiling friendly, before suddenly she felt a sharp pain in the head as her father's talisman she wore flickered with light for a second.

FLASH

"Hey!" Parfait pointed. "Look over there!"

A man with short black hair and brown eyes stood in the darkness, a wind blowing past him. Hearing them he turned around, breathing in heavily with surprise.

"Oh my god! I don't believe it, finally someone else around hear who seems sane. This little town is really weird."

"Who are you?" Carrie question cautiously.

The man nodded his head politely. "Forgive me, I was just so excited to see someone else that I forgot my manners. My name is Katsuya."

"My name is Carrie, this is Parfait, Squall and Lemon. Could you please tell us where we are?"

"If you mean the name of this town then it is Cipper, if you mean where we are standing, what sort of hell we were brought too, then I can honestly tell you I don't know, but to tell you where I spied another one of perhaps your friends, I saw a fairy-half inside of a house, laying wounded on a bed, a boy was taking care of her, but boy...I felt scared and frightened around, as though he were some kind of dangerous force. He blends in this town like part of the scenery, so I did not approach. The house is down the road to the left, right beside the hardware store. "

FLASH

Angel stood frozen for a second just staring off into space `What in the world was that? A...A vision? Or....'

"I...I'm sorry, are you ok?" Ayane asked looking concerned.

"Angel?" Pan walked up to her worriedly.

The slightly younger girl shook her head with a weak smile. "N...No, I'm fine. I just....I'm just seeing things."

"What kind of things?" Pan insisted.

"As I said." Angel forced a cherry smile. "Nothing! Nothing at all..."

The she-beast did not look very convinced but decided to lit it slip, for now. Leon glanced back her, not really concerned but not really unconcerned either.

"If you see things, if you know things it would be best to say so now."

".........."

Kip glanced at Leon uneasily, to back at Angel. "He's right about that...you should never keep things to yourself, you could help out a lot just by speaking your mind..."

"....Well....I..." Angel sighed drearily, she did not feel comfortable telling them. I mean, what would she say `Oh, suddenly I had a vision of your missing parents Pan, and a few of the others standing in a very dark and demented version of this town.'

"Well, I what?" Aria demand, impatiently. "What did you see?"

"I....Well....I saw...um...." Angel thought how to phrase her words right, she really did not want to say, she was probably imagining things and it would cause the others to worry for no good reason. Surprisingly Ayane of all people came to her defense.

"Don't make her speak if she doesn't want to, some things are better left unspoken." The girl's tone was brasher and more angrier then usual. The gathered group looked at her mildly surprised. Sudden the girl's face flickered with a strange emotion and she shook her head looking away.

"I...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to raise my voice...I...I'm very, very sorry."

Pan quirked a eye brow at her. Angel didn't blame her, this girl...she was indeed very odd. Even though Ayane lived at the orphanage for two years, they never really spoke or were close, but even so, she wouldn't mind making friends with this girl, she looked like she needed them, so she smiled cheerfully.

"There is no need to apologize, thank you for your concern."

".........."

Angel turned to the group, still smiling. "Leon has a good idea, let's question the town folk, they probably know something, right?"

"I hope they do anyway." Leon hunched his shoulders. "But with are luck it wont be much help, but whatever we can find out, it'll help."

"That's true!" Kip nodded. "We need all the info we can get!"

Aria rolled her eyes. "Must we rely on peasant rambles? Aw, well, might as well go where the sheep flock." she pointed to the nearby bar `Kelly's Bar.'

**************************

Mercenary headquarters, Earth location, unknown.

The headquarters was a small area, one room with two different bed rooms, one containing one big bed the other containing two small beds. In the main area of the little headquarters, if it could really be called that, for it was more like a little wooden shack, was a bookcase of books, a very top of the line computer with many other electronics. On one wall contained many weapon, as though a collection of some kind, along with many other little items hear and there, including a refrigerator that contained left over Chinese take out and Pizza. There was only one other room in the small area and that was a small little chapel, not one that worshipped god, don't be silly. But one who worshipped Saiyoua and the dark goddesses.

In the room sat two people, one was a boy with brown hair cut in a very short style and golden eyes, he wore a loose green shirt and a pair of black dress pants. His skin was the color of copper and his lips thin and dark. He sat on a bed watching a girl type on the computer, a pretty young thing wearing one of the traditional Japanese sailor school uniforms, she had puffy light pink hair that touched the tops of her shoulders delicately, a yellow head band, like the yellow bow on her school uniform held back her bangs, allowing on a few whisks of hair to fall over her high forehead. The glow on the computer reflected on large and shiny copper eyes. The girl paused typing for a moment and turned around to face the boy with a large smile, her dimples and cute freckled cheeks really showing themselves on her light skin.

"Matarou, what are you looking at?"

The man rewarded her with a small smile of his own. "At a very hard working girl. Barely fourteen and already hard working. Admirable qualities you don't see in teenagers much these days."

"Hmmmm..." The girl smiled wider. "You complement me so, I'm starting to think you have other motives other then kindness."

The man looked away innocently, smile also spreading further into a naughty grin of sorts. "Come on now Aimi, I'm old enough to be you father, grandfather even if my daughter was a naughty girl."

"Oh!" The girl shook her head, rolling her eyes. "Matarou! Your not that old, your only forty-one, but you really don't look a day over twenty-five."

"No who is the one giving the compliments?"

Aimi just smiled again before suddenly looking at her watch and frowning. " What's taking Eijiro and Santiago?"

Matarou hunched his shoulders. "I don't know, but you know them, they always stay out for hours even for little things."

"Well, maybe we shou---oh! Speak of the devil! Big brother! Santiago! Hi!!"

Santiago, a very young and small, a fragile looking bow with long dark purple hair and large pink eyes bowed his head slightly in a polite gesture. He was a tanned skinned boy, wearing a thin green jacket over a loose gray shirt and a pair of tight black pants. He was a dove-boy. One of the races of bird people who was haunted down for many years and killed for house or yard decorations and ornaments. His arms were connected to two white dove wings, and his bottom legs were that of a birds, Though dispite the legs he was a handsome...no, pretty, young boy.

Eijiro gave a slight nod to Aimi. He had her same brown eyes except they were more colder and narrow, he had a hawkish nose and a recently shaved beard. His hair was mostly black but had his sister's pink strains running through some off it and fell until it brushed the tops of his chest. He wore no bangs, having his hair pushed back with jell and revealed a high forehead much like his sisters. His body was tall and muscular and from his broad shoulders it fell to a slim waste, his form dressed in a pair of dark jeans, a gray muscular shirt wore underneath a black jacket with metal chains. He had on black boots and gloves which left only his knuckles and his fingers exposed.

"Aimi, we found out from the boss that the girl she wants and her friends are hear on earth tracking the shards of the goddess stone." He spoke in a deep yet pleasant voice. "The master wants us to find the shards, but she also wants us to get rid of the group and to capture that girl Angel, but not right away. She says we can kill her friends any time, but she wants us to wait and allow Angel to get stronger before we take her. Probably figures that way she would be more useful."

"...Hmm...what about the other girl, Faith?" Matarou questioned from where he had not budged off of the bed.

