Kyrie's legs became weak; she began to stumble as she walked. The Red Assassin turned and looked at her as she struggled to keep up with him. He stopped walking and watched her as she tripped on her steps and fell forward. He lifted his arm up as a bar and let her fall upon him.

"Tired?" He snickered.

"…My legs hurt." She replied quietly.

"Too bad." He snapped, letting her fall to the ground. He turned and walked on; Kyrie lifted herself up and wearily followed. Her legs were intense with burning pain as she struggled to keep up with him. She took in deep breaths, pushed herself on. Her legs were heavy; the pain in her arm was nothing.

"Please…" She cried.

"If you want to, you can stop. I'm not going to."

"I thought I was your hostage."

"You won't go far." Was his only reply, "The doggies will get you if you try."

"But…"

It was that time when I showed myself to him. "Stop torturing her and let her stop. She's not like you."

He scowled, and gave her a good look.

Kyrie was on the ground, sweating, crying, and gasping. Her eyes were weary. The Red Assassin groaned.

"Come on, you can't be that out of shape. Get up little girl."

She coughed and shook her head, "It hurts…"

"…Please don't make me have to carry you…"

Kyrie was passed out by then.

I couldn't help but smile as the Red Assassin was forced to pick up Kyrie and carry her away. He found another stray room and set her in a nearby bed. He rolled his eyes, and looked at me. I did not smile any more. Now I was scowling.

"Talk to me, kid." He said, "She can't hear."

"…What do you want?"

"…How did you die?"

"No demon."

"These things…"

"Not demons."

"What are they?"

"Man-made."

He sighed. "Can you please answer me with a complete sentence? Not just one word…"

"Fuck you."

"Excuse me?"

"Go away…"

"What, are you going to haunt me forever?"

"I could."

"Would you not?"

"Depends."

"I know you're intelligent. Stop giving me these half-assed answers. You're not creepy, you're just annoying."

"…You're hurting her."

"…Really? You're going to…? I hate children, alive, dead, it doesn't matter, they all annoy me. Let me ask: Why can I see you?"

"Fate."

"Explanation, please!" He snapped angrily.

"Fine. I'll tell you what I've assumed: You're the one." I sighed.

He looked confused, "The one?" Slowly he turned to Kyrie.

"Not like that…if you touch her, I'll kill you."

"Then what did you mean?"

"…I think you can see me because you're a demon, and close to the supernatural world. You've escaped from the depths of the Underworld twice now, and countless times you've escaped death, you're closer to our kind from near-death, therefore, you are almost one of us."

"…You're the first ghost I've ever seen."

"…Then it's simply fate, nothing more."

"What kind of fate?"

FATE

This man was not evil.

He was a tough talker, but soft.

He could be able to see me for the fact that he may be the one to avenge my death.

"This castle is a historical foundation, long ago our leader would reside in here and watch over the people. It used to be a tourist site, and often we would come to this castle to train…the Knights, I mean. Other's came to read and learn, ones like her." I pointed at Kyrie.

"…So you're a knight?"

"Was a knight."

"Well…what happened to this castle?"

"It began with demons invading, so in order to protect everyone, His Holiness closed the castle to keep the people safe. Then our knights were sent to rid the castle of the threat. They never came back."

"Even you, I figure."

"Right."

"But you said a demon didn't kill you…"

Kyrie stirred. She began to wake. I said one last thing, and left, ignoring the Red Assassin's yelling.

THE LAST WORDS

"Set up."

Credo and Gloria were looking over the damage of the town of Fortuna. I was glad to see that Credo was trying to get over his moping and help everyone, as a leader should. Gloria introduced him to the new Supreme General. To Credo's shock, it was a man even older than him.

He felt nervous, and wondered if this man felt a strong jealousy against him, after all, it couldn't be fair to see a young man like Credo take the lead. He felt nervous as he shook this mans' hand and greeted him. Gloria wrapped her arm around his, assuring him as he looked around and saw all the other knights as they worked to help the civilians.

Credo took in a deep breath and looked away, at the center of the town. Gloria looked with him. She looked in curiosity at the large black wall sticking up through the ground. It cast a large shadow across Fortuna, and gave Gloria a tense feeling every time she looked at it.

"What is that thing over there, anyways.?" She asked Credo, "I've seen it several times, but I never really knew what it was. I didn't want to ask because, well, it just seemed so obvious to the people here that I feared I'd just be asking a dumb question and get laughed at."

Credo looked at the tall structure, then back at Gloria. "That's the Hell Gate."

Gloria tensed. "The what?"

"Two thousand or something years ago, Fortuna Island was terrorized by the Hell Gate, demons and other various monsters crawled out of it endlessly and killed everyone in their path. There was no escape, demons invaded the waters to make sure they couldn't leave, they were all trapped.

"Soon enough, The Dark Knight, Sparda, rescued them, he sealed the Hell Gate and helped to restore Fortuna Island, he stayed and served as the feudal lord, but then he left one day, but he didn't leave the people's hearts."

"So that's why Fortuna worships him as a God?" Gloria asked. Credo gave a small nod, she looked at the Hell Gate again, the strange feeling still not leaving.

"Do you know how he sealed it?"

"…A katana called Yamato."

Gloria tensed even more. "Really now?"

"Yes. That's what it was."

"…Do you know where this katana is?"

