Chapter Text
If his memories serve him right, it all happened sometime in December. Well, it’s not like it mattered since time for him was quite irrelevant to begin with .
"This sure never gets old," he thought. Flying over the city, he let out a soft sigh as the beautiful view of the sunset unfolds before his eyes. He was able to land perfectly on top of his favorite spot, and sat down as he admired the overlooking view. At the top of that building, he began to wait now that the day has finally come to an end. He then brought out the stuff he bought from the convenience store nearby and grabbed his favorite strawberry milk drink. As he took a sip a certain memory flowed in his mind. It was the time he first arrived in this world, and it felt as if it all happened yesterday.
Kuzuha and his family arrived in this world in the middle of the night. The sky was pitch black but what caught his eyes were the little lights shining brightly in the sky. Maybe it's because he was so used to seeing the unchanging red sky of the Underworld that everything his eyes laid upon were extremely beautiful.
He couldn't help but get distracted as he kept seeing one thing and another. His eyes then drifted towards this huge building. It was drawing his attention for a certain reason. He took a glance at his family who were diligently flying to their destination. And slowly, he began to reduce his speed and decided to stray away from them, just to check that place out for a little bit. When he gained enough distance, he immediately flew down towards that building.
Clank, the sound resounded as he landed on top of the railings. The cold wind brushed his pale skin as he stood there astounded by the view. It was truly a sight to behold. The city lights, the headlights of the cars from a distance, the lights that brighten each home, he didn’t know that the lights from above can be also found below.
Everything about this world is so bright, it’s blinding. “Is this what the heavens look like?” he thought.
As the white fluff began falling from the sky, he sat down on the railing. He began to dig up his memory since he knew that somewhere in his head he could find an explanation to what he’s feeling. It was then he remembered the word his father taught him, that human emotion, ‘fascination’ . According to him, it was the name of the feeling he felt when he first met humans and he was hoping that someday he would also feel it. Touching his chest, he began to wonder if that was what he’s feeling at that moment.
“You look cold.”
He turned his head towards the person who was standing beside him. Even though he didn’t look hostile, his instincts were telling him to be on guard. As he continued to look at the beautiful view before him, he let out a sigh. He couldn't help but feel tense by this sudden interaction since he wasn’t able to feel his presence when he arrived.
“I don’t feel cold,” he muttered, looking at the snowflake that fell on his palm.
Though he saw that the snowflake didn't melt on his hand, he still said, “What a weird human.” He took a glance at him. He, who had a fake smile plastered on his pretty face, sat beside him.
"Isn’t it obvious that I am not a human, angel?”
Chills ran down his spine when the angel's expression changed. It was quite obvious that he was ticked about him learning his identity. Though it was no use hiding it from him, he just found it unusual that he could feel malice towards a being like him.
“Why are you here?” the angel intimidatingly asked.
The angel’s sudden change of attitude made him utterly confused. He was acting as if he did something bad or that he was up to no good even though he just arrived in this world a while ago. So he did his best to show how harmless he was by sincerely saying, “To look at the view.”
The angel stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter after hearing his answer, it’s just that he couldn’t believe that the entity the heavens labeled as a temporary threat would answer him honestly.
"Is this guy okay?" he thought, wondering if he is all right.
“Ah, how interesting.” Wiping the tears that formed on his eyes, he then asked, "What’s your name?”
“Kuzuha," he said under his breath. He wasn't used to saying that name yet. It was the name his father gave to him in order to keep their identities safe.
“I’m Kanae,” he said with all smiles. He extended his hand towards Kuzuha who was hesitant to grab his hand. Either way, he shook it to show him courtesy.
“Let’s have a small chat, shall we? Probably until the snow covers the entire city.” Kanae said as he looked at Kuzuha who was hoping for him to get a clue and leave. But it seems like he couldn’t read the atmosphere so he just let him be since having company doesn’t sound that bad.
“So this thing is called snow,” he said, looking at his palm once again.
“Don’t tell me you haven’t seen snow before?” Kanae asked.
Kuzuha moved his head from left to right, “I just arrived in this world so everything I see here is new to me.”
Kanae’s eyes widened as he said, “Eh? You just arrived here?"
Kuzuha just nodded. Kanae sighed as he presumed he’s been in this world for a long time and has been in hiding to finally execute his plan. It seems like he’s reading too much manga that he thought he would do something bad. He felt bad for judging him too quickly. He couldn’t blame himself as well since his presence even alarmed the angels that were looking after this district.
"So, what brings you here?” Kanae asked, now curious of the reason as to why Kuzuha was in this world.
Kuzuha then replied, “To learn how to live with humans.”
Kanae was amused as he didn’t expect that answer from him. He then thought of a plan. It’s different from his original assignment so he tried to justify his decision by telling himself that it’s part of his job as an angel. But in reality, he’s doing this on his own accord since he wanted to know more about this guy who is sitting beside him. In his time observing this world, this was the first time he found someone this interesting.
“How about I teach you a thing or two about humans?” Kanae kindly offered.
“I’m fine," Kuzuha immediately declined. "I can learn on my own.”
“Well, just so you know I was sent here to watch over humans. I can assure you that I can tell you more than what you need to know,” Kanae insisted.
It was a tempting offer since he didn’t know anyone. And it will be hard for him to know a human since he doesn't know a single thing about them. He was quite sure his father also didn’t know a lot. So, learning from someone who studies it first hand would benefit him. That was Kuzuha's train of thought as he reconsiders Kanae's offer.
He was on the fence since he didn't actually want to get involved with this angel. Even though he is a being from the heavens, something about him was unsettling and for some reasons that made him more curious about him. Since he had nothing to lose and he was hitting two birds with one stone, he agreed to his offer.
