A/N: It's FAF!

...Need I say more?

FAF

CHAPTER 21

"SONS AND NOBODIES"

Riku groaned as he woke, coughing from the smoke that was crawling into his lungs. The smell of burning embers singed the hairs in his nose as he pushed himself off the wooden floor he'd landed on. Taking in the surroundings with his aura Riku realized he'd fallen out of the dark portal straight into a burning building.

"Axel? Saisaiji?" Riku called.

"H-Help!" A faint voice coughed in response.

Stretching his senses further Riku followed the aura of the voice, dodging a falling roof beam as he made his way to a closet in the next room over. Inside was a little girl with brown hair and eyes, sitting with her arms wrapped around her legs.

(A little girl…?) Hesitating a moment, Riku held out his hand to her. "Come on, I'll help you out. It's okay." He assured her, sensing the doubt in her aura.

When he'd assured her it was safe she flung herself from the closet, wrapping her arms around his waist and catching Riku by surprise. Sensing the building was about to collapse, Riku realized there was no time to argue and he scooped her up, racing toward what he sensed to be the exit. He was almost out when a piece of roofing collapsed over them, plummeting toward Riku's head at an alarming speed. A red and black blur burst through the front doors, spiriting away the broken ceiling just before it hit them. A red-cloaked, black-haired man stood there, turning towards them.

"Go." He ordered, rushing Riku, the girl, and himself from the building.

Several people stood outside, fruitlessly tossing buckets of water on the inferno. The foundation of the house merely collapsed, the flames engulfing what was left of it. Luckily people were able to keep it from spreading to the nearby buildings.

"Marlene!" Riku heard a voice cry as a large black man came running up to them.

"Daddy!" The little girl in Riku's arms squirmed free and raced into her father's outstretched arms. As the man spun her around him in joy Riku was reminded of his own father and his hands tightened into fists, his back turning to them as he made to leave.

"Just a moment!" The father called, running after Riku and putting a hand on the teen's shoulder. "At least lemme thank you."

"I don't really—" Riku began, but the big man interrupted him.

"Aww, c'mon—it's the least I can do! You saved my Marlene!"

"…I just want to go home." Riku told the man firmly, removing the hand from his shoulder.

It was then Marlene decided to contribute to the conversation by running up to Riku and hugging him around his leg—the highest part of him she could reach. "Thank you!" she squeaked tearfully, the fear of her experience not quite worn off.

Riku was once again glad that his blindfold hid his emotions. He couldn't keep the sadness from his eyes as his father's departure flashed through his mind.

"Daddy!"

"You're not allowed to go anywhere, okay?"

"DON'T GO!"

(…Dammit.) Riku inwardly growled, his fists tightening further. As the little girl released him, her innocent aura smiling up at him, however, Riku's anger melted and he sighed. "Whatever…" he muttered, ruffling the girl's hair as he began to walk on.

"Your name…" the red-cloaked figure asked suddenly, stopping Riku again, "…wouldn't happen to be Riku, would it?"

Riku whirled on the cloaked stranger in surprise, his eyes narrowing beneath the blindfold. "Why?"

"Because I have a message for you." The cloaked man explained.

"A message? From who?" Riku demanded.

"…Your father."

-…-

Saisaiji arrived back in Twilight Town unharmed, the noonday sun streaming in through the windows of Axel's room as she struggled to push him up onto the bed.

She let out a sigh of relief as she finished, turning and heading to the kitchen. (Now where did he put that painting?) She wondered, glancing around the room. She found it leaning up against a nearby wall, the wood back of the canvas visible as she approached it. When Saisaiji reached over to flip it to the other side a sharp pain shot through her fingers and she yelped, shoving the injured fingers into her mouth. When the painting clattered to the floor face-up she gasped.

Where a beautiful landscape had once been was an entirely black abyss, the dark paint creeping over the sides of the canvas, as if to consume it.

"No…this can't be…" Saisaiji whispered, her eyes locked in horror on the little finger-size hole in the middle of the canvas—the only thing that now identified it as the same picture she and Riku had taken from DiZ's mansion. "Axel…what happened to your heart?"

-…-

"So…" Riku began slowly as he sat across from the red-cloaked man at a table inside the local tavern.

"Vincent." The man introduced himself, waving a golden clawed hand at Riku to continue.

"…How do you know my father?" Riku asked—this being the most pressing question on his mind.

