Tenshi<br/><br/>Aki frowned and stood, swiftly walking over to Chris and dragging him out of the room. He knew they would hack the bank accounts while they were gone. He took Chris to the floor no one, but himself could get on. He exited the elevator and pushed Chris into the wall, the corridor was long and white. Only a door at the end and the elevator decorated it. "What is wrong? Why is it that I can't say such to you? Why did you numb yourself to me? Chris talk to me. I can't help if you don't talk to me..." Aki pleaded, looking down at Chris with a worried and sad expression. Aki put their forheads together softly. "Please don't leave me... I-I can't do anything without you..." He whispered. About fifteen minutes later, after Chris had enough time to explain. The corridor turned green. Aki froze then snapped his head to stare at the door and cursed. He looked back at Chris, "Go back upstairs, I'll be there soon." He kissed Chris forhead then pushed him towards the elevator. "Floor six.â€<br/><br/>Zourna<br/><br/>Chris was dragged from the room. He looked at Aki when he was pushed into the wall. He didn't say anything for a moment. "Because...it is selfish and cruel of me...to do that to Vince." he said softly. He looked at the man. A tear trailing down his cheek. "If...if you hold such love for me Aki I am stealing it from Vince. I am taking from him what rightfully belongs to him. I am cruelly betraying him and keeping you from being able to give him every fiber of your being and love. I can't be selfish and steal that love from him. It isn't fair to you or him. You love and want him for your mate and yet I steal from you love that deserves to be Vince's. How selfish can I get?" He asked in a soft voice. He looked down. "I am beginning to wonder...if I am really just bring pain and suffering upon those I care about." he said honestly. "I know you are withholding from me or lying to me altogether. It makes me doubt whether I can even trust my allies or if there is something about me that has them unable to give me their trust entirely." he looked at Aki. "I am being selfish to you and Vince by holding any of your love from him." He said softly. He looked at Aki. "I won't ever leave you. You are apart of who I am." He said. He pulled Aki close and kissed him lightly. "I can't do anything without you either." he pulled back. Looking at the corridor and was puzzled. He looked at Aki. "What is going on?" He turned and stopped. He wasn't moving until he knew what was going on. "What is it taht makes you freeze and stare at the door like that. I'm not fucking moving until you stop lying to me!" he said seriously. His eyes narrowing. "I've been there for you no matter what. What is so horrible that you won't let me be there for you with everything I am now?! We have been through heaven and hell together. We have helped each other through anything and everything. Why not now?!" He demanded. He walked away from the elevator. He narrowed his eyes at Aki. "I am tired of having the feeling that you are withholding things from me or flat out lying." He said sadly. He shrugged and hissed. Turning iced over. "Fine. Whatever. You seem to want to fight whatever it is that you battle on your own. Just remember that Aki. Just remember this. You are the one pushing me away. I am trying to be there for you. Hell...even fucking Christaphin is but you aren't telling me everything. How can I help you if you leave me out of the loop?" He went to the elevator and turned. Staring at Aki with anger and hurt. His hand moved to touch the button for the sixth floor. He just shook his head and sighed. "Whatever it is you feel I'm not worthy of letting help you with...you better not fucking lose to it." he then hit the button. Watching the doors to the elevator close. Fucking hell. He was so angry and hurt right now. Vince walked around. Blinking as he was feeling like he was walking in circles. He turned another corner. He was starting to get nervous and worried. What if he had gotten really lost. He listened for the sounds that the rogues had been making. Faintly he heard noise. Trying to follow it back to where he had started out. He was unsure if he was doing this or not. He was still bleeding but no pain because of medication and had recently changed his pad so it wasnâ€™t coating the pad at the moment. He started to recognize some markings on the tunnel wall. Turning and following the ones he knew. Certain he could get back there before Brian got worried.<br/><br/>Tenshi<br/><br/>When the elevator door closed, his fist slammed into the wall. His fist went straight through, cracks traveled down half of the corridor and all the way up the wall from the force. He pulled his fist out sharply, his whole forearm and hand bloody. Shards of rock still in it as he walked to the door and entered silently. Numbing himself, so Chris didn't feel the pain and anger.<br/><br/>"What is it!?" He growled, barely containing his anger.<br/><br/>"We found Wraith. His allies should have crumbling towers now... Remember the deal when we give you the address...â€<br/><br/>"I'll remember.â€<br/><br/>â€œGood.â€<br/><br/>The address appeared on a screen and he stood, "That all?â€<br/><br/>â€œYes.â€<br/><br/>Aki nodded and left swiftly. He went straight for Chris, not caring if Chris saw his wounded arm or not. His right arm could wait. Aki's side burned sharply and he collapsed against the wall of the elevator.<br/><br/>"D-damnit..." He cursed and stood slowly before leaving the elevator.<br/><br/>He went straight to Chris and kissed him on the lips softly his left hand holding the back of Chris's head, "Don't ever think. Ever! That you don't deserve my love. That you are stealing from Vince. That you are not worth it! You are worth it! I may not tell the whole truth, but I do not lie to you! Never! I tell you what I can! Everything that I can!â€<br/><br/>Aki pulled Chris into him and placed his head on Chris's, smelling his hair and scent. "You are not selfish and cruel... you are not the cause of pain and suffering... I push you away to keep you safe from what I can't protect you from... From what I can't... I leave you out of one small loop because I care for you so much it hurts... You and Vince... you two kill me inside yet hold me up... I can't let you get close to that..." Aki pulled back and looked down into Chris's eyes. "Please forgive me..." He whispered. Tears down his face, his mind in turmoil, and his eyes reflecting nothing.