Earthian Fan Fiction / Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction / Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Fallen ❯ Meeting the Family ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Author’s Notes: I should have mentioned it in the first part, but it took me a very long time to write the last chapter. This story is something of a personal project – me wanting to get back into my love of AU GW fics. So I’m taking my time with it.
2) About the Duo -equals- Chihaya issue. I’m not ‘showing’ Duo as Chihaya. I’m simply putting him in Chihaya’s life. The way the two react to things are entirely different. You’ll please notice that Duo isn’t a scared ‘uber-uke’, he’s simply reacting to the different (alternate universe) life that he’s lived. His character in this fic is still quite cynical, he just keeps his thoughts to himself. I’m not turning Duo into Chihaya. If I wanted to write about Chihaya, I’d write about Chihaya. The entire point of a fusion like this is to put the GW characters into this world and see how they react differently from the original (Earthian) characters. If anyone has a problem with Duo’s character – if you think it’s out-of-character and too ‘Chihaya-like’ – tell me exactly what comes off that way. So far I think he’s reacted just the way I would expect Duo to if he were repressed, controlled, abandoned, hated, and hurt his entire life. But it’s my fic, so I’m naturally biased.
3) I should note that I do have the 5 books of the Earthian manga, and I’ve read transcripts (and scanlations) for some of the parts. But most of the ‘world’ I’m building in this fic is not based on the books or the anime. I don’t want to give anyone the wrong impression. I can’t read Japanese, so I really have no idea how Eden functions in the manga. I’m making it up to suit my purposes.
4) The anime minor characters will be drawn from include Fushigi Yuugi, Naruto, Sailormoon, possibly more. Few will really be ‘featured’ characters, no more than the ones from Earthian. I just don't like 'creating' characters for fanfics, so I use the closest anime character I can think of. It's a nice anti-Sue method I wish more non-yaoi fans would try.
Category: Anime, Yaoi, Gundam Wing, fusion with Earthian, AU
Warnings: dialogue, a bit of shonen ai
Pairings: 1x2, minor 3x4, RaphaelxMichael, and others
Author: Arigatomina
Email: arigatoumina (a) hotmail . com
Website: www . geocities . com / arigatomina

Fallen

Part 2: Meeting the Family

The banquet was scheduled to begin in four hours, leaving just enough time to prepare for the guests’ arrival. At least, that was what Muriel had claimed when she ushered Duo out of his room. It seemed one did not just ‘dress for the occasion,’ not in this household.

Within minutes he found himself soaking in the large bathing pool, a deep moving pool of warm water in an almost cavernous room that echoed dreadfully. Although he’d heard of such things, being placed in the deep water when he couldn’t swim was disturbing. He remained close to the edge of the pool as his gaze took in the decorative fountain, the way the dim light glinted off the turquoise stones that represented the crystal serpent’s eyes.

It was extravagant and gaudy and a complete waste of wealth and time.

Even as he thought that to himself, Duo could feel his muscles relaxing in the warm current. After the day he’d had, this rest was soothing. If he hadn’t known what was coming in a few more hours, he could have forgotten his worries and really appreciated how luxurious the bath was. It was certainly more enjoyable than the hurried scrubbings he was familiar with.

He was about to meet the family. According to Muriel, Michael had arranged the banquet the same day he’d decided on Duo. She hadn’t told him exactly who would be attending, just that they were very important people Duo would want to do his best to impress. And the helpful biddy had confided in him that the best way to impress them was by looking gorgeous and confident.

Duo snorted, giving a sweep of his arm over the water so the splash echoed in the room.

Confident and gorgeous were two things he didn’t play well. All he wanted now was to sleep in that ridiculously huge bed and resign himself to the fact that he was really going to be living with an archangel. He didn’t want to be put on display mere hours after finding out himself. He could imagine how the strangers would react to him.

First there would be the relatives. From what Muriel and Mira had let slip, Duo knew Raphael had a lot of siblings, one of which being Michael’s wife. He expected at least a few of them to be there. Then there were associates. While he didn’t know what sort of responsibilities Michael had as an archangel, he was certain the man had formidable friends and coworkers. He wondered if Michael had told his guests exactly whom he’d chosen as his ward. If not, they were going to be rudely surprised when they met him.

The only comfort Duo had was that Muriel said the guests were all friends and relatives of Michael. However eccentric the archangel was, Duo expected his friends would respect his decision to adopt the pariah. They would probably look askance at him, but he thought they would at least pretend to accept him as a new addition to Michael’s home. He wouldn’t be welcomed, but he wouldn’t be openly attacked either. That was something.

Duo’s real concern was more personal, regarding his role in the household. Michael had called him a ward, meaning a teenager kept and raised to adulthood. Raphael had called him an heir, meaning a son who would inherit the family tradition. And Mira had called him a foster child, though not in those exact words. Of the three, Duo suspected Mira was closest to the truth. A foster child was not necessarily a ward or an heir.

Wards had all the benefits of natural children, but without the expectations of an heir. They left the home at adulthood and kept business ties to the supporting family without any blood responsibilities. As an archangel’s ward, Duo would be considered a pet in the eyes of polite society.

An heir was more like Earthian race horses. Duo had read all about those creatures, since he had a fondness for the animals described in those texts. Heirs were raised and trained to bring honor or wealth to the family investing in them. They carried the family tradition, their achievements and mistakes reflecting on their supporters. If they ‘won their races’ heirs were rewarded and sent on to continue the tradition, their children being accepted as members of the original family. And if they failed, they were put to pasture with as little fanfare as possible, to minimize the embarrassment of the ones training them. An heir had more to gain than a simple ward, but far more to lose if he were to fail in the eyes of the family.

A foster child was neither ward nor heir. Duo suspected this was where he fell. These children were signs of the giving and helpful nature of the people adopting them. They were often flaunted to show how charitable the family was when it came to the less fortunate. They had fewer benefits than wards, since they were taken out of necessity rather than want. But they had none of the responsibilities of heirs. These children might stay with the family their entire lives, working for them after they hit adulthood. Or they could go off and split from the family entirely. Nothing was expected from them, but neither was anything guaranteed to them.

If Duo had a choice in the matter, he would have preferred to be a ward, a glorified pet, rather than a charity case. But he didn’t have a choice in the matter. He was an orphan, and despite what Michael had said, orphans were taken as heirs or foster children, never wards. Wards were teenagers whose families couldn’t afford to raise them to fulfill their potential. Taking a ward was similar to taking a worker on a live-in basis until he could get his footing in Eden society.

A light clicking sound broke through Duo’s thoughts, his violet gaze flashing over to the dim side of the room across the water from him. A vague light shown for a moment, outlining a tall figure in a doorway. Then it was gone and Duo ducked lower in the water.

His face was flaming hot and he couldn’t help but be aware of how clear the water was. He pushed close to the edge of the pool, very glad the lighting was so dim in the room. He’d wondered why they’d have a bathing area so dark. Now he didn’t care why.

