The image above was made using Episode, the Limelight collection

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For several years, mankind has come to believe that there are only two beings responsible for straying and staying from and on the path to success. These two beings -the Angel and the Demon- are, in reality, the superiors and faces of headquarters. There’re better known as the Tenshi and the Akuma.

 

The Tenshi and the Akuma work together to keep life in balance. In reality, there’s no such thing as a Demon who constantly pursues terrestrials to make the wrong decisions in life. There is only desire. Desire, life’s deadliest enemy. The Tenshi and the Akuma are at the top of the food chain, or what we call them, the King and the King.

 

Yes, odd… where on earth is the Queen? Were the Tenshi and the Akuma together… as in… together, together?

 

The Tenshi and the Akuma are not partners in a relationship, but rather partners in an organisation. In truth, they loathe each other due to their personalities that basically repel one another.

 

The Tenshi, Mikage, is a very kind and responsible being who worships perfection. He’s the leader of the Knights in headquarters. He has the duty of ensuring that all is well, and that we, the Knights, are always busy doing our job. He has to ensure that the terrestrials stayed on the right path. As much as he is annoying, the Knights usually just cooperated; especially the females… His attractive aura draws people in, that and he owns a somewhat beautiful face.

 

The Akuma, Misuto, is different from him. He’s stoic and most of the time an enigma. He’s in charge of keeping desire in check. He is also our boss, but basically the one who ensures that desire is never strong enough to interrupt our work. His aura is demeaning and petrifying to all around; one would expect him to be isolated. Instead of repelling people, he just attracts them. The Knights are all loyal to the Akuma just as much as they are to the Tenshi; said treatment also includes females flocking all around him. He, too, is a beauty.  Dark and mysterious, yet also a champion in the appearance department. Although he is slightly less talkative than the Tenshi, this does NOT mean he is NOT just as annoying as he is.

 

The two share a similarity that was stupidly uncanny.

 

They’re both overbearingly intrusive. They push knights to work all the time; but I suppose it can be overlooked since they work just as hard. So, no corruption here.

 

So what about the Knights? What do they do? What is their role in this tale?

Knights are basically the ones who guide terrestrials onto the right path. How? Much like angels and demons, they whisper soft suggestions and advice. It is, however, up to the human to accept them or not. Humans who decline said advice are usually the ones with high-level desires.

 

Knights are divided into two main groups which were Field Knights and Base Knights. Field Knights are the ones who are hardly at headquarters. They patrol and perform their jobs as Knights out there in the terrestrial world. Base Knights, however, stay in headquarters. They sometimes help Field Knights who own an earpiece that allows them to communicate. Base Knights tell them their location, status and what to do next. They’re basically the eyes and ears on the field; and the ones that warn the Field Knights of things like desire levels that were high or low.

 

Knights have different levels which begun from D, C, B, A and finally S. S-levelled knights are given names of colors to mark the Knights’ status. There are only two S-class knights which are the KuroKishi and the ShiroKishi. Much like the Yin and Yang, the ShiroKishi and KuroKishi complete each other. ShiroKishi and KuroKishi receive their orders directly from the Akuma and Tenshi.

KuroKishi’s name is Keito. Much like the Akuma, he hardly smiles nor shows emotion. Another similarity between the Akuma and KuroKishi is the popularity amongst the female knights. Yes, as much as I hate to admit, KuroKishi was hot. Not as hot as the Akuma and Tenshi, but hot nonetheless. The females called him the attainable one; I understand this term as his status causing him to be in their league. KuroKishi’s partner is the ShiroKishi. The ShiroKishi and KuroKishi are expected to be together at all times; this includes sharing their home.

 

Now onto the real question?

 

Where do I fit in this scenario?

 

Well, for starters, who have I mentioned but have made no move to describe here?

 

Wait, nevermind, don’t answer that. You people are smart enough. I am positive that you’ve already had your suspicions of who I am. Plus, this isn’t Dora the Explorer where I idiotically am forced to ask the audience ‘Where is it?’ when the answer is right behind me….

 

No, definitely NOT Dora the Explorer.

