Enjoy the first chapter. Updated the prologue as well. I forgot to add a few key things in it. :coughs discreetly:

Track: 01

...The Fates Cast Their Pawns...

The man swept past those that surrounded him, puffing on a cigarette that was smoking more so than normal, trying to compensate for the furious rate with which he was sucking up the nicotine, all concerns of his health having long since evaporated. It was a nasty habit, one that he had picked up only a few years ago, when a visit to his sister's grave and his lover's resting place had driven him to a nearby drug store, suddenly filled with melancholy and a wish to return to the way things used to be before that incident.

The boy who had at one time tried to take his own life had grown over the past nine years, his Angel following behind him dedicatedly as usual. By now, Spinel Sun was used to his master's unhealthy habits and cared little for his physical health. It was only the mind and heart that mattered now, sanity near the brink, ready to topple over the edge and spiral downwards into that sweet abyss of those crazed enough to try and fly, those who chose to live in the past or tortured themselves daily with beings that had long since passed from view.

Of course, if you were to speak of those latter loons, the man could easily be classified as one of them, despite his Guardian's overprotective nature. The problem was that the being who would not let him rest was one he had loved greatly, who whispered words that cut through the man like daggers every time he chose to visit. Even if that visit only ever occurred in the young man's dreams and brief disillusions during the waking hours.

Having just recovered from one such incident, the green-eyed man was slightly shaky; however, the only thing that gave away his uneasiness was the slight trembling of his hand as he reached up to grasp the cancer-inducing stick between his middle and index finger, pulling it an inch from his lips to expel a mouthful of smoke. His generous lower lip puckered slightly as he observed the red sign painted across the glass paneling of the building's entrance, a white cigarette slashed through the middle and surrounded by a circle, both red. He flicked the cigarette down before him, stomping upon it and crushing the flame that nestled within that white stick, a tendril of smoke flitting upward before being hurtled away by a sudden gust of wind.

The panther's butterfly wings fluttered slightly before returning to their natural positions upon Spinel Sun's back, his teal eyes narrowing as the equally-colored jewel centered in his forehead gleamed suddenly as his master stepped through the doors, he passing through the alabaster wall a moment later. His black body reflected rays of violet and his satin coat shivered over complex muscles. Though it was considered somewhat rude for Guardians to make appearances unless needed, many in the building had grown used to the sight of the Sumeragi head being followed by his ArchAngel, the panther-like creature making it obvious of what he was, of what the man under his jurisdiction was. For a being to be born of such high powers was strange and a rare occurrence indeed. And for that being to be able to speak to spirits of the dearly departed, those murdered or wrongly abused in their former lives, those who had turned to the still-living to vent their anger upon…such a person was wholly considered a myth. And yet, this man, this twenty-five-year-old, born as a part of fraternal twins, scorned for his terrible powers and feared because of them, he who blackened his lungs in an attempt to reflect his scorn and disgust that he still lived while his loved ones had either been sent to Heaven or descended to Hell…he defied all rules laid down by his ancestors.

The man swept into the elevator, choosing a button without as much as a glance at the entire selection. So many times had be been called to work for this man, the Sumeragi no longer found it unusual. One out of every ten calls he received were either from this man or his grandmother, passing on this man's message. While the Sumeragi found it slightly annoying, he had by now concluded that to refuse this client would not serve him correctly. And his addiction to nicotine-laced cigarettes wouldn't let him turn down the idea of crisp, green hundreds falling into his hand and then being laid out on the counter of some run-down gas station, all the cigarettes finally his and—

The man sighed and wished he had a cigarette. Damn. Beside him, Spinel Sun yawned gently, shaking his great head with a weary sigh. "Subaru-kun, we must focus on the client at times like now. Not your—ano…smoking habits." The man fixed his bonded Angel with a small half-smile, a bitterness making his opinion on such a matter known in his emerald eyes. Once more, the cat sighed before gliding through the metallic doors as the elevator slid to a stop on the top floor, well-oiled hinges drawing Subaru to a smooth stop with a tiny bump as it settled. A hand streamed casually through feather-like, black wisps of hair before returning to flop listlessly at his side.

