CHAPTER TWO

THE BLUE-EYED DEMON

The sun had set by the time Arthur reached the marble archway that was the entrance to Ginesis, and a few guards were closing the big silver gate right as he flew over it. They glanced up at him but otherwise paid him no attention as they continued the ceremonious act of closing the city down for the night, a symbol of protection to the occupants. Arthur knew it was tradition, but still thought that it was a bit silly- if any demon wanted to get in, they wouldn't be stopped by a big gate- but he digressed.

"It's about time you got here," Francis fumed as Arthur landed on the other side of the gate, looking annoyed as he walked up to him from where he had been waiting in the gate's guard box, where a guard was always on duty to filter people in and out. "What took you so long?"

"I had to pick something up, not that it's your business," Arthur replied, huffing and crossing his arms. "I was here on time- sunset."

Francis rolled his eyes and ran a hand through his long hair. "Oui, sunset, not 'after the sun has already set'!"

"It's the same thing, frog." Arthur scowled. "Let's just go on patrol so I can go home and wash your scent from my skin."

"Why do you insist on wounding me so?" Francis pouted and made big puppy eyes at Arthur. "So mean…"

"Shut up," Arthur sighed, adjusting his satchel and holding his hand out for the blades Francis was supposed to have brought. "Just give me the sword beardy, or I'll take it from you by force."

"Alas, my poor heart cannot live with this abuse…" Francis put his hand to his heart and pretended to swoon, grasping Arthur's hand in his own and bringing it to his face. "… Arthur… you have… killed me…!"

Arthur smacked Francis' hand away as the angel pretended to die painfully. "Goodbye." He spread his wings and took off, taking some satisfaction in hearing Francis scramble in an undignified manner to his feet before jumping up into the air after him.

"Wait! I was joking! I am not dead!" Francis flipped onto his back and flew under Arthur with his hands behind his head, smirking. "Here-" he tossed Arthur a shining silver blade. "-don't poke your eye out."

"I can handle myself!" Arthur snapped, stomping his foot down on Francis' chest, giving him a push up into the air and Francis a tumble down. "Go away!"

"That's not what you said your first day of training!" Francis righted himself in the air and twisted up to fly beside and a bit under Arthur to keep their wings from brushing. "I can see it now- little Arthur, looking at the blade like it was the scariest demon of them all- 'Oh no, Francis, please, I don't want to touch it, it might hurt me, oh noooo~! Francis, please tell the teacher that I don't want to fight! I don't want to be bullied, Francis! Francis save me! Francis help! The sword going to eat me, Francis!"

"I was ten years old, you twat!" Arthur screeched, suddenly dive-bombing Francis, blade held aloft. "Get back here and let me show you exactly what I've learned since then!"

Francis cackled and streaked away, making rude gestures at Arthur as the smaller angel cursed him and all his future offspring, rocketing after him.

~oO0Oo~

Alfred snarled and barreled forward, a single shadow in the darkness, before he collided with another. The noise of their violent joining sounded like boulders smashing against one another, roars of fury and howls of pain echoing through the otherwise silent forest. Claws slashed and tore through flesh, fangs glistening with a mixture of blood and saliva burying themselves into anywhere on their opponent's body that they could reach. Tails were thrashing around wildly for balance, the thumb claws on great, bat-like wings taking a part in the search for skin available to tear.

Alfred spat, his teeth bared threateningly, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. His hands were locked around the other demon's upper arms, claws digging into the unclothed muscles, and the other's hands were pushing against his chest and scrabbling for purchase. They were locked for the moment, each of their muscles straining, each of their feet dug firmly into the ground to prevent a slip-up.

"You think you can be a part of this raid?" The demon hissed, red eyes slitted. "Why don't you go back to where you fucking came from, freak?"

"You callin' me a freak?" Alfred growled, his boot sliding back a bit in the ground. The other's eyes flashed in the brief victory. "I know you. You're the idiot who got caught by an angel, aren't you? Yeah, and the so-called saint made you his bitch, didn't he? How's your ass? Still hurt?"

