11

Chapter Two

I finally awoke, yet it was a challenge to get my eyes to open. I tried tiredly to get them to open yet it was as if they were sewn shut.

"I believe she has awoken," a smooth voice announces.

The man sounded so far away.

I brought my hands up to my face, hoping that I could force my eyes to open.

My fingertips felt the rough fabric of tightly wrapped gauze.

"Lady Hinata," another voice called out to me. "Please try not to move."

I felt cold, wrinkled fingers gently grasp my wrists and bring them up above my head. The sound of keys jingling and locks being undone filled the room.

"Hinata."

Neji.

I shot up from where I lay and stupidly looked around for his voice.

"Hinata, come to me."

I listened.

Where was he?

Does he not know that I can't see?

A long moment passed.

"Hinata," he called again sternly. "Come here."

I listened again.

I heard the whispering sound of breathing.

Three people were breathing.

Where had his voice come from?

I stood slowly from the bed. I suddenly felt heavier than I even remembered. The wrinkled fingers grasped my wrist once more and helped me down from the ledge I was standing on.

I followed the direction his voice had come from.

I reached forward and my fingers grazed soft delicate skin. Not wrinkled skin.

"Neji?" I whispered.

A sigh of relief brushed my face.

A swift hand reached back behind my head and cut quickly through the gauze.

The gauze fell to the ground, taking the darkness with it.

The room was bright and spacious. In the corner closer to the windows stood two large cabinets stocked with all the basic medical equipment needed. Next the cabinets sat a bulky metal refrigerator that, I assumed, had all the drugs and blood that was needed in it as well. In the middle of the room was a large bed. Larger than most hospital beds. Hanging off the sides of the bed were thick leather straps.

Each strap had heavy locks at the end.

I turned back to Neji with suspicious eyes.

"What's wrong with me, Neji?" I asked. "Don't blow me off this time. Tell me. Now."

His eyes turned emotionless.

Fear.

He grasped my hand and led me to a mirror that stood in the opposite corner of the medical supplies.

I looked into the glass.

The sight was beautiful.

In the glass mirror stood a small girl with a bland hospital gown hanging from her petite form.

Her skin was a pearl white and shimmered as if embedded with microscopic diamonds.

Her black hair was full and looked as if it was handmade silk.

Her eyes trailed to the large objects behind her.

Behind her glorious form was a sight that made her gasp.

Coming from her back were two beautiful wings.

White, black, and gray.

The girl absentmindedly reached back in wonder.

My fingertips grazed delicate feathers.

I let out a blood curtailing cry.

"Look what you've done to me!" I screamed at him, tears falling ever so freely. "Why did you do this to me? Take them off! Now!"

I reached back and tore angrily at the wings. Feathers fluttered in my face and landed on the awaiting tile below. The pulling sensation burned the skin underneath the feathers as if I were yanking hair from my head.

"Hinata, stop!" he yelled as he seized my arms in a steel hold.

I fought and writhed in his grasp with no prevail.

I ended my fight by resting my face in the crook of his neck and sobbed quietly.

"I understand your pain," he whispered as he held me closely. "I felt the same way when I got my wings. Just wait, though, Hinata. I promise that this pain will die away."

"When?" I asked tearfully.

He sighed.

"Soon enough."

A woman led me away down enormous corridors once I had found my right mind. She smiled every now and again but never more than she needed to. She explained to me how the clothes worked once we reached my "room." The room actually resembled as small house with its miniature kitchen, its bathroom, its living area, and its considerably large bedroom.

She held up a dress that mostly reminded me of a large, shredded rag.

"When changing clothes, you will need someone to help you," she said, quickly glancing at me. "I will be here every morning at around nine or so. That is, until you get your necklace."

She smiled again.

The dress was designed to fit tightly around my wings. It was a white, simple, fitted, short sundress that singled out my black hair.

"Is there a brush that I can use?" I asked the girl.

A smile.

"Everything you need is in the bathroom."

