"Lightning, strike!" Eight year old Alexander called out as he, Akeno, and their father stood in a small clearing in a forest. They'd gone to the forest so that they could train with their magic. As Alexander called out the attack, a large, golden magic circle opened a few metres above his head. As he pointed one of his fingers up, the lightning came crashing down on him, and struck him at the finger. It didn't hurt him though. Instead, it coursed through his body, empowering him. Holding his free hand out to the left, he generated a large mass of Holy energy, fusing it with the lightning he'd created. With a howl, he shot the lightning towards a large boulder, obliterating it.

"Nicely done Alexander." Barakiel crossed his arms with an approving nod, a small smile tugging at his lips. His children were proving to be quite adept at using the power they'd inherited from him; Holy Lightning. They both quickly mastered the simple Thunder spells that he'd started them out with a year prior, when their wings started spouting. It took them a little longer to get used to true lightning, but they'd managed thus far. It was only this day that he'd decided to move on to the Holy Lightning.

"Thanks Dad." Alexander said with a toothy grin, looking at his father and sister, who both stood at the sidelines. Internally, he was cackling with excitement imagining the havoc he could wreck with the power he now held.

"Daddy, Alex has the same scary grin as Mama." Akeno pointed out innocently, seeing the evil grin that her brother had put on as he stared at his hand.

"Yes, I know." Barakiel sighed, clapping his son on the back, snapping the boy out of his fantasy. "Focus Alexander." he said to the boy, who nodded. "Now, again." The Fallen Angel Leader instructed.

The younger twin regained his composure and focussed his attention on another boulder. With a deep breath, he held up his hand again, his finger pointing towards the sky. "Thuderbolt!" He called out. A small magic circle appeared at the tip of his finger, and as he whipped his hand towards the boulder, he threw the blue lightning that had built right at the rock, incinerating it.

"Way to go Alex!" Akeno cheered for her younger twin brother's success, embarrassing the boy, as was evident by the flush that had developed on his cheeks. The girl found herself oddly amused by this, a strange, giddy feeling in her chest as she took in her twin brother's embarrassed face. She couldn't help but giggle as her cheeks gained a pink tinge to them.

"Excellent." Barakiel nodded praisingly. He was pleased with his son's progress. Something he's noticed along the way, is that Alexander's affinity for lightning is less than Akeno. Yes, both of his children are very powerful, and very attuned with the element of lightning. However, where Alexander surpasses Akeno in raw power, Akeno surpasses her brother in affinity and skill. Perhaps his son would be better suited to another type of magic?

"My turn!" Akeno cheered happily, skipping towards the area Alexander was standing as the boy approached them. She giggled as she looked among the rocks, trying to choose one to destroy.

Barakiel noticed the glint in her eyes, and couldn't help but sigh. It was no surprise to him that his children were like his wife. Alexander was most definitely a mama's boy, and adopted her sadism with no problems. Akeno was the same, to a lesser extent, though she was a huge daddy's girl. She hasn't shown any masochistic tendencies, as far as he had seen so far, but that didn't stop Barakiel from worrying. He knew he was messed up, not that he had an issue with it, but he didn't want his children being like him. At least, not while they were this young.

"Something other than lightning?" Shuri asked as she and her husband sat on the couch, just holding each other, while their children slept. Barakiel had asked her if she could think of anything that would suit Alexander as another style of magic. She was once a Shrine Maiden after all. She's no Magician, but she knows a lot about magic and purification.

"Alexander does not have the same affinity for lightning as Akeno." Barakiel frowned in thought. "He's very adept at it, and more powerful than her, but he needs something else. Something that is more… him." he said thoughtfully. "I have no doubt that he will one day be a great lightning wielder, but I think his power may be more suited for a more… versatile magic." Lightning, whilst a great power, is very straightforward and simple. Alexander had a very creative personality, and one's magic must be an extension of themselves.

"Have you gotten to light spears yet?" Shuri asked, resting her head back on her husbands chest.

