I do not own Bleach or any of their characters. All props go to Tite Kubo.
I do however own my characters, territories, ideas, and everything else that is not originally included in the Bleach story.

I felt like shit.

I didn't even know what had happened to me, but goodness gracious, I was in immense pain. I know I wasn't awake yet, but I could still feel it. As of right now, I'm surrounded by an endless whiteness, lying on my back, staring up at whiteness.

I felt so alone. I looked around, and saw nothing or no one. I could barely move my body, but my head was in better condition to move.

Why was I here? Here of all places? I knew where I was, well, where my mind was. I was in my inner world, but it was completely desolate. It's always been like this, which is why I hate it, because I don't exactly have a solid idea of how to leave.

"Confused I assume?" Came a woman's voice.

My eyes struck wide. I looked to my feet and there was a woman sitting at them but turned so I only saw the left side of her face. She had long brown hair and tanned skin, wearing... My mother's uniform?!

"M-Mom?" I asked nervously.

She faced me, "No. I am not your mother."

"Who are... Hakubi-sama?" I then asked.

"Yes, yes! That is I, Hakubi, so strange of you to use honorifics little Positive. Your mother never used them, that's for sure." She exclaimed.

I was stunned, "You look just like her!"

"No child, it is her that looks like me." She said in a serious tone. Was she bipolar? She seemed like she was bubbly, then that bubble just popped because this was a completely different manner.

"Well... Where is she?" I asked.

"She is corrupted, so she is gone." Hakubi stated, standing and stepping to my side. She helped me up, and the pain warped again in my body. I grunted and struggled to keep myself up.

"This would be so much easier if Shouji were here." She muttered.

"Shouji?" I asked.

"Don't you know? The Zanpakutou of these reigning Positive charges. He is with your mother." She said with a smile.

"Where can I find her?" I asked.

"Oh foolish girl, do not look for her. That is the last thing you want to do. Look for her Opposite charge. I do not know his name, but I know that he is absolutely powerless without Kokuryu's strength." She said.

I nodded, my stomach in knots, "Why are you here?"

"I was bored, and I felt you lingering. Had I known that your mother was going to fail, I would have not given her my power."

"What?" I asked, "How could you say that?"

"Does it matter child? I told her the importance, and she abandoned it, just like she abandoned the Inferno." Hakubi told me.

I was stunned, horrifically. I couldn't say anything because I didn't want to sound stupid, so I remained speechless.

"Now, I am here, trapped in the Inferno with my husband and children. Though of course, we could not leave, it was still a breath of fresh air to have that feeling of life above us, when the world is probably crumbling. You have survived well though. What brings you here, darling?"

Hakubi spoke too fast for me. I was still confused, "I-I was knocked out by... Almalexia, a Phoenix Princess."

"Phoenix Princess? You mean they call themselves royalty? Ha! Their king only assassinated the natural blood king there and established themselves long ago. That is not royalty, those are tyrants." Hakubi laughed.

"I know that," I said.

"You have read some of your mother's writings, have you not?" She then asked.

My eyebrows raised, "I-I have, quite a bit."

"I can see it in your eyes, child." Hakubi said, "Ah well, I guess your mother did have a fascination of someone coming across those scriptures. She was an ambitious one, and it was hard to separate her from her books as if had she not wrote these things, no one else would keep record of the crumbling surface."

I was stunned. I stared at Hakubi who appeared to be in deep thought. So this was what my mother looked like up close? Just a bit younger looking? Hakubi's eyes met mine and she smirked, "What mean things did she say about me?"

"Nothing mean from what I read," I said, "She just called you confusing and described how impatient she felt when you made her wait for things."

"Yes, of course." Hakubi said, "But I am and was thousands of years older than your mother who so suddenly appeared in her life with a new destiny for her in a small amount of time. She would definitely be confused, so young and so pitiful."

Hakubi smiled as she reminisced.

I continued to stare at her, also slightly perplexed. I spoke, "My mother wrote that you gave her your power. What does that mean?"

