Disclaimer: The character, world and so forth are the sole intellectual property, belonging to the geniuses of the manga world, CLAMP. I own nothing of my own except the few original characters that will or have appeared.

Author's Notes: Thank you kindly for the reviews I received since I last updated. I hope that your interest in my story and the reviews continue. : )

Also, I want to thank my fans for their continued support and reviews: Elvenmaid, mystic-chan, Fullmoon, and Mandy R. You guys are the best!

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A WISH Fanfiction

Heaven and Hell

(Chapter Three: Past, Present and the Future)

With a short sigh, Amejisuto flopped on the grass, beneath the flowery shade of a large willow tree, her thoughts racing out of control, as she tried to rationalize her presence here at the Bridge, specifically at the request of a one of the highest ranking demons of Hell.  In the name of God what am I doing here? She sits up abruptly, hands on either side of her shaking head. I should be in Heaven at this very moment attending Ransho-sama's lessons. Or, or practicing my incantantions with Toki-sama. Or, or, oh I don't know... I should be anywhere but here preparing to meet a demon. 

It was just about then that she remembered why she had agreed to this in the first place. The demon's eyes had been so sad the other day. It was not the type of sadness that was plainly obvious but something far more complex. Behind his cat-slit eyes that put on an appearance of great warmth and affection, actually only conceal a wound. One in which perhaps had inflicted deep emotional scars upon his heart, causing him to withdrawal from people. Even in the short time that she had talked with him, she had seen as much, the despair and distrust in those scarlet eyes. Yes. That's why I agreed to this request. It's my duty as an angel to help, in any way that I can even if he is a demon. Is he not a person as well?  So, finally at peace with her decision, she stretched back into the grass and waited patiently. He'd find her soon enough, through the flowery willow curtain.

Now as Amejisuto awaited her company an eerie calm filled the Bridge, the same calm that always seemed to overtake it and all those who chose present, willing to embrace it. The wind blew gently rustling leaves and treetops, which ever so slightly swayed, yielding to the demands of the breeze. Eyes closed, she took in the serenity of it all, the softness of the grass beneath her, the tender caress of the wind and the faint sound of chirping birds from afar. Amongst the pure stillness of the moment it wasn't long before sleep over took her. It was about this time that Kouryuu appeared.

"Here you are", he breathed soundlessly as he parted the all about sheer veil provided by the willow tree, chosen to be today's meeting place. He stood there for a moment or two pondering whether he should wake the beauty before him. Tipping his head to one side and through closed eyes, he reasoned, No, no. That would be rude.  The faintest of grins present as he perched beside her careful not to disturb her peaceful slumber.  Content for the moment to simply be next to her sleeping form, eventually his curiosity turned to watching the angel. First, Kouryuu observed the even raise and fall of her chest as she slept curled on her side, one arm draped casually across her stomach and the other propped under her head. He listened to the sound of her breath as she inhaled and exhaled, mingling her breath with that of the wind. Strands of black hair ebbed from her body. Her black hair covered the grass with a thin, dark silky layer. God, he loved her hair.  He idly twirled it with his fingers as he continued to study her. Today it was fashioned into several braids joined neatly into a knot braced by combs with the remainder spilling onto the grass. Under his critical eyes, Amejisuto shifted uneasily as if she knew she was being watched, before her eyelids fluttered open and fixated on another pair staring back, apparently fixated.

She stared back for a second, expressionless then sat upright before stretching and yawning, attempting to fully awaken herself.  She had been meekly aware that Kouryuu was there as she faded in and out of consciousness. To tell the truth it had been comforting. Yes, his presence had been reassuring for some reason, given the amount of time she had known him.  Truly she still was drowsy to even think such a thing?! To find comfort in the present of one who's so opposed her own life was startling. And at best, a mystery.

Kouryuu for his part was completely silent, choosing to watch her as before, only this time as she tried to compose herself. Watching mildly amused as she drew her legs up, placing her head on her knees, surveying him under the same blatant scrutiny Kouryuu exhibited before.

"Good afternoon". Amejisuto smiled warmly. "Did you have any trouble finding this place?" Glancing around their veiled surroundings for emphasize. 

