[Hello…time for random thoughts…if this was an anime, these are the voice actors I would pick. I think that Midorikawa Hikaru (Fiore, Zelgadis, and especially Tamahome) would make a very good Filla. For Micael I would like to hear Ogata Megumi (Haruka, Shinji) and Hisakawa Aya (Sailor Mercury, Miki in Utena) audition, because both have experience playing bishounen! Aya might be better for the part, but Megumi does angst so well. Takehito Koyasu has to be in there somewhere, (Hotohori, Touga), so he’s Satan. He has experience playing an emperor.] Celestial Sonata #5 Princess Comics Amagi Sayuri Amagi Sayuri Here’s volume number five! Please forgive me for shamelessly writing such a long extra story in here. Filla and Micael are cute, but so is Mahito! (By the way, this self-portrait is 100% unrealistic!) Celestial Sonata #5 Contents Extra Story: Tokyo Serenade (End) ...p5 Chapter 10 : Prelude: The Sky Blues..p165 The heavens are separated into Heaven, Hell, and the Realm of Magic. Filla and Micael, who met in the Realm of Magic at the Ea Ryuude Middle School, grew up to become, respectively, a demon and an angel. Filla continues to be infatuated with Micael, over whom hangs a shadow even though he is an angel. The two form a pair whose job is to guide human souls to heaven, and although at first they would seem a very unbalanced pair, they are bound by the strings of a mysterious destiny. Micael has been pursued by evil forces since the time he was an infant. His past is still shadowed in mystery, but Filla is the light in his life. What will become of Micael in the end!? Tokyo Serenade (Beginning) summary: In Tokyo, in the middle of winter, Masato rescued the vagrant 16- year-old boy Mahito. Mahito is a strange boy whose eyes turn an indigo color when he gets mad. Mahito does not wish to leave, and the two begin living together. The fairy-tale writer Amano Eri senses a strong scent of Hell from the boy. Then Mahito uses his powers in front of the worried Eri and Masato! Mahito : Good morning, Masato. I made breakfast. Masato : Wings!? Mahito : Masato? Masato : Uh, thanks. I’ve got to go soon, so I’ll go change. Mahito : Hurry up! Masato : Maybe I didn’t get enough sleep...or maybe it’s because of Amano-san’s book. Masato : But I thought that I saw wings... Mahito : Masato looks like he didn’t get enough sleep. Both : Um... Masato : You go first. Mahito : What kind of books does Amano-san write? Masato : Well, last year she published “The Magic Country,” and in August of this year, “The Lovers of the Magic Country” will be published. Mahito : Lovers--like a boyfriend and girlfriend? Masato : Yeah. It’s a really good story, and she did the illustrations too. Mahito : A 24-year-old man like you reads fairy tales? Masato : Don’t say fairy tales are stupid! They put you in a childlike mood, and they relieve stress. Mahito : Is it a story like “Cinderella” or “The Snow Queen”? <> Masato : Not exactly. It’s about an angel and a demon. Mahito : A demon...I’ve got it! A demon kidnaps an angel girl, and her boyfriend goes and saves her, right? Masato : You’re way off! The angel and the demon are lovers. Mahito : How can that be? Aren’t demons the embodiment of evil? Masato : The one in this story doesn’t seem very much like a demon at all. Mahito : If a kind demon really existed, I’d like to meet him. If he wasn’t a bad person... <> Masato : I have a copy of it on the shelf in my bedroom. You can read it if you like. Mahito : I’m 16. I can’t read fairy tales any more. What was it that you started to say before, Masato? Masato : I forgot. Mahito : Pull yourself together! Sachiko-san’s coming on Sunday! Masato : I know! It’s thinking about Sachiko that’s making me stupid! Micael : So, Elfyure, you’re saying that this person is a Diable? Elfyure : I’m not completely certain; it’s just a feeling I had. I thought that I should have Filla ascertain it. Micael : Then what am I doing here? <> Filla : That’s one of those guy’s who’s born once in every few hundred years, and whose parents are an angel and a demon, right? Micael : Of course! Are there any other kinds of Diables? Filla : I was just asking! Elfyure : But, you see, his power is sealed up... Micael : And you can’t remove the seal? Elfyure : No, I cannot. The seal seems to have a very strong ‘memory’ attached to it. Filla : A memory? Then that means the one who put the seal on him is already dead? Elfyure : I don’t know if even Mahito himself knows his true nature. <> Micael : Probably not, if he’s been raised as a human all this time. Elfyure : I think I’ll call Wari and ask him to find out whether a Diable was born in the Realm of Magic, about sixteen years ago. If it’s true, he’ll have to be brought back to Hell. Filla : If the seal is released when he’s still on Earth, something awful will happen. Micael : Even you know that? Filla : Hey, I studied at Satan’s castle for a long time! Elfyure : Well, we’ll have to make sure that it doesn’t happen. Micael : The poor guy, to be born a Diable...their magic powers are just too sad. Filla : But there’s nothing he can do. That’s the fate of those born with that kind of power. You’re an angel, so you don’t know too much about it. You just concentrate on learning about Heaven, and I can teach you about Hell! Micael : I won’t forgive you for knowing something I don’t know! Elfyure : Those two never change! Filla : Micael : What are you so happy about? Filla : Well, it’s summer on Earth, and it’s so hot, so I have an excuse to see you without too many clothes on! Hey, that’s mean! <> --Hello! --Wow, they’re cute! Filla : That’s him! <> Filla : I can feel it! He has the same energy as the other Diables I met at Satan’s castle. Micael : Filla, is that kid... Filla : Go to hell! Mahito : Huh? <> Mahito : What was that about? Micael : How’s he supposed to understand it when you just come out and yell it like that!? Filla : But... Micael : But what? Filla : He’s definitely a Diable, and his magic powers are pretty powerful. <> Diables are born to be demons--they have horns, wings, and a tail from the moment they are born. There are five Diables at Satan’s castle. A month after they are born, they are taken away from their parents to be brought up there. They absorb the negative