Chapter III: The Black Archangels
-What did you say? Black Archangels? -said the threesome at the same time.
-That's right. The monster that attacked you today was sent by the Archangel of Darkness. As you, they are five Archangels, but with dark powers, and they're more powerful than what you think.
-Although in this case we're six, if I include myself –Tsubasa said. –Or do they have someone who's looking for them?
-No... In this case it's them those who look for the Messenger of the Shadows... And when that happens, the Earth's fate will be decided.
-And do you know who the Black Archangels are? –asked Sanae.
-Yes. The Archangel of Darkness, the Archangel of Hatred, the Archangel of Ice, the Archangel of Thunder and lastly, the most powerful of all: the Archangel of Chaos.
-Even their names show they're terrible –Ryou said, rubbing his arms.
-I'd be more afraid of finding the Messenger of the Shadows –Tsubasa said. –To think that we'll have to face those beings makes me think I probably made a huge mistake.
-You can't change what already happened –Shiro said. –You can only do what you must.
-I get it... but there's something, Shiro. I know Ishizaki-kun's the Archangel of the Earth, but, which other Archangels do I have to find?
-I think I have it -Sanae said. -The Archangel of Water, of Fire and of the Wind... But I don't know which would be the other one.
-Don't laugh, but the last Archangel is the most powerful... the Archangel of Love –Shiro said. Tsubasa and Ishizaki looked at each other and resisted laughter as much as they could, but Sanae didn't even twitch a muscle.
-What are you laughing about, fools? Haven't you head that 'love can do anything'? –said the teen, angry.
-It's just that I don't imagine the poor dude that has to be it... -Ishizaki said, roaring with laughter. Tsubasa also laughed, but not as scandalously as its friend.
-It could be a girl –said Sanae. –Not even Shiro knows it, so don't make fun of that... Because if that Archangel appears and finds out that you made fun of him, or of her, you'll never forget that it's the most powerful Archangel.
-Sanae's right. Only weak-minded people make fun of something important –Shiro said, crossing its arms under its cloak.
-Yeah, I suppose you're right, Sanae-chan –Tsubasa said, stopping his laughter, since it was the third time that Shiro gave him a scolding in the day. -And Shiro, please stop scolding me. It's been three times that you've told me off and believe me, it's not pleasant.
-I'm not telling you off. I'm teaching you.
-Whatever. Don't you think it's late? –Ryou said, concerned.
-Time doesn't pass here –said Sanae. –The first time I came I thought the same thing but fact is that time doesn't pass here.
-Gee... Just as if the powers of this temple stopped the time around us.
-Truth is that when you enter here, you enter a dimension in which time doesn't pass. It is as thinking that time freezes or as if you didn't enter here.
-Isn't it your fault? –Ishizaki asked Shiro, raising one of his eyebrows.
-No, my powers don't get to that. This temple has always been a portal to other dimensions.
Later, Tsubasa, Sanae and Ryou left, each one to their house. When Tsubasa arrived, Natsuko was serving him a coffee to Koudai.
-Hello, son –said both grownups.
-Hi, mom, hi, dad –answered the lad.
-How was your day? -Koudai asked.
-It was okay, I guess. Today we did have soccer training, and we went to the center to get some books Ishizaki needed.
-You were with whom? –Natsuko asked.
-Sanae and Ishizaki-kun.
-And did you return the bracelet?
-Mom, you think I'm a thief? Of course I returned the bracelet to Sanae, as soon as she arrived at school – said Tsubasa, offended, but he opened an eye and turned around laughing.
-I know you're not, son, but you sometimes forget things.
-My mind isn't addled, mom... -and Tsubasa went up the stairs to change clothes and do his homework. However, when he was about to finish his homework, the pain he had felt tortured him again, but it wasn't as intense as the last time. Tsubasa tried not to complain or scream.
-I know I fainted before, and it was my fault, but this is already too much...
Finally the pain vanished, and more exhausted than if he had passed thru two full trainings, Tsubasa fell on his bed.
-This can't continue like this... But, what do these pains mean...? Why do they happen in the least expected moment...?
"Or you still don't control completely your powers, or it can be that maybe they're attacking one of the Archangels. But only you can know it" –Shiro's voice resounded in Tsubasa's mind.
That didn't give him a clear answer... But when had Shiro given a clear answer anyway? Tsubasa concentrated as much as possible, and several images filled his mind. A being of black wings had cornered in an alley that wasn't familiar to Tsubasa... his great rival, Hyuga Kojiro!
