Chapter VII: Traditions
Finally Sanae arrived at the Ozora's house. She knocked timidly at the door, and Natsuko opened it.
-Hello, Sanae. How are you?
-Fine, thanks, Mrs. Ozora. Is Tsubasa at home?
-Yes. Come on in.
-Thank you very much.
After taking her shoes off, Sanae went inside the house. Koudai had already left, so only mother and son were at home. A little later Tsubasa went downstairs, ready to jog a while in the park, but was surprised upon seeing his crush in the house.
-Hi, Sanae -Tsubasa said, surprised.
-Hello, Tsubasa-kun. I received your message. Are you going out?
-Well, I was going to go for a run in the park, but since I see there are visitors…
-I can go with you if you wish.
-Fine -and both teenagers left Tsubasa's house. A while later Tsubasa and Sanae were in the park, talking peacefully until they arrived to a bench and sat on it.
-Sanae, there's something I have to tell you. My grandmother passed it on to me, and she asked me to tell it to you.
-What is it? And why? -Sanae asked, confused. Immediately, without omitting details, Tsubasa told her the story of his ancestors, those that had lived the battle for the Earth's destiny. When he finished, Sanae was amazed and more confused that before.
-Tsubasa-kun, you're telling me your grandmother knows about the Tsukai?
-I'm afraid so. Shiro appeared in her delusions since she had a high fever, or that was what my mother told me.
-And then, what you told me…?
-My grandmother told it to me too, exactly yesterday. From the times of my ancestors the women of my grandmother's family had kept the secret zealously, next to what I can call without a doubt 'the greatest treasure.'
-What is it?
-Six fragments of the elements in their purest state, including love, a glass sphere, and a feather of the wings of the first Kami non Tsukai. I was really surprised when I knew she knew about the Archangels, and in the beginning she thought I was an Archangel. But when I told my grandmother that I wasn't an Archangel, her eyes filled with tears -Tsubasa said deep in thought, remembering what had happened, and his voice had acquired a shade of such affection that moved Sanae.
-You love your grandmother a lot, don't you?
-Yes. So it is, Sanae-chan. After she explained me everything, she wanted to see me as the Messenger of the Gods… She also wanted a feather of my wings. How could I refuse, if she had given us something of such meaning? I didn't doubt an instant to do what she asked, and she thanked it to me a lot.
-That was very nice of you, Tsubasa-kun -Sanae said, deeply moved. -However, why did she ask you to tell me that if it's a tradition of your grandmother's family and as you outline it you're the only man that knows it?
-My grandmother didn't tell it to my mother fearing that she didn't believe it, so she awaited until I was born just to know if she could maintain the tradition, and the result is already known. But because the tradition has to continue, my grandmother asked me to tell you this… because you are somebody I trust deeply -Tsubasa lied. -She also knows that you are involved in all this.
Sanae felt lightly disappointed when she heard it. She supposed it couldn't be helped, but it seemed strange that now she was part of a tradition without even being part of the Ozoras.
-Sanae-chan, are you OK? You're deep in thought.
-Ah, don't worry, Tsubasa-kun. I was just thinking.
-I see. She also asked me to give you this -and Tsubasa placed the glass sphere in the girl's hands. As soon as the sphere touched Sanae's hands, it stopped to be transparent, as it seemed to fill with white mist.
-What is this?
-It's a talisman, a shield, a key and an oracle. It's a talisman because of its powers; a shield because it protects those that are involved in this battle without being Archangels; a key since it's the key to find the last Archangel, and an oracle because it can predict what will happen. I only hope that you are safe. You are one of the most important people for me, you know… And well, you know that I always worry about my friends and my family.
But just in those moments some of Tsubasa's friends passed by: Izawa, Kisugi, Taki and Takasugi.
-Well, well, look at the lovebirds… Caught ya red-handed -Izawa said, mocking.
-No, it's not what you think -Sanae said, hiding the glass sphere. –We were just talking soccer stuff…
-Look at that! Tsubasa blushed! -Kisugi said, pointing out the soccer team captain's face. And to his dismay, Tsubasa had turned the same shade of crimson as his sweater.
-Get outta here. Is there something wrong with having a girl for a close friend?
-Well, not exactly, but it's weird for a boy and a girl to be close friends without any of them falling in love.
