A/N: Hey all! A lot happens in this chapter so I hope you're prepared! Thank you so much to everyone who has left feedback on this, I really appreciate it and I hope I don't disappoint you. I'm not exactly sure when I will end this story, but I'd say it's close to the halfway point now, if it isn't already there. Could be more or could be less, that just depends on how much I can fit into the chapters. ^^;

Prepare for some fluff and candid romance, and a whole lot of other stuff. There's a lot of dialogue in this chapter but the next one will be almost all action, so stay tuned. There's also some OOC moments in this, but yet again, I try to write an explanation in the story for those occurrences.

Enjoy!~

0o0o0o00o0

"Mikoto, hang in there."

It was dark, that was the first thing Suoh noticed. Whether he was conscious or not he was unsure but he could hear the voices around him as if he was still awake, still aware.

"Check his levels!"

"Wait...his levels haven't changed!"

"C'mon Mikoto, don't let this get the better of you."

"Mikoto...your red..."

"Dammit, why is the Sword of Damocles glowing like that?"

"Should we contact the Gold King, Captain?"

"King..."

"Suoh, don't let it consume you."

Consume.

It was all Mikoto felt capable of nowadays. Consume his last days of happiness, consume everyone's support but ignore it, consume his surroundings in fire, consume himself in the end. He didn't understand why that was all his strong hands could do but it bothered him.

I want to protect, I want to heal and shelter. I don't want to fade away. I don't want to burn out...I don't want anyone to die...I don't want to die.

It was his deepest fear. One he kept locked away inside his heart, afraid that if he ever told anyone he would have to accept and confront it. If he pushed it away, kept denying that he, of all people, was afraid then he wouldn't have to face it. He wouldn't let that fear become a reality, he couldn't afford that. He wasn't allowed to show fear.

"Dammit Mikoto, please wake up!"

But things are so much better here, he thought to himself, the blackness around him felt comforting. More so than the red he was constantly engulfed in. He felt at peace, for once in his life he felt...wrong. Something was so wrong with everything he was seeing, everything he was feeling. He wasn't dead. This wasn't some sort of purgatory that he had been sent to, he was still alive, he could still feel his body but he couldn't figure out why everything else was black. Were his eyes closed or was he face down somewhere? Why did everyone sound so worried about him?

I'm fine, can't you see that I'm fine?

"Munakata what's wrong with him? Why isn't he waking up? He's staring at Yata like he's got three heads but the rest of him is unresponsive. His eyes won't react to light, either."

"He could be in shock, maybe too much power was drawn from the Dresden Slate when he activated his Sanctum and his body couldn't handle it. Kings are only human when we get right down to the point, not even we could endure the power of the Dresden Slate at a level beyond what we're used to."

"Will his sword fall?"

"If this keeps up...it might. He's beyond unstable right now.

No.

He couldn't allow that to happen, this darkness was just an illusion. That's when it dawned on him.

You think you're the only one with a Strain?

That was all this was, it was an illusion. As for his Weismann levels...well...he could worry about that once he got himself out of this mess.

His Aura seemed to notice his distress and eventually it appeared to him, all it took was a single ounce of his power for the darkness to fade and for reality to come back to him. His Sword of Damocles dissolved, red crystals cascading down from the sky while his glowing eyes and skin returned to normal. He felt...

"He's stable again," came a call from someone in Scepter4, but Mikoto could barely register it. The words he heard had been true, when his vision cleared he was staring down at Yata- who looked terrified beyond belief and was trembling in his arms.

"Mikoto-san," the boy cried out, squeezing him as tightly as he could as a collective sigh of relief fell over the group. The Red King bit his lip.

"One moment I'm in control again and the next I'm trapped in an illusion made by a Strain," Suoh smirked, "how lovely."

"A Strain?" Munakata asked, successfully drawing the Third King's attention away from Yata and on to him.

"This cat gave me a letter then ran off but I'd bet my life on it still being around, it must be-"

"It can cause perception illusions," Anna's small voice cut him off as she ran up to him and hugged his leg, Yata still not having let go of his waist. He slung an arm around the skateboarder and placed his other on top of the young girl's head.

"So that..." Mikoto looked at the girl next to him, Anna nodded her head.

