Disclaimer: I don't own X1999. It belongs to CLAMP.
Chapter 1: Of Man's First Disobedience… (Although angels, too, make mistakes, no matter how unintentional)
Time on Earth:
26th Jan 1999
Tuesday
03.30am
Time in Heaven: Immaterial
Archangel of War's Tent in the Clouds
As always, Daisuke could not help but feel slight disgust at the current War Academy. He had seen paintings and illusions on what the real thing used to look like before the Great War had ravaged it. Where there were once soaring towers and magnificent arches in Byzantine style, there was now tent after tent after tent of makeshift camps.
He approached the Archangel's rather rickety looking desk, masking his disapproval effectively. While he wqas taught to respect the Archangels, and Sorata was probably old enough to have been shopping in Babylon's market when it had been around, Daisuke still…couldn't help but wonder how on earth did someone as lazy and disorganised become an Archangel.
"Ah! There you are!" Sorata all but pounced onto him.
"Sorata-san, Hinoto-hime asked me to tell you that perhaps someone had better watch over the Messiah. Apparently Subaru-san is in quite a spot himself, without watching over Kamui's reincarnation. And someone should help Shirou out. He's still young and inexperienced. If Segawa Keichi falls or dies before awakening…"
Sorata blinked.
"Segawa?"
Daisuke frowned. Surely he couldn't be that thick…
"The Messiah Incarnate?"
"Is he…human?"
That's it. Daisuke hated his job. What was the point of having a secretary if you obviously didn't do any work anyway?
"He is. It's written in the cloud index system."
Sorata nodded thoughtfully, index finger poised on his chin to give the impression of deep thought. Daisuke drew the line rather forcibly at impression.
"Okay, I'll drop down I guess."
He bowed, and turned to leave.
"Oh, Daisuke-chan?"
The secretary gritted his teeth at the abominable pet name and turned rather slowly.
"Yes?"
"Help me tell Nee-chan that I'll miss her loads while I'm gone, and if she's lonely, to please call me anytime anyday!"
Oh God. What had he done to deserve this?
"I will," he said resignedly, but Sorata was already out of the tent flap, whistling an annoying tune cheerfully.
It was only a good while later, that he realised he had forgotten to tell Sorata just what kind of trouble Subaru was in.
26th Jan 1999
Tuesday
09.23am
Ritz Carlton
Suite 666
Subaru woke up, head feeling like hell and it took him two whole seconds to realise that he actually woke up, without remembering going to bed.
Actually, the last thing he remembered was the rather yummy fois gras (which he could eat as long as he didn't think about the cruelty involved in their making). Everything else was a blank.
The other thing he realised was that he was in a bed. Or more precisely, he was in a bed that wasn't his. And judging from the tiny notebooks these hotels provided on the nightstand, he had yet to leave the Ritz.
Oh dear.
Subaru's frantic gaze swept across the elegantly furnished suite, and landed on his clothes, folded neatly on a posh armchair; turtleneck, pants and…underwear?!
Third and possibly most disturbing revelation of the day: HE WASN'T WEARING ANYTHING.
The duvet was too heavy to wrap around himself, so Subaru made a mad dash for the clothes and dived back under the covers, just in case someone decided to materialise there and then. However, the suite seemed to be empty. This was confirmed by the note he found neatly left on top of the clothes. It read:
Good morning, Subaru-kun!
I trust you slept well? I must apologise for leaving but I hardly expect you to be in an amiable mood anyway, and I'll rather not lose too many feathers so early in the morning, thank you.
Anyway, seeing as how you've kept your end of the bargain excellently, here's my end.
The apocalypse will only take place after Christmas, thus giving you lots of time to try and thwart Armageddon, as well as last minute Christmas shopping that I'm sure will crop up when the time comes.
Will speak to Fuuma, but I'm fairly sure that that's futile. By the way, I wasn't aware that you two were acquainted. Judging by your reaction, you must have a clear idea of who he really is. But I'll leave that to you to explain the next time we meet.
Yours,
Sakurazuka Seishirou
No. Way.
