AN: A pre-Q&AQ: Is this gonna be ov

AN: A pre-Q&A

Q: Is this gonna be overly religious?

A: Not too much.

Q: Is it going to be sad?

A: Yes, but not too sad. It has a happy ending.

AN: The first chapters will brush lightly on Takaba's angelic background, though they'll be mentioned in order to clear confusion.

Summary: "And above all else, guard your heart. For everything you do flows from it." Never in his long life had those words meant so much to the photographer. He was supposed to be Asami's guardian angel, not his lover. But when Asami threatens to make the biggest mistake of his life by wedding a woman from his past, Akihito breaks certain rules to ensure his charge's safety. Even if it means exposing his true identity.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Finder Series.

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Takaba Akihito wasn't jealous…he was simply curious.

Curious about this new friend Asami had suddenly acquired into their lives. Not that he had any say on whom Asami brought into the penthouse, nor on the company the older man socialized with, but Takaba would have at least like to clean the place before Asami brought some...girl with him.

Not that he hadn't cleaned a hundred times since he'd gotten back from work, but still.

Beautiful and elegant, she strode into the room with Asami, a broad smile illuminating her brilliant features.

No doubt Takaba had been taken by surprise. His clothes were still tattered from before, as his previous job acquired his parkour skills.

He'd jumped through a number of things, including a hot dog stand, a child's birthday party, and slipped into a dumpster. And to add salt onto the wound, he'd been caught in a rain storm as he searched for his camera in the very dumpster he'd fallen into.

Not only did the smell absorb into his clothing, but his camera had been around his neck the entire time.

Thus, he smelled like a hotdog-a-field dumpster, add a side of birthday cake, and you've got a fool.

So no, when Asami dragged this goddess into their home, beauty and all, adorning her very being, Takaba didn't feel jealous_nor did he feel intimidated.

She was only a model, and he was only a stinky freelance photographer.

So of course he wouldn't feel jealous...or so he tried to make himself believe.

Besides...angels didn't get jealous. But then again, they weren't supposed to fall in love with their charge either.

Takaba sighed...if this woman's short stay had done anything to him, it had awakened his ancient routes. Naturally, as an angel, a guardian angel at that, he'd be overprotective of that which he was supposed to be guarding.

But not like this.

From his position on the couch, he could see the two mingle and chat. Obviously, they were friends, and from what Takaba acquired from their causal body language, they were close friends.

He helped her with her coat (which he never did for Takaba, not that he cared) and placed it on the coat rack. Once again, he felt demeaned by Asami's world of power and beauty, as these two looked spectacular together. Usually, there was not one person from Asami's majestic entourage that did not look good with him...there was Sudoh, Fei Long, that actress, and now this girl.

Jealousy was tearing him apart, as was the nagging in the pit of his stomach. The closer this woman moved towards Asami, the stronger the nagging got. Then the itch came, the overbearing guilt trip itch.

These familiar feelings were no mere coincidence, something was wrong with her. And yet he saw Asami smile at her, a true genuine smile...when was the last time he'd given Takaba one of those?

He shook the thought out of his head and concentrated on the two, for Asami had long forgotten about Takaba's presence when she began to speak.

The itching intensified as she placed a hand on Asami's arm. His eyes softened at the gesture, and he may have said something to her, something kind and reserved for the two of them only.

But then the buzzing came, a high pitched noise that almost always drove Akihito insane. He brought his hands to the side of his head in an attempt to block out the internal irritation, but he knew all too well what it meant.

No amount of smiles or laughter could fool an angel. Be she a friend of Asami's or not, this woman was bad news. And Takaba would be damned if he let her harm Asami.

He'd already failed the older man once before, and that had been his fault completely. He hadn't actually expected Fei Long to shoot at him, nor had he expected Asami to hurl him out of the way.

But both happened, and Asami had paid for it.

One would assume that being an angel, Akihito easily could have prevented such an atrocity from occurring. But truth is, being an angel wasn't easy...there were rules to be followed, important rules. Breaking them could cost Takaba his divinity, and essentially, his life.

Thus, like many angels, he sat back and guided his charge. As of recent years, he refused to use to those few abilities which were allowed, for humans would feed off such power and revert to their greedy ways. Therefore, the angels learned to live like humans, using words rather than power.

