Chapter 9: Because I Knew You

Yumoto groaned as he laid on Kinshiro's bed, "Are you sure you're alright with this?" Araki asked, "I know how you are..."

"Yes...usually I wouldn't, this time...only this time I will allow it."

Araki sighed and Yumoto looked at him as his eyes slowly opened, "A-Araki...!"

Araki smiled, "Hey."

"We...we've failed..."

"How?"

"They're gone...! Two of my guardians!"

"I know...we'll...we'll get them back!"

Dadacha gasped as Sulfur and Vesta appeared in mirrors, "An-chan, what are we doing with them?"

Zundar smirked, "Using them, they aren't dead. They are just unconscious. They are vessels for Lord Hireashi!"

"Why did we appear to kill them?"

"To wound the heir's mind, if we can weaken it enough, we can force him to kill himself for Lord Hireashi!"

Dadacha frowned, "I hope this works! We need Lord Tungsten on our side...!"

"The heir is the key."

"How?"

"We've gone over this..!" Zundar hissed and Dadacha growled as they looked into the crowd, "Someone, hurry and bring the heir to us! Lord Hireashi is growing impatient!"

A hand went up and three walked forward, "We will bring the heir! We have a plan!"

"What is your plan!?"

"Chain the heir up in front of a portal and use the life draining spell and give it to Lord Hireashi and the heir will scream and scream as Lord Hireashi's demon form will appear and drain him!"

Zundar froze, "Lord Hireashi's demon form..."

"He is trapped in a canyon, for that is where the seal is at."

"Well then..." Zundar smirked, "Take the heir, and we shall bring Sulfur and Vesta, the heir will have a surprise."

-

Yumoto whimpered, if only...if only he had saved them. En put a hand on him, "Kid, it'll be alright."

"NO!" Yumoto screamed and Akoya came in, "We have news."

"Oh?" Atsushi asked and Akoya smiled, "Vesta and Sulfur are alive. They have been taken by Zundar and Dadacha."

"So...why did they appear to be dead?!"

"They made it so."

Yumoto looked away, "This is my fault! If...If I had just not let Io-senpai go for me, Ryuu-senpai wouldn't have gotten mad at me!"

"This isn't your fault!"

"It is!" Yumoto hissed and En looked at him, "Yumoto, stop."

"NO!" Yumoto cried, "Listen to me! I don't want to give myself to them...! I want to stop all of this!"

"We know." Atsushi whispered and Yumoto hugged him, "If only my real mama was here..."

"Your mama is at the Palace of the Gods. They took Io away so they knew one of us couldn't disguise ourselves as you."

Yumoto looked down and let his hug linger on and he whispered, "Thank you for being my fake mama once. You really were a good mama."

Atsushi blushed and En smiled, "We love you, Yumoto, we really do."

Yumoto smiled, "I know...papa, mama?"

"Yes?"

"I want to awaken my powers."

"We can't awaken them." En sighed, "Your father..."

"Oh...then...then let's go, right now!"

"How?"

"This." A new voice smiled, "A key, hold it up Yumoto." Ibushi instructed and Yumoto took it, "Do this outside and yell oh God of Protection, open up the doors and let me in, thy heir of love! and you will be teleported to the Door to the Mortal Land."

Yumoto nodded and Ibushi frowned, "Do it at night, we cannot risk it right now."

Yumoto sighed and Ibushi hugged him, "My Little One, your papa may not give your powers back."

"Why?"

"He is very busy..."

"I know...! But I must go!"

"He won't give your powers back though." Akoya spoke, "I already looked in time, I'm sorry."

Yumoto sighed, "My body isn't weak now!"

"Yes, we know, Little One." Ibushi spoke and Yumoto bit his lip, "Araki said I can go home...!"

"Yes..."

Yumoto tore away from them and ran out of the room.

He gasped as he was surrounded by people as he ran outside. One grabbed him from behind. "Heir...come with us." A voice smirked, "If you do, then you'll get your guardians back..."

"Okay...? What do I to get them?"

"Just come with us." another smirked and Yumoto frowned, "Fine."

Hiroyuki gasped as he saw Yumoto leaving with them, "Prince Scarlet!" He cried, "Ara-chan! Ara-chan! He's been tricked!"

He ran off for Araki and frowned, "Yumo-chan is in danger...!"

-

Yumoto gasped as the clan forced his head to look at Zundar, he screamed as he felt his past memories flow into his mind and his outfit changed to one of his robes.

"What a stupid heir-da."

Yumoto froze and cried out as his hands were chained behind his back, "What are you doing?!"

"Us..?" Zundar laughed, "Here are Sulfur and Vesta...but now that you're here, they get to go free."

Yumoto gasped as they disappeared in the mirrors and Dadacha laughed, "You're going to give Lord Hireashi his powers-dacha!"

Yumoto growled "I have no power!"

"Wh-what...?"

"My father took it away!"

"It's still in you-da..." Zundar smirked and Yumoto spat in his face, "Go to hell!"

"Oh, thanks, but that's not where I'm going." Zundar laughed and slapped Yumoto across his face.

The heir growled, "I won't give my powers up for Hireashi. I hate him."

"We know-dacha."

"So we're forcing you to do so."

Yumoto shook his head, "My guardians will find me!"

"We'll let them because you'll be screaming."

Yumoto gasped and was dragged away by two clan members, "Prepare him for the ritual! Hurry!"

Yumoto screamed, "NO!"

-

Ryuu groaned, "I-I0..."

"Ryuu..?"

"The heir..."

"Yes, I-I heard him scream too..."

"Zundar...we must get the others..." Ryuu groaned as he grabbed Io's hands, "He needs us!"

"Yes, I know." Io nodded and the duo ran, they had to get everyone!