A/N: There's some Thrill in this chapter, for those of you who felt denied since the last chapter was Fuji-less. (I couldn't help it--The Plot dictated to me must be continued, and who am I to deny it?)

Special Thanks: To all the reviewers!

Warnings: Religious themes, yaoi

Pairings: Thrill

Achromatic Colors

XIII. Colder Than Ice

His footsteps clicked along the white marble floors, echoing distantly in the brightly-lit corridors that warranted no shadows. He was, of course, more than capable of making his steps silent, light and hardly discernible, but there was something in him that dreaded his own silence in the unwelcoming breadth of the hallway. It was strange, the effects these corridors had on him; in the few times he visited, the walls would sometimes seem to close in, trapping him in a haze of endless white that blinded him. There were other times where they seemed too wide, set too far off as if he could not hope to touch or see anything ever again.

Ryoma knew it was all in his mind, and he hated himself all the more for it.

There was nothing particularly ugly or distasteful about the place on which he tread; like every structure in Heaven, the place boasted nothing short of elegant beauty, one that transcended those capable by mortal hands. The clouds that crowded the surrounding area of the structure made it seem more delicate in comparison, a sweeping sort of elegance that drew eyes regardless of how often angels passed it by. There had to be something that called attention to the structure, something inherent from when it was built; Ryoma sometimes thought it was because of the darkness that seeped out.

Ryoma stopped in front of a door, glaring at the golden trimmings as if to blame it for his dislike. He hated this place; they knew that. Sometimes he wondered if they would ever use that against him, for it would not be the first time angels would commit acts so heinous. Ryoma's fists clenched, his eyes darkened; no, the angels had their own dark history, a foulness that pervaded the millennia.

Ryoma turned his thoughts elsewhere. Only this place could affect him so, and he only wished to never enter it again; he doubted he would keep to that, as this same place is where Marui worked, but at least the redheaded seraph worked in another facet of the building, away from the opaque design that permeated this wing.

Pushing forth his cold reserve, Ryoma entered the room without mention. The door closed behind him softly, feather light, and he took the moment to survey the inside with quickly-growing contempt.

It was blindingly white, like many other rooms in this building, windowless but lit illogically by an ever-present light that seemed to pervade all of Heaven. Impeccably clean as well, but the seraphs were known for their tidiness so it was hardly an outstanding trait. The light and cleanliness drew forth in his mind another room, but the memory was distorted by his own perception; to Ryoma, that room had been cloaked in darkness despite the constant spell of light, had smelled and tasted of a foulness that could only exist in a place as barbarically pure as Heaven.

A giant map covered the far western wall, continents split into countries split into tribes and cities and territories. The lines would move now and then, tangible and ever-shifting; in times of mortal war they rolled like waves in an ocean, accounting for new territories and lost ones; in natural disasters cities would be wiped off completely, and Ryoma thought that if one listened close enough, they could hear the screams.

Bookshelves lined the other side of the room, as tall as the ceiling and holding so many tomes that it would be unreasonable to count them all. Most had fraying edges and delicate spines; others were scrolls; some were nothing more than sheaves of paper that would crumble to dust if handled wrong.

The furniture and decoration could not hold his attention long, and Ryoma finally turned his stare to the far end of the room. A long, oaken table separated him and the other angel, lined with empty chairs that would seem inviting to any other person but Ryoma. Aged eyes met his own pair, the wrinkles lining the brow uncommon in an angel and belonging only to one creature in all of Heaven: Ryuuzaki Sumire.

"All these years, and your manners have yet to improve, Ryoma." Ryuuzaki stated, a sardonic smirk tilting her thin lips.

Ryoma remained silent, staring at her with the same intense eyes he had adopted out of necessity. They had been intense back when he was young, but when he sported them now, Ryuuzaki could not shake the feeling that the archangel was looking through and past her--not in the way of Seers, but a look that had nothing to do with Gifts or Sight.

Ryuuzaki sighed but continued. "I heard you've been visiting the mortal world more often now. May I ask why?"

Ryoma's stare narrowed, before shifting back into neutrality. "It's not important."

"Ryoma, if you have any--"

"What do you want?" Ryoma cut off briskly. He did not want to stay in this place any longer, she must know that, and he didn't come here to chitchat. Ryuuzaki recognized this with nothing more than a dropping of her pleasant disposition, a calmness overtaking her features that befit her seniority.

