by JK Ensley
She glared at the jeering Arch.
“No, Brother.” Uriel chuckled. “I do not believe she is jealous. Disappointed? Yes. Jealous? Well, maybe just a little.”
Jenevier slowly stood. “Are Archangels such unnecessary creatures that they can loiter about in my home for days on end?”
“Oh…” Jophiel looked to Uriel. “Now you’ve gone and made her cross with us.”
“Well, this has been a whole lot of pointless.” Uriel stood and matched her cold glare. “It is not our fault your silly little matchmaking did not go as planned.” He tossed his napkin on the table. “Come, Brother. Let us see if we can spread our unnecessary wings and find something better to do.”
“Indeed,” Jophiel said with a sad sigh. “Looks like we have once again outstayed our welcome.” He gave her a mocking bow. “Until next time… Empress Jen.”
She slowly closed her eyes. “Just… go…”
When their condescending laughter had faded away, she looked toward Cherie.
“Sincerest apologies, little one. You will not find a more loyal creature than is my brother Vareilious. He is too much fun, even on his bad days. Oh… and he was referring to his favorite actor, Bruce Willis. Not, The Bruce.” She looked around at everyone else as they shifted uncomfortably, staring at the remnants of their meal together. “If you will all forgive me, I must beg your leave. I have a splitting headache and will prove rather poor company if I stay.”
She did not turn back when she heard all the scooting chairs accompany her departure.
Naga, you would be a poor poker player.
“Meaning?”
Meaning… you showed all your cards by the look in your eyes.
“Not now, Dragon. Please? Just… not now…”
*****
She was staring blindly out at the flowing lavender when she heard her door softly closing.
“I thought I might find you here.”
She didn’t turn, not even when his strong arms wrapped around her from behind and squeezed gently.
“Tell me, Naga.” Daichi kissed the top of her head before continuing. “Who is Duhrias meant for? Surely not you.”
She smiled and leaned her head back against his chest. “Am I that transparent, Lord Daichi?”
“Clear as polished crystal, my love.”
She blew out an exasperated breath. “I was only trying to help. I swear it. I never meant harm. That was the furthest thing from my mind.”
“I believe you, Naga. I do not understand you… but I believe you.”
“Cherie is the happiest girl I have ever seen—happy and cheerful and always smiling. I thought she would be perfect.”
“She is perfect, Milady. Just not for Yui.”
Jenevier turned to look at him then. “Why not?”
“You tell me, Naga.” He tucked a curl back behind her ear. “When have you ever seen Master Yui giggling and cracking jokes? I can scarce even remember seeing him smile.”
“What are you talking about? He smiles all the time. Yui has the most beautiful, warmest smile I have ever seen.”
“Yes.” He tapped the tip of her nose. “And I dare say he saves it only for you.”
She looked down. “He wasn’t smiling at breakfast.”
“Well… it is hard to smile when your heart is crumbling. Tenshi cannot even get him to open the door. Lala is coloring pictures for him, sliding them over the sill. I believe he is picking them up. At least… he is not sliding them back.”
“I am such a fool.”
“Well now, I believe Cherie and Vareilious would get along quite well together. Their personalities are rather compatible. Do you not agree?”
“I suppose…”
“Stop pouting, Naga. You cannot keep every man for yourself.”
“That is the exact opposite of what I was trying to do, Daichi. And… I am not pouting.”
“I thought as much. And yes, you are pouting. Stop it before you get wrinkles.” He yanked one of her curls. “So… you believe yourself to be Cupid, do you? Then tell me. If you intended Cherie for Yui… who is the sell-sword intended for?”
She let her forehead fall against his chest. “Ugh… I am such a fool.”
“Yes. We have already established that truth. Now stop stalling and answer the question.”
She sighed. “…Lala.”
Daichi started out quietly, only his shoulders were shaking slightly, but soon his laughter rang throughout the palace.