-It doesn't have to happen every time -and Sanae, between angry and saddened ran away. Tsubasa tried to stop her, but he wasn't able because of the guys.
-Thanks for nothing -the youth said, furious. -We were talking soccer stuff and you had to ruin my day.
-But Tsubasa… -Takasugi said. -It wasn't our intention… Well, at least I didn't say a thing…
-I know, left, still incensed. The Shutetsu Trio, including the enormous defense looked at each other, confused. Definitively Tsubasa had changed, and they didn't know if for better or for worse. Meanwhile, Sanae stopped to catch her breath. She took the sphere Tsubasa had given her out of her jacket pocket. The white fog that was inside had a soothing effect on the youth.
-Tsubasa…-kun… Something inside me tells me that what I feel isn't one-sided, but I don't know it. I want to be able to help you in something, more than ever, but I don't really know how to help you. This sphere maybe can help me or something, but if there is something that impels me to continue helping the cause that now you defend isn't only the fact it's all of you, my friends those that are about to sacrifice their lives for this planet, but because my feelings give me the strength to cheer you on, as much in the soccer as in life… for a simple reason: because I have always loved you.
On the other hand, Tsubasa had arrived at his house. Natsuko wasn't at home, so the youth went directly to his room and closed the door. He had been so close to telling Sanae about his feelings for her… but it hadn't only been his cowardice what had not allowed him to be admitted, but their partners had ruined the moment.
-If it hadn't been for Izawa and his buddies… Well, it'll be later then. However, I did blush deeply. I have to learn how to control my emotions or I'll end worse than Hyuga (in some place of Tokyo… Somebody sneezed strongly)
The youth remembered then that he should give the fragment of Fire to the quick-tempered Toho team's captain. Taking advantage that his mother wasn't at home, he left the house and teleported to Tokyo. He had especially concentrated on arriving near the institute, and luckily, it happened that way. He walked towards the school's main gate, but only Sawada Takeshi, one of Hyuga's very few friends was around. The boy noticed Tsubasa and came closer to the gate.
-Tsubasa… What are you doing here in Tokyo? -asked Takeshi, astonished.
-I came by train -lied the teleported casually.
-I understand. Uh-oh, here comes the captain. It'll be better for you not to be seen; he's in a terrible mood today.
-In fact I came here because I need to speak with Hyuga-kun.
Just in that moment, Hyuga came near, and it was obvious that he was in a very cranky mood.
-Ah, so it's you, Tsubasa. What are you doing here in Tokyo?
-I came by train. I need to speak with you. Alone.
-And why?
-Something personal -Tsubasa tried to convince Hyuga that he needed to speak to him in private no matter the cost.
-Takeshi, please go with the others. I have to talk with Tsubasa.
-But, but…
-C'mon, get going already -and Hyuga pushed Takeshi slightly to make him leave. Once he left, he stopped frowning and got nearer to Tsubasa.
-Something happened back there? Why did you come?
-I came to give you something that can save your life, Hyuga-kun -and Tsubasa gave the red pebble to Kojiro. The tanned player raised one of his eyebrows, confused.
-My grandmother knew about this problem, and because of her family's tradition she guarded these stones that are fragments of the elements in their purest state. However, it was Ishizaki-kun who realized why they exist. When you face a Black Archangel again, notice your daggers; you'll see that the gems of your weapons are tied, as restricting all the power. If you are in a too critical situation, free the gems with what I gave you; it may be the only way you can survive.
-Weird tale, but I have to believe you. Bah, who am I kidding? I still can't believe it, and mind you that I developed my power up to where you were, but I also realized I'm able to read minds.
-You read minds? That's new. Let's try it.
-If you want to… -Hyuga concentrated on being able to know what Tsubasa thought. –You're thinking that maybe it would be very useful to be able to read minds.
-Indeed, Hyuga-kun. That could be an advantage, and maybe we can discover this way the Archangels that we're missing.
-Or the Black ones.
-Yeah. Well, I don't want to waste your time. Good luck -and Tsubasa disappeared, while Hyuga observed the pebble.
"Definitively this is more and more perplexing" -thought the ' Tiger, ' and left to the scholarship rooms to continue with the conversation that he had been sustaining. When he arrived, everyone was surprised by Hyuga's change of attitude.