"You son of a bitch!" The demon howled, muscles trembling as he pushed harder against Alfred, unable to move his arms from how Alfred was holding them. "You actually think that you can just walk in here with your smug attitude and your fucking slut of a mother for an excuse of a parent-"

"Shut up," Alfred's voice lowered, the deep tenor reverberating deep in his chest, eyes dilating. "Shut your filthy mouth!"

"She had blue eyes too, didn't she?" the demon continued, gleeful that he'd found a weak spot. "And who was your father, exactly? Some whore your mommy must've been, being walked out on by her own mate!"

"I said shut up!" Alfred roared, teeth snapping wildly at the demon, but unable to get a purchase on anything at all. "I'll kill you!"

"How many demons do you think she let have her?" The demon grinned, eyes glittering. "Ten? Twenty? All for the sake of her poor wittle baby who was just like her! Filthy, diseased, unwanted, disgu-"

"I SAID SHUT UP!"

SNAP.

"AUUUUUUUGGHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"

THUD.

Crunch.

…

A hand came down on Alfred's shoulder, and he whipped around, snarling, prepared for another attack, but Gilbert raised his hands in surrender, eyes guarded.

"Cool it, hot shot," the albino muttered, looking around the dark clearing. Several pairs of reflective, scarlet eyes looked back. "Don't freak out the masses."

"Freak out the-? Are you fucking joking?!" Alfred snarled, his wings suddenly shooting out, the huge appendages spreading and filling the space around him with inky black. He turned towards the eyes, towards the demons watching from between the trees. "Well? WELL?! ANYONE ELSE WANNA GO?!"

Alfred breathed heavily for a few moments before his wings began to fold back in, his threatening stance changing to a straight, upright one. He shot Gilbert a glare, and the demon shrugged. "I guess they've learned. You're coming on this raid, and there's nothing they can do about it."

"Good." The larger demon growled and stalked past Gilbert, heading for the direction of the village.

When he was gone, Antonio crept out of the woods, followed by a few others. He exchanged a look with Gilbert.

"Was he even hurt at all?" Antonio muttered, eyes following Alfred. "I thought he was- I mean… I thought I saw Zack get in a few hits…"

"You wanna go peel off that psycho's jacket and look for wounds?" Gilbert couldn't repress a shudder. "I guess we'll never know."

They glanced at each other once more before beckoning the group to follow after them as they headed after Alfred, all of them stepping carefully over the disembodied limbs that stood in their way.

~oO0Oo~

Arthur sheathed his sword, folding his wings against his back and looking around, trying to peer through the long, dark shadows casted by the surrounding buildings and the sun's last rays of light. "Everything's clear."

Francis stepped around the corner between two houses, tossing his hair over his shoulder. "Yes, it all seems to be clear here as well. Shall we go and report to Kiku?"

Arthur nodded, and the two began the walk to the small town's outer fence. Everything was quiet, curfew for the human's having already been set in place. The most sound made over the noises of the crickets and the lowing of the cows in the distant fields were the scuffling made of the two angel's sandaled feet on the pebbled road leading through the middle of the town. The small wooden lean-tos and darkened tents gave off an abandoned feel, and although the candles in the windows of the town houses on either side of him showed hidden life, Arthur couldn't help but shiver slightly. It was terribly lonely and solemn, but completely necessary to keep everyone indoors after dark, and that in and of itself was a major reason for Arthur being thankful that he had chosen to be a Guardian rather than a Protector.

A warm arm suddenly pressed against his own, and Arthur jumped away, glaring. "What?"

Francis made a face at him. "I was merely trying to warm you up. You seemed cold."

"Don't touch me," Arthur warned, holding up a finger. "I swear I'll kick you in the jewels again if you try."

Francis rolled his eyes and let Arthur forge ahead, grumbling. Yes, Francis was his tentative… "friend", but he was far too touchy-feely and blech. Arthur happened to have a personal bubble, and no matter how many times that he told the perverted angel that, he kept on coming back and coming back and coming back again and again and again and dammit, Arthur could only take so much!

