Japan, outside Kyoto
Ceres and Jai seemed to be the only two to have arrived where they did. From the moment they arrived, humans would only see them as humans. Their wings were invisible from human eyes, unless they were revealed to humans.
�Well, seems like we�re stuck with each other now.� Jai said. Ceres looked at her.
�Did you buy any of that crap?� Ceres spat. Jai�s eyes went wide.
�It�s not crap, Ceres. It�s the truth!�
�How can you be sure? You know everyone had been jealous of all of our powers. You and I were the strongest of the angels. Now the seven most powerful angels are tossed down to Earth. Don�t you think that�s kind of odd?�
�A little, but it�s not the reason we came here. We�re supposed to marry and have children in order to one day save the world.�
�But what if our powers just bring pain to those descendants? What if something goes wrong and they can�t save the world? We may be angels but we aren�t perfect. Our powers aren�t perfect. I have the feeling that the powers we pass down may be used to destroy the world, rather than save it (wow... talk about foreshadowing �Winding Paths�).� Ceres� golden eyes were getting darker as she spoke. Jai was somewhat afraid.
�How can you think that? Our powers can only be used for good, Ceres.�
�Even the holiest of powers may be used for great evil.� Ceres turned and walked off. Jai stood there, watching her sister�s departing back. They were only half-sisters, but they seemed to be bitter enemies at times.
Why is Ceres acting like this? She can be heartless and cold at times, but she�s never been like this before. Jai recalled her mother�s words to her, about the dark power that resided within Ceres. Could it have something to do with Ceres� father? After all, it was his great-great-grandfather that was a demon that married an angel. Ceres has demon-blood within her, although not much. But it seems to be enough to change her personality. Jai realized Ceres was walking towards a city ahead and was half way there. Jai scampered off after her sister.
Kyoto
Shikei watched as the men were training. His crystal blue eyes criss-crossed the men, taking in who would make it in the army and who wouldn�t. Kurayami was also watching, but he was getting very bored.
�Shikei, I�m going for a little walk.� Shikei nodded as Kurayami left and strolled through the city.
Kurayami strolled by the city gates and he saw two women not too far away, heading this way. The taller one caught his eye.
Two women traveling without a guard is very dangerous. Kurayami went out to meet them. Ceres and Jai stopped walking. Kurayami bowed to them slightly.
At least he shows respect. Ceres thought. He straightened up and his eyes looked directly back into Ceres�.
�Allow me to guide you two lovely young women. It is not safe for women to be alone.� Ceres� heart seemed to stop beating all-together. This man was indeed handsome and he seemed strong.
What the Hell am I thinking? He�s a human and I must take human form. I�ll gladly hold on to this form as long as possible. Ceres thought.
�Thank you, kind sir.� Jai replied for her older sister.
�My name is Kurayami and I am the Lord here in this city. May I ask your names?� Kurayami asked, his emerald eyes still fixated upon Ceres.
�My name is Ceres and this is my younger half-sister, Jai.� Ceres finally said. Kurayami smiled. �It is a pleasure to meet you, Kurayami.�
�The same here. I take it you are new here?� Jai nodded. �Will you both allow me to show you around my fair city?�
�We�ve got nothing better to do.� Jai said. Ceres inwardly rolled her eyes. Great, a day strolling the streets with her half-sister and a human male she had just met. His looks did send a wave of emotion through her she had never felt before, but she ignored them, thinking they would pass soon enough.
Kurayami walked slightly ahead of Ceres and Jai. He was pointing out the different stores and places of interest within Kyoto. Ceres wasn�t really listening. Ceres was silently cursing all the damn humans around her. Ceres could smell the smell of mortality all around her and it made her uneasy.
Jai glanced at Ceres and saw that faint scowl resting on her face and the hatred in her eyes. Jai sighed slightly and shook her head slightly.
I don�t understand her. Ceres has enough power that she could�ve resisted the order to come down here. I don�t think even God knows why she came here since she hates humans so much. Jai thought and looked away from Ceres.
Kurayami spotted a florist. He smiled and headed for it. Ceres and Jai followed him. Jai was wondering what he was doing. Ceres was half-oblivious to everything around her, save for the fact that almost everyone around them was staring at her and Jai. Even women stared.
