(Hi guys! This is a short one, I'm sorry about that. I distracted myself by starting to watch some new shows and my writing suffered for it. I am still trying to get an idea on where I want to take this story, but I'm liking focusing on writing what's going on the characters heads. Anyway, chapter 3 will be longer, cause I do have an event planned. See you then and thank you!)

Chapter 2

There is a huge difference between being first and being second. Normal humans would never know this difference because coming in a place is just a competition to them. But in the world of Kings being second means you are only good enough to put you life on the line for the person that came in first. So why in the world was Reisi Munakata second now? Easy answer: He was smart and knew the risks of continuing his path as King. But there really wasn't an easy answer to a question like that for a former King. Actually Munakata was the only for King in the history of Kings chosen by the Dresden Slate. Suoh Mikoto was alive, yes. But he had died to give his throne and came back for whatever reason the Gold King had. So Munakata: former King, former Captain of Scepter 4, is now the Lieutenant of Scepter 4 and mentor to Saruhiko Fushimi, the new Blue King. The first two days were easy enough to deal with since Munakata had to find a new apartment and move all his stuff. Munakata knew he could just stay at Scepter 4 but he felt it would be too awkward for the rest of Scepter 4's men. Besides, having his own place couldn't hurt, right?

Today was the official ceremony of the changes in Scepter 4. Since there was no one above Captain in Scepter 4, Munakata was leading the ceremony and officially titling Fushimi as the Blue King and Captain. While getting dressed for this Munakata thought back on bringing Fushimi on board. Not everyone agreed with his decision, especially since Fushimi had just left HOMRA. But Munakata saw things in the kid that no one else saw. Though Fushimi was bitter, jealous, bored easily, and angry at the world for no apparent reason; Munakata saw potential. He saw Fushimi as a young brilliant kid that just needed a little guidance and some appreciation. And Munakata had done just that, yet now Fushimi was in charge. Munakata sighed at himself, looking over his 'new' uniform in the mirror. He was just a regular member of Scepter 4 and society now. He didn't have to worry about Kings and power and lives anymore. But some habits are a bit to hard to break.-

"How is Yata doing?" Yashiro asked Mikoto as they walked out of the hotel room they were staying in for the moment.

"He's terrified. His nights are restless and he's scared he's going to go overboard by just talking too loud." Mikoto replied in his deep tone, hands shoved in his pockets.

"The dreams will get better as time goes on." Yashiro said in a light tone.

"They didn't for me." Mikoto grumbled. Yashiro looked over to the taller man quizzically.

"Well the reds power is the toughest to handle." Yashiro added gently.

"Yeah cause it sets everything on fire and stuff melts and it doesn't so anything but destroy!" Neko jumped to match Yashiro's steps and gestured explosions wildly with her hands, her eyes wide with imagination.

"Neko. Don't be mean." Kuroh said in a stern voice, grabbing one of her wrists to make her stop her gestures. She whined in response and made a nasty face to Kuroh. Mikoto smirked a bit but ignored them both.

"So all I have to do is find a house that can accommodate four people, right?" Yashiro changed the subject to what they were going out for. Mikoto glanced at the Silver King awkwardly.

"Three. I think I'm gonna stay with Yata until he gets his head on straight." Mikoto didn't look at Yashiro when he said this, not really knowing how to act in a situation like this.

"Oh. I see." Yashiro responded, looking down for a moment with sadness.

"We don't need anyone but the three of us! Right Shiro?" Neko said loudly and with joy.

"Neko! Be quiet!" Kuroh began scolding her but she giggled and ran ahead of the group. "I apologize, Mikoto." Kuroh muttered with a bow of his head. Mikoto grunted in response. Kuroh's phone rang and he looked slightly confused as he saw who it was.

"Hello." he answered. He listened then narrowed his eyes slightly. "I see. Okay." Kuroh hung up and looked at Mikoto. "That was Kamamoto. He said Fushimi upset Yata and Yata has run off somewhere." he explained. Mikoto grumbled and sighed in response.

