Falling in Lust
Part 17

Okay, so I apologize AGAIN For the long ass delay on this chapter. After technical difficulties with my computer crashing and whatnot, I was constantly trying to get my files back. Luckily I managed to get 45% of my stuff back (mostly the important stuff) Though most of my music is gone, so I'm rather irked about that.

Though I got most of them from Ruckus Music since I'm a college student (THANK YOU PALUTENA!) So I'm not too heart broken about that. I think the only thing I truly miss is my rp stuff...

So with that being said, this is a 17 page long chapter for chapter 17...yay!...

I promise I'll get chapter 18 done faster...

...

And this time I won't destroy my computer.

He couldn't breathe the oxygen he needed, there was so much smoke from the forest fire. He could hear his soldiers call his name, but he couldn't find the energy or the ability to respond. The pain was becoming too great, the wound was too deep. He soon came to the realization that made his blood run cold.

He was going to die here.

He rolled on his side, shutting his eyes and tried to pretend he wasn't dying...he wasn't screaming for air, that he wasn't in pain. His men were safe, that’s all he cared about. As long as they were there they could still have a chance in protecting the city. Dying didn't seem so bad...even though he only lived 25 years...it didn't seem so bad at all....

“Hey! Are you alright?!"

He heard a voice...a voice he couldn't recognize; since he had his eyes closed he couldn't find the energy to bring them open. In fact he didn't want to open them again.

'Just let me die' he thought.

"Wake up! You're going to die here in this fire if you don't move!"

He still didn't bother to open his eyes, what's the point? He was injured; the wound was too deep into his body...he knew they didn't have the medical aid to save him.

'Please...save yourself...don't bother with me...'

"I'm going to help you up..."

He felt two small hands roll him onto his back, somehow with miraculous ease, he was lifted to his feet, his body screamed to be put down on the ground again, but the other resisted, slowly pulling him in some direction he wasn't sure of, but he could tell that the scent of the burning smoke was becoming faint, his head wasn't spinning as much, but he still felt weak.

Soon he managed to open his eyes for a second once he felt the other stop, glancing at the one who risked his neck to save him when he could've just saved himself, staring into sapphire eyes and seeing dark black wings.

He forced a chuckle, feeling blood trickle from the corner of his lips before closing is eyes....

How ironic…

He was saved by the angel of death...

“Again!”

“Five of swords!”

Yami glanced above him, seeing the shining blades fly down his direction he dodged the first three, frantically glancing around for the other two. Upon hearing a whizzing noise behind him he ducked down and rolled away, the two remaining blades slamming tip first into the ground.

Pit was exhausted, he thought he knew when his body was tired…but he felt like he ran the marathon countless times in a row without rest. He wobbled slightly before collapsing to the ground on his knees. His tarot cards reacted to his fall and fluttered down around him.

“Whew….” Yami straightened up to a sitting position. “Good…I think you’re getting the hang of the minor arcena…Sooner or later tomorrow I’ll give you a little touch basis on major and combos.”

“There’s more to this?” Pit breathed inwardly, but his lungs were on fire so he settled in taking short small breaths.

“Yep…All you have to do is make sure that you’re not using up your soul energy as quickly as you did today,” Yami explained, resting his arm on a propped up knee. “We’ll most likely be fighting in Purgatory...then hell…you need to keep your soul energy up and preserve it more. If you don’t, you’ll cross the afterlife faster than a Centurion can fly.”

Pit looked at Yami, seeing the other was panting a little, but he was almost in full energy compared to him. He shakily tried to stand up, but fell back over again, wincing lightly.

“Take a breather, Pit…this is your first time with tarot anyway…” Yami said with a chuckle.

“Because in the real thing, you won’t be able to take a breather.”

Yami looked over his shoulder, seeing Ryker and Link walk towards them. The black angel scowled angrily. “I thought I told you to stay out of this?”

“I’m merely stating a fact, little raven…not giving unneeded advice,” Ryker replied calmly. “The cherub is fine on his own from the looks of it.”

Pit felt like the white haired male was ignoring his existence. He had a feeling there was more to why Ryker acted this way around him while he treated Link and Yami with respect.

“Well we’re done anyway…” Yami stood up and reached out for Pit’s hand. The white angel stared at the hand before gratefully taking it, feeling Yami easily bring him to his feet.

