Alfred struggled against his bonds, pleading through his gaged mouth to be set free. He knew William well enough to know that he would kill Berwald first chance he could get. The fight between Alphas was never very pretty. Most times it ended in emasculation, a common insurer of the inability to reproduce and the loss of a rival. Omegas would never consider such as a potential mate for there was no possible way they could pleasure them nor use them for their truest of purposes. If Berwald were to lose he would suffer such and his family would belong to the victor, if Berwald were to win, Alfred was then his. The younger shuttered at the thought of being a second wife.

The large Alpha sighed heavily and sat the boy up carefully watching where he placed his hands as not to scare the poor child. He knew Omegas were sensitive to an Alpha's touch, and if the right spots were hit then they were putty in their hands. Yet, each Omega was different and it was almost a challenge to the Alpha to find such spots. Berwald did not want such from the virgin. He only wanted his wife and son and if he were to indulge in the younger male he had lost his chance forever for a peaceful negotiation. It was stupidity on their part for leaving him alone after the raid. He heard the child whimper softly and noted the wound on his arm was now reopened. "I'm sorry." He said softly as he ripped the hem of his hakama to wrap around the other's arm. "I'm not very good at the whole captive thing." He got a kind look in response and damn it if he wasn't a sap for puppy eyes. "You must keep quiet then, I have to listen for them." He warned as he removed the gag.

"Berwald…" Alfred kept his voice low. "You were crying…" he said noting the red puffiness around his eyes. It was unusual for an Alpha to cry, they were to be strong leaders but such was not unheard of after the death of someone close.

The elder turned away but nodded. "My men…they were all that were left of my Kingdom." He whispered. He had taken their bodies and burned them, finding no way he alone could honor them all before their bodies began to rot.

The young Omega lowered his head. "There was a war…"

Berwald turned to him, looking confused as he did. How in the world had he known that? "How did you…"

Soft blue orbs looked up at him. "Your guards were loyal to you…they snuck you out through a hidden passageway sending out the younger guards with you. Peter lost his wooden warrior in the cavern…" He looked down and allowed his tears to be shed. "They wanted Tino…they blamed him for the death of your father but you refused them…"

"I did what I had to for my mate. I killed hundreds of my own before the castle fell…" He fixed his glasses and sat next to the bound Omega. It had been tough. All had blamed his beloved for the death of the King. They said that the Omega had charmed Berwald, that he had told him to kill his father but it was not true. Berwald had killed his father for the sake of his love. He had tried to fight of Tino's mother but he was too late. All he had now was hid beloved mate and their youngling. The last of the royal blood line for now, until he could find a settlement safe enough for his family to have more. Tino could not carry a child while on the run in addition to caring for Peter. It was too much to ask of him. "What is your story?"

The child laughed. "Interested in the tale of a slave?" his voice was low but found some humor. He shifted, trying to find comfort in the bonds but found little. "I was dressed in elegant robes made of the finest silks, decorated with gems and gold, and forever remained by my master's side…"

"You were more a pet then slave."

Alfred glared at him. "There is no difference." He snapped. "He beat me, humiliated me, used me…" he bit his lip not wanting to recall those memories. "He was a drunken bastard that used me and my brother for his own selfish gain!" he shouted before being hushed by Berwald. "He tried a few times…when he was drunk…" his body shook violently as he thought of Arthur's touches, his caresses, those soft kisses and heated breath as he was bent over the table in Arthur's office. "I never felt such terror…" he whispered.

Berwald opened his mouth to reassure the boy but then closed it. There was no consoling an Omega after such. Rape was frowned upon greatly but the party punished was never the Alpha. Alphas were seen as slaves to the charms of Omegas but truth be told the Alphas held the power. They could resist if their will was strong enough.