"I don't think either of them will be ready for those for the next few years." Barakiel said honestly. Light Spears were easy to produce, but learning to use them effectively was a different manner.

"What about another element? Fire? Ice? Wind?" The former Shrine Maiden suggested.

"I don't know if Alexander will work well with those. Maybe wind or fire, but I think he needs something unique to him, something no one else, or at least, few others have." he brought a hand up to his temple. There was any number of magics out there that Alexander could master, but Barakiel wanted to find the perfect for both of his children. Lightning in itself was perfect for Akeno, and not just because of her inherent sadism. She's beautiful, strong, destructive, straightforward, just like lightning.

Alexander, however, is creative, wild, untamable, quick to think, quicker to act, intelligent, and eccentric. In many ways, he is a lot lightning, just as his sister is, but there is more to him. He inherited far more of his father's raw power than Akeno did. Akeno, on the other hand, had inherited more of her mother's spirituality than her brother did. As such, she had been teaching her how to perform lesser purifications and exorcisms, though nothing major yet. Alexander had tried to learn, but even he admitted he was hopeless at it.

"Well, we can think about it at a later date." Shuri nuzzled into her husband's chest. "For now, I just want to lay here with you." She decided. Barakiel knew he couldn't refuse her. Not that he wanted to. For all their S&M, BDSM, and any other number of Sadistic sexual encounters, the married couple thoroughly enjoyed quiet, emotional, intimate moments such as these.

Little did they know, this one may very well be their last.

"He brainwashed my niece, seduced her, made her bear his children, and killed the men that I sent to bring her back. I don't want him dead. I want him crushed."

"As do we. But what do you stand to gain from this?"

"I want my niece brought back to me, and those little abominations killed."

"I see."

"You will find them at this address."

"What should we do if your niece proves to be too far gone? In too deep with the Fallen Angel Barakiel?"

"Kill her."

"Really?"

"I'd sooner see her dead than brainwashed and in bed with that filth. Kill those abominations, and bring my niece back. If she won't listen to reason, kill her."

"Agreed."

"So, do we have a deal?"

"We do, Mr Himejima."

Shuri had just finished putting her children to bed, resting herself down on her couch with a good book. Barakiel had work to do at the Grigori that night, and he likely wouldn't be back until the next morning. Possibly even later. It wasn't a huge issue, it'd happened plenty of times before and would happen many times in the future, but she couldn't help feeling a little down. She wouldn't be able to engage in her favorite S&M activities with her husband for the night. Boo.

So, she decided to entertain herself with a fantasy book she'd found herself immersed in a few days prior. One thing she loved about it is that the main protagonist was incredibly sadistic, like herself, and his love interest, an elf noblewoman, was a masochist like her husband. The more explicit passages gave her some delightful ideas of what she and her husband could do in the future. That, and it was just a good book. A nameless, sadistic human adventurer falling in love with a masochistic noble of another race. It reminded her a lot of her relationship with her husband.

As she was buried in her book, she failed to notice a dark figure flying towards her window. It was only when the figure crashed through her window that she jumped up in horror. Standing before her, was a man in a long white robe, wearing a noh mask over his face, and wielding a katana. The man pointed the blade right at her face as two more men, in identical attire, borged in through the front and back doors.

"Where is the Fallen Angel Barakiel, Shuri Himejima?" The first man demanded.

"I… I don't know." The woman responded under her breath, pale as a sheet of paper. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't be a defenceless woman at the hands of a man. However, she has two children in just the other room, and she wasn't sure she could defend them against these men.

And as if the universe hated her, a door suddenly opened. "Mama/Mom?" The voices of Shuri's daughter and son, respectively, called out softly, tiredly.

"Kids, no!" She screamed as one of the men suddenly lunged for the children. She was able to quickly grab onto the small coffee table, pick it up, and slam it into the man's back, eliciting a cry of pain from him as he was sent to the ground. Throwing the table to the side, Shuri quickly went over to her kids and shielded them from the leader of the group.

"Gah! Bitch!" The man that Shuri had struck spat as he was able to get up, gripping his katana.