"Your Sword of Damocles was glowing a red color but that was just another illusion, it never really changed at all. You were in control but that Strain wanted to make it look like you weren't." Anna said grimly, the words she spoke sounding like they came from someone far beyond the impressionable age of ten.

"Well if I didn't know any better I'd say someone was trying to get me to kill you, Suoh." Munakata announced with an out of place smile, "I did fear that your sword was on the breaking point for a moment, if you hadn't have came around and the illusion showed it falling then I would've had no other choice."

"Ah," Mikoto mumbled as he tightened his grip on the two people that clung to him, both of them tensed. "Good thing we aren't that stupid, right Munakata?"

"So do you want to tell us what made you that angry or do we just have to guess?" Kusanagi asked with a sigh as he approached his friend. Mikoto removed his arm from Yata's waist and offered the piece of paper in his hand out to the bartender who took it without a word. The HOMRA strategist read it aloud without pausing, though anger swept across his features as he recited the words.

"Well this is a bit of a predicament," Munakata heaved a sigh, "perhaps we should move back inside?"

"Ah," Suoh replied blandly, feeling unable to form any other words. Fear unknowingly had eaten him alive.

"Ms. Awashima, please take the squad and hunt down this Strain. There should be a detector in the van to help you locate it. Fushimi I'd like it if you stayed here with me, should anything happen while they are away."

"But I don't want to stay." Saruhiko grumbled though a twisted look from his King made him change his attitude rather quickly.

"You'll do as I say."

"Tch," was all the Blue King got in response.

"Stupid Monkey," Yata grumbled as he peeled himself away from Mikoto, albeit reluctantly. "Sorry I clung to you like that, Mikoto." The blush on his cheeks was more than apparent. Finding himself unable to form words the Third King just shook his head and slipped his arm around Misaki's shoulders, escorting him and Anna- who held his hand- back inside the bar.

The Blues left the building in a hurry, taking the vans they had arrived in, going in search of the Strain that had caused them so many problems. The members of HOMRA left after them, desperate to look for the Strain themselves though no one instructed them to do so.

Munakata and Saruhiko followed in after the core members of HOMRA, taking two chairs from the tables that had been put together so they could move them in front of the couches the members of the Red Clan occupied. Mikoto sat with Yata to his left and Anna on his lap, Tatara sitting down beside him without a word. Shock written all over his face. Mikoto winced at the look.

"What do you want to do from here, Suoh?"

"Kill that annoying Strain."

"You know that's not going to happen but hopefully we will be able to catch it," Reisi replied as he adjusted his glasses. "But seriously, what do you want to do with this new found information?"

Anna hopped out of her King's lap and ran over to the bar, grabbing a map as she did so, no one bothered to ask who she was looking for, they already knew the answer to that question.

"Doesn't it sound strange to you, Munakata?" Mikoto began as he leaned back into the couch, "the letter said he's a thousand different people a day...what does that make you think of?"

"I'd put an input in but I feel like you might already be onto the same thing I was going to say."

"Ah, so we can agree that his power is the ability to take control of other people's bodies and use them as his own. Tch, how annoying," Mikoto seethed at the information, the Colorless King really wasone tricky little bastard.

"If this is true then we can assume he would only be able to possess a person without any Aura to protect them," Reisi "so civilians...our clansmen should be safe. If the Red Aura is anything like the Blue Aura then it will protect them."

"I hope so..." Mikoto mumbled under his breath so the Blue King wouldn't hear it, though Misaki and Tatara gave him concerned looks.

"Suoh you look like you've seen a ghost. Are you feeling poorly again?"

The Red King shook his head.

"No, I'm just a bit dazed. Carry on with what you were saying," he lied with a wave of his hand, truth be told he felt like he was going to throw up. He didn't feel sick like had a few days ago but something pitted into his stomach and made him feel ill. He felt something graze over his hand and momentarily glanced down, Yata's hand rested on top of his delicately. Reassuringly. Yata...

He took the hand in his own without hesitation, not thinking before he acted and not dwelling on it either. Though the leader of the Vanguard's breathing hitched no one else in the room noticed, Suoh's coat blocking their view. Not like he cared. If Misaki wanted to comfort him then he would gladly take it, this nurturing side of his third in command was new to him but unlike the past displays of affection he had received from people this one was completely innocent. Mikoto wouldn't taint it nor take it for granted.

