Some of this is more on the silly side, but at least I was inspired. ^_^ Hope you enjoy and remember to review! (Feel free to review for any previous chapters you may have missed ^_^)

Episode 14 – The Final Angel

I don’t normally write in this thing for fear of paranoia someone shall read it one day. But alas, I have no one to really share my feelings with. I trust Ame and the others but I’ve never been good at expressing my feelings. But with the thing with Hikaru…

Meian seems to think that he and Noutan are two separate people. I don’t really understand how that would be possible, but I guess it makes sense… Also, Meian seems to believe that we will need Noutan’s help… She has asked me to try and convince him to help. Meian explained that even though he reverted back to Hikaru, the only way to remove Noutan from his body would be to kill him, so I guess I will have to deal with him.

I could probably convince Hikaru to help us, but how do I convince someone as mad as Noutan to help us out? I mean he could turn on us at any time…I suppose I shall talk to him anyway. Maybe I can work something out…

As for the others, they are going on the school field trip. I decided to stay home in order to work things out with Hikaru. Anyway, for the field trip they are going to the aquarium for the marine section of biology class. I fear for Jamie for she must endure a one hour bus ride there with everyone…

Jamie sighed as she sat in the back, Sora and Enkou shortly followed, with Ame sitting on the opposite end of Jamie. The back seat was the largest seat, able to fit four people, while the rest could only fit two. Kain and Kuro sat in front of Jamie and Sora on the right side of the bus, while David and Gene sat on the left in front of Ame and Enkou. Various students from the other biology classes filled up the rest of the bus.

Jamie reached into her book bag, pulling out a small CD player with headphones. She put them on, got into a comfortable position, and closed her eyes. Sora blinked, glancing at the device to see what she was listening to, but the CD was spinning too fast for her to see.

“What do you suppose she listens to?” Ame asked, trying to think of some songs that she might like; she found it hard to come up with any.

“I do not see why I should accompany you on this journey.” Kuro growled.

“You really need to lighten up. You’re almost as bad as Meian!” Kain chuckled. Jamie suddenly opened her eyes, glaring at him. He blinked and covered his mouth as he spoke. “She can’t hear me with those on, can she?” He had this odd feeling that she could probably read lips if she didn’t hear him. Either way, if she did hear him, she simply ignored him and closed her eyes.

“This form of transportation is so primitive…” Kuro muttered as the bus began to move.

“Oh be quiet and just enjoy the ride.” Sora snapped at him. He grumbled slightly and stared blankly at the seat in front of him.

“I had to get stuck with Mr. Conversation here.” Kain sighed. “Anyone feel like trading with me?” He question was followed by silence. “Thought so…” He heard Kuro mutter something under his breath. Kain sighed again and shuffled through his own book bag, grabbing a handheld game to play.

“What are we supposed to do for the next hour anyway?” David sighed. “I can’t stand just sitting here…”

“We could sing!” Enkou grinned.

“I bet you two have a really interesting singing voice!” Ame laughed.

“This is going to be a long bus ride…” Gene muttered as he stared hopelessly at the floor.

“Why did you call me here, Kuroi? I shouldn’t be around you. I don’t know how long I can control him…”

Kuroi sighed. “And what do you plan to do when you can’t control him? End your life? It won’t solve anything.” Kuroi answered back, looking to her left at Hikaru. They were sitting on a bench in a small, secluded park.

“I don’t know what to do… but I can hear him screaming to be let out… He has a powerful soul… I can’t hold him forever.”

“Then let him out.”

“What?” He gasped. “I can’t! He’s insane… There’s no telling what he’ll do…”

“Then I’ll have to work out some kind of deal w9ith him.”

“Kuroi, he’s not the kind of person you can make deals with…”

“We have no choice. It’s the only way to save you from him… and he has knowledge of our enemy.” Without waiting for another word, Kuroi closed her eyes and focused inward. Three familiar, purple rings formed around her, transforming into a cocoon-like diamond which shattered in a shower of sparkles a moment later.

“Now transform; I’m ready for him now that I know I can beat him.” Rikou commanded.

“I…” He stuttered.

“Do it!” Rikou said more forcefully. “We need to do something about him!”

“Fine…” He sighed as he stood up, now closing his own eyes. A similar process as what Kuroi went through happened to him, only his rings and diamond was a pitch black color. The diamond shattered in moments, leaving Noutan in Hikaru’s place, the difference between the two personalities obvious by Noutan’s devious grin.

“Finally!” He growled. “My wings were so cramped… and now, Rikou, we have some unfinished business…”

“Hey, Kain, is he asleep?” Sora asked, motioning to Kuro.

“…Why?” Kain asked as he looked back. He sighed slightly as Kuro let off a loud snore.

“I think I have my answer.” She grinned as she dove into her book bag. A moment later she grabbed something from within and held it up.

“Lipstick?” Ame asked. “I didn’t think you wore makeup…”

“I don’t.” Sora said as she grabbed a few more sticks from her bag. “I’ve been saving these for a special occasion.” She said with the grin still plastered on her face.

