Thread of Fate

By Yai-tzu Hin

Warning: No part of this story or cast of characters may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the author, Yai-tzu Hin. If you do, dogs will wake you at 3:00 am in the morning, your hair will go gray at an early age, all you pens will run out of ink at the most inconvenient time, and your computer will always freeze up in the middle of the best part of a fic.

Haruka stared at her brother. Keien tried not to feel as if he were under inspection, even though he was.

“How long is this going to take?” he growled. Kayumi narrowed her eyes at him.

“I don’t know. There isn’t a manual on this you know.” She retorted. Keien squirmed. He’d been sitting in this position for the past twenty minutes while his sister used her sixth sense to try and locate the thread that supposedly connected he and Yatsurugi.

Hades had finally gotten some useful information from his friends about the only other time an angel’s powers had been transferred to a mortal. Apparently there was a thread that linked the mortal to the angel whose powers they now possessed. Unfortunately, Kayumi hadn’t elaborated on what use finding this thread would do. She also hadn’t explained why it was necessary to have a mortal psychic was needed to find the thread.

Stretching, Haruka leaned back and looked up at the ceiling.

“Well?” asked Yatsurugi, who had been sitting next to Keien during the entire process.

“Well, I can’t find this thread. Not that I’d know what to do with it after I found it.” She admitted lowering her arms.

“Kayumi? What did Hades tell you about this thread?” demanded Yatsurugi eyeing his sister. Kayumi brushed a lock of wavy dark purple hair off her shoulder.

“He said to look for the thread. We need to use a mortal psychic because they are supposed to have an easier time finding it than angels do. I don’t know why.”

“What is so blasted important about this thread.” Muttered Keien as he shifted so that his hip wasn’t bothering him as much. Kayumi glared at him.

“As long as a thread is visible, then we can reverse the process. Once it disappears, the change is permanent.”

“NANI?” Yatsurugi and Keien yelled simotaniously. “What do you mean permanent?”

“Just what I said. Permanent, as in no going back.”

“Considering Haruka-san can’t find the thread, it might be to late already.” Psyche said from where it stood in the doorway to the kitchen.

“No, I don’t want to think that.” Keien snapped. “Yatsurugi needs his powers back to fight Dante.”

“So far Dante hasn’t made any attempts on Yatsurugi’s life.” Kayumi said folding her arms in front of her. “That’s nearly a week and two days without hearing from him. I’m going to take it as a sign that he has enough sense to stop.”

“Some how I doubt it.” Keien muttered. Everyone looked at him. “He just struck me as the sort that won’t stop until he has what he wants.”

“The Azreal I knew wouldn’t have allowed him to do this!” Yatsurugi cried jumping to his feet. Irritated he began pacing around the living room.

“Azreal doesn’t know he’s doing this.” Keien confessed. “When I told him Azreal was here, he freaked.”

“But you’ve seen Azreal, haven’t you?” Haruka inquired looking around the room at its occupants.

“Psyche and I haven’t, but the others have.” Eros informed her. “Although, no one has talked to him.”

“Except Meiko.” Yatsurugi told her.

“Meiko?” Haruka suddenly became nervous. “Oh, dear. What if he tries to hurt her?”

“That’s what Reimu is for.” Kayumi said. “He’s her guardian angel and he won’t fail to keep her away from any danger.”

“What about the truck?” demanded Haruka.

“She did something unexpected. We’re not the Almighty, we don’t know your every thought.” Kayumi pointed out. “He did his best and kept her from being killed. Besides she scored brownie points for her act of heroism. Saving small children from certain death always goes over well in the after life.” Haruka frowned.

“Well, at least there is someone watching her.” She said at length. “Listen, I need to run some errands. I’ll be by later to try again. Kayumi, are you coming?” Kayumi nodded and they got up to leave. “If Hades finds out anything else, I’ll let you know.” Kayumi called behind her as she shut the door.

“Don’t worry too much about it.” Yatsurugi said reassuringly. He and Keien had decided to go for a walk once Haruka and Kayumi had left. That left Eros and Psyche the run of the apartment, which Keien was sure both, would covet as if it were a lost work of Da Vinci. They headed for the small park that was close by. It had a small fountain and plenty of benches to sit on. With the sun shining down on them, they crossed the street.

