"Wake up, Durbie-kins," Vector sighed, petting Durbe's hair. He was mumbling in his sleep and Vector had tried to interrogate him more about Yuma and Don Thousand but Durbe said nothing but mumbling. Vector wasn't even one to get up early but Durbe was still in his sleep when he woke. "Come on, idiot, it's morning already."

Durbe still didn't respond and Vector growled. He could kill Durbe in his sleep but he still needed him. He wanted to get back to Baria and see if Mamoru had got Thomas home yet. He wanted time to bond with his long lost family. He'd spent to long waiting for him, why couldn't he be with him now he finally knew the truth?

He sighed and got up from the pillows, leaving Durbe to his journey or whatever it was. He wandered out into the shrine in the sunrise, watching the water feature. When he was at the academy, the early months, his class had been taken to the shrine as part of a school trip. Yuma had all but forgotten him, busy with his friends while Vector had hung back, lost and alone. Every now and again Yuma would remember he existed and would yank him over to the group again but it didn't last long.

He remembered sitting in front of the pool of water, tossing in a few coins as an offering to the gods and praying desperately for Thomas to learn the truth and come and find him. He'd almost cried for it. He wanted his family so desperately. After finding out who Thomas was, that he was not only just like him but family, he'd longed for contact with him. He'd needed Thomas to know the truth and to teach him how to control his powers and be treated as normal. He'd wanted him for so long. A proper family. Someone who wasn't his abusive father. It was almost laughable. He hadn't realised how cruel and abusive his father truly was until he'd gone to the academy. It had just been the way he'd grown up and all he'd ever known.

"Lord Vect-"

Vector jerked his hood up and scrunched his eyes shut at the all too familiar voice. He'd let his guard down. Master Rokujuro knew him and so did Durbe. He'd felt safe to leave his hood down. But now one of Heartland's generals was here. He should have kept his guard up. He should have kept his hood up.

He turned slightly, Kaninja staring at him. "Rei?"

"No," he hissed.

"It is you, isn't it, Rei?"

"No."

His hood was pulled back gently and he glared down at Heartland's general as much as he could. He didn't do a very good job. Sad as it was, he owed his life to Heartland and his men. Kaninja laughed softly.

"It is you. You grew up, little rabbit."

"You didn't," Vector huffed, folding his arms and glaring at the door to the cabin. "I told you I'd be bigger than you one day."

"Ah, so you did, bunny," he sniggered. "Although I think you're hair adds a bit. You're a Lord now, huh? Our little little rabbit is a big shot."

"Not a rabbit," he grumbled. "What do you want?"

"Right! Mr Heartland says that Astral HQ is completely clear and we have teams in the labs and records room working on all the Astrals' secrets. The entire southern kingdom is under our control." Vector sighed and nodded. "Still no sign of the Lords but we've captured a few extras around."

"Alright," he murmured. "Tell Heartland he's in charge of the Astral HQ for now. Faker needs to go back to Baria and deal with his son and... and I need to talk to Byron. I think Merag will be coming down to HQ soon anyway."

"You doing ok, Rei?"

"I need to go and talk to Byron," he said, shaking his head. "Stay here with Durbe until he wakes."

He didn't wait for confirmation before opening a portal and heading out to the Arclight's estate. One of their many estates. The family was from noble blood and Byron had been one of the King's closest friends. If you listened to rumours their relationship wasn't just one of friendship but of course Byron was also rumoured to have had a close relationship with Dr Faker and several of the court wives, including Lady Kamishiro. He was a handsome, charming man and rumours spread like wild fire.

But then, Byron did have an affair with his Aunt Mina.

The home Byron had taken to was near Baria. One of the boys' favourites, Vector understood. Good riding and hunting grounds. Beautiful views of the old Infernal palace from when Don Thousand ruled the area. Vector's heart ached and something in his soul wondered what it would have been like to grow up here. The family he desperately wanted.

