Hey guys! Thank you for all the reviews. I love hearing from you and seeing how you are liking the story. Summer is almost here! Freedom! Sorry…ahem…back to the story. Here's the next chapter :) enjoy.


(The Vaults)

Deep within the ancient citadel the air was saturated with energy, the sheer intensity of it shaking the walls and foundation of the Vaults. At the center of this ungodly power stood Raze, better known as Chand, the ancient spirit exuding a power he had tried for millennia to keep under control. Now, thanks to the meddling of his mother that control had slipped, and the spirit had been left desperately grasping at remnants of a shattered seal that would help bring this overwhelming power back in check. Until he was able to gain back control Chand was lost to the whim of his true destructive nature… a fact his son Pitch was dealing with first hand.

"There isn't any sign that father is thinking clearly." Pitch thought as he had to twist sideways to avoid yet another fist that had been aimed at his head. "or at all." The shade winced when a loud crash resounded as Chand went past him, the spirit carried by the momentum he had put into the punch, and slammed fist first into the wall.

Dark silver eyes stood out in the cloud of dust that had bloomed in the air as Chand recovered himself and turned again to the Nightmare King.

"It's almost as if he is operating on an animalistic level." Pitch frowned, as the sides of his father's face curled into an almost feral snarl.

A growl escaped Chand, dark shadows pouring out of the corners of his mouth as he lunged again at the Nightmare King.

Pitch had little trouble avoiding the attack, again the shade easily stepping aside as his father rumbled past him. He tensed when Chand suddenly stopped his forward motion and straightened, as if waking from sleep.

"Never thought…"

Pitch could hear the trembling of true remorse in his father's words as Chand turned around to face him.

"…I'd regret the choice I made that day." Chand's voice wavered between his normal tone to one that radiated malice "I have tried so hard to sweep it under the rug, to pretend I didn't screw up. I have tried to exist without taking life…"

Pitch watched as the spirit's face twisted into a look of utter agony.

"But I can't take it any more…" Chand's head tossed back suddenly, a guttural scream tearing from his throat as he spoke his next words, "this never-ending pain!"

"Are you injured?" Pitch made sure his voice was calm, though his eyes scanned over Chand trying to find out if the man was wounded in any way other than the small scrapes now on his skin from where he had crashed into the stone wall.

Chand however didn't respond, the spirit speaking as if he were in a trance, "I have to fill this void…I have to stop the deterioration…I can not die now!"

Pitch glanced at Chand's right wrist, the crystal shackle now pulsing an angry red, "Father please, if you will calm down perhaps I can help. We can replace the restrain…"

"Nothing can take away this agony but the acquisition of more power!" Chand's face twisted once more into a feral grin as he interrupted the shade, his voice no longer vacillating "In order for me to continue existing I must take life! If I do not my own soul will devour itself!"

Pitch blinked at that, "Ok…so that's definitely something we need to revisit." The Nightmare King exhaled, why in the world was everything about his family so messed up?

Chand didn't seem to notice Pitch's words as the ancient spirit's body straightened, "Before you draw your last breath at least I can offer you solace in the fact you will fuel the god of Annihilation."

"I am going to have to politely dissent from your offer." A smirk curled the Nightmare King's lip as he gave a mock bow, "Your godship."

"You misunderstand…" Chand's eyes narrowed, "you do not have a say in the matter."

"No, you do not seem to understand that you are in no way intimidating me." Pitch shrugged, "I have fought many before you that thought they were a god, however they turned out to be nothing more than worms." the Nightmare King was exuding nonchalance though in reality the shade was ready for the attack he was provoking.

Though it wasn't for no reason Pitch was doing so, if he kept Chand occupied with physical fighting then he'd not have to worry about that extremely dangerous energy that was roiling within his father. After that one blast earlier, that reduced the stone wall to nothing Pitch would rather not have to worry about trying to dodge such a deadly attack. Plus, it'd hopefully give Jack enough time to find that damn restraint…

A roar of rage was Pitch's warning that his goading had gotten the result he knew it would.

