Kirr stood in the middle of the room, expertly balancing on a chair which stood on one of it’s legs, and had a rubbish bin on his head full to the brim with the dirty water they had used to clean up the class. People, fellow students were watching in awe. Just where did he get those skills?

“He’d do really well in gymnastics.” Someone muttered, and then they laughed. No. Kirr’s attention span was too short for this to be useful to any fashion.

“Look, a dog doing tricks.” The voice drawled, thick and syrupy and with a hint of flask that made it dangerous. Stone walked in—or rather, sauntered in as if he owned the room, and in a way he did. The students moved away deferentially, giving him space and also a direct path. People loved Stone, were in awe of him and those who weren’t were too scared to say anything else. In fact, Stone was one of those natural leaders who seemed to own the room.

Kirr giggled, waving but at the insolent look on Stone’s face, he stopped. “Stone, we’re just have fun.” He said, and did a little jump and skip routine without falling over.

“Fun? You could get hurt.” At the soft, shaking voice people turned to see a young boy enter with something rather like a song bird perched on his shoulder. Honestly—no one had seen Mitchell without an animal, it was as if they were drawn to his presence.

The way people moved away for Stone, people moved closer, as if seeking some of that warmth he seemed to give off like a life heater. “Mitchell.” A girl said, surprised. “What are you doing here?” He was clearly a junior to all of them, and yet while he went to the same school, usually he wasn’t allowed into this building.

“I’m here to go home.” He said simply, smiling. “Domain asked me to wait for him.”

Meanwhile, Mitchell and Kirr continued to fight, a small squabble that was too quiet for words and too loud to be ignored. But still, people tried their best, instead focusing on Mitchell.

“Teacher Domain?” someone asked, frowning. “Why…”

“Shh. The teacher’s his guardian, remember?” and then everyone sobered. They had heard of the accident five years ago where Mitchell’s parents had died in a horrific plane crash. It had been horrific because the plane had burst into fire from within, and yet it had been on ground. That no one had managed to escape… it was one of those things people talked about in quiet voices, in doors.

“Oh…” the sound of understanding. “Oh.” And then the pity, the sympathy. “You mean…”

“Demon.” The word, while it wasn’t odd to hear an occasional curse like this, was said with such good natured spite that people turned, curious. Why was Kirr calling Stone a demon? First of all, no on insulted Stone, the grand master. And second of all… of all insults, demon?

They expected Stone to be angry, or at least annoyed at this sign of disobedience. Instead, he was smiling. A little bit of an odd smile, but it was one none the less. “Thank you.” He said, rather sardonically. “I’ll tell him that you called me so.”

Maybe they all missed something. But suddenly at those words, Kirr flushed as if he had been insulted—or threatened badly. “Stone.” He said, warningly.

“Boys, aren’t we all supposed to be going home?” the sound of the pleasant, warm voice of the teacher had several of the girls giggle. It was no secret that half the female population had a crush on this magnetic teacher, and so all the boys put up with it. After all, no one could compete with a man who was in charge of their grades.

“Teacher Domain.” A girl said warmly. “We were about to leave.” She was about to suggest something as well, about going down for some private drinks. But Mitchell was here, and not one was ever mean to Mitchell.

Domain smiled, and then frowned. “Boys.” He said.

Immediately, Kirr dropped onto the seat, and the water landed in his hands, somehow, still in tact in the bucket. “Yes Domain.” He said obediently.

Domain frowned.

“Teacher Domain.” He amended quickly.

Mitchell smiled, relieved to see the man intercede. “Domain.” He said quietly. “We have to go now.”

His eyes immediately softened as they looked down at the quiet boy. “Alright.” He conceded, and told him. “My car’s parked at the usual place.” He threw the boy the keys, and some girl murmured something about waiting for him instead, in that beautiful car.

Another reason that the girls liked him so much was because of his red car. But in that, the male students defiantly couldn’t compete. “Alright.” Mitchell said, smiling and he looked over at the other two boys.

Kirr waved, grinning and Stone merely arched a brow, a silent question of. ‘Why are you looking at us for?”

Mitchell ran out hurriedly.

“Well.” Stone said, looking around the room. “I’m going to be going.” Something in his tone implied that he didn’t want to stay around school anyways, and he was about to walk out when one of the girls got the courage to ask.

