Second Chances - Chapter 3

Second Chances

Chapter 3

((Disclaimer: We do not own Black Butler. Yana does.
Co-written with StickieBun))

It was cold, frigid and dark.

He float alone amongst a void of nothingness, drifting aimlessly in empty space. Not a sound to be heard nor a sight to see, just surrounding darkness and cold to keep him company. Many thoughts ran through his mind; who was he? Why was he here? What was he? How, where, and when; but mostly who, and why? He couldn't remember anything, if there was anything to remember. Only that he was alone, and he was scared.

Yet, something flickered through the space, causing him to stir. A light; it was so bright, so white... what was it? Slowly, it became brighter, blinding, until finally the darkness gave way and the cold became freezing. Making a face, he squirmed, suddenly aware of his newfound senses, his body, and the space around him. With difficulty, he opened his eyes, wincing at the blinding glare around him.

Blue above his head, body lying flat against his back upon fluffy yet solid, white matter. He breathed heavily, gasping as air filled his lungs for the first time.

Then came the new sensation - pain.

All of a sudden, his back ached, particularly at his shoulder blades in six different areas. His stomach was empty, and hunger was gnawing at him agonizingly. Wounds covered his body, each painful and unpleasant. It was all enough to make him cry out, unable to know how to speak or talk, move or do anything at all, his voice a loud wail across the clouds. Calling out for someone, anyone, to come and take him away to shelter.

As if to answer his plea, a tall, glowing figure stepped across into his view. A smiling, gentle face framed with long golden hair. She reached out, running pure white fingers over his cheek, "Well, it's not every day we find a newborn up here in the clouds..." Her voice was soft, like the song of a morning bird, "Whatever your rank...this is no place for you, come on."

Gracefully, she scooped the glowing, transparent body of a man into her arms, and spread her six great wings, taking off into the sky and heading towards the city among the clouds.

The man whimpered, yet was oddly comforted by her presence; turning, he snuggled against her, shivering like a leaf in the wind. Soft music began to filter through the air, a choir singing out amongst a city of gold and white, their voices like that of the purest water - clear and clean with no trace of taint. The city was enormous, built up entirely on a sections of clouds. Divided into three parts, it based its entire society on class. The lowest section spelt home for silvery snow white, people, flying about and minding themselves. Further up stood a district of slighter wealthier appeal, the average class bustling about, businesses flourishing as couples laughed and children played. Men and women were not the only inhabitants; horses with beautiful wings soared about the skies and clopped along the streets, palominos to stormy grey colts. But the real glory of the city stood above the middle class district.

At the center of the city, rising high into the sky, was the image of a magnificent castle made entire out of gold and white marble. High walls and gates, guards standing tall; horses, winged like those in town, yet stronger, more broad build and pure white from the tips of their manes to the ends of their tails. They sat at the front entrance to the high rise of the towards, clad in the finest armor made of gold.

"My lady" one greeted, lumbering up to the woman as she landed. "Lord Kasis has been looking for you..."

"Tell him I'll be with him in a bit, I found someone interesting, " her voice practically sang as she gazed at the nearly invisible man in her delicate but strong arms, "Or tell him to meet me in the infirmary. Your choice." she said, strolling past the guard.

"As you wish" the horse bowed his head, watching as she past.

The hallways were empty, aside from the occasion help who bowed to the woman as she passed. Yet, it was a stern yet deep bell-like voice that called out to her. "Sariel!"

"Busy!" she sang back as she continued her stride.

There was an audible sigh, the flutter of wings as a tall man of 7'04" came up beside her. Long gold hair like the woman's hung down to the middle of his back, framing a thin yet handsome face. He opened his mouth to speak, then spotted the man in the woman's arms; he sighed.

"Sariel" he began. "What is that?"

"What does it look like? It's a baby boy." She shrugged.

The man's eyebrows rose higher; from what anyone could see, what was in her arms had far surpassed the age of a baby. Even if it was a newborn angel...

He stopped, staring first at the 'child', then at the woman; scolding would have to wait.

"Where do you find him?"

"In the clouds over mortal London, bathed in the sunlight."

