Datenshi : Fallen Angel © My Anh Nguyen
Chapter Two – Seraph Without Wings
Running on the footpath passing all the shops, Aya realized this way was the direction toward her school. The dog, which she assumed belonged to the boy that granted her the loving dream of her parents – ran on four legs with great speed. He or she was medium sized with a white spot on top of its head and short tail. Aya couldn't make out what breed it was so she left it as that. When they reached the school's fence an ear piercing roared was heard and Aya covered her ears with both of her hands. The bellow halted and she scrutinized the dimly lit school yard but couldn't see anything.
Aya kneeled down to the dog's height and softly whispered, "You stay here. I'll go inside and look for your master okay?" She stretched up and stared at the tall point gates, wincing she knew there was no other choice but to climb it.
Shaking the gate to check for its stability Aya began to push her up the gate and held tight onto the icy cold metallic poles. For a moment she struggled and kept sliding back down, she cursed under the breath. The dog started barking and nuzzled its nose against her calf. Aya looked down to find it had gone somewhere to find a flexible pole – oh wait, this was for the high jumpers, Aya thought holding up the stick. Aya planted a kiss on the dog's head thanking him quietly. She was scrupulously amazed at this dog's cleverness and started to have a liking for it already. Moving back of fair distant Aya has a feeling she either; can't make it over the gate and hit hard onto the gate or if she make it, she would not land on her two feet. Nonetheless, she's going to do it. Taking in a deep breath, she did a run up and pushes herself majestically up into the air. Aya remembered seeing high jumpers bending their body and always kicking their legs up high to make it over their mark point. Miraculously half of Aya's body was over the fence and she bended her back more. Once her entire body was nearly inside the school's ground excitement surged through her and she forgot about watching her legs to raise it higher. As a result she got scratched by the sharp end of the edged fence as she landed on the solid concrete. She grimaced at the pain on her leg and especially the one throughout her body right now.
"Yay! I made it!" She hoisted her arms up in the air and turned to her side smiling at the dog, which had his tongue hanging out. "I should join the high jump club huh?" Aya lifted her body up and groan in anguish, her back hurts so much. Hence she was correct; she didn't land on her two feet at all however that was a world's record.
Limping her way into the school building she followed her instinct and trudged up the stairs until she reached the opening space on top of the school. Aya opened the door and all of a sudden a gust of wind blew pass. Right in front of her was the silhouette of a giant creature and she screeched at its sight.
Without a doubt that was the boy in her dream, she could feel it. "What happened to you?" She questioned not daring to move. Its teeth were large and sharp and blood was dripping down from it.
He howled and Aya stepped forward. "Tell me, did he do this to you?" The creature eyes were beginning to soften and whimpered. "Where is he? I'll make him return you back to normal." After a brief moment of silence he began to growl loudly holding his clawed hands to his head. "Are you okay? What can I do to help?" Aya advanced closer to him and touched his great furred hand. Unexpectedly she was held up in the air and fear rushed through her.
Though her heart told her he was in immense sorrow and yet again she can't do anything to ease it. He was a mere young boy with striking eyes and what in front of her was not him. Aya knew he didn't want this and she have to do something, fast.
"It's me. Aya. Remember you told me to look after your precious dog? He's very obedient like you said. Look he's out the gate waiting for you to return to him."
He mitigated his grasped on her arms and gradually placed her on the ground. Aya walked toward the balcony and beckoned him to come in order to see his dog from here. He followed her but after the second step he started to bellowed once again and from his mouth a blue light shone. Seconds later it shot out a fireball and hit Aya in her stomach sending her flying back and off the balcony. She coughed out blood as she felt her feet weren't touching the ground and she realized this could be her last moment. The building was extremely sky-scraping from where she was and she knew she couldn't survive this fall even if a miracle was bound to happen. She then noted that she didn't get to finish Aki's soup and haven't said thank you to Chidori for being her friend. There were lots of things she hasn't done nor accomplished. For the first time she recognized she's been taking a lot of things for granted and hasn't appreciated her great fortune.
"I don't want it to end like this." She said to herself feeling the enormous throbbing in her stomach. Reaching an arm out to catch onto something but it was futile.
White… Red… Gold…
Her eyes were half opened and she saw someone jumping off from the balcony flying toward her holding onto her hand. Can angel fly without wings? She wondered in her dreaming state. Aya felt heat streamed throughout her body when it was pressed against him or her body.
Gracefully they both landed on the ground safely and she was still in someone's arms. Aya made an effort to open her eyes and focused on the person who saved her. Sensei? Her eyes opened wide and incomprehension was shown in her expression. What was he doing here at this time of the night? Did he just jumped off a high building, saved her and casually hit the ground without a scratch? He was wearing his white laboratory coat and the golden glow in his eyes was further enhanced during this time of the day. She suddenly felt dizzier than before.
Nigawa-sensei placed her down and when her feet touched the earth the pain in her stomach resurfaced causing her to cry in pain. "Stay here, don't go anywhere." His voice was tender yet firm, lifting one hand up a slim sword about thirty centimeters appeared from within his wrist.
