Treaty attempt number...?

[Sanada Tomo]

Tomoyo found herself pacing the floor of Setsuna's layer; the only one the Yami-ou had never bothered to forcefully break into. She didn't want to bother the people's of Setsuna's Realm; they were they only ones in Heaven not faulted for anything. It was never their choice; they were emotionless creatures, and therefore had no real opinion on the things that they did.

However, it was because of this that Tomoyo wanted to see Setsuna; they were the practical thinkers. Once they had a clear ideal, they chose the most logical way to achieve it.

And Tomoyo needed some of that right now.

So, she eagerly awaited the servant of Setsuna that would come to greet her.

[Xanthus Battus]

[Alright, so you know me, i have to set the scene!]

Xanthus walked up to the open gates of Setsuna's realm. He hadn't been to see his fiance in quite sometime.

He looked over to see Amare and Syon, retrivel angels, enter. They stopped to greet him, "Hello, Master Battus!", they said as one.


"Amare. Syon."

"We're going to see Queen Setsuna to report." Amare the female said. They hurried off.

Xanthus turned to Tomoyo. "Tomoyo...fancy meeting you here. Are you going to see Setsuna?"

[Sanada Tomo]

Tomo was actually concerned with the level of etiquette she was shown; she was used to being scorned by most of the Upright kind.

Sighing happily, she replied, "Yes," as she watch the two angels who had previously walked in with Xanthus. She actually bothered to be kind, since she was being treated the same, and she bowed deeply as she spoke. "Is she available? It is rather urgent..."

[Xanthus Battus]

"Well, I was just going to see her. You're welcomed to come along." the healer said.

"She hasn't had a check-up in ages." he said more to himself than to anyone.

"Well, shall we continue?" he asked.

[Sanada Tomo]

"yes..." Tomoyo said, bowing again, and bothering to chuckle at Xanthus's comment. It wasn't often that he cracked anything that could be taken as a joke.

"I have been worried about her," Tomoyo added absentmindedly, her feet moving on their own; she already knew the way to Setsuna's chambers.

[Xanthus Battus]

They continued walking towards the castle passing the lake and judging chambers, heading into the forrest. At a fork, in the road, then continued left.

"You know, normally, transportation would have been at the gates, but I guess she doesn't know either of us are here." he said. "But as you say, i'm am quite worried about her. She's doing too much. She doesn't sleep, she barely eats. We had this argument before I left--but you wouldn't want to hear about that." Xanthus fell silent.

The castle was just up ahead...

[Sanada Tomo]

Tomoyo stopped walking, and swiveled with concern in Xanthus's direction. "What do you mean, she's not eating? She's not supposed to eat--she's an Angel!!! If she's been eating, Xanthus...that means...she's broken a rule of carnality..." and that meant one more step towards the path of Falling.

As much as Tomoyo liked Setsuna, she didn't want her to fall, not in the least; Setsuna was the link from Heaven's past, the only first generation Angel that would remind Heaven of the peace it once held, and could hold again.

Tomoyo gathered the tresses of her gown close to her body, beginning to run without warning. She needed to get to Setsuna, quickly.

If they were arguing...does that mean that she was showing emotion as well...? NO!!!

That thought only fueled her heels as she sprinted towards Setsuna's chambers, knocking everyone in her path away from her.

[Xanthus Battus]

[Just to let you know about that bit on eating, i did not know that. Angels aren't supposed to eat, really? I have to rework a few things...but let's just run with it for now! ^^]

Xanthus watched Tomoyo gather the skirts of her dress and run quickly. He spead up to catch her.

They finally reached the Gates of the Fourth Castle. Guard Angels were their to greet them.

"Master Battus...Master--Mistress Sanada!" The guards bowed.

"We'll just run up to see Setsuna." Xanthus annonced. "This way," he said to Tomoyo, "She's probably in her office."

They continued up the stairs to the third floor where the offices were. Setsuna's was last on the left.

Xanthus knocked on the door. "Setsu!" he called. "Are you in there? Setsu, I'm back..."

[Shirogane Setsuna]

Setsuna was sitting behind her desk discussing homework with her daughter, Kirara, when there was a knock at the door.

She heard Xanthus call out to her.

A smile spread across her face, as Kirara got up to greet him.

"Enter." she said, composing herself.

