The Place You Will Return To

Take Note:

This is a sequel to 'The Air That You Breathe'. To completely appreciate the story, please read the prequel before proceeding. Thank you.

Full Story Summary:

(Mikoto Suoh x fem!Reisi Munakata) And so the butterfly effect begins. Months passed since then Red King, Mikoto Suoh, had made the ultimate decision to set himself free from the influence of the Slate. Without the Red King to guide them, Homra plunged into a great fallout, endangering the group's very existence. A new and powerful enemy has risen and has caused a dilemma that could endanger mankind. Graciously accepting the duty as the guardian of the mysterious Dresden Slate, the Blue Queen, Reisi Munakata, is then faced with a crisis that might lead her to her untimely death. (also contains Izumo x Seri and Saruhiko x Misaki)

Chapter Six:

Nothing Remains

I watched the colors fade in you
Saw the shadow take control
And the world that we once knew
I watched it crumble and fall
I can't believe that it's over
So many things I should have done
The world is so much colder
Without the sun
Now I am nothing
And nothing can heal the pain
Of this empty feeling

Seri has no idea how long it has been since the attack in Mihashira Tower by the Green Clan. Truth is, she doesn't know because of all the work they had been doing. The Captain always comes to the chamber of the Dresden Slate even if she's nearing her due date. Seri could not help but resent Mikoto Suoh for letting the Captain do as she wishes, going to work and all. Perhaps, he is now partying with Homra to the point that he is ignoring his responsibility as the lover of the Blue Queen since he got back together with the Red Clan and had received the Red Aura from the small Red Queen…but so far, she still has not heard of the Red Clan doing any trouble.

The Blue Queen has Saruhiko and her come with her in the chamber of the Slate every time she visits Mihashira Tower and Seri has no idea what the Captain does in there but one time, when Seri glanced at the Queen's direction and saw her standing in the middle of the Slate, staring at the Slate with lifeless, translucent and glowing blue eyes…but then…there was nothing. When Seri asked her about it, she brushed her off, saying it was nothing at all.

Every time the Blue Queen looks at the Slate, Seri could not help but wonder, 'What is the Blue Queen thinking in front of the Slate?'

"Lieutenant! Lieutenant Awashima!"

Seri nodded off, still staring blankly into space. She glanced at the direction where the voice calling out to her and sees Saruhiko glaring at her. "…you're spilling your coffee."

"Huh? Wha –?" the blonde lieutenant shifted her eyes to look at the cup she held in her right hand and sees that she had tipped her cup slightly and the black coffee in it was being spilled to the smooth floor of their office. "Ah. Oh, no…" Seri gasped, quickly turning it to stop it from spilling. "Sorry…" She actually forgot that she's already at work.

Saruhiko stared at the older young woman. All the stress of work has obviously taken its toll on her; her face has gone pale ad she has been spacing out for quite a bit. "The Green Clan…huh…" her voice trailed off.

"Yes." Saruhiko continued, "Low-ranking clansmen of Jungle who don't have even a tiny bit of information on the Green Clan are regularly causing petty incidents. On top of that, incidents with normal Strains have also increased. Our lack of man-power is making them abuse their power." For the pass days, the members of Jungle had been painting the town red, causing idiotic dilemmas for Scepter 4.

The lieutenant is still not in her one-hundred percent.

"Yes…it seems necessary to rethink the system."

Clicking his tongue, the dark-haired young man shifted his blue eyes away from Seri Awashima, "Tsk. But that's not what is bothering you, is it, Lieutenant?"

To this, Seri shuddered, feeling a heavier weight against her shoulders. She doesn't look too happy. Hesitantly, she opened her mouth, "It's about the Captain's Weismann level…"

. . .

"Seri-chan…"

No response.

"Se…ri…chaaaaaan!"

"Huh?" The blonde young woman blinked before finally pulling herself out of wherever it was that she was in. Her blue eyes widened when she sees the familiar blonde Homra member standing before her. The piercing on his ear sparkling due to the little light that illuminates the bar at that hour of night. That's new…she haven't noticed that before. Or maybe, he had been wearing that since he got back from Germany.

A soft chuckle left the bartender, "You sure are spacin' out…what's the matter?" At the moment, Seri wasn't in her Scepter 4 uniform, instead, she wore a beige-colored long-sleeved one-piece dress, and has her long wavy blonde hair in a ponytail. She was, once again, the lax and casual Seri Awashima and not the uptight Blue lieutenant of Scepter 4.

Seri shrugged, "No, it's nothing. I am glad the situation involving your clan has settled down. Not only is it busy for us lately, if problems were to arise, it would be intolerable." The bartender shouldn't really enunciate it (since women hate hearing those words) – Seri indeed looks tired. Even with the heavy make-up on her, the dark rings beneath her eyes were still apparent and he could actually see that she lost a bit of her weight.

"Homra's been actin' decently lately…" Izumo said with a proud smile.

Seri chuckled, sarcastically; flicking her eyes at the blonde, "Is that so?"

"You're thinkin' they'd be misbehavin' in front of the princess who decided to take action, weren't you? With our Queen, it's been like this. Even the stubborn, I-don't-give-a-fuck Mikoto Suoh would not dare do anything to disobey any word from Anna and Munakata-san. He hasn't even used his Aura yet ever since he received it from Anna. Anyway, how is it for you?"

