Hiiiii, people! Man, I really gotta stop leaving so much time between updates! Damn you, work! Ah, well, thanks for being patient!

…

…

Black Mist sat in a tranquil silence inside the key, his legs crossed and his eyes closed. Little Hope sat in his lap, her normally bright a cheery eyes were filled with sadness and discomfort. She missed her father. Or, rather, her fathers. Black Mist had cruelly informed the little girl about her oncoming sibling, and even though she was unsure of what this meant she knew that her beloved Yuma was in serious danger.

Hope shoved a blackened thumb into her mouth, the texture of her new skin was clammy and cold and nothing like Astral's. It made her cringe and she mewled in disapproval. Black Mist laughed and began petting her hair, a gesture which only made her cringe more and squirm to try and get away.

"Oh, Hope, you belong to me now, remember?" he said, his claws digging into the child's scalp. "You'll get used to your new body, I promise."

Even though she was just a tiny baby, Hope was still reeling from the effects of the sudden change in her appearance. She felt sad and lonely, and it almost seemed as though she was forgetting more and more about her fathers with each passing day. Black Mist had warned her that all of her past memories would be forgotten in time as she adjusted to her new life.

Hope thought of Yuma and Astral often to allow their memories to remain strong in her mind before the inevitable darkness took her over and she, too, became evil like Black Mist. This was most certainly not what she wanted, but she knew she had no choice.

As much as she loved Astral, Hope had always felt her love for him was overpowered by how strongly she felt for Yuma. Astral was a wonderful parent and offered her all the attention in the world, but there was something about Yuma. She could get lost in his big, red eyes that said a thousand words without the boy ever having to open his mouth. Hope knew how much Yuma loved her without ever having to tell her. Yuma could smile with his eyes, and when he paired this with a real smile Hope's heart would leap with joy.

Then he would sing to her softly; his voice was like heaven to her ears. It was the one sound she waited for before bed each night. His young, gentle tone made her stomach tingle and she would laugh and laugh. Little did she know that someday Yuma's young voice would change, but she wouldn't care. She would never care.

"You're going to be a good big sister, now, aren't you, little one?" Black Mist whispered, his lips pressed awkwardly against the child's ear. Hope whimpered. She hated Black Mist. He was cruel and vulgar and disgusting, and not only that, but he had hurt both of her fathers. He got joy out of hurting them and in turn this hurt Hope.

Black Mist's hand stalled in the stroking of her hair and moved down to Hope's face. He cupped her chin and tilted her head upwards so he was looking down at her.

"That baby's going to come a lot sooner than you think." He said with a chuckle.

Hope didn't want to imagine what was going to happen next…

…

Astral sat in silence on the floor of Yuma's room where said boy was curled into a ball in his hammock, his swollen stomach practically disabling him from his everyday routine. It had been almost a week since that…encounter. Astral was unsure of what to even call it. Yuma had barely spoken a word, and Haru and Akari were becoming increasingly concerned and alarmed.

The latter two women climbed up into the attic for what must have been the tenth time that day, Haru carrying a thermometer and Akari a tray of food. Akari set the tray down on his nightstand and leaned down to get a good look at her sleeping brother.

"Yuma?" She called lightly, pressing a gentle kiss against his forehead and shaking his shoulder. She swallowed hard when the only response she received was a pained moan and a twitching in his hands. Yuma's knees were pressed up against his chest while his arms were planted firmly between them. His chin was tucked into his chest and his eyes were squeezed shut. Akari tried rousing him again and was met with a similar response. She turned to her grandmother.

"There's no way this is just because Hope was kidnapped…I can understand grief, but…"Haru shook her head in response, she was also stumped. Astral observed them with guilt and sadness. He knew they deserved to know what had happened but he had no way of telling them. As if she had read his mind, Akari spoke up again:"I wish we could talk to Astral about this. I'm sure he's here."

Akari scanned the room quickly even though she knew she wouldn't be able to find what she was looking for. She sighed and leaned against Yuma's hammock, her fingers methodically massaging into his scalp.

Yuma moaned appreciatively and leaned into her touch. His eyes opened blearily and he struggled to lift his head up.

"Astral?"Akari adjusted herself so she was eye-level with him and smiled.

"No, baby, it's me. It's Kari."

Yuma sighed and smiled weakly at his elder sister, moving his head back and forth and encouraging her movements as her hand continued to work into his hair.

"I don't feel good."Akari turned towards Haru again with a worried expression. Haru shrugged and waved her hand, persuading Akari to continue the conversation.

"What happened, Yuma?" Akari asked in what may have been the kindest tone she had ever used with her brother.

"I'm scared." Yuma responded, barely above a whisper. "I don't wanna die."

This answer horrified Akari and she had to fight to suppress her tears.

"Why would you think something like that?"

"Because he said I would."Akari was confused. "Who? Who said you would? Astral?"Astral jumped when he heard his name. He shook his head feverishly. Yuma was in a very bad state both physically and mentally and was about to reveal their current situation to his family, something Astral felt would be a very bad move…yet there was nothing he could do to stop him.

"No, not Astral. The other one." Yuma shifted in his hammock, a pained cry escaping from his throat. Akari quickly moved to help him onto his back. Yuma stared up at her with glazed eyes. Akari rubbed her hand up and down his arm.

"Yuma," She said, this time more stern. "You need to tell me everything, okay? Who's 'the other one'? There's another Astral?"

Yuma inhaled a few deep breaths before he felt he could speak again.

