11 The Clenching Fist

All that Yuya could see was black, his eyes wouldn't open no matter how much he tried. He could remember what happened to him before going unconscious when the ambulance staff came to him. To think that the morning after confessing to Yuto about his true feelings for him would end up like this. He then felt something through the darkness and thought he saw a silhouette of a person further away.

"Who are you?" Yuya asked to person, who turned around to face him. It was a woman with long black hair tied into two low ponytails with long red ribbons, she was wearing a red and black school uniform that Yuya didn't recognize at all and he couldn't see her face as her bangs was covering her eyes.

"You will soon awaken to your true power. Fight him in order to save us all." The woman told him seriously.

Next thing the Secrecy eyes knew, he finally opened his eyes and saw Yuto's smiling face in front of him. Under the time Yuya had been unconscious, Yuto never left his side and had been waiting in his room since they got there. He heard about Milla collapsing but didn't leave the room in case someone would try something on Yuya when they weren't there. Yuto was sitting on the hospital bed next to the tomato haired boy.

"Hi." Yuto greeted as he was relieved that the boy finally woke up.

"Yuto..." Yuya said and tried to sit up straight but immediately leaned back on his bed in pain in both his side and chest.

"You need to take it easy to not pull up the stitches. You've got a few fractures in your rib cage too, so you have to stay in the hospital for a week to make sure it is healed properly." Yuto explained as Yuya untied his hospital shirt and saw his whole torso was covered in layers of bandages. "You've lost a lot of blood back there too."

"That explains why I'm a little lightheaded." Yuya pointed out, having a hand on his forehead. "How long was I out?"

"A whole day since that morning." Yuto answered. "I've been here since but Milla shut down when we heard your surgery was a success." Yuya immediately sat back up to try getting out his bed to check on his sister but Yuto stopped him by having his hands on his shoulders.

"I need to see her!" Yuya grunted trying to ignore the pain.

"Yuya, you need to calm down or else you'll collapse from the pain!" Yuto said worried, trying to reason with his loved one. "Listen, Jude is trying his best to find out what happened to her." He then heard Yuya crying which worried him.

"I'm so weak and useless. I thought now that I can fight, I can help protect everyone but now..." Yuya cried and Yuto carefully hugged him.

"You aren't useless, I've seen how much you train and work hard to come all this way. That's why you're not weak either." Yuto said caring to calm him down. "You've just haven't found your true abilities and power yet." Yuya hugged Yuto back as a thank you while he cried. "I don't care what people think about you and your abilities, but I do care about when you say stupid things like that to yourself."

"Sorry... I think I'm just too exhausted and lightheaded to think straight." Yuya pointed out as Yuto helped him back onto the back of the bed again, Yuto placed a hand on his cheek and started to rub it while wiping away the tears running down from his eye.

"You should get some rest, I'll tell Jude and the others that you're awake." Yuto assured him and placed the clean pendant in the boy's hand.

"My pendant!" Yuya exclaimed, putting it back around his neck.

"I cleaned it for you, I know how important it is to you. Now, get some rest. I'll be back soon." Yuya nodded and the spirit stood up before walking to the door, watching Yuya getting to rest as he closed the door.

Yuto walked through the empty halls of the hospital, searching for Jude. He had to guess that he was with Milla, the Xillia leaders were close and Jude wanted to find out what exactly happened to the Lord of Spirits before it was too late. While trying to find him, Yuto passed the room where he was or more specifically, his body. Yuto hesitated at first but decided to take a look on his condition since he no longer can check mentally since his body is no longer his vessel to keep it from getting injured and kill himself. When the gray eyed spirit walked through the door, he saw his unconscious body still motionless and the far too familiar beeping of the monitors ringed the room.

'To think that all of this started right here, in this room.' Yuto thought as he looked at his body. 'Thanks to Yuya, I've changed from being a person that just wasn't me and now I'm the person I was before I changed everything about myself. I completely forgot about that side of me that loved the supernatural and fairytales.'

Yuto smiled at all those memories but mostly those about Yuya, he snapped out of it when Ruri and Shun came into the room. The purple haired girl was carrying a bouquet of flowers to replace the dead ones in the vase on the bedside table. Yuto knew he needed to get a message to Shun about Yuya and Milla were there too and looked around to find some way to contact him.

Eventually, he remembered he could communicate with Shun through his duel disk. The oldest person in the room took out his duel disk which was the same model as Yuto's and saw the message in shock to look around to see if he could see Yuto but remembered he couldn't without the Sight and read the message.

'Yuya and Milla are here and injured, we can explain everything. If you go to the left, you'll find Yuya's room. He's asleep at the moment, I'll tell you when he's awake. Yuto.' Shun read in his mind. 'What happened to the Sakakis? I need to check on Yuya later.'

"Brother, what is it?" Ruri asked, seeing the worried face of Shun's.

"I just got a message about someone I know, can you take care of Yuto if I leave?" Shun requested which made Ruri confused.

"Yeah, we're here to take care of his room to keep it neat." Ruri replied. "Who's the person you're talking about?"

"It's best you don't know." Shun answered and Yuto smiled, knowing that his best friend was trying his best to keep Yuya's secret hidden from people.

Yuto walked back into the corridor and was about to continue his search for Jude when he saw the medical student walking towards him. He looked pretty tired but determined, possibility is that he worked most of the night for Milla's sake.

"Hi Jude, you feeling okay?" Yuto asked a little worried.

"I've had worse days, I've gotten used to it." Jude replied yawning a little. "If you decided to leave Yuya, he's probably awake by now."

"Yeah, he's resting for now and I thought you guys should know." Yuto explained. "But he's worried about Milla and almost forced himself out of bed to check on her if I hadn't stopped him."

"I can imagine that." Jude agreed, knowing a younger sibling would do that. "I just took a blood sample to check it out. I noticed she had a small cut on her leg, I think it was the manticore that put her in that state."

"The stinger graced her leg!" Yuto exclaimed realization.

"Yeah, I'm going to check the blood sample to determine if poison from the stinger really is in effect." Jude explained. "If it is, then I need to make a cure as fast as possible. We might have to ask Rita too to make it fast enough."

"I remember Yuya, Yuri and Ludger being really terrified when they realized Milla was in danger. I need to ask Yuya what happen if a Maxwell has no other descendant and the Four have no vessel to reside in." Yuto suggested, having a feeling inside that he didn't like.

