Chapter 19 " The Angel Sacrifices " Misuki and Hiro slowly made their way back to the battle field. Her small gentle hand held firmly in his calloused and larger hand. Even if feelings were shared. That wouldn't stop the inevitable from happening. She shifted uncomfortably as she smelt the decaying bodies and bloody soil. It took all her strength not to turn back around and gag. You never did get used to that kind of smell. Hiro nudged her gently to continue moving. Stepping over and around decapitated bodies. They were left to rot away and melt in to the soil. The soil however rejected the new substance with despair. Her hazel eyes drifted to find any familiar faces. Many of which she befriended and grown to love as family. Her gaze froze on one by the old oak tree. The burnt ends of a blue haired angel grabbed her attention. She slipped her hand from Hiro's and dashed over to her comrade. Her fingers gently smoothing away stray strands from the other angel's sleeping face. Blood had ceased to flow from the mouth of her fallen friend. A whimper left her, as she trembled and searched for any signs of life in her. When she came up short, she sobbed outwardly and hugged her to her chest, " Tasha!!!! No! You can't die! What about Segaru?! What about us?!! ", She screamed at the angel laying dead in her arms. She kept a death grip on her and lifted her teary gaze to search the crowds of bodies. Blonde hair stuck out from a short distance. The white clothes and silver sword tainted with crimson blood. She squeezed Tasha gently and layed her down on the ground. Then ran to check on Anna, who lay a few feet away. She was in the same condition, beaten to a bloody pulp and cold to the touch. There was no life signs anywhere in sight. She lost her two best friends in one horrific battle. The two people who had gotten her through everything. She held Anna close and rocked her gently back and forth. Her cries muffled by her burying her face in Anna's shoulder. Hiro grimaced and knelt beside her. His hand stroked her hair, " Misuki, I'm sorry..", He whispered to her as if she was a fragile doll. The ground shook violently, splurges of fire erupting from holes in the ground. It burned way the ever green grass to ashes. Hiro grabbed Misuki's arm, " We need to go! This place isn't going to hold up much longer! ", He hollered over the winds and crackling of battle. Misuki hesitantly let Anna go and allowed Hiro to pull her away. It wasn't soon enough for them. A bolt of electricity hit Hiro from the left. He hit his knees and yelled out in pain. Misuki staring in disbelief and jumping forward to shield his body from further attacks. He shuddered and gasped for breath, his eyes closed tightly. The attacks suddenly stopped. Then came the horrible deep voice they feared. The one that could make a thousand warriors cringe and fall to their knees. " I see you brought the key to me. Excellent. Move out of the way you filthy angel. Your job is done. ", The voice stated with a cackle that sounded like nails on a chalk board. Hiro jolted out of Misuki's grip and shoved her behind him. His amber eyes glaring defiantly at the large beast standing before them. The devil grinned, showing all 160 black sharp teeth. It's horns painted crimson red and shooting out from the top of his head. Dark red scales coated his upper arms to his hands. The rest of him was completely black. Dark blue fur trailed down his back to the beginning of his tail. His tail maneuvered and slapped away offending angels. Five sharp horns stick out from his tail. He smirked down at them and extended his long claws. If they were just gonna sit there in awe. Then he would just have to take what he wanted. Heaven would be his once and for all. God's voice boomed over head, " Leave them be! You have no right here! Go back to where you came from and never come back! " The devil ignored God's futile attempts to discourage him. As he swooped in to grab Hiro. An angry angel stepped in the way of his path. Misuki flew up and blocked the path way to Hiro. Her hazel eyes turning ice blue with fury, her wings matching the same color, " YOU MAY NOT TOUCH THIS HUMAN! ", She screamed and released a large amount of energy from her hands. The devil snarled as her energy ball hit him. He stumbled back and glared, " You pathetic little wench. How dare you touch me! I'LL SHOW YOU THE REASON WHY NO ONE DENIES ME!! ", He shouted and struck her with heavy dark energy. His cackling drowned out by Misuki's pained screams. She couldn't let them win, they had a future to protect. Humans had the right to choose their path. They still had time to change and be saved. A dark clawed hand grabbed her. She felt nails digging in to her back and the middle of her wings. Her screaming slowly fading in her hoarse throat. The warm liquid dropped from her wounds to coat the heavenly grounds. Hiro shouted to her in desperation, " MISUKI!!!! " Misuki teared up at his voice, knowing she wouldn't be around to hear it again. To feel his sweet words and masculine touches. She formed a large ice blue ball in her hands. " For the future of all man kind..for my friends..for Hiro..", She whispered to herself and brought together the last of her energy. She shot the devil with every bit of power and energy she had in her little body. The devil fell back in surprise, a gigantic hole formed in his chest. Exposing some of his insides to the icy breeze blowing in. Segaru stood in shock, he had never witnessed any power that could out rival even the deadliest angels. Until now. His shock wore off as Misuki was dropped and plummeted to the ground. He swiftly caught her before she hit the ground and glared at Hiro, " Unlock the key!! What the hell are you waiting for!? " Hiro stared at the devil in pure hate. His heart pounded in his chest wildly. His Misuki risked everything for him. His gaze glimmered towards the angel cradled in Segaru's arms. The Angel's long black hair flowed down past Segaru's arms to his knees. Her bloody eyelids were closed and her face wrinkled in pain. A golden light surrounded Hiro with growing intensity. Tears ran down his cheeks and dropped, turning in to ice. Time seemed to freeze around them. Segaru looked over at him with wide eyes, " The key.." The devil stepped forward to grab Hiro once again. He stumbled with God's lightning attacks upon his back, " I will have the key! " Hiro's messy hair resembled the light surrounding him. His amber eyes narrowed, the light growing brighter, " Return to hell. ", He snarled out at him. The devil growled in pain as he was forced back. An empty portal opened up a short distance away. It began sucking in the demons that invaded heaven.
