Guardian Angel

Chapter 9: Wish and it Shall Appear

Misaki's POV

I woke up alone the next morning; in fact, I was alone all morning and into the afternoon in my room. I realized Brice probably didn't have a place to sleep that night, but that didn't strike me as a major problem. There was always the couch.

I used my stolen solitude to think over every crazy thing that had happened recently and try to make sense of them, and of my feelings. First, Usagi had finally seemed to accept my position as his guardian, although he seemed to try to protect me more. I begrudgingly admitted to myself I had actually fallen in love with him. The decision to make him forget my brother by seducing him seemed rash and foolish to me now, and I cannot logically explain to myself why I considered that option besides the impetus of some angelic (I use this term professionally, not that I consider my own actions "saintly"… if anything, illogical) instinct - which I still cannot compare to any other emotion but pure, selfless devotion. Moreover, this most recent incursion, for lack of a better word to describe my thoughts, actions, and feelings, both emotional and physical, being invaded, was still well on my mind. I felt no physical pain then, but suddenly, two minutes after 12 p.m., I did, and it was like newly made bruises and smarting cuts bloomed all over my body.

Gasping a shriek of pain, but more so surprise, I leapt to my feet, only for my knees to give and meet the floor, my sight jarred by breath-stealing dizziness. A few moments of heavy breathing and trembling hands later, it was over, as it was always over, just as quickly as it had come. And, like always, it left in its wake a sharp ache, ever alive, burning in the front of his mind. A constant reminder and compeller to hurry… to panic.

With minor stumbling I rushed out of the room and to the top of the staircase and looked down on the room below. Brice stood in the kitchen, watching the coffee pot. He looked up as I descended the stairs, and he smiled pleasantly, touching a mug. "Coffee?" he asked.

I shook my head and eyed him suspiciously, not even trying to hide the mirrors of distrust I knew must be eminent in my facial features. Still, I was perturbed the change of mood from my room to this one - it suddenly more calm, peaceful. I looked around, wincing at the light that pierced as light does when one has the beginnings of a migraine. Turning my gaze back on Brice, I couldn't help but remember his reaction to the sight Usagi and me yesterday. I asked warily, "Where's Usagi-san?", still unsure if the distrust I held against him (perhaps unfairly, the light of my actual self added, not the currently positioned dog loyal to Usagi's safety) was properly doled.

"Out," he replied simply, putting down what he was doing and shifting his gaze to rest on me alone, as if examining my expression and grading it with a satisfied smirk.

"So… how do you know Usagi-san?" I asked, walking around to the counter, wondering why Usagi would leave this guy here while he went out, and if it had anything to do with why he didn't come to check on me all morning.

Brice's lips twitched into a smug little smile. "What? He didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"Oh," he mused, playing with a lock of his perfectly trimmed blond hair. "I was his tutor back in England. I'm a few years older than him, and we were in separate schools, but we were neighbors. I came over often, and… we did some things."

I processed that for a few moments, and then it hit me. "Wait… You were the tutor who made him realize his sexuality?" (1) And then, he processed that further. Brice was Usagi's first.

Brice chuckled. "I suppose. And between you and me, I never really over him." He began around the counter, and I began away from it.

"So? Usagi-san has moved on," I tried, but his icy gaze unnerved me and I was distracted by my building headache and a sudden dizziness that made my head swirl. I felt unsteady on my feel and my stomach lurched darkly as he approached.

Brice quirked an eyebrow. "I know that. And I know what you are."

Panic quickly swept over me at his words. "How…"

"Oh, come off of it. It's obvious just by seeing the way you look at him and are wary of everything that gets close to him. I know you're not just some overprotective, innocent lover," he quipped. Then he seemed to calm down, fall into an icy, frightening sort of calm. "I suppose it would be fair for you to know what I am, too, since you seem so unlearned."

He moved closer, a venomous look on his face. My head split in agony with every step he advanced in my direction and blue eyes accented with unmasked delight observed my pain. Danger, my brain supplied without conjuring the word myself. I stumbled backward, trying instinctively to get away from him, the dark, threatening aura he seemed to drip. I could feel it. Him. I knew there was something off about him, something evil about him. "You're…" I started but broke off into a groan of pain and a flash of some far off scene: a parking garage, a red foreign sports car, daylight, caitiffs (by the looks of them), a breeze… Usagi-san!

"Yes…" Brice's glacial, foreign voice murmured. Funny, how classy he sounded - proper - even now, like some rich heir to a great fortune back West (which, I reminded myself, he probably was). "Mr. Angel. I, too, died once. Murdered, actually. My last thought, as I lay on the cold pavement, bleeding, was to reap revenge on those bastards who killed me. Well," he chuckled darkly, stuffing his hands in his pockets, "the next thing I knew, my hands were around their scrawny little necks and it was their blood between my fingers." He leaned down to look at my face, and I could feel his cool breath burning, literally burning, against my cheek.

