Chapter Text
Yuma groaned weakly as he fell to the ground for the mullioned time throughout this duel. His ‘feeling the flow’ spirit was burning brightly, giving him the courage to never give up and try and try again. Or usually, that would be the case. This time it was different. Because this time he had lost. Lost the duel and reduced his life points to zero. Yuma groaned again. His body finally felt the aftershocks of all the blows and damage he had received throughout the duel. He could not believe that they had lost. He and Nash alias Shark had both lost against the deity Don Thousand. As unbelievable as it was. Yuma still had the duel vividly in his mind. How Don Thousand had been using the numeron network to change their cards into what favored him. How Astral had gone to destroy the field spell card, only for him to sacrifice himself to save the Earth and give them an advantage against Don Thousand. Yuma could still feel the heartbroken pain of Astral leaving him. Again! It wasn’t fair! Even now when the duel was over. How could he not, when Astral had been his best friend in the whole wide universe? He had fought commendably for Astral’s sake thou because that had been Astral’s final wish for him before he disappeared. That and Yuma didn’t want Astral’s sacrifice to be in vain. However, it had all been for none since Don Thousand once again had turned the tie by summoning his strongest numbers. His “Number C1000: Numeronius” and its evolved form, “Number iC1000: Numeronius Numeronia”. With these monsters in play, there had been no way for Yuma and Nash to counter that and in the end, they were defeated.
“I told you it was futile to resist your destiny” Yuma could hear Don Thousand chuckle.
Footsteps could be heard, and Yuma instantly turned his gaze, finding out the chaos deity had begun walking over to Nash. Just like him, Nash was lying beaten and bruised on the ground several feet away from both Yuma and Don Thousand. He had even reverted to his human form and looked miserable.
“Shark!” Yuma shouted and with surprisingly untapped strength Yuma didn’t even know he was having, he was up on his feet again, and rushed over to his friend in an attempt to protect him.
He had seen what had happened to Mizar. He knew what would happen to a barian when they lost to the chaos god, and he would not stand for it. He had already lost so many of his friends. Including Astral. He was not going to lose another one. Especially not Shark who meant so much more to him.
“Shark” Yuma spoke.
His voice sounded musky. Tears were already running down his cheeks when he finally reached his destination. Because deep down he had no clue on how to stop the inevitable from happening. Sure, he had managed to reach Nash before Don thousand did and he would of course defend him at all costs, but… deep down he knew he would not win. How could he when he couldn’t even defeat Don Thousand in a duel? What surprised Yuma the most was that Don Thousand had stopped up and let him reach Nash before he did. Right now, he was just standing there, meters away. His heterochromia eyes were staring at him very intensely. It was like they were drilling themselves inside his soul. That along with that confident smirk made Yuma feel extremely uncomfortable.
“Yuma…” He could then hear Nash say and instantly turned towards him.
The tentacle-haired male had managed to lift himself on the elbows. Now he was looking up at him with reproaching eyes.
“Yuma… what are you doing here?! You shouldn’t… You idiot! If you had this much strength left, then why didn’t you escape?!” Nash scolded him. His blue eyes were flaring up with anger now. Just like a ferocious Shark caught on land.
“What? But I couldn’t… I could never leave you behind!” Yuma uttered surprised back at him. “You are my friend Shark. No matter how much you try to cut me off or behave like this evil barian. You are still important to me”.
At that, Nash growled annoyed. He had managed to turn around and was now on his knees with his back turned towards Yuma. His hands were hitting the sturdy surface as he tried to stand. Yuma of course tried to help him stand, but Nash pushed him instantly away. His right hand was covering his face in what looked like pain. Or was it embarrassment?
“You can’t do anything for me. Get it through that thick head of yours!” Nash then hissed “I lost the duel. I will join Marin and Dumon in whatever place we are sent to after he absorbs our powers. You cannot stop this Yuma”.
“But… I… no there must be something I can do!” Yuma insisted and was frantically trying to grab his hand for comfort. “Astral died! Just like the others. I can’t bear to lose you too Shark!”.
Nash hissed annoyed. Maybe even proudly, before his hand ended up squeezing him with the same caring comfort. He still refused to look him in the eyes though. For some weird reason.
“You won’t lose me forever…” he could then hear Nash say in a deep voice.
His left hand squeezed Yuma’s tightly, before letting go, leaving a certain number card in his place. Then he finally got up on his feet again. His eyes finally met Yuma’s again. The color of the ocean met Yuma’s red ones and it made Yuma’s heart skip a beat. Even after everything that had happened between them, Yuma still had feelings for his former best friend and now supposed enemy. Not that Yuma wanted any of that. They had after all teamed up against Don thousand and deep down, he had hoped things will change after that. That they finally could be together after Don thousand and the things with Barian world had been resolved. However, it had all been for not, since they hadn’t managed any of that, and Nash was about to leave him for good. The thought of that made Yuma cry once again.
