Kuroi no Mahou

Divination

Eight monotonous hours have passed since Tsubasa and his friends last ate. As the nocturnal sky filled with vivid, radiant stars, the vigilant Nankatsu captain took the remaining time to look up at its brilliance. Quickly fixing back all the books to their original places, he rummaged for the last one he forgot to read. The Black Magic Counters are supposed to be his prime choice to read first. He knew Schneider was going to be his biggest enemy yet—and the one that controls Hell behind him… Lucifer.

Picking up the pace, he fixedly runs down the ebony marbled floors up to the last sections. Hung on the wall to light his paths were old yet functional bell shaped lamps. The bright flames that sparked when Tsubasa passed radiated on to the marbled floors creating an astonishing and obliviously myopic reflection on the floor.

He dove looks on the big yet old volumes and tomes of some famous authors, some hardly known and some are even anonymously written. A fixed fascination churned inside him as he passed. He even stifled an impending hilarity when he saw the names of authors— Interesting yet surrealistically strange. He thought at the moment he saw some odd author name written Pathos Le Perfume.

Some book titles even sounded like an amusing magic trick than something occult and foreboding. There are even some books that looked modernized. Egads, who could even want to read a book with a weird title like that?He amusingly pointed to a book with a title called Teaching the Old Dumb Dog New Magic Tricks.

Laughing to himself, he started moving forward—when a very familiar book caught his eye. Leaning down to the shelf, he grabbed the book and gaped. With a background of yellow and a foreground of a man with big glasses, he knew this book almost anywhere. Just perfect… Black Magic Counters for Idiots… Where in Heaven's name do the Mikos get these kinds of books?

But don't judge a book by its cover. At the moment Tsubasa flipped the pages, he pondered over the book as he made his way back. It felt realistically factual despite the title it held. He nodded merely to himself as his focus poured on the white pages of the normal sized book he was holding. When suddenly, he sneezed for no reason. Someone must be talking about me.

Making his way back, he suddenly stopped dead. He couldn't help but look to his right. But at the very corner of his eye, he thought he saw something big, white, and blurry. The strands of hair at the back of his neck stood in fear…

And, suddenly, he felt the indistinct pallid figure move towards him in a rather pitiful stance… a cold aura blew on him. And it was familiar, but undeniably poignant. Silence engulfed him as he felt words blowing on his ear. When…

" Hey Tsubasa! Dinner's up!"

Never turning to his right, he quickly headed forward in a mad dash. Cold sweat started to gather at the back of his neck. He didn't want to think what that was. But, the five were the only ones within the library… Aren't they…?

Without noticing, he already halted in front of the tables, looking paralyzed as ever. No. He did notice something from the white figure. And he could never, ever mistake it. Genzo and the others peered curiously at Tsubasa's present expression. It was like he had seen a ghost—which he did.

" Could—it… be?" thought Tsubasa loudly, never failing to catch everyone's attention. " That was…"

A big blow was deftly felt at Tsubasa's skull. And then, a few angry voices resounded around him. Some were Genzo's and some were Hyuga's.

" Tsubasa! Snap out of it, will you!"

Finally disturbing him from his thoughts, he shot looks at everyone and smiled apologetically " Sorry, guys! I was just thinking."

Genzo sneered sardonically " Jeez, and I thought that book would pierce through your thick skull!"

Book? Oh yeah! Tsubasa finally paid attention to the book he was holding. He raised it up in front of them, and in a chimed voice, he spoke " Look what I found back there!"

Hyuga's brow furrowed, as he slowly read out loud " Black Magic Counters for Idiots." He cockily smirked " Nice book Tsubasa. Suits you perfectly."

Taro pouted and frostily replies to Hyuga " That's not nice, Hyuga!"

" No fighting in front of your food, guys!" scolded Ken maturely as he quietly sipped his water while reading the book settled on his left side. He flipped another page and quietly smiled.

" Wow, Ken. You've become quite the bookworm yourself." Commented Tsubasa gleefully as he settled the book on his lap while getting his plate to eat.

" It's Advanced Psychometry. Knowing the ability to read the history of an object or location." Replied Ken with small hints of satisfaction. "For example—that book on your lap."