He passed through the doors as they opened, the beast waiting for him patiently on the other side. Subaru moved past the secretary without a glance, leaving him to glare at the Sumeragi before returning hurriedly to his paperwork when Subaru's ArchAngel chose to reveal one finely-shaped canine. The secretary was too frightened to let his boss know that his employee had arrived. This was why the man who had called him for business was currently reading a Shojo manga, chuckling as he flipped through a few pages. Beside him floated a balloon, something that would have been completely ordinary (not really, it was pink) had it not been for the large, expressive eyes that continuously narrowed then widened as the two plunged deeper into the world of big-eyed pretty boys and far too cute girls.

Spinel Sun was slightly disturbed, but Subaru took it in stride, stepping forward to where he was directly in front of the man's desk before tapping his finger lightly across the mahogany, beating out a few G flats (as if he were playing a piano) before letting his nail give two dainty taps of where the low C key should have been. At this, the man fell backwards, out of his plush chair and onto the tile floor, chuckling in a pleasantly surprised voice as he smoothed his own ebony locks away from his face. "Ah, Sumeragi-san, I was wondering when you might arrive. I understand the head is always busy, but I am happy you answered my call so quickly."

Subaru bowed his head ever so slightly, showing respect for his employer before straightening back up. "Gomen, Clow-san, there has been a recent increase in restless spirits. I had another appointment today, but I cut it short and handed it off to my cousin in favor of your request. 'Something that is linked directly to the increase in restless spirits' is what you said over the phone, I believe." Subaru's monotonous voice and Spinel Sun's quiet detachment had the balloon pouting, bright eyes sparkling with tears 'till it finally took on the shape of a young man (though the length of his hair and his feminine bone structure often led people to assume his gender female), butterfly wings of varying red and black shades sweeping behind him and his scarlet hair, red eyes twinkling with a childish glee. "Suppie-chan!" he squealed, causing the cat to flinch and his bonded one to step slightly away, facial expression not changing in the slightest. When Ruby Moon (as he was called) did this every time the two "graced them with their presence" (as Ruby Moon lovingly called it) it became a common fact of life. An annoyingly common fact of life. The black cat tried to scuttle away, but the boy Angel soon had his hands locked around the panther's neck, hugging the deeply troubled cat and uttering senseless phrases accented by the occasional "Suppie-chan!"

Clow Reed, for that was who this care-free man was, laughed at his Angel as the boy began to prod and tease the cat, earning growls of frustration that quickly turned to whimpers of helplessness. It was truly enjoyable to see an ArchAngel being bested by a simple FarAngel, as the second-most-powerful Guardians were called. "Well, Subaru, I understand your haste then, if taking this job will in turn lift the workload off your shoulders, if only slightly. However," the silken locks were brushed behind an ear, glasses rising higher up the bridge of Clow's nose as he observed Subaru, all playfulness gone. "I believe you should consider this job carefully before accepting it." Ruby Moon, giving one final girlish squeal, returned to his master's side, crossing his arms behind his back and trying to look solemn. Still, he couldn't help but giggle; a sound that was quickly stilled when Clow raised a finely-arched eyebrow.

"Clow-sama wishes for you to take up a babysitting job. Well, you have to look after someone, but it's only so that he won't kill so many more people. That's why you keep getting so many restless spirits; he kills them all! Or rather, his Guardian does." Ruby Moon laughed maliciously, causing the fine hairs on Subaru's neck to rise as Spinel Sun's hackles lifted in a partial snarl. "How could a simple Guardian cause all this trouble?! It sounds like we're dealing with a kid. Where are the parents, the human guardians?" The Sumeragi head stayed quiet, reflecting on this information, his fingers twitching slightly. Damn, those cigarettes in his back pocketing were practically screaming at him to pick one of them up, light it, and stick it in his mouth. Self-control, self-control.

Clow Reed sighed, shuffling through the paper upon his desk, searching until he found a packet, rather thick and heartily bound. Staples covered the edges and when Spinel Sun cocked an eyebrow, he merely sighed and muttered "Intern, Sorata…new kid…" He skimmed through it, flipping past pages that held pictures of gruesome bodies, past blocks of limitless text, till he finally reached the mid-way section, where it apparently went more into detail. Smiling pleasantly, he handed the bound papers to Subaru, gesturing for him to look through it while he leaned back in his chair, black hair pooling around behind him like a curtain of silk. The young man blinked at his employer for a moment before settling his green gaze upon the bone-white sheet of paper. Before he could even begin reading though, he found Spinel Sun had shrunk down to a much more manageable size (that of a plush toy) and was already well into the beginning of the third paragraph. By the time Subaru had skimmed the first paragraph, which was simply a jumbled mess of words stating age, height, and other characteristics, Spinel Sun was returning to his original form, mouth opening to speak as soon as the transformation was complete.

