12 The Dancing Sword

Two days have past by and Milla was changing clothes into fresh ones from a bag that Yusho had brought to her earlier that morning. She was finally allowed to leave after having most of the previous night getting tests to confirm she was fine to leave. Yuya was going to leave as well as Jude healed the pain and fracture in his ribcage but left the wound to heal on its own as it would cause a lot more pain for Yuya if Jude did that and to leave people from being suspicious of the fast recovery. The Lord of Spirits was really grateful with her partner's kindness to help people but Milla decided on something under her trail of thoughts. Since her partner know the truth about Yoko's death after Yuya's birth, Milla wanted to tell Jude about what happened during their childhood and the many mysteries about Yuya she had noticed while help raising him. Milla had just put on her shoes when Jude walked in.

'Speak of the person themself and they arrive.' Milla thought amused with a smile.

"Hi, Milla." Jude greeted with a smile of his own. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling fine, all thanks to you and the others for your hard work." Milla replied thankful. "Mostly you for the matter, after all you made the antidote."

"It wasn't that big of a deal really, I just did what I'm good at." Jude said embarrassed and Milla giggled silently at the answer of her partner.

"Of course, it's both your strength and weakness but I won't say it's a disability." Milla explained. "That's what I like about you and admire."

"So should we meet up with your family?" Jude asked while Milla stood up from sitting on her bed.

"Actually, I would like to talk with you in private." Milla explained further, confusing her friend. "There's something I like to discuss and I've already told father about it."

"Ok, then let's go somewhere peaceful and quiet." Jude suggested as Milla grabbed her bag before they walked out of the room.

-

Yuya was waiting outside with Yuto in front of the entrance of the hospital, the human having his things in the bag. Yusho was going to pick them up but they hadn't seen Milla or Jude since yesterday when they were having the conversation of what happened until now. Milla, Velvet and Jude were shocked was an understatement when Yuya told them about his ability to see when people die was entirely gone somehow. They were worried that it would cause side effects to him so the three leaders decided that Yuto should keep a close eye on the Secrecy eyes, just in case if it has side effects.

"Are you alright with being alone with your dad now?" Yuto asked Yuya with Odd-Eyes perched on his shoulder while Dark Rebellion was by the spirit's side.

"I'm not alone, I have you and these guys by my side." Yuya said with a smile and pet Odd-Eyes on the head, who roared in delight. "I'm never alone with you guys around and that's a fact!" Yuto grinned at the statement.

"True, very true, my vessel." Yuto agreed, making Yuya chuckle at the little joke.

"I don't think we have to worry about dad right now." Yuya pointed out serious. "We have to just be on guard of the people after us."

"True, Yusho can't really hurt you now that he knows about Otherworld." Yuto remembered. "He's a normal human unlike you and Milla." The Secrecy eyes nodded in agreement.

A car then parked in front of them and out came Yusho from the driver's seat. The principal was slowly adjusting to his new life with Yuya and the supernatural ever since he had the courage to give his son the letter.

"Hi, Yuya." Yusho greeted the boys. "Ready to go home to the mansion?"

"Yeah, but what about Milla?" Yuya asked. "We've haven't seen her the whole morning."

"That is because she wants to talk to Jude about something just between them." Yusho explained. "It seems really important."

"Looks like Milla isn't done with telling about Otherworld to him maybe." Yuto said as they got into the car as Yusho took the bag into the trunk as Yuya got in the backseat, groaning a bit at the pain in his side when he put on the safety belt as it was squeezing his side a bit as Yuto took his seat beside him. Yusho got in and saw Yuya looking out the window from the mirror before driving away forwards the mansion.

-

Milla and Jude were sitting on a bench in front of the ocean and breezes came to them as there was a very few walking by. The Xillia leaders had just arrived and Jude was waiting for his close friend to start with what she wanted to talk about as they had Milla's bag in between them.

"What is it you wanted to tell me?" Jude asked as the Lord of Spirits collected herself.

"You know that names have different meanings depending on what language it is." Milla started, "In the ancient language that I've been taught to read and write, they have much more meaning to everything. 'Velvet' means 'emotion & compassion'. 'Sorey' is 'pure leader'. My name means 'mysterious maiden' and yours 'blessed wind'." Milla then stood up walked away a bit. "Yuya, however, means 'forgotten myth'." Jude is shocked at the meaning of the young boy's name. "Mother told me his name when me and father visited her in her hospital room a few hours after Yuya was born when I was just five years old."

- 14 years ago -

Milla was playing in the garden as Yoko was on the couch, watching over the girl as she played with her spirits. Yoko put a hand on her pregnant stomach and smiled at the little life inside her right now.

"Milla, can you come here?" Yoko called out and the little girl hurried over to her mother.

"What is it, mother?" Milla asked a little worried. "Are you not feeling well?" Yoko shook her head.

"I'm fine, here." Yoko replied and took Milla's hand on her tommy. "Do you feel them kicking?" Milla nodded with a big smile as she felt the small kicks.

"Do you know what gender they are?" Milla asked.

"I thought you were too young to know that stuff." Yoko pointed out a little shocked. "Usually, kids your age would ask what's in my stomach." Milla giggled and swinged her legs.

"The Four told me you were pregnant with a baby." The ruby eyed girl explained and Yoko laughed.

"I don't know what gender your sibling is going to be as I want it to be a surprise." Yoko explained with a smile. "Because it'll be almost time for him or her to be born. It isn't long until you meet them." Milla smiled bright at the statement as she would meet her new sibling which will keep her company in the big building.

A day later, Milla was in the living room, worried over what had happened under the night. She had woken up by the front door being opened and Yoko groaning in pain as Yusho hurried around the ground floor. So the little girl was waiting for answers of what happened as the Four Great Spirits was accompany her.

"Don't worry, Lord Milla." Undine comfort Milla on the couch. "Yoko and the baby will be okay."

"Looks like it was much sooner than expected." Efreet pointed out.

"I'm not worried, it is that I have this really strange feeling that something bad is about to happen." Milla explained to her spirits. "Maybe it's only my imagination." Just then the door opened as Yusho came in with a big tired smile, it seemed like he hadn't slept much. "Father!" Milla ran over to Yusho and he picked her up in his arms.