With that, she bid me goodbye and quickly slipped out the door.

I stood before the mirror that was plastered on the wall above the sink in the large bathroom. In the sink was a brush, a comb, and other feminine and hygienic products. I took the brush in my hand and looked into the mirror.

I couldn't even recognize myself. This girl that I kept seeing in the mirror was so unfamiliar to me. Her face was that of a porcelain doll, holding an amazing amount of innocence. As I reached up to run my fingers through my long, black hair, it fell through as if it was water. My eyes seemed larger as they hid behind my bangs.

I ignored my wings.

I brushed my hair slowly, but it wasn't really needed for my hair was already as beautiful as it needed to be. It fell over my shoulders and stops just under my breast while the rest of my hair fell gracefully between my wings.

An Angel.

A solid knock was heard on my door. I numbly walked to the door and pulled it open.

Neji.

He had wings now.

He changed his clothes and he now wore a black suit, black dress shirt, and a blood red tie. His wings were a dark gray and they were beyond magnificent.

"Hinata," he said as he stuffed his hands into his pocket. "Come with me. We have so much we need to cover and there are many people who want to meet you."

As much as I didn't want to believe it, I was scared to trust Neji again. When I did, he led me here and I was changed into something that I had no choice in being. The pain and numbness that overcame me won't ever leave my mind.

"Hinata," he repeated. "Trust me. Don't forget that I'm your cousin and I love you. Understand when I say that you cannot do this on your own."

I looked down, my eyelashes brushing against my bangs.

"Don't be scared of me," he whispered.

I returned my eyes to his. Comfort seemed to immediately wash over my body.

He took my hand and we headed down the well lit corridor. My eyes scanned the hall with wide eyes. The paintings on the wall and the figures carved into the large pillars all seemed to tell a different and unique story.

"Where am I?" I asked suddenly.

"The Vatican in Rome," he replied.

"Tell me everything," I demanded.

He sighed.

"We don't really have names," Neji started. "Many people call us 'fallen Angels' but we haven't fallen from anywhere. We are spiritual beings that were sent here almost three hundred years ago when demons were placed here to take undead humans' souls. God sent us as warriors."

"So what exactly do we do?"

"We save souls. Living human souls are very precious, but they become the most dangerous spirits when they are taken before their time. They seek revenge. We fight them off and we save the souls they want to take away.

"Not all of our work is focused on 'killing' evil spirits though. We also judge spirits and send them through the next step of Eternal Life; Heaven or Hell.

"With one 'Angel' there is also one that is the opposite of it. It matches it perfectly though. Like a puzzle. A bond is formed and the two 'Angels' create a Bridge between Heaven and Hell. The two Angles join together in spirit and guide the lost soul toward the designated direction."

I looked down at my reflection in the marble floor and back at Neji.

"What type of 'Angel' am I?" I asked quietly.

"You are the one who holds the door to Heaven."

I smiled at that.

Neji smiled as well.

"Now," he sighed, "before we meet the family, you need to break-in your wings. I assume you haven't opened them at all."

I nodded.

He stood behind me and ran his hands down the back of my wings.

"Beautiful," he whispered. "Now what I want you to do, Hinata, is concentrate on your wings as if they were another pair of arms. They are new for you so you will have to get used to using them.

"The reason that we take so good care of our wings is because it is said that your soul resides in your wings. They are where God holds your soul."

I closed my eyes and concentrated on opening them. I felt the feathers ruffle as I opened them to their full length.

"How long are they?"

"Well your wings are smaller than most, just because you are a small girl, but over all you have an estimated eleven foot wingspan."

I closed my wings quickly and turned to look at him with one eyebrow raised.

"What?" he asked puzzled.

"How long is yours?" I asked.

A smirk played on his face.

"I have a thirteen-foot wingspan."

I pouted.

He laughed. It made me smile to hear him laugh. I haven't heard that beautiful sound in so long and it was like a bottle of cold water after spending two days in the desert.

"Come on," he said as he took my hand.

