Every time I think I'm done, I come up with more scenes to drag the chapters out.
Unbeated.
Published: 08.02.2018
Wordcount: 8063
Warning for death and angst. So nothing new.
…
This chapter is for Lucy, who sits waiting patiently on the bed, waiting for the perfect moment to bounce and curl on top my chest while I'm trying to edit my chapter. Gotta love that cat.
Chapter 4
The call of death had been a boom that rocketed across the subspace, and sent juddering through the core of his being as he had quickly followed the summoning. He was not the only angel of death that materialized as he was greeted with a quiet hum and the sound of ruffling feathers. In the far distance, the sun was stretching its last rays for the evening and stars had already formed in the night sky.
The angels were standing outside a seemingly abandoned warehouse, and would have continued the illusion of foreclosure had it not been for the black and blue lights from police sirens that illuminated everything. Several people milling around wore combat outfits and carried large guns, and the sound was filled with orders and hushed conversation.
Death felt like a heavy aura across the folk-mass, a clear indication that many of these people would not leave the premises with their lives. Amongst the chaos a man stood silently as he eyed the building. He wore a black cap drawn down to his ears, and curly black hair peaked out across his right eyes. His eyes were a murky green colour. From his lips, a cigarette laid limply as though he had forgotten about its existence.
Even his soul was quiet as it thrummed softly with colours as if it was trying to be inconspicuous and portray harmless even on an unconscious level.
"Shu –" a woman with blond, short hair and blue eyes stopped by his elbow, her eyes swimming with worry, however underneath her soul bubbled with cold fury. She was ready for battle.
Shu only nodded his head once to acknowledge her presence. Nothing else was spoken between the couple as they stood in quiet contemplation as they understood each other perfectly.
Shinichi was piqued by the display, wishing he knew the context of the raid. It was a rare curiosity in the face of death – he watched too many dying moments per day to care for them all, however this seemed more important than simple first-degree murder.
A shiver suddenly went down his wings as he felt eyes wandering across his form from the crowd. Glancing around, he could not tell where it had originated from – he could not feel the presence of Kaito's soul, and neither did he seemed corporal to anyone but the other angels.
His gaze eventually wandered to a window on the second level as he saw a movement. With a slight curiosity, he materialized inside the warehouse a moment later as he stood behind a woman dressed in black. She had long, light-blond hair and piercing blue eyes.
"Its going to be a massacre," she suddenly spoke up, and from the evident of the seemingly empty room, she was talking to herself. The closest was an older man cleaning is gun with calm and practiced fingers in the far corner. "Isn't it?" she finished as her eyes flickered in the direction of Shinichi.
The angel froze for a moment with jolted surprise, wondering if he had turned visible by accident once more. However, after a few second of silence as no one else reacted to his presence, he relaxed slightly, believing it to be a coincidence.
"I'm going to miss smoking," she continued, letting a hand rake through the locks of her hair as she turned to face Shinichi while leaning her elbow against the windowsill. "I can't say I regretted it for a moment. Being human is fun."
The bafflement in his expression made her lips curl upwards in amusement. "I thought you were here for me? Perhaps I won't die today after all."
The woman's word was barely comprehensible to him: what exactly did she mean by her words? He must have said it out loud, because a moment later she laughed. Her hair fluttered from the movement, despite it barely being a throaty chuckle at the expense of his confusion.
"You angels are all the same, unable to think for yourself. You never had a reason to."
Shinichi's eyebrows creased at her words. "I don't understand, can you see me?"
She rolled her eyes, however it was not a movement from aggravation, rather one of amused expectation of predicting his response. "I thought it was obvious by now," she drawled, before reaching to her pocket to withdraw a package of cigarettes.
"That doesn't really explain anything."
Her lips curled upwards once more in amusement as she drew a stick and placed it on her lips. "It's a biproduct," she lit it and took a deep inhale. "Of becoming human," she continued with an exhale of smoke, her eyes examining him behind her eyelids with orbs that seemed to almost glow.
The vivacious hum of her soul suddenly changed, became deeper as it spread across her shoulders in a mimic of broken winds. The colour was a misty brown, and pulsated with the beat of an angel's immortal soul, before quieting down as though it was a straining effort as it turned a bluish-green as it turned fully human. However, now that Shinichi was aware of it, the difference was unmistakably.
"What are you?" he asked before he could stop himself. She was clearly not an angel, however she did not seem to be entirely human either.
She took another deep inhale of her cigarette before removing it from her lips and let it hang limply between her index and middle finger. "A secret makes a woman, woman. Didn't you know?" her eyes glowed with smugness – she was clearly not going to ease his stupefaction.
"Vermouth," someone appeared by the door, his eyes a steely grey. He was also clad in black, with long, silver hair and wore a fedora. "Its starting." He disappeared a moment later.
