Chapter 8

"Would you cheer up, you're acedia." Himewari whined. Tetsuo looked at her questioningly. "I mean you are acting like you have no purpose in life or something. Stop mopping around and help carry this stuff with me to the clinic before you go off." Himewari said dumping two large bags in Tetsuo's lap.

"Ugh...sure. Glad I offered. Stay out of the dictionary for me would ya?" Tetsuo said sarcastically.

As Himewari and Tetsuo walked down there street Uri trailed close behind. Tetsuo struggled with the two larger bags as Himewari stuck her head into a book. The book was titled Legends of warand as interesting as history books came, Tetsuo couldn't believe how she failed to see he clearly was uncomfortable.

"It says that large wars would sometimes take years to end and that they would be fought over the simplest things...like golden coins." Himewari said.

"Well that's because it's a stupid idea that gold makes you happy. Hey these bags are ridiculously huge, what is this for anyway?" Tetsuo asked.

"But I'm thinking if this war finds no end, we could find ourselves fighting for years. We would have no life. We would be split apart constantly even...we might not even have a life together!" Himewari whispered the last part.

"What was that? Hey, really what are these bags for? I'm starting to get irritated here!" Tetsuo grunted.

Himewari rounded the corner and ran ahead to grab the door to The Ark, slightly bouncing and encouraging Tetsuo to move faster. Tetsuo made him way still fumbling with the bags and stumbled through the front door. He dumped bags on the front desk and peaked around them to see the unfriendly face of the receptionist. He didn't bother to smile, she never once gave him a reason to since the day he first entered The Ark.

Tetsuo turned to Himewari with a grimace. Himewari shrugged and thanked him, then turned him around and shooed him out the door saying "Ok you two" she said glancing down at Uri, "Have fun looking for...oh shoot sorry I forgot again Tetsu." Then she closed the door.

"Yeah." Tetsuo said. He turned and looked out into the scene. Across the street was a green field that decended into the river and on the other side was the city. Tetsuo may have complained but once she was gone, he never felt so alone. They were always connected in some way or another until she would escape behind doors. After that it was just him and the rest of the world, face to vast space.

Tetsuo and Uri began walking toward the city, he wasn't quite sure what was drawing him in that direction but he felt like something was there that could take him mind off of SIN, war and being alone. Uri bounced alongside him and decided to throw a stick into the grass so she could fetch as they walked. As they approached the tunnel underneath the bridge, Tetsuo tossed the stick over the small hillside near the river and Uri disappeared after it. A few seconds passed and Tetsuo figured something was up for her to not have returned yet.

Tetsuo began down the hill but stopped when he smelt a familiar scent. His memory flashed in snippets as the scent filled his lungs. It stung his nose and yet he felt that wasn't a bad thing, but it was something he needed to smell more of. He was enchanted by his memory and his senses until he felt something in his presence. His teeth grew and he whipped around, what he saw struck him dumbfounded.

Uri was snug in the arms of a stranger. A tall dark stranger who approached with no guard. He took steps toward Tetsuo so casually even though Tetsuo shifted forms. The figure wore a black robe like a Chinese monk and a large bamboo hat that hid his eyes. He wore old tattered sandals and wore a chain around his waist that little skulls in it. This stranger's face was stern as it approached Tetsuo, he looked hardened as if time froze him that way and he had long black hair that was pulled into a tight ponytail behind him. The stranger came close to Tetsuo then lifted his head, looked into his eyes and said "You forget someone?"

Barachiel, Gabriel and Raphael walked around the streets of Challoum. As they walked Raphael would glance toward the Medium from time to time; slightly mentioning something about it that was irrelevant to their conversation. Gabriel decided to ask Raphael what he could possibly be worrying about at the time.

"I am worried? I was just making note of how the river near Hime's house is sparkling today. You two always think I'm obsessing over her when I hardly make a fuss." Raphael said as he turned his nose up.

"Sure old man, because sparkling river water had everything to do with what we were talking about." Barachiel said with a chuckle.

Gabriel stopped walking and turned to face the Medium, then he said "You know...I've been thinking Raphael...maybe we should pay Hime a visit." Barachiel and Raphael stopped suddenly and raised their eyebrows.

"Really?" Raphael said before composing himself once more, "Um, yes well no harm in just checking up on her for a bit you know." Barachiel gave him a unconvincing look. Raphael wasn't fooling anyone with his eagerness to see Himewari again. Then Barachiel began to laugh.

"Haha you know I miss the sweetheart. I remember her always yanking my wings and asking for some for herself." His eyes glossed over in nostalgia, "I could never tell her no, just tugged on that little tail of hers and told her she had something just as fun." All three angels smiled at the thought and walked on in Challoum.

Sorry for the late posting folks :] –Hime~chan