A/N: Not much to say today except that this is all still flashback, except you can't really call it a flashback because it spans several more chapters. KrytusxKyburi, here we go!

The next day, someone came again, this time knocking. The thuds on the door sent fear racing through Kyburi's core; did they plan to take her away? To take Kiry away? This she should never allow, and flexed the hand that had stolen Samira's energy so long ago.

"Hello?" She opened the door slowly and found Krytus standing there, something clutched behind his back.

"Hi." He pulled it out and showed her a blanket. "I thought you could use this."

Kyburi was tempted to tell him that she didn't want his charity, but Kiry shivered at night, and she had to swallow her pride.

"Thank you." She took it. That was the summary of their interaction, but the next day, he came back. This time with a lamp. The next day with a book for Kiry. Sometimes small, sometimes big, but he would always come with something. Each day their conversations grew longer.

"Don't your axons miss any of this?" Kyburi finally asked him. She had known him for several years now, and he was perched on a stool he had brought her, fixing a leak in the roof. She had requested it, feeling guilty that he was always bringing gifts, and he seemed happy to help.

"No. At the risk of sounding cheap, most of this has been sitting in our storage unit for a while. My axons are constantly buying new things, and I just thought you could use some of it," he responded, a wrench in hand. The words sent a chill through her core.

"So, you're fairly wealthy then," Kyburi stated flatly, and Krytus shrugged, spinning the wrench in deft hands.

"I suppose you could say that. My father is on good terms with the Council, so they always make sure we're doing alright." Focused on the task at hand, he obviously didn't see how distraught Kyburi was becoming. She sank onto her mattress in slow realization, and cradled her head in her hands. When Krytus realized how silent the small room had become, he turned around and stepped down from the stool, sitting next to her and putting an arm around her shoulder.

"What's wrong?"

"Your family put me in that orphanage because they claimed they didn't have the money to support us!" Kyburi snapped at him. She felt guilty for taking everything out on the person who was trying to care for her, but at that moment, she was so angry with them all. "And now you're telling me that you have enough money to be throwing things away?! No. It's because I'm Red, and Kiry's Red, and they just don't want to help us! I hate this planet and every Blue on it!" She cried, burying her face in her hands. Krytus pulled her close, and she could feel warmth radiating from his core.

"I know how it feels to be unwanted." He said finally, and she looked up at him, ashamed at her weakness. "I do. I'm the only Red in a family of Blues, and you think I lead such a happy life?" He laughed bitterly. "I know exactly how it feels. Blues ruin everything. Always so cold, factual, derogatory towards Reds."

"I know exactly what you mean." Kyburi sighed, and straightened, but did not let his arm leave her shoulder, their mixed red glows shining together. "I actually sort books at the library, but the head librarian only lets me work after hours, so the Blues don't see me."

"See what I mean?" He said pointedly. "I hate being here. All of this tension between Reds and Blues is making it impossible for us to share planets." Kyburi nodded sadly. "If I were in charge, I would make things different." Krytus said firmly, and she laughed a little.

"If you were in charge?" Kyburi couldn't help but challenge it. "How would that possibly happen? The Council of Five rules everything. You're…well, you're about my age, aren't you?" She looked at him more closely.

"Depends. How old are you?" He asked devilishly, as if it were a game. Again, Kyburi felt that exposed feeling, as if the questions they were asking had extremely different meanings.

"I asked you first." She said playfully, refusing to bend.

"What if I guess? Will you tell me?" He asked impishly, and she laughed.

"Sure."

"Hmm…" Krytus scrutinized her closely, and she felt heat creeping up her neck. Kyburi was only vaguely aware of her figure at the time; there were not many Reds to compare herself to, but in Krytus's eyes, she could only hope at that moment that she was attractive.

"Are you seventeen million?" He asked finally, and she shook her head. "Eighteen, then?"

"Wrong way." She nudged him playfully, proud that he thought she was so old.

"Sixteen million?" He asked in disbelief, and she nodded. "I wouldn't have guessed."

"Is that a good thing?" She asked curiously.

"Yeah." He smiled, an unfamiliar sight. Kyburi liked it. "You're really advanced for your age."

"Thank you." She felt that same red flush again. It was a compliment in a society that valued you on mental ability. "Now you have to tell me."

