So sorry for the delayed update... I've been having so many problems I couldn't even think about getting to this story lately. My car broke down, my health isn't great right now and I ended up in the hospital, and my computer is on death's door so it's a miracle I can even upload this.
Anyway here's the chapter that clears up what happened in Hotsuma and Shusei's past, hope it was worth the wait!
~The Past~
Duras activity had been picking up, meaning the Zweilts have been busy to the point of exhaustion.
On one particular day, the activity picks up to a level no one saw coming.
A new Duras appears, although at first, no one knows it.
….
It had been routine for Zweilt pairs to go out and patrol the area around the Main House.
Toko and Tsukumo are closely guarding the perimeter, close enough to always keep the mansion in sight.
Kuroto and Senshiro stay at the main house and work as personal bodyguards to Yuki. They are still in training, learning to work with each other's strengths and weaknesses as they are still a relatively new pair.
This leaves Hotsuma and Shusei to patrol further out off the grounds amidst the trees.
It had started out as a quiet day, both of them thinking they will be able to go back home without incident. But almost simultaneously, the hair on the back of their necks went up and they both knew something wasn't right.
Like a gust of wind, a group of Duras have surrounded the Zweilt pair. Some were human looking, others were creatures bearing resemblance to animals.
Hotsuma scoffs, not impressed by the number of low leveled Duras that surrounds them. Shusei places a hand on his shoulder, a way of telling him to stay alert, that something isn't right.
"Don't get cocky…" Shusei whispers, "There's something else out there."
"Doesn't matter. I'll get him." Hotsuma grins as his hands shake out of anticipation.
"Hotsuma, wait! Something's not right-" Shusei tries to tell his partner, but he runs ahead ready to engage in battle.
Shusei sighs, taking a step back to make sure he's not missing anything. He sees Hotsuma summon his weapon and he does the same. With his two swords in hand he prepares for the battle.
The swarm came forward but seemed hesitant.
Shusei noticed this and held back a little. He certainly wouldn't let them hurt either Hotsuma or himself but he didn't need to kill them outright. Not yet.
Hotsuma hadn't noticed Shusei's hesitancy and began swinging Masterstroke, taking out any Duras that came within the swords reach.
Out of nowhere, Shusei becomes aware of the fact that he is losing orientation. He feels his body swaying and the faces of the Duras fade in and out. Before he knows it he loses sight of Hotsuma and realizes the Duras are now coming in at full strength ready to kill the Zweilt.
He picks up Kurai Kurou, his swords, and methodically takes out the Duras despite his condition. A few Duras had been able to strike Shusei, leaving deep wounds, but nothing mortal. Blood covers a large portion of Shusei's clothing, making him look weakened but with only a few Duras left, Shusei goes in and attacks them, killing them easily.
With the corpses of Duras about him, he kneels in the dirt, trying to regain his composure when a familiar voice rings out.
"What the hell, Shusei?"
Shusei perks up at Hotuma's irritated voice, "Hotsuma?"
"Where did you go? You can't just leave like that!" He interrogates his partner.
Noticing his harsh tone, Shusei questions him back, "What are you talking about? I'd never leave you."
Shusei cringes as he notices large wounds on him that are dripping blood and pooling at his feet.
"I was calling for you! You didn't answer!" He notices the blood on Shusei, "You can't leave like that! Look at you, you're covered in blood!"
The sudden accusations were annoying Shusei, "Why are you acting like this? Hotsuma-"
"You aren't strong enough to be on your own, you know that! You specialize in defense, remember? There's a reason for that!"
"Sorry to be such a nuisance." Shusei shot back.
What is wrong with him?
"I'm sick of worrying about you, Shusei!" Hotsuma continues, "It's hard enough knowing we have God's Light to protect, but you too? You've become a liability, Shusei."
"Why are you saying this…" Shusei is dumbfounded, "Where did all of this come from?"
Having had enough, Hotsuma walks away, leaving a bloodied Shusei behind.
"What…just happened." Shusei stays kneeling, trying to wrap his head around the confrontation.
….
Hotsuma finishes off the last of the Duras, with no more than a scratch on his arm. He looks around prepared to flash a triumphant smile at his partner only to find Shusei nowhere to be found.
"Why can't you stop and use your head for just a moment, Hotsuma."
The blond turns to direction he hears Shusei's voice coming from.
"What? Shusei? What happened? Are you hurt?" He catches a glimpse of the silhouette leaning against a tree.
"Just stay there." Shusei says, "It's not like you care anyway."
"What do you mean? Of course I care! We are part-"
"Just stop." Shusei interjects, "Partnership means nothing. Look at Kuroto. Partners can be replaced. That's what you'd like, isn't it?"
"What!? No! Of course not! How could you even suggest that?" Hotsuma looks frantically for any sign of what is going on, "We've been together for hundreds, hell, thousands of years!"
"Bonds can always be severed."
