The day at Yokai Academy was passing by as the group had left the casting chamber at the school. They had witnessed the recreation of Apoch and Astreal, the witch sisters seeming to have most of their memories intact thanks to the headmaster assisting with the spell casting. However, shortly after they appeared the rift within Tsukune's group started to increase. Dark had expressed his great concern for the ghoul still imprisoned in Tsukune's body, and had even declared a death threat to Tsukune should he go near Mizore. To Tsukune's dismay the demon wasn't the only one having worries about the Holy Lock not being enough to keep the evil monster at bay. Mizore, Felucia, Apoch, Astreal, and Ahakon sided with the demon as they too feared the ghoul's imminent return. Moka, Kokoa, Kurumu, Rason, Yukari, Ruby, and Gin still had faith in their friend and sided with the boy, all of them trusting their lives with Tsukune and his lock. Now tension was rising high in the circle of friends as Dark's group had left the chambers, all of them showing discontent for the choice to have Tsukune live.
Not only was Tsukune going through the trouble of his friends no longer trusting him, but word has spread throughout the monster world that Fairy Tale seems to have vanished. Whether they were indeed defeated or are now hiding away somewhere unknown, the dark lords have given the go ahead to reopen the academy to the monster world. The following week classes will resume where they left off and the group will continue their academic studies. Ahakon and Felucia have even opted to stay at the school with their friends, though mostly so they could still be near Dark.
The group was divided and broken, one half wanting Tsukune to die to ensure the ghoul does not resurface while the other wishes to keep their friend alive and well.
Inside the academy a young mage was sitting at a table in the library. Ahakon had returned to the solitude and comfort of reading and studying his magic after the group had called sides on the ghoul matter. Although Ahakon personally didn't hate Tsukune or anybody there, the fear of a monstrous ghoul made the young boy side with the shadow demon. A ghoul was one thing he wanted to avoid at all costs, and rightfully so since those beings were capable of annihilating virtually everything around them.
"This sucks. I finally get a chance at a fresh start and even make some new friends, then I lose half of them and there's the fact that a ghoul is sleeping in the same dorm building as me. Maybe I was better off wandering the snowy mountains by myself," he muttered as he studied a book on the table. It was about the history of monsters, the young mage researching about the origins of ghouls. As he read the book a familiar face walked in and looked around. The older student smiled and walked over to the mage, the younger boy looking up when he noticed somebody was standing nearby.
"Hey, there you are," Gin said with a friendly smile, his teeth giving off a gleam from some unknown light source as he smiled.
"Hey. Gin, right?" Ahakon asked simply. He knew Gin was on the side to keep Tsukune alive, but he again bared no personal hate towards anybody.
"Yeah, Ahakon I presume. Thought I'd find you here again," Gin said as he took a seat next to the mage.
"If you came to try to persuade me to not have Tsukune killed, save your breath," the young boy said as he returned to his reading.
"Hey c'mon now, I just wanted to talk. Nothing wrong with that is there?" Gin said with a simple shrug.
"Talk about what?" Ahakon asked with a raised eyebrow, still keeping his eyes on the pages in front of him.
"Well, how about girls? I myself am a huge fan," the wolf said proudly. Ahakon looked at him with a puzzled glance then back to his book.
"Girls huh? And what are we supposed to talk about regarding girls?" he asked in an uninterested tone.
"Well, it's just that Yukari had mentioned to me that you resummoned Dark. That's quite impressive," Gin said with a wink. The mage looked at him with confusion.
"I thought you wanted to talk about girls. Why are we talking about Dark now?" he asked curiously.
"Because you cast one whopper of a spell, surely that got the young witch's attention, am I right?" Gin said with sly smile while nudging Ahakon playfully.
"Ok, I have no idea where you're going with this wild train of thought of yours, but let me off now," Ahakon said as he went back towards his reading. Gin pulled him back to face him by the shoulder and smiled confidently.
"You don't get it do you? The little girl is impressed. I came here to help you ask her out," Gin said with a friendly smile. Ahakon looked at him with a blank gaze then simply removed the wolf's hand from his shoulder.
"And why would I want to do that? I don't even know the girl. I know nothing about her, except she has pink underwear," he said simply. Gin blinked then looked at him with an awkward smile.
"Wow, already peeking under the skirt huh? That's fast work, I'm impressed," he said with a chuckle. The mage jumped in surprise and waved his hands in front of him.
"That's not what happened! Oh, just leave me alone, I'm not interested in Yukari like that," he said stubbornly. Gin looked at him curiously then away in deep thought.
'Damn, that could have been leverage to help persuade him. Now what can I do to get this kid on our side?'
"Ok, so that's something that won't interest you. Fine. Still, there has to be something I can help you out with here," Gin said as he looked back to the mage. Ahakon merely shook his head.
"And you want me to back you guys up in favor of saving Tsukune in return, am I right?" he said dryly. The wolf paused for a moment then shook his head with a nervous smile.
"No, not at all! I'm just trying to help the new guy out here. After all school's starting soon, and I thought I would help you get a head start on getting a girl before all the competition comes back," he said as he looked at the mage with a calm smile. Ahakon glanced to him then back to the book.
"Thanks, but no thanks," he said simply. Gin sighed and looked around in defeat.
'Dammit, there's no talking to this kid.'
Ahakon kept reading the book with a calm gaze while the wolf watched him intently. After a moment the mage glanced up then went wide eyed.
"You ok?" Gin asked. The mage held the book up in front of him and peered over it with a small blush on his face. Gin gave him a puzzled look then slowly glanced over to the other side of the library. A few tables over Apoch and Astreal were walking by and looking around the bookshelves.
"Are you sure it was here in this section sister?" Apoch asked curiously.
"Yes, I'm quite certain. Ms. Ruby wanted the spell book for wand crafting written by the mage Kolian Dabur. That must be here somewhere," Astreal said calmly. They started looking around the shelves, paying no mind to the two other boys. Gin glanced to the mage then back to the sisters with a curious look. He then smiled slyly and glanced to Ahakon, the mage staring at the girls with unblinking eyes.
"So… got a thing for sisters?" the wolf said in a whisper, with Ahakon jumping at that then looking back down to his book.
"No. Not at all. Please leave already," he said quickly. Gin chuckled then patted the young boy's back.
"C'mon, I can help you know. Like I said, girls are my specialty," he said kindly. Ahakon glanced to him then peered back over the book.
