Facing the Music
Sanada’s and Yanagi’s reactions to the whole story about Belial.
Saying that Genichirou and Renji were not happy simply did not address the magnitude of their feelings on the subject.
Arc: Genre
Parallel
Michael’s offer to Fudoumine.
The guy he was here to visit, Tachibana, seemed as pleased by the news as anything else. “So,” he said. “Yukimura will be playing at Nationals.” He practically glowed with anticipation.
“Yep,” Michael said.
“And you’re here because…?” the girl asked, eyes sharp.
Interlude
Sanada makes a further discovery.
Seiichi knew the moment Genichirou noticed Mad Hatter’s seal, low on one hip and inconspicuous except to a thorough lover.
The Shine
Sanada and Belial talk about Seiichi.
"What do you want with Seiichi?" Genichirou asked, bluntly.
"His soul," Hatter answered.
Genichirou reminded himself, strenuously, of Renji’s caution that he wouldn’t get anywhere with Hatter unless he could keep his temper. He told himself it was just like dealing with Niou in a really bad mood.
Talking Sense
Kurai and Noise explain things to Sanada.
Belial waved a hand. “Not at all,” se said. “Her Majesty is here to relieve certain misapprehensions regarding her husband’s domain.” Se glanced pointedly in the direction of the boy se had indicated previously, who was standing a little ways off and obviously trying not to look too much like he was hovering.
Yukimura followed the glance. “Ah,” he said. “I see.” He looked back at Kurai. “In that case, welcome.”
Belonging
SanaYuki make up smut.
"Seiichi…" Seiichi blinked; even when they were alone, Genichirou rarely let his voice soften so much. Genichirou’s arms closed around him, almost lifting him against Genichirou’s body. Seiichi released a tiny breath of his own and let himself relax into that support.
"I’m sorry," Genichirou murmured.
Nine Tenths
Possible answers about Kirihara’s proclivities.
Niou’s eyes narrowed. “So,” he drawled, “it’s one of yours that makes him do that thing with the red eyes and the violence?”
Engarde
Kurai is depressed and Hatter is curious.
It was the Witch’s shattered realm that eventually drew her—with all its psychic pain and loneliness like a blackened mirror for her own.
Understanding
Lucifer visits Rikkai.
Renji, along with the rest of the team, was starting to get used to Mad Hatter’selusive, mocking presence among them. He supposed he should have knownthat would be the signal for a fresh turn into strangeness.
Ministers of Grace
Lucifer passes through Seigaku and Hatter spots Fuji.
When the Lord of Hell and what had to be his strongest supporter appearedat the courts, Kunimitsu took a prompt and firm hold of Fuji’s arm.
Declarations of War
Lucifer finally meets Michael at Fudoumine.
“What do you want?” Michael demanded, glaring. If there had been any justice in the universe, Lucifer would have combusted on the spot, and Belial would’ve gone up right along with him.
Profession
Belial chats with Sakaki, who turns out to be an old ‘friend’.
Sakaki Tarou paused on his way across the grounds of Rikkai Dai to visit his contemporaries on staff, and watched the junior high tennis team practicing. This team was always worth watching, but this time something specific caught his attention. Something about them had changed, since the last time he’d observed these players. It was most notable in Yukimura-kun, and Tarou sighed faintly as he contemplated the inherent disorder of what he was seeing.
"Taken," a light voice stated next to his ear.
Double Entendre
Kurai has a plan.
“No one has done the triumvirate ceremony since before the first wars,”Noise said. Kurai made small sound of agreement. “You don’t have to do this,” Noise said, rather plaintively. “Besides, you have to be a triumvirate and you’re just you.”
Great Minds
A Belial and Fuji moment.
Shuusuke took a precautionary step backwards. "Is there any particular reason I should ignore a friend’s warning in order to talk with you?"
Games Without Frontiers
Yukimura decides how to deal with Belial.
"You know," Belial observed, voice a little husky, "this is one of the things mortals and celestials really aren’t supposed to do."
"I’ve already sold my soul to a demon," Seiichi noted, dryly, against Belial’s collar bone. "Breaking another rule is supposed to concern me, why?"
Arrangements
Ryouma gets off on the wrong foot with Kurai.
Ryoma caught the demon girl looking around after Fudoumine practice. He estimated that he’d end up running about forty laps for this, but decided that it was probably worth it. “Hey, you,” he called.
Such a Kicking
Constantine gets an invitation from the Witch.
“She’s been trying to reach you Herself, she has,” Mad Hettie said in lieu of a greeting. John had a bad feeling that he knew the ‘Herself” Hettie was refering to. “She’s been tryn’ but you’ve been shuttin’ her out the way you shut out everything so I’m here to tell you and you’re here to listen, Johnny-lad.”
Secondhand Angels
Ann discusses older brothers with Michael.
