Setup #1: Angel Sanctuary floor

[RisuChan]

[Character POV: Neji (since nobody's claimed him yet)]

This looks like a nice place. No GERA goons, so that's a big plus right there. Relyss had heard from somewhere -- for all I know, it might have been from the AI fuzzy-logic rice cooker in the kitchen -- that there was going to be a tea party hosted by a kid named Raziel, who'd wanted to invite us but obviously couldn't catch us on our own floor.

If it's a GERA plot, it's better to know about it in advance; Batsu and I are armed for bear, and he's on guy wires outside the French windows waiting to hear if he's supposed to come crashing in and blowing up shit.

And if it's not a GERA plot, it's been a while since I had a chance to relax with a really excellent cup of tea...

Unfortunately, Relyss is not accustomed to the 'cautious' approach yet -- not when it comes to a table full of sweets.

"CAAAAAAAKKKEEE!"

"Oh hell, Relyss, no--"

Too late; she's made a beeline across the room and scooped up one of the delicate little china dishes with a slice of strawberry cake on it, and has started munching on it happily.

I dig a hand through my hair and look around for someone who seems to be in charge enough to apologize to. There's a far too amused-looking priest sitting near the refreshments table; I make my way over to him with a fixed attempt at a grin.

"Sorry about that," I tell him. "This is her first tea party."

"I rather guessed," the priest replies, still grinning.

Relyss has devoured her cake and is now looking around at all the new people. It seems like now that we've finally taught her what happy emotions are, she's reacting to them a little like they're Novocaine or something. But she hasn't entirely gotten a grasp on the social nuances of--

oh, no--

Relyss's eyes light up when she spots another female sitting at one of the tables. She puts down her now-empty dessert dish quite properly, and then makes a beeline across the room.

"Hello! My name is Relyss! I think you've dropped something--"

"Relyss, wait, I told you--"

...too late again; the girl looks down for a moment, and Relyss flicks her nose and bursts into giggles.

The boy sitting beside her looks about ready to rip Relyss's head off; I grab her hastily and haul her back a couple steps. "That means she likes you," I tell them both hastily. "She's still working on the whole social-interaction subroutine thing. She's an android with AI. We've been kind of having some programming glitches..."

Relyss looks over my shoulder at the glaring boy. "Didn't you drop something too?"

"No," he says quite firmly.

She blinks a little, looking at me for a clue.

"This is when you shake hands, Relyss," I prompt her, wincing a little. Her face clears up immediately, and she beams and holds out a hand to the glowering teenager.

The girl beside him shifts a little, and that must have been a kick in the shin, because he chokes a little, then lets go of her hand and takes Relyss's hand to shake.

"My name's Sara," the girl says, still rubbing her assaulted nose a little. "This is my brother Setsuna, and Uriel, the Angel of Judgement. You two are Relyss and...?"

"Neji," I tell her, and make a point of shaking hands quite gently and not flicking her nose. "Nice to meet you."

Relyss is far too excited by the combination of cake and lots of new people who aren't shooting things at us. I can't entirely blame her, but it's still a little nervewracking to try to ride herd solo. On the other hand, Batsu's party manners aren't much better...

While I'm debating calling him in for Relyss-supervising backup more than blowing-place-to-smithereens backup, Relyss has spotted another pair of potential victims-er-introducees. She's buzzed over to the broody one in all black in the corner; I bite back a curse and sprint after her.

"You have a nice face," she tells him earnestly. "You need to smile with it! Look, you dropped something--" and her hand's already poised for flicking his nose.

He catches her wrist, looking at her with a completely expressionless face. "No, I don't think so."

Her brows quirk together. "You're sure?"

"Positive."

Relyss heaves a sigh and looks at me for moral support. "Can you get him to drop something, Neji?"

"The shaking hands part comes first, Relyss. After that you decide whether or not people have dropped things. And normally they haven't dropped things."

"But he definitely needs to smile more."

"So let's work on some different ways to get people to smile," I suggest, a little desperately.

I know this is at least partially my fault; we spend so much time running and hiding that she really isn't used to having interactions with normal people in normal settings. I thought this would be good for her. I hadn't realized what a strain it was going to be for me... well, live and learn...

[RisuChan]

[Character POV: Sara]

My nose is still stinging a little. It's a good thing the excitable little android girl decided on Kira-sempai first; I'm sure Kira-sempai could handle her. If she'd tried to tease Dr. Disraeli, I wonder if he would have left entirely. There seem to be so many misunderstandings there...

"Setsuna, I'll be back in a minute. Watch as close as you like. But I'm going to talk to Dr. Disraeli and it will be much easier when he's not being growled at."

He heaves a longsuffering sigh and lets go of my hand; since he's already watching Dr. Disraeli like a hawk, it won't even be anything unusual.

The chair is a bit awkward to struggle out of, but I manage to ease my clumsy self out of it; I'm fairly sure Dr. Disraeli can hear me walking up behind him, so I wait a few steps away, in case he doesn't want his privacy interfered with.

"I really do want you to feel welcome here," I tell him quietly. "I know it can be a little overwhelming -- both the foreign-ness of our culture to you and... well... Uriel-san can be overwhelming all by himself. But he really is a very kind person, and I'm sure he wouldn't want to hurt or upset you. Would you like to come and have some more tea...?"

[Alter]

[Character POV: Jezebel]

I tried to hide my pleasure when I see Setsuna fuming even more. We tried to talk about nothing in particular, (all the effort to make conversations are proved to be futile, when Setsuna's best answer is 'Yes' or 'No', half the times he spent in trying to bore a hole through my head). Of course being a good mannered doctor I am, I politely ignored his pointed death glare and watched him being nudged (not too gently) in the ribs couple times by Madame Sara instead. When he finally realized that keeping hostility to kick me out didn't work at all, he tried another approach.

"Are you sure you don't have an appointment this evening, Doctor Disreali?" Setsuna said through gritted teeth.

I look at him, "well, let's see," and pretendedly turned my head to see the clock on the wall (while actually listening satisfyingly to the nice muffled 'OUch!' coming from the siblings direction). When turning to them again, I was a picture of innocence, "No, I don't think I have appointment this evening, Mr. Mudou"

Setsuna muttered something under his breath and rubbing his stomach. He amused me so much that I nearly didn't pay attention to other guests who coming (one of them just knocked the boy to the floor. Poor chap. This is his second time within an hour). Hmmmm, the girl is...I squinted my eyes a bit, could it be another sibling?

Madame Sara hold herself not to laugh, "That's Doll, and of course Uriel-san. He's the Angel of Judgement, and she takes care of him."

I could passed the peculiar name with an ease (afterall, my father also has peculiar taste on naming his children), but the 'Angel of Judgement' bit makes me quirks my eyebrow involuntarily. Well, women always like melancholic stuff like flowers or angels, and I heard pregnant women has a drastic hormonal imbalance that drove them making unthinkable 'creative' demands to their husbands (and throwing tantrum when it doesn't fulfilled). Surely however 'creative' one can be, it doesn't led to hallucination, right? but then again, she sounds serious.

"No, really," Madame Sara insisted, "I'm not actually insane. Don't be surprised if Uriel-san speaks into your mind. He doesn't have his own voice any more. It's a long story."

"I can imagine," now I really worried...

Setsuna couldn't seem even more livelier upon seeing Mr.Uriel, "Hey, Uriel! Come on over! We've got more seats..." the grin on his face makes me even more worried. Moreso, because he had the 'I got you now' look etched on his face. Whoever this Uriel person, I think he has the ability to getting information, maybe in not so desirable way

Even so, I smiled politely and nodded to him when he sit down.

"Uriel-san, this is Dr. Disraeli from the first floor," Madame Sara speaks hastily before her brother could toss a word there.
Besides his impassive looks, he looks as a kind person. of course appearance could deceiving, better be careful

"Dr. Disraeli is a physician who quite likes taking care of little animals as well. Doctor, this is Uriel, who's the Angel of Judgement. But he's really a very nice person, so don't worry!"

