A wide grin spread across her face and she dropped the book, jumping to her feet. "Welcome back!" She ran up to him, throwing her arms around his waist enthusiastically and taking little interest in what Isaac had said.
"Oh, joy," Diah grumbled. "Just who I was missing."

Jin smiled at her, both his arms and his wings wrapping around her, his wings parting just enough to let Diah see a very passionate kiss, as if to remind him where the relationships stood. "I missed you too Diah, and apparently, heaven does also. Only a short time back, and already you strain my patience." His words were smooth as always, but sharp and attacking. Isaac stood and began to put the books away.

"So Jin, how was your trip?" He asked casually.

"It went well, I've set up several things as well as completed the tasks assigned to me. Unfourtunatley both sides are for another battle, ad with so many willing it, I can't argue. I can't say I don't enjoy a good fight, but to the death seems so extreme, especially when there's no further afterlife." Finally he let go of Carol to finish putting his hair up in a sloppy bun, his robe changing to a pair of black pants.

Carol blushed heavily, not having expected the kiss. Diah narrowed his eyes, then held out his arms. Immediately, as if out of habit, Carol moved to him, curling up next to him. He held her close as she asked, "What'd you have to do exactly?"

Jin's eyes flared with anger, and Isaac, looking between them, gave a sigh. "And why, for any reason, would I tell an angel of Hell's doings and dealings?" He spat, turning heal on them and leaving for his room.

"For heaven's sake Diah, must you have to agitate him?" Isaac scolded. "And Carol, is it really bright to cuddle up to another man in front of your 'boyfriend'? Jin gets jealous easily enough as it is, but in this state, you're lucky he walked away. And after denying him company other than your own, how insensitive." He moved to the top of a shelf, searching for his next read. "I'm so tired of feeling like the manager of a daycare. Truely, hell's never been so bitter. Trapped in the ice, I at least was able to dream through most of the years."

"If he's going to insult me, why shouldn't I irritate him?"
Carol looked uterly confused and hurt. "I don't understand what I did...I didn't mean to make him angry..." She pulled away from Diah, much to his annoyance, and caught up to Jin.

"I'm sorry..." she said softly, still obviously hurt and not understanding at all. "I...I didn't mean to..." She reached out, taking his hand. "I'm really glad you're back."

"In all fairness, you did start it with your thoughtless commentary." Isaac said to Diah, watching Carol go.

Jin jerked away and turned as if to strike her, his eyes livid. He froze, realizing what he was about to do, and his arm fell. Afraid she would run, he curled a wing around her as he returned, almost forcing her to walk with him. "How's your training going?" He managed to ask, trying to deal with the strange feelings his return to hell was causing. Spikes of irritation without reason, desires to cause pain, and a sickening feeling that made him want to scream. "I brought something back for you, by the way, but you have to pass a test to get it." He grated her a smile, his features seeming to relax with it, even if it only lasted for a moment.

"It wasn't thoughtless. I thought about it for a couple seconds, then decided it was worth it."

His reaction surprised and rather frightened her. As they walked, she hesitantly answered, "Fine...I've gotten a lot better..." She was subconsiously, yet notably, edging away from him slightly.

"Worth it? You hurt Carol in the process. If you can't keep your little jealous streak under control, perhaps this isn't the best place for you."

Jin stopped, noticing her fear, and detesting it. "A year alone with him, I should have expected it." He said bitterly, trying not to grow angry. "I missed you, you know." His wings folded in again and he moved on, leaving it up to her whether or not to follow. He hoped she wouldn't turn and run to Diah.

"I didn't hurt her," he grumbled. "His snappy temper did. She didn't do anything wrong; he had no reason to act like that towards her. "

She hesitated a moment, then hurried after him. "I missed you, too..." She was still really confused as to why he was so mad.

"You pissed him off, causing him to snap at her. He can't be held entirely responsible for his actions right now. Think of it like jetlag, but emotional. Angels get something similar. You missed out on it since heaven sent you here and you were with someone of such purity. Howeer, it's made me rather cynical."

Jin seemed relieved and he was able to relax a bit. "I take it you haven't figured it out yet." He said with a sigh. "Diah really loves you."

He couldn't resist. "Oh? And here Carol and I thought that you were just jealous of her newfound skills."

She looked even more confused. "Of course he does. He's my guardian."

"Why would I be jealous? I'm still stronger than she is, and I have more experience then she ever will." He said bitterly. "That girl isn't meant to be a weapon."

"No no, I mean, as a man loves a woman, not as a guardian loves the guarded."

"Of course she isn't. She's meant to be a minister."

"You mean like you love me?" Again, the look of confusion increased. "I think you've got it wrong. Diah can't love me in any way like that. He just thinks of me like a little sister or a daughter or something."

"I'm not wrong." Jin said with certainty. "Heaven even decided to reassign you a new guardian, since he'd broken such a major rule. I convinced him to stay, and a new guardian never appeared."

She shook her head. "I'm aware. Remember, I was there when he told us. But I figured it was just because, you know...he was getting so upset that he hadn't been able to keep me from you."

"No, it was because he loved you." Jin said with new found patience. "I don't mind him being here, but you may want to keep that in mind when you're around him. And it might explain a bit better why I get angry when you run to him like a trained puppy."

Her face flushed, partly from embarassment, partly from anger. "I do no such thing." She then sighed. "Look, are we seriously going to fight on your first night back? I really don't want that."

"You're the one turning it into a fight." He pointed out. Her grossed his arms over his stomach. "I'm going to bed, I'll sleep this off before I fuck up anything worse."

"I'm coming with you," she said immediately, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I've missed cuddling with you. And besides..." She shifted to her toes, nipping at his ear playfully. "Diah's not as much fun to tease."

He pushed her back rather suddenly, slightly panicked as lust filled him, "None of that tonight, I can't handle it. You can stay in the room if you absolutely must, but not in the bed."

"Alright." She dropped her arms and stepped back, suddenly very much on the same level as him. It had nothing to do with his behavior or anything, but more with a small part of her that wanted to push him beyond his limits of control. It really rathered frightened and shamed her, and she wanted nothing to encourage it.

"When we've ended this war, we'll be together. I promise." He said, feeling a bit cheesy, but being entirely honest. "Until then bare with it..." He said as he moved into the room and collapsed on the bed.

She smiled slightly and curled up on the bay window, not really all that tired.

Jin slept through the night and most of the next da before finally getting up. "Carol?"

Hearing his voice, she popped her head in. "Oh, yay, you're awake!" Excited, she hopped onto the bed, bouncing slightly as she grinned at him. "Feeling better?"