<br/><br/>Elizabeth woke up from her nap and looked around for Vince. She found a phone, but no Vince. She frowned and stood up. She grabbed a pen and paper before leaving the room. She followed Vince's scent and wrote down every turn she made along with significant markers until she found him. "Vince!" She called out to him. Worried beyond belief. He had gotten so far in this maze, she didn't want to think about what would have happened if no one noticed him missing.<br/><br/>Zoruna<br/><br/>Chris was searching through things. He slammed the cell phone down on the table. Hard enough it fell to pieces. He began to look for clues through the papers. He needed to find Wraith and end him. He was tense and pissed and hurt. He hissed when Aki touched him then melted as he was kissed and held by Aki's hand. "I don't hink I don't deserve your love. I don't feel I have a right to fucking take it from my own son!" He cried out. He pulled him close. "I am stealing from Vince. You love me when your heart should be on him and him alone. "He said. He pulled back from Aki. Glaring at him. He was still angry and hurt towards Aki. "You can tell me everything! I am not a weak flower that needs protecting! I'm a fucking fighter too! I don't need to be kept out of the loop like this;" He said seriously. He leaned into Aki as he was pulled into him. "Yes...I am. I am very selfish. I am very cruel. Fuck Aki you know me that I transformed into. I am a fucking sadist. I fucking hurt people because I could. Christaphin...is who I really fucking am. I am Chris...because I had events happen to make me that way." He held onto Aki tightly. He hissed at him. "No Aki. No. You don't fucking push me away to keep me safe from shit! It is my job to protect you dammit! It is! I don't need you to risk your own life trying to keep me safe." He said. Tugging Aki in tighter. "You need to focus on the one you want as your mate more than me. The one who isn't able to fight Aki. That is who you need to worry the most about. Not me." He said softly. Slowly calming just a bit. He stayed quite as he spoke.<br/><br/>He glared at Aki. "I love you Aki...but if you don't fucking tell me the whole truth right now...I'm not sure how much I will be able to trust you anymore. I'm sorry but...your withholding something to keep me safe from somehting...hurts worse than anything else that could come my way. You aren't protecting me by hurting me. You are the one person who I have trusted with everything. With my very life. Aki...you are the one ally I knew would never turn on me. Yet here you are...not letting me fight a battle that you feel you need to keep me safe from. Not able to help you...when you need it most.â€<br/><br/>He pulled back. "Aki...it hurts...more than any amount of stabbings and burnings and pain anyone could put me through...that you aren't a hundred percent honest with me. I didn't tell you about Christaphin because I thought he was GONE. I thought I had KILLED that monster. I thought he no longer existed so it didn't matter. I was now Chris. I was now a person who cared and loved others. Since I figured he was dead I didn't think I needed to tell you about a dead man." He tensed a bit. Looking at Aki's tears. He felt pain at seeing them. He looked away.<br/><br/>"I can forgive you Aki but...you keep pushing me away...then you will have pushed me away for real. I am a man who doesn't let others in his heart. Deep in his heart. Hell I care about Jethro. The man fucking loves me and I can't fucking return it because of who I am. Yet...I can't return that one simple emotion for him. It took my mate a long time for me to let her in. A very long time. To be honest I love Vince I do but not even he is really in my heart of hearst. You are one of the few Aki. You are. I forgive you but you keep pushing me away then I will take that as a sign I need to stay away. So I will. I love you. You mean everything to me." He moved closer and pulled Aki down to look at him.<br/><br/>â€œYou keep pushing me away...it will be a sign you want me to stay away. I fell head over heels for my mate. I loved her deeply. It still took her several human years for her to break through the ice around my heart." he stared Aki in the eyes. His eyes filled with hurt and anger. "You are supposed to be the one person I can rely on no matter what. yet...you obviously don't think the same fucking thing about me that I do you." he pulled away from Aki.<br/><br/>"That hurts and angers me a lot. I forgive you and you will always be important to me Aki but I'm not wanting to hear I withhold to keep you safe and protect you. I want to know what is going on that you push me away. I HATE BEING PUSHED AWAY BY THOSE I CARE ABOUT! It makes me feel...like I am...a monster." he said. He looked down. "Like...I am worse than Christaphin...because...you are all important to me. Aki...you are my world. You are my reason for existing. So whatever it is you are trying to protect me and keep me safe from something but I don't fucking want that. I want you and I to be side by side fighting hell and heaven itself together. Like we always have.â€<br/><br/>He looked at Aki. "I don't want to be protected or kept safe. I don't. I want...that openness and honesty that we have always had. That part where even if it was dangerous to one of us we kept each other in the loop. We stayed side by side even if death was highly likely. Why can't you do that with this supposedly small loop? Why?" He asked. His pain replacing his anger. He looked at Aki. "I want...to be a true source of strength for you Aki. I want to not be pushed away...by the one person who truly holds a place in my heart. I let Jethro in a little. I care about him. I'm giving him a chance to spawn it into love. I'm certain he can...but...what is the point if I don't have you too? If I don't have the yin to my yang? Without yin and yang together there is nothing but chaos. Remember?" He said softly.