"I can't find it sister," Apoch said as she bent over to check the lower shelves, her skirt rising slightly and her white underwear being seen. Ahakon's nose trickled blood while the girl's rear swayed a bit as she examined the lower shelves.
"You're hopeless, it must be here, I know it," Astreal said with a sigh as she stood on her tip toes to look at the top shelf. She raised her hands up and started examining the top shelf while her breasts bounced a bit against the books. Ahakon trembled and stared with wide eyes.
"You know, those two are single still. But, I don't know how long that will last for. They were very popular with the boys before the school closed temporarily," Gin said with a sly glance at the girls. Ahakon looked to the boy then back to the girls with wonder.
"Wait, I think I found it," Astreal said as she leaned over and pulled a book from the top shelf. She wavered then fell over onto her sister, the two crashing to the ground as books dropped around them.
"You're in luck kid; I'm a master of getting women to eat out of the palm of my hand. You see, like Tsukune, I care about my friends. And I'll do what I can to help them when they need assistance," Gin said proudly. Ahakon looked at him then downward.
"But… it's not that I hate Tsukune. It's just… a ghoul is horrible beyond belief. And from what I've heard it's gotten free before and killed those around him," Ahakon said softly. Gin looked at him with a sympathetic smile then rested his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"I know, accidents have happened before. But we're all alive now aren't we? The guy's a good friend to have, trust me. Give him a chance to prove himself; I'm sure he can keep that thing locked away. I'd stake my life on it," Gin said confidently.
"Well, you are staking your life on it," Ahakon reasoned. Gin nodded and glanced to the sisters, a wide grin appearing as his eyes lit up.
"And I'd stake my life on the fact that those two need somebody to help them," he said with a daring expression. Ahakon peered over his book and jumped a bit, his face reddening from the sight. On the ground the sisters were collapsed down with books strewn around them. Apoch was knocked down by her sister's tumble, her face and chest buried down onto the ground and books with her rear sticking up and her underwear clearly seen. Astreal was slowly getting up, still on her hands and knees while shaking her head in a daze. She was arching back a bit, with Ahakon seeing her in a perfect doggy style position with her breasts moving gently about as she shook her head. The boy's eyes twitched slightly as blood started to stream down his nose then glanced to Gin.
"Um… maybe I could try trusting him a bit after all," he said softly. Gin smiled and nodded in agreement.
"You won't be sorry. And here, as a show of good will I'll show you how to get these two girls to fall for you like a ton of bricks. Observe," he said proudly as he walked over to the sisters.
"Ow… what was that for sister?" Apoch groaned as she sat up and rubbed her head.
"I'm sorry, I fell off balance. Oh no, the book's mixed in with all these. That's just great, I had it and now it's lost again," Astreal said as she looked around with saddened eyes. Gin walked over towards them with a warm smile, the two looking up at him curiously.
"Hey ladies, mind if I lend a hand?" he said coolly. Ahakon watched curiously then started to jot down notes on a piece of paper.
"Step one, offer to assist the girls with a problem they are having. Makes sense," he said to himself as he studied the wolf's technique.
"Um, sure. I was looking for a book about wands," Astreal said as she looked around curiously. Apoch scratched her head and looked around the pile of books surrounding them. Astreal bent over again and started shifting through the books while Gin watched her with a gleam in his eye.
"I see, I think I see just the one," Gin said politely as he crouched down and reached his hand out. Ahakon scribbled more notes as he watched carefully.
"Step two, calmly solve the girl's problem and impress her. I see, interesting," he said to himself softly. Gin reached out and grabbed something with a firm grip. Astreal jerked up and trembled, her eyes wide and her expression of shock. Apoch picked up a book and smiled happily.
"Sister, I found the-" she started before she turned back to see Astreal glaring at the wolf as his hand was under her skirt holding onto her rear. Ahakon blinked then continued writing.
"Step three, grab the girl's rear firmly yet gently, and caress the cheeks. Hmm… is that really how I'm supposed to do this?" the boy asked himself as he scratched his head. Astreal jumped up and glared at the wolf while he looked at her innocently.
"Um… not what you wanted?" he asked with a weak laugh. Apoch stood up and glared at the wolf with the book of wands in her hand while her sister held her hand out towards him, a red glow building within her wrist. Ahakon watched curiously then continued writing.
"Step four, pretend what you did was wrong in order to make the girl feel smarter about solving the problem herself. I see, kinda makes sense," he said with a nod. The werewolf watched with a frightened smile as Astreal aimed a blast of energy at him, the red glow swirling around her arm towards her palm where a bright light formed.
BLAM!
Ahakon turned his head to follow something then looked down at his notes as he wrote one more entry.
"Step five, get hit with a massive amount of magical energy and be sent flying away out the window in horrible pain. Wait… this can't be right," the mage said with a frustrated look while scratching his head with the pencil. He looked up to see the sisters glaring over to where there was a broken window, the wolf having been sent hurtling out of it at high speed from the witch's magical attack.
"Pervert," the girls said in unison. Apoch glanced over to see Ahakon looking at them with wonder. The mage jumped a bit then hid behind his book again. The raven haired witch walked over with a curious expression and watched the boy tremble behind his book.
"Excuse me," she said softly.
"I didn't do anything! Please don't hurt me!" Ahakon cried out as he looked up with pleading eyes. Apoch blinked with a curious expression while Astreal walked up next to her, and then smiled at the mage.
"You're Mr. Ahakon, are you not?" she asked timidly. Ahakon blinked and nodded slowly. The shy witch smiled brightly and then embraced the boy in a loving hug, his face being pressed into her chest as he twitched about.
"You're the one that brought back Mr. Dark! Oh thank you so much!" she said happily. Astreal smiled and nodded as her sister released the dazed mage, the boy dropping to the ground with a look of shock on his face. He shook his head and looked up at the two girls smiling down at him.
"Um… oh yeah! That's right… it was nothing really. I just wanted to help and all," he said with a twitching smile. The girls giggled and smiled at him kindly.
"Well thank you for that. We must be going now," Astreal said politely as the mage slowly started to get up.
"Yes, take care Mr. Ahakon," Apoch said softly, the shy witch leaning down next to him and giving him a small kiss on the cheek. The mage's heart started beating furiously as the two sisters smiled gently at him. The girls turned around to leave with a friendly wave as the young boy's face turned a deep shade of red. The two sisters walked out of the library while Ahakon watched them with a blissful expression and swaying slightly.
