AN: Woohoo, next chapter. ^o^ Today is a good day. Now, in this chapter,
let's find out what happened to our dear Chiaki who was stranded in America
when he was six.
Chapter 3: Kuroi
Shuffling into his room, Nagoya Chiaki wasted no time in throwing his schoolbag to the side and flopping onto his bed. Unfortunately, his schoolbag just happened to be in a direct path for his roommate.
"Ow! Watch where you're throwing, Chiaki!"
He managed to lift his head to glare blearly at his roommate. He was a good friend, but he could be downright annoying. Especially when Chiaki hadn't slept well the night before. Not that he slept well often, it was just that he wanted to at least grab an hour of sleep before his freakish dreams forced him out of it. He grumbled something that was a cross between a curse and an apology and let his head flop back down. His roommate giggled nervously.
"Heh heh....bad dreams again?"
Chiaki looked at him like he was an idiot. For the past five years they had been roommates, and for the past two years he had been having the nightmares. And he still asks? Sometimes his roommate's logic failed to explain itself to Chiaki.
His roommate, Michael Townsend, was strange in the fact that he, like Chiaki, was not American by nationality or birth. He was British, and as such could be very proper. Although he still had to beat Chiaki at politeness, (Japanese society was after all ingrained with it) he was very cultured and could charm his way into any female's heart, be it a young girl just arriving here or the old lady who gave them all home-baked brownies every Friday.
He sighed and let himself drift. He remembered how he got here, of course, how could any child forget that? He had had no other relatives except for a distant cousin who's exact words were "Do what you want with the little child, I have no need for him." They had tried to send him back to Japan, but he had refused to get on a plane, no matter how safe it was promised to be. Even now he was still wary of them, though he would get on one if asked. First, they had intended to send him back when he got over his fear, but Chiaki had grown to like the White Cross Oaks fostering home and had friends. He refused to leave them, and they had no choice but to make him a ward of the state and leave him there. He was technically up for adoption, but no one wanted a child who could barely speak their language. Even now he still messed up sometimes, or forgot a word. He was thankful that the college student at the airport, Kizuki, had been kind enough to tutor him in both Japanese and English. Now he was fluent in English, Japanese, and French thanks to schooling. he sighed and rolled over, contemplating if he should just give up sleep and do his homework, or to try to sleep and do it later. It was decided for him though, when against his will his eyelids fell closed and soon he was drifting off in slumber.
//It was dark again.
The darkness was huge and threatened to enroach and destroy the little island of light that She created. He clung to Her form desperately, wishing against all odds that they'd pull through this, that at least She shouldn't die. She was Light and Good and Purity, all in one form. She was beautiful and perfect.
She didn't deserve to die.
The darkness turned into a mob of soldiers clad in jet black armor, screaming threats in an obsene language. He wished he could cover his ears, but he knew that f he let go of Her that he would die. The thought didn't bother him as much as the fact that if he let go She would die as well. So he clung to Her with all of his remaining strength, and stood his ground.
She expected to die.
He knew that, and so did She. They would not make it out alive. But he would be damned if they took Her first without a fight on his part. Her hands covered his own and for a second all he knew was the strength and love that was Her and the darkness faded away and all was light and nothing outside mattered. Then the darkness came crashing back in and he almost cried at being torn from the feeling, had he any tears left for crying.
She stood Her ground against the darkness, a valiant yet vain attempt. Hordes of black soldiers died screaming deaths as they crashed against the dazzling barrier of light, but more came, and slowly the barrier was losing its brilliance.
She was dying.
He clutched Her tighter, and added what strength he had left to the barrier. A faint red shine strengthened it, but it would not last, he knew. His strength was already fading. Suddenly She turned and looked at him, and Her eyes were filled with sadness, yet She smiled and let Her love for him shine through. He wasn't worthy of Her love, but She gave it to him anyway. As he looked into Her eyes, he knew what would happen. The barrier was about to fall, they would die. Yet he didn't feel regretful. He had met Her, had loved her, and She had loved him in return. He could be damned to the farthest reaches of Hell, but he would still be content with his life. If he had a regret, it was only one, borne of the sorrow that he hadn't been able to live out his life with Her, that both of their lives had been horribly cut short by a war that shouldn't have happened. He prayed fervently to Her God that he had never found a cause to believe in before, praying that Her soul would be spared and that She be happy for all ages. He didn't pray for himself; why should he? He was damned since he fell in love with God's Chosen. He just hoped that She wouldn't get punished for loving him in return.
