10 Turning Point

Yuya was sitting on the windowsill while having a sketch pad in his hand as he drew a portrait, smiling at it as it was almost complete. He looked up for a moment to feel the breeze from the opened window, it had been an uneventful day and quiet for the moment as it's unusual in the Sakaki household to be quiet. Yuya loved this quiet environment a lot and usually drew pictures while he had the chance, people would usually be interrupting him by now. Odd-Eyes came onto his shoulder together with all the dragons appearing around him, the red dragon squeaked to his friend.

"That's right, it's the anniversary today." Yuya pointed out. "It's going to be hard to visit it now." Dark Rebellion turn to speak. "We haven't gone there since she left with all that happened to me, Milla and Dad. I don't think I'm ready to go back there."

"I think you're ready." Yuya looked at the doorway to see Yuto leaning against the wall by the door. "So this is what you've been doing instead of packing."

"Oh crap! I totally forgot!" Yuya said standing up and Yuto chuckled.

"Don't worry, me and the dragons will help you pack in time before we leave to meet up with Jude." Yuto said as they started to pack everything they needed.

Do you wanna know why Yuya was thinking this way or why he was going away? Because today was the anniversary of his mom leaving to rest in peace. Milla and Yuya would always go to a special place in the woods outside of town to look after something important to their mother, but because of emotional scars and Otherworld activities acting up, they haven't been able to do the thing they promised their mother's friends to for the last two years. Now it's time for them to go back and the Sakaki siblings had invited Yuto and Jude to come as well but Milla didn't know that Yuya invited Yusho as well.

The young teen was actually hoping that Yusho would come so they could explain everything, the father had avoided them both since the kidnapping in Hychinder Hospital. Milla maybe doesn't show it but she was worried of his mental health, after all he was kidnapped in his office by a ghost from his past. The Lord of Spirits did have a promise to keep.

The siblings decided to bring Jude along as the Xillia leaders weren't keeping any secrets from each since they told the ember eyed student about Otherworld. Yuya and Yuto knew he was a scholar but to believe in the supernatural that easily was really surprising. Even the gray eyed spirit had a hard time believing in it when he first knew of the mirrored realm.

Once the boys finished packing Yuya's bag, the two hurried downstairs with the dragons right behind them. Milla was already waiting by the doorway out as she heard the boys, seeing Yuya's bag and sword in his hands. They left moments later after Yuya apologized for being slow, not noticing Yusho was watching them by the staircase in sadness and guilt as he walked back to his room.

His bedroom was much like his children's rooms but for a couple instead of their personal touches to the room. On a desk was a couple photographs of himself, Yoko, Milla and lastly, Yuya. There was a photo of the whole Sakaki family that was most important as Yuya had drawn it on his computer as a gift to Yusho, but the father was quiet when he was given the picture as in reality he was very happy of the gift from his real son.

Yusho hadn't really told his children that he himself used to be a dueltainer, one of the founders of the real solid vision that was used in dueling. This reason was why he had taken the job at Hychinder, because of his knowledge of duel monsters and the purpose to expand the use of real solid vision over all. But the experiment failed and there was he now, hated by his children because of his past and grief of losing his beloved wife, torturing Yuya to try getting rid of those feelings which made everything worse.

"Yoko..." Yusho said as he looked at the drawn family photo, where an envelope was laying in front of. He took the envelope in his hand to look at it. "... maybe it's time to give him this." Yusho looked out the window determined.

-

The trio was walking rather than taking a ride as Ludger was busy with his work and taking care of Elle and there wasn't many they knew that could drive, the three really like to walk and converse with each other. Milla mostly liked to see Yuya and Yuto's close relationship as she could see it clearly that the two boys were in love with each other but it would take time before either of them would confess, the same goes for her and Jude.

Milla and Jude have gotten as close as those two but it got closer now that they do missions more often and they've been getting small feelings for each other, Milla could see that Jude was in love with her but the Lord pd Spirits didn't know if she was ready to take on a relationship because of her many duties.

"There you are!" The trio heard and looked forward by the forest to see Jude already waiting for them with a bigger backpack on his back.

"Hi, Jude!" Yuto greeted. "Are you excited over this as I am?"

"A bit, I'm mostly nervous to meet people that helped raise Milla and Yuya." Jude answered a bit nervous.

"Don't worry! Everyone are really nice and are good friends with our mom, they wouldn't hurt us even if they wanted to." Yuya said with a big grin as he had his arms behind his head and leaned back a bit.

"If gran gran heard that, she would most likely teach you a lesson." Milla giggled and Yuya flinched at the mention.

"It was a joke. I love to see people smile with my entertainment and jokes." The Secrecy eyes explained, trying to defend himself.

"Then you have to work on your jokes, you clown." Milla pointed out which made everyone laugh together. It took a while for them to stop and calm down.

"If we can trust you, then we can trust them." Yuto told them with a smile. "Even though Yuya is really childish."

"What do you mean by that?" Yuya said playfully, elbowing the spirit cheeky.

"You know exactly what I mean, tomato." Yuto answered, wrapping his arm around the crimson eyed boy's neck which made him laugh.

"My hair isn't that much red, eggplant." Yuya teased.

"Hey! Did Yuri tell you his nickname for me?!" The spirit exclaimed tightening the grip, making Yuya chuckle a little more.

Milla and Jude laughed a little more at the boys before the moment was interrupted by them hearing walking behind them. They all looked back and saw Yusho walking forwards them. This alarmed Milla, Yuya and Yuto as they still didn't trust him and Yuya had to prevent the dragons to come out in case they would attack without a reason as the man arrived.

"What are you doing here?" Milla ordered, glaring at him.

"I want to come with you." Yusho replied as Yuto lets go of his vessel.

"How can we trust you?" Milla asked, wanting to know the truth. "What if you hurt Yuya when I'm not looking like you usually do?"

"Milla, I've been talking to someone. She is giving me help and hints how I should treat my children." Yusho explained. "After that incident, I realized what I was doing and what I did to the both of you. She was my old lawyer under the Hychinder case."

"Lawyer?" Yuto repeated in confusion which Yuya caught.

"What's wrong, Yuto?" Yuya asked telepathic.

"My mom is a lawyer, one of the best in the business in the city. The only one that could avoid prison sentences." Yuto explained which shocked the vessel quite a bit.

"Wait, your mom-!" Yuya was cut off by Jude putting a hand over his mouth.

"Don't yell all over the city or else everyone will think we're weird." Jude told him before letting go.

"Sorry." Yuya apologized cheeky.

"I don't know if she was his lawyer, I was too young to remember that." Yuto finished his explanation. "It was twelve years ago it happened."

"Yeah." Yuya replied.

"Father, do you really want to come with us to get to know us?" Milla asked sternly and a little surprised.

"Look, I'm sorry for everything that I've done to you. Is it really wrong to apologize for my actions?" Yusho questioned.

"No but words aren't enough." The Lord of Spirits answered turning her back to him. "You've been torturing Yuya his whole life and you think I'm foolish enough to just trust you after that. You have to prove you've changed and then maybe I can consider your apology. Let's go before it gets dark."

Milla walked away and Yuya was a little worried over her sudden outburst but Yuto places a hand on his shoulder. Yuya turned to him to see a gentle smile which made the crimson eyed boy to smile as well, Yusho looked confused over what Yuya saw as he saw nothing beside the boy.

The group followed after Milla through the woods, Yuya and Yuto suddenly began to lead the group as Yuya started to tell the spirit about the people they're going to meet and about the elder that they call gran gran. Milla was giving some pointers and Jude would ask Milla her opinion on the things Yuya said.