"What does this mean?" -in his mind he saw how Hyuga searched desperately for a nook to escape, until he decided to skid between the being's legs and ran away. The young man that was having the vision sighed from relief upon seeing that the Toho captain had left unharmed.
"Could it be that Hyuga is another Archangel? But I don't have a means of getting there, nor a way of confirming my suspicions."
-I'll have to speak with Sanae and Ryou tomorrow about this.
And a doubt entered the midfielder's mind: And if the other Archangels were out of Japan?
-Tsubasa, dinner's ready! -Natsuko said from downstairs.
-Coming! –hoping to have enough energy, Tsubasa got up. Seemingly his exhaustion disappeared, as he walked as normal as always. He went downstairs and sat down to have dinner.
-Son, could you do me a favor after dinner? –asked Natsuko.
-Yeah, sure, mom.
-I need you to go to the store to buy some fish and some vegetables for tomorrow. I already made the list.
-OK -and Tsubasa continued eating. Later, while Natsuko and Koudai washed the dishes, Tsubasa left the house to buy the groceries his mother had requested. However, the store was not precisely near the house. While he went walking, he felt a hand touching his shoulder, and sent another energy wave because of the scare. However, he didn't hear anybody fall, but he heard some kind of electrical spark.
-Who goes there? -exclaimed the youth, turning to see. But there was no one. Thinking it maybe could've been a bug, the boy continued walking, but immediately a black blaze stopped him.
-What in the world? Who's there? C'mon, show yourself! –exclaimed the teenager, upset. And just as he saw how another black flame missed him by inches, he looked up, and a black winged being, very similar to the one he had seen in the vision, but with very long hair, was floating in the air, still pointing to the place where Tsubasa had been a moment ago.
-I am the Archangel of Darkness.
That being had a clearly feminine face, but it didn't have feminine curves, maybe due to the clothes it had. Its hair was tied almost at the end of its long mane, and some locks crossed its face.
-So you're the famous Kami no Tsukai. Frankly, you're pathetic. I think I could erase you from the face of the Earth with less than a blow. Although, thinking it well, you're pretty good-looking. I reckon I'll have a good time before I give you the coup de grace -the Archangel's voice was feminine, but had venom in it.
-No way, Jose –Tsubasa said, resolved to fight to the very end.
"May everyone be safe and sound… May no one remember this…"-and as soon as he formed the barrier, Tsubasa took his dagger and transformed it into his sword.
-Heh, if you barely could destroy my monster, how do you believe that you'll defeat a Black Archangel? –she said, flying towards Tsubasa and attacking him with an enormous scythe, although the boy stopped the blow with his sword. In silence, the lad jumped back and requested help. The Archangel of Darkness attacked again, but this time Tsubasa wasn't so lucky. The blow sent him to the ground.
-You're very quiet. Cat got your tongue?
-I don't waste my time speaking... -and Tsubasa maybe jumped his highest in his life. Impelling himself with a wall that had been inside the barrier, he jumped, was exactly above the Archangel and he attacked her with his sword. He didn't hurt her seriously, but at least it was a direct blow.
Tsubasa landed on his feet (and later you ask why does he turn into a cat), while the Archangel escaped, undoubtedly furious for the defeat. The boy put away his dagger, his imagatama/i and made his bracelet merge with the other one again. Once the barrier vanished, he simply began to walk. He arrived at the store, bought the groceries and knowing that his mother would be worried by the delay, he ran home.
-Tsubasa, why did you take so much time? You had me very worried -Natsuko said angrily when the boy arrived.
-I had a little trouble, mom –he answered, without looking at Natsuko's face. But what he didn't realize was that he had a small scrape on his face because of the combat.
-Tsubasa, did you fall, or something like that?
-Why?
-You have a scrape in the face. Does it hurt?
-Actually, no. When I fell, I think I didn't notice it.
-And which was the trouble, then?
-I went towards the store and a dog began to chase me. I fell and if it wasn't that the owner arrived and grabbed it, the dog could have bitten me –he lied. He hated to have to hide the truth, but he didn't have more options.
Tsubasa gave his mother the groceries and the change, and went up the stairs. Tired as he was, he changed clothes, and knowing that the scrape on his face couldn't be the only one, he checked himself for more injuries. He had a slight burn on his stomach and a couple of scratches on the elbows.
