A/N: Well, thank you everyone for coming back and reading and leaving such lovely reviews after so long without an update. It's nice to know everyone was still so happy about the update even after so long. So many of you too, it was amazing to watch the spike in readers on the stats. Anyway, yeah, thank you, I hope I keep you guys entertained going on. Lots of Barian kerfuffles this chapter. Hope you all enjoy.

There was silence as Vector stepped down the stairs into the courtyard.

Everyone smart had scattered at the sight of his approach and before him stood Mr Heartland and his trio. They dared to let Michael fall to his death and then walk back in like nothing had happened? He was going to have to show them how sorely wrong they were.

Mr Heartland smiled down at him, sweeping off his battered top hat and bowing deeply before him. Vector's teeth gnashed. He was mocking him.

"What an honour, to have you come to greet us personally on our return," he said, smile never faltering. Vector's grip tightened painfully under his too long sleeves. "After such a long, arduous journey, fraught with perils and threats from Astrals, if warms my heart to see your concern for us, my lord."

He straightened up, spinning his cane and striking a ridiculously regal pose given how torn up and battered he was. They all were. Clothes torn. Bodies bloodied and bruised. The heart on Heartland's cane chipped and cracked. They were in no condition to fight anyone, let alone him.

So where exactly did they think they were going to get by provoking him like this?

"Oh, I can feel it," he sighed, hand going to his heart. It took all Vector's considerable self control to remain still and silent. Heartland was really pushing his luck. "Your concern for your comrades is touching. You must really care for us. I'm sure you can feel your love for us too. Your heart burning!"

Oh, for heaven's sake.

"Right? My Lord Rabbit."

Vector's fury vanished for a second. His hands fell at his sides, jaw going slack. All he could do was stare.

Rabbit.

To add insult to injury. Heartland mocked him and then degraded him with that ridiculous name from his past?! Rabbit! Bunny! Like he was some kind of simpering animal waiting to have its neck snapped and flesh devoured by waiting predators.

Vector lifted his eyes to the four in front of him. Heartland's cold sneer as he awaited Vector's response to his obvious provocations. Perhaps he had always been a scared little rabbit. He was back then when they got hold of him. Afraid of everything. Wanting only to be with the first friends he'd ever made. Friends who forgot about him so easily.

For so long now, he'd hidden away. Never lowering his hood for anyone but Durbe, keeping his identity a mystery from everyone, as if Rei had never existed, as if they were two entirely different people. Perhaps that was less to do with his persona that inflicted fear around the country, but the fear of showing his true self. Fear of people seeing the weak creature he truly was.

But things were different now. He was strong. He was powerful. But more than that, he had family. People who cared. Durbe was gone and that fury burned inside of him still. He would deal with that soon enough. But on top of that he had Orrim. He had Haruto. His uncle Byron. He had confronted Yuma and Ryoga. He was finally facing his past.

It was a moment of epiphany.

Vector didn't need to be afraid anymore. He didn't need to hold onto this hood anymore.

Rei Shingtsu would inflict fear as much as Lord Vector.

"I guess it really our Bunny," Semimaru sneered. "Isn't it nice to see he still knows his place?"

"You're right," Vector said finally. His voice was quiet and low. There was a strange sense of calm over him. "That was me once. But I'm sure you already knew that. I'm sure Ka already told you, despite my obvious wishes against it."

Kaninja too a small step back, laughing awkwardly. "Sorry about that, Rei."

"You sound like you've finally grown up a bit, Bunny," Mr Heartland said, almost cooing over him like he was a child still. "So, I assume you'll do the grown up thing and talk reasonably about our plans for the world that you're going to help us put into place. And, of course, our promotion and raise."

"Is that so? I may have been more willing to put up with your clownish antics if you'd accomplished your task and brought home Michael. Not only did you fail but you caused his death."

"And what do you care about little Michael?" he laughed. "Byron's hardly a threat to your power. Stop stalling, shut up and listen, Rabbit. We've got a lot of work to do and-"

"The Arclights are my family."