"They're like angels… wow…" he said softly in a daze. The boy chuckled a bit then collapsed down in a trance, murmuring to himself as he replayed the event of bliss over and over again in his mind. From behind a bookshelf Yukari peeked out and watched him as he murmured the sisters' names over and over again. She looked over to where the witch sisters walked out then back to the boy with a curious expression.
Inside an empty clubroom three vampires were sitting down and looking out the window with troubled expressions. The vampire sisters Moka and Kokoa glanced to Tsukune with worry, the boy having been in a state of depression after half of his friends declared him a threat. The three had come here to try to sort out their minds and hope the others would cool off and see reason, though the entire time Tsukune just kept staring at his left wrist, the Holy Lock chained around it being the focus of his troubles. Although the thing weighed practically nothing it was pulling his mind down like it weighed the entire world. A weightless burden if there ever was one.
"Tsukune? Is there anything we can do to help?" Moka asked curiously. The boy shook his head and sighed, then looked back out the window.
"No, I just need to deal with this I guess. Still, I kind of see where everybody else was coming from. I am a threat, a great danger to everybody," he said remorsefully.
"No you're not! You have this ghoul problem solved already, it's sealed away. They just don't see that," Kokoa said with energy.
"She's right. I don't see you as a threat," Moka agreed with. Tsukune growled then looked down with a focused expression.
"I am though. Dark's right, all that's keeping you safe is a chain around my wrist. One slip and you all could wind up dead," he said with frustration. The girls looked at him with worry then to each other.
"Maybe I shouldn't be here anymore. I'm just a constant danger to everybody now. Maybe I should leave before anybody else dies by my hands," he said softly as he looked to his wrist. He didn't even have time to look up from the sound of rustling in the room before he was knocked to the ground, the surprised boy looking up to seeing two vampire sisters looking at him with pleading eyes from on top of him.
"No!" they cried out in unison. He watched them as they looked at him with great concern.
"Tsukune don't talk like that! You can't leave, please don't go!" Kokoa said as she fought back tears.
"Please Tsukune, you promised you would stay with me. Please don't leave me again," Moka said as she looked down and started to cry. Tsukune looked up at the two girls on top of him with gentle eyes as they started to break down.
"Please, I'll be a good servant to you. I'll do whatever you ask and do whatever I can to make you feel happy again. But please Tsukune, if not for me, then stay for my sister," Kokoa begged. Tsukune looked at her with a bit of surprise then over to the pink haired girl who was looking at him with teary eyes.
"I love you Tsukune. Me and my other self do, and we couldn't bear to lose you again. Please… Tsukune!" she cried out as she tackled him into a fierce hug, the boy looking up with wonder as the girl wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tightly. Kokoa stood up and looked down at the couple with worried eyes.
"Don't talk like that again… please Tsukune," Kokoa said softly. Tsukune held his girlfriend gently then closed his eyes, the girl crying as she held onto him for dear life.
"Moka… I don't want anything to happen to you. What if… what if they're right?" he asked worriedly. Moka leaned back and looked at him with worried eyes.
"I'll die if you leave Tsukune, I couldn't bear to live without you. Whatever happens, we'll face it together. Please don't talk about leaving, I need you," she said softly. Tsukune stared into the eyes of his girlfriend, the vampire's eyes still forming tears slowly as she gazed at her boyfriend with worry. He felt his love for her burn brightly within, and he desired nothing more then to live with her for as long as he should live. He held out his wrist with the lock to the side and stared at it, the pink haired vampire looking over to it as well. She gently grabbed the wrist and held onto him with a loving expression.
"No matter what, I want to stay by your side. If you even try to leave I'll just follow you wherever you go. I mean it Tsukune, I love you and I want to be with you. No matter what," she reassured. She leaned in and kissed the boy, the two enjoying the touch of one another. They closed their eyes and enjoyed the moment, the two vampires deep in love. Kokoa watched with gentle eyes then looked down at the Holy Lock.
'A chain to hold back a ghoul? I would have thought anything that could seal away something that powerful would be more… sturdy. Why a simple chain?'
Moka broke the kiss and leaned back, gazing at Tsukune with loving eyes while she held onto his wrist gently.
"Please stay, ok Tsukune?" she asked softly. The boy looked at her with a gentle smile.
"For you Moka, anything. Ok, I'll stay for you," he said kindly.
"Oh Tsukune…" she said happily as tears of joy started to form.
"Oh Moka…" he said happily as she leaned in for a kiss.
"Oh Tsukune…"
"Oh Moka…"
The pink haired vampire leaned in and kissed her boyfriend passionately, her fingers intertwining with the chain gently. Kokoa watched them kiss for a moment then sighed.
"Is there anything I can do for you yet master?" she asked gently. Moka looked back to her with an annoyed expression.
"Kokoa, for the last time, just call him Tsu-" she started before she went wide eyed and gasped. Everybody froze and stared with shock. Slowly Moka looked back down to her hand. Her fingers had lifted the chain when she had turned back, pulling it as she lifted her hand back up. She blinked and stared wide eyed at the chain as it was taught around the girl's fingers and the boy's wrist.
"Oh… my…" she said under her breath. Tsukune stared at the lock as it dangled on the chain. Moka shakily rested her hand back down and slowly pulled her fingers out, the girl leaning back while holding her hand with fear.
"Moka…" Tsukune said softly as he looked to her. She started to tremble and looked to him with remorse.
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to…" she said with fright.
"Big sis… you almost yanked it right off!" Kokoa cried out. Moka shook a bit then looked to the chain with fear.
'I almost removed the seal! I can't believe it!'
'Watch what you're doing! One slip like that and we're all dead!'
'I was so careless… I'm… I'm sorry!'
"Tsukune," she said shakily as she looked at the boy. He slowly sat up and stared down at his wrist with a startled expression.
"That was too close," he said as he breathed out in relief. He looked over to see Moka watching him with watery eyes.
"I'm sorry… really, I… I didn't mean… I wasn't trying to…" she said softly.
"Moka it's ok, I don't blame you," the boy said reassuringly. She shook her head and looked down.
"I'm sorry. Really… I… I'm so sorry!" she cried out as she looked to him while she covered her mouth with her hands. Tsukune scooted closer and held her closely, his arms around her holding the vampire gently while she buried her face into his shoulder.
"It's ok. Really," he said gently, the girl crying as he held her.
"I don't get it, why would some powerful seal be a flimsy chain?" Kokoa asked curiously. The three vampires looked to it with wonder and worry then to each other.
