The Only Colour Better Than Black Is Transparent Chap 13
A.N. Nobody likes cliffhangers so here's the continuation!
Ueda shook slightly as his spine tingled with a sensation similar to that of a creeping vine. When the feeling made its way up to his head, his vision blanked for a split-second - and the huge window in Junno’s room shattered with a thunderous crash akin to 500 concert crash cymbals.
Ryo’s phone display went static and the machine cackled with a power surge.
“FUCK!!!” he tossed it to the other side of his basement, blowing on his slightly charred fingers.
What in living hell was THAT?! His powers are locked aren’t they?! There’s no way he could summon that much power to destroy a window without even lifting a finger… Unless… Heaven knows. OH GOD.
When Ueda’s eyes opened, Junno almost gasped out loud. His slightly grumpy, but nonetheless kind lover was nowhere to be seen (considering he’s just dumped him and all). Instead, a pair of glowing red eyes stared back at him, with a blind fury that threatened to decapitate him. The terror radiating out of him would be enough to drive a man to suicide.
“I’m not good enough am I?” a maddening, quiet cackle came from his lips. He bit them so hard they bled a crimson thread down his chin. “Not good enough to be with you… I can do anything apart from keep you safe. Well wouldn’t it be better if I sent you to the place of eternal rest?” Wings now fully visible, he spread them and knocked over the bdeside lamps. Feathers were already mottled as the dye was fading… the patches of black and white seemed to clash violently - almost like they were fighting a war.
He edged closer, face now pulled into a hideous grin as if pulled by some unseen force. The blood kept flowing down his neck.
“U-Uepi…?” Junno squeaked and pulled his blankets up like a child frightened by monsters in his closet, “…you’re… not… him, are you?”
“Maybe this IS me Junnosuke…” the creature grinned wider and laughed like a maniac. He came closer still. “You claim to love me but you don’t love me enough do you? Not all of me…” He stood by Junno’s bedside, fists clutched and ready to lash out.
“You wanna bet?” Junno forced himself to level his breathing and reach forward into Ueda’s right hand. Prying open the fists of steel, he removed the ring, glad that it wasn’t yet bent out of shape. “I have nothing to lose by saying this - I love you Ueda Tatsuya. If this is a test by God then I’m set to pass. I love you no matter what you are-
“YOU DON’T!!” the angel was in tears now. Blood red tears. “YOU DON’T LOVE ME ENOUGH TO REALISE HOW MUCH I NEED YOU!!!”
He tried to wrench his hand away but Junno held on for dear life. “I know Uepi I know…” he kissed the back of his hand tenderly, “But look at me… I’m nothing short of a burden. But I’m still shameless enough to say I love you.” He slipped the ring deftly onto the seething angel’s ring finger. “When are you going to send me to eternal rest?”
“TATSUYA DON’T DO IT!!!!” Ryo crashed through the door just as Ueda was raising his hand to cast a spell. “REMOVE YOURSELF FROM MAGIC OR MY BARRIERS WON’T BE STRONG ENOUGH TO KEEP YOU HIDDEN!!!”
Ueda gave him a fleeting look. Upon seeing the colour of his bloody eyes, Ryo faltered for just long enough for his friend to flick a finger.
He catapulted across the room and smashed into a wall with a sickening crack.
“Your…eyes…” Ryo spat out a mouthful of blood, “…eyes…”
Ueda sauntered closer, grin still plastered on his face. “What about my eyes Ryo-chan? Are YOU trying to get in my way too? Let me dispose of you first- uh- ARGH” The mottled angle took two steps back, clutching his head. “Ryo… RUN…” he choked out, battling with a monster inside him. “I don’t know what happening but take Junno and RUN! Or I’ll- AAHH!!!” The blood-curdling scream as he fell to the ground unconscious rang out like a gunshot.
Then all was still.
[The next morning, Ueda residence]
The smell of bacon and eggs woke Ueda from his slumber. The last thing he remembered was Junno dumping him at the hospital, yet he was back home and somebody was cooking in his kitchen?
“Awake?” Ryo marched into his room without knocking and set down a tray of breakfast on his lap, “Then eat up. We gotta talk man…. We gotta talk.”
“About what?” Ueda huffed as his inhaled his food, “He dumped me, I probably fainted from shock and now you want to rub it in my face?”