"Though I don't believe that I will continue onward," Munakata said with a heavy intake of breath, as if he had been winded beforehand. "For the time being I think we should just carry on like we have been, I recommend closing the bar for the time being so no one besides members of HOMRA can enter, or members of Scepter4 when we are called upon."

"Are you going to compensate us for that time?" Izumo seethed, "this bar doesn't pay for itself."

"We can surely arrange something," Reisi said as he crossed his arms, "I'd also like to post guards on the roof and in front of the bar at all times, if you are okay with that."

"Couldn't I just have my boys monitor the situation since we are staying here?" Mikoto asked warily, eyes growing tired from the long and eventful day he had had.

"They could assist us but I would feel better if we had at least someone from Scepter4 here at all times. I'd do it but I doubt my presence would be wanted and I do have things I have to take care of."

"Stay here if you want, I don't give a shit." Suoh groaned as he threw his head back, "I just want this guy dead. I don't care about what happens in between. I want to rip his heart out of his chest and roast his body until it's nothing but ash and dust."

"Suoh that i-"

"He's hiding at Ashinaka High School."

Everyone in the room went quiet.

"What did you just say Anna?" Mikoto asked as he turned to face the young girl who hopped down from her bar stool, her eyes gleamed.

"He's at Ashinaka High School, since you two began talking he has been there and his location hasn't changed." The young Strain smiled, "I finally got him."

"Anna, you're amazing!" Misaki yelled in excitement as he squeezed his King's hand harder.

"Are you sure of this, Anna?" Kusanagi asked as he leaned down to look the young girl in the eyes, she smiled brightly- nodding her head in enthusiasm.

"I'm one hundred percent positive."

"Anna, have I ever told you that you're incredible?" Mikoto asked with a chuckle as the young girl ran over to him, her eyes lighting up at the words.

"You haven't," she mumbled through a brilliant smile.

"Well it's true," the Red King proclaimed as he brought the young girl into his arms, never once letting go of Misaki's hand.

"Thank you, Mikoto. I love everyone in HOMRA and I wanted to find this man more than anything. Maybe then we could prevent this from happening, maybe we could stay a family then." Anna buried her face in his chest, the words she said warmed the Third King's heart.

She was so afraid she'd lose us...she's already lost one family, I can't allow her to lose this one, too.

"I couldn't ask for a better kid," he announced, no longer caring if the people in the room judged him for exposing his soft side, he also trusted the Blues enough not to use that against him, he knew they wouldn't stoop that low.

"So, what do you want to do Mikoto?" Izumo asked with a Cheshire grin, those words seemed to have become his catchphrase.

"We're going to Ashinaka High School, get everyone back here immediately."

"We will go as well," Munakata announced, his lips twitching upwards. "Fushimi-kun, will you call Seri and have her come back here at once? Once that's taken care of contact the Rabbits and inform the Gold King of our plans, we don't have time to wait for clearance, this will have to suffice."

"Yes, sir," Saruhiko replied with a bitter look as he stormed off outside, making the phone calls he needed too.

"Gonna break the rules tonight, Munakata?" Mikoto teased as he tilted his head to the side in curiosity. The exhaustion he had previous felt was no longer present and instead it was replaced by a rush of adrenaline, this was going to end tonight. One way or another.

"I guess I've been hanging around you too much lately Suoh, I told you the air you breathe out was toxic." Reisi stated in a joking manner, "but no, I need to help you detain this man and make sure you don't kill him. Hopefully he's in the body that meets our description but Anna, surely you can see through any ruse he might try to put up, yes?"

The young girl nodded her head.

"Good, we will evacuate the school once we discreetly locate him, that way it's impossible for him to switch into someone new. We have to be careful not to harm any innocent people," Mikoto rolled his eyes at this, as if he didn't know this information already. "Luckily the Strain that works alongside him is likely too spooked to be outside right now so our plan will be completely unknown to them. It's also rather late so the students should be asleep, this will make moving in rather easy...as for the security of the island..."

