A/N: Randomly updates like a year and a half late. Whoops. Sorry about that. Anyway, have a new chapter. Thanks for reading.
When Kaito woke again, his head was pounding. He barely remembered the last time he woke. Only that he was alive and someone he knew and trusted was looking after him. What on earth was going on? He was supposed to be dead. He's given up his life to save Thomas from his fate. To ensure Haruto was safe even under the Barian's control.
How had he survived? What had happened in Baria?
"Kaito?" There was that familiar voice again. "Kaito? Can you hear me?"
"Yes." His voice came out rough and scratchy. "What's going on?"
"Don't push yourself too much," the voice said. The rim of a bottle was pressed gently to his and Kaito drank eagerly. His throat was burning and raw and the water spilled down easily. Kaito had never appreciated simple water so much. "I don't think there's any major damage. There's no broken bones and I don't think there's any fractures or internal injuries."
"Good," Kaito breathed.
"But you have been unconscious for several days now. We were worried about you. It could be because of your powers, or it could be something more complicated. Try to just relax." There was a sigh and Kaito tried to open his eyes once more. But all he could make out were shapes above him. More than one person, but only one voice. "We're heading out to the Waste. We're searching for something out there, but we don't even know what. It's a shame Thomas couldn't be here. He knows about this sort of ancient stuff."
"Or Michael."
"Don't you know...?"
"Thomas told me."
"Then he knows too… That must be why..." There was another sigh and the Kaito frowned. There was a lot of blue above him. "Those Barians really will take advantage of anything. I suppose not even a promise to you is anything compared to that grief."
"You should know… Takashi…"
Kaito sighed as one of the figures shifted a little. He was right then. He closed his eyes, letting himself relax once more. He was in good company now. He knew he was safe now he knew he was with Takashi. He'll leave the rest of the questions until later. There was no mistaking the pain and anger in Takashi's voice. He wasn't ready to be pressed for answers. Kaito wasn't sure he was ready for them either.
"I know Sargasso isn't the best place for someone in your condition," Takashi said. "We can drop you off in a safe house if you want but I'm sure you won't accept that."
Kaito nodded a little. He'd imagined when he heard about Michael that Takashi would have been at his side. And yet somehow Michael and Takashi had been separated, leaving Michael to die and Takashi to gather up this little group and head out to the Waste. Just what had happened while Kaito had been in the Barian's dungeons.
"Let's get going," Takashi said, and Kaito felt the seats around him shift as the group moved. "You can fill us in on anything you think is important while we're moving, Kaito."
"You're not headed to the academy as ordered?"
"They want to use Thomas as a sacrifice," Takashi replied over the engine coming to life. "How could we serve them now? Besides, Michael's last request was that we head out to Sargasso and find whatever's out there. I don't know what's out there, but I'll find whatever it is."
"And we're here to help apparently," said another voice off to the side. "If we weren't going to be killed for being found with Takashi we will for being caught with this one. Someone they've already tried to execute once."
"What did you do?" Kaito asked. "I didn't think you were the type to storm into Baria like that."
"It wasn't us," said a girl quietly. "We found you unconscious on the side of the road."
"We had hoped you could fill in the gaps," Takashi said.
"I don't remember. I thought I was dead."
Takashi sighed and Kaito understood the frustration. Someone had saved him. Someone who wasn't Takashi and certainly was Thomas or Michael. Yuuma was captured and Ryoga was with him, no doubt Nasch again by now. Who else could have saved him? Who else could have had the power?
"We need to stop and pick up some weapons," Takashi said. Kaito nodded, already feeling sleep calling to him again. He needed to recover strength but there were so many questions spinning through his mind. "I've got one handgun and an old model energy blaster. And my powers are evolving. But that's not enough to protect everyone if we get into real trouble."
"They took my weapons," Kaito sighed. "Unsurprisingly. They'll be looking for me. We'll need to be able to protect everyone and I'm in no shape to do it on my powers alone."