Ryo stared. “You remember NOTHING?!”
“About WHAT?!” Ueda snapped, “If you can’t see, I’ve just been dumped and I’m quite depressed. Do I HAVE to demonstrate how razor blades are used in times like these?!” He sarcastically made a cutting motion across his wrists with a butter knife.
“You almost killed me last night with destruction magic, I made you breakfast in bed like a housewife and now you complain YOU’RE the victim?!” Ryo rolled his eyes, “I take it that you have no clue what a monster you became last night but good lord can’t you respect me for COOKING?!”
“No,” Ueda shovelled another mouthful of food down, “because kindergarten level cooking magic requires no talent nor effort. Nice eggs, by the way. Are they quail?”
“Are you playing dumb or do I have to spell out how severe this situation is?!” Ryo exasperated. If this was how Taguchi acted on a daily basis, he understood why Tatsuya was constantly at odds with him. “You went ballistic, destroyed my phone AND my barrier and now Heaven can see EXACTLY what’s happening here!!”
“So what?! My relationship with Taguchi Jerk-nosuke is OVER!” Ueda put down his fork. “What can they possibly want me for?!”
“Dude! YOUR magic broke the restraints and a mighty expensive hospital window! I had to cover it with Mist magic and now Tokyo is looking for a mad gunman who supposedly shot it! This is out of control!”
“So my destructive powers went out of whack because I got angry,” Ueda stretched his arms, “Big deal!
“…” Ryo could only gape. “…Are you for real?!”
“That rhymes,” Ueda stared blankly, “And yes. I’m past caring now. If Heaven wants me back, they can. If they don’t, then I’m quite happy to stay here and be a freeloader.”
“If they take you back,” Ryo warned, “You’ll be a lab rat.”
“How so?”
The black-wing sighed and clapped over a pile of data. “NOBODY, and I mean nobody who isn’t an archangel, could break through that magic restraint. Definitely not enough to unleash THAT amount of power and hurt me, Hell’s son, in a fight. Do you even know how much power you have? I had my suspicions when your healing powers cured Taguchi of bronchitis in a single night but I thought it was impossible… Now it looks like you’re not normal.”
“Thanks, I love being called a freak too.” Ueda pulled a sour face.
“Welcome,” Ryo shot back, “But what I really want to know is about your eyes… last night, they were red.”
“I’m a flippin’ white-wing!” Tatsuya sniffed, “It’s genetically impossible for my eyes to glow red!”
“BUT THEY DID. AND YOU CAN’T ESCAPE THAT FACT.”
“You know what? This conversation’s over,” the bedridden angel got up, “I’m going to the hospital.”
“Why?” his friend asked, “I thought you two were over?”
“The nerve stem cell expert is coming from Germany today,” Ueda hurried to find his clothes, “I have to be there!”
Ryo watched his normally carefree friend scurry about, gathering up bits of random garments.
How much do you really love him Tatsuya?.... Ryo, are you too scared to find out for yourself?
[Hospital]
“Taguchi moved rooms?” Ueda tapped impatiently at his watch, “I’m on a very tight schedule madam so can I PLEASE see my German doctor before time runs out? Why did Taguchi move rooms anyway?”
The fat nurse from yesterday night gave him a funny look. “It’s all over the news! Someone shot a bullet into Taguchi-san’s room window and now the whole floor is closed for police inspection.”
“But I was-
Ueda bit his tongue. Right. Ryo’s mist spell must have changed everyone’s memory otherwise this lady would have testified that I was there and the police would be on my tail…
“Can I see Taguchi-san now?” he begged with a sickly sweet voice enough to make anyone swoon.
“I’m sorry Sir,” she shook her head, “He’s off-limits to the public right now. Official business, if ya know what I mean.”
“Listen lady,” the angel glared threateningly, “I’ve hired the German and a translator to come here today and I’m not sending them home because some retard took a pot shot at Junno’s window. His health is VERY official business and as the person paying his hospital bills, I DEMAND to see him RIGHT NOW-
“My my you have quite the temper Tatsuya-san,” a smooth, mellow stranger’s voice rang out from less than a foot behind him, making the angel jump.
“What the?! Who are you-“ Tatsuya’s sentence died off as soon as his took in the sight in front of him. The guy had wings. White wings. White wings tipped with gold.