Instead of going on the defense as he had before, Pitch rushed forward to meet Chand head on. After that little bit of conversation, the Nightmare King was certain that his father could not be talked back to himself…so the only option was either to knock him out or stall for time.

The air ricocheted with the sound of the two spirit's fists colliding Chand and Pitch trading blows in session. Waves of energy rippled outwards as father and son's fists connected with each other every time.

Pitch startled when suddenly Chand changed the pattern, the ancient spirit twisting out from in front of him. "Oh no you don't." the Nightmare King thought as he realized that his father was trying to get to his side, the shade quickly shifted so that he was again facing Chand. However, he was just a fraction of a second too late.

Silver eyes gleamed when Chand realized he had gotten to drop on his opponent, the ancient spirit prepared for the impact.

Pitch felt the pressure as Chand's fist connected with his jaw, however to his surprise though it wasn't quite as damaging as he would have thought. Pitch noticed too late that this first punch was a feint. So, he was complete caught off guard when a second doubled him over.

It was a heck of a shot. A pulse of pain radiated outwards from the point of impact, the sheer amount of it causing Pitch to reel a few steps back.

"Gods that did some damage." The Nightmare King mused when he tasted iron in his mouth, he hated to think just why the blood was there. However, Pitch had little time to reflect on just what had been damaged by his father, since Chand was once again lunging at him.

Pitch was fully prepared to intercept the fast hit; however, the shade was surprised when mid strike the blow turned sluggish as if Chand were reconsidering it. "Maybe he's coming around…" however Pitch couldn't afford to wait to see if that were the case.

The Nightmare King stepped forward quickly, ducked under the punch, and then delivered his own to Chand's torso. Pitch cringed when a loud pop echoed, "Shit, I broke a rib." Guilt poured over the shade when a pained scream left Chand.

An uneasy silence settled as Chand staggered backwards and fell against the stone wall, the ancient spirit's face now twisted in agony.

"Did that work?" Pitch tensed as he waited with held breath to see if his father would again come at him.


(Village of Gaetano)

While the Vaults was in a state of chaos, around the world in the small town of Gaetano Haruto was in a state of sheer bliss. The ancient spirit had finally found a place that served the fabled 'pizza' and Haruto had spent the last hour devouring every morsel that was brought to him.

"This must be what the gods dine upon!" Haruto was close to tears as he shoved yet another piece of pizza into his mouth. The spirit grabbed a napkin and wiped the sauce from his face, "The dough, tangy tomato sauce…and heavenly cheese!" he tossed the napkin to the table, where it landed upon a stack of plates already there.

Haruto's lips twisted into a grin as he grabbed a menu from its holder, "What to try next…there are so many choices!" the ancient spirit leaned back in the chair, "Mark!" Haruto's voice echoed in the empty restaurant.

Immediately a young teen scurried over to the table, his bright eyes full of admiration, he had never seen one spirit eat so much "Yes sir?"

"What else is good Mark?" Haruto waved his hand at the many plates all over the table, "I have already tried pepperoni, pork and sausage, and barbeque."

"Hmmm, well sir." The teen grinned as he pointed to a section on the menu, "We do have a pineapple piz…

"Pineapple!" Haruto's eyes widened as he interrupted the spirit, "The fruit that devours a person from the inside as it is eaten? You put that on pizza?"

Mark startled when the man slammed the menu onto the table

"Perfect! I'll have two slices!"

Mark nodded, "Yes sir! I will have them out in a few moments."

Haruto frowned when he noticed the teen look again at the front door of the building, "Are you expecting someone?"

"Oh no sir, I'm just wondering where my boss is…" a forced smile came to the boy's face, "he never leaves without at least yelling at me first."

"Sounds like an ass." Haruto smirked, "You're better off working for someone else." The spirit paused when he caught the look of despair that came to Mark's eyes, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing sir." Mark waved his hands quickly, "I don't want to bother you with my problems."

Haruto grinned and leaned back in his chair, "I don't mind."

Mark rubbed the back of his neck, "Ummm ok." The teen exhaled slightly, as if getting rid of a weight, "Truth be told Toma isn't just my boss…his technically my master until I can work off my family's debt."