Up ahead, Arthur could see the small wooden fence that surrounded the town. It was rickety and probably had trouble in a bad storm, so it was no match for a hungry demon. But the message was clear- angel feathers were hung in small bundles here and there, giving off a clear sign that this particular village was protected and armed. A small stone structure sat just on the inside of the fence, a little bit away from the start of the town, and a warm orange glow came from indoors, along with a pillar of smoke curling from a long chimney.

Arthur went up to the little cottage and knocked several times, swatting Francis's hand away when the other "missed" the door and "accidently" brushed his thigh.

The wooden door opened and a short angel stood in the entrance. His face was slender and spoke of intelligence, thin lips spread in a small smile. Almond eyes gleamed, the black irises shining warmly, and white robes draped over his thin body. "Kon'nichiwa, Arthur, Francis. Please come inside."

Arthur immediately brightened and bowed, relief flooding through him as he stepped into the familiar abode. The inside was small, but Arthur always thought that the size suited Kiku. It only had two rooms, a door leading to the bedroom, and the rest a large open space with an elegant couch in front of a small fire, a tiny kitchen off to the side, and a table brought back from Kiku's homeland which lacked chairs, and instead had four pillows around it- he couldn't remember what it was called, but Arthur quite enjoyed having tea there.

"Tea?" Kiku shuffled over to small stove where he had already poured two glasses of the steaming herbal beverage, of which Arthur gladly accepted, inhaling deeply before taking a sip. Francis politely declined. "I hope there was no trouble for the two of you."

"None at all," Arthur spoke up, feeling his insides melt as the hot tea made its way into his stomach. "There was a dog bothering a chicken coop at the beginning, but everything seems to be quiet. We refreshed the feathers along the way."

"Oui, but you have a hole in the fence on the South end," Francis said, gestured mildly in that direction. "It looks as though some children were messing around with it."

"It's very small though, it can wait until tomorrow," Arthur immediately glared at Francis. "Don't worry yourself, Kiku."

Kiku laughed softly. "Of course, Arthur. I am sure that it can wait. Where are you two heading next…?"

"Just a bit farther South," Arthur raised his tea cup again and took another sip. "Mmm… is this a new mix? It's really quite delightful."

"Yes, I just had it delivered," Kiku seemed pleased that Arthur had noticed, and he turned to the cupboard, jet black wings rustling as he reached up and brought down a small blue box. "I had hoped to see you again soon; I was going to give you this."

"What is it?" Arthur accepted the box and opened it. "Oh- a sampler? Kiku, thank you, this is wonderful! I can't wait to try them out!"

"I got one for myself as well," Kiku admitted, cheeks gently blushing as Arthur happily took out the little bags and admired them. "I thought that when you have finished them and when you have time in your schedule, you would come by and we could discuss them."

"Absolutely!" Arthur lovingly put the box in his satchel, making sure it was secure. "I do hope that your post will be filled soon, Kiku. I miss you very much back home."

"I have been informed that I will be taking leave in a few week's time," Kiku offered helpfully. "Another angel will be Protecting this town and I will be allowed a long and welcome holiday back in Ginesis."

"Good," Arthur smiled. "I have some very interesting books I found that I think you would enjoy and-"

"Ah, Arthur?" Francis interrupted, beckoning at the window and the navy sky. "We really should get going…"

"Yes, it will be very dark soon," Kiku agreed, lightly touching Arthur's hand as he made to rebuke Francis. "I do not like the thought of the two of you so close to the demon's border when it becomes completely dark out… I recently encountered a flying demon of unusual size that attempted to get me as I was coming back from the farm fields."

Francis and Arthur both looked at Kiku in alarm. As a Protector, Kiku had been trained extensively in the fields of fighting and combat, but although the knowledge lingered in the back of Arthur's mind, looking over his small and skinny friend caused him nothing but worry for his safety.

"Are you quite alright?" Arthur immediately hovered anxiously around Kiku, half-looking for injuries. "Were you hurt? Did you send for another angel to come and Heal you?"

"I was not hurt," Kiku reassured Arthur. "No Healing was required. But it did try and sneak up on me from behind. It was very dark out, and the demon was black as night- if it had not been for how loud it was flying, I am unsure I would have indeed escaped unscathed."