A guardian angel. Oh SHIT…
[Ryo’s house]
“AHA!!” Ryo triumphed over his smartphone at last. The last surge of Tatsuya’s magic had almost broken it, and after a night’s toil, the app he used to track his friend was finally working again. He touched the icon and the screen buzzed into life, showing none other than a guardian angel standing a hair’s width away from Tatsuya in a hospital lobby.
Ryo rubbed his eyes, reloaded the app and tried again.
It was the same picture, this time zooming in on the guardian dragging Tatsuya around a dark corner somewhere inside the building, scowling.
Oh SHIT….
“Excuse me,” Ueda glared daggers at the angel who had just dragged him inside a stray operating theatre, “I hate to be rude but who in the living fuck are you and what do you want with me?”
The guardian angel looked personally offended and pointed to his wing tips, “I’m a GUARDIAN angel, you filthy thing. Can you not see the gold?” His arrogant tone made Tatsuya ready to grab the nearest scalpel and chop them off.
“I was asking for your name,” Tatsuya brushed some invisible lint off his clothes, “not your FUTURE position as a guardian angel. I’m not so blind as not to see the OBVIOUS silver band on your gold caps.”
“Hmph,” the angel huffed, “Very well.” He waved his hand and a piece of parchment materialised in the air. “In case you’re illiterate as well as filthy, I shall delight you with my voice. I am the great Jun, Matsumoto Jun, blessed with two names due to my noble standing family in Heaven, unlike the likes of you or your friends in Hell. I serve as an assistant to Archangel Gabriel in the Ministry of Education-
“Yeah whatever. I can read faster than your pompous fanfare,” Ueda tapped his foot impatiently, “I’ll repeat in case you’re deaf as well as narcissistic - what do you want with me?”
“Oh I IMPLORE you filthy traitor,” Matsumoto laughed dryly, “You know what kind of unmentionable things you’ve been up to since you were sent here. Your evil minion Ryo set a magical barrier that prevented Heaven from seeing your heinous acts, much like a high-level Mist spell. I expected no less from the heir to Hell but alas, justice always prevails and you have knocked down that barrier. Your sins are within plain sight to the Ministry! Surrender now and accept punishment!”
Ueda rubbed his temples and eyed the scalpels in the room again. “I see no point in that speech,” he yawned, “You have no right to punish me because I have not broken any one of the rules in a manner that requires an arrest warrant - especially fornication. I have no conscious recollections of magic use, have not fathered children so on what grounds do you find me guilty? Besides, any judgement can be made when I get to the bottom of my hourglass.”
The look on Matsumoto’s face was priceless.
He took a deep breath, re-arranged his robes and cleared his throat deliberately. “I’m not here for fun Tatsuya,” Matsumoto enunciated carefully, “Taguchi Junnosuke is my final thesis.”
[Corridor]
Curses!
Ryo stomped through the hospital, turning his head frantically in every direction. Teleporting there was no problem, but finding his kidnapped friend in a sea of corridors and disinfectant wasn’t.
Whoever took Tat-chan must have sealed up their auras and now I haven’t got a clue where they are!!
He cursed his luck. Since the last time his magical barrier broke, he had fixed it - only for it to be utterly destroyed again by Tatsuya’s magic the night before. He wished with all his might that Heaven would be kind enough to spell out Tatsuya’s entire story before he found him or things could get rather nasty, much like his server room is as of that moment. Heaven had sent a counter-attack at last.
Stumbling, the black-wing nearly tumbled backwards as Jin’s face came rushing around the corner like an excited puppy.
“Oh fuck can you watch where you’re going- AKANISHI?!” he hollered, “What are you DOING here?!” The last thing I need is humans meddling with a celestial kidnapping!
A deliberate cough came from behind Jin and a man in designer sunglasses sauntered out. “Ahem,” he folded his arms over his chest, “If you’ll excuse me, we’re here to see Taguchi-kun. Now please move out of the way.”
“You~” Ryo stifled a grin, “aren’t you the one who got completely annihilated by Tat-chan? The idol?”
Kamenashi removed his sunglasses and arched his eyebrows threateningly. “Indeed. But I’m over that. I’m here to see my friend and if you’d like to kindly direct us, it would be much appreciated. If not,” he sniffed, “move.”