Whatever Mr Heartland was going to say fell into silence. His face went pale and Vector's face split into a grin. Michael was family. He mattered to Thomas. He was precious. It was their fault he was gone.

Mr Heartland takes a step back. "N-now, Rei-"

"You should stop talking."

Purple flames burned up his robes from the bottom up. For the first time in a long time, Vector revealed himself entirely within the walls of Baria. He wasn't afraid anymore. He smiled, dusting down his dark leather of his jacket, raising his gaze once more to the four in front of him.

"He's… definitely grown up," Kurage muttered. "Hey, Heartland… this isn't a good idea."

"Stop being such a wuss," Semimaru laughed. "There's still only one of him and four of us. It's just a pathetic little rabbit."

"Keep telling yourself that," Vector replied quietly, slowly striding across the courtyard towards them. "I'm sure it'll be a comfort in the afterlife."

"Fine, Rabbit," Heartland laughed, swinging his cane. Neon green flames wrapped around his cane and Vector grinned. "If that's what you want, I'll have to discipline you like in the old days."

Heartland's cane swung at Vector and he stepped back casually, hands tucked away in his pockets. His flames looked sickly and wrong. Who had neon fire? Their powers were an echo of their souls. So what did that say about Mr Heartland?

Discipline him like he used to? Who did Heartland think he was?

"Didn't you say it yourself, Heartland?" Vector giggled, straightening up again. Heartland stared up at him and Semimaru took a step forward. They were really going to try? Vector was more glad than he thought he'd be. He could show them exactly how much he'd changed and grown. "I've grown up. I don't do punishments anymore."

Durbe was the only one he'd ever accepted a punishment from, albeit kicking and screaming. Durbe was special. His saviour. His mentor. Until he found his family, Durbe had been the only who'd ever truly cared for him.

"You-"

Semimaru launched forward from behind Heartland, throwing a giant first straight at Vector. But just as before, Vector stepped out the way casually. He didn't even have to try. One person attacking him never did anything. He didn't even had to use his magic the way they were fighting him. One at a time. Just throwing themselves at him. They were never going to get anywhere.

"I don't even have to use my powers against you losers," Vector sneered.

"What are you two doing?!" Heartland snapped, turning to glare at Kurage and Kaninja. "Don't just stand there!"

"If they know what's good for them, they'll leave."

Vector paused, between Kurage and Kaninja and the other two. His gaze met theirs for a moment before he turned, easily sidestepping another swing of Heartland's cane. Semimaru and Heartland were his main target. They'd tormented him and bullied him and driven him to despair. Trying to break him into their perfect little weapon. At least the other two had given him some care.

Kaninja stepped back and Vector turned on the two who were his main targets. Good for them. They shouldn't get involved.

Vector swung his arm out, a dark metal cylinder appearing in his hand. It opened up, extending into a long metal spear. He very rarely used his weapon. He never saw the need. No one ever matched him. But he was going to see Heartland suffer for everything he's done. For everything Vector had been through.

Heartland's cane bounced off Vector's spear with ease. Vector drove the tip of his spear into the crystal and pushed up, avoiding Semimaru's giant fist and swinging around the shaft. One foot connected with Semimaru's jaw. Semimaru staggered aside and Vector followed through his spin, this time driving both heels into his back.

By the time Vector landed, Heartland's fiery cane was swinging down at him again. Vector jerked up his spear from the crystal ground to block. Heartland's cane bounced off it harmlessly and Vector twisted. The blunt end of his spear followed through upwards, smacking under Heartland's chin and knocking him onto his backside.

"Is that all you've got?" Vector cackled. "I expected more from my dear guardians."

Vector's spear twisted and split into two as Semimaru leapt at him once more. The two pieces easily blocked punch after punch, Vector being pushed back step by step. For a moment. He ducked down, dropping beneath one of his giant fists. His spear pieces reconnected with a snap and Semimaru jerked to a stop.