“Stone? Where are you going? I think my place might be on the way.” Her smile was suggestive, and he smiled back, one of those dark, lusty smiles that shouldn’t be allowed at school.

“Yeah?” he purred, and she nodded, approaching him when he shook his head. “Too bad, babe. Not today. I’ve got work.” And with that, he left the room.

Kirr sighed, watching them all. Domain was the first one to say.

“I’m going to be going, I’ve collected my stuff. If the class president could lock up?” the girl nodded immediately with puffed up pride at this responsibility, and everyone else snickered. They all knew she had a secret, obsessive crush on him. “Very well then. Then I will see you tomorrow.”

“Good bye, teacher.” They all said in unison, used to this kind of action and Domain nodded warmly.

As he left the room, Kirr automatically put the stuff away, as if he had been waiting for them to go before acting like a normal person. He was quiet, and once he settled down no one seemed to pay much attention to the boyish prankster.

Quietly, looking around he smiled, and ran out of the room.

No one noticed that he went in the same direction as the teacher.

Or that in fact, all four had gone in the same direction.

***

They all climbed into the sports car, or at least the three who left first did. Domain was just pulling out of the drive way when Kirr ran towards them, ran right in front of the car and caused it to screech to a halt.

“Sorry” he said sheepishly. “I thought you were going to leave me behind.”

Stone snorted. “Maybe we should.” The boy clambered into the back, and quickly Kirr cast a spell so that they were invisible from the outside. “You’re late.”

Mitchell sighed. “He was trying to leave unnoticed.” He said patiently. “You know how hard that is, especially with Kirr.”

Kirr slanted the kind man a look. “For an angel.” He muttered. “You know how to insult me.”

Mitchell smiled, pleased that he had managed that thing humans called an insult so well. “Well.” He said. “I’m trying to learn you know, to be human.”

Domain watched them all from the rear mirror, stopping occasionally to focus on the road. Like it was hard. Having lived so long doing two things at once, this was child’s play. “Mitchell, where am I dropping you off today?” he asked.

Mitchell smiled. “The Oakland Vet.” He said simply. “I’ll be home around nine, if that’s okay.” He sounded a bit unsure. “The other students were a little bit surprised when they heard I don’t have a curfew.”

Domain chuckled. “It’s humans and their desire to constrain everything.” He said, as if it was an explanation. As if he wasn’t human himself. “Don’t worry. Tell them that you’ve got one, it’s just that your parents want you to do this… for some kind of reference.”

Mitchell nodded his head, going over the words in his mind.

“Why? Why are you going?” Kirr asked, excited. Mitchell was the only one outside of Domain who had some kind of job, something that paid little but allowed Mitchel to be surrounded by… love. And people/animals to help.

“A man abandoned a heavily pregnant bitch on the streets.” He said. “I’m helping with the delivery.” He flushed this time, with joy. He had his gifts, and while he had been told to never use them—sometimes, sometimes it helped his frustration at his inability to actually do something with his two hands. Besides, animals seemed to calm around him, and listen to his words.

“I’ll hold dinner.” Kirr said.

Stone snorted. “Probably make two and finish the first one.” He said, with some disgust. “Domain, drop me off in the back alley behind our house.”

Domain looked up. “Stone, you know the rules.”

“Don’t kill people. Don’t do anything that involves human lives or magic.” He said, mockingly. “I know, I’m not some stupid half breed.”

The words were aimed to hurt, but Domain didn’t even flinch. “I wouldn’t dare suggest that.” He said dryly, and the demon scowled.

“Well, just drop me off.”

“And dinner?” Kirr asked, a little bit timid now. He hated it when Stone reminded them of his background. Wasn’t that against the rules as well?

As if Domain heard his thoughts, the man shook his head. “No. He just can’t do it in front of other people.” He said.

“Stop talking to each other like that.” Stone snapped. “I’ll be home around the same time. Have to keep this body moving with food, don’t I?” he scowled again, and muttered something about stupid humans and their several weaknesses.

When they got home, or rather, when Domain and Kirr arrived in front of the modest two story house, Kirr and Domain entered through different doors. Kirr through the back one, still clouded by his gift and Domain through the front one, whistling in his step.

“Kirr?” Domain asked once they entered. “Have you finished your home work?”