“Shh, it is all going to be okay. Don’t cry over me” Nash said in a soft tone as he rubbed the tears away from the corner of his eyes. It was very comforting.
“There is still hope if you find the numeron code Yuma before He does” Nash continued. He didn’t need to explain who He was. They both knew. “With the numeron code you can change reality and bring any of us back if you want. Now take Tori and escape from here. Go fight another day Yuma. I will hold him off…”.
The rest of what Nash wanted to say got drowned by the sounds of a blast getting fired and a terrifying scream echoing all around them. Horror was written on Yuma’s face as he turned dreadfully towards the scream. Begging, praying, that the sound he had heard was not what he thought it was. He was met with the most terrible sight. Tori was hit by an energy blast and tossed over the edge of the ruin. Her scream echoed down as she fell to who knows where.
“Tori!” Yuma uttered in poor distress.
He had to try and save her. Even if the chance of saving her was barely any at all. He didn’t know how much damage the blast from Don Thousand had dealt her. She could die from the wound alone. If she of course was lucky enough to survive the fall. Not that Yuma was trying to find out. He by pure instinct intended to rescue her before that happened. There was just one problem. A black hand had grabbed him by the collar of his hoody and pulled him away before any of that and thereby putting a stop to his attempt at rescue.
“Did you believe I would allow such an attempt?” He could hear the chaos god say with an evil chuckle “None of you is leaving this place without my consent much less gaining their hands on the numeron code. How many times do I have to repeat myself? It is futile to resist your destiny”.
“Ahr let go of me!” was Yuma’s only response to all that.
He was currently dangling in a tight grip of the deity’s left hand now. Not that he wasn’t fighting in an attempt to get free of course. He was kicking and punching the god furiously. If the chaos god felt any of it, which was very unlikely, he didn’t say anything to it.
“Yuma!” Nash uttered in pure distress. He was clenching his hands in angry fury, but at the same time didn’t do anything to free himself from the deity’s grasp. It was like he knew it would be futile to try. Instead, he ended up looking at the deity with defeated and very desperate eyes. “What are you intending to do with him? You already destroyed Astral and the Astral world. You rule Earth and Barian world now too. What more could you want?”.
“You know full well what I want Nash,” the deity said and smirked evilly. “I want what is mine back from you”.
“So? Then take them already!” Nash hissed back in an angry tone “You won the duel. Besides, everything is better than being in this new anguishing world with you!”.
Yuma’s eyes widened in fear when he heard those words and determination ran through his veins as he tried to fight to get free. All that earned him however was Don Thousand pulling him closer to his chest and holding him in a vice grip. All of which prevented Yuma from doing anything. Just like a hostage, which he was against Nash right now.
“Yuma!” he could hear Nash shout worriedly before anger rose in his voice and he was glaring at the god with a fierce glare “Yuma has nothing to do with this. Let him go!”. They could hear the deity chuckle darkly now.
“Oh, on the contrary. He has much to do with this. He is the reason we are in this situation, my dear Nash”. The god chuckled darkly again, and Yuma was sure he felt something stroke his hair for a second. It gave him goosebumps.
“Here are my terms. You give up your powers and soul to me by your free will and I will not hurt little Yuma here” Don Thousand threatened. To prove his point, he was holding a claw close to Yuma’s head now. All of which made both boys pale as a ghost. For two vastly distinct reasons of course.
“I do not understand. What difference does it make to you if I give my powers up or not?” Nash questioned rather puzzled. “You and Vector have been consuming my fellow emperors without any regard for our wellbeing. Why am I being treated differently?”.
Not that Don Thousand answered that question. He was just looking at Nash with an indifferent look in his heterochromia eyes. In the end, it made Nash sigh deeply before he summoned a giant ball of pure energy in the right palm of his hand. Yuma looked at his friend with pure horror on his face now.
“No! Shark. Don’t do this! I am fine. I can handle this…!”.
“Shut your trap Yuma! I told you, you cannot do anything for me! This is my path of destiny.” Nash responded in a fierce tone.
Red eyes met blue. An action that had Yuma stunned for several seconds. The burning passion that was radiating in his eyes. The caring eyes that were burning for his sake. The worry who was no doubt hiding underneath and just wanted him safe. All of it was flaring out from that gaze Nash was sending him and Yuma was so overwhelmed and surprised that he didn’t have anything in response. Shark had never been good at all the emotional stuff. He was not good at expressing himself. Yuma knew this from all the times they had spent together before Shark found out he was Nash, the barian. Now, even though it was without any words between them, Nash was expressing those fond feelings in the gaze he was sending Yuma, along with a hidden message underneath. Just let me do this Yuma. I will do anything to keep you safe. An action that had Yuma sighing deeply inside. How could he deny him this genuine gesture? It was not like he could stop it.