Yusho was still confused over who Yuya was talking to before he saw him. The man could see the black and purple haired boy talking to his son like they were really close and would laugh at Yuya's movements and how he told them things about the people that helped raise them. That was when Yusho remembered. The boy must have been the one protecting Yuya the day when he was punishing the Secrecy eyes, he also seemed to be the first one to ask Yuya if he was okay. Yusho never got the boy's name as they didn't address him under the man's presence, even though they did he didn't bother to remember.

An hour pasted as they were still walking through the woods but suddenly Yuya's pendant glow bright as they stopped, confusing the three that never been there before.

"Milla, why are we stopping?" Jude asked but Milla glanced at the boys behind them and made a sign to be quiet.

"Is that Yuya?!" A small squeaky voice exclaimed in surprise.

"He sure have grown." Another voice pointed out. "Look at how pretty Milla is!"

"They've even brought guests!" A third one said excited, meaning Yuto, Jude and Yusho.

"Let's go meet them." The first voice suggested. Flowers around them began to bloom and small lights started to fly in the air. Milla and Jude's Lilium orbs glow bright which changed their appearance and startled Jude a bit. Small fairies began to fly around them while laughing in excitement at the people that arrived.

"What are they?" Yusho asked as he was looking at them.

"They're fairies." Yuto answered with a big smile. He read many fairytales when he was little and wanted to meet fairies since he got to know Otherworld.

"This guy is really handsome." A fairy said in love which startled Jude a bit more as the fairy had been lying on his shoulder but flew away in a giggle.

"Now, now, my children. Don't scare our guests." A small woman's voice said as a couple of fairies in beautiful flower clothes and crowns on their small heads arrived in front of the siblings.

"Queen Titania. King Oberon." Yuya greeted as he and Milla bowed in respect. "It's nice to see you again."

"Yuya, my boy, there is no need to bow." Oberon chuckled as the Secrecy eyes straightened himself. "You are among friends here."

"The same goes to you too, Milla Maxwell." Titania said to the Lord of Spirits, who straightened herself as well. "You've really grown into an independent woman now and Yuya has been getting some muscles there."

"I do gymnastics to get around the Action Fields better." Yuya explained while scratching the back of his head. "Looks like the fairy village is doing fine."

"Well, new fairies are being born everyday now and more are coming." Oberon pointed out. "These ones are just a few grown ups and mostly teens."

"That we can see." Milla agreed seeing the fairies looking at her long hair. "They are really curious about everything."

"Who are your companions?" Titania asked the siblings. "It is very unusual for you to bring humans here."

"This is Yuto, a really good friend of mine." Yuya introduced the spirit, who came to his side.

"It's nice to meet you, Your Highness." Yuto greeted polite and Titania bowed her head.

"This is my partner and friend from the academy." Milla introduced the other Xillia leader.

"Jude Mathis." Jude introduced himself. "It's nice to meet you."

"I see you've got a Lilium orb and mastered its power, Milla must trust you a great deal." Oberon pointed out and the leader looked at each other for the compliment.

"This is our father, Sakaki Yusho." Milla introduced their father which narrowed the eyes of the royal fairies, they knew the history between them.

"We've heard many things about you, Yusho." Titania said not really happy. "And most of it are awful things that need to be proved to be sure of a change. It isn't an easy task to accomplish in this state."

"But those that believe in Yoko believe that you can take the right path once again." Oberon continued. "She and another person think you'll make up for your mistakes and crimes soon enough. This place is sacred for Yoko as it is for her children, we are the keepers of the border and the pendant around Yuya's neck make a sign of their arrival."

"Now, we don't want to waste time here when there's more people that want to meet you." Titania pointed out to the group. "They've been waiting for you!"

"But how do we get there?" Yuto asked confused. Titania waved her hand at the trees behind her and they slowly moved away to reveal a path to what seemed to be a campsite or village.

"We wish you a nice day." Oberon said before he and his queen flew away together with the other fairies as they waved goodbye to the group.

"I never knew that you guys knew the fairy king and queen." Yuto pointed out amazed. "Your mom must have been pretty amazing to become friends with royals."

"Even though mom didn't have crimson eyes, she still had the sight and helped Otherworld as much as possible." Yuya explained with a big smile. "King Oberon and Queen Titania was the ones that taught Milla how to use her elemental powers." Yuto had his mouth agape at the truth and just stared at the only girl with them. Milla and Jude laughed at his expression while Yuya tried to hold himself from grinning.

Once the group arrived at the destination which was a small village living in tents in different sizes and placed around the place. Many really unusual people came out of the tents or looked at the group. There was seraphim, fairytale creatures, humans and animals living there so peacefully. When the humans and the human-like people saw Yuya and Milla coming to the center of the village, they immediately came over to greet them and the siblings took the time to introduce their friends and father, even though many of them realized that when they saw him.

Out from one of the bigger tents came an old woman seraph with a grandma smile on her face when she saw the Secrecy eyes smiling at the old people commenting the group.

"I see that you're both doing well, my children." The old seraph said as she came to the crowd, who moved away to let the newcomers see her. "You both were missed these last two years."

"Gran gran!" Yuya yelled while running to hug the woman. "I missed you so much."

"I've missed you too, my little magician." The old woman said happily as they broke apart for the old woman to take a good look at the boy in front of him. "Well, look at you! I see you've been training hard as a duelist but how is it going with your magic practice and school?"

"They both are going great, Yuzu is helping me a lot in school." Yuya explained. "And I've been able to use my magic now, I can show you what I can do."

"Show me later." The woman told him as Milla came over to the two. "Hello, my flower."

"Hello, gran gran." Milla greeted as they too hugged. "Sorry we couldn't visit under these last years."

"I understand. Your mother leaving you had taken a long time to heal." Gran gran said as they broke apart. "Well, I see your handmaid did an excellent job for once in finding the Lilium orbs. That man need some teachings in proper ways to help the Lord of Spirits."

"Ivar is a handful, and still is, but I haven't seen him since he gave me the orbs." The ruby eyed girl explained relieved. "He was really irritating to tell the truth."

"Hey! I thought you liked him." Yuya teased and Milla just grinned before a splash of water came into his face, possibly by Milla's magic.

"I never liked him, Ivar appointed himself as my handmaid from the start and I didn't really care what he did." The Lord of Spirits answered simply as Yuya fell onto the ground by another water splash in the face. Yuto chuckled as he helped Yuya up again.

"Did you forget about Milla can use her powers with her mind?" Yuto asked and Yuya smiled sheppilish at the spirit.

"Ah, a spirit stuck in limbo." Gran gran said which caught the gray eyed boy's attention. "What's your name, young man?"

"Uh, Yuto. Asaki Yuto." Yuto answered in surprise which Yusho heard, recognizing the surname well.

"Yuto. My name's Claraviel, the elder seraph of this village." The old woman introduced herself. "I know a lot of things under these thousands of years I've been alive on the same earth, seeing a spirit like yourself is very rare."

"I've heard that a few times." Yuto pointed out, getting a bit sad. "I just hope I can come back to the human realm and meet all of my friends again." Yuya got worried before Claraviel suddenly took both of their hands in her own and smiled at the two.

"A vessel bond that is close to the bottom of your hearts." She said by sensing their powers. "I can see you two are not only just a vessel and a spirit but something more to that." Claraviel placed their hands together and the boys both blushed at their hands touch in front of people but smiled either way. Jude came over to check on Milla, who was smiling at the boys.

"When do you think they'll confess?" Jude asked the older sister.

"You've noticed as well. I think it'll take a little more time before that happens, after all they haven't properly kissed yet." Milla explained with a little giggle in her voice. "They are meant for each other."

"So you are Jude." Claraviel pointed out to the Xillia leader. "Milla have talked all about you. You are a brave and wise young man but I never knew you had the Sight."

