1 Wounded Girl's Request

How many times have you heard the words; threads of fate? Or, you might have heard; fate's red thread. It's an imaginary concept, or rather metaphorical, to say that all the world's inhabitants are tied to something, everything and nothing... but how often is that really the case? Just as often as you hear these words, you might think something along the lines of "Ugh, what a load of garbage..."

That was what Tomoe thought, since he was no older than four years and hardly able to use the bathroom by himself. In a world where, for just over three hundred years, demons stalked the shadows and preyed on the innocent while angels seemed to not even exist. In a world where, for just over three hundred years, it seemed that the fate of humans was to be cattle, never dying off but always being pecked away at round the edges. In a world where, for over three centuries, the gift of life was cold and harsh underneath the surface... this was the world that Tomoe grew up in, learning to hate demons, angels, and whatever cruel God would allow such events to transpire.

Then, when he'd grown up entirely, Tomoe didn't hate God, or the angels. He stopped believing in them altogether; for while they say that without light there cannot be darkness, and vice versa, it's clearly not the case.

~~~

"Hey, Tomoe, do you have any plans for the weekend?" Daichi asked with a neutral expression. He was a man with flawless skin, messy brown hair and a warm gaze to match.

"I don't, no," Tomoe answered quietly, brushing his dark hair out of his eyes. Really, he needed to get it cut soon... the two of them were at work on a Friday evening, wiping down the tables. Together, the two of them worked Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays waiting tables in a small but incredibly upscale Shibuya cafe. The theme was, ironically, an angel cafe, and Tomoe was wearing a stylish white outfit, with a circlet reminiscent of a halo resting in his hair- or rather it was, a half hour ago. Now, during cleanup, the thing was in his locker.

"Well then, why don't you come and spend some time with Eito and I? We're going to go do some window shopping around here, maybe get our hands on some new stuff; I need to get a new cell phone, that's where the idea came from. I mean, no pressure, but it might do you some good, since you're always wrapped up at home."

"Alright," Tomoe agreed, not minding the idea. "Which day are you planning to do?"

"Sunday," Daichi replied calmly, blinking. Was he surprised that Tomoe had accepted so easily? Even if he was, there was a small smile on his face now, so Tomoe didn't have anything to be offended over.

"Then why don't I meet you guys here?"

"Sounds like a good plan to me," the brown haired man nodded, his smile broadening into a full-blown grin. Tomorrow I've got plans with Mai is all, otherwise I'd be rushing to replace my phone immediately." He pulled a wistful look, glancing out the window, and Tomoe grinned.

"Say Tomoe... when are you going to find yourself a girlfriend?"

"I don't know, Daichi. I just haven't ever felt that spark, felt like I was falling for a girl. It'll happen eventually, I'm sure."

"Never found a girl attractive? Hm, Tomoe, do you think you might be gay? You know I wouldn't judge you or anything, of course."

"No," Tomoe answered neutrally, shaking his head and moving to put the rag he'd been using in the wash. "I mean, I wondered that myself for a while, but the thought of touching a cock that isn't mine makes me feel so sick, I couldn't consider it. All the power to gay people, but I'm not one of them." It was a sign of their closeness that Tomoe was able to answer so calmly and honestly.

"I get it," Daichi replied, equally neutral. "I had a moment like that after a string of relationships ending badly in the first year of high school, but you see how I am now with Mai."

"Agreed. It's the year twenty twenty nine, everybody questions their sexuality at least once."

"You got that right," Daichi spoke with a sleepy laugh. "Man, I'm beat, I'm going to pass out on the floor as soon as I've gotten home."

"I feel that," the dark-haired young man shot back. "Anyway, Daichi, I'll see you Monday- no, Sunday. Sleep well, you've been working yourself extra hard." He was punching out, now.

"Thanks Tomoe; it's for the money, you know, so it's all worth it."

"Aha, I'll see you, friend. Stay safe."

"You too."

~~~

The walk home wasn't far, Tomoe's family lived at a house in Tokyo itself. Of course, this was expensive... but Tomoe's father was security to a pop idol, and his mother was certified as both a brain and trauma surgeon; so, both of them were bringing in rather handsome salaries. Incidentally, neither of them were home too often, although Tomoe saw them at least two or three times in a week.

If either of them had been home when Tomoe returned, he would have had quite a different experience. Certainly, he would have called an ambulance... but things didn't go that way. When the cafe worker made his way inside, shrugging off that stupid white jacket and hanging it in the hall closet, he heard somebody call to him from behind the glass deck door.

"H-Heh... Hello...?! In there... please...!" Tomoe was, of course, confused. Nobody should be in the yard; not only was it walled off, but his parents weren't home and he didn't recognize the voice. Rushing across the kitchen and through the living room, Tomoe was in the garden and halfway across the grass toward the person lying there when he saw something that made him falter, and threatened to shatter all that he knew.

It was a girl, lying on her back... but what caught his eye more than anything were the large, feathery wings splayed seven feet in either direction, and a ring of white light revolving slowly in the air above her head, almost touching the ground. Her hair was short, platinum blonde and cut in a bob... her eyes were a gorgeous ruby color, another trait that couldn't belong to a human. This girl might have been clothed at one point, but all that clung to her were scraps and tatters, now... Tomoe was too distracted to notice anything sensitive, though.

Distracted by her wounds, to be clear; the blonde... angel? She was covered in cuts, bruises, and abrasions galore, her skin spattered with blood and grime, dirt and some sort of viscous black slime. In spite of her marred, filthy skin, there was a pretty smile on her lips.

"Hold on, I'll call an ambulance and get something to apply pressure, you ju-"

"No," she spoke, her voice perfectly level. "You... please, it's too late for an ambulance."

"No, it isn-"

"It is," the girl smiled a bit more softly, blinking slowly and reaching out a hand. "If you c-could... just... hold my h-hand...?" Tomoe froze, tears pricking at the backs of his eyes. Was... this how her life would end? Was he going to watch an angel die...? He didn't know whether she truly was an angel, he'd never had cause to believe in them before now... but, Tomoe found himself getting down on his knees instead of standing there and gaping like an idiot any longer, slowly grasping her hand.

"Of course, I won't leave you alone. I'm here," he murmured steadily, meeting this girl's gaze to make sure that, in every sense of the word he could, she knew she wasn't alone in her final moments.

"I'm sorry, for tricking you..." She murmured, sounding sincerely sad as heat like a small flame grew between their palms. Confused, Tomoe drew his hand back on instinct; there was a red thread between them, growing and falling to pool on the ground while still remaining anchored in their skin. With a small shimmer and a pulse of light, the thread vanished, and Tomoe gasped sharply as he felt his body combust... ripping apart... in a moment, he faded from the world entirely.

~~~

"Hey... hey, wake up..."

Tomoe opened his eyes slowly, finding the girl from before helping him to his feet. She was wearing black leggings and a flared gray hoodie... he thought it was called a bell hem? However, the top had no back, and her immense wings were folded neatly behind her shoulders... the halo, too, was still above her head.

"Listen, what the hell is going on-?" Tomoe's voice cut off at the end as he saw the... the THINGS at his sides; massive, feathery wings, far bigger than the girl's. When he looked up...

"Wait, am I DEAD?!"