I nearly laugh. It's really hilarious to see her blindly believe that I'm a kind person. Watching her spread that lie to her closest friends and family is even more pathetic. You should not judge people that easily, Madame Sara

I agree

the world seems to froze in an instant

then could you say that so to yourself?

when the indictment which resides within your soul has passed even without trial

the voice that seeped into his mind slowly drifted and swirled and bring back all those memories.
Snark, sisters, Delilah's Medical Institutes.... then, a cold voice which makes his stomach churned up

How does that tastes, Jezebel?

"Uriel-san," he could feel the lump on his throat. He's still in public place, he won't suddenly goes throwing up in place like here.

Don't forget that there are always choices.

"Choices? When have any of us ever had choices?" If the choice were delivered to him on the first place, surely then...

You can still choose to forgive yourself, and to begin again.

I wasn't realized that I was already leave my chair and stand by the French doors by the time Madame Sara approach me slowly and hold my hand.

"Doctor?" involuntarily I takes a step back at her touch, but then I realized my rudeness.

"Ah, I'm truly apologize...Madame Sara...I don't meant to..." awkwardly I cupped her hand, "and you were saying?" wish I could stop myself from shaking

I certainly didn't see what happen next when Madame Sara flung herself to me and started patting my back motherly

"It's alright Doctor, it...it wasn't entirely your fault...I'm sure you had tried your best, and..."

The sinking sensation came back again. Closing his eyes, he pulled himseld away from her and this time, firmly held her at bay. Madame Sara must be has a wrong interpretation because she stuttering an apology

"No, Madame Sara, it would be my apologize" I smiled weakly at her, "I...I couldn't stay a little longer, unfortunately" I quickly added "You see, being such an unresponsible doctor I am, I had carelessly forgotten one very important appointment this afternoon" lamest excuse, but I couldn't think up anymore reason. "I'd better go before she'd die then?" what intended as a soft laugh had came as a hoarse one.

She looks really worried but I pretended not knowing that, "Shall I escort you back to your table then?" thinking that I must get close to that man again makes my heart sinks again. But before Madame Sara had to say any words, another voice had answered.

"I'll take her there," the one who in black shirt. Instantly relieved, I bowed to him slightly, murmured a small 'thank you' and place a kiss on Madame Sara's hand, "I'll take my leave then, Madame Sara", "Sir" and turned around to the elevator's pace. I hit the button and rushed in, all the time half blinded by the sound of my erratic heartbeat. As the door started to shut, I heard a faint, sad voice...

Wing Drop

The elevator door shut with a click

[alter note: uhh, there's so much spoilers about Jez in this post, I hope you guys don't mind]

[RisuChan]

[character POV: Sara]

Dr. Disraeli is so lost in his thoughts that I reach over to touch his hand a little.

"Doctor?"

He flinches away as though I'd burned him, and then begins to apologize as though upsetting him hadn't been my own clumsy fault to begin with.

"Ah, I truly apologize...Madame Sara...I didn't mean to..."

He takes my hand again, and tries for a smile. "As you were saying....?"

His hands are trembling, even as he struggles to pretend that everything's all right. The poor man...

I can't help myself. I fling both arms around him and rock him back and forth a little as though he were a child in need of comforting, rubbing his back, trying desperately to offer any consolation I can.

"It's all right, Doctor, it... it wasn't entirely your fault... I'm sure you tried your best, and..."

But it only seems to make things worse; he pulls away from me, ashen-pale and trembling.

"I'm sorry," I whisper. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to intrude, I... I just..."

He's putting on the social mask again, though not very well, and making a terribly unconvincing excuse about a forgotten appointment. I can't imagine that he would actually forget an appointment, not when he's so careful to make time both for his human patients and for his little birds. He hands me off to Kira-sempai with a brittle, traumatized attempt at a chuckle, and all but runs from the room.

"Good riddance," Kira-sempai mutters, with a crooked grin. "Looks like Setsuna won't have to beat him up when you've chased him out all by yourself, Sara-chan!"

For a second, I'm absolutely blind with outrage.

A minute later, I'm blind with tears.

Stupid, stupid pregnant hormones -- I cry at the drop of a hat now...!

I didn't want it to be like this -- I didn't want Dr. Disraeli to run away from us, he's always seemed so very shy and retiring and I'd wanted so badly to make him feel welcome, and it's Raziel-kun's special day and everything, and here I've gone and ruined it all myself, I know he won't want to see me crying but I can't seem to stop...!

"Sara-chan?" the little android girl asks anxiously. "Did you drop something again?"

Kira-sempai ignores her entirely, scooping me up and carrying me back to the table to set me in a chair next to Setsuna. Somehow he gets me pried off my humiliated clutch at his shirt and transfers me to Setsuna instead; I clutch at him and keep sobbing my eyes out into his shoulder.

Setsuna puts both arms around me, fiercely protective, and says, "What did that freak doctor say to you? I'll wring his neck myself!"

"Noo-oo-ooo!" I gasp for breath and try to choke through the rest of it. "It's... it's all my fault... I tried so hard... I wanted everything to be perfect f-for Raziel-kun... and I scared the poor d-doctor and I yelled at everyone and... and now I can't stop crying... and he ran away from me... and I know I'm ruining the party, I'm such a horrible, clumsy idiot... why...? Why do I do everything wrooong...?"

I can just feel the Guy Look that Setsuna and Kira-sempai are giving each other. The one that says "yep, she's being pregnant at us again."

But if I weren't a clumsy idiot I would have been a better hostess and made everyone feel happy and I wouldn't have ended up ruining Raziel-kun's party and... and...

Setsuna's found a soft handkerchief somewhere, and he's trying to dry my cheeks so I don't end up soaking his shirt for him. "It's not your fault," he says. "Heck, you're the one who kept me from taking him out back and beating the tar out of him, aren't you? If anything you're too nice a hostess, Sara-chan."

"But... after all of it... I'm the one he ran away from...!"

Uriel says very quietly, Sometimes gentleness can be just as painful as violence, to a wounded soul. But that gentleness is still a kind and admirable thing to offer.

Kira-sempai makes a skeptical sound. "In this building, I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of people who aren't wounded souls around here."

"And he'll have fingers left," Setsuna agrees with a sigh. "Come on. Chin up. Smile for me, okay? It's not your fault. You were polite to him WAY above and beyond the call of duty already. --And if you don't cheer up, that android's going to insist you've been dropping things again!"

I sniffle a little, and scrub at my face with Setsuna's handkerchief, and try a wavery smile; he grins back and pats my head.

"There we go. Cup of tea and some cake and it'll all be fine."

"Oh... cake...?" I gulp hard, because my voice is still wobbling with tears, and try again. "I wonder if Relyss can eat cake...?"

Kira-sempai glances over at the refreshments table and rolls his eyes. "I think that's a big yes."

About then, Raziel-kun and Doll-chan come out of the kitchen with teapots. Raziel-kun looks a little wild around the eyes; I make a determined effort to smile brightly for him, because I'm sure he doesn't need any more trauma in his life when Doll-chan's been 'helping'. Neji-san looks back and forth between Doll and me, a little startled.

Oh, that's right... I'm going to have to explain a lot of things to him too, aren't I...

[Kinna]

[Character POV: Setsuna (posted by Risu on Kinna's behalf because of connection trouble)]

That doctor ran out the door, trying and failing to keep his composure. Even from here, I managed to catch a glimpse of his extremely disturbed countenance. Well, good riddance. My eyes are starting to hurt from the amount of staring and glaring I've been doing.