"I have a small piece of Yuya's power in this." Jude explained, pointing at the glass bead pendant on his neck as Milla blushed at the words. "I got it by the time Yuya became Yuto's vessel."

"I see. It must have been really important if a piece of his power were transferred, I'm glad it didn't past on to someone. Who knows what would have happened if that shard was placed in a human." Claraviel said, not noticing the nervous faces on the Xillia leaders.

"She is really nice, why haven't you told me about her until now?" Yuto asked his vessel.

"You've never asked." Yuya answered simply. Yuto rolled his eyes as if it was an expected answer, he knew the boy too well to know his answers beforehand. The dragons then decided to appear around them which surprised the villagers a bit as Odd-Eyes was on Yuya's shoulder while Dark Rebellion came to Yuto's side. The black dragon was quite fond of the spirit or that was what Yuya translated.

"Claraviel, I can explain about the dragons." Yuto said to the elder.

"Call me gran gran, Yuto. I've known about Odd-Eyes and Yuya's ability to bring his monsters to life without Milla's help." Claraviel explained, shocking Yuto and Yuya looked away embarrassed. "He is really talented with his magic even though it took a long time for a simple spell."

"Gran gran, please. He doesn't need to hear all that now." Yuya mumbled embarrassed while the others laughed.

"Come, there is something that I meant to show you when you turned eighteen." Claraviel said to Milla as she walked away to lead them up a hill with Yusho about to walk away. "Yusho! I want to talk to you in private when I get back. Get him to a tent as close to mine as possible, we have much to discuss."

A few of the villagers nodded and led Yusho to a tent nearby as others took the group's bags into other tents. Claraviel led the group up a long path up a hill while greeting some of the villagers that lived there by the path. Yuya was smiling the whole way that made Yuto happy, it isn't often to see real smiles on him this much. To think he was calling Yuya a fake and liar the first time they met before the event that changed his life forever.

Up on the top of the hill was a big wooden dome house, possibly a shrine of some kind. Milla suddenly stopped meters away from the entrance, looking at it amazed. The boys was looking confused over her expression of seeing the building in front of them.

"This was... my father's old shrine..." Milla gasped out while closing her eyes and placing a hand over her heart in respect.

"The Maxwell before you?! This was his shrine?!" Yuya exclaimed in shock. "This place of high mass of spiritual energy, it was here the whole time."

"What is this spiritual energy coming from exactly?" Yuto asked Claraviel. Jude then remembered that Yuto was a spirit and could sense things that the others couldn't.

"The earth pulses underground." Claraviel explained turning to the group. "Humans of old thought that they would be closer to their gods, like the Empyreans, if they build temples or shrines where there's an earth pulse point."

"I see. That's the case then." The gray eyed spirit said, now understanding the situation. Yuya took his hand in his to comfort him around the old seraph.

"Can we go in? I've been waiting to see what's inside." Milla asked fascinated.

They walked over to the door and walked in to see the shrine empty except for a comfortable meditation place up a few stairs in front of them. The rest of the the shrine was empty and big with a giant version of Milla's special magic circles painted on the floor. The Lord of Spirits spun around in wonder over the appearance of the shrine.

"To think this place was owned by the previous Maxwell." Jude pointed out. "I thought it would be more things in here than being empty."

"That's because this shrine is for meditation." Milla explained. "If I were to lose the Four as well, I can summon them back to me by placing special stones in this magic circle."

"Well, I'm planning to show Yuto around this place." Yuya said looking at the spirit, who nodded in agreement.

"Don't get lost and remember to stay in my domain." Claraviel said while smiling.

"I know, I know!" The Secrecy eyes replied like he had heard it too often. "Or else I'll get attacked. I get it, I'm not a kid anymore and we're just going out for walk."

"Don't worry, gran gran. I'll look after him." Yuto said convincing before the boys walked out of the shrine together, leaving the three alone in the building.

"I must go as well if I will teach your treacherous father a few lessons on how to be a real parent." Claraviel said after a while. "If Yoko was here, you wouldn't want to deal with her anger."

"Gran gran, my father isn't someone to be trusted and you can't really convince him that easily." Milla explained, clenching her fists. "I've tried."

"Milla, the same goes for my dad." Jude said, not really want to talk of the topic but felt like he needed to. "No matter what I tell him, he won't listen but I know he did but doesn't care."

"What Jude is saying is correct." Claraviel agreed. "But Yusho cares about you and Yuya both, his grief of losing his wife under mysterious circumstances when Yuya was born took control over him."

"Under mysterious circumstances? I thought she died of childbirth." Jude questioned really confused. "Milla told me that a few months ago."

"Mother didn't die that way, Yuya was told that but I was in the hospital room when it happened." Milla explained a bit sad. "What is said here are to be a secret from Yuya, am I clear?" Jude nodded as an answer.

"Are you sure about telling him?" Claraviel asked serious. "You truly trust him with this secret that we have managed to keep from Yuya and Yusho?"

"I can't keep secrets from my partner, I have complete trust in him to keep the secrets I've told him." Milla explained while smiling at the ember eyed boy.

"What's friends for." Jude replied with his own smile. "If I managed to keep Otherworld a secret from our friends and family, then I keep this from everybody if I have to."

"I see then I take your word for it." Claraviel said as she trusted the Lord of Spirits' judgement of the boy. "Yoko didn't die of childbirth but something else, it wasn't possible for her to die like that when she was healthy and powerful as a magician in Otherworld."

"She died hours later in her hospital bed, the day after Yuya's birth." Milla continued, crossing her arms. "It was the doctors that diagnose her that in the first place. We, however, noticed that she was killed by a death curse or potion that caused her to become a spirit as she was unable to rest until she knew that Yuya was going to be okay. However, we don't know how or who killed her or for what purpose."

"I can check the blood samples they have stored at the hospital as they are the latest samples from people and they'll have Yoko's sample from when she died." Jude concluded. "I can take a look on it when we get back."

"Thank you, Jude." Milla thanked him grateful, knowing that she can finally find the truth she has been seeking.

-

Meanwhile, Yuya and Yuto was walking through the beautiful forest together. They have been taking the time to just getting to know each other now that Yuto got to know the old seraph a bit. The dragons was with them as usual but they would somehow fly away before coming back as they too was observing the beauty of the nature. They arrived at a spring when Yuto decided to ask something that he wanted answers on.

"Yuya. How was your mom like exactly?" Yuto asked, getting the tomato haired boy's attention. "You rarely talk about her."

"Mom was always thinking about the positive and had a weak spot when it came to abandon animals." Yuya explained and chuckled. "She taught me everything I know, even dueling to assure her that I would make my life happy when she's gone. I guess that she wanted to have me prepared for what was going to happen to me."

"She sounds like a really good person. Too bad I can't meet her." Yuya just laughed but knew he made a point. "Unlike many, I don't have a close relationship with my dad as he's usually overseas with the company he's working for."

"Oh, sorry for reminding you about that."

"He comes home once in a while and give me presents from the holidays he missed with us." Yuya noticed a sick red bird on the ground and Yuto became concerned of the bird, he was about to walk to it when Yuya took his hand.

"Wait. Just watch." The spirit just stared at Yuya, who was smiling at him before watching the sick bird. The bird suddenly bursts into flames and turned into ash.

"What did just happen?" Yuya got down on the ground and brushed away the ash and under the ashes was a small baby bird in it. Yuto got down beside the Secrecy eyes in amazement. "That's amazing!"

"When a Phoenix gets too old or sick, they burst into flames and are reborn in the ashes. That was one of the first things mom showed me." Yuya gently picked up the chick in his hands as it yawned and tweet. "Do you wanna hold it?" Yuto hesitated but eventually held out a hand. "It's okay, he's not gonna hurt you." The chick slowly jumped onto Yuto's palms and the spirit could feel the gentle warmth from the small Phoenix in his hands.

