Rain [Oracle/Satori][FINISHED]

[Oracle]

He found it. It took him forever and a day, but he found it.

Oracle approached the front door of Satori's home in the first layer of Heaven; a realm that he surprisingly did not have a hard time to enter. He was drenched in the rain the storm in process was producing. His robes clung to him like lint to a sweater, making him heavier than his skinny body actually was. He relied on his staff to keep him upright and not fall from the sudden burden of his clothes. He thought he would never have to come here so early. Because, honestly and foolishly, he had faith that Tomo would change.

Oracle was shot down by Tomo again and again, yet he continued to have faith in him. Faith that he wanted to tell Tomo that he still needed Oracle; faith that he wanted to tell Tomo that there was still some kind of link that connected them, even if it wasn't sexual; faith, that he had hoped told Tomo, that he still cared for Oracle, even as a friend. But it seemed that finally, Oracle's faith in Tomo wanting to accept him, finally ran out.

For the first time in his life, Oracle wanted to be loved; to belong to someone or something. Until he found out he was the offspring of the Shijin, he thought he could find that need in Tomo. He was wrong. Instead, he found it in Satori; someone who told him to his face that he could be that for him; that he could bring love to his unloved heart; to nestle him closely when he felt alone and always be there for him. But because of his continuously growing faith in Tomo that ceased in height the instant Satori's door came within eye contact, he foolishly put it to the side. Now he stood at his front door, hoping that when he knocked he would let him in and give him another chance.

Oracle weakly raised his free hand, combating against the heaviness of his robe sleeve and the fierce wind combating with him, and knocked on the door as hard as he could. After a few pauses, he knocked again, going through the same battle of elements. After finishing knocking for the second time, he lost the grip of his staff and fell into the puddle of muddy water right in front of Satori's door. He spat what entered his mouth out, including a small mouthful of blood from the fall. He picked back up his staff, and looked at the door, hoping that Satori would open it.

[Hanajima Satori]

Satori, his eyes moving quickly from side to side as he reviewed his recordings of events for the day, jumped when he heard a heavy knock upon his door. He was not used to such disturbances, but considering what had happened to Haruhi in the second layer, he rose immediately. It was precisely because he usually went uninterrupted that he was sure that something else had happened. Rushing to the door, his heavy deep blue robes flowing behind him, he pulled the door open, expecting one of the other Elders, a King, or one of their servants.

Instead of any of those options, he found Oracle, the being that he had spoken to earlier, at his door.

Satori's face contorted into what was obviously a surprised expression. "What are you doing here?"

[Oracle]

Oracle looked at Satori's face of worry. Just knowing that Satori stood before him with his door open was enough for him; he didn't care what his real intentions were for answering. He smiled a little, still weighted down by the rain and his wet robes.

"I," he began after swallowing some rain water. "I wanted; needed to see you again," he answered Satori's question. "M-May I enter?"

[Hanajima Satori]

The desperation in Oracle's voice begged for there to be an explanation to his sudden appearance on his doorstep. Satori could have easily found one, but once again, he was not putting his racial ability into usage. This was not something that he had put into place just for Oracle, however; he had decided a long time ago that there were some rights to privacy that shouldn't be violated without proper cause. This was a personal decision for him, and it had been very hard learning how to turn his ability off by himself.

But Kouzetsu's reaction to the news of Oracle heavily burdened his mind. He did not want to house a potential traitor in his home, as kind as he wanted to be to his fellow Angel. It was one thing to fraternize with a traitor without knowing--as that made you one of the betrayed--but when there was doubt being spread...Satori knew that Kouzetsu would accept no excuses.

"M-may I enter?"

Satori asked, looking at the sopping wet figure before him. "...have you made your decision yet?" Satori asked, frowning.

[Oracle]

[This thread takes place before "Road to Perdition," after "Arsonic and Handcuffs" and after "Judge Me As You Will."]

Oracle nodded as he removed the soggy hood from his head. He stood upright, trying his best to outmatch the heaviness of his robes. He looked at Satori with an unfamiliar glimmer inside his cat-like eyes. It was unfamiliar because he was overwhelmed with a warmpth he never felt before. He nodded in response to Satori's question with all sincerity in his heart.

"I have decided," he started, somewhat hesitantly. "I have decided to find the king of the seventh layer of Heaven, Kouzetsu Gin, to listen to my plea and declare my allegiance to Heaven."

