Disclaimer: K anime is not mine.

Note: I have to admit that I haven't watched K movie "The Missing Kings". First, because I heard the rumor that the movie is another tragedy and sad movie and I don't need any more angst for now or else it will kill me. Second, I live in a country where the anime always comes late and I don't exactly understand Japanese, so I'll wait for subtitle, lol. So this fic will be based on K anime, and it would be free of movie's influence. So if there are contradictions, I beg you not to provide some spoilers to me.

I'm truly sorry for the late update! I actually have finished this for quite some time, but I don't have time to re-read and edit this because real life is so hectic, so…I'm sorry that I end up taking another month to update, and for worse, the chapter is rather boring because I am still trying to weave the story as clear as possible before the last climax, hahaha~ Please bear with it. *throws confetti* I wonder if anyone is still reading this long forgotten fic because of my inability to manage time... ;_;

"What is the meaning of this?" Mikoto pushed Neko out of the way, as gentle as he could be toward a woman and stood tall before the cheery young student. Neko hissed back at him indignantly for being treated roughly, compared to how Shiro and Kuroh acted toward her, but the crimson king ignored her existence entirely.

"As I have told you, I'm the Silver King. Probably this is our first time to officially meet, the third and the current Red King, Suoh Mikoto?" Isana tilted his head with a composed smile, thrusting his right hand for Mikoto to handshake, but the latter gave a suspicious stare at the hand, thus the Silver King pulled back his hand with a voluntary sigh.

Mikoto glared down at the amber eyes menacingly. "I don't care who you are. Just answer me, are you the one who hurt my people?"

Isana scratched the back of his neck and smiled with hidden meaning, "I wonder if that also means if I'm the one who hurt your Blue King?" Mikoto's eyebrow twitched a little bit, but he spoke nothing. Glancing up to watch the furious king, Isana's posture was thoroughly unfazed with intimidation. "Yes and no. This body, which belongs to someone unrelated to Dresden Slate, was directly involved with that assassination attempt, but I was not the one who hurt your clansman or Blue King. Regardless all the reason, from the memories of Colorless King, I also have a role on the incident."

"What do you mean?" Kuroh hastily interrupted that gained a heartbreaking beam from the white-haired man.

Isana rested his hand on his chest calmly. "His memories tell me what he is aiming all this time when he enters my consciousness previously. On that night, he waited for Himmelreich to pass through the same route like how it had been for years, while waiting for your friend, Totsuka to come. He believes that if he does that after murdering your friend and taking over my body, he will be able to play you against me. He has been aiming for you all this time, for having the most destructive power after Gold King. He also knows that HOMRA and Scepter 4 often clash, thus he intends to get Blue King once he has taken a hold on your Aura."

Mikoto clenched his teeth and his fists in rage. He had presumed that the Colorless King had been toying with them behind the stage; however the verification from Silver King had poured the oil to his fiery soul which thirsted for revenge.

Isana clasped his hands together behind his back, still beaming as he continued his explanation, "Or at least that's how he plans it." He walks passing through Mikoto swiftly to the sole bed where Munakata was still sleeping on and stopped when he was beside it, staring at the unconscious man. Mikoto tensed up, watching Isana for every little move he made, wary of what he might be doing to the blue-haired patient.

He whirled around on his heel and faced Mikoto once again; putting his hands in front of him as if attempting to convince the latter that he had no single intention to harm Munakata. "But Blue King became a contingency factor to his plan. I actually also wonder how it is possible, but looking at you being completely unruffled about this, you probably know the reason?"

Mikoto narrowed his eyes on Isana, but the latter would not back off; the Silver King would not carry on unless he also shared the information. He clicked his tongue in annoyance before he finally muttered, "A strain helped him."

Isana perked up, quite interested and he straightened up instantly. "Oh?"

"He told me that they rewound the time. That was how they stopped the Colorless King that night."

"Did they tell you what happens in the future?" Isana looked engrossed at the detail, almost to the point like an obsessed researcher. Mikoto swore he could see those amber eyes twinkling.

Mikoto shrugged, wondering if he really should tell the man, but he felt like the latter would be able to figure out something once every piece is drawn together. "We all died, except him." Mikoto lifted his hand to pinpoint to Munakata's direction. Isana followed his finger and looked at man with pale complexion. After a while, he put his finger under his chin, staring at Munakata's feature for a while. The man was nowhere as pretty as his beautiful sister, but from the standard, Blue King indeed could be classified in fine-looking group. He would not be surprised if the Red King was attracted to the sleeping king. "Did he tell you how we died?"

Mikoto stared at the ceiling, trying to recall the moment he encountered the strain. "My clansman was dead so I hunted you. He did not exactly know how it happened. All he told me that I killed you and Colorless King at the same time."

"What!?" Kuroh exclaimed angrily, already assuming the stance to fight Mikoto in case he tried to harm Isana. However, the Silver King shrugged and gazed at Kuroh, gesturing for him to lower his sword.

"Since it's about me, I think I have an idea how it went. Probably I lured the Colorless King to possess me, but with my Aura's characteristic, he could not take over me. With him inside me, I perhaps brought him to you for your revenge. You got your payback, and we both died. Since only Blue King survived, I assumed that he was the one left to kill you before you could wipe out the whole Japan from the map along with him. I think that's the most feasible explanation."