"Seventeen million." He answered, and her core jumped a little. He was older than her. "I know it's not exactly Council material, but I know if I could just get them to listen, we could change things around here! Blues shouldn't think we want to harm them, and Reds shouldn't be discriminated against! It's all just so unbelievably unfair!"

"I know, but what can we do? We're just teenagers. We're young. We have no chance of starting a revolution." Kyburi said sadly. "I…I can't even move to the Red planet."

"Why not?" Krytus looked at her in surprise. "The portals are open to all Sentients. You just have to pass through a minor security check."

"No, it's not that, it's just…" Kyburi pulled her knees to her chest. Why was she telling him everything all of a sudden? "Never mind."

"Tell me." He leaned forward and said simply, and Kyburi realized at that moment that she felt she could trust him.

"Well, I'm scared." She admitted. "I mean, I have a job here, and a home, and neither are much, but they're enough to keep Kiry and I alive. If I went to the Red planet…so many things could go wrong." Kyburi sighed, and Krytus pulled her close to him.

"You know, one day, I'm going to go to the Red planet." He said firmly, and Kyburi looked up at him in surprise. "I'm going to stop the Red violence towards Blues, and re-integrate the planets again."

"What if it doesn't work?" Kyburi asked softly.

"Then I'll find a way. Our two races can't go on like this, barely tolerating each other. Either we live in peace, or we don't." Krytus sounded as if he believed his words whole-heartedly, and his conviction chilled her. "There's no in-between."

This left a brooding silence.

"Would you really do it?" She finally asked him. "If it came to that?"

"It will." Krytus said firmly, as if he already knew. "And at that point, someone will have to."

He stood up. "I have to go. My axons will be wondering where I've been lately. Let me know if the ceiling leaks again."

"Okay." Kyburi said disappointedly. She had grown fond of Krytus, and their conversations. They made her feel as if her life had more meaning than just keeping Kiry and herself alive. "Thank you."

"I probably won't be able to…come back, for a while." He said uncomfortably, rubbing his hands together. "My axons are growing suspicious."

"Oh." Kyburi said faintly. "I understand." Was he tired of her already? They had only known each other for two short weeks, and already he was her closest friend.

"But…I'll miss talking with you." He said, a nervous, shy smile on his face. Krytus lifted his palm to hers, and they synapsed. It felt like a promise. "I'll be back. A week. I give you my word."

"I look forward to it." Kyburi smiled softly at him as he left, the room suddenly feeling much colder.

"Ky…Kybi?" She found Kiry looking up at her with wide eyes. Kiry, now nine million, still had difficulty pronouncing her 'r's, and had called Kyburi by that name since she was able to speak. Kiry usually kept to herself when Krytus visited. She didn't seem to feel very comfortable in his presence, but Kyburi barely had the mindfulness to notice. Whenever Krytus was with her, she was enraptured. His words spoke to her like no Blue ever had. The glow of him was warm and inviting. Even his eyes smoldered with mystery and adventure.

"What is it, Kiry?" She propped the child up on her lap, in the chair Krytus had brought them.

"I…I don't like him, Kybi." Kiry said quietly. "There's something evil about him."

"Kiry, don't be silly." Kyburi stroked her sister's arm, surprised at hearing such a strong word from someone so young. "Krytus has been nothing but good to us."

"He's hiding something, Kybi!" Kiry cried, tugging on her hand. "All of his talk about Blues and Reds? It's not right!"

"You're too young to know what's right and wrong about the Blues!" Kyburi snapped, memories of the orphanage flooding back. Kiry jerked back at the harsh sound of her voice, covering her mouth with her palms in fear. Kyburi realized what she had done and sighed.

"Come here, Kiry." She held out her arms, but Kiry shook her head. "Kiry." Kyburi said sternly, and her sister's shoulders slumped. She gave in, coming back to sit in Kyburi's lap, and Kyburi pulled her tightly.

"The Blues have done a few bad things to us, Kiry. It doesn't mean they're bad people, but they've done bad things. You're too young to remember. Krytus is…the only one who feels the way I do, about some things, and it's just…relieving, to talk about things like that." Kyburi explained with some difficulty. "Don't let it worry you. I would never let him hurt either of us, okay?"

"Promise?" Kiry looked up at her with trusting eyes, and Kyburi sighed.

"Yes, Kiry." She leaned her forehead onto her sister's wearily. "I promise."

