Falling Leaves 10??

  Haniel falls to her knees, as Ariel runs to her.

  Clyde watching remains silent. He thinks, This is sick… this is disgusting… everything about this is just… He clenches his fist.

  He mutters, "Is this what having power is really about!? Just treating people like they're disposable?"

  A flashback runs through of Akuji's words when they argued about who's the real tyrant here.

  Akuji's voice rings in his head: "Don't lie to yourself, every action you've taken in life was for it. All the sins you've committed, to achieve that little dream of gaining respect you so desired."

  Clyde punches the ground, "You tried to use fear to get it. Tell me what makes you so different from a 'Tyrant' as you claim?"

  Clyde looks down at Ariel and Haniel as Ariel is holding onto her, they're both weeping.

  He tries to call out, "Guys…"

  "Haniel… it's okay… please stop crying." Ariel rubs her head.

  Clyde shakes seeing this, watching Ariel as well… he can't stand it, "I TOLD YOU ARIEL! SACHI IS NOT A GOOD PERSON! SHE'S NOT THIS SPIRIT OF JOY YOU MADE HER OUT TO BE!"

  Ariel looks up at Clyde unable to say anything. She knows he's right... she didn't want to believe it.

  Haniel continues to weep as the rain lets up.

  Clyde then turns to Danya. "And look at her! The one who did all this to you, now trapped like an animal!"

  Ariel helps Haniel up, "Clyde please… there's a lot going on right now…"

  Clyde grits his teeth. "And that's exactly why we need to do something! This is unacceptable. We need to—"

  Before he can finish, Ariel interrupts him, "AND DO WHAT? TELL ME WHAT AMAZING IDEA YOU HAVE? WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING AGAINST NARI LET ALONE SACHI!"

  She grits her teeth, "WE COULDN'T EVEN HANDLE THE REAPER WHEN SHE WAS BARELY TRYING!" She looks down at the ground as tears fall, whimpering, "Stay in a mortal’s place! Don’t tell us what to do!"

  Clyde doesn't let up. "But there is a way!" He points to Danya trapped in the ice prison, "She's the powerhouse we need!"

  Haniel lifts her head. "And what do you hope we achieve doing that? Us being outlaws helping a terrorist?"

  "I…" Clyde stumbles on words.

  "Don't tell us how to live or do our jobs… Sachi… is…" She pauses for a moment. "She's a superior, a daughter to one of the Stars. We have no choice but to listen to her…"

  Ariel holds Haniel over her shoulder, "Clyde… I enjoyed the little time we spent together. But it's best if you just stay out of this."

  "But Ariel…" Clyde reaches out to her.

  "I said go! There's nothing good that will come out of this for you. So for your sake just go." She struggles out a defeated smile, "This is our home, where we were raised… we're not going to rebel…"

  "You can't seriously be okay with this?? You're living under a Tyrant! Where are the so-called Stars you guys talk about. Gods should be intervening with shit like this!"

  "Sachi… is a Spirit of Life, she's a daughter to a Star, by that she has more authority than most in this realm…"

  "So it's just some fucked up birthright!? Don't even by a vote?!"

  "A vote? What fantasy world do you come from? You think we angels can just vote who's in power?"

  "Shit… I forgot places like these don't work like America…" he mutters to himself.

  "Where I come from we could vote for whoever ruled! It was called a democracy. It's a shame heaven doesn't have that. This is supposed to be paradise, but everything I've seen so far, has been worse than life itself."

  Haniel interrupted, "Enough with this pointless chatter… Ariel, leave me, I'll take myself to recovery. Grab the reaper and take her to the Colosseum…" she lets go of Ariel.

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  "But, Haniel you've lost too much blood, would you be okay flying to a nursery by yourself?"

  Haniel spreads her wings as she flaps them, "What other choice do I have? I'm useless like this… I can't battle missing an arm." She gives Ariel a salute, "Ariel… please be careful, if anything goes wrong over there, promise you'll make it out alive."

  Ariel salutes back, "I promise! I won't die, I'll come see you when everything is over."

  Haniel smirks as she flies away leaving Clyde and Ariel alone.

  Ariel summons a beam of light turning it into her sword. She walks towards Danya's ice chamber, holding it out.

  "Ariel, what are you doing?!" Clyde panics, "Don't kill her! She's your only hope here!"

  Ariel looks back at Clyde. "I'm not killing her please be quiet! I'm already overwhelmed as it is!"

  She continues to walk to the prison, as she gently slashes the points sticking at Danya's neck. Her sword starts to glow red, as it's molten, she places the blade on surrounding ice, slowly melting it.

  "There we go." She gently slashes the crystals breaking them apart.

  Danya falls out of the prison as the ice shatters and melts, she lands on her back, as she splashes in a puddle on the ground. She opens her eyes instantly as the water wakes her up.