As expected from the bright mind, Mikoto almost wanted to clap his hands for Weismann being able to predict to that extent. Almost.

Isana took a seat on the edge of Munakata's bed, being mindful not to accidentally hurt him or else Mikoto would waste his Aura to land a punch on his face and he did not like pain at all. "It's really interesting conjecture. Do you know where we can find this strain? His ability is quite dangerous if inappropriately abused.

Mikoto looked solemn for a moment. "He is probably dead by now because of his ability."

The uncomfortable pause hung in the air. "…I'm sorry." Isana slowly said.

Mikoto shrugged quietly. Isana leaped out of the bed, and it sprung immediately with the extra weight leaving it. "Now that we have gathered all the pieces, I don't intend to repeat the madness we have made in the past. Or future, I'm not certain." The young student strode fast toward Mikoto with a smiling face. "May I ask you to put aside your retribution and ask for your cooperation?"

Mikoto folded his arms in front of his chest defensively as he curtly answered, "No."

Isana gave a long, suffering sigh with gloomy smile. From a glance, one thing he was certain that Mikoto was painfully hard-headed, so much like him at some point. The only thing that could sway a man like them was if it involved their important people. That was why they would shut out the world when they lost their most beloved person. "Your friend is alive and there is hope for recovery for Blue King. They are still here, alive. We still have time to work together, thus we have everything that we don't have in another fragment of time."

The Silver King paused momentarily, observing Mikoto, hoping for miracle that he could change this fiery king's mind. "Allow me to remind you that your Weismann level is already on steady path to critical stage. If you give me time, I promise you that I will seek a way to remedy that. There are times when you have to overlook your own pain, and start to look at your close friends' instead before everything is too late." Isana smiled with a grim look. "Don't repeat my mistake. I was too drowned in my own despair and forsook my important friend and the world. Because of that, all these happen, getting back on me two-fold."

The Red King looked hollow for a moment. He could not believe in miracles, or superstitious thing like happy ending. He could not bear the thought that constantly tore apart his mind that he was a walking bomb, threatening to harm the ones that he cared about. If this bomb could be taken care soon, away from all the people, it would be for the best. Munakata would no longer frown anxiously for him anymore. He would no longer have to vision charring his friends and his city into dust anymore. While he was at it, he could even bring down the most dangerous man to hell, protecting Munakata and his Clansmen and for once accomplishing his task as a King. It was supposed to be the best solution; the best ending since it would be only a matter of time before Red Aura fully consumed him. Why delay the inevitable ending, when he could achieve much more benefits with his death now, as gallant as he could be?

But the strain indirectly slapped him with a bitter fact that none of people he held dear shared the same sentiment. As the most absolute proof, there he was, lying on the bed in exchange for Mikoto's life.

Munakata was indeed a contingency factor for him as well. He always considered the latter for being the most logical and rational person, that Munakata would absolutely choose the world and duty over him and himself. To put it negatively, the Blue King was masochistic enough to hurt himself for the benefit of the social order. Thus, if he put Mikoto, who posed to be a threat of the world before his life, it would be either because Munakata foresaw other benefits which also correspondingly provided a chance to save Mikoto or the Blue King had sent him the most passionate confession Mikoto would ever get by implicitly telling him that he was more precious than the duty Munakata had upheld. He secretly wished that it was the latter though.

If he had once again ended his life, what would Munakata do? While he was curious, he was not cruel enough to put his love in the difficult pedestal on second time. At first, he considered that it was too selfish of Munakata to ask him treading in living hell, even if it was so they could stay together. He would admit that in the corner of his heart, such thought still lingered ruthlessly. But then love was always selfish, just like how he expected his beloved violet-eyed king to get over him and keep living for Mikoto's sake as well. He understood the anguish of being left behind after experiencing it first handedly on these recent weeks. It was much more agonizing than raw mortal wound for having to live on Munakata's sacrifice. How could he blame Munakata for not moving on when he was also the same? He was done being selfish in the name of other. So far, it only dragged them into further chaos.

Living everyday like walking on thin thread while being always vigilant for not losing control against gnawing Red Aura would be infinite torment. But he had his friends that would certainly help him going through the hell. His desire not to hurt his important friends would foster his spirit to keep going on as docile as he could. If he had to uncharacteristically be an idealist, wishing that one day Silver King would find a way to put restrain on Red Aura, he would for once be one. After all, even if he was truly on the edge of the cliff, this time the Blue King could not be there to be his salvage. He was alone, and he had no choice but to fortify his will not to allow his Sword of Damocles to fall.

"You still have a lot of people who couldn't bear losing you, as much as you think of them. Won't you fight the hell for them?" Isana extended his hand toward Mikoto, waiting patiently for answer.

Mikoto bit his lower lip and reached out for Isana's hand. He would present the best confession that would deserve the most precious one.

He would live.

