"Ohohohoho! Well, aren't you adorable. And you were so rough a minute ago. Yet, you make such an adorable pup!"

"What the hell is this?! CHANGE ME BACK YOU BASTARD!"

"Um.." Relius was expecting a lot today. An easy mission, Valkenhayn being rude and a quiet stroll through some unnamed forest in Japan. Instead he got a strange man with strange powers, a fight against said man, Valkenhayn rescuing him (he still wasn't sure if that was real or not), Valkenhayn losing control and now...this mouthy kid yelling at said strange man. Where was Valkenhayn? Well, Valkenhayn was the mouthy kid now. Why? That's what Relius would like to know.

"Now why would I ever do that? You're so much better like this!" With a wave of his hand, Amane wrapped up Valkenhayn in his shawl and lifted him off the ground. With another wave of his hand, Valkenhayn was now eye-to-eye with the Dancer, the boy now upside.

"LET ME GO! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL BITE YOUR THROAT CLEAN OFF! I'LL-HEY! LET GO OF MY CHEEK!" Grabbing hold of Valkenhayn's face, Amane began pinching the boy's cheek, not unlike an over excited grandmother would do to her favorite grandchild. Amane couldn't help but coo over his once powerful foe. He looked so scary just a short time a ago and now? Now he was an adorable yapping puppy! He was just so cute! Valkenhayn had on a black t-shirt and dark green shorts, very likely clothing he enjoyed, or at least wore consistently, as a child. Amane had made that distinction for his spell. Always have the opponent in their preferred clothing from childhood. Why? Well to help make them comfortable in their new (or was it old?) form of course! Also, he just thought they'd look cuter thay way.

"Um, excuse me? Mr. Nishiki?" Relius pulled himself out of his daze and finally dared to speak up. Yes, child Valkenhayn was a problem but...he needed to know. How was he able to turn back the hands for time in such a way? "If it's not too much trouble, could you please explain what you have done to my associate."

"Made him more adorable of course!"

""Um, well yes...I suppose." Valkenhayn glared at his partner. Valkenhayn was a lot of things and cute ain't one of them! Relius coughed into his hand, trying once again to find the answer he seeked. "But how did you do it? What was that just now. I must know."

"You must?"

"Indeed."

"You must, huh?" Amane gave a playful smirk at Relius, who suddenly felt like he had made a grave mistake. Amane sauntered over to the Puppeteer, Valkenhayn still wrapped up next to him, glaring at everything. Now once again standing next to Relius, Amane's eyes lit up with joy, which only made Relius more uncomfortable. "Then I think you know what to do."

"I...I do?"

"The answer is simple, my dear." With a wave of his hand, Amane returned once again to his flowery pink kimono. But there was something else there as well. Was that... a purple kimono in his hands? "Join my troupe and I'll turn him back! Just say yes and put this on and the little puupy turns back into a big bad wolf!" Relius stared at the article of clothing for a moment before responding.

"...Do I have time to think about it?"

"HEY!" Valkenhayn stared daggers at Relius. This wasn't something to think about you bastard! HELP ME!

"Nope! I need your answer immediately. Unless you'd rather your friend go through puberty a second time?"

"DON'T SCREW ME OVER, CLOVER!" Relius took a moment to consider his options, ignoring Valkenhayn's rather vocal displeasure.

"...Maybe it's better he stay like that. Raise him right this time, you know. We could finally visit Vienna."

"STOP MESSING AROUND!" Amane smiled and did a gracious bow to the Puppeteer.

"Well if that's how you feel." With another way of his hand, Amane unwrapped Valkenhayn and placed him next to Relius. Immediately after being released, Valkenhayn charged at Relius, ready to tear into his Judas. But little was accomplished as Relius summoned a mechanical hand to keep Valkenhayn at bay. Amane was correct in his assessment. Valkenhayn as a child really was just a puppy. The young beastkin howled and barked but could do nothing against the awesome power...of a hand to the face. "I bid you two a fond farewell. Enjoy the reset of your visit to Japan!" And with that, Amane bowed and happily walked away. Relius looked on, wondering what to do now. As the puppeteer continued to ponder something strange entered his ears. And it was...crying? And it was coming from...

"Valkenhayn?"

