Chapter XV: Goodbye, Wataru ;;

Many days passed and so did weeks… As you know, time never slows its relentless pace. The match between Barcelona and La Coruña ended 3-3, and Tsubasa was confused but happy when Sanae told him Yato's story.

Battles there were, and out of Jinko and Hyuga, the other Archangels discovered more of their powers. Taro discovered an attack that out of damaging, it reduced the Antiarchangels' attack, the Mist Bind. Genzo found out that like Hyuga, his new power, the Pacific Breeze was more on the healing side. Ishizaki found the way of blocking attacks with the Gaia Shield, the same as Wataru and his Eris Shell. Tooru found the way to immobilize his enemies with the Glacial Fury, while Rairyuu was pure attack; his Lightning Strike, combination of his electrical power and his dear Kiai Technique were effective and powerful. Shinobu found in the Primal Chains a way of reducing his enemies' defense and stop their attack thanks to his speed, and Tsubasa found n attack more powerful than his Shout of the Gods: Amaterasu's Flash, although he could only use it twice before depleting his energy. However, neither Kai nor Sanae had found any other power, since they were the ones who fought the least.

Sanae was now two months pregnant, and though she still hoped to listen to her baby's voice again, she didn't have that luck. Instead, she found a great company in furry 'little' Yato, since Sanae discovered that she could understand him when she read his mind. Tsubasa sometimes feigned jealousy as Sanae talked a lot with the kitten, but he knew he was partially guilty on that, since out of the battles and his careers, both his soccer career and his student career didn't give him much time. However, the love he had for his wife never diminished one bit; on the contrary, it grew not because she was her, but because of their baby.

In Japan, Daichi had just arrived home from a hard soccer match. Koudai and Natsuko were home after going to the doctor, since Koudai was recovering from a fracture he got after arriving from Australia because he stepped on a golf ball (hey, this things happen Oo)

-I'm home –he said, bored.

-How was the game, son? –asked Koudai, whose left foot was in a heavy cast.

-We won two goals to none…

-Good score then… Tsubasa will be happy to know it –said Natsuko while she mended a T-shirt.

-Yeah, I guess… -and a dam inside Daichi broke. –Mom, when will I see my niisan again? I almost never see him, and I'm sick of only talking to him on the phone just a pair of times.

-Daichi… -said Koudai, serious.

-Is it true what I'm saying or not? Ever since he went to live to Brazil, and after marrying, we haven't seen him more than a couple of times. Besides, with Sanae waiting a baby, wouldn't you like to see my brother's baby? –and with his black eyes brimming with tears, Daichi ran to his bedroom, furious.

-Ozora Daichi, you…! –Natsuko began to say, but Koudai stopped her.

-Let him be, my dear. In spite of everything, he's right.

-But…

-Isn't it our dream to be a grandmother? Wouldn't you like to see your grandson or granddaughter in your arms?

-Yes… -but Natsuko wasn't very sure of that. –But Daichi is in school right now and you have a broken bone …

-What I mean is that after I heal up, or better said, in the summer, we'll go to Barcelona to see Tsubasa. IS it okay with you?

-Koudai…

Natsuko accepted by very obvious reasons.

Meanwhile, in France, Wataru had decided to take a 'walk' on the streets of Paris. Using his crutches, the young man was walking calmly, until he saw someone he knew… With someone else.

Azumi was in a café, talking with a classmate. For an instant Wataru felt something tearing inside him, but after that he hit his forehead with his fist.

-Don't be an idiot, Osorezan Wataru… Azumi is your friend and ex-girlfriend; you shouldn't be jealous… -he told himself, and decided to continue his walk. But Azumi saw him.

-Wataru-kun! Over here!

-Ah, hi Azumi-chan… And hello… -he said, as he didn't remember the name of the guy that was there.

-What are you doing?

-Ah, just taking a walk; after all, it's a nice, sunny day.