"Same thing, but with Soya and her freak show I doubt they well accomplish anything."

Aimi smirked at him meanly. "Well bro, I wouldn't be so quick to call down Soya and her troop, after all, you weren't able to capture Faith either."

"I did capture her father and that was the next best thing." Eijiro retorted.

"Yeah you did." Matarou began. "But he practically gave himself up for the exchanged protection of his daughter."

"Oy! They got you there, Koi!" Santiago laughed, his voice young and sounding feminine as a boy's voice does when he is on the verge of puberty. Eijiro's face softened from it's defensive look into a small smile at the sound of the dove's voice and his pet name given to him by the younger and shook his head, trying to swallow some of his pride so it wouldn't get to hurt.

"Well." He hunched his shoulders. "The master was looking for him and for Ryan. The other one I heard is missing so at least she has one of the two men she seeks. Besides, I thought Soya could use the sport of trying to capture Faith. It will be interesting how things turn out, and if she fails we can always pick up her job where it's bound to leave off."

"Cool!" Aimi laughed. "I loved it while we were on Gaia, I'd love to go back there even if it's to finish Soya's job. The air is so much fresher and there is so much more green there then hear on earth."

"Earth is rather sad." Santiago frowned. "There is hardly a green space left on the entire planet, not to mention it's oful to try and fly, the smoke is so thick that you can barely breath up in the sky...so much smog I'm surprise anyone hear can breath."

"Oh, San! Your so spoiled!" Matarou exclaimed. "Just because you were born on Gaia, near the mountains where the air is fresh as soon as you get around a little pollution you complain."

"I'm not spoiled--" The dove began, embarrassed, the other man opened his mouth to speak when the door to the small chapel opened and the last member of the earth's missionary team, Kaneo walked into the small little room. He was the same age of Eijiro, born on the same day, both twenty years of age. He was a devil, short yet thick white hair, eyes the same shade of blood. Red and black devil wings sprouted from his back a forked tail lashed back and forth behind him. His skin was pale and his full lips bloomed like a white rose. His face always bore a dead expression, and that with his black tunic with the red designs and buttons, and his long razor claws always made him look like he just awakened from hell.

"A little pollution, how ignorant of you Matarou." He spoke in a quite, calm, relaxed yet dead tone. "You, Eijiro and Aimi of all people should notice that there is nothing little about the condition earth is in. A world of metal and disgrace, foolish beings walking the surface of the planet thinking they are gods, the highest form of evolution possible. They think they can do whatever they want, they think life, our world, and their technology is a birth right, but it's a privilege given to them by the foolish goddess Key, and it was a privilege they much taken advantage of, and Key was like a soft parent not willing to punish. That is why Earth is in such a pitiful display."

Aimi, Matarou and Santiago squirmed underneath the devil's fiery gaze while Eijiro took one step calmly towards the other man. "That may be so, but it doesn't concern the matter at hand. The NGC are working on something, probably to do with the goddesses, and I think their goal, as I heard is, it'll `save things.' besides, it's not our concern to trouble ourselves with it. We just capture Angel, perhaps Faith and get the shards, understand?"

"Bah!" Kaneo snapped turning on his heal and charging back into the chapel. The rest of the group were left staring after him confused.

"Koi..." Santiago began looking up at Eijiro. "Kaneo sure has been acting weird lately."

"That's for certain." Aimi huffed. "He's getting to be more of a grade A bastard every day."

"He was always a ass." Matarou reminded. "But your right, he has, recently, gotten worst. I remember when you could actually joke with the guy or have a drink with him, but now...ah hell! What does it matter? If he wants to be a freaking ass then let him!"

"Yeah." Eijiro nodded, before turning to his younger sister. "Aimi, do a scan on the computer, locate the shards closest to Angel. That way I can do the two missions at once."

"Sure!" The girl nodded brightly, setting down at the computer, her fingers fluttering over the keys quickly as she filled the room with the sound of her typing. Aimi was not a fighter, and only new little and weak magic, but what she lacked in physical power she made up with intelligence, charm and superior computer hacking skills. There was no government file she couldn't access except of course for the computers the NGC used, even she could not break through their code. It seemed only like a matter of moments but was a bit longer then that when she turned away from the computer to reward her friends with one of her big bright smiles.

"I got it! I homed in on Angel's energy single, they are at Kelly's Bar in Cipper, there are two shards located in the very close by city, Starry. They will probably be heading there soon. I can't pin point exactly where the shards are but one is in the village center the other is in the far west."

"Good job, Aimi, you've done it again. I suppose I'll introduce myself and some of our bio monsters to them. After all, we and them will be getting close, right?"

"Right, but Koi." Santiago began. "Why use the Bio monsters, both I and Kaneo are spirit summoners, I can summon spirits to battle for you."

"That is very faithful of you, Santi." Eijiro began, using his nick name for the other. "But, I wish for you not to waste energy unless your out there fighting, besides, spirits can get actually hurt and killed."

"So can the bio monsters." Matarou pointed out.

Eijiro hunched his shoulders. "They are lab experiments, who cares? Anyway, the master wants us to use the bio monsters for some reason or other, I don't really know, but she prefers we kill using bio monsters. That is why she released so many loose on both planets, she wants them to kill people for some purpose or other. However, don't worry the one's that's given to us and the ones to Soya's group to use against the enemy are much stronger then the ones she let free. Get it?"

The group nodded slowly, but Aimi spoke up, cupping her chin in her hand as she titled her head to the side in thought. "But why? Why kill a big pile of people?"

"Hm? I don't know. Has something to do with the NGC's plan? As I said, that doesn't matter to us. Just getting the girl and the shards, that's the only thing we need to bother ourselves with, got it?"

"Yes Eijiro."

***********************************

"Drunks, what did we expect." Aria sniffed, drinking some white wine she had at the table delicately. "They babble nonsense gibberish."

"Well, they seem happy at least." Kip frowned as he watched the drunken men laugh and spill their beer on each other. The place was being rather rowdy for a Sunday afternoon. Guess the majority of this town rather drink then go to church...

"It's a fools world." The horned girl hunched her shoulders, no longer really caring about the people.

"So, any idea where the first shard is?" Leon asked seriously taking a gulp from his beer mug.

Kip shook his head. "No, we didn't search the area yet, I'll do so as soon as we leave the bar, ok?"

"Speaking of which." Pan quirked a eye brow. "Aren't you a little young for that stuff?
the she-beast skeptically pointed to a small glass filled with whiskey. Aria and Kip exchanged looks quickly before the little boy laughed lightly.

"Oh...ah...um...well...Mommy don't say anything." The boy suddenly said in a teasing tone as he took another small sip. The group glanced at Aria expectantly but to their surprise she wasn't even reacting to her sons inappropriate behavior.

Angel shook her head again `Gee....as much as I hate to think this, that Aria is one really lousy mother...I wonder what my mom was like...I hope she would of been more...caring about what I did then Aria seems to be about Kip. How old is he? Four, five? Aria's acting as though he's already grown up...man...well at least he's mature for his age...'

She paused noticing Ayane silently staring at her glass and smiled, she and the odd girl from the orphanage were the only ones who did not take an alcoholic beverage and instead took a mug full of milk. The only difference was that Angel's was 3.5 % and Ayane's a healthy 1%. What could she say? She just really liked the creamy taste in her milk even if it wasn't all that good for her.