"He came here a few years ago with his friend." Vincent explained.

"Neither of them are still here?"

"No. They left as soon as they found out we couldn't help them."

"…Help them with what?" Riku asked curiously.

"They were looking for someone. A man named Ascartes."

Although he'd never heard the name it sent shivers down Riku's spine. There was no doubt in Riku's mind that his was the name of the leader of Sru Crucifix…the being that'd tried to kill him twice now. (But why would my father be looking for the leader of Sru Crucifix? And what if he found him? What if he's…)

"…By the way…your father's doing just fine."

"The friend you said was with my father…was his name Damen?" Riku questioned suddenly, the memory of their encounter sparking this realization.

Vincent almost looked surprised. "Yes it was."

"I thought so."

"…If you run into a man with two colored eyes…"

(Wait a minute…)

"The message?" Vincent asked, interrupting Riku's thoughts.

"Huh?"

"Would you like your father's message now?"

Riku nodded hesitantly and was a bit surprised when Vincent reached into his cloak to produce a letter—he'd expected the message to be oral.

"Do you want me to read it?" Vincent offered.

"No thanks…I'll read it later." Riku told him, taking the thick envelope gently.

Vincent merely nodded, standing up and exiting the tavern—leaving Riku to ponder as to the letter's contents.

(I…suppose I could read it now. I wouldn't want to read it around Axel and Saisaiji…) Riku thought, carefully untying his blindfold and letting it slip to the table. He blinked his eyes a few times to adjust to the lighting before returning to the envelope and opening it carefully, pulling out a piece of paper. Taking a deep breath, Riku began to read the letter to himself silently.

To my son, Riku:

I have no idea when this letter will come to you. You'll probably be a lot older than the last time I saw you…I guess I'm not very good at this. I never was good at writing letters. Your mother would always laugh at my letters. So would you, although you couldn't read them. I think you just laughed because she was laughing. Your mother had that effect on people. No matter how sad I was she'd always find a way to cheer me up…I hope you find someone like that someday.

Boy, would I love to see where you are today. I bet you've been on all kinds of adventures with Sora. You've probably even made some new friends along the way. Next time we meet you'll have to introduce me, alright?

I know I promised I would never leave you. I never would have if things had turned out differently. That's just an excuse, isn't it? I've always been a wanderer…it's in my blood. I'll bet anything it's in yours too. But my need to travel would never take precedence over you. You have no idea how much it hurt to leave you. I still regret it, every day. I've lost track of how long I've been out here.

I miss you so much. I wish I could promise we'll see each other again but I don't trust my own promises anymore. I wish I could rewind time so I could be back on this island with you. Ironic how much I miss a place that used to bore me to death. But it wasn't boring with you there. It was home. Some time I hope we can go back to that home…together.

Riku, I'm so sorry. Everything I put you through. I wish…

But that's the past, right?

No use worrying about it now.

So…I guess I'll see you soon.

I love you son.

As Riku finished reading, something wet rolled down his cheek and fell onto the piece of paper, causing a stain to appear on the page. "Mom was right, Dad, "Riku smiled through his tears, "You suck."

-…-

The inside of Axel's painting looked about the same as the outside—black and empty.

"Axel? Can you hear me?" Saisaiji called. (It's his heart—he should be here.)

"You'll die, you know." A voice from behind her warned.

Saisaiji whirled around to see a cloaked and hooded figure sitting on an invisible bench in the darkness, their arms draped across their knees. "Who—"

"You were the princess of the story…and you died. If you're not careful you'll end up the same way." The figure threatened.

"Sai!" another voice called. This time she turned around to see a familiar friend in a black trench-coat running towards her.

"Axel…" She sighed, relieved to see him.

"Sai, get away from him!" Axel yelled.

"What?" She questioned, turning to the figure. They stood silently, turning to leave. Axel caught up to Saisaiji, pulling out his chakram.

"What'd you do with everyone? Where are they?" Axel demanded.

"…I wanted to be alone so I sent them away. But it looks like I can't ever be alone…not with you here." The figure replied, summoning a pair of black chakrams to his hands and turning to face Axel. "…So I'll just have to get rid of you first."

"Sai, step back—this is my fight." Axel told her firmly, going into a battle stance.

"Axel…who is that? What's going on?" Saisaiji questioned.

"…Are you…worried?" The figure with the dark chakrams asked, lowering his weapons.