"You- you really are a monster!" Heartland cried, scrambling to his feet to run. "Demon!"

"Huh?" Vector giggled, turning to Semimaru and jerking his spear from where it was impaled in his side. Semimaru collapsed to the floor and Vector sighed as blood dripped from his spear. "I guess I missed any vital. Aren't I amazing?" His grin widened and he bit back a giggle at how pale the other three went. "What's wrong with you guys? At least I didn't kill him outright."

"Rei…" Kurage stammered. "Come on…"

"Let's talk about this," Kaninja agreed, nodding hastily.

"You ungrateful little brat," Heartland snarled, gripping his cane. "It's time I stop playing games-"

"Oh shut up," Vector said, shaking his head. Heartland faltered and Vector raised his spear tip, aiming straight at Heartland. "I think it's about time you felt it yourself, Mr Heartland. Your heart burning."

Violet flames whipped up around Mr Heartland and Vector giggled madly to himself as Heartland broke down into pitiful begging. How quickly the proud broke.

"Vector, enough."

The flames vanished and Vector turned away at Don Thousand's voice. If he wanted them alive so be it, but he wasn't going to be happy about it. Don Thousand considered the four for a moment before a cold smile spread across what had once been a kind, gentle face.

"You have until sunset to be gone or I won't hold Vector back any further," Don Thousand said, eyes narrowed slightly. "Get out and do something useful." He smiled a little. "Finish the job. Michael's little partner is still out there. And I'm sure you're keen for your revenge, no? Find him. And I suggest this time you don't underestimate him. He has a great power within him, even if he struggles to unleash it. Do not underestimate him or those he will have surrounded himself with."

Heartland pulled himself upright and Vector scowled, folding his arms and glaring openly. After what a mess they'd made of everything else, Don Thousand was going to let them off?

"I don't care what you do to the others but bring that one back."

"That brat," Heartland hissed. "What could you possibly want with him that warrants us not just exacting our revenge?"

Don Thousand's eyes narrowed and Mr Heartland took a step back away from him. After a moment, Don Thousand smiled, almost sweetly. "Because I asked you to, Mr Heartland. Isn't that a good enough reason? I have something I need him for. Do you know how rare a truly powerful Aether is? Particularly one specialised in electricity. Find him and bring him to me. Kill the rest. Do so and there will be quite the reward in it for you."

Mr Heartland's eyes widened. How disgusting. But then wasn't that Mr Heartland all over? Anything for a reward. Vector's scowl deepened.

"You have until sundown to get going. I suggest you get your friend to a healer." Don Thousand turned and Vector shot the four a final glare before turning on his heel and following Don Thousand. "Do try to return this one in better condition than the last one."

Vector slammed the door behind them and Don Thousand paused, holding out a hand. When Vector was about to question what on earth he was doing, a grey robe appeared and Don Thousand turned, wrapping it loosely around his shoulders and pulling up his hood.

"Do I make you uncomfortable?" Don Thousand said, gazing straight into his eyes. "I'm well aware of your past with my other half."

"What do I care about that?" Vector growled. "I came out on top in the end."

"So you did," he chuckled coldly. "But you're angry too, aren't you? Not just because I took your opportunity at revenge. You're angry because of Durbe. Didn't you realise? He was my anchor in this world. The last of my power resided inside him. Once I was free of my prison and allowed into this world once more, I had to take the last of my power from him."

"Where is he?"

"You can't save him."

"Where is he?"

Don Thousand sighed. "He's at the old palace in Hope. But you can't save him. You can't reach him. He's already been taken by the Barian world. He's with his precious Mizael. Holding onto such sentimentality. You really need to learn to let go of these silly emotions and control them. Before I decide to do it for you."

Vector ignored the threat and opened up a portal, stepping through into the old palace in Hope. He'd been coming here too often for his liking. At least this time he wouldn't be there after dark. Although, he doubted there could be much worse than what he faced before.