What if he'd been saved as Thomas had been? What if Byron and his wife had taken pity on him and saved him from his father? He almost smiled at the idea. If he could have had a proper family. If he could have had siblings how truly cared about him.

"Problem, Lord Vector?" He lifted his head and found one of Byron's generals in the doorway. The short annoying one. Although they were all annoying to Vector, he supposed. Tools and nothing more. "Lord Vector?"

"I need to talk to Byron," he replied, shoving him aside and striding into the grand hall.

There were portraits of the family on the walls. Youngsters to young adults. It was all beautiful. That could have been him. He could have been part of this family. Maybe he still could be. With Thomas already theirs and knowing the truth, if they could tame Michael it was only a matter of capturing Chris. He was claimed by the Astrals but that didn't mean he couldn't be persuaded to be a good big brother, right?

"Dr Arclight is busy right now, I'm afraid," the leader said.

Vector glared. He was on the plateau mid way down the stairs, where it slit off into a pair of sweeping staircases up towards the floor above and the gallery landing above. This place was so grand and ornate. Vector didn't now why he'd not been here before but it was so different to the state he'd grown up in. This was the life he could have had.

"I need to see him," Vector snarled. "Now."

"He is busy," he repeated.

Vector growled. He was the leader, tall and lanky and sharp looking, dressed in a rather formal black and yellow uniform. Just like the uniform his companions wore. Just like the outfits Byron's sons wore in their more formal portraits. Byron likes his possessions to look like his possessions. Everyone who belonged to him was expected to wear these sorts of outfits. Honestly, Vector wasn't sure he'd have minded. And it occurred to him that Thomas' jacket was just a modified version of it, the cropped jacket, in different colours. In all the portraits Thomas wore cream and gold and white. Chris wore blue, looking like an Astral even at a young age. He couldn't help wondering what he would have worn for those pictures. Would he have been in these same purples and greys or would Byron have picked something else for him.

"We can get one of the maids to make up something, if you want to wait, Lord Vector," the leader said, gesturing to one of the rooms off to a side. "But Dr Arclight is busy and not to be disturbed."

"Listen to me," Vector snarled. "Right now, Jinguji and his pals are hungry for a promotion and if you don't get Byron down here right now, there will be three positions opening up by this afternoon."

"Wolf," the short one hissed. "If you disturb him-"

"He's having breakfast," Wolf said, inclining his chin defiantly. "We're under orders not to disturb him unless his sons turn up, unlikely as that is."

"I mean it," Vector snarled. "Get him down here or you'll have another set of scars to go with your demotion!"

"There's a lot of commotion down there, dear," Vivian murmured as Byron poured her out some more tea. "Maybe you should check on those thugs you insist on letting into our home."

"They're not thugs, Vivian," Byron replied, shaking his head. "They're my generals."

His wife snorted. "Generals? You could hardly control your own boys let alone some sort of military."

"You are as heartless as ever, my dear," he laughed warmly.

"Don't be coy," she teased. "I have no heart but I love you as much as I always have."

Byron smiled. His wife remained out of sight at all times, afraid to be seen by anyone but Byron himself. He knew his generals thought him mad. His wife was dead, they told him. But she wasn't. She was here, with him. His dear Vivian. He didn't deny he'd strayed from her a few times but Vivian was his beloved wife. The woman he always returned to in the end. The one who truly held his heart and always forgave him. In fact she was rather encouraging of his affairs. It kept him out of her hair, she'd said once.

"Will they ever come home to us, Viv?" he sighed. "My dear boys... this place feels so empty without the laughter of children."

"You've lost Chris, you know that-"

"Not necessarily, he could still decide he loves us enough to come home."

"Unlikely. You know he considers you a bad father."

Byron scowled. "That boy always did think too much of himself. Sticking his nose into everyone else's business. I should have known from the way he followed me around all the time he wanted to take my place. You know Faker's boy is not different, trying to steal Thomas away from us. He had the nerve to kiss him- on the lips no less- right in front of me. As if my Thomas would ever want that. I mean he has that perfectly nice young woman- what was her name?"

