A/N: I'd like to extend my most heartfelt gratitude to you guys for two reasons. First for reading and supporting my fics. Thank you for sharing this story with me. I really appreciate it very much. Second is for praying for me at the time I was reviewing and taking my board exam. Your prayers helped a lot. And I'm happy to tell you guys that I passed. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
About the fic: I kinda promised MIAB but then I think my muse for that momentarily deserted me and so I wrote this instead. I promised to give you guys the characters who portrayed the other two demons and I will...
Belphegor, the Demon of Sloth: played by Dee Laytner from Fake. Most of the demons are serious characters and I kinda liked someone who wasn't. So I placed Dee here. I rather think he's perfect for the role.
Beelzebub, the Demon of Gluttony: I really wanted to change this character but whenever I tried imagining the scenes that have him in it, this character's face is like glued to it and I couldn't change it anymore. He's played by Fat MajinBoo from Dragonball. Yes... Pink Fat Funny.
I placed them here so you could see all the faces of the demons and angels when your minds eye lives this chapter.
Acknowledgments: individual replies in my end notes will answer some requests and questions. Thank you for reading and reviewing this fic.
Warning: Not proof-read!
Standard Disclaimer still applies.
Other God by Anne Raven
Chapter 12: Transfiguration
3And he said:"Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.4Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
-Matthew 18:3-4
-Lesson in History-
It is an utter mystery why heaven operates in numbers of either three or seven and no amount of reasoning could ever solve it. Why is the Father in the form of a Trinity? Why did Christ die at three o'clock? Why didn't the story of Creation stop at the sixth day when all God did on the seventh was rest? Why are there only seven Virtues, seven Beatitudes?
That was what Tokiya Mikagami mused about. The Archangels seem to follow that unspoken rule because they almost always appear to him in groups of three.
"It's time, little brother." Michael stated.
Tokiya rose from his living room couch and followed his solemn brother wherever Michael may lead him while the ever bubbly Raphael walked side by side the calm Uriel behind him. No matter how heavenly their party was, Tokiya still felt that they were walking a procession towards the executioner's block and he was the prisoner to be beheaded.
Tokiya caught a glimpse of his wristwatch. Seven o'clock in the evening the day after the Archangels appeared to him seem to be the right time for an assembly.
After many millennia, the Seven Archangels who made up the Angelic Council convened once again. But instead of meeting in one of the halls assigned to them in heaven, they were gathered at the rooftop of Tokiya's apartment building.
If he was the type who laughed freely, he would have done so already.
"Welcome, Samael." Gabriel greeted.
"Truth be told, it's a bit queer seeing all of you here." He replied as he scanned the faces he remembered from a memory care of Kuro Kagami.
"Yes, I suppose it is; but now that we're complete, we could proceed." Gabriel ushered Tokiya further out into the open sky with Michael following them close behind.
Once settled beside Oriphiel and Zarachiel, Raphael leaned over to Uriel and questioned, "What are we supposed to do now?"
Uriel snorted and turned towards the blonde. "Do you honestly believe that we are needed here?" We're just here to watch, Raph."
Once again in his chibi form, Raphael stared at Uriel with wide eyes until the head of a mallet struck and caused a lump on his.
"What was that for, Ori?" He stage whispered while he massaged the abused spot.
Oriphiel plared at him and hissed, "You are distracting! I have never seen the Demiurge at work before so please, stop being silly, Raph."
Oriphiel thought hard. Not only was she the youngest looking member of the Council, she was in fact the youngest of them and she had always wondered what the world was like before she was created, back to the time when God and the Demiurgos, the agents of Creation, shaped the universe. Tonight was the first time she would witness the powers of Creation, the Demiurge, used this way.
Raphael immediately straightened the moment Oriphiel mentioned the Demiurge. |It was a special nearly mythical power few know about and even fewer possessed. In fact, for a very long time he thought that the only Demiurgos was Gabriel but during the time of Daniel, Raphael found out that Michael was given the gift when the Guardian angels of Greece and Persia fled from him, the angel of Israel.