"Sunlight... that's an omen... Yet in the clouds..." Kasis looked down at the man, frowning. "He's been beaten... poor baby. Hungry too... Does he have a name?"

"Probably...but he's only just woke up for the first time. I know by the cry he gave out...that's how I found him.There is no way he remembers his name or knows how to tell us. That's why I'm taking him to the infirmary. I can safely search his locked memories there for his name...and give him his angelic name - and before you say anything, yes, I intend to raise him until his mind matures back into that of an adult. So don't tell me I can't give him his name!"

The other angel opened his mouth to protest, then closed it, sighing.

"Sariel... he can't replace the one you and he lost, nor the one you and I lost..." he fluttered his wings. "But fine; if it means that much to you-"

"-I know he can't... But even a full grown newborn angel needs a parental figure while his mind redevelops after the purification he underwent when Fate saw fit to bring him to heaven...and I so dearly wish to have a son or daughter..." the woman lamented softly.

He nodded, watching as the man yawned, snuggling further against her, purring softly; the sound made him frown.

"Hold on" he held up a hand to halt her, moving to check the newborn. "Oh, my... How unusual..."

"Hmm?" she asked, rocking the man in her arms.

"He is... or rather was... a Reaper."

The man whined, his stomach growling slightly as he gave the woman a hopeful look.

She frowned, "Not many things kill reapers..."

 She turned into the infirmary and lay him down on a bed, instructing a medical angel to fetch something for the newborn to eat while another quickly used his powers to check over his health. Nodding that the new angel was in fine health - other than being hungry - he left as the other returned with a plate of mashed vegetables. It'd go down easy as newborn angels were delicate, and their stomachs couldn't handle much.

Sariel hummed, taking the bowl and feeding the angel she had adopted. His movements were, as expected, very limited, and she had to hold him up in a sitting position.

He ate eagerly, downing the food within a matter of minutes, resting comfortably in the woman's arms. The about halfway through, he pulled away, suddenly overcome by discomfort. He whined, hugging himself around the middle.

"I thought this would happen...come here..." The female angel rubbed his back and gave it a few firm pats, "You can't eat the way you used to...not yet. Your new body is still developing around your soul..."

Eric coughed roughly twice, before letting a large belch akin to that of a drunkard. The sound was deafening, enough to be heard even by those in other planes.

-x-

Sitting in his favourite red chair in front of a crackling fire, romance book in hand, Grell paused and glanced up.

"What the bloody hell was that?"

-x-

Letting out a relieved sigh, Eric nuzzling into the mothering angel's shoulder, purring happily.

Humming, she closed her eyes, resting her head upon his, searching for his name... a light blue glow warming him as she searched. Finally, she pulled back, "They called him Eric Slingby..."

Eric shifted - something about that name sounded familiar, but he couldn't figure out why. He brushed it off, cuddling with his mama - it wasn't important at the moment.

"...Eralyn..." She whispered, "That's what I shall call him..."

Kasis nodded. "Yes... But what type of angel is he? Sariel, if he is a low class-"

"He's not." She said simply.

"We do not know that, Sariel... Not until his wings come in. Even then, the most he'll be is a Guardian and you know that - he will be taken to live in Middle Class once he becomes of age" her husband pointed out, eyeing the sleepy man in the woman's arms.

"Nothing can stop me from going down to him once that happens." she pointed out, "It's a curse being a noble angel...we are denied the ability to have children of our own...well, this boy is mine, and I will raise him."

Kasis sighed, moving to sit on the edge of the bed, Eralyn turning to look at him curiousity.

"And do not infer to me as the-"

"Daddy?" She giggled, "Of course you are!"

"Sariel-!"

"My, my, whatever do we have here? Eheheh~"

Sariel looked up at the door and frowned, "Oh, what are you doing here--again, Undertaker?" She sighed.

The silver haired Reaper grinned, his hat gone and bangs slightly parted to reveal yellow-green eyes.

"Come Sariel, is that any way to greet old Uncle Unnie?" the man giggled, flouncing over to the bed, blinking at the sight of the man in the tall woman's arms; something flickered in the depths of his eyes - was it sadness?

