"Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power."
― John Steinbeck
Yuuma frowned. No, he knew Vector was trying to be threatening but something just didn't fit. Vector, well, not that it was a bad thing but he had really kind of come off as a mamma's boy. He had told him before, when Anna asked where his old man was, that he killed him. He didn't seem to agree with him or war, but to kill him? And he was saying he killed his mom now since Yuuma had brought it up. Why, though...?
And that demon thing, Vector said it was a business partner of sorts. Did that thing do something to him, to make him do that? He narrowed his eyes. The Vector he had talked to, even if it was just a while, wasn't a bad person for sure! He was going to help him remember, remember what they had talked about, the goals for peace and his people's happiness.
"Hey, Vector! You said you want to kill us all! Why?"
Vector looked up at him like he was stupid or something. "Huh? Because I want to. Do I need a reason? Everyone here pisses me off. I want to really drag yours out though, Yuuma, because that face you made the last time~" Yuuma leaned over the railing angrily.
"Because you want to? What happened to wanting to save lives, what happened to peace?" What happened to you?
"Huh? That stuff is boring, I don't even know why I'd want it in the first place! It's much more fun to watch people squirm." Yuuma gripped the wood under his white knuckles, groaning. Fun? That was his explanation?
"Don't you remember last night at all?! You, prince of Piedra, wanted peace! We were friends, and..." He trailed off. Vector was walking up the stairs to him, smiling.
"If it's really that important to you, want me to show you?" Vector was close to him, their faces almost touching.
"Huh, show me what...?" Yuuma asked.
"Why I killed them, why it's fun...this should answer your questions." Vector pushed his hand on Yuuma's forehead, and Yuuma's head immediately felt like it was splitting in two. Loud white-noise buzzed in his ears and suddenly as soon as it started, it stopped.
Yuuma was in a brightly colored market, people rushing along and shoving through the crowd. The sun was beating down and the wind was blowing people's hair and clothes, but Yuuma couldn't feel either of those, and people were passing right through him.
"Huh?" A hand on him made him jump slightly. Vector grinned and gestured to the scene in front of them.
"Don Thousand's powers allow me to show you my memories. Oh, look! You can see me there! I was in disguise so I could go out and talk to people without being in danger. Let's listen in! They can't see us." Yuuma frowned at the cloaked figure in front of him, smiling happily.
The Vector in the memories looked happy. He was laughing with an elderly man who was selling rugs, what was going on?
"Right, we're very prosperous right now! It's thanks to the imports from other countries. Those countries wouldn't just give it to us, it's a good thing our king is forceful, huh?" He laughed. Memory-Vector seemed to flinch slightly and hesitantly nod.
"Wouldn't it be nice if we could negotiate peacefully, too? I mean, what about when Prince Vector get's the throne?" The man's smile turned into a scowl, and it seemed like several people around him turned and threw dirty looks at him.
"Why would we want that brat to rule us? He's weak. He has no power. We want war! He isn't strong enough!" It seemed like all the voices were blending together, in a horrible chant of wanting war, and Vector being too weak ,not being good enough to rule them.
"I-I'm not useless, I can help..." The memory started to blur. A demon stood above the prince in a dimly lit room, chuckling.
"You would like something? What is it that you desire?"
"My people, I want to make them happy...I want to be strong. For them, I'd like power. Because that's what they want..." The Vector behind Yuuma scoffed.
"Look how weak I was. It's really gross. I turned to summon a demon because I was too weak to do anything on my own! Geez, that's pathetic." He whispered to Yuuma. Yuuma bit his lip. What kind of people wanted war like that? Something still didn't seem right.
"It isn't gross, you wanted what was best. Who is that demon you're making a deal with?"
"Don Thousand. Now, watch! This is the fun part!" He whispered back.
Don Thousand reached a hand towards Vector, plunging his claws into Vector's chest. A wet choking noise, and screaming. It reverberated on the walls, echoing like a horrible symphony of screaming.
