Disclaimer: I don't own Sakura wars. I'm just a big fan. I do however own my own characters and story line, as well as my concept of angels. The story might contain violence, abusive language and sexual scenes. If you are underage you'd better stop here. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the story, have fun :)
Hey guys, hope you enjoyed it so far, please review, no matter good or bad :)
Chapter 9 Thunder In Paradise
Teito, May 1929
The tender rays of the unusually hot for the end of May sun caressed the blooming trees. The imperial capital had turned into a sea of bright colours – white, light green, all shades of pink, purple and yellow were mixing with the beautiful songs of the birds that have finally returned home after the long winter. The city was half asleep, resting in the idyllic atmosphere of the late spring. All the Hanagumi were enjoying a well deserved break playing cards in the common room. Well maybe not all of them. Their young captain was lying lazily in the upper branches of a tree in the far end of the TeiGeki Park, hiding in the soft greenness of its grand foliage while gently caressing the face of the beautiful woman in his arms. More than a year had passed since the night the Bulgarian warrior broke her vow. A year out of time, out of space. The serene look in the eyes of the angel revealed her thoughts were far away and her lack of care on the matter. She was happy. In the past year and a half the Hanagumi had grown immensely as a team and as well as individuals and warriors. The battles were getting fewer and fewer and the war was going towards its end or so it seemed. For the first time in her life, she felt safe to place herself in someone else's hands.
Lilly turned in the young captain's arms, facing him. She looked deep into his jet black eyes. He just stared back in her hazel pools. No words. Only the love they had for each other. It reached to the far ends of the world and yet it filled both their hearts that now beat as one. Ohgami was the first to break the frozen in time silence of their long looks. Gently he moved a few loose strands of hair away from the milky white face of the angel. He caressed her soft cheeks barely touching her skin, smiling at the light blush that formed on them. She closed her eyes, enjoying his touch. He gently cupped her face and very slowly moved it to his. His lips tenderly enveloped her fluffy crimson ones, melting in a deep passionate kiss. They stood like that for long pleasurable moments. Ohgami was the first to break the kiss.
"I have to go my love…" said the young captain, sorrow clearly dripping from his voice.
"Hush…" replied the Bulgarian, placing her finger on his lips, looking straight at him with big tearful pleading eyes. "Please… please, Ichiro… stay a little longer. You know that tonight I won't be able to come to you, nor will you be able to be with me…"
The dark haired Japanese pulled the woman closer to him giving her a light kiss on the forehead. "Sush… it's all right koibito, I'll stay with you. There is nowhere else in the world I'd rather be right now. Aishiteru."
"Aishiteru…"
Lilly leaned down and drowned in the soft embrace of the young Hanagumi captain. For long minutes they stayed just like that, enjoying each other's warmth and presence. Unknown to the other they both drifted to the same moment in time.
It was less than half a month ago. Two male silhouettes were watching the setting sun from the bridge over the small stream in Teito Park. Dressed in a black suit with a creamy grey shirt without a tie, Kayama was leaning on the rail while Ohgami, clad in dark blue trousers and ivory jacket over a navy blue shirt, was standing beside him, hands in his pockets, deep in thoughts. Suddenly the Tsukigumi captain rose from his position and turned north to the alley that led to the bridge. Ichiro looked at his friend with amazement. Very soon he understood what the trained spy had sensed right away. The air was tick with the sent of white plums after rain, Kaede's favorite perfume, and of Lilly's heavy sweat aroma of jasmine and wild roses. Both men looked to the alley eagerly awaiting their beloved women. Not a second later from the blooming trees appeared two slender figures. Kayama and Ohgami wowed at the splendorous sight of their lovers.
"God! They're so beautiful…" whispered Ichiro after catching his breath.
"They sure are…" managed to answer Kayama.
Chuckling softly, Lilly and Kaede approached the bridge as if walking on air. The Bulgarian warrior was dressed in a silver-blue satin strapless gown with a matching shawl. Her hair was pulled back in a loose bun, decorated with some small blue flowers. Her friend was wearing a black figure-hugging dress with thin straps and a really low neckline that made Kayama's heart beat out of rhythm, her hair was pulled back from her face by a tiara. After they gave their stunned lovers a warm kiss, they took them by hand and urged them to go.
