Chapter VIII: Consequences

In Spain, Sanae was cleaning the house calmly. She hadn't had any trouble ever since that freak tingling after the battle with Santana, but she didn't know what was going to happen, or what had happened.

She observed with concern when Ishizaki called Tsubasa in the morning, commenting that Misaki had had a very hard battle against an old rival, El Cid Pierre, even with his painful injury. That proved something very important, perhaps: Their enemies wouldn't be unknown people… Or not that much at least.

Nonetheless, the young woman didn't fell complete, although she was pregnant. She felt that something was missing, but she didn't know what it was.

She was afraid.

But she kept on cleaning the house, after cooking her lunch. Later, she prepared herself to go to the Spanish class but the phone rang.

-Hola, casa de la familia Ozora. Habla Sanae. (Ozora Residence. Sanae speaking)

-¿Sanae-san? It's Jane, from the Spanish classes.

-Ah, Jane-san. How are you?

-Fine, thanks. I called to tell you there won't be class today.

-Why's that?

-It seems they're making inventory, so the next three days are free.

-Maybe it'll be convenient for me; I'm not feeling well anyway.

And so Sanae stalked a bit on the phone with her friend, but once again she felt that weird tingling feeling she had had after the battle with Santana after she hung the phone.

-What, what is this…? –mumbled the woman, while the tickling numbed her body this time… And for the first time, a pain attack hit the Archangel of Love.

But, why did she have that tingling, and the pain attack later? It was the consequences of not having a dark side within her, although she didn't know it.

After the pain subsided, Sanae fell to the floor, unconscious. Of course, since she had never suffered that pain, she didn't have the others' endurance. But she didn't count with Tsubasa returning home early, and when he saw his wife out cold on the floor, he hurried to help her.

-Sanae! Honey, please wake up… -said the Kami no Tsukai, while he patted his wife's face, and she was still fainted. But it didn't seem to work.

"Please, don't let anything happen to Sanae… I just can't bear a life without her…" –and part of Tsubasa's energy transferred to the unconscious woman. Of course, the young soccer player was bushed, just like after the pain attacks, but at least Sanae woke up.

-What, what happened…? –she asked once she regained consciousness.

-I dunno. You were unconscious when I got here. Santana didn't attack you, right?

-No. I only remember I had a weird tickling in my body, later a terrible pain and that's all I remember.

-Ah… I forgot you've never experienced the pain attacks.

-Like the ones you usually have? I don't know.

-You felt you were being electrocuted? You felt you were agonizing? –asked Tsubasa very seriously.

-Yeah.

-Well, now you know what I feel when I get a pain attack. However, I want you to promise me something, Sanae.

-What?

-I want you to call me if you're not feeling well. If you have again that lingering feeling or another attack, call me at once.

-But Tsubasa…

-Just promise it –and Tsubasa took his wife's slender hands. –Just promise it.

-I promise…

And of course, the usual hug between them can't be forgotten, right?

Meanwhile, what was Kuro planning? It seemed it had sent its Antiarchangels to check out the enemies… Or rather said, to fulfill their mission, although two defeats in a row weren't a good sign… And it still didn't know a thing about the third one.

Kuro hadn't still finished Kurai's creation. Although it knew it couldn't make a single mistake, it still wasn't able of making the female Antiarchangel exist completely. However, one of its minions appeared where it was.

-Great Guide, when can I enter the scene? I mean, Santana and the French dude already had a fight each… Why don't you let us see how weak are the others?

It was Ryoma, who was terribly bored after receiving the Antiarchangel's evil powers.

-I prefer not to be noticed, not making you be noticed before time, Hino. You can't fight until I give you the order. Besides, I still haven't finished creating the last Antiarchangel.

-Last Antiarchangel? The four of us are more than enough, Great Guide.

-You really think so? Would you be able to attack a woman, even if she is the most powerful White Archangel and she hasn't finished developing her powers?

-Hey… We Antiarchangels are at least ten times stronger than…

-But what you have in strength, they have it in firmness and experience, although the major part of them don't have powers or have forgotten them.

However, Santana appeared in that instant, tired.

-Anda, ¿y a éste qué le pasa? (Gee, what got him?) –said Ryoma, raising an eyebrow.

-Grande Guia, eu sinto muito... Eu não pude bater o Arcanjo de Terra –mumbled the Brazilian player, exhausted.

-What did he say?

-He said he couldn't defeat the Archangel of the Earth –said Kuro, narrowing its ice-cold eyes. –Can a White Archangel beat you single handedly, Santana?

-It wasn't just a White Archangel.

-Then, there were two, or three? Did Hyuga fight too? –said Hino, anxious.

-No… just when I was abut to destroy that White Archangel, a black winged being appeared… The Archangel of Darkness –explained Santana, recovering his strength.

Ryoma opened his mouth in surprise.

-It can't be… I could've sworn that the Black Archangels had lost their powers because of the Messenger of the Gods! –shouted Kuro, shooting an energy wave that sent the Antiarchangels to the floor.