Ken borrows the book. Putting a hand on top of it and one below, he slowly closes his eyes. Tsubasa gazed intensely at Ken and wondered what he's going to reply. A fiery glow surrounded his hands and the book. And only after a few seconds, he opens his eyes and Tsubasa began to listen excitedly. " Err—if I'm correct, you found this book at the fourth column, third shelf. Your grip is strained severely when you were carrying it here. Is anything wrong?"

Tsubasa had that shaken face. Then, he suddenly shook it away with a bitter smile " Wow! You're really correct there!"

Instantly grabbing the book back, Tsubasa quickly eats his food and makes certain comments to it. Ken doesn't fall for his trick at all. From there, he had a suspicion about Tsubasa's expression. He bets that his expression a while ago is somehow connected to how he gripped the book. Was it something he saw?

Ken's face turn ashen white at the sudden realization. He did see something. But what?

Ken knew it was rude to barge into other people's business—so after only a short-lived conflict, he decided to shrug it off.

After an hour, they were told by the Mikos to sleep in their respective sleeping places. They were also allowed to bring a few books over if they want to read. After that, the Mikos lastly announced something important.

" As we have decided." Started Maria obtrusively; shortly basking in her importance " you all shall be trained within this month of July. By the end of the month, we expect all of you to be in our highest expectations, minus the misconduct."

Rose stepped forth and stated, " We have also been notified of your Fujutsu Objects. As of now, you will start to train under what you all have been chosen." She smiled amiably " And I expect all of you to love it."

Out of the blue, Yuuki, the second Miko, pulled out a small orb from her blue robes. And then, swiftly throwing the orb in mid air, it morphed into glorious spheres of gold and silver.

Tsubasa eyes widened at the radiance when he didn't know that his wings involuntarily bursts out of his back. Strings and strings of wind surged through the library and flocked around Tsubasa. Its turbulence offered meaningful power and its swiftness like light.

Getting the message, Genzo awed " No wonder Tsubasa's Object is the Wings of Hope."

Taro nodded as he smiled humbly at Tsubasa " Wings represents Air."

Taro suddenly blinked in astonishment as a few pearl like tears cascaded down and relaxed against the wind. The ground crackles before him and releases thin volumes of water. The thin water formed beautiful aquatic rings that encircled Taro who felt rather thrilled than surprised.

Genzo paused a bit, realizing that same element, only in a different formation. " Wait, I think I've seen him do that! So Taro's Object is Water elemental!"

And just before Genzo ended his sentence, his hands began blazing with fire that he doesn't feel at all. Soon, the radiant flames gracefully waved around Genzo like weaving a blazing thread through cross-sectioned strings of fire.

Ken gaped at the striking feat " So Genzo's Fujutsu Object is Fire elemental. So Hyuga must be—"

And before he was to finish his sentence, the ground crumbled beneath Hyuga's feet. It crumbled so much that a violent circular dent was visible on the marbled ground. And then, the walls began to shake and draw in dust, which gathered around Hyuga like turbulent particles.

"… The Earth element." Gasped Ken in surprise even if he knew it from the start.

Then, a certain silence fell around Ken. His eyes involuntarily closed. A pinkish white barrier bore around Ken like it was protecting him. And then, a heavenly aura explodes outwards in light speed silence and backwards again, like a pendulum swinging back and forth.

" It's great that the most important element of the five fell unto a wise person like Ken. Aether…" Clarifies Adelle in relief to Maria. Maria in turn, nods in agreement.

And all of a sudden, the orb's shine diminished—as well as the presentation. Now that the five have a clear thought of what their powers are, they picked up tomes and books of its use.

Climbing up the steps of the tower along with the others, Tsubasa remembered Matsuyama for no reason. Once Hyuga and Ken were already within their quarters, Tsubasa realized the figure that he saw a while ago… Pondering over it, he didn't notice a concern Taro and Genzo stopping and peering over his shoulder. They've noticed his silence since they were already walking up the tower.

" Tsubasa." Called Taro, in which Tsubasa quickly faced him with his mouth curved upwards in a smile.

