Chapter Text
What happens after you die?
That’s a question that has been asked since the beginning of time.
To Eichi it meant nothing.
He, as an angel, saw countless lives be lost and reborn. The cycle was endless.
There were few humans he felt any connection with, but they all ended similarly.
Death.
Tsumugi Aoba, a kind but unfortunate person, died in a terrible car accident.
Kanta Shinkai, a quite eccentric individual, drowned. His body was never to be recovered.
Leo Tsukinaga, a genius musician- his melodies enchanted and brought joy to millions… only to have ended his life.
All human lives had to end.
However, no matter what he did, Eichi always found wonder, joy, and curiosity in their lives.
Keito, a lower-ranking angel who never seemed to leave him alone, always chastised him for interacting with humans. Today was another one of those days.
“Eichi! How many times do I have I have to tell you! We only collect their souls, what even is that you’re holding!?” Keito shouted.
“Hm? It’s a ‘potato chip’, I’ve heard it’s a trendy human food.” He waves it in front of the other angel. “You should try it.”
Keito slaps it out of his hands. “Ugh! You’re insufferable.” He then hands him a scroll. “Here, this is your next soul.”
Eichi takes the scroll and quickly scans it- ‘Wataru Hibiki - Hell’
The basic information was lacking, with little to no background about this particular human, however, Eichi noticed that he was quite young.
"What a waste~," he said in a sing-song voice. "Life as a human is so cruel. I wonder what God's purpose is..." He is about to fall into one of his typical rambles, however, Keito glares at him.
"Eichi, you know if you keep questioning our Lord's actions you'll fall due to your curiosity and hubris. Just make sure to retrieve the soul quickly and leave." He says as he goes back to his stuffy study.
Eichi sighed, it was time to work.
-
He looks around where the soul had led him, seeing a young man walking across a theater stage, despite being all alone his presence could fill the whole room.
"And so, with all my heart I shall say 'This is Love'" Wataru shouted in a dramatic tone, his voice was one to rival his fellow angels, and the force of which it resonated was something inhuman- Eichi's eyes shined.
Suddenly, he could feel a gaze upon him, Wataru was looking straight at Eichi, but that couldn't be possible, he was invisible to humans at the moment.
"Why, hello there, audience member~! Have you come to see my performance? Or have you come here to take my soul?" He said with a flamboyant bow, Eichi was shocked.
"Oh my, you can see me," Wataru just nodded while approaching him. "Yes, it's true, I have come for your life." He had many questions for this man, however, he was so entranced he felt like all of his worries faded away.
"I see," Wataru takes his hand against his. He can feel the warmth that radiates from him, he is so... alive. "I do have some requests if you will before your precious hands take me away."
Eichi recalls Keito's words, just take the soul and leave, just take the soul and leave... but it wouldn't be a crime to let him have his way, right?
And so, with a gentle smile, Eichi agreed.
-
The request of the human was quite simple- To have a last date.
"I'm a hopeless romantic, you see. And having a date with an angel sounds amazing~!" Wataru said with a big smile.
"A date? Aren't those only between human partners?" Eichi was dumbfounded, unsure as to what to think about this odd request.
"I don't think dates are strictly romantic, do you angels not have platonic dates? hanging out with a friend?" He got closer to him as if scanning his every expression. "However I do want it to be somewhat romantic."
Eichi blushes, he had never had someone as close to him as Wataru was right now. "In heaven they're all more like co-workers than friends, however, I am quite close to some."
"Oh-ho? Then you will have fun today too~ Let's spend my last day on this Earth together~" He then turned around, motioning for him to follow. They both went backstage, Eichi looking through all the lights and flashy costumes with curiosity.
Then, Wataru lifted a curtain and it revealed a small room with a table in the center. On top of it, there was a feast, and he could just smell the warm steak he had craved for a while.
Eichi was becoming suspicious, this was too perfect to be without malicious intent, maybe Wataru was trying to do something to him, like take his wings...
But he couldn't bring himself to care.
Life as an angel was so dull, he had wished for something interesting to happen for a while now, not to mention as a higher-level angel he was feared amongst his peers, Keito being the only one who didn't care about his rank.
He'd rather indulge in the forbidden fruit than stay in the garden of Eden, for that was what made humans perfect in his own eyes, the imperfection and sinful ways made them special.
And wouldn't that be what his Creator wants? For him to have free will and enjoy the beauties of the life he had given him?
"How wonderful, did you know that I was coming for you?" Eichi says, masking his fear and distrust, accepting the fact that was going to happen.
Wataru looks at him in the eyes, but he can't detect any malice coming from him. But he was an actor.