<br/><br/>Looking down. "I forgive you. I will always forgive you. Even if it isn't instantaneous...it will always happen." He clenched his fists together. â€œI am letting you in on an old war between myself and Wraith...that is a big thing Aki. A war between age old enemies is not something that usually just allows others to join in. The fact I am bringing you in on my side. The fact I am asking and allowing you to help me fight Wraith and his...is a sign how much a I trust, respect, love and value you. No matter what Aki...Wraith will die by my hands.â€ he looked down. â€œYou need to go see Vince. You need to go hug him. There is no telling how this war will end. You donâ€™t want to be unable to tell your mate I love you...one last time because things went bad. You donâ€™t want that kind of pain...that I had Aki.â€ he pulled into Aki and kissed him with anger, hurt and love.<br/><br/>Pulling back. â€œYou need...to stop protecting me when it is my job to protect you. You need to stop pushing me away...when you are one of the few I want to pull me in.â€ He laid his head on Akiâ€™s chest. â€œI...need you...to not...keep me safe from something that is clearly hurting you.â€ He said in a pleading voice.<br/><br/><br/>Vince was lost. Yelping as a shadow seemed to move. He blinked hearing Elizabethâ€™s voice. â€œElizabeth?â€ He called out. Circling around in place. Her voice seemed to echo. He followed where he thought it sounded loudest. â€œElizabeth?â€ he called out. He whirled hearing steps behind him but seeing nothing. He turned back around and started running towards Elizabethâ€™s voice. He practically crashed into her. â€œYipe!â€ He said as they fell to the ground. â€œSorry Elizabeth.â€ he said softly. He helped her up. â€œI was bored staying there.â€ he said honestly. â€œI just wanted to explore a little bit.â€ He gave a goofy smile.<br/><br/>Tenshi<br/><br/>Aki buried his face in Chris's hair, "I-I... It's not that I wish to keep this from you..." Aki took Chris face in both of his hands, not paying attention to the fact he covered half of Chris's face in blood. "I can't. I just can't. You need to understand... I swore an oath I can't break in anyway... else you may loose Magarish and I to utter darkness and insanity... you may loose us to death if we utter a single word...â€<br/><br/>Tears streamed down Aki's face, "I can't tell you, because my life is bound in a contract that keeps me from saying anything... You have no idea how many times... that I wanted to tell you... lay it all out to you... have you help me... save me... but I couldn't because you would have seen me die right before your eyes... and not be able to do a damn thing to stop it... I couldn't do that to you... I CAN'T do that to you... So please Chris... please don't leave me because I push you away from the same fate I have... from the fate of a single word uttered could mean your death... could mean that you'd go berserk until you were slaughtered... Please...â€<br/><br/>Bloody tears fell down his face along with his normal tears. "You are all that has kept me together... kept me from uttering that one word to end it all... you are the glue that keeps me together... that keeps me from going off the deep end... so please... please don't leave me alone in this dark hole... please Chris... please stay by my side even when I can't tell you everything... please..." By now Aki was on his knees, his hands on Chris's face making him go down to the floor with him.<br/><br/>Aki stared into Chris's eyes the entire time he said all of this, "I'm sorry... I am so sorry... I never wanted you to know... never wanted you to find out... never wanted you to realize what I had done... please... please forgive me... stay with me... please..." Aki broke down, the pain in his side felt like when it was first applied. Like a flaming cattle prod. It wasn't because he was speaking out of line, it wasn't because he was telling anything. It was because he owed a debt, and he needed to complete the mission and give what was due.<br/><br/>Elizabeth smiled softly, "Next time, wake me up and take me with you... Let's go back now shall we? I'm sure Brian has brought us some food." She took Vince's hand and followed her instructions backwards. They arrived at the room in five minutes.<br/><br/>Zoruna<br/><br/>Chris listened and his anger faded to shock. He just listened with wide horrified eyes as Aki began talking. Just looking at Aki. He studied him. He didn't...he couldn't lose them. He was gulping like he needed air. Listening to him as he spoke. His eyes searching him. He didn't like what he was hearing. He whimpered a bit. He was hurting more now. He searched him with worry. "Why? WHy would you do that to yourself Aki?" He whispered softly. His own tears forming. He started wiping away Aki's tears. Licking the bloody tears from the man's cheeks. Pulling back and looking at him. Whimpering a bit. He hated what he was hearing. He pulled Aki against him tightly. "Why would you sell your soul to someone?" He asked in a shocked horrified and pained voice. "I'm sorry Aki..." He whispered. Holding the man close to him. He whimpered a bit. "I...I want pressure you for anymore answers." He said in a sad voice. He replayed Aki's words. Tears trailing down his cheeks. He pulled Aki into him more. "My aki...I would never have imagined you would sell your soul. Your life. You very being like this. There...there is nothing that could be worth such a thing." He whispered. Burying his face in Aki's chest. Hodling him tightly. He pulled back a bit. "I...can't lose you too. Aki...I can't. I lose you...Christaphin will have no reason...not to be like he once was. He won't. He won't care anymore whether or not the man of pure evil...became without care for anyone again. I am sure...if you die. If I lose you...this me...the man you know well. He will cease to exist as well Aki. He will no longer exist. It will just be Christaphin." He looked at Aki. "I will...I promise Aki. I will...I forgive you. I will never leave you." He whispered. He pulled back from Aki. "Just...don't take my killing Wraith from me Aki...just don't. Because...I don't want Christaphin...to kill you because of unrestrained cold blooded fury." he wiped the tears from