"What kind of person names their kid 'Kamui'? You Japanese sure are weird. And an Adult ArchAngel for a kid that young? I mean, yeah, it happened with Subaru-kun, but that was simply because the situation called for it. And the fact that the kid has no training but his ArchAngel can still produce such powerful attacks…amazing. Too good to be true, in other words." Spinel Sun snorted and shook his head. "You had me going 'till I read the end. He's in captivity, even though his ArchAngel is at its Adult stage?" The cat rolled his eyes and sat back on his haunches. Though it was obvious he intended to continue his rambling tirade on how it was simply impossible for such actions to occur, the way Clow Reed observed the cat over the top of his spectacles, hands crossed underneath his chin at the wrists, seemed to have unnerved the cat. Finally, unable to stand it, Spinel Sun growled a "What?"

Clow unfolded his hands, raising his head and smiling reassuringly. "Well," he began, as if unsure where to start his explanation, "it's a very special case. For most of the questions, you'll have to see the boy yourselves. But for your question about how an ArchAngel at the Adult age was captured…we drugged the tea of the boy after he left the house of his latest –erm– victim, and we simply waited for him to fall asleep before taking him into custody. Well, at least, that's what my subordinates told me. I wasn't aware of the situation until after they had brought him in. Now, they're giving him hourly doses of sedatives so that his Guardian won't wake up and giving the drug enough time to take effect to where the boy can eat and perform other necessary functions before he goes back under. We need your help, Sumeragi-san. I believe you've dealt with others that have undergone what this boy has and, to put it frankly, you two are the only ones strong enough to handle him. I don't know all the details of his past but…I've visited the boy when he was awake. The will to live has gone out of his eyes; he looks like the walking dead." Clow Reed's face had closed up, the normally expressive man suddenly a rock; such was the shadow that had crossed his face. Even Ruby Moon seemed deeply disturbed, bowing his head and slowly fading from view as if such memories brought about more pain than the Sumeragi or his Guardian could ever realize. Still, both understood the concept of pain and had tasted so much sorrow that now even a tiny dash of it was like a long-lost lover, greeted affectionately as it spun them down deeper into depths of despair. A drug almost. Something akin to bile rose in both of their throats, constricting their breathing; Subaru coughed gently as Spinel Sun swallowed vigorously.

As far as Subaru was concerned, the idea of babysitting wasn't greeted with enthusiasm, however, if it could take his mind off of his late lover's birthday, all the better. His skin twitched suddenly; the Sumeragi could already feel that cigarette's fine skin passing his lips, gentle and insistent as smoke traveled up and down his throat. Fuck; at this rate he would say to hell with politeness and just whip out a ciggy. Let them try to take it away from him. Dead gods, he really was screwed up. Spinel Sun glanced at him, as if reading the young man's thoughts and then turned back to look at Clow Reed, grinning crookedly with little humor. "Oh, what the hell? We need a vacation. Though I suppose that Subaru-kun will need a daily supply of cigarettes to keep him happy."

At this, Clow Reed nodded gravely, allowing one final grin to grace his lips, though the edges of his soft lips barely lifted. "Of course; we'll be sending a sum once every week. It will cover the boy's needs as well as give Sumeragi-san enough money to do as he pleases." At this, Subaru finally lit a cigarette, unable to ignore the pressure building in his chest any longer. He lit it with a quick flick of his wrist, the lighter ready, and sucked greedily. Clow Reed merely chuckled and said, "That sign is old, Subaru-kun. The only reason it's there is because we couldn't remove it. Nearly half the staff smoke." The man in question merely drew in the smoke more rapidly, unable to keep himself from groaning slightly. Clow smiled fondly at the boy he had known since childhood. And an invisible Ruby Moon giggled.