“If I do this, you will let Yuma go?” Nash then questioned and looked at the deity “You will not hurt him in any way. Even after I am gone. Do you promise me this?”.
“I give you my word as the chaos deity of this realm.” Don Thousand promised which was a little weird to Yuma.
As opposing as Don Thousand was, seeing him uphold a promise like this, was beyond him. That said, the chances of him keeping this promise were something else altogether. Nash, however, did indeed take his word for it and let go. Of the energy ball he was holding. As he did Nash’s body began sparkling in these pure energies. Just like Mizar had done before he disappeared.
“Shark no!” Yuma shouted and were fighting like crazy once again.
He wanted to… He needed to stop this in some way. He just had to! Ironically, Don Thousand had at that moment let go of his grip in Yuma and he fell to the ground rear end first. Not that he cared much about his pain at that moment. No, his sole focus was on Nash, who was slowly but surely dissolving into thin air.
“No! Shark! Please! Don’t go! I… I…”
Yuma let out a tear-filled hiccupped cry. His hands trying to grab Nash’s incorporeal hand now. Nash was sending him one of his rare smiles that had Yuma’s heartbeat rapid speed.
“I already know what you are trying to say Yuma and I return them. Keep feeling the flow and never stop believing in hope. One day we might meet again.” Nash said in a transparent voice before he indeed disappeared into pure energies.
An energy Don Thousand no doubt did absorb in some way. Not that Yuma noticed or cared about it. He was just sitting on the ground in pure despair and sorrow at the spot Nash had been seconds ago.
Time skip.
“Why, Shark, why? Why did you have to leave?” Yuma whispered out in an anguished sob. “Just like Astral, Tori, and all my friends”.
His hands slammed down into the ground. Frustration was all around him. He hadn’t been able to save anyone. His friends from school. The Arclights. The Astrals and Kite. Not even Shark and his fellow emperors. All of them were gone for good and it was all his fault. If he had just managed to beat Don Thousand in that duel none of this would have happened.
“Ah, at last. No more distractions to hinder my true objections.”
He could then hear Don Thousand say and made the lobster-haired male remember that he was not alone. He was on his own in the Barian world with the chaos deity Don Thousand. The dread that ran through his body was unlike anything Yuma had ever felt in his life. All he wanted to do was run. Run and hide in some hole at the edges of the world. A place where this deity couldn’t find him and kill him. Just as he had done with so many of his friends now. However, at the same time a tiny part of him, the part who wanted to keep Shark’s last wish for him alive, was clinging to hope and courage he didn’t even know he still had. It was a part of him that still wished for a better tomorrow. It was for that reasoning he did indeed manage to face the chaos deity one more time. Hopefully for the last time. Even if that meant death. He would at least be with his dead friends. However, when he turned around to face the chaos god, he was met with a different sight than expected. Where once were ruins from the mad prince, was now a giant palace throne room meeting his eyes. He was still in the barian world, which was clear from the floating crystals in here, but they were no longer outside.
“Ah, so now you are responsive Yuma.”
The sound of the deity’s voice ran through the room now as some kind of echo. The rolling sound of his name was dripping off god’s lips in amusement. Yuma followed the sound and soon found the deity sitting lazily on a throne at the top of a giant staircase. His heterochromia eyes were once again drilling their way into his soul and made Yuma extremely uncomfortable. He could hear the deity hum thoughtfully now.
“I have been trying to reach for you for quite some time, but you were never present. Taking that wrench to Nash from you might have altered some sort of breaking point in you” the deity spoke and titled his head to the side, letting his head rest on his arm at the armrest of the throne “You were nonresponsive for so long I decided to relocate myself to more accommodating places suited for a god”.
“You dare talk about Shark in that way!” Yuma yelled furiously and clenched his fists “Just… just…”.
“Give him back?” Don Thousand interrupted in a very mocking tone. The confident smirk was plastered on his face now “Why should I? Nash and the other emperors were only tools for my resurrection. Nothing more”.
Yuma hissed angrily at that. To be fair that had not been what he wanted to say. What he wanted was for him to show Nash some respect. However, now that Don Thousand had pointed that out, he was a god, and gods could bring back people!
“I don’t care. Nash means more to me than you can understand! Give him back! No, not just him. All of them. All my friends died because of your actions. Give me them back!” Yuma demanded furiously.
An action that caused Yuma to get teleported to the top of the staircase beside Don Thousand’s throne. Yuma let out a surprised gasp. Things had moved so fast. That and seeing the chaos god up close and personal was very disturbing, to say the least. He looked like himself mostly. Barely any difference in comparison to how looked before he had absorbed Nash’s power. He was still having his red brags and golden hair, but this time it was braided into a long ponytail, and the edges of his hair had turned black. He had also gained a red cape similar to the one Nash wore and his body was radiating with so much power now, it made Yuma dizzy just being in his presence.