"Let's go. I got here to get you so you could meet your baby brother." Yusho explained as he walked out and the Four got back inside Milla.

They got into the car and drove away forwards the hospital. Milla was a little excited as they arrived at the parking lot, Yusho led Milla through the hallways to Yoko's room. Milla had gotten a teddy bear that looked like a wizard for her new brother. They walked into the room to see Yoko in bed with a baby in her arms and Milla hurried over to climb up to sit beside her mother.

"Hey, your sister and daddy are here." Yoko said to the baby, who had tuffs of crimson hair on his small head as he opened his small eyes to reveal the same red colored eyes.

"He has crimson eyes. He got crimson eyes!" Milla pointed out in surprise and happily.

"He sure has." Yoko agreed as the baby boy smiled at Milla. "His name is Yuya."

"Hi, Yuya." Milla greeted the little boy as Yuya took a hold of her finger. The Four Great Spirits appeared and stared at the baby amazed and surprisingly, Yuya cooed while looking up at the spirits with a smile.

"Incredible, he has the Sight already." Sylph pointed out.

"That's strange, considering that he's still an infant." Undine said a little shocked at the child's reaction. "On the other hand, Milla was like that as well."

"Milla, show them what you bought for Yuya." Yusho said to their daughter, who nodded and showed the teddy bear to her mother.

"Oh~, you didn't have to." Yoko said happy as she gave Yuya to Yusho.

"She made me buy it for him on the way here, she's gotten that stubbornness from you." Yusho explained as he placed Yuya in his temporary crib as Milla placed the bear next to him. "He's going to have a great sister, Milla. Because you'll be there for him." Milla nodded determined. "We'll let you sleep for now while we get you food."

"Thank you." Yoko said as she smiled tired as they walked out of the room to get the food.

- Present -

"...When we came back to the room, we heard Yuya cry and saw mother motionless on her bed and didn't even breathe." Milla continued with her back still at Jude, who was feeling really sorry for his friend over experiencing something like that in an early age. "Doctors and nurses ran in to try get some life in her, using CPR to get her heart to work but to no avail. They later on announced that she was dead, they said her body gave up by giving birth as it was too weak keep on." Milla crossed her arms under her chest as she felt the sadness of when she was a child. "I got the Four to investigate and they found some dark mana inside her."

"Dark mana. Of course, it's energy is different from normal ones." Jude pointed out, standing up. "The power our enemies have had."

"Yes, Velvet can absorb that energy and use it but she's one of few who can without being corrupted of its effects. However, when someone forces dark mana into someone else, the side effects can be different depending what kind of species you are. To magicians, side effects have varieties of effects. Luckily, their souls doesn't immediately leave until they feel like their main goal is complete." Milla turned around, showing tears in her eyes and they seemed to glow slightly by her hair covering her face from the sun. "Mother's goal was to raise us into trustworthy people for the events that would come. She taught me the ancient language while teaching Yuya everything about magic, history and creatures. They were the reason Yuya loved legends and myths from all around the world."

"Not only from her but from his sister." Jude pointed out with a smile. "Being a famous legend herself." Milla was a little surprised before smiling at her partner. "You're a great sister, don't let anyone say you aren't. You've been with Yuya in the moments he needed you the most."

"Thank you, Jude. I apologize for seeing me in this state." Milla apologized as she dried away her tears. "Mother's anniversary was on that day of the attack, her funeral was the day before that. It all came to my mind under my stay at the hospital, guess a lot has been going on lately."

"You don't need to apologize. We're partners and friends, I'll always stay by your side." Milla smiled grateful at the young brawler as the two stayed like that for some time.

-

The rest of the family had just arrived at the mansion, it had been quiet between Yusho and Yuya as the Secrecy eyes had been talking to Yuto telepathically under the whole trip to keep their conversation private. Yusho didn't know what to say since he was with his son now that they're somewhat alone. He still have a lot to learn about how to be a father again since Milla was child, it'll take its time but Yusho really wanted to bond with his son. The three got out of the car and Yusho opened the trunk to get Yuya's belongings as Yuya put on his hood.

"Let's get you inside to rest." Yusho said to break the silence between them.

"I don't think I really need more rest." Yuya pointed out a little irritated.

"You're not allowed to do any physical things until that is healed properly." Yusho replied seriously as he unlocked the door. "That's an order from your doctor and your sister."

"Yeah, yeah. I know." Yuya said back. Yuto looked at his headmaster strangely over the change of attitude, it reminded him of his mom whenever he was sick.

"He's really different. It has just been weeks since what happened at Hychinder and he's acting like somebody else." Yuto said to Yuya. "He's like the headmaster I know since I started in Chenskyra."

"Ok, I get it." Yuya agreed with a small smile. Yusho opened the door and out came a familiar corgi running forwards Yuya happily as the boy got down carefully. "En! Hi, boy!" En licked his owner's face and Yuya laughed as Yuto got down to greet the dog.

"Claraviel came over with them, she thought it'll serve as good company for you and Milla." Yusho explained as Core came to the door as well but didn't walk out except meowing. "I have to go buy some things for tonight. I can get you to the place you were supposed to go a few days ago."

"You mean it but don't you hate going there?" Yuya asked slightly confused.

"I'm not ready yet but I can drive you there so you don't have to walk there when you just came out of the hospital." Yusho continued and Yuya smiled happy.

"Thank you, dad." Yuya said and Yuto smiled as he saw the smile but he was still confused of all of the kindness Yusho had at the moment.

'This is really out of the ordinary. Could the true self that he suppressed all this time be back from deep inside him?' Yuto thought as he stared at Yusho. 'Can this be the real Sakaki Yusho?'

After leaving Yuya's things in his room, they once again got into the car. Yuto was wondering where they were going as the spirit noticed the small sadness and loneliness in his vessel's eyes. Wherever they are going, it must be something very important to the two of them. They stopped at a flower store where Yusho got a bouquet which he gave to Yuya as they continued down the road.

-

In the police station, Ludger was doing some old paperwork in a box in his office until he saw a report that bore the name 'V.Crowe'. Ludger looked at it sadly as he opened the file to see the many photos and documents which was all related to a mass murder at a ruin, being reminded of the scene and the only survivor of the massacre.