"Listen, children. Let me tell you a story about Creation and the Powers-that-Be long before you rose from the Dust." Uriel started. "Gabriel was one of the firsts of our kind and it was natural that he would receive the Demiurge. Of our Council, the next who came into being were the brothers Michael and Samael, I followed shortly after. We were all males then."
"And somewhere between us, Lilith was given life as the first female." Raphael cut in.
A knowing smile flashed on Uriel's face. "Yes, Raph. After Lilith, our kind was made of equal counts of males and females. Ah but the point is, none was given the Demiurge anymore."
"How did Michael become Demiurgos then?" Zarachiel asked.
"Azazel, as you know, is the greatest smith of both Heaven and Hell or wherever he is at present. To him, God commanded to make three swords according to His strict specifications during the time he was still an angel. All of them were blessed before during and after their creation. Once done, all three went into the hands of Gabriel but they already had owners in mind, Michael being one of them."Uriel paused.
Seeing that the three elder angels were still busy taking their time, he proceeded. "The three swords were named as such: Creation, Destruction and Judgment."
"Why are you telling this to us, Uriel?" Oriphiel asked.
Uriel smiled. "Because this is the story of the Demiurge. The father knew that the three swords were not for Gabriel to wield alone. The swords were created so that they stand as the symbolic representation of the Demiurge. And a single angel can not carry the burden of so much power by himself."
"—In truth, the swords were created with their Keepers in mind but something happened, the very reason why the three swords ended in Gabriel's hands the day they were finished."
"—The angel for whom Destruction was made for… defected. But the gift was given. The sword was made. That is why Lucifer, the Light Bringer, was, remains to be and will forever hold the title of Demiurgos."
"—And so, they were the original three: Gabriel, Lucifer and Michael. By default, Michael had taken up Destruction. The question remains, however. Who holds Judgment? The answer is simple, young ones. The three swords never left the hands of the Council. They only assumed names preferred by their Keepers."
"Gabriel's Carcinus is Creation." Zarachiel mused.
"Michael's Regulus is Destruction, isn't it?" Oriphiel concluded.
"Samael's Scorpius is Judgment? Samael is Demiurgos?"
"Yes and no, Raph. Samael is the Keeper of the Demiurge but not in himself Demiurgos. Michael was adamant that Tokiya Mikagami take up Scorpius yesterday afternoon for that sole reason . It's rather hard to be the custodian of so much power. But for now, watch because the Keepers are ready to release the Demiurge." Uriel finished.
Uriel, Raphael, Oriphiel and Zarachiel faced the three men baring naked swords in their hands. Uriel contained his mirth at the sight of their comrades. It seems that Samael was just given the same history lesson and by the set of his face he looked ready for the job to be done.
He should be. Uriel thought. It was him after all that they would change.
-Changeling: Part I-
A mass of swirling lights streamed down from heaven. Orbs of various sizes – from pinpoints to the size of clenched fists – surrounded Tokiya and brushed his skin, entering his pores and leaving just as easily in a pixie dance. No normal human can see these lights and those who could were wise enough to stay away from them. To Tokiya, the experience left him a feeling of warmth and a sense of awakening from a very long dormancy, a heady thrum of boxed-up energy.
The Demiurge was working to change him slowly until more and more of the orbs penetrated him but no longer came out. He started feeling heavier like a pillow continuously stuffed with cotton or down. What started as warm turned searing hot and the pain increasingly became unbearable.
A silent cry came from his lips as he dropped on one knee within the boundaries of the triad of swords set upright around him.
Tokiya was determined to endure this. He trained under Meguri Kyoza long enough to know that power does not come without pain. He needed this power if he was to battle demons.
The pillar of light grew thinner and and focused its energies on him until it turned into a threadlike projection which connected Tokiya to heaven. It grew pale and became broken then vanished completely.
Tokiya was still on his knee, head bent, hair suddenly unbound. Concern was apparent on majority of the angels' faces.
"Samael," Michael called. "Stand up. Everyone's anxious to see how you've turned out."
Brushing his hair back with one hand, Tokiya looked up and stood straight with a smirk on his face.
"How do you feel?" Gabriel asked.