"To think that there's such creatures and beauty here that you really can't find or see anywhere."

"Yeah. If normal people would find out about this place then they would just destroy it and kill or experiment on them. I don't want that to happen, people can't just rely on science like we do now."

"Yuya. People do those things because they're scared of things they can't explain. Me, Jude and Shun had time to process it and got help from you and Milla, we really trust you two a lot."

"Thanks Yuto." They got up from the ground and walked to a tree for the Phoenix to let it rest by itself as they continued their walk and crossed the spring before they noticed how long they've been gone.

"Maybe we should walk back now or else everyone are going to get worried."

"We don't have to walk our way back." Yuya put on his duel disk and a light green summoning circle appeared under his feet and Yuto knew what his vessel was doing, he was summoning one of his dragon familiars. "Spread those wondrous and beautiful wings, and strike down your enemies at the speed of light! Appear! Clear Wing Synchro Dragon!"

The white dragon appeared in her right size in front of them and Yuya jumped on before stretched his hand out to Yuto. The gray eyed spirit gladly accepted it and the Secrecy eyes helped him up on Clear Wing, Yuya took the chance to kiss him on the cheek but they didn't blush this time. Clear Wing then took off into the sky and the two boys cheered over the ride in fast pace and feeling the wind.

-

Back at the village, Yusho was unpacking his things in one of the magical tents. They might seem small on the outside but inside was as big as a house with different rooms for daily needs and technology that used mana power to work. Yusho was shocked at first when he entered the tent before he stopped himself to try explaining the logic behind the tent. He was staring at the envelope in wonder and fear of Yuya's expression when Yusho heard someone walking into the tent and got to the living room part of the house like interior and saw Claraviel coming inside.

"You again? Where's my children?" Yusho asked confused as doesn't see them.

"Milla is meditating in the shrine as a duty of Maxwell. About Yuya, he's taking a walk around the forest together with Yuto." Claraviel replied simply as she sat down in an armchair. "They'll be back soon if I know him well."

"You're the first one telling me what they are doing right now, usually people keep quiet about it to protect them." Yusho stated to the old woman. "Thinking I would hurt them like I always does."

"That's because I can see change within you." Claraviel explained with a serious look in her eyes. "To develop change, it'll take a strong heart and belief of constant fighting to not bring bad habits to the surface again. It's a painful process to complete and need as much support as possible to make it through it all without worry." Yusho sat down on a couch next to the old seraph.

"Then you're the only one believing in me. Milla doesn't trust me a bit and Yuya doesn't pay attention at all. I won't have their support in a long time until I have proven myself to them that I can do this."

"Yuya does and want to but am afraid of losing the only blood relation he has left. Yoko taught Yuya everything he knows and more, she knew that one day he'll be able to do things that would change the harsh reality in the human realm for the better."

"'Human realm'? So there exists another realm within ours." Claraviel nodded in correction.

"Otherworld is another reality, the reality you're seeing now. Here lives many different people and creatures that humans are told in myths and fairytales, those who knows of this reality's existence keeps it hidden until it's time to reveal it to a beginner. To protect its existence from abusive humans that might destroy it."

"Such as myself and my whole family have kept it all a secret to protect this place. To think magic actually exists." Claraviel smiled at the comment. "But I cannot bring myself to confess to my children about who I was in the past. The first dueltainer and one of the founders of the Real Solid Vision system."

"Only you can decide on that." Yusho looked at Claraviel's smile. "We choose our own paths in life. It might be hard or easy, good or bad. Only the future will tell, our story has just begun." Suddenly, a man came inside with an excited look.

"Claraviel, you need to see this!" The man said before walking back outside. Claraviel and Yusho walked outside and saw people watching Yuya and Yuto flying on Clear Wing above them which surprised Claraviel quite a bit.

"Hi, gran gran!" Yuya shouted from the sky.

"Yuya, that is amazing!" Gran gran exclaimed in happiness as Clear Wing flew lower to allow the boys to jump off and landed on their feet without problems.

"That was really fun. Thanks, Clear Wing!" Yuto thanked the dragon, who roared before turning into her familiar form. "It was really nice to fly with you on a dragon than fly on my own."

"You don't regret doing that with me?" Yuya asked with a big grin.

"As long as I'm with you that is." Yuto pointed out and the vessel chuckled a little at the comment. "And I haven't really experienced an Action duel before so that was really cool."

"Yuya, I never knew you could do that with your familiars." Claraviel said a little excited and proud. "My little magician is really special, just like your mother."

"Thanks, gran gran." Yuya thanked her. "I should pack up my stuff in my tent and meet En and Core again."

"See you guys later." Yuto said as the two walked away forwards a tent nearby.

"Yuya really is a miracle, I never knew that he could bring his monsters to life outside the Action fields." Yusho commented and Claraviel giggled a bit. "Guess me being away from my only family and never knowing who they are in personality really have taken a toll in our relationship."

"People have all kinds of abilities, they can do the most incredible things mankind have ever seen." Claraviel told the former scientist. "You'll be surprised." Yusho looked at the tent Yuya and Yuto got to in wonder over what she meant.

-

With Milla, she has been meditating like Claraviel said. The Lord of Spirits was sitting in the special sitting throne as she channels the mana and spirit energy to become one with nature in the area. An aura appeared around her but disappeared shortly afterwards and Milla breathed out as Jude walked inside.

"How's it going?" Jude asked and Milla opened her eyes while relaxing a bit.

"It's taking time, the process is slow thanks to the mass of mana in the area." Milla explained. "But I'll manage before we head back home in a few days."

"That's good to hear." Jude pointed out. "Being Maxwell must be quite hard if you have to do this every now and then."

"It can be tiring after a while but I take my position as Maxwell right after my family." Milla told him. "That's how important it is to me."

"I can see that. I just came in here to tell you Yuya and Yuto have returned." Jude said to his partner, who nodded. "And that everyone is going to gather around the campfire under dinner."

"Very well, tell gran gran that I'll be there in a few minutes." The Lord of Spirits replied and Jude nodded before leaving the shrine. Outside, the Xillia leader blushed slightly at the small awkward conversation while Milla was smiling herself.

'Will I ever tell him/her my feelings?' The leaders thought at the same time.

-

Back at the village, Yuya and Yuto was walking forwards a tent that seemed to be theirs. Yuto was surprised of the big space inside but it reminded him that he loved magic because of this and never want to think of a world without it.

"I just love magic." Yuto pointed out and Yuya nodded in agreement.

"I have to agree with that." The Secrecy eyes agreed.

They heard a dog bark and on the floor was a Pembroke Welsh Corgi and a odd-eyed cat with white fur featuring a brown heart-shaped pattern on its back and heterochromia iridum, having a yellow right eye and a blue left eye, wearing a red tie.

"En, Core! Hi, you guys." Yuya said happy, getting down to pick up the corgi in his hands before standing up. "En, boy what you've gotten bigger. Back when mom took you in you were small enough to fit in the palm of my hand!" En barked happily while Yuya chuckled slightly and the cat walked over to Yuto's leg. "Nice to see you too, Core!" Core meowed as answer and Yuto got down to pet the cat.

"I didn't know you had pets." The spirit said as he felt Core's fur.

"Remember what I said about mom being weak against abandoned animals, En and Core are two of the animals she took in a few years ago." Yuya explained while having En in his arms. "They've been here since mom left."

"Yuya, stop thinking about the sad memories and think about the positive. Think of the happy times and just smile instead, it'll bring back that happiness you have." The vessel immediately smiled, filing his heart with the familiar warmth he get every time Yuto cheered him up.

