Zellar opened his eyes and yawned.  The late afternoon sunshine was filtering in 
through the window.  The curtains blew softly in the slight breeze.  He looked around, 
and then recalled that he was at the apartment that Varaeir was lending out to 
Kurayamino.
	(That's funny,) he thought, getting up off of the futon.  (I don't recall lying down.  
I thought Kurayamino was going to do that...)  He shrugged, and looked around him.
	"Hello?  Kurayamino?  Varaeir?" he called.  "Is anyone here?"  There was no 
answer.
	Zellar shrugged again.  "I guess not."  He walked over to the window, and looked 
out.  A lone figure wandered down the empty streets.  Zellar peered closer, and was 
surprised to find that it was Junta.  "Junta!" he called, cupping his hands around his 
mouth to give him voice more volume.  "Junta, up here!"
	Junta paused, and looked up to locate the source of the call.  He smiled at Zellar 
and waved.  Zellar waved back.  Junta said something, but Zellar couldn't make it out.
	"Hold on," he called down, "I'll come to you."  Zellar shut the window and 
grabbed a set of keys off of the table.  He locked the door to the apartment, and headed 
down to the street, his short hair bouncing as he hurried down the stairs.


*

Dark Star
28: Through the Looking Glass

by: Lady Chaos
Hosted by: Beware the Radish
Started by: Chandra Rooney

*

"Do you wake up all alone and wonder who you are?"-- Slide, Goo Goo Dolls

*

            The reptilian demon licked the air with its long tongue, tasting it.  It sorted 
through the scents, searching for a certain one.  A lingering remnant of Gyoshi remained 
in this air, signalling that he had been this way not long ago.
            The demon licked the air again, finding the direction that the scent was strongest 
and signalled to a darker shadow amongst the trees.  The second demon stepped forward, 
the sunlight reflecting off his white skin.  Kyo brushed his grey hair away from his face 
and gestured for Kousenteki to continue his tracking.
            The reptilian demon nodded and licked the air again, testing it for the scent like a 
bloodhound.  Kyo smiled, pleased with the ease that Kousenteki followed Gyoshi's trail.  
Queen Yasha had given him orders to find Gyoshi and Kyo had found that he enjoyed the 
prospect of using any means necessary to see that his Queen was obeyed.

*

	Junta smiled as Zellar exited the apartment building.  "Hey, Junta," Zellar said, 
warmly.  "You lost?  This isn't exactly the part of town I'd expect to see you in."
	Junta chuckled.  "But it's just where I thought I'd find you.  You always were a 
little rough around the edges... in a good way, of course."
	Zellar frowned a little, puzzled.  "What's that supposed to mean?"
	Junta sighed.  "Don't be like that."  He looked around.  "So... you don't happen to 
know where your brother is, do you?"
	"No," Zellar shook his head.  "I was wondering that myself.  I'll help you look for 
him, if you like."  Junta nodded and they started walking down the street.  "So why are 
you looking for him?"
	"Oh, I thought it might be a good idea to gather the troops together for a meeting 
tonight," Junta replied.  "You know, try to decide what we know and what we should do."
	Zellar nodded.  "I'm sure he'll appreciate being invited.  He needs to feel like he's 
still part of the family, Junta."
	"You're not making that easy," Junta said carefully.  "What were you thinking?"
	"I don't know," Zellar sighed.  "I guess I just wasn't thinking.  Did I upset 
anyone?"
	"That's partially the reason I was looking for you two.  Mother's really upset about 
what happened.  She feels awful about how she's treated the both of you in the past.  
Maybe if you could help me convince him to just come and talk to her..."
	"Sure, Junta."  They walked a few more steps in silence.  "I guess it hasn't been 
easy for any of us."
	"I think we're all a little scared about this," Junta admitted.  "We've never faced 
anything this big before."
	"But we're facing it together," Zellar reminded him.
	Junta gave him a wary look.  "I hope so."

