A/N: thank you and German translations are as follows: Fraulein-young lady. Verloren Engel: lost angel. Was ist los: what is it? Der Konig: the King. Enjoy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 3: Her last name is Shelumiel~~~~~~~~~~~~
If in Heaven there are seven layers according to God's creation of the spiritual plain then in Hell-the realm of sin and decay, seven different levels exist also. The first being Gehenna where once upon many forgotten ages ago, the Genesis of all life some say began. That, many Angel scholars scoff at, the mere idea that any sort of life form could flourish in the rocky valleys and burbling pits of tar-like water is anyone's guess.
In the heart of Gehenna lie the ash-ridden ruins of Amanozako Castle; murky skies are almost always over the blighted land, which the Demons are usually quick to mutter that it was the subsequent slaughter of the Evils Royals by a band of avenging Angels from Briah that led to the darkening of this once fair land.
Also…we mustn't forget Lethe, the river of Hell oddly enough begins in Gehenna and flows straight through the veil-hidden Golgotha Road and continues past the caves of Banmaden home of the last surviving Evils Royal…Lethe then branches off into a fork once it hits Amloch-Northern Gate of Hell where the Demon Prince guards it…
How often did a breeze blow through Amloch? Never, Ichigo the demon prince thought, observing the stirring of his bright hair. His second-in-command Halibel didn't seem to notice this unusual event, the lower half of her face-covered by the high cowl-like collar of the military dress worn by Hell's army.
Just why, Halibel, a moderately pretty female would 'choose' to have her features hidden had been revealed at their first meeting. He recalled her lack of fear and was unwittingly reminded of the little Angel. "Halibel," he said, breaking her out of her reverie. "Yes, Kurosaki-sama?" the blond looked up expectantly. Ichigo grinned, "How many times have I told you NOT to add 'sama'? Not even Byakuya gives me an honorific…freakin' Dragon Master," he muttered, "I was wondering though. Do you remember when we first met?"
Halibel smiled; Ichigo could tell from the sparkle that came into her eyes, "How could I ever forget? It was you who saved me from the infinite darkness and torment of Golgotha…"
The Golgotha road: an empty colorless plain dominated by ghouls and other fouler things such as Shades. It is the ultimate punishment of blaspheming against God for an angel to be cast down into these lower depths. "Now, Ichigo," instructed the new Queen of Hell and new Mother, Masaki Kurosaki, "when you become the guardian of Amloch. All this land and outside the veil will be your responsibility," she waved a slim hand at the stark landscape.
Ichigo, then a little boy of four years-by human calculations, stared wide-eyed at the miasmic like mist rising from fetid ponds and little mounds of coal-black soil where ghouls hovered, crow like in their tattered black rags. One in particular caught his then-innocent gaze, a thin form clad in once-fair raiment and shivering beside one of the aforementioned mounds.
While Masaki was preoccupied with the rotted smell sticking to her crimson gown, Ichigo bravely went over to the bundled rags and spoke up, "hello?" The cloth didn't move. So he tried again, "may you be damned to accursed agony on this day." His remark was the standard greeting in Hell among the Demons and not to be taken the way it was by the bundle. Gray eyes appeared suddenly, the look in them stern and hard, a curl of lemon yellow hair coiled down along the-woman's-he decided-cheek.
"Who are you, little demon?" her voice was soft with a strange accent tinting it. In Daemonata, he answered her, "I am to be Lord of this land, Fraulein." Fraulein, he'd been taught by Tatsuki was a young woman. "Fraulein?" the gray eyes glinted, "well then I think not, little Prince. Try verloren Engel instead."
"Engel?" Ichigo repeated, it sounded like 'angel' but he wasn't sure. "Ichigo?!" Masaki had let out a loud squawk. What kind of mother was she-to let her precious boy wander away? She lifted her skirts up, flounces and all and ran over to where he stood, "Ichigo! How many decades have I told you not to wander off like that?" She glanced down at the bundle and gray eyes peeking out, "what 'is' that? A shade?"
"She, is an Engel," Ichigo said smartly, quite proud of himself. "Engel?" Masaki mouthed, she thought back to her days in Heaven…Engel…translates to 'Angel!' Quickly she swooped Ichigo up into her arms, if an 'angel' were here in Golgotha…either it was a raiding party or…The bundle quivered slightly and then chuckled lightly. The cloth fell away to reveal a black mark like an upside down cross and a tiny wreath of thorns encircling it.
Masaki stared horrified, "the Peccavi Mundi! How horrible!"
