Last to leave

Shizuka scrubbed at her eyes feeling how empty the house had become. Shizuo was gone, Tsuki was gone, Delic was gone and now Tsugaru had left her. All that time she had raised them only for them to be taken away. Her heart ached with loss, wanting nothing better than to go and find them all and bring them home.

It was the damn barrier that was in the way, the cursed thing that split the angels and demons. If possible she would rather not feel anything than put up with the pain. Watching her children grow was the greatest achievement of her life. Clutching at the covers more tears leaked freely. Shitsuo was the last of her children and there was no doubt the archangels had other plans for him.

A month wasn't a long time, if anything everything was already over and they were only delaying the inevitable. The archangels knew something was wrong, since the beginning she had been under suspicion. There had to be something she could do. Something that didn't risk her going backwards. A long time ago shizuka had decided she wouldn't be useless and weak. She was a warrior and if the original archangels were still around they would cower in fear.

Giving birth and becoming a mother had changed her, suppressing the inner strength she once held. Raising her head, the blonde slid from the bed, standing unsteadily. Shitsuo would be fine without her. To everyone else he was special, as much as it pained her. In such a short time her hair had become a mess. With a sigh Shizuka ran her fingers through her long locks.

She had always hated long hair, it was as if she was accepting her fate. Storming into her bedroom, Shizuka looked around. Not one single thing was white or frilly. Throwing open the doors to her closet, there were no dresses or skirts. Shrugging down to her underwear, Shizuka chose a loose pair of dark washed boot cut jeans and a low cut navy vest top with break the rules in big silver letters.

Lastly were the lace up thigh highs which had been a present from one of her lovers. Shizuka flicked her hair back. Reaching for the scissors on top of the chest of drawers, her hand moved quickly snipping her hair off, watching as her shimmering locks fell to the floor. Smoothing out her now shoulder length cut, Shizuka glanced in the mirror, smile fading as she caught sight of her hair growing back to its original length.

As usual it was a waste of time using normal means. Crouching low, the determined angel reached under the bed patting around for a long rectangle box. Finding what she was looking for a shiver ran along her spine knowing what she would be unleashing. The box itself wasn't important but what was inside was.

Flicking the golden catches, the lid flipped open. Mocha eyes narrowed on the silver blade resting within the ruby cushion. Shizuka ran her fingers over the hilt not touching the blade, that was asking for trouble. "It's been a long time, Saika." The sharpened edge gleamed an eerie red, yet there was no voice of the cursed demon within her mind.

Gingerly wrapping her fingers around the hilt, Shizuka eased the blade from it confines. "One more time lets defy fate." Flipping the blade, she felt it lighten in her grasp. "Now where is your sheath?" The blade in her hands could wield indescribable damage but at the same time it was a double edged sword that could backfire on her with a single touch of that sharp edge.

Finding the belt, Shizuka strapped it on sliding Saika inside the sheath, the covered blade resting against her thigh. "Lets go." For now the cursed demon would help her because of its hatred for her own kind. The house was empty, every room she went into was silent. Without her children it no longer felt like home. Hopping down the stairs Shizuka left through the door. For now she would leave the damn archangels alone. She wouldn't want to cause any trouble for her father. Not again anyway.

/

Shizuo stretched hearing his shoulders pop. Stifling a yawn the blond trudged into the room he had been given. Izaya had already gone to bed leaving him on his own. The doors and windows had been locked. It was lonely without his family being there. Pushing open the door his new bedroom didn't have the same feeling as his home in heaven.

Closing the door Shizuo dragged the dresser slowly across blocking the door. His back was aching and that only meant one thing, his wings needed to be let out. Pulling his top over his head he wondered what he would do for clothes. Scratching at his head his hand paused feeling something there. Not horns but something soft. "What the hell?"

The patch of skin on his back felt strangely soft. "Maybe it would be better if I just slept." The blond sighed dropping back on the covers. That way he wouldn't have to deal with the pain and irritation. He wouldn't have to worry about being homesick or hiding his identity. A chill ran down his spine hearing quiet tapping.

Rolling from the bed, Shizuo grabbed hold of both handles of the wardrobe pulling the doors open. Crack. Letting go the two doors fell to the floor. Already he had broken something. "Damn it." His gaze narrowed on the small black ball that had been making a noise. The ball of fur twitched bright red eyes flicking up to meet his own. "You're a...cat?"

The knowledge he had been learning somehow stuck in his head. "I didn't know Izaya had a pet." Great now he was speaking to himself. "You can't stay here." If he didn't let out his wings the consequences would be troublesome. Reaching forward the creature leaped forward crossing the distance and landing on the end of the bed. "Come on. Out you go."

Gritting his teeth Shizuo dived for the cat groaning as the thing dodged out of the way pawing at his head. Shit. He didn't have the energy to be dealing with this. "Fine." For now the black cat could stay in the room. In the morning he would talk to Izaya about getting a lock for his room. As if it could understand, the cat flicked out its tongue licking his cheek.

Picking up the broken wardrobe, Shizuo carried it to the other side of the room using it to block the bathroom door. Now he was happy that Izaya couldn't get in without knocking and asking him to move everything out of the way. The cat wasn't too much to worry about and if anything it was cute, its fur was soft under his touch.

For now it padded onto the pillow curling into a ball. "Hey. Where am I supposed to sleep?" Shrugging his shoulders Shizuo closed his eyes feeling his wings become visible and expand. They were growing again, the disgusting crimson colour becoming deeper. Only he had crimson wings. Once he went to sleep and woke up, then what colour would they be?