"I know a safe house just before the Waste that has an armoury. We'll stop there and hope it hasn't been raided already."
"Hope is all we have right now."
Where had Kaito heard that before? He was sure that phrase has become more prevalent in his life since the war began. Hope was all they had.
The road is bumpy and Kaito leant against the window, he thought it was the window at least, although he remembered lying down last time. But it doesn't matter. He just tried to rest and do all he could to recover enough to protect them should he have to. He didn't want to think he'd have to protect them all alone, or even with only Takashi's help. He didn't like the idea of civilians being dragged into this at all. And he knew they were at least normal humans. He couldn't feel any auras from them.
But then… He frowned a little.
"You left the cuffs on?"
"There are risks to bringing in a highly dangerous wanted escaped Barian prisoner," said another voice. "Can't be too careful."
Kaito frowned, playing with the cuffs. Then he couldn't protect them even if he wanted to. Or get an accurate assessment of how much his powers needed to recover. How annoying.
"Do you know what happened to Michael?" he asked quietly.
There was a sharp intake of breath and Kaito knew it was a touchy subject, but he loved Michael too. He wanted to know what had happened, even if it would hurt. Takashi sighed and there was a soft murmur of a girl's voice before Kaito got his answer.
"He fell," Takashi said stiffly. "Heartland and his men were after him, the cliff gave way and he fell into the Fortune River."
"Not much hope of him surviving then."
"How are you taking this so casually?!" snapped a softer voice. Kaito opened one eye to see another blue haired kid glaring at him. He was thin and light and wispy, hair flicked over his face. Just what kind of company had Takashi got himself here? "Someone's dead and you're acting like-"
Takashi's hand fell on the boy's shoulder and he fell into silence. Of course he didn't understand. They hadn't fought and watched everyone die. They didn't live with that life.
"People die. You accept it, you move on, you train harder to try and stop it happening again," Kaito said, closing his eyes again. "That's the life we have."
"You were willing to die," Takashi said. "Why?"
"There are prophecies," he replied. "More than I can count. Everyone knows it. No matter how it ends, it always ends one way for us. Thomas dies by my hand."
"You'd die for him?" the girl whispered.
"He's my partner," he snapped. "It's a given that I'd put my life on the line for him."
"You love him," Takashi murmured.
"We're family-"
"You're still peddling that old line? You're going to lie to yourself about how you feel until it's too late?"
That time the silence is hung dead in the air. Before it was too late? Takashi and Michael were obviously madly in love. Had Takashi never managed to tell Michael the truth? Had Michael died never knowing?
It didn't matter at that point anyway. Thomas was a long way away. He'd been taken by the Barians. He was a Lord. But he was there to look after Haruto. He would protect Haruto while Kaito couldn't. He knew no matter what Don Thousand and the Barians did, Thomas would never let any harm come to Haruto. He'd keep his promise.
The moved on in silence and Kaito can't help but mull over the situation. Losing Thomas wasn't an option. He had no doubt about that. There would be no one else lost on his watch.
Nasch was watching silently from by the door. Orrim did his best to ignore him, focusing on Vector trying to tame his unruly hair. It was pretty much impossible. Many people had tried and many had failed. His hair was wild and the easiest way Orrim had found to get anything respectable out of it was to to push it back with a hair band. But Vector and even Haruto - and Orrim did his best not to think of Haruto as a traitor for taking Vector's side, given what he was going through - decided they could manage.
Vector was surprisingly good with Haruto. Perhaps it was his own childish nature. His stolen childhood.
But Nasch watching them made Orrim uncomfortable. Nasch - and Don Thousand by extention - watching over them was never a good sign. While Don Thousand's grip over Orrim's emotions and soul had loosened, he was well aware that he hadn't been allowed to grieve properly for Michael or Kaito since the moment Don Thousand's power entered him, using his bracelet as a conduite. He understood acutely now the difference between Nasch and Ryoga. The difference between Orrim and Thomas.