"Leave Sai out of this, you!" Axel growled, tossing a chakram at the cloaked figure. The figure blocked it with his own chakram allowing it to swing harmlessly back to Axel. The pyro caught his weapon easily, glaring down his opponent and positioning himself between the foe and Saisaiji.

"It hurts, doesn't it?" The figure asked, slowly approaching Axel, "It makes you want to cry, to die…anything to escape the pain…pain you're not even supposed to feel. Nobodies don't have hearts… so then how do they even exist?"

"What are you talking abou—" Axel began, but he was cut off by the figure's attempt to strike him—an attempt he quickly blocked.

"…Why can't you admit that it hurts?" The figure asked, striking at Axel again. Every time the figure swung his dark chakram Axel blocked it and each time the blows came faster. "It hurts, doesn't it? Doesn't it? It hurts. IT HURTS!"

"Stop it!" Saisaiji yelled, stopping the figure's flurry of blows and catching both of their attentions. "Axel—what is going on? Who is that?"

Axel avoided her gaze as he answered, "…Me."

"What?" Saisaiji wondered aloud, her confused gaze turning to the cloaked figure whose weapons were now lowered in defeat. Slowly she approached him, not noticing Axel disappear as she stopped in front of the figure who was a bit taller than her. She reached up to lower his hood, her eyes widening as flame red hair and sad emerald eyes revealed themselves.

"…Axel…" She whispered in recognition just before he pulled her into his arms, his hands clenching the back of her shirt tightly.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…I just…I don't know what to do!" Axel sobbed, "It hurts…it's not supposed to but it does! How can a heart that doesn't exist still hurt?"

Slowly Saisaiji wrapped her arms around Axel, whispering, "But just because it's not in here, doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

-…-

"It's my turn boy."

Shuyin froze at the sound of Ascartes' voice in his head, his peaceful morning shattered by a mere sentence. Shuyin moved quietly to his room, closing and locking the door behind him.

"Wh-Why?" Shuyin stammered, worried by the prospect of another event like the last one.

"Don't question me!" Ascartes snapped, causing Shuyin to wince. "Just let…me…out."

As he growled this in Shuyin's head the boy screamed, an ear-splitting pain ripping through his mind as he disappeared from view, the dark, shadowy leader of Sru Crucifix standing calmly in his place.

"Next time do as I say." He threatened aloud before shimmering out of Shuyin's room to emerge in a long stone hallway with wooden doors lining either side. Ascartes smirked when he saw a purple-haired male entering the room through one of those doors.

"Folon…I thought I sensed a guardian." He greeted, startling the man.

"A-Ascartes…" Folon stammered, not having expected the antiguardian so soon.

"I'm not in the mood for games today so…why don't you just tell me where to find Ander and I'll let you go."

"…Why are you doing this? What happened to you Naphir?"

Ascartes' smirk faded, a dissatisfied scowl crossing his face. "…That question again. Your master asked me the same thing. I'll tell you the same thing I told him: Saving people…got boring."

Folon grew silent at this and Shuyin felt Ascartes boil in fury at the pitying look Folon gave him, his eyes hardening as he sensed an oncoming battle.

Lightning danced around the antiguardian's form, the air around him crackling from the force. Folon shuffled sideways slowly, trying to gain more ground. Ascartes was on him in an instant, his hands shooting forward to grab at the guardian, who barely managed to dodge them. Ascartes shimmered away and before Folon could even blink he felt himself lifted from behind, the antiguardian's hand.

"…You can't win." Ascartes warned, tightening his grip and sending electric shocks through Folon's body, causing the guardian to scream in pain. "Now…where is Ander?" Ascartes asked, stopping the electricity to hear Folon's answer.

"N-Never…I'll never tell you…" Folon coughed. Ascartes sent another shockwave through Folon's body, causing Folon to scream again.

"Where? Don't make me ask again."

Folon slowly raised a hand, his finger raising to point at something…and then this same hand swung around, karate-chopping Ascartes' wrist. Caught off guard the antiguardian released his grip and Folon dropped to his feet, swinging a roundhouse kick toward the antiguardian's head. Ascartes caught Folon's ankle in his hand, holding the guardian off-balance and out of reach.

"This would be so much simpler if you would just tell me. Or would you prefer to struggle?" Ascartes questioned coldly.