"I gave her the Great Meido power, something I should have waited on." Hakubi said, "Kiyori Kurotsuchi really was a masterpiece, born with but ten percent of my natural power as my reborn figure. With the Great Meido's power, she was given all of my power, meaning she reigns as an unstoppable force with one hundred ten percent."

"But... She also has your Opposite's power?"

"Yes, and that is why she is corrupted!" Hakubi said with a laugh.

"What does corrupted even mean?" I asked.

"I do not know, I have never experienced it." Hakubi shrugged, "I assume that your mother, what ever she may be doing, is often under the influence of Kokuryu's evil embrace."

I shivered at the word 'evil'.

"I thought she was ready. I really did. I thought it was finally my time to put away the armor and rest for all eternity with my Fiery Phoenix, but she didn't listen to my orders, and because of the corruption, she has been missing from your life and your family's lives for nearing seventeen years."

Hakubi and I sighed at the same time.

"Are you completely powerless then?" I asked after a few moments.

"Child, I am dead. It doesn't matter what I am or not." Hakubi said, "I can still teach you something that may be very worthy to you in your future travels."

She grabbed my hand, "It is called Interstellar Flight, and it will allow you to travel great distances at an amazing speed that can only be formed out of pure Positive Energy."

As she spoke, I felt large amounts of energy flowing into me through the touch of our hands. I was speechless as my hand began to tingle. I met Hakubi's eyes and I saw that she wore a warm smile.

"If you do so happen to cross your mother on the surface, wherever she may be, just know that her grace was because of me. Yours too, maybe." She said.

I was confused, but more trapped in awe as colors formed, circling and spiraling around us. I suddenly felt dizzy, and Hakubi turned around, still holding my hand. Instantly, I felt a jolt as if we were flung forward, making me feel sick again. The pain that I once felt before had returned, but I had left my Inner World, just when I discovered a reason to stay.

My head was throbbing, but I couldn't find the energy to open my eyes or tend to this migraine. The air I breathed was stale and musty... Somewhat burnt.

I couldn't move my arms, but they felt strained and held up and away from me while my wrists tugged against something metal, as if by shackles. My knees dug into stone, though I was wearing my boots that protected them from pain.

Slowly I opened my eyes which felt like weights, not seeing much but a large, dark, stone room that was lit by a few torches among the tall walls. I was in the dead center of the room, sorta. There was something in front of me, but I couldn't see what it was as of right now.

My mouth was dry and tasted gross, as if I just scrubbed it with chemicals. I tried to move my left arm to rub my eyes, only to remember that they were held away from me. Almalexia's doing, I suppose. I adjusted myself so that my shoulders didn't hurt as much, but the pain in my stomach didn't go away.

I felt completely alone, more alone than being in my Inner World without Hakubi.

There were no windows in the room, and from my view, just one set of doors. Oh God, how long have I been here? My dad and everyone must be freaking out by now!

I began to panic, trying to free my arms, but it was no use. I made whimpering noises, then I heard chains in front of me. I gasped as I made out it was a similar restraint on someone else.

The person leaned forward so that their head was tilted downward, and I assumed them to be male from their large muscles and a missing shirt.

The doors burst open and the light grew brighter. In walked Almalexia with two guards who stood at the door. She wore a simple black and red kimono, surrounded by her furs. She walked to the center of me and the other prisoner before smirking directly at me.

"You're finally awake." She sneered.

I growled at her, "Oh this is just so much fun," she laughed, "Welcome to the Disciplinary Unit."

My eyes widened. Tanoshi was here?

"You are here because your behavior at my party was absolutely unacceptable. I understand it was a mere prank, but you are accountable for it, and for that, you will die." She said.

I was stunned and speechless, but I found the energy to speak, "So you're going to kill me?"

"Oh no," She said, waving her hand to one of the guards. A big light above me turned on, lighting the room completely. It looked charred, explaining the burnt smell.

She walked to the prisoner, who was definitely male, and knelt down. She grabbed his jaw and lifted his face to my view. It was Vivec's.

"He is." She said.

I gasped, "What the hell? Why is he here?"