"My, girls… you look like goddesses!" managed to mumble in unison Kayama and Ohgami, both equally amazed.
Soft pink blushes found their way to the girls' cheeks. They both smiled timidly with closed eyes, moving closer to their lovers.
All four of them spent an amazing evening. After weeks of careful planning Ohgami and Kayama had managed to arrange the perfect night out – candlelit dinner under the blooming Sakura trees and dances under the starry night sky…
A sudden whiff of the cool wind woke the young lovers from their daydream and brought them back to the present. The Hanagumi captain smiled while holding his beloved close to him and softly kissing her. He looked at the sun that was slowly beginning its journey down west towards its resting place. His serene face took a darker expression.
"I really should go now my love…" he said looking somewhere in the distance as to avoid the hidden plea in Lilly's eyes. "I love you…" he whispered in her ear just before leaping down on the ground.
"I love you too…" barely heard, replied the Bulgarian warrior. Hints of tears shown in her eyes. She stayed like that for a few minutes fighting hard her urges to run and follow him so that she could hug and kiss him once more. Then agile as a cat she jumped out of the tree crown to land softly on the grass floor below. She looked with longing at the direction where Ohgami disappeared. Out of nowhere a strong breeze came and played among her long loose night black hair. She stood like that gazing at the distance for long moments, unaware that two pairs of troubled eyes were watching her from above.
Ayame was standing in one of the open windows at the second floor of the Imperial Theater, deep in thoughts, her stare fixed on the angel. Slowly Yoneda put his arms on the Major's shoulders.
"Don't worry Ayame. You should be happy. They are like a match made in heaven. They suit each other so well." the General tried to comfort her.
"I know… and I'm happy for her… for them… really I am. But still I'm worried. Sooner or later the others will find out. They won't be able to hide this forever. And I don't know how the team will take it. Things have been going really well those last few months, even more - the year that has passed was amazing… But I can sense Lilly fears something. I can't explain it, but I know it. I can sense that even though she hides it even from herself, deep inside she is tormented because she knows that this fragile paradise might be crushed in a single moment and that moment might not be so far away…"
Both the commanders sunk in their troubled thoughts as they stared at the night hair that was cascading in the wind. As the wind grew stronger and stronger, it took a few precious pearls from the angel's eyes. Slowly and unsteadily Lilly started for the Gardener's house, the strong wind still blowing after her.
A few hours later, Ayame couldn't resist the urge to talk to her friend about what she felt. She needed to set peace in her troubled and tormented heart. The Major made up a lame excuse about not feeling well to leave her station although to Yoneda it was quite clear what the real reason was. He just nodded his head, heavy with his own troubled thoughts at the petite woman's request to take the rest of the day off.
The sky was slowly turning scarlet when Ayame finally gathered courage to stop strolling dissolutely around the TeiGeki Park and head for the small cottage at its far end. As she walked on the path she must have passed a thousand times this year and a half, she remembered how she came to know about the relationship of her friend and the Hanagumi captain. Even back then, twelve months ago, deep in her heart she knew. She sensed Lilly's inner battle and then the immense relief and happiness that echoed throughout the corners of the angel's soul. But it wasn't until a fateful late July afternoon that she found out the true reason behind it all.
It was still really hot even though the sun was heading towards its ocean bed. The petite brunette had a lot of reports to check and fill and the inviting summer heat wasn't helping her at all. She was dreaming of a quiet rest on the seaside when she heard a muffled laugh and moan coming from the hall. Taken out of her daydream, Ayame rose from her chair and trying as hard as she can not to make any noise, approached the door. Part of her was pulling her away, screaming that eavesdropping on someone is indecent but when she recognized her friend's voice curiosity took over her.
"Koneko..." she whispered in surprise.
On the other side of the wall the voices were getting a little louder.
"Mmmm…. Ichiro, not here… what if someone came by..." a female voice was protesting feebly at the passionate kisses of the young Japanese.