Tokiya drew Scorpius from where it was embedded, the weapon utterly pliant and yielding to him. He studied the intricate metalwork of the hilt and cross guard, the fine-tempered blade as thought words were written on them before he answered his senior.
"I am honestly disappointed. I thought I would regain my memories after this but… apparently not." He knitted his eyebrows proving his point.
"I am sorry about that. But we don't have the keys to the lock placed on your memories." Gabriel admitted. "However, I do hope you remember I still head this Council, which I sure you do, and therefore is in the position to give you orders again."
"Of course." Tokiya resigned.
Gabriel smiled. "I want you to share Michael's Guardianship of Lilith. Michael will assume omnipresent Guardianship while you will remain physically close to her whenever you can and watch over her, protect her if needed. We can not afford leaving her unguarded with all those demons on prowl."
"You are aware that Kirisawa and I aren't exactly in the best of terms at present?" Tokiya reminded the hazel-eyed leader.
"Then it is time to work things out with her, isn't it? Commit to this, Samael. I know you still can not bear seeing her hurt." Michael stated.
Conflicting emotions, Tokiya hated the existence of conflicting emotions. Apart of him was trying to shout out he didn't give a damn to what happens to Fuuko but another part, the more dominant, more powerful part of him agreed with Michael. He can not bear to see her hurt and most likely skewer anyone brave enough to harm a hair on her purple head, provided she does not do it first.
"I need time to think." Tokiya voiced.
Uriel looked at him from head to foot, gauging him, studying him. He was his ward after all.
"I think it's time you get reacquainted with your wings." He suggested. "I'll join you for a short flight."
"How do I do it?" Tokiya said with a shrug.
Uriel approached Tokiya while the rest of the Council watched the white-haired Guardian school his changeling ward.
"Technically, it's a body part like your hand or your foot. Try unfurling it. It's just like opening your hand only the focus is on your back." Uriel instructed.
Tokiya appeared thoughtful. Flashing his signature smirk, he quickly unbuttoned his cotton button-up shirt and motioned for Raphael to take it. Being the only female in the group, Oriphiel colored and turned away.
Michael shot a questioning look at his brother's impromptu display which Tokiya promptly answered.
"I don't want to ruin my shirt."
"Wear this then." Zarachiel handed him a linen tunic.
He donned the clothing immediately vaguely wondering what to tell his trusted tailor that he needed a few clothes modified to accommodate wings.
Doing as Uriel instructed, Tokiya envisioned the avian appendage on his back. And felt a kind of prickling akin to an itch but was not one. With a determined mindset, he unfurled his wings, the feathery tips breaking through his skin, and stretched them to their full span.
"Very good. Now, feel the plumage catching the air around you." Uriel added.
Tokiya did as he was told and was slightly pulled back by the force of the wind assaulting his wings.
"Steady, Tokiya."
Tokiya gave Uriel a look of gratitude or at least something close to it. He appreciated the use of his human name because it appears that the Council was dead set on calling him by his angel name.
"Flying is really more magic than physics for us. We were never built like birds so for the magic part, imagine gravity letting go of its hold on you. Feel it. Will it." Uriel proceeded.
Tokiya had no need to close his eyes. He didn't want to look stupid anyway. And so he saw with his very eyes how his feet distanced themselves from the ground inch by inch.
"Sharp mind, iron concentration, very good. Flapping your wings will propel you forward. You also steer with them. I'm pretty sure you could figure this out. This is where the physics kick in. So, let's go" Uriel concluded as he rose to his level and flew ahead of him.
They had gone far, very far from Tokiya's apartment building before the silence was broken.
"You can ask questions now. No one's eavesdropping. I assure you." Uriel said.
What ever did the white-haired angel want from him? A confession? Perhaps a confession is exactly what Tokiya needed.
"I'm confused." He admitted.
"About what exactly." Uriel asked in way that made Tokiya think he already knew the topic of this particular conversation so he raised his eyebrow at his Guardian instead.
"She confounds us all." He assured.
"I'm sure she does. But the difference is, you know something about her that I don't. Everyone seems to be hiding little secrets from me, secrets I think are important for me to find out." Tokiya added.
