Chapter II: The Archangel of the Earth
The next day, Tsubasa got up earlier than he usually did, even before his mother tried to wake him up. He changed clothes quickly and went down the stairs. Natsuko who was just brewing coffee was surprised upon seeing her son so up early and ready.
-Good morning –said the teenager, who had forgotten the chain and the bracelet on purpose.
-Good morning, honey. Why are you awake so early?
-Let's say that I slept so well that I couldn't sleep anymore.
-I'm glad for you. You'll return the bracelet to Sanae today? -Tsubasa's mind was blank.
-I almost forgot it! -Tsubasa ran to his room and took the bracelet, putting it in his pocket. He went down the stairs and sat down to have breakfast.
-Thanks for remembering it, mom. If I don't give Sanae that bracelet, she'd kill me.
-It's that important? I noticed it's a very fine bracelet. Perhaps that bracelet belongs to Sanae's mother?
-Yeah, it does -Tsubasa lied. "Sorry for lying, mom, but you can't know this... you can't know that in fact this bracelet is not only mine, but came out of me."
After finishing breakfast, Tsubasa went up the stairs for his handbag and his sport bag. However, he noticed that the magatama wasn't on his night table.
"Where's the chain? If I don't find it, who knows what can happen!" -but as soon as he thought that, he felt something around his neck. The magatama had located itself on its place.
He went down the stairs, said goodbye to his parents and off he went to Junior High. However, when he passed by that alley where everything had begun, he saw that Shiro was there. Tsubasa went there, and just as the previous day, the noise of the street disappeared.
-Shiro, I have a serious problem –said Tsubasa as soon as he arrived there. -My mother already noticed the bracelet, and I had to lie to her about this. If I still arrive with it on my wrist, she'll suspect everything.
-Tsubasa, I know that yesterday you used your powers to turn into a cat. How difficult can it be for you to hide the bracelet? You can make it invisible, or fuse it with the bracelet that that girl gave you. You have to discover your powers by yourself, or all this will be a complete and utter failure.
-OK... please, bracelet, merge with the bracelet Sanae gave me, or I'll have trouble... –and immediately, the bracelet shone and disappeared. The bracelet that Sanae had knitted for him was there.
-You see? It isn't so complicated. Don't forget it: you have to discover your powers by yourself.
-I get it -and Tsubasa tried to leave, but Shiro stopped him.
-But Shiro, I have to go to school...
-If I'm here, it's to tell you something important: You'll find very soon the first Archangel: the Archangel of the Earth. You should be paying special attention to all signs... Because if you don't find them as soon as you can, they may die.
-I see. Can I leave now? -Tsubasa said, turning to see Shiro, but it was no longer there. And the noise of the street filled Tsubasa's ears again.
He ran until he arrived to Nankatsu Junior High. He arrived quite early, surprising himself. However, he needed to arrive early, as he hadn't remembered that that day he had to help clean the room before class. The other boy that had to help was one of Tsubasa's old friends: A short boy with enormous eyeglasses, Okawa Manabu.
-Good morning, Tsubasa-kun –said the boy who was writing the date in the blackboard.
-Hi, Manabu. How are you?
-The same. Haven't you said anything to Sanae? –it wasn't a secret for Manabu the fact that Tsubasa and Sanae loved each other but none were able to fess it up.
-No, not yet, and the truth is that I don't want to talk about it –said Tsubasa, beginning to clean the desks. After they finished cleaning and fixing, Sanae arrived. She greeted both boys and left her handbag on her desk while Tsubasa and Manabu left the cleaning utensils in their place.
-Tsubasa, how was it yesterday? –asked the girl when he arrived. -My parents didn't even ask where I was.
Manabu whistled astonished. He suspected that maybe both had gone in a date or something like that.
-My parents weren't at home when I arrived. Both went to dine at a restaurant. I don't blame them for wanting some intimacy; after all, Dad's not very often at home –Tsubasa said.
Tsubasa pointed out slightly with his head outside, telling Sanae to go out a moment. She got the message and both went out.
-Sanae-chan, my mother saw the bracelet yesterday, and I made her believe that it's yours. If she asks you, tell her that I returned it to you. Please.
