Chapter 33: Angels and Demons
Wow, I took such a long break, im surprised I still have followers. Jokes aside, really sorry guys. School, sports (ugh) and just plain procrastination has gotten this chapter out late. Hopefully I can get back on track and give you guys an actual ending and not leave you hanging. Well, it's very late, but here it is. Enjoy!
-ALO, 8:30 a.m.-
Liz had just opened up her shop and was taking stock, awaiting her customers, when the bell rang. Kirito walks inside and places his beloved Elucidator on the counter. Liz walks out to the counter and her stomach tightens.
"Dammit Liz, stop this," she scolds herself before walking up to him. "What are you doing here so early?" Kirito points to his sword.
"I intend on helping to clear a floor, and I need some fire buffs. Either enchantments or, well you could come along." Liz looks back.
"I actually was planning to go out and buy more supplies, so I don't have the enchantments. Do you want me to come…?" She asks reluctantly.
"Why not? I said I needed the buffs right? You're perfect at it." Liz smiled.
"Alright, let me just get ready." She walks into the back room and pumps her fist in the air.
"Lisbeth, I can see you." Kirito says, chuckling. Liz blushes and gathers her weapons and enchantments.
"You didn't see anything. Let's go." The two walk outside and head towards the portal.
-Underworld, same time-
Sugou slides a cloth along a serrated blade in front of a jail cell, smiling to himself.
"So how are you enjoying yourself, little Assol?" He asks. The white haired boy glares up at Sugou, at least one eye does. His other eye was closed shut from being beaten, and his body was covered in an assortment of bruises and gashes.
"If you think that blade will intimidate me, I've been hit with worse. Might I remind you Ravenclaw electrocuted me?" Sugou shakes his head.
"This isn't for you, I'm just cleaning it off for when I visit Lord Death to see what he told those two troublesome twins." Assol laughs under his breath.
"You really want them dead, huh? What happened to Yuuki and Kirigaya, do they not matter?" Sugou grabs the cell bars and leans in.
"I'm going to kill Kirigaya first. Asuna will remain alive just so she can watch them all die. Gamelus will go exactly how I should have killed him, and Xertic will beg for death when I'm done. Asuna will watch them die, then I will give her the kindness of death as well." Assol leans back against the wall.
"No you won't. Father showed me everything about those two, including the future. And you are not going to like it." Sugou turns around and stops at the stairway.
"Things change, boy. You were supposed to inherit Satan's throne. Now look at you. Lucifer is already preparing your execution. Did he show you that future?" Sugou walks up the stairs, disappearing from sight. Assol sighs and looks down at his symbol.
"A storm is coming, Ravenclaws, and Satan currently has the umbrella…" He turns over to his side and tries to fall asleep on the cold, wet floor of the cell.
-Yuuki household, 9 a.m.-
Asuna opens her eyes, staring at her bedroom ceiling. She had awoken to a soft sound on her window. Standing up, she groggily shuffles to the glass and looks out. Xertic was leaning against the tree, smiling wildly and throwing a rock up in the air and catching it. Asuna smiles and quickly changes into clean clothes and fixing herself up. Slipping on her white coat, she walks outside and turns towards the tree.
"What took you soooo long?" The boy asks in daemon. Asuna takes a step back.
"Wait a minute, you're not Xertic." The boy snickers.
"Yes we are, we are Xertic, we're also Gamelus, we can be whoever we want." he replies coyly, switching to Japanese and walking up to Asuna. The boy stumbles and falls into her arms. "Damn these human legs, we're not used to this…" Asuna looks down.
"Hold on… Gamex is that you?" Gamex sighs contently.
"Ding ding ding! We have a winner! The masters thought it would be a good idea to properly introduce us to the one we were told to save. This also helps us see how long we can stay together." Gamex looks to his right hand and scowls. "Shut your trapAsuna giggles.
"Oh, you could have just said so. I was just used to you being… well 50 feet tall." Gamex stands up and shrugs.
"We wanted to be human sized. Now, you must introduce us to these new human concepts. This is going to be fuuuun…" He spins around and stumbles forward. "Blasted legs…" Asuna puts a hand over her mouth to cover laughter, following the demon.
It had taken only thirty minutes before Gamex had eaten a human soul. Asuna puts her hands on her hips.
"Xertic, Gamelus, you know that eating too many souls causes attention!" She scolds. Gamex shakes his head.
"The masters aren't in control, we are. Now… As… Asuna? Why do we need to stop eating food?" Asuna crosses her arms.
"Because Xertic and Gamelus are already being watched by the police. Zeta-" Gamex starts growling "didn't wipe their memories, he just stopped investigation. If those two get too many crimes on their record, I… I wouldn't see them again." A large black hand pats her shoulder.