-You're right on that one… And, have you known anything of Misaki-kun?

-Misaki-kun? It seems he'll have a place in Jubilo Iwata soon; he's almost completely healed.

-Er, sorry to bash in… -said the guy that had been talking with Azumi before. –Who's that Misaki you're talking about?

-Misaki Taro, a great friend of ours…

-Misaki Taro! But, wasn't he playing in PSG?

-He did before the accident –admitted Wataru.

-Oh, gosh… You sure are lucky. Knowing a star like Misaki Taro…

-Well, he was our schoolmate –said Azumi, smiling.

-Oh, I get it…

-I'm sorry, but I have to go. I only went out to have some fresh air, and a large, plump and juicy translation is waiting for me at home –said Wataru, excusing himself.

-Well, see you later then.

-Bye –and Wataru left, although he couldn't stop berating himself for being jealous for a moment.

"Just a bit more and I wouldn't be the Archangel of Hatred, but the Archangel of Jealousy" –he told himself, although he couldn't help snickering; that had been funny.

But he wasn't far from the café when he heard a scream… And it seemed it had been Azumi the one screaming. He tried to get there as quick as he could with his crutches and paralyzed legs, but he didn't get there on time. A guy in black with a black cap was strangling Azumi, and the young man she had been talking with was unconscious on the floor and seemingly hurt, as he was bleeding from a cut on his head.

"I don't like this… And that dude gives me a big case of the creeps…" –luckily Wataru had learned to form the barriers, although he still was a bit slow making them. However, while he did, he knew he had to find a way to save his friend. He concentrated his energy, made a tiny obsidian shard like the ones in his Hatred Blast appear in his hand, and threw it against the guy who was strangling Azumi. She was almost down for the count. Luckily the rock hit its target, and the guy in black let Azumi go, who fell to the floor unconsciously.

And just when he let her go, two things happened. One, the barrier was made, and two… Wataru aw who was the attacker.

Once again, it was Pierre.

Wataru changed his clothes and his identity (I wouldn't say he transformed) and attacked Pierre with his mace.

-Well, well… Look who we have here…

-How could you even dare to do this, Pierre? Why did you attack my friend?

-Your friend… You don't say… She is my enemy's friend.

-And mine too, for you to know.

-Well, now I can kill two birds with one stone them… Nemesis!

-Hatred Blast! –and while the attack blew up in the air, Wataru carried Azumi to a safe place.

-Don't run away, Archangel of Hatred.

-I'm not running away… I'm only saving an innocent person –answered Wataru, seizing his weapon strongly, and using his wings, he flew as straight as an arrow towards the Antiarchangel. However, Pierre stopped the attack easily.

-You haven't changed at all. You're still pretty much the same weakling…

-And you're still saying the same stupid things.

Both of them were fighting to the death; none of them receded an inch or even less. But Pierre was stronger than Wataru and made him crash against a light post.

"Misaki-kun or whoever listens to me… Please help!" –thought the guy with the two-colored eyes. He felt a coopery, foul taste in his mouth and spat. It was blood.

-Shoot, if no one helps me, I'll die.

-And are you thinking about evading your fate, Archangel of Hatred?

-I'm not fated to die… -and while Pierre used his Nemesis again… -I claim at my fate for the burden given to me! Eris Shell!

The attack dissolved thanks to the shield Wataru created, and after the attack vanished, Wataru was about to attack with his own Hatred Blast when…

-¡Marine Undertow!

-Frozen Blizzard!

Taro and Tooru had arrived just in the nick of time.

-Are you OK, kid? –asked the Archangel of Ice while Pierre was on the floor, stunned.

-I've been better…

-What happened here? Everybody here's really hurt –said Taro, shocked.

-You're right, Misaki-kun… But Pierre almost killed Azumi.

-What? What did you just say, Wataru-kun?

-Pierre's turned bloodthirsty. I bet all my translations he attacked the people here just to call my attention.

