Hello, readers! Here I am, presenting you with a gift. I call it: Chapter 6.

Astral quickly shot off of the floor, the hazy, blackened air making it hard to see. He waved a hand in front of his face and the thick fog parted briefly. It seemed as though it was worsening as the room had darkened considerably and Astral could no longer see any moonlight.

"Yuma?" Astral called, remembering that he was not the only one in the room. When there was no response, Astral became alarmed.

"Yuma…?" He tried again, but was met with similar results.

Astral began thrashing his arms sporadically around him, trying to clear the misty air around him so he could see the attic better. It was no use.

Astral inhaled a deep breath of air and gagged slightly as some of the dusty air lodged into his throat. The heaviness returned in his head, only this time an aching sensation accompanied it.

Astral moved himself forward and reached out his hands, searching for the walls, only to remember that this was useless seeing as he couldn't touch anything. His brain was scattered with thoughts of what to do or what was going on.

Those thoughts were interrupted by a sudden choked cough coming from down below him. Astral tried to clear the air again so he could see Yuma.

He was met with a very worrying sight; the young boy was curled up into a ball in his hammock. His hands were clenched into fists and his face was clenched in what Astral assumed was pain.

"Yuma!" Astral called again when he noted that the boy appeared to be shivering, yet the temperature of the room had remained static. One of Yuma's fisted hands lowered from its previous position near his face to his stomach. Yuma pressed against his abdomen and moaned in his sleep, bringing his knees up higher into his chest.

"Aw, poor baby." A voice purred from behind Astral.

Astral quickly turned to face his demonic counterpart; the black mist of the room absorbed together to create said monster's normal form. The attic appeared back to normal as Yuma's body was illuminated by the moonlight.

"What is going here?" Astral demanded.

Black Mist shrugged sheepishly.

"I've just come back for a visit, if that's alright with you."

Astral snarled dangerously and leapt in front of Yuma.

"Leave. Now. You've done enough to us! Where is our daughter?"

"She's with me, of course. She's doing very well, you know. I think she likes me better!" Black Mist chirped.

Astral had to restrain himself from physically attacking the monster.

"But, if you'd really like to know why I'm here," Black Mist continued, and then trailed off and turned his back to Astral, who's anger only increased more.

"What! What do you want!"

Black Mist opted not to answer and instead pointed down towards Yuma, who was still curled up in his hammock.

"You want Yuma?" Astral questioned angrily. "Stay away from him!"

Black Mist rolled his eyes. "No, no, Astral, I just came here, because, well, you see…"

Black Mist trailed off again and Astral was instantly on him, his hands gripped tightly around the black ghost's throat. The former easily pushed them off and smiled cruelly at Astral.

"It's awfully lonely for little Hope in the key. I thought she could use a playmate."

"So, you're taking Yuma with you?"Black Mist continued to smile childishly and slowly shook his head.

"I'll be taking what's inside of Yuma."

Astral's eyes were as wide as they had ever been when he realized what Black Mist meant. His hand slowly raised to cover his mouth in shock, disgust, and horror. Astral's mind raced…he needed confirmation…

"You…y-you mean…"

"That's right, Astral." Black Mist affirmed. "Your little boyfriend is expecting again. Congratulations! But, sorry, it's not yours." Black Mist cackled darkly to himself, staring down at Yuma, who was turned onto his other side in his hammock but with his body still stiff with agony.

"The little twerp is carrying Hope's baby brother or sister! Isn't that nice?" Black Mist said with feigned excitement and a wicked smile, both of Astral's hand were over his mouth as he suppressed the urge to throw up, eyeing his young counterpart with overwhelming concern.

"…How?" Was all Astral could think to question the dark spirit.

"Well, I knew I wouldn't be able to touch the boy with you here, so I used my powers to, well, put you to sleep! A little while later, the deal was done! And there's nothing you can do about it." Black Mist waved a tentacle menacingly in Astral's face.

Astral was overcome with guilt at the thought that Yuma had been so horrifically violated. Then, his head swarmed with the thought that perhaps Yuma had also been asleep the entire time and was unaware of his current situation.

"Oh, don't worry. He knows." Black Mist purred, as if he had read Astral's mind. Tears came to Astral's eyes and his heart weighed heavily. He had failed to protect Yuma from one of the worst things that could've ever happened to him.

"Hope says hello, by the way. I think she's excited to be a big sister!"

And with that, the blackened spirit was gone. The room was eerily silent aside from Astral's quiet crying. He leaned down next to Yuma's hammock, where he pretended to lay his head beside the boy's, and sobbed. Sobbed harder than he ever thought he could. First they had lost Hope, and now this?

"Astral?" He heard Yuma's soft voice call to him. Astral picked his head up and Yuma was surprised to find him crying. The pained guilt in Astral's eyes revealed to Yuma that he knew what had happened to him, and Yuma, too, began to cry.

"I'm so sorry," Astral whispered to his partner through his tears "I'm so sorry…"

"It's not your fault." Yuma responded, wanting so badly to hug his ethereal partner.

"It must have been terrible…" Astral trailed off, his tears stopping his voice.

"It wasn't too bad." Yuma said, it was then Astral noticed the bruises on his face. "I just kept thinking about you and Hope. It made me feel better."

"What should we do? Should we get rid of it?" Astral questioned.

Astral watched sadly as Yuma sat his head up slightly, straining to swallow.

"We can't."

When there was no response, Yuma continued.

"He said…that…if we tried to abort this baby he would kill Hope."

Astral bowed his head.

"But, Yuma…this baby could kill you."Yuma shook his head slowly and frowned.

"I don't care. I don't want Hope to get hurt. We thought Hope was trying to hurt me, but she wasn't. Maybe if we show this baby love, too, it won't hurt me."

Astral nodded in understanding, although he was still overwhelmed with worry for his young lover. After all, Yuma barely survived Hope's birth…

Astral brought up a translucent hand and pretended to it through Yuma's hair. He wanted so badly to just grab the boy and hold him and never, ever let him go. Yuma smiled weakly, his head turning more towards Astral.

"I love you." Yuma whispered.

Astral chuckled, wiping away a tear.

"I love you, too."

The couple gazed lovingly into each other's eyes for what felt like hours. Astral then noticed Yuma's hand clenching again over his stomach and grew concerned.

"Are you in pain?"

Yuma nodded slightly. "Yeah."

"Is it bad?"

"My stomach is really…I don't know, tight? There's this really deep, like, aching pain. Sort of underneath my bellybutton…" Yuma pointed to the area with his fingers. Astral rested a hand over the area, desiring so badly to rid the boy of his suffering. Yuma started crying again and Astral couldn't help but cry along with him.

"I'm really scared, Astral." Yuma whispered.

"I know, honey."

Yuma smiled at the reuse of his pet-name.

"You'll stay with me, right?"Astral nodded. "Always."

Yuma seemed slightly reassured by that answer and soon was fast asleep. Astral rested his head back down beside the boy's as he continued to cry to himself for the remainder of the night.

Well, there you have it, folks! Chapter 6! Sorry for the little wait there, again! I really gotta stop tha. Stupid work! Anyways, thanks for reading, and as always, see you next chapter! xo