Drum didn't like the grin on the face of the blue-haired boy as they crossed the space between them. The red dragon wondered what was coming for them, when The Reaper showed his spell card.

"Great Spell, Thunder Of Zeus!" the boy said.

They heard a sound and the red dragon braced himself for the spell, but the sound of a boy screamed. To the dragon horror, it wasn't his own.

His eyes turned to his buddy, who's body was lightly burned while his clothes had some gray on it. The buddyskill was still there, but the boy was on his knee, blood coming out of his nose as he weakling maintained the grasp on his weapon.

"As I said, I had to bring you alive Gao, but never I've been ordered to leave you unhurt," The Reaper said.

The red dragon furiously glared at the boy who did this to his buddy. He felt the rage building up in him. He wanted to release it and made the boy paid for what he did, "You… You!" but the thought came, he is Gao's friend. Kiri. He is controlled by Azi Dahaka. Don't forget it Drum! Kiri would never do it! He would never do it! The dragon spit some blood, as he realised he lightly bit his lips. He calmed down his breathing, just like Tenbu teach him, "I will put an end to this masquerade! You aren't the real Kiri!"

He turned his sword into a whip and threw it at the boy, but Joker came back and blocked it, "I won't let you hurt him!"

Chapter 131: The End Of The Curse

The two monsters glared at each other's when the scythe pierced the left shoulder of the dragon. The dragon winced and twisted his wrist. The tip of the whip sword pointed at The Reaper and wounded the blue-haired boy shoulder.

"Kiri!" the ice monster yelled as he glared at Drum, "You will-"

Drum hit the stomach of the monster and when he could, took off the scythe and threw it back at The Reaper. Joker quickly joined his buddy and blocked the scythe, that bounced on his arm and landed in the grasp of Kiri.

Flame suddenly appeared, and the enemies had to evade it. Gao came by the side of his buddy and said, "I'm okay Drum. We have to free Kiri. He's not-"

"I know. That's not what he would want," the dragon replied, relief that Gao could stand up. He gazed at the other monster, "Joker! You said that I don't understand you, but that's a good thing!"

The monster twin tails twitched, "What did you say?"

"I am not you," he warmed up his thrusters, "If Gao would have gone the wrong path, I wouldn't have follow him like that Joker! I would have done everything to either stop him or free him from whatever is controlling him."

"That's what friends should do," his buddy added, ready to continue the fight.

The Reaper was ready to continue the fight, "That's treason towards your buddy or your friend. You have to respect their decisions."

"I will never turn my back on my buddy Drum! I am not someone who will just backstab the one I care the most like you," Joker grunted as he charged.

"Then you are not a real buddy!" the red dragon replied, activating his thrusters and charging.

Joker couldn't block it, as the dragon came too fast and felt pain on his gut. The impact with the handle of the sword was violent and caused cracks where the impact occurred.

Drum didn't let his adversary recover and swung his sword, hitting the head of the blue monster.

Joker lost altitude and took a few seconds before spreading his wings and slowing down his fall.

"Joker! Is it what Kiri really wants to do? You know it's not!" the red dragon yelled as he charged again, "You just abandoned your buddy to Azi Dahaka!"

Joker blocked the attack but was kicked at the flank. Drum turned his sword into its whip form and trapped the blue monster in it, "Have you lost your hope for him that fast?"

The frozen monster painfully grunted as he glared at the red dragon, "I haven't abandoned him!"

He threw an icicle at the red dragon, but a shield protected Drum. The red dragon pulled Joker and hit with everything he got the face of the monster, cracked it.

"Ki-" the frozen monster was unconscious as a tear came out of his red eyes, limps lying down. He turned back and threw the Joker on the roof of the highest and closet building and joined his buddy.

He was quickly by the side of Gao, who got many cuts on his buddy. Drum used his whip to grab the scythe and asked, "You're okay Gao?"

