Celestial Sonata 6 Amagi Sayuri 1988 Princess Comics Translator's notes... Amagi has apparently learned the correct spelling of Michael. Oh well; I'm going to keep it as Micael for the sake of consistency and to differentiate him from the Archangel, Michael. There's a distinction between the "Hell" where demons live and the "Hell" where bad people go when they die in this manga; the latter is called "Hades." This isn't confusing. What is confusing is that the same distinction exists for Heaven, and the latter place is also called "Heaven." (The Heaven where angels live is "Tenkai," Japanese for "Heaven"; the Heaven for dead people is "Heben," a Japanese transliteration of "Heaven.") For simplicity's sake I'll refer to the "Heaven" where people go when they die as "Elysium." It's a pretty word. The reason I'm using "Gods" instead of "God" is that there's really no indication whether it should be plural or singular, and Amagi's vision of the spiritual realm is a more eastern than western one (note the reincarnation) and would more probably be polytheistic. Amagi Sayuri It's number 6! Since this one starts and ends with Bael-san, I guess it's one volume that will make Micael fans mad. Celestial Sonata Volume 6 Amagi Sayuri Celestial Sonata 6: Contents Chapter 10 : Overture: The Sky Blues (finale) Page 5 Chapter 11 : Fatalein, Child of Fate (prelude) Page 143 The Heavens are separated into the three worlds of Heaven, Hell, and the Realm of Magic. Filla and Micael met at Ea Ryude school and grew up to become, respectively, a demon and an angel. The pair, who work as partners to guide souls to the afterlife, seems completely opposed at first glance, but they are connected by a mysterious bond of fate. For Micael, the shadowy angel who has been pursued since his youth by evil forces, Filla brings light into his life. Will Filla be able to protect Micael from the huge conspiracy? Chapter 10: Overture: The Sky Blues (prologue) Mahito, born as a Diable but raised in the human world, returns to Hell. Four months later, after much rigorous training, Mahito becomes a true member of the Diables who are able to distill the negative energy of humans' hate and sadness. While doing so, one Diable died, overtaken by negative energy. Satan, the emperor of Hell, felt that this was because of an extremely strong evil power. The gears of fate have begun to turn! Chapter 10: Overture: The Sky Blues (finale) Bael : The Sky Blues have awakened. That much is certain. Azusha : They absorbed the negative energy released when the late Diable died, did they not? Bael : He must have lost hope in his own life. If even a tiny crack appeared in the Diable's strong spiritual barrier, then it's possible that the force of all that had been destroyed ended up destroying him. The jewels that have awakened in you will release your magical powers and cause destruction all through the heavens. And then, the seal will be broken... Azusha : Then, Micael, I will make you mine! We shall see if things go as prophesied! --Have you noticed anything strange about the air here lately? --Yeah, why? --It seems like something not quite heavenly... --Hey, look over there! Gabriel : Wait here, Artemis. --It's the Vice-Archangel, Gabriel! Gabriel : I'm here on urgent business. I need to see the Archangel Michael. --Wait, Gabriel-sama! --The Archangel is not yet awake! --In that case, I will wake him. Step back. --Yes, sir. --He can sure be stubborn... Gabriel : I'm surprised to find you already awake. Michael : I was just thinking of going to see you. Gabriel : Michael, you haven't been negligent in your duties of judging souls, have you? Michael : So things are strange in Elysium, too... Gabriel : What do you mean? Michael : Until now, I had been sending the pure souls to Elysium and the dark souls to Hades. But lately, the dark souls filled with hate and sadness have been running away before I could send them to Hades. Gabriel : The human souls have been running away from you? Michael : When angels first bring the souls here, one cannot tell at a glance which are dark and which are pure, for even dark souls sleep quietly in the air of Heaven. And yet they have been restless for these past few days...it is unusual... Gabriel : It's much more than unusual! I've never seen anything like it in the many long years I've managed Elysium! And what's more, the pure souls' positive energy has been fading away. Michael : What? Gabriel : It makes the hearts of the Anges who control reincarnation hurt. If this goes on, reincarnation will be difficult or impossible. Michael : So the dark souls' negative energy is having an influence on Elysium... Gabriel : Is the original cause of all this the Sky Blues? Michael : Yes. They call each other from North and South, trying to break the seal. It seems that holes to another dimension are opening up in the Realm of Magic, and even in Hell, the sealed areas and Hades are being hit with various disasters. Gabriel : Michael! We can't just stand here doing nothing! How will we respond if terrible things start to happen in Heaven? There's a legend that says "When the two stones are gathered together in a dark soul, great calamities will befall." Doesn't that mean that there must be someone calling them? Michael : That merits some thought. But remember that the Sky Blues are no longer what they once were. They are absorbing negative energy and becoming more powerful. Also, I am certain that a power from Hell is involved in this. Gabriel : Do you mean that one of the Four Powers wants to get the Sky Blues to take control of the heavens? It couldn't be...Satan...could it? Michael : What are you saying, Gabriel? Michael : He wishes for peace in the heavens more than anyone. He would never start a horrible war. Gabriel : Forgive