Kirr made a face. “I don’t know why I have to bother.” He complained. “It’s not like we’re actually allowed to live here for ever. I don’t even want a job.”

Domain chuckled. “But you need to learn, you know. Besides, it helps with the pretence…”

“Yeah yeah…” he frowned, his shoulders slumping in together. “Some maths, but I’ll be done with it quickly.” Suddenly, he perked up. “Hey, Domain?”

Domain who had been heading upstairs, paused. “Yeah?” he asked, turning around to see Kirr watching him with wide, hopeful eyes.

“Do you think after, we could play in the background? Some boys play with a mitt and a baseball, and I’m sure I can find them somewhere in this house.”

Domain smiled, gentle. “You know we’ll have to be invisible, and we can’t cloak so much noise and movement with limited magic. We’ll be going against the rules.”

Kirr drooped, a little bit. “Can we play video games, then?”

Domain shrugged. “After you finish your work, if we have time.”

The answer should have been ambiguous, but Kirr had heard it so much as a replacement for something else, that immediately his shoulders drooped. He sighed. It was always a no, with the teacher. After they came home from school, Stone was always out beating people up, Mitchell was always out healing animals and Domain was working, or dealing with important people.

Kirr… and Kirr was always left on his own, to work.

“Okay/” Domain asked.

Kirr smiled. “Okay.” But it was sad.

***

“Domain, you’ve been ignoring me.” The voice was silky, a purr that defied human reason and so sensual that even Domain couldn’t help but react at the very masculine tone. No wonder no one could turn him down, even… “Domain, look at me.”

Domain, with some resignation and some hope turned around, hope because maybe this was His way of calling him back.

“Now, why would I do that when you are so much more useful here, on earth?”

Ah, he had forgotten just how well his greatness read minds.

The beautifully seductive man, pale and blonde with the lightest of eyes smiled, the blue shining as they crinkled in the corners with amusement. “Domain, you are the only man I know who can so effectively lie in their minds, that it seems like truth.”

“Me, your grace?” he asked mildly.

The devil laughed.

It was a good day, when he did so.

“How is our little deal coming along?” he asked, and then he frowned. “Aw, damn.” He muttered.

Just as the devil had arrived in shadows and smoke, a long thrilling beacon of light heralded the arrival of the angel. Six wings of large luminescent silver and the dark raven black hair with sparkling sapphire blue eyes and…

“You know what I don’t understand.” The voice commented, so pure, so divine… it made Domain almost wish he could take up the Vows. “Why is it I’m the angel of good, and yet I look like the mortal personification of you, and you’re the angel of darkness, and you look like me?”

The dark one rolled his eyes in impatience. “Gabriel.” He said lightly, slimily. “We were both angels, I was the most beautiful one, and I still am. Just because I rule…”

“Don’t say that word Lucifer.” Gabriel’s lip curled into a look of distaste. “You know I can’t stand it.” He looked around, obviously uncomfortable at fitting his wings into such a small room. “I am taking a lot of room, aren’t I?”

The devil snorted in response.

“Oh, you be quiet.” Irritated, the angel of light snapped his fingers until they disappeared, so that the large airy room once again appeared large and airy. “So, where were you?”

“Before you interrupted?” Lucifer asked sweetly.

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. “Just because HE said we’re supposed to get along, doesn’t mean—“

“Oh, He never said anything about us getting along.” Lucifer’s eyes widened with innocent surprise. “He said, if I remember correctly.”

“That the good and bad forces had been opposing each other for too long, and with human’s own destruction, it is time we began to work together and sustain the race who has taken evil out of the grasp of demons. Once, when they had been influenced by angels and demons, now instead they rule them. This destroys the cosmic balance of my world, so I want you to fix it. I want you to get along, dammit.” Domain interrupted.

Gabriel smiled faintly. “Yes, he did use that word, didn’t he?” he commented.

Lucifer smirked. He wasn’t going to say anything to that. “Now.” He said, and turned. “How is my precious Balthazar?”

“You mean Stone. Although I don’t understand that word…” Lucifer’s eyes lit up. He wouldn’t mind explaining just how his precious demon had gotten his name. It involved a certain form of torture that… “I don’t want to know Lucifer. Stop broad casting.”

