Unwanted substitute

His steps were slow and thoughtful as he trudged home. Tsugaru sighed finding his eyes surprisingly dry. Then again he had expected it. Although he and Shitsuo had always been together it didn't stop the other angels comparing them. Through their school years the one they had treated as precious was his twin.

When they had both awakened from their sleep, becoming archangels his brother was immediately accepted in, leaving him alone. He had to go around the long way full of hard work to get to his position and even then he felt like he had been under constant watch everyone waiting for him to mess up.

Well this time they had gotten what they wanted, now they had a reason to exile him. Of course they would keep Shitsuo where it was safe. It was a surprise that his brother was even allowed out of heaven. What made it worse was that if Shitsuo had been the one to go after Shizuo then all he would have received was a lecture and a slap on the wrist.

Your wings are dull, they will never shine brilliance if you're stuck in our brother's shadow. Tsugaru shook his head remembering Delic's words with perfect clarity, just like he remembered everything. That was before his younger brother had become jumpy and had become a fallen. Of course Delic had been right. He was the one in the dark used as a pawn for his fellow archangels.

It wasn't jealousy coursing his veins nor was it hatred. Tsugaru loved his family, especially his twin brother. None of them treated him any differently, he was loved by those that mattered. It made his chest ache at the thought of not seeing them again. What was he supposed to say? Goodbye? Sorry, I've been ordered to replace Shitsuo? It wasn't fair.

Bouncing on his feet, his calm gaze looked down at the drop. The gate to the human realm. It could only be reached if you could fly, a way to make sure under aged angels didn't accidentally wander into the portal. If they had the same common sense to do the same with the other portal, they wouldn't even be in this mess and his brother wouldn't be locked out.

The wind buffeted him, white and blue billowing outwards. His sandals barely had any grip feet teetering over the edge. Closing his eyes the archangel tipped over the edge. Being handed over as heaven's doll was no joke. Just like a precious jewel he knew his fate. Locked away or put on display. Either way it would be a fate worse than death.

Here and now was the last time he would ever be able to spread his wings. Letting the wind catch him, Tsugaru relaxed oblivious to how he was free falling. Snapping his eyes open, his large wings outstretched, cotton white feathers covered the area around him. Slowing his descent Tsugaru swooped up flipped back by a large gust.

Among all the angels he was the best at flying, with perfect control. This had been his playground. Everything he had mastered with hard work. The amount of baby feathers he had lost being slammed into the cliff side wasn't funny. Changing direction Tsugaru glided in a perfect circle, soaring back up.

Gently landing on the small platform below, his gaze fixed on the portal. It would be so easy to step inside and run. So easy to save himself. But what good would that do? Shitsuo wouldn't be handed over no matter what. Did he really want to be the cause of a war?

Tch, what do you think you're doing giving me advice? Take a look at your own mess of a life. Can't you feel it? So pure and free yet we're trapped and suppressed. If this is the way things are going to continue, I'm glad I'm a fallen. I don't follow the rules, I break them. Good luck being crushed under the weight of your wings.

Tsugaru sighed taking a step back the edge cracking under his foot crumbling into the endless drop below him. "You were right, Delic." Maybe if his feathers had become stained and charcoal like then he could have been free. "But you never cared about anything, you never took on any responsibility." His words were whipped away as soon as he spoke them. It was time to go.

Not a lot could shock Shitsuo. Finding out his little brother was half demon, watching his other younger brother become a fallen angel. Both of them he had managed to accept. His youngest brother gaining his power that was a different matter. There was nothing he could do watching his mother slumped on the bedroom floor sobbing uncontrollably.

Tsukishima had vanished. Whisked away in a blinding flash. Another of his brothers had become scattered. There was no telling where the youngest Heiwajima had gone. At the rate they were going, Shizuo wouldn't have a month. The entire family would be persecuted. "I'm home." Exhaling in relief Shitsuo took a step back.

His twin was home. "Shitsuo? What's wrong?" As usual he didn't have to say anything, turning away he quietly made his way up the stairs. "Mum?"In an instant he knew Tsugaru had grasped the situation, slowly stepping forward resting a hand on the distraught woman's shoulder. The faint glow was there, his eyes narrowed slightly watching the calm waves do their work.

Unable to do anything except stand like there like a statue, Shitsuo turned away going to his bedroom that the two twins shared. Now that he didn't have to obey anyone he could feel something in his heart. A dull ache that he hadn't noticed before. Glancing around the room he could see a mirror on the chest on drawers.

The same face as his twin and identical to the rest of his family. Now that he had been freed could he be expressive as well? Would he be able to understand the emotions of those he cared about? Would he stop being a doll? "Wha-" The mirror slipped from his grip laying broken on the floor. Gripping his head Shitsuo collapsed to his knees feeling something pull at him.

Never had it been this bad. His new master was calling him and every fibre of his being wanted to respond to that call. It was futile to resist, his small bout of struggling only adding to the pain. Pain. He could feel it, the fact that he could struggle showed that he was overcoming being heaven's doll.

Not quickly enough though his body already standing, feet placed one of the the other controlling his body like a clockwork soldier. "Shitsuo!" A hand rested on his shoulder forcing him to turn around. His new master wanted him and nothing would stop that. "She's asleep. Take care of her."

Why would he have to? Tsugaru was better suited for something like that.

Wait. What was his twin's punishment? "Hey, Shitsuo. I love you." Tsugaru smiled taking a step back, unable to stop Shitsuo walked down the stairs trying to fight against the control. Something was wrong. He knew that look. The pull on his mind though was stronger wrenching him out of the door and towards their secret meeting place.

Waving goodbye to his twin, Tsugaru felt his heart ache knowing this was the last time he would see him. "Goodbye, Shitsuo." With a hushed whisper the archangel turned away checking on the last member of his family that he could say goodbye to.

Tsukishima's disappearance was a shock leaving him feeling guilty. Shizuo was unreachable, as was Delic and with the youngest awol, it would be up to Shitsuo to look after Shizuka. Even at full power his mother wouldn't remain calm for long. "...gone." She couldn't know. Not where he was going or who he was acting as a replacement for. "...my baby."

Pulling her into his arms he could feel how small her shoulders were. As a child he had been small and could sit in his mother's lap looking up at her with a small smile. Now with the exception of Tsuki and maybe Shizuo, they all towered over her. "...Where did he go?"

"He'll be back, you know how Tsuki likes to vanish." Shizuka's eyes seemed to glaze over for a moment. "I – You know I received my punishment today." The blank look turned to one of concern. "I've been put on patrol duty – in the human realm, until they decide otherwise." It was a lie, a necessary one to stop his mother's heart from breaking.

"R-really? That's great. I was worried I- I would..." She trailed off squeezing him tightly breaking into another fit of crying.

"Yeah. I should get going. I'll come back and see you if I can. Make sure nothing happens to Shitsuo." He didn't want to go. Why couldn't he stay here? "If I see Tsuki running around, I'll send him straight back." It was tiring telling lies and forcing himself not to break down.

Helping Shizuka up, Tsugaru carried her in his arms laying her on Tsukishima's bed. In the corner resting against the pillow was a rabbit of all things. The stuffed toy was a gift he had brought back. It was funny how the thing reminded him off the hyperactive demon. "Tsugaru?" Any longer and his resolve would break.

"Here. Why don't you get some sleep? Shitsuo will be back soon." A curtain of golden locks lay splayed against the pillow, Shizuka was curled up in a ball clutching the soft toy. His power wouldn't last long, his fingertips glowed sending wave after wave of calmness. Their last hug, their last goodbye because he knew he wouldn't be returning. "Good bye." All he could hope for was that his mother wouldn't be reckless.

Shitsuo slipped through the corridor wondering why everyone looked so jumpy, poking his head around the corner to check no one was coming, the blond tried to act natural making his way into the elder archangel's room. The hidden portal was out in full view. The pain seemed to decrease with every step he took.

Now it had dulled to a small ache that was barely there. It was for the best. Right now he only had one master instead of obeying everyone. Who knew if his power even worked any more. Hearing footsteps outside the door, Shitsuo hurried forward through the portal.

"There you are." His new master was sitting in the same chair, fingers linked together, one ear twitching. "You don't look to happy." Shitsuo shrugged.

"A lot has happened." His steps faltered feeling a rose coloured gaze on him.

"Your little brother has gone missing, perhaps?" The demon already seemed to know what was wrong with him. "He came by here. I sent him on his way to find his destined partner."

"What?" Taking a step forward he couldn't identify the burning in his chest, his fist clenched and unclenched. "What do you mean?" The new feeling welling up inside him made him feel dizzy.

"Come here." Sakuraya's voice was stern his body automatically moving. "Your little brother can teleport. It's quite troublesome, the barriers couldn't stop him."

Teleportation? That was what had happened? If so then Tsuki needed to be found before either angels or demons found him. "It's not your concern any more. Leave my brother to take care of him." Again it sounded like the demon cared. "No one can escape fate." Sakuraya's fox ears twitched, soft pink eyes narrowing at the portal. "Climb under the table. That's an order."

The thought of resisting didn't cross his mind, crawling on his hands and knees he lay in the same position as beforehand. "Shitsuo, don't move and don't speak." The first meeting he had listened in on had been tense. This time he was met with cheery laughter. Something was wrong. No one had come after him to try and take him away.

"Shh. Try and act at least a little sad. We don't want those damn demons to suspect us." The laughter ceased. "Is he ready?" Outside he could hear a thud as something was dropped.

"Yeah, I've enchanted him just in case. So who's the next candidate for arch angel?" The hand on his wrist was slightly painful.

"I trust you haven't called us here for nothing?" The chairs scraped back one of the demons stepping on the edge of the tablecloth. Through the small gap created he could see a flash of white and blond? No. His eyes widened as he realised what was happening and why it felt like he wouldn't see his twin again.

"Reluctantly we have decided to hand over heaven's doll. This is the best for both of us. Please understand that he wasn't too happy, to make this easier he has been subdued and will wake up shortly." A hand clapped over his mouth even though he couldn't speak. Tsugaru, they were going to take his brother.

"This is heaven's doll? I see he's quite the looker. Your intrusion is forgiven. Don't let it happen again." The demon sounded happy, all of the chairs scraping back. He could no longer see his brother. The footsteps were like thunder in his ears. Shitsuo couldn't move, couldn't speak or scream but he could cry, silent tears running down his cheeks.

Even after the angels had laughed and cheered leaving to celebrate, Shitsuo was left on the floor. "Your leaders are as corrupt as ours. Calm yourself, your brother won't come to any harm." Blinking away his tears he could feel the emptiness again, as if half of his heart had been taken away.

"You can talk and move again. I only silence you for your protection."

"My brother is in the hands of demons. Why wouldn't he be harmed?" Crawling out from under the table, slim arms enveloped him from behind.

"Why? Because his destined partner won't allow it. Psyche always gets his own way there is less damage that way." He could hear the mirth in the raven's voice.

"...I can't deal with this. My twin brother is in the hands of demons. I have to get home." Right now he was the only one left that could reach Shizuka. The demon was strong making it hard to wriggle free.

"Stay. We have time." Shitsuo sighed knowing he couldn't leave now. "If you are worried about your mother being alone, don't be. It's already too late, the oracle has never been wrong." His movements stilled standing in shock. He hadn't been gone long. Even so the arch angel knew his mother had done something reckless.