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A desolate sigh escaped the lips of a young teenager as he watched bountiful streams of people walk across one another on the street.
Akito Shinonome, student of Kamiyama High, group member of Vivid Bad Squad, and an incredibly discontent demon was people watching in an attempt to satisfy a fraction of monotony in his life.
Alas, no matter how much he gazed amongst the crowd of people, nothing could possibly amuse him in the slightest.
Having enough of people watching, Akito took out his music player, plugged in his headphones, shoved his hands in his pockets, and slowly began his solemn trek home.
…
Being a demon wasn’t as difficult as it sounded, in fact, it was much more of a pain than anything. He wasn’t given any divine commands or anything, just useless horns that had a tendency to poke things and black scale-like wings that he had to begrudgingly cover daily in order to hide his demonic identity.
He had the ability to cover his infernal traits with a chant, but it would never erase the fact that he was an abomination.
Akito never knew how he became like this, but never questioned it. After all, why would he want to people to know about his atrocious horns and wings?
With a groan the boy rolled over on his side and slowly closed his eyes. Allowing sleep to overcome him, the boy loathed and yet hopelessly awaited for tomorrow to arrive.
…
However, the boredom that plagued Akito would soon come to an abrupt conclusion after a conversation with Toya.
Tsukasa Tenma, or as Akito liked to call him, the oddball, had waltzed into his life. Blonde hair, golden eyes, fair skin, and most importantly, an obnoxiously laudable personality made the boy a prime subject for Akito’s teasing.
Tormenting the upperclassman brought a new found pleasure to the young man’s life. There was never an uninteresting moment when dealing with the other man, his reactions never dulled over time and his fears were always so simple to exploit. The blonde always believed the younger man’s simple tricks and yet always came running back; it became an endless cycle Akito gleefully indulged in.
Akito did have to admit, dealing with the man was infuriating at times, but Akito had found himself attached to the notion of breaking apart Tsukasa’s delusional facade. To glimpse into the boy’s inner self, to see the upperclassman wilt just for a slight moment, it truly gave Akito an addicting sense of pleasure that only producing music could compare to.
Although, Akito occasionally found himself lingering to the other boy far more than he would’ve liked. Being with the other man made Akito feel as if, he wasn’t just a demon, and that he didn’t have these terrifying and disgusting horns or wretched wings that he loathed to see every waking moment.
Ignoring his new thoughts, Akito began walking faster to WEEKEND GARAGE. He couldn’t actually be possibly enjoying Tsukasa’s company. The blonde was only a source of entertainment for him; something that would abandon him after he’s found his fill.
…
Today, Tsukasa didn’t come to class.
The day after, Tsukasa still didn’t come to class.
For the whole week, Tsukasa didn’t come to class.
At first, Akito didn’t think too much about his disappearance. Perhaps he was sick? But slowly, his thoughts began to circulate more and more about the other boy. Why was he obsessing so much over this irritating oddball?
He shouldn’t care about him, yet his thoughts continuously betrayed his beliefs.
“Akito? Are you alright?” A voice to his side reached out to him, causing the orange haired man to snap out of his thoughts.
“Hm? Oh sorry Toya I was just spacing out that’s all.”
Perhaps, Toya would know what happened to Tsukasa? Against his better judgment, Akito turned to Toya.
“Hey Toya, is there something wrong with Tsukasa-senpai?”
“There can be nothing possibly wrong with Tsukasa-senpai Akito.” The blue haired boy responded back with blatant admiration painted over his eyes.
“I meant about him not coming to class this whole week.” Akito replied back with an eye roll.
Seriously, just how much did Toya idolize Tsukasa?
“Oh. Apparently he’s sick according to his little sister. I’ve been meaning to visit him, but every time I message him, he reassures me that he’s alright. Honestly, I’m still contemplating on checking up on him but I can’t just dismiss his messages…”
Akito sensing a prime opportunity to tease a sickly Tsukasa quickly changed his demeanor.
