Those who Favor Fire
Disclaimer: Characters and premise are the property of Kazue Kato. I'm just borrowing them for a little non-profit fun.
Little Boy's eye lashes and eyebrows are starting to grow back in. You don't realize how much they add to expressions until they're gone. The inner part of the eyebrow is growing back much faster than the rest, so for the moment he's got Izumo-style eyebrows. His head's still totally bald; he says he looks like Charlie Brown (I think we watch "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown" about once a day). He also just figured out that he could get out of bed by himself, so early in the morning I hear "Mommy, I found you!" I glance at the clock, not quite 5 AM. "You're out of bed?" He grins proudly, "I took my blanky and set out into the Dark Rooms!" In his mind this is apparently equal to searching deepest Africa for Dr. Livingstone.
Story Notes: I started making plans for Lightning before the recent cannon reveals about him… So, I'm sticking with my original plans and cheerfully going AU.
All of Angel's backstory has been an experiment in non-chronological storytelling for me, but this chapter in particular has numerous jumps between different time-periods. Hopefully it works.
Chapter Seven: Won't Remember
"Up and at 'em," Bon said nudging Rin.
"What's attacking us?"
"Nothing," Bon said.
Rin got up. "Seriously? Since when's the last time that happened. Hey Angel- Angel?" Rin frowned when there was no reply. He walked over and shook Angel's shoulder. The older knight remained unresponsive. Rin glanced up at Bon. "They're attacking us," he said grimly.
Bon crouched beside Rin to look the Paladin over.
"I don't get it," Rin continued. He gestured to the blue flames outlining all three of them. "Nothing should be able to possess you. My flames should burn anything that tries."
"Cold!" Bon drew back suddenly when his examination reached Angel's chest. The Paladin's features were twisted with distress. Bon glanced back at Rin. "Your flames are warm, comfortable but…" He moved his hand back to Angel's chest, "Ice cold. Something else is disguising itself as part of your flames. A Mare or Oneiroi of some sort I'm guessing. Normally in the field we'd just summon a Baku and let it eat the nightmare but Karura aside neither of us are really Tamers."
"So what do we do?" Rin asked.
"There are a lot of different varieties of Mare," Bon said slowly. "I can exorcise it, I mean sure it won't go far but as long as it's out of Angel, good enough. But unless I get lucky it'll take time to find the right fatal verse… We're going to have to make a stand here while I do the exorcism. We know I can channel your flames. I'm going to set up a barrier and tie it to you. Your flames, your will should keep it strong. You're going to have to hold it against anything and everything they send at us until I manage to find the right verse. The only other choice we'd have is a running battle while we try to drag Angel along with us."
"Or you could abandon him," Karura pointed out. "The Myodha need both of you to grow strong again, we don't need him."
At Karura's bald statement Rin's face took on the strained, pinched look Bon had learned to associate with an Oath pushing Rin in a direction he didn't want to go. And even if Karura had a point, it was one that left a sour taste in Bon's mouth. "No," he said. "We came to this party together, we leave together," he declared and Rin relaxed.
"I'll hold the barrier," Rin declared confidently, "No matter what's out there. You just worry about Angel."
"Tell me! Who did you choose?" The more forceful demand made Angel aware that he was being interrogated. He tried to force his thoughts away from the answer that was being sought and away from the parts of his past that hurt too much to revisit.
"Who are you? Why are you helping me?" Angel asked he lifted his head to stare at the dark-haired young man who was dabbing cautiously at the inflamed scratches covering his chest. As he moved Angel's braid caught in the chains binding his wrists above his head.
"Me?" the young man's head jerked up in surprise. For a moment Angel caught a glimpse of startled golden eyes then the other ducked his head again and his bangs fell back in his face. "I'm um Light, two names, right, Lewin Light." He gave an awkward burst of laughter, "I guess you could say I'm the emergency food supply."
He couldn't move, could barely breath for the weight on his chest. 'Too close, too close. Something else. Don't remember.'
"Matte! Matte!" the slight dark haired woman exclaimed as she fell, her practice sword dropping from nerveless fingers. Angel pulled his next blow before it landed. The woman glanced over at the other five students waiting their turns.
"Eleven minutes, six seconds," the boy holding the stopwatch declared. "Officially a new record."
The woman accepted Angel's hand up. She smiled at him as she rubbed the rapidly forming bruise on her upper-arm from the blow that had ended the match. "Eleven whole minutes, Sensei. You'd better watch out, I might actually win a point in another year or two."
