Tenshi no Uta (7/16)
Oct. 7th, 2014 02:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wendyjolyTitle : Tenshi no Uta
Author : WendyJoly
Pairing : Guess who~
Rating : PG
Genre : SF
Lenght : Chaptered
Beta : Confetti shower to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
chibipinkpetals
Genre : Music, love and star ships
Disclaimer : I owe nothing but Arashi owns surely my soul
Summary : “An Angel has the power to pacify a crowd, to convey emotions people ignore. But…when an Angel sings for his master, this man can feel the fullness of body and mind…however, one Angel is made for a Master and only one. And the master can’t choose his Angel.” But when Ninomiya Kazunari, an Angel fated to belong to the ruler of the galaxy chooses the Commandant of the ship designated to guide him to his Master, what will happen to him?
Note: The concept of singing Angel belongs to O.S Card, I borrow it with all the respect due to his huge talent.
CHAPTER 7
Night fell rapidly on the jungle and the temperature decreased dramatically.
Even if no one showed signs of anxiousness, they surely have the same thing in mind. Could they repair the ship and resume their trip as if nothing happened? And if they could won’t they fall once again in an ambush?
The Eagles were out of service and fixing them was not a priority for the Commandant Sakurai.
He feared essentially for his crew and passengers' security, even if he, more than anyone else couldn’t show it. He has to be a rock, the man who would inspire confidence and abnegation for the men. If they began to doubt, the crew would break down, he was perfectly aware of it, and in such perilous situation it was inconceivable.
He sat at the entrance of the cave, near the waterfall taking the first shift. Soon Jun joined him.
“Can’t find sleep?”
“No, not really…”
“You should sleep, you’ll be useless if you lack of sleep.”
“I know, I'll keep you company for a moment, I’ll sleep after.”
“Something happened?”
“Today?!” smiled Jun ironically.
“We’ll get through this. Yuta is a genius and with the spare parts of the Eagles, we’ll be on track very soon.”
“I know…I know…”
Obviously, it wasn’t the reason why he was still awake.
“You talked to Juri?”
“We communicated, indeed. Talked, not really. She’s decided to not ease my task.”
“She’s hard to grasp, isn’t that right? Perhaps she accepts to tell us what she did this famous summer…I’m sure it’s the key.”
“I’ve always been too angry to think about it. I always thought that if she cared about us like we cared about her, nothing could have forced her to turn her back to us.”
“That’s the point, we don’t know anything…I reflected a lot after. We ignored almost everything about Juri’s life.”
“Of course we did, she told us her planet, her parents…”
“That’s what she told us, true. Are you sure she said the truth?”
“What do you mean?”
“The only version we had was she told to us.”
“Why would have she lied?”
“I don’t know, but why this sudden change?”
“Why did you never tell me this?”
“Because no one could speak her name in front of you. Because in spite of what you keep pretending she has always been the only woman of your life.”
Jun opened his mouth to protest but he hung his head and played with a rock by his foot. Silence fell between the two friends and the loud snoring of Himoto made them chuckle. A sudden anxious voice at the back of the cave attracted their attention.
“Go.” Said Sho “It’s an order.”
The Lieutenant stood up and tiptoed to Juri who shook in her sleep. What he perceived out there, he heard it clearly now. She called her mother.
Jun brushed her hair and soon she smiled. He raised his head and came across Tadayoshi’s gaze.
“It happens every night.” He whispered.
“And what do you do?”
“Nothing. It cease naturally.”
But it wasn’t in Jun’s nature to gaze at her without bringing her the comfort she needed. She mumbled some unintelligible words and Jun caressed her cheek. She leaped and glared at him.
“It’s me. You had a nightmare.”
“Excuse me. I woke you up.”
“I wasn’t sleeping. I can’t sleep to be honest.”
Juri stared at him for a moment, her heart beating like a drum. She moved aside and raised her blanket. Jun didn’t ask anything and laid down by her side.
She put her head on his shoulder like she did so many years ago, setting quietly against his body, warming him.
“You know, it won’t help me to find sleep.” He murmured into her hair.
Juri straightened and kissed his jaw gently. “Hush! Sleep!”
Jun couldn’t repress a smile from happiness. He closed his eyes and breathed a big puff of her sweet scent. She always had this particular scent.
How could she smell so good with the life she led? Surreptitiously, he placed his hand on her back and stroked it with his thumb.
She stuck to him and sighed happily, ignoring that his friend was now more awoken than ever.