But Uriel has made me really worried. What could Uriel have said to Jezebel, that made him so emotional? That broke his mask so completely? I asked, but Uriel refused to say a thing. He just said that he did not have to judge some people, they have already convicted themselves of their own sins. Now WHAT am I supposed to make of that? Alexial's not helpful too. All she contributed was a mental "Hmm...". And here I thought she would give a good

The next thing I know, my thoughts were disrupted as Kira-sempai thrust an armful of sobbing-Sara into my lap. What the --? I had been too wrapped up in my thoughts, and unable to see or hear what exactly had happened out in the balcony.

What did that screwed-up, motherf**ker say to her to make her so upset? I’ll tear his guts out!

I asked as much, albeit in a more gentlemanly manner. Just slightly, while still getting my meaning across.

"Noo-oo-ooo!" Sara paused, draw in a ragged breath, then continued, "It's... it's all my fault... I tried so hard... I wanted everything to be perfect f-for Raziel-kun... and I scared the poor d-doctor and I yelled at everyone and... and now I can't stop crying... and he ran away from me... and I know I'm ruining the party, I'm such a horrible, clumsy idiot... why...? Why do I do everything wrooong...?"

Oh. It’s just the hormonal imbalance again. Women with babies. Sigh.

Kira and I shared a long-suffering look, as I dug for a handkerchief I kept just for such occurrences. Which were becoming so frequent that I have resigned myself to them. Dabbing them over the wet streaks marring Sara’s pretty face, I tried to console her as best as I could. Uriel quipped up, trying to lend a hand. Or a voice, in this case.

Finally, we managed to distract her with the newcomers. More relieved now that there is nothing setting off my ‘spider-sense’, as I refer to it privately, I looked around the room, checking over on Sara every once in a while to make sure that she’s fine. Nothing seems to be out of the ordinary, if weird dressing, hyper-reactivity and slight twitchiness is considered normal. But I suppose that we ourselves are an odd lot, what with Sara and Doll looking like identical twins with differently hair colour, a seemingly-dumb Uriel, a blind priest, and a darkly-dressed Kira-senpai who has gone back to his usual aloof expression. Not to mention that I know some people would consider Sara far too young to be carrying the round stomach that she is. More so if they know who the child’s father is. So far, only Kira-senpai and Raphael knows it. We’ve been careful not to spread it around, not because we really care what others think, but because we don’t know what interesting little personal predilections the other occupants have, what with Yuki-sensei’s twisted imagination. Anyway, most people know better than to ask, if me and Kira guarding her like hawks and throwing death glances to all who even makes her uncomfortable. But we can’t be around her twenty-four hours a day. Look at how she met that damn doctor. Swearing in my head, I resolved to spend more time with her. No one will lay a hand on her, not when I am around. .

And I plan to stay around for a long time.

[Kinna]

[Character POV: Alexiel (Risu posting for Kinna again)]


[NB: This will probably be my last post in a long time (Ok, 3 weeks. Freaking exams), so I will take the liberty of typing extra long, and dictating Uriel and Lucifer’s responses for them. I hope Risu-chan doesn’t mind about Uriel. As for Kira…since no one is taking him… I always thought Luficer’ s kinda obsessed with Alexial. -Kinna]

The shock at hearing Uriel’s voice once again after so long distracting me so much that I barely heard Setsuna’s queries. After obtaining only a few mental shrugs, Setsuna gave up, and I could feel his mindtouch withdraw. He doesn’t know it, but the boy is getting better and better at controlling his powers everyday. No doubt he will soon have them at the tip of his fingers, not only when he is in the grasp of powerful emotions.

Uriel looks the same….who am I kidding, we’re angels, we don’t age, of course we look the same. Even I, or rather, my incarcerated body, remains as it has been for thousands of years. Only my current physical self looks different, after so many reincarnations; and even so, the face is the same. The personalities are distinctly separate, though. Setsuna is so hot-headed, even though I’ve been teaching and reminding him constantly to reign in hi

I only hope that he can forgive himself eventually, and the little girl at his side can cheer him up some. Perhaps I should borrow Setsuna’s body, and have a little talk with him, to hurry up the former some.

Setsuna… Insinuating myself back in the boy’s consciousness, I called out to him.

What?!? Don’t pop in suddenly like that! I laughed to myself at his startled mental tone. Jumpy, aren’t we?

If there is such a thing as a mental glare at oneself, I’m sure I’ll be bearing the brunt of it now. Even if it was not a hostile one, just an annoyed one.

What?

Can I borrow your body for a while?

Will you not if I say no? Since when did you listen to what I say?

…That’s true. I’m just been courteous.

Hmph. What a pain. Fine. Take it! But you better not do it in front of all this people.

Duh. As if good ol’ me need you to tell me that. But could you ask Uriel out with you too? Just him. I want to talk to him.

Uriel? What do you want with — wait. Don’t answer that. I know he had a torch for you. Still does, in fact, I think…HEY! Don’t you go use my body to engage in any hanky-panky…

Hmmph! Insolent brat! I did the mental equivalent of cuffing his head. Just do it already!

* * *

The sensation of my hair lengthening and body shifting, is one that is already familiar to me, so I took the time to watch old Uriel’s face. It is not often when you see the stoic angel stunned, then get a slightly cornered and panicked look as I appeared before him in all my past glory. I was quite amused by it.

"Uriel... How have you been? I’ve not talked to you for a long time, have I?"

He blinked, then looked at the floor. "I’m ... fine.", he rasped. I cringed inwardly. The mechanical device produced a sound that is far from the soothing baritone tone I remembered. Amusement drained away as I remembered the reason for calling him out. My actions have had far-reaching consequences.

'Uriel...' This time round, I spoke directly into his mind. No, you’re not. Why are you punishing yourself so?

'I... I was the one... you...' My empathic abilities were enough to tell me all that he wanted to say, as the massive wave of guilt washed over me. It is an ability, the sole one of mine, that Setsuna seems to lack. Or at least, unable to utilize even though we share the same life energy.

'Stop this silliness. What happened to me was not your fault. And I’m all fine now.' Uriel was still emitting guilt waves. I shoved him against the wall, and lifted his chin up, forcing him to look into my eyes. 'Look. I don’ t blame you at all, and I don’t want you to blame yourself too. My curse was one that was meant to be. It wasn’t all that bad. Being on earth, among humans all that time, taught me to live, to experience emotions. You, on the other hand, closed off all of yours. You have suffered enough. Maybe even more than I did. For something that was inevitable. Forget it, Uriel. Forgive yourself.’ Still staring at him in the eye, I willed him to see that my words are true, and get them through his thick head.

Long moments later, shaking, he finally closed his eyes and acquiesced. As he nodded, I could see the long-present tension drain out of his shoulders. Relieved, I stood on tiptoes, and gave him a light kiss on his lips. He blinked at me, surprised and grew misty-eyed, touched his lips, whirled around and strode away.

'Thanks, Alexial.'

'The pleasure is mine. My only regret is not having done this earlier. And take care.'

As Uriel’s back blended with the lengthening shadows of the evening, I made a mental note to send the little Sara-lookalike to him as soon as I get back in. Or rather, get Setsuna to do it. She’s probably gonna have a fit that Uriel left without her. The poor man. But it’s great that someone cares that much for him. Since the object of his affection can’t reciprocate it. And talking about that...

Kira steps out from behind the plant he had been standing behind as Uriel and I talked. No, not Kira. Lucifer. I felt him the minute he took over, too. It was within minutes from my changing from Setsuna to my original form.

"You offered him forgiveness, but what did you offer me?" My, my, isn’t he direct today. Bad mood. Apparently he has forgotten I can kick his ass anytime I want to, or he’s itching for it.

"Come on. We’ve not met for some time. Must we be so serious and rake up the past?" I stepped toward him, only to find myself pinned against the wall suddenly by his body. I allowed him to, for the moment.

"Do you know how much I’ve missed you? Stuck in the boy, looking out, knowing that you are nearby, but unable to touch you?" He buried his face in my hair, and took a deep breath. I sighed.

