His Wings

by Sprint to Finish

When he holds those wings in his hand, it's a feeling unlike any other. This angel will stay by his side, no matter the price. Three-part fic (companion story to "All to Pieces"; Kanou's POV)

1. Chapter 1

A/N: This is the partner fic to my story, All to Pieces. It's not exactly a sequel as it can stand alone or with the other, so if you haven't read All to Pieces, don't worry. This is simply Kanou's version of the events that happened. Please note that this story will be told in three chapters and will end at the same point as All to Pieces, so if you haven't read All to Pieces but you plan to, I would suggest that if you decide to read Kanou's POV first that you read all three chapters before going back to read Ayase's story, just so you don't get spoiled. I'm uploading the first part now because I had aimed for having the whole story ready by New Years, but as you can tell I fell behind, like always. I'm still tying up loose ends in the other two parts so it will be a few more days before they are also uploaded. My goal is for the whole thing to be up before February.

Also, for those of you who have read All to Pieces, you may notice that dialogue is the same in Kanou/Ayase interactions. Doing so was inevitable, but I hope the meaning will come across differently in this version. I deeply apologize that the publication of this fic took so long. To those of you who reviewed and pm'd me, thank you so much for your encouragement and continued support.

Disclaimer: I do not own Okane ga Nai, nor do I make any profit from this piece of fanfiction.

()

Blood. No demon was familiar with the feel of it running down their body, knowing that it came from their own flesh. The blood of others on their hands was a different story, but to know that the ruby liquid dripping from his torn skin had come from his own veins- it was an experience that demons, especially ones as powerful as he, rarely knew.

In this instance, it was the price of being banished from the underworld.

Exhausted yet doing his best to keep the pain from showing on his stained face, the demon Kanou Somuku slowly, steadily, made his way up the walk leading to a towering building in the sketchy pleasure district of Shinjuku. He's been here multiple times before; but now, in his tortured state, the walk leading to the front door seemed endless. Though he limped and blood was dripping freely behind him, he carried himself with as much dignity as he could muster. Here, in this place, he could not show any weakness. His back straightened the closer he got to the doors.

Absentmindedly, his fingers brushed the bandages wrapped around his arm. For some reason, they brought a smile to his face. His steps didn't feel quite so heavy.

"Mr. Somuku!"

The human standing guard at the door of the building was rushing towards him. Kanou kept his steady pace, ignoring the concern emanating from the human.

"Sir, Mr. Somuku, you're bleeding! Are you okay, sir?"

The human's hand made contact with Kanou's shoulder, sending a ripple through the demon's body. Kanou's reaction was instantaneous; he jerked, striking out to push the human to the ground.

"Do not touch me!"

Snarling, Kanou limped past the bewildered human with as much dignity as he could summon. Pain radiated from his soul to the very edges of his body. He refused to let any of it show.

The demons in the lobby stared openly as he moved through the hall. Humans wisely stepped out of his way, sensing danger like deer when a wolf has walked by. Behind him, a small trail of blood dripped quietly, marring the tile.

Coming to an elevator, he punched in a code to access the higher floors, his dignity not allowing him to use the time as the box ascended to lean against the walls and rest. As much as he was in pain, he had to remind himself that he had practically asked to be put in this sorry state.

He was a demon, though; even better, he was Kanou Somuku, and he would not be broken by this attempt to humiliate him.

At the classified level, he exited; moving slowly down black carpet that masked the droplets of blood falling in his wake. The religious paintings on the walls laughed at him, while ones of gore and murder screamed tauntingly. Midway down the hall he stopped at a closed door and, without knocking, walked into the room.

Inside, a demon with blond hair and a baseball cap sat in a chair, reading. At Kanou's entrance, the demon gave no sign of having heard him except for a sudden rustling of the large, leathery wings tucked against his broad back. Kanou closed the door and moved to a wooden table near the wall. He sat heavily, one hand finally lifting to hold his side. His dark eyes fixed on the wall ahead.

"I was wondering when you'd be showing up here. You look like shit, Kanou." The blond demon grinned, amusement evident in his tone though his eyes remained on his reading. "Smell like it too."

"Thanks for the update, Gion," Kanou growled lowly. He winced as pain flared throughout his body. Glancing back to the entrance, his eyes noted the trail of blood that had followed his path from the door. "Sorry about the mess."

"I'll just add the cleaning bill to your tab."

"I'm really not in the mood for your sense of humor. You gonna fix me up now or what?"

Gion laughed. "What, no 'please'? And here everyone's got you made out to be a soft-hearted demon with manners."

"Don't mess with me, kid. Banished or not, I can still kick your ass."

Chuckling, Gion closed his book and regarded the leather bound cover. He was only buying time; there was a palpable weight to the air- a heaviness that could not be ignored. Turning intelligent blue eyes to the bristling, weary demon sitting at the table, he let out a sigh. His playful demeanor turned serious.

"I couldn't watch them do it, you know."

Kanou lifted his head to stare at the opposite wall.

"…I know."

"The reason for your banishment is stupid, just a ploy-"

"I know, Gion. It's already done; stop beating yourself up."

For a moment they sat in silence. Then Gion moved to stand, disappearing through a second door to return with a large box of medical supplies. Kanou didn't move as the other demon sifted through the items.

