[Fic] "The Transient and the Eternal: Talking over distance" -- Angel Sanctuary
I'm doing thirtyforthree for Kira Sakuya/Mudo Setsuna/Mudo Sara from Kaori Yuki's Angel Sanctuary. There will be spoilers in nearly every theme -- given the characters, it's nearly impossible to avoid them! -- and a lot of potentially objectionable content. This is because the source manga has a lot of potentially objectionable content. If incest squicks you, or you know you'll be bothered by some strange and/or negative interpretations of Judeo-Christian theology, you're probably better off not reading these stories.
With that said...
Theme: #9 - Talking over distance
Warnings: spoilers!
Note: Post-manga, set a couple months after Surprise. I decided to take the theme literally and try my hand at epistolary fiction... except writing nothing but letters is boring and trickier than it sounds, so they alternate with actual scenes.
---------------------------------------------
The Transient and the Eternal: Talking over distance
---------------------------------------------
To Lucifer and/or Kira,
Kurai said you wanted to talk. I don't want to see you now, and I don't know when I'll be okay seeing you again. You practically killed Kato with your own hands, and even if you didn't, you're still responsible for his death. You lied to me. You betrayed me. You used Sara as bait, like she was a toy instead of a person.
I know you had to kill God and fool Rosiel, but you didn't have to act like you enjoyed it so much! Even if you didn't mean all of what you said, your words still hurt.
I don't know how much of my friend was you and how much was the soul of Kira Sakuya. It would be easier if I could blame all the bad things on you and give Sakuya credit for all the good ones, but I can see my sempai in you and you in him -- and I remembered the Kira from my dream world, who wasn't possessed by Nanatsusaya and wasn't really like my friend at all -- so I can't fool myself that way anymore.
I'd like to find out who you are. I think I remember Alexiel saying you were cold as ice and you wouldn't ever listen to your feelings, but I don't think that's true. I think you changed. I want to prove her wrong.
So write me a letter and explain yourself, or just tell me what you're doing now. I'd like some warning if you're planning anything that might spill over onto earth -- I live here, you know, and the last thing I need is angels and demons fighting in Tokyo.
---Setsuna
---------------
Setsuna put the letter in a paper envelope, sealed it, and then drew on the trickle of Alexiel's power he could still tap. A faint astral ward hovered over the paper and ink, keyed to his memory of Lucifer.
"You said you couldn't do stuff like this anymore," Kurai accused when he handed her the letter.
"It depends on how badly I want something," Setsuna told her. "Anyway, I think Alexiel helped -- she's curious about him too."
Kurai wrinkled her nose. "It's weird that they knew each other so long and never said anything. It's like a tragic romance, except Lady Alexiel wasn't weepy and stupid. She was a warrior!"
"That's probably why they got along," Setsuna said dryly. "That, and hating God."
"That just shows they had good taste," Kurai said, pocketing the letter.
---------------
Setsuna,
As you implicitly noted, while you and Alexiel share a soul, you are different people. That's unusual; normal incarnations build upon each other, as your human incarnations seem to have done. A past life is not meant to remain separate as a second personality buried within the current incarnation.
Kira Sakuya's soul doubtless influenced me while I used his body, just as the sword-spirit of Nanatsusaya influenced me while I was bound to the blade. They taught me certain things. However, I made my own decisions and chose my own allies, and any emotions I felt were my own.
Make of that what you will.
At the moment, I'm not planning anything in particular. It's more interesting to watch everyone else make plans and interfere with each other. I see no reason to stop angels and demons from visiting Assiah, but I take your point about keeping the fighting out of human lands.
How is Sara?
---Lucifer
---------------
"Will you use a courier?" Belial asked as Lucifer laid down his pen. "I could give a more detailed report on the savior and his sister than either of them is likely to offer you."
Lucifer frowned, a slight tightening around his eyes. "No. I trust you with my life, my realm, and my armies, but not with this. You lack the self-control, and this is no time for tricks."