“Kazuya,” Jin hushed, “I’m sure Nishikido-san’s here to see Taguchi as well, so let’s calm down-
“He’s GRINNING at the fact that his brutish friend punched me in the FACE and didn’t even say sorry!” the star pointed at Ryo, who was having trouble hiding his amusement.
“You seem to value your beautiful face,” the black-wing taunted just for fun, “Are all idols this stuck-up when they’re sober or is it just you- OOOOOWWWW!!!” He dropped to his knees suddenly as a pang of energy surged through his skull.
Tatsuya was near.
Without hesitation, Ryo lurched forward and grabbed Jin and Kame’s arm in an iron grip.
Kame recoiled at the physical treatment. “What do you think you’re-
The black wing summoned all his efforts just to keep in bodily contact. There was no way he would let the presence of two humans be noticed or they were as good as dead - neither Tatsuya in his present unstable state nor the guardian angel he was dealing with was predictable enough for Ryo not to worry. Sensing Tatsuya’s angry presence alone was enough to make him shiver. That angel could do anything.
I’m beginning to consider the lives of humans… This world is contagious.
“I suggest you shut up and stay still if you value your life,” he channelled his thoughts to both Kame and Jin, “and yes, you can hear my voice right now because I’m not human. Deal with it.”
Kame and Jin stared at each other like they had just seen Virgin Mary.
“Who are you and why can you read minds?!” Jin thought back.
“I told when we first met that I can read minds genius,” Ryo smiled, “This time I’m being serious. If you see anything, please pretend you can’t. I’m doing this to protect you but I also need to listen in on their conversation… Don’t struggle or my power may not be enough to hide you both - if you get busted, I’ll be the first to kill you dead. Got it?”
Both men nodded furiously.
The nodding quickly changed to shaking and incoherent swearing as Ryo turned on his heels and charged towards the nearest wall.
“Jin,” Kame squeezed open one eye, “We just passed through a solid plaster wall didn’t we?”
Jin looked around in what supposedly was the operating theatre on the other side of the wall, “Yep. But take a look at THOSE two…”
The idol almost passed out at the sight. The man who had punched him in the bar, Tatsuya, exerted a fearfully black aura. His wings (?!) were mottled with black and white feathers, bristling with the breeze he created…. Not to mention the dozens of surgical scalpels he had poised in mid-air, ready to fire at another angel in white robes who looked horrified. Kamenashi Kazuya decided of that moment to stop asking obvious question about why angels even existed.
“…Y-YOU!” the other angel screamed, “You filth! How did you bypass the magic control?! Where is all this power from?!”
“Beats me,” Tatsuya shrugged, “I found it on the pavement. Now, Do you want me to crucify you or are you going to tell me what you meant by your last statement?” The scalpels burst into blue flames and pointed towards Mastumoto.
“FINE FINE!!” the white-wing backed off slightly, “Put down your weapons and I’ll tell you!”
Ueda flicked a finger and the pieces of metal embedded themselves into the nearest wall. “I’m listening.”
Matsumoto rubbed his temples. “I’m actually here half on personal business,” he sighed, “As you can see, I’m not a fully-fledged guardian angel yet, and to pass my final exam I need to escort a human of my choice through a perfect life and into Heaven. Taguchi Junnosuke is my final thesis. I handpicked his parents, combined his genes and gave him the perfect start to life! He’s perfect, even his FLAWS are perfect! Perfect intelligence, perfect school, perfect life experience, perfect temper… everything was perfect! And then YOU came in! You tore him down a road of sin, lies and even destroyed his body! My grade point average has gone from an A++ to D- within a matter of months! If he stays with you, he’ll end up in Hell, my grades will be in the dirt so for the love of God will you just get OUT of his life?!”
For once in his life, Ueda Tatsuya did not have a witty reply.
“…No,” he finally managed to stammer, “you don’t own him… I’m not handing Junno over to a guardian who only cares about his own grades-
“You really don’t get it do you?” Matsumoto exasperated, “I CREATED him! I have full rights to apply for a resit on interference grounds and terminate his case RIGHT NOW! But I don’t want to do that because if I save him from you, bring him to God and make him into an inspirational figurehead, I’ll get my grades back! If you continue to be a filthy, selfish little git, I’m forced to terminate him. Simple. You either get the Hell out, or you are the cause of Taguchi Junnosuke’s death. Choose now or forever hold your peace.”