"Why couldn't you have hair like Chris'?" Haruto huffed, puffing out his cheeks a little. "His was always easy to manage even when it was floor length."
"Sorry, Haruto," Orrim murmured. There was no bite in his voice as there might have been before. No humour either. "Chris and I took after different parents."
He caught sight of Vector frowning under his hood but he didn't say anything. Orrim didn't sound bitter either. Just calm and factual. Not that Haruto seemed to notice anything. Or if he did he merely carried on regardless.
"Mmm, Chris looks a lot like Dr Arclight. You don't."
"No. I don't."
"I don't look like my dad either."
"No. You don't."
Vector squeezed his shoulder gently and Orrim glanced up, flashing a smile he wasn't entirely sure he actually meant. He wasn't sure what he felt and what was a hollow gesture anymore. Don Thousand's influence made it almost impossible to tell what was really him anymore.
Maybe everything that had happened, everything he'd lost, had just left him hollow.
Nasch watching them still made him uncomfortable though, and he was sure that was him. Don Thousand's power still pulsed through both of them; he wouldn't be wary of his own power.
"What exactly do you want, Nasch?" Vector snapped after a moment.
Apparently he had been getting on Vector's nerves as well. Although that seemed to be nothing new. Orrim did wonder if his own issues with Nasch were agitating Vector further though. It wasn't like he'd enjoyed killing Rio. Or even wanted to. He and Ryoga had been reasonably friendly back in the day. Combative but friendly. The youngster had reminded him of himself in many ways. It had been heart wrenching to see Rygoa standing in front of his chaos stricken sister, yelling at them in furious tears, voice cracking as he begged for her life. He'd take her away, he'd said, he'd keep her safe and lock her up and make sure she didn't turn to the Barians, anything if they'd just spare her life.
And like the idiot Thomas was, he'd told Ryoga how wrong he was. She was infected and could never be allowed to live.
"Even if we let her go, it would be a cruel mercy to force her and you to live with this curse."
"Don't ignore me, Naschie," Vector chirped. Despite the sweetness of his tone, his lips were set in a tight line. "What are you up to?"
Haruto glanced back, tucking himself into Orrim's shoulder. Of course, he wasn't overly fond of Nasch either. Nasche had been saved his fate while Kaito was gone. Orrim could hardly blame him. Nasch was here. Kaito wasn't. It might not be Nasch's fault, but that didn't stop it stinging.
Nasch still said nothing, folding his arms and lowering his head, covering his face in shadow. How strange.
"Fine. Be that way."
"Something's going on," Haruto muttered, drawing everyone's attention. "Someone's here. Someone with blood on their hands."
"Could be anyone in this place," he sneered.
Nasch tilted his head and there was silence for a moment before he pushed off the wall standing straight. Orrim frowned and Vector straightened.
"Vector," Nasch said quietly, turning to the door. "Watch Orrim. Don't let him do anything stupid."
"I take my orders from Durbe, not you. Haven't you learnt that yet?"
"Durbe's gone," Orrim murmured. "Don't you know?"
"Durbe's-" Vector growls, turning to glare at Nasch. "I think you should stop telling us lies and half truths, Naschie. Use you little link with the boss and actually tell us the truth."
"Heartland's and his men are alive," Nasch replied. "And here."
Orrim stood at last, shaking Vector and Haruto's hard work from his hair. They'd killed Michael. What a shame they hadn't actually died. They were going to wish they had. He would have to ensure that they stayed dead this time.
"Haruto, got back to your room," Orrim said firmly. "I'll come and get you when it's safe-"
"No," Vector muttered. "You stay with Haruto. I've got unfinished business with Heartland and his men anyway. I wouldn't want you to have to deal with that bunch. Or the pain it would bring you to face them."