The barrier finally collapsed, and all was darkness.//
Chiaki sat up and gasped. After a few seconds, he regained his composure and flopped back down. Michael was gone; probably off flirting with one of the girls around the facility. The dreams again, though he had never had such a bad one as this. All he could remember of it was darkness, and a shining faint light that he remembered holding, and a pair of beautiful lavender eyes that shone with strength and light.
Those eyes...
Chiaki shook off the sense of misgiving he had and looked at the digital clock beside his bed. He sweatdropped when he realized he only had thirty minutes to get ready for dinner. Uttering a curse he rarely used except in his mind, Chiaki grabbed his dinner clothes and rushed to the bathroom.
He mangaed to make it with minutes to spare, still adjusting the tie as he rushed down the hallway. Why did dinner have to be so formal? All the girls were in nice dresses and the boys in suits. He felt overdressed.
Standing behind his assigned place, Chiaki let his eyes wander. Michael stood a few seats down, demeanor serious for once. A girl his age stood across from him, blond hair and blue-eyed. Her name was Christine, and she annoyed everyone in the foster home. She had come from a high up family from New york, and thought she was better than everyone else. It took both Chiaki and Michael to get her off her high horse, as MIchael came from actual nobility in England and Chiaki's natural diplomatic skills.
The Head Sister finally walked into the room. Head Sister Mary was someone to be reckoned with. Years of training the harshest children into meek obediance had left it's mark on the motherly nun as her smile had a sharp edge to it and her voice was kindly but firm.
She stood behind the chair at the head of the table and began the evening's ritual by greeting the children.
"Good evening, children."
"Good evening, Sister Mary." Everyone chorused back dutifully.
She bowed her head and clasped her hands to signal that blessing was about to begin, and was copied by all the children. She recited the prayer from memory, and finished with everyone chorusing "Ahem" at the end. She stood standing, surveying the children with a hawk's eye, and the began her announcement.
"Children, as you know, we are approaching the end of the school year. Summer will come and then we will have a visitor. Her name is Maron Kusakabe and she comes from Japan."
She had Chiaki's full attention now.
"She has been invited to stay the summer here with two friends, and if she likes it, she will become a resident. Mr. Nagoya?"
"Ha-err, Yes, Sister?"
"As you are our only Japanese speaking ward at the moment, and as you and Mrs. Kusakabe are of like age, I want you to guide her and her friends around the grounds and such. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Sister."
"Very good. Now then, since I do not wish to deter you any longer, you may sit and the meal will be served. Thank you."
The elderly nun sat, and then all of the children followed her example. Other nuns came bearing the food and drinks, and quiet chatter started up. Normally, Chiaki would engage in some sort of conversation with the people next to him, but he had other things on his mind at the moment. He absently ate his food as his thoughts meandered.
A girl from Japan? And his age as well? What was she doing coming to foster home at her age, and in America of all places? He briefly wondered if she would be pretty, then shook himself. He wouldn't think such thoughts until he actually met her. Although he did hope she wasn't obnoxious or horribly bad-looking. He was only human after all.
He finished his dinner in silence, with Michael staring at him. He normally was cheerful and talkative during dinner, but now Chiaki was pensive and quiet. Chiaki didn't know if it was from the announcement or his dream.
Beautiful lavender eyes...a color given only to those beings who were graced by God. A color given only to angels.
He shook his head and set his fork down. He wasn't hungry anymore, and he wanted to do his homework. People were leaving now, politely excusing themselves and then leaving. He too got up, excused himself, and left for his room.
Michael wasn't back yet, so he had a while to himself. He picked up his math book, some paper and a pencil, and laid down on his bed to do his homework.
He, of course, wasn't expecting a tiny enraged shout to sound from somewhere in the vincity beneath his stomach.
He rocketed off the bed as if Head Sister Mary was laying in it wearing nothing but her smile. he gave a shudder at that image, and looked at the crumpled sheets warily. Lying on them was a tiny crumpled object, dark against the stark whiteness. He noticed some things atached to the thing, that fluttered and twitched, releasing a few tiny black....feathers? Wings?
As he watched, the object slowly arranged itself into a tiny person with indeed black wings. An angel? To say Chiaki was shocked an confused was an understatement.
The small angel began spewing many unangelic words, and Chiaki sweatdropped. At length the angel stopped cursing and seemd to levitate off the bed, coming to hover before his face.
"It's not very funny to sit on me!"
Chiaki wasn't sure how to reply to this, so he sweatdropped and asked the first thing that came to mind.
"Uhh...just...what are you?"
The angel instantly changed moods, a fanged grin spread over his face as he proudly introduced himself.
"I am kuroitenshi Access Time, and I have an assignment for you!"