"Alas, your sense of humor is stillborn once again," Belial mourned, kicking her heels against the bookcase where she perched, slouched on top of maps and intelligence reports.
"I rest my case," Lucifer said, folding his letter and pressing a wax seal to fasten the edges. A flicker of power sent it slicing between realms to Assiah, keyed to Setsuna's astral signature. The rack of candles -- a deliberate anachronism, and the only current source of light -- danced as air rushed to fill the tiny vacuum.
"I think I'm not the only coward in this room," Belial murmured, just loud enough that Lucifer knew he was meant to overhear.
He sighed. "Belial, go sharpen your claws on someone else for the day. I'm sure Princess Kurai, for example, would be thrilled by a visit. There are some vassals I don't mind seeing at each other's throats, but you two are more useful as friends than mere allies of convenience."
Belial bared her teeth, slowly, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "My lord. Your wish is, as always, my command. I'll leave for Silence immediately." She tipped her top hat in a mockingly exaggerated gesture of respect and sank into the shadows.
Lucifer waited until he felt his butterfly rematerialize elsewhere. Then, alone in the privacy of his office, he smiled.
---------------
Lucifer,
Forget about me and Alexiel for a minute. Are you saying you chose Rosiel as an ally? Bullshit, Kira. You died. You died trying to kill him. Don't tell me it was all a twisted plan to get inside Rosiel's guard, because I'm not buying that.
Okay. Back to me and Alexiel, because I know you're curious even if you won't admit it. Yes, she's like a split personality in the back of my head. I think she's still all together because she couldn't let go. She made a promise to Rosiel and she had to make sure whichever incarnation fought him would be able to end things. I could always feel her a little, even when I didn't know anything about angels; she was just an angry voice calling for blood and vengeance.
You know all about that, of course.
I still have two of your earrings. You can track me with them, can't you. That would be just like you, you possessive bastard.
...
I think that was Alexiel, just then, at least a little. She's usually asleep now, and she isn't so angry anymore, but she pays more attention when I think about you. It's weird having an angel in my head, and it's even weirder that she's a woman. On the other hand, I think I understand Sara better now, so it probably evens out.
And I can't change it, so why worry?
Sara is fine. She says hello, and don't get a swelled head, and remember that if angels and demons get careless on earth, it could cause all sorts of trouble with religious fanatics and other whack jobs, whether or not they fight each other and break things. So maybe you should do something about that.
---Setsuna
---------------
Setsuna reread the letter and almost threw it into the trash. What was he thinking, telling such personal stuff to the man who'd betrayed him and who still hadn't apologized? Why did he slip into acting like Lucifer was Kira the minute he imagined a conversation?
"Send it," Sara said, reaching over his shoulder to rescue the crumpled paper. "It's what you're thinking. If you're ever going to rebuild your friendship, you have to be honest."
Setsuna tipped his head back, staring into Sara's eyes. "I know, but there's a limit to how much I want to tell him until I get a better feel for who he is now, and until he apologizes for the crap he pulled in heaven. I know why he did it, but he shouldn't ignore the way he hurt people."
Sara fixed her hands on her hips and scowled. "Oniichan! I know you're smarter than this. Kira never apologized for anything, so what makes you think Lucifer, the demon lord of hell, is going to do any better? He probably doesn't even realize it's bothering you, and he never will unless you tell him straight out."
Setsuna blinked. "Don't call me Oniichan. But you're right. Kira's kind of dumb that way."
"Of course I'm right," Sara huffed. She was gorgeous when she was angry. Not that she was ever not pretty, but excitement lent a sparkle to her eyes and a glow to her skin.
"Give me the letter; I have to tell him to apologize," Setsuna said, grabbing the paper from Sara's hand and smoothing it flat. "P.S. You owe me an apology. If you don't know what it's for, ask Kurai; she'll tell you."