Lucifer frowned. “You’re no fun.” He said sulkily.

Domain interrupted. It was always like this. It was as if, constrained to bodies which he as a mortal could see, they had to house themselves into mortal representations. And thus, all the good and great beings that made both holy (in their own right) disappeared in a fit of immature…

Lucifer growled. “Care to finish that thought?” he asked silkily.

Domain cleared his throat. “Stone is getting along fine.” He said smoothly. “He’s been keeping down the general evil in this town, not for his own entertainment but to keep good flourishing. Although I don’t understand why you housed us here…”

“It’s the most corrupted city in the world.” Lucifer said. “We need to prove to Him that we’re doing a good job, so that I can go on vacation.”

“Lucifer!” Gabriel said, shocked. “Vacation?”

Lucifer arched a brow. “Well, I’ve been working for over a…”

“But, where would you go?”

Lucifer smirked. “A certain man invited me for tea and…” he watched Gabriel color with sudden interest. “Did he ask you as well? Peculiar…”

Gabriel looked away, blushing. “Now, I understand him doing his part. What about Mitchell?”

Domain almost warmed. “He’s been a great help to the dying.” He said quietly. “He doesn’t quite understand why he can’t use his own magic when Stone seems free to…”

“That’s because we good guys never cheat.” Gabriel said smoothly.

Lucifer snorted. “The reason he doesn’t understand is because he’s only a minor angel.” He smirked.

Domain then, remembered something. “Ah, great sires.” He said.

Gabriel preened. “This one always knew how to talk pretty.”

Lucifer beamed. “I told you I trained them well.”

Domain decided to ignore this little statement. “I was wondering as to why… Kirr was here?”

Lucifer looked suddenly sheepish, and it was the light angels’ turn to look a little bit annoyed. “You never told him?”

“Didn’t seem important.” The blonde muttered.

“Domain.” Gabriel’s voice was kind, compassionate and everything under the sun made of honey and happiness. “Kirr isn’t good or bad. He’s neutral.”

“But…” Domain asked, and Lucifer snorted.

“Just as Stone’s my child, and Mitchell is Gabriel’s child, Kirr is the product of the Earth. He’s mother nature’s own kid. She sent him here because she wanted a part as well. After all, humans have been scarring her surface for centuries. It’s the least we could do after all she’s been through. If it was me…”

Gabriel paused the other angel. “I wouldn’t share ideas yet, walls have ears you know.”

Lucifer smirked again.

Domain nodded. He understood, or as much as he could. He just didn’t understand his own role, in the  end. You had good, evil, and neutral. There was no third side to that element, and so… what was his purpose? They could always have sent an authorities neutral figure instead.

 Gabriel gave no hint that he could hear the thoughts of his some what human creature. Instead, he nodded his thanks, snapping his fingers again so that he took the youthful form of a girl.

“A girl?” Lucifer asked with keen interest.

Gabriel – or rather, Gabriella smiled. “We’re neuter, sweet heart.” She said primly. “And mortals seem to be so much more nicer to women.”

Lucifer laughed. “They’re not the only ones.” He lifted one suggestive brow, and it was enough to have the light angel scurry off, muttering something about checking on his little charge personally. Lucifer watched the skirt run off with a smile.

“Sire?” Domain asked politely. He was still a high school teacher, and since he wasn’t allowed to use his magic…

“Oh, you can.” Lucifer snapped, irritated. “Just don’t tell the other’s what you’re doing.”

Domain smiled. His sire was so kind, so great. Now if he could only answer his previous question…

Lucifer looked over, pale blue eyes smoldering with something close to irritation. “Why are you down here?”

Domain nodded.

Lucifer smiled. “Kirr is like Switzerland.” He said, as if this explained it all. “He’s not supposed to take any sides, hence he cannot really sit on the fence. After all, who is truly completely neutral if they have to be in the middle of a war? Denmark wasn’t.” Lucifer sighed then, muttering about something he hadn’t foreseen. Domain ignored his. His sire always went off track. “I’m getting to the point.”

Domain smiled.

“We needed someone else, someone who wasn’t neutral, but neither good or evil to step in between. You have to care for all of them, because you are capable of both of the vices and so, it’s a perfect go between. You’re here because you’re meant to. Just as I decided on Stone, Gabriel decided on Mitchell and She decided on Kirr… you were chosen as well.”