"It's all your fault really," Almalexia said, "Had you not told me about what Vivec had said about me 'not deserving' my position, and wishing the Inferno's Successor to kill me, he wouldn't even know of your death. And now, he will be the one to cause it."

"You can't make him do that." I growled.

"Oh, but I can!" Almalexia laughed, "The reason why the great Prince Vivec isn't and wasn't the one with my position is because he cannot control his flame. When he unleashes it, it is an extreme form of our fire that is absolutely deadly and is not able to be tamed."

"Isn't that right, my dear brother?" She said to him. His eyes slowly met hers in a vicious glare. Almalexia stood and walked to me, now kneeling, her face close to mine.

"I won't lay a finger on you, except for the cost of bringing you here." She said with a guilty chuckle, "You kept waking up, so I kept having to put you out."

I gathered all the saliva I could muster and spit in her face, making her shriek and stand. She raised her hand to slap me, but was stopped by a loud yell, "No!"

It was Vivec, his complete black eyes wide, "You will not touch her, 'not a finger' you have promised."

I was stunned, but still very happy that he had spoke.

Almalexia quickly wiped off my saliva then smiled evilly, "That's right, because it'll be you doing the damage."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

Almalexia vanished to the wall on my right, and grabbed something that looked like a large black whip before returning. She walked between me and Vivec before circling to the backside of him. I heard him sigh.

"Let's just say any sort of wound inflicted upon Vivec, such as one caused by... a whip," Almalexia said, slashing Vivec across his backside with the whip. I watched the prince grit his teeth and close his eyes tightly at the pain. I gasped and looked away as Almalexia continued to punish her brother.

A couple minutes passed and Almalexia spoke again, "... He'd need to sear his wounds shut, but like I said, he cannot control his flame, so if he does choose to heal himself, you will die, but if he chooses not to, he will die."

I opened my eyes and looked at Vivec who had his head down again. Blood dripped to the floor and down from his shoulders onto his chest. I gasped and began to panic. I noticed Almalexia smirking at me before she left, her guards following her out, turning the light off.

I waited for a few seconds before speaking, "Vivec," I said, "Are you alright?"

"Yes," He grunted, "Do not worry Yua, I will not sear my wounds shut, I will not harm you."

"But you'll die!" I said.

"I will not." He scoffed, wearing a smirk. Ugh, this wasn't the time to be joking around.

"Are you sure?" I asked. He nodded.

"How long have I been here?" I then asked. He made a face as if he were counting.

"About fourteen hours." He said, "I was already here by time you arrived to my cell."

"Dammit," I murmured, "Everyone must be worried, and everyone will think that you kidnapped me."

"Me?" Vivec asked, "Why me?"

"Almalexia disguised herself as you, I don't know how, but she pulled it off." I replied.

"That clever witch," He sighed.

We were silent for a few minutes, and I watched him adjust his body to accustom to his fresh wounds. He seemed defeated, but had an odd face of determination.

"It's all true, what my sister said." He spoke, as if to himself, "That I cannot control my power. Once I unleash it, I cannot grasp it. It is why I wasn't next in line to be king. Even though she is but a few minutes older, she is still a girl, and a woman is always second in the reign, but in my case, it was me."

"Don't you have other siblings?" I asked.

"I do. But they are young, too young for the throne." Vivec said, "My father had told me I was like my mother; I possessed her genes for a powerful, but uncontrollable flame. I only use it to protect myself."

This made me think of Ego's story of her brother and parents. The queen had unleashed a deadly flame... To protect herself from Ego's mother.

"I protected myself from Almalexia's flame at her party, but in doing so, I ended up harming everyone around me, even her." He said, guilt present in his tone.

"Well on the bright side, she's still alive." I said, "Even though she's put our lives in danger."

"That is true." He spoke, eyes meeting mine.

"This is the Disciplinary Unit?" I asked after a while.

"This is several meters beneath the Unit, yes. There are only a handful of people who know about it."

"What's it used for?" I asked.

"It was once a padded cell for the insane, but rooms above ground were constructed, so this one was forgotten." He replied.

