Nesuni looked up.  She could sense her siblings arriving - and she 
knew that they sensed her as well.  Glancing at the door she was not 
surprised to see Hitomi, Zellar, and Junta step through into the room 
and immediately notice her, with varying expressions.  Hitomi seemed 
to look deep into her soul before she was satisfied with what she saw, 
Junta merely smiled at her, and Zellar merely passed her over as he 
stepped forward to talk to his mother.

"Hello, Mother.  Did you know - "

"Fine greeting, son.  I would like you to meet your sister."

Turning to acknowledge Nesuni, he bowed, "Hello, sister.  You look as 
lovely as ever."

Nesuni shook her head.  "I don't remember ever meeting you... "

Zellar suddenly grinned.  "Well, we haven't exactly."  Reaching 
forward to tap at the good luck charm she always wore around her neck, 
he said, "I made that for you, and my twin brother painted it."

Fingering the little trinket thoughtfully, she felt warm inside.  Now 
she had a complete family.
 
*****

Dark Star XVI - Twilight Meanderings
By Delfina
Started by Lady Chaos
Hosted by ImproFanfic

*****

Vincent paused, and decided to leave his current work for later.  
Pulling out a blank canvas, he began to paint another scene.  There 
were now five warriors in his newest scene, that were centered around 
a dark angel... 

*****

Kyoku flung the girl aside and smiled.  She had been worth the 
distraction.  Picking himself up and putting his clothes back on, he 
tossed a coin to the weeping girl on the bed.  Grinning, he stretched 
and looked at the girl.  "Maybe we'll have to do that again sometime," 
slapping the girl on the thigh, he continued.  "But right now, I have 
to go."  Striding to the door of the  little hovel, he stepped 
outside, just in time to sight a small boy making his way around the 
festival.

Behind him, the girl whimpered with relief as he left.

*****

Atsuri cautiously lurked in the background, to see if any of the Kobun 
that were approaching posed an actual threat to Tenshi.  They may not 
have noticed her, and it was just coincidence that they happened to 
converge here.  'I rather doubt that,' he said to himself.  'I 
wouldn't be surprised if Tenshi were working with them.  She has an 
evil taint about her... ever since she escaped from Yasha.'

*****

Milei peeked curiously around the corner.  This party had been lots of 
fun, and he'd forgotten all about the pentas.  Sneaking out had been 
easy, and playing with the other children had been lots of fun, but 
now he supposed he should go back home.  Walking around aimlessly, he 
looked for someone that he recognized.

"Hello, little boy.  Are you lost?"  Milei looked up to see a tall, 
somewhat drunken looking man looming over him.  Fighting the impulse 
to run, Milei responded.

"Yes, I am.  Can you help me?"

"Why, I surely can, my little man.  I surely can... "


*****

In the crowd, Tenshi's gaze was slightly panicked as she felt herself 
utterly alone.  She sensed some dark presences coming towards her from 
all directions, and felt trapped.  'Yasha-sama will protect me.  Or...  
Zellar, if he hasn't forsaken me.'

*****

Nodding to her companions, who were approaching Tenshi rapidly from 
all directions, Miyami walked up to Tenshi casually, and jostled her 
slightly.  Enough to make Tenshi trip so that she had to grab at 
Miyami for support.

"Oh!  I'm sorry, I didn't mean to knock into you like that.  Here, let 
me help you up." Miyami said, grabbing Tenshi's arm tightly, and 
pulling her up.  She didn't let go of Tenshi after she had righted 
herself, however.  "Why don't we go and have a little chat, my dear?"

"Who... who are you?" Tenshi asked, her eyes wide and her slight form 
trembling.  She looked around desperately for someone to help her, but 
she was all by herself in a crowd of people.

"My name is not important.  Now, let's go nice and quietly to this 
little secluded corner over here, or I'll hurt your love, Zellar."

"You have Zellar?! No!  Please don't hurt him!  I'll do anything you 
say!" she cried, as tears fell down her cheeks.

Miyami's lip curled as she looked at the weeping angel.  'Such a 
weakling, and so gullible too.  I have no respect for her.'   Pulling 
Tenshi along, she said, "You'd better cooperate.  Me and my friends 
have a few... questions to ask you."