-I'm lucky of only having light wounds. But I bet anything that if I don't find quickly the other ones and I don't discover all of my power, the wounds will be much worse -the boy said. He turned off the light, searched on the dark for his bed and tucked in the blankets. However, he didn't sleep well, since the visions that he had had of Hyuga didn't want to go out of his head. Alas, in his dreams, Hyuga didn't find an exit.
-No, no... There it is... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! -and Tsubasa woke up, soaked in sweat. When they heard their son's scream, Natsuko and Koudai woke up and ran to their son's room.
-Tsubasa, what happened? -Koudai asked, his heart beating quickly.
-Are you OK? -Natsuko asked.
-I had a nightmare –answered the lad, drying his forehead.
-What did you dream?
Tsubasa was not very sure of answering to the question Koudai made but he felt he had already lied too much.
-I dreamt of Hyuga.
-With Hyuga Kojiro? Did he make you something, or did something pass to him in the dream?
-I don't want to remember it... I dreamt that a black winged angel of chased him, had him cornered and... -Tsubasa shook his head, trying to clear his mind.
-And what did it happen?
-It killed him. I only saw the blood fly, but there it was when I woke up... I don't want to remember that nightmare.
-I can't blame you. It'll be better if you take a good shower, son. You're soaked in sweat -Natsuko said.
-Yes, mom.
Tsubasa immediately took his yukata and entered to the bathroom. Soon after, the noise of the shower rang, and a relative calmness took over the Ozora house again. A while after Natsuko and Koudai were deeply asleep again, Tsubasa left the bathroom wrapped in his yukata. Seemingly, the showed made a big lot of help, since he wasn't tense anymore, neither burdened by what had happened, and the water had been like a balm on Tsubasa's burn. He dried off his hair vigorously, and was about to take off his yukata completely after putting on some decent underwear, but immediately he felt an itch on his back, just where he couldn't scratch himself. The itch increased at every second, until he felt something growing out of his scapulas. Tsubasa didn't dare to see what had happened, but the itch had ceased. He opened his eyes and was amazed when he saw what had happened: He had wings now!
-This is ridiculous... My name may mean wings, but this is the last straw
"May these wings disappear, please..." –thought the lad, closing his eyes tightly. Little by little he felt how the wings shrank and entered his body again. After it, he put on some fresh pajamas and went back to his bed, although this time, he didn't have any nightmares.
Dawn came and with it not only Tsubasa, but also Sanae and Ryou. In the last one's house the daily work had begun in the public bathrooms Ryou's mother governed. However, Ryou wondered why he had woken up so early. He remembered the strange things that had happened at night.
-I can't believe that last night I had sprouted wings... I'll go totally nuts before finishing High School. If it wasn't because I concentrated and I made them disappear... -and Ryou's mother entered her son's room.
-I think it's strange to find you awake so early. What in the world were you saying about wings? -Ryou swallowed spit.
-Heh, heh... it's just that I dreamt that I had wings. That's all, mom.
-Well. Now that I see that you got up early, help me with the bathrooms.
-What! -Ryou screamed, amazed. -But mom... I have to get ready for school...
-You have enough time. Now go down and help with the bathrooms! -and Ryou, quietly enough made what his mother demanded. Meanwhile, Sanae woke up peacefully, but worried for the boys.
"Could something have happened to them last night? I hope not, but I have the feeling it did... -the girl thought as she began to change clothes. Soon after getting ready, she saw that it was still too early to leave, so she didn't know what to do in the meantime. And her gaze fell on her knitting needles.
"Although it's been a good while since I don't knit, at least I can make some new bracelets, depending of what Archangel we find... One for Tsubasa, and another for Ishizaki, although he likes to bother me... -and Sanae took three balls of yarn, her needles and began to knit, count stitches, do, undo... until her mother peeked to see if the girl was asleep.
A while later, the three teens went to Nankatsu High School. Tsubasa and Ryou passed by the alley, but there wasn't anybody there this time. They continued walking. Sanae met with Kumi and Yukari, and since Sanae brought along her yarn and her needles, the girls began to joke about Sanae doing a new bracelet for Tsubasa.
-To tell you the truth, I don't know... I was thinking in probably selling them, or who knows... Ah! Now that I think of it, Ishizaki-kun's birthday's getting near. I could give him one, if it isn't troublesome, Yukari.
-No, no problem, Sanae-chan –said the girl, amused. -And did you find the book that you needed?
-No. They were sold out.