But Taro didn't buy the look. " You've been awfully quiet ever since we walked out the library. Is there something bothering you?"

Genzo, in turn, patted Tsubasa over the shoulder " Tsubasa, me and Taro are worried sick. I'm sure there's something up." Genzo's voice sounded genuinely concern for Tsubasa.

" I… saw…" Tsubasa shook his head to speak more properly. "… I saw a Wraith! Err, I don't really know if it's an Astral Body or an Wraith… It just looked like…" he stopped dead, as his eyes sheltered cold fear.

Taro juggled a still concern and caring look at Tsubasa " You saw a ghost?"

But Tsubasa didn't reply. His face just turned ashen white and cold sweat was trailing down his face. Genzo bought that look and stuttered " Th-there's something behind Taro and I…right?"

Taro gulped a large lump and didn't dare to turn around. Genzo bit his lip and whirled in his heel… Only to meet a gust of mist.

Taro gasped when he slowly turned around, and unknowingly shuddered in utter coldness and fear. But all of a sudden, the mist slowly faded.

" Well…" gulped Genzo, as he tightly clutched his books. " I'll be running by tomorrow morning."

" Y-Yeah, me too." Stuttered Taro, trying to rid off the so-called illusion he saw.

Tsubasa glanced down on the floor and nodded too. His head might be playing tricks on him after spending the whole day with a book. Because what he saw wasn't mist at first


Early morning…

Tsubasa was quietly snoring under the thick covers of the bed. Under his feather buffed pillows were a couple of books. One for Aeromancy and the other one is the Will to Wield Winds Without Worry. On the rickety table near him, two tomes and three volumes lay down in an organized way. All of it contained nearly everything about controlling winds.

"…Sanae…Mom…Dad… Matsuyama…" Tsubasa's muffled voice was filled with fret for the people he mentioned. Slightly struggling within the covers, the teen rasps a few more inaudible words.

Over at Taro's room, the innocent teen has already slipped down the edge of the bed from his slumber. His head down on the cold ground, and his legs still hanging on the corner of the soft bed, entangled with the covers. Around his arms are a couple of tomes concerning about Water and a few spells and tips to control its power.

There are also a few scattered books on the ground. Some are thick and heavy like brick and some aren't even book bind and are scattered all over the floor.

In the next room, a certain Wakabayashi was half asleep. His eyes rose up to the blank ceiling, and down to the plain view of the door. Wanting to go back to sleep, he fluffed up his pillows and turned his head side ways, his eyes now facing the piles of books at the corner.

" Uhh… The Ring of Fire is a belt of volcanoes and seismic activity circling the Pacific…" smiling light headedly, he once more whispered "… Am I great or what…?" Soon, he fell asleep.

Three doors away, was Hyuga's room. On the corner of the cold room, Hyuga was there, heavily sleeping. His back, facing the corner and on top of his lap lay a book. His snores were loud but very calm at the same time. Near him was an unlit candle on an old Northern European styled holder, with wonderful and curved angles with angel like designs.

"… The increasing point…bypasses through the vital points…located…in…the…" his voice dimmed and then his loud snoring ensues.

On the last room, the bed was unoccupied. But a figure seated over a table was seen against the darkness. It was Ken. His black mane scattered between his shoulders, while his head peacefully rested around his folded arms over an open book.

When suddenly, a soft hand weighed down on Ken's shoulder, in the process, waking up the pretty boy from his slumber.

" Hmm? Is it time?" he murmurs to the figure. " Oh. Good morning, Adelle…"

Adelle lowers her head and said calmly " Time to get up."


And after a lot of minutes of violent verbal awakening for the others…

The morning was cold but satisfying. As the sun rose from the East, Heaven's five have already gotten up to start their now harsh physical training. Of course, starting with laps around the Tower of Babel. Plus running up and down waning staircases inside the Tower. The group was split in half, Tsubasa with Genzo and Taro, and Hyuga with Ken. The two will run up then back down the staircases. And the three will run around the Tower twice. The Mikos have given them the puzzling question of why only once.

"The Tower of Babel's width extends up to almost four conjoined soccer fields and its height is unparalleled by any citadel present." Laughs Maria. "Now get to work!"