"We won't let that happen. We can stop eating… But… Just one more!" Gamex turns and launches himself at a couple walking by them. His face flashes into a surprised look before his body envelopes in black. Xertic and Gamelus topple to the ground in front of the terrified couple.
"Sorry people, you're fine." Xertic grunts, rubbing his arm. "Brother, why did you pull so hard?" Gamelus lifts his face off the ground.
"We were starting to lose Gamex, we had to separate. Oh, hey Asuna." Xertic stands up and brushes off his jacket.
"Sorry about that, dear, we should have warned you Gamex was going to come out. How was he?" Asuna press her lips against his cheek.
"Good morning. He was fine, a little intense, but fine. 'Morning Gamelus." Gamelus waves his hand before bending over and cracking his back.
"Well, it got easier, brother. I don't feel like collapsing, just a little sore." Xertic nods and looks down at his body.
"No broken bones, I think we made progress." Gamelus spreads his wings, saluting the two.
"I'm gonna go record the results with Drake and Yui. You two can have fun, don't stay out too late, do it right here on the road if needed." Asuna's face turns a deep crimson and Xertic glares at his brother.
"G-G-Gamelus!" The boy doubles over with laughter.
"I'm Joking. Unless you really wanted to, I'll just leave." He pushes off the ground and disappears in the clouds. Xertic looks back at Asuna.
"Well, besides 'doing it on the road', what are we going to do today?" Asuna stares at the ground.
"We can just go back to my house and go on ALO, if you want." Xertic holds out his hand.
"Sure, come on, we'll take the long way." Asuna smiles and links her fingers with his. The couple walked towards the other side of town, laughing and joking around. Asuna was mainly teasing Xertic about how much he acted like Gamex, and Xertic just did his best to make her blush in front of the bystanders walking by them.
Asuna was about to say something when Xertic put his arm in front of her.
"I sense something coming…" Asuna stops and turns her head.
"What do you feel?" Xertic looks to the top of the building next to them and narrows his eyes.
"Angelic…" A flicker of movement speeds past the two, making Xertic spin around. "Asuna, will you allow me to carry you?"
"Of course," Asuna says quickly, nodding her head. Xertic swings his broken arm under her legs and lifts up her body with his other, readying himself.
"Come at me, angels! I know you're out there!" Asuna looks over his shoulder and widens her eyes.
"Duck!" Xertic turns his head as a sword barely grazes his right cheek. Michael skids to a stop, spinning around to face the demon.
"Stay there, Ravenclaw! Let me kill you!" He begins laughing like he was locked inside of a gaming store. "I've finally found you!" Xertic groans.
"Hold tight, my lady." He pushes off of the ground and spreads his wings. "Yo Michael! Where are the other two?" Michael looks down at his sword.
"That's… An excellent question. Zechariah! Cherubim! Where are you two?" The two angels run up to Michael, carrying Amuspheres under their arms.
"Michael, we found these on sale. Maybe these can help with training or so-" Michael stamps the ground, his light hair swaying over his eyes.
"We finally found the demon and you two went shopping? Focus!" Xertic bursts out laughing.
"You three really thought you could get me? I'm Xertic Ravenclaw, master thief, stealth expert, killing machine, and rather charming if I do say so myself," Asuna rolls her eyes. "The true embodiment of a Twin Terror. I want to see you angels try and catch me." He drops to the ground and darts towards the edge of the building. Asuna clutches Xertic's jacket.
"I'm still here, remember?" Xertic smiles down at his girlfriend.
"Oh I intend on keeping you safe. I can outrun these guys carrying three of you. Oh god, three Asunas…" Asuna snaps her fingers.
"One is good enough." Xertic blinks for a second, then looks back.
"They are not giving up as easily as I thought. I tip my hat to you my friend, if I had a hat on right now." Michael spreads large white wings, 6 feet each in length, and points at the couple.
"After them!" The three angels fly up to the top of the building as Xertic jumps off, twisting in the air so that he was facing the wall, and kicks off. He lands on the ground and looks back at the angels, two of them staring in awe and the third slamming his fist against the floor. His lips form into a crooked smile.
"Oh yeah, this is going to be easy." Zechariah looks at Cheribum and nods. He leaps onto the large angels shoulders as Cherubim jumps off the side, slamming into the ground. Michael floats down next to them and starts running. As he runs, Xertic looks down at Asuna.
