And now onto part 3!

It was day two of all the mess that had been started. The countdown to the end of the world. Utopia and Noel sat on top of a building watching over the people of Luxerion. There had been surges of violence by the Children of Etro. People that weren't quite obedient to Noel. They were slaughtering pink haired women. Looking for the Savior. Lightning had started to do Bhunivelze's work but she had yet to come to Luxerion.

According to Lumina, she was out in the Wildlands dealing with Sazh. Not that it mattered too much to Noel. It wasn't time for him to do his part, so for all intents and purposes he was on extended break. Well, that's what it felt like most of the time. Utopia seemed bound and determined to do as much as possible to give Noel a headache.

Such as been dragged out to search for chaos infusions to study them or to talk to the souls trapped with in. Often times he dragged Noel with him to infiltrate the Order of Salvation. Not that he found that curious, but they never went to see Vanille. Instead they went to study the relics that the Order was collecting. It made Noel suspicious more then curious actually. There was a lot that Hope, no Utopia, wasn't telling him. And Noel didn't like to be on the outside.

"There." Utopia stood up and pointed towards the east side of town. "Bhunvielize has done something terrible."

"Something more terrible then he's already doing? After all, we're all going to die anyways."

"Bhunivelze can only make one kind of creature in this world." Utopia turned to face him, Noel could feel the glare even if he couldn't see it. "And those he would create now will have no interest in helping humanity."

"Then what should we do?" Noel pushed himself up and looked at where light was beginning to glow, getting brighter and brighter.

"Stop it. At this point members of the Order will approach it thinking it's a blessing from god. The more people who are dead, the more power Bhunivelze could potentially have."

"You still haven't explained—"

"There's no time!" And Utopia took off towards the source.

Grumbling under his breath. Noel jumped up and followed the other. They went, jumping over rooftops. They dove off the roofs into the alley way and headed further towards the source. Noel tore off in a different direction to get around behind it. Mostly just to set up a pincher attack on whatever the creature could be.

And what a familiar creature it was. No one remembered the Fal'cie Adam other then Serah and Noel. The Fal'cie hadn't been very tough when he'd fought him, but he had had the ability to regenerate. But that was due to the paradox right?

The creature stood up and glared down at them. It reached out for Noel, it's hands grasping as if in memory of the blows that Noel had once given him. Before the creature could get close, the hunter jumped back and lightning bolts drove past him sending the beast reeling. Noel dived forward again, sword ready and tore into the creature. It howled in angry and swung wildly before disappearing.

"Well that was unexpected." Noel murmured as he relaxed his stance and turned towards the other. Utopia had his ever present cowl covering his eyes but his mouth was a tense line.

"It wasn't very powerful." He chewed his lip in thought and then turned towards the false moon. The Ark. "Maybe he still doesn't have the ability to do much in this world."

"Meaning what?" Noel asked quietly.

"That something is either going according to plan… Or something is horribly wrong."

Hope stood quietly in the Ark amongst the bright light. He hated it to be honest. The constant light hurt his eyes and the pain of the transformation had never left him. Although his emotions were gone and probably some other integral parts of himself. He was about to turn back to his watching, when the gate opened and Lightning walked in. He felt something inside him relax a bit. It felt good to be with someone that was 'real.'

Although the familiar tinge of dread curled around his spine.

"I need you to go to Luxerion." Hope's mouth spoke for him. The voice of God indeed. "There is a man there known as the Shadow Hunter. He has a desire to kill the Savior…"

"Then shouldn't I avoid him." Lightning asked, her own voice just as emotionless. They were like dolls being played for a show that no one was watching. Hope wanted to say yes, that she should stay far away from Luxerion, for a grief stricken Noel who might have been tricked into hurting her.

"He can be saved. He is the one whom chaos tricked. He has no love for it and seeks to right his wrongs. His conversion will bring the Children of Etro under our guidance." Hope turned back to the computer, unable to look at her anymore. Twice, twice they had fought for what was right. Tried to free the world from tyranny and death. And now here they were. The people bringing about a disastrous end in which everyone died.

"You must meet with the Shadow Hunter."

"Why? I thought my only job was to collect Eradia." She asked as she crossed her arms and glared at him. "I didn't sign up for any extra curricular activities."