"Oh, that's clear -- as clear as mud!" Sara grumbled, but she laid her hands on Setsuna's shoulders and he felt astral energies wash into him like a distant tide, bolstering his strength. He folded the letter, sealed it, and held it balanced on his open palms while he built a picture of Lucifer in his mind: Kira's face, slightly refined; ice-cold eyes; a small tattoo like a downward tongue of flame; dark clothes; four black wings; shadowed power, like the infinite depths of the abyss; frozen anger; fierce determination; endless, patient hunger; cool amusement...
The letter vanished in a ripple of light.
"Did it work?" Sara asked.
Setsuna shrugged. "It went somewhere -- I felt it rematerialize instead of blowing up or disintegrating forever. We'll find out how good my aim is when we get an answer, or when somebody drops by to complain."
"I think we're both crazy," Sara said. "Now let's get out of here -- we're going to be late for work, and we can't afford to get fired."
---------------
Setsuna,
When I died, I had no plans to join Rosiel. However, once death broke the seal on my memories, I decided he was my best path to reaching God. I told you that in Atziluth. Don't ascribe other motives to me.
You're adamant about keeping demons and angels out of Assiah, aren't you? I don't see why you care so much about other people's troubles, but I suppose it would save confusion to keep the war from sprawling further. I could recreate the barriers on my own, but I doubt that would go over well with the various heavenly factions. Nevertheless, they have no interest in letting my vassals spread to the material world, so I should be able to include border provisions in the treaties we're negotiating.
Kurai says I owe you apologies for dying, lying, using you and Sara as game tokens, and seeing Alexiel instead of you. I will not apologize for dying; that was my choice, and that body was nearly used up in any case. I will not apologize for lying; any lies I told served a purpose. I did not ignore you in favor of Alexiel. As for Sara, she made herself a target by drawing Metatron's affection and thus bringing herself to Sandalphon's attention. I gave you power to fight him; beyond that the situation wasn't in my hands.
I would have preferred Sandalphon to choose a different target, or for you to reach Sara before he did -- whatever you may think, I don't enjoy seeing either of you in pain -- but things happened as they happened and you both recovered. Therefore, I see no need to apologize for that either.
Whether or not I can track the earrings is irrelevant. You don't want to see me at the moment, so I won't bother you.
Kurai tells me you and Sara are living in an apartment in Tokyo under false identities. If I were you, I'd get the papers changed again in a year or two, since you and Sara will probably grow more than your current official ages would allow. Choose your names in advance next time.
Saying that you and Sara are fine isn't much of an answer.
---Lucifer
---------------
"Um, Sakuya? Hatter told me you weren't busy right now, but if that paper is important I can come back later." Kurai hung on the doorknob, leaning half in and half out of Lucifer's study. "What is it, by the way? Did the Thrones agree to a truce?"
"It's a letter to Setsuna, which is certainly more interesting than negotiations with angels, though perhaps not as important in the grand scheme of things," Lucifer said dryly as he folded and sealed the paper. "What do you want?"
Kurai scowled. "You're still writing? You're never going to get anywhere like this! I told you what you need to apologize for, so you should go apologize."
"Setsuna doesn't want to see me. I won't push that issue. And I'm not apologizing, so your rationale for a visit fails to hold water." As Kurai sputtered, Lucifer fanned a sheaf of options in his mind, considered their risks and rewards, and chose one. "If you have nothing better to do than bother me on obviously non-urgent errands, why don't you take this letter to Assiah and tell Setsuna everything you want to yell at me right now? When you get back, you can tell me how they're doing."
"Like I'd tell you anything, you jerk!" Kurai snarled, grabbing the letter from his outstretched hand.
"I'll explain why Setsuna's false name is funny."
Kurai visibly wavered... and then gave in, curiosity getting the best of her as always. "Fine. But you'd better not back out on me." She strode down the corridor with an exaggerated sniff.