Aya slumped down on the floor holding onto her stomach that was gushing out blood. "Don't kill him." She called out and he stopped twirling around to look at her. "He's innocent. He's just a young boy who talks wisely beyond his years and loves his dog very much. Don't kill him, I beg you."
"But he has lost control of himself. There's no other way," he said holding tight onto his sword as he sensed the descendent of the ogre from above. "I'm sorry." Touya Nigawa determinedly turned around and rapidly fled up into the sky slashing the creature's body.
She flinched putting one foot up attempting to stand up and bands of sweats made its way down her forehead. When she saw Touya launching forward to stab the boy aiming at his heart, Aya ran toward them and stood in front of the creature's body defending him.
"Why?" Touya questioned perplexity was evident on his face.
The ogre was still injured from the damage from the previous cut and growled. "Because I need to help him." Aya gradually spun her body around to face the animal and smiled kindly.
"Get away from it. Do you wish to end your life?"
"Shut up! You don't know anything about him. He's not an animal; he's a kid who granted me my first real dream." Tears streamed down her face as she angrily glared at Touya. "I know he can understand me because we share the same gift…" Touya stood still and closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"Please release me from this pain." The voice of the young boy echoed. "Aya-san. Please give me that timeless sleep."
Touya shot open and was surprised at the ogre pleadings. "I don't know how to do it." Aya hiccupped and felt hopeless yet again.
"Feel it in your heart, your desire and wish." The boy said and Aya placed both of her hands on top of her chest. "Wish for it."
Bit by bit, Aya could feel an electrifying energy running right through her being. Please, if this is the only thing I could do for him. Please give me the power to put him in his everlasting sleep. A white sparked appeared in the palm of her hand and Aya stared at it as it grew bigger.
"I'll take care of your dog," she choked on her tears and touched her hands to his. Soon after his beastly body started disappearing and glitter of lights shone. The little boy stood in front of her smiling happily.
He squeezed her hand and said, "My name is Hideki. You're my friend. Hiro is yours now. Thank you Aya-san."
"No, thank you Hideki."
Hideki grinned and said earnestly, "You're welcome!"
Aya smiled and wiped away her tears. Afterward he vanished and Aya collapsed but was caught by Touya. "Thank you for believing in me." She gazed at Touya with a beam.
"I didn't." She chuckled but at the result she coughed out more blood. "We have to get you to a hospital fast."
He was about to carry her off but was stopped by her pull on his coat. "No. They would call my brother and he would never let me sleep alone again."
"Then what?"
"You're a biology teacher you should know a bit of this." Aya said loving the dumbfounded look on his face.
He pursed his lips together and replied, "I'll try."
Touya held her in his arms and walked inside the school classes premises. "Where are you taking me?"
"School's clinic."
"Oh, smart." Her voice was low and she knew she couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. "Hm… That's three times you replied me with only two words." She noted and continued, "Are you tight on word expression?" He didn't answer her but only laid her down on one of the bed on the school nurse's client bed.
"Lift up your shirt." He ordered opening a draw in one of the cupboards bringing out a container of first aids. Aya followed his command and as he cleaned out the blood she cringed. After that he put on antiseptics and that stung hence she shrieked but was ignored. Consequently he placed a hand over her wound and strangely a lukewarm feeling appeared on her abrasion. "This would stop the blood for now."
"Thanks." She stared at her shirt and the stain the blood left. "Is there any chance the clinic have a spare shirt?"
"Not that I know of," he glanced around.
"Could I borrow your coat?" she asked gazing up at him.
"Why?"
Aya responded, "My brother can't see this on my shirt before he'll throw a psycho."
"I see." Touya took off his coat and gave it to her. When she reached up to grabbed it the pain was still there on her injury and she fell back down on the bed.
He was standing right in front of where the full moon luminous light shone and it outlined his features outstandingly. Some of his hair fell onto his eyes and she had the urge to brush it aside so she could see his glowing golden eyes. Touya stood up straight and went to where the window was and pulled the curtains together.
"What are you doing?"
"Help you get out of that shirt." He replies were always so monotonous and casual with no emotions or feelings to it.
The room was quite dark and she couldn't make out where he was until she felt an arm supporting her to sit upright. Then using a scissor he cut through her shirt and soon the main pieces fell apart. Wow, that's clever. She thought to herself and afterward he gently slipped her arms into the openings of the coat. Soon he laid her back down after pushing all the shredded pieces of her shirt to the ground, he buttoned up the coat. After a while the curtain was opened again and light shone into the room. Touya opened the wide window of the clinic room and leaned toward her. Aya was surprised at how gentle he could handle her and put her back into his strong hold as if she was simply a light weighted feather.
"Where's the way to your house?" He questioned her walking toward the window.
"Left from the front school."
Without prior notice he jumped off the window and she screamed. They were flying in thin air defying all rules of gravity. Aya glanced to his back and stared at it in wonder.
"What is it?" he asked her at her strange behaviour.
She innocently pointed out, "You don't have wings."
A tiny smile escaped from his lips and they soared into the sky – on top of all the houses and buildings. Aya gasped in exhilaration as she gazed at the night lights below. She never knew Kyoto city was this stunning at night.