his eyes. He looked down. "Aki...I'll be there for you. I...." He cut off. Words choked in his throat. He couldn't speak. His heart breaking that Aki had done something like that. That...he gave himself into a debt which could kill him. He just looked down without words. He was trying to figure out who could have such a power over his dear Aki. Who...who would gain from something like this? He sighed a bit. "Aki...just promise...even if you can't tell me anything that you will let me assist you in whatever it is you need to do." He pulled Aki to look at him. "I will follow you. No questions asked. Just...let me help you even if I don't know why I am doing it. Please...let me work alongside you even if I am just blindly follow you." He nuzzled him. "I forgive you. I am sorry I got so angry. I was hurting because I wasn't understanding. You were pushing me away. You were the one person who I never once envisioned as ever pushing me away for any reason. So when you were...it hurt. I thought...I was all alone for real." He kissed Aki. "I'm sorry. I won't ask anything else. I won't ask any questions. I will be by your side for now and ever more." He said in a vow of solemn oath.<br/><br/>Tenshi<br/><br/>Aki buried his face in Chris's neck, shaking from tears and relief. He would never tell Chris why he did it, that he sold his soul to the devil to save him. To save Chris himself. Chris would never fogive himself. Aki breathed in Chris's scent, calming. "I... I am to make sure Wraith and his network dies... I have his address... you can kill him... I just have to make sure the network dies with him..." He whispered. He pulled back and kissed Chris with all of his feelings of love, sorrow, pain, happiness, relief, and worry. He pulled back and stared at him, "I need to call Brivariith and tell him that we are raiding Wraith in the hour, gather as many as he can. Will... will you hold me until we leave..." Aki asked softly.<br/><br/>Elizabeth took Vince into their room and hugged him, snuggling with him on the edge of the bed. "I'm restless too. I'm usually up there in the front line... I'm a royal... I'm a leader... but I am also a mate... a submissive... I can't be up there because if a sub is hurt... the dom will go bereserk and not care about ally or foe... it is better if we remain restless and wait, so our men have their heads in the game... â€˜Kay?â€<br/><br/>Zoruna<br/><br/>Chris stayed quiet. He was already plotting how to save Aki's soul from whoever held it. If that failed...he would sacrifice the soul that was Chris Vanturi. To give Aki a soul even if it was not his own. He would fix this...somehow. It was his responsibility as his guardian...to fix it. He nodded his head. "........." He stayed silent. "The network...must fall as well. I will leave that to you and yours." He said honestly. He kissed back but just absorbed the feelings from Aki. He laid back on the floor. Lost in thought. Looking at him. Frowning as he listened to him. Brivariith. "I think he needs...to protect Vince and Elizabeth. Wraith has a network. Then he has outsiders who work with them but aren't part of that network. Those outsiders are in a sense using him for their own purposes then will leave him." He tensed a bit. Shaking his head. He frowned a bit. "What am I saying? Brivariith would call in Jargo. So they wouldn't be unprotected." He said. He nuzzled him. Handing Aki his phone. "Call your  cousin." He said. Closing his eyes. "Aki....promise me...you will never let go of Vince. Okay? Promise me that and mean it." He said softly. He sighed a bit.<br/><br/>Vince looked at Elizabeth and hugged him. Snuggling her back as she was like his sister in a way. He smiled a bit. "Yeah...it is hard. I don't know why....they are doing this. I just want them to be okay." He said softly. Nuzzling Elizabeth then sighed. "But..." He sighed a bit. "What if...we lose them?" he asked softly. -Brivariith came in with food. He smiled a bit. "Hello beautiful. Hello bro." he said. Putting the food down and took up his phone. He looked at them. "You guys stay in here. I'll be calling in Jargo if it comes time for war. Think of him as a crazy ass bodyguard who doesn't know the meaning of stay down or stay dead." He then kissed Elizabeth.â€-<br/><br/>Tenshi<br/><br/>Aki blinked a few lingering tears away and nodded, â€œI-I will... whoâ€™s Jargo?â€ Aki studied Chrisâ€™s face before calling Brivariith.<br/><br/>â€œBrivariith... I need you to get your men ready for tomorrow. We are hitting the jackpot... Yeah I have the information we need... only need some surveillance done... Yeah... Alright, protect them... Bye...â€ He hung up the phone, then nuzzled the nape of Chrisâ€™s neck. Breathing in and out slowly, memorizing. He would never forget this scent, even if he went insane, he would never forget it. It was his rock, his sanity, his heart. Chris was his everything, and Aki at times thought heâ€™d be able to live without him or be himself. He canâ€™t live without him, he canâ€™t always be his own person all the time. He wasnâ€™t a solo entity and Magarish at times couldnâ€™t survive with just him. Chris kept them glued together. It was why they reacted so harshly to Christaphin taking over.<br/><br/>They were only part of a soul, part of a being. They werenâ€™t whole or one and would never be whole again.<br/><br/>Elizabeth smiled brightly and kissed Brian back, â€œYou might want to wander the tunnels a bit, Vince went for a walk so his scent is everywhere. You might want to go â€˜eraseâ€™ it.â€ She nuzzled Vince before releasing him, â€œEat dear.â€ She nudged him towards the food, worried heâ€™d start to starve himself from the sudden separation and such.<br/><br/>Aki wrapped his arms around Chris tightly, eyes closed, and face in the nape of Chrisâ€™s neck. He had been wanting to tell Chris everything for ages. Heâ€™d die if he did, but he hated lying and omitting to Chris the most. It had been killing him inside all of these years. Hopefully his debt will be over soon, and he can leave the contract. He doubted it though, the organization had a record of not letting anyone go easily. Heâ€™d keep working towards that one goal: the day heâ€™d be able to be him and tell Chris everything.