:3 Enjoy!
Takano took off his armor. The war only lasted seven hours this time, every night seemed to be less Demons, Takano hoped it kept up this way. But what concerned him was the fact that not only was Ritsu absent from the war but also korero and the other high Demons. Where they plotting something?
The three leaders were called in by the council's again. Knowing what it was about they headed toward Marukawa.
"What are you reports from the Black Angel?" Usagi-san started. Everyone sat down in their usual seats.
The Councils wings, as always were hidden. Their wings were different than the white wings every other Angel carried. Usagi-san's wings were silver with what looked to be diamonds shining inside them, Isaka-san was a beautiful purple with black highlights, and Yokozawa was a light blue with snowflakes falling around them. It represented their status as a Council member.
"The Black Angel was not present in the war neither was their leader Korero." Takano answered.
Usagi-san leaned forward in his chair. "You think they plan something?"
"The thought has crossed our minds sir." Kirishima said.
Everyone stayed quiet. "I will look into it." Yokozawa volunteered. Usagi-san nodded.
"Make sure every detail is discovered, I want every dark corner brought to light." Yokozawa nodded.
"Now, I hear that you brought in a Demon into Heaven Takano. Do you want to explain yourself?" Usagi-sans keen eyes landed on the man in question.
"I found him beaten near death in the cherry blossoms. He's been visiting that place for years now and does no harm."
"Takano we cannot allow a Demon here. We are in war. You must take him to the battle field where his brothers will take him back."
Takano tensed. "Take him back to the very beings that hurt him?"
"Takano I cannot change their ways, it's what they do. You must take him back; I cannot risk the chance that he might be a part of a bigger plan."
"Sir, please reconsider, he nearly died when we found him and if he was a spy they wouldn't have risked ripping off his wings."
Usagi-san shook his head. "It is done; I will not risk all these Angels for one mere Demon. I want him gone tonight."
Before anyone can move Takano made a drastic decision. "He is my Mate."
Everyone froze. Yukina and Kirishima shared a look but said nothing.
Isaka-san looked at Takano amused. Interesting.
"All right then." Isaka-san announced. "You cannot change that Usagi-san, we need Takano and if the Demons find out they will surely kill the guy."
Usagi-san nodded. "Fine. He may stay but you must keep an eye on him until the war has ended. We will discuss your Mate then. Dismissed." The council departed.
"What the hell Takano? Do you know how deep you're getting yourself into?" Kirishima yelled at him.
"It was the only way." Takano signed.
"Takano he isn't even your Mate, he could be a spy for all we know, why risk everything for a Demon you know only a little?"
Takano scowled. He didn't know. He just knew that he couldn't give his Angel back to those Demons; he knew that they wouldn't hesitate to kill him just for sport. To never see him again? His chest ached painfully at the thought.
"Love living it hard, don't you?" Yukina laughed at him.
"No shit." Takano said sarcastically. Never in his life had he made such an important decision based off emotion. That was not him. He made sure to reason it all out before making a move.
Yukina laughed at Takano, seeming to read his thoughts. "Where's your reason now?"
"Do you know what I'm going to enjoy? When you finally get together with your Mate and he shakes to hell your unflappable demeanor. I'm going to laugh when you turn enraged, ramrod straight every time he walks by."
"Any way" Kirishima interrupted. "What about you're actual Mate?"
Takano groaned. "I've been thinking about that. I don't know."
"Are you in love with your Black Angel?"
"I don't know..." Kirishima scowled.
"Seriously? How about your Black Raven?"
"I don't know! I only just realized he's my Mate, how the hell will I know?" Takano growled.
Did he love his Black Raven? He did love how he was always challenged by him and Ritsu's little tricks amuse the hell out of him. But love? And what about his Angel? So sweet and fragile, he didn't know either.
"You know it is possible to fall in love with another but once your Mate comes by, well, let's just say you won't be faithful. The pull is strong."
"How about you avoid your Mate? That way you can be with Onodera and be faithful." Yukina smiled at the brilliant plan. "It's better than being with the Black Raven; no one would accept him here."
"Yukina we are in a war, the Black Raven will bound to show up anytime now." Kirishima countered.
"Just saying, don't fall in love with the Black Raven."
"Are you freken stupid or something?" Both Kirishima and Takano yelled at him. It was nearly impossible to not fall in love with your Mate. They've seen it happen thousands of times already.
"Just saying, what other choices do you have?"
Kirishima grinned, obviously planning something that would make Takano's skin crawl.
"Don't say it, we're done." Takano made his way to his home. What was he going to do now? He just made a complete mess of his life. Everything was just so muddled in his mind, reason no longer existed.
Takano thought about last night when he kissed his Angel good night. For the briefest instant he thought, Keep the bloody lies and keep the beauty offered up before me. Why not?