"You have not been attending to your estates." she stated calmly, but there was chiding tone belying it.

Ryoma snorted, and Ryuuzaki's complacent look flickered to irritation. "We've been through this," the archangel dismissed, a bored tone highlighting his words. "I want nothing to do with them."

Ryuuzaki sighed angrily. "Ryoma, you're the only archangel like this." Ryoma didn't bother to deny the claim, but his eyes did narrow as if wondering why he should care. Ryuuzaki glared back at him. "Nanako-san had been looking after them for you since you were a child, but now--"

"She can keep them." Ryoma interrupted yet again, his tone once again claiming a bored countenance.

"Ryoma!" Ryuuzaki snapped, shocked by the sheer suggestion. "How could you--"

"If it belongs to me, it is also mine to give."

"That may be true. However," Ryuuzaki cut in, at seeing Ryoma's smug look, "Your cousin does not possess the rank to own such property."

Why do they see the need to make it so much more complicated than it actually is? Ryoma wondered, not for the first time, and he was sure it would also not be the last. This particular thought was always brought up whenever others heckled him about his remarkably unangel-like behavior.

"Well, I don't want it." Ryoma stated flatly.

Ryuuzaki almost growled. "Nanako-san has said that she thinks it's time for you to take over your own responsibilities." the seraph rebutted. "Your lackadaisical attitude is keeping her from her own studies, Ryoma."

The archangel was not to be deterred. "Then just give it away." he dismissed. Why were they still discussing it? He didn't want the properties, end of story; could she not just let it go? If she was so worried about it, then she could bloody well take them.

Ryuuzaki's ire was reaching its apex. "This is a matter of consequence."

"It is no consequence of mine." was the indifferent response.

"Ryoma, you are no longer a child!" Ryuuzaki finally raised her voice, fed up with the male angel's attitude.

The archangel gave her nothing more than a plaintive stare, before dipping his head with nothing but perfect neutrality on his features. "You're right; now at least I have attained enough power to make my own choices."

He stared hard at her now, a gaze filled with such contemptuous intensity it felt as if cold water had been poured over her head. "Not walk the path others have set for me." he continued. I will follow no one but myself, Ryoma thought savagely. If Heaven had taught him anything, it was that there was no such thing as perfection of tranquility.

"...If this keeps up, I will have no choice but to strip you of your title." Ryuuzaki decreed, still not willing to back down.

"Go ahead," Ryoma scoffed. "It was not my idea to take the exam." He knew from the start that not even the privileges of archangels would grant him freedom from the ways they have been pressing him.

Ryuuzaki faltered, a stirring of sadness as she evaluated the archangel before her. "Ryoma... if this is about that time--"

"She has nothing to do with this." Ryoma practically hissed, bristling. His golden eyes darkened in tightly-controlled fury, and the air crackled in the sudden emotional stilt. Abruptly, the boy turned and stalked out, only the sound of the door slamming behind him and his angry steps echoing in the hallway.

Ryuuzaki sighed.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Stepping back into the mortal realm was nothing, though it did take longer than usual to coax Karupin to him. Some animalistic part of his obnoxious feline must have noticed his simmering anger, but Karupin was far too enamored with him to stay away for long, so she easily came padding over. Ryoma was careful to stroke her gently so that he didn't harm her, but even Karupin's presence could not wipe the scowl from his face.

He hadn't believed Ryuuzaki had had the nerve to even imply anything related to her. He had supposed the subject was taboo to everyone involved, but apparently some lines were going to be crossed at times. The thought still left a bitter taste in his mouth.

The opening of a portal nearby drew his attention briefly, but when no one but that (literally) damned smiling devil came out, Ryoma turned his heated gaze elsewhere. The archangel wasn't in the mood to entertain the annoying demon, not that he would be at all deterred. The smiling devil had a habit of ignoring Ryoma's numerous comments to go away.

The brunet sat down next to him with far more grace than Ryoma had done previously, but Ryoma's gaze only flickered over to give the other male a sharp glare. He just beamed back at him.

"You seem to be in a bad mood." the demon noted idly.

"I'm not." Ryoma rebutted curtly, if anything, working against himself.

Fuji raised an eyebrow, seemingly amused by the contradiction. "Care to talk about it?"

Ryoma's glare quickly notched up in heat.