<br/><br/>To tell Chris that he had sold his soul to find him all those years ago. Those few years of worry when Chris didnâ€™t show to his ceremony. Those few years of depression, wondering if Chris finally left him, finally abandoned him. Those few years of loneliness, the last person who mattered having left him alone, wondering, waiting, self-depreciating, self-doubting, doubting, and hating. He had begun to hate himself for having made Chris abandon him, and hate Chris for abandoning him. Doubting that Chris loved him, that he wasnâ€™t worth anything. Waiting everyday at the top of the highest building to see Chrisâ€™s silhouette on the horizon. Wondering what he had done and why he had left him.<br/><br/>Then after the contract and having them help him find Chris, seeing Chris like that. It hurt. It hurt so much he ran away to the forest and cried. Chris had forgotten him as if he was nothing. Nothing. And all of those memories from before, they couldnâ€™t be regained. Those feelings from before couldnâ€™t be regained. He had lost the love of his life then and there. In that one moment all of reality crashed back into him. Chris would never be with him, would never be his. Never.<br/><br/>Ever since then, he buried and broke down his feelings for Chris as he brought Chris back to a fraction of his former self. Feeling a little of himself die with each passing day. Until now when he found someone he could love like he did for Chris all those years ago, now Chrisâ€™s memories will return. Chris will remember his promise and hate him. He may have been there, may have told him about their memories, but he never told him that they had exchanged vows. That they were planning on completing the mating ritual after his ceremony, and when Chris remembered... he wouldnâ€™t be able to look himself in the mirror. Chris would hate him and shun him and if that happened, heâ€™d tell Chris everything in a recorder... and die.<br/><br/>He would set off the seal and die, for he couldnâ€™t live a life where Chris hated him and shunned him. Aki opened his eyes and pulled away from Chris, looking down at him with an unreadable expression. His eyes blank. Aki leaned down and kissed Chris softly, not moving after touching their lips together. He stared at Chris for the longest time, like the time when they had exchanged vows. Aki leaned back a fraction and whispered, â€œEini alye tin eini bertrid. Mertol, mertri, chii, kokoro. Poswer tin posway bertrid. Eini.  Huest mertol, furst mertol. Huest mertri, furst mertri. Huest chii, furst chii. Huest kokoro, furst kokoro. Huest eini, furst eini. Huest Melonya. (Forever together and forever connected. Pain, happiness, blood, heart. Past and future connected. Forever. My pain, your pain. My happiness, your happiness. My blood, your blood. My heart, your heart. My forever, your forever. My love.)â€<br/><br/>Aki kissed him once more before rising, â€œI need to get the others prepared. I will come for you later. Text me if you move.â€ Aki left the room, tears falling down his face after he turned the corner. Feelings he had long buried and burned coming back, memories with them. They were gone when he entered his office and picked up the slightly banged up phone. He began to call all of those that were approved of and had them prepare for a total annihilation.<br/><br/><br/>Zoruna<br/><br/>Chris held onto Aki tightly. He just held him. He needed Aki like he needed him. Yet at the same time it made him feel selfish. He enjoyed holding Aki even if he couldn't get the reason or the memory. He knew he would never hate or shun Akihiko. If there was anyone he would hate and shun it would be himself. Even more so when he learned that Aki's current issue was because of him. He kissed Aki back and pulled him closer. He didn't want to let him go. Letting him go reluctantly when he rose. Looking up at Aki. He couldn't read Aki. He hated when he couldn't read Aki. He felt as if he should be able to read him but he couldn't. He stood up and watched Aki leave. He stood up and watched him from the doorway. He didn't know what to do. He wasn't sure. He looked down. There was something he just couldn't remember but it was. It was eating him up inside. He remembered a hazy shadowy time where he and Aki shared such a long gaze as the one they just did. Christaphin was suddenly rising up. He was angry with this situation. Hell Christaphin wanted to go fuck up any and every contract holder until he found the one that had Akihiko's soul. He couldn't though. He looked down. Then he looked back up. His heart ached and he didn't know why. He thought he sealed off all these feelings of love. Of sorrow. Of hurt. He then followed Aki and opened the door. He shut it and slide down to the floor. Refusing to move. He just didn't want to be away from Aki. He would never hate or shun Aki...the man meant everything to him. He pulled his legs up to his chest and buied his face in his knees. His hair falling to cloak his face. He didn't say anything and he didn't move. His mind replaying those words. He knew those words. Knew they had been dear to him. He placed them with hopeful happiness and bitter sorrow. Yet he couldn't clear up the shadowy foggy images that were broken and flickering. Why couldn't he? Perhaps he should ask Brivariith about those words when it was a better time. He suddenly spoke the words he had told Aki back then. He remembered saying them. He remembered being extremely happy. "Wareware no pasu wa, watashitachi no ima to tsuneni issho ni setsuzoku sa rete imasu. Nani o don'nani kuru ka nani ga gÅkaku shinakereba naranai... Watashitachi wa tsuneni 1 to onaji ni narimasu." (Our paths our tied together for now and evermore. No matter what shall come or what shall pass...we will always be one and the same.) He looked up a bit. "I remember these words. I remember how they brought such massive happiness. Yet now they bring bitter sorrow. Yet...the images aren't there. Well they are but I can't see them. Now...even if I could...is it really best that I do? What with...Vince's heart being yours? What with the love you feel for him?" He buried his face again. "I am a selfish man...wanting both you and my lover. Yet wanting you when I know Vince wants you more. I selfishly don't want to let go even if I can not remember the whole reason why. Those words followed up with. Watashi wa anata o shinrai shite imasu. Watashi wa anata ni nani no kankei naku kirau koto wa kesshite arimasen. Watashi wa anata ni don'nani warui o yokeru koto wa kesshite arimasen." (I trust you. I will never hate you no matter what. I will never shun you no matter how bad.) He shook his head. "I do not deserve so many people who care for me." He trailed off.