He should have known Ann was going to come after him at some point the minute his bastard of an older brother had shown up. Well, he had known, to be honest, though he had been avoiding thinking about it.
Persuasion
Ryouma makes some suggestions to Lucifer.
Ryoma was sitting on the porch at home when a tall man strolled into the yard and stood in front of him. He decided that the man was probably someone that he could get along with…or, rather, someone that he wished played tennis.
Headaches
Tezuka finds out what Ryouma’s been up to.
Tezuka Kunimitsu decided that he was having a bad day when Echizen walked up to him with that look in his eye; the one that Echizen had picked up from Fuji.
Green Eyed
Raphael comes looking for Michael and gets a surprise.
He very nearly bypassed the first school, figuring it for a fluke, until the boy with glasses looked directly at him, sighed, and inquired, "We’re not interested, but thank you anyway." He eyed Raphael. "You might try Hyoutei."
Relatives
Tezuka talks to relatives about his problems.
“Pfft. You make me feel old. I’m Hiiragizawa Eriol, though you’re free to call me ‘uncle’ if you like.” Something about Eriol’s purely friendly smile made Tezuka uneasy. He wasn’t sure precisely why he wanted to have a wall at his back at the moment, but he forced himself to ignore the urge and go on.
In the Family
Belial introduces the Fujis to the Mudous.
Notes: Contains consensual sibling incest.
Yuuta sighed, resigned, and then had to take a second look at the person who had hailed his brother. He didn’t think he’d ever seen anyone dressed quite that flamboyantly outside a festival. Or, possibly, a circus. He was busy enough looking at the top hat that it took him a few moments to notice that his brother had paused beside the strange person, and was now standing on Yuuta’s other side.
Between him and the strangers. Yuuta took a closer look.
Addition and Distraction
Yanagi talks with Belial.
It had been a long practice, and only got longer when Hatter decided to tease Genichirou. Renji sighed.
Regarding
A memo is mis-directed to Tsuzuki’s desk.
"To all demons rank of Brigadier or Duke," Tsuzuki read aloud, "from the domain of Beelzebub. Angelic response to recent demonic acquisitions among mortals are reaching undesirable levels. Any demons who are free are encouraged to go, forthwith, to Assiah (e.g. Earth, the mortal realm) and rectify this. Sec’y, Choronzon."
Hisoka was staring. "There is nothing more blind than bureaucracy," he declared with conviction. "They can’t possibly really think you’ll participate."
Marked
Somewhat troubled, Belial seeks out Yukimura.
Belial took a few steps out of the shadow, not far enough to show hir face. Apparently, it was still too many, because Seiichi stood, frowning, and came to hir.
Tickets to Zimbabwe
Eriol visits Seigaku, much to Tezuka’s dismay.
Tezuka could have predicted that Eriol would walk right up to Fuji. He also could have predicted the sweet smile that would grace Eriol’s face when said meeting occurred. He had not, however, predicted that Fuji would smile and greet Eriol as if the man were an old friend.
A Small Problem
Aziraphale comes looking for Crowley.
It was a beautiful day: the sunlight was warm and the bleachers reasonably comfortable, and his host didn’t have a match with Atobe for at least another half hour. Crowley stretched and yawned, supremely content with just how good life was.
It really was a pity that things were about to get so complicated.
Cost
Tatsumi has a minor upset.
Tatsumi Seiichirou read the memo he had found in the middle of Tsuzuki’s desk. Then he read it again. He put it down, carefully, and walked, calmly, down the hall to Konoe’s office.
"I’m going to be gone this afternoon," he informed the department head, and teleported out before Konoe could do more than blink.
Mother Hen
Ooishi gets a taste of his own medicine.
Raphael snorted. "What is it with you warrior types that you never want to actually talk to a physician before it’s a crisis? Come here," pointing to the space in front of him, "and let me look at your wrist. You’ve been favoring it all day."
Family Reunion
The Messiah and the Adversary chat, and Lucifer drops in. Aziraphale and Crowley sweat.
The Adversary stared at the Messiah, frowning. The Messiah stared right back, also frowning.
"You’re not what I was expecting," Adam said, at last, feeling that a Messiah ought to be wearing a white bathrobe, or have a halo, or somehow demonstrate his difference from ordinary humans (perhaps funny-colored eyes?).
Better
Watari takes advantage of the situation.
Watari narrowed his eyes; there was only one reason why the workaholic would not be at his desk during the office hours: a Tsuzuki-related accident. Watari stalked to Tsuzuki’s desk and examined the mess for clues, until a memo on top of the file caught his eyes. The slight frown of concentration changed to a look of understanding, then that of fierce determination, and the next moment, he was gone from the office.
Saintly
Raphael earns the gratitude of Seigaku.
Just being an angel didn’t qualify Raphael as a particularly nice person. In fact, he’d be the first to admit that he wasn’t even a particularly good person.