"Step aside, Himejima." The leader demanded.

"Never." Shuri spat in response.

"Mama, I'm scared." Akeno whimpered, clutching her mother's legs.

"What's happening?" Alexander whispered, just as scared as his sister. However, he didn't want to let it show. He knew he needed to protect his family.

"Barakiel is going to die, the half-breeds are going to, and you are going back your Clan." The leader said, pointing his sword at the woman. "Unless you wish to join them, I suggest you step aside." He warned her, his eyes narrow behind his mask.

"I love my children more than life itself." Shuri hissed in response, her eyes showing a rage and fear that neither of the twins had ever seen from her. "I will not stand by and let you lay a hand on them." She spat.

"Tis a shame then." The leader sighed regretfully. "It seems that whatever spell the Fallen filth has over you has seeped it's way too far into your heart." He sounded like he was truly saddened. "What I must do, is regretful." He sighed, bringing his sword up high. Shuri flinched, hoping, begging, pleading to whatever deity would listen that her husband arrive in the nick of time.

As the man brought his sword down for a swift slash, a loud boom suddenly resounded through the room as the man was pushed away by a large bolt of blue lightning. He cried out in pain, both because of the lightning, and because of the impact he felt when hitting a wall. Both of the other men looked at their leader, and then at their targets, seeing the boy, his hand held out, with his finger extended, his face an unsettling fix of anger and fear.

"Brat!" One of the men snapped in anger. However, one could see through his eyes that he was smirking. "Impressive power boy, but too little, too late." He said, making Alexander pale. He looked up at his mother, and her expression; wide eyed, and fearful. Across her torso, from her left shoulder to the right side of her waist, was a large, horrible gash from the leader's katana. A small trickle of blood spilled down from the corner of her mouth as she fell to the ground.

"Mom!" Alexander yelled, rushing over to her.

"Mama!" Akeno screamed, kneeling at her mother's side.

"A-ke-no… A-lex…" Shuri wheezed out, her breathing difficult. "Don't forget… Mama loves you…" She coughed, her blood leaking out of her torso. "Stay together… stay safe… and always… love… each other…" With that, her eyes closed.

"Mama?" Akeno whispered, desperately wanting a response. "Mama?" She tried again, shaking her mother's body softly. "No… NOOOO!" She screamed, hugging her mother, not caring for the blood that stained her clothes. "MAMA! MAMA, WAKE UP!" She creamed desperately, bawling her eyes out as she clutched her mother's dead body.

Alexander on the other hand, did not react the same way. He was pale, on his knees, staring at his mother's body with a horrified expression. And as he heard footsteps behind him, one of the men who were there for him and sister, raising his sword, he didn't know what happened. Something inside him snapped. Something… primal, had awakened. All he knew at that very moment, was that he was beyond furious.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" He screamed in rage as his wings, now at full size, shot out of his back. Suddenly, a pitch black aura surrounded him, the pressure of the raw power he extruded sending all three of the men backwards. Akeno didn't seem to notice the great display of power her brother was showing. She was too busy crying because of her mother's death.

"What the hell is this?" One of the men asked under his breath as the boy stood up, glaring daggers at them. No more were his eyes a gentle, beautiful, soft violet. They had been replaced with a bright, dark, menacing crimson red, glowing brightly, piercing into their very souls. The black aura around him molded into three, strange shapes. When they were done changing, the shapes had become three orbs of pitch black energy orbiting the boy. They seemed to draw in all the light around them, leaving the room in an unsettling darkness. Light enough to see, but dark enough to unsettle a person.

"What the hell is that?" Another of the three men asked, unsure and honestly somewhat scared. Nobody moved as Alexander, purely on instinct, reached out to the side with his hand. The three orbiting orbs of blackness simply passed through his hand, one after another. As they did, they started to fluctuate, and floated to form a horizontal line in from of the boy. They started shifting in shape, forming limbs as they slowly glided towards the ground. Three soft, low, menacing growls could be heard from the orbs as red eyes appeared on all three of them.

As the three orbs landed, their forms finally took shape. Standing in horizontal single file before Alexander, were three animals. In the center, was a dark black dog, with crimson red eyes, crouching in a position to pounce, baring its sharp, needle-like teeth. On the dog's left, the was what looked like a coyote, in the same position, with the same crimson eyes, and the same coal black fur. On the dog's right, the was a wolf, also in the same position, with coal black fur, and crimson red eyes. All three of these canines had a crimson red gem embedded on their foreheads.

One other thing.

"Puppy…?" Akeno asked, sniffling as she saw movement in the corner of her eye.

All three of the men burst into laughter, something that didn't faze either Akeno, Alexander, or the three pups that stood before him. Yes, the three canines that had somehow emerged from within Alexander's soul, a coyote, a wolf, and a dog, were all pups, babies as far as the animals go. However, something inside of Alex told him that these three animals, pups or no, were not to be taken lightly.

"Do you really think these little pests can take us, half-breed?" The leader of the group asked mockingly. Alexander didn't respond. He only pointed at the three men. With little more need to get his desires across to the beasts before him, the three pups growled loudly and pounced at the men.

It was a good thing that everyone else in the neighborhood was asleep. They didn't hear the screams.

"Akeno! Alexander! Shuri!" Barakiel yelled out in terror as he barge into his home. He'd heard the screams on his way back to his home, having finished the work Azazel had for him early. As soon as the sounds hit his ears, he called on his wings and shot forth towards his house. A sword of light conjured in his hand, he charged into the living room, ready to fight. He was just in time to see a small, black wolf pup with red eyes and red gem on its forehead tear the throat out of one of the offenders. The other two were in the same condition.

As soon as the small beast saw Barakiel, it got ready to pounce and do the same to him, but the voice of his master stopped him. "NO!" Alexander cried out, making the wolf and Barakiel, who'd raised his blade, freeze. They both turned to face the young boy, who had fallen to his knees, his eyes shadowed by his hair. "He's a friend." he whispered. It wasn't clear, who he was talking to, the wolf, or his father, but the context was clear. They were not enemies. So, they relaxed.

Barakiel, however, went stone stiff as he saw his daughter. She was on her hands and knees, sobbing uncontrollably before her mother's corpse, a sight that caused Barakiel's heart to snap in two. His wife, his beloved Shuri, his sweet, scary, sadistic love, was gone. He wanted to break down, he wanted to scream, he wanted to rage, but he couldn't. His children need him right now.

"We have to go." he said. Numbly, Alexander stood up, walking towards his father. The wolf, along with the other two beasts Barakiel noticed in the house, followed their master without a thought. Akeno, on the other hand, continued to sob by her mother's body. "Akeno…" Barakiel whispered, putting his hand on his daughter's shoulder.

"Don't touch me!" She screamed, making her father pull back in shock. "I heard them! They said it was because of you! Because your a Fallen Angel!" She screeched, refusing to even look at her father. "They wanted you! And now Mama's dead! BECAUSE OF YOU!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, punching the ground. Barakiel couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was this true? Were these men here for him?

"Akeno!" Alexander snapped, making his sister quiet. "That's enough. There's nothing we can do…" his breath hitched, tears streaming down his face. In the future, when he looks back on this day, he may not be completely certain his sister registered what he said, given what she did and said next.

"I… I HATE FALLEN ANGELS!" She screamed, getting up. "I HATE YOU! I HATE EVERYTHING!" With that, she ran, refusing to even look back.

"Akeno!" Barakiel called out after his daughter, but she didn't respond. She didn't return, she didn't look back, she didn't even falter in her steps. She ran, without hesitation, and disappeared from Barakiel and Alexander's life for who knows how long. Again, Barakiel wanted to break down. He would have, he really would have, if it wasn't for two things. One, he still has his son with him, and his son needs him.

And the other…

[Woman…] A voice, a cold, chilling, growling voice, suddenly spoke. Alexander and Barakiel turned to the owner of the voice, seeing the wolf standing by Shuri's body.

