Chapter Text
(picture: Kamijo as Metatron and Ruki as Kindel-Angel of Karma)
† Curse named human †
~ New Generation ~
[(ke:s neimd `hju:men nju: dgena’reishan)]
Part 01
Back in heaven
~ Celebration of 200 years of peace ~
Heaven was in high spirits these days and they had every reason to be.
Two hundred years had passed since the last prophecy has been fulfilled and heaven and hell reigned in consensual peace over their respectful worlds. New agreements and peace treaties have been made and even the mightiest Angel, Kamijo aka Metatron, couldn't recall having ever lived in a more peaceful time. Sure, technology and modern faith of humans on earth moved them further away from a believe in their immortal soul but even this was a matter able to be dealt with. As long as there was hope, God and his Angels would fight for Love.
The feast in heaven was spectacular. As it was always warm in their habitat, the whole park was decorated for an outdoor feast with lights, music and dances. All Angels were invited and everybody came, it was impossible to cross from one end of the park to another. Talking and laughing filled the air, a wholesome feeling of friendship and love was all around.
Kamijo stood underneath an old oak tree at the end of the park and observed 'his children' in silence, drinking in the atmosphere of ease and joy. He even took this day off from work and thought back to what they have all accomplished together.
“I do miss the good old days when we had to deal with the plague or the inquisition. Today we have to deal with teenagers who get burn outs from staring too long at their mobile phones.”
Ruki had joined Kamijo's spot underneath the tree and leaned against it with his hands crossed over his chest. He was the Kindel-Angel, the Angel in charge of each souls' Akasha chronic and responsible for every one's life plan and judge of their karma. If it came to change, he knew best, he had seen it all.
“Sarcasm, old friend.” Kamijo smiled and looked down onto the much smaller grown Angel.
“Where would we be without sarcasm....” Ruki gazed into the distance and observed the older and younger Angels, souls which he all knew personally.
“But in one point you are right: We are living in a decrease of faith, hope and love again.”
Ruki nodded. “The invisible threats are always the most dangerous ones.”
Happy howls from a group nearby disturbed their conversation, as new arrivals greeted each other and exchanged gruff words of affection.
“I cannot believe to have lived two hundred years up in heaven, only to see your ugly face every day in training.” Asagi shouted over to his colorful and pierced friend who made his way towards him with an arm outstretched to hug and clap him playfully on his shoulder.
“On the contrary man, you have the honor to share your training with my enlightened self.” Hitsugi countered and looked around. “You came here alone?”
“Yeah, the others were busy and I didn't want you to be all alone here so I hurried to get your sorry ass first.” Asagi beamed and Hitsugi shook his head. He hooked one arm over Asagi's back and explained to him. “You know this is not true. A good looking Angel like me is not alone for long. The girls can't keep their eyes off me.” Hitsugi pointed at a few surrounding Angels around them who were heavily engaged in their laughs and talks but nobody minded them.
“I can see that but we know that the only one who looks at you constantly is your all time fan.”
Hitsugi pulled down his arm and rolled his eyes. “I cannot believe it... TWO hundred years of one sided friendship.”
Asagi grinned gleefully. “I admire his stamina though..... and speaking of which...”
They heard him before they saw him. Kentaro, a young Angel whom they lived their last life on earth with, had discovered the two of them in the crowd and waved and shouted over to them. “ASAGI! HITSUGI!” He always found them or more specifically Hitsugi, whom he crushed on since the first time he lay eyes on him. He had even proposed to Hitsugi on earth once which almost put 'PAID' on the poor fellows coffin. The enthusiasm was entirely one-sided.
“Asagi, let's go!” Hitsugi wanted to pull him away but the dark haired Angel remained standing and hold onto Hitsugi. “Now how rude would that be. Be nice and say hello to our friend.”
“Your friend!”