"If i remember correctly, last time you showed up here you painted the place black and pink, wrote 'You're made of feathers, you should laugh more!' on the walls, tried to play a game called 'ring toss' with people's halos, and reshaped all the clouds, plants, and food in the shape of skulls and bones."

The Undertaker burst out laughing, falling on his back as he rolled about on the floor. Eralyn ignored him, instead yawning tiredly, glancing up at his mother.

Sitting up, Undertaker panted, tilting his head at the newborn angel.

"But enough silliness... My dear, wherever did you find Mr. Slingby here?"

"So you knew him?" She asked, raising an eyebrow, "Sometimes I feel you know everyone in existence. But you should know that the reaper 'Slingby' is dead. His soul came to us, and he is now Eralyn." she looked down at Eric with a soft smile, "I found him within the clouds over London."

Undertaker nodded, reaching out to stroke Eralyn's head; the newborn seemed to coo at him, leaning into his touch. "Yes... Poor dear when through much suffering, and by no means do I mean the average amount... his pain was as great as the 1000 sins he committed."

"Which have all been washed away. Even if he grows to remember them, they no longer mar his soul." She said, "None are reborn anew in such a way as angels. Whatever he'd done...he's forgiven."

"Which is rather surprising~" the elder Reaper commented.

Kasis frowned.

"What did he do?"

Undertaker merely grinned.

"The sacrifice of a thousand souls... murder of innocents, all in vain to cure his dying lover of an incurable disease - the Thorns of Death. Caught, put on trial... sent to jail, then abandoned by his lover and all of Reaper kind for his crimes. Hated by all, beaten and offered no remorse. In pain, until it finally killed him - his lover and boss found him dying two months ago. Poor little Alan Humphries, so guilt ridden... I fear you should watch for another angel, least that boy do something stupid to try and join his beloved Eric~"

"His past sins are his own to tell. You shouldn't have told us." Sariel huffed, "But it sounds to me you should keep an eye on the boy Eralyn left behind, Master Death."

"Indeed, I shall" Undertaker mused, watching as Eric's face contorted, his eyes welling up with tears.

Something about this 'Alan' made him feel very, very sad.

"Tut-tut! Now you are making my baby boy cry." She scolded

Eralyn wriggled in her arms, hiccupping, wanting to find this 'Alan', make him happy...

Undertaker only smiled softly, reaching into his cloak to pull out a handmade doll, a little bunny teddy with brown hair, green eyes and glasses; a flower was stuck to its paw.

Sariel raised a thin, golden eyebrow, "You happen to carry children's toys with you?" she questioned as she eyed the doll

"Make it sound as if it's a bad happen, darling" Undertaker grinned, handling Eralyn the doll; the man took it tearfully, glanced at it, then held it close.

"Until thy memories return, my dear... I'll watch over your beloved Alan..."

He looked at Sariel, sending a message to here telepathically.

'And his son...'

'He has a son?' she sent back, 'With his Alan? Some reaper men can have children, am I wrong?'

'Yes... But not with dear Alan... Baby result of a one-night stand. Slingby never knew. Ronald hated him when everything fell apart, yet now all he wants is his Daddy back.'

'He doesn't even know?' Sariel looked down at her adopted son, 'Learning now...would only hurt him more...best to let him find out on his own when his angelic form and his mind have matured.'

Undertaker nodded, watching as Eralyn yawned again.

"The baby is tired" he chuckled.

She nodded, "It's exhausting to develop a new physical body."

Eralyn rolled over, nestling into his mother, clutching the fabric of her robe.

Quietly, Sariel slipped off the edge of the bed and tucked Eric in, kissing his transparent cheek and making sure he was content with his doll. Eralyn purred, falling asleep against the pillows just as his skin began to turn white and hair a beautiful, shimmering gold.

"Wait..." She paused and whispered, "...Are you sure he could only be a guardian?"

Kasis frowned before glancing at the newborn; his eyes widened.

"Get the healer..." he said breathlessly. "How...?"

"It's not unheard of..." she whispered, "And keep your voice down! He's sleeping."

Kasis nodded, feeling the man's back. "Six wings..."

"And you said I couldn't keep him with me."

Kasis didn't answer, merely stroking the sleeping baby's back, shushing him when he whimpered.