"Can an Alpha truly love his Omega?" Berwald turned his eyes to the other who watched the fire dance. It had taken him off guard. There was a time when such was true, when Omegas were plentiful and free to love those of their choosing. Yet, that was far too long ago. The old ways were dead and Omegas were repressed, forced to submit and subject to the wills of the higher Nature. Berwald was spared for he had stumbled upon an old journal written by a distant grandfather. Within the pages were tales of him and his mate, of how much he loved him, cared for him and how his mate intern did such for him. The love was so righteous so pure that Berwald had long decided to have such. His own mother had been forced to marry his father. Though he cared for Berwald, there was always pain with in him and the longing for freedom was forever there. His father had his mother put to death because he had been unable to give him more heirs. A fault not with in his mother's grasp. Yet, the answer still remained, Could an Alpha love his Omega?

"No." the response caused Alfred to stare at the other. If such was true then Berwald did not truly love Tino. Not as much as the other had claimed. He was disappointed. Even of the Alpha had lied to him it would have been better than this. "An Alpha can do so much more then love his Omega. Love is too small a word for what I feel for Tino. There has not been such to describe the magnitude of my feelings, my emotions that come from him and what he is to me. When I lost him…" Berwald slammed his hand on the wall of the cave in anger. "When I lost him I felt like burning in the eternal pits of hell was far too soft a punishment for me. Death was too easy but living without him was too terrifying to comprehend!" His eyes softened and he looked to the Omega and smiled. "Love is the closest word we have. Yet, love is only the beginning. When you truly love someone, you are willing to live for them, give all you have for them including your very last breath. There is nothing greater than them, not even the gods of this world could take that away. Your soul is your own, no god can claim it! No god can take it nor your love and I believe that such a feeling is what gods truly want. Alfred…" he put his hand on the child's shoulder before hugging him. "I pray you find someone who will make you feel that way."

Before the other could respond a loud roar shook the cave. Berwald swiftly moved the gag back in place before grabbing Alfred by his arm and pulled him up. "Forgive me." He whispered. Looking out across the river was an enraged Alpha, one Berwald did not wish to fight if he had the choice. William was younger and stronger than him.

William paced back and forth. Berwald had Alfred. Berwald had his Alfred! He had touched him! Oh if he tainted his beloved Berwald would pay dearly for it! He rip him a part piece by piece until nothing remained! He took a deep inhale, sniffing for his favorite scent but found only that of the atrocious Alpha. "Berwald!" he groweled out, shaking the very forest as he did. "I SWARE IF HE IS HARMED…" he had embraced his Alfred…had touched him with vile intent to take what wasn't his own.

The opposing Alpha set the Omega down. "He is untouched." Berwald shouted back. "I suggest a trade. Your Omega for mine and my youngling." He was firm about it, showing his true Alpha nature to be calm and reassured, unlike the hot headed Alpha who was far too young to contain himself.

It was a fair trade. Yet, Matthew didn't know where said tradable were. If they did not return soon, this place would be a blood bath. He paced back and forth frantically. If his beloved was claimed, then they could not ascend to heaven. Their love has to be pure, untainted when they joined in body or all will be broken. That was the agreement he had made with the Heavenly Father. That's what he wanted after all, for Tsukiyomi to love him unconditionally. He locked eyes with his beloved. That Omega was not Tsukiyomi. He was not the glorious being that was born with in the ocean waves; he was not the creature that smiled at him. His body shook. He had to make him see, to make him understand who he truly was. Tsukiyomi was going to become the Queen of Heaven.

Almost instantly, Berwald and William tensed even more. Their eyes darted across all that could be seen, sniffing as they did. William narrowed his eyes and let out a deep growl. "FOOL! You've lead them here!" he hissed running toward them. Berwald threw Alfred down, not wanting him to get hurt. He watched as William drew his sword, ready to skewer the opposing Alpha alive. Quickly, without thinking, Alfred stood and ran in front of Berwald blocking William's path. The sword cut into his shoulder but it wasn't enough for a serious injury. Had it meet its true mark, Berwald would be dead. "Alfred! You fool what were you thinking?!" he asked eyes wide as the golden plates the king ate from. He dropped his sword and placed his hand on the open wound trying to stop the bleeding. "I could have killed you!" he said shaking as he did. He pressed his head to the omega's chest. "I could have lost you all over again…"

There was a surprising sincerity in the others voice. If Alfred was lost…then that meant only one thing…he tried to move his hands around the other, to hold him tightly. He was lost to a single person, lost to only one and now he had been found. Tears of pure joy poured down his cheeks as he realized his arms were still bound. It didn't matter. He nuzzled into the other; his words would come later when the gag was removed. It was as if something finally clicked and the long awaited emptiness filled. Alfred knew William now, knew him as he was and he couldn't be happier. They were together and it was that way they would remain.