"Droite, dear," Vivian murmured.

"Yes, Droite," he agreed. "Perfectly pretty, good powers, obviously mad about him if she got between him and my powers. Why would he want to take Thomas from me when he has her?"

"Some people just don't see what's right in front of them."

"More likely he's just a spoilt brat who always wants what he can't have," Byron sneered. "Faker should have disciplined him far more."

"Like you did?"

The door burst open and Byron jerked up from his seat. He was about to scold whoever it was but paused. Purple and grey robes. Lord Vector. Wolf was behind him, looking rather surly and awkward. He scowled at his general before bowing to Lord Vector. He shot Vivian a glance but she'd vanished, no doubt having slipped from the sun drenched morning room to the adjoining bedroom to get away from the commotion. She was so shy these days.

"Lord Vector. What can I do for you?"

He shut the door behind him, practically slamming it in Wolf's face and striding over, glancing at the breakfast he and Vivian had been sharing. Not the Vivian had eaten much and her tea was practically untouched but they had been interrupted.

"Having breakfast," Vector murmured. He sat in Vivian's seat and Byron pulled a face but said nothing. "Mind if I join you? We've got a lot to talk about."

"Do we?" he muttered, sitting once more.

Vector took Vivian's tea curiously and loaded it with sugar before taking a sip. "Mmm. Thomas for instance."

"What about Thomas?"

"He gave in. We have him."

"Wonderful. When will be be coming home? Or will you lose him again like you did with Michael?"

Vector snorted and Byron wondered if he'd been too flippant but he was still sore over the Lords attempting to use his youngest to lure Thomas and then losing them both. Still Lord Vector didn't seem bothered by it. He turned to Vivian's toast and covered it in jam before tucking it. It was rather surreal to sit here with one of the cruellest Lords and have breakfast like they were family.

"Mm, well, right now I don't know where he is," Vector replied. "But he's safe. I hope. If he's not the idiot looking after him had better be dead."

"I'm not entirely sure why you're here informing me of all this, Lord Vector? I'm grateful for the information but-"

"Do you know who I am?"

"Lord Vector?"

Vector scowled, setting down his toast and wiping his hands on his napkin before pulling down his hood. Byron's eyes widened. No one ever saw him without his hood. Why was he doing this now? His hood fell around his shoulders and Byron blinked up at him. He looked so young. He had a cute round face and eyes that seemed too old. This was one of the most feared men in the kingdom.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Should I?" Byron said softly. He was getting a bad feeling about this. What if Vector was an illegitimate child? Thomas was lucky but he doubted he could explain away another so easily. "I'm sorry, Lord Vector-"

"Mina Shingetsu."

Byron's stomach dropped. Now he looked at him... yes, he could see the resemblance. The same shock of red hair, the same soft face. He looked a lot like Mar. He felt sick. Mina couldn't have had another son, could she? He couldn't have another son with her. Vivian really would kill him.

"I'm sorry, Lord vector," Byron said softly. "I don't know-"

"My name was Rei," Vector said. "Rei Shingetsu." It really was one of Mina's. This was not good. "Mina was my aunt."

Byron let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. That was fine then. Although that likely made him Mar's boy, especially given how much he looked him. He didn't remember Mina having any other siblings. Still, that didn't explain why Vector was there to investigate him now.

"I know about Thomas."

Byron sighed and nodded. "What do you want?"

"I want my family. The family I deserved. You saved Thomas from the life of an Infernal because you had an affair. I wasn't so lucky."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"I used to wonder what it would be like to have a real family," Vector said softly. "Did you meet my father?"

"Yes," Byron replied. A brute of a man who didn't deserve a child. "He tried to take Thomas."

"He murdered my mother. That's why we were locked up. Her name was Erika, by the way. She was my mother and he murdered her. All because..." He paused and shook his head. "We were locked in the Devil's Keep and he owned me and Aunt Mina. For years I didn't know anything else. I didn't know how bad it truly was but when I got out, when I saw Thomas and my father told me who he was... I finally had a normal family. I had this amazing ideal family I could aim for and maybe one day I could be normal too."