With a sight, the woman threw the cigarette on the floor before stomping on the stub. She turned towards Shinichi once more with a last, secretive smile before leaving. "If I die, you'll get your answers."
The angel watched her go, feeling confused curiosity bubbling in his chest. Exactly who was she, and how was she able to see him. Either she was messing with him and was some kind of ethereal creature pretending to be human – or could she have been an angel-turned human? He shook his head a moment later, the very idea was impossible. He had never heard about a case where it happened.
An explosion rocketed through the warehouse, and the conflict started soon after with the sound of gunfight followed by the distressed calls of dying souls. The Angels of death watched in silence on the side lines as men and woman alike was gunned down. Shinichi looked away from the massacre as he spotted a familiar figure creeping through the shadows, seemingly looking for something as he ignored the enemy that wasn't in his direct cross-path.
The angel decided to follow him as he felt the thick smog of death clinging to his presence. Shu was several feet in front of him as he disappeared behind a corner, and as Shinichi stepped into view, he was already fighting the silver haired man from earlier. Their expression was tight with fury and determination as they parried fists and kicks as though they were dancing.
Nothing verbal was shared between them but the occasionally grunt as though their fists spoke a language Shinichi could not identify. Both men seemed determined to take the other downs, and that took priority.
The silver-haired man suddenly dropped one of his arms, giving Shu the opportunity to hit him in the face. It was a fatale mistake as a ferocious grin spread across his enemy's lips. The silver-haired had dropped his hand to grab a small knife from his sleeve, and instead of staggering back from the hit, he moved forwards in order to stab the small dagger into Shu's side.
A loud crunching noise filled the air as his nose was broken and blood started to seep down his face. The pain did not seemed to bother him for a moment as he twisted the knife, before kicking Shu in the stomach.
Shu deflated like a balloon as he was tripped, and he fell harshly on his back. A small gasp was forced from his throat, however he never got the chance to get to his feet, as the Silverman took advantage of the situation. A foot tramped down on the agent's chest to keep him from moving. A moment later, a gun was hovering above his head.
"I finally got you, Akai," he grinned wildly with the triumph of someone enjoying killing, however Akai did not flinch for a minute as he met his glare with one with equal force. That was not a look of someone who felt defeated.
"You misunderstand, Gin," Akai replied smoothly as he grabbed Gin's leg. "I'm the one who got you."
Alarm suddenly flickered across the man's face from the ferocious expression, and he made to withdraw, however Akai refused to give him an inch as he reached down to his pocket.
"Let go of me," Gin snarled, his finger itched against the trigger of his gun in uncertainty: part of him wanted to shoot his adversary there and then, the other part was curious of what would happen.
Akai fished something from his pocket, and with a gaze that never wavered from Gin's face, he spoke for the last time. "I never intended for either of us to survive," and before realization appeared in the Silver-haired man's face, Akai had already removed the pin with his teeth before he set off the grenade.
The explosion thundered in Shinichi's ears, and Gin was thrown off Akai and his body hit the concrete wall with a sickening noise. Chemicals sizzled off their body as the fire burned – and the angel was suddenly glad he did not have a sense of smell.
With almost a sigh, their souls dimmed with an indication that their bodies were expired. Shinichi scratched his chin as he looked around – everything had happened so suddenly and chaotically, and despite the loud boom, it had gone unnoticed by the clutter from outside. He felt the hum of angels moving through the other rooms, as they reflected off his energy, they retreated to focus on other souls in the need of reaping, leaving Shinichi alone.
He removed his gloves slowly, feeling hesitant to dip into their memories – wondering what terrible things he would discover that was the root of their hatred for each other. Somewhere, deep down, he had started to feel reluctant towards his job. Perhaps this was why Angels were indifferent towards humans – it made their job easier. His thoughts flashed back to the small angel who had reaped of the soul of the cat he had found. If he sympathized for his subjects, then nothing would be efficient anymore. Too many died every day to care about everyone.
With an internal sigh, he brushed his fingers against Akai's chin, before moving to Gin. Their memories flashed across his mind, however he pushed them away to keep from drowning in them. The only thing that shimmered on the surface was a common desire for a last puff of nicotine – of all their differences, it seemed the only thing they had in common. He thought back on the strange woman named Vermouth as his eyes fell on a half-empty carton laying forgotten on a bench.
Something bubbled in his chest – and he was not entirely sure what governed his actions as he suddenly stepped forwards, reached out and pocketed the item. He looked around almost guiltily – not sure what the repercussions of stealing something would be. In the past, he had only been received objects freely given. However, with the souls' memories reflecting off the walls with dark colours, he could not find himself to feel remorseful for the harmless theft.