-You know I hate to lie, Tsubasa, but this time I'll do it because we're in great trouble.
-You're not going to believe what happened to me last night -but Tsubasa shut up upon seeing that Ishizaki passed by. After the teen entered the classroom Tsubasa continued with his story in whispers, telling everything in detail. Sanae almost laughed when she heard that the teenager had turned into a cat.
-You a cat? I should've seen it –she said in a low voice.
-Not only that; Shiro was today in the alley and it told me two things. One, that I should discover my powers by myself.
-Well, you're already on it. By the way, where's the bracelet?
-Here it is –said Tsubasa, pointing at the bracelet. -Shiro told me that if I had become a cat, it shouldn't be so complicated to make the Tsukai's bracelet be invisible, and I merged it with the bracelet you gave me.
-Oh, I see... Then you're advancing a lot. And what was the second thing it told you?
-That I'd find the first Archangel very soon. And that if I didn't find the Archangels, they could die.
-And where will you find them?
-I don't have a clue, Sanae-chan. I don't have a clue.
Later they had class. The classes continued as usual, until recess arrived. Tsubasa walked to the school's yard, wondering which signs would lead to the person who had the powers of the earth. However...
-Tsubasa! –someone shouted behind him placing a hand on his shoulder, scaring him in such a way that the youth gave a jump and an energy wave flew around. Immediately he heard somebody falling. Tsubasa turned only to see that Ishizaki was in the floor, stunned.
-Ishizaki-kun! What happened to you? –asked Tsubasa, trying to dissimulate, helping Ryou to get up.
-Remember me that I won't surprise you ever again -said the Monkey Boy, still stunned
-I'm sorry... But, what happened?
-I dunno. I'd been calling you for a good while but you seemed deaf. I came closer running, I put a hand on your shoulder, you jumped by the scare and I don't know, it seemed that an invisible hand had pushed me.
"Oh, no... Since I was distracted I didn't control my power and now he knows it."
-Maybe when you scared me unintentionally I pushed you, or something similar.
-Not at all. It was as if an invisible hand or an energy wave pushed me. Look: whatever pushed me sent that billboard flying -Ryou pointed out a billboard of a presentation of a school music group concert that had been fixed with adhesive tape and was now on the floor.
And suddenly, a strong pain tortured Tsubasa, just as the last time. Although there wasn't anything surrounding him, his eyes were white again. Upon seeing this, Ryou was paralyzed with fear. He wanted to run, but his feet didn't move. Suddenly, the magatama that hung of Tsubasa's neck shone powerfully, and a ray of green light flew towards Ryou.
-What, what's happening? What's this light? What's happening, Tsubasa? -and suddenly, a bracelet, just as which had been born of the Kami no Tsukai, together with a green magatama and a small hand axe left Ryou. However, it seemed that nobody in the surrounding area noticed it, because although both were in a corridor that was quite crowded at those times, nobody turned to see... Except Sanae that was around the place, realized what was happening and she ran toward the boys.
-Tsubasa! Ishizaki! Are you OK? –asked the girl when she arrived to where they were. Tsubasa was still half unconscious, but Ryou was totally lucid.
-I'm fine, if you mean that I don't have a clue of what's happening. I scared Tsubasa, something like an energy wave pushed me, and Tsubasa began to scream, his eyes white, as if someone gave him an electric shock. Suddenly, something that hung off his neck began to shine, a ray of green light covered me... And the next moment I see what's happening, you arrive, and I find myself with these really weird things.
"Must mean... That Tsubasa found the Archangel of the Earth, or something like that" -thought Sanae, concerned.
-Ishizaki, concentrate on making these three things be invisible.
-What in the world are you saying?
-Do what I tell you. Focus on that this will be invisible unless you need it –insisted Sanae.
-All right, but I don't believe what you're saying –said Ryou skeptically while Sanae went towards Tsubasa, who began to recover consciousness.
"May these three things disappear, may these three things disappear..." -and just as Sanae had told him, the magatama, the bracelet and the axe disappeared.
-Heh, who'd say it; I'm a magician.
-Better said, you're somebody with a mission –said Sanae.
-What happened...? My head's spinning –said Tsubasa, recovering consciousness, but they didn't have the time to answer, because several screams were heard in the yard.