"No. Not really. I just followed you scent." He smiled in return.

"Scent? What to you mean?" Her eyebrows knotted momentarily before smoothing away, replaced with genuine laughter. "Well, I suppose that doesn't matter. You found me that's all that's important, right? So, what you do want to see me about?"

Kouryuu for remained silent for a moment, staring off into the distance, obviously considering how to answer her innocent inquiry, before replying, "I don't know....  I just, just wanted to talk, I suppose. Is that alright?", trying to catch her eyes as he finished.

"What would be fine." Amejisuto smiled brightly, shifting her legs from the beneath to the side, which provided for more comfort for what promised to be a long afternoon. "What is it that you wish to talk about?"

With the laziness of a cat, Kouryuu stretched and lied on the soft grass, hands supporting his head, "I don't know. Perhaps you could tell be about....About you, heaven, anything that comes to you mind. It doesn't matter. The sound of your voice is enough, really. I just want to talk." To Amejisuto now, he seemed so distant, so removed from the present that she was taken by surprise, her own prejudices had tagged him as an individual incapable of such a display of honesty, and sincere thoughtfulness. But as she watched him in this instance, she knew that perhaps she had been wrong, maybe even utterly wrong about this demon. His eyes, oh god, his deep ruby-eyes  roamed the vast canvas of the sky, transporting him miles upon miles from the occurrences of now that it moved her to comply with the same pure revealed emotion that he had just shown her, he has never appeared to be anymore frail than now. How could she have answered otherwise?

"Heaven. I don't even know where to begin. There is so much to tell, especially for someone who has never seen it." She took a deep breathe and explained it all as best she could. She not even the littlest of details was left unmentioned. She laid all the glory of heaven, before him. Telling him of the endlessly sunny sky filled with fluffy white clouds, thousands of angels as far as the eye can see, all working in absolute harmony to serve God and the humans below. She spoke at length of the insurmountable warmth and love she felt each and every time she set foot on that hallowed land, an land that teemed with life, a kind of vitality all its own, speaking gingerly of the beautiful gardens, oceans, and various landscapes that surrounded the birthing tree and just about all other features and temples that riddled Heaven. Not even the wondrous wildlife that was contained with those great land formations mentioned, escaped her meticulous attention.

Through all this, Kouryuu could only listen attentively, silently embracing her image of heaven, imagining it from the first-hand perspective that she offered to him unquestionably. Slowly she satisfied his countless daydreams he once had of Heaven, dissolving them one by one until nothing remained but the truth. Heaven itself. At the same time though, he began to ponder how drastically different the conversation could have been if the subject was Hell. He was instantly thankful that it was not. Hell was anything but pleasant and besides, he had no desire to relate the horrors he's witnessed there to her at such a delicate moment. There were just too many unspeakable crimes.

            During his silent reverie, Amejisuto continued on, unaware.

She only became noticeably hesitant as her focus turned towards her duties, stopping completely short before concentrating again on all the underlying function all of the angels of Heaven; working, serving and protecting gods mission along the archangels, Toki-sama, Rashou-sama and Ryuuki-sama. More so than ever before, her voice became gentle and reflective as she talked of the Holy Archangels, each representing one of the four elements. Toki-sama, the Archangel of Water, the placid yet dedicated and informative mentor that had taken her under his wing, whose lessons she would never forget the whole of her life, whose lessons now she was missing. Then there was Ranshou-sama, the Archangel of Earth, gentle and kind whose advice and sweet demeanor encouraged her beyond all else to serve to the best and fullest of her abilities, through thick and thin. Here Amejisuto laughed briefly, reflecting on Ryuuki-sama, Archangel of Fire, whose child-like nature and short fuse caused him no end of trouble in Heaven, but despite all that, within him housed great knowledge and understanding that validated his standing amongst the other, more temperate archangels.

"Next would be Hisui....Hisui, formerly known as the Archangel of wind. Don't know that much about him. He as before my time, long since fallen." Then under her breath she murmured, "Just once I would have liked to meet Hisui." There. There it was again, hesitance. For the second time, he detected sadness in her voice. He stole a quick peek at her face and could read no emotion what so ever. She was blank, but only briefly before it faded into nothingness.

