Chapter XXV: Jinko's Sacrifice
Of course, the wedding was interrupted for a while, while Shinobu at last met, or better said, reunited again with his mother, Akira, and met his younger half-brother, Takanori.
Five minutes later, Shinobu and his girlfriend said Yes, with two more guests ;). When the priest said "you may kiss the bride", everyone in the church applauded like crazy, being Shinobu's mother the one who clapped the most.
Later, in the party, a great part of the guests were talking casual and gladly about the wedding, except Taro, Jinko, the just married couple, and Shinobu's just-found family.
Of course, many years of living with his father, and later completely alone under a tutor's custody made Shinobu have a huge amount of questions, being "Why couldn't you at lest write to me?" the first one.
-To be honest, I was afraid that Mitsuji didn't let you know anything about me and vice versa, and later I was afraid you'd reject me –Akira replied, her eyes watery.
-But as you can see, our mom married my dad, and well, here I am –Takanori added.
-Many weird things have happened; this isn't the moment to explain all of that, but we'd better celebrate two events: Shinobu's wedding and his reencounter with his mother –said Misaki, always trying to calm things down.
And everyone agreed with him. (How couldn't they? ;))
The brand-new man and wife danced the usual waltz, with a radiant smile on their face (Music runs in Shinobu's blood… And is an excellent dancer, although not as good as Ishizaki ;)) Some other couples were dancing, and sometimes they interchanged. Jinko danced with one of Shinobu's former classmates, while Taro sat down because of his injury.
And while he was sitting down in his place, Misaki observed the slow evolutions of his girlfriend as she danced dressed in a beautiful black velvet dress. She looked very attractive… Too attractive to be true.
"Could it be that I'm dreaming, and I wake up and discover it's just a dream, that Jinko and I…?" –Misaki thought for an instant. He was so distracted he didn't notice that the waltz had ended and Jinko walked towards him.
-Taro-kun. Taro-kun… Are you here? –asked the young woman, worried that Misaki wasn't answering. She even passed a hand in front of his face, but she had no answer.
"He's on cloud nine. What's wrong with him?" –and the only thing the Archangel of Darkness could do was to pinch his cheek slightly.
It worked.
-Huh…? Sorry, Jinko-chan… I think I was somewhere beyond the moon.
-Tell me something I don't know…
-Auguste Renoir's son was a film director…
-Hey, I didn't really mean it.
-I know. I was just kidding –and both of them laughed heartily.
A moment later, Ryou and Yukari went to the place where Misaki and Jinko were.
-Don't you think it was a beautiful reencounter? –asked Yukari, who had a moss green dress on.
-Every reencounter is beautiful, Nishimoto-san.
-yes… Although some of them are more painful than beautiful –Misaki added, his face a bit darkened.
-Why do you say that?
Misaki said no more, but Ryou understood what happened at once.
He remembered that after Tsubasa journey to Brazil, when everyone was in High School, Misaki returned to Japan… Quite changed.
Although he still was the same kind, sweet and peaceful guy, there was a trace of sadness in his eyes and his voice.
And it had been in those times when Misaki told the Archangel of the Earth a sad story, after Ishizaki pleaded him to tell him what was wrong, since he was worried for his friend.
At first Misaki seemed a bit reluctant, but at last he relented and told Ryou what happened before he went to live to Europe, when he saw his mother, Yamaoka Yumiko, once again.
He hadn't seen her ever since he was a little boy, but seeing her, along with a girl, made him think that wasn't his place in the world.
His place was at his father's side, with travels, troubles and everything.
"Of course, this reencounter must've put Misaki in a low mood. I'd better talk to him and have him far away from the cocktails, if I'm allowed a small joke."
And it's on to the work, Ishizaki. With a single glance, he asked Yukari and Jinko to leave him and Misaki alone for a while, since he needed to talk with the depressed soccer player alone.
Once the women retired…
-Hey, Misaki-kun, what's happening?
-No, nothing…
-You don't trick me, Misaki. Remember that I have a tiny power that allows me to…
-That allows you to know what's really in my mind.
-Bingo.
