Hello everyone! As you may notice, this story has the same title as my first story: Song of the Seraph. I wanted to re-write the story because basically, it has already been done and I wanted to write something that would stand out. So now this story is a full AU and I hope that it will meet your standards! I want to thank everyone who read the original and I especially want to thank Soundtrack-Fanatic who was the first person to Favorite my story! I would love to read your reviews and any suggestions that you may have for future events or OVA's and I will try to respond to all of them. Thanks again!
-Yoronoko
Chapter 1: Preparations
Rin was abruptly woken up from her peaceful slumber to someone knocking, no, pounding franticly on her door.
"RinRinRinRinRinRin! RIN! WAKE UP, SLEAPY HEAD! TODAY'S THE DAY!" her best friend, Umi shouted from the other side. Rin got up rather annoyed at the rouge and yawned.
"You could have woken me up more softly. I know you can easily pick my lock, no matter how many times I change it..." the girl called out glumly. She heard the lock click and in came a petit girl with narrowed eyes.
"The last time I did that, you threatened to skin me alive and feed me to the crows" she responded back curtly. Umi shut the door behind her and bounded across the room to Rin's side. "Now get up and help everyone prepare for the Gathering! And also, Madame Osen was calling for you." Umi added cheerfully.
"Why didn't you say that earlier!" Rin yelled, franticly getting up and running to her dresser to change into her work clothes.
"Does the order I say things matter?" Umi asked innocently. "I thought everything I said was important!" the girl yelled with feigned hurt, throwing an arm to her face and wiping away her crocodile tears. Rin shook her head and let out a soft chuckle, now finished with dressing, she went to the wash basin on her table and quickly scrubbed her heart shaped face, hands running over her sharp, slightly pointed nose, small dainty lips and high cheekbones which seemed to never have color in them, even when cold. Quickly drying her face off she went to a tall mirror which hung on her wall trying to tame her bed hair with her brush. Rin wore her hair in a short bob, her ringlets sticking up in different directions. Her golden orbs gazed at her reflection, a black "shirt" with light brown capris, dark brown belts criss-crossing her waist and holding her two swords on her right side, her most prized possessions, with some dark combat boots to top it off. Rin looked herself over again, making sure her "shirt" was in place. It was more like a tank top, but instead of two straps holding the cloth up, there was one strap witch went around the back of her neck, leaving half of her back exposed, which of course, was a given. How else would Rin's pure white wings be free?
Done with her morning ritual, Rin turned back and looked at her friend, who was glancing her way. "Decent?" Rin asked.
"You always look great! No one can pull off exposed back like you can, Rin" Umi teased. The young seraph shot the rouge a scowl and moved to the door.
"We best be going now. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone was awake already" Rin said, more to herself than her friend. They began to walk through the East Dormitory, headed to the Grand Hall where all of the events were primarily held. The dorms were quiet. Only the soft, almost inaudible footfalls of the two girls could be heard. When the friends began to near the Grand Hall, a wall of noise hit them like a wave. Girls shouting orders and trying to make everything "Perfect" for the incoming guests.
"Wow, all of this trouble for a couple of boys. What's the big deal?" Rin said to her friend. She had to speak up so the rouge could hear her.
"Well, it has been 10 years since the last Gathering and besides some of the teachers, there are no male students" Umi answered nonchalantly. As a floating island, Nirvana was originally inaccessible to anyone without magic or flight until the original Seraph Order turned it into a school for young women, welcoming both human and yokai who wished to specialize in special skills. Umi, for example, trains as a rouge. She specializes in lock picking, stealth, and the bow as well as daggers. The Gathering is a festival which welcomes the men down on the surface who attend a similar school. Most of the graduates from their academy enter military forces for the government. As a tradition meant to signify unity among the young men and women of Nippon, the Gathering is treated as a rather important event. "By the way Rin, you might want to report to Madame Osen. You don't want to keep her waiting" Umi said quickly. "I need to help Chizuru cook the food".
"Okay, thanks for waking me up, Umi! And don't sneak up on Chizuru again. Remember what happened last time?" Rin called back, turning to go the Headmistress' office.
"Yeah, yeah, I remember. For a second, I thought she could fly, judging by how high she jumped" Umi answered with a smile. She waved at Rin's retreating figure and turned to head to the kitchens.
"ALRIGHT MEN! LISTEN UP!" Headmaster Kondo barked to the rows upon rows of students. "We have been graced with an invitation from Madame Osen to attend the Gathering held at Nirvana. So while there, I will have not tolerate any foolhardy behavior or I'll throw you off of the island's edge myself, DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?"
