Flames reared up from the pedestal in the presumed center of the room. They threw light as well as shadows all over the area; darkness danced along the walls as fire licked at the air, all in a complex and almost manic rhythm.

However, even the fire slowed its pace as one person in particular stepped into its light. As Zeke entered visibility, his sickly green eyes alight, the air seemed to slow. It was almost like everything in the room had taken on a sense of calm anticipation and cold sweat. All eyes were on Zeke as his face stopped over the flames, a smile on his face.

He held up a piece of paper that glowed with a blue brilliance. "This, my friends," he announced, "is the final piece of our plan. With these, the blueprints to the castle in Astaria's capital, we can finally rise up and have our day!" When he shouted his last line with the vigor of a general, roaring applause cascaded over the room, blowing the fire every which way.

Cooro was as in on the applause as he ever was. To him, all the hard work was finally going to pay off - +Anima were no longer going to have to endure ridicule and persecution from jealous and scared humans. +Anima were going to be able to live life without fear of discrimination. +Anima were finally going to be free.

As the noise subsided, Zeke raised a hand. "My allies, my friends." He looked around, even though he couldn't really see anyone else very clearly. "This is not a guarantee of our success. I hope you all realize this." Murmurs from all the +Anima in the room began to grow; did Zeke not just say they would have their day because of the blueprints?

"We must march to the castle and take it, and this page is the key!" Screams of appreciation and a large tumult of applause arose; of course this is what Zeke had meant; everyone else had just misunderstood him. Cooro, of course, knew this same truth, just like everyone else.

Noïr sauntered up next to Zeke, much to his delight. Grinning above the flames, which cast eerie shadows on his face, he put an arm around the mouse +Anima's neck and pulled her in close. "Tonight will be the night that you all get your assignments." Tingles went up the spines of not only Cooro, but every other +Anima there. Tommy's tail swished; hairs on Greta's arms stood on end. "And tonight, we will march to the castle, and tomorrow, at the crack of dawn, we will take the capital."

His hands curled into fists and his eyes flashed in the light of the inferno. It was as if flames burned in his pupils. "We will take their capital, and we will take their symbols, and we will have our day!" There were massive cheers. "Our day is upon us!" More cheers exploded, beginning to rock the chamber where they were. "It is our destiny to rise above! And we will be free!" His last words were almost drowned out by the volume of whooping from his +Anima followers.

Zeke sneered in absolute triumph. His plan was coming to fruition. Soon, he would be looking upon the castle at Astaria, and in no more than 24 short hours, it would be all his. It was almost too much to bear – everything he'd worked for was so close to being a success. His eyes swam over to Noïr's, and both shared a short laugh.

So soon…so soon…

Zeke leaned over and the fire took on a new life in his eyes as he let his lips touch hers. Noïr practically melted into his kiss, her eyes closing and her arms wrapping around his chest. Her body temperature was rising until it broke the thermometer. She didn't notice Zeke's eyes open, and she didn't notice the loving look he gave her. She didn't notice anything until he wove his hand, and the fires dissipated.

Husky was alone in the small chamber he'd been given. Alice had led him, along with Nana and Senri, to the small cluster of personal chambers after Igneous went off to gather up his troops. Rose had gone off by herself, not looking very well; from the looks of things, she was extremely guilty and had maybe even resigned herself to something. But what that something was was beyond Husky's thoughts.

Instead, the fish +Anima paced from corner to corner, his mind on different things. But for all his concentration, his brain was unable to stay on one subject. At first he'd be thinking of how to fight, and then his attention would switch to Cooro; he'd be mad at Zeke, and then his attention would switch to Cooro; he'd tell himself he needed to stop thinking about Cooro, and then his attention would switch to Cooro. It was a bit of a vicious cycle. Slowly but surely, the thought of his friend was eating away at Husky.

In order to combat it, he went to the window, the glass starting to stain from the drizzle outside, and looked down to the grounds. Troops, draped in their military garb, were marching in formation, hands gripped tightly on the hilts of their swords. Igneous was in front of them, leading them in preparation for what was to come: Zeke.

Sighing, Husky turned from the window. He still wasn't convinced Igneous was taking the radical +Anima seriously enough, but he should consider it a victory in itself that Igneous had even considered defense. In the end, it was all thanks to Alice anything was being done at all – she had more sway over the captain than he ever would. Crossing over to the bed, Husky relaxed all his muscles and let himself fall. He hit the sheets with a groan and lay there, staring up at the ceiling with his hands behind his head. The night was just beginning to fall, and it would be a long one. Husky heavily weighed the option that he might not get any sleep, and would be up defending against +Anima like himself well before dawn.

It was not only a daunting thought, but a poisonous one. Though it hadn't been alive too long, it was already tugging on Husky's conscience – he didn't want to fight others like him, let alone Cooro.