"We'll need to wash all the blood off first. You can take a shower in the next room after we get that shirt off; a gentle shower, though, just to rinse off. Don't go lathering up with my louffa, you hear?" Gion looked up as he extracted a bound bundle. Walking over to the table, he spread it open to reveal an assortment of gleaming scissors, probes, and tweezers.

"Like I'd want to use the same rag that touches your naked body."

Gion shrugged. "You'll change your mind when you see the one in my shower. It's got a handle; and it's poufy."

"Would you shut up already? Your voice is giving me a headache on top of the one that is already splitting my skull open."

Grinning, Gion shifted closer on his knees. "Poor, baby. Maybe the demon council was right about you."

"Gion-"

"Okay, okay, it's out of my system. I promise to be nice…-er."

Kanou closed his eyes as Gion pulled up a second chair next to him. The world was tilting. Crap, how was it possible to feel this bad?

"Hey." The loud-mouth demon lightly took hold of his arm. "Your arm is already bandaged. Did you do that yourself?" Pushing the dark sleeve of Kanou's jacket up further, he examined the knot that had been tied carefully to keep the wrapping tightly closed. "No way did you do that. Who did you see?"

"Does it matter? It's already wrapped up so leave it alone. My back is what you should be fussing over."

Sniffing in contempt, Gion nevertheless unhanded the bandaged limb. He eyed the black suit jacket Kanou wore over a black button up shirt; the back had darkened considerably from a thorough soaking of blood. "I'm gonna have to cut your shirt off. The blood has congealed and practically glued it to your skin. No way am I peeling that thing off nicely; the sleeves will just get in the way. It'll tear your wounds even more, and I am not stitching you up more than I have to."

"Just shut up and do it already, would ya?"

"Geez, mister grouchy pants." Kanou made a motion as if he was going to take a swing at Gion's head, but the blond demon ducked back, grinning. Picking up a pair of scissors, he took hold of the larger demon's arm to carefully extract it from the ruined business jacket. Kanou sighed, but complied and maneuvered accordingly.

"I saw Ichiei and his wife earlier," he said softly as the jacket was pulled from his body. The black shirt he wore beneath it was also stained with darkened blood. Carefully, he lifted his hands to unbutton the front, feeling the fabric pull his skin where the bloody wounds had glued to it.

"Captain Ichiei Yukiya of the Shinjuku angel guard?" Gion frowned. "He's not known for being nice to demons; how are you not speared to a dumpster in some alleyway right now?"

Kanou shrugged. "He was in a forgiving mood tonight. Not like I could have posed a threat to him in the state I'm in anyway."

Shirt unbuttoned, Kanou attempted to pull his arms from the sleeves but stopped when the fabric wouldn't stretch. Gion tapped his scissors lightly on Kanou's head, ignoring the growl that emitted from his patient.

"So what did he do?"

Kanou smiled. "Gave me a lecture."

"I'll bet!" Gion laughed. "Self-righteous little punk."

Having cut his way from the bottom of Kanou's long dress-shirt to the collar on the outside of Kanou's left shoulder blade, Gion unhanded the material so Kanou could pull his arm through the fabric. Sleeve removed, Gion set to work on the other side, working his scissors carefully up the shirt. Kanou listened to the soft snick snick sound as the cloth gave way to sharp metal. The sound ate at him.

"Hey, Gion."

"What's up, big guy?"

"I need one of your workers. A demon: One who can scout."

"Why?"

Lightly, Kanou brushed his fingers across his bandaged arm, watching the material seemingly shimmer beneath his touch. "There's an angel I want to keep an eye on."

"Hey, Kanou, don't go doing this again."

"This is different. He's different from the others, not proud or lording his authority over the rest of us. He's a sweet kid. I know that there's trouble brewing for the angels, and I'll be damned if I stand by and watch him get caught up in something he can't defend himself from."

"Angels are tough little cookies, Kanou. Even a kid angel wouldn't need your protection."

Kanou was silent for a moment; Gion took the opportunity to work the newly-released sleeve from his friend's right arm, leaving a rectangle of fabric still clinging to Kanou's back. Carefully, Gion set to work to slowly peel the rest of the shirt from the demon's bloody skin.

"His wings are messed up." Kanou's voice was soft, barely above a whisper.

"Huh?"

"I said his wings are messed up. This angel, he doesn't seem to understand the meaning of danger. And his body is clearly weak. I was in pain and I still knew that I could easily break him in half. His light is so bright, but Gion, those wings of his are twisted and bent and- I don't think he can fly, let alone fight. He's so young , so… radiant. And when the demons attack, which I know they are planning to do, they'll devour him."

"So? What's it to you? This is what angels and demons do, or has the pain of your punishment made you forget? You are a demon, Kanou. You should rejoice in the destruction of another angel."

"This one is special, Gion. I want him." The dark head turned, lifting golden dragon eyes to cheerful blue; the hunger in them made the blond-headed demon shrink back. "And no one else will have him."

"Sheesh, Kanou, I'm not gonna take your precious angel so stop glaring at me."

Gion sighed. Kanou was staring at the floor now, his hand idly smoothing over the bandage on his arm. With a shake of his head at the display, Gion returned his focus to the shirt.

"Fine, you can have one of my men. Set up a business, get some souls, and trail your little bird to your hearts content. I'm not gonna stop you."

Kanou grimaced as his wounds protested under Gion's ministration. He could feel fresh blood trickling down his back. Despite that, a sense of relief- warm and protective- settled through him.