"They're useful, Vector," Nasch warned. "Take precautions before you fire them."
Vector scowled, sweeping passed and out into the corridor to hunt down Michael's murderers.
Nasch watched Vector go in silence before turning to Orrim. He pulled down his hood slowly and Orrim suddenly realised Nasch had been waiting for him. To get him alone away from Vector. That couldn't be a good sign.
"You're angry," Nasch said, approaching slowly. "Because of Don Thousand and the Barians, this war, everyone you love is beyond reach. You have every right to be angry at the world."
"I don't see any reason for you to be pointing this out," Orrim replied.
"Because I know what it's like to not be allowed to grieve. I know what it's like to be numb. It leaves a hole in your chest."
"I'm not sure what the point of this conversation is."
Haruto puffed out his cheeks, stepping out in front of Orrim and blocking Nasch's path. Orrim wasn't sure why. Nasch made him uncomfortable but he didn't think he was any kind of threat to his safety. After all, they both had Don Thousand's control flowing through their veins. He doubted they could fight each other right now, even if they could bring up the desire to. Don Thousand's suppression of his powers created a strange kind of lethargy. He couldn't find the will to fight Nasch. Not that he'd ever really wanted to. Not seriously. They were argumentative and combative but it had never mean spirited until Rio's death.
"Leave Thomas alone!" Haruto cried, throwing out his arms at his sides. It was almost laughable. Haruto was protecting him, a Barian Lord. Orrim appreciated the sentiment though. "He's all I've got left!"
"Thomas?" Nasch said quietly. "Is it Thomas or Orrim?"
"You're going to argue semantics, Nasch?" Orrim snapped. Nasch shrugged. "What do you want?"
"Why are you angry?"
"Didn't you just list off a lot of reasons?"
"Reasons for you to be angry, Thomas," Nasch replied, narrowing his eyes. Orrim frowned, tucking Haruto behind him as the energy in the room spikes. Was Nasch really going to attack them? Was Don Thousand really going to allow that? "Not an explanation of why you are."
"Thomas?" Haruto whispered, gripping the back of his robes.
Orrim clenched his jaw, reaching back and holding Haruto's hand gently. Something weird is going on but Orrim had made a promise. He won't allow promise to Kaito to be broken. It was the least he could do right now.
The wave of dark water wasn't as strong as Orrim remembered Nasch being. It was easily blocked by a wall of fire wrapped around them. Wasn't Nasch trying?
And why was Don Thousand allowing Nasch to attack him? What was going on?
"There's a reason you always needed a partner," Nasch sneered from behind him. Orrim jerked around just in time to see Nasch break through the wall of fire from behind and snatch Haruto away. "You can't see the long game. A weak barrier for a weak attack leaves you open."
Orrim snarled, swinging around to aim a lance of fire at Nasch as he jumped back across the room but-
He paused. Nasch had Haruto as a shield. He couldn't get to Nasch without breaking his promise to protect Haruto. His fists clench. What the hell was Nasch doing?!
"Aren't you getting it yet, Thomas?!" Nasch yelled, drawing Haruto back towards the door. "Fine. We'll do it the hard way. Come on, Haruto. Let's make the little puppet dance."
"Haruto!"
"Thomas!"
It was instinct to chase after Haruto. Thomas grabbed his sword from where it was resting against the wall. Whatever Nasch was up to, leader of Lords or not, he won't get away with taking Haruto. First Micheal's killers just walk in here and Thomas wasn't allowed to go after them, then Nasch trying to take Haruto from him? Thomas couldn't allow it.
"Let me go!" Haruto screamed, digging his heels in as Nasch pulled him down the corridor. "I'll- I'll summon my dragon!"
"Haruto, down!"
Haruto dropped his weight on command, jerking Nasch off balance as he dropped to the floor. Leaving a perfect opening. Thomas swung his sword, flames tearing across the hall and sweeping above Haruto's head into Nasch. The flames exploded into shower steam and Haruto moved to hurry back to Thomas, only for his arm to jerk back.