I nodded, "So... How well did you know Tanoshi Mori?"

"I cannot put a face to the name, if that answers your question." Vivec said with a smile.

Goodness, how could he smile while in so much pain? He laughed at my face, "Must you be so serious? I will come up with a plan, do not worry."

I sighed, "I hope you do."

That was the last thing I said to Vivec before we sat in a long silence, leading to a well appreciated sleep.

Jashatirou/Happy J POV

God dammit! I knew something was off with that man. He was a lot more strange than usual, and I, out of pure foolishness, let him near Yua. I sighed in frustration. I just pray that she didn't just leave with him, that bastard.

Yua was so naive. She is like Kiyori when she had first arrived at Sancre Tor. Curious regardless to whatever the costs were. I sighed again upon mentioning Kiyori. Yua had been making me think about her a lot lately, well, a lot more. She was getting a lot more curious about her that I was so close to telling her the truth.

I know it is wrong for me to keep it from her, but I've been telling her this story for so long, I just don't want to hurt her. I had made attempts, but with those big bright eyes and that fascinated stare, I couldn't bring myself to do it.

As of right now, I sat in Yua's room, at her desk but with the chair turned to face the window. Where could she be?

I was up at dawn, and that is when I discovered Yua was missing. By noon I had already searched the entire district for her, and now I wait as others do. I wasted a lot of my energy already, but I only build it back up. It bothers me how she has gone without a word or a note, but that could only mean that she was abducted or worse, she left on her own.

Either way, she is with Vivec. Judging by his strange nature last night, I wouldn't keep my daughter anywhere near him.

I heard what sounded like an argument happening outside. Yua's window had a perfect view of the plantation which could be seen from the front of the mansion. I got up from her chair and looked outside, seeing it was Tanoshi and Yumaki causing a fuss.

"None of you believed me!" Tanoshi had said loudly, "I told all of you that he wasn't any good, and you just pushed the idea aside. Even my own mother."

"Tanoshi!" Yumaki started, "You will not talk to me that way!"

"What does it matter? I was the only one with some common sense around here and didn't want Vivec to come to dinner, but everyone was just oh so happy to have him over, and now, Yua is no where to be found. I wonder why? Need I mention that he preyed upon her at that party we had gone to?" Tanoshi babbled.

I frowned at his words, then heard MiroTano's voice, "Silence, Tanoshi."

"I don't know what has gotten into you, and why you think you can raise your voice in my presence. You were not raised that way." Yumaki growled at him.

"Of course not, because you would know what it was like at the Disciplinary Unit. I only graduated to get away from Vivec. Who knows what types of things he's doing to Yua." Tanoshi replied before Sonidoing elsewhere.

I Sonidoed out to them, sensing the frustrated aura radiating off of them. My eyes shifted from MiroTano's brown ones to Yumaki's now covered blue eyes. She sighed loudly, "I don't know what to do." She mumbled. MiroTano welcomed her into his arms and looked at me and shook his head.

"How's about we head to the Palace in the Sixth Torture district?" MiroTano asked.

Both Yumaki and I nodded simultaneously. My eyes traveled to one of the large windows at the front of the house that faced us, and saw the Head Cascabel standing there with his arms to his sides, smiling.I tried my hardest to not visibly cringe.

He Sonidoed out to us and spoke, "You should beware of Almalexia, she's a true powerhouse."

"What makes you say that?" MiroTano asked.

"She's an angry little thing with a lot of energy stored to back up her abilities." He said.

I nodded and looked to MiroTano and Yumaki, "Let's go."

"Can I come?" Sana asked, Sonidoing to us. Yumaki turned to her, "No Sana, stay here with your brother."

"Aw, but mom -" Sana began, but Yumaki cut her off, "No, I don't want any dangers in your path."

Yumaki kissed Sana's forehead, followed by MiroTano. The caramel haired little girl nodded and Sonidoed elsewhere. Us three looked to the Head Cascabel and began to Sonido north.

"God, he gives me the creeps." Yumaki said.

"I think he does it on purpose." MiroTano replied.

