7sodeno shirayuki7 – Zack, Angeal, Hayate, Scopio, Demios

Jayd10 – Aerith, Phobos

Bonus points if you can guess where Hayate is from.


Chapter 4: Explanations

Zack was confused at the mysterious woman that just saved the three of them from Scopio's attack. Her smile seemed to send chills down his spine. The woman, Hayate as Aerith called her, landed between him and Scopio.

"Aerith tell me who is that woman? Why are you afraid of her?" Zack asked.

Aerith tried to regain some composure but she was so scared she just muttered "That's H-Hayate. The daughter of the king..." she looked terrified and scared she wanted to run but she knew she couldn't

"You mean the King of the Underworld?" Zack watched as Hayate walked closer until she was a few steps away from Angeal. Aerith floated in front of her.

"Do you think there will be a fight sister?" Demios looked at the drama unfold.

"Probably not knowing how much of a coward Scopio is with Hayate" She stated crudely about her master with a smirk. "Always wanting to please her as much as he can." She then looks at her sister "He's such a ass-kisser!" she then laughed

"Quiet both of you!" Scopio growled. "Or I will punish you."

Hayate ignored the argument going on between her servants and focused at the small angel. Aerith started to shake in fear but didn't move from her spot. Zack had enough and stepped in front of Aerith shielding both angels.

"Are you a human?" Hayate asked.

"M-me?" Aerith then thought 'How can she think I'm human? I have wings for crying out loud!' "I'm not human. I'm an angel like Angeal" she replied nervous and scared of the woman

"I was talking to the boy, little one." Hayate closed her eyes, "I know you have the scent of an angel."

"o-oh, I'm sorry ma'm" Aerith replied nervous about the woman Aerith never felt this nervous in her life she wanted to be comforted by someone.

"Stop scaring my student Hayate." Angeal stepped in. "She might cry if you keep scaring her."

"So this is your cute student, huh Angeal?" Hayate gave Angeal a soft smile.

Angeal took tiny Aerith in his arms, Aerith hugged him back. "You were looking for me?"

"Yes!" Aerith cried she had missed her mentor so much."Where have you been! Everyone in heaven is worried, Angeal they want to know why you left!" Aerith cried even harder as she was being held by her Angeal it felt nice to her.

"Return to the Heavens and say that you weren't able to find me." Angeal let go of Aerith and started to float in the air, ready to go at anytime.

"W-why Angeal?" she didn't understand what was going on at all. "Are you not coming back?" Aerith's heart bean to sink thinking the worst.

"I have my reasons." he replied.

"Listen little one," Hayate added. "If you want to prevent a war do what he tells you to do."

"An-Angeal?" She looked at him with tear filled eyes "Was it something I did?" she started to cry feeling horrible she didn't want to go back to heaven to tell them she had failed and she didn't want to be hurt by Genesis.

"I'm sorry Aerith; it's not your fault." Angeal started to fly away with Hayate until someone else said something.

"Don't run away coward." Zack took Aerith in his hands and looked up at the angel and demon. "She came to Gaia to look for you; at the very least you owe her a proper explanation."

"Angeal I'm sorry, but please tell me what's happening! Can't you trust me as your student? Do you even consider me a student?" Aerith began to cry she felt sad and angry she wanted to know what was happening and why Angeal wouldn't tell her anything she had to know.

Angeal landed back on the ground and took Aerith from Zack. "I've been a bad mentor haven't I?" Angeal lifted Aerith to look at her eyes. "I had been worrying you to death with my disappearance. Alright I will tell you everything."

Hayate landed next to Angeal and Aerith. "Are you sure she will understand?"

"I want to know everything as well." Scopio added.

"I don't think that is any of your business." Hayate replied.

"Scopio this is obviously between the angels, so can we please get out of here!" She groaned wanting to leave "Hey I'll let you have fun later if we leave right now!" she added with a smirk

"I'll tell your father that you're here." Scopio continued ignoring Phobos' suggestion.

Hayate took out a large paper fan and smacked him upside the head, the force knocked Scopio to the ground.

"I think you should know your place." Hayate said with a sweet smile, "You should learn to control your slaves before trying to order me around."

"Is there anywhere we can talk without being seen?" Angeal asked Zack.

"You can come to my house; it is far from the city so no one can see us."

Zack picked up his bike and started to drive home. All of the angels and demons took off after him. Zack missed Aerith arms around him. He increased his speed and left for home where they can finally figure out what is going on.

x-x

At Zack's house everyone was sitting around the garden. Angeal and Hayate took the strongest branches, Scopio and his slaves sat close to the rose bushes. Zack and Aerith were preparing milk and tea for their guest.

"Why do I have to be the one to prepare the drinks?" Zack grumbled as he started to head outside with the drinks.

"Because their guest's silly and I'm too small to get any drinks" She then stuck her tongue at him feeling a bit better but still a bit sad.