"I'm fine and- Blue Dragon Shield!" he created a shield and blocked Kiri's spell. The boy felt exhaustion as his grip on his sword weakened.

The red dragon locked his gaze on Kiri and said, "Kiri! The time as come to free you from Azi Dahaka!" he activated his thrusters and charged.

The Reaper prepared a spellcard, but Gao used one of his own and the blue-haired boy had to dodge it instead of activating it. Drum appeared just in front of him, whip turned back into a sword and yelled, "It's over!" He thrusted his swords forward and hit the Dark Core, shattering it in pieces as the Core Gadget remained intact.

The Reaper gazed at Drum, lightly confused before he started to fall.

"Kiri!" Gao yelled while Drum grabbed the boy, before he felt too fast.

Drum sighed and gazed at his buddy, "I got him Gao," he panted, "We should join Joker before he wakes up."

The boy nodded and landed on the roof, near Joker. Drum put Kiri on the ground while Gao approached him.

Gao panted as he sat by the side of the boy and took the mask off. He gazed at his buddy with a small smile, "We did it Drum. We broke the Dark Core. We saved Kiri-" his smile disappeared with uncertainty, "Right?"

The red dragon closed his eyes and replied, "I'm sure he is fine."

They waited a few minutes, before the boy grumbled as he slowly came back. The blue-haired boy put his right hand on his forehead and grumbled, "W-what?" he looked around and saw Gao. "G-Gao! W-" he grumbled a few incomprehensible things.

"Calm down Kiri. You're alright," the boy said as he put his hand on his friend shoulder.

"Y-yeah. I-" he gasped when he covered his face with his hands, "W-what did I do?" he started to cry.

"What is it Kiri?" Gao asked.

"Are you free for Azi Dahaka control?" Drum asked.

"Gao! Drum!" he gazed at the boy and the red dragon, "I'm so sorry! I've hurt you! I-"

Gao chuckled, "Don't worry Kiri. It wasn't you. You were under the control of Azi Dahaka."

"So, you know what he made you do," the red dragon grumbled.

They tried to comfort the poor boy, by reminding him that none of it was done of his own will, and that no matter what, it wasn't the real him. Eventually, Kiri lightly calmed down as he hugged Gao.

"Thank you, Gao. You too Drum. You've freed me and-" Kiri saw Joker.

The ice monster was standing up, quietly watching them. No words came out of him, nothing humoristic. His red eyes felt empty, as if the monster soul was crushed until something heavy. It was clear for the red dragon that realisation, or reality, struck on the very soul of the monster.

His buddy started crying as he looked in his crimson eyes and saw pain, just heavy pain, "Joker… Joker!" The boy rushed by the side of the monster and hugged, "I'm so sorry! I did so many horrible things to you! Please forgive me!"

The monster gazed at Kiri for a second or two, before realising the situation, the very awkward one. The boy rubbed his face against him, but it wasn't the place he would let him do it, "K-Kiri. I- I'll forgive you if you stop rubbing your face on my crotch!" he yelled as he blushed of embarrassment, "This is inappropriate for so many reasons Kiri!"

Drum and Gao covered their face for a few seconds, knowing how awkward it was.

Kiri quickly released him when he realised where his face was and took a step back, his face also red, but sadness and pain was still dominant.

Joker kneeled down and asked, "But Kiri. What are you talking about?" he gazed at the dragon, "Drum was… right. I was a terrible buddy to you. I-"

"No!" his buddy hugged the monster, "Not after what I did. It's no!"

Gao and his buddy had many questions. What happened when he was controlled, but now wasn't the moment. There was one thing they needed to know, "What are you talking about Kiri?" the boy asked.

The answer slowly came, "I… I hurt Joker. I- I said horrible things to him!"

"Azi Dahaka made you said those things Kiri! You didn't mean any of them!" Drum yelled, so that those words entered in the human's mind.

"J-Joker tried to stop me! To help Azi! He tried! But- B-But, I said something, I stabbed his heart!"