"Is that what you want? You want to be a part of my family?"

"Family..." He sighed and Byron frowned, pausing for a moment before reaching out cautiously and laying his hand over Vector's. His head snapped up and Byron offered him a gentle smile. "Thomas went after my father and I haven't seen him since. I'm worried. But I need Thomas by my side next week when Kaito is put to death."

"You intend to kill Kaito? Does Faker know about this?"

"He refuses to join us," Vector hissed, jerking his hand back into his lap. "He'll die."

Byron scowled. He was rather a flighty little thing for one of the most terrifying men around. He smiled and Vector scowled. Well, if he wanted to belong to their family Byron saw no harm in having him. They were family after all. Vector could very well call him uncle.

"I don't think there's any point discussing this further," Vector hissed, pulling up his hood once more. "I merely wanted to warn you that my father is loose and seems to think Thomas is his. You could well be danger."

Byron chuckled. "My own sons try to assassinate me. I'm always in danger."

Vector swept out without acknowledging him and Byron sighed. What a strange little boy. If he expected to be a part of his family he would have to learn to behave like a noble boy should. Vivian giggled and Byron turned to find her coming in from the bedroom, sitting with him once more and glaring at the tea Vector had left.

"He ruined my tea."

"Never mind, dear. I'll have another pot brought up."

"You're sweet, you know."

"Not as sweet as you, my dear."

"Or his taste for tea, apparently."

He leant across the table and pecked Vivian's lips before calling out the door to the maid to bring up more tea. Vivian smiled, flicking her pink curled over her shoulder so they caught the light. Byron could never have loved anyone else. Even if Mina meant more to him than the others, the mother of one of his dead boys, she wasn't Vivian.

"I treated you so badly, Vivian."

"I didn't care," Vivian replied, waving her hand. "I had my boys, I was happy. And I knew you were always mine."

"You sound so sure."

"I've haunted you this long, haven't I? You could never get rid of me."

He wanted to be with Thomas. Kaito had never felt such a need to be with Thomas. His hand clenched around his pendant. It should have been around Thomas' neck. It should have been their link. He should have brought Thomas reassurance. How could Thomas have given in to the Barians? How could he have given in and become one of them.

It had to be a lie.

A scream tore through his head and Kaito doubled over as Ryoga glanced up. Haruto. It was Haruto. Their bond let him hear his pain. The Barians had him. They had them both. Everything was falling apart. The entire kingdom had fallen. There was nothing to stop the Barians now but Yuma staying away. At least if Yuma stayed hidden, Don Thousand would never get his own form.

"Haruto," he whispered. "Haruto."

"Kaito!" The scream echoed through the palace and Ryoga lifted his head. A scream of pain and grief and loneliness. "Kaito!"

"They weren't lying about having him then," Ryoga murmured. Kaito nodded. It was ridiculous. His last days were going to be spent in the dungeons with Barian Lord Nasch as his only companion. How sickening. "Don't worry. We'll figure something out."

"We'll die," Kaito said, playing with the bracelets restraining his power. "I just... I don't even care if he really has turned to them. I want to see him one more time. I want to make sure he'll look after Haruto for me. I want to know why he gave in. He promised me. Why would he break that promise just for Vector?"

"You don't know that he did," he replied. "And you don't know we'll die."

"We will. The only other option is for you to return to being Nasch and for Yuma to give himself up. Do you really want that?"

Ryoga glared down at his hands and Kaito turned away, playing with his pendant once more. Vector had said he would send Thomas down when he got to Baria but... Kaito was almost afraid to see him.

A sudden cold stab shot through his head and Kaito cried out, doubling over again. That wasn't Haruto. That was something else entirely. He groaned and Ryoga moved over to the bars, calling to him quietly, but his mind was spinning. Ice water poured through his veins and the headache got worse until the world exploded in white.