"No one can know about him. I need someone you trust to keep watch over him; someone who won't go running to the council."

"Hmm. I think you'll remember Mizoguchi Eishou," Gion said. "He supported you. Pretty sure he was at your… ceremony today too. Anyway, I'll have him meet you and you can discuss it with him. I'm sure he'd be happy to do it. You're kind of an idol to him."

Kanou nodded. He remembered Eishou- a demon who had been a part of his gang, eagerly following him around and doing whatever he was told. He'd be the perfect one to keep watch over his angel. "Good. I want this little angel to be kept safe with his own kind until the moment arrives when none of them are left. And then- then I will claim him."

He winced as the last of the shirt was peeled from his skin. Large wounds stung as the cool air hit them. Worse was the sound of Gion inhaling, barely keeping in check a hiss of sympathy.

"Ok, that's it. Go clean yourself off. If you need help just holler. I'm gonna toss these and get some bandages for you from the back."

Kanou grunted. Standing carefully, he almost buckled under the pain that shot through his back. Resisting the urge to look over his shoulder and see the damage, he limped with dignity to the door on the opposite side of the room. Gion watched him go, blue eyes suddenly somber as they stared at the wounds he had uncovered on his friend's back: two large, gaping, bloody holes between his shoulder blades, where just yesterday beautiful, large, black wings had once sprouted. His gut clenched and Gion turned away, fighting back the wave of sorrow and disgust that filled him. This was the ultimate price of banishment- more than the loss of status and inability to ever return to the Underworld, the price of having your wings physically torn from your body in a display of violence before the entire demon population was the most traumatic price to pay.

Yet, Kanou seemed to be holding up well- more than any other demon Gion knew of that had undergone the ceremony. He knew the demon was tough, but the pain he must be feeling hardly showed at all. In fact, he almost seemed lightened. Gion wondered why, before calling out to his friend.

"What's your angel's name?"

Kanou stopped at the door to the bathroom. For a moment, his dark, pained eyes softened as they cast down to trace over the bandage tied around his arm.

"His name is Ayase."

()

Four years later

"Where is he?!"

Every head in the building turned in sync to the snarling demon that had slammed open the doors to Gion Toranosuke's business building. A few demons scoffed; after all, it was only Kanou Somuku, the banished demon. Others, however, averted their eyes along with the human occupants, trying to escape his notice.

Kanou growled as he strode into the building, ignoring the complaint from the doorman, whom he had pushed aside so he could fling the doors open. Before he could reach the receptionists desk, a demon in a black tux approached him.

"Mr. Somuku."

Kanou turned to survey him. He didn't know this one by name, but he relaxed slightly upon recognizing him as one of Gion's personal workers.

"We have what you've come for. Mr. Toranosuke had us bring it downstairs for you."

Kanou turned around, immediately heading for the elevator. "Bring me to him."

As the other demon hustled to keep up with him, Kanou focused on leveling his breathing. He was tense, too anxious for what was about to happen. He'd forced himself to put the awaiting encounter out of his mind for the past seven hours, but it had been pressing on him nonetheless. No amount of work could keep his mind from straying. He needed answers, and he needed them now.

It was a short and silent ride down to one of the lower floors. They didn't go all the way down to the basement, just far enough that there would be silence from the floors overhead. By the time the box came to a halt and the silver doors began to slide open, Kanou had calmed his heart rate to a more normal pace. Nevertheless, he still pushed forward as soon as the doors made an opening big enough for him to squeeze through while keeping his dignity. At the landing, he hesitated a moment, unsure of which way to go. His companion strode past him and motioned with his hand to the hallway on the right.

"This way, sir."

With every step down the hall, Kanou's heart seemed to thump louder. Finally, they stopped at the end of the hall outside a door that had a small rectangular window set into the wood at eye height. As soon as he looked inside, a growl grew inside his throat. Gion stood inside just beside the door, while two other demons stood guard over a third- an angel with bedraggled wings- sitting in a chair at the room's center.

Eyes locked on the prize within, Kanou turned the knob and stepped inside. The blond head of the sitting angel lifted, revealing scowling, bloodshot eyes.

"Tetsuo." The name of the angel spat from Kanou's lips as he prowled forward. Gion turned his head, acknowledging his arrival, and closed the door as Kanou circled his scowling prey. Now that he was here and staring at the angel who had caused Ayase and him so much trouble, he could hardly keep his anger in check. It was bubbling up within him: the urge to rip the forsaken angel's head off and be done with it.

"Black wings," Kanou mused softly as the two demons who had been guarding the angel retreated to stand back with Gion. "You're a traitor to your own kind and maker."

Testuo grinned at Kanou's observation, but his darkened wings fluttered anxiously behind him. Black marks tinged the dull white appendages, a tell tale sign that he had been disowned for turning his back on his creator, and the aura surrounding his body was incredibly dimmed. He looked exhausted, his hair greasy as if he hasn't been bathing properly.

"My wings might be going, demon," Tetsuo hissed, "but at least I still have them."

A laugh broke the tense air behind them. Kanou growled, his anger growing, but before he could wrap his hand around the infuriating angel's throat, a hand gripped his shoulder from behind.

"This little angel just doesn't know when to quit," Gion said with a smirk as he pulled his friend back. "You'd think, given his position, he would know not to make such stupid- if not clever- remarks."