"You could have approached me earlier. I know you’ve been around before when... I am."

"I... I didn’t know what to say."

"And now you suddenly do?"

".....You... and that Uriel... what’s going on?"

The thought of Lucifer, Demon Overload and master of the underworld, getting jealous, suddenly sent me into a spasm of giggles.

"What are you laughing about?" He growled, and suddenly my mouth was covered by his. His lips devoured mine, in a seemingly attempt to suck them clean, perhaps of Uriel.

When he finally let go, I shook my head and replied, "Nothing. It’s just… You know that there are only two in my heart. Rociel, my brother and first love, and you."

"I said that I would make you mine."

I scowled. "I’m no one’s. Understand that, Luc. I may love you, but that does not mean you can boss me around. You WERE sealed in a sword by me, so you should know what I’m like."

"Yes, how could I forget that? Everyday, for so long, I was carried around so close to you. Watching you everyday, without being able to say and do a word. Do you know how I felt? How I longed for you?" Leaning forward, he breathed into my ear, "And how much I wished that you could wrap yourself around me?"

Oh my. I think Great Lucifer just referred to my sword as a phallic symbol. Either that or I need to get some soon. With great difficulty, I pulled my mind back from the distraction of Lucifer’s wayward lips and hands.

"Lucifer…sealing you into the sword is something I don’t regret. It binded you to me, and was what allowed you to find me in all my reincarnations." Lucifer’s hands stilled.

"You remembered all that? Even the way I was helpless to aid you all the time, and sometimes even contributed to your death?" Lucifer’s head was buried in my shoulders, as he took in deep breaths.

"I do remember... not all, just some bits. But... your presence was somehow always reassuring. As if I know you are the one constant, amidst the chaos." He turned up, intense dark pupils boring into me. I ran a hand through his hair, pushing them back from his face, maintaining the eye contact.

When I first met him, he did seem an arrogant, if intriguing, bastard. But over the years, he has became a comforting and secure presence, permanently linked with Nanatsusaya in my mind. Not to mention the sacrifices he has made for me... Yes, I do love him. I allowed him to see it, no, WILLED him to see it.

Long moments passed as our gaze locked. Seemingly satisfied by what he saw, he sighed and closed his eyes, adjusting his head so that it is now buried in my neck. In this way, the two of us stood together in the deserted corridor, lost in our own world, mindless of the tea party still going on in the rooms.

I guess we have all gone a little soft and sentimental, after all that has happened.

[Countess D]

[ Character POV: Raziel ]

“What are you doing? Uriel-sama likes his tea this way!”

Uriel-sama likes this. Uriel-sama likes that... doesn’t this girl talk about anything else?! If things continue like this, she’s gonna’ drive me mad!!!

Though it has only passed a few minutes since I accepted Uriel-sama’s request of keeping an eye on Doll, it already feels like if several hours have passed. I’m not going to deny that she has been helping out; but for everything that I do, or ask her to do, she has a but. Its either that, or she telling me just how well she serves Uriel-sama.

“Raziel-chan! Hurry up! You’re too slow! If it were me, I would already had served Uriel-sama his tea”

There she goes again. I’m supposed to be in charge, but the one giving, no, yelling out all the orders is her. Fortunately we’re almost done. We have served some more snacks, and the tea is now warm and ready to be served. First I thought we were serving too much, but according to Doll, some new guests have arrived, so I guess its alright. Besides, I think I bought too much sweets. Maybe I can share them later with people from other floors. Well…first things first. I will decide what to do with them later.

I pick up a tray with some snacks and hand it to Doll. Then I take the one with the tea pot and the cups.

“What’s that?” she asks pointing at a one of the tea cups.

“A cup.” I’m pretty sure that’s not the answer she was expecting, but I guess I wanted to annoy her, at least once this afternoon.

“I know it’s a cup!” mission accomplished. She’s annoyed.” What I mean is why is that plain old Japanese cup among the fine porcelain ones.”

“This one is for Zaphkiel-sama’s tea.” I reply, “ he always has his tea with this one.”

“Well not while I’m around. That old thing is going to make the others look ugly.”

She tries to take the cup, but as she does I catch her wrist almost instinctively. Her eyes widen.

“I…I’m sorry Doll.” I apology. I didn’t mean to scare her. “ is just that I made this cup. It was the first thing I ever made for Zaphkiel-sama and he treasures it as much as I do.”

“I see…”

“Look…why don’t we do the following. You let me serve my mentor my way without questioning it. And I will do the same with you and Uriel-sama. You want to serve him exclusively don’t you?”

“Sounds fair…but don’t step in my way!”

Good! Now that everything is settle, we both take our trays and proceed back to the party.
As we step out of the kitchen I notice that indeed, some new guests have arrived. There’s a red-head girl, and Neji-san is also here. I’m glad he could make it. The girl that accompanies Neji is at the refreshments table enjoying herself. Zaphikel-sama who’s sited near the table, seems diverted by the girls enthusiasm. On the other hand, Neji-san looks like he’s having a hard time controlling his friend.

As expected, Sara-chan is fiercely guarded by her brother and Kira-senpai. Though now the look less stressed than before. As for the doc—hey, where’s doctor Disraeli? Could it be that they finally managed to lure him away. That’s too bad. I’m going to have to apology with him later.

As we pass by the window I notice how Doll-chan stops and starts starring at something outside. Curiosity overcomes me and I join her in the window.

“what the—“. Staring at us from the outside is a blond guy with an eye-patch hanging from a rope.

“He wants to enter” Doll-chan says.

Still startled as I am, the only thing that comes to my head is to turn around and ask “err—excuse me, is this person an acquaintance of any of you?”

“Shit! I completely forgot about Batsu!” Neji-san says. I guess the blonde is one of his friends. “he is my grandchi—I mean, my friend. Could you please let him in.”

Before I can tell Doll to let him in, she has already invited him in.

The blonde guy. I believe Neji-san called him Batsu., lands inside the room and greets us all with a big *yo’*.

As the one hosting this party I proceed to welcome him, but why does Neji-san looks nervous. And why do I suddenly feel so unsettled?

[RisuChan]

[Character POV: Neji]

Mercifully, Batsu realizes this is the friendly invitation-in rather than the "let's blow shit up" invitation in; he climbs in the window as though this were perfectly normal, and greets the kids with a big grin and a ruffle of hair. He's still grinning when he looks over at me, but showing a lot more teeth in the process.

"You know, somebody COULD have mentioned to me sooner that there was tea and cake and stuff in here, instead of leaving me dangling out there freezing my ass off," he says to me conversationally.

Yeah, I'm going to catch hell about this one for quite a while. In my own defense, though, I feel obliged to protest.

"YOU try running herd on Relyss at her first-ever tea party for a while and then see how much concentration you've got to spare for things that aren't actually exploding in your face," I mutter. "Speaking of which..."

The room's gotten a little emptied out; the blonde doctor made a dash for it earlier, the tall mute man's gone somewhere, and so have the broody one in black and the pregnant girl's hyperprotective brother.

Mercifully, Relyss hasn't decided to go wandering out too, because I know there are things on this floor that make GERA look like a bunch of pansies. There have to be, or else GERA would have tried a lot harder to take over this floor by now. She's pestering the poor priest at the moment.

"No, honestly, you dropped something!"

I smack a palm against my forehead and hurry over to try to intervene. Except the priest is smiling at her and not looking down in the slightest.

"Raziel-kun, could you come help me for a minute? I seem to have dropped something."

This is a new one for Relyss, who blinks at him in some perplexity. "But then it doesn't work," she tells him gravely.

"What doesn't work?"

"The way it goes is I tell you you've dropped something, and then you look down. And then I flick your nose, and then we laugh. ...Why didn't you look down?"

