Chapter XXVII: Summer: The White Raven

Just like Schneider, Pierre and Hino, Santana vanished without leaving trace. No one in Brazil knew where he had gone. That had to be added to the fact that Taro had to report Jinko's disappearance, let alone the ones that had happened in Hamburg, Paris y Tokyo.

Misaki was completely devastated. He didn't smile at all, and his eyes had lost that sweet, friendly light they had before. His feet dragged instead of stepping lithely, and he didn't open the curtains in his apartment even by accident. Out of that, he had lost appetite, so he was terribly thin and weak.

Ishizaki was down in the dumps too, but faced it with a little more courage in spite of it all. However, he was almost always seen somber and worried, mostly because of his friend the Archangel of Water. He did whatever he could to make Misaki continue with his routing, but it seemed he was failing dismally at it.

Because of Jinko's disappearance, Doctor Shibazaki had to take charge of Taro's rehab personally. Although Misaki had thought of not going back, because of the memories, he kept on going, and little by little, he secretly healed his injury with his powers. Everything was too hard to overcome for him, and that was a serious warning for Ishizaki and Yukari, who decided to do everything they could to stop the disconsolate young man from doing something mad… And achieving it with great effort.

On the other hand, summer had arrived, and with it, vacations. Daichi, who didn't know about the Archangels' deaths, was very excited. At last he would see his brother again!

His father was home again, and they had their documents and jet tickets to Spain ready ages ago. However, there was a little something that had Daichi worried. Who'd take care of his baby raven?

Ah, right… I didn't tell you. Only one of the three raven chicks that Daichi saved survived thanks to Daichi's care. One of them didn't hatch and the other one died in spite of the kid's efforts to save it. However, the remaining hatchling was full of energy, although it still was featherless.

However… Shiro didn't talk to him anymore. It seemed it had vanished completely. And yet Daichi would receive a surprise very soon.

At last the day of the trip to Barcelona arrived, and Daichi had his suitcase ready a long time ago. Natsuko and Koudai were ready too, but the kid and the Kami no Tsukai's mother disapproved how her youngest son was constantly worried with his baby raven, who was always hungry.

-Ozora Daichi, it seems you're more worried for your pet than for the trip. Weren't you the one who wanted to go to Barcelona?

-Of course, mom, but I'm worried for my raven.

-You could ask one of your friends to take care of it during the summer.

-No, mom. Remember that my teammates will go to the National Soccer Tournament for the summer. It's sad; I wish I could go with them, but I want to see Tsubasa too.

-You made the choice.

-I know, mom. I know.

-And then, what are you going to do with your raven?

-Can't I take it to Spain?

-I'm afraid it's forbidden by the law, Daichi –Koudai intervened. –Besides, it could die while we're in the jet. It's too delicate.

-I have an idea, Daichi –Natsuko finally said. –You could ask one of your brother's friends to take care of your raven.

-Yes? Who?

And Natsuko remembered what Ishizaki told her about Taro, who was still desolate after turning into a 'widower'.

-Well, Misaki-kun could help. Having something to keep his mind busy could come in handy for him after all, since he's still in his rehabilitation and is quite depressed now.

-Misaki-kun is depressed? –Daichi couldn't believe it; his brother's best friend was the friendliest, most cheerful person he ever met.

-He's passed thru many sad things, honey. However, I guess he will agree to take care of your raven if you ask him. What do you say?

-If that makes him go back to normal, then I'll do it –and Daichi rushed to take his pet and put on his shoes. –I'll be back in a while, mom!

-And, do you know where does Misaki-kun live?

-I do. One of my friends lives near him –and the kid went away as quick as the wind.

-Oh, Daichi… You're so innocent, and so generous –Natsuko told herself, thinking about her children.

Koudai saw his son go out of the house too, and he scratched his bushy moustache. Daichi and Tsubasa were very alike, completely identical in their way of being.

Daichi ran with the nest in his arms, trying not to let his pet hit itself. It was twittering in fright, but Daichi calmed it by talking.

He arrived to the building where Misaki lived, and rang the doorbell. No answer.

-Misaki-kun! It's me, Daichi! Open the door, please! –shouted the boy, knocking at the door. At last Daichi heard some footsteps in the apartment, and Misaki opened the door.

-Hi, Daichi –answered the Archangel of Water in whispers. His face was very pale and had dark shadows under his eyes.

-Misaki-kun… What happened to you?

-Too many things. Do you want to come in?

-Well I… I came to ask you something.

-What is it?

-I'm going to Spain with my parents tonight, and I need someone to take care of my pet.

-What pet do you have?

-What do you think I have in this nest? –and Daichi showed him his raven chick, whose feathers were about to sprout.

-That's a raven hatchling, isn't it?

-Yeah. How do you know?

-I saw one once in Hokkaido. A friend and I took one up to its nest when it fell.

-Ah. Could you take care of my pet?

-Well, a raven isn't really a good pet for a boy, but I will –and the soccer player smiled an ephemeral, sad smile that didn't touch his eyes. Daichi got the creeps when he saw that, but kept his cool and thanked Misaki for the favor. –I hope your trip's OK, and send my greetings to Tsubasa.