"YES, SIR!" all of the students at Shieikan Military Academy answered back.
"Dismissed!" All of the student broke up from their formation and started to chat excitedly. A young man left his position and started toward his friends, a rather large group. Nearing his companions, he was greeted with the talk of girls, festivities, and girls.
"Oh, Hajime-kun. Took you long enough" a taller man with forest green eyes and brown hair called out. The other men in the group turned and acknowledged his presence, quickly reforming their circle and including him in their conversation.
"I've never seen a floating island before" a younger man with a long pony-tail said excitedly. Another, very muscular man with a green bandana wrapped around his head took this as an opportunity to tease him and taunted,
"Yeah Heisuke, and I bet you've never seen a girl before either. The place is packed with them, from what I've heard" the man snickered.
"Shinpat-san, you're such a womanizer. I bet you will manage to scare all of them off like you do with the woman here, regardless of how "fearless" they are" the man, Heisuke countered.
"Heh, woman as fearless as that would be awed by my muscles! They will pay so much attention to me that a shrimp like you would go unnoticed!" Shinpatchi boasted while flexing and striking poses.
"Oh my, at it again are you" a red haired man said, shaking his head. "Promise me that you two will try to behave. I can't watch both of you at the same time".
"You will be so busy dealing with woman that you will have no time for us, Sano-san" Heisuke grumbled. Saitou and a shorter man, clad in black watched this exchange, exasperated at their immaturity while Okita enjoyed the show, a smirk on his lips.
"What will you be doing on the island, Yamazaki-kun" Saitou asked the shorter man in his deep, quiet voice, an attempt to change the conversation to something a little more interesting.
"I want to visit the library. I read that it has many books on medicines and healing procedures. I wish to study what I can while there" the man, Yamazaki answered quietly. "What do you think you'll be doing? he asked, genuinely curious for the stoic man's answer. Surely he wouldn't be interested in what the baka trio was discussing earlier.
"I want to visit the forge. It's said that the best steel in the world is made there." Saitou answered quickly, imagining what the room would look like with swords and other weapons adorning the walls. Okita raised an eyebrow.
"That's all your interested in isn't it, Hajime-kun. I wouldn't be surprised if you managed to take a sword back with you" Okita said with a sly grin.
"That would be highly unlikely" was all the man answered, face void of emotion. Suddenly, a loud gong resonated within the compound. That was the signal that told the men to board the air ships. All of the students started to walk to the airways. There were a total of three airships on the docks. You could see the propellers starting to turn and engines starting to hum. The group boarded the first ship, Sky Sailor, together and sat at their designated seats. Due to their skills, the young group of men were aloud to accompany the some of the teachers and Headmaster along with the other highly skilled students on the journey. The other teachers were monitoring the other air ships.
"It will take a total of seven hours to make it to the checkpoint" Headmaster Kondo called out to the men. The men groaned, displeased with the information. After a few minutes, the ships took air, and started to ascend higher and higher into the altitude. Some of the men chose to spend their time sleeping while others, like Saitou, decided to look out of the window, watching as the ground got farther and farther away until they it was completely hidden by the clouds. 'I wonder what Nirvana looks like' Saitou thought to himself.
One hour passed, then another, and another. By this time, most of the students on the ship had gotten bored and decided to walk around, exploring the airship's vast space. There was the deck and the waiting room which where on the same level and storage on the second. The airship was built like a massive boat that was held suspended in the sky by a giant balloon. Propellers in the back of the hull pushed the ship forward while the rudder turned it. After a while, the group decided to go on deck than be inside a stuffy room. Aside from the occasional comment and scuffle, everyone was quietly awaiting the destination when the ship suddenly stopped, sending most of the men staggering forward. Slight confusion swept through the men and everyone seemed to share the same thought. "This can't be Nirvana. There's nothing here". The door to the waiting room opened to reveal Headmaster Kondo who was flanked by the teachers. And flanking the teachers was the student counsel. The student counsel was made up of three men; Kazama Chikage, the president, Shiranui Kyo and Kyuujyu Amagiri who always followed closely behind him.
It was clear that the student council wasn't the groups favorite band of people and who could blame them? They tended to be rather unpleasant to anybody they felt inferior to them, the president especially. Trying to hide their expressions of disgust, Saitou, Okita, Yamazaki, Heisuke, Shinpatchi and Harada turned away and faced the Headmaster, giving him their utmost attention.