“Hello, Duo,” Raphael greeted.

The casual tone struck him as odd. Duo didn’t bother to respond. He watched the archangel cross over to the shelves and pegs, stripping his pale robe off without so much as a glance in Duo’s direction.

Duo almost choked from whipping his head away so quickly. He’d never bathed with someone else before, and he couldn’t seem to remember the ‘proper’ thing to do when bathing with company. He thought common courtesy would be not to look at anything but the other person’s face. And he had noticed that Raphael didn’t so much as glance at him when he’d come over to his side of the room.

Not looking was good. He could do that. But it didn’t change the fact that Duo was naked with a naked man he’d only met a few hours ago. If possible, Duo thought he could have died of mortification right there. It was almost as bad as the things Mira had done to him during her ‘physical.’

No…it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as that. Duo was sure he’d never look at the woman again without blushing. He suspected he’d recover from this incident without being quite so traumatized.

“Do you swim?” asked Raphael.

He’d slipped into the water a few feet from Duo, so he couldn’t help but notice the way the boy was curled against the wall. He ducked his head back for a moment, wetting his pale green hair.

Duo grimaced at the prospect of replying to that question. His face was very dark when he forced his gaze over to look at Raphael’s raised eyebrow.

“Why do you ask?” Duo managed.

“From the way you’re hugging the edge, I didn’t think you could. Have you never been in a bathing pool before?”

Raphael didn’t wait for Duo to answer that question. He stretched his arms over his head, arching his back a little to get the kinks out. Then he smirked at Duo’s wide eyes.

“I’ll give you a few tips,” said Raphael. “First, learn to float on your back. You don’t have to swim to keep from drowning. The moment you go under the water, go limp and your body will float back up on its own. Second, use your wings underwater. It’s good exercise, and it’ll come in handy during the practical drills. I can’t remember how many students failed the first time they had to crashland in the lake. Michael was especially bad at it...”

“He was?” asked Duo.

The man smirked wider and gave a slow nod. Duo found himself forgetting some of his embarrassment, his imagination running with the possible tests the academy would have during the practical course, and the idea that an archangel like Michael had actually failed one of the tests.

“How many tries do we get during the practical drills?”

“As many as it takes,” said Raphael. “The actual exam comes at the end, so the drills are practice exercises. Mira doesn’t think you’ll be ready to take part in the practical courses the first month, but you should be able to join for the rest of the session. Me, I suspect you could join sooner than that, with a little...private instruction.”

The last bit was stated in a sly tone that made Duo wary. Mira’s voice flew through his mind, her warning not to let ‘those men’ take him on a test flight.

Raphael had eased down in the water and was now only a foot or so away. Duo felt his face flush again, his eyes fidgeting as he kept them locked on the man’s pale face.

“What?” asked Duo, his voice a little faint and wary.

Raphael gave another of those sly smiles, his eyes narrow and glittering with amusement. “Let me see your wings. Mira may be a physician, but there are some things she can’t fix as easily as I can. Michael agreed that you shouldn’t have to be any further behind than you already are, so the sooner you can start working with an instructor, the better.”

Duo was instantly suspicious, and naturally reluctant to display his wings to someone who seemed to like him well enough. It was that glitter that made him do it, the amusement dancing over Raphael’s pale eyes.

He frowned a little and eased away from the edge of the pool, the archangel drifting to the side to give him room. Then he flexed his shoulders so his wings wouldn’t unfurl onto the edge of the pool instead of in the water. Mira had said his feathers looked resistant to water, so this was as good a chance as any to test that theory out.

The sensation was unusual, the pressure of the water as it was displaced, and the heavy weighted feel of his wings being dampened down. Duo shifted his shoulders again, just getting used to the sensation. So he was surprised when a glance found Raphael perusing his wings with an interested expression.

“Absolutely black,” Raphael noted. “Do they reflect any shades in full light?”

“I…I don’t really know,” Duo admitted, frowning at Raphael’s conversational tone.

“We’ll find out soon enough, I suppose. Now, duck down a little so I can stretch them over the water. And whatever you do, not a word of this to Mira. She’ll suspect it, but so long as we don’t confirm anything, she can’t say a word about it.”

“Confirm what?” asked Duo, that nervous flitter back in his throat. “What are you planning to do?”

“You don’t know…?”

Raphael paused and went to crouch by Duo, leaving the wings for the moment so he could meet the boy’s eyes. “There are some of us who have a certain talent, a power you might say. Every angel can use his lifeforce with the proper instruction, but some of us have other…gifts. It’s rare, and it’s not something you share. What I tell you here is not to leave this household. You understand family secrets? You’re Michael’s heir, and he wants me to help you. So I don’t mind if you know. But it’s not something you can repeat to outsiders. Mira, and others like her, suspect what I can do. Without proof, though, they’re merely guesses. I’d rather keep it that way.”

“You have…” Duo’s eyes widened suddenly, and he almost jerked back in the water. “You have the touch!”

Raphael’s eyes flicked off to the side, his left eyebrow twitching suddenly. “Not exactly. I do have the ability to heal things, but not with my hands. That’s the reason I’d rather not have word get out about it. I would sooner die than be forced to heal random strangers this way.”

“What way?” asked Duo, confusion shining on his face.

“With my tongue.”

Duo’s eyes widened, a little choking sound breaking from his throat. His face was pale, then flushed. And then he broke down and ducked his head to muffle laughter in his hands. He had a sudden image of Raphael healing a very disgusting, and badly placed, wound...with his mouth.

“Funny isn’t it,” Raphael glowered. “I’ve met three people with this…gift. Whatever legend people gave about healing with their hands, I’ve never seen proof of it. It’s really no wonder the touch remains a legend. Who in his right mind would want to be forced into a healing position, having to – to…”

He grimaced and threw his hands up in disgust. Duo choked back some more of those laughs and wiped the back of his hand over his face.

“Anyway,” Raphael said testily. “Michael asked me to see to it your wings are ready for use as soon as possible. Since Mira claims it’s the joints causing the problem, the quickest way for me to fix it would be to injure them, and heal them entirely. It will hurt for a moment, but the result should be a complete recovery. You’ll still have to build up the muscles, but with the joints mended, you can start on it tomorrow.”

The man moved behind him, shifting Duo’s wings so he could get to the joints. And Duo lost all traces of humor. Raphael didn’t bother asking him if he wanted the help.

Because it was an order from Michael? Or a request? Either way, Duo had an idea Raphael wouldn’t have stopped if he’d asked the man to.

He bit down on his bottom lip, not sure how much the ‘injuring’ would hurt before the healing began. His mind was quick to latch onto the idea of Michael being behind this. Now he knew why Raphael had shown up here. The remaining question was whether or not ‘healing on command’ was part of Raphael’s job description as the archangel’s advisor.

Duo was sure he knew why Michael had asked him to fix the problem. The archangel was set on making sure Duo did well at the academy. He hadn’t asked Raphael to help him because he cared, or because it was the right thing to do. He was just ensuring his investment.