"If I hadn't met Milla that time, then we wouldn't have saved her from that hell." Ludger said to himself, thinking about how he first met the siblings the first time.

- 4 years ago -

Ludger and Julius was walking down the streets, holding a coffee mug each under the fall weather. They had just taken lunch at a local cafe and were walking back to the station in the chilly but nice weather, it was closer and they didn't have a car at the moment.

"You've done good for just working as a detective for just a year." Julius pointed out suddenly. "I never thought you would be able to solve those cases at all."

"However, there's two cases that I'm still stuck on." Ludger explained as they threw their empty mugs in a nearby trash can. "I know that the 'Alice Killings' are closed down now until next time it happens. Then we have the sacrificial suicides at the ruins by Aball that still hasn't been solved. I think they both are connected to Otherworld in some ways." Ludger then suddenly sensed something and stopped while looking at an alley next to him that had a couple of boxes deeper inside which brought his brother's attention.

"What's wrong, Ludger?" Julius asked and the younger Kresnik looked at him.

"I can sense something in this alley." Ludger explained as he walked inside with caution as Julius was right behind him.

After a little while, the Kresnik brothers heard sharp breathing behind a couple of boxes. What they saw was young boy, possibly ten years old, with dual-colored emerald and crimson hair with an exception to a green upwards pointing spike. Ludger quickly got down and took the boy in his arms which allowed them to see more of his appearance. The boy was wearing a black hoodie with red hood and short sleeves that had pockets on each sleeve and a yellow circle on the upper left side, green shorts with deck pockets and black/red shoes. A buckled black choker, a pair of crimson wristbands, a pair of goggles on top of his head with orange lenses and the right lens having a big blue star as well a beautiful crystal pendant around his neck. Next to the boy was a school bag with some of its content spilled out. They couldn't see his eyes as they were shut tightly.

"He's really cold! Call an ambulance!" Ludger exclaimed and Julius made the call as the younger brother took off his jacket to place on the boy to try warming him up.

After a while, Ludger and Julius waited in the entrance as a child doctor took a look on the boy. The child doctor knew who the boy was and had called his older sister to come get him when they had warmed him up. Ludger was holding the boy's bag as they waited for the boy's sister to come and running inside in the front entrance came Milla.

"Wait, is that..." Ludger said which brought Julius's attention.

"Someone you know?" Julius asked as they watched Milla talking to the receptionist.

"She is one of the leaders that took over my old team after I graduated, Sakaki Milla." Ludger explained. "Or Milla Maxwell."

"I see, she took on a different name to hide her identity in the Human Realm." Julius concluded impressed. "That's expected by the Lord of Spirits."

"... Thank you." Milla thanked the receptionist as she was about take a seat until she saw the detectives. "Ludger! What are you doing here?"

"Well, it's a long story." Ludger replied as Milla saw the bag in his hand.

"Ah, so you're the ones that found Yuya in the alley." Milla said with a smile. "I'm grateful for what you've done."

"So you know the boy?" Julius asked as he held out his hand. "Oh, my apologies. I'm Julius Will Kresnik, Ludger's half-brother."

"Sakaki Milla, one of the new leaders of Xillia." Milla introduced herself and shakes his hand. "Yuya is my younger brother, detective."

Behind the brothers, the boy was walking together with a doctor down the hall with his goggles over his eyes until he saw Milla and ran over to the girl, who noticed the boy too. The boy hugged Milla as she smiled at the little boy.

"I'm so glad you're okay, Yuya." Milla said to the boy.

"Looks like Ankokuji and his lackeys bullied him again for believing in myths and ghosts." The doctor explained to the sister. "He told me everything that happened. I swear that boy is nothing but trouble and I'm glad he was banned from Gongenzaka Dojo."

"Thank you for everything, Dr. Dubrow." Milla thanked the doctor, who smiled as she placed her hands in the pockets of her coat.

"He has a couple of bruises and marks but nothing too serious, just keep him warm for a couple of days so he doesn't catch a cold." Dr. Dubrow told the sister. "Otherwise, he's just fine. Like always, call me whenever you need anything." Milla nodded and the doctor walked away.

"Thank you!" The boy said and the doctor waved.

"Why are you wearing your goggles, Yuya? Have you been crying?" Milla teased the boy as she got down to look at him in the eyes.

"No, I haven't." Yuya said in annoyance as Milla giggled.

"Let's take those off. You need to thank these two for helping you." The Lord of Spirits said as she placed the goggles on his head instead before standing up. "Ludger, this is Yuya. Yuya, this man is an old friend of mine from the academy." Yuya turned around and that's was when the two demons saw that the boy had crimson red eyes.

"Thank you for helping me!" Yuya thanked them with a smile as the two detective were surprised of the eye color.

"Is he what I think he is?" Julius asked and Milla nodded.

"We can talk more outside, where not many people are." Milla explained serious. Yuya looked up to her in confusion.

The group walked out of the hospital and walked over to a small playground that didn't have a lot of people in and Yuya was sitting on a swing while rocking back and forth as Milla was sitting on the railing next to the swings with Yuya's school bag. Ludger and Julius was in front of her, looking at the small boy behind Milla.

"To answer your question, Julius." Milla pointed out. "Yes, Yuya is a Secrecy eyes. Possibly the last of his kind in this country."

"He's remarkable, to be this calm when knowing about their horrible ability." Ludger said impressed. "It must be hard to bear for being so young if the rumors are true about his ability."

"Yes, it is." Milla answered before glancing back at her brother, who smiled big. "However, Yuya is getting a lot of help to make sure he can control it properly without causing panic."

"What kind of things are the two of you?" Yuya asked as he started to swing back and forth. "You aren't entirely human yet you leave in the Human realm like us."

"You're really good in sensing our presence." Julius pointed out impressed and Yuya laughed. "Well, we come from an ancient clan that was given the power to control time in a way. However, that power makes us human-demon hybrids and the only way to control our powers is through our pocket watches." Julius took out a platinum watch from his pocket to show Yuya, who jumped off the swing easily and walked over to them to be amazed at the watch. "The Kresniks have always been known to have this power but we are the only two left from our clan."

"That's so cool!" Yuya said amazed. Ludger chuckled at the reaction of the young boy to think of their power as a gift.