"So you wanted to hear his story?" Zack asked when he saw Aerith's hurt expression.

"Well yes wouldn't you want to hear out why someone wasn't coming back especially a person you really care about?" Aerith replied solemnly toward Zack she was feeling like she was going to lose her teacher very soon.

"I guess so," Zack let Aerith open the door to the garden. "But everything will turn out alright."

"Maybe..." Aerith replied she knew her mentor and she knew that something was definitely fishy about the situation at hand.

When Zack and Aerith finally got where all the angel and demons were at, Aerith started to pass around the drinks.

"Milk?" Angeal muttered to himself before he took a sip. "So, exactly what do you want to know?"

"Why did you leave, first of all?" Aerith asked shyly and a bit nervous.

"Because I'm not an angel anymore." To prove his point Angeal summoned his wings. "I know you noticed that my light is gone."

"Wh-why? why aren't you an angel?" Aerith was confused "If you're not an angel then what are you?" she looked him in the eyes she felt like she was being torn inside.

"I think I should explain this one." Hayate spoke up, she sat on Angeal's lap and held Angeal's free hand. "I devoured this angel." she smiled.

Aerith was shocked, too much for words.

"Devoured?" Scopio asked.

"That's right, or he devoured me is more accurate." she smirked.

"You mean that you seduced an Archangel." Scopio let his jaw drop. "Not only that but the one that was known for his pride as an Archangel?"

"I didn't know that he was an Archangel." Hayate shrugged. "I met him by the lake in Etolie."

"Are you insane!" Scopio yelled, "Do you know what would happen if the Goddess finds out that you, the next ruler of the Underworld, screwed around with one of her Archangels? It would break down to war I tell you!"

"Will there be yummy food then sis?" Demios asked.

"Fat chance," she glared pissed off. "I'm tired of this I want to go home this is boring!" She felt like doing something fun she then went to Scopio and started to stroke his cheek "Master can we please leave?" she asked in her sweetest voice though it killed her a bit inside.

"Fine," he let out a heavy sigh. "This is getting us nowhere and Hayate won't listen to reason anyway. Besides..." Scopio snapped his fingers, in an instant Phobos and Demios were tied with a dark energy rope. "I still need to punish you two for your misbehavior."

"Ah come one! Please don't punish us!" She needed to weasel out of this somehow. "Scopio when was the last time you got some?" Phobos asked with a smirk

"Oh I will show you both why I am the master." Scopio smirked, "Don't you worry about that, by the end of the night you two will enjoy it."

Scopio pushed both of his slaves through a gate he summoned. He was about to go next when he stop one step before entering. "Hayate, I won't tell anyone yet but you better come up with something if this comes to light."

Once Scopio left it was just Aerith, Angeal, Hayate, and Zack. Aerith looked at the floor still confused about one thing.

"Poor thing, she must be too shocked for words." Hayate looked at the angel then at Zack.

"Angeal, angels can't eat demons." Aerith looked confused. "If you devoured her then why is she still here?"

"I think she misunderstood."

"Seems that way." Angeal was turning red.

It took Zack all his will to not facepalm at the tiny angel's innocence.

"Angeal who's supposed to teach me if you leave?" Aerith continued with tears in her eyes she did not want her teacher to leave her behind and she certainly did not want to be taught by anyone else. Aerith saw her mentor as a father. It made her sad that this all was happening she just wanted to go to sleep and pretend this is all a bad dream.

"I am sorry Aerith but I am no longer allowed to teach you anything." Angeal shook his head. "I am no longer an angel."

She started to cry she couldn't believe this was happening she felt like her heart was being torn apart it felt broken. "Angeal..." She was about to say something but she didn't know if she had the guts to say it. It hurt and she didn't know if he would even accept what she was going to say, but instead she just broke down crying. It hurt too much.

"Come on, I want to talk to you alone." Angeal let Hayate sit back on the tree branches before taking Aerith and flying to the roof. There Angeal gently placed Aerith next to him. "Aerith, I never want to be without Hayate. No matter what happens to me."

"O-okay..." she looked at him "Angeal can I tell you something?" she asked quietly she felt shy this felt hard and scary to her.

"Of course."

"Angeal you were always like a father to me." she started to blush and look away embarrassed and hoping she did not embarrass him.

"I know, I've always been watching over you since you learned how to fly." Angeal took her and placed her on his lap. "I also think of you as my daughter."

Angeal looked up at the sky, cloudy with a few stars shining down on them. "But you see, Hayate means so much to me, she gave me a feeling that I thought I lost centuries ago. Do you understand?"

She looked up at him and saw in his eyes that he was truly happy; she wanted to feel that way... "Yes I do Angeal, I'm happy for you" She smiled at him "I just wish you would of told me before you left, I was really hurt by you." tears started to flow again "You could of told me about this I would of accepted it no matter what." "Did you not trust me?"