"We've got clearance," Saruhiko said as he popped his head in the door, "the Gold King was awake and had already sensed a disturbance so he and the Rabbits will be joining us."

"Oh? Three's a bit a crowd," Mikoto said with a smirk, "but I guess it'll be four of us. Now that's my kind of party." His eyes glowed in challenge.

"Four Kings haven't come together since the Kagutsu Creator Incident, let's try not to have a repeat of that day, all right?"

"I have no plans on dying," Mikoto said with a sigh, "I...I have too much to live for. Despite how badly I want to kill this guy I swear I'll do my best to contain myself. Hopefully my Aura will agree with me."

"Suoh?" Munakata's voice dropped a bit lower than usual, as if he was shocked, concerned and happy with the words that his friend had said so easily.

"A few people told me that I should talk more often and say how I feel without fearing how it would affect those around me," Mikoto stated as he relaxed into the couch, though he was eager to get out there and look for the guy who had been causing him such distress. "I feel like living so I just thought I'd put that out there."

Yata's fingers traced over the back of his hand in approval, and at this notion the Aura in Mikoto's body felt contained, something he found odd yet not necessarily bad. Since when did Yata become like Anna and Tatara? He asked himself as he tapped his fingers on the back of the couch impatiently, Totsuka smiled at him when their eyes met.

"You okay?" He asked the HOMRA cameraman- who nodded his head slowly.

"I'm happy we found him," Tatara paused, "King I know I don't believe in fighting but I will fight if it comes down to it."

The room went deadly quiet as everyone's focus shifted to Tatara, even Anna, who was perched happily on the King's lap, went deadly still as she looked at the man next to her.

"Why's everyone looking at me like that?" Totsuka laughed, waving a hand in front of his face dismissively. "If this is a life and death situation for King and I then I will fight, even I am capable of doing it when I've been backed into a corner. We all have things in this world we have to protect, and I'm willing to set my beliefs aside if it means I can protect myself and my family."

"Tatara..." Yata mumbled, though any further comment was put on hold as both Scepter4 and HOMRA rushed back into the building, excitement and eagerness apparent amongst the Red Clan while seriousness was reflected amongst the Blues.

"Sir we are ready to move out whenever. The Gold King will meet us at the bridge that leads to Ashinaka," Seri saluted as she and the rest of Scepter4 stood in their usual formation. Saruhiko refused to move from his chair until their Captain stood on his feet and ordered him to do so.

"Mikoto-san we're ready," his boys said in unison with a pump of their fists. It was then that Mikoto dropped Yata's hand, shooting him an apologetic glance as he got Anna off of his lap as well. He rose to his feet, his other clansmen doing the same, determination surfacing in their eyes.

"Munakata, you ready to get this party started?"

The Blue King looked back at him with a smirk.

"I thought you'd never ask."

0o0o0o00o0

"Mikoto Suoh, Reisi Munakata, it is a pleasure as always," The Gold King, Daikuku Kokujōji said with a slight smile as he and the Rabbits emerged from an armored vehicle. The vans HOMRA and Scepter4 had used to get to the bridge were parked besides theirs, blocking off the bridge should anyone try to exit the island.

"The pleasure is all mine," Reisi stated with a slight bow, the complete opposite of the nod of acknowledgment Suoh gave the strongest King. "So if I may be so bold, how exactly did you find out about this situation?"

"I noticed something strange a week ago that at first had no apparent correlation to the information you had given me about the Red Clan but I became suspicious when a certain person matching your description was photographed in a rather peculiar place." The Gold King announced as he approached the two other Kings who had ordered their clansmen to stay behind them, the Rabbits made no move towards them either.

"Oh?" Munakata chided with a raise of his eyebrows, "and may we see this photo?"

"Certainly," Daikuku confirmed as one of his older clansmen stepped forward with a tablet in his hand, a hologram popped up and the photo was displayed for everyone to see. "As you can see, I found the man matching your description. Is this him?"

"Yeah, it is," Suoh declared, his fists clenching on instinct. "Where was this taken?"

"In the most peculiar of places," the Gold King announced with a serious look, "it was taken from a camera that sits on top of Sunshine 60, we were monitoring the abnormal movements of the blimp that is controlled by the Silver King, Adolf K. Weismann when we noticed this man in the window. This photo was taken at around 2:00 A.M on November 27th."

