Author's Note: And now begins the bulk of the story. After lagging in my research and looking up several different mythologies and labouring, and toiling, and sleeping, I am finally to the good stuff! If you've been snoozing til now, be ready! Anything could happen! Oh, I'm so excited, I could explode! Well, here it is, the seventh chapter of Angel's Calling! Note: I don't own Juvenile Orion, but I DO own the original characters I created. Thank you, and enjoy your ride.

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Chapter VII:

Sins

As Kaname and Itsuki were walking along the railroad tracks to go to Mana's house, Kaname couldn't help but feel…. Strange… as if that demon had gotten into his soul and eaten a part of him. Just the way he had looked at him, with those calm beetle-black eyes and smiled at him with those perfect, straight, needle-like fangs, the way he had spoken to him so lovingly of a past he couldn't remember… It all seemed so…. Strange.

"Hey, Kaname, you okay?"

He was jolted from his thoughts and saw that Itsuki had stopped a couple of feet back. He looked up at the sky and closed his eyes.

"Why, Itsuki? Why did you make me see that… thing?"

Itsuki looked down at his feet, an ashamed frown brushing across his features.

"I just thought you wanted to know more about yourself… and when I heard him mention your demon name, I just thought---"

Their conversation was abruptly ended when they heard a small voice calling their names.

"Is that… Mana?" Kaname opened his eyes and setting them on the broad horizon, squinted against the brightness of the sun. And there, sure enough, he could see the tiny figures of Isshin and Mana running towards them from the distance.

Kaname bolted towards them at top speed. There shouldn't be a reason why they were so far out here during this time of the day. It was in the middle of school, and Kaname had never known Mana to skip class. Something must be wrong. Terribly wrong.

---

Tomonori had put the small boy to sleep. He had had to tell the others teachers that it was an emergency and that he needed to take Tsukasa home. As he sat alone in one of the numerous pews, he couldn't help but worry immensely. It wasn't like Tsukasa to be so frightened. Something must have scared him. Something horrible.

Meanwhile, the youth lay in the bed, clutching the covers close around him, the images of his dream still pounding against the insides of his skull. He couldn't forget the fire and brimstone, the black water lapping against the shore. And there he saw himself, standing on the edge of it all, and beside himself he saw a tall figure with long white hair and flowing pearl wings. There, he saw that the angel had clutched in his hand some strange object. He couldn't tell what it was exactly, but he knew it was the source of this whole mess. And that somehow, he had caused it…

---

The angel sneered once more upon the Earth, his eyes gleaming. His hands traced around the small orb with which he withheld the sight of the planet, and chuckled.

"Taharial, are you sure you wish to test them?"

The Pure Angel turned swiftly on his heel to see the face of the small Bird Angel, his eyes wide with concern, his lips pushed out into a pout. Something within him longed for those lips, and yet if he allowed his mind to go to that, everything would be ruined.

"Yes, I am sure, Trgiaol," he looked down on the Bird Angel, for he was much shorter that himself. "I know my absence will trouble you, but never fear. I know what I am to do. I shall test them as they were seven years ago, and they shall either fall, or they shall rise again."

Trgiaol looked away, a look of shame wavering upon his features.

"Please, Taharial. I know what you intend to do. I-- I can't let you…"

At this remark, Taharial grabbed the Bird Angel's tiny shoulders and squeezed them tight, causing a small squeak to escape his throat. He hadn't counted on him figuring out his plans, and indeed when he said that, he was more shocked than any other time before.

"Trgiaol, I must have you. Being an angel is nothing, for I---" he paused, but decided to continue. If God decided to strike him down now, he wanted nothing more than to remember Trgiaol, just the way he was, "I love you."

Kissing his forehead quickly and dashing out the doorway, he ran to Gabriel's old chamber where he had to collect his item. He was relieved that nothing had happened, but he knew inside his heart of hearts that he had committed the worst sin of an angel. To love and to be an angel is to be branded by the black mark. It was the last thing he wanted, but his love was just too strong for him to control.

Back in the small chamber, the Bird Angel was left there standing, just as he had done to Taharial all that time ago. This must have been the way he felt, alone and scared and unsure of all the feelings welling up inside him. But he was an angel, and as long as he remained one, the word love would remain just that; a word.

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Ah, angel angst is some of my favorite angst in the world. I love it! Well, please review and tell me what you think! I really hope that all are enjoying the story. Well, I suppose I'll see you again in the eighth chapter!