I'm back! Had a great time at MCM Manchester Comic Con (spent a fortune but I had a great time) And now, back to the story!
Enjoy!
I do not own Hetalia!
Demonic Romeo Vol IV
Arufureddo waited at the same spot for Āsā to return after he and Mashū escorted Ferishiāno and Rōman to their home and made sure they were settled for the night. Demons were like the fictional vampire, unable to enter a human's home without an invitation but the same was true of angels too. Human homes were human territory so once a human entered his home to stay, that was basically a guardian angel's 'knock off work' time but a guardian angel would know if his ward left his home for any reason which meant it was a good reason why angels did not need to sleep, in case their ward decided to go for a midnight wander.
As he waited, Arufureddo pondered his attraction to the green-eyed angel and what it meant for him. He said he would not start anything with Āsā but he was not sure he could keep that promise, especially as he would come into contact with him constantly if he continued to meet with his brother. There was something about the angel that attracted him and it went beyond simple lust. He wanted to get to know 'The Uncorrupted', the one who had escaped Iwan's tainting clutches. That was impressive.
Then he saw Āsā flying toward him, his white feathered wings outspread. Arufureddo thought it was the most beautiful sight in this world and the next as Āsā swooped in and expertly landed in front of the demon.
"I was beginning to wonder if you were coming," Arufureddo commented.
"I was delayed by the Higher Ups," Āsā replied. "Speaking of which, Mashū won't be able to see you tomorrow. The Higher Ups found out about you meeting with him and want to talk to him about it." Arufureddo had a pang of worry.
"Will they stop him from seeing me?"
"No!" Āsā replied. "They're not happy about it but they're not going to stop Mashū if he really wants to see you. They're just worried about him."
"I'd never harm my brother!" Arufureddo said, adamantly. "Believe me!"
Āsā did believe Arufureddo. His appearance was so at odds with his attitude, so caring of his brother. It could be an act but Āsā did not think so. Why was such a person a demon? Someone who was willing to sacrifice everything to save his brother, it was just wrong!
"You don't belong in Hell," he commented. Arufureddo shrugged.
"Yet, that's where I am," he said. "I made my mistake, it can't be changed."
Āsā was not so sure. He would talk to the Higher Ups about it, surely something can be done. Arufureddo should not be a demon!
"If you could," Āsā asked. "Would you leave Hell for Heaven?" Arufureddo shrugged.
"Never thought about it," he replied. "It would never happen anyway. Nothing will change the fact that I'm a demon!"
"How many souls have you corrupted?"
"What?"
"Souls," Āsā repeated. "How many have you corrupted?" Arufureddo went a little red.
"I haven't been a demon very long," he replied, evasively.
"You haven't corrupted anyone, have you?" Arufureddo went redder and looked away nervously.
That might be something in his favour when Āsā spoke to his superiors about Arufureddo. If there was anything that could be done, an empty corruption record could only help and Āsā prayed that there was something they could do.
"So, would you come to Heaven if you could?" he asked, again. Arufureddo thought about it. There was reasons to stay in Hell, like the rest of the Bāto·-tatchi· karutetto but there were reasons to go to Heaven too. His heart was not really into corrupting the innocent and, besides, Mashū was in Heaven. And Āsā.
Where did that come?
"I might," he admitted. Āsā smiled and Arufureddo wondered why Āsā was so happy about it.
"Why is that so important to you?" he asked. This time Āsā blushed.
"No real reason," he replied, defensively. "I just don't think you should be in Hell." But Arufureddo smiled.
"You sure that's the only reason?" he asked and move toward the bushy-eyed angel. Āsā moved back slightly but not enough to avoid Arufureddo's lips closing over his. Āsā did not fight it, instead, his arms came up to encircle Arufureddo's neck and hold him closer, even though a part of him was saying, What are you doing! Arufureddo kiss was so warm, so thrilling, so angelic!
Arufureddo had acted on instinct again, just giving in to the whim of feeling Āsā's lips on his. He put his arms around the angel's waist and held Āsā tight against him. It felt like he belonged right there. He knew that it was stupid. He was a demon, Āsā was an angel and never the twain shall meet but he could not stay away from him. Arufureddo already had the feeling that he was already in over his head with Āsā.