The sound of explosion from the distant floor underneath surprised the little strain, causing her to flinch and abruptly grab Totsuka's long sleeve, shivering like a tiny animal. The blond hastily encircled his arms around her and pulled her close into his embrace. "Don't be afraid, Anna."

The girl with ruby-colored orbs clenched tight her eyes, focusing her auditory sense to Totsuka's steady heartbeat, instead of the deafening noise. However, in another second, she could feel a faint presence of disturbingly malicious, different from air emitted by people around her. Though her fear still overwhelmed her with her petite figure shuddering wildly, she pushed away from Totsuka and leapt out of her chair, trotting hastily to the exit. Her frilly dress rustled as she moved. Kusanagi and Totsuka was too surprised and yelled out her name. "Anna! It's dangerous!"

But the silver-haired girl did not listen. She pushed open the door and looked around at the empty hallway, crammed with glass shards, wood splinters and two unconscious guards wearing the rabbit mask that Mikoto had taken out before. Anna shut her eyes and focused her senses, which in consequence lowered her physical guard. It was almost like her spirit roaming inside the building within several meters from her, scanning for the one they had been seeking. Before long, she felt a trace of cunning spirit, and just like how she could see him, the spirit also caught on her location. The fox spirit leered at her and frightened her to the core. However, she mustered all her courage to stand tall and stared back defiantly as she whispered under her breath, "I found you."

She whirled around to her right, watching to the distant dark hallway with a frown. Anna did not even notice when Totsuka had crept behind her, trying to touch her shoulder and coaxing her to get back to the safety. The blond stopped in his track when he noted that the young princess had completely detached from her surrounding to focus at one point and followed her gaze at the other side of passage casted by shadow. At first he did not see anything but hollow, infinite darkness at the end of the corridor. But when there was suddenly a glint appeared like the sole star in the night sea, Totsuka gasped in dread and impulsively grabbed Anna's lithe shoulder with his healthy hand out of the harm. The young girl also inhaled sharply when she was suddenly pulled back by a strong hand that she lost her balance and fell on top of her rescuer. With a quick glance through her shoulder, she spelled his name in horror, fearing that she had hurt him. "Tatara!"

He groaned painfully as he bumped his head on the half-closed door and his casted back shoulder on the floor when they fell horrendously with Anna sprawled on top him. His amber eyes quickly caught on glistening rubies as the little girl sat on his stomach. Totsuka gave a weak laugh at her and patted her head. "Don't cry, Anna. I'm fine. Are you hurt?"

She shook her head in fast motion. Anna did not even bother to wipe away her crystal tears that had pooled in her eyes, threatening to streak down to her chin. Seeing that she had calmed down to considerable amount, Totsuka glanced to his right, being wary of the shadow in case someone would try to hurt Anna. He voiced his worry loudly, "What was that?"

Anna glanced to her right. Not far from where they had lied, a polished knife that some of the Gold Clansmen had used was on the wooden floor. If Totsuka did not pull her in time, it would probably hit her. When she turned around to her left, she could no longer feel the malicious existence. The spirit had fled out of her visual range.

Kusanagi hurriedly ran to the door and knelt beside them in panic. "What happened!?"

"Kusanagi! The knife! There is a rabbit guard here!" One of the Clansmen exclaimed.

The blond bartender scowled at the sight and offered his hand to his friends with sour look. "Even a Gold Clansman would be so low to attack a little girl?"

Totsuka grabbed for Kusanagi's hand to lift him up once Anna pulled away from him. "Well, at least none of us gets hurt." Kusanagi was about to argue with the young man, when Anna tugged on his pants with somber look. "No, he was the one who hurt Tatara before."

Both of the blonds stared at her in surprise, but her gaze was so unwavering that they would believe her. On that moment, the phone on Kusanagi's pocket vibrated and he pulled out his phone swiftly to flip it open and was stunned for a moment when he read the name of the screen. "Just what's going on here?"

Daikaku took a step forward and snapped close his fan as he summoned his Sword of Damocles. "Come at me."

Without wasting any time, Mikoto rushed toward him, while feeding the flame in his hands into a large fire ball and threw it toward the second king. The Gold King thrust his folded fan forward, as if commanding the celestial planets that floated around him like his pawns. With a simple gesture, several planets gathered in front of the old Colonel and lined up into a shield. Sparks were everywhere as Mikoto's crimson flame collided with the impenetrable barrier, but eventually the fire burst out and ceased into black smoke before the half-charred wall made by extraterrestrial spheres.

When the wall finally disintegrated into moderate-sized globes and circled back around Daikaku and the smoke screen blocked his view, suddenly Mikoto delivered a surprise blow through the smoke, aiming for Daikaku's face. However, before his punch engulfed with swirling crimson Aura could connect even to the edge of Daikaku's kimono sleeves, the senior king had calmly used his fan to counter the punch and imbued it in golden color of his power to resist Mikoto's Aura.

The friction lasted for a while until Daikaku intentionally pulled back a little, causing Mikoto to lose a balance for second. The elder was about to strike from behind when the Red King seemed to losing his foot, but his countless experiences from battles made him realize in the last minute that the young king was actually feinting. From the corner of his eyes, he could see the grin at Mikoto's lips that he was just in time to jump back and keep the distance when the latter whirled around, half bending as he tried to land a blow using his left fist.

