Pawns
by Quicksilver
Part Three
Access Time was yelling at him again, and Sinbad didn't care. The male thief sat on a church rooftop staring up at the moonlight, shivering slightly. It was cold out tonight; so cold he could see his breath as it crystallized. He hugged his arms to his chest, listening to the sounds of the city. It was quiet out tonight, and that made thinking easier.
Why was he doing this? he wondered for what must have been the millionth time. Why was it so important that he be a kaitou, that he seal away the demons rather than let Jeanne get to them? She was under a mission from heaven while he- well, hell. He wasn't sure what he was doing half the time.
His fingers idly felt the pawn, and he was relieved for the gloves he was wearing. Even with the silk on his hands (silk was well known for its properties in protection against magic), he could feel the incredible amount of energy that had been stowed into the seemingly innocent chess piece.
A tired hand reached up and removed the cloth that had been shielding his face from view. As he dropped it, it disappeared, and he felt the slight surge of energy as the magic was returned to him. Unlike Jeanne, all of his powers came from within, and he needed to be careful with his resources. Every bit of magic he was able to save could prove vital some time in the future.
"What are you doing here?" Access said. "You should get home and sleep!" the loud angel said, folding his arms across his chest, glaring at his ward.
"I will," Sinbad said with a smile. "I just wanted to take a moment to enjoy the night," he said, smiling sleepily.
"You can do that as Chiaki!"
"But my senses aren't quite the same," he said truthfully enough. When he was a kaitou, his abilities and senses were enhanced. Smells became clearer, and his vision was sharper then any ordinary mortal's.
"This isn't good for you!" Access protested, worried. "By now Maron has let her transformation go. At least Fin has a charge with the sense God gave little green apples."
"You're one to be talking about God, Access," Sinbad muttered.
The little angel looked hurt. "Just because I don't agree with him on everything doesn't mean I don't love him," he said. "Please, Sinbad? Can we leave now? The longer you stay out here, the more likely you are to be caught. And if that happens, you might not have enough magic to contain the demon and escape. What would you do then?"
Sinbad sighed. "You're right, I guess." He smiled, then abruptly jumped to the next roof, feeling the surge of energy in his legs as he made impossible leaps. It was like flying under his own powers, like he had been granted a pair of wings. He enjoyed to the wind rushing against him as he made his way to his apartment complex.
A block before he arrived, he allowed himself to plummet into an alley as suddenly as he had begun his romp. A minute later Chiaki emerged, a black pawn securely wrapped up in his silk-lined pocket. He quickly went to his apartment.
Last night had been much like any other after he Checkmated. He had been too hyped from his victory to go to sleep immediately, so he had gone out onto his balcony to think. Sometimes his mind would empty of all the other concerns and he'd be at peace, but those times were fewer and farther between then they used to be.
Since he had become kaitou.
The first thing he did when arrive, even before bothering to turn on the lights, was go to his special box. He touched it, willing it to open, and it did. Under the lid was a second lid- a traditional puzzle box. With deft fingers he solved it, then rapped the lower right hand corner. Under that was a third lid- cold iron, another antagonist of magic. To this lid he pulled out the key he wore around a chain on his neck and inserted it in the top. He smiled as it opened.
Chiaki opened this lid slowly after tapping all four corners. If he hadn't, a potent sleeping gas would have been released and knocked him out. Finally he reached his goal- a heavy silk bag. He opened the delicate blue bag and tossed the pawn in while it was still wrapped. He shut it just as quickly, then slowly redid the box's protections- mundane, mental, and magical. With a sigh of relief he set it back down on his dresser, and released the willpower that had been forcing the demon to mind. Within hours the demon, trapped in the specially designed prison, would start losing its control. Eventually the hatred that formed the evil presence would disperse, leaving only the raw energy behind. Energy that could be harnessed for magic.
Then Chiaki stepped out onto the balcony and glanced over, wondering if Maron would come out tonight. Probably not. He had surprised her by kissing her. To be honest, he had surprised himself. But she had looked so beautiful, and just once he wanted to taste her lips.
He knew that she wasn't stupid; sooner or later his identity as Sinbad would come out, and then she would hate him. He remembered the pure revulsion in her purple eyes as she declared that she hated Sinbad.
Chiaki wasn't sure what he thought of her. He admired her,in a way, but knew she was misguided. He wished he'd be able to show her the truth, but she was too devoted to the light to see the truth. She kept her eyes toward the heavens, unaware of the reality that was actually around her.