"Look how angry he's getting," Nasch sneered, picking Haruto up and throwing him over his shoulder as he squirmed. "And he still doesn't understand."
"If you're trying to prove some point, out with it!" Thomas snarled after them. "Nasch!"
"Keep up, Thomas."
Thomas burst out the crystal hallway into one of the palace's large entrance halls. Nasch was waiting at the other end of the gallery, two floors above the entrance hall. What was Nasch doing?! Thomas' own feelings aside, they needed Haruto. He was a seer. They'd gone through so much effort to capture him, why would Nasch risk it? Why would Don Thousand let Nasch do this?!
Thomas took a small step forward, holding his sword steady as Nasch picks up his lance from a side table. He really couldn't honestly be threatening Haruto, could he?
"Thomas!"
"Don't worry, Haruto," Thomas said softly, approaching slowly. "I won't let him hurt you."
"Is that so?" Nasch said.
He held Haruto by the scruff of his collar for a moment and Thomas' heart plummeted.
No!
Nasch tossed Haruto carelessly, sending his small body flying over the gallery railings. And down. For a horrible second, Thomas saw Michael, falling to his death. Alone and afraid. His baby brother. He won't lose again. He won't lose anyone again! He can't!
Thomas sprinted across the gallery, reaching desperately for Haruto's hands. Terrified golden eyes stare back at him as their hands fall apart.
"HARUTO!"
"Thomas-"
Nasch's arms wrapped around Thomas' middle before he could jump over the rail to catch Haruto as he fell. No. Thomas jerked back, driving his elbow into Nasch's shoulder but knowing it was too late. There was no way he could reach him in time. But Thomas shoved him off and ran to the rails once more.
He wasn't sure what he was expecting to see; Haruto's broken body lying on the crystal floor, blood and bone and tears. The dead amber eyes of the only one he had left.
"Haruto…" Haruto smiled up at him from Gilag's arms and Thomas sighed. His knees all but gave out from beneath him, leaning heavily on the rails as relief washed over him. "Thank you."
"What on earth is going on?" Alit sighed, hands going to his hips.
"Thomas and Nasch are fighting. I'm not sure why. Nasch just got all weird."
Gilag sighed. "Vector and Heartland's bunch, now you two?"
Thomas smiled, about to reply but Nasch's hand caught his hair, jerking his head back and throwing him back against the wall. A pained yelp slipped out as the crystal walls jut into his back and the tip of Nasch's lance presses against his throat.
"The hell is your problem?" Thomas hissed, tilting his head away.
"Don't you get it yet?" Nasch snapped back, his voice low and urgent. He dropped his lance's tip, hand closing around Thomas' bracelet as he steps close. "Come on, you're not that dumb, are you? Do you really think Don Thousand would let this happen?"
"What are you talking about, Nasch?"
"Ryoga." Thomas' eyes widened and Nasch purposefully lifted his hand to the emblem around his neck. There was no energy. Nothing. Usually Thomas could feel Don Thousand's energy around Nasch but now… Ryoga? "Something big's going on."
"That doesn't explain any of what you just did," Thomas snapped back.
Ryoga shrugged, moving away and leaning over the rails and cursing softly. Thomas frowned, hurrying over to find Gilag, Alit and Haruto had gone. Wonderful.
"We don't have time, we'll come back for Haruto another time," Ryoga said, grabbing Thomas' wrist and pulling him away. "We have to go."
"Go? Hey- Ryoga!"
"We have to go now. He's coming."
Thomas followed behind Ryoga as he tugged him away down the halls. He? Don Thousand? It doesn't make any sense but Thomas followed anyway. If Don Thousand's power wasn't in either of them right now, they had to make the most of it. They had to get away and help the Astrals. Help the people who were left.
