A/N: Chapter 4 of Fallen Angel. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except my own. Shakugan no Shana belongs to the rightful owner.

Bold words = Alastor talking

Chapter 4: Delightful Strangers

"Here we go, quickly get inside." We made it to my house just as the rain gained momentum and fell harder against the pavement. I ushered her inside and quickly closed the door behind us.

"A-A-A–ACHOO!" Shana sneezed, shivering in her wet uniform.

"You can use the bathroom upstairs; I'll get you some clean clothes when you're done. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes." I placed our school bags on the table, using a clean cloth to wipe the remnants of rain from my hair.

"Alright then. No peeking though, I won't forgive you if you do." She replied as she disappeared to the second level. I sighed as I got a fresh batch of clothing for her to wear.

"I'll leave the clothes outside the door." I spoke loudly enough so that she could hear over the running water.

"Okay, thanks." she spoke and I went back downstairs. The aroma of fresh spaghetti and meatballs drafted throughout the house as Shana appeared, dressed in a simple pajama shirt and pants. She set the table up as I dished out the main course.

"I...uh...didn't know which you would prefer but here..." I set a mug down and she stared right into the brown-colored water.

"What is that?" She wrinkled her nose at the smell.

"It's hot chocolate." I replied as she took a sip. A slight blush appeared on her cheeks as she took another gulp.

"You like it?" I asked. She nodded in agreement. "I'm glad. If you didn't want that, I have coffee."

"Hot chocolate is good enough." We had a peaceful dinner, too lost within our own thoughts to chat. Finishing up, we quickly stowed away the dishes and I led Shana to a vacant room in the house.

"You can use this room," I opened up the door for her and she stepped onto the velvet carpet with care. There was a mid-size bed with a curtain for privacy, a wardrobe, a desk and a bookshelf.

"How luxurious." She proclaimed as she sat on the bed, running her hands on top of the smooth cloth. "Even the sheets are extravagant. Tell me, how in the world did you manage to obtain such items."

"They were given to me." I smiled before walking to the door. "If you need anything else, please call me. I'll be right down the hall." And I walked out.

"He is such a nice kid huh Alastor?" Shana smiled as she unpacked her work for the night.

I must agree. The necklace around her neck responded. Although there's something about him that I can't place my finger on. It's like something evil or maybe darker than evil. We have to take precautions.

"All right, then I guess I'll be staying here for awhile until we get to the bottom of this mystery. But for now," She glanced down on a stack of papers in front of her. "Homework calls."

My room...

Closing the door shut behind me, I walked over to my desk and sat down, running my hands through my dirty blonde locks. Taking out my homework load from my bag, I quickly flew through, managing to finish within an hour or so left. Suddenly my mind flashed to the time where I was almost attacked by the two Rinnes and on impulse, I raised my arms in front of my face in a kind of defense. The quick reflexes threw me off-balance and I crashed to the ground with a yelp.

What the hell? I groaned as I stared at the ceiling. Why do I still remember that scene? Another thought passed through and it was that brief instant where I saw my smiling parents. They were…..smiling. Sitting up, I shuffled to my desk and looked at the picture. Their faces looked so forlorn to me and I rubbed my eyes to get rid of the dizziness.

"Hey, are you alright?" I looked over as Shana closed the door behind her. " I heard a thump and then a yelp. Alastor said it came from your room."

"Yeah, I'm fine." I held up the picture of my parents. "Just remembering a tiny bit of my past."

"A tiny bit? You are saying you can't remember anything?" She sat on my bed and gave me a confused look. "What about your parents? Where are they?"

"I don't remember."

"Anything at all?"

"Well…." I sat on my chair and pondered over what to tell her. "It's complicated. I don't remember a whole lot but I get these flashes and images flood into my mind little by little, painting the picture for me." Turning around in my chair, I took out a sheet of paper and started to draw. Curious, Shana walked over and looked over my shoulder. It looked like a normal diagram, with lines connecting one after the other before branching off into different areas.

"Starting from here…..." I gave her a quick glance before tapping a place on the paper. "This is what I know so far. Some nights I get these vivid dreams and this is what I see." A representation of a log house was draw on the page. "Then from here I drew the image from yesterday." A picture of my smiling parents looked up at me. "What comes next is still a blur."

"Then what's this?" Shana pointed a finger at a flame representation.

"That's a flame that I saw in my vivid dream, I don't know where it goes so I assumed it would go after the log house but something comes before that I know." I glanced at the clock. "It's past my bed time, we should hurry up and get some rest."

"I agree." She walked to the door before looking over her shoulder. "Forgive me for being out of line but…..what happened to your parents?"

"They were killed….but I don't remember how." I disappeared into the bathroom and came back out in my night wear. "Someday I'll figure it out but not right now. Good night Shana." I waved a dismissive hand and quickly pulled the covers over my head. Shana didn't say a word but she faintly nodded her head and closed the door behind her.