“Oh, Naga. Tenshi is going to just love that. He has done nothing but glare and snap at the poor man since the moment you arrived.”
“Tenshi has? That doesn’t sound like my precious son.”
“Yes, precious little Tenshi is behaving badly. Finally, jeez. I for one was exhausted with his innocent little act.”
“It is not an act.”
“So says the mother to whom he can do no wrong.” He tapped the tip of her nose again. “Who knows? Perhaps he is afraid you are trying to replace his beloved father.”
“Are you trying to start an argument with me, Daichi?”
“No, Naga.” He smiled and sighed. “I am only trying to figure out what in the world you are plotting.”
She didn’t answer him. He knew she wouldn’t.
“Let me see…” He drummed his finger against his chin, as if deep in thought. “You have already married off Tenshi. You would die before you let any other girl bat a lash at Vittorio… and apparently the same goes for Vareilious.”
She playfully hit him on the chest. His smile only grew.
“The Archs are not your concern, and I will have killed Munenori long before you could convince him to wed.”
“Daichi, stop.” She couldn’t help a small chuckle. “Munenori is my Senpai. I forbid you from touching him.”
His tone turned serious. “No, I forbid you from touching him.”
She blushed.
“Now, where was I? Oh yes… playing about with hearts. Let me think… Jezreel and Alastyn are all stitched up. A miracle fell in your lap concerning the whole Syadar debacle. And now good old Vareilious laughs with another. But you didn’t really have a hand in any of those, did you? They all seemed to fix themselves minus your interference, Naga. Even little Tenshi’s heart was set from childhood. Tell me. What could you possibly be trying to do?”
She turned back to the flowing lavender without speaking.
“You plan to run away again. That’s it, is it not? You are trying to fill in the gaps you will leave with your departure.”
She sighed. “No, Daichi, that’s not it. Well, not wholly. I was only trying to right a wrong. Yui is who Yui is because of me, and that breaks my heart.”
“Yes, Yui is who Yui is because of you… and he wishes it no other way. The fact you cannot see that breaks his heart.”
She let her weary head loll forward into her hands, yet didn’t speak.
“And what of Duhrias? Why Lala? She is but a child.”
“Because, Daichi, she will need him some day. She may be little now, yes, but he is immortal. And… he has sworn loyalty to me. My intent was not that they should marry, not necessarily. I only wished her to have a worthy guardian, if ever she needs one.”
“And her family is not capable of handling such a task? Come now, Naga. Her father strikes fear even in the heart of Archangels. God alone knows what true power lies within that docile Angel. My awesomeness goes without saying, and her grandmother is the damn Grim Reaper. Tell me. When will sweet little Lala ever need more protection than that?”
“But we are not always here, Daichi. Take this latest summons for example. We each were called to different layers simultaneously, and we knew not for how long. What if next time has us absent her side for years? No. I wish her to have a constant, someone who will never be pulled away from her to attend a summons.”
“Very well, Naga. I will concede to your reasoning in this. You fought by his side and were obviously impressed with his skill. If he takes no issue w
ith being an eternal bodyguard, I will speak no more concerning the sell-sword.”
Her shoulders visibly relaxed. “Gratitude, Daichi.”
“But why now, Naga? Tell me what happened out there to cause such a sense of expediency. You act as if you are preparing your loved ones for your impending death.”
“In a way… I guess I am.” She sighed and turned back to face him. “I lost my humanity, Daichi. The whole of it. I am only Angel now.”
He took her hands in his. “And that is the best news I have heard in ages, Kagi Naga.”
“Perhaps… but already I am starting to forget.”
“Forget? Forget what?”
“Time.” She moaned as she rubbed her forehead. “There is the sun and the moon, yes. But already I have to really concentrate to remember days and weeks and months.”
“And why would that scare you, Little Fire? Seems to me, that should be a blessing to one such as you.”
“A blessing, yes… but a curse as well.”
“Where is the curse, my love?”