"I met him then. In flesh, right there on the street. I knew who he was - who else could he be but the Devil? He offered me a second chance, a second life," he went on, a fierce fire dancing in his artic blue eyes. "I would have been stupid not to take it. Sure, I was frightened at first, but not for long. You know, don't you? What I am." He waited, watching me wince as he lifted my face from my doubled over figure with one delicate hand. "Say it."

I tried to, but I couldn't think straight. I knew. I think. I didn't know. Wait, yes I did. No… What didn't I know? What was the question?

Brice loomed leeringly closer, his grip tightening on my face. "Well?"

Without thinking about what I was saying, though still enjoying the satisfaction of saying it, I hissed through my teeth, "Go back to hell, you son of a bitch." Right after the words left my mouth I wished I would have selected a better choice if words, but I didn't particularly regret what I said.

Brice grinned. "Naughty little 'angel', are we? Heh. Dead on. A reaper…" Brice growled under his breath and released me from his grasp with an agitated shove.

My breath caught and I watched his retreating footsteps. I tried to straighten up, but felt my knees wanting to give. I grunted and I felt a blow to my head, yet Brice was nowhere near me. "Usagi-san…" I whispered, a familiar sensation of urgency compelled my feet forward, seeing my destination in my eyelids every time I blinked. Finding new strength through this outlet, I ignored the protestant stabs of pain in my head and my contracted lungs and took a few stumbling paces toward the door. Brice's mere presence was taking its toll on me, such evil being in proximity drained me significantly. But I had to get to Usagi-san. I had to protect Usagi-san.

"Oh?" Brice's tone rose a few notes higher in amusement. "Where are you going?"

Without even honoring that statement with a reply, I pursued the door, the pain, Usagi's pain, only growing. The blond-headed, fair-faced reaper stepped in front of me and stood there, straight as a post with his hands positioned eloquently behind his back, black shoed feet together and pointed chin angled priggishly toward me.

"What did you do to Usagi-san?" I asked, standing a little taller and looking him in the eyes, a formidable challenge to keep a steady gaze.

"I told you, he went out. But I do believe he is currently under the care of my staff." He "tsk"-ed as he looked at me, shaking his head. "How pathetic," he murmured. "You're such a weak little cherub; I expected more from a guardian angel. Perhaps the title isn't as glorified as it seems. Well, I certainly won't stop you from doing your duty. For the moment." He stepped aside, clearing my path. I eyed him warily till he said, "You're welcome to take your try at rescuing him. He is in danger, you know."

I know. Casting him one last distrustful glance, I ran, unsteadily and disoriented, past him and out the door, feeling my stomach clench as if a boot had made rough contact with it.

This was the part I didn't understand. I can take pain; I can endure torture; I can handle all of that. But why did I have to? It seemed to me that I shouldn't have to be weakened by the very warnings that drove me to a rescue, or else how could I perform in a situation of danger as well? This was the part I didn't understand.

Beyond the pain, and beyond the commanding instinct to protect, was my desire to save Usagi for myself, for my own selfish reasons. I might love him, and I'm not ready to give up on him yet. He couldn't just leave me here in this world, I would be nothing without him - quite literally, actually. I wouldn't be on this world, still, if not for his existence. His existence was the sole reason for my existence, in more ways than one now.

As I ran through the downstairs lobby and the parking garage was in sight, the overwhelming pain suddenly stopped. Every physical feeling stopped, and I could only stand there unable to move, numb. Panic started to wash over me. Am I too late? Is Usagi… dead? Then, my vision disappeared and a white wall appeared inches from my face. Thundering silence washed over me and the sound of my heartbeat pounded in my ears.

Then a voice which was becoming staggeringly familiar resounded all around me, and only then did I realize I wasn't standing face to face with a wall: "Takahashi Misaki, you are forthwith relieved of your duty as guardian of Usami Akihiko."

I don't know what came over me, but for the first time in this omnipotent presence I willed myself to speak. Not speak, shriek. "What? No! Not now! Why?" I was overtaken by dread, and haste - I didn't have time for this! I had to get to Usagi-san! Usagi-san was in danger!

"You were chosen for your purity of heart and mind," the voice boomed, "but since you have developed inappropriate relations with your client, and though impure thoughts, such measures must be taken. You have twenty-four hours."

Dumbfounded and, quite plainly, pissed, my sight leaked back and I slowly regained feeling in my legs, but not the anguish of Usagi's subconscious distress call.