*

	"You've been awfully quiet," Varaeir said, stirring Kurayamino out of his 
musings.
	The Star of Change looked around, not recognizing where he was.  (What am I 
doing out with Varaeir?) he wondered.  (I thought I was taking a nap.)
	"Hey," Varaeir looked concerned, "you all right?"
	Kurayamino shook his head.  "No, this all been a little too much for me, Varaeir.  
I just... I just don't like the thought of having to fight without my brother beside me.  It's 
hard to explain..." he trailed off.
	"It's not necessary," Varaeir told him.  "I understand.  Your brother and you are 
very close.  Family disputes are always painful."
	"Do you have any family Varaeir?"
	"None living, I'm afraid."
	"I'm sorry to hear that."  Kurayamino shook his head.  "So, you're currently 
unaligned, right?"
	"Yes," Varaeir replied.  (It's not a complete lie,) he told himself.
	"I just... I guess can't accept that this is it.  This is what my whole life had been 
leading up to," Kurayamino sighed.  "It's just seems so... pointless."
	"Protecting the world?"
	"What's the point of protecting the world if you don't believe in the reason that 
you're 'protecting' it for?"
	Varaeir made a face.  "That's a rather angstful thought, my friend."
	Kurayamino smiled weakly.  "I guess it is, isn't it?"  He shook his head.  "Well, no 
point moping about.  I've got work to do."
	"Oh?" Varaeir's eyebrow raised.  "And what might that be?"
	"You know, gather the points, form the pentagram of Change..."
	Varaeir looked a little confused, and then he nodded.  "You've made your decision 
then."
	Kurayamino gave him a puzzled look.  "Of course.  I made it quite a while ago."
	Varaeir sighed.  "Well, it is your choice, I suppose.  I'm sure your brother will be 
happy to support you."
	"He's always supported me," Kurayamino told him.  "It's what being a twin is all 
about."
	"Still..." Varaeir trailed off, and then shrugged.  "Well, it's really none of my 
business anyway."
	Kurayamino shrugged.  "Hey," he said, his eyes straying across the street, "I think 
that's Tenkou..."  He pointed to one of the two girls hurrying down the sidewalk.
	"Hmm?" Varaeir inquired, shielding his eyes from the sun.  "A friend of yours?"
	"Girlfriend," Kurayamino replied.  "I think," he added as an afterthought.  "Hey, 
Ten-chan!" he waved at the two girls.
	Tenkou looked up and grabbed Tenshi's arm.  Tenshi smiled and waved back at 
Kurayamino.  Then the two of them crossed the street.  Tenkou smiled.  "Hey, we've been 
looking for you.  Where's your brother?"
	Kurayamino shrugged.  "I haven't seen him, Ten-chan.  I guess if you're asking it 
means you don't know where he is, either."  She shook her head.  "Oh," Kurayamino 
indicated Varaeir, "this is Varaeir.  Varaeir, this is Tenkou Stone and Tenshi."
	"A pleasure ladies," Varaeir replied, bowing.
	"So you're the reason that we couldn't find them earlier," Tenkou remarked.  "I 
hope you're taking good care of our boys, Varaeir."
	Varaeir laughed.  "I assure you, Miss Stone, I mean them no harm."
	"Yeah, if anything he should be looking out for me," Kurayamino remarked, 
winking at Tenkou.
	She gave him a funny look.  "You?  You're one of the sweetest guys alive.  Your 
girlfriend is very lucky to have someone like you."
	"You're damn right she is," Kurayamino chuckled.  "And I'm damn lucky to have 
someone like her."  He bent in and kissed Tenkou quickly on the cheek.  "I'll catch up 
with you later, Ten-chan.  I'm gonna go find my brother."  He backed out on the street, 
waving.  "Nice seeing you again, Tenshi.  Later, Varaeir!"
	Varaeir waved after Kurayamino.  The Star turned and vanished down an avenue, 
so Varaeir turned back to Tenkou.  "Your boyfriend is a rather nice fellow.  Quite the 
gentleman."
	"Who?  Kurayamino?" Tenkou hesitantly touched her cheek.  "Yeah, he's really 
something special."  She looked over at Tenshi.  The Guardian Sprite was glaring at her 
with open hostility.  (Uh oh,) Tenkou thought.
	"What was that all about?" Tenshi asked coldly.  "He completely ignored me.  Is 
there something going on between the two of you, Tenkou?"
	"No, nothing, Tenshi," Tenkou protested.  "I have no idea what happened.  I guess 
he's just in a hurry."
	"He certainly had enough time for _you_," Tenshi replied, frostily.  "Now, if 
you'll excuse me, _my_ fiancé has some explaining to do."  She turned on her heel and 
marched off.
	Varaeir watched Tenshi leave with a confused look on his face.  "What's going 
on?" he asked.
	Tenkou sighed.  "I wish I knew."