The blonde lieutenant lets out a slow sigh before she starts talking, "The Captain is…"

A strange creaking sound made Seri stop from speaking. The two turned to the direction where the sound came from and the two sees Anna Kushina standing there – wearing a whole-body pajamas in the shape of a lion. She looked like a tiny lion-cub. For a good minute, the three of them just gawked at one another in complete and utter silence. It was Anna who broke the contact face, her face turning red and her small stature becoming tensed. Softly, she whispered, "The dignity…of a…Queen…"

Hesitantly, Seri cleared her throat, smiling, "Ah…uhm…don't worry about it."

Izumo smiled at the little girl, waiting until she could look at him in the eye before speaking, "Oh, Anna, what's the matter?"

"I was…thirsty…"

Gesturing at the barstool beside Seri Awashima, Izumo nodded at Anna, "I see. Come here and sit down." Her hesitation and awkwardness reminded Izumo that the Anna may be the Red Queen but she is still the same adorable Anna Homra grew to love. "Right now, Seri-chan is not the lieutenant of Scepter 4 but the private Seri Awashima-san. This is also not Red territory right now but the bar, Homra." Izumo chuckled, "You two don't have to brace yourselves like that…"

Softly, Seri smiled at Anna as she approaches the bar-counter and takes a seat beside her. As soon as Anna had taken a seat, Seri spoke to her, giggling as she did, "You worrying your dignity as a King is unexpected…"

"I just thought I shouldn't show any lame sides in front of a Blue." Timidly, Anna explained, lowering her head, away from the sight of the Blue Queen's right-hand woman.

Izumo turned around, preparing a tall glass of iced tea for Anna.

While Seri was giggling, Anna raised her head before turning sharply to look at her; her magenta eyes wide as she said to the blonde, "You are worrying about the Blue Queen."

The words the little girl spoke without hesitation to Seri was like a hard blow against her gut. The Red Queen had seen right through her! Seri's eyes widened in shock, her mouth gaping open slightly. Izumo came back and he sees Anna and Seri staring quietly at one another, the light atmosphere around them gone. He shivered at Anna's words and the look of sheer terror in Seri's face. "You mean, the burden of killing a King?" he said without even thinking first. His words made Seri glance at him, her blue eyes filled with concern. Seeing that made Izumo sigh and softly apologize.

He had once spoken lightly about the 'burden of killing a King'. Reisi Munakata killed the Colorless King and, possibly, the Silver King and that may have pushed her Weismann levels. With that, the battle between her and Mikoto may also have been an addition to that…maybe, it's actually more of a catalyst. But Mikoto never even worried about the 'burden of killing a King'. He never thought that it was true.

Mikoto also believes that it's not true, the way he is so relaxed all this time…or maybe, he was caught up in denial about it.

"The burden of killing a King…" Seri's eyes took in a darker hue as she lets out an aggravated sight, "…it's his fault."

Izumo was taken aback with what Seri mumbled hatefully. She spoke softly, hoping that Anna and Izumo would not hear her. He stared at Seri and blood rushed to her cheeks and she knew that she said something she should not have. Slowly, she shifted her eyes on the Red Queen in the lion suit and sees her staring blankly at her. All the more did she blush at the sight of Anna Kushina. Seri sighed, "The Captain's Weismann levels are out of order and if it's found out among the other members…" her voice trailed off.

Izumo didn't answer. Then that means…the 'burden of killing a King' is true. He could not help but think of Mikoto Suoh and how he'll react to what Seri Awashima was mumbling about. Mikoto…does he even know anything about the Blue Queen and her Weismann levels? The poor bastard…

"There are probably who resent Mikoto Suoh-san, right? I wonder if at the same time, there are people within Homra who can't help but resent Captain for influencing Suoh-san to renounce his throne…" Seri looked up at Izumo.

"Seri-chan, that is…"

"But…" Seri said hesitantly, "I, Scepter 4's lieutenant, and you, Homra's strategist and Suoh-san's best friend, should understand, right?"

"Sorry…"

Pouting, Seri looked away from the blonde and she scowled at him, "Geez, and here I was, trusting that I could tell you everything…"

Clearing his throat, Izumo shook his head lightly before leaning against the bar-counter. Anna has taken the glass of iced tea and had made her way back to her room. "No, not that. I'm sorry I made light of you." Izumo chuckled, "Even if ya say her Weismann levels have become unstable, and even if ya think about how it was in Mikoto's case, I don't think it'll become like that soon. Of all this talk just now was about 'something' that might not happen. 'Sides, she can always renounce her throne."

"Don't be stupid." Seri is right. Unlike Mikoto, Reisi Munakata will never renounce her throne no matter what. She is not like him, she loves her duty too much. Mikoto loves Homra but it's different…

For Reisi, being the Captain of Scepter 4 and the Blue Queen is her true identity.

Izumo Kusanagi smiled, nodding his head before saying, "If there's something, anything I can do, tell me anytime…I wanna be helpful." He slowly moved his hand and placed it on top of Seri's as he looked deep into the young woman's eyes, "I want to be helpful, Seri-chan…"

He stared at the blonde lady. His heart began pounding rapidly. She has half-opened her mouth; her beautifully-shaped pink lips quivering. Their eyes were glued at one another. She's really beautiful. Izumo has never seen any woman in his entire life look as beautiful as Seri Awashima. And she isn't just beautiful, she's smart, caring and funny even. Slowly, he leaned closer towards Seri; decreasing the distance of their faces from one another.

Seri, realizing what the bartender means to do, cleared her throat, grab at the wine glass near her and took a huge gulp of her martini and anko; breaking the tension between the two of them. Awkwardly, Izumo cleared his throat, moving away from Seri, turning his face away as she drank her wine swiftly. She puts down the glass and said in a loud voice, "One more! And put more anko in the next one!"