me. Michael : Gabriel... Gabriel : At any rate, if we don't think of something soon, reincarnation will be very hard. Gabriel : If anything hinders the process of reincarnation that has worked for thousands of years, the order of the whole world will go to pieces. It would be like releasing all of the Darkness in Hell. Michael : Indeed, those stones have power equal to the Darkness. --------------- Chapter 10 I really hate the picture that starts out this chapter...because I haven't been doing premilinary sketches lately (or ever, actually), Filla's face kept turning out wrong no matter how many times I redrew it. And it took me 40 minutes each to do the pictures of Filla on page 24 and 33. There seem to be a lot of Micael fans lately! But I've been getting more letter saying "I'm a Micael fan, but there's nothing I can do, so go for it, Filla!" than saying "I'm a Micael fan, so I don't want Filla to have him." That makes me happy. I'm sad when they say Filla doesn't need Micael! There are also some people who say I'm way too mean to Micael and I must hate him. That's not it at all! I like him a lot--how could I not like him? But if you still don't believe me, be sure to read to the last volume. Then you'll find out how much I really like Micael! --------------- Gabriel : We must protect the seal, even if it takes the power of all nine superior angels. Michael : Now that we've lost the Moon Tear, we do not have the power to stop the Sky Blues. Gabriel : Then what should we do? Can't Satan do anything? Can't even the ruler of Hell stop this? Michael : It is all in the hands of the Gods, now, Gabriel. Things have started to move in accordance with the Seraphim's Prophecy. We must leave our fate in their hands. Gabriel : How can Michael be so calm? Filla : I hate that noise! I had night guard last night and I'm really sleepy! Beelze : He gets cranky when he doesn't get his sleep... Hey, I can't do anything about all the dead people shrieking! Dark souls don't usually act like this, even before they're purified. It seems like even Beelzebub-sama can't control them. At this rate, the dark souls' negative energy will seep into Hell more and more. Filla : I'm going to see Satan-sama! Beelze : Not on a day like this! Filla : Do you have a problem with it? Beelze : No... --Stop, you two! --Don't go out recklessly in this weather! Filla : Go back to the castle, Beelze! Beelze : No, I'm going too! Filla : These dark souls must be making it harder and harder to keep the Darkness sealed. I hope Satan-sama is all right. Beelze : The negative energy is so strong it's making me nauseous. It's not just the dark souls...there's some other power too. Why can't I catch up to Filla? I guess he really isn't just an ordinary demon. Satan : You worry too much. Just now, all of the Diables have started towards Hades to help Beelzebub-sama. Astarot and Lucifer are doing their best to protect their own realms. Filla : Satan-sama...on the night of the full moon, you and the Diables were supposed to distill the negative energy on Earth. So why is so much negative energy floating around Hell? Satan : It would be impossible to distill all of the negative energy. Just as darkness exists where there is light, all things in the world have their opposites. In the human world there must be a balance between positive and negative; we only distill the energy that upsets that balance. <> Satan : Part of the negative energy left on earth is carried to the heavens sleeping inside of dark souls. By themselves, they have little power, and are gradually purified in Hades. Then they turn into pure souls and ascend to Elysium. But now, because of another power, the negative energy in the sleeping dark souls has awoken, increasing the total negative energy many tens of times over. <> Filla : What is that other power? Satan : The Sky Blues. Satan : Disasters are happening in Heaven as well, and the seal may soon be broken. Filla : Please, let me go to Hades! Beelze : Filla!? Filla : I know that, not being a Diable, I have no great power, but please let me help anyway. Beelze : You can't change anything, going by yourself! <> Beelze : I'll go too! Filla : Stay here, Beelze! Satan : You will go despite the danger that you will be attacked by dark souls and lose your life? Filla : Yes. Satan : Very well, you may go right away. Beelze : What are you thinking, Filla!? What will happen to Micael if you go? Isn't he really worried about the Sky Blues? <> Filla : Beelze...because we still have to guide souls to the afterlife, even under these conditions...will you please take my place as his partner for a while? Beelze : But-- Filla : There's no one else I can ask. Beelze : Fine, do what you like! <> Filla : Micael...even if I stay right by you, there's nothing I can do. So I'm going to Hades to fight dark souls to make sure that the seal on the Sky Blues doesn't get broken. Please understand, Micael...this is all that I can do now. <> Filla : No matter how far apart we may be, I swear I will protect you. <> <> Wari : Impressive. How many does that make, Fall? Fall : 12 so far. Wari : You fail at little things, but you're pretty good with big things like this. Fall : Closing up interdimensional holes takes a lot of magic, but I think I'm doing pretty well now at controlling it. Wari : His magical power seems bottomless... Fall : Hey, Wari... Wari : Yeah? Fall : What do you think's going to happen with the Sky Blues? Wari : I think it'll all work out. Fall : Wari... --I've heard that things are going to pieces in Elysium. --You think the Anges are safe? --If something happened to the Ange Yuimari, the Earth Goddess, the heavens and the human world would be in big trouble. --I'm worried because the Southern sealed palace is so close to Elysium. <> --But