Shirou Kamui, a sixteen-year-old-boy had grown from a cute child to a beautiful teenager. Of course, with his growth spurt (him having just topped five-foot-four, a remarkable feat for someone who used to be just under five feet tall), came a clumsy habit of him acting like a young colt. It often left him awkwardly placed and, while he found it annoying, made him all the more attractive. Wide amethyst eyes that had left adults speechless around him when younger had now been accented by dark lashes that fell like satin curtains whenever he chose to hide those mauve orbs from view. And his heart-shaped face, always surrounded by dark locks, had lost its baby fat and had angled downward pleasingly. His lithe body was so awkward that it was elegant, curving just so that he seemed like a flat-chested girl. His hands had stayed tiny, yet the fingers had lengthened beautifully, to where often people commented on how he was made to play the piano. A bishounen, or pretty boy, in every aspect, it was a shame to know that covering the many planes of his body was scars, marring the porcelain skin. And, his eyes were dead to the world, only ever sparkling when he was frightened or seething with rage and hatred.

That had been before the capturing though. Now, his eyes were always dull, so heavily drugged was Kamui that at times they glazed over of their own accord. He was frighteningly skinny, nearing the tip of underweight. So far, the doctors had kept him within the weight limit of someone his size, pumping liquid food down his throat when he developed a terrible case of bulimia. That had passed by now, as they no longer put pills in his food but rather shot him through with fluids of sleep-inducing sweetness every hour. He was always on a bed, the world smelling of antiseptic and that soap that never really cleaned your hands. It smelled of death and bile, vomit and sickness. It smelled like Kamui's nightmares. And Keroberos could not comfort him, trapped in a constant state of slumber with magnificent white Angel wings strapped down, his paws hobbled together and head lolling as he slept on a few scant feet away from Kamui's own place of resting.

Today Kamui had yet to be given his three p.m. daily dose of sedatives, and he was burning with a morbid curiosity. He nibbled gently at his lower lip, tongue passing over the place where he had torn at the soft covering with frantic sawing motions, wishing for this to be a dream. Kamui had come to accept the sedatives. At first, when he took them, he hated them. However, as time passed and he learned that the only time he wasn't given those sleep-inducers was when he was either being questioned or prodded painfully by doctors, Kamui grew to love the sweet release. The medication never allowed him to dream, which meant he never saw their faces, which meant he never smelled their burning flesh. Actually, now he hated being conscious, this alertness bringing back a terrible pain in his body, all around him. It had only been a week since he had been captured, but Kamui had resigned himself to the fate of a living vegetable. Why wouldn't they simply allow a razor blade to pass his palm? Two quick slices and he'd be out of the picture permanently.

Kamui sat up in bed, back pressed firmly against the three fluffy pillows situated behind him as the white sheets pooled around his legs, abruptly reminding him of his lack of clothes (a simple plastic dress that all patients were required to wear adorning his, otherwise nude, body) before three men and their Guardians slipped in. Kamui's breath caught and his heart hammered for a moment before he began coughing violently. He drew away from the three, practically disappearing into the pillows behind him. The doctor and the president of a large company called CLAMP Industries were both people he had seen before. The third, however, was someone new, most likely a new foster parent, even if he was rather young. And it was precisely the man's age that made Kamui shiver as the doctor strode briskly over and proceeded to check his vital signs on the surrounding monitors, his white cockatoo Guardian bobbing and weaving on his shoulder. The president, Clow Reed, and his Guardian followed behind, stopping at Kamui's bed and gesturing for the remaining man to come closer. Kamui whimpered and cast a fearful glance at the man; ready to burst into tears and pitiful pleas (the only way to reach their thick skulls, apparently) when the man's actual face caught his eye.

The teenager barely stifled a gasp, trying not to blush as his eyes traveled over the pouty mouth, finely-shaped face, glassy green eyes, and black feathered hair all in one fell swoop. He hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath and he released it like a diver returning to the surface. Masculine and feminine mixed together beautifully, that was what this man was, the white trench coat sweeping around him drawing on all his finer points. Kamui's gaze swept up to meet the man's own, and he was shocked by the empty look he found there, so parallel to his own. He broke the contact first, letting his eyes wander to the butterfly cat beside him, just as beautiful as its master. His eyes snapped back to the president when he spoke though.