"His mentor or his executioner, which did you choose? Answer me!"
Suguro's chant cleared his mind for just a second, 'I won't betray my orders to you!'
Several weeks after that spar Angel stood outside a crumbling apartment building. Self-consciously he straightened the long coat of a ranked True Cross Exorcist which he wore open over a pristine white dress shirt and breeches, he'd completed the outfit with a white, silk cavate. The only thing not neat and prim about him was the gold hair hanging nearly to the backs of his knees, a few locks loosely bound to keep it out of his face. He glanced at the paper in his hand a second time, finding it hard to believe that this ramshackle tenement was truly his destination, then with a look of resolve he climbed the stairs to the fourth floor.
Nothing happened when he rang the bell, so he knocked on the door. After a few moments he heard someone stirring inside. "Miss Koizumi, you've missed classes for three days," Angel called.
The door opened a crack to reveal someone a far sight from the top-notch swordswoman Angel knew from his class. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her dark hair hung in two messy plaits and her clothes looked slept in. "I'm sorry Sensei," she said in a wavering voice.
"Miss Koizumi, are you well?" Angel asked with a worried frown.
A choked sob escaped the woman. Angel stepped forward and caught her as her knees buckled. For a few minutes he remained awkwardly bend over, half supporting her while she sobbed into his shoulder. When it occurred to Angel that Koizumi wasn't going to pull herself together anytime soon he scooped her up and carried her inside.
The apartment was a dingy, stuffy little room with a daybed in one corner and a kitchenette in the other. A student desk and wardrobe were crammed at the foot of the bed, there was a sword rack beneath the shuttered window and a doorway suggested a bathroom. Angel looked around the room then tried to set Koizumi on her bed. She refused to let go of his neck and so with a resigned sigh he sat on the bed beside her and patted her hair saying inane things like 'It can't really be that bad?' while trying not to think too much about snot getting on his coat and in his hair and wishing he could understand what she was saying. Being a global organization the True Cross encouraged multilingualism, but Angel had difficulties with foreign languages even when they weren't broken up by grief-stricken sobbing.
Sometime later a second young man appeared in the doorway. Despite looking several years older than Angel, perhaps twenty, he still wore the shorter exwire jacket, casually thrown on over frayed cargo pants and a faded tee-shirt. He looked about a day overdue for a shave and a month overdue for a haircut with sable bangs obscuring his eyes. "So?" he said.
"I don't believe she's ill but she won't quit crying," Angel told the other young man a bit desperately.
Lewin Light gestured for Angel to step aside and in a few moments he'd switched Koizumi to crying on his shoulder instead of Angel's. "Name?" he mouthed as he rubbed her back comfortingly.
"Sachiko Koizumi," Angel whispered.
"Koizumi-chan, what happened?" Light asked, switching smoothly from Italian to lightly accented Japanese.
Angel listened intently to the torrent of words that poured out of Koizumi and eventually pieced together that someone had died and she was never going to see her baby again, although he was fairly certain that it wasn't the baby who had died.
Light waited patiently until Koizumi ran out of words. "I'm so sorry for your loss," he told her solemnly. "Still I think you'd be able to cope a bit better with something to eat. So, while Arthur here runs down to that little restaurant around the corner and gets us some take out, why don't you take a quick shower and get cleaned up. I'll make you some tea. Then we'll take a second look at this thing and see if there's anything to be done."
Koizumi nodded. Angel gratefully took that as his cue to leave. Forty minutes later he was back with a loaf of bread and a carton of a thick seafood stew. While he'd been out Light had thrown open the apartment's single window, letting in light and fresh air. He'd washed the dishes moldering in the sink, taken out the trash and made the bed. Koizumi was cradling a steaming coffee mug between her hands. She had changed into her Academy uniform and her damp hair was pulled back into a ponytail at the base of her neck. Angel was relieved to see that she'd finally quit crying.
"Good, you're back just in time," Light said as he shifted the desk around until the bed could be used as additional seating. He seated Koizumi in her chair and dished up a bowl of the stew for her. Then he and Angel took seats across from her on the bed and got their own food. After allowing a few moments for everyone to fill their stomachs Light said, "So, we haven't been formally introduced yet. I am Lewin Light, either a stray who followed our illustrious Arthur Angel home or his new side-kick. Between those choices I opt for side-kick. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Koizumi Sachiko, nice to meet you," Koizumi replied automatically.
"Like you I am a student at our esteemed Institute, the True Cross Academy of Rome, the first and most prestigious of all True Cross Academies," Light continued. "Our instructors have been kindly illuminating the inadequacies of my self-education for me."