“Then shall we head back to this said Smash Mansion for tonight?” Ryker asked with his hands behind his back. “I’ve heard the entertainment there is smashing good.”

“Put a sock in it, Ryker.” Yami rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t help but crack a smile. He glanced at Link and Pit who seemed to be lagging behind. “You guys coming?”

“We’ll catch up in a bit,” Link replied.

The dark angel wasn’t so sure, but he followed Ryker towards the mansion. Yami and Ryker walked in an awkward silence, though the fact that Ryker of all people was staying silent irked Yami to no end. It either meant that he was thinking of something or he was hiding something from him.

“Ryker?” Yami finally said.

“Yes? I thought you told me to put a sock in it,” Was the witty reply.

Yami resisted the urge to roll his eyes. ‘Typical Ryker…’

Link and Pit watched the two walk side by side up the hill towards smash Mansion. Pit wasn’t sure why Link said they were going to stay behind for a bit. He walked a little closer to the blonde, tilting his head slightly to Link’s direction. “Link?”

“They look like us…” Link stated distractedly.

“Huh?”

“Only darker…” Link said with the same tone, his eyes half lidded.

“Link…”

“I’m nervous about this…are you absolutely sure that Yami is what he says he is?”

“…” Pit couldn’t help but wonder a little himself. Was Yami really all that he is telling he is? He hid so much from him…he knew Yami had his reasons but…

Link felt like he wasn’t going to get an answer so he continued. “…I feel like there’s a connection between Ryker and I…”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s...hard to explain…he knows everything about me…I didn’t even tell him much about me…” Link replied. “He said it had something to do with being an Aurist…but I think there’s more to that….”

‘More to that?’ Pit thought to himself as he looked from Ryker’s figure walking from eye sight to Link. Now that he really focused on the both of them…

“Never mind Pit, it’s probably my imagination.” Link looked at Pit finally with a signature grin on his face, “Come on…I don’t think they’ll let Yami or Ryker in without us…so let’s go.”

Pit didn’t have time to argue since Link was already walking away. He couldn’t help but think that Link was trying to warn him of something…but not even the blond himself knew what to say or how to say it. He sulked slightly, looking at the tarot in his hands, he glanced at his shoulder, seeing a transparent hand on his shoulder, following the arm up, he saw the spirit of Judgment standing next to him, smiling softly.

‘Keep your head up, Master…’

Pit returned the soft smile before running after Link. “Link wait up!”

Link turned his head, stopping to wait for Pit to catch up, seeing the brunette a little more chipper. “Pit?”

“I’m sorry about earlier…I…I know you’re worried about Ike and I…”

“Why this all of a sudden?” Link asked quietly.

“What you said had me thinking…” Pit replied.

“Oh…uh…” Link was a little startled, but he couldn’t help but smile for real this time. “I’m fine…I’m just worried about Yami doing something to you that you can’t undo…”

Link had a definite point. Pit looked at himself and the new clothes he was wearing. He felt okay…it wasn’t like he was doing this against his own will…

“I’ll be careful…for everyone’s sake…”

“Pit…” Link approached Pit and placed a hand on his shoulder, just like the spirit of Judgment did earlier, his eyes softening as they walked together towards the other two. “Again if something happens, I’ll do all I can to help…

‘Because what I’m more worried about is you not worrying about yourself while you’re worrying about everyone else,’ Link thought inwardly as he took one last glance at the angel.

When Link and Pit caught up with Yami and Ryker at the entrance of Smash Mansion, Ryker was observing the said mansion, asking Yami really odd questions.

“How much do you think that ‘Master Hand’ will ask for this mansion?”

“For the last time Ryker, it’s not for sale…” Yami asked, rather irked.

Ryker turned his head to see Link and Pit. “Fine. Then green thumb, little cherub, do you think Master Hand will sell me this mansion?”

“The Mansion’s been here for ages…I don’t think Master Hand has any plans of leaving…” was Link’s subtle reply.

Ryker sighed, defeated. “Very well, I guess I’ll have to do this the intricate way.”

“No,” Yami said firmly, shooting a glare at Ryker, which immediately confused Pit and Link.

“You have no sense for the enjoyments in life…” was Ryker’s reply as Link and Pit walked ahead of them.

“I just don’t want to deal with a headache of your shenanigans,” Yami scowled as they entered the mansion.