He stared at Tadayoshi a last time. For once, Jun was unable to guess what he had in mind. He didn’t seem to be jealous or angry.
Yet, Jun was now convinced they weren’t together. Juri would never have invited him to sleep with her and Tada would never have explained that she had nightmare every night.
What was their relationship?
The next morning, Sho put his suit on to explore the surroundings. He was accompanied by Kanayoshi and they did concentric circles all day long. Since the previous day, he felt the permanent gaze of the Angel on him and it was unbearable.
His gaze was like no one else. No doubt, no sense of the etiquette inhabited it. So clear and yet so unfathomable. What went on in his mind? In spite of what his guardian said, why did he keep staring at him this way, as if something linked them?
No, he was Okadas’, it was as simple as that.
Yet…yet, he never wanted anyone like he wanted him. Only one gaze and his heart was upside down and his mind totally blank.
And he hated this.
How could he desire so madly such a pure human being? How could he even have the idea to soil him? It was so far from him, he was usually so pondered and reasonable…
When he observed Masaki caressing him, holding him tight, dress him, he could have puked from anger. He could have killed him only because he had the chance to cross the Angel’s path before him.
He lost sleep, appetite and what he feared above all his reason, dragging his crew behind him in this hostile environment.
Because, intimately, he had to admit that he enjoyed this delay. For the moment, Nino was here, with him and not with Okada. If they never had to go back at the Court, perhaps they could…no way, impossible. He had to accomplish his duty and perhaps could he ask to his parents to find him a wife after. The best for now was to stay as far as possible from the object of his affection.
Sho was out each time he could be, with a different member of the crew each time.
The first night, they retrieved the Eagles, dragging them to the cruiser and Yuta began to extract the pieces, his eyes filled by tears. He said it was sacrilegious to touch such precious ship and Juri’s help healed his pain a bit. The pilots of Eagles took care themselves of their ship, ready to repair them in the eventuality of crash.
Thus Yuta never had the chance to put his hands into their engines and he was decided to enjoy it, even if it was heart breaking.
Jun couldn’t take off his eyes them and chaffed in silent. The beautiful mechanic was too ‘touchy’ according to him and the lack of resistance of the young woman upset him deeply.
He tried to talk to Sho, but this latter mocked him, saying jealousy was out of place in such a situation. He could have slapped him! With the way he lured at the Angel, he was not in good position to lecture him.
Days passed and gradually, the hope to leave Shinagawa rose. After four days, they began to learn how avoiding wild animals which looked like plants or roots, swamps which could engulf you in a few seconds, multicolored plants spreading a deadly poison.
Masaki was a talented teacher for the crew. He walked around with each members, one after another, and taught them how to go hunting safely, telling them to not touch anything else.
The weather was darker and the forest smelt of humidity now, a dizzyingly and overpowering odour.
At night, as the monk was out to pick plants to make ointments to heal the injured people, Sho woke up with a start. He had a bad feeling, unable to sense Nino’s gaze on him.
He blinked for a moment, searching for him around, then stood up and shook Jun who slept with Juri.
“Did you see the Angel?”
“I don’t, but the monk said he had to pick plants, the Angel should be sleeping. Didn’t you see him?”
“He’s not inside the cave…I’ll look for him.”
“I come with you!”
“Don’t! I'll do it quick and if I don’t find him, I’ll ask you for some help. Perhaps is he just peeing…”
“Okay.”
Sho couldn’t help but smile to his friend, seeing Juri nestling against him. At least, some of them found their happiness…
The Commandant exited cautiously the cave and thrilled when he felt a pouring rain. At last. It was a hot rain like the one which fell from the huge clouds on Kanda. Fortunately, the moon, high between the trees, gave him a panoramic view. He walked to a little glade, close to the waterfall and froze.
In the middle of the space, Nino was looking above and laughed as he felt the rain falling on his face. Sho heard a whispered melody and stood still a moment to observe him with emotion. Forgetting who he was and who was the fascinating man, forgetting he was promised to another man and nothing was possible between them.
Nino lowered his head and faced him, a wide smile adorned his lips as if he knew he was there. He came to him and grabbed his hand.
“Can you hear it? The sound of the water on the trees?”
“That’s…That’s rain…”
“What is it?”
“What you said. Water from the sky. You've never seen or felt the rain?"
“My planet was a desert planet and I never left the Orchid Palace. And on your planet?”
“On my planet, sometimes it rains.”
“You’ll take me there?”
“I don’t think so. Perhaps General Okada will accept to take you there.”
The Angel avoided hearing the last words.
