A/N: This was one of my first manga stories. It's the story that I submitted for my high school's comic contest three years ago, so it's kinda short. For those who may ask, 'Tianchi' means, in Chinese, 'The key of Heaven'. I hope you enjoy it.

Tianchi

The last two years had been difficult. Everyone knew it. War had started, and thousands of people died everyday. Everyone was afraid.

At first everyone had expected a miracle. As the months passed the little hope that still remained over the world had faded slowly, just as a mere dream. Now it seemed impossible that something could stop the horrors of war, fear, hunger...death...

What people really ignored was that war on Earth had a much bigger cause, the war between Heaven and Hell. And it was all due to the Key of Heaven, known as the Tianchi. If it was found, then the Gates of Heaven could be opened, and Angels would be able to come to Earth, and would help, unnoticed, to end the war. But in finding the Tianchi lie also a less cheerful perspective: if any Demon found it, and the Gate was opened, then they would be able to take over Heaven...

In Heaven, one night, a voice echoed through the walls of the Angelic Council. A young blond angel who looked about sixteen passed fastly through a large wooden door.

"Sir! Many of our best Warrior Angels are gone!"Akane yelled. She looked quite distressed, tears were filling her deep blue eyes.
"No one remains?"the Angelic Head asked.
"Only Yue...he's fighting Kurokotsu...he's very badly hurt..."
"I see..."
Akane gave him a scolding glance.
"You are quiet, Akane, but your eyes speak for you. You may tell me what you're thinking,"the Head said. Akane couldn't help it.
"I'm sorry, sir, but I believe that you don't care enough about Yue to send him help or..."
"You're very wrong, Akane."
"Sir?"
"Help is coming...just not in the way you think..."

Meanwhile, high in the sky, far away from people's eyes, a young angel who appeared to be fifteen, had black hair and deep golden eyes and who wore a blue cloak, holding a sword in his trembling hand gazed at a hooded figure. He was holding his other hand to his side to try to stop a very bad bleeding.
"I'll ask you one more time, Yue. Where is Tianchi?"
The boy shook his had before replying.
"I don't know..."
Kurokotsu smiled under his cloack. "Very well, then..."

Yue gazed at the dark red light that was coming toward him. He tried to move away from it's way...but useless, so useless...

It was very late at night on Earth, the full moon gleamed high on the sky, it's bright light falling upon a small house. In a small room with light blue walls and white curtains a figure rolled restlessly on the bed. Ami woke up with a gasp, sat up straight rather fastly. She couldn't remember what the nightmare had been about...yet something inside her hurt greatly, and she didn't know what it was...she couldn't help but to let her head fall on her knees. Tears fell on her lilac blankets, it was the strangest feeling...crying for a reason she didn't know...

There was a thud somewhere outside.
Ami knew perfectly well that it would be dangerous to go outside in ths times...yet her curiosity would always take over. Carefully, soundlessly so that her mother wouldn't wake up, she slipped her feet into her sandals and put on a black sweater over her lime colored gown. Careful enough to remain silent, she made her way to the back door, from where the thud came. She could see someone laying on the ground.

A black haired boy who was dressed in strange blue clothes had crashed into her mother's garden.

She approached cautiously. She tried not to gasp when she noticed that the boy was bleeding pretty badly form a stabbing wound at his side. "Oh, dear..."she murmured softly. She had to do something urgently. With the very little strenght she had, she half carried him, half dragged him inside her house. Once she had laid him on a couch she tried her best to treat his wounds. In the end, she bandaged his wound carefully. Her contact must have alerted him, for his eyes fluttered open. He gazed at Ami for a split second, then frowned.

"Who are you?"
"Um...I'm sorry...My name's Ami,"she said. She couldn't help to stare curiously into his golden eyes. "I'm Yue..."he said quietly. Ami nodded. She was lost for words. Being the curious fifteen year old she was she couldn't resist the impulse to ask him:

"I'm sorry...but...you don't seem human...what are you?"she asked him. Yue frowned, then smirked.
"What gives me away?"
"Your eyes...don't take it personal or anything, but human beings can't have golden eyes..."
Yue laughed a bit. "You're right. I'm an Angel."

Ami stared at him in surprise. Yue couldn't help but to smile. "I suppose that you don't believe anything I'm telling you. After all this time...well, people lose faith."he said plainly. Ami shook her head. "I believe you."she said. Yue smiled at her, warmly. "Thanks you for helping me. Now I have to go,"he said. Suddenly he noticed something funny, his wings were gone. "What the...?"she started.
"Is that normal?"
"Well, since I'm out of energy for now, let's just say that I'm human temporarily."

Suddenly there was a flash of light. Ami looked at it unenthusiastically. Maybe it was just a bomb. But then...it had a strange look, it seemed...actually red light?

"Come on!"Yue took her hand fastly--Ami couldn't help but to blush a little.
"What is..."
"He's here!"
"Who?"
"Kurokotsu..."