Astral woke up in the bed he shared with his sister. He woke up earlier, as usual, and silently got out of bed. He took care of any morning business he had before pulling on his cloak and other things. He took his usual walk through the garden before checking the time. It was about time for Black Mist's morning meditation; he decided to wake the Number up.

He was deep in thought as he walked through the corridors of the guest rooms. He knocked on the door and patiently waited for the usual grumbling and groaning, but that didn't happen. He knocked again, but when he listened closer, he heard two voices talking. Of course, Astral knew it was Vector with him since they shared the room. He listened in closely to hear what they were talking about, but he couldn't understand them. Was this the secret language of the Obscure?

Oh, well. Astral was sure that Black Mist would tell everyone else what he was talking about with Vector when the time came.

~.~.~

During breakfast, the household couldn't help but notice Black Mist's pensive mood. He picked at his food, stared into it, did anything but actually eat. His mouth kept moving silently, forming a specific name that only Zeon and Astral recognized: Durbe. Black Mist's eyes kept squinting in concentration, but it seemed no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't reach the thought he wanted.

"Are you okay?" Astrid asked their guest. "You haven't eaten."

The Number snapped out of his daze. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking..."

"About?"

"Nothing."

After breakfast, Black Mist took Astral aside to speak privately. Astral was confused until Black Mist told him his reasoning.

"Can you dig up memories that were somehow sealed away?" Black Mist asked, an intense look replacing the playful one.

"I believe so?" Astral replied. "I have never tried it myself, but Father taught me."

"Then do it. I need to know something, and I can't relax until I know."

"Know what?"

"Until I know who Durbe was!" The outburst echoed throughout the halls, but no one seemed to take notice.

"Durbe? The child in your dream?"

"Yes. I-I don't remember him." Black Mist paced around, biting his claws. "I can't remember, and I can't remember the accident that led up to his death much. M-my parents, I-I can't remember what they were like before." He sighed shakily. "I don't remember anything."

Astral nodded. He didn't understand the confusion this Number was going through, but he was adamant on doing whatever to ease that confusion. "I will try. Let's go to my room. Astrid has lessons at this time, so she will not disturb us." He held out his hand once again, and after a brief moment of wide-eyed confusion, Black Mist took it. They walked to Astral's chamber for some privacy.

"Can Vector come?" Black Mist suddenly asked.

"Of course. Here, I will retrieve him." Leaving the Number in the room, Astral got Vector to come into the room to make Black Mist a bit more comfortable so that the process would be easier.

While they made their way back to the room, Astral decided to ask, "Vector, did you know Durbe?"

Vector looked at Astral, surprised he knew the name at all. "I did. He, Black Mist, and I were nearly inseparable. Why do you ask?"

"Because Black Mist remembered the name and person named Durbe, but nothing else. I believe you being there will be a great benefit to letting him know about Durbe."

Vector nodded. He still didn't fully understand, but he would do as he was told. Finally, they entered Astral and Astrid's room, where Black Mist was playing with his death magic. He sealed the blackness in another black orb, just as he was taught. He was so focused that he didn't even notice Astral coming in with Vector until a blue forcefield surrounded the black orb.

"Time to let go," Astral said softly so as not to startle the Number.

Black Mist nodded and released the magic. When it was properly neutralized, Astral released the bubble.

"Ready?"

"As ready as I'll every be," Black Mist replied.

Astral gestured to the bed. "Then lay down, please."

The Dark Number did as he was told, and Vector sat beside him. He didn't know what he was supposed to do, so he just held his friend's hand. Astral sat on the other side, placing his hands on Black Mist's forehead. Then, both seemed to go to sleep, and surprisingly (not very surprising for Astral, though, because he knew this would happen), Vector fell limp as well.

~.~.~

"Catch it!!" a familiar voice cried out in glee as a younger version of Black Mist threw a ball at a child-like Vector. Vector caught it, tumbling back and landing beside Durbe.

"Blackie, your mom and dad say you have to go eat now," the child said. It seemed Durbe was quite a calm child, not nearly as lively as Vector and Black Mist.

Said Number whined and plopped to the floor. "But I don't wanna!"

Durbe giggled and sat beside him. "But they said you have to!"

"I wanna stay here!" Black Mist huffed with finality.

Footsteps through the grass alerted the children to Pluto and Minerva. They seemed...different. No longer strict. No, they had an air of kindness and tender loving.

"If you want to stay here so badly," Minerva chuckled, picking her son up, "then we can ask the servants to bring out the tables so we can eat out here."

"Really?" Black Mist gasped.

"Really."

The child's eyes lit up, and he jumped out of his mother's arms to hug Vector and Durbe.

~.~.~

The three of them kept seeing the young trio playing and laughing, but as they neared a forest, Black Mist leaned in to see something. He noticed something...strange. Something out of place.

Suddenly, Vector was taken from them. The two other children screamed in fear. The child Black Mist and Durbe's hands shot out to clutch each other. They were clearly scared.

And then Durbe was snatched away in the same direction, making the 96 child squeak.

Black Mist tapped Astral and Vector to get their attention. "There's something going on here. Come with me."

And so the three of them flew in the direction of where Vector and Durbe were snatched. It took some time, but eventually, they found the source of the kidnappings, for that was what they were.

Kai was talking to the two kids he saw in the dream where he had to unlock his powers. Black Mist's face was void of any reaction, and then slowly, slowly, his expression melded from confusion, realization, anger, and then unbridled rage.

"He did it," he whispered. "He did it! He did it!! He did it, he did it, he did it!!!" By now, he was screeching, grabbing at his hair and pulling just as Kai instructed the kids to attack his little cousin. He wore such a nasty smirk on his face.

"THAT ASSHOLE FUCKED ME UP!!"

And then they were suddenly ejected.