“Easy, easy Yuma, breathe. Let the chaos settle in you. There is nothing to fear” Don Thousand said in a surprisingly soft voice and wait was he stroking his hair? Yuma peeked an eye open as soon as his nerves had calmed a bit more down.
“There, better?” Don Thousand asked. He was rubbing his cheek now. All Yuma could do was nod in response. His senses were still a bit overstimulated.
“Good. It would be quite terrible if something so simple as the leek of my powers would be the end of your existence” the god proclaimed with a chuckle. He dapped Yuma’s head like he was a little kid again. “Not that you can die from this, but your dear Nash might have my head if I broke my promise to him already”.
“Nash would…” Yuma gulped a little. His throat felt so dry for some reason “Nash is protecting me?”. Don Thousand chuckled darkly.
“Of course. We made a deal. I never break deals” He replied with “Humans and Barian wretches do. Serves them right. I am not a forgiven person”.
Yuma gulped a little at that statement. He remembered how Vector had betrayed the deity and got swallowed up because of it. All because he broke the deal they made. It made him hesitate. What if he couldn’t live up to this deal and would get punished? Worst of all, had to lose all the friends he got back because of his mistake.
“Oh, where did all your bravado go from earlier Yuma? I thought you wanted your precious friends back?” Don Thousand mocked and grabbed with soft hands around his chin and forced him to look up into his eyes.
“I… I do!” Yuma managed to get out and gritted his teeth in a nervous matter “I… it is just… I… I am unsure if I can fulfill my end of the bargain”.
“Oho? Intriguing. Few cared about the details of the contracts they sign. Most of them believe they can overpower me by using the power granted to them to overthrow me. Foolish mistake” the god said and chuckled darkly. Yuma growled annoyed and pulled himself out of the god’s grip. Fierce red eyes were staring up at the chaos god now.
“I want my friends back! Shark and all the barian emperors. All my friends on earth you barians took from me and Astral and his citizens! What do you want in return?!” Yuma uttered with as much fierceness and courage as he could muster.
“Oh, that is quite simple. I want my son back” Don Thousand said with an evil gleam in his eyes “Give me that, and I will bring your friends back”.
“Hu? Son, you have a son?! Since when?!” Yuma uttered rather flabbergasted. “Why have I never heard from or seen him? And wait what do you mean by getting him back? Back from what?”. At that, Don Thousand surprisingly lifted his eyebrows.
“Astral never told you, did he? Or Eliphas for that matter. Let me rephrase that. Of course, they did not. Eliphas is too much of a coward to do that. As long as they made you do their bidding, they felt no need to tell you the truth” Don Thousand hissed and clenched his fists and hit the armrest with one of his hands.
All to let some frustrations out. Yuma, who had no clue what was going on here, was feeling extremely uncomfortable once again. So much in fact that he was thinking about running away for the time being. All to avoid the god’s fury that was emanating underneath. However, he had only managed to take one step back when Don Thousand grabbed around his wrist and pulled him up his lap with fast steps.
“Eh? What is going on?” Yuma uttered rather perplexed.
“Everything will make sense in a moment Yuma” the deity reassured before dragging his hand over to the crest on his chest. As it hit the 7 crystals there lit up and began engulfing him in a weird strange bright light.
Yuma soon found himself Astral World. Or at least he figured it was Astral world because of these bluish colors and energies there were all around him. There was a significant difference though. All the plants and things that had been withered away last time he was here, were now sprouting and full of energy. It made everything less gloomy.
“Is he not adorable? Our child. He is going to be a bundle of joy. Joy and hope” a female voice then spoke and got Yuma’s attention.
On a blue floating bench was a couple sitting, holding a giggling baby. Yuma’s eyes widened in surprise since he recognized the couple right away. Or at least the male sitting beside her, with a genuine smile on his face as he watched the woman play with the giggling child.
That was Don thousand!
It took Yuma some seconds to realize he was watching events from the past,
and if that was the case, the child the female was holding was this son he spoke off. However, Yuma couldn’t get a good enough look at the child, because it was wrapped in a furry and extremely comfortable baby blanket.
“He is. He is very adorable” Don thousand spoke in a proud tone. His eyes fixated on the woman beside him “He is going to be extraordinarily strong someday. Strong and handsome. Just like you E’rah”. That made the woman light up in embarrassment.
“Oh my, you are just saying that”.
“No, I am not”. And then he kissed her.
Scene change
Yuma soon found himself somewhere entirely different. It was in a luxurious jungle with a temple of some kind. Yuma figured this was someplace on Earth. Even though it was not one of the many sights his father and mother had shown him when he returned home from one of his many expeditions. Not that it didn’t intrigue Yuma. It proved that there were still undiscovered places in the world. A loud whine could suddenly be heard from inside the temple and of course, caught on Yuma’s curiosity.