"More anko?!" Izumo exclaimed in shock; his face showing utter disgust.

The bell on top of the door clang and it creaked open. Seri turned around and she looked at who it was who entered the bar. Stepping to the bar-counter was Mikoto Suoh, he has his bright red hair down and was wearing a dark teal checkered shirt. He had with him the cool swagger he had always possessed. He languidly shifted his eyes at her, scowled then moved to sit a few stools away from her.

"I see that Reisi doesn't wanna come home today again, huh?" Mikoto asked the Blue Queen's right-hand woman without even looking at her.

"It looks that way…" Seri said, "Why didn't you come to the headquarters to visit Captain? So that at least you can have an idea on what's happening to her..."

"Been busy buyin' baby things for Nazo with Reisi's mother." Shrugging, Mikoto smirked, "Besides, Reisi doesn't want me comin' ta that place even if and when I want to. Ya think I like it when my pregnant GF not comin' home and working her ass off in that goddamn office?"

"'The burden of killing a King'…" Seri said as she receives the drink from Izumo, "…think about that, Suoh-san."

"What's with chu with Reisi? Are ya crushin' hard on her or some shit?" Mikoto chuckled.

Izumo's eyes widened at what Mikoto said to the blonde young man. Even Seri was shocked with the man's strange humor…if he were really joking at that.

Shaking his head, Mikoto gestured for his best friend for a glass of beer. "That's bullshit." He mumbled, "There ain't anythin' true 'bout that 'burden of killing a King'. And if there really is a thing like that, then…" his voice trailed off and for half a minute, Mikoto remained quiet. He was just saying that. Truth is, he had been thinking about that 'burden' with Reisi. He's scared that, one day, it'll come to her and her Sword of Damocles would fall down on her and kill her. He just kept on distracting himself so that he doesn't have to think about it. He's fucking scared, that's for sure. If killing the Colorless King had created any harm on her Sword of Damocles…if ever the burden of killing a King does happen to Reisi, he wouldn't have any fucking clue on what he'll do.

"It ain't gunna happen." Mikoto mumbled to himself before taking a gulp at the glass of beer.

. . . . .

"I have the information department secretly measure the Captain's Weismann level once more." Seri said, approaching Saruhiko that day and handing him a folder containing all the information she wants him to see.

Mikoto Suoh is obviously in denial. Of course, as a former King himself, he must be aware of what it meant if a King or Queen kills a King. He must also feel it too. Seri, more or less, understands why he was denying it all this time because even if he doesn't show it, it scares him.

Opening the folder and studying the papers in it, Saruhiko said to her, "So the readings show instability again, huh…"

Seri nodded.

"But if the Captain says it's nothing, then there's no use for us to worry about." Saruhiko said, handing the folder to Seri. He shrugged his shoulders, trying to make lightly this incident. Why should they worry too much? They don't know how it is for a King or Queen. Maybe they are just overthinking things. He looked at Seri's anxious face and he inquired to her, "Or have you seen something else to worry about?"

Seri remembered one time when the Captain tried to sync with the Dresden Slate using her Aura. She wasn't able to do that. What could have been the problem Reisi Munakata did not seem to know herself. After that, Seri asked her what happened and the woman simply shrugged her shoulders and told her there was nothing to worry about. "Once I saw the Captain fail at controlling her powers. But at the time, the Captain also said that it's nothing. But I…"

"It's certainly no laughing matter if the Captain fails, is it?" Saruhiko said.

A middle-aged man was walking through the hallway where they stood and spoke with one another. He was a tall man with darker toned skin and dark brown hair. There was even a noticeable horizontal scar on the bridge of his nose and his left arm was nowhere to be found. As far as Saruhiko knows, the man is named Goki Zenjo. He serves as Director of General Affairs Division File Room of Scepter 4 but before that, he played a bigger role. He glanced at Saruhiko and Seri as he overhears their conversation but then, he continued to walk away without a care in the world.

Seri and Saruhiko stared at one another, letting their question hang between the two of them.

. . .

Seri Awashima was at the bar that night once again when Mikoto came there. The woman has an anxious look on her face and the bags beneath her blue eyes had become bigger and her face became paler than it was the day before. If the woman looked as haggard as she is then…does that mean that Reisi is in a worse condition? Mikoto quickly walked out of the bar and took a drag of his cigarette. He wants to tell her to stop working already or to just take it easy. Then Anna followed him out of the bar. She just stood beside Mikoto as he quietly smoked. He glanced at Anna.

"You're worried about Reisi…"

"Yeah."

"…are you going to go to her?"

"Nah…" Mikoto sighed, shaking his head. He wanted to…but he had promised to Reisi that he wouldn't nag her not doing what it is that she wants to do.

"Mikoto, don't be too hard on Seri." Anna said. "She's genuinely concerned of the Blue Queen."

Mikoto chuckled, taking the cigarette from his mouth. "Yeah, but I can't help it, Anna. Maybe I'm just too possessive of Reisi." Possessive enough to be jealous of the Captain's lieutenant, that's for sure. Glancing at Anna, he said, "You gonna go there tonight?"

"Yes." The present Red Queen answered, nodding her head slightly. "I'll check on Reisi for you too…"

"...Thanks."