Credo went silent, then answered, "According to several reports, about two years ago, we found the sword on an excavation mission in the ruins of Mallet Island, it was in two pieces, we put it up. It was for the better that it was broken, too. In the wrong hands, Yamato could bring us back to that terrible era. Only this time, there would be no savior for us."

"I see, then I guess that is a good thing." Gloria agreed.

Footsteps approached Credo, he and Gloria turned and faced Agnus, who took a fearful step back.

"M-my apologies, Your Holiness…" He begged, "I did not mean to seem hostile. B-but, I could not help but…over hear your conversation., and it has c-come to me that I should s-show you something, something that Vicar Sanctus would have liked for you to see."

"Later," Credo said, "I have a few things to attend to here, and I cannot afford to leave my people so soon."

"Yes…I understand, Your Holiness."

Credo bit his lip, trying to get used to his new title. He clutched Gloria's hand gently, Gloria did not say anything, she only continued to look at the Hell Gate, concentrating and thinking hard.

THE THOUGHT

Gloria finally realized her reason for being here.

The Hell Gate.

She thought of the Red Assassin.

It must have been why he came as well.

I found myself nodding in approval about Gloria's decision. I had to admit that I both admired and hated Gloria. Maybe I hated her for talking my place as Kyrie's bodyguard, but I couldn't help but love how she managed to keep the siblings together. She held Kyrie together so tightly, and now she did the same for Credo.

Gloria was something else, a lovely woman I owed so much to.

I thank her for filling me in so well, and more.

The yelling and calling out, distracted both Gloria and myself. Credo looked as two young women approached him with a bouquet of flowers.

"Your Holiness." One said, "We got this for you."

"We're sorry about Kyrie."

"She was a really nice person."

Credo accepted his gift and nodded, the two girls ran off. He looked at the gift in despair. Gloria put her hand on his shoulder in order to comfort him. Credo took in a deep breath.

"Really?" He whispered, "What did she ever do wrong?"

"Nero…" Agnus whispered.

Immediately Credo smacked Agnus with the flowers. "What?" He snapped, Agnus whimpered, fell backward and scooted away, "How dare you! You claim something as absurd as that?"

"B-but, he was a demon!" Agnus said defensively, "It was bad luck! What do you think the girl would get for…"

"For what? You think this was his fault? You didn't even know him!" Gloria grabbed Credo, but he pushed her off. He looked onto the frightened crowd of followers, "Nero was a brave knight! He fought for what he believed in! He was rash, but he was obedient! Young, but intelligent! He went through something NO ONE here could endure!" He turned to Agnus and pointed viciously at him, "And I will NOT tolerate any bad mouthing about him in my presence! Especially involving her!"

Credo stormed off, Gloria lifted Agnus to his feet and followed after him. Agnus took in a couple deep breaths and held his hand to his heart. Well, he would, if he even had one.

SOME FACTS

Agnus may have often introduced himself as quiet and weak.

But there's no way he could have been "weak"

Not with his muscular build.

Credo was lying down on his bed, he stared at the ceiling, he thought about his family, his father and mother died when he was around sixteen, Kyrie was nine, I was ten.

Yes. I remember that day very well.

SO YOU KNOW

When parentless children are shunned by the rest of Fortuna, they live in Head Quarters.

I had been living there for a while, before they did, but I knew them.

I was allowed to visit their house on weekends and play with them.

I was more acquainted with Kyrie back then.

I was shocked to see the two siblings there alone, I wondered where their father and mother were, but due to the tears on Kyrie's face, and the way Credo was carrying her around, I decided it best not to ask, and already by then, had figured out what had happened to them.

Back then I was shunned by many, I was pitied by many. To them, I was the orphan with one arm, the unluckiest boy in the universe, they'd think. An unwelcome burden. What use was I? They'd think. Sure, I looked hopeless, but after being stepped on so many numerous times, I made it a point to change my fate, I would make myself useful. The whole island would respect me. I would no longer be referred to as the one-armed orphan boy.

How lucky of me.

After my death, people didn't think of me as the one-armed knight.

Now I was the devil-boy, the reason Kyrie was dead, that strange knight who had an accident.

At least now I knew that Credo did not think so low of me.

Gloria entered Credo's room and cautiously approached.

"I'm sorry," Credo sighed, "I keep on screwing up, I keep losing my temper. I'm a terrible leader. The Supreme General must be thinking of overthrowing me. After all, what good is a touchy leader?"

"Your sister has been killed in one of the most brutal incidents of the Fortuna history, surely they can understand. I believe in you Credo. I think you're a great leader, you're going through some trouble, and the people should understand. It doesn't matter what they say, they can't comprehend what you're going through."

"I just beat my advisor with a bouquet of flowers to honor Kyrie's memory."

"You redeemed the honor of a fallen knight and her. That was what happened. Agnus had it coming." Gloria fell silent, then spoke again, "…So…was he talking about…that boy…?"

"Yes, he was."

"…Well, with the way you put it, it makes me sad that I never knew him."

"You didn't want to know him." Credo chuckled, "Not to be rude, but I'm sure that Nero wouldn't like you. Not that that's saying anything, Nero didn't like anyone, as far as I could tell, Kyrie was the only person he'd be nice to."

Credo took in a deep breath. I then figured out why he was staring at the ceiling like he was. He didn't want anything running down his face.

"…I wonder if they're together. And if they are, then I hope you're taking good care of her, Nero…"

I could have cried.