Misaki took a deep breath and told Ryou what happened, resigned. It was just what the Archangel of Earth was afraid of.
Ryou didn't really know what to say… Until he said that it was useless to remember the scars of the past.
-What's done is done, and there's nothing we can do about it. But you can't forget your past because of that, you know. You have to remember the good things you lived n the past, not the bad ones.
-Ishizaki-kun… How is it that you tell me that?
-I know my childhood was pretty normal, and my adolescence… Not that much. I may have been someone who didn't have as many troubles as you, Tsubasa, Wakabayashi or Hyuga, but I always try to remember the good things of my past, anyway.
"I always try to remember the good things of my past…"
Misaki listened carefully what his buddy had told him, and tried to follow his advice, pbut he couldn't help but think about his mother painfully.
-However… There's something bothering me, Ishizaki-kun.
-What is it?
-Well… To be honest, I never talked to my mother, and I really regret it.
-Ad why don't you something instead of just complaining? I don't mean you have to do it right now, because it's not the moment nor the place, but you could call her tomorrow.
-Yes… I'll do it then. Thanks, Ishizaki-kun.
-Hey, that's what friends are for, right?
A while later, Yukari y Jinko came back, when Taro was again in his usual sunny mood.
-What was wrong with you, Misaki-kun? –asked Yukari.
-It's something only Ishizaki-kun knows, and I'd prefer it to stay it that way.
-Ah… But you sure looked dejected. Not even Jinko can know it? And she's your fiancée.
-Nishimoto-san… There are some things it's better not to know, and I prefer not to know. That's what we call secrets, and anyone's free of having them –answered the young doctor, placing a hand on one of her man's shoulders.
Moments later, Shinobu's WIFE was about to throw away the bouquet, so the feminine guests made a big bunch waiting for the flowers to fall.
Yukari pushed Jinko into the group, although the Archangel of Darkness obviously looked uncomfortable.
-But Nishimoto-san…
-Didn't you know? You'll be the next one who marries if you catch the bouquet.
-But Taro and I have been a couple for just some months!
-Don't you know you don't lose anything trying…?
Jinko didn't answer. She merely sighed and joined the group of ladies, in spite of her lack of enthusiasm (;D)
-Ready? Here it goes! –and the bride threw the bouquet of lilies into the air. Of course, the flower arrangement bounced on the women's outstretched hands… and landed in Jinko's hands with some petals missing.
-Who got the flowers? –asked the bride.
-Well… Me –Jinko said, embarrassed, looking for a good hideout.
-Excellent catch, Jinko-san –Yukari said, smiling.
-Uh, yes. Excuse me –and the young woman left to 'retouch her make-up' (To look for a hole in the earth and disappear thru it more likely)
Meanwhile Misaki had the flower bouquet in his hands after Jinko gave it to him for safekeeping.
-Poor Jinko… It's obvious she's not used to all this, but she's doing his best for Shinobu-san –he whispered, while he breathed in the lilies' aroma.
And when you least expect it… Trouble arrives.
Taro, Ryou, Jinko and Shinobu got the pain attack. Not at the same time, but it was strong enough to send the other guests into panic.
Shinobu was with his wife, Akira y Takanori when the attack signal got him.
-Shinobu! –exclaimed his wife, trying to hold her husband.
-Takanori, please help him! –Akira said, terrified.
-Niisan, what's happening? I hope it's not a heart attack –said the young man, holding his brother up with all his might.
Meanwhile, Ryou was panting after the attack ceased, but Yukari was completely terrified. She was in the verge of tears, but the Archangel of the Earth tried to get up and create the barrier.
Jinko had suffered the pain attack while she was in the ladies' room, hitting the place her kidneys were with the washbasin. However, she concentrated her energies and tried to get back to her feet and ran to see what happened.
Misaki was in the middle of the attack, trying his hardest not to shout so as not to scare the others, but the other guests had fled, panicking.
-Why did it have to hot me right now? –Ryou murmured between his teeth, since he hadn't been able to sense anything but the pain.
-Who are they attacking, or who did they attack? –asked Jinko to herself, while she walked with a hand over her back towards Taro, who still was writhing in pain.