A.N. What would you do? Go away to keep Junno alive or let him be teminated then fight for the rights to his soul?
Ueda shook slightly as his spine tingled with a sensation similar to that of a creeping vine. When the feeling made its way up to his head, his vision blanked for a split-second - and the huge window in Junno’s room shattered with a thunderous crash akin to 500 concert crash cymbals.
Ryo’s phone display went static and the machine cackled with a power surge.
“FUCK!!!” he tossed it to the other side of his basement, blowing on his slightly charred fingers.
What in living hell was THAT?! His powers are locked aren’t they?! There’s no way he could summon that much power to destroy a window without even lifting a finger… Unless… Heaven knows. OH GOD.
When Ueda’s eyes opened, Junno almost gasped out loud. His slightly grumpy, but nonetheless kind lover was nowhere to be seen (considering he’s just dumped him and all). Instead, a pair of glowing red eyes stared back at him, with a blind fury that threatened to decapitate him. The terror radiating out of him would be enough to drive a man to suicide.
“I’m not good enough am I?” a maddening, quiet cackle came from his lips. He bit them so hard they bled a crimson thread down his chin. “Not good enough to be with you… I can do anything apart from keep you safe. Well wouldn’t it be better if I sent you to the place of eternal rest?” Wings now fully visible, he spread them and knocked over the bdeside lamps. Feathers were already mottled as the dye was fading… the patches of black and white seemed to clash violently - almost like they were fighting a war.
He edged closer, face now pulled into a hideous grin as if pulled by some unseen force. The blood kept flowing down his neck.
“U-Uepi…?” Junno squeaked and pulled his blankets up like a child frightened by monsters in his closet, “…you’re… not… him, are you?”
“Maybe this IS me Junnosuke…” the creature grinned wider and laughed like a maniac. He came closer still. “You claim to love me but you don’t love me enough do you? Not all of me…” He stood by Junno’s bedside, fists clutched and ready to lash out.
“You wanna bet?” Junno forced himself to level his breathing and reach forward into Ueda’s right hand. Prying open the fists of steel, he removed the ring, glad that it wasn’t yet bent out of shape. “I have nothing to lose by saying this - I love you Ueda Tatsuya. If this is a test by God then I’m set to pass. I love you no matter what you are-
“YOU DON’T!!” the angel was in tears now. Blood red tears. “YOU DON’T LOVE ME ENOUGH TO REALISE HOW MUCH I NEED YOU!!!”
He tried to wrench his hand away but Junno held on for dear life. “I know Uepi I know…” he kissed the back of his hand tenderly, “But look at me… I’m nothing short of a burden. But I’m still shameless enough to say I love you.” He slipped the ring deftly onto the seething angel’s ring finger. “When are you going to send me to eternal rest?”
“TATSUYA DON’T DO IT!!!!” Ryo crashed through the door just as Ueda was raising his hand to cast a spell. “REMOVE YOURSELF FROM MAGIC OR MY BARRIERS WON’T BE STRONG ENOUGH TO KEEP YOU HIDDEN!!!”
Ueda gave him a fleeting look. Upon seeing the colour of his bloody eyes, Ryo faltered for just long enough for his friend to flick a finger.
He catapulted across the room and smashed into a wall with a sickening crack.
“Your…eyes…” Ryo spat out a mouthful of blood, “…eyes…”
Ueda sauntered closer, grin still plastered on his face. “What about my eyes Ryo-chan? Are YOU trying to get in my way too? Let me dispose of you first- uh- ARGH” The mottled angle took two steps back, clutching his head. “Ryo… RUN…” he choked out, battling with a monster inside him. “I don’t know what happening but take Junno and RUN! Or I’ll- AAHH!!!” The blood-curdling scream as he fell to the ground unconscious rang out like a gunshot.
Then all was still.
[The next morning, Ueda residence]
The smell of bacon and eggs woke Ueda from his slumber. The last thing he remembered was Junno dumping him at the hospital, yet he was back home and somebody was cooking in his kitchen?
“Awake?” Ryo marched into his room without knocking and set down a tray of breakfast on his lap, “Then eat up. We gotta talk man…. We gotta talk.”
“About what?” Ueda huffed as his inhaled his food, “He dumped me, I probably fainted from shock and now you want to rub it in my face?”
Ryo stared. “You remember NOTHING?!”