The next day she realized that Krytus had left his wrench there. She knew she couldn't risk going to the Blue neighborhoods to bring it to him, and that he wouldn't be back for a week, so she left it by the door to remind herself of him. But then a week passed. Kiry seemed happier, but Kyburi missed him fiercely. She worried about him, too. Had he been injured? Was he ill? Why wasn't he visiting?

When it had been two weeks, Kyburi could stand it no longer. Once the sky had grown dark and Kiry was asleep, she took the screwdriver and stole away into the night. She knew Krytus's address by heart; she had taken Solara there to play with Sage so many times, always walking home on her own. They lived in the wealthier part of Modulon 5, and she took the back alleys, which lengthened the trip but made her feel safer. She came across no one. When Kyburi was within a few blocks, the spikes protruding from her head began to quiver. It was not excitement, she realized with dread, but fear.

Blues were close. She could sense them, hear their banter and feel their energy almost as if they were right next to her. Two males. Both large. The energy running through her quickened as if telling her to get away, and she ducked into a side alley at the last minute, hoping to avoid them.

She ran right into their path, her head colliding with the taller one's chest.

"Well, what's this?" Kyburi staggered back a few feet from the collision as the first one spoke. "A Red?" He took a step forward and grabbed her arm, preventing her escape. Kyburi's eyes widened in fear.

"What're you doing here?" The taller one looked at her squarely, irritation in his eyes. "This is a Blue neighborhood."

"I-I just wanted to return something—" Kyburi stumbled over her own words. Paralyzing thoughts were running through her mind. What would they do to her? What would become of Kiry?

"Return something?" The shorter one scoffed. "What business would a Blue have with a Red like you?" He snorted in derision, and Kyburi felt her palms heat up in anger. Who was this Blue to judge her?

"Now now, take a look at her." The taller one chided, a sort of malicious teasing to his voice. "She's a pretty young thing, don't you think? I'm sure plenty of Blues would be more than happy to do a little business with her." He gave his associate a wink, and Kyburi gritted her teeth.

"Harder and harder for Reds to find jobs these days, isn't it, Samar?" The shorter one joined in on the jest, his eyes roaming up and down her. "I wouldn't put it past the filth."

"What do you say, little Red?" The taller one, apparently called Samar, leaned in, his Blue aura radiating spite. "How much do you go for in times like these?"

"I don't 'go for' anything!" Kyburi hissed, struggling to free her arm from his, but the massive Blue's hand gripped her like a vise. "Let me go!"

"Oh, what could an insignificant Red like you do to me?" Samar scoffed, clamping down harder and then pulling her extremely close to him. "Or I suppose a better question would be, what could a great Blue like me do to you?" He whispered huskily, and Kyburi was wracked with waves of hatred for this Blue.

"Leave me alone!" She managed to quell her shaking voice long enough to say.

"Or what?" Samar demanded, almost playfully, like a hunter toying with its prey before the kill.

"Samar?" Suddenly, another voice joined the dialogue, and Kyburi looked up in desperation.

"Samar, what is the meaning of this?" Krytus demanded, storming up to the massive Blue and ripping him away from Kyburi. "Are you alright?" He asked quietly, and she unsteadily nodded.

"Oh, Krytus, just having a little fun!" Samar, his wicked behavior vanished, slung an arm around the Red, making Krytus go stiff. "No harm done, eh?"

"You'll be wise to have your fun with another Sentient from now on." Krytus said coolly, shrugging his Samar's arm off.

"Alright, alright, I see how it is." Samar held his hands up, backing up along with his Blue accomplice. "Axons never taught you to share your toys?" He raised an eyebrow, his tone playful but with a dangerous undercurrent.

Krytus's right hand sparked with anger and formed a sword.

"Go home, Samar." He said evenly, pointing it right at the Blue's throat. Samar rolled his eyes, turning to go and leaving Kyburi with one final retort over his shoulder.

"See you around, Red."

Her core froze.

"Blue scum." Krytus muttered darkly, driving the point of his sword into the ground. He idly flashed it back to his hand and realized that Kyburi was trembling. "Are you alright?" He put a hand on her shoulder seriously.

"Y-yes, I…I'm fine." Kyburi lied. Krytus put his arm around her in support.

"Let's get you home."

He walked with her the rest of the way.