"Durbe!" Vector yelled, running through the halls. Even if it was dumb. There was no way Durbe could reply to him, was there? Don Thousand had probably done away with him already. "Durbe! Don't you dare be dead! You've got a hell of a lot of answers to give me!"

Vector swept the rooms, searching everywhere he could for Durbe. Their relationship was combative and argumentative and Vector was loathed to listen to Durbe's orders, but Durbe had been the only one to actually care what happened to him. Durbe had cared that he wasn't a monster.

Finally he found the room. One of the highest towers. A small, nondescript bedroom with a balcony. And Durbe laid on the bed, lovingly tucked in as though someone had truly cared when they left him there.

"Durbe!" Vector ran over without thinking, throwing himself up onto the bed and shaking him roughly. "Oi, Durbe! Wake up!"

He ignore the voice in the back of his mind telling him it was useless. Durbe would never wake up again. Durbe couldn't be dead. He wasn't allowed to be dead. That wasn't part of Vector's plan. If they could get rid of Durbe so easily, it didn't bode well for any of them.

"Wake up!" Vector yelled, shaking his shoulders. "You idiot, you've got to tell me all your secrets before you die! You can't die until you've given me all the answers I need to kill you myself..."

He laid down slowly, head resting on Durbe's chest as he curled up. Durbe had always said he was sure Vector would be the death of him. Whether it was a joke or Durbe knew Vector truly harboured such desires for power he wouldn't stop and Durbe would one day become an obstacle to be removed, Vector didn't know. But there was no way he was going to let someone else get away with removing Durbe before the time he had planned for.

But then-

Then Vector noticed it. The steady rise and fall of his pillow beneath his head. Durbe's chest. Breathing.

Durbe was breathing!

Vector jerked up, staring down at Durbe's body. He was breathing. His skin was warm. He was alive. What on earth? Then what was Don Thousand talking about? Not being able to save him? Now he thought about it, Durbe looked like he was just sleeping. Mizael's body had turned to crystal. But Durbe really did just look like he was sleeping.

"Durbe?" Vector whispered, taking his glasses from his nose. How careless to let him sleep with his glasses on. He set them on the side table and frowned down at him. "Can you hear me? You've got too many answers locked away inside your mind to dream away forever. So I'm going to do something you told me never to do, ok?"

Vector smirked and poked Durbe's forehead before slipping his hand into Durbe's sleeping one, fingers laced together. His power focused in the palm of his hand, pushing against Durbe's reacting energy. He sighed and closed his eyes, focusing as much as he could on Durbe's energy. Focus. Focus on the energies of the three worlds and what was between. He and Durbe were humans connected to those two worlds. The two worlds merged on earth through them. So their powers could merge too. They could form a link.

Durbe had said it was possible in theory. The little tryst between Kaito and Orrim had proved something could happen when an Infernal and Ethereal bonded. He had to focus on them. Focus on their bond. Him and Durbe.

Vector needed to reach Durbe.

"Don't be afraid," the stranger had murmured, unlocking the cuffs around his wrists. "You and I are monsters, are we not? What do the likes of you and I have to fear, Vector?"

Rei blinked up at his saviour. "Vector? My name is Rei."

"No," he said, shaking his head. He smiled and offered his hand. "Trust me, Vector. Everything will make sense soon enough. But for now, I need you to believe that I'm here to help you. I came all this way and did all this to free you. So please, come with me and let the world see what monsters we truly are."

Rei stared up at him, the chaos and destruction silent around him as the man smiled. Someone had come all this way and broken into the country's most secure, infamous jail, just to break him out? He reached up slowly, fingers grasped around the stranger's. Vector, huh?

"That's it." His smile widened a little and he pulled Rei up. He held out a robe and Rei took it slowly, wrapping it around him and pulling up the hood before grasping his saviour's hand once more. "My name is Durbe. My companion is Mizael. We're here to take you home, Vector. You're safe now."

Rei nodded, hanging onto his hand as they went out into the ruined halls. A tall, elegant man in similar dark robes swung his sword, sending guards flying with ease.

