Chapter 4: Love's Past

Yukiteru looked up in his study as someone knocked, Gora looked up as well, he was slightly confused as who it would even be, "Yes?"

"Papa, it's me...Yumoto."

"Come right on in." Yukiteru smiled and watched as the door opened. He froze as he saw Akihito's face. "You…!"

Akihito nodded and smiled softly, "Yes, it's me…"

Yukiteru bowed his head, "I can't believe it...you're still alive!"

Mamoru peeked around the corner and Yukiteru smiled, "God of Eclipses...you may come in as well."

The God of Dimensions looked at him, "I'm sorry I had to stay hidden, my brother and I have been avoiding demons for centuries."

"Of course." Yukiteru replied, "may I ask, what made you come out of hiding?"

Akihito sighed, "your youngest…" he replied, "he shows so much power that we we fear if demons get him…"

Mamoru nodded and bit his lip, "We have reasoning to be here...when...our father died, he told us of a story in his final hours as he died from the wounds from that demon he faced."

"A story?" Yumoto frowned and Akihito nodded, "Yes, I remember…" He whispered and looked at Yumoto, "It all started with a demon...it appeared when we were younger. Our father had decided to attack it after mortals were harmed."

Mamoru frowned, "When he faced the demon, he foretold the birth of a god who would eradicate all the darkness from the land...then the demon retorted that his own descendant would destroy that god…"

Yukiteru stood quickly and looked at Yumoto, "You mean…"

Mamoru nodded, "Yes. Our father knew of his birth and that may be why you two share looks…we think our father's death occurred because he was setting this all in place. He knew that demon would somehow come back…"

Yukiteru hummed and looked down, "We have recently sealed away a demon...he cursed Yumoto as a baby..."

"we were there." Akihito spoke, "We saw it. We've been to every event since we've ruled."

Mamoru nodded, "We watched that stupid fish curse him, we were furious…" He looked down, "We wanted to help but...we were in hiding. We were told to wait until the God of Light needed us."

Yumoto looked at them, "I...I saw him." he spoke, "Kouki appeared to me and...gave me power.

"He…did?"

Yumoto nodded, "Yes! I was trapped and he appeared to me, assured me things were okay and said...he didn't want me to fall to the same fate as him…"

Akihito frowned and Mamoru looked down, "Father knew…" He looked at Gora, "How about you?"

Gora frowned, "It was rumored that Hireashi wanted to curse us both. I was too strong it seemed."

"W-what?" Mamoru froze and Gora nodded, "Yes."

Akihito looked at Yumoto and froze as the heir hugged him tightly, "I'm sorry that we are now here together due to these events…"

"Don't be sorry." Akihito whispered, "We are here to keep everything at bay."

Yumoto nodded and Gora looked up as the clock began to chime, "We cannot let you take my brother." He replied firmly, "He is easily seen as a threat to Zundar, keeping him here is the best option."

Mamoru frowned at that, "Would...you rather us train them here?"

"You're going to have to." Gora explained, "My brother is basically a war criminal to demons. Seemingly killing their leader…"

"But...they killed Kouki first!" Yumoto replied, "maybe they shouldn't have…!"

Gora sighed and grabbed his brother's shoulders, "Look at me, Yumoto…" he bent down to his brother's height, "Your strength is powerful, you have Kouki's powers, they were locked away for so long. You are lucky to be alive."

The heir looked at the God of Love in his red-violet eyes, tears filling his scarlet ones. "Don't cry…" Gora whispered, "You have to be brave…"

Yumoto nodded and wiped his eyes on the pure white sleeves of his robe. Gora hugged his brother tightly, "I won't let anything happen to you this time. We'll stop the threat and get back the Gods of Art and Writing."

Yukiteru looked at Mamoru and Akihito, "You two may stay here, your old rooms are open."

Mamoru grinned and laughed, "So, our rooms are still unoccupied?"

"Yes," Yukiteru smiled, "Let me lead you there…I want to give Gora and Yumoto some space."

"Of course."

Gora listened for the door to close and he smiled at his brother. "Yumoto, you must know how bad this situation is…"

"I…" Yumoto looked down, "I believe I do."

"We all share Kouki's blood, but you…you saw him and spoke with him, and now you may as well be him."

"and…?"

"And this means, you are even more powerful than me."

"Huh?"

Gora laughed and lifted Yumoto up, "All of those Gods in the past," He grinned as he sat Yumoto down on the desk, "telling you, you weren't my brother...all of those goddesses who spoke spiteful things towards you…" He looked at his brother, "They should be ashamed, your love is greater than mine."

"That's impossible!"The heir retorted, "you're the Maximum Gorar!" He gasped, "No one is better…!"

Gora shook his head, "Yumoto, stop putting yourself down, you're the one who sealed Hireashi, everyone saw it."
"Yeah…" Yumoto sighed, "everyone...but..you and papa helped…"

"So?" Gora replied, "You and Araki fought so hard, it was amazing."

Yumoto shrugged and Gora rubbed his shoulder, "We'll bring the two gods back, just as you saved the twins."

"we haven't even seen them since…"
"Maybe, we can ask for their help if we need to." Gora whispered and Yumoto looked at the harp that was sitting next to him, he gently picked it up and strummed a few notes. "I guess so…"

Later that night, Araki joined Yumoto for their usual stroll and eventually, it was time for bed.

Sleep came easy for the two, until the moon was shining high into the heir's room. Araki groaned softly in his sleep, his eyebrows knitting together as he turned.

"Araki...it's time." A voice rang out, "You're running out of this precious time…! The heir needs help, the Gods of Old are counting on you."

"W-what…" Araki called out, "What do you mean?!" He yelled as he walked in a dark void of nothing...he turned quickly as he heard Yumoto's voice. He ran towards it and froze, Hakone Kouki stood there, holding the heir of love in his arms. The boy wasn't moving at all and Kouki had a solemn look on his face.

"The demon of old will destroy him if you do not awaken your true potential." Kouki whispered, "He is precious to you and they know he is the key to ending both mortal and godly worlds…"

"W-what do I do!?" Araki gasped out and Kouki looked down, "Awaken your power, save him from certain death."

With that, Araki woke up with a startle and shot up, he panted softly as he looked at the boy sleeping next to him. He knew only one thing...it was time to act.