Still, something about Ayane's manner made her concerned, she seemed so...depressed. Why did she come with them anyway? It was not like they were friends, and the girl had never been close to Angel's father or to anyone for that matter. Some girls could talk to Ayane, but when a man would go around her she would snap at him or become frightened. She wasn't normal, one could easily tell that much about her after only one meeting.

An---lis---tr----i---you----gel!

The girl's eyes grew wide suddenly hearing a voice echo around her, there was lots of static and interference with the voice as well stopping her from hearing what the person was saying. It was female that much she knew, and it was a young voice.

"Angel, what was that?" Pan turned to her, looking startled.

"I...I don't know...You mean, you heard it too?"

"Angel." Leon stood from the table, two hands resting on the polished surface. "The talisman of light, it is glowing."

Angel along with the rest of the group members looked down at it confused, slowly Angel took it into her hands pulling it up closer to her face as to get a better look at it, it flashed with a small golden light, the red, blue and silver stones glowing in syndic with it.

gel--!! B---re---ger----GC----ing----you!

"That voice....It's coming from the talisman..." She mutter slowly bringing it up even more closer to her face as to hear better what it was saying when.

"ARGHHHH!!!"

The group twisted around startled and turned to see a huge harry beast, bulging muscles and one eye in the middle of it's forehead, burst through the wall of the bar with two twins matching it in weight, height and pure ugliness. One of them had grabbed a random man from the bar, gripping him by the feet and neck before gruesomely pulling him apart in one simple thug.

`Oh...my....god...' Angel's eyes grew wide as she watched the blood sprinkle to the floor and the insides spill out all over the place. People fled from the bar in panic a few being caught and killed as they did. Ripped apart like paper like the one before them.

The sixteen year old quarter-demon screamed, raising two trembling hands up to a terrified face. She had never seen someone die before....especially not in such a gruesome manner.

"What the fuck are those things?" Pan asked slowly getting into a attack position.

"Ehh, disgusting is all I'll say." Aria wrinkled her nose as she close her eyes summoning two large fans, looking much like paper Japanese fans, expect for the fact when one opened it they weren't greeted with pretty pictures but with cold bladed steel that would slash like a meat hatchet through the tender and exposed flesh of the unfortunate victim.

Ayane just stood there, blinking, looking as though she was in shock. Staring at the harry beast in...no not horror, not terror, no it was surprise...and...and something else...

Leon unsheathed his samurai sword and got ready to attack, grinning to himself he eyed the beast up and down.

"Time to butcher something, you must be working for the one who summoned Oisa."

"Angel." Pan turned to the girl who still stood, trembling making whimpering noises. "Are you ok?"

"..........."

Kip turned to them, then back to the beast before glancing at Angel a final time. "Get to the back, stay away from these things!"

"But....but I...." Part of her she had to admit wanted to lock herself in the bathroom and only come out when these beasts were gone, but she knew she couldn't just abandon everyone, but she was so scared...she, she was not a warrior, or a courageous person. What could she do....? She couldn't fight!

Slowly she began to back away as the beasts came towards them. Pan glanced at Ayane who still stood there motionless, then allowed her eyes to travel down to the kitchen knife held in the chain around her small waste.

"Ayane?"

"Y...yes?"

"Go in the back with Angel and protect her."

"..O...Ok."

Aria, Kip, Pan, and Leon got ready to fight as the creatures released a battle cry before rushing at them with angry grunts of anger.

Pan nearly avoided being crushed by one and sent a kick to it's back side, but missed by a few inches. The beast twisted around and swung a fist at her, striking her across the chest sending her stumbling backwards.

"Kamamhasa!!!" Kip suddenly exclaimed blasting the beast in the back as it stalked towards the she-beast who was prying it's self off the wall. It twisted around to look at the small boy and that was when Pan, regaining her compositor rushed at it, successfully striking it in the back with both of her feet causing it to fall on the ground face first. Both fighters stood their ground as the beast suddenly sprang back to it's feet, it swung it's fist again at Pan who this time jumped over it, while Kip from the other side of it rushed forward ready to deliver a punch when unexpectedly the beasts turned around striking him across the face. Some blood flew from his mouth as he crashed into a chair and fell in a tangled position on the floor.

Dodging more punches meant for her she ducked and sent her fist slamming into the creatures gut, which was powerful enough to send the contents in it's stomach coming out of it's mouth along with a gush of blood. Removing her fist, Pan just opened her mouth, staring at her hands in disgust. The creature had thrown-up green slime all over her.

"Gross! Uhh....."

The beast pounding it's chest with it's hands and began to bring down both fists to smash her flat into the ground when a small little energy beam blasted a small little hole right through it's back, it's heart and out the front of it's chest. With a sigh it fell down dead, half off it's massive body landing on top of the she-beast who lay under it.

"Ouff!" She groaned while Kip just stood, finger still pointing. He smiles cutely, hunching his shoulders.

"Having something pierce right through your heart, it's sure is away to make sure something stays dead. Nothing can live without a heart, not even a god or a goddess can survive having their heart destroyed."

"...." Pan quirked a eye brow. "Uh, yeah....nice advice. How does a kid like you know this stuff?"

Kip just smiled at her, before changing the subject. "Green really isn't your color Pan."

The she-beast just snarled, narrowing her eyes, looking pissed before flinging some off the green slime at the younger boy she crossed her arms, still angrily before smirking meanly.

"Yeah your right, green slime looks alot better on you, snotty little brat."

"...Oh, now that's just mean....."

"So?"

At the same time, Leon and Aria, in-between tossing one of the beasts back and forth with their blades ripped it to shreds, receiving only minor wounds from it's thrashing arms and nasty claws. The last beast dashed up behind Leon who dodged the fist and flung around, slashing it across the back. It fell to the floor with a sigh, and lay still. The group began to let their guard down gasping for breath when suddenly the last beast jumped back to it's feet and charged forward with a angry roar. Aria released a startled burst of a cry as she was taken by surprise and flung back into the counter harshly and painfully by the beast as it dashed towards Ayane and Angel who stood helplessly near the back.

"ANGEL!!!" Pan and Leon screamed at the same time, frozen to the floor as if they were flowers unable to move their weeds and run as they saw the hand of a small child coming to pull it from the ground and sentenced it to a slower weathering death within a vase.

"Ahhh!!" Angel cried, hiding her face in her hands, trembling. Ayane was shaking as she stood infront of the other girl, just looking up wide eyed at the beast when suddenly and angrily it seized her arm ruffly, pulling her towards it. The young girl's eyes slowly went wide and a terrified look crossed her face.

FLASH!!

"You!" a angry growl echoed through her ears, and younger Ayane, around seven years old wearing a little blue and white dress with a bow in the back of it and in her long hair. She had been setting on the floor drawing a picture. She stared up at a shadowy figure, a nervous expression slowly etching it's way on her face. The man growled, seizing her by her arm pulling her towards him.

