Location: City Crosswalk
The city hummed with an electric energy, the neon lights casting colorful reflections on the wet pavement as a light drizzle fell, soaking the streets. The distant hum of traffic blended with the occasional chatter of pedestrians, creating an ambient noise that felt oddly comforting to Mamoru.
His stomach growled in protest, reminding him of his hunger. He shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his hoodie, trying to ignore it.
"Man, I'm starving," he groaned aloud. "I swear, I could eat an entire cow right now."
Beside him, Hikaru floated just slightly above the ground, arms crossed in his usual, disapproving manner. His gaze was fixed ahead, where the glowing golden arches of McDerpies shone like a beacon of indulgence.
"You should really reconsider your diet," the angel sighed, voice thick with judgment. "Fast food is barely food. It's a mortal's feeble attempt at sustenance."
Mamoru waved him off, his focus entirely on the restaurant up ahead.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Hikaru," he mumbled, his eyes fixed on the entrance to the fast-food joint. "This is exactly what I need right now. I'm not picky—just give me something to eat."
As they approached the door, a blur of black hair and crimson eyes launched at Mamoru from behind, causing him to stumble forward in shock.
"Big brother! I finally found you!" a small voice called out.
Before he could even react, soft arms wrapped tightly around his torso, pressing something warm against his back.
Mamoru froze in place, his brain scrambling to catch up.
Then—a scream.
"AHHHHH! WHO IS THIS LOLI AND WHY IS SHE HUGGING ME?!"
His face turned beet-red, and a few nearby customers snapped their heads toward him. Some stared in concern, while others glanced disapprovingly. A mother hurriedly shielded her child's eyes as the scene unfolded.
The girl—clinging to him with surprising strength—blinked up at him, her confusion evident in her large, crimson eyes.
"Big brother, Hikaru… isn't that you?" she asked, her voice innocent and full of wonder.
Mamoru's brain finally rebooted. He blinked rapidly, processing her words.
"Ohhh," he muttered, realizing what was happening. "I see what's going on now."
Gently, he peeled her off him, setting her down. Kurai stared up at him, her eyes filled with quiet anticipation, waiting for an explanation.
Mamoru scratched the back of his head, still trying to wrap his mind around what had just happened. "So, uh… yeah. Your brother does reside within me, but I'm just his vessel. He can still hear you, though."
Kurai froze, her crimson eyes trembling for a fraction of a second before she clutched her face with both hands, her body visibly shaking.
"Big brother…" she whispered. Her voice cracked. "You won't believe everything I've gone through to find you…"
She hiccupped, trying to control the sobs threatening to spill from her throat.
"I need your help!" she continued, voice breaking. "The angels—they're after us. I tried to reason with them! I told them you would never disobey Father, but…"
Her words faltered as she covered her face. The air in the restaurant thickened with the weight of her emotions.
Mamoru barely had time to react before the presence of Hikaru surged forward like a storm, his celestial energy flooding Mamoru's body, a sharp contrast to the vulnerability of the moment. Mamoru felt his own body tense as Hikaru's fury took over.
"What did he do?!" Hikaru's voice boomed from within Mamoru, the raw fury burning through him as his fists clenched.
For a moment, Kurai's hands remained pressed to her face. When she finally lowered them, her expression flickered between grief and something darker. Her lips parted, and her whisper cracked like thunder in the room.
"He tried to… grape me," she whispered, her voice trembling. "And… he tortured me for weeks…"
The silence in the room was deafening.
Hikaru's energy surged, snapping through the air like a thunderstorm. Mamoru felt the immense weight of it, his body tensing involuntarily.
"That bastard!" Hikaru's voice growled, barely contained. His rage was palpable. "I'll make sure he pays for this! No one—no one—treats my little sister like that!"
Kurai sniffled, her hands trembling in front of her.
"But it's not just him, big brother," she whispered, her voice growing quieter, darker. "It's all of Heaven. The corruption runs so deep. We need to cleanse it… and start anew."