~TBC~
AN: Muah. Another cliffhanger. I am so evil. ^o^ So, what will happen when Chiaki and Maron meet? Will Maron accept the offer to live at White Cross Oaks? Will the author ever finish the author notes? -_-;;
Chapter 3: Kuroi
Shuffling into his room, Nagoya Chiaki wasted no time in throwing his schoolbag to the side and flopping onto his bed. Unfortunately, his schoolbag just happened to be in a direct path for his roommate.
"Ow! Watch where you're throwing, Chiaki!"
He managed to lift his head to glare blearly at his roommate. He was a good friend, but he could be downright annoying. Especially when Chiaki hadn't slept well the night before. Not that he slept well often, it was just that he wanted to at least grab an hour of sleep before his freakish dreams forced him out of it. He grumbled something that was a cross between a curse and an apology and let his head flop back down. His roommate giggled nervously.
"Heh heh....bad dreams again?"
Chiaki looked at him like he was an idiot. For the past five years they had been roommates, and for the past two years he had been having the nightmares. And he still asks? Sometimes his roommate's logic failed to explain itself to Chiaki.
His roommate, Michael Townsend, was strange in the fact that he, like Chiaki, was not American by nationality or birth. He was British, and as such could be very proper. Although he still had to beat Chiaki at politeness, (Japanese society was after all ingrained with it) he was very cultured and could charm his way into any female's heart, be it a young girl just arriving here or the old lady who gave them all home-baked brownies every Friday.
He sighed and let himself drift. He remembered how he got here, of course, how could any child forget that? He had had no other relatives except for a distant cousin who's exact words were "Do what you want with the little child, I have no need for him." They had tried to send him back to Japan, but he had refused to get on a plane, no matter how safe it was promised to be. Even now he was still wary of them, though he would get on one if asked. First, they had intended to send him back when he got over his fear, but Chiaki had grown to like the White Cross Oaks fostering home and had friends. He refused to leave them, and they had no choice but to make him a ward of the state and leave him there. He was technically up for adoption, but no one wanted a child who could barely speak their language. Even now he still messed up sometimes, or forgot a word. He was thankful that the college student at the airport, Kizuki, had been kind enough to tutor him in both Japanese and English. Now he was fluent in English, Japanese, and French thanks to schooling. he sighed and rolled over, contemplating if he should just give up sleep and do his homework, or to try to sleep and do it later. It was decided for him though, when against his will his eyelids fell closed and soon he was drifting off in slumber.
//It was dark again.
The darkness was huge and threatened to enroach and destroy the little island of light that She created. He clung to Her form desperately, wishing against all odds that they'd pull through this, that at least She shouldn't die. She was Light and Good and Purity, all in one form. She was beautiful and perfect.
She didn't deserve to die.
The darkness turned into a mob of soldiers clad in jet black armor, screaming threats in an obsene language. He wished he could cover his ears, but he knew that f he let go of Her that he would die. The thought didn't bother him as much as the fact that if he let go She would die as well. So he clung to Her with all of his remaining strength, and stood his ground.
She expected to die.
He knew that, and so did She. They would not make it out alive. But he would be damned if they took Her first without a fight on his part. Her hands covered his own and for a second all he knew was the strength and love that was Her and the darkness faded away and all was light and nothing outside mattered. Then the darkness came crashing back in and he almost cried at being torn from the feeling, had he any tears left for crying.
She stood Her ground against the darkness, a valiant yet vain attempt. Hordes of black soldiers died screaming deaths as they crashed against the dazzling barrier of light, but more came, and slowly the barrier was losing its brilliance.
She was dying.
He clutched Her tighter, and added what strength he had left to the barrier. A faint red shine strengthened it, but it would not last, he knew. His strength was already fading. Suddenly She turned and looked at him, and Her eyes were filled with sadness, yet She smiled and let Her love for him shine through. He wasn't worthy of Her love, but She gave it to him anyway. As he looked into Her eyes, he knew what would happen. The barrier was about to fall, they would die. Yet he didn't feel regretful. He had met Her, had loved her, and She had loved him in return. He could be damned to the farthest reaches of Hell, but he would still be content with his life. If he had a regret, it was only one, borne of the sorrow that he hadn't been able to live out his life with Her, that both of their lives had been horribly cut short by a war that shouldn't have happened. He prayed fervently to Her God that he had never found a cause to believe in before, praying that Her soul would be spared and that She be happy for all ages. He didn't pray for himself; why should he? He was damned since he fell in love with God's Chosen. He just hoped that She wouldn't get punished for loving him in return.
The barrier finally collapsed, and all was darkness.//
Chiaki sat up and gasped. After a few seconds, he regained his composure and flopped back down. Michael was gone; probably off flirting with one of the girls around the facility. The dreams again, though he had never had such a bad one as this. All he could remember of it was darkness, and a shining faint light that he remembered holding, and a pair of beautiful lavender eyes that shone with strength and light.