As he entered the temple as the ghostly creature he was, he soon entered the innermost and sacred chamber of this strange temple. It was from here Yuma heard the crying sounds, but at the same time, it also was the place that called to him the most. It was like he in some way had been here before.
As he entered the most sacred domain, he found none other than Don Thousand trying to calm this crying baby down who was lying in a tiny basket, covered in a warm blanket.
“Shh, my child. Do not cry. I know you miss your mother but…” Don Thousand tried to say in a soothing voice to calm the child, but his anger was clearly present and instead frightened the child to cry even louder.
“Yes, you are right. I should not lie to you. You know I am angry. You know I am about to leave you too. Just like your mother” The deity said, sighed, and stroked the black locks of the boy’s hair “It is so I can keep you safe. You cannot come with me. Not as things are now. But do not fret I will come back for you and then I will take exceptionally good care of you”.
It was like the baby understood what he was saying because at that moment it stopped crying and was now looking up at him with big innocent red eyes.
“Yes, that is right. I will return and give you a home worthy of your status my little emperor. Which reminds me I have a gift for you”.
Don thousand were holding up a golden key-shaped pendant over the basket now. The boy was looking up at it with wonder in his big eyes. Then giggling sounds came from the baby as it was lifting its tiny hands up in the air to reach the pendant. Don thousand however was keeping it just out of reach. Instead, he began swinging it back and forth, making the boy look at it with a dazed look. He was sending the boy a reassuring smile before he flicked with his other hand and made the child fall asleep right away.
“Sleep tight my sweet… I will come back for you one day. I promise, but until then, this sleeping spell should preserve you and your childish needs for eons to come”.
Yuma blinked a little surprised by that statement. He saw how Don Thousand placed the basket on some sort of sacred altar hidden by mechanics and traps that would make the traps in the pyramids the Egyptians made to shame. That was how determined he was in keeping this child safe.
“Prepare yourself Eliphas. You made a grave mistake in taking her away from me. I want retribution, and what better way than to strike at what you hold most dear!”.
Scene change.
I blinding light was all around Yuma as the memory around him dissolved and changed into… the same setting as before. Yuma was once again floating above the same weird temple he had been at earlier. Although with few changes. First off, Time had gone by. It was clear by how much the jungle had grown, but the temple itself had not. It was like it was protected from all horrors of the world and it made Yuma wonder how much into the future this was. The second thing was that there were different people here now. Or to be exact two people Yuma knew very well were approaching this special temple.
“Mom, Dad? What are you doing here?” Yuma questioned bewildered and of course, decided to follow Mira and Kazuma Tsukumo when they entered this sacred domain.
“Phew, the locates were not kidding when they said this place was dangerous” Kazuma mused whistling impressed “This place is a true adventure’s dream”.
“Just be careful Kazuma. I would like to get back to my family in one piece” Mira scolded in a firm tone “Your mother could scare a herd of grizzly bears with one glare alone, and I do not want to be the one telling her you died. Not to mention making Kairi fatherless”.
“Right, I promise I will be more careful” Kazuma promised. Only for him to take one step forward and make the floor crumple underneath him.
“Kazuma!” Mira shouted in pure distress as her husband pummeled to his death. Only for him to suddenly reappear floating above the crumpled floor before landing beside his wife once again. To both of their surprises.
“What… Kazuma what happened?” Mira questioned bewildered.
“Don’t look at me. I was falling and then suddenly this light appeared”.
Then unexpectedly, the wind began blowing around them and two big hidden doors flew open. It was like it was an invitation for them to come inside.
“Kazuma, I don’t like it. Maybe we should return to the village”.
“After all these hardships. No way! Besides, something protected me just now from that fall. That must mean they see me worthy or something”.
“Okay just one peek inside and then we will return” Mira agreed and took her husband’s hand. Just in case.
“Wow, I have never seen anything like it” Kazuma whistled impressed. “This is like a sacred altar for a deity of some kind”.
“Well, the locates did say this was an ancient temple for a god their ancestors worshipped once. However, since no one returned alive, people got scared and never dared approach it. They were afraid to gain the god’s wrath” Mira said thoughtfully.
“Yeah, I think you are right about that” Kazuma mused with a smile “But you are right. We shouldn’t call forth this gods anger. Let’s return…”.
“Did you hear that?” Mira then suddenly said.
“Hear what?” Kazuma questioned.
“I hear someone crying”.
“I don’t hear a thing. Let’s just…”.
But before Kazuma could say or do a thing, Mira rushed forward and jumped over several traps like she was a mad woman possessed. Kazuma was left speechless for seconds before joining his wife at this weird alter.
“Mira, what has gotten into you?” He asked surprised.
“Can’t you hear it? There is a child here” Mira said as her hands dusted off some tiles at the alter “It is crying. It is calling out to me”.