“The taste is strange, it’s hot and it smells like forest.”
“True?” Sho smiled and brushed the wet bangs from his face.
The Angel approached him and rubbed his nose against Sho’s in a childish caress then laughed in silent.
“Taste.”
Nino put his mouth on his and Sho didn’t even have the time to protest. He was right, his lips tasted like forest and like paradise too. For a short time, he tried to struggle against his desire but it was a fight he couldn’t win. Especially when Nino put his arms to his neck and clung close to him, his heart beating madly.
Sho half opened his mouth and tasted him with the tip of his tongue. The Angel moaned and joined him unhesitatingly, caressing him sensually. It sounded to be so natural and obvious between them. There was no awkwardness, no fake appearance and the Angel was offering himself so easily he couldn’t refuse him. Even if he’d wish to. And right now, he would have preferred leaving his heart to the monk rather than releasing Nino. So he held him tighter, almost too strongly and folded his legs to drag him to the ground. Nino let him do without leaving his mouth, attracting him between his legs, searching for the contact of his body.
Sho went down to the south, caressing him gently, feeling with pleasure the way the Angel thrilled.
“Master.”
The Commandant straightened immediately.
“Master, it hurts.”
Sho kneeled by his side, afraid to be too heavy for him but Nino trembled.
“Where does it hurt, what happens?”
“My ankle.”
Sho watched, horrified a centipede crawling on his calf. He crushed it under his boots and went back to the Angel.
“Nino! Nino! Don’t close your eyes!”
He carried the young man in his arms, so light, his sight already blurred by tears and he ran to the cave.
“AIBA! AIBA!”
He ran as fast as his legs allowed him to, feeling a panic overwhelming him. The monk was walking toward him as he reached the entrance.
“What did you do to him?!”
“He…he has been bitten by a centipede.”
“Give him to me.”
“He’s not going to die…you can save him?”
Aiba didn’t answer and laid him inside, near the fire. He looked at his leg already marked by black lines. He handed him a knife and Sho gripped it.
“Cut above the wound and aspire the poison.”
He didn’t shed blood, even with such a circumstances! Sho did what he was told, cutting the alabaster skin and putting his mouth on it to suck the venom. He spat the bitter liquid while the monk made him swallow a powder from a little purse he had around his neck.
“Enough.” He stopped Sho after an endless time and the crew was gathered around them. “It will be fine now, his heart beats normally.”
“What did you give to him?”
“Spice of desert Worm.”
“Spice? But…”
“I didn’t precisely have the choice; the venom was already in his system.”
“And now?”
“Now, he will rest and when he will be awake, we’ll see.”
Sho hung his head and felt his heart beating again. If the monk wouldn’t have been here…
“Go back to sleep. Tomorrow we’ll do the first tests on the cruiser.”
Jun patted Sho’s shoulder. He didn’t really know what he had in mind currently, but he guessed pretty well and it broke his heart. He went back to Juri and sighed deeply.
“It will be fine. Aiba is a powerful healer, he knows his stuff.”
“I’m not worried about Ninomiya, I am about Sho. He’s in love with him. What will happen when he will have to give him to Okada?”
“…”
“You can’t answer?”
“In life, you can’t have it all. Some duties are most powerful than feelings. As strong as they could be.”
“Juri…what happened? Between us, what happened? We loved each other, isn’t that right? Tell me I wasn’t wrong.”
“You…you’re right.”
“Why did you turn your back to us? Without explanation. Perhaps I could have mourned our relationship if you told us…”
“I can’t explain, it’s too complicated.”
“Don’t you trust me?”
“I trust no one.”
“I love you.”
He didn’t plan to tell this. He almost ignored it truly said, before hearing his own voice speaking those words.
“Jun…it’s impossible.”
“I love you.”
He faced her, leaned on her face, caressing her cheek with his thumb.
“We can’t…”
“I love you, Juri.”
He kissed her slowly, like he dreamt so many many times. She didn’t really resist, soon languished under his lips. Jun tossed his top tank beside, grabbing his lover’s hands to put them on his stomach, looking for her caress. He slid his hands under her T-shirt, raising it a bit, touching the scar she had on the hips. He revealed her navel and she stopped his progression.
“Please…” She whispered at his ear.
She cupped his face and stared at him straightforwardly.
He didn’t move as she took his lips and he closed his eyes as tens of butterflies took off inside his lower belly.
She put her palm on the nape of his neck and kissed avidly his neck, his torso, making him moans and groans. He laid down, grabbing her thighs to make her straddle him, stiffening under the kisses. Could he even believe it?