…
That was how he found himself hours later leaning his weight against the red railing of a small bridge in a park. Underneath him, the white and golden koi-fish tried to taste the pink Sakura flowers that floated innocently on the surface of the water. A gaggle of kids were playing by the trees, and as he watched, they trampled over a few flowers in their game of tag.
He lit the cigarette he had perched between his lips, and he inhaled as he had seen humans do before. He almost imagined he could feel the smoke tingling down his throat and filling his lungs, before exhaling. The vapour was a smoky grey, and he could not help the twitch of his lips in fascination of being able to see the evidence of his own breath – his breathing never turned white in cold weather from the lack of body heat.
He wondered exactly where the smoke went when he did not have any lungs – nor any organs as his body was a mere shell. Inhaling again, he decided to try it out as he took a deep breath of air, before exhaling once more. He kept respiring deeply until deep-red electricity coloured the grey vapour as his energy escaped.
The picture was so surreal, and he gasped out in throated laughter – he had never known he could respire soul-energy by accident.
"I think that's the first time I've ever heard you laugh."
Shinichi dropped the cigarette in surprise at the voice, and it fell from his fingers and down into the water underneath. A large koi-fish brushed against it to check if it was edible. A familiar presence washed across him with eager but warm greeting. He did not have to turn around to know who approached him – and he was slightly baffled of how he had not felt Kaito's strong soul earlier.
"Maybe you are just not a funny person."
The thief snorted in disbelief, "I'm plenty funny, I'll have you know. It's the most important trait of an upcoming neo-magician. Are you saying I suck at my job?"
The angel's lips twitched upwards at the accusing tone. "No comment."
Kaito pushed his hip against Shinichi in indignancy. "You should become a stand-up comedian," he retorted drily, and Shinichi finally turned to face him with an almost impish expression.
"Or I could take your job. According to you, I already have half of the requirement down. Learning magic tricks should be easy –"
Kaito's face darkened, and his lips tightened slightly into what resembled a pout. However, the glow in his eyes portrayed his amusement. He wore a dark-blue vest on top of a shirt and a pair of jeans. In his hand, he held two cups. "I'm starting to regret buying you coffee."
At the surprise in Shinichi's face, he lowered his eyelids and peered at him only shily. "I saw you earlier, and thought I might as well." He hesitantly held out one of the cups as though he expected the angel to refuse. "I wasn't sure how you liked it, so I got a couple of sweeteners –"
Baffled at the offer, Shinichi carefully accepted the cup. He could not feel the warmth of the liquid against his fingertips, and for a moment he wished he could. "I –" he swallowed slightly as his soul fluttered against the ribcage. "Thank you."
Kaito reached to his pocket and fished up a handful of small cups filled with portions of milk and syrup, however his gaze never strayed from Shinichi in wonderment as his cheeks pinked with fascination. "Why is it you are always so surprised whenever someone give you anything – " he bit his lips immediately as Shinichi looked away.
"Sorry," he mumbled a moment later," I didn't mean to pry."
The angel did not reply as an awkward silence throbbed between them. He was constantly aware of how clearly different he was to humans, and it made him increasingly discomforted whenever it was pointed out. He was playing a dangerous game.
"I think its one of your more charming traits," Kaito spoke louder now, and he dipped his nose towards the sky with a smile curling on his lips showing he had not meant the comment as anything negative. "Your constant curiosity and amazement at the simplest of things. Most people have grown so indifferent to life, you know. While you keep that childish curiosity over life that all kids have. I'm always jealous."
Shinichi glanced down at the cup clutched in his hands pondering the magician's words. He could understand the sentiments – existence grew tiering without new experiences. He had been there – however Kaito was wrong in his belief. Interacting with the mortal world was new to him, however he did not know how to explain that.
"Are you religious?" Kaito spoke after a minute of silence, and the angel glanced at him in the corner of his eyes. Every time they met lately, he had been asking personal questions – seemingly trying to get to know Shinichi.
"I think its better to have ideas," he replied after a moment of thought, thinking back on everything he had seen and experienced over the centuries. "Mankind keeps taking good ideas and create a belief structure out of it."
The magician frowned, however his expression was curious rather than malicious. "So, you are saying having beliefs is a bad thing?"
He shook his head, "Not at all. I just think it's better to have an idea. You can change an idea; changing a belief is trickier. People die for it, and they kill for it," he said slowly. "Life should be malleable and progressive, working from idea to idea permits that. Beliefs anchor you to certain points and limit growth: new ideas can't generate, and life becomes stagnant."
Kaito looked thoughtful as a buff of wind brushed his hair into his temples. Under the bridge, the kids were now standing at the river-shore and throwing stones in the water that skipped across the surface. Fascinated at the phenomena, he stepped off the bridge and Kaito followed him automatically.
