Angel Strand [part  1]

During the angels’ inauguration to receive their halos at the graduation, Columbine slips upon going up the stage.

“Ouch…” Miru murmured, seeing her best friend slipped on the level of the stairways.

Getting up, she touches her face for a second and proceeds to a seraph-ranked angel. Columbine’s face reddens facing the seraph, telling herself to be relaxed.

“Are you alright?” the arch seraph asked to Columbine. “Yes, sir…”

“Good that you are… Now, lower your head.” The seraph said. As she obeyed her halo has been bestowed on her. Columbine shake hands with the seraph and goes back to her seat.

“That must’ve been painful. Your face struck on the level.” Miru whispered to her on her seat.

“That’s really embarrassing...” Columbine responded. Miru advices her, “Don’t over think of it anymore. This ceremony will be over soon.” “I wish it ends right now.” Columbine said with a mock cry.

After the Archangel’s closing remarks, the graduation ends.

“To all the angels, you’re first assignment, as new graduates, is now ready for browsing. You may take a look at it later or tomorrow. You should start it on the day after tomorrow. Good luck” The grand elder announces.

“What do you think? Are we going to see ours right now?” Miru asked. Columbine nods with a smile.

The girls went to the receptionist’s desk of the Nirvana institute – their school, to receive their assignments. Columbine got shocked on her task, more on the target’s profile.  She makes the receptionist see her assignment and have it recheck on their data, the receptionist said after doing her request, “There’s nothing wrong with the database. The content of your assignment is the same as what has been entered here.”

“How’s your assignment?” Miru asks. Columbine no longer speak. She gave her task folder to Miru. “Technically, I don’t find it enjoyable. How about yours?” Columbine answered. “No problem.”

==

Rumpelstiltskin, also called by his nickname Ruke, was been thrown with a book on his head - by his older brother, Basilisk - while he was entirely occupied by his computer game programming.
 

“You should be gone by now. Why are you still here?” Basilisk provoked. With glaring eyes, Ruke invokes his brother, “Then why don’t you just leave instead of me?”

Basilisk sighs and argues with Ruke, saying that his younger brother’s memory must have been eaten by his own games. Rumpelstitlskin gives his older brother an angry face and contends, “I know what you’re trying to say. I’m just finishing the last stage before I leave.”

From Ruke’s back, as he is about to leave the room, Basilisk reminds him of turning off the computer game. “Do it on your own.” Ruke pointed at his brother.

 
The next day, Columbine makes her way to the North Pole.  The rain of snow is starting to become wild from its serene state, the wind current is getting empowered too, Columbine lost her control on her flight and has been flown away, shouting “AAAHHH!!!!”

 Columbine’s body freefalls on the snowy ground and has received a huge impact, making her paralyzed. She started to feel the coldness in her body as she has not yet able to get up.

A guy wearing an all black suit- from eye goggles to his leather jacket, pants, and snow shoes- passes by on the way where Columbine fell and sees her. “Are you a crazy cosplayer? Or an angel that has been thrown away by your own kind?” the guy asked.

Columbine cries “Help me…. Please…” as she shivers to cold, trying to make her hand reach him. The guy is just watching her from his place. “Help… me…” Columbine asks again from him.

“I can help you if you can hide your wings.” The guy finally responded.

Columbine closes her eyes. Her wings shine and disappeared in thin air. The guy grasps Columbine’s arm and carries her with both of his arms. In a soft-toned voice, Columbine thanked him. The guy glances at Columbine for a moment as Columbine utter her gratitude. The guy has seen her fall to sleep while being carried on.

==

 Columbine sees herself on a bed as she awakens. There were lots of mistletoes on the four corners of the ceiling. She goes out from the room and sees many sprites walking all over the place, carrying various things.

 

“All of them were so busy…” Columbine commented on herself.

A sprite approaches Columbine and asks her to follow after him. He [the sprite] brings Columbine to Santa’s resting room. In there, Columbine sees the guy - who helped her – having a cup of chocolate with Santa. “Nice to meet you, Columbine, and welcome to my place...” Santa greeted her as he stood from his seat and shakes hand with her.

 “You are the real Santa Claus, aren’t you?” Columbine asked ignorantly. “Of course, he’s the real thing.” The guy, who still seating on his chair, uttered.

Santa laughs and introduces Columbine and Ruke to each other, and hoped that they’ll work smoothly together. Columbine excitedly goes near to Ruke and asks, “You’re my mission?”

“… Ah, nice to meet you, Rampel… slit …skin?” Columbine greets with uncertainly.