Mikoto clicked his annoyance for meeting no resistance at the end of his move, but he pulled back with a deep huff, trying to regain his stance. However, before he could recover from his previous move, the Gold King had already casted his magic to strike at Mikoto. The crimson-haired king barely protected himself with promptly-summoned fire storm before him that some of the celestial stars managed to get through his wall and graze Mikoto's cheek and his favorite black coat. The scrapes stung a bit, but they were nothing more than an insect bite for Mikoto. He wiped the blood trickling from the wound with the back of his hand, causing the red to smear his skin, but he paid no heed to it.

His golden eyes fixed back at the composed aged king. As he expected from the top-rated soldier with immeasurable practice to survive on battlefield first-handed, he could only dream on to defeat such a monster, hoping that his youth would at least give him an upper hand. However, Mikoto realized that his combat experience was probably something insignificant compared to the king standing in front of him, and even age did not seem to deteriorate Gold King's honed skill.

If the Gold King was completely serious in fighting him with pure intention to kill, Mikoto would have to draw all his power to defend himself. It was quite clear though that his raging lava could not break through Daikaku's shield. While the Colonel's attribute was supposed to be the first-rate offensive, he easily adapted to the field situation and utilized his Aura as shield effectively. Mikoto was able to summon fire wall to protect himself as well, but not as refined as the Gold King's. Nevertheless, even Gold Aura was nothing compared to Silver King's supreme defensive element. After all, what could defeat the immortal king, who was not liable to a scratch even with nuclear blast?

Daikaku snapped open his gold-colored fan and put it to mask the lower part of his face as he whispered quietly, barely audible for Mikoto across him. "Watch your Weismann level, Red King. I would like to avoid unnecessary casualty for this flimsy plan."

The latter only smirked as a reply, before he lunged forward, striking the Gold King upfront. "With this kind of play, you won't be able to convince anyone."

Daikaku swiftly countered his attack and snaked his arm under Mikoto's armpit. On the next second, Mikoto found himself flying on the air as the second king hurled him over his back, intending to toss him to the floor. He reflexively coiled and rolled in the air and managed to land safely on his feet once the Gold King had liberated him from his grip. Even without using Aura, the senior went easy on him. As much as it frustrated Mikoto, now it was not the time to let his emotion over his head.

"If he really comes here and you are gravely injured, this is all futile." Daikaku sighed as he straightened his kimono sleeves. "By now, he should have started coming to the top toward us."

"At least until he can evacuate everyone, be more serious. I can handle it." Mikoto scowled as he observed his torn jacket. Once everything was over, he would tell Kusanagi to buy him the new one.

"Do not overrate yourself, child." The Gold King glared at him. "I would never forgive you if your Sword of Damocles falls with my house as its epicenter."

Mikoto threw a deviant smirk and put his hands in his pockets. "It's time. Let's get on with this."

"Please excuse my intrusion." Isana walked into the security room graciously with a sweet smile, followed by the Black Dog and Neko.

Kusanagi's cigarette fell on the fall in surprise, but he quickly gained his composure. "Ah, yeah, I get the call from boss…Welcome, err…Silver King."

Isana stared around, looking at the present Red Clansmen and nodded approvingly. "As you may hear from your king, I would like to request for your assistance."

Anna quickly trotted away from Totsuka's side, passing through the Silver King and stood in front of Kuroh expectantly. The previous Ichigen vassal coughed with nervousness for being stared by the little strain, but Anna did not even falter with their staring contest. Isana looked back at his uncomfortable friend and laughed at him. "I think she asks you to let her see the Blue King."

"O-oh!" Kuroh stammered loudly before he carefully knelt before the red princess with Munakata, sleeping peacefully while being entirely covered in white blanket up to his chin like a cocoon in his embrace. He had volunteered to carry the Blue King and evacuate him along with the rest of personnel in the building, back in the medical wing. Munakata was originally taller than him that it would pose as a challenge to carry him; however his chivalry code would not allow him to ask the most respected king or a woman to take up the task. He was inwardly thankful that the Blue King had lost considerably weight because of his illness to make his job easier. Kuroh was about to hurl the patient over his shoulder, since it would be difficult for him to fight in case the Colorless King attempted to hurt Isana again if he had to give piggyback or bridal-style ride. However, Mikoto glared at the back of his head menacingly, as if he would burn Kuroh's hair if he really did it. Thus Isana suggested him to carry Munakata in his arms with an amused chuckle and he would use his Silver Aura if situation demanded him.

Even then, the Red King still scowled begrudgingly. Isana had to try his best not to laugh at such transparent jealousy that made Kuroh quite uneasy under Mikoto's fierce look.

Anna leaned forward while tiptoeing as high as she could to steal a peek at Munakata's face. She took a note of the steady, soft breathing, barely audible if she did not listen closely. Before long, she moved back and ran behind Totsuka again. Totsuka rested his hand on top of her head gently, calmly asked, "What do you think, Anna?"

The little princess glanced up to find the blonde's amber eyes, "There is a trace of the man we are searching for, but he has left." Totsuka nodded and petted her head a little to praise her effort.