After that, Anna left the premises of the bar; leaving Mikoto Suoh behind. She could feel a great turmoil inside of him. He's confused, he's torn and he's worried almost to the point of despair. The heaviness inside him made Anna uncomfortable, scared. Mikoto is a man of his word and when he promised someone something, he would do it no matter how it makes him feel angry. Just like now. He is in the bar but his mind is drifting to wherever the Blue Queen is.

It took a few minutes for Anna to reach the headquarters of Scepter 4. As soon as she got there, she saw Saruhiko Fushimi, a very familiar young man. He had just gotten past the gate of the headquarters and looked as though he was in a hurry to go somewhere. But he caught sight of her and he came to an abrupt stop as she approached him.

Anna liked Saruhiko – he was quiet but he gets things done. She especially liked his bond with Misaki. The two seem to perfectly fit one another as though they were made to complement one another. It's astonishing that there are people who seem to be made for one another – like Mikoto and Reisi, like Misaki and Saruhiko.

While the little girl was reminiscing, Saruhiko tried to catch her attention. Obviously, he finds it strange that the little girl is near the premises of the Blues. If a member of Homra should be around, it should be Mikoto Suoh.

"Right now, Seri is at the bar. Because she seemed to be worried about the Captain so I came to check out the situation." Anna said to the young man.

Saruhiko adjusted his glasses, "Is this about the Captain?" The lieutenant sure is worried for Reisi Munakata. She's acting like a doting mother and Saruhiko almost finds it pretty…pathetic. He, on the other hand, has bigger faith in the Queen. Anna nodded her head in respond. Sighing, Saruhiko shifted his eyes on the façade of the Scepter 4 headquarters, "What does that person look like to you?"

"I don't really understand it. But right now, there is something huge weighing on her and it's not just one thing." Anna replied, "On top of that, lately, the surroundings have been astir. Noisy. Bustling." She shuddered. She has no idea when did it start to feel that way but she just felt it one day – the air about them felt heavy, cold and it made her uneasy. It wasn't natural and that worried her. There was something that is about to happen but she has no idea what it was, she was only sure that it isn't good for anybody. "It feels like just a storm is about to happen. If a storm comes, things will be even worse for that person. That is why at that time, Seri and Saruhiko will become her support…"

Saruhiko has moved his eyes back at Anna and he clicked his tongue at the Red Queen had said, "Simple clansmen becoming a Queen's support? Isn't that Mikoto-san's job?"

Anna turned around, ready to leave. "You are able to become it…" was all she said.

Just when Saruhiko was sure that the little girl would finally go, she slightly pivoted her tiny body and said with a calm smile, "Also, Misaki is doing fine."

Blood rushed to Saruhiko's cheeks and stammering he shouted at her, "NOT INTERESTED!"

When Anna came back to Homra, she found Mikoto sitting by the steps before the entrance of the building, a cigarette in his left hand and his cellphone in his right hand. He had lifted the phone on his ear.

"Babe? You doin' okay there?" Mikoto said to the person on the other side of the phone. Obviously he was speaking to Reisi. "Ya sure you ain't comin' home tonight? It's not really healthy for a pregnant woman to stay up all night working for, I dunno, days…" He lets out an aggravated sigh before putting the cigarette in his mouth, taking a deep breath at it; listening to what his girlfriend has to say. "I know…I know…a job to do, sure. But…I…listen to me…geez, I just wanna tell ya I miss you." Mikoto grunted angrily. "Okay. Just takin' a chance on ya changing yer mind. No dice. Heh. Sorry to have wasted your time. Bye."

Hanging up his cellphone, Mikoto clicked his tongue angrily; scratching his hair and spitting out the cigarette in his mouth. "Fuck it…" he sighed, standing from the steps he sat on. He sees Anna as soon as he did and he cleared his throat before reaching out to ruffle the recent Red Queen's hair. Not a word was spoken, even as Mikoto walked away from the bar. Quietly, Anna watched as Mikoto walks away.

. . . . .

"We have been really busy lately. I'm suffering from a lack of sleep."

"You usually sleep way too much."

"How long does Domyouji-san usually?"

"I sleep for ten hours usually."

"That's long..."

"Fushimi-san, are you going to Mihashira tower today?"

It sure was a noisy day for Scepter 4 and it was still early. There are too many voices speaking all at the same time that he has absolutely no idea who was saying which because of the noise. It irritates Saruhiko but he was still able to suck in the annoyance he is feeling and calmly, answer the question that was addressed to him, "Yeah, with the lieutenant…" Reisi Munakata had already gone there all alone.

From his right, he heard somebody say, "It seems like the Captain has already entered Mihashira Tower."

"Already? That's fast. When does that person sleep anyway?"

It must have already been three days since the Captain last came to her home to sleep and she certainly does not stay in the headquarters to sleep. Saruhiko is certain that Mikoto Suoh is freaking out inside his calm exterior by now. They had been too busy that even Saruhiko forgot that the Blue Queen is carrying the former Red King's son in her womb. Funny. She's actually acting and working like she isn't. Saruhiko isn't sure if he should be amazed or horrified.

Saruhiko and Seri headed to Mihashira Tower together, following the Blue Queen who was already there. As they rode the Scepter 4 vehicle towards the tower, Saruhiko spoke something he would have said to the lieutenant since they approached the vehicle. "Lieutenant, you have rings under your eyes." He couldn't help it.

"Don't mind it. There's nothing unusual about my physical condition."

She's kidding.

Seri is a hundred percent that she feels absolutely horrible. She hasn't slept at all and she's suffering from a terrible hang-over from all the alcohol she drank the night before in Homra.

They are heading closer and closer to Mihashira Tower.