-Where's your friend? –asked Tooru.

-She's in the bushes.

Taro flew to where his friend was, unconscious, but at least breathing.

-Azumi… Azumi… For God's sake, wake up –he said, while he held his friend in his arms.

-She's still out cold. We have to do something or she could have brain damage –said Tooru, arriving there. –Take care of the Antiarchangel; I'll take care of her.

-OK –and Misaki flew towards Wataru, who was standing up, while Pierre was still a little stunned, but was recovering his lucidity.

-You think you're in fighting conditions?

-I have to. He attacked Azumi and that's unforgivable.

-You said that as if you still had a crush on her.

-Hey! –and Wataru's face was crimson, but…

-Don't ignore me! –Pierre attacked both Archangels, sending them to the floor. –Haven't you ever heard you must never turn your back to your foe?

-Look who's talking! I claim at my fate for the burden given to me! Glacial Fury! –and Tooru's attack glued Pierre's feet to the floor with ice.

-What…?

-Don't ever give the advice you don't follow… You attack my friends and don't even see I'm here too.

-Don't think you'll get away with this –said Pierre threateningly, flapping his wings as quickly as he could to free his feet.

-I was about to say the same. Hatred Blast!

Wataru's attack worked perfectly, and the Black Archangel was about to finish the Frenchman, but Taro stopped him.

-Are you sure you're going to do that?

-What?

-Think about this. If you kill Pierre, how would you explain the death of a soccer player as famous as him? Besides, I'm pretty sure Kuro would look for a substitute for him.

-Heh, you talk too much, and nothing of what you say is true… -and with a strike of his cloak Pierre freed his feet.

-Tooru-kun! Careful! –warned Taro upon seeing that Pierre was going to attack the Archangel of Ice. However, the latter took Azumi in his arms and evaded Pierre's slash flying.

-You need more than that to beat me, Antiarchangel.

-Oh, really? Nemesis! –and Pierre's attack hit Tooru, who in spite of it didn't let Azumi get hurt from the bad landing. But the Archangel of Ice was clenching his teeth because of the pain Pierre's attack had as collateral damage.

And to finish it off, Wataru's barrier began to disappear as he was losing his energies.

-The barrier… Misaki-kun, make a barrier! I'm almost tapped!

-OK.

And while Taro made another defense shield, Wataru used his wings and attacked Pierre, although he blocked the Eris Mace with his cloak.

Things went the same for a while, and it seemed that Pierre had only one goal: kill one of the Archangels at least.

Tooru had given CPR to Azumi (remember that Tooru's breath constantly smells like peppermint ;)), and the young woman woke up, although she kept herself in hiding, letting the three Archangels fight more freely.

But was Pierre tireless?

They didn't know how much time they had been fighting, but in spite of his wounds Pierre looked as fresh as a lettuce, while Taro and Tooru already looked tired, let alone Wataru, who was exhausted.

Meanwhile, Wataru's cat, Hester, had been sleeping when he woke up, scared. He had a bad hunch, and you know that the members of the cat family are really clever. Since his owner always left a window in the apartment open to the place didn't smell, the cat found a way out. He jumped to the branches of a nearby tree, went down and ran to where his instinct told him to go. But the city was enormous for poor old Hester, and he thought he wouldn't get there, but his worry gave him more energy and arrived to the place where the battle was taking place.

The barrier had been thought for humans, not for animals, and that was why the cat could pass thru it easily. He avoided the deflected attacks and got to where Azumi and Wataru were, since the latter, tired s he was, had stayed there to defend Azumi, even if that meant his life.

-Meeeoooooooowww! –exclaimed the cat upon seeing Wataru critically injured.

-Hester… What are you doing here? –Wataru said, surprised.

-I think he's worried for you –said Azumi, while she was leaning on a wall.

-This is no place for a cat. Go home.