Up in the sky two winged figures were flying above the forests that surrounded Yokai Academy. One was a blue haired succubus, the wind racing through her hair as she watched the trees down below whiz past. Kurumu smiled softly, feeling slightly better for being up in the air like this. She always felt more peaceful when able to soar around in the sky, then being able to be alone with her thoughts if need be. That and she felt the strong pull from within, the bond that let the girl feel the exact position and movements of her Destined One. She glanced to her side and smiled happily at the sight of her angel. Rason was flying next to her with his shirts tied around his waist again, being unable to have his wings either retract completely or safely go through clothing without destroying them like his girlfriend's was able to. She could get away with a few pokes and rips, his clothing however would be torn to shreds. His blonde hair fluttered in the wind while he had a calm gaze, looking around down below them as the two flew side by side.
"It's at least relaxing up here. Don't you agree lover?" Kurumu asked gently.
"Yeah, at least we have this. I don't know what I'd do without you my dear," Rason said with a kind smile at his girlfriend, the succubus sighing happily from seeing that smile again. She had come to love the caring and kind angel that she was destined to be with, and simply could not get enough of being with him.
"Likewise angel boy," she said with a giggle. The two flew around then headed towards the academy building.
"I wonder how everybody is doing right now," Rason said as he looked around the ground below.
The two saw a bright flash and a boy being blasted out the window of the second story of the academy. They watched the body fly into the forest with a loud crash then glanced to each other.
"What was that?" Kurumu asked curiously.
"More like who was that," Rason said as they swooped back and down low to fly over the crash site. The two saw Gin twitching on the ground, the boy smoking and slightly charred from the energy blast. The two looked to each other with tired expressions then turned around, the couple again flying towards the academy.
"Nothing important I'm sure," Kurumu said flatly.
"He'll be fine," Rason said simply.
They flew up onto the top of the tall tower, landing on the roof and looking around with a calm gaze. Rason held his girlfriend from behind gently and securely, the succubus having her wings retracted and holding onto his arms tightly. The slightest touch always lit them up on the inside, and being held like this made Kurumu's heart pound steadily every time.
"I hope Fairy Tale is really gone for good. I know it sounds too good to be true, but still, I can hope," Kurumu said softly as she closed her eyes and got lost in the sensation from their bond.
"I hope we all can be friends again like we were before. I still can't believe Dark would split us up like that," Rason said while shaking his head gently.
"It's not just him. Mizore and Felucia share his concerns. I managed to talk to Mizore briefly in the ladies room; she felt that what Dark said is completely true," Kurumu said as she looked down with concern.
"I just wish they would open their eyes. Tsukune is our friend, we can't just turn our backs on him like this," the angel said as he looked up.
"I know. I hope they come to their senses soon, it doesn't feel the same like this," Kurumu said as she looked up as well. She blinked then turned back to face her angel with an innocent expression.
"Say Rason… there is something I've been meaning to ask you," she said with a soft smile. The boy smirked and held her securely.
"Well by all means my dear, ask away," he said gently.
"Well, remember how Moka's sister Akua mentioned that you should go to heaven to see what they can see from up there?" Kurumu asked as she turned around to face him, slinking her arms around his neck and holding him close.
"Yeah, I've been thinking about actually doing that. I've defied my banishment enough times by now anyway, once more couldn't hurt," he said with a chuckle. The girl looked down timidly then back up into his eyes.
"Well…" she said softly. The boy looked at her curiously as she glanced away for a moment then back into his eyes.
"Could I maybe come with?" she asked slowly. Rason looked at her with surprise as she gazed up towards the sky.
"I want to see where you come from. I've been curious ever since you first talked about your home," she said with a soft smile. Rason looked up with a nervous expression.
"Um… I don't know if that would go over so well with the elders. Or the Almighty," he said worriedly. Kurumu looked back to him with a pout.
"Why not? I'm your Destined One. And I'm going to marry you. I should be allowed to see your home with you," she said with an innocent tone. The boy looked to her as she held him tightly.
"Please Rason?" she asked gently as she leaned up towards his face. The girl pulled him into a kiss, the angel arching his wings back a bit as they enjoyed their connection and the feel of each other's lips. The boy's mind went blank just as the girl's did, both of them lost in their own little world as they enjoyed the blissful embrace. Once the kiss ended Rason smiled gently at her, with Kurumu looking up at him timidly.
"Well… I guess so, but only for a quick visit," he said after a moment. The girl squealed and jumped for joy in his arms.
"Really? You'll take me to see heaven?" she asked with a bright smile.
"Of course, anything for you my love," he said with a warm smile. She hopped about energetically, her breasts bouncing about as her smile widened.
"Yahoo-hoo! Let's go!" she cheered happily. The boy chuckled and looked up towards the sky.
"Why not right? What's the worst that can happen from one little visit?"
"Ok, seriously Rason, we're just going to have to kill you," Gabriel sighed as he looked at the two new visitors from down below with a tired expression.
They had flown up towards the sky, the girl holding onto her boyfriend closely as they climbed higher and higher. She held on tightly while a bright glow engulfed them from out of nowhere as the angel went through the rift towards the other world above. Once on the other side Kurumu looked around with awe and amazement at the world far down below, not able to see anything clearly like an angel could. She gazed at the heavenly city that was home to all those allowed into this blissful world, staring at it with confusion. The city seemed to be a physical impossibility to her, as the borders of the city appeared to be both limited and unlimited. If looked at by a certain angle, the city seemed to stretch on endlessly, then if the angle changed slightly the city not only changed completely but also seemed to be limited in the space it took up. She looked at Rason with a puzzled expression, the boy laughing and motioning her towards the palace. She stared with wide eyes at the magnificent building floating high in the sky, the girl's eyes unblinking the entire time in fear that she would miss something.
They had landed down on the outer courtyard where a redheaded angel was watching them with wide eyes and an open mouth. As they walked over the angel shook his head and started to stammer while pointing towards the demon standing behind Rason. The blonde haired angel rubbed the back of his head nervously, and then politely introduced Gabriel to his girlfriend, the succubus waving at him happily.
"What is WRONG with you?" Gabriel asked his comrade with complete disbelief.
"What? She wanted to see heaven, I couldn't just say no could I?" Rason said innocently. Gabriel just stared at him without saying a word. Rason looked down nervously and smiled weakly.
"That's EXACTLY what you should have said! You just brought a DEMON into HEAVEN!" Gabriel cried out. Kurumu looked down timidly while Rason glanced around with a weak smile.