"Gion," Kanou growled warningly.

"Hey, it was funny because it's true, Kanou," Gion chuckled.

"Enough." Kanou returned his glare to the leering angel. "If I were you, angel, I wouldn't be playing games right now. You're in no position to be taunting demons. Now, tell me, traitor, what were you doing talking to Ayase this morning?"

"Hmph, and why should I tell you?" the angel sneered. He grinned up at Kanou, eyes gleaming wickedly. "According to the stories I've heard, you're a traitor to your own kind as well."

"Oh I assure you, what I've done is far worse than you could ever imagine," Kanou said lowly. Placing his hands on the arms of the chair, he leaned forward so his face was right in front of the bound angel's. Tetsuo pulled back, his resolve failing him with the demon suddenly so close. Kanou's breath brushed his face; he couldn't look away from those mesmerizing dragon eyes, dark eyes that swallowed him whole, promising pain.

"And if you don't answer me-" Kanou reached out with one finger and gently touched the shaking angel's cheek, so tenderly that Tetsuo jumped- " you'll get to see just a little of what I'm capable of. Test me further, and I guarantee you'll wish you were in the hands of the angel guard who are looking for you and not chained down here with me."

"I-" Tetsuo coughed, his voice squeaking, "I wasn't doing anything, I swear."

Kanou growled, his aura spilling out as his impatience flared. The angel squealed as the dark energy flared around him.

"You were talking to Ayase this morning in my lobby."

"I wasn't-"

Kanou's hand shot out, wrapping around the angel's throat.

"Kanou!"

Ignoring Gion's warning, Kanou squeezed a little harder. Tetsuo flailed under his grip, tears pricking at his beady little eyes. His bound hands behind the chair's back thrashed against the wood as he fought for air against the demon's hold. Grinning, Kanou couldn't deny the surge of pleasure the angel's misery brought him.

"Try again," he growled, shoving Tetsuo back so hard the chair went on its hind legs; Tetsuo's screeches filled the small room as he desperately flung his bound body forward, bringing the chair firmly back to the ground. Coughing and heaving for air, it was obvious how very real the situation was becoming to the previously haughty angel as his small eyes darted around the room, searching for escape.

"Look," he coughed, "look, I- I just wanted to see him, okay?" He coughed again, the air catching in his throat when Kanou leaned down to look at him at eye level again; the demon could feel the fear spiking through the tired angel's body as though it ran in his blood.

"That's all, is it?" Tetsuo nodded vigorously. Kanou's eyes narrowed. "I don't believe you."

Tetsuo's mouth dropped open.

"I think you're lying, angel," Kanou repeated, "and you're going to give me a different answer right now. The truth."

The angel's face was incredulous; Kanou wanted to rip it off and beat the angel's dead body to a pulp for daring to play games with him. He could see the fear taking hold of him; the shaking of his tethered wings, the slump of his back, the shivers and goosebumps running down his exposed skin. Surely his sense of self preservation should be kicking in now that Kanou had made it very clear the danger he was in for not telling the truth. A warrior angel, such as Ayase's father, might have been a harder subject to extract the truth from, but this weakling- this coward who had sold his own family for a profit to their enemy- would have no qualms about squealing if it meant he would escape with his life in the end. So why was he stalling? Something had to be wrong; the truth must be worse than what the demon wanted to hear.

Tetsuo gasped suddenly, his body shaking, pulling Kanou from his musings in time to realize that his infuriated state had caused his demonic aura to coil around the injured angel, suffocating him. Stifling a growl, he put a stopper on his aura and released the angel just enough so that he could breathe.

"Spill it, angel, what are you hiding?"

"I don't know anything!" Tetsuo's voice was shrill, desperate. Kanou sighed.

"You were with Ayase for a full 93 seconds, ranting and raving in my lobby. Were you trying to get him to leave with you? To take what is mine?"

"No! I wasn't- I wouldn't-"

"Come on, Tetsuo, just tell me the truth. You were trying to get him back to your side; to make it out like you were the victim, weren't you."

"No, I swear to you, I just wanted to talk to him."

"You just wanted to talk to him, huh? Talk to the last angel on earth who thought you might still have some good in you? Well now he knows what you really are: a traitor, someone he trusted who then betrayed him, who sold him and all the other angels out and left him to be captured by demons. You can't even return to heaven in your sorry state. You're done for, Tetsuo, who are you trying to protect by lying?"

Silence. The angel was fuming, shaking with some unknown emotion. Kanou smiled.

"You wanted him to go with you. That's the truth. You have nothing left; the least you could do is bribe a small, innocent angel to your side, and then do what you do best: betray him, sell him for some profit to get yourself out of this town."

"No! I didn't want to betray him I wanted to help him!"

The shock that ran through Kanou's body quickly dissipated into smugness. "Oh really? And how could a fallen angel ever hope to help someone else?"

Testuo visibly bristled, angry that he'd caved.

"Aww, come on now, don't bottle up on me, you were finally starting to shift into being on my good side. How were you going to help him, Tetsuo?"

The angel was silent. Sweat dripped down his face. Kanou waited, knowing that the angel had already given up and was trying to decide his next move.

"If I tell you," Tetsuo finally said slowly, "I want your word that you'll let me go. I'll tell you what you want to know, but I want you to let me go free in exchange."

