Tachi was their best monster yet: The Actor. Able to manipulate the emotions of others and bring out the worst in them. His face twisted into a black and white mask that grinned and scowled all at once. Black and white arms and legs stretched to cartoon proportions.
Even with the monster just out of sight, the twins' fawning fans began to tear into each other. Insults and fists flew between friends. The twins led him away from the mansion in a show of mercy to the students that had pledged themselves to the two.
"What petty humans," The Actor chuckled, fixing the twins with mirthful, furious eyes. "They hide their true feelings with lies like friendship and kindness. What a sham."
"Indeed," Haru grinned. Aki leaned back against his twin. The Actor had a point. Even the twins had made it this far on pretty lies and carefully constructed smiles. Only their bond as brothers and the power they wielded as Luna and Sol was real.
Haru slipped an arm around Aki's shoulders, sharing a mischievous smile. Before he could carefully suggest a strategy for their new pawn, though, the Battle Lovers rounded the corner with coat-tails flying.
Right on time.
The annoying blond one pointed his wand at The Actor and proceeded to spout the most ridiculous rant about love. That ignorant Scarlet didn't know the first thing about real love. Aki's jaw clenched. He didn't realize until Haru nudged him that he had a death-grip on his brother's hand.
"Battle Lovers… I'd like to introduce you to The Actor." Haru took the lead, squeezing Aki's hand reassuringly. He gave the would-be heroes a wicked smile. "He really is up and coming, if you know what I mean."
"It's you!" Epinard pointed at Sol and Luna, eyes wide. Emerald light glowed at the end of his wand. He didn't even bother looking at the monster—that one really was too smart for his own good.
Haru gave a playful bow, and Aki tipped his head thoughtfully, considering the motley group. It was a wonder they had managed to get in the twin's way as much as they had. They were a sorry sight—disorganized, idealistic, and easily distracted. And yet… despite the group's dysfunction, they seemed to throw a wrench in the twins' plans every single time. Worse yet, when the Battle Lovers were around attention faded from the galaxy idols, leaving Salty Sol and Melty Luna feeling lonely and empty once more.
"Careful, I wouldn't get distracted if I were you," Aki advised.
The Actor clearly didn't like being ignored. A beam of purple light slammed into Epinard and sent him sprawling with a pained sound. The other Battle Lovers crowded around him with worried shouts.
"How dare you ignore me! I am center stage! Not them! You should be watching me!" The Actor fumed. His head twisted at an unnatural angle, and the black, scowling side of his mask leered down at the Battle Lovers.
Epinard shoved Scarlet and Cerulean away. "Get off me! I can get up by myself!"
The other Battle Lovers backed off a few steps, eyeing their comrade with growing worry. "At… er, Epinard, are you okay?" Scarlet's eyes widened.
"I'm fine! Stop dallying—we should be attacking those two!" Epinard pointed to Sol and Luna once more, but this time Aki didn't worry. The cracks had been sewn. The seeds of chaos would sprout soon.
"But what about the monster?" Scarlet waved his wand at The Actor, looking torn.
Epinard grabbed Scarlet by the collar, yanking him close. "Those two are behind everything," he insisted. "This is our chance to—"
"Watch out!" Vesta threw himself at the two, tackling them to the ground just in time to avoid another purple beam. "Come on, let's just beat the monster, and then we can deal with those two!"
"It's almost sad," Aki mused, leaning against his twin.
"Their so-called friendship?" Haru's arm snaked around his waist.
"Mmhm. To claim that they represent love…" Aki scoffed. "It's shameful that their friendship and love could turn to hatred so easily. We were never like that."
"We're different. We're better."
"Stop it…. Stop it…. Stop…. Stop ignoring me!" The Actor's head twisted full circle. He hunched over the ground like a rabid animal, long fingers digging into the earth. Purple light spiderwebbed out from his touch, exploding around the Battle Lovers.
"Vesta, watch out!" Sulphur grabbed the pink Battle Lover as angry light engulfed them. Cerulean pushed Scarlet and Epinard behind him, and the purple glow wrapped around him. He collapsed with a broken sound and Scarlet cried out in alarm, tears streaming down his face. Epinard grabbed him, shaking him as he shouted.
Aki slid his hand into Haru's and the two exchanged a look. Time to slip away and let The Actor finish the Battle Lovers off. The two were just about to leave when an unexpected voice broke through the chaos.
"Let them go!"
Gora threw himself between the Battle Lovers and The Actor, axe arcing toward the monster.
Aki's heart skipped a beat. "Gora?" Haru's red eyes widened in shock.
"You can't steal the limelight from me!" The Actor raised his hands, furious violet light gathered between his slender fingertips. Haru and Aki froze in horror. The color drained from Haru's face, and Aki's blood ran cold.
Everything was all wrong. Aki had to stop it—he couldn't let The Actor kill Gora. Gora was—
"No—stop!" Aki ran over, grabbing The Actor's arm. "Not him!"
Gora stared in open confusion, and time slowed to an aching crawl. The Actor's head swiveled, eyes fixing on Aki. Cold dread wrapped around Aki's stomach. His heart hammered against his chest like a frightened animal. "So… you want to steal the show, too?"
"LUNA!"
Haru sprinted toward them, hand extended desperately to his brother.
He was too far.
A terrible force slammed into Aki. Sickening pain exploded, radiating from the side of his head as gravity betrayed him. He crashed into the earth, hard. Arms shaking, Aki tried and failed to right himself. The ground swam beneath him in nauseating waves, and the sound of his brother screaming his name warped and wavered. He tried to force his eyes to focus and crawled toward the sound of Haru's voice. One of The Actor's deformed hands curled into a fist and flew into Haru, sending the idol sprawling into the tattered, bickering remnants of the Battle Lovers.
"Luna…." Sol reached for his faraway twin, wavering. His eyes fluttered closed, and he grew too still. The Battle Lovers crowded around him.
"Sol! SOL!" Salty tears streamed down Aki's cheeks, and he fought to make his failing legs work. Sticky warmth dripped down the back of his neck, and the harsh taste of copper clung to the back of his neck. His head pulsed in time with his heart. Struggling to his feet, he limped toward his fallen twin. Ragged sobs tore from his throat as he fought through the pain. A black and white form approached him.
Monochrome hands fisted in Aki's tailcoat and slammed him into the ground. His breath left him, and his chest burned. He struggled wordlessly to get air to his stunned lungs. He needed to get to Haru… He needed to make sure he was okay. Please, please be okay…. His arms rose in a pitiful attempt to fend off The Actor, and something hard pressed just below his throat. A shoe? It rose up a few inches, then came down, hard.
Everything went black.