5. Introductions
Tatsumi knocked lightly on the door to the office that Tsuzuki and Hisoka shared, intent upon informing the occupants that the angel who had sent the case request to them was in EnmaCho. After he received no answer, Tatsumi opened the door to reveal an empty office. His face contorted while he stared at Tsuzuki's desk and he realized he would get even less work out of him then usual until this situation with his partner was resolved. However, he was happy to see that the teenager's desk was neat and organized as usual. Either Hisoka had finished all his reports, or he was getting very good at hiding unfinished paperwork Tatsumi mused. He pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose as he gently closed the door behind him.
-Bruuuuum!!-
Tatsumi turned his head sharply as his thoughts were interrupted by a loud noise in the distance that sent a slight vibration up through his feet. Startled, he broke into a speed walk in the direction of the obtrusive sound.
---------
"Watari, what if I...?"
"Tsuzuki! No...!"
-Bruuuuum!!!!!-
The laboratory lay in ruins. The two figures among the debris were covered in a thin layer of black soot from the contained explosion.
Watari was smashed spread-eagle into his now totaled filing cabinet as various scientific notes and documents were drifting slowly to the floor. His glasses were perched crooked on his face and his orange hair tie did little for the scattered state of his wavy locks. What was once an uncontaminated lab coat was now a blackened and tattered mass of fabric that hung decimated around his slender form. His clothes exhibited various spots of deep crimson from several minor cuts and scratches that had already healed.
Tsuzuki had been thrown against the counter and was hanging upside down off the edge, with his legs crashed into various chemicals Watari kept above it on the shelves. As Tsuzuki's body slowly released the tension it held due to the explosion, gravity got the better of him and he began to slide downwards and his head soon met the floor. His dismount was accompanied the loud thudding noise of a skull meeting linoleum. He grunted loudly as he felt the large gash in his forehead, placing his hand in front of his face to examine the warm vermillion. He regarded the liquid seriously as his rubbed it methodically between his thumb and index finger, mixing it with the black ash to create a slimy tainted crimson life force.
"Tsuzuki, I appreciate you wanting to help, I really do." Watari said weakly as he attempted to escape the confines of the twisted metal. "But I don't relish the idea of getting blown up twice as often." He concluded wryly as he unsteadily stood up and stumbled over to his friend who remained on the floor.
Watari fell gracefully to his knees and sat back on his heels in front of Tsuzuki as he gave his forehead a quick examination. "You'll be fine in no time." He deduced finally and leaned up against the cabinet, slowly putting his lab back together as he placed smashed chemical containers in the biohazard bin and categorized broken beakers with the recyclables. He was glad his small owl had not been around for the blast.
Tsuzuki closed his eyes as he waited for his head to heal completely. He felt really bad about blowing up Watari's base of operations, and he knew how upset Tatsumi could get over a little thing like a lab exploding. He wanted to get better before the finical guru got there; otherwise he knew the scientist would take complete responsibility for the state of the laboratory.
"Tsuzuki!" a concerned voice cried from the doorway. Hisoka mentally slapped himself after he heard how the name had left his lips.
Tsuzuki drearily opened his violet spheres and locked eyes with his young partner. The older man did not seem to mind the fact that he looked pathetic, lying on the floor with his face covered in blood. Hisoka, on the other hand, seemed quite affected by the sight in front of him, and forcefully twisted his features into a his customary disapproving scowl, which was not all too convincing. Not daring to express any other emotion, his features remained that way with his eyes trained on his partner in an annoyed manner.
Fortifying his mental barriers at the arrival of his partner, Tsuzuki gave a slight smile at Hisoka's expression. It reminded him of days that preceded their last case, when Hisoka only knew Tsuzuki as a carefree slacker with a sweet tooth and a few personal issues.