"Fushimi, what we talked about yesterday…" Seri said as she was moving her eyes to the tall tower but she stopped talking when she sees a familiar object hovering on top of the building. Her eyes widened when she realized that it was none other than the Blue Queen's Sword of Damocles. Her heart skipped a beat as she lets out a loud gasp.

Hearing the woman gasp, Saruhiko glanced at her direction then he shifted his eyes at the direction where she was looking at. He gritted his teeth together, staring at the amazing Sword of Damocles floating above the building. "That is…"

He and Seri alighted from the vehicle quickly. Seri stammered nervously as she continued staring at the Sword as she made her way towards the entrance of the tower. "The Sword of Damocles! B-But the Sword of Damocles should only appear when a King or a Queen is displaying more than a certain amount of power…is she being attacked?!" She paced towards it, Saruhiko following her from behind.

"Where is the Captain?!" Saruhiko said to the guard at the entrance, raising his voice. He couldn't understand why the stammering young man standing before the door.

"Sh-She is supposed to be in the room with the Slate!"

"Fushimi-kun…!" Seri said in an alarmed tone.

"What is…it…?!" Saruhiko turned around to look at the lieutenant and saw her staring up, her feet glue to the ground. She looked frightened, horrified and she looked paler than she already was. Saruhiko stared at the same thing the woman was looking at.

"The Captain's Sword has a crack!"

Before turning around, Saruhiko caught sight of the Mikoto Suoh making his way towards their direction, towards Mihashira Tower. But he did not stop for a second and so did Seri. They ran as fast as they could to the top floor, to the chamber of the Dresden Slate.

. . .

The night before, Mikoto was unable to sleep. He could not sleep at all. He missed having his lover lay on the bed beside him every night, he missed being able to put his arms around her, play with her hair and kiss her. Reisi said she has work that she needed to do. He letting her do what she wants made him look like he doesn't care when in fact, it's actually killing him that she hasn't come home for three days straight now. Ever since he received the Red Aura from Anna, Reisi and Scepter 4 had been bombarded with work and because of that, Reisi told him to stay away from her and Scepter 4 until work has stabled out. She thinks he distracts her from her work. That stung but, hell, maybe it's true. Good thing he can hang out with members of Homra again.

Then there's this nightmare he kept on having as well that prevented him from sleeping. He kept having the same strange dream over and over again. Reisi bleeding from her gut. He had dreamt of that before and he did not even want to get so worked up on thinking what it could have mean.

And how can he even forget the 'burden of killing a King'? He had had those thoughts before and just when he started to forget all about it, Seri Awashima reminded him about it. She must have blamed him for that. If only he did not fight the Blue Queen then and made her use her power too much and made him possibly slay two Kings then they should not be having this problem.

He was worried out of his mind and he had to go see her even she doesn't want him coming to her workplace especially when she is busy. He had already gone to the headquarters of Scepter 4 and he was told that the Blue Queen had gone to Mihashira Tower.

Mikoto saw Seri and Saru running inside of the tower. He also saw Reisi's Sword of Damocles in the air. His eyes widened. There…was a vertical crack on the Sword's hilt. Seri's words echoed in his head as he stared at that crack, 'The burden of killing a King…' The sight of it brought fear in him and the words from Seri's mouth made him feel even worse. His heart beat faster, his head pounded. He gritted his teeth angrily, his whole body trembling, turning hot. He closed his eyes. Yes, he could feel adrenaline pumping into his whole body, his Red Aura escaping his body; seeping out of his body like sand from his fingers. When he opened his eyes, he found himself consumed entirely by the translucent Red actually forgot how great and invincible he felt while being draped with Red Aura.

He must go to Reisi.

Summoning more and more of the Power Anna gave him, he felt like he was weightless, he felt like he was…infinite. It felt different than before – he wasn't engulfed with an overwhelming power, a power too much for him to handle. This felt subtle and yet, he still felt invulnerable. He ran as fast as he can towards the tower, the Aura around him growing stronger and stronger. As he came closer to the building itself, he truly felt light to the point that he actually believed that his feet no longer touched the ground. But it wasn't really just a feeling – he truly was rocketing up in the air, soaring with an amazing speed to the whole height of the tower. He could not stop staring at the huge Sword floating above the tower as he grew closer and closer to it. Dread filled him as he studied it. He wasn't imagining things, he really did see a crack on her Sword. The crumbling Sword of Damocles becomes the countdown to its downfall. Just like his Sword was on the verge of a Damocles Down before he renounced his throne in order to stop the Damocles Down from happening. The loud drumming of his heart filled his ears as he rose higher and higher until he reached the top floor where he knew that Reisi was.

Without hesitations, Mikoto crashed into the window; shattering the glass and coming through the window finally to enter the chamber. Pity that he shattered glass of the newly-repaired chamber but that doesn't matter now, does it? But that is the last thing in his head right now.

He could hear the loud smashing of glass around him and even the sound of heels clicking against the floor and the loud heaving of some people he could not still pinpoint who. He landed on one knee and he realized that he has been holding his breath all throughout the moment he was flying to the top floor of the chamber.

"CAPTAIN!"

Of course. It's Saruhiko and Seri.

Looking up, Mikoto sees Reisi standing in the middle of the chamber of the Dresden Slate. She looks pale, exhausted. She had glanced at Seri and Saruhiko's direction.

"Oh, Awashima-kun, Fushimi-kun…" The tone of her voice was surprisingly normal that the sound of it made Mikoto feel a chill run through his spine.

