Path to the Truth [Oracle]

[Hanajima Satori]

The answer to the question initially brought a chill to Satori's frame. "I...I first heard rumors...that the Shijin had created a special Angel, one unlike the others. One without wings but with great power...and that Tsubasa was afraid of you. Because she was oppressing Heaven at the time, some foolish people thought that you would do something about her. Later on, when I suppose you were gone to spy on this Abbadon person, there were rumors that you were just a haunting soul, the last remnant of the Shijin's power that would steal naughty children in their sleep. That is all that I have heard of you..."

[Oracle]

Oracle looked somewhat shocked to hear Satori's theory. The Shijin? Could he have really been created by the Shijin? And how could Tsubasa have been afraid of him; a solitary hit man? Questions like this bellowed in his brain.
Little Lotty, let your mind wander...
"The," Oracle said, "the Shijin? I was created by the Shijin?" The look on his face was both filled with confusion and a look that would make even the tightest soul find adorable.
"And," he continued, "and Im-Im an angel?"

[Hanajima Satori]

Satori was taken aback. He didn't know that he was an Angel?

"Why do you think that your home is in Heaven? No one but Angels reside here. What else would you be?"

In that one instant, he felt sorry for Oracle. He couldn't believe that Oracle had gone his entire existence in Heaven not knowing what he was or why everyone was treating him differently. Yes, he had been created by the Shijin, for another one of their experiments or another. But they had been imprisoned before anything could be done with him. Knowing the Shijin, they could have just wanted to know how the others would react to an Angel that didn't look like them. While they had never displayed such behavior around Satori himself, he had heard from others that the Shijin were very sick beings, and many of them had done unspeakable things to other beings or put them through a lot for the sake of their experiments.

[Oracle]

He refused to shed a tear. Oracle declared the day that he met Tomo that he would never weep over anything, since he is too strong to cry. No, instead he found comfort within the face of Satori. With the discovery that he was a product of the Shijin, seeing Satori's face seemed to ease the pain; it was a feeling he thought he would only find within Tomo. For this instance, he just wanted him to smile; to see how much light would illuminate from it.

Oracle smiled as he continued to look upon his guest. He still did not shed a tear; tears were beneath him. But the embrace of lips was something completely different.
Something he oddly wanted to do with Satori that very moment.
"You are very kind, Satori," he acknowledged. He brushed his hair back and looked into his eyes. "Forgive me."
Oracle then gently kissed Satori within a liplock, running his left hand through his loose black hair. Finding comfort in his silky hair, his tender skin and his perfect lips, his cares started to thaw and detach from him. He started to feel free.

Oracle then let go of Satori, awaiting with big eyes and a hopeful stare that somehow he understood that he needed that kiss.
Little Lotty...

[Hanajima Satori]

Even though Satori had only asked two questions, he could tell that Oracle was struggling with the insinuation that everyone in Heaven had known of his origin and yet he had not. Satori realized that this was a very critical thing for Oracle--not knowing who you was something that had caused many Angels to fall.

That was the problem with Oracle. He had no wings--no indication of whether or not he had fallen already, let alone if he was planning to do so in the future. He knew Sanada Tomoyo, and that certainly put the possibility there. But Satori didn't think that Tomoyo was so cruel as to send Oracle back to Heaven when he had fallen.

Satori had still been following his train of thought mentally when Oracle kissed him. This was something that had been completely unexpected; he didn't know Oracle personally, and hadn't even known him through other people. Surely the Oracle had never heard of him either--and so he could not understand Oracle's course of action.

But the confusion in Oracle's eyes reminded him of Tohru, and how helpless she had been when her Kings had begun to disobey her and her fiance had decided to leave her for Tsubasa, in effect. And Satori knew himself how that sort of thing felt. He knew how it was to get lost in something that had defined you once before.

It was this sympathy that allowed Satori to no pull away or become angry at the Oracle's actions. When the other Angel had released him, Satori blushed, looking away so that the tinge on his cheeks would not be visible to the Takusen.

"I think," Satori said, clearing his throat, "that you need time to think this over, without any distractions."

Satori, now that he had actually met the Oracle, thought that he was really an upstanding Angel. Satori would definitely bring him up in the presence of the others in hopes of including him in their plans so that he could use it to help find himself. Also, Satori didn't want to simply be the excuse that Oracle was using to escape--the person who would deny the harsh reality. He wanted to be a friend. Oracle had welcomed him into his home, answered all of his questions and delivered even some extra information. He was not willing to let such a kind person be on their own.

