The Wounded

9

Four pairs of wings burst from their cage and expanded in length.

White wings and black wings were shown in stark contrast of each other, the beauty of the wings stunning the other fliers, causing them to pause during their flight to sneak a glance at the wings.

"Onodera-san! Misaki-san!"

The angels looked to see Kisa and Yukina running towards them.

"Hey!" Misaki yelled with glee, happy to allow his wings a chance to breathe.

"May we fly with you guys?"

The angels turned to ask for permission by giving the two demons the look.

It was a look the demons were weakened by.

Their beautiful green eyes widened in perfect practice. Their hair fluffed and moved along the breeze and the atmosphere glowing with sparkles around the angels.

The two said demons flinched, avoiding the look until Akihiko's resolve weakened and his eyes met with Misaki's.

Flowers blossomed and the sparkles brightened around the angels.

Akihiko gave into the will of the angel.

"Fine, you two can come."

Yukina and Kisa brightened, before letting their wings extend into the physical realm.

The two angels gasped at the color of Kisa's wings.

"I know, it's different..." Kisa mumbled, disheartened by the look on his new friend's faces.

"No! No! It's fine. It's just, we have never seen a mid-converted soul's wings before."

Kisa smiled once more, happy that his friends weren't going to reject him because of his wings.

"I think they're beautiful," Yukina whispered into Kisa's ear.

"Let's go," Masamune said, jealous at the romantic display. Nimble fingers came into contact with the demon's before the fingers laced themselves with Masamune's.

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"It's beautiful," Ritsu whispered, astonished at the beautiful landscape Takano-san had taken him and the others to.

"Yeah, it is." Misaki agreed. He glanced over at Yukina and Kisa, who fast asleep against each other.

Akihiko hugged him around the waist, laying his head on the angel's shoulder.

Akihiko glanced down at the young angel.

Over the past few days, he had grown to care for the angel.

He had left thoughts of Takahiro behind.

Instead, he came to cherish the innocent angel. Whenever he had the chance to see the young angel, his heart stuttered within his chest and the pit of his stomach warmed.

Everything about Misaki intrigued him. He was curious to know more about him, more about who he was and how he came to be.

He lowered his arm to touch the sliver of skin that escaped the confines of Misaki's shirt.

Misaki shivered, the touch not unwelcome from the older demon but his mind trailed back to the dark alleyway.

"No. . ."

Akihiko glanced down at the angel in question, his hand sat unmoved from the perch at the angel's exposed waist.

Misaki started to convulse.

"What's happening? He was alright before." Akihiko moved to readjust Misaki onto the flat earth to keep him from harming himself. He looked at the other angels, who looked at Misaki in sympathy.

"Memory..." Onodera answered.

Akihiko looked at Onodera, searching for a possible solution. When he found none, he leaned into Misaki's space and raised his hands around Misaki's face to block out environmental stimuli. "Shh, Misaki."

The angel whimpered, tears sliding from his eyes down the sides of his young face. Blood began to coat his shirt as his physical wounds reopened.

"Misaki."

He lowered his lips to barely caress the angel's so that they would breathe the same air.

He whispered Misaki's lips, "Misaki..."

"I'll protect you..."

The convulsing ceased, the bleeding sluggishly came to a stop, and Misaki relaxed into Akihiko's arms.

After a few passing minutes, Misaki awoke feeling lighter. He felt as if his body was floating.

"A-Another one?"

He glanced at the position he was in but did not protest, nor did he move.

"I touched you... and you had a memory flash," Usami mumbled guiltily.

Misaki blushed.

"It's okay."

Usami looked into Misaki's eyes searching for a sign.

"I-I liked it. You pulled me out, didn't you? You told me you'd protect me."

Akihiko smiled before Misaki pulled him into a chaste kiss.

Suddenly Misaki pulled away from the kiss and arched into Usami.

"Mph!" His wings, that had retracted when they landed on the platform, came from the astral plane into the physical.

"We should leave," Yukina, who had woken up during Misaki's convulsive episode, suggested happily.

This confused Ritsu and Masamune.

"If I had to guess, I'd say that Misaki has chosen his soul."

Ritsu smiled before lifting his wings and intertwining his hand with Masamune's

"Let's go then."

Yukina picked up his beloved Kisa and the two pairs left Misaki and Akihiko on the cliff.

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Misaki's body buzzed with adrenaline.

He watched as Akihiko's wings unfurled from his back.

"Misaki."

Misaki couldn't look away from the wings. He felt oddly drawn to the ink colored wings that were attached to the man. He reached up to touch the feathers that lined the bones. A groan startled him away from his contact with the beautiful wings.

"N-No. You don't have to stop."

Hesitantly, Misaki reached up and caressed the primary wings, observing them as they seemed to preen at his attention.

"Have you ever had your wings touched outside of grooming?

Misaki shook his head.

"Would you let me?"

Misaki's face felt aflame but gave his approval by lifting one of his wings to give the demon easy access.

A burst of warmth surged from the tip of his wing to the base of his spine as Akihiko

Misaki's mind felt hazy with warmth as he focused on the big hands caress his primary feathers.

"Would you ever consider fully bonding?"

Misaki nodded.

"But if you don't want to, it's fine."

Misaki shook my head. He had a feeling in his heart that assured him that he and Usami-san could save each other.

Maybe he was the soul Misaki had been looking for...

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