And until recently, this method had worked well for Takaba.

Then he was assigned to watch Asami, as the man had made many enemies for himself. Granted, he came too late, but Asami was still worth saving.

He didn't, however, anticipate that his charge would be a sadistic rapist and he would be his prime target. Never did he intend to arouse such lust within his charge, but his job as a photographer secured his wellbeing.

Angels didn't get crap for free, and like always, Takaba found himself in the worse situations in a feeble attempt to put bread on his table.

Demons, on the other hand...Takaba didn't like to dwell on the "lesser" race just as they hated to dwell on angels. But in all honesty, Takaba was utterly surprised that he hadn't encountered demons while sticking by Asami's side.

They fed off of wealth and greed, and sadly, that was what Asami's house was built upon. Then again, perhaps Takaba's time on earth had dulled his senses, and he wouldn't be surprised if it had.

The sudden halt of the high pitched noise pulled Takaba out of his internal ramble, and he blanched as he saw both Asami, and this mystery woman staring at him. His hands were still plastered to the side of his face, as if he tried to block out what they were saying.

Almost like a child. A jealous child.

"S-sorry!" Takaba stuttered as he made his way around the couch, "I_My ears are hurting."

Asami raised an eyebrow at his statement, but beckoned the photographer to come near.

He lowered his gaze as he walked to the pair, sure that his current condition was enough to startle the beauty before him, and embarrass Asami to no end.

Instead of hiding behind the couch, he should have showered. But that would have been too.

Oh well.

"Look at me, Takaba," behind the playful tone Asami uttered the command with, Takaba didn't miss the seriousness laced in the older man's voice.

Reluctantly, Takaba looked up, a slight blush warming his cheeks.

Asami smiled as his pet obeyed his orders, despite his undesirable appearance.

"This is an old friend of mine, and now a business partner," he explained as he motioned towards the woman standing beside him.

Out of pure respect, Takaba inclined his head to her.

"Hello Akihito. Asami has told me so much about you," she greeted as inclined her body as well, "My name is Akane, you'll be seeing me often, as I'm managing many of Ryuichi's clubs, it's a pleasure to meet you."

She stuck a hand out for Takaba to grab, and again, his respect for his elders urged him to shake it.

He did.

In the few seconds it took for their hands to connect, a dreadful feeling filled Takaba's gut. Betrayal, despair, sorrow, anguish and pain radiated through her touch, and he could feel hell's fires scorching his skin. Perhaps too quickly, he yanked his hand away from this devil's grip, as such a pain had been long forgotten to Takaba.

He looked down quickly, searching for an excuse, but the scorching pain in his veins distracted him

"Um...sorry, just remembered something, gotta go," he sped out of the room before Asami could even grab him or call his name, then sprinted towards the elevator and sealed himself in.

He brought his shaky hand up and looked at the pale skin. As he figured, there were no physical wounds showing.

That was good. So she was human, but tainted in evil? Perhaps she'd delved into something dark of sorts, like the occult or Satanic worshiping? Whatever it was, Takaba couldn't put his finger on it, which for an angel, wasn't normal.

She was dangerous, or at least the company she carried was.

"Akane…" he whispered the word as the elevator opened upon reaching the bottom out into the lobby, he pulled his hoodie over his head and stalked out of the building, bracing himself for the cool blast of fall wind.

He welcomed the cold, for ages, it helped think.

Groaning, he just realized he'd left that woman with Asami. But he doubted she'd make her move, whatever it may be. However, he soon realized that it wasn't just Asami's safety he feared for, but how own relationship with the older man.

Above all else, his jealousy had been getting the best of him, and though he hated to admit it, he'd fallen in love with Asami. Not only was that against the rules, but it jeopardized his job. When an angel, such as himself, finished a job, they were supposed to leave. He wasn't supposed to get this close to his charge, but he let himself slip.

And now he craved for Asami too much to let go...not like he could leave though.

Not until he was finished, so he had to stay bound to the man. At least that's what he told himself. But this lustful relationship he lived with Asami was not apart of his job description...and as an angel…

He sighed and sidestepped a group of teenagers who occupied the entire sidewalk. Takaba needed a place to think at least before Asami started l