16. Redemption
Ingethel was unaware of the sharp breath Tsuzuki took in at the allegation, as the angel's confident stance faltered at the mention of the previous sin, "It was my responsibility to prove you at fault for the entire ordeal..." he began with distressed confusion, "Azazel was supposed to be acquitted... This was not supposed to happen..." Ingethel faltered in heated agitation as he stiffened against the frustration that threatened to wrack his frail body.
Ignoring Ingethel's comment, Semyaza continued his accusations. "I also noticed someone had invoked Donquel," he said knowingly as his lips twisted into a cruel smile. "So tell me Ingethel, did you mean to murder those nice young women? Or were they another casualty of your pathetic frame-up?"
Golden tresses that perched on slender shoulders shook apprehensively as the angel was forced to recognize his crimes.
"And Azazel has you to thank for his freedom, does he not? Or did you just get careless at your watch, Gatekeeper?"
Determination reentering the smaller angel's stance at the mention of Azazel, aquamarine instantly blazed menacingly under a hard-set brow, "Do not judge me, Adversary!"
Startled by the revelations, Tsuzuki remained on guard as he beheld the heated tete-a-tete before him. While he attempted to make sense of the argument, he stool a quick glace over his shoulder as his keenly feral senses were suddenly perked.
Expecting to spot something in the far distance, his eyes widened as a starlit figure stood mere yards behind him.
Coat tails spun sharply around his legs as he turned completely, coming face to face with a pair of grave eyes that matched the night sky. The solemn gaze was made more outstanding by the ice blue moonlight that traced his form. The winged creature resembling Ingethel, only broader, regarded Tsuzuki with acute interest.
Shaken by the extreme proximity of the other, Tsuzuki stumbled back against the building, instinctively withdrawing a fuda from his coat. Before the charm could even be activated with the proper chant, a light flashed across sapphires. Tsuzuki stared in shock as the remnants of his paper talisman fell softly from between two long fingers.
Quickly returning his attention to the angel once more, Tsuzuki was met with a curiously outstretched incandescent palm, as a sudden unseen force successfully pinned the man violently to the wall behind him.
"You cannot fight us with such material artifacts." The angel regarded the ashes of the fuda as arms crossed over his chest in restrained agitation. "I advise you to leave before you become a part of this." Cool midnight blue eyes flashed momentarily with paternal concern as they awaited a response.
Disregarding the power of the being he was facing Tsuzuki straightened as best he could against the restrictive force that adjoined him to cool bricks, "I will not... abandon Ingethel."
The angel's stern visage crumbled at the genuine loyalty behind the statement. "Very well," came a defeated response.
As he had momentarily disregarding the fact that his weight was held up by the angel's spell alone, Tsuzuki struggled to regain dignified footing as the spell he had come to rely on for standing was abruptly broken.
Staring back at the angel, Tsuzuki recalled the picture that his partner regarded so direly at the case briefing.
"You're Azazel," Tsuzuki concluded; vying for dominance over the tone of his voice were the anguished memories of his partner, and the shock of being face to face with his opponent.
"Correct." The word was thick in composure.
His anguish over Hisoka easily becoming the victor in his mental skirmish, Tsuzuki unexpectedly snapped at the angel, "Then why aren't you helping him!?" A frustrated expression and an exasperated gesture in Ingethel's direction emphasized the man's passionately abrupt inquiry. "He said you were better then Semyaza!" His stomach twisted at the thought of another destroyed by thoughtlessness. "I just feel sorry for him that he was wrong about you!"
Desperation prevented the brunette's words from ceasing as Tsuzuki's frenzied mental state was slowly alleviated by his emotional release. Screaming at the angel was strangely therapeutic as he felt previous stress leach from his shoulders. Though, it felt inappropriate and impersonal, as if the angel were not worthy of his honest feelings.
Tsuzuki guiltily wished he could be screaming at his partner instead.
But he was losing his partner, and it seemed inconceivable that this angel was taking Ingethel's friendship for granted, tossing it aside as though it were worthless.
Outraged at the man's unshielded thoughts, the angel was immediately defended himself, "It is by direct order that I am not to engage anyone in open combat!" The callously fierce tone silenced the mentally rambling man. Azazel paused to take in a calming breath, and Tsuzuki noticed the familiar appearance of a sobering regret dampen the angel's countenance.
As an afterthought only unleashed because he was aware this man truly cared for Ingethel, he continued with remorse thickly enveloping his voice, "Though I have caused Ingethel a great deal of pain... I intend to redeem myself to him."
Tsuzuki's heart sank at the fallen angel's genuine words and realized with guilty jealously that not everyone's situation was as hopeless as his.
They were both pulled from their private discussion at a sudden thundering voice.