"Jude!" Turning around to the other side of the corridor, the duo saw Velvet and Sorey walking forwards them. Sorey was wearing a white t-shirt underneath a dark blue unbuttoned shirt, brown pants and white sneakers. On his left hand was a white fingerless glove with gold lining and a strange symbol in the middle, a bracelet of red beads and two feathers that are similar to his earrings.

"Velvet, Sorey. What are-!" Velvet opened a portal behind the two before Jude could finish and grabbed Yuto by the neck, slamming his back against the Otherworld version of the hospital which was completely crumbled and abandoned, the Lord of Calamity was having an angry stare at the spirit.

"What happened to the Sakakis?!" Velvet demanded, ignoring how much strength she was using in her grip. "Answer me!"

"Velvet, calm down...!" Yuto breathed out.

"I am calm!" Velvet retarded before Sorey put a hand on her shoulder.

"Velvet, you're strangling him." He said calmly, completely unfazed by her anger. The black haired therion looked at him before closing her eyes and let Yuto go for him to breathe.

"Thanks for stopping me, Shepherd." Velvet thanked the brown haired boy.

"I know when your therion instinct goes haywire. If you killed him then both Milla and Yuya would have gotten angry at the both of us." Sorey explained. "I'm also the Shepherd, the light version of you. You really need to control your hunger so you won't eat anyone by accident."

"I know that, we better find a dark being or higher later if we have time." Velvet pointed out and Sorey nodded as Jude looked at the two really confused.

"Why did you attack me like that?" Yuto asked finally being able to breathe again. "What's going on?"

"You actually don't know?" Sorey questioned. "Nature itself is crying and started to die."

"What do you mean?" Jude asked. "We already know Maxwell is the balance of Life."

"That's not what's the problem." Velvet replied, glaring at the medic. "The barrier between the Human Realm and Otherworld is weakening which can cause supernatural creatures to escape and cause massive chaos." Jude and Yuto was shocked at the statement.

"Because of me being the Shepherd and Velvet the Lord of Calamity, we have a big bond with Milla. We don't know how it is that way but everytime one of us gets injured or dies, we get this strange dark feeling inside us." Sorey explained placing a hand on his chest and Velvet grunted as she tightened her grip on her bandaged arm. "We felt that yesterday morning and knew something happened."

"The nature of Otherworld is dying which means the supernatural would try anything to survive this disaster that's happening right now." Velvet continued while crossing her arms over her chest. "All because Maxwell is dying and there isn't someone that can be the heir then the barrier will disappear. It's what keeps normal humans from finding out the truth. Yuya and Ludger knows that Milla is keeping up the barrier with her very existence."

"Someone planned to get Milla killed." Yuto realized which get the Tales students attention. "Not just her but the whole Sakaki family, thinking Yuya and Yusho were part of the Maxwell bloodline."

"The person that did this to them think Yuya is going to become the next Maxwell but don't know Milla was adopted into the family before he was born." Jude finished and everyone began to be nervous, realizing that the attacker have done something that would bring the Human Realm to ruin just to kill Maxwell.

The group looked at each other now that they figured out why the manticore was at the village. Yuto growled when thinking of what the person did to Yuya, almost killing someone that didn't have anything to do with Maxwell even though they grew up together. A small electricity spark past Yuto's face as it started to rain in the real world.

On a roof with a view over to the window of Milla's room, a woman with long, blue-green hair, green eyes, and pointy ears. She wears a slightly revealing blue and white outfit, as well as white gloves adorned with blue, green, and purple rings on each of her arms. She possesses intricate light-blue wings on her back. She was sitting on the edge with no worry in the world.

"Oh, my little sister is really in trouble this time." The winged woman said with a giggle. "To think Exodus would jump to conclusions like this. Damn those humans!" The woman then stood up but levitated from the ground. "Well, I'll let her little servant boy take care of the antidote while I look after her state, that way I can make sure she is healthy before going after them." The woman looked at the unconscious Milla through the window as it rained.

-

Yuya woke up by the time it started to rain while hearing thunder outside. He couldn't stop thinking about the woman in his dream, Yuya felt like he knew her somehow but he didn't know where and when because he didn't have any memory of her. The Secrecy eyes just stared at the rain pouring down on the window outside when the door opened and Yuya turned his head forwards the door. It was a female doctor with blonde hair and green eyes that walked in with a tray in her hands with a glass of water and a strange dark red pill laying beside it.

"Glad to see you're awake, Mr. Sakaki." The doctor said as she closed the door behind her. "Your family and friends had been really worried about you."

"How's my sister?" Yuya asked, surprising the doctor before him.

"I see, young Mr. Mathis must have told you." The doctor replied with a smile. "I'm afraid we haven't found anything considering your sister's sudden collapse, we only know that her state is first priority."

"Okay, I'm just worried about her that's all." Yuya said sadly, wondering where Yuto was at the moment.

"It's normal for siblings to do that. We do what we can to help her." The doctor pointed out, placing the tray on the bedside table and took the two items to give to Yuya. "Here, this medicine will help with the pain and the blood flow in your system." The crimson eyed boy carefully sat up and took the medicine before placing in his mouth and drank the water to get the pill down his throat. "Good boy! Now I'll leave you to rest before one of the other doctors come to check on you."

The doctor left Yuya alone in the room again, walking past Yuto but she couldn't see him and began to walk forwards the back door to a room where darkness surrounded the area. In the shadows was a silhouette of a young girl but her appearance was hidden by the shadows while the doctor stared sternly at her.

"I did what your master asked for the last fourteen years, killing hundreds of young children with that medicine and that boy is the one you're after." The doctor said a little angry. "Can you please erase those memories of Otherworld you forced me to see."

"That depends on the result, my master have waited for years for him." The girl replied. "If he really is the one then he won't die in the next two hours, then that ability of his is gone for good and replaced with his true power. Only then I'll erase every trace of Otherworld and me from your memory." The doctor tched at the answer.

"That was the last one I was given, I can't help you from now on and Sakaki is the last of his kind, right?" The doctor asked.

"No but he does have rare abilities just like his predecessor, it's no coincidence he got it." The girl answered. "To think the Exodus organization made our goal so much easier."

