Chapter 17
The Author is a little upset over the turn-out of reviews for the previous chapter. Would you cheer her up?
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! Babe, we thought you were…!" sobbed Syusuke, who engulfed Ryoma up in a hug.
"Syu! I… Can't, breathe!" gasped Ryoma.
All the Seraphs hugged Ryoma, patting him on the back and on the head for a job well done.
"How did you pull it off?" asked Keigo, ruffling Ryoma's head.
"Nothing you can do, Monkey King," joked Ryoma. He suddenly became solemn, "Actually I had no idea… I only remembered that I gave up every thought, only to ensure that the earth would close up and drag all those…" Ryoma shivered, "and make sure the portal was closed, forever."
"What did you exactly do?" asked Seiichi
"I don't recall. I remembered giving up everything, soul, spirit and all."
Syusuke sneaked a peck on Ryoma's cheeks, "How he did it is of no more importance, what is more important is that he is safe."
While the Seraphs were crowding around Ryoma, Seiki beckoned Kunimitsu over.
"It's been a while, how are you?" asked Seiki, civilised.
"I thought you were too concerned with your brother to remember," eyed Kunimitsu, almost suspiciously.
Seiki laughed heartily, "Kunimitsu! I'm shocked. You joke."
"Even so, we should keep to our sides. What matter calls you to me?" Kunimitsu asked Seiki seriously.
"You need to loosen up. Being the Head Seraph really gets to you. Seiichi prefers his lovers… a little loosened up," Seiki eyed Kunimitsu, eyes twinkling, "But jokes aside, I need to tell you about Ryoma."
"I'm all ears."
"He has a hole in his spirit. When I was healing him, there was a portion of my magic that couldn't heal over a spot. That's when I realized that he was missing a portion of his spirit."
"What?!"
Seiki continued with shushed tone, "I've heard rumors of angels with the ability to use Spirit. Might Ryoma be one of them?"
"Rumors. There hasn't been one since Anakkom. And even so, only Seraphs have elemental powers. Ryoma's but an angel."
"An angel well loved by Seraphs, don't you agree that's a little weird?" Seiki chuckled, "What in the devil's words would you hear, Kunimitsu? I must leave, to tend to my kingdom. Farewell."
Seiki turned around and stalked away from Kunimitsu, black shadows billowing around him. The Seraphs shushed to look at the Dark Lord. Seiki walked up towards Ryoma and spread out his scale-like wings with membranous texture instead of features, covering Ryoma and him, keeping out the rest of the Seraphs.
He whispered to Ryoma, "I have something for you. It may hurt, don't shout." His hands sparkled black as he raised it to Ryoma's left ear and Ryoma felt something like a pinch.
"I've placed something of mine on you. It's a sign of the devil, you wouldn't mind, would you?"
Ryoma touched the sore part of his ear, "Whatever was that for?"
"For fun," smiled Seiki, "To anger my brother and the rest of the Seraphs. You would play along right? A devil got to act like one, though I'm weary of it but they are so rigid."
"You are pretty nice." Ryoma cocked his head at Seiki.
"Devils are never nice, Ryoma, we are just what we are. Beings of evil. Never mistake us for 'nice'," Seiki unfurled his wings and pulled back from Ryoma.
"Drop by for a visit sometime." Saying it out loud so the Seraphs could all hear.
"Jix, let's adjourn." Seiki beckoned to his dark dragon-like creature that was busy fighting it out with Seiichi's griffin-dragon crossed creature. With a wisp of a howl of wind, all the dark kingdom disappeared, leaving behind only the Seraphs, angels and the sight of a battle.
"Let's go home."
Ryoma groaned, "Crap, I just remembered that tomorrow was the big test!"
"I trust the war was successful?" Talom asked, eyes still on an old script when Zoah, the Right Hand, known to few as Kunimitsu walked in.
"Yes it was; I would need some cleaning up on that island."