Then so be it!
The kiss got deeper but eventually it ended but Arufureddo was reluctant to let go of Āsā and Āsā was in no hurry to leave Arufureddo's arms.
"What are we doing?" Āsā breathed, almost to himself. Arufureddo chuckled as he rested his chin on top of Āsā's head.
"I don't know," he replied, honestly. "If other demons knew about this, their reaction would be …..well, let's say, it wouldn't be pretty, particularly Iwan's but, whatever this is, I don't want to give it up."
"I can't imagine that my superiors would be happy, either," Āsā admitted. "Angel and demon brothers meeting is one thing. Angel and demon lovers, quite another!" Arufureddo smiled.
"What they don't know won't hurt them then?" and he kissed Āsā again.
Arufureddo was missing again. He was gone before Iwan realised that he was absent so he had no idea where the American demon had gone to this time. Girubāto was over with his other two friends, Ansonī and Furanshisu so it could not be another meeting. It infuriated him that they had been meeting Āsā, of all angels. He would have been Iwan's crowning achievement. Heaven had already had their eyes on the aloof but caring Brit and Iwan would have loved to steal him from under their noses. He had met Āsā and claimed that Pītā, Āsā's little brother, would suffer an accident. That much was true but what Iwan left out was that Āsā would be in it too but Pītā would survive and Āsā would die.
Iwan lied, offering to save Pītā in exchange for Āsā's soul but Āsā had dismissed Iwan as a lunatic. Iwan tried everything to get Āsā to acquiesce before the dead-line but Āsā avoided him whenever he could and then the day of the accident came. As the truck bore down on their car, Āsā had thrown his body over Pītā. He had been killed outright but his body had protected Pītā enough for him to survive and Āsā had a straight path to Heaven for sacrificing himself to save his brother. Āsā was secure in the knowledge that Pītā was safe and well in the busom of a new family. Friends from the Nordic countries.
Iwan's greatest failure had always played on his mind and the idea that a demon he had created was consorting with him was an insult he would not let pass. He would gather his forces and bide his time. Who knows, if he did this right, maybe he would get Āsā too.
He flew over to the other three members of the Bāto·-tatchi· karutetto who saw him coming and fell silent.
"Privet (Hello), comrades," the Russian demon greeted with his disturbing smile. "And where is our American friend, Arufureddo?" Girubāto snorted.
"He's not your friend," he replied. "And what are we, his keepers?" Iwan frowned at Girubāto's tone while Ansonī put his hand on Girubāto's arm in a 'stop it' motion.
"You should show more respect," Iwan said with a dark aura. "I'm the one who made you what you are."
"Ja!" Girubāto replied, sarcasticly. "Thanks for that!" Now Furanshisu was giving Girubāto meaningful looks to stop baiting Iwan.
Girubāto knew he was pushing Iwan but he was so angry about refusing to meet with Rutovu~ihi, he wanted to take it out on the one person he blamed for it. If not for Iwan, he would not have been a demon and he could be with his brother now. Iwan just gave his creepy smile. The Bāto·-tatchi· karutetto could disrespect him all they like but soon he would find out what their secret was and then...
He would make them all pay!
"Are you insane, amigo?" Ansonī exclaimed after Iwan left. "None of us like Iwan but we're in no position to challenge him and his clique."
"Ansonī is right, mon ami," Furanshisu concurred. "Why were you trying to anger Iwan like that? For that matter, both you and Arufureddo have been acting aggressively toward Iwan. What's wrong with you two?"
"Nothing's wrong!" Girubāto insisted. "I'm just sick of that unawesome psycho sticking his over-sized nose in our business, waiting for us to slip up so he can pounce on us... "
"So," Furanshisu said. "Don't slip up! Just watch your step around Iwan"
"Don't worry!" Girubāto replied. "We're fine!"
"Then why have you and Arufureddo been acting so oddly?" Ansonī asked, the only one still clueless about Arufureddo. "First, Arufureddo makes us let those angels go, then he attacks Furanshisu over one of them. And you and Arufureddo have been disappearing for periods of time! What's going on, Girubāto?"