Relieved from duty? That means I'm not Usagi's guardian anymore? I was fired? Now! Of all times, why now? "Shit…!" I mumbled, taking up a run again across the ground parking lot, stumbling a bit as my foot was still partially asleep. Why now! Did He not know what was happening? Of course he did! Why now, why now?

Upon entering the open-faced, multistory garage, I spotted a sign on the elevator that read loudly: OUT OF ORDER. Clenching my teeth I made for the stairs and began the steep accent to the 5th level of the garage: the story on which Usagi's parking place was. All the while I was spitting out every cuss word that came to mind and made up a few of my own. I didn't care anymore; I had no reason to. "Relieved"… Relieved, my ass! How could I possible stand a chance against whatever brutes in Brice's "staff" were up there now? At least while I was a guardian angel I got a certain amount of unworldly strength or occult powers… or at least that's how it is in the movies and video games.

Upon reaching the fourth landing I could hear people screaming above. The higher I climbed the louder it got, and the better I could hear the more I realized just how many "staff" members must be up there. A jolt of fear shot through me and my step faltered, then I heard Usagi's brusque voice mutter something incomprehensible and some grunts of pain, not all of which Usagi-san's.

"Usagi!" I yelled. I could see now that four men were hassling Usagi, but wait… It sort of looked like Usagi was getting the best of them, I noticed as I took in the frozen scene before me. The men quickly resumed the strife, taking advantage of the moment of distraction to catch Usagi by surprise with a hook to his jaw.

I leapt into the struggle, trying to free Usagi from all four directions of force if nothing else. As quickly as I jumped in did I get pushed out - by Usagi - but not before I caught a weighty punch in the gut. By now, the author's hair was tousled, his lip busted and bloodied, and favored his right leg. Just as I prepared to grab Usagi and run from this madness, a soft, staccato clapping sounded behind us. The scene once again froze as every eye turned to the source.

"Good little guardian, aren't you?" Brice said chidingly, approaching slowly. "I do believe I wouldn't be as… foolish to take on these four. Either way," he was now in front of me now, "I can see what Akihiko admires about you so much."

"Brice-san, why are you doing this?" I asked, flinching from his hand as he touched my cheek with an expression of curiosity and dislike on his face. Vaguely, I realized his touch didn't burn and my head didn't split with pain. I guess that's one pro to being fired…

He said haughtily as if I were ignorant to ask, "Because I love Akihiko, he has eighteen years worth of debt to pay, and you're in the way. You know, I may just put in a request for your early death back at the office," he mused, turned, and strode to where Usagi stood almost doubled, holding his torso. "You knew that, yet you still left me… I thought you felt the same. It really hurt, you know." For a moment Brice looked capable of feeling emotion, but I knew that couldn't be, for a moment later his usual air of perfect stoicism closed back in around him.

Breathing heavily, Usagi looked up at him and hatred laced his every syllable he spoke, "I'd never have you. That delusion is your own doing-"

Brice kneed him sharply and resumed his pace in another direction, mumbling something to himself. After a while, he lashed out toward Usagi, quite unexpectedly, "Why not?" His voiced sounded anguished, and this time he really did look it, and stayed that way.

Usagi looked at him incredulously and straightened some, wincing. "Isn't it obvious? I didn't feel the same; I don't. You forced yourself on me. I was ten."

"Old enough to accept my feelings, I really did like you, then you left. Without a word, you didn't even tell me! Idiot!"

Something that looked like familiarity clicked in Usagi's eyes, and Misaki guessed that this was the side of Brice he was most familiar with. This childish, needy attitude was the real Brice. When Usagi didn't answer him but continued to place him with a cold stare, Brice ducked his head, letting his golden hair fall into his face and said in a voice bordering a whisper, "Kill him."

His crew began to oblige.

"Stop! Brice, why?"

He spun. "'Why'?"

Hastily, I reiterated. "You love him, so why hurt him?"

Brice's eyes turned stony once again as he glared at me. "You're rather dull, aren't you? Ever heard of 'If I can't have him, no one can'?"

"But-"

"Wait…" he murmured, looking at me more closely. "Why didn't you... You aren't reacting? You should be in pain." His expression turned upward into a gleefully smile, reminding me of a child who'd gotten everything he wanted for Christmas. "Oh~! Isn't this wonderful! You've been sacked! How shameful!" He laughed, thoroughly enjoying himself. Then he said in an equally as excited voice, "I can kill you now!"

Panic anew struck up inside me and the struggle continued. Two of Brice's men were now upon me, beating me from every angle as I heard the other two doing likewise to Usagi. Breathlessly, I bellowed in raspy voice, "Coward!" but the sound didn't carry. I could tell he heard it because he stiffened, but he calmly replied with, "We are on the fifth floor," to his companions.