Those eyes...
Chiaki shook off the sense of misgiving he had and looked at the digital clock beside his bed. He sweatdropped when he realized he only had thirty minutes to get ready for dinner. Uttering a curse he rarely used except in his mind, Chiaki grabbed his dinner clothes and rushed to the bathroom.
He mangaed to make it with minutes to spare, still adjusting the tie as he rushed down the hallway. Why did dinner have to be so formal? All the girls were in nice dresses and the boys in suits. He felt overdressed.
Standing behind his assigned place, Chiaki let his eyes wander. Michael stood a few seats down, demeanor serious for once. A girl his age stood across from him, blond hair and blue-eyed. Her name was Christine, and she annoyed everyone in the foster home. She had come from a high up family from New york, and thought she was better than everyone else. It took both Chiaki and Michael to get her off her high horse, as MIchael came from actual nobility in England and Chiaki's natural diplomatic skills.
The Head Sister finally walked into the room. Head Sister Mary was someone to be reckoned with. Years of training the harshest children into meek obediance had left it's mark on the motherly nun as her smile had a sharp edge to it and her voice was kindly but firm.
She stood behind the chair at the head of the table and began the evening's ritual by greeting the children.
"Good evening, children."
"Good evening, Sister Mary." Everyone chorused back dutifully.
She bowed her head and clasped her hands to signal that blessing was about to begin, and was copied by all the children. She recited the prayer from memory, and finished with everyone chorusing "Ahem" at the end. She stood standing, surveying the children with a hawk's eye, and the began her announcement.
"Children, as you know, we are approaching the end of the school year. Summer will come and then we will have a visitor. Her name is Maron Kusakabe and she comes from Japan."
She had Chiaki's full attention now.
"She has been invited to stay the summer here with two friends, and if she likes it, she will become a resident. Mr. Nagoya?"
"Ha-err, Yes, Sister?"
"As you are our only Japanese speaking ward at the moment, and as you and Mrs. Kusakabe are of like age, I want you to guide her and her friends around the grounds and such. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Sister."
"Very good. Now then, since I do not wish to deter you any longer, you may sit and the meal will be served. Thank you."
The elderly nun sat, and then all of the children followed her example. Other nuns came bearing the food and drinks, and quiet chatter started up. Normally, Chiaki would engage in some sort of conversation with the people next to him, but he had other things on his mind at the moment. He absently ate his food as his thoughts meandered.
A girl from Japan? And his age as well? What was she doing coming to foster home at her age, and in America of all places? He briefly wondered if she would be pretty, then shook himself. He wouldn't think such thoughts until he actually met her. Although he did hope she wasn't obnoxious or horribly bad-looking. He was only human after all.
He finished his dinner in silence, with Michael staring at him. He normally was cheerful and talkative during dinner, but now Chiaki was pensive and quiet. Chiaki didn't know if it was from the announcement or his dream.
Beautiful lavender eyes...a color given only to those beings who were graced by God. A color given only to angels.
He shook his head and set his fork down. He wasn't hungry anymore, and he wanted to do his homework. People were leaving now, politely excusing themselves and then leaving. He too got up, excused himself, and left for his room.
Michael wasn't back yet, so he had a while to himself. He picked up his math book, some paper and a pencil, and laid down on his bed to do his homework.
He, of course, wasn't expecting a tiny enraged shout to sound from somewhere in the vincity beneath his stomach.
He rocketed off the bed as if Head Sister Mary was laying in it wearing nothing but her smile. he gave a shudder at that image, and looked at the crumpled sheets warily. Lying on them was a tiny crumpled object, dark against the stark whiteness. He noticed some things atached to the thing, that fluttered and twitched, releasing a few tiny black....feathers? Wings?
As he watched, the object slowly arranged itself into a tiny person with indeed black wings. An angel? To say Chiaki was shocked an confused was an understatement.
The small angel began spewing many unangelic words, and Chiaki sweatdropped. At length the angel stopped cursing and seemd to levitate off the bed, coming to hover before his face.
"It's not very funny to sit on me!"
Chiaki wasn't sure how to reply to this, so he sweatdropped and asked the first thing that came to mind.
"Uhh...just...what are you?"
The angel instantly changed moods, a fanged grin spread over his face as he proudly introduced himself.
"I am kuroitenshi Access Time, and I have an assignment for you!"
~TBC~
AN: Muah. Another cliffhanger. I am so evil. ^o^ So, what will happen when Chiaki and Maron meet? Will Maron accept the offer to live at White Cross Oaks? Will the author ever finish the author notes? -_-;;