"Kaito." He lifted his head to find himself floating in a sea of shimmering greens and blues and white. "Kaito Tenjo." The voice echoed everywhere around him and yet somehow so soft and quiet and in his mind alone. He knew where e was. This was the Astral world. "We are the Astral consciousness. The combined souls and minds of all those who have ascended to the Astral world. We are speaking to you, our warriors, each in your minds and souls. The Barians have taken control of the southern half of the kingdom and are threatening to win this war. We our now the underdogs in this battle. We have checked the minds and souls of each of you we are currently in contact with and know that you remain loyal to our cause. While we have lost many of you, we still have loyal soldiers and remain strong. Among those we lost was Thomas Arclight. However, unlike other Barians, we require him alive for a sacrifice."

Kaito opened his mouth, trying to argue and yell that he wasn't a sacrifice and he would never kill Thomas but he couldn't make a sound. He was completely stuck leaving the Astrals to continue with their orders.

"All warriors must head to the academy as quickly as possible. This will be our new base of operations. We will fill you in on new plans once we see you there. We will not lose this war."

The voice went silent and Kaito remained floating silently and calmly as a golden light wrapped around it. It felt warm. It felt right. Thomas' summon was that beautiful golden lion. He should have known Thomas was Infernal. How else could he summon? It was almost laughable. Thomas had summoned right in front of him and Kaito hadn't realised there was something wrong. Maybe if he'd realised he could have done something. Maybe they wouldn't be here. They were family, friends and partners and yet he hadn't seen what he really was. Tears dripped down his cheeks and he gripped the pendant in his hand.

"Kaito!" The golden light faded and Thomas was reaching for him from a world of dark red and black. Kaito reached up for him, their fingers brushing but able to grasp each other. "Kaito, I'm sorry."

There was that jagged purple marking over is eye, the same one from his dream. "Thomas, you gave in-"

"I had to. Prince Yuma... Vector would have killed him!" The tears dripped down onto Kaito's face and Kaito reached up desperately, grasping at Thomas' hand but he still couldn't reach. Thomas stretched for him but they were still apart. "I have to stay with him. I have to make sure he's good. I have to. I'm sorry. I let you down."

Their fingers slipped away from each over and the lights began to glaze over Thomas' world of red. "Thomas, no!"

"You know, a few years ago I would have jumped at the idea of us being destined to be in bed together. Even knowing the cost, just to have you love me for a little while."

"You...?" His jaw slackened and he reached for Thomas more desperately than ever. "Thomas!"

The lights swallowed the Barian world completely and Thomas was gone, leaving Kaito floating in the Astral's blue world, reaching for something that was no longer there. Thomas had once wanted them to be together? How had Kaito not realised? How had he never noticed? It seemed more and more that he really knew nothing about his partner.

Now he just needed to figure out how to wake up from this trance.

"Is he going to be ok?" Iris whispered.

"I don't know," Yuma replied.

Lionheart was lying on the cracked, dusty ground at the edge of the Sargasso Waste, eyes open but glazed and lost. He was in a trance, they realised a little late. There had been a car waiting at the end of the tunnel they'd escaped through and Yuma had caught up with them quickly. He didn't really understand why Vector had let him go or why Thomas was willing to give himself up to the Barians and be so sweet with Vector. Was it really just for him? Just to save him?

But Vector had called them family. His father had called him family. Was it possible? Could they really be family? That certainly would make his crush on Thomas a little awkward though.

"What's wrong with him? Where do you think his mind is?"

"I don't know," Yuma replied squeezing her hand gently. "It could have been worse though, right? At least there's nothing out here to hit."

It had been unnerving when Lionheart had suddenly doubled over and become unresponsive. Luckily Yuma had managed to get control of the car and pulled them to a stop before they got into any mess.

"Are you ok, Yuma?" Iris whispered.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm ok," Yuma said, nodding slightly.

He wasn't really. He couldn't stop worrying. He'd seen Charlie under all the rubble. And Vector's father had kidnapped is sister. How could he be ok? Uncle Charlie could be dead and Akari could be in all sorts of danger and who knew where Thomas was.