"You've always find new things about Otherworld interesting." Milla pointed out, ruffling Yuya's hair with her hand.

"I'm going to learn everything I can!" Yuya told them happily. The adults smiled at Yuya, feeling the happy energy from the energetic boy and his lively fantasy.

- Present -

'It was all thanks to what happened to Yuya that we actually started doing requests together.' Ludger thought with a sad smile and put the folder into one of the drawers in his desk, locking it with magic before walking out of the office.

-

Yuya and Yuto was walking together as the Secrecy eyes was holding the bouquet of flowers in his arms. Yuto was looking around the graveyard they were in right now to see no people nor spirits around which he soon figured out it was still early morning and the church was a holy place so the supernatural of Otherworld wouldn't be able to get through without a human body or vessel. The spirit then looked at Yuya worried as he had been quiet the whole ride there, Yusho was going on an errand to a friend of his but will wait for them outside the church. They finally stopped at a grave and Yuya got down to place the flowers on it before Yuto realized it.

"Yuya, is this..." Yuto said as he cut himself off and Yuya slowly nodded as Odd-Eyes appeared on his shoulder.

"Yeah, this is my mom's grave." Yuya answered sadly as he opened the small lantern where a candle is. "Odd-Eyes, can you light it for me?" The dragon responded by going down on the ground and breathed out some fire at the candle before Yuya closed it again.

"Why did you bring me here?" Yuto asked as the crimson eyed boy stood up with his dragon on his shoulder.

"I wanted her to meet you." Yuya answered and the spirit took his hand in his own. "The person I love the most-" Yuya started to tear up while talking, "who saved my life a few times now." Yuto started to hug his boyfriend to comfort him a bit.

"I think she would be proud of you for everything that happened and your bravery." Yuto comforted him. "And what you did was stupid." Yuya broke away laughing as he dried his tears, looking back at the grave of his mother. "Yuya?" The Secrecy eyes took a deep breath to calm down his nerves a bit.

"Come little children, I'll take thee away, into a land of Enchantment~" Yuya singed, surprising Yuto a bit. "Come Little Children. The time's come to play, here in my garden of shadows~"

"Well, that song really gives you nostalgia in a few ways." A young female voice said and the two boys turned to the side on guard.

A few meters away stood a girl in front of a grave with a dark blue fancy umbrella over her head. The girl has indigo hair tied into a ponytail with a large yellow ribbon, and green eyes. Her hair features two light blue bangs that fall to either side of her face. The girl was wearing a dark blue and black gothic lolita dress that featured light blue stars and a moon on the skirt and purple ribbon tied around her neck. A black stockings and brown boots on her feet, on her right wrist was a white crystal bracelet with a crescent shaped charm hanging on a silver chain.

"Reminds me of a different reality." The girl said as the boys got serious, this girl knew of Otherworld.

"What do you want from us?" Yuto growled at the girl.

"I can't really do anything while we're in this holy place, that would be disrespectful." The girl explained, glancing at Yuya. "I was just interested on a rumor an accomplice told me a few days ago, it looks like I was up for a dissapointment."

"That would be what rumor?" Yuya asked as the girl turned her back to them.

"I would be careful around that Secrecy eyes if I were you." The strange girl replied as she started to walk away. "You never know what will happen when their powers get out of control."

The boys stared at her terrified of what she had said to Yuya. The crimson eyed boy was a little nervous since he remembered what the black haired woman had said in his dream, it scared him a bit. Deep inside, he was terrified of what his powers could do if he couldn't control them and hurt his friends and family. Yuya and Yuto decided to go to the entrance, where Yusho was waiting in the car and after the boys got into the car, they drove back to the mansion to relax the next two days before Yuya had to go back to school.

When they got home and ate dinner, Yuya decided to go to bed as Yuto was checking the library. He was about to hang his coat on his desk chair when his eyes wandered to the worn out wizard bear on his bed frame shelf by his head. The crimson eyed boy threw his coat on the bed instead while Odd-Eyes jumped onto the bed as well and took the teddy bear in his hands to look at it before laying down on his back while holding it in the air. Yuya didn't know why but under his childhood, he felt that the stuffed animal was important in many ways than one and always had it around to comfort him. Yuya couldn't remember where or when he got it really.

"Where did you come from?" Yuya asked the stuffed toy despite knowing it couldn't talk. Odd-Eyes looked at his master beside him and was wondering what he was doing exactly. However, Yuya didn't pay attention to his dragon friend as he was trying to remember where the bear came from.

"I see you still have that teddy bear." The voice of Yusho pointed out. Yuya sat back up to see the former scientist in the doorway of his room. "It looks really worn out now."

"You know what this is?" Yuya asked a bit confused.

"Yeah, I do." Yusho answered. "Milla gave that to you when you were just an infant." Yuya widen his eyes in surprise before looking at the wizard teddy bear. "She really wanted to give you something to have with you at times."

"I've always been wondering where I got this from since I couldn't remember." Yuya explained with a gentle smile. "When I was little, I would always call it Merlin, since he was an ancient wizard after all. Milla would try not to laugh every time she heard me say it, probably thinking it was hilarious."

"Of course, Milla has always been a woman of pride and have a strange sense of humor." Yusho pointed out and the two laughed at the statement.

"Thanks for telling me, dad." Yuya said as Yuto arrived in the hallway before noticing what was going on when he saw Yusho by the door and got a little worried, he walked through the wall to see the small smile on Yuya's face. "Things can have a bigger meaning than what they seem."

"Yuya..." Yuto mumbled, remembering the crimson eyed boy crying at his mother's grave in the graveyard.

"Everything you keep close has a meaning to your heart, reminding you of what you've seen and experienced, what you've lost and what you've gained." Yusho said and walked over to his son, taking off the pendant from his neck and let it swing side to side in the air. "It's almost like a pendulum. If you swing forward, you'll always swing back. A pendulum are also tools used to find things. If you ever lose your way, this pendulum will help point you into the direction you must go."

This triggered a memory in Yuya's mind of his eighth birthday when he first got the crystal pendant by Yoko, he had just opened the box where the pendant was in. Yoko helped him put it on when she said, "Don't ever lose this pendant, Yuya. It might show you the path where you belong when you lose yourself. If you ever find a pendant like this, then give it to someone you cherish with your whole heart, can you promise me that?"