“I know. I just would like it if your powers were in your possession. Although, if Dante does attack, he’ll get a big surprise.” Keien grinned. Yatsurugi chuckled.

“That he will. With the way our luck has been running though, I doubt you’ll get that chance. Murphy isn’t up to his normal tricks.”

“Of course now that you’ve said that, he will.” Keien pointed out.

“No he won’t.” Yatsurugi paused. “Oh shoot. I’m mortal. I forgot, any time a mortal says something like that, Murphy springs into action.”

“Great. Now what?”

“We wait.” Yatsurugi told him. “Dante will strike when we least expect it.”

“Like in the middle of the park?” asked Keien arching one eyebrow at his boyfriend.

“Exactly.”

“Let’s go find a nice secluded alley instead.” He suggested, scouting around for one.

“Good idea.”

Dante smiled. All his patience had finally paid off. They were off by themselves. Those other two angels weren’t with them. Chuckling at his good luck, he swept down into the alley. His adversary and boy toy, were just within his grasp. He couldn’t harm Yatsurugi, but he could get Keien. Dante materialized in front of them and laughed.

“Well, fancy meeting you.” He cackled. “Now I can exact my revenge on the both of you.”

“You can’t hurt Yatsurugi.” Keien snapped. “The Almighty said so itself.” Dante flipped the tip of one of his wings in annoyance.

“True enough, but there isn’t any such rule against you.” He flung a lightning bolt in between the two, separating them.

Yatsurugi hit the ground, landing hard on his side. It stung and he gritted his teeth against the pain. Keien had landed better, but hadn’t gotten to his feet. Looking up he saw Dante rise in the air, a sword in hand. Shit, Keien he has a sword! Get your shield up! Yatsurugi thought desperately. He knew Keien had heard him, he’d left his mind wide open for him. Dante descended with such speed that Yatsurugi feared Keien wouldn’t recover in time.

A battle cry escaped Dante’s lips and he brought the weapon down on Keien only to come to a jarring halt. Dante’s eyes widened as he found a shield blocking his path. Keien pushed him off and stood.

“Didn’t expect that did you?” he asked. Dante snarled and struck out with a fireball. With a wave of his hand, Keien summoned water molecules to his aid. Watching with growing dread, Dante barely had time to fly out of the way as Keien sent a massive wave of water at him and the fireball. No, that’s impossible. A mortal can’t possess angelic powers, he thought as he soared above. It’s impossible! Dante swooped down ready to attack, but found himself confronted by a wall of fire and steam. Cursing he swerved, but not in time. Dropping to the ground, Dante held his burnt wing. His eyes darted about and finally landed on Yatsurugi who was crouching against a wall. The two stared at each other. Dante narrowed his eyes. Fuck the order! He called forth a ball of electricity and hurled it at Yatsurugi. Yatsurugi moved and the energy hit the brick behind him instead.

“Keien!” Yatsurugi cried. Dante suddenly felt the sting of an arrow pierce him. Turning, he stared up at Keien who held a bow. He was notching another mystical arrow and aiming it at Dante, prepared for a second strike. The angel’s eyes widened as he noticed a pair of black wings with white tips spread out from Keien’s shoulder blades. He gasped.

“No, there’s no fucking way I could have…You are mortal!” Dante shouted at Keien.

“Not right now I’m not.” Keien growled and raised the bow. Dante’s eyes darted back to Yatsurugi who had come up behind Keien. He looked for Yatsurugi’s signature essence, it wasn’t there. The normal angelic essence was gone, replaced by something more mundane. He was a mortal! Dante realized, that meant that Keien had Yatsurugi’s powers. It was some dirty trick! A dirty trick to capture him.

“Bastards.” Dante hissed.

“You started it.” Keien snarled. “Now leave off or else I’ll make you sorry.”

“Go ahead. Wound me all you want. I don’t care. Azreal doesn’t love me. I have nothing to live for. But I’m an angel, I can’t die. So I’ll endure your torture instead.”

“Dante,” Yatsurugi began.

“SAVE YOUR PITY!” Dante snapped. “I don’t FUCKING want it!” He crouched over and pulled the arrow out from his thigh. Tossing it aside, he waited for Keien to let loose the next. Keien lowered the bow.

