Chapter 16: Bolero of Fire

Yumoto looked up as Araki walked in, "A-Araki-kun..." He whispered as he sat up and Araki sighed, "Yes?"

"Have they been found yet?"
"No." Araki looked away and Yumoto watched as Hiroyuki walked in as a cat. "Scarlet..."

"Yes?"
"The Caerula Adamas are down in the mortal world again." Hiroyuki replied and Yumoto nodded. "Good."

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Katashi growled as he walked to Kinosaki Kou, "I need a favor from you." He spoke and Kou looked at him, "And that is?"

"I need the future God of Love dead!"
"Well you're in luck." Kou smiled and held up a leather-bound book. "Hireashi left us this book."

"Actually, I did." Katashi replied and Kou gasped, "You did?"

Kou opened the book and turned to a page. "This is the worst curse I have. It would kill a mortal in mere hours...but a God...I don't know."

Katashi growled, "I don't care. I want him gone."
"I thought you loved him." Kou replied and Katashi laughed. "I do, but he has mocked me for the last time. Maximum Gorar won't have a little brother much longer!"

Kou nodded, "Yes, but where is Lord Hireashi?"
"Hireashi has been sealed away by Scarlet."
Kou gasped, "What?! That little brat needs to play!"

Katashi smirked as Kou lead him to a dark room. "We'll send the curse from here."

"Kinosaki Kou...the future God of Love's life ends now!"

Kou smiled, "Of course." He looked down at his book and Katashi watched as candles magically lit up.

Kou began to mutter something and an image of Yumoto appeared. Katashi growled as he watched Yumoto beg Araki.

"Yumo-chan, please don't cry."

"Then don't leave me...I've never felt love like this before...I've never truly known what love is until now."

"Yumo-chan...I love you...but I need to protect you."

Katashi growled as he heard Araki's love confession to what should have been his suitor. "That's it, Kinosaki, send out the curse now!" He yelled and Kou nodded, "Of course."

Katashi smirked as a dark purple beam of light shot up towards the sky. He watched as Yumoto clutched at his chest and Araki grabbed him.

"Thank you, Kinosaki. If this kills him, Hireashi will be able to reign once more."

-------

Yumoto frowned as Gora came in, "Yumoto. Why did you try leaving the other day?"

"I wanted to see the mortal world again!" Yumoto replied, "I like it down there!"

"Yumoto, I told you why I don't want you down there right now!"

Yumoto frowned, "I don't see why you can't trust me!"

Gora shook his head, "I do! You've been cursed again, and are weak. You need to know when to stop. When you are the God of Love, you'll know that you can't jump to conclusions!"

Yumoto looked at him, "I do because I sensed the moral world is in danger, an-chan!"

"Enough! You are to stay in bed and rest."

"No! I need to do my duty too!"

"Yumoto, I told you, you're hurt and you need to stay here. You must keep yourself protected too!"

"I'm tired of being protected! I can fight too!" Yumoto cried, "I'm Scarlet, a Battle Lover!"

"I know! You're the heir though, if you're killed then our kingdom is over."

"I..." Yumoto looked down, "I'm sorry..." He looked back at Gora, "An-chan, I can fight...you just haven't given me a chance!"

Gora frowned, "I can't."
"Why not!?"
"I told you already, Yumoto, we're done talking about this." He sighed and walked out of Yumoto's room.

Wombat looked at Yumoto and frowned. "Yumoto-san, your brother is trying to protect you."
Yumoto shook his head, "I know! I want to show him I can fight!"

"He knows you can."
Yumoto frowned and Wombat sighed.

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Haruhiko looked at his brother and sighed, "Gora-san said that Yumoto keeps trying to sneak to the mortal world."

Akihiko raised an eyebrow, "Why, is he not allowed down there?"
"Correct." Haruhiko smiled, "He isn't allowed because he's been hurt so many times since this has all started."

Akihiko sighed, "Haru, this isn't a thing to smile about."

"I know...sorry." He looked down and felt Akihiko grab his hand. "Haru, we should help Yumoto-kun."

"W-what...?"

"We've helped him before, but we could ask Gora-san if we can take Yumoto-kun to the mortal world, so we can fight Katashi."

"Why take Yumoto-kun?"
Akihiko sighed, "He wants to see the world again."
"I know, but we can't do that. Katashi will hurt him." Haruhiko replied and Akihiko nodded, "True."

Haruhiko looked up as he heard footsteps. "Aki...someone's here!" He yelled and Akihiko gasped as he saw a man.

"Who are you!?" he demanded and the man smirked, "You really forgot me...? You just mentioned me."

