Yeah, i updated! I was hoping to get this chapter up last night but i was forced to go to bed at 10:30... (sigh) I wanted to stay up later...(pout)

Alright, i'll babble about stuff later on. I'm quite positive y'all are wanting to read this chapter, ne?

Disclaimer: Kalu is mine but Zatch Bell is not. If i said i owned it i fear i'd be caught.


A Gift from the Dark

Chapter 25

Say What?

"Zatch Bell? What's he doing here?" Brago walked up to Sherry and looked through the door as well. And just as his wife had said, there was the King of the Mamodo World himself, standing right there looking around the hallway.

He frowned to himself. What was Zatch doing here in the human world? Didn't he have his own kingdom to look after?

"Let him in," commanded Brago. He took a step back as Sherry nodded and opened the door.

Kalu tilted her head to the side before she noticed the Lightning Mamodo was revealed. "Zatch!" she squealed. "Look, you're here!"

Zatch smiled. "Hi, Kalu. Hi Brago, Sherry." He motioned towards the hybrid's parents but was then tackled in a hug.

"You came!" said Kalu happily. She was still slightly mad that he hadn't visited her when she and Brago went to the Mamodo World to train, but she was too happy to see Zatch to be angry. "I missed you… why weren't you there when Daddy took me to train back in the Mamodo World the other day?" She let go of the other and watched as he chuckled.

"That's why I came here," he responded. "I have some… er… business I need to discuss with your parents." Some eyebrows were raised as Zatch said this; he turned around to face the mamodo and human. "May I come in?"

Brago nodded his head, allowing the king to enter. He waited patiently as he entered and then looked around, commenting that it was a cute little room.

Kalu went to go pet her kitten while her parents began to talk with Zatch. After she found Yuki she walked back in the room that the other three were in and sat down on the floor with the white cat in her lap.

"So, why weren't you there when I took Kalu?" inquired Brago, leaning against a wall as he folded his arms. There was a short silence after the question. Azure eyes met up with crimson and then were led to amber. "Well?"

Staring down at the ground, Zatch Bell merely shook his head. "I was investigating something…it was really important."

"Is that so?" asked Brago dryly. The other nodded his head.

"Yeah… it was really important."

"You said that already."

"Yeah but – it… it was about Zophise!" said the king quickly.

Sherry snapped her head upwards and stared down at the Mamodo King before her, a certain glint in her eyes. She said nothing but let a small scowl cross her features.

"Zophise? What about him?" Brago turned his head to the side, staring down at Zatch. "Tell me now; he broke into our home not very long ago and left a threat message. And that same day Kalu was knocked out unconscious. What do you know of him?"

"I…"

"Brago," Everyone turned their head to see Sherry staring at her husband. "Let him finish. I want to know what he was investigating about that thing…"

The dark mamodo grumbled and clenched his fists. Kalu looked up curiously at her father when Zatch continued. "I just discovered that very day that somebody had been sneaking out of the Mamodo World without permission. I know it wasn't you because… well… you have permission! Afterwards I found out that this particular being was…"

"Zophise," hissed Sherry.

Zatch nodded. "Precisely. Somehow or another he's been escaping through the Mamodo World – and I need to find out how. So be warned, he may appear in the human world and–"

"You're a little late for informing us about that," muttered Brago.

"Well, I just had to tell you. I don't know what he's up to, but Zophise has been sneaking in and out of our world multiple times now. The other day wasn't his first trip away from home." Zatch turned to look out the window and sighed. "And the problem is I don't know when he's gonna escape next – nor how he's doing it. I'm searching for the problem but it's not as easy as it looks. Just be very careful now, will you?" He then turned to Sherry, "I would also recommend keeping the Black Book with you at all times now; if you've already been doing that then that's good."

Both Brago and Sherry nodded their heads but were silent. This time it was Kalu who spoke.

"So… isn't this Zophise person that guy who you were talking about before?" questioned the little girl, facing her mother. "The one who took your friend away from you?"

"…"

"Mamma?"

Sherry was silent a little longer when, "Yes… he was." She turned her gaze to her daughter. Oh how Kalu was so oblivious to the fact how bad Zophise was… The mother bent down on her knees and motioned her daughter to come near her. Kalu came up to her and Sherry rested her hand on her shoulder. "Kalu, just remember this," spoke Sherry, "if you ever encounter Zophise – never trust a word he says. He feeds you lies and turns your heart cold so you turn against those most precious to you. That's what he did to my best friend. So don't listen to him, alright?"

The little girl stared at her mother and then nodded. "Al…alright…"

Sherry smiled and then stood back up. Her attention was redirected to Zatch Bell. "So, is this all that you have to say?"

"That's about it!" Zatch said, now in a happy mood. "I thought I'd give you a fair warning about all this going on."

"Hn," Brago rolled his eyes. "Could have figured this out myself if I really thought about it," he mumbled.

"Oh, Zatch," Kalu changed the subject. "I didn't get to show you Yuki! She's my pet kitten – I got her for my birthday. Isn't she cute?" As the six year old said this she held up her pet. The king laughed.

"Yeah, she is! Does she like yellowtail?"

"Uh… I really don't know."

Sherry sighed and glanced at Brago. "This is getting interesting," she mused. The other said nothing.

"Well, I've really gotta get going," started Zatch as he sighed. "There's a whole world I have to look after and it's not an easy job! I'll see you some other time, alright Kalu?"

"OK,"

"See you!" As the Mamodo King turned to leave, he gave a small nod to Brago and Sherry and then left.

"I wonder what is going to happen next," wondered Brago aloud after a minute of Zatch's leaving. He wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulder as he glanced down at their daughter, whom was playing with Yuki once again.

But what was going to happen next they would soon drastically find out.


OK, now i get to babble. Who got what for X-mas? I got my black nano iPod that i've been wanting and a pair of fuzzy purple socks. n.n They're very comfortable...

I also got to stay up for a whole week up to 1 to 2 in the morning either playing video games or drawing. I even drew this pretty cool picture of Brago and Sherry when i was bored of them sitting on a bench in the park... Eh... the bench is kinda hard to see 'cause i drew 'em up close butI still like it. n.n

ANYWAY, yeesh, this story i fear is coming closer to the end.. it's not here quite yet but... still... I am having so much fun writing it! I remember when i first wrote it and was completely clueless as to what i was gonna do with it...

Well, HAPPY NEW YEAR, PEEPS! X3

Bye byes!

Oh, and just 3 more weeks 'til Zeon appears... 9 'til Brago and Sherry show up... and 10 til Koko and IT arrive...Muwahaha...o.O Then i can start the one shot 'Silent Screams'. n.n