that was sealed by the gods in the distant past, right? It won't be easily broken by any magical power, no matter how strong. --Doesn't it make more sense to worry about the Northern sealed palace? It was only sealed a year and a half ago, when the Moon Tear diappeared. --Hey, that's him, pretending to be all innocent. --I wonder if he doesn't think it's his fault? --Hey, Micael! --What'll you do if the seal gets broken? --That has nothing to do with me. --Don't play innocent! It's your eyes! They're calling those jewels, aren't they? Cross : I think that's enough. <> Cross : Aren't you supposed to be on the same side? Micael : Cross? --That's a face I haven't seen around here! Cross : I only just came to the White Castle. Nice to meet you. --Impertinent little brat! You'll be in danger if you take his side! Cross : Thanks for the advice. Let's go, Micael. Micael : Thank you, Cross. Cross : It was nothing. Micael : When did you come here? Cross : In December. I'm a Cherubim too now. Micael : Why did you never come and see me? <> Cross : It was hard for some reason...because I used to be so cold to you, Micael... Micael : That's my fault, because of how I acted at Ea Ryude. Cross : You did seem kind of strange then. I couldn't undertand you. But I had things on my mind, too. Micael : You did? Cross : We were in the same class, so we used to do all kinds of things together. But I could never beat you at anything, not even once. Cross : I always came in second, no matter how hard I tried. I was young then--I couldn't stand it. You skipped a grade and became a Cherubim, while I was still just a Deminions--a servant angel. We were both the children of "Lovers," and always used to play together as kids, and we were supposed to study the same things together. I was so shocked when I realized that we wouldn't be able to stand together as equals when we grew up. Cross : That's when I started avoiding you. It's not because I've become a Cherubim too that I can talk to you about all this now...you've always walked in front of me. That's true even now. I've always followed after you. But that's all right. Now I know that it's all right. I wanted to apologize to you when I was at the Sun Castle, but I didn't have the courage to visit you here. <> Cross : I'm sorry, Micael. Micael : It's all right, Cross. Thank you. Cross : Micael... Micael : Can we still be friends? Cross : Of course. <> Micael : What an awful storm...I've never seen one this bad in Heaven. "I've heard rumors about you, but I'm not scared. Don't worry about the Sky Blues or your eyes." Cross...could you still say that if you knew my sins? Even if I really did bring disasters on Heaven? I wonder if Filla knows about the troubles in Elysium... This is due to the opening interdimensional rifts. You must descend from your respective realms and meet up with your partner on Earth.> Micael : Huh? Aren't you Beelze Kona? Beelze : Hi! <> Micael : Where's Filla? Did his wings get frostbite? Beelze : I've never seen Micael from this close before. It really does seem just like ice. I'll be your partner from now on. Micael : Did something happen to Filla!? Beelze : No, he's fine. Micael : Then...why? <> Beelze : He went to Hades to try to get the dark souls under control. He probably won't be back for a while. Micael : To Hades!? Beelze : He said he wanted to help Satan-sama. Micael : So things are strange in Hell, too... Beelze : The souls of the dead are restless. Why did his expression change all of a sudden? <> Micael : Filla cares about Satan more than he cares about me! "You care about Elmelia more than you care about me!" No...I can't keep doing this... <> Beelze : Micael? Micael : It's time. Let's go, Beelze. Beelze : Blue...as blue as darkness! <> Micael : The storm's stopped...I wonder what happened with the Sky Blues. <> --Micael...if you want to know the connection between the Sky Blues and yourself, come to the Northern sealed palace tonight, when the moon hangs in the sky. Micael : The connection!? <> Micael : Between me and the Sky Blues? Beelze : I've had it! I just don't know what to do with him! Shia : It's only been 3 days. You'll get used to him. Beelze : I tried to understand him, but I think Filla's the only one who can. Shia : Yes...it's not a good idea to separate those two. Beelze : Now that the negative energy storm is over, Filla had better get back soon. <> Shia : Speak of the devil... Beelze : Finally, my replacement! Filla : I'm home... Beelze : Filla!? Shia : What happened to him, Mahito!? Beelze : Hang on, Filla! Mahito : Filla overexerted himself. I told him not to, since he wasn't a Diable, but... Beelze : He used too much magic power? Mahito : Yes. He's very weak now, he needs to rest. Beelze : Thanks, Mahito. You can leave the rest to us. Mahito : I'll go back to the castle, then. <> Shia : I'm going now, since I have night watch. Beelze : So you got a new partner? Shia : Yes. I'm worried, but I have to go. Beelze : It's all right, I'll look after Filla. Take care, Shia. Shia : I will. <> Filla : Micael...where are you going? Don't go, it's dangerous... Micael... Beelze : I'm here, Filla. <> Filla : Whatdya think you're doing, Beelze!? Eww! Beelze : Stop that already! <> Beelze : You kept calling out, "Micael, Micael." I was just trying to help. Filla : I was not! Beelze : Go back to sleep. Look, Filla...it was for Micael's sake that you went to Hades, wasn't it? <> Filla : I met Micael in Hades. Beelze : Micael? Filla : In Hades, terror strong enough to make you faint surrounds you. In the infinitely heavy, dark-colored air, drift hate, sadness, and anger. <> Filla : This isn't good...I got separated from the Diables. Filla : Nothing existed but negative energy--absolutely nothing. <> Filla : Micael!? Why do