Drum asked the other monster, "Is it true? Did Azi make him say horrible things?"

Joker watched his buddy, face against his chest. He ignored the pain that memories brought back, "Yes. That disobedience… made me a traitor. That I-" his voice broke, "I was worthless in his eyes," his crimson eyes paled, "And it's true. I don't deserve to be your buddy Kiri. I…" he could see how his buddy really felt when he was under control. All the pain of his buddy, he could avoid it, but, I was a coward, "I abandoned y-"

"Wrong!" the boy yelled. He looked at the ice monster and repeated, "You're wrong Joker! I'm the one who hurt you! Just don't say that again! Please. I'm sorry that I've hurt you!"

The frozen monster eyes shined once again, "Won't it left us cold Kiri?"

No other words were said between them. They weren't needed anymore.

A voice came, but it wasn't from any of them, "Looks like we arrive too late."

Drum was the first to raise his head, "Demios!"

"Tasuku!" Gao said next.

Tasuku, in his Purgatory Knight armor and Demios were standing above them, watching them resting on the roof of the building.

Drum readied his sword when the gray dragon commented, "What are you doing in a Purgatory Knight? You don't deserve to even become one! To wear such an armor like that is a disgrace!" he pointed his sword at him, "Don't insult me and my soldiers!"

"I pass the test as did my ancestors Demios," the red dragon replied as he prepared himself from an upcoming fight.

Demios was ready to fight the dragon who insulted his soldier when Tasuku raised his hand, "We are not here to fight Demios. They are wounded and exhausted."

The gray dragon grunted as he abandoned his fighting stance, "There is no honor in such fight. We are here to bring you with us Reaper."

Kiri gazed at them. He called all his courage and yelled, "I am not the Reaper anymore! I'm free from Azi Dahaka influence!"

Demios was quiet as he worryingly gazed at his buddy.

"What's going on?" Tasuku asked his buddy.

"They didn't tell you?" Drum asked as he took a step forward.

Tasuku looked at the red dragon and his friend Gao, unsure of what was going on anymore.

The gray dragon heartbeat increased as he knew exactly what would come next. He should interrupt them, but that was against his principles.

"The Disaster Core controlled Kiri's mind and forced him to become the Reaper! It was also why Gao was in the coma!" the red dragon yelled, so that it would enter deep into the mind of the boy.

The eyes of Tasuku shrunk at the discovery. Demios noticed it and was sure that his buddy would leave him. The dragon wouldn't blame him, it was betraying the boy's belief. He closed his eyes, waiting for the boy to leave him behind.

Tasuku was confused for a few more seconds, before he frowned as if he couldn't accept something, "M- Maybe it's wrong what Azi Dahaka did. It is! But the Buddy Police Force is still corrupt! Tenchi is still going to win the elections and not Hinako! What I'm doing is the only thing to do!"

The leader of the Purgatory Knight felt relieve of the boy's decision.

Stubborn, Drum thought, "Even so, you won't hurt Kiri again!"

The boy looked at them, then at his buddy. He replied, "I will never force Kiri to do anything against his will. Demios. We are leaving."

"Drum! Don't ever appear as a Purgatory Knight in my sight again," Demios threaten the other dragon he gave a ferocious glare.

He didn't protest and left them behind, alone.

"Tasuku!" Gao yelled. Dammit! He grunted as he punched the ground. He thought that his buddy managed to change his mind.

"He won't leave them behind. Especially not when there is no hope in his eyes," the red dragon said.

"T-thank you," Kiri said.

They turned at him and the red dragon asked, "What now?"

Gao knocked the door to his home and Halberd opened the door.

"Gao. You are late and-" the red dragon saw Kiri and Joker, "There… here!" the dragon yelled surprised.

They entered inside and looked around. They noticed that only them and his sister were present.

"Big bro! You're back!" Hanako said as she rushed by his side.

"Hanako! Where's mom and dad?" Gao asked.