Maybe he really was an heir…

Something sharp pressed into one of his joints, and Duo let out a little exclamation of pain. He was sure Raphael had cut him with a fingernail – he had a sudden image of the man’s long fingers, and the thick, healthy and manicured nails. Then he felt moist heat that made the pain fade away.

Duo ducked his head, his eyes wide as he felt a warm blush come to his cheeks. This was too personal...

He didn’t want to admit to himself that the sensation was pleasant and soothing. All he could think was that he understood why Raphael wouldn’t want to use his talent on a regular basis, certainly not on random people. In fact, Duo had an idea this talent was something Raphael shouldn’t be using on anyone but his wife.

That thought added mortification to the embarrassment. Duo closed his eyes and did his best not to make a sound. He kept hearing Mira’s voice in his head, comments about Raphael that he hadn’t understood at the time. She’d said he was good with wounds and bruises. She obviously knew about the ability, even if she didn’t have outright proof of it.

By the time Raphael finished, Duo was desperate to get away from the room so he could stop blushing long enough to breathe properly. He forgot the man was still standing behind him. He took two steps in the water and turned. One look at Raphael’s expression was enough to wipe away his embarrassment. The man looked pale, more than usual. And he was leaning against the edge of the pool, a small tired smile spread over his face.

“Are you okay?” Duo asked hesitantly.

“It’s been years since I healed a wing,” Raphael admitted wryly. “I forget how much it takes. I’m fine, and I’m in the perfect place to relax. You should hurry on, though. I’m sure Muriel will want at least two hours to primp you before the banquet. I’ll see you there.”

“Is your wife coming?” asked Duo. “I’d like to meet her…”

He was trying to be nice, but he was also being honest. He felt as if he’d just done something forbidden to a married man. As outrageous as that thought was, considering it was Michael’s idea to start with, Duo couldn’t shake the sense that he should be guilty, and that he had to make it up to Raphael’s wife.

“She should be there,” Raphael said, giving a surprised smile. “She is rather shy, so I can’t promise she’ll speak to you when you meet. But she’ll be pleased to know you were interested in her. I’ll also introduce you to my son. Michael and I agree he’d be a good instructor for your flying lessons. I think he’ll like you.”

Duo noted that Raphael had said his son would like him, not that he’d like his son. He wondered at that as he left the pool. As far as he could tell, Raphael didn’t look a day over twenty, so he couldn’t imagine how old the man’s son would be. With angels, especially archangels, it was difficult to judge a person’s age. For all he knew, Raphael and Michael could both be in their fifties. Male angels simply didn’t age the way females did, since they didn’t have the burden of childbearing to strip decades from their bodies.

He made it back to his room after only three mistaken turns. Muriel promptly swept him up, primping and prodding him just as Raphael had said she would. Duo accepted the attention with a weak smile.

Raphael liked him. Duo was sure of it now. He found himself hoping the archangel’s son liked him as much as his father did, and that the boy was close to his own age. He’d spent years making and losing friends in the orphanage, but most of them had been much younger than he was. Duo hadn’t spent more than a day or two in the company of people his own age.

Muriel kept up a stream of comments, all of which concerned Duo’s appearance. She praised his pale complexion, his slender but not starved figure, and his hair. She absolutely adored his thick, gleaming mahogany hair.

“With hair like this, why, you could shame any angel on Eden. You really must leave it down more often. Why would you want to tie it where no one can see you in all your glory? Boys these days aren’t supposed to be so modest, you know.”

Duo just smiled a little, not saying a word.

He kept his hair in a braid because it was easier to get around that way. He’d only grown it out because Helen had chopped it off when he was four and swore to keep doing it if he didn’t stop getting food, dirt, and tangles in it. Since then, he let it grow as long as it would, and braided it away so no one would complain if he chose not to pamper it every few hours.

He’d never understand why so many of the children had spent hours on end just brushing their hair. It seemed a very big waste of time to him. He liked to sleep with it spread out and soft as much as anyone else did. But to sit around and just play with his hair all day? The idea did not have merit.

“Now open your mouth, and keep your eyes wide,” Muriel was saying. “There you are, just a few brushes and they spread out so prettily. You can do this with your fingertips if you’re in a hurry. You have lovely long eyelashes, you know. With the proper grooming, you’ll stop shaking your head at me when I call you gorgeous. Oh, yes you will.”

The old woman had her hands on her hips, scowling at Duo’s playful grin. He shook his head again, just to make her grumble under her breath. She was doting, and he enjoyed the attention. But he wasn’t about to take her flattery as anything other than blind affection. His hair was lovely. The rest of him was plain, and he was satisfied with that.

“Now then,” Muriel prodded, directing Duo over to the closet where she’d scrounged every bit of clothing she could find in his size on such short notice.

“This is a banquet,” she continued, “and your appearance will reflect on the host of the house. You don’t want to look too pretty, or you’ll make the guests feel badly about themselves, like you’re showing them up or something. Can’t have that. But you don’t want to downplay yourself, either. The best way to go is lovely and reserved. So no purple tonight, I’m afraid. Maybe a pristine white to bring out the color in your cheeks, or-“

“Black,” said Duo. “It’s their first time meeting me, so I should look the part. I don’t want to give anyone the wrong impression, especially Michael’s family.”

“Archangel Michael,” Muriel corrected absentmindedly. “And you can’t wear black! The very idea, really. Don’t be silly.”

“I look good in it,” Duo countered. “And it’s sober. Isn’t that what I’m aiming for here?”

Muriel shifted in discomfort, her face a mottled frown. “But black, it’s-“

“The color of my wings,” Duo nodded. “So it’s perfect. How about that one? It’s not too flashy, is it?”

“It’s downright plain,” Muriel grimaced. “I’m not letting you walk out there in something as plain as that. You have to wear some splash of color. Your eyes are violet, aren’t they? Black wings or not, you’re a flower of a child. If you insist on that one, I’ll put ribbons in your hair to contrast, just you watch me.”

Duo stared for a second before a wide grin spread over his face. “Deal. I wear the black suit, and you can put ribbons in my hair. I’m glad we could come to an agreement. You’re so good-natured.”

He patted a hand on the woman’s shoulder, letting out a quiet laugh when she glowered at him. Looking at her, teasing her, made him miss Helen. He made up his mind to visit the orphanage again before he had to start at the academy. Whether Michael agreed to the trip or not, Duo was determined to go. He’s spent his entire life there. He couldn’t just leave without so much as a goodbye.

By the time Muriel finished with the preparations, Duo had settled himself into an outwardly confident pose. He thought he’d be able to look the people in their eyes without blushing or glaring, or dropping his gaze in discomfort. It helped that a glance in the mirror proved he ‘cleaned up’ as well as any angel did.

