Guardian Wings A Side Story by MokonaChiirushia and Hokuto Kuzuki *There is no moon tonight. Tetsuya is asleep at his desk, taking a short nap, much like we saw that one episode where Joker accidentally woke him up. A flash of lightning, even though there are no clouds tonight, and there is a dark figure in the window.* Tetsuya: *not awake yet, but has a feeling; stirs once* Kiseki no Tenshi: *Is standing inside the window, dressed in black with her face covered. She raises a large, ornate knife, then begins sneaking towards the desk where Tetsuya is asleep. We get a glance at her eyes, which are not covered. They are cold and emotionless, the perfect eyes of the perfect killer.* Tetsuya: *picks up the footfalls, as quiet as they are, and is instantly awake; instead of sitting up, quietly sneaks the rosary out of his pocket and shifts the beads so that the string is bare* Kiseki no Tenshi: *does not get close enough to touch him; instead, from a foot away, raises her knife* Tetsuya: *catches the movement and falls out of his chair, moving so that he's crouched on the other side of the desk away from Kiseki no Tenshi* Kiseki no Tenshi: *straightens, with no outward appearance of surprise* I should have known. They told me it wouldn't be easy. Tetsuya: *does not speak, as it would give away his position* Kiseki no Tenshi: *gives him a small, unkind smile* You are Tetsuya. *not asking* Tetsuya: Where would you hear that? *moves instantly to a different position behind the desk* Kiseki no Tenshi: I have many sources. Tetsuya: *moving again* I'll have to check into them. Kiseki no Tenshi: *has been standing in the same place, not bothering to move or go after him* Feel free. Kiseki no Tenshi: There are always more sources. Tetsuya: Who sent you? They must be quite rich to offer you enough to come after me. Kiseki no Tenshi: It is not about money as much as it is people. Tetsuya: *moves again* 9.9 One of that sort? What is it now? Tetsuya: Were your parents in the wrong warehouse at the wrong time? Did your sister become a recruit of the Queen's? Was your brother a rival drug smuggler? 9.9 I've heard these excuses before. Kiseki no Tenshi: *smiles again, this time a smile of cold amusement* You misunderstand. Kiseki no Tenshi: I am not here for revenge. I was not hired for revenge. Kiseki no Tenshi: Or, maybe I was. Tetsuya: ~.- *still hiding* How so? Kiseki no Tenshi: My employer did not make that clear. Tetsuya: I see. Kiseki no Tenshi: My employer worked for a rather large government operation, if I understood him correctly. Tetsuya: *thinks quickly, gets it* Tetsuya: They wanted you to kill me? They must have money to burn. But why would you accept a government job? Kiseki no Tenshi: Mostly because of people. Kiseki no Tenshi: I am very, very interested by people. Kiseki no Tenshi: There are so many different ones. Kiseki no Tenshi: Like snowflakes. Kiseki no Tenshi: No two are alike. Tetsuya: What a fascinating philosophy. *can tell that Kiseki no Tenshi isn't moving, doesn't move himself, but doesn't stand up* Kiseki no Tenshi: *her voice takes on a tone of amusement* I am not going to attack you. I would not make it past your rosary. Kiseki no Tenshi: I know I am not that good. Tetsuya: *does not relax, not trusting her a bit* How wise of you. What is it you wish, then? Kiseki no Tenshi: As I was saying, I am interested in people. Kiseki no Tenshi: And although I highly doubt you have heard of me, I have certainly heard of you. Kiseki no Tenshi: *turns around smoothly, displaying the back of her shirt, which has her customary design on it, a pair of tiny wings encircled by a halo* Look familiar? Tetsuya: Very pretty. Yes, I have heard of you - Kiseki no Tenshi. Tetsuya: You have been recommended to me, but I did not believe there would be a place for you here. Kiseki no Tenshi: Beautiful name, isn't it? Tetsuya: Lovely. Kiseki no Tenshi: *runs a finger down the flat side of her blade* I have wanted to meet you since I came back to Tokyo. Kiseki no Tenshi: *holds the blade up in front of her face* Especially recently. Tetsuya: Why? Tetsuya: *is not very talkative, wants to go back to sleep* Kiseki no Tenshi: Though my employer