Improper Guardian

Chapter Thirty Eight

By: Brenli

It was a particularly drizzly morning in Heaven. For people like Michael and Nema, this didn't matter much. It meant that they could get away with sleeping in a little later, hiding under the warmth of blankets.

For other people… for people that had big dreams, however twisted, and for people that watched those dreams begin to tear into shreds, this drizzly morning was enough to be the death of them because it echoed so clearly the utter melancholy that ran through them.

For people like Cheriour, this was a maddening morning.

Due in part to the loss of Michael and his followers, and in part to Nema's growing skill as a war leader, Cheriour had watched the numbers of his Hunters shrink to nearly embarrassing numbers. And now, he had only just finished settling into his newest location… though he was no fool and knew that this base was probably next to be targeted.

So with no real faith in this base, and rapidly decreasing faith in his troops, the ever-enigmatic Angel of Punishment spent this gray morning in the darkness of his new room, bent over a map of Rabbit Territory, perhaps pondering many things… perhaps, pondering nothing. His classically apathetic face acknowledged the knock on his door with only the slightest hint of the simple word, "Yes?"

And as he listened to the words spoken to him by high officials, his eyes, however hidden behind the thick, blonde bangs, widened in surprise, and then softened with a keen and possibly depressed understanding.

"… After a counsel Raziel-sama had with one Nemaelle of the Rabbits, he came to the conclusion that this matter will be civilly settled within the high court. Archangel Uriel-sama of the Earth will preside as judge. Rest assured, he will take a divine oath to remain unbiased in this matter. The trial will be broadcast and the populace will each have one vote in this matter as to help with coming to the final conclusion. It has been requested that both Nemaelle and yourself be confined and treated as potentially guilty of war crimes…"

And Cheriour listened to all this and more, his mouth opening, but saying nothing. But when he allowed his wrists to be bound in handcuffs, he finally smiled. It was a curious smile, small, maybe sad, maybe annoyed. And as he was led away, he began to hum, and nothing more.

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"Uriel?"

The Earth Angel froze and removed his focus from the book he was reading, bringing the green gaze up to the vision of the Rabbit Queen. She was dressed differently. A blank tank top and a simple pair of black pants, the folds of soft fabric flowing over her black boots. No mini-crown adorned her snowy-pale head. "… How plain."

Nema blinked twice. "… Oh." Her hands brushed over the thighs of her pants. "I'm not interested in looking like a Queen, today. I'm representing my people. I'm not a walking show."

"… For the trial."

"Yes."

Uriel cleared his scarred throat, though doing so did not make the sound of his voice any better or worse. For a week they had been preparing for this… a trial to end the war. Now it was finally here. "… I will be completely unbiased. You know this."

"I wouldn't ask anything more from you."

"Then you realize that this won't be easy for you. There is plenty of evidence that can destroy all you've been working for. And with the host of Angels voting, there is the high change they'll be against you."

"I understand all of this."

"And then you realize that I myself have no faith in your ideals… things like love are not things I wish to partake in personally and it will be hard to sway thanks to… recent developments." His voice echoed through her coldly.

But she only frowned at him. "… Those are your personal wishes… to not be in love. But that shouldn't prevent those who DO wish to be in love from fulfilling their wishes. Furthermore… that is a personal bias, Uriel. And before the trial begins, you've sworn to take an oath to remain unbiased."

Uriel simply stared at her. After a short moment he replied, "… Then you accept that I will not be an ally in this trial."

"Neither an ally OR an enemy. A judge. As is your duty." Nema nodded her head. "… But outside of court, I will regard you as a friend."

"I am not suited for friends. I need no form of companionship. None."

"Uriel…"

"They will be coming to get you for the trial. Perhaps you would rather be next to the Angel you love most at that time." He said this as his farewell, and with that he left her, his book lying upon on the table.

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She returned home, her pale ears picking up the sounds of a scuffle. One of the voices, among a few, was Michael's. And with this she quickened her pace, finally finding him at the door to the mansion that was more or less all hers, now. "… What is going on here?" She asked with wide red eyes.