He gazed at her with emotion, stroking her shoulder to attract her.
“Juri… stop me now. It will be too late if you wait.”
She moved back slowly and swayed to take off her pants and Jun’s to raise the doubt about her intentions.
Jun took back her mouth and rolled her over under his body, placing between her thighs to finally possess her.
~Ã~
“His eyes?”
“I gave him as little as possible, but it had to be efficient. We’ll see tomorrow when he will wake up…Commandant Sakurai?”
“Yes?”
The soldier stared at the monk who caressed the Angel’s hair absentmindedly.
“What really happened out there?”
He spoke for the first time without animosity.
“You were terrorized early. More than when you led an interstellar cruiser ready to crash, so I ask you, what happened out there?”
“When I woke up he disappeared and I went out to look for him. He was under the moon light and he kissed me. I would lie if I said I didn’t wish it from the bottom of my heart…”
“I know this feeling. Wanting someone with all his might. I won’t judge you.”
“Thanks.”
“Yet, you have to stop this. Right now. He almost died early and even if it’s because of a centipede, if it wouldn’t have been to see you all alone, he didn’t go out in the middle of the night. Do you have the slightest idea about what he has in mind?”
“I don’t…I don’t understand.”
“Of course you don’t. He’s an Angel. I could tell you it’s a matter of education, but it would be only a part of the truth. The Angels are chosen by their teachers during their 5 first years of life because of their aptitudes for singing. The lessons are very difficult, the silence is absolute because they don’t have to be affected by parasite noises. The only sounds they are allowed to hear are those chosen by their professors. Even the women who take them in charge aren’t allowed to open the mouth to not distort their ear.”
“The children can’t talk to each other?”
“Exactly. Not in the Garden. This is the first level of the Palace, where they are selected first. When they join the House, they learn several artistic arts and most of them aren’t talented enough to leave it. Only a very few of them go to the Paradise and become Angels.”
“What does happen to the others?”
“Some of them change their specialty and are able to become composers or musicians. The children who remain singers give concerts all over the Galaxy, you surely saw some at the Court. The others…”
“The others?”
“The others are rendered to the world and aren’t allowed to sing anymore in order to keep secret the teachings.”
“They aren’t allowed to sing anymore? But sometimes you can’t help it, especially since they are used to sing every day since their childhood? And if they do it nonetheless?”
“They are punished. Did you ever hear about the whistlers?”
“Never.”
“They are the executors of the Palace.”
Sho thrilled.
“What are they doing?”
“The first time, a simple call to order and if they persist…they are taking drastic measures.”
“What do you mean?”
“They cut their vocal cords. For the painters and composers unable to create anymore, I leave you the talk to imagine their punishment.”
“I see.”
“If they keep on, they lose their sight and become whistlers themselves.”
Sho repressed a disgust look. How the so beautiful Palace of the Orchid could be so cruel?
“What will he have to do once at the Court?”
“What I told you. He will sing for the General Okada.”
“That’s all?”
“Stop it Commandant, you’re hurting yourself. And you hurt him more than enough already. If he’s unable to sing for him, if he suddenly decided that he won’t sing for anyone else but you, what do you think they will do to him? Nino isn’t a plain human being. Each feeling, each emotion strikes him violently and becomes a part of him. Didn’t you notice his passivity for daily life? He cares about nothing, but a sound, a sensation, a feeling…he’s exceptional, but this is his weakness.”
“I’ll protect him.”
“Against Okada? Against the entire galaxy? If you take his Angel he will set the galaxy on fire. Love isn’t for Angels.”
“Why?”
“I was an Angel. Once.”
“You’re a monk warrior!”
“When I was a student at the Orchid Palace I fell in love with another Angel. He was called Toma and was promised to a Master, just like me. We didn’t think it was wrong to fall in love, even if we were aware it wasn’t part of the rules. During several years we loved each other secretly, but an Angel denounced us. Usui-sensei tried to separate us but we ran away. They took us as we were passing the gates…Toma has been executed in front of the children but they kept me alive. I wished dying with him but I had the worst punishment, they condemned me to live without him until the end of my life. I’ve been send on Gandahar to become a Yamabushi and I served at the Court. When Nino entered the Palace at 3, Usui-sensei called me back. I guessed he feared for his life.”
“Why are you telling me?”
“For you to understand that he’s bigger than you and they will execute Nino without hesitation if he fails to his task as Angel.”