"Did you just talk?" Alex asked, still feeling completely numb. No fear, no grief, no rage, just pure emptiness. The wolf gave a single nod.

[Lives…] His voice came out as if he needed to take a deep breath to let out a single word, and that entire breath came out with that same word.

"What?" Barakiel asked, his heart spiking with hope.

[Woman… Lives…] The wolf pressed his snout against Shuri's shoulder. He was barely up to Barakiel's knees, but despite this, his voice and eyes would chill anyone.

"She's alive?" Barakiel breathed out, his eyes wide. Both him and his son felt a twinge of elation coursing through them, though didn't let it get out of control just yet.

[Minutes…] The breathed out through a growl. Barakiel didn't need anything else, the message was clear. Shuri was alive, but just barely. She had minutes to live before she truly succumbed to her injury. Of course, this all depends on if the wolf is telling the truth. It had no reason to lie though. It was a spark of hope Barakiel would not allow himself to miss. A part of him wanted to go after Akeno, but right now, his wife needed him more. Akeno could handle herself alone for a short period of time while the Fallen Angel and his son get Shuri to a doctor.

"Let's go." he all but ordered his son, who nodded, fire returning to his eyes. As Barakiel carefully picked up his wife, using magic to hold the wound closed, he and his son huddled close together as the Fallen Angel leader called forth a transportation circle. Both of them were baffled when the dog, the wolf, and the coyote all shrunk into the grounds, becoming shadows, before merging with Alexander's shadow. Since the animals didn't seem to mean any harm, Barakiel didn't do anything to stop them. However, once his wife was safe, he knew exactly who he would go to for information on these canines.

In Fallen Angel territory, in the Underworld, at Grigori headquarters, Barakiel and Alexander were sitting outside of a room, on a bench. This room was an OR, where one of the most proficient healers among the Fallen Angels were doing damndest to save the life of Shuri Himejima. Tamiel, who is the head of the Business Departement among the Cadre, is the one trying to save her. His job extends to all businesses in Fallen Angel society, and that includes the medical section.

Alexander and Barakiel waited for hours outside that door, quivering, hoping, even praying that Shuri would pull through. They hadn't eaten, they hadn't slept, they hadn't even bathed, although Alexander was the one who needed it the most. He was still covered in the blood from the men who had attacked. Those strange creatures that had emerged from him were not concerned with were the blood went when they attacked the attackers. He wasn't concerned about it though. He was too worried about his Mom.

"Barakiel." A voice suddenly spoke up. Alexander and Barakiel looked up and saw Penemue approaching. "Are you two ok?" She asked, her voice soft.

"We're fine." Barakiel said with a soft sigh. Anyone could see he was lying. His wife was on Death's doorstep, and his daughter had just shunned him. The only reason he was keeping himself together was for his son. Penemue smiled sadly at her friend before looking at Alexander.

"Alex? You ok Sweetie?" She asked, kneeling in front of her Godson. Barakiel only trusted a few people with his children. Azazel and Penemue being among them. Azazel may be his best friend, but he would be a terrible influence on Alexander. That was why he asked Penemue to be the Godmother.

"Hi… Aunty Pen…" Alex mumbled under his breath, his voice empty. Penemue's heart broke little at the tone of the little boy's voice.

"Sweetie, your filthy." She said softly, wiping dome dried blood off of the boy's face. "Why don't you come with me, and I'll get a nice, hot bath ready for you." She suggested, a small smile on her face.

"I want to wait until Mom comes out." The boy said simply, not wavering for a second.

"Alexander." Barakiel spoke up, catching his son's attention. "I will stay here until your mother comes out of the room. As soon as she does, I will come and find you." He promised. "For now, go with Aunty Pen, alright?" Alex stared at his father for a moment before releasing a small sigh.

"Alright." he conceded. Smiling sadly, Penemue grasped her Godson's hand as he stood up. Gingerly, she led Alex away, to her home in the Underworld.