“By who, Sire?” Domain asked.

Lucifer smiled. “Him, of course.” He said, arching a brow. “You’re fashioned after his most famous creation. Who else would send a human to deal with the issue of good and bad?”

And for the first time, Domain didn’t know what to say.

“I thought you’d think like that.”

***

Domain walked in to see that Kirr had finished setting the table that all the cold cuts were laid out but all the hot food was missing. Surprisingly, even though he was a class clown and a student, it was Kirr who acted like a mother to them all. What with the current meeting, Domain understood even more just how much Kirr was like a maternal figure.

“Are you finished with your work?” Kirr asked, surprised.

Domain nodded. “Did you finish yours?”

Kirr scoffed. “A long time ago.” He said, waving his hand as if it was little use to focus on silly things.

Domain frowned. “You didn’t come get me. I could have played…” What was that game? WarCraft?

Kirr smiled. “I felt them arrive.” He admitted. “I didn’t want to disturb.”

Domain frowned. He wouldn’t have asked before but… “How?” he asked. At the surprised look, he amended his words slightly. “How did you feel them?”

Kirr shrugged. “You know, it’s this sudden feeling that you can’t breath, and your mind is being compressed. Disappeared after a while, especially after she left in female form.”

Domain nodded. It would do, for now. But not that he knew Kirr’s true nature…

Kirr looked up, surprised. “Didn’t you know?” he asked. “I thought that’s why you didn’t ask me for five years.”

Domain started.

Kirr grinned. “I thought you could read minds as well. Guess you can’t, and guess that’s my job?” he tapped his hand, and looked so darn pleased with himself, that Domain couldn’t help but smile.

“Now.” Domain said. “Where’s…”

“I’m hoooome~~” Stone called out, singing as if something good had happened to him. Which usually meant that something bad had happened to someone else. Strutting in with a smirk, he looked at the watch and nodded. “It’s nine, and he’s not here yet.”

Domain looked at the time. Nine already? He had spent time after the light angel had left, discussing their future and some more plans for the boys with Lucifer. He hadn’t realized how quickly time had passed…

Kirr smiled as he looked up at Stone. “Food will be ready when Mitch gets here.”

Stone scowled. “Why is it we always have to wait for Mitch, but I always come home to find everyone else has gone to sleep?”

“I wait up for you.” Kirr pointed out, and Stone frowned.

“Yeah.” He said, as if he had never thought about it before. Stone was like that, dismissing everything that didn’t involve him until the end, until he couldn’t avoid it any longer. “You do, huh?” more thoughtful this time, he walked over to the table. “What are we having?”

“Healthy food.” Came the prompt reply.

Stone’s scowl returned. “Aw, man.” He complained. “How come? You’re not like our mom, or something.”

Domain decided not to point something out. But he didn’t need to because Mitchell walked in.

“Healthy food.” Stone continued to tirade, and turned to Mitchell. “It’s you who makes Kirr—“ at the sudden, beaten expression on the boy’s face, he suddenly stopped. “Are you okay?” he growled. “Did someone hurt you, because if they have…”

At the same time Kirr was rushing over, taking his stuff and tugging off Mitchell’s jacket while earnestly pushing him to the table. “I’ll get Domain to pour you something strong.” He said, and Domain, who had been listening, nodded.

Pouring them all a stiff drink (hey, technically they didn’t have to worry about underage drinking( Domain straddled one of the chairs while Kirr went in the get the food. Kirr always believed food would make everything better.

“What happened?” he asked gently, and Mitchell looked up with bleak eyes.

“The dog died.” He said, his voice broken. “Trauma from the inside. Tracked the man down and it turns out that he’s got six studs, and he’s been getting the poor whelp pregnant every time, and then killing her pups. Her insides… oh gods…” he seemed horrified with what he had seen, the extent of the damage. “I’m surprised she lasted that long.”

“Bastard.” Stone muttered. He hadn’t moved from Mitchell’s side, and in fact had pulled his chair closer to the angel. “I’ll get him. What’s his name?”

Mitchell shook his head. “It doesn’t matter…” his hands shook where they held the cup, and so he put it down, too scared in case he broke something. “But… gods…” He looked up at his eyes were bleak. “I don’t understand humans.”