-I will, Misaki-kun. And don't be so sad, please.

Daichi left the place, while Taro observed the critter he had agreed to take care of. He wasn't sure of what would he do, but as the honorable man he was, he had promised to take care of Daichi's pet.

Meanwhile, the kid ran back to his house, nothing weird happening in the way. Natsuko asked him if Taro had accepted, to which Daichi answered with the truth, that is, affirmatively.

-Well, the flight's a long one, so you'll have to pack your handbag with something to do, honey. What are you going to take?

-Mmm, I don't know, mom. Let me decide –and Daichi began to rummage thru his things.

Natsuko smiled, and went to the kitchen to cook something to eat for her and her family.

In Spain, while it was the past day in Japan, Tsubasa was fixing the house all alone, since Sanae went to her medical checkup with her Canadian friend and Yato was out of the house. Although he knew that his family's flight was a long one, he was quite excited.

"It's been a long time since the last time I saw my parents and Daichi. It'll be great that the family's reunited. But…"

But. That word ruins it all.

And yet… He couldn't think about any danger that could happen with his parents and his brother in Barcelona.

He was moving the guest room/study room's furniture, trying to place the davenport, where his parents would sleep, while Daichi would have to sleep on a mattress. It's a shame we don't have guest beds, thought the young soccer player, but their apartment was quite small, and they rarely had long visits.

He didn't want to be bothered or interrupted, so he had disconnected the phone, which gave him a false peaceful feeling.

He stopped to catch his breath and wiped off the sweat from his forehead. His back ached. And yet, he remembered when he asked Rivaul to come to his house… To explain to him in which mess he was involved now.

That night, Rivaul had arrived to the Ozora's apartment very confused, and they greeted him quite kindly, although Sanae was very weak. Once the Brazilian man went into the apartment, and Sanae brewed some tea, Tsubasa told Sanae what had happened, while Rivaul listened. Once he finished telling the story, Tsubasa asked his wife if she agreed with telling their secret to Rivaul, who was now completely involved in the mayhem.

-And what is that famous secret? –asked the guest, exasperated with all the secrecy.

-As you saw, Tsubasa, some of our friends, and even I have to fight for this world's sake –Sanae said.

-What do you mean with 'fight for this world's sake?'

-From eternities ago, there's an evil being called Kuro, also known as the Black Guide, who is obsessed with something called the New Genesis.

-Something like a world's renewal?

-Exactly, but under the cover of darkness. If it happens, it'd be a corrupt, cruel world, enslaved by Kuro. It had some beings called the Black Archangels under its brainwash before, but when we were fifteen we beat them without destroying them, and they turned into our friends –Tsubasa replied. –However, with the forces of darkness back, we've been forced to become what we had been before.

-And who's the enemy this time?

-You know it's Kuro, and that being called Kurai too, but there are also the Antiarchangels, Rivaul… And what's worse, it's people we know.

-People we know?

-Soccer players.

Rivaul stood up unconsciously. How could it be that some soccer players could be Tsubasa and the other allies' enemies?

-Sadly, Kuro knew how to choose our foes very well. There's Carlos Santana for Tsubasa and Ishizaki, El Cid Pierre against Misaki, Hino Ryoma for Hyuga, and Karl Heinz Schneider for Wakabayashi.

-No wonder I thought it was strange that Santana was in the airport when we were going to La Coruña.

-You see?

-And yet, these four soccer players have disappeared without leaving a clue.

-The four of them? – Tsubasa exclaimed.

-Yes. They say that the last one who disappeared was none other than Santana. The first one who disappeared was El Cid Pierre, and that happened just after a Japanese student evaporated in Paris.

"Pierre and a Japanese guy? He means Wataru!"

-Well, its not that someone disappeared in Paris, or Hamburg, or even Tokyo. Pierre vanished after murdering one of our friends… One of the Black Archangels.

-What!

-The guy who disappeared in Paris, the one that vanished in Tokyo, and the architect that disappeared in Hamburg, Germany, were Black Archangels, and therefore our allies –said Tsubasa, with his elbows on his knees, thoughtful.

-But, wait a sec… Rivaul, you said that Santana disappeared?

-I did. It seems no one has seen him in days.

-He must've disappeared after…

-After Jinko's death, right?

-How did you know, Sanae?

-Ishizaki called me, informing me.

-But… I thought that could affect the baby.

-Tsubasa –Sanae said, dead serious. –I may be very weak right now, but I'm strong enough to stop some very bad news from worsening my health. Don't underestimate me, please.

-Going back to where we were, you said four Black Archangels died… Are those all of them?

-Not really. They're five Black Archangels, and the Kage no Tsukai, or better said, the Messenger of the Shadows. Now there's only one Black Archangel and Kai remaining.

-Kai? Ah, he must be the Messenger of the Shadows.

-Exactly –and so the serious conversation continued, until Rivaul had to go, now with a clear view of the circumstances.

So it had happened, and Tsubasa kept it in mind a lot. However, he heard someone trying to open the door, and rushed to see who it was.