"Um… it was just to visit. C'mon, is that really so bad?" Rason asked with a forced laugh. Again Gabriel just stared at him in disbelief.
"Demon! Heaven! Bad!" Gabriel barked back as he pulled on his hair violently.
"What's the big deal? I'm not doing anything bad just standing here am I?" Kurumu asked simply. The redhead looked at her with shock then back to his friend.
"Why? Why do you not only never learn from your mistakes, but you keep breaking more rules? What is wrong with you Rason?" Gabriel cried out. Kurumu giggled and clung onto her boyfriend's arm.
"Rason, you're such a bad boy," she said with a purr. Rason chuckled nervously while looking up at that remark.
"He's going to be a dead boy when the elders find out!" Gabriel yelled out.
"C'mon, it's not that bad. Besides we'll be going soon anyway," Rason said defensively.
"Aw, can't we sightsee for a bit? This place is amazing," Kurumu said as she looked over the edge at the city below, and the earth further below that. She looked around at the city and strained her eyes to make sense of what she was seeing.
"Weird, how come the city… looks strange like that?" she asked as she rubbed her eyes to clear her dizziness.
"This is it; I can just see it now. Rason's going to be killed and I'm going to have to sit and watch," Gabriel said with a depressed sigh.
"You would need heavenly sight in order to comprehend the Almighty's handiwork. Only angels can see the city for what it is," Rason explained as he gazed down to the city that looked perfectly normal to him, normal as far as logical impossibilities go.
"Wild," Kurumu breathed out as she looked around at the city that her mind couldn't wrap around.
"He'll be struck down in a bloody mess. He'll be strewn about here, there, and over there. Oh no…" Gabriel said as he started pacing back and forth with a sorrowful expression.
"Hey Gabriel, we came to ask you something. Gabriel?" Rason asked curiously, the couple now watching the redhead walk back and forth in a state of worry.
"And I'll probably be killed for just knowing him. So unfair, so unfair," Gabriel whined as the couple watched him with puzzled expressions.
"What's wrong with him?" Kurumu asked curiously.
"Um… Gabriel?" Rason asked carefully. Gabriel looked to him with a tired expression then at the succubus. She just stared at the strange angel with eyes of wonder.
"Why Rason? Why do you have to be so… so… you?" Gabriel asked in exasperation. Rason smirked and looked around.
"You know I've always been different old friend, but that's beside the point," he said confidently.
"And what exactly would be the point of you once again defying your banishment and bringing a demon into heaven?" the elder called out from behind them. They looked over to see the long haired blonde angel looking at them with a dull gaze.
"Rason, I must ask, why are you so difficult?" the elder said as he walked up to them.
"Who's this guy?" Kurumu whispered to Rason. The boy smiled back at her then toward the elder again.
"This is one of the elders up here at the palace. He's the one that managed to pull a few strings and get you out of hell," he said proudly. Kurumu jumped at that and looked at the elder with wide eyes.
"Since it would be a shame to kill you both after such a difficult bargain was made for her, perhaps you two could explain with good reason why you have com-" the elder started to say before his world went dark. And oxygen free.
"Oh thank you thank you! Thank you for letting me come back to my Rason, angel guy! You have no idea how grateful I am that you allowed me to come back like this! Thank you so much!" Kurumu cheered out as she hugged the elder tightly, his face enveloped in her breasts while his arms were flailing around at his sides. Gabriel stared with total shock while Rason just watched with a blank expression.
"What? She's… she's…" Gabriel stuttered out as he pointed to them.
"She's just saying thank you. Ok dear, that's enough," Rason said with a weak smile. Kurumu blinked then looked down to see the elder's face lodged in her breasts, the man struggling about as she held him tightly. She let go and backed up with a nervous expression, the man gasping for air and looking at her with wide eyes.
"Um… sorry about that," she said with a nervous laugh. Rason smiled at his girlfriend and gently shook his head, all too familiar with his lover's overzealous hugs. He glanced to the elder showed a bit of fear. The man was staring at them with wide eyes as he regained himself.
"Oh dear…" Gabriel said as he backed up nervously.
"Rason… does she… always do that?" the elder asked curiously. The boy nodded while Kurumu darted behind her boyfriend and hid from view, the girl peeking out from behind his wings worriedly.
"Yeah, she's just showing her appreciation elder. Really," Rason said defensively
"And you've been with this girl the whole time while down there?" the elder continued as he glanced to the frightened succubus behind Rason.
"Yes. She's my Destined One, I would never want to leave her side," Rason said proudly.
"And she's shown that sort of… love to you on a daily basis?" the elder asked curiously.
"Well, of course she has. Frankly I don't think I could live without her love elder," the boy said with a calm smile, the succubus looking to him with loving eyes and a small blush.
"So you're saying that you not only found a monster for a partner in your life, but you've been willingly staying by her side after she… shows her appreciation to you like that?" the man asked with a raised eyebrow and a cautious eye at the couple. Rason looked at him curiously then nodded.
"Yes, why do you ask?" he asked simply. The elder looked at him for a moment then down.
"You're braver than most Rason, I'll give you that," he said flatly. The couple looked at him puzzled while Gabriel stared at the blue haired beauty cautiously. Granted she was gorgeous, and seemed friendly, and he knew his friend was madly in love with her. Still, hearing that her 'hugs' were something his friend went through daily made the angel question if the girl was safe to be around.
"So, why have you brought this demon up to heaven Rason, and please tell me there is a good reason," the elder said tiredly.
"Well, she just wanted to see my home, but I've come with an important question. There has been word that Fairy Tale has been defeated already, have you noticed anything?" Rason asked curiously. The elder walked over to the edge of the courtyard and gazed around calmly at the earth below.
"We have noticed a sudden drop of attacks in the human world. I'm not sure if the monster world shares the same luck, but for the moment it appears that the evil group has indeed vanished. At least from what we've seen," he said with a nod. The couple looked to each other with wonder.
"Do you suppose it was really that simple?" Rason asked curiously.
"Well, Moka's dad is a dark lord. I wouldn't think it would be out of his power to stop them," Kurumu said as she thought about it.
"We are still keeping a sharp eye out; this sudden disappearance has us a bit suspicious. Still, so far no sign of any further problems. Even up in heaven all the angels have returned to normal guard duty," the elder said as he walked back to the couple.
"Seems that Holy Lock we gave you may have not been needed after all," he said simply.
"No, it was needed. That lock is all that's keeping our friend Tsukune with us. I can't thank you enough for letting us use it elder," Rason said gratefully.