Michael cursed and swore and beat his white wings against the heads against the high officials trying to drag him forward, his wrist bound in handcuffs. "THEY'RE TREATING US LIKE FUCKING CRIMINALS!" He snarled, his eyes a vivid green.

"In accordance with the papers you signed along with Raziel-sama's signature, you are each to be tried as possibly guilty of war crimes." One of the officials, a stuffy-looking man, said simply.

"Michael included?" Nema scowled.

"No, but in accordance with the current law, any Angel guilty of sexual relations with another Angel is to be arrested. He must be bound."

"WHAT ABOUT MY FUCKING CONTRACT?" The Fire Angel yelled.

"Upon consideration of your current living arrangements with one Nemaelle, one can come to an almost certain conclusion… and any activity of that particular nature after the contract has been fulfilled can still be tried in court."

And with that he growled and flapped his great white wings in aggravation. Nema only stood and assessed the picture before her, not liking it, willing to accept the idea of herself being bound, but not Michael.

And then she saw him, sitting in the back seat of the plain, black vehicle, his window unrolled… blonde bangs hiding his eyes, and a cruel smirk pasted on his features. She watched Cheriour as he chuckled at the sight, and swallowed the foul words that wanted to leave her mouth. She walked up to the high official and offered her wrists to the handcuffs waiting for her, ignoring the contented sigh that left him.

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The ride to the courthouse was quiet inside the car, though Nema watched as the numbers of Angels began to rise and form a line on either side of the vehicle, on one side only White Wings, on the other a speckled mass of White Wings and Rabbits. It was the first time that the two groups formed so close to each other without physical violence. The supporters of Cheriour were lined up on Nema's side of the car, and they could faintly see her pale form through the dark window. She heard horrible curses… 'slut' and 'whore' being among many. She tried her hardest to ignore the words, though they still slipped through her, made her feel small against this group of people.

"FUCKING RABBIT WHORE! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, TAINTING A HIGH-RANKED ANGEL?"

That really did the trick. She bit back tears, then felt a hand wipe away a stray drop of pain. She looked over at Michael and offered him a small smile as he rolled down his window and allowed more encouraging words to slip in and soothe her. Simple phrases such as 'good luck' and 'win the good fight' washed away the insults that made her sick inside. A couple I-Children got angry at the insults they heard and hurled insults right back at the White Wing Supremacists, making Nema's smile grow even more as she reached out to touch Michael's hand. He'd said nothing the whole way there, and continued to say nothing, though he squeezed her fingers and sighed.

Their car came to a stop. Outside Michael's window, they could see Cheriour being led into the courthouse before them, the door just beginning to close. And then the car door swung open and they were being pulled out. Or at least, Michael was. "Wait! Wait, dammit!" Michael tried to reach out for her.

She followed him out swiftly, quickly being intercepted and led a different way than he was.

Michael's blue eyes widened and began to turn green with rage. But this time he was mad at himself. He'd been trying to… the whole way there…! And he hadn't said anything…! And now they were dragging them apart! "NEMA!"

He watched her turn her pale head and regard him with wide, slightly bewildered eyes as big, important-looking Angels herded her on.

"WE'RE GONNA WIN!" Michael cried.

Nema smiled awkwardly and nodded.

"… AND WHEN WE WIN, I WANNA MARRY YOU!"

The gasps were almost deafening, but he wasn't thinking about that. He watched her. She had frozen for just that slight moment, her face unreadable, but the moment she felt the tugs on her arms, she turned and ran to him, fighting off the hands reaching for her.

He smiled. She smiled. And they both struggled against the Angels trying to pry them apart, and ignored the cries of mixed joy and disgust, shock and awe, as they kissed. In an attempt to be free for one small moment, they each beat their wings against the Angels, but to no avail. Inevitably they parted, but not before shouting a resounding, "I love you…!" to each other.

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"… Oh my God."

It was a cry shared by many people that watched the broadcast. It was, in particular, a simultaneous sentence that slipped from the mouths of Barbiel and Doll as they watched the pair kiss.

"… Now I'm beginning to wish I was there with them." Barbiel pouted a little.