you look so sad? Is that how sad you really are? Filla : Come out of the darkness, Micael! This isn't where you're supposed to be! Micael : I've always been here. Even before I was born, I drifted through the dark air. You didn't realize it... --------------- Thank you so much for all your letters, everybody! It makes me really glad to know how much you're moved even though they're just manga characters! When I get letters saying that you laugh and cry and get mad along with Filla and Micael, it really encourages me. I also get some pretty harsh criticisms, but I already know my own weaknesses far too well and I don't need any more discouragement....I am trying to get better, bit by bit. Manga are fun...when I draw a sad face, I start to get sad, and when I draw a surprised face, my own eyes go wide open. And when I draw a happy face, I smile too. Drawing Micael nude is another thing that makes me smile...What!? It's a bit too late for me to try and act innocent! I haven't printed my debut manga in here yet. It's not that I don't want to, but there are never enough pages. Sorry. But I get embarrassed enough looking at the pictures in the first volume! They're so bad! --------------- <> Micael : I've always been alone. In the past, in the present... Filla : Stop that, Micael! Micael : And in the future, too. Filla : Don't say that! It's too sad! Micael : You don't know the real me. <> Filla : Micael...No! <> Filla : Micael...Micael... <> Filla : I've been playing that scene over and over in my head. Beelze, I feel like I saw all the negative energy inside me in Hades. Beelze : Filla... Filla : I don't know anything. I don't know the weight of the sadness he carries, or how much hatred he's had to deal with...I don't understand any of it! Beelze : Stop blaming yourself. Beelze : You love Micael with all your heart, right? Everyone has negative energy. It's not something to get depressed about. Filla : But...but how am I ever going to be able to protect him? Beelze : How long are you going to play the tragic heroine? You've used too much magical power, and you're weak now. Beelze : Just sleep peacefully without thinking of anything. Filla : Beelze... Beelze : He's not been himself lately. Oh well, maybe I'll go and have a drink. <> Micael : This is where the fragment of the Sky Blues that Filla and I brought back from the human world is sealed. Has it already been a year since then? It's so foggy... <> --So you've come, Micael. Micael : Who's there? --You remember Alhazaado, from that fearful dream? Micael : A demon!? But this is Heaven--how can that be? Are you an illusion? --It is impossible for demons to project visions of themselves into Heaven...except for the Four Powers. Micael : The Four Powers... <> Micael : Did you call me here? Bael : Yes. I am but an illusion now, but we will meet again at some time in the Dark Castle. Micael : The Dark Castle!? So you were the shadow that's been following me around... <> Micael : Bael, of the Dark Castle! I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'll die if I go into Hell. Bael : That may be so. But the Sky Blues are calling you, Micael. Tomorrow night, when the first ray of moonlight hits this palace, the seal will break. Micael : Tomorrow? Tomorrow night? Bael : The stones want your body. They will destroy the seal and become assimilated with you. Once controlled by the stones, you will turn into an evil monster. <> Micael : No...Perhaps if I were a demon, but I'm an angel. I won't be controlled by evil! <> Bael : Stop your useless struggling. No matter how many times you strike at me, you cannot change the fact that I am an illusion. Micael : There's some kind of barrier around him... Bael : If you were to realize the full extent of your power, then perhaps you would be able to break the barrier... Micael : What do you mean? Bael : Can you not feel it yourself? That you do not belong in Heaven? Micael : Quiet! <> Micael : What are you--What are you plotting? Bael : I have waited for centuries upon centuries for the child of the prophecy to be born. Micael : Prophecy? <> Bael : Of the silver boy whose eyes would become the Sky Blues. That is you, Micael. But I will not let things go according to the prophecy... Micael : Filla... <> Bael : You shall give in to the Sky Blues and become my servant. And then, we will strike Satan down! <> Micael : "Strike Satan down"!? Strike down...Satan? No! <> Micael : I'm...an angel! I won't...be your servant! No matter... what happens! No matter what happens, I won't take up a sword against Satan-sama! <> Bael : You've certainly changed, Micael. Now you want to continue as an angel that much? <> Bael : Is it for that golden demon? He may be the brightest light in your life, but he is still a demon, just as I am. Micael : Filla isn't anything like you! Bael : Do you trust that demon? How foolish. Where is he right now? He has gone to Hades to help Satan, and has yet to return, correct? <> Bael : He left you all alone, did he not? You should test his heart, Micael. Become my servant and fight against the Emperor. Even Fillanzea would be able to kill you, if it was to protect Satan. Micael : No! I won't believe that those you love would betray you! [Have to mention here that there was an "emphasis point" next to the particle making "you" a subject here, to emphasize that the actual meaning is "those you love" rather than "those who love you."] <> Bael : Fillanzea would agree...but so would Erinoa. Micael : How did you know about Erinoa? Bael : Tomorrow is your nineteenth birthday, Micael. I will tell you something as a present. <> Bael : The one who forced you to kill Erinoa that day, who prevented you from treading the path of light, was I. Micael : What? <> Bael : But then you met Fillanzea, and because