"Whether he does it or not, he let us into his home and has not once made any attempts to drive us out." I stated in a slow manner.

"I know that," Yumaki started, "He just seems too generous; no one is, not in these times."

I did begin to wonder why the Head Cascabel allowed us to stay there. Was it because of Ego? That would made more sense, but what does he get in return? For all I know he's just insane and is building up some plan or knows something that no one else does.

He once told me that he had lost someone very special to him when I had told him about Kiyori when I was in my early years of depression. This actually was one of my first disturbing moments with him. I asked him if it was his wife that he lost. He merely shook his head, saying it was himself that he had lost.

"My queen was the oasis that made me remember what I had given up for life, and now that she is gone, I cannot even remember my own children's names. Other than Ego and Xavier, of course. What did I give up anyhow? Since I don't bother to meddle with such things, I like to wonder how strong their little tendons are, and how many yards of flesh I bestowed upon them. My children, they're precious, aren't they? Now if I could just remember their names..." He had said.

I simply said I had to leave and check up on Yua, but in truth I was just completely sickened.

After passing a few sets of territory borders, we finally entered the Sixth Torture District. The majority of the land was taken up by military battalions and post offices between small villages or towns. The terrain was not unlike the Nightshade District, only the sand was not dyed red. It was a mere gold, but got brighter, almost to white as we neared the palace.

"There's the Disciplinary Unit," MiroTano said as we all Sonidoed past it. The building was a simple tall and plain building with tall thin windows placed evenly away from each other. Around it was a tall wall of Seki-Seki embroidered with barbed wire. I forgotten how much this place had reminded me of a prison. With Tanoshi's sure progress, it's sort of unimaginable that he had lived here for three years.

He put Yua in danger at will. That is the consequence, and though I may forgive Tanoshi for his wrongdoings towards my only daughter, I do not regret assisting MiroTano in placing him there.

As the three of us neared the Palace that glimmered just ahead, we were signaled by its outer protecting walls where men in armor readied to speak to us. We Sonidoed down, and a man in silver and gold armor stepped to MiroTano after bowing to each of us. Yumaki and I returned the favor, but MiroTano did not.

"What is your purpose to visit the High King? Might you know that he is in critical condition?" the man said.

"None of us knew this, and we are not visiting your king. We are here to speak with Almalexia." MiroTano stated.

"On terms of who?" The man asked.

"On the terms of the heir of the Inferno, she is missing and Prince Vivec has something to do with it." Yumaki said.

"The heir of the Inferno?" The man asked, smiling, "Oh please, without the Inferno blazing, we Phoenixes are the ruling sets of flame."

"Watch your tongue, soldier." Said a male behind him. Instantly the man spun around and stood straight and saluted to this new person. They wore similar armor, but his was more high ranking.

"I will handle this, return to your duties." He said. The other man trailed along the wall alone.

"I didn't mean for the inconvenience for you folk, and the rudeness of one of my soldiers." He said, "The name's Crispinafilakis, but for short, it's just Crispin."

"MiroTano," MiroTano replied.

"Welcome to Sun's Peak - I couldn't help but hear you mention the heir to the Inferno. Yua, her name is, correct?" Crispin spoke.

"My daughter, yes. She is missing." I said.

"I am sorry, I haven't seen her in two sun overpasses, at Princess Almalexia's courting party with her sweet friend Yun."

"You're the man Yun danced with?" Yumaki asked. Crispin looked nervous, his hand raised to rub his neck in which I noticed were a few hickeys being covered, "Yes, that would be me." He smiled, nervously.

MiroTano shook his head, "We need to see Almalexia."

"Yes, of course." He said, "I will lead you there."

He turned around and vanished before us, leaving a small amount of smoke. There was a small burning ray that indicated his direction, so each of us followed that. The large city that surrounded the palace was very populous, and was spread in a semi circle before it was just sand and the ocean. Nearing the large sparkling buildings, the land raised upwards so that it sat taller than everything else to avoid damage from the water.

There were boats and ships lining docks at the bays and young children playing in the wet sand. I'd have to admit, this place was a lot more prosperous than I thought.