Upon Link and Pit entering, they were met up by Peach and Zelda, worried looks on both of their faces.

“Link, Pit where have you two been?” Peach asked, looking at Pit with a perplexed look on her face, “And why are you wearing those instead of your toga, Pit?”

“Not now, Peach, we have other things to worry about,” Zelda chided.

“Why?” Pit looked from one princess to the other. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Ike…” Peach started.

“So he took his final form?”

Everyone’s gaze went to Yami, who was frowning deeply.

“From what we’ve seen…yes.” Was Zelda’s grim reply.

“No…” Pit took a step back, he felt like his breath left his very lungs and the heart in his chest skipped a beat, making his very face cringe.

“Pit…we still have time to save him. The transformation may be complete…” Yami closed his eyes. “But I think what you two saw is someone else…not Ike.”

“Not Ike? You’re not making any sense,” Peach pressed.

“I don’t have to explain to any of you…” Yami said as he stormed past. Peach and Zelda frowned at Yami’s behavior.

“Yami wait…” Pit reached out, but Ryker placed a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head.

“I apologize for Yami’s actions and manners. He’s a bit short tempered.”

“And you are?” Zelda asked, glancing from Link to Ryker. The white haired male walked over to the two and bowed.

“Who am I? I am Ryker Lathem, Adventurer Extraordinaire.” He took both their hands and kissed them. “I am deeply honored to be graced by thine eyes and beauty of thy royalty.”

“Oh my…” Peach giggled, blushing softly. “Such a gentleman!”

“Link ,you could take example from him,” Zelda teased.

“What?! I don’t have to take example from him!!” Link glared at Ryker who merely shrugged.

“Green thumb is turning green with envy; wouldn’t you say your majesties?” Ryker said behind his hand towards Peach and Zelda, who giggled. Link shot a glare at Ryker who merely chuckled and bowed again to the princesses.

“If you’ll excuse me, I must check on a certain little raven.” He gave a little wave before walking the same direction Yami went to. Peach and Zelda both giggled to each other again, which made Link’s blood boil a little.

“The nerve of that...that…” Link quickly shook his head, glancing at Pit and seeing that he was still down about Ike being a demon. Peach and Zelda quickly noticed as well. Peach went over to Pit, placing her hand on Pit’s shoulder and rubbing his back.

“I…Every time I take a step forward…something makes me take two steps back…I’m going nowhere…”

“Yami did say that it wasn’t too late though…he knows more of this situation than anyone…you shouldn’t let yourself get down because of it.” Peach moved so she was in front of Pit, placing her hands on the other’s shoulders. “Don’t beat yourself up about it Pit, we all know you’re trying your best to save Ike.”

“Yeah. But every time I do, it always backfires and just makes things worse,” Pit continued to mutter, taking Peach’s words of comfort and twisting them around. Peach had enough of Pit’s negative energy and decided to hit it where it hurts.

“Sometimes Pit, I really question whether or not you’re a guy,” Peach said, exasperated, earning raised eyebrows from Link and Zelda and earning a heated glare from Pit. “I mean honestly, suck it up! Moping won’t get you or Ike anywhere.”

“Hey , that was uncalled for!” Pit said, his feathers ruffling in agitation. Suddenly, his mind set seemed different from what it was 2 seconds before.

“Ok, how about we test your masculinity? Care to join me in getting some food? They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” Peach retorted as she guided the white angel to the kitchen.

“That’s…..that’s… fine,”

Zelda and Link watched the two leave before the Hylian princess broke the awkward silence. “Ryker…looks a lot like you…”

“Yeah…you noticed that too?” Link looked over his shoulder at Zelda. The princess nodded, looking at the triforce on her hand.

“But…I don’t sense the triforce from him. There has to be another reason why he…”

“I know I know, but what?” Link rubbed at his temples. “And he certainly won’t tell me the answers.”

“How come? He seems to be an honest man,” Zelda pointed out. Link wanted to roll his eyes at that suggestion, but held back the urge.

“He’s not an honest man, he’s a very elegiac man with a candid personality.”

“Oh stop it. You’re just jealous of him,” Zelda scolded.