Balance
Eriol visits Hyoutei and makes Atobe an offer.
Hiyoshi noticed the stranger first, and decided that he’d regret it for the rest of his life. This was especially true since the last time a stranger had appeared on the courts, Jirou had run off with him and there had been some business about an antichrist, the explanation for which Hiyoshi was determined to ignore.
History Lesson
Belial talks to Rikkai about the past.
"One is not kind," she said, very precisely, without looking around. "Nor benign. One has corrupted lives and souls and cities. Most recently, one provoked the Host to attack an ally and caused the destruction of Kurai’s kingdom and people. One led Kurai herself into a marriage that would have sacrificed her life, by lying to her at nearly every turn. You should remember this."
Worth
Tezuka sets up ranking blocks.
"Headache, Tezuka-kun?" Raphael asked, leaning against one of the empty desks.
Kunimitsu took his hand from his forehead. "I’m fine," he said, and that was true, but not likely to deter Raphael’s bored curiosity.
Willing
Sakaki gets what he wants.
It was not, Tarou reflected, unusual for Keigo to sit in the window when he and his coach were discussing the tennis club. Tarou gave him that much latitude, because Atobe Keigo’s willing obedience was a valuable thing. Normally, however, he paid proper attention, no matter how he lounged.
Over the Bone
Sanada and Belial spar a bit, verbally and otherwise.
Genichirou had known it was dangerous to invite Hatter to spar with edged weapons. He had, however, been confident that Hatter wouldn’t kill him, or even significantly damage him. He didn’t normally like the idea of handicaps, but in the case of a demon he’d take it.
He was coming to the irritated realization that, even restraining himself, Hatter was fast enough to touch him.
Compassion
Mizuki has to deal with Tsuzuki’s unexpected perception.
"Okay, so let me get this straight," Tsuzuki said, nibbling one fingernail in concentration.
Hajime tried not to laugh at the rather cute picture the man made.
The Dotted Line
Belial gets a tennis team.
"Absolutely no interfering in the games in any way, shape or form, or the whole deal’s off," Sanada declared, firmly.
Belial leaned hir chin in hir hand. "Doesn’t that conflict with the clause about injury-proofing, though?"
Sealed With A Kiss
The seal of the contract.
Seiichi remembered when Belial had set the seal of their contract.
The Morning After
Some embarrassment over the seal.
Genichirou, Renji noted, seemed unwilling to look anybody in the face—no, that wasn’t strictly accurate. There were specific people he wasn’t looking in the face, and all of them had just signed the same contract.
Baiting
Rikkai encounters shinigami at Nationals.
The day was clear and hot, good weather for their first match at Nationals. Renji supposed it was cosmic parity for something else to go wrong. He sighed when he saw Hatter’s eyes brighten, as the team made their way toward their assigned court. What had caught her attention this time? He looked in the direction she was starting to edge in and suppressed the urge to put a hand to his forehead. Of all the people for Hatter to decide to tease, of course it would have to be Fuji Yuuta, and, by extension, Fuji Shuusuke.
Answers
Sakaki meets an old acquaintance.
He was, Keigo reflected, getting better at spotting the angels. It was something in the way they held themselves, apart from any mortal excitement around them. At a place as excited as the courts hosting Nationals, they stood out. The one that seemed to have caught Kantoku’s attention today, though, was a bit different from the usual run.
Practicalities
Hisoka gets help from an unexpected source.
Hajime had figured out some time ago that Kurosaki could feel what other people felt, especially if they felt it strongly. It was equally obvious, to anyone who watched carefully, that Kurosaki didn’t have perfect control of this ‘gift’. Accordingly, Hajime had dropped a few hints about Nationals, how many people showed up, how excited everyone got about the matches. A few neighborly cautions.
He was starting to think both his team’s self-appointed guardians had completely missed them.
Post-Game
Michael taunts Belial about winning and Lucifer gets involved.
"Hah!" Michael took his opportunity, as the teams filtered past each other on the way out of the stadium, to taunt Mad Hatter. "Told you we’d kick your asses."
The Dangers of Boredom
Someone takes an interesting walk.
He supposed that he should be doing something more active than walking down the street, but with all the confusion lately, he didn’t see that he had many options other than to entertain himself. After all, Ryouma was busy testing his limits on his own somewhere, and all his other playmates seemed to be wandering off in the wake of the Nationals.
Echo
Kirihara has a problem with spillover.
No one had told him that he was signing up for this.
Interesting Times
Kurikara and Michael hit it off.
Kippei really did hope that at some point his days would become less interesting.
The Devil Went Down to Hyoutei
Mad Hatter tempts Ohtori and tweaks Sakaki’s nose.
Someone had claimed the practice room ahead of him; the plaintive notes of a violin filtered dimly through the closed door, flaunting his reserved 5:15 to 6:15 slot in Ohtori Choutarou’s face.