"Now what are you suggesting, Silver King?" Kusanagi pulled out another cigarette and lighted it with his lighter.

Isana turned his head to face the bartender. "I need your cooperation to empty the whole building and keep away from here as far as possible for safety measure. We need to create a situation where there is no other vessel for the Colorless King to run when he is cornered. Other than Kings in their prime condition, I don't think you stand a chance to resist his possession." He craned his neck to glance at Kuroh through his shoulder. "I need you to stop HOMRA and Scepter 4 pointless brawl on the lobby. The Gold King had agreed to cooperate and the Gold Clansmen will also leave the premise. We will sweep the floors to evacuate the wounded. I would personally ask for Scepter 4's lieutenant to help us."

Kusanagi hurriedly objected, with a hint of protective of a certain blonde lieutenant. "I will help you. Let's not involve a woman in this."

"I will need you to come with us to verify your people who are defeated by Gold Clansmen and evacuate them, while I need the lieutenant to help us to arrange an efficient evacuation. I believe that they have much more elaborated communication and procedures. Every second is precious for your king." Isana calmly spoke like a motionless water in the lake, unwavering.

Kusanagi bit his cigarette and took a deep inhale of the poisonous nicotine. Before long, he took out his phone and typed the message in fast motion. In the next five seconds, there were holograms of sent messages and they vanished into thin air. Afterward, he walked toward Totsuka and tapped his hands on his shoulders. "Tatara, tell everyone to leave and take Anna with you. Everyone is probably too occupied that they might not notice the message."

"Well, I have to go down as well, to make sure that Blue King is safely returned to his men as I have promised your King." Isana shrugged. "Now, shall we proceed?"

The sound of the steel clashing against metal rang loudly. Fushimi pushed his sword against the red vanguard when the red-haired man used his bat to block the attack, equally in strength to resist against his opponent.

"What's your intention, Misaki?" Fushimi asked in hushed voice suspiciously. "First you called us here, now you stand in our way. Your actions contradict."

Misaki clenched his teeth, using all his strength to put them in locked position. It was such an irony that only in battle they would actually have a talk. "This is the only way to get you talk to me."

"What's left there to talk?" Fushimi sneered, almost too viciously that tore Misaki's feeling.

"What should I do to make us friends again?" Misaki asked solemnly as he stared with willpower in his eyes that startled Fushimi. The world was as twisted as Fushimi's mind that he believed in nothing but himself and power. No one had ever loved him, so he would love no one. At first, he considered Misaki as a companion to pass through the boring day at school. No feeling attached. He thought to himself that he would break the relationship if he sensed that they were going deeper.

However, Misaki's virtue mesmerized him. The other boy was completely his opposite that he was interested in knowing how such naïve boy could live in this harsh world. He got his eyes on Misaki, following his shadow to the point he did not realize that the red-haired boy had sneaked into his heart. They were too busy living in their own little world, isolated from others. Therefore, none of them comprehended that they both had each other completely exposed. But in their little golden cage, Fushimi would not mind being bare, because Misaki only had him as his entire world. Misaki would have no reason to hurt Fushimi since he would lose his reason to exist if he did that.

But inside the cage, suddenly another bird came in, stealing Misaki away from him. Fushimi was no longer the whole world for Misaki, and his friend would probably love the other, just like how the world had always been toward him. And he despised this one-way feeling. Fushimi took it as a weakness, that one day Misaki would use his love to destroy him and nonchalantly walk away to HOMRA, trampling on his feeling. That was why he decided that he would treat Misaki just like how he treated the world which had always betrayed him.

He left the cage entirely, while tearing a deep wound that would leave scar, to remind Misaki of his own betrayal toward Fushimi. While he should feel elated, being able to land the first hit between them, the raven-haired boy just felt cold and hollow. To deny his emptiness, he went for Scepter 4 who willingly accepted him. He assumed that since Scepter 4 and HOMRA had always against each other, there was no way HOMRA could steal his place anymore.

Nevertheless, he had built a tall fortress made of ice, making sure that this time no one would ever get close to his core. To his frustration, his colleagues kept trying in vain. But to his bitter resentment, his Captain had gained certain level of trust from him. Munakata was as soundless as a snake as he steadily treaded his way attentively to tear down his barrier; bashing when Fushimi lowered his guard and stalling when he was fully alert. He could perceive his youngest commander from simple gestures and it annoyed Fushimi when Munakata gave him a meaningful smile and always seemed to know what had been going on Fushimi's head. Before he could realize it, his Captain had stayed dormant in a small part of his world.

Despite all his effort and time, Munakata had only breached first layers of his barrier, nowhere close to how far Misaki had been. However, it seemed to Fushimi like his superior had no intention to go further as well at the risk of stirring up the storm, but simply watching at him from far like a normal father toward his child. For that reason, Fushimi was satisfied and allowed him to settle there.

Until the moment when his brilliant mind figured out that his superior was possibly infatuated with Suoh Mikoto the day after that incident.