The doctor left without a word, angry over the girl's statement. People hadn't figured out the deaths of those children since the medicine doesn't give any trace and only special people can see it. The doctor was a normal human unlike Yuya and the girl, she didn't want to do it.

-

Back with Yuya, he was looking at the window again but turned to the other side when he felt a hand on his shoulder and saw Yuto there with him. Yuya could only smile as they shared a small kiss together before placing their foreheads together.

"Did you wait long?" Yuto asked gently and Yuya shook his head slightly.

"No, I know you would come back and I know how you are. That's why." Yuya replied, trusting Yuto with his life. "Did you find the others?" Yuto sat on the bed again right next to his vessel.

"Yeah, Jude told me that the manticore graced Milla's leg under the fight with the stinger. So it's possible that she got the poison of it too and he's going to make a cure for her as fast as possible. He and Yusho will come over later to check on you for themselves." Yuya nodded before thinking about his dad and their conversation before the attack.

"Dad wasn't always a scientist, he was a dueltainer!" Yuto raised an eyebrow in surprise over the sudden words. "I completely forgot about that."

"What are you even talking about?" Yuya looked at his partner with a smile.

"Dad gave me a letter yesterday that was from mom after Clear Wing and Starving Venom stole it in the first place. She thinks I got my passion for dueling from dad since he was the first dueltainer and not because mom liked it." Yuya then became determined while looking at his pendant as it was swinging in the air like a pendulum. "Mom also wrote that I can be the one to find out the truth about our true origin that caused the Secrecy eyes to have the sight to see when people dies."

"I think your mom is right. You know so many things in Otherworld and are special, you aren't like other people but to think that Yusho was a dueltainer before becoming the Headmaster of a normal school with dueling lessons." Yuto chuckled at the thought. "Looks like that conversation of yours got you two a bit closer enough for you to trust him." Yuya looked at the spirit before looking down.

"I guess so, I still can't forget about what he did to me and those kids. I'm not sure if I want to trust him again even if he saved my life." Yuya then began to cough really hard which worried Yuto a lot.

"Yuya, what's wrong? Did you get sick?" Yuya was about to shake his head when the coughing became worse while the spirit was holding him up to not make Yuya feel more pain in his side. The doctor was peeking through the small creek in the door to watch what happened which the result was a success and the doctor gasped in relief.

'At least he survived the effect of the pill.' The doctor thought, seeing Yuya's little seizure. 'Otherwise, their skin would have gone pale and people would think they were asleep until they realize they're dead. I'm happy to see that at least one survived.' The doctor then walked away to leave the two alone and go to her next patient.

Yuto was focused on how to help his partner when Shun came into the room and saw what's going on, he took the glass that was left in the room after the medication Yuya got and got to the bathroom to get some water before coming back with it to give it to Yuya, took it and drank some which helped.

"Shun." Yuto said while smiling at his best friend which made Yuya look at the human beside him.

"Thank you, Shun." Yuya thanked before coughing a little more but not as worse as a few seconds ago and his voice had gotten a little hoarse from his seizure. "I needed that. Why are you here?"

"I got a message from Yuto about you and Milla were here too, I came to check on you." Shun explained which shocked the crimson eyed boy a bit and looked at the spirit confused.

"They were visiting my body in one of the other rooms down the hall." Yuto explained simply. "I thought you would like to see some familiar faces while we wait for your dad to come with your things." Yuya smiled before laying back on the bed.

"What happened to you?" Shun asked with worry and Yuya grunted, still feeling the pain in his chest after the sudden seizure.

"Attacked by a manticore yesterday and took a hit for my dad while we were trying to protect everyone." Yuya groaned.

"Which was pure insane, you scared me to death!" Yuto exclaimed serious. "The manticore was after Milla this whole time! Velvet and Sorey have told us what happens if there isn't another person capable of becoming Maxwell."

"I just don't want to see people I care about get hurt or killed." Yuya said, curling his hands into fists at the thought. "I've seen so many people die and I can't do anything about it, I've tried to prevent it but it happen anyway. There's no way to stop my visions from happening in reality. It mostly goes to you, Yuto."

"But I did, twice now." Yuto explained while placing his hands on his boyfriend's to comfort him a bit, understanding that he was a little traumatized from the attack.

"I see, that's the case." Shun said suddenly, confusing the couple.

"What?" Yuya asked with a raised eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Outside the room, Ruri was walking by to get something when she heard the familiar voices of Yuya and Shun talking by themselves and hide with her back by the wall to make sure she isn't seen by the two while peeking through the creek of the opened door.

"Yuya!" She exclaimed hushed in shock before quietly running back to Yuto's hospital room.

"You two are in love, aren't you?" Shun guessed and both boys started to blush madly as there hasn't been people that had figured out by now even if they've noticed. "That confirms it. I never thought you would be gay, Yuto."

"Hey! We're still growing up and you thought me and Ruri had a relationship for some time!" Yuto exclaimed irritated. "You're really overprotective of her and jump to conclusions so easily! Why would one of my childhood friends do that kind of thing?!"

"Love is unpredictable." Yuya pointed out.

"Exactly!" Yuto answered and the crimson/emerald haired boy started to chuckled until Yuto elbowed him in the chest lightly to not hurt him. Yuya kept his smile on at his partner's behavior to attempt to cheer him up from his negative thoughts.

"True, true. I'm glad for you." Shun confessed which made Yuto smile. "Does anyone know you two are together as a couple now?"

"We don't know actually. We got together two days ago, I hope nobody know about what we did there." Yuya said looking at Yuto as he said that.

"You mean the kiss? Milla I can understand and I won't be surprised if she knew but the others would be a problem." Yuto pointed out. "Especially Yuri for that manner." Yuya nodded in agreement about the vampire.

"Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret unless you give a sign I can tell." Shun said which made the two glad about his understanding of the situation.

The door suddenly opened to reveal Yuzu with Ruri, Sawatari and Gongenzaka standing there. The pink haired girl looked pretty angry at Yuya, who was getting pretty nervous while Yuto and Shun were surprised over the girl's anger at the injured Secrecy eyes. Under the time the spirit has been with his vessel, he had gotten to know Yuya's classmates and friends to know that Yuzu was trying her best to help her childhood friend in any way she could but he hasn't seen her this angry. Usually, Yuzu would hit the crimson eyed boy whenever he did things she didn't like with her fan which made many fear her.

