AN: Does it make me a demented person when I admit this chapter was a lot of fun?

Disc: Never will I own Xenosaga.


Rubedo shot up in bed, his eyes taking a couple seconds to focus in the dark room. He wondered where he was, and finally concluded his whereabouts after seeing his brother sleeping next to him. No one else was in the room, at least none of which he has seen yet. His right hand burned, and without giving it much thought, he glanced at it, expecting nothing.

His blue eyes set on his palm, where his usual "666" was imprinted. The design was replaced with a "666" slice wound, and he saw the blood leaking onto his hospital bed. Immediately, his mind raced, and the pounding came back. "No...!" His hands grabbed at his head once more, as he wished this wasn't happening.

"Poor, poor Rubedo..."

Rubedo's attention was directed to his brother, who was laying down under his covers. Trying to ignore his inner power, Rubedo stumbled out of his bed, and slowly made his way to Nigredo. "N-Nigredo..?" was all he could say, for the pain inside grew rapidly. With each passing second, the throbbing became worse.

His brother remained still, as if he wasn't even breathing. Rubedo was almost scared to pull back the covers, afraid of what he might see once his brother's form was revealed. "Coward. Aren't you concerned for your beloved Nigredo? Makes me sick..." Rubedo frantically glanced around, for this voice came from all over the place. "Who are you?" the red-haired boy shouted to no one.

"You're hurting my feelings, Rubedo." The voice came from behind, causing Rubedo to bounce away from the source. The voice seemed to hit Rubedo once more, right when he stopped moving. "You'd better check on your brother." the voice teased again. Rubedo spun around, trying to escape the haunting voice. "Stop it!" He swung his arm at the air, hoping to hit an invisible force causing him the confusion.

"Oh, give up, Rubedo. You've given up before...it shouldn't be a problem for you now." Rubedo was in absolute horror. Who was this person? Their voice sounded familiar, yet...twisted. He gave a hard look to Nigredo's body under the covers. "No." His hands, trembling from his fears, grabbed the sheets. "I will never give up again, especially on my comrades." With his decision made, he pulled back the covers.

Once he did, he wished he hadn't. Nigredo's dead body was placed on the blood-soaked bed. Rubedo immediately jumped back, surprise written on his face. He was at a loss for words, so he only stared at Nigredo's corpse. He then heard the horrific voice laughing, making fun of his reaction. Rubedo grew angry, and his red glow returned. "What is this?" He demanded the information to the unknown entity filling the room.

"Oh, Rubedo...still confused?" came from behind. Rubedo turned his head towards the voice and froze. His angry expression quickly faded into a look of shock. There, leaning on a wall, was his white-haired brother. His supposedly dead, corrupted by U-DO, brother. Rubedo felt his eyes becoming hot as they filled up with tears.

"Albedo?" His voice almost sounded relieved. He then quickly snapped out of it and charged his brother. With one single swing, his knuckles made contact with Albedo's chin. The twisted U.R.T.V. fell hard to the floor, and looked up to his brother. "Rubedo, why would you hit me? Why would you hit your brother?"

Rubedo's tears didn't stop as he grabbed Albedo's collar and held him up. "You did this! You killed Nigredo!" Albedo looked worried, as his hands grabbed at Rubedo's. "N-No! No I didn't-!" Rubedo shook him, hoping to get the truth. "Then explain! Explain why Nigredo is..." Rubedo started sobbing, still holding his brother's uniform. His red aura faded away with his anger.

Albedo gave Rubedo a soft expression, and waited for his brother to release his shirt. "Rubedo..." he started, trying to sound inviting. It worked. Rubedo let go of his uniform, and turned back towards Nigredo. Albedo's face distorted into a dark, shadowed expression. His mouth twisted up into a malicious grin, as a certain thought crossed his mind.

Rubedo slowly made his way back to Nigredo, his body felt numb from the previous event. He looked upon his dead brother, feeling terrible for his fate. Then, without warning, a searing pain broke into his mid-section, forcing him to call out in agony. He felt something inside his body, and with the little strength he had left, he glanced behind him.

Albedo stood right behind him, with his arm shot through Rubedo's form. "Al...bedo!" Rubedo screamed, anger returning. He was tricked! Albedo did this all along! he killed Nigredo! He lied! So many negative thoughts piled up in his mind, he couldn't handle it anymore. This energy had to be released. he couldn't stand the pressure, the throbbing pain in his head.

"Yes, Rubedo. I pierced our brother with the hand of fate. I purged him of his duty; the duty of a murderer." Rubedo was forced to listen; he was stuck. He couldn't move, unless...

"What's wrong, my dearest, most beloved brother? Can't handle the truth?" Albedo teased again, shifting his arm within Rubedo. Rubedo cried, feeling the intense pain growing. "Albedo-stop this! I'll...I don't want to hurt you!"

"Hurt me? Ha!" Albedo taunted. "You wouldn't dare. Or would you? You did sacrifice us before, right? Who's to say you won't do that again, hm?" His arm moved again, making Rubedo twitch in response. "Albedo-!" The U.R.T.V. leader decided to end this. His brother had this coming, and he was to teach him what would be done if ever threatened.

With glowing eyes, and the red energy's color brightening around his form, Rubedo released an enormous wave of pure energy within the room. Not only did Albedo get carried away, but Nigredo's body and some furniture were swept by the wave too. After a few seconds of the wave, Rubedo calmed down, feeling the pain disappear.

Albedo mocked him, his horrific laugh returning. "Oh, Rubedo. You're hopeless. So easy to manipulate. So easy to enrage." His body was on the floor, Rubedo watched him closely. Albedo then glanced to his brother, "Someday, we will meet again. Try not to be so easy in the future, big brother." His form faded, and the surrounding area changed. Instead of a hospital room, Rubedo could now smell a familiar scent; the smell of flowers he used to pick for a special someone back on Vartas.

He glanced around, and although he could not see her, he heard her humming. Her sweet song, as it trailed to his ears by the brisk summer wind. His eyes set on her small cabin, where he heard her swing creak every so often. Despite his confusion, Rubedo couldn't help but smile at this memory. This memory he would never forget.