Lucifer shut his door and indulged himself in a minute of laughter. Then he unearthed the Thrones' ridiculous and untenable list of pre-conditions for a truce, and bent his mind to a different order of manipulation.
---------------
Lucifer,
Kurai's right. You're a jerk.
On the other hand, I always knew you were a jerk, so it's not like I suddenly have a right to complain and act like I didn't know what I was getting into.
I give up. I can't ever stay angry at you, no matter how you screw up my life, and I can't get anywhere arguing with you long-distance. Kurai's right about that, too.
You know where we are. If you want to know how Sara and I are doing, come see for yourself.
---Setsuna
P.S. If you actually explained about Sailor Pluto, I'll kill you. I don't care if you're the demon lord of hell and most powerful angel currently alive. You will die.
---------------
Setsuna showed the letter to Sara, to make sure she had no objections to a visit.
"Why wouldn't I want to see Kira again?" she asked. "He's my friend too, and I'd rather yell at him in person instead of through a letter. It's about time you got over this."
It was a sad day, Setsuna reflected, when a man's own sister -- girlfriend -- sister -- whatever -- could make him feel like an indecisive wimp. On the other hand, it was nice to know he could depend on Sara to keep her head when he got tired or confused, and he knew she depended on him the same way, so it wasn't like he objected. It was just embarrassing.
He sent the letter.
Then he waited.
"You're sure he got it?" he asked Kurai a week later, when she dropped by on her way from Sheol to Machonon.
"I saw it on his desk just this morning, so yes, I'm sure. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get to heaven -- I'm in the middle of serious diplomatic negotiations with the First and Third divisions of the Archangels," Kurai said, bristling in aggravation. "I don't have to keep you up to date, you know!"
"Right, sorry, I'm a moron." Setsuna smacked the side of his head, gently, and clenched a mental fist in victory when Kurai giggled. "Good luck with those angels -- some of them are bastards."
"Tell me something I don't know," Kurai muttered, and mounted her dragon. It was small, as dragons went -- maybe ten meters from teeth to tail -- and colored silvery-blue so it blended in with the evening sky. People who happened to look up and see it would probably write it off as a hallucination... or keep their mouths shut since nobody else would believe them. An occasional dragon could pass safely under the public's radar.
Armies of angels and demons would be much harder to explain away. It was good that Lucifer had agreed to do something about that possibility.
"See you later, Setsuna!" Kurai shouted as the dragon launched itself from the roof, narrowly clearing several mobile phone antennas. Setsuna waved as the dragon flew over the glittering chaos of Tokyo, gathering speed, until it shifted out of normal space and into the cockeyed dimensions of heaven and hell.
He sighed.
"They're inspiring beasts, for all their impracticality," a familiar voice said from behind his shoulder. "It's easy to see why the Evils began to consider them holy."
"Humans, too," Setsuna said, not turning around. "You grew up in Japan, sempai. You know that."
"True." Lucifer walked over to the stairwell door and leaned against its concrete frame. The black jeans and leather jacket, the easy confidence of his posture, the cool amusement in his smile -- they were Kira Sakuya all over. The aura of dark power and the ghostly sensation of blood and ice complemented the picture rather than clashing.
"I missed you," Setsuna said, stuffing his hands in his pockets and hunching his shoulders. He'd had a speech ready for when Lucifer turned up, but his thoughts had traitorously run away. He couldn't remember why he'd thought seeing Lucifer would help anything.
"You're an idiot with no sense of self-preservation," Lucifer said. Setsuna's heart tried to sink and rise at the same time, caught between the meaning and the familiarity of the words. After a long moment, Lucifer shrugged. "I suppose I have a weakness for idiots. I seem to collect enough of them; one more can't hurt. And you need people looking out for you."
Setsuna let out the breath he'd been holding, and reached for the doorknob. "You never change," he said, and felt Alexiel echo the sentiment deep in the bottom of their soul. "Let's go inside -- if we don't tell Sara you're here before she starts cooking, she'll kill both of us."