"Yeah, I promise."

Yusho placed the pendant in Yuya's hand before walking away to let the boy alone to rest. Yuto came up to him and the two shared a kiss as they prepared to get some sleep together as their dragon and animal friends came to join them as they slept together peacefully.

-

Two days later, Yuya was walking to school with Yuto and the dragons. However, the morning had been oddly strange as Milla hadn't woken Yuya up before the alarm got on and wasn't at breakfast either. The boys presumed that the Lord of Spirits came home late yesterday or was at the academy. Now that they were thinking about it, they haven't seen Milla since their visits in her room at the hospital. Something was definitely wrong with all of that but now they were going to school.

Yuya had to pack some pills in his bag just in case the pain from his wound started to come under the day since he has yet to get rid of the stitches. The crimson eyed boy carefully sat down at his desk by the window in the back and breathed out in relief as people hasn't questioned why he wasn't present in class the last few days.

"I see you have recovered." Yuya looked up to see Yuri coming to them.

"You heard it from Yuzu and the others, right?" Yuto asked and Yuri shake his head as an answer.

"No, I smelled the scent of his blood being spilled and asked Yuzu to confirm it." The vampire explained crossing his arms.

"Oh yeah, I forgot you had some of my blood in your system." Yuya realized while placing a hand on his forehead and Yuto frowned. Yuzu came to the boys with a smile when she saw her old friend.

"I'm glad you can finally go to school again, Yuya!" Yuzu said happily. "How's your injuries now?"

"My wound is deep, so it'll take a few weeks for it to heal properly." The Secrecy eyes explained in small relief. "My doctor said I shouldn't do anything that use the body too much."

"I see. That means you can't be with us in training until it's healed." Yuzu concluded a little disappointed. "That also means no dueling for a while."

"Tell me about it." Yuya groaned as he laid his head on his desk.

"Well, enough about what happened." Yuzu said before starting another topic. "I got a text from Rin yesterday, Yugo almost won the tournament, again."

"Really? He's got to stop underestimating his opponents whenever he's Dueling like that." Yuya moaned. "And he says I have to try harder."

"Yugo? As in Fusion?" Yuri asked, somewhat interested in this new person.

"No, he isn't a Fusion summoner like you and Sora." Yuya explained to the vampire as he looked up. "He's a Synchro duelist and has a duel runner as well. Many misunderstand his duel technique because of his name."

"Yugo and another friend of ours named Rin is studying in another town, it isn't often they can come to visit because of their tight schedule and tournaments." Yuzu continued with a smile. "We knew each other from elementary and half of junior high before they got into that academy for duel riders."

"He's a good duelist but he tends to underestimate his opponents." Yuya finished. "Yugo has always been hard headed, but he is a really nice person to be around."

"I see." Yuri said, being really interested in this Yugo guy.

"Ok, class." The teacher said as everyone sat by their respective seats. "Today we get another transfer student joining us. You can come in now."

The person walking into the classroom and shocked not only the supernatural couple but Yuri as well. It was the girl from the cemetery! But she was wearing different clothing than last time. Now she was a simple red jacket, a broad grey skirt, a black vest that is half unzipped over a white shirt and large black and red boots while still having her bracelet on her right wrist.

"My name Tsukino Serena, it's nice to meet you." The girl introduced herself the class with a smirk forwards the supernaturals in the room, who's staring at her serious.

After class when it was lunch break, Yuri hurried up on the roof to look for Serena, who had disappeared when it ended. Yuya and Yuto followed the vampire prince ever since the change of personality, they figured out the vampire had met Serena before or he wouldn't have been so angry ever since she introduced herself in class.

"Serena!" Yuri called out while looking around. "Show yourself, traitor!"

"Traitor?" Yuto repeated confused.

"Up here." Serena replied and the boys looked up at the roof of the doorway to the roof to see a midnight blue cat with bright green eyes sitting there with a smile.

"I see you've unlocked your true potential now, an expert animalshifter." Yuri growled as a reply before the cat jumped into the air, morphing into Serena before landing on her feet like a cat.

"I see that you're still bad with greeting old friends, your highness." Serena greeted while mockingly bowing to the prince of vampires. "Did you do something to get yourself banished from your kingdom?"

"I will not speak with a traitor like you about such matter." Yuri snapped while crossing his arms.

"Suit yourself." Serena said before looking at the couple behind Yuri and Yuto quickly stood protectively in front of Yuya. "I wouldn't have imagined the Secrecy eyes working with the vampire prince outside the big academy of special humans."

"We aren't working together, we're just allies when it's needed. You met us at the graveyard." Yuya replied serious. "I'm the balance of death after all, most people doesn't really want to be close to me." Serena started laugh like what Yuya said was a really good joke.

"Shut it with that balance business." Serena snapped. "That isn't even real. Even though it was true, that wouldn't change the fact that the Empyreans use that as an excuse to get the powerful supernaturals in one place."

"My sister wouldn't lie to me!" Yuya exclaimed.

"Then ask her yourself." Serena told him, which shocked the crimson eyed boy. "The Empyreans use that balance excuse to take the supernaturals of the Human Realm in their protection. Ask that sister of yours the truth about the Empyreans and their goal." The blue haired girl then walked away from the boys while Yuya was trembling over what Serena had said about Milla being a liar.

"Don't listen to her, she's a really good liar and you can tell that." Yuri pointed out before walking to the railing.

"Yuya, go back to your friends. You're safer there as there's people you know than here where we can easily get attacked." Yuto suggested to his boyfriend, who nodded before going back inside. "What's your connection with Serena and what did she mean that your banished from your country?"

"She and I were old friends back in Otherworld when we were younger." Yuri explained to Yuto, shocking him when answering to easily and quickly. "But one day, she abandoned her family to follow someone of great power to teach her how to use her powers. We've called her a traitor ever since. She was the last person I wanted to meet when I got to the Human Realm, my mother and father wanted me to marry another wealthy vampire girl and I disagreed on that. It was they who came up with the idea of try finding a mate here."