"Vector!" For a minute Yuuma had forgotten it was a memory and was about to lunge forward and try to stop the demon. But he just phased though them, landing roughly on the floor. Vector slowly stood and touched his chest.
"Those people, I endured that pain for them and yet they didn't appreciate me to start with, why should I use this power to help them?" His body was swaying, a dark energy swirled around him. Yuuma watched as he yanked out a sword and walked out, and the demon seemed to look over at them before vanishing. They faded out again, reappearing somewhere else in the castle.
He was standing in a large room, decorated in deep golds and purples. It was night-time, moon light pouring through the window casting eerie shadows. And Vector was on the floor, staring at two dead bodies. The woman, slender with long hair was in a puddle of blood. The man seemed to have no visible wounds. Vector was laughing, but his eyes were puffy and red.
"They were in my way of becoming stronger- I couldn't as long as they held the throne. They were the reason those people conspired against me, I'll kill them all-" A dark-skinned man walked in, looking surprised by the scene.
"Your highness?"
"Black Mist. The Queen and King are dead. I've decided I'm going to kill everyone in this kingdom too, on accounts of treason." The man was slowly reaching for his holster, eyeing Vector carefully.
"I see. What an opportunity you've given me." The prince spun around with his sword only to be shot in the chest by the man. His body hit the floor but he still was alive, gasping and looking up at Black Mist.
"I was planning on taking over this country and I needed to get rid of the royal family to do that. You've done most of the work for me! I wouldn't have expected the weakling prince to do it like this, heh." His foot pressed on Vector's stomach, making him cough up blood. Don Thousand was in the doorway, just watching.
"That was the first time I died, at the hand of my father's advisor, who had plotted treason as well. I woke up in the ocean, I assumed he tried to dump my body there. But I requested a ship from Don Thousand, and got The Barian. I decided to save that puny country for last, I'm going to kill everyone in the other lands first. They'll get their resources cut off, and suffer. I was planning on capturing Kaito and killing him in front of Zemlina so their spirits would break, and then do the same with the prince of Makonis. I want them all to break before I slaughter them."
Yuuma was trembling. That was far too much to take in at once. "Genocide?! That is...Y-you're wrong!" Vector narrowed his eyes. They were back on The Barian, still a deck above everyone who was watching them.
"Wrong? After all those people committed treason, you still think I'm wrong?"
"Yeah, you're wrong! No way all those people wanted war! Maybe one or two did, yeah, but all of them?! War is where family goes and gets killed for no reason but things like land, resources, and you're telling me all of those people wanted resources over the people they loved?! That's impossible! And didn't you see, you really wanted to help those people even after they hurt you, but after Don Thousand made a deal with you, you totally changed!"
Vector stared at Yuuma with narrowed eyes. "That's not true, those people...they all wanted that. You really don't know, you're stupidly naive. No, you couldn't understand at all. Even after showing you that, you couldn't feel what I was feeling then. And you certainly can't feel the joy of killing someone." He smiled. "I'll enjoy making you see the truth about people when your blood is all over my hands. But first...Don Thousand!" He snapped.
The demon appeared beside him. "Don't make a habit out of calling me out. What do you need now?" Vector looked over the deck and smiled sweetly at Heartland.
"I'd love if Heartland died. I can't kill him because he has a contract with you, which is why I'd like him to be able to fulfill that contract now, if possible." Heartland was gaping at Vector, horrified.
"I- Captain, you need me around here! You can't just kill me!" Don chuckled and nodded towards Vector.
"Heartland, you made a contract when you were banished from Zemlina to be able to get revenge on Faker by killing his son. Well, he's there and tied up quite nicely for you. Go on, and enjoy it. Because as soon as he's dead I'm reaping your soul."
"What?! You aren't going to kill Kaito you worm!" Ryoga was struggling with the ropes, but they were tied to tightly. To say Kaito was trying to get loose from his ropes was an understatement, he was making his arms bright red and bruised from squirming.