*

          Vincent smiled happily as Hitomi handed him back his sketchbook.  "These are all 
excellent," she told him.  "I've always been a little jealous of those who could draw.  It 
was never a talent I possessed."
          "Nonsense," Vincent assured her.  "Everyone can draw, it just takes time and 
practice."
          "No, Vincent, you have a real skill, something that you were born with," she 
replied.
         "I suppose it might have been," he remarked, thoughtfully.  "I've been drawing and 
painting for as long as I can remember.  My mother was always very supportive of me."
         "It helps to have parents who take an interest in your life," Hitomi agreed.  "Is your 
mother an artist as well?"
	"She always wanted to be, but it was never more than a casual hobby for her," 
Vincent smiled sadly.  "She went to art school, but she left before she finished her studies 
so she could have me."  He ran his hand over his sketchbook.  "She never went back, but 
she always wanted me to have the chance she didn't have.  So she since me here to study 
under Master Elcid."
	"What about your father?" Hitomi asked.
	"I don't know who he is," Vincent replied.  "He left my mother when I was just a 
baby.  It took most of our money to send me here, but at least my scholarship pays for the 
educational costs.  It's kept me from having to get a job, so I can focus completely on my 
art."
	"I..." Hitomi trailed off, unsure of what to say.  "Your mother sounds like a very 
loving woman," she said finally.  "You're very lucky to have her."
	"I am," he nodded.  He looked up then and smiled a little.  "I'm going to visit her 
in a month, during my break.  I'm trying to work on a painting to give to her when I go 
back, but I can't decide what to paint." 
          "I'm sure whatever you do will be wonderful," she assured him.
          "Thank you, Hitomi."  Vincent looked around the room at the various half-finished 
canvases surrounding them.  "Perhaps you can meet her one day.  I know she'd like you."  
Hitomi looked away, blushing a little.  Vincent didn't seem to notice.  "Maybe... if you 
like... when I go home in a month..."
	Hitomi felt a lump in her throat.  (Oh, Vincent, you have no idea that I might not 
even be alive in a month.  I might be dead in six days... all of us might be...)  She forced 
herself to smile.  "I'd like that, Vincent."  
           He smiled and suddenly grabbed a pencil off of the table behind her.
         "Are you all right, Vincent?" she asked, watching him flip madly through his 
sketchbook and then begin to shade and pencil in lines frantically.
         He said nothing, rapidly sketching.  It was only after he set the pencil down again 
that he looked up at her.  "I'm sorry, Hitomi.  Were you worried about something?"
         "Inspiration's struck again?" she asked, politely.  Secretly, she was relived that it 
was not something she had done to upset him.
         He nodded.  "Do you know who this man is?" he asked, showing her the sketch.
         She shook her head.  "No, but he looks familiar.  Let's go back to the Hotel and ask 
my Mother if she knows who he is."
        "That's a good idea," Vincent nodded.  "Your mother strikes me as a very wise 
woman.  You're like her in that way, Hitomi."
        She blushed again.  "Why, thank you, Vincent."

