The Saviours

*******

Part 3

Two days later. 9:00am.

"Kaoru, Toshiya, Die! Get up at once and get ready. We are leaving in 10 minutes!"

Yoshiki called from the living room.

2 minutes later Die appeared, perfectly ready and calm. He had been training from 6 o’clock in the morning.

5 minutes later Kaoru appeared, looking rather sleepy and scruffy. His hair was sloped to one side, and his face looked somewhat puffy. He soon went to the bathroom to sort himself out.

When Kaoru emerged from the bathroom afresh, it was 8 minutes past, yet Toshiya was nowhere to be seen.

"Toshiya, are you awake?!"

No reply came.

Yoshiki sighed deeply and sent Kaoru to wake him up.

"Ahhh… kawaii!"

Kaoru forgot his mission for a moment as he watched Toshiya blissfully sleeping like a beautiful angel.

He would have been happy to just stand there watching Toshiya, but Yoshiki’s persistent yells finally brought him back to reality.

"Hey Toshiya, wake up."

"Hmm…"

Toshiya, still asleep, rolled and turned. The blanket which had been covering his body slipped off, revealing Toshiya’s smooth pale skin underneath.

He was only wearing his boxers.

(No, not naked… you hentai! /// Or was it only me who was thinking this? --;)

"Oh no…"

Kaoru quickly turned his face away, blushing hard. He closed his eyes for a prayer.

"God, don’t lead me into temptation and deliver me from evil… well, Toshiya’s not exactly evil, is he?"

Kaoru carefully looked at Toshiya again, and blushing more, shook Toshiya’s bare shoulder lightly with one hand, hoping that he would wake up soon.

Toshiya didn’t react. At all.

He was still peacefully asleep.

"Ohh…"

With a moan of agony, Kaoru leaned a bit closer and shook Toshiya’s shoulder a bit harder.

"Mmm…"

Toshiya, in his sleep, put his arm around Kaoru and pulled him, causing the blushing man to fall upon his own body. He must have thought Kaoru was his teddy bear or something.

Kaoru’s heart was beating so fast that he was sure he would die from heart attack if this didn’t stop soon.

When Toshiya put one of his long legs on Kaoru’s body, Kaoru altogether stopped breathing. He couldn’t stand it any longer.

"Toshiya, please stop it!"

And just like a miracle, Toshiya opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a red-faced Kaoru in his arms.

"Argh…! What are you doing here?!"

Toshiya screamed. Kaoru *sweat drop*

"Would you please let go of me now?"

Kaoru managed to say.

"Oh, of course…"

Toshiya released him. Kaoru soon sat up and controlled his breathing.

Toshiya began to realise what had just happened.

"I’m so sorry, Kaoru-kun. I must have done it again. I have a habit of hugging something and not letting it go while I’m sleeping."

"I’m not a thing!"

"I know… but it doesn’t matter. Anything or anybody I can grab, really…"

Toshiya shrugged.

"It’s rather a dangerous habit, you know…"

Kaoru sighed.

"Get ready and come downstairs. Yoshiki-san and Die-kun are waiting for us. We are going somewhere today."

Kaoru explained, but Toshiya wasn’t listening; instead, he smiled widely at Kaoru.

His eyes sparkled and twinkled.

Yes, it was the very facial expression which made Kaoru to join the Saviours. Toshiya usually used this smile when he wanted something or when he wanted to tease Kaoru.

"What… what is it now?"

Kaoru asked, unsure if he really wanted to know.

Toshiya smiled even wider.

"No, actually… I don’t think I want to hear it now, Toshiya. Let’s go downstairs."

Kaoru hastily stood up to leave the room when Toshiya held his ankle tight.

"Ne… I already saw it."

Toshiya said shyly, slightly blushing.

"What…?"

Kaoru asked, feeling nervous.

"My ‘dangerous habit’ aroused you, didn’t it?"

Toshiya laughed, and pointed at one particular part of Kaoru’s body, which was apparently erect. (Spine…? *^^*)

"Toshiya!"

Kaoru’s face was crimson with embarrassment.

"It’s okay. That means you’re a man. Healthy and young… a real man, indeed."

Toshiya gave him a seductive, well… rather evil grin.

‘And all the time I was thinking Toshiya was so angelic…’

Kaoru thought bitterly.

"You thought I was angelic? Aww… that’s sooo cute!"

Toshiya exclaimed.

"Toshiya! Don’t read my mind without my permission. I’m going! Get down as soon as you’re ready."

Kaoru stormed off. Toshiya looked blank for a moment, but soon a smile formed on his lips.

"He’s so cute…"

*******

Five minutes later, Toshiya finally came down, dressed casually in a sleeveless white top and hot pants. As he hadn’t had enough time to put make-up, he wore sunglasses, too.

"Nice legs, Totchi."

Die commented.

"Thanks, Die."

Toshiya looked around to see Kaoru trying hard to avoid his eyes.

"Ohayo, Kaoru-kun."

"Ohayo…"

Kaoru mumbled, looking out of the window. He still seemed to be angry with Toshiya.

‘Maybe I shouldn’t tease him so much… What a shame- it was so fun!’

Toshiya thought.

"By the way, where is Yoshiki-san?"

Toshiya asked Die.

"He’s already in the car. Let’s go!"

*******

Osaka. In front of a catholic church.

"Now, guys… we are going to meet the fourth member of The Saviours. I want you all to put on your best behaviours today. He’s a priest."

Yoshiki explained to the threesome.

"A priest? How boring… can’t we have a pretty nun instead?"

Die complained.