"Munakata!" Mikoto panted. He lifted his head to look at his lover but she wasn't looking at him. His heart hasn't yet returned to its normal rate.

"Just now, the Sword of Damocles –!" Seri insisted.

"There is nothing wrong. I examined the Slate and it accidentally appeared." Reisi answered, smiling at the two.

Mikoto trembled.

Their fight from before.

Her killing the Colorless King.

The burden of killing a King.

His strange dreams.

The crack on her Sword of Damocles just now.

Mikoto stared in horror at Reisi Munakata. She wasn't looking at him. She's hiding something from him obviously. The smile she had on her face was almost similar to the icy glare she usually wears on her face when he was Red King but it scares him more than the glare she shows him.

"Accidentally…?" Seri asked, her voice trembling as she spoke to the Blue Queen. "Captain! Please do not deceive us! You are –!"

"Awashima-kun, today is another busy day. We don't have time to talk about futile things. Well then, let's get to work…"

Mikoto made his way towards Reisi, his limbs trembling violently. He ignored the two members of Scepter 4 who stared at him as he came closer and closer to his lover, their Captain. "Reisi…" he mumbled.

Reisi looked at him and when she opened her mouth to speak to him, to reprimand him for destroying the window, Mikoto shut her up by putting his arms around her, embracing her tightly. He held on to her, meaning to never let go. He was scared…he was angry…he knew Reisi was hiding something from the three of them. He knew that she actually used her power inside the chamber – used it to the point of summoning her Sword of Damocles. Mikoto does not have an idea what she was doing with her power inside there all alone.

What was she doing?

Was she lashing out inside the chamber, losing her mind the way he did before?

Was she trying to sync herself with the Dresden Slate?

He has no idea…

"What are you doing here?" Reisi muttered as Mikoto continued to hold her in a tight embrace.

Mikoto didn't answer. Gently, he lets her go, looking into her eyes. "Tell me...are ya hiding something from me?"

The only answer he got from Reisi was her calm smile and she moved away, pulling herself out of his embrace and walking towards the two gaping members of Scepter 4. Mikoto gritted his teeth, letting out an aggravated sigh before stomping towards them. "Munakata!" he said between clenched teeth, "Cut the crap! You're hiding something from me. Three days passed since the last time I saw you and this what welcomes me? Your Sword of Damocles floatin' in the goddamn sky without any reason? Bullshit!" His voice cracked, "Don't do this to me, Reisi!"

Reisi stopped on her tracks as she glared at Mikoto. She opened her mouth to retort but all of a sudden, her mouth quivered, her face had gone pale, her violet eyes widened. "Wait…" Alarmed, she glanced at Seri Awashima and asked her, "What time is it, Awashima-kun?"

"Uhm…ten o'clock, Ma'am…"

Reisi began to shiver, all the color in her face draining away. She looked at Mikoto. "Suoh…" she whispered, "…Nazo hasn't moved since I…" her voice trembled. She was trying her best to keep herself calm but she couldn't.

Mikoto was speechless. He knew what Reisi was trying to tell him but he couldn't believe it. He didn't want to believe it. His heart skipped a beat. "We gotta go to a hospital. Now."

. . .

It has been three hours since Nazo had last moved inside of her womb and she knew that it's not something to be taken lightly of. Saruhiko and Seri let them leave the tower quickly. Mikoto held on to her as they headed to the nearest hospital. He kept glancing at her face, waiting for her to explain why her Sword of Damocles had appeared over the tower while she was inside the chamber of the Dresden Slate. He wanted to ask her but it wasn't the time to push her buttons, she is upset enough already. Once they were in a hospital, the doctor ran several tests. The two remained quiet. Mikoto was pissed with Reisi because of what happened a while back but he still held her hand in his, supporting her. Reisi was staring blankly into space as they waited for the results of the tests conducted to the Blue Queen. Mikoto wanted to talk, he wanted to say something to appease Reisi's troubled mind but he couldn't. All he could do was be there, by her side while she was confined in the hospital.

Soon, they were given knowledge of what has become of Nazo.

The doctor only confirmed what Reisi truly feared to hear.

Nazo is dead. Their child is stillborn.

As the doctor was talking, Mikoto felt numb. The doctor spoke slowly and her voice was soothing, soft but it wasn't enough to appease the emotions building inside him. Usually, stillbirth has no specific causes. Sadly, it just so happen. Try as he might to listen to the woman talking in front of them, he does not seem to hear a thing. He shifted his eyes at Reisi and she was horror-stricken, her face pale. There was no tears on those light violet eyes. The only thing Mikoto was able to take in from the doctor is that they are free to choose if they want to wait for natural labor to kick in or if they would induce the labor using drugs. The doctor let them discuss it privately. Quietly, Mikoto and Reisi spoke about it together, the two of them avoiding eye-contact with one another. They decided to induce the labor...

Despite the doctor telling him that Nazo is gone, Mikoto still does not believe it…

Even when Reisi was made to deliver their boy after the induction of labor, he was still spacing out.

It felt like forever, waiting all alone like that, being stuck in his own thoughts in complete silence and talking to himself like crazy. He feels stupid, he feels disappointed…he feels like complete and utter shit. Yes, the doctor told them that there isn't a specific cause to what has become of Nazo but he couldn't help but wonder if…if he did everything differently, if he took better care of Reisi, if he only talked to Reisi out of her work then maybe, just maybe things could have been different…

Reisi was sleeping when she was brought back to the room she was confined in.