He felt betrayed again and the old wound tore open. It was not as painful as it was when he was with Misaki, but the dull ache still reminded him. No matter where he was, Mikoto always took away his place. And if now, the current Misaki, who was still quite obsessed about Mikoto, asking him to be friends again, the vanguard might as well talk to a wall instead.

Fushimi answered with a bored look, "Nothing, Misaki." The third commander of Scepter 4 abruptly pulled back and kept the distance between them, while pointing his saber at HOMRA's vanguard. "How many times should I tell you until it gets into your thick skull?"

Misaki waved his metallic bat aside, still watching like a hawk at his target. "Then I will keep trying until you give up."

Fushimi's eyebrows creased as he frowned, "You are annoying."

"I miss you, you know." Misaki softly muttered, but the blow was too much for the raven-haired commander that his words left the latter stunned. "I don't understand why you leave me. You never told me why you didn't fit in. I'm sure somewhere along the line, I probably did something as well and I'm here to fix it."

Fushimi lowered his sword for a bit and fixed his eyeglasses with his left hand. "Don't be stupid. What is broken cannot be repaired."

"And I'll prove it to you that I can, if you give me a chance." Misaki took a step forward assertively while Fushimi instinctively walked backward. "Tell me where I should begin."

"Leave HOMRA."

A chill ran through Misaki's spine and he froze immediately. Before long, he could hear a scornful cackle across him. "See? You can't do it, Mi-sa-ki! After all, what can you do without your friends?"

He grinded his teeth as he fought the sharp stabbing pain in his chest. "If I do that, what will you do for me?" He lifted his hazel eyes to meet Fushimi's sapphire ones. "Would you leave Scepter 4 and stay? Would you be happy with just simply you and me, even though you know how miserable it would make me?" The chestnut-haired man sighed dejectedly. "If that's how it is, you just want to have power over someone, stupid monkey."

Fushimi glowered at him defensively. "I'm not the one who starts this topic. Take it or leave it, Misaki."

Misaki swung his baseball bat over his shoulder, grinning weakly. "I liked you, Saru. That's why I will drag you out from your depressing world."

"You will never learn, won't you?" The raven-haired commander sneered at him before he lunged forward to throw his knives at his ex-best friend. "Fine, give me your best shot, Misaki!"

Some of her golden strands were loosened from her bun as she whirled around and threw a blue straight slash like shooting arrow. The young man with white bangs down to his eyes barely scrambled out of the attack, as it managed to tear the edge of his pants. Without beating a lash, from the corner of her vision, there was another HOMRA's member assaulting her with baseball bat from her left that she quickly leaped pass through the youngster and landed a clean hit on the nape, causing the latter to fall unconscious to the floor.

As all of her men engaged with HOMRA and kept them busy, she looked around to observe about the situation. They had been trying to reach the elevator, but before they could make it pass through HOMRA's human barricade, one of them would always get in her way. Some of her men were knocked unconscious, as well as from the other side. She started to wonder why they had to resort to force, when they only wanted to take back their King to safety and made sure that no hell got unleashed between Gold and Red Clans.

As she studied the battle field, her azure eyes caught Fushimi being the farthest of their group, engaging the vanguard, Yatagarasu. From a glimpse, she had caught the impression that they got too busy talking instead of tearing each other's throat. However, if her commander could keep Yatagarasu occupied, it made her task easier since the short boy did not live up to his appearance. His strength, to her resentment, seemed to slightly surpass her, in contrary to his short build.

Seeing her chance with the path cleared out since now all the HOMRA members were too busy fighting Scepter 4, she started to slowly walk toward the elevator, wishing not distract any attention on her. They had been stalled for a long time, and every minute passing was worse than death for her, being worried sick for her Captain. Her mind was in a storm, muddled with her anxiety that she did not notice the whirring sound of the elevator as it went down. Just as soon as she lifted her hand to press the up button, there was a 'ding' sound and she stopped in her track in surprise.

Apparently the noise was loud enough to distract most of them. Both parties stopped in their engagement and all eyes were shifted to the opening door of the elevator.

"Ah, I hope no one gets killed…" Totsuka airily said, as he ushered Anna out of the elevator first. The strain princess leapt the gap and waited for the blond to follow her. Her ruby eyes blinked at the chaotic state. Her heart wrenched every single body she saw collapsing on the floor, especially when she could see her favorite crimson color around them. As much as the bloody stream seemed to be like beautiful roses, Anna did not like the moment when the most beautiful of all things; human soul, drifted away.

As if feeling guilty for what they had done once her eyes met them, all HOMRA members stopped in their tracks. Scepter 4 could not bring themselves to fight people who would not resist, thus they also stayed silent.

"I don't think there is fatal casualty among them." The white-haired young student climbed off the elevator and his whole body peculiarly sheathed in silver glow. He might look young and frail, but there was something like a static electricity as he spoke, like a charisma that you would not dare to look away or ignore his words. Seri shivered as she listened to the tranquil voice, as calm as the streaming water in the forest lake. Those amber eyes looked around, watching without judging and he beamed as his eyes met Seri's. "You must be Scepter 4's lieutenant. I would like to request your assistance."

