Chapter 9: Failure

Yami growled and looked at Araki. "Lord Tungsten…you really think that I'm going to give up Scarlet?"

Araki growled and pulled his sword out, "Yes!" Yami laughed and walked over to Yumoto. "Kotaro-san, we have a visitor…our dear Tungsy is here."

Kotaro smirked and the bird turned to Araki. "We're going to take your Scarlet and get rid of him. The other guardians are a distraction." He laughed and Yami grabbed his staff. He cradled it and giggled. His blue eyes flashed red and Araki gasped, "No…you're being controlled!"

Yami smirked, "What?"
"Your eyes…they are filled with evil and hatred."

"Well duh, I am the God of Destruction."

Araki growled, "You're not! You are the God of Truth!"
Yami pointed his staff at Araki and Yumoto screamed, "NO!"

Yami turned to him, "Silence! You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth…while we other Gods were forced to work hard. We weren't lucky enough to be born in the Court of Love!"

Yumoto growled, he was chained in front of the portal, his arms were above his head and he kicked his legs at Yami. "You were lucky! I hate being the heir! Everyone thinks you're a threat, so everyone tries to sacrifice you to Hireashi! I'm sick of it!"

Yami scoffed, "Then I'll end you!" He held his staff out and Yumoto stared at him. Yami dropped his staff, "D-Don't stare at me like that! Don't look at me with those eyes!"

"What?"

"SHUT UP!" Yami screeched and Yumoto cried out as he was hit. "Ibu-chan-senpai…do you hear my voice? Argent…! Argent!"

"Yes, I hear you. Little One, I have freed all of us…where are you?"
"Temple of Light. Hurry!"

"Yes, your majesty."

Yumoto smirked, "My guardians are coming. They're free and are coming to rescue me!"

Yami began to laugh, "Let them come! For we have something in store for you too."

Araki gasped, "What?"
Yami turned to Araki, "You're a part of this plan too…Kotaro-san…get the VEPPer and Kinosaki-chan."

Kotaro nodded and flew off.

Araki growled, "You're summoning Hireashi…"
Yami smirked, "No, I'm getting the twins to stop the guardians…and they have a surprise."

Yumoto gasped out as Yami slashed the chains from his wrists and he hit the ground. Yumoto looked up at Yami and growled, "Once my brother hears about this, you're dead!"

"Oh? Well…I bet you're dying to see your brother, aren't you?"
Yumoto growled, "What do you mean?"

"Scarlet!" Epinard's voice cried and Yumoto gasped, "Guys!"

His four guardians ran in and Yumoto ran to them. Araki put his sword in front of Yumoto and looked at Yami, "You won't harm him."

"Oh…I won't be harming him." Yami laughed and Perlite rolled his eyes, "You're failing actually. Maximum Gorar was saved by the VEPPer, and the heir is coming home."

Yami gasped, "What!?" Then he began to laugh, "My portals are still up though!"
Yumoto rolled his eyes, "Well I can solve that problem."

He made his staff appear in his hands and pointed it at the portal, "True Love Attack!"

Yami growled, "Damn you!" He walked to Yumoto and Yumoto pointed his staff at him. Vesta's ornament stuck out to Yami's chest and the God laughed, "Oh, I'm truly frightened, God of Love."

Yumoto growled, "I'm not afraid of attacking you. In fact, I'm not even afraid of Hireashi anymore."

"Is that so?" Yami spoke and he pointed his own staff at Yumoto. "Yet, I can see in your eyes that you are afraid of losing your friends and brother."

Yumoto bit his lip, "Silence! You don't speak for me at all. Hireashi and I have met many times."
"I know…yet your soul is still here…!" Yami screeched and reached forward for Yumoto's brooch. "DIE SCARLET!"

Araki quickly pushed Yumoto away and he pointed his sword at Yami. "You thought you could win."

Yami laughed, "I know I can win, but let's face it, my plan wasn't ready for today."

"Kotaro-san, let's go." Yami smiled and Kotaro nodded, "Yes…and next time, we'll be ready."

Yumoto growled as they disappeared. "We need to go home…" he whispered.

-
Yumoto sighed as Kinshiro was talking with Gora. "He is to not leave the palace."

Gora sighed, "Yes I know, Aurite. We have to make sure the former God of Truth can't get in again."

Kinshiro nodded, "Yes, I have a good idea how to stop him."
"How?"
"It involves all of his guardians to stand at points in the palace and guard it with their powers…but this will…keep them away from Scarlet."

Gora sighed, "I'm not sure Aurite…"

Kinshiro replied, "Yes I know. It's a very hard decision."

Gora looked at him, "Yes, it is. Yumoto needs his guardians."
"If I may interrupt…" Akoya spoke, "I can't see him coming to our palace anytime soon."

Gora looked at Akoya, "Are you sure?"
Akoya nodded, "Yes, I'm sure. Your brother will be safe for a few weeks."

Gora frowned, "Only a few weeks?"
"So far, yes…unless we can stop him at his own place."

Gora shook his head, "No. That's too dangerous, Perlite. We all need more training. Yumoto will be taught more by Sulfur and Vesta, while you three work on protecting the mortal door."

Kinshiro nodded, "Sounds great. I will tell the Battle Lovers right away."

Akoya sighed, "This won't be beautiful at all…the training will ruin my hair…" he muttered.

-

Perlite blushed as he watched the God of Protection from afar…he had heard of him before but was too nervous to talk to him.

He bit his lip and whispered to himself, "I am a God of Time…and Beauty…so he's bound to like me."

Now, Perlite was really only the God of Time, there was no such thing as the God of Beauty…but he felt as if he was so beautiful, he had to be a God of Beauty as well.

Perlite blushed as he walked up to Argent and introduced himself, "I-I am Perlite, the God of Time."

Argent smiled and bowed, "God of Time…I am Argent, the God of Protection. May I ask why you're here?"

Perlite smiled, "I am here because…I have to admit something to you."
"What is it?"
"I…I." Perlite blushed and Argent asked, "You what?"
"I-I like…you."

Argent blushed, "Do you Perlite?"

Perlite nodded, "Y-yes."

"But we hardly know one another…yet…I feel as if we've known each other before."

Perlite blushed, "M-me too…" He gasped as Argent brought his mouth to his.

The God of Protection and God of Time (and Beauty) began to date shortly after this.

Aurite, the God of Wisdom sighed as he watched his friend…no his crush, Epinard, the God of Wind, kiss Cerulean, the God of Water.

"At-chan…" he whispered, "I knew this could never happen between us…" He turned away and walked off.

-
Yumoto frowned as he walked to the Mortal Door room and sighed as he heard Akoya, "Ibushi…please."
"I know Akoya, I know." Ibushi spoke.

Yumoto looked down as he heard Akoya mutter, "I love you."

"I love you too, Akoya."

If only Yumoto could feel safe telling Araki that…