"Like hell I'm dying at your hands!"
Yuuma gasped. He didn't exactly like Heartland but to see him just die...and Kaito being killed! Haruto would lose a big brother, he wouldn't let anyone lose family like that! He turned to run down the stairs in hopes of stopped Heartland but his arm was caught by Vector's hand.
"I don't think so. You aren't interfering, just sit back and enjoy the show!" As much as he struggled Yuuma couldn't escape Vector's tight grip.
Heartland drew a sword slowly, swallowing nervously. Would it really be worth it? When he made the contract the demon had been very clear, there was no taking it back. So he should enjoy this, but just the thought of dying right after...
He pressed the blade against Kaito's neck. The blond had stopped struggling, and was glaring into Heartland's eyes. "Getting revenge on my father through me won't really help, considering he doesn't give a damn about me. Just thought I'd let you know that this is utterly pointless, before you toss your life away."
A sound like a freight train cut off whatever Heartland was about to say. The wind picked up very quickly, blowing forcefully and making everyone who was standing fall, Yuuma fell awkwardly onto Vector who was shouting something, or trying to over that noise.
A large golden portal ripped open out of the air, a large creature flying out. Blacks, reds and purples contrasted with the blue sky, and it was nearly twice the size of the ship. It flapped it's wings next to the ship, letting out an ear-piercing roar. A man was actually riding the thing, too.
Blond hair and a nasty glare that would kill everyone if looks could kill, the man leaped from the beast's head, landing on the ship's railing effortlessly. "Kaito Tenjo?"
Vector squirmed under Yuuma and popped his head up. "Miza-chan!"
"Vector?" Yuuma hopped up, struggling to stand from the thing's wing gusts.
"Hey, what's going on now?! Who's this guy?" He asked Vector. vector leapt up and leaned over the rails, grinning widely.
"Miza-chan is Miza-chan. A good question is why he decided to visit now?" The blond's eye twitched.
"Don't call me that, Vector. Is this your ship?" Vector nodded proudly.
"It is! Isn't it nice? Anyway, gonna guess you didn't come here to see me since you didn't know, how disappointing! You said Kaito?" Kaito looked surprised and Heartland looked downright pissed off.
"Yes, I'm here for Kaito. Or rather, Tachyon brought me here for something he has..." Kaito narrowed his eyes.
"What? Who are you?"
"I'm Mizael-"
"Hang on! No one is here for Kaito, I was about to end him!" Heartland quickly interrupted. Mizael didn't look happy being interrupted, and extended a hand.
"Tachyon." He said simply looking towards his monster. It let out a large roar so strong it blew Heartland right off the ship and into the sea, his screaming barely heard of the roar. Vector whistled in appreciation, and Yuuma seemed to be the only one who was even concerned at all.
"I don't know who that annoying man was, and I don't care. Kaito Tenjo, get up."
"Well, I'd love to. But I'm kind of tied up at the moment." Mizael turned to Vector with crossed arms.
"What is your business with Kaito?"
"What's yours?" Ryoga interrupted.
"And who are you?" Mizael sniped at Ryoga, who glared back.
"I could ask you the same. What do you want with me?" Kaito asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" He gestured to his monster. "Tachyon is calling out to your Photon." Kaito stared.
"My what?" Vector started laughing, earning a glare from both Kaito and Mizael.
"Miza-chan, there's only room on this ship for one nut! Come on, what are you talking about?"
"None of your business. It's between Kaito and I."
"I don't even know you..." Kaito said with a frown. His photon?
"I'm aware. And it seems you have no idea what I'm talking about as of now." He scoffed. "Being as old as you are and not realizing that you have so much potential, what a shame. Durbe seemed certain you'd be a worthy opponent with the Photon dragon. It seems he was mistaken."