"Don't be afraid," Durbe murmured, squeezing his hand. A golden lance of his own appeared in his free hand. "Summon up all your strength. Tear down this place that has tormented us both. I will teach you how to master your powers in time, but for now let them loose and show the world the monster they feared so."

"Rei!" He turned, staring through the smoke and rubble and found two familiar figures heading into the cell Durbe had just pulled him from. "Rei?! Rei, where are you?!"

Rei turned, stepping towards them but Durbe squeezed his hand and pulled him back. He found himself gazing into hard silver eyes. His heart trembled and Durbe smiled gently.

"Don't." He said it with such conviction that Rei had utter faith in him for some reason. "You don't need them anymore. Throw away who you were. This place, those people, you don't need any of them."

There was yelling from down the hall. Guards and inmates and Durbe straightens up, adjusting his glasses and pulling Rei behind him. The guards come around the corner, guns aimed straight at them and Durbe raises his lance into the air. The blinding light was nothing like Rei had ever seen. He clung to Durbe's hand, staring helplessly at Durbe's power and the glittering glowing sentry that came to their defence under Durbe's command. Utter chaos and destruction controlled by a man who radiated power and authority. And Rei can't help but join in with Durbe's encouragement, letting loose his flames for the first time in over a year. It was the most fun. To finally see those who had made him suffer for so long suffering in return.

"Let's go," Durbe said, leading Rei through a now ruined wall.

Rei gazed back at the now ruined prison, hurrying behind Durbe in the opposite direction to the escaping prisoners. What little that remained standing was soon razed to the ground by Mizael following behind them. The summoned monsters faded and they paused at the edge of a forest, gazing back at the unfolding disaster. A small group were waiting for them and Rei suddenly felt like someone had been waiting for him for the first time in his life.

"It's alright," Durbe said softly, drawing Rei into his arms. "You're safe now. You're home." Rei let out a shaking breath and his fists clenched around Durbe's robes without thinking. "All you have to do is accept us, Vector. Accept our power and darkness and you will never have to fear being alone again. I will always be here with you. I promise."

"You promised, Durbe!" Vector whispered, squeezing Durbe's hand tighter. "You promised you'd always be here! You're not allowed to leave yet!"

"You're so noisey," replied a quiet voice inside his head.

Ryoga's lance hit Merag's icy blade, knocking it back as Thomas moved around behind her, flaming sword swinging down at her back. Merag twisted, catching his sword with her blade, knocking him back away. Neither of them were looking to kill Merag. Neither were interested in going all out and hurting her, even if she was a fake creation. It would hurt too much to see the light fading from her eyes once more.

The only problem was that Merag was too strong for them not take her seriously.

Thomas gripped his sword tighter, ignoring his hand trembling. He didn't want to kill her again. He didn't want to be here again. But somehow he'd got himself into this mess. He didn't have a choice.

"If you're going to go spacing out, I'll do this on my own," Ryoga snapped.

Thomas' head jerked his head up to see Merag's blade swinging at him once more. He let the flames surround his sword once more, tearing through the ice, shattering it into steam. Merag smirked, swinging around further, hitting Thomas' side with the icy shaft of her blade and sending him flying into Ryoga. The pair ended up in a heap as Merag leered down at them.

"I thought you were better than that, brother," she said, letting her blade rest on the ground. "Are you really so pathetic without Don Thousand's power?"

"Get off me," Ryoga growled, shoving Thomas off. "What's wrong with you? Focus."

"I don't want to kill her again," Thomas whispered, staggering to his feet.

"She's not real," he replied. "Didn't we just establish that? She's not really Rio. Do you think I could be doing this if I didn't know she wasn't really Rio?!" He caught Thomas' collar, shaking him roughly. "Burn her!"

"Ryoga-"

"Do it!" Ryoga yelled, shoving him away. "Some fake sister doesn't get to rule my life! I'm not going to be manipulated and controlled by some fake! They don't get away with trying to control me using some fake sister!" His voice cracked, hands trembling as he lowered his voice to a whisper. "Do it, before I lose my nerve."