"Don't worry my love… no one will come, they are all in the training room…" answered Ohgami as he kissed Lilly's white neck softly but persistently. "I can't bear a second without you koibito… I love you… I need you more than the air I breathe…"
"I feel the same koishii… I love you more than life itself… but Ichiro, think about the team. We have to bear the consequences of our actions. We mustn't let anyone see u…"
The young Hanagumi captain cut her sentence short with a deep kiss, making her fall defenseless in his arms, pressing her body on the wall while crushing his own one onto hers. They kissed for long blissful moments, just savoring each other's taste and presence. From across the hall, peeking through the barely cracked office door, Ayame's heart was skipping beats in amazement, fright and happiness.
Unwilling to do so, Ohgami broke the passionate kiss and backed away a little. He happily stared at the serene look in the eyes of the woman in his arms while licking his lips in pleasure.
"I must go… Aishiteru…" he whispered lovingly in her ear. After kissing her fluffy lips one more time, he swiftly disappeared round the corner.
Lilly just stayed like he left her – leaning on the wall, unable to move from delight, breathing in deep gasps. Ayame waited a few minutes just admiring the blissful expression on her friend's face. Then very quietly she opened the door and approached the angel.
"How about some water to calm the fire down?" she asked teasingly with the sunniest smile on her face.
Lilly opened her closed eyes in surprise at the sound of her friend's voice.
"Kotori…" she barely whispered, not knowing what to say.
"When were you planning to tell me about you and Ohgami? How long have you two been together?" asked the older woman half teasing, half scolding.
Lilly lowered her eyes before answering. "We've been together two months now… Ayame… I really wished to tell you. But I was afraid… I was so afraid of yours and pappy Yoneda's reaction. I know what you would say, that we were insane and we should think about the team and what we might do to its integrity. You would probably be right… But I love him Kotori…" hints of tears shone in the corners of Lilly's eyes "I love him so much… Never in my entire life, has someone been so in touch with me, so the same as me, so near me…" the angel let her tears flow freely now. Ayame was petrified; all she could do was stare in shock at her friend. Lilly looked her friend straight in the eyes "I don't want to loose him, Ayame… I was afraid that I might loose him if I told you… I'm so sorry…"
When she overcame the initial shock, Ayame slowly moved to the angel. She wrapped her hands around the still shaking body of the Bulgarian warrior and pulled her close in a hug. She gently rubbed the tears that were still in the corners of the younger woman's eyes and kissed her forehead. "Don't worry Koneko… I will never do anything that would make you loose Ohgami."
A bitter smile forced its way on the Major's lips as she walked towards the gardener's house, remembering this. Lilly was right about one thing though. Yoneda didn't take it all too well. She can still hear him screaming like in the day the angel finally confessed. Ayame's smile grew wider as the picture of the old General, half drunk, waving his hands at Lilly and Ohgami and shouting what were they thinking, appeared in her mind. The wind blew stronger and took the petite woman out of her thoughts. The sun had already set. Only an enormous trace of crimson lava, smeared on the horizon line, melting in the darker shade of the sky was all that was left of Helios's son now. Ayame's heart started beating faster. She found herself in front of her friend's door, but unable to move further. It seemed like she was standing there for eternity, contemplating on whether to step in or go back. Finally, the concerned friend in her took over. She gathered all her strength and with a determined expression knocked on the door. There was no answer. She knocked again but once more silence was all she received. She got a little worried and instinctively grabbed the door knob and twisted it. To her amazement, the door cracked open. The Major stepped slowly in. For a few minutes she wandered about in the dark and silent premises in a slight panic. Then a soft hum coming from the back porch brought a relieved smile on her lips. Slowly she went outside. The sight that opened to her made her freeze in her steps with delight. Basking in the last crimson rays of the sun which made her soft milky skin glow with a queer warm light, Lilly was sitting on the wooden floor, leaning her back on the wall. Her knees were pulled close and on them lay a notebook with heavy brown leather covers. Softly humming a tender lullaby that made Ayame drift in a dream, the angel was writing something carefully.
"Still writing that play?" asked after a long silence the petite woman, motherly happiness dripping from her voice.
Slowly Lilly raised her head and smiled serenely at her friend.
"Hello Birdie. I finished it, you know. I'm just making some final adjustments. I think that tomorrow morning you'll have the manuscript on your desk to check and see whether it will suit the Imperial Theater."
"I'm sure it will. I can't wait to read it. What is it about?" asked the Major curiously.