"Men, in formation!" the Headmaster called out. His voice loud enough to withstand the wind and carry his voice the other airships. Quickly, the men filed into their lines on both sides of the deck, leaving a clear path that ran down the center of the deck leading to the Headmaster, teachers, and the damned student council. "Everyone is to be quiet when our guest gets here to inspect our ships as a precaution. There is to be no disrespect directed toward her or you will be disciplined with a month of kitchen duty!" The students were quiet. All that could be heard was the wind and hum the engines. Nobody wanted kitchen duty. It took a lot of time and work to clean up a room which helped feed hundreds of bodies.
Everyone waited for a few more moments when suddenly a flash of movement caught their eyes. The being moved closer and closer and circled around the airships once before finally landing on the Sky Sailor. It took a moment for the men to recognize what they were seeing. It was a girl clad in ceremonial attire with wings on her back. The odd being bowed low to the Headmaster in greeting before walking toward him. Every one's eyes were trained on the stranger, following her every step. It was at this moment that Saitou noticed the look in the student president's eyes. His crimson orbs looked at the girl hungrily, as if she was a piece of meat. As the girl got closer to where he stood, Saitou noticed that her face was covered with a white mask, gold inlayed in intricate patterns around the edges. Her steps were quiet and graceful and she carried a bag filled with an unknown substance. The headmaster stepped forwards and welcomed the young girl.
"Thank you for coming all of this way. We hope that there are little to no impurities aboard our vessel" Kondo told the girl. She nodded and said something, but it was much to quiet to be heard from the place Saitou was standing. It must have been something amusing enough for the Headmaster to start laughing, surprising everyone. "As you were" Kondo ordered after the exchange. The girl nodded her head and opened here bag which contained a silver knife, obviously crafted for ceremonies. The girl surprised everyone by taking the knife and running it across her palm, drawing blood. It was a deep cut, and soon a steady stream of it ran down her arm and spilled to the deck floor. Distraught by the action, the students soon became uncomfortable and tension was in the air. The only thing that kept them in place was the look on the Headmaster's face, which told them to stay still and watch.
The girl let the blood gather in a single spot and a faint blue light started to circle her before she started to chant. It almost sounded like a song but spoken in a dead language. The girl's blood turned black and moved to form symbols which moved across the ship's surface in lines. The girl continued to chant and feed the spell. Somehow at one point, chains appeared to link the mother ship to her two companions and the symbols spread across from them. The blue light seeped into the grains of wood and the song stopped. Everyone was silent until it was disrupted by an inhuman sound. A black substance bubbled from the hull until it fully emerged, making itself visible for all to see. A 10 foot tall demon with a wolf like head and humanoid body adorned with scales solidified from the black substance. The demon roared at the girl and before anybody could react, it charged.
With a swish of cloth, the girl removed her ceremonial garb to revile rather normal clothing and two swords. Unsheathing them faster than the eye could see, the girl ran towards the demon and jumped. Her wings unfurled and she quickly rose higher to meet the monster head on. The fight was over before it even started when the girl somehow got behind the monster facing away from it and sheathed her weapon. The demon staggered forward and collapsed. It's body melted back into the bubbling surface before the symbols closest to it somehow detached themselves from the ships surface to cover it. Then, like a gust of wind, the tainted substance quickly disappeared.
The silence that followed was quickly interrupted by the sound of clapping. The girl turned and saw the Headmaster walking toward her with the student body president following closely behind, the ceremonial robes that were discarded earlier in the red eyed man's arms. "A job well done, as to be expected of Headmistress Osen. Thank you for all of your hard work" Kondo congratulated while Kazama walked forward and handed the girl the clothing, a smile that didn't suit him on his face. "Would you like to accompany us to Nirvana? You must be tired" Kazama said, surprising everyone by being so straight forward. 'He's up to something' the group thought in unison. It wasn't often the student body president was hospitable to anyone except the teachers and Headmaster.
The girl shook her head, face still covered by the mask and Kazama's smile vanished and was replaced by a sneer. "I'm sorry, but I must report back to the Headmistress" the girl deadpanned. Upon hearing this, the baka trio tried to hide their snickers, but Kazama heard the disruption and his eyes flashed dangerously. The girl turned her head and gave a final nod to Kondo before unfurling her wings and taking off toward the island.
"Back to the living quarters men! We need all hands on deck if we are to go any farther. No man is to step outside once we cross the border!" Kondo ordered. Feet began to shuffle and soon everyone was back inside.