FLASH

A violent look suddenly flashed across her face and she reached suddenly for her kitchen knife and with a hideous snarl rammed the blade into it's stomach. The beast cried out and as Ayane was about stab it again it picked her up off of the ground and flung her backwards, sending her slamming up against a table before she hit against the wall and slumped down painfully, the knife landing next to her with a small cling.

Angel looked up at her attacker, still frightened looking as it brought up a fist, she closed her eyes, unaware of both Pan and Leon now rushing towards her.

`Oh god...oh god.....somebody help me! Daddy.....Mommy, please....'

Suddenly the talisman began to glow and a small glow surrounded her, acting as a small barrier to reflect the attack thrown at her. The beast was stunned in confusion just long enough for both Pan and Leon to strike it in it's back side, delivering at the same time two killer blows, killing it.

Angel shook, she was never so afraid to her life! She looked at her two friends and instantly began to cry.

"Angel..." Pan frowned but looked concerned.

"I was so scared! What are those things? Why are they trying to hurt us?"

"Angel, don't be so weak." Leon scolded, rather coldly, glaring at her. " What would your father say or your mother, if they saw you like this? Crying and hiding in a corner. They were both heroes, both warriors. They'd be ashamed to see you carrying on like a baby."

"....................."

"Leon! You fucking bastard!" Pan snarled, clenching her fists ready to strike him but Angel halted her, drying her tears weakly with one hand.

"No, Pan, he's right...I am a whimp. My parents would probably be ashamed right now...."

"No way!" Kip interrupted, shaking his head. "They would not! Ruto was not a very good fighter herself, and your father was not always liking to attack either. There is nothing to be ashamed of. To be frightened, to be scared. You weren't raised with fighting, it's not something that comes natural or pleasant to you, but you have to understand, sometimes, like it or not, you have to fight and..." The little boy looked over at the bodies. "And sometimes you have to kill."

"....Ruto?.....My mother?" Angel asked slowly. "How do you know her...? This Ruto woman, so she really was my mom?"

"Yes, Ruto was your mother." Aria nodded. " That whip you carry did in fact belong to her."

Angel slowly looked down at it, and then at Leon. "So you did tell me the truth...."

"Of course...." Leon seemed to visibly swallow his pride. "Sorry about before, it's just that, I don't like seeing you act so pathetic. I know your better then that."

"..............."

Pan just sneered at Leon and Angel as the girl slightly blushed nodding her head accepting the mans apology. Instead she turned to Kip, accusingly.

"And how do you know about that? Your are much to young to know anything about Ruto."

"......Ah...Mommy told me." The boy smiled sweetly, and almost mockingly.

Aria glanced around herself before heading over to where Ayane was slowly pulling herself off of the ground. She looked as though she was in pain, hurt or something.

"Are you ok?"

"..I...I'm sorry I couldn't protect her...." Ayane trailed off guiltily.

"Oh Ayane." Angel looked at her sadly. "It's ok, you did very good. Thank you."

"............"

"Your knife..." Aria observed, picking it up off the ground, looking at it. "It seems a little rusty, it's very old isn't it? You didn't get this from the orphanage, did you?"

"Give that back!" Ayane snapped, voice changing from it's shy and powerless tone to a icy and harsh voice as she snatched it forcefully from Aria's grip, cutting her hands a little in the process. The group, and especially Aria looked at her in shock. The girl suddenly shook her head, tenderly taking Aria's bleeding hand in her own to examine it.

"Your bleeding...oh...I....I'm so very, very sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you Aria. I'm sorry."

The deep sincerity in the girls voice was alarming. It was almost from daylight to dark back to daylight. Talk about a sudden change of attitude. Slowly the white haired woman removed her hand from the others grasp.

"It's ok....it was....a accident. Um...anyway....do any of you know exactly what those things were? You said you were attacked before, right?"

"Yes." Pan nodded. "By some fuckers outside the orphanage. They must be coming to attack us from the same source."

"No...that's not right...." Ayane cut in.

"Oh?" Pan retorted, she did not like being called wrong. "And what makes you say that?"

"We..." The girl began timidly. "We all saw the same thing."

The group members paused, turning to look at each other is disbelief. Angel was the first to recover, speaking in a bewildered tone.

"She's right....But what does it mean?"

"....I don't know." Aria admitted. "You all see these `Shadows creatures' as different things, right? Tell me, what did each of you see?"

"I see things made up of legs, they are slimy and rotting. It looks like they have been underwater for quite a long time." Pan informed, while Leon frowned for a moment in thought.

"While I was heading over to the orphanage I saw beasts made of clear elastic like skin, I could see green chemicals inside of it. Like the kind of chemicals that would be in a test tube in a lab or something. It....it was...disturbing to say the least."

"I never met the shadows, but I saw two pyramid heads, Leon saved me from them, so they couldn't of been shadows since he saw it as well." Angel informed.

"Ayane, what about you?" Leon asked seriously. "What did you see?"

The girl rewarded him with a critical stare. "It's not your business! Don't talk to me!"

"Hey, you rude little bit---" Leon began but was stopped Angel who whispered to him in hiss.

"Don't take it personal, she is like that to all men."

"............" Leon shifted angrily but held his tongue only because of Angel's request and just rewarded the girl with a sneer instead.

"Hmmmm...weird..." Aria shook her head in thought, trying to figure out just what it could mean.

"Different sources responsible?" Kip asked slowly, finally Aria nodded her head.

"I think...mostly a group sticks to one kind of a attack. These monsters and the shadows sound completely different from each other."

"Yeah, Taromecika he would send monsters and stuff to kill people to collect their life force, and Saiyoua would send the great L's the summon monsters to kill for Magention and to search for the orbs. But still, it all stuck to a certain approach. This time the attacks are like...I don't know, scattered, as though two different people, with two different plans with no knowledge of the other person are doing."

"Come to think of it." Angel said suddenly. "That girl that was after the shard before didn't see Oisa. She didn't even seem to know what we were talking about."

Aria and Kip exchanged worried glances before turning back to the others and slowly shaking their heads.

"We have no idea....if they aren't responsible for Oisa....then....who....what? Saiyoua was destroyed, so was Key....only Messiah who sadly was destroyed or the one guarding the life stream could summon Oisa." Kip began, then laughed lightly, though not happily. "And we know sure as hell Genki would not even consider doing that!"

"You never know." Pan hunched her shoulders. "Maybe he went off the deep end or something."

"He did not!" The boy whined loudly, stomping his foot in a mini temper tantrum.

Aria, who had the ghost of a smile on her face knelt down next to Kip ruffly his hair. "I assure you, Genki would not do such a thing, besides, don't speak that way to my son. Kip is very close to Genki and greatly admires him."

"I'm just saying." Pan teased lightly, before turning serious. "But really, what else could it be? All the goddesses has been destroyed, the only left who has the power to do summon that thing would be...."

"Pan." Angel looked at her friend, pleadingly. "Your upsetting him." she gestured towards Kip. "Besides, daddy and Miss.Mimi told me all about him. He was a sweet and kind guy. He would not want to destroyed the planets."

Kip turned to Angel and smiled weakly and a little sadly. "....Um...ah....I spoke with Genki once....he was wondering how Mimi was doing...he still really cares for her...in case if I talk to him again, could you tell me? He would probably really want to know....he really did love her. Still does....." Kip blushed slightly. "Even though he's dead you can hear it in his voice when he speaks, how much he still loves her."