"I see, if that's the case then I would like to propose an alliance." Yuto suggested which made the vampire prince turn around in surprise. "Yuya have lost his death sight ability but all of his other abilities are still intact. I want you to help me find the people responsible. If we work this out, we might be a step further than Serena and her master and we can protect Yuya from them. What do you say?" Yuri was quiet for some time as he thought about it before grinning as Yuto held out his hand.

"If it helps me bring Serena to her knees, I'm in!" Yuri replied as he took the spirit's hand and they shook before letting go. "But this has to be a secret from everyone, even Yuya and Maxwell."

"Of course, I want Yuya to know but it would be risky considering that he's in danger." Yuto replied serious. "I don't want to risk it." Yuri nodded before they started to go back to the classroom.

At the same time, Serena was walking down the hall before going to the restroom. What she didn't notice was that Yuzu had been talking to some of their classmates when noticing the new student going inside the female restroom and locked the door. Serena took out a small bag to reveal that it's sand inside and threw some onto the mirror. The mirror started to swirl and a dark silhouette of a person appeared on the looking glass.

"Master, I know the location of Sakaki Yuya." Serena said to the person on the other side.

"Good work, Serena." A dark male voice said from the other side. "I knew I could count on you to fulfill the mission until his awakening."

"However, I've run into some problems." Serena told her master. "The spirit is with him all the time and the vampire prince is in the same class as well. Getting close to the Secrecy eyes will prove rather difficult."

Unknowing to her, Yuzu heard those last words and started to wonder what a 'Secrecy eyes' was. The person she knew that could have an answer to her question was Yuya, so she left Serena to herself as the pink haired girl walked back to her classroom. Yuzu saw the crimson eyed boy sitting by his desk drawing in his sketchbook as they waited for the lesson to start.

"Hey, Yuya." Yuzu said as Yuya looked up from his drawing.

"What is it, Yuzu?" He replied, slightly confused.

"What's a Secrecy eyes?" Yuzu asked and Yuya had to quickly hide his shock.

'How do she know about the Secrecy eyes?!' Yuya exclaimed in his head. 'Oh, what should I do? I can't tell her the truth about everything.'

"The... Secrecy eyes are an old legend about a special trait that one bloodline had, they could see when people would die by just touch an object or the person themselves." Yuya explained, making his friend a bit nervous. "There were no way to prevent it when it's the person's time to die. The Secrecy eyes had beginning to die out there isn't many left now, this legend have existed for a very long time and there's the possibility that they don't even exist anymore. The only way to know is their eyes, being a very rare color that most of the generations have." Yuya then smiled and scratched the back of his head. "That's about it! They've been that mysterious since they existed."

"Ok, I was just wondering." Yuzu replied satisfied before sitting by her desk. Yuya breathed out in relief that he had managed to keep himself from being forced to the tell the truth to one of his best friends.

Under the afternoon, Yuya had trouble concentrating under the last lessons because of what Serena had told him, that Milla had lied to all of them about his purpose and the others. He wouldn't believe that his older sister, who raised him since he was an infant, would lie to him if she didn't know that it was a set up to gather the humans with Otherworld abilities to protection when most can survive on their own from monsters. Yuya had to ask Milla if he knew where she was and had secretly texted Jude under class, he was shocked of the response that he didn't know either and last saw her with him.

Jude had thought the Lord of Spirits had already gotten home after their conversation to rest, however he had gotten a text late at night that she had gotten herself deep inside Otherworld to stop something. After school, Yuya got home and Yuto was checking the library as Jude and Ludger arrived to visit. The two Xillia leaders got to Yuto in the library as they knew Yuya needed to take everything in that his sister had run away from them for a reason they didn't know at all.

"Any luck about Milla or Yuya?" Jude asked the spirit in the room.

"No. Milla hasn't answered any of Yuya's messages or calls, so contacting her now is pointless." Yuto explained before looking sad. "Yuya isn't doing good though. After what a classmate from Otherworld told him, he wants to find answers but with Milla gone like this, it isn't possible."

"Maybe we should go and see if he's doing okay." Ludger suggested and Yuto slowly nodded in agreement. The three went upstairs to check on Yuya in his room but when they opened the door, they saw the window was opened and Yuya wasn't nowhere to be seen.

"No... Don't tell me he..." Yuto breathed out and quickly looked under the bed. "The sword's gone! He got after Milla!"

"With a wound like that he's in a high disadvantage in a fight, we need to find him." Jude declared worried.

-

At the same time, Yuya was jogging slowly with his sword in hand. He had taken Clear Wing to fly over to the forest to find a portal spot or a rift to find a way to get to Otherworld to find Milla and get the answers he seek, the crimson eyed boy tried deny those claims Serena had said to both him and about Milla. But a voice deep inside him told him it could be true, everything that girl said could be all true and Milla had lied to him and their friends. He slowed down when arriving to the spot and looked around while having a hand on his wound has it started to hurt for doing something that he wasn't supposed to do.

"I have to find that rift." Yuya breathed out. "I need to find Milla." A sudden voice in his head told the Secrecy eyes something was coming, he quickly jumped backwards a few times as he was close to be hit by knives of black metal.

In front of him was a man with long black hair with fringe, two long bangs with white tips at the sides of his face, and amber eyes. He wears a yellow shirt with a black vest over it, and his neck is tied with a purple scarf. His attire consists of red pants, a red jacket with black stripes, and red gloves. This look is completed with a black and purple fluffy scarf, as well as white and brown shoes.

"Well, well. What do we have here?" The man said amused with knives between in his fingers. "A Secrecy eyes, all by himself." Yuya grunted and prepared himself by placing a hand on the hilt as the man pointed the knives in one of his hands at him. "The green and red hair on your head. You're the one I've been looking for, the price that demon gives the person that bring you alive is unbelievable and that reward... will be MINE!"

Yuya quickly drew his sword in time to block a few knives thrown at him before the strange man dashed at him, the crimson eyed boy tried his best to fight but his wound was giving him a hard time since the pain was starting to spread throughout his whole body making it harder than it already was. The man was really skilled and seemed like an abnormal human like Ludger and Milla whenever they were having training fights, he was about the level of Ludger and Milla together.

Back at the mansion, Yuto was really getting worried and had tried to call his vessel a few times but Yuya didn't answer which caused them even more worry.

"He still doesn't pick up." Yuto replied after his latest try at it. "Ludger, do you have any idea where Yuya can be? You're the only one of us that knows about Otherworld."