-Ow… I think I broke my coccyx –murmured Ryoma, who fell on his backside, but Santana fell flat on his face.

-Hino, help your partner. We can't allow him to be so injured.

-You said it, boss –and Ryoma took charge of Carlos.

Meanwhile, Schneider was in his room, his mind blank and his bedroom curtains closed. From the time he stopped being the same guy, he almost couldn't stand the light. Although he withstood it without caring in the training, he preferred to be in utter darkness once he got home.

Marie, his sister, was worried. She had noticed that her brother, serious and dedicated to soccer before, had turned into an iceberg. His eyes were even bluer than before because of his iciness. However, she wasn't able to talk to him; she was afraid of him, so there was only one thing to do: contact Genzo, although he was Karl's rival. Sadly, she remembered that he was in Japan, and her mind went blank. But the phone rang and she hurried to answer the phone.

-Hello? Marie Schneider speaking.

-Marie? It's Herman Kaltz.

-Hi, Herman. How are you…?

-Luckily, I'm fine.

-Herman, have you known something about Genzo?

-Not a thing since he went to Japan. I was thinking about calling him to his cellphone.

-Do you have an idea of who can have his cellphone number?

-I don't have it, but I know someone who does.

-Who?

-A friend of ours, who is also a friend of Karl's.

The girl's face darkened.

-I wanted to talk to Genzo because I'm worried about Karl.

-Why?

-He's been acting very strange lately –whispered the German girl, since Karl had gone out of his room to drink a glass of juice.

-And why's that? Probably it's because he got a girlfriend –Herman said as a joke.

-It's not funny at all!

-I was just kidding. Chill out.

-Herman… Please understand me. Karl is acting Ice King too much with everyone; I'm even afraid of talking to him.

-Then I don't know why you want to talk with Genzo if you know that he and Karl are rivals.

-It's just that I don't know if it's something Genzo did or something… Besides, I have the feeling that maybe he can help me with this.

"Feeling? Can it be that Karl has something to do with Genzo's secret?" –thought Herman, worried. The memory of Genzo confessing him he was someone different… someone whose fate wasn't only to be a world class goalkeeper, but being an Archangel destined to fight for this world crossed his mind.

-Don't worry, Marie. I'll talk with Genzo

-For real?

-Settle down; once I know something about him, I'll tell you –and both Herman and Marie hung the phone.

Of course, the ones who were involved in this matter without being Archangels suspected many things… Except Natsuko, who was quite informed thanks to Misaki.

After the very long conversation (Daichi went to sleep grudgingly), Natsuko was about to go to sleep, although the phone scared her.

-Ozora Residence. Natsuko speaking.

-Mom? It's me, Tsubasa.

-Honey… It's very late…

-I know it's not the best hour for calling, but this is a matter of great importance.

-What happened?

-I guess you know I had to fight with Carlos Santana.

-Yes… Misaki told me something about it.

-Misaki-kun? Thank Heaven. Then you know something…

-Almost. Did you know something about a 'black moon?'

-No. Why?

-Because the Black Archangels are back according to your friend.

-What did you say?

-What I told you, Tsubasa. Now it seems you and your friends have some great allies.

Of course, Natsuko heard how Tsubasa had let the phone fall out of absolute surprise.

-Then, what I though did happen…? It means the fights will have a little more fairness.

-I hope so, son.

-Well, mom, I don't want to make you lose any more time. Sweet dreams.

-Thanks, son, and bye.

-Bye.

Natsuko hung the phone and couldn't muffle a yawn. It had been a very long day, and a very energetic one, if we remember all the data that passed between the witnesses.

"I pray for your safety, my dear son…" –and Natsuko went to sleep. Meanwhile, Daichi was already sleeping and dreaming. He was dreaming unimportant things, but once again he dreamt of Kuro, who was about to give the coup de grace to his brother, and beside Kuro, there was someone with an even eviler aura around it.

-No! I don't want to dream anymore! –shouted the boy in his dreams. Natsuko didn't hear him, but Shiro (y'know… Oo) did what it could to calm the sleeping boy.

"Daichi… Hang on. I need you to help your brother, the Tsukai, and for that I need you to keep on seeing what you see in your dreams."

Surprisingly Shiro wasn't talking in riddles, since it knew that Daichi wasn't still wise enough to resolve them.

Meanwhile, in Spain, Tsubasa was fixing his suitcase, since he had to travel to play a match against the Deportivo la Coruña.

-You think you'll be OK without me, Sanae? –he asked, while he tucked away neatly his underwear (OoU).

-I already told you I'll be OK; I'm not a weakling, you know –she said, while she folded her husband's uniform.

-I know that, but I'm worried for you. I just hope Santana doesn't attack you, and more now that you're expecting the baby.

-Yes… Now that you mention it, what should be the baby's name?

-I was thinking in Yuriko if it's a girl.

-OK by me… Heeeeeey, wasn't that your grandmother's name?

-You got me–answered the Tsukai with a hand scratching the back of his head.

-And if it's a boy?

-I dunno… What do you think?

-I was thinking we could call him Hayate.

