Disclaimer: Don't own YYH or Osa.

Note: There are two flashbacks in here, but both are in the same time frame.

Japanese to Know:

Nanashi - Nameless
Neko dachi - Cat stance

Chapter 26

Beautifully Ugly

"Darkfire, I have been told some disturbing news," God said, easing himself into a chair. He offered the angel a seat, but she stood expressionlessly. "Please, sit."

"I'll stand, Lord," she replied curtly.

The Old Man sighed and rubbed His beard thoughtfully. "Do you know why you're here?"

"Because you've been told disturbing things."

"Stop playing games." His old eyes shut themselves against the light. "I've been told you've been praying to Satan."

Darkfire's gray wings twitched.

"Is this true?"

"Who told You—?"

"Is it true?"

"Yes. But you made me this way."

"As true as that may be, it's still against the Law. I have no choice but to revoke your rank and throw you into Hell."

"You think I care? I was never supposed to be an angel! My body's fate was to burn, and my soul's was also to burn! You stole that! You made me into a monster when You created this…this…body for me! You took my beautiful white wings and made them ugly." She glared at Him, tensing.

"That changes nothing." He pressed a button on his desk, "Osadyro, get Gabriel and Michael in here, please."

"She told you, didn't she?" She smirked and shook her head. "If it weren't for her, I might have been able to succeed. I could have lived up to what you created me for."

Hokage stood, dumbfounded, in Hiei's grip. She shook with an unusual fear. Fear that she may never understand why she changed this heartless demon in such strange ways. Fear that she had disrupted some cycle in his life. Unusual fears that one normally wouldn't have in this situation.

"Hiei," she mumbled, "what's wrong with you? You're acting so strange."

"I know," he whispered, straightening. Taking her hand and slipping on his mask, he said, "We should go."

Hokage couldn't see the expression on his face, for it was hidden behind the plain, black mask. But they quickly went through the portal, shocked by what was revealed on the other side: Masses of demons. And all of them turned to stare at the two newcomers.

"Well, Darkfire, it was nice knowing you," Michael smirked, roughly pushing the gray-winged angel the edge of High Heaven.

"Why'd you do it, Darkfire? I thought you were happy here," Gabriel sighed.

Darkfire laughed. "You should know the answer to that, Gabriel. You helped make me this way. Made me feel the urge to disobey. Didn't you know the consequences?"

"You know, I wasn't the only to do this," the Archangel snapped, avoiding the question.

"Oh, I know that. All of you Archangel bastards helped. But Raphael was the only one to apologize." She smirked sadistically, eyes distorting her pain. "He was the only one who loved my ugly wings. Said they were beautiful. He said he was sorry for fusing me with the wolf. Sorry for making my wings beautiful."

"That's touching, but you're still going to Hell," Michael sneered. "I suppose that means I'll see you later!" Laughing, he pushed her over the edge.

"I get to go home." As she hurtled towards the ground, a bright light caught her eye. It grew brighter and closer. And then…time stopped. "What is this magic?" she hissed, hiding her eyes from the light.

"Nothing that you haven't seen before," a soft, deep voice answered.

Darkfire looked from behind her arms, finding the light was gone. Instead, a man in long white robes hovered before her. His long brown hair seemed as though it was made of silk.

"What crimes have you committed that you are thrown from Heaven?" he inquired.

"Treason, I suppose you would call it. What did you do to enter Heaven so young?"

"I showed them how to believe differently. For that, I was crucified."

"People are horrible beasts. But they don't know anything, I guess. I know I didn't."

The man smiled. "Fallen Angel, my Father may not love you, but I will. I will protect you."

Darkfire opened her mouth to say something, but the man disappeared and she resumed her fall. "The Son of God…Jesus Christ…is going to protect me?" Smiling, she hit the scorching fires of Hell.

Pulling the girl from the fires, Satan looked at the smoldering Fallen Angel. "Welcome to your new home."

"Thank you, Lord Lucifer."

"Who now has entered my home?" a handsome demon questioned from a stage. He had short, silver-white hair and piercing grey eyes. Donned in fire-red robes, he wore no mask. His eyes scanned over the crowed, pausing on Hokage and Hiei. The ever-watchful eyes of Yoshihiro Sugisaki.