  Dany quickly stands up, "Sachi! Show yourself! Dirty move jumping me!" She summons her scythe.

  "Reaper, she's gone!" Ariel calls out.

  Danya whirls her head to her, "You? Where is everyone else? Where's that archangel or that bitch?!"

  Clyde interrupts, "Sachi and the Archangel left, they took Akuji with them."

  Danya's eyes widen as she looks at the spot Akuji was lying at, he's gone.

  "No…"

  Her eyes start to glow crimson, as her hair follows suit glowing a radiant red, she materializes her wings as a red aura radiates off her.

  Ariel and Clyde freeze in place, chills run up their spines, sweat drops from their foreheads. The area's hue begins to dim and turn a dark crimson.

  "They took him… THEY TOOK HIM!"

  Danya clenches her fist.

  Clyde, sweating and frozen with terror, looks ahead. "This… this… is what death feels like… it feels like I'm on the verge of it again… this time it's like I'm being hunted."

  Ariel trembles, "This… is the power of a reaper??! She really was holding back against us that entire time… I can't handle this! She's on the level of an archangel!"

  Danya points her scythe at Ariel, "YOU! TELL ME WHERE THEY TOOK HIM, BEFORE I SLICE YOU TO PIECES!"

  "T-t-they took him to the Colosseum of Konjeteri!"

  "WHERE IS THAT!? POINT ME IN THE DIRECTION NOW!" Danya roars, her voice warping into a low, savage growl that echoes through the village like a demon awakened.

  In the distance Haniel continues to fly, she struggles to stay steady in the air, as she notices swarms of doves rushing past her.

  The golden trees below her rustle as heavenly creatures run in the same direction as the doves as if something is chasing them. She feels a wave of bloodlust hit her, as her body stiffens.

  "What's going on? This feeling… it's ominous…"

  She looks back at the direction of the village. "Ariel… please keep our promise..."

  Back at the village, Danya launches herself in the air. "WHICH DIRECTION?!"

  Clyde pushes through his fear. "CAN YOU WAIT, PLEASE WE'LL SHOW YOU! JUST PLEASE CALM DOWN!"

  Ariel turns to him staring at him. In her head she thinks, How can he be this brave to talk to her like that… this guy… he's really… something else.

  Ariel tells him, "Clyde… I told you, you didn't have to be a part of this… I don't want you losing your life…"

  Clyde grabs Ariel's hand. "I'm in this no matter if you like it or not, you're the first person since I got to this realm to treat me like I'm someone."

  Danya looks down at them, her eyes narrow as if she's sizing them up, "Then hurry it up… show me the way before I give you a second death mortal."

  Ariel moves in front of Clyde spreading her arms out. "You're in no position to be making demands like that reaper! You need us to save the one you love, so calm down and respect us."

  Danya grits her teeth. "I have no time for this! Fine, can you please show me the way?!"

  The red hue begins to return to normal, Ariel sighs in relief as she turns back to Clyde.

  He's chuckling awkwardly to himself. "I'm really playing with death right now am I? Haha…"

  Ariel grins as she crinkles her eyes. "It's okay, the fact you're even brave enough to even face it. Says a lot about you."

  He huffs. "I mean I already died once… but damn, I don't think this is a feeling I'll ever get used to…"

  "Lean your head forward for a second."

  "Hm?" Clyde hums confused as he leans his head a bit close to Ariel.

  Ariel gives him a kiss on the cheek, "A reward for you! A blessing from an angel."

  Clyde blushes as a golden lip mark is left on his cheek. "I- Wha- Wait- HUH?!"

  "Oh give me a break, big deal mortal she kissed you! Can we get a move on!" Danya crosses her arms as she's hovering.

  Ariel grabs Clyde's hand once more. "You ready?"

  Clyde nods. "Uh… yeah."

  Ariel's wings start to glimmer with sparkles and golden light.

  Ariel turns to Danya, "Reaper, would you be able to keep up with my speed?"

  Danya scoffs. "Who do you take me for? I'm not one of you little angels. It's you who'll need to keep up with me."

  "Right…" Ariel rolls her eyes. She then looks at Castiel's corpse one more time. "Castiel… I'm sorry. I really am… rest well my friend."

  She launches into the air as a trail of light flashes from her. She calls out, "Follow me Reaper. We're heading south east."

  "I'LL NEVER GET USED TO THIS!" Clyde screams as Ariel flies at top speed.

  Danya huffs as she follows suit.

  The three soar toward the Colosseum, unaware of what awaits them. Danya's resolve to save Akuji. Ariel's orders to bring Danya in. Clyde's stubborn decision to stay close to Ariel. Conflicting personalities, clashing goals — it could make them stronger. Or tear them apart.