“Whatever....” Asagi smiled at Kenken who came to a stop in front of them. He beamed at the two senior Angels and shook both their hands, he kept on holding Hitsugi's hand longer than necessary until the older Angel pulled his hand back annoyed. It amused Asagi immensely to observe the cat and mouse game Kenken was playing with his grumpy old friend. In fact, he even encouraged it and had given Hitsugi's location away more than once. The boasting on Hitsugi's side about 'hot Angel chicks' was only in his imagination. Even for Angel-standards, Hitsugi was too strange with his physical appearance and rough talk. That was also the reason why he and Asagi were trained by Karyu, Leader of the Angel of Revenge-army to become the new generation inside the Angel army.
“I am so glad to have found you two!” Kenken continued and it was Asagi who did the talking, not counting the sarcastic remarks from his foul mouthed friend. “So lovely to see you too, how is your training coming along?” Kenken was training to be a teacher for young arriving souls in heaven.
“Excellent! I couldn't ask for a better teacher. Takanori is AMAZING with every Angel he encounters. I can't wait to finally teach the young souls, it will be so nice!”
The thing about Kenken was that after he started talking, he hardly stopped. Hitsugi made a bored face and turned around to simply walk away. That usually shut Kenken up and ended in him whining and running after Hitsugi, holding onto his arm from behind but only for a short while until Hitsugi pulled away again. Asagi smiled at himself and followed the merry group of two into the crowd. They were looking for their old friend and superior, Hakuei, who was only ever seen together with Toshiya..... and to find Toshiya was never hard, even in a crowd like this.
An murmur went through the crowd at the other side of the park and Angels stepped back to gave room to a new arriving couple. And it was a sight to see: The Seraphim with six wings, the highest Angels after Metatron, were quite a sight to see. Toshiya has been promoted to the ranks of Seraphim and was the new Angel of time after Kazuki's unfortunate death. His healing ability became stronger too and next to his Seraphim duties, he kept on healing Angels too.
Hakuei on the other hand was something completely different now. After his immortal soul had been killed during the last war and as a former carrier of the prophecy, his soul had been found reincarnated on earth and brought back to heaven by Toshiya himself. Understandingly, a soul which went through these kind of experiences could never be fully normal again. He was working for the Cherubim as a medium now and his gaze was always kind of aloof. His silence completed the whole image.
Asagi and Hitsugi, who were still followed by Kenken, walked towards their old friends. Toshiya spotted them before Hakuei did and waved slightly with his unengaged hand while the other was hooked into Hakuei's arm.
“Friends! So good to see you!” Toshiya greeted and Hakuei nodded with is head friendly, murmuring a 'hello'.
“Glad that you were able to come, as a Seraphim you are always busy.” Hitsugi said and Toshiya shrugged.
“Can't be helped, there is always a lot to do. But I guess when even Metatron is showing up, then we have to do so too.”
“Where is your second lover / friend / son?” Asagi wanted to know and Toshiya chuckled while Hakuei rolled his eyes jokingly and said. “Glad that you have asked Asagi. I'm just glad to not share our bed with him too.”
“Hakuei! He is my best friend and I might remind you superior too as a fellow Seraphim.”
“I know and I too love him like a son.” Hakuei smiled at Toshiya who looked very happy.
“Sakito is special, there is no better healing Angel among us Seraphim, he is truly a light of hope.”
At the opposite side of the park, there was live music and singing. Angels were sitting on the ground peacefully and listened to the ethereal singing of the female choir, they enjoyed the otherworldly music very much. Among them was the youngest of the Seraphim, Sakito, who just loved music and enjoyed listening to it alone. He was not the only one listening to it alone though. Underneath a large willow tree, an introverted Angel listened to it far away from the crowd.
As a former secret service Angel, Reita was used to work alone and preferred to be alone in everything that he did. When it came to music though, even he came out of his comfort zone. As a highly emphatic Angel, he came out of the shadows not too long ago and was trained as a normal Angel too. Now he learned how to be a high sensitive medium for the Angels in heaven. To sharpen his senses, half of his face was always covered with a piece of cloth. But no one minded. He was a loner and not the only one in heaven to be one.