"The two you see are Zechariah and Cheribum. No one knows why, but they always work together. They aren't brothers or have a butler-master relationship. Michael is the really angry one. He really wants to kill me ever since my people accidentally burnt down a village he was in. I did give the order, but the purpose was to find out more information on the dagger. Information was leaked about the village, blah blah blah, you get the drift, but Michael doesn't listen anyways." Michael pulls a throwing knife.
"I heard that entire explanation! Get over here, Xertic!" He throws the dagger right at the small of his back. Xertic pauses on his right foot and pivots to face them, bringing his left foot around and kicking the knife away.
"So, Zechariah and Cherubim," Asuna starts, looking up at her carrier, "Do they want to kill you too?" Xertic looks at Cherubim's eyes.
"Uh… No, Cherubim doesn't look as angry as he could get. I think St. Peter just forced them to go with Michael to find me. Alright, enough fun, let's get out of here." Xertic spreads his black wings and leaps into the air, floating next to a building. He deposits Asuna onto the top. "Wait here please."
Asuna nods and sits down, as if waiting for a show. Xertic smirks and turns his head. Michael, Zechariah, and Cherubim had flown up into the air, brilliant white wings glittering in the sun.
"Surrender Ravenclaw, you're surrounded. Stop tormenting that human and come with us." Zechariah states bluntly, holding out his hand. Xertic frowns and crosses his arms.
"What makes you think I'm tormenting her? That's discrimination. Demons don't spend all of their time eating human souls, y'know. We chow on you angels as well." Cherubim draws an iron long-sword from his back, and Michael points his sword at Xertic.
"You're still wanted for your crimes. Theft, betrayal, murder, trespassing, robbery, you've committed almost every crime I can think of. We have to bring you in for trial. You're only bringing this human down." Xertic snaps his fingers and a revolver drops from above him. He grabs it and points it straight at Michael.
"I have an unspoken contract with this human. I protect her, and she protects me. I do not intend on eating her soul. As for my crimes, demons before me have done worse." Zechariah rolls his eyes.
"Other demons who have done worse are dead now, you know that." Cherubim grunts in agreement. Michael glares at Xertic.
"Enough of this. Come with us now and face your consequences!" He blasts towards Xertic at the speed of a cat, holding his sword up. The demon looks back at his mistress, who nods. His symbol glows green and he separates, leaving a clone in his place. His body turns into a translucent blue as Xertic picks Asuna up, flying away from the fight. Michael stabs his sword into the clone, grabbing it by the neck.
"Any last words of freedom?" The clone chuckles.
"They all… Fall for it…" The clone crumbles into dust in the angel's hands as Zechariah and Cherubim search the area.
"He's gone…" Michael clenches his fists.
"We failed." Cherubim pats Michael's shoulder and Zechariah grabs his arm.
"Let's just go back to Heaven, he's gone this time. Next time." Michael sheathes his sword and nods.
"Alright. Go on ahead. I'll catch up." Zechariah and Cherubim look at each other before flying upwards. Michael scans the area.
"I know your watching, Ravenclaw. You're still here somewhere. You won this time, but do not expect any help from us in the future. Don't even bother showing your face in heaven." With that final statement, Michael looks up and flies after the two angels.
As soon as Xertic could see Michael had flown away, he hops to the ground from his hidjg place and stands Asuna up, turning back into a solid form.
"And you mother claims I cannot protect you…" He pushes his glasses up with the barrel of the revolver.
"You did do a good job. Well done, my servant," Asuna says, giggling as Xertic falls to one knee.
"I do hope you know angels are really not bad. Kinder than most humans, really. But when they see a demon with a reputation like mine, they go kinda… Well, crazy." Asuna turns her head towards the clouds where the three had disappeared.
"What's going to happen to them?" Xertic stands up and follows her gaze.
"St. Peter may chew them out, Michael will be depressed for a few days, and a new lead on my location will pop up, making him happy and try and find me. Michael has been trying to find me for the past... carry the seven... thousand years or so. Now then, I sense some trouble with love in Alfheim that I feel like we must rui- witness." He says, waving his hand. As the two walk, Asuna sighs.
"Everyone talks about this war, how they will or will not help you. I guess there's no escape, is there?" Xertic reluctantly shakes his head.
"It's inevitable, yes. However, it can be stopped easily once it begins, but..." He holds out a hand and the dagger drops from a portal opening above him. Xertic spins it around in between his hand and looks down at his broken right hand. "...after all we have worked for, I can't." Asuna smiles and places her hand on his.
"You will do your best, I know you will. You always do, anyway." Xertic chuckles under his breath and drops the dagger into a portal below his hand.
"Let's go ruin some romance." He says, now grinning wildly. Asuna sighs and shakes her head.
"Lead the way..."
Alright, there it is, hopefully I will be back to a normal schedule. See you all next time!