"I wonder what all of that was all about?" Heisuke questioned once seated, referring back to the events with the girl. It was Yamazaki who answered,
"As a place where many yokai and magic are concentrated, Nirvana tends to be the target for any demons because they feed on it. The girl was drawing all impurities out of the ships and focused them into a single area which forced them to take shape" Yamazaki explained.
"Wow, that's neat. But I don't get why she had to cut herself" Shinpatchi said curtly.
"Magic like that probably requires some sort of sacrifice and I think it helped with drawing the thing out" Sano answered. "Damn, I wanted to see her face. I wonder what it looks like..."
"Her looks are besides the point. Did you see the way that snake Kazama was looking at her? You can't tell what someone like that is planning" Shinpatchi said, more to himself than his companions.
"Love struck already, Shinpatchi? That didn't take long" Okita teased, grin stretching ear to ear.
Shinpatchi blushed, "Shut up, Souji! At least I can know how to feel affection while you're cold through and through!" the man shot back.
"Ouch" Sano and Heisuke said at once.
"You shouldn't get infatuation mixed up with affection, Shinpatchi" Okita smoothly replied. Changing the subject, Sano commented on the order Kondo just gave.
"The weather must be a hazard if we are all ordered to stay inside for the duration of the ride"
"Yeah, must be the gales and shredders" Yamazaki said, nodding his head in agreement. "They must be strong enough to throw a man overboard"
Saito was quiet through out this exchange, looking out of the many window that adorned the walls. 'I wonder how she can fly through weather like that...'
Five hours earlier...
Rin walked to the Headmistress' office, knocking on her door and waiting to be allowed in. Not a moment later, the door was opened by the Headmistress' attendant, Kimigiku. She was a tall, elegant woman who in her spare time, helped girls with their weaponry. Rin nodded politely to the woman. "Good day, Kimigiku-san. I was summoned by Headmistress Osen" she stated. The woman nodded and opened the door further, allowing her entry. Rin walked into a large, circular room with bookshelves lining the walls and cases holding ancient weapons along with many other oddities. In the center of the room was a large mahogany desk with intricately carved legs, as if depicting stories, which were burdened with the weight of papers piled high and sitting there, dwarfed by the stacks, was Headmistress Osen.
"I'm here, milady" Rin bowed respectfully, waiting to be addressed. For someone so important and tasked with the responsibility of training young woman in many arts, Osen looked ageless. 'It must be because of her immortality as an oni' Rin mused.
"Rintoki, thank you for coming!" Osen smiled, putting the paper she just completed on a separate stack. Rin nodded. "I have an important favor to ask of you, actually" Osen asked with sudden serious in her voice. "I need you to purify our visitor's vessels to make sure nothing of ill will gets on the island. It could put us at risk."
"Of course, milady. Is there anything else you need?" Rin asked politely. Osen got up and moved to one of the many cases in her office.
"Yes there is. Before you go, you have to know which spell to use and you have to look the part" the woman answered cheerfully. She opened the case and from it, removed a white cloak with golden edges, a mask to match it and a small knife.
"Wear these over your clothing and take the knife. You need to cut your skin rather deeply for this" the woman said apologetically. Rin accepted the clothing and before she could put her mask on, Osen placed a hand to her head, giving her instructions on how to complete the spell. Rin didn't say it out loud but she already new how to complete the ritual. She did specialize in purification spells after all and studied them any chance she got. Once done, Osen removed her hand and smiled at the girl. "Thanks for this, Rintoki. I need you to report back to me once it's done"
"Of course, Madame" Rin bowed again and started to wear the clothing. She noticed that the cloak had an opening at the back, as if it were originally made for someone with wings. Osen noticed Rin's look and explained.
"That cloak is a ceremonial artifact of the Seraph. I was planning to give it to you sooner or later, for it does originally belong to you now" the woman explained, her voice full of sadness. Not much is said about it but during the last great war which was only 17 years ago, the entire Seraph race was wiped out from a massacre lead by arch demons. As far as anybody knows, Rintoki Tsubasa is the only one left.
Rin gazed at the cloak in wonder. "Thank you, Madame. I'll take care of it" she answered gratefully. The woman nodded.
"Off you go now, don't want to keep the men waiting. If it's one thing a man hates to do is wait for a woman to arrive" Osen said, smiling again.
"I'll be back soon" was the last thing Rin said before she departed.
'I wonder what they will be like...' Rin thought as she got outside, unfurled her wings and started to fly to the checkpoint.
That's the first chapter everyone! Thanks for reading!