"Noooo. Abel needs his mommy, you know…!" Doll cooed and rocked the little Rabbit baby in her arms, watching as the red right eye winked sleepily up at her.

"OY!" Katou's voice grated the air as he stomped into the room, waving what looked like a newsletter in his hand.

"MICHAEL PROPOSED TO NEMA!" Doll cried simultaneously with her lover.

"How do you know?"

"THIS is how I know!" Katou showed her the newletter.

The press in Heaven was a lot quicker than it seemed. Already a picture of the pair was being sent out like wildfire, lips locked, eyes closed, a brilliant display of love between one of black wings and one of white as the duo was almost forced completely apart by Angels. The plain image spoke of struggles and love, imprisonment and a most beautiful rebellion. It was almost artwork.

Beneath the image was a small headline that did not do the image justice. "Archangel Michael-sama of the Flame and the infamous Nemaelle of the Rabbits mere seconds after the shocking public proposal."

"… Hadn't that happened only a few moments ago?" Barbiel asked with an arched brow.

"I don't question what the seedy tabloids put out, man. Not the ones from Heaven, anyway! Besides, you've just confirmed it by already seeing it on TV!" He brushed some stray blonde hair out of his eyes and then nonchalantly asked Doll, "How's that sexy tattoo of yours?"

Doll blushed. "… It's itchy."

"Hush, hush!" Barbiel shushed the couple. "It's about to begin, already…! The trial to end the war is about to be broadcast, now!"

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"We're coming to you live outside the courthouse in which resides the notorious and deadly Mudou Nemaelle of the Rabbits. That's correct, it is confirmed that she is indeed the daughter of the supposed savior Mudou Setsuna, whose rampage nearly cost us Our God! It has come to our attention that the plaintiff, the highly revered Cheriour-sama, has taken his oath and is about to be questioned…!"

Nema shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she watched Cheriour sitting calmly, almost happily. She noted there didn't seem to be any prosecutors running around, which she supposed was fine. She'd been half-expected to be drilled with rude questions from some stuffy Angel and now, that didn't seem to be the case. But where was Michael? She'd heard from some idle chitchat that he'd been put into a kind of custody until he would be summoned… mostly because Michael didn't have a good idea of what proper behavior in the courtroom was, and probably would have swore and spoken out of turn and caused general mayhem… so they were keeping him out as long as they could. But Nema only smiled and shrugged it off. They WOULD be bringing him in at some point. They HAD to, considering he was her Guardian Angel and had, for a portion of her life, been an important figure.

It seemed that Uriel would be doing all the questioning, as he looked down his tan nose at Cheriour. "Please state your name and rank for the transcripts."

"Cheriour. Unranked." He said placidly.

"Unranked."

"Yes… your Honor. Unranked."

"And how is it that you are unranked?"

Cheriour shrugged.

"A verbal response, please." Uriel said dryly.

"… The truth is I am best suited to be ranked as one of the Powers, your Honor, Uriel-sama." He spoke politely, calmly. "However, Michael-sama is not particularly fond of me, and to prevent unnecessary conflict I have shied away from becoming candidate for Powers."

"No good…" Raphael muttered under his breath as he sat amongst the many Angels that came to watch the trial.

"No good?" Replied a very nervous Setsuna.

"By saying that the only reason he has no rank is because Michael doesn't like him, people will immediately write Michael off as a poor leader with bad judgement." Raphael paused and thought over what he said. "… Which is what a lot of people think, anyway, but reaffirming that won't help once it's Michael's turn to talk."

"Unranked, then." Uriel continued, almost seeming bored with it, already. Maybe, he really was. "Quite some time ago, around the time of Mudou Nemaelle's birth, you began a campaign of sorts. Is this correct?"

"Yes, your Honor."

"Explain the nature of this campaign."

"It was a rally to be rid of the I-Children."

"And why do you feel that is the correct maneuver?"

"That is plain to see on many levels. It is widely known that an Angel must not love another Angel. To do so is to hold another person over God and demeans His worth as our Creator. The I-Children are proof of these unholy relations, and to purify Heaven for our God, extermination is the only answer." I-Children seated on one side of the room grumbled in low voices as Nema bit her lip to hide her scowl. "Furthermore, from a logical point of view, they take up too much space. The results of my campaign have shown that there are immense amounts of these types hiding in the slums and ghettos of Heaven, unregistered and unruly. They are trash."