“It’s Rumpelstiltskin.” He rectified. Columbine apologizes for the wrong said of name. She grabs one of Ruke’s hands and cried, “I’m very thankful now that you come for me. I didn’t expect to meet you at this kind of place.”

“I didn’t come for you. Our meeting yesterday was just a mere coincidence. Got that?” Ruke told her as he pulls away his hand from her.

“Now, now, young man, keep your temper cool…” Santa reminds of Ruke. Ruke remains quiet after that.

“See you two at the workshop.” Santa said before leaving Columbine.

==

Entering Santa’s workshop, Ruke tells Columbine to help the sprites on wrapping the gifts while he’ll help Santa. Ruke leaves Columbine. As Columbines is on her way to have a seat, she slips as she accidently stepped on a skate board and falls. “’Ouch…” she cried.

Ruke goes back to her, but not to help her to stand up. “Be aware and watch your step.” Ruke said roughly and leaves her again. Columbine pouts and stands up. She goes to the wrapping section [in the workshop] and asks what she can start wrapping. A sprite gives her a stuffed, furry, bow-tied snow-white rabbit doll to start with.

“Wow! That’s so cute!” Columbine said with astonishment.  The sprite tells her that it was Ruke who made it from scratch. “Really? He’s amazing.” Columbine cried and even admitted, “… I, myself, can’t make even one sophisticated stuffed animal like that.”

“Ruke has been a good friend to Santa. He does come here every Christmas to help out. And we’re thankful to him for that.” The sprite tells her.

“Honestly speaking, my first impression of him was of a bad boy, but he really was a helpful one…” Columbine tells the sprite. In her mind, she says,” Maybe I am really thinking wrong about him…”

==

After a long hours of working and finishin several toys, Ruke has finished making another toy and places it on the tray of toys. He silently stands form his seat and delivers the tray to the wrapping section. He places the tray on Columbine’s area.

 

“Wrap all of that. There are more batches to come. ” Ruke orders her. Seeing a gift- wrapped object in front of Columbine’s working area, he grabs it and takes a look on it. “Your wrapping skills aren’t that bad after all. Keep it up.” He criticized and placed back the wrapped object on Columbine’s working table. He leaves without any other single word.

“That guy… who does he think he is…” Columbine murmured to herself.

“Don’t mind him… He maybe is a nagger, but he is sincere when it comes to work.” Columbine’s seatmate – a sprite – advises her, even if it didn’t hear Columbine’s whining.

“I might break his bones if I lost my temper on him!”

“If I were you, don’t say that kind of thing…” the sprite in her right warned her.

Ruke hears what Columbine has said from his position – as he is walking back to his working area, and goes back to her for confrontation. “Can you really do that? “ Ruke questioned her all of a sudden.

“W-what?” Columbine replied a question - surprised. (0_0)

“You said, you’ll break my bones if you lost your temper on me…  To tell you, I’m wondering if you could even touch one of my fingertips.” Ruke said as to provoke Columbine. “Are you trying to make an insult? I’ve already touched your hand awhile ago, right?” Columbine bragged. “That is not counted. We’re talking about the present issue, not what has happened awhile ago.” Ruke thwarted. “You’re so unreasonable!” Columbine condemned.

“Excuse me, you two, please don’t fight. You might break the toys.” One of the sprites pleaded in a quivering manner. Ruke listens to the sprite and moves away from them; meanwhile, Columbine stares at him with annoyed face.

==

 The night has come, Santa have his dinner with the sprites, Rumpelstilskin, and Columbine. He asks Columbine of how was the work for her. Even before Columbine gives her answer, Ruke butts in and tells Santa, “For an angel like her, she sure is a war-freak.”

“He’s not asking you, Ramped-slit-skin!”

“I told you, my name is RUMPELSTILTSKIN. Don’t bestow other names on me. You’re not my mother.”

“And I never wished to have a son like you!”

“They’re starting to have a fight again, Santa…” the sprite whispered to Santa.

 “Ho! Ho! Ho! That is just typical behavior at their age.”

“But, Ruke is no longer under Columbine’s age bracket….” The sprite contradicted. “Well, they are still both young for me.” Santa said.

Columbine excuses herself from Santa and says, “Regardless of his youthful and beautiful looks, I bet he is already over a hundred years old.”

“I’m only eighty-eight years old! Maybe you’re the real one who is already over a hundred years of age.” Ruke argued.

 “How dare you! For your information, I’m only nineteen!” Columbine cried.

“Yeah right, you are nineteen…  But that’s only your angel age….