"I think I know where he went." Mikoto stated simply and turned around and left the group without another word.-

Fushimi had very little in the way of belongings so the move to the Captain apartment took only one trip. He actually asked to stay in his current room but Munakata explained that the Blue King and Captain of Scepter 4 had to live next to his office because his life was his job. Fushimi had rolled his eyes at this thinking "So many damn rules." Change and rules... two things Fushimi didn't get along with. He was the last person on earth he thought would have become a King, let along the Blue King. And being the Blue King was much more of a pain in the ass. Fushimi would much rather have Misaki's job, then he could at least start from scratch. In becoming the Blue King there was no room for self identity, creativity, or making your own mark on Scepter 4. How things were done, what the King could and couldn't do, and how the Blue King conducted himself were all in a rule book. What was the point in being special if everything was already planned out? When a King is chosen they should be able to choose their legacy and what his clan does. Fushimi didn't consider himself evil by any means... he was just lazy.

"Cancel the ceremony, I don't want one." Fushimi said into his office phone with a push of a button.

"Sir?" the man replied.

"Did I stutter? Leave me alone the rest of the day." Fushimi snapped back. He shut down his computer and went to change out of his uniform. When he emerged from his apartment Munakata was standing in the office looking out the window. The former King turned to stare at Fushimi, his face set in a stern look of disappointment.

"Oh don't give me that." Fushimi said with a chuckle and gesture of his hand.

"Did you learn nothing while watching me as the Blue King?" Munakata's voice was deep and he spoke to Fushimi like talking to a child.

"Tch. The was you were King was fine. But I'm not you." Fushimi replied directly but sounded bored. Munakata sighed in despair at the young man and looked back out the window.

"Let me tell you a story." Munakata started quietly, his eyes not looking at anything in particular but clearly full of memories.-

Yata had no place in mind while he ran so when he had finally stopped, he had to chuckle to himself. He was in the park near the Homra bar. He walked to a pair of swings and sat down heavily, his shoulders slumped and his head hung low. This was not at all what he had wanted. When Yata was a kid all he wanted was friends; people who wanted and needed him and him they. When Yata and Saru joined HOMRA his childhood dream had come true and he thought it was going to last forever. Nothing could get in the way of the bands Yata had formed and nothing could ever stop the pride Yata had for his King and his clan. But then Fushimi left and this made Yata look at things differently. It made him work even harder to keep himself close to Mikoto and HOMRA. When Tatura died, Yata's whole world flipped upside down. It made Yata see that nothing physical can last forever, so friendship and pride and loyalty were the only things that mattered in the world. This realization drove him until Mikoto died. When his King died and his HOMRA tattoo disappeared, all of Yata's beliefs died and disappeared with them. Though Yata still had Kamamoto, Anna, Izumo, and the other members he had become friends with, Yata knew there was nothing that could stop death. No amount of love, friendship, trust, or loyalty could stop people from being taken away from him. Though he still cherished all his relationships and would fight to the death for each and every one of them, he knew it wouldn't last forever. So he stopped looking to the future and lived day by day, not worrying about tomorrow.

But now Yata was a King. Now he had to look to the future, no matter how much he though it was in vain. He had to lead his clan into whatever he thought would be the best and in the end could only hope it was right. But up until now, the red clan was all he knew about this hidden world. Yata had sworn his life to HOMRA. And now he had to just give it up? Maybe the Slate had made a mistake. Maybe Yata could just give up his King title and go back to the life he knew. The life of HOMRA.

"You look like death rolled over." a deep tone suddenly spoke and Yata jumped in surprise. He looked to see none other than his former Red King, Mikoto, staring at Yata from a small distance. Yata let out a sigh of relief and sat back on the swing.

"I don't want to be King." Yata muttered with his head hung in shame. A deep chuckle could be heard from Mikoto who sat on the swing next to Yata.

"I didn't want to be King either." Mikoto stated, taking a cigarette out and lighting it. Yata looked at Mikoto in confusion.

"You didn't?" Yata asked in surprise.