"When do I get to wear shoes?" I asked, staring down at my bear feet as we turned and entered another corridor.

"This is your home," he said. "Wearing shoes is a choice but many of the others choose not to where any at all."

The word home burned my ears. This wasn't my home. My home was in Japan. With my mom and my sister.

Neji looked over his shoulder at me and took in my emotionless face.

"Things will change," he sighed. "I promise."

At the end of this new corridor were two large doors that were in the shape of an arch just like the chambers. A wooden cross hung over the massive doors.

"This is the cathedral," he said. "The others feel safer here and they feel closer to God."

Neji stopped before the door.

"I know that this wasn't your choice," he said as he looked down, staring at our hands. "I know that I've hurt you just by bringing you here and tearing you away from the clan, but just know that this will change your life. I wouldn't do anything that would make your life any worse than it already was."

He looked up at me.

"It killed me to watch you cry today," he admitted. "No matter how much I knew that this was the right path, it hurt to know that it was hurting you. I want to thank you for not rejecting me. You have cleared my mind. I'm so sorry."

I smiled and rested my head on his shoulder.

"Brothers and sisters can't turn their back on each other," I replied. "Especially when we need each other right now."

"Yeah," he laughed lightly.

He sighed.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

I looked down and wiggled my toes, nodding.

Neji reached forward and pulled open the large door.

The smell of incents flew swiftly in my face.

Before me stood the most beautiful beings that I have ever faced. Each smile was perfect and held true happiness.

True Angels.

"WELCOME HINATA!"

I slightly slid behind Neji in nervous fear.

"Wait," a girl said. "Don't be scared! It's been a long time since we've had a newbie here we just sort of overreact."

Her long blonde hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail and her bangs were tucked nicely behind her ear. Her blue eyes shined with joy as she grinned at me. Her pale skin reminded me of cream and her face reminded me of an excited child. Her wings were a pure, flawless white that I've only seen in picture books.

"I'm Ino," she greeted holding out a hand. "It's really nice to finally meet you. We've waited a long time for you."

I reached out and grasped her hand. She was so warm. She pulled me from behind Neji and looped her arm with mine as we walked closer to the group of other Angels.

"We are going to be great friends," she whispered as we reached them.

She pointed to a girl that looked only a year or so older than me. Her long brown hair was gathered into two long braids that fell over her shoulders. Her skin was darker than what I've seen but it still held a small amount of paleness within. She was very skinny and not that much taller than I was. Her large brown eyes took me in and her face split in a grin.

"This is Tenten," Ino explained.

I smiled at her and waved with my free hand.

"I'm Hinata."

Her laugh was like small wind chimes.

"I know," she replied and gathered me in a soft hug. "We've waited so long for you to arrive; longer than we've waited for anyone."

"Really?" I asked. "Why?

"Because we had a sign of your arrival," a deep, smooth voice clarified.

Before me now stood a boy. His eyes were an onyx color that reminded me of the eyes that I experienced in the Light Chamber, but just not as dark and unnerving. The sides of his hair framed his face and ended at his strong jaw bone. In the back it was spiked neatly. His wings were brown and white and looked as strong as he did.

"Hinata," Ino said. "This is Sasuke. He is a Frontline Warrior. Just like Neji."

I whipped around at Neji and gave him a puzzled look. Frontline?

His job was to risk his life.

He sighed and gave me an apologetic look.

"I-it's not what you think," Tenten interjected in a rush. "Neji is the Colonel. He mostly coordinates everything."

I tore my eyes from Neji and looked up at Sasuke. He looked back down at me with an impassive look plastered on his face.

"You, Hinata," he stepped closer to me, "are an essential part to this group and to the order of the Vatican. You are the missing piece to the last Bridge on Earth. There aren't many of them but this is the last Bridge we really need to destroy all the demons."

"Who am I paired with?" I asked, remembering what Neji was saying about the bond that would have to be made in order to create a bridge.