Good lord, has no one ever seen women before? Ceres thought. Kurayami turned around and walked up to Ceres. Ceres looked up at him, coming back in to total reality. Kurayami smiled warmly.
�A beautiful bouquet for a beautiful woman.� He said gently, handing her a fresh bouquet of flowers. Ceres looked at the bouquet and took it, not knowing what to say. Ceres smiled, not knowing why.
�Thank you, Kurayami.� Ceres said. Kurayami�s smile seemed to grow deeper.
�You�re welcome.� He turned and continued to lead them through Kyoto. Jai nudged Ceres a little and smiled wryly.
�I think someone likes you.� Jai whispered. Ceres blushed slightly and glared at Jai.
�He does not like me!!� Ceres whispered back. Jai laughed slightly.
�Oh? Then why did he buy you flowers? Answer me that, Ms. Grump.� Jai said with a smug smile. Jai knew that Ceres didn�t have an answer. Ceres gritted her teeth.
�OK, fine, you win. But if you think the feeling is mutual, you�re heading down the wrong path.� Ceres shot back. Jai continued to walk along in her now smug world (author�s note: For the sake of getting on with the story and for the sole reason that I haven�t written in this for months, I�m skipping ahead. It will move three months ahead. Jai has met Shikei and the two have fallen in love. Kurayami is deeply in love with Ceres, but Ceres still does not give him the light of day).
Ceres sat in the library. Ceres had always had a fascination with books. She always loved myth and lore. For some reason, Ceres spent all her time in the library and read.
Ceres was stretched out on a couch reading a love story. The story was of an angel and a demon. Ceres was enthralled with the book and read it until she finished.
When Ceres finished the story, she closed the book and laid it on her chest. She put her head back and closed her eyes. Her thoughts turned towards Kurayami. After a few minutes, Ceres shook her head.
What the Hell am I thinking? I�m an angel and he�s a human. I�m not giving in to being mortal. I just can�t do it. Ceres thought. She had always hated the thought of mortals. Now she had been cast out of Heaven and been told.... No, COMMANDED..... to breed with a mortal. The very thought of being touched by a mortal sickened Ceres beyond belief.
Yet, she knew that one day her powers would be needed to defend the Earth from great evil. It was the hardest decision Ceres would ever make. Would she give in to mortality and bear children, passing on her power, and ultimately her life? Or would she refuse, stay immortal and stand by as evil destroyed the Earth?
Ceres held her hands up and looked at them. She knew she had dominion over life. However, she knew that deep within rested a dark power, waiting to come and overwhelm her. Ceres knew she couldn�t control this dark power and she knew it was very destructive. She only hoped that one-day when that power decided to emerge that her powers of life would balance it.
Ceres sighed deeply. She knew she had to bear children, but she did not want to give up her powers. A thought occurred to her just then. She plucked the book from her chest and stood up. She returned the book to the place she had taken it from. She then went in search of books on magic.
After searching for 15 minutes, she finally found a couple shelves of books on magic. Ceres trailed a finger along the spines of the books, reading the titles. Then her finger stopped on one book and her eyes widened in fascination. I didn�t think I�d find a book like this here. She thought. Ceres pulled the book from the shelf. She went back to the couch and planted herself back down. She opened the book and carefully read each and every word. �Well there you are!� Jai�s voice resounded as she found Ceres lying on the couch. Ceres was halfway through the book and quickly marked her place and set it aside.
�You seem surprised, you should know I spend all of my time in libraries, Jai.� Ceres said. Jai looked at her and shook her head.
�Books are not good for you, Ceres.� Ceres knew where this conversation was leading. The two had been over this subject numerous times, both in Heaven and on Earth. (editor�s note: Did *my* ancestor really just say that? *scandalized*)
�Jai, not every woman needs a man and children to be happy. I�m quite content how I am right now. End of conversation.� Jai narrowed her eyes.
�Ceres, you may not need, or even want, a family, but we�ve been ordered by God Himself to procreate with humans and pass on our powers.� Ceres snarled at Jai, a darkness welling in her golden eyes.
�I will not abide by God and refuse to have anything to do with human males.� Ceres exclaimed. Jai took a step back.
�How can you say that? You�re an angel, Ceres, and if you don�t watch it, you�ll be expelled from Heaven.� Ceres stood up and Jai stepped back again, for Ceres was a couple inches taller than her.