     …If you are a normal human being, you’re maybe a certified old maid by now… ” Ruke teased.

“What proofs do you have?” Columbine asked.

After taking a deep breath, “Don’t act so tough on me, young lady. I’ll not draw back on you.” Ruke forewarns her; but, “I won’t draw back either just because you said so.” Columbine cried, pointing at him. Standing up from him seat, “You’ll get what you’re asking for.” He said then takes his leave.

==

The next day, as Columbine is wrapping the new batch of toys, Rumpelstitlskin grabs one of Columbine’s wrapped gifts. “Hmph… Your cutting of tapes is not consistent and precise…” Rumpelstiltsin criticized discourteously. Sensing bad omen from Rumpelstiltsin and Columbine, the sprites move far away from them to go on to the sides and corners.

“Are you starting a fight again?” Columbine asked in an angry tone. “Don’t you know the concept of criticism? I’m applying that on your work.”

“Who told you that I need your criticism?”

“I’m only concern about those children who’ll unfortunately receive gifts wrapped by you.”

“Did you just come here to pick a fight?” Columbine asked.


“I’m monitoring your work.”

 
“Wrapping gifts I just simple. You don’t have to look after me every now and then.”


“Creative wrapping is also a factor…

   … It adds happiness and excitement to those who receives it. If you don’t have any creativity skills on you, the wrap will be just as plane and boring as you are.” Ruke elaborated.


“It’s not really the wrapper that counts; it’s the gift inside it!”


“Of course, I know that too.”
 

“Then, why are you pointing too much on my wrapping?”
 

“Wrapping is just…” Ruke started, but as he about to go with his explanation, Columbine takes back her words and made Ruke stop. “Okay, I got your point. You no longer have to explain everything.” Columbine said with smile, with both hand projecting “STOP”.


Ruke gives Columbine a look that he got bad tripped on her for her intrusion. In silence, he leaves her.

==

Meanwhile, the sprites talk among themselves.

 
“Looks like he’s mad…”

“Yeah. He never had that kind of face in here.”

“Well, at least, he didn’t think of hurting Columbine. That’s the relieving thing…”

“when those two want to fight, they really do it…”


==

Morning, in Columbine’s room, as Columbine is staring the view from the window, “This is the last day… After this, I’ll never have to see that guy again…

“… He’s so cruel...”

==

Everyone gathered in the dining hall for the breakfast time. Columbine and Rumpelstiltkin meets again. None of them care to greet each other and goes to their seat of choice.
 

Meanwhile, a sprite already admits to Santa how bother Ruke and Columbine had been whenever they start talking. Santa, with a smile and a huge laugh, tells him “Calm down. Youth are just that really energetic in so many ways. That goes as well for those two.”

“But Santa, don’t you have any plan on making those two friends?”


“Time will give them that….” Santa answered.

==

Columbine changes her task from gift wrapping to collating gifts in sacks, and ties those up when it’s already full.


“Thank you for helping us out here. Because of you, our usual time consumed has been cut to more or less a half of the total.”


“No need to thank me. I’ve just thought that the sacks to be used were really this big.” Columbine blushed as she’s tying a sack. “Another batch has been done! Let’s do the next!”

“Sure!”


From their back, someone speaks, seemingly provoking. “Oh… So you gave up on the gift wrapping and decided to help out here…”


Columbine and the sprites look at their rear and see Ruke with a huge push-cart.
 

“Just what are you going to do here? This isn’t your working area. ” Columbine starts to argue.


“Unfortunately, Santa asked me to help the little guys here…

 … It’s time to bring the sacks on the sleigh.” Ruke said as he walks his way to her. He grabs two sacks on each of his hand every pick up until there’s no sacks left on the floor.

 “Would you mind step away. You’re blocking my way.” Ruke ordered.  Columbine observed tolerance on front of him and lets Ruke go through.
 

“By the way, double your time. Your pace there is really slow.”  Ruke demanded ironically. With madness, Columbine‘s sight sharpens and hunts him through her sight until her mark has gone. So suddenly, she blows up.
 

“That old man really has lots of nerve! He feels he’s so cool but he is really not! ”

“… In fact, he acts bossier than Santa.  Hmpf!”

In no time, Ruke got back in the place and gives reaction on what Columbine uttered.

“Then, why don’t you say to that directly on my face?” Ruke said, with his arms crossed before his chest, as he is standing still on the doorway.

“Fine! I have enough of you already!” Columbine cried.


Ruke goes to Columbine. He grabs her hand and drags her outside the workshop. He corners her under a tree, grasping one of Columbine’s arms. “Now, tell me all your complaints. I’m all-ears on you.” Ruke said, facing really close his face to her.