“I’m not going to hurt you unless you attack us. I’m not that sort of person.” Keien said in an even voice. “Get out of here.”

“I won’t stop.” Dante told him flatly.

“Dante, there’s no point in this.” Yatsurugi said. “I don’t love Azreal. I love Keien. Yes, admittedly once I was in love with Azreal, but he dumped me. I’ve moved on. You should to.”

“Azreal sings your praises.” Dante muttered.

“Why?”

“Cause he’s still in love with you.” Yatsurugi swallowed. He stared at Dante beginning to fully understand the young angel’s plight.

“But I don’t love him. Dante, if he’s making you miserable, leave him. If he can easily cast me aside, then eventually do the same to you.”

“I can’t leave him.” Dante said.

“Why not?”

“Because I love him! He’s the only one I’ll ever love.” Dante immediately regretted the confession. Tears were threatening to spill; no he wouldn’t cry, not in front of his enemy.

“Dante.”

“NO, don’t say anything! I’m…” his voice cracked, he couldn’t go on. He just couldn’t.

“Dante, I’m sorry.” A voice said. Everyone looked up to see a man with corn silk and sherry colored eyes approach.

“Azreal,” breathed Yatsurugi. Keien moved to protect Yatsurugi. Azreal noticed the two and remembered his first encounter with Keien.

“Please, I won’t interfere with you two any more than to apologize for what Dante has put you through.” Azreal said speaking softly. He approached Dante and kneeled down. “Dante?”

“Leave me be! You have what you really desire. To see your precious Yatsurugi again.” Azreal looked hurt. His exterior posture changed to that of regret.

“I’m so sorry. I had no idea what I was doing to you. When you vanished I came looking for you, but you’ve hidden so well, that I’ve had troubles.”

“Oh, the great archangel is having problems, so what!” Dante said sarcastically curling up into a ball.

“Dante, I. There is no excuse for what I’ve done to you, but you shouldn’t have tried taking out your frustration on Yatsurugi and his charge.”

“The name is Nakabori Keien.” Keien stated.

“I’m sorry, Nakabori-san.” Azreal turned back to Dante. “I humbly apologize to you Dante. I had no idea that my talk of past love had driven to this far. I do love you, truly I do. It is just this time of year always makes me nostalgic. Yatsurugi is the only one of my lovers I’ve ever had to leave. All the others left me. He was the first.”

“Speaking of that break up, why did you break up with him?” Keien asked. “I mean you left him heartbroken.” Azreal let out a long sigh.

“I had no choice. It wasn’t meant to be.” He stood and faced them. “I am the Archangel of Life and Death. Therefore I know the fate of all. It has been written that Yatsurugi will never be mine. He is destined to be with his soul mate. I had a brief shining moment with him, you, Nakabori-san, have the rest of eternity.”

They stood in silence for a few moments, absorbing all of what Azreal had said. Yatsurugi glanced at Keien.

“We’re soul mates?”

“Yes. I can do nothing to alter fate. I always knew that you would eventually leave. I knew I was not your soul mate. When I discovered you were to be Nakabori-san’s guardian angel, I knew I’d have to bow out and let you two live your lives. That’s why I ended our relationship Yatsurugi, so as not to endanger your chance for true love with Nakabori-san. I don’t know my own fate, it’s the one part of the Book of Life and Death, that I can’t read, so I’m still searching for my true love. Dante is really very wonderful. It is just that his past life has scarred his soul to the extent that he cannot escape it. His past life comes to haunt him, causing him to do irrational things. I should have realized what I was doing; I didn’t want anyone hurt. Truly I didn’t.”

“What’s going to happen to him?” asked Keien nodding towards the huddled angel. Azreal sighed.

“I don’t know. I have to go and talk to the Almighty. This is very serious. He endangered both of you. I’m very sorry.”

“Azreal,” Yatsurugi paused before continuing. “There is still a lot to talk about. Unfortunately, this isn’t the time. Why don’t we arrange to meet another time?”

“Yes. I agree. Plus you need help getting your powers back. I know Nakabori-san is supposed to be mortal.”

“Yeah, well, we had an accident of sorts.” Keien said scratching the back of his head. “Kayumi mentioned that we had time to reverse it as long as there was a thread connecting us.”

“Don’t worry. There is.” Azreal assured him. “The Red Thread of Fate.”