Folon glared at the antiguardian, then spit on his shoes in response. Ascartes released Folon's foot at the same time as he swung his other hand forward to punch Folon in the face, sending the guardian flying until he rolled to a stop face-down on the floor.

As Folon struggled to push himself up off the floor Ascartes crossed the hallway to kneel beside him, lifting the guardian's head by his hair so they could speak face to face.

"…My patience only lasts so long Folon. Your stubbornness could very well be the end of you." Ascartes threatened.

Folon's defiant eyes slowly melted to fear under the antiguardian's harsh gaze as he whispered, "…What happened to you?"

Ascartes' gaze hardened further as he answered, "…I met a little rat," and his hand shot forward into the guardian's chest. "…I'm sorry. Your friend Naphir died a long time ago." Ascartes whispered as he pulled Folon's still beating heart out of the guardian's chest, crushing it in his hand. He allowed the guardian's empty husk to fall to the marbled floor and dropped the mangled heart on top of it, shaking the blood off into the air.

He sat there for a moment, one knee raised, his crimson soaked hand draped across it and dripping red liquid all over the floor.

"Prince Folon!" A guard shouted as he ran towards Ascartes.

"You sir—step away from the prince!" another shouted as they joined him.

Neither guard realized what was going on until they reached the scene, both of them freezing at the sight of their beloved prince lying dead on the floor.

"Wh-What?" One stammered in his shock.

Ascartes slowly stood, still not looking their way.

"S-Stop right there!" one guard ordered, pointing his spear shakily at the antiguardian.

Ascartes turned to them for only a moment, the oddest look on his face as he shimmered away.

-…-

The leader of Sru Crucifix resurfaced in Shuyin's room mere moments before he allowed Shuyin to take his place.

"…Now you may do as you wish." Ascartes' voice told him before going silent.

Shuyin staggered forward upon regaining control, crashing into the nearest wall which he then leaned on for support. He took in a few deep, shaky breaths, wincing at the splitting pain in his head. (A-Another person…another person's dead because of me. If I wasn't here, this monster would-)

"Don't bother. I'll simply find another host." Ascartes interrupted, cutting into Shuyin's thoughts.

"Then why do you need me? Why don't you just kill me and find someone else?" Shuyin yelled in frustration.

"Would you prefer it if I took your little girlfriend as my pawn?"

Shuyin froze at this question. (No. No, but….)

This time Shuyin's thoughts were interrupted by the telephone, causing him to jump. Attempting to settle his fast beating heart, he crossed the room to the phone stand, answering it.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Shuyin? It's Yun's mom."

"M-Mrs. Okajima!" Shuyin stuttered in his surprise. "Um…how can I…help you?"

"Could you do me a huge favor? Could you pick up Yun from the hospital? I would but I'm in the middle of a class and her father's at a meeting."

"Yeah, sure, that's not a problem."

"Thanks sweetie!" Yun's mom chirped, hanging up the phone.

"Y-You're welcome…" Shuyin muttered, putting the receiver on its hook. ("Sweetie?") He wondered, shaking his head as he rummaged around his room for his car keys. As he picked them up he could've sworn he heard Ascartes ask him something…but when the antiguardian was silent afterwards Shuyin second guessed this. (Usually he demands an answer after—Dammit, not even my own thoughts are private anymore!)

"Would you prefer it if I took your little girlfriend as my pawn?"

(No…I don't want Yun to get involved but…I just don't know what to do anymore.) Shuyin thought sadly as he slumped into the driver's seat of his car, leaning his head against the back of the seat and staring up at the ceiling. (…Why…me?)

-…-

"Do you have all of your things?" The nurse asked as Yun sat in the waiting room; now back in her normal clothes after wearing a hospital gown for three days straight.

"Yeah, thanks." Yun laughed nervously. "Is Shuyin here yet?"

"Oh, is that the young gentleman who came in the other night? He was so cute, he seems like a real sweetie." The nurse gushed.

"Th-Thanks?" (I never know what to say when people say stuff like that.) Yun mentally groaned. (C'mon Shuyin…)

Just as she was praying he'd show up Shuyin entered the hospital through the front doors, waving when he spotted Yun.

"Well, there's my ride, gotta go, bye!" Yun burst out, grabbing her things and rushing for the doors.

"Bye! Come visit some time." The nurse waved after Yun.

(Who the hell visits a hospital for no reason?) Yun wondered during her mad dash for the door.