Kaiko appeared before Hiro, her back length black hair blowing around her. She reached out to touch him, " Hiro...is this really the end for us? ", She asked him softly, turning back to her human form. Hiro gazed at her with slight emotion. They shared a lot together, even if she was a demon. He had feelings for her in the past. Though that's all it really was. In the past. What kind of future could he hope to have with her? She lied to him, about everything. Sure, maybe she didn't lie about loving him. He could tell that night. The look in her eyes said it all. She fell for him. Kaiko allowed her fingertips to brush a long his jaw, " Hiro...please..I know I haven't been completely honest. I should have told you the truth, but how could I in such circumstances? Please forgive me, i love you. " He closed his eyes half way. Memories bouncing back and forth in his head. Quickly they were replaced of an image of Misuki. Her happy face suddenly went pale and closed eyed. He shrugged away her hand and gazed at her, " How many angels and people had to suffer and die for that? You aren't the same person, Kaiko. You lied. ", He replied in an icy tone. She reached for him again in tears. Her body was ripped backwards in to the portal with the other demons. His name dieing on her lips. Once every demon was taken out. The portal closed and disappeared from sight. The golden light dispersed in to tiny partials of light. God looked down upon them. " You all have sacrificed a great deal. Now, you may be in peace..my angels. " Hiro trembled and looked around him. Body parts had disappeared and little by little. Angels began to reawaken, their wounds closing to just scars. Segaru glanced down at Misuki, she hasn't moved, " Misuki...please, wake up. " Hiro snapped his attention in their direction. He had all intentions to go to them and take Misuki in his arms. God forced him to halt, " Falling in love with an Angel is forbidden. You have done a brilliant job in aiding us in battle. But now you must return home where you belong. Forget what you have seen, and go on with your human life. You will always be looked at as a Hero to us. " Hiro whipped his head in his direction, " But! I can't leave! Misuki is still dead! How can you expect me to move on without her?!? ", He protested with anger and remorse. His question went unanswered. His eyes were forced to close and he felt himself falling. No, not falling, perhaps more as drifting. It was like he was in a dream state. The battle that had happened seemed to be more of a dream now. Reality took over him.
Teaser... He awoke to sun rays warming his face. His lips turned up in to a slight smile. Memories drifted as he replayed last night in his head. It all seemed like an absolute fantasy. Could he really have found happiness just like that? After all that happened in his life. The people he lost in his life. It was all replaced with a sudden burst of joy. God was giving him something that he thought he needed. He had needed that light in his life for a long time. He turned his head to gaze at the beautiful woman laying in bed beside him. His fingers moved to brush across the tips of her hair. She smelled like coconut, it was amazing. She could bring him to his knees so easily. This young woman had no idea what power she held over him. His heart belonged to her, for that she knew. Even when she gazed over at him while they lay in bed. That sweet smile, made him fall head over heels all over again.