"Well." He looks a little embarrassed. "It might have something to do with the fact that I can't really look anywhere. You can flick my nose whenever you like, my dear, because I won't see it coming."

"...Why not?"

The little blonde boy hurries over to his side, anxious-faced. "Zaphikel-sama...?"

"Never mind," Zaphikel says, smiling. "Just a bit of a misunderstanding, Raziel-kun. Apparently I didn't drop anything after all."

Relyss chews her bottom lip, trying to decide what to do about this. "You're positive?"

"I'm blind, my dear," he said, very gently. "I don't have the 'look down for something dropped' reflex anymore. But we can all laugh anyway, if you like."

Then the priest looks up at something else; a moment later I realize it's the sound of a chair scraping on the floor a bit. The pregnant girl -- I think she said her name was Sara -- is having a bit of difficulty getting herself out of the chair she was in; it's deep and soft, and her middle's quite round, and she's having a hard time bending enough.

She realizes we're all staring at her, and turns bright pink. "I'm sorry!" she says, panting with her struggles. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt... it's just that... Setsuna and Kira-sempai and Uriel and Dr. Disraeli have all gone... and I didn't want to sit here by myself... so I thought I'd join your table, but... I'm so clumsy now...!"

"Shall we join you instead, then?" the priest asks wryly.

I hadn't thought it was possible for her to blush brighter, but she manages, shaking her head a little. "I... um... need to get up anyway; the baby's kicking..."

Batsu kicks me in the back of the knee hard enough that I land flat on my back on the floor, gasping and clutching my abused knee joint. Nope, he definitely hasn't forgiven me yet.

"Go make like a gentleman, you antiquated geezer!"

"Dammit, I would if I could walk!" I wheeze.

"Oh, please, I didn't want to upset everybody just when people are finally starting to relax...!"

"If you didn't want to disturb people, then you should have kept quiet!" the one who looks like Sara's dark-haired twin says primly. "I'd never let myself disturb Uriel-sama like that."

"That's not nice!" Relyss says, utterly shocked.

It's embarrassing, but I shove a fist in my mouth to keep from bursting out laughing, because given the number of atrocities she's witnessed in her life -- including people blowing chunks out of each other's bodies while she was standing there -- I'm amazed she even has a concept of nice, let alone that much outrage at the violation of the precepts of niceness.

...Ah, hell, Sara's sniffling on the edge of tears again. Pregnant women are such a hormonal rollercoaster it's amazing men ever survive their mood swings long enough to be able to continue to propagate the species.

Raziel-kun is looking back and forth between the lot of us in anxious dismay. Poor kid, I can't blame him.

The priest can move eerily quietly when he wants to. He's found his way over to Sara's chair and is chuckling softly as he tries to figure out how to help her out of it without having to put his hands in places that would get himself slapped into next week. Her arm around his shoulders and his arm about her hips is a little off-balanced to start with, but he manages to get her reasonably up straight...

...and I flinch at the sound of an escalating catfight nearer by. Well, kittenfight, anyway; neither of them is old enough to qualify for full-grown cathood...

"I beg your pardon! I have exquisite manners! Uriel-sama tells me all the time what a wonderful servant I've been for him! And what's rude is going around interrupting people's parties and--"

"Uh..." (That was Batsu.)

"It is not nice to tell people they're being rude when they're attending a party specifically to make people smile!"

"Erm..." (Batsu again.)

"You could have fooled me! It looked to me like you were attending just to eat cake and assault people's faces for no good reason!"

"Why, you... you... un-nice little... person!"

"Uhhh..." (Yep, Batsu.)

I clutch at my knee more for dramatic effect than anything else and roll under the table to hide. He can deal with this one by himself for a while and see how he likes it....

[RisuChan]

[Character POV: Sara]

I bite my bottom lip hard to keep from crying or from laughing hysterically as Doll-chan and the android girl start squabbling with each other.

"Poor, poor Raziel-kun...!"

"It's all right," Zaphikel-san tells me wryly. "They're just temperamental little girls; let them shout at each other for a while, and the next thing you know, they'll both be curled up in the corner playing dolls or something. Children that age argue and make up faster than the weather changes in the spring. Not that that's any consolation to Raziel-kun at the moment, but I'm sure the girls will sort it out."

It takes a bit of wobbling for me to find my balance again, because I'm still not accustomed to the extra weight and the roundness in front, and because it's been increasing more quickly than I can adjust. Zaphikel chuckles a little, careful to make sure that we're both steady on our feet before tucking an arm through mine so that he can steady me and I can guide him.

His other hand curves against my belly gently, and his brows arch skyward at a particularly vigorous kick from inside that makes my breath catch short.

Definitely takes after his father...!

"Hard one, eh?" he asks, rueful, and pats my bulge. "Listen, you in there, be a little gentler with your poor mother-to-be!"

"Would... would you mind... if we walk around a little...? Sometimes it settles the baby, being rocked..."

"At your service, my dear girl." He grins at me. "Perhaps we can rescue Raziel-kun while we're at it."

The poor boy looks in need of a rescue, too. He's so attuned to Zaphikel-san that it only takes a small summoning gesture from the priest to bring Raziel-kun trotting over toward us.

"Yes...?"

"Sara-chan needs to walk around a bit, to help the baby settle, and I'm sure she'd adore a cup of tea, but we're a bit short on hands since we're helping each other around," Zaphikel says, without a trace of disingenuousness. "Would you be willing to put a cup down at the far end of the room, so we have something to aim for?"

Raziel-kun nods, still casting a worried look over at where Relyss and Doll are arguing over Batsu's attempts to placate them; Neji-san's gone, though -- no, wait, I think that's Neji-san's boots sticking out from under the hem of the tablecloth...? Raziel-kun dodges both sets of hazards in his quest to set tea down at the other end of the room, and then hesitates a bit over what to do next.

Most of my attention, shameful as it is to admit it, is entirely turned inwards. The baby's kicking me in the lungs, repeatedly, and it's hard to breathe, and hard to keep my attention on balancing as I try to walk when I'm distracted by these sharp little kicks in the lungs. Maybe I'm having a daughter; it certainly feels like high heels, from sharp poking little feet in places I'm not at all used to being kicked...

Zaphikel-san holds my hands, and matches his pace to my hesitant steps with astonishing ease -- of course, he's had centuries to practice matching his guides. But he doesn't stumble when I stop and clutch at his dark cassock.

"Sara-chan...?"

"Somersault...!" I gasp, clutching at his arm tightly and leaning on his support. "Oh, ow..."

"Breathe," he reminds me wryly. "Bad habit to break, breathing."

"Oh, please, don't make me laugh...! Not right now...!" It's too late, though; giggles hurt a bit, with my abused lungs still protesting the baby's acrobatics, but I can't help myself.

That somersault seems to have made the baby happy, though. It's much quieter inside now, with a small stretch and push and wriggle from within, but the sharp kicks have subsided. When I can breathe easily again, I give a deep sigh, and straighten up, rubbing the heel of my hand into the aching hollow of my back.

"What an impertinent little wretch..."

"Must take after the father," Zaphikel said wryly.

I couldn't help looking at him in surprise. I'd thought only Kira-sempai and Raphael knew that Setsuna was the baby's father; we were trying to keep it quiet for prudence's sake, lest some crusader go on a quest to root out the incestuous iniquity or some such. Not that Zaphikel-san would, of course, but still, I hadn't thought that anyone else could know...

...and then I realize that he might have been saying it simply as an observation, as a comment that I was too gentle or docile to pass such impertinence along to a child.

He must not know me all that well even now, if that's how he meant it...

...but knowing Zaphikel-san's extraordinary information network -- if anyone in the world would have a way of learning about it, it would be Zaphikel-san...

but...

I just don't know which way to interpret that. He pats my hand lightly, and tries to distract me.

"Come, the tea's waiting for you, isn't it? Let's walk a bit and make sure the baby's settled and comfortable, so that you can have a bit of a respite yourself!"