"What happened, you dumbass?!" Yuzu exclaimed.

"H-hi, you guys." Yuya greeted nervously as Yuto moved away to watch the scene.

"Don't give me that! This is the second time you get to the hospital and your eye got healed not too long ago." Yuzu said angry as she walked over to him. "We've been wondering what exactly you're doing in your free time without us when we see you like this!"

"I'm starting to regret telling her about this." Ruri pointed out, placing a hand on her forehead while shaking her head.

"Calm down, Ruri. This would happen anyway if I know Yuzu well." Gongenzaka said to help explain the situation. "Yuya and Yuzu have known each other longer than me, that way she knows when there's something wrong with him."

"You sure that she isn't more than just a friend?" Sawatari asked suspicious. "To me, it sounds like they're together."

"Yuya and Yuzu?! That's a bunch of rumors!" Gongenzaka said like it was hilarious. "They might hang around a lot but they are just the normal childhood friends you usually see."

"Y-Yuzu, I can explain..." Yuya stammered nervously while looking at the side to avoid eye contact.

"You better be! What exactly did you do to get here?" Yuzu asked as Yuya sat to the side to face her properly.

"Look, I just hurt something and will leave the hospital soon." Yuya lied and stood on his feet while ignoring the pain. As he stood up, his vision was blurry and his head was spinning, grabbing the side of the bed on instinct while having a hand on his forehead, alarming everyone.

"Yuya!" Shun exclaimed, knowing what's going on and caught the boy before he fell on the floor.

"You shouldn't even be standing right now! You're going to pull your stitches up." Yuto told his partner worried. "I told you that you've lost a lot of blood back there, you still need to rest."

'I know... Yuto.' Yuya said telepathic as he tried getting rid of the spinning in his head.

"Help me get him back on the bed." Shun asked and Sawatari came in to help. Shun took Yuya up by the torso while Sawatari took his legs as they carefully put him back on his bed, the older boy being careful with Yuya's injures. Yuya groaned at the spinning in his head while Yuto took his other hand and squeezed it gently. "Sorry if I managed to touch your wound."

"No, you didn't." Yuya responded, covering his eyes with his other hand. "I just got really dizzy, that's all." The crimson eyed boy took up his shirt to check if one of the stitches had got up but breathed out in relief when he saw he didn't, revealing the bandages to his friends.

"All those bandages. What happened?" Ruri asked which worried everyone with the same question.

"Well, I-"

"He and his family was attacked by a wild animal in the woods." Shun cut him off which surprised Yuya. "Yuya got a few nasty hits and was hospitalized to make sure they don't get worse." Yuya and Yuto was smiling at the lie even though it was partly true.

"Oh, a family trip gone to waste." Sawatari said sarcastic. "I know to check the news before doing trips like that."

"Sawatari, so you mean that you should check for wild animals on the internet from like, I don't know, ten years!" Yuzu yelled angry at him. "There's was a lot of animals ten years ago and many of them doesn't live in the forest anymore. Besides, that forest is a mystery as a whole."

"That's because you need to have the Sight in order to walk around safely in that forest." Yuto pointed out with experience, knowing only Yuya can hear him.

Suddenly, Sawatari screamed in pain and shaked his hand to try getting rid of the pain. Jumping onto the bed was Odd-Eyes, roaring at Sawatari as Yuto and Yuya looked at the small dragon in Yuya's lap.

"Odd-Eyes, how?" Yuya asked hushed which got the dragon's attention.

"You don't even have your deck here, Yusho took it-" Yuto cut himself off when he realized something as he saw Dark Rebellion, Clear Wing and Starving Venom flying into the room.

"Well, kids. Isn't it a little too cramped in here?" An all too familiar voice said which caught everyone's attention to the doorway and saw Yusho standing there with a plastic bag in hand.

"Principle Sakaki?!" Ruri and Shun exclaimed. Sawatari flinched when he heard the surname while Gongenzaka and Yuzu were nervous of his appearance in the room.

"Oh, the Kurosaki siblings, I never knew you two were friends with Yuya." Yusho pointed out with a smile.

"We met some time ago, Principle." Ruri answered honestly. "It was just recently we saw each other again."

"I see. Good to see some familiar faces here." Yusho said. "How come you two are here?"

"We were visiting Yuto, you know, Asaki." Shun explained.

"Yeah, what happened to him was shocking." Yusho confessed even though he knew Yuto was in the room with them. "I hope he'll recover soon."

"We hope so too." Ruri prayed which made the spirit a bit sad.

"Guys..." Yuto mumbled which Yuya picked up and Dark Rebellion perched on his shoulder to try cheering him up.

'Yuto, you're here and can hear us but can't talk to us back except for Yuya and Milla.' Shun thought, knowing how his best friend act. 'Damn it!'

"So why are you here, Yusho?" Yuzu asked suspicious.

"I thought Yuya might wanna have his things back." Yusho answered and walked over to his son, giving him the plastic bag.

Yuya and Yuto looked into the bag to see most of Yuya's belongings in it as well a change of clothes, what made the Secrecy eyes smile was the fact Yusho had brought his sketchbook and pencils as well the field guide so he could do things while being in the hospital until he could leave.

"You even brought my sketch pad! I left it back at gran gran after what happened." Yuya pointed out as he took it out to look if it was the right one as he knew which drawings there was in the ones he got. "When did you get it?"

"She came over with it this morning as well as other things, I thought you would like to have them back when you're here." Yusho explained and Yuya gasped in relief.

"At least it didn't get ruined after the attack." The crimson eyed boy said which made his friends a bit confused, they were also surprised over that Yuya was sketching from the start.

"He's doing something nice for once. Who would have thought of that?" Yuto pointed out and chuckled at his own comment.

"Can you guys please leave?" Yusho asked the people with them. "I would like to talk to Yuya alone for a bit." Yuzu and Gongenzaka hesitated at first before following the other three outside the room and closed the door to keep the conversation private.

"Were you regretting bringing Shun here, Yuto?" Yuya asked the spirit worried immediately and Yuto shadowed his eyes a bit.

"I don't know. I'm glad Shun knows but everyone else just think I'll stay like that." Yuto explained sadly at the memories of his friends. "I just wanna tell them I'm alright but that's impossible." Yuya wrapped his arms around Yuto's neck gently.