"Durbe? Aw, didn't know you were still in contact with four-eyes! You guys haven't invited me over in forever, how rude!" Vector mock-whined. Mizael frowned.
"I don't enjoy your company, and it's not like you're easy to contact. You know where we are if you really want to come." He paused, looking back at Kaito. "And you. Next time I meet you I expect you to be a master to your Galaxy Eyes. Because I'll be battling for it."
Kaito was about to ask what the hell he was talking about when Mizael turned, leaping back onto Tachyon dragon and zipping through a portal. It was quiet for a moment.
"Uh..." Yuuma started. "What the heck just happened?!"
"Miza's weird as ever. What a damper, though. Heartland's probably going to be eaten by merms and I can't kill Kaito unless I want a pissy Mizael all over me. And Yuuma was going to be saved for last...Hey, Ryoga! Wanna go see your parents?" Ryoga spat in his direction making Vector break out into laughter.
Yuuma turned to Vector nervously. "Uh, will that Don guy resurrect Heartland? That was a big fall."
Vector shrugged. "Probably, I dunno. He's not really that powerful, Don might not. Butttt~ It's likely that if he does get brought back he won't try to kill Kaito. He'll be cowardly and slink off, because I think he's too scared to lose his own life even if it means revenge." Yuuma nodded and frowned.
"Okay, but who was that, uh, Mizael guy? Was that a dragon?" Vector grinned and nodded proudly.
"Yup! Miza's a dragon tamer. He lives near the wastelands with Durbe, a retired knight of mine who got out of Piedra before things went to shit. Anyway, I doubt Durbe's wrong. Kaito'll probably get a dragon, somehow. It's kinda rare for him to be wrong, even if he is a tool."
"I'll what?" Kaito cut in. "As of yesterday I thought dragons were extinct, you're telling me that man tames them? It's kind of overwhelming."
"You're telling me! I've barely had time to breathe lately, what with all the kidnappings and unexpected things happening!" Vector pouted and looked towards Yuuma.
"Hey, things have been pretty hectic, right?" Yuuma nodded.
"Yeah, so much as happened in the last week it is tiring. I'm having trouble understanding some of it." Vector hummed for a minute then grinned, and pointed two fingers to Kaito and Ryoga.
"Lösen!" Their ropes faded into thin air with white sparkles. Ryoga looked murderous, Kaito just looked relived to be untied.
"I'm going to kill you-"
"Ryoga! No one is killing anyone!" Yuuma said, sending a pointed look to Vector.
"Yuuma, if we don't kill that guy-"
"We can't. He'll just come back again...He's got that deal with Don Thousand Whenever he dies he just comes back until he can fulfill his contract."
"Contract?! What the hell kind of demon makes a contract with someone like that?"
"Don Thousand does!" Vector chirped. "He gave me power enough to do what I want to do, which like Yuuma said so eloquently, genocide! In return what I have to do is pretty simple..." he hummed.
"Huh? What you have to do?" Yuuma hadn't heard anything like that in the memory, they had only been there for seconds though.
Vector smiled and put a finger over his lips. "That's my secret. Anyway, I've decided! I really don't want to kill you all just yet. But you know some of the things I'd rather not get around to people, like the fact that I'm alive right now. And I think you can be useful in a way. So I guess you'll all just have to come along with me for a while."
Yuuma blinked and then looked over at the other two. They looked just as surprised as he felt. "You aren't going to try to kill us yet? What are you up to?" Ryoga asked. Vector winked.
"That's another secret. Though, I will tell you I've decided we're going to go visit the man you just saw, Mizael and another man named Durbe. I have business with them, anyway."
"Astral what?"
"H-he escaped with those girls." Takashi flinched away from Black Mist. Angry would be an understatement. Livid couldn't even cover it. There were no words for how pissed off Black Mist was, but a good example might be a tornado destroying everything in its path, if it could shoot red beams of energy and could scream curses. That's what he was right now, blasting beams out of his hands and cursing loudly. 'Sailor's mouth' was accurate.