While it was customary to accent one’s features, even on a daily basis in Eden society, Duo had rarely taken part in the tradition. He’d never really noticed how wide or…bright…his eyes were. There was no way he’d brush his eyelashes the way Muriel suggested, but he could see the difference. They were dark and thick, making the color in his blue-violet eyes that much lighter. Vanity aside, Duo didn’t mind having something to use for boosting his confidence.

His clothing was reserved, though he’d never have called it ‘plain’ the way Muriel had. The material alone was worth more than a week’s worth of food for the entire orphanage, nothing plain about that.

The shirt was a strong blend of silk, the sort that wasn’t just soft on the outside – for appearance – but on the inside as well, for the wearer’s comfort. It fell loose and straight over his arms without the billowy ruffles most angels chose to wear over their wrists, generally to accent pale slender hands. The neckline was also discrete, rounded so it closed in a faint line over his left breast and lacking any of the ornamentation of V-ruffs and jeweled latches.

The aspect Duo liked best was the way the waist split into two loose tails on either side of his hips, not necessitating the flashy scarves that were generally wrapped around shirts that had to be tucked in. That meant his pants were loose and comfortable, rather than tight and bold. He’d seen the other outfits Muriel had given him to choose from, so he knew what was ‘in style’ at the moment. He could only hope the dress code at the academy was too old to keep with the teenage trends.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t been able to get out of the classic footwear for formal occasions. Whether he was wearing a suit, or ceremonial robes, a confident angel did not hide his feet. That meant having to put up with the glittery silver ribbons wound over his tight stockings, and the tan sandals that went with them. As far as he was concerned, the light colors clashed with his outfit. So much worry about looking perfect and yet they didn’t pay a bit of mind to color coordination.

Duo was caught on that, color, mostly because of the ribbons. Muriel hadn’t been joking when she’d warned him about the ribbons. She’d let down his hair and combed it until Duo was certain it would never fit back into a braid again. He hadn’t even realized how thick it had gotten over the years. An hour of fidgeting while she combed it over and over had made him regret not cutting it. Once he’d seen the final result, he regretted it that much more.

His bangs were untouched, still dipping down over his face however they chose to, in thick brown locks. She’d pulled back sections to either side of his face, fashioning them into a small braid in the back. Duo hadn’t minded that until he realized she’d only done it to have something to tie the ribbons onto. According to her, tiny braids would have been easiest, but they would crimp and damage his hair if left in for more than an hour. Whatever her excuse, the result was loose violet ribbons threaded around his hair so they would move when he did.

Weaving, as she called the style, was expected for those blessed with such thick and naturally wavy hair. If Duo hadn’t been a little queasy at the sight of pretty violet ribbons, he might have reminded her that his hair was only wavy because it spent most of its time in a braid. He did say flat out that he’d never seen anyone wearing such a thing, not a single one out of the dozens who’d passed through the orphanage. He might have expected her response – a kind reminder that this was a formal occasion, and that one had to act the part in polite society.

Altogether, Duo was resigned to his appearance. The suit was his victory, black, subtle. The ribbons and shoes were her victory. He supposed the ‘look’ could have been worse. And since he was going to be living with Michael, he would just have to concede and learn to care about how he looked. He wasn’t about to spend so long every time he had to go out into public scrutiny, but once in a while…he could live with the hassle of primping like a snooty angel.

Muriel directed him toward the main hall, taking it as her responsibility to keep him from getting lost again. She’d found it quite amusing that he’d taken three wrong turns on his way back from the bath. She continued to lecture him on the way, not seeming to notice or care that Duo’s gaze was roaming over the little statues and trinkets that spotted the corridors.

He was expected to find Michael first, to establish himself and allow a polite introduction. Then he was to mingle, which would involve actually taking the initiative of speaking to others. He couldn’t, she warned, expect them to come to him for conversation. As a partial host, politeness required he take the initiative. And whatever he did, frowning or raising one’s voice was considered a grave insult. If he couldn’t smile at someone, a sober and interested look would suffice.

Duo took the advice in one ear, swirling it in his head for a moment, and let it pass back out the other. He was going to make an idiot of himself.

The only thing he could find to be grateful for was that he wouldn’t be expected to bow or dance or make a speech. And he was glad to hear that the dinner itself would take place afterward, family only. With both Michael and Raphael on his side, he was sure he could manage not to choke on his food in front of their relatives.

Muriel stopped just outside a dark burnt wood door with a rather simple bronze handle. She turned and pressed a quick kiss on the middle of Duo’s forehead, not minding his surprised blush. Then she left him with a wave of encouragement.

He hesitated for a few minutes, just taking in the calm air around him and memorizing the orange and gold weave on the carpet beneath his feet.

This was it. He could hear quiet voices on the other side of that door, the muffled sound of people interacting in a polite and reserved manner.

Would they all freeze when he stepped through? Was there any chance of him sneaking in, finding Michael, and getting a supporting person at his back before he had all of the eyes in the room on him? Maybe he’d stumble and everyone would look away politely and break the stares. Or, more likely, he’d simply shut down and plaster a meaningless smile on his face.

He knew how to do that. He’d done it for years. He could probably even joke and play on a false cheer without anyone being the wiser. Who was he, after all? No one but Helen had ever really known him. The rest saw what he let them see. So why couldn’t he just go out there and play the part?

Duo took a slow breath and opened the door. His eyes quickly adjusted to the bright glittery light from the ornamental chandelier hanging over the center of the hall. He took in the bare white walls and the bright glossy wooden floor, which was decorated with etched patterns of blue and silver. And he had a good view of the little clusters of angels that dotted the room. There were far more of them than he’d expected, and yet…there were less than he’d expected. He hadn’t known what to expect.

They didn’t freeze and turn en masse to stare at him. A small group of women, four of them, closest to the door glanced at him for a moment, but that was it. Then he stepped into the room, closing the door behind him, and the women looked again.

One of them broke from the group to approach him, another almost darting for the other side of the room. And the remaining two blinked curiously, either at the woman heading for him, or the one who’d fled. Duo froze.

His first thought was that the woman walking toward him was stronger than she appeared. Her clothing was a gossamer sky blue, almost matching the long hair she’d swept back into a thick braid. Her skin was so pale he could have sworn she’d never seen the sun, and her eyes were the exact ice blue color of her hair. She was wearing a fragile silver crown over her forehead, small teardrop gems falling to accent her temples. It was her gaze that struck him, a bold, almost suspicious look that hit him and arced over him as if measuring his appearance.

“Michael didn’t say you were morbid,” the woman said flatly.

Her voice was soft and openly displeased, which went well with the small frown that had pulled her pale pink lips into a bow. Duo wasn’t sure what to say in response. He settled for a weak, slightly embarrassed smile.

“I’m sorry,” Duo offered.

“Raphael warned me that you didn’t want to be here,” she continued, her frown growing a little deeper so it touched her eyes. “I’m the one who should apologize. If you choose to express yourself this way, you have every right to.”

