Sorry for the wait. Thank you so much for the review for the chapter before, and Iggychushowed me that at least I owed you this to finish. I am really sorry. I have one chapter planned for Faithfully Yours, but so far I am still in my writer's block. By the way, I am changing course, so if some of you are from China, please tell me a good program of living there for a year or so to improve my (already butchered from long time not used) Chinese?

Enjoy!

Ivan closed the door behind him.

His mind was blank-not with confusion but with rage. He hated himself, just this time. Or maybe several times before, but this time, he was really, really angry. Towards the tower, the domination of Tower's leadership, the corruption of the system. How the leaders didn't care for their kinds inside the tower. How for them, every lowly Sentinel was spendable and as long as they can get money or luxuries, then everything is fine. Ivan hated when he saw how the Sentinels Alpha inside the room sat arrogantly on their throne, with one perfect Guide beside each and every one of them while the lower Sentinel ranks like him and Arthur Kirkland shared their Guide amongst 20 other Sentinels.

If only they would share. But Ivan thought about something else. Even though the population of Guide steadily declined, it wasn't very rare until the last decade. It seemed that in the last ten years the number of Guides in the area really decreases. The most curious thing about it is that the Western Guide is declining in number far faster than the Eastern, or any other areas. So something must be wrong.

Anyway, he was there to argue about the freedom of a certain Eastern Guide caught in the golden cage. And he failed to bring the case. Because for the Tower's alpha, an Eastern is even lower than a Normal.

AS he walked down the stairs, suddenly the alarm rung very hard and loud, informing the Tower that they were under attack.

How was that possible? Ivan thought as he paced himself to the main control room where he was required during emergency. The Tower prided itself with un-penetrable wards and security system. Moreover, attacking the Tower is quite similar with attacking a lion's den. With so many Sentinels, trying to barge into the Tower seemed like a useless suicide.

He entered the room to find most of his subordinate and some of his colleagues were watching the monitors closely. Most of the cameras were down, causing no valid information who were attacking them. He could feel the tense in the room, for the whole lot of Sentinels are all high with adrenaline and defensive pheromones.

"The camera system failed. We need to check it ourselves."

Ivan nodded, agreeing with his colleague named Berwald. Together they went out to check out the intruders. They were alert; but they still have the confident that the intruders wouldn't infiltrate too far. They have amazing security system and also strong Guarding Sentinels in the Entry Hall. The Entry Hall is the main (and only visible) entrance into the Tower.

Suddenly a bomb exploded underneath their feet, shaking them and the floor started to collapse. From the harsh training and their heightened senses, the heat from the explosion was bearable and they quickly run to the other end of the corridor. When they finally reached there, suddenly the alarm system was automated, causing the thick metal doors slamming down closing the corridors. Ivan snarled, and was pulled immediately by Berwarld before another door dropped on top of their heads.

"What is happening?" Berwarld asked, voicing Ivan's similar thought.

The answer came in form of the speaker, roaring. "We are under attack, repeat, we are under attack. This is emergency level 4. The intruders are in the lower level right wing. They are believed to be members of The Eastern Tower."

Ivan couldn't believe his ears. They are attacked by Eastern Tower! It was unbelievable. The Towers swore to remain neutral, despite 'lending' some hired help for the Normal wars. The relationships between Towers are t3ense, and at best competitive, but attacking another Tower means it is no longer a Normal's war, it would be a full blown Sentinels to Sentinels war. That would cost more lives and destruction.

"Impossible." Berwarld commented the obvious. Ivan growled. He was in no good relationship with the weird Scandinavian man, but he was stressed and tensed enough to feel irritated from Berwald's stupid comments.

Why? Why does the Eastern Tower want to attack them? There was no confrontation ever since the treaty was signed 130 years ago. Except…

Yao.

He was the only thing that the Eastern Tower possibly wants. He was the only thing that Ivan could thought as a And he lived on the very wing that is under attack.

Damn! They specifically targeted the wing where Yao was, and also, they seemed to know more about the Tower's structure than a foreigner should. So maybe it is safe to assume that there is inside spy in the Tower. Realizing that some colleagues in his Tower giving out such an important information about the Tower and betrayed their home made Ivan's blood boiled. He was a very faithful man. Betrayal was unforgivable.