“Really? That is some mother instinct, but…”.
He had just said that when Mira had managed to re-order and dust off the titles. All of which revealed a secret compartment and in its confinements was indeed a basket with a child inside. It was sleeping soundly though.
“I don’t believe it. What is a child doing here?” Kazuma questioned.
“Does it matter? It needs our help.” Mira insisted and pulled the basket up. As she did, however, another trap got spun on them. The ceiling began crumpling down on them. Mira and Kazuma didn’t have the time to escape. They were about to be buried when a barrier appeared unexpectedly and protected them both.
“Huh? What just happened?” Kazuma questioned and looked down at Mira and the child. “Someone saved us. It is just like with the trap earlier Kazuma” Mira said and then looked down at the child “Maybe, the child did this? I mean he did call out to me earlier. Maybe it wanted to be found”.
“Hmm yeah maybe” Kazuma mused. His fingers lingered on the titles at the altar and the ancient letters written on several of them “The purest of hope? I wonder if it is a reference to the child?”.
The giggling child sounds could be heard and made both parents look down in the basket finding the baby awake and looking up at them with a curious happy expression.
“Oh, aren’t you the cutest?!” Mira uttered happily and lifted the child in her arms and nuzzled their noses together. “You are so cute! Yes, you are little… Yuma”.
“Huh? Yuma? That means chief’s son. Why give him that name?”.
“It was written in the blanket he was wrapped in” Mira explained with a big smile and looked at the child “Isn’t that right Yuma? That is your name, right?”.
Happy cheerful giggling followed in response from the baby that just confirmed everything. Kazuma just sighed deeply before taking the basket in his hands. It was clear Mira already was attached to the child. Asking her to leave it behind without any care would just be too cruel of a fate. For both of them.
“Let’s just go to a more secure place. We can find out where Yuma comes from another day” Kazuma then stated and made them all leave the temple with fast steps.
“No! NO! NO!!” Yuma shrieked out in pure horror.
His hands instantly removed themselves from Don Thousand’s crest and broke the connection to the memories he had just been witnessing. Tears flooded down his cheeks like waterfalls before he covered his face in his hands. An anguished scream left his throat along with several repeated use of the word No. His head shook back and forth in pure despair. The image from before still being vivid in his mind as he tried to progress what he had been seeing. The disbelief and denial ebbed on the edge of his tongue.
“I am your… No! No! No!”.
“I was adopted, but… No! That cannot be true!”. He shook his head again whispering the words “Am I even human?”.
“No, you are not. You are of my kin. My son. A pure being of chaos. One that can harness the power to completion without being corrupted. Unlike the condemned filth I brought with me from the human world, you are a pure breed barian emperor” He could hear Don Thousand say in a proud tone.
“I… I am a Barian…?!” Yuma whispered out in pure distress. Tears continuously dripped down from the corner of his eyes. “And I am your son…?! No! No! NO! I refuse to believe that! None of this is true! This is all just a trick!”.
The last part was shouted out in pure vigor and determination. He more to convince himself than Don Thousand. There was no way any of this was true.
“Foolish boy. Crystals do not lie. Especially not in soul-to-soul contact” the deity huffed back at him “I thought you knew this. Especially, since you and Nash shared this kind of connection before. Or do you believe these images were ‘a trick’ as well?”.
Yuma shook his head, but at the same time covered both his ears. He just didn’t want to hear more of this. He didn’t want to be here any longer either. No, he wanted to go home to his real family. With Grandma and Kairi. Eating his favorite dishes to his heart’s content. To sleep in his hammock and worry about the next math test coming up. Not sitting here on a deity’s lap and being told how he was a chaos alien from the Barian world. This was just some cruel evil nightmare. None of this was real. He would soon wake up in his hammock with Astral hovering over his head and telling him he was late for school. Yes, this was just a nasty dream!
However, that reality came crashing down pretty quickly, the moment he felt a hand resting on the top of his head in an almost caring way. To Yuma, though it felt like slimy tentacles and panic rose him even more.
“Don’t touch me!” Yuma shouted in pure distress and swapped the arm away.
He was so focused on getting away from the deity that he didn’t notice he was extremely close to the edge of the throne, and before he knew it, he fell, hitting the ground with his back pretty hard. That did not help with his rising anxiety.
“Yuma, calm down…” the deity rumbled out.
“No! You just… you all just stay away from me!” Yuma ended up yelling in hiccuped moments.
His chest was raising up and down in extremely fast moments and he was feeling extremely dizzy for some weird reason. Everything was swimming for his eyes now too. His world was beginning to turn black.
“Yuma…!”.
“No! st-ay away!” he managed to say in a trembling voice now. “I… I…”. Warm arms wrapped around his tiny stature and pulled him into a blissfully warm and comfortable embrace. His head hit a very sturdy chest and a familiar and comfortable scent ran through his nostrils now. Shark?! Am I dreaming?