Oracle swallowed before continuing.

"It was mostly you that made me come up with my descision," he started. "I am tired of being a wanderer; a person without a purpose. It has done nothing but made me more confused. I have to know who I am; what my purpose is; why the Shijin created me." Then he smiled. "So, I guess I should thank you."

Oracle bounced his staff on his right foot to shake the loose water off. He stared at Satori out the corner of his eye, letting by a sincere - yet somewhat persuasive - smile.

"So," he said in an equally persuasive tone. "May I enter?"

[Hanajima Satori]

[This thread also takes place after "Assemblage of Elders"]

Satori almost couldn't believe it. Something in him hadn't expected Oracle to take his words seriously; that had been why he had spoken to Kouzetsu about Oracle, in any case. There was something...elusive--yes, that was the word--about Oracle, something that made him difficult to read as a being, something that made him hard to predict actions from.

It was this thought, rather than any of his other doubts about Oracle, that convinced Satori to begin using his racial ability. When he felt the jolt of the magic coursing through him, it was almost a relief. He hadn't used it in such a long time that he felt he was not his full self without the probing magic.

Stepping aside, satfisfied with Oracle's answer, Satori smiled and said, "...yes..." Turning to lead the way into the den, which--like any other room in his home--was more of a study than anything else. Settling down into a brown, velvety chair that already held his recordings, Satori gestured for Oracle to sit directly in front of him, near the blazing fireplace. "You can dry off there. The fire is really warm," he said.

Satori didn't really know what else there was to say other than that. If Oracle had any questions about the Heavenly Realm, he would be welcome to answer as he knew more than most others did about Heaven and its History. Certain things weren't fit to be discussed with commoners at all, but in general all information concerning Heaven was made public. Satori was literally a walking library, having written more of the volumes that stacked themselves high in the libraries.

Picking up his ink and paper again, Satori once again began to review the information reported to him for the day.

[Oracle]

Oracle nodded at Satori after suggesting sitting by the fire. He was right; the fire was quite warm. After about two and a half minutes, his clothes were already dry. He stared at Satori while he was busy in his papers, seemingly keeping himself busy. Just watching Satori at work made him smile. But as he saw him, he couldn't help but remember his first encounter with him; how he gave him the stepping stone to his origin; how he promised him that he could help Oracle make a home in Heaven. But one thing seemed to stand out from his first meeting; something that they seemed to have had in common that he seemed to sense from him.

"Satori," he said somewhat shyly as he stared at the fireplace. "You were in love with Tomo as well, weren't you?"

[Hanajima Satori]

Oracle had only sat there a few minutes, and Satori could tell that he was drying up. Whatever he had done to be that wet in the first place, Oracle would never know. Just as Oracle would never know how much the words of his King had affected his initial opinion of Oracle. Kouzetsu was rigid and unforgiving, nothing like Chiyo, and while he wished that the old Ha-ou was back, the new one, he had to admit, was something that had been needed in Heaven for a long, long time.

Satori would have like to keep the blind faith that he realized that usually kept with beings of all races, but considering all of the things that Heaven had gone through since the coronation of the new King--the massacre of the sixth, Tsubasa still attempting to get rid of Setsuna during their meeting--there was too much going on to trust in those who had not shown positive behavior before. And unfortunately, that group included Oracle, who actions had always been shady and unrecorded.

"Satori," he heard, and his eyes snapped up to look at Oracle's silhouette which stood dark against the brightness of the fire. "You were in love with Tomo was well, weren't you?"

Satori distinctly frowned. As well? Oracle could not have possibly understood anyone's love for Tomoyo. Back when Heaven still had its eight layers, when the Shijin had been good to them and given them gifts and favors; when love itself was pure, and the love of a spouse would not be torn apart from the meaning of loving student, a mentor. When things were simple.

"No," Satori said, "I was not in love with Sanada Tomoyo as you were." There was a note of finality in his voice, something that he hadn't had to use in a long while. He did not want to discuss this with The Oracle at all. For all of his years, and his mysteries and unknowns, he knew nothing of Satori's feelings.

[Oracle]

Oracle nodded in response to Satori's answer. He should have known that such a being as Satori; an Elder of Heaven, would have done anything to the level of Tomo and he. But he was still unsatisfied. He had to make his point across that he was right. He wanted Satori to trust him; something that he hadn't been able to have anyone to do. Not since Chiyo.