Sho stared at the Monk’s face, so full of compassion then the man he loved, who smiled in his sleep.
TBC....
Author : WendyJoly
Pairing : Guess who~
Rating : PG
Genre : SF
Lenght : Chaptered
Beta : Confetti shower to
chibipinkpetals Genre : Music, love and star ships
Disclaimer : I owe nothing but Arashi owns surely my soul
Summary : “An Angel has the power to pacify a crowd, to convey emotions people ignore. But…when an Angel sings for his master, this man can feel the fullness of body and mind…however, one Angel is made for a Master and only one. And the master can’t choose his Angel.” But when Ninomiya Kazunari, an Angel fated to belong to the ruler of the galaxy chooses the Commandant of the ship designated to guide him to his Master, what will happen to him?
Note: The concept of singing Angel belongs to O.S Card, I borrow it with all the respect due to his huge talent.
CHAPTER 7
Night fell rapidly on the jungle and the temperature decreased dramatically.
Even if no one showed signs of anxiousness, they surely have the same thing in mind. Could they repair the ship and resume their trip as if nothing happened? And if they could won’t they fall once again in an ambush?
The Eagles were out of service and fixing them was not a priority for the Commandant Sakurai.
He feared essentially for his crew and passengers' security, even if he, more than anyone else couldn’t show it. He has to be a rock, the man who would inspire confidence and abnegation for the men. If they began to doubt, the crew would break down, he was perfectly aware of it, and in such perilous situation it was inconceivable.
He sat at the entrance of the cave, near the waterfall taking the first shift. Soon Jun joined him.
“Can’t find sleep?”
“No, not really…”
“You should sleep, you’ll be useless if you lack of sleep.”
“I know, I'll keep you company for a moment, I’ll sleep after.”
“Something happened?”
“Today?!” smiled Jun ironically.
“We’ll get through this. Yuta is a genius and with the spare parts of the Eagles, we’ll be on track very soon.”
“I know…I know…”
Obviously, it wasn’t the reason why he was still awake.
“You talked to Juri?”
“We communicated, indeed. Talked, not really. She’s decided to not ease my task.”
“She’s hard to grasp, isn’t that right? Perhaps she accepts to tell us what she did this famous summer…I’m sure it’s the key.”
“I’ve always been too angry to think about it. I always thought that if she cared about us like we cared about her, nothing could have forced her to turn her back to us.”
“That’s the point, we don’t know anything…I reflected a lot after. We ignored almost everything about Juri’s life.”
“Of course we did, she told us her planet, her parents…”
“That’s what she told us, true. Are you sure she said the truth?”
“What do you mean?”
“The only version we had was she told to us.”
“Why would have she lied?”
“I don’t know, but why this sudden change?”
“Why did you never tell me this?”
“Because no one could speak her name in front of you. Because in spite of what you keep pretending she has always been the only woman of your life.”
Jun opened his mouth to protest but he hung his head and played with a rock by his foot. Silence fell between the two friends and the loud snoring of Himoto made them chuckle. A sudden anxious voice at the back of the cave attracted their attention.
“Go.” Said Sho “It’s an order.”
The Lieutenant stood up and tiptoed to Juri who shook in her sleep. What he perceived out there, he heard it clearly now. She called her mother.
Jun brushed her hair and soon she smiled. He raised his head and came across Tadayoshi’s gaze.
“It happens every night.” He whispered.
“And what do you do?”
“Nothing. It cease naturally.”
But it wasn’t in Jun’s nature to gaze at her without bringing her the comfort she needed. She mumbled some unintelligible words and Jun caressed her cheek. She leaped and glared at him.
“It’s me. You had a nightmare.”
“Excuse me. I woke you up.”
“I wasn’t sleeping. I can’t sleep to be honest.”
Juri stared at him for a moment, her heart beating like a drum. She moved aside and raised her blanket. Jun didn’t ask anything and laid down by her side.
She put her head on his shoulder like she did so many years ago, setting quietly against his body, warming him.
“You know, it won’t help me to find sleep.” He murmured into her hair.
Juri straightened and kissed his jaw gently. “Hush! Sleep!”
Jun couldn’t repress a smile from happiness. He closed his eyes and breathed a big puff of her sweet scent. She always had this particular scent.
How could she smell so good with the life she led? Surreptitiously, he placed his hand on her back and stroked it with his thumb.
She stuck to him and sighed happily, ignoring that his friend was now more awoken than ever.
He stared at Tadayoshi a last time. For once, Jun was unable to guess what he had in mind. He didn’t seem to be jealous or angry.