"Don't lie," Iris said, laying her hands over his. Yuma lifted his head and Iris beamed. "I know when you're lying. It's ok. After what happened, it's ok to be hurting."

"You can see things, right?" Yuma murmured. Iris nodded. "What do you see for me?" He was almost afraid of the answer but asked anyway. Everyone seemed to have their own ideas but he wanted to know what Iris saw. "What do you think is waiting for me?"

"Darkness," she said, lowering her head. "Right now, I see darkness."

"Darkness."

Iris nodded, playing with her skirt. "I see you giving your soul for Ryoga. You will lose your light. It will be engulfed in darkness. Don Thousand will take the throne, the kingdom will fall, the Barian and Astral worlds power becomes one, fate is set in motion and cannot be undone. Blood will spill. The dragon will be unlocked. The world will be rewritten."

"Iris?" She smiled up at him and Yuma squeezed her hands gently. "Are you ok?"

"You're going to die. And no one can stop it."

Yuma's hands went slack and Iris let out a soft sob before launching across Lionheart's body and throwing her arms around him. Yuma sighed, wrapping his arms gently around her, holding her close as she cried, wailing at him about how sorry she was and how she didn't want him to die. He didn't really want to die either. That was the entire reason he was running, wasn't it? Because he was scared. Because he wanted to live.

"Yuma?" Astral said. "What's going on?"

"Iris says I'm going to die," Yuma replied, doing his best to smile. Astral frowned. "But... that's ok if I can save everyone, isn't it?"

"I thought it wasn't. I thought that was why we ran from Astral HQ." He hovered lower, sitting in mid-air in front of Yuma. "There's something you should know, Yuma. About us and your parents. Something I've been trying to tell you for a while. It's not something easy to hear. It's not something you'll want to hear but-"

Lionheart stirred and Iris threw herself off of Yuma and sat with him, hushing him gently and helping him sit up. He groaned and Yuma smiled. Astral would just have to wait. He pulled his knees to his chest and sighed.

"Looks like the Barian had the right idea," Lionheart sighed. "Over the waste and to the academy."

"We're going to Baria," Yuma huffed. "We're going to save Ryoga and Kaito."

Lionheart let out a frustrated sigh. "You have got to be the most annoying charge I've ever had."

"So, that's a yes?"

"Yes, fine. But one chance. If we don't get them out, we go to the academy. We're not letting you risk your life for a Barian and a guy who should have been able to look after himself."

"Ok, got it!" Yuma said, nodding quickly.

"This is a bad idea, Yuma," Astral sighed.

"I'm not letting the people I care about get hurt, Astral," he snapped. Astral sighed and nodded. "Sorry, Astral, I just... They're my friends. Ryoga is..."

"You loved him."

"I need closure on that, I think. If nothing else. I mean, I remember being so in love with him and it was stupid because we were kids and he promised to be my guard one day, that we'd meet again. He kissed me before he left. We kept in touch and then slowly we didn't. I don't know what really happened. I need to know the truth. I need to know my parents didn't keep us apart. I need to know my parents didn't have his parents killed."

"I'm sure they didn't, Yuma," Astral said gently. "But I understand. If this is something you have to do, then I'll follow you."

"Thank you, Astral."

"Alright, alright," Lionheart said, staggering to his feet. He wobbled and Yuma jumped up and caught him, helping him up to the car and sitting him in the passenger seat. "I'm ok."

"No you're not, we're not going anywhere until I'm sure you're ok."

Lionheart nodded and laid his head against the seat and Yuma smiled. He acted all tough but Yuma could tell he was softly really. Iris was still clinging to him and he was playing with her hair gently. He obviously loved her very much.

"I wanna help save Ryoga," Iris whispered. "You'll help, won't you, Lionheart?"

"Of course," he sighed. "Of course. Whatever you want, Iris. We'll figure it out somehow, ok?"

"Promise?"

"I promise. We'll save Ryoga somehow."