The silence between the two of them became tense. Lightning started to wonder if Hope was beginning to expect something was amiss about her. Or if something was amiss about himself. Finally Hope took a deep breath and turned to look at Lightning.

"There is a small caveat to collecting souls that I guess I did not inform you of. Any souls left not saved run the risk of being destroyed. And the more powerful the corruption the harder it gets to save them. Especially in the aftermath. Vanille is doing what she can for the souls of those that are already dead. But those that are living… are living in such pain." Hope took a slow breath, a memory of pain shot through him and he had to gather himself back up. "If you do not help Noel… He will disappear."

"I see." Lightning murmured as she looked back at Hope. She remembered the relationship that the two had forged. She had seen it durning her time under Etro's tenure. And yet, Hope didn't look like he cared. Was it because of the split or something else. "So I should go confront the man that wants to kill me and see what happens?"

"I…" Hope stopped talking and turned away from her. "Look this is what our job is. It doesn't matter how many questions you have… This is what you have to do."

Lightning stared at the tense line of his shoulders. She remembered those shoulders looking like that in the Grapa Whitewood. So long ago, a place that didn't exist anymore. She moved closer and laid a hand on his shoulder. "I will go to Luxerion when the new day starts."

It wasn't comfort but without the parts of her the Lumina had took, there was no way she could really extend any.

"Hope…" The voice was soft and breath slowly brushed against his ear. Utopia opened his eyes and looked towards the other. He was convinced that Noel didn't sleep. The other was sitting on the floor in front of the couch. A hand reached out and cupped his cheek.

Utopia closed his eyes and brought his hand up to cradle the hand against his face. A soft silence stretched between him before the chaos being spoke.

"You shouldn't call me that." He finally spoke as he opened his eyes again. Noel leaned down and kissed him. Utopia moved his hand to Noel's hair and clutched brown strands before pulling back.

"You shouldn't pretend that I am him." The silver haired man whispered.

"I'm not." Noel pulled back and stared down at him. "You are his emotions. His love for me. Why shouldn't I take this opportunity to let you… him, know that I still care."

"You're an idiot." Utopia stood up and turned away. He pushed Noel back and headed for the door. He was about to pull up his cowl when the hunter grabbed him and turned him back around.

"If we are all going to die in 13 days… Then why can't I embrace the parts of you I can?" Noel asked frustration coloring his tone. "Tell me what I can do to show you that I love you."

"You can work with Lightning to save the world."

"HOPE!" Noel yelled clutching him tight and refusing to let him go. "That's not what I want to hear and that's not the solution to this problem."

"The world is ending and you—" He was cut off by a hand covering his mouth. Noel was looking at him with such heated anger in his eyes. Utopia, no Hope, had never seen the other that kind of angry. They stared at each other in silence for a few moments. Unrelenting bluish violet eyes burning with chaos against the sea green of Utopia's.

"The world is ending. If Bhunivelze has his way we will all die. Permanently. This could be my very last days with you and I have waited… Waited hundreds of years to see you again. And maybe it's only half of you… even if it's only a fourth of the whole Hope… I can't… I won't… Don't you understand that I…" Tears filled the younger man's eyes as he lowered his head. "I love you so much."

Utopia didn't reply to that. Instead he reached out and took Noel into his arms. Unsure of what to say, or even how to say it. His throat felt as if it had been filled with cotton. Noel curled into him, almost making himself seem smaller then Utopia. The other closed his eyes and leaned his head against Noel's.

"It's not that I don't love you." Utopia finally spoke, stroking a hand through Noel's brown locks. "It's not because of some high and mighty thing. It just doesn't… It doesn't feel right when I'm not… whole."

"Is there anyway you think we can make you whole before the end of days?" Noel's voice was muffled against his cloak. The arms around him tightened and Utopia swallowed the thick feeling in his throat. The guilt that was filling him up more and more.

"I don't think so. Bhunivleze would have to relinquish his hold over my body and my 'order' for that to happen and I don't know if he will. Furthermore, the only one with access to the Ark is Lightning and I don't think she'd allow for stragglers."

"I'm not sure I'm enjoying this rejection… regardless of who you phrase it." Noel grumbled more, squeezing tighter. Utopia was beginning to regret even approaching Noel at this point.