“What do you plan on doing?” Kain asked. As the only male of the group awake, he was the last line of defense.

“What do you think?” She asked as she uncapped a blood-red one. She stood up and slowly walked over to Kuro.

“I can’t let you do that…” Kain warned.

“Kain, remember that little incident a while ago?” Sora somehow managed to grin wider. “If you aren’t nice, I can tell everyone!”

“…Fine, but if he asks, I was asleep…” Kain sighed and faced the window. A moment later Sora begun her art work.

“Where’s a chaperone when you need one…” Kain muttered.

“Oh! I want to do David next!” Ame exclaimed.

“Oh, then Gene!” Enkou smirked. Jamie twitched and muttered, never opening her eyes.

“Finally I am free!” Noutan cackled “And after I do away with you,” He said glaring at Rikou. “I will…”

“You won’t be doing away with anything!” There was a crack of her whip and a quick flash and Noutan found himself laying flat on his back. “I will fight you all right, but under my terms.”

“I will never…” Noutan started by was silenced by a crack of the whip even though this time no lightning shot forth.

“If you win you can do as you will… But should I win you will help us and you will share that body more equally.”

“Equally?” He hissed. “I deserve this body!”

“If you ever want to get up, you’ll agree. If you don’t think you’ll lose you should have no problem with accepting. But if you do loose you will share both human and angel forms equally.”

“Fine.” He said as he stood up. “Let us begin so I can get on with my plans!” Noutan growled as he summoned his morphing weapon. It took the shape of a broad sword with spikes along what would normally be the dull edge. “Now I shall finally end you!” He yelled as he rushed forward.

Noutan brought down his sword to attack, but Rikou was already gone. “Stop that!” He hissed as he swung his sword behind him; once again Rikou was already gone.

“You’re too slow!” Rikou cackled as her whip struck him on the back. He growled as he turned to strike again. This time Rikou didn’t disappear, but simply deflected the blow with her whip.

Before Noutan could even make a comment, Rikou jumped off the ground and took to the sky. “So annoying… she is taking this battle like a game!” He growled to himself. “I will show her the error of her ways…” He muttered as he also took to the sky.

“Okay,” The biology teacher said as they stood outside the aquarium, the bus leaving behind them to wait for their departure. “Pair up in groups and explore as you will.” She said as she gave an odd look at Kuro. He had blue whiskers painted on his face and his lips were a dark purple. His nose was a deep red and also had light pink eye liner. He was the only one they had time to paint. Of course no one told him this.

“Pair up in groups of two or three and wander around. I will want a report of what you saw due next Monday.” There was a series of groans. The teacher smirked and led the way inside.

The students split up into groups and moved out. Jamie blinked and growled. Somehow, though she thought it may have been planned by someone devious, Jamie was left with no one but Kain for a partner.

“After all I’ve done for them, they still conspire against me.” Jamie sighed.

“Maybe it’s destiny!” Kain cackled.

“Yeah, and maybe I’ll put on a bunny suit.”

“Hmm…”

“Stop getting ideas!” Jamie growled, punching him in the shoulder. He groaned and rubbed his now sore shoulder.

“Let’s go… we have some fish to look at…” Kain sighed as they started to wander.

Rikou and Noutan now soared far above the ground, their weapons put aside. They both knew they had equal skills in hand to hand combat, so that only left one option.

“Now let’s see who shall defeat whom!” Noutan cackled as he prepared himself.

“Hmph. Don’t kid yourself, Noutan. The others don’t know it but while I was ‘depressed’ for a while, I was training. I’ll show you some of the things I learned…”

Noutan attacked first, summoning several dark fireballs from his palms. Rikou easily dodged it by diving straight down, allowing the dark fire to pass harmlessly above her. She quickly turned and countered with a powerful blast of lightning, which branched out like a tree with electricity from her own palms.

Noutan just got out in time, his left wing getting singed from the attack as he flew to the side. “You’ll pay for that!” He roared as he summoned more darkness to his bidding. He now unleashed a series of dark shards at the hovering Rikou.

Rikou dove upwards this time, avoided his attack once more. With a wave of his arm, Noutan changed the direction of the shards and put them back on course for Rikou. She quickly reacted by sending a bolt of lightning down at the shards, shattering them. Unfortunately the bolt kept going towards the ground, striking a small tree, which burst into flames.

I have to be more careful… She thought to herself. Luckily the tree was in the middle of a well watered field and soon burned out. “Let me show you one of my new ones!” She yelled as she brought her hand above her head. A moment later crackling energy formed in her hand and took the shape of a spear.

The energy spear quickly let from her hands and smashed into Noutan’s shoulder before he could move. Though it didn’t pierce his shoulder, it did blast into him like the energy that it was. He flew backwards for a few moments, finally righting himself.

Damn, why are her powers so strong? Noutan thought to himself.

Because you’re worthless! Hikaru’s voice echoed from somewhere within his mind.