While waiting, Mikoto decided to finally call Reisi's parents with his cellphone and notify them that Reisi is in the hospital. He couldn't tell them what happened because…he, himself, could not still wrap his mind around the idea of their child being stillborn.

A few minutes later, the doctor came in and asked if they want to see their child or not. Of course…Mikoto wanted to see Nazo, no matter how difficult it may be. He feels that he needs to see their child. Nazo isn't dead. He couldn't be.

He waited for Reisi to wake up. He remembered the dreams he had before. He should have seen this coming – once, when he was still the Red King, he had dreamt that blood trickled between Reisi's legs while her gut bled and he also dreamt Reisi in that white kimono, her belly bleeding profusely. He had been warned.

But is he really the one who is to be blamed because of Nazo being stillborn?

The door clicked open and in came a nurse, she held in her arms a little creature covered in clean pure white cloth. Every step the nurse took made Mikoto's heart beat faster and faster. With trembling hands, the former Red King receives the tiny, unmoving creature the woman clad in white was gently passing over to him. He held the baby in his hands and as his amber eyes shifted to look at his child, he could no longer hold the tears from falling. Mikoto held the boy in his arms, embracing his cold and stiff body. Nazo's face was cyanotic and his tiny fingers looked almost black than blue. Their child…he is a handsome boy and, damn, he looked like him – the red hair, the small and deep set eyes, the thin set of lips. Looking at him pulled Mikoto to the deepest part of the ocean, drowned him to the point of death. He longed to hold their baby for so long…but not like this, never like this! Mikoto sniveled and he could hear himself sounding like a pitiful boy rather than a grown man. The sobs that left him rocked his body. Tears just kept coming and coming and he did not intend to force them to stop anymore. The pain from his chest cannot be compared to anything he has ever experienced before. He couldn't breathe. His heart was ready to explode.

"…Nazo?"

Mikoto lifted his head and he sees Reisi, hazy-eyed, staring at him as he held their lifeless child in his arms. She isn't completely herself yet. He doesn't want to let go of Nazo, he wanted to keep holding on to him but Reisi had every right to see their baby. He passed Nazo to Reisi, averting her eyes as he did. He couldn't look at her. The sound that left Reisi's mouth as she held Nazo did not seem to be that from a human. Her face turned pale, her lips quivered violently and tears fell from her eyes. She shook her head as she held the boy tighter in an embrace.

The world stopped at that very moment.

Mikoto's heart thudded like a drum and along with the sound of Reisi's broken sobs, he was deafened. He wasn't thinking when he said, "This is yer fault…" A shadow has crept over his eyes. The tone of his voice could bring anyone and everyone running away from him immediately. That's right…it isn't his fault. It's Reisi's fault. He never lacked on doing his part, did he? Reisi was the one who persistently did things against Mikoto's and the doctor's advice. He gritted his teeth, "If you only listened to me then Nazo may be alive. He wouldn't be dead now, would he? If you only stopped doing yer goddamn job for only a few fucking days then he wouldn't be fucking dead right now, right? If you weren't fuckin' 'round inside the Dresden Slate chamber doing fuck knows what then he shouldn't be dead!"

"Mi-Mikoto…I…"

Taking a few steps back, Mikoto lets out a loud wail; screaming angrily as he puts his hands over his head, grabbing at his hair and leaning against the wall behind him. "You killed him, Munakata!" he shouted, lifting his face up at Reisi and he looked at her horrified expression. He's apparently scaring her, hurting her. "There ain't nobody else who did a shittier job of being a mother than you!"

"Mikoto!" Reisi snapped back, more tears falling from her eyes, "Stop it…please…stop…" and she broke down, her wails growing louder as she wept.

Mikoto sank down on his knees; his back still resting on the wall. With a trembling voice, he mumbled, "I gotta get outta here…" he got on his feet, "…I gotta get outta here. I can't stand breathing the same air as you!" and he walked out of the door, closing it behind him. The moment he stepped out of the door, he was greeted by the furious faces of Reisi's family. But of course…they heard him.

As soon as Mikoto has disappeared, Reisi lets out a loud groan, putting her face in her hands as she wept.

. . . . .

"Oi…aren't cha gonna talk to the Blue Queen already?"

Seri Awashima has been convincing Izumo to speak to Mikoto so that's what he was doing. According to her, the Blue Queen has finally taken a leave after Nazo's death and when Seri asked how the Captain was, she was told that Reisi wasn't well since Mikoto Suoh has left her to grieve all by herself.

Gulp, gulp…the words spoken by his best friend entered deaf ears. Mikoto continued to drink his third bottle of beer.

When Mikoto came to Homra fifteen days ago, Izumo was filled with aghast to see him look like the world has crashed on top of him. It was his first time to see Mikoto in such a vulnerable state. The redhead told them that his son is dead and that he could not be with the Blue Queen yet. Anna was the one who comforted Mikoto while the other members of Homra supported him a hundred percent for leaving the Blue Queen that time while Izumo could not help but feel that he had wronged the Captain of the Blues.

"You weren't able to go to your kid's funeral too…"

That's true. He wasn't able to go to Nazo's funeral. He knows that their son was cremated the day he left Reisi. He couldn't see her then – he was too hurt, he was too angry. For all the days that passed, he couldn't get how Nazo looked like when he held him in his arms. Every time he closed his eyes, he sees him…and that only makes him even more hurt and angry.

Izumo glanced at Mikoto and he just sat there opposite him in complete silence.

Once in a while, Reisi would call Homra, hoping to get in contact with Mikoto but Mikoto never answered her calls so she gave up.