<br/><br/>+Brian answered the phone. "We will be ready." He blinked at the quick conversation. They would be ready. He let out a loud roar which caused all of his and even those who weren't yet were to stop. They began to assemble and prepare. He looked at Elizabeth. "Yes love. I'm going." he said with a sigh. He looked at Vince. "Eat you or I'll let her forcefeed ya." he said. Then walked out. Heading to go walk the tunnels and get rid of Vince's scent.+<br/><br/>-Vince listened to them. He kept looking at the ceiling. He wanted to be with Aki yet knew he couldn't. He wasn't hungry but blinked as she nuzzled him. He pushed away the food and looked up at the ceiling. "I hope everything is alright with Chris and Aki. I just have this sinking feeling." He said softly. He moved away from the food and curled up. Closing his eyes. He wasn't hungry. He had just eaten a few hours before or so. He couldn't remember. He closed his eyes and began to drift into dream but suddenly felt an evil presence entering his mind. He didn't know who it was. The sweet dream he was having began to leave. Darkness rolled in like a moving fog.-<br/><br/><br/>Tenshi<br/><br/>Aki barely paid attention to Chris, or tried to. He was calling one contact after another, then Chris started projecting his feelings some. He paid closer attention then, but still diligently went through his contacts. Briefly wondering why Chris wasnâ€™t commenting on the fact the room was destroyed, well all except the phone.<br/><br/>Aki dropped the phone when he heard the first phrase â€œWareware no pasu waâ€, he froze on the spot. Bryant was on the phone yelling at him through the receiver, â€œAkihiko! Oi! Akihiko! You okay man!â€<br/><br/>Aki didnâ€™t turn and look at Chris, his back having been to him the whole time. Aki felt the tears well up in his eyes, he closed his eyes tightly and tried not to let them fall. He didnâ€™t need Chris asking about this, didnâ€™t need Chris to remember. It was enough of shackles for him to remember, Chris didnâ€™t need that burden. Aki turned around and walked over to Chris, the tears gone. He stepped on and broke the phone as he crossed the room to Chris.<br/><br/>Aki kneeled down and wrapped his arms around Chris, pulling him into a tight embrace. â€œYou shouldnâ€™t remember... it isnâ€™t as happy a memory as you believe... You do deserve all of us... I also want you and Vince... Iâ€™m a selfish man... dragons always are...â€ Aki leaned back and put his hands on either sides of Chrisâ€™s face, â€œIf I could have both of you, you and Vince, for even a day... I would be the happiest on Earth...â€ Aki leaned down and kissed Chrisâ€™s forehead.<br/><br/>â€œMelonya... Do not fret... we will win this upcoming fight... and we will discuss everything else afterwards... I promise...â€ Aki looked into Chrisâ€™s eyes as he said this before kissing his forehead again. Aki glanced back at the phone as he pulled Chris into his chest again, the phone was destroyed. â€œ...â€<br/><br/>Aki sighed and glanced over at the wall panel that should have his spares, he maneuvered Chris so Chrisâ€™s legs and arms were wrapped around him. His tail materialized and wrapped around under Chrisâ€™s ass as he stood. He kept an arm around Chris as he rifled through his collection of burn phones and picked a few out, then grabbed his contact book and sat down again with Chris straddling his lap. He began to finish his calls.<br/><br/>Elizabeth sighed, â€œEverything will be fine.â€ She watched him fall asleep, when he woke she was force feeding him.<br/><br/>A voice echoed lowly in Vinceâ€™s mind, â€œHello dearie... I have something Iâ€™d like to... pass on... Tell Christaphin and Akihiko... if they try to take down the Wraith... they will find you shinekai (dead by suicide)... pass it along little one...â€ The darkness left Vinceâ€™s mind as slowly as it came in.<br/><br/>Zoruna<br/><br/>Chris could not shake the feeling those words were linked to something that had once brought such great happiness. Yet would certainly now be the source of great sorrow. For every yin there was a yang. He felt arms wrap around him and lifted his head. Pressing into Aki and his arms wrapped around him. He closed his eyes and listened to him speaking. Burying his face in Aki's chest and kept inhaling the scent that always calmed him. Stronger and much quicker than any other scent had ever calmed him. Even Jethro's scent did not calm him as strongly and quickly as Aki's did. The reason to this had to be buried in memories he wasn't sure he wanted to awake. Yet what if these memories became a source with which harm was brought to those he cared about? He nodded his head but didn't speak again. Until he pulled back and had hands on either side of his face. Looking at him with eyes filled with emotions he hadn't remembered he had. He smiled a bit. "Yes...I know. Yet how could I ever do that to Vince? I've never really made him share anything and then it would be unfair to Jethro if I did that." He studied Aki. "If I could have you and Jethro both to hold and cherish for just one day...I'd also be the happiest person on earth." He said honestly. He paled at the mention of the fight. "I know...we can not afford not to. I hope we will Aki. I know...there is a very good chance...that I will not get off easy when I and Christaphin go to finish off Wraith for good. Yet...I can not afford to do otherwise when every breath that man breathes caused danger for those within my circle." He buried his face back in Aki's chest. Easily manuevered into holding onto Aki with his arms and legs. Right now he needed this contact. He needed to inhale this man's scent over any other. He held on tightly like Aki was all that was keeping him afloat in a storm tossed ocean wave. He said not another word. Just held on while Aki resumed his phone calls.