"Oh, shut up."

Kaoru and Toshiya said together.

They looked at each other for a moment, then awkwardly looked away at once.

‘Is he still mad at me?’ thought Toshiya.

‘Isn’t he so beautiful…’ thought Kaoru.

"Come on. Let’s go in."

Yoshiki led them into the church.

When they went in, the church was empty except one praying figure kneeling at the altar.

"(That must be him.)"

Yoshiki whispered to the rest of them.

They quietly approached the priest from behind, trying not to disturb his prayer. But before they reached the altar, he slowly rose to his feet, and turned to greet them.

"Hi. I’m Terachi Shinya."

They were stunned.

He didn’t look like a priest at all.

He was so young and good-looking. Well… pretty, in fact. He looked more like a beautiful girl than anything else.

His flowing golden brown hair was loosely tied back, his skin flawless and soft. Those deep, warm brown eyes were filled with natural compassion and tenderness.

Shinya spoke.

"You must have come to tell me about my mission."

Toshiya, Kaoru, and Die were very surprised that he already knew.

Yoshiki wasn’t, and he just smiled at the priest.

"So God really talks to you, as I have heard."

"Yes, He does sometimes… Usually while I’m praying."

Shinya answered calmly.

"That’s impressive. I’m Hayashi Yoshiki. Nice to meet you, Father Terachi."

"Please call me Shinya. I’m still young and inexperienced. The Lord told me that I have lessons to learn from you."

"Can I assume that you’re willing to save the world with us, then?"

"Of course. It is my duty and honour."

"Are you aware that this isn’t going to be all Catholic? I mean, we deal with magic and spirits here. Someday we might have to use dark magic, too."

"I hope we wouldn’t need to use black magic as its powers are severely destructive and lethal, to the user as well as to the enemy. But other than that, I think it will be a good experience for me to understand other religions and beliefs."

Shinya said. His voice was gentle yet firm.

At that moment, Toshiya thought he saw something in Yoshiki’s eyes.

Grief? Anger? Remorse? Pain?

Whatever it was, Toshiya couldn’t understand it.

‘Maybe it’s something to do with his past.’ He thought.

"(He looks like a nice person, doesn’t he?)"

Kaoru whispered to Toshiya and Die.

"(You mean he’s pretty, right?)"

Toshiya teased.

"(Certainly he is very good-looking for a priest. But not nearly as much as you, Toshiya. You’re the prettiest.)"

By saying the right thing at the right time, Kaoru was awarded with a soft peck on his cheek.

"What do you think, Die-kun? Do you like him?"

Toshiya asked Die, who looked somewhat dazed.

"……"

He didn’t respond.

"Die?"

"…………………… He’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

Die said dreamily.

Toshiya and Kaoru quickly exchanged looks.

"Uh-oh."

"He’s in love…"

"With a priest!"

"Can it get any worse…?" groaned Kaoru.

"I’m not sure…" murmured Toshiya.

"… the most delicate, exquisite, perfect being on earth…"

Die carried on endlessly, paying no slightest attention to the other two.

Terachi Shinya…

So beautiful… absolutely divine.

After a while, Yoshiki turned to the three of them.

"Now, let me introduce the other members to you, Shinya-kun."

"Hai."

"Okay, Guys. This is Shinya, who’s going to be our healer. He has medical degrees, but most importantly, he has a special gift of healing wounds and pains with his prayers."

"Wow… sounds supernatural, ne!"

Toshiya exclaimed with a big smile.

"This is Toshiya, who is a mind reader. You’d better watch out, too. He does it all the time."

Toshiya pouted at Yoshiki and he laughed.

"Hi, nice to meet you." said Shinya.

"Hi, Shinya-kun! Welcome to our little group."

Toshiya gave him a wink.

"This is Kaoru, an aspiring magician."

"Hi, how do you do?"

"Hello. Glad to have you with us."

Kaoru smiled warmly at Shinya.

"And this is Die, the warrior. A very talented kendo player, too."

"Hi, Shinya desu."

"……"

Die couldn’t speak. He just gazed. He felt as if he had been hypnotised by those deep, vibrant eyes of the bishonen.

Shinya also looked at him curiously, wondering what the red-haired warrior was thinking.

‘Why is he looking at me so intensely? It’s like he’s looking right through my soul.’

Shinya thought, feeling an unfamiliar sensation in his body.

"Oh Shinya-kun, don’t worry. He’s not always like that.

In fact, he’s overwhelmed by your beauty."

Toshiya said, reading Die’s mind.

"He thinks that you’re very beautiful, attractive and pretty. And he…

No, Die! You can’t think that! He’s a priest for Christ’s sake!"

Toshiya’s explicit expression made both Shinya and Die blush.

Die finally came to senses.

"Ando Daisuke desu. Call me Die, or anything you like.

Oh no, what’s wrong with me…?"

Shinya laughed, looking at the muscular man fidgeting nervously.

"Nice to meet you, too. Die-kun."

Those smiley eyes and shiny white teeth, one delicate hand lightly over the mouth… Heaven!

"Oh dear God, thanks a lot…"

Die prayed to God for the first time in his life (if this can be qualified as a prayer, that is…^^;).

Yoshiki and Kaoru laughed it off, but Toshiya looked more serious.

"Hey Toshiya, what’s wrong?" asked Kaoru.

"Nothing… Don’t worry."

Toshiya quickly replied, giving Kaoru an assuring smile.

He wished that what he just saw from Shinya’s eyes was only his imagination.

Otherwise, things could get tough.

Very tough……

*******

See you soon!