Chapter one: Departure

Rufus and Jackson and the plot belong to me. All others belong to there respective owners.

It started as a regular day. For me that's saying much. After I awake, I have anywhere from five minutes to an hour to get ready for the day, it varies. So, after I'm all prepped and ready I have to wait for someone to arrive to tell me that the angel in charge of me is ready to speak with me. So, I'm pretty much just pacing around my room, which by the way is just a glorified cell. There's a bed that's stiffer than a rock, a dresser for the clothes the angels allow me to where, and a shower. On top of that, There are no windows. so if the walls weren't glowing like they do when I'm walking around, I'd be in pitch black darkness. The person who comes to fetch me, usually an azael apprentice, who's so frightened of me he's literally shaking and lacks the ability to speak anything but broken English.

Azaels are souls of deceased animals and humans that have been reincarnated with a form closely related to angels. Anyway, an azael comes to my room, which by the way doesn't even have a door, to fetch me and send me to an angel by the name of Razien, who is basically my caretaker/babysitter/etc. He's the one who tells me what I'm doing for the day, which most jobs take up more than one day to do.

That's how my days start, usually, however it was at this point in the day that everything stopped being routine. "Hello, Rufus," Razien began as I entered the room. He talks like he thinks he's superior to me in every way, it really pisses me off. "I trust you slept well." Nope, barely slept at all. "Yes, sir," He gave an obvious fake smile, "Wonderful, here is your assignment, until further notice," He exclaimed cheerfully with that ridiculous smile on his face as he handed me a folder. Wait, what? I swear if this is another guardian angel job, I'm gonna shoot someone, I think to myself as I open the folder. "Feel free to look through it to heart's content before you take your leave." He said, but I was only half listening.

I was staring at the front page. On the top of the page, in big, fat, and bold letters was one word. Zootopia. Of course, I knew what Zootopia was. My foster father was obsessed with the place, he even had a boyfriend who lived there, but I've never met him. Why on Earth was I picked for this, anyone else could do it and remain unseen. Excluding Jackson and I, everyone here has a spiritual body. While I was mad over the fact that I wouldn't be able to remain unnoticed for very long, I was also excited for the occurrence. I love when they give me free reign on jobs and as long as I get the job done, they don't care what else that I do.

Below Zootopia, there was a map of the city. It just showed the shape of the city and the outlines of the individual districts. Below that, was just a list of Ideal locations, that's what it was labeled as. Which just means places of either interest or importance. Most of the following pages where information pages of a selection of various citizens of Zootopia. Each is categorized as a 'person of interest'. Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, Benjamin Clawhauser, Gazelle, and Emmitt Otterton, just to name a few. It wasn't until I got to the last page that I realized what my job was actually going to be. I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face. Finally, something I'm good at! According to this, demonic activity has been on the rise since the Night Howlers incident, and its currently at a dangerous level. So, I get demon hunting duty. I'm so excited!

After scanning through the folder once more, I closed it and handed it back to Razien.

"Do you know where Jackson is?" I ask him. He seems genuinely surprised at the question.

"Why?" He asks. Short and sweet, how very like him.

"I'd like to tell him about my job as well as the fact that it will take longer than usual. I'd also like to discuss something with Michael." He smiles, genuinely for the first time in my presence, I do believe.

"I suppose it's a good thing, then, that they're in the same place. You'll be able to find them at the Archangel Barracks."

I took my leave from him and began to walk towards the Barracks. I felt so elevated, which is something that happens so very rarely here. I didn't bother trying to wave to anyone on my way there. There would be no point. They always avert their eyes the moment they see me, as if they're afraid that by looking at me they'll catch some deadly sickness. No matter how loud they might have been talking, they always drop their voices down to a whisper when I'm in their vicinity. It's painfully obvious how much I'm not welcome here.

It's the exact opposite for Jackson. He's so happy here. Practically everyone acts so friendly to him. I'm not even sure how many friends he has, they like to keep us apart from each other. We're from opposing clans, and yet we were as close as brothers once. It seems that those days are over now though.

I knock before I entered the Barracks. Whatever is being told or taught to Jackson is strictly confidential and not for my eyes and ears. It didn't take me very long to find Jackson and Michael. The joy written on Jackson's face brought a smile to mine.

"Rufus!" He practically screamed when he saw me. Next thing I know, his arms are wrapped around my body attempting to rob me of my ability to breathe. "I haven't seen you in ages. I've been so busy with training and my classes. When I'm done for the day, I'm to tired to visit. How are you?" It still surprises me how much he talks when he's excited.

"I'm good, everything's as it always is," I stated simply. He glances towards Michael before he said, "I'm so sorry. It sucks that they still act that way around you." I shrugged my shoulders, "It is what it is. Anyway, I came here to tell you I got a new job, unfortunately from the briefing I got, it seems it's an indefinite one. So I don't know when we will be able to see one another again."

His face fell at that, "Oh, well, good luck." He smiled. He was happy for me. I knew he was and somehow that made everything okay.

"Michael," I called as I turned to him, " I was wondering if you might remove the restriction on my Umbran Arts."

He looked me in the eyes, he's the only one that ever did. "Are you sure? Last time, it didn't end very well." He chose his words carefully as if he was afraid to talk about what happened.

I nodded," Yes I'm sure. I would also like to bring all my weapons with me on the job."

He nodded. "Very well. Arm." I raised my left arm, which happens to branded with the stigma of a devil. He waved his hand over the stigma and muttered a few words I couldn't understand, then, he released it.

"Allow me to retrieve your weapons," He said as he took his leave. I rubbed the stigma on my wrist. I was glad it didn't feel constricted anymore. My right wrist was branded with the Crest of Raphael. Even though I'm no longer bound to a demon, the residue of the demon still resides in me. That's what caused the stigma. It also allows me to recover from most injuries at an increased rate. In other words, it gives me a healing factor. Umbran Arts are the magic of my clan, even though I've been banished I will always be able to use it.

"Here you are," Michael announces when he returned, "Good luck on your job, I hope you enjoy it." He then hands me a cloak. A cloak my foster father designed to be able to carry various weapons, but appear as if there aren't any. Currently, there are about nine weapons in it. After I said my goodbyes to both Michael and Jackson, I left for the only exit I'm allowed to use to go to the world of the living. Of all the angels I met, Michael is the only one I like. He genuinely tries to respect me.

The way out I use has to be the coolest thing I have ever seen. From a glance it looks like just an ordinary well, but it doesn't contain water. It looks like someone took all the stars from the night sky and put them into whatever liquid lies within its depths. The liquid was dark as the deepest shadow. On top of that, It's constantly swirling within to the point it actually resembles a whirlpool. I just love looking into it. I take a deep breath, put on my cloak, and jump in.

I would like to point out that Rufus is an original character of mine and by no means have an relation to Bayonetta. I've never played Bayonetta. Any similarities between the two characters is strictly coincidental. The idea behind Azaels comes from a comic called Soul Cartel, as does the idea behind Rufus's stigma and crest. Like always feedback is always appreciated. Suggestions are welcome. Hope you enjoyed reading it.