<br/><br/>+Vince started tossing and turning. Whimpers as the darkness radiated evil and it soffacted his angel blood. White sparks of angel light sparked harmlessly off of him and crackled all around him. "Who...are you? Get out of my head! Go away... This darkness is so cold. It hurts so bad...this darkness." His words coming from his lips and radiating in his head. He screamed out as his body lurched and rolled off the bed and onto the floor. He flailed around for just a moment before his body went still and the angel light ceased being there. He woke and was sweating. Tears in his eyes. "A voice in darkness said to tell Christaphin and Akihiko if they try to take down someone name Wraith they will find me shinekai..." He said in a meek voice. His body shook with fear. "I don't know anyone named Christaphin and I don't know anyone named Wraith." A couple tears trailed down his cheeks. "The darkness that seeped into my dream hurt...it was so cold..." He said in a shaky voice. Really unfocused.+<br/><br/>Brian heard the crash and was rushing through tunnels.<br/><br/>Tenshi<br/><br/>Aki finished his calls and just held Chris close, falling asleep soon after. His face buried in Chrisâ€™s hair as he breathed in and out slowly. His arms and tail wrapped tightly around Chris, holding him close.<br/><br/>Elizabeth was up the second he started tossing and turning, laying beside him and trying to soothe him. She flinched back on instinct when he began to spark. She watched worried, then he began to mumble. It worried her. She hissed softly, hoping to soothe him without touching while cataloging everything. Then he was rolling off of the bed, screaming.<br/><br/>Elizabeth was off of the bed after him, not caring about the sparks or the light. She wrapped her arms around him and looked down at him. â€œVince are you alright?!â€ She froze from the message before pulling him close and rocking him. She released a low pitched hiss, that echoed through the tunnels. Only Brian should have been able to hear it, it was a call for mates that meant a youngling was hurt.<br/><br/>She nuzzled Vince and rocked him back and forth. â€œItâ€™ll be okay... everything will be okay... Shhh... Calm down young one... shhh... Itâ€™ll be alright Vince...â€<br/><br/>Zoruna<br/><br/>-Chris just stayed where he was. Listening to Aki's heartbeat and enhaling his scent. His eyes closed but he didn't sleep. Yet nor did he start to think anymore. He was just going to hold onto Aki and breathe in that scent. He closed his eyes and fell into a very light hazy sleep-<br/><br/>~Mynx dressed and left Beliar a note. Telling him he had gone out. That he'd be back soon. It was time to go do his century old job of being a royal fucking thorn in Wraith's side. Oh he loved this part of the job. It was so fun to rattle that man's cage because he made it so fucking easy. He nimbly was off into the night. Sometimes moving on all fours when needing to find the scent. He found it and peered in the window. There was Wraith. Another scent lingered in the area but it was unimportant. He slipped in the window and hung onto the ceiling with his claws. Dangling with two and raked them up the back of Wraith's spine. Before attached to the ceiling looking down at Wraith with a smirk he was. He had even drawn a teensy bit of blood. Old habits died hard. Even with his new mate a century old ritual between these lifelong rivals, enemies, frienemies, and friends...ish...would continue on until Wraith was dead. Not a moment sooner. He purred in that sultry way that always annoyed Wraith. His tail flicked against the ceiling as he kept it just out of Wraiths reach by dangling only a few inches with the rest wrapped around his leg.~<br/><br/>Vince hadn't even noticed Elizabeth's soothing touch. The darkness had been suffocating and isolating. Nothing else had registered. He shook hard and whimpered. His eyes unfocused and yet he started to register the arms around him. Clinging to Elizabeth as his arms wrapped around him. Shaking hard as he was not alright. He didn't like that. In fact the darkness had left a slight scratch like black mark across the back of his left hand, on the palm of his right hand and one in a streak like movement down his cheek to down his neck a couple inches. They were already going away though as the angelborn dna took over. He buried his face in Elizabeth and just whispered over and over again but not really words just muffled sounds. He tried not to cry but a few tears slipped through. He slowly started to relax. "I don't want to go back to sleep...it might come back." He said in a shaky timid whisper.<br/><br/><Brian heard the low pitched his and his wings shot out. He flew through the tunnels as fast as he could. Knocking the door flat onto the ground with how fast and hard he shoved it out of his way. He rushed over and knelt by the two Uke's. "What is it? What is wrong? Where is he hurt?" He asked. He searched Vince over and saw the black marks. "Shadow vices??? But how?" He said. Pulling on Vince's clothing and seeing it was riddle with black marks in various places. "What happened love?" He looked at his mate and then to Vince. He watched the marks seeming to heal and go away yet still this troubled him. "Was there anyone in here? Did you catch anyone's scent or anything?" He asked. He didn't like this.><br/><br/>Tenshi<br/><br/>Wraithâ€™s eyes snapped open when he felt Mynx enter his room, he closed his eyes and let Mynx play. He was tired and didnâ€™t feel like dealing with the bastard. After Mynx marked up his bare back, he flipped over and stared up at Mynx. The covers riding down to his pelvis, showing that he was wearing nothing to bed while showing nothing at all. â€œHello Mynx... what brings you to my... abode...â€ He purred the last word softly.<br/><br/>â€œI would have thought after Thanatos took you away and fucked you senseless you would have stayed in his arms and let Christaphin do everything... No matter... Do let yourself out like usual...