"That is so sad...." Angel looked depressed for a moment. "Two so very much in love but separated....well, in case you speak with him again tell him that she is a nun at a church, and that she lives alone, she never dated anyone or had children. Her health is fine, and she vists Ryan often at the orphanage with baked treats for the children. She still misses Genki though. Daddy told me, he still to this day sees her cry sometimes when she thinks she's alone and blame herself sometimes for his death...I feel really bad for her....I...I somehow feel as though I know what she must be going through."

Pan shifted uneasily, taking a glance at Leon but didn't say a word.

"....................." Kip lowered his eyes and nodded. "Mimi....Genki would really not like to hear that she is so sad....he wanted her to live and be happy...."

Aria patted his head gently. "Don't worry....maybe the pain will subside soon...you can't grieve forever."

"..................."

Leon sighed, crossing his arms impatiently. "Shouldn't we get going? Or are we going to stand around and talk all day?"

"Ugh...Leon, shut the hell up!" Pan whacked him with her fist, but it barely caused him to flinch. He just blinked at her as through she was some kind of a idiot and turned away from her unconcerned. Pissed off Pan went to punch him again but was stopped as Angel held back her arm.

"Pan, come on, besides, Leon is right. We should focus on finding the shards not talking for hours nonstop."

The she-beast looked between her best friend and hated enemy before uttering a low growl under her breath and leaving the bar with a twist of her heel.

"...P....Pan...." She began hurt reaching out to her as the door slammed shut.

"Never mind her." Leon folded his arms, shifting his weight to one foot. "If she wants to get her ass up, it's her choice."

"Hmmmm....but....well, Pan always had a temper." Angel shook her head. "We should get going, and I don't like leaving her alone out there. Not with all those creatures around..."

**********************************

Pan glanced at the group as they came outside of the bar. The village people was crowded around the mess talking and chattering about what could of happened. Instantly a few of the more nosy people rushed up to them and began to questioned them on what had happened inside.

Angel though was able to squeeze away from the crowd and came over to her, a sad expression on her face.

"Pan...I'm sorry, did I make you mad?"

"No...not you, Leon."

"......Pan why do you hate him so much?"

"Don't you remember what he did to you? How he left you?"

".......There....had to be a reason. I want to believe that there was. But Pan." Angel smiled. "He came and saved me, he must care....anyway..."

Pan shook her head. "I don't trust him Angel. I don't want to see him hurt you again."

"Pan..." Angel took her hands smiling warmly causing the other girl's cheeks to heat up. " Thank you for caring so much, but I think we can trust him, but if not, at least I know you'll be with me."

"Angel...."

"GET AWAY PEASANTS!!" Aria snapped slugging one of the nosy village men across the face that kept pestering her voice information. The other's took the hint and drew their weapons causing the crowd to back away frightened.

"Damn....what annoying people!" Aria exclaimed, shaking her head in disgust.

"That's just the way reporters are...." Leon hunched his shoulders calmly.

"They looked just like nosy people to me!" Kip exclaimed as he wondered over to Angel and Pan and smiled brightly at them. "Guess we better start looking!"

"How are we suppose to find those things....the shards?" Ayane asked shyly, eyes looking at the ground.

Kip took his silver locket off and smiled at the girl. "Remember Aria gave a locket like this to Lime? We can use this one to search for the shards."

"How can some necklace." Leon began skeptically. "Find the shards, it doesn't make sense. I don't think it can do anything."

"How can the Talisman of light guard against the darkness?" Kip shot back, rather calmly dispite the intensity in his eyes. "How can good and evil exist and coexist as one? How can hero's who saved the world just vanish into thin air in a couple of seconds? They weren't any weaklings, I know that for a fact. How can this..." The boy gestured up towards Oisa, shining red in the sky. "How can their be two Oisa's shadowing over the worlds after being destroyed? Does any of that make sense to you?"

".................."

"No, it doesn't. It doesn't make sense to me either, but it is real isn't it? So, if you believe in all the bad things, then why not believe in a shimmer of hope." Kip closed his eyes, the locket floating out of his hands. "Oh, secret key, show a silver streak, show the path to a innocent fragment! Show us to the nearest shard!"

A silver streak burst from the locket and then split into two, going all the way to the very close and nearby village of Starry.

Angel gasped putting a hand to her chest, it was so beautiful like a shooting star. Kip and Aria also seemed to look at it with brief admiration, but when she turned to her other companions, Pan, Ayane and Leon they didn't seem to see it and was looking all around confused. Finally Leon crossed his arms, not looking to amused at Kip.

"Nice speech kid, but I didn't see anything happen, that locket of yours didn't do anything."

Angel looked at him in dumbfounded surprise. "What the...? Leon? You mean you don't see anything?" She pointed up towards the silver streak in the sky. "You don't see that light?"

"What are you talking about?" Leon asked irritably. "There is nothing up there except of course for Oisa."

"Leon!?" The girl shrieked, still amazed. "...How....how can you not see it?"

"Angel..." Pan began quietly, turning towards her, face serious. "I hate to say this, but I agree with Leon, there is nothing up there."

"You too, Pan!?"

"........All I see is Oisa....the fiery flames of Oisa...." Ayane began, eyes lowered towards the ground. "There is no light...none, just darkness and fire."

Angel shook her head slowly in disbelief. How come no one else could....? She quickly turned to Kip and Aria who stood silently watching them.

"We see it." Aria answered her question before she asked. "It's not possible that we couldn't. As to why you can see it and your friends can't, I don't know. It could have something to do with how some can see Oisa and others can't. How you see different monsters in the shadows."

"It's almost as though someone is playing mind games with us. It's all so complicated." Kip put the locket back under his shirt, before smiling again. "But hey, we'll figure it out in the long run. What ever forces are behind this will show themselves soon enough, right now we are just playing the waiting game."

Pan crossed her arms over her chest with a angry sigh. "I don't like toyed with. Why is it the evil villains always wait until some kind of climax to show themselves?"

"Well." Aria began, hunching her shoulders. "If the readers learnt anything from the first story they should know that it takes this author quite some time to reveal things. She likes stringing her characters and readers along..."

Kip rolled his eyes, making a exasperated sigh. "Yeah, she likes taking her time to reveal things all right! About over 2000 pages of time! Oh no...don't tell me....it wont take her that long again, will it?"

"It might take even longer..." Aria sighs. "And this time I'm stuck being a main character...."

"Oh come on shut up already, your ruining the mood of realism!" Leon glared at them, silencing them. The man had one scary glare.

*****************************************

Maria Brief, sat at her computer in a darkened room. Her fingers brushed over the key board quickly, the noise of the keys sounded urgent. She had aged horribly over the years changing from a sexy young girl to a weathered and thin old maid. Her long gauzy skirt and white shirt hung off of her wiry body loosely, and it did not look like she had changed in clothes in quite a long time.

"What is happening back home....Bra...." She whispered softly, voice hoarse and quivering. "I can't make contact or get into any of the computer files, I keep on picking up a strange energy but I can't tell what it is." She sighed heavily, looking away from the computer screen to gaze out a small window above it. Once she could see the moon when she looked out the frame but now, all she could see was Oisa, fiery and red...burning in the sky. "Why....? The goddess's are cruel....didn't we suffer enough already?"