“It is going to be okay Yuma. Calm down and take a deep breath. You are having a panic attack. But don’t worry, I am here. Everything is going to be okay. Just relax.”
A soothing voice followed up and Yuma couldn’t help himself, as he leaned into the warm embrace. He was not sure what was going on here. Was this a hallucination his mind had concurring up for him? Was he going insane? Was he going to die too? He had seen how Shark had dissolved into pure energies. He knew Don Thousand had absorbed him, so how? How was it that this embrace felt or smelled like Shark? However, regards what was going on here, Yuma’s dizziness began slowly fading away. The panic began slowly ebbing out of him. Everything began being clearer, even though his body didn’t feel like it. Yuma felt so tired. It was like he had just run a marathon. However, regardless of everything, this warm embrace never faded away and it was for that reason, Yuma did indeed gain the courage to open his surprisingly closed eyes. The sight of a maroon t-shirt was the first thing he saw, followed by purple sleeves, which moved in the corner of his eyes. Yuma’s eyes widened in surprise, and he instantly grabbed the clothed fabric with one of his hands. Just to make sure this was real. That the colors he saw existed right now.
“Shark?” he then let out in a hoarse voice.
He still couldn’t fandom this. Why would Shark be here? Knelled down on the floor in front of the throne, holding him in a tight caring embrace that had no intention of letting go anytime soon.
“It is all right Yuma. It Is me” he could then hear Shark say.
“But how? I saw you…”.
“HE brought me back Yuma” Shark responded in a quick tone and hissed rather annoyed “Apparently, we Barians cannot die. Not completely at least, even though I have no clue where I was. As long as he holds our soul captive, I can be brought back whenever HE wishes! Couldn’t have the audacity to mention that to any of us?!”.
“Do not kid yourself, Nash. Why would I share my secrets with a traitorous wrench like you?” the deity huffed back in a cold tone. “Besides, the only reason I brought back in the first place was to show my good faith to Yuma”.
“That was the whole reason why you wanted me to give up my powers to you?! So, you could bring me back whenever it got convenient for you? You…!”.
“Please Shark, please Shark don’t leave me!” Yuma interrupted when he sensed the barian begins to lose his grip. Yuma had a feeling he knew why. Shark wanted to confront Don Thousand and demand what was going on here, but Yuma just couldn’t handle that headache right now.
“Yuma…” Shark said in a confused tone. Yuma could feel how he was stroking his hair now. His blue eyes were filled with so fond worry now before he turned his gaze towards the deity at the throne. “What. Did. You. Do to Yuma?!”.
“That is quite the accusation you are coming with Nash” He could hear the deity respond and chuckle darkly. “But alas, you are mistaken. I did not ‘do’ anything to the boy. All I did was show him the truth”.
“Ha! Like I would believe a word that comes out of your mouth. You did something to Yuma, and I am going to figure out what!” Shark growled fiercely.
“He… he speaks the truth Shark. I just… couldn’t grasp it” Yuma replied in a guilty tone. Tears were peeking out of the corner of his eyes again “He told me… Shark! I… I am his son…”.
“You are what?!” Shark uttered stunned at first, but then gathered himself “Yuma! You shouldn’t believe a word he says. He worked with Vector of all people…”.
“He showed me through soul-to-soul contact Shark. Can crystals lie Shark? Please tell me they can!” Yuma replied and looked up at him with begging eyes.
“I… I… oh Yuma”. Shark pulled him even closer. His head was now resting on his left shoulder as he whispered words like “I love you” and “I am sorry” in his ear.
“You two are quite amusing” they could then suddenly hear the god say and made both boys let go of each other to face this new adversary. However, they were still holding hands. None of them wanted the other to face this situation alone. The chaos god chuckled amused before he continued “But I believe it is time for my Son’s well-deserved rest. Nash, bring Yuma to your quarters and give him everything he needs. That is within your power of course. I have yet to create the right accommodations suited for his needs”.
“And why, oh why should I listen to you?!” Nash huffed fiercely.
“Because, Nash, I own you!” Don thousand growled back just as fiercely “You gave up yourself to me for Yuma’s sake. Your soul belongs to me. Do not tempt me to revoke that or do you wish for Yuma to be all alone with me?”.
“Grr fine, I will follow your rules for now! But know that I am not doing this for you. I am only doing this for Yuma” Shark sneered and began leaving.
Yuma, who was still very perplexed over this whole ordeal, ended up being dragged with him since Shark was still having a tight grip on his hand.
“Oh, and Yuma…”. Yuma instantly froze at the sounds of that “We will discuss our deal later when you are well and rested. Unless, you of course have changed your mind, now that you have your precious Nash by your side”. That was the last thing Yuma heard before he left the throne room.
Time skip.