"Why didn't you inform us of this?" Mikoto groaned as he crossed his arms defensively, not at all happy about the information that had been withheld from him.

"We couldn't release this information to you prior to this moment because we feared it would put the Silver King at risk," Daikuku offered with a shake of his head. "We didn't want you to act, thinking the First King was in league with the Colorless King."

"Is he aiding him?" Munakata asked with a sigh, clearly just as irritated as Suoh, though they expressed it in different ways.

"No, but we have reason to believe something has happened to Adolf K. Weismann, please keep your eyes on the display," the Gold King pleaded as the picture changed into a video. There was an apparent confrontation between the two Kings, which later led to the man under suspicion of being the Colorless King being pushed off of the blimp. A moment later one of the Rabbits switched the video to another photo, one that depicted what Suoh presumed was the Silver King though a twisted look was marred across his face.

"As you can see, the facial expression previously worn by the Colorless King is now present in the original body of Adolf. K Weismann which leads me to believe the two of them somehow switched bodies." The Gold King scratched his head, "perhaps after he sensed movement from the Red and Blue Clans he got spooked enough to try and change into a form none of you would be able to recognize as himself. After all you wouldn't expect a King to take over the body of another King."

"There goes my theory of us being safe to move in, I suppose even the First King's Aura could not help him," Munakata replied wistfully as he shook his head. "So now we have to change our approach."

"Not necessarily," the Gold King stated with a small smile, "Weismann never engaged in combat so perhaps his Aura had grown a bit stale over time, but he is the First and Immortal King, there is nothing on this planet that could kill him." There was a pregnant pause as the clans all exchanged confused glances, "to clarify this, I believe Weismann is now in the body of the man you seek and the Colorless King has been posing as Weismann, hence the irregular movements from the blimp that usually flies the same course over and over again."

"So why would he be at Ashinaka if that were the case? Wouldn't the blimp be on the move as usual?" Mikoto pondered aloud, his brain feeling fried at the onslaught of new information he was receiving.

"It might have gone without notice but my clan invaded the airship two nights ago, Weismann was nowhere to be found but his original body was laying sprawled out on the floor, lifeless." Daikuku recounted as he moved closer to the two Kings in front of him, he placed a hand on either one of their shoulders. "His body is being held at a private location under my control, so as of now I have reason to believe that both the Colorless King and Adolf K. Weismann are at Ashinaka High School."

"Why would Weismann be at Ashinaka?" Munakata asked out of curiosity.

"I think he might have sensed the Colorless King's presence there and has gone there after him...either that or perhaps that new Strain of his has helped create some sort of fantasy land where he really thinks he goes to that school."

"The Silver King's Strain?" Mikoto growled, "the one who tried to have me killed?"

"Perhaps the Colorless King took over his original body for long enough to tell the Strain to do that, and not knowing any better they did it without question." Daikuku reasoned as he removed his hands, clasping them in front of him instead. "I have known Weismann for nearly 70 years, though we have spent a great deal of time apart I know he would never wish any harm on either of you or your clansmen."

"So how are we going to find the Colorless King if he's taken over someone new already? We can't just barge in there blind to any possible dangers." Munakata insisted as he pinched his brow, "this has gotten so complicated."

"We've already shut down access to the island so from here we will have to smoke him out," the Gold King announced, a wry smile tugging on his lips. "Might I suggest a plan?"

"Of course," Reisi decided.

"Ah."

"I suggest Scepter4 stay on the bridge and keep it closed down at all times, from here they can monitor the evacuation process and keep an eye on however many Kings should meet, preventing a repeat of the Kagutsu Creator tragedy is of utmost importance, don't you agree?" The other Kings nodded in confirmation, "would you be all right with that, Reisi Munakata?"

"That would be fine," he confirmed, sparing a glance at the Red King. "Would you mind if Anna stayed with Ms. Awashima? I believe it would be helpful to have her around should the Colorless King somehow slip by us."

"Only if Tatara can stay with them as well, I don't want either of them mixed up in this more than they need to be. Their safety is my primary concern," Suoh paused, "and I trust you Blues enough to take care of the only two people who have never caused you any trouble."