However, the dynamic between the two had changed in Kyoto. Tsuzuki was aware that the Empath knew so much more about him now, and the older man was not willing to let Hisoka know any more, lest he lose him as a partner. Tsuzuki knew that Hisoka was his toughest critic and the only way he could satiate his need for acceptance and affection currently resided within the delicate hands of his partner. If the only way he could keep Hisoka close to him was by keeping him at arms length, he would.
Noticing the tension being created by the pair, Watari decided to try and ease the suffocating hostility that loomed in the air.
"Hello, bon!" Watari chirped, his voice still a bit strained from the blast, but cheerful nonetheless. He chucked the remains of the bottle that once held hydrochloric acid into the biohazard bin.
"We're fine." Tsuzuki managed with a lazy smile, pushing his previous depressive thoughts away.
"Whatever." Hisoka said flatly trying to appear indifferent as he turned to walk away.
'I'm happy they're alive, that's all.' He thought in a vain attempt to convince himself that he was annoyed with the stupidity and feebleness of his partner.
However, as he began to exit trough the busted door, his gaze drifted over his shoulder to glance at his partner once more, a sudden fear shot through the boy's body at seeing his partner wounded and bleeding.
The feeling of hopelessness scared the teen and he quickly swung his head back around to leave, but he crashed into something hard.
Hisoka pulled back and looked up in annoyance at his blockade. He stared straight up at slightly startled Tatsumi who now grasped the boy's elbows in a supportive manner. Hisoka abruptly pushed back and released his arms from the older man's grip.
"Are you all right, Kurosaki-kun?" Tatsumi asked in a firm, professional tone.
Still shaken by the appearance of his partner in the lab, Hisoka stared at the floor while sinking his hands deep into his pockets, which effectively hiked his shoulders up in an introverted position. Tatsumi heard the teen mumble something to him under his breath that sounded something akin to an apology.
From inside the lab, faint rustling could be heard as Tsuzuki lifted his recovered body from the floor. Apprehension present in his voice, he humbly began. "Tatsumi-san, I'm sorry, this was..."
"We will discuss this later." The secretary stated suddenly, not allowing Tsuzuki to finish. Blue eyes cringed as they surveyed the financial disaster that lay beyond the broken door.
Tatsumi gave up trying to calculate how much this escapade would cost his department and settled for informing them why he was looking for them to begin with.
"Get cleaned up, you all have an angel to meet." He stated in a business tone, trying to disregard the present state of the migraine-inducing laboratory.
Hisoka stood in the doorway next to Tatsumi as they watched the two inside try to prepare for the meeting.
Watari elegantly removed his ruined latex gloves and discarded his mangled lab coat to the floor. He stood up and made his way to a small closet and removed a new white lab coat, producing a handkerchief form the pocket to clean his face and glasses. He shook the remainder of ash from his hair and tied it back neatly in its usual ribbon. When he was finished, the scientist moved over to a sink and washed the small cloth off.
"Here you are." Watari said brightly as he held out the damp cloth to the now standing Tsuzuki.
"Thanks." Tsuzuki said smiling, still slightly dazed from his head injury.
Tsuzuki leisurely wiped the soot and blood from his face as he went to wash his hands in the sink. Running his fingers through his hair, he stared at his reflection in a broken mirror that hung over the faucet, most likely cracked in the wake of the explosion he had caused. From what he could see of his clothes, they were disfigured beyond hope. Opting for the easy way out, he dried his hands on his pants and wobbled toward the doorway to pick up a fallen coat rack. He shook off the trench coat that had remained with it on the stands way to the floor, and pulling his arms through, he securely buckled it closed. With a ridiculous grin spread across his features, he mentally praised himself for his genius.
"Ready!" He stated as a mock officer, standing up straight he beamed at Tatsumi.
Hisoka rolled his eyes at the absurd display and turned to follow the already retreating form of Tatsumi. The Empath could here Watari and Tsuzuki chatting lightheartedly as they followed not to far behind, and it seemed like an eternity before the small entourage reached the doors leading outside of the building. Tatsumi grasped a handle with each hand, and in one strong fluid motion he broadened his arm span and affectively opened the doors, revealing the colonnade style porch.