Not too long ago, Reita had been discovered in his invisible state by Kenken, so Kamijo had decided to train him as a normal Angel since spies were in no use these days anyway. But a life in the open was still quite hard for him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The third Seraphim of the group was not taking part in the festivity. He tossed on his bed all alone. The sound of the celebration and laughter outside the castle mirrored antics which he couldn't understand nor follow. Too much noise, too much happiness, a celebration for two hundred years of peace....but to him: Two hundred years of pain, to be exact. He was Aiji, Seraphim of moods and feelings and because of that he was especially sensible.
He always avoided large crowds because he could feel and hear what the Angels were thinking and feeling and believe it or not, not everything was positive or lovingly. Each soul carried their own burden and he felt it a hundredfold. The ability to blend it all out decreased more and more over the last decades because of a loss which hit him harder than ever anticipated: Kazuki, former Seraphim of time, sacrificed himself to stop time in the mighty fight two hundred years ago. This void had never been filled, not even by Toshiya who had been promoted to become the fellow Seraphim of time after his return to heaven.
Kazuki was the only one who had ever truly knew him, who could read him like an open book although he hardly ever talked. Kazuki understood him blindly.... to Aiji, he was the unconfessed love of his immortal life. His protector when situations became chaotic, a shield of pure white light. No matter what situations they were confronted with, it has always been Kazuki who dashed into the situation like a knight in shining armor, never afraid of the outcome, a true and brave Angel at heart.
Although it was Aiji's job and talent to hold the balance of feelings, thoughts and moods, Kazuki always had his back in a non persistent, wonderful way. But not any more.
“Be strong for the Seraphim, heaven and for us.” His last words before the only light in Aiji’s life had vanished. And now he wished that he had just told him.... how much he had meant to him, how grateful he was of him and his hard work.... a chance which he would never get again.
Aiji covered his eyes with his hands. Why was he still here? He would have died happily for any of them. They were both worth so much more than him.
Not only Kazuki had died that day. Kai, Seraphim and healing Angel was killed because of a love triangle, caused by Kyo's own hand but whom was killed that day too. They had all lost a lot of friends during the last war.
Angels could call him sentimental but he was in no mood to celebrate anything.
Aiji encircled his body with his large wings as he lay there all alone in his single bedroom in the mighty sky castle. The moon shone over his far too thin silhouette and his bony arms were hugged tightly around his chest.
As an Angel of moods and feelings he was able to control and guide the feelings of others, even able to control actions… a mighty power which needed absolute discipline and attention. He guessed that this was the reason why no one of them ever confessed or made the first step.
Aiji carried a heavy burden and a responsibility which could never be distraught by anything. Every act he was able to carry out could change destinies.
In truth: He was a secret weapon.
And he was slowly loosing it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The ethereal choir kept on singing and Sakito stared lost in thoughts into the distance while the tender summer breeze grazed over his angelic wings. He was sitting on the grass and had his legs pulled up to his chest while he leaned with his chin on his knees. Music transported his thoughts far away and the memory which came up in his mind was quite a surprise....
flashback
The voices in his head sounded far away and he couldn't make out any words nor the meaning of it. There was hectic around him, several Angels were with him and they all talked at the same time. A heavy pain in his breast made breathing unbearable and when Sakito finally opened his eyes, a bright white light blended him and made it impossible for him to see. With a loud and long gasp, he awoke in heaven and at that time he was still unaware that Ni~ya and Uruha let his soul slip to let him return into heaven.
“I got him!” The voice belonged to Takanori.
“Is his soul damaged?!” A second voice shouted and he felt his hands being hold. Within the moment, Sakito recognized the voice but it didn't make any sense. Aoi? He should be in New York, he left me on earth!
“Not too much, he just needs a cleansing-” Takanori stopped talking when he saw Sakito pulling on Aoi's hands to move into a sitting position. But his now angelic body cramped and he fell back. Takanori moved over to Sakito and placed a hand over his eyes. “See you later my friend.” And his vision became black again.
So, his return to heaven had been quite bumpy but the biggest shock was about to come when he found out about the whole truth. A few days later, Sakito opened his eyes in his new private quarters and the person or Angel sitting on his bed was rather unexpected. Sakito moved up into a sitting position and looked silently at Aoi.