As he stepped on the stony path, the kids scrambled away as though they had done something illegal and was going to reprimanded, however all the angel did was to lean down to grab a stone. Flexing his wrist, he threw the stone into the water. It landed with a large splash that sent rings across the still water.
He dropped his arm in disappointment. Clearly the phenomena needed some technique he was unaware of.
"I never thought about it like that," Kaito finally spoke as his eyes followed the angel's movement with soft affection. "You are saying it doesn't really matter whether or not God exist, as long as the ideas of morality is followed."
Shinichi rolled his shoulders, suddenly feeling as though he had spoken too much. He knew for a certain that the entity humans called God existed – but not in the sentient form they imagined. It was difficult to explain, and he knew shouldn't continue with the subject.
"If you could wish for anything, what would you want," the angel asked after a moment of racking his brain for a question.
Kaito tilted his head slightly, his eyes portraying that he understood the angel's desire to change the topic, and affection flickered across his features once more with pleasant surprise – it was the first time Shinichi had asked him a question back, and he seemed pleased at the exchange.
"I'd like to fly," he took a sip of his coffee. "I mean, really fly. The hang-gliding is fun and all, but imagined if I had wings and could feel the wind underneath my feathers, or fly with telepathic abilities or however it works. I'm not really picky."
Kaito's expression seemed wishful as a soft smile curled on his lips as his eyes flickered towards a bird that happened to fly by as he spoke. Shinichi's wings spread out on their own accord and fluttered just above the mortal's shoulder almost as though they were a part of him and wanted to grant his wish.
His smile curled upwards in an impish grin a moment later. "Its tempting to pick immortality though. Everyone wants to live forever, so you won't be afraid of death and ceasing to exist. Imagining everything you could learn in a life time, and everyone you could meet. I wouldn't mind either."
Shinichi looked down on the lid of his cup, and his fingers twitched as he pushed against the plastic. "You wouldn't like it," he spoke softly. At Kaito's curious expression, he explained, "immortality I mean."
"If you think people have grown stagnant and indifferent to certain things now, imagining how boring eternity will be once you have experienced everything. Living forever is a curse I doubt you'd enjoy."
Kaito's expression fell as he realized the angel had taken his joke seriously, and he reached up to scratch his cheek in embarrassment. "Yeah, I suppose you are right –"
"You'll live till you are 85, surrounded by your grand kids after a fully lived life," Shinichi continued with a promised, forcing his lips to curl upwards in order to lift the mood.
The magician grinned slightly, and the sun reflected off the water to shimmer in his eyes. His soul seemed to almost blaze in enjoyment and affection. "If it doesn't come to pass, I'll hunt you detective."
"Deal," the angel hummed with an answering smile.
"So, how about you?" Kaito tilted his head in curiosity, "what would you wish for?"
Shinichi glanced down at the cup in his hand, and as he replied he knew he voiced the truth. "I wish I could taste the flavour of this coffee."
Kaito's face faltered in sympathy, suddenly realizing his mistake asking earlier how he liked to consume the liquid. Before the angel could react, the mortal stepped into his comfort zone with arms stretched out.
Shinichi froze in alarm, the volume of his voice increasing in surprise, "what are you doing?"
"I'm giving you a hug," the magician replied unrelentingly as he embraced the angel. Shinichi could feel his soul pulsate against the angel in the mimic of a heartbeat, and his own soul mirrored the response as he felt a pleasant shiver raked through him from his toes to the tip of his wings. Something warm fluttered in his chest, and he could almost imagine the feeling of Kaito's breath against his neck.
Electricity jolted through their souls as Kaito's chin brushed against his cheek accidently, colouring the mortal's soul red as the angel's energy leaked into the other from the touch, and something inside of him thrummed with the need to be even closer –
With a gasp, he wrestled himself out of the embrace, dropping his coffee as he did. The lid burst as the cup hit the ground, and the dark liquid spread across the pebbled road.
Kaito froze, his arms spending a second too long to fall as his eyed widened with too many emotions for the angel to comprehend. "I – I'm sorry –"
Shinichi did not let him finish as he reeled back, his wings fluttering wildly as he did, and his chest heaved as he respired too quickly. This was wrong – he was not allowed to touch the living, and he was thankful that the redness of his soul evaporated from Kaito's the moment their contact had been cut.
Not knowing what else to do, the angel turned to flee to get some distance between them – he did not know what the repercussions of elongated contact was, however he would not take the consequences. Mortals simply could not handle the energies of an angel –
"Wait! Detective –" Kaito called after him, and he could hear the sound of footsteps following him.
