Falling Feathers
By Sakata Ri Houjun

AN: This is a fic that I'm dedicating to my beloved Hikari. This was an RPG we did a long time ago and recently, I finally got to watch City of Angels. Immediately I thought of her and this RPG and...so I'm starting yet another fic.
This was written to the Witchblade soundtrack (the comic, not the TV series) leaving me with a melancholy feeling that seems to fit this fic well enough.
I'm going to apologize ahead of time for any spelling errors and what not. I know they've been cropping up a lot lately in my stuff and I can't really catch them all since I don'thave a spell checker program on this computer.

~***~

Soaring through that suspended place between Heaven and earth, an angel flew, making his way to earth. He had his mission, his duty, but his heart sang with joy at the thought that his old friend could be welcomed back into paradise. His wings stretched to their full span, the blue-tipped feathers rustling in a wind that did not exsist. The angel Chichiri, gaurdian of Divine Fate and protector of the redeemed, materialized within the mortal realm, but remained intangible. It wouldn't do to be seen by God's favored creation, though most didn't even believe in Him. The celestial being's mahogany eyes scanned the bustling city below him, searching, not so much with his eyes though, but rather with his aura, searching for the one who was like him yet not like him, at least not anymore.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Japan, a fallen angel sat atop a roof, looking down at the people, rather grumpily. For a full mortal's lifetime and more he had been condemned to earth, forced to endure the lonliness that accompanies an immortal's exsistance. Unable to return to Heaven because one of his wings had been cut away from him, torn from his back, unable to take flight for an eternity. And all for the love of a mortal.

Tasuki lay down against the roof of the building, his eyes closing, wondering how much longer he was going to be stuck in this... kind of hell. Suddenly he twitched, sensing the aura of goodness, something only certain winged creatures possessed. One golden-flecked amber eye eased open to see if maybe he could see whoever was flying around near by, a false hope building in his heart at the thought of seeing another like himself after so long.

Chichiri smiled to himself, feeling a familiar warmth radiating towards him, welcoming him almost. Although he knew it was more out of curiousity rather than recognition. He angled his trajectory a bit, wings catching the cool breeze of Tokyo, and he landed soundlessly on the roof, next to Tasuki. He remainied invisible to the mortal eye yet he knew the fallen angel could 'see' him.

The once protector of the fearless closed his eye again, a soft smile on his face. "I know you're there."

The intangible being's aura radiated with soft laughter, his mind reaching out to communicate. He couldn't speak while in this form but sharing a divine lineage with the fallen angel before him also created a link between them, allowing any words that might be said to be heard. "It's been an eternity, no da."

Tasuki pretended to laugh, the sound almost bitter. "Has it been?" he murmured aloud, knowing that the angel could hear him. "I thought I've only been here for a day."

Chichiri looked out across the skyline, the blazing sun setting in the west. "We all miss you, no da. I've missed you..."

The fallen angel shook his head sharply, still not opening his eyes. "Oh please, don't give me that."

Chichiri looked back at him at the bitter words. "You don't belive me?"

"I wasn't exactly popular. Who else would miss me besides you?"

"Heaven doesn't feel the same without you there. Is that more acceptable?"

The redhead nodded slowly, finally opening his eyes to stare at the air which shimmered under the presence of one of the celestial choir. "A bit."

"And would you belive me if I said I came with good news for you?"

Tasuki sat up and sighed rather dejectedly. "What is it?"

"You have a chance of returning to Heaven, no da." Chichiri stated, not even bothering to hide the joy in his voice at the good news he was delivering.

The fallen angel nodded a few times really slowly, taking what the angel had just said in. "I have a ch-- Hey!" He jumped up suddenly, staring at the empty, shimmering space with wide golden eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Hang on," Chichiri murmured before slowly materilizing, taking on the substantial human appearance. Though he lost much of his celestial grace and beauty, looking at him he was still beautiful by human standards, striking features that were perfect, flowing blue hair, and peircing mahogany eyes that flashed red in the dying light. His wings were gone and his clothes were rather plain and ordinary, almost coarse and ugly compared to his beauty. Gravity hit him once the transformation was complete and he nearly slipped on the roof tiles, barely managing to catch his balance. Yet he made the gesture seem graceful. "Sorry..."

Tasuki tried not to laugh as he reached out to take his hand, helping the cerulean-haired angel to his feet. "Yeah, gravity takes some getting used to." He looked him over a bit before nodding, a knowing smile on his face. "You still look the same... So what's all this 'bout gettin' back into Heaven?"