"Sinking it would be a good idea," Talom stood up from behind his desk to greet the Head Seraph.
"Do you have records of all the births of angels?"
"Why I believe it's at the Arc, do you need it?"
"I'll get it. Good work, please continue."
"As always, Zoah, as always."
Ryoma ached. He just completed his examinations.
He'd been blasted, attacked by demons, not to mention almost died and here he is, taking examinations like every other normal angel. Stupid Seraphs, to have pulled him into such a tremendous mess. Of course, his examiners appreciated that. It wasn't every day that all the Seraphs turned up at the Haven. His test has attracted the largest amount of crowd. Not only were the angels there to see how the youngest angel ever to have taken part in the Island War, not to mention having led the Seraphs (something totally unheard of) and angels to victory but there were talks of how even the Fallen One himself had bowed down to him. Ryoma scoffed; the rumour-mill is notorious. The angels were also there to view the rare sightings of the assembly of the 5 Seraphs. Ryoma was just there to see his teachers and peers fall head-over-heels with the Seraphs. Oh, and he was there to take his examinations too.
The examinations were a flying of spells, wings and knowledge. Nothing too difficult for Ryoma, he only failed to save a toy duck from a harem of fire spells that ended up with the toy being burnt and him scalded. His white wings were sooty-white as he emerged coughing from behind the flames.
"Darn it, I fell asleep," muttered Ryoma. He was supposed to keep watch then when the spells came, which meant he was under attack, he was supposed to deflect the spells. Ryoma deflected the spells alright; he only did it at the last minute. He looked up at the Seraphs. Kunimitsu pinched the bridge of his nose, Genichirou shook his head, Syusuke was giggling to himself, Seiichi was trying not to laugh, his ever present smile still in place and Keigo, ranting out loud to everyone who wanted to hear about how terrible a job Ryoma did. Nevertheless, Ryoma passed the examinations with flying colours, Madam Kio was beside herself with tears.
The Seraphs were airborne, coming down to greet Ryoma. Ryoma couldn't help but feel a sense of fluttering wings inside him. He smiled, a smile that carried fondness and adoration for the most power of angels. Somehow, he knew that he felt like he belonged to them, and them to him. But he wasn't to tell them this yet, lest they stop courting him.
"So what are you planning on doing after?" Syusuke asked Ryoma.
"I'm not sure… But aren't all angels who just graduated supposed to do at least a decade of guardianangelship?"
"Be glad, brat, that we offered you something else. One would think we pamper you too much!" cried Keigo.
"You?! Pamper me? Ha! That's nonsense! Try me," glared Ryoma.
"Fine, Ore-sama shall lavish you with the most glorious of gifts!"
"And I shall reject them all!"
"You dare?!"
The rest of the Seraphs laughed. Then Sekehl appeared.
"Congratulations Ryoma, it was a bad sleeping draught but a slight effect nonetheless. No harm done," Sekehl said cheerfully. He was carrying something wrapped in blankets, "I bring tidings; good and bad."
Ryoma almost smashed into the demi-god, but stopped himself in time, "You should really stop appearing out of nowhere."
The demi-god ignored him, "The Dark Lord sends his thanks and congratulations, but he is saddened that he cannot be here. Maybe when you received guardianship will he visit you then, on the earths. He brings you an offspring of his dark creature. Born from his and his brother's, belongs either here nor there, but for you to care. He thanks you in advance, the tiny creatures were getting too mischievous for his liking." The demi-god winked, "Last I heard, it ate his boots and slept in his coats, shedding membrane and feathers all over."
The demi-god lifted the blanket and passed it over to Ryoma. Before Ryoma could open the blanket to peer at the creature, Sekehl continued, "There has been word of my brother, Rivlorn, going rogue. And the last I heard he might be going for you."
"Going for me?"
"I don't know what my brothers and sisters are like, some are queerer than others and have odd penchants. I think Rivlorn has a penchant for you and in his rogue state, there's no determining of what he might do."