“I am very sorry about your premature death.” Aoi started and Sakito narrowed his eyes.
“Is this all you can say now?! And why are you here?”
Aoi nodded understandingly and explained. “Because I was your Guardian Angel on earth.”
Now that made Sakito entirely speechless. “But how? You were a human when I met you on earth.”
Aoi looked back at Saki. “That was only an illusion, I have always been an immortal-”
The slap across his cheek came as a surprise and shut the older Angel up.
“How dare you starting something with me back then and simply leaving me behind?!”
Aoi nodded and leaned with his elbows on his knees. “That was wrong, I admit but.... it always takes two to dance a Tango.”
Sakito blushed and pulled his comforter up to his chest. Aoi smiled at him and stretched his arm towards him. Sakito moved back but Aoi said “I won't hurt you, see” and placed his index finger on Sakito's forehead. A movie played in front of his inner eyes and scenes formed:
Aoi got dumped by his protege Ryutaro... his sense of living had been lost... him taking on the task to watch Sakito on earth as his new Guardian Angel... Sakito flirting with him and Aoi breaking it off... instead of going to New York he really returned to heaven to watch Sakito from up here.... Sakito following shortly afterward because of his premature death...
The vision stopped and Sakito opened his eyes. He nodded and understood. Aoi left him before anything could start because of his bad experience in the past. It was the right thing for him to do and Sakito whispered: “I'm sorry for causing trouble.”
Aoi smirked and shook his head. “There was no trouble, it was my fault too. I'm just happy to have your soul back here.” He paused and then continued without looking at Sakito. “When I was very broken, I was asked to protect an unknown reborn soul on earth because it was very precious and dear to heaven. And I said yes.” Aoi placed his hand over Sakito's. “You saved me, Saki, in a way when no one else could. I'm glad that we have met.”
Sakito smiled. “Thank you, for everything.”
Aoi pulled back his hand. “You are very welcome.” When Saki looked at Aoi with one question in his eyes, the older Angel went on: “Is this about Ni~ya?”
“What happened to him?! Is he alive?”
The pause which followed bode no good and Saki was afraid for what was about to come. “He is alive, more or less but no matter what state he is in, he can never return to heaven again.”
“What do you mean?”
“Saki, Ni~ya is a Demon.” The young Angel clapped his hands over his mouth and continued stuttering. “That's impossible, he was so nice! B-but why did he help me then? Aren't Demons supposed to be evil?”
Aoi scratched his head. “Well, his case is complicated...”
It was much later when Sakito was introduced to heaven's system, that he found out the whole truth through his own Akasha chronic. The shock hit him deeply and discovering that their bond went even deeper over several life times before, was a fact he had to chew on for weeks. That he would never be able to see him again as long as he was in heaven didn't ease the fact. He had no idea about Ni~ya's whereabouts, how he was doing or what he was thinking. Nothing. Over two centuries.... nothing.
End of flashback
Sakito jolted when he felt a hand on his shoulder and it took him a moment to realized that he was still in the park, listening to the angelic choir.
“Toshiya!” The young Angel shoot up and hugged his best friend. Hakuei smiled next to them and Hitsugi teased him about not getting jealous in his old age but the older Angel didn't care.
“So you came all alone after all...” Toshiya realized and Sakito nodded sadly.
“I tried to get Aiji out of his room but you know how he is. The psychological sensations would be too much.” Toshiya nodded but Sakito could tell that he didn't buy it either. They both knew that Aiji's mental health was more and more spiraling downwards.
“Even Reita came to the event.” Toshiya realized when he saw the Angel in the distance.
“I know! Can you believe that? We need to talk to Aiji these days....” Sakito said and Toshiya nodded approvingly.
The music suddenly stopped and the Angels on stage moved back when Kamijo entered the stage and stopped at the front. All Angels in the audience stood up and were quiet now.