[Sanada Tomo]

[That's okay. Eating is only considered a path to falling by people really rigid about the Celestial acting like Humans. In terms of her wings turning black and things like that, her eating shouldn't have a heavy bearing on that at all...^^]

Setsuna smiled. I wasn't a weak smile, a worn smile or anything that could be misconscrued as nonchalant--it was a real, bonafide smile.

It was a show of emotion. That wasn't good at all. Setsuna and emotion did not mix well, and Tomoyo now had all the more reason to speak with her urgently about it.

"Setsu...na..." her voice became quieter as she spoke, the little girl behind Setsuna catching the Yami-ou's eye. Kirara, her name was, and Tomoyo knew that she was a dear companion to her own daughter, Cielle, who was now alone because Chiyo had left with the twins...

She bowed hastily to Setsuna's heir. "Hello Kirara...could you please excuse your mother and I for a moment. We have something of the utmost importance to discuss..."

Normally, she wasn't this kind to the uprights, but once again, Setsuna was another story. She had been a loyal friend since the first day of their kingships.

[Shirogane Setsuna]

Setsuna looked over when Tomoyo entered with Xanthus as well.

"Kirara, go with your father, Sanada and i have to speak." The little girl packed up her homework.

"But mother," the girl pleaded, "I still need help!"

"Your father can help you." Setsuna instructed. "Xanthus..."

"Come on Kirara." he ordered.

Kirara walked past Sanada, bowed, and said," I hope Ceille is doing well."

"Kirara," he father called from the door.

"Did you buy me something?" Kirara said.

"Xanthus...we need to talk, later." Setsuna said. He nodded and closed the door.

Setsuna (finally) turned to her guest. "Please, sit." She pointed to a chair in front of the desk. Setsuna removed her reading glasses. "So I presume, your dropping by is of dire need, no?"

"Voulez-vous un boisson?" she asked.

[Sanada Tomo]

[Holy sh--! I didn't know you were married to Xanthus...]

"No," Tomoyo said hastily. "I need to know what in Heaven is wrong with you?? I'm worried. Xanthus is worried. You can't do this to yourself. What if you fall? What will Xanthus do? What will Kirara do? You're starting to show emotion, you're eating...sleeping--behaving like a Human! You know that I think that you should do whatever it is you want, but you've already told me that you don't want to fall, and you know that Tsubasa will take you to the Elders on that! As your friend, I have to warn you about this..."

[Shirogane Setsuna]

[We're not married!!!! Engaged, yes, not married. Kirara decided to call him father. Setsuna had nothing to do with that. You know Kirara is adopted, right! What the Heaven is wrong with you--that's great!!]

Setsuna stared straight at Sanada, processing...

"What makes you think I will fall? I have no intention of doing that." Setsuna paused "Why are you and Xanthus worried about me? Interesting..."

"I've told him about that. He'll never get it." Setsuna said to herself.

"You know I don't actually go to sleep when I lay down at night. I just want him to think that; i don't need him to think I'm any more abnormal than I already am...as for eating...I have no way to explain that to you."

[Sanada Tomo]

"...It's not about your intentions, Setsuna," Tomoyo said heatedly. "Tsubasa will look for any means to eliminate you, whether or not you want to fall. It's not about you, it's about the system here..."

Tomoyo didn't think that Setsuna was understanding how other people's emotions influenced them...

[Shirogane Setsuna]

Setsuna glanced at Tomoyo before she sighed heavily. "So what are you saying?...because it seems as though I've adopted human-like behaviour, that I will be turned in--like...like a criminal..."

Setsuna closed her eyes, calming herself. "I will not be accused of taking certain liberties, when everyone else can. Why must I be restricted so much?...Tsubasa, don't worry about her, while we used to be friends, I cannot say the same now. I will deal with her when the time is right. And she will pay for her personal vendetta against me!"

[Sanada Tomo]

Tomoyo just couldn't contain herself at Setsuna's display of ignorance.

"Setsuna, just what do you think has been going on in Heaven? Where have you been the past few millennia? Tsubasa has been punishing Human like behavior for as long as she's been here. She tried to kill Ren for it; she manipulated Rei into behaving that way so that she would Fall on purpose! The ENTIRE EIGHTH LAYER of Heaven was cast down because they liked Humans and were acting like them. Ninety five percent of the residents of Hell are there because they were adopting Human habits and were kicked out of Hell--or they were being persecuted for it. You're playing a dangerous game here, Setsuna."

