A/N:Hey guys! Here for my usual update. :D Thanks lovecriminalminds for reviewing, favoriting, and following! Glad you could join us! I love Xros Wars a lot. Oh don't worry Xros Hero, my friend, there shall be more. Much, much more. Enjoy guys!

XXVI. Possession

"Once something is truly lost."

Yuu blinked in utter disbelief as Taiki landed behind him, standing rather casually in a predator's crouch. "There you are," the other said,as nonchalantly as if they had met on the street. "Have you found your answer yet?"

Yuu hesitated as Taiki's eyes trained back on the opponent before them. There were so many questions he wanted to ask right now, such as why he wasn't being killed, or why his senpai was looking at him as though he had all of the answers. Then, he found himself flat on his back. Taiki had moved, spinning a red light into the air and firing back into Bagramon's chest.

The angel let out a laugh. "Do you think you can defeat me with counters, boy? You, who lack any remote idea of power?"

"Neh, I never said I could beat you by myself," Taiki commented with a frown. As he spoke these words, a staff began to swirl into existence, spinning gradually into the shape of a microphone. Serial XL: Recollection. He heard Shoutmon's characteristic roar and smiled. "It's thanks to you that I've truly understood that. Thanks, but..." He paused to examine Yuu's bewildered expression. His own was frighteningly solemn, the grey eyes holding that tint of red once again. "We need others to survive, to flourish. You wanted me to take those others away. If that would keep them by my side... then of course... I know I'm weak enough to do it." Yuu froze in the act of sitting up.

"But that isn't how things work," Taiki continued, stepping towards the enemy with that calm smile, his real smile, returning to his face. "Once things truly die, they are dead. There's no reunion for them. There's no way to save them. You tried to make me believe there was. For that..." He closed his eyes and concentrated, remembered his partner's exuberance. "I'm sorry Bagramon, but you cannot see the new world we will create. Not for a long, long time."

Taiki didn't look at Yuu as he placed something precariously on the ground by Yuu's knees. He charged toward Bagramon and their attacks met. The human hand held the microphone back. Taiki grimaced, pushing forward with a sudden hiss of pain. His hands screeched in pain and the rough metal made them bleed. Red wisps wrapped around him once more, reaching for his hands.

Master, you're going to have to bear with this for a long time. That boy is not ready.

Then go help him. I can handle this for a while. He heard a sound like an angry cat and sighed. Please. Go. I'll be fine.

If you die, so does he.

I'll remember that.

The red light coalesced and left Taiki, going to circle around Yuu in a swirl. He could only stare at it in helpless confusion, even as his sister and the others finally appeared within the mess of whatever was going on.

Well, go on. Yuu watched the wisps, watched them flow over his head like feathers. Take it, they said.

Yuu shook his head. He couldn't do it. He couldn't take the Darkness Loader back. If he had it, he would...

He would go right back to his own cruelty.