"Oh yeah, that reminds me. I've got a question about that," Kurumu said softly, looking at the elder with a cautious expression. The man looked at her and waited for her to continue.
"Why would such a powerful seal be attached to just a simple chain? Wouldn't you want to use something more… permanent?" the succubus asked curiously. The elder just looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"More… permanent?" he asked slowly.
Tsukune and the vampire sisters were walking through the wooded areas around Yokai Academy, the two girls watching the boy with worried eyes.
"Tsukune, I don't know about this," Moka said softly.
"Yeah, they don't want to see us right now. Dark especially won't be happy to see us," Kokoa said as they followed closely to the boy. He was walking forward with a determined expression.
"I can't just sit and wait, I need to settle this with them. They're my friends; I can't just let this drive us apart. I need to reason with them," he said as they neared the edge of the tree line. The three stopped and peeked out from behind a tree towards the cliffside. They could see Dark close to them, the demon once again listening to his music and looking forward with a blank expression. He was standing calmly with his arms crossed before him as he watched Mizore and Felucia face each other towards the cliffs.
"What are they doing?" Moka whispered. Dark may have been listening to his music, but the group knew that the demon was more aware than he let on, and probably already knew they were hiding in the trees behind him.
"I'm not sure, looks like they're facing each other in a sparring match." Kokoa said curiously. She glanced towards Felucia and jumped.
"Yeah, definitely a sparring match, Felucia has a sword," she said worriedly. The group noticed this as the doll demon rose her sword up and got into a fighting stance, the snow girl opposite of her just watching her with a blank expression.
"What's she doing? Why are they fighting?" Tsukune asked nervously.
"Maybe Felucia and Mizore want to settle who gets Dark with a good old fashioned duel," Kokoa reasoned.
"I don't think that's it, they seemed to be getting along before," Moka said softly. The three watched Felucia get ready to attack while Dark kept watching with a blank expression.
"She's just standing there, what's wrong with her?" Tsukune said worriedly. Suddenly the doll demon dashed toward the snow girl who kept watching with a blank expression. Felucia wound back with her sword then swung towards the snow maiden's head, the vampires gasping at the sight. Before the blade could connect Mizore ducked down and held her hands off to the side. The group watched with surprise as a blade made of ice extended from her grip, the snow girl striking upwards with a katana made from her own power. The doll demon darted back and swung again at her, the blades clashing together furiously.
"The snow sword… it didn't break," Moka said in wonder. The group watched as Mizore held the opponent at bay with a sword made from ice, the thin blade showing surprising strength as it didn't crack or waver. Mizore pushed the doll demon back and swung around again, her movements not as precise or elegant as Dark and Felucia's, but her attacks still pushing the demon back step by step.
"I didn't know she could do that," Kokoa said in awe.
"Me either. I know she has control over ice and snow, but I've never seen her make an actual sword with it before," Tsukune said with wonder. They watched the snow maiden attack and defend against the doll demon while Dark watched closely.
Out on the cliffside the two girls were talking while sparring with one another.
"Not bad, but you'll have to be better than that. C'mon slushy," Felucia said with a mocking laugh. Mizore growled and swung the sword around, her attacks a bit slow and off balance.
"Give me a break, this is the first time I've fought with a sword," she muttered around her lollipop.
"You wanted us to teach you right? Well, show some spirit. Besides, your demon is watching," Felucia said with a wink. Mizore darted back and glanced over to see Dark's eyes locked onto her. She blushed slightly from the thought of him watching her then looked back in time to see Felucia swinging her sword at her head again. She quickly raised her sword up and deflected it, the frozen blade holding strong as she continually focused her power into it. If she had merely made the blade and that was it, it would have shattered on impact from the doll demon's incredible strength. But with her constant focus on the sword, the ice rebuilt itself as soon as it was damaged, and could handle stronger blows before any serious structural damage occurred to it.
"Dark fights extremely well with the sword, I want to be just as good," Mizore said coolly as she tried to attack the doll demon again. She swung her blade out with a powerful swing, with Felucia jumping over it and pushing the snow girl down onto the ground with her sword's hilt. Mizore fell back onto the ground then looked up to see Felucia holding her sword down at her, the tip right near her forehead.
"I win," she said smugly. Mizore growled and looked down.
"Don't sweat it, I'll help you practice. It's the least I can do," Felucia said with a smile as she offered a hand to the snow girl. Mizore took the hand and was helped back up onto her feet.
"For what, you don't owe me anything," Mizore said simply.
"You're letting me stay near Dark even though you have his mark. And… you make him happy. You make him happy in ways that I couldn't. So helping you is the least I can do for you taking care of Dark," the doll demon said softly. Mizore smiled gently at the girl.
"Thank you," she said softly. Felucia looked to Dark curiously then to Mizore as she picked up her sword.
"So… I have a question to ask you, do you think… it would be ok… if…" she said hesitantly as Mizore got ready to duel again. The snow girl simply raised an eyebrow while the demon tried to say something.
"If sometime I could join you two for some fun?" Felucia continued with an innocent tone. Mizore blinked then narrowed her eyes.
"I'm going to assume that's just for motivational support with my training," she said coldly. The demon stared at her blankly for a moment then nodded nervously.
"Um… sure. What you said," she said with a weak laugh. Mizore nodded and growled at the girl.
"It's working," she hissed before she dashed towards the demon with a furious swing. The two resumed their match with Mizore striking the demon's blade fiercely with each swing. From the sidelines Dark was watching the two closely, the snow girl's movements like a dance to him.
"Not bad my little snow bunny," he said softly to himself.
He watched the two duel around the cliffside, then saw them both look over behind him with cautious expressions. The shadow demon narrowed his eyes and glanced behind him. Sure enough Tsukune was walking towards him with both vampire sisters close behind.
"Leave now," Dark growled as the three walked up behind him. He turned to face them as Mizore and Felucia ran over next to him.
"Dark, please let us talk about this. I don't want to lose my friends all because of-" Tsukune started to say before Dark reached out and grabbed him by the collar.
"I'm done talking to you," he said coldly before he threw Tsukune towards the cliffs. The boy tumbled into a roll and stopped just before going off the edge.
"Tsukune!" the vampire sisters yelled out in unison. They each took one step before two swords, one frozen and one made of steel, were held out at them.
"Hold it," Felucia said harshly.
"Not another step," Mizore said with narrowed eyes at Moka.
"Mizore, stop this," Moka begged softly as she stared with wide eyes.