"Mmmm… that's a surprise. You'll see tomorrow." answered Lilly teasingly. Then all of a sudden a dark shadow covered her face. It became serious and worried. "But you didn't come here to talk about my play, didn't you Ayame? Something is bothering you. I can see it clearly even behind that bittersweet smile of yours. What's wrong?" asked the angel with concern.
The older woman approached slowly and sat down on the porch next to the Bulgarian warrior. She hugged her knees and pinned her look on the wooden floor. For long moments they both stayed in a tense uncomfortable silence. Realizing the deep inner torture of her friend, Lilly pulled the petite woman in a warm embrace and softly caressed her neatly pulled back hair.
"Birdie… what's wrong? Are you all right?" fear was echoing in her voice.
"I'm scared Koneko… I'm so scared…" finally muttered Major Fujieda. She let all her fears, worries and frustration go and silent tears started falling on the angel's arms. "I can sense that you're afraid. Even thought you're hiding these fears from me, from Ohgami and from yourself as well, I can feel them very well. What scares me the most is that deep inside I'm sure that your fears are justified and their threat is upon us…" Ayame gulped her tears and broke free from her friend's embrace. Her put her hands on the Bulgarian's shoulders and looked straight into the deep hazel pools. "Lilly… I'm scared that I might loose you again. That all that we've accomplished in this year and a half might disappear…" the stare in Ayame's eyes was so serious and grim that it made the angel backed away a little in shock. She stood petrified for what to both women seemed eternity. Then the night-haired warrior lowered her eyes, gently removed her friend's hand from her shoulders and very slowly stood up and moved to the rail.
For long tormenting minutes Lilly gazed in the distance where the molten crimson lava had vanished completely in the uncertainty of the night. The sky was pitch black, there wasn't a single star to light up the threatening darkness.
"Ayame… I wish I could say that you are wrong. I want to tell you that your fears are unreasonable… that everything will remain the same as it is now, that I will never leave…. But I can't. The time when I must face and accept the consequences of my action and decisions, is near…" out of nowhere an unusually cold wind wrapped the TeiGeki garden, making both women shiver. Lilly was still with her back to the brunette Major and Ayame couldn't see the endless sadness and emptiness in the angel's eyes. "Too near…"
On the next day
The sun had already risen but the morning was dull and grey. A heavy blanket of clouds had engulfed the smiling kid and not even the wind could banish the impending tension that was upon the Imperial Theater.
Slowly Ayame stepped in the office. General Yoneda was on a meeting and wouldn't be here until the late afternoon so she was alone. Her eyes were swollen and sore form the sleepless and full of tears night she passed. Her mind was still in her yesterday conversation with Lilly. "Too near…" those words kept on repeating themselves, screaming to every corner of the Major's being. "The time when I must face and accept the consequences of my action and decisions". The Japanese woman took her head in both hands and shook it in frustration.
"NO!" she cried with all her power at the sky. "No…" she muttered through her tears as she collapsed on the chair behind her desk.
She tried her best to recompose herself. After all she was the vice commander of the Imperial Capital Defense Force. She couldn't allow her inner fears and doubts to interfere with her job. She would never forgive herself if by her own weakness she caused to destroy that for which she strived so much – the integrity of the Hanagumi.
Ayame wiped away her tears and banished the despair, replacing it with determination. She looked at her desk to see what her agenda for the day was and noticed a notebook with heavy brown leather covers on top of the papers. In an absolute opposite to the mood she was just seconds ago, the petite woman smiled widely and even chuckled happily.
"Koneko… so she managed to finish it after all. And I thought that she would never actually complete it…"
The Japanese Major gently but eagerly opened the notebook and curiously started reading the delicate handwriting. She smiled tenderly as she read the title - "Raindrops in Spring". And just then, unknown to Ayame, the sky broke and started crying softly.
In the late afternoon
The sky was still grey. It has been raining all day already. All the Hanagumi had gathered in the common room after a busy day of training.
"Man… it's raining all day." complained Kohran, staring through the window. "This is so frustrating. I wanted to do some outdoor tests. If it keeps up like that who knows when I would get those adjustments on the Koubus done…"
"Cheer up Kohran." said Kanna, trying to raise the Chinese's spirits. "It's just a summer rain. They're unpredictable. It will stop just like it started. Don't worry you'll get those adjustments done."
