Warnings: religious implications, some swearing. Shounen ai.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Naruto universe.

Thanks to those of you who leave comments…

Reach.
a tale of
simply
falling higher and
delightfully
rising lower.

Chapter Six, Kakashi...by Taes.

The change is immediate.

The passage between the tall buildings is dark. It is damp with the thought of rain, and human-devised streetlamps already glow dimly upon me. Despite the gloomy weather, I welcome the climate change.

I turn my attention away from the ground, and onto the figures.

It seems that Sasuke is not as High and Pure as he would have us believe. In the time he has Walked among mortals, he has gained a sense of…companionship. Not the love of brothers—such that angels all share, as we are not conceived and birthed, but shaped in a burst of thought by the creator. Sasuke has learned the fiery, unpredictable flare of Rivalry, edging the borders of love and hate.

My lips twitch, and I spread my black wings. The days have passed in the usual manner, on Earth, though the boys have yet to notice. More time has elapsed than they realize.

Their eyes are locked on each other.

I watch them lazily, and reflect. Much to my relief, the Gate is to be guarded by Sammael himself, at least for the day. My lord will don the guise of a foolhardy and young Fledgling. Our enthusiastic leader seems to have grown weary of the feuds and bickering amongst the lower Lords; he craves action, for good or for worse…

Ahh, my master is ever the Changing one. I am pleased, though, that he would leave the main gate under such Heavy care. Tsunade, I fear, would consider it an idle man's task. If she were in charge…alas, the barrier should fall.

I open the Eye, and memorize the actions of my old pupil. Sasuke uses an unusual technique to evade the notice of mortals. He casts an ever-shifting shield, making small magic slide off him—as if it were little more than water. This enables him to walk freely amongst humans, while keeping his wings available at all times.

I find myself nodding in approval; on their first Walk, many angels will push their wings into their backs. Calling them out on this plane has caused many to fall to their knees, screaming in agony…and thus leaving the angelic fools helpless to demon tricks.

But Sasuke is not a normal angel, now is he? He possesses the Sharingan Eye, like myself, and he can draw upon its strength…

Naruto has grasped this, I think. He's realized a powerful rival, a possible comrade in arms.

A smile finds its way to my lips.

He's found a potential lifemate…

Soulmate, I would say, if angels were gifted with souls.

So the boy, Naruto, takes Sasuke's hand in his. He swings their arms in a gentle fashion. His eyes sparkle with mischief, and despite the vague presence of the newly Winged—Shikamaru, Neji, Kiba and Sakura—he appears at complete ease with the solemn angel.

I wonder at that. Under normal circumstances, even Naruto would take note of the Winged, even if they were on this plane only in the partial sense.

"Naru!" Indigo, child of human decent, calls. I turn an amused eye on the girl. Her family's psychic history may be traced back to the fourteenth century…and a prodigy pops up every generation or so. Ino, as she prefers to be called, is one such genius…whether she notices or not.

The situation gets more and more complicated with each passing moment, and yet Naruto does not recognize it. Neither, I am amused to note, does Sasuke—despite his acclaimed sharp wit.

The Winged Ones have fully crossed to Reality. The presence of heavy shielding and a faint red tinge should warn Naruto that they may not interfere with human proceedings. If the witch should attack, Naruto would be on his own. Certainly the half-demon will take care of such potential weaknesses…

Kiba and Sakura, as former lovers, are as querulous as ever, and may not notice if the young witch so much as shouted. Thankfully, Shikamaru and Neji are among them. Those two are not so dull-witted by love.

The Winged Ones spot the two boys, angel and fellow Winged spirit. Shikamaru calls out.

The two don't seem to take any mind. Naruto's hand is still clasped around Sasuke's and his eyes shine with emboldened emotion. He smiles in a delighted, self-confident sort of way, and I find myself leaning away from the brick wall in anticipation.

Ahh, young men in heat…

I smirk, pleased. Sure enough, the angel takes Naruto's face with one hand and smoothly turns his cheek—the whisker marks are bold on tanned skin, and blue eyes are clouded. Our angelic friend bends—just a touch—and he touches their lips together.

My smile widens.

Avenger indeed…distract a child with toys or sweets and he's as good as gone.

Naruto opens his mouth to let them be—together— and a foreign muscle slides by his lips. Sasuke's eyes are closed as Naruto's widen, and I can sense the emotion passing between angel and demon.

Finally, Naruto's stiff shoulders relax, and he leans in—towards the angel. His arms are firmly around the other's waist, with Sasuke's on Naruto's shoulders. They look, I must say, quite comfortable.

