Chapter Two:

With a smile on her lips, she didn't interrupt him as he spoke amongst the others, just listening to him speak made her feel a wave of nostalgia wash over her. He then looked down at her and smiled gently, cupping her chin in his hand and tilting her head up so that they were face to face.

"You must be bored, Ileana. Would you like to go somewhere with me…? There's someone that I want to go see and I believe that you might like to meet him." She blushed a little and nodded.

"I'm not really bored, my lord. But if you wish to take me somewhere, I wouldn't mind going along with you." Hades then chuckled as he picked her up and carried her, now leaving off to go where he wished. It seemed dream-like as he once again carried her away in his arms, uncaring of the surroundings as they passed by because of just how enamored she was with the kind-hearted lord of the Underworld.

"It's your friend, idiot!" A young man in purple armor called out. Only when she heard the sound of unfamiliar voices did she return to reality, looking at the three warriors that were there. She then saw the look of the young man's face that seemed almost wounded from their arrival.

"Tenma, I came to see you." Hades said to him, his smile as sweet as ever while he placed Ileana back upon the ground, keeping one arm wrapped around her delicate waist.

"Alone!" He called out, seeming to not even notice the young woman that he brought along with him. Just then, the woman that was in the group of three caught Ileana's attention.

"Hades… Prepare yourself!" She called out as she launched an assault at him.

"NO!" Ileana cried out as she stood between them and closing her eyes tightly, feeling a burst of energy and an arm encircle around her form. When she opened her eyes, she looked up at Hades as he had simply blocked the attack like it was nothing.

"Are you trying to get between Pegasus and me with such nonsense…? And you also almost harmed Ileana in the process… That was simply a tactless act!" He stated, easily sending her flying into the armored young man.

"Yato! Yuzuriha! Alone, you…!" Tenma was then cut off as Hades gently caressed his face, leaving Ileana where they once were both standing.

"Yes, after all, I came here because you're still my favorite…" Hades had stated softly, catching her attention as to what he meant by that. She felt a twinge of pain in her chest from envy, but knowing that what he meant wasn't the same as how he spoke and treated her. His sincerity towards Pegasus Tenma was different then how he was like towards her.

"I cruelly attacked you as the Lord of the Underworld to save your soul… And even though you still have Sasha's bracelet, you still came all the way here… This wasn't merely an accident. For that reason, Tenma, join my army… Let's change the world together, you and I!" He suggested with such a merciful face, Ileana blushed as she fell to her knees from her own legs giving out on her. Just that one look on his face made her absolutely melt.

"DON'T LET HIM TRICK YOU, TENMA!" The one called Yato yelled out to him, only to go unnoticed by Hades.

"Together, we will bring the world calmness and peace… We'll dye it with the color of darkness. By defeating Athena." He tried to persuade him, only to get his hands shoved away and receive a smirk from the Pegasus Saint.

"I won't do it! Join with you to destroy the world, are you kidding? It's better if you return to Sasha's side. Alone, now I'm a Saint of Athena… To protect the world that you once loved, I will remain by Sasha's side! I'll do it for you too, Alone!" The silence that filled the air was suffocating to her as she could see the hurt smile upon his face from having his offer rejected.

"I see, Tenma. Come here, Ileana…" Hades called out to her, receiving her by his side without hesitation even though what they were saying weighed heavy on her mind.

"I can count on you, can't I…? You will help me cover the world in darkness, won't you, my dove…?" Hades asked her in a gentle voice, causing her to blush as he once again cupped her chin and looked into her eyes.

"O-of course, Lord Hades…! Even if you have no one left, I'll always be at your side!"

"Hearing you say that proves that I can always count on you, my dear queen…" He then turned his smiled back towards Tenma as his arms once again wrapped around the young maiden while Cerberus bounded up to the two of them.

"It doesn't matter, it was only a small chance… What is it that you're going to defend until the end? What you believe or what's right? I'll fight you the next time we see each other."

"I'll fight too and show you mercy, you can count on that! This is our second promise, Alone!"