As she uttered those words, the redhead gave a strong push on the cue and nailed the black ball in the right middle pocket.
"All right! Maria did you see that! We won!" screamed in happiness the Okinawan.
The blond returned a subtle smile to her friend but her jade eyes were shining with the delight of the hard earned victory. They were playing pools against Ohgami and Lilly during the whole afternoon and so far had taken quite a beating.
"Congratulations guys." smirked evilly the angel. "Enjoy your luck while it lasts."
"Ohhh… but it is you, who should be careful daragaya." replied Maria with a teasing threat.
"Yeah, 'cause we're gonna kick your buts!" finished Kanna.
"Don't be so sure Kanna." smiled Ohgami. "We've been sweeping the floor with you all afternoon. That was just a gift so that you won't back out and call it quits." he continued mockingly.
"Don't sell me that crap, Taicho. We beat you fair and square." boasted the redhead. "And we're gonna do it again, right Maria?"
"Sure Kanna." backed her up the Russian.
The four continued their small friendly arguing in a little louder way that made Kohran turn around. The sight that opened in front of her brought a chuckle that the Chinese barely muffled. Sitting in a really comfortable armchair, Sumire was reading. Trying to read was more close to reality. Her face was hidden behind a copy of "Les Miserable" but to the inventor it was quite clear that the brown-eyed Japanese was fuming. Her hands were shaking, her face was turning red, she was using every last drop of her strength trying not to flare up. Her whole body started trembling, turning crimson when she reached her boiling point.
"Will you all just SHUT UP!" Sumire screamed going into a frenzy. "I'M TRYING TO READ!"
For a second everybody stood silent looking at the now crimson all over, panting hard to catch her breath Kanzaki heiress. Kanna was the first to break the uncomfortable silence.
"Cactus woman, can't you see we're trying to play." she said hesitantly.
"Don't talk back to me like that, Ape woman. I was the one reading quietly and you the ones making the noise." quickly replied Sumire getting angrier.
"You… you…" the redhead grinded through her teeth not willing to admit defeat. Very shortly they started their typical trade mark quarrel.
"Stop it everyone! Iris can't hear her own thought with you making all that noise." a tiny voice filled the room.
All eyes turned to the little blond girl that was now standing in the middle of the room with her hands on her waist and a determined expression on her face. Everybody, including Sakura who till that moment was playing with the French girl, froze in amazement. When she achieved what she wanted, silence, Iris smiled and returned to the game. But as she was sitting down, she noticed the book that the brunette diva had dropped on the floor.
"Sumire-neechan, here is your book." she smiled as she kneeled to pick it up. "Oh… but why are there two books in here?" she asked incomprehensively.
"Iris… give it ba…" hurried to say Sumire but it was too late. Kanna had already grabbed the books from the little girl's hands.
"What have we here…" the redhead giggled victoriously with an evil spark in her eyes. "My, my cactus woman… I never knew you were fond of such… hmmm… romantic novels."
"It's not what it looks like…" started to defend herself Sumire, getting crimson with embarrassment.
Kanna was triumphing. She was looking at Sumire whose eyes admitted defeat. The brunette actress was shorter than grass. She was sweating and looking around as if searching for a place to hide. All the others were curious to understand just what was exactly happening. Just then the door of the common room opened with a loud bang. All heads turned around to the direction of the noise. Sumire sighed in relief. Ayame entered the room with determination.
"It's brilliant!" said excited the petite woman. "Just brilliant!"
"What are you talking about Kotori?" Lilly asked the question that was burning on everybody's lips.
"Your play, Koneko. It's absolutely fabulous. We'll be performing it next month." answered the Major firmly.
"You're kidding right." jumped back the angel, blushing deep crimson. "But you can't just approve it without pappy Yoneda reading it. And it can't be that good." tried to protest the Bulgarian.
"It's already decided. We're performing it next month. And I'm sure that the manager would agree with me." Ayame smiled happily. "No buts. Everything is arranged. In fact I think that the scripts are being delivered as we speak."
"Ohhh…. Iris can't wait to read Lilly-neechan's play! Iris is sure that she will love it!" cried happily the little girl as she rushed through the door.