"Thank you, Yuto. I know I can always count on you." Yuya placed En back on the floor and walked over to his part of the house like tent.

"Want some help packing up?" Yuto asked seeing that Yuya was about to pack up his things from his bag.

"Yeah, thanks. It'll go faster."

Yuya and Yuto started to pack up the things in the bag to their appropriate places in their room. As Yuto placed his vessel's drawing supplies on the desk, he decided to check the sketchpad as Yuya was focused on placing his clothes in the drawer. The gray-eyed spirit opened the sketchpad only to smile at the amazing drawings his vessel had made when people weren't looking. There was areas of the city, the forest and Otherworld, objects and portraits of people that he knew and met on the paper sheets and well drawn. But on one page was a portrait of himself hold a card in his hand, Yuto couldn't help but to smile in happiness over how much work Yuya did on that drawing but he didn't have time to look at it closely when Yuya was walking forwards him, noticing what the spirit was doing.

"I'm just looking through a few, I didn't meant to see the ones that was supposed to be a surprise." Yuto explained a bit nervous.

"Don't worry about it, that drawing isn't finished yet." Yuya explained, looking at the portrait and Yuto raised an eyebrow. "It still have some work left to do on it, it's a bummer really."

"What do you mean? It looks finished to me." Yuya shrugged as answer.

"I don't know, I just feel that something is missing and incomplete. I've been trying to figure it out but I know it'll look beautiful when it is done for real." Yuto was confused a bit but smiled either way. "It was meant as a gift when it was finished. Like I said, I don't know how to finish it and how long it'll take to do it."

"I actually like it but I'll love it even more once it's finished. Your drawings and sketches are amazing for being self taught like this, I can't wait to see more of them. You're an amazing artist, Yuya!" The crimson-eyed boy blushed at the compliment as there weren't a lot of people who knew of his drawing skills but felt warm in his heart of hearing those words again and it skipped a beat suddenly.

"I haven't really shown or told anyone about my drawings. They're like pictures in my mind, they just pop up in my head I guess." Yuto chuckled. "I'll feel embarrassed if someone else finds out about this talent of mine and see my drawings."

"That's how it is for an artist. When a picture appears in your head, your mind instantly want to draw it. At first, you think it's embarrassing as you think it doesn't fit your personality but when it gets out people start to notice who you really are." En and Core came in and jumped on the bed, where all the things was and as well the sword which brought another question into Yuto's head. "Let's change topic for a bit, why do you have the sword with you when you know we're safe here inside gran gran's domain?"

"That's because I want to ask gran gran about it." Yuya picked up the covered sword in his hands to get the feel of power in it. "This has been a mystery since I got it and somehow related to my powers as a Secrecy eyes and the heritage. I can't ask Milla's dad about it as we both don't know where he is or how to contact him at all. That's why I took it with me from the start and I can't just leave it at home for someone to find it."

"You're going to ask her at the campfire tonight?" Yuya nodded with a bright smile on his face.

"That's not the only thing I'm excited about. You have to wait until tonight to find out why though, it's a surprise that you won't easily reveal."

"I'll wait and see, don't wanna spoil it." Yuya smiled at the comment.

Yuto was excited for tonight. Not just for the surprise Yuya have planned out but to get to know the people that helped train, teach and raise the siblings that helped so many humans and Otherworlders alike. This village was one of many places that held so many fantastical creatures and nature, waiting to be discovered. It didn't matter if they are bound to fight creatures of darkness or humans, as long as Yuto have Yuya by his side, they'll be the least of their worries in the spirit's eyes. The Secrecy eyes was precious to him, in more ways than what normal people think.

-

After dinner with everyone in the family and friends, all the villagers had fun dancing around a bonfire while the Sakakis and their friends was watching by a campfire a few meters away. Yusho was with them as well but held to himself as the other 'humans' was watching the traditional dance around the fire as they heard many people talking, laughing or playing music.

"That dance is to honor Musiphe, the Empyrean of fire." Claraviel explained the culture of her people. "The Empyreans might not be as important as Chronos, Origin and Maxwell are to us but we try paying them our respect."

"I have to agree, they aren't the nicest spirits to have a conversation with and I've decided to not follow their orders furthermore." Milla agreed. "I've already hurt too many of my people and comrades thanks to them and their orders."

"You've been taking orders from them? That explains why you're always angry or depressed every time you have a 'chat' with them when we meet up inside the academy." Yuto said as he didn't like the spirit like gods. "I heard from Mikleo once that they're actually seraphim."

"That is true, Yuto. They are powerful seraphim but there's one Empyrean that was in the same league as Maxwell, Chronos and Origin but he was defeated centuries ago." Claraviel continued, liking the spirit quite a bit and knew why Yuya was so close to him. "His name was Innominat, the Empyrean of Suppression. It is said that he was to bring destruction to the world if it weren't for the Shepherd of that time with the help of the Empyreans. Many say that there will be a new Empyrean that will be born and bring the world to peace once and for all."

"A new Empyrean has already been born but doesn't know it yet." Jude concluded. "It can be someone we know." Yuya nodded in agreement.

"Hopefully, we'll know who it is soon enough." Yuya pointed out with a smile. "Our adventure have just started!"

"Maybe it can be you." Yuto joked and Yuya rolled his eyes. "You do have mysterious powers."

"I don't have that high spiritual resonance that is needed, you have to be born with that kind of energy like Milla did." The Secrecy eyes explained shortly. Yuto snickers at his vessel since he loved the way the boy explained things. "And besides, it's so rare that it is hardly anyone born like that."

"If this person is already born and walking on this earth, you should be able to see who it is exactly. But if that person's power hasn't fully awakened then the search would be harder to accomplish." Yusho pointed out which shocked everyone except Claraviel. "This person might already be a small child by now."

"I never thought you would be interested in this, Yusho." Jude said in surprise. "It took me a while to get the hang of the different methods."

"You know what you find if you listen closely." Yusho replied simply. "I used to be a researcher after all."

"Expected for someone like you, father." Milla said to herself a little disgusted.

"Gran gran, there's something I've been meaning to ask." Yuya said to the old seraph, which brought everyone's attention.

"Ask away, my little magician." Claraviel clarified. The Secrecy eyes then took his sword, still in its bag, in his hands from behind him and Yuto.

"I was wondering if you knew anything about this." Yuya asked while passing it over to Claraviel. "We think the previous Maxwell sent it to me a few months ago judging by the handwriting on the letter that came with it." Claraviel began to unveil the sword and gasped a little as she recognized it. This reaction caught Yusho's attention as well.

"I haven't seen this for... centuries. I thought it disappeared after that war." Claraviel breathed out in happiness. "I can't believe it I have it in my hands right now."

"What do you mean?" Yuto asked and the old woman took a deep breath before taking down the sword onto her lap.

"This sword was specially made to take out any type of creature, those of darkness can easily be purified and destroyed with a hit from this sword." The seraph explained, surprising the group around her. "The last time I heard about this being used was under a battle between a demon and a cursed child."

"A cursed child?" Yuya and Yuto asked at the same time. That someone was bothering Milla as well which meant she didn't know either.

"Like the Secrecy eyes you bestow, Yuya. A cursed child is a mystery but what we do know such child appear every two centuries. They are called 'cursed' for the reason they were born with extraordinary power that could either be good or bad depending on their growth and childhood." Yuya looked sad when he heard that and his close friend picked that up, feeling the sadness through their connection. "They have different personalities and past but they all have something in common, they are all born with the rare skill to already know how to fight with a sword and high mass of untouched mana. A survival instinct you could say that they were given that help them use their mana to its fullest potential. They also have unique abilities for each child that is born."