Under a blue sky, perpetually blooming Sakura lined the courtyard in front of them. Powder pink flower petals lay delicately on the ground before them, forming a soft carpet. The warm breeze picked up the floral scent and dispatched it around the figures in greeting as the four marched down the steps and towards the small pond at the center of the courtyard.
They came upon a white robed figure who stood near the pool in front of the building, aqua eyes gazed forlornly out over the a the water watching as its stillness was methodically disrupted by the passing wind.
Sensing its visitors, the being turned to greet them, a pair of powerful wings swung around effortlessly. A small smile graced the angel's delicate features as he attempted to strike an impressive stance. His soft wings noticeable tensed momentarily as he observed the emerald-eyed boy scrutinizing him. Long delicate fingers began to fumble nervously with the hem of his pristine garments as the angel's eyes began to dart nervously from side to side, still trying to maintain a sense of authority.
"Hello Tatsumi-san." The angel kindly greeted the blue-eyed man with a smile, his glance drifting across the new faces and coming to rest on the tall Shinigami.
"I hope I haven't kept you waiting, Ingethel-sama" Tatsumi replied politely.
"Not at all." Ingethel said with a worried smile, shaking his hands in front of his chest to emphasize his point.
"I would like you to met Tsuzuki-san, Kurosaki-kun and Watari-san." Tatsumi said, attributing a face to each name. He turned to face the other three. "And this is Ingethel-sama." Tatsumi said as he made an appropriate gesture of presentation in the angel's direction. "You will all be working together on this case." Tatsumi stated with strict propriety in his voice.
The group shared a brief moment of greetings before Tsuzuki appeared slightly dumbfounded, walked up to Ingethel and decided to voice his query. "Whose body are you using?"
"Excuse me?" Ingethel managed to choke out in the midst of the scarlet that spread across his shocked features. Rigid wings framed his tense body. Being caught off guard was not one of his favorite pastimes.
Tatsumi only rubbed his brow in frustration and inwardly groaned at Tsuzuki's disrespectfully worded, inappropriate curiosity.
"Angels are intangible beings that need host bodies, right?" Tsuzuki inquired, one eyebrow gently arched in silent questioning.
"Oh" Ingethel visibly calmed, but it was going to be difficult to rid his face of the blush. "Well...Not always." The angel started as he crossed his arms in front of his lithe torso, eyes narrowed in contemplation of the easiest way to explain it to the bewildered man.
"In fact, much like a Shinigami, an angel is able to channel their spiritual energy to create a material body." Ingethel smiled to himself as he realized that he found Tsuzuki's childlike wonder quite endearing.
The angel's train of thought was suddenly broken as he heard a barely audible agitated scoff from behind the violet-eyed man. He would have let it be, but what concerned him was the fact that the sound was in perfect synchrony with his thoughts. Hesitantly, Ingethel peered over Tsuzuki's shoulder and saw the boy who, after the formal greetings, he was instructed to call Hisoka.
The boy stared to the side with an indifferent glare, his left hand perched nonchalantly on his hip. Hisoka could tell he was not going to enjoy this particular case. It was hard enough that everyone at the office tolerated Tsuzuki, but this angel actually found his personality charming. He suddenly felt mental shields quickly fortifying the alarmed angel's mind. Without changing his outward appearance, Hisoka answered back by reinforcing his own shields.
Tsuzuki watched the worried angel and slowly turned his head to follow Ingethel's gaze over his shoulder. The man's eyes fell on his partner and his smile faded as a small jolt of remorse shot through his body, one that did not go unnoticed by Ingethel as he tore his eyes from the boy to regard Tsuzuki with a curious expression. Noticing this, violet eyes brightened again under a forced smile as he faced the angel once more.
Tsuzuki whispered low with a smile and leaned a little closer to the angel so that only Ingethel heard him. "Don't worry about him. He can be a little difficult, but he's one of the good guys." The angel could sense the shame and regret emanating from Tsuzuki as the man regarded his partner. Ingethel's brow only furrowed deeper as he realized he was now uncomfortably placed with two partners who had their own mini-drama taking place.