*****************************************

Angel watched as they slowly approached one of the silver streaks, it went to the center of the town and they approached it slowly. The place was almost empty, the only thing was a huge fountain, which ran with clear water, but when they inspected it, they found nothing of interest.

"Ok, the light ends hear, there should be a shard around, where else besides the fountain could it be?"

Leon glanced around, spotting a bar nearby, people sat outside drinking wines and other alcoholic beverages. However unlike the bar before the people hear seemed high class and wore many sparkling jewels. The light seemed to have pointed there.

"Hmmm..." The man frowned looking at the rich ladies jewels. "Could it be possible?"

"What is it Leon?" Angel asked softly in a interested tone.

"This bar is the only thing out hear, and the light is pointing hear, let's just say that, perhaps a jeweler found a shard, though it was a regular diamond and made it into one of the rings, brooches or necklaces one of those rich people over there are wearing?"

The group gasped and Aria and Kip looked ready to have heart attacks.

"OH FUCK!!" Kip swore loudly. "That's not good!!"

The group looked at the little boy surprised by his foul language. Aria blinked confused at the weird looks before realization hit her and she turned to her son, and said very calmly.

"Kip, don't swear."

"But...oh....all right...Mommy...." Kip giggled lightly, before turning very serious again. "But really if Leon is right..."

"We are going to have extra work on our hands, in other words, we might have to steal some rich old woman's ring."

"What!?" Angel squealed shocked. "Your kidding! We aren't just going to go steal a old woman's ring! We aren't stealing a ring from someone period!"

"What? You would rather have Oisa squish everyone instead of steal?" Aria asked bluntly causing the quarter demon to frown slightly.

"Um...no...."

"Then we steal the ring...Kip or I will know it when we see it. Now...we'll need the `innocent party' in which Kip who will walk around the bar looking for the jewelry with the shard in it, will steal and slip the jewel to the innocent party while we have the distraction party making a distraction so he can steal it. Angel and Leon are the distraction the rest of us play the innocent uninvolved people and Kip will find and swipe the shard. Got it?"

"I don't think you should let Leon be alone with Angel..." Pan began but her friend smiled at her pleadingly.

"Pan don't make a fight. I'll be fine with Leon, besides, if anything happens I'll be very close. All right?"

"Hmmmm..." The she-beast frowned not looking to happy but slowly nodded. "All right." before turning to Leon. "If you hurt her....."

"Shut up." He curled his lip in anger at the she-beast as he pushed past her. In return Pan turned to him with a growl.

"HEY....YOU....!!"

"Pan!" Angel exclaimed desperately. "Please don't make matters worst."

"Fine, I warned you Angel, he'll hurt you, please reconsider being alone with him."

"But I wont be alone, Pan! There will be all those people around us, you'll even be able to see me from where you and the others sit, ok? Relax, don't worry so much. Leon is a nice person, remember? He wont hurt me, remember he saved me not all that long ago."

"................"

"Kip." Angel smiled at the little boy. "I wish you luck finding the shard, see you!"

Pan only watched silently as Angel ran after Leon towards the bar. She shook her head, not looking at all happy. "Oh.....Angel, why wont you listen to me?"

******************************

"Hmmm." Eijiro hummed thoughtfully. "Silly goofs, they actually think the shard was made into a necklace or a ring?" He scowled from where he stood inside of the bar watching the group take their places on the patio outside. "So these are the enemies? I was expecting a little more...I think I'll wait just a second to see what they are planning before I send the Bio monsters." He glanced over at a table far away from where the others sat to see Angel and Leon sit down. He stared at the girl for awhile, a small smile spreading across his face.

"So this is the girl that is so important to the master's plans? She is so young, hmmm, it's hard to believe that she is one of the two half's..."

*******************************

"Leon..." Angel began softly, looking up at him while she waited for someone to take their order.

"Yes?"

"Why...why did you leave me all those years ago? Why did you come back now?"

"......It's not your concern, I told you already."

"I think it is. Leon, all those years ago....I missed you so much, I want to know...did you miss me?"

"................"

"Leon, please, tell me."

"You already know I still care about you, after all, I did risk my life saving you. What more do you want from me?"

"....I.....I just want to know....did you miss me Leon? Or were you happy to be away from me, is that why you were gone so long?"

"For heaven's sake, Angel! What does it matter?"

"To you, maybe nothing, but to me it matters a lot....."

"............." Leon turned away from her and by his manner she could tell he wasn't answering her, sadly she sighed lowering her eyes not willing to show the tears the stung them, and unable to bare looking at him right now.

********************************

The group at the table just ordered some drinks when the e-mail device Aria had with her beeped and raising it into her hand she studied it for a moment before informing the others that it was a message from Raifan and reading it out loud.

Whoever reading this; Are you all safe on earth? Is this thing working? Anyway, e-mail back, it's very important.

~Raifan~

"Very important? Ayane asked, eye brows furrowing. "I hope they are ok...."

"Well, with Raifan, probably taking the lead, they are all probably drowning in quick sand." Pan insulted while Aria typed back her message.

We are all on earth safe, but something really bizzar is going on. Oisa is also hanging above this world. How can that be? How can Oisa becoming to both planets at once. It either strikes one first then the other, not spilt into two and hit at the same time! We did not find any shards yet, right now we are questioning people at the near by bar. We are in a town called starry. There are these weird creatures, that looked like messed up experiments or something. So, did you guys find anything?

~Aria~

"I wonder what kind of trouble she was referring to? Maybe that shard stealing woman came back and stole the one we already found? I knew I should of taken it with me..." Aria muttered before the machine beeped again with Raifan's response.

Aria, we got this stupid guy wondering if you are the same Aria who was the daughter of one of the heroes in the Neo goddess wars our parents fought in? Are you? Anyway, him and this girl Faith (she has wings just like Angel, except black) know about the NGC, They didn't tell us anything though. Can you explain to them what you told us so they'll tell us what they know about these NGC people?

~Raifan~

PS: Pan, your brother wants to know if your all right, he's fine so don't bother asking me.

"Stupid guy? All men are stupid..." Ayane mumbled softly, her voice becoming harsh again.

"Your the daughter of Genki? The god of the life stream?" Pan asked, eyes wide in amazement. "Th...that makes you a goddess, doesn't it!? But I always thought Genki was and died a virgin....and that...that he didn't have children. that's what I always heard from the stories....and if your a goddess, that also makes your son a god as well...."

Kip who was near their table searching for the shard turned bright red in the face and looked over at Pan with a horrified expression.

"How in the hell did you know about that!?"

"What?"

"You mean Ryan and Mimi and the other's actually talked about how Genki was a virgin...?"

"Yes, actually, they did quite alot. Because really, all of the hero's except for Carrie, Colt AKA the children and Genki were the only ones who were still virgins at the end of the adventure."

"What!? Hey...I always thought Lima....or Alex....man, your sure?"

"Yes....well, that's what I heard."

"Aw damn...."

Aria rolled her eyes at her son while Pan gave him a weird look.

"Why do you care?"