Kanou grinned; a large, menacing smile that had Tetsuo shrinking back. "I promise."

"You better keep it!" Tetsuo shrieked. "You promise!"

"Yes, yes, I promise to let you go when we are through with our discussion. Now, spill it, angel. How were you going to help Ayase?"

Tetsuo hesitated. He was breathing hard, panting with each drop of sweat that beaded on his grimy forehead.

"The angels," he whispered.

Kanou leaned forward, frowning. The angels?

Taking a deep breath, Tetsuo continued softly, as though he were exposing a secret, "I heard a rumor that the angels are coming back to this town."

Kanou stiffened. Behind him, the three other demons in the room shifted, suddenly on edge with this new information.

"They're coming back," Kanou reiterated slowly.

"It's just a rumor I heard on the streets. There's a rustling in the heavens; something is happening up there. And I thought, hey, if the angels are going to come back soon, I could take Ayase away from you and help him heal his wings. Then, we could meet the angels together, my status would be restored, and we could all return to heaven."

"Wait, stop a minute there, angel." Kanou didn't know what to think. The angels returning to take the city was something every demon knew would happen eventually, but he hadn't thought it would be so soon. However, that important bit of information was pushed to the back of his mind as three little words echoed over everything else: heal his wings. Tetsuo couldn't possibly mean what Kanou thought he was implying. It just wasn't possible.

"What did you mean when you said you would take Ayase from me and help his wings heal? They've been deformed from the start; he can't fly- never has been able to and never will."

Tetsuo laughed, and suddenly it felt as though the air had been punched from his chest.

"Ayase is an angel," Tetsuo stated, as if he thought Kanou had somehow forgotten. "Deformed or not, if God wills him to fly, he will. His wings looked pretty strong when I saw him earlier today- I bet they're healing exponentially since they've been mistreated all those months ago."

"Mistreated because of you." Kanou's head was in a whirl. Was it possible that injuring Ayase's wings had been the catalyst needed to help them heal fully? Was God's influence still so strong in this town, even without the angels, that He could reach the small angel and extend His hand to help those precious wings grow even stronger while they recovered?

"Everything that has happened to Ayase happened because of you," Kanou snarled. If Ayase had never been mistreated during the demons revolution, he never would have required extra care and healing. His wings might have stayed the way they were- pure white, small and malformed, but beautiful nonetheless.

"I didn't think he would run away from the compound when all the fighting started-"

"No, stop talking!" Kanou shouted. "You betrayed the angels and led the demons to their grounds. You are the one who betrayed your own kind. You knew Ayase wouldn't be able to escape unharmed, and yet you put him in that danger anyway."

Disgusted, Kanou turned away. He needed to get away from here, to think. Ayase was in danger. They were coming for him, surely, but more than that he was in danger of something closer to home. If his wings truly were strengthening, if Ayase could fly one day… Kanou didn't even want to think about what would happen.

"Hey, wait! Our deal! You promised to let me go!"

Kanou stopped. Locking angry eyes with Gion, he tightened his fists and nodded. Gion nodded back, smirking as he signaled his guards with one hand.

"Oh, I'm keeping my promise, angel. I'm letting you go… into the custody of Gion Toranosuke. He can do whatever he wants with you. And I never want to see your face again."

"WHAT!?"

"And if you ever come near Ayase again," Kanou continued, raising his voice over Tetsuo's protests behind him, "I'll let you see just what sort of demon I really am, and I'll make sure you regret it."

Without looking back, Kanou headed for the door. Gion opened it for him, bowing slightly. Ignoring the smile on his friend's face, Kanou strode through it and headed for the elevator.

"Hey now, that wasn't so bad, Kanou," Gion called out to him. The younger demon was at his side instantly. "At least you know Tetsuo can't get anywhere near your angel now."

"Gion." Kanou stopped and looked his eager friend in the face. "It's been three months since the angels were driven from this town because of what that stupid angel did. Because of him, Ayase was hurt." He trailed off, remembering how frightened his little bird had been once Kanou had finally gotten his hands on him. Deep down, he knew it wasn't only Tetsuo's fault- it was his fault as well.

For four years he had kept watch over the little angel with the twisted wings. When he was alerted that Tetsuo, Ayase's wayward cousin, had gone to the demon council seeking to sell out his angel family in exchange for demonic power and clemency, Kanou had thought he would finally be able to put his plan of intervention into action. But, he had been too late. The demons had attacked ahead of schedule, and Ayase had been lost to him.

He hadn't been able to save the angel from the demon attack like he had planned; and every day Kanou beat himself up about that fact. He had been too late to swoop in as a shining knight. Ayase had run during the attack and been cornered in a section of Shinjuku highly populated by demons looking for fun. By the time Eishou had alerted him to the boy's location, Ayase had already been cornered by a gang of demons working under Hayashida, a demon who ran a lofty business selling humans for pleasure to both demons and rich humans alike. They had beaten him, degraded him in ways that had nearly broken the little angel's spirit- and then put him on auction for the demons of the city.

It was there that Kanou had managed to buy him. But it was too late for praise. Ayase had been damaged- irreparably. And Kanou had only made it worse. When Ayase reacted to his presence with personal fear and panic for his cousin's safety, the hopes he had spent the previous four years building had come crashing down. He had lashed out, pinning the angel down and forcing him to recognize his new fate.

