08:45 hours 27/06/05, Azure Moon Bar, Downtown Manhattan, New York City, United States.
The fog glided through the decrepit street in Downtown Manhattan the few people walking around avoiding one another with an unspoken respect. No one took notice of the big burly Japanese man in a brand new perfectly clean white suit standing before the dimly lit Azure Moon Bar. The man had a thin goatee and long black hair which he kept in a messy ponytail styled in a similar fashion to a ronin. The suit made him seem like a business man, but his build and the way he kept his hair was telling of who he actually was.
The man walked to the doorman with a classical proud swagger.
âIs he here?â The man asked.
The doorman smiled, âHe hasnât come out this door.â
âThank youâŠâ The man replied with a polite bow.
The doorman opened the door letting the man in the white suit through into the quiet bar.
The room was decorated with flags, a few weapons, framed photographs, and other more typical pub like decor. It was near empty with a couple of patrons passed out sitting at corner tables, and the bartender, a bodacious woman with dark blue hair wearing a fitting black t-shirt, was cleaning glasses while humming the tune of a popular pop song, she had a happy peaceful smile on her face.
Her smile faded when she saw the man in the white suit, âWhat can I do for you this morning sir?â
âYou know why Iâm here⊠Can you point me in the right direction?â The man replied coldly placing one of his scarred hands on the bar leaning against it shooting the bartender a serious glare.
The bartender scoffed, âYou know he doesnât need a babysitterâŠâ The woman gave a lustful smirk in remembrance, âI can assure that.â
The man in the white suit flipped a red feather from his suit jacket and reached it out to the bartender showing it to her, âThis... renders that argument useless, Iâm only acting on an oath.â
The womanâs eyes widened in terror.
âRoom directions, now preferably.â The man returned the feather to his pocket.
âUp the stairs third door on the right.â She pointed.
âThank you.â The man growled turning from the bar, he sauntered towards the stairwell.
His footfalls struck the hardwood stairs like someone striking a bass drum in a slow methodical beat.
As he reached the top of the stairs people had opened their doors looking for the source of the heavy footsteps. A few quickly slammed their doors shut at the sight of him, others looked on in awe.
The man reached the door the bartender had directed him to. He reached his large hand down and grabbed the knob trying to open the door, but he found it locked.
The man let in a deep irritated breath, letting it out slow with a quiet incantation in an ancient language.
The lock on the door clicked. The man opened the door and cautiously entered the room. It was filthy, clothes, and empty containers of various alcoholic beverages of varying sizes were scattered all over. The room smelled of sweat and the scent of vomit was emanating from the small bathroom off to the right.
The man crept towards the bed leaning over Archangel Uriel, and a woman fast asleep.
The man reached down to his side where a knife scabbard was fastened to his belt. As he drew the knife he muttered a few words in the ancient language, and the knife drew out as a full-length katana.
Holding the sword in one hand at a defensive guard he reached out his hand and shook Uriel by the shoulder.
âArchangel, wake up!â
Uriel groggily stirred,âWhat? Itâs too early, come back laterâŠâ He snored loudly
The man relaxed his stance and let out a relieved sigh shaking his head. He reached down again and shook Uriel harder.
âWake up Archangel, it is time to return home.â
Uriel squinted his eyes open, âMushi?â he sat up in bed revealing his stark naked state of dress, âWhat day is it?â
Archangel Urielâs trusted friend and comrade Miyamoto Musashi let out a quiet chuckle, âItâs the twenty-seventh Archangel,â
â*censored*⊠It happened again didnât it.â Uriel winced putting a hand to his forehead. âLast thing I remember doing was agreeing to help Grim out because one of his Reapers was killed investigating soul robberyâŠâ
Miyamotoâs smile faded back to his usually straight face, âYou massacred more than thirty S-Class Vampires taking vengeance for the crime, the Vatican found red feathers at the scene.â
âI havenât had an episode like that in a long time⊠Howâd you find me here anyway Mushi?â
Miyamoto retrieved a phone from his pocket and swiped to a text screen, it was a selfie Uriel had taken in the room holding up a topless girl his wings still bright red, a caption attached reads âAMB fun wit crzy grl up fr anytin.â âThere are more, and this one is the least graphic.â Miyamoto cleared his throat, âNeedless to say it was fairly easy from there.â
Uriel snickered, âCan I see those?â
Miyamoto glared at Uriel, âYou sent them to me on your phone Archangel look at them on your own device.â
Uriel grinned deviously, âGood point,â He got up from the bed and wandered around the room searching for his phone.
âArchangel, please retrieve your things so we may return home.â
âUgh, I guess itâs about time for me to come back for a bitâŠâ
âLong overdue Archangel.â
Uriel scoffed, âI wouldnât say that Iâm no masochist.â
âIs there any need to leave payment for the young lady?â Miyamoto said pointing his thumb in the girlâs direction.
Uriel shot Miyamoto a look of offence, âYou think I was with a hooker? Low blow Mushi, no sheâs a super fun, lightweight, grad student.â
âLightweight?â Miyamoto questioned poking one of the unconscious girlâs large breasts.
âWith alcohol, Mushi,â Uriel shook his head still offended.
âHmm, So you donât remember where youâve been for the past week but you remember the details of the human girl you slept with.â
Uriel held up his phone, âI wrote it down,â
âLeave it to you to document thatâŠâ Miyamoto shook his head. He flipped his sword around and resheathed it back into its hidden state walking towards the door.
Uriel shambled around the room picking up his clothes and putting them back on.
âShall we Archangel?â Miyamoto asked gesturing towards the door.
Uriel put on his suit jacket, âYeah, letâs go.â
The pair of angels made their way down the stairs and out of the bar. As they passed the bar the bartender had a look of relief on her face to see Uriel alive, to which Uriel responded by giving her a mischievous wink.
They stepped out onto the misty street. Uriel took a deep breath of fresh air, âAh, goodbye New York, Iâll probably be back in a month,â He stretched his arms out, âWell Mushi, letâs go.â
Uriel snapped his fingers and with a whirl of feathers, he transformed into a white hawk with red tipped wings.
Miyamoto followed suit chanting an incantation, transforming himself into a raven.
âMike is going to be pretty disappointed with you Mushi.â Uriel laughed.
âWe shall see,â Miyamoto responded.
âTo heaven, we go.â Uriel sighed flapping his wings.
The two of them flew into the air, their trajectory aimed almost straight up.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
To be continued...