Chapter XII: Shiro's Revelation
-Whoa are you? –asked Shinobu when seeing that the Antiarchangel was there casually. –This is a disco only for underage people. You came for a job?
-Don't need it… I have a reeeeeeeeeeally good job already.
But Jinko's face went white when she recognized the one there. She immediately though on how they could avoid the others there being hurt, and unconsciously formed a barrier like the ones the White Archangels created, but it was black.
"I guess I can't help it being black" –she told herself, realizing what she did, while the barrier finished appearing.
-What happened, Jinko?
-You don't know who he is?
-To be honest, no… And you know I know little about soccer.
-Me too, but I recognized him straight away. That piercing, that sarcastic look… -Jinko looked furious. –You're Hino Ryoma, the Antiarchangel that attacked Hyuga-san!
-You're very observant, Archangel of Darkness. It's a shame that a gorgeous babe like you is one of the Kami no Tsukai's allies.
Jinko reddened out of embarrassment and anger.
-Hey, you're quite a bigmouth for being an Antiarchangel –said Shinobu, making his Chaos Whip appear.
-Leave it to me, Shinobu. I was the one he insulted after all.
Jinko made her clothes change in an instant and her Haures Scythe appeared.
-If you're looking for trouble, then you'll have it –she said, ready for battle.
-Gee, and I didn't really want to mark your pretty face, babe… But it seems I have to exterminate you. You're not Hyuga, but, who cares?
-What?
-You're not the one I wish to destroy, but an Archangel is an Archangel, not caring about the color of his or her wings.
-Don't underestimate me… Black Fire! –Jinko attacked Hino with her powers, but the Antiarchangel was completely unharmed.
-You know what my name means? I'm the Horse Dragon of Fire… That's why I'm immune to your attack. What a pity, huh? –said Hino, laughing.
-Rats… -she murmured, not knowing what to do.
-The only thing you can do is give up peacefully.
-You'd wish, idiot! –exclaimed Shinobu, furious. –The Black Archangels never give up without putting a good fight!
-How is it that a guy as weak as you says that?
-Beginning of the Ages! –Shinobu's attack worked, fortunately. –Unlike Jinko, my powers don't have an elemental origin. That's why my attack works, Hino.
-Congrats, but it was mere luck. Armageddon! –and Hino's attack sent the two Black Archangels flying.
"If there is a miracle, let it happen now, please!" –Jinko thought, quite injured. However…
-Fury of the Earth!
Ryou's attack hit Hino on the back and the Antiarchangel fell to the floor.
-Jinko-san, Shinobu-san, you OK? –asked Ryou, panting.
-Thank God you got here on time –said Shinobu. –How did you know we needed help?
-Thanks to the pain attacks, dude. C'mon, we have to attack at the same time before this creep goes back to normal.
-Sure –and the three Archangels attacked with their weapons, but Hino was ready for them; the attacks rebounded on the Japanese-Uruguayan's Shijin Shield.
-Rats! Nothing's working with him –Jinko shouted, desperate. –I'll be humiliated for the rest of my life if I don't beat him…
And when you least expect it… Miracles happen. A light bulb went on in Jinko's mind.
-My Black Fire probably didn't have any effect, but I found the way to beat you, Hino –and Jinko's aura shone around her. It was her fury. –I claim at my fate for the burden given to me! Shroud of Obscurity!
And a blast of darkness flew from Jinko's hands, whose fury hadn't still receded. The attack covered Ryoma completely, leaving Shinobu and Ryou in shock.
-No wonder they say you have to take the chance –said Ryou.
-And more if it's the chance of a lifetime –added the other Black Archangel.
The Shroud of Obscurity, leaving Ryoma injured.
-Now you'll pay for humiliating me! –Jinko said with her Scythe very near the Antiarchangel's neck.
-Jinko, don't!
Ryou and Shinobu stopped the furious woman with great effort.
-If you kill him, you'll be responsible for the death of a famous soccer player. Besides, there must be an answer for this –Shinobu said, trying to stop Jinko from destroying Ryoma.
-Let me go, Shinobu…!
-He's right, Jinko-san.
But something that no one thought would happen, happened…
-If you kill Hino, you'll only make that Kuro looks fro someone else, and if you keep on destroying them, you will have achieved one of the Black Guide's goals –said a weak voice that surprised everyone, including the Antiarchangel who was still alive by the skin of his teeth.
-That voice… I'm sure it's Shiro's voice! –said Ryou, looking for some signal of the White Guide, but he only saw Daichi there.
But then again, Daichi seemed out of himself.
-¡Daichi-kun! How is it that he trespassed the barrier?
-The Kami no Tsukai's younger brother has allowed me to possess this body for a little time. It's my only way to communicate with you.
That couldn't be possible.
-What did you say? –said Jinko, letting her Scythe fall with a clunk and letting Ryoma disappear, completely surprised.
-I don't have much time, so I'll be brief. You must join forces and become stronger; the Antiarchangels are stronger every day because of Kuro.