Duo blinked in confusion, some part of him noting that her frown was an unhappy one, not an angry one. He still had no idea what she was talking about. He glanced past her to see if the rest of the angels had centered on him yet. And he was relieved to find Michael headed in their direction. The archangel’s wide guileless smile helped settle Duo’s stomach.

“You are a bold one,” Michael beamed, placing a warm hand on Duo’s shoulder. “I can’t imagine anyone being so brave as to wear black on such an occasion.”

He turned to flash an almost smug smile at the pale woman. “You see, dear? He isn’t at all shy. You shouldn’t let Raphael twist your ear like that.”

“You don’t consider this a statement?” the woman asked, her eyes widening in surprise.

“Of course I do,” said Michael. “The color looks lovely on him. I’m pleased to see he has the pride to wear it so confidently.”

“Oh…”

Duo sent a confused look between the two of them. It was the color of his clothing that had upset her?

“Duo,” Michael drawled with a wide smile. He stepped back and waved a graceful hand at the woman. “I’d like you to meet my wife, Diedre.”

Only years of well behavior kept Duo from gaping in surprise. He ducked his head with what he hoped was a polite nod. “I’m pleased to meet you.”

“Are you really?”

Duo snapped his head back, too surprised not to look right at the woman. Diedre gave him a slow, genuine smile. Had she expected him to reject or disrespect her? She was Michael’s wife…

“Then I suppose I should have a word with my dear brother,” she continued, her voice taking on a smooth, almost dangerous tone. “I believe he’s misinformed me.”

She turned her head, pale blue eyes flicking to the side to lock onto the man in question. Raphael raised an eyebrow as he came over to stand near them. Then he turned to look over Duo, a small smirk spreading over his face at the sight of his black clothing.

“That color becomes you, Duo,” Raphael greeted smoothly.

“Thank you.”

“And now that you’ve met Birdie, would you care to meet my family?” Raphael continued.

Duo’s first instinct was to blurt out that Muriel had told him he’d be introduced formally before mingling with the guests. That wasn’t what he ended up saying.

“Birdie?” asked Duo.

Michael gave a mock frown of disapproval, and made a show of restraining his wife, who sent a rather ruffled frown at her brother. “Miss Diedre to you, Duo. Really, Raphael, teaching him such things.”

“She’s quite the songbird,” Raphael confided to Duo, not the least bit bothered. “You should hear her sing.”

“No need to embarrass her,” said Michael. “Hurry and introduce him to your family. We don’t want to monopolize him. There are quite a few people curious to meet our young scholar.”

Duo winced lightly at the ‘scholar’ and managed to say what was standing on his mind. “Am I to introduce myself individually?”

“If you don’t mind,” Michael smiled. “I’ve never held too close to formality on occasions like this. And since most of the guests are members of Raphael’s family, who better to escort you? Come, Diedre, I believe Madam Lowe is puckering from curiosity. We can’t let the poor lady suffer, now can we?”

Michael’s wife sent Duo a guilty look as she was drawn away. Duo stared after them, unaware of how his eyebrow had quirked. If he didn’t know any better, he’d have said Michael was rather lazy. He seemed to shirk his duties off on Raphael, even when it came to his own household…

Diedre paused a few steps away and turned back to frown at Raphael. “Tell Hina I’ll finish my tale as soon as I can.”

“Of course,” said Raphael.

Once the two were out of earshot, Raphael sent a curious look at Duo. “So, which was it? Are you wearing black to be original and bold, or because you feel fatalistic? Most of the people here know who you are, so there’s no need to take part in some masochistic urge to isolate yourself.”

The man had hit right to the center of Duo’s reasoning. Unsettled, Duo looked away. “It felt appropriate. I didn’t mean to make a scene, or a statement.”

“Well,” Raphael remarked, “the color really does suit you. And whatever your reasons, it’s nice to see a different shade. Everyone seems to think pale is best for these occasions. Just once I’d like to have a splash of red or orange in the mix. Black works well enough.”

Duo blinked in surprise at the man’s frown. So far Muriel’s advice was landing off target. People were frowning, he hadn’t been introduced, and at least Raphael seemed to think ‘bold’ colors were fine. Now he really didn’t know what to expect.

“Come, Duo. I believe my wife is hiding in that direction.”

Raphael led him off with an almost playful smirk. Duo trailed after, wondering what kind of woman was married to the man, especially if she were ‘hiding’ in the populated part of the room.

He thought he would be introduced to her, possibly meet Raphael’s son, and then be left to ‘mingle’ on his own. Instead they paused at each cluster, names and faces passing over Duo to the point where he knew he’d never remember even half of them. And he was really confused to learn that one out of every two was one of Raphael’s siblings. After seeing the portraits of Michael’s blonde male relatives, he’d have expected Raphael’s brothers and sisters to look alike. They didn’t. Oh, they were all pale-haired and slender, but that was about it.

Duo took to nodding and flashing polite smiles, not entirely aware of his verbal responses. He was thinking that once he got back to Muriel, he’d ask for a photo album so he could memorize the relatives. They were Diedre’s kin, so it was his responsibility to know them on sight.

One thing that did stand out was that all of the women were married, while few of the men were. Duo suspected he knew why. If Raphael really had over twelve siblings, half of them were probably sterile. Large families like that tended to lose their virility after a few generations. It was one of the growing trends on Eden. Those who had the most children were the ones who would have the fewest grandchildren. Eventually it would lead to a loss of the archangel title.

The woman they had set out to find was, naturally, the last person they found. She was seated in a plush chair against the far wall, her face tilted back to look at the man she was talking with. Duo recognized her as the woman who’d fled when he entered the room. That didn’t seem to bode well for him.

She was a small woman, her petite frame placing her at fifteen and barely developed. But her short purplish black hair was lined with silver threads, age creeping around her wide periwinkle eyes. It was a sign of childbearing that showed she wasn’t nearly as young as her tiny frame implied.

Her eyes widened when she spotted them, pink flushing to her cheeks as she ducked her head and fidgeted her hands in her lap. Duo almost stopped in his tracks. Was she afraid?

He wasn’t sure how he had pictured Raphael’s wife, but it hadn’t been this timid woman, who’d probably given birth a short year after hitting puberty. Someone had treated her badly, crushed her self-esteem and left a shy victim in its place. Even though he’d only known Raphael for a day, he refused to believe the archangel would do such a thing.

Raphael gave a soft smile and crouched down so the woman didn’t need to look up at him. “Hina, I’d like you to meet Duo. Michael drug Birdie over to torment Odin, but she promised to finish your talk as soon as she’s done. We’ll be going there next, so it won’t take long.”

Duo couldn’t stop himself from staring in rising anger at the way she looked away, her mouth moving a little without any real words making their way out. Either she was mute, or she was mumbling so quietly that he couldn’t hear her words. She wasn’t looking at him, but she wasn’t looking Raphael in the eye either. He didn’t know what to think of that.

The man Hina had been speaking to sidled a bit closer to them, speaking with a cheerful voice from behind Duo. “You’re older than she thought you’d be. She’s a little embarrassed.”