�Don�t you get it, Jai?! We�ve all ready been expelled from Heaven! Once we have our first child by a mortal man, we ourselves become mortal and we will die! It makes no difference whether or not I denounce God, for He�s all ready abandoned us to live mortal lives!� Ceres cried.
�Calm down, Ceres. There�s no need to get all worked up.�
�To Hell with everything! I will not give myself to a mortal life. I like the idea of living an immortal life and if I must live it as a Fallen Angel, then so be it!�
�Listen to yourself! You don�t know what you�re saying!� Jai exclaimed. �If you don�t have children and pass on your powers, the Earth will die!�
�It will die even if we pass on our powers! Nothing, not even God, is immortal!� Jai promptly closed her mouth, knowing it was futile to argue further and knew that Ceres was right, even with passing on their powers the Earth would still die. Silently, Jai turned and left Ceres, not wanting to stay around her anymore.
Ceres growled slightly, watching Jai�s departing back. How that woman knew how to make her blood boil. After a moment, she took a deep breath and shook her head slightly. The darkness receded from her eyes. Once again, she planted herself upon the couch and picked the book back up, eager to learn more on how to escape becoming mortal.
Upon leaving the library, Jai turned and went to find Shikei. Jai had meant to tell Ceres she and Shikei were to marry, but the fight that had ensued had sucked all the happiness from her. Jai stopped near the fountain and looked at the water.
Suddenly two arms wrapped around her middle, pulling her back against a tall, hard body. She looked up to see Shikei�s smiling face. Jai smiled back. His crystal blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight.
�So, how did Ceres take the news?� Shikei asked. Jai�s smile faded slightly.
�I didn�t tell her. We got in a fight and telling her you and I are to be married would�ve only enraged her more.� Shikei and Kurayami knew well who and what Ceres and Jai truly were.
�She only needs time. And trust me, Kurayami will change her mind. When he wants something, he always gets it.� Jai turned in Shikei�s arms and looked into his eyes.
�I don�t know about that. Ceres� is stubborn and no one, not even God, can force her to do what she doesn�t want to do.� Jai wrapped her arms around Shikei. �Anyways, let�s forget about them. After all, we�re getting married tomorrow, so let�s focus on each other.� Shikei grinned.
�I like that idea.� He bent down and kissed Jai deeply. Jai slid her arms around his neck and kissed back. Come tomorrow night, they would finally consummate their love.
The days and weeks passed. Ceres was growing more distant from Jai. Ceres had finally learned how to beat losing her immortality. She had learned the secret of dimension hopping. Ceres� ultimate goal was to create a dimension of her own to reside in.
In her heart, Ceres knew she would have to give in and leave at least one child behind. Kurayami�s advances towards her were growing more insistent. It seemed the man fell only deeper in love with her each passing day and it seemed to only grow stronger the more she refused him.
Ceres saw how her sister was adjusting more and more towards leading a mortal life. Jai and Shikei had now been married three months and it was found out only a week before that Jai was pregnant. Ceres felt a small twinge of sorrow, knowing her sister�s days were numbered.
Jai and Shikei had invited Kurayami and Ceres over for dinner. The four of them sat around the table. Ceres remained mostly silent, only speaking when spoken to. Kurayami chatted happily with the other two, but kept glancing at Ceres, who sat across from him so idly.
All together, the four spent a few hours together. Ceres made her regards and left about an hour after the sun set. Kurayami watched her leave and, as expected, he left, meaning to catch her. Tonight he would make Ceres his. Even if she didn�t want him, he could no longer just stand by and let her go. He loved her so much it broke him that he had not even so much as held her in his arms all this time.
�Ceres, wait!� He exclaimed. Ceres stopped walking and looked over her shoulder at him.
�What?� She asked once he caught up to her. She turned to face him.
�Ceres, I love you. I love you so much it hurts. More than anything I want you. I want you.� Ceres blinked.
�Kurayami, there are plenty of other women-�
�No. You�re the one for me. I know that so well it breaks my heart. Please, just for tonight, will you be mine? I know how you despise mortals, but I can no longer ignore what my heart wants. I only ask one night, Ceres. After tonight, if your mind hasn�t change, I will let you go.� He took her hands in his. His emerald eyes pleaded with hers. �I only ask for one night.� Ceres was deeply moved. She was tempted to take up his offer. After all, if her mind was still the same in the morning, he would let her go. She turned the offer over and over in her mind. After a few moments, she nodded.