"Shirou-san, this is Sumeragi Subaru-san. He'll be your caretaker from now on." Kamui flinched at those words. Not again…hot hands…knife words…pain…blood… Kamui whimpered quietly and turned away, staring at his Guardian, willing Keroberos to awaken. And he felt the faint stirrings of the cat's consciousness as the doctor administered him with a reversing drug, in hopes of reviving the cat. However, the golden beast did not move (though Kamui could feel his thoughts, even if he couldn't understand them) and the doctor began stripping the cat of its bondage, disposing of the metal bands and electrically-charged chains. With a grunt of effort, the cat was laid out on the floor, the doctor leaning over it, trying to discern the reason that it wasn't awake. Kamui risked another glimpse of this Sumeragi and saw that the man was watching the still-limp ArchAngel with some interest. However, he turned and locked his gaze once more with Kamui and the boy dropped his head, avoiding his eyes. Which was why he didn't see what happened next until it had already passed.

With a hoarse roar, Keroberos launched himself at the doctor, sending him crashing into the wall with a loud thud before rounding on the Far Angel who was in the shape of a balloon and watching with wide eyes. Before the great Guardian could reach the pink object, he was flung to the ground as another ArchAngel jumped him. With deadly precision, Spinel Sun pressed a pawful of claws against his neck, the other effectively pinning his shoulder down while dark hind legs pressed down on the golden's own tawny flank. Keroberos struggled until he felt one razor-sharp claw knife through his neck and let loose a thin stream of blood. Subaru's eyes narrowed slightly when that same line appeared on Kamui's neck, the boy wincing in pain as the shaken doctor dabbed at it lightly with a damp cotton ball. Clow Reed looked ecstatic though, smiling warmly. "That's amazing, Shirou-san, that you have bonded with your Angel on such a level that when he feels pain you do as well. Tell me, does it work both ways?" Kamui blinked at the president before shaking his head slowly, speaking for the first time. "N-no. Kero-chan doesn't feel what I feel. And I normally only feel his pain. If its small wounds, I get hurt physically sometimes though." The boy's honey-laden voice was harsh from lack of use, and he swallowed repeatedly. When he was done speaking, he returned his gaze to where his cat was pinned. "Etto…" he murmured softly, "could you get off Kero-chan? He won't hurt you if you let him stay by me. He-he's rather-rather protective y-you see." His voice quavered and Kamui blushed self-consciously, feeling like a fool, eyelashes lowering modestly, trapping his eyes and outlining them better than any eyeliner, the different pieces so thick that it seemed he wore mascara. Talk about effeminate.

Clow Reed only nodded in response, turning and tilting his head at Subaru, asking silently for his Guardian to release the struggling Angelic feline. The young man's eyes warmed ever so slightly, having been ice-cold before, and it became apparent to the dark-haired youth that this Subaru cared more for his ArchAngel than people. With a very annoyed sigh, the ArchAngel let up a shaky Keroberos, scoffing as the golden cat stumbled to his master's bedside, collapsing beside it in a heap. Making a worried sound, Kamui wasted no time in stroking the cat's feathered wings, trying to sooth the tension that had formed a large knot there. He was aware of the Sumeragi's eyes on him, green marbles of clearest glass, stained so brilliantly. That was all they were, considering that there was no true emotion hidden within; it was all an act. "Now, Shirou-kun, would you mind going with Sumeragi-san for a while? It would get you out of here, and I can assure you that no harm would befall you with Sumeragi-san watching over you. He'd help you too, if you'd wish for such a thing." Clow Reed's voice was like a balm and all of the beings in that room relaxed even if their outside appearances did not change in the slightest.

Feeling unnaturally hesitant and meek, Kamui answered delicately, "I-I don't mind. Kero-chan doesn't either." Kamui cast a despairing glance at his Guardian, willing his other half to understand that it was either this or continued isolation and more tests, drugs and whatnot pumped through their bodies. And Keroberos said nothing, merely growled spitefully and snorted with disgust. Beside the Sumeragi, his Guardian rumbled a warning of his own. The opposites glared at each other before the lighter gravely nodded his head, defiance still shining in his liquid gold gaze, even if now it was somewhat subdued in its appearance. At this, the cockatoo perched on the doctor's shoulder squawked loudly then sniffed in embarrassment and buried its face in downy, white feathers. The doctor chuckled sheepishly, having also been rather relieved when the feline cherub chose to accept, even if it was in a halting fashion that left both Subaru and Spinel Sun wary.