"How do you know all of this?" Yusho questioned as Claraviel gave Yuya his sword back, who quickly put it back in its bag to hide its appearance from others.

"I haven't met a cursed child but was told this information by the Maxwell from two hundred years ago." Claraviel finished. "He saw the child's power with his own eyes. Nobody know where these children come from nor who the cursed child of this era is."

"There are people that are born with a premade destiny." Yuto said, now realizing why Yuya was sad. "Isn't there any way to avoid one?" Claraviel shook her head.

"One's destiny isn't easily changed, but once it is then you're able to choose freely without paying attention to it. Some accept their destiny over time but doing it in their own way like Sorey and Velvet has done to theirs despite them being enemies to each other." Milla told them with a smile. "When you have a destiny, things will never get easy until you get used to it."

"Just like you being Maxwell." Jude pointed out and the Lord of Spirits nodded.

"As the level of power I am now is nowhere near Origin or Chronos, that's why I'm meditating regularly to get help from the spirits in the nature." Milla explained a bit sad. "It's a slow process, I know, but I have to do this in order to protect mankind and spirits alike."

"Milla, you're really strong already." Yuya pointed out. "Didn't you tell me two years ago that all of our friends and the ones we care about are our strength to fight?"

"You still remember that?" Milla asked and the younger sibling nodded.

"Those words have always been close to my heart, such words always surface when I need them the most." Yuya replied with smile as he placed a hand on his chest as a reference to what he meant. He then noticed that the stars was starting to appear in the night sky. "The stars are coming out. I need to you show something, Yuto. Something I think you're gonna like." Yuya grabbed Yuto's hand and forced the spirit on his feet, which shocked him.

"H-Hey! Yuya, slow down!" Yuto exclaimed as they ran away from the others and made the group laugh at them.

Yuya dragged Yuto, who was trying to make the vessel slow down as they ran up a small hill. Yuya was just thinking about the times he was brought to this very place every night and now he wanted Yuto to experience in the same way the Secrecy eyes did years ago with his mother. When they arrived at the top, Yuya quickly covered the spirit's eyes to not spoil the surprise.

"What are you doing, Yuya?" Yuto asked confused and the tomato haired boy chuckled.

"When I take away my hands, look straight up, okay?" Yuya replied eigerly.

"Alright..." Yuto replied skeptic. The crimson eyed vessel slowly took away his hands and Yuto opened his eyes only to gasp in amazement over the sight. The dark blue sky was so full of beautiful stars that was glittering like the sea when the sun is going down and the view of it on the hill made it even more beautiful to look at. "This is... amazing."

"Yeah, mom would always bring me here every night to look at this sea of stars." Yuya told him while sitting down on the hill with Yuto doing the same. "It was our little secret from everyone, even Milla."

"Why are you showing it to me then? If it were your secret?" Yuya blushed while looking away, bringing up every drop of courage he had for what he was about to say. "Yuya?"

"It's because I like you, I like you a lot. I've been having these feelings a lot lately." Yuto widen his eyes in surprise that Yuya's sudden confession about having feelings for the spirit like he did to him. "I know it sound stupid for a guy to like another guy like this."

"I don't think that sound stupid, I asked that myself once." Yuya looked him surprised over the sudden big smile on the spirit's face. "I was confused over my own feelings for you. I get easily upset when you decide to hangout with your friends instead of me and blush every time we have those awkward moments." The two laughed at that sentence as they both agreed it was some awkward moments.

"So you're not shocked about my feelings?"

"Why would I be shocked? I've been thinking about confessing to you at some point too but was waiting for the right moment to do it properly." Yuya smiled gently at the spirit, knowing that he had been worrying over nothing.

"Yuto, I-"

Yuya was cut off when Yuto suddenly kissed him on the lips. The crimson eyed boy was shocked at first before closing his eyes, accepting the loving action. It felt as if it was right. The two boys slowly grabbed each other's hands as they stayed like that for a while. The dragons appeared by their side and were happy to see that their master finally told Yuto his true feelings he held inside this whole time. They broke apart and had their foreheads placed against each other as they smiled happily.

"I already know what you were going to say. I love you too." Yuto said happy as Yuya placed his head on his shoulder in a loving manner, finally thinking he had everything he ever wanted.

Unknown to them, Milla had been watching them. She had just found the boys to see if they were okay and didn't want to disturb them now, rather she was smiling over the adorable scene of her brother's first confession of love. Something she wouldn't be able to do in a long time, Milla turned around to walk back to the village while the boys had their little moment. But inside, Milla felt jealous over her little brother doing things she can't do herself.

"I envy you, Yuya." Milla said to herself. "No matter what darkness you get yourself imprisoned in, you'll forever be pure hearted and kind. I don't know about me if I would be trapped in darkness myself. I don't know the sort of pain you have experienced this whole time." The Lord of Spirit then decided to walk away and keep what she saw a secret until those two are ready to tell the group themselves.

The boys looked back at the starry sky with smiles and stayed there for a long while, by the time Yuto was going to tell Yuya it was time to go back, the gray eyed spirit saw that Yuya had fallen asleep on his shoulder. He was sleeping soundless, it was probably from all the energy that have been used under the last few hours. Yuto just smiled and took the sleeping boy in his arms in a bridal style to not wake him up, Yuya nuzzled in the warm embrace and Yuto's smile got bigger at the small smile on his vessel's face as he began to walk back to the village and to their tent.

Yuto had just placed Yuya in bed and was slowly taking the blanket over his body when Yusho came in, surprising the spirit a bit.

"What happened back there?" The father asked quite shocked over how gentle the boy before him was with Yuya.

"He just fell asleep, that's all." Yuto replied as he hanged up Yuya's coat and goggles on a hook on the wall. "He would usually do that if he had nightmares the day before, it takes a real tool out of him when he wakes up in the middle of the night."

"He has nightmares?" Yusho asked worried which made Yuto unsure if he would tell him without Yuya knowing he did even though he was in the same room.

"I still don't trust you, after knowing what you did to him all this time." Yuto said, turning to his principal serious.

"Then start trust in me, I want to change so I can undo the mistakes I've made." Yusho said desperate. "You're Asaki Sayaka's son, are you?"

"So she was your old lawyer." Yuto mumbled before crossing his arms. "Yeah, I am her son."

"How come you're here and hardly visible to people? You aren't a ghost like those back at Hychinder?" Yusho asked and made Yuto, for the first time in months, remembering the accident. The spirit took a deep breath to calm down his nerves since he was still a bit traumatized of what happened to him.

"I'm a spirit living in limbo between life and death, Yuya has been my vessel since I became one under an accident a few months ago. I don't really want to talk about with someone like you." Yuto said nervous while rubbing his arm, uncomfortable of the conversation. "Someone shouldn't have to feel this way. I think it's about time you leave us alone." Yusho turned to walk away before he thought of something.

"Why are you around Yuya when you know you get yourself in danger?" Yusho asked, wanting to know why people would hang out with Yuya even though they get themselves in danger.

"You have to figure that out yourself." Yuto answered before the father walked away to go back to his tent.

Yuto breathed out before getting in bed beside Yuya, feeling tired now that he had to experience his death experience again. When he finally fell asleep, En and Core came and laid themselves on the bed with the boys.

-

By the time Yuya woke up the next morning, he was sitting up groggily and looked around his room in question how he had gotten there in first place. The Secrecy eyes saw Yuto fast asleep beside him and just smiled over what happened last night, Yuya could just feel happy when he thought about it. He had figured out that Yuto had carried him to bed because of how tired Yuya was when he just fell asleep on his shoulder all of a sudden. Seeing on the alarm clock that the sun was just about to rise or already have, Yuya decided to go get some fresh air before the spirit woke up and was about to go out when he saw En awake and happy on the bed.