The next morning….

The sound of sizzling beacon and eggs roused sleeping beauty from her sleep.

It looks like you sleep well my flame hair beauty. Alastor chuckled.

"Shut up." Was the response. Grabbing her bag which was packed with her finished homework, she walked down the stairs to see the table already set.

"Good morning." I greeted her cheerfully. "Toast is almost ready but you can start with the beacon and eggs." She nodded her head and quickly digged in. Pouring two glasses of milk, we ate mostly in silence until Alastor decided to ask about my ring.

Where did you get that from? It's not like those normal quartz that Shana and I have ever stumbled upon back in the days when she was still in training.

"Oh this?" I glanced at the ring on my middle finger. "It was a present my parents gave to me for my birthday before they passed away. This quartz represents….umm... represents…." I scratched my head, my eyebrows scrunched together. "I can't remember."

I see.

"Sorry about that." I apologized quickly. "If I remember anything, I'll be sure to tell you."

"As fun as that sounds, we need to get going." Hopping off of her chair, Shana whisked away into the kitchen and placed the dirty dishes in the sink. "We'll wash them when we get back. Come on!"

"W-wait I still need to get my shoes on!" I fumbled with my shoe laces before Shana gripped my arm and started tugging. "Okay Shana, I'm done!"

"About time! We're going to be late!" We sprinted the rest of the way and made it just in time before the bell rang.

"So where are you going to sit Shana?" I whispered to her.

"Isn't it obvious?" She gestured to the empty seat. "I'm practically Yukari Hirai now."

"I see." I nodded as the teacher arrived, gesturing for the students to take their seats. Propping open the book, he started to read off the day's assignments while the students moan and groaned. I inwardly chuckled as Shana decided to berate the teacher and argued with the teaching material of the lesson like she always does. The teacher stumbled on his words as he tried to correct himself but couldn't and therefore left the classroom with teary eyes.

"Shana don't you think that was a little harsh?" I asked her when class was over. She shook her head.

"It shouldn't concern me if the teacher doesn't polish up on his studies before hand. No wonder these kids know nothing, everything from the book is practically child's play and no one even knows the simplest of things."

"Well you are just too smart for this curriculum I guess." I laughed heartily which she ignored and ate the usual melon bread from the local bakery. "Do you ever get tired of melon bread?"

"…..no." She gave me a death glare and continued munching on the bread like her life depended on it. "Besides, this thing is like the best thing in this world. Try some." Without my consent, she shoved a piece in my mouth and waited until I swallowed it.

"Well?"

"It has a little lemony taste in it…." I wiped the crumbs off my face. "A little sweet with a pinch of sugar to coat it; overall not as bad as I thought."

"See? I told you so… Oh shoot." She rummaged around her bag frantically. " I forgot something in the class room. Wait right here." She dashed off quickly, leaving me to my own thoughts. The warm sunshine blinded me for a second but it was soothing and I found myself dozing until an unpleasant chill rushed up my spine. Suddenly the sky turned a little red and purple while everything around me froze.

What? This feeling….it's almost like. I scanned the scene and my eyes narrowed. That's it! It's like that time with the two Rinnes; it's the Seal . I have to find Shana fast! Running towards the classroom, I swung open the door only to jump back immediately as small cards impaled themselves at my feet.

"Shana!" I called out.

"Shut up! Can't you see I'm busy?" Her eyes were staring at what looks like a floating doll outside the room.

"That's-!" I pointed at the doll in recognition before the windows broke and more cards flew in. Luckily Shana's trench cloak burned them all into a crisp before making contact with my face.

"You're the same Rinne as before, what's your master's name?" Shana growled at the tiny figure.

"Do you think I'd tell you? Besides, Master doesn't have the time and energy on little annoying brats like you."

"No, but I thought I'd check first. I'd say from the way he keeps wasting the likes of you, he's probably not the smartest Denizen in the Crimson World." Shana decided to play the little game and insulted the doll.

"How dare you!" She screeched angrily only to hold back as a reassuring arm wrapped around her small frame.

"Hello there, little one." A male's voice entered as the man himself appeared out of thin air. "I felt that it was time you and I met."

"You must be a Crimson Denizen." I growled, my left hand unconsciously touched the ring on my middle finger, its warmth gave me , as it this hot before? I glanced down for a brief second before our friend spoke.

"Well done. Really quite impressive the way you reduced my Regular Sharp treasure, with nothing but a single sword."

"Master…..I'm very sorry." The little doll in his arms spoke.

"No need to apologies, Marianne. It's my fault for giving you an unfamiliar treasure." He cooed softly as he snuggled against the doll.