-And how we must do it…?
-You must look… in… in your… heart –and Shiro's possession ended. Daichi fell to the floor, out cold. Ryou ran to help the kid straight way.
-Poor Daichi… He's completely tapped –said the Archangel of the Earth. –We have to take him home immediately or Natsuko-san will worry for him.
-Can you take him home, Ishizaki-san? –asked Jinko. –We're almost like him too.
-Ooookay, but I can't take too much time; after all, I'm supposed to be in Hokkaido.
Ryou teleported to the Ozora's House, left Daichi in his bedroom (Natsuko wasn't at home), and went back to Hokkaido, where his teammates were looking for him in the field like crazy.
-Where were you? –asked Urabe, miffed. –We've been searching for you for eternity and a half.
-Don't ask.
-But, how is it that you vanish when you least expect it?
-That's me.
-Don't care us like that, would you –said Urabe finally, giving an angry knock at Ryou's head.
Meanwhile…
-Where am I? –asked Daichi when he woke up. He didn't remember anything, except that his imaginary friend, Shiro, has asked him to help it.
"I don't remember anything… And my head hurts."
"You arrived on time to avoid one of your brother's enemies getting killed, Daichi." –answered Shiro weakly.
-Gee, now I know what Zato-1 from Guilty Gear must feel. Sharing my body with someone else is driving me bonkers.
"Don't exaggerate… it's not like in that… how do you call it?"
-Videogame.
Isn't it obvious that Shiro knows zilch about the actual world?
-Anyway, I'd like to remember what I did.
"Sadly, you can't. We can't share memories; you'd lose you memories until you were completely blank."
-If you insist –and Daichi turned on the TV. One of his favorite series was on. Some time later Natsuko arrived with some of her lady friends.
-Daichi, did you do your homework?
-Yes, mom.
-All right, then. No one has called?
-The phone didn't ring once in the afternoon, mom.
-I hope you don't forget that your father will arrive soon.
-Dad's coming? Why didn't you tell me before?
-I forgot.
The kid's brow furrows. Angry as he was, he went to finish seeing his series, while Natsuko shrugged and continued talking with her friends.
-And what have you known of your oldest son? –asked one of the ladies to Natsuko.
-Well, it seems I'll be a grandmother soon. My son and his wife are expecting a baby.
-My Lord! They're so young and they're already parents.
-Remember that they married not long ago –said another lady.
-Well, I can't say anything. I was married with Koudai when I was about their age too, so I guess it's the same circumstances.
-And talk of the devil, does he know about these good news?
-No. Once he arrives from his journey thru Oceania, I'll tell him. Air mail's so slow…
-Oh, Natsuko… Being a seaman's wife mustn't be easy.
-But this is the way I live, and I'm happy in spite of that.
The ladies kept on talking cheerfully. Meanwhile, Daichi turned off the TV, since his program had finished and next was a series he hated.
"I'm sure Mom didn't want to tell me that Dad's about to come home… It's not fair."
"I don't think it's what you think" –answered Shiro mentally, while it recovered the very little energy it could because it was merely a spirit.
On the other hand, in Europe, Wataru was at home, translating some essays.
-Meow? –said Hester, his cat, while Wataru reread what he was translating, and for everyone's surprise, he didn't have his contact lenses on, but a pair of rectangular glasses.
-What's up, Hester? You ate up your food or you're just curious?
-Meooow…
-You know that curiosity killed the cat (ouch . ), right? –said Wataru, as his cat was curious of knowing what was his owner doing. –I'm correcting these translations. With a little elbow grease and lots of luck, I'll be able to finish them today and I'd receive my pay immediately. If I do it, I promise I'll buy you some sardines.
In that instant, the apartment's doorbell rang.
-Who is it?
-It's me, Azumi!
-Coming!
Wataru concentrated, took the Archangel of Hatred's identity and walked to the door.
-Hi, Azumi-chan… What's new?
-Wataru… you're under your real self, right?
-Well, both this one and the other one are my real identities. Come on in.
-OK, but I'd prefer to see you with your crutches. Seeing you walk normally gives me the creeps.
Azumi closed the door, while Wataru teleported to his room, were his crutches were, and went back to normal.
-Hi, Hester.
-Meoow.
-OK. Now, what's new?
-I'm OK. And you?
-As you can see, working and recovering what I lost some time ago.
-Ah, right. Your powers.
-Do you want something to drink?
-No, thanks. I've just had a milkshake.
-OK.
-Have you been attacked again?
-No. Why the question?
-Well, I was thinking, and if Pierre's after Misaki-kun, he'd probably attack you too.
-You're good at pointing the obvious.
-Hey!
-I don't want to disagree with you, Azumi, but if that was true, I would've been attacked again already. I think Kuro must be planning something… And whatever it's planning, I don't like it.
-What do you think then?
-Well, I'm not sure, but at least I know that some of the Antiarchangels are Pierre and Karl Heinz Schneider.
Azumi blanched
-Karl Heinz Schneider? He's the German Soccer team's captain!
-Ah, I forgot you know about soccer.
-Hey, isn't there a way to contact Misaki-kun?
-Yes, if we don't count his e-mail.
-What?
-When Misaki saved my life, he told me he got a cellphone. It's going to be expensive, but I'll call him.
-Then don't call him… Give me his phone number and I'll call him from my house.
-How?
-It's cheaper if I call him from my house. Besides, you said you're short on money.
-I can't understand you at all.
-I say the same about guys.
But a hiss from Hester stopped the discussion. There was an UGLY moth on the window. Azumi screamed, scared and disgusted, but Wataru was sure that it wasn't a moth.
-Azumi-chan, run.
-What?
-I'm positive that that's nit a moth.
-Then?
-Just run away!
The young woman, surprised at the Black Archangel's hardness, obeyed and ran out of the house, with Hester following her steps.
-Well, well… You never stop being sooo perceptive, right?
-No… and less with my enemies –and just to save his house, Wataru teleported to somewhere where he was sure no one would interfere; out of Paris. Pierre appeared behind him, ready to attack him, but Wataru turned around quickly, at last face to face with the Antiarchangel.
-Why did you decide to get here?
-Unlike my friends, I can't make barriers, and it's my duty to stop you from hurting innocent people.
-Well, you're right about this place. It's nice. You chose a nice tomb.
-My tomb, my destruction… Change your libretto, dude.
-What would I gain in denying the truth? Nemesis!
-Rats! Hatred Blast! –Wataru used his obsidian shards to avoid the attack, and using his powers (but forgetting his wings) he jumped.
"Oh, God, it's the first time I really jump…" –but he couldn't sidetrack himself. Once he caught his breath, he made his old Black Archangel outfit and his mace appear.
-Now we are face to face, El Cid Pierre!
-You'd wish! –and the Frenchman made a rush attack with his mortal cloak. Wataru stopped the attack with his mace, and thinking quickly, he kicked Pierre on the stomach.
It worked
The Antiarchangel fell to the floor, breathless, but ready to attack. Wataru retreated, waiting. Waiting for Pierre to counterattack…
And for a miracle to happen.
-Heh, not bad. I never expected to give such a kick when you really use crutches, mon ami.
-Cut the nonsense, Pierre.
-What a pity… Nemesis!
-You never learn! Hatred Blast!
But Wataru wasn't so lucky this time. The attack hit him squarely, sending him to the floor amidst excruciating pain.
"So there's a secondary effect in the attack… Shoot, I have to get up!"
But it seemed no one would come.
-What am I going to do…?
-How about giving up?
-I'd prefer to eat my shoes… Hatred Blast!
The attack made Pierre look at another side, and Wataru teleported above him, falling headfirst over Pierre, who countered it with his cloak leaving Wataru injured. The Antiarchangel was about to finish the Black Archangel off, but…
-In your dreams, Pierre! Marine Undertow!
-Misaki-kun!
Taro was there, not furious, but quite upset… Although I guess that it must be really hard to make Misaki-kun get angry.
Pierre was wobbly for a moment, but his fury concentrated when he saw the Archangel of Water there.
"May everyone be safe and sound, may no one remember this…" –it was already second nature for the Archangel of Water to form the barrier.
-You got here just in the nick of time –Wataru said, trying to get up.
-I did what I could… Azumi called me.
-Azumi called you? Thank Heaven.
-Yeah.
-Don't ignore me! Nemesis!
-Didn't you learn when you were a kid that you shouldn't interrupt other people's conversation? Hatred Blast!
-Marine Undertow!
Mysteriously enough both attacks merged, forming water arrows at first, and them… some kind of sea monster that engulfed Pierre and left him really injured when the attack exploded.
-Hey, do you know if a White Archangel's attack and a Black Archangel's attack has ever combined like this before? –asked Wataru, surprised.
-No.
-Well, now we know that we're stronger as a team.
-You're not going to get away with this.
-You actually think you can beat us with our combined powers, Pierre? You already saw that our joined attacks are as strong, or stronger than yours.
-Heh, and I'm still not at the top of my powers –and cursing, the Antiarchangel disappeared. Wataru fell on the soft fragrant grass, while Taro sat down with some difficulty.
-Have all of you found new information? –asked the Archangel of Hatred, exhausted.
-Lots. We know now who ALL the Antiarchangels are.
-I know about Pierre ands Schneider…
-There's Carlos Santana, Brazilian soccer star and Tsubasa's rival, Hino Ryoma, who is half-Japanese, half-Uruguayan and hates Hyuga… and Kurai.
-Kurai? I don't know any guy called Kurai.
-It's a woman. At least I think that Kurai was created from the Archangel of Love.
-From the Kami no Tsukai's wife?
-Yes.
-She must be very dangerous –said Wataru, a chill running down his spine.
¿And what would've happened if they knew that Shiro was in this world, thanks to the youngest (not counting Sanae's baby ;)) of the Ozoras, Daichi?