Clow Reed seemed pleased though, clapping his hands together and dragging Subaru out the door by his arm, the younger man showing the slightest bit of exasperation, though his face became a blank stone when Kamui's eyes widened ever so slightly. The balloon floated along behind, taunting and teasing the tensed Spinel Sun. Keroberos watched the other go silently, ocher eyes tracking the other's movements until he passed back through that colorless door. And even then, those piercing orbs stayed riveted on that one spot, rounded ears flickering as he listened to the other's pawsteps fade. Finally, when even the men's voices had been lost completely, he turned back to Kamui, noticing irritably that the doctor was still here. Teeth gnashing together, Keroberos rounded on the man, who was checking Kamui's vital signs once more while his bird DaiAngel happily searched the medicine cabinet, muttering to itself in a low tone of voice. As the giant of a cat turned to him, the doctor squeaked and backed away, not keen on being smacked around once more. "You," the cat snarled; his voice suddenly thick, filled with a wariness that made the cowering physician edge closer. "H-hai?" The beast glared at him, eyes fighting to stay open. "Kamui-kun and I are going to…sleep…" The golden cat, now loosed from the bonds that had kept it from fading back into nothingness proceeded to return to his owner's heart, most likely to rest in earnest this time. And when the shaking doctor pressed his spectacles up his nose, he turned to find Kamui fast asleep, resting peacefully despite the earlier excitement.

The older man sighed, wondering why he had accepted the difficult task of having to revitalize the younger man. Now, after having the loss of his limbs for so many days, the youth would have to learn to walk again, even though it wouldn't take him all that long considering that he had been allowed a limited amount of movement. Currently, his only real problem was the drug's aftereffects. For a while, the boy would be sluggish and prone to simply collapsing. However, that would most likely pass after a few days of real food and daily exercise. Rather, it was his mental state that was the problem. Kamui had clammed up when they had asked why he had done that. Why he had allowed his Guardian to murder those foster parents in such a cruel matter. And besides that, why he was covered in wounds. Even now, there was an anomaly in his brain, mainly concerning the hippocampus (considered a main factor in storing long-term memories) and the amygdala (another factor in long-term memories as well as the part of the brain where emotions were said to form). It seemed as if he were blocking them out, those memories of his foster parents. And, at the same time, Kamui was developing a fear of contact with other human beings. Such an occurrence was not uncommon with some victims of rape, kidnappings, some form of traumatic experience that left the person in need of years of counseling. But to lose his memories…it was such a strange case. "Well, Jigsaw, we'll simply have to continue our observations of this boy. You'll do that, won't you?" The cockatoo faced the doctor, fixing his with one beady, black eye. "But of course."

The Sumeragi and president wandered down the halls, their Guardians falling into step behind them. Or rather, floating behind them, in Ruby Moon's case. "So, tell me, Subaru-kun, what do you think of him?" Before Subaru could actually reply, Spinel Sun cut in with a few sharp words. "That damn cat will end up mincemeat if he tries a stunt like that again." The green-eyed man ignored his Guardian's outburst having grown used to the other's hot-headed nature by now. "Shirou-san seems to be rather fragile. I doubt he'll be much trouble." Clow Reed stopped as Subaru finished his words, the balloon gliding to a halt beside him. The younger man walked on a few more feet before finally admitting defeat and stopping as well, turning to find himself face-to-face with his elder. "Shirou Kamui isn't a joke, Subaru-kun. There's something very off about him. I want you to figure out what it is. He's unstable, and I want to know what caused him to be that way. Besides that…Well, we'll speak of such things at a later time, after you two have grown to become friends." With this, Clow Reed smiled and continued on his way, humming pleasantly with the balloon following behind.

Spinel Sun padded up to stand beside the Sumeragi Head, staring after the two retreating backs with a thoughtful look in his eyes. His tail curled around wound around itself, that being the only factor giving away his current state of indecision. "I don't have friends, Clow-san. You, of all people, should know that." Spinel Sun merely rumbled his agreement to this quiet statement. They were interrupted from their pondering state by the doctor, who skidded to a stop before them and was doubled panting for a few tenuous seconds before finally regaining his breath and rising to his full height once more. "Gomen, Sumeragi-san; I simply wished to inform you that Shirou-san won't be ready to come to your house 'till later, around the time when Clow-sama said you would be out. He'll be fully conscious around thirty minutes after you come back, however. But...Clow-sama is worried since you won't be there for his actual arrival." Subaru sighed, impatient to be done with this. It was true that soon enough, he would be leaving to worry about some restless spirit in some temple; he wasn't quite sure of the details just yet.