But he liked her- perhaps too much. She was beautiful, but that didn't mean much. Chiaki could say, with complete honesty, that he was handsome enough to attract the prettiest of girls. No, what attracted him to her was her strength, and the deep sorrow that matched his own. They were alike, and he knew that if she could overcome her hatred, she would be able to understand. But it was such a bit "if" that he didn't dare allow himself to dream.
Chiaki shut his eyes slowly, listening. He could hear Access in his apartment, arguing with the television. The Kuroi Tenshi was fascinated by modern inventions, and it was amusing to watch him interact with them. Access Time talked to the television, played with the stove, and flushed things down the toilet to watch them swirl around and around.
He remembered meeting Access. He had been fifteen then, and so very alone. Fifteen... he shrugged the memory from his mind forcibly. He would never return to that time in his life, no matter what bribe he was offered. Some things just weren't worth it.
The trick in life was to figure out was worthwhile, and grasp it with both hands.
Maron slept in the next morning- not unusual for her, but this time she was having a hard time finding the energy to get out of bed. Something inside of her warned her that it was going to be One of Those Days, and every instinct urged her to just pull the blankets back over her head and forget about today.
It was a Wednesday. She hated Wednesdays.
She knew that if she didn't get herself moving, Miyako would storm in and drag her out by the hair. She rushed around, popping a slice of bread in the toaster, washing her face, taking care of her hair, and sliding into her uniform. Grabbing her slice of toast, she spread it with marmalade and ate the sticky mess quickly, then took a moment to brush her teeth. Grabbing her backpack, she raced outside, only to run into Chiaki.
She had been moving with such speed that she sent both of them sprawling. As they fell, he caught her in his arms, taking the worst of the fall to shield her. With an "Oomph!" she landed on top of him.
For a second they both lay there, stunned. She stared into his chocolate brown eyes and felt herself drown in their warm depths. Then reality reasserted itself, and she jerked away, blushing like mad. "Sorry!" she exclaimed.
"No problem," he said, and she braced herself, waiting for the flirtatious remark she was sure would soon follow. To her surprise, he merely politely helped her to her feet. "Why are you in such a hurry? We're not due to meet for another three minutes."
"What?" she exclaimed, glancing at her watch. "That little sneak! She set my clock ahead!" Maron fumed, resolving to have a little "chat" with Fin Fish.
"Who did?" Chiaki asked curiously.
"Um... Miyako," Maron said, hoping to get away with the fib. She could always lie that the power went out if Miyako confessed to having no knowledge later.
Chiaki smiled at her. "Sounds like her," he agreed easily. Then he tilted his head, smiling charmingly at her. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Huh?" she asked.
"Miyako said you went to bed early last night, something about being sick," Chiaki said.
He had checked on me? she wondered. "Oh! That! I think I was just tired from gymnastics practice."
Chiaki smiled and was about to say something else when Miyako opened the door of her apartment. She called a cheerful "See you!" to her mother, then walked over to her friends with a perplexed expression on her face. "What are you two doing here already?" She directed this toward Maron, who starting looking anywhere except at Chiaki.
"We're waiting for you," Chiaki said easily. "Can I carry your bag, Miyako? I'm sure you're tired after last night."
Miyako laughed lightly, and cheerfully handed her bag over, while Maron fumed that he hadn't offered to do the same for her.
"Did Jeanne get away?" Maron asked quickly, remembering her lines.
She was surprised by Miyako's reaction. "Yes," the other girl said thoughtfully, but unlike usual, she didn't seem angered by the occurrence.
"Is something wrong, Miyako?"
Miyako gave her a smile that worried her. "Nothing. Nothing at all," she said. "In fact, something may just be right."
Maron and Chiaki looked at her in concern. "Are you okay?" Chiaki asked in concern.
"I'm fine!" Miyako assured her friends. "Come on- we'd better get going or we'll be late!"
Fin Fish flew around Tokyo, hunting out demons.
The cloth around her legs whipped melodramatically as she thoughtfully attuned herself to the world around her, searching for presences that were unnatural. As an angel aligned with Heaven, she could easily sniff out the presences of demons who possessed pure hearts.
At least in theory.
Fin still wasn't a true angel, but she was working towards it. It was working with Jeanne that would make her or break her. Sometimes she wished for a more cooperative charged, but if she was to admit the truth, she wouldn't change a thing. Maron had such a loving heart, and she needed her. There was nothing like being needed.
During school hours, Fin would sometimes go out to find the next target. Sometimes she would be successful, other times she would not. Still-
Her musings were interrupted but a powerful surge of evil, one that nearly knocked her from the sky. She clutched her head in pain. She had never felt a demon this powerful... but where could it be coming from? And would Jeanne be strong enough to deal with it?