"Wait, hang on! I don't want to go home yet." The sudden outburst took him by surprise and he lightly landed on top of building. "Take me to Chidori's house. I want to give her a dream which I'm sure she would like." Touya intently looked at her and pushed himself back up into the air. "Right from here." She gave him the direction smiling cheerfully.
"Hey, hey Nigawa-sensei. What are you?" No reply was heard from him. "Go straight." She said and glanced up at him. "We can be friends since we're both abnormal. How about that?" Still there was no respond from him and she was getting quite annoyed. "Am I too childish to be your friend? Oh wait is it against the law to be friends with your teacher?" He continued to ignore her. "Can you please say something?" She beckoned rudely and unexpectedly started coughing.
He stopped on his track and laid a foot on a bridge with a view of the harbour. "Which way is next?"
Aya frowned and childishly scoffed. "Left at that highway there."
So they continued their journey in silence and when they reached Chidori's bedroom window, Aya grinned cheekily. Touya looked at her with amusement wondering what she was planning to do. Closing her eyes she tried to summon her powers as she did before for Hideki. Opening her eyes again she waved the white glowing ball through the window and into Chidori.
"Sweet dreams Chidori." She said and a breeze of wind drove pass. Aya snuggled nearer to Touya even though they were already close enough however he was warm. "Okay. I'm ready to head home now." She exclaimed and took in a deep breath, "I forgot Hiro at the school!"
"The dog?"
"Yeah! We have to go back there to find him. It's cold tonight and he might not know his way home." Aya tugged Touya's blue shirt.
"He's already there in front of your house."
Aya stared at him in shock. "How do you know?"
"I just do." Hence forth they continued their trail back to her house and on the way she fell asleep.
For the first time in so many years she slept without a dream of any others. Maybe she was too exhausted whatever the reason was, she enjoyed the dreamless slumber.
Aya woke up with a bright sun blazing onto her eyes and using her hand to shield it, she thought of what happened last night. Was it a dream? She wondered and twirled to her side when the recognizable pain and the white coat belonging to Nigawa-sensei were still present. Wasn't a dream after all, Aya said to herself. It took her quite some time to get dress and ready for school. When she reached her homeroom Chidori hit her back causing her to yelp at the injury she held. Thank god Aki didn't find out, she thought.
"What's wrong with you? Your face is a bit pale."
"Make up, foundation." Aya answered quickly.
Chidori put a finger to her chin and said, "You don't even need make up Aya. You already look fine."
"Thank you." Aya made her way to a table and positioned herself down. Finally, she felt much better after all that walking to school and trying to act normal around Aki.
Chidori grinned and threw her arms in the air. "You know what? Last night I had the best dream ever!"
Aya surreptitiously smiled and asked, "Really? What was it about? Me?"
"Close enough but no, your twin brother!"
"How is that close enough?" Aya confuted rolling her eyes.
Chidori nodded her head eagerly, "Of course it is. You guys are twins right? And twins are kind of like one." Aya lazily nodded her head agreeing to whatsoever Chidori was saying. "Do you want to hear what happened in my dream?"
"Is it rated R?"
Her friend flushed red and said, "No!"
"Sure, whatever you say."
"It's not! I'm serious! The dream was innocent from the beginning to the end!" Chidori rebutted fiercely at the condemnation Aya was putting on her.
It was another normal day, Aya took in. She smiled affectionately at Chidori and said, "Thanks Chidori."
"Eh?" That caught her by surprise and she asked, "What for?"
"For being Chidori Asai?"
"What's gotten into you today? All mushy toward me. Don't tell me…" Aya frowned and was confused. "Are you gay?" Chidori said out and Aya wanted to fall off her chair. "Seriously, I've never seen you date any guy. What if your interest is on your own sex?"
Aya burst out laughing and shook her head in skepticism; the girl never stops to amuse her. "Maybe, maybe not."
"Eh! No Aya! You have to confide in me. Come on! Are you?"
It was interesting to see how much Chidori wanted to know the truth however it's even more pleasurable to let her suffer. "Find out for yourself."
Chidori pouted and flicked her pony-tailed brown hair. "You're cruel." She pointed at Aya and then placed both of her hands on her hips. "Then I only have one way to find out."
"What?"
"Rape you!"
"What the heck! You crazy woman! Get away from me!"
A woman's face was hidden beneath a black hood, only violet strands of hair could be seen from her dark cloak. She stood on top of the flowing river with both of her feet touching the water in the middle of a vast forest, with a man kneeling on the river side head bowed down.
"Where is she?" The woman asked grimly.
"The year AC 2005 in Kyoto city," he replied courteously.
She stared at the crescent moon and asked, "Has she awakened?"
"No, not yet."
"Capture her while she's weak. Don't harm her. If you fail, then don't have to report back to me."
"Yes, high priestess." He replied obediently and vanished.
The woman continued to gaze at the galaxy above and droned a melodious tune from her lips. "One day, I will unite with you." She firmly stated and stretched one of her arms to the moon.
Next chapter – Moonshine