Still, this was no reason for him to worry about some kid. But, since this man seemed restless and wary to the point of cowardly squeaks and undignified tones, Subaru would soothe his fears. He had been brought up to show no bitterness, anger, or any other conflicting emotions in the face of strangers, potential comrades, and business partners. So, he spoke with an eloquent tongue, weavings words and creating false emotions though, in truth, he felt nothing. "Oh, sensei, Spinel Sun shall watch over Shirou-san until I return. I doubt he'll be any problem for my Guardian." He nodded politely, signifying the conversation was over before uttering a soft, "Excuse me," and taking his leave.

Spinel Sun followed, butterfly wings shaking gently. These white walls were growing as repeatable as Subaru's daily habits, and he wished to be rid of this place. Though, in truth, soon Subaru's routine would be interrupted, his brooding and smoking of cigarettes being taken over by caring for the younger male. In the far recesses of his mind, Spinel Sun could not help but hope that caring for another human would do his ice-cold partner some good. And if it didn't…well, Spinel Sun had disposed of those that hurt his human in the past. He would certainly do such a thing again. As they exited the building, already well aware that Clow Reed had pre-arranged this transferring of Guardianship ahead of time simply because he knew Subaru could never turn down the chance at more cigarettes and a vacation to mope (as he so called it), Spinel Sun commented quietly, "So, I suppose things will be different from now on, eh, Subaru-kun?" His voice purred with an unidentifiable emotion, changing the normal 'kun' to a rather dragged out 'coon'.

The Sumeragi huffed and lit a cigarette, puffing out the majority of the smoke and inhaling the rest. "That boy won't be with me long enough to make a difference, Spinel." The cat sighed and shook his head before trying a different approach. "Well, what if you develop feelings for the boy? Or if he develops feelings for you, what will you do then?" The raven-haired man cast his cat an amused expression, a tiny smile tugging at his lips. "You know that part of me died a long time ago, Spinel Sun. I am merely a husk of that person, left over to fulfill my grandmother's wishes and die in a couple of years from lung cancer. What sane person could care for someone like me? And how could I care when I'm dead? " Spinel Sun cocked his head to the side, considering the other before furrowing his brow. "Well," he announced at last, pacing forward slightly more quickly than before, "at least you know you're a zombie and that soon enough all your hair will fall out before you croak." Subaru frowned before speeding up as well to where he drew even with the cat once more. "I'll only lose my hair if I opt for chemotherapy, Spinel Sun." The panther merely laughed harshly.

"You lied to that man, Subaru-kun."

"And if I did, Spinel…?"

Angel Types/Breeds:

ArchAngels: The strongest of the Angels, ArchAngels possess two traits that put them above the rest, and a hidden one that only comes forth when the situation calls for it. These two apparent traits are the jewels that are either nestled upon the crown of their head or surrounding their neck as an iron collar, imbued with magic that makes it impossible for one to remove such a thing and their "Angel" wings that allow them to fly. The hidden trait is unknown to many, and it is a secret that these guardians and their humans often take to the grave. It is said that ArchAngels are the judges of the fate of the Earth come the apocalypse. However, this is merely a rumor and ArchAngels are truly only a thing of myth for most, there only ever being one hundred of these creatures alive at any given time. Aside from these legends that surround the Angels, the only true difference between them and other Angels are merely their strength and their three distinguishing marks. Other than that, they have the intelligence that all Angels are graced with and the ability to pass through walls unhindered and to return to their master's soul when needed. While remarkable, there are so few that scientists have never examined these special Angels more than necessary.

FarAngels: FarAngels are regarded with a mixture of fear and respect. They are the ones that dominate in underground battles held between competitors for money, and they have Angel wings as well, however, they cannot fly and can hide these wings, where as ArchAngels cannot. Other than that, they possess higher psychic energy levels than regular Angels and are more likely to change into vengeful spirits when their partners pass over into the next world. FarAngels are said to only be gifted to those that posses extraordinary powers themselves, and it is not merely a fluke, as it is considered with ArchAngels. FarAngels also have the power to shape-shift into different forms depending on their moods.