Penemue's home was not a huge, fancy mansion as one would expect from a Fallen Angel Leader. It wasn't small either. It had four bedrooms, including a big Master bedroom, three bathrooms, one of which was connected to the Master bedroom, a large kitchen and dining area, and nice, roomy, home-y living room. Smaller than most homes a Fallen Angel Leader would have, but big enough. Barakiel's home with his wife and kids was half the size of hers.

In the bathroom connected to the Master bedroom, Alexander sat in the middle of a large bath, which was filled with hot, steaming water. He just sat there, naked as the day he was born, his head lowered, while Penemue, who was also naked, sat behind him, washing him softly. Any other day, Alexander would have been red with embarrassment having a gorgeous bombshell like his Godmother naked in a bath with him. She would even tease him under normal circumstances. However, he still just felt... empty. His sister had ran off, his mother was likely on her deathbed, and his father was emotionally destroyed. With all that, the presence of a naked woman seems trivial by comparison.

"Alex, Sweetie, please talk to me." Penemue said softly, scrubbing the boy's back gently. "You've been so quiet." She told him.

"What's there to talk about?" The boy asked, his voice void of emotion.

"Anything sweetie, anything." Penemue said, sighing sadly. "I know you're sad, I am too. But do you really think your mother would be happy knowing that you're moping like this?" She asked, hugging the boy gently from behind. "And it's not like she's gone." She reminded him. "Tamiel is one of the best healers among the Fallen Angels. If anyone can save your Mom, it's him." She assured the boy.

"But…" Alexander's breath hitched. "But what if he can't?" He asked, his heart aching. He didn't want to feel like this. He hated it. "What if she…" he couldn't go on. Sniffling, he wiped the tears that threatened to fall away.

"You have to have hope Sweetie." Penemue said, turning the boy around. He paid no attention to the sight of her naked bosom. "Even if your mother doesn't make it, you have to be strong, for her." She told the boy sternly. "She loves you, and she would be sad if she knew you were like this, wouldn't she?" She asked. Alexander didn't respond. "Would she?" The woman repeated, her voice demanding an answer.

"No…" The half blood whispered.

"No, she wouldn't." Penemue agreed. With another sigh, she wrapped her arms around the boy and brought his head into her bosom. She knew it might not be a good idea, given that they're both naked, but the boy just needed to be held at the moment. "Everyone here at the Grigori is here for you Alex." She assured him.

With that, the dams within Alexander burst. He let the tears flow as Penemue hugged him. He allowed himself to cry, to cry for his near-dead mother, to cry for his missing sister, to cry for his broken father. He hated feeling like this. He hated feeling weak. He wished he could be stronger. Perhaps one day he will be. But for now, he's accepted the fact that he can rely on those who care for him.

"So, she survived?"

"Yes…"

"I sense a 'but' coming here."

"She's comatose. Even Tamiel doesn't know if she'll come out of it. If Alexander hadn't attacked when he did, the blade would have cleaved her in two."

"Damn… I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"Maybe if I hadn't had you working late…"

"You couldn't have known."

"Still though, my condolences."

"Thank you."

"And what of your son?"

"He'll be ok. He's with Penemue."

"And your daughter?"

"..."

"I see…"

"..."

"You mentioned there was something else?"

"Yes. You will never believe what I found in my home, defending my children."

OK, what do you all think so far? I think it's obvious what was defending Akeno and Alexander, but if you don't know, guess you'll have to wait until the next chapter. Now, some of you are probably wondering why I gave Akeno's brother a name that was not Japanese. Well, Shuri Himejima may be Japanese, but Barakiel isn't. He doesn't even have a nationality of the planet Earth itself. He was born in Heaven, and resides in the Underworld. So, since he chose his son's name, it's not unbelievable for a him to choose a Greek name like Alexander.

Now, for those of you who read my notes on Fire and Blood, I had initially intended for the three canines to be a wolf, a dog, and a fox. However, after some consideration, I replaced the fox with a coyote, since it fit the wolf/dog theme better. Foxes are canines, but they're not dogs. So I went with the coyote instead. I was watching Teen Wolf when the idea hit me.

Anywho, next chapter, Alexander meets his new best friend!