"Oh, kind of like an indentured servant." Haruto nodded as he let the chair fall back to the floor, "So what happened to cause such a contract?" the spirit glanced at the teen when a sound not unlike a choked sob escaped him, "I take it something painful?"

"When I was ten my father was injured in a mine collapse and became paralyzed." Marks eyes blinked back tears, "He was the sole provider for my family and without him being able to work…"

"Times got hard, your two sisters got sick, and your poor mother had no idea what to do."

Mark stared at that, "How…how did you know that sir?"

Haruto shrugged, "I'm a good guesser." He motioned with his hand, "Sorry, you are telling the story, continue."

"Ummm well as you said things got really bad." Mark continued, though the teen was starting to think this spirit was not a simple beggar as he appeared, "It was at this time Toma came by and offered to pay for my sister's medications, pay for our food and rent, and anything else we needed to survive." A sigh escaped the boy, "My mother didn't know at the time when she accepted his 'gift' that Toma would come back a month later and demand that he paid back, twice what had been given."

Haruto nodded, "And since there was no money to be given you offered to work off the family's obligation to Toma by being his servant." The ancient spirit glanced at the teen, "So how much longer until the debt is paid?"

Mark shook his head, "Not sure…Toma keeps changing the amount that he says we owe." A huff left the boy, "Something about interest or some nonsense."

"I see…"

The teen startled when a grin came to the man's face

"Well you don't have worry about repaying your debt to Toma."

"But sir, you don't understand." Mark trembled slightly, "Toma has…friends…who tend to visit those don't repay." A slight whimper escaped the boy, "I can't skip out or he'll hurt my family."

"Oh of course, I wouldn't ever dream of harming your family Mark." The ancient spirit's smile widened, "I like you."

Mark smiled, "Well thank you sir, but I doubt Toma will let me out of our contra…"

"That's the best part!"

The teen startled when the man tossed his hands in the air

"I own your contract!"

Mark blinked slowly, "Wh…What?"

"Yep, just before you came in Toma and I had a bit of a conversation. The poor guy was so stressed, said something about always wanting to be able to travel so I bought Geninava's and he threw you in for free."

"Really?" Mark wasn't at all mad, since this spirit seemed nicer than Toma ever was

"Yep said he didn't want to drag you around with him like some weight." Haruto smirked, "Now he's off traveling…" a grin curled his lips, "Like dust in the wind." The spirit raised an eyebrow when a loud thud echoed as the teen went on his knees, head bowed.

"Thank you, sir! Thank you so much!" Mark lifted his head his eyes full of relief, "I will do my best to repay what is owed."

Haruto rubbed his chin, "You can start by grabbing my order." The man grinned, "I am still hungry."

"Oh, right right!" the teen was on his feet instantly, "I almost forgot…two pineapple slices coming up."

"Oh, I can't wait!" Haruto rubbed his hands together, the spirit already anticipating the new flavor of pizza he was about to try. Suddenly Haruto paused, eyes unfocusing, his head cocked as if listening to someone, "What do you mean Raze would get a kick out of this?" a quizzical look came to the spirit's face.

Silence filled the room as Haruto continued to listen to no one

"Hey! I am not going soft!" a look of indignation came to Haruto's face, "I am still a heartless killing mach… My pizza!" the spirit's rant was cut short by Mark reemerging from the kitchen, two plates in his hands.

"Here you are sir!" a large smile was on the teen's as he hurried across to the table, "Piping hot from the oven!"

Haruto grinned as the plates were laid down, "This looks so good!" the spirit poked one of the pineapples, "I haven't eaten one of these for millennia…"

Mark startled when the spirit shoved an entire slice into his mouth, he became concerned when the man suddenly slumped in his chair, "Sir are you ok!"

"Bemmpher tham okm!" Haruto's words were garbled as he spoke in between chewing, "Thim im themp bemh thim I've eaten!"

A grin replaced the teen's worried expression as the man's words returned to normal as he swallowed, "I'm glad you like it."