"Hmm… I honestly think they should tell you too. It would make everybody happy." Uriel admitted.
"You're not telling me?"
"It's not my secret to tell and besides, I don't know the whole story. I'm sure you don't want half baked theories and patches of the whole story, right? Ask Gabriel instead. But if you ask me, I'd rather take Fuuko's side of the story." Uriel answered.
"Hatanaka's guarding her like a watchdog. I don't like it one bit. I can hardly get near her and that's not the only problem. But I'll make sure to wrestle those secrets from her." Tokiya said.
"Are you aware that Hatanaka is a demon?" The Archangel asked.
"Yes. I've been watching him all day at school and I've suspected as much. Does the Council have a lead? Records perhaps?"
"Michael and I are trying to unearth his real identity but it seems that Lucifer himself is backing him. We're actually counting on you to find that out."
"Who's the demon closest to Lilith?" Tokiya suddenly asked after a moment of deep thought.
"If you ask me… Asmodeus is probably closest to her. They were companions. If you remember…" Realizing that Tokiya fell silent, Uriel looked at him.
Tokiya's face was set in a dangerous glower. "I'll maim him." He smugly said.
Tokiya had a few things to add to his agenda. First was to personally make sure that Hatanaka was seriously hurt. Second was to keep watch over Fuuko. But the most important would be to discover Fuuko's secrets.
Easy? Not so. But he'll make sure they're duly accomplished.
-Changeling: Part II-
"He doesn't care about you, Fuuko."
"I know that, Ash. No need to be redundant."
Fuuko's eyes smoldered with a brilliancy that was aimed at Ash. She was dangerous. He knew she was like hellfire, like belladonna, like a rose with many thorns.
Destructive.
Deadly.
Beautiful.
Addictive.
"I know I shouldn't state what's obvious but I want to know what's holding you back. Why can't I pull you away from it?" Ash was pensive, saying out loud words meant for himself.
As the red-head tenderly took her hand and trapped it in between both of his, Fuuko's eyes softened. A lot of people would never believe her if she said that one of the nicest people she knew was a demon. Of course, they'd never believe she was personally acquainted with one and they'd more likely believe Lady Gaga is an alien rather than the concept of a good devil. But it was true.
It was their job to be despicable, to be hated, to do evil things, to oppose the forces of good.
True, without youkai, the concept of evil might as well cease to exist. But so would the concept of good. Such is the paradox of life.
"I haven't decided on it yet. And if you force me now, I'll probably say no. It's not about what you could or couldn't do. It's not about me… or him. Ash, please understand that I have a human life to live. I have a family, friends, school. I can't just abruptly vanish." She said.
Lifting his hands with hers still in them, Asmodeus pressed his lips there. He was utterly beguiling and tender when it suits him, befitting a Demon of Lust such as himself. Fuuko thought. No wonder women fall for him. Even the way his eyebrows knitted couldn't mar the beauty of him. But he was more than that. He was her Ash.
Gently slapping his arm with her free hand, Fuuko said, "Don't look so grim. You look ugly like that." She joked.
Rolling his green eyes, Ash answered, "As if that's possible."
Fuuko gaped for a moment before laughing boisterously. "Who turned you into the Demon of Vanity?"
"It's amazing I can make you laugh. I rarely do." He sincerely said with a smile.
"You rarely make jokes." She reminded him.
"How touching. " Lucifer's voice suddenly drifted towards them.
It was a habit for Fuuko and Ash to stay over at the rooftop after classes and it was there that Lucifer caught them today.
"Still not ready, Lilith? Don't you wish to possess all that were meant to be yours? You can always bargain with me." Lucifer offered his hand and helped her stand.
Asmodeus stood aside observing as Lucifer played word games and wits with Fuuko.
"You want me to make a deal with the Devil?" The sardonic edge of her tone was highly palpable.
"Call it what you wish." He answered. "Look at you, dear. You once had beautiful long hair. Whatever made you cut it? You once had wings and now, well, you're human. Join us and you'll never need that plaything to control your own element." He baited.