-What's happening here? -Asked Ryou, confused, while Sanae and Tsubasa ran toward where the screams came from.
-Come with us now! –shouted Sanae, making Ryou tremble with fear and followed them. As soon as they arrived, something was wreaking havoc in the place, while the students escaped, terrified.
-What is that? Sanae -said, between terrified and disgusted.
-No idea –said Tsubasa. "Shiro, what should we do? I don't have a clue of what we can do."
"Search in you heart for the answer. Tell the Archangel of the Earth to do the same" -was the mysterious character's answer.
-Ishizaki-kun, concentrate and let your heart speak for you. You'll know this way what to do –Tsubasa said, concentrating and closing his eyes.
-What, what...? OK -and the boy did the same thing as the other, until he heard a voice telling him to use the powers of the Earth... With Gaia's Axe. Upon listening that, a big bunch of things passed in Ishizaki Ryou's mind, making him understand what happened, and the Archangel of the Earth woke up.
Meanwhile, Tsubasa still searched inside his heart, until a voice told him that the Tsukai's Dagger was the answer. The youth concentrated, and the tattoo that was in the lad's back shone and disappeared, as the dagger appeared in the youth's hands.
"May everyone be safe and sound.. May no one remember this…" -Tsubasa thought, opening his eyes. And luckily, a dome-shaped covered the area where he, Ishizaki and the monster were. Sanae was also out of the barrier, but she observed the other students that had a blank expression, although she didn't feel absolutely anything.
"Tsubasa-kun, Ishizaki-kun, I hope you win..."
Meanwhile, inside the barrier, Tsubasa and Ishizaki were attacking the monster, with an agility that never before had had. Seemingly the boys' weapons changed when they began a combat, because Tsubasa's dagger became a brilliant sword, and Ryou's Axe had become an enormous battle axe. The monster defended and attacked the youths with black fire, but both avoided its attacks as much as they could.
-What do we do? We can't continue avoiding this monster's attacks –Ishizaki said.
-I know… But I don't know what to do either –answered Tsubasa, stopping a moment. However, he found difficult that instant of distraction expensive, because a blaze hit him in the stomach.
-Tsubasa! If I could think about something... An earthquake against that creature, something, I don't know... –and a light turned on inside Ishizaki's head. The magatama he possessed began to shine, and Ryou concentrated.
-Fury of the Earth! -Ryou had concentrated all his power, and without knowing exactly what he did, he hit the floor with his fist. Immediately an enormous fissure went towards the monster, and from it an energy lash came out, attacking the monster. Although it wasn't destroyed, it sure was quite wounded.
-Are you all right? –asked Ryou to Tsubasa.
-That attack was brilliant, but I don't know what to do... Oh, wait, I think I got it... -and Tsubasa stood up.
-I can't lose now... Shout of the Gods! -and Tsubasa concentrated his strength. Just as Ryou, he didn't know what he did, but he joined his hands, separated them slowly, a white orb of energy, or electricity formed, and he sent it directly to the monster, that although it tried to stop it with its black fire, it didn't make it, and amid a scream as that of a banshee, it disappeared. That had been their first battle. Immediately, knowing that nobody could remember what happened, Tsubasa made his sword and his bracelet disappear and became a cat.
-What are you waiting for? Nobody can know what happened! Turn into an animal from around here and let's scram! –Tsubasa said, before he could only meow. Ishizaki, surprised, made his own weapon and bracelet disappear and turned into a bird. Immediately both boys, transformed into animals left the school by their own means, and the barrier disappeared. Sanae, upon seeing that thought that maybe the boys had been beaten, but she had the hunch that she should go to the classroom.
Meanwhile, Tsubasa and Ishizaki, still transformed tried to arrive at the classroom. Ryou entered by the window that was mercifully open, while Tsubasa, as quiet as he could, ran through the corridors and went into the classroom. Just when he entered, Sanae went in and accidentally she stepped Tsubasa's tail. Ryou saw that, flew and covered Tsubasa's mouth with his wings.
-Is it you, boys? –Sanae asked the animals. Ishizaki was transformed into a sparrow that had a greenish stain in the wings, while Tsubasa was still that black and white cat with the golden stain.