They ran through the halls in near silence, Ryoga leading him towards the Lord's chambers. Thomas had so many questions but he followed anyway. Haruto was safe with Gilag and Alit and Thomas is going to make hell rain down on Don Thousand for costing him the people he loved.
"Don Thousand is never going to be completely out of us, but we have to get rid of these things before he can get control of us again," Ryoga explained.
Thomas nodded and pulled off his bracelet as they entered Ryoga's room. He sets the bracelet hesitantly on Ryoga's desk next to his pendant. He'd not been without it in years. But with Michael dead and Chris gone what good is it now?
"Here."
Ryoga handed him a bag and Thomas frowns. "How long has it been like this?"
"A day or so," he replied. "I've been waiting for a chance to get you away from Vector." Thomas nodded and swung the bag onto his shoulder. "We need to get away."
"Why?" Thomas said. He kept following anyway, back out into the hall. "What's going on?"
"You said it yourself, Durbe's gone," Ryoga said, hurrying along. "Mizael before that. We're being wiped out and it doesn't feel like just a change of the guards thing."
"You think it's something suspicious?" Ryoga nodded. "You were linked to Don Thousand longer than me, what do you know about it?"
"If being linked kept us safe from his secrets, Durbe would still be here."
Thomas nodded. That made sense. So they really had no idea what was going on. It sounded like both sides were trying to destroy everything. They wanted to destroy the world. Was either side even looking for control?
They hurried through the halls, down a quiet back set of stairs to escape as quietly as possible. Even if they can't get rid of Don Thousand completely, they had to do what they could. They had to save Yuma somehow. Thomas was sure the same thoughts were going through Ryoga's mind. Yuma who'd been cursed to be Don Thousand's host because he wanted to protect them. They had to help him somehow.
"What exactly is your plan?" Thomas said quietly. The pair hung back around the last corner, watching the entrance for the guards patrolling there. If they were normal guards it would be fine, but Thomas had quickly learnt some of the higher ups were more tricky. And more in the loop about what to look out for. "And what was that earlier?"
"I had to see how far Don Thousand would let us go," Ryoga replied. "How much attention he was paying. I figured since he wasn't going to stop us killing each other, it's probably safe to get away. Don't worry, I knew Gilag and Alit were there. I wouldn't have tossed Haruto if I hadn't been sure." Thomas glared but nodded. "As for the plan, I'm not really sure. I was starting with just getting out of Baria while Don Thousand isn't looking."
"You think there's ever a time when Don Thousand isn't watching you, brother?"
Well, that certainly wasn't a good sign. There was no hiding now. The pair step out from their hiding place to find Merag standing in the small hall, between them and the exit, giant icy blade already in hand. There really was no chance of just walking out then.
"You know she's not really Rio, right?" Thomas said, setting down his bag and drawing his sword once more.
"I know," Ryoga sighed, following his lead and raising his lance. "I've known for a long time but… Don Thousand and my own need for her to be real…"
"I get it. I'd give anything to have Michael back right now. Real or not, just to be able to see him and hold him again. I get it. She is a really good copy though. You barians are really good at getting the personalities down. I can never make them come to life. The work you did on my Yuma and then turning it into Kaito. That was great."
"But didn't you knew it wasn't Kaito. I'm sure I heard you threw and absolute tantrum."
Thomas nodded. "You can't fool me so easily. Especially when it comes to the people I love."
"Your chaos creations always have amazing details, though. You do that really well. I've not seen anyone who can create such realistically detailed puppets."
"We'll have to compare notes sometime, see if we can't do it perfectly between us."
Ryoga smiled a little, eyes softening and Thomas can't help smile back. For a moment, it's almost like being back in the Astral forces. Kaito would always pull an oddly sour face when they laughed and hung out together, although it was hard to tell which he disapproved of. Perhaps he'd had some sort of vision of what was to come. The pain they'd cause each other. But there was a reason Thomas had stood before Ryoga and Kaito's blade that night. The first time Thomas and Ryoga had worked anywhere near each other since Rio's death. Ryoga ready to kill to avenge Rio's murder. Kaito ready to kill to protect Thomas.