"Stop it, you're not yourself right now." Yuya pointed out which made the gray eyed boy realize that he was making his vessel worried over that he was losing hope of coming back to his body, to his human life. "You will come back. We haven't stopped helping you and won't do it until we find a way."

"Sorry, Yuya." Yuto apologized. Yuya shaked his head slowly in denial.

"There's no need to apologize. You're still having a hard time since what happened a few months ago." The Secrecy eyes said. "I know how hard it is to accept that sort of thing." Yusho looked away in shame as he knew his son was talking about his abuse, the very life Yuya had grown to know and yet he was living like it didn't exist at all.

'I don't know the answer to my own question that I asked Yuto two days ago.' Yusho thought when he saw Yuya comforting Yuto even though he couldn't see him. 'The Yuya I have seen now is kind and bring happiness to the people around him, always wearing a smile. Why did I do such things to an innocent child? Did my distorted desires of losing Yoko take over my mind?'

"Dad, you okay?" Yuya asked a little worried, seeing the unfamiliar expression after letting go of Yuto. The spirit might not like or trust Yusho but the actions he was having right now was worrying.

"After the Hychinder accident, I've been having different thoughts." Yusho explained while looking out the window. "About my past, you and Milla. Even reconsidering Yoko's decision when she took Milla in, telling me how risky it would be and how special she was."

"Wait, your mom knew Maxwell this whole time?!" Yuto exclaimed in shock as his vessel was shocked as well over the new information.

"Do you know his full name?" Yuya asked, wanting to know who he was to try finding information for both him and his sister. "If you know then you need to tell me. Me and Milla has been looking for information about him for a long time now, even a single piece will help."

"I think so, I've only met him once a really long time ago. The time he left Milla to us that day nineteen years ago." Yusho replied, remembering back that day.

_Flashback_

Yusho and Yoko was watching one of Yusho's performances in the living room from earlier that day to try finding out what the dueltainer could improve in the next duel performance he will have later. Yoko was lying on his shoulder while they're sitting on the couch. The moment ended when they heard someone knocking on the door to the big mansion.

"Who would knock at this time of the day?" Yusho questioned as Yoko stood up to open the door.

"Oh, it could just be Shuzo again. No one knows." His wife said as she opened the door. A body in a long black cloak stumbled forward onto their knees with a bundle in their hands, this alarmed the couple and Yusho ran over to them as Yoko got down to face them. "Are you alright?! What happened?!"

"Yoko... I need to ask you a favor." The person said in a male voice and took off his hood to reveal his appearance. He had long brown hair in a low ponytail with a slightly long beard of the same color, yellow-green eyes behind a pair of round frame glasses perched on his nose.

"Adam, you shouldn't be here." Yoko said serious. "You should be in hiding, what if they find you here."

"I know... but this little life is the only thing precious to me..." Adam explained while looking at the bundle in his arms.

"Yoko, who is this man?" Yusho asked and the woman looked up at her husband.

"He's an old acquaintance of the family, though in not so good terms until recently with our generation." Yoko replied. "This is Adam Maxwell. That is my husband, Yusho."

"My apologies for coming here so late but I need to take action about her safety." Adam explained further and gave Yoko the bundle, she took some away to reveal a baby girl underneath the blanket, who was sleeping at the moment.

"Another child but this one is alive and a girl." Yoko said in shock. "How is it possible?"

"Come inside, I'll get you something." Yusho suggested and took one of Adam's arms over his shoulder and carried him over to the couch.

"Thank you, Yusho." Adam thanked him as the dueltainer sat him down in the couch as Yoko came over with the baby girl in her arms.

"Why did you come here with your daughter?" Yoko asked as Yusho came back with a cup of tea which Adam gladly took. "Didn't you say she died by the time she was born?"

"That was her sister, Muzet." Adam explained sadly. "The girl in your arms is the new generation of the Maxwell bloodline. She have shown potential even this early on which usually happen to boys."

"I see, if they find out about it then they are going to be furious." Yoko pointed out as she saw that the little girl opened her eyes, revealing a beautiful red/dark pink color that reminded the woman of rubies despite the pink tint in them. "She's beautiful. Yusho, come and look at her." The husband walked behind her to see the little girl.

"She really is, do you have a name for her yet?" Yusho asked while keeping his eyes on the girl.

"Yes, I do. Her name is Milla." Adam answered.

"Named after the woman that created the Kresnik clan, that's a smart thinking to the first female heir to the Maxwell family." Yoko commented while grinning.

"But sadly, I cannot take care of her when I'm in hiding." The Maxwell said. "She'll need to have experience of the outside world in order to live a normal life, that is why I have come here." The Sakaki couple looked at him confused. "I'm hoping the two of you can give her a normal childhood when I'm not around. It is not safe nor true to a child to live with me in hiding."

"You're asking us to adopt her?" Yusho asked surprised.

"Yoko, think about this." Adam said. "This may bring our bloodlines to peace if a Maxwell child live with someone of your line, that way it'll bring an end to this family feud once and for all."

"What do you think, Yusho?" Yoko asked her husband. "Are you ready to take care of a child?" Yusho just smiled at the determination of his wife.

"Of course, we've been wanting to have one for a while now. Even if that happens then they would have some company already." Yusho answered which made the woman smile at him.

_Flashback Ends_

"I never thought that Milla would be so important." Yusho confessed to the two boys. "I didn't understand a thing of what they talked about that night nor what the clans and families Yoko mentioned were but I understood I shouldn't get involved in all of that until Yoko tells me her secret. All I know of him is that his name is Adam, that's all."

"That's okay. A name is all we need." Yuya said with a smile. "We've been looking for that kind of clue for sometime now."

"Now we at least know his name, that way we can tell Ludger to look it up so we can find Milla's father and get some answers." Yuto pointed out, remembering what Yuya told him after he found out that the Maxwell before Milla had sent the sword. "That is our objective for the moment before continuing with trying to find information of your strange abilities."

"True. Maxwell was sending letters to Milla a lot to help her." Yuya agreed with his partner. "We can just hope the name is enough to locate him."

"Don't get hopes up." Yusho told them serious while turning around to face them. "When he came to the mansion, he told us he was in hiding and even your mother told him it was dangerous for Adam to be with us which is the reason why he gave the responsibility to raise Milla to us. It is going to be really difficult to find him with he's not dead."