“Er… What are you thinking? This isn’t the right time for this!” Columbine cried. “This conversation won’t take long if you only tell me all your problems on me…” Ruke said as his grip on Columbine’s arm tighter.

“A-Ouch! Let me go! You’re hurting me!” Columbine exclaimed.

“Be warned, teenager, even I’m not around your area, I can still hear you clearly from my place.” Ruke expressed before letting go of Columbine’s arm.


 “Could you just call me by my name? You’re calling is really giving me awkwardness.” Columbine requested with boastfulness.
 

“Learn to say my name CORRECTLY first before I do your favor.” Ruke demanded.

Columbine was put to silence for a moment, then, asks Ruke if he has a nickname, with a reason… “Your name is somewhat difficult for me to call on…

 … So, if it’s just alright to you to call you on your nickname, would you mind telling it to me?”  Columbine said mildly. Ruke thinks for a minute and decide to give his nickname to her. “It’s Ruke…” he tells her calmly, then, asks her of what she wants him to call her.

“Columbine, or Coline, will be fine.”  She said with a sweet smile.

Ruke faces back to her and says, “Time is up. We must get back there before Santa finds out our under timing.”


“He really initiated a talk with me without asking permission first…” Columbine said in her mind.
 

“By the way…” Ruke started again.

  “… Having this talk with you doesn’t mean we’re one step close to each other. We’re still not friends.”  Ruke said and leaves her behind.
 

“I understand, RUKE!” Columbine shouted with a smile sweet smile, emphasizing Ruke’s nickname.

==

After dinner, Santa asks Ruke and Columbine to make deliveries too, the two of them together.

Ruke makes a big sigh and says, “If Santa asks for it, I’ll do it… But…”

“…How about this girl? Does she still need to ride on the sleigh? She already has wings to fly on her own.”  Ruke asked.  “Why did you call me “this girl”? We’ve agreed to call each other by our names, right?” Columbine whines at Ruke for such an address to her. Ruke never entertained Columbine’s complained.


“Hmmm...”  Santa - thinking for a moment.


“Stingy old man… There goes his old act again.” Columbine uttered in her mind, pertaining to Ruke.

“Give her a seat, Ruke. She’s still a girl after all.” Santa tells Ruke.
 

“Seating apart from her will do.” Ruke reacted.

“I’ll just fly, Santa…” Columbine resolved as she heard Ruke’s comment.

“… As what he said, I can fly; so, I’ll just use my wings.”

“Will you be fine with that? You’re not going to do a one-way trip and you know that.” Santa asked of her.

“I’ll be just fine. I’ll just seat on the sleigh when my wings worn out.” Columbine ecstatically cried.

Santa, and the others, set off to their sleighs and make deliveries. Columbine have her wings out, at the same time, her halo appears too. Ruke flies ahead of her as he sees Columbine is all ready.

On the first destination of Ruke and Columbine, Ruke decides that he’ll just be the one to go down the chimney with a teasing line, “…  Everything might get screwed if I let you go down there.”

“Suit yourself.”  Columbine pouted.

==

Their every delivery was successful. Passing through the cheese-colored moonlight’s glare, as  Ruke gazes at the moon, Columbine overlaps onto his sight. He observes her more of her for a while unnoticeably.  Columbine, without knowing that she’s being looked at, is all-smile as the cold breeze touches her face and blows her hair delicately. She has occupied Ruke’s sight on that moment; at the same, Ruke was mesmerized within that second but his serious facial never changed.

==

On the next house on their destination, as Ruke is going down to the chimney, he slips down through the fireplace. “Ouch, I got a bad fall...” Ruke said to his self and proceeds to the Christmas tree to leave the gifts underneath. Hearing something wrong has happened, Columbine, for a second have a doubt of asking Ruke of what happened to him; but then again, she pursues her idea. “Ruke, is everything alright down there?”

In a split second, Ruke appears right before her –face to face. Columbine flabbergasts; almost screams as she draws back from the chimney. Ruke jumps out from within the chimney’s mouth, telling her, “You’re so loud. You could have awakened the households.”

Columbine apologizes courteously. As she looked at his face once again, she saw scratches. She tells him to keep still, and touches his face. “W-what are you trying to do?” Ruke cried.

 “Sshh… Be quiet. You’ll wake up the household.” Columbine said back to him with an adorable yet mocking smile.