"Nothing!" Girubāto replied. "Just forget about it! Everything's fine." Girubāto walked away. Ansonī looked at Furanshisu.
"Something's going on!" Ansonī murmured.
Furanshisu did not reply.
"I've been hearing all about you," Arufureddo said to Āsā. "How you managed to evade Iwan when you were alive. The Uncorrupted!"
Āsā smiled as they walked along, Āsā's white plumage contrasting with Arufureddo's leathery membranes. They were walking in a deserted area, not wanting to be seen by either demon or angel. Āsā looked at Arufureddo and realised that could have been him.
There but for the grace of God go I!
"I was lucky," he admitted. "I just thought he was mad and avoided him. Had I taken him seriously, I may very well have made the deal you made. Like you, I would done anything to save my brother, little brat though he was!"
"He's dead?" Arufureddo asked. "Is he an angel?" Āsā shook his head.
"Pītā's still alive," he replied. "I look in on him every now and then. He was twelve when I died, seventy-nine years ago. He was adopted by a Swede and his Finnish husband and he grew up and began working on a sea platform. He's ninety-one now but still has a few years before his time runs out. His adoptive parents, Berwald and Tino, are angels now and they'll go with me to collect him when his time comes."
"He's lived a long life," Arufureddo commented.
"And a full one!" Āsā replied. "He's a grandfather of six now, I couldn't have wished better for him. I'm eternally grateful to Berwald and Tino for what they did for him."
"I'm glad you thought Iwan was nuts," Arufureddo said. "You weren't far off, either. Trust me, even in Hell, he's a psycho!"
"I'll be sure to steer clear of him then," Āsā replied.
"Good idea!" Arufureddo concurred. "I don't want him getting his hands on you. Will you be able to meet me tomorrow?" Āsā shook his head.
"With Mashū absent tomorrow, I have to watch over both Ferishiāno and Rōman," he told Arufureddo. "I won't be able to get away until they return home." Āsā did not mention that Rutovu~ihi would not be there either. He was seeing the Higher-Ups too, about watching out for Mashū if he insisted on continuing to see his brother. Arufureddo nodded.
"Then I guess I'll see ya the day after," he said and gave Āsā a soft kiss. Then a firmer one.
"I'll look forward to it," Āsā replied. Arufureddo gave him a smile, then turned and left, looking back at Āsā as he flew away.
Part of Āsā was telling himself This is stupid! Another part of him was excited to see Arufureddo again.
The next day, Rōman and Ferishiāno wandered around the market, selecting the best ingredients they could find for the restaurant. Āsā stood nearby, unseen by all, as he watched over the Vargas Brothers. He was on his own today while Mashū and Rutovu~ihi were talking to the Higher-Ups about the situation with Arufureddo and as the brothers moved from stall to stall, looking over the wares, Āsā's eyes moved round, looking for threats to the souls in his care. This became a problem when the brothers split up, Ferishiāno, in search of pasta ingredients, Rōman, in search of tomatoes.
Āsā looked between the two, unsure of what to do! Ferishiāno was a complete innocent which was a big draw for demons. On the other hand, Rōman was his actual ward. Which one did he shadow? Then he sensed something that took the decision out of his hands.
There was a demon nearby, a strong one so Āsā summoned his bow and began looking round himself. The demon seemed to moving around and Āsā got the uncomfortable feeling that he was being toyed with. Then the feeling settled behind him and he spun round, coming face to face with the one demon he had never wanted to see again. Iwan stood there, his tail swishing about and his wings out stretched. None of the humans around them noticed the angel or the lavender winged demon facing off.
Iwan had been following Ansonī and Furanshisu and, although they had not made contact with the guardian angel, they lead Iwan to him and he decided to amuse himself at Āsā's expense.
"Privet, Āsā," the demon greeted, almost pleasantly which Āsā found disturbing. "It's been a long time, has it not!" Arthur pulled back his arrow.
"Not long enough," he replied, aiming the arrow at Iwan's heart. The demon just continued to smile at the defensive angel.
"That's not very nice, moya drug (my friend)," Iwan commented and Āsā laughed.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" he mocked. "I'm not sure of the etiquette when greeting someone who tried to cheat me out of my soul." Iwan shrugged.