The next statement, Tomoyo knew, would hurt her, but it had to be said. "What have you been doing? Playing house with your fiance and your adopted daughter and trying to create a fascimile of a family? You can't let these things take you away from who you are, because the moment you start acting out of character, Tsubasa will be riding you out of Heaven on the next Human plane ticket to the Mortal Realm. Seriously, Setsuna, what's wrong with you?

"And what do you mean, she won't accuse you? She accused me, didn't she? I only used magic to try to find out what my past life was. Is that a crime, Setsuna? To find out who you used to be? No, it isn't. But did you, or any of the other Kings for that matter, say anything when Tsubasa brought me to court on that damn cross to accuse me of betraying you for the Humans? No, you didn't say a fucking thing. The only two people who said anything were Satori and Chiyo, and their votes were the minority!

"If the Elders vote that you need to go because you endanger Heaven, then you will put out! And all the Elders are currently sided with her! Lailis, Mimiko, Satori--though unwilling--and even your own brother, Setsuna! If he thinks you're endangering Heaven, he's not going to side with you!!! You forget that!

"Just because you've been running around trying to catch up to your parents doesn't give an excuse for you to be so out of touch that you basically throw yourself out of Heaven. You need to get your ass in gear, because the War hasn't been ended, and you're still a part of it. What good will you be to Heaven if you're no longer there? What will your daughter do? What will your fiance do? Nothing. They may Fall with you, but what good will that do, when Tsubasa will use that as a reason to go after you and kill them??

"I came here to ask your help in ending this War. But clearly, you need time to get yourself together, because you're being too reckless for me to even trust right now..."

[Shirogane Setsuna]

[Well damn. I didn't need that...that actually hurt (lol)!! But really, I don't keep on the up and up about these things. Well...I'll attempt something like hurt feelings.]

Setsuna avoided eye contact with Tomoyo. She couldn't not believe that ANYONE would ever speak to her like that. It stung so much, this hurt rivaled the pain of her past. She never had a real one. Was it that wrong with wanting a family. But of course, she was the Setsuna. Nothing was ever that easy.

She knew, she knew it all, she knew what she had to do...but she didn't want to. She was furious, but not so much with anyone but herself. Damn rules and fucking regulations.

Setsuna glanced Tomoyo's way, trying to hold back her tears.

"I know..." she whispered. "It's just..."

There was nothing to say...

[Sanada Tomo]

Tomoyo sighed. She hadn't wanted to say quite in that way, but Setsuna's carelessness could have cost her a lot. And as one who still called herself Setsuna's friend, even though she was a Fallen and a Vile One and an Infidel and all that, she had to tell Setsuna the truth. Because no one else in Heaven would.

She felt rather bad about it all, now that she had said it. However, now she knew that Setsuna was taking things seriously.

So she did one of the things that Setsuna would least expect--give her a hug. It was tight, and full of love, an emotion that Tomoyo wanted to give her but knew that she couldn't recieve.

Pulling back, she said. "Now that I know that you know, please, be more careful from now on. I like you. And your family. Just...be careful. I don't want to have to see Xanthus having to protect you from Tsubasa everyday. I don't ever want to Kirara crying in my daughter's arms. You're on a very fine line, Setsuna, now that Tsubasa is back. Very fine, indeed, and that's okay as long as you know how to walk it. I don't want you to Fall. I like you without all the Uprights after your head." Tomoyo gave Setsuna a small smile. "I...i just know what it's like to lose your children. You don't want to feel that, Setsuna. No one does."

[Shirogane Setsuna]

[You should write a story about the whole Tomoyo being put out. I had no idea Setsu didn't say anything.]

Setsuna offered a weak, painful smile to Tomoyo when she hugged her. She was getting a little better at hugs because of her daughter. The only problem is Setsuna never wanted to go back to the cold, calculating, don't give a damn--attitude. But she just might have to, at least for the time.

"I understand...I will no longer turn a blind eye..." she sighed. "I...must leave immediately to seek out my old Master. I must focus. I need to speak with Yama."

"Tomoyo, I know we're not on the best of terms, and that i didn't say anything when you were cast out, but you have to believe me, I didn't think it was right at all."

Setsuna breathed a sign of relief. It was so hard admitting she was wrong.

"Thank you."

[Sanada Tomo]

Tomoyo still smiled. "I got over that years ago," she said, giving Setsuna a pat on the back. "I know that Tsubasa was threatening to throw her non-supporters out of Heaven; I know. I can't say, that if I had been in your shoes, that I wouldn't have said the same thing. It's okay, promise....Heaven is just...messed up..we have to fix it..."