[Oracle]

Oracle looked away after hearing what Satori suggested. A bit of pain and a bit of embarrasment was seen on his face as he rested his hands on his knees and wrapped his arms around his legs. The way everything played out made it seem that he missed an opportunity to become dependent on anyone else. He had to get over Tomo; that was objective number one. And seeing as though this 'Satori' seems to be the type of person that actually cares about beings placed into a stereotypical role, there might be a possibility of finding something there. Not even giving into condition that he thought he was cute when he first saw his face.

"I..." he started to say with a forming smile, "I would really like to see you again." He placed his arms on top of his knees to rest his face on.
"Maybe," he started in a sincere voice. "Maybe we can get a chance to ge to know one another more. I would really like that, Satori."

[Hanajima Satori]

Satori could only imagine how neglected he had been in Heaven; even Satori himself had been raised to think that The Oracle was a monster to be feared and avoided. He seemed like a rather nice Angel, even though no one had ever told him so. Why woult d Tsubasa treat him this way, when it was obvious that the Shijin had alienated him on purpose. Why would they do that? He had been trained by Suzaku, and yet despite that Goddess's tenderness there was a being in Heaven being treated as though he were from Hell.

Satori nodded purposefully. He knew that all The Oracle needed was some acknowledgement and companionship. It rather reminded him of Tohru, who had been so discriminated against by Heaven--even her fiance--to the point where she submerged herself in dreams that were better than her reality.

"I can teach you about Heaven--you can make it your home..."

[Oracle]

Oracle smiled as he kept gazing into Hatori's eyes. He felt a sense of security inside his eyes; a feeling he hadn't felt in a long time.
"I'd like that," Oracle said softly.

[Hanajima Satori]

Satori's eyes narrowed, a concerned expression on his face.

"I need you to swear your fealty to Heaven," he said, smiling. "No one knows where your allegience is. I can't help you if you aren't sided with Heaven. No making deals with the Yami-ou, no leaving Heaven. I need you to stay here and swear that you will live the life of a normal Celestial. You need to do this. There are people in Heaven--like Tsubasa--who would take this from you. They would cast you from Heaven like a traitor. I need you to promise that you won't betray Heaven."

Then, Satori's expression became one of anger, a rare expression for him. "And if you break that promise, I will have nothing to do with you any longer."

[Oracle]

Oracle looked away for a moment, trying to consider the possibilities of the situation he was currently in. Being faithful to one place for an extended amount of time was too much for him to take. Seemingly unable to come up with a lie within Satori's presence, he once again looked into his eyes, while mentally preparing what he had to say.

"Satori, I-" He gulped, making sure what he was going to say was true. "I am a wandering spirit. I do not understand why, but I cannot stay loyal to one place. I am a rogue; a wander; a traveler of sorts if you will. Currently, I am neither allied to Heaven nor Hell, the faeries or the mortal realm. Ever since my life began, I have been able to freely move about every realm. I have allies in all. But one thing I am not, Satori, is a traitor." He smiled.

"I am more of a manipulative soul; if things do not go to my favor, then I make it change. That will always be my personality. I just pray that you understand..."

[Hanajima Satori]

That was honestly not what Satori wanted to hear, and it showed on his face in the form of a frown. He didn't like the way that The Oracle was describing himself.

"The way that you're being right now...its simply that no one will trust you if you are that way. I can vouch for you, but what I think isn't important. I can't do anything about what the higher authorities think of the things that you do."

[Oracle]

Oracle's face grew stone cold with seriousness. He placed his feet on the floor and sat on the couch upright, seemingly regrouping into his original persona.
"Then I will have a little chat with the higher authorities," he said. He looked at Satori and smirked.
"I thank you for your visit, Satori," he said, "I really do. It was exactly what I needed today. But in order for what you are telling me to commence, I must speak with the Heavenly Kings. So I ask you Satori. Which king will hear my story?"

[Hanajima Satori]

Satori stood when Oracle thanked him. He saw that as his cue to begin leaving. He said that he would talk to the authorities. But that meant nothing if they wouldn't listen.

Then he asked which King would hear him. Satori wasn't sure if he should answer that. He had to be somewhat honest, and he could see clearly that Oracle was a man of his word--with a little help from his racial abilty--so he decided to answer.

"Honestly, your best chance lies with Setsuna of the Layer above us. She is the most likely to hear your story. However, considering that you do not have a good...ah...rapport in Heaven, even convincing her may be difficult to do. But under no circumstances are you to go to Tsubasa. She will murder you...you may also want to try the new Ha-ou, Kouzetsu Gin, if you can get a private audience with him. But I don't think that you will get anywhere with either King if you refuse fealty. I don't see it happening..."

It made Satori sad. He was honestly the kind of person who liked to forgive other people, and he couldn't believe that no one in Heaven would actually hear his story, even as he was saying it. If Chiyo had been here, she would have heard his story. She would have given him a chance. But--Satori couldn't see anyone else measuring up to her...