-Hyuga-kun, did something happen to you? Your mood soothed –Takeshi said.
-Yeah, I think. I believe talking with Tsubasa helped.
-With Tsubasa? You mean Ozora Tsubasa? -one of the team's forwards, Sorimachi Kazuki said. -What is he doing here in Tokyo?
-He came to visit a friend and just passed by. Takeshi saw him first.
-Well yeah, but… a friend?
-Yeah. Fact is that him and that Musashi girl, Yayoi are friends. I don't know anything else, but that was what he told me, and to tell the truth I don't like to hear those tawdry things. Whatever.
-Well, truth is that we shouldn't care about what do our rivals do or don't do -said the team's star keeper and Hyuga's best friend: Wakashimadzu Ken.
-You got that right, Ken. And although he is rather a nice guy, he's still my enemy.
"Truth is that although he's my number one foe, right now he's someone that has too big a load for a fifteen year old guy. And I'm one of the very few people that can help him. That means I don't have any other choice: I have to help my biggest rival to save this world."
Meanwhile, Tsubasa was already back in his house, and soon after he arrived from Tokyo his mother arrived, with some heavy bags.
-Hi, mom. Did you go shopping?
-Yes. We were already low in groceries, so I had to go buy food. We're just two and food hardly lasts.
-Weeell… -Tsubasa looked another way. He ate a lot ever since he was little, although soccer didn't allow him to be overweight (look well and you'll se Tsubasa is rather sturdy)
-And how did you do with Sanae?
-We just talked, mom.
-I understand. Help me with the groceries, honey.
-Sure, mom.
Tsubasa and Natsuko put away all the food. Or Natsuko was a little sad because her husband had left (doesn't surprise me), or Tsubasa wasn't really willing to speak about Sanae (Since everyone's talking about it…) Later, Tsubasa began to do the homework he hadn't finished and Natsuko repaired some T-shirts. She felt especially concerned for Tsubasa ever since some days ago, but didn't know exactly why. Some days ago Tsubasa began to act in a very strange way. He got angry when somebody mentioned Sanae, seemed to hide something, surely looked very tired, and lately he was going out a lot with Ishizaki and Sanae, apart from his strange attitude with his grandmother. If he cared for her before yesterday's visit, now the lad loved her even more.
And he was so distant with her, Ozora Natsuko, his mother…
She stood up and went to Tsubasa's room. He was buried in an algebra problem, so he didn't notice when his mother entered the bedroom.
-Tsubasa, we have to talk -Natsuko said firmly, scaring Tsubasa. And just like whenever he was scared, the poor guy let an energy wave escape and made one of his posters fall to the floor.
-What was that? But the window is closed!
"I don't have any choices. I can only tell her the truth now…" -Tsubasa, without looking at his mother, stood up, took the poster and put it on his bed. Besides he unintentionally read his mother's mind.
-Mom, I know that since some days ago you've been suspecting about me. I know I've been acting strange, but I have my reasons.
-Son… How do you know it?
-So you can understand how I know it, I'll have to tell everything from the beginning, mom. It'll sound really strange, even bizarre, but it's all true. But there's a condition.
-Which condition?
-You can't tell this to anyone -and Tsubasa began to tell her all what happened, from the time he entered the alley. As the story continued, Natsuko was more and more shocked. In the end, when Tsubasa told her what happened in Tokyo, Natsuko was almost in tears.
-Why didn't you tell it to me, son? Why didn't you trust me?
-I didn't want to involve more people than the ones that are already in this.
-If I had known it before… If your grandmother hadn't been afraid of telling me…
-It's not just that, mom. In fact, I shouldn't have told you this, what's done is done. I know that every time I fight I risk my live, but it's my fate.
-And you hid me the truth because of that?
-Let's get real. I know I lied to you, but I didn't want to worry you. Forgive me for lying, but as I said, I don't want to involve more lives in this matter, and I didn't want you to worry.
-Tsubasa…
-It's not easy for me to accept that I am what I am, mom. I still can't believe that in almost one week I've had to face powerful beings, control a power that I didn't even know I had, have to find others that maybe closer than what I think, hide this situation to the others…
-And then, if Sanae's not one of the Archangels, why is she involved in all this?
-I already explained it; the person that helps us abducted Sanae and I had to accept my fate so that she could wake up. However she heard all what had happened and swore not to tell anyone about this. From then on she helps us with information and good answers.