energy of the sadness, anger, and pain of the human world; Satan takes most of this, and the Diables use the other ten percent for their own magical powers. <> At Satan’s castle, they are taught to control those powers...but if they ever lose control of them, they will change into an “Alhamea.” They know that they will be killed by Satan if that ever happens. If an Alhamea is ever created from negative energy in Hell, the darkness that was sealed up long ago in Hell could be released. Even though Satan is the Emperor of Hell, he would be powerless to stop such a thing. It must never be allowed to happen. Elfyure : My feeling was right after all, so the question that remains is how to tell him. Filla : Can’t we just take him back to Hell and explain things later? Elfyure : Absolutely not! There will be great strife in Hell if he does not return of his own free will. Micael : Let’s wait a little while. I’m sure Wari will be here soon to give us more information. <> Filla : By the way, Elfyure, why did you start writing fairy tales? Elfyure : Because I want to give people dreams. Filla : Dreams? Elfyure : People’s hearts are gradually drying up. Boys and girls live out their lives without ever looking for the meaning in them. They only concentrate on going to school and getting good grades. They work and work, caught up in the gears of time, and somehow they forget what is special to them. <> Elfyure : Even elementary-school students don’t believe in fairies and Santa Claus any more. And they don’t have anywhere to play outside, so they stay locked up in their own rooms playing video games. Micael : That’s true. Kids don’t act like kids anymore. Filla : Lethargic, apathetic... Elfyure : If this continues, it could cause the end of the Realm of Magic. Filla : How could that happen!? Elfyure : Didn’t you know? The Realm of Magic is a space that was opened long ago with the use of magic. So there’s a direct link from the hopes, dreams, and emotions of the human world--the positive energy that helps the Realm of Magic-- to the magic and the sorcerors of the Realm. Micael : I’d like to read your fairy tales, Elfyure. <> Elfyure : Maybe some other time! If Micael saw that story, he’d absolutely never forgive me for it! Fall : Hi, Mom! Elfyure : Why, Fall! How did you get here? <1536> Wari : Hi, Elfyure. Why do you look so surprised? Elfyure : It’s just a bit unusual for someone as important as yourself to show up here… Wari : There’s something that I wanted to tell you myself. Filla : Have you found something out, Wari? <> Wari : The one who put the seal on Mahito was his mother. Filla : His mother? Elfyure : It seems that she died about half a year ago. Wari : What? Is that true, Elfyure? Elfyure : The person who was taking care of him said it was. Wari : Adia… Filla : Did you know his mother, Wari? Micael : What’s wrong? Wari : Adia and I were classmates in middle school, and we remained good friends after we grew up. She became a demon, and she married the angel she worked with. The two loved each other deeply, but…after several years had passed, Adia was still childless. Adia : I’m so afraid of giving birth to an Ange or a Diable… <> Adia : Whichever one it was, he’d be taken away from us so soon after he was born…I really am scared of being separated from my only child…but that doesn’t even matter, does it? I’m infertile. I can’t have any children… Wari : It’s all right, Adia. Don’t cry. Wari :Some years after that—seventeen years ago—she finally conceived a child. <> Wari : Have you decided on a name yet? Adia : No, not yet. I don’t care whether it’s a boy or a girl, but I hope it grows up to be an angel like Leil. Leil : A child’s future isn’t something that its parents can decide. Adia : But I’m sure it will want to be an angel. It’s your child, after all. Wari : Around that time, Adia really shone…but two months later Leil fell sick, and she passed her days in worry. Wari : He died in the fall of that year. Three days later, alone, she gave birth to a child…That was October, sixteen years ago. Wari : Adia! Wari : You’ve given birth… Adia : Take him away! Wari : Did you give birth to him by yourself? But that’s so dangerous… Adia : I don’t want him! Take him to Satan’s castle! <> Wari : A Diable! Adia… Adia : Leil died, and this child was born. He stole Leil’s life! <> Micael : That’s awful! To say such a thing about your own child… Filla : Micael… Wari : I’m not finished yet. While she cried, she blamed the baby for everything… Adia : It would have been better if you’d never been born—if Leil, at least, could have lived! You demon…you demon…give him back to me! Give him back! Adia : Wari, what’s going on? Wari : Adia! Adia : What was that wind? Wari : It was this baby’s magic… Adia : What? <> Wari : It’s dangerous. He sensed your negative energy from the minute he was born. Adia : That can’t be! Wari : It’s because of that power that he must be raised near where Satan lives. Adia : But he’s only just been born! How is it possible…? Wari : His magical powers are very strong…and your pain and sadness came as a great shock to him. His powers have awakened extremely quickly…Perhaps it’s not my place to say this, but he is very dangerous. <> Wari : As you told me to, I will take him to Satan’s castle. Adia : What will become of him, Wari? Wari : Satan will probably dispose of him. Adia : No! I won’t let that happen! I’ll put a seal on him…so that he won’t be able to use his powers until he grows up! So… <> Wari : I can’t let him stay in the heavens. You know about the ‘darkness’ that’s sealed in Hell. The baby’s innocent mind will be strongly affected by negative energy…If he does not learn to control his powers, if all the negative energy in the heavens is channeled into him with no way to release it, what do you think will happen? Adia : An Alhamea… <> Wari : Correct. And I absolutely won’t let that happen. Adia : So Satan would take the child’s life, in order to protect the seal on the darkness…I’ll go down to Earth. Wari : What? Adia : I’ll take him with me to Earth! Wari : Adia! Adia : I’ll put a seal on him even if it takes all the magical power I have…and then we can live as normal people, together! Wari : But if the seal is broken while he’s still on Earth… of