“Jealous? What’s there to be jealous of?!” Link snapped, then realized what he snapping at the princess and bowed his head. “I’m sorry…”

“Link…” Zelda went over to the blond and touching his upper arm in a comforting way. “…I’m sorry too…”

“I just…I just want to get to the bottom of this…” Link responded softly, then looked at Zelda. “You know me…I just…I just can’t stand here and watch things happen. Pit can’t do this on his own…”

“I understand your concern, Link…but without any knowledge of what is against us…and with Yami not talking…”

“Well I’ll make him talk,” Link said as he gently moved from Zelda’s grasp and walked the same direction Ryker and Yami left.

Yami was in Ike’s room, seeing the damage that was made when the mercenary went berserk. His body shook slightly as he saw the blood stains and felt the cold draft coming from the broken balcony window.

Soon the sight became too grotesque to stare at and closed the door, making his way to Pit’s room. He was about to open the window to let a little bit of fresh air in when Ryker came in, closing the door quickly behind him.

“What are you doing here?” Yami asked dully.

“I came to see what was wrong with my comrade, that’s all little raven,” Ryker approached Yami. The black angel eyed Ryker’s movements, noticing he was shifting a bit funny. His gaze lowered to where Ryker’s hands were and saw a small vase tucked away in Ryker’s cloak.

“Ryker!”

“What?” Ryker’s eyes widened when Yami grabbed the vase from Ryker’s cloak receptacle. The adventurer pouted softly. “Oh come on Yami it’s just one vase…”

Yami grabbed the other vase that was on the other side of Ryker. “Just one huh? I told you I wasn’t going to deal with this.”

“They won’t notice they’re gone!” Ryker argued, but Yami didn’t want to hear a word of it, using a tarot charm to teleport them back where they once belonged.

“No! It’s bad enough that Pit has everyone in this damn mansion involved in this! The last thing I need is to see more and more people get involved!”

Ryker stared at Yami before chuckling softly. “Heh…that sounds familiar doesn’t it?”

Yami blinked and then realized what Ryker was talking about. “…You’re right.”

“Ah the good old times, when it was just the general, you and I….ah…we were quite the team; Finding the Lost Treasures…Bringing peace to Crimea…and…for you to get back to heaven.”

“Yeah…good times…” Yami said sadly. Ryker frowned a little, seeing the green color in his eyes.

“You’re…still upset about before…aren’t you?” Ryker asked slowly.
“You think? Maybe if I didn’t screw up so much…you’d probably be still alive as a living Aurist, not a dead one…” Yami turned back to the window sill. “I should’ve said more…instead of just telling you that…Forced you to stay, jumped on your back, sat on you and told you I wasn’t going to move until you said you wouldn’t go after it…Anything!”

Ryker closed his eyes for just a moment, hearing Yami talk about the past so cautiously made him remiss on the good times. He chuckled. "You make it sound like I wasn't there suffering with you."

Yami's eyes softened, looking back at the white haired man. "You...forgive me for what happened to you?"

"Unless you were intending on killing me from the beginning, I don't see a reason to get mad over something you could not control at the time." Ryker replied.

Yami wasn't so sure but Ryker added, "You maybe an angel...but you are one person regardless...stop beating yourself up about a death that happened years ago...after all, you did warn me what was getting myself into. I paid the price with my life."

The black angel didn't look any better after he said, the white haired male smiled sadly and reached over to ruffle Yami's hair. Immediately the smaller male raised his hands up to shield his head, "Ryker!!"

Ryker laughed at the other's antics. "You haven't changed...I'm glad..."

Yami cracked one of his eyes open before inching away from the taller man, "So really, Ryker… why do you want to test Pit anyway?"

"Can't get anything past you can I?" Ryker walked towards the window and sighed lightly. "Like I said, I don't trust him with the fate of purgatory."

"Would you trust him if I said he used to be me?"

Ryker looked over his shoulder at Yami then back to the window, a grim expression was on his face that showed in his reflection. "Unfortunately that is the reason why I don't trust him."

"What kind of reasoning is that?!?"

Ryker winced a little at Yami's raised voice, there was no way for him to dance around the truth. "He is a devout follower of Palutena. He thinks like her and follows her word without question. He's nothing but a mindless fool following an old hag-"

Ryker jerked away in time when Yami's dual blade slammed into the window frame mere inches away from his cheek. The normally calm man stared at Yami with a slight look of surprise, but quickly masked it off with a frown.