Kip blushed redder. "Uh....b...because....I never thought that the god of the life stream never had....they really said that!? Oh...he'll be pissed off if he hears about this....he really would....who started talking about it?"

"Ryan, actually, why?" Pan questioned.

"I'll let Genki know someday so he can whack that ex-demon-half over the head..."

"KIP!!" Aria hissed. "You only met Genki once, I know you like him but your not telling him anything, now shut up and continue what your suppose to be doing!"

".....Ok...." The boy sighed wandering away with small grumbles.

Aria rolled her eyes muttering some things as she started to type a reply.

"Hey..." Pan frowned angry at being ignored. "Are you really...Genki's child? Are you a goddess, Aria?"

"No, I am not. I am not Genki's kid. I only called him daddy when I was little because he found me and brought me to his house and he was the only male I ever got close to, only person I was ever close to. I am no relation to him what so ever, ok?"

"Oh...hey, um, tell Lime I'm fine, ok? Just pretend your me and type something. But this girl Faith has wings? Like Angel?"

Aria looked really nerved for a second. "I....I don't like the sound of that....."

"What? What do you mean?" Pan asked defensively. "What's wrong with having wings like Angel's? Is there something bad about it? Don't you and your son have the same type of wings as well?"

"..........Be quite, another important thing is that these people know who that woman was talking about when she spoke of the NGC. We have to find out what it is and what it means. I think I'll tell whoever this man is our plan, maybe he can help us...."

Aria typed her message, reading over one time before sending it.

Information about the NGC? How do you know that? Well, in any case, we want to know who they are and what they are up to. The girl Faith has wings? That is strange, a friend of ours Angel has angel wings as well...

Anyway, as you can see Oisa is high above in the sky, but it is also hovering over earth. The only way we can stop it from crashing I think is to revive the goddess stone, but to do that we have to find the hundred shards that it shattered into. The shards are spread all over Gaia and earth. It seems like this NGC are after it as well. We can't let them get it. What is the NGC, what does the term stand for? Oh, and to answer your question, yes, I am the same Aria, the girl that was the `Daughter' of the boy named Genki Brief, who died and became the new god of the life stream, But that is of little importance. First I'll explain to you about Oisa. It seems that there was more then one and it has arrived hear to maybe carry out the mission of the first one? I don't know. I'm still lost on how there can be *two* Oisas. Just tell me, who and what are the NGC, and how do you know about them?

~Aria~

PS: Lime, it's me Pan, don't worry so much, Angel and I are fine.

Whoever this man was, Aria noted he was a fast typer and she got the message back quickly, she began to read it out loud.

"Hello, Aria, my name is James, my sister is Faith, I never heard of other's with wings like her, but that is far from importance right now. I think I should inform you of how I know the NGC. They came before trying to steal my sister. My father....he stopped them from doing so, and went to find out who they were, he came back one night very shaken and said nothing to either my sister or I, later the night he went out again and disappeared. We think the NGC took him, but I really don't know why....I don't know why they would take him. What they would want with him. I think your plan is risky using the Goddess Stone, but I guess it may be the only way. All I know is that you know a lot more then I do about what is happening. The NGC stands for

Aria's eyes suddenly went wide and she stared at the machine unblinking, and unmoving for a few moments. Kip who still didn't find anything wandered back to the tabled and peered at the message, face suddenly dawning the same horrified expression.

"A...Are you ok?" Ayane asked softly, while Pan just startled and nervous by the sudden frightened looks on the strange mother and son's faces.

Slowly Aria squeaked out in a frightened tone that was very much unlike her. "Neo goddess creators..."

Ayane and Pan gasped startled, looking at them in disbelief.

"So.....that was it.....Neo Goddess Creating...." Ayane mumbled softly while Pan stood onto her two feet slamming her hands down on the table, eyes wide.

"What does that mean!?"

"Someone...." Aria looked up at her. "Someone is trying to recreate a goddess....but which one Key, Saiyoua or Messiah, or maybe...."

"Maybe even a new one altogether." Kip finished. "If that happens....."

"We will all be killed! Don't you get it?! The goddess wars will start all over again! But this time there will be no counter balance! Nothing to stop the scale from tipping....and that will only lead to a worse destruction then what even Oisa could bring." Aria began to type a message when suddenly a man approached their table, tall with black and pink hair, smiling down at them, meanly. A sour expression sat in Aria's face and she pushed the send button to her unfinished message she had began to type back to James.

**************************

"What's going on over there?" Leon asked, furrowing his eye brows as he glanced over at the table where their friends were at. "Who is that man?"

"I don't know the waiter? Hey, Kip stopped looking...."

"The shard probably isn't hear then...."

Angel was about to speak when the talisman of light began to glow from around her neck again.

`An----dang---man-----Mercenary-----s------ard!!----c- ---ter-----ou!'

"It's that voice again...." Angel mumbled, while Leon leaned close to inspect it, when suddenly a scream made him, Angel as well as everyone else turned towards where Aria and the other's were setting.

Angel gasped putting a hand to her mouth in horror as she saw that the man had grabbed and pulled Ayane from her seat and now held her close to him as a hostage.

"Ayane!"

"Angel! Stay hear." Leon demanded unsheathing his sword and dashing towards the man.

"But....."

***************************

Ayane was trembling frightened, and tried to struggle and get away from his grasp.

"Oh no! Please let me go! Please....."

"Hey! Don't pick on a girl who can't defend herself!" Kip snarled, taking up a fighting stance. "What kind of coward are you!?"

"My name is Eijiro. One of the mercenary's for the NGC. I take it your looking for this? Well, guess I found it before you did." He smirked, using one hand to take a shard from his pocket.

The group gasped and Aria stepped forward snarling.

"You! I wont let any Neo Goddess Creators get their hands on the goddess stone. Hand over the shard or...."

"Else?" Eijiro finished, mockingly. "Their is another shard located in the far west, get there in least then ten minuets or else....this girl is going for a dive in the life stream."

"Oh! Someone, help me!!" Ayane continued to struggle to get free, trashing about desperately.

"You!" Leon growled bringing his sword down behind Eijiro, but the mercenary teleported out of the way just in time, leaving no trace of himself. The other people at the bar were in a panicked state while Angel ran over to them.

"We got to help her!"

"We know that!" Aria snapped. "Ok! We have ten minuets! People lets move before we are to late!"

*******************************

"Oh please....don't...please let me go....I didn't do anything wrong....please...." Ayane sobbed as Eijiro stood leaned against a wall, waiting for the group, he had already recovered the second shard, it was easy to find inside of a old rain barrel. He rolled his eyes annoyed.

"Shut up! I'm not hurting you!"

"....No don't...please stop....I promise I'll be a good girl...I wont do anything bad anymore....please just don't...." Ayane begged pleading.

Eijiro looked confused. "Are you even talking to me? Weirdo....oh, look, your freinds are hear."

Ayane looked up seeing the group of five running towards her, Eijiro leaned close to her, whispering "Just as I planned, my friends are hear as well..."

Ayane seemed to snap out of whatever trance she had been in when she was crying and her eyes went wide.

"Everyone! It's a trap!" She warned, causing the group to halt.

"A what!?" Angel gasped.