"They got a call from the Buddy Police Force and won't be back for a while. Tenbu said that he would take some air for now and grandma is preparing diner," she answered. That made them worried, but now wasn't important. She noticed Kiri and Joker. Knowing what happened to them she smiled and joyfully said, "Welcome back you two. I'm so glad you return to us Kiri."

Kiri was nervous and said, "Yeah. Gao and Drum really saved us today Hanako."

"Can I sit down please?" Joker asked.

Hanako nodded and guided them to the dojo. Joker sat on the ground and slowly breathed while his buddy was by his side.

Gao explained to his sister and her buddy everything that happened. Drum, back to his SD form added some detail.

"And I don't want to return home yet," the blue-haired boy said, "Even if dad is calling, I… I can't just go back home. So, I want to stay here until we defeat Azi Dahaka. I have to make things right."

"Do you think Suzumi won't be too cold with us?" the ice monster asked, before chuckling.

"We'll ask when they are back," Gao replied.

"What about Tasuku?" someone asked. They realised they forgot that he was there.

Jackknife came down and joined them, "I heard everything and didn't want to interrupt. So… You've seen him."

"Yeah. We told him about the Disaster Core, but he's still with them," Gao replied.

"I tried to convince him Jackknife, but he's just-"

"Don't apology Drum. I know Tasuku and I can already guess what is going on in his head. He won't listen to us until we break any excuse he has to stay with them," the green dragon replied.

"But why would he stay with them?" Hanako asked.

The dragon replied, "I know Tasuku very well. I don't think he will admit that he made a mistake by joining them. Gao, would you just change your mind when you have sacrifice so many things. Tasuku leave me behind. He cares for me, still loves me, but he leaves me behind and everything he once believed. If he admits he was wrong, then it means that he has betrayed me for nothing and betrayed all of you for nothing. He won't accept it. My Tasuku won't accept that he hurt so many because he made a mistake," he closed his eyes, "But we will break through him."

"We will," Gao and his buddy replied, giving a thumb up.

Tasuku and Demios were halfway back home when the boy asked, "Did you know about it?"

The gray dragon stopped flying, he couldn't look at his buddy, hanging on his back as they didn't have a buddy skill yet. He took a deep breath and admitted, "Yes."

The boy punched his neck, "Why didn't you tell me? We are buddies right! Why didn't you tell me that Azi has done something horrible like that! He hurt my friends and hurt Joker! That's just horrible Demios!"

"I was forbidden to tell you the true Tasuku," the gray dragon replied.

"That's your excuse?" the boy grew more upset.

"No Tasuku. I couldn't because it was a direct order from Azi Dahaka. He doesn't want you to leave the Disasters, so I remained quiet," he clenched his hands and grunted, "Also…"

"Also, what?"

"I was selfish," he admitted to his buddy. He took a deep breath, "I don't want you to leave me Tasuku. We are together for little time, but I don't want to lose you. It's the other reason I kept quiet."

The boy gazed at his buddy and replied, "Let's go," before entering in deep thought.

Demios continued his way and added, "Thanks for staying with us."

It was the night and Suzumi accepted Kiri for staying in their house with the Joker. With everything going on, she preferred the boy to remain under supervision, just in case the enemies strike back.

Now, Joker rested on the ground, restoring his strength after everything going on. He gazed at his buddy, sleeping against him. After everything going on, the monster felt the ache in his heart, when he saw the boy crying for what he did to him.

It wasn't your fault Kiri. I… I was weak. After so long. He made sure that his buddy was comfortable. He gazed at the ceiling and declared, in his mind, I will make sure that I won't stay weak Kiri. I promise that I won't let anyone, including myself, hurt you. I won't make that mistake again. I will be a true buddy from now on.

With those words in his mind, the ice monster closed his eyes and felt asleep. It was his first peaceful night since Kiri became The Reaper.

AC: This is the end of this chapter.

Next: Surprised Visit Part 1.