*

	"No sign of him," Junta sighed.  He looked at Zellar.  "If you were your brother, 
where would you be?"
	"With Tenkou," Zellar replied.
	Junta gave him a very strange look.  "Don't you mean with _Tenshi_?"
	Zellar returned the look.  "No, why would he be with Tenshi?"
	Junta sighed.  "I see, so you've noticed as well."
	"That he likes Tenkou?"  Zellar's tone turned unusually sarcastic.  "Yeah, hi.  
Where have you been Junta?  The two of them are only meant to be together."
	"You know," Junta began, "this is the first time since I ran into you that you've 
sounded like yourself?"
	Zellar gave him a puzzled look.  "What's that suppose to mean?  You're being 
awfully cryptic today, Junta."
	"And you're acting a lot like your brother," Junta replied.
	"Who, Atsuri?"
	"Please, don't be like this."  Junta sighed.  "Look, I think we'll cover more ground 
if we split up.  I'll meet you at the Hotel in an hour.  If you run into your brother before 
then, head back there.  Mother really wants to talk to him."
	"So you keep saying," Zellar replied.
	Junta stopped walking away.  He looked back at Zellar.  "Are you enjoying being 
so difficult?"
	"This entire time you've done nothing but talk about how badly Mother wants to 
speak to my brother," Zellar replied.  "Not once have you said anything about her 
wanting to talk to me."
	"It is partially your fault that he left," Junta said, tersely.  It was the first time that 
Zellar had ever seen Junta even remotely upset about something.  "You need to grow up 
and realize that not everything has to be about you," Junta told him.  "You've been an 
absolute child about _everything_ lately.  It's not helping and no one appreciates it.  
When you grow up and start being as responsible as your brother usually is, then Mother 
will more than happy to have a serious discuss with you."
	"What?" Zellar exclaimed.  "When did he become the responsible one?" he 
demanded.  Junta shook his head and continued on his way.  "Don't walk away from me, 
Junta," Zellar called after him, "come back here and explain yourself!"


*

	Kurayamino hurried through the streets, passing the empty stores and stopped 
once he'd reached the Town Square.  For some reason his eyes lingered on the place 
where Tenshi's statue had stood.  Like a habit he couldn't break, a sense of sorrow filled 
him.
	(Things really were simpler back then.  Before all this saving the world and 
pentagram stuff,) he thought.  (I mean, some good has come out of all of this... I wouldn't 
have met Tenkou if things hadn't changed... but sometimes...)  He sighed, and shook his 
head.  That train of thought led nowhere, and he'd been down that track too many times 
before.  (There isn't time for that, now.)  He told himself.  He looked around at the empty 
square.  (Well, Zellar isn't here.  I was sure he would be.  Oh, well... he some other haunts 
I can check out...)
	Kurayamino turned and began walking towards the cherry tree orchard behind the 
church.  (I wonder what was up with Tenkou, she sure gave me a funny look.  But it was 
very nice of her to call me a sweet guy...  I would have never thought anyone would call 
me 'sweet'.  I mean, it's more the kind of thing you'd say about Zellar...)
	 He paused and sent out his thoughts once more.  (Zellar, are you there?)  Still 
nothing.  It was really worrying him.


*

	Zellar shook his head.  Kurayamino wasn't at the Town Square either.  (Now, if I 
was my brother... where would I go?) he asked himself.  His eye strayed to a shadow 
disappearing around the back of the church.  (The cherry tree orchard?  Well, I might as 
well look there.)
	He paused momentarily to send out a telepathic call.  (Kurayamino?  Can you 
hear me?)  Once again, he got no reply.  It was starting to make him wonder if something 
had happened.

*

	Tenkou spotted Kurayamino heading towards the church.  She pointed and 
Varaeir nodded.
	"That certainly appears to be him," he replied.  "Shorter hair, khakis, black 
boots... yes, that matches Kurayamino's description."
	Tenkou paused.  "Why do you say it like that?" she asked.
	Varaeir shook his head.  "It's nothing."
	The two of them watched the disappearing figure in silence.  "Tenshi was really 
upset," Tenkou said quietly.
	Varaeir nodded.  "Is there something going between you and Zellar?"
	"No," Tenkou shook her head.  "We're just friends.  Honest.  I'm going after him.  
I'll see you around, Varaeir."  She waved and started running after the figure.
	Varaeir nodded, but said nothing aloud.  (You sound as if you're trying to remind 
yourself that you're just friends,) he thought.