did not mention him to me... One of my sources mentioned a young man who left here recently... Kiseki no Tenshi: Fitting the description of my brother. Tetsuya: *momentarily speechless* Brother? Kiseki no Tenshi: Long brown hair, usually braided or in a ponytail... Brown eyes, so beautiful and soulful they make you want to hold him close to you forever, to take away his pain... An eyepatch, covering an eye that can heal and kill very easily in the same moment. Tetsuya: *looking innocent behind the desk* Very poetic. Kiseki no Tenshi: He is the reason I chose my name, you know. Tetsuya: Most interesting. Kiseki no Tenshi: *looks over at him, an emotion finally showing in her eyes, although very, very briefly* Is it true, then, that you know him? Tetsuya: *decides it can't hurt* Yes. Kiseki no Tenshi: *tenses, then whispers* A... at last... *loses all pretense and air that she is an assassin* Tetsuya: *sensing that something has changed, looks over the top of the desk* You have been looking for him? For how long? Kiseki no Tenshi: For two years. For two long, long years. Tetsuya: *being sarky* How did you lose him? Kiseki no Tenshi: *looks away quickly* That is none of your business. Kiseki no Tenshi: *falls to her knees suddenly* Tenshi... Tenshi...! I am so sorry... *hides her face with her hands* I am so sorry... I didn't want to do it... Tetsuya: *thinks* Kiseki no Tenshi: *struggles to hold back tears, since she is in the presence of someone she's supposed to kill* Tetsuya: You killed your mother, didn't you? *not sounding angry or disgusted, is just wondering because of Sailor Bob's mutterings; also makes note of his real name with some relief* Kiseki no Tenshi: *cannot hold back any longer, finally, the tears she never shed while she was doing it come in floods* I am sorry! I didn't want to do it...! I never wanted to...! Tetsuya: 9.9 *gets up and sits down beside her, rosary still at the ready; wonders if this runs in the family* Kiseki no Tenshi: *quickly gets over the tears, since she does have dignity to maintain, wipes her eyes and looks over at him* Has he told you about it...? Kiseki no Tenshi: Has he... *looks distraught* Has he cursed me? Tetsuya: Not - exactly. I don't remember much about you. Kiseki no Tenshi: He has not mentioned me? Kiseki no Tenshi: He does not seem angry with me? Or sad? Tetsuya: *thinks* Only - upset. Not understanding. Kiseki no Tenshi: Please, tell me... How has he been? Do you know what he has been doing since I last saw him? Tetsuya: Cooking. Busing tables. Nothing too terrible. *doesn't think she needs to know about the suicide attempt* Tetsuya: The government has been after him. I suppose they still are... Kiseki no Tenshi: ?.? Tetsuya: *clenching the rosary tighter* I would have continued protecting him... The organization takes care of its own, as I'm sure you've heard. Kiseki no Tenshi: Wait, wait... What government? Kiseki no Tenshi: Ours or yours? Tetsuya: ~.- The official government of Japan. They were - conducting experiments on him... Kiseki no Tenshi: !.! W- when was this...?! Tetsuya: Before he came to me. He escaped and found his way here. Kiseki no Tenshi: T- Tenshi... E- e- experiments... Tetsuya: Not very pleasant ones, I gathered. Tetsuya: He didn't want to talk about them, Joker told me. Kiseki no Tenshi: How did he... mention me? Tetsuya: *wonders if he should say, decides yes* In his sleep. Wondering... "why?" Kiseki no Tenshi: Sleep? Kiseki no Tenshi: Why... Oh, Tenshi, if you had just stayed... I would have told you everything... Kiseki no Tenshi: Everything and anything... Tetsuya: *has been living far too much in the past lately, gets unnerving flashback to the last time he saw Genji* You would have explained... Kiseki no Tenshi: *hangs her head* I do not know how he would react... But I would have bared my soul for him... I would have bared my heart, literally, if he wanted me to... Tetsuya: I cannot tell you where he is now - I don't know myself. Tetsuya: But if I find anything... Come to the restaurant - THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR - and ask if someone is hiring sailors. I will tell you what I can. Kiseki no Tenshi: *nods, slowly* Yes... Kiseki no Tenshi: Sailors... Kiseki no Tenshi: *picks up her knife and thrusts it into Tetsuya's hands* Keep this. Kiseki no Tenshi: *without an explanation, rises and heads for the window* Tetsuya: *takes it* ?.? Kiseki no Tenshi: *pauses at the window and turns* Tetsuya-san... Tetsuya: Yes? Kiseki no Tenshi: *gives him a smile that transforms her, making her look exactly like Bob does when he smiles his heartbreaking smile* Thank you. I will never forget this. *is out the window and gone* Tetsuya: *sighs* It must run in that family... *goes back to his desk and starts working where he fell asleep* *Fade out.