Forgive me Father, he began praying fervently, I may have sinned. May being the key word here, because for some G- for some…some forsaken reason, I can't seem to remember. And does unconsciously sinning still count?
Of course it did. It was all in the soul, not in the mind.
"Oh.no.Oh.no." And if things could get worse, he had yet to call Kamui. Subaru's answering machine would probably by now be filled with the natterings of an irate teenager. If said irate teen wasn't already waiting in his house or tearing apart Tokyo to find him.
Subaru sighed tiredly. Only a month on earth, and he had gotten into more trouble than the last millennia of his angelic existence. That was why he hated descending. Best to check his wings before checking up on Hokuto-chan, his sorely-missed sister.
Hokuto had been an angel herself, until Seishirou killed her. Oh dear.
He may have just slept with his sister's killer.
Subaru was quite sure that that was high up on the list of sins, although, possibly, he was the only angel in existence who found himself in such a bizarre situation, so with luck, it wasn't on the list at all.
Manifesting his power, Subaru gently drew his beautiful wings out and blinked.
They were pure shimmering white, tinged just with the hint of silver that was trademark of his title as angel of death and judgement. The silver was the aesthetically pleasing symbol of the gravity of his position as one that brushed against the morbid and well…relatively unangelic when you went right down to it.
Nope, nothing charred or singed. Nothing that smelt faintly of barbecue.
Maybe he hadn't compromised himself, then.
Feeling slightly more relieved, but terribly putout with Seishirou (whose sense of humour always managed to create such inconveniences for the poor angel), Subaru dressed quickly and headed towards the large ceiling to floor windows.
After admiring the view of Tokyo, he took a deep breath and plunged himself through the glass, leaving it intact behind him.
26th Jan 1999
Tuesday
11.32am
Tokyo
Red Light District
Flower Soapland
Entrance
She was stunningly beautiful, one of those women with innate seductive charm and the ability to turn heads in her direction.
She was also a Soapland girl.
Yuuto stood in a across the busy street, full of the licentious crowd, and smiled to himself. He watched auburn curls bounce as she swayed, he laughed as her lips took on a slight sensual smile, her eyes knowing of what the men staring at her wanted. All that, however, wasn't enough to capture his attention. Yuuto was Lust, one of Hell's highest ranking aristocracy, and a mere woman, while undeniably sexy, was not enough to tempt him.
No. It was the way her mind screamed for forgiveness to God, everytime she abused her body for a living.
Yuuto found it ironic, that she prayed blindly for forgiveness, instead of salvation.
After a moment's debate, he summoned up one of his minions, and sent the irresistible creature after her.
It would be interesting to own her soul.
Karen turned her head slightly and stared. The man crossing the road towards her was gorgeous, he looked everything she dreamt for; decent, young, intelligent. Or at least, he would if his ugly smirk did not mar it.
She was also having difficulty focussing on his face. The illusion of good looks was flickering back and forth between something more hideous; a twisted grinning face, full of hatred and malicious lust.
Ever since young, Karen had been punished for claiming to see angels; stop this blasphemy you monstrous child, her mother had said, and while Karen had cried silently in a corner, the lovely figures with snowy wings had held her gently, soothingly.
When she grew older, Karen found that she could sense their antithesis too. Demons cropped up way more often in her line of work.
She'd never needed to deal with them in these circumstances, however. In her panic, Karen began to pray.
"No one's listening, Kasumi-san," the demon said, hideous grin twisting into an even more grotesque visage.
Karen felt sick.
Oh God, they know my name.
"We know a lot about you, my dear," he continued on, taking perverse delight in reading her human thoughts, "enough to fascinate our Lord."
Frantically, Karen tried to bolt, but found herself uncomfortably rooted to the spot. She tried to scream, but no sound escaped from her throat. Passersbys did not spare them a second glance. Probably just saw a Soapland Girl being picked up again.
"There is no use resisting, pretty, come with me. I'll-"
The demon tried to finish his sentence, but froze suddenly, with a strange expression of his face.