With a grimace, Shinichi disappeared behind a corner. Seeing as there were no curious eyes watching him, he turned incorporeal immediately. He stopped in his tracks and laid a hand against his chest as he felt his soul continue to flutter in distress. He only half turned to watch as Kaito reached the corner and came to an abrupt stop as his eyes flickered wildly around trying to spot him.
"Shit, where did he go," he mumbled to himself as he raked a hand through his hair, and made it looked more messy then usual. "Why did I do that –"
The angel looked away and forced himself off the mortal plane, not wishing to pry into the magician's privacy while invisible. It seemed unfair, and he did not like the thought of not being seen by Kaito.
…
The moment he materialized on the rooftop he felt a heavy weight on his shoulders. A tight feeling accumulated in his chest and he grabbed the fabric of his coat above the chest in surprise at the sudden feeling. The humming of death thrummed like electricity across his wings and made his feathers bristle uncomfortably.
A breath of wind made his clothes flutter sharply, and the falling snow brushed past him almost playfully. The snow had come early this year, he thought quietly to himself, despite it still being fall. He had watched a few children playing in the street hours earlier and making snowmen. To his amusement, one of their snowballs had passed straight through him during their snowball fight, and he had been curious about the texture of snow. He had never cared much about it in the past: seen it too many times.
And yet, the mortals saw the phenomena every year and their fascination never ceased. Perhaps his inability to play in the snow was what had caused his indifference to it – he was sure the allure must lay in the ability to craft snowmen and snow forts and throw them at their friends.
His silent musing was interrupted as his eyes finally focused on a familiar figurine ahead. Kaito's cape fluttered widely behind him, and his soul cast a blue and purple light across the already fallen snow in wonderment. It pulsated with more sensations than Shinichi had thought it were capable of as excited greeting wavered through him in a feeling he could only describe as: glad to see you again.
Clasped in Kaito's hand was a large gemstone he was holding up towards the moonlit sky. Shinichi had to squint with curiosity as it seemed to be glowing in too many shades of red to be distinguishable by the sight of humans. It was a glowing, pulsating colour like the energy that mapped up that of angels.
"What is that?" the question had left his lips before he was aware, and Kaito flinched for a moment, seemingly not having sensed his arrival.
"This, detective," the thief sounded almost out of breath, his voice thick with emotions as he started to turn around. Only to come to an abrupt stop with wild eyes widening in shock. The expression sent a shiver through the angel, and his wings drew to their full size behind him on their own accord.
Kaito balked backwards until his thighs hit the railing and forced him to stop, with his other hand he was clutching the gem against his chest as it seemed to be hurting him. "What the – what," his voice was impossibly thin and raspy as disbelief shone in his face, and the moon gleamed off his monocle, making the expression in his eyes impossible to distinguish.
"What are you?"
The shaking question had Shinichi turn his head towards his wings in stupefied curiosity – how was it possible that Kaito could see his wings? It could be the only possibility from the human's reaction. His stomach dropped in disbelief, it simply couldn't be possible – he was not allowed to reveal his identity. No matter the amount of desire to be seen and interact with the fascinating human world, he could never in his wildest imagination even consider for a second to expose his wings.
Perhaps – and he really hoped it was the case or else he would be in big trouble – it was that strange gemstone that allowed Kaito to see him in his true form. This meant Shinichi had one of two options, pretend it was a costume and try not to move his wings any longer, or he could leave and never return. Finally having crossed the stage of no return.
Something twisted inside of him at the very thought of saying goodbye – meeting Kaito had been the outmost fascinating event of his existence. Both exhilarating and baffling and made the monotone of his existence more interesting as he played with the idea that he could come to understand the humans one day.
However, he knew, logically, that their days together had been numbered from the start. Years had already past – Kaito would be twenty already, and he would sooner or later notice that the angel did not age. Perhaps it was better to cut their connections now before more awkward questions could be asked – such as to the matter of his identity.
"You are an angel, aren't you," the thief's expression was open and searching as his gaze were fully focused on him. Now that the initial shock had faded, fascination rippled across his features and he was just about to take a step towards Shinichi, when a loud familiar sound echoed across the rooftop.
Kaito wore an open expression, a small smile curling on his lips before a stripe of blood splattered against his cheek as his shoulder were jerked backwards. The last thing Shinichi saw before he fell backwards and over the railing was shock.
Without thinking, Shinichi impulsively dashed forwards. Something rippled through his soul, but he ignored it as he threw himself over the edge. His wings clutched against his sides as he plunged towards the ground blindingly fast. He only got the glimpse of disbelief in Kaito as he caught him, wrapping his arms around the human's waist. Kaito's souls thrummed against him like a beating heart.
With his quarry caught, he threw his wingspan out as he soared upwards with powerful beats of his wings. A thrill jolted through his feathers in excitement – he could not remember the last time he had flown. Perhaps in the beginning of time when everything was new and curious. In the ancient times, he had heard tales that angels used to fly in the garden of Eden freely.