And like the idea he was, Thomas stood in front of Ryoga. Protecting him from Kaito's wrath. Desperate to protect what little fragments and memories of the their friendship there was left.
"Hey!" Merag yelled, slamming down her icy staff. The pair turned back to her, remember the situation at hand at last. "Pay attention!"
A cruel, cold smile spread across her lips. One Thomas was sure he had seen before. She swung up her blade, an obvious challenge to the pair. Thomas would have laughed at the idea. Everyone knows Infernals are the pinnacle of dark power. Infernal and Ethereals could only be beaten by someone of matching power level. They were the absolute gold standard for Sorcerers. How could Merag expect to match Thomas and Ryoga - an Aqua strong enough he was near considered his own class - at once?
"There's another sacrifice to be made," Merag said quietly. "You two will serve nicely."
Iris sighed, watching the sun through the waste, the shadows of the ruins modern and ancient casting strange new shapes on the distant sand. Going around the Waste took days but going through… There were things out there. Even if it was boring, even if Iris trusted Lionheart, the Waste was no place for the two of them alone.
The road dipped into a sparse woodland. Iris watched the trees quietly, the shadows and light. Leaves and flowers. Iris couldn't help but wonder what the trees had seen. How long they'd been in this world. Did they know a time before the war?
The brakes screeched and Iris screamed as she jolted forward, caught by her seatbelt as the car slammed to a halt. It took a moment of heavy breathing to recover before Iris lifts her head to see exactly what had just happened. Lionheart was pale and staring at the road ahead and Iris followed his gaze after a moment.
Standing in the middle of the road, calm and elegant, was a tall figure in a dark hooded cloak. He looked like he was waiting for an appointment, never mind that a car had nearly knocked him down.
"Stay put," Lionheart said firmly, opening up the car door and stepping out. He turned to the man in the road, hand resting against his sword. "Is everything alright?"
A smaller figure stepped out from behind him and Iris smiled. It had been a long time since she'd had the company of another girl. Her long dark coat over a dress looks worn and dirty and patched up, but it still looks good on her, and the short hooded cape is adorable. Like a model from the magazines Iris got with the food deliveries.
"You have something that belongs to me," the man said.
Lionheart straightened up instantly and nodded. Someone he knew then? Lionheart turned and lead the man around to the boot of the car while the woman came around to Iris' door, where Iris rolled down the window curiously.
"Hello," Iris says quietly.
"Hi," she replied quietly. "You're Iris, right? Ryoga's little sister?" Iris nodded and she took down her hood slowly, soft matted green hair spilling from a messy bun. "I'm Kotori."
"You're a Lord." Kotori nodded. "And him?"
"Lord Christopher."
Iris' eyes widened as the boot slammed shut and pair returned. Lord Christopher? The leader of the Astral Lords? Why were they there? What was Lionheart hiding?
"Head into the Waste," Christopher said, the pair of Lords getting into the car.
Lionheart frowned. "But, the Lords said-"
"There's be a disagreement between the Lords," Kotori replied. Iris tilted her head. She wasn't aware the Lords could disagree? Didn't they always do what was logical? "So we decided the best course of action was to follow both plans."
"Avoid putting all our eggs in one basket," Christopher agreed. "The majority of the Astrals' forces will return to the Academy and we will lead a select group to follow another line of resistance."
"Which you're not going to tell us?" Lionheart said.
"You'll understand in time. But we need to go into the Waste. There's an important ruin out there that might give us a way to stop this war without any more bloodshed."
Lionheart sighed and nodded, turning the car around and heading back towards the Waste. At least with two Lords, they shouldn't be threatened in the Waste. And any way to save them from more war had to be worth it, right?