*
            Yasha stopped, the ball of lighting died in her palm.  On the floor before her, 
Himiko silently thanked the gods for small favours.  Yasha stood, the chain "leash" 
slipping from her grasp.  A deep frown settled on her mouth, weighing the corners down.
           "Tired of playing?" Himiko managed to snap.  "I knew I was stronger than you, 
Demon--
           "Silence," Yasha hissed.  She shook her head.  "Something has gone very wrong 
within the pentagrams."

*

	Tenshi was sitting beneath the cherry tree with her head buried in her knees when 
Zellar came across her.
	"Tenshi?" he asked, kneeling down beside her.  "Are you all right?"  She sniffled, 
sobbing quietly.  "Stupid question," he muttered, "of course you aren't."  He knelt beside 
her.  "What's wrong, Tenshi?"
	She lifter her head.  "I think..." she sniffled, "that we need to talk."
	He nodded.  "Okay."  He sat beside her and put an arm around her.  "What is it, 
Tenshi?"
	"Your brother kissed Tenkou," she replied.  "It was on the cheek... but it was right 
in front of me.  He was so casual about it, like he didn't care who saw him do it."
	Zellar frowned, puzzled.  "Why would he care?  He and Tenkou are a couple 
now."
	Tenshi stared at him, open-mouthed.  "T-t-they are?"
	"Sure, they've been once since Tanabata."  Zellar nodded.  "You must have 
known this Tenshi, everyone else does."
	Tenshi burst into tears.  She looked up at him.  "Don't you care?" she asked him, 
tears streaming down her cheeks.  "What's wrong with you?"
	"Of course I care," he protested.  "I'm very happy for them.  They fit very well 
together."  He slid his arm around her and pulled her close.  "Like we do."
	"W-w-hat are you--" Tenshi began, but he silenced her with a passionate kiss.  
Tenshi went rigid and tried to break away from him.  She hit him again and again until he 
let her go.
	"Tenshi," Zellar gasped, catching one of her hands.  "What are you doing?  Did I 
do something wrong?"
	"Did you do something wrong?" Tenshi demanded, hotly.  "How can you ask 
that?  Of course you did something wrong!  You can't just sit down beside me and tell me 
that we belong together.  You can't kiss me like that just out of the blue, Kurayamino, I 
don't even like you!"
	Zellar's world tilted and crashed down around him.  He stared at Tenshi, unable to 
speak.
	"I'm sorry," Tenshi said quietly, looking away.  "I know you're Zellar's twin, but 
you're nothing like him.  I don't... think I've ever liked you."  She hugged herself.  "To tell 
you the truth... you frighten me, Kurayamino, there's something very dark inside of you."  
She stood and started walking away.  "Please, don't play this game with me again."
	"Tenshi," he scrambled to his feet and grabbed her by the arm.  "Tenshi, what are 
you talking about?  I love you!  I've always loved you, _you_ know that."
	"No, I love Zellar," she said softly.  "Even if he doesn't love me anymore."
	"Aren't you listening to me?" he demanded.  "I do love you.  Tenshi, what's going 
on?"
	"Let me go, Kurayamino."
	He grabbed her other arm and turned her around to face him.  "Look at me, 
Tenshi.  Look at me," he snapped.  She slowly raised her eyes to meet his.  "Now, listen 
to me.  I _am_ Zellar, and I do love you.  I promised to stay with you forever, and I 
meant it."  He paused, breathing deeply and trying to control himself.  He was being 
rough with her, he knew, and he didn't understand it.  He was never rough with Tenshi; 
he never let his temper get the better of him.
	"Zellar...?" she repeated.  "But how can you be?  You're Kuryamino, aren't you?" 
she asked, confused.  "You look like Kurayamino... and you're acting like him.  How 
could you be Zellar?"
	"Tenshi, stop it," he told her.  "You're scaring me."
	"I'm scaring you?" she exclaimed, near hysterics.  "You're the one squeezing my 
arms!"
	He breathed deeply and let her go.  Faint red marks remained for a few seconds 
on her arms.  Zellar reached up and rubbed his hands over his face.  He pushed his hair 
back from his face, and in doing so, realized that it didn't appear to be as long as it should 
be.  "Tenshi," he said, softer, calmer this time.  "I can prove I'm Zellar, all right?"  He 
reached for his shirt.  "Kurayamino has a scar along his left side..."
	"Like this one?" she asked, hesitantly touching the mark on his stomach.
	He looked down and dropped his shirt.  The white cotton fell back down over his 
khakis.  "Oh God..." he backed up slowly, until his back pressed into the cherry tree.  "Oh 