of him, became one of the angels you formerly hated. That was a miscalculation, Micael. Filla : No...no... Bael : It is true. All of that was my doing. <> Bael : From Elmelia's death to the shame that Erinoa caused you, everything played out according to my scenario. Quite an exciting show, I must say. Micael : "It's your fault that Elmelia died." "What are you saying, Erinoa? I don't understand." <> Bael : I bid you farewell, Micael, and eagerly await the day when you will come to the Dark Castle. <> Micael : Erinoa...Erinoa... <> Micael : Erinoa...Erinoa! Filla : Micael...? Micael...he's crying... <> Filla : Micael...Micael... <> Micael : I don't belong here in Heaven. When I killed Erinoa, I should have died too. If I wasn't here...If I died...then the Sky Blues wouldn't be able to break the seal. <> Micael : If only I didn't exist... --Hey, Filla! What are you doing around here in your pajamas? Filla : Do you know where Beelze is? --You're as pale as a ghost! --Are you feeling all right? Filla : Where's Beelze? --I saw him at the bar a little while ago. Filla : Thanks. Beelze might know something about that dream. <> Beelze : Filla! I told you to go to sleep quietly! Filla : Beelze... Beelze : What are you, stupid, walking outside half-naked when you already have frostbite? <> Filla : Micael's crying. Beelze : What? You said that before, that time with the dreameater. Filla : Beelze, did something happen to him while I was away? What's wrong with Micael? Beelze : What do you think about the rumors, Filla? Filla : I just hope Micael doesn't hear them. <> Filla : He told me once before that his eyes might have the same kind of magic power as the Sky Blues: "Just like another copy of the Sky Blues!" Beelze : I suppose that's possible. There could be 4 Sky Blues. Filla : Beelze! How could you say something like that? <> Beelze : It's just a feeling I got from seeing Micael up close. Don't you understand this better than anyone, Filla? Filla : But I'll protect Micael! I won't leave him, no matter who or what he may be! <> Beelze : Filla...it's because you love Micael that his eyes seem like light to you. But other people see them as darkness. That's how it seemed to me during the short time I was Micael's partner. Sorcerors may not be able to feel it, but angels, who are very sensitive to evil magics, are in terror of it. Doesn't he seem, even to you, to change from light to darkness at the least word? Filla : Yes, I knew all of that...people have feared his eyes since our days at Ea Ryude. Everyone talked about how cold he looked, with blue and silver...Micael knew that too. He hated angels...but he couldn't help what other people thought of him, could he? --------------- I made some mistakes with the pictures on volume 5...the clothes of Wari on page 47 and Mahito on page 170, for example. I had no idea until you told me in your letters. I'm sorry I'm so bad at drawing. I even made a mistake on Filla's wings in "White Birthday" in #2! And I made mistakes in this one too...on page 138 he rips the right sleeve of his robe but after that it shifts to the left! Sorry! Sorry! Stupid me! (Although maybe redrawing it would be better than apologizing...) I just know I'm going to keep making mistakes in volume 7! Look closely in Filla's closet on page 113. Aren't there tube-shaped fish paste cakes up there? Big, big ones! For a midnight snack, I guess. I wrote about "Image and Symbols" in volume 4, and there are people who've written to me saying it wasn't in the library and they wanted to buy it. But it's an $80 dictionary, and you probably wouldn't be too interested in it unless you were really into mythology. And it doesn't have any special connection to "Matendou," although it is useful sometimes for reference. [I'm beginning to think that there were some really nuts, "Diana and Rowen" proportion "Matendou Sonata" otaku back in the day. First what she wrote about Micael fans, then what she wrote about people wanting to buy an $80 dictionary...anyway, we now return you to the regularly scheduled story already in progress.] --------------- <> Filla : Maybe that's what drew me to Micael. I wished that he would become an angel, but that was just my selfishness. It might only have caused him pain. "I killed an angel two years ago, so I can't possibly become an angel." "I might someday bring great disasters to the heavens." But he was like a different person in the palace in Heaven. It's like he put on a mask inside the White Castle. I realized that there was "another Micael," but... <> Beelze : Filla? Can't you sleep? Filla : Deep inside my heart, I did know about Micael and the Sky Blues. But I would never let other people talk about it, because I couldn't stand to see him as something evil. He's the one person who I know best and love best. <> Filla : I can't really explain it well, but I want to be everything to him. I want to give him my body, my soul, my life, my future, everything. I believe that the reason I'm alive is to save Micael. Beelze : Filla... <> Beelze : Are you going out? Filla : I'm going to see Wari. Beelze : Wait until tomorrow! You need more rest! Filla : It's all right. I'm just restless right now. I know it's late to be disturbing Wari, but... Beelze : You really want to be with Micael, don't you? Filla : Yeah...but I can't. <> Wari : I've been looking into it for a while, but I haven't been able to find anything certain. Filla : Then why all the rumors? Wari : Just distorted interpretations. They want to make Micael a scapegoat. Filla : But there is a connection between Micael and the Sky Blues, isn't there? <> Wari : Do you feel that too, Filla? Filla : Do you, Wari? Wari : I thought you'd kill me if I said anything. Filla : I've tried to deny it until now, but I think I'm