SeraphimAngels: SeraphimAngels are the mediums in the world of Angels. They often appear to their masters in the form of mythical creatures and are wrapped in chains most of the time, bound to their masters until the end of eternity. These Angels are the longest-lived Angels, retaining memories of their past lives. Their human counterparts often take up some form of profession in history or something that involves the world of old. SeraphimAngels are fluent in many tongues, having lived since the dawn of time, and they are a handy traveling companion. SeraphimAngels aren't much in the course of fighting; however, most have some form of attack that allows them to bind their opponents motionless for some time, making them prized partners in two-on-two fights underground.

RiseAngels: RiseAngels are the second-weakest of Angels. These are more suited for gentle sparring than actual battle. They tend to be almost replicas of their human partners in nature and there are no discerning features about these except for having a symbol upon their shoulder, situated between the blades sometimes. These often are some sort of pattern that is unique to that Guardian, like a finger print. RiseAngels tend to be meaner copies of their humans, pulling malicious pranks when younger. When older, they can convince their masters to fire others or have other people fired. These Angels rely more so on wit and slyness that strength and justice, and as such, tend to dabble in dark arts.

DaiAngels: DaiAngels are the weakest of the Angels. They have exact copies of their designated human's mind and tend to die in the same way. DaiAngels tend to be underestimated; however, these creatures have the terrible power of Compulsion, a spell that allows the Angel to control a stronger Angel for a limited amount of time. While helpful with most, it breaks almost immediately on a FarAngel and has no effect on ArchAngels. DaiAngels are good-natured, despite their wicked ways; they simply have to be crafty to survive. DaiAngels have no distinct marks and look like ordinary animals or humans. This is dangerous, considering they are sturdier than normal humans, but other Angels can handle them if need be.

TrueAngels: Despite their innocent name, TrueAngels are considered the worst of the worst. As strong as FarAngels (though some can match up to ArchAngels as well), these are renegade Angels. They are bound to no human partners. Despicable in every way, TrueAngels wish to wipe mankind off the face of the Earth. However, in the past it is known that some foolish humans became their "Pact-partners", a procedure that bound the two beings souls together artificially. While their strength increased ten-fold, the TrueAngels were defeated in the end by an Angel of Light, Gabriel. He locked them away, sacrificing himself and saving the human race. It is said that these titans still remain underneath the Earth's crust, that every quake and tsunami is them expressing their displeasure. But, of course, these are only silly legends.

Angel Ages/ Lifespan:

Adults: Adult Angels are known to become as such when the human partner becomes twenty-one. However, this mechanism is speeded up by traumatic experiences, turning the Angel at that time into an Adult, so as to deal with the stress placed upon the human. Not all Angels can do this, and while suicides are somewhat avoided thanks to this, there are still many who perish from having Angels still stuck in their current life stage. Adult Angels are the strongest, with their powers fully developed and a set nature.

Young Adults: Young Adult Angels normally stay with their humans from the age of fourteen to the age of twenty. Of their twenty-first birthday, they are transformed to Adults. Young Adults are gangly in appearance and tend to tire more easily. They are also sarcastic, rude, and rather emotional. While this can sometimes simply be the Guardian's true nature, most often it is simply hormones and the need to understand.

Juveniles: Juvenile Angels are present from the childish age of five to the awkward age of thirteen. In this stage they get into petty fights, learn more of their heritage, and simply explore the full range of their powers. As seen with Keroberos, ArchAngels are incapable of flight until the age of twelve, and even then they are only able to flutter about for a few seconds. True flight isn't mastered 'till about a year after. Juveniles are adorable and have rather large, expressive eyes. They tend to exude an aura of cuteness, a basic mechanism to warn off predators and install parental instincts in Adults.

Infants: From when they are first born through the age of four, Angels learn to walk, control their speech and simply bond with their humans. They are at their weakest in this form. At this time, no actual powers have developed and they spend a great deal of time either conversing (once they can) or napping.

Next: The relationship between Kamui and Subaru, as well as their separate bonds with their bonded Angels.