“Because I have a family.” Tears burned her eyes. “Because I have fleshly ties. Think about it, Daichi. What if I leave on a summons and do not return for twenty years, or fifty even? It will seem to me as little more than a day. But when I finally return, when I finally walk back through those doors, I may find Lala with grandchildren of her own or Yui as a frail old man… or worse.” She began to cry in earnest then. “I cannot let that happen, Daichi. I cannot let Yui grow old and die all alone… without even a passing thought of him in my completely celestial mind. The next time I tell him goodbye, may very well be the last time I ever see him alive.”
Daichi wrapped his arms around her and let her cry.
“And what of my precious Lala? We know not if she is immortal or no, not truly. She grows as does a normal child, not as you and Tenshi did. What if she is more her mother’s child than her father’s little Angel? What then, Daichi? Tell me how in the world I am supposed to return home to a withered grandchild whom I left at the tender age of four.”
With those words, Daichi finally understood her pain. So he did what it was he was made to do… he held her as she crumbled.
*****
Yui felt the breeze off her wings when she landed upon the balcony. Inhaling her magical scent as it wafted over him, he slowly opened his eyes.
Jenevier sat upon the marble railing, gazing lovingly at her beautiful ninja’s still form atop the bed.
“Do you hate me now?” she whispered.
He didn’t answer. He only stared at her moonlit silhouette through the blowing sheers.
“Love me or hate me, but know this one thing. I hold you above all other men. No human will ever surpass you in my heart. I would not be the Angel I am today… were you not always at my side. I will never intentionally hurt you. Ignorantly, perhaps… but never intentionally. I would freely walk into Sheol with my wings bound before I would do harm unto you, my most treasured friend.”
She stared at him for several lonely heartbeats. Still, he did not move. When she sighed and spread her wings to leave, she heard his soft whispers.
“I want no woman… save you.”
Jenevier glanced back to see the thin curtains take on his flawless shape as he slowly walked through them. She remained perfectly still as he approached, head down.
“You know the truth of my heart, Mistress.” He lifted his gaze toward her. “Have I ever lied to you?”
Her heart ached when she saw his puffy eyes, the enchanting lavender encompassed about with spidery webs of crimson.
She opened wide her arms. “Oh, my beautiful Yui… what have I done to you?”
He embraced her, resting their foreheads together.
“You tried to give me away, Empress.” Pain-filled tears dripped from his chin.
“No, my love. That was not my intent. I swear it.”
“Then why did you do it? Why did you bring a woman into our home like that?”
“Not because I wanted rid of you, believe me.” She sighed wearily.
“Stop trying to hide whatever it is that has hung weights upon your soul, Milady. I am ever your support. Let me into your heart now… tell me what happened.”
She squeezed him even tighter, tears popping from the corners of her tightly closed lids.
“I lost my humanity, Yui.”
He was silent as he took in her words. “I see…” Wiping the tears from her cheek, he lightly kissed her there. “Will you forget me now?”
Jenevier stopped trying to hold back the debilitating pain. “I will never forget you, sweet Yui. But… already I forget time, the weight of it, the restraints it held over me.”
“I see…” He lifted her in his arms, carrying her back inside. “Rest here, Mistress, while I make you some tea.”
She watched quietly, admiring his elegant movements, inhaling the thick aroma of roses.
“So…” He sat beside her on the bed as he handed her the dainty cup. “You may not forget me… but you may forget to return to me, forget I am here waiting for you.”
“…Yes.”
“So you sought me out a companion… to make your absence a more bearable thing.”
“…Yes.”
“And who is the handsome sell-sword for? Daichi?”
Jenevier strangled on her tea, laughing and coughing both as she looked at his smirking profile.
“You know what he would do if he heard you say that, don’t you?”
“He would kill me, yes.” He calmly took another sip. “So… the sell-sword?”
She smiled, studying his lovely profile. “He swore himself to my service—only Knight to the Empress of Jinn.”
