Shiori lead the way down the hallways, then up flights of
stairs. The violet haired sorceress' eyes shone golded, a lance of power
shining from her heands, leading them onward. Juri stood by her side,
the orange haired swordswoman watching protectively.
Nanami frowned, the golden haired woman holding her sword
cautiously as they hurried along. "I wish we knew what's awaiting us,"
she murmured.
"We'll find out when we get there," Keiko noted, brown hair
braided back from her face. She held the throwing knives ready, eyes
darting as they moved.
They came around a corner, stopping in surprise as they came to
the blockage. "Well, isn't this interesting," Shiori murmured.
"The North tower," Anthy murmured, looking at the bricked up
enterance way, "it was abandoned after being struck by lightning."
"Shiori?" Juri looked at her curiously.
"I don't dare switch spells to clear it away," Shiori shook her
head, "otherwise I might lose my lock on where he is."
"Then step back," Utena said softly. She stood straight, sword
sheld losely as her hair blew around her. She closed her eyes, focusing
her will as a soft glow sprung up around her. Her blue eyes sprung open
and she moved like the wind!
Sknit!
There was a long moment of silence as Utena slid the Sword of
Dios back in it's sheath with a steely hiss. There was a loud grinding
of stone on stone, then the bricks simply collapsed to the ground in a
cloud of dust.
"I want a sword like that when I grow up," Nanami noted as they
moved through the rubble and up the stairs.
"It's pretty much unique," Keiko noted.
"Are you all right," Anthy asked softly, noting how pale Utena
was.
"I'll manage," Utena answered her quietly.
Shiori lead them onward, her mage's robes swirling around her as
they raced up the stairs. "We're close," she murmured as they reached a
opulantly decorated landing, a door not far away.
"It's completely undamaged," Nanami looked around at the
draperies, the furnature, the entire place unburned. There was no sign
of the lightning strike, no trace of fire or wreckage.
"An illusion." Shiori said softly, "I can sense it. There';s an
illusion over this place, from the outside it appears gutted."
The door opened, a bedroom visible beyond. Mikage gazed at them
in shock, her glare fixing on Shiori as he murmured, "I never expected
you to reach me so quickly."
"Yeild, lord Mikage," Anthy's voice rang out, "I have heard the
tales, I know of the ancient wrong you did and the wrong that in turn
was done to you. You have taken my father the King's life, be satisfied
with that."
"You're here, little princess," Mikage smiled, his pink hair
falling into his face, "I can still take my vengeance on you."
"Over my dead body," Utena said firmly, keeping Anthy behind
her.
"So be it," he smiled at them coldly. Mikage raised his hand
above his head, power surging as he cried out, "Come!"
Shiori cried out in pain, the power rushing by her, curling down
into the palace below them. Mystical fire swirled before the bandm,
resolving into human forms, Vaun smiled, the spirit raising his blade in
mocking salute. Wakaba's translucent form tossed her knves up, eyes
spartkling dangerously. Finally Miki looked out at them gravely, the
rapier the spirit carried at the ready. Mikage turned to return to the
bedroom, the door closing behind him.
"They're shades," Shiori shook her head to clear it from the
effects of Mikage's dark magic, "but they retain the skills of those
they resemble."
"I'll keep Miki busy," Juri drew her own sword, stepping up to
face him.
Nanami nodded to her second in command, "Vaun is mine."
"This should be interesting," Keiko muttered as she moved to
face Wakaba.
"While the others keep them busy," Shiori said, "we've got to go
after Mikage."
"Let's go," Utena pulled Anthy behind her as they went around
the fighters, the three bursting into the bedroom together.
"Gods," Anthy murmured, gazing at the beautiful boy that lay on
the bed, Mikage trying to pick him up to flee.
"Damn you," Mikage turned, making a gesture to throw a spell. He
looked shocked when nothing happened, then glared at Shiori, "You!"
Shiori glowed brightly, her hands held out in front of her in a
blocking motion. Through clenched teeth she managed, "I've blocked his
magic, but I can't do this for long..."
Utena drew the Sword of Dios and attacked, Mikage swiftly
parrying her attack with his own blade. The swords were rock still as
they stood there a moment, the two straining, then oddly Mikage smiled.
Utena smiled back just slightly, "Not bad."
"You're good," Mikage admitted.
They slid apart, blades flashing as they fought back and forth
in the small chamber, sounds of battle continuing outside. Anthy gazed
wide eyed as the two fought swiftly, their blades flickering and
flashing with the reflected light. Her eyes settled on the boy laying on
the bed, feeling a moment of sorrow as she gazed at the soulless form as
a realization stuck her.
"You bargained with my brother and Kanae," Anthy looked up
towards the fighters to declare, "for his revival, didn't you?"
"For my love I would do anything," Mikage hissed. "I would be
reunited with him," tears glistened in his eyes as he whispered, "at any
cost."
"You may not be reunited with him here," Utena held his strength
back, the flesh of her hands screaming in pain, "but what of the Heavens
beyond?"
Mikage drove her backwards, but he hesitated, "A soul so black
as mine could never be reunited with his."
Utena took advantage of his moment of weakness, driving his
blade aside as she said, "Only one way to find out." With a single
smooth gesture she drove the blade through his chest, piercing the heart
and stabbing out the other side.
Mikage stood stock still a moment, then the blade began to glow,
blazing white. Fire spread out from the would, rushing over the
stiffening body, blazing brighter and brighter. Suddenly, Mamiya's body
simply crumbled to dust on the bed as the flames flared up one final
time, Mikage and the Sword of Dios disapearing in that flare of power.
"Look!" Anthy cried, pointing upwards.
Mikage rose up, his spirit oddly translucent, met by another
figure. They held each other, the two men, then the boy's lips moved
soundlessly. Together they both faded away, leaving only a slowely
fading glow in their wake.
"I wonder what he said," Utena sighed, swaying tiredly.
"Where you go, I go," Anthy said as she steped up to help
support Utena. At her surprised look Anthy cheerfully explained, "I was
taught to lip read at an early age, it comes in quite handy at royal
banquets."
"You two all right?' Shiori asked tiredly.
"I'm fine," Anthy said, helping hold Utena upright, "but Utena's
exhausted."
The door to the chamber burst open, Keiko, Juri and Nanami
rushing inside. "The spirits all disapeared," Juri started, "did you..."
"Mikage is gone," Shiori relaxed in her lover's arms, "I think
for good."
"The Sword of Dios?" Nanami asked, her and Keiko standing
closely together.
"Gone too," Utena sighed softly.
"I'm sorry," Keiko said, "I saw how much it meant to you."
"Let's get out of here," Anthy said, her eyes brightening
slightly as she continued, "There's still a coronation to preform."
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