The green haired boy was thrown to the ground, choking out water.

“Winner, Uriel!”

The audience clapped and cheered his opponent’s name. It made him sick.

The black haired boy walked over and offered his hand. “Yamato-”

“DON’T…” He took a deep breath before pushing his hand away. “Just don’t.”

He got up and spread his wings. Using a small wind spell, he dried them off and flew away as fast as he could. He felt angry. Really, it’s a stupid thing to be feeling over a friendly spar, but who could help it?

Halfway through his journey home, a soft voice called out to him from below. He looked down and gave the white haired boy a small smile before descending.

“Hey, Raph. I was looking for you.” He said.

The shorter boy gave a small nod. “Lay down and let me heal you.”

“That’s not why…” He bit his lip when he saw the stern look he had. “Alright… But don’t push yourself. Seriously, I hate seeing you hurt.”

“That feeling is mutual, and yet, you don’t seem to take care of yourself any more than I do.”

“... Okay, fair point.” He laid down and lifted his shirt up so he could get to work. He placed a hand on his bare stomach and light began to surround it. In a few moments, any and all injuries he had disappeared. “Thanks- Shion?!”

The white haired boy was on his knees, breathing heavily. After a moment, he regained his breath and gave a small nod. “I’m… I’m alright…”

“Geez, every time you do that, you give me a heart attack! You don’t have to keep healing me if it hurts that much, you know? I’ll just leave them to get better on their own.”

“I am the Archangel of Healing... This is my duty.”

“There you go again with your ‘duty’ talk...” He sighed. He’s always like this. Thinking of others with no regards to what happens to himself. It’s admirable, but also infuriating. “Shion, don’t you ever wish for something more?”

“More?”

“Like you’ve got your healing ability and all, but you have to take in that person’s pain too. Don’t you ever consider asking for it to be a little more convenient and well, I don’t know… NOT hurt you maybe?”

To his surprise, he shook his head. “I’m grateful to be given this ability at all. This way, I can be of use to my friends and take care of them in my own way.” His head tilted slightly to the side. “Why do you ask?”

“It’s just... No matter what I do, I just can’t beat him! Why?! I’m the strongest angel here!” He clicked his tongue. “I train ‘til I’m covered head to toe with blood and sweat every single day! I bet Uriel couldn’t do anything without that dumb book of his!”

The white haired boy placed a hand on his shoulder. “But your anger isn’t directed to him, is it?”

“... No.” He sighed. “Kira’s really smart, I’ll admit to that, but… The ones who pit us against each other... If it’s just a ‘friendly spar’, then what the heck is with the mocking at the end of every match?! I get it! He won! I didn’t! But do you really have to rub it in like that?! You weren’t even in the ring! Argh! I can’t stand them!” He stood up, a determined look on his face. “I’ll get even stronger no matter what I have to do! Then, I’ll show them!”

~~~~~

He aimed to divebomb them.

Thinking fast, Uriel flipped the pages of his book and casted a shield spell. However, his opponent wasn’t slowing down. Instead, while still diving, Azazel pulled a hand back. Sparks of light began to appear all around him, travelling to that one hand.

“A lightning based spell?!”

Heaven is known for its Holy Light, wind, and water. Hell is known for its Cursed Darkness, fire, and earth. Lightning isn’t a common element in either of the realms. Very few had been able to master its destructive power. And even as studious as he is, Uriel wasn’t one of them.

“Feast your eyes on my power!”

He let out a thunderous cry. The single ball of light drowned out all the rest, turning the whole area dark. Right before he could hit the dome, he pushed the ball towards his target. For a brief moment, there was a crack in the sky.

When his eyes had readjusted to the regular lighting, Raphael found both of his friends grounded. Uriel was sprawled on the floor, scorch marks all over and barely able to get up, while Azazel was a bit further away, only breathing slightly harder.

“Kira… Yamato…”

The demon had a displeased look. "Seriously? Lucifer's previous right hand only had this much in him?"

No… Don’t…

His hand began sparking once again. And again, the ball drowned out the surrounding light.

You can’t…

He pushed it forward.

“Stop!”

"Wh-?!"

Raphael had his eyes squeezed shut, bracing for impact. But it never came. Slowly, he opened his eyes again, and spotted scorch marks forming on the far wall.

"Yamato…?"

"You…" The demon flew up to him and grabbed onto his arms. "Are you crazy?! Shion, you never went through training like we did! If I wasn't fast enough, you could've died just now! At least if it was Kira, he could still create a light shield strong enough to absorb it like the first time!"

His eyes widened. "You… You're not here to hurt us?"

"Of course not-" The green haired man stopped short. "Crap." Both his hands went to his face with a slap as he groaned. Loudly. "Crap, crap, crap! I wasn't supposed to say that! Stupid!"

With a little help from Shion, Kira was able to stand up, though he refused to let the younger boy heal him. "Azazel?"

"Damn it, if the other demons find out, Lucifer's screwed!"

"...Yamato?"

"Ugh… And if Belial finds out, I'll never live it down!"

"If I found out what?"

"UGH!"

Another set of black wings appeared before them. The brunette smiled at the two other angels. "Kira-chan! Shi-chan! Nice to see you both again!"

"Van?" His presence was unexpected. And his smile was so casual and light that they couldn't help but to call him with his true name.

"Dang it, Van! We're not done yet!" A familiar pink haired boy came next, his eyes just as wide as his friends'. "Raphael! There you are!"

"Nagi!" The white haired boy floated towards him and gave the younger boy a tight squeeze, which for once the latter returned.

"Geez! I was looking everywhere for you!"

"The blast was too powerful… I was pushed all the way out here."

"I can see that." Grey eyes landed on the other two there. "Uriel? And Azazel?"

One of them nodded in greeting while the other sighed. They spent a good long while just staring at each other. When was the last time all five of them got together like this?

Van couldn't help chuckling at the whole situation. "Well, I guess it's all out of the bag."

"What is… exactly?" Kira asked, confusion still clear in his otherwise stoic expression.

Nagi was the one who answered. "This war is one sided. The three of them knew this going in. Heaven is gonna win and the remaining demons that survive will be cast back down to hell." The burnette nodded, confirming his words.

"The two of us were ordered to keep you three out of the main fight." Yamato continued. "Lucifer himself is gonna handle Michael, posing as a leader versus leader battle."

"So you two were simply keeping us at bay… to protect us from the war?" Shion asked.

The two demons nodded.

"Honestly, we'd like to protect everyone else too, but we're just three. Sure we hold the highest positions in Hell, but that means nothing when literally everyone else is out for revenge. We figured that, in regards to hierarchy, you four are the most important figures in Heaven. Without you, this so-called Paradise wouldn't be able to function. So you four are the ones we had to protect at any cost…" Van then cut himself off with a sigh. "At least, that's what the leader said, but we all know that he really just loves you guys above all the other angels and he'd hate seeing any of you get hurt."

"The Devil… loves us?"

"Shi-chan, don't forget that he's still Lucifer… He's still Eiichi. Our Eiichi."

'Our' Eiichi.

The demons'. The angels'. Theirs.

He was the most virtuous archangel that has ever been created. A righteous leader that believes in the hearts of every individual being. He was a man everyone would follow to the ends of time and space.

Until that day.

They were just a human. Just a mortal. And yet, their very existence brought joy into his heart unlike any other. So when that joy was so unfairly ripped away from him… Well, that was all history.

Kira turned to the two demons, his expression having changed only a little. "Does this mean... he'll soon call... for your retreat?"

Van very visibly bit on his lower lip while Yamato avoided their gaze. Shion and Nagi exchanged worried glances, the latter repeating the question. The demons both remained stiff.

Only then did his confused features turn into one of horror. "No… He couldn't be thinking…"

Eiichi, Lucifer, the Morning Star. He prides himself in his ability to do just about anything, including getting himself out of the messes he created. But one look from his old friends told him that that wasn't his plan this time.

Without thinking, he spread his wings, only to hiss in pain. He forgot about those injuries.

Shion was already by his side. "Let me-"

He opened his mouth to cut him off, but Yamato did it for him. "Save your energy. Both of you." He went over and slung his arm over his shoulder, letting him shift his weight towards him.

"Hey… Yama-chan…"

"I know we'll be going against his orders, but… Do you really not want to be there when it happens?"

Well, Van couldn't disagree with him there. "Alright." He turned to the two children. "We'll all go."

Nagi involuntarily started trembling. He had a very bad feeling about this. Nevertheless, he took the brunette's outstretched hand, held onto Shion with another, and the five of them began their ascension.