"Katashi!" Haruhiko screamed, "Leave!"

"Why...? You need to know something..."

"And what is that?" Akihiko growled and Katashi smiled, "The young prince will be gone soon."

"You're lying." Akihiko yelled and Katashi laughed, "Am I...?"

An orb appeared in Katashi's hands and Haruhiko's eyes widened. "What is that?"

"This has everything I need."

"H-huh?!" Akihiko gasped "What is that!?"
"I told you, it's nothing really..."

Haruhiko growled and ran towards him, "Why have you hurt Yumoto-kun?!" He shot a beam towards Katashi and Katashi dodged it.

"The heir will be dead and I will be the one to finish him!" Katashi yelled and Haruhiko gasped as Akihiko was hit by something.

"Yuudai, thank you." Katashi smirked and Yuudai nodded and Katashi turned to Haruhiko.

"Give up and we won't hurt you."
"You attacked my brother!" Haruhiko yelled and Katashi growled as he attacked Haruhiko. The twins groaned as they were tied up and Akihiko watched Katashi and Yuudai.

"Yuudai, we have a certain prince to visit."

"N-no...!" Haruhiko gasped out as the two teleported away.

"W-we have to warn Gora-san..." He whispered and Akihiko nodded.

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Yumoto looked at Atsushi, "W-where are you going...?"
"Little One...we're going to take down Katashi."

Yumoto frowned, "You'll need this then..."

He held his hand out and Atsushi's eyes widened as his staff appeared. "A-Atsushi-senpai, take it. Stop them for me since I can't."

"Yumoto...I can't."

Yumoto looked down, "B-But..."
"I'm sorry."

Yumoto sighed and watched as Araki came in. "Scarlet...?"

"Y-yes, Lord Tungsten?"
"I...I have to go back to the mortal world today."
"H-huh?!"

Araki looked down and Hiroyuki meowed. "Give him the gift Ara-chan!"

"Gift?"
Araki sighed and reached into his pocket. Hiroyuki smiled as Araki pulled out a wrapped package. "Hi-Hiro-san was the one who said I had to give you this before I left."

Yumoto giggled as Araki laid it in his hands and Atsushi watched as the youngest slowly opened it.

He held up a small silver star-shaped box and Hiroyuki smiled as Yumoto asked, "What is it?"

"In the mortal world, we call it a music box." Hiroyuki meowed and Yumoto repeated, "Music box?"

"Yes, it plays music when you wind it up."
"Oh! I know this now! I used to have one!" Yumoto giggled and Atsushi smiled as Yumoto opened it up.

It played a soft light melody and Yumoto smiled.
"Thank you, I...I hope you have a nice trip back..."

"I have to go back to stop Katashi...I'll be back as soon as I can." Araki replied and Atsushi watched as Yumoto stared at Araki leaving. Yumoto looked down and sighed.

Atsushi placed a hand on Yumoto's shoulder, "He'll be back."
Yumoto looked up at him, "I know..."

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Yumoto sighed as he let the music box play for like the hundredth time. Ryuu had threatened to take it away but Io yelled at him for it. He said that it was better for Yumoto to keep it since Yumoto gets attached to people so easily.

"Yumoto?" En asked as he walked in, "The Caerula Adamas have found Kinosaki...Katashi is still out there."

"What about Lord Tungsten?"
"He's looking for Katashi still...the Beppu brothers have been with your brother to talk about him...apparently, he was at their place the other day."

Yumoto sighed, "Oh."

"Don't pout. You're lucky that he's okay still."
"How do we know he's okay? What if Katashi has him!?"

En looked down, "We don't know if he has been taken."

"Exactly!"
"Well, do you feel anything Scarlet?"
"N-no..."
"Then he's okay." En smiled and Yumoto sighed.

Ryuu eyed the music box and reached for it. Yumoto snatched it away and closed it. "Don't take it!" He yelled, "Io-senpai, he's trying to take it again!"

"Ryuu!" Io yelled, "Leave him alone!"

Ryuu sighed and Yumoto stuck his tongue out at Ryuu as he left.
En shook his head and Yumoto began to turn the dial again but he froze as En turned around quickly. "En-chan-senpai...what is it?"

"Yumoto...someone's here..."
"What do you mean?"
"It's not your suitor...it's someone else." He replied, "I have to go."

"Is it Katashi...?"
En didn't reply and Yumoto frowned as he repeated, "Is it Katashi?"
En sighed, "Yes..."

"Then let me help!"
"Your curse though...?"
"I feel better! Please, let me help!"

En looked at him, "Fine...but don't tell Atsushi."
"Deal!"