~/-*-\~

Tsukiyomi sat on his perch just outside of the Barrier of Dawn. The parchment in his hand elegantly decorated in gold and jade, the sign of the royal family of the gods. It was tied with a red silk ribbon, the ribbon showing urgency. Such was not to dottle on, and Nara had gone straight to the Palace of Darkness without fear for those who tried to stop him were instantly put to death.

It had made his way to him from Nara, the one and only god with the ability to travel between the realms without out fear of persecution. Nara, the Messenger of the Gods, he alone bore news from realm to realm. He had fear of no one and took his duty seriously and never allowed any but the intended to receive the message. Nara had waited in the palace for some time, treated like royalty until he was received by his intended.

The large antlers on his head were made of pure gold, his face small and sleek just as his body made solely for quickness. He did not bow to Tsukiyomi; even though he recognized him for what he was he had been ordered not to. Tsukiyomi scuffed at first. "Take the letter, burn it. I've no interest in him…"

"My lord, it is not another letter written bearing the signature of Amaterasu, it is from her Graciousness herself." He warned happy that they were able to speak in privet. He was everything he was ever told and it seemed he grew lovelier with each delivery.

The other looked at him in shocking confusion. "From…the Holy Mother? What have she use of me? I am but a lowly bastard god." He whispered as he looked down at the scroll sealed with the red ribbon. He was too afraid to defile it by merely touching it. "She has never showed anything to me but cruelty…"

"I cannot say for sure my lord, but I can say this has purpose. She does nothing without purpose. She is wise beyond our years combined and she knows none dare to challenger her after the defeat of the Heavenly Father. She may wish for you to take the Throne of Darkness in place of Amida. You are not like most that dwell in the darkness; you are the light doomed to darkness." Nara had never had cause to fear him. Tsukiyomi was no threat unless challenged or pushed too far but even then he did not wish to kill needlessly. It was that reason and many more that Nara respected him so highly.

Tsukiyomi shook his head and took a large step back. "I have no desire to rule. I am no prince, let alone Emperor." He feared the title, feared what he would become should he take it up. He didn't want to become a murderer, he was not bloodthirsty.

"My Lord, you cannot refuse her. It is a royal summons, a pardon of diplomacy to travel across into the Realm of Light and bear witness to her graciousness. Refusal is an insult, such is punished severely be it death or ensealed within a relic of her choosing. You are trapped either way. You must go."

So here he sat waiting for his escort to come and claim him. A guard was necessary, least he be attacked while holding a royal invitation, such was enough to spark a second great war. He had said it before and he would say it again. He will not allow a war to start with him at its head. Many innocent lives would be lost all for what? Claim to land and power? Power is fleeting, you have it and you fight your whole life to keep it. What gratitude can one truly get out of power? Control? What interest is there in a controlled world? A free world set with laws of protection, a world where people can live freely and be who they truly are, that is the world he would want. Not a controlled one run by fear.

"Tsukiyomi." He turned his head to look at the escort sent to him. Much to his displeasure it was the very person he detested. Amaterasu stood at the barrier, smiling smugly. He frowned. "I should have known you would be sent." He said as he moved from his perch.

The other bowed. "Oh no, I volunteered." The God of the Dead rolled his eyes, now glowing a soft red. "Come; allow me to show you the Realm of Light and all its glory." He whispered.

A/N

I AM SO SORRY THIS IS LATE! I DREW A BLANK ON WHAT TO DO AND I KNOW THIS IS NO EXCUSE!

Anyway, did Alfred finally remember everything? Does he know he's Tsukiyomi? Who did Berwald lead to the group? Where is Kiku, Tino and Peter? Answers to come in the next chapter.

Please review, it makes me feel like my writing is worth something.