I saw him waiting at the front garden of the palace, so I Sonidoed down there, followed by MiroTano and Yumaki.

"This way," Crispin said, beckoning us. We followed, being watched by the gardeners who seemed to have many questions.

As we reached the large doors, two guards opened them for us, keeping their vision away. Each of us entered the bright and well-decorated room. Crispin led us around a golden fountain and up marble stairs where a tall empty throne stood. Beside the throne was a young steward in green fancy clothes who immediately stepped to Crispin.

"Trouble?" The Steward asked.

Crispin shook his head, "Is Almalexia available?"

"Yes, she just returned from the Disciplinary Unit." He said.

"Why was she there?" Crispin asked. The Steward shrugged.

"She said she was looking for Vivec because their father's condition is worsening." The Steward said.

"What's wrong with him?" MiroTano asked.

The Steward paused to study us, almost as if he had just noticed us, "He was cursed to age quicker each time he enters the sunlight."

"His late wife that he himself executed cursed him and formed into our second sun," Crispin added, "It is also said that each time our Prince Vivec meditates beneath the rising suns, he takes in more of her power. He's done this since she has been executed, since he was but a teenage boy. If you ask me, I believe that's why he cannot control that flame of his. Our queen's power is too great and has too much hatred towards the High King."

"And he has Yua," Yumaki sighed.

Crispin shrugged and walked onward down the hall to the left of the throne. We followed him down three long hallways before he stopped at another large door. This time, he knocked and waited.

The huge door opened and Almalexia stood in it, wearing a red and black kimono surrounded by furs that touched the floor.

"Crispin?" She asked, her eyes then met each of ours, mine for a bit longer.

"I take it you've met before," Crispin said, "They would like to speak to you."

"Hmm, yes." Almalexia trailed, moving out of the doorway to let us enter. Crispin entered with us and we were guided to a seating arrangement in what I assumed was Almalexia's bedroom, decorated in precious gems and pearls.

"We are in search of Yua Kurotsuchi," MiroTano said, "She has gone missing with Prince Vivec just last night."

"Is that so?" Almalexia said, "He has not returned home at all since he has taken off. I myself checked the Disciplinary Unit, and still no sign of my dear brother or the Heir to the Jin Bloodline."

"What do you think he plans to do with her?" I asked.

Almalexia shrugged, "Knowing Vivec, he would probably attempt to get information out of her or something, then kill her with his flame."

"His flame? But that's absolutely insane." Crispin stated, "The man knows he can't control it and won't use it unless-"

"Well he sure unleashed it at my party, thanks to Yua's blood in my wine." Almalexia snapped.

"What?" I asked. Yua never said anything about any laced wine.

"Yes," Almalexia said, "She and her companions laced the royal wine with her blood, ruining my party with my own royal blaze, followed by Vivec's. My brother cannot handle his wine, and was surely embarrassed. I'm positive that is why he insisted attending dinner the next day to teach Yua a lesson."

I frowned and she spoke again, "But where they are, I cannot tell you, for I do not know. I do not wish harm on your daughter, for she is still so young and cannot reach death just yet."

"Oh, we're not worried on whether Yua's life is in danger," Yumaki said, making a hand gesture as if she brushed away that topic, "The girl's practically invincible - like her mother."

"Invincible?" Almalexia asked, clearly interested.

Yumaki nodded, "I've seen her mother be blown to nothing and regenerate from thin air. I'm sure Yua can do the same, but I don't think she knows that or anyone else who didn't know Kiyori Kurotsuchi or Hakubi-sama's ability."

"Hakubi-sama?" Almalexia asked, her eyes wide, "What ties do they have together?"

"I honestly couldn't tell you. No one really knows." Yumaki said. I was glad Yumaki did not tell Almalexia the truth. Only those who were close to the Jin Bloodline or Sancre Tor really knew. Almalexia clearly did not have much education on the Jin Bloodline or Hakubi, and she needn't any more.

"How do you know of Hakubi-sama?" MiroTano asked.