�All right, for tonight, I will be yours. But on the morrow, if my mind is as it is now and has always been, you will let me go.� Ceres� hatred of mortals was pushed aside by the single thought of freedom. Kurayami smiled and nodded.
�Yes, I will let you go.� Unable to contain himself, he pulled Ceres into a tight hug. �Thank you, Ceres. No matter what happens on the morrow, I will always cherish this night.� He whispered into her ear.
Kurayami and Ceres went back to his house. Tonight Kurayami made sure they wouldn�t be disturbed. Even if the world was ending, he made sure he wasn�t notified.
Kurayami pulled Ceres close. For a moment they gazed into each other�s eyes. Then he bent down and captured her soft lips in a kiss. His hands slid across her back. He then slid them around the front and began to work the kimono loose.
Ceres pulled his shirt open and slid it off him, letting it drop to the floor. Moments later, Ceres� kimono slid to the floor. Kurayami eased her onto the bed. He broke the kiss and gently kissed her graceful neck. Ceres worked at his belt and moments later he was as naked as she was.
The night was amazing. Kurayami poured his love into Ceres time and time again. He couldn�t get his fill of her. They had made use of the entire bed that night, rolling this way and that, assuming this position and that position.
The only thing that kept Ceres from telling him to stop was the fact that she could have her freedom in the morning. However, she found that this experience was exhilarating. Her hormones took over, but her heart wasn�t there. Kurayami knew from the beginning that she didn�t have her heart in it and knew it wouldn�t change, no matter how many times he fucked her. But still, tonight she was his and he would take advantage of it.
At last, not long before dawn, Kurayami released within Ceres and collapsed on top of her. He couldn�t go on anymore. After a long minute, he rolled onto his side. Sweat covered both of them from head to toe. Both of them were breathing heavily. Both were exhausted, but neither fell into sleep. At last, Kurayami spoke.
�You�re free to go whenever you wish.� He breathed. Ceres looked at him.
�Thank you, Kurayami.� She said gently.
A few hours later, after showering, Ceres left Kurayami. He stood outside his house, watching her longingly. The night before had been so perfect. He would never forget it. He just wished he had been able to change her heart so she wouldn�t leave him. However, angels flew when they wanted to and no human could make them stay against their will.
Ceres hung around another month or so. She needed to know if she had lost any of her powers. Upon doing her research, Ceres had found herself to be pregnant. Her feelings were mixed. She was happy to leave a child for Kurayami, but she was disappointed and frustrated for she would lose some of her powers.
So, Ceres had to stick around longer than she wanted. She went back to Kurayami after finding out she was pregnant and told him. He seemed to be over-joyed. She told him she�d stay until the child was born, then she�d leave it to be raised by him.
So, the next few months went by. About a month before Ceres was to have her child, Jai had hers. It was a girl. Jai and Shikei were elated. The two had been made known to Kurayami and Ceres� one night together and knew of the child that resulted. Jai was happy, thinking her sister would stay once the child was born.
�Being a mother opens your eyes to a new world. You won�t leave your child, I know you won�t.� Jai had said a couple days after her child had been born.
The time came and Ceres delivered her child. She wondered the entire birthing process what Jai was thinking loving that child. Giving birth was the most painful process ever created. She was relieved when the baby was finally born and she collapsed onto her back. She had given birth to a boy. She held him in her arms. For a fleeting moment, she felt as if she couldn�t leave him. After all, he had half of her inside him and carried a portion of her powers.
Kurayami had been by Ceres� side the entire time. His grin did not fade as he looked into his son�s face. Ceres then gave Kurayami the boy to hold.
Within a few days, Ceres was strong enough to leave. She went to her sister and said her good byes. She then went to Kurayami and said her good byes to him and her son.
�Take good care of him, Kurayami. Who knows, maybe I�ll come back to visit.� Ceres said.
�We�d like that very much, wouldn�t we Tooya?� Ceres had given him that name and Kurayami loved it. With one final look into her son�s face, Ceres turned and left Kyoto.
Once safely outside the city, Ceres stopped and concentrated. She opened a portal that would take her to another dimension. Through dimension hopping, she hoped to learn how to create a dimension of her own.
And so, her adventure began...