In the stairwell, as he turned to lock the heavy door, he felt Lucifer's hand brush feather-light through his hair.
Setsuna swallowed the lump in his throat and smiled.
---------------------------------------------
End
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Cross-posted here on thirtyforthree.
With that said...
Theme: #9 - Talking over distance
Warnings: spoilers!
Note: Post-manga, set a couple months after Surprise. I decided to take the theme literally and try my hand at epistolary fiction... except writing nothing but letters is boring and trickier than it sounds, so they alternate with actual scenes.
---------------------------------------------
The Transient and the Eternal: Talking over distance
---------------------------------------------
To Lucifer and/or Kira,
Kurai said you wanted to talk. I don't want to see you now, and I don't know when I'll be okay seeing you again. You practically killed Kato with your own hands, and even if you didn't, you're still responsible for his death. You lied to me. You betrayed me. You used Sara as bait, like she was a toy instead of a person.
I know you had to kill God and fool Rosiel, but you didn't have to act like you enjoyed it so much! Even if you didn't mean all of what you said, your words still hurt.
I don't know how much of my friend was you and how much was the soul of Kira Sakuya. It would be easier if I could blame all the bad things on you and give Sakuya credit for all the good ones, but I can see my sempai in you and you in him -- and I remembered the Kira from my dream world, who wasn't possessed by Nanatsusaya and wasn't really like my friend at all -- so I can't fool myself that way anymore.
I'd like to find out who you are. I think I remember Alexiel saying you were cold as ice and you wouldn't ever listen to your feelings, but I don't think that's true. I think you changed. I want to prove her wrong.
So write me a letter and explain yourself, or just tell me what you're doing now. I'd like some warning if you're planning anything that might spill over onto earth -- I live here, you know, and the last thing I need is angels and demons fighting in Tokyo.
---Setsuna
---------------
Setsuna put the letter in a paper envelope, sealed it, and then drew on the trickle of Alexiel's power he could still tap. A faint astral ward hovered over the paper and ink, keyed to his memory of Lucifer.
"You said you couldn't do stuff like this anymore," Kurai accused when he handed her the letter.
"It depends on how badly I want something," Setsuna told her. "Anyway, I think Alexiel helped -- she's curious about him too."
Kurai wrinkled her nose. "It's weird that they knew each other so long and never said anything. It's like a tragic romance, except Lady Alexiel wasn't weepy and stupid. She was a warrior!"
"That's probably why they got along," Setsuna said dryly. "That, and hating God."
"That just shows they had good taste," Kurai said, pocketing the letter.
---------------
Setsuna,
As you implicitly noted, while you and Alexiel share a soul, you are different people. That's unusual; normal incarnations build upon each other, as your human incarnations seem to have done. A past life is not meant to remain separate as a second personality buried within the current incarnation.
Kira Sakuya's soul doubtless influenced me while I used his body, just as the sword-spirit of Nanatsusaya influenced me while I was bound to the blade. They taught me certain things. However, I made my own decisions and chose my own allies, and any emotions I felt were my own.
Make of that what you will.
At the moment, I'm not planning anything in particular. It's more interesting to watch everyone else make plans and interfere with each other. I see no reason to stop angels and demons from visiting Assiah, but I take your point about keeping the fighting out of human lands.
How is Sara?
---Lucifer
---------------
"Will you use a courier?" Belial asked as Lucifer laid down his pen. "I could give a more detailed report on the savior and his sister than either of them is likely to offer you."
Lucifer frowned, a slight tightening around his eyes. "No. I trust you with my life, my realm, and my armies, but not with this. You lack the self-control, and this is no time for tricks."
"Alas, your sense of humor is stillborn once again," Belial mourned, kicking her heels against the bookcase where she perched, slouched on top of maps and intelligence reports.