* *A few days later, Joker is sitting at a table in Kitty in the House, eating waffles and moping. He has tried searching for Sailor Bob without luck, and is about ready to give up.* Kiseki no Tenshi: *enters the front of the restaurant, and waits to be seated* Joker: *looks up, sees only Shonkoe's back; notices the long brown hair* !.! Kiseki no Tenshi: *a hostess comes to seat her, blocking her from view just as she turns to face Joker, then a waiter walks in front of them as she is shown to her table, until she sits down with her back to him* Joker: *goes frantic, unable to decide if he should try and speak to the person or not* Joker: *after a minute or two of writhing, gets up and taps Shonkoe on the shoulder* 'Scuse me... Kiseki no Tenshi: *looks up at him* Yes? Joker: *sees that she's a girl* Um - sorry... thought you were a friend of mine... You look a lot like him, you could be related. Kiseki no Tenshi: Really? *thinks quickly* Long brown hair, brown eyes, eyepatch? Joker: That's the one! *looks pathetically eager* Have you seen him? Kiseki no Tenshi: *looks away, trying to hide the sadness in her eyes* No... I've been looking for him for a long time, but I haven't found him yet... Joker: 6.6 Oh. I've been kinda looking for him, too... Kiseki no Tenshi: *nods to the seat across from her* Sit down. Joker: *sits* Kiseki no Tenshi: How do you know him? Joker: Well... *thinks* He got kind of a part-time job where I work, and we just sort of - ended up together a lot... Kiseki no Tenshi: *can tell what he means by that, gives him a small smile* Did he make you happy? Joker: ^-^ Yeah. It was great. Kiseki no Tenshi: *looks sad and wistful* You're very, very lucky... Joker: I guess... Joker: 6.6 I miss him now, though. He was usually so happy and - he just made things feel better... Kiseki no Tenshi: *nods* He has that quality. He always has a smile on his face, even when he's sad... *a tear slides down her cheek, and she quickly wipes it away* Joker: *smiles at her* It must have been great growing up with him... Kiseki no Tenshi: *more tears come, against her will* Yes... Yes, it was wonderful... Joker: !.! *gives her a napkin* I'm sorry, I didn't mean... Kiseki no Tenshi: No, no, it's okay... Joker: *sighs* I just hope he's okay out there. I'm not even sure why he ran off in the first place... Kiseki no Tenshi: *buries her face in her napkin and starts to sob* Joker: !.! *smacks himself* God, I'm an idiot... Joker: *hands her another napkin* Kiseki no Tenshi: *manages to calm down* No, no, I'm sorry... I miss him... I miss him terribly and it's been so long since I last saw him and he's gone again and... Kiseki no Tenshi: And... Kiseki no Tenshi: And it's been so long since he smiled at me... Kiseki no Tenshi: So long since he called me "Schwester"... Joker: *doesn't speak German, but understands what she means; awkwardly pats her on the shoulder* Hey - it'll be okay - you'll find him... Kiseki no Tenshi: *leans forward* What did you love the most about him? Joker: *has to think about that one a moment* Joker: The way he - he trusted me. Everyone, really. He even trusted the boss - and it just made you want to keep from ever betraying him... I guess that was it. Joker: I never saw anyone as trusting as he was... Kiseki no Tenshi: *gives him a sorrowful, heartbreaking smile* Yes... That's what ultimately made it so awful... Joker: ?.? Kiseki no Tenshi: I betrayed him... *looks away and shuts her eyes tightly, trying to keep from crying again* If I hadn't wanted to find him so badly I would have ripped out my own