The two slip apart after a moment or two. Their expressions are similar in some regards; neither smiles nor frowns. Two sets of eyes are as open as they may be.

I lean back against the brick wall, satisfied.

They are short of breath, and at last, Naruto cracks a grin. He chuckles, quiet yet. Briskly, forcefully, Naruto applies a kiss to Sasuke's full mouth, and he moves one hand to Sasuke's cheek. "Mm…" he smiles gently. "You're—"

A whistle, and a hoot of encouragement are heard from behind them.

Kiba's doing, I see. The others, for various reasons, are quiet. Sakura, for one, nudges the hellhounds' keeper harshly in the ribs. In the meanwhile, Neji and Shikamaru look off to the side—away from the two boys.

Down the lane, the girl, Ino, stares. She rubs at her eyes, as though jinxed, and I sense her magic drifting towards them. Sasuke's shields throw her presence off. Naruto's barriers simply bar entry. He foolishly assumes himself safe in Reality…

Thankfully or no, Ino does nothing to actively offend his barriers; she merely looks. A dangerous action? We shall see…

Come to think of it, I sense the lingering presence of an influential charm…without pause, I brush the girl's mind—

—she remembers Naru as a rounded, pigtailed girl with short blond hair and sparkling blue eyes. The tiny plaits stuck off 'her' head like miniature horns. She recalls a brusque voice, yet distinctly feminine, not Naruto's cheeky, brazen flare.

The charm—as I first thought it—is too complicated to be magic. It is a thought, a bend in Reality that's caused by ever-shifting planes…like continuously-shifting shields…

And that is a gift Sasuke's proven to be good with.

I smile again, for Ino's undoubtedly found that Naruto is quite certainly male.

Naruto's eyes are unusually round, and a pink, steadily darkening blush stains tanned cheeks. He coughs.

Sakura, having moved closer to the pair, points in the opposite direction—towards Ino—and she rolls her eyes. She gives Sasuke an exasperated look. "You were supposed to Fall for me, not him." she taps black-painted nails on a petite, well-sculpted arm.

Sasuke laughs quietly, otherwise ignoring the comment. He lifts his eyes to meet the blond witch's. In her presence, he cannot respond to Sakura.

Noticing his partner's gaze, Naruto whirls around, still blushing. "Aaah," the blond boy mumbles. "Hi, Ino…"

Her expression is tantalizingly filled with horror, betrayal, and suspicion.

My attention is brought away by a rustle of wings behind me. A cool hand touches my neck. I glance backwards, and seeing only an archangel, I grin briefly.

Gabriel, he who inspires artists, is called Sasori by his brethren. The archangel stands from a graceful landing.

I quickly mask my face with indifference.

Sasori leaves the cover of darkness then, without a word to me. As he walks, his wings pull into his slender back.

I chuckle to myself; of all the angels, Sasori seems most skilled at ignoring physical pain. It is just as well, seeing he's given the right to walk among mortals and influence their world.

Pity he isn't with us.

"Sasuke," the archangel calls. His cool indifference is spoiled by the too wide, hallowed eyes alongside a tiny half-smile. He looks at the small angel most sternly, and places a cool hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "You are Called." He meets the newly Winged Ones' gazes softly. His smile seems all the less sane.

The Winged move closer together, sensing his Art of war.

"H2O." I murmur, and pull my black wings inside. Like breaking an arm off and sealing it with magic, the pain is brief.

Sasuke stiffens at my voice, though Sasori makes no move.

"Come, children." I take Naruto by the wrist. It's high time the prince of mirth learns to obey. I push black sunglasses down the bridge of my nose for a moment, letting him see the Eye.

Naruto swallows, still flushed.

I nod at the blond girl, for the moment ignoring the newly Winged prince. "Indigo, you'd best find a safer lust interest…" I pinch Naruto's flaming cheeks, eliciting a nervous chuckle.

Sasori, I note, does not touch Sasuke. He merely walks, and the angel follows.

I wonder silently, as Shikamaru and Neji converse in quiet tones. They act like unhinged doors, the former swinging one way, and the latter swinging the other.

"Why does it matter?" Neji asks, and Shikamaru shakes his head tightly, closing the conversation to unwelcome ears.

My thoughts are most likely echoed by all our kind:

How close to falling are you, Sasuke?

I laugh, soft and full. I quirk my lips upwards, tilting my head to one side.

Angel of Vengeance, indeed.

Beside me, Naruto cackles. "Man, Sasuke…" a grin splits his face. "…you're a fucking good kisser!"

His laughter climbs higher and higher,
until surely all the Heavens may hear it.

(tbc…)

See you in a bit.