"Why, everyone knows of her. She is the mother of the Meido District. She and her allies forced those who hunted the Titans into the Seventh Torture District, creating a one way entrance to the land. Among those events, she appointed a man to serve as king in the Sixth Torture district to ensure law of all the Torture districts, and the Phoenixes to be his servants."

"But not anymore?" MiroTano then asked.

Almalexia shook her head, "The Phoenixes revolted thousands of years back, and my father became king, and my mother, the queen. After hundreds of years of conflict and harsh wars in the Inferno's backyard, my parents finally had children, the first set of Phoenix twins, marking the twentieth century with prosperity... Until the portal broke open again."

"When was this?" Yumaki asked.

"It must have been when my brother and I were barely thirteen years of age. The current Jin Successor was in the Inferno for training, and the kingdom suffered its hardest times since this latest war. My mother was targeted, so she fled for four months, only to be discovered committing adultery and having several children to a man of madness."

"The Head Cascabel," Yumaki murmured. Almalexia nodded, "He cannot even remember his own name. My mother was executed after giving birth to eight half breed Phoenixes that were allowed to live, but exiled from our Kingdom."

I noticed the Princess's discomfort, almost as if she had other great business to attend to. My suspicions rose, and suddenly I felt the urge to keep the conversation going.

"And your father?" I asked, "How is he doing?"

Yua POV

I woke up earlier than I intended and still felt tired, pain, and some sort of sickness. God, this sucked. I really wanted to get out of here.

I listened to Vivec snore loudly. I studied him, and he was still covered in blood. I could almost hear it dripping off of him still. How the hell could he even sleep? His body twitched before he began to snore again. He must really be dreaming.

I wished I hadn't slept, because then I could keep up with how many hours I've been in here. Dad was obviously flipping shit and looking for me, I know it. I also know that when I get out of here, if I do, Almalexia is so done for. That is only if Vivec has the strength to stay alive and not blow up.

I sniffed the air.

Something was burning.

My eyes immediately went to Vivec's form, and he was positioned differently, dangling downwards, sort of... limp. While I was in deep thought, I failed to hear him stop snoring.

"Vivec!" I said, "Wake up!"

I got no response, only the shackles around his wrists began to glow orange and brighter from the intense heat. The room itself began to reach an extreme heat, it was almost troublesome to breathe and my nose burned with each inhale.

"Vivec!" I said, this time with panic obvious in my voice.

His copper skin began to glow slightly, only dimly, and the blood on his body stopped dripping and dried. The glow got brighter just behind him, and seconds later his deadly flame unleashed, engulfing me and completely destroying both of our binds. The impact was rough, and knocked me out cold, leaving me to return in whiteness.

Was this death?

Vivec POV

My eyes feathered open, and I felt the heat of my flame swirl around me, bouncing off the impenetrable walls off this cell. I no longer felt the harsh sting of the whippings my sister had given me, and I was no longer bound by shackles.

But.. Yua! Where was she? Oh what a pathetic thing to ask myself. My flame! I concentrated as hard as I could, though it proved to be difficult with this mass shaking I had encountered. When the blaze died down, I was in search of the Phoenix Heir, or what was left of her.

I could not find her anywhere, the only thing that remained was a dagger. I couldn't even stand. I had killed her when I said I wouldn't! I am an idiot, why did I sleep? Why had I not seen this coming? I grew angry with myself, breathing heavily and grasping onto the hair on my head. I could do nothing about this, unless... Almalexia.

I would have to avenge Yua and kill my sister. The woman knows she is no match for me, but... I am no match for my father. My father is no match for my mother's rays. I sighed and began to grieve. She was but a babe in the woods. I was convinced that my power would not harm her, but I was wrong.

I sat cross-legged and rested my forehead in my hands, only to be interrupted by a near inaudible high pitched chime-like sound repeating over and over again as if it were rain. I looked up before me and saw something materialize in thin air before I realized it was a black hole, then it was soon covered. It formed largely then I discovered it was a chest, then soon an entire naked body of Yua Kurotsuchi.