Snow blew into his face and obscured his vision, and he had to blink in order to evade an upcoming building. It seemed as he could not become incorporeal as long as he was carrying Kaito. With the remembrance of his companion, he glanced down at the thief. Kaito's were wild and large, but not from fear – rather childish glee and fascination as his hands gripped around Shinichi's arms in case the angel accidently dropped him.
"You can fly – actually properly fly. This is nothing like hang-gliding," his voice was filled with awe, and Shinichi could not bring himself to drag his gaze from the mortal's face. Once again something pulsated with a fluttering feeling in his chest.
It was not before Kaito started to cough heavily – every inhale of breath seems to rattle in his chest – that the angel remembered their predicament. A splat of blood stained his sleeves. His stomach sank at the sight and he started to look around for somewhere to land. They were already far enough from the heist and the assassins.
Spotting an empty rooftop, he started his descent as his wings made the snow spiral from the shifting air. He landed softly and let his knees buckle underneath him as Kaito fell heavily against him until the thief's head was nestled in his lap. His wings spread protectively around them to keep the falling snow from landing on the Kaito's face.
In the last few minutes, his face had paled and lips started to turn blue – and the angel was unsure whether or not it was due to the cold or blood loss. His lips parted slightly as his hand reached up towards Shinichi, before noticing he was still clutching the gem in his hand as it fell back on top of his chest.
"You saved me."
Shinichi forced his gaze away as he burned with shame. "I didn't," he hadn't. Death's bell still chimed powerful in his ears and sent waves of beckoning sensations through his wingspan. He was still dying – all he had done was to draw-out the inevitable. It had been selfish of him to jump after Kaito – he had no idea what he had been thinking. Perhaps he had not been thinking at all.
All he knew was that he had not wanted the thief to end his life as a splat on the concrete – it was a degrading death that did not fit someone who earned to fly.
"Thank you," the earnestness in his voice did nothing to chase the angel's remorse over his actions.
Kaito's eyes burned into his and the indigo of his pupilss seemed to almost glow on their own accord. His soul seemed to shimmer brightly then ever like a star knowing it would soon extinguish and refused to go without a last fanfare.
"We've met before, haven't we?" Despite the rasping voice it did not shake as his eyes tried to gauge the truth from the angel's features. When Shinichi did not immediately reply, he licked his lips. "When I was a child – I suddenly remember. I've always thought it was a dream."
Shinichi's eyes widened slightly in surprise. He had never considered the option that the boy would have any memories of him. He had been traumatized and exhausted. With the demanding stare for answers, and the knowledge that the human was going to die anyway, Shinichi decided to tell the truth as he inclined his head slightly to confirm his suspicion – surely he would not be blamed for his actions when Kaito would never be able to tell a living soul?
"Why didn't you save my dad?"
The angel expected anger from him, however there was no malicious intend in his voice as his eyes dipped down sluggishly once before widening in an effort to keep conscious. Honest curiosity flickered in his eyes.
"I couldn't," Shinichi replied without regret, would not make any excuses. "Death was calling for him."
"But you saved me."
He felt his eyelids flutter at the tender tone. "Your father – his soul asked me to as I reaped himl."
Kaito chuckled, a deeps rich tone that ended in a violent cough. "Dad – even looking after me in the afterlife," he finally managed to rasp once the fit ended. "Thank you, detective."
Something tightened in Shinichi's chest, he was not certain why, but suddenly hearing a nickname from the mortal sounded wrong. "Shinichi," his lips parted before he was consciously aware of speaking. "My name is Shinichi."
Kaito's eyes widened slightly in acknowledgment of his words, and his lips curled upwards as he rolled the name on his tongue. "Shinichi."
Warmth flooded through the angel's soul and body at the way he pronounced his name – the very first time any living being had spoken it. It seemed almost forbidden and thrilling to be acknowledged fully for who he was – an existing entity with a name. It almost made him feel alive.
Almost unbiddenly, his eyes fell to the gem still clutching against the thief's chest. It was no longer glowing red as the clouds with snow now obscured the full moon, however he could feel a slow pressure in his mind as he gazed at it with curiosity. He had never seen anything like it.
"That gem you have there," he licked his lips slowly, unable to contain his curiosity. "Is that what you have been searching for?"
Kaito's eyes darted down to the stone, and his hand clutched around it tightly as evident from the whiteness of his knuckles. "This is Pandora," he almost sighed with tension and relief. "An organization is after it. They killed my dad for it – and shot me." He hesitated for a second as his gaze settled once more into the angel's features. "Have you ever heard about it? They believe Pandora bestow immortality."