With this new concept in suggestion, the caitiffs on Usagi dragged him dangerously close to the concrete barrier separating the building from the open air above the street. Usagi wasn't putting up much of a fight, and I realized in horror he must be unconscious. The two carrying him chuckled stupidly as they hoisted him above the rail.

"NO!" I screamed, finally breaking free of identical vices and pelted toward the edge of the garage. I cleared the banister easily and found myself plummeting downward, only Usagi's limp body between me and the distant pavement. Usagi was all I could think about as I willed myself to fall faster to catch up with his form, my hand outstretched toward him in my nosedive of a fall.

Then, in one surreal moment, I felt like time preformed a flourish of a cadenza as the scene around me seemed to play itself out in slow motion. This must be what happens before you die, I thought, waiting for the onslaught of memories past. This will be the second time… After a few more moments I realized I had time to think in complete sentences and that time really was waiting for me.

I was still dazed in amazement, but I had to get to Usagi-san, save him somehow. The desire to protect him was stronger than ever now, but this time it was completely voluntary. As I stretched to reach him, the seconds accelerated and we fell faster, my heart pounding all the more in my ears, faster than time itself. I wasn't going to make it. We were both going to die like this…

Fwoosh!

All in that instant, I realized two things. One, I was now in control of my descent and gliding downward at an angle. Two, a pair of sprawling, feathery wings had sprung from my back between my shoulder blades and were buffeting me with gusts of wind so powerful I was surprised they didn't knock me out of the air. I didn't have time to marvel the strangeness of this deformation before I swooped down, scooped Usagi out of the air, and pulled up just before what would have been a painful collision with the ground. Only then did it occur to me that humans were not supposed to sprout wings, and I became aware that could control their movement. This wasn't the best thought to have mid-flight, as I now began to panic and flapped them vigorously, flying lopsided and out of rhythm. I regained control and hovered in the airspace above the road, freaking out.

"M-Misaki…?" Usagi had opened his eyes and was staring up at me - no, at the wings. I resisted the urge to join him; last time I did I nearly crashed. Land soon, a little voice told me, and I immediately dove toward an open level of the parking garage, not daring to question it. As soon as my feet touched the wonderfully palpable concrete, the weight of Usagi and myself were suddenly dropped on me upon the disappearance of my pinioned appendages and I crumpled to the ground under gravity's force.

I sat like that for I don't know how long, dazed and shocked; by the looks of it, so was Usagi, but his inability to move was probably because of what I guessed to be a sprain and a few broken ribs. My gaze met Usagi's and I felt like crying, but no tears came.

"Here!" a gruff voice called. I looked up to see Brice's men staring at us, but their frightful expressions paled compared to Brice's lurid one. For a moment I thought he was going to sic his men on us again, but he turned away and disappeared down the stairs, visibly trembling, I could see even from where I was, with what may have been terror or fury. I had no way of telling, but both made sense to me. Soon, the rest of his men followed, apparently needing no further explanation to escape from this oddity of a human being.

You've proven yourself; such courage and love cannot go without reward. Although you are no longer Usami Akihiko's guardian, you may remain in this place with him, your life your own.

I looked for the source of the familiar voice, but Usagi and I were the only ones here. Moreover, Usagi had not appeared to have heard it. I took a trembling breath as the words sank in. Unsure how to respond, I whispered, "Thank-you."

"You…" Usagi began tentatively, then chuckled softly. "I should be telling you that. How…?"

I forced a smile and when I finally looked at him I became aware of just how much blood starched his shirt. "Ah! H-Hospital! Ambulance!" I searched frantically for my cell phone but a hand caught me around the neck and jerked me downward into a pair of lips. I was stiff against the kiss at first, but my mind went blank and I slowly melted into it. Usagi's lips tasted salty, I thought. Then as realization hit, I pulled back abruptly. "You're injured. We'll…" I hesitated, "do that later…" This seemed enough to satisfy Usagi and I felt myself blushing furiously.

I searched Usagi's jacket and pulled out his cell phone, dialed, and placed it to my ear and listened to the ringing. After I gave the woman on the other end our whereabouts and what happened (well, almost what happened), I sank into the hard, gritty ground beside Usagi where we sat in silence. Then Usagi murmured, "Did I hit my head, or did you really have wings?" I laughed nervously. I didn't understand what had happened either; the most I could conclude was that I was given help when I needed it most, and then I was released from duty in good graces. That sounded right, so I went with it.

We heard an ambulance screeching in the distance and saw Bryce's car peeling from the garage in flight. He wouldn't return here again after witnessing such a supernal display.

Usagi turned to me and murmured, "I love you."

I smiled. This is what I lived for now. "You too."

(1) See nine minutes into episode one.

Thanks for reading!