So I dutifully start across the room again, careful to take small swaying steps, to try to rock the baby to sleep a bit. As we pass by the open door to the hallway, a small blur of motion in the hall catches my eye.

...Kira-sempai, and...

...Alexiel...

The pain that stabs through me like a firebrand scalding my heart has nothing to do with the baby's kicking.

...Of course Alexiel loves someone else. I know that. I knew that...

...most likely, it's not even Kira-sempai, not right now...

...her arms are around his shoulders, and her body pressed up against his, and...

it really does burn like a scalding, inside. The shame and the disbelief and the incredulity.

She's not Setsuna. She's not. Setsuna would never be standing in the hallway making out with the demon prince of Hell. I know that... but...

...it's Setsuna's body she's taking over to kiss Kira-sempai with, and she's holding him like a lover. And it hurts to think of even Setsuna's body loving someone else. It hurts a lot.

Even if I weren't getting huge with the baby, it would still hurt. As it is, it's like rubbing salt in the wound. I'm standing here seven months pregnant with Setsuna's baby, and she's using his body to seduce someone else without even going as far as a different room...

Setsuna is mine. She can have Lucifer if she wants him. --Obviously she wants him. But... Setsuna is mine, and thinking of her sleeping with someone else in his body... whether it's because I've gotten so unattractive or whether it's just because she's Alexiel...

it HURTS.

...And he goes ballistic when he sees me talking to a man! I'd never, ever walk out into the hallway to start making out with someone else while he was sitting in there waiting for me to come back to him...!

It's not him. It's NOT. It's her. It's not him at all. If he knew, he'd be...

I think he'd be upset...

it's selfish of me to hope he'd be upset...

but it HURTS...!

The scalding spills over, and trails hot fire down my face; these tears burn like a brand.

"Sara-chan...?" Zaphikel asks softly, at my side.

The lovers in the hallway make a sound of shock, and Alexiel pulls away from Lucifer, and turns to look at me.

They both realize what I'm seeing, and they trade a private glance compounded of startlement and something more difficult to read.

"Sara," Alexiel says, quietly.

I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear any of it. I'm getting too big and clumsy to run, but I don't care. I pull away from Zaphikel-san's arm and run awkwardly for the balcony. I don't want to; I want to run away to my room, I want to lock the door and hide, but I'd have to run past them to get there, and so the balcony is all that's left.

The French doors are a pathetic excuse for a barrier; the sheer curtains over the glass don't even keep out light, let alone sound; but I shut the doors behind myself and slide awkwardly down to the stone of the balcony, and only then do I let myself sob.

[Kinna]

[Could not resist the temptation. Wrote this in the midst of exams -- Kinna]

[Character POV: Alexiel]

This is the first time we are actually holding each other with our actual physical selves, and original appearances, ever since our last meeting eons ago in Eden. This was the first man that understood me, even as I held a blade to his throat, and fearlessly stole my first kiss. I had not wanted to admit it, but yes, he moved my heart a little, even then, and over the years, the feeling has only increased, even though I forcibly repress them and keep them buried beneath my Goddess of War exterior. The pent-up feelings were now coming out in a rush, and it was intoxicating - the embrace, the passion, the reality of it. Lost in the moment, I could not help pulling him in as close as I could. Those broad shoulders, the hard chest, the smell and taste of him – I could not get enough of it all.

“Alexiel…I want you so much…” Lucifer gasped, when our mouths finally separated. I was short of breath too, as my lungs strained to draw in much-needed oxygen for this human body. It wasn’t my style to admit “Me too.” back, so I just kept quiet and listened to the sound of us panting in the quiet corridor, and hoped that the silly man won’t take it as a rejection. When no response came after a few moment, I opened my eyes (when did I close them, anyway?) to take a look. Only to see him staring down my dress, at my heaving chest.

“Lucifer, what are you–mmph!?!” Another assault on my mouth and body. And this time round, it was getting risqué-er than I felt comfortable with, at least in such an exposed location.

“Luc’… not here…”

“Why?”

“Someone…might see…”

“Doesn’t matter. I want you NOW.”

“We can’t - ahh!” He just did something with his mouth that felt inhumanly good. Or in-angel-ly good, if that makes sense. All thoughts of further protests melted out of my head, as I gave myself up to the feelings coursing through me.

“Sara-chan?” Zaphikel, the old schemer’s voice, came by, both physical and mental. He was purposely projecting it. That broke through the haze of bliss and arousal, finally. Only then was I aware of the feelings of shock, pain and betrayal emanating from the girl that stood beyond the open door.

Sara.

“Oh shite.” A mental echo came from Lucifer, who had stopped on hearing Zaphikel too. Fallen angels still retain their telepathic abilities.

“Luc, see? This is why I said we had to stop!”

“It doesn’t really matter -“

“It does! Do you realise that it is her beloved brother’s body you were groping just now?”

“Oh well, that Setsuna boy’s kinda hot too…though I still prefer it when there’s breasts.”

“You lecher……URGH!! I’ll settle with you later!”

Ignoring his mental protests, I turn my attention back towards the tear-streaked face. “Sara,” was all I managed to get out, before the girl spun and headed to the balcony. I shoved Lucifer aside and followed, only to skid to a halt as the French doors slammed in my face. It’s the first time something like this happens. The sobs ensuing from the opposite side stopped me from barging in immediately.

Oh no, Setsuna’s really going to have a fit. Not only was I making out using his body, Sara managed to see us necking and is now so upset. Crap…there’s no way I can keep this little episode a secret from him now, can I? Even though he is not conscious of my activities when I take over, unlike the other way round…

I leaned against those doors, debating my next course of action. The silence in the room was unnerving, as all movement had frozen at my entrance and Sara’s actions. Ignoring the shocked and frightened stares from the rest of the room, I leaned against the door, deciding to give Sara a few moments before entering.

“Lucifer, I think I’ll take some time with this. You go…away first, for a while, would you?”

“What, you cruel woman, are you booting me aside again?”

“Urgh! Stop behaving like a kid, Mr Four-wings! It’s embarrassing! I need to talk with Sara now! ……Fine! I promise I’ll go find you later! We’ll talk later, alright? Now go before someone sees you out there!”

“Alexiel...you owe me a lot more than just talking.” The guy had a one-tracked mind. His focus-ness can be sexy, but not at times like this.

“Yes, yes. Now begone now!”

Brushing my fingers through my dishevelled hair (damn Lucifer and his pawing through it!) and hoping that my clothes are not too messed-up, I knocked on the door, and pushed it open. Sara did not look up as I close the doors again behind me, and moved to seat myself in front of her. I sighed internally as I thought of how to breach this painful silence. This human thing about caring for others’ feelings is really a headache.

“Sara… I’m sorry.”

“What ..for?” The stubborn girl.

“Sara…you know what I’m talking about…you saw me and Lucifer…”

“I DON”T WANT TO KNOW! I *sob* don’t want to hear… *sob* … Setsuna …”

I leaned forward and pulled her hands away from her face. “Sara! Listen to me!” Making sure that I had her attention, I continued, ”Sara, there is something you must understand. Setsuna and I are TWO DIFFERENT ENTITIES. We’re DIFFERENT, you understand?” The girl was keeping her eyes shut and shaking her head. Still holding on to her hands, I placed them on my chest, and watched as her eyes snapped open. “See? Even the body completely changes when we are different. And do you know that Setsuna is completely subsumed when I take over. He can’t see anything I’m doing if don’t allow him to, for my blocking powers are far greater then his.” Big brown eyes gleamed at me, still wet with their sheen of tears, but at least they’re not rolling off in streams anymore. “And he DEFINITELY does not know that I was… with Lucifer just now. You think he’ll have allowed it if he had known, that I would frolic with his, technically, Senpai?”