"Sir, are you going to track him down or the person this expedition was for?" He paused in his rage, and looked calm like that little fit hadn't just happened.
"We'll stay on course. I have a plan for my old friend~ We do need to find him and I just so happen to have an idea where he's at. And we'll find Astral where that boy is, eventually." Takashi frowned but didn't ask questions. He was glad they were going to find Vector, and the girls and Astral were trailing them just out of sight.
"He still has my gun." Black Mist said absentmindedly. "I wonder if he'll choose to use it soon?"
Black Mist smiled. Astral would either run back to his prissy little kingdom with his tail between his legs, or try to find little 'Kaito' and go back. Either way, he could find him at the same place Vector was, or at the kingdom. And since he was already going to Vector he could kill two birds that way.
Astral wasn't bored, per say. These people did make for interesting company. Kotori was a magic user fairy, Anna was a bounty hunter who was amazing at inventing and mechanics, and Rio was a very powerful ice mage with a cool air.
He had more questions than he had answers and they were more than capable of answering, so he let his natural curiosity take over and started to ask questions.
"So, what we know so far is that Yuuma was the person who took Kaito's place at my wedding. The wedding that Vector, the previous prince of Piedra turned pirate crashed, and kidnapped Yuuma. They were at an inn with you three, but Vector seemed to have amnesia. And then Heartland, a man of Vector's crew came and took Yuuma, Kaito, and your brother Ryoga. Am I right so far?" Rio nodded.
"Yes. We aren't sure if Vector willingly went or even planned to have Heartland come but they were supposedly in leagues at one time. If he gets his memories back there's a very good chance he'll just laugh in those people's faces and tell them he doesn't care about them anymore. But finding him is our best option because Ryoga and the others are with him." She sighed. Astral nodded.
"If I may ask, why didn't Kaito come to the wedding? Or do you not know?"
Rio's hands folder over her lap from where she was perched on a box and she looked out to sea with a smile. "Were you eager to marry him?"
"I don't want to sound rude, or ungrateful to his kingdom for making a peace treaty like this. However, I have never actually met Kaito..."
Anna nodded. "Of course you'd not wanna marry a stranger! But you were doing your duty and stuff, right? Maybe Kaito wasn't so willing to do his duty, and wanted to go explore. That'd explain why he wasn't up there and Yuuma was."
"No. I met Kaito," Rio said, "He wasn't running away exactly. I don't know all the details. However, He didn't seem like a selfish person. He said he knew of something that could put an end to the war between Zemlina and Piedra. There would be no need to make an agreement with marriage if what he was saying was true."
Astral blinked sleepily while the sun was dipping below the waters far below them. Anna and Kotori were already snuggled together under a blanket on the opposite side of the balloon, Kotori looking like she was already drifting off. Rio didn't show any signs of being tired but Astral imaged she must have been.
"Hey...Rio, you said there was something that could put an end to the war. What did he mean by that?" Kotori asked quietly.
"He was talking about the numeron code. Should such a thing exist I wouldn't want it to fall in the wrong hands."
"I've heard about that. It's a story mothers tell their children." Astral said. He had never known his own mother, but he had read the story in a book when he was younger.
"How did it go again?" Anna asked.
Rio decided to tell it from how she remembered it. "In lands at war, only the power of Zexal can unlock the numeron code. To find it you find the lands of color and death, and follow the demon blood at dawn. In the glowing cave you'll be taken to a sacred place. It can grant wishes and create miracles. If you find it you can be a king or queen, or get unimaginable power. Only the purest hearts can use it though. If someone with bad intentions got it, it will destroy them."
"The power of Zexal. I know that part of the legend, but I have never found what exactly Zexal is." Astral mused. When he heard the legend he had thought it was silly, a wish granting weapon to stop wars and bring peace just by wishing? And yet he had gotten curious about Zexal and went through the entire library looking for anything on it. And yet, nothing.