"I've found his practical knowledge of demons to be unparalleled," Angel remarked with a puzzled frown. "And I can say with certainty that I wouldn't have passed the Exorcist Exam this year without his help in my studies. I have no explanation for his poor test scores."
"Maybe it's my handwriting," Light said his voice solemn but his expression full of mischief.
"I could coach you in calligraphy," Angel offered sincerely.
"I'm afraid some shortcoming of birth simply can't be overcome," Light sighed.
"You shouldn't…" Angel began then trailed off as he caught a glimpse of Light's expression. "You are teasing me, again." He turned to Koizumi, "Sometimes I feel his company would be more tolerable if I simply took everything he says at face value… He seems quite respectful in those lights."
Light pouted, "And I thought leaving you tells was being considerate… It's only people I like who know when I'm making fun of them."
"Lucky me," Angel replied, deadpan.
The corners of Koizumi's mouth turned up slightly at the interplay between the two young men.
Light smiled at Koizumi, "I understand you're one of Arthur's protegee swordsmen?" he asked.
"My best student frankly," Angel said.
Koizumi looked away, uncomfortable with the praise. "Quite a worthless skill given that I turn into a ninny every time I'm faced with an actual demon," she demurred, gesturing to the lack of a pin on her uniform signifying that she had yet to pass not merely the Exorcist Exam but the Exwire Exam. "Four failures on my record thus far, a bit indicative of my life really."
"Your fiance died in a battle on the other side of the world," Light said. "I don't see how you could possibly be said to have failed him."
Koizumi set her spoon down and stared into her half-empty soup bowl. "Take isn't, wasn't really my fiance," she admitted. "I thought he'd come back to me, but… His family hates me. They wouldn't even allow me to come to the funeral. Better for Renzo, they said."
"Renzo?" Angel asked.
"Our son," Koizumi said. "Shima-san was quite blunt with us. We were fifteen, if we tried to keep him we'd have no support from either of our families. The odds of us completing three more years of high school while raising an infant and supporting ourselves were dismal. At best we'd end up scraping by in dead-end jobs and Renzo would suffer the most for our shortcomings as parents. However, Shima-san and her husband were willing to risk censure from their temple by claiming him as their own. Of course I had no place in the future they envisioned for either Take or Renzo. If breastfeeding didn't benefit a baby's immune system I have little doubt that Shima-san would not have allowed me to so much as glimpse my son once he was born," she said bitterly. "I'd hoped… But Take's gone and..."
Angel tensed, anticipating more tears. Koizumi sat there, hands folded, eyes downcast for several minutes, then seemed to recover her poise. She picked up her spoon and began eating again. Angel glanced over at Light and was surprised to see that his friend also seemed to be at a loss for what to do next.
"Are you worried about your son?" Light asked after awhile.
Koizumi grimaced. "He's mine, I want to see him, hold him, watch him grow-up. But the horrible thing is I don't doubt that Shima-san was right. After all, look at me, what do I have to show for the last four years? A failed attempt at becoming an exorcist and a pittance of a stipend that will most likely be withdrawn when I fail my fifth Exwire Exam come June."
"Your issues with demons aside, you are a superb swordsman," Angel offered awkwardly.
Rin paced just inside the perimeter of barrier, his hand trailing lightly along the surface of the iridescent-blue dome as he watched the demons gathering outside: Cherufe, fire-drakes and ifrites were joined by lampads, fire giants, khalkotauroi, soucouyant, dragons and several fire-gods whose ancient dominions had been consumed by Iblis' Kingdom of Flames. So far only a few of the weaker ones had tested his barrier but when they tried to move again they would be facing a veritable army. Behind him, Rin could hear Angel's labored breathing and Bon switching languages for a third time, trying to break the mare's hold on the paladin.
One of the ifrit sauntered up to the barrier. "Not much longer Pretender to the Throne," he said smiling wickedly as he dug his claws into the barrier. "Once Iblis has dealt with your allies he'll come for you. Then you and your humans will be our play-toys."
Rin's eyes narrowed. Day after day of fighting and running had him on edge. For all that he'd practiced controlling and using his powers with Ucchusma and Karura, Rin had never gone so long with his heart unsealed before. Watching Iblis' forces gathering against them, a part of Rin wanted to smash through their lines, force them to bow to him, to swear to never threaten what was his to protect.