You don’t get to laugh! I’ll show you both! Noutan roared again and summoned a stronger attack. Darkness started to swirl about him as his eyes glowed a dark red.

“Let me show you a nice little attack!” It almost seemed as though something had blocked out the sun as the air around the two angles seemed to darkness, though the sky was still clear. The darkness that swirled around him took the shape of a smoky ring around him as he continued to draw power.

Rikou tried to move out of the way as he summoned up his power, but she couldn’t see to move or even teleport. “Now feel nothing but pain!” He roared as the ring turned and floated before him so that he was looking through it. The darkness took the form of a cross now and sped forward. It slammed into Rikou, hitting every part of her body at once.

She screamed in pain as she fell helplessly towards the ground, which she soon crashed into. She tried to get up but screamed in pain at every little movement. “You will not be able to move for some time!” Noutan cackled as he landed a few feet from her.

“Darkness Cross is a powerful spell that will render the receiver of the spell immobile with pain. I doubt even Meian could withstand such an attack.”

“Fool.” Rikou coughed as she brought herself slowly to her feet, her body screaming with pain the entire time. Noutan reflexively step back as she stumbled to her feet. She coughed again, a slight amount of blood trailing down her chine.

“But… how can you resist such pain?” He said, backing away again, mostly from shock.

“Please, I’ve had worse…” She groaned. “Let me show you my strong attack!” She raised her arms into the air, moaning in pain as she did so. A moment later energy started to surround her, the pain easing as she summoned her powers. Now it was Noutan who could not move but for a different reason.

The sunlight once again diminished but this time because something was blocking it. Menacing black clouds quickly covered the sky, crackling with energy. Rikou finally felt the pain was away as a downpour began.

Moments later lightning started crashing to the ground, shaking the earth slightly. The lighting moved closer and closer, until it just missed the motionless Noutan.

See? You always underestimate them. Now you’ll pay! Hikaru’s voiced laughed at him, even though he felt whatever injury Noutan did.

“No! This isn’t possible! I won’t be defeated!” He roared as a powerful bolt of lightning struck him from above and he saw nothing more…

“I think I’ll discus the shark.” Kain said as he read the little plaque in front of the large shark tank.

“Figures.” Jamie grumbled.

“You really need to lighten up. If you dwell on the past like this forever, you’ll just end up hurting yourself.”

“What about when your past comes back and bite you in the-“

“Hey, I know you think I made a mistake back then. But I did what I thought was right, even if it did seem like a betrayal to the others. If I went back I would do the same thing.”

“…I still don’t know what you thought you were doing when you came with me.” Kain sighed.

“Maybe you’ll get it someday, Meian…” To himself he thought; I just wanted to protect you. I didn’t do such a good job but… He shifted nervously as Jamie eyed him suspiciously.

“Let’s keep going…” Jamie sighed and dragged him over to one of the dolphin tanks.

“Hikaru…” A voice said faintly to him. “Hikaru.” It sounded closer and more clear as he slowly opened his eyes. He looked up to see Kuroi staring down at him. “Hikaru?” She asked. He finally realized it was a question.

“Yes?” He asked in his normal, timid voice.

“You’re okay?”

“Yeah…”

“And Noutan?”

“I’m fine, thanks for asking.” His expression changed tot hat of a scowl and his voice seemed more dark and menacing.

“Noutan… you will keep your agreement.” She stated.

“Fine.” Noutan hissed. “I will leave him alone in human form. But I will control the Angel form!” The scowl faded as Hikaru’s personality returned.

“I have a headache.” He sighed.

“Go ahead and sleep.” Kuroi smirked slight. Before Hikaru could finally ask how she was, he passed out.

“Whew…” Kuroi sighed. She made her way to her room, and collapsed onto the bed, falling fast asleep.

“You’re doing your report on dolphins too, and I need to see how Kuroi is anyway.” Ame explained as they stood outside of Jamie’s house.

“I’m sure she’s fine.” Sora smiled. “How was your adventure at the aquarium?” Her expression changed slightly.

“…You!” Jamie hissed.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Sora quickly dove into the house.

“Let’s just go in shall we?” Ame said nervously, trying to spare Sora the pain she might receive. “I wonder how Kain is dealing with Kuro.” Ame snickered as she thought about his face when he had seen his reflection in a tank. She had just learned that Kuro was staying with Kain.

“Ugh…” Jamie sighed as they stepped inside. They went into the living room to see that Kuroi and Hikaru were sitting in chairs across from each other.

“Well?” Ame asked.

“Sit down and we’ll tell you all about it.” Kuroi responded. The two sigh and sat on the couch between them.

“Your plan failed Yami, and now he has sided with them!” The voice boomed.

“Noutan will prove little use to them now. In fact, I shall pay them a little visit. I think I’ll give a little history lesson to Meian!” She cackled.

“Fine.” The voice boomed. “Put your last plan into action. But should you fail they will come here. And then I will deal with them personally!” He growled, his voice echoing of the shaking walls.

“Don’t worry, for if they get here, I will be more then enough to deal with them…”