"You didn't think I'd be hear alone, did you? After all isn't five against one a bit unfair? Say `Hi' to a few friends of mine."

Angel gasped as did the others as six of the monsters that had attacked at the bar in Cipper raised from the ground and began to stalk towards them. Leon pushed her protectively behind him, hissing to her.

"Becareful, and stay behind me."

"..O...Ok...."

"Fuck..." Aria swore. "We don't have time for this. We are given little choice though. Ok, you freaks, get ready to go to hell!" she summoned her razor fans and leapt into the air taking a slice at one, cutting off it's arm in the progress.

Angel watched wide eyed as her friends battled, Pan was punching at one, the spikes that connected to her glove tearing through the monster's skin. She watched as the she-beast finished the unfortunate beast off with a uppercut that sent it's head flying off.

Pan dusted her hands smirking, looking towards the other beasts. "Who's next?"

"Pan! Watch out!" Angel cried, eye growing wide.

"Huh? OHHH!!!" The she-beast yelped being tossed backwards as she was slammed across the face by the monster she has just decapitated. It was headless but it was still alive. The woman climbed to her feet, gazeing at it in shock before growling, wiping a trickle of blood away from her lip.

"Oh hell...fine if it wants to play the game this way....YAHHHH!!! HIMOTRA!!!!" A glowing red and blue energy ball appeared in Pan's hands and she tossed it towards the beast, blasting a hole through it's stomach. The creature whimpered, gripping the hole, before looking back at Pan, eyes glaring before leaping forward and striking again. Instinctively Pan ducked and out her foot out tripping the creature who fell and did not get back up.

"Pan! Are you ok!?" Angel called worriedly.

"I'm fine!" Pan breathed heavily getting back to her feet. "Just make sure your all right. I don't want to see you hurt."

"Pan......"

Two of the beasts were coming towards Kip, but the boy was not scared at all, and instead summoned a pair of wings and began to send his tiny but powerful fists slamming into each of the monsters. He was doing well until suddenly his eyes widened, and he seemed to freeze.

`No....It can't be.....not her!...No!! No!' Kip's eyes slowly began to fill with tears and he fell to his knees sobbing heavily.

Aria and Leon had just killed a beast a piece, and were both startled by Kip's sudden crying. The two monsters that the child had been battling stood over the boy ready to strike in his moment of weakness, but Leon quickly dashed ahead and began fighting with them, keeping them at bay and moving them away from the boy with his sword. Aria dashed over to her son and knelt down beside him, looking concerned.

"What's wrong?"

"Bra's dead...She's dead Aria!" Kip wailed, throwing his arms around his mother as he sobbed loudly.

Aria looked shocked then sympathetic and began to stroke the little boys back and hair to try and comfort him. "Shhh, you know she's gone to a better place, the life stream."

"But it still hurts...."

"I know...."

Eijiro looked at Angel who stood in the distance, studying her as he smiled. `She has the talisman of light, she is the one.'

Ayane was trembling but saw that the man was busy staring at Angel and had loosened his hold on her a little, slowly she reached for her knife that was tucked away in her chain belt, her fingers wrapped around the handle and swiftly she removed it, twisting around slightly and sinking the knife into his right breast. He cursed with a scream and tossed the girl to the ground, the knife still held in her hands was pulled out of his skin as she fell. As she fell to the ground, one of the shards he found fell from his pocket as he stumbled backwards, clutching his bleeding wound. The shard fell into Ayane's hands and she held it close to her. Eijiro growled, glaring at her before beginning to approach the quivering girl eyes full of rage.

"You little brat." He hissed brining up a hand to hit her, while the young girl only could shielding herself with hands whimpering

"Don't!"

Angel gasped, putting her hands to her mouth as she saw Eijiro ready to strike her, a magical sword appearing in his hands as he prepared to ram in through her small trembling body. The rest of the group just stood stunned, Pan and Leon fighting off two of the monsters and Aria knelt beside a still crying Kip. Slowly she watched as the sharp edge of the sword came closer to the fragile girl who was helpless and crying.

`No...no...I can't let Ayane...I can't! I have to do something!' Her mind screamed as she got up from her huddled and frightened position on the ground, closeing her eyes as the talisman began to glow softly.

Leon was the first to notice a bright golden light and turned around to face it's source and gasped as he saw that the light was coming from Angel.

"Angel...." He breathed, staring at her in shocked awe.

"Angel?" Pan gasped, eyes wide. "What...what is happening?"

Aria and Kip just stared in shock as Angel slowly opened her eyes, a foggy and all one color ocean blue. She slowly raised her hand up into the air and spoke in a voice that was not her own.

"Light Aroa!"

"That voice....!" Kip and Aria's eyes grew small at the same time as pure shock over took them.

Eijiro opened his mouth in silent horror as he saw a wave of golden energy come towards him and engulf him painfully. The light faded after a few moments and Eijiro was leaned over painfully clutching a few bleeding wounds.

"Damn it! No wonder the master wants her....fine! You won this round, but I was only getting warmed up! Next time I will be ready and I shall beat you, besides, my whole mission was not a failure today, I do have one of your precious shards!"

"You! Give it back!!" Aria demanded, growling in rage, running towards him but was sent flying backwards as a sudden blast of wind magic caught her and threw her off her feet and away from him.

"Koi!" Santiago suddenly appeared beside Eijiro, looking worried. "Are you ok!?"

"Santi...Yes, I'm fine. Let's go, we will take care of them next time."

"All right."

"WAIT!!!" Aria swore as the dove and the man disappeared with out a trace. "DAMMIT! They got one of the shards!"

"Angel!" Pan exclaimed, approaching her friend worriedly. As the golden light faded from around her slowly her eyes returned to normal and they darted around confused before finally from the stress of using do much power and the confusion of what happened caused Angel to staggered backwards weakly, eyes rolling back into her head.

"Angel!" Leon exclaimed dashing behind the girl as he caught her in his arms as she fainted.

************************************

Angel opened her eyes slowly, looking around herself confused. She was standing in a valley full of flowers, gazeing up at Oisa, burning crimson in the sky.

"It's horrible isn't it?"

She heard and man's voice and twirled around spotting a man wearing a red trench coat with long black hair that reached down to his knees.

"It's horrible...it takes the place of the moon...the moon was so beautiful to look at and this is so horrible....Who are you? And where am I?"

"I think....I think we are dreaming. My name is James. Who are you?"

"My name is Angel."

"Angel, huh? Your friends told me about you."

"Really? James...this place would be so beautiful if it wasn't for Oisa. If it was bathed in the light from the golden moon then...then it would all be so peaceful and beautiful hear."

"Your right. But all we have is Oisa, a bleeding moon and everything is bathed in it's horrible...."

"Crescent Moonlight." Both he and Angel finished together. Both turned to look at the other surprised for a second before turning back to look at Oisa.

"We have to stop this horrible thing...." Angel stated.

"I know...I know."

"I think James, that I can trust you. You seem to have a good heart....a good kind heart." Angel spoke again but in a different voice.

"Angel?"

She turned around to look at him through foggy eyes and smiled a wide secretive little smile. They just stood their in silence for a time letting the crimson moonlight wash over them and the flower field.