-I understand. But, do me a favor, Tsubasa.
-Which? –Tsubasa was tempted to read his mother's mind again, but he refrained from doing it.
-Show me the identity you hide.
-OK, but remember: You can't comment this to no one. And my appearance doesn't really change much.
Tsubasa concentrated his power, and just as had happened at his grandparents' house, Tsubasa showed Natsuko his true identity. She was astonished when she saw her son shining as the sun, with wings like those of an angel, the bracelet she believed that it was Sanae's and that sword. After those moments, Tsubasa went back to normal, exhausted. Natsuko was speechless. Seeing her son like that had been the most beautiful thing she had seen in her life. Without doubting it she got up and hugged Tsubasa, who didn't reject his mother's hug. Maybe more for embarrassment than for another thing he hugged his crying mother back.
-Please, don't cry, mom. I know I face death when I have to fight, but I still can't die.
-It's just that to know that you keep such a secret and see how you are now moves me to tears, Tsubasa. Please, promise me that you will make it OK.
-I promise, mom -Tsubasa said, falling on his bed, worn out.
-What's wrong?
-It's hard to control my powers and more when I get scared. You saw that when you scared me my World Cup poster fell, but that was the scare; whenever it happens a wave of my energy shoots out, although it only affects those that possess powers like mine. Anytime else, it only affects some objects.
-I get it. Well, I'll prepare dinner, son. What would you like to eat?
-Anything you prepare is OK for me, mom –and when Natsuko heard it, she couldn't avoid allowing a tear of happiness fall from her eyes.
Later, both had dinner peacefully. Without really knowing why, Tsubasa was relieved. It was maybe that he no longer had to hide the truth to his mother: that he was the Kami no Tsukai. Later the boy took charge of washing, drying and putting away the dishes, and returned to his room. He changed clothes and already was between the blankets when he began to meditate on what he had done.
"I bet my soccer ball that Shiro won't be happy about this…"
"You got that right, Tsukai. I thought you had perfectly cleared that nobody outside of the Archangels and Sanae could know about this."
-And what about my grandmother? Didn't you tell it to her? -that had been a good answer. –Honestly, I was already fed up with having to lie to my mother, and I know she'll keep the secret very well.
"If you say so… But listen to me well: Nobody more can know this except the Archangels. Or you will face my fury."
-I know you are stronger that me, Shiro, so stop worrying -and without further ado Tsubasa closed his eyes and fell asleep. Meanwhile, Natsuko, still awake, prayed for her son to be OK.
Night passed peacefully in Shizuoka, but in another side of the city, a teenage girl, along with other four young men was gathered, dressed in black… Although the youth couldn't stop thinking about the one who should die so the world was destroyed and a new Genesis took place.
-C'mon, Jin, what's wrong with you? Cat got your tongue? -one of the boys said to the girl.
-No, it's not that, Rai. I just don't wanna go back to school.
-We can't. Remember we have to hide -a black pony tailed, black glassed lad said. -After all, if we want to achieve our objective, we have to have patience.
-But Shi… -the youth said, desperate. -I hate to have to go there; I hate to have to live in this world. Nobody has respect for superior minds… Well, almost no one.
-Patience is a tree of very bitter roots, but whose fruit is the sweetest –a close-cropped, small-eyed young man replied curtly.
-Don't begin with your proverbs, Too -said another of the boys exasperatedly. He had spiky hair and weirdly a brown eye and a blue eye.
-It's my custom, Wa. If you don't like it, ignore it then. Anyway, everyone has to live a double life, and it's not easy. I hate to have to go to college too, Jin, but we don't have any more options. And by the way, what did you mean when you explained that almost nobody respects superior minds?
-No… I said it because I bumped with a boy of another school, and it had been the first time that somebody apart from all of you spoke to me kindly -the girl responded, detouring her resentful glance.
-However, don't forget that as soon as we are able to defeat the Kami no Tsukai, that boy will die, so nonce of you can have a special someone –Rai said, whose hair had several blond locks amidst his black hair.
-We know that, birdbrain… And if you say it so I go out with you, you're wrong then.
-Well, we must separate. Don't forget that we will conquer in the end.
-For the Black Feather! -and all of them disappeared.