"My best guess is that he's searching for a way inside." Ludger suggested. "He's too long and inexperienced to open a portal by himself, so the best idea he has to get to Otherworld is either get someone to open a portal or find one of the rifts that was made when Milla was unconscious. One of those rifts are possibly inside the forest outside the house."

"If that's the case then he's outside the barrier around the mansion which would be a perfect chance for the enemy to get Yuya." Jude realized.

"We need to find Yuya! Now!" Yuto exclaimed in panic before bursting out of the mansion with Jude and Ludger in his tail.

The group ran through the forest as quickly as possible. Yuto was really worried over Yuya ever since he got injured by the manticore, the Secrecy eyes still hasn't completely recovered to fight by himself and was at a risk to reopen his wound again. Yuto didn't want to risk that and lose him like what almost happened back in Claraveil's village.

Meanwhile, Yuya was still clashing with the unknown man as best as he could but the man had noticed Yuya's wound and punch a strong fist right into it. Yuya paralyzed in pain and collapsed onto the ground, gasping in pain while gripping his side where the man hit him and the man started to laugh amused.

"Looks like the Secrecy eyes wasn't as powerful as they say!" The man exclaimed before laughing again and Yuya gritted as his eyes started to slowly glow. "Then I shall bring you to the lord and collect my bounty."

Yuya saw that the man was about to hit him unconscious and he prepared himself by closing his eyes before he gets hit but that was before he heard a really recognizable voice that he can hear anywhere despite loud noises.

"Yuya!"

The man screamed in pain as he had gotten an arrow right through his hands and ran a distance from the crimson eyed boy when Yuto quickly got down next to his boyfriend with his bow in hand. Ludger and Jude got into battle against the man, who was dodging as he tried to get the arrow out.

"Yuya, are you okay?" Yuto asked really concerned.

"Yeah, he just hit me in my wound really hard." Yuya groaned in pain as he tried to get up. "There's just pain but I'll be okay."

The boys heard Jude scream in pain. Jude had been kicked hard into a tree and Ludger was using all of his different weapons but the man was somehow too skilled as he could easily avoid all of Ludger's attacks. The man grinned before making a great distance between him and Ludger, who was breathing heavily.

"What a delightful group you are to protect a Secrecy eyes like this, like he's more important than your own lives!" The man exclaimed excited. "However, I need that boy!" Suddenly, a giant black hole in the ground which was starting to suck things in because of the strong winds.

"What is he doing?!" Yuto shouted over the strong wind as he and his vessel was holding Yuya's sword tightly as it was stuck in the ground as Ludger and Jude were able to hold their own.

"Is he going to summon here and now?!" Yuya questioned a bit scared.

"Now I'm begging you to my side-!" The man's chanting got to a stop when a ray of light came out of the portal.

Strong winds kept the people from from coming closer to it and it soon disappeared, something flew out of it before gracefully landing a few meters away from the good guys. Jude, Ludger and Yuto were shocked when they saw the long brown/gold hair of the person in front of them, Yuya started to smile grateful over the person arriving to help them. It had been Milla that had come out of the portal with new robes on herself.

Her Otherworld clothing was now a very short, black rimmed white skirt, barely reaching the upper end of her thighs, a slit at the left side, going all the way, giving a hint of what's beneath. Detailed gold embroidery on deep black background completed the appeal by drawing attention to it. Slender legs stretch from beneath, showing of the pink, flawless skin before being concealed again by knee-high boots with the upper part made of two ribbons. Connecting the boots with two strips of cloth coming from the skirt is a metal ring on each leg.

Her top was a form-fitting, if it could be considered such. It consisted of white cloth accentuated with blue around the shoulders and breast, and a black, overlapping scale pattern on her sides. The top seamlessly flowed into similarly styled gloves without any obviously discernible border between.

Milla placed a hand on her hip as the Four Great Spirits were summoned by her side behind her as the lord starred angry at the man in front of her. Jude stumbled forwards his partner and was about to say something when Milla placed a finger over his lips, her eyes soften at the sight.

"Glad you could join us, Maxwell." The man greeted before mockingly bowing to her but the Lord of Spirits completely ignored him and walked over to Yuya and Yuto, getting down on one knee while Undine healed away Yuya's pain.

"After this, we'll have a talk and I'll answer all of your questions." Milla told the boys before standing up to turn at the man angry. "Hurting my family and friends is unforgivable, Rideaux!" The Four used their powers to try hitting the man but it didn't work.

"Looks like he expected our artes, my lord." Efreet pointed out.

"No need to worry. I'll take care of him on my own." Milla said serious and summoned her sword.

Milla dashed forwards Rideaux in high speed and they started to fight with their sharp weapons, what had everyone shocked was Milla's change of power. The Lord of Spirits had become really powerful and would even take some distance to quickly cast spells before going back into the fight, she could even be airborne for some time to attack him from above. Jude was healing himself as he and the other males on the ground watch Milla fight the man that attacked the Secrecy eyes.

"Flames, sweep away! Water, dance and twirl! Wind, be my blade! Earth, my spear!" Milla shouted as she used her Mystic Arte. Milla dashed forward, lunging to the ground as feathers burn behind her feet in a blazing line. She then raises her sword skyward, calling forth splashes of water, turns around and swipes a blade of wind, leaps back into the air, and summons blocks of stone to strike Rideaux. "Elements, I call thee! Elemental Mastery!" Finally, she causes a glyph consisting of the four elemental colors to appear around her as she gestures with her arms to emanate forth streaks of supreme power.

"Amazing..." Yuto gasped in awe with Yuya starring in amazement as they carefully stood up when Milla landed on her feet, Rideaux wasn't defeated but greatly wounded.

"I will be back...!" Rideaux growled at the woman. "... You can't keep him by your side forever..." The mysterious man then disappeared in a flash and Milla breathed out in relief before walking over to her friends.

"Milla, that was incredible!" Jude exclaimed and the Lord of Spirits looked up to see the boys smiling at her, she was surprised before smiling gently at them.

"I have to apologize for disappearing like I did but it was necessary." Milla explained guilty before looking at them serious. "I found him. I found my father! The previous Maxwell!"

