It was a quiet day. Xuan sipped a cup of coffee, something he wouldn't normally do, but Yuuhime had made it for him, so he was going to drink every last drop of it.

It had been about two months since he saw Yamato or Yun, and in turn the music box, last. He was trying to calm his nerves but he couldn't focus when danger still lurked.

Suddenly, a commotion could be heard just outside. Xuan sighed and, placing his coffee down, went to see what it was about.

"Look what you've done to my hair!" David shouted at Ling. "I did it extra special for Chloe today!"

"Oh, boo hoo!" Ling snapped. "Maybe if you weren't such a pussy you'd-"

"Li Ling!" Xuan snapped, going in between the two. "What's goin' on?!"

"David's going on! He ran into me and noes he's being pissy about his hair!"

"You ran into me!" David snapped, combing his hair. "Now I have to fix it."

Xuan rolled his eyes.

"...welp. It's over now." Xuan said.

"Oh, yeah, Tang Xuan," David pulled out his phone, "I found some work-outs for-"

"I don't want them." Xuan said stiffly and quickly left before David could continue.

He ran into Yuuhime, who held some paper dolls.

"Oh! Hi, Xuan!" She said, "I'm so glad to see you."

"I am too," He said, "David's-"

"Shh, it's ok," She rubbed his bicep, "you get cranky when you complain."

"Do not." He huffed, blushing. She giggled, her face flushing with the familiar scarlet.

"Yooo! Tang Xuan!" David ran to them. "Ok, so I know you don't want it, but I think this one is just good in gen-oh. Hi...you." He gestured at Yuuhime, who couldn't help but narrow her eyes.

"Her name is Yuuhime," Xuan said, "I've told you I don't need any workout help or ideas, please respect that."

"But if Tang Yun can take on Yamato, and you can't, then you need to-"

"Yun is strong, he's gotten stronger since you've seen him last. It has been two years and a half since you saw him last."

"I think you're-"

"I think YOU'RE severely underestimating the situation." Yuuhime growled.

"Woah, hey girl, I'm not trying to be mean," David yelped, "I'm just trying to help."

Xuan grabbed Yuuhime quickly, holding her before she could do anything brash.

"Just-" Xuan sighed deeply, "just leave, please."

David quickly turned and left. Xuan rubbed Yuuhime's back.

"I'm glad you're getting more confident," He told her, "but use that confidence on something worthwhile, kay?"

"M'kay." She held up her paper dolls. He tilted his head, looking at her.

"This one's supposed to look like your brother," She told him, "but I accidentally spilt some paint onto it and ripped its stomach open."

"Aw, that's ok. Accidents happen!"

"Y-yeah...I'm giving this one to Leora! Do you think she'll like it?"

"It's like the character from that show she watches. She'll love it!"

***

"Are you done with it yet?" Freddy called to Yun, who stuffed heavy chains into his backpack.

"A-almost, give me one more minute!"

"We don't have one more minute," Leon said, running over and helping to stuff the chains into the backpack, "shit, this things heavy."

"Lemmie handle it!" Freddy carelessly hoisted the chains over his back.

"Careful!" Yun hissed, "those are v-very important!"

"No time for arguing," Leon rushed to the open window they snuck in through. Freddy followed while Yun hesitated.

"What are you waiting for, smalls?!" Freddy growled.

"I forgot something, I'll meet you back at the van." And with that, Yun rushed back.

He couldn't have Freddy carrying his anti-Esper chains, that was horribly wrong. His plans would be completely foiled.

He picked up the final chains, ones he hid with many cuffs for an Esper with extra limbs. Summoning a shadow clone, he plopped them into the clone's arms.

"Go to Estero Harbor." He commanded before quickly ducking out the window with his clone as the door opened. He slid down the building, hearing the sirens holler.

Once on the ground, he ran to the van, his clone running towards the ocean.

"What was soooo important that you had to risk-" Freddy growled but was cut off by the van's loud engine rearing into action.

Yun could care less what that dumb fur ball had to say. He didn't care if they got caught, just as long as he could escape.

The drive was tense and silent. Leon had told Freddy to stop yelling at Yun so they wouldn't crash, but they both were annoyed and upset at Yun, but they still completed the mission.

They passed Neather Goal. The file Fu Shi had given them detailed a report on Yamato, whom he was convinced still had the music box.

"Get me the anti-Esper chains." Fu Shi had requested.

"Why are we after this dude?" Freddy had asked, examining the small picture that was provided.

"He has something I want," Fu Shi said coldly, "and the Esper Union is after him too, so taking away this report will most likely slow their search, giving us more time."