"I am an angel master of the order Seraphim! A low level Power such as yourself does not rival my strength!" Semyaza affirmed arrogantly with a contemptuous smile marking his lips.
"Were. You were of the Seraphim," the tensed Power reminded the pompous Seraph poignantly.
"Correct. And now that I am no longer governed by the laws of Heaven I am able to broaden my conjuring ventures." A delighted smirk found his lips as the Seraph stretched two broad arms to either side of his flexed body. Willing a dark energy to his palms, his figure radiated an incandescent indigo.
Ingethel stood his ground defiantly, focusing tranquilly to produce a celestial barrier.
Releasing the dark attack straight at the stubborn Power, it was enough to produce a spider web fracture in the translucent defense, causing a thin trail of dark red liquid to flow uninhibited down the earlobe of the barrier's creator.
Raising delicate fingertips, energy pulsated throughout the wounded shield as it absorbed the Seraph's attack, mixing dark with light and launching it back at the angel master.
Underestimating his opponent, the defenseless Seraph confronted the attack directly.
Violent determination gripped the Seraph's features as his altered spell rebounded on him with severe ferocity and hurled him backwards.
Colliding brutally with cold pavement, his beaten form struggled pitifully on the ground against an internal opponent. He was aware of the mental effects of his attack, but he never imagined the other angel would be able to manipulate and reflect it.
Taking advantage of the weakened state of the Seraph, Ingethel stroked a passionate arm through the night air, bringing it to a halt in front of him as the other followed suit and came to rest in a ceremonial position before his hard-set features.
"Estote meum castellumque praesidium contra omnium hostes..." Ingethel's heated words rang with knowing clarity "... Quem me resistunt, vincite. Amen."
Bringing to life a ring of blinding light that encircled his position, Ingethel released his divine attack upon the disadvantaged Seraph with crushing fury...
A sudden flash of gold and feathers flew from beside Tsuzuki before he had the wit to comprehend the action.
Semyaza looked up to witness the most horrific sight he had ever had the displeasure of experiencing.
To weak to help, all the Seraph could do was watch as Azazel attempted to deflect the ravenous spell completely unaided.
The power of Ingethel's celestial attack coursed through Azazel's corporeal body as he drove himself in opposition to the force to protect his angel master.
Suffering through the spell entirely until its completion, Tsuzuki watched in suffocating grief as Azazel fell flaccidly a short distance in front of the caster.
Horror arrested Ingethel's body until a single syllable broke him free, "Azazel!!!" Sprinting to his side and dropping inelegantly to his knees beside the angel, Ingethel's rigid arms pulled him into a clumsy embrace upon his lap.
The Shinigami noticed aqua eyes fill with terror as they surveyed the numerous trails of blood flowing freely, perverting the delicate beauty of the slain Seraph's pale skin.
Suddenly realizing that there was nothing he could do for Azazel that Ingethel could not, Tsuzuki halted his advance and allowed the unfortunate pair freedom from intrusion.
Pained, half-lidded navy turned up fondly to the terrified Power whose tense wings shook violently in denial of the situation.
"Why...?" Ingethel's voice quivered with distress while shaking his head in disbelief, causing blonde locks to tumble before his astonished face.
A feather-light touch graced Ingethel's grief-stricken cheek with delicate sentimentality as a sad smile lit the expiring Seraph's lips.
"I am sorry my friend... I cannot allow you kill Semyaza." The hand slid from his face gently with failing control, leaving an unintentional crimson streak down Ingethel's blanched complexion.
Too traumatized for tears, Ingethel grasped the hand devotedly before his friend's fleeting lack of energy caused it to fall. "Azazel, you..."
"You must understand. I cannot let my fate befall you... The Council, they would exile you at a Seraph's death," Azazel's soft tone was tainted with the hoarseness of impending death, "even at Semyaza's."
"I don't care!" Ingethel wrapped possessive arms around the other angel, pressing his head into the crook of Azazel's neck, staining his tousled blonde mane with the deep red hue that still found its way from between the Seraph's scarlet-tainted lips.
"Let me believe I have protected you, Ingethel. For your benefit... do not destroy him."
"Don't leave me." Desperation enveloped the whispered plea as pale fingers tightened in the fabric of a sullied trench coat that hazardously framed dark, dampened wings.
"Ingethel," Azazel began as he used what energy he had to gently push back in order to regard the other angel, "I am sorry I was not strong enough to persuade Semyaza differently before that fateful envoy to earth... In spite of that, you are the only celestial who has forgiven my trespass, you have loved me even after my exile, and all at your own expense." Broad shoulders peacefully slouched in weariness, "You are truly pure of heart... and my affection for you... will never fade..." His eyes began to drift shut as speech abandoned the Seraph.