â€ Wraith turned onto his side again and closed his eyes, not giving much emotion as he talked. Tired and uncaring as to the current situation. He wanted to be loved by Christaphin, wanted to be held by Christaphin. That would never happen unless he forced Christaphinâ€™s hand, even back when... when he was a little saner, when he was more liked. It never happened, if he had stayed that way until now it would never happen. Christaphin would never choose him, so heâ€™d make him choose him.<br/><br/>He was cursed from birth to be this way, he might as well live it.<br/><br/>Elizabeth looked up at Brian, eyes wide with worry and fright. â€œI-I donâ€™t know Brian... H-he was asleep, then it seemed like h-he was having a n-nightmare... I t-tried to comfort him w-without waking him... he n-needed the sleep... b-but he started mumbling and sparking... t-then glowing... then h-he screamed and f-fell off the bed... h-he said that someone told him t-to tell Christaphin and Akihiko if they try to take down someone name Wraith they will find h-him shinekai... Brian w-what do we do...â€ She said this all below a frequency Vince could hear, he didnâ€™t need to know how shaken she was. It would make him freak out and worry more. She bit her lip to not whimper, holding Vince close and rocking him slowly.<br/><br/>Zoruna<br/><br/>Mynx tilted his head in curiousity. He never really knew the Wraith slept in the nude. Was kinda amusing really. Guess you never really could tell much about old rivals. Especially when on most occasions they weren't sleeping when you decided to drop in. He scratched his head a bit. "You know...we got an age old ritual we always followed. Even when you was chasing down christaphin and all that jazz. Man...you really ain't feeling yourself is you old boy?" He said with a smirk. He flipped and landed in a crouch. All cat like. Tilting his head to the otherside. Standing up and looked utterly confused. "Thanatos? Who is Thanatos? I went with Beliar." He said. Purring a bit as he rolled his eyes.<br/><br/>Pouncing on the bed and pinned Wraith down. "When have I ever let Christaphin do everything? I like to piss you off and usually you isn't acting like such a fucking bitchy little girl." He flipped off and landed on the other side of the room. "Hmmm...hmm...hm...you really do need a stick up your ass and I'm not talking from a tree. Must be killer not being laid in so long." He turned and flicked his tail. "Well Wraith...I usually enjoy our little play times when you actually aren't being all girly and mopey. You want the vamp man so bad...you better think like the vamp man. Enemies or frienemies or what not. You want the sadist prince you gotta think and act like the sadist prince. Tell your little play toy who has been stalking me outside...kitty likes to rip your toys to shreds." He then moved and was leaning out the window. Before dropping out it and rushing off. Time to go cause some chaos in Wraith's little neighborhood. Which he proceeded to do until he was bored than made his way back to where he had left Beliar. He would need to ask him who Thanatos was<br/><br/><Brian looked at Elizabeth. Waiting for her answer and listened frowning a bit. "He is an angelborn Elizabeth. Would take a pretty powerful evil to cause that sort of reaction merely from infecting someone's sleep." He said back to her too soft for Vince to hear. He growled quite violently when he heard the words. His eyes narrowed and turned drakken like. How dare someone say that?! He growled and shook his head. "I don't know...I must talk with Akihiko and Christaphin." He stopped for a moment. Pulling her to him and kissed her lips. "A man named Jargo will be replacing me in watching you two. You are to support Vince and try to keep him from sleeping. I need to ask Akihiko...as he is the one who has claimed little one here as his mate. Until I return...neither you nor him leave this room. His medications and water are in this room. Have Jargo inspect any food brought. I will be back." He was shaken as well. He knew Vince was not suicidal so that meant whoever had invaded Vince's dreams...knew how to make it that way. He stood up.><br/><br/>+Vince clung to and pressed into Elizabeth. His heart racing and he was worried. He was terrified but he was making himself go numb. He was trying to force himself into a numb state so he wouldn't be so scared it wasn't working.+<br/><br/><Brian lifted his phone and called. Speaking to the Russian man named Jargo. Ending it in English. "If your wolf tailed ass isn't outside the room I am in in five fucking seconds Imma string you up by your tail and use you for a mexican pinata!" He hung up. He waited and then the scent of a wolf would hit their noses. He looked. "See I knew with the right motivation you could get your ass here faster. I need to go topside. You protect my mate and my bro with your life. Anything happens to either of them I'm ripping your dick off and shoving it down your throat." He then rushed from the room.><br/><br/>~Jargo spoke back. "Aye aye aye. No need for the hostilitiies and you know I like it kinky." He said with a smirk. Flash shadow running and reappeared in the doorway. His hooded cloak hiding his fingers but not his wolven scent. "Really Brian...you don't have to be such a dirty boy. If you just wanted me here you didn't have to be arousing in the order." He said with a smirk. That was all that could be seen from the shadowed face. He watched Brian leave. Looking to the scared Uke's inside. "Hey...it gonna be alright you two." He had a still quite noticable Russian accent. Slightly heavy but for the most part it wasn't highly noticable. He looked back out into the hall. "Names Jargo. You must be the delictable and seductive mate that everyone knows the boss man is head over heels for." He blinked and stared for a moment. "VINCEY BOY???" He cried in exclaimation. "Well...isn't this a pleasant surprise. Bad boy there an angel who can dance the breakdance." He said with a chuckle. He shook his head. Until otherwise informed he'd leave the cloak and hood on.~<br/><br/><Brian threw open the doors of the room Aki and Chris were in. â€œWake the fuck up its important. Loving snooze fest later!â€ His growled voice did nothing to hide his anger and worry and even slight fear. Totally not Brian even on a bad day.>