-Yeah, I suppose you are. Sorry for stepping on you, Tsubasa-kun -the cat, rubbing his tail, nodded affirmatively, and his metamorphosis began, just like Ryou.
-Definitively I believe that I've gone mad. I can control the power of the Earth, I can vanish things, and I can turn into an animal... It's too much for me –Ryou said, sitting down on his chair.
-I say the same –Tsubasa said. -Yesterday I turned into a cat unintentionally to trap some thieves, and well, you can see it now.
-However, there's something I have to score to your favor, Tsubasa. When you turn into a cat, you look very cute –said Sanae, without thinking.
-Come again?
-Er, sorry... I mean that you look cool
Soon after, Tsubasa, Sanae and Ryou's other classmates entered the classroom, murmuring over a moment in that their minds had been erased.
-Just like if somebody had a magic wand and had used a charm to erase minds –said a girl.
-I think you read too much Harry Potter, Kimiko -answered Sanae.
-Is that so? Didn't you feel as if they had taken off all your thoughts with a whiff?
-Now that I think it... yes –lied the youth, as she couldn't let the other ones know what happened. The teacher went into the classroom and class continued normally. When it ended, the boys went to the soccer training, while Sanae talked with the other assistants of the team, Sugimoto Kumi and Nishimoto Yukari.
-Hey, girls, don't you notice that Tsubasa and Ryou are a bit different? –said Kumi innocently.
-No, why? –asked Yukari.
-I don't know... it's as if they emitted some weird energy...
-Must be one of your weird guesses, Kumi –said Sanae, annoyed. –Oh, right, since your grandmother has powers... it wouldn't be weird if now you have them too.
-Seems somebody else changed –said Yukari, a bit worried. -Sanae, are you OK?
-Well ...I... I think I'll go for a drink of water –answered the teen, leaving.
-Sanae's hiding something, no doubt, and it's not her feelings for Tsubasa.
-Yeah... But whatever happens with her, it seems to be connected with Tsubasa and Ryou.
Later, Tsubasa, Sanae and Ryou decided to return to the hidden temple, although they didn't tell anyone. Yukari and Kumi wanted to go with them.
-I'm afraid this time you can't –said Sanae.
-But why? -Kumi insisted.
-We'll go downtown to get some books -Tsubasa said. –You can get them cheaper there
-But we want to go with you too.
-Look girls, you're wasting your time. Fact is that we have to get a book on mythology and I know you don't like those things –Ryou said, upset. -So please, don't insist.
The two girls had to agree.
-Well then, we'll see you later -and those that were involved in the Archangel problem left. They walked in silence. Passing by the alley there was absolutely nobody, and they continued walking until the arrived at the hidden temple.
-Here it was where this whole problem began, Ishizaki-kun -Tsubasa said. And he explained what had happened the previous day. Sanae affirmed several things, including that she didn't remember almost anything when Shiro abducted her.
-And who is he, Shiro?
-You can't say he or she, because Shiro is a being that is neither a man nor a woman -Sanae said, laughing at her own explanation.
-And talk of the Devil... –said Tsubasa, when Shiro appeared out of nowhere.
-Thank you for the explanation, young girl -said the mysterious being.
-My name's Sanae for you to know.
-All right, Sanae. You already found the Archangel of the Earth, Tsubasa... And on time, because that monster, sent by the one who wants to destroy us had arrived there with the intention of destroying the Archangel of the Earth.
-Did that monster want to kill ...me? –said Ryou, his eyes like plates.
-But, how is it that whoever wants to destroy the Archangels where they are and we don't? -Tsubasa asked.
-That's something that I don't know.
-However, I didn't notice any signs when I discovered that Ishizaki-kun was the Archangel that looked for.
-Didn't he realize that when he scared you an energy wave sent him flying? If he wasn't an Archangel, the wave wouldn't have affected him, and he wouldn't have realized those details.
-Gee... Maybe I miss the ball, but this time I didn't miss the details... This is madness -Ryou said mostly to himself. –All of this is veeeeeeeeeery strange, for sure.
-Nobody said this would be something that you see every day... Because besides of you, there are the Black Archangels –Shiro said.