He shook his head hard. Guilt set in. He couldn't do that. What if his Angel also had a Mate out there somewhere? The thought angered him. By passenger were startled by the grim features of the Leader as he flew home.
-Ritsu
Ritsu awoke with a jolt, jerking upright. He was panting, sweat running down his chest and back in rivulets. The most terrible dream had plunged him. He hated when he dreamed of how he killed so many innocent people, it tore whatever sanity he had left.
Ritsu looked around, reminding him that he was still blind. He wasn't familiar with the soft bedding and the scent. Ritsu stood up and tried to find the door. Slowly he felt the walls for a door, signing with frustration when he kept tripping over. It took him a good three minutes before he finally found the damn thing.
He was stubborn; there was no way he would call Takano for help.
Next thing he knew he tripped, his wing hitting the table causing extreme pain.
Ritsu doubled over as a new pain started from his chest. Crap, how could I have forgotten? The pull to Hell was calling him. Ritsu cursed. Ritsu knew he had only a few days he could ignore it but soon it would be an agonizing pain if ignored too long.
The call was something put on Demons long ago. Because of this Demons couldn't go long periods outside Hell. Ritsu was able to last three days before he collapsed. The only cure was to go to the Hell council and wait for a few minutes for the pain to completely vanish.
Ritsu pushed back the pain. He had no choice but to wait for his strength to return before entering Hell, knowing that every Demon would be out for his head.
Ritsu tried to get up but his legs wouldn't function right. He was not calling for help. He never needed it in his whole afterlife and he certainly didn't need it now.
-Takano
Onodera's hair was sticking all over the place; it made him look like a wild boy. Onodera cursed earning a chuckle from Takano.
Onodera froze.
"Well this is embarrassing." Takano smirked. Onodera scowled, trying to get up. "Here..." He helped Onodera sit on the couch. Takano crouched in front of him looking at his hair. It was completely uneven as if the guy chopped his hair with a knife.
"Wait here, don't move."
"You don't have to tell me." Onodera grumbled.
Takano went in the bathroom to retrieve the scissors. He came back to see Onodera touching his injured wing. "Your wing will be fine." Takano reassured him. He crouched in front of Onodera again and touched his hair. Onodera slapped his hand away.
"Your hair is all over the place, I just want to cut it."
"No."
"Come on its not going to kill you." He tried to tease.
Onodera still resisted. "I don't care how its looks, leave it alone."
"Onodera, you agreed that I would take care of you now stop being such a baby, I'm only going to cut some away."
Onodera growled. Takano could see he was thinking hard about it.
"Come on; if you let me I'll take you to your tree for a while."
Onodera signed in defeat. "Fine."
Takano reached for the band aid around his eyes "Let's move this real quick so I can get your bangs as well."
Takano carefully removed the band aid to see a little bit of blood on them. Confused, Takano moved his bangs out of the way and froze when he saw the black marks around his eyes; it looked like it ate at his flesh.
"Does it hurt?" Takano touched his cheek gently witch freaked Onodera out.
"Don't touch me." He growled, slapping Takano's hand again. "Hurry up and cut the damn thing already."
It took a while before Takano slowly complied. It was tense silence as Takano chipped more of Onodera's hair.
Ritsu was uncomfortable. He wasn't used to someone being gentle or kind to him. In Hell that was unknown to them and he hasn't dealt with it since his parents died. Ritsu tensed. Don't think about that. He didn't want to do anything with this man.
Takano leaned back satisfied. His hair now reached his nape and the bangs were shorter so he could see more.
"Better?"
Onodera nodded. "Th…Thank you." Takano smiled. He quickly ruffled his hair before Onodera could slap it away. Takano carefully applied a new band aid to Onodera's eyes. "Today I want to show you Heaven."
"Why? I won't be here for long, and I can't see."
"I'll describe it for you as best as I can." Takano ignored the other part. He knew that his time with his Angel was limited; he hoped he could change his Angel's mind. "Besides Nowaki wants to see you. So I thought why not take a walk?"
Onodera said nothing, not caring in the least.
Takano pulled Ritsu up. "Don't worry I'll make sure you'll enjoy it."
-Hell
"My Lord, it has been confirmed that Ritsu has been taken in by the Angels."
"Really?" Korero grinned. "That would be in our advantage then, killing two birds with one stone." Korero looked out the dark castle to see thousands of souls burning in the blue fire. He knew that it was only a matter of time before Ritsu was forced to come to the council or risk a slow painful death from the call. He knew his Mate would not let him die.
"How is the chemical doing?"
The Demon grinned. "It works, it renders the Angel helpless. It cannot shift or use its wings and when in contact with skin it burns away the flesh."
Korero nodded, satisfied. "Perfect. On the last day of this pitiful war we shall strike. Heaven will be ours at last." Thousands of Demons laughed gleefully.