Shinichi shook his head immediately, he had no knowledge of any magical gemstones that granted immortality to humans. It seemed impossible to cheat death – he had never heard of a single situation where it had happened. "I don't know. I'm sorry."
Kaito's lips only curled downwards in disappointment, but he did not prod any further on the topic as his chest heaved painfully as he coughed up another mouthful of blood. His face twisted into a painful expression. He suddenly grabbed after the angel's shirt as he lifted Pandora towards Shinichi.
"Can you do me a favour," he rasped out with hopeful desperation. "Keep Pandora hidden. In the hands of angels, they will never find her."
Shinichi hurryingly grabbed his wrist as his hand started to falter from the lack of energy to keep it steady. He curled his fingers around the gemstone, letting his fingers brush against the thief's. It sent another electric sparkle through their souls as they vibrated it almost in the same speed.
"I'll keep her safe," he promised – it was the least he could do for someone he considered the closest he could ever get to a friend. Making sure whoever shot Kaito would never get the Pandora was the only kind of revenge either of them could get.
The thief's hand fell back on his chest heavily as he had no longer any vigour to keep it up, his eyes fluttered before falling close as his breathing stilled for a fraction of a moment that sent Shinichi's wings fluttering wildly in distress.
"Am I dying?" Kaito's voice were a mere whisper of a breath.
"Yes," the angel replied, not knowing what else do to in this situation. With the cat, he had caressed her fur in comfort, however he was not sure if it was appropriate to do the same with a human.
He did not expect the soft chuckle in response, "at least you are honest."
A shiver of guilt jolted through him once more, and he let his eyes waver in remorse over his egoistic actions. "I'm sorry for making you suffer slowly. I just –"
"It's alright," he cut him off with a curl of his lips. "I don't mind. It gives me a few more minutes to know you – and get explanations. Tell me, what's heaven like?"
"You think you'll go to heaven," Shinichi joked, unable to describe the afterlife in human tongues.
Kaito snorted as his eyes fluttered open to gaze in disbelief up at the angel for teasing, "A boy can dream, can't he? You sure suck at this reassuring the dying you know."
Shinichi's smile faltered, and he bit his cheek in remorse for the badly timed joke. "I'm sorry. I don't have any personal experience."
The thief let out a groan as he rolled his eyes. "God –" he mumbled in incredulity. "if I wasn't dying, I'd ask you out."
His soul fluttered widely all of a sudden at the unexpected response, his lips parted a few times, before he sputtered out the first thing that came to mind. "I can't consume human food. I don't have a digestive system –"
"Just a movie then," Kaito did not missed a beat as his cheeks flustered and his eyes glittered as his soul pulsated a deep, sparkling blue as he had somehow regained some of his life force from share willpower. "I'll eat all the popcorn on my own. Or to a carnival. Everyone loves the carnival."
Shinichi wasn't sure how to reply, feeling once more out of depth wondering if the mortal was teasing or not. However the magician seemed to glow from sincerity and eagerness – however there was a shimmer of sadness bubbling underneath the façade. Perhaps from the knowledge it would never happen, as their reality was thus: Kaito was slowly bleeding out on his lap – slower then Shinichi had anticipated, and he wondered perhaps if the mortal was still alive simply because their souls were beating in the same pace as he willed his heart to keep beating just for a little while longer.
"Why," he finally managed to reply, his eyebrows knitting in confusion. Why him of all people, he was no one special.
Kaito must have seen the real question on his face, as his features softened with a fond smile. "Cause I like you: and you are utterly ridiculous. With your wit, and thoughtfulness that keeps surprising me and keep me on my toes. You are still wearing that stupid tie I bought you – I guess all that makes sense now," he chuckled softly, "and my heart flutter every time you are around. You are special and different. I feel it in here," he added, tapping a finger against his chest. "Like my soul heats up whenever you are near."
Shinichi tilted his head in curiosity – he had never considered if humans could sense each other's souls. Had never seen any indication of it, and yet the mortal did not hesitate to say – "I know your soul always greats me. It's how I always know it's you."
Kaito's cheeks seemed to have darkened, and an impish grin stretched across his lips. "Maybe we are soulmates."
The angel pondered at that for a short moment, it certainly seemed as they were. Always greeting each other in eagerness from the very start. He had never considered the possibility. "Soulfriends – I like the sound of that."
The thief's expression softened again, and he mumbled tenderly as though he was unsure whether or not he had spoken out loud. "I think I love you," when confusion flickered across the angel's face, he continued. "Do you know what it means?"
Shinichi shook his head slowly in honesty, he had tried to comprehend the foreign emotion. However from all evidence he had gathered it seemed to be something void of definition and logic. "I'm not sure," he replied with honesty.