"Me neither!" cried after her Sakura.
Excitement and curiosity took over the rest of the Hanagumi as they followed their two teammates to the office.
"I'll be going too. The others will need me, we have much more preparations to do." said Ayame, happily enjoying her victory over the angel before disappearing in the darkness of the hallway after the others.
Lilly stood in amazement, supporting herself with one hand on the table with the other holding the cue. She never actually believed that her play would see daylight, let alone create such an excitement. Very slowly Ohgami made her sit on the sofa. He put her head to rest on his chest and gently caressed her hair.
"So you finished it?" he whispered tenderly in her ear. The Bulgarian just nodded her head really softly. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Lilly slowly moved her head to Ohgami's lap and laced her fingers with the ones of his free hand.
"I wanted to but I didn't get the chance. I wanted to show it to you first but I didn't want to wake you so early in the morning, you were sleeping so soundly, with such a peaceful expression on your face." she stood up and faced him. She gently caressed his cheek with the back of her palm. "And I never imagined that Ayame would like it so much, to actually put on a performance."
Ohgami pulled the angel close in a light kiss. "Don't worry koibito. It's ok, I don't mind."
Lilly looked at him and smiled warmly. She leaned close to him and whispered "I love you" in his mouth before kissing him passionately.
"I love you too." whispered back Ohgami after the long blissful minutes they shared in a kiss.
He gently pushed her a little back to enjoy her hazel eyes. The young captain removed a loose strand of her night black hair and caressed her milky skin.
"What's wrong my love?" he asked with concern.
"Nothing Ichiro. I'm fine. What makes you say that?" asked the angel, her voice shaking with hints of fear.
"I don't know. I just feel that something is troubling you."
"Don't worry darling, everything is all right." Lilly gave off a bittersweet smile, hoping Ohgami wouldn't suspect her little white lie.
The Japanese softly kissed her forehead and hugged her tight.
"Will I see you tonight?" he whispered in her ear, more like a request than a question.
"Mmmm… As much as I would love spending the night with you darling, I think I would be visited by too many people this evening. It's too big a risk." answered the angel reluctantly.
"Then, come to me later in the night." persisted the young Hanagumi captain. "I doubt someone will bother you after midnight. Onegai koibito, I need you…"
"Ichiro…" Lilly didn't know what to say. Her heart was torn to pieces. She craved to talk to him about her worries but she didn't want to trouble him. She leaned close and kissed his lips lightly. "You'd better go. Ayame will need your help…"
Disappointment was written all over Ohgami's face. His eyes were shining with pleads and hidden tears. But Lilly's eyes were down on the floor, avoiding her lover's pools in fear he'll read the whole truth in them. After a few painful moments of waiting, the young man realized any more words would be not only unnecessary but harmful. Very slowly he stood up and headed for the door. Just before leaving the room, the spike haired Japanese turned around one last time seeking the eyes of his beloved. In vain. Lilly was looking through the window. She had her back to him so Ohgami couldn't see that her hazel pools were filled with tears.
"Ashiteru" whispered the young captain as he exited the common room.
The rain had stopped. But even though the shinny kid had finally managed to escape from its cloudy prison, its rays weren't warm. The common room was engulfed in a cold scarlet light. Huddled in the corner of the sofa, Lilly was crying. Without words, without a sound, without even tears. The little safe world she created was crashing down in her feet and she felt powerless to stop it.
The night had wrapped Teito in its mysterious embrace. Everyone seemed to be asleep. It was quiet. Too quiet. The sky was dark. There wasn't a single star and the moon was hiding somewhere, afraid to penetrate the darkness. Lilly was sitting on the steps of the back porch of the Gardener's house. The air was still and the weather was hot. She was wearing a pair of light blue jeans with a heavy brown leather belt, a short bright yellow figure hugging top with a loose neck-line and sleeves that went a little below her elbows. Her feet were bare and her hair was tied in a pony tail on top of her head. She stood alert, searching for answers in the darkness.