“What’s with holding my face?” Ruke asked irritably. Columbine didn’t answer Ruke anymore. Looking still at him, she starts to do her thing. Her hands glow, giving a warm feeling to Ruke’s face. Ruke doesn’t really have an idea of what Columbine is up to, but he liked the warmness of Columbine’s hands. His eyes were wondering everywhere as to elude a stable sight from her.

 Columbine takes off her hands from Ruke’s face and tells him, “It’s all done. How do you feel now?”

“I feel better than earlier… What did you do anyway?”

“Hee hee… Didn’t you felt any pain from your facial scratch? I just healed it.”

“Really? … Was that the effect of that warm feeling I felt earlier?”

“Was it warm for you? I never had the chance to feel it myself…

 … It’s unfortunate that I can’t heal myself with my own ability”. Columbine stated. She, then, stands up and tells Ruke that they should proceed to the next house. Ruke agrees and stands up. “Okay. Let’s go.” He said.

==

After delivering all the toys, they went back to the North Pole. Columbine tells Ruke that she’ll wait for him at the façade of the workshop; then, she went down ahead of him. She hides her wings and the halo and stood still on her place.

As soon as Ruke has parked the sleigh and brought back the reindeers to its stable, he fetched Columbine on the façade. They went inside the workshop together.On the hallway, while they are heading together to their room, Columbine talks to him.  “Ruke… Thank you for your companionship even if we didn’t really get along well…”

“In short, what’s that for?” Ruke asked.

“I just want to thank you. Was that bad?”


“I don’t see any reason for you to thank me” Ruke said and walked ahead, leaving Columbine behind.

==

Early in the morning, Columbine packs up her things and leaves it on her bed for the mean time. She goes out form her room and thinks of taking a walk all over the place. In the hallway, Columbine meets Ruke and greets him with ebulliently and ecstatically. “Good morning, Ruke! You’re early today.”

Ruke, with surprised on Columbine’s aura, greets her back as he stops in front of her, “Good morning…. You’re early too.”

“Yes… I really set my mind to wake this early to fix my things and have time to wander around.” Columbine replied with a smile.

Ruke kept silent as he stares at Columbine. In his mind, “She always has that cheerful face...

 …But why? There’s nothing to be happy about… ”

 …. I can’t bear to look at her anymore.”

Columbine calls Ruke’s attention seeing him head bowed and looked spaced out. She shakes her hand in front of Ruke’s face – particularly before Ruke’s sight.

“Ruke… Are you alright?

 … RUKE!”

“Yes, I’m alright. And don’t shout on my face.” Ruke finally answered.

“Are you really awake already? Why don’t you try going back to bed again? It’s still early somehow.” Columbine advised.

“No need. I’m not on the mood to have a sleep anymore.” Ruke tells her; then, he advices her,  “… Don’t walk further from this place if you don’t want to get lost.”

Ruke leaves her afterwards. In Columbine’s mind, “Even you say I might get lost, I just have to spread my wings to find my way back here.”

In a sudden, Columbine realized, “Should I really go back when my mission here is done?”

==

Ruke and Columbine, after their breakfast, drop by to Santa’s room to say their “bye”. Santa thanked them for their help, at the same time, gives each of them a gift.  “These are for both of you. I personally made them for you two.”

“Thank you very much, Santa. It’s a great honor to receive something from you personally.” Columbine said as she gets her gift from Santa; meanwhile, “You shouldn’t have bothered making something for me.” Ruke tells Santa.

“Don’t be bothered, Ruke. That’s just the usual way I do to thank you for your unconditional service.”  Santa said to Ruke. Ruke gets his gift from Santa  and thanked him.

“That’s nothing compared to what you’ve done.” Santa complimented. “At any rate, how did things went for you two for the whole time you’re together?”  Santa asked.

“If you’re trying to make match of us, that’s preposterous.” Ruke condenmed.


“You conclude on things so easily, Ruke. I just want to know how your companionship went out.”

“She’s awfully behaved…” Ruke tells Santa then leaves.

“Uhm… I’ll take my leave too, Santa. Thanks for this gift again.” Columbine said, bowing her head before Santa, and leaves.


Ruke and Columbine happened to get out from the workshop almost the same time. Without any time to waste, Ruke says his “Goodbye” to Columbine and walks ahead. Columbine follows after him by flying and tells him:

“It’s not yet ‘goodbye’ for us. Maybe someday, we’ll meet again unexpectedly sonewhere….

 … So, I’ll give you my ‘bye’. Bye!”

Columbine flies away up from Ruke and heaven’s gate open as she flies higher. From Ruke’s post, he watched Columbine fly until he lost sight of her.
 


Angel Strand by Liz K. Mella is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.