Feeling something jab into his wing, Shizuo growled looking at the culprit, his temper vanishing. The cat was pawing at his feathers, licking at the ones he could reach. "What you've never seen wings before?" Sticking out his palm, the little thing stepped onto it allowing itself to be held. "Be careful." Touching an angels wings was an intimate act, the centre of his wings were sensitive.

It felt good having them out, even if they did prove what he was. Cradling the cat to his chest Shizuo lay down against the pillow letting the ball of fur rest on his chest. "Watch those nails." Small beady eyes stared at him, a tiny rough tongue lapping at his birthmark. "Go to sleep." No collar or name tag he didn't even know its name. Still it wasn't so bad having a companion.

/

"R-Roppi-kun? Wake up." Tsuki cried shaking the demon. The air was nearly all out forced to share between the two. "Come on." There was nothing he could do. The little angel couldn't leave the ring in search for help he would suffocate before then. Clutching tightly Tsuki whimpered burying his head against Roppi's chest. "Please. I don't want you to die."

His finger tips began to glow even as he clutched onto the demon. "Somewhere safe. Somewhere safe." Maybe if he could use his own power again. "I want to go home!" A blinding light engulfed the two of them sending them somewhere with dizzying speed.

At last his vision stopped spinning, the blur of colours faded away. Blinking in shock the youngest Heiwajima bounced up staring around to see where he was. "I did it. I did it. Did you see that, Roppi-kun? I managed to get home. The demon grunted opening his eyes. "This is my bedroom."

"...Idiot. I'm a demon. Do you know what the punishment for that is?" Roppi snapped sitting up. "What were you thinking?!" Tsuki lowered his head shaking as he was scolded. He had only wanted to help, now he had gotten them in even more trouble. "Damn it, you stupid angel."

Tsuki sniffled unable to stop his tears. "I-I'm sorry. I-I didn't want you to d-die, R-Roppi-kun. I don't know anywhere else that's s-safe." The demon stared at him making him flinch back. "S-sorry." He had broken a rule and brought a demon into heaven. There was no doubt what his punishment would be.

"Shut up. Quit it with the crying. I get it. So you can control that power when you want to. Take us back. I'm fine now." Tsuki shook his head miserably. "What now? You got us here now take us back." Roppi grabbed his wrist to stop him from running away.

"I can't. I don't know how." His voice cracked, head remaining low not wanting to see how angry and disgusted the demon was. "S-sorry." Hearing a thud Tsuki flinched shuffling backwards. "I'm s-sorry." A hand rested on his head making panic fill him.

"Stop apologizing. You saved me so- thanks I guess. Look at someone when they speak to you." Raising his head their eyes met, the raven looking away first. "Idiot. Get up." Nodding his head Tsuki stood up swaying to the side. Falling forward he was caught in Roppi's arms. "At least realize when you're tired." The angel squeaked as he was lifted into the demons arms and dropped on the bed. "Get some sleep. Now." A wide smile touched his lips. "When do you think your family will be back?" Tsuki shrugged closing his eyes. Flicking one eye open he could see Roppi leaning against the bed. "I said go to sleep." The blond nodded closing his eyes. Roppi was here with him and soon his mum, Tsugaru and Shitsuo would be coming back home. Though how he was going to explain Roppi he didn't know.

/

Shitsuo sighed leaning back against the chair. "I should be getting back home." His gaze fell to the portal that his twin had been taken through. Sakuraya had said he would be saved by his destined partner. If that was true then why wasn't he back yet? Tsugaru hadn't been wearing a suit. Straight away he would succumb to the toxic air.

"Stay with me." An order from his master. Shitsuo nodded remaining where he was his legs feeling like lead weights. "There won't be any more meetings for a while. Unless of course they find out that your brother isn't heaven's doll." Sakuraya said it so nonchalantly. The demons had been hell bent on owning heaven's doll. If they discovered his brother wasn't it...

"Hm?" Pink eyes widened staring at the portal. "I didn't sense anything." Shitsuo could feel his master's panic staring at the angel portal. Someone was coming through and he was bound to the chair. The portal rippled a slim leg landing on the floor before the rest of the angel stepped through.

"Shitsuo? I didn't expect to see you here. I didn't think you'd know this room even existed." Shitsuo stared confused at his mother. She didn't look upset any more. There was a different more determined look in her eyes one he had never seen before. "Oh? You're meeting with a demon?" Sakuraya seemed frozen at the table. "How is your father?"

Shitsuo stared at the sword as it was placed on the table. "Don't mind me, I'll just put this on." His mother grinned holding up the suit she must have stolen. "Shitsuo, I'll be going for a bit." Shizuka climbed into the suit, sealing the head piece and tapping the gauge. Was this really his mother? She was like a different person strapping the sword back on.

At last his master seemed to be able to move. "He's the same as always. Are you planning on going to see him?" Shizuo's father. His mother knew the time limit was probably a lie and was going to do something about it. Shizuka smiled sitting on the edge of the table grinning at the two of them.

"I was thinking about it. It depends where I end up. Tell me, through this portal is the rulers of the hell right?" Sakuraya nodded slowly seeming a little tense. "Has it been rebuilt since the last war?" Shitsuo blinked not understanding what was going on. The raven opposite shook his head, staring at the sword. "Good. That makes things easier, I'll know my way around. Shitsuo, take care."

Everyone had left and now the last to leave him was his mother. Shitsuo clung to her as she put her arms around him. "You don't have to go. Everyone can handle themselves. What will you do if you get caught by the demons?" His last family member was leaving. A padded hand ruffled his hair.

"Then there will be room for a new set of leaders." The way his mother grinned sent chills down his spine freezing him to the spot. He could do nothing but watch as she stepped through the other portal. Shitsuo lowered his head. Now he really would be alone. There was no one waiting at home for him any more.