It was one of abject terror.
"Good morning. I'm afraid the lady's not interested."
Karen found herself free from the spell again, and jerked her head in the direction of the voice. It was soft, gentlemanly, polite, and above all, angelic.
There stood a good looking middle aged man, immaculate, with glasses and a friendly soothing smile.
He was also glowing.
Aoki Seichirou's eyes softened as it met Karen's.
"Forgive me, Karen-san. I came as soon as I heard."
Karen smiled slightly, in gratitude an acknowledgement. She bowed her head piously as well, and the demon edged away from the powerful entity in front of him.
Aoki had yet to forget about him, however.
"Close your eyes, please."
Karen blinked. Noticing her confusion, he smiled and reached out, drawing her slowly against his chest, pressing her face tenderly into his chest.
"I don't want to blind you."
Karen did as she was told, feeling her heart beating faster, feeling safer than she had ever felt before, encompassed within strong arms and ethereal joy and peace.
Then she felt it. The sudden burst of divine power, sounding firstly like a harp and then soaring to a full crescendo of melodious chorus of hymns. The music resounded of joy and tranquillity, of pure delight and untainted contentment. The insides of her eyelids turned white, and she pressed deeper against the angel.
Then it was over.
Slowly, she pulled back, and when she turned around, there was nothing but dust on the road, which slowly swept away in the wind.
"Thank you," she managed, and to Aoki, he saw not the seduction but the innocence.
"I'm glad I could help you, Karen-san. And you must not hesitate to call for help."
Karen smiled her thanks, and watched as Aoki bowed, gaining himself a few stares from the passersbys who had even ignored the blinding light, and left.
Neither of them noticed Yuuto walking away calmly.
26th Jan 1999
Tuesday
13.14pm
Tokyo
CLAMP Campus
High School Divions
A quaint Café
Alfresco section
"YOU WHAT?!"
Various students turned to blink at the gorgeous albeit hysterical boy. Shirou Kamui had his little quirks, but on the whole, he was still pleasing enough to look at. At the moment however, they weren't too sure that they were keen on hearing him.
On the other line, Subaru winced.
"Like I said, I'm not too sure."
"How can you be unsure?! Did he drug you or something? Aren't you like…immune to drugging and all things mortal?"
"Kamui, do you realise that everyone on your side can hear the things you're saying? Where are you anyway?"
Kamui removed his ear from the phone to glare at the surrounding people in general, who suddenly were very absorbed in their own activities.
"No one's listening. Go on."
Subaru sighed.
"I don't think he drugged me. I think my memory's been tempered with."
"Get it back."
"What? Ask for it? March right in and go, Hello Seishirou-san, can I have my memory back so I know if I compromised my angelic status by sleeping with you?"
Kamui frowned.
"I don't think you did," he said stubbornly, clinging on to fervent hope, "I think he just wanted you to think you did."
That didn't make any sense whatsoever to Subaru.
"Why would Seishirou-san do something like that?" He asked, voice conveying clearly his doubt.
Cause he's insane and clearly obsessed with you, Kamui thought, but didn't say.
"How should I know?" He replied instead, and turned to take a good look around the Café. What he saw made him choke.
Monou Fuuma had just walked in.
"Hey, Subaru? Listen, I really need to go now. Will call you when I'm home. Let's do dinner tomorrow, or something. Take care and don't worry too much about stuff. See you!" Kamui slammed down before Subaru could get a word in edgewise.
He slid off the chairs (French design) and tried his utmost to creep towards the exit unseen. However, luck obviously wasn't on his side because it was always on the side of the Devil. Or at least, the Devil's good friends.
"Good afternnon, Kamui-chan!"
Shit.
Kamui looked up warily to meet Fuuma's eyes, filled to the eyelids with malicious delight. And a hint of true fondness, but that went past Kamui.
"What do you want."
Fuuma looked mock wounded.
"Why, Kamui-chan, people will think you disliked me!"
"That's cause people are generally smart."
Fuuma smirked.