*****

Atsuri cursed as he saw Tenshi being dragged along by a strange woman.  
'She's one of them!'  Casting his gaze out over the crowd, he saw the 
other three that were heading towards Tenshi, following the pair and 
closing in ranks around them.  'Now, to see what they're up to... '

*****

Throwing the girl contemptuously on the ground in the dirty alleyway, 
Miyami gestured for Gyoshi to come forward.  "She's yours, Gyoshi."

Upon seeing Gyoshi, Tenshi stiffened and her expression became one of 
gibbering terror.  "Hello, little one.  No need to fear me, just give 
us something you possess."  When Tenshi didn't respond, he lifted her 
chin and looked deep into her eyes.  She shuddered and gasped.

"I... I... don't know what you want... ."

"It's a white crystal, called a Baihai crystal.  Do you have it with 
you?" He asked, somewhat kindly.

"Zellar... I gave it to Zellar... Yasha gave it to me... "

"Can you get it back for us?  It would make us very happy, and then we 
wouldn't have to hurt Zellar."

"No, don't hurt Zellar! I'll do it!  Please, please, please!  Don't 
hurt Zellar!" she pleaded, tugging at Gyoshi's clothes.

Gyoshi smirked.  "Get up," he ordered, as he yanked Tenshi to her 
feet.  "Now, move!" he commanded, forcing Tenshi to walk before him.  
"You must not interfere in the balance girl, Shiko would be very upset 
if that happened."

"And if Shiko is upset, we are upset.  Do you get our drift, girl?" 
Naoto sneered.

Tenshi nodded, sobbing.  Yuji almost gave her a sympathetic look, but 
was silenced by the glare sent her way by Miyami.

*****

From his rooftop perch, where he was warding himself carefully so as 
not to be detected by the demons below, Atsuri's face flickered with 
rage, and then it was gone.  'I knew there had to be something wrong 
with her.  I knew it.  Zellar... it will be my fault if he falls to it.  
I hope he hasn't already been affected by it.'  Leaping down 
undetected, he raced to the hotel.

*****

Father Cloud and Elcid walked cheerfully over to the hotel, clutching 
their vast collection of notes close to them.  The festival night was 
getting late and there weren't that many more people out on the 
streets anymore.  The two old men made their way companionably, 
occasionally calling out greetings to passerby.  

"It is a lovely Tanabata this year, is it not?" Cloud remarked to 
Elcid.

"Beautiful!  Vega and Altair will meet and their love will shine!" 
Elcid responded jubilantly.

"Yes, I quite agree." Cloud said.  Gazing about the scene placidly, he 
noticed a quite unusual pair.  "Isn't that Milei?  He's out quite 
late.  And I'm sensing something from that man he is with... "

Stopping, Elcid looked at the two.  "Yes, that is Milei.  We should go 
get him and make sure he makes it home safely."  Quickly walking over 
to them, Elcid placed his hand upon Milei's shoulder, noting the jump 
of fright the boy made.  "Milei, what are you doing out so late?"

"I got lost and couldn't find anyone.  This nice man said he would 
take me home."

"Ahh, I see.  Well thank you good sir, that won't be  necessary now." 
Cloud said to the man.  "But thank you, what is your name?"

"My name is Kyoku, and if you would like, there are many dangerous 
characters out.  Perhaps I could escort you back to your home safely?  
You are after all, two elderly men and a young child."

"No, but thank you, that won't be necessary." Elcid replied.

"Ah, but you see... I insist... "

*****

Tenkou stared at Kurayamino with wide eyes.  'Could what he's telling 
me really be true?  Can it be?  I know I feel so... right... with him, but... '  
She frowned slightly at the inner turmoil and wrapped her arms around 
herself.

Kurayamino coughed slightly,  and glanced over at Tenkou expectantly.  
She looked as though she was far away, her expression was vacant and 
she was idly twirling a loose tendril of hair around her finger.  She 
looked so adorable when  she did that.  At his cough, she started, and 
her eyes focused more clearly upon his.

"I'm sorry.  Really.  I'm just trying to absorb this.  In a way, I can 
almost feel that everything you're saying is true, and meant to be.  
And in another way, I still have some feeling for Zellar."  At 
Kurayamino's fleeting flicker of infinite sadness, she paused.  
"Kurayamino," she said, taking his hands in hers, "I just can't be 
sure of anything anymore.  An unnatural force killed my father 
recently, I've met demons and inutatsus and who-knows-what-else, it's 
all very hard for me to absorb, believe it or not.  I do have feelings 
for you... I'm just not sure exactly how this will all fit in with my 
life.  Right now... I've been running on reaction only.  It's wearing me 
out."  Kurayamino wiped away a tear that had fallen unnoticed down the 
plane of Tenkou's cheek.