"En, quiet!" Yuya exclaimed in a whisper to the corgi. "Or you'll wake Yuto up." En then tilted his head to the side in curiosity over his owner's behavior.

"He'll wake who up?" The voice of a tired Yuto asked and the vessel saw Yuto sitting up to look at him.

"How long have you been awake?" Yuya asked nervously.

"Ever since you started to talk to the dog." Yuto answered, yawning after he said that.

"Sorry, about that. You can sleep for a few more minutes if you like, I'm outside if you need me or else I'll wake up when it's breakfast." Yuya said as he got outside before stopping. "Hey, Yuto..." The said spirit looked at him in question. "... thanks for last night. It felt really great to finally know how you felt about me."

Yuya ran out quickly before it became awkward and Yuto grinned before laying back on the pillow to sleep for a few more minutes. Once Yuya was outside, turned to the small hill by the tent to stretch in front of the rising sun. He sat down to feel the nice breeze of the wind going by, the Secrecy eyes was thinking about his confession the night before which was a nice moment for him.

Yusho had decided to wake up and walked out to take a look around the village and nodded to himself that many of the villagers were already awake. Suddenly, Starving Venom and Clear Wing came flying out from his tent with the purple dragon having the envelope in its claws.

"Hey! Give that back, you pesky lizards!" Yusho shouted and started to run after them. The two dragons flew all the way to Yuya in fast pace and Starving Venom dropped the envelope on Yuya's lap.

"What's this, you two?" Yuya asked as he took a look at the envelope, Clear Wing laid herself on his head while Starving Venom sat on his master's shoulder. Yusho came panting after running as fast as he could to catch up with the two mythical lizards. "Dad!"

"I see... that's why they were flying in this direction." Yusho realized. Yuya instantly panicked, realizing that Starving Venom and Clear Wing had taken the envelope from his father.

"I'm so sorry, Dad! I-I didn't tell them to do this. They act by themselves!" Yuya stammered nervously to explain himself but Yusho just grinned before taking a place next to his son, surprising Yuya.

"I figured it out already, they appear too often than people would like." Yusho pointed out as Dark Rebellion appeared on Yuya's other shoulder and Odd-Eyes took a seat on his lap. "They seem very attached to you."

"That's one way to say it. Odd-Eyes have been with me a long time and became one of my best friends." Yuya explained as Odd-Eyes squeaked in agreement. "The same goes for all my monsters. All Duel Monster cards have a spirit, who in time, bonds with the owner of the card. They will do anything to protect their owners."

"I see. That's why the Real Solid Vision System was able to make them have expressions and such things that made them more alive." Yusho mumbled which confused the Secrecy eyes a bit. "It's nothing. I just thought about past experiences." Yuya look down before reaching out the envelope to Yusho.

"It's best that I give this back to you." Yusho shaked his head.

"I was going to give that to you anyway." Yuya looked shocked and just stared at the envelope. "Your mother must have wrote it when her spirit was with you, I haven't open it to know for sure. What I know is that she wanted you to have it." Yuya opened it to read the letter inside, regretting for not bringing his goggles so he could cover his eyes.

"Dear Yuya, my adorable son.

If you're reading this letter, then I have finally been put to rest in peace knowing that you can grow up on your own now.

When you were born, I knew that you were special right from the start. You were so used to Otherworld and its creatures that I thought you've been there already for a long time, even talking to Odd-Eyes was a surprise the first time and to completely understand him. That was when I finally understood you were different from a normal Secrecy eyes, someone that can communicate with dragons is a rare ability that people didn't believe existed.

When I met your father, I knew about his identity as the first dueltainer and one of the people behind the Action Duel technology, the Real Solid Vision. Maybe that's why you like dueling so much because you got that from your father. You remind me a lot of him before I died and his grief took over. Hopefully, you will take back the pride that your father worked hard for to spread happiness and smiles with entertainment dueling as a dueltainer.

I might not be there when you find out the truth about our true origin, I know you will be able to find what caused this curse of death sight, our family had been suffering for too long now and we need to know its true origin.

I love you, my magic child.

/Sakaki Yoko."

Yuya was crying as he smiled sadly at the very last message from his mother, who have made him who is now. Teaching him everything he knows about his family's history and Otherworld, he owed her a lot for doing what she did. The crimson eyed boy missed her a lot.

"You were a dueltainer, Dad?" Yuya asked while trying to wipe away his tears.

"Yeah, before my research became much more stressful." Yusho answered. "Yoko wrote that, didn't she?" Yuya chuckled as an answer.

"Yeah, she did." Yusho chuckled a little himself.

"She hasn't changed a bit, even as a spirit." Yuya felt something more in the envelope and took out a spell card from it.

"'Smile World'? Mom used to play this card every time we dueled."

"I have one as well." Yusho took out his Smile World card to show his son. "I gave the other one to Yoko when we first met, she was singing this strange song to some of the children in the park. Something about children coming to play in a garden."

"'Come Little Children'." The principal looked at the crimson eyed boy shocked. "Mom used to sing that to me and Milla all the time. We know that song by heart and that song remind us of Otherworld a lot because of the lyrics."

'Now I know the relationship between Yoko and Yuya, I can understand now why she told him my old sin.' Yusho thought. 'Maybe I got the wrong idea of things when I saw Yuya like that back in Hychinder. He seemed different in a way.' Yuya took the new card in his deck pocket for safe keeping until he get the time to check his deck for new strategies to use it. Odd-Eyes roared and Yuya smiled at his dragon friend which caused the other to join in and Yuya just laughed at them.

"You guys. I promise me and Yuto will play with you later."

"Have your kind, the Secrecy eyes, always been able to talk to dragons?" Yuya looked at him before thinking about an answer.

"No, at least I think so since mom wrote it down but I don't know if one of my ancestors had it before or something. You heard gran gran last night, no one knows what Secrecy eyes have some sort of power except the visions. They've been a mystery for thousands of years."

Before they could continue with their conversation, they heard terrifying screams from the village and they quickly stood up to check what's going on, the villagers was running away in fear and the Sakaki family saw a lion with a scorpion tail and bat wings on its back. It was a manticore.

"A manticore? Here?!" Yuya exclaimed terrified. "But that's impossible! Demons that class can't get through gran gran's domain!"

"A manticore becomes from Greek mythology, such a monster is in a demon class?" Yusho asked and Yuya swallowed nervously but nodded anyway.

"Those that can become minions are the lower class, they're the ones that usually can be summoned through rituals and sacrifices." Yuya explained really nervous and shocked. "These and the class above them can't get through the domain barrier. Only the higher class can because they're far too strong."

"Yuya!" The voice of Yuto called out and the Secrecy eyes turned around, he saw his lover running forwards him with the sword in hand. "Here, catch!" Yuto threw the sword in Yuya's direction in the crimson eyed boy's view it would have missed, but somehow it landed in his hand instantly.

"Yuto, distract it from the villagers! Make sure it doesn't kill anyone!" Yuya ordered and the spirit nodded, using his lightning speed and fired a couple shots with his guns on the manticore to get its attention on him. "Dad, try and evacuate as many as you can to somewhere safe."

"What are you gonna do?" Yusho asked his son worried, who slowly took out the sword from its sheath.

"I'm going to fight to protect everyone." Yuya answered before dashing into battle.

Yuto was send to the ground by one of the manticore's claws and was about to receive a slash attack when Yuya came and blocked it with his sword. The spirit was glad that his vessel stopped the attack. Yuya used all his strength to force the monster to back away, sending it back a few meters as Yuya took his fighting stance but the manticore sniffed into the air and charged into another direction. The duelists looked at the same direction and saw it was charging at Yusho, who was helping some of the kids into one of the tents. Yuya dropped his sword and ran as fast as he could to try warning his dad.