'I hope this does not complicate matters.' Ingethel said anxiously within the confines of his safely fortified mind.
The winged creature only nodded. His delicate features twisted in uncertainty as he glanced once more at the condemnatory boy. Clearly, this case was not going to be good for the angel's secretive nature.
Ingethel hastily decided it would be in his best interest to have as little contact as possible with the aloof boy. 'The others seem very kind and accepting. Surely they will help me accomplish my goal.' He thought hopefully to himself, guarded deep inside his mind from the judgmental Shinigami.
Exchanging his current demeanor for a warm smile, he regarded the entire group. "It was an honor meeting all of you, but I must report back to my superiors now. I will return again when we begin searching for Azazel. Farewell." He stated formally, and bowed with his right hand over his chest in respect to his new associates.
Stepping back, he engulfed his body in an enchantingly powerful light that slowly diminished, leaving behind only a faint residue of spiritual energy where he once stood in the courtyard.
To Be Concluded...
Thank you to all my reviewers. Every time I am able to get my hands on the Internet and check my reviews I get so happy. You have made this story a joy to write. Your input is both helpful and greatly inspiring. So tell me what you think, because I would prefer that my creativity worked for my audience.
On a less serious note: Do not be concerned about dear little Ingethel stealing the spotlight. I do not like him as much as Tsuzuki and Hisoka. If anything big happens with Ingethel, it is usually just a parallel between what is going on with either Tsuzuki or Hisoka. Aw, poor Ingethel, he is just a prop. Well that's what you get for being an original character. What's up with him anyways?
If anyone has any ideas about what direction to develop Ingethel's character, or what kind of a character you are expecting him to be, I would love to hear them. I am already pretty set about how I will play out his character, but I think he needs some better motives, and not ones that I have to sacrifice Tsuzuki and Hisoka writing space for.
Tatsumi knocked lightly on the door to the office that Tsuzuki and Hisoka shared, intent upon informing the occupants that the angel who had sent the case request to them was in EnmaCho. After he received no answer, Tatsumi opened the door to reveal an empty office. His face contorted while he stared at Tsuzuki's desk and he realized he would get even less work out of him then usual until this situation with his partner was resolved. However, he was happy to see that the teenager's desk was neat and organized as usual. Either Hisoka had finished all his reports, or he was getting very good at hiding unfinished paperwork Tatsumi mused. He pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose as he gently closed the door behind him.
-Bruuuuum!!-
Tatsumi turned his head sharply as his thoughts were interrupted by a loud noise in the distance that sent a slight vibration up through his feet. Startled, he broke into a speed walk in the direction of the obtrusive sound.
---------
"Watari, what if I...?"
"Tsuzuki! No...!"
-Bruuuuum!!!!!-
The laboratory lay in ruins. The two figures among the debris were covered in a thin layer of black soot from the contained explosion.
Watari was smashed spread-eagle into his now totaled filing cabinet as various scientific notes and documents were drifting slowly to the floor. His glasses were perched crooked on his face and his orange hair tie did little for the scattered state of his wavy locks. What was once an uncontaminated lab coat was now a blackened and tattered mass of fabric that hung decimated around his slender form. His clothes exhibited various spots of deep crimson from several minor cuts and scratches that had already healed.
Tsuzuki had been thrown against the counter and was hanging upside down off the edge, with his legs crashed into various chemicals Watari kept above it on the shelves. As Tsuzuki's body slowly released the tension it held due to the explosion, gravity got the better of him and he began to slide downwards and his head soon met the floor. His dismount was accompanied the loud thudding noise of a skull meeting linoleum. He grunted loudly as he felt the large gash in his forehead, placing his hand in front of his face to examine the warm vermillion. He regarded the liquid seriously as his rubbed it methodically between his thumb and index finger, mixing it with the black ash to create a slimy tainted crimson life force.