"What did it look like?" Francis leaned forward, apparently intrigued. "I assume you killed it?"

"Of course he did!" Arthur interjected, rolling his eyes. "Kiku knows better than to let a demon go!"

"I was merely asking!" Francis turned and glared at Arthur in a way that made the other angel's stomach twist. He seemed honestly angered now. "You don't have to keep telling me off, Arthur! I'm an adult, and I know what I'm talking about!"

Arthur flushed, embarrassed… he had pushed too far. And right in front of Kiku, too. "… sorry." He muttered, turning away.

"Ah, yes… I did kill it," Kiku, who had never liked conflict despite his job, looked awkward. "It was of medium size. Oddly round and covered in fur, and any legs it may have had were not visible to the naked eye. It had four eyes right in the center of its body, and strangely enough… its mouth seemed to make up most of it. It must have had a strange organ system, to fit everything in there and still have the size of mouth that it did. Oh, and the teeth were sharp, and there were rows and rows of them…" he looked between Francis and Arthur. "… Francis, would you like to see it? I sketched a picture… it is in my bedroom, if you would follow me."

Francis nodded, and Arthur shuffled where he stood, still feeling out of place and still slightly pink. "Please, show me."

As the two left, Arthur sighed and turned away from the bedroom door, holding his tea mug tightly.

~oO0Oo~

"Here it is," Kiku held up the sketch after digging under his bed for a moment, handing the parchment to Francis, who accepted it. "… it was rather gruesome."

"Oui," Francis murmured, looking over the picture somewhat distantly. "I think I've seen a type like this before though… I don't believe that I need to catalogue it."

Kiku glanced over him for a moment. The smaller angel didn't like to boast, but he did pride himself on being able to read people quite well, and Francis had always been an open book. He set down his sketchbook and folded his hands in front of him. "… I suppose that you have not spoken to Arthur…" he spoke softly, prompting him to speak.

"No," Francis sighed, crossing his arms and looking to the side out of a small window. "I haven't. He remains as stubborn as ever and there's hardly an opportunity to bring it up, as he's constantly insulting me and my intelligence…" his blue eyes rested on Kiku's face, expression saddened. "… you know as well as I do that he currently doesn't feel the same, but I'm really starting to believe that he never will."

"As long as I have known Arthur, he has been different than most angels," Kiku said slowly. "From the beginning of our Creation and our duty to humankind, angels have strived for peace and friendship, and it is only natural that we should be used to and trying to achieve family and close relationships with creatures of all kinds. Arthur, however… he is unusual. I do believe that the two of us are the only beings he can call 'friends'."

"Why do you think that is?" Francis frowned, brow furrowing in thought. "He's certainly hard to get along with sometimes, but he's loyal, isn't he? He comes highly recommended as a Guardian. He's highly attractive- his eyebrows might use some work, but still- and yet he's more often than not… alone."

"… I do not mean to gossip, of course," Kiku started, immediately feeling a small twinge of guilt. "… but perhaps his brother might have had something to do with it. Growing up alone may have left him to feel like it was normal."

Francis was quiet for a long moment, and Kiku shuffled uncomfortably in the slightly awkward silence.

"Ah… but Arthur can always learn," he eventually offered as Francis remained quiet. "He is intelligent. Perhaps as long as we two are here with him, he will open up more to you. I suspect that patience may be the best option."

"Of course," Francis nodded and straightened up, looking more like his confident- and perhaps narcissistic- self. Kiku breathed out a sigh of relief- filling in silences was never his strong point. "I'm more than capable to bring Arthur out of his shell!"

Kiku was going to mention that maybe starting with a platonic friendship was best, and then he could resume his intentions to court Arthur, but Francis had left the room, leaving a faint smell of roses in his wake. The angel waited a moment before putting his drawing back under his bed, straightening up to hear the faint sounds of Francis's laughter and Arthur's irritable mutters coming from the main room. He wouldn't tell Francis, but he was unsure of how exactly a relationship would be formed between the two of them… surely the two would fight too much, to the point of it not working out. Francis was confident in winning Arthur over, but Kiku couldn't help but feel like Arthur simply wasn't the social, trophy-type that Francis wanted him to be. Arthur didn't want to be shown off, of that he was sure, and with Francis's rather astounding record of romances, perhaps the trust wouldn't be all there either. Maybe Arthur would be better off with a human.