All of a sudden, with no obvious reason, Lilly leaped in the black of the night. She ran fast through the garden as if drawn to something or someone. She ended up in the same clearing where she dueled with Ohgami almost a year ago. The full moon broke the wall of clouds for a few moments and lit the face of the angel who was standing in the middle of the meadow, piercing the darkness with her seeking glares. A content smile appeared on the crimson lips of the Bulgarian. She closed her eyes and let her hands fall freely beside her body. A bluish aura surrounded her as her body began slowly to rise in the still air and white wings grew on her back. She was about 10 meters above the ground when she opened her eyes and the night read in them boundless determination. As quick as the wind she flew to the roof. She walked slowly to the far north end. When she got there, her victorious smile faded. All that was there was the mockery of the night breeze that echoed through her ears. Annoyed and disappointed, the angel sat down on the cool roof and let her hair flow freely in the warm night wind.
"It's been quite a while… djudj…" a gentle voice filled the night air. Lilly just smiled softly with her eyes closed.
"It really has been, Nia." said the Bulgarian without turning around or moving from where she was sitting.
A slim figure a little taller than Lilly sat down beside her. She had deep brown eyes, short reddish brown wavy hair and the same milky skin as the Bulgarian. She was clad in black jeans with a black leather belt, a black shirt, the first two buttons of which were open and black boots. If it weren't for the color of her skin and the pair of angelic white wings on her back, she would be almost invisible in the starless night. Long moments they stood in uneasy silence, their hairs flowing in the now cold night breeze.
"Why are you here Nia? You didn't come just to say hi…" asked emotionlessly Lilly, her eyes fixed in a far away point somewhere in the distance.
"Straight to the point…" smirked lightly the other angel. "It's not like you at all djudj. But I guess people change."
"Our world is in a constant state of change and people as a part of it must not be expected to stay static." Weren't you the one that taught me that?" asked Lilly with a hint of melancholy in her voice.
"Mmmm… I might have." barely smiled Nia, falling in memories. "If you want to take the bull by the horns then so be it. I'm here to remind you who you are."
"I know who I am Nia. I've remained true to myself, to the things we believed in and swore to uphold when we were younger. I might have changed but not that much." replied the Bulgarian turning to her friend, anger filling her words.
"I didn't mean that and you know it very well Lilly." said the thin Tatar woman as she looked straight into the hazel eyes of the nigh haired warrior. Her voice was strict and firm. "You're an angel. The woman you were died 7 years ago. With me, in the cold snowdrifts of Saint Petersburg. That second chance we received is not a second life Lilly. We are here with a purpose and that purpose is not to regain what we have lost but to help humanity. We are here to make sure that what He created doesn't fall into oblivion. I came here tonight to remind you that responsibility." Nia lowered her eyes and suddenly her voice became calm and soothing. "I came here as a friend. To tell you that I was, am and always will be by your side. And to warn you that if you don't remember who you are and what you're here for, they will make you remember and you might end up loosing really a lot this time." with that final words the Tatar stood up and looked at the sky for a second. "You have one month to reason with yourself. After that I won't be able to help you."
Nia slowly spread her wings and rose in the air. "If you need me, just call for me. I'll be right there by your side… as always." She smiled tenderly at her friend and disappeared in the darkness.
The night became colder. Too cold for a late spring night. Lilly was still sitting on the roof, deep in thoughts over what her longtime friend had just said. She was piercing the lightless sky, searching for a way out. A strong cool wind started blowing, messing her nigh black hair. Doubts and insecurity slowly settled in the angel's heart as tears started silently falling down her face. She hugged her knees, shivering but didn't move. The wind was blowing stronger and stronger. Finally after long minutes of struggle the hazel eyed woman gave in and decided to leave and try to catch some sleep. She waited a second for the winds to calm down and opened her white wings to fly back down to the ground. But in the middle of her flight the calm night air made way to a furious whirlwind. Lilly got caught right in the middle of it. Her body was tossed and hurled, stirred up and down, thrown at the mercy of the elements. The night air was filled with whizzing and hissing, almost as if the wind was alive. After a few minutes of blind rage, the hurricane like wind vanished, casting the angel down on the ground. Her wings looked broken and their snowy white color was stained with scarlet blood. Her body looked battered and bruised. She just lied on the soft grass, not being able to move, groaning in pain.