"So, you are the master of that swine?" Shana directed her attention to him, lifting her sword in a defensive manner.

"Yes." The man did a mock bow. "Hunter Friagne, that is what I'm called."

Hunter….You are a Flame Haze killer. Alastor said, a little bit of worry covered his words.

"I don't like being referred to in that way." Friagne muttered. "I see myself as more of a collector of treasures. Those are what I hunt. You must be Alastor, the Flame of the Heavens, you're well known in the Crimson World. We've never met…though I'd heard you were on this side."

Don't let his appearance fool you. Alastor snapped. He's a powerful Lord of the Crimson World, he commands numerous treasures and he's overcome many of the Flame Hazes. Shana just huffed with annoyance but kept her eyes on the prize.

"So this is your partner…" Friagne looked at Shana carefully, "the Nietono no Shana Flame Haze. She's as pretty as the rumors let me do believe, although I hear she has trouble producing her own flames."

"What did you say?" An angry tick mark appeared on her head as she snarled verbally at him. Friagne simply chuckled before continuing.

"I believe you are merely relying on the power of that sword to call forth the flames within you. Am I wrong? Flame of the Heavens," He now turned his gaze on the necklace, "by binding someone as weak as her to you, your powers as a Crimson Lord are being squandered."

"Wanna test me and see if that's the case?"

"I've seen this before, a Flame Haze gets angry, attacks recklessly and dies in the explosion. I'm afraid I can't allow that because I can't risk damaging that valuable Mystes there." He glanced at me but I stared back hard. Words were being shared between our gaze before he broke eye-contact first.

"I'll be back another time, I do wonder what's inside of that boy. We'll see soon enough." With a bow, he disappeared. I sighed before slumping to my bottom, clearly releasing my held breath while Shana looked around with displeasure.

"Luckily the damage wasn't that bad, I'll fix it in a matter of minutes." True to her word, the classroom was restored to its natural form.

"Shana, you must be tired. Here, I'll give you some of my energy." I took her hand and slowly but surely, the flame within my chest flickered smaller and smaller as my energy flowed into her.

"That's enough idiot." Her hand drew back quickly. "I can't have you die on me now."

"Me? Die? Impossible." I dismissed her and walked back to my seat.

What a weirdo…..huh? She stared for a few minutes. I didn't pay attention to my flame after the transfer but suddenly the tiny flame leaped back to life and now burned brightly.

"Alastor, did you see that." She whispered.

Hmm…I think I know what the treasure might be….

That night…...

"I'm beat." I stretched loudly from the living room. "Shana, do you want anything?" No reply. An idea hit me on the head and I rushed into the kitchen. "I think I know where she is." Outside, the Flame Haze sat on the rooftop, looking at the glimmering stars above. A shooting star caught her eye and she sighed when it disappeared.

"I know you would be up here." She looked down as I climbed up, balancing a tray with two hot steaming mugs on my head.

"Well aren't you a smarty pants?" She scoffed as I crawled towards her, taking the tray off my head.

"Hey Alastor," I turned my attention to him for a change, "Is that necklace like a transmitter?"

Similar but different. This is called a Cocytus. It acts as a mirror for my consciousness which is presently residing within Shana.

"I see." I nodded my head.

"Happy now?"

"Tch..."Now I looked at the Flame Haze with bewilderment. "What's your problem? Wait before you even explain yourself, here." I placed one of the mugs for her on the roof along with a couple of cream cups and sugar packets along with a stirring spoon. "That's for you. I can't believe I even bother coming up here in the first place. Anyways dinner will be ready on the table when you decide to come down from the roof. I'll be in my room if you need anything else." With a huff, I descended down the ladder and disappeared into the house, slamming the door shut behind me.

Shana I think you need to change that sour attitude of yours. Look even he made you hot chocolate. Alastor said while Shana held the mug in her hands. Pouring in the cream and sugar, she stirred absent-mindedly and took a sip.

"It's warm and delicious."

Another part of town…..

"Ha! Dullsville." A woman with blonde locks and glasses crowed upon the scene of the city. She adorned what looks like a lawyer's business suit and a knee-length skirt.

"Ha ha…You said the same thing about all those European towns, too!" A book bag underneath her arm erupted in laughter. "Maybe dull is only in the eye of the beholder, my dearly beloved goblet, Margery Daw?"

"Stay focused." She barked. "We know for a fact this is where it ran of to, but I'm picking up other scents as well."

"Yes. Something does smell….and it's your breath you booze hound! Ahahahahahaha….Ouch!" The book didn't go very far before Margery punched it hard.

"Quiet stupid Marco! I think this could become very interesting indeed…." Not far from their location, Friagne held Marianne close as he stared outside his window with a concern look.

"We have pests…."

A/N: Done with this chapter, I hoped you enjoyed it!