It was a moment that- to this day- Kanou deeply regretted.

As a demon, Ayase's suffering should have been extremely pleasurable for him, but it had only caused him pain and confusion. He hadn't known how to treat the little angel- everything in him rebelled at the idea of being gentle, but whenever he saw the look of fear on his boy's face- it was enough to make him sick.

"I've been trying so hard to earn his trust again," Kanou whispered. The blood was pounding in his ears. If what Tetsuo said was true, he didn't just have to worry about the angels coming back to take Ayase away from him- he had reason to fear Ayase himself. "But what if the damage has been too much? If Tetsuo is telling the truth, then Ayase will have the ability to fly once his wings completely heal. And I can't allow that to happen."

"From what I hear the two of you are becoming a regular pair of peas in a pod, Kanou," Gion reassured him gently. The blond demon had yet to be introduced to the angel, but word of Kanou's affairs with the mysterious blond young man had quickly spread throughout not only Kanou's business but all of the underground marketplaces. Even if he hadn't been friends with the black-haired demon, there was no doubt that Kanou's relationship with the angel would have reached Gion eventually. "I doubt that bird would attempt to fly away from you someday. He knows what you're capable of, and he knows that you'd come after him."

Kanou grunted. It was true. Ayase had stopped avoiding him out of fear and now greeted him when he came home from work. The boy's face, always so light and optimistic, held little trace of the shadows that had clung to him the first two months of their time together. The fact that his body was slowly healing was a great contributor to his improved mood, but Kanou liked to think that the angel was growing fond of him as well. True, they had taken the long road to becoming familiar with each other, but at least now Kanou could look forward to his angel shyly seeking out his presence instead of silently avoiding him like the plague.

"I need to go home." He needed to see his bird, to touch that smooth skin and be reminded that Ayase was still there, still beside him.

"What do you want me to do with that gift you've so kindly provided me with?"

Kanou hesitated. Ayase would never know that he had confronted his wayward cousin tonight. The little angel had been in a panic when Kanou came down to meet him in the lobby for lunch earlier today. When Kanou caught sight of the marked angel waving wildly in Ayase's face, ranting incoherently, he'd immediately raced forward, determined to rip the traitor's head off for daring to come into his building and fraternize with Ayase; but before Kanou had been able to reach them, Ayase had already pushed the other angel away. The rage in Kanou's belly couldn't be quelled though, even when Ayase assured him that nothing had happened. As soon as they finished lunch and the angel had been dropped off at the penthouse, Kanou had called Gion and asked him to send out some scouts to search for the wayward angel.

Now, the two angels would never meet again- and he was glad of it. "Do whatever you want. Just make sure he never comes near Ayase or me ever again."

"Oh ho, I can promise that." Gion's demonic energy flared giddily behind him, and as Kanou reached the elevators, he knew for certain that the angel Tetsuo was going to regret ever choosing to sell out his cousin and family.

()

Over the course of the next week, Kanou watched Ayase carefully. The boy was healing, slowly but surely. With Tetsuo's words of foreboding weighing heavily on his mind, Kanou knew that he needed to ensure Ayase never had the opportunity to fly once his wings fully recovered. He'd been overly cautious when Ayase was first taken into his household: the elevator was locked and monitored so Ayase couldn't use it on his own, and all windows were installed so they couldn't open all the way. When Ayase left the penthouse, he was always accompanied by one of the Kuba twins- the only humans Kanou really trusted, aside from the strange okama, Someya, who had somehow wormed his way into Kanou's good graces. Those restrictions, now more than ever, helped Kanou breathe easier whenever he left the angel alone.

Even with those precautions in place, though, Kanou couldn't help the feeling of unease that overcame him whenever he saw Ayase's wings. Right now they were kept bandaged against his back, but recently, since Ayase had begun feeling stronger, the angel had taken to unwrapping them at night and stretching the muscles. Watching him smooth the soft feathers out only made the worry in the pit of Kanou's stomach grow.

()

"Come sit with me, Ayase." Kanou patted the couch seat next to him. He'd lit candles in the living room after dinner, and now the warm glow from the flames flickered through the darkness in the penthouse. The tv was on, broadcasting the news in a low volume.

Ayase giggled and clambered up next to him. The angel was still holding a half-filled wineglass. Ignoring the way the dark liquid splashed dangerously up the sides of the cup, Kanou relished in the warm feeling that surged through his chest as Ayase tucked his feet under himself and leaned against his side. True, the angel was a bit tipsy, but he wasn't drunk: he was clear headed enough to know exactly who he was choosing to cuddle up to.

"That was some good pasta you cooked up, Ayase," Kanou murmured, leaning over to nuzzle his nose in Ayase's hair.

"Mmmmm, thanks," Ayase hummed contentedly. "I made the dough from scratch while you were at work. It took me all day!"

"Mmm, yes I know. You were covered in flour when I walked in the door," Kanou chuckled. Ayase giggled, the shaking of his body vibrating against Kanou's arm. He smiled. "It was quite a cute sight."

Ayase laughed again before taking a sip from his glass. Watching how carefree his boy was, Kanou was once again glad he'd restocked his collection of wine after Ayase moved in: the little angel liked to drink, and when he got tipsy he became much more… receptive.

"Next time I make pasta I want to try tortellini," Ayase stated abruptly.

"Isn't that what we had tonight?"