willing to accept it after everything that's happened. But no matter what kind of connection is there, Micael himself is definitely not evil! The heavens won't be destroyed because of him, no matter what the sorcerors may say. <> Filla : I believe in the Micael I see in my heart. Even if his eyes are another copy of the Sky Blues, I'll protect him from them. I'll be his Moon Tear. <> Wari : A golden light...so warm and gentle... <> --Hey, is that that angel, Micael? --He'll only cause trouble here in the Realm of Magic. --It's thanks to him that the heavens will be destroyed! --What's the Archangel thinking? Ishuma : Well, what do we have here? The perfect student's come out to have some fun? <> Ishuma : And don't you look great with all those wounds... Micael : You're out too, Ishuma... Ishuma : I'm here to meet a friend. Filla : Everyone's scared that the seal will be broken... <> Filla : Micael was crying in a place I didn't recognize. And I couldn't be with him...I couldn't hold him... Was it wrong of me to go to Hades? Micael : Do you hate me? Ishuma : Yes, I do. When I look at you, I want to destroy you. Micael : Please kill me, Ishuma. Ishuma : What's this pain I feel? Micael : Please, Ishuma, kill me. Ishuma : Come over here. <> --Got him, Ishuma? --Hey, he's a bishounen! --Nice blue eyes, too. --Aren't you...? Micael : Yes. Micael Lennon, of the White Castle. <> --Hmm... --So it's your fault that the Sky Blues are going to be reborn. --And it's his fault that the heavens are going to be plunged into darkness! --And they've just been letting him run loose? Micael : Please kill me...because I cannot add my own life to the number of lives I've taken... Ishuma : Micael...what happened to the blue light burning in your eyes? You're just like a smashed glass doll now. Unfortunately, Micael, I'm an angel. I can't kill another angel. I could hardly claim to be an angel if I did. <> --Fine, we'll kill you...after we've had a little fun with you first. Micael : No! Let me go! <> --Don't be so rough with him. <> --We want to have our fun too. Micael : Kill me...just kill me now! --Stop playing the good kid. Did you ever do this with Fillanzea? <> --Aah! --What's that light? --What's that? --Something's shining blue light... Filla : Micael? <> --It's the Sky Blues! --Help! --Away, beast! <> --Micael! --What's going on? --Something weird's happening to him! Micael : It isn't me! It isn't! <> --Oww...help... --Stop denying it! You're not an angel! You're just a tool of the Sky Blues! <> "A fragment of you is sealed away in Heaven"..."The silver boy whose eyes will become the Sky Blues"..."Micael, you said something about the Sky Blues then"..."There are *four* Sky Blues in Heaven"..."Those stones look like your eyes"... <> Micael : My eyes...my eyes are the evil Sky Blues. I have to shatter them...into little pieces...Yes, the Moon Tear is gone. <> Micael : I have to destroy these awful Sky Blues! <> --Micael! <> --Micael... <> Filla : Ishuma? Ishuma : Fillanzea? Filla : Micael! <> Filla : What happened to your eyes? Micael : Don't touch me! Just leave me alone! Filla : It's all right. It's all right. <> Micael : Don't worry about me. Filla : Micael...did Ishuma do that to your eyes? Micael : No! No, Filla... Filla : What happened here? <> Micael : Filla... <> Micael : Filla, I finally understand it. I should have never been born. <> Chapter 11: Fatalein, Child of Fate Fatalein, silver child whose eyes will become the Sky Blues...I have been waiting for you to come into this world. May you grow up in the light, child of fate, for in the end hate and sadness will grasp onto your heart forever. <> Fall from the light into the darkness, and then you will walk to me. Chapter 11: Fatalein, Child of Fate (prelude) <> Beautiful boy, you will belong to me. <> Filla : Wari, how's Micael? Wari : You needn't worry about his physical wounds, but... --------------- Thanks to everyone who came out for the record release event on Jan. 31, 1988. It was the first time in my life I'd been a part of anything like that! [Image albums are often put out for popular manga, even when no anime exists; before Fushigi Yuugi was animated, for instance, one or two orchestral albums based on the manga had been released.] But when I was watching myself on the video tape, I got depressed because I never knew what to say. Someday I'd like to meet all of my fans, not just the ones in Tokyo and Osaka! Hope to see you soon! --------------- Wari : He says that he himself did that to his eyes. Fall : Filla... Wari : Let's leave them alone for now, Fall. Fall : Wari... <> Micael : Go away. Filla : No. I'm staying here. Micael : You aren't my partner. Whatever happens to me has nothing to do with you. Filla : Am I not allowed to worry about you just because I'm not your partner? Am I not allowed to love you? <> Filla : It's true that I thought it best to go to Hades. That's because I couldn't do anything to help you even if I stayed right beside you. Micael : It's all right now. Because of this, the Sky Blues won't be revived. Filla : Micael... Micael : Right, Filla? <> Filla : You're foolish...even more foolish as I am. You were ready to die, weren't you? What happened to you? Filla : What happened to you while I wasn't there? Micael!? Wari : He's hiding something. He's being quiet because he doesn't want to worry you. <> Fall : Poor Micael. Filla : What about his eyes, Wari? Wari : I'm sorry to say this, but he'll probably never see again. Filla : Can't he use my eyes? Can't you give them to him? Wari : Filla, your kindness is cruelty. Filla : What? Wari : Even if I could do that, Micael would never be able to look at you with your eyes. Knowing that you had done this for his sake would be harder on him than having his whole body torn