"I rest my case," Lucifer said, folding his letter and pressing a wax seal to fasten the edges. A flicker of power sent it slicing between realms to Assiah, keyed to Setsuna's astral signature. The rack of candles -- a deliberate anachronism, and the only current source of light -- danced as air rushed to fill the tiny vacuum.
"I think I'm not the only coward in this room," Belial murmured, just loud enough that Lucifer knew he was meant to overhear.
He sighed. "Belial, go sharpen your claws on someone else for the day. I'm sure Princess Kurai, for example, would be thrilled by a visit. There are some vassals I don't mind seeing at each other's throats, but you two are more useful as friends than mere allies of convenience."
Belial bared her teeth, slowly, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "My lord. Your wish is, as always, my command. I'll leave for Silence immediately." She tipped her top hat in a mockingly exaggerated gesture of respect and sank into the shadows.
Lucifer waited until he felt his butterfly rematerialize elsewhere. Then, alone in the privacy of his office, he smiled.
---------------
Lucifer,
Forget about me and Alexiel for a minute. Are you saying you chose Rosiel as an ally? Bullshit, Kira. You died. You died trying to kill him. Don't tell me it was all a twisted plan to get inside Rosiel's guard, because I'm not buying that.
Okay. Back to me and Alexiel, because I know you're curious even if you won't admit it. Yes, she's like a split personality in the back of my head. I think she's still all together because she couldn't let go. She made a promise to Rosiel and she had to make sure whichever incarnation fought him would be able to end things. I could always feel her a little, even when I didn't know anything about angels; she was just an angry voice calling for blood and vengeance.
You know all about that, of course.
I still have two of your earrings. You can track me with them, can't you. That would be just like you, you possessive bastard.
...
I think that was Alexiel, just then, at least a little. She's usually asleep now, and she isn't so angry anymore, but she pays more attention when I think about you. It's weird having an angel in my head, and it's even weirder that she's a woman. On the other hand, I think I understand Sara better now, so it probably evens out.
And I can't change it, so why worry?
Sara is fine. She says hello, and don't get a swelled head, and remember that if angels and demons get careless on earth, it could cause all sorts of trouble with religious fanatics and other whack jobs, whether or not they fight each other and break things. So maybe you should do something about that.
---Setsuna
---------------
Setsuna reread the letter and almost threw it into the trash. What was he thinking, telling such personal stuff to the man who'd betrayed him and who still hadn't apologized? Why did he slip into acting like Lucifer was Kira the minute he imagined a conversation?
"Send it," Sara said, reaching over his shoulder to rescue the crumpled paper. "It's what you're thinking. If you're ever going to rebuild your friendship, you have to be honest."
Setsuna tipped his head back, staring into Sara's eyes. "I know, but there's a limit to how much I want to tell him until I get a better feel for who he is now, and until he apologizes for the crap he pulled in heaven. I know why he did it, but he shouldn't ignore the way he hurt people."
Sara fixed her hands on her hips and scowled. "Oniichan! I know you're smarter than this. Kira never apologized for anything, so what makes you think Lucifer, the demon lord of hell, is going to do any better? He probably doesn't even realize it's bothering you, and he never will unless you tell him straight out."
Setsuna blinked. "Don't call me Oniichan. But you're right. Kira's kind of dumb that way."
"Of course I'm right," Sara huffed. She was gorgeous when she was angry. Not that she was ever not pretty, but excitement lent a sparkle to her eyes and a glow to her skin.
"Give me the letter; I have to tell him to apologize," Setsuna said, grabbing the paper from Sara's hand and smoothing it flat. "P.S. You owe me an apology. If you don't know what it's for, ask Kurai; she'll tell you."
"Oh, that's clear -- as clear as mud!" Sara grumbled, but she laid her hands on Setsuna's shoulders and he felt astral energies wash into him like a distant tide, bolstering his strength. He folded the letter, sealed it, and held it balanced on his open palms while he built a picture of Lucifer in his mind: Kira's face, slightly refined; ice-cold eyes; a small tattoo like a downward tongue of flame; dark clothes; four black wings; shadowed power, like the infinite depths of the abyss; frozen anger; fierce determination; endless, patient hunger; cool amusement...