"And I always keep my promises. Well, until the day we'll play together again, Tenma. I'll see you at the Sanctuary. The three childhood friends will be reunited once again after such a long time! Yes, it will be fun…" He called back to him as Cerberus rushed off while Ileana looked back at the three Saints before they were completely out of sight, wondering what this encounter had meant for the future and why it seemed to hurt her beloved savior so much with that young man's words.

'Why is that man so special to Lord Hades to where he received such a smile that could make me melt as such…? And if they're such close friends before, why would he threaten him?' She thought before looking up at her beloved, worry filling her quickly from how she didn't understand what could all this mean to him.

"L-Lord Hades, may I… Have permission to ask you a few things…?"

"Of course you may, Ileana. And if there's anything that you wish for, all you have to do is tell me what your heart desires." She then smiled at him, surprised at his response.

"Um… I-it's about that boy… Tenma. You seem to care for him greatly… Why is that, my Lord?" Hades then smiled at her in reply and gently caressed her in his arms, holding her closer to himself.

"Because… He's my best friend. We grew up together in the same city but we had taken different paths. I just wish that he could join my side as you have, Ileana…" He spoke softly to her.

"My sweet, beloved Persephone…" This time, he whispered his words into her ear, causing a shiver of nostalgia and excitement to rush through her body as she easily melted against him. It was obvious now that she would do anything for him, even throwing her life away if it was for him. Anything he wished of her would be his no matter what the cost was.

It had been a while since they had returned from their visit with the Pegasus saint and his companions, Ileana was wandering about so that she'd know her way around the Underworld. She smiled faintly as she thought of how her savior wished for that one saint to join him because of their deep friendship.

'If I could just talk with Tenma, maybe I could try to see about if I could persuade and reason with him so that he could be by his side. That would probably make my lord extremely happy and I… I would be of some help to him instead of just being by his side…!' She then giggled as she decided to see if she could find the three saints once again, figuring that they'd either still be in the underworld or trying to leave it.

"Don't think you'll be able to pass so easily, Saints! I'm the Celestial Ugliness Star, Deadly Beatle Stand!" A specter called out from a little ways away from where she was, smiling brightly as she quickly made her way towards them. Ileana didn't listen too much of what the specter had said as she hurried as best she could in her elegant gown to where the four were battling.

"Yuzuriha! Take Tenma and continue on ahead! We don't have any time to waste! You need to get back to the Sanctuary; you hear me, Tenma?!" Yato called out, causing her to pay attention to him as the fight was beginning.

'If Tenma leaves here, then I wouldn't have been able to help Lord Hades or even talk to them about this… I can't let them leave!' Ileana thought as she made a mad dash towards Yuzuriha and Tenma, grabbing his wrist since she could easily tell that she couldn't get him to notice her without doing so.

"Please, wait…! I have to speak with you, Tenma…!" She pleaded, almost in a begging tone as she spoke, letting go of his hand when he looked at her in surprise.

"You're…!"

"At least let me tell you this... Lord Hades really did wish for you to be at his side again since you two were friends. He told me that you were his best friend but I don't understand why must you two fight?" Before he could answer her, the woman quickly grabbed her wrist.

"We don't have time to talk right now."

"Lady Ileana! RELEASE HER!" The specter demanded as he tried to dash towards them, only to loose sight of the three people.

"LADY ILEANA!"

Hades stood before one of his many canvas's as he painted diligently, only stopping in mid stroke when he felt a certain cosmos vanish so suddenly, causing him to drop his brush.

"Ileana…?" He murmured under his breath, his smile vanishing in an instant.

"Pandora!" He called out, a hint of panic entering his voice right then. Right when she arrived before him, bowing as usual.

"Is something the matter, my lord…?" Hades quickly walked up towards her, almost trying to desperately keep himself calm even though he was obviously distressed.

"Something happened to Ileana. I can't sense her cosmos in my domain any longer. Go find out where she is, Pandora! I won't allow any harm to come to my queen!" He ordered.

"As you wish, Lord Hades…" She replied back to him, allowing him to try to return back to his painting.