“…And?”
“And… I brought him back for Lala.”
He casually set his cup down and turned to face her.
“Tenshi does not like him, Naga. Besides, Lala is but a child.”
“Tenshi does not like him only because the man stands at my side… and because he does not possess dark sapphire wings.”
Yui nodded. “Yes, this is true. He has become quite attached to his father as of late. I am not even certain he would grant Vittorio unhindered access to you anymore.”
“I get the same feeling,” she mumbled. “Something is changing within my once docile son. I am uncertain—throws me off a bit.” She shook her head then, chasing away the troubling thoughts. “Anyway, I have not broached the subject with Duhrias yet, but I intend him to spend his time in my service as Lala’s personal guard… just in case.”
He smiled. “That precious little Angel can never have too many people watching over her.”
Yui took her hand, leading her back out onto the balcony and into the cool night breeze.
“Promise me something, Mistress.”
“Anything, Yui.”
“Promise me you will never do that again… ever.”
She smiled and wrapped her arms around him from behind, burying her forehead between his shoulder blades.
“I promise, Yui. No, I swear it.” Her vow was muffled in his clothing. “I swear I will never push you toward another woman. You are mine.” She giggled, tickling his ribs, squeezing him tighter as she did.
Jenevier felt his silky hair begin to wrap around her waist, then she was trapped and the torture began. Yui clamped his hand over her mouth when she screamed, but he did not cease in his playful punishment.
“Mercy, Yui. Please, mercy. I yield!” she cried through his cupped fingers.
When he finally stopped, she collapsed into his waiting arms, sighing and smiling at the same time.
“Ahh, Yui. I love you.”
“And I love you, Milady.”
“Now then, I made you a solemn promise, good Hand. Will you return the favor?”
“As long as it does not leave me in another’s arms, I will promise. What is your wish, Mistress Naga?”
Jenevier lifted her head, smiling when she met his enchanting lavender gaze.
; “Yui, will you be my—”
A slight movement at the corner of her vision pulled her attention to the far end of the balcony. Her smiles and happy words turned to horrified shrieks.
Yui but cut his eyes toward the intruder, his hair instantly lashing out, swiftly wrapping around the shadowy creature’s neck.
Jenevier clung to her fearless Shinobi as she stared into the creature’s glowing red eyes, and then they were gone—disappearing as Yui’s long locks fell unhindered to the floor.
“What was that?” she whispered in amazement.
“Something minus fear and full of intent, I felt that much. But… never have I seen its like.”
“Was it a man?”
“No.”
“Was it an Angel?”
“Not like any Angel I have ever known, light or dark.”
“Then… a demon.”
“I do not believe so… perhaps…”
“D-did it just disappear? Or did it somehow slip away from you?”
“Such a thing is not possible, Milady. It disappeared. Yet, it was solid… if only for a moment.”
She quickly scanned the surrounding grounds, not really sure she actually wanted to spot the creature or not. She shuddered.
Yui scooped her up in his arms. “Let’s get you back inside, Empress.”
*****
“What the hell was I thinking?” He cursed under his breath. “All these years I have kept my distance, remained detached.”
He sat atop the far mountain, eyes fixed on the glowing palace below.
“Dammit! Never have I made such an unforgivable mistake.”
He sighed, letting his head loll forward, resting his forehead on his bent knees.
“When I saw that damnable Shinobi use his ninjitzu on her… when she screamed… when he covered her mouth and bound her wings… I moved without thinking. For shit’s sake, why did I do that?”
He glanced down at the now empty balcony before closing his eyes and falling back upon a mound of pine needles.
“Why the f—” He pounded his fists down by his sides. “Ugh! Why did she scream like that? If she was laughing, why in the hell did she act like she was being attacked? Better yet, why in the holy fires of eternal hell did I even care? I watched Shabriri all but rape her—didn’t even lift a finger.”