"No, silly! Those were raviolis." Ayase hiccupped suddenly and then started laughing. He set his glass down on the side table and grabbed the pillow behind him, holding it in front of his stomach as he held his breath. Kanou watched him, intrigued. When he could no longer hold it, Ayase released the breath he'd been holding and sucked in fresh air.

"Better?" Kanou asked with a grin.

"Not sure yet." They both waited, and when Ayase didn't hiccup again they both burst out into laughter.

"Good thing they stopped on their own or I would have tried scaring you," Kanou teased.

"Hmph, you couldn't scare me, Kanou," Ayase declared matter-of-factly. He pushed his pillow against the arm of the sofa and maneuvered so his head was lying against it.

"Oh really, are you sure?"

"Yup, you couldn't scare me even if you tried." Ayase's eyes slipped closed, a smile on his face.

Kanou was silent. He knew Ayase's words weren't true. He had once, not that long ago even, been a major source of fear for the young angel. His very presence used to make the angel draw away and hide inside an emotional shell. Ayase used to shake with fear every time Kanou came close to him; every time he touched him. Those tremors seemed like they would never go away. It had taken so long for Kanou to learn how to let go, to step back and give Ayase the space he needed to breathe and recover, to pick up the pieces of himself that had been shattered, not only by the gang of wayward demons, but by Kanou himself.

How far they had come in such a short amount of time. Almost four months had gone by now, each day long and drawn out, each a battle between two wills trying to learn how to live with the other. Kanou knew, without a doubt, that Ayase had forgiven him for what had happened at the beginning of their relationship. The trust between them, though fragile, was growing stronger each day.

Ayase shifted on his pillow, eyes opening to catch a cat commercial that had caught his attention with its catchy tune. Looking down on him, Kanou's eyes were drawn to Ayase's back where his small disfigured wings were carefully bandaged. They fidgeted suddenly, as though aware of the demon eyes that narrowed the longer he looked at them.

He trusted Ayase. He truly did. But those wings- they were the one thing that continued to concern him in their relationship. Before he knew what he was doing, his hand had reached out to touch the bandage on the right appendage. Ayase jumped, tearing doe eyes away from the tv screen to stare at Kanou.

"What?" the angel asked warily.

"Shh, it's nothing," Kanou whispered reassuringly. "I just wanted to touch your wings. May I?"

Surprise filled the angel's face. Heat crept up Kanou's neck. He didn't normally ask for things. He was a demon; he just did whatever he wanted. But Ayase- he needed to be gentle.

Slowly, Ayase nodded, the tension leaving his stiff shoulders as he lay his head back down.

Heart thumping, Kanou slowly traced the outline of the bandaged wing. When Ayase hummed in sleepy approval, he boldly lifted the wing up and surveyed the small knot keeping the bandage closed underneath. Carefully, he untied it and began to unravel the cloth. The crumpled wing drooped as it was released from its confines, the feathers splaying out in every direction. It twitched every now and then, but a glance at Ayase's peaceful face every time reassured him that the tremors must be involuntary. Once the wing was completely freed, Kanou shifted in his seat, turning so he could take it in both of his hands.

It was small.

The top ridge of the wing extended out in a straight line before curving in on itself. Turning it into the glow of the candle, Kanou ran his hand over the shiny ridge. Upon closer inspection, he had to admit that the traitor angel had been right: Tetsuo had claimed that Ayase's wings appeared stronger than before. Kanou had met Ayase before the raid, had once seen the curve of those wings in darkened light before: seeing them now, he knew that they were healing well beyond the norm, and were definitely straighter than they had been.

Still, that didn't mean they would heal all the way. There was no way without God's help that Ayase would be able to gain the gift of flight on the stunted wings he had now. And with the angels gone from the city and Ayase's faith in God diluted, Kanou knew without a fact that the angel would never be able to fly.

Still…

His hand stroked up the wing, massaging out the muscle just as he had seen Ayase do multiple times before. How could Ayase care so much for his wings when the boy knew he would never be able to use them in flight? What was the purpose? Had there perhaps been a time in his life when he had been able to fly?

"Ayase," the demon murmured slowly.

"Hmm?" The angel didn't even open his eyes, too content to lie where he was, enjoying the massage.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Mm Hmm."

He needed to be gentle. If he poked too much it might open old wounds for the angel. "Why… are your wings… so small for your age? Why do they bend like this?"

To his surprise, Ayase smiled. "Because I'm special."

Kanou cocked his head. What did the boy mean by that?

"Mom and Dad used to tell me," Ayase continued softly when Kanou didn't say anything in response, "that I was a lucky angel. Unlike everyone else at the compound, I was born on Earth."

Kanou inhaled sharply. Born on Earth? That was unthinkable. Otherworldly beings didn't belong on Earth; mankind had already claimed it for themselves and turned the land into a place that was difficult for ethereal creatures to survive in unless they were strong enough. A newborn angel would have held no chance.

"Mankind's pollution," Kanou whispered softly.

"Yes. Mom and Dad said God had decreed them to stay on Earth when Mom found out she was pregnant with me while they were on their mission here. I wasn't allowed to be taken into Heaven away from them. Mom said the sins of men and the pollution of the Earth is what made my body so weak growing up."

