Angel Sanctuary Fan Fiction ❯ Angel Dust ❯ Now and Then ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: Sorry, the nail polish remover fumes are making me dizzy, what did you say?

 

AN: Gosh, chapter seven, already? It feels like I was stuck on chapter one just yesterday... So you know, this story will only be ten chapters. Thought I probably ought to let you all know now, just so no one goes into cardiac arrest when I suddenly spring the last one on ya... So the good news is - three more to go after this! (This is the part where you yell `duh'! and throw dead goldfish at me -.-;;) The bad news? From this point on... I'm kind of stuck -.-; I've actually got two more chapters written, but frankly I think they suck, and I'm considering rewriting them. Oi, the agony...

 

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Chapter Seven: Now and Then

 

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The next day, Katan stayed near Rosiel whenever he could, and worried whenever he couldn't. Frankly, he didn't know whether he was more concerned about Kira doing something to Rosiel, or Rosiel doing something to him... By the end of the day, however, the two hadn't so much as looked at each other, and Katan was able to relax.

 

Rosiel had seemed rather tired again, actually, but Katan hadn't been too concerned about that. He was probably just depressed. Really, Katan was surprised that his reaction to Alexiel's rejection of him hadn't been more violent. That worried him a little, but his main concern at the moment... was that Rosiel had fallen asleep when he hadn't been looking. On top of one of Katan's textbooks, specifically. He'd finished all of his homework except for what he'd need that book for, and the other young man still hadn't woken up...

 

Katan sighed, resting his chin on his palm and watching him. He was tempted to get a camera... though then Rosiel would chew him out if he woke him up...

 

He couldn't help but wonder how they'd gotten to this point. With difficulty, he conjured up a memory of a Rosiel who would've laughed in genuine amusement if he'd tried something like that. It had been years since that time, though, so it was no wonder it was hard to remember... hard to remember the Rosiel who had protected him, instead of the other way around...

 

His expression softened around the edges. Why was he letting himself remember this, anyway? Remembering didn't change anything. He thought it must have something to do... with how his lush lips parted slightly when he slept, like a child...

 

Once upon a time, Rosiel had been taller than him. He hadn't had such a slender, feminine figure, either. It was probably because of the drugs, and how he never ate quite right anymore. Katan had met him on the first day of middle school. He'd naturally been scared out of his wits as it was, and a couple of older boys had noticed it. That, combined with his unusual half-American complexion, was enough to mark him as an ideal target... Rosiel, despite the fact that he was new too and his hair was even blonder than Katan's, had warded them off with mere strength of character.

 

He could have lorded the debt over him. These days, Katan thought he might. But at the time, they had become instant best friends. Rosiel had confined in him that his blond hair was actually because he'd been born a twin when his mother's body had only been strong enough to support one child, and he'd been born somewhat unhealthy as a result... Katan had noticed right away how odd Rosiel had looked when he'd spoken of his twin, and at the time he'd thought that this ill health was the reason.

 

Later, though, he'd learned about the divorce. Rosiel had told him how much he missed his sister in words that made Katan's own heart ache, and about how they hoped to get into the same high school. Rosiel had always been a little sad and a little different, it was true, but he had really started to deteriorate once that particular dream failed to come to fruition.

 

Katan's mind went of its own accord to how he'd found him on Sunday... He didn't see how he could deteriorate much further, really. So he'd seen him do worse. At least Rosiel had never tried to get him to try it before...

 

He shuddered. At least he'd never kissed him before...

 

His mind shut down in self-defense at about that point. Unfortunately, this enlightened him to the fact that, somehow, his hand had reached out to caress platinum hair... He jerked his hand back hurriedly, and stared as if surprised to find that it was really his.

 

Though it was only logical to be concerned, he... was really becoming more and more obsessed, wasn't he...?

 

He might have finished as much of his homework as he could, but that was really only an excuse to mask his moment of insecurity as he fled the house.

 

Rosiel waited a few minutes before opening his eyes. He leaned back in his chair, yawned decorously, and stretched until his shoulder popped with an air of deep thoughtfulness.