"Tsuzuki, I appreciate you wanting to help, I really do." Watari said weakly as he attempted to escape the confines of the twisted metal. "But I don't relish the idea of getting blown up twice as often." He concluded wryly as he unsteadily stood up and stumbled over to his friend who remained on the floor.
Watari fell gracefully to his knees and sat back on his heels in front of Tsuzuki as he gave his forehead a quick examination. "You'll be fine in no time." He deduced finally and leaned up against the cabinet, slowly putting his lab back together as he placed smashed chemical containers in the biohazard bin and categorized broken beakers with the recyclables. He was glad his small owl had not been around for the blast.
Tsuzuki closed his eyes as he waited for his head to heal completely. He felt really bad about blowing up Watari's base of operations, and he knew how upset Tatsumi could get over a little thing like a lab exploding. He wanted to get better before the finical guru got there; otherwise he knew the scientist would take complete responsibility for the state of the laboratory.
"Tsuzuki!" a concerned voice cried from the doorway. Hisoka mentally slapped himself after he heard how the name had left his lips.
Tsuzuki drearily opened his violet spheres and locked eyes with his young partner. The older man did not seem to mind the fact that he looked pathetic, lying on the floor with his face covered in blood. Hisoka, on the other hand, seemed quite affected by the sight in front of him, and forcefully twisted his features into a his customary disapproving scowl, which was not all too convincing. Not daring to express any other emotion, his features remained that way with his eyes trained on his partner in an annoyed manner.
Fortifying his mental barriers at the arrival of his partner, Tsuzuki gave a slight smile at Hisoka's expression. It reminded him of days that preceded their last case, when Hisoka only knew Tsuzuki as a carefree slacker with a sweet tooth and a few personal issues.
However, the dynamic between the two had changed in Kyoto. Tsuzuki was aware that the Empath knew so much more about him now, and the older man was not willing to let Hisoka know any more, lest he lose him as a partner. Tsuzuki knew that Hisoka was his toughest critic and the only way he could satiate his need for acceptance and affection currently resided within the delicate hands of his partner. If the only way he could keep Hisoka close to him was by keeping him at arms length, he would.
Noticing the tension being created by the pair, Watari decided to try and ease the suffocating hostility that loomed in the air.
"Hello, bon!" Watari chirped, his voice still a bit strained from the blast, but cheerful nonetheless. He chucked the remains of the bottle that once held hydrochloric acid into the biohazard bin.
"We're fine." Tsuzuki managed with a lazy smile, pushing his previous depressive thoughts away.
"Whatever." Hisoka said flatly trying to appear indifferent as he turned to walk away.
'I'm happy they're alive, that's all.' He thought in a vain attempt to convince himself that he was annoyed with the stupidity and feebleness of his partner.
However, as he began to exit trough the busted door, his gaze drifted over his shoulder to glance at his partner once more, a sudden fear shot through the boy's body at seeing his partner wounded and bleeding.
The feeling of hopelessness scared the teen and he quickly swung his head back around to leave, but he crashed into something hard.
Hisoka pulled back and looked up in annoyance at his blockade. He stared straight up at slightly startled Tatsumi who now grasped the boy's elbows in a supportive manner. Hisoka abruptly pushed back and released his arms from the older man's grip.
"Are you all right, Kurosaki-kun?" Tatsumi asked in a firm, professional tone.
Still shaken by the appearance of his partner in the lab, Hisoka stared at the floor while sinking his hands deep into his pockets, which effectively hiked his shoulders up in an introverted position. Tatsumi heard the teen mumble something to him under his breath that sounded something akin to an apology.
From inside the lab, faint rustling could be heard as Tsuzuki lifted his recovered body from the floor. Apprehension present in his voice, he humbly began. "Tatsumi-san, I'm sorry, this was..."
"We will discuss this later." The secretary stated suddenly, not allowing Tsuzuki to finish. Blue eyes cringed as they surveyed the financial disaster that lay beyond the broken door.