"Best yet!" Haruto grabbed the second piece, "Grab another."

Mark nodded, "I'll be back in a second."

Haruto wasn't really listening as the teen hurried back to the kitchen, the ancient spirit now scarfing down the unfortunate slice he held. Once the deed was done Haruto sank back into his chair, "Man…who knew such exquisite food could exist?" the spirit grinned slightly, "Makes me glad I chose the path I did and didn't turn this whole planet to dust."

A sudden pulse of energy shattered the air, causing Haruto's head to snap to the side the spirit on alert.

"And wouldn't you know it…our brother is trying to change even that fact." Haruto huffed as he angrily shoved back from the table, the chair making a scarping sound as he did, "Guess once again I gotta clean up after his mess."

"Sir, is something wrong?"

Haruto glanced at the teen who had just emerged from the back, "Sorry Mark but I have to go take care of something…family drama and what not." He grinned, "So I'll have to take that slice to go."

Mark nodded as he rushed over to the table, "Of course sir, let me grab you a box…"

"Nah!"

The teen startled when the man snatched the slice from the plate he held.

"I'll just eat on the way." Haruto wagged a finger, "Now I won't be back for a while so I'm counting on you to hold down the fort until I do."

"By myself?" Mark squeaked, "Are you sure?"

Haruto nodded as he started to the door, "Of course, I trust you. Though if it gets too much for you to handle on your own I give permission to you to hire extra help."

The ancient spirit didn't wait to hear what the boy said, instead Haruto opened the door and stepped back into the town's streets. He hummed a tune under his breath as he brought his palms together.

A sound not unlike thunder broke the air, then a searing heat washed over the town as dancing flames surrounded the ancient spirit. The wall of fire rose over Haruto, completely consuming him, then just as quick as it had appeared the flames died revealing an empty space where the spirit had once stood.


(In the Vaults)

Back in the Vaults unaware that his insane uncle was on his way Jack was desperately searching for the restraint that had been removed, both he and Pitch hoping that replacing it would bring their father back to his normal self. However, as Jack was finding this was an easy said than done task since the winter spirit could not for the life of him find the thing.

"Oh, gods above the stupid restraint should be right here!" Jack yelled to no one as he again searched the empty cell that had once held Chand, "It's not like the cells that big."

An inhale of breath caused Jack's chest to rise slightly, "Just calm down…take a moment to think." The winter spirit exhaled as he took his own advice, "Start again at one corner and go from there."

Jack focused all his attention on the floor of the cell, though it was hard to at times when he came across patches of blood that were fresh…the teen knowing that the stains were a result from of the wounds that had been inflicted on his dad.

After a bit the teen was starting to get ticked

"How can it not be here!"

"Hey stupid!"

"What do you want?" Jack growled when the sound of Rancor's voice echoed in his mind

"Ever consider that this cell wasn't the only one Raze was kept?"

Jack stiffened as the demon continued

"This cell has been scoured of every semblance of energy, even the magma in the walls has been turned to blackened stone."

"Yeah but that doesn't mean that didn't happen when the restraint fell off."

A sound not unlike a huff resounded in Jack's mind

"Kid I've been around your father longer than you could have dreamed." Rancor's voice held a note of pride, "I have witnessed firsthand what Raze is truly capably of and I'm telling you if the restraint had fallen off here then his power would have began absorbing life slower."

Jack winced when a feeling of sorrow washed over him, he couldn't tell if it was his or the demon's.

"You saw how ravenous your father's power was when Abaddon and Ra…Rage fell into the cell." Rancor's voice held a note of sorrow, "That sort of voracity would not have occurred unless the King had been without the restraint for a while." The demon's tone took on a thoughtful tone, "Not to mention if the restraint were near Raze it still would have offered some control over his power."

"Well that's just great!" Jack threw his hands in the air, "There's no way I can find this stupid thing now!"

"Glad to be of service."

"Ass." Jack cursed when Rancor's voice faded as the demon went again silent, a sigh left the teen, "Guess it's up to us to help dad come to his senses." The teen turned his gaze to the opening of the cell, he could hear cracks breaking the air, "Though from the sound of the fight I don't think it's going to be easy."

