Idea By Monichanz

Written by RUMad

AN: so I've never been given a prompt before, so I just hope I don't screw this up!

Posted: 19/12/11

What's in the past

Azimuth, the young man with the platinum hair and dark blue eyes sat on the Berry resident's staircase. It was late one night, nothing peculiar except him. He listened to the worried father's discussion in the living area.

"She's 12, don't you think by now she shouldn't have an imaginary friend… they alienate her at school, they tease her. You've heard her she talks to herself in her room, at school, even at the dinner table while we're with her she talks to someone like they're actually there"

"I know, I know" the smaller father huffed, removing his glasses and rubbing his face "I just don't want to send her to a therapist"

"It's getting too intense, at first it was cute, even if she was 10 at the time, but its too scary now; I'm worried about her"

"You don't think I'm worried too!" the man with glasses moved out of his husbands embrace "Do we have any other choice"

"I don't think so… she gets so adamant that he's actually there"

"I know" the small man sighed "Do you have the phone number for the recommended one"

"Yes" the taller, darker skinned man answered softly "I'll phone them in the morning?" it was a question not a statement

"Okay, in the morning" he pulled his husband closer

With that, Azimuth moved off the stairs, ascending them. He entered the little girl's room, the one he'd been protecting and connecting with. He was her friend, her best friend, her only friend.

"Rachel" he sat on the edge on her bed and stroked her hair gently to wake her "Rachel" he repeated softly

She stirred and turned over to face him "Azzy?"

"I've got to go Rachel"

"Oh, okay" she sat up in her bed and switched her bedside light on "I'll see you tomorrow then" she smiled sleepily

"No, Rachel, I have to go… I'm not coming back" he stated clearly with strong eye contact

"Bu-but you can't Azzy, you're my best friend" she started to well up

"Your dad and daddy are worried about you" he tried to explain "I'm going to make you for get about me"

"I don't want to forget you"

"You have to Rachel; you need to make real friends"

She started crying "You are my real friend" she crawled towards him and into his arms, he held her like an older brother would "I don't need anyone else"

"Listen to me Rachel" he said softly while slowly rocking her "I will be back, when the time is right. Remember all the things I told you?" he felt her nod against him "You will forget them all too, until the time is right. You are special Rachel, so very special"

"I know you told me" her voice was shaky but he'd got her to stop crying

The Past

Azimuth wasn't human, if you hadn't already guessed; he was a being of this world but not one you'd know of. He was what some described as an angel; others would describe him as death. He wasn't the only of his kind; there was a whole race of them. They did exist on the earth but never for very long. Their job was to guide the dead souls to their rightful resting place… well that was the plan.

2,000 years ago a man known only as the creator was tricked by another power, a darker power that existed on the earth and below it. Azimuth and his kind who had been watching over the earth for over 12,000 years were tricked; their creator signed a deal, not realising what he'd caused for his people.

For the past 2,000 years the creators people, did the dark powers bidding, they lead the dark leaders demon hounds to souls, specifically chosen. They led the way for the hounds to pluck the souls before the persons time. Not everyone went this way, but many were unfortunate to meet an untimely end. The souls were feasted on by the demon hounds, it kept them strong… they would grow stronger until the day the leader dark power could rise.

Names of the unfortunate's would appear in two places. One place would be the central plinth with a blue flame in the grand library of the spiritual place for Azimuth and his kind. The other place was a book; the book was created first, the flame later. When it was time to collect a soul, the name would appear in the book in red, or the blue flame. An 'Angel' would go to earth, and be met by a demon hound, the Angle would find the soul for the hound, and once the soul was collected, the flame would burn orange for a second, or a line would cross through the name in the book.

"Rachel, I'm going to leave you the book; do you remember the book I told you about?"

"Yes" her voice was so sad, so hurt

"You will keep it, but you won't see it until the time is right. When you see it for real, for what it really is, and remember this, I will be back." He was going to disguise the book and hide it amongst her things, she knew she was different, he'd know from when he met her

2 years ago

Azimuth entered the library; he had automatically woken, sensing a new name was to appear in the book and the flame. The moment he stood in front of the blue flame the name appeared:

Rachel Berry

It was natural for him to know everything instantly about the name that appeared. Straight away he felt great sadness, this girl was only 10 years old and she had big dreams. He phased to a precise spot on the earth… but was not met by any demon hound with its drooling fangs and peeling skin, leaving blood to drip continuously from the body and the creature to give off the smell of rotting flesh. If there had been one to meet him, he would have known about it; but there was nothing.

He was standing on a regular looking suburban road, in a simple town in Ohio. There were children in their front yards, playing; friendly looking people walking their dogs; the odd car cautiously driving by; nothing out of the ordinary. Azimuth didn't have to worry about looking suspicious, no human could see him… which is what amazed him when he heard a little voice behind

"Excuse me sir are you lost?" he turned and she looked up at him, connecting with his dark blue eyes

"You can see me?"

She furrowed her brow "Yes, sir… I know daddy said to never talk to strangers but… I was making sure you weren't lost… there aren't many strangers around here and I've never seen you before" something within Rachel made her trust him, as if they were connected some how

"What's your name?" he asked cautiously, he was sure he already knew but he had to check

"Rachel, Rachel Berry" she answered proudly "What's yours?"

"Azimuth" he replied just as easily

She giggled "That's a weird name; I think I'll call you Azzy"

He couldn't help but smile at her reaction and he wasn't sure how she came up with that abbreviation but he didn't care. This little girl was important… he had to protect her.

"Goodbye Rachel"

"Don't go, don't leave me" she begged

He held her face in his hands, using powers within him "I'll be back one day" were his final word to her as she slipped off to sleep.

He left the book under her bed, it was there; she'd be able to touch it and move it; but she wouldn't be able to see it, not really; not for what it really was; until the time was right.

When she woke; she remembered nothing involving him that had happened to her since she'd met him.

When she didn't mention him the next morning her father put off phoning the therapist for an appointment, when she never mentioned him again, they put it all behind them.

It would be four years until the time came, for her to remember, for her old best friend to return and for an unfortunate soul to be chosen that would cause determination in Rachel that would change her life forever.

Let me know what you think

And let Monichanz know what you think of their idea!

I hope this didn't come off weird or pervy and I hope I don't disappoint Monichanz with the rest of the story

Sorry it's short; I'll try to have more up before Christmas but no promises :/

If you're bored, I've written a really light hearted Christmas-y one shot: New Directions First Nativity, if you want to check it out