|
By Rae (Yume68 @ hotmail.com) One: Fallen … And the sky ripped open… "Hello, everyone," a voice drawled, and all heads snapped up to the rip in the air. The crowds around them were running, screaming for help, diving and ducking for cover. The wind had picked up since and was wild, harsh and hurting, blowing debris into them like knives. A figure, shadowed, stepped from the hole and landed daintily on the ground before them. He blinked, then grinned, eyes on Watari. "Well now. I didn't know that you were back." From behind tortoise-shell-shaped glasses, the scientist squinted and frowned. "I… I know you…" "I should think so. We used to be old pals, Raphael, don't you remember?" // "You traitor!! How could you?!" "Ah, my friend, still so soft-hearted. Can't you see that your precious Father cannot be the ruler you want Him to be? Tell me, Healer, why there is war, why there is hatred, why there is suffering and sorrow and pain and sin? Because your GOD refuses to help those of which He created!!" "YOU TRAITOR!!" // Watari hissed in pain, bringing a hand to his head. "A betrayal… there was a battle… and you had switched sides…" The man grinned, raking back unruly, black hair. "And they called me the traitor. Weren't you the one that fell in love, then damned your almighty God?" "Shut up, Azrael," Seolfer growled, standing firmly at her brother's side. She turned her head and looked at Tatsumi. "Take him away from here. Now!" Azrael let out a laugh, then let his sharp, red eyes wander the group. His gaze stopped on one and his grin widened. "Oh, now this is rich." A hand flew out and grasped Hisoka by the chin, turning the boy's face up toward his own. Tsuzuki started forward, but Seolfer grabbed his arm before he could further endanger the empath. "Divine Blood in your veins, boy…" He chuckled. "I see Kurosaki in you… I see Michael in you… he must have been your grandfather, na? Your grandfather and his telempathy… so beautiful in battle, using his gifts as he slashed his opponents with his glorious sword…" Hisoka's eyes went wide. "Y-Yamete…" Suddenly, his emerald green orbs became dull, lifeless, staring into nothing as Azrael tightened his grip on his chin momentarily before releasing him. Hisoka slid numbly to the ground, immobile, withdrawn into himself. "WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Tsuzuki shouted, then froze when the fallen angel turned his red eyes upon him, pleased malice in them. "Ah, so you must be Tsuzuki Asato… Muraki-sensei speaks of only good things about you." "M-Muraki?!" He gasped, stepping back once. He knew that the doctor was alive; Hisoka had already told him so. But, he hadn't expected him to be up and at 'em so quickly. However, it wasn't surprising to hear that Muraki was acquainted with this "Azrael". But how long did that give him before the silver-haired man was after him again? How long would it be before he would see him when working on a case. And how long did Hisoka have before Muraki tries to cut him out of the picture? "Well, I can see where that son of a bitch is coming from. Your eyes are such an exotic color." Taking it as her cue to begin, Seolfer launched herself at Azrael, leaving Tatsumi with Watari a few yards back. He grinned, bringing back a meaty fist to punch, but hit nothing but air. Seolfer, completing a backflip with a half-twist, landed in back of him and jumped onto her hands, wrapping her legs around his torso. With a strained cry, she flipped over and released him, sending him into the side of a fountain. All the others stared. Such skill--! Azrael got to his feet gracefully, as if nothing had happened, then charged for her as soon as his legs were straight. She got down into a stance, and did a backhand spring to buy herself more time as he reached for her neck. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she spun around, leg extended, and slammed her foot into his stomach, then was tossed back and hit the ground as a burst of power burst from the impact Grunting, he staggered back, wincing slightly. After a moment, he brushed off the front of his black shirt, picking away some dirt that wasn't even there. "Quick, Seolfer. You've gotten very… flexible. Without your wings, no less! Well, I'm impressed, how about you?" This was directed at Tsuzuki, who had Hisoka in his lap, trying vainly to rouse him from the listless rut the boy had fallen into. The empath just lay there, staring into the sky, unblinking, unresponsive. Frustrated tears gathered in violet eyes. "Wake him UP, Azrael!" She demanded, growing quite impatient. The wind suddenly changed course, taken fondly to swirl around her. He grinned, mulled it over, then gave her an answer. "No." Tsuzuki, true loathing in his eyes, began to call upon the Vermillion Bird of Fire, Suzaku. "TSUZUKI-SAN, DON'T!!" His chanting stopped. "Your shikigami would be torn apart if you summoned it now. Azrael has Hisoka-san under his control, and your shiki's destruction would shatter his mind," Seolfer ground out, shielding her eyes from the wind. Finally, she rose to her feet and clasped her hands together. In prayer. "Hail Mary, full of grace The Lord is with thee Blessed art thou amongst all women And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus." The wind, mixed with rays of light, swirled around her, enveloping her. Feathers fell from the sky, wrapping themselves about her form. She was lifted into the air, back bent, leg lifted gracefully toward the sky… and suddenly, she was encased into her ethereal prison. "Holy Mary, mother of God Pray for us sinners Now and at the hour of our death Amen." The brilliant obstruction ceased, leaving a floating figure, great protrusions from her back, twenty feet long. She hovered