Yami's eyes flared red at the white haired man as if daring him to say it again. Ryker figured it would be best not to push the topic further and moved away from the window completely, "I thought your loyalty with the Goddess ended a long time ago...but let me be frank Yami," his voice darkened slightly when he called the angel by his name, "she abandoned you...no matter how you put it or what you call it. She abandoned you."

Yami glared even more at Ryker, but didn't say anything and put his bow away. Ryker knew nothing needed to be said since it was written all over the black angel's face. Ryker’s eyes softened a bit. “You’re so easy to anger, sapphire nymph…yet you still defend until the bitter end like a lost battle…ironically enough, you’re stubborn enough to be the devil’s advocate.”

Seeing the black angel didn’t find it amusing as he did, he figured that it was best to leave Yami alone. He slowly walked away from the angel, glancing over his shoulder. “Well, Green Thumb offered to let me stay in his dorm for the time being…so if you need me…”

“Just get lost already,” Yami grumbled.

Ryker knew that he extended his stay in Yami’s presence and left the room, closing the door behind him. He blinked, seeing Link standing near the door, rather startled that Ryker left the room. The white haired male casually grinned, crossing his arms.

“Did your elders ever inform you that eavesdropping is such a nasty inclination?”

Link glared dangerously at the white haired man. “I was just passing by…”

“And when did that happen? Ten minutes ago?” Ryker chuckled. “Whatever then…I think I’m going to freshen up for tonight before tomorrow. Yami had planned another training with Pit tomorrow…he’s going to want to be alone with him…you think you can manage without watching over your precious white cherub?”

“He’s not my boyfriend if you make it sound like that,” Link growled, turning away.

“Then I hear no objections of me accompanying you tomorrow then.”

“Fine…stop being so annoying though.”

“Oh! You hurt my feelings, Green Thumb!” Ryker said with a mock upset tone. “Now I must go look for a corner to shed tears on; how can you be so cold and cruel?!”

Link ignored what Ryker said, then finally asked. “Did…Yami really kill you?”

Ryker dropped the joking tone and bowed his head. “I will not speak ill of him…it was not his fault.”

“How can you say that though!? He killed you!”

“And? So you want me to go on a bitter revenge rampage and hunt for blood of an angel? That, my green clad friend, is a losing battle…not only would it be pointless…it would be just more bloodshed that can be simply avoided if you forgive.”

Link realized that Ryker had a point. He closed his eyes, asking slowly and softly. “…How did you die…if you don’t mind me asking?”

Ryker sighed, lowering his voice. “I’d rather discuss this away from Yami’s room…”

Link nodded in understanding. “My dorm is nearby.”

Yami heard Link and Ryker’s footsteps fade away from the doorway. He leaned against the window more, the thought of being responsible….

“Yami?”

The black angel turned around, seeing Pit wearing his usual attire and holding a tray of food.

“What’s….with the food?”

“Peach said I needed to take my mind off things…she said something about a way to a man’s heart is his stomach…but I don’t think that’s what she meant to talk about…” Pit said innocently.

Yami raised an eyebrow. “You don’t need to eat, you know that right?”

“I know…but ever since I’ve been here on earth, everything here is delicious…” Pit pointed out. “Have you ever tried anything on earth?”

The black angel was silent before nodding. “I was here before…they do have tasty things…”

“Want anything? I’m not going to eat everything…plus I figured you’d want something too…we did train a lot today…”

The black angel bit his bottom lip before giving up and going over and sitting down with Pit on the bed. He glanced over the items on the tray then chuckled. “Quite the sweet tooth you have hm?”

Pit was already nibbling on a cupcake. “Hm? Oh yeah...” He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. “Peach told me that all this stuff normally makes a human gain weight or something if they eat too much of it.”

“Ha, lucky for us that’s not necessary huh?” Yami settled on eating one of the sugar cookies. Pit looked up at Yami, watching him observe the treat before taking a delicate bite of it.

“Is Ryker always…well…”

Yami was in mid chewing when Pit spoke, he swallowed and finished Pit’s sentence. “…always Ryker?”

“Er…Yeah…”

“The guy is one of his own league. I can understand why you’re a bit nervous about him…”

“Nervous? He took care of that large demon back in purgatory instantly…” Pit looked at his half eaten cupcake. “And I’m learning just learning this aurist thing…and you said this sort of training takes years to perfect.”