Ohgami turned in bed. He couldn't fall asleep. His mind was still tortured by the events of the day. Her tossed his pillow on the ground in anger and went to the window. The young Japanese sat on the sill and looked at night Teito. Everything was dark, as if the whole city was wrapped in a weird darkness. The Hanagumi captain was staring at the night in a queer sense of melancholy, drifting between dream and reality when a low moan took him out of his thoughts.
"Who's there!" questioned the spike haired man, trying hard to spot anything in the dark. He was answered only by another painful groan.
The full moon broke away from its gloomy cloud prison and cast a strong light over the TeiGeki park. Ohgami smiled at the beneficial circumstances but as soon as he gazed down to the ground, he gave out a cry full of fear. There was no doubt in his mind that the figure that lied on the grass was Lilly. The looks of her broken down body and the blood on her wings made his jet black eyes roll in panic. Blind to reality, Ohgami jumped out of the second floor window and quickly climbed down the wall.
"Lilly… Lilly… please… please tell me you're ok…" he almost cried while embracing the angel.
"Ichiro…" coughed painfully the Bulgarian. "I'm fine… Don't worry about me…" she forced a bloody smile.
"What happened to you koibito…" asked the young captain through his own troubled sobs.
The angel stood silent. She moved her gaze away from Ohgami but he made her look at him again. In her teary hazel pools he read endless frustration, hesitation, pain… even torture.
"It doesn't really matter…" he tried smiling tenderly. "What matters is that you're ok and you'll be safe now."
He gently took her in his arms and took her to the infirmary. There, the spike haired Japanese cleaned and bandaged her wounds. Luckily, they only looked bad. They turned out to be mostly superficial cuts and bruises. But her ankle was twisted and her wings were broken in quite a number of spots. Ohgami looked alarmed at the night haired woman. Sensing his stare, she opened her eyes.
"Don't worry Ichiro… the wings will heal. In less than a month they'll be as good as new." she gave a bittersweet smile. Ohgami smiled back faintly. He kissed her forehead gently and took her in his arms. Very slowly he walked to his room.
My wings will heal… but will I heal… thought the angel, cuddling close to the young man's chest, falling asleep by the soft lullaby of his heartbeats.
When he reached his room, Ohgami carefully opened the door and placed his precious load on the bed. He lied next to her and covered both of them with a blanket. He looked at her, softly caressing her cheeks as he removed a few wild strands of hair away from her face. His eyes gained a grim expression when he saw the pain and torture written on her pale sides.
If only I knew how to help you my love… I'm here for you, I'll always be… I'll keep you safe…
Ohgami kissed the angel's lips lightly and held her closely. Close to his heart, watching vigilantly over her till exhaustion got the best of him and he fell deep in a troubled sleep.
Author's notes:
Koibito (Japanese) – my love, lover
Koishii (Japanese) – diminutive from koibito
Daragaya (Russian) – darling, dear as well as a way of addressing someone close; might be used when you want to mock someone
Djudj – now, I don't think there is a word like this in any language. It was actually invented be my best friend Nia and me when we were in high school as our very own and unique way to address each other. And since Nia in real life is the prototype of the angel Nia in the story, it felt appropriate to use it. It's something very dear and personal so please do not use.
First I would really want to apologize to everybody for the slow update. I'm really sorry guys, I had some personal things to tend to that are really important in my life and stumbled upon a heavy exam session at school right after that. I still have about a month of exams so please be patient. I'm not abandoning the story though, just writing really slowly. I hope you like the chap, it took quite a long time (I think almost a month) to write and I was in a bit of hard times so I want to excuse myself in advance for the dark mood.
Second I would like to thank everybody that reads my work, especially Benji Himura, Shirogami and Greyhound Master for the warm words and constant support. Thanks a million guys, I wouldn't have made it without you:)
And lastly – I received an anonymous review that asked me why with some many female characters to choose from, I felt compelled to create a new one. I've been writing for quite a while, more than 10 years to be exact, though I usually write mostly poetry and almost 99 of what I write is self-inserted in one way or another. What can I say; I'm that kind of writer. I'm a girl so my self inserted character is a female and Lilly is sort of an enhanced image of me, sharing quite a number of my own trades.
Well, anyways… I hope you enjoy the story. Have fun and best wishes :)