Feeling enraged, Ivan punched the metal door in front of him. His Sentinel special power was his strength, and his punch made a huge dent on the thick metal door. He punched again relentlessly and within 7 punches, a hole was born.

"Come with me."

"Ivan?"

"I know what they want. Be useful and just follow me, da?"

Arthur carefully cradled Yao's small body gently in his arms. He noticed that the invasion has started, just on time as the Eastern Sentinel, Yong Soo, promised. Arthur immediately destroyed the camera in the room when the explosions started. Now he only needs to get Yao out of that place.

The door was, fortunately, unlocked. It seemed that Ivan believed in them by letting the door unlocked. Arthur then run from the room as fast as he could with Yao in his arm. His angel was still sleeping from the exhaustion and mental strain. His eyes were swollen. His face was white. But he looked peaceful and from their bond, Arthur sensed that Yao trusted him to let the man do anything while he was sleeping.

Arthur bit his lips until it bled, refraining himself from crying and howling in disappointment. He is going to give Yao up, after several months of happiness. He knew he wouldn't last long, since he is planning to die anyway. What matters now is to pass Yao to Yong Soo. Kiku was missing, but Arthur guessed he would be in the baby room. Kiku's disappearance aids his plan to server their bond. After Yong Soo takes Yao, then he will find Kiku. Maybe. If something happens to him before then, Arthur was sure Francis would do something. The French man was a softie for kids. He will do something to help the baby.

The corridor was in chaos, from failing debris and cracked floor and heat from explosion; but there was nobody there. Arthur knew it wasn't his luck; it was the plan. He has given the Eastern Tower the blueprints of the Tower, giving as many details as he could, and advising the Eastern Sentinels to enter from the dungeon underneath the sewage instead of the Entry Hall. The rest was planned by the Easterners, emphasizing on giving Arthur enough time to get Yao out from the room to the specific room in the third floor where Yong Soo would take Yao from him there.

He was being a traitor to the place he had called home since he was small; the only home he knew. All for Yao. Very cliché it may seem, for Arthur it was worth it. Yao was his everything as the man has shown him happiness and joy being in a loving family. He knew if he lost Yao there would be no turning back, and he'd rather die. And yet, on another side, he was trying to be selfless. He loves Yao, he wants all the best for Yao and the best for Yao means nothing of Arthur in his life. Arthur only brought misery for Yao, so this time, Arthur will let go.

Trying to control his emotions, Arthur jumped down the stairs, reaching the third floor in no time. So far there were some other Sentinels running passed him but all of them didn't pay Arthur any attention, since everybody is panicked about the attack. Sentinels may have heightened senses, but they were naturally bred for protecting, so when a danger arrive, they focused solely on saving their 'protégé' and not paying attention to anything else. Arthur managed to subtle Yao's Guide pheromones by wrapping the small man in several thick blankets and then covered them with his own smell.

The room was bare for him to see. In normal situation, the room was a big living room with several furniture for everybody use. But today, it was filled with ruin and fallen concrete, small fires and smoke.

"Arthur Kirkland, here!" a sound called to him, and Arthur looked to the voice's source.

The Eastern sentinel appeared and held his arms towards Arthur. "Is that him?"

Arthur nodded, and then he bends down his neck a bit so that he could whisper in Yao's ear. He needs to severe their bonds now.

"Yao…wake up."

Yao slowly opened his eyes, and tried to stay awake for Arthur. "Arth..?"

"Yao, listen carefully." Arthur closed his eyes for a second, preparing himself from the pain, and then spoke out. "I… I killed Kiku. Kiku is dead."

Yao's eyes became wide and he shot up, but Arthur didn't let his arm cradle go. He knew he is infliction fake pain in Yao, but he needs to otherwise Yao wouldn't willingly destroy their bond.

"What do you mean, aru!"

"I can only safe you and Kiku was too much of a distraction. I killed him. I have betrayed our initial agreement. I killed your baby. So now… now I want you to severe our bonds."

It was true that they could server their bonds simply because they did make an agreement beforehand. Although it was nothing lawfully binding, it was kind of mental conditions included in the base of their bond. By killing Kiku, Arthur destroyed the foundation of their bond and made it very weak even when it was already consumed. Very weak bond is easier to server.