"You guys stop, this is crazy!" Kokoa yelled out as Felucia kept the blade close to her throat. Dark walked over towards Tsukune as he slowly got back up. Tsukune looked at Dark with wide eyes as the demon glared at him. Dark's aura flared up around him as the cliffside started to darken.
"Dark stop! We just want to talk!" Moka called out. She looked to Mizore with frustration.
"I won't hesitate Moka. Dark speaks the truth, that ghoul is too dangerous to trust behind a simple chain," Mizore said as she held her snow blade firmly.
"He's sealed!" Kokoa barked out.
"Hardly!" Felucia scoffed. Dark walked up to Tsukune and glared at him, the demon a few steps away from him.
"I told you to stay away, but you just don't listen," Dark said as he shook his head slightly.
"Please Dark, you're all my friends, why can't we talk about this? I don't want to fight you!" Tsukune yelled out. In a flash Dark's fist struck at the boy's jaw and spun him around. The demon sent a fierce kick to his side and sent him rolling along the edge of the cliffs into a tumble.
"Friends? You killed me! You nearly killed my Mizore! I trusted you to keep that thing sealed, but you couldn't do it. Why should I trust you again?" Dark roared out as he walked over to the coughing boy.
"Tsukune!" Moka cried out. She looked to Mizore with a growl then dashed to the side, grabbing the snow maiden's hand with the katana still held tightly in it. She tried to push herself around and take the blade as Mizore growled and started to push back. They danced around a bit as they jumped and struggled with each other before Mizore reached her other hand back. An ice kunai blade as she formed a grip around the handle then she struck down, the blade striking into Moka's thigh. She screamed as she dropped to one knee and held the ice dagger as it was dug into her flesh. Mizore whipped the snow katana into the air and positioned herself to strike down at the vampire's head.
"Big sis!" Kokoa cried out.
"Moka!" Tsukune yelled out as he watched his girlfriend fall in pain.
"You won't stand in my way Moka. I just got Dark back, I just got him back!" Mizore yelled out as she held the blade firmly in her hand. Moka looked up at her with fright and wide eyes.
"Mizore… don't…" she said softly.
"Stop this! Please Mizore, we're your friends!" Tsukune pleaded. Mizore stared at the vampire with a focused glare and growled.
"Mizore…" Moka said softly as she held her bleeding leg. The snow girl geared back to strike before Moka's words echoed in her head.
"Please Dark, I just got him back. Please don't do this."
'She just got her boyfriend back too… the same as me… no! Not the same as me! Mine died! Tsukune's to blame… the ghoul… HIM!'
Mizore's blade shook slightly as she hesitated on striking down her former friend. Moka pulled the ice dagger out and dropped it to the ground, her leg starting to heal already thanks to her vampire blood.
"Mizore! Dark! Please stop this!" Tsukune begged before Dark grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up.
"This ends here," Dark said coldly as he glared at the boy in his grip. Tsukune thrashed about as his legs kicked wildly.
"Finish him off Dark, end this nightmare," Felucia called back. Mizore glanced back to Dark then to Moka.
"Please Mizore… don't take him from me. I'm begging you," Moka pleaded.
"You know how it is to lose somebody you love. Don't do that to my big sister!" Kokoa shouted as she was held back by the sword still.
Dark started to tighten his grip around Tsukune's neck.
"That thing must die Tsukune. I won't allow my Mizore to come to harm ever. I can't trust you to keep it sealed," he said coldly. Tsukune gasped for air and grabbed the boy's wrist the best he could.
"Please… trust me… it won't happen again. I promise!" he choked out. The ground around them started to crack slightly as the demon growled at the boy.
"Just walk away Moka. Stop this now or else," Mizore said softly, still holding her sword back.
"I can't just leave Tsukune, I can't! Just like you couldn't leave Dark!" Moka cried out. Mizore jumped at that and looked back to her demon. He was holding Tsukune up by the throat and glaring at him, his dark aura swirling around at his feet.
"That ghoul will come back. It will and it'll kill us all. Well, it'll kill you all, and that includes Dark!" Felucia said sternly.
"I can't let my Dark die again Moka. I just can't risk it," Mizore said softly.
"So you'll kill Tsukune? And me? Mizore you can't be serious," Moka said in disbelief. Mizore looked at her intently then glanced back to Dark.
"I… I…" Mizore said as her blade wavered. Felucia looked at the two vampires with discontent then over towards Dark.
"Just end it alread- DARK!" she screamed out as the ground beneath the two boys gave away. The girls looked over in surprise to see the cliff below the boys crumbling apart. With a loud crashing sound the two boys dropped down from sight, the girls screaming out in horror as they vanished.
"DARK!" Mizore yelled out.
"TSUKUNE!" Moka cried out. The girls ran towards the cliffs and looked down with fright. They gasped as they saw the boys hanging on the cliffside down below. Tsukune was holding onto the rocky walls the best he could with his left hand while his right hand was holding Dark's wrist, the two boys looking down towards the jagged rocks below. The red sea was crashing against the cliff's walls as they slowly looked back up.
"Dark! You ok?" Tsukune called down.
"Oh yeah… just dandy," Dark said flatly. Tsukune's grip on the rock he held onto started to budge, the boys looking up to it with caution.
"Oh my gosh, are you two ok?" Moka yelled down to them.
"…been better," Dark said flatly again.
"Hang on, we'll get you up, just don't let go," Kokoa called down. Dark just blinked.
"…hoping that wasn't Tsukune's plan," he said simply.
"Dark! What should I do?" Felucia asked worriedly as she looked around the cliffs franticly. Dark rolled his eyes at that comment.
"…if you would like to help us back up, that would be great," the demon said simply.
The rock Tsukune was hanging onto started to budge more, the boys looking to it worriedly as the ledge started to crack around them.
"It's not going to hold both of us," Dark said softly as he watched the ledge start to crack more.
"We have to help them!" Moka cried out.
"Where's Rason or Kurumu? They could fly them back up," Kokoa said looking around worriedly.
"I don't know, they've been flying around somewhere all day," Moka said with fear.
"Tsukune, let me go," Dark said simply, the entire group looking to him in shock.
"What? No way!" Tsukune yelled back. The ledge started to crack more as tiny rocks fell loose.
"It's going to give, it won't hold us both," Dark reasoned. The rock cracked apart more.
"No! Dark we'll get you out!" Mizore yelled down in fright. Dark just blinked then glanced to Tsukune.