"Doesn't she still need to fill out her paperwork?" a second nurse questioned.

"Oh don't worry, we'll get it from her parents later!" the first nurse replied jovially.

"…If you say so."

-…-

"I take it you were really eager to get out of there." Shuyin surmised once he and Yun had gotten outside where she had finally slowed to a walk.

"You have no idea." Yun groaned. "That crazy nurse hasn't left me alone all morning—she was driving me insane!"

Shuyin smiled a little at her mild frustration. (…I missed this. Just talking with her…)

"Hey…what happened to your finger?" Yun asked, grabbing Shuyin's pointer finger in her hands to examine it.

"Some crazy uh…bush." Shuyin quickly corrected what he'd been about to say. "I pricked it on a bush." (I can't exactly explain the whole thing with that guy…I didn't even get a good look at him—he ran away too fast.)

"…A crazy bush?" Yun asked skeptically.

"…Something like that." Shuyin muttered, turning to walk on.

"Hold it!" Yun snapped, yanking him back by his hand. "You can't just leave it like that." Producing a band-aid from her pocket, Yun began wrapping his injured finger, forcing him to stand beside her.

"Where did you get the band-aids?"

"That crazy nurse forced them on me." Yun answered grumpily, finishing wrapping his finger. "There! Done." She announced, releasing his hand.

"Thanks." Shuyin said, tucking his hands into his pockets and leading her towards his car.

"…Hey." Yun stopped him suddenly by grabbing his shoulder. "Is something wrong? You seem depressed."

"It's not—"

"You can tell me. I'll listen." Yun insisted.

Shuyin smiled sadly to himself, whispering, "I don't deserve you."

"What?"

"Nothing." Shuyin shot her a fake smile, walking on down the street.

"Hey, no, what did you say?" Yun growled, chasing after him. "Tell me!"

"No!" Shuyin laughed, running from her.

"Get back here!"

(I really don't deserve you…Yun.)

-…-

"Saya? Saya, wake up." Gyokoshu called, shaking the woman gently by the shoulder.

"Mmm?" she groaned, her sleepy blue eyes slowly drifting open. "Ko?"

"Did you fall asleep reading again?" He asked, pointing to the large book draped across her like a blanket.

"O-Oh…I must have…" she laughed sheepishly, sitting up in the chair, her eyes widening as the book fell to its back in front of her. "Ko!"

Seeing her surprise Gyokoshu turned to the open book, his own eyes also going wide. "Time travel?" he exclaimed, picking up the big book quickly to examine it.

"What does it say?" Saya asked as his expression grew more and more curious.

"This…this book has details on how to set up a time portal!" Gyokoshu answered, his eyes glued to the page as he flipped it.

"Does it now? I should very much like to see that." A voice interrupted them.

Gyokoshu's eyes snapped up to see another man had shimmered into the room, a sight that normally wouldn't have caught his attention if not for who it was.

"Y-Y-You're…b-but…h-wha-" Gyokoshu sputtered, his eyes wider than when he'd spotted the book's contents.

Saya turned from the man to Gyokoshu and back again. "Who…?"

"Might I see that book?" the man asked, holding out a hand.

Gyokoshu wordlessly dropped the book into the man's hand, his own hands frozen in midair due to shock.

"Hmm, hmm, I see…" The man muttered, flipping back a page to read from the start.

"Ko, who—"

"SKULD!" A shrill voice screamed as its owner Eri Watashi slammed open the front door, glancing around the room and pausing when she realized he wasn't there. "Dammit, the bugger ran away again!" Fuming, she slammed the door shut again, running off down the street.

"…Awful noisy around here." The man commented, returning to his reading.

His shock finally wearing off Gyokoshu flew into a panic, pointing at the man. "Wha-Wha-Wha-Wha-What are you doing here? Do you have any idea what'll happen if he senses you here? D—H—Are you NUTS?"

"Quite frankly, yes." The man replied, handing the book back to Gyokoshu. "You should show that to Damen, he'd be very interested in it."

"Who are you?" Saya interjected, still completely thrown off by Gyokoshu's reaction to the man.

"Me? Just a friendly helper." The man replied mysteriously.

Before she could question the man further Damen shimmered into the room.

"Alright I'm ba—" Damen began, stopping when he saw the man. "Oh, Tilles."