"Guess not." Fuji mused.

Ryoma sighed, bending his head down as he watched his fingers run through Karupin's silken fur. "I'm not in the mood right now." Ryoma bit out.

Fuji hummed. "No different from usual, then."

Ryoma's glare was quick to return to him, causing the devil to smile wider.

"Can't you go away? Just this once?" The archangel's tone was almost desperate, but Ryoma's pride would not allow such a blow to his pride, so it came out far more biting than necessary. Fuji, however, seemed to know this; the smile dropped off his features, and he stared off into the distance for a moment before standing abruptly.

"Come with me." Fuji stated, grabbing Ryoma's arms and hauling him up with surprising strength. Ryoma faltered unsteadily for a moment at the sudden action, but only his eyes widened when the devil opened a portal with nothing but a wave of his hand.

"Where are we going?" Ryoma demanded, but the fire in his voice was gone, displaced by panic that would not show through to his face.

"It's a secret." Fuji returned, much more warmly. It was almost reassuring, really, and a small smile grew on the older male's lips.

"My cat," Ryoma turned back, remembering that Karupin had quickly scampered off after the devil's hasty attention.

Fuji shook his head, pulling Ryoma towards the portal. "Leave her. She won't like where we're going."

Ryoma smirked, an eyebrow rising at the other. "Are you dragging me to Hell, devil?" he wondered lightly. The archangel was confident that if such a thing happened, he was more than capable of escaping.

Fuji chuckled, his smile growing. "Not yet. It's still too early for you."

Fuji headed through the portal without reserve, his hand never leaving Ryoma's forearm. The archangel, however, hesitated just a step away; was he to be trusted?

The hesitation lasted a moment, as Ryoma decided he didn't care. He had gotten this far on decisions he had never made; it was time to start in a direction where the choice were his to make. Ryoma pulled away from the devil's hand, and without regard, stepped through the portal on his own.

Fuji was looking at him as he came through, face almost calculating, before a smile stretched across his lips once more. Ryoma's eyes were challenging as he stared at the demon, before the archangel finally looked away and took in the scene before him.

Words were robbed from him.

A landscape set in nature, basked in an iridescent light that was shaded by thin-layered clouds. His breath fogged with each exhale, a tantalizing invasion of every mortal sense. A white fluff covered everything his eyes could take in, layering the mortal world in heavenly dust. Everything looked pure, then, unsullied in a way Ryoma had never been able to view Heaven. Smooth-running water drifted flatly, intercepting the endless white here and there, seeming to gleam like diamonds in the filtered light. Some of the white fluff had built up, over time, hardened and slick, almost glowing blue as light shined down at it from no direction but every direction at once. It was serenity, Ryoma noticed, that settled across this icy plain; a peace Ryoma had never known.

A light, feathery piece of ice cascaded down towards them, slow but incessant. It was followed by more and more, until Ryoma could see the layers build even more. The cold that dipped and touched at his skin made sensation run through him pleasantly, and slowly, Ryoma reached out to touch a snowflake. One fell into his outstretched hand, turning to water on contact with his palm.

It was beautiful.

"What is this?" Ryoma asked in an awed voice. "It appears to be clouds, yet it's completely different."

"The white stuff that you see around us is called snow, and the droplets that are falling from the sky are called snowflakes. When the temperature is low enough, the rain droplets freeze to form snow instead. It is essentially made from the same material as clouds; water. You seemed to have a fascination for rain, so I thought this might cheer you up a little." Fuji explained.

"Thank you...for bringing me here."

Fuji turned to look at him, and sapphire eyes opened as he caught sight of the angel's face.

The tiniest smile adorned Ryoma's lips. Not a smirk--there was no highlight of arrogance or disdain--but an honest smile. It was small, but it was genuine; as Fuji watched those golden eyes alight in contentment, he felt himself smile genuinely in response.

Fuji knew the other was dangerous. An angel that harbored secrets was always a threat, and Ryoma's power was nothing to scoff at. Sometimes he would surprise Fuji with a power that didn't belong on Earth, with a breadth of knowledge too jaded to be an earth angel's; secrets had a way of building and turning against those who kept them. Fuji knew this.

If only he could bring himself to care.

Well I hope you guys still like it and drop a review XD

Not much to say when I'm sleepy…

Firey

Published: 05/08/09

Edited: