Chapter 15: Scarlet's Lullaby

Yumoto whimpered as Atsushi stroked his forehead. Atsushi looked at En and En placed a hand on his shoulder. "We need to do something...we've just sat here and done nothing!" Atsushi whispered and En nodded.

"We've just been sitting ducks since this has started." En replied and Ryuu sighed, "man this bites...why can't he get that Yumoto doesn't like him."

Io looked up. "Are we even sure this is Katashi? What if Hireashi or someone else has placed this curse on him?"

Ryuu gasped, "That's it! Katashi's partner...Yuudai, said he hated Yumoto for Katashi liking him!"

Yumoto looked at them, "N-no...he said he didn't want to fight!"
"Little One please..." Io replied, "You need to rest."

Yumoto frowned, "This isn't a curse...I just feel sick!"
Atsushi looked at him, "You never get sick!"

"But I am! Katashi's curse was broken by Scarlet!" Yumoto replied and En looked down. "Yumoto..."
"It's true! I was upset and I think I panicked!"

"...He did seem that way Kinugawa-senpai." Ryuu added and Yumoto nodded, "Yes! Kin-chan-senpai reacted and Araki panicked!"

Araki blushed, "I'm sorry..."
Yumoto smiled, "It's okay..."

"Wait...there are two other people who wanted Yumoto dead..." Ryuu gasped and En looked at him, "Really, who?"

"Those Kinosaki and Tazawa guys!" Ryuu replied and Atsushi gasped, "I had forgotten about those two...they'd be mad at him for sealing Hireashi away!"

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"Little One has been cursed by Kinosaki Kou?!" Ibushi gasped, sitting in a chair, "How didn't I see this before?"

Akoya draped his arms down Ibushi's shoulders and sighed, "I didn't see it either. Katashi and Kou might be working together or something."

Ibushi sighed, "Akoya...I worry for him so much."
"I know, but you're not his brother nor his guardian."

"Again, you're correct."

Akoya grinned, "I know I am." He pecked Ibushi's cheek, "I have to go, I'll be back soon. Bye-bye."
Ibushi chuckled, "Goodbye Akoya."

Kinshiro sighed, "Arima...we need to go to the mortal world and find them."

Ibushi nodded, "Of course Kinshiro." He stood up from his chair and looked down slightly.

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Yumoto frowned as he laid in his bed and glanced around. Being in bed was boring, you couldn't do anything but lay down and feel extremely bored.

He sighed and looked up as he heard someone knock. "Yes?" He called and Akoya popped his head in. "Fluffhead, do you need anything while I go down to the mortal world?"

"Yes! C-can you bring me back...um...I think they're called apples...yeah, apples! Can you bring me back some apples and candy?" Yumoto asked excitedly and Akoya smiled. "Of course."


"Thank you!" Yumoto smiled and Akoya left, shutting the door behind him. "I wish I could go to the mortal world..." Yumoto thought bitterly and sighed.

He gasped as he eyed his deep scarlet velvet cloak. He reached for it and slowly put it on. "I can sneak past an-chan and go with Araki-kun to the mortal world!" He thought and slowly stood up from his bed.

He gritted his teeth as he felt pain in his feet as he walked. He figured this was side effect of his curse. "Why is it always me?" He thought, "I never do anything to anger anyone. I feel like Ryuu-senpai would be the one to get cursed, not me!"

He slowly made his way to cross Gora's room door and he overheard Gora talking.

"Hashibiro-sensei, Yumoto is fine, he's bedridden until this is over."

"Are you sure, Gorar?"
"Yes, he was told to not get out of bed by me. If he does, he'll be in even more trouble."

Yumoto gasped and he clutched at his chest as a pain filled it suddenly. His vision became blurred and he felt himself collapse on the ground.

He panted softly and he hissed, "I-I can get up...I-I'm fine...I'm just sick..." He whispered to himself and gasped as he heard Gora.

"Yumoto!"

Yumoto felt Gora lifting him up and Gora sighed, "Yumoto, what were you doing out of bed?"
"I-I was bored...I wanted o-out!"

Gora shook his head, "I'm going to have to make your guardians watch you more."
"A-An-chan..."
"Yumoto, you need to rest."
"Y-Yes an-chan..."

Gora carried Yumoto to his bed and took the cloak off his brother. "Sleep, the Caerula Adamas are going to make sure the people responsible for this are taken care of."

Yumoto nodded and Gora covered him up with his blanket.

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Kou smirked as Katashi stood beside him. "Scarlet is becoming weaker..."

"Good." Katashi smiled, "I warned him that if he didn't call off his suitor, I'd get to him."

Kou nodded, "He will pay for sealing Lord Hireashi away."
"Of course." Katashi replied, "Once the future God of Love is dead, Hireashi will be able to reign once more!"

Katashi looked at his hologram of Yumoto and growled, "Scarlet...you thought you had gotten rid of me...too bad your big brother didn't believe your suspicions about the mortal world."

Kou looked at him, "Huh?"
"Well, Maximum Gorar has banned the young prince from coming to our world." Katashi smiled and Kou nodded.

"Does Lord Tungsten know?"
"Yes he does...he has been staying with the future God of Love."

Kou rolled his eyes, "They might as well prepare for his death, I'm not breaking this curse."

"Good...because if you did...let's just say you wouldn't want to see me or be near me while you do it." Katashi growled.

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"An-chan!" Eight-year-old Yumoto called, "An-chan?!"

He froze as he saw Atsushi, "Where's an-chan?"

"Little One...he's out for the day." Atsushi replied, "He is dealing with a bad man who wanted to hurt you."

"Hurt me?"

"Yes...but don't worry. The man is gone now...he'll never be hurting you again." Atsushi replied and Yumoto looked at his wombat plushie in his arms. "I-I'm scared for an-chan!" He cried, tears filling his big red eyes and Atsushi gently pulled him into a hug.

"Little One, your brother is Maximum Gorar, he can't be defeated. He'll win." Atsushi smiled and Yumoto nodded. "Good!"

Yumoto opened his eyes slowly...he realized who the 'bad man' was...it was either Hireashi or Katashi. Where they always after him or was this a new thing...? Yumoto knew that Hireashi was around when he was first around...but when did Katashi come into the picture.

He looked up as he felt someone stroking his hair, "I-Ibu-chan-senpai...?" He whispered and Ibushi smiled, "You're awake I see...we didn't find Katashi yet." He sighed and brought up a bag on his lap.

"But I do have what you asked for...some apples and candies." He pulled out a small foil wrapped candy. "Try this, Little One. It's chocolate, you've had it before with your sweets, but this is another candy."

Yumoto smiled as he slowlyopened the chocolate and placed it into his mouth, letting the sweet chocolatemelt. Ibushi smiled...he had to keep the heir happy...for he didn't know if hewould still make it...Kou and Katashi were hiding somewhere, some place that theycouldn't be detected at...but where?