"'Oh, Tilles?' Is that all you're going to say?" Gyokoshu exploded, "Do you have any idea how dangerous it is for him to be here? If Ascartes finds out—"

"Ascartes isn't going to find out anything," Damen cut off his friend, "He's too busy with Shuyin right now. Besides…I asked Tilles to come."

"You…asked him to…" Gyokoshu repeated slowly, turning to Tilles.

"It's true." Tilles confirmed.

"…Why doesn't anyone tell me these things sooner?" Gyokoshu sighed.

"By the way Damen, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" Tilles questioned.

At this Damen's expression grew serious. "…We need to come up with a plan. Ascartes has already knocked out over half of our numbers—"

"Damen. Shouldn't…all of the remaining guardians be present for this meeting?" Gyokoshu interrupted.

"This…pretty much is everyone." Damen admitted sadly, "Except Ander, but she's occupied elsewhere."

"No, but…that means there's only three left." Saya realized aloud.

"The same number as antiguardians…" Gyokoshu recognized.

"That's not necessarily true." Tilles interjected. "We still have our trump card."

"Yes and luckily Ascartes thinks our trump card is you." Damen added.

Tilles nodded, "We'll have to keep it that way until the trump is ready."

"…Who?" Gyokoshu asked slowly, turning to Damen for an answer.

"Maybe later." Damen waved a dismissive hand in the air. "The most pressing issue on my mind right now is where Ascartes will strike next.

"…I have a feeling he'll wait a while before coming after us." Tilles told them.

"What makes you say that?" Damen asked.

"Think about it: his old self is bound to still be in there somewhere—he can't destroy it completely. And who was his last target?"

"Ohhh…Folon." Damen groaned in realization.

Tilles nodded, "The boy he trained to be a guardian."

Suddenly remembering the book he was holding, Gyokoshu interjected himself back into their conversation. "Oh—Damen, Tilles said I should show you this." Gyokoshu told the dual-eyed man, handing the thick novel to him. "What do you make of it?"

" 'Astral Projection?'" Damen read off the page. "I know what that is."

"Oh…must be on the wrong page. I could've sworn I left it on the same page as before." Gyokoshu muttered, reaching over to turn the page.

"Wait." Damen stopped him, "That…just might work."

"What might?" Saya questioned.

"Yes…yes that just might work! Ko, you're a genius!" Damen exclaimed, handing the book back to Gyokoshu and quickly shimmering away.

"…And there he goes again." Gyokoshu sighed.

"I'm sure he'll tell us his plan later." Saya reassured Gyokoshu by patting him on the shoulder.

"Yeah, he better." Gyokoshu grumbled, turning to Tilles…or rather the spot Tilles had been standing in. "Wait a minute…where did Tilles go?"

-…-

Saisaiji closed the door to Axel's room quietly, a content look on her face at his improved condition. (Folon was right…)

"Evening!" Tilles greeted with a wave as he shimmered in front of her, causing her to jump.

"T-Tilles! What are you…?"

"Doing? Absolutely nothing, my dear. You? Oh, nothing as well?" He concluded without waiting for a response, "Good, good, come, have a walk with me." He was dragging her toward the door when Riku portalled into the kitchen.

"R-Riku! You're alright!" Saisaiji exclaimed happily.

"Y-Yeah." Riku stammered, a bit surprised by her greeting. He didn't have to ask about her and Axel—he could sense they were fine. He'd returned his blindfold to its rightful place so he couldn't see her disappointment at his apathetic reaction.

"Kurasu, hello again!" Tilles greeted, his expression turning odd when he spotted a thick envelope in Riku's hand. "Might I inquire as to what that is?" He asked, pointing at the envelope.

"A letter…why?" Riku asked warily.

"Just curious."

"A letter? From who?" Saisaiji questioned.

"From…" Riku hesitated a moment before answering quietly, "…an old friend," and trudging back to his room, holding the letter as though it were a precious treasure.

Noticing Tilles' silence Saisaiji looked up at the man, recognizing the mixed emotions on his face.

He laughed slightly. "An old friend, huh? That's good…Oh—that reminds me! We were off for a walk, weren't we?"

"Tilles…how long are you going to hide it from him?" Saisaiji asked quietly.

"…I could ask the very same question of you." Tilles answered coldly. "Come. We have much to discuss."

A/N: Tilles totally thought the letter was a bomb. Totally! ; So the next chapter! Maybe the next week or the week after? I'll try not to jinx it.