“Why don’t we just visit him then Toya? I’m sure he would appreciate your company. In fact, why don’t I come along too? I’m sure he would be absolutely overjoyed with the both of us arriving.” Akito said with a sickly sweet tone and matching smile.
“You’re right Akito. I have to make sure he’s alright with my own eyes! Let me message Saki to tell her we’re coming.”
“No problem at all partner.”
Unbeknownst to the blue haired man, Akito was not smirking solely at the thought of having the opportunity to see Tsukasa, but also at the opportunity of seeing his upperclassman in such a vulnerable state.
…
A blonde haired girl with twin tails cheerfully opened the door to allow the two boys in.
“Ah! It’s so good to see you again Toya! Oh and you must be Akito, it’s nice to meet you! My name is Tenma Saki, but you can just call me Saki though!”
“Ah, it’s a pleasure to meet you as well.”
“I’d really love to welcome you two in but I actually have to go on a super quick errand! I’m so sorry but would you mind waiting in the living room for a bit? I promise it won’t take too long!”
“Allow me to go with you then.” Toya added much to Akito’s surprise.
“I should probably go with you too then.” Akito added out of politeness, he couldn’t imagine tolerating being alone in Tsukasa’s house for very long.
“That’s alright, me and Toya should be able to handle this very quickly! Trust me, we’ll be back soon!” The younger Tenma replied back as she rushed towards the door with Toya in tow.
Suddenly by his lonesome, and without much to do, Akito promptly wandered around the living room of the house. Many belongings were commonplace, but one object caught his eye. The piano that stood menacingly within the room, beckoning for one to admire it.
As Akito walked towards the large instrument, his mind began to ponder about Tsukasa. He wondered if the boy was good at piano? Did he practice with his little sister often? Did he play with Toya back then? Did his delicate finger still touch the-
Akito flushed at the thought that penetrated his mind. There was no way he would think of Tsukasa like that! He was insufferable and annoying, not endearing!
Unable to face the piano anymore, Akito quickly sat himself down in the living room couch and waited for Toya and Saki to return.
“AAAAAAAH”
Suddenly startled by the loud and far too familiar sound, Akito ran straight towards the source of the noise.
“Are you alright Tsukasa-senpai!?” The orange headed teen yelled out of concern as he approached the door separating him and the senior.
“A-Akito?? I-I’m alright, I was just- AAAH”
Uncaring of Tsukasa’s privacy out of concern for his security, Akito forcefully opened the door that separated the two men.
He witnessed a sight that was in every way indescribable, yet utterly mesmerized him entirely. Tsukasa was cowering in terror from a minuscule spider that had invaded his room. However, what Akito noticed most of all, was the serene yet breathtaking wings that covered the boy and the luminescent halo floating above his soft, blonde hair.
It was chaotic divinity; feathers fluttered around the boy and Tsukasa was screaming for his dear life, but Akito could only stare in awe at the other man’s unbridled radiance. The delicate and pure white wings that sheltered the blonde man, the ephemeral glow of his halo, his adorable expression of genuine terror, and his angelic yet exasperating voice permeating the room, it all blended in harmony to create a mural of irresistible fairness. Nothing he had ever seen or heard could even come close to the visage he peered upon, not even RAD WEEKEND could even come close to the resplendent beauty of Tsukasa Tenma at this very moment.
He was the pinnacle of everything Akito Shinonome could never be.
Instantaneously, another emotion welled within Akito. An agony so painfully bitter, hatred terribly foul, and a vile misery that corrupted his whole being.
Why had Tsukasa been given such benevolent blessings and he had been given such rotten curses? Why did Tsukasa have pale and fluffy wings when Akito was granted ebony and scaly wings? Why did Tsukasa have a radiant halo while Akito had accursed horns that bore into his head, reminding him daily of his accursed self.
Why?
Why did the world have to give Akito such detriments when a man like Tsukasa was allowed to shine so bright like the star he was?