" Holy Shit…" gaped Genzo as he undergoes spastic twitches " This is much more torturous than Schneider's laps…"

Tsubasa bit his lip, thinking of how are they going to survive with an all round length like that. Taro simply answered Tsubasa's hidden thought with a loud sigh" I guess we'll just have to jog the whole morning to finish the whole tower."

Genzo argued immediately " Hah! As if that's going to happen! We won't last two soccer fields!"

Hyuga screamed back at Genzo " Are you kidding! Ken and I have a much more harder path! Up and back down? Darn it!"

Ken slapped his head and mumbled " And I thought you were excited."

" YOU BOYS GET TO WORK NOW!" yelled an angry Sophie from the distance. Her clothes were different from the one she usually wears. With short red cycling shorts and a white open-mouthed tucked in shirt, you might have a lot of second thoughts if she's really a Miko.

Genzo grins and leans down to whisper near Tsubasa " Look who's forcing herself to be some hot chic."

Sophie leers at Genzo and then shouts once more " I said GO JOG NOW!"

" Jeez! We hear you already!" yells Hyuga as he and Ken run towards the tower.

Genzo only rolls his eyes and jog towards the starting point along with an energetic Tsubasa and Taro. And then, with a signal, they started jogging openly, their legs, up and about, as they heeded no fatigue.

From the tower, both Hyuga and Ken jogged up the stairs, their energies, prolonged with the radiating sun facing their direction. Hyuga laughs hard as his breath nearly choked away " This could be easy!"

Ken just replies monotonously " Err, right." His eyes were full of uncertainty. Hyuga's not going to last.


In a place full of great darkness and depression, Schneider gruffly curses under his breath. " Damn, it's taking too much time…"

It was Hell at its most murderous and bloodcurdling expression. Inside the citadel made out of titanium, metal and painted coal black, resides one of Hell's most powerful men… or rather teen. His fully modernized office was furnished with the best supplies one could offer.

Elsa, Schneider's eight-year-old cousin, peered over the glass window, overlooking a great distance. From afar, she can see the rotting bodies being shipped Lucifer-knows-where. " Hey, Schneider. Where are they going to take the bodies?" she questioned as her grip on the Fujutsu Object, her flute, tightened.

Schneider leaned down on his black leather couch and replied "… The bodies are going to be taken to the feed. Why ask?"

" Is… that guy's corpse there?" she asked again, trembling with anticipation.

Schneider cock an eyebrow and answered, " If you mean, Hikaru Matsuyama's body, yes. Why?"

A maniacal grin grew on Elsa's face as she faced Schneider with bright, sadistic eyes " I want to kill him. I want to kill him so badly… That bastard, Misaki Taro! I want him to end up like that Hikaru Matsuyama! I want Misaki Taro tortured and shot by me to death!"

Beckoning Elsa to come near him, Schneider grasped her shoulders firmly and smiled wickedly at her. " Don't worry, Elsa. I know you can do it. I'm so proud of you!"

Elsa smiled. She ought to be so proud of herself that Schneider himself praised her and encouraged her. She also knew that her father's going to be proud of her. Her Aryan blood won't be wasted. But. There's a weird feeling inside her. Every time she mocked and cursed Taro, she felt her heart pace quickly, and her cheeks burn with redness. DAMN TARO FOR BEING SO HARSH! DAMN HIM FOR BEING SO CONCERN AND COMPELLING! DAMN HIM FOR HIS PRICELESS LUCK! GODDAMN HIM FOR BEING SO GOD FUCKING CUTE!

Wait… whom was she convincing?

" I hate you, Misaki Taro!" barked Elsa in a shrill tone as she ran down the metal-grounded hallways. She ran down the hallways to the person she knew better to ask for advice.


Tsubasa gasped for air.

Already panting hard as the sweat beadily rolled down his fair skinned face. However, he still kept running even if he was beyond his limits. He knew he'd have to pass every Miko's expectation of him. After all those running, he still can't see where they last left off— it only meant he still has a far, far way to run. Genzo and Taro are already lagging behind him, out of extreme tire.