Kirr entered the room, set the plates and piled something decadent and steaming on Mitchell’s. Stone didn’t complain about favoritism, instead his eyes were burning. “No one does.” He said roughly. “They’re a callous, crude backwards race that seems to rule the world only because He wants them to. He’s playing favoritism with the runts.” He placed one hand on Mitchell’s shoulder. “Mitchell.” He said.

Mitchell looked away. “I won’t kill him for what he did.” He said quietly. “I want to… but I’m still…”

Stone smiled, and his eyes had gone black. Not black as in darkness, but black as in coal, ebon black of the sulfur that burned down below. “You don’t have to.” He said, and for some reasons his words escaped like a hiss. “I’ll do it for you. All you have to do is say…”

Domain didn’t interrupt. He should have, maybe—but he knew the rules. They were trying to live among humans, to see if good and evil could get along and then, if maybe the world would become a better place. After all, if they could do it…

And while he hated to see Mitchell hurt, he had to say—this was proving to become evidence that they could work together.

“Guys.” Kirr said, almost desperately. “The food.”

Stone didn’t seem to hear him, and if he did he didn’t acknowledge mother nature’s child. Instead, he continued to stare into Mitchell’s eyes, until finally the angel responded.

With a wavering breath, he said. “No.”

Stone blinked, and slowly his eyes came back to normal. “No?” he purred, his tone still living somewhere among the depths of hell.

Mitchell nodded his head. “Even if you do it, even if I don’t kill him myself, it will still be my actions that caused his death.”

Stone tilted his head. “Were you going to keep it from us?” he asked.

Mitchell shook his head. “We’re family now, right?”

Kirr smiled. “For better or worse.”

For a while, everything continued as normal. They had a normal dinner and everyone griped the way they usually did, and Mitchell went to sleep before midnight. While he had never needed sleep before, now he was human—and his mind couldn’t take the trauma. Kirr sent him to bed early with a cup of hot chocolate laced with sleeping aids, and the angel was out sooner than a light bulb.

Domain was reading downstairs by the main entrance, in a little chair when Stone came out with a jacket flung over one shoulder.

“Going out?” Domain drawled, not looking up from his book.

Stone turned, and his eyes were molten. “Don’t wait up.” He snapped.

“He’s not going to like it, you know.” Domain said quietly.

“He doesn’t have to know.” Stone said.

“But he will.” Domain wasn’t wrong. Mitchell would know, sooner or later.

“No he won’t.” and this time, it was Kirr who spoke. Young, childish Kirr with his bright goofy eyes which were so solemn as he walked towards them, his jacket zipped up. “I’m going with you.”

Stone snarled. “Don’t be crazy, Kirr. This isn’t a job for kids.”

Kirr looked up, strength and anger lending him will. “I’m not a kid. I’m just as much a kid as you are, Stone.” He stepped forewords. “Why are YOU doing this?”

Stone looked away. “Mitchell—“ he began.

Domain nodded. “You might be evil, but we’re family now.”

Stone growled. “No one hurts him while he lives under my watch.” He said softly, threat lacing his words.

“But you’re stupid, and a demon.” Domain’s eyes widened as he listened to the way Kirr talked. It seemed Stone was not the only one to respond so quickly. “If you kill him, people will think that he was murdered. Mitchell’s going to suspect the truth and then what are you going to do? Destroy his mind with guilt?”

Stone smiled. “I’ll make it look like wild animals did it.” He said.

Kirr rolled his eyes. Almost. “Exactly. What wild animals live in Tokyo? He’s going to know it was you.”

“And you? Can you do something about it?” he retorted, angry and frustrated because he knew the boy was telling the truth.

Kirr nodded his head, and his eyes were solemn, cold. “He hurt an animal deliberately. He has six studs who did the raping, but whose to say that those dogs are faring any better?” he reached for a cap. “You’re not the only one who needs vengeance.”

It was Domain who spoke up. “Kirr.” He said. “You’re supposed to be neutral.”

Kirr turned, slowly, and Domain was put off guard at the look of such detached coldness. This wasn’t Kirr but… Domain’s breath caught in his throat.

“Stay out of this, human.” She said, her voice low and throaty with anger. “I’m not feeling very pleasant towards your kind right now, and at this very moment, I don’t care how much your master loves you.”