And this sent a mighty cry from one half of the courtroom, and Uriel quickly scooped up the gavel and slammed it several times. "ORDER!" His voice bellowed only once, but that was enough. "… Cheriour, you will take care to refrain from insults and will respond in a professional manner. Such is usually your fashion."

"It is not insult. Merely fact. There was a time when this was common knowledge…" Cheriour paused, cleared his throat. "But now that the Revolution has begun this is becoming muddied with unholy thoughts."

"And thank God for it!" Nema snapped.

"Hold your tongue!" Uriel responded swiftly, and the harsh tone made Nema shrink. Then he was not going to show mercy for either side… "Continue." He told Cheriour.

"… There is nothing more to say. I have stated my reasons for starting the Rabbit Hunting."

"… Very well. You may step down." Uriel performed the meaningless action of clearing his throat and said, "May Mudou Nemaelle please come to the stand."

A quietness fell over the room as Cheriour took his seat, Nema swore to tell the truth, and sat before the great Judge, Uriel. "Your name and rank."

"Mudou Nemaelle…" She started quietly. "… Also, unranked."

Uriel paused and mentally scolded himself for forgetting that as an unregistered Angel, there was no way that she could have a rank. He was too used to regarding Nema as a fellow Angel… and he realized that in a way, that was a bit like a bias. This truly was harder than he thought. Maybe he shouldn't have been the judge for this particular, strange type of trial.

Nema continued, thinking the silence was a request of an explanation. "… As a Rabbit I've never been granted a ra-"

"Yes, I know. I-Children are not given a rank. And you will take care not to use such slang in the courtroom. It is strange to insult oneself."

"Rabbit is a far better term than I-Child." Nema said lowly. "That very title… Improper Children… That is an insult, right there. I would rather be referred to as a Rabbit than something wrong."

"… Then you should take care to use the usual technical terms, Miss Mudou."

Nema paused, feeling the iciness of that reply flowing down her like a bucket of freezing water dumped over her head. "… Then forgive me… your Honor."

"… Now, you are the war leader of the Rabbit Revolution. Please state your reasons for turning the Rabbit Hunting into an all-out war."

"That's simple enough. I wanted to end the Rabbit Hunting. My kind don't deserve to be put to death like criminals when many of my current soldiers had to be trained for battle because they had never so much as touched a weapon or hurt a man. We don't take up too much space, and we're not trash. We're real people, and the only reason we had LIVED in the slums and ghettos was because we'd had no other choice in the matter! And we didn't have a choice in THIS matter, either."

"How so?"

"We would have been DESTROYED if someone didn't do something."

"And that's all well and good," Cheriour mumbled smugly.

"You will hold your tongue, as well!" Uriel snapped. Cheriour only chuckled.

After sending a particularly fiery glare at Cheriour, Nema took a deep breath and finished. "… That is my only reason for starting the Revolution."

Uriel remained silent for a long while. "… Then please explain all of this." He held up a small device, pushed a button, and a hologram appeared before everyone. The general whole gasped and cringed. Image after image was traded off of White Wing casualties done by the hands of Rabbits, many by Nema herself.

Again, she took a deep breath. Oh, how could he ever…? Making the implication that she was heartless? Judge or not, this was a twisted way to present the facts! "Those are war casualties! You want to flash those all day long and make it look like I was going on a killing spree? Fine, go ahead! But not without showing them pictures of the deaths my kind have suffered at the hands of the like of HIM!" She waved a wild, pale finger at Cheriour. "Better yet, show them pictures of the deaths PRIOR to the Revolution! There used to be a whole FIELD dedicated to it, and if it were still standing, I'd show it to you! OH, I'D SHOW IT TO YOU!"

"Nema –"

"I'd show you what was left of a little girl I had to kill, myself! JUST to put her out of her misery!"

"MISS MUDOU, YOU WILL CALM DOWN OR I WILL HOLD YOU IN CONTEMPT!" Uriel yelled, the deep voice echoing off the walls.