"I will have them guarded with the utmost of care, Scepter4 will not allow them to be harmed."

"Good, now Mikoto Suoh...for HOMRA...seeing as combat seems to be your clan's specialty I would like for your clan to stand guard around the island, civilians are not to be harmed by any means necessary of course, but should a confrontation arise then I believe your clan can handle it. I do expect some sort of aid in the evacuation from HOMRA as well, but your primary duty will be to guard the people and engage in combat should something go awry," Daikuku announced.

"Izumo, you'll be in charge of following those instructions." Mikoto called over his shoulder, the HOMRA strategist nodded his head in understanding.

"My clansmen will aid in waking and removing the students from the vicinity within the buildings, so to clarify, we will move from the inside, HOMRA will guard them up to the bridge, and Scepter4 will help them leave the island unharmed. How does that sound?"

"Perfect," Reisi stated with a grin. "No objections, Suoh?"

"Oddly enough I can't really think of any," Mikoto said with a shrug of his shoulders. "But what exactly will the three of us be doing?"

"What we always do, this time we will just be working together." The Gold King announced with a laugh, "the three of us will likely create quite a scene and at the end of the day I have a feeling it's our lives the Colorless King is really out to claim so all we need to do is draw him in. I have no doubts that the Weismann will appear when that happens, the four of us should have no problem taking him down."

"So are we to capture him?" Munakata asked as he pushed up his glasses.

"No, I'm afraid at this point that will not do anyone any good."

"So what are you suggesting?" Mikoto questioned, his interest well and truly peaked.

"Hopefully we can get Weismann here in time for the Colorless King to try and take one of us over, when that happens we need to lure him into the Silver King's new body before we can do anything else."

"So you mean..."

"Yes, we are going to kill him once he is in the Silver King's body." Daikuku said with a frown, "I have no doubts that Weismann will survive, he is immortal after all. I will see to it that he is taken care of once the Colorless King has been slain."

"Sir, Suoh is in no shape to take on the burden of killing a King and I fear my own Sword of Damocles would receive a crack in it should I take on that big of a burden." Reisi stated, his calm demeanor sounding more panicked as he seemed to come to a realization, Mikoto stared at the oldest of the Kings with wide eyes.

"I know you're afraid of damaging your sword Reisi, and I know Mikoto's Sword of Damocles already bears three small cracks in it so asking either of you to deal with this would be lunacy."

"Sir?"

"I will be the one to kill the Colorless King." The Gold King announced with a heavy sigh, "my Sword of Damocles remains in mint condition for I have not seen combat as often as the two of you have, I have always worked behind the scenes. I will relinquish my throne after this task is completed to ensure my health does not get worse than it already has."

"I can't ask you to do that," Mikoto hissed, "this is my problem and I want to be the one to finish it. My Sword of Damocles will not fall, another crack will not break m-"

"But it will, Mikoto Suoh. Despite how rapidly you have recovered thanks to the rest you have received your Sword of Damocles remains fragile, killing a King would be the last thing you ever did. Would you want to end your own life then possibly risk Reisi's and my own? The burden of killing a King is a hefty one. If I allowed you to kill this man then Reisi would surely kill you and if he couldn't handle the burden I would have to kill him, and then my own sword might fall. The Dresden Slate is a precarious artifact, should three, maybe even four Kings die at the same time...I'm not sure it would handle it. It reacted chaotically after the Kagutsu Incident."

"You think that would cause another Kagutsu Creator Incident?" Munakata asked against his better judgment, Daikuku merely frowned.

"No, I think that would blow Japan off of the map."

0o0o0o0o0

"Everything is in place, sir!"

"Good work Ms. Awashima, please keep me informed should the Colorless King make it past our first and second line of defense," Munakata lectured as he hopped out of the van, "and do keep a close eye on Anna and Totsuka, Suoh has entrusted us with their protection and seeing as we are allies this is a bold step in the right direction. Never before have our clans gotten along so well, let us not sever this new bond we have made by allowing harm to come to our new friends."

"S-sir!" Seri replied with a salute, though her lips twitched downward in a frown. As if she was flabbergasted at the notion that the two clans could ever be anything but enemies, truth be told they would never be anything more than enemies, Reisi knew this but still he feigned support of the idea.

