I'm so excited to post this new chapter! A big shout out to Kitkat3195 for the amazing review that actually inspired this new chapter. I was so happy to get that awesome review and it really made a bad day so happy for me. ^^ This is one of my favorite chapters so far and I'm so excited to give it to you guys. As always reviews are lovely to get and I love giving new chapters after getting them.

"Thank you Kuroto," Senshirou said when they got back to their room, "You stood behind me."

"You're welcome," he said, "I'd stand by you no matter what you did."

"Kuroto," Senshirou said, "why did you do it? Stay with me I mean."

"I've already lost one Zweilt partner," Kuroto said, "I wasn't ready to lose another. I never will be."

Senshirou smiled and Kuroto's heart stopped. Even without the competition he'd never have a chance. Senshirou walked over to the bed and shed his shirt lying belly down on the bed with his face to the side. Kuroto's eyes slowly raked over the bare skin of his partner. He heard a soft snoring and smiled slightly.

Kuroto walked over to Senshirou and kissed his cheek. He walked over to the other side of the bed abandoned his shirt and laid next to him. He closed his eyes and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

"Toko?" Tsukumo asked worriedly popping his head into her room after hearing the slight sobs coming from the room next door.

Toko quickly tried to wipe up her tears and hid the fact she was crying from her younger brother.

"Nothing," she said quietly trying to hold back the sobs.

Tsukumo came into the room and sat beside her.

"I'm fine," he promised, "I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. It was an illusion."

"She said it was real," Toko said finally looking up at his with tear filled eyes.

"If they made the choice to fight us but they backed down," Tsukumo said reassuringly, "we're going to be fine."

She leaned her head on her brother's shoulder.

"I hope so," she whispered closing her eyes.

"Hotsuma," Shusei said as he sat down on the bed.

They were getting ready to go to sleep and Shusei was still dressed fully unlike Hotsuma who preferred to sleep shirtless. Hotsuma knew that the only reason Shusei kept his shirt on was the scars the marred his chest.

"Yes?" Hotsuma asked.

"I promised I wouldn't hide them so I won't but don't dwell on it," he said and Hotsuma watched him carefully as his shirt was discarded. The marks were clearly showing on his skin but he didn't turn away and instead looked Hotsuma straight in the eye.

"I don't blame you for them," he said quietly, "so you don't need to blame yourself for them."

Hotsuma looked at them and then up at Shusei.

"I won't," he said quietly, "not anymore."

"Thank you," Shusei breathed, "come on."

Hotsuma slowly approached the bed and slipped under the sheets on the other side. He looked at Shusei as he drifted into a peaceful sleep. Shusei, in his sleep unconsciously gravitated toward Hotsuma and soon was incased in his arms. Hotsuma breathed in his smell and relaxed as Shusei's head found its way into the crook of Hotsuma's neck. He fit perfectly into place and for once Hotsuma felt content.

"Luka," Yuki said quietly with his head down.

Luka silently slid next to Yuki so that he was breathing in his intoxicating aroma.

"Yes?" he asked.

"You said you will always protect me," Yuki began.

"Yes," Luka agreed.

"Who's going to protect you when the war comes?" he asked.

"I am," Luka answered.

"I want to protect you!" Yuki burst out.

Luka smiled slightly and looked over at him, running the back of his hand gently down the side of Yuki's face.

"You can protect me by saying safe," he said and stood up, "I will be able to better protect myself if you're safe."

"I will," Yuki said, "I promise."

"Good," Luka said and pulled back the sheets ushering Yuki in and making sure he was comfortable, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Yuki replied and promptly fell asleep.

"Luka," a woman called.

A tall, mysterious figure was at her side, on one knee waiting for her to tell him what was wrong.

"I want you to be careful," she said, "this battle will be tough."

"I will," he promised the woman.

"In case you don't make it back I want you to know that I love you," she said gently kissing his lips.

"I love you too," Luka said, "I will not betray you, Yuki."

Yuki shot up out of bed and looked around. He felt for anything different about him yet could find nothing.

"Yuki," Luka asked and Yuki looked up to see the Dura hovering over him looking slightly worried.

"I'm fine," Yuki said, "Just a weird dream."

"Everything is okay now," Luka said, "you should go back to sleep."

"I will," he said and laid back down but he couldn't break the sense of déjà vu he was having at the dream that had been having.

'It all seemed so real' he thought.

"How much longer can we avoid conflict?" Cory asked.

His territory was threatened and he was fuming. He had come back from his mission only to find out what had happen.

"As long as it takes," Nikki answered.

"He's a danger in this house!" Cory fumed.

"But we need all the help we can get," Nikki declared leaving no room for argument, "Now out, the lot of you!"

"Leader's meeting?" Sami questioned.

"Yes if by leader's meeting you mean a big argument between Nikki and Davi," Ali said smirking slightly as she walked in.

"I can't help it!" Nikki exclaimed, "He's such an ass."

"I am not," Davi growled walking in.

"Nikki it's not his fault he's got a stick up his ass," Ali teased.

"I don't have a stick up my ass!" Davi hissed.

"Yeah that's the problem," Nikki mumbled.

"What?" he asked glaring at her.

Nikki glared back.

"The problem isn't that you have a stick up your ass, it's that no one's been up your ass!" Nikki spat out.

"How dare you!" Davi snarled back.

"I'm just saying if you got out of the closet you'd be much happier," Nikki went back to her calm, teasing demeanor.

"Well they're not getting any work done," Sami said and they all started to walk away.

"Get that thing away from me!" Davi yelled at Nikki as they walked away.

"I'm telling you it will make you feel better!" Nikki teased laughing.

"I don't even know what it is!" Davi exclaimed.

They heard a crash and then a deep chuckle.

"Really Nikki?" Austin's voice came through the chaos.

"It's a good makeshift for him," Nikki explained, "I keep trying to explain it will make him feel better."

"You mean makeshaft," Ali grounded out in between laughing.

"Exactly," Nikki laughed.