"Why?" Kanou's heart ached. It was too unfair: to have exiled a baby angel to the harshness of Earth's depravities just because his parents were still on a mission? Kanou wanted to laugh, or cry. Anger at the unjustness done to his angel flowed through his veins. "They couldn't have known you would even survive being raised here from infancy. Why would God abandon you here, knowing that the weight of this world would crush you?"

"I already told you, Kanou," Ayase said lightly, opening his eyes to place a small hand on the demon's thigh. Kanou stilled, the tension already melting from his body with that one touch. "I'm special. God said I would have a special role to play on Earth. He didn't abandon me; He gave me a compound full of angel brothers and sisters. I had my parents, my cousin and friends."

"He condemned your body to death the moment he forbade you from being returned to Heaven as a baby, Ayase." His heart hurt. His poor angel was so blind to the truth: he had been abandoned long ago and didn't even realize it. "That's why your wings are so small…" he stopped, unable to continue, to say that the boy's beautiful wings were malformed.

"My wings may not be fully formed, and I'm a lot weaker than all the other angels physically- but I survived. Doesn't that tell you just how strong I am?"

Kanou lifted his eyes up, meeting the warmly stubborn blue eyes of his angel. His precious Ayase. Those eyes burned with a quiet strength. He had been through so much since such a young age, and never had he given up hope. He was the most compassionate and humble being Kanou knew. Warmth flooded through the demon's body again. He was so grateful to have gotten to know such a gentle and loving creature.

Turning his attention back to Ayase's exposed wing, Kanou resumed his massaging of the tight muscles. "Have you ever been able to fly, Ayase?"

"No."

Kanou stilled, his nerves tightening at the wistfulness in that one word. Forcing himself to keep massaging, Kanou kept his head low to keep from looking at Ayase's face. That was all the answer he had needed. Ayase never had the ability to fly, but it was clear as day that if given the chance he would gladly take to the skies.

"I guess that's something we have in common, Kanou."

The demon's head shot up. Ayase was smiling, but he knew that beyond that glowing face was a heart that was broken just like his. "A demon without wings and an angel with broken ones: we make a perfect pair, don't you think?"

"Actually-" Kanou stopped. He didn't want Ayase to know. All the boy knew was that he had been banished from the underworld; that his wings had been brutally ripped from him was not a burden he wanted to place on Ayase's shoulders as well. The poor kid had enough damage on his plate already. And if it made the blond happy to think that they were the same, who was he to take that feeling away if it gave the angel a sense of peace?

"I guess you're right, Ayase. Good thing I have you around to keep me company on the ground."

Ayase laughed slightly, turning so he could lay his head back down as Kanou resumed petting his wing. "I'm glad you found me, Kanou," he whispered sleepily.

Kanou smiled. "I am too, Ayase. I won't ever let anyone hurt you again."

Ayase was silent a moment. Kanou could tell he was thinking, deciding whether or not to say something. Instead of prompting, he focused on stretching Ayase's feathers out, relieving the muscles in the wing that had become cramped from being bound all day.

"I know you think I'm going to try to run away from you."

Those soft words sent a shock through the demon's system. That wasn't what he'd thought the angel had been mulling over. "What?"

"You never let me go anywhere alone. And you put locks on all the windows. It's pretty obvious you think I'm going to try to run away."

What could he say to defend himself? Ayase was right, but he couldn't let him know that.

"Well I'm not going to. I couldn't get away even if I tried to, Kanou; I know you would come after me. You don't have to be so paranoid. You can give me a little more freedom: I wouldn't betray you. You've already shown me that you're a good demon underneath all that gruff. You're my savior."

All his words were stuck in his throat; he almost couldn't breathe.

"You rescued me when I needed help, and you've given me a place I can call home."

"What are you saying, Ayase?" Kanou's voice almost cracked. Excitement was coursing through his veins, setting him on edge.

"I'm saying, I know you think that I'm going to try to escape from you one day, but I won't. The angels are gone. You're my home now, Kanou."

"Are you- are you telling me the truth right now, Ayase?" It was almost too good to be true.

"I promise I won't run away. I just want a little more room to breathe."

His insides were leaping. It was as if, with those soft simple words, Ayase had taken all his fears and swept them under a rug. Ayase thought of him as his home! He wanted to leap in the air and scream his victory to the heavens.

Kanou released the wing in his hand and moved so his body was over Ayase's. He bent and kissed the sleepy angel on the cheek, forcing blue eyes to open and match his.

"Ayase," he whispered, "you really won't ever leave me?"

Ayase's face broke out in the purest smile, and immediately Kanou swooped down and kissed his sweet lips.

"I promise, Kanou," Ayase giggled, attempting to push the demon back. Kanou hummed low in the back of his throat, refusing to be moved. He moved his hands up, slipping one beneath the angel's shirt. Ayase moaned, his face flushing, driving the demon crazy.

"You've just sealed your fate, little angel," Kanou growled deeply as he planted kisses on Ayase's face, coming back around to kiss the boy deeply on the lips. Ayase wriggled beneath him, the small body bucking as it reached up to grind against Kanou's belly. He was so happy; Ayase's words had put at ease all the fears that had been eating away at him over the past months. True, the boy was intoxicated and might not remember any of what he had just said, but what mattered was that Ayase had thought to say anything at all.

They had hope.

Mindful to be careful of his wings, Kanou picked up the angel and carried him to their room. They had a long night ahead, and Kanou was going to savor every moment of it.

()

To be continued..