Kiku shook his head, slightly unnerved that he had thought that. Arthur wasn't attracted to humans, was he? Those types of relationships were only just starting to become accepted, and of course Kiku was never one to judge, but it did seem rather different.

But it was Arthur's life, and his choices to make, so Kiku left the room, a polite look of indifference on his face to contrast with his rather impolite thoughts.

"Ah, there you are." Francis immediately turned to Kiku as he came into sight. "Arthur and I must be on our way now.

"Of course," Kiku bowed and smiled gently. "Good luck on the rest of your patrol."

"Thank you so very much for entertaining us this evening," Arthur came up to Kiku, holding out his hand. Kiku took it and they held them together for a long moment. "It was wonderful to see you. Truly wonderful."

"You are always welcome here, both of you," Kiku nodded to Francis, who was loitering at the door. "I hope to see you soon."

"Goodbye, Kiku!" Arthur turned the palm of his hand to Kiku as he left after Francis. "Gods bless, as always."

Kiku turned his palm in return, watching him leave. Once he had disappeared, he slowly lowered his hand.

For an unknown reason, Kiku felt as though he would somehow not be seeing Arthur soon.

~oO0Oo~

"Do you smell… smoke?"

Arthur frowned, the pungent smell wafting through the air towards him. Night had completely fallen, and he looked towards Francis, who was flying slightly above him and to the side. "As a matter of fact, I do… what village are we checking up to next?"

"Our last one," Francis shook his head, and Arthur didn't like the look of worry on his face. "A small farming village that has the unfortunate luck of being built very close to demon territory… they have two Protectors because the demons have a tendency to prey on their livestock."

"… there aren't any demons that breathe fire, right?" Arthur asked, only half-joking as the smell got stronger the closer they got to the village. He glanced down at the darkened valley, knowing that just over the next hill was the town they were supposed to check in at. "Maybe they're just… having a bonfire?"

"In a town so close to the demons?" Francis began flying faster, and Arthur hurried to catch up before the cool night wind stole the other's words. "Very unlikely."

"Forest fire?" Arthur murmured, more to himself as they came closer to the foothill. "… it's been a dry spring…"

Francis didn't respond, and Arthur held his breath as the dark, sloping shape loomed up in front of them, like a giant demon buried beneath the ground. The very thought of such a thing caused shudders to go up Arthur's spine, and he quickly found a warm updraft to help propel him quickly over the hill, half-expecting a giant head to surge out of the ground and grab him out of the air. Nothing of the sort happened, of course, but then-

"No!" Francis gasped, and Arthur nearly fell out of the air at the sight before him.

Far below, the farming village that should have been standing as not much more than a darker mass than the fields around it was ablaze.

Arthur's chest seized up, and he immediately felt as though he couldn't breathe. "Francis-"

He was suddenly grabbed by the shoulders, tilted somewhat awkwardly in order for his wings to keep beating rapidly. "Arthur, you need to go back to the last village we were in and get the Protector there," Francis was saying quickly. "Do you understand? This is not just a village fire, there are demons here."

"But how do you know-" The words were barely out before a scream could be faintly heard from so high up, and then a series of loud, unnatural shrieks.

"You need to go and get the Protectors!" Francis shoved Arthur away, already moving towards the village. "Go!"

"But-"

"GO!"

Arthur bit his lip and turned midair, racing away from the burning village.

~oO0Oo~

"WHO THE FUCK SET THE HOUSE ON FIRE?" Alfred roared loudly over the sound of screaming and stampeding humans, his wings slightly unfurled.

There was no reply, and Alfred could only stand there for a moment, bristling angrily as huge flames cast an orange glow over everything, giant dancing shadows flickering and consuming everything. Sparks and embers drifted through the air, and as a flaming chunk of debris fell and set the next house's roof on fire, Alfred knew that it wouldn't be long before the entire town was set ablaze.