This sentence shocked everyone in the group. Their goal of finding Adam Maxwell had been their top priority to get answers to questions they couldn't answer themselves and now, Milla comes with the news of having found him. The group hurried back to the mansion to get in Ludger's car to go to the road with a summon sprite guiding them to their destination. Milla had changed into her civilian form while calling someone on her phone on speaker.

She was wearing lavender dress with a pattern in the fabric and a bow shape sewn over the chest, adorned by a single amethyst on a gold base. Around the navel is a violet belt with a gold buckle and a gem crescent moon ornament hanging from the left hip. The skirt is trim with black frills with a hot pink pair of lips sewn above the small split in the skirt. Covering the shoulders is pale lilac fabric trim with black frills. A dark purple necklace with several strands wrapping around the neck and a gold charm is included, along with a gold bracelet. Lavender pumps with a black bottom and gold tipped heel. Black frills line the foot insert with five gold pieces attached to the section to hold several dark purple strings that tie around the lower leg. Hanging from each string is a gold pearl and a crystal gem. A gold chain accessory resides on her leg with three charms, two gold star shapes and a single crystal.

The Lord of Spirits was waiting for the person to pick before she would answer the others questions. The boys had many questions but Yuya and Yuto were the ones that just wanted to hear the truth as fast as possible. The person finally picked up when the ringing stopped.

"Hello?" The voice of Velvet responded on the other side.

"Velvet, are you with Sorey?" Milla asked immediately. "We're on speaker here."

"Yeah, but where were you? This is the second time you disappear without a trace." Velvet replied.

"Can you put on the speaker?" The Lord of Spirits asked. "There's things I need to tell you both. Something that's about all of us, even Yuya."

"Me? What for?" Yuya repeated in confusion. "I'm not that important than you guys."

"Alright, the speaker is on." Velvet told them.

"Milla, what exactly is going on?" Sorey asked the ruby eyed woman.

"The balances that we were told about doesn't exist." Milla told them. "It was just a mantle to protect us from doing things that would put Otherworld in danger. The Lord of Spirits, the Lord of Calamity and the Shepherd. Together with the Cursed Child, we are the keys to unlock powerful seals that are scattered over Otherworld whenever we're together. We are able to sense whenever one of us four are injured or about to die, feeling their pain in the process."

"The Cursed Child again?" Yuto repeated. "The entity that is more mysterious that Secrecy eyes. How are they connected to all of this?"

"That I don't know." Milla answered unsure. "Despite that I am now a true Maxwell, I am now in the council and Chronos and Origin don't have any clues to the Cursed Child's whereabouts. But what I found out back in Otherworld..." Milla clinched her phone in her hand tightly. "My father doesn't have long to live. This'll be the only time we can meet face to face with each other."

"I see." Sorey said sadly. "Maxwell's power has completely transferred to you now."

"That would explain why the crystals on your bracelet as changed colors." Ludger pointed out. Milla's bracelet now had light blue crystals together with the pink ones.

"Looks like finding the Cursed Child would be our mission next after we meet Maxwell." Jude concluded.

"That'll be the hardest part as we don't even know who that person is." Velvet pointed out. "The same goes for the new Empyrean. We don't know their identities or powers, we have to trust our instincts."

"I have to agree." Yuya agreed, now knowing that Milla didn't lie on purpose. "Those two subjects that we don't have any information on it'll be really tricky."

"We can just hope that Maxwell have some answers that we need." Yuto said unsure. "But what does this have to do with Yuya?"

"That's because Yuya is still considered a Secrecy eyes." Milla answered, shocking everyone.

"What?!" Everyone except Ludger exclaimed.

"But how? I've lost the ability to see when people die." Yuya said in absolute shock.

"That answer would be obvious." The Lord of Spirits replied, turning her head to her younger brother. "Unlike most Secrecy eyes, you were born with those eyes normally while most of your ancestors were born with other colors before they turned red. That moment I remembered from when you came to this world."

"I was different from the start." Yuya mumbled in realization which Yuto picked up.

'Ever since we confronted Serena, Yuya has been feeling down.' Yuto thought sadly. 'Sometime, I have to talk to him about it. I hate keeping Yuri and my conversation a secret from them but until we know Serena's group's plans then I can't tell them.'

After an hour of driving, Ludger finally turned left forwards an abandoned, or that was what it looked like, house that had ivy growing over the the outside walls. Some windows were broken and the front yard was overgrown with weed and dead grass, all in all it looked like a haunted house. Ludger parked the car right by the front entrance as the group got out of the car and a woman with long green hair and blue wings flew down from the sky.

"Milla!" The woman exclaimed and hugged the Lord of Spirits.

"I'm sorry to worry you, Muzet." Milla apologized as she patted the woman on the head as she hugged. "I just needed to get here as fast as possible." The two women let go and turned to the group. "Everyone, this is my older sister Muzet. The Spirit protecting the gateways between our realms."

"Well, it is nice to meet you all at last." Muzet greeted while bowing. "Now, come inside. We've been expecting you."

They all followed Muzet inside the house, opening the doors with her powers as they got inside. The interior was clean and inside the big living room was an old man in a wheelchair, looking out the window next to him as Muzet flew over to him. Milla could only stare and took a few deep breaths to calm herself down.

"Father. They're here." Muzet said to the old man.

"Thank you, Muzet." The old man told the spirit. "Go and watch the house, me and your sister have a lot to talk about." Muzet nodded before flying by the group and Milla slowly walked over to the previous Maxwell, getting on one knee in respect.

"My apologies if it took this long to find you, father." Milla apologized as her friends watched her. "As well not mastering my powers until now."

"There is no need for apologies, my daughter." Adam replied with a smile and placed a hand on the ruby eyed woman's cheek to make her look up. "It was I who thought of your safety and our connection to the Sakaki family."

"Father..." Milla breathed out before tears streamed down from her eyes. Milla started to cry in Adam's arms in happiness. "Thank you for everything."

This was a touching moment for Milla. Yuya and Jude couldn't feel anything but happiness, Ludger and Yuto were smiling at the scene. The older sister in the group had finally met her biological family that had made those connections possible for all of them. If Adam hadn't given Milla to Yoko than everything would have happened in a different way and now, it was their time to do something good for Milla herself.