"He's like Astral, only different. He's evil. He's the one that kidnapped Hope…"

Haru's hand shot to her face in alarm. She joined Akari at Yuma's bedside.

"Then…that would mean he's the one that hurt you…" Haru thought back to Yuma's recent hospitalization.

Astral floated near the back of the room, his hands covering his face. He couldn't fathom Haru and Akari's reactions to what Yuma was going to say next…

Akari continued her attempts to comfort her brother while Haru began lightly stroking her fingers around her grandson's knee. Yuma clung to Akari's arm for support.

"What did this…evil Astral do to you?" Akari wondered fearfully. Astral turned and faced the wall.

"Well, about a week ago, he…" Yuma's throat clogged with tears and he tried his best to fight them. The bruises he had obtained were fading, but the memories were not…

"He what!" Haru cried, shaking his leg. "What did he do!"

Yuma's face clenched and tears dribbled down his cheeks. "He came out of the key while I was asleep. I'm not sure how, but he did something that put Astral out so he could come after me. When I woke up, I felt something inside of me and I realized…what he was doing to me."Haru let out a sound of horror, shock, and disgust. She immediately grabbed her grandson into a hug whilst Akari stood back, losing the fight to hold back her own tears.

"Oh my god…" She muttered under her breath.

"I'm pregnant again…" Yuma revealed. "And…it's his. And he says it's going to kill me and if I try to get rid of it he'll kill Hope!" Yuma was rambling at this point. He briefly noticed Astral huddled into a ball in the corner, hiding his face in his knees.

"It's not your fault, Astral."

Both Haru and Akari turned to where Yuma was looking. Even though they couldn't see the blue spirit, they wanted to help comfort him as well.

"Don't worry, Astral." Haru said. "We'll figure something out…we'll help Yuma and get Hope back."

Astral smiled amidst his sadness, looking the elder woman straight in the eyes. He raised himself off the floor and approached Yuma for the first time in days, leaning down to place a kiss onto his partner's face. Although there was no real contact, Yuma could still feel a swell of cool energy radiating from Astral's body. Yuma smiled, reaching up a hand to pretend to touch Astral's face. Haru and Akari watched in amazement as Yuma tenderly shared affection with thin air, the touching moment bringing tears to their eyes.

"I love you." Yuma said, his gaze piercing into his lover's multicolored eyes.

"I love you, too, Yuma. So very much."

Yuma's eyes closed contently and his head lolled to the side. Astral rested his head next to his partner's abdomen, silently offering him prayers. Haru lay a hand over her heart and sighed with as much of a smile as she could allow.

"I'm going to get you an extra blanket, dear. I'll be right back.""Thanks, grandma." Yuma said, his eyes remaining closed.

Akari leaned against the wall and closed her own eyes. She inwardly contemplated what to do. Any decision they made would hold her brother's life in their hands. Akari would feel guilty for the rest of her life if anything ever happened to him.

Yuma suddenly began moaning again, his hands clenching over his swollen stomach. He let out another groan, and then another until his cries of anguish turned piercing. Akari rushed to him, gripping his shoulders and trying to help him find a suitable position. Yuma quickly shoved her aside and began throwing up. Not bothered by this, Akari rushed to him again, helping him to sit up. Yuma vomited again harshly and Akari cringed in disgust as a thick, black, tar-like substance dripped from his mouth and onto the floor.

'Oh my god…' She thought to herself. 'What is that?'

Yuma began crying and Akari quickly grabbed the napkin off of the tray of food she had brought up and wiped his mouth. Yuma clung to his sister as if she were his lifeline, Akari quickly returning the gesture. She rubbed her hands up and down his back as Yuma's agonized cries echoed throughout the attic, bouncing off the walls and making her ears ring. Astral, too, tried to help but knew it was no use.

Yuma hid his face in his sister's chest, completely unaware that his grandmother had returned to the room and encased him in a blanket, asking Akari what was happening. Akari didn't respond and instead gathered her brother into her arms, surprised that he was light enough for her to carry. She set him down in the downstairs bathroom in front of the toilet where he continued vomiting in between bouts of hysterical sobbing.

"It hurts, Akari!" Yuma whined through his pain. "It hurts! Please help me it hurts!"

Akari held Yuma against her chest and thought hard before picking him back up and returning him to the attic, not caring if Haru and Astral were behind her or not. She needed to save her brother. She needed to save her niece. She needed to do it now.

"We need to get this baby out." Akari said, her voice laden with frustration.

Haru shook her head.

"Akari, we can't!" Astral agreed with the elder with a shake of his own head.

"I don't care what that…thing…says, he's not going to get away with this!"

Akari lay her brother flat on the floor and turned to where she thought Astral was standing.

"Astral," She started. "You need to help me! We need to get rid of this baby!"

Astral's hands gesticulated wildly. Despite the fact that the child was potentially evil, he knew how badly Yuma wanted it to live. Not only that, but Hope would be killed as well. He couldn't betray Yuma's trust.

When the grating silence became too much for her, Akari let out a frustrated cry.

"Fine! I guess I'll have to take care of this myself!"

Akari once again gathered her brother into her arms but was quickly stopped as the room began to darken.

"Not so fast, little girl…"

…

…

DUN. DUN. DUN DUN DUNNNNNNN! That's right, folks! It's almost that time! Man, there's nothing better than a little Yuma-angst I always say! It makes every Zexal story better. Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed this chapter and I'll see you in chapter 8!