“Are you comfortable Yuma?” Shark questioned as he puffed one of his pillows for the mullioned time. Yuma groaned slightly before shrugging casually.
“I guess. It is just not my hammock” he responded with a little sniff. Tears peeked out from the corner of his eyes “I want to go home!”.
“I know Yuma but…” Shark let out a deep sigh “If I could, I would transport you home in a jiff, but I lost my barian powers, and I doubt He would grant me them anytime soon”.
“Barian power huh?” Yuma went thoughtful as he lifted his hand “I am a barian…”.
“Or so He claims. There is something fishy about this” Shark mused out in a cold tone “None of us emperors knew he had a child of his own. Let alone have targeted that said child if that was the case…”.
“…Maybe I can open a portal to Earth” Yuma finished and waved his hand very dramatically. Only for Shark to grab his wrist.
“No! Opening portals between the realms are difficult and dangerous Yuma. Especially, now that the world’s balance has shifted. You need proper training and a Lapis…”. Not that Yuma was listening.
“But you can teach me right Shark? Then I can go home!”.
“I could, but Yuma…” Shark wrapped his arms around him suddenly, surprising the lobster-haired male completely.
“Yuma, I know you are a bit homesick, but you need to understand the situation we are in” Shark tried to reason with when he finally let go and was now holding both hands in his “We cannot go back to earth”.
“Huh? Why not?” Yuma questioned puzzled.
“Because if we do, we will endanger the remaining friends and families we are having there” Shark responded with a sigh. “Don thousand is, how to put it, chaotic. He killed Tori and my fellow Barians because he saw no need for them to exist any longer. Think about what that will mean for your family if you go home for a visit”. Yuma’s face went completely pale when he recalled how Tori got shot off the cliff.
“He will kill them…” he then whispered.
“He might kill them” Shark corrected “He might not. However, I am not willing to risk that, are you?”. Yuma shook his head wildly. Despair hits him hard.
“We are all going to die! He is going to kill them all!” he yelled frantically.
“What? No! That was not what I meant Yuma!” Shark uttered in pure distress now “I… I am not good with this mushy stuff”.
Then he leaned in and kissed him. Yuma was staring at him with wide eyes. This was his first kiss! Shark was not good with these kinds of things, and he rarely showed affection in public. The closest thing he had gotten with him was holding hands and cuddling when they were alone. Now, however, he was kissing him. A real kiss. On the lips. Yuma couldn’t help it as he leaned into the kiss. It was wet, a few of his tears still lingered, but also very warm. It made Yuma’s heart flutter in his chest now.
“Are you calm now?” Shark then questioned when he pulled back. He was sending Yuma one of his rare smiles now. Yuma instantly nodded.
“Good, then listen and don’t interrupt me” Shark instructed in a firm tone “What I was trying to say was that we don’t know Don Thousand’s plans. He could intend to kill the inhabitants of the earth. He might not. However, for some reason, he is keeping us both alive for now. Let’s use that to our advantage”.
“What do you mean?” Yuma questioned in a puzzled tone.
“By figuring out what he is up to and trying to stop him of course” Shark countered. “We will play along for now. Let him think he has won…”.
“But he has won…” Yuma pointed out “He killed Astral and the Astral world. He won the war Shark”. Shark shook his head in a firm matter now.
“We haven’t gotten that confirmed yet. But yes, he has won for now, but not forever. As long as you are here Yuma, things might come around someday” Shark then stated. “As long as you keep feeling the flow”.
“Me? But what can I do?” Yuma growled confused. “We just lost…”.
“I don’t know Yuma” Shark admitted “There is just something about you that makes people believe in you. Think about how many people you changed with your dueling and spirit alone. As long as you are here, I believe things will change for the better”.
“But I… I… I can’t do this alone Shark. He is too powerful and…”. And my father. Not that Yuma could muster that. Shark took his hands in his.
“No, you are not. I am here and this time I have no intentions of leaving you Yuma. Together I am sure we can defeat him”.
Yuma was a bit surprised by that statement. After so many times of Shark pushing him away and declaring himself his enemy, this was a very unusual but very welcome declaration. Yuma was still unsure how he should progress with everything that had happened up until now. With him being Don Thousand’s missing son, he was still not believing that, or the deal he still intended to make. What had Don Thousand met with getting him back? Getting him back from what? He was right here! But at least he knew one thing. He was not completely alone. With Shark’s help, he might even succeed.
“Yes, let’s do this” Yuma then agreed with a nod and placed himself down in the bed without letting go of Shark’s hands. “Together”.
A, N: Well, that was that. My first one shot, Yaoi, and what if story. All at the same time. What do you think? I know it properly ends with unanswered questions. Maybe. But if this is something you would like me to continue, read, etc. I might consider continuing to write. It is a really good, interesting topic in my opinion. But what do you readers think? Please comment on what you think.