Yet, Jun was now convinced they weren’t together. Juri would never have invited him to sleep with her and Tada would never have explained that she had nightmare every night.
What was their relationship?
The next morning, Sho put his suit on to explore the surroundings. He was accompanied by Kanayoshi and they did concentric circles all day long. Since the previous day, he felt the permanent gaze of the Angel on him and it was unbearable.
His gaze was like no one else. No doubt, no sense of the etiquette inhabited it. So clear and yet so unfathomable. What went on in his mind? In spite of what his guardian said, why did he keep staring at him this way, as if something linked them?
No, he was Okadas’, it was as simple as that.
Yet…yet, he never wanted anyone like he wanted him. Only one gaze and his heart was upside down and his mind totally blank.
And he hated this.
How could he desire so madly such a pure human being? How could he even have the idea to soil him? It was so far from him, he was usually so pondered and reasonable…
When he observed Masaki caressing him, holding him tight, dress him, he could have puked from anger. He could have killed him only because he had the chance to cross the Angel’s path before him.
He lost sleep, appetite and what he feared above all his reason, dragging his crew behind him in this hostile environment.
Because, intimately, he had to admit that he enjoyed this delay. For the moment, Nino was here, with him and not with Okada. If they never had to go back at the Court, perhaps they could…no way, impossible. He had to accomplish his duty and perhaps could he ask to his parents to find him a wife after. The best for now was to stay as far as possible from the object of his affection.
Sho was out each time he could be, with a different member of the crew each time.
The first night, they retrieved the Eagles, dragging them to the cruiser and Yuta began to extract the pieces, his eyes filled by tears. He said it was sacrilegious to touch such precious ship and Juri’s help healed his pain a bit. The pilots of Eagles took care themselves of their ship, ready to repair them in the eventuality of crash.
Thus Yuta never had the chance to put his hands into their engines and he was decided to enjoy it, even if it was heart breaking.
Jun couldn’t take off his eyes them and chaffed in silent. The beautiful mechanic was too ‘touchy’ according to him and the lack of resistance of the young woman upset him deeply.
He tried to talk to Sho, but this latter mocked him, saying jealousy was out of place in such a situation. He could have slapped him! With the way he lured at the Angel, he was not in good position to lecture him.
Days passed and gradually, the hope to leave Shinagawa rose. After four days, they began to learn how avoiding wild animals which looked like plants or roots, swamps which could engulf you in a few seconds, multicolored plants spreading a deadly poison.
Masaki was a talented teacher for the crew. He walked around with each members, one after another, and taught them how to go hunting safely, telling them to not touch anything else.
The weather was darker and the forest smelt of humidity now, a dizzyingly and overpowering odour.
At night, as the monk was out to pick plants to make ointments to heal the injured people, Sho woke up with a start. He had a bad feeling, unable to sense Nino’s gaze on him.
He blinked for a moment, searching for him around, then stood up and shook Jun who slept with Juri.
“Did you see the Angel?”
“I don’t, but the monk said he had to pick plants, the Angel should be sleeping. Didn’t you see him?”
“He’s not inside the cave…I’ll look for him.”
“I come with you!”
“Don’t! I'll do it quick and if I don’t find him, I’ll ask you for some help. Perhaps is he just peeing…”
“Okay.”
Sho couldn’t help but smile to his friend, seeing Juri nestling against him. At least, some of them found their happiness…
The Commandant exited cautiously the cave and thrilled when he felt a pouring rain. At last. It was a hot rain like the one which fell from the huge clouds on Kanda. Fortunately, the moon, high between the trees, gave him a panoramic view. He walked to a little glade, close to the waterfall and froze.
In the middle of the space, Nino was looking above and laughed as he felt the rain falling on his face. Sho heard a whispered melody and stood still a moment to observe him with emotion. Forgetting who he was and who was the fascinating man, forgetting he was promised to another man and nothing was possible between them.
Nino lowered his head and faced him, a wide smile adorned his lips as if he knew he was there. He came to him and grabbed his hand.
“Can you hear it? The sound of the water on the trees?”
“That’s…That’s rain…”
“What is it?”
“What you said. Water from the sky. You've never seen or felt the rain?"
“My planet was a desert planet and I never left the Orchid Palace. And on your planet?”
“On my planet, sometimes it rains.”
“You’ll take me there?”
“I don’t think so. Perhaps General Okada will accept to take you there.”
The Angel avoided hearing the last words.
“The taste is strange, it’s hot and it smells like forest.”