In the tower, Hyuga and Ken are already nearing the top. But, much to Hyuga's disappointment, his legs felt like falling apart and his head cracking in half. Even Ken who's a few steps behind Hyuga, felt like collapsing. No. He knew he couldn't do it. Hyuga can't do it. Suddenly, a thought passed his head like a speeding bullet…

" Once the day had passed, on the next day, you will have a health examination then after that, you will be physically training your bodies."

Ken's eyes widened with surprise. This isn't training! This is just a—health examination! Ken bit his lip hard. They weren't training them. They were just testing Tsubasa and the others how hard-core their stamina is and how long they can endure pain. As long as there is stamina inside Ken, he will just keep going up to fulfill their expectations.

" Damn this, Ken!" Hyuga scorned under his breath " Don't tell me this isn't enough for them! Jeez, I can't believe this is a health examination!"

Ken blinked " You—" his voice faltered "knew?"

Hyuga choked a raspy laugh " Of course! Didn't they say that yesterday? Or do you mean they take us for just idiots?"

"…Uhuh." Mumbled Ken " Let's just continued jogging!"

Back to Tsubasa, who's nearly saw the starting point. Smiling awkwardly, he knew that if he crossed that, they'd be done and they would start the real magical training. Only a hundred yards to go. Smirked Tsubasa as he tried to hasten his pace.

Deep inside the tower was a large Roman dome. High above the interior were mirror like ceilings that portray angels and gospels, and on the lofty pillars parallel to the wall, were carvings of more angels. The sun beamed at the artful yet opaque glass then down to the ebony marble that reflected dissonantly. Five taut silhouettes stood at the center of the dome.

" Oh my word…" muttered Maria in instant shock at what's before her.

The five Mikos stood in front of a large dimension in a form of two, white gargantuan doors that reached the sky-scraping ceiling. Down before the ajar doors, were rose two more figures… The smaller figure's arm was anchoring over the older ones. Even if the distance was a bit far off, the Mikos already recognized the older figure. With those two colossal doors, the Mikos knew the only person who can perform that powerful kind of White Magic.

" Am I seeing this right?" gasps Sophie.

Yuuki shrewdly stepped forward and ran towards the two people. Rose angrily yells as she tried to run after Yuuki " Wait! What are you doing, Yuuki!"

" Marques-sama, needs our help!" shouted Yuuki back, with the Japanese cultured last name tagging applied.

When Yuuki was in a nice distance before Marques and the small figure, Marques smiled apologetically at Yuuki " Please, my dear… Help my godson…"

Yuuki looked at the small figure while Marques handed him to her. The fully injured boy was taller that Yuuki and more masculine. While she tries to sit the figure down, the four was already running by and helping Yuuki.

" Wait." Speaks Adelle as she cups the boy's chin up " He looks… familiar."

The disheveled brown hair, the fair skin blood soaked, the eyes hazy brown, and… " No." disagreed Rose " this isn't him. He can't be."

Consuming his remaining power, Marques shuts the colossal white doors and makes it disappear in a fade. He then, accompanies his grandson.

" Oh, my boy…" cried Marques and hugs the small figure, who's barely conscious to think straight.

Instead, the small figure moaned in a rasped voice as tears ran down his blood soaked face " Tsu—Tsubasa… Yoshiko…"

" It is him!" Sophie gasped hearing what he said. " It's Hikaru Matsuyama!"

Maria gaped at the boy's injuries and then spoke hushed orders to Rose and Sophie " Accompany the chosen five to their training, please. Before that, give them first ten minutes to rest."

" Yes!" the two answered consecutively and quickly ran out of the dome. Their silhouettes slowly disappeared.

Marques cried out as his grip tightened around Matsuyama " My boy must've done what he can to escape!"

" I am very sorry I cannot help, Sir Marques…" apologized Maria " I—We never told Heaven's five about Hikaru Matsuyama's disappearance. It was going to be unruly because they might flee behind our backs to rescue him."

" No. You did the right thing." Protested Marques " The five will be in impending danger soon. Please hasten their training in probably in a month or less."

" Yes, Sir Marques." Nodded Maria as she beckoned him to let go of Matsuyama so that he can be properly healed " Yuuki, here is a wonderful healer. She can get Matsuyama back up and going."