"A little birdie told me you angels quite like indulging in human customs, and this is what usually romantic dates dine~" He avoided the question, so it was like that... To be betrayed by a mere human, who could have told that the great Archangel Eichi would be defeated by a simple human? But, to be honest, Wataru was anything but normal.
"Alright, if it's you, I don't mind if I get betrayed," Eichi said under his breath.
"Wataru, do you have any family? I know that family is precious for all humans." Eichi asked curiously, he wondered what kind of family he had, not to mention, to know who would miss him once he was gone.
Wataru laughs. "I don't happen to have any kind of blood connection to anyone~ Well, none that I'm sure of. I was adopted from a young age, you see." Eichi looked at the food, noticing that Wataru hadn't touched his at all he didn't even have a plate.
"Hm, but an adopted family is still family, isn't it? We don't have a family system in our society, but I do happen to be close to some angels." He picked up his fork and stabbed his meal, the juicy steak looked incredibly cooked.
"My old folk sadly passed away, they had very good lives. However..." He pauses. "I do have a family of some sort, my theater troupe, they're like my children- And I do happen to have some close friends aside from them." Wataru poured him some tea. "Please, do not hesitate to eat in front of me."
"I'm glad you have support..." He was going to say something about how they'd miss him, but he didn't want to make him even more reluctant to die. "-What kind of tea did you just pour in? It smells delicious."
"It's black cherry tea- I thought it'd be fitting. However, if you happen to like something else I can make some magic to give some to you, from mint to masala chai~" Wataru said while showing other tea bags which he took from nowhere. "Oh, but of course, I also happen to have custom blends, do you prefer berries, citrus, or a more natural taste?"
Eichi takes a sip from the tea, it was wonderful. The cherry was sweet and yet it left a bitter aftertaste. He can't help but wonder if death was like this, first, you have a sweet moment of peace, and then the bitterness of your sins drags you to the afterlife... Not that he'd know what it was like. "I find it incredible. Do you happen to have a favorite?"
"No, I find every flavor both amazing and dull~ It may be one it may be the other, no actual preference." The way Wataru talked about himself was a bit concerning to Eichi, he wasn't sure where his standing was, more like, if he even wanted to live or if he was just going with the flow. He seemed to have done multiple masks, all covering a real self that had been masked for so long it was no longer real.
And so, time went by, and while Eichi didn't have much to say he was fine listening to Wataru talk. His stories were so strange that he felt an immense curiosity about the life this young man led.
But something still bothered Eichi.
Despite Wataru telling him so many stories, he didn't let any information about himself- about his origin, his connections with angels, or about his person- instead always avoided those topics. When Eichi pressed him, he just replied with a flirtatious joke.
Eichi coughs as a way to divert the attention to him. "So.. Wataru, I feel like you are very special, however despite being talking for this past hour haven't been able to know anything about you. Is there something you... are hiding?" Eichi averts his eyes from Wataru, unsure if the question is inappropriate.
"Oh, I'm sorry my dear angel... but you are right." Eichi looks up at this revelation. "You could say I am deceiving you. I knew my day of passing for a long time, but I didn't feel like I could let this world go so early." He sighs. "But now, I believe I just want to live this last day. Without tricks."
Eichi looks at him with pity, despite Wataru not being like other humans, he is still human. He still feared death, he still tried his best to survive, and any underhanded trick was very possible for him.
"Wataru... Did you happen to use black magic?" There was no possible way to know as much as Wataru does, not only was he able to see angels, but he also knew his date of death. The only way he could know this information is by a deal with the Devil.
"Not exactly, but close." He takes a rose from nowhere and presents it to Eichi. "Eichi, thank you so much for being with me on this last day, I am ready to pass on." His face was blank, devoid of any emotion.
Eichi... Eichi didn't know Wataru well, but he didn't sense any malice from him, Wataru's antics drew him in, wanting to explore more of Wataru. He didn't want him to die, at least, not until he found a reason as to why he had to die. Why did The Creator decide to let so many good people go to hell? He hadn't even experienced half of a human's lifespan, besides, it's not like Wataru had done an unforgivable sin such as killing... He needed to know what kind of black magic he did to understand... No, to confirm what The Creator did is wrong.
Eichi wasn't really in favor of The Creator, given that he had never seen him and didn't even seem to exist. Eichi believes it was just a way to incite fear into not only angels, but also humans, so they behave accordingly.
"Wataru, I don't want you to die. I find that sending you to eternal damnation for sinning - just as any other human does- and receiving this kind of punishment is wrong. No human is perfect, and as long as you repent... I don't think it's fair."
“I had a good life, so please, take me to hell, my angel.”