course it wouldn’t release the ‘darkness,’ but it could have a horrible effect nonetheless. Adia : It’s all right! I’ll let you know if it gets dangerous. Wari : Adia… Adia : Please, Wari, just give us time! Wari : All right, Adia. <> Wari : Well then… Adia : I’m sorry…I’m so sorry… Elfyure : She acted like his mother after all… Filla : I guess you can’t help but love your own child. Wari : That very day, Adia left for Earth. Filla : And you didn’t tell Satan about it? Wari : I didn’t want to interfere. Although I was worried myself, I didn’t search them out. Filla : But Satan didn’t know anything about it at all? Wari : Perhaps all of Mahito’s destiny is already known to Satan… At any rate, you must tell Mahito tonight. He probably doesn’t even know the truth about his own mother. Wari : And be quick about it, please. Fall : Can I help? Micael : It’s enough that you want to help, Fall; you’d better get to bed soon. Filla : If he comes with us, he’ll only cause trouble. Wari : It’s time to go home, Fall. Fall : Already!? But I want to stay here! <> Micael : His mother… Wari : I’ll leave the rest to you, Elyure. Elfyure : Take good care of Fall, Wari. Elfyure : That child of mine just won’t grow up, will he? <10:00 pm> --‘Bye! --Take care! Mahito : I’m glad that I could keep my job. Masato and the Maitre d’ are such nice people. Even to a weird guy like me… Filla : You’re Shintani Mahito, aren’t you? Mahito : Yeah… Filla : If you could give us a few minutes of your time, there’s a story that I want to tell you. Mahito : Is that the end of the story? Filla : It’s the story of your birth. Mahito : What are you guys, some kind of new cult? Filla : Mahito! Mahito : I don’t know anything about a “Diable” or Satan! My mother was a normal human, and so am I! You can’t go around exploiting a person’s weaknesses and telling them lies about their pasts! <> Micael : I didn’t think you’d believe us. After all, you’ve lived as a human for all this time. Mahito…you’ll probably need to see our true forms to believe us. <> Mahito : You’re… Filla : Do you believe us now? Mahito : It’s ridiculous…I’m a Diable? My mother was a demon? And the seal is already breaking? Micael : The truth is in front of you, Mahito. <> Filla : Let’s go back to Hell…you’ll become the sixth Diable. I’ll take you to meet Satan… Mahito : No. I want to stay here! Micael : You’re running out of time! I know how you must feel about this world. I know you won’t agree to return yet… <> Mahito : My mother isn’t here any more…so there’s no reason for me to stay, right? I hate humans. I… Micael : However, if the seal breaks while you’re still on Earth, all the negative energy that’s been building up inside you for seventeen years, that you are unable to control, will explode, changing you into an Alhamea. <> Micael : Then, we would have to kill you. Mahito : Is it that bad to become an ‘Alhamea’? Filla : It’s an evil monster, controlled by the darkness, with no personality or memories. Mahito : The darkness? Filla : The darkness I told you about, that is sealed in Hell…An Alhamea is something that the darkness uses…a servant of the darkness that has no form of its own. <> Mahito : Then I’ll die! I’ll die before I let you kill me! Micael : You idiot! Filla : Micael… Micael : Do you think that you can control your powers? Mahito : They’re my own powers! I should at least be able to kill myself! Micael : The probability that you would succeed is less than ten percent. And if you fail, then you wouldn’t even be able to die. You’d become an Alhamea. Filla : If the seal broke, you’d become the vessel for all the negative energy in the entire country. <> Mahito : All of Japan? Micael : Yes. All of the hatred, anger, sadness, and jealousy in Japan…Peircing you like so many thousands of arrows. Surely they would rend open your soul. There would be nothing you could do to stop it. Mahito : What a cold face, with blue eyes like ice. Could he really be an angel? <> Micael : Do you want to destroy all of Tokyo with your magic? Mahito : I could destroy Tokyo!? Filla : The energy released by an Alhamea created on Earth would be terrible… Micael : All of the Eastern half of Japan could become a sea of fire… <> Micael : Is that what you want, Mahito? You want to destroy Tokyo? Mahito : No! I can’t! That’s a lie! Filla : Mahito! Micael : He knows himself that it’s true… Filla : What’s wrong, Micael? You seem different… Mahito : “We would have to kill you”…”Without memories or personality”…”The Eastern half of Japan could become a sea of fire”…Help me! Masato, help me! No…I want to stay with you! <> Mahito : Huh? I want to stay…with Masato? Is that why I don’t want to go to Hell? No, that’s silly. Why would I feel like that? Masato : Welcome home. Come on in…what’s wrong, Mahito? Mahito : Ma…sa…to… Masato : What’s wrong with you, all of a sudden? Mahito : Sorry…it’s nothing. Masato : All right…well, take a bath, and then let’s go to bed. <> Mahito : Look, Masato…I’m no different from anybody else…I’m human… Mahito : Mommy! Adia : What is it, Mahito? Mahito : Mom… <> Masato : You’re up early, Mahito. Mahito : Good morning! Sachiko : Are you Mahito? Nice to meet you. I’m Kawakami Sachiko. Mahito : Oh…hi…That’s right…it’s the 12th. <> Sachiko : You really are a cute kid! Oh dear, Masato, I’m afraid you’ve gone a bit beyond rescuing stray cats this time. Masato : Sachiko! Sachiko : Oh, I didn’t mean anything by it! Mahito : It’s all right. He really did rescue me, after all… Masato : Get dressed quickly, Mahito. We’re going out. Mahito : Going out? Masato : It’s a beautiful Sunday! Let’s do something all together! Mahito : You’re going to drag a kid like me on a date with your fiancée? <> Mahito : I can’t, anyway. I have to work. You two have fun together. Her engagement ring is an amethyst…it’s such a gentle color of purple, so different from my eyes. Mahito : What those two said is true…I feel almost like I’ve known it all my life, but I never wanted to see it. Sachiko : Masato? Masato : What? Sachiko : Is there something wrong with that kid? <> Masato : He’s been acting strange the past couple of nights. His face looks kind of pale, too. I wonder if something happened? Sachiko : Still, he seems very kind… Masato : I don’t really know anything about Mahito. He won’t tell me anything. <5:00 p.m.> Mahito : I wonder which one I should choose…I hardly have any money, since it’s the day before payday. It’s this expensive!? --Is this a gift? Mahito : Huh? Who but a girl would give a tie to someone? No, it’s mine. Heh heh, this doesn’t look good on me at all. <> Mahito : Hi…isn’t Sachiko with you? Masato : She’s at the hotel. Mahito : You’re already engaged, so she might as well stay here. Masato : No, she says we can’t sleep under the same roof until we’re actually married… <> Masato : Oh, right! I have a gift for you. Mahito : In that box? Masato : It’s from me and Sachiko. Mahito : Go on, open it and show it to me. Wow, a necktie! <> Masato : It’ll look really good on you when you grow a bit. Let me try it on you… Mahito : No. I don’t want it! Masato : Hey, what’s wrong? <> Masato : Mahito… Mahito : I’m so stupid. I don’t know anything. My eyes…they’re turning purple… <> Mahito : I’m a cat after all, taken in by humanity…by Masato… Mahito : Look, I’m sorry about last night. Masato : Don’t worry about it. You were tired. Mahito : I think I’ll stay home from work today. Tell my boss I’m sorry. Masato : Okay. You just eat your breakfast and go to sleep. Mahito! Sleep in the other bed! <> Mahito : I’d rather sleep in here. Masato : It seems as if he’s slipping away…Huh? What’s this? <> Masato : Mahito… --Aihara, you have a phone call! <> The demon Fii was in love with the angel Mii. Mii loved Fii too, but he couldn’t admit it, not even to himself. Mahito : They call this a kids’ book? Hmm…they look like those two guys… <> Mahito : I wonder if Miss Amano is from the heavens, too. Mii thought that he would bring bad luck to Fii, so he tried time after time to go away from him. But, after all, he couldn’t, because Mii was like the sun to Fii. And for the blue-eyed angel, the golden- haired demon was a gentle light. Mahito : I wonder if that blue-eyed angel knows how I feel… <> Mahito : Hello, Aihara residence. Masato : Mahito! Are you awake? Mahito : Masato… Masato : She was hit by a car this morning! I just got the phone call from her parents…they took her to Kinoue hospital. I’ll be there as soon as I can…you come too, if possible. Mahito : All right. Hang in there, Masato. I’m coming. <> Masato : I’m sorry I can’t see you off, but I have to work. Sachiko : It’s all right. It’s only as far as Tokyo Station. I can get there by myself. Although Sachiko’s external injuries were relatively minor, she could neither stand nor walk. Sachiko : I’m sorry…the light just turned red so fast! Masato : I’m the one who should be sorry, Sachiko. If I’d been there with you… Sachiko : We can’t get married now. <> Masato : It’s all right. With a little rehabilitation, you’ll be able to walk again. Sachiko : No! I can’t even stand up! I feel as heavy as lead, and I just can’t move! It’s as if my legs had been completely cut off! I can never be your bride now…let’s break off the engagement. Masato : I understand how you feel, Sachiko, but we can’t do that! <> Masato : You’ll be all right. We’ll try real hard together. Sachiko : Don’t feel like you have to uphold your duty, Masato. It was an arranged marriage. Masato : Sachiko! Sachiko : You don’t really love me…so it’s better if we just call the whole thing off. Masato : Sachiko… Mahito : I can feel all of Sachiko’s anger and sadness…it hurts so much. Mahito : “All of the country’s negative energy would flow into your body”… Masato : Mahito, are you all right? Mahito : I’m sorry…I overheard your conversation. Masato : It’s all right. Mahito : She’s really upset, and it’s no use talking to her right now. But she really loves you. Masato : Huh? <> Mahito : I know that she does…so…well, I know it won’t make you feel any better. But you care for her too, right? Masato : I do care about her, but I don’t know if I love her as much as she loves me. I’ve never truly loved anyone before. Maybe I’m scared of feeling my own emotions. Mahito : You don’t realize it Masato, but you have nothing to fear. At least you’re human. <> Mahito : I was too, a long time ago, but now I’m not. Even if those two hadn’t told me, in my heart, I would know I’m different. Day by day, my feelings are growing… Masato : Mahito… Mahito : It’ll be all right, Masato. You’ll grow to love Sachiko. She needs you to help her become able to walk. <> Masato : Right. Mahito : I’ll go home ahead of you, then. That’s weird…I’m a demon, and yet I’m playing Cupid. Filla : Mahito, let’s go home. Those two will be fine. Mahito : Wait, please, I need more time! Let me stay here until Sachiko’s legs get better! Wait until they get married! Filla : Mahito… <> Micael : But there’s no way to know when her legs will get better. Mahito : They will get better, though! Masato will make sure of it! She’ll be able to walk again soon! Filla : All right, we’ll wait a little. Micael : You have until October 10th. Any later would be impossible. Mahito : All right. Thank you. <> Mahito : By the way…I never got to ask your names. Filla : I’m Filla, a demon. And this angel here is named after the Archangel. Mahito : “Michael”? Filla : If I say his name here on Earth, my magic will stop working. Mahito : Filla and Micael…like Fii and Mii from the story. <> Mahito : Was the story about those two? Oh, I forgot—it’s not there! Masato must have found it…now he’ll think I’m really weird… <> Sachiko : The wedding’s off. Father : You’ll get well soon! Mother : We could have the ceremony out in the country when your legs get better—if you wouldn’t mind, Masato. Masato : Of course I wouldn’t. Sachiko : I already said we couldn’t get married! Mother : Sachiko! <> Sachiko : I’m giving this back to you. I’m sorry, Masato. Masato : All right, Sachiko…but I’ll give it to you again when your legs get better. Sachiko : Don’t say that…it hurts too much. [One thing I might mention is that doctors in Japan rarely tell their patients just how bad their prognosis is. The good side of that is that patients whose condition was actually very bad could remain optimistic…but others might assume that whatever optimism their doctors and friends had could easily be false. So Sachiko may have reason for optimism…but there’s no way she would know that.] Sachiko : Go home. Go home, everyone, and leave me alone. Mother : Please don’t abandon Sachiko, Masato. You may not know this, but Sachiko has loved you ever since you were in school. Masato : For that long? Mother : Yes…your mother must have heard about it somewhere, and she arranged the marriage…it made Sachiko so happy. It might be an inconvenience to you, but… Masato : Don’t worry, Mrs. Kawakami. I swear that I will marry Sachiko and make her happy. The two of them went home to Sendai. Masato : I decided to visit Sachiko every day I wasn’t working. Mahito : Masato, I made supper. Masato : Oh, thanks. I guess I can’t ask him about the necktie… Mahito, you’re not working tomorrow, are you? Mahito : No. Masato : Would you go see Sachiko? Mahito : Would that be all right with you? Masato : Why wouldn’t it be? I’m taking a short summer vacation, for five days starting on Wednesday. And I’ll be going to the hospital every day… <> Masato : Do you want to sleep in my room again tonight, Mahito? Mahito : I’d rather not, actually…good night. I thought maybe when Masato went on summer vacation, we could go to the beach together. <> Mahito : But he’s going to the hospital instead. I wish I’d been the one who’d gotten hurt. Then Masato would be worried about me…I’m sorry for thinking such a terrible thing, Sachiko. But I’m a demon, so I guess I can’t help it. Sachiko : Mahito? Mahito : How are you feeling, Sachiko? You look pretty well. That’s good. Masato said he was going on vacation starting tomorrow, and he’ll come every day. Sachiko : I know… Mahito : What? Sachiko : I know that you love Masato. Mahito : Don’t be silly. I’m a man! Sachiko : You shouldn’t hide it! Mahito : Sachiko… Sachiko : You must be happy that I can’t marry Masato. Mahito : I’m not happy about it at all! Sachiko : He doesn’t love me! You took him from me! <> Mahito : I could say the same about you! Sachiko : Mahito, your eyes… Mahito : I’m sorry for saying that. You have to try hard so your legs will get better. Do your best, for Masato’s sake, so that one day you’ll be able to walk again. <> Mahito : Masato will help you do it… Sachiko : Mahito… Mahito : If one of us is going to take him away from the other one, it might as well be you. Sachiko : I’m sorry…I’m so sorry… <> Mahito : You should borrow that tie you gave me when you go see Sachiko tomorrow. Masato : I don’t know about that… Mahito : It will make Sachiko happy. Masato : Thanks. <> Masato : Good morning, Sachiko. Sachiko : Good morning, Masato…Aren’t you embarrassed to be borrowing the tie you got for someone else? Or have you forgotten that it was from me, too? Masato : Why would I forget that, silly? <> Masato : Well, I finally got you to smile… Sachiko : I’m sorry…I’ve been acting so childish. But Mahito finally opened my eyes. Masato : Mahito did? Sachiko : I’m going to be able to walk again. Masato : Let’s try hard together, Sachiko. She was always smiling when we were together, back then… I thought that she was cute, almost like a little sister. But that smile she’s shown me for the first time since the accident… <> Masato : Shines in my heart with a different kind of light…I feel something special, that I absolutely mustn’t lose. I’ve only just begun to realize…that I really do love her after all. Two months and ten days passed… <> Masato : Sachiko! Sachi…You did it, Sachiko! Masato : Do you know when you’re leaving the hospital? Sachiko : Yes, on the twenty-sixth. Masato : Congratulations, Sachiko. Here…I’ve kept it with me all this time. <> Masato : I love you, Sachiko. Let’s get married. Sachiko : Thank you, Masato. On September 26th, Sachiko’s parents came to get her, and she returned to Sendai on legs that were still unsteady. Mahito : October 4th? Masato : Yeah, we’re having the ceremony in a church in Sendai. Won’t you come? Mahito : But the time limit is the fifth… I don’t have the money. Masato : Don’t worry about that! Mahito : Well, I should stay home and house-sit while you’re on your honeymoon. Masato : Sachiko’s legs aren’t quite better yet, so we’re coming home on the sixth. Then we can go see a realtor together. Mahito : Huh? <> Masato : I’ll help you look for an apartment. I’m sorry if it looks like I’m chasing you out, but… Mahito : Not at all. Thanks. I’m sorry…I know I’ve already overstayed my welcome… Masato : Well, you have given me a lot to worry about. Mahito : Masato… Masato : What? Mahito : Never mind. It’s nothing. <> Masato : Well then…if you won’t come, take good care of the apartment. Mahito : I will! Sorry, Masato…I’ll have to leave while you’re gone… <> Mahito : I turned 17 today, Mom… <> Mahito : I remember when I was a kid, and we used to celebrate my birthday with a roll cake…but tonight I’m all alone. Filla : Hello! Mahito : Do I have to leave already? <> Micael : It’s 12:40 am, October 5th. Filla : You can have the rest of the day if you like, but I thought since Masato won’t be here it would be all right if you went earlier. Mahito : Um…when I leave, will Masato lose his memories of me, like in those fantasy stories I’ve read? Micael : Yes, I’m afraid so…all of his memories relating to you will be erased. Not one memory of you will be left in his mind. Mahito : No! Micael : It’s the truth. Filla : I guess you still need a little more time… Micael : We’ll come back to get you at dawn. Mahito : All right. I’m sorry for making you wait. <> Filla : You act so heartless, but you’re worried about Mahito, aren’t you, Micael? Wait, wait! I’m not quite ready! Micael : Look at that! (What did you think I was doing?) Filla : Oh no! Micael : Mahito… <> Mahito : If he’ll forget everything…then I should tell him everything. But that would only worry him and make him sad…I wonder if I would die if I fell from the eighth floor. Even if I died, wouldn’t there be any part of me living on in Masato’s mind? <> Masato : What the hell are you doing? Were you going to jump? Mahito : Masato? What are you doing here, in the middle of the night? Masato : I was wondering what you were up to, all alone. Mahito : But it’s your wedding night! Sachiko must be furious! <> Masato : Not at all, it was her idea. After our friends and relatives had left, we were sitting there alone… Masato : I wonder what Mahito’s doing right now. Sachiko : Masato, please go back to your apartment right now. Masato : What are you talking about? Sachiko : I feel uneasy…I thought there was something odd about him when I met him at the hospital…He loves you…and I have the strangest feeling that he won’t be there any more when we come back. Mahito : No way…Sachiko’s thinking too hard or something. Masato : You’re probably right. You wouldn’t go away without saying anything to me. Did something happen to you, Mahito? Mahito : Nothing, why? Masato : Your eyes have been purple for a while… <> Mahito : Why? Is the seal breaking? Masato : Mahito? Mahito : Masato, my eyes have been purple from the very beginning. I’ve been able to hide it until now, but not any more. Masato : Oh, come on. You’ll be back to normal tomorrow. Mahito : I won’t be back to normal, because I’m not human! These purple eyes come from Hell…the seal’s going to break! <> Mahito : I’m going to turn back into a demon! I’m sorry…for saying something so weird. Masato : Mahito… Mahito : Don’t worry about it, Masato. I’m just feeling a bit down tonight. Masato : Mahito, let’s go to the beach. <> Mahito : In the middle of the night? Masato : It’s only two hours by car! We’ve got time! I wanted to take you last summer, but that didn’t work out…It’s too cold to swim in October, but the sunrise on the ocean will be really pretty! Mahito : Even though you’re so tired from all this travelling… But don’t you have to work? Masato : No, I’m not working tomorrow. Mahito : But…I can’t go out with my eyes like this. Masato : No one will notice, it’s so dark out. Mahito : I really did want to go to the beach with Masato…Why did he come back just when I had my mind made up? <> Masato : Hurry up and change! You’re too young to say you’re too tired to go! Mahito : It’s going to hurt so much… Masato : I told you it would be nice. <> Masato : Isn’t the sea at night just sublime? Mahito : It’s a bit scary…almost like it’s alive. The sound of the waves sounds like the Earth talking… Masato : That’s an odd thing to say. Mahito : But…I’ve never been to the beach before. Masato : Never? Mahito : I’ve lived in my little town in the mountains since I was born. My family never went anywhere on vacation. We were too poor. Masato : We’ve got to come here next year to swim, then. Mahito : OK! Masato’s talking to me as if I were a regular human…without fear or anger…I just wanted Masato to see me as a regular boy. How would he react if he knew what I really was? <> If he knew that I could explode and destroy Tokyo… would he still smile at me? Would he call me “Mahito”? Maybe I should tell him everything. It’s the last night we’ll ever be together. And Masato won’t remember me at all in the morning. Masato… Masato : What is it? Micael : Mahito’s a fool. He should have just kept quiet. Filla : Micael… Micael : He’ll only hurt himself by telling him everything. It’s all the same to Masato whether Mahito leaves without saying anything, or tells him everything… because in the end he won’t remember any of it. And isn’t Masato the one person he didn’t want to find out that he was a Diable? <> Filla : Maybe Mahito just didn’t want to lie to himself any more. Micael : I don’t understand that kind of thing. Masato : I see…well, it’s a really unbelievable story, but I don’t think that you’d lie to me, either. Mahito : Masato… <> Masato : Go back to Hell. Mahito : No! I like it here. I want to stay! It’s full of memories of my mother, and it’s my home! Masato hates me after all. I shouldn’t have told him. <> Masato : Would you rather die at my house? It’s not as if I have the money for a funeral! Mahito : It’s all right…I’ll just turn into light. There won’t even be one bone left of me. Don’t worry about me… I’ll just go off some place and die. <> Masato : Mahito! Mahito : Thanks for everything, Masato. I love you! Masato : Goodbye, Mahito. <> Mahito : Take me home. The sun’s coming up… Micael : Mahito!? <> Filla : Don’t get near him! Micael : Filla… Filla : It can’t be! It’s too soon! Masato : Mahito! <> Filla : Mahito… Mahito : Ow…Save me! No! Stop! It hurts! “He’s weird”…”Don’t get close to him”…”He’s a monster!” <> --Ah! An earthquake! --An earthquake! <> Filla : All of the negative energy in Japan is collecting in Mahito… Micael : Isn’t there any way for an angel like me to defend against it? --Masato! <> Filla : Mahito… Micael, we have to destroy him! There’s no other way. Micael : No! Masato’s still here! Please don’t kill Mahito in front of Masato! Filla : I know that, Micael. But can’t you hear Mahito screaming? Mahito : Please kill me…soon! <> Filla : If he becomes an Alhamea…if he does, then I’ll kill him. Masato : Mahito! <> Masato : Don’t give up, Mahito! You can reject all the hate and sadness! Your own sadness is great enough! <> Filla : Masato’s soul is acting as a shield! Mahito : Thank you for not letting me be controlled by the darkness. There’s nothing left for me but to die… Masato : Don’t talk like an idiot! You’re not going to die! <> Mahito : The golden-haired demon said that I would die, or Tokyo would be destroyed. Thank you for saving Tokyo. Masato : Mahito! <> Mahito : Mom…Mom…Why is my name “Mahito”? Adia : Because you’re a human; you’re a “true person.” Remember that. Filla : Mahito… <> Filla : All right! He’s conscious, Micael! Mahito : I’m…alive? Micael : That’s right, Mahito. Masato : I told you you wouldn’t die. Mahito : Masato…Masato! Filla : Adia, raising her child as a human…Masato, watching over him…and the positive energy of Mahito himself…acted as one to repel the negative energy. Masato : But I thought Hell was under the Earth. Filla : No, all of the Heavens are in the sky. Masato : I get the feeling I’ve seen the two of you before… Well, it doesn’t matter. Hey, Mahito! Masato : Make sure that you don’t act silly and get yourself killed by Satan, OK? And look down on me from the sky sometimes… Mahito : I will! <> And so, Mahito went back to his home. Masato : Mahito looked mysterious and supernatural in the misty dawn…but behind that, I could also see an honest, sad, lonely boy… <> Masato : …with a smile that could melt anything. Man, I just had the weirdest dream! Sachiko : Are you awake, Masato? Masato : Good morning, Sachiko. <> Sachiko : I heard