Sara lowered her eyes to the floor. “No… It’s… it’s… I just … can’t help it… the body… Setsuna… Lucifer… I know you two… I’m sorry…”

“Sara, I should be the sorry one here. I don’t know what came over me, to do that there and then… I’m terribly sorry it caused you so much distress. But I can tell you that for Setsuna, you are the only one in his mind…”

Nod. “I… *hiccup* know…but… I cannot… it was his body that… I’m sorry… I want you to be … happy too…”

The poor girl. She’s evidently very distressed, and conflicted over this. She had a right to be upset, because her lover was, technically, kissing somebody else, another male at that, while she’s pregnant. But I really don’t want to give up seeing Lucifer too.

“Sara… can you accept this? That Setsuna ‘lends’ me his body on occasion? He really has no idea or control over what I do at these times…and I think it’s better this way. So would you keep this secret for me, or would you rather I erase your memories of what you saw just now? It may make you feel better, to never know that it happened.”

[Alter]

[Alter note: just temporarily claimed Riutte--because mad scientist is always fun to throw at tea party XD)

[Character POV: Riette]

When the first time living here, I thought this is going to be a boring and dull experience. You see, the prospect of losing the the scrap yard and having to rely on a budget given by a strange women to acquiring supplies for my invention is none too interesting. I mean, how can the science advanced progressively if the man who devoted himself to it was stuck by a budget problem? (and that's a damn small budget indeed).

However, I think it's fortunate that even though bloodshed was forbidden (the women was mumbled incoherently about some frequently used 'switch', *note to self: a life restored switch? interesting......*), but she doesn't object any bit to any terrorizing effort, either mentally and physically. The last one was come in handy, as that made my customer still willing to pay for any great invention that I could get (with a limited supply). I didn't know whether the 'war' between them and Prime minister or whoever it is has ended (and particulary didn't care). As long as they're willing to get me my supplies, they'll get the greatest invention that could kicked their enemy's asses.

Talking about luck, it seems other floors has began to appreciate my intelectual wits and genious invention too. For example, a lady who introduces herself as Delilah from first floor came yesterday and asked if I'm interested in making a biological weapon for them. I tell her that I would considered it once my latest work is done.

And tell you what, it's almost complete now. That was an undeniably proves of my intellectual wits and devotion to science to be able to overcome 30% progress in only one day (of course, that was also due to, working all late--but that just prove my passion for science!). By the way, after the preparation is all done, It just need to be tested. Hmmm, I think I'll do that later. You see, even a great scientist who all devoted could use some relaxation once in a while (the stiff shoulders didn't really hold me back, really, of course not). I think there's a new cafe or tea shop somewhere in this floor....

[RisuChan]

[Character POV: Sara]

Huddled up around my own burning knot of misery, I try to shut out Alexiel's gentle voice; I'm hurting, and I don't want her poking around in my hurts, because I'm ashamed of myself and furious at her and...

...and she presses my hands against her chest.

There's absolutely no way I can mistake that for Setsuna...

I look up at her despite myself.

She makes sense. She's telling me all the things I was trying to tell myself. All the things I ought to be able to believe. She has a right to love whoever she wants. Even if it's my brother's body she has to use to do it, she has a right to her own life... to her own happiness...

I know that. I know that, so why does it hurt so much...?

“Sara… can you accept this? That Setsuna ‘lends’ me his body on occasion? He really has no idea or control over what I do at these times…and I think it’s better this way. So would you keep this secret for me, or would you rather I erase your memories of what you saw just now? It may make you feel better, to never know that it happened.”

"No!" It's automatic reflex; she tilts her head and looks at me quietly.

"You're sure?"

I'm sure. I don't know why, but I'm sure. It would be even worse to not know that sometimes when Setsuna leaves me, he's making love to someone else...

it's not him. It's...

"D-do you promise...?" I hear my voice say.

Alexiel blinks at me, understandably puzzled. "Promise what?"

It all comes tumbling out then, like an incoherent babbling stream. "P-promise me that it's you...? That when he leaves... when he's with someone else... it's you who's making love to someone else...? That... he's not... r-repulsed, that he doesn't think I'm... I'm getting... disgusting... fat and hideous and... repulsive..."

"Oh, Sara." Alexiel sits down beside me and rumples my hair; the gesture is uncannily half-familiar, reminiscent of Setsuna's wry brotherly teasing. "I promise. He's not running off to make love to someone with an eighteen-inch waistline! And if he ever tried, trust me, I know how to make him regret the very thought. But he doesn't think that at all."

I duck my head, and whisper, "You're sure? I... I mean... you're sure that he doesn't hand himself over to you... when he can't stand the thought of me right now, looking like this...?"

Alexiel wraps an arm around my shoulders and scruffles my hair, then rests her cheek lightly against the crown of my head.

"You," she says, in an odd blend of sympathy and amusement, "are being quite a spectacular idiot. You should have heard the lecture he gave me about not 'fooling around' in his body. Of course, I promptly ignored him... and I do wish I'd had the foresight to be a little more discreet about it. I am sorry, Sara-chan. I promise I wasn't trying to hurt you. Neither of us were. Setsuna least of all." She runs a rather sheepish hand over her still-rumpled hair and sighs. "He's going to be so pissed at me..."

I scrub somewhat futilely at the tears on my face. "That kind of makes two of us."

Alexiel sighs. "I'm not going to ask forgiveness for what Lucifer and I feel for each other, just like I don't want you to ask forgiveness for what you and Setsuna feel for each other."

"I understand," I say, very, very carefully. "But if Setsuna was arguing about this too, then I'm not the only person you need to come to an agreement with. I want you to talk about this with Setsuna. I want to hear it from his voice that you've made an arrangement with each other. Because otherwise you're not being fair to him or to me or to the person you love, if you have to hide what you're doing from both Setsuna and me. --If he accepts it, then... then I'll accept it too. And if you both promise that... that it's not just... a way to avoid me right now... then I'll believe you both..."

The tears are struggling loose again, despite my best efforts; Alexiel sighs a little, and says, "That sounds... fair. Not exactly pleasant, but... fair. --You know how stubborn your brother is, don't you."

"It's his body."

"It's mine too!"

"Which is why both of you need to talk about things like this."

Alexiel gives me a distinctly nonplussed look. "Do both of you have to be so irritating when you're right about things?"

I try for a grin; I wonder if I made it. "Guess it runs in the family. --And Raziel-kun's tea is going to be getting cold! Setsuna's had some tea, but you haven't, have you..."

Alexiel is stronger than she looks; as she helps me to my feet, she almost lifts me off the ground entirely. "Come on, you. And no more crying over the thought that Setsuna doesn't love you because you're getting roundish! Honestly, girl. If you're going to worry about something, at least worry about something that might happen. I promise, you're the only person in his eyes -- and the more round you get, the more you're the only person he can see!"

"Because I'm taking up that much more space?" I mumble, and Alexiel laughs. She leaves a companionable arm around my shoulders; I wonder if this is what it would have felt like to have had an older sister.

Hastily, I scrub a hand across my face, to try to deal with the last of the tears; Alexiel nods at me, smiling, and opens the door again.

And then we both stop short at what's going on inside...

[RisuChan]

[Character POV: Neji]

Even the kittenfight between Relyss and the little dark-haired girl stops cold when Sara rushes awkwardly through the room and slams the door to the balcony behind her. The tall dark-haired babe who'd been right on her heels stops short for a minute, stymied, and then opens the door behind her -- and then for a moment we can all hear Sara sobbing.

I crawl back out from under the table, looking up at Batsu. No help there; he looks just as baffled as I do.

The priest, however, doesn't look baffled at all. Sometimes I wonder which of the group of us is actually blind here.

In fact, he looks a little too not baffled. Sad, yes, and somehow tiredly satisfied. Not baffled at all.

"Did you do that to her?" Batsu asks him with a growl. That's my grandchild for you. "Did you do that to her on purpose?"

