((A/N: Wow, I wasn't maimed! Guess most people do know me better than I suspected. Hey, thanks for the reviews so far!))

Chapter Nine.

That evening, as usual, Kratos could be found sulking in the broomcloset. After having his hair reasonably tamed by Zelos, the man decided to once again cut himself off from society. The other seraphim agreed to just leave him there for the time being. After all, they thought, it's not like things could get any worse.

How very wrong they were.

That evening, at around half past six, Dhaos once again appeared before Kratos. And, just like last time, he was miniature sized, transparent, and looking extremely shifty.

"Pssst… Kratos! Did you find me? … I mean… Yuan?" he asked.

Kratos stared down at the mini Dhaos, sighed deeply, and nodded.

"Did you make up with him?"

"If I had, did you think I'd still be sitting in a dark broomcloset?" Kratos asked slowly.

"You moron! Time is running out, you know!" Dhaos shouted.

The auburn seraph didn't respond.

"Wait… What day is it?" Dhaos demanded.

"… Monday. The day my life was ruined." Kratos said softly.

"Oh no! You have to go find Yuan, now!" Dhaos' voice reached a note of panic.

"Why should I?" The human huffed.

"Because Monday is the day of the apocalypse! Well, that's how it's known in my time, anyway. I'd say apocalypse is a bit of an overstatement though… It's not like everyone died." Dhaos trailed off thoughtfully, before shaking his head. "So get out there and start looking, you big lug!"

"Why should I go find him? The two-timing son of a Desian! He cheated on me!" Kratos blinked, before peering darkly at Dhaos. "And so did you!"

"What? No I did not!" The blonde shouted.

"Yes you did! I saw you- I mean Yuan- with… With Botta!" Kratos spluttered.

"Botta?" Dhaos' eyes widened. Then he put a hand to his chin. "Of course… Because I interfered, you went to look for me on Monday morning, when I was sleeping at Botta's house."

"Hah! Then you admit it!" Kratos pointed an accusing finger at him.

"Look, you idiot. I did not sleep with Botta. I was at his house because-" Dhaos broke off, glancing to something invisible on his left, apparently listening intently. "Uhm… Yes! I'm coming, Nancy!" he called, slightly nervous.

"… What?" Kratos blinked.

"Look, I can't stay. Nancy's got dinner ready. Just trust me on this and find Yuan before midnight." Dhaos whispered hastily.

"But I-"

"Do it! If you don't, I'll slap you in the future!" The demon lord shouted, before disappearing.

Kratos stared blankly ahead for a while, trying to decide what to do. Finally, at around seven o' clock, he burst out of the broomcloset to sound the alarms.

Yuan sighed miserably, wandering the streets of Sybak. Botta had kicked him out the house to get some 'fresh air'. This, however, was a pretty stupid idea, as it was raining. No, not just raining. Pouring. To make things worse, all the stores were closed. There was nowhere to get coffee. No more delicious, caffeine filled cappuccinos. Only because Botta had promptly refused to give him any more until he had calmed down.

Personally, Yuan had no idea what the guy was talking about. Just because he was still in a caffeine rush, hadn't slept in five days and saw the world through a blurred haze didn't mean that he needed to cut back on the coffee.

Not really seeing where he was going, he bumped into something solid.

"Ah… Pardon me, miss." Yuan muttered.

"I am not a miss." The solid thing responded in a low voice.

"Oh."

A long silence followed, before Yuan shrugged heavily and decided to keep walking.

"… Hey, aren't you Yuan? One of the seraphim of Cruxis?" The 'stranger' asked.

"I guess. I don't care about Cruxis anymore, though." Yuan's eyes narrowed. He couldn't really shake the feeling that he'd seen this man before somewhere. The haze in his mind, however, prevented him from remembering.

"Is that so? Then, perhaps, you would like to join our organization instead?"

"Ah…" something told Yuan that that would probably be a bad idea.

"You can come to our hideout to dry off, and have a cup of coffee." The man offered, smiling slyly.

"Lead the way!" Yuan grinned.