Her words hung heavy in the air, casting an unspoken weight on all present.
And then—
A monotone voice interrupted the tense silence.
"Uhh… so, um… are you guys gonna order?"
The question, coming from the cashier at the counter, shattered the mood like glass.
The entire McDerpies seemed to freeze, customers glancing nervously at the group, unsure how to react to the emotional storm in their midst.
Mamoru cleared his throat, forcing himself to regain control. He turned back to the cashier with a sheepish grin.
"Ahaha… yeah, uh, sorry about that," he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll have a large number three with a Broke-a-Cola, extra ice—"
Kurai's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"You insignificant pest, how dare you speak to Onii-chan that way?!" she snapped, her voice venomous. "I ought to kill you right now for your insubordination!"
Mamoru, completely unfazed, patted her head gently.
"Don't mind her," he said casually, "she's just hangry."
Kurai's face turned an explosive shade of red.
"H-HANGRY?!" she sputtered, her fists clenched as she glared at Mamoru. "I AM NOT HANGRY!"
The cashier, looking completely over it, rang up the order in silence.
Mamoru, ignoring the tension building in the air, continued nonchalantly, "So as I was saying, a large number three with a **Broke-a-Cola, extra ice... and the little one here will have a Jolly Meal."
Kurai's jaw nearly hit the floor.
"I'M NOT A LITTLE KID, YOU KNOW!" she bellowed, stomping her foot dramatically.
Mamoru raised an eyebrow, smirking. "But you're cute when you're mad."
Kurai huffed, crossing her arms and looking away with a pout.
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Location: Booth in the Back of McDerpies
They settled into a quiet corner booth, far from prying eyes. The food arrived not long after, and Mamoru immediately dug in, wolfing down his meal with the same ravenous intensity he'd been complaining about earlier.
Kurai, on the other hand, nibbled on her fries, glancing idly at the toy that came with her Jolly Meal. She seemed distracted, lost in thought.
The silence between them was thick, punctuated only by the clinking of silverware against plates.
Finally, it was Kurai who broke the silence.
"If we're going to face Father and his army," she said, her voice low and serious, "we need allies of our own."
Hikaru sighed from within Mamoru, his frustration evident. "Now, now, Kurai, don't talk with your mouth full. You could choke."
Kurai scowled, sticking out her tongue. "Stop treating me like a child! I'm almost 19,000 years old!"
Hikaru smirked, his tone dripping with affection. "I know. But all I see is my widdle baby sister."
Kurai huffed, her face flushing in irritation as she crossed her arms. "Hmph!"
Mamoru chuckled, sipping his drink and trying to suppress a grin.
Kurai turned back to them, her expression suddenly deadly serious.
"We're going to need strong allies to take down Father," she said with quiet determination. "Not these frail mortals you've surrounded yourself with. They couldn't even take on a scout, even with an army."
Hikaru nodded, deep in thought. His voice softened. "I know. But we need to lay low for now. If Heaven finds us too soon, we'll be crushed before we can even prepare."
Kurai rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Then we prepare quickly. Someone out there must rival Father's power."
Hikaru exhaled, his gaze distant. "I'll start looking into it."
The conversation slowly faded into silence as the three of them finished their meal, each lost in their own thoughts, the weight of what lay ahead hanging over them like a storm cloud.
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Scene Shift: The Throne Room of ???
In a distant realm, far from the mortal plane, a lone figure sat upon a throne of shimmering obsidian, surrounded by endless sands. His face remained shrouded in shadow, but his presence was undeniable.
A soft breeze stirred the flames of the torches lining the stone walls, casting shifting shadows across his sharp features.
A lazy smirk played across his lips as he drummed his fingers rhythmically against the golden armrest of his throne.
He didn't know it yet.
But soon—he would cross paths with the rogue angels.
And when that day came, the war between Heaven and the forsaken would never be the same.