Chapter 20 Hiro groaned and turned over on to his side. His back ached and he felt sore all over. He could barely recollect his thoughts. Sun rays peeked in to his line of vision. He flinched and threw an arm over his eyes. A snarl escaped him softly, " Too bright. " The brunette sat up slowly and allowed his amber eyes to adjust to the brightness. It startled him to find himself laying in a field of flowers. Violets. Tulips. Daisies. She had liked those. She was gone now. A faded memory. He hated himself for losing her. It was easier to shove the memory to the back of his mind. To try to forget, the pain would lessen with time. He would make himself forget. A bright pink tulip beside him, caught his attention. He glared accusingly at it. It was another reminder of what he couldn't have. Something previous and surreal. He forced himself up, staggering as he planted his feet on the ground. He decided to go home first. Get a quick shower and maybe a little food as well. Only himself to think about on e again. It took him fifteen minutes walking to reach home. The cigarette smell from his building hall way stale. He grunted slightly and shoved his apartment key in to the key hole. His miserable mood, like a dark cloud hovering over his head. He slipped inside and slammed the door closed. A quick trek to the shower, he was finished within 10 minutes. After throwing on fresh dark blue jeans, a black shirt and sneakers. He stood by the window, running his fingers through his wet hair. Amber eyes gazed down at the city lazily. Nothing caught his attention, it just wasn't the same anymore. When you've had a taste of perfection, only to have it ripped away. It ruined him from the inside out. He didn't want anyone else but her. She was just the one thing he couldn't have. Tears pricked at his eyes. He choked back the oncoming storm within him. He wouldn't allow himself to break, not now. It was done and over with. With a shake of his head, he carried on with life. The same way he did before she showed up in his life. Three weeks had passed since that day. Everyday was the same routine. Take a shower, go to work, come home and stare at the bedroom ceiling for hours. This became his life. He sat up from his bed and made his way over to his sturdy bedroom window. Nothing made sense to him anymore. He stared out the rain splattered glass. All repairs had been taken care of in the house. He made sure of that in the first week. A sigh escaped him while he rubbed his temples. He felt like an empty void that just kept moving out of routine. A glimmer of black and blue caught his attention. His head jolted up to stare intently across the street. All he could see was a small form standing underneath a pink umbrella. The person had their back to him. Shoulder blade length black hair peeped out from beneath the umbrella. His breath caught in his throat. It could be anyone, but he had that feeling. The one he hadn't had since he was sent back. His heart thumped rapidly in his chest. It took all but five seconds for him to throw open his bedroom door. Race past the living room and out the front door. He nearly tripped going down the steps to the street. By the time he reach the same spot she was standing in. She was already gone. Rain was lightly drizzling down. The gray roads went black from the slick rain. He huffed in slight defeat, turning to head back. Pink. The pink of an umbrella he saw from the corner of his eye. He turned his head to the bridge a few feet away. He saw her. The woman was standing on the bridge. Her eyes were closed as she stood. Her chin tilted slightly to the cold breeze. A small smile on her pink lips. He trembled and stepped forward, until he was within arms reach of her. His fingertips grazed the tips of her hair. He stared intently at her back, wishing she would turn around. She nearly squeaked at the contact. Her body moved so that she could face him. Wide hazel eyes stared at his passionate amber orbs. She studied his face, as if he was a stranger. Her heart skipped a beat, watching his gaze soften. Tears slowly formed in her eyes and cascaded down her soft cheeks. She barely wore any make up. Not like she really needed it anyways. It was him. It really was. Hiro reached up and brushed away her warm tears. Her fingers touched his hand. He stepped closer to her. She smiled sadly at him, tears still falling. If it was a dream, she wanted to remain there forever. " I thought I'd never see you again. " " Angels have dreams too..", She replied softly to him. He placed a hand at the back of her neck. She felt herself being pulled forward. Then his lips were on hers. She blushed at the thought of people watching them. Slowly and softly, she returned his kiss. Pent up emotions and tears all in one passionate kiss. The wind ripped her umbrella from her hand. She ignored it and wrapped her arms around him. He pulled her in closer against him as they kissed. The pink umbrella floated to the water below the bridge. The current dragging it a long in it's path. It was long forgotten to the two lovers. The rain came down harder. Misuki smiled and hugged him, kissing him softly still. Her eyes were closed, giving in to her emotions. Hiro caressed her cheek, deepening the kiss sweetly. The one thing in the world he wanted most. Was now here in his arms, he couldn't ask for anything else. Tasha got comfortable in her hiding position. She giggled at Hiro and Misuki, happy for them. Her hand rested on her knee. It was immediately covered by a larger hand. Her gaze shifted to Segaru. Segaru smiled at her and kissed her forehead, " Lets give them some privacy. " Anna chuckled on a higher branch, " Them or do you mean you and Tasha, Seg? " Tasha smirked at Anna's teasing. A laugh bubbled out from her, watching Segaru blush. She winked at Anna and tugged on Segaru's hand. The trio took one last look at the lovers. Then one by one, returned to their posts. Hiro broke the kiss hesitantly and tucked a wet strand of hair behind her ear. Her smile lit up and warmed a certain place in his chest. He hugged her fiercely and tucked her under his arm. Misuki wrapped her arms around his waist. Her footsteps falling in step with his. He began leading her home. A place where they'd start their life together. --------------------- One more chapter left. I have really enjoyed writing this, and I'm glad my readers have stuck with me on it. You guys have encouraged me a lot and helped me get to this point. Thank you all