Tatsumi gave up trying to calculate how much this escapade would cost his department and settled for informing them why he was looking for them to begin with.
"Get cleaned up, you all have an angel to meet." He stated in a business tone, trying to disregard the present state of the migraine-inducing laboratory.
Hisoka stood in the doorway next to Tatsumi as they watched the two inside try to prepare for the meeting.
Watari elegantly removed his ruined latex gloves and discarded his mangled lab coat to the floor. He stood up and made his way to a small closet and removed a new white lab coat, producing a handkerchief form the pocket to clean his face and glasses. He shook the remainder of ash from his hair and tied it back neatly in its usual ribbon. When he was finished, the scientist moved over to a sink and washed the small cloth off.
"Here you are." Watari said brightly as he held out the damp cloth to the now standing Tsuzuki.
"Thanks." Tsuzuki said smiling, still slightly dazed from his head injury.
Tsuzuki leisurely wiped the soot and blood from his face as he went to wash his hands in the sink. Running his fingers through his hair, he stared at his reflection in a broken mirror that hung over the faucet, most likely cracked in the wake of the explosion he had caused. From what he could see of his clothes, they were disfigured beyond hope. Opting for the easy way out, he dried his hands on his pants and wobbled toward the doorway to pick up a fallen coat rack. He shook off the trench coat that had remained with it on the stands way to the floor, and pulling his arms through, he securely buckled it closed. With a ridiculous grin spread across his features, he mentally praised himself for his genius.
"Ready!" He stated as a mock officer, standing up straight he beamed at Tatsumi.
Hisoka rolled his eyes at the absurd display and turned to follow the already retreating form of Tatsumi. The Empath could here Watari and Tsuzuki chatting lightheartedly as they followed not to far behind, and it seemed like an eternity before the small entourage reached the doors leading outside of the building. Tatsumi grasped a handle with each hand, and in one strong fluid motion he broadened his arm span and affectively opened the doors, revealing the colonnade style porch.
Under a blue sky, perpetually blooming Sakura lined the courtyard in front of them. Powder pink flower petals lay delicately on the ground before them, forming a soft carpet. The warm breeze picked up the floral scent and dispatched it around the figures in greeting as the four marched down the steps and towards the small pond at the center of the courtyard.
They came upon a white robed figure who stood near the pool in front of the building, aqua eyes gazed forlornly out over the a the water watching as its stillness was methodically disrupted by the passing wind.
Sensing its visitors, the being turned to greet them, a pair of powerful wings swung around effortlessly. A small smile graced the angel's delicate features as he attempted to strike an impressive stance. His soft wings noticeable tensed momentarily as he observed the emerald-eyed boy scrutinizing him. Long delicate fingers began to fumble nervously with the hem of his pristine garments as the angel's eyes began to dart nervously from side to side, still trying to maintain a sense of authority.
"Hello Tatsumi-san." The angel kindly greeted the blue-eyed man with a smile, his glance drifting across the new faces and coming to rest on the tall Shinigami.
"I hope I haven't kept you waiting, Ingethel-sama" Tatsumi replied politely.
"Not at all." Ingethel said with a worried smile, shaking his hands in front of his chest to emphasize his point.
"I would like you to met Tsuzuki-san, Kurosaki-kun and Watari-san." Tatsumi said, attributing a face to each name. He turned to face the other three. "And this is Ingethel-sama." Tatsumi said as he made an appropriate gesture of presentation in the angel's direction. "You will all be working together on this case." Tatsumi stated with strict propriety in his voice.
The group shared a brief moment of greetings before Tsuzuki appeared slightly dumbfounded, walked up to Ingethel and decided to voice his query. "Whose body are you using?"
"Excuse me?" Ingethel managed to choke out in the midst of the scarlet that spread across his shocked features. Rigid wings framed his tense body. Being caught off guard was not one of his favorite pastimes.