Yuuki blushed slightly and just groaned " Not really that much… If Taro-san gets his Fujutsu Object, my healing skills along with my Aqua White Magic would never match up to his."

A whitish blue light came out of Yuuki's hands as the gaping injuries started to close up. Matsuyama groaned a bit as the process became a bit painful. Soon, all of Matsuyama's injuries disappeared. The blood that was shed was clearly red and new, and the putrid scent scattered about.

" I am surprised that you once more made a perfect gateway, Sir Marques." Adelle commented to the old man who was relieved.

" Of course, even if I would age, my expertise will still be gateway crossing!" laughed Marques hoarsely.

Louquère Marques was a famous symbologist and an aficionado of Magic. A big lover of tragic and angst novels, he keeps his books piled up while traveling. His time dimensional crossing and gateway ruptures made him infamous and less known. Before, Matsuyama's father saved him and they became very close friends that act like brothers. It was before Matsuyama wedded Matsuyama's mother. When they bore Matsuyama, it was Marques that taught Matsuyama magic and coincidentally, soccer. As Marques crossed gateways, he learned about soccer and automatically had a fetish for it. Every kind of magic Marques knew, he taught to Matsuyama. But before all that, Matsuyama had to promise not to tell. And so he did. He taught what was right to the boy except his gateway crossing.

Gateway crossing is a forbidden magic and also time dimensional crossing. If learned by the cruelest people, the world will live in utter chaos of time crossing. That's why the magic was abandoned in history, only to be discovered by the forty five year old Marques. Wise and cunning, he kept the secret only to himself.

" Ah, for a twenty five year professionof time crossing,I was lucky I stumbled here again." Murmured Marques.

Maria shook her head " God transported you here."

Marques only laughed at Maria, which madethe head Mikoflush in a certain color. " Ahh I see! You didn't change, my dear Maria!"

Maria coarsely shouted back " I still can't believe your eccentric attitude still inflated your head!"

And before everything gets cooking, Adelle slipped in a serious question " How did you rescue Matsuyama? I mean he was in Hell right?"

" I intentionally led myself there…" murmured Marques, his perpetually bright green eyes seemed sad. " When I saw Matsuyama being beaten nearly to death by demons. So I rescued him when I recognized that face of his."

Then he shot a look at the fully unconscious Matsuyama who's being cleansed by Yuuki. " I can't believe he's finally grown into a striking young man. At first, I didn't know why he was there…"

" Not until I read his mind with the little few clairvoyance I learned recently." He paused to inhale for a while as both Adelle and Maria poured their concentration to him.

And then he continued with a choked melancholic voice " I learned he was nearly killed by Hell's third Fujutsu owner. Someone called Karl Heinz Schneider." he paused again after choking a sniffle.

" And now… It really seemed God favors this boy…" the surmount tears loosely fell from Marques burning eyes…

" Matsuyama did and survived the forbidden spell, The Last Second…"

And then… The dome engulfed in a deathly silence of shock…

To be continued…

A/N: Okay people! Another character added! Louquere Marques! If you want to know more about the Last Second, wait for the next chapter! Oh YEAH! I rescued Matsuyama! Praise the Lord! (Chorus behind answers " HALLELUJAH!")

Ahehe. So sorry I didn't kill him off. I just knew a lot of Matsuyama fanatics will kill me next.

For Marques' attitude, he's an eccentric old man, serious when needed, and is a superb symbologist. With grayish blue hair and bright green eyes.

Ken's element is Aether (or Ether). If you want to know what ether is, read the dictionary. But I tell you; the aether found in the dictionaries has a rather fair comparison to how I describe aether in the story. Just look it up if you really don't have any idea.

And if you really want to know what the fuck happened to Matsuyama, wait the next chapter! If you want to know who's the friend of Schneider who's also a Fujutsu holder of Hell, wait for the next chapter! If you want to know WTF Ken's power really is, wait for the next chapter! If you want to know more about Hell, wait for the next chapter! If you know what will happen to Tsubasa's training, WAIT FOR DA NEXT CHAPTER!

Anyways, REVIEW PLEASE! PLEASE? ONEGAI!