Hina shook her head, blushing darker and mumbling a soft something that Duo thought might have been ‘I’m not, not really.’ She ventured one look at him and ducked her head again, her hands curling tighter in her lap. Then she raised her voice a little, to an audible murmur.

“Do you…like her…?”

Raphael glanced back at Duo and elaborated, “She means Birdie.”

“Oh,” Duo blinked. “Yes, I like her. She seems very nice.”

“She’ll be so happy,” Hina whispered, a shy smile spreading over her face as she ducked her head a little lower. “Thank you.”

Raphael grinned and ruffed a light hand over the woman’s hair, as if she were a child. If anything, her smile widened.

“They’ve been close friends since they were children,” the stranger confided to Duo. “You’d never know it to look at them, but mother is just as protective as Birdie is.”

Duo jerked a little, really looking at the stranger. He was immediately struck by the man’s masculine features. It wasn’t that he was ugly, just that he lacked that soft effeminate touch that made Raphael every bit as lovely as his wife. And he didn’t look at all like either of them, certainly not young enough to be calling Hina ‘mother.’

The man was tall, a little under Raphael’s height, with short pale hair that was oddly similar to Hina’s eye color. Duo could have sworn it was periwinkle, a pale blue with just a hint of purple. His hair was drawn back tightly in a very short tail behind his head, one thick sweep of bangs hanging down over the left side of his face. Duo immediately saw the reason for this, glimpsing the scar that curved over the bridge of the man’s nose and fully closed his left eye. His right eye was a rich mahogany shade, almost red in the pale room.

He was wearing nondescript clothing that Duo envied, a simple baggy cream shirt and tan slacks. The only bit of color on him was the dark blue cloth that arced over his left shoulder and down so it trailed his right hip in a sort of cloak.

Duo pegged the man in his early twenties, possibly older. It wasn’t until the man gave a simple smile that he saw the slightest resemblance. The smile had that same soft touch Hina’s had.

Raphael had glanced back in time to see the two regarding each other. Now he stood and crossed to stand at Duo’s right. “Duo, this is Houjun. He’s the one who’ll be helping you with your flight instructions. He recently returned from Earth, so don’t be surprised if he seems a little strange.”

“Mou,” Houjun protested, his face drawn into an almost pouting frown. He plucked at his blue wrap and sent a sad look at Duo. “I thought it was pretty, especially after being in China so long. The art there is just beautiful. No one appreciates simplicity anymore…”

Duo sent a wide-eyed look from one to the other, hesitating on Raphael’s smirking expression. This was his son?

“I have to take Duo to Odin now,” Raphael went on to say. “But I’ll send him back to you once we’ve finished. I’m sure you’ll find plenty to talk about. Duo seems to have a similar desire to stick out when it comes to his dress.”

“He does,” Houjun agreed happily. “You have very good taste, Duo.”

Raphael let out a quiet laugh and prodded Duo away before he could respond. He waited until they were out of hearing range before speaking again. He slowed Duo with a light hand on the boy’s shoulder, and gave him a sober look.

“Have you noticed?” asked Raphael.

Duo blinked in surprise, glancing around at the angels closest to them to see what he’d missed. “Noticed…?”

“My family,” Raphael explained. “You’ll hear it eventually, so let me be the first. Hina was with child when I married her, which in and of itself wouldn’t be an issue. But she has no family to speak of, creating quite a class difference. If that weren’t enough, her former husband became a Lucifer on his first trip to Earth.”

Duo fought the urge to look back, his mouth dry. “That…”

“Exactly,” said Raphael. “She considers herself as much a pariah as you, if not more so. It doesn’t help that Chi – that Houjun has had considerable trouble keeping partners as a checker. When I warned you of his seeming strange, it was because of this. He recently turned from a positive to a negative checker. It doesn’t suit him, and it leads him to spending more time on Earth than he does on Eden.”

Duo shook his head, thinking back on his own decision to be a positive checker, or not to be a checker at all. “Can a person just switch from one to the other like that?”

“Not normally,” Raphael frowned. “I spent two months arguing the case before the elders would accept the decision. It’s my hope that you might have a positive influence on him during the flight instruction. Any excuse to keep him on Eden.”

“You don’t want him to be a negative checker?” asked Duo. “Then why would you argue his case?”

Raphael shook his head and lifted his eyes to seek out their target. “He did it for the wrong reasons. I’ll discuss this with you at a later time. That man is Odin Lowe.”

The way the name was given told Duo how important the man was. Of course, he remembered that name on his own. This was the person Michael had adopted him to spite. He wasn’t at all what Duo had expected.

Odin Lowe was about the same height as Michael, just a few inches shorter than Raphael. His face seemed chiseled compared to Michael’s soft child-like appearance, and his dark brown hair was pulled back in a long tail that trailed to his waist. The clothing marked him as a member of the military, from his dark blue uniform, to the extravagant chains and latches that decorated his gray sash and belt. Short jagged bangs framed his forehead and brought out his oddly hawkish eyes. He had the sort of scowl that could intimidate anyone.

Duo stilled himself against the glare the man snapped to him. He felt Raphael’s hand leave his shoulder, telling him that he was supposed to look completely self-reliant. That was precisely the appearance he gave. With a sober and curious look, Duo met the man’s gaze and went over to stand at Michael’s right.

“Duo,” Michael greeted, his eyes glittering with amusement. “I’d like you to meet Odin Lowe.”

Not an archangel, Duo noted. He gave a polite nod to the scowling man, along with a quick ‘pleased to meet you’ that didn’t sound nearly as flat as Odin’s returning ‘mutual, I’m sure.’

“Unfortunately,” Michael said to Duo, “Odin’s son couldn’t make it this evening. I’m certain you were looking forward to meeting someone so close to your own level of academic excellence.”

For one terrifying moment, Duo was sure he’d break out into laughter at the impossibly pompous tone Michael had used. It was the glitter in the blonde angel’s eyes, the look that told him to play along because the results would be very amusing to watch. Duo stifled the urge to laugh and gave what he hoped was a genuine look of regret.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Duo.

“Yes,” Odin said testily, looking over Duo with open dislike. “With the legalities of this adoption taking precedence, he’s quite busy with preparations for the commencement ceremonies. Usually the top achiever has this responsibility, but Heero was gracious enough to take it entirely upon himself. A pity. I’m sure you would have handled the matter wonderfully if you weren’t otherwise occupied.”

“I’m sure we can entrust the matter to your son’s capable hands,” Raphael drawled, a single look being enough to make Odin bristle. “If there’s any problem, Duo would certainly find time to help. I would think, what with the tradition your family has as the leaders of the commencement ceremonies, that you would be proud to have your son taking the position regardless of his second place rank this year.”

“Naturally,” said Odin.

Duo found himself standing back from the confrontation, his attention sweeping from one man to another. There was so much hostility he didn’t know how he was supposed to react. Michael was smiling lightly, appearing completely unconcerned with the sharp looks Odin sent his way. And Raphael, if Duo weren’t mistaken, was using tight formality to express his anger.