It was obvious; 'She' was a fallen Angel.
"Yes…father, forgive me, for I have sinned," the angel got up to her feet, the yellowed cloak slid down into its natural folds. Masaki backed away, clutching Ichigo tighter to her chest-no easy feat-since he was large for his age, "what did you do to earn that?" she asked just above a frightened whisper. The angel gave a short, bitter laugh, "or what I didn't do? Forgive me for I haven't sinned…" she traced a finger against the burned skin, "marked for a crime I didn't commit. Cast down here to be forgotten like the damned that aren't saved. That is the worst fate above the wings being severed…hm; I see you are the Demon queen. Might I ask for a tiny ounce of mercy, your infernal Highness?"
Masaki eyed the Angel, "what is it you want?" she asked carefully.
"Death," the once glorious being said firmly, "that is all."
The Demon Queen took a sharp intake of breath, "all right, I'll grant you your desire." Ichigo scrambled down, a worried look in his knowing amber eyes. Masaki started gathering astral energy from along the plain, in her hands it came, a clear iridescent sphere. The fallen angel fell to her knees, her blond head bowed. Masaki held the orb and prepared to thrust it down, the words of ancient command on her tongue. The next second a sharp little voice cut through the air, "hor auf damit!"
Masaki tried to hold back a snort of laughter; Ichigo, her precious 'lil Demon had positioned himself in front of the fallen angel, a determined expression on his face. "Stop it?" she muttered, she covered her mouth to stifle the giggle building there, "in German no less. That Tatsuki's been teaching you too many things in the human language! So…" she got right down to business, "if you won't let me fulfill her wish then what do you want to do with her? Eventually most fallen angels end up in Suiren's pits where grandpa lives. You don't want that to happen now do you?"
Ichigo thought for moment and then finally he turned to face the pitiful being behind him, "if you will serve me for ever and ever then you shall escape this hole in hell. What do you say?" Gray eyes stared at him incredulously, "serve you…? The Demon prince?"
"Yeah…Angarola's not bad. A bit drafty…but if you prefer something warmer…" he trailed off.
Halibel sighed, "That's why I serve you and only you, Kurosaki-sama."
"Uh-huh," Ichigo shaded his eyes and glanced up at the sky in time to see a massive gray shape gliding effortlessly above. "Tatsuki's around," he muttered. Halibel had gone back to the spreadsheet she was reviewing; the smallest tip of the Peccavi Mundi visible, "the half-German Dragon Master, right?"
"Yeah…" Ichigo watched Anfang circle around after a carrion crow; he figured from the Dragon's empty back that his master was somewhere else creating chaos. But then…Ichigo stopped dead in his thoughts as a heavier aura passed like a malignant miasma over them. Halibel lowered the paper and tilted her head up, "his Highness…the King!" she said, her gray eyes wide with wonder, "what is 'he' doing out here?"
"Not paying us a visit obviously," Ichigo remarked caustically; the shadow was a mere dot on the horizon that lead up to Gehenna. What the 'Hell' was the High King doing leaving Angarola castle?
~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 3: Her last name is Shelumiel~~~~~~~~~~~~
Purple shrouds just don't shiver by themselves let's get that straight. They only shiver in fear if a certain little Angel is hiding behind them and is too afraid to ask for help from her superior. That and she was freezing from the swim through the waters of Briah just to reach Beulah without being detected. Truly she wasn't feeling her best.
Rukia peered out; the sisters were helping the Higher-ranking Angels from the noise they were making she assumed Great Thrones Zaraki was present. She could hear his rough gravelly speech with its queer accent and then being interrupted by a softer intonation from Dominions Jushiro Ukitake.
"The meeting room is this way-?" the Dominions queried.
"Why yes, your Lordship," a sister replied.
The great bulk of Zaraki's shadow appeared against the farther wall, "I must assume that none of Retsu's cadets live here?"
"No, sir. All of the Lady's students either stay in Eleison or Etenamenki."
"Pity…I'd really been looking forward to meeting one of them face to face," the Angel's tone for some reason sent chills running up Rukia's spine. It was time to move, she decided. Quickly she darted out and crossed the hallway to grasp at another silver knob that lead to, the meeting room and beyond that-the Saboath reliquary.
Just how she was going to make it out of Beulah with her treasure, she had no idea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 3: Her last name is Shelumiel~~~~~~~~~~~~
Always a conscientious hard worker always aiming to please and all for what? One thing goes wrong and now she has to deal with it; Retsu was fed up. If that was how the system ran, all female Angels particularly those of high rank were treated with suspicion, then maybe she should just quit.