"Listen, Satori," Oracle began as he took off his hood and stared at the fireplace. "I just want to tell you... that I'm sorry. The reason why I didn't accept your offer when you visited me before, was that there was still some part of me that wanted to have faith in someone that I should have given up on a long time ago."

Oracle gulped.

"I don't want to have a purposeless life anymore," he admitted. "I want to know why the Shijin made me. I want to have a purpose." He looked at Satori. "You said that you could teach me how to make Heaven my home," he started. "Does that offer still stand?"

[Hanajima Satori]

Satori looked downward, not saying anything. "I can help you. But not as much as I had hoped to before. After talking to my King, he wishes that you prove your loyalty to Heaven before you are acknowledged by him. And, as my King, I must do the same. I can help, but...I will not be playing a direct part in your progress. That shall be up to you."

Satori knew that he was saying the right thing. Oracle sounded like he was going to make a change; however, Satori could not deny the years and years chronically his frequent trips in and out of the Realm--even if they didn't know where he was or what he was doing. Oracle hadn't made any attempts to contact anyone, either. There was just nothing supporting his current claim.

"Will you accept what I am willing to give you?"

[Oracle]

Oracle swallowed. He once again looked at the fireplace and started thinking. What would happen to his spirit finally settled and he gave his allegiance to a definitive place? Would that make him better, knowing that with this there are people within the community who would support his existence and appreciate who he was as a being? Or would it make him worse, being trapped and staying loyal to a higher power like a dog, like when he was Tsubasa's personal hitman?

If any other person weighed out those options, of course they would have declined. But the fact that Oracle had already made up his mind to do this made his answer clear. Besides; he wasn't just doing this for himself. He was also doing this for Satori. He could sense that he had not had anyone to this degree in a long time. His gentle spirit was enough to sway him over thus far, and he felt that when he made the full transition, he would finally be able to find a permanent place in his heart instead of one that's under lease.

Oracle looked at Satori, with a warm smile on his face and a sincere look in his eye. "Yes," he told him. "But before you do, I must know one thing."

As sincere as this moment was for him, Oracle must know the responsibilities of his actions from the past; a past that although he chose to ignore, continues to this day to gnaw at him tenderly.

"When we spoke before, we discussed Abbadon Hakaisha," he began. "What role does he have to play in this? Why is he so valuable to Heaven?"

[Hanajima Satori]

Everytime The Oracle opened his mouth, there was a statement or question that sprouted forth that only made Satori's frown deepen.

"I can't..." Satori said weakly, "I can't talk to you about things like that now. You haven't made your decision official, and Gin would have my hide if I gave away any information about anything to you, be it important or of little consequence."

As far as Satori knew, there was nothing special about Hakaisha Abbadon, other than that Satori had managed to pry from Oracle that he had used a magical sword to supposedly make lock away the upright's power so that he thought himself a Human. There was something about that that was very, very fishy. Why would Tsubasa want to get rid of someone so badly? Satori was familiar with the name Hakaisha. It was one of the most prominent families of Kouryuu.

However, this was again something that he would not be sharing with Oracle...

[Oracle]

Oracle nodded, somewhat saddened.

"I-Im sorry," he said. "I should have known that I wouldn't be at liberty to discuss certain things with you while my allegiance has not been made official yet."

Then he trailed off.

"I'm just a little afraid is all," he said. "That's kinda funny," he said with a small chuckle. "Oracle the Zaihou is actually afraid of something. But I've been that way since I first allied myself to Heaven long ago. I was looked at as an outcast so many times. If it wasn't about the fact that I had no wings, it was for more... abusive purposes. I felt trapped here. And working for Tsubasa just made things worse. I was an abused dog serving an aggressive master, hoping what I did would make her spare some crumbs from her glorious table."

Oracle once again looked at the roaring fire.

"I can only hope that Heaven is no longer like that," he said. "But I know that it cannot be, since there are people like you here; caring for everything, making them welcome, making them happy to be alive. If everyone in Heaven is like you, Satori, then Heaven can be a paradise..."