"Thank you," Angeal smiled at Aerith. "But I don't want you to get in trouble because of me. However, if I don't go with you might get in trouble for leaving me here. So what will you do?"

"I don't know, I'm not going to get punished by the Goddess though..." She started to shake, scared thinking about who was going to punish her. She hugged Angeal out of fear and missing him.

"You can always turn me in to the Goddess." Angeal suggested.

"Angeal I'm not going to do that, like I said I'm not going to be punished... at least not by the Goddess." She shook a bit in fright of the Archangel of fire thinking about what he was going to do to her.

"Don't worry about Genesis, if you say that you couldn't find me. He wouldn't get too pissed off, he cares about you too. Besides Seph and Olmine can take care of him if gets too angry." Angeal smiled.

"Was he joking with me then because he was pretty serious..."

"Are you sure about that?" Angeal raised an eyebrow.

"I am sure he was glaring at me..." she replied shyly

"Why are you living with that human?" He asked, trying to change the subject.

She looked at him "Because I gave him a wish and he won't use it." she blushed in reply.

"There is no reason for you to give him a wish is there?"

"Yes there is, he saved me from Scopio's slaves when I came down here to look for you. But he won't take my wish. And Angeal, never mind..." she blushed at what she was about to say.

"What's wrong Aerith?"

"I think I'm starting to fall for him." She replied nervous she didn't know what to do "Angeal is it wrong for me to like him?" she looked at him with a bit of a frown.

"Are you sure that is love?" Angeal asked. "You may be confusing admiration with love?"

"Angeal, I didn't say it was love silly!" she smiled at him "I like him right now it's too soon for love" "But can I ask you something?" she asked innocently

"Sure..."

"What does it feel like to love someone? Like well you know..." Aerith eyed him trying to read what he was thinking

"It's complicated," Angeal let Aerith float around him. "But I guess when you are with a person and feel at ease. When I am with Hayate I feel so refreshed, like I can be myself. You feel that if you are not around that person you are not complete. Hayate didn't see me as the Archangel Angeal, she only saw me as just Angeal. Love is a complex thing Aerith, how much time do you have before you go back to the Heavens?"

"Well I had three months to search for you and then I have to go back to report about whether I found you or not. Angeal where are you going to go if you're exiled?" she asked concerned for him

"As long as I have Hayate then I have all I need. We might end up living on Gaia." Angeal turned to Aerith and looked at her with his most serious expression. "I want you to think of your feeling that lingers for this human before you do anything, will you promise me this?"

"That's really sweet Angeal" She smiled at her mentor and then went over and hugged him "I promise" She then kissed his cheek

"You know I care for you as well Aerith, you're my daughter." Angeal took Aerith and placed her on his shoulder. "Now let's go back to the others."

"Angeal can't you say you love me?" Aerith teased "I love you as my Daddy!" she smiled brightly at him

Angeal let out a small sigh before giving Aerith a smile. "I love you Aerith." he tried to keep his blush down but some pink still showed on his cheeks. "Let's go"

Angeal flew down to the ground where Hayate and Zack were waiting for them. Aerith flew to Zack and sat on his shoulder.

"Did you talk things out?" Zack asked.

"Yeah we did." She smiled at Angeal as she said this she was going to miss him but she was happy for him and that's all that mattered to her.

"So you can't enter the underworld?" Zack asked Angeal. "And she can't enter the Heavens?"

"That's right," both answered at the same time.

"And both of you are in danger?"

"I am a high ranking demon and Angeal is an Archangel, we'll be fine." Hayate replied.

"Would you like to stay here for the time being?" Zack asked.

"What?" Angeal lifted an eyebrow at the human's request.

"I have plenty of space," Zack shrugged. "I'm sure Aerith will be happy too."

Aerith then perked up immensely "You would let them live here Zack?" Aerith asked with a bright smile and happiness in her voice. She then looked at her teacher seeing what he thought of Zack's request, hoping to maybe say yes.

"Give a thought." Zack entered the house with a tray filled with dirty dishes. He let the angels and demon have some alone time.

"We'll stay." Hayate answered before Angeal could even say a word. "I am sure that you want to be close to your cute student. You did say that you missed her a lot and that you regretted not leaving a note to her. How much she…"

"Hayate!" Angeal growled trying to keep ignore the crimson blush that was spreading on his cheeks.

Aerith then flew over and hugged Hayate. "You're really sweet!" She smiled at the demon. "Wow Angeal you're blushing more about that the other thing!" Aerith giggled and flew over to him and hugged him as well.

"You two are going to make my hair go gray." Angeal muttered to himself, trying to suppress a grin that threatened to appear.

"But you know you love us." The girls replied at the same time.

Now there were are two new guests in Zack's home. Things are about to get more lively there. With the help of Angeal and Hayate Aerith might be able to figure out what is Zack's real wish.

Chapter 4 end