Part 3: Mistaken Identity

-Ten days later; Chiaki's house.

Silently, Azariel slipped into place behind Othello and placed a cool hand on his shoulder.

Jumping in surprise, Othello spun around, nearly dropping his tray in the process, "Oh, it's you…where have you been?"

She shrugged, "Around." She nodded to the door, "You heading in there?"

He nodded, "I'm going to try to get Ororon to eat…why?"

Azariel ran a hand through her long, dark hair, "Could you hang on for a few minutes? I'd like to speak to his majesty Ororon privately."

Othello frowned, but sat down anyway. "Alright," he said jokingly, "but next time, I'll have to execute you."

She stopped and glanced down at him, "Would you really do that? After all you've been through?"

At this, the devil prince's face darkened, and he turned away, "Do what you will Azariel. I won't stop you."

Smiling sadly, Azariel stooped down and kissed his forehead tenderly before turning away, "Thanks, my prince."

Sighing, Othello watched as she disappeared into Chiaki's bedroom.

Sighing, Ororon looked up from Chiaki's comatose body as the door clicked shut. Noticing Azariel's presence, he frowned as she carefully locked the door behind her.

He narrowed his eyes, "What are you doing here, Azariel?"

Not responding, she knelt beside the bed alongside him. It was then that he noticed the tears forming at the corners of her eyes. He frowned, "Azariel? What's the matter?"

Staring at him with her strange, cobalt eyes, Azariel took his hand in hers.

"Ororon…" she began tentatively, "Ever since Futaba died, and I became Othello's second in command; you have been my only true friend." She paused, "I trust you with all my heart, and I want you to know that Othello is not the reason I came here. Chiaki is."

Ororon frowned, "What do you mean? I'm not sure I understand."

Shaking her head, she continued, "Over a hundred years ago, I came to Hell to fulfill a dream I could never have even contemplated in my homeland. Disowned by my mother, discouraged by my father, I set out to do what none of my kind had dared to do. I became a reliable diplomat to Heaven, as well as the second in command to the general of the Seiryu Army, at the time, Futaba was still in charge…"

Ororon shook his head, "I still don't get it. Your kind? Your homeland? You're a devil, same as me or Oth—"

"That's where you're wrong, my friend." Azariel looked up, "Watch." Suddenly, she unfolded a pair of ash-gray wings, "You see? I am no devil, Ororon. I am Hell's only warrior archangel."

The king of Hell gasped, "How long have you been hiding this? Does Othello know?"

She shook her head, "No, not even Futaba knew. I've been keeping up this charade ever since I first arrived. Shortly after Futaba's death, it seemed that I might have been falling in love with your brother and his quirky ways. I even thought of telling him my secret…" she sighed, "but I suppose in my heart, I still blamed him for Futaba's demise."

Ororon shook his head in disbelief, "But why now? Why did you choose Chiaki?"

Sighing sorrowfully, she got up and turned toward the window, "Because…she is my sister."

He exhaled sharply, "You mean—?"

Azariel nodded, "Michael is my father, as is Chiaki's." She hesitated before continuing, "At first I thought this was where he had disappeared to…but evidently not." Slowly, her wings disappeared. "Know this Ororon, king of Hell: I will do everything in my power to help you and Chiaki. The two of you are meant for each other. It is your destiny."

As she turned to leave, Ororon looked up, "But why me? Why would you let one such as I even get close to your sister?"

Glancing over her shoulder, Azariel replied, "Because you are my friend, Ororon Gem Farrele, and she loves you." And with that, she was gone. With a sigh, Ororon slumped back to the bed.

Later, as Othello left the bedroom, he glanced at Azariel's slight frame as it hunched over her laptop.

What did she tell him? he wondered.