"What are you talking about, aru?" Yao shook his head, clearly stressed and in confusion. He wasn't even coherent enough to think about Arthur's words. Arthur just promised to make him safe, protect him. He would do no such thing. "What do you mean Kiku's dead?"

"I killed him."

"Don't lie to me, Arthur."

"I.. will never lie to you." Arthur lied.

Yao was frozen. The pain in his chest and head made everything hard. And he started to cry. The betrayal and pain hurts their bonds, and Arthur felt the anger and disappointments trough their bonds. Pain. Disbelieve. A bit of trust. And this was the time. He needs to do this.

With all his might, Arthur mentally pulled their bond, yanking it hard.

"NO!" Yao screamed, but the act was already done.

Arthur felt his chest was physically very painful. As if something yanked his heart and he couldn't breathe for a moment. As if he was having stroke. Francis has warned him about it. The pain was really unbearable. He couldn't breathe, and the pain was immense. All he wanted to do was to smash his head hard to the wall. He saw that Yao, too, was shocked and in pain from the severed bond, while unconsciously tried to mend it. Before Yao could do anything, Arthur pushed him away, shoving him to Yong Soo before he smacked Yao's face, hard.

With the shock, Arthur managed to take over the control of their bond and severed it so hard.

Both of them felt the despair. They lost their bond, their mate. Their chest felt hollow and for the moment, Arthur felt his blood turned into ice. His limbs were shaking and he was filled with despair. No nothing matters anymore. He wanted to die. He had lost his mate. He wanted to die. He wanted to kill.

He almost lashed to the Eastern man holding his beloved Yao, but somehow he managed to keep himself in check. Arthur then staggered and ran away, as quick as he could, from Yao and Yong Soo.

"Thank you." He heard the Eastern Sentinel shouted behind him, but he could not turn back. No. he has lost Yao. It is better for Yao like this. He would be saved.

And in front of him stood enraged Ivan.

"…Why?" was the only thing the Russian man could say in the middle of his anger. He saw what happened. He went to the room to find it was empty, and he feared the worst. But he didn't suspect Arthur of anything at all. Now he knew from smell that Arthur was as good as unbounded sentinel, meaning Arthur severed the bond between him and Yao. That beautiful bond, the bond Ivan was trying to protect, was lost. Broken. Ivan knew it meant Arthur felt like dead, enraged and most suicidal. Yet, by giving Yao to the foreign Eastern Sentinel, Ivan realized who was the inside spy.

That beautiful bond was broken and betrayed by the moronic lowly green-eyed sentinel.

Ivan couldn't control himself any longer. The cold rage filled his mind. And he roared.

"…WHY!"

"..I love him more than anything." Arthur growled and started to attack. "I won't let you use him like a slave!"

"Idiot." Berwarld hissed and took his stance too, but Ivan signed him to move away.

"He is mine, da? You go and get Yao, that Eastern Guide they took."

Noticing that Ivan alone was enough to kill the lowly Sentinel, Berwarld continued to run and chased the Easterns to the other side of the room.

Arthur tried to stop him, but Ivan's hiss made him stop.

"You are mine, and you will fight me." Ivan said darkly. "Goodbye, Arthur Kirkland."

The explosion shook the room, and many babies started to cry out loud.

Ukraine was at lost, unsure what to do. She wasn't the only one in the room, though. The French man by the side of Kiku looked around for help too, and realized he was the man inside the room before finally ordering Ukraine to save as many babies as possible. Ukraine nodded and straightaway pulled some of the screaming and crying babies around her, collecting two bundles of babies into one cradle, putting another one and filled the crib with four babies before pushing the crib out of the room. There were around 10 babies left, and she saw Francis took Kiku and another baby with him in another crib.

"We need to find someplace safe to place them and then comes back." Francis looked around. The corridor in front of them was filled with falling concrete and it was clear that it is not possible to push any crib through the particular destroyed corridor.

"Here" Suddenly a voice whispered beside Francis, and A blond four-eyed man appeared beside Francis. "Follow me."

Well, everything happens in this chapter. I am not promising happy ending. I really planned this only for 3 chapters-5 at most, and now it is already 12.

About the Princess and the Pirates story, I have finish writing my parts, but my cowriter lost the chapter and so far I have gotten no reponse from her. So if you want to continue it, please tell me.

Well, review? Thanks!