"And a force beyond good or evil, whiter than the purest shade of white, blacker than midnight began to fly in every direction, looking for something, as if something called it. Something even beyond chaos"

The Messenger of the Gods II

I: Right Here and Now

Several years had passed ever since that night where everything had finished. Tsubasa left to Brazil, and after joining his life with Sanae, his one and only girlfriend, he went to live to Barcelona, Spain. Ryou and Yukari got hitched too, and although they already had lived a long time being a couple, Yukari didn't have her hopes high for a marriage, since Ryou almost always forgot their anniversary. If you're asking yourselves, they continued in Shizuoka, just like Jinko, the former Archangel of the Darkness.

Hyuga was in Italy, his fate hanging between the Juventus and the Reggiana soccer team in the C series. However, he didn't forget that he had his friends in Japan: his best friend, Wakashimadzu Ken; his best ally in the Japan Soccer Team's attack, Sawada Takeshi; Sorimachi Kazuki, an excellent joker, awesome friend and fierce player he met in Toho High School, and even Ikazuchi Rairyuu, who had been the Archangel of Thunder and was in college, studying, since he didn't want to be a pro soccer player.

Taro was back in Shizuoka, due to an injury he suffered when he saved his half-sister, Yoshiko, from being run over by a truck. But as usual in him, he faced everything with his typical maturity, and stayed in contact with all his friends, mainly Azumi, and Wataru, the girl's ex-boyfriend (it's kind of funny to say that when they barely lasted two days as a couple), and ex-Archangel of Hatred, who like Azumi, was now studying to be a journalist.

Genzo, in Germany, didn't stop his training. He wasn't at his 100 of his capabilities, although to be honest, he never was completely OK, ever since he was twelve years old, but that didn't mean he'd surrender so easily. He continued in the same team, Hamburg, alongside his best friend, Herman Kaltz, but Karl Heinz Schneider, still his biggest rival, left to play in Bayern Munich, wishing to defeat Genzo. On the other hand, he was beginning to get interested in some hobbies out of soccer and running, and continued in contact with Akuji Tooru, who was no longer the Archangel of the Ice, but continued being invincible in video games.

On the other hand, Kurobane Shinobu, the same one that had been the Archangel of Chaos and DJ Darkwing, had become owner and manager of Vitalis, the most popular juvenile disco in the city. He had left the scenarios, but now as an executive he went beyond that, and never left behind his love for music, the same as the love for his long-time girlfriend. He often met with Kagei Kai, who had been the Messenger of the Shadows and was a regular client at the disco. He had become an excellent soccer player thanks to what his friends taught him. He was already very similar to Tsubasa physically, since his soccer abilities were more speed-based, and he could easily be mistaken as Tsubasa's younger brother, but Tsubasa already had a little brother, Daichi, and besides from being paler, Kai was used to tie his hair. ON the other hand, he had become very popular between the girls, but that didn't affect his calm and simple way of being, and continued having his premonitions.

Of course, although they didn't speak of it, because they tried not to think of it, or because it hurt them a little, the Archangels and ex-Archangels could remember Shiro, and the sad way it died, protecting Natsuko and Tsubasa's grandmother, although it was so because as soon as the Final Battle between White and Black Archangels ended, it'd be Shiro's end too. That precise moment appeared in the worst nightmares of the twelve people that had been part of that situation, hidden for the rest of the inhabitants of Shizuoka. Tsubasa's grandmother had also died, some time after her oldest grandson's marriage. The doctors had talked of a heart attack while she slept, and that was what Koudai and the other Ozoras believed, but Tsubasa and Natsuko knew that the reason had been much simpler: Her time in the Earth as guardian of the legend of the Archangels and the Messenger of the Gods had finished.

But now, those that guarded that legend were Natsuko and Sanae, the latter being primordial part of it; not for anything the Nankatsu graduate had listened the legend due to Tsubasa's grandmother's family tradition, but she lived had lived it being at first an ally, and later the Archangel of Love. She could still remember a big part of the things that happened after that troublesome situation, when she hit Tsubasa (already in that then their boyfriend) and Ishizaki on the head, as they had laughed at her.

"-Hey, guys, do you remember when you-know-who-I-mean mentioned who was the most powerful Archangel? -the girl asked, while they walked towards the temple where Shiro used to live.

-To be honest, I don't -Tsubasa admitted.

-Ah, just let it be. After all, what's done is done -Ryou answered, when he stopped on his tracks, his face whey-colored.

-Ishizaki-kun, what's the matter? -Tsubasa asked.

-Don't tell me you don't remember it.