"Where is all of this coming from? What the hell is wrong with you?"
Hotsuma's question goes unanswered, as Shusei walks away.
….
Hotsuma and Shusei walked back to the main house separately, both in awe of what the other said to them.
Shusei walks into their shared living space and sees Hotsuma lying on the couch. When Hotsuma sees his partner a deep frown appears on his face.
"Thought you didn't care. What are you doing here? Know what, nevermind, I'll leave." Hotsuma gets up and briskly walks past Shusei bumping his shoulder as he passes him. Shusei lets out a small moan as that shoulder had been hurt during battle. A small trace of guilt dawns on Hotsuma until Shusei speaks.
"Of course, don't concern yourself over my well-being. I don't need a baby-sitter."
Hotsuma scowls, Shusei is never usually so harsh, "You've changed."
….
Shusei stood on the balcony of Twilight Mansion running over all the scenarios that had taken place the past couple of weeks. His estrangement from Hotsuma has been weighing heavily on him.
It's true, some of what he said. Shusei had always been physically weaker but he had always been a capable fighter nonetheless. Perhaps Hotsuma was upset he couldn't keep up with his stamina.
But to have taken that and blow it out of proportion doesn't seem like him. Hotsuma had always accepted him as he was and could always depend on him so what happened to have changed all that? The presence of God's Light, perhaps? Maybe the stress of protecting the Light has pushed him to the edge.
Shusei doesn't know. He can't pinpoint a time and place when their relationship took this drastic turn. It seemed so sudden, like Hotsuma wasn't himself.
The real question is, how to remedy this situation?
For the sake of their safety this can't go on. Shusei decides to see if this will blow over. No point in talking to an enraged Hotsuma. He'll just have to wait for the appropriate time and place.
….
The tension between the two Zweilts only intensifies since neither of them want to talk about what has happened. Shusei has tried to bring it up but is given the cold shoulder. Typically these little spats were nothing to the pair. They have them all the time. But there's venom in their words now unlike before and the distrust is weighing on them.
On patrol again, the two keep their distance, Shusei standing further back, and Hotsuma keeping a quicker pace. Both trying to ignore each other while simultaneously trying to pretend nothing is wrong, especially since neither will bring up the other's recent change. Instead of talking they let the tension continue to grow.
"Perhaps it is possible… we aren't compatible anymore…" Hotsuma lets his mind wander.
Suddenly the air thickens like it did before and a barrier falls around Hotsuma, cutting him off from Shusei.
"This isn't a barrier like Shusei's!" He says. With Shusei's barrier, he has the freedom to move in and out of it.
In this one he is trapped.
….
In a panic, Shusei instinctively calls out Hotsuma's name.
"Hotsuma! Where are you!?" He uses his God's Eyes to try and find him. He tries to use his power but his mind hits a wall and he realizes a barrier must be shielding his presence from him.
"Damn it…" He retraces his steps, hoping to find a clue as to where the barrier is set up, only then can he try to break it.
"Only a high level Duras can do this!" Shusei is adept at creating barriers and breaking past them. For him to be blocked by one can only mean trouble.
He continues his search and then he hears his voice.
"Even with your God's Eyes you can't see, can you?"
"Hotsuma, where were you?"
"Where was I? You mean you couldn't hear? You didn't see the flames? It was another ambush! And where were you? Hiding out safely here?"
"No! There was a barrier!" Shusei yells, "Don't you dare pin this on me again! You know I'd never leave you in battle! Why do you keep doing this!"
"We just aren't working anymore are we? To be a Zweilt, we have to trust each other with our lives. It's a heavy burden but, I don't feel like I can trust you anymore…" Hotsuma says, "You've lost your will to fight."
"That's not true…not true at all." Shusei pleads.
And then, Shusei's world goes black after he feels the wind get knocked out of him. He's unconscious before he hits the ground.
….
Within the barrier, Hotsuma attempts to break out using the flames of his God's Voice.
"Damn it! Not even a scratch!"
Barriers weren't his strong suit, that was always Shusei's area of expertise.
"Where are you Shusei?"
"The brown haired Zweilt is easy to break isn't he?"
"Who are you? Where are you?" Hotsuma screams when he hears an unfamiliar voice.
"He thinks so little of himself. I'd even say he is filled with self-loathing…"
The voice sounds like its coming from all directions within the barrier. Hotsuma conjures up flames in all directions to see if he can lure out the owner of the malicious voice.
"People like him are easy to mess with. I can take a thought and twist it out of proportion and let his own mind run wild with that thought."
"Where is he?!" Flames erupt as he yells, "Don't you dare touch him!"
"I've been watching you two for a while now…"
That catches Hotsuma's attention. Those times he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. The feeling of being watched…
"It was you wasn't it?" Hotsuma asks, even though he knows the answer.
The voice laughs, "Took you a while."
"Why don't you show yourself then, if you think so highly of yourself?" Hotsuma tries to entice the Duras out.