“A-Akito?” The other boy muttered weakly as he stared brazenly at him, now uncaring of the spider that intruded earlier.
Akito said nothing, he had nothing to say. No words could compile within his throat, the resentful anguish he carried for so long had washed over him entirely. He was done; the world had brought upon it’s blessing and curses for him to ruthlessly stare upon.
“W-wait, please, wait!”
“WHAT!” Akito lashed out with ire permeating his voice and an emptiness now depicted within his eyes.
“S-stay with me, please Akito.” The blonde whimpered, tears now evident on his eyes.
Akito so desperately wanted to leave, to forget the radiance he saw and to welcome back the dullness and misery that defiled his life for so long. But instead he stood still, and slowly walked to Tsukasa, refusing to face the man.
After a moment of tense silence, Akito mustered the willpower to look at the other and glanced at Tsukasa once more. He was so much more beautiful close up that it pained Akito to continue to gaze upon the other, but he relented nonetheless. Perfection graced his vision, and he wanted nothing more but to cherish this ephemeral light within his hands for all eternity.
But he also wanted to taint this light that had blessed his sight, to paint it over with all the putrid feelings that he had the displeasure of living with for all his life. He wanted Tsukasa to feel the exact same misery as he had.
“I-I’m scared Akito, I don’t know what’s happening to me. I woke up like this one day and now, I can’t even stand to be seen. I’m so terrified of being left alone again. P-please don’t leave me.” Tsukasa whispered with fear evident within his eyes and body language. The blonde cowered as he clung onto the other man, scared of the notion of even parting from the other.
The younger man could only reply in resentful silence, there were no words to utter for the other man. With a silent incantation, Akito revealed his infernal traits to the other.
Tsukasa first looked upon the other with surprise, but slowly softened. With a delicate shift of his hands, he carefully grazed his hands over Akito’s wings and horns. The younger man disdainfully defied the urge to lean into the other boy’s touch, he spited the other so much yet desperately craved every ounce of his attention.
Akito solemnly allowed the other man to examine his demonic qualities, to allow the other man to see the filth and depravity that he had lived with and hidden every second of his life.
Perhaps this was the salvation he sought out this whole time; to purge him of all his horrendous feelings and to be labeled as the error he meant to be.
“Akito… you’re beautiful.” The blonde could mutter, completely entranced with the man in front of him.
Unable to contain himself anymore, Akito let out a hoarse and dry sob.
Beautiful? The cruel irony of being told he was beautiful from an angel himself! He could only bitterly laugh at the other man’s unusual antics.
He hated everything about Tsukasa, and yet loved every single thing about him as well.
He hated that Tsukasa would be the only person to ever truly understand him, but he desperately yearned for Tsukasa to be the only person to ever understand him.
He loathed having the dark wings and horns that adorned his body, yet loved the angelic features that Tsukasa carried on himself.
Akito abhorred every second of being alive in this dreadful and obsolete world, but relished every second he spent with the upperclassman.
Most of all, he despised the infatuation he carried for the older man. A love so intoxicating that he couldn’t help but want more of the other.
Curses and blessings?
He couldn’t bring him to care about those anymore. Instead, he stared at the boy who now shared the same cruel fate as him.
He grasped the other man’s hand and stared deep within the golden eyes that bored deeply into his olive eyes.
With a cynical smile, he promised himself that he would continue to endure all the suffering and madness that the world had for him just to be with Tsukasa.
Abandonment? Akito could only laugh at this idea now. No, Tsukasa and him were bound together now, not by fate, but by the malice and desire the younger man held for him.
With a gentle caress, Akito placed his lips upon Tsukasa’s, finally embracing the longing madness he’s harbored all this time for the other man.
Tsukasa could only submit to the other man’s instantaneous action; accepting all the insanity and absurdity of the moment to cherish this lone embrace from Akito.
Whether in the furthest pits of purgatory or the highest chambers of nirvana, the angel and devil locked upon one another with eternity written in their eyes and sin intertwined in their lips.