While the Lord of Hell enumerated those many possibilities, a mirror appeared in front of Fuuko and Lucifer ushered Fuuko towards it by her shoulders. He made her look at the image of her former self. She absent-mindedly raked her hands through her hair and noted the continuity of its length already passed her shoulders.
She looked back but the wings weren't there, only in the reflection.
"Just a taste of what you could have again."
"Boss, is that your tactic? Tease Lilith?" Amon said as he appeared from nowhere.
"Any deals sealed yet?" Followed Leviathan.
"Whoa! Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?" The dark-haired Belphegor, Demon of Sloth, exclaimed.
"Sixteen years, Belphegor, you still don't know Lilith was reborn? Who do you think we were talking about?" Mammon chided.
"Oh, I was not talking about Lilith," came his retort. "Asmodeus, you look absolutely delicious in your human form." He winked at the fox-demon.
"Damn you, faggot." Asmodeus growled as he changed into his youkai form.
"Well, what do you know? The Rulers of Hell are complete." Lucifer blissfully announced while rubbing his palms together.
Fuuko knew this wasn't exactly true. Beelzebub was nowhere to be seen but she had no intention of pointing that out. Lucifer wouldn't care anyway.
"Now, my beauty, the Rulers are here to pay homage to you. Say hi to them." He took her hand and presented her to the rest of the demons.
Fuuko was fighting the urge to blush and gathered all her guts to meet their gazes. She was never that close to them. She respected them because they deserved respect. She worked with them longer than she had chance with the angels but they never developed the easy camaraderie that was natural to the Council. They were even pitted against each other at times and it didn't help that Lucifer doted on her.
Hugs and kisses were highly unacceptable and so she opted to give them a dignified nod and was relieved that she met their approval.
"Hush everyone." Lucifer raised both his palms and cocked his head to the side while the rest of them kept quiet. "We have company. Asmodeus, take on Michael. Amon, go for Gabriel. Lev, face Uriel. Mammon, you have Raphael. Belphegor, Zarachiel. Leave the rest to me."
Lucifer suddenly grabbed Fuuko by the arm a little too tight. He was keeping her close but she still managed to get a lay of the land, so to speak, patiently waiting… for him.
-Boundaries and Higher Walls to Climb-
"Father, I pray we are not too late." Raphael pleaded.
The six Archangels were rushing from heaven as fast as they could after Tokiya tipped Uriel that he felt the presence of seven demons in his school. At the same time, Michael noted the presence of Lucifer himself near Fuuko.
"Don't panic, Raph. We'll get there in time." Gabriel pacified.
"What took you so long?" Tokiya grumbled.
He met the rest of the Angels not far from Nashikiri and joined them as they flew towards his school.
"We had to make provisions. If this turns out into a war, we should at least prepare the Heavenly Host." Michael explained.
They landed at the rooftop where the demons were gathered. Tokiya trained his eyes on Fuuko. He did not notice from afar but now that he was close enough, he could see that her hair grew past her shoulders.
She was well on her way to look like the Lilith Kuro Kagami showed him. And he was dreading that it might mean it was too late to save her. Fuuko was surprised to see him. He thought, probably because he grew wings again and he couldn't be mistaken.
Fuuko felt a deep pang ache within her. Samael was back where he belonged.
The rest of the Archangels were easily singled out by the demons. God help him because the only one left for him to battle was Lucifer.
"Distract Lucifer. I'll try to get Lilith." Oriphiel whispered while she picked up her pace to match his stride.
He nodded. In the periphery of his vision, he saw that the others had commenced their fights. Some even took to flying while the others descended down the school grounds. The human populace of the school would probably not see but Tokiya still hoped everyone else had gone home.
As far as he could tell, he had never faced Lucifer yet. If he survived this, Kirisawa would owe him big time.
Tokiya and Oriphiel charged at the same time but a ring of hellfire barricaded them. Oriphiel, however, got through and was wrestling Fuuko's arm away from Lucifer.
"Go away, little girl." Lucifer bellowed swatting Oriphiel like a fly.
The moment the angel was struck down, Fuuko yanked her arm away from Lucifer and rushed towards the angel.
Tokiya's eyes followed her but Lucifer suddenly called to him.