"I will be heading out now, keep yourselves and the students safe at all costs. I leave everything in your capable hands," he announced as he turned on his heel and headed to the beginning of the bridge, ignoring the call from his Lieutenant. "Good luck, Captain!"

Reisi looked up to the night sky as he stopped in his place, waiting for the other two Kings present and their clans to join up with him before they descended into the unknown. The stars glistened in the night sky, reflecting back on the ocean around them as if to light up the darkness of the sea. He closed his eyes, marking the images into his mind as if it were to be the last time he ever saw such beauty.

0o0o0o00

"Everything is as you ordered, my Lord." One of the Rabbits exclaimed without a hint of emotion in their voice, the rest of the clan politely bowed to their leader before standing in formation, ready to advance when the signal was given.

The Gold King sighed heavily, knowing this would be his last time going out in the field for a mission, both due to his health and the fact after this he would no longer be a King. For some reason this did not sadden him, instead he felt almost relieved that this amount of power would no longer rest on his shoulders.

He had faith in the people of Japan, that they would continue to live long and prosper under the careful nature of the world that came after the war. No longer would he have to worry about such things, he had done his part and played it well. All to appease a dream of a land without fear of losing everything they had, all because of Adolf K. Weismann. If he had one regret, it was spiting that man.

When they had been friends the times were certainly filled with hardship and bloodshed that was absolutely senseless, but they had done as instructed and acted as bravely as they could, each solider and man pretending they were not afraid of losing their lives should they be disobedient. The Dresden Slate had been a glimmer of hope in the world back then, and today it was a beacon in the darkness. Weismann hadn't been wrong about it bringing peace to the land, but the natural order of things was certainly not as it was envisioned to be.

Kings were strange creatures who usually kept to themselves and each other but couldn't seem to get along under most circumstances. Daikuku never quite understood it but it had just been the way things had always been. For example, it was always Blue vs. Red. No matter if it was Kagutsu and Hibari, or Munakata and Suoh, it was just a part of the natural order.

Seeing the two work together now though made him realize that perhaps Weismann hadn't been entirely wrong in saying he expected the Kings to work together. He was just a bit disappointed that it took as great a threat as the one they were facing now in order for them to do so. Still, he reasoned that maybe that was just the way things were meant to be.

The Gold King was not sad when he and his clansmen set off to meet up with Reisi Munakata, in fact he felt a swell of excitement swell within him. This was the excitement of being able to see an old friend.

0o0o0o0o

"I want you all to keep your wits about you, taking orders isn't really our style but we have no other choice in this situation. If anyone should try to get in your way then burn them first, ask questions later." Mikoto commanded as he faced his clansmen, "Izumo, as always I expect you to come up with a back up plan should the Gold King's plan fail, Yata be prepared to lead the offensive if it comes down to it. We still don't know who we're dealing with here."

"Mikoto we got this, just focus on doing your part and we will do ours," Kusanagi said with a smile as he offered the King a cigarette, which he gladly accepted.

"You're right, everyone get your gear out the van then let's go meet up with the rest of them."

"Yes Mikoto-san," the clansmen said in unison as they all dashed off in the direction of the van, obviously eager to get started. Izumo followed after them, shouting at them to stop pushing each other and to be a bit more patient, it was Yata, however, that stayed behind. The metal baseball bat he usually brought with him hung from his hand that was limp at his side.

"Hm?" Mikoto asked as he lit the tobacco that was hanging from his mouth, he glanced over at the leader of the Vanguard who was staring at him intently, like there was something he wanted to say but didn't have the nerve to do it.

"If you feel something you should just say it and not worry about it afterward, right?" Yata asked nervously, eyes barely able to hold the look Mikoto was giving him. The Red King nodded his head slowly. "Then there's something I want to tell you before we leave."

"Oh?" Mikoto encouraged as he took a long drag off of the cigarette, "and what would that be, Yata?"

"Mikoto-san I..." he paused, looking more troubled than ever as if the words refused to roll off his tongue, "I want you to know that..."