Kaito's lips quirked upwards in endearment over the fact he was always so sincere. "It's difficult to explain really. It's a feeling of affection and wanting to spend time with someone. Its liking someone for their flaws, not blaming them for it. But that doesn't really differentiate it much from friendship does it?" he licked his lips slowly as his eyes gazed up at the wings hovering protectively above him with thoughtful fascination.
"Most of all, it's a feeling I guess, like a fluttering feeling in your chest – or maybe it's your soul? I'm not entirely sure about all this metaphysical crap really. All I know is that I care about you deeply – and it's easier to know why feel like this then to explain it," his voice trailed out in thought as his voice turned drowsy.
Shinichi pondered at the explanation – perhaps Kaito was right. It was not a logical definition, rather a feeling deep in your being then simply knew without any need to justify. He cared for the mortal deeply, more than he could ever describe. He could name the reason he enjoyed Kaito's company – his wit, the way he smiled, how his eyes shimmered with affection only for Shinichi and how he had accepted the fact he was an angel without a second of doubt.
Something was both fluttering and burning in his chest at the same time as their gaze didn't break. There was a silent understanding between them, and somehow Shinichi knew that Kaito felt the same – felt lost and empty and not whole whenever they were apart.
"Can I ask for another favour?"
"Anything," Shinichi replied immediately, his voiced rushed as he could feel Kaito's life form slowly ebb as his soul had started to dim in strength.
"Go out with me?" the thief's voice was a mere breath, "just for as long as I live – be my boyfriend."
If Shinichi had been breathing, he would have exhaled deeply in jolted surprise at the request – he had long since given up the pretence of being human. "Okay," tumbled from his mouth clumsily, having no idea about the correct etiquette for this. He had no experience with relationships at all.
A shadow of a smile grazed Kaito's lips as his eyes fluttered shut for the last time. His chest heaved heavily with a rattling noise as a dark patch of blood spread across the whiteness of his suit. A few stray snowflakes fluttered down on his nose as they evaded the confine of the angel's wings. Shinichi would have done anything to freeze time and stretch out the seconds indefinitely as Kaito's soul dimmed to a silent hum.
Shinichi dipped his head over Kaito's and felt his eyes burn with sad regret – for a moment he wondered if he regretted everything – regretted saving him as a child and start this avalanche of emotions and moments of experiencing the human world. A part of him did not want to continue for eternity without seeing the mortal's smile, of hearing his warm laughter shiver down his spine pleasantly.
He remembered their conversation from weeks ago, how he had told Kaito he would live till he was eighty-five surrounded by family, and how the sun had reflected off the magician's hair and the way his soul and blossomed warmly at the angel's words.
Shinichi wished he had been right now – dying at the age of twenty was too young, he had hoped for half a century more. However, he had given Kaito a decade longer to live, and he could not find himself to regret giving it to him.
The angel removed his right glove with his teeth before letting his bare fingertips brush against the thief's cheeks. He wished he could feel the texture of his skin, feel the clamminess from the cold air, and feel the beating of life. Most of all he wished he could have been mortal and not feel the becoming death chiming in his ears – if he hadn't, he would have flown Kaito to the hospital and saved his life. However, as an angel of death, he could not. It was not in his right to change fate.
He had felt this regret before, but not to this degree, not with his soul crying for the loss of his friend. He poured his grief into the touch as he trailed his fingers across Kaito's cheeks and hair, wanting more than anything to feel any sensation that proved he existed – that he was alive in the way Kaito always looked at him. Like he mattered.
"I don't want you to die," the wish came tumbling out of his mouth in a rush as he for the first time desired something in his life. Energy within his chest pulsated in a heating blaze as the words were spoken. It was an egoistic wish, but it was his.
"I don't want you to die, Kaito. Not like this," he repeated louder as he heard bells chiming in his ears and his feathers fluttered in a frenzy. Unconsciously, his energy burst through his fingertips where his bare hand was touching the mortal's cheek. Bright light blinded his vision as he gasped out at the sudden rush of energy that burned through him.
Kaito's soul flashed as it increased and responded to the touch, and feeling of vitality and cheerful laughter waved through the angel stronger then he had ever felt before. The familiar, thrilling sound drowned out the death chimes.
There were suddenly movement in his lap as he heard a sharp inhale of breath, and hands suddenly grasped against his. "Shinichi?" Kaito mumbled with a strong voice from what felt like a distance away: there were no trace of pain and tire that had echoed through their entire conversation.
Shinichi felt like he was drowning in the blinding light as he started to feel light-headed and disjointed to his body. There was a push against his energy – he could not see anything, only a burning brightness. He tried to reply, however he could not find his voice, nor could he move his hands. His wings didn't flutter, rather there was a rush of static in his ears.
"Shinichi!" was the last thing he heard as his consciousness was dragged away.