heart, I felt so awful... Joker: *not having as good a memory as Tetsuya, has to think about that one pretty hard* Kiseki no Tenshi: I would have done anything for him... If he had stayed so I could have explained... Kiseki no Tenshi: If he had stayed and told me he never wanted to see me again, I would have done it... Joker: *realizes* Oh - you did something to you guys' mother, right... He talked in his sleep a lot, mostly about that... Kiseki no Tenshi: *buries her face in the napkin* I didn't want to do it! Kiseki no Tenshi: I never, ever wanted to hurt her! Joker: *raises his hands placatingly* Whoa, whoa... Hey, 's fine with me, I'm no angel, either... Kiseki no Tenshi: He is... He's the angel... Joker: *nods* Kiseki no Tenshi: With his soulful eyes... And his sweet voice... If he had told me to cut my heart out and present it to him on a silver platter, I would have... Joker: *guessing at her age* You guys weren't twins, were you? Kiseki no Tenshi: *nods, grabbing another napkin* Kiseki no Tenshi: *buries her face in it* Oh, Tenshi... Tenshi... Joker: That's his real name? It fits him like a glove... Kiseki no Tenshi: *nods again* Kiseki no Tenshi: That's why I took the name I did... Joker: ?.? Kiseki no Tenshi: Tell me, do you recognize this mark? *pulls her hair over her shoulder and turns in her seat, showing him her back, where the familiar picture of the wings and halo is* Joker: !.! You're that - that assassin! Kiseki no Tenshi: *looks around, making sure no one heard him* Kiseki no Tenshi: *nods* Joker: People've tried to get the boss to hire you for stuff, but he won't do it because he thinks you'd just cause a lot of troube and there isn't anything for you to do, really... Joker: Yeah... anyway... Joker: How'd you get to be an assassin anyway? *is keeping his voice down* Kiseki no Tenshi: When I was thirteen, a female assassin went to one of my gymnastics competitions. Kiseki no Tenshi: She thought I was very flexible and light, and I would make a good assassin. Joker: *nods* Makes sense. Joker: How'd you get separated from Sailor Bo- Tenshi? Kiseki no Tenshi: *looks sorrowful* The woman convinced my mother to let her train me. Kiseki no Tenshi: She trained me for three years. Joker: *be's quiet and lets her talk* Kiseki no Tenshi: At the end of my training, she told me I had two choices... Kiseki no Tenshi: I would kill a person of her choosing... Kiseki no Tenshi: ... Or she would kill me. Joker: And she picked your mom. Yeah, I know how that type works. Kiseki no Tenshi: If she had picked my brother, I would have told her to end it right there... Kiseki no Tenshi: But I wanted to live. My mother was not a young woman anymore. Kiseki no Tenshi: She did not have a long life ahead of her, like I did. Joker: I get it. Like I said - I'm not a real nice guy. Not many people in my line of work are... *sighs* Don't know what he thought was so trustworthy in me... Kiseki no Tenshi: There is a difference in being good and having a good soul, sir. Kiseki no Tenshi: I am not a good person. Kiseki no Tenshi: But I do not think I am evil. Joker: Well, I've only talked with you for a few minutes, but you don't seem too bad. I've known worse. Kiseki no Tenshi: *nods* So have I. Kiseki no Tenshi: *hesitates, then reaches across and puts one of her hands on his chest, where his heart is* You and I are linked, now. We both know and love the same person, in different ways. Kiseki no Tenshi: We are both good people leading bad lives. Joker: *blushes, but doesn't move her hand* I - yeah, I guess so. Kiseki no Tenshi: *withdraws and places the same hand over her heart* I will not forget you. And I hope you do not forget me. *stands and gives him another heartbreaking smile, looking exactly like her brother* I sincerely hope we meet again. *pause* And maybe next time I will learn your name. *is gone, before he can say another word* Joker: *heart twinges* Joker: *softly, to himself* They are twins... *wipes one hand across his eyes, quickly* Joker: Well, business waits for no man... *gets up and pays his bill before leaving for work* *Fade out.* Credits: Tetsuya: Hokuto Kuzuki Kiseki no Tenshi: MokonaChiirushia Joker: Hokuto Kuzuki