“My dear Children, welcome to the festivities in remembrance of 200 years of peace. On this day, we are not only thankful for our lives in abundance and love but we are also thankful to those who have left our realms prematurely through war, hate and grief. This is also a celebration in memory of all our friends whom we have lost, of all our loved ones who sacrificed themselves for us and future generations. Let us be thankful for where we are today and think of them.” A moment of silence followed before Kamijo continued. “I am sure that you are all aware of the recent spirit of time. Technology replaces faith and material goods became more important than love or the immortal soul. But do not be discouraged, we have fought big wars before and heaven will always prevail. Have faith, love will win, always and forever.” Kamijo stepped back and the crowd cheered and clapped for him. That was also when the music started playing again and the little groups went back to their chatting.
In the far back, a group of four important Angels stood together and listened to their boss' speech as well. The old Archangels were always present when it came to official meetings: Mana, Archangel of Earth, hide, Archangel of fire, Shizumi, new Archangel of wind after Kyo's death and Kami, Archangel of water. Kami was the one of them who had suffered the most after the last fight. He balled his fist and looked down to the ground when Kamijo spoke of those who have left. Kai, Seraphim of Love and Light died in a way how no one ever should. Coldly murdered by one of their close friends, Kyo, who ended up dead as well. His death should console Kami's soul but it didn't. They were all loosers here, nothing was ever gained from war and fighting. But it didn't change the fact that he had lost the only love he ever had. A love which was unreplaceable.
He had lost his voice that day. Not that he can't talk anymore but he just stopped. Moreover, his long brown hair had lost it's color when his energy was sucked out during the cross' fight and since that day he had long white hair which was in no contrast to his fair white skin. He, like Aiji, stood beside himself but did a better job in covering it. He functioned to say the least. The others did their best to include him in any activities but the fun, his temper and loud mouth had just vanished. He and Karyu used to be the loud mouths in heaven.... a time he can hardly recall now.
Kami jolted when he felt a tender hand brushing through his long white hair and looking up, he found Mana's lovely gaze lying on him. Kami smiled half-heartedly. It was Mana's way to cheer him up, to make him feel that he is not alone in his thoughts. Kami thanked him silently. Sometimes, time couldn't heal all wounds.
“If you will excuse me.” Kami said and turned away from the group to go back to heavenly castle to find something to work on.
Hide breathed out loudly and Shizumi nodded as if he understood the antics. They had tried everything to bring Kami's spirit back in one way or another but this was the Angel he had become. Sometimes, time didn't heal all wounds.
Ruki clapped after Kamijo's beautiful speech and nodded at another arriving Angel who made his way through the crowd towards him underneath the tree. Dark haired and far taller, Aoi leaned against the tree. “I think this is the first time I see you outside your office or the library.”
“You know what? I think you're right..... and here we are, two sad souls joined in celebration.”
“What do you say about Metatron's speech?” Aoi wanted to know but Ruki remained silent. “Ah come on, like I'm telling anybody.”
“It's no secret that a new wave of hopelessness is hitting this generation.... we are preparing for a new kind of threat.”
“What can we do about it?” Aoi asked and Ruki looked up at him. “You know how it goes, we will find out only when it's too late.” Aoi smirked while Ruki continued. “But let's start somewhere closer to home: What about you?”
Aoi looked at Ruki but couldn't say anything. He lost his gaze in the distance and spotted the only two Seraphim easily in the crowd. Ruki of course noticed it. “Searching for a new sense in life, like always...” Ruki added but Aoi left it uncommented this time.
While Toshiya and Sakito were standing in a little group together with Hakuei, the two notorious bigmouths stood behind them and had a heated argument about their training the other day.
“.... and I tell you my strike in training session yesterday was perfect! I don't understand why our coach disqualified me!” Hitsugi nagged and Asagi countered. “Maybe because you send the poor Angel into unconsciousness because of your unnecessary fierce attack?!”
“Figures! We have to train for cases of emergency, it was absolutely justified-” Hitsugi's breath got caught in his throat when a heavy arm slammed into his neck and a much taller and stronger Angel took his head underneath his arm. “You are talking too much as always!”