"Yua!" I said, standing to meet her. Her eyes were closed and she was pale and unconscious. Her previous Uniform slowly appeared on her, but I am not a lustful man. I held up the small young woman before me, studying her.

How could this be? She simply reappeared from... nothing! There's no way, she is not a god, but a descendant from the Fiery Phoenix, and even then, she's a mere descendant. Unless there was more to it. Yua's skin regained its color, and she gasped in air, opening her green eyes in fright.

She looked around and met my eyes, calming down and resuming her comfort.

"You blew up." She said.

"I know, I am sorry." I replied, closing my eyes.

"But, I'm alive. How?" She asked, "You blew me to pieces, I don't think there is anything more frightening than that ability of yours."

I shrugged, "You... formed back from thin air, I do not know how, but you did, I saw it with my own eyes."

"So what my mother wrote was true," Yua said, "She said that she could do that, and that she was the reborn figure of Hakubi-sama. I even entered my Inner World earlier and she talked to me!"

"Who talked to you?" I asked.

"Hakubi-sama!" She exclaimed.

"Hakubi-sama?" I asked, "But how?"

"She's the Fiery Phoenix's wife, my own mother is her 'reborn figure'. I'm obviously her daughter. I have their abilities too!" Yua said.

"Yua, Yua, now's our chance, we need to get out of here." I told her. She blinked then nodded. Her eyes went to the dagger on the ground, and she picked it up and put it in her sash, then I helped her stand. She looked at me and we nodded at the same time.

"It'd be nice to have my armor again." I muttered.

"You're not a hollow at all, are you?" She asked. I shook my head, "In fact, the Phoenixes are not evil."

"Would you say I'm evil?" Yua asked.

"Definitely." I replied sarcastically.

"Let's get out of here." Yua said.

I nodded and led the way to the doors that I knew were being guarded on the other side. I held my hand out to Yua to pause her movements, and I knocked at the door, and could sense the confusion. The door opened slightly before I forced it open against the first guard to get rid of him, then slamming the door between the second guard.

Opening the door again, I beckoned Yua out to follow. It had been some time since I had been in this part of the Unit, so I stopped to think. I looked to a staircase, "This way."

We hurried up the stairs, turning to a higher leveled room above ground. Security here was very tight, but I wasn't sure what to expect considering I was appointed head of the Unit.

We stalked the halls, as I remembered that the front doors were very far from our current location.

"Prince Vivec!" Came a male voice to my left. It was a guard, he rushed to me and saluted, "Princess Almalexia gave us orders to place you under arrest."

"And how do you plan to do that?" I asked.

"On second thought," The guard started, "You're the head of the Unit, and Almalexia doesn't command us."

"Exactly." I stated, "Remind everyone else this so the Heir to the Inferno and your prince can pass without interruptions."

"Y-Yes Prince Vivec!" The guard said before disappearing.

"Where are we going?" Yua asked.

"We're going to Sun's Peak, my home, the palace. And we're going to confront Almalexia, and if I have to, I will kill her." I stated as we continued down the halls.

Yua didn't say anything, but I knew she would have liked this. Part of me would enjoy this too, she deserved to learn her lesson, my sister. I may be her brother, her twin brother in fact, but she had turned on me so easily just for power.

She is bitter, but she is a powerful force to be reckoned with.

Is this 1 chapter a month or...

Naw, I'm sorry everyone, I've been extremely busy lately and this chapter was really hard to keep up with. So far we've met a few new people! I still need to come up with names (Which I suck at). But there is a reason for everything!

If I ever had the time to actually type up Gold and Green, my... Prequel to Forever and Always, it actually mentions the past of the Torture Districts, specifically the Second, Sixth, and Seventh because of a Jin meeting and Hakubi and all of those goodies.

But I'm lazy and I procrastinate because I'm human and I feel like my Threquel is way more important right now.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Review and tell me what ya think and what ya like and don't like, and if you've got questions that need answering, please? Some of them I don't answer because I don't want to spoil it for you, so no, I'm not neglecting you!

I love you all!
Forever and Always,
Paloma

R&R!