-Meew…

-I said GO HOME! –exclaimed Wataru, furious.

-Wataru-kun…

-I don't want to see anyone dying. I don't want anything bad to happen to any of you. Understand?

However, neither Azumi nor Hester moved from their places.

But Pierre sent a vicious attack to Taro, knocking him out.

-Misaki-kun! –exclaimed the ones there, except Pierre, who smiled malignantly. Tooru distracted the Antiarchangel for a moment, while Wataru flew to take away his unconscious friend.

-Azumi-chan, take care of Misaki-kun. Hester, help her. I'm fighting!

-But…

-If I don't make this last try, my fight would be in vain.

Once again he seized his mace, and flew to fight at Tooru's side, who was very tired already.

-You're back.

-And not for a second chance.

Wataru's fury had given him more energy, and he fought face to face with Pierre while Tooru was covering his back if anything happened.

On the other hand, Taro was sill down for the count, while Azumi used her strength to take him to a safe place. Although he only weighed about 62 kilograms, Taro was too heavy for Azumi because of his wings and everything else.

-Man… Too heavy… -and since she was the only person in the barrier (out of the Archangels, the Antiarchangel and the cat), she couldn't ask for help.

That was the view. Azumi struggling to take the unconscious Archangel to safety and Tooru and Wataru fighting against Pierre.

But…

Pierre saw that Azumi was dragging Taro to a safe place along with Hester, and after using his Nemesis to make a diversion, he flew to where the young woman, the Persian cat and the faint Archangel were, since the chance to finally destroy his enemy was served on a silver dish.

But Wataru saw him, and using the little energy he ad he flew to stop Pierre.

In that instant, Taro woke up and decided to protect Azumi with the only thing left: his body.

-Now I will get what I want, Archangel of Water! You won't be in my way ever again! –shouted Pierre hysterically, while his vampire cloak was ready to deal the final blow… the final blow that didn't hit Taro… the blow that killed the Archangel of Hatred.

Pierre's cloak destroyed Wataru's armor and magatama dealing him a lethal blow. The Antiarchangel didn't even see who he had killed; he was completely blinded by his bloodthirst. Tooru saw what had happened and got Pierre out of there with a good blow from his halberd. The Antiarchangel, at last having murdered someone (although he still didn't know who) fell to the floor, with a chilling smile, since at last he was exhausted.

But, neither Taro nor Azumi saw what happened, since Wataru's magatama exploded. The explosion made Azumi faint, but Taro and Hester resisted it.

Once the blinding blast receded, Wataru fell to the floor, agonizing. Tooru and Taro hurried to try and save his life, but their attempts were in vain; it was too late.

-Wataru-kun, Wataru-kun… Why did you do that? –Taro said, crying.

-You think I'd let Pierre finish you off while you were out cold? –said the Black Archangel weakly.

-But…

-Listen to me, Misaki-kun… The Antiarchangels are much… stronger than all of us combined, and I can't even imagine how powerful Kuro is.

-Don't talk.

-I only as you to do two things… -Wataru coughed up blood. –First, tell Azumi that although I as the one who decided to break up with her, I never stopped loving her.

-And second?

-Use our combined power… And beat the… the… Antiarchangels. Please… avenge… my… -and Wataru drew his last breath. In that moment, and for some unknown reason, his body dissolved... Turning into energy and entering Misaki's magatama.

"My power is yours now… Now we are one… Now you are the real legendary Archangel of Water"-was the last thing Taro heard in his mind… Since for the very first time in his life, the Archangel of Water was furious.

-Pierre… How could you… Why did you… How could you kill one of my very best friends? –he shouted, trembling with rage, and in that moment, his armor evolved. From being the same old suit he had ever since he was fifteen, now it was a more elaborate, beautiful and strong armor… And his Poseidon's Trident had changed. Now he had some blades joined to his arm protectors.

Misaki Taro had evolved thanks to Wataru… And his own fury.