“About WHAT?!” Ueda snapped, “If you can’t see, I’ve just been dumped and I’m quite depressed. Do I HAVE to demonstrate how razor blades are used in times like these?!” He sarcastically made a cutting motion across his wrists with a butter knife.
“You almost killed me last night with destruction magic, I made you breakfast in bed like a housewife and now you complain YOU’RE the victim?!” Ryo rolled his eyes, “I take it that you have no clue what a monster you became last night but good lord can’t you respect me for COOKING?!”
“No,” Ueda shovelled another mouthful of food down, “because kindergarten level cooking magic requires no talent nor effort. Nice eggs, by the way. Are they quail?”
“Are you playing dumb or do I have to spell out how severe this situation is?!” Ryo exasperated. If this was how Taguchi acted on a daily basis, he understood why Tatsuya was constantly at odds with him. “You went ballistic, destroyed my phone AND my barrier and now Heaven can see EXACTLY what’s happening here!!”
“So what?! My relationship with Taguchi Jerk-nosuke is OVER!” Ueda put down his fork. “What can they possibly want me for?!”
“Dude! YOUR magic broke the restraints and a mighty expensive hospital window! I had to cover it with Mist magic and now Tokyo is looking for a mad gunman who supposedly shot it! This is out of control!”
“So my destructive powers went out of whack because I got angry,” Ueda stretched his arms, “Big deal!
“…” Ryo could only gape. “…Are you for real?!”
“That rhymes,” Ueda stared blankly, “And yes. I’m past caring now. If Heaven wants me back, they can. If they don’t, then I’m quite happy to stay here and be a freeloader.”
“If they take you back,” Ryo warned, “You’ll be a lab rat.”
“How so?”
The black-wing sighed and clapped over a pile of data. “NOBODY, and I mean nobody who isn’t an archangel, could break through that magic restraint. Definitely not enough to unleash THAT amount of power and hurt me, Hell’s son, in a fight. Do you even know how much power you have? I had my suspicions when your healing powers cured Taguchi of bronchitis in a single night but I thought it was impossible… Now it looks like you’re not normal.”
“Thanks, I love being called a freak too.” Ueda pulled a sour face.
“Welcome,” Ryo shot back, “But what I really want to know is about your eyes… last night, they were red.”
“I’m a flippin’ white-wing!” Tatsuya sniffed, “It’s genetically impossible for my eyes to glow red!”
“BUT THEY DID. AND YOU CAN’T ESCAPE THAT FACT.”
“You know what? This conversation’s over,” the bedridden angel got up, “I’m going to the hospital.”
“Why?” his friend asked, “I thought you two were over?”
“The nerve stem cell expert is coming from Germany today,” Ueda hurried to find his clothes, “I have to be there!”
Ryo watched his normally carefree friend scurry about, gathering up bits of random garments.
How much do you really love him Tatsuya?.... Ryo, are you too scared to find out for yourself?
[Hospital]
“Taguchi moved rooms?” Ueda tapped impatiently at his watch, “I’m on a very tight schedule madam so can I PLEASE see my German doctor before time runs out? Why did Taguchi move rooms anyway?”
The fat nurse from yesterday night gave him a funny look. “It’s all over the news! Someone shot a bullet into Taguchi-san’s room window and now the whole floor is closed for police inspection.”
“But I was-
Ueda bit his tongue. Right. Ryo’s mist spell must have changed everyone’s memory otherwise this lady would have testified that I was there and the police would be on my tail…
“Can I see Taguchi-san now?” he begged with a sickly sweet voice enough to make anyone swoon.
“I’m sorry Sir,” she shook her head, “He’s off-limits to the public right now. Official business, if ya know what I mean.”
“Listen lady,” the angel glared threateningly, “I’ve hired the German and a translator to come here today and I’m not sending them home because some retard took a pot shot at Junno’s window. His health is VERY official business and as the person paying his hospital bills, I DEMAND to see him RIGHT NOW-
“My my you have quite the temper Tatsuya-san,” a smooth, mellow stranger’s voice rang out from less than a foot behind him, making the angel jump.
“What the?! Who are you-“ Tatsuya’s sentence died off as soon as his took in the sight in front of him. The guy had wings. White wings. White wings tipped with gold.