“I didn’t say it was impossible to learn…but yes…it does take years to perfect…to know what cards to use, what to not use…such is life really. But what Omen taught me, she said that the best way to learn the tarot is through real life situations…with a bunch of dumb beginner’s luck in tow.”

Pit wasn’t so sure, then Yami sighed. “You’re just nervous about going up against Ryker…I don’t blame you though…but it will show if you’re ready for this or not…it’s not one of the most pleasant ways that I would approve of to find out…but it’s fairer.”

“But the look he gave me…”

“Ignore him, he’s just bitter over Palutena’s choice of exiling me.”

“So were you…”

“I still am…but…personally…I don’t think I want to go back in this state.” Yami looked at himself, holding the cookie in his fingers. “I’ve done so much…it’s a no wonder she rid of me…she must’ve noticed that I was going to be a bane to Angel Land. I think she did you a favor for sparing you.”

The white angel didn’t know what to say. “But…you did it for a reason…I don’t think you’re all that bad of a person.”

“You’re only saying that because I have your face and saying otherwise would be an insult to yourself, right?”

Pit shook his head, reaching over to place a hand on Yami’s shoulder. “I’m saying this because you’re not me at all… you’re you…Even though Palutena exiled you…you still want to do anything to help…I think anyone else would’ve just gave up the moment they heard of such things happening.”

The black angel gazed at Pit’s hand then up at the other. “Thanks…I guess.”

“Heh…no problem,” Pit said as he looked at the cookie Yami was holding. “You going to finish it?”

“Yeah…I’ve been told by Ryker and Vice that I was a slow eater during our travels.”

“Your…travels?”

Yami opened his eyes. “Oh yeah…when I went to Purgatory after Omen saved me from Hell…I went to earth for a bit…remember?”

“For what reason?”

“I wanted to see the earth…Omen said that she was looking for something, she didn’t explain to me what it was…I couldn’t go back to heaven since I didn’t have my angel rings.” Yami pointed at Pit’s angel rings that were glowing on his wrist. “I also had broken wings.”

The white angel’s eyes widened. “You mean…”

“When I was tortured in Hell…Kayne ripped my wings from my back as an insult…he was going to rip the actual bones out so they wouldn’t grow back again…luckily Omen came in time and saved me.”

He didn’t bother to pause for Pit to say anything since he knew what the other was going to ask. “The only reason why I can fly now…is because Omen repaired my wings when I was unconscious…I still couldn’t fly with them though. In fact…I had my wings ripped off twice…”

“Twice?!” Pit cried in disbelief.

“Yeah...” Yami sighed. “Amazing I can still fly today…”

“Yami…What did you do in your travels?” Pit asked to change the topic of Yami’s torture.

“Well Omen said to not get myself into any trouble…luckily she gave me a charm to hide my wings…as long as I didn’t touch anybody that is.” Yami took another bite of his cookie, chewing it slowly before swallowing. “I traveled most of the world, as I did I saw how grotesque this world was…how good and evil seemed to fuck up this realm…The more I was here…the more I wanted to change this earth…”

“You…didn’t say that before…”

“I know…I did still feel angry for myself for protecting people who were so selfish of themselves…but even with the Arrow of the Fallen still within me I still had some sort of conscience in me…”

The black angel leaned against the footboard. “I…skipped a lot of time when I told you about what happened to me…because it was a long story.”

“You’re…willing to tell me the story?” Pit’s eyes went half lidded.

“Well…this is my story…so it’s not too painful…” Yami explained dully.

“But it still hurts you…you don’t have to…”

“I want to though.” Yami said quietly. “Palutena spared you the details because she said I was the best one to explain things right? Well…I guess you deserve to know…what got me to here…after all…I’m the reason why Ike is a demon.”

Pit’s heart twisted at the mention of the mercenary. “You…you’re completely sure?”

“Yes…but it’s a long one…so I won’t tell you all in one night,” Yami chuckled sadly. Pit nodded, shifting the food tray to the night stand so both of them could get comfortable. Pit handed Yami a couple pillows so he could use them as a prop on the foot board. Yami watched as Pit cuddled under the blanket and got himself comfortable with the other two pillows he had.

“Where are you going to start?” Pit asked once he was settled.