Jack hurried out so that he could offer his brother assistance, the winter spirit stopped mid step when he exited the cell and saw his father stagger backwards and slump against the wall. The winter spirit could see a spreading bruise now creeping across Chand's torso, Jack knew instantly that a rib or two had been broken.

Blue eyes widened when he glanced at Pitch, he could tell the Nightmare King was still ready to continue fighting.

"Pitch! Stop!" Jack raced forward

Golden eyes rolled as the winter spirit reached him "There isn't any other option here Jack." The shade waved a hand at the walls full of indentions where Chand's fist had connected, "Father's not exactly pulling his punches."

Before Jack could reply a shiver went down his spine, the teen's attention went immediately to Chand. A sinking feeling settled in Jack's stomach at the malicious look now on his father's normally kind face.

"I did not want to use this…it drains me so much now that I am not at my fullest."

Jack gulped when a slow hum filled the air, as if something were powering on.

"That's not good."

At Pitch words Jack's attention left his father's face and went to his hand, to the teen's horror a pulsing ball of energy was swirling around Chand's fist.

"But if I am to remove you from the world and take your power for my own I must put caution to the side." Silver eyes gleamed as Chand's eyes snapped to them, "Now disappear into Oblivion!"

Blue eyes widened as Chand thrust his left-hand outwards, sending the writhing energy barreling towards them.

"Jack…"

The winter spirit glanced at his brother when he caught the tremble in the shade's voice

"I can't manipulate the shadows of this place..."

"Is that why you had Rage use the shadows earlier instead of you doing it?"

"Yes, it was." Pitch flexed his hand, "Now because of my weakness we're stuck…no way out, no real way to dodge the attack...can't sidestep, and no way to outrun it."

"What do we do then?" the winter spirit frowned at the resolved look on the Nightmare King's face.

Pitch didn't respond, instead he rushed forward

"Pitch!" was the only word Jack got out before he had to shield his eyes against a blast of red light. A low cry escaped the teen as burning heat rushed by him, though to his confusion it didn't touch him.

When he lowered his arm, Jack saw why.

Pitch stood just a few feet from him, the shade's body posed so that the teen was shielded.

"Pitch…are…are you ok?" Jack whimpered slightly as he watched red energy crackle all over his brother's body. The winter spirit knew the answer instantly when he noticed the smoldering burns on the shade's arms that had been brought up to shield his face.

"That…that didn't go as…planned." Pitch's voice oozed agony as he lowered his arms

"What were you thinking!" Jack hurried to Pitch, the teen steadied the spirit when the shade nearly fell over.

"I thought I could use my sand to at least block most of the blast." Pitch groaned, his brain now fully realizing to pain now cascading through him, "But it seems Rage is really gone…"

Jack didn't miss the sound of sorrow in the Nightmare King's voice, "I know Pitch…but we can't mourn him now." He glanced at Chand who stood panting, the red energy pulsing still around his left hand, "We have to get away from here before dad uses that attack again."

"There is no escape…"

Blue eyes widened when Jack saw that Chand was lifting his hand again

"This is your end."

Jack startled when he was pulled close to Pitch, the teen knew his brother was going to try and shield him again…however the winter spirit knew it was useless. There was no way he or Pitch was going to survive.

A rise of energy told Jack that Chand was about to launch his attack, blue eyes closed as Jack waited for the inevitable end.

However, it never came, instead a low voice whispered in the air

"What happens to the Moon when the Sun rises?"

Jack jumped when a pillar of fire burst upwards from the stone floor next to Chand

A loud crack shook the air as a fist lunged from within the writhing flames and connected with the ancient spirit's jaw, the force of the blow sending Chand careening through the air and into the opposite wall.

"It falls!"

Jack stared in shock and sheer terror as the flames withdrew into the floor, and standing where they once had been was Haruto, the spirit's face a twisted expression that spoke only of murder.


Cliff! Please review and let me know what you thought. I love hearing from you and see what you guys thought :) Till next time.