there, eyes and self beautiful, giant wings catching thermals, keeping her aloft. "Ah," Azrael smirked, his own black wings opening. "There you are, golden child. You look so glorious." "Save it, Azrael," she snapped, slicing her arm through the air angrily. "Let Hisoka-san go." He chuckled for a moment, then abruptly stopped, eyes closing, body taking on a red glow. Lifting a hand, his voice rose and permeated the souls of everyone. "Those that roam the earth without feet to guide you, fangs of poison and eyes of rage, fall to my hand. The creature, the being, the epitome of evil, the serpent that brought end to the Nine Worlds. You, who rose from the sea to slay Baldur. I call to you… MIDGHARD!!" From the ground, rising out of the soil and terrain, came a creature that blocked out the sun. It gazed upon them through slitted eyes, and hissed. The sound shook the earth. "Midghard Serpent," Watari, from his place on the ground, lying on his stomach to get below the flying debris the wind kicked up, breathed, staring in awe. This was the creature that had swallowed Neiflem. How could Azrael summon such a beast? The fallen angel grinned, pointing at the unconscious boy in Tsuzuki's arms. "Go." -<>-<>-<>- "NO!!" Seolfer shouted from the sky, throwing a hand into the air, forming a sword from the wind and earth, drawing the blade up with impeccible aim, one eye closed. The closed, golden orb snapped open as she sliced it down, sending a crescent-shaped energy blast flying at the serpent, distracting it, giving Tsuzuki time to scamper away with Hisoka in his arms. Her sword disappeared. The creature dodged the blast, slithering backwards with graceful movements before opening its mouth and firing a beam at her. She evaded, growling, scanning the park quickly. It was gone! Suddenly, a tail looped through her arms from behind, trapping her. She struggled, kicking and trying to free herself from Midghard's vise-like hold. Behind her, the snake laughed wickedly, tightening its grip. Her arms were going to break. Her wings were going to snap like a twig… Narrowing her eyes, she flipped over, hurtling both of them down into the pavement. She used the serpent to take the fall and to loosen its grip, giving her the advantage to escape. She snapped her head to look, but flew backwards from impact, skidding hard on the jagged ground. Her head moved to dodge the elbow that Azrael used to try and bash her face in, and she socked him in the gut, pushing the fallen angel off of her. "ANIKI!! JUST THIS ONCE!! PLEASE!!" Seolfer cried, dodging the double assault, which soon became single as Azrael went after Tsuzuki. Watari bit his lip, assessing the situation. "I… can't…" "Watari-san…" Tatsumi whispered, but it was lost on the deafening howl of the wind. Jumping to his feet, the secretary lifted his hand, allowing a wave of shadow to overcome the serpent, giving Seolfer enough leverage to fly away from it and go for Azrael, whom was watching this in amusemet, Hisoka in his arms. Tsuzuki was throwing ofuda blindly, screaming out the chants, but had no effect on the fallen angel. Midghard burst free from the shadows, thrashing in fury, bellowing something awful. Tatsumi pushed his glasses higher onto his nose, cursed, then jumped away as a giant tail slammed into the ground where he had once stood. "ANIKI!! WATARI!!" He bit his lip, eyes flying to where Hisoka lay captive. Then to where Tatsumi, Tsuzuki, and Seolfer were fighting. "RAPHAAAAEEEEELLLL!!!!" The air dropped. Watari's eyes slid shut and he hung limp, lifted into the air by ghastly arms, moving toward the sun. Seolfer was praying…and Watari began to weep tears of blood. "O Raphael, lead us towards those we are waiting for, those who are waiting for us! Raphael, Angel of Happy Meetings, lead us by the hand towards those we are looking for! May all our movements, all their movements, be guided by your Light and transfigured by your Joy." The golden-haired scientist was wrapped in a phantom embrace, one that he had found himself remembering well, a feeling that he knew in the depths of his soul. The memory became more solidified as Seolfer's prayer grew more confident. Feathered protrusions slowly emerged from his back, through his jacket. "Angel Guide of Tobias, lay the request we now address to you at the feet of Him on whose unveiled Face you are privileged to gaze." The one holding him… // I know you… // "Lonely and tired, crushed by the separations and sorrows of earth, we feel the need of calling to you and of pleading for the protection of your wings, so that we may not be as strangers in the Province of Joy, all ignorant of the concerns of our country." Was… // You are… // "Remember the weak, you who are strong--you whose home lies beyond the region of thunder, in a land that is always peaceful, always serene, and bright with the resplendent glory of God." Himself. // Me.// "Amen." Familiar hands belonging to a familiar person ran down his sides, feeling and memorizing. It was a memory of a neat and striking man, somewhere around thirty. His image poured from the chest of the shell-shocked man that stood at the edge of the battlefield. It was Tatsumi. "He's remembering," Seolfer breathed through her tears. Tatsumi just stared, awed and sickened simultaneously. Watari was in horrible pain as he floated and underwent those changes, but he looked so beautiful. So untouchable. So unreal as the glowing image of himself held and touched him. "And now…" The image disappeared and a power surge seared Watari's body. Splashes of blood and snippets of screams were lost in the eruption of light that enveloped him and shielded him from the view of everyone. The light was blinding. And the world disappeared into white. -<>-<>-<>- |