"Yeah, we know but we really need to do this." Yuya said with a serious look in his eyes. "No matter if he's dead or alive, all of us want to get answers from him. One way or another."

"That's also Milla's wish, she want to meet her biological father at least once." Yuto pointed out more. "I can understand that."

"I understand, but remember that believing isn't always enough." Yusho said, thinking it was about time for him to get back to the mansion. "It is about time I return to the mansion, I have things to do. I'll be back tomorrow." Yuya nodded while smiling at his dad's change in personality.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow." Yuya said as Yusho nodded before going out of the room, walking by everyone in the corridor with a smile of his own.

Jude was walking by and saw the old dueltainer nodding at him which caused Jude to smile as well, knowing what happened. As he arrived to Yuya's room, he was surprised that many of the people from Yuya's school was there and as well the Kurosaki siblings, who he knew were visiting their friend. Yuya was showing Yuzu the drawings he made but avoided showing her the drawing of Yuto to avoid any more questions. Gongenzaka was talking to Shun and Ruri while Sawatari was just bored while listening on Yuya and Yuzu's conversation. Yuto was by Yuya's side as usual with the dragons flying around them without getting noticed.

"I never thought you would be this good, why didn't you tell me you could draw like this?" Yuzu asked amazed at the many drawings.

"Can you stop?" Yuya said with a smile. "A guy has to have some secrets to themselves, despite being best friends."

"Come on! I usually tell you my secrets and you better do the same!" Yuzu exclaimed irritated.

"That doesn't mean I have to." Yuya replied simply before Yuzu hit him in the head with her fan. The Secrecy eyes blamed his bad luck over all for everything but eventually saw Jude by the doorway, he swore that everyone he knew would come walking into his room. "Jude!"

"Hi, I'm glad you're awake." Jude said grateful with a gentle smile. "I was getting a little worried when my mom told us you would wake some time today."

"Yeah. I have to thank her when she visit me." Yuya said with smile before looking sadly down. Jude, Yuto and Shun knew why, he was thinking about Milla.

"Yuya?" Yuzu asked worried over the change of mood. The other three was confused and worried as well over the rare gloomy face.

"Can I at least see her? I can't just sit here and have everyone tell me about how she's doing." Yuya told the Tales student, leaving out Milla's name to keep suspicion away. "I really need to see that myself." Jude sighed as the normal humans in the room noticed what time it was.

"Yuya, we'll come and visit you tomorrow after school." Gongenzaka said and Yuya smiled.

"Yeah. I'll look forward to it." The Secrecy eyes said as they left, leaving the supernatural knowing boys alone.

"Jude, you know how worried Yuya is about Milla." Yuto pointed out serious. "I'm worried as well. Is there any way for Yuya to get to Milla's room without risking his injuries?"

"Yuya still need to rest in bed. He can't even stand on his feet because of the blood loss and if something happens to the stitches then they are going to have someone observing you outside." Jude explained which made the boys look at each other.

"Can't we use a wheelchair?" Shun suggested out of the blue. "That way Yuya don't have to walk and won't risk to have his stitches pulled up."

"We can try that but we just have to make sure we don't get caught." Jude said smiling before going out to the corridor and came back with a wheelchair, placing it by the hospital bed. "We're going to have to help him off the bed and into the chair."

"Alright." Shun said as they stood on either side as Yuya position himself by the edge with Yuto floating behind him in comfort.

"Ready?" Yuto asked and Yuya nodded but still nervous about standing again after last time. "One... two... three!"

Jude and Shun helped Yuya off the bed and onto his feet. The Secrecy eyes stumbled backwards a bit and panted slightly over the spinning in his head and couldn't really keep his balance if it weren't for the two older boys holding him from falling to the floor. Yuto wanted to help but he knew that people walking by would think Yuya was crazy or find it supernatural and take him elsewhere.

"Just a little further, Yuya." Jude said and Yuya nodded again. The two boys helped the crimson eyed boy to the wheelchair and he carefully sat down in it.

"Oh, my head is spinning like hell." Yuya moaned while holding his head.

"It'll go away soon enough. It's common for people with blood loss with that amount you lost." Jude explained as Shun took the wheelchair out of the room with Jude and Yuto leading them. The medic then stopped and pointed at a room nearby. "Here it is."

The group walked inside to meet the sound of the heart monitor as they see Milla unconscious on the bed in the room. Yuya was looking sadly at the state of his sister as Shun stopped the wheelchair next to the bed, Yuto placed a hand on his shoulder in comfort.

"Milla..." Yuya breathed out sadly.

"They're trying their best to stabilize her until they find what's wrong with her." Jude explained. "I'm taking the time to prepare an antidote against the manticore's poison."

"How long would it take to make it?" Yuto asked, glancing at the ember eyed student.

"I've written down the ingredients and a formula to give the best alchemist I know." Jude replied serious. "We'll make it in time." Jude then turned to Shun. "Shun, can you watch over them while I'm gone?"

"Of course. You better be careful." Shun replied while nodding.

"The same goes to you." Jude said before leaving them in the room and closed the door after him.

"I knew I would find you here." A male voice said and Jude silently cursed as he turned to face a male doctor with light brown hair and eyes complete with square glasses.

"Hi, dad." Jude greeted.

"I've told you that we will take care of this." The man said sternly. "Let real doctors take care of the patients."

"I can't sit and tweedle my thumbs when one of my best friends are fighting for her life." Jude replied serious. "I, at least, doing something about this. We want Milla back as fast as possible." Jude's dad then slapped him across the cheek but the boy was quiet.

"You think things can be treated so easily?" The father asked his son. "Ever since you were a kid, you've always tried to help the people with serious and incurable symptoms which is inexcusable."

'You don't know a thing.' Jude said in his head. 'Milla is really important to all of us. Mostly to me, Yuya and Yuto.'

"Sometimes, things aren't normal. The academy knows how to cure illnesses with things from nature that they teach us." Jude said determined. "That's why I want to look into this myself. You can't stop me from helping my friend."

Jude walked by his father without another word to finish his research for the antidote. His father sighed at his son's behavior and glanced at the door next to him. He looked at it seriously before walking away to continue his work.