"Y-You! I-! You won't even-!" The boy was still attacking but now tears were falling down his face. Relius couldn't see the wet streaks dirtying the young beastkin's face but he didn't need to. Hearing was all he needed. "You're not even willing to help me! I should have gotten rid of you when we first met! I HATE YOU! YOU BASTARD! You-! Y-you-!...you..." The boy deflated, stopping his assault. Relius lowered his mechanical arm, letting it disappear as Valkenhayn dropped to the ground. He was shaking. "You don't care about me. No one ever has. I'm just... a lapdog." As Valkenhayn slumped over on the ground Relius looked over at Amane. The Dancer was standing on the middle of a bridge that separated the forest from the town. He wasn't moving and he hadn't turned around. Relius looked at the boy crying into the dirt. This wasn't the partner he knew. This wasn't the Immortal Breaker he had fought so many battles with. This was just... a little boy. A tiny, weak child.

"Damn it." Relius sighed as he walked over to Amane, who still had his back turned to him. Taking a breath Relius gave a simple answer to the strange man. "Alright."

Amane turned around, a happy smile on his face. Relius guessed he was excited. But then... he started to giggle which then turned into a chunkle which soon became an all out laugh. Relius guessed he was REALLY excited. What was this about now? Still laughing, Amane pointed in Valkenhayn's direction. Relius turned around and saw a light surround Valkenhayn and a moment later...

"Wah? I'm...back to normal?" Valkenhayn had returned to his fully grown form. He was back in his suit and tie no worse for wear. Valkenhayn looked at Relius, confusion written on his face. "You...you joined him?"

"Well... you are my partner, after all."

"...Tch. Yeah well, you're a sucky partner. Only helping after a kid starts crying. Hmph."

"That child was you, you know."

"Hmph." With that Valkenhayn walked up to Amane, clearly wanting to settle the score. "All right you! I'm back to normal! Let's finished this!"

"Are you quite certain? I could turn you into a child permanently this time if you like. I don't have to set a time limit, you know."

"Yeah, like that matters! I'll still-!...what did you say?" Valkenhayn stared at the Dancer in confusion, a look shared with Relius. Did he just say what they think he said?

"Amane Nishiki," said Relius, still slightly in a daze. "What do you mean "time limit"?

"Oh, that? I had that spell set for a time limit of 10 minutes. You agreed to join me Relius right before the time was about to run out! Aren't I lucky? Ohohohoho!" Relius and Valkenhayn stood there, staring at the laughing man in crossdress. Neither one wanted to speak, finding the action too difficult and/or embarrassing.

"You never intended to keep him that way. I agreed to join you... for no reason."

"I wouldn't say that. You'll look great in purple, my dear!" Amane was as happy as a calm. Finally he had a new member to his troupe! And such a good looking one too. Lucky Amane! Relius meanwhile was staring into the sky, praying for a miracle. Valkenhayn had his hand in his face. He cried over this, damn it! HE CRIED FOR NO REASON! SHIT!

"Well... Clover's never lie." Relius said this in the most dejected voice he could.

"Clover's never lie." Valkenhayn matched his tone, defeat lacing his every word.

"Clover's never lie! Ohohohoho!" By contrast, Amane couldn't have been happier. "Let's get Relius fitted!"

Meanwhile, standing over the chasm that Valkenhayn had battled in earlier, was a handsome man with black hair, red eyes, red painted nails and some rather regal robes. Some would say, robes fit for a King.

"So, why are you here Uzume? Our kind aren't allowed to step on the stage. What are you plotting?" The man stroked his chin, lost in thought. He closed his blood red eyes, wondering what his counterpart had planned. Coming up with nothing, the man sighed. "I can never figure you out Amane. You always do what you like without any regard for what others have already prepared." Moving a strand of his long hair out of his eyes, the vampire could only smirk. "Well, it wouldn't be you unless you were getting in someones way. That's just how you are."

The No-Life King bared his fangs, excitement written on his face. "Alright Uzume. Show me something interesting, won't you?"

And with that Clavis disappeared from slight, his presence gone from the world.

Author's Note: Finally posting again. Will I at all be consistent? Probably not. I'll at least try to get back to my stories. At least I got this done. Hopefully I'll have more chapters soon. Review if you like and criticism is welcome. Anything to help me improve!

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