It was Sanae and Jane.

-Hi, honey –said Tsubasa, relieved. –How was your checkup?

-Well… -Sanae began to say. –I'll tell you if you let us in.

That made Tsubasa jump aside, letting the women in. Sanae and Jane sat down in the living room, while the 'househusband' brought two tall glasses of cold water in a tray.

-And now can you tell me?

-Well, in spite of Sanae-san's frailty, the baby's okay –Jane said. –But that's not the most important thing to say.

-Huh?

-Well… I had an ultrasound, Tsubasa.

-And do you know if…?

-Well, I'm afraid you can't call our baby Yuriko.

That was enough to send Tsubasa flying to seventh heaven. It was a boy! The young man was at first speechless, but his eyes sparkled with glee.

-I think cat got your husband's tongue.

-I doubt it, Jane-san –Sanae replied, laughing. –Yato's not here.

And talk of the devil; someone was meowing at the door.

-I'll go –said the cat's owner, but Tsubasa stopped her. The Kami no Tsukai opened the door, and there was Yato, bedraggled but happy.

-Nice time of appearing, you darn cat. Where were you?

Yato meowed, and though Tsubasa didn't understand, Sanae did.

-He was just walking around –said the Archangel of Love, surprising her friend and her own husband.

-How do you know? –asked Jane, astounded.

-I saw him near the building when we were in the taxi, Jane-san.

That was a lie, but the Canadian woman couldn't know it. Tsubasa raised his eyebrows (he can't raise only one :P), while Jane believed the whole story.

-If you say so, Sanae-san. Well, I have to go. See you at the languages center –and the Canadian left, leaving the married couple alone.

-You're being quite the liar –said Tsubasa, smiling halfheartedly.

-Haven't you been it always?

-not that much… I've never been good at it. The Liar King was, is and will always be Manabu.

That made the pregnant woman laugh. Tsubasa was right. And yet, she felt a bump.

-Ow!

-What happened?

-I think Hayate just kicked me.

Tsubasa was about to ask who was Hayate, but he remembered that that was the baby's name if it ended up being a boy.

-Was it that hard?

-Hey, what did you expect? He's an Ozora… A real son of a soccer player.

-Yeah, you're right. That was a really stupid question.

-Hey, hey… Don't think that, honey. Ow!

-He kicked you again?

-Yeah. Put a hand here –and Sanae placed one of her husband's hands on her belly, where the baby kicked again. Tsubasa took his hands away, nervous.

-Gee… I think I'm turning into a chicken.

-Don't exaggerate.

-Ah, OK. Hayate's going to be a great player.

-Because you say so?

-No… How can you think that? It's because he kicks hard.

-Ah, I get it.

-Besides, I won't force him to play soccer if he doesn't want to. I'll teach him what I know, but only if he wants to. That's what my parents did with me.

-I know. I was there, remember?

That comment hit Tsubasa as if Sanae had slapped his face. In fact, his memory could only remember ever since the day he arrived to Shizuoka; the memories of the time before had been lost forever

The Kami no Tsukai's darkened face made Sanae worry.

-Tsubasa, is there something wrong? –she asked.

-No, it's nothing… -he replied. –No, I'm lying. There is something wrong, Sanae.

-What is it?

-When I fought Schneider in La Coruña, Schneider's attack, the Oblivion, hit me, and I lost some of my memories because of that.

-What?

-However, I was lucky. Hyuga found the way of saving me, and I didn't lose any more memories.

-And what did you forget?

-I can't remember anything about the time before I arrived to Shizuoka… I think.

-You think?

-I really don't know. I was afraid of losing all my memories… Losing all what resides in my mind… You understand me, right?

-Yes, but you didn't lose them, and I hope you don't forget the rest.

-Never ever –and Tsubasa hugged his wife with all the love he had in his heart.

Back in Japan, and back when Daichi returned home (I can't even understand it xP), Taro was taking care of the raven hatchling, trying to keep his mind blank. However, he knew he had to get some food for Daichi's unusual pet.

-And I didn't ask him how he fed it… -but he decided to go to a bait shop and buy some worms. At least he remembered that ravens were omnivorous, but being so young and tiny, it had to eat very soft things.

But, and if the raven died while he went out to buy its food?

No way, Jose.

Misaki decided to take the raven with him, in a book bag full of rags to keep it safe and warm. And yet…

-Misaaaa…kiiiiii…

-What was that? –asked the Archangel of Water, trying to see who had called his name.

-Misaaaa…kiiiiii…

-Who said that? Answer me! –and when he heard the voice calling his name for the third time, Taro looked at the baby raven. It had been it calling his name!

-I think I'm really crazy.

-No… Yooooou're noooot goooooiiiing craaaazeeeee… -and it was then when the Archangel of Water noticed the strangest thing in the raven: it was growing WHITE FEATHERS!

-Now I'm really nuts. Talking white crows… don't exist. Or do they?

And it seemed that the white raven understood it all because…

-And if I told you I'm really Shiro? –said the hatchling clearly.

-!