"Hisui." Curoisity got the better of him now, "Will there ever be another Archangel of the Wind?"

"Huh? Oh, yes. The induction will be soon now." Amejisuto replied quietly.

"Fallen Angel, huh? Hisui....I've met him once, a long ago."  Kouryuu spoke more to himself than to her. With that one name a flood of memories came back to him, this time Earth mainly, the time when he has been the happiest.

"You know it's funny."

"What?"

"The way in which you speak of Heaven is, so adoring that I can't help but be envious. My home is not the type of place that would ever invoke such elicit happiness. I can't seem to find a time when I had truly been happy there. Not one. Yes, there I have been many a time when I thought that I had found happiness but now, now that I really think about it there are none." As He stated this so matter-of-factly, he didn't need to look at her to know what he'd see. Her face would show nothing but concern, concern for his lost soul, and empty life. He smiled inwardly, she had no idea. But she would. And so he began recounting his life's tale and like her, he left nothing out. His story was dark. He began with growing up in Hell, his uncle, Satan, lavishing riches upon Kokuyo and himself. He grew up selfish and ruthless, developing an appetite for the darkest most malicious activities known to demons. He ate human souls for pure enjoyment, inflicted countless cruelties to the inhabitants of hell and Earth, simple because it was within his power to do so. He once reveled in the many sexual escapades a position of status awarded him, taking lover after lover, with no boundaries not even that of blood. His voice turned bitter as he talked of his uncle and the many restrictions the 'old man' had placed on him since losing his heir and son. Indeed, he had no fond memories of Hell. It was only when he began talking of his stay on Earth that the entire mood changed. It has been tense and foreboding but it fizzled away into nothingness; becoming what it had been before. Life on Earth had been his saving grace, even though it has been short lived. There was only fondest in his voice as he talked of the star-crossed lovers, Kokuyo and Hisui, the innocent angel Kohaku, and even the human, Seichirou was reflected upon with great admiration.

"It sounds as it you really enjoyed yourself there"

"....Yes. I would give anything to go back to those days."

Amejisuto, before had been very nervous as the demon talked of sex and the other horrors he's witnessed and caused but now as he spoke of Earth she understood. This. This is why he is in so much pain. The lifestyle that he led on Earth is irreplaceable. He misses those times, those people most of which, are now gone. He's searching for something else to believe in, now that everything has been stripped away from him. His path is lost to him....His future is lost to him....

"Kouryuu," She whispered his name ever so quietly, tears threatening to fall down her cheeks.

At the sound of his name he instinctively looked at her, and was surprised. Tears, was she crying for him?  Even after hearing of all the horror things he has done. He sat up abruptly, eyes wide and mouth open. They could only stare at one another. Words were somehow lost to both of them now at a time when they were needed the most. But perhaps they would only cheapen their moment of understanding.

Finally after what seemed like ages, he sighed and smiled sadly. "Don't. Your tears are wasted on me." He reached out with both hands, wiping away any trace of tears from her face. "What I've just told you, is something that none else knows, events of the past, events that I must deal with of my own accord to find my own meaning. I did not come here for your pity. It's your companionship that I seek. So please, don't" He dropped his hands to the ground, but continued eye contact.

She nodded, obviously still trying to grapple with her own emotions as she took a few deep breaths and attempted to calm down, adding as she did so, "Thank you. Thank you for sharing this with me. I hope that I will become truly worth of this knowledge you've given me." Amejisuto smiled then, hoping to assure him that she was better.

"Thank me? Thank me for what? I only shared as much as you've done with me."

She nodded again.

The two turned away from each other then, and for the rest of the afternoon said nothing else. They merely continued sitting underneath the shadowy umbrella of the willow, and listened to the song of the wind and trees. 

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Thanks for reading Chapter Three!

Akuma

Author's Notes: It have been quite a long time since I last published a new chapter. Despite, the promise I made to myself, back in January to post a chapter every month... But now that school is over, updates will be more regularly distributed, I promise! Not only that, but I am determined to complete it before school begins anew. So, check back frequently for updates and/ or revisions, and as always be kind enough to review. It could make the different of the chapter a week or a month. It's your choice. Choose wisely. : )