Okay guys I know I haven't updated in a while (but it wasn't not THAT long, I mean, 6 days without an update isn't that bad- considering I AM a high school student and school takes most of my time :P), but don't you think 0 reviews for my latest chapter was a little harsh? :'( *Insert sad sigh*

Again, thanks to all of you who added me to their fav/story alert lists, and I think someone even added me to their fav author list (- HUGE Thanks), but really, I would LOVE reviews for my future updates (because, srsly, reviews are nearly the only reason I try to update so hard- I even think of plot ideas in class! cough*not because I hate math class*cough).

Oh and of course, enjoy :)

Chapter 5

HAROU

Ugh... I SO didn't want to open my eyes. I felt like just staying there till this stupid, head-splitting headache goes away. But at the same time I knew there must be people who were worried about me. Mentally sighing, I slowly opened my eyes. My head was throbbing as if it would explode or something. "Harou?" a terrified whisper called out my name. "yeah?" I groaned, my eyes trying to adjust to the light. "are you okay?" whoever this person was, I could tell she was pretty worried about me. I had to squint through the sudden light- the blurry shapes of the room came into focus. "I've been better" I replied weakly. I could finally make out the shape of the person talking. And I had to say, I was surprised.

"T-Tiffany?" I choked, surprised beyond words. "thank god you remember me." she let out a sigh of relief. I had to roll my eyes. "you thought I'd get amnesia from getting hit by a ball?" "shut up Harou, you have no idea how worried I was!" she suddenly wrapped her arms around me. "Sis-?" "I'm so glad you're okay" whoa whoa whoa! My sister saying she's glad to see I'm okay? Am I missing something here? I was shocked to find her face wet from tears, I didn't know Tiffany cared for me so much... "I-I'm fine Tiffany, really, I'm okay." "I know, I know." she sobbed. "but I just feel guilty, you know how I've been for the last... Three years." my mind reeled back, now that I thought of it... She was right.

Before Tiffany was in high school, we used to get fine, she'd take care of me- I was proud that she was my sister, and loved her too. But slowly, she began to change; she began to neglect me as her brother, calling me names and hitting me for no reason...

"it's all my fault." she continued to sob. "if I hadn't been such a bitch towards you-" "what, the ball wouldn't have hit me? Come on sis, it's not like you to mope around." I tried to make her feel better. Remembering all those times she'd comfort me when I was a kid. She shook her head. "truth is... I was going through a lot, I still do, but I realized... I haven't been aware of all the precious things I had at the moment." "Tiffany..." I didn't know what to say with all the emotion turmoil inside. "I had to work my ass off to go to a decent college, and then my boyfriend would ask, I mean, force me to do stuff I didn't want to do, and then there were all my problems with my other friends; I'd blame everything on you Harou, I'm so sorry." "whoa- wait, what was that part with your boyfriend harassing you?" my eyes widened. I never knew my sister had a boyfriend, let alone, an abusive one- our mom would go insane if she found out if either of use were dating. She shook her head. "we began to go out since high school, but he dumped me yesterday.. after I refused to... Have sex with him." "WHAT?" she lowered her gaze, embarrassed "I-I know, that's why I said 'no' okay? I know how I've been acting lately... Can you forgive me Harou?" I blinked. Was this for real? My own eyes began to tear up.

"of course." I pulled my own arms around her. "I missed you sis." I sobbed, forgotten emotions, experiences, memories- all flowing back as I embraced my sister; someone who was always there for me, someone who I respected even when she would insult me- someone who I knew I could trust.

We stayed like that for a while, embracing each other in silence, crying quietly. But they were tears of happiness. And I knew, that I would cherish this moment for the rest of my life.

ANGEL

I felt my own eyes sting as I peeped through the door. I wanted Max to be here with me more than ever. "I wish I had such a caring sister." I thought glumly. I felt guilty, as if I was interrupting something private, so I quietly closed the door back again, and decided to wait outside.

Hearing the two's conversation made me feel squirmy inside. It was a mixture of guilt and longing. I wanted to have my family, the flock, and my brother, Gazzy, to be here with me. I slumped down on the bench, my mind wandering.

Back when the Eraser's attacked me- if I wasn't so helpless, I wouldn't have run into Harou. He wouldn't have been caught up in all this. He wouldn't have been nearly beaten to death, he wouldn't have had that argument with Daniel, and he wouldn't be lying in that hospital bed because someone tried to knock me out with a baseball. A lone teardrop fell.

I quickly wiped it away in habit, remembering how Max told me crying was for losers. But what about Harou and his sister Max, how come they're allowed to cry, laugh, do whatever they want, and I can't? Is it that wrong if I wish to be normal for once? Even if it is just temporary?

I found myself crying helplessly into my hands. My entire body shaking. I sobbed for what seemed like hours, and nobody was there to comfort me... No Max, no Gazzy, no flock. Nobody. Harou had his friends, his family- his sister, who cared for him. Who did I have? A fake made up family who believed I was dead. Who probably thought of me not existing anymore.