apart. <> Filla : You're right, Wari. I'm so selfish... Fall : Filla...Don't cry, Filla. Filla : Micael...Micael... <> Filla : Micael! Micael...you are an angel. May you always walk in the light... Micael : I'm home! Mother : Oh, Micael. Did you get in a fight again? Micael : They said it was stupid to name me "Micael" because I'm only half angel! Mother : Let them say what they like. You're such a gentle child. You mustn't fight. And when you grow up, you'll be an angel with bright white wings! Micael : Do you want me to be an angel, mom? Mother : Yes. Micael : Is that why you named me after the Archangel? Mother : Yes. Micael : But all the kids at school say I'm more like a demon! Mother : That's not true at all! Don't worry, Micael. No matter who says things like that, I know you'll be an angel. Micael : I wonder why mom got so mad? I'm thirsty... <> Mother : No, you mustn't try to make him a demon! His eyes are evil! Father : What are you saying, Sonya? Mother : I know it's true. Father : He's a good kid, even if his eyes are darker blue than normal. It's for his sake that I want him to go to Hell. Those colors don't fit in Heaven, and other kids will torment him. Mother : No, he must go to Heaven. Something awful might happen if he becomes a demon. <> Mother : His eyes are the color of dark magic. Even I, his own mother, fear it when I see them. <> Micael : "That kid's eyes are scary." "He's cute, but his eyes are like balls of glass." "His eyes are the color of dark magic. Even I, his own mother"... Even my own mother? Why? Why? <> Micael : Thanks for the meal. Mother : You left a lot of food. Are you feeling all right? Father : Eat up, you don't want to be hungry at school. Micael : I'm fine. Mother : I won't be home until late tonight. Mother : I'll fix you dinner, so you should eat that. Micael : OK. Father : Be sure to lock all the doors before you go to sleep. Micael : OK. 'Bye! --------------- Chapter 11 I started this story about Micael's past in the May issue of Princess. It's an interesting coincidence that the story I wrote about Filla's past, chapter 8, appeared in the May and June issues of Princess last year. Finally I can write about Erinoa! Yeah! He is one cool villain! Speaking of villains, you all seem to hate Bael so much! I like him! (No! Don't throw rocks at me!) I always like villanous personalities. --------------- Cross : Micael...Micael...What's wrong with you? It's time for lunch. Micael : Cross... Cross : I'm going swimming with everybody. You come too. Micael : I'm not going. Cross : What? I thought you liked swimming! C'mon, let's go! Micael : I don't want to! --Leave him alone, Cross. --Come on with us. Cross : OK, I'm coming! Micael : Cross... <> Micael : Is Cross scared of my eyes too? Never mind, it's nothing. <> Cross : Your parents are an angel and a demon, right? Micael : Yeah. Cross : Mine too. We're the only ones in first grade this year. <> Cross : I'm Cross. Who are you? Micael : I'm Micael. Cross : Neat, that's the Archangel's name. Micael : Cross is really the only person I could call my friend… Mother : He heard our conversation last night, I'm sure of it. Father : You're worrying without reason. <> Micael : Being alone is so quiet. <> --You must be lonely having dinner alone, boy. Won't you come play with us? Micael : Don't come near me! No! Mom! Dad! Mom, help! <> --Do you really think they'll come to help you? --Your mother hates you. --Yes, didn't she say your eyes were evil? --You're on our side, boy. --Come with us. <> Micael : It was all a dream? I was so scared! I don't want to be alone! Micael : Goodbye! Mother : Goodbye, take care! Micael… Micael : Shoot, my shoelace broke. Oh well. Micael : I don't have to go to school anyway. --Is this yours? Micael : An angel… <> --I fixed it for you. You'd better go to school quickly or you'll be late. Micael : With cerulean eyes… --Well, 'bye. Micael : …and platinum hair, filled with light… Micael : …like wheat blowing in the wind. Yes, he must be an angel. Cross : Let's walk home together, Micael. Micael : No, I'll go by myself. Cross : Are you mad or something? Micael : Not really. You can go home with your other friends. <> Micael : Don't worry about me. Cross : Micael! --He's so dark and cold! <> Micael : A golden wheat field…long platinum hair…it's so bright… <181> --Why was it again you didn't want to go home? Micael : No particular reason. --Did your mother yell at you? Even if you have fights sometimes, it's nice to have a family. My parents died about the time I left Ea Ryude, and I still live alone. It's nice to have a cute visitor like you once in a while. <> Micael : He lives all alone… Is that wheat field out there yours? --Yes. It'll soon be time to harvest it. I'll have to move too my winter home soon, too. Micael : Winter's going to come again… I hate winter. --Why? <> Micael : I'm not nice like you. With my silver-blue hair and blue eyes, everybody at school says I'm really cold. And they say it's worse in winter—that I'm like ice. --Don't be silly. I don't see any ice there. Your cheeks are quite warm. Micael : Can I come over here again sometime? --Whenever you like. I'm Erinoa. And you? Micael : I'm, um, Micael. <> Erinoa : Like the Archangel? What a nice name. You shouldn't be ashamed of it. Micael : Yeah… Erinoa : His smile is so innocent… <> Erinoa : Just like hers… <> Micael : Wow, that's pretty, just like my mom…no, prettier. The first time I met you, Erinoa, I thought you must be an angel. Erinoa : I may seem like one, but I'm not an angel any more. Micael : What? Erinoa : I can't use my wings. Medusa broke them. <> Micael : That can't be! They're so white and pretty! Erinoa : But that's all they are. I can't flap them even a bit. I have a twin sister who became an angel