Give up her beautiful mansion and esteemed station as watcher of the Saboath reliquary not to mention the title of Seven virtues…she shook her head. No. There had to be a better way. Retsu tucked a strand of loose hair back into her tight coronet and checked her new set of violet robes. Plain yet exquisite in the satin sheen the fabric gave off as she stood in her room, lit by a single candelabrum.
The last item she hesitated in placing on her forehead was a plain beaten gold circlet, the symbol of her position on the Grand council. Once it was on she hastened to properly greet her guests. Zaraki, she saw, had his meaty hand wrapped around the delicate silver knob of the meeting room's door. "Please if I may?" Retsu inquired politely.
The giant stepped back, "after you," he said slightly mockingly. He for one didn't believe in the innocence of female Angels. They were all conniving little whores beneath the veneer of Holiness they wore, but that was just his opinion.
Jushiro Ukitake was different in the respect of opinion. He perhaps thought too much of holier things and not enough on the structure of Heaven. Take the rebel group Ragnarok; Retsu herself had voiced her thoughts that they should be crushed down-any sort of rebellion could be seen as weakness by the Demons. Zaraki had agreed, rarely had they ever been on the same page. But the head of the Grand council? "It'll sort itself out eventually…any kind of action made by our forces will only inflame the masses against us. And that's something we all don't want…"
Retsu recalled his blithe words and wished bitterly that she were the leader. Not this wheezing, sickly man whom squeezed by her to take the chair at the head of the mahogany table. Seven members it would seat yet only three sat down. "Lady Retsu, I must say you look quite…lovely," Ukitake commented. "Bewitching is more like it," Zaraki muttered from the Dominion's left.
Retsu smiled accepting the 'compliment,' "thank you, Lord Zaraki for speaking your mind. Now what matter of pressing news has come via Angarola, that you feel must be dealt with quickly?" Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the reliquary's door which was right behind Ukitake, creep open just the tiniest bit.
"The High King has issued a request for a switch in hostages. They have Reaper Hisana Shelumiel; we have…four of their lower ranking Privaron Espada," the Dominions said, sniffling into his handkerchief. "Ah…I see…they want us to release the Demons in exchange for the Reaper? Correct?" Retsu leaned forward, cupping her cheek in her hand; maybe she was more tired than she thought.
"Uh…no," Ukitake glanced at Zaraki, whom nodded once, "they don't want the Espada back. What the King requested is an Angel to be the Queen's handmaiden. To be picked from your cadets specifically." Retsu might have shown a different attitude before the other day in Paris…but here was her proof. The Dragon masters invading Mathey, taking Hisana whom was Rukia's older sister-they looked exactly alike-and now ask-no-demanding a switch with one of her cadets? That was the final piece to the puzzle. The Queen was behind this.
May Heaven bless her, Retsu thought furiously.
"Normally Commander Shihoin of Principalities would be tasked in dealing with this," the Dominions continued, blissfully unaware of the seething emotions brewing beneath Retsu's outer calm façade. "However since it directly involves your cadets…we thought it best to inform you first," the white-haired Angel seemed uncomfortable with the silence that followed his last statement.
"What will they do…if we deny the request?" Retsu finally asked, her voice low. The door to the reliquary started to swing open. Nobody noticed. "The Benediction line and the truce, he promises, will be broken," the Dominions stared intently into her face. "In other words, he threatens war if we don't quietly hand over another Angel," Zaraki stated bluntly, "I for one, think it's a fair trade. A worthless female for a worthy one…Shelumiel is one of my best Reapers."
Retsu made no remark couldn't rather. Hell invades Heaven then retreats and later instead of offering recompense they demand a switch in hostages. The audacity! And these fools, Retsu surveyed the two male Angels watching her, waiting for her assent, were the same. Never had any proud member of the Host willingly given into Demon demands, until now.
"I…" she knew she couldn't say it. Couldn't condemn one of the most pure hearted Angels she'd seen in a long time. Dominions sat up straighter anticipating her agreement, Great Thrones merely held his peace for once.
"I refuse."
~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 3: Her last name is Shelumiel~~~~~~~~~~~~
The first thing Masaki noticed was a slight scent of burning roses tainting the air. Hisana still had the red mark from the slap of Hell's Queen. Impertinence was something she abhorred above anything else. Tatsuki had begun chewing her lip in a gesture that clearly indicated the young Dragon Master was exceedingly bored. Not that Masaki could blame her; even the imperturbable Byakuya Kuchiki had left to circle the area with Rengoku-ki.