"She didn't just ask us to do what I think she did, did she?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. Tsukune looked down and gave him a quizzical stare.
"You still can't understand her with her lollipop?" he asked franticly.
"I can't reach them! Somebody do something!" Felucia yelled out as she tried to reach down for Tsukune's hand.
"Felucia, lower me down, I'll try to grab them!" Moka said as she leaned over the edge. The demon promptly grabbed her ankles and lowered her over the edge, the two girls reaching down towards the boys.
"Moka!" Tsukune said with a grunt, straining himself as he watched her inch closer.
"Mizore, please help!" Moka cried out. The snow girl tossed her blade to the side and helped Kokoa lower the two girls down towards the boys. Moka was an inch away from them as the rock started to shift more.
"C'mon, reach!" Kokoa cried out as she and the snow girl lowered the two others as low as they could. Moka strained herself to reach out for the boy, her fingers just about to reach his hand. The rock cracked apart and started to crumble.
"Tsukune!" Moka cried out as she reached out with all her might. Dark felt them start to fall then suddenly stop as bits of the cliff dropped past him. He looked back up to the group then stared in surprise. Tsukune was watching with wide eyes of disbelief while all the girls were staring in shock, so much that Mizore's lollipop fell out and over the cliff as well.
"Mo… Moka?" Tsukune stammered out. Moka was staring with wide eyes while holding her breath. Her emerald eyes were fixated on the same thing everybody else's were. She stared in disbelief at the two boys she was holding up… by the chain of the Holy Lock.
"Oh… my…" Moka said softly.
"Big sis…" Kokoa said as she turned pale.
"The chain…" Mizore said with fear.
"It's… holding?" Felucia said with a puzzled look. The group swung gently there in surprise that the Holy Lock and the flimsy chain were holding tightly, so tightly that Dark and Tsukune were being held up by it. Dark just blinked, staring at the sight with a blank expression as his music continued to play for him, and uttered the only two words that came to his mind at that moment.
"The fuck?"
Back on top of the cliffside the group was looking at Tsukune's wrist with surprised expressions after they had pulled the two boys back up to them. Tsukune grabbed the chain and pulled slightly, the links holding tightly around his wrist.
"It's… holding. It didn't break," he said in wonder.
"I don't believe it, how could a little chain be that strong?" Felucia said as she stared at it.
"I was hoping something like that would be stronger, otherwise that would just be stupid to have some powerful seal on a flimsy chain," Kokoa said with a nod. Tsukune nodded slowly then glanced to Dark.
"Hey, why would you suggest that I let you go down there? I thought you wanted me dead. If you did, you could have just held on until we both fell," he asked curiously. The group looked to the demon as he just stared at the Holy Lock. After a pause Dark merely shrugged.
"Seemed like the chivalrous thing to do. Besides, I was confident Felucia would have finished you off afterwards," he said simply. The doll demon smirked and glanced to Tsukune with a wink. He jumped nervously and looked down to his wrist.
"You see? The ghoul is sealed away. We couldn't even take off the lock when the full weight of Tsukune and Dark was pulling on it," Moka said as she looked around at her friends. Mizore and Felucia looked to each other then to Dark. The shadow demon stared at the trinket closely then glanced up at Tsukune. The boy nervously rubbed the back of his head and gave a weak smile.
"I promise though, I'll take good care of it. I won't let anything happen to it, I swear," he said gently. After a long pause Dark nodded.
"Fine. If it really is that strong, maybe the ghoul is gone for good. However…" he said with a quick glare at the end. Tsukune backed up as the demon looked back down at the lock.
"If I see any reason that the lock is not going to hold…" he said coldly. Tsukune jumped a bit and looked to his wrist with fear. After a moment he slowly nodded and smiled at his friend.
"If the lock wasn't going to hold, and somebody had to do the deed, then I would trust you to do so Dark," he said calmly. The girls looked at them as the boys stared at each other. After a pause Dark smirked and nodded.
"Alright," he said simply. Mizore walked over to him and wrapped herself around his arm. The snow maiden glanced to Tsukune with her blank expression. The boy looked at her with worry until a soft smile appeared on her face.
"If my Dark says it's alright, then so be it," she said simply. Felucia looked up with a smirk and sighed.
"Can't say no to him can we?" she said plainly. Moka and Kokoa smiled and looked to Tsukune as he gazed around at his friends with a warm smile.
"Thank you, I promise I won't fail you. I'll keep this lock safe and sound," he said confidently, then looked to his girlfriend who was gazing at him with loving eyes.
"I'll stay here with you no matter what," he finished with a loving smile. Moka ran up and embraced him tightly as Kokoa smiled at the couple.
"Oh Tsukune!" Moka cried out happily.
"Oh Moka…" Tsukune said as she leaned back and faced the girl with a small blush.
"Oh Tsukune…" she said as she leaned closer.
"Oh Moka…" he said as they prepared to kiss.
Suddenly a huge gust of wind blasted from the side, the group looking over to see Kurumu and Rason rising up from their fierce landing. The ground around them was cracked slightly as they had hit the ground at high speed, and the two were looking at the group with friendly smiles.
"Hey guys, have we got some good news from heaven!" Kurumu said happily. She blinked and looked at the group curiously as Dark and Tsukune were in close proximity without all hell breaking loose. Everybody was looking to the winged couple with smiles, except for Mizore and Dark, and the two lovers watched them with both caution and puzzlement.
"Um… what did we miss?" Rason asked slowly.
Back up in heaven two angels were looking down at the couple who had regrouped with their friends.
"Well… she was a delight, wouldn't you agree?" Gabriel asked with a smirk.
"A very interesting girl to say the least. Still, it appears Rason truly is willing to go through anything to keep her by his side. A true Destined One indeed," the elder said calmly. The redheaded angel looked to him curiously then back down.
"Say, elder, I wanted to ask you a question regarding that girl," he said carefully.
"I told you before Gabriel, do not pry into matters that do not concern you," the elder said with a glance to the angel.
"I know, but… it's something that's been bothering me for some time, and I've never been able to figure it out," the boy said as he scratched his head in confusion.
"There are some things in this world you are not meant to know, just let it go," the elder said calmly.
"But… I can't keep quiet about this, I need to know. Please enlighten me elder," Gabriel said urgently. The elder sighed and looked over to the boy.
"Fine, what is it that troubles you so?" he asked tiredly. Gabriel looked at him with a curious expression, then back down towards the group on earth.
"Is her skirt really supposed to be that short?"