"Azazel..." Ingethel's hushed voice faltered as tears finally consumed him.
Lifting his head with effort, Azazel pressed cool red lips against his friend's forehead. The sentimental act left a horrifying vermillion trail across Ingethel's brow as the Seraph slipped from consciousness, his body becoming heavy and lifeless in Ingethel's trembling arms.
Sacrificing himself to save his beloved companion from the fallen status of an exile, Azazel was content that he had achieved his redemption.
The heart-wrenching scene was reflected in a pair of astonished violet eyes. Ingethel had unintentionally killed his dearest friend, the only one who truly understood the young angel, because of his personal vendetta with Semyaza.
Tsuzuki could not even bring himself to grieve the death of the celestial as thoughts of his partner crashed into his defeated mind. He sank to the ground in desperation, completely aware of the cruel analogy this incident had with his own situation. His partner would die and it would be his fault.
"How terribly touching," the labored, fiery tone broke the surreal atmosphere that had descended upon the group, though Ingethel appeared unaffected. Reinforced by an energy kindled by hatred, Semyaza rose to an imposing stance that betrayed his injuries. "I will have you know that you have just killed my most loyal companion and I intend to make you pay for that!" The usual sarcasm escaped the Seraph's vernacular as he summoned his sword. Pulling back, the Seraph's claymore charged with an intense cobalt glow.
But the action was insignificant to the quivering form that enveloped Azazel.
Nothing was significant anymore.
Everything the Power had been working toward had been destroyed.
Ironically, his life had been Hell, and he held on for the sole purpose of reuniting with the one being who accepted him. The only hope that kept him alive all this time was his belief he would be able to encounter Azazel again.
But everything was lost; not even vengeance was worth fighting for.
Regretful acceptance stared sorrowfully down at the broken corpse in his trembling arms as Ingethel wrapped warm wings affectionately around them both. Scarlet had completely soaked through the Seraph's clothing and had perverted the innocence of his snowy skin.
Ignoring the ominous thunder of the Seraph's oncoming attack and the panic- stricken warning issued by Tsuzuki, Ingethel regarded the hopelessness he held.
Ingethel's grip on reality loosened as the one around his beloved companion intensified.
To Be Concluded...
If anyone knows the translation to what Ingethel chanted, then you win the 'I-know-my-Latin' award...
If anyone knows exactly what Ingethel's Latin chat was conjuring and you know the rest that I left out, then you win the 'I-know-so-much-about-the- conjuring-of-all-things-holy-that-it's-scary' award (or else you win the 'I- have-the-same-book-as-Angel-of-the-Eclipse' award. -smiles-)
Thank you, Chiharu-san, for putting up with and correcting all my mistakes. This story would make a lot less sense without you editing it -smiles-.
Thank you to all my readers and especially my reviewers; Your comments are so helpful and encouraging, and it has been my pleasure to write for all of you -smiles- -smiles-.
Ying Fa19: Wow! Thanks for all the reviews! I really appreciate you taking the time to tell me what you found appealing about each chapter, that was very kind of you. When I opened my inbox, I was expecting several e-mails because I hadn't checked since I had posted the chapter, so when I got a chance on Saturday, I was shocked to find 21 reviews waiting for me! Thank you for making up the majority! Also, thanks for reviewing chapter 1. When I first posted this story, I posted chapters one and two at the same time (they were both done, so why not, right?) But since then chapter one had no reviews, chapter two took them all, so chapter one is also thankful for your reviews -smiles-
SapphireDragon: Oh my... You are going to dedicate your first finished fic to me? I am so honored that you would want to do that! If I can think of something good, I will have to make you a picture and dedicate it to you for YOUR kindness (I will let you know when I get it up on 'my' homepage.) You've encouraged me as both an author and an artist, so you deserve it -smiles-. (You go back to school in August? That's rough! I hope you get out early at least -smiles-)
ola: Don't worry about missing the other chapters, I am just glad you are back -smiles-. I thought I had lost a reader because my story was getting too repetative or something.
Fin-Phoenix: likewise, I am just happy you are back -smiles-. And sorry about the cliff-hangers. Believe me I hate reading cliffhangers as well. If it is any consolation, I do try to get these chapters up at least once a week -smiles-.
Yanagi-sen: I guess because the anime already came out as Descendant's of Darkness and hooked a load of fans, they don't want to confuse people with a different title then the anime. Thanks for revewing!
Neru: Can any amount of fluff save these two? Even I am beginning to wonder...
Dazzle1: Thank you so much! What a kind review. I am glad to hear you are enjoying this so much, and thank you for the compliments! -smiles-
Do be a doll and review! -smiles-
SykoRyoko: Oh, thank you! Your encouragement is simply delicious! I hope you do not get tiered of this story from rereading it –smiles-.