From the bigger boy who'd made Yukio cry on their second day of preschool onward, Rin's response to anyone who threatened people he loved had always been extreme. He glared at the ifrit and a tongue of flame reached out of the barrier, wrapping around the demon who'd challenged him. The rest of the horde stepped back warily as the pillar of ash that had been the ifrit a few moments earlier was scattered by the wind.
"You will tell me!" All subtly gone, claw dug into Angel's mind. His body was frozen, helpless. He felt needle like pains stabbing into his brain, demanding answers.
Angel stood at attention in the lobby of the boy's dorm at the Academy of Rome, his long braid hanging over his shoulder, a phone receiver held to his ear, 'It would be disrespectful to simply hold the phone away until she gets done ranting,' he reminded himself, and not for the first time either.
"Renting a room for this little tart to live in, late for classes, inattentive to your superiors! What would your father think of you Arthur?" his mother demanded shrilly. "He died fighting demons. Your grades are dreadful, you cowardly refuse to make use of Caliburn, and now you take up this this trollop? You're an embarrassment to his legacy. Your ancestors tamed Caliburn, forced that loathsome creature into Assiah's service against his kin, they willingly, proudly sacrificed themselves to preserve our world and you are letting them down! You are throwing away their last hope for eternal salvation. Don't you have any respect, any affection for your father?"
"Her name is Daphne. And I don't need Caliburn to be a good exorcist," Angel argued. "That's what Lord Egin said."
"And just look what that fool called down on Assiah."
"My ancestors didn't force Caliburn into anything, he made a deal with our family and he certainly thinks it was a good one," Angel overrode his mother. "I don't want to do anything that makes that perverted demon happy."
"The little tart's the only one whose opinion matters to you these days, isn't that the case?"
"You can't blame Daphne for my grades, they haven't been any worse than normal since I met her."
"True, there is no excuse for your stupidity. Your ancestors are rolling-"
"I have listened to you scream at me for," Angel glanced at the clock on the wall, "twenty-four minutes. It is my turn to say what I have to say!" he shouted. "I love her and I won't stop seeing her."
"You're sixteen, I can and will put an end to your supporting that bit of baggage! I'll freeze your bank account."
"I'll be seventeen in a few weeks. I'll marry her," Angel retorted. "Doesn't that make you happy? You'll get a grandchild to take Caliburn when I'm dead. Maybe he'll be less of a disappointment to you."
"A child raised by you and that-" Angel hung up the phone.
'No, don't think about it. Something else, anything else.'
"You're certain there's nothing wrong?" Angel asked doubtfully as he stared down at his newborn son. "He's so red and well, crinkled."
"He's beautiful," the baby's mother informed Angel sternly and for once Angel's mother appeared to be in agreement with her.
The weight on his chest, the immobility of his limbs, it was all too close to memories that had already been stirred up.
Daphne looked lovely and desirable by candle light. As she smiled across the table at Angel there was a healthy flush to her pale cheeks and the red in her hair seemed deeper as it fell in glossy waves over her shoulders. "What is the occasion?"
Angel dropped to one knee in front of her as he presented the ring box he'd purchased earlier that week. "Daphne, I've never met anyone like you before. When I'm with you l feel like I can do anything. Would you marry me?" His heart was thudding so loudly Angel was afraid he wouldn't be able to hear her answer.
"No! I won't remember."
The dagger in Lightning's hand was red to the hilt, his face was blank. "Loyalty goes two ways."
"Arthur saved me from Gehenna. He's my hero, so I thought I'd become an exorcist, just like him," Lewin Light concluded extravagantly.
The council members stared at him dubiously.
"I wouldn't have escaped the creature with my life if not for his aid. He has no love for Gehenna," Angel assured them a bit desperately. His long hair hung loose around him, dirty and tangled.
"I want to help Arthur," Light said edging closer to the exwire. "He needs an Aria-partner right? I know lots of different verses from all sorts of books. Been locked up my whole life, nothing to do but read, you know. And most of the books were stuff exorcists left behind after… Well, you know."
"We will allow you to join the Academy," one of the Grigori said. "Conditionally. You will be monitored for any suggestion of defection."
"Oh you won't see any, I promise," Light said, his voice dripping sincerity and innocence.
"That's what we're afraid of," the monocled cabinet member muttered.
Light allowed the innocent mask to drop, "I don't have enough demon blood for an oath to bind me, but where I grew up people don't hand out promises lightly. I like Arthur, I'm not planning on hurting him," he stated simply.
"If you won't tell me what I want to know, then show me your scars. Let me see them bleed anew."