"There are pictures of the deaths of my kind." Nema muttered after yet another breath.

"I am aware of this."

"Then you will present them, Uriel… your Honor. I won't be made out like a criminal."

"… As you wish." The Earth Angel pushed another button, and the pictures remained gruesome, but the bodies belonged to people that were always white as death, even in life. The image of a little girl with one purple, emotionless eye flashed over the screen and Nema whispered her name.

"Isobelle…" And then she turned to talk to the whole room. "See? For every death I have caused, there are more deaths that go unavenged! I am not a cold murderer. I am a fighter and I have good cause!"

"Empty cause." Cheriour retorted.

"Don't talk to me about emptiness!" Nema yelled at him. "You have no heart inside you! At least I still have mine!"

"Rabbits don't have hearts. Rabbits aren't people."

"EXCUSE ME?"

"… And Rabbits have no emotions. They are products of unholy unions, born of sin. And they will live in sin and die in sin, like the empty sacks of flesh they are."

"I HAVE NO EMOTIONS?" Nema seethed. "NONE? I'M DISPLAYING NO EMOTIONS? FUCK YOU! I'VE GOT HALF A MIND TO POP YOUR HEAD OFF YOUR SHOULDERS!"

"ORDER! ORDER!" Uriel returning to banging his gavel.

"Only half a mind," Cheriour went on. "And nothing more. That is all the potential you will ever have, as a worthless, sinful, inhuman Rabbit."

"INHUMAN? I AM THREE TIMES THE HUMAN YOU ARE!"

"You are a Rabbit, you silly girl. Make what claims you want, but you aren't worth a life. You are only worth death."

"I AM WORTH MY LIFE, HOWEVER SHITTY YOU MADE IT WHEN YOU FUCKING RAPED ME!" She was too enraged to hear the gasps or see her parents bow their heads in slight shame. "I AM TIRED OF THIS 'UNWORTHY' BULLSHIT! I COULD TELL ANY RABBIT TO WRITE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND YOU WOULD BE DAMN NEAR TO TEARS, IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THE LIFE OF A RABBIT!"

"ORDER!" Uriel bellowed again.

"Any Rabbit? Even a mere child?" Cheriour said with a smirk.

"AND I COULD VOMIT BECAUSE OF IT!" Nema hissed at him. "We have all lived shitty lives at the expense of YOU and your LAWS and your GOD and I will end it all!"

"I SAID ORDER IN THE HIGH COURT!" The gavel snapped in half from the pressure Uriel put on it… And FINALLY, things went silent. "… For many years, the Angels have believed that as being made from lust, I-Children are walking sins, and nothing more. Do you, Mudou Nemaelle, challenge this?"

"With all my heart, which I DO have. With my life." Nema said firmly.

"No, Nema…" Jibril said quietly.

Her daughter only looked on with determined eyes. "Do you need a sad story to make you see? Then I'll do it. I'll give you MY autobiography, but not before telling you that others have it much worse than I do. But I hope that when they call a fucking ten-minute recess that you think about this: This could be YOUR story. The only thing keeping it from such is that fact that you have NO parents, and your skin is JUST dark enough." And she turned her ruby eyes up to Uriel. "Is that fine for evidence?"

The Earth Angel sighed. "This is one of the most messed up, strange excuses for a trial. I'm almost ready to say anything goes." With his gavel now useless, Uriel used his fist, instead. "I'm calling a ten-minute recess before I let this madness go on. I've got a headache already, and I need a new gavel."

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AUTHORESS NOTE:

Oh, the joys of no job…! XD But I did start school today. Work already! And I'm thinking about auditioning for the play. But at least I should still have time!

And I know I've gone off about this before, but God…! I don't MEAN to make Uri so… EMO! I WANT to make him happy! I want to give him flowers and chocolates! And a big ol' hug! BUT… because of certain circumstances, I cannot. For one, Doll and Katou are a cute couple, I don't care what you say. And for two, I'm finding this colder part of Uriel really works for the trial here.

Oh, and by the way, I don't know SHIT about trials, and I don't care. The whole thing was unorthodox from the start.