Chichiri squatted down next to him for better balance, his face pulling into a smile as he looked back up at his old friend whom he had missed terribly during all this time. "I guess you could say you're up for parole, no da."

The fallen angel scratched his head in confusion, before settling back down on the roof. "Parole?"

The cerulean-haired being laughed, squeezing the redhead's hand gently. "You've lived on earth for how long and you still haven't picked up the phrases humans come up with yet, na no da?"

"Hey! Just cuz I've lived here don't mean I know what they're talkin' 'bout! Besides, you seemed to have picked up something during your transformation, no da." he mimicked playfully.

Chichiri remained silent for a moment, enjoying the familiar warmth of Tasuki's aura, a nostalgic feeling washing over him. "One of God's faults is that He always forgives, though His wrath can be encompasing at times..."

"Ah, forgiveness, I forgot 'bout that... You think He really would? I mean, honestly..."

The smaller angel gazed up at him, smiling gently as a wind whipped through his long blue hair almost playfully, the strands seemingly alive. "I'm here to observe you, no da. If you can behave yourself around me while I'm here, I can tell God that your repentant for your sin and you can come home."

Tasuki leaned in close towards Chichiri, leering. "Well, the question is... can YOU behave yourself 'round me?"

Chichiri drew back slightly, blushing faintly in the dying light, finding his heart racing at the shift in Tasuki's arua. "W-what do you mean?"

The redhead pulled back laughing and clapping Chichiri on the back. "Ah,you know I'm kiddin' with you!" Almost instantly, he stopped laughing, staring seriously at his old friend. "But seriously... are you going be in human form the whole time while you're...'observing' me?"

The angel nodded after letting out a shaking breath, intensely relieved yet disappointed. "It'd be hard to explain to mortals just who you're talking to if I remained invisible, no da."

"There now, ya see? I'm tellin' you... human life ain't gonna be so easy..." Tasuki then looked pointed down at his clothes, a condenscending expression on his face. "Like the way you're dressed... and your hair's too long..." He gestured to his own messily cut vibrant orange locks as an example.

Chichiri reached up, finding himself becoming self-concious all of a sudden, his fingers toying with the almost feathery strands of blue. "C-cut my hair?"

"Ahaa... Angels aren't supposed to be so concerned about appearances..!" Tasuki shouted, pointing at the angel accusingly.

Chichiri looked away, blinking. "Your aura must be affecting me, Tasuki..."

The redhead laughed as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a rubberband. "Calm down Chichiri, alright? You're in good hands here. Now..." With the band in his hand, he reached over and collected Chichiri's hair. "We got to take care of you before we head back to my place..."

The cerulean-haired angel closed his eyes at the intense closeness and the overwhelming warmth permating his own arua. He knew lust was forbidden to angels; it was why Tasuki had been condemned. But surely God knew what He was doing by sending him summoning him for this mission. Every secret that angels kept, God knew... "I promise you won't notice me here at all, no da..." he whispered quietly.

Tasuki bound Chichiri's hair from his face securely, giving the tail a playful tug. "Oh please... I need the company!" He paused for a moment, arguing with himself, whether or not to pull his dear friend close and hugging him tightly, before quickly pulling away and nodding. "There you are... that'll do for now."

Chichiri shook his head, testing it out the ponytail. "This feels strange, no da..."

"Yeah, but you were so hesitant to cut it..." he pointed out before jumping off the roof to the sidewalk below. "C'mon." he urged Chichiri, looking back up at him with a grin on his face.

The smaller angel raised himself slowly, trying not to lose his balance again. "Is it supposed to feel this clumsy and awkward, no da?"

Tasuki held out his arms. "I told you, it'll take some gettin' used to... but you if just slide off, I'll catch you..."

"Not like I could get killed anyways..." Chichiri joked with a wink before he slid across the tiles and off the edge of the roof. Sure enough, the redhead caught him and he found himself leaning into Tasuki's arms for balance.

"Ah, true." he returned while looking him over again. "Your clothes are too..." he sighed, words failing him. "I guess you can borrow what I got at home..."

Chichiri looked down at his clothing. "I didn't want anything conspicious..."

" It's just so boring..."

He smiled before fingering Tasuki's leather jacket. "And what about you, no da? You look like a punk, no da."

"Eh?" Tasuki looked down at his own choice in clothing, wondering if Chichiri disapproved of what he found confortable. "What do you mean?"