 

Confirming your suspicions, I am, indeed, without a single ounce of doubt, the ShiroKishi.

 

However, I am personally known as Katie. Katie and Keito, people would have thought of us as siblings if not for the fact that the ShiroKishi and KuroKishi were basically soulmates.

 

Yes.

 

Very cliche.

 

I apologize for being born into a world where the cliché level is terribly high.

But yes, it’s true, but unlike all the other cliché stories you have probably heard, we weren’t obliged to get married or be together in a relationship deeper than our already close bond. We are only EXPECTED to do so. One would say that it’s bound to happen someday due to obvious fact that we LITERALLY complete each other.

 

“Lady ShiroKishi!” I blink out of trance to find a male knight standing at my desk, cheeks flushed and chest heaving slightly, “I apologize for disturbing you, but it is crucial that I speak to you”

 

His tone is hasty yet he still struggles to voice his words out with all the panting. The knight in front of me is in Class A although he lacks a physical prowess. He is one of the smartest people I know and the best among all the Base Knights.

Perhaps that is the reason as to why he is the ShiroKishi and KuroKishi’s personal Base Knight.

 

Smiling softly at the young male, I usher him to take a seat. He stubbornly shakes his head and proceeds with his speech, his fatigue dissipating. “It’s about what happened last night at the lounge. I overheard a conversation among two female knights, and they were criticising you!”, he cries out, causing me to chuckle at his worry, “I’m being serious here! How dare they say such nonsense about you!”

 

Rolling my eyes, I return to my work. “It’s nothing to be concerned about. If people have their opinions about me, who am I to rudely decline them? Let them have their fun, Tooru” I simply send him a smile to reassure him.

 

He merely frowns. Not long after, a sigh is heard and Tooru’s eyes seem to find interest in his shoes, “It’s not fair. You’re the one who’s contributed so much to headquarters. They just don’t appreciate you enough”

 

“Silly, silly, Haru. They do appreciate me. Why, if they didn’t, I wouldn’t have received the mark of an S-Class Knight” I remind him, suddenly feeling parched. I take hold of my mug and take a sip of the hot chocolate, “I am happy with the way things are. Thank you for worrying about me, my friend”

 

Tooru huffed and crosses his arms. “Fine, then. I don’t even know why I even bother…” I don’t know why you bother, either. This time, he chooses to take a seat. He sits cross-legged and props his elbow on his knee, leaning his chin onto his palm, “What are you up to?”

 

I punch in a few keys, “Writing my report for yesterday’s log. I honestly hate doing this. It’s such a hassle… But the Tenshi and Akuma just HAD to make this an everyday thing…” I pout, leaning my head back as I silently curse the two superiors.

 

“We can hear you, you know~”

 

Tooru shrieks at the newcomer’s voice who makes himself known behind my heavy office door. He effortlessly walks through it and sends me a knowing smile. As Tooru makes a futile attempt to look professional in front of his superiors, another fellow comes through the wooden door with a scowl.

 

“Lord Tenshi! Lord Akuma! G-Good day!” He bows to show respect to the two. “Well, then… um, if you’ll excuse me…” He high-tails out, and I nod in content when he actually opens the freakin’ door, unlike these two egotistical bastards.

 

“You realize that I have a door for a reason? It’s there to be opened, not for you to phase through it! At least give a knock!”

 

“Good morning to you too, ShiroKishi” Mikage sends a smile at me, approaching me at a steady pace. Once he’s close enough, he places a hand on my office table and drums his fingers, “fired up today as usual” I scowl as his fingers hover over towards mine and grasp them gently. The feelings of torment disappear just as soon they came. This is the effect of the Tenshi on ordinary people like me.

 

The moment his fingers make contact with mine, my heartbeat slows and I feel myself tear away from a certain stress. His calming aura is strong enough to make people swoon. Feeling slightly light-headed from his presence, I lean my head to the right. I can’t help but yelp even when I find myself against his hard chest. My eyes flutter to a close and I leave myself completely vulnerable to him. My heartbeat is struggling to accelerate once more. I try to pull my head away from him only to whimper when he suddenly holds my head closer to him. I want to scream at him for being such an hindrance.