She sniffed the air, one hand propped on her hip "do you…smell that?"
Tatsuki blinked, far away came the agitated roar of Anfang recognizable through the tremor that shook his master. "Was ist los?!" Tatsuki cried out a second later, "Der Konig!" Masaki hated it when the girl would slip into her native language but she knew well enough what she meant. Her husband-the high King was coming.
"Call Kuchiki! We mustn't let him see her! Hurry! Tatsuki!"
Roused by the urgency in Masaki's tone, Tatsuki concentrated forming a mind-link to Anfang to who in turn would telepathically speak with Rengoku-ki. In seconds in seemed, the crimson Dragon appeared bearing his disgruntled-didn't show it-rider. "You summoned me, your Majesty? Arisawa-san?" the eldest Dragon Master queried.
Masaki fought back the urge to snap at him, the scent of the burning roses was even closer now, "yes! Now take her!" she pointed at the silent Angel, "and keep her until the situation changes. Now go!" Byakuya didn't raise an eyebrow; calmly he lifted Hisana and placed her on Rengoku-ki's scaly back.
Tatsuki glanced about ready for flight at the first sight of the High king. Unfortunately Anfang was too far away to make a quick escape like Rengoku-ki. No sooner had the crimson Dragon lifted off into the sky then a man dressed in a trailing midnight cloak and undertakers' suit alighted on coal black wings beside Masaki.
"Y-Your Highness," Tatsuki imitated a human curtsy, imperfect by the fact that she wore leather pants and a tube top beneath a mandarin style jacket instead of a dress. "Young Tatsuki," he politely murmured, "and my beloved wife…what could the two of you be scheming?"
The two females froze; he'd hit it right on the head.
The High King Isshin Kurosaki continued in the same polite tone, "Jeeves brought me a report this afternoon of an unscheduled raid in Heaven's lowest realm, Mathey. Who," he sent each woman a searching look, "do you think lead it?" Masaki inhaled sharply and almost gagged the aroma of roses-make that-incinerated roses was overwhelming the ruined hall. Tatsuki began to shiver as Isshin's dark gaze passed over her; never mind the smell she could handle that but not his piercing-burning eyes much like Ichigo's.
"Tatsuki, why haven't you been to Angarola? It's been ages since you've stopped by," abruptly he'd changed the subject all to lure them into a false sense of security. Masaki realized that and interceded before the young Dragon Master spilled her guts, "oh honey that little raid was something I put together."
"Indeed? Why?"
"Because…I…" the Queen hesitated; Isshin was no wife-beater or torture fiend but his temper could get pretty scary with other Demons. And not wanting the Kuchiki lord to take the blame-instead of Tatsuki-Isshin always had a soft spot for the girl- she did the next best thing. She lied, "I wanted a new servant girl to help me dress…one that wouldn't be all scarred up and silent." She shivered slightly, "and Tatsuki here was kind enough to grab me a Reaper Angel but I found her to be just as quiet and I was thinking…she could used as a bargaining chip for someone else."
Isshin pondered her words, "do you know whom you have in mind?" he asked finally.
"Why…yes," Masaki smiled suddenly, a wicked glint appeared in her eye, "a female angel belonging to third of the Seven virtues cadets. An angel by the last name of Shelumiel."
~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 3: Her last name is Shelumiel~~~~~~~~~~~~
Angels are taught from the moment they become anything of importance in the Celestial hierarchy of Heaven not to ever become a burden to their commanding officer. In Hisana's case it was the Great Thrones Kenpachi Zaraki, a male Angel known for his dislike of the other sex and cruelty to anyone who dared defy him.
When her little sister had joined Heavenly choirs, she'd been relieved.
The Lady Retsu was a kindly enough Angel even with the slowest of her cadets…Rukia had a tendency to be …well, Hisana sighed, wholly innocent as befitting an Angel and absolutely naïve concerning anything above her duties. So she had assumed that she would be safe that is until the attack on Mathey and her own capture and subsequent questioning about her other siblings.
The Dragon beneath her lurched suddenly and she shot forward, only the dragon Master's restraining hand around her waist stopped her from pitching head first over the scaly neck. "Be careful," he warned in a monotonous tone. She could feel his antipathy about this task and could only agree whole-heartedly with him albeit silently. The sooner 'the situation changed' the better.
~~~~~~~~~To be continued
A/N: apologies not much happened. Next chapter should be better, please review and Ciao! Note: times for new updates can be found in My profile.