Why were they enemies? Two archangels and the head of an enforcement order like population control? If anything, Duo would have expected them to band together. They were all members of the ruling class.

More personally, what responsibility was Odin talking about? Obviously there was something the top of the class was supposed to do, and since Duo wasn’t doing it, the man’s son had the task. But what was it? Raphael spoke as if it were an honor, Odin as if it were a distasteful job.

Duo felt completely left out of whatever the real root of the argument was. While he knew Michael had adopted him solely to anger Odin, there seemed to be a lot more to the man’s hostility. It was evident from the way he’d tensed the moment Raphael spoke. If anything, he seemed to dislike him far more than he did Michael.

Someone tapped on Duo’s shoulder, and he jumped at the distraction. The men were no longer paying him the least bit of attention. He didn’t see a reason to stay and eavesdrop on a conversation that made no sense to him.

Houjun prodded him to follow back to the other side of the large room. He seemed eager to avoid being noticed Odin, so Duo didn’t give a polite excuse for leaving them. It wasn’t until they’d put some distance between them and the men that Duo noticed the room was thinning. There were small groups seated near the walls, one larger group of women talking about something with Diedre and Hina, but most of the strangers Duo had gone through earlier were gone.

“It’ll be a good hour before they can get rid of him,” Houjun murmured, tossing his head in the direction of Odin. “I didn’t think you’d want to stand there listening the entire time. If you want, we can slip into the hall for a while. Michael won’t even notice, and Birdie is so set on keeping you from hating her, that she’d never say a word about it.”

Duo nodded and followed him out the door he’d entered from earlier. Once they were in the much dimmer hall, Houjun eased down to sit crosslegged against the wall. It was so informal that Duo grinned when he joined him on the thick carpet.

“Do you sneak out often?” asked Duo.

“I don’t usually have to,” Houjun smiled. “I’m rarely invited to these things, especially when Odin Lowe is attending. It’s been so long, I forget how stuffy they all are.”

“It didn’t go at all like I thought it would,” said Duo. “I was expecting an interrogation, or something. They hardly stared at all.”

Thinking about that made Duo wonder at the man leaning so casually against the wall opposite him. He’d taken for granted that Raphael’s son would be easy around him, considering Raphael seemed to honestly like him. But that was actually strange. Duo was usually skeptical of people who acted so friendly. He couldn’t help but wonder if the casual manner of the archangels was rubbing off on him.

“They wouldn’t stare outright,” said Houjun. “Michael doesn’t tolerate snooty behavior. He says it’s bad for his complexion.”

Duo gave a weak grin, not sure how far he could push this seeming camaraderie. “I just met him this afternoon, but he does seem a little…eccentric.”

“Now that’s a nice way to put it,” Houjun said, a wide smile spreading over his face. “You’re very polite. When I introduced him to my partner, he said Michael was downright batty. But he really isn’t, you know. He just enjoys doing whatever he can to disconcert people. The more flighty he seems, the more he’s underestimated by his peers.”

“I wondered,” Duo admitted. “I’d never met an archangel, and he really wasn’t what I was expecting.”

“Mm,” Houjun nodded. “So, Duo, you plan to be a checker? Do you have a side in mind, or will you wait till you find a partner to oppose?”

Duo was thrown off guard by the sudden direction of the talk. He blinked a little, remembering what Raphael had said about his son’s switch from positive to negative. “I was wanting to be a positive checker. But…what do you mean about waiting? I thought partners were put together to compliment each other.”

“They usually are,” said Houjun. “Most pairs are children who’ve grown up together. Take Raphael and Michael, for example. They grew up as a pair of opposites, so it was natural for them to become checkers together. For those who didn’t grow up with a partner, the academy is the best place to find one. In cases like that, you may have trouble finding an opposite you can actually get along with. I know most of the negative checkers I went to school with were unpleasant at best.”

“Did you have your partner before you applied to the academy?” Duo asked, not wanting to let on that Raphael had told him about Houjun’s problems.

Houjun sighed, his smile turning wistful. “I did, but it didn’t work out. Did you notice that Odin doesn’t like my father? That’s my fault. I was partnered with his younger brother for nearly two years as a positive checker. Then he married my fiancé and things sort of fell apart.”

Duo’s eyes widened at the sad but easy way that bit of information was given. “R-really…”

“Yes,” Houjun sighed. “Odin didn’t think she was worthy of marrying into his family, so he blames me for that, and my father by default. You might have noticed that Rapheal has a penchant for picking up strays. Kouran was a labor class angel he arranged to take as a ward till she was of age. If not for that, she would never have met Hiko, and Odin wouldn’t have turned his anger on our family.”

“But she was your fiancé, right?” Duo blurted. “Your partner took your fiancé and that guy’s the one mad about it? If anyone should be angry, it’s you.”

“It was over a year ago,” said Houjun, his voice just a tad strict. “And it’s come to light that I have no reason to marry, so it’s just as well that things worked out this way. Back to the point I was trying to make – my first partner was set before I went to school. After that I had to find a partner I could get along with on my own. Like I said, I’ve had trouble finding negative checkers who aren’t terribly cold or difficult to deal with. So instead of searching for a new graduate, I found someone I liked and opposed him.

“It’s nearly impossible to switch from positive to negative, but for you that won’t be a problem. It isn’t uncommon for entering students to model their behavior to counter the people they want to partner with. So my question, how set are you on being a positive checker? If you are determined, then you’ll have to look through the negatives for someone you can work with. If you are versatile, you have more options.”

“I really don’t want to be a negative checker,” Duo admitted. “The idea of judging people and counting up sins…I just don’t want to do that. I’m pretty sure I could do it, if I had to, but I don’t want to. It just seems so…”

Pretentious, hypocritical, none of the words could be said when Duo was talking to a negative checker. The last thing he wanted was to alienate Houjun.

It was just that after all the liars he’d met, all those fake smiles on sickeningly curious faces, he wanted to see some good in people. Yes, Duo was sure he’d make a much better negative checker, since he was cynical enough to pick out every single one of the sinners. He just didn’t want to make a life out of doing that. The prospect was too depressing.

“It’s all right,” said Houjun. “You’ll have plenty of time to find a partner at the academy. And with your grades and my flight skills, you’re bound to get a good sect of admirers.”

Duo couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at that. No matter how well he learned to fly, the sight of his wings in action was guaranteed to turn away all potential partners. Still, the man’s smile was endearing. Duo didn’t speak his doubts aloud.

“I get the feeling my father is using this as an excuse to keep me on Eden,” Houjun continued, his eye glittering a little with his grin. “So I have every incentive to teach you all the tricks I know. You will, however, have to put up with my partner. Raphael can keep him away from formal gatherings, but it’s just not appropriate for me to tutor a positive checker while my partner’s barred from witnessing it. We’ll be leaving the estate for the lessons.”