"I'm a demon," he replied, matter-of-factly, like he was admitting to being a postman. "That's our nature, our Modus Operandi! Do you condemn a bird when it flies or a fish when it swims?"
"I know how you operate, Iwan," Āsā said. "You specialise in corrupting soul in ways that would normally make them angels. That's not your 'Modus Operandi', that's just for your own sick pleasure!" A dark aura fell over Iwan.
"You only escaped me through sheer luck," he warned. "I can still get you any time I want!" Āsā raised his arrow from Iwan's heart to his head.
"Not if you're dead!" he retorted.
Rōman wandered the market place, examining the vegetables on offer, especially the tomatoes when he collided with someone and found himself on the ground at the person's feet.
"Lo siento, amigo!" a Spanish voice apologised and Rōman looked up into a pair of forest-green eyes in a tanned face, framed with dark hair. Rōman had to admit the man was quite good-looking as he held out his hand to help Rōman up.
Ansonī could not believe his luck when he found Rōman unattended by his guardian angel but he was not going to look a gift horse in the mouth so he hid his wings, tail and horns, made himself visible and deliberately stepped in the way of Rōman so he would run into him, in order to get the Italian's attention. He held out his hand to help the young man up but Rōman ignored it and got up on his own.
"I'm not helpless, idiota," he snapped. "Why don't you look where you're going, ah?" Ferishiāno was always telling him that he should be friendlier to people and employed what he called 'Hug Therapy' whenever he was not but Rōman did not trust people at first sight. He felt that many just wanted something from him and, when they got it, they would just dump him so he treated them with disdain until he could trust them but, by that time, people had gone, put off by his prickly attitude. So 'Hug Therapy' did not work.
"Lo siento," Ansonī said again. "I was distracted, looking at the tomate. They look especially good today, Si?" Rōman cast his eyes over the plump round red fruits.
"They're okay, I suppose," he replied grudgingly. Ansonī held out his hand.
"I'm Ansonī," he introduced himself. "I'm from Spain."
"Never would have guessed!" Rōman said, sarcastically. "I'm Rōman. No need to tell you where I'm from, Tomato Bastard!" Rōman hoped this Ansonī would get the message and push off but Ansonī seemed oblivious to Rōman's unfriendly nature as he continued the conversation.
"Si, I've seen you before," Ansonī replied. "You run that restaurant, Cielo Italia. I've heard it has the best food around, I'll have to come and try it some time. I guess that's why you're here, buying ingredients? If you like, I can give you a hand, I've nothing better to do, right now!" Rōman first impulse was to tell this Spaniard to f$#k off but he was pretty attractive, not that Rōman had any intention of starting anything with the Tomato Bastard but a few hours in his company might be nice.
"Whatever!" Rōman said. "It's your time you'll waste, Jerk" The Spaniard smiled and Rōman walked away with an ecstatic demon in tow. Ansonī had managed to get in with Rōman, now it was only a matter of time before the irascible Italian became his.
Āsā was debating what to do. Iwan, he knew from reputation, was a powerful demon and whether or not Āsā could take him down was debatable but one thing Āsā knew was he could not fight him here. Mortals might not be able to see the fight but they could still be affected by an angel and a demon having a smack-down in their midst so he had to take this somewhere unpopulated and, spreading his wings, he shot into the air, Iwan right behind him.
When they were far above the crowd, angel and demon once again faced each other, wings flapping to keep them airborne. Iwan produced his weapon of choice, a long pipe with, what looked like, a tap on the end as Āsā aimed at him once more.
"Why not just become one with me?" Iwan said. "Like you were always meant to. You would make a fine demon, da?" Āsā snorted.
"I'm happy the way I am, thanks," he replied, sarcastically but Iwan just laughed.
"You talk like you have a choice, comrade," he chuckled and flew at Āsā who fired his arrow. So fast it was a blur, Iwan somehow managed to strike the arrow with his pipe, knocking it away from him, as he shot toward Āsā who stopped flapping his wings and dropped, Iwan flying over his head. Āsā stretched out his wings to catch the breeze again and flapped to arrest his descent. The arrow appeared in the bow again and Āsā turned to fire at Iwan again. Iwan saw the arrow coming toward him and performed a complexed mid-air pirouette to avoid it. Then he was flying down at Āsā who shot upwards. Iwan almost crashed into the crowds below before stopping himself and Āsā realised that he had to take this fight further away, preferably to a deserted area so he fled in the direction of where he knew of some wasteland.