with me. She's still glittering brightly. Elmelia said that it would have been better if she had lost her wings instead; that's just the kind of person she is. But if I consider that Elmelia could have lost her wings instead, I think that this is a thousand times better. <> Micael : Did your wings get hurt because you were trying to save Elmelia-san from Medusa? Erinoa : That's how much I care about her. Micael : If it had been me, would you have saved me? Erinoa : Yeah…you're like a little brother to me. <> Micael : I'm going to be an angel like you. I'll be the wings you lost! Erinoa : You're a bit young to start getting stuck up! Micael : But, I'll be your wings, OK? Erinoa : I'm sure you'll become a wonderful angel, Micael. <> Micael : "I'm sure you'll become a wonderful angel"… I'm home! Mother : Welcome home. You must be hungry. Micael : Starving! Mother : He seems to be back to normal…that's good. Micael : I'm going to be an angel, mom. <> Mother : Of course you will. Your name is "Micael," after all. You'll definitely be an angel. Micael : If I become an angel, will my mom not be scared of me any more? Bael : Blue angel surrounded by light… <> Bael : Your heart is a ball of glass. Someday I will smash it into tiny pieces. Then you will fall into the darkness of hate and sadness. For now, fill every corner of your heart with light, for it will eventually become food for the darkness. <> I like watching clouds. One night I walked with some friends who had helped me out to the bus stop, and on the way home I saw something very interesting: a cloud shaped like an animal head with an eye in it! This cloud was moving from right to left… The full moon was rising in the sky… Ta-da! The moon rose up to right where the eye should be! That only lasted for about 10 seconds because the moon kept on rising, but it's definitely not something I'll forget! Last year I saw this cloud from my car on the way home from a manga signing. I was happy because it looked just like an angel wing! I saw these clouds drifting above some buildings, and I thought they looked just like waves, there in the western sky. <> This happened about 3 a.m., one night in the fall. The full moon in the west was almost fearfully beautiful. The sun started to rise around 3 or 4 a.m. and I started getting sleepy. Then, the kitchen balcony was hit by a ray of light, and I stepped outside even though it was cold and I was only wearing my bathrobe. The sky was already pale blue, and very clear without a cloud in the sky. And the moon was shining amazingly brightly while everyone slept. I wanted to take a walk outside…I wanted to fly up into the sky… It's nice to think that Filla and Micael can fly through skies like this when they're working at night. This is the western sky around dusk. The moon was just a tiny little sliver about to disappear. To its left there was a single star—I wonder if maybe it was the evening star? The whole scene seemed very profound and beautiful. <> To everyone who reads Matendou… Thanks for all your letters everybody! I started this series thinking it would be over soon, but now it's been more than two years…when I look back now on #1 and 2, I'm amazed. I think, "How the hell did they publish this shitty art in a magazine, let alone in book form?" It must have been the power of all the fans and I'm really grateful for that. I've said this before, but I'm very slow at drawing. I can only write about 6 or 7 pages a day, and sometimes the pressure to get things done on time makes me want to stop drawing manga. It also makes want to cry, how bad I am at drawing! I guess I'm just a crybaby…then I end up spending an hour on a picture that would take most artists only 5 or 10 minutes…oh, I'm jealous! Thanks for reading this manga even though it never seems to improve…the characters move around perfectly inside my head, but I can't get them out on paper! I think I'd like to keep on writing this manga without changing anything…please forgive me, but it's what I've worked hardest on… I don't know why you people have put up with me for two years, but thank you. I don't know how long I'll go on, but please stay with me a little longer! <> Matendou Sonata Character Introductions 1 Fillanzea Lanshua Golden hair, green eyes, A-class demon, 20 years old. Birthday October 10, [Sign?] Blood type O. Height 183 cm (6'1") Weight 60 kg or so (133 lbs) Bust/Waist/Hips: I don't know! Because he's been in love with Micael for seven years, he's never slept with a woman…that doesn't sound very normal, does it? He must have a lot of patience! I get letters saying that I should write about the time when Filla first told Micael that he loved him. Of course I will! Just wait a little bit for it! I nearly laughed my head off when I heard from someone who was saying "Filla-kun, Filla kun" and her friends said "Huh? Pilaf?" I wonder how Lanshua should be spelled in roman letters…I'm really bad at English spelling… Micael Lennon Silver-blue hair, deep blue eyes Cherubim, 18 years old Birthday February 7, [Sign?], Blood type A Height…maybe around 169 cm (5'7")…maybe 4 inches shorter than Filla… Weight around 50 kg (111 lbs) Bust/Waist/Hips: I don't know, but I'd like to measure him! People have been falling in love with him a lot since Chapter 7… A lot of sad stuff happened in his past (which is true for Filla too)…he's had to go through a lot. Everybody, show your support for him! Because this volume was released on Tanabata [a neat festival on July 7 that celebrates the two constellations, Vega and Altair, that can only meet once a year because they used to be in love but Vega's father was against it so he put a river of stars between them. I think.] I tried to make Filla and Micael look like Vega and Altair…but it didn't really work! 1