Domain knew she wasn’t talking about Lucifer.

“I will destroy you if you stand in my way.”

Stone turned, his eyes widening and Domain promised to explain everything. Later. “Mistress.” He began.

“Kirr will remain neutral. But this is my job. I am the protector of nature and animals, and to let something like this happen under my very nose? It will not wash, Domain.” And slowly, his voice returned to normal and Kirr seeped into the eyes.

“I know what to do.” He said quietly.

The next day. Mitchell woke up calm to see Stone sulking because he couldn’t do anything about the death, and Kirr the same normal self. Domain excused them all from school and they all went to a park, to the country and into wilderness. The night before Domain had explained just exactly who Kirr was, and Stone saw the boy with more respect.

Domain never asked what happened in that house. All he knew was that the man had died, and while there had only been a small excerpt in the news paper, there were no clues given to why. When he asked, Kirr would only evade the question and Stone would only smile.

It was not a pleasant smile, when Stone grinned like that. It was one of lust and joy and blood, and he would always smile fondly at Kirr, murmuring something about nature’s boy having some potential.

If Mitchell found out about the death, he didn’t say anything. If he suspected that his new family had anything to do with it, he never let it show. No one really knew what was going on inside the angels’ head any more, because he seemed so much more graver than he had before.

And Domain. Domain continued with these meetings with Lucifer and Gabriel, the new angels who were beyond ecstatic as to how well their two sons were getting along with each other. Everyone was happy, and people were talking about a day when Mother Nature would enter the equation as well. It seemed she was rather curious as to what was happening to their small family, and she also wanted to be part of the world.

But every time, she would say something about waiting. About having waited all this time, a few more moments wouldn’t matter.

Domain thought life would continue like this, that they would fade out of this current one like mortals, die a quiet death. But no sooner had that thought entered his mind that the two angels had arrived in his study again.

“Long time no see, Domain.” Lucifer purred.

Domain looked up. “It’s been a month, sire.” He said politely to both of them.

Gabriel looked around the room, seeing that Kirr had added softer touches in the decoration. “Like what you’re doing to your place. I promise some one will take care of it for you, later.”

“Later?” Domain asked gently.

Lucifer smiled and walked over, slinging an arm around the humans’ shoulder. Domain tensed, for a second not because he was scared of his master, but because… well, they didn’t touch like this. Ever.

Lucifer arched a brow. “Well.” He purred. “If you want, I could touch you---“

Gabriel coughed, discreetly, and Lucifer rolled his eyes.

“Spoilt sport.” He muttered. “Very well… Domain. How would you feel about taking your little family on a trip?”

“A trip, sir? Like Italy?”

“… ah, I was thinking more along the lines of, another world?”

***

“Another world, sir?”

“Yes. We’ve all been talking, the four of us and we think that it’s time enough that you moved onto the next step.”

“The next step, sir?”

“Yes. We’ve been in contact with a friend of ours, and he thinks you should bond dragons.”

“Dragons, sir?”

“Excuse me Domain, did I forget to put a brain inside your head? I don’t need you to repeat everything I say.”

“Dragons.”

“Now are you repeating everything you’re saying?”

The thought of what Lucifer and Gabriel had told him was still too fresh for him to understand. Gabriel had vented, demanding to know why Domain thought that even though there were such things as angels and demons, dragons couldn’t exist.

“Because dragons’ aren’t angels or demons, sir.”

“Lucifer…”

“Yeah, I know. Have to fix him up, soon. Keep reminding myself, but never get onto it.”

And now, once he had told the other three just what the others had told him…

“Dragons, Domain?”

Well, now he was seen as the crazy one.

Domain nodded. “Apparently, this man named Shy is going to come and tell us where to go.”

Mitchell looked alarmed. “Go? You mean… we might be split up?”

Stone’s lips quirked into a smile. “Bout time. I was getting sick of all of you.” He looked over at Mitchell. “Unless you’ll miss me so much that…”

Mitchell sniffed. “I don’t need you to stick around.”

Kirr tilted his head. “Isn’t Shy the one that molested Mother Nature and got banned from Earth?”

Domain suppressed a smile. “He’s…”

“Here, Darling. And please, don’t be Shy.”