"What were you doing in that neighborhood?" Krytus asked seriously, once they were behind closed doors.

"I—I wanted to bring you this." Kyburi held the wrench, still clutched so tightly in her palm, out to him. He sounded angry, and when she presented the tool, his face seemed to change from surprise to exasperation.

"You know what an irrational idea that was, right?" Krytus sighed as he took it, and looked her square in the eyes. Kyburi frowned at his accusation.

"I'm…sorry, I thought you might be happier to see me." She said slowly, hurt mixing with pain inside of her.

"Not trapped underneath Samar!" Krytus snapped, and for a second, Kyburi saw fire burning in his eyes, and stepped back in surprise. He had never used that tone with her, and she was thankful Kiry was fast asleep. It scared her, and she didn't move to respond.

"I…" Krytus sighed again, a sorrowful, exhausted noise, bringing his palm to his forehead in vexation. "It's just that…I really care about you Kyburi, and when things like that happen to you, it makes me hate them even more."

Kyburi was torn. She wanted so badly so believe him and fall back into the web of trust they had shared, but seeing him in that state had shown her something she hadn't seen before, and she wasn't sure if she liked it. Kyburi knew then that she would never try to bring that out of him again.

"That…that makes sense." She said finally. "I shouldn't have gone there but I…I really missed you." She admitted, losing courage as the sentence went on.

"I missed you more than anything." Krytus said vehemently, gripping her hands in his. "Kyburi, I couldn't visit because my axons asked Sage and I to intern at the gladiatorial battles."

"Krytus, aren't those dangerous?" Kyburi gasped. She had never been to the fights against Blue and Red but had heard terrible tales. She believed that they were part of the reason the Reds and Blues were on the verge of a civil war.

"That's the worst part, I don't even get to participate." Krytus said darkly. "Sage and I are mere officiators. Our axons want us to take their places on the Council one day."

"You don't sound very happy about it." Kyburi commented curiously.

"I'm not. It's ridiculous! We're simple moderators; any simpleton could do it! It's only because our axons are in positions of political power and want to parade us around like the Blues they are."

"Don't you want to be on the Council? To have that power? A chance to change things for all of us?" Kyburi reminded him, but Krytus shook his head darkly.

"They only want Sage on the Council. They're always favored her over me. I'm only there because they think they can trick me." He muttered. "What would anyone expect from two Blues?" Kyburi remembered then that Sentient couples could be any mix of Blue and Red, but produced a set of Blue and Red twins either way.

"That must be hard for you." She said quietly, and Krytus chuckled bitterly.

"You have no idea." He said, glancing up at the clock. "It's late. I should go."

"Oh." Kyburi looked up as well; it was well past midnight. "I suppose."

"I'll come back." He gripped her hand one final time and Kyburi felt the heat radiating between them. "Promise."

Promise like last time? Kyburi thought bitterly, but the thought halted when he leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

"Not like last time." He pulled back as quickly as he had moved in and smiled shyly at her. "I'll see you."

"Bye." Kyburi said softly, stumbling over the words. The heat from his hands was nothing like the warmth radiating on her cheek. She wondered for the briefest second if mating brought that sort of heat and passion surging through her core, but shook the thoughts away. There was no time for that.

"Kybi?" Just as Kyburi was about to lie down, Kiry sat up.

"Oh, um, what is it, Kiry?" Kyburi murmured drowsily, still disoriented from the light intimacy.

"Kybi, why did he talk to you like that?" Kiry asked quietly.

"Like what, Kir?" Kyburi asked.

"When he yelled." Kiry rubbed her eyes tiredly, but it seemed more from worry than actual exhaustion. Kyburi sometimes forgot how young she was. "You looked scared, and it was because of him."

"Kiry, he…" Kyburi struggled to find something to tell her. "He was just worried. He's concerned about us."

"If he was concerned about us, he wouldn't have scared you—"

"He didn't scare me!" Kyburi snapped firmly. She would never look weak in front of Kiry. "He was worried about me and that's the last I want to hear of it! Krytus is the only person on this planet that cares about either of us and I refuse to let you drive him away!" She reclined on the thin mattress with a thud, signaling the end of the conversation.

Kiry shook her head, laying back down on her side and wrapping her arms around herself.

"He's changing you." She whispered to herself. "You won't admit to it, but he's changing you, and I don't like it."