A guardian angel. Oh SHIT…
[Ryo’s house]
“AHA!!” Ryo triumphed over his smartphone at last. The last surge of Tatsuya’s magic had almost broken it, and after a night’s toil, the app he used to track his friend was finally working again. He touched the icon and the screen buzzed into life, showing none other than a guardian angel standing a hair’s width away from Tatsuya in a hospital lobby.
Ryo rubbed his eyes, reloaded the app and tried again.
It was the same picture, this time zooming in on the guardian dragging Tatsuya around a dark corner somewhere inside the building, scowling.
Oh SHIT….
“Excuse me,” Ueda glared daggers at the angel who had just dragged him inside a stray operating theatre, “I hate to be rude but who in the living fuck are you and what do you want with me?”
The guardian angel looked personally offended and pointed to his wing tips, “I’m a GUARDIAN angel, you filthy thing. Can you not see the gold?” His arrogant tone made Tatsuya ready to grab the nearest scalpel and chop them off.
“I was asking for your name,” Tatsuya brushed some invisible lint off his clothes, “not your FUTURE position as a guardian angel. I’m not so blind as not to see the OBVIOUS silver band on your gold caps.”
“Hmph,” the angel huffed, “Very well.” He waved his hand and a piece of parchment materialised in the air. “In case you’re illiterate as well as filthy, I shall delight you with my voice. I am the great Jun, Matsumoto Jun, blessed with two names due to my noble standing family in Heaven, unlike the likes of you or your friends in Hell. I serve as an assistant to Archangel Gabriel in the Ministry of Education-
“Yeah whatever. I can read faster than your pompous fanfare,” Ueda tapped his foot impatiently, “I’ll repeat in case you’re deaf as well as narcissistic - what do you want with me?”
“Oh I IMPLORE you filthy traitor,” Matsumoto laughed dryly, “You know what kind of unmentionable things you’ve been up to since you were sent here. Your evil minion Ryo set a magical barrier that prevented Heaven from seeing your heinous acts, much like a high-level Mist spell. I expected no less from the heir to Hell but alas, justice always prevails and you have knocked down that barrier. Your sins are within plain sight to the Ministry! Surrender now and accept punishment!”
Ueda rubbed his temples and eyed the scalpels in the room again. “I see no point in that speech,” he yawned, “You have no right to punish me because I have not broken any one of the rules in a manner that requires an arrest warrant - especially fornication. I have no conscious recollections of magic use, have not fathered children so on what grounds do you find me guilty? Besides, any judgement can be made when I get to the bottom of my hourglass.”
The look on Matsumoto’s face was priceless.
He took a deep breath, re-arranged his robes and cleared his throat deliberately. “I’m not here for fun Tatsuya,” Matsumoto enunciated carefully, “Taguchi Junnosuke is my final thesis.”
[Corridor]
Curses!
Ryo stomped through the hospital, turning his head frantically in every direction. Teleporting there was no problem, but finding his kidnapped friend in a sea of corridors and disinfectant wasn’t.
Whoever took Tat-chan must have sealed up their auras and now I haven’t got a clue where they are!!
He cursed his luck. Since the last time his magical barrier broke, he had fixed it - only for it to be utterly destroyed again by Tatsuya’s magic the night before. He wished with all his might that Heaven would be kind enough to spell out Tatsuya’s entire story before he found him or things could get rather nasty, much like his server room is as of that moment. Heaven had sent a counter-attack at last.
Stumbling, the black-wing nearly tumbled backwards as Jin’s face came rushing around the corner like an excited puppy.
“Oh fuck can you watch where you’re going- AKANISHI?!” he hollered, “What are you DOING here?!” The last thing I need is humans meddling with a celestial kidnapping!
A deliberate cough came from behind Jin and a man in designer sunglasses sauntered out. “Ahem,” he folded his arms over his chest, “If you’ll excuse me, we’re here to see Taguchi-kun. Now please move out of the way.”
“You~” Ryo stifled a grin, “aren’t you the one who got completely annihilated by Tat-chan? The idol?”
Kamenashi removed his sunglasses and arched his eyebrows threateningly. “Indeed. But I’m over that. I’m here to see my friend and if you’d like to kindly direct us, it would be much appreciated. If not,” he sniffed, “move.”
“Kazuya,” Jin hushed, “I’m sure Nishikido-san’s here to see Taguchi as well, so let’s calm down-
“He’s GRINNING at the fact that his brutish friend punched me in the FACE and didn’t even say sorry!” the star pointed at Ryo, who was having trouble hiding his amusement.