"I'm not rejecting you." He murmured and then closed his eyes. "I don't know what I'm doing. My only goal is to stop Bhunivelze…" A deep shuddering breath. "And to be honest… The abuse that I've suffered at his hands is a lot. To feel something other then the anger… I'm afraid."

"What did that bastard do to you?" Noel's voice was low and dangerous as he sat up fully to look into Utopia's eyes. "Hope, what did he do to you?"

"I can't." Utopia looked away.

"Hope."

"Don't call me that."

"Hope." Noel lifted his head up so they were looking eye to eye again. Chaos being well, a chaotic thing, didn't allow for a being that was composed purely of it to remain emotionally calm. And well, on his own Hope's emotions had always been rather volatile. The tears came hard and fast. Along with everything behind it. The pain, the fear and the horror.

Noel's eyes widened as the smaller man collapsed into him sobbing helplessly. The hunter was at a loss as he tried to figure out how to comfort the other, but with no way of really knowing. He wasn't sure of what to do. The silence stretched on until Utopia's cries sputtered to a stop. Eyes red and head feeling a little bit clearer. The chaos being sat up and studied the face of the one he loved. He would do anything to save Noel. Anything and everything. He leaned forward and kissed him.

"I'm sorry for worrying you."

Lumina grouched as she walked along the streets of Luxerion. She was on her way to meet up with Noel and Hope. And she had spied, with all the unfortunate luck in her entire being. Lightning moving around collecting Eradia. She knew she shouldn't be grumpy with her other half. After all, Lightning was doing what needed to be done.

But she couldn't help but be annoyed. They had such limited time and Lightning, one of their strongest assets was playing the good little savior. The petty anger of course was something that Lumina would never deny herself. It made her feel stronger. She cast a rough glare at the people around her. Those that could see her, thought her childish but she found no pity for them at all.

"There you are." Lumina cursed as she stared Lightning down. "I knew that if I came here, I'd find you again."

"And so you did." Lumina bowed with a cheeky smile. "But you can't attack me. I'm under the protection of the Shadow Hunter. Do you really want to gain his ire?"

"Well It would be better for him not to be angry… I'm perfectly willing to beat him into submission."

"Lightning I think that's a bit rough." A new voice crackled around. Lumina stared with surprise. That was Hope. "And who are you talking to? I can't seem them at all."

"Then I guess the person before me must be pure chaos." Lightning stated nonchalantly as she continued to glare Lumina down.

"That's… That can't be good." Hope uttered and Lumina could practically feel his nervousness.

"You know… it's not nice to talk about me like I'm not here." She sent her other half a strong glare but she knew that it would not do well to make Hope too nervous.

"Well in actuality. You aren't really here." Lightning responded. Furious, Lumina released the chaos in her, attracting one of the more monstrous things hiding with in the chaos.

"Why don't you see how real that is!" She shouted on her way out.

"Honestly." Noel stated with his hands on his hips as he glared at Lumina. "Do you really have to cause so much trouble?"

The pink haired girl pouted up at him and looked away. "It was just a small monster."

"Small?" Noel looked towards where Lightning was still fighting that monster. "If I thought less of Lightning I'd march over there and help her."

"Well it's her fought for being stupid." Lumina hissed and Utopia rolled her eyes.

"Right now, she's a half soulless drone for Bhunivelze. If she looked like she had a clue. I'm sure we'd be in much more trouble." Utopia touched her shoulder gently. "We all have our roles. Please be more mindful of them."

"Collecting Eradia for that bastard that took you." She grumbled sadly.

"Collecting Eradia so that we can make the new world. Even if we were to confront Bhunivelze… We can't save the world and he can't create a new world without Yggdrasil. The gods of creation are either gone or out of commission. So yes, right now we do need to give into what he wants. He guards Yggdrasil within the Ark and the only person that can get there is Lightning."

Lumina grumbled under her breath but kept her opinions to herself. Noel stared between the two of them more in frustration then confusion. He knew there were things they weren't sharing with him. Things that Utopia knew because Hope knew it. Things that Bhunivelze either willingly or unwittingly shared with Hope.

"Then maybe we should get on to doing our parts."