Rio shrugged. "I don't know either. That's just a nonsense word, maybe that got mistranslated from the original. I think it's shorthand for pure-hearted people, maybe?"
"Perhaps." Why does it sound familiar, then? Of course he had heard the word before but no one seemed to know exactly what it was. But it was more than that. An odd feeling took over him, like the one he had when he had defended Black Mist for whatever reason. Like his body was moving on its own, lips moving and words coming out without him doing anything.
"Rio, off the coast of Zemlina closer to the wastelands is where Vector is heading. He's going to see some old acquaintances something of the sort. If you turn to the east we can beat him there without being seen. He has his memories back, too, so be careful."
Everyone stared at him, wide awake now. His head had a dull throbbing and he pinched the bridge of his nose. What was that?
"How the heck do you know that?! Are you okay?" Anna asked, handing him a tissue quickly. He discovered his nose was bleeding when a drop fell on his shirt.
"I think so. I'm not sure how I know that. I didn't seconds ago, it was as if someone was speaking through me. Similarly someone seemed to do that when we were on the ship. It has not happened before then." Rio frowned, looking thoughtful.
"Really? You have no powers, right? Someone might be speaking through you with the use of magic, but to know that Vector got his memories back and that he's going to the wasteland area, it has to be someone on that ship." Astral nodded slowly.
"There's a catch, though. If this person is trying to help us through you that's good. But you looked in pain when they were speaking through you, and your nose is bleeding. To talk though someone is to have control over them, and that's very dangerous if they decide not to help us. If they can talk through you they could, in theory given that they are strong enough, take complete control over you."
"What?" Kotori yelped. "That's awful, can we do anything to stop that...?"
"I do not think that will be necessary." Astral froze, his body talking on its own again. "I am not someone who will hurt Astral, or any of you. I am sorry it's causing you discomfort to have me speak though you! However it's to help. It's important that you all get to Yuuma and the others before Black Mist. I know the outcome if you don't. I will keep out meetings to a minimum until I can be complete. You are correct to assume I am on that ship, but I am here too. I am able to be with both of you at once."
Rio's eyes widened as Astral's eyes lit up and he spoke. Yellow and orange, a change from his normally purely yellow, and a calming look. She knew she should have her guard up but as the person spoke she felt at ease somehow. The other girls seemed to relax too.
"By both of you at once you mean what exactly? Astral and...? And complete, what do you mean by that?" Astral let out a groan, holding his head. The eyes were flickering from orange and yellow to just yellow.
"I would love to-ugh- explain more but I do not want to hurt Astral- for now I must leave. I will return to assist you. You may call me Zexal."
Astral let out a small cry. It felt like part of his brain had been set on fire, his senses going into overdrive so fast and then just halting to a stop. Seconds ago while Zexal-
(Zexal?! So maybe the numeron code wasn't a child's tale after all.)
-had been talking through him his eyesight was about a thousand times better, he could see everything in super detail and his hearing, and touch too had been magnified. It was overwhelming and his brain was pounding with exhaustion. His nose was letting out a steady stream of blood now and his arm was almost too weak to even hold a tissue up to it. He was fighting to not pass out after that.
"Here, let me." Kotori gently look the tissue away and pushed fingers against his forehead and the pain went away. He was still seeing stars though.
"Thank you." He said, closing his eyes and leaning back. "...Zexal. Hm."
"Only the power of Zexal can unlock the numeron code. I though Zexal was a mistranslation or a nonsense word. It seems its some person, or..."
"Or what?! What the heck just happened?" Anna asked.
"They said 'they can't be complete right now so they're talking through me. And being here and there at once...I know what Zexal is, I think." Astral said.
"A spirit of some kind." Rio guessed. Astral nodded.