my God..."  Slowly he sank to the ground.  "Tenshi... what's happened to me?"
	"I don't know," she said quietly.  "But... you're really scaring me."
	"You're scared?" he snapped, and she flinched.  "I'm sorry, Tenshi, I shouldn't 
have said that."  He held out his hand.  "Can you come and sit beside me, please?"  She 
didn't move.  "Please, Tenshi, I need someone to tell me I haven't lost my mind."
	"I've always thought you were the more stable of the two of us," a voice said, and 
Zellar's brother walked into the clearing, his eyes half-closed.
	They widened very quickly in surprise.  Zellar had to assume that it was 
Kurayamino, but the face looking back at him, wearing an expression of shock, was the 
one he usually saw in a mirror.  His own longish light brown hair was falling around the 
shoulders of his favorite dark blue sweater.
	"Zellar...?" Kurayamino asked, in Zellar's voice.
	"Kurayamino?" Zellar asked, standing.  "It's you, right?"
	"I... I thought so..." Kurayamino replied, shakily.
	Tenkou appeared at the edge of the orchard.  "Kurayamino," she ran up to Zellar 
and hugged him tightly.  "There you are.  We have to talk about something."
	"I'm over here," Kurayamino said, shaking his head and tapping Tenkou on the 
shoulder.
	She spun around and looked at him.  "Zellar, that's not funny.  You really upset 
Tenshi, you know.  I have no idea what sort of game you're playing--"
	"Tenkou," Zellar managed to say her name, "he is Kurayamino.  I'm Zellar."
	"What?" Tenkou looking back and forth between them.  "Tenshi?"
	The Guardian Sprite shook her head.  "I'm not sure what's going on, either, 
Tenkou.  They... they seem to think they're each other."
	"Think?" Kurayamino asked, raising an eyebrow.  "I'm pretty sure we _know_.  
At least... I thought I was..." he trailed off, one of Zellar's usual looks of apprehension on 
his face.
	"Kumi doesn't angst," Tenkou told him.
	"Well, excuse me," he snapped, "I happen to be a little spooked out here!"
	"Kumi, don't yell at her," Zellar said absently.  "There must be an explanation."
	"Of course there is," a voice said calmly.
	The four turned to see a cloaked figure standing just within the shadows of the 
tree.  Tenshi frowned at him, as if trying to unsuccessfully place him.  Zellar tensed.  
"Kobun," he hissed.
	"Very good," the figure nodded.  "You've always had that sort of sixth sense for 
detecting us, Kurayamino."
	"I'm Zellar," Zellar snapped, "he's Kurayamino, but I'll bet you knew that, Kobun.  
You probably had something to do with this."
	The Kobun stepped forward.  "Why don't we be just a little friendlier, my boy?" 
he asked.  "I'm called Gyoshi."
	"Like we care, Kobun are all the same," Zellar sneered.  Kurayamino caught him 
by the arm.  "What?" he demanded, turning to face his brother.
	Kurayamino had a concerned expression on his face.  "This isn't like you, Zellar.  
This is like... me.  I think... I think we should hear Gyoshi out."
	"_You_ want to listen to him?" Zellar asked, shocked.
	Kuryamino raised an eyebrow.  "_You_ want to fight first and ask questions 
later?"
	Zellar glared at him, but he had to agree that they needed answers.  Something 
was very wrong.  "All right, Gyoshi, start talking."
	"It's rather simple," Gyoshi said.  "The Baihai Crystal was used by someone to do 
this."
	"What exactly happened?" Tenkou asked.
	"From what I can tell, your Majesty," he bowed politely to her, "the twins have 
spent the time from when they were separated on Tanabata slowly becoming like each 
other."
	Tenkou gave him an annoyed look.  "Pretend we have no idea what you just said.  
Now explain what happened to us."
	"It's rather difficult to simplify any further," Gyoshi replied.  "You see, initially, 
the Baihai crystal was supposed to act as a sort of control mechanism over Zellar.  
Shortly after your group began to 'remove' the crystal's effect, my ability to monitor the 
crystal faded."  Gyoshi pulled a small, white star from within his cloak.  "After analyzing 
it, I found there was no error within the crystal.  This new spell was placed on the two of 
you during the tampering that your group did."
	"You're saying one of the Stars is responsible for what's happened here?" Tenshi 
asked.  "That's horrible!"
	"You gave him the star in the first place," Kurayamino said darkly.  Tenkou 
grabbed his ponytail and tugged on it.  "Ouch!" he yelped and rubbed at the back of his 
head.  "Now I remember why I cut my hair short..."