there was a terrible earthquake in Tokyo early this morning. Masato : Well, that’s not unusual for Tokyo. Sachiko : On the news they said that it was rather unusual, because even though the buildings shook horribly there was very little damage. At any rate, it’s causing quite a commotion in Tokyo that there would be such a strange earthquake with no warning at all. Masato : I’m worried about the office. Maybe we should go back. Sachiko : Perhaps, since the circumstances are so different from an ordinary earthquake. Masato : I’m sorry, Sachiko. Sachiko : Don’t worry about it. We’ll see each other again in November. <> Masato : Everyone’s talking about the earthquake yesterday, Ms. Amano. Amano : Yes, the buildings really shook. It’s strange that no one knows the cause. Masato : Also, for some reason a copy of your book seems to have gone missing… Amano : Really? Which book? Masato : “The Lovers of the Country of Magic.” Amano : Mahito must have taken it! He’ll show those two for sure! Masato : Ms. Amano? <> Masato : Let’s see, let’s see, where’s my lighter? Huh? What’s this? Sachiko : Honey, I’m home! Masato : Sachiko! How’s everything? Sachiko : The doctor said I was three months pregnant. Masato : Wow, Sachiko, that’s great! <> Masato : Let’s name him “Mahito.” Sachiko : What a nice name…written with the characters for “true” and “person,” right? Masato : How did you know? Sachiko : I thought it would be a good name too. Masato : What if it’s a girl? Sachiko : What’s wrong with “Mahito” for a girl? Masato : Well… <> Masato : Hey, you! How long are you planning on staying there? Mahito(?) : Until dawn… [One wonders how time passes in this series, since most of these stories take up several months to a year. Do some take place at the same time? (After all, Filla and Micael make only occasional appearances during this story; during the rest of the year they could be elsewhere doing other things). Or do all happen in sequence? It would take a long time, of course, but they’re immortal; they’ve got all the time in the world, right?] Chapter 10: Prelude: The Sky Blues In a time long ago, a deep blue jewel having great magical power called the Sky Blue existed. The hand of God split it into two pieces, one of which went to the humans’ world, and the other of which was sealed up in Heaven. <> When the two stones that call out to each other are reunited in a dark soul, great misfortunes will befall everyone. Chapter 10: Prelude: The Sky Blues Filla : Hello Mahito! Mahito : It’s been a while, Fillanzea. Filla : Thanks for loaning me the book, it was great! Mahito : Did you show it to Micael? Filla : No, Elfyure would be way too embarrassed. Mahito : If Micael saw it he would definitely get really mad at Elfyure… Filla : Especially since she changed him into a girl angel! Mahito : It was really a happy ending that she got married with Fii. It would be nice if that really happened, wouldn’t it? Filla : Um… Mahito : My “baptism by fire” will be tomorrow, on the night of the full moon. Filla : Congratulations, Mahito! After four months of long, hard training… <> Mahito : Satan is strict, but he’s a good person. I’m very grateful to him. Still, the other Diables have been there for years and years, and they can all control their powers really well. I wonder if a young four-month-trainee like me can ever stack up to them. Filla : Of course you haven’t had as much time as they have to practice, but haven’t you learned a lot in your time on Earth too? Mahito : Filla… Filla : And Elfyure said that your magic powers were pretty strong. And I felt them too…so be confident! Mahito : Last month, the oldest Diable, Hugue, died…He’d lived a good, long life. It was a quiet, windless night… and he was lying there dead, just as if he was sleeping. I’ve got to do my best, for his sake. Filla : I’m not a Diable, so I can only speak as a bystander… all I can say is good luck. Mahito : Thank you. Samiade : I thought you’d be here, Fillanzea. Filla : Hello, Samiade. Samiade : Satan called for you. Filla : About what? Samiade : The “February Banquet.” Filla : What’s that? Samiade : This year is a leap year, so on February 29th, Satan will hold a banquet for the four powerful demons at his castle. All of the Diables will be there as well. Filla : Hm, I never knew about that. I came here four years ago in the spring, so it must have been right after the last one. I was really young then! I’m already 20 now! Samiade : Well, I’m already 100. Still, Diables have life spans of about a thousand years, a lot longer than the average angel or demon who only has two or three hundred. Filla : So, that would make us about the same age, relatively. Samiade : You could say that, Fillanzea. Mahito : For some reason, lately I can feel a kind of golden light coming from Filla’s body…I never realized it while I was on Earth. Filla : So, can I come to this banquet too? Satan : Yes, and you’d better enjoy it, because it only comes once every four years! Filla : But…I… Satan : You should take Micael along too. You do know who the four powerful demons are, don’t you? Filla : Yeah. There’s Bael, the guardian of the castle of darkness; Beelzebub, who rules Hades; Lucifer, the guardian of Lethe; and Astarot, the queen of the phantom forest. Satan : I’ve never seen you remember anything so well. Filla : Well, you’re the one who taught it to me… Satan : You’d better watch out, because Beelzebub and Lucifer are gay. Filla : Yeah, they should stay away from me, so their brain cells won’t end up dying! <> Satan : It was thousands of years ago that I killed many noble families of demons in the war to take control of Hell. At that time, those four demons fought with me, and helped me. First, when it seemed that all of Hell had turned against me, Bael of the house of Mizearuda pledged his loyalty to me. Filla : From the castle of darkness… Satan : That’s right. I put my confidence in him, and made him the guardian of the seal on the darkness. <> Satan : After many days had passed in peace, we finally parted ways. Filla : He left? Satan : I still don’t know myself whether he deserted me or merely could no longer work guarding the seal, as the darkness wounded him bit by bit. Filla : Do you think he’ll even come to this