"I thought so too. An incomplete spirit, meaning without a body. And if it's a pure power or one protecting the numeron code, it won't want to take my body, surely. But it seemed to imply it would be complete at some point."
"We'll worry about that when it comes. We got a good tip. Anna?"
She grinned and nodded to Rio. "Yeah, go east to the wastelands. I can do that." She leaned towards Astral. "Hey! Zexal, if you're here, thanks for the tip! We'll beat the shit out of whoever took the guys, kay?"
Astral felt an odd sensation in the back of his mind. What was Zexal? A spirit didn't seem quite right. It almost seemed like while it wasn't really him, it was a part of him somehow. Not completely though. More questions kept popping up again. Astral sighed. "He said good luck."
A man paced the room angrily. A roar from a cage to his left. Hissing from his right, the hissing of chemicals mixing. "Quite, you. I'm trying to work." THe thing kept making screeching noises in return. It stunk in here, the smell of rotting meat and strong chemicals mixing. The man was wearing a mask over his face to prevent any fumes. Medieval style lights swung from the ceiling, casting eerie dim lighting over the room. The man grabbed a beaker off the table, turning and walking to the cage with a needle in the other hand.
The thing immediately tried to throw a limb out and pull the hand in, but the bars were a bit too slim. He grabbed its arm, pouring the acid on it. The shrieking amplified. "Be silent!" The thing's arm was boiling, turning an unsightly burnt color, purples, reds, and blacks blossoming on its flesh.
He pumped the needle, a light yellow color swirling inside of it. He stabbed the needle into the burnt flesh despite the creature's thrashing. It bubbled and fizzed a bright yellow, the flesh seemingly reconstructing into the apricot color it had been before.
"Even the fingernails grew back. let's just see how long it lasts. I think I'm close," The man started, "It might not fall off this time after it heals. And even if it does, you have many limbs, don't you?" He asked to the creature. It thrashed against the cage, trying to grab him. He laughed.
"I have to go. Don't make too much noise. Not that anyone can hear you down here, but still. I have men looking for that thing I told you about last week. I have the dreadful feeling that Kaito discovered you and my blueprints, I'd rather not need to stop him but if he interferes too much...Well, you know what I'll have to do. Are you getting hungry?"
The thing let out a scream. The man grabbed a dead swine from a box, tossing it into the cage. As he turned he could hear disgusting chewing and tearing, and the smell of more rotting meat.
He smiled.
"Gillllllllaaaaaaaag."
"No!"
"Giiiiiilllllaaaaaaaaaa-"
"Alit, we can't jus' run off right now! The boss trusted us with this bridge. If a person comes along and we're off snackin', you know what he'll say."
The younger boy cleared his throat and pushed up imaginary glasses. "We won't find the chosen one if you two don't do your job. And furthermore you two need to stay out of the house while Mizael sucks my-"
Gilag erupted into laughter and nodded. "Y-Yeah, and when Mizael caught us slacking last week he looked like he was gonna kill us. They are letting us stay here, so we needa hold up our end of the deal."
Alit sighed and dangled his feet off the swing bridge, looking at the forest below them. "Yeah, I know. If it's just a few minutes to get some fruit, what'll it hurt? Besides, how many people have even found this place since we've been here?"
"Vector did..."
"And who else? Yeah, I thought so. Come oooon, it's just a few minutes. I'm really gettin' hungry here!" Alit hopped up, making the bridge swing slightly. "I'm going to go get fruit. I could use a boost to grab the fruit, it'd be faster if you come!" he whined. Gilag sighed and gave in.
"Fine. Let's go." Alit grinned.
"That's the spirit!" And just as they started to walk off the bridge and into the forest, A roar signaled another person's arrival. "Shit!"
"Just our luck, try to get fruit in two minutes and this guy comes." Gilag groaned.
Mizael eyed them as he landed Tachyon in the forest. "I see you two are goofing off again. I think Durbe needs to hire new guards." They both knew it was a lie, of course. Durbe couldn't just hire a few guards. This place was secret, and sacred. Only a few people had ever found it and were allowed to continue past the bridge.