Chichiri laughed softly, pulling from the closeness and striking a thoughtful pose. "Leather, torn jeans..." He reached up and tugged lightly on one of the sparkling earrings dangling from his ears. "You've even peirced your ears, no da..."

Tasuki scowled and jerked his head away from Chichiri's hand. "You don't have to make fun of me..."

"It suits you..."

Shocked, Tasuki gazed over at Chichiri and grinned. "You really think so?" The cerulean-haired figure nodded slightly in response, blushing wildly. Unable to help himself, Tasuki wrapped an arm around Chichiri's shoulder, pulling him close again. "Thanks, Chichiri... Now.. where's my bike?"

Chichiri leanned against him, wondering how it could be such a sin to want to be close to his friend. "You know how to drive too?"

Tasuki looked around, nodding absently to the question. "You have to learn a few things to survive in the mortal realm."

Slowly, the redhead led the way to the motorcycle. Chichiri stifled a laugh at the paint job, red wings fluttering along the casing, loose feathers trailing back as though caught in a galestorm. "Somehow, I'm not surprised, no da..." he murmured, tracing a slender finger along the length of the wingspan, causing Tasuki to shiver involuntarily.

"Well..." he coughed "C'mon now Chichiri... You know this is as close as I'll ever get to havin' TWO working wings." He climbed on the bike, patting the seat behind him.

Chichiri watched a moment, a sad expression on his face as he tried to imagine how his beloved friend had felt all those year, so close to flying and yet... He climbed on behind Tasuki, wrapping his arms tightly around his waist from behind. "You're very strong, you know. I think I would have gone insane if I had lost what you have..."

Quickly, Tasuki grabbed his helmet and handed it to Chichiri. "You'll need this more than me... I don't think you'll like swallowing flies." he joked before leanning back against the smaller angel so he could flip up the kick stand and start the bike. "But I ain't strong Chichiri, just... adaptable."

The cerulean-haired figure wondered for a moment why he suddenly felt the need to cry at that while slipping on the helmet. He resumes his hold on his fellow angel, starting a bit at the powerful roar of the motor coming to life.

"Hold on tight now, you hear? Don't be afraid to get close." he muttered as he kicked off the ground and started off. Chichiri felt the wind whipping at his clothing, his grip getting margianally tighter. Why was he so afraid of this rush? It wasn't like he was going to die, but the exhilaration of being so close to Tasuki and the feel of the mortal world around them, it was quite a feeling unlike anything he'd ever experienced.

Tasuki could sense Chichiri's unease and slowed down just a little bit as he took a turn and started going down a much quieter road. Chichiri sank his fingers into the stiff leather of the driver's jacket, closing his eyes and letting hiself just drown in these sensations overwhelming him, all the while questioning God's judgement in sending him to observe Tasuki. Surely He knew about his attatchment to the fallen angel...

The redhead slowed the bike down, stopping at a large apartment building. "Here we are... my humble abode... sorta.." He looked over his shoulder at Chichiri, smiling sheepishly. "You know... if you want, I can show you around later."

Chichiri reached up and removed the helmet, shaking his hair a bit, his heart still racing from the bike ride. "Around?"

"You know... resturants, malls, where to find gir--" he paused, his face reddening. "Yeah, that's right, Angels aren't allowed to feel lust, right? Well then... movies.. mortal things, you know?"

Chichiri looked down slightly, but still smiled. "I've been wondering what you've been doing to occupy your time, no da."

Tasuki jumped off the bike, taking the helmet from Chichiri's hands and hanging it off of the handlebars. "What do you mean?" he mutters, certain that his face was blushing. "I don't know what you're talkin' about!"

The angel gazes back up at him, his expression reproachful and sad. "Your lover...he was only human..."

In an attempt to keep from looking at Chichiri, Tasuki started wheeling the bike towards the garage, his posture hunched slightly as though to protect himself. "Yeah.. he was human..."

Chichiri swallowed the lump in his throat. "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have said anything..."

He looked up over his shoulder at his old friend, a large fake grin plastered on his face. "It's okay Chichiri!"

The angel shrinked back slightly at the change in tone. "I won't say anything else...I promise."

"No no! Really it's alright! It's been... what... over 50 years? I dunno... I'm.." he took a deep breath before continuing. "Over it."

"If it makes you feel better, I know how it feels..."

Tasuki looked at him in confusion. "What are you talkin' 'bout?"

Chichiri shrugged helplessly "I'm just rambling, no da..."