"Yuya, Wait!" Yuto called out and picked up the sword before running after him.

Yusho was aware of the manticore coming at him when one of the kids screamed terrified at it. Suddenly, something pushed him to the side and Yusho looked up horrified. Yuya had taken a big hit into his left side and blood spilled on the ground, that attack was meant to be Yusho's and Yuya had just saved his life.

At the same time, Milla and Jude was sensed something unpleasant at the shrine and understood that it was Yuya. They ran as quickly as they could forwards the village to see what happened. While at the academy, Velvet and Sorey felt the unpleasant sensation as well and knew something was wrong.

"What's going on?" Velvet thought out loud as the two looked out the window.

Yuri was relaxing in his luxury apartment and decided to open a window to let some fresh air in and when he did, a familiar scent pass by his nose. This smell activated his vampire senses instantly.

"Yuya..." He mumbled, recognizing that scent easily and knew somehow that something happened.

Back at the village, Yuto stared horrified at the scene before him as the manticore hit Yuya away with the back of its paw, making the boy cough up more blood as he was sent crashing into the ground, rolling around before stopping.

"YUYA!!" Yuto yelled extremely scared as he ran over to his beloved duelist, who was breathing very heavily on the ground and his body refused to move because of the massive pain he was feeling.

The manticore was then hit by pillars of earth from behind which revealed to be Milla, who was really angry as she saw what happened with Jude by her side. A demon hurting her younger brother, despite them not being related, was unforgivable.

"Father, tend Yuya's wounds immediately. This monster will have to face the consequences for hurting him." Milla said determined. Yusho nodded and got up from the ground to check on his biological son.

"You think we can defeat it?" Jude asked, not nervous at all.

"If we work together, as team Xillia's leaders." Milla responded as auras appeared on their bodies, pink for Milla and light green for Jude.

Yuto arrived to Yuya's side and rolled the human boy to the side, he saw that a lot of blood was coming out of the three slash wounds in his side from the manticore's claws.

"Hold on, Yuya. We're going to help you." Yuto said worried as he saw Yuya breathing heavily in pain and the lost of air. Yusho arrived observing the situation. "Yusho, what's going on?"

"He's losing a lot of blood and might have fractures in the rib cage, he can die of blood loss if he doesn't get medical attention." Yusho concluded, taking out a napkin from his pocket. "Keep pressure on it, I'll get a first aid kit as quickly as possible."

Yuto took the napkin placed it on the wound with both of his hands on it, making sure he doesn't push it too hard and hurt Yuya more. Yusho ran away to ask one of the villagers for medical supplies, Yuya managed to place a bloody but shaking hand on Yuto's. The onyx gray eyed spirit looked at the pained expression on Yuya's face to see a smile while looking at him through the massive pain he's experiencing.

"You can... trust him..." Yuya managed to breathe out before coughing.

"My fist!" Jude shouted, charged in and took a couple of punches before moving out of the way.

"My sword!" Milla shouted, charging at the manticore. She did a couple of hits with her sword, failing to notice that the stinger graced her leg, sending the manticore between the two as the Lord of Spirits jumped into the air when Jude hit the monster and send it in the air.

"And all creation will be one! Tiger Blade Sigma!" The two chanted together. Milla charged down from the air while Jude jumped up, striking the demon at the same time. The manticore was presumed defeated.

"What did they just do?" Yuto asked in surprise, haven't seen what they did before.

"A dual... Mystic... Arte..." Yuya breathed out which Yuto picked up and Yusho came back with a first aid kit and took up Yuya's shirt to look at the wound.

"Can you lift him up so I can put the bandages on?" Yusho asked.

Yuto gently lifted Yuya up enough to treat the wounds, Yuya flinched when they touched the wounds and his chest hurt every time he breathed. When they were done, Yuto carefully lay him back on the ground and Yusho took off his jacket to place it as a blanket onto Yuya. Everyone present suddenly got defensive when the manticore got up in rage and was about to jump on Milla but the mutant monster was bound with green energy bounds, the one that summoned them was Claraviel.

"Demons like you aren't welcome here, especially those hurting my family!" Claraviel said angry but collected as the ribbons made a cage around the manticore and made an arm formation with her arms, the manticore roared before disappearing. The Xillia leaders gasped in relief as they had used up a lot of their energy on one attack and Milla quickly hurried over to check on Yuya.

"How's Yuya, father?" Milla asked worried when she saw Yuya in pain.

"He's losing a lot of blood, we need to get him to a hospital, now." Yusho replied. "Or else he might not survive." Yuto gritted at the answer and tighten his fists.

"I doubt I can heal it with my power and Jude is exhausted, we can't heal it enough to walk back." Milla said before biting her lip, not knowing what to do.

"I'm not letting Yuya die!" Yuto exclaimed suddenly. "I'm not losing him!"

"Some of the villagers that are humans have already called the ambulance and told them he was attacked by a wild animal." Claraviel explained feeling very guilty. "I can get you to the border of the forest, that's how far I can get from here."

"Thank you, gran gran." Yuto thanked her grateful and picked up Yuya in his arms, the Secrecy eyes grunted as his eyebrows twitched in pain as he had his eyes closed.

"Gran gran, can you pack our things so we can get them later?" Jude asked as he and the others gathered in a group. "It's going to take a while before we can come back."

"Of course, Jude." Claraviel replied, a teleportation circle appeared under the group and they disappeared with it.

They arrived a few meters away from the city and Yuto placed Yuya against a tree to not let the humans know that he was floating in their eyes, Yuto saw that the pendant had blood on it too. Knowing that it was important to Yuya, the spirit took it off his neck to clean it later so it wouldn't get ruined. But when Yuto stood up, Yuya quickly grabbed his hand and looked at him and his eyes said to not leave him alone. Yuto smiled and took Yuya's hand in both of his.

"I won't leave your side, ever." Yuto said gently, Yuya made a small smile through the pain as he placed his hand on his wound.

Milla and Jude changed back into their civilian clothing as they heard the ambulance sirens coming forwards them and the nurses came rushing over to Yuya to prepare to move him in the ambulance. Ludger had also taken notice of what happened and had taken his car to give Yuto, Milla and Jude a ride to the hospital while Yusho was taking the ambulance.

When they arrived, Yuya was immediately brought to the ER to get emergency surgery in hope to close the wound and check for more injuries. The rest of the group waited for news about Yuya's condition, Milla and Yuto was the ones that were most worried about him but the Lord of Spirits was feeling lightheaded for some reason. Yuto was looking at Yuya's pendant in his hand, hoping Yuya would be okay despite what happened back there. Ellen, Jude's mother, came to the group which brought their attention.

"Is Yuya going to be okay?" Milla asked really worried over the news.

"The surgery was successful, he'll make a good recovery." Ellen answered which made everyone gasp in relief. "He's resting as of now, he'll be like that for a few hours. He might even wake up by tomorrow."

"Thank you for doing this, mom." Jude thanked her and the mother smiled at her son. Milla looked at Yuto before nodding that it was okay to go to Yuya, the spirit didn't wait a second more when he ran forwards Yuya's room. "He almost fell unconscious out of blood loss if Yusho didn't treat it right away."

"I did what I could do." Yusho replied. Milla smiled before everything went blank, the ruby eyed girl collapsed on the ground.

"Milla!" Jude exclaimed as he got down on the ground beside her, shaking her in an attempt to wake her up. "Milla, open your eyes."

Ellen and a few of her colleagues immediately started to do tests. Everything that happened to the Sakaki family was no coincidence at all, someone had planned this all out but who would know their location or even about the domain shield over the village. The manticore must have had a summoner controlling it, but who would that be?