 

“ShiroKishi, you haven’t been sleeping well, have you?” Mikage asks me, brushing a few strands of my hair off my face. I am about to doze off, well, until I hear Misuto grumbling next to him. His presence awakens me from the trance and allows me to jerk away from Mikage. I sit up straight and glare at him who decides to simply look on in amusement.

 

I spin myself in my chair and face away from him and towards Misuto instead.

“What makes you think that I haven’t been sleeping well, Lord Tenshi?” I ask him, crossing my arms rather stubbornly. Misuto smirks at me, “I sleep enough! What’s your problem?!” I bark out, feeling ashamed that my cheeks are still red with the interaction with the fool.

 

Misuto grins at Mikage. “You see, Mikage. She loathes you…. Do you now understand how troublesome you are to others?”

 

Mikage scoffs and smiles at him with malice, “I believe you’re not one to talk, Misuto” The two glare at each other till I slam my fist on the table, making their gazes meet mine, and it’s frustrating how they didn’t even flinch. Screw these supernatural beings.

 

“The both of you are unbearable! Do you need me for something or are you just here for your testosterone?” I literally hiss at the two of them, “State your business or get out. I’m busy enough with the work the two of you give me!” I huff and roll my eyes. I kick my feet up onto my desk. “So, what’s the cheese?”

 

Misuto heaves a sigh and turns around, brooding at my bad taste in interior design “We need you to get on a new assignment at Terrestrial Area 37-B-25. A large number of terrestrials will soon accommodate that location and they will be in need of guidance. We will be sending 30 Knights along with you to assist you in any means necessary”

 

Mikage lifts his hand and opens his palm to allow a projected image to appear right above. The image shows a destroyed beach with knocked-down trees and debris everywhere. My eyes narrow in distaste, “A tsunami, aye?”

 

Mikage nods, “the disasters are getting worse due to the desires of humans in the past. I fear that this may just be a sneak peek of what we will have to face in the future”

 

Mikage clenches his palm into a fist, the image disappearing the moment he looks away, “the desire levels are rising every week. The Knights must be more stern with the terrestrials, Tenshi” Misuto’s eyes furrow.

 

Mikage smiles with malice, “the Knights are doing fine. It is you who has been slacking. You’ve been given the responsibility to watch over the desires of the terrestrials. Yet, you dare to push all the blame on the Knights? How very demonic of you indeed…”

 

A palm slides down my face as they continue to pester about each others’ flaws and whatnot. Godly beings or not, they’re definitely children. They are to be leaders, one would expect maturity! But no; these two are blind when it comes to competition. I roll my eyes and saunter over my desk, grabbing Misuto’s wrist.

 

At the sudden contact, his eyes automatically dart at me and his mouth instantly snaps shut. He turns toward me, eyes showing concern as his hands move to cup mine. He holds it towards his lips, kissing my knuckles softly. Ew.

 

“I sense that you are tense, ShiroKishi. Do our debates bother you?” He asks huskily, his finger now tracing circles all over my palm. With this, I instantly back away. My hand, however, is not released. Scowling over at my superior, the male sighs as he massages my hands, resisting any kind of inappropriate intimacy.

 

With this, I no longer pull back.

 

“Is Kuro coming?” I am then reminded of my best friend, my partner, who is to be with me at all times. Although we have separate offices, they are practically next to each other so that we don’t have to feel any weaker from the distance.

 

The Kurokishi and Shirokishi have a bond so strong that they experience an instantaneous effect on their bodies when they are close. A touch is like a burst of energy to each other, it’s like wildfire when he holds my hand.

 

A frown graces the two lords’ lips as my partner’s name is mentioned, “Kuro is not in his premises, he has left for a personal affair in the archives” Mikage states with clear distress, “he should have informed you of his departure”

 

At this, my lips curl upwards.

 

What could Keito be doing at such a critical time? Looking over at my reflection in the mirror, I note my slight paleness. He must be close if the pain has yet to sink in.

 

But where is he?

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TBC?