The letter vanished in a ripple of light.
"Did it work?" Sara asked.
Setsuna shrugged. "It went somewhere -- I felt it rematerialize instead of blowing up or disintegrating forever. We'll find out how good my aim is when we get an answer, or when somebody drops by to complain."
"I think we're both crazy," Sara said. "Now let's get out of here -- we're going to be late for work, and we can't afford to get fired."
---------------
Setsuna,
When I died, I had no plans to join Rosiel. However, once death broke the seal on my memories, I decided he was my best path to reaching God. I told you that in Atziluth. Don't ascribe other motives to me.
You're adamant about keeping demons and angels out of Assiah, aren't you? I don't see why you care so much about other people's troubles, but I suppose it would save confusion to keep the war from sprawling further. I could recreate the barriers on my own, but I doubt that would go over well with the various heavenly factions. Nevertheless, they have no interest in letting my vassals spread to the material world, so I should be able to include border provisions in the treaties we're negotiating.
Kurai says I owe you apologies for dying, lying, using you and Sara as game tokens, and seeing Alexiel instead of you. I will not apologize for dying; that was my choice, and that body was nearly used up in any case. I will not apologize for lying; any lies I told served a purpose. I did not ignore you in favor of Alexiel. As for Sara, she made herself a target by drawing Metatron's affection and thus bringing herself to Sandalphon's attention. I gave you power to fight him; beyond that the situation wasn't in my hands.
I would have preferred Sandalphon to choose a different target, or for you to reach Sara before he did -- whatever you may think, I don't enjoy seeing either of you in pain -- but things happened as they happened and you both recovered. Therefore, I see no need to apologize for that either.
Whether or not I can track the earrings is irrelevant. You don't want to see me at the moment, so I won't bother you.
Kurai tells me you and Sara are living in an apartment in Tokyo under false identities. If I were you, I'd get the papers changed again in a year or two, since you and Sara will probably grow more than your current official ages would allow. Choose your names in advance next time.
Saying that you and Sara are fine isn't much of an answer.
---Lucifer
---------------
"Um, Sakuya? Hatter told me you weren't busy right now, but if that paper is important I can come back later." Kurai hung on the doorknob, leaning half in and half out of Lucifer's study. "What is it, by the way? Did the Thrones agree to a truce?"
"It's a letter to Setsuna, which is certainly more interesting than negotiations with angels, though perhaps not as important in the grand scheme of things," Lucifer said dryly as he folded and sealed the paper. "What do you want?"
Kurai scowled. "You're still writing? You're never going to get anywhere like this! I told you what you need to apologize for, so you should go apologize."
"Setsuna doesn't want to see me. I won't push that issue. And I'm not apologizing, so your rationale for a visit fails to hold water." As Kurai sputtered, Lucifer fanned a sheaf of options in his mind, considered their risks and rewards, and chose one. "If you have nothing better to do than bother me on obviously non-urgent errands, why don't you take this letter to Assiah and tell Setsuna everything you want to yell at me right now? When you get back, you can tell me how they're doing."
"Like I'd tell you anything, you jerk!" Kurai snarled, grabbing the letter from his outstretched hand.
"I'll explain why Setsuna's false name is funny."
Kurai visibly wavered... and then gave in, curiosity getting the best of her as always. "Fine. But you'd better not back out on me." She strode down the corridor with an exaggerated sniff.
Lucifer shut his door and indulged himself in a minute of laughter. Then he unearthed the Thrones' ridiculous and untenable list of pre-conditions for a truce, and bent his mind to a different order of manipulation.
---------------
Lucifer,
Kurai's right. You're a jerk.