“Hm…Well, you know that Omen got me out of hell a century later?” Yami stared at the half eaten cookie in his fingers. “She was a reaper…but she lost her rights after saving me.”

“How?”

“Er…let’s just say…she was there when she saw the moment Kayne ripped my wings off.” He chuckled uneasily. “I’ll leave it to you to think of what happened to him. But since he was in hell he was easily regenerated soon after…”

“Bet you’re not happy about that part,” Pit mumbled.

“You know me so well.” Yami replied, rolling his eyes. “After she lost her rights, she explained to me it was going to be a while until I was properly allowed in purgatory.”

“You mean…”

“Yeah…ironic that even purgatory didn’t want me at first?” Yami rolled his eyes. “Laws of neutrality stated that I was a complete sin, despite the fact I was only a partial soul…so they had to debate whether or not my freedom from hell was neutral or not. So while they decided I was sent to earth for a bit.”

“What were you to do at earth?...Wait for the gods of neutrality to make up their mind?” Pit frowned.

“Exactly…what a wonderful thing huh? The gods of neutrality have complete control of purgatory…hell, I think they might have more control over heaven and hell than Palutena and Medusa combined…hence why Axis wants to conqueror it.”

“If they’re so powerful then why has Axis taken over most of Purgatory’s realm?”

“Simple, gods of neutrality don’t fight things like this out…they have the people there fight it for them or they let Medusa and Palutena fight it off.”

“B-But that’s….”

“Unreasonable? I’m sure it is, but only because that’s what the gods of neutrality do….unfortunately their ways don’t take into consideration of people possibly wanting to take over….hence how it was so easy to be taken over. I wouldn’t be surprised if the rest of Purgatory gets invaded.”

“…” Pit didn’t like this system at all. Upon seeing the look on the white angel’s face, Yami rolled his eyes.

“Yeah…now you know why I rebel so much?”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this…but I don’t blame you…”

“Heh…moving on, I figured this would be a great time to venture earth….converse with humans and whatnot. Before I left, Omen gave me a warning or two….also gave me two piercings on my wings that had a magic charm that hid them from normal human eyes.”

“That hid your wings unless you were touched by a human.”

“Precisely,” Yami replied. “It wasn’t normal around that time for people to have wings. So I had to look as natural as possible to blend in. Otherwise I would’ve either been chased off for being different or worse captured for being a supernatural thing.”

Seeing that Pit was in deep thought, he continued, “Anyway…I was told that I was not allowed to do much…despite the fact that I was a sinner…I still had angel abilities…so I could save people from near death experiences…she said that if I did…there would be huge consequences”

Yami closed his eyes. “Unfortunately…I didn’t listen to her. When I went to the nearest town…I saved a girl from almost getting raped by a group of men…I scared them away because they thought that I was the angel of death…in the process I scared the girl off too…so I fled that town to go to another.”

“What happened then?”

“Well after some wandering…I ended up in the city of Crimea…”

“That’s…That’s where Ike is from…”

“And also where Vice…General Vice Avery is from.”

Pit noticed Yami pause for a moment to take a small nibble of the cookie he was holding. The white angel couldn’t see Yami’s eyes since they were covered by his long dark brown hair.

After a long amount of awkward silence, Pit spoke up. “Is that where you met him?”

“Yes…at the time, there was a war in Crimea, though they didn’t know who or what it was…but whatever it was it constantly attacked the city…Vice was attacked during one of the battles in the forest…the forest was set ablaze…” Yami closed his eyes. “He…he was more concerned about his men…and hoped for their safety than his own…I…I couldn’t just let him die there…”

“So you saved him…”

“Yeah…not only did he almost burn to death, he had a fatal shot from an arrow. Luckily I came in time….otherwise he would’ve been dead…without a general, the city would’ve fallen to the forces…”

Pit lowered his gaze. “What happened then?”

“Well…I felt like my duty was done there since I saved their general, there was no need for me to stay there… But Vice wouldn’t let me leave. He said he was in debt of me saving him.” Yami rolled his eyes. “So…using my strategies from being a captain…I helped Vice with the war…”

“But what was attacking the city?”