Seri was stunned for a moment when the young student strode past her men toward her. That figure, she still remembered it as clear as the day, how it grinned wickedly as he tried to shoot her king and how revolting her feeling was that night when she witnessed her most-respected person to fall from the railings and sacrifice himself like a valiant knight. She snapped quickly in anger and pointed her saber just an inch away from Isana with a thick, dark voice. "Are you him? If yes, I will personally take your life right here by my own hands."

Neko shouted anxiously, "Shiro!"

Isana did not look deterred as he kept beaming at her peacefully as he rested his right hand just before his heart. "Forgive me for surprising you like this. Let me introduce myself. I am the first and only Silver King, Adolf K. Weismann."

Her aquamarine eyes widened in surprise but it did not take long before she glowered at him again, "How can I believe such nonsense? The Silver King has died on the accident when his plane crashed and the Gold King had confirmed it."

"It's true." Anna softly confirmed, interrupting their communication as she stood between them. "You have to believe him."

A flash of doubt was still there behind Seri's eyes, but her heart was swayed by the little princess. After all, she knew that Anna would never lie, even if Scepter 4 was her foe. She stared back at the composed student, trying to find any hint of malice behind that smiling mask, but she could find none. There was only plain compassion behind those amber glasses. She decided to take a bet and lowered her saber and sheathed her weapon before she gave a deep bow in front of Isana. "Forgive my rudeness, Silver King."

"First of all," Isana coughed timidly when he saw her sudden change in demeanor. "Please lift up your head. I don't deserve such respect." He grabbed for her hand as gently as he could and tugged her forward, while Kuroh stepped forward to them, cradling a figure completely huddled in pristine white cover. "First thing first, allow me to return your King as per request of Red King."

A chorus of gasp filled the room before all the Blue members, except for Fushimi who stared at the heartfelt event from distant solemnly, ran toward Kuroh and gathered just before him. However their attentions were not even spared on him. Seri put her hands before her lips, trying not to let her emotions taking over her control. Nevertheless, when her trembled hands pushed aside the cover from the wrapped up figure's face, she took a sharp inhale and her eyes glistened as she whispered, "Captain!"

The rest of Scepter 4's members sighed in relief as their eyes caught the look on their sleeping, pale king and spontaneously sheathed their sabers in their waists. They wanted to laugh at how they thought that they would not feel so relieved to see their King, considering how this man always tended to make them uncomfortable with his mischief and awkward communication. Nevertheless, it confirmed their feelings that despite all those discomfort, they had felt something similar to fate from their king, and that was why they allowed him to lead them like his pawns so willingly. And now that they could at last meet their King again, after so long being separated they could not ask for better reunion. The last time they saw him before the Gold King isolated him, their captain barely hung on the thin thread and his heart had stopped once as the doctors informed them.

Totsuka patted on Anna's head and beamed at the melancholic Blues, "Isn't it nice, Anna?" As an answer, he received a curt nod from the little girl in her gothic crimson dress, who watched at the group closely. She might not smile to prove her contentment, but the blond understood that the delight ambience influenced her.

However, Seri quickly gathered herself, and brushed away her tears that threatened to fall. She straightened her back and made a salute gesture toward Isana. "We cannot thank you for your benevolence. Please do not hesitate to ask us for anything. If it is within our capability, we will assist you to our utmost ability."

The diamond-haired king chuckled in amusement, "It will be best if you can dispatch a medical team here to transport your King. I'm sure Kuroh will appreciate that." He sneaked a glance at Kuroh who was rolling his eyes for being taunted. However, he really would be glad for an immediate help to let him feel his hands again for carrying a taller man than him in his arms. Seri was flustered for a moment, embarrassed for not realizing because of her relief that she should have at least given that order at the first hand. She pulled out her phone and made a quick call.

When she moved away to give the chain of commands, Isana turned his head and gave a meaningful look at Totsuka, who quickly caught the implication. He took Anna's hand in his and pulled her to gather the HOMRA. "King tells us to leave this place for his plan. Kusanagi will fill you in with the details later on, but he will help Scepter 4 to evacuate everyone here."

Yata threw a glance at Fushimi, who caught it from the periphery of his eyes. The vanguard looked torn from leaving the latter or taking care of his friends from his distressed expression, but the raven-haired had understood his anxiety and made decision before him. He walked without even looking back at Yata to join his coworkers, to Yata's bitterness. Knowing that he had no other choice but to be once again separated from Fushimi, he also went on to go to where his friends had gathered.

"Lieutenant, everything has been in order."

Seri shifted her weight on her other leg as her focus was completely occupied by the phone call. "How is Captain?" Kusanagi was in the middle of typing his messages when he sneaked a glance back curiously at her to observe the pretty blonde as he leant against the nearby wall. Just as the Silver King had calculated, Scepter 4 was able to achieve efficient sweeping for the casualty and evacuation, more than what HOMRA could do. Within half an hour, they had finished sweeping and evacuating the unconscious and the wounded Clansmen. The only floor left was the top floor, reserved only for Gold King that was currently also occupied by Red King and possibly the Colorless King.