-I already said I don't. You know I can't remember everything.

-Well, I do -Sanae said, annoyed. -You made fun of the Archangel of the Love, pitying whoever was it."

-But it was because we thought it wouldn't be a girl, Sanae. How in the world could we know who it was if even Shiro didn't know who it really was?

-We? Talk for yourself –Tsubasa said.

-Whatever. And how could we know you were the last good guy…?

-Girl –rectified Tsubasa.

-…in our ranks?

-Well, yeah, but… -now she was really angry, just like the times when everyone called her Anego. –Don't forget I can beat you all!

And after forming the barrier, Sanae hit both boys with Bastet's Staff."

Obviously Tsubasa was a bit resentful in the following days, but was on good terms with her some days later and after a milkshake in the Nakasawa's soda fountain. But now, things had changed. Both of them lived in Barcelona, in a comfortable apartment. Although Tsubasa was able to defend himself in the city with his Portuguese and the Spanish he was picking up, Sanae had trouble learning Spanish, in spite of having begun some Spanish classes. Obviously there was the typical discussion abut having or not having children, but they didn't want to think about that in those moments, as they had other priorities, but Sanae had the motherly dream of having a baby, at least one.

But none of the twelve noticed what happened.

A new day began in Barcelona, and Tsubasa got up at dawn. Although he knew which his wife's routine was, and the other Archangels' routine, he didn't want to wake her up. Observing her while she slept, Ozora Tsubasa tried to remember why he had fallen so in love with her… Although you know he doesn't have a really good memory.

"What made me fall in love with her? Well, I guess that question's not important; what really matters is that I joined my life with the woman I love" -thought the soccer player, but he immediately discarded the idea. There had to be something that made him fall in love with her.

Had it been the fact that she was always by him? Could it have been her way of being?

Tsubasa didn't know it.

Of course, he immediately blamed himself. He lived so obsessed with soccer; he didn't realize what happened around him. Or at least so it happened until he was fifteen… And Sanae was always there, unconditionally. He stopped seeing her as the team's cheerleader, just to begin to see her as a friend, later as the team manager, until he saw her as the sweet, unconditional young lady he had turned into. He didn't even realize when did Cupid had shot his arrow into him.

And later… Shiro arrived ;;. The mysterious white-cloaked being, who had been his grandma's ancestor, appeared. Then things changed so much… Sanae had turned into his greatest ally (without forgetting the others) since they couldn't find the last Archangel… Although he almost lost her in the Final Battle against the Black Archangels. He realized he needed her, much more than he thought it was possible; so much that when he landed at her side after the Archangel of Chaos attacked her and he asked her to be his girlfriend if they were able to survive the battle, he saw a miracle. No; saw's not the word. Tsubasa, the Kami no Tsukai, lived a miracle; Sanae glowed with her own light, as if the Sun was in her… And she became the Archangel of Love. Luckily, Tsubasa was able to beat the Messenger of the Shadows, and what he had said had been serious.

He kept on thinking, but…

-Good morning, Tsubasa-Sanae made him lose his concentration.

-Ah, good morning, honey. Did you sleep well?

-I did.

"She looks so beautiful in that nightgown…Ah, who am I kidding? She's beautiful, no matter how she dresses" -the soccer player thought.

-Why don't you tell me that directly? -Sanae said, smiling.

-Oh, man! I had forgotten that we think in the same frequency. I thought that you're more than great; you look beautiful just the way you are.

And mind you, Tsubasa was never good for compliments

-Oh, really? Even if I dress up like a heavy rock star?

-Don't exaggerate…

-Heh, heh, you know it's a joke, Tsubasa-kun.

Isn't it obvious he knew it was a joke?

A while later, the soccer player left the apartment, while Sanae got ready to go to her Spanish class, which was some days in the morning, and other days in the afternoon. That day, her class was in the morning. After cleaning up the main bedroom, washing the dirty laundry and feeding the canary of a neighbor that had requested her to take care of it while she went on a trip to Asturias, Sanae went to the languages center where she studied.

-Buenos días -the teacher said as soon as Sanae arrived.

-Good morning -our friend responded, remembering the basic sentences she knew thanks to Tsubasa ;).

A little later, the Japanese woman's classmates arrived. There were two English brothers, Malcolm and Matthew; an Arab young woman, Hiba; a German student, Gerhard; a French paramedic, Toinette and a Canadian woman that had lived in Japan for a couple of years, Jane. Sanae got along especially well with this one, since Jane helped her when she had doubts, and the Canadian had also found someone to practice her Japanese with.