[Hanajima Satori]

Satori wasn't buying what Oracle was selling. From what he knew about Tsubasa, being her lapdog meant a lot of things. Even Satori had once been subject to her violent nature. However, that being said, one must always take responsibility for one's actions. That was something that the Shijin had taught him long ago.

He did feel sorry for Oracle, but he had a choice in how he decided to act. Even Satori had no choice but to repent for the things that he had done under Tsubasa's guiding hand.

However, he did reply to Oracle's last comments.

"I would like to think that Heaven is a paradise, but I can't claim that. But we're trying, so I can only tell you to have faith in our cause. That's why we're all here. Because we have faith."

[Oracle]

Oracle sniffed from the side-effects of being outside and drying rather quickly. He nodded at Satori's words of faith.

"I will," he said as he stared at the fire. "I realize now, that what it is you place your faith in can either help or hinder you." He frowned as he once again started to think about Tomo. "I know now that all I did was place my faith in the wrong person."

He looked at Satori with a small smile.

"But now I know," he began, "that depositing my faith here - in Heaven - can lead me to a bountiful fortune."

Oracle stood up, grabbing his staff. "I hope Kouzetsu is as understanding as you told me he is," he stated as he brushed off his robes. "But I cannot say that my deeds deserve an equal amount of punishment."

He looked at Satori once again.

"Thank you for your temporary sanctuary, Satori," he began. "I should be heading home now. Today is the day I seek out Kouzetsu."

Then, his smile slowly went away. He once again stared at Satori, and used his free hand to gently grasp Satori's.

"However," he said, "when I meet with him, there is a possible chance that this might be the last time I see you. I just want you to know that you mean a lot to me, just in case I don't get a chance to say it to you later. If it wasn't for you, I would still be lost. If I were to fall after meeting with Kouzetsu, I only want you to know that there will always be a place for you in my heart, Satori; a place that I only hope you can accept."

[Hanajima Satori]

Satori was not sure what to say to the declarations that Oracle was making. It seemed that even though they had only met once before, The Oracle was promising a place in his heart to Satori. It reminded Satori of his younger self. As a Mercurim, he loved the concept of beings themselves. He loved interacting with them, knowing about them and why they did the things that they did. As such, he found himself interested in many people, and journeying to many places throughout Heaven. He love investigating his own Realm, and finding the hidden gems that no one visited anymore.

It was back then that he was naive about his own place, and the place that people would reserve for him. But that very lie was the motivation for his actions in loving Heaven, even if he was upset about the lies later.

And he wouldn't take that away from Oracle...

"Thank you," he said in reply. "I hope that you can work things out for yourself."

[Oracle]

Oracle smiled as he heard Satori's reply. "I hope so too, Satori," he said in a gentle tone. "I hope so, too."

Reluctantly, Oracle let go of Satori's soft and warm hand and stared at the door.

"I shall take my leave now," he said, hoping by not formally saying "goodbye" that he wouldn't have to. He headed to the front door to see that the weather had let up a bit; not necessarily raining, but a little cloudy with specs of sunlight. But Oracle couldn't even touch the doorknob without immediately thinking about what he was leaving behind.

You idiot! he thought to himself. Just because you kissed him once doesn't mean he submitted himself to you fully! You said it yourself; you don't know for sure if you'll ever see him again. Are you really just going to walk out on the best thing that has ever happened to you?!

Oracle never had to comprehend emotions with mindset before; it was a new thing for him and something he hadn't made himself understand yet. But he was smart enough to realize that his emotions were starting to get the best of him. The only thing that was wrong with the situation was that Oracle was starting to become okay with it. He knew Satori played a major role. But it could have also been the anxiousness of finally meeting the new king of the seventh layer of Heaven, Kouzetsu Gin.

Kouzetsu Gin...

Little Lotty, Let Your Mind Wander...

Oracle's pupils instantly shrunk. His hand holding Satori's doorknob started to shake just enough for an average mortal to think the knob was turning. Oracle felt these effects before, but not to this extreme. When he was near Arashi outside Tomo's palace, he felt a manipulative craving inhabit his spirit. Now, all he felt was a hunger for power. And through this hunger, a plot started to form.

Oracle immediately got a hold of himself and finally opened Satori's door. He looked at his friend one last time with a warm and sincere smile before leaving his premises. He walked off his estate, only for a sinister smile to grow on his face before he disappeared, heading to the realm of Heaven his own home awaited for his return.