It wasn't like I haven't experienced something worse than this before; it was just too hard, knowing I had nobody who cared for me if anything happened. I wasn't normal; I wasn't supposed to exist in the first place. My wings seemed to grow heavier by the second as I cried quietly. All alone, by myself.

"Angel." I looked up, a boy with long dark brown hair with his right part of his head covered in bandages was smiling at me. "it's okay, I'm fine, see? Don't blame yourself." he sat down next to me, wiping the tears from my eyes. "it's not like I died you know." his fingers were gentle and soothing- the way he smiled, the way he reassured me... In that moment, I could imagine a normal-boy-with-no-wings-version of Max. She'd look probably something like Harou. I began to feel better. "there, that's better." he withdrew his hands, grinning slightly. "did you honestly think I'd die or something? Sheesh, give me some credit- it would take more than a baseball to take me out." I gave him a small smile. "say that to your head, stupid." he laughed quietly. "haha good point. Hey, do you know how long I was out?" "about... 7 hours." he groaned. "why?" I asked, curious. "I missed the fight with Daniel. It was supposed to happen at 3 remember?" my eyes widened. "in that condition, you're thinking about fighting?" he gave me another of his small grin. "yeah, cuz if I didn't- that'd be chickening out right?" I rolled my eyes, but smiled "thanks." I said quietly. "for what?" it was his turn for his eyes to widen. "for pushing me out of the way." "ah well... To be honest, it happened by accident, I didn't mean to push you- I was only going to warn you, but I slipped and knocked you over instead." he scratched his head, shrugging as if he didn't care. I knew he was lying. He literally sprinted and slammed me out of the way just before the ball came into contact, but I didn't say anything. "and besides, that's what friends are for right?" again, I didn't say anything. I couldn't. My voice was clogged up with emotion as he rolled his eyes at me because my eyes were about to cry again. I sat where I was, not saying anything.

Because I was grateful, thankful, that someone so sincere and kind considered me as their friend.

"come on, I could use some fresh air." he stood up, stretching his arms like nothing had happened. This time, it was me who smiled at him. He grinned back casually like one would to a friend.

HAROU

The day had been so packed with events that I didn't even know today was Friday.

The doctor said it wasn't anything serious, but he did add that I had been very lucky that the impact didn't damage the brain- but he told me that if I should develop headaches, depression, or even short term memory- I should come back asap. But at least he let me out the first day, otherwise my mom would have been worried out of her wits.

Tiffany's confession was probably the most shocking event of the day. But I was glad that she told me all those stuff. She also told me that she'd try to come home as soon as possible, but said that she had some work to do back at school, so she left before I found Angel, who was quietly crying all by herself on the bench outside my room when I found her. I think she had other matters as well, but I didn't want her to feel bad; blaming herself and all that, and I was thankful that she gradually agreed that it wasn't her fault, although I was sure that she had other stuff that concerned her in mind.

But right now, we were just walking back to my house quietly. I wasn't sure where Angel was going though.

"umm... Harou?" "yeah Angel?" "is it okay... If I spend the night at your place?" she asked carefully. "oh! Er..." uh oh. How was I suppose to answer to that? I mean, I kind of guessed she might not have a place to stay, but I didn't know she'd ask me so directly! I'd love to say yes, but what would my sister think when she comes home early? Would she be mad? Angry enough to tell on our mom? If she did, i'd get busted for sure. I glanced at Angel's eyes filled with hope and trust. How am I supposed to say no to that? "s-sure.." "thanks." she let out a sigh of relief. "I was afraid you'd say no.." "well... Why?" "I-I don't really have a place to stay you see." she dropped her head, embarrassed. "oh.." silence. "y-yeah." she said awkwardly. I didn't press the subject. I mean honestly, who would?

*****MEANWHILE*****

"let me get this straight. You lost the experiment, and you're saying everything's going to be fine?" the tone in which this was conveyed carried a false set of merriness, hiding the malicious intentions inside. "y-yes, because you see, my comrades have already found where she's staying at-" the Eraser stuttered in it's fear of losing it's life. "and you haven't retrieved her back. Why is that?" "I-I was just asking permission to do so-" the professor sighed. "Then do so as quickly as you and your 'comrades' can, for without her the operation cannot proceed to the next level." "u-understood!" "oh and one more thing." the Eraser looked up. "you are dismissed." the Eraser sighed a sigh of relief as he began to turn around to exit the dark laboratory. "as in, eternally, forevermore dismissed." the professor added, and without any emotion- he ordered his greatest creation of all- to exterminate the lowlife that was in front of him.

The Eraser didn't even have a chance to yelp as its body was torn evenly into two, perfect, horizontal parts.

"I will be the one to lead this mission." the madness was inevitable in his eyes as they glinted red in the darkness. The professor smirked at the pool of blood lying at his feet. "I really should replace the whole lot of them; I mean really, Erasers? What are they going to erase- pencil marks?" the Creation of the professor agreed as it quickly took care of it's most recent slay.

"Operation Archangel has just begun."