Meanwhile, in Paris…

-Hi, Azumi-chan -said Wataru, greeting his friend, ex-girlfriend and now career partner. Both of them studied to be journalists, and they were doing it great, as they usually studied together, and thanks to their knowledge in French, Japanese, and in Wataru's case, English. And although both friends were already grown-up, he continued calling his friend Azumi-chan.

-Hey, Wataru-kun. How's it going?

-It's OK if we don't count my cerebral palsy and my husky dog eyes…

He meant that as a joke, although now he had decided to use a clear contact lens on his brown eye and a brown one on his blue eye. People couldn't even see the difference. He didn't care for his trouble, which for any other person would have been something embarrassing.

-OK too… only that my troubles are different… More feminine troubles, if you know what I mean.

-I guess.

Hayakawa Azumi was fully aware that Wataru had been a dangerous Black Archangel. Hardly a day of she being Wataru's girlfriend had passed, when Misaki-kun revealed her the truth about Wataru and himself, after he had suffered an unexplainable pain attack in middle of a class. However, she didn't care; a little later, Wataru told her that it was better if they were just friends, and although that hurt her, she accepted.

-Have you known something about Misaki-kun?

-To tell you the truth… No.

-That's strange. He's used to write frequently. I hope he's better from his injury.

-I say the same thing, buddy -Azumi said, looking in another direction. Obviously the two-color eyed lad noticed that, letting go one of his crutches, surrounded his friend's shoulders.

Meanwhile, Tooru was in his office, working. He had finished with honors his Architecture studies, and he had a lot do to daily, mainly because he was working in some blueprints for an office tower, but he never left his love for video games, not even after the hard battle he suffered as he had been the Archangel of Ice. But when he went back to Germany with Genzo's help, he found out that the Japanese keeper's best friend know what had happened, but there was no rejection from Kaltz, who learned all about winning at the video games from the best. Oh, those times…

However, his secretary told him he had a call.

-Hello, Akuji speaking.

-Hi, Tooru-kun. It's Wakabayashi.

-Ah, hi Wakabayashi-kun. It's been a time since I last heard of you.

-Yeah… You already know I'm always busy, just like you. How have you been?

-You already said it: Busy working.

-It doesn't surprise me. I called to tell you that I'll travel to Japan in a few days. Do you wish to send something to your family?

-No… wait; I do need to send them something. Could you do me a favor?

-You already know the answer.

Meanwhile, Ishizaki had just arrived to the small apartment where he lived alone. Tired as he was because of the hard trainings, he took a soda out of the fridge and collapsed on the sofa. He had talked with Yukari about living together, but she was very happy living with Kumi. However, an old friend of his lived near; a friend that needed Ryou's help. The Monkey Boy was about to fall asleep when a knock on the door woke him up.

-Who for all the…? -Ryou murmured, upset, but later, aloud -Coming!

-It's me, Misaki.

Ishizaki opened the door with a brief smile. It was very hard for him to see his old teammate and ally ;) using crutches like Wataru, and in a wheelchair after the therapies. After all, Taro was in Japan because of a very serious injury.

-C'mon in then. There's not much I can really offer, but…

-Thanks, Ishizaki-kun… And sorry for bothering you.

Misaki entered the tiny place, and was about to take off his shoes, but…

-Don't worry about that, Misaki-kun.

-But…

-C'mon, don't worry. I'll clean it later.

-All right then…

Under his rude, not attractive exterior, Ishizaki Ryou had a great heart, and an iron will.

-How are you doing with your rehab?

-Fine, I guess. Pain's still there, but you know; no pain, no gain.

-That was funny. I'd say no pain, no solution.

-Ah -Taro smiled as always. -And how are things with Yukari?

-I still can't convince her of living with me… She's very happy living with Kumi.

-What does she say?

-"Well, I know we're a couple and everything, Ryou-chan, but believe me, living together without being married isn't very usual here yet… Besides, since you arrive so tired of the trainings, you would get here to sleep immediately, and since I get here earlier, I'd be alone". That's what she says.

-An old-fashioned lady in a new-fangled world…

-Don't mention it. I love her with all my heart, and I'd love to live with her, but I don't have the heart to force her to live with me.

-And… how much time has passed since you asked her to be your girlfriend?

Luckily, Ishizaki knew the answer very well.

-Four years and three months. Why the question?

-I thought that you'd maybe…

-Ask her to marry me? No… I'm not ready to face marriage yet. And don't tell me Tsubasa already did it, 'cause I know that; remember I'm younger than him, and I don't know if Yukari would really like to marry me.

And they talked the night away.