Thomas nodded. If Ryoga could get up the nerve then who was he to back down. "Let's get this over with fast then."

"Pay attention!" Merag snapped, her blade slamming down between them as they jumped apart. "You two are supposed to be a challenge!"

No more games. They couldn't keep holding back. Ryoga's lance shot forward, aiming at Merag's chest as Thomas dropped to one knee, his sword flipping in two halves again. He lined up carefully, pulling back fiery arrow. Merag and Ryoga clashed violently, lance and scythe slamming together as they danced across the floor. Not the easiest thing to get aim on but Thomas waited patiently, watching for his chance.

Ryoga jerked around, the broad side of his lance knocking Merag's legs from under her at last and jumping back. Finally Thomas had room.

The fiery arrow soared through the air and hit Merag's stomach, exploding in smoke and flames as she hit the ground. Ryoga took a slow breath, staggering slightly and Thomas stood slowly, resheathing his sword and turning to his bag.

"That's enough to get away," he said quietly. "I don't want to kill any more than necessary."

Ryoga nodded and picked up his own back, the pair of them heading towards the door. They didn't have time to play games with Merag. They had to get away before it was too late. Before Don Thousand returned his attention to them. They'd leave Merag for now.

"Let's go," Ryoga sighed, striding passed Merag's body towards the exit.

Thomas was on his heels for a moment only to be jerked back by a tight grip on his coat. His jaw clenched and he whipped out his sword to give Merag a warning slash, enough to get her to let go only to freeze. His chest constricted and his breath was knocked from his lungs at the sparkling emerald eyes gazing back at him desperately.

"Michael," he rasped.

"Brother," Michael whispered, reaching up and grasping Thomas' hands. He staggered to his feet, resting their foreheads together lightly. "Thomas, please. Please don't leave me. I don't want to be alone anymore."

"Michael, I'm sorry," Thomas breathed. His sword came to rest against the ground and his palm pressed lightly against Michael's cheek. "I'm sorry. I wasn't there. I should have protected you. I failed you."

"Thomas, what are you-" Thomas glanced back at Ryoga, who'd turned white as a sheet. "Thomas!"

"Don't go," Michael said, hands clinging to Thomas' chest. "Please. Let's never be apart again."

"Thomas, he's not real!" Ryoga snapped. "You know he's not real. It's the same chaos creation, it's feeding off your memories. Just finish it off and let's go."

"I can't." Thomas shook his head, Michael holding his gaze the entire time. "I can't lose him again. I don't care if he's fake, he's here right now."

"Then say goodbye properly if that's what you need but we have to go."

"Don't go," Michael insisted, shaking his head desperately. "Don't let him take you away again. Stay with me." His hand laid lightly over Thomas' on his sword. "Make Nasch stay and we'll never be apart again, Thomas."

"Thomas, don't give into this. Don't let it pull you into its web. You're hurting and grieving and it's still raw and fresh, I get that, but if I can face Rio you can face Michael too. You're not the type of man to let someone use your family to control you anymore than I am! Say goodbye to Michael and let's go. You can grieve once we're safe!"

"I'm sorry, Ryoga."

"I'll tear that fake from your arms if you won't let him go, Thomas!"

Thomas' eyes narrowed and he held Michael close for a long moment, taking a slow deep breath. Michael's hand squeezes his around his sword and Thomas knew Ryoga was right. Michael was a fake and he should let him go but how can he? He'd lost everyone. How could he just let him go?

Was it really so important they left?

"Then try it," he said softly, releasing Michael and swinging around to Ryoga. His sword fell level at Ryoga's throat, Michael clinging to the back of his coat. "Ryoga."

"Oh, you are kidding me," Ryoga growled, raising his lance in return. "Fine! I'm going to rip that thing apart for making a fool out of the both of us, and then I'm going to knock some sense into you for falling for it!"