Angel, his uniform pristine, every last strand of his hair smoothed neatly into his braid, smiled down at the girl leaning on his arm, "Where is this surprise of your Daphne?" he asked.
"You're so impatient Arthur," Daphne laughed. "Perhaps I could give you a hint right now." She steadied herself on Angel's shoulder as she went up on tiptoe and kissed the corner of his mouth.
"We're in public," Angel protested.
"Oh don't be so stuffy Arthur," Daphne replied. "You've proposed after all."
"And you haven't answered," Angel said sounding nervous.
"Soon, soon. Now come on." She tugged him forward, her long skirts swishing around her legs.
After a bit Daphne turned into a park. Angel glanced around warily, it was late and the park was poorly lit. He could defend them but he didn't see the point in seeking out trouble. "I don't know if this is a good idea."
She giggled and hopped up on bench, then wrapped her legs around Angel's waist, kissing him enthusiastically.
"Daphne!" Angel protested bringing up his hands to support her. "This isn't appropriate!"
Daphne clasped her hands loosely behind Angel's neck and swung her weight backward making him stumble into a bench. He collapsed onto it, Daphne on top of him. "Daphne!" he began again only to be cut off by her mouth smothering his. When Daphne pulled back for air Angel smiled up at her, "Is this a 'yes'?" he asked.
Daphne leaned in close and smiled, "I would never promise myself to you."
A bottle of sugar water hung by his head like he was some sort of hamster. Being desperate enough to use it. Being stripped of all bodily control, just because it amused her to make him suffer.
Shuffling footsteps in the hall. "I'm sorry. I meant to get back sooner. I did look for your sword." He couldn't find the energy to be angry at Light, not when he could see that the other youth was barely on his feet.
"I won't remember!"
"Shouldn't you be in Page classes?" Angel asked blearily as Light wrapped a bandage around his arm.
"You feed Caliburn too much," Light scolded, disregarding Angel's complaint about his skipping classes. "He's going to get fat, no one likes a fat demon sword."
"Keep your opinions to yourself," Caliburn grumbled.
"I thought you were opposed to an inglorious end to your arrangement with our Angel," Light replied.
"A good reputation does make it easier to find a new connection in Assiah," Caliburn admitted. "But he's so tasty, not to mention he starved me of sacrifices for six years!"
"Keep the big picture in mind," Light said.
"Why do you care?" Angel demanded. "You don't need me any more. The council gave you a chance, you don't flinch at the sky anymore."
Light busied himself fussing with the bandages. "You took time out from self-destructing to convince me I could do better than being someone's food supply," he said without looking up. "Thought maybe I could return the favor."
"You'll give me something, either your answer or your pain, Paladin."
Daphne leaned in close and smiled, "I would never promise myself to you."
"Wh-" Angel was cut off as Daphne kissed him deeply, her tongue filling his mouth. Confused, Angel tried to push her away, but found he couldn't budge her. He felt dizzy with desire for her. He wanted to hold her but his limbs felt too heavy to lift. And underneath the desire that he knew wasn't truly him, he felt so shocked that he could only wait for the pain of betrayal to hit.
"He is mine! Mine!" Caliburn sputtered furiously. "How did you hide yourself, temptress? He is mine! Even Satan recognized my claim!"
"Oh shut up, you stupid hunk of metal, without him you're less than nothing," Daphne said, sitting up on Angel's lap as he stopped struggling. "I'd simply throw you away here and now, but there are factions who think your deal has been too generous to Assiah. I'll win no little favor for returning you to Gehenna."
Caliburn continued railing, but Daphne paid the sword no more mind. She squirmed back a bit and reached between herself and Angel, "Because I know how much you love exhabitionism," she whispered in his ear. Unable to move, Angel shut his eyes and tried to ignore Daphne's touch. He burned with mortification when his body responded in spite of himself.
He couldn't stop remembering Daphne's smiles, walking with her at his side. For nearly a year she'd been the one person in his life who didn't call him an idiot or think he was a disappointment. The one person who'd looked up to him, trusted him to protect her. He'd dreamed about her night after night. The smell of her hair, her skin brought back good memories of other nights, stolen kisses and plans. He'd wanted this with her, defied his family to openly date her, proposed to her. He'd wanted this, but she didn't want him.
Succubus. How had he been so stupid not to realize what she was. Angel felt hysterical laughter bubbling up inside of him. He'd wanted Daphne, wanted a life with her. Now he was going to have her whether he wanted it or not, and it was going to kill him.