The drawl purr was soo similar to Lucifer’s, that first Domain thought the man was playing a trick on him. But once he took in the tall slender raven haired man dressed in a cheongsam… well, then he knew better. There was no way Lucifer would put on a dress, and those eyes were too green, too… perverted, to belong to his master.

‘Glad to see someone appreciates me.’

‘Oh, hush. We’re supposed to be the silent bystanders.’

It didn’t matter in the end, though. Shy introduced himself as a scientist from the Vella Crean, a ‘close’ friend of the angels.

Stone snickered at the words, knowing just how close someone could get to Lucifer, and asked. “So, does he really have a pink pillow in his bedroom?”

Shy winked.

And Mitchell… well, the angel just died in mortification that someone would dare suggest his master had gone up to something… something so suggestive.

‘He doesn’t know you very well, does he?’

‘Told you he was a minor an—hey! What are you implying?’

Shy sent an irritated glance into the middle of nowhere, murmured something about bystanders remaining bystanders and no commentors, and turned instead to the four men. “Now…” he said, tilting his head. “When I take you to your worlds, the people will explain just what dragon riding is, and bonding. You’ll attend lessons, and while I do not mind if you use your abilities… please remember. Out of respect for your masters, don’t get yourself kicked out until the eggs hatch.”

“Dragons’ hatch from eggs?” Stone asked.

Mitchell frowned. “Well, it’d be painful if they were born like mammals.” He said. “Don’t they have scales?”

Shy smiled. “They are all different. It’s like claiming that all birds are the same.”

“But they are.” Kirr protested. “They all have wings.”

Domain sighed, and he exchanged an eloquent look with Stone. This was supposed to be a son of mother nature? Sheesh.

Shy merely smiled patiently. “Now, I have found two perfect clutches for you…”

“Two? You mean we’re going in pairs? Or a three and one?”

Stone scowled. “I’m not letting Mitchell off by himself.” He said warningly.

Mitchell smiled. “I’m not a child, you know.”

Stone sent him a warning glare. “Worse, you’re an angel.”

Shy paused. “Now.” Suddenly, his voice was more steely. “If you two have finished interrupting me…”

Kirr smiled sweetly, innocently. “Please, continue.” He said, as if it was up to him. Domain snickered.

“Domain and Stone, I’m sending you to a Frenzy where dark, or at least moderately neutral dragons will hatch.” He sent a meaningful look at Domani. “While there is a probability you will bond with a dark dragon…”

Domain nodded. He understood. It did not matter, about the dragons’ true nature. After all, if the four of them could get along… he just hoped he wasn’t left behind and that he was the only dragonless one.

Stone looked over. “So, Kirr and Mitchell are going together?” there was an odd note in his voice.

Mitchell smiled serenely. “Don’t you think Kirr can protect me?” he asked.

Stone’s expression turned odd. “No.” he said slowly, smiling at some hidden joke. “He can protect you very well.”

At Mitchell’s curious look, Kirr coughed, turning a little bit pink as he looked over at Shy. “And us?” he asked, like a little boy.

Shy looked over rather fondly. He so loved little boys. “I’m sending you to Falas Weyr. Their FGPC has a clutch of… more kindly aligned dragons, and I think you two will fit in there.”

The four looked at each other. They had accepted the fact that they would all be together forever rather quickly, and now that they learnt that they were going to be split up again…

“Are we going to see each other?” Domain asked loudly.

Shy smiled. “Of course you are.” He said kindly.

When Mitchell and Kirr went off to the FGPC, Mitchell fit right in. He hid the fact that he was an angel, but with his uncommonly kind nature and his ability to heal animals, he quickly befriended a lady named Sidhe. He fell in love with the winged wolves, and became such a hard worker that some of the riders wondered out loud of adding him to their wings. IF he bonded.
Kirr, Kirr blended in, rather well. While he never changed his out going childish nature, there were so many pranksters at the FGPC that it was as if he had come home. He missed Domain dreadfully though, and often he was soon acting too protective over the angel, talking to the earth as if he expected it to answer.

And maybe it did.

Domain was rather alarmed by where the Dark Heart Frenzy was held, because with the dark group of people he began to realize just how… cold everyone else was. There was much more evil in the world than he had thought.
And Stone.

Suffice to say, he had fun.