Yun nodded softly, wanting to chuckle at the stupidity of Fu Shi. If only he knew that the boy in front of him had what he so lusted for.

He couldn't wait to see his face.

***

'How did I get here?' Ophelia wondered to herself.

She had only went into a bar. She was only supposed to get drinks for some of the other Shadow Guards, and then they'd do her chores for a week. She had only meant to ask the man who blocked her way to move.

She didn't mean for him to drag her into a gambling gun game.

"The rules are simple," he said loudly so everyone in the bar could hear him, "we each start with two bullets. We roll a dice. One equals I take one of hers, four means she takes one of mine, so on. Whoever gets all four bullets gets to shoot at the other."

"...that doesn't make se-" she started.

"I'll roll first." He rolled and got a four. He shrugged and gave her one of his bullets.

"Your turn, sweetie."

***

"Reports have told us that a shooter is at a bar nearby." Raven said to the team she decided to arrange: David and Xuan.

"Alright! Time to beat some easy butt!" David said, cracking his knuckles.

"...it shouldn't be that bad." Xuan said, smiling. "Alright, let's get going."

"I'm coming too." Yuuhime ran over.

"Are you sure?" Raven asked.

"Yes."

***

"Yo, you guys still out?" Lynn called Leon.

"Yeah, why?"

"Ophelia needs help at ****** Bar, like, right now."

"Is she ok?" Yun squeaked.

"Sounds like she got into a gun game or something, she says she needs backup."

"We'll be there." Leon said as Freddy made a U turn.

***

"This is such a lucky game!" The man clasped his hands. "I've won this first round, and I've got your shoulder. Let's play again, hah!"

"Tsk..." Ophelia gritted her teeth and held her shoulder. "I thought you were just a pretty boy..."

"I am also that, thanks for noticing."

"I refuse to 'play' with you again."

"I'm afraid that's not going to happen." He still held the gun, pointing it at her still. "Play and I won't shoot again, angel!"

She saw the bartender calling presumably the cops. She sighed.

"Alright, I'll play again."

***

"This is the place?" David looked around. Many people stood around, huddling together and peeking into the bar.

"Yep," Xuan quickly went to the door.

"That's Yamato..." Yuuhime said, grabbing Xuan, "we've gotta be careful."

"Hey, you're right..!"

"Nice! Easy work." David went in, without hesitation.

"Shiiiiaaat..." Xuan growled and ran in after him.

***

Parking in the back, Yun was the first to jump out. Leon followed, his gun at the ready, and Freddy close behind, his claws ready.

Yun broken she back door down, entering into a small kitchen. The opening to the bar outside was clear as day, everyone had left but a few staff, Ophelia and...Yamato?

Yun cursed under his breath, ducking down.

"What's wrong?" Leon asked, following his lead.

"We were looking for Yamato, and that's him."

***

"You silly little fairy," Yamato teased as He gave her two of his bullets. Now he only had one.

"Shut the hell up." She snapped. The gun was so close to her grasp, all he had to do now was roll the right numbers.

Instead of rolling, he started to talk.

"You know, I thought I recognized you from somewhere. Now that I think of it, you're that one woman from that one time, orphanage-"

"Roll the fucking dice!"

"Woah, no need to swear, evil angel. I still have a bullet left over, I might just kill you."

"Then how will that make you any different from me?"

"You deserve it." He held his hand out, divine power in the form of lighting flowing to his palm. His other hand pointed the gun at her.

This would be his most magnificent work of art yet. He couldn't wait to see her sinful body completely destroyed.

***

David ran towards Yamato, ready to beat up the notorious "most dangerous Esper."

***

'I've never written a will before.'

***

Yun sat up, also running towards Yamato, but to stop him from hurting Ophelia.

***

'I didn't think I'd have to for a long time, but I've decided everyone will be...happier if I'm not here anymore.'

***

Yamato turned to David.

"Boom." He said, shooting divine power out

***

'I've only got a little bit of money, but it'll all go to charities for orphans.'

***

"Oh...my...god..." David breathed, perfectly fine.

***

'Mom and dad will get all the pictures I took. I know they loved them.'

***

"NO!" Yun screamed.

***

'Uncle can have my boxing stuff. I'm sure he'll find used for it, he always loves that kind of stuff."

***

"XUAN! NO, OH MY GOD...GOD...TANG XUAN!" Yuuhime scrambled to the ground.

***

'Finally, for the person I cherish the most,'

***

Yamato was motionless. That was the last thing that was supposed to happen. He couldn't feel his face anymore as all the feeling went to his stomach dropping a hundred floors.