	"Why should we believe you?" Zellar asked Gyoshi.  "You were trying to control 
me!"
	"I was trying to control him," Gyoshi gestured to Kurayamino.  "I had foreseen 
the possibility of you becoming the Star of Change was greater, and that meant that only 
Zellar was within my influence."
	The twins looked about to say something, no doubt to correct him on who they 
were, but Gyoshi didn't give them a chance.
	"Genetically speaking," he stepped forward, "you are Kurayamino."  He gestured 
to the Star beside Tenkou.  "And he is Zellar.  The spell has woven itself so strongly 
about you that no longer know it."
	Silence followed Gyoshi's revelation.  After a few moments of it, the Star beside 
Tenkou spoke.
	"All right, let's say for the sake of argument that you're telling the truth.  Let's say 
that I am Zellar," he silenced the objection on his brother's lips with a sharp look.  "Why 
would I think I was Kurayamino, but still act like Zellar?  Wouldn't it make more sense 
for me to act like Kurayamino, as well?"
	"It was to my appearance that you completely reacted as you usually would," 
Gyoshi reminded them.  "The person who placed this spell upon you is talented, but not 
strong enough to exchange your souls."
	"He wasn't acting like Zellar before," Tenshi said, coldly.  "And Kurayamino 
certainly believed that he was Zellar."
	"But we didn't have any reason to doubt what we thought to be true before," 
Zellar argued.  "It was only after Kumi and I saw each other that we started to act the way 
we usually did."  He nodded to himself.  "It would also make sense why when I was 
telepathically calling for 'Zellar' I was getting no response."
	"I didn't get any response when I called for 'Kurayamino', either," the other Star 
said quietly.  "I... think I owe you an apology, Kobun."
	"Okay, wait," Tenkou waved her hand.  "So now you're Zellar again and you're 
Kumi again?"  They both nodded.
	"Seems that way," Kurayamino said sheepishly.  He looked at the ground.  
"Zellar... Tenkou...  I need to talk to you two about somethi--"
	Zellar shook his head.  "Not now, Kumi."  He looked back at Gyoshi.  "So, 
someone in our group placed a spell on me, and used the link that Kurayamino and I have 
to ensure it affected him as well.  But why a spell to make us believe we were each other?  
What purpose would it serve?"
	"You're only half-right," Gyoshi replied.  "This identity crisis is an unforeseen 
side effect of what the spell has actually been doing."
	"Which is?"
	"Exchanging your powers."  Gyoshi looked at the sleeve of his cloak.  "Hmm, 
look at the time."  He turned and began to walk away.
	"Wait," Tenshi said softly, "why are you helping us?  Aren't you a bad guy?"
	Gyoshi chuckled.  "I am many things.  My reasons for helping you are selfish 
ones.  I have done you a favour and taken a great risk to bring this information to you, my 
Stars.  You owe me now.  I will contact you when it is time for you to repay your debt."  
He walked into the shadows and vanished.
	Zellar looked at Kurayamino.  "This doesn't bode well."
	"The fact that we owe a Kobun a favour, that I'm apparently Mind Star for the 
time being?"  Kurayamino asked.  "What exactly are your powers, anyway?"
	"Kumi, be serious," Zellar sighed.  "I meant all of it, but mostly that Gyoshi gave 
us just enough information to keep us from being able to do anything about what's 
happened.  He didn't tell us if this can be reversed."
	"I say we track down who did it and beat the answers out of them," Kurayamino 
replied.
	"But we don't know who it is," Tenshi protested.
	"It's Nesuni," Kurayamino told her.
	"Kumi, I know you don't like Nesuni," Tenkou said quietly,  "but you don't have 
any proof."
	"Un-sama said that when it was time, I'd get to extract some major vengeance 
against our dear little sister, which leads me to believe that she knew Nesuni was doing 
something really nasty," Kurayamino informed them.  "Zellar, why don't you check in 
with Un-sama and find out if now's the time?"  Zellar gave him a confused look.  "Look, 
bro, you seem to have not really understood what Gyoshi meant.  If our powers have 
exchanged... our roles in the battle have exchanged."  Kurayamino tapped him lightly on 
the chest.  "_You're_ the Star of Change now, Zellar.  You have to do my job till we can 
get our own powers back... Only you have no idea how to use my powers, do you?"  
Kurayamino sighed.  "Great, and I have no idea how to use yours.  Lovely."
	Zellar swallowed.  "I think I'm beginning to see the cleverness of the spell..."