-What's wrong? Why can't I see anything? –Shinobu said, while Takanori still held him up.
And Taro didn't say a word, but opened his eyes… And saw what happened.
Santana was there, terrifying with his weapons, his wings and the black marks under his eyes.
Luckily Ryou had created the barrier, but it wasn't strong enough for all the people there. He signaled Taro as well as he could to make a barrier too, and at last the Archangel of Water finished creating the strongest barrier ever made. As you know, the barrier only affected the people that did not possess the power of the Archangels, either White or Black or Anti, so the other guests would be safe and sound if they didn't get near them.
-Who invited you here? –said Ishizaki, making his Axe, his magatama and his wings appear.
Santana didn't answer. He seemed to be mute.
-What's wrong with Santana? He usually begins to brag in the instant –said Shinobu, who had put his mother, wife and brother to safety. He had his Whip in one hand, and put on his glasses with the other one. His eyes were really hurting now.
"I don't like this. He seems to be gone, let alone colder than Antarctica" –Taro thought, while Jinko, still with her back aching, didn't think or say anything, focusing on making her Black Archangel suit and her Haures Scythe appear.
-Archangels –Santana's voice was still the same, but was as warm as a robot's voice –This time… You won't be victorious.
-What happened, Santana? –Ishizaki shouted. –You disappeared yesterday without leaving a trace and now you're practically a robot!
But the only thing he received as an answer was a brutal attack from the Antiarchangel
Without them knowing it, Santana had almost broken free from Kuro's influence the past day, but the Black Guide, noticing it, reinforced its brainwash, making Santana lose practically all his willpower.
The attack left Ishizaki seriously injured, making him fall to the floor, almost unconscious.
-Ishizaki-kun! –and Misaki went towards his friend, while Jinko y Shinobu got ready for battle.
-Thanks for ruining my wedding, Santana –said the Archangel of Chaos, furious. –The happiest day of my life has been ruined because of you.
No reply.
Instead, Jinko, who had her Black Archangel suit on (way better for fighting than her black dress), waited for the Antiarchangel's reaction. She knew that the only thing she could do was to counterattack, no matter how.
And Santana moved, his face as expressionless as ever. He flew directly towards Shinobu, kathars in his hands. He flew very quickly, but not quick enough to surprise the Archangel of Chaos.
He avoided him by the skin of his teeth, and attacked with his Beginning of the Ages, but Santana repelled it with just one hand.
-Nothing works against him?
-Let's try it at the same time, Shi! –Jinko shouted, flying towards him.
-Jin!
-You heard me! Black Fire! –and the dark flare flew towards Santana.
-Beginning of the Ages!
And THREE more attacks joined them.
-Fury of the Earth!
-Oceanic Darts!
-Shout of the Shadows!
Kai had arrived there on time, his Kage no Tsukai suit on and Charon's Sword in his hands.
The five attacks hit Santana, hurting him (at last!), and he fell to the floor.
-You got here just on time, Kai –said Taro, flying to where the others were.
-You know… I had a bad feeling about this.
And yet…
-Apocalypsis! –Santana attacked, but Kai countered the attack.
-You'd wish! Shout of the Shadows!
The Apocalypsis was deflected, colliding with the barrier, and making Kai fall to the floor because of the impulse.
-We're five against one, Santana. Think about it –Kai said, but a rock would've answered quicker than him.
-I'm afraid you're not going to get an answer, Kai-kun –Jinko replied, who still had a hand on her aching back.
-I don't want to imagine why, but if we don't do anything, we'll die –Ishizaki said, holding himself with his Battle Axe.
The battle continued nonstop. Santana seemed to be now two times stronger than before, and that meant trouble for the Archangels.
However, the one who had the worst injuries was Ryou. For some reason Santana always tried to attack him.
-Why me? Why is he always trying to attack me, if we're not even rivals? –the Monkey Boy murmured, injured.
-Apocalypsis!
-I claim at my fate for the burden given to me! Gaia Shield! –and Ishizaki covered himself from the attack, but immediately fell, exhausted. Misaki hurried to take him out of there, while Jinko, Shinobu and Kai distracted Santana.