Tasuki continued staring at Chichiri, an eyebrow sliding up in skeptisim. He had known this angel ever since they first came into exsistance, since before time even exsited, before the very mortal place they were standing on was even created. "I don't believe you... but I'm guessin' you don't want to talk about it." Tasuki returned to his task of locking up his bike before holding out his hand towards the smaller angel. "You know Chichiri... I've gotten used to this mortal life..."

"I know...I've been watching you sometimes..." he returned quietly, following the redhead up the stairs.

"You have?" He looked back over his shoulder at him, blinking in interest.

Chichiri looked up this time, nodding. "I had to...make certain you were okay..."

Stopping suddenly, Tasuki whirled around, shaking Chichiri's hand enthusastically. "Arigatou, my good friend. I've been wonderin' why I kept sensin' someone with me all the time. So I was never alone?" He grined and started up the stairs again.

Chichiri blinked then smiled. "As if my telling you that I missed you wasn't clue enough as to how much I valued your companionship, no da?"

"You got a point there."

"I really have missed you, Tasuki," he sighed softly. "We used to be together all the time before..." he trailed off, knowing that the subject was still tender with the redhead if the earlier conversation was indication.

"Well... we can make up for some lost time, ne?" Tasuki gestured to a door. "This is my apartment."

Chichiri looked around curiously. "Aren't you going to start by letting me in and showing me where I'm sleeping then, no da?"

The fallen angel visibly paled as he opened the door. "Oh shit..."

The smaller angel stared at him, unfazed at the use of profanity. He was the one who practically invented it after all. "What?"

"I, uh... one bedroom... I can take the couch...! Yah, that's right! It's all good!" He nodded a few times before pointing to the couch. "Right there. You can sleep in my room. So how long are you plannin' to parole me?"

Chichiri blinked at the lumpy couch before answering. "Until further notice, no da... Orders from the Almighty, Himself."

"Okay... great... Well..." He kicked open a door, tugging Chichiri after him. "This is my room, and this is where you'll be sleepin'.. you don't... have anything with you, do you?"

"Angels don't exactly have much to pack, no da..." He eyed the large bed, blinking. "I should sleep on the couch, Tasuki."

"Nah, yer my guest."

"No, I don't need this much space...it's too much." he protested mildly.

"Dammit Chichiri, you're going to sleep my bed! And you're going to enjoy it!!"

The cerulean-haired angel looked at him, eyes flashing crimson breifly. "Then you're going to share it with me or else I'm sleepinng on the floor!"

"Nuh-uh!" he insisted, crossing his arms and shaking his head defiantly. "You know how I thrash in my sleep!"

Chichiri smiled. "I remember...It'll be like old times again, no da..."

Tasuki found himself smiling as he nodded a bit. "Yeah... but still.." Quick as a flash, he reached out, pushing Chichiri onto the bed. "You're sleepin' here."

But just as quickly, Chichiri grabbed one of his wrists, pulling him down with him stubbornly. "Not without you, no da."

Tasuki fell down on the bed with an ungraceful thump. "Dammit..! Chichiri!" he growled.

Chichiri grinned back up at him. "Still the same old Tasuki..."

Sneering enough to bare his fangs, he returned, "Quit arguin' with me Chichiri...! Two guys livin' together and sleepin' in the same bed doesn't make for a warm welcome, okay?"

The angel blushed but mantains the grin. "You've done it before. Are you afraid something's going to happen, no da?"

"No!"

Hiding the pang of sadness he felt at the loud negative protest, Chichiri slipped his arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Tasuki couldn't hide the blush blossoming across his face. "H-h-hey now Chichiri... This is really awkward for me... I'm under parole afterall... and you're still a full fledged angel..." He pulled away and got off the bed, his face still red.

Chichiri propped himself up on his elbows, tilting his head in confusion, his heart filling with a fragile hope. "Tasuki, do I make you uncomfortable...being here...like this?"

The redhead cleared his throat, immediately heading towards the bedroom door. "I gotta make dinner or somethin'..."

The angel pursed his lips together, his aura resonating with sadness yet the hope remained in his heart. "Now that I think about it, this form is in need of nourishment, no da. But...you will share the bed, right...for old times sake?"

Tasuki paused at the doorway, but didn't look back at his friend. "I'll think 'bout it, okay?"

~***~

Special Note:
To Hotaru, who didn't leave me any real way of contacting her, you're more than welcome to use my name for your fic. I can't wait to see a new chapter.