"Are they? You would have thought that people would have learnt their lesson by now, but they still go on making the same mistakes over and over again."
"Not all of them," Kamui replied in annoyance, knowing very well that Fuuma was going on about the unintentional sin of curiosity and the apple theory.
"Enough of them to ensure that Hell stays nicely populated," Fuuma countered, dropping the whole who-me? I'mma-human façade.
Kamui had by this time stalked out of the café, trying to put as much distance between Fuuma and himself as possible. Fuuma had, however, followed behind at a comfortable pace, natural height advantage allowing him to keep up with no effort whatsoever. He wondered if he could get away with teleport.
Finally, Kamui couldn't stand it anymore.
"Why the fuc-hel-…why are you here?" He rounded on Fuuma, bristling with irritability. Fuuma tried rather vainly to hold in the laughter, Kamui looked adorable, rather like a cat whose tail had been trodded on, but he was sure Kamui wouldn't appreciate the comparison.
"Well, I'm here to thwart your divine plans."
"Why me?!" Kamui asked in frustration, not because he didn't know the answer but because he was sure that there wasn't a reason in the first place other than the fact that his life was destined to suck.
Fuuma grinned and resisted the urge to ruffle Kamui's hair.
"Because, "he said, pausing slightly for dramatic effect, "you're so cute."
CLAMP Campus High School division was graced with a rather loud scream of annoyance.
"Quieter, Kamui-chan, you wouldn't want people to walk in on us, do you?"
Kamui turned purple at the insinuation.
"I'M NOT SLEEPING WITH YOU, YOU DEMONIC…DEMONIC...DEMON THING!"
Wow, how original.
"I'm wounded, " Fuuma said lightly, looking anything but.
"Stay away from Segawa."
A raised eyebrow. They had walked into a rather nice park within the campus, and Fuuma chose an unsuspicious looking tree trunk to lean against comfortably.
"Why should I? Equal opportunities and all. You can't monopolise his soul."
Kamui gritted his teeth and contemplated kicking Fuuma's head in. Control yourself, he thought, you're supposed to be forgiving.
"Why don't you try and drag me down instead?" Kamui tried this with a persuasive smile. So this was how Subaru felt all the time. Cold desperate dread. But he needed to keep Fuuma far away from Keiichi. Who cares if he fell? As long as the Messiah was preserved, nothing mattered.
Fuuma tapped his chin thoughtfully, air of contemplative contemplation. This was for all of two seconds, before the traditionally dark smile tugged at his lips again.
"You won't be able to resist."
Kamui narrowed his eyes.
"Try me."
Without warning, Fuuma grabbed Kamui's collar and reversed their positions; Kamui pinned against the tree at the wrists, and Fuuma's leg in between his thighs. He yelped and struggled against his captor, but fierce lips claimed his own in a bruising demanding kiss, until Kamui ceased resisting. The kiss was achingly familiar, invoking spikes of desire as well as an ancient longing that he did not and could not understand.
As Fuuma pulled away slightly, their faces mere inches apart, he saw something in Kamui's eyes, something he was sure the youngling did not realise existed. It made him smile rather amusedly.
Then it was gone. Kamui's brain process caught up with the rest of him, and he slapped Fuuma as hard as he could.
The demon didn't retaliate, he merely inclined his head and stared at Kamui smugly.
"I told you, you wouldn't resist."
Kamui glared at him, and a lesser man would have been fazed, but Fuuma wasn't even human.
"…You cheated," Kamui sulked sullenly.
He received a sneer for his pains, because Fuuma wasn't amused by the sheer stupidity of that sentence.
"I'm a demon, Kamui-chan. Cheating is what we do."
Kamui rolled his eyes and barely succeeded in shoving Fuuma off him.
"Whatever. I won't fall." Or at least, I will be able to hold out past Armageddon, whenever that is. Then after that…I can just go back to heaven and never ever set foot on Earth's soil ever again.
Fuuma laughed, his voice filled with mockery, and Kamui had the sinking feeling that the demon could read minds.
"Well, we'll see how it goes, then."
They vanished.