"Samael, keep your eyes on me. I'm sure you'd want to know what hits you."
Tokiya answered with a glare.
"Well, I never thought you'd carry that look over. I assure you it's as threatening as it had always been." Lucifer retaliated smiling at him.
"Boss, don't hurt him." Fuuko whispered while she attended the unconscious Oriphiel.
"Aww, Lilith, I won't. You knew there was a time I wanted him too. Sadly, Samael here always puts his allegiance to the other side even if he's blindly led on. Even when what he does make other people suffer for him." Lucifer feigned a sympathetic look towards Tokiya.
"Boss..." Fuuko told him off.
"Yes, yes. I know it's your business, little night flower." Lucifer continued crooning endearments to her.
There it was again. Another volley of words that left Tokiya completely baffled but he didn't let Lucifer gain the satisfaction of seeing him confused.
He schooled himself to remain stoic.
"Do not assume you can defeat me, Samael. I am divine. I am the Other God. And what I seek is to put the Mighty Oppressor in His right place. You are no match for me." Lucifer taunted. "we don't have to fight, you know. We can watch the others do that."
"Boo?" Fuuko called.
"Ah, Beelzebub. You're here. What took you so long?" Lucifer added.
"Boo was wondering if he could eat little girl." The unnaturally fat and pink demon said.
"Yanagi!" Fuuko bellowed.
She ran out of the circle of hellfire and passed Tokiya unharmed. He heard the railing creak as she reached it. Tokiya looked behind him and saw Fuuko cling to the railing of the rooftop and beyond that was Beelzebub, Yanagi unconscious in his clutches.
Tokiya felt a sharp projection graze his arm and immediately refocused on Lucifer.
"I told you to keep your eyes on me." Lucifer reminded him.
"Let Yanagi go. She has nothing to do with this." Tokiya hissed.
"I'm not the one holding her." Lucifer wittily retorted.
Tokiya charged not caring if the hellfire burned him but before he could even take a few steps, Lucifer sent out a dark chi ball at him. Tokiya sidestepped in time to evade the attack and looked at Lucifer who sported a very wide, very sly smile.
"Lilith, watch out!" Asmodeus shouted while his fight with Michael not far from where Tokiya stood paused, both combatants faced Fuuko's way.
Tokiya had forgotten that Fuuko was directly behind him. He looked at her and saw that she managed to jump up and balance herself on the metal pipe frame of the criss-cross metal mesh.
At Asmodeus' call Fuuko looked back and met Tokiya's eyes briefly before the energy ball blasted through the railing shattering it so that she lost her footing and fell freely towards the waiting ground.
"Think fast, Samael." Lucifer hissed.
Then Beelzebub let go of Yanagi.
"Oops!" The white-caped demon interjected.
Tokiya dove into ther air stretching his wings wide hoping he would reach the girls in time.
Fuuko was falling fast. Tough luck Fuujin was in her backpack on the rooftop. She shut her eyes tight waiting for a miracle or solid ground, whichever came first. She knew she should at least maneuver herself so that she'd land on her feet but she knew that no matter what she did, if she hit the ground either head or feet first, she'd break a good deal of bones due to force and impact.
"Lilith…" The wind carried Lucifer's voice to her although she was quite sure she was the only one who heard it.
She felt something in her snap and she opened her eyes. One storey was left between her and the ground. But she was no longer careening towards it.
She was suspended in thin air. Covering her mouth with both her hands muffling a hysterical scream, she realized that the back of her uniform was completely ruined. Her wings sprouted out of it to save her. The black feathers ruffled in the wind.
It was then that she remembered Yanagi. Looking up, she saw that Beelzebub was empty-handed. Her sight drifted lower until she saw Yanagi carried by Tokiya who looked at her with relief and worry at the same time. Was he worrying for her?
And although Fuuko knew Tokiya chose well to save Yanagi instead of her, which would have been useless since she grew her own wings, it hurt her… very much. She would have died but Yanagi would definitely be saved.
Composing herself, Fuuko breathed deeply and flapped her wings. She remembered the mechanics of flight well. God! She remembered a lot more than that and as she ascended, she pushed those memories deep into her subconscious.