“You seem to value your beautiful face,” the black-wing taunted just for fun, “Are all idols this stuck-up when they’re sober or is it just you- OOOOOWWWW!!!” He dropped to his knees suddenly as a pang of energy surged through his skull.
Tatsuya was near.
Without hesitation, Ryo lurched forward and grabbed Jin and Kame’s arm in an iron grip.
Kame recoiled at the physical treatment. “What do you think you’re-
The black wing summoned all his efforts just to keep in bodily contact. There was no way he would let the presence of two humans be noticed or they were as good as dead - neither Tatsuya in his present unstable state nor the guardian angel he was dealing with was predictable enough for Ryo not to worry. Sensing Tatsuya’s angry presence alone was enough to make him shiver. That angel could do anything.
I’m beginning to consider the lives of humans… This world is contagious.
“I suggest you shut up and stay still if you value your life,” he channelled his thoughts to both Kame and Jin, “and yes, you can hear my voice right now because I’m not human. Deal with it.”
Kame and Jin stared at each other like they had just seen Virgin Mary.
“Who are you and why can you read minds?!” Jin thought back.
“I told when we first met that I can read minds genius,” Ryo smiled, “This time I’m being serious. If you see anything, please pretend you can’t. I’m doing this to protect you but I also need to listen in on their conversation… Don’t struggle or my power may not be enough to hide you both - if you get busted, I’ll be the first to kill you dead. Got it?”
Both men nodded furiously.
The nodding quickly changed to shaking and incoherent swearing as Ryo turned on his heels and charged towards the nearest wall.
“Jin,” Kame squeezed open one eye, “We just passed through a solid plaster wall didn’t we?”
Jin looked around in what supposedly was the operating theatre on the other side of the wall, “Yep. But take a look at THOSE two…”
The idol almost passed out at the sight. The man who had punched him in the bar, Tatsuya, exerted a fearfully black aura. His wings (?!) were mottled with black and white feathers, bristling with the breeze he created…. Not to mention the dozens of surgical scalpels he had poised in mid-air, ready to fire at another angel in white robes who looked horrified. Kamenashi Kazuya decided of that moment to stop asking obvious question about why angels even existed.
“…Y-YOU!” the other angel screamed, “You filth! How did you bypass the magic control?! Where is all this power from?!”
“Beats me,” Tatsuya shrugged, “I found it on the pavement. Now, Do you want me to crucify you or are you going to tell me what you meant by your last statement?” The scalpels burst into blue flames and pointed towards Mastumoto.
“FINE FINE!!” the white-wing backed off slightly, “Put down your weapons and I’ll tell you!”
Ueda flicked a finger and the pieces of metal embedded themselves into the nearest wall. “I’m listening.”
Matsumoto rubbed his temples. “I’m actually here half on personal business,” he sighed, “As you can see, I’m not a fully-fledged guardian angel yet, and to pass my final exam I need to escort a human of my choice through a perfect life and into Heaven. Taguchi Junnosuke is my final thesis. I handpicked his parents, combined his genes and gave him the perfect start to life! He’s perfect, even his FLAWS are perfect! Perfect intelligence, perfect school, perfect life experience, perfect temper… everything was perfect! And then YOU came in! You tore him down a road of sin, lies and even destroyed his body! My grade point average has gone from an A++ to D- within a matter of months! If he stays with you, he’ll end up in Hell, my grades will be in the dirt so for the love of God will you just get OUT of his life?!”
For once in his life, Ueda Tatsuya did not have a witty reply.
“…No,” he finally managed to stammer, “you don’t own him… I’m not handing Junno over to a guardian who only cares about his own grades-
“You really don’t get it do you?” Matsumoto exasperated, “I CREATED him! I have full rights to apply for a resit on interference grounds and terminate his case RIGHT NOW! But I don’t want to do that because if I save him from you, bring him to God and make him into an inspirational figurehead, I’ll get my grades back! If you continue to be a filthy, selfish little git, I’m forced to terminate him. Simple. You either get the Hell out, or you are the cause of Taguchi Junnosuke’s death. Choose now or forever hold your peace.”
A.N. What would you do? Go away to keep Junno alive or let him be teminated then fight for the rights to his soul?