Inside, Yuya was still looking at Milla worried with Yuto still by his side as Shun was leaning against the wall on the opposite side from the couple to have better eye on the door.

"I'm still confused about all of this." Yuya told the two. "How could that manticore get through the domain barrier? How did it know where we were?"

"Someone must have followed us to the village or knew the location. We at least know that it was a human that did it." Yuto concluded from the events and the information Yuya and Milla told them.

"Yeah, you told me that someone was after her and mistook me and dad for having blood relation with Maxwell. As well me for having Maxwell potential." Yuya said, getting Shun's attention.

"To me, it sounds like there's a group or organization that want Maxwell gone for good." Shun suggested to the two. "Is there such a thing in Otherworld?" Yuya shook his head as an answer to the human.

"I don't know, this is related to the Maxwell bloodline." The Secrecy eyes replied. "If it did, Milla wouldn't want me involved with it for my own safety."

"That figures. She only want to protect you from possible danger." Shun pointed out as he was the older sibling as well for someone the same age after all.

"Maybe you should check when she's going to die." Yuto suggested. "For just in case."

Yuya hesitated at first before taking Milla's hand and concentrated but nothing appeared in his mind. The Secrecy eyes stared at his hand in shock, whenever he touched someone or something his powers would reveal a vision whenever he took down the wall in his mind to keep it from doing it all the time under his daily life but now it didn't.

"How... why...?" Yuya mumbled in fear which worried the Chenskyra students.

"What's wrong, Yuya?" Shun asked while standing up.

"How didn't... it... work?" Yuya said to himself hushed and terrified.

"Yuya?" Yuto asked his boyfriend before he saw Yuya's terrified expression.

"My powers... they're gone..." The crimson eyed boy spoke up while holding his head. "My powers as a Secrecy eyes are gone!" Yuto and Shun were shocked when they heard that.

Of course, Yuya hasn't used it a lot because it gives him headaches but saying it is completely gone was extremely shocking. All three of them had the some thought, how could someone take the sight of death but leave all of his other special and rare abilities untacked. They had no clue about who would or how they did it, what they did know is that someone or something that want to get to Yuya in more ways than one.

-

With Jude, he was at the hospital laboratory to check on Milla's blood sample if there was any ingredients he was missing for the antidote but his mind was drifting away into thoughts on something else that worried him quite a bit.

_Flashback_

Jude was about to go away to get his things that he forgot in the laboratory after the conversation with Velvet and Sorey as Yuto was going back to Yuya. He didn't get far though.

"Jude." The voice of Velvet said which made the brawler stop to turn around to face the black haired female leader.

"What is it?" Jude asked.

"Milla might not like me telling you this but you need to know." Velvet said as she took a small breath. "Just like there's things after Yuya, there's people who are after Maxwell. An organization, in fact, called 'Exodus', they are normal humans that can summon demons on command that help them kill Maxwell. However, they don't realize the consequences of their actions and put humanity at stake because of this." Jude was shocked at this while Velvet glared at him. "Be careful."

_Flashback Ends_

Jude looked away from the microscope and to the paper with everything sadly, taking in the new information from a while ago before taking it and walking away to get to the academy so he can ask the alchemist of the school. He didn't know that his dad was watching him from the other side of the hallway.

As he arrived at the academy and greeted some of his friends and teammates, Jude walked around the corridors to find the room he guessed his alchemist friend was in and eventually found the school chemistry lab. Walking in, Jude saw a girl with short brown hair and green eyes wearing a lab coat experimenting with different chemicals while writing down her discoveries in notes beside her. She turned around when she heard the door closing and saw Jude standing there.

"Hi, Jude." The girl greeted while placing away her notes on a table nearby. "Long time, no see. I'll make an exception just this once for interrupting me in my research. So what have you been up to?"

"Can we take that conversation later, Rita?" Jude asked. "I need your help with something."

"Okay, with some potion or something?" Rita guessed as the Xillia leader gave her the list for her to inspect with interest.

"Actually, I want help with preparing an antidote for something." Jude explained. "The reason why is pretty complicated."

"I see, it'll take about an hour to make one dose." Rita told him after going through the list and formula on the paper. "I'll make more after that. That way you have more for emergencies just in case."

"Thank you, that would really be useful." Jude thanked her and started to help taking out the ingredients and materials from the different cabinets and closets in the room before Rita started to make the antidote.

"So, have you decided to tell her yet?" She asked which confused the brawler a bit, completely oblivious. "Come on, everyone have noticed that you and Milla like each other more than friends!" Jude blushed at the comment and realization.

"I don't know yet, a lot has been going on lately. Even though it calms down, she won't have time for this because of things she has to take care of."

"You don't know until you've tried."

Jude got deeply into his own thoughts over the statement as he and Milla had worked together for such a long time that know each other's actions too well which is why Jude wanted to help the Lord of Spirits as fast as possible. But with the many statements from their friends have gotten to him now, Milla was really important to him and that's why he has feelings for her.

-

Yuya was back in his room and was drawing a sketch of the woman from his dream as Yuto was going through the field guide, checking if there was pages missing from it as Shun had left them to go home. He was also admiring Yuya's many drawings and sketches on the many pages, Yuto couldn't stop looking at them as they were amazing and beautiful to see. Yuya was really talented with those creative and incredible things which the spirit loved to see, he never grew tired of it and Yuya's duel were just amazing. Yuto finally closed the unfinished field guide and looked at Yuya by his side, still drawing the picture with extreme concentration.

"Yuya, what are you drawing?" Yuto asked but the vessel didn't answer or listen. "Yuya?!"

"Hm? What is it?" Yuya questioned oblivious as if he just heard him and looked up from the drawing.

"How important is that drawing if you start to ignore your surroundings?" Yuto asked and Yuya looked at the drawing of the faceless woman on the paper.

"Sorry, but I can't get this woman out of my head." The crimson eyed boy explained unsure and confused. "I feel like I've known her for a long time but I haven't even met her in my whole life."

"Alright, that's really strange." Yuto pointed out. "Can she be connected to how you lost your ability?" Yuya shaked his head in denial.

"No, it can't." The Secrecy eyes said confident. "It must have happened after that. I just know that as she appeared in my dream before I woke up." He thought back what the woman said back then.

"You will soon awaken to your true power. Fight him in order to save us all."