“True?” Sho smiled and brushed the wet bangs from his face.
The Angel approached him and rubbed his nose against Sho’s in a childish caress then laughed in silent.
“Taste.”
Nino put his mouth on his and Sho didn’t even have the time to protest. He was right, his lips tasted like forest and like paradise too. For a short time, he tried to struggle against his desire but it was a fight he couldn’t win. Especially when Nino put his arms to his neck and clung close to him, his heart beating madly.
Sho half opened his mouth and tasted him with the tip of his tongue. The Angel moaned and joined him unhesitatingly, caressing him sensually. It sounded to be so natural and obvious between them. There was no awkwardness, no fake appearance and the Angel was offering himself so easily he couldn’t refuse him. Even if he’d wish to. And right now, he would have preferred leaving his heart to the monk rather than releasing Nino. So he held him tighter, almost too strongly and folded his legs to drag him to the ground. Nino let him do without leaving his mouth, attracting him between his legs, searching for the contact of his body.
Sho went down to the south, caressing him gently, feeling with pleasure the way the Angel thrilled.
“Master.”
The Commandant straightened immediately.
“Master, it hurts.”
Sho kneeled by his side, afraid to be too heavy for him but Nino trembled.
“Where does it hurt, what happens?”
“My ankle.”
Sho watched, horrified a centipede crawling on his calf. He crushed it under his boots and went back to the Angel.
“Nino! Nino! Don’t close your eyes!”
He carried the young man in his arms, so light, his sight already blurred by tears and he ran to the cave.
“AIBA! AIBA!”
He ran as fast as his legs allowed him to, feeling a panic overwhelming him. The monk was walking toward him as he reached the entrance.
“What did you do to him?!”
“He…he has been bitten by a centipede.”
“Give him to me.”
“He’s not going to die…you can save him?”
Aiba didn’t answer and laid him inside, near the fire. He looked at his leg already marked by black lines. He handed him a knife and Sho gripped it.
“Cut above the wound and aspire the poison.”
He didn’t shed blood, even with such a circumstances! Sho did what he was told, cutting the alabaster skin and putting his mouth on it to suck the venom. He spat the bitter liquid while the monk made him swallow a powder from a little purse he had around his neck.
“Enough.” He stopped Sho after an endless time and the crew was gathered around them. “It will be fine now, his heart beats normally.”
“What did you give to him?”
“Spice of desert Worm.”
“Spice? But…”
“I didn’t precisely have the choice; the venom was already in his system.”
“And now?”
“Now, he will rest and when he will be awake, we’ll see.”
Sho hung his head and felt his heart beating again. If the monk wouldn’t have been here…
“Go back to sleep. Tomorrow we’ll do the first tests on the cruiser.”
Jun patted Sho’s shoulder. He didn’t really know what he had in mind currently, but he guessed pretty well and it broke his heart. He went back to Juri and sighed deeply.
“It will be fine. Aiba is a powerful healer, he knows his stuff.”
“I’m not worried about Ninomiya, I am about Sho. He’s in love with him. What will happen when he will have to give him to Okada?”
“…”
“You can’t answer?”
“In life, you can’t have it all. Some duties are most powerful than feelings. As strong as they could be.”
“Juri…what happened? Between us, what happened? We loved each other, isn’t that right? Tell me I wasn’t wrong.”
“You…you’re right.”
“Why did you turn your back to us? Without explanation. Perhaps I could have mourned our relationship if you told us…”
“I can’t explain, it’s too complicated.”
“Don’t you trust me?”
“I trust no one.”
“I love you.”
He didn’t plan to tell this. He almost ignored it truly said, before hearing his own voice speaking those words.
“Jun…it’s impossible.”
“I love you.”
He faced her, leaned on her face, caressing her cheek with his thumb.
“We can’t…”
“I love you, Juri.”
He kissed her slowly, like he dreamt so many many times. She didn’t really resist, soon languished under his lips. Jun tossed his top tank beside, grabbing his lover’s hands to put them on his stomach, looking for her caress. He slid his hands under her T-shirt, raising it a bit, touching the scar she had on the hips. He revealed her navel and she stopped his progression.
“Please…” She whispered at his ear.
She cupped his face and stared at him straightforwardly.
He didn’t move as she took his lips and he closed his eyes as tens of butterflies took off inside his lower belly.
She put her palm on the nape of his neck and kissed avidly his neck, his torso, making him moans and groans. He laid down, grabbing her thighs to make her straddle him, stiffening under the kisses. Could he even believe it?
