Chapter 13

The Author might have faced some sort of grounding whereby she might be unable to access her laptop at any time at any where for a period of a year. She may be able to upload whenever she gets the computer (mayhap once a week) and try to write as much as she can but to complete writing a chapter in an hour or two would pose as a possible problem in the near future. She is extremely apologetic about this. But she would like to emphasize that the story are NOT dumped. They are still in good relationship. Like a long distance relationship kind of thing. Reviews for the sad Author.

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters that appear in PoT. Perhaps, this story is from inspirations, from everywhere and anywhere, above and beyond.

Ryoma heaved a sigh of relief. Why don't the Seraphim just bug off and let him complete the Case soon? Then he'll run. For his life, like hellhounds after his wings.

Life almost returned back to normal after that. He continued to go to school, help Madam Kios with her lessons, had combat practices with Geni (it was almost normal), went to the library to read, sometimes coincidentally meeting Kuni, fly around with Karupin… It was almost normal, except the fact that the Seraphs have become a part of his life. That was definitely not normal. Everyone stared at him in school, heck; all the angels stared at him and whispered behind or even in front of him. He could no longer go around unseen and undiscussed about.

Syu and Keigo were always around him, for entirely different purposes. Ryoma was certain Syu just wanted to annoy the hell out of him. What was that Seraph's job anyway? There aren't many things for him to handle, or at least the Highers under him aren't asking him for much. Ryoma knew Kuni and Geni were busy, having meetings and constantly have to be there to guide and order. It's different for Syu; it seemed as if they had somehow known what he wanted. Mysteries; that's what Syu's department was all about. Perhaps it's the way Syu does his matters? Ryoma sure know that it was most likely underhanded ones. Who says there aren't angels who do things the underhanded way?

Keigo on the other hand was positively bored; Ryoma swears he's got nothing better to do! He's always around Ryoma, making snark comments and always being annoying. Ryoma basically sees him as a bug, a pest, a total monkey king, fooling around. Don't these Seraphs have better things to do?

Seii was occasionally around. Contrary to what Ryoma had perceived of him, he's pretty different when he's by himself as compared to being with Syu. Ryoma figured being with Syu brings out a sadistic side to him, but Ryoma thinks Seii is actually a pretty nice angel. Seii occasionally meets Ryoma after his class, or after sparring with Geni, somehow or rather Seii always knew where he was. Curiosity peaked in Ryoma; did the Seraph of Death have some unknown power of some sort?

"Seii?" asked Ryoma one day when they were sitting on the Great Oak Tree in the Wilderness, Karupin was off somewhere chasing puppies.

"Hmm?"

"How come you always know where I am?"

Seiichi swung his legs in the air, "Because I can."

"How?"

Seiichi sighed, "I have the element of Space. Darkness, nothingness… I can find you almost everywhere." Ryoma knew the Seraphs have elemental powers but this was the first any had told him about.

Seiichi continued, "Syu has Water. He doesn't really use it that much though. Kunimitsu has Earth; Genichirou's Fire. Keigo has Air. You probably should have caught him using them during Mass, when he willed the air around him to make him look more majestic." Seiichi chuckled, "He abuses his element, but it's all up to him. It's his to control."

Ryoma stared at Seiichi really carefully. The Seraph has a careful look on his face, betraying no emotions, looking as if everything was normal. If he had just met Seii, he wouldn't have thought any different but having hanged out with them for so long, Ryoma could already pick up some habits of the Seraphs.

"What aren't you telling me?"

Seii's eyes widened just a bit; Ryoma would have missed it had he not been looking out for that habit of Seiichi. Seiichi chuckled quietly and smiled, "I placed my sign on you."

Ryoma cocked his head at Seiichi.

"I placed it when you were a baby. Kunimitsu found out some time ago. It's on your ankle."

Ryoma always thought it was weird he had an anklet ever since he could remember. He tried taking it off and he tried to figure out what the sign was but he never could take it off nor find out what the sign was. Now he realized.