Izumo actually feared that the epic love Mikoto had for Glasses Girl has finally reached its doom.

They were alone inside the bar at night and Izumo was currently cleaning when Mikoto went down from his room in the upper floor to have a drink. He had been like that for days now. He couldn't sleep. The death of Nazo Munakata still haunts him.

Mikoto was indeed broken…but Izumo could only imagine what Reisi Munakata had to face.

"It's been two weeks, Mikoto. Go to her already."

No answer.

"She needs you, you bastard. Go there and apologize already."

Mikoto looked over at Izumo Kusanagi. The man was nagging him again like an angry mother. For two weeks, he had been staying with Homra, sleeping in his room before and refusing to go to the house of the Captain of Scepter 4. He is still angry at Reisi. "I didn't hurt her. All I did was tell her the truth." Finally, Mikoto spoke up.

Sighing, Izumo shook his head. "Who are you to say that someone had no right to feel something?" he said, "You don't get to tell someone that they shouldn't feel hurt. They're the only ones who get to decide if you hurt them or not. Tell me, ya s'rry ass…" Izumo leaned closer to Mikoto, looking deep in his eyes as he slowly said, "…do you love her?"

Without hesitations but speaking in a small voice, Mikoto said, "Of course I do…"

"Then get your shit right and get your ass to her place. Apologize. She needs you now, more than ever."

Izumo made perfect sense. Mikoto may still be furious but he does love Reisi, more than anyone and more than anything. For a few days, he felt like he truly wanted to be alone but as the time passed, he felt…very empty. He had been used to being with Reisi that being alone made him feel melancholic. He shouldn't have blamed her for what has happened to Nazo. He was wrong to do that. He was a complete asshole. And he feels empty with Reisi far from him. He has already lost Nazo and he couldn't afford losing Reisi too. He wouldn't let his pride dominate once again. And he wouldn't let his pride get in the way in their relationship. "What if…I come to her and she wouldn't want me back?" he said. No need to ask that. It was a completely idiotic question but he really is an idiot for speaking to Reisi that way. People really shouldn't speak whenever they're angry…they'll end up screwing things up to the point of no return.

Smirking, Izumo said; crossing his arms on his chest while he spoke, "You have no one else to blame but yourself. But there is a chance she'll let you come back. Are ya too chicken ta take that chance?"

"Hell no."

He's sure glad to be friends with this bastard…

And Mikoto left the bar.

Reisi had it bad and he had the guts to lash at her like that? He had the guts to say the stupidest, shittiest things to her. World's worst boyfriend. He is really full of shit. He loves her and yet, he had the nerve, the audacity to hurt the most amazing woman who came into his life. Mistake after mistake. He did not want to hurt Reisi. He never intended to hurt Reisi and yet he did, didn't he? Indeed, he is the worst kind of fool there is in the world.

He practiced all the things he should say to Reisi on his way to her house, saying it out loud inside his head as he walked but once he got there, once he stepped into the familiar wooden flooring, his thoughts went blank.

He could hear Reisi's sobs even from a distance.

Taishi was there and he was coaxing for Reisi to stop crying when he caught sight of Mikoto. The man was angry and Mikoto understood why. He heard him say those awful things to Reisi. According to Taishi, Reisi had not been like her usual self since Nazo's death. It was understandable, of course. One could only imagine the pain she went through as soon as the doctor informed her of their child's death. And Mikoto just had to be an ass. She had been like a lifeless woman and she preferred to be in solitude. Seeing that she is physically, mentally and emotionally unfit to work as Captain in her condition, she finally decided to take her much-needed maternal leave.

Fortunately, he was allowed to come in when Reisi had gone quiet after hours (according to Taishi) of sobbing. He isn't forgiven yet, he knows and he knows he doesn't deserve forgiveness from Reisi's family and yet, he hopes that he could have it. The sight of Reisi on bed broke his heart. His eyes caught sight of the ring around her finger and the love that he feels for her overflowed from him. He thought that after all he had said to her that she would have taken the ring off but she didn't. He doesn't deserve her love but she loves him anyway, she forgave him anyway. When he finally held her in his arms and she didn't shove him away, he felt like he was back to where he belongs. This is where he is supposed to be. Holding the broken woman, the mother of his child made him feel like he has finally gotten home.

"Forgive me, Suoh…"

"You didn't do nothin' wrong…"

"Suoh…"

"Forget what I said. Forget all the shit that I said. I'm the one who's sorry."

"Good grief…" Reisi held his hand.

"We'll get through this."

"Of course…"

"You and I. Together."

Mikoto drew closer against Reisi, pressing his lips gently at the top of her head, "I will never leave you again." And he meant every word of it. "I love you."

"I know..." Hearing those words from Reisi, Mikoto felt like he had been wandering around in darkness and those words were the ones which guided him to find the light.

With Reisi Munakata, he feels utterly complete.

It's like I died right there with you
I lost everything that day
When this life I thought I knew
Was ripped out and taken from me
I keep living it over
I don't know what I could have done
And still my world grows colder
Without your sun

- Nothing Remains by Like a Storm -

Author's Notes:

As I've said before...I write the things that happen in this fanfic for a reason and not just for the heck of it because I think it is necessary...here we go. It had to be done, I'm sorry. Now, what will happen to Mikoto and Reisi's relationship after the death of their child? Will their relationship falter or will it grow? How will this affect their character? Questions, questions.

That's all for now, peeps. This is probably the longest chapter I've written in this fanfic so far.