While HOMRA had stronger bond as family, but their chain of command was a different story because HOMRA members were not especially trained on a daily basis in handling the mass crisis and they were not as disciplined and methodical as Blue Clan. However, since the HOMRA was an organization with large number of members who highly valued their shared bond, they can straightforwardly assist the local police to guard the perimeter line along with a small unit from Scepter 4, so not to allow an intruder.

"He has been evacuated to the general hospital and the special reservation has been arranged. Sir Fushimi has volunteered to lookout the Captain and they are currently on the way to the hospital. When they arrive, we will have a security team on standby and his room has been arranged for 24-hours surveillance. I hope it is sufficient." The male voice hastily reported and Seri could hear a lot of noise from the other side, probably the spectators from normal citizens, prattling and gossiping what could possibly be happening that required a hasty sterilization area. Even Japan ground SDF had been mobilized as well, probably under the authority of Gold King.

"How is the situation there?" Seri glanced at Kusanagi, who in return also stared at her, expecting her to help him sweeping the last floor as soon as possible. She curtly nodded and started to walk toward him.

"The police force was having a hard time in handling the curious folks as they keep trying to get through the perimeter and take pictures randomly but the situation has been under control since HOMRA's arrival. They are sufficiently effective to chase away the citizens." Akimoto laughed a little that in response, it also brought a faint smile to her lips. Knowing the HOMRA, they probably scared them off by acting like ruffians, nevertheless that brute method proved to be quite efficient. She finally said before she hung up the phone call, "Good work. Keep watching and report if anything comes up."

Just as soon as she finished her call, the Silver King in his youthful vessel stood before her and Kusanagi with a pleased smile. "Well, that's really quick work. The only thing left would be all of you to leave this place."

Kuroh abruptly declined the order, "That's foolish! You have taken me in as your Clansmen, take responsibility for it. I have finally vowed to serve you and only you, the first and Silver King. We do not wish to leave your side when you join in the fight."

Isana turned his head to face his vassal and reprimanded him for being overprotective, "This is a perilous plan. If you come with me, there is high risk that the Colorless King will possess you and run away again and this will be all for naught. Only the Kings shall remain in the battle among Kings." He took a deep sigh when he saw that his vassal still faltered, not willing to leave his side, and smiled widely, "Why don't you go back first? I'll return before you know it to eat your food again."

Kuroh lowered his head contemplatively when Neko kept staring back and forth between two males before she finally grabbed for Kuroh's arm and pulled him away from her master with little pout. "Shiro, you promise you will come back!"

The Silver King waved a little at them, beaming serenely. Behind his Clansmen, Seri made a polite bow before him and followed the cat strain. Kusanagi scratched the back of his head and took a deep breath as he spoke, "Our boss is often careless, but he is a good guy. Can I ask you to watch over him?"

"I assure you." Isana tilted his head a little with his usual smile, and Kusanagi nodded reluctantly at the unwavering amber eyes.

The Silver King stood silently as he listened to the faint sound of footsteps that gradually out of earshot as he was watching at the retreating backs pensively. The whole event today reminded him again what he once had lost. And what he fought for.

Once upon a time, when his dream of infinite happiness within Dresden Slate was trampled on like a wild flower, a fleeting reverie, he thought he would no longer believe in anything else. However, ever since he had met Kuroh and Neko and his fateful encounters with other kings and their clansmen, he had witnessed so much beautiful bonds flowering. Even in the lone thorny path of Kings, he could see the small lights flickering to illuminate those roads and this time he would not fail to make sure that none of them would lose the light or hope.

He took a deep inhale, listening to his palpating heartbeat as he anxiously expected the upcoming last battle as he huskily whispered under his breath in foreign language. "I have found my wish again. This time, we will obtain happiness we have sought, my dear sister."

Spoiler, next chapter is probably the last chapter before epilogue. ^_^ Hope you will stick around for the forthcoming end.

Viviane1993: Thank you for your review as always~! I'm really sorry that I update really slow this time (I think I apologize too often to you, don't I since I always take too much time to update? _ I hope you will forgive me this time as well...) I hope you will still look forward for the next chapter! *_*

rainbowfishie01: Uhh...and it takes me a long time to finish this one as well, hahaha...I'm sorry, hun! Btw, my dearest fishie, please update your fic of the coffee shop...*cries a river* I'm still waiting for the update impatiently and will always do!

Maizy: Maizy! Please let me tell you that I'm glad that you are still looking forward to read my fic! *glomps* And so do I! I look forward to your next chapter of your fic~ Hohoho. I'm deprived of Mikorei!

AkiFushi: Thank you, darling for always leaving such encouraging review! You always make me smile, fufufu~ Allow me to tell you that your reviews make me happy and keep writing on this story, haha~ As much as you squeal with an update, when I see your review, you make me squeal too! So...I can't thank you enough. And I hope you enjoy more Tsundere Saru, and some Sarumi :d Anyway, yeaaaahhh...since the early stage of this fic, I'm totally with you, wanting so much to kill the Colorless King. =_= I wish I could write the ending where I can kill him already, lol. Sorry, not much going on this chapter XDD I'm splitting the chapter into two for better flow of story.

Yoohaney: Hi, dear! Thank you for reading this fic and I'm glad you enjoy it! I hope you also like this one *hugs*