"I did nothing but provide information," the priest murmurs, without his expression changing in the slightest. "I provided her with an enlightenment she was unwilling to accept."

"So what did she see out there?" I ask, stalking towards the doorway and hoping the limp isn't too obvious. My pride's suffered enough already today.

The dark and broody guy is leaning on the doorway, looking rumpled in a way that screamed of sex, and looking entirely too full of himself. He's not looking at any of us; he's watching the door the two women just ran through.

Batsu and I look at each other for a moment. Sometimes we don't even need telepathy.

"You goddamned son of a BITCH!" Batsu snarls, and in three long strides he's got the broody one by the collar and shakes him hard. "You goddamned bastard -- what the hell do you think you're doing, screwing around with some other babe in the hallway while your girlfriend's that much pregnant?"

"I think what I'm doing is enjoying myself," the broody one replies, with a smug quirk at the corner of his mouth. "You've got a bit of a misapprehension here, my impulsive little punk."

"If her brother doesn't wipe the floor with your ass, I'm going to do it for him," Batsu snarls, and slams the broody one's back up against the doorframe. "You damn well DON'T TREAT A GIRL LIKE THAT!"

"I couldn't care less what the girl thinks," he replies. "To me she's nothing but a nuisance anyway. I told you, you've got a misunderstanding--"

The priest isn't saying a word. But even without eyes, I can feel him watching this.

"What am I misunderstanding, you prick?" Batsu shouts in his face. "That poor girl sees you making out with the busty one who took over her brother's body and she runs off sobbing? What kind of a bastard does that to the girl who's carrying his child?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," the broody one replies, completely unfazed by the manhandling. Unfortunately, looking superior and amused at Batsu when he's trying to shake someone up is not the best way to get through to him.

"Try me."

The corner of his mouth quirks again. "The name is Lucifer. For your information, I'm the devil incarnate."

Batsu doesn't blink. "And I'm the f**king tooth fairy. Try again."

The broody one rolls his eyes. "Zaphkiel, who invited this imbecile without warning him of anything?"

"Raziel-kun is sometimes far too welcoming," the priest murmurs softly.

"I thought so."

"I'm not done talking to you, asshole!"

"Oh, I think you are."

About ten things too many start happening at once right about now.

The door to the balcony opens just as Batsu is pulling back a fist to drive straight into the broody one's face.

Sara-chan screams, "Stop!"

But it's a second too late; Batsu is already mid-swing --

--and in the second before he connects, something changes.

He doesn't change physically, but in the instant before Batsu's fist drives forward toward his face, there's a moment of complete disoriented shock in the broody one's eyes. Like all of a sudden it's someone else looking out at Batsu's fist, without clue one what the hell he's doing there.

"That bastard," I hear the babe mutter; I'm reacting before I even realize what I'm doing, knocking the trajectory of Batsu's fist off with a quick telekinetic snap. Batsu's fist glances off the side of his cheekbone instead of splintering his nose into pulpy bone shards, and he leaves a sizable crater in the plaster of the wall.

In thwarted outrage, Batsu turns on me for that. "Why the hell did you--"

The rest of it's cut off by a fist in the gut from whoever it is that was about to catch Batsu's knuckleprints in the face. He goes flying toward the refreshments table; I catch him short there hastily too, because the poor kid who organized all this is about to burst into tears.

Fortunately, the new inhabitant of the broody guy's head isn't launching himself after Batsu; instead, they're all looking at me. Even the damn freaky priest who shouldn't have had any way of knowing what just happened there because Batsu didn't hit anything to make a sound, but that's something I'll deal with as soon as I figure out how many people I've got to keep from strangling me or each other in the next three minutes--

--but Batsu is already breaking free of my hold and charging toward the broody one again. I'll settle with you later, I hear him snap at me as he charges across the room.

"That idiot--" I fling a couple of psiblocks in his way, but they aren't slowing him down much when he's pissed enough to punch straight through them, and there's something happening behind me too--

--dammit, the pregnant girl's throwing herself straight into the middle of this. She's planted herself between Batsu's charge and the broody one, arms flung wide, shouting at the top of her lungs, "STOP!"

...damn impressive set of lungs at that; my ears are ringing, though that could be Batsu shattering the psiblocks on me too...

[RisuChan]

[character POV: Sara]

It's all gone wrong. It's all gone horribly wrong somehow--

Kira-sempai, behind me, doesn't even move; I can feel the tension in him, braced to lunge at a split second's notice, but he's trusting me to fill him in on what happened while he was gone. This is the first time I've seen him while Alexiel was present; but then, it would be just like Lucifer to goad someone into a fistfight and then leave poor Kira-sempai to get the beating--

"What in the hell is going on here?" Neji's friend Batsu asks, half outraged, half plaintive.

"The person you were about to punch isn't the same person who goaded you into it," Alexiel says tiredly. "He's a complete bastard some days."

"Excuse me, but I'm not going to listen to that from a bitch who makes a pregnant girl cry while sleeping around with her boyfriend."

...what? Well -- yes, but no -- but -- oh, no...

Alexiel looks as completely at a loss for how to explain this as I do.

Zaphkiel-san looks entirely too amused. If I were watching this from the outside, I suppose I couldn't blame him, but when watching from the inside I don't want being laughed at, I want a way out...

"Well?" Batsu asks me in particular, very gently. "I don't normally make a habit of beating the tar out of women, but if you want, I'll make an exception in her case."

"Oh, no!" Both hands over my mouth, I try frantically to stammer through something that might make some kind of sense. "It's not... it's not like that... it's just... --Batsu-san, Alexiel's right; the person you were about to hit isn't the same as the person who made me cry..."

Kira-sempai's still braced for anything. But his hand on my shoulder startles me a little. "Who made you cry?" he asks in a low-pitched voice. "Setsuna's first in line to punch his lights out, of course, but I'm second, kid."

"Oh, sempai... it's... -- it's complicated." Very, very carefully, I reach back and loop my arm through his, at least in part to slow him down a little if he decides he needs to take a lunge for Batsu himself. "I'll be all right, I promise."

But that question in itself must have partially convinced Batsu; he gives Kira-sempai a fiercely assessing look, then nods a little.

"So you're the baby's papa, but whoever it was that took over your head is the one who goes screwing around without her knowing it? --You need an exorcist or something? I hear there's a French guy down on the first floor who's good at that kind of thing..."

Kira-sempai chuckles a little, sardonic. "God, I wish it were that simple."

I can feel my face burning. "Um... Batsu-san... you're right that Lucifer isn't the baby's father, but... um... Kira-sempai isn't the baby's father either... --It's just... complicated. But it's not Kira-sempai's fault at all... I promise..."

Batsu looks back and forth between me, Kira-sempai, Alexiel, Neji, and Zaphkiel -- he keeps looking at Zaphkiel too; Zaphkiel is doing one of his more spectacular 'harmless and tranquilly inscrutable' faces, probably just to irritate poor Batsu. Finally, with a groan, he sits straight down on the floor with a thump and buries his face in both hands.

"Damn, my head hurts just trying to figure out what the hell's going on here..."

"Don't think too hard," Kira-sempai murmurs. "We wouldn't want you to strain something, after all."

"Kira-sempai, that's not helping!" I tell him fiercely, because Batsu has started glaring again at that. "Come on. Let's all sit down and finish our tea. Without destroying any more of the furnishings or each other! --Sempai, are you going to... well... stay you, or are you going to... I mean..."

Kira looks at Alexiel and shrugs. "Your guess is as good as mine," he says. "Now that I'm not standing here to take his punches for him, I don't know what he's going to do with us. But I'll try to have some tea, if you want." He keeps looking at Alexiel. "...Nice to, er, see you again. It's been a while. In a manner of speaking."

She chuckles a little, wry. "Likewise. ...In a manner of speaking."