Matt awoke from a dream that he immediately forgot.

Reluctantly, he allowed his senses to uncurl and examine his surroundings. He felt sand, and ran it through his fingers. He could hear gulls... and the ocean... why? With a jolt, he remembered how he'd got there. His eyes snapped open and he quickly pushed himself upright... straight into the face of another person.

"JEEEEEZ, man!" Mizutsu gasped, recoiling with his hands over his face. "Give me a bit've warning before ya do that. Y'almost took my eye out!"

Matt cried out in pain and collapsed back, clutching his nose. Vaguely, he was aware of people laughing. Turning his head sideways, he identified the source as the rest of the Deltas, all cracking up at the pair of them. "It's not funny!" He shouted at them, his voice all nasally. That just made them laugh even harder. Matt couldn't help but laugh along, despite the pain.

Leah was the first one to regain some self-control and was now attempting to be serious. She turned to Mizutsu and crossed her arms sternly. "Right, Mr Mizutsu. Getting straight down to business, I think you owe someone here an apology."

Mizutsu nodded and kneeled down. Matt pulled himself up into a sitting position, so they were now level. Mizutsu paused, trying to figure out what to say. "I... I'm real sorry pal. I wasn't myself in that duel." He bowed his head in shame. "I said and did some horrible things that I didn't mean. Truly, I'm sorry."

Matt reached out and patted him on the shoulder. "It's ok." Mizutsu looked up, surprised. "It's like you said: you weren't yourself. I know you wouldn't do anything like that for real. You're a nice guy."

"Ya mean it? Thanks, buddy! I can't thank ya enough!" He wiped his eyes and stood up. "Although, I sure do wish I knew what actually happened to me during that duel... ah well, guess I'll never know."

Matt looked at him with confusion. He started to say something, but in the corner of his eye he saw Dan shake his head, and Leah put a finger to her lips. He shut his mouth, still confused.

"Right," said Leah, her arms folded again. "That takes care of one apology." She turned to Matt. "Now it's your turn."

"Me?" Matt said. Leah nodded. Matt looked into the faces of each of his friends and realised that she was right. He'd been acting like a selfish, stubborn jerk all day, and they hadn't deserved it. "I'm... I'm sorry." He said. And he meant it. "Ever since this band cured me, I've been struggling with the things I did while I was possessed. I hurt many people, and caused a lot of suffering." He saw many eyes widen, and it occurred to him that the Professor must not have told them what he did. Still, they kept quiet, which he appreciated. He bowed his head and went on. "I was really scared. Scared of your Numbers, scared of my own Number, scared of the band not working, scared of my duty... I wanted to avoid my problems however I could. You guys were nothing but supportive, yet I was still a stubborn jerk and you didn't deserve that. I'm sorry. I really am."

Nobody said anything. The only sounds were from the birds and the water. Matt sat there with his head bowed in shame, praying for one of them to say something. Soft footsteps drew his attention. He tentatively raised his head, and saw Dan now standing beside Leah. Their faces gave nothing away. Mizutsu was looking apprehensive, unsure whether they were going to forgive him, shout at him, or even attack him.

Then Dan smiled, and reached out a hand. It was two simple movements, nothing more than that, but the effect it had on Matt was profound. Filled with happiness, Matt took Dan's hand and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. Dan gave him a rough pat on the back, and said "Welcome back."

Leah, also beaming, gave Matt a brief hug, then stepped aside for Kaite, who likewise embraced him. When they broke apart, Katie kept her hands on Matt's shoulders and looked him straight in the face. "We were worried about you," she said, and the other two nodded. "We're so glad you're ok."

Matt was too choked up to reply. To know that they cared for him so much, that they didn't hate him, that they really had been worried about him... it was almost too much.

Then he looked at James. James had approached while the others had been smiling and laughing, but neither of those two things were visible on James' face. His expression was passive, unreadable. Matt eyed him apprehensively.

"You're right," James said, choosing his words carefully, his voice giving nothing away. "You were stubborn, you were a jerk, and you were generally unlikable from the moment we met you." Those words stung, but James wasn't finished yet. "But... I know that we'll never get anywhere as a team if we don't act like a team, and I also know that it was the Number making you do those things – it wasn't necessarily who you are. So, for all that... yeah, I forgive you."

It wasn't the heart-warming speech that Matt had hoped for, but he appreciated it all the same. He smiled and nodded. James nodded back.

"Well then, I guess there's no reason for me to stick around any longer then, is there?" Mizutsu said, seemingly quite happy with this turn of events. "I'll be off then. Be seein' ya!"

"Later," said Matt, and the others all waved, as Mizutsu took his leave, walking up the beach and into the promenade.

Now it was just the five of them. Matt, resisting the urge to start hugging everyone in sight, instead asked a question. "So why didn't we tell him about the Number? Doesn't he have a right to know what happened?"

"We discussed this while you were both unconscious." Dan replied. "We decided that it would be best if Mizutsu didn't know what caused him to act that way. Ideally, the Numbers' power over people should remain a secret unless absolutely necessary. That way, we can avoid widespread panic over the cards."

Matt considered this for a moment. "Out of curiosity..." he said, the idea still forming in his brain. "...why is this widespread panic a bad thing? The moment people see a Number, they'll be crazy, it'll be all over the news, and that'll make the Number holder a lot easier to find."

"That is a good point," said Katie, taking over from Dan. "Unfortunately, once word of the Numbers' power spreads, people will start wanting the Numbers. Some people will even resort to stealing the Numbers before we get to them, which means we'd have to start the hunt all over again."

"Ok then." Matt said, reassured. "So the Numbers remain our secret."

"Definitely," said Leah. Then she yawned, tired from the exertions of the day.

Dan laughed. "I think we should get going. It looks like the baby needs her beddy-byes." He immediately took off down the beach, with Leah chasing him and shouting at him.

"Who're you calling a baby? I'm gonna throw you into the sea! I'll fill your underwear with lobsters! I'll stick sea urchins in your ears and watch-"

"Totally worth it!" Dan cried as he dashed passed the others in a blaze of sand, Leah hot on his tail. The other three were cracking up laughing at the pair of them.

"Haha… well, I suppose it is getting late." Katie said, stretching. "Maybe we should go."

James grinned wickedly. "Aw, what's wrong? Is the other little baby getting all tuckered out? Coochie coochie coo..."

"Oh lord, don't you start," said Katie, rolling her eyes. Then she looked at Matt. "What's say you, Matt? Time to go home?"

Matt smiled, and nodded.

'Home…'

Fun Fact #23: In future stories, Number 36: Mermonstrosity will be Matt's secondary Number, but he will seldom rely on any Number besides his own Number 51: Dark Excalibur.

Fun Fact #24: There was, in fact, quite a disagreement between us about whether to write 'gulls' or 'seagulls' in this chapter. Fortunately, I was able to prove that seagulls don't exist, so we went for that one.

Fun Fact #25: Hidden throughout some of the chapters in this story, you'll find some very very very small pieces of foreshadowing to a certain event that will take place in a future story. If you can work out what that event is now, then we will personally give you a high twenty-five.