 

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“Hey, you! Wait up!”

 

Kurai blinked on recognizing Setsuna's voice, and looked back. Well, she'd been hoping to find Alexiel before the next period started, but they would do. “What's up?”

 

Sara, walking up beside him, beamed at her. “Well, we were actually wondering... Would you go bowling with us after school? If you don't have too much homework, of course. Our treat!”

 

Setsuna looked apprehensive as he elaborated, “We, uh, well, you really should this time. We want to talk to you about something.”

 

Kurai's face split into a huge grin. “Really? Aw, geez, I'm glad you trust-” She suddenly burst into a severe coughing fit. “I-I mean, uh, can Alexiel come?”

 

Sara sweatdropped. “Um, we kind of wanted to talk to you privately...”

 

Kurai waved it off. “Come on - she's your friend too, right?”

 

“Well, we haven't spent that much time with her yet...” Setsuna said thoughtfully.

 

“It'll be fine,” she said significantly. “Hey, if I find her before next period, I can tell her! Gotta go!”

 

Sara's shoulders slumped in defeat as she rushed off. “Well, she sure is... happy...” Setsuna grinned nervously, wondering...

 

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After the four had had their fill of bowling - Kurai, as usual, proved to be the best of them all, though the group's newest edition would have been pretty good if only her long nails hadn't interfered - they grabbed some food and watched others play from the sidelines. Without the game to distract her, Kurai could only contain her anticipation for a few minutes before cutting straight to the chase.

 

“So, what did you want to tell us?”

 

Sara choked on her drink. Setsuna's eyes darted back and forth from her to Alexiel a few times, before he cleared his throat and stammered, “Well, um, we - that is - uh, do you mind if we just talked about it some other time...?”

 

Alexiel rolled her eyes. “It's because of me, right?”

 

There was a rather vast expanse of awkward silence. “Well,” Sara said hesitantly, “uh... Don't take it personally! It's just, it's really awkward as it is, and we just met you, and we don't really know how you'd react... we don't want everyone at school to...” She squirmed miserably.

 

Alexiel smirked. “React to what? You're together, right? So?”

 

This time, Sara dropped her drink right onto the floor. Setsuna nearly fell out of his chair. Kurai scoffed. “Oh, pu-leaze. Did you think you were hiding it?”

 

The couple smiled shyly, and after a little while they all laughed. For the rest of the evening, Sara and Setsuna held hands.

 

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Afterwards, Sara and Setsuna walked home together. Kurai lived just down the block from them and could've went with, but she decided to wait with Alexiel for her cab so the girl wouldn't have to be alone - and so Sara and Setsuna could be alone.

 

“Man, I hope they appreciate how nice I am,” Kurai groused.

 

“I'm sure they do,” Alexiel assured her, amused. “And you didn't have to wait with me, you know. Now you'll be alone when you walk home.”

 

She shrugged. “Well, I didn't want to be a third wheel,” she admitted, and laughed because it seemed odd to say.

 

Alexiel smiled. “I've got to admit, it's weird, but they make the cutest couple. Makes me feel like there's some hope for this stupid dating thing after all...”

 

Kurai watched her out of the corner of her eyes. “How long do you think it'll be, before you're ready to go out with anyone again?” she asked quietly.

 

She shrugged. “Depends if anyone likely comes along, you know?” she said with a grin, and then got a little more serious. “Who knows, I guess. I've got to admit, I'm not really as upset about Kira as I thought I'd be. I guess I was kind of over him before I had to break up with him, you know?” Kurai laughed, and she gave her an appraising look. “And what about you? How long do you think it'll be for you...?”

 

“Hmm... I don't know. To be honest, I think I might have been over him before I had to give up on him.” And she grinned...

 

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AN: Now, my little reading minions, review!! (mad cackle) And then go download Hender's song `Lips of an Angel'! Home state pride, w00t! I, er, blame the ice cream...? (deep bow) Actually, I should probably apologize for the possible crappiness of this chapter. It was kinda crappy, wasn't it? (whimper) Ah well, I'll try to make up for it in the next chapter... if I can even get it off the ground, eh heh...