Sasuke glanced quickly at Ino. Her brows creased and she looked down at the floor. She unhooked her arm from mine and walked over to Neji. He eyed me anxiously before Ino pulled him out the cathedral door.

Sasuke held out his hand.

"Come with me," he demanded gently.

Something was wrong.

I took his hand in mine.

"Go tell Tsunade that the bond will be made shortly," he told Tenten quietly.

Tenten touched his arm lightly and stared fearfully into his eyes.

"Everything will be fine," he reassured her. "Just go tell Tsunade."

She nodded and swiftly went in the direction Neji and Ino disappeared in.

Sasuke pulled me quickly to the very back of the cathedral and out a plain wooden door. We entered a dark and narrow hallway.

"Hinata," Sasuke breathed, "this is a very, very special bond, more precious than a human soul. When you and your partner make this bond you will be inseparable. Leaving each other to go to sleep at night will cause you some serious emotional pain until in the morning. The reason I say this is because it will put thoughts in your head that may or may not affect your way of looking at everything. Remember this, and you have to keep this in your mind during this time because none of us can help you: none of what you are thinking is real. It is all a lie the devil embedded in the bond to make it harder to keep an Angel alive after the bond is made."

Visions flashed through my head of the creation period in the Light Chamber. The pain I experienced made me have thoughts that I couldn't explain. Thoughts that I would forever be ashamed of.

We raced down the extensive, narrow hallway until we reached the last door of the hallway. The door was different from the other doors I've encountered in this place.

It was a pure white arch.

Sasuke sighed and closed his eyes. His lips moved quickly but so subtly that I couldn't make out anything he was saying. I don't think he was talking to me.

His eyes opened and he pushed open the door.

The room was incredibly immense but it had nothing in it whatsoever. A piano sat in the middle and a window seat was placed at a window in front of it. Other than those two objects, the room held nothing.

Nothing except a boy.

The most stunning boy that I have ever seen before. His face made me hold my breath.

His eyes were an ocean blue and as vast as the moon itself. His skin was a light crème and the hand that rested at his mouth as he stared out the window was large but looked as soft as the feathers on my wings. His light blonde hair ended at the top if his eyes and the back ended at the crook of his neck. He was breathe-taking. But his wings.

His wings were black.

Pure black.

As black as the button-down shirt he had neatly tucked in his black slacks.

"Naruto," Sasuke called to the boy. "It's time."

The boy's eyes tore from the window and slid to where we stood. They were emotionless and dark, holding no trace of emotion whatsoever.

I slightly slid behind Sasuke when he dropped my hand.

The boy stood and stretched his wings as he and Sasuke stared each other down. His wings were so big that they had to be bigger than Neji's. He walked over to where we were. I clung to the back of Sasuke's shirt as he stared down at me.

"Hinata," he said.

His voice was so silky and deep it made me slightly pull from behind Neji in wonder.

"Naruto," Sasuke said again. "You know how this works but Hinata does not. Don't do anything stupid."

Naruto glared at Sasuke. Sasuke ignored him and turned to me.

"I have to leave this to you two now," he said to me. "You can trust him. You and he will share the same soul forever. It's impossible for either of you to survive without each other after the bond is made."

He smiled for the first time since I have met him.

"I'll be here when it is over," he reassured me. He turned and left the room with one last glance.

The door was closed.

"Hinata," Naruto called.

I looked up at him.

"Do you know anything about this process?"

I shook my head.

He sighed lightly and walked over to the window seat across from us. He gestured for me to sit down. I opened my wings enough so that I wouldn't pull out any feathers when I sat down.

He kneeled before me.

"Just relax and follow my lead," he said. "Trust me."

I nodded. My breath caught as he moved only centimeters from my face.

"Relax," he whispered. "Close your eyes."

I swallowed hard and did as I was told.

I felt him press his warm forehead against mine. He took my hands and rested them on my thighs with my palm facing upward.

"Are you ready?" he asked softly.

"Yes," I whispered.

He placed his fingertips on mine.

I felt myself leave my body.