Tatsumi only rubbed his brow in frustration and inwardly groaned at Tsuzuki's disrespectfully worded, inappropriate curiosity.
"Angels are intangible beings that need host bodies, right?" Tsuzuki inquired, one eyebrow gently arched in silent questioning.
"Oh" Ingethel visibly calmed, but it was going to be difficult to rid his face of the blush. "Well...Not always." The angel started as he crossed his arms in front of his lithe torso, eyes narrowed in contemplation of the easiest way to explain it to the bewildered man.
"In fact, much like a Shinigami, an angel is able to channel their spiritual energy to create a material body." Ingethel smiled to himself as he realized that he found Tsuzuki's childlike wonder quite endearing.
The angel's train of thought was suddenly broken as he heard a barely audible agitated scoff from behind the violet-eyed man. He would have let it be, but what concerned him was the fact that the sound was in perfect synchrony with his thoughts. Hesitantly, Ingethel peered over Tsuzuki's shoulder and saw the boy who, after the formal greetings, he was instructed to call Hisoka.
The boy stared to the side with an indifferent glare, his left hand perched nonchalantly on his hip. Hisoka could tell he was not going to enjoy this particular case. It was hard enough that everyone at the office tolerated Tsuzuki, but this angel actually found his personality charming. He suddenly felt mental shields quickly fortifying the alarmed angel's mind. Without changing his outward appearance, Hisoka answered back by reinforcing his own shields.
Tsuzuki watched the worried angel and slowly turned his head to follow Ingethel's gaze over his shoulder. The man's eyes fell on his partner and his smile faded as a small jolt of remorse shot through his body, one that did not go unnoticed by Ingethel as he tore his eyes from the boy to regard Tsuzuki with a curious expression. Noticing this, violet eyes brightened again under a forced smile as he faced the angel once more.
Tsuzuki whispered low with a smile and leaned a little closer to the angel so that only Ingethel heard him. "Don't worry about him. He can be a little difficult, but he's one of the good guys." The angel could sense the shame and regret emanating from Tsuzuki as the man regarded his partner. Ingethel's brow only furrowed deeper as he realized he was now uncomfortably placed with two partners who had their own mini-drama taking place.
'I hope this does not complicate matters.' Ingethel said anxiously within the confines of his safely fortified mind.
The winged creature only nodded. His delicate features twisted in uncertainty as he glanced once more at the condemnatory boy. Clearly, this case was not going to be good for the angel's secretive nature.
Ingethel hastily decided it would be in his best interest to have as little contact as possible with the aloof boy. 'The others seem very kind and accepting. Surely they will help me accomplish my goal.' He thought hopefully to himself, guarded deep inside his mind from the judgmental Shinigami.
Exchanging his current demeanor for a warm smile, he regarded the entire group. "It was an honor meeting all of you, but I must report back to my superiors now. I will return again when we begin searching for Azazel. Farewell." He stated formally, and bowed with his right hand over his chest in respect to his new associates.
Stepping back, he engulfed his body in an enchantingly powerful light that slowly diminished, leaving behind only a faint residue of spiritual energy where he once stood in the courtyard.
To Be Concluded...
Thank you to all my reviewers. Every time I am able to get my hands on the Internet and check my reviews I get so happy. You have made this story a joy to write. Your input is both helpful and greatly inspiring. So tell me what you think, because I would prefer that my creativity worked for my audience.
On a less serious note: Do not be concerned about dear little Ingethel stealing the spotlight. I do not like him as much as Tsuzuki and Hisoka. If anything big happens with Ingethel, it is usually just a parallel between what is going on with either Tsuzuki or Hisoka. Aw, poor Ingethel, he is just a prop. Well that's what you get for being an original character. What's up with him anyways?
If anyone has any ideas about what direction to develop Ingethel's character, or what kind of a character you are expecting him to be, I would love to hear them. I am already pretty set about how I will play out his character, but I think he needs some better motives, and not ones that I have to sacrifice Tsuzuki and Hisoka writing space for.