Duo blinked, a small frown pulling at his lips. “Raphael doesn’t like your partner?”

“You could say that,” Houjun smirked. “Wait till you find yourself a negative partner. I can almost guarantee Michael will hate him. But you’ll like Tasuki. He’s one of the most…positive…positive checkers I’ve ever met. He’s pretty good at flying, too. We’ll just have to be careful that you don’t pick up any of his more…risqué moves.”

“Just learning to fly at all would be an improvement,” sighed Duo. “I don’t know much about the practical courses at the academy. The idea of competing against people who’ve been flying for years…I don’t stand a chance.”

“You might be surprised,” said Houjun. “The first semester is composed of endurance and versatility trials. You don’t get into the advanced maneuvers until the second semester. Even then, one third of the class will be kept back in the trial for an extra year. It isn’t necessary to excel in the advanced course. When I took the class it was more of a game than a strict pass or fail test. It’s a chance for those who don’t do well with the written work to surpass their peers on a different field.”

“But Raphael said you had to have excellent flight abilities to go to Earth,” Duo frowned. “That means passing the advanced class, right?”

“You do need to have the basics mastered, but that is different from the advanced maneuvers course. If you pass the trials with enough skill to apply in the advanced course, you’ve already proven you have excellent flight abilities. Any additional skills only add to your strength as a potential checker. It’s a matter of whether you graduate as a checker, or a first rate checker. With your grades, having a high flight ability will guarantee you get the best partner available to you.”

Houjun glared for a second, the expression so fleeting that Duo barely caught it before it was replaced with a weak smile. “It sounds like my father is putting unnecessary pressure on you. Michael wants you to snub the Lowe family, by being the best at both the mental and physical courses. That’s why he chose this year to adopt – Heero’s of age to enter the academy this year. So they found someone with the potential to surpass him. Your job is to leave him in the dust.”

“So I have to be the best…”

Duo’s tone was blank, only a hint of anger ghosting behind his eyes. It was too much to ask from him. He had no experience at anything, no chance of surpassing someone who’d probably been geared his entire life to excel at the academy. All he had was his ability to memorize things, and to understand Earthian behavior based on his observations of adult angels. He’d seen a variety of people in his days, so he was good at predicting how people would react. That was why he’d done so well with the entrance exam. He wasn’t a genius. He’d simply gotten lucky. Luck wouldn’t carry him through the academy itself.

A light hand moved to Duo’s shoulder, drawing his attention to the angel seated across from him. Houjun gave a slow, conspiratorial smile.

“That’s what they want,” said Houjun, “but that’s not what you have to do. Don’t let them pressure you. If you enjoy the competition, then by all means, strive for the top marks. I can help you get the inside edge on the top candidates this year, at least as far as the flight courses are concerned. As for the mental courses, you already have the advantage over Heero. The Lowe family suffers from a severe lack of creativity. Once you get to case studies, you’ll see how that affects the scores. Earthians are fickle, imaginative creatures. You need to be imaginative and creative yourself, to predict individual Earthian behavior. I’ve never met a Lowe who had that ability. Heero isn’t any different.”

“I’ll do my best,” Duo said slowly. “Michael set me up to beat this guy, so the least I can do is my best. But…does this mean Heero is set up to beat me? Or is it just me chasing after an established expert?”

“That,” said Houjun, “I don’t know. As far as Hiko tells me, Heero doesn’t care about things like competition. I’m sure Odin is pressuring him, but I don’t know how much of that he’d take to heart. He’s the sort who’d aim for perfection whether he has competition or not. It runs in the family. Chances are, he won’t even notice you if you don’t keep the top rank at the academy.”

“He must be really good,” Duo mused. “Sounds conceited.”

Houjun smirked and glanced off to the side. “I believe the preferred term is self confident. You don’t want to go around calling Odin’s only son conceited.”

Duo flushed with a weak, sheepish smile. “I’ll remember that.”

“You do that,” Houjun smiled. “He has a lot of admirers you don’t want to make enemies of. But you’ll see that when you start the academy. Right now…we should get back out there. My mother is probably fretting by now, wondering where we disappeared to.”

“Is she always so shy?” Duo ventured.

“Timid,” Houjun nodded. “She gets nervous when she’s around the families and large gatherings like this. Raphael doesn’t pressure her to attend, so she hasn’t had much experience. We only came tonight to meet you. Usually Raphael makes his appearances alone, or with Michael and Birdie.”

“I see…”

Duo climbed slowly to his feet, not looking forward to the prospect of going back into the ballroom. His mind was swarming with thoughts about flight lessons, the academy, Odin Lowe and his conceited son, and whether or not he’d have to see Mira before he got to test his newly healed wings in actual flight.

Suddenly he was eager to get out there and finish the night. Yes, he’d have to sit through a formal dinner, and there were plenty of opportunities for embarrassment and discomfort before the evening was through. But tomorrow he’d either be trying out his wings or learning about the academy. He was eager to do both.

-.-.-
TBC
-notes-
a) I know, people hate it when I spend time on crossover characters. But they’re necessary to establish the rift between the families, and to set up the competition between Heero and Duo – they’re rivals before they even meet.
b) The characters from other anime – Birdie is from Sailormoon (I made her ‘real’ name into a nickname so it isn’t so strange sounding), Hinageshi is from Naruto, and Chichiri (Houjun) and Tasuki (Genrou) are from Fushigi Yuugi. I’m intrigued by the idea of a BirdiexHinageshi pairing, but you won’t see too much of the wives in this fic. Chiri will be popping up for a while to get Duo prepped for the academy.
c) I should warn that I’m going into detail with appearances and dress. Angels are conceited creatures, and appearance is very important. It’s canon in the Earthian manga that the best compliment an angel can get is to be called ‘beautiful’ – inner beauty, yes, but also outer beauty. Note that on ceremonial occasions the guys wear ‘dresses’ just like the girls – fancy robes with ribbons and lace. It’s a different culture – male angels are expected to be as beautiful as females. Not all angels are effeminate, but the more ‘masculine’ they are, the more likely their families are from ‘manual labor’ fields.
d) I’ll be establishing Eden ‘laws’ once the academy starts. For now, the childbirth laws are set. Archangels are required to produce one child or lose their status. A female who can’t have children is typically replaced with a fertile wife unless adoption is chosen (Birdie’s case). A male who can’t have children is not allowed to marry a fertile female unless she’s a widow who is already with child, or has already had at least one child (which is why Raphael could marry the pregnant Hina). Each birth takes ten to fifteen years off a female’s lifespan, so the minimum required by law is one child per fertile female. Females can produce children for multiple males if they and their husbands both agree, but few women choose to have more than 3 children. Raphael’s mother was an extreme exception – his siblings are from multiple fathers, which is why they don’t look alike, but since she was married to his father (an archangel), they’re all tied to the patriarch family. The female’s husband claims her children, regardless of who the blood father is.

Next part, Duo does a test flight, and Heero enters the scene.