-Bad luck then... What did you want to find?
-A legend about some archangels... But the truth is that I don't have a clue of that; the one that knows about that the most is Ishizaki-kun.
-How strange, Ishizaki looking for books –Kumi said, sarcastic. -Since he usually hates to read...
-Hey, don't say those things –Yukari answered, visibly bothered. -Ryou isn't a good for nothing.
-Hey, I only said...
-Then don't say anything at all –said Sanae, ending the discussion. –I don't want to fight with anybody, neither that you fight, girls.
They arrived to Nankatsu High, but since Kumi and Yukari were with their 'antennas' in the air, the others decided not to speak until recess.
-Sanae-chan, will you make more bracelets? –Tsubasa asked, curious and visibly sleepy.
-Yes... Let's say I want to win myself an extra yen, and since I have a knack at knitting bracelets, this way I'll be able to finance the materials and win a bit more.
-It's a pretty good idea. It's a shame that I don't win a single yen for every time I help in my mother's public bathrooms –said Ryou, whose hands still smelled of soap.
-Don't tell me you got up early and your mother found you –Kumi said, receiving a nudge from Yukari while Ishizaki complained about his black luck.
-No, you'd have to get up with just enough time to change clothes, have breakfast, get your things and leave your house as quick as possible –Sanae said.
However, Tsubasa had been very quiet, with his head on his arms. The girls thought he didn't have anything to say, until Sanae realized that the boy had been sleeping.
-Tsubasa? Get up... the teacher's about to arrive.
-He's deep in sleep. Or could it be that he died? –Ishizaki joked.
-Don't say those things!
However Sanae got near to Tsubasa's face. Those that were there thought that Sanae would probably wake up Tsubasa with a kiss, but instead of that...
-TSUBASA, GET UP ONCE AND FOR ALL! -and the boy woke up, startled. Once again, the traditional energy wave passed flying through the living room, and some things that were hung fell to the floor, just like Ryou, whose chair was on its back feet, leaning backwards.
"Uh-oh... May the other ones think it's been a blast of wind; it's a blast of wind the culprit that those things have fallen... -thought the boy nervously, clenching his fists, while he continued on the floor.
-Sanae... don't scare me like that... -Tsubasa said, once he woke up completely.
-It had to be that, or the teacher would wake you up and ground you, birdbrain.
-What a blizzard... Look, even some posters fell -a boy in the room said, picking up what had fallen.
-The windows are open... No wonder -another girl said. –It was a very strong blast of wind... But was it so strong that Ishizaki fell?
-Nah... I fell because my chair was leaning backwards –the Monkey Boy answered, rubbing the place where he hit with the desk that was behind him.
-It'll be better if we pick the things that fell –said Sanae practically, beginning to pick up what had fallen because of ' the blast. '
-Tsubasa, didn't you sleep well last night? -Ryou asked, after getting up and straightening his chair.
-No, Ishizaki-kun. I had a nightmare of those that come to your mind just by remembering them, aside from what something very strange happening to me –Tsubasa answered, muffling a yawn. –But let's talk it later.
-Why?
-For the simple reason that it's something that has to do with what we know, Ishizaki -and Tsubasa stretched his arms to get out of his sleepiness.
Class passed without setbacks, and once it was recess, Tsubasa asked Sanae to distract the girls.
-I'll tell you what happened later, but you already know that we can't let them find out what happens.
-OK -and after that, Tsubasa hurried to meet with Ryou.
-Now you have to tell everything. What nightmare did you have?
-I dreamt of Hyuga.
-What a nightmare. I would've become crazy with that.
-It's not that... I dreamt that a Black Archangel attacked him, and that although there was a way of escaping he didn't find it and... -Tsubasa swallowed spit -...and the Black Archangel killed him. I didn't see the corpse, but I saw blood flying, and then I woke up.
-Now I understand why you consider it a nightmare. However, how did you know that what attacked Hyuga in your dream was a Black Archangel?
-Because last night... one of the bad guys attacked me. Or better said one of the bad girls, because it had feminine features and voice, although the clothes it had didn't allow seeing curves.
-Another one that notices details... What? One of them attacked you?
-Yeah... It was the Archangel of Darkness. Luckily I formed the barrier to avoid any accidents, but believe me, it was very strong. I could barely stop its attack.
-This means that it'll be something really hard and more if they won't only destroy the world, but you, me and those that we're missing –said Ryou, more serious than ever.