"If you both want to mess around so bad, go back home to Durbe. I'll take the night shift here anyway since it's twilight."
Alit groaned. "No blondie, don't make us feel bad for it now. I'll take the night shift, okay? Geez, where have you been though?"
Mizael leaned against a tree with a huff. "It is my job to guard this place too, don't forget. It would be dishonorable to not take the shift. Although you can both take a double shift tomorrow so you can make up for goofing off. I was off contacting Kaito Tenjo, the one Durbe said was the Galaxy Eye's master. He seemed like a clueless child rather than someone I will battle with. Honestly..."
"Oh, that sucks. I haven't had a good battle partner in a while, I could go for a fight." Alit sighed, drooping. "Maybe you could invite that guy here, and show him how to tame dragons or something?"
Mizael scoffed. "Train my opponent? That would give him all my secrets of it. I am no teacher, especially to people I plan to fight. I don't doubt Durbe is right but he seemed weak. I don't think he's even worthy to be here."
"I guess so. I dunno how that works. Anyway, want some apples? Me and Gilag were gonna go grab some really quick. Is Tachyon hungry?" Alit cooed at the dragon like it was a small animal. It let out a whiny and nuzzled its head into Alit affectionately, almost knocking him off his feet. He laughed despite that and hugged its head. His arm's couldn't even wrap around its head.
"Aw! He is! Mizael?" He glanced back at its owner. He sighed.
"You can feed him a few. I let him fish before we got here, don;t feed him more than a few. I don't want him to get spoiled on treats." Alit pumped his fist in the air and Tachyon did a little snort of thanks at Mizael. Alit hopped on Gilag's shoulders and filled his hands with apples.
"Here ya go!" he handed one to Gilag, took one for himself and offered Mizael one who turned it down. He shrugged and tossed it to the dragon who happily caught it and bit into it, making it burst.
"He's purring! He really likes treats." Gilag pointed out.
"Dragons don't purr." Mizael said. But there was a loud purring noise. No, more like a whirring vibrating noise.
"What the hell is that?" Alit asked. Mizael looked to the bridge that connected to a tunnel, sand on the other side and sighed.
"Sounds like someone has come to the wastelands. If they find this place we'll have to put them through a trial, and if they get lost out there they'll die. And considering few people pass the trial, it's a lose-lose."
"I hope they leave the wastelands. Maybe they just stopped for the night..." Gilag said hopefully.
Alit frowned at the two. "You guys doubt too much! I mean, it takes a lot to even find this place if you don't know where it is. I hope they do come in and pass! I wanna spare with someone new for a change." He said with a pout.
"Hm. It could just be Vector, though. I ran into him when I visited Kaito. Kaito was tied up on his ship."
"Shit, if Kaito was on Vector's ship you didn't save him or something? If you want a rival that's alive you should've. I mean if he was tied up he's basically dead meat."
"I made sure to let him know that I'll be the one defeating him. If he kills Kaito I'll kill him."
"Again?" Gilag asked under his breath. Mizael smirked.
"Again."
Notes: I'm sorry this chapter is very late. Or later than I usually update, anyway... My big sister is moving and I've been helping her. And going back and forth between here and there, I don't have my computer with me the majority of times. ^^'
Thank you for the reviews, favoriting, following and just reading though! I'll try to update as fast as I can. :)
Also, ahmm, within the next two or three chapters there might be some gross scenery/gore, I'm not sure if the rating will go up to M for that, but by the looks of it the gore alone might push it up. So that's a little hint of what might come up...
And we have Alit, Gilag, Durbe, and Mizael! Dragons! Zexal! Black Mist is a dick, and Vector is extremely paranoid when influenced by Don Thousand! Tell me what you think!
And ps, in three days zexal ends. Who else is in turmoil about that? xD;;