“Karyu-sama!” Asagi bent down deeply.
“Hey Asagi, how're you doing? Still in pain from the training session yesterday?” Karyu kept on talking to Asagi while he kept on holding Hitsugi's head, muting him out.
“Everything's fine. Can't wait to train some more.”
“Good.” Karyu nodded and finally looked down to the struggling Angel underneath his arm. “Heeeeeeey Hitsugi, never seen you this quiet before.” Karyu released him and Hitsugi slumped to the ground in dire need of air. “Thank you so much for releasing me before I died!”
“You are already dead.” Karyu countered dryly and turned his head slightly aside when Hizumi touched him on his shoulder gently to calm him down. Hizumi knew how much Karyu enjoyed to tease the new AOR-cadets but he had a good heart and sincerely cared about his fighting group of Cherubim Angels.
A tender Angel made his way through the bulky power of AOR-Angels to Hitsugi who sat on the floor sulking. Kenken knelt down and put his hands on Hitsugi's arm who pulled away his arm immediately. “Don't you have anywhere else to be?!”
After two hundred years, Kenken got used to Hitsugi's sharp tone which easily cut like a knife. But he didn't care. “Actually I do, at your side.” The black haired Angel looked at his crazy friend with round dark eyes and smiled at him beautifully but all Hitsugi did was shaking his head. “Impossible as always.” He stood up and Kenken followed him, he tried to slip his arm into Hitsugi's but the older Angel shoved him annoyed away. “GO! Just leave!” And he pushed him forward. “Look! There is Reita, your colleague, go talk to him!”
Kenken made a thinking face, nodded and did what he has been told. After Hitsugi turned around to the little group of Karyu, Hizumi and Asagi again, he realized that he had been silently observed by them. “WHAT?!”
Asagi rolled his eyes and Karyu crossed his arms over his chest. “Listen, I know that you're a dick and as your superior, I can handle that but if I will ever receive any complaints about your bad behavior outside the group, I will feed you your own balls in your next life time and you can bet your lonely ass that I will take an extra day off to do so.”
Asagi had his eyebrows pulled up and looked silently over to his loud friend whose jaw was sealed shut now in anger. And Hizumi nodded to emphasize that Karyu would definitely do that.
“See you tomorrow in training.” Was all Karyu added and he strode away and Hizumi followed.
Asagi shook his head and left the loudmouth standing while he returned to the group of his Seraphim friends.
Reita saw how Kenken was coming towards him and he settled down onto the roots of the tree and started plucking the grass. “Hi Reita.” The silent Angel nodded at Kenken and slumped down with him as well. They were an unusual pair and although Kenken loved to talk much, Reita never minded that because as an Empath Angel, he could feel his pure heart. In fact, it was Kenken who discovered him when he came back to heaven and soon their new profession had been decided by Kamijo: They are colleagues now and both get trained together to develop their emphatic sides as well, some kind of mind reader qualities but specialized for feelings. They are training in the ranks of the Cherubim and do posses a similar gift like Aiji. The only difference was that they couldn't control thoughts and actions, only feel intentions... which made them important in contract negotiations with hell for example or in working with newborn and young souls. To heaven they were the new generation of Angels.
Reita sat next to Kenken and looked at him and then his hands which still plucked the grass unnecessarily. Even if he would be blind, he could feel what was going on with his only friend.
“Don't be sad because of him.” Reita tried to console him.
“I know.... and it's my fault to always look for him but I can't help it. Maybe I'm stupid and masochistic.”
Reita smiled but kept what he knew to himself. “Because you can feel a soul's intention, I have trust in you.”
Kenken stopped. “What do you mean?”
“You would never follow a bad soul.”
“That's right.” His smile came back.
“But try not to get hurt too much.... if I should ever experience that, allow me to interfere.”
Now Kenken looked back at Reita who looked into the distance to scan the crowd. It was more or less a hobby of emphatic Angels to study other Angels and 'check' their value of the soul..... just to make sure that everything was all right.
And besides, Reita once used to be a spy, old habits died hard.
End of Part 01