And that's the tale of how they first met, the 'person' he won’t ever forget.
xxxx
As time passed by, the two distance between the two became closer. They can be seen as a weird combination but they can’t help it since they are drawn to each other for a certain reason. Kuzuha enjoys Kanae’s company even though he didn’t want to admit it at first. Then he slowly began to realize that Kanae became a special existence to him.
They usually spend their time together roaming around, flying from one building to another, and sharing stories about their daily life in this city. Although learning about humans was Kuzuha’s agenda, it slowly became more about Kanae. It’s because he never stopped talking about himself and his work as an apprentice angel in this world that he's learning more about him instead.
Kuzuha continued to drink his drink as he continued to reminisce about those precious times when Kanae suddenly popped out of nowhere and said, “Ku-chan! Didn't I tell you that it's dangerous to sit on the railings?"
“Didn’t I tell you to stop calling me that?” he said as he glared at him.
Kanae just laughed at him. Kuzuha thought that he forgot about their rendezvous that day. He couldn’t believe that it’s been a year since he arrived in this world. He didn’t have a concept of time back then. Time flows in this world differently that he became aware of it unlike the place where he came from where it remains stagnant.
The snow then began falling like how they first met. The two were sitting on the railings which is their usual spot when they meet up.
“By the way, did you know there will be a meteor shower tonight?”
Kanae sounded so excited as he looked at the sky. It was as if he never saw something like that before, well, the same goes for him. “It’s just falling rocks from the sky. Was it something to be excited about?” Kuzuha thought.
“They talked about it earlier in the news, what was it called again?” Kuzuha replied as he tried to recall what it was called.
“Geminids," Kanae answered as he smiled. He then stretched his arm towards the sky and let out a soft sigh.
Kuzuha's eyes were on Kanae. For a certain reason he can’t look away from him since he had this feeling that something wasn’t right. Kanae let out a chuckle as he watch his expression change when he said, “I’m being punished.”
He clearly looked upset. “Again?” he angrily responded. “For what? For spending time with me like the usual? Haven’t I made it clear that I am a vampire? That we are not harmful beings?”
“I know,” Kanae muttered. “It’s just that the higher ups don’t see you that way.”
Kuzuha sighed and said, “So, what punishment are they giving you this time?”
Kanae grinned as he caught Kuzuha off guard when he suddenly grabbed his hand. The confused expression on his face was enough to make him laugh out loud. To Kanae, Kuzuha was just an interesting fellow. He never mentioned it to him but it was funny how he just fell through his plan since his job was to watch over Kuzuha and put an end to his life if he was up to something evil. But as he learned more about him, his feelings started to change.
As Kanae intertwined his fingers with his, he sweetly smiled. He looked Kuzuha in the eyes as he said, “This is my last day as an angel. I can no longer ascend because I will become a human.”
“Huh?”
“Won’t that be nice since I’ll be an object of your affection from now on. You love humans, right?”
Confusion continued to take over Kuzuha as Kanae kept on saying one thing and another. “Kanae, what are you saying? I can’t follow.”
When Kanae then noticed the bright things falling from the sky, he stood up from the railings they were sitting on and pulled Kuzuha along with him. As they fell down from the building like the beautiful meteor shower that caught their eyes, he slowly wrapped his arms around him. Kuzuha, who still can’t follow their current situation, opened his wings in order to reduce the velocity of their fall.
“What the hell are you doing?” he angrily said as he put his arms around him.
He then noticed that Kanae’s embrace became tighter. He doesn’t want to say it but what he’s doing feels ominous. He didn’t like it.
Kanae then whispered to his ear, “Hey, Kuzuha, do you believe in destiny?”
“No. I don’t,” he coldly replied. He never believed in such things since he never had an encounter to make him experience it. And for some reasons, he doesn't want to know about it.
Kanae pulled away from the hug and smiled when he saw the sad expression on Kuzuha’s face. “Too bad. Because I do,” he muttered.
“Kuzuha, fate was the reason why I met you...” He held Kuzuha’s hand as they stayed afloat in the skyline. As he firmly grasped their intertwined hands he continued, “... and destiny is the reason why I have to leave you.”
With a beautiful smile plastered on his face, he slowly let go of his hand. And as he drifted away from Kuzuha who tried to reach for his hand, Kanae spread his wings and was enveloped by a golden light. It was so bright that he looked like a star that fell from the sky. The light slowly subsided as he turn into golden specks of dust.
Seeing that it would take time before he completely disappears, Kanae opened his arms as if he was asking for a hug. With the little time that they have, Kuzuha immediately flew towards him. He wrapped his arms around Kanae whose body he could no longer feel. As he closed his eyes hoping that this is nothing but a dream, Kanae whispered to his ears which made him snapped back to the reality he was in. The words he left him served as a promise that he will keep for a lifetime.
As Kanae moved away from his embrace, he watched him slowly slip away from his fingers. With a smile he said his final words, “Until we meet again, Al-”
And just like that the angel he knew for a short period of time was gone from his sight, until who knows when.
Kuzuha doesn't even know where to begin as he kept himself afloat in the middle of the skyline. Everything happened so fast that he barely had the time to process what just happened. He couldn't believe that the day of their first meeting would become their last as well.
As the meteor shower continued to fall from the sky, the snow slowly began to cover the whole city. Kuzuha brought his clenched hand to his chest before letting go of the final speck of dust that he kept inside his hand.
As he slowly opened his hand, Kanae's final words resounded inside his head. He watched the golden speck of dust slowly get blown by the winter wind like the tears that were falling down from his eyes. When it was no longer in his line of sight, he then began to look around as he gave his favorite scenery one final look, ingraining how beautiful it looked inside his mind.
“It’s so unfair.” Kuzuha then closed his eyes. “I was not ready to say goodbye.”
And then, everything faded to black.