banquet? Satan : I doubt it. We have not seen each other in hundreds of years. <> Filla : I hope this question won’t make you angry, but is the seal on the darkness safe? Satan : There is no need to worry, since it was the great sorceror Fatale, the same one who opened the door to the Realm of Magic, who sealed in the darkness, and since I myself make sure day by day that negative energy does not come near it. I do not know what would happen if I were to die… Filla : Satan, sir, if I were in Bael’s place, even if I was being attacked by the darkness, I would stay loyal to you until my death. <> Filla : Elfyure said that all the magic in the Realm was affected by the positive energy on earth…and, after all, even Fatale’s power has some limits…could the decrease in positive energy from earth affect the seal on the darkness? Satan’s responsibility must be weighing heavier on him day by day… <> Samiade : Are you quite all right, Varna? Varna : I’m just not very hungry. Perhaps I should rest for a bit. Mahito : He seems to be acting strange lately, don’t you think, Reiju? <> Samiade : He has been a bit odd since Hugue died last month. His face is getting pale and thin. The efficiency of our magic has gone down recently as well…it must be because of him. Reiju : Indeed…he seems very tired. Mahito : Varna was so bright and energetic when I first came to this castle… Mahito : Samiade…can you feel a kind of golden aura around Filla? Samiade : It’s something that all Diables can feel. Mahito : All? Samiade : When he comes to the castle, it feels like spring, even in the dead of winter. Except on nights when the moon is full, when we have to be near negative energy to draw power from it, we can’t go outside. Even though we live in a closed world, <> Samiade : When Fillanzea is around the castle’s whole atmosphere changes. It changes into another, brighter world. Love, dreams, hopes, sentiment, joy, courage, kindness… It’s overflowing with all these things that make positive energy. <> Samiade : Perhaps that is why Satan calls Filla to the castle so often. Filla makes us stronger. He’s almost like an angel…when you look at Fillanzea, it makes you wonder if there can be angels in Hell. Mahito : Angels…When I was on Earth, I could feel a shadow around Micael, the angel. Why could I only feel his shadow, and not Filla’s light? <> Mahito : If I were to meet him here in Hell… Samiade : Varna!? What happened to you? Varna : A face—a man’s face—so many of them, in the sky—angry faces, sad faces… Samiade : Varna! <> Varna : Someone, save me! They’re going to eat me! Mahito : Varna! Hold on, Varna! Varna : I’m sorry…I don’t know what happened. Samiade : You should go to sleep. Samiade : Tomorrow is a full moon. Varna : I’ve been thinking, Samiade…if we take the sadness and anger of humans, who takes our sadness and anger? Mahito : Varna… Samiade : Don’t say that again, Varna. <> Samiade : If Satan knew you said that, what do you think he would do to you? Varna : Samiade… Samiade : You do know, don’t you? Varna : Yes, I know. Samiade : You see, Mahito, Diables like us have to be very strong. We must not allow ourselves to be controlled by the negative energy and to become pessimistic about destiny. For that, we need a very strong spiritual force. Mahito : Spiritual force… <> Samiade : We must assimilate all the negative energy on earth over a period of thousands of years. Our births were fated… If we were to give in to the pain, we would no longer be able to be Diables. That would mean, Mahito, that we would no longer be allowed to live. Mahito : I understand, Samiade. Mahito : Long ago, there must have been Diables who were killed by Satan…It must be just as painful to Satan. But I won’t give in! I absolutely won’t! <> Mahito : What is this, Reiju? Reiju : It’s your sword. Mahito, the fight will start when the moon is at its highest point in the sky. <> Reiju : If by any chance one of us should lose control, the others will kill him immediately. Mahito : No! Reiju : But how could we allow one of us to become an Alhamea? It’s better that he be buried by his friends. You must be scared, since this is your first time doing this, but whatever happens, it will be all right. Mahito : Thank you. Reiju : This is also the first full moon since Hugue died. Losing him means that the burden on each one of us will increase a bit. However, you must not overexert yourself. Know your own limits, and fight within them. No one can be expected to do more, not even Satan. All right? Don’t take on more than your authorized limit. <> Samiade : Very well, let’s go to see Satan. Varna, don’t start thinking anything negative when we start to absorb the negative energy. After all, this really is a battle. The Diables here are gambling on their lives or deaths in this fight. On and on, for decades and centuries, until their deaths. <> Satan : Mahito… Mahito : Yes, sir? Satan : Do not think that you must fight in place of the late Hugue. It is enough to do your own share of the work. Mahito : Yes, sir. <> The emotions of those living on Earth—the sadness, the hate, the rage, the regrets—form a kind of negative spiritual energy. This energy can be converted into positive energy by those who hold it. However, some negative energy accumulates, resonates with other negative energy, and thereby grows larger. When this happens, the “Seal of Darkness” is weakened. To prevent that, the negative energy is absorbed by five Diables and Satan himself. <> They use their powers to cleanse and purify the energy. But to do this, the Diables must experience once again the pain and regret that come with the negative energy. <> Samiade : Varna! Reiju : Has he failed? <> Reiju : Forgive me, Varna! Samiade : Reiju! <> Mahito : It’s my fault! It’s because my powers weren’t good enough that Varna—that Varna— Reiju : Calm yourself, Mahito! It isn’t your fault. He had been acting strange for some time. His soul had become fragile. That is why he succumbed to the negative energy. Satan : It wasn’t only that. Samiade : What do you mean? <> Satan : He was very tired…and into a space inside his tired heart entered a certain evil power. Samiade : Satan! Do you mean that evil power is— Satan : The gears of fate have started to turn once again.