"If you wish. Look behind you."
Hotsuma turns and sees Shusei standing behind him.
"What the hell?" Hotsuma questions before being attacked by an onslaught of new duras.
While swinging Masterstroke and taking out the duras, he kept making eye contact with the figure that claimed to be Shusei.
That's not Shusei….That's something else…
….
The day passed quickly. Before he knew it, it was dusk. Clouds gathered overhead as if they knew the gruesome direction the day would take. Soon the clouds begin to gently roar as tiny rain droplets turn to a heavier rain. The sound of rain gradually fills the air, getting heavier and heavier.
Shusei stands in a clearing, one that was a battlefield moments ago, full of anger, fear, and despair. To think, the one person you trusted the most in the world, would betray you and even learn to hate you, how can you move on? Especially when that person was all you had.
He looks to the sky as if the rain pouring down would bring with it an answer. Instead it only blinds him.
The tall, elegant duras, Grave, was standing off to the side, laughing at the scene before him.
"Tell me, Zweilt, how does it feel to be abandoned?"
Shusei ignores him, turning his attention toward the ground.
"Now that's rude, ignoring me." Grave laughs again.
Shusei, like a statue, doesn't move.
"Now you're starting to irritate me." Grave growls, "Stand up."
The only sound came from the rain.
"Stand up!" He yells again.
After seeing that Shusei has yet to move, he summons two wolf like beasts to his side. The large beasts lock their gaze on to Shusei's slumped form, digging their claws into the ground ready to attack the minute their master gives the command.
"It doesn't matter anymore…" Shusei whispers to himself, forgetting Grave and his beasts where even nearby.
"What was that?" Grave asks.
Shusei shakes his head, lets out a sad laugh and braces himself for what is to come.
The command the beasts have been waiting for comes as Grave lifts his hand in Shusei's direction. They charge and almost immediately their jaws lock around Shusei's throat and side.
Shsuei only lets out a small yell, realizing physical agony wasn't nearly as painful as he had expected. This pain is nothing compared to the betrayal.
….
After Hotsuma had finished off the last of the Duras, he hears a gurgling noise coming from one of the bodies.
"Sure you should have left your partner alone for so long?" It laughs.
Hotsuma whips his head around at the mention of Shusei, "What?"
The Duras just laughs, "You think Grave cares about Reiga or his plan? No, he's more simple than that…" The Duras coughs up blood, clearly losing strength. "He enjoys playing with humans, that's all… It's all a game to him…" The breaths were becoming ragged and he uses his last breath to deliver the ominous warning, "Your partner…I'd go find him…if I were you…"
Chills run up Hotsuma's spine.
What does he mean?
He runs off to find Shusei.
…..
"NO!"
Shusei can barely see anymore, but he doesn't need to see to recognize the voice.
"Why did you come?" The words were no more than a whisper; he knew they wouldn't be heard.
I thought you had abandoned me…
"Shusei! Get up! Don't you dare die here!" A blond lifts his limp and damaged body into his lap, "I swear to God, I'll go to hell and drag you back myself!"
Are those tears you're holding back?
"Why?...How could you?..."
"It wasn't me! It was all a lie-"
"I still can't bring myself…to hate you…but-"
"Shusei! Listen! It's not what you think!" The blond screams earnestly.
At this point it doesn't matter to Shusei, "I can't…I can't see you anymore."
"Shusei! Shusei, please!"
Shusei's head falls into the blond's chest. Everything went black and all sounds began to fade. But he wasn't scared. Death was all he wanted now. His release. There's no more suffering beyond death, or so he hopes.
"SHUSEI!"
…
A hand falls harshly on Hotsuma's shoulder, Takashiro's.
"Quickly, give him to me." He says with almost no emotion.
Hotsuma is to overcome by emotion to hear his words.
"Hurry, or you won't ever see him again. The ritual, if it's done now, I can reincarnate him! " He quickly explains.
Hostuma hears the words but can't comprehend their meaning. His grip on Shusei is firm. He's looking at his partner but also seeing right through him.
"Hotsuma!" Takashiro screams, trying to reach him, "His soul will be lost if you don't give him to me now!"
Blankly, Hotsuma looks up at the man and loosens his grip, "Please…be careful…" He pleads, "Bring him back to me…please…" Silent tears are falling down his face.
Sorry if this is a little confusing, going back and forth between the two and Grave's inpersonation of them. I've been working on this chapter for so long I just had to stop at some point!
I just really wanted to get this up before my computer died again, so maybe in the future I'll go back and fix up any errors or typos.
FYI, my computer hasn't been working lately, so I'm not too sure when the next update will come. I don't even have the next chapter written out yet, but this story shouldn't be too much longer. I'm thinking maybe 2 or 3 more chapters. Thanks for sticking with me though! I really appreciate all the favs, reviews and follows. It means a lot especially since this is my first multi chapter story!