The moment she landed on the rooftop, Lucifer smiled at her.
"Time to go." He said.
One by one, the demons were engulfed by hellfire and vanished.
"Asmodeus, keep Lilith company. For the meantime, that will be your only order." He left in a flurry of smoke.
Hellfire left a cloying scent of sulfur that anchored Fuuko to the present. She saw in her periphery that Tokiya had landed with the still unconscious Yanagi at the rooftop as well.
The rest of the Archangels gathered around them while Asmodeus stood quite removed. The momentary truce was working for all of them.
Uriel picked up Oriphiel. Gabriel placed a hand on her shoulder soothing her briefly but was insufficient to keep the shuddering at bay.
"Gabriel, please go. We'll call if we need you. Fight's over. There's no need to worry." Fuuko assured him.
Gabriel looked at Tokiya and the blue-eyed teen nodded. The Archangels vanished one by one but before doing so, Raphael enveloped Fuuko in one bear hug.
"I'm fine, Raph. Go, little bro." She smiled and he vanished.
Once the Archangels were gone, Fuuko ran towards Asmodeus and wrapped her arms around his neck while he ran a hand through her now long hair and wrapped the other around her slim waist soothing her anyway he could.
Tokiya watched this intently. AS much as he wanted to slash off the demon's head, he knew he'd never be able to comfort Fuuko the way he did.
Desperate to put some distance between the two he spoke, "We should tell the rest of Hokage what happened here. I don't want them oblivious of the possible dangers of being acquainted with us. Why is Hanabishi not with Yanagi-san anyway?"
Fuuko looked at him and answered but Ash's arms remained wrapped around her., "Even if he was with her, would he be able to fend off a demon? But you're right. They should know. Tell everyone to meet at your apartment this Saturday and if you can, bring Gabby or Raph. Until then, I don't want you breathing my way."
Asmodeus picked up their bags and left with Fuuko.
Tokiya did not regret saving Yanagi first. He told himself that he would strain his wings to reach Fuuko in time the moment he went in for the dive. But the fact remains that she fell first and despite the Laws of Physics saying Yanagi and Fuuko would most likely hit the ground at the same time, the danger was more impressed on Fuuko. Yanagi was unconscious after all and would probably never find out she was saved last if he decided to do so.
The moment he reached Yanagi was the same time Fuuko grew her wings and even if she didn't, he would've reached her in time. He knew he would've saved them both. But as it was, he only pushed her farther away. If she chooses to stick with the other side, he would blame himself.
Something in him was nagging. It seems that the reason for her choosing the darker side had always been his fault.
And the truth of it was hitting him painfully.
-TBC-
A/N: references for Other God can be seen in my profile. New pics including a very delicious Samael and the Angelic Council there too, just sift through my fanart album in FB.
martini-chan: hope this answers your curiosity.
satomika-chan: how are the cases going? sweetie, if you're not ready for the july board, take it on december. I did and it paid off. yes, i'm scorpio. libra is under uriel.
malora-chan: as much as I want to use Mi-chan here, I couldn't really. The plot does not allow me. Fuuko here seems to act more like her junior high self; if you've read the manga,you'll know what I mean.
TF: can I call you TF? hehe... I'll give you guys the juicy details regarding 'The Making of Other God' when I write the last chapter. Until then, you're free to enjoy the freakiness of the plot.
Suryasree: I hope this is soon enough and more on kurama. i hope you still think this chapter is interesting.
aki-chan: I have more things to share about the twist between kurama and fuuko
eirist-chan: I think you're right. something about kurama and fuuko being together kinda... brings out the sparks... i think they have this magnetism I can't explain. I feel it to the core whenever I write dialogues between them. But please don't hate kurama here. He's a complication true. but ToFuu will prevail in this fic.
If you guys ask me I honestly think Kurama and Fuuko have chemistry. and yes, I have a cross-over in mind already. I just need something to restrain Mi-chan while I write it. haha (kay feel free to whack me in the head.
Next Chapter: Tokiya employs drastic measures to discover Fuuko's ancient secret. And our glimpse of Lilith's days in Hell.
till then
Yours,
Anne Raven