That was how his mind wandered, once again, to the crow +Anima. Husky brought a hand out from under his head and put it up above his face. For a long time, he studied his hand, curling it into a fist and uncurling it, twisting it and turning it over. While he said nothing out loud, his thoughts were screaming. And every single one was centered on Cooro.

What did he mean to Husky…? Nana had suggested the possibility of… The fish +Anima gulped. It was an odd prospect, almost a bit terrifying. What if he did? What if Nana was right?

At the same time, Husky had to consider what he already knew. He was positive he didn't have feelings for Cooro. Whenever an image of the two kissing crossed his mind, he retched. But also, the crow +Anima's touch was like electricity. A shiver ran through Husky whenever any parts of the two made contact, even if for only an instant.

He was confused. What was he supposed to believe? Everything was wacky, turned upside-down and sideways. Nothing made even remote sense anymore.

So he sat, staring at his hand as he twirled it this way and that, not really trying to take his mind off his dilemma but wishing against all odds that it would just go away. Nothing succeeded. Like always, the image of Cooro persisted and endured, and it was enough to drive Husky mad. He finally broke and flailed his arms around, kicking at air and rolling on the bed, ruffling the sheets.

The rain was picking up outside and smashing against the window – that was all the noise Husky needed. No screaming necessary; he wouldn't, he couldn't. He couldn't let anyone hear his distress, lest he add more to their already overfull plates. And he knew that people like Alice were most likely having the hardest time. Husky couldn't bear to cause more problems.

Flipping over, he let his head hit the pillow. Things were making his head burn. He just needed a little relief, that's all he wanted. Just make everything stop for a bit. Husky scrunched his eyes closed. "Leave me alone… Please…" His entire body trembled like it was teetering on the edge of a leaf.

Finally, Husky's sapphire eyes opened, letting the dim light of the moon bombard him. And as the blurriness of reopening his eyes crawled away, he saw him. He was right there…right on the bed, when before there hadn't been a soul besides the fish +Anima.

Husky almost blinked, but didn't for fear of him disappearing. "C-Cooro…?" The crow +Anima was in the same room, lying on top of the blanket. The boy was completely naked, except for the small tangle of sheets that covered up his waist and pelvic area. The boy looked so…entrancing. Husky couldn't help but move closer, in total disbelief. "Is it…really you…?" A hand reached out, first touching Cooro's, then curling around it, their fingers intertwining.

Cooro gave a nod that sent icy horses galloping up Husky's back. And the fish +Anima couldn't stop himself from sliding closer, to where he almost touched the other boy. "I was waiting for you, Cooro… Waiting for you to come back from that monster…" His words came out airily as the breath started escaping his lungs. "And now you are…"

"I'll never go back to him," Cooro said reassuringly, his eyes drooping slightly.

That was it, Husky decided. He couldn't take it any longer, or else it would devour him from the inside. Stretching his neck out, he put his head next to Cooro's and gently pressed both of their lips together. And it was the most glorious feeling he'd ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Fire was caressing his face and slowly working its way down the rest of his body. When the burning flame reached Husky's wick, the ensuing pleasure made him cry out.

That cry brought Husky to his senses. His head jolted up from the pillow that he'd been pressing his face against. Looking around, he got to see the bitter truth: he was still alone, the rain was still hammering upon the window, and the night was still young. Husky sighed in a frustrated manner, sitting up and going over things in his head.

He'd honestly thought Husky was there? How stupid could he get…? There was no way Cooro would ever be alone with him, especially not on a night such as this. The crow +Anima was still with Zeke, and wouldn't come back to the side of justice and reason, no matter how much Husky lo-

Husky stopped, bringing his hands to his mouth to hide the gasp and squeak that followed. Had he really just thought that? But the pieces were all there, and even though he'd just imagined seeing Cooro, the feelings he'd had were more than genuine. There was still a great amount of heat running from his hands to his head, down through his legs and his pelvis. And something was throbbing against his pants. When Cooro's voice floated back into his mind, it pushed against his trousers, desperate for freedom.

How long would he keep up this barrier? Husky could do it no longer. It was time to open his eyes, stare ahead, and just admit it. No longer would it keep him awake, drill at him, and haunt him. No longer would he have to deny who he truly was. Husky took a deep breath, perhaps one last tug on normality, before saying it to himself.

He was in love with Cooro.

He was in love with Cooro.

He wanted Cooro.

He needed Cooro.

Getting to his feet, a bit wobbly, he crossed over to the window. Igneous' troops and the captain himself were still marching. They were getting ready for the fight. Just like Husky was going to have to do. Except now it would be five times as hard. Curling a gloved hand into a fist, Husky told himself again and again that he would do whatever it took to stop Zeke.

But could he, now that he knew for sure he was in love with Cooro? Could he truly put that aside for the good of Astaria?

It was going to be a long night.