*

	"Indeed," Gyoshi remarked softly, watching the scene from within the protective 
shadows of the cherry trees.  "It's no easy task, my Stars... but I'm betting everything on 
the two of you now..."

*

	Shiko looked down upon the scene, and frowned.  "This... is a most troubling 
development.  What are you up to, Gyoshi?"

*

	"Vincent, Hitomi, what a surprise," Kuroi Hoshi smiled.  "What is it that you have 
there, Vincent?"
	The young painter handed her a torn out page from a sketch book.  "I was struck 
with the desire to sketch this portrait earlier.  Well, I had more than just this in mind... but 
I only had time to draw this.  Hitomi thought you might know who he is."
	Kuroi reached for the piece of paper.  On it was the sketch of a man's face.  He 
was rather handsome, and he bore a slight resemblance to the twins.  Vincent had colored 
in his cloak, and drawn the black cowl so that it half-obscured his features.  Kuroi 
blanched, her skin turning an even paler shade.  "What else did you want to paint, 
Vincent?"
	"This man talking to Zellar and Kurayamino.  Then Nesuni would and attack this 
man.  She would wounded him badly and the twins would attack her.  She would laugh 
and vanish, and then the twins would run to help this man."  He paused.  "Why, who is 
he?"
	Kuroi closed her eyes to hide the expression of pain.  "His name was Gabriel 
once.  He's their father."

*

Author's Notes:

You know... we so rarely call people by their names when we're talking to them.  Or 
maybe that's just me.  Who knows.

This part was largely inspired by some of the posts on the FGML by John Evans, Philip 
Barkow and Jonatan Streith.  Thanks for unknowingly providing inspiration, guys.  ^_^

And ravi and Delfina... I've given a handy plot device for you to use to put your plans in 
motion.  Who's to say what Tenkou will do once she finds out what Kumi did while he 
thought he was Zellar?  ^_~
 
Thanks to Philip Barkow and John Evans for prereading.