***

'Bro can have the rest of my stuff.'

***

The blast from Yamato's lighting felt like his organs were taken out, put back in, and taken out over and over again.

***

'I'm so sorry for doing this.'

***

He knew there was blood on his chest, he felt it  where his belts were supposed to be but weren't anymore, presumably blasted off.

***

'I just can't live like this anymore.'

***

Another scar for his growing collection of them.

***

'I never wanted this to happen.'

***

His heart hurt.

***

'But how am I supposed to live knowing my only friend is a brother who is starting to treat me more like a trophy he's winning over and over again?'

***

Was this death?

***

'I'm so sorry, everyone.'

***

No, he couldn't die yet. How could he repay everyone for everything they'd done for him?

***

'I hope to meet you all again.'

***

Someone was lashing out at Yuuhime. Xuan would never let that happen.

***

'Goodbye.'

***

He stood up and stood in front of her, despite the pain in his whole body begging him to lay back down.

"Xuan! Go lay back down-" Yuuhime said, holding him lightly.

"Leave her alone!" Xuan hissed, his head spinning.

"Please, it's ok..." She pulled him down again.

"Yamato is such a threat...why didn't you tell me?" David asked.

"Didn't tell-Xuan told you over and over again!"

"He told me he was taken down by his weak ass brother! He didn't tell me he could shoot death lighting out of his hands!" Despite his refusal to admit his fault, David's voice shook with the guilt of what just happened.

Some medical ops chiefs came. Which ones, Xuan couldn't tell, but he didn't care at that moment.

"Just stop yelling at her, David." He said, voice cracking.

***

A few days later

Yuuhime sat outside the medical building. She remembered the last time she was there. Li Guang had held her hand the whole time.

She couldn't help but hold her head. She had cried so much, she couldn't feel her eye sockets anymore.

Why did it have to be him and not her? It wasn't fair. She wished she could have protected him. She should have protected him. She had no excuse.

She breathed heavily in. Even though all the tears she possibly had were gone, her throat still tightened.

The door of the medical wing opened and Suhua stepped out.

"Miss Yuuhime?"

She looked at her.

"Tang Xuan wants to see you."

"I...are you sure?"

"He begged for you to be there. I didn't want him to over exert himself."

She slowly stood up, following her to Xuan's room. It was dark, only a lamp gave light.

"His eyes need to rest." Suhua explained.

"They don't," Xuan replied, "she wouldn't let me prove it by staring into the lamp."

"Why would you ever stare into a lamp?" Yuuhime choked out, walking over and holding his cheek.

"To prove a point."

She bit her lip and smiled, so happy to see him cracking jokes. At least one of them could do it.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He asked, slowly lifting himself up and hugging her waist.

"I just...I can't lose some I care so much about again...I can't-"

"Shh, it's ok. I'm not going anywhere." He gave a confident smile.

"I..."

"Stop worrying. I know you can do it. See, I'm fine. You'll be, too."

She returned his smile and lightly blew him a kiss.

"Now can I prove I don't need the lights off?"

"Why?"

"I wanna see your face again."

She blushed but shook her head, laughing.

***

Yamato stood at the head of the even more exposed underground miracle. No new name had been given, but he was going to change that.

"Am I...wrong?" He asked aloud to the miracle. "I hurt my sister's lover. Hurting him means hurting her."

He was met with silence. He barred his teeth.

"No! I'm not wrong!" He shouted. "They're just playing a dumb games compared to my masterful ones!"

He felt like a child again, spouting nonsense that ultimately wouldn't matter until he found a better way to phrase it. He hated the feeling of smallness that guilt and anger painted on him.

He was not small! He was the strongest Esper out there! His achievements were more than others!

He didn't know this feeling of uncertainty and unknown. He wouldn't know it!

He turned from the miracle.

"Very soon will miramon come out in bunches," he murmured, "such a shame."

***

Yun hid away. His fear of losing his brother had almost completely vanished, but he still didn't want to face his colleagues after his display of...true feelings.

He slipped up badly. He had to be smarter.

His communicator rang; it was Yuzhi. Answering it, he awaited Yuzhi's voice.

"Where are you? I wanna be with you! Please, please, please? I know those meanies think you're a freak now, but they've always thought I'm a freak and that doesn't bother me! I'll even teach you how to be a freak or whatever like me, just because I loooove you so much!What do you say?"

"I'm not a freak...what I'm feeling is normal!"

"Hm? Oh, sure, whatever you say, Yunnie!"

He pulled his hood over his face, wishing none of this ever happened.

He wished that a lot.

***

They all did.