Mikoto took the cigarette from his lips, walking closer to his clansmen while they still had a moment to themselves. Sensing his distress he had originally moved forward to offer some sort of reassurance but now that he was within an arms length of the younger man he felt the urge to do something else. Without hesitation and with actions faster than that of a normal mans he brought Yata's body flush to his, the hand that held the cigarette was trained firmly on the small of Misaki's back while his other hand cupped the younger man's chin, forcing their eyes to stay locked.

Yata's cheeks dusted pink, and every time he tried to speak the words that were on his mind he ended up blabbing like a fish, giving up after his third attempt. Mikoto's eyes widened in realization. He knew that look because he had seen it beforehand. Never on Yata, but on someone else he'd rather not think of, but this time something inside his stomach churned. His heartbeat quickened, a silent understanding of what the younger man was too afraid to say caused the pounding in chest to become nearly unbearable.

It made sense now. Every action came together to form a complete puzzle in his mind. Watching movies together, letting Yata stay in his bed, their embraces, his own freakout over Misaki's disappearance...everything clicked now. Right down to the moment Yata had helped him stabilize his rage in front of HOMRA and the way his Aura reacted to the warmth of Misaki's hand. A small twinge of terror ran through him.

No, I can't...I'm not like him at all. This isn't right. Yata thinks he's so much like me and perhaps I felt that way too but we couldn't be more different...he glanced down at clansmen with widened eyes, he's too innocent...I can't...I'll only hurt him in the end. I always do. He tried to make himself believe the last part but something else in his head screamed at him, told him that this wasn't like the other times because this time the feeling was reciprocated. It wasn't purely love nor was it akin to lust, but a strong sense of adoration and want filled Mikoto's head.

No, because Yata isn't like me and because he's not like the others this time is different. Everything is different. Am I finally ready to let someone in?

"Mikoto...san?"

Suoh knew his clansmen would be back any minute, knew that there were a thousand things he had to worry about in that moment but he found himself unable to care about anything but the amber colored eyes that were locked on his, Yata looked hurt and concerned all at once. As if he was afraid Mikoto had recognized what was going through his head and froze out of disgust but the Red King wouldn't allow them to part ways like that. The urge to lean down his head became too much to ignore and so he did, tilting the younger man's chin up as his eyes refocused on his clansman's.

Their way of asking is it okay if I do this? Because not even Mikoto Suoh would make an unwanted advance on someone. Yata, to his surprise, only slightly nodded his head, but that was all the permission he needed in that moment. Mikoto leaned in the rest of the way slowly, only stopping when his lips crashed against Yata's. It was delicate and the Red King kept it tame but despite that, the way the younger man's lips pushed back against his sent sparks flying in every corner of his mind. His heart felt ready to burst out of his chest at any moment and the rush he felt now made the adrenaline he felt earlier pale in comparison.

He had never felt so...alive...so human. Yata's body was lax in his arms now as their lips slowly moved against one another until they reluctantly parted, only doing so out of the need to breathe and the realization that the rest of HOMRA would be joining them in just a moment. It was with even greater reluctance that Suoh let his grip on Misaki go.

"Mikoto?"

"How about you save what you were going to tell me until after I get back?" The Red King said with a grin, "I'll have to come back if I want to hear it, right?"

"Y-yeah, you will," Yata said sheepishly, a deep crimson dusting his cheeks as he stared down at his feet, he nervously toyed with the baseball bat that he held in his right hand.

"Yata?"

"Y-yes, Mikoto-san?"

"I will come back."

Yata smiled, his eyes glistening as the deep red on his cheeks faded to a light shade of pink. "I know you will."

"Ready to go, Mikoto, Yata?" Izumo's voice boomed as he and the rest of HOMRA came back into view, weapons in hand.

"Ah," the Third King announced as he turned and faced the other side of the bridge, the rest of his clan joined up with him as Yata stood proudly to his left and Izumo took his usual spot on his right. "Let's go."

"Yeah!" Came the instant cry back, along with their usual battle chant. "No Blood! No Bone! No Ash!"

From there, Mikoto led them to the beginning of the bridge, meeting up with the rabbits who fell in step to the right of HOMRA, as he joined up with the Blue and Gold Kings to lead the charge onto Ashinaka High School. Mikoto felt the adrenaline rush return to him.

Things are about to get interesting.