-Hayate? Quick hands… I like it. How about Kouichi?

-No… I don't like it.

-Yeah, you're right. Then it's Yuriko if it's a girl and Hayate if it's a boy. At any rate…

-It's an Ozora and you'll teach him or her all what you know about soccer –completed Sanae, smiling.

-Did you read my mind?

-How did you know?

Tsubasa pretended he was offended, but he knew his wife didn't fall for that.

-Don't be such a fool, Tsubasa.

-OK, OK… Anyway, don't forget you promised you'd notify me if you felt ill.

-You don't have to repeat it.

They kept on there, in silence, but the tension in the air was so tense you could cut it with a knife. Some time later the apartment's phone rang, but it was one of Tsubasa's teammates, asking him at what time they had to be in the airport.

The rest of the day passed calmly, and some time later, they were eating some cantaloupe melon slices, Tsubasa's favorite dessert ;)

-And what did your mother tell you, honey?

-She knows everything thanks to Misaki-kun and the others… And it seems we have more allies than what we thought.

-What?

-According to my mother, there had been a 'black moon' in Japan, and the Black Archangels are back.

-What? The Black Archangels are back? –Sanae looked scared.

-Don't worry. It seems they're on our side. That's what my mother said.

-By the way… I wonder what she meant with the 'black moon.'

-It sounds like an eclipse –said Tsubasa, before raising a piece of melon to his mouth.

-Could be… Who could we ask?

-We'll ask tomorrow, honey. It's too late in Japan.

In Germany, Tooru was walking in a park in Hamburg that was near to Saint Michael's Church, very near to the place where he had first met Genzo, in the dreadful time when he had been scammed by Kuro.

-Gee, things have sure changed… I never imagined I'd be friends with Wakabayashi-kun, or that I'd really appreciate this beautiful world.

-How sure can you be of that? –Tooru heard behind him. The architect turned to see who was there and was surprised.

-Karl… I thought you were in Munich.

-I… just came to visit.

Nonetheless, Tooru had a chill running down his spine… And he couldn't explain why he had had that eerie feeling.

-Who did you come to visit? You don't have many friends around here for all I know.

-And you exclude yourself so easily…? –Karl's iciness was greater than Akuji's.

-Well… You're not that close, although I taught you all about videogames, Karl.

-Not that close… I wouldn't be so sure of that… -and some eerie black marks appeared under Karl Heinz Schneider's sky blue eyes.

"I don't like this at all… It seems Schneider was bamboozled by Kuro. I know my powers are back, but I don't think being a Black Archangel Negro is enough."

-Stop hesitating! –and Schneider attacked the Archangel of Ice with a strange weapon. –Don't tell me you don't know how powerful we Antiarchangels are!

Tooru fell to the floor with a thud.

-Rats… And I don't know how to make barriers… Or maybe I do –like the White Archangels, the Archangel of Ice concentrated and tried to make a barrier that let him fight freely and protect the people that passed by physical and mentally, at the same time.

And he barely made it, since while it began to appear, the architect evaded attacks that came from everywhere.

Schneider's weapon, a strange chain with a hook in the end, with a long handle with a pointed spearhead was destroying the pavement, but Tooru wasn't attacking yet, or at least until the barrier was made. Once it was ready…

-Now I can fight freely! Frozen Blizzard!

-That's nothing… Now feel the power of my Oblivion! –Schneider punched the air three times and the three strikes flew leaving a dark trail behind them. Tooru couldn't shun the three hits on time, but Schneider wasn't unharmed.

-You're lucky… You hit me because I wasn't paying attention, but it won't happen again, Archangel of Ice. As I said, I only came to 'say hi'… So consider yourself lucky 'cause I'll let you live –and like his evil partners, Schneider disappeared, although he didn't laugh at all.

The architect made the barrier disappear, and walked to a nearby park bench with strength taken out of nowhere, where he fell down completely exhausted.

-I'll have to work harder than ever… if I want to keep on alive –he told himself, exhausted, before taking out the container where he had his peppermint candied and popping one into his mouth.

Once he recovered his strength, the Archangel of Ice began to analyze the battle he had had some moments ago. Some scratches here, a big bump there… and the huge mistake of not asking for help; he hadn't thought of it.

-What should I do…? I have to inform the others, but it's still night in Japan and I don't know who should I tell here in Europe… or maybe I do.

He ran to his apartment and searched for Wataru's phone number in his agenda. Once he found it, he dialed the student's phone number.

-Hello, Osorezan-kun?

-Who is it?

-It's me, Akuji.

-Akuji Tooru? No way, Jose!

-Believe it, kid.

-Why did you call? You're usually very busy.

-I had an attack.

-Pain attack?

-No; an Antiarchangel attacked me.

-What did you say? Was it perhaps Pierre?

-No… Someone I knew a long time ago, Karl Heinz Schneider. And who the heck's Pierre?

-The French Soccer Team's captain. Akuji-san, be very careful.

-I'm usually very careful. Please tell about this to whoever you can tell; I'm afraid that not even us the Black Archangels can fight the Antiarchangels on our own.