Letting out a frustrated growl, Alfred fled the scene, running away from the burning house and darting into a small alley. He could hear the fleeing humans up ahead, the sounds of them shouting and crying out. This was exactly what he said was going to happen- some demon in the pathetic excuse of a raiding group had decided to act up and screw the entire raid. Now Alfred was going to go hungry for weeks as all nearby human villages would be put on high alert after this particular catastrophe, and the very thought of not getting anything of what he came for all because of that fucking-

A sharp blow was delivered right between Alfred's shoulders, sending his wings into a shock, and he stumbled, nearly falling. Whipping around, he snarled, prepared to attack whatever had to nerve to strike him- but he paused.

A human woman stood there, a shovel clamped firmly in her hands. She was dressed in the scratchy fabric that most farming occupants wore, an apron tied around her mouth to protect her from the smoke, her stringy hair put up in a bun that was falling apart. Her brown eyes were filled with fear, but a resolute light caught Alfred's attention, as did the way her skirt shuffled and a second pair of eyes looked fearfully up at him from behind her.

Alfred didn't move, but the woman stepped forward, her eyes darting behind her to where the fire was quickly spreading, coming closer and closer. The child made a small whimpering noise, and he narrowed his eyes.

Alfred stepped to the side.

His blue eyes met the woman's and he saw her momentary confusion before she quickly gathered the little girl hiding in her skirt into her arms. She stepped past him carefully, holding the girl who couldn't have been more than five years old tightly, the shovel still gripped in her hands. The moment she deemed that she was far enough down the alley, she dropped the shovel and ran, looking back to make sure Alfred wasn't following.

He waited until she was gone before hurrying in the same direction, feeling the heat of the fire approaching quickly. Disoriented, Alfred paused to shake his head to try and clear it, unable to smell the forest over all the smoke that was quickly flooding the village. Even the sounds of the humans were starting to fade as the crackling and hissing from the fire got louder and closer.

A flutter…

A noise from above him that didn't belong caused Alfred to instinctively leap forward right as a blade sliced through where his head had been a second ago.

Alfred barely had a moment to comprehend the icy fear that was starting to make its way through his veins before a second strike was heading towards him, air parting around a deadly blade, the slight sound telling the demon exactly where it was aiming. He rolled out of the way, jumping to his feet, wings spreading out like a great, leathery tent, fangs bared at the attacker.

"You're fast," the angel was tall, a bit shorter than Alfred, lean and obviously well trained. Its hair was golden and fell to its shoulders, and its blade was raised threateningly. "Lovely. I like a challenge."

Alfred wanted to say something, to make a remark right back at the angel, but his body froze upon the sight of the huge feathered wings, the pale beauty that he'd ever only seen from a distance but for one time, and he could only give in to the overpowering instinct to run. Giving a powerful leap into the air, Alfred spread his wings and flew up, aware that he had now made himself a target to any angel flying the skies, but he saw no other choice.

The beating of wings after him alerted Alfred to being chased, and he whipped around, hands darting out to grab the blade that had swiped at him once again. His claws scraped across the metal, and he forced it away, the change in weight sending the angel off balance for a moment, giving Alfred time to keep climbing into the air, out of the smoke.

"Running away?" The angel yelled after him. "What sort of demon are you?"

Alfred growled under his breath, the air slowly becoming cleaner.

"Come and face me, you scum!"

Almost…

Alfred let his wings fold in, flipping himself around in mid-air and dive-bombing the angel. It looked shocked, and Alfred felt a brief moment of satisfaction before his claws locked around the blade of its sword, forcing it out of the way. His wings spread out and he lashed forward, watching scarlet bloom on the perfect face. The angel cursed and reeled away, kicking out and preventing Alfred from coming any closer and attacking again. It quickly regained composure and came at him, face twisted in fury.

For the next few moments, the demon and the angel fought, circling around one another and then leaping forward, the precise and practiced movements of the shining blade hitting and clashing with the wild, ferocious attacks of the deadly claws. Alfred's heart was beating too fast, and he tried to relax, to concentrate as adrenaline and blood pumped through him, making his movements fast and quick, but not allowing him to properly process it. His tail lashed violently, fighting for balance in the air. Although the angel knew what it was doing, Alfred had instincts, and his advantage lay in his superior vision and scent.