On the other hand, I always knew you were a jerk, so it's not like I suddenly have a right to complain and act like I didn't know what I was getting into.
I give up. I can't ever stay angry at you, no matter how you screw up my life, and I can't get anywhere arguing with you long-distance. Kurai's right about that, too.
You know where we are. If you want to know how Sara and I are doing, come see for yourself.
---Setsuna
P.S. If you actually explained about Sailor Pluto, I'll kill you. I don't care if you're the demon lord of hell and most powerful angel currently alive. You will die.
---------------
Setsuna showed the letter to Sara, to make sure she had no objections to a visit.
"Why wouldn't I want to see Kira again?" she asked. "He's my friend too, and I'd rather yell at him in person instead of through a letter. It's about time you got over this."
It was a sad day, Setsuna reflected, when a man's own sister -- girlfriend -- sister -- whatever -- could make him feel like an indecisive wimp. On the other hand, it was nice to know he could depend on Sara to keep her head when he got tired or confused, and he knew she depended on him the same way, so it wasn't like he objected. It was just embarrassing.
He sent the letter.
Then he waited.
"You're sure he got it?" he asked Kurai a week later, when she dropped by on her way from Sheol to Machonon.
"I saw it on his desk just this morning, so yes, I'm sure. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get to heaven -- I'm in the middle of serious diplomatic negotiations with the First and Third divisions of the Archangels," Kurai said, bristling in aggravation. "I don't have to keep you up to date, you know!"
"Right, sorry, I'm a moron." Setsuna smacked the side of his head, gently, and clenched a mental fist in victory when Kurai giggled. "Good luck with those angels -- some of them are bastards."
"Tell me something I don't know," Kurai muttered, and mounted her dragon. It was small, as dragons went -- maybe ten meters from teeth to tail -- and colored silvery-blue so it blended in with the evening sky. People who happened to look up and see it would probably write it off as a hallucination... or keep their mouths shut since nobody else would believe them. An occasional dragon could pass safely under the public's radar.
Armies of angels and demons would be much harder to explain away. It was good that Lucifer had agreed to do something about that possibility.
"See you later, Setsuna!" Kurai shouted as the dragon launched itself from the roof, narrowly clearing several mobile phone antennas. Setsuna waved as the dragon flew over the glittering chaos of Tokyo, gathering speed, until it shifted out of normal space and into the cockeyed dimensions of heaven and hell.
He sighed.
"They're inspiring beasts, for all their impracticality," a familiar voice said from behind his shoulder. "It's easy to see why the Evils began to consider them holy."
"Humans, too," Setsuna said, not turning around. "You grew up in Japan, sempai. You know that."
"True." Lucifer walked over to the stairwell door and leaned against its concrete frame. The black jeans and leather jacket, the easy confidence of his posture, the cool amusement in his smile -- they were Kira Sakuya all over. The aura of dark power and the ghostly sensation of blood and ice complemented the picture rather than clashing.
"I missed you," Setsuna said, stuffing his hands in his pockets and hunching his shoulders. He'd had a speech ready for when Lucifer turned up, but his thoughts had traitorously run away. He couldn't remember why he'd thought seeing Lucifer would help anything.
"You're an idiot with no sense of self-preservation," Lucifer said. Setsuna's heart tried to sink and rise at the same time, caught between the meaning and the familiarity of the words. After a long moment, Lucifer shrugged. "I suppose I have a weakness for idiots. I seem to collect enough of them; one more can't hurt. And you need people looking out for you."
Setsuna let out the breath he'd been holding, and reached for the doorknob. "You never change," he said, and felt Alexiel echo the sentiment deep in the bottom of their soul. "Let's go inside -- if we don't tell Sara you're here before she starts cooking, she'll kill both of us."
In the stairwell, as he turned to lock the heavy door, he felt Lucifer's hand brush feather-light through his hair.
Setsuna swallowed the lump in his throat and smiled.
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End
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Cross-posted here on thirtyforthree.