John's POV:

I bit my lip as we stopped just out of sight of the first gate.

Lin and Kaede climbed from the back of the van, and Lin picked up Kaede as his wings burst out in a gleam of black.

"I'll meet you at the central gate." Lin nodded, before we drove on.

I let my gaze move to out of the window, and my eyes were drawn to a vast, stretched scar of charred earth leading from midway to the outer gate.

I think I'll ask about that when we arrive…

Reaching the central gate, we found yet another angel with a bowl of something that seemed similar in consistency and transparency to egg white.

Lin and Kaede were waiting, the guard already watching the brothers with a very wary eye.

"Lin!" I called, walking up. "Why is there a scorch mark going over the fields?"

Lin looked annoyed for a moment.

"…Me." was all he replied, before the rest caught up. "We're all going to have to do the test, even both Naru and Gene."

"Can we see what it looks like when half-demon blood falls in?" Gene asked, looking like a cat who had just found a bucket of cream.

"But-" I attempted.

"All of you, including the younger rat." the guard stiffly grunted.

Kaede ran forward, and held out his index finger.

The guard carefully made a tiny slip, and a drop of Kaede's blood fell in as the guard started a stopwatch.

The liquid turned pure black, before slowly clearing.

"Twelve seconds." the guard stated. "Demon." as Kaede sucked on his finger.

"Shall I get out some plasters?" Ayako asked.

"Save them for later." Lin stated, as he followed Kaede's lead.

This time, it took longer to clear.

"Forty-three, you've still got the longest record." the guard remarked, and Lin's cut healed quickly with a tiny bit of shadow.

"I'll go!" Yasu grinned. "I know I'm definitely human!"

The liquid remained the same.

"Normal, on through." the guard stated.

It was the same for Monk and Ayako, even if after Monk was cursing about the pain the wound gave off while Ayako merely pulled a plaster out of her red handbag.

Masako covered her mouth as she held out her finger, and her blood fell in.

The drop of blood remained on the surface for a moment, before dispersing.

"Five, with the blood of the Empowered." the guard noted.

"Meaning both ESP users and PK users." Lin explained.

Gene and Naru glanced at each other, before walking up.

Gene's blood fell in, and the liquid reacted, turning a weird mesh of colours, like oil on water under the sun.

"Foul-blood, Thirty seconds." the guard's voice filled with scorn, and Gene's face filled with shock.

"Noll!" he exclaimed, and Naru's eyes hardened as the cut was done on his finger.

"Equal Foul-blood, also thirty seconds."

James looked at Kaede, who gave him a small nod, and James meekly held out his hand.

This time, the water turned a bright, clear blue; like the sky.

"Angel. Twenty-five seconds, Welcome." the guard smiled, and James gave a relieved smile.

"I was scared getting petrified would have changed it." he confessed as I gave him a smile.

I took a breath, feeling Lin's gaze as the guard moved to cut my finger, and I flinched slightly at the pain, though I just managed to remain quiet.

My blood hit the liquid, which shone as it turned a golden white.

"Four-… Forty-three seconds, Ar- Archangel…" the guard stuttered, shock filling his face, before dropping the timer and running to the hut.

I took a shaky breath, trying to calm my racing heart…

···

When I finally had, there was the sound of wings, and an old lady wearing a gleaming blue sapphire on a silver chain around her neck landed before us with a guard on either side. Her wings gleamed a soft white in the sun.

"You are the band with the archangel?" she asked, and Lin moved forward.

"They are the Psychic Research group you asked after." he stated.

"Kojou! I still remember when you were a young boy. You appear well." the lady remarked. "Aren't you going to introduce us?"

"I recall you're a keen person for research yourself." Lin replied, "After all, as an Elder, you must know all about your people."

"Cold and careful, as always." the woman nodded, before bowing to us. "My name is Elder Bo Wu, of the Angel zone. As guests, and a close friend of a powerful archangel, you are welcome to stay and work there. Well, all but for Kojou and Kaede – these two have to pay for leaving the village."

"Wait, what?!" Monk exclaimed.

"Can't you let them help us unpack first? Lin will need to help Yasu program his laptop correctly." Gene asked, and I felt the Elder's eyes turn towards me.

I need to be careful.

"There is quite a lot of heavy equipment, so Kojou's aid would be much appreciated." I nodded. "Also, Kaede and James are friends, right?"

James nodded, and he grabbed Kaede in a hug.

"I don't want Kaede to go!" James complained, giving a cute look that made both Yasu and Gene chuckle.

"Was it me who taught him that, or you?" Gene mused, a smile on his face.

"No idea." Yasu shrugged with a grin. "But it's still cute."

"In that case." Bo stated, raising her voice as the gates opened. "Step right this way, I shall be leading you to the Council, where your accommodation shall be decided and your task explained."

Joker: NONONONONONONONONO!

Mai: What is it this time?!

Joker: MY UBUNTU'S CRASHED! Thank God I have Fedora 20 as a separate module, but WHYWHYWHYWHY! ALL MY BEAUTIFUL TABS! ;~;

Gene: Can't you just get your computer-mad family-member to help you?

Joker: One says he's too tired, one other's too busy, and the third is MILES away!

Mai: Poor Joker...

Joker: My beloved taaaaaaaaaaaaaa~bs... All that Blue Dragon, RPing and self-content GO~NE! *wails*

Gene: Ah... In that case, Reader-san, you Triple R, while Mai and I attempt-

Joker: UWAAAA!

Gene: Attempt calming Joker down with her toys...

Mai: *plonks Wilhelm-the-bear in Joker's lap*

Joker: *Nabs and clings too bear*

Mai: *Gently coaxes into cheering up while using long-loved-Catty-the-cat to comfort*