"I think they're demons, Lord Sugisaki," a demon offered.

"You, with the wings," Sugisaki called, pointing to Hokage, "come up here."

She handed Hiei a piece of paper as she departed for the stage. When she got up there, she bowed and shook the host's hand.

"And what might your name be?"

"Nanashi," she answered, thinking quickly.

"Interesting. Would you mind telling us what you are?"

"I'm a demon, like the rest of you."

"You reek of human, and you have a pure aura. I call your bluff."

"I smell of humans because I live with humans. But I, sir, am a demon."

Sugisaki turned and took a few steps forward. "Prove it," he demanded, whirling around and hurling a ball of fire at her.

Hokage caught it and molded it about her arm. The flames licked her arm, but did not burn. She smiled devilishly. "I was reborn from the fires of Hell," she told them. "No fire can sear my skin."

"What else can you do, wielder of Hellfire?"

Hokage settled down into aneko dachi, pulled her flaming arm back, and then thrust it towards Sugisaki. The flames had become a bright blue and they moved quickly through the air, loud pops trailing after it. The fire demon tried to catch it, but the hot flames scalded his hands and then dissipated.

"Fascinating," he murmured, nursing his hands. Then he turned to the crowd. "The masquerade has begun!" The band struck up some lively music and the room began to dance.

Hokage turned to leave, but Sugisaki caught her arm.

"That was quite a show of power. Might I ask your real name?"

"If a name is what I had, I would call it my own."

"Fair enough. Then might I inquire a request?"

"You may."

"Will you partake in a valiant crusade with my comrades and me?"

"What sort of crusade?"

"To relieve the Spirit World of Enma and his infantile son; to remove the Kakkai barrier and let the demons roam the earth; and to expel for the world the righteous."

Hokage smiled. "All sounds wonderful, but it's too bloody."

"Hm?"

"Some demons are greedy and far too blood-thirsty. You should keep those behind the barrier. Let the others make a living in the Human World. And greedy humans will ensure demons' safety if they know their own race is safe for a while longer."

"I've never met one quite as smart as you."

"I wonder what they're talking about," Yuusuke thought aloud, watching Hokage begin a conversation with the enemy.

"She can take care of herself. And I'm sure she'll tell you later," Keiko assured him, pulling on his arm. "Come, dance with me. We look out of place."

As the couple danced into the crowd, they passed Hiei. Yuusuke caught the demon's arm.

"You shouldn't let your date fall for the host," he warned, glancing back at the platform.

Hiei glared beneath his mask, but proceeded to the stage quickly. He came up beside Hokage and took her arm. "Come, I'm sure our host has other people he would like to greet."

"Oh, Takashi," the girl gasped, thinking of a name on the spot. "Sugisaki-san, this is Takashi…my husband."

Hiei took the fire demon's hand. "Pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine. You have a lovely wife. Though I'm sure all the lovelier is her face."

"Yes, well, it was very nice meeting you," Hokage smiled, turning to the stairs.

"Nanashi, you are coming, right?"

She stopped and looked back at him. "Sir, I am as unpredictable as my name." With that, she and Hiei disappeared into the masses.

The two started dancing, turning as all the rest. It wasn't awkward, as Hokage had imagined. Instead it was smooth and flowing, as though practiced a thousand times before. Hiei leaned in, mouth beside her ear, and whispered so only she could hear:

"Where are you going?"

"What do you mean?" she whispered back.

"He asked if you were coming. What did he mean?"

"The meeting. I'm in, Hiei…I just have to keep up the act."

"Is it really an act? Or is your…roommate…planning on betraying us?"

"She has no part in this," Hokage hissed. "I don't need her help to betray you anyway. I hold the power to change all three worlds."

"How are you going to use that power, then?"

"To manipulate Sugisaki and his companions into a deadly trap." She grinned malevolently. "I've already begun spinning the web."

"Know that if you do switch sides, my twisted angel, I will be the one to kill you."

"If I betray you, my cursed demon, I will look for you on the battlefield."

Ok, I lied: I updated the next day.