"Whatever is going on, someone want you for a reason." Yuto told him a little angry at the thought. "Whether it is for your hidden abilities or the dragons, they're not getting away so easily if they try anything else on you. I won't let them hurt you as long as I'm alive." Purple sparks of electricity came out of the lamps on the ceiling which Yuya noticed. "I don't want you to die for multiple reasons. I love you and I can't imagine a life without you now."

"The same goes for me." Yuto turned his head to the crimson eyed boy smiling. "Haven't you noticed how powerful you've become as a spirit? Whenever you're angry, your powers manifest themselves a bit. You got to calm down to not hurt anyone." Yuya then hugged the gray eyed boy in comfort. "Or else, you might even hurt yourself."

"Yeah, sorry. I'm just angry at the people who did this to you, I can't forgive them for doing it. You were in so much pain and would have died if gran gran hadn't gotten us at the edge of the forest, I don't know if I can control myself if that happen again."

"I know, I can't forgive them too for doing this to my family and you but anger and hatred isn't the way. If anger gets control then you'll hurt a lot of people."

"Yuya, I will try my best. I promise." Yuto hugged him back as they had their moment in peace but they were both worried of what's to come now after all this, Yuto was mostly worried about Yuya and how he would handle everything.

-

Jude was still waiting for the antidote outside the lab as he looked at the watch to see the time was running out. He was getting worried he wouldn't make it to Milla in time but that didn't last long before Rita pushed the door open with force and was holding a glass tube with the antidote for a special syringe.

"It's done!" Rita exclaimed proud as Jude took it in his hands.

"Thank you, Rita." Jude thanked before running away to get to the hospital in time. As he got outside by the driveway, Velvet on her bike stopped by him which made the ember eyed boy stop.

"Jump on, I can take you there faster!" Velvet exclaimed and Jude nodded.

He got on the back while holding around Velvet's waist as she pulled the gas and drove away. The Lord of Calamity was maneuvering in high speed while putting in more to go faster and somehow people didn't pay attention. Jude realized that Velvet was warping in between Otherworld and reality to make sure there wasn't anything stopping them as it was still raining a lot. Velvet came to a stop in front of the hospital but as Jude was about run in, he saw something or someone walking into the small forest nearby which caught his attention.

"Jude, we need to get inside!" Velvet said serious as she got off, placing her helmet on it.

"Take this to my mom, tell her that this will help Milla." Jude said, giving the antidote to the black haired woman. "There's something I need to check out."

"Alright, you gotta be careful." Velvet said with a half grin present. "I won't be there to save your ass this time if you get into trouble."

"We're leaders from Tales of Academy. We take our lives at risks to protect people we care about." Jude said with a smile, showing his Lilium orb on his phone as Velvet's earing glow red for a moment before the two both ran into different directions to do what they're supposed to do.

Jude ran through the same forest but slowed down a bit when he sensed a presence in the darkness and turning around to know where it came. He couldn't hear the russells of the bushes since the rain was distracting him but managed dodge an attack from the manticore, who was about strike the brawler from above but Jude managed to jump away. Jude was shocked to see the demon monster after what happened until he saw a person coming to them which revealed to be Jude's father.

"I never realized that you would be involved in Otherworld, Jude." He said as he arrived with an umbrella to protect himself from the rain. "How long have you known about that cursed world?"

"For a few months now together with a few new friends of mine." Jude replied serious. "I'm more used to it than people would realize."

"And yet, you are accompanying Maxwell of all people." The father said in disgust. "Do you even realize how dangerous she is?"

"She's only dangerous when you threaten her friends and family." Jude said which surprised his father. "She was adopted by the Sakaki family as an infant. Yusho and Yuya don't have a connection to the Maxwell bloodline and never been part of it! You were attacking innocent people just so that Exodus could kill Milla, you don't know how important she is!"

"How do you know she isn't lying to you?" His father questioned and Jude shadowed his eyes. "Take him out." The manticore roared before bring up a claw to strike the boy, who pulled back his right hand and pushed the monster in the torso, sending it away. One of the gauntlets appeared around his hand.

"Materialize!" Jude exclaimed as a green wind appeared around his body, changing his clothes into the Otherworld clothing.

The Xillia leader started to punch and kick the manticore as well somehow using elemental abilities combined with his martial arts which surprised his father. Dr. Mathis was shocked to see those abilities and even managed a great deal of damage to his demon, he had never seen his son so determined. Jude was about to get the stinger onto his body but the brawler used his wind power to avoid it and then grabbed it, landing onto the ground and used it to fling the manticore to crash into a tree nearby.

Inside the hospital, Velvet was running around looking for Ellen. Many of the people inside was looking weird at the Lord of Calamity why she was running until she was Ellen just walking out of a patient room.

"Mrs. Mathis!" Velvet called out which made Ellen stop.

"Oh, Miss Crowe. It's been a while." Ellen greeted.

"Jude want me to give this to you, it'll help Milla." Velvet explained as she showed the antidote.

"Then we better hurry." Ellen said, knowing exactly what the young woman meant and the two hurried over to Milla's room.

Outside, Jude was still fighting a badly injured manticore. The green aura appeared on his body and he started to punch and kick in amazing speed with mana powered fists.

"Final Fury!" Jude shouted as he made a powerful punch which knocked down the manticore completely and it disappeared in black smoke, he was panting slightly until he started to walk over to his dad before standing in front of him. "This power was given to me by Milla to protect the people I care about and help her brother in her place when she's not around." Jude's clothes changed back to normal as he walked back to the hospital.

When arrived inside and on his way to Milla, he saw Ellen with Yuya in a wheelchair once again and Yuto walking by their side. The three noticed how drenched Jude was from being in the rain too long.

"Jude, how come you're so wet?" Ellen asked alarmed.

"Thought I saw something outside and followed it, looks like I stayed in the rain too long." Jude lied to keep what happened a secret.

"At least you should be careful to not get a cold, so change clothes later." Ellen replied as they walked inside.

Inside, Velvet was standing with her arms crossed and hiding Milla from view until she stepped back. There was Milla, awake and sitting up right as she smiled at everyone that came in. Ellen placed Yuya by her bed before walking out, the Secrecy eyes was overwhelmed and the older sister hugged both him and Yuto. Jude and Velvet was smiling at the reunion, even the mysterious woman was watching from the window before flying away and into a portal.

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