He gazed at her with emotion, stroking her shoulder to attract her.
“Juri… stop me now. It will be too late if you wait.”
She moved back slowly and swayed to take off her pants and Jun’s to raise the doubt about her intentions.
Jun took back her mouth and rolled her over under his body, placing between her thighs to finally possess her.
“His eyes?”
“I gave him as little as possible, but it had to be efficient. We’ll see tomorrow when he will wake up…Commandant Sakurai?”
“Yes?”
The soldier stared at the monk who caressed the Angel’s hair absentmindedly.
“What really happened out there?”
He spoke for the first time without animosity.
“You were terrorized early. More than when you led an interstellar cruiser ready to crash, so I ask you, what happened out there?”
“When I woke up he disappeared and I went out to look for him. He was under the moon light and he kissed me. I would lie if I said I didn’t wish it from the bottom of my heart…”
“I know this feeling. Wanting someone with all his might. I won’t judge you.”
“Thanks.”
“Yet, you have to stop this. Right now. He almost died early and even if it’s because of a centipede, if it wouldn’t have been to see you all alone, he didn’t go out in the middle of the night. Do you have the slightest idea about what he has in mind?”
“I don’t…I don’t understand.”
“Of course you don’t. He’s an Angel. I could tell you it’s a matter of education, but it would be only a part of the truth. The Angels are chosen by their teachers during their 5 first years of life because of their aptitudes for singing. The lessons are very difficult, the silence is absolute because they don’t have to be affected by parasite noises. The only sounds they are allowed to hear are those chosen by their professors. Even the women who take them in charge aren’t allowed to open the mouth to not distort their ear.”
“The children can’t talk to each other?”
“Exactly. Not in the Garden. This is the first level of the Palace, where they are selected first. When they join the House, they learn several artistic arts and most of them aren’t talented enough to leave it. Only a very few of them go to the Paradise and become Angels.”
“What does happen to the others?”
“Some of them change their specialty and are able to become composers or musicians. The children who remain singers give concerts all over the Galaxy, you surely saw some at the Court. The others…”
“The others?”
“The others are rendered to the world and aren’t allowed to sing anymore in order to keep secret the teachings.”
“They aren’t allowed to sing anymore? But sometimes you can’t help it, especially since they are used to sing every day since their childhood? And if they do it nonetheless?”
“They are punished. Did you ever hear about the whistlers?”
“Never.”
“They are the executors of the Palace.”
Sho thrilled.
“What are they doing?”
“The first time, a simple call to order and if they persist…they are taking drastic measures.”
“What do you mean?”
“They cut their vocal cords. For the painters and composers unable to create anymore, I leave you the talk to imagine their punishment.”
“I see.”
“If they keep on, they lose their sight and become whistlers themselves.”
Sho repressed a disgust look. How the so beautiful Palace of the Orchid could be so cruel?
“What will he have to do once at the Court?”
“What I told you. He will sing for the General Okada.”
“That’s all?”
“Stop it Commandant, you’re hurting yourself. And you hurt him more than enough already. If he’s unable to sing for him, if he suddenly decided that he won’t sing for anyone else but you, what do you think they will do to him? Nino isn’t a plain human being. Each feeling, each emotion strikes him violently and becomes a part of him. Didn’t you notice his passivity for daily life? He cares about nothing, but a sound, a sensation, a feeling…he’s exceptional, but this is his weakness.”
“I’ll protect him.”
“Against Okada? Against the entire galaxy? If you take his Angel he will set the galaxy on fire. Love isn’t for Angels.”
“Why?”
“I was an Angel. Once.”
“You’re a monk warrior!”
“When I was a student at the Orchid Palace I fell in love with another Angel. He was called Toma and was promised to a Master, just like me. We didn’t think it was wrong to fall in love, even if we were aware it wasn’t part of the rules. During several years we loved each other secretly, but an Angel denounced us. Usui-sensei tried to separate us but we ran away. They took us as we were passing the gates…Toma has been executed in front of the children but they kept me alive. I wished dying with him but I had the worst punishment, they condemned me to live without him until the end of my life. I’ve been send on Gandahar to become a Yamabushi and I served at the Court. When Nino entered the Palace at 3, Usui-sensei called me back. I guessed he feared for his life.”
“Why are you telling me?”
“For you to understand that he’s bigger than you and they will execute Nino without hesitation if he fails to his task as Angel.”
Sho stared at the Monk’s face, so full of compassion then the man he loved, who smiled in his sleep.
TBC....