"And no one actually thought to tell me?" Ryoma asked a little menacingly.

"It slipped my mind," Seiichi was smiling a little too sweetly at Ryoma. Ryoma dangled his left ankle, "It's pretty. What sign is it?"

"Death."

"You placed the word death on my ankle?!" cried Ryoma.

"Yes." Seiichi looked bemused.

"Fine, it's what you are called anyway. Seraph of Death. How morbid."

Seiichi slipped his cool hands into Ryoma's and smiled.

Upon some time, nothing was figured out, nor could Ryoma find out anything. Ryoma's new war plans were such that they always busted the mediocre plans of the demons but they never truly uncovered anything because most of what they found were demon script and angels don't really know much about demon script. Ryoma had flipped the entirely library upside-down, including all the collection in the Seraphim Athenaeum. Nothing. The last resort he wanted to try out was to go undercover but the Seraphs all disagreed.

"It's too dangerous, Ryoma!" Genichirou bristled when the young angel had first come up with this ridiculous idea.

"But it's the only way!" Ryoma stood up, only a head taller than the seated Seraph of War.

"Sit down, Ryoma. Genichirou's right, you are not thinking right because you are desperate. We know you have been trying hard-" Kunimitsu tried to talk.

"Not hard enough! Time's lost, Kunimitsu."

"Hush Ryoma, don't get so angry. We'll figure something-" Syusuke also tried to talk.

"No!"

"Brat, quiet!" Keigo bellowed into the room. Ryoma fell silent. "We know you are upset, but we cannot let our brightest angel of this age to go undercover! Besides what are going to do about your wings?!"

"Brightest angel? Stupid wings and feathers*. I've seen your looks when you first introduced me into this whole matter. Filled with hope that I could make a shocking discovery and settle this problem for you and don't try to say you hadn't Kunimitsu!"

"No, Ryoma…" said Syusuke sadly.

Ryoma sat down with a thud, "I've let you down, Kunimitsu."

Syusuke was first to reach Ryoma and hug him, "We'll think of something."

Seiichi came over and hug Ryoma on the other side. Kunimitsu and Genichirou had no way of comforting Ryoma (the black and blue Seraphs' wings were too wide) so they each held a hand.

Keigo paced the room, "Okay, I get it. Group hugging time but there is seriously no space for me."

Ryoma smiled. And then he laughed; Keigo's perplexed face was too funny.

Ryoma wasn't lying when he said he was going to find out what was going on. He paced the Wilderness around and about, finally lying back onto the grass and looked into space. What was he going to do?

Suddenly he came eye to eye with a pair of red and silver eyes that colors seem to move around and about.

"Whatcha thinkin'?" The voice was like a symphony of celestial music and yet like the tiny beats of a butterfly's wings. Sweet yet holding a lot of power.

Ryoma sat upright immediately. The newcomer had whipped up quickly too, so that he does not get banged in the forehead by this young angel.

The newcomer had a body of light. Literally. Ryoma scanned the newcomer up and down till he (assuming it's a he) chuckled.

"I know I'm hot but do you have to check me out that obviously in front of me?"

"I'm figuring out what you are."

"Gee, thanks for bursting my bubble, angel," said the newcomer drily.

"Why are you so bright?"

"Not exactly the most eloquent of questions I expected from an angel but it'll suffice. I'm bright because it's what I am."

"Meaning?"

"This is my body."

Ryoma gawked, "Okay… You wouldn't need clothes anyway since no one can see what you are…"

"Is that disturbing you a lot?" The newcomer chuckled again. He pulled things from the air around him and changed into clothing that looked a lot like Ryoma's except it was red. Mostly. It had the same color as his eyes. Silver and red that swirled.

"What are you and why are you here?" Asked Ryoma.

"Ersll agiell te, my little angel, that should have been your first question. I am a demi-god and I am here to tell you that Leviadon is on the move and he is attempting to bring his Demons down to the earths."

* Similar to 'my foot' variation