The angel was sweating, the salty wetness evident on its brow and back, and Alfred could tell from the way his hands were twitching that the blade was becoming more difficult to handle. It hadn't suspected Alfred to be such an opponent, and even the demon himself was pleased to find that he was a match for a creature that he had never fought before, only ever fantasizing and picturing how exactly he could sink his fangs into the deceptively beautiful creatures, to tear them apart limb from limb…

It was the sound of a second pair of feathery wings that caused Alfred to turn ever so slightly away from the fight, to allow his guard down for a mere moment before he was suddenly spinning in a million circles, the world tilting dangerously, gravity effecting him more than ever. His entire body shut down, limbs locking and yet relaxing in unison, a haze coming over his mind.

Alfred had enough sense left to look at his stomach and see a silver blade dripping in scarlet protruding out of it.

~oO0Oo~

Francis really was stupid if he thought that Arthur was actually going to leave him.

… well, it did take some thinking over. Arthur was almost half-way back to the other village when he realized that there was no point. If he kept going, the raid would be over and the Protector he brought back would have nothing to do. If he turned around, he could potentially go back to the town and help, even just a little bit. But… Francis had told him not to.

But then again, when on Etrillium had Arthur ever listened to something Francis had told him to do?

It was with that final thought that Arthur turned around to go back to the burning village.

He couldn't pretend that he wasn't scared. Any demon that could handle fire was a Greater demon, and Arthur had never actually faced one before. It was said that although they were more intelligent, and looked more like humans and angels, the very appearance of one was sinful to look at. Instead of the soft and graceful beauty of an angel, demons were beautiful and handsome in a lustful and seducing way, if you could look past the monstrous features of horns and fangs. They could speak, and they spoke in riddles and trickery, because they had once been able to fool even the gods.

They had dark hearts, and no mercy.

By the time Arthur had reached the village once again, the fire had consumed every building, raging in a storm of heat and flame. The smell of smoke was overwhelming, and he had to fly high above the ground in order to get away from it. He could vaguely make out a crowd of humans who had evacuated, and his heart broke to think of those who hadn't made it out. He wondered if the Protectors of the town had survived…

The moment that Arthur thought that there were no more demons around and that they all must have fled, two shapes silhouetted by an orange glow appeared out of the smoke. The angel nearly dropped clear out of the sky as he began to recognize the techniques of Francis and the almost savage attacks by a Greater demon.

He wanted to shout out, to join the fight, but he knew that distraction could result in death, so he merely allowed himself to drift closer, keeping an eye on the village below. Inwardly, he prayed for Francis's safety.

It was as though the demon could hear his thoughts. Arthur's eyes widened as it turned, attention momentarily drifting, facing him in all of its dark and powerful glory. It was huge, black, with no distinguishable features in the dark of the night and the glow of the fire other than those terrible wings and the curved horns and the way he heard it snarl and hiss…

Shhhhik!

Arthur could almost feel the demon's shock as Francis's blade went clean through it, the lapse in focus costing it dearly. It looked down at the blade, and Arthur hadn't realized that he'd flown so close, because in that split second of surprise and almost bemusement, the demon's gaze met Arthur's, and he had never seen eyes so blue.

Blue.

Blue, glowing, eyes.

Everything seemed to stop as the beating of Arthur's heart stuttered. There was no way, no way at all…! Yet, here he was, looking straight into the eyes- such blue eyes!- of a Greater demon.

In slow motion, the blade disappeared as Francis pulled it away, his shout of triumph lost on Arthur. He couldn't move, but he wanted to reach out and catch the demon from falling, to ask it a question, to actually speak to it- but the demon wasn't falling. Its eyes flashed red, and although it could have been the fire, or even a passing thought that the blue had been his imagination, the scarlet glowed before through the muffled silence of Arthur's mind, an ear-splitting shriek cut through.

The demon's wings spread out, and then the dark shape shot into the night, streaking through the sky and towards demon territory, no fatigue shown, no sign that it had been hurt.