“Well…That’s where Ryker comes in,” Yami explained. “As we were trying to investigate what was causing the fires and the vandalism in the city, a street performer came up to Vice and said that his daughter was kidnapped…so we went looking for the daughter…as we were looking I saw a beggar on the street, since I had coins that Vice gave me, I did what I could to help and spared a couple gold coins even though Vice advised me not to… The beggar said that he knew about the street performer’s daughter…so I approached him closer to see if I could get more answers from him.”

“What did he say?” Pit frowned, not quite following how this had anything to do with Ryker.

“Nothing, he stole my money bag and ran off.” Pit’s eyes widened. Seeing as he was too shocked to say anything, Yami continued. “Vice and I chased him to the outskirts of Crimea. Turns out that that beggar was the kidnapper of the street performer’s daughter…”

“…Wait a second…was the beggar…”

“Yep…” Yami chuckled. “It was Ryker…Ryker was probably one of the richest men alive and probably one of the sliest I ever met at that time…”

“But…how was he a beggar?”

“Heh, he wasn’t. In fact, that was his way of getting word from people. No one cared about beggars at that time, in fact, they ignored them. So Ryker would just sit around and listen in on the rumors and treasures. With clever disguises, no one really considered a ‘beggar’ to be listening into their conversations.”

“So back to the story…why was he kidnapping the performer’s daughter?”

“Simple, the street performer had something that was Ryker’s… obviously some sort of treasure. So he seduced the street performer’s daughter into following him so that he could exchange her in ransom for the treasure. Turns out the treasure was cursed…so by the time we convinced Ryker to hand the daughter over… we found the street performer dead.”

“But why would Ryker want a cursed treasure?”

“Well, that was a mystery for a while. Ryker had this special ability to avoid diseases, hexes and curses. A man with Lady Luck on his side as he says it.” Yami mumbled, rolling his eyes, “Though…Ryker was supposed to go to jail since there was no logical way to explain the performer’s death without it pointing to Ryker…of course his punishment was supposed to be the noose.”

“But…”

“He said that the treasure that he was trying to get back from the street performer was called the Emerald of Kindness…a Lost Treasure.”

“Lost…Treasure…” Pit felt like that was very familiar.

“The Lost Treasure…The seven virtues…the seven orbs…hence the keys I could use to get to heaven.” Yami finished. “Of course…I did the unthinkable and convinced Vice to set him free. So…with Vice’s title…we released Ryker from his charges.”

He took a deep breath. “Later on after Ryker was released, we met up with Omen again…she said she was looking for the seven orbs…since Medusa was oh so kind as to scattering them around earth, since the Emerald of Kindness was the cause of the affects of Crimea being under the supernatural circumstances, Vice felt he was responsible to find them…and he wanted to repay me for saving his life by helping get back to heaven…Ryker had his own intentions, but he also wanted to repay me for saving his life. Since I was a former angel I could sense when these treasures were close, Ryker was the one who knew where the orbs were generally located from word of mouth…and Vice had the ability to get us there and was the man power; which began the quest for looking for the seven treasures.”

“So that’s how Ryker and Vice know you…but…why is Vice like he is now?”

Yami fell quiet, his eyes looking away from Pit’s gaze. “I think…this where I’ll stop the story for now…”

Pit was relieved since this was a lot of information to swallow, yet disappointed since Yami avoided his question that really bothered him. “Very well…”

“We’ll be training again early tomorrow morning…so I suggest you get some sleep after you eat…” Yami scooted over to the edge of the bed and stood up. “I…I need some fresh air.”

“Yami…are you okay?” Pit asked as Yami walked towards the door. Yami halted in front of the door, his eyes glued to the floor.

“Yeah…I think it’s best I just tell you the story in pieces, Pit…just trust me on this one.”

‘Trust…’ Pit thought in his mind as Yami left the room and closed it behind him.

“Damn…”

Yami found himself walking to the same hill where all of this began. He hated how somehow someway he managed to find himself remembering everything.

All the mistakes….all those careless mistakes.

“If only this went as planned…”

He slowly sat down on the ground, watching the sunset slowly sink away. It was around the same time…when he struck Ike with the arrow of the Fallen…during a beautiful sunset.

Now all that sunset was a burning reminder of what he had done.

“More lives ruined because of me…”

“But you had good intentions…Beloved.”

Yami sharply sat up, looking to his left, seeing the white demon wings and the deep red eyes gazing over at him.

After all this waiting I give you another cliff hanger…I’m a true bitch.