Iwan followed in pursuit.
Furanshisu was immediately drawn to the bundle of sunshine that was Ferishiāno as he moved from trader to trader, collecting ingredients for pasta for the restaurant. Such a sweet, innocent boy! He would be fun to corrupt!
With his tail, horns and wings hidden, he approached the Italian, plucking a rose from a flower stall (still invisible so the stall owner did not see him) and came to stand behind Ferishiāno as he was looking at some herbs.
"Bonjour, mon chèr!" Furanshisu greeted after making himself visible. Ferishiāno turned to see find a blonde-haired man standing behind him. He had blue eyes and a stubbly beard, handsome but slightly invasive, even to Ferishiāno who had been told that he had no concept of personal space. The man presented the rose to Ferishiāno who took it, tentatively.
"Ciao," he replied, holding the rose to his nose as if to smell it but really to hide the sudden nervousness this man evoked in him. Ferishiāno was the friendly sort, too friendly some would say, but this man was making him very wary.
"What is such a beau jeune homme (handsome young man) like you doing all alone?" Furanshisu was enjoying how flustered he was making the little Italian as he stepped closer while the young man blushed red. Furanshisu loved to seduce his prey. In his mind, the pleasure he gave was some compensation for getting them to sell their souls to him. Of course, he got the pleasure as well.
"My fratello is nearby," Ferishiāno replied, hoping that would get this man to back off but he seemed persistent as he smiled down at Ferishiāno.
"So there are two like you," Furanshisu, of course, already knew that as he began to stroke Ferishiāno's shoulder almost lovingly, making the Italian more nervous. "What's your name, mon amour?"
"Ferishiāno," Ferishiāno replied and then kicked himself for answering as the man's hand shifted to his back and began moving downwards. "Please! Bad touchy!" The man did not seem to hear him.
"Perhaps we could go somewhere," he said. "And you can tell about yourself." And his hand reached Ferishiāno's butt.
"Please! Stop!" Ferishiāno plead as the man leant in closer as he was going to kiss him. Then, suddenly, the man was ripped away and thrown against the stall behind.
"He said Stop!"
Naughty Furanshisu! No means no! At least someone came to Ferishiāno's rescue and I think you can guess who! Āsā is facing off against Iwan alone, that won't be pretty, Ansonī is putting the moves on Rōman and Arufureddo and Āsā are falling deeper and deeper. Ah, L'amour!
To ArtemisIsis13 – Asafureddo! I like it! :D No, they won't forget in a hurry. I had a choice between 'The Untainted' or 'The Uncorrupted', I just liked Uncorrupted better. :) and, Yes! Iwan was truly ticked and he already has The Bāto- tatchi- karutetto in his cross-hairs and now he's after Āsā too. I'm glad you liked Arufureddo and Mashū's reunion, I wasn't sure whether I'd made it emotional enough and you can bet that Rutovu~ihi and Girubāto will run into each other at some point (how can they not!). I agree, Girubāto is awesome and they all had the best of intentions (what's the road to Hell paved with again?) and Iwan really uses that to the best of his ability :( He know Arufureddo and Āsā are meeting but, fortunately, he doesn't know about their growing feelings. Yet! And The Bāto- tatchi- karutetto should keep a close eye on Iwan! And Ansonī's as clueless as ever.
I can't always get to these conventions either! :( They never happen near me (I live nowhere near Manchester) and getting the time to go is a real problem sometimes but I do what I can! Spelling U~Orufugangu was a problem for me too (I'm only just getting used to it) but I still have trouble pronouncing it O_o. And I won't let Writer's Block get the better of me!
To Normandy - I'll do my best! ;) You don't have to grow up with Prussia to be infected by his awesomeness! XP
And we're done for another week! Āsā battles against Iwan and Love is in the air at Cielo Italia. Someone raises Hell and there's an unexpected encounter.
So till next week,
Hasta la Pasta!