"It's all right, Tenkou.  I understand.  You can always come to me to 
cry."  Not allowing her to protest, he pulled her into his arms and 
held her close.  Kissing the top of her head, he said, "You need to 
cry, you can't keep it all bottled up inside you."

Feeling his arms go around her she immediately went tense, however she 
couldn't fight the reassuring sensations he gave her as he held her, 
safe from all of her problems.  Relaxing, and tucking her head beneath 
his chin - where it seemed to fit just perfectly, she found herself 
unable to hold back the flood of pent up emotions.  Sobbing 
hysterically, her body shuddering, Kurayamino held her through the 
tide of tears.

*****

Vincent smiled to himself.  He now knew what types of expressions to 
paint upon the as-of-yet-unfinished characters.  With his brush he 
worked magic upon the canvas, and  now the two figures had expressions 
of joyful serenity upon their faces.

*****

Seated in a brightly-lit room in the hotel, Junta, Nesuni, Hitomi, 
Kuroi, and Zellar gazed at the white star laid on the table.  

"So, this is a Baihai crystal?"

"Yes, Zellar," Hitomi replied, pushing back her glasses.  "It means 
'white evil' and is generally used by those of the, well, evil 
persuasion.  It has linked into your soul, it may be some time before 
we can get all of the tendrils of evil out, but it is manageable, 
since you caught it so early."

"Kurayamino caught it.  He didn't trust Tenshi, and he was right." 
Zellar replied, his face grave.  "I should have listened to him, to 
all of you... "

"Don't blame yourself, Zellar.  How were you to know?" Junta said 
softly.

"Son, we will get this fixed in no time.  Do not worry.  Tenshi has 
always loved you, she still lives you, and I feel that she always 
will.  Most likely she has been influenced by Yasha somehow, or the 
Kobun." Kuroi Hoshi said, as she pushed away the hair that was 
covering his eyes.  Cupping his chin in her hands, she kissed him on 
the forehead.  "Now, let us start."  Taking one of Zellar's hands in 
hers, and taking Hitomi's in the other, she gestured for her to take 
Zellar's free hand, to complete the circle.

"Wait."

Kuroi Hoshi looked up.  "Yes, Nesuni?"

"I'd like to help, if I can."

"Certainly.  Join the circle and concentrate on your brother."

Nesuni walked over to them and took the hands offered her.

"Now, concentrate on Zellar.  What do you see?"

"I see... I see energy... many colors... with white veins pulsing throughout!" 
Nesuni exclaimed.

"Good.  Now, concentrate on those 'white veins' as you called them, 
and picture them gone."

Nesuni's face screwed as she bent to the task.  Sensing her mother's 
approving gaze upon her, as well as her mental guidance, she 
eradicated the white tendril that had been entangled in Zellar's soul.  
Opening her eyes and looking up uncertainly, she asked, "Did I do it?"

"Very good, Nesuni," Hitomi nodded, "You have a talent for it.  
Together we should be able to heal Zellar in no time at all, now.  Let 
us get started.  Junta will make sure no one disturbs us."

"Yes ma'am!" replied Junta.  Leaving the little group  he walked to 
the lobby, where Joodan was sitting, reading as usual.  Taking 
advantage of the quiet, Junta pulled out a letter from his beloved.  
She had given him a packet of letters not to be opened until certain 
times, and now he was able to open the one she had indicated was for 
Tanabata.  Engrossed in his reading, he was startled when Atsuri 
suddenly appeared beside him.  "Atsuri?"

"Junta, has Zellar come back yet?"

"Yes, why?"

"Tenshi has given him a  Baihai crystal.  We must do something about 
it."

"Ah yes, he is being treated as we speak.  Hopefully he will be healed 
soon."

"I see.  I must tell you about the most interesting conversation I 
happened to overhear, brother."

Putting aside the rest of the letter until later, Junta listened to 
Atsuri's tale.

*****

Author's Note - Well, no pre-readers to thank, although I would like 
to thank the DGML for always being entertaining.  And Roe for being 
the nice person that he is.  Err... that's it really.  And LC of course, 
for setting up the sappy scene I got to stick in!  Wai!  ^_^