But they were running out of energies.
-Rats! Santana never gets tired? –Kai said, furious.
-I'd like to know that too, Kai-kun –Shinobu replied, attacking with his whip.
Meanwhile, Jinko, without uttering a single word, attacked Santana with her Scythe, but he countered the attack, and sent her to the floor with a well-placed kick.
-Jinko! –Misaki shouted, flying towards the Archangel of Darkness.
-No… don't waste your time, Taro –she said, gasping for breath. Santana had kicked the air out of her.
-OK. Take care of Ishizaki. I'll fight.
-OK… -and Jinko teleported to the place Ishizaki was, still unconscious. In the meantime, Misaki attacked Santana with his weapons, hurting him. However, don't think it was that easy; Santana stabbed one of his wings with his kathar.
It was an exquisite explosion of pain for the Archangel of Water, who flew high up almost without seeing… And he got an idea. For some strange reason he was able to do the…
-Hatred Blast! –Wataru's attack worked perfectly! The obsidian stone arrows flew towards Santana, who avoided the attack after all. However, that distraction worked so Kai and Shinobu were able to attack with everything.
And yet, things seemed to worsen by the instant.
Hurt as he was, Santana flew towards Ishizaki and Jinko, recovering. And for the first time in the battle, Santana's expression changed… To a terrorizing smile. He tried to attack the two injured Archangels, but Kai's Shout of the Shadows avoided it.
-You're not going to beat us, Santana!
-That's what you think… -and the Antiarchangel began to concentrate all his power. It was very probable he would attack with a mightier Apocalypsis than the ones he had used before… And the worst thing was that it was heading towards Ishizaki, the one whose injuries were the deadliest.
But Jinko noticed it, and with all the wounds in her body throbbing like mad, she pushed Ishizaki out of there… Just when Santana attacked with the Apocalypsis.
It seemed it took centuries instead of mere seconds. Ishizaki being just millimeters away from the dark attack… Shinobu and Kai flying at top speed… Misaki shouting Jinko's name…
And the Apocalypsis exploding on the very same place she had been. But to finish it off… The collateral damage of Santana's deadly attack worked.
Which was it? It was practically a bomb, destroy any inanimate object on the spot…
And Jinko received it squarely. Her armor, her scythe, her magatama… Everything had been destroyed in an instant.
-Jinko, no…! JINKO!
Misaki flew immediately to the place where his girlfriend was, unconscious and bleeding. Her armor had vanished completely, and she was clad only in her black velvet dress, now torn into rags. He tried to heal her while he held her in his arms.
-No, Jinko… Please, don't die.
-She will die… as so will you, Archangel of Water –and Santana got ready to attack, but someone stopped him.
It was Ishizaki, furious beyond imagining.
-If you're gonna kill someone, then kill me in a real battle! Fury of the Earth!
-Apocalypsis!
Both attacks collided in midair, and the final explosion made both enemies fall to the floor.
-Ta, Taro… -Jinko was agonizing. –Please, don't give up…
-What did you say, Jinko? Don't say that…
-I think I can't resist any longer, hon… -and with a louder voice… -Ishizaki-san… Please protect everyone on my behalf… Taro, Shinobu, Kai… Everyone… on my behalf.
-What?
-And… AND DEFEAT THE ANTIARCHANGELS FOR ALL WHO HAVE DIED FIGHTING! –and with that, the last breath of Imawano Jinko had been used, her body turning into pure energy and entering the Archangel of Earth's magatama, whose evolution happened while he fought… And his Axe turned into an enormous Crescent Blade.
"Defend everyone… With our powers… Because now you are the true and only Archangel of the Earth."
Misaki stayed there, his arms holding only air now, while Shinobu and Kai fell in sheer shock. Santana, with a cruel smile on his face, tried to attack Ishizaki, but he, in the middle of his fury, and the oath of avenging his friend, deflected the attack… And countered it.
-This is for the one who sacrificed herself for all of us… Desert Storm!
And with that attack Santana fell at the feet of the evolved Archangel, at last defeated.