"No… no, wait….!" Arthur heard the words fall from his lips, and he started to fly after the demon, but was caught by a pair of arms.

"Let it go, Arthur!" Francis told him. "It will be dead within the hour."

But this was so much more important, so much more important than any consequences.

"You don't understand!" Arthur gasped, shoving Francis away. "You don't understand, I have to go after it-"

"It went into demon territory!" Francis argued, sweaty and bloody from the battle. "You can't go after it, it's not safe-"

Arthur shook his head. "I'm going. Take care of things here, I'll be right back- I just… I just have to make sure of something."

Francis shouted something after him, but Arthur was already soaring through the air, following what little he could see of the demon, feeling that perhaps this was the gods intention.

Blue eyes.

A blue eyed demon.

A/N: I am such a terrible person to make you all wait this long for a new chapter. T.T Again, lost motivation, had some complication in my real life, got a Tumblr and therefore DISTRACTIONS. ((PSSST: my tumblr is "theunitedstatesofbritain. tumblr . com" just take away spaces :3)

BUT I DID IT, AND IT'S A MONSTER.

On Microsoft Word, this baby is just over 12 pages, while my last chapter was just over 9 pages. :3 I am quite proud of myself, but I hope it's not too word-y.

It's currently 1:30am and I'm exhausted, but here it is! I wanted to give it to you before I left for a weekend trip to Pennsylvania to visit my Nana (great-grandmother). She's turning 99!

On another note, even though I'm not big on "month-e-verseries" or whatever, my wonderful girlfriend and I have officially been a couple for sixth months. (I think it's special cause it's half a year and yeah :3)

I think the rest of the story should come a bit more easily, as I've successfully had Alfred and Arthur make eye contact and now they can hurry up and meet. In the next chapter, you can look forward to finding out whom Yao mailed his mysterious letter to, what exactly Arthur plans do to upon when/if he catches up to a very injured Alfred, and what exactly might Arthur's brother do…?

As always, please feel free to ask questions and message me! Reviews are love, and I adore reading them- they boost my self-confidence and help me write the story. :) I mean, I got 15 reviews just from a crappy prologue a first chapter. TwT You guys are awesome.

KEY POINTS:

- "Guardians": see Arthur. An Angel who guides young angels between the ages of 5-10 years old. A Guardian's job is to show and teach young angels about the culture and beauty of the angel world, along with basic reading, writing, etc. They usually bring them on field trips, taking them to the Palace, to the market, anywhere of significance. At the age of 11, some of these angels will now, with their knowledge, choose what they wish to aspire to be, and will decide on a career to be Mentored in. Other young angels instead go back to their parents and take up shops and other family-owned businesses.

-"Protectors": see Kiku. The general term for any angel protecting a human or angel city, but usually referred to as an Angel stationed in a human village, city, or town, and charged with protecting it (a member of the Royal Guard protects angel cities, but the term can be used loosely.) Protectors are either solitary, such as small farming communities (see Kiku Honda) or in groups in which the number varies by how large the city is. The human capital of Etrillium has an entire army of angels guarding over it. Protectors live within their designated town for several months before being allowed a vacation leave in their home. They are then assigned a different town, and the cycle repeats. Protectors leave bunches of their loose or discarded feathers hanging around their village to warn demons of an angel presence. They are all trained in battle. The scale of how high on the "important" arch a Protector is based on the city they guard. The highest honor is guarding the human capital, but the level above that is becoming a member of the Royal Guard.

- "Secondary Protectors": see Francis and Arthur. Secondary Protectors are angels who have basic fighting skills. They are asked in certain cycles to patrol areas between cities in places near demon territory. They are only expected to only fight if necessary, as when and if there is any kind of trouble, they are to get a Protector from a nearby village for help, but nothing is usually/expected to come of it due to the Protectors who are supposed to already have everything under control. It used to be a completely volunteer